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XII. An Account of an old Piece of Ordnance, which some Fishermen dragged out of the Sea near the Goodwin Sands, in 1775. By Edward King, Esq, F.R.S. In a Letter to the Rev. Dr. Milles

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 July 2012

Edward King Esq.
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Extract

A few months ago I ventured to communicate to the Society, through your hands, some observations on the structure of ancient castles, and the mode of fortifying them; apprehending an enquiry of that nature might possibly have a tendency to illustrate the more early periods of our history, and to fling light upon the relations of many particular events, which are interesting in themselves, but not capable of being fully understood, without some acquaintance with the ancient manners, customs, and arts, that prevailed in those times. The very favourable reception which that attempt met with, induces me now to trouble you still further, with a short account of a single fragment of antiquity, a very extraordinary piece of old Ordnance; which, although it may, at first sight, be deemed an object unworthy the attention of the Society, may perhaps contribute to illustrate some few historical facts, equally with more magnificent and important remains. And I connot help adding, that perhaps the collecting a number of such ancient fragments, of various ages, and preserving faithful accounts of them, may even be a means of furnishing a very useful comment on history.

Type
Research Article
Information
Archaeologia , Volume 5 , 1779 , pp. 147 - 159
Copyright
Copyright © The Society of Antiquaries of London 1779

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References

page 148 note [a] It is recorded by historians, and I believe with great truth, that cannon were first used in Europe (by Edward III.) at the battle of Cressy in 1346.— Mezeray, v. 3. p. 183. Rapin, v. 4. 268.

Mans taken by bombardment, anno 1424, Hen. VI. large battering canon being now first used by the English. Polyd. Vergil. Hist. Ang. p. 591, ed. Thysii 1651.

Carte (Hist. II. 433.) says the French historians from records observe, that cannon were first used by the English at the attack of the ville d'Eu in Normandy by Henry-Lord Morley 1339. But Mezerai [Etat de la France] says that artillery was first known 1318. The Histoire de M. de Boucicaut, p. 264. 1699. says, the King of England, at the battle of Agincourt, placed some pieces of cannon on an eminence which did not kill many men, but threw a panic into the French army who were absolute strangers to them. Voltaire (Gen. Hist.) says cannon had been invented ten or twelve years before the battle of Cressy. The first appearance of cannon in Italy, was against the Genoese boats at the siege of Venice 1380. Guicciardini, transl. by Goddard I. 147 9, Mod. Un. Hist. 28. 415. See a curious description of the musquets invented by the Luccihese by Bellius, ib. 36. 137. n. A. Walsingham describing the defeat of the French fleet off Sluys 1386 says, there were taken on board of it “Gunnœ plures, cum magna quantitate “pulveris cujus precium prevaluit omnibus manubiis supra dictis.” p. 323. These Gunnœ he says, p. 398, “Galli canones vocant.”

Harquebusses first used, anno 1414, at the siege of Arras. Montf. Monum. III. p. 162.

page 151 note [b] There is a translation of this Spanish book into French, and the title is, “Vraye Instruction de l'artillerie & de ses appurtenances. Le tout recuilly de “l'Experience, es queires du Pays bas & publié en langue Espagnole par Diego “Veano Capitane de l'Artillerie au C D'Anvers.”

page 152 note [c] Antiquites de la Couronne de France, Tom. I. p. 137–8.

page 153 note [d] See Pufendorf's Introduction, v. 1. p. 61.

page 156 note [e] Vol. XLIX. p. 588–90.