ðə nˈoːɹməl mˈɛθəd ʌv fˈaɪɚɹɪŋ wʌz tə jˈuːz ɐ bˈɜːnɪŋ tˈɔːɹtʃ ɔːɹ slˈoʊ mˈætʃ tʊ ɪɡnˈaɪt ɐ sˈɔːsɪsən fɹˈɛntʃ fɔːɹ "sˈɔːsɪdʒ", ɐ klˈɔθ ɔːɹ lˈɛðɚ tˈuːb wˈɔːɾɚpɹˌuːft wɪð pˈɪtʃ ænd fˈɪld wɪð blˈæk pˈaʊdɚ lˈiːdɪŋ tə ðə mˈeɪn tʃˈɑːɹdʒ.
The normal method of firing was to use a burning torch or slow match to ignite a saucisson (French for "sausage", a cloth or leather tube waterproofed with pitch and filled with black powder) leading to the main charge.