Visits to Fields of Battle, in England, of the Fifteenth Century: to which are added, some miscellaneous tracts and papers upon archæological subjectsBrooke, Richard
History
Visits to Fields of Battle, in England, of the Fifteenth Century: to which are added, some miscellaneous tracts and papers upon archæological subjects
Brooke, Richard
Battlefields -- England; Great Britain -- History -- Wars of the Roses, 1455-1485
1406.—Preparations by the Duke of Burgundy and the King of France for the
siege of Calais, “Et y avoit aussi tres grand quantité de Charois menans
bombardes, Canons, artilleries, vivres, et autres besonges necessaires à
guerre.”—1 _Monstrelet_, fo. 27.
Although the cannons in the two last instances were not used by, but were
intended to be used against, the English, yet it has been considered
advisable to notice them, in order to show that they were then commonly
used in the wars in which the English were engaged, and were intended in
each instance to be used against a town defended by the latter; and also
to prove that at that period there were firearms of various
denominations.
Same year, 7th Henry IV.—Account of the military stores stated by Henry
Somer to have been delivered to William Loveney, Treasurer to the King’s
sister, Philippa, Queen of Denmark, Norway, Sweden, &c., “2 Gunnes, 40
Libras pulveris pro Gunnes, 40 Petras pro Gunnes, 40 Tampons, 4 Touches,
1 Mallet, 2 Fire pannes, 40 Pavys, 24 Arcus, et 40 Garbas Sagittarum, pro
Stuffura cujusdam navis, ordinata pro aula ejusdem Reginæ versus Dauciam,
per Indenturam,” &c.; also “prædictis 2 canoins 40 l. pulveris,” &c.—8
_Fædera_, fo. 447.
The above document furnishes evidence of the use of stone balls for
cannons in 1406; and, although the language is not at all conclusive, it
may be worthy of consideration whether it does not also afford some
slight evidence of guns being in use on shipboard at that early date.
1407, 12th September.—Indenture of 8th Henry IV. between the King and
Rees ap Griffith and others, containing the terms of the surrender by
them of the castle of Aberystwith, in Wales, “facient seu faciet
liberationem plenam Canonum seu instrumentorum Anglicè Gunnes vocatorum,
arcuum, sagittarum, Balistarum, et aliorum Instrumentorum, infra dictum
Castrum,” &c.—8 _Fædera_, fo. 498.
1413, 1st September.—Warrant of the 1st Henry V. to John Sprong and John
Louth, empowering them to take and provide “ad tot Equos, Boves,
Plaustra, et Carectas, quot pro cariagio certorum gunnorum nostrorum, ac
aliarum Rerum pro eisdem Gunnis necessarium, à villa Bristolliæ usque
Civitatem nostram Londoniæ indiguerint,” &c.—9 _Fædera_, fo. 49.
1414, 22nd September.—Warrant of the 2nd Henry V. to Nicholas Merbury,
“Magistro Operationum, Ingeniorum, et Gunnarum nostrorum, ac aliarum
Ordinationum nostrarum, pro guerrâ,” and to John Louth, “Clerico earundem
Operationum,” to take and provide “ad tot Lathomos, Carpentarios,
Serratores, Fabros, et Laboratores, quot pro operationibus Ingeniorum,
Gunnarum, et Ordinationum prædictorum, necessarii fuerint, cum
sufficienti maeremio Ferro,” &c.—Same, fo. 159.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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