The earliest civic guards were armed with a crossbow. In the 15th century the lighter and more manageable longbow was introduced. In the early 16th century guns became popular (usually an arquebus, a type of musket.) By about 1560 there were between 600 and 800 civic guards in Amsterdam. They were divided into three groups or guilds, each with their own guildhall. They would hold shooting practice in the guildhall grounds. Since the members of the civic guards were expected to provide their own armour and weapons, only well-to-do burghers could afford to join. The suits of armour seen here were made in Milan and are decorated with scenes from Greek and Roman mythology. In the background are some of the weapons the civic guards used: pikes (with a heart-shaped point), halberds (an axe blade and a pick topped by a spearhead) a type of spear with two symmetrical axe blades. In front daggers and a rapier can be seen. On the right is a musket.