Pikes

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As it took a minimum of 30 seconds to about 1 minute to load a matchlock musket, the musketeer needed to be defended while loading his musket. In the new Dutch Republic in the 17th century, this was done by pikemen, using half-pikes (which had half of the length of normal pikes, which is 4 m). Also, scythes that were normally used to cut the grass on the earthen walls of the fortress, could be turned into pikes by turning the blade upright.