¶ The Arte of shooting in great Ordinance.
CHAPTER. I
How to know the goodnesse or badnesse of Pouder.
FIrst concerning Powder, for that it is the chiefest matter as touching the shooting in Ordinance. According to some Authours, the first deuice of the making thereof beganne in Germany, by a Monke named Bertholdus Schwartus, neere about the yeare of oure Lorde. 1380. and since that time it hath bine put in practise from time to time, and from age to age, both by the learned Mathematicians, and also by the best Machanisianes, besides a number of other common people, as well by them that haue bine seruetours, in martial affayres, as all other, so that of the making of the peter, and also of the pouder, hath bin made great proofe vnto the vttermost, as touching the force of pouder, so that it is not vnknowē now in these dayes, what quantitie of euery seuerall sortes of receiptes doth make the strongest sortes of pouder, besides the perfit-refining of the salte peter, & also y e thorough working of the receiptes in the making of the pouder, so that it is now come to passe in these dayes, that the making of the pouder, and also the making of the saltpeter, is become (in respect) a common thing amongst a number of people, as it is made commonly in many partes in Germanie by the Boures or husbandmen, and also by the women: wherefore it were but superfluous to say any thinge therein, considering how well the making thereof is knowen vnto a number of people, and therefore the principallest thinge in the shooting of Ordinance, is to knowe the goodnesse or the badnesse [Page 6] of the pouder, and that is knowen after the common order, that is, by three kinde of meanes, first by the tasting of the tongue, knowing by the sharpnesse thereof, whether that there be sufficient of the maister or peter or not: and secondly it is knowen by the coulour, for the good pouder hath somewhat a blewish coulour, and if it be Sarpentine pouder, then the pouder will be as fine as sande, and as soft as floure, and that signifyeth, that it is well wrought, and otherwise it will be harshe in your hande, and clammish, and looke with a darkish blacke coulour, and that signifyeth that it is wel wrought, and the maister not refyned: and the third & principall is knowen by the burning, for if it be verie good pouder, then in the burning, the fire wil be gone in y e twinckling of an eye at a verie suddayne, & wyll giue a snap or suddayne puffe, & nothing remaining afterwardes, but a white moke on that place whereas it was burned: but badde pouder in the burning fireth not so quickely, but fireth as dothe a fire worke, very slowly, makyng some hissing, and after the burning, there wyll remaine certayne burreles or knottes that wyll consume vnto moysture, and be darkishe, and that sygnifieth that the peter or mayster was not well refyned, neyther the pouder well wrought: And after the burning of some kinde of pouder, there wyll remayne certayne whyte burrles, or knottes (as before is rehearsed) that will remaine hard, and not consume after the burning, and that sygnifyeth, that the pouder dothe lacke of the maister or peter. And also here is one principall thinge to bee noted, that when pouder is drye, then the force of it in respecte, is as it were double, or a quarter stronger, than when it is moyste and darkishe, whether the pouder bee goode or badde. And also that pouder that is verie good and well made, yet maye happen to become moyste, as manye times by carriage too and fro in rayny weather, and also by laying it in some moist places, the caske beeyng not very [Page 7] close and tyght, that the pouder may growe dankishe.
And also those kinde of pouders that the peter or maister is not well refyned, but left full of salte, although that the pouder bee neuer so drye when it is layd vp, yet it will giue agayne in rayny & heather, and become moyst, how drye soeuer the place be that it is layde vp in. Wherefore there are a number of thinges to bee considered in pouder, as touching the shooting in great Ordinance, in a number of causes: for men of reason maye know by the burning, coulour, tastyng, and the handling of pouder, which is good, & which is badde: but to say iustly how much the one sorte of pouder is stronger or weaker than another sorte of pouder is, that is harde to knowe, although he be the maker of the pouder, and hath wayed out perticularly the receiptes of the pouder: and the meanes thereof commeth to passe, as this, by the working thereof, and by the meanes of the drying thereof, and by the moisting or giuing of it againe, and especially if the pouder haue bin long made: so that it is a hard matter if a man haue of sundry sortes of pouder, to say iustly that thus much in weyghte of this sorte of pouder, will doe as muche, that is to say, to bee equall in force, as so much in weyghte of that sorte of pouder, vntill that it be putte in proofe in the shooting it in Ordinance. And thus I doe ceasse to write any more at this time of Pouder.
CHAPTER. II.
To know whether any peece of Ordinance be truelie bored, by the helpe of certaine instrumentes.
TO know whether that any peece of Ordinance be truly bored, ther be diuers waies Geometrically for it to be done, but some of them be too tedious, therefore for an easie way, they must make this kinde of instrument of two peeces of small timber, or two right staues, that must be as long as the hollow or concauitie of the peece, which must be made in this forme, & the [...] must be made so fast at y e one end, that it be not wider asunder at the one end, than it is at the other end, & so made fast, that they swarue not eyther wider or narrower: and then putting one of the [...]aues into the mouth of the peece, and so measuring or trying the peece rounde about with the staffe that is without the peece, with an ynche rule, you shall know whether that the core or hollownesse of the peece do [...] right in the middle of the mettle, and if it doe not, you shall see howe much the mettell is thicker on the one side, than it is on the other. And also it is very good for you when you do meane to trie the peece, to prepare rammer head that is made fitte for the peece, and to put it vppon the staffe that you do put into the peece, and to be made fast vnto the side of the staffe, and side of the rammer head, in such sort, that it may keepe the staffe close vnto the side of the peece, which it will do the better, if the rammer head be to low, and then to haue a peece of a Sheepes skinne made fast, or nayled vnto the contrarie side of the rammer heade, and so it will keepe the long staffe close vnto the side of the peece, as by these two figures following you may perceiue.
And furthermore, they may make this kinde of instrument following, of yron, or any other stuffe meete for the purpose, for to gripe the peece in euery place at your pleasure.
This instrumente muste bee double the length of the hollow or concauitie of the peece, and then you muste put one of the right ones into the mouth of the peece, and then griping the instrument together, then that parte that is without the peece, and that shall shewe you howe many ynches and partes of an ynche the mettall is of thicknes, without any fayle: and then trying the peece round about in euery place, the truth of the thicknes of the mettall shal appeare.
CHAPTER. III.
How muche Pouder will serue any peece of Ordnaunce, by the weight of the peece, and weight of the shot: and at the end of this Chapter, there is a Table that doth declare the weight of Iron shott.
TO know how much powder will serue any peece of Ordnaunce, there be two speciall points to be obserued, that is to say, the weight of the shotte of yron, and the weight of the mettall of the peece: and this is a generall rule, the peece hauing a reasonable length, that is to say, that according vnto the accustomable manner, according vnto the names of the peece or peeces, all those peeces that haue two hundred weight of mettall, or vpwardes vnto one pounde weight of shotte, must haue as much Sarpentine pouder as the shotte waieth. And all those peeces that haue three hundred weight in mettall, vnto one poūd weight of shot, doe require as muche Sarpentine pouder as the shotte wayeth, and one ninth parte more. And all those peeces y e haue vnder two hundred weight of mettall, and more thā one hundred and a halfe, may haue as much Sarpentine pouder as the shot weieth, lacking one ninth part. And all those peeces that haue one hundred & a halfe of mettall or there about, vnto one pound weight of the shotte, must lack 2/9 partes of pouder that the shotte waieth. And all those peeces that haue but little more than one hundred, & vnder one hundred & a halfe, must lacke 3/9 partes of y e weight of the pouder that the shot waieth, y t is but ⅔ parts. Therfore for the making of Ladels for anye peece or peeces of Ordnaunce, this thing must be noted. First, take the compasse of the shot for the peece y t you do make the Ladel for, and then diuide, or put the compasse of the shotte into. 5. [Page 11] equall parts, and thē cut the plate of the Ladel in breadth of three of those fiue partes, and put the other ⅖ partes away, and then bende the plate for the breadth of the Ladell, according vnto the compasse of the shotte, so that it may goe easily into the mouth of the peece: for ⅗ partes is for to hold the pouder, to the intēt to put it into the peece, and the ⅖ parts be put away, to be open to turne the pouder into the peece. And now furthermore, for the lenght of the plate of the ladell, heere is one thinge to be noted, that euery nine balles or shot being layde close together, and the plate being bent, and cut off that breeadth before rehearsed, and the plate in length to be cut off, that number of ynches that the nine shottes dothe reache, and that plate being equally filled with Sarpentine pouder, wyll holde the iust weyghte in pouder that the shotte weyeth. Therefore for the length of the plate of the Ladell, thus you must vse it as followeth. For to make a Ladell for a double Canon, and the peece weying generally more or lesse. 7000. or. 8000. and the shott weying within little more or lesse. 64. pounde, that is, but little more than one hundred of mettall, vnto one pounde weyght of the shot, therfore this peece may lack ⅓ part of the weyght in pouder that the shot weyeth: therefore they must cut the plate of the Ladell but. 3. times the length of the shot, in ynches and partes of ynches, and this Ladel twice equally filled, shall be the dutie of the peece. Then for to make a Ladel for a Demy Canon, as the peece in mettall weyeth generally more or lesse. 5000 or. 5700. and the shotte weyeth more or lesse. 34. pounde, whiche is about an hundred and a halfe of mettall, vnto one pounde weighte of the shotte, therefore you must cutte the plate of the Ladell three shots or balles and a halfe high, or. 4. shots or balles high. In ynches and partes of ynches, according vnto the fortifying of the peece with the mettall, and the Ladell twice [Page 12] equally filled, to be the dutie of the peece. And for to make a ladell for a double Culuering, those peeces being double fortified with mettall, and the peece waying generally more or lesse foure thousande, or foure thousande eyght hundred, and the shotte waying more or lesse 17. pounds, that is, about three hundred weight of mettall, vnto one pounde weight of shotte. Therefore you must cut the plate of the ladell in length about the height of fiue shotte or balles, in ynches and partes: this ladell being twice equally filled, shall be the dutie of the peece. And in like manner the demy Culuering, and Falcōs, and Falckonets, be double fortifyed with metall: therefore you must mak their ladell in length fiue shottes or balles, in ynches or partes, and that ladell twice equally filled, shal be the dutie of the peece. And furthermore, some Sakars and Minions haue but two hundred weigth of mettall vnto one pounde weight of the shotte: therefore you must cut the plate of the ladell in length but of foure shottes or balles & a halfe high: and that ladell twice equally filled, shall be the dutie of the peece. And furthermore, now of late yeares, they haue deuised a more stronger sorte of pouder, and not without good cause why, for the base pouder is not so good, if that it should come vnto seruice, as corne pouder, or any other pouder is, that hath receipt ynough, and well wrought: for the base pouder dothe heate and streyne the peece more than the good pouder doth: for if it be rammed in hard, thē because it is not so quicke in y e fiering, it lyeth and bloweth in the breech of the peece, before it can take fire, so by that meanes it heateth and streineth the peece, and halfe of the force of the pouder is gone, before y e shotte be deliuered: and then they must vse batement for to saue the peece. Nowe whereas they shoote good pouder, or cornepouder, they take much lesse pouder, and it sendeth the shotte quicker awaye, and it dothe not [Page 13] heate the peece so fast: for this we doe see by common experience, that a little heat by long continuance, doth heat more than a great heat by little continuance. And furthermore, in the shooting of good pouder, they shall not shew thēselues so often vnto their enemies. And especially, the pouder woulde be put in cartredges, for in mine opinion, it is a greate deale better, for to charge a peace in time of seruice with a Cartredge, than with a Ladell, for diuers considerations, as I doe more at large declarein the sixth Chapter. And furthermore, for to charge a peece w t cornepouder, or any other good pouder, for the most parte, therof two pounde will goe as farre as three pound of Serpē tine pouder. As for example: that double Culuering that requireth eyghteēe pounde of Serpentine pouder, twelue pounde of reasonable corne pouder will serue, according to the goodnes of the making of the pouder. And furthermore, vpon good considerations, for diuers causes, and especially for the Queenes Nauie, they haue deuised to make their Ordnaunce shorter than the accustomed manner, and so by that meanes they are lighter than the peeces before time made, and yet as seruiceable as the longer in some points, shooting that weight in pouder, and y e shotte that the heauier doth, in all poyntes as the other: for that mettall that is taken from the length of the peece, hurteth not the fortifiyng of the peece. And as for the making of the Cartredges for any peece, it is easie ynough to be done: for the compasse of the shotte, and the length of the Ladel, shall [...]ule that matter well ynough. Nowe shall followe a rule to know the weyghte of the yron shotte, by the height of the shotte.
- A Shot of 2. ynches high, doth wey. 1. lb. 1. ounce. ¾.
- A shot of. 2. ynches ¼ high, doth wey. 1. lb. 9. oūces. ⅓.
- A shot of. 2. ynches d. high, doth wey. 2. lb. 2. ounces.
- A shot. 2. inches. 3. quar. high, doth wey. 2. lb. 14. oūces.
- A shot. 3. ynches high, doth wey. 3. lb. 12. ounces.
- A shot. 3. inches a quar. high, doth wey. 4. lb. 12. oūces.
- A shot. 3. ynches d. high, doth wey. 6. lb. lacke. 1. ounce.
- A shot. 3. ynches. 3. quar. high, doth wey. 7. lb. 5. oūces.
- A shot. 4. ynches high, doth wey. 8. lb. 15. ounces.
- A shot. 4. inches a qua high, doth wey. 10. lb. 10. oūces.
- A shot. 4. ynches d. high, doth wey. 12. lb. 10. ounces.
- A shot. 4. inches. 3. qua▪ high, doth wey. 14. lb. 14. oūces.
- A shot. 5. ynches high, doth wey. 17. lb. 5. oūces.
- A shot. 5. ynches a quar. high, doth wey. 20 lb. 1. ounce,
- A shot. 5. ynches d. high, doth wey. 23. lb. 2. ounces.
- A shot. 5. inches. 3. quar. high, doth wey. 26. lb. 6. oūces.
- A shot. 6. ynches high, doth wey. 30. pound.
- A shot. 6. ynches a quarter high, doth wey. 34. pound.
- A shot. 6. inches d high, doth wey. 38. pound.
- A shot. 6. inches three quar. high, doth wey. 42. poūd.
- A shot. 7. ynches high, doth wey. 48. pound.
- A shot. 7. ynches a quarter high, doth wey. 53. pound.
- A shot. 7. ynches d. high, doth wey. 58. pound.
- A shot. 7. ynches three quarters high, doth wey. 64. lb.
- A shot. 8. ynches high, doth wey. 71. pound.
- A shot. 8. ynches a quarter high, doth wey. 78. pound.
- A shot. 9. ynches high, doth wey. 101. pound.
- A shot. 10. ynches high, doth wey 138. pound.
- A shot. 11. ynches high, doth wey. 184. pound.
- A shot. 12 ynches high, doth wey. 240. pound.
- A shot. 13. ynches high, doth wey. 305. pound.
- A shot. 14. ynches high, doth wey. 380. pound.
CHAPTER. IIII.
To dispart any peece of Ordnaunce truely.
OF all thinges belonging vnto a Gunner, the chiefest is, to bring the mettall of hys peece euen, for else hee shall neuer shoote iust to his marke, which Gunners call disparting of their peeces: and there be many wayes to do it. Nowe to disparte your peece, do this, take a string, such a one as will not stretch, then gird your peece about hir tayle or great ende, in the very biggest place of the peece, then measure the line iustly how many ynches the peece was in the compasse, and then looke howe many. 22. ynches there be in the cōpasse, take so many. 7. ynches for the Dyametre, highte, or thicknes of the circle, for in al circles being perfect round, as timber, stone, or any other mettall, looke howe many. 22. ynches there be in the circumference or compasse, so many times. 7. there is in the Diametre or height, then the height or thicknes of y e breech of y e peece beeyng knowen, looke how many ynches and partes of an ynche it commeth vnto, then lay that vnto the mouth of the peece, and looke howe muche of that doth remayne ouer, then take halfe of that for your dispart. But some doe vse to gird them (as afore is saide) and do put that into three equall partes, but that is not the exacte way, although it dothe goe somewhat neere the matter. Some also wyll take a priming yron, and put it into the tutchhole, and then lay it vnto the mouth of the peece, and looke what it commeth vnto more than the measure, they will take that for their dispart: but that maye deceiue them, as it is generally false. Wherefore this is a verye good way, to take youre rule of two foote long, and then [Page 16] laye that crosse the tayle of the peece then take a plummet of lead vpon a line or a string. First holde the plumbe line on the one side close to the peece, that the line touche the peece without any bending, then on the other side, as circumspectly as you can, that the plummet line touch the side of the peece, without any bending, and then laye that measure to the mouthe of the peece, and looke what the ouermeasure commeth vnto, take halfe of that for youre true dispart. Nowe for youre better instructions by thys figure.
First I lay my rule of two foote long vpon the tayle of the peece crosse A and B and then I holde my plummet of leade first vpon the saide A as you may see, and then hold my hand vpon
the other sid B close to the side of the peece, thē I do look how manye ynches the tayle of the [Page 17] peece was from A and B, and I finde it nineteene ynches and a halfe: then I lay my rule vnto the mouth of the peece C and D, and finde that the mouth of the peece is fifteene ynches, so there remayneth foure ynches and a halfe: then I deuide the foure ynches and a halfe into two equal parts, & that is two ynches and ¼ which I take for my dispart: then with my plūmet of leade, I goe vnto the mouth of the peece, and making a parpendicular line, and so I find the vppermost parte of the peece: then I take a strawe, setting that perfitely vpright, according to the dispart, two inches & a quarter aboue the mouth of the yeece, and make it
fast with a little waxe, at the letter C, then bringing y e taile of the peece to the toppe of the strawe which is my disparte, leuel with my marke, there is no doubt, but I shall make a perfite shotte, so that it be as farre as within the cast of the right line: for the disparting of your peece, is but to bring the mouth of your peece before, to be as high as the tayle behinde. For this you must consider, that he that can by arte lay the hollow of the peece right against the marke, must needes hit it, so that it be not farther than the peece doth cast vppon the right line, for he that shall giue leuell to a peece without disparting, shall shoote a great deale ouer the marke, bycause that the side of the peece is contrarie vnto the core or hollownesse of the same: for the mettall of the tayle of the peece, is a great deale thicker than the mouth. And furthermore, this is a very good way to disparte all manner of peeces of Ordnaunce: take your Calapar compasses, [Page 18] and so take the height of the tayle of the peece, then measure it with your rule and looke what it is more at the tayle, than it is at the mouth, take halfe that for your disparte, and doing (as before is said) there is no truer way, so that your Calapar compasses be large ynough to reach it. Now in like case, you may disparte your peece with your Quadrant, and also with a square, but to teach tedious wayes as long as a man may teach easilie, it were but superfluous, and the easie wayes as good or better than the other.
Now, as concerning chambred peeces, for the disparting of them, there can be no perfecte writing, for it must be considered and handled, according vnto the forme of the Chamber, and fashion of the hall of the peece, whether it be Sling, Foller, Portepeece, or Baces: but any reasonable man, (when hee doth see the peece and the Chamber) may easily know what he must doe, as touching those matters.
CHAPTER. 5.
How to giue leuell with any peece of Ordnaunce, to make a shotte, as the most sortes of Gunners vse to doe, although there be no Arte in it
FOr the making of a shotte, that is to saye, to giue leuell vnto anye marke assigned, with a peece of Ordnaunce, without the right line, according vnto the accustomable manner that Gunners vse, for that they doe not knowe the distance vnto the marke, and therefore doe but giue a [Page 19] gesse what aduantage will reach the marke, and if that it be with an ynch rule, then thus they doe.
First by their iudgmentes they doe giue that so manye ynches aduantage as they suppose will reach the marke, and then by the first lighting or falling of the shot, hee doth see whether it be shorte or gone ouer the marke, and if it be shorte, then at the next shooting hee will giue the peece more aduantage by the ynch rule: and if it bee ouer, then he will giue the peece lesse aduauntage with the ynche rule: and so by diuers times shooting off the peece at a marke, they will finde howe many ynches and partes will keepe the length of the marke. And if they doe not shoote with an ynche rule, then they will giue the peece the aduauntage by some assigned place beyonde the marke that they doe shoote at: and if the shotte doe light shorter, then they will giue the peece more aduantage at the next shotte: and if the shotte be farther then the mark, then they will giue the peece lesse aduantage at the next shotte. And so by often shooting at the marke, they will hitte the length of the same, and then knowing at what marke the peece must bee mounted vnto righte ouer the marke, then they alwayes mounte the peece vnto that aduantage, and they shall alwayes keepe the length of the marke, with that peece at that marke, the peece to bee laden alwayes equally with Pouder.
But by this order of shooting, hee shall neuer become cunning, although he shoote a thousand shootes, for that there is no methode or order in the doing thereof, but onely with that peece at the marke: for if you doe shoote with another peece at that marke, although the peece dothe shoote that shotte, and that weighte in Pouder, the peece maye shoote vnder or ouer by the meanes of the length of the same, or the bignesse [Page 20] or smalnesse of the breech, and the mouth of the peece in mettall. And to bring that peece vnto any other place, they must doe as at the first, to proue what will reach the marke: and therefore this kind of shooting is to no purpose, but onely in a Towne or Castell, in the time of seruice, for him that hath the charge of Ordnaunce, to proue what the peece will doe at euery marke, as touching the keeping of the length of the marke, wherby they may the better shoote at their enemies when they doe serue, otherwise it will be to no great purpose: for as often as you doe alter or chaunge your peece, or take that peece away to serue in an other place, so oft you are to seeke, and to proue the thinge newe againe, whether you doe vse to shoote with the ynch rule, or by the degrees in the Quadrant: for if you doe shoote with the ynch rule, then the length of the peece wil alter it as is shewed in the 8. chapter following. And if you shoote by the degrees in y e Quadrant, then the highnesse or lownesse of the ground shall cause them to erre, as I doe shew in the thirteenth Chapter. Wherefore, if I were worthy to giue counsell, I could shew them how to vse the matter, that they might atteyne to know the length of the marke at the first shotte, but I neuer saw it so handled, whereby they should atteine it: for all the proofes that haue beene made as yet by Englishmen, are no proofe, but altogether to cause them that did see the proofe, to committe further errour, as touching the distance vnto the marke, or hitting the length of the marke.
CHAPTER. 6.
What a degree is &c.
FUrthermore, wheras this book is nam [...] The Arte of shooting in great Ordnaunce, so in like manner I thinke it conuenient, to shew you what the word Arte meaneth or signifieth, which is, the describing of a way or methode, how to atteyne to the certayntie of any matter. Which as hitherunto I haue not seen any such book, althogh it hath been very neer two hundred yeeres since the first inuentiō of Ordnaunce: and excepte there bee any better booke in some mens hands, such as I haue not seene, as it is like ynough that there may be, there is no Arte in any of them: yet I haue seene a number of bookes that haue beene written concerning Ordnance, but surely they that wrote thē, were not seene in any part of y e Mathematical science, neither good Machanisians, but (in respect) vtterly voyd of any science: (in comparison) no good order described in the shooting of Ordnaunce, to knowe what distance, the shotte is deliuered from the peece: neyther haue they knowen what instruments haue meaned. And although they haue named degrees in their bookes, yet it appeareth vnto me that they haue not knowledge what a degree signifieth, for that they haue named a Quadrant, a Triangle and other food and foolish by names. Wherefore they that haue written those bookes that the Gūners haue amongst them, were vtterly vnlearned in any manner of science, which were in the beginning, in the time of King Henry y e eight, made by Flemmings: for in the wars in those daies the King sent ouer into Flaunders, and those parts thereabout, to haue Gunners to serue him in the warres, & the Gunners haue no other bookes, but such as were written [Page 22] by them: wherefore I do thinke it good to shew vnto you what a degree is.
A degree is a parte or deuision of a whole circle into 360. equall parts, as the the auncient fathers aforetime haue taught, and especially in Astronomy. And it is very profitable for Gunners to knowe the vse of them. The Quadrant that they doe occupie, is the fourth part of a circle, deuided into 90. equall parts, according vnto y e fourth part of the Heauens, for the zeneth or pricke in the Heauens (ouer the Crowne of your head, downe to the Horizon) is deuided into 90. equall partes, according vnto the Quadrant. As for example: If there were a perpendicular line let downe out of the Heauens vnto the earth, then should the earth be a right line, and make a square angle vnto the furthest parte of the Horizon that you can see, and so passe vnto the Heauens, as doth the Quadrant: and then the best of the Rander is 45. of these deuisions, called degrees (as some mens opinion hath been) and that is half 90. and the said. 45. degrees be the best of the Rander in some cases, and that is with the winde, but otherwise, it is not, as it is further declared in the 5. Chapter. And for better example, I haue placed this figure.
CHAPTER. 7.
Howe to make a shotte vpon the right line, and also to know how much ground any peece of Ordnaunce doth driue or conuey the shot at the mount of euery degree of the Rander.
FUrthermore, any peece of Ordnaunce being truly disparted, as is declared in the fourth Chapter, they may know at al times how for to shoote iust vnto the mark, especially within point blank, & point blanke, is the direct fleeing of the shot, without any descending from the mouth of the peece vnto the mark, y e mouth of the peece to stand directly with the Horizon, so that it be vpon a plaine and leuell ground, as far as y e peece may cast, hytting any thing that standeth directly as hygh as the mouth of the peece, laying the hollowe or concauitie of the peece against the thing that you doe shoote at &c. And to shoote at anye marke vppon the right line, you shall doe it by this meanes: your peece being truely disparted, and the dispart sette vppon the mouth of the peece, bringe the middle of the tayle of the peece to the toppe of your disparte vppon the mouth of the peece, and the marke that you doe shoote at, all three vppon one right line, by the sight of one of your eyes, and then foreseeing that the peece standeth vppon a leuell grounde, and the one wheele to bee as nimble as the other, this doone, there is no doubte but you may shoote as neere the marke with a Cannon as with a Hargabus, or Caliuer. This is most certaine. Therefore it is very necessary to know how far any peece wil conuey the shot vpon the right line, & that is somewhat hard to do, for [Page 24] there is seldome any grounde, but is higher in one place than in another, and then if the peece should bee layd close vnto the ground, it woulde graze before that it were at the end of the right line, and then if the peece be in her carriage, the shotte will not graze before that it were descended, as much as the height of the carriage. And for to set vp any thing certaine at the end of the right line, it were too tedious, therefore in my opinion, this is one of the best wayes, in the finding what distance any peece conuayeth or driueth the shotte vppon the right line or any degree of the Rander, as thus: Repaire vnto a very leuell ground, as a plaine marrish, that is iust water leuell, and then to finde the right line or point blanke, rayse a butte or banke in that plaine grounde, and then sette vppe a marke the iust height of the peece that lyeth in the carriage, and take a quadrant, with a rule fast thereunto, and put the rule into the mouth of the peece, and coyne the breech of the peece vp and downe, vntill the plummet hang at the corner of the Quadrant, and then shall the Concauitie of the peece, lye right with the Horyzon, neyther higher nor lower: then shoote off the peece against the butte: if the shotte bee vnder the marke, it is more then the right line, then you must bringe the peece neerer vnto the butte, banke or marke: but if it be the iust height of the marke, then remooue the peece farther off from the marke, and so remoouing the peece for wardes and backwardes, you shal finde the true right line of the peece. By this order, you may trye the true right line of all manner of peeces of Ordnaunce. And whereas the opinion of diuers Gunners is, the one contrarie vnto the other, some holding an opinion, that the longer peece doth ouershoote the shorter, and some that the shorte doth ouershoote the longer: the troth is, that the longer peece doth shoote further than the shorter, although that in the mounting of a long [Page 25] peece and a shorte with an ynche rule, the shorte peece dothe ouershoote the longer, although bothe shoote one shotte, and one sorte and weyght of pouder, as you maye perceyue in the nexte Chapter following, and also in the beginning of the Booke in the eyght consideration. &c. Furthermore, to knowe what anye peece of Ordnaunce wyll doe at the mounte of euery degree, and what distance of grounde the shott dothe flye, doe thys, the grounde beyng playne and leuell (as before is rehearsed) place the peece in thys manner: you muste make a hole in the grounde, to the intent to make a platteforme, to set the peece vpon, in such order, that the tronchions of the peece being in hir cariage, be iuste in heigth leuell with the grounde, neyther higher nor lower: then take your Quadrant, and the rule fastned thereto, and put the rule into the mouth of the peece, and so mount the peece vnto one degree, shooting off the same, and seeing the firste grase, measure the distance of grounde, and note or marke that: then in like manner mount the peece vnto two degrees, and so vnto three degrees, and so forth from degree to degree, vntill the peece bee mounted vnto the best compasse of the Rander. Thus shall you know what any peece will doe at the mount of euery degree. &c. But if you shoulde make youre proofe vppon suche grounde as is not leuell, then your proofe shoulde be erronious, for that the Quadrant sheweth by the degree, howe muche it is higher than the Horizon, for if the shotte doe not finde grounde in his descending, equall with the heigth of the peece, the shotte fleeth further than it shoulde do. And also if the ground be higher than the place that the peece doth stand vpon, then the shot will be stayde the sooner, by the meanes of the heigth of the ground, as I do more at large declare in the. 13. Chapter following. And for your better instruction of the mounting of the peece, I haue made this figure following.
Firste take the Quadrant, and put the rule of the Quadrante E into the mouth of the peece C, and then putting vp or downe the tayle of the peece A, till the plummet G fall vpon the corner of the Quadrant at D, then looke whatsoeuer you see right with the vpper side of the Quadrante H, shall be leuell with the mouth of the peece, and that is called the poynt blancke, for that vppon a leuell grounde wythoute anye hylles, as vppon the sea, that all thinges standeth so leuell, shall bee ryghte wythe the Horizon, that is to say, at the parting of the earthe and the Skye, by the sighte of youre eye: and then puttyng downe the tayle of the peece A, the plummet line G wyll [Page 27] hange at what degree you please towardes the myddle lyne of the Quadrant E, then the mouth of the peece B and C wyll goe vpwardes. &c. Nowe shall followe (according vnto the proofe that I haue made, but yet not to my contentation, neyther in respect to no purpose) the argumente of the proportion of the mountyng of euerye degree vnto the best of the Randare, according vnto the proofe that I haue made. Looke howe muche grounde the peece conueyeth the shotte from the ryghte lyne, vnto the mountyng of fyue degrees, that is as muche grounde as the ryghte lyne, and two nynth parts more, and from the mountyng of fyue degrees vnto tenne degrees the shotte is conueyed as muche grounde as the ryghte lyne, and 1/9 parte more, and from the mountyng of tenne degrees vnto fifteene degrees, the shotte is conueyed as muche grounde as the ryghte lyne iuste. And from the mounting of fifteene degrees vnto the mountyng of twentye degrees, the shotte is conueyed halfe as muche grounde as the ryghte lyne iust: and from the mountyng of anye peece from twentye degrees vnto the best of the Randare, the shotte is conueyed in all aboute ⅔ partes of the ryghte lyne, and that is in a faire calme daye, and then two and fortie degrees is the beste of the Randare, and wyth the wynde fyue and forty is the best of the Randare, and agaynste the wynde, as the wynde is in bignesse, that is, one and fortye, or fortye, or nyne and thirty, or eyght and thirtie, or seauen and thirtye, or syxe and thirtye degrees, the wynde beeyng altogyther the ruler therof. Therfore it is but a folly to make accoumpte thereof, neyther is there any seruice aboue the mountyng of any peece of Ordnaunce, aboue. 20. degrees, excepte it be a morter peece, and the shotte is conueyed off grounde from the mouthe of the peece vnto the lightyng or fallyng of the shotte, to the beste compasse [Page 28] of the Rander, aboute fiue times and a halfe as muche groūd as the right line, being (as before is declared) within a little vnder or ouer, according as the winde bloweth more or lesse, against the winde, or with the winde, and so forth. But here is one principall thinge to be considered, and that is this, that you do alwayes charge the peece w t iust one weighte, and one sorte and kinde of pouder, for otherwayes, in the doyinge thereof, you may committe erroure, as before is declared in the firste Chapter. As touching the knowing the goodnesse of Pouder, for that it chanceth many times that they haue not always one sort of Pouder, neyther alwayes of one mans making but of sundry mens making, and so by that meanes, some Pouder is better than some is: therefore it is a harde matter for to know certainely, y t thus much in weight of thys pouder, is equall vnto the force of so muche in weighte of that sort of Pouder: wherefore in mine opinion, that engine or little boxe that is deuised to proue the force of the Pouder is verye necessarie to be vsed, for by it you maye iustly know which sorte of Pouder is stronger or weaker in force than the other, by waying alike some small quantitie of eache sorte, and so putting the pouder into the engine or boxe, and burning it, firste the one sorte, and then the other sorte, and looke whiche sorte of Pouder doth blowe, or lift the lidde of the boxe highest, that is the stronger sorte of pouder, and you shall knowe by howe muche, by the teeth or notches that doe stay the lidde of the engine or boxe, and so by that engine or boxe, you may fitte the force of the pouder, that is to say, if that you doe occupye so muche pouder with anye peece of Ordnaunce. And for that you woulde keepe that length of the marke at suche an aduantage in mounting, if you haue no more of that sorte of pouder, but that the pouder that you haue is eyther stronger or weaker, then do thus: wey [Page 29] out some smal quantitie, as the weight of a grote or sixepence, more or lesse at youre discretion, as the engine or boxe is, and firste burne that sorte of pouder in the boxe that you do knowe the force of it alreadie, and then looke vnto what teeth or notch that the lidde of the engine or boxe is lifted vp vnto, and then wey out of the other sorte of pouder the like weighte, and so burne that in the boxe or engine, and if it dothe blowe or lifte the lydde hygher than it was before, then it is a stronger forte of pouder, if not so high, then it is a weaker sorte of pouder: and by the number of notches, you shall know how much. Therfore, if it be a starger sorte of Pouder than that you haue occupyed alreadie, then weye out a lesser weyghte of the same, and burne that in the boxe or engine, and so doing, both by the weying and burning of it in the engine or boxe, vntill that it lifte or blowe the lidde of the engine, vnto the iuste heygth that it was with the firste sorte of Pouder: but if the firste sorte of Pouder did blow or lifte the lydde higher than the other, then wey out more in weyghte than the firste, and so by the weying and burning of it in the engine, vntyll the lydde be lyfted vnto the iust heygth that it was before, so by that meanes you shall knowe iustely howe muche weyghte of one sorte of Pouder shall be equall with the force of that sorte of Pouder, and so by this meanes, although you change the sortes of your Pouder neuer so often, yet you may so fitte the peece by the weyghte of youre Pouder, that the peece of Ordnaunce shall keepe one length at the marke. Hauing this cōsideration, both in the lading and the wadding, to be in such order, that is to say, to keepe a methode in the doing thereof, neyther to putte in the pouder too harde, neyther too loose, neyther the wadde to goe in too loose, neyther to be too much too harde, but reasonable. And as touching the fashion and the making of the engine [Page 30] or boxe, I do omitt that in this booke, for that I doe shew it in my Booke, called The Inuentions or deuices, in the. 54. Deuice.
CHAPTER. 8.
Howe for to mount any peece of Ordnaunce by the degree with an Inch rule, with a Table, shewing what parte of an ynche rule wyll make one degree, and so vnto tenne degrees.
FOr the making of a perfite shotte at any degree of the Randare, & to haue a good length at y t marke, the distance of groūd beeing knowen, first it behoueth him for to knowe the force of his Pouder, whiche is shewed in the Chapter going before, and to haue his Pouder putte in Cartredges, eyther of Paper or Canuas, and the Pouder waied, that the one Cartredge bee not heauyer than the other, according vnto the peece, and the goodnesse of the Pouder: for there can be no certaynetie when y t the peece is laden or charged, sometime with more Pouder, & sometime with lesse: and especially in the time of seruice, I do see, that there is no worse lading or charging of Ordnaunce, than with a Ladell, whether that it be by Sea or by lande, for by the lading with a Ladell, it muste bee twice filled, and then at euery tyme that the Pouder is putte into the peece, it muste bee put vppe with the Rammer heade, so that they muste eyther turne the other ende of the Ladell, or else if that the Rammer heade bee vppon the spondge staffe, then he muste change the staues, whiche [Page 31] is a greate cumber to doe in a narrowe roome. And also in the chargyng of a peece wyth a Ladell, hee cannot fill it so equally, but that the Ladell shall haue sometyme more Pouder, and sometyme lesse Pouder, by a good quā titye, and especially if that hee dothe it hastely as in the tyme of seruice it alwayes requireth haste, and that may cause hym that gyueth leuell, to shoote vnder or ouer the marke, or too shorte, or too farre, although y t he hath found what aduantage wyll reach the marke.
And also it is vnprofitable and daungerous to lade or charge a peece wyth a Ladell, for that the Pouder is apte to bee shedde or spylled beeyng hastyly done, and then it is apte to bee fiered, considering what a daungerous poynte it is for the burning and spoyling of men.
Wherefore if youre Pouder bee in Cartredges, and also weyed, the peece is more sooner and easilyer laden or charged, and hee shall keepe the length of the marke the better, and also you maye keepe the Pouder the closer and better, and not so apte to bee shedde or pqylled, for when that the Cartredges bee fylled, then they may bee set vprighte in some Tubbe or Barrell, and then they maye take out one by one as neede shall require, and so couer the Barrell close againe, that it maye bee wythout daunger.
And nowe for the gyuyng of leuell wyth anye peece of Ordnaunce, and the marke more than the peece canne reache vppon the ryghte lyne, and the distance knowen vnto the marke, and also you knowing what ground the peece will conuey the shot vppon the right line, then by the order in the Chapter going before, you may know how māy degrees will reach y e mark. And for that it is somewhat tedious & difficulte to moūte [Page 32] any peece of Ordnaunce with a Quadrante, excepte it be vpon a playne and leuell grounde, that the peece standeth no more, but the iuste heygth, or the lownesse of the mark, which happeneth very seldome. Therefore I doe thinke it very good to shew you howe to mount any peece of Ordnaunce by the degree, with an ynch rule, according to the length of the peece, and to knowe howe many ynches, and partes of an ynche will make or giue one degree vnto ten degrees. Hereafter is a Table, the length of the peece stā deth in the margente towardes the lefte hande, & y e square right againste, that is the mount of one degree, and the vppermost number in euery square, is the ynches, & the vndermost numbers is the odde partes of an ynche, and the Table beginneth at the length of the peece fiue foote and a halfe, and so encreaseth by the half foote, till the peece be full fifteene foote longe.
Degrees. | |||||||||||
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | ||
Foote 5. ½ long. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 11 | Inches. |
3/22 | 3/11 | 9/22 | 6/11 | 15/22 | 9/11 | 21/22 | 1/11 | 5/22 | 4/11 | Partes. | |
Foote. 6. long. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Inches. |
¼ | ½ | ¾ | ¼ | ½ | ¾ | ¼ | ½ | Partes. | |||
Foote. 6. ½ long. | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 13 | Inches. |
4/11 | 8/11 | [...]/11 | 5/11 | 9/11 | 2/11 | 6/11 | 10/11 | 3/11 | 7/11 | Partes. | |
Foote. 7. long. | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 14 | Inches. |
5/11 | 10/11 | 4/11 | 9/11 | 3/11 | 8/11 | 2/11 | 7/11 | 1/11 | 6/11 | Partes. | |
Foote. 7. ½ long. | 1 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 15 | Inches. |
6/11 | 1/11 | 7/11 | 2/11 | 8/11 | 3/11 | 9/11 | 4/11 | 10/11 | 5/11 | Partes. | |
Foote. 8. long. | 1 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 16 | Inches. |
15/22 | 4/11 | 1/22 | 8/11 | 9/22 | 1/11 | 17/22 | 5/11 | 3/22 | 9/11 | Partes. | |
Foote. 8. ½ long. | 1 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 17 | Inches. |
17/22 | 6/11 | 7/22 | 1/11 | 19/22 | 7/11 | 9/22 | 2/11 | 21/22 | 8/11 | Partes. | |
Foote. 9. long. | 1 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 19 | Inches. |
10/11 | 9/11 | 8/11 | 7/11 | 6/11 | 5/11 | 4/11 | 3/11 | 2/11 | 1/11 | Partes. | |
Foote. 9. ½ long. | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | Inches. |
Foote 10. long. | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | Inches. |
1/11 | 2/11 | 2/11 | 4/11 | 5/11 | 6/11 | 7/11 | 8/11 | 9/11 | 10/11 | Partes. | |
Foote. 10. ½ long. | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 21 | Inches. |
2/11 | 4/11 | 6/11 | 8/11 | 10/11 | 1/11 | 2/11 | 5/11 | 7/11 | 9/11 | Partes. | |
Foote. 11. long. | 2 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 20 | 22 | Inches. |
3/11 | 6/11 | 9/11 | 1/11 | 4/11 | 7/11 | 10/11 | 2/11 | 5/11 | 8/11 | Partes. | |
Foote. 11. ½ long. | 2 | 4 | 7 | 9 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 19 | 21 | 24 | Inches. |
9/22 | 9/11 | 5/22 | 7/11 | 1/22 | 5/11 | 19/22 | 3/11 | 15/22 | 1/11 | Partes. | |
12. | 2 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 12 | 15 | 17 | 20 | 22 | 25 | Inches. |
½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | Partes. | ||||||
Foote. 12. ½ long. | 2 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 21 | 23 | 26 | Inches. |
7/11 | 3/11 | 10/11 | 6/11 | 2/11 | 9/11 | 5/11 | [...]/11 | 8/11 | 4/11 | Partes. | |
Foote. 13. long. | 2 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 13 | 16 | 19 | 21 | 24 | 27 | Inches. |
8/11 | 5/11 | 2/11 | 10/11 | 7/11 | 4/11 | 1/11 | 9/11 | 6/11 | 3/11 | Partes. | |
Foote. 13. ½ long. | 2 | 5 | 8 | 11 | 14 | 16 | 19 | 22 | 25 | 28 | Inches. |
9/11 | 7/11 | 5/11 | 3/11 | 1/11 | 10/11 | 8/11 | 6/11 | 4/11 | 2/11 | Partes. | |
Foote. 14. long. | 2 | 5 | 8 | 11 | 14 | 17 | 20 | 23 | 26 | 29 | Inches. |
10/11 | 9/11 | 8/11 | 7/11 | 6/11 | 5/11 | 4/11 | 3/11 | 2/11 | 1/11 | Partes. | |
Foote. 14. ½ long. | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 18 | 21 | 24 | 27 | 30 | Inches. |
1/30 | 1/15 | 1/10 | 2/15 | ⅙ | ⅕ | 2/30 | 4/15 | 9/30 | ⅓ | Partes. | |
Foote. 15. long. | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 18 | 21 | 25 | 28 | 31 | Inches. |
3/22 | 2/11 | 9/22 | 6/11 | 15/23 | 9/11 | 21/22 | 1/11 | 5/22 | [...]/11 | Partes. |
[Page 35] Then first repayre vnto the order of the Chapter that goeth before, and consider by the distance that the peece conueyeth the shotte vpon the right line, and looke howe much the shotte maye bee conueyed at the mount of one degree, and so from degree to degree, till you haue the length in degrees, that the shot maye reach the marke, and then repayre vnto the peece, and measure how manye foote long the peece is, then according to the length of the peece, there is a Table in this Chapter going before, in the Margent of the which, towardes the lefte hand, that number is the length of the peece, then right against that number in the first square, it doth shew how many ynces, and partes of an ynche will make one degree: and the nexte square will shew you how many ynches, and partes of an ynch will make two degrees, and so forthe vnto the number of tenne degrees, and no more: and the cause is this, for that there is commonly no seruice to be done, aboue the mounting of any peece of Ordnaunce, more then tenne degrees, neither the ynch rule will serue any further, for that the degrees be taken out of the circumference of a circle, and not out of a right line. And now to vse the matter in the handling of the rule, to make a perfite shot doe this: prepare your rule, and lette it be well deuided into ynches, halfe ynches, and quarters of ynches, and halfe quarters of ynches, and then lette there bee a slitte in the middle of the rule, and in the slitte, lette there bee made in brasse or latine a sighte, that it maye bee mooued vppe and downe at youre pleasure, and then the rule is finished. Nowe when you woulde make a shotte at anye marke, lette the peece bee truely disparted, and the disparte sette vppon the mouth of the peece, or else, if the disparte bee not sette vppon the mouth of the peece, yet you must knowe perfectely the Disparte of the peece, and to make accompte what number [Page 36] of ynches it is, and to recken that as parte of the mounting of the peece by the degrees. Nowe the distance of grounde beeing knowen vnto the marke, and also to knowe howe many ynches, and partes of an ynche wyll make the number of degrees, the accoumpte of the dispart beying made, or else the dispart being set vpon the mouth of the peece, then set the rule vpon the breech of the same perfectly vpright, in such order, as the toppe of the rule bee not nearer vnto the mouth, than that place of the breech of the peece that the rule doth stand vppon, whether the peece haue much aduantage, or little, so that the toppe of the rule must not hang backwards or forwards, but alwayes at on proportion from the mouth of the peece: that beeing done, turne the peece right vnto the marke, and then koyne the breech of the peece vppe and downe, vntill the middle of the mouth of the peece, or else the toppe of the disparte, and the marke bee seene through the sight, in the slitte of the rule, iust at the number of ynches, and parts of an ynche, that will answere vnto so māy degrees, as the Table in this Chapter going before doth shew. This being done, the shot shall haue a good lengthe at the marke. As for example, suppose that I doe shoote in a Saker that conueyeth or driueth the shot vpon the right line or point blancke. 26. skore, and the marke that I doe shoote at is 40. skore from the peece, then I haue eyther made proofe by the order prescribed in the. 7. Chapter that goeth, before, or else I haue the Tables of some other men, as Tartalia y e Italian hath made Tables therof And so I do finde, that. 2. degres will reach the marke, then I do repaire vnto the peece and measure it, how many foote long the peece is, and I doe finde that the same is. 9. foote and a halfe in length from the mouth to the breech, then I repaire to y e Table in this Chapter before, wher I find that. 2. ynches doth make a degree iust, and now the peece [Page 37] must be mounted vnto. 2. degrees iust, and then twise. 2. ynches, maketh. 4. ynches: then I do dispart the mettall of the peece, as I do shew you in the. 4. Chapter, and so I doe finde that the mettall of the brech of the peece is an ynche and a halfe thicker at the brech, than it is at the mouth of the peece, and then I doe sette vp a rush or a straw on the mouth of the pece, and so making it fast with a little waxe iust one ynche and a halfe aboue the mettall of the mouth of the peece, then I doe take the ynch rule, and so I do remoue the sight in the slitte of the rule vnto iust. 4. ynches, and I doe set y e rule perfitely vpright vpon the middle of the breech of the peece, and so remooue the peece too and fro, and koyne the tayle of the peece vp and downe, tyll such time as I may see the marke through the sight in the slitt, and the toppe of the dispart, all three vpon one right line, by the sighte of my eye, and the sight in the slitte, to stand at iust. 4. ynches, then shooting off the peece, you shall make a perfite shotte. And furthermore, if the disparte bee not sette vppon the mouth of the peece, then you muste make accoumpte thereof, for that the peece dothe mount himselfe one ynche and a halfe, therefore you muste giue the peece but. 2. ynches & a half aduantage, to reach the marke. And furthermore, I will giue you a seconde example in the same peece at a greater distance, at. 80. skore frō the peece, and that is almost a mile, and then doing (as before is said) to seeke howe many degrees will reach the marke, and I find that peece that driueth or cōuaieth the shot. 26. skore vpō the right line, that at. 9. degrees it wyll cōuey or driue the shot. 80. skore, and (as before is shewed) that in that pece that is. 9. foote and a halfe long. 2. ynches maketh iust one degree, and then the peece must be moū ted vnto iust. 9. degrees, which is. 18. ynches, if the dispart be set vpon the mouth of the peece, but if the disparte bee not set vpon the mouth, then you must rebate so much of [Page 38] the aduantage in the mounting, as the disparte commeth vnto, and that is one ynch and a halfe. Therfore, you must set the sight in the slitte, but vpon sixteene ynches and a halfe, and so doing (as before is said) the shot shall haue a good length at the mark. And furthermore, I had thought to haue placed a Table of proportion of the casting of the peece at the moūt of euery degree, accordingly as y e peece doth conuey or driue the shotte vpon the right line, but that I haue not made any such exact proofe, neither am I of that ability, neyther as farre as I can iudg, there is no man wil be at any such charge. But the exactest matter y t I haue heard that Tartalia the Italian hath made perfit proofe therof before diuers of the nobility of Italy, whervpon, he hath made Tables (by reporte) very exact, yet I could neuer come by the sighte of them, neyther are they in his Booke that he hath made for these causes.
CHAPTER. 9.
What manner of course the shot flyeth in the ayre.
AS I suppose, it is very necessarye to knowe what manner of course or proportion the shotte flyeth in the ayre in his compas, that is to say, at any degree mounted that the peece is shotte at the Randare. All those peeces that be shotte at the mounting of anye degree aboue poynte blancke, and vnder the beste of of the Randare, hath. 4. manner of courses in hys dryuyng or flying, by the vyolence of the blast of the pouder, before the shotte come to the ground, so that the peece be shot against a leuelled groūd. The first course is by a right line, and so long as the shot goeth violently. And the second course doth begin for to compasse, and yet flieth some what vpwards into the ayre, [Page 39] that is to say, further aboue the earth circularly. The third course is for a certayn space or quantitie at the highest distance from the earth. And the fourth course is, it commeth downewards circularly towards the earth, and so stouping more and more, till it commeth downe to the ground: as for example this: If any peece that is shotte at the best of the Randar, that is to say, at 45. degrees, and also at the mounting of thirtie degrees, and also at the mounting of fifteene degrees, and A signifieth the right line, and B the second course in flying of the shot circularly vpwardes, and C sheweth the vppermost course for flying at the farthest distance from the earth, and D sheweth the circular falling or comming downewards, or the stoupiuꝭ or falling more circularly, than any of the other courses or falling of the shotte, and the more neerer vnto the ground, the more circularly the compasse is made, as this figure doth shew.
Now furthermore, if any peece be shot in y e mounting of any degree, aboue. 45. degrees, then the shot shall haue a perpendicular line or fall, before that the shot shal come to the ground. Therefore I doe say, that the more that any peece is mounted aboue fiue and fortie degrees, by [Page 40] the meanes of the perpendiculer or falling, that the shotte falleth shorter and shorter at the mounting of euery degree: therefore they do neuer mount any manner of peece aboue the compasse of. 45. degrees, except it be a Morter peece, and those be mounted alwaies aboue. 45. degrees, for that the more the perpendicular line is, the more violently the shot commeth downe, and the more the peece is mounted, the higher into the ayre the shotte flyeth, and then the more is the perpēdicular line, and the neerer vnto the peece the shot falleth. Therefore that morter peece that is shot aboue. 45. degrees, the shot hath. 5. manner of courses, that is to say: first his right line vp into the ayre: secondly, his cicular fleeing vp into the ayre: thirdly, his furthest distāce from the earth: fourthly, his circular comming downewardes: and fiftly, his direct fall or perpendicular line downe to the earth, as this figure may represēt, the one line to be the best of the Randare, the other lyne to be the mounting of. 15. degrees more than the beste of the Randar: and the third, the mounting of. 30. degrees aboue the best of the Randar. And the cause that the shotte hathe his direct fall vnto the earth, is his naturall
[Page 41] course, for firste it is driuen violently by the blast of the Pouder vp into the ayre by a right lyne, and then secondlye, as the violent drifte dothe decay, so it flyeth circularly, and thirdly, the force of the drifte beeing all decayed, it muste needes haue hys naturall course, and all things that be of earthly substance, muste needes returne to the earth agayne.
CHAPTER. 10.
How to mount a Morter peece for to lay the shotte at any distance appoynted.
FOr the shooting of Morter peeces, it is to be considered, that those peeces must be mounted aboue the compasse of fiue and fortie degrees, for that these peeces are vsed at the seege of Townes, for the annoyance of their enimies, y t is to say, to the intent to beat downe their lodgings or houses, with diueres other purposes more. And to haue the shotte to fal at any distance appointed, they must do this: For euery degree that those peeces be mounted, the shot falleth shorter, as in the Chapter before is declared, & til y t the mouth of the peece doth stande directly on your perpendicular line or Zeneth or pricke, with the crowne of your head, and then the shotte shall fall directly into the mouth of the peece agayne, excepte that the accedence of the winde doth put it beside the mouth of the peece, as this: first shoote this peece at the mount of fiue and fortie degrees, that is the beste of the Randar, then measure the ground from the mouth of the peece vnto the first falling of the shotte, and y e measure being knowen, deuide that into fiue and fortye equall parts, and euery one of these parts of measure, shal be the [Page 42] falling shorter of the shot, at the mounting of one degree. As for example, a Morter peece, that shooteth a. 180. paces at the beste of the Randare, shall shoote at the mountyng of euery degree foure pace shorter: and so from degree vnto degree, till that the mouth of the peece standeth directly vprighte with your Zeneth. Nowe for to shoote wyth youre Morter peece, doe this: first lay the rule E crosse the mouth of the peece B, then take your Quadrante and set your square place G vppon the rule E, then put downe the tayle of the peece A, til that the plummet line F fall at the corner of the Quadrant C, then shooting off youre Morter peece that is the best of the Randare, and putting downe the tayle of the peece A, till that the plummet line fall at tenne degrees towardes the middle lyne of the Quadrant D then that Morter peece that shooteth a hundreth and eyghtie paces at the best of the Randare, the shotte shall fall fortie pace shorter, that is, at a hundred and fortie pace from the peece, then at the mount of twenty degrees, the shotte shall fall 80. paces shorter, that is to say, at a hundred pace from the peece, then at thirtie degrees the shotte shall fal a hundred and twenty pace shorter, that is to say, threescore pace from the peece, then at the moūting of forty degrees, the shott falleth at a hundred and threescore pace shorter, that is, at twentie pace from the peece. And thus it may be seen, that from the mounting of euery degree the shat falleth shorter foure pace, and thus, by deuiding the best of the Randare into fiue and fortie equal partes, you shal know the mount of euery degree, at what distance the shotte shall fall from the peece, as by these figures following it doth appeare.
CHAPTER. 11.
How farre aboue the marke the shotte flyeth ouer the marke by the length of the peece, and distance vnto the marke,
FUrthermore, heer is one especiall poynte to bee noted, for a number of Sea Gunners doe not vse for to diparte theyr peece: and I doe thynk that a great nūber [Page 44] of them can not doe it very well, for that cause they will say, y t they neede not disparte their Ordnaunce. But if they do not disparte their great Ordnaunce, and especially those new peeces that be nowe adayes made for the Shippes, they shall do but simple seruice, besides the gret charge in wast that they shall put them to that beare the charge thereof: for one shatte of the great Ordnaunce, is twenty times the charge of the small peeces: and many of the small peeces in a maner needeth no disparte, but the great peeces: for the mettall of the tayle of the peece is a great deale bigger than the mouth of the peece. And this is generall for euer, looke howe muche that the mettall is thicker vppon the one side at the tayle of the peece than it is at the mouth of the peece, then looke howe manye times that the length of the peece is vnto the marke, so many times the thicknesse of the mettall is thicker at the breech of the peece, than it is at the mouth, so many times the quantitie shall the shott flye ouer the marke, if so bee that the peece be shotte without disparting, and the mark within poynt blanke, or the righte line of the peece: as for example thus, by a peece of Ordnaunce, that the mettall of the breech of the peece is thicker by three ynches on the one side, than it is at the mouth of the peece, and the peece is iust tenn foote longe, and the marke is iust twentye skore from the peece. Nowe the peece being tenne foote long, there is iust sixe times the whole length of the peece in euery skore, for that a skore is sixtie foote, and sixe times tenne is sixtie foote, then the mettall of the breech of the peece, being three ynchs thicker than it is at the mouth of the peece, y e peece shall cast ouer the marke at the ende of euerye skore eyghteene ynches, for that the peece shooteth three ynches ouer the marke at euerye tyme the length of the peece, and then syxe tymes three ynches, maketh eyghteen ynches: so then it must needes [Page 45] be sayde, that at the ende of twentie skore, the peece must needes caste twentie tymes eyghteene ynches ouer the marke, and twenty times eyghteene ynches, maketh three hundered and sixtie ynches, and that containeth thyrtye foote, so that I doe conclude, that the peece whiche is but tenne foote long, and the mettall three ynches thicker on the one side at the breeche of the peece than it is at the mouth, and the marke twenty skore from the peece, thys peece being shorte wythout anye disparting, being shotte agaynst an vpright wall, then bringing the middle of the mouth of the peece, and the myddle of the tayle of the peece, and the marke, all three vppon one righte lyne, and then the shotte shall hytte the wall iuste thyrtie foot right ouer the marke, and this shall be true without anye faile. Then this being true, what madd men be those Gunners that will be of such an opinion, that they neede not to dispart their Ordnaunce.
CHAPTER. 12.
Howe to make a perfite shotte with a peece that is not truely bored, that is to say, that the core or hollownesse goeth not right in the middle of the mettall.
AS it chanceth many times thorough y e negligence or default of Founders, that some peeces be not truly bored, y t is to say, that the core or hollownesse of the peece runneth not right in the middle of the mettall, but y e core or concauitie declineth or leaneth more vnto the one side, than it dothe on the other, for although at the mouth of the peece the metal be round about of one like thicknesse, yet at the breech [Page 46] of the peece the mettall may bee thicker on the one side, than it is on the other, and then that peece wyll neuer shoote righte vpon the marke: and also, this peece is very daungerous to shoote in for feare of breaking. And this is generally for euer. Looke at that side that the mettall is most thickest at the breech, from that sidewardes the pece doth cast, and then righte against the thickest parte of the peece, there is the thinnest side of the mettall, so that the mettall be perfit rounde on the outside of the peece, and also the hollowe & concauitie wythin the peece, and towards the thickest side of the mettall of the peece, towards that side the peece casteth. And for to knowe howe much, you may easily perceiue: looke how much the thickest side of the mettall is thycker than the thynner side, looke howe many times the hollowe of the peece is vnto the marke, so many times halfe the thicknesse that y e metall is thicker on the one side, thā it is on the other, so māy times that proportion shal the shot flye wide of the mark, towards that side that the mettal of the pece is most thickest. As for example this, there is a peece, y t the mettall is thicker on the one side, than it is on the other side by two ynches, and the core or hollownesse from the tutchhole, vnto the mouth of the peece, is. 10. foote longe, and the marke that the peece is shot at, is 20. skore from y e peece: now there is. 6. times the length of the hollownesse of the peece in euery skore, and the peece casteth one ynche awrye at euery time the length of the hollow of the peece, for that the mettall is thicker on the one side, than it is on the other by. 2. ynches, then take from the thicker side one ynch, and adde vnto the other side that one ynch, then it will set the hollownes of the peece right in the middle of the mettall, as it is. 5. ynches thick on the thicker side, and but. 3. ynches thicke on the thinner side, then take from. 5. ynches one ynche, and there doth remain but. 4. ynches, & then adde vnto. 3. ynches one ynche, and then it maketh. 4. [Page 47] ynches, & then both the sides be of one like thicknes: then (as before is said) there is. 6. times the lēgth of the hollow nesse of the peece in euery skore, so that the peece casteth awry in euery skore. 6. ynches. Thē it must needes be said, that at the ende of. 20. skore, the peece casteth besides the mark. 20. times, 6. ynches, and it maketh. 120. ynches, and that is. 10. foote iust. And furthermore, for to make a perfit shot with this kinde of peece, it is a strange matter vnto Gunners, and they had neede to be very circumspect for feare of ouercharging, for you must not giue this kind of peece pouder according vnto the weyght of the mettal, for that she hath too much mettall on the other side, wher it doth noe good. And now for to make a shotte with this kind of peece, do this: first search the peece with those kind of instrumēts that I haue spokē of in the. 2. Chapter, then if the thickest part of the mettall be vpon the vpper side of the peece, that is to saye, at the tutchhole, the peece being as before is declared. 2. ynches thicker of mettal ther, than it is on the lower side, when that you haue disparted youre peece truly, as though the hollownesse of the peece ran right in the middle of the mettall, sette vp your dispart vpon the mouth of the peece one ynch y e more, for that the mettall is thickest vpō the vpper side therof by. 2. ynches, and halfe. 2. ynches is on ynche: then bringing the middle of the tayle of the peece, and the top of youre dispart, and them marke, all three vpon one right line, by the sighte of your eye, the peece being shotte off you shall make a perfit shot vpon the right line. Then if the thickest part of the mettall by. 2. ynches be vnder the peece, that is to say, that at the tutchhole, the mettall is at the thinnest, when you doe sette vp youre true disparte vppon the mouthe of the peece, rebate one ynche of the lengthe of the disparte, or else the peece will caste the shotte vnder the marke, for that the thickest side of the mettall is downewardes. And furthermore, if that the thickest parte [Page 48] of the mettall chāceth in any other place, howsoeuer that it chāceth, then at the thickest side of the peece make a little marke, as you may do it wyth a little waxe as bygge as a pinnes head vpon the very breech of the peece: then when you haue disparted this peece truely, as though the hollownesse of the peece did runne right in the middle of the mettall, sett vp your disparte vpon the side of y e mouth of the peece, as right as you can make it, with a line against the little waxe that is on the thickest side on the breeche of the peece, and then make the dispart one ynche the more, for that it is y e thicker side with mettall by two ynches, and then bringing the toppe of the dispart and the little waxe and the marke, all three vppon one right lyne, you shall make a perfite shotte. And furthermore, if that it chance so, that the thicker side doth lye somewhat vnderneath the peece, then set vp your dispart vpon the thinner side of the peece, and also the little wax vpon the breeche of the peece, and then you must rebate one ynch from your true disparte, and this by consideration, there can bee no peece, but that you may make a perfite shott, for he that can by Arte lay the hollowe or concauitie of the peece againste the marke, must needes hitt the marke, so that the marke be not farther off than the peece can reach vppon the right line: and this is true without any fayle.
CHAPTER. 13.
How to giue leuell at a marke vpon a hill or valley, with the Quadrant.
FOr the shooting at a hill or valley to giue leuell with the Quadrant, there is two principall thinges to be considered, and especially, if that the marke be further than the peece will reach vppon the righte lyne. First, when they doe knowe the distance [Page 49] vnto the marke, and the marke more than that the peece will reache vpon the right line, then mount the peece so many degrees, till that the peece be able to reache the marke, then take your Quadrant, and looke through the two sight of the Quadrant, the plummet hanging at libertie, till you may see the marke iustly vppon the hyll, winking with one of your eyes, then looke vpon what degree and place the plummet line doth hang vpon, then mounte the peece so many degrees more as that doeth come vnto, for the height of the hill, then that beeing done you shall make a perfecte shotte: as for example this: by a marke that stood vpon the side of an hill, and by Geometrie perspectiue, the distance is founde to bee sixtie skore from the peece, and now the peece is a Culuering, such a one as shooteth thirtie skore vppon the right line or point blancke. Now the marke is thirtie skore more then the peece can reach vppon the right line, therefore you must mount the peece, till it be able to reach the marke, and that is, at the mount of foure degrees, as it doth appeare by the examining of the seauenth Chapter, and there you shall finde it to appeare to be at the mounte of foure degrees: nowe that being knowen, take your Quadrant, and take the number of degrees that the hill is in height, higher then the ground that you stand vpon, and that is done (as before is declared) and then you finde that the marke is fiue degrees higher than the grounde that your peece lyeth vpon, then adde that number vnto the other, and that maketh in all nine degrees iust, for that the peece is moūted foure degrees for to reach the marke, and fiue degrees for the height of the marke, whiche is higher grounde than that the peece doth lye vpon, then laying the peece right vppon the marke, there is no doubt but that you must needes make a perfite shotte, and to lay the peece right vpon the mark, the peece being mouuted [Page 50] (as before is said) then take a plummet of leade vpon a small line or string, and lette that be holden vp at the breech, at the very end of the peece, euen at the very middle of the tayle of the peece, then stand directly behind the peece, and wind the peece, till you doe see the midle of the mouth of the peece, and the marke, all three vpon one right line, by the sight of your eye, winking with one of your eyes, and there is no doubt, but your peece doth lye right vpon your marke, and so forth. And nowe in like manner, if you doe mak a shotte towards a valley, and the marke more then the peece will reach vppon the righte line, then knowing the distance vnto the marke mounte the peece, till it be able to reach the marke, then turne your Quadrant, that the sight go downewards, the plummet hanging at libertie, then you may see how many degrees the ground is lower, then the ground that the peece doth lye vpon, and rebate so many degrees as that number commeth vnto, and laying the peece right vpon the marke, there is no doubt but you shall make a perfite shotte, as by an example with that peece and at that distance before rehearsed, to a marke in a valley, the ground being lower at the marke you shoote at by three degrees, then that ground that the peece doth lye vpon: now you must mount the peece foure degrees to reach the marke, and then you must rebate three of those degrees for the lownesse of the marke, and then you may conclude, that the peece being mounted but one degree, it doth shoote that distance that it did at nine degrees. And the reason thereof is most manifest, for that the one is vp the hill, and the other downe the hill. And furthermore, with that peece, and at that distance before spoken of, and also at that number of degrees downe the hill that the other was vp the hil, that was at fiue degrees, & now foure degrees will reach the marke vpon a plaine leuell ground, but for [Page 51] that it is downe the hill, you must rebate fiue degrees. Wherefore you may conclude, that the peece must bee leuelled with the Quadrant, one degree vnder the poynt blaucke, that is to saye, lower then the Horizon by one degree, for that the deepenesse of the valley is the cause thereof. Wherefore in mine opinion, it is better for Gunners to vse to giue leuell with an ynch rule, as I do afore declare in the eight Chapter, for I doe know, that this is the cause that hath deceiued a greate number that are meanly seene in those matters, and for lacke of considering of those causes that may happen or chaunce, hath discouraged many that would haue been wel seene in those matters.
CHAPTER. 14.
Howe to make a perfite shotte vpon the lande, at the brode side of a Shippe that is vnder sayle, and going.
FUrthermore, for the making of a perfite shotte vpon the lande, at a shippe that is vnder sayle in a Riuer, the chiefest matter is, to haue good Pouder, that the peece may goe off so soone as shee hath fire giuen vnto her: and to shoote at her brode side, doe this: First before she commeth to you, view at what proportion she commeth, that is to say, whether that she commeth in the middle, or vnto any of the sides, or vnto any other proportion, then your peeces beeing truely disparted, lay your peece against some marke vpon the further side of the Riuer, that being done, then koyne vp the tayle of the peece, till the top of the dispart standeth with that proportion which the ship commeth vpon: that [Page 52] being done, then it is good for you to haue another imagined marke, somewhat neerer the Shippe, besides that marke which the peece lyeth vpon, like a twentie foote, according vnto the way of the Shippe, for if that the Shippe haue fresh way, then giue fire vnto the peece or peeres, twentie or thirtie foote, before that the Shippe commeth vnto your thwart marke that the peece lyeth right against, and this being discretely done, there is no doubt but you shall make a perfect shot. And furthermore, if it be vppon the Sea coast, where there is no land seene vpon the further side, then take a thwart marke by some Cloude that is alow neere the Horizon. And furthermore, if that any shippe doe go directly from you wards, or else come directly to youwards, then it is a small matter to make a perfect shatte, that is to say, if that her head or sterne be towards your Ordnaunce. &c.
CHAPTER. 15.
Howe to make a shotte out of one Ship vnto another, that although the Sea be wrought, or out of a Galley to a Shippe.
AS for Gunners that do serue by the Sea, must obserue this order following. First that they doe foresee that all their great Ordnaunce be fast breeched, and foresee that all ther geare be handsome and in a readinesse. And furthermore that they bee very circumspect about their Pouder in the time of seruice, and especially beware of their limstockes & candels for feare of their Pouder, & their fireworks, & their Ourum, which is very daungerous, and much to bee feared. Then furthermore, that you do keepe your peeces as neer as you can, dry within, and also, that you keep their tutchholes [Page 53] cleane, without any kinde of drosse falling into thē. And furthermore, it is good for the Gūners to view their peeces, and for to know their perfect dispart, and marke it vpon the peece, or else in some Booke or Table, and name euery peece what it is, and where she doth lye in the ship, and name how many ynches, and half ynches and quarters of ynches the dispart commeth vnto, and then in time of seruice, although that you haue no time to set vppe your disparte you may consider of it, and doe it well ynough. And furthermore, if that you were driuen to make a shot vpon a soddayne, and knowe not what disparte woulde serue the peece, yet this you may doe, and speede well ynough: first looke all alongst by the side of the peece as neere as you may at the middle of the breech of the peece, vnto the middle of the mouth of the peece, and so by the sight of your eye, lay it right against the marke, and then koyne vp the tayle of your peece fast, for that giueth the peece the true height of the marke: then take the nexte sight aloft vpon the peece, from the breech of the peece, vnto the mouth, and so laye the peece right vppon the marke. But you would iudge by the sight of your eye, that the peece lye a great deale, vnder the marke: for that the mettall of the peece is a greate deale thicker then the mettall of the mouth of the peece, and therefore the sight of the side of the peece, giueth her the true height of the marke, and then laying the peece right with the Ship that you doe meane to shoote at, looking well to youre Steeradge. Nowe furthermore, if the Sea be wrought or growen, & the Shippes do both heaue and set, then if you would make a perfect shot, do this: First choose your peece between the Lauflau, and the mayne Mast, vpon the lower Orloppe, if the Shippe may keepe the porte open, and for this cause you shal do it, for that the ship doth least labour there: for any Shippe that doth heaue, and set neuer [Page 54] so sore, doth hang as though she were vppon an Ariltree, there labouring least, except she doth seel or roule. But if any Ship hang any thing by the wind, it will not lightly seel or roule. Then if you doe make a shotte at another Shippe, you must bee sure to haue a good helme-man, that can stirre steadie, taking some marke of a Cloude that is aboue by the Horizon or by the shadowe of the Sunne, or by your standing still, take some marke of the other shippe through some hole, or any such other like. Then he that giueth leuell, must obserue this: first consider what disparte his peece must haue, then laye the peece directly with that parte of the Shippe that he doth meane to shoote at: then if the Shippe bee vnder the lee side of your Shippe, shoote your peece in the comming downe of the Gayle, and the beginning of the other Ship to rise vpon the Sea, as neere as you can, for this cause, for when the other shippe is aloft vpon the Sea, and shee vnder your Lee, the Gayle maketh her for to head, and then it is likest to doe much good.
Now furthermore, if that the Shippe you doe shoote at haue the weather gage of you, then your peece that you doe shoote at her, must needes bee on the weather side of the Shippe: then giue fire vnto the peece in the righting of both the Shipps. When that the Gayle is ouer, you must awaite when the other Shippe doth beginne for to arise vpon the Sea, and especially that part of the Ship that you doe meane for to shoote at, for this cause, for when that the Gayle is ouer, then both the Shippes doe righte, for if that you should shoote in the helding of your Shippe, then you shoulde shoote ouer the other Shippe. And furthermore, if you shoote when the other Shippe is alofte on the toppe of the Sea, you haue a bigger marke than when she is in the trough of the Sea. Therefore there is no better time for to giue [Page 55] fire, then when shee is beginning to rise vpon the Sea, that is, when you see her in the trough of the Sea: and you must vse that according vnto the distance betweene two Shippes, for you must consider, that the shotte must haue a time for to come to the shippe, for no man can describe the thing so well, as hee that doth see the thing apparante before his eyes, for his reason in those causes must helpe him, and the principallest thing is that, that hee that is at the Helme must bee sure to stirre steadye, and bee ruled by him that giueth the leuell, and hee that giueth fire, must bee nimble, and readye at a suddayne. And also hee that is at the Helme, must bee nimble and steady, that is, to putte roomer, when that the other Shippe dothe putte roome, and for to loofe, when that the other Shippe doeth plye his loofe. And it is good for the Gunner to koyne the mouth of his peece, somewhat with the lowest, rather then any thing with the hyghest, for if that the shotte flyeth ouer the Shippe, then it dothe no good, but if that it commeth shorte of the Shipoe, it will graze in the water and rise agayne, and speede well ynough, so that it bee not too muche too shorte of the Shippe, for too muche too shorte dothe kill the shotte in the Sea and especiallye if that the distance bee anye thing farre off. And furthermore, for the Sea fight, if the one doe meane to lay the other aboorde, then they doe call vp their company, eyther for to enter or to defend: and first, if that they doe meane for to enter (as you may knowe) that hee will prease to laye you aboorde, then marke where that you doe see anye Scottles for to come vppe at, as they will stande neere there aboutes, to the intente for to bee readie, for to come vppe vnder the Scottles: there giue leuell with your Fowlers, or Slinges, or Bases, for there you shall bee sure to doe [Page 56] most good, then furthermore, if you doe meane for to enter him, then giue leuel with your Fowlers and Portpeeces, where you doe see his chiefest fight of his shippe is, and especially be sure to haue them charged, and to shoote, them off at the first boording of the Shippes, for then you shall be sure to speede. And furthermore, marke where his men haue most recourse, there discharge your Fowlers and Bases. And furthermore, for the annoyance of your enemie, if that at the boording that the Sippes lye, therefore you may take away their steeradge with one of your great peeces that is to shoote at his Rother, and furthermore at his mayne mast, and so foorth. Thus muche haue I said as touching Sea Gunners, for that I doe know they do meddle with no other fightes, and therefore it is meete for him to seeke as much as in him lyeth, for to annoy the enemie with fireworkes and Ordnaunce &c. And furthermore, if the Shippe doth seell or rowle, then the best place of the ship for to make a shotte, is out of the head or sterne. And furthermore, for to make a shot out of a Galley, and especially the Cannon that lyeth in the Case, or Prow, he that giueth fire, must be ruled by him that is at the helme, because he can neyther koyne her vp nor downe, for that she lyeth in the case, for he that stirreth, must giue leuell. And furthermore, the Cannon that lyeth in the case, can not lightly shoote a shippe vnder water, neither betweene the wind and the water, where that it is not on the Sea, and especially if the Ship be at hand, for that she lyeth leuell, for looke how high, that the peece is aboue the Sea, so high shall the shotte hitte any thing aboue the water, as farre as the peece can cast vppon the right line. And for to make a shotte out of a Galley vnto a Shippe, for to strike him vnder the water, or betweene the wind and the water. First waight the Sippe lying in the trough of the Sea, when she doth begin to rise vppon [Page 57] the Sea, and then in lyke manner, when you do see that the Galleys head doth beginne to descende, then giue fire vnto the peece, and you shall make a perfite shotte. Furthermore, if the Galley be in fight with another Shyppe in a calme, then the Shyppe will skant waue or stirre, and then the Galley may play off and on at hir pleasure: and then to make a shotte at hande, is some matter, for in a calme, the Shyppes doe neither ryse nor fall, but a little, in comparison of any thing to the purpose: neyther dothe the Galleys head either heaue nor set to any purpose, if the Shippe be at hand, to the intent or purpose to shoote a Shippe vnder the watter. Therefore when you meane to strike a Shippe vnder the water with a Galley, and dare not lay them aboorde, then koyle your Cabels forwards, with the trimming forwarde of your waightie geare into the Galleys head, so lowe, till it shall serue your turne, by bringing also your men forwardes: then by y e Steeradge with your Ores, or with your Helme, you may shoote against what part of the Shippe you will, and so shoote hir vnder water at your pleasure.
CHAPTER. 16.
In what order to place Ordnaunce in Shippes.
ANd furthermore, I do think it conueniente to shew you how to fit or place Ordnaunce in any Shippe: & this is to be considered, first that y e cariag be made in such shot, that y e peece may lie right in the middle of the port, & that the trockes or wheeles be not too hygh, for if y e treckes be too high, then it will keepe the cariage that it will not goe close vnto the Shippes side, and by that meanes the [Page 58] peece will not scant go out of the porte, excepte that the peece be of some reasonable length: and also, if that the Shyppe doe holde that waye, the Trockes will alwayes rūne close to the Shyppes side, so that if you haue any occasion to make a shotte, you shall not bring the Trockes off from the Shyppes side, but that it will rūne too again. And the wheele or Trocke beyng very hygh, it is not a small thinge vnder a Trocke wyll stay it but that it may runne ouer it, &c.
And also, if that the Trocke be hygh, it wyll cause the peece to haue the greater reuerse or recoyle, therefore, the lower that the wheeles or Trockes be, it is the better and so forth.
Alwayes prouided, that the peece bee placed in the verye middle of the porte, that is to saye, that the peece lying leuell at poynte blancke, and the Shyppe, to bee vprighte, wythout anye helding, that it be as many inches from the lower syde of the porte beneath, as it is vnto the vpper part aboue iustely. And the deeper or hygher that y e portes bee vp and downe, it is the better to make a shot, for the heldyng of the Shyppe, whether that it bee the lec syde, or the weather syde of the Shyppe, for if you haue anye occasyon to shoote eyther for wardes or backwards, the steeradge of the Shyppe wyll serue the turne, but if that the Shyppe dothe heelde muche, then if that the peece bee lette by the lower parte of the porte, then you muste needes shoote ouer the marke, and if it bee lette by the vpper syde of the porte, then you shall shoote shorte of the marke. &c. Wherefore, when that the Carpenters dothe cutte out anye portes in a Shippe, then lette them cutte them out deepe ynough vppe and downe. &c.
And also, it is verye euyll, for to haue the Orloppe [Page 59] or Decke too lowe vnder the porte, for then the carriage muste bee made verye hygh, and that is verye euill in dyuers respectes, for then in the shootyng off the peece, it is apte to ouerthrowe, and also by the labouring and the seelyng of the Shyppe, and so foorth.
And furthermore, you muste haue a consyderation for the fytting of youre Ordnaunce in the Shippes, as thys, the shorter Ordnaunce is beste to bee placed out at the Shippes syde, for two or three causes, as this.
Fyrste, for the ease of the Shyppe, for theyr shortenesse they are the lyghter: and also, if that the Shyppes shoulde heelde wyth the bearyng of a Sayle, that you muste shutte the portes, especially if that the Ordnaunce bee vppon the lower Orloppe, and then the shorter peece is the easyer to bee taken in, both for the shortenesse and the weyght also.
In lyke manner, the shorter that the peece lyeth oute of the shyppes syde, the lesse it shall annoy them in the tacklyng of the Shyppes Sayles, for if that the peece doe lye verye farre oute of the Shyppes syde, then the Sheetes and Tackes, or the Bolynes wyll alwayes bee foule of the Ordnaunce, whereby it maye muche annoy them in foule weather, and so foorth.
And it is verye good for you to haue long Ordnaūce to bee placed righte oute of the Sterne of the Shyppe for two causes: the one is this.
The peece muste lye verye farre oute of the porte, or else in the shooting, it may blowe vp the Counter of the Shyppes sterne.
And also, the peece had neede be very large, for else it [Page 60] will not go very farre out, for the worke of a ships sterne hangeth very farre outwards from the decke or Orloppe vp to the port, so that the carriage may be close belowe, but not aloft, &c. And also if you haue any chasing peeces to shoote right forwardes, then they must bee long Oronaunce in like manner, so that you must fitte your Ordnaunce, according vnto the place that it must lye in, and also (as is before rehearsed) that it is not good for to haue the mountance or carredge to high. Therefore, if that the Orloppe or decke bee too lowe vnder the porte, then it is good for you to make a platforme vnder the port, that the trockes of the carredge may stand vpon. And also, when you doe take the measure of the porte, from the decke or Orloppe, to the end to fitte the mountance or carredge in height, that the peece may lye right in the middle of the porte, then you viewing the decke or Orlop, and considering what height you will haue the wheele or Trocke, and also marke whether or how that the Ships side doth hang inwards, or outwards, and also the Cambring of the decke or Orloppe, and then you perceiuing where the formost trockes doth or must stande, when that the carredge doth go close to the porte. Then where as the very middle of the foremost trockes dothe stande, there take the true measure in heygth from the Decke or Orloppe, vpwards, and so shall you knowe iustly howe many ynches will laye the peece righte in the very middle of the porte: for if you doe take the measure of the heygth of the porte from the porte downe vnto the Decke or Orloppe, then by the meanes of the Cambering, the Decke or Orloppe, and also the wheeles or Trockes doth not come to stand right vnder the porte, so by that meanes the Decke or Orlop is higher inwards, and that shal cause you to make the mountance or carriage too high, for that the wheeles or Trockes that the carriage lyeth vpon, shall be a foote [Page 61] more or lesse into the Shipwards, and then looke into the Cambering of the Decke or Orloppe, that it riseth inwardes more, than it is righte vnder the Porte, you shall take the measure so much too high for the peece to lay her right in the middle of the Porte &c.
CHAPTER. 17.
How to shoot at a moueable mark vpon the lande, and also what kind of shotte is the best to be vsed, according vnto the cause &c.
ANd furthermore, to shoote at any moueable marke vpō the land, either at Horsemen, or at footmen, when you do see thē comming, then place your Ordnance vpon some marke in their way, as right vpon some bush, or any other marke that is in the high way, that they must come by, or most specially at some place where there is a turning, for in a turning, there they doe tarrie longest before they be altered frō the marke, and then it is best shooting off your Ordnaunce to do any spoyle: and also vpon the land, you may try what any peece will do at any marke, as touching the keeping of the length of the marke, &c. And furthermore, as touching this, to knowe what kind of shotte is most meetest to bee vsed to doe seruice in a field, or otherwise, with their great Ordnaunce, as Cannons, or Culuerings, at a great distance, to shoote the whole yron shot as you doe at battery, & as they doe aproch neere, then to shoote Faucon shotte, and as they doe come neerer, Faconershotte, or smal base shotte, and at hand all manner of spoyling shot, as chayne shotte, or cliue shot, and discshot, and such other like. &c.
CHAPTER. 18.
How you shal knowe if any peece of Ordnaunce bee sufficiently mettalled, and also the cause that the Cannons doe not occupie the weight in Pouder that the shotte vveieth.
FOr to knowe whether that any peece of Ordnaunce bee sufficiently metalled to beare her charge with Pouder, then this is generall, that in the chamber before the tutchhole, so farre as the Pouder doth reach to y e mouthwards, that the mettall be in thicknesse as high as the shot round about the sides of the peece, and somewhat thicker, and if that the mettal be not in thicknesse as much as the height of the shotte, then she is too slenderly mettalled, &c.
And furthermore, the cause why the Cannons and other great Ordnaunce doth not shoote so much Pouder in weight as the shotte weieth, although that the rule and order of the founders of Ordnaunce, is to cast the thicknes of the mettall as much as the shotte is in height of al sorts of peeces, as wel in Cannons, as in al other sortes of peeces, and yet the Cannon maye not haue the weight in Pouder that the shotte weyeth, as all small Ordnaunce hath.
And furthermore, the cause thereof groweth by this meanes, for in the doubling the thicknesse of the mettall of the peece, it doth but increase as a platforme, or superficiall, that is, for double measure, to be foure times the quantitie. And as for the shotte in the doubling of the measure, it is eight times the quantitie, and so it is in all [Page 63] bodies as Cubes, or Globes, and such other like, as I do more at large declare in the third part of my booke, called A treasure for Trauellers. And yet you shall haue this example here by a shotte of three ynches high, and that shot wayeth three pound three quarters, the peece being a Minion, and the metall is three ynches thick. And now I haue another peece that the shotte is double the height, that is, sixe ynches high, and the shotte will wey thirtye pounde, and now the mettall being double, is but sixe ynches thicke, and the bigger shotte is eyght times the bignesse of the lesser, and the measure but double, yet notwithstanding, the diuersitie is not so much as it seemeth: for if that both the peeces were cast of one length, and double in measure, in compasse in all places, then the bigger peece should wey foure times the weight of the lesser. And this is the cause, that the Cannons must not haue the weight in pouder that the shotte wayeth, for the weight of the peece, and the weight of the shotte, must rule the matter, as I doe plainely she we in the third Chapter of this booke going before.
CHAPTER. 19.
In what order you shall giue leuell with your Ordnaunce at a batterie, to beate downe the walles of any place, and also what to obserue, in the giuing fire vnto them.
AS I doe think, it is not vnmeet to shew by what order you shall giue your leuel, and shoote off your Ordnaunce at a Bat terie, that is to saie, to beate downe, or shake downe the walles of any Towne or fortresse: & for y e beating them down in the giuing of your leuell, and shooting them off, do this: after that you haue plāted your Ordnaunce, eyther in two places or in three places, as the place doth require, but in my opiniō, two places is sufficiēt vnto one place, to beat it downe, to the intent to make a breach, and if it be vnto a Collion point, then it is best to place your battrey but into two partes, and otherwise as the place doth require, & then in giuing of leuel, do this. First, wheras you do mean to beginne to make the breach, and being but at one place of your Ordnaunce, giue leuell with one peece belowe, at the bottome of the wall, and with the next peece a foote higher right ouer that, and with the third, right a fote ouer that, and so foorth vnto euery peece at that part of y e battery, sauing you neede not giue the leuell vnto no peece, more than three quarters the heygth of the wall, and then in like maner, giue your leuell with your peeces at the other parte of youre battrie, vnto that place that the other part was layd right against, within a fadome or more, at youre discretion, as the place requireth, so that the one [Page 65] place may flancke or beate against the other, crossing in the middle of the wall, and when you doe meane to shoote them off, then giue fire vnto them all at once at both the places, that they may all beate and shake the wall at one time together, and then it will beate it downe or shake it downe the faster, and the bottome being beaten away, the toppe will fall away of it selfe, and so when that you haue broken the wall, and stil do make it wider, then giue leuel at your discretion vpon the wall, obseruing the order before rehearsed, both in the leuelling, and of the giuing of fire vnto the peeces, &c.
CHAPTER. 20
The weight of all manner of cast peeces of Ordnaunce, from the Cannon, vnto the Fauconte, and also the weight of the shotte, and the weight of the Pouder that they doe occupie, with the height of the shot, and length of the peece and all such other like causes, according vnto the names of the peeces, &c.
ANd furthermore, I do thinke it conuentient, to shew vnto thee the weight of the shot, and the weight of the Pouder that they doe wey, and the length and breadth of the Ladell, and the weight and length of y e peeces, according vnto their names. And first, for the Cānons, & there be of sundrie sortes. The eldest & biggest sorte of the double Cannons, the mouth of them is in height. 8. ynches and a quarter. The shot is in height 8. ynches, and wayeth about 70. pound of yron, and the weight of the peece is about 8000. & in length, about 12. foote more or lesse, and comporteth in Pouder. 46. pound Serpētine. The length of the Ladel is 24. ynches, [Page 66] the breadth of the Ladell is. 15. ynches ½ &c.
The ordinarie double Cannons, the peece is. 8. ynches high in the mouth, the shotte is in heigth. 7. ynches three quarters, it wayeth of yron about. 64. pounde, and the weight of the peece is about. 7500. and in length neere about eleuen or twelue foote long, and occupieth in Pouder. 42. pounde Serpentine, the length of the Ladell is 23. ynches a quarter, the breadth thereof fifteene ynches ¼ and the compasse of the shotte is foure and twentie ynches.
The French double Canons, the peece is in the mouth seauen ynches three quarters, in heigth the shotte seauen ynches ½ high, and weyeth being of yron about. 58. pound, and the peece weyeth about seauen thousande, and is in length as the other before rehearsed, comporteth in Pouder neere fortie pounde Serpentine: the length of their Ladels is but fifteene ynches, for that they doe lade their peeces with three Ladelfulles, and we heere in England but with two, and the bredth of the plate of their Ladell is fifteene ynches, &c.
Demy Cannons.
ANd first the Demy Cannons of the eldest sorte, the peece is sixe ynches three quarters in heigth, in the mouth, the shotte sixe ynches and a halfe in heigth: the shotte of yron wayeth eyght and thirtie pound, and the weight of the peece is neere sixe thousande, and in length eleuen or twelue foote long, and occupyeth in Pouder sixe and twentie pounde Serpentine, the length of the Ladell three and twentie ynches, the breadth of the plate of the Ladell twelue ynches ⅕ partes, and the compasse of the shotte is twentie ynches 3/7 partes.
[Page 67] The ordinary Demy Cannon, the heigth of the mouth is sixe ynches and a halfe, the heigth of the shotte sixe ynches a quarter, the weight of the shotte in yron thirtie three pounde, and the weight of the peece is about 5500. and the peece is in length tenne or eleuen foote, and her charge in Pouder is foure and twentie pounde Serpentine, the length of the Ladell is two and twentie ynches, and the breadth of the plate of the Ladell is twelue ynches.
Some sortes of Demy Cannons, the heigth of the mouth of the peece but sixe ynches, a quarter, the heigth of the shott sixe ynches, the weight of the shotte of yron thirtie pound, and the weight of the peece fiue thousand, or. 5400. the length as afore, her charge in Pouder foure and twentie pounde Sarpentine, the length of the Ladell three and twentie ynches, the breadth eleuen inches and a halfe.
The French Demy Cannon, and of some other foraine Nations, the height of the mouth of the peece but 6. ynches, the height of the shotte fiue ynches three quarters, the weyght of the yron shotte sixe and twentie pound d. and the weight of the peeces fiue thousande more or lesse, their lengthes of the ordinarie sort, and shooteth in Pouder two and twentie, or three & twenty pound Sarpentine, the length of the Ladell sixteene ynches, and three Ladell fulles to charge the peece: the breadth of the Ladell eleuen ynches.
Culuerings.
THe elder sorte of whole Culuerings, called of some Norborow Culuerings, the heigth of the mouth of the peece fiue ynches and a halfe, the heigth of the [Page 68] shot. 5. ynches a quarter. The weyght of the shotte in yrō 20. pound. The weyghte of the peece. 4800. more or lesse, their lengthes deuided, as. 12. or. 13. foote long, and shooteth in Pouder. 20. pound Serpentine, the length of the Ladell. 23. ynches, the breadth of the Ladell neere tenne ynches. &c.
The ordinarie whole Culuering, the heygth of the mouth of the peece. 5. ynches a quarter, the heygth of the shotte, 5. ynches. The weyghte of the shotte of yron. 17. pounde. The weyghte of the peece aboute. 4500. more or lesse, the length of the peece. 12. foote, and comporteth in Pouder. 18. pounde Serpentine, the length of the Ladell 25. ynches, the breadth. 9. ynches. d. &c.
Culuerings, not so high as ordinarie, the heygth of the mouth of the peece. 5. ynches, the heygth of the shott foure ynches three quarters, the weyghte of the shot. 15. pounde, the weyght of the peece more or lesse. 4300. the length of the peeces diuers, some the ordinarie length, some otherwise, and occupyeth in Pouder. 16. pound, or theraboutes Serpētine, the lēgth of the Ladel. 24. ynches, the breadth 9. ynches.
Demy Culuerings.
THe elder sort of Demy Culuerings, the heigth of the mouth of the peece. 4. ynches three quarters, y e heigth of the shot. 4. ynches ½, the weyghte of the shotte. 12. lb. d. of yron, the weyght of the peece. 3200. the length of the peece. 12. foote more or lesse, and their charge in Pouder 12. poūd Serpentine, the length of the Ladell, 22. ynches, their breadth. 8. ynches. d. &c.
The ordinarie Demy Culuering, the heygth of the mouth of the peece. 4. ynches d. the heygth of the shotte 4. ynches a quarter, the weyght of yron shotte. 10. pound, three quarters, the weighte of the peece. 27. hundred or [Page 69] thereaboutes, the length of the peece. 10. foote more or lesse, and will comport in Pouder. 11. or. 12. pounde Serpentine, the length of the Ladell. 21. ynches a quarter, the breadth. 8. ynches.
Demy Culuerings lower than ordinarie, the heyght of the mouth of the peece. 4. ynches a quarter, the heyghte of the shott. 4. ynches, the weyght of the shotte being of yron is neere. 9. pounde, the weyght of the peeces. 22. hundreth more or lesse, the length of the peece. 9. or. 10. foote more or lesse, and their charge in Pouder. 10. pound or. 10. poūd d. Serpentine, the length of the Ladell. 20. ynches, the breadth. 7. ynches, three quarters. &c.
Sakers.
SAkers of the oldest sorte, the heygth of the mouth of the peece. 4. ynches, the heygth of the shot. 3. ynches three quarters, the weyght of the yron shotte. 7. pounde a quarter, the weyght of the peece. 1800. the length of some of those peeces. 10. foot, and comporteth in Pouder. 7. pound a quarter Serpentine, the lēgth of the Ladell. 17. ynches, the breadth. 7. ynches a quarter.
Sakers ordinarie, the heyght of the mouth. 3. ynches three quarters, the heygth of the shotte. 3. ynches a halfe, the weyghte of the shotte of yron is neere. 6. pounde, the weyght of the peece. 1500. the length of the peece. 8. foote or. 9. foote, and hir charge in Pouder is. 6. pound, or thereaboute of Serpētine Pouder, the lēgth of the Ladel is. 15 inches thre quarters, y e breadth. 6. inches. 3. quarters. &c.
Sakers lower than ordinarie, the heigth of the mouth of the peece. 3. ynches a halfe, the heygth of the shotte 3. ynches a quarter, the weyghte of the shotte of yron. 4. pounde three quarters, or neere. 5. pound, the weyghte of the peece. 1300-or. 1400. the length of the peece, 8, foote, or there aboutes, and comporteth in Pouder. 5. pounde, or [Page 70] 5. pounded. Serpentine, the length of the Ladell is fifteene ynches, the breadth sixe ynches and a halfe.
Minyons.
THe Minyon is. 3. ynches and a quarter high, in the mouth, the shotte is three ynches hygh, the weyghte thereof of yron, is three pound three quarters, the weighte of the peece, neere aboute. 1000. The length of the peece eyght foote or theraboutes, and shooteth in Pouder three pounde three quarters, or neere foure pound Serpentine, the length of the Ladell thirteene ynches d. the breadth 5. ynches and a halfe, some foraine peeces lower. The ordinarie Minyon, the mouth three ynches high, the shotte but two ynches three quarters, and weyeth of yron neere three pound, the weyght of the peece about nine hundred, the length of the ordinarie Minion, & shooteth in Pouder three pounde or thereaboute, the length of the Ladell. 13. ynches, the breadth. 5. ynches. &c.
Faucons.
THe Faucon, the heygth of the mouth of the peece. 2. ynches three quarters, the heygth of the shott. 2. and a halfe, the weyght of the yron shotte. 2. and half a quarter of a pound, the weyght of the peece seauen hundred, or seauen hundred and fiftie pound, the length of the peece seauen foote more or lesse, and occupieth in Pouder two pound and a halfe, and the length of the Ladell is twelue ynches and a halfe, the breadth of the plate of the Ladell is. 4. ynches and a quarter. &c.
Some foraine Ordnaunces not so high as the Faucō, and the mouth of the peece. 2. ynches and a halfe high, the shotte. 2. ynches and a quarter high, and weyeth neere one pound three quarters, and the weyght of those peeces sixe hundred, or sixe hundred and fiftie pounde, the length is [Page 71] as the Faucon, and the charge is in Pouder neere two pounde, the Ladell is eleuen ynches and a quarter, the breadth foure ynches.
A Fauconet, the peece is. 2. ynches and a quarter high, in the mouth, the shotte two ynches high, and the yron shot weyeth one pounde, and neere halfe a quarter of a pound, and the weight of the peece is aboute. 360. or. 400 and the length fiue or sixe foote, and the charge is of Serpentine Pouder, one pounde and a quarter, the Ladel is tenne ynches long, and the breadth of the plate of the Ladell. 3. ynches three quarters. And thus much I haue said as touching all manner of peeces that shoote yron shotte, thinking this sufficient for instructions. &c.
CHAPTER. 21.
How many shottes of Pouder ther is in a last of Pouder, from the cannon, vnto the Fauconet: and also, if that you are at any batterie, or in any Towne, Castell, or Shippe, how to know how much Pouder will shoote all youre Ordnannce, &c.
ANd also, I doe think it necessary for all sorts of Gunners, to know how manye shottes of pouder they may haue eyther in a last of Pouder, as also in a hundred pounde, of Pouder according vnto the peeces, whereby they maye readily know, if that they haue any charge of Ordnaunce in any Towne, Castel, Forte, or Shippes, that they maye know whether that they haue Pouder to lade al their Ordnaunce throughout, & also how oftentimes about y t they may shoote al their Ordnaunce w t so much Pouder. And al so it is very necessary, if y t there be any Ordnaūce placed against any towne or fort, & if y t they haue anynūber of gret [Page 72] Ordnaunce, as Cannons such a number, and Demy Cannons such a number, to the intente to batter downe the walles thereof: and then it is very necessary to know how much Pouder will shoote all those Ordnaunce off at one time, and so forth, if that they would continue the batterie, to shoote. 40. or 50. times ouer all their Ordnaunce in one day, and so to know how many last of Pouder that the batterie will require to continue suche a number of dayes: wherefore I doe thinke it conuenient to shew vnto you what a last of Pouder is, and that is this. A last of Pouder is 24 hundred weight, caske and all, and euerye hundred weight to contayne. 112. pound, so that you may make your accompte, that you haue 24. hundred pounde of Pouder in euery last, and so is allowed 12 pound in euery 100. weight, for the caske, which is in al allowed for the caske of a last of Powder, 288. pound. &c.
And first this: the biggest sortes of double Cannons doe occupie at one shotte. 46. pound of Sarpentine Pouder, and you haue. 2. charges in. 100 of pouder, and eight pounde remayneth ouer, so that you haue 52. shottes of Pouder, in a last of pouder, and 8. pound remayneth ouer. And if that it be such a double Cannon, as doth occupie but 40. pound of Serpentine Pouder, then you haue 2 shots and a halfe of Pouder in euery. 100. weight of Pouder, that is iust. 60. shottes in a last of Pouder. &c.
And also, those Demy Cannons that doe shoote. 24. pound of Serpentine Pouder at one shot, they shall haue foure shottes in a hundred weight of Pouder, and foure pound remayneth ouer, and that is a hundred shottes, in a last of pouder iust &c.
And also those Culuerings that doe shoote eyghtteene pound of Sarpentine Pouder at one shotte, then there is fiue shootes in a hundred weighte of Pouder, and then there remayneth ouer tenne pound, so that there is a hundred [Page 73] thirty three shottes in a Last of Pouder, & sixe pound remaineth ouer. And furthermore, those Demy Culurings that doe shoote eleuen pound of Serpintine Pouder at one shotte, then there is nine shottes in a hundred weight of Pouder, and one pound remaineth ouer, so that there is two hundred and eighteene shottes in a last of Pouder. &c. And also for those Sakers that doe shoote sixe pounde and a halfe of Serpentine Pouder at a shotte, then there is fifteen shottes in a hundred weight, & two or three poūd remaineth, so that there is. 369 shottes in a last of pouder. And furthermore, for Minions that shoote foure pound of Pouder at one shotte, then there is. 25. shottes in a hundred weyght, so that there is sixe hundred shottes in a last of Pouder. And also those Faucons that doe shoote two pound and a half of Pouder at a shotte, then there is forty shottes in a hundred weight, so that there is, 960. shottes in a Last of Pouder. And in like manner those Fauconets that doe shoote one pound and a quarter of Pouder at a shot, then there is. 80. shottes in a hundred weight, so that there is. 192. shottes in a last of Pouder. And thus much I haue saide, as touching how many shottes of Pouder, according vnto y e peeces, y t there either is in a hūdred weight of Pouder, or in a whole last of Pouder. And furthermore, if you desire to knowe how much Pouder would shoote off all the Ordnaunce, either in a Towne, Forte, or Shippe, then looke how many peeces there is of euery sorte, and so vntil that you do know how many peeces there is of euery seuerall sortes through a whole Towne, or Castell, or Shyppe, and then looke how many peeces there is of one sorte, multiplie the number of those peeces by the weight of the Pouder, that one of those peeces doth shoote at one shotte, and that will shewe vnto you how many pounde of Pouder will serue all one sorte of peeces, and by this order multiply euery seuerall sorts of peeces by thēselues, [Page 74] & thē adde al your nūbers togither. & that shall shew vnto you how much Pouder wil shoote al your Ordnaunce off at one time. As for example this. Ther is a towne, y t hath 3. double Canons &. 6. Demy Canōs, and. 14. double Culuerings, &. 10. Demy Culuerings, &. 30. Sakers, and. 25. Miniōs, &. 28. Faucōs, &. 12. Fauconets, and. 36. Foulers, & my desire is to know how much Pouder will serue all these peeces: therfore first, the. 3. double Canons, & they do shoote 40. lb. of Pouder, and. 3. times. 40. is. 102. & then y e Demy Canons do shoote. 24. lb. of Pouder, &. 6. times. 24. maketh. 144. lb. of Pouder, and then the. 14. double Culuerings & they do shoote. 18. lb. of Pouder, and. 14. times 18. maketh. 252. & then the. 10. Demy Culuerings & they shoote. 11. lb. of Pouder, and. 20. times. 11. maketh. 220. & now the. 30. Sakers and they do shoote. 6. lb. and a halfe of Pouder, and. 30. times. 6½ is. 195. and then y e. 25. Minions, & they do shoote. 4. lb. of Pouder. and 25. times. 4. maketh. 100. and then the. 28. Faucons, and they do shoot 2. lb. and a halfe of Pouder, and. 28. times. 2½ doth make 70. and then the. 12. Fauconets & they do shoote. 1. lb. and a quarter, and. 12. times. 1. ¼ doth make. 15. and now the 36. Foulers & they do shoote. 2. lb. ½ of Pouder, and. 36. times. 2. ½ maketh. 90. & now this being done, then adde al your numbers together, as this.
Names of peeces. | Peeces number. | Pouder in pounds. |
Cannons. | 3 | 120. pound. |
Demy Cannons. | 6 | 144. pound. |
Culuerings. | 14 | 252. pound. |
Demy Culuer. | 25 | 220. pound. |
Sakers. | 30 | 195. pound. |
Minions. | 20 | 100. pound. |
Faucous. | 28 | 70. pound. |
Fauconets. | 12 | 15. pound. |
Foulers. | 36 | 90. pound. |
Summe totall. | 174 | 1206. pound. |
[Page 75] And now by this you may conclude, that all this Ordnaunce doth shoote at one time, to shote thē off round once ouer doth require. 1206. lb. of pouder, & by this order you may know at al times, whether you are in any town, fort, Castell, or Ship, how much pouder wil serue al the Ordnaūce at your pleasure. And furthermore, if so be you haue such a quantity of Pouder, and if you would know howe oftentimes it would shoote all your Ordnaunce, rounde aboutes, then you knowing how much pouder will shoote all your Ordnaunce once, and as by the order before is repeated, then deuide your whole summe of Pouder by that nūber of the weight of the pouder that all your Ordnaūce requireth, & that summe that stādeth in the quantity line, shal shew you how oftentimes it wil shoote all your Ordnaunce off: As for example, by the Ordnaunce in a towne (as before is rehearsed) and suppose you haue. 20. Last of Pouder, and now to know how oftentimes it will shoote all your Ordnaunce off round about thorough the whole Towne, as you did see that al the Ordnaunce did require 1206. lb. of Pouder, & one Last of Pouder is 2400. lb. thē 20. Last maketh. 48000. lb. wherfore deuide. 48000. by 1206. and then there will stande in the quantity line. 39. and. 966. lb. will remayne ouer, so you may conclude, that twenty Last of Pouder will shoote all the Ordnaunce before rehearsed. 39 tymes ouer, and three quarters of them more, that is to saye, that it will shoote all the Ordnaunce off fortie times, lacking almost a quarter of them. &c. And also, if there were any batterie layde againste a Towne, and then if that you doe knowe howe many Cannons or other peeces of Ordnaunce there is in the batterie, then you maye knowe (as before is rehearsed) howe muche Pouder that they wyll occupye at once shooting them off, and also if that you wyll shoote them off rounde fortye or fyftye tymes in one day, then [Page 76] you may knowe howe much Pouder they will spende in one day: as this first (as before is rehearsed.) Multiply all the Ordnaunce of one sorte togyther, by the weight of the shotte of Pouder, and so the other sorts of Ordnaunce, and adde them togyther (as afore is said) and that beeing knowen, then multiplie that by the number of times that you haue shotte them off, and that shall shewe vnto you the number of poundes that the Ordnaunce hath occupyed in that day: as for example this: Suppose that there is in a battery against a Towne. 24 double Cannons, and they doe shoote. 40. pounde of Pouder a peece, therefore multiplie. 24. times 40. and of that multiplication, there commeth 960. and then there is eightteene Demy Cannons, and they doe shoote. 24. pounde of Pouder a peece, and therefore multiply eyghteene times. 24. and that maketh. 432. pound, and then adde both the numbers togyther, that is to say. 960. and. 432. & they wil make 1392. so that you may see, that the whole battery dothe spende 1392. of Pouder at once shooting thereof against the wall of the Towne: and then suppose, that in a day the Ordnaunce hath beene shot off sixe andfortie times, then how much Pouder shall be spent that day, then multiplying 1392. by sixe and fortie, and that will mak 64032. so that you may conclude that the whole batterie hath spent in one day, 64032 pound of Pouder, and y t will be sixe and twentie last and a halfe, and 432. pounde of Pouder, and then if that the batterie shoulde continue seauen dayes in that order, the whole summe in Pouder that shoulde be spent, amounteth vnto 448224. pound, and that maketh 186. Lasts, three quarters, and 24. pound: therefore by this order you may know from time to time, how much Pouder is spent at your pleasure, whether that it be in a batterie or in a Towne, & also how much Pouder will shoote such a number of Ordnaunce so many times [Page 77] off at your pleasure. And thus much I haue thought good to write vnto you for instructions. &c.
CHAPTER. 22
How to knowe how many shotte doth wey a Tunne.
ANd now in so much as I haue shewed in the Chapter going before, to know how much Pouder is occupied in Ordnance: so in like manner, I doe thinke it conuenient to shew vnto you how many shots of euery seuerall sortes will wey a Tun weight, which is very necessary to be knowen, as wel for them that haue occasion to transport them either by Sea or by land. And first this, a Tunne weight is 20. hundred, and euery hundred for to conteyne an hundred and twelue pound, so that a Tun is 2240. pounde in weight: and first, the double Cannons shotte, and those that doe wey 64. pound, and then 35. shots doth wey a Tun: and then the Demy Cannons shots, and those that doe wey 34. pound a peece, and then 62. or 63. of those shots do wey a Tun: and the Culuering shot of seauentene pound a peece, and then 131. or 132. wil wey a Tun: & also the Demy Culuerings, and those shots that do wey tenne pound a peece, and then there is 224. in a Tun. And furthermore, those Sakers, that the shot doth wey sixe pound, and there doth go. 373. or 374. vnto a Tun: and in like manner the Minions, and commonly their shottes doe wey three pounde three quarters, and 597. or 598. shots will wey a Tunne. The Faucons shots doth wey two pound & halfe a quarter, and 1054. or 1055. doth wey a Tunne: & the Fauconet shot weyeth one pound, and neere halfe a quarter of a pound, and. 1991. or 1992. doth wey a Tunne, And thus [Page 78] much I haue saide, as concerning how many shottes of euery seueral sortes doth wey a Tun weighte, but if that you haue a great number of shottes of seuerall sortes, and you do desire for to know how many Tunnes there is in all of them, multiply euery seuerall sorte by themselues, according vnto the weight, and so adding all the numbers togither, and then deuide that number by 2240. and it will shewe vnto you howe many Tunnes there is in the whole summe. As for example this, there is such a number of shottes to be transported, either by Sea, or by land, and you woulde knowe howe many that there is of them, as first, that there is a thousand Cannon shottes, and a thousande two hundred Demy Cannon shotte, and two thousand Culuering shotte, and three thousand Demy Culuering shotte, and three thousande fiue hundred Saker shotte, and foure thousand Minion shotte, and fiue thousande Faucon shotte, and sixe thousande Fauconet shotte, and nowe for to knowe their weighte, and first for the Cannon shotte, and those that be seauen ynches three quarters high, and those doth wey 64. pound a peece, and then being a thousande shotte, then therefore multiplye a thousand times 64. and that maketh 64000. and then there being 1200. Demy Cannons shotte, that are sixe ynches a quarter high, and those doe wey foure and thirtie pound a peece, and therefore multiplie 1200. times 34. and that maketh 40800. and then there is 2000. Culuerings shotte, of fiue ynches almost in heigth, and they do wey 17. pound a peece, and then multiply two thousand times seauenteene, and that maketh 34000. and thē there is three thousand Demy Culuering shotte, of neere foure ynches and a quarter in height, and they doe wey tenne pound a peece, therefore multiply three thousande times tenne, and that maketh 30000. and then there is 3500. Saker shotte, that is three ynches and a halfe high, [Page 79] and that weyeth, 6. lb. and therefore multiply. 3500. times 6. & of that there commeth 21000. & then there is. 4000. Minion shot, of iust 3. ynches high, and they doe wey 3. lb. 3. quarters a peece, and therfore multiply. 4000. by 3¾ & that wil make 15000. & then there is. 5000. Faucon shot, and they be 2. ynches and a halfe high, and doth wey. 2. lb. and halfe a quarter: therefore multiply 5000 by 2⅛ and that will be 10625. & then there is 6000. Fauconet shot, of 2. ynches high, and they do wey one pound, and halfe a quarter, & that commeth in weight 6750. and now adde al your numbers togither, as by this example following.
Names of peeces | Number of shots. | Weight in poundes. | Tunnes, |
Cannons. | 1000 | 64000 | 28 4/7 |
Demy Cannons: | 1200 | 40800 | 18 3/14 |
Culuerings. | 2000 | 34000 | 15 5/28 |
Demy Culuerings. | 3000 | 30000 | 13 1 [...]/28 |
Sakers. | 3500 | 21000 | 9 21/56 |
Minions. | 4000 | 15000 | 6 39/56 |
Faucons. | 5000 | 10625 | 4 [...]33/448 |
Faconet. | 6000 | 6750 | 3 1/224 |
Summe totall. | 25700 | 222175 | 99 83/448 |
And now, al those numbers being added togither, doth make 222175. pound in weight. And now to know how many Tunnes there is in al them, deuide the 222175. by 2240. and that being done, then there will stande in the quantitie line. 99. and 415. will remayne ouer, so that you may conclude, that of all the shotte there is 99. Tunnes, and 415. lb. that is neer ⅕ parte of a Tunne more, so that there lacketh little more then three quarters of a Tunne of 100. Tunnes, and by this order or meanes, you maye knowe how many Tunnes of shot there is in any number of shottes. &c.
CHAPTER. 23.
How and by what order the shot doth graze or glaunce vpon the lande, or water.
FOr to know by what order that the shot doth graze or trondle either vppon the land, or the water, it is to be noted, that it dothe graze or trondle farthest, when that the peece is laid point blanke, if that you do shoote the peece towards the water, or aplaine or leuell ground, and then the shotte shall rūne or graze neere three quarters of the beste compasse of the Randare, so that the shotte bee not lette by anye chance by the way: and there is on great diuersitie in distance of the grazing or running of the shotte, betweene the land and the water, so that the ground be a playne and leuel groūd, and the water or Sea to be smooth. And here is one thing to be noted, as touching the grazing of the shotte, whether it be vpon the water or the land, looke by what proportion the shotte doth strike or hitte the ground or water, by that proportion the shotte shall rise againe, although that it flyeth not so farre in that proportion, as long as the shotte hath force or drifte in his flying, that is to say, if the shott do strike or hitte any thing glauncingly that then it shall glance in that proportion from youwardes, and if do strike or hitte anye thing directly, then it shall be driuen directly backe agayne, if it doe not enter or sticke fast in the thing that it hitteth, euen like the shadowe of the Sunne, or anye other thing in the water or glasse, or such other like. As for exāple this. If you shoote anye peece of Ordnaunce towardes the water, and lay the peece at the poynte blanke, and the peece be but little [Page 81] higher than the water, then shall the shotte runne grazing in this forme, to rise againe by that proportion that it doth hitte the water, and so to runne, till that the great force be decayed, as this example doth shew.
And furthermore, if you doe mount the peece at much aduantage, then it will not graze at all, if it do graze, then it will be made in this manner.
And furthermore, if you doe shoote at any Shippe vpon the water, and you do shoote in that peece that do lye very high, and the shippe or marke neere hand, so that you must giue your leuell downewards, then if you doe giue your leuell shorte of the shippe, the shot will flye ouer the Shippe, by the meanes of the direct hitting of the water, for that the shot doth glaunce from the water, by that proportion that it doth hitte the water, as by this example.
[Page 82] So that you may iudge by this example, by what proportion the shotte doth graze, either vppon the water or the lande: but the water is the more certayner and truer if it bee smooth and calme, for that the water is not harder in one place, than it is in another, as the ground is or may bee, and the directer that it hitteth, eyther the ground or the water, the more it doth kill the force of the shotte, and by this meanes it will flye the lesser way: and the more glauncingly that it doth hitte eyther the ground or the water, the oftner it it doth glaunce or graze, and the further it flieth. &c.
CHAPTER. 24.
Howe to batter the walles of any Towne as well by night as by day
ALthough it hath not beene commonly vsed, yet notwithstanding it may be easily done, for to plant their Ordnance so, that they may batter or beat down the walles of a Towne as well by night as by day, although the night be neuer so darke. And also there shal no light appeare vnto the enimie, as thus. First after that your Ordnaunce is placed for your batterie, and you haue begunne to batter, & then the peeces being made ready for to shoote at the wall or place that you do mean to shoote at, and that you would continue for to shoote at the place all the night, then take a plommet of leade vpon a line or string, the peece being right vpon the marke that you do meane to shoote at, then with a plō met [Page 83] and the line, first plome the middle of the mouth of the peece downe to the grounde, and looke where the leade falleth to the ground, there make a mark vpō the ground, and then in like manner plome the very middle of the taile of the breeche of the peece vnto the grounde, and there make a mark also vpon the ground, and then draw a right line from the one place vnto y e other, as long as you list, & then that right line wil lye right vpon the mark, thē take a large great Quadrant, set out with degrees, & parts of degrees, & the Quadrant, for to haue a rule fastned vnto it, and then the peece being laid ready for to shoote at the marke, hauing the true height of the marke, that is to say, that the hollow or concauitie of the peece doe lye right vpon the marke, neither higher nor lower: then put the rule into the mouth of the peece, and looke at what degree or place that the plummet line dothe hang vppon, then note that in some Booke or paper, and then when that the night is come, and that you doe meane to shoote as well by night as by day, then first with your plommet of leade vppon a line, then plome the mouth of the peece right vppon the line that is vnder the peece, and that will laye the peece right vppon the marke, and then in like manner take the Quadrante, and putte the rule into the mouth of the peece, and then koyne the peece vppe and downe till that the plommet line doth fall vppon that degree and place that it did before, and then that in like manner will giue the peece the true heigth of the marke without any fayle. And for the see whether that the plommette line doth hang vppon the degree or place that it did before, and also to knowe by the line and the plommette with the lyne vppon the grounde vnder the peece, for to laye the peece ryghte vppon the marke, there muste bee prepared a close Boxe lyke a Lan-Lanterne, [Page 84] made with boordes, with a dore or a lidde for to open and shutte, to the intente to see how the plommet doth hang, and so forthe, as for example, supposing that at the seege of a Towne, the Ordnaunce being placed, and had battred al the day, & to cōtinue that they shoulde not make vp their breach in the nighte, and furthermore, that the breach shoulde be made wyder in the morning, then they wente vnto the middle batterie called the persers, and there tooke a plommet of leade and a lyne, the peeces beeing all charged and leuelled vnto the breache and markes appoynted, and firste, the plommet at the middle of the mouth of the peece, and then righte vnder the plommet, they do driue in an yron pinne, and then in like manner at the tayle of the peece, they plome the peece, and righte vnder the plommet they driue another pinne into the ground, and for that they could not draw a perfite line, they made a line or string fast, longer than the length of the distance of the two pinnes by two yardes, and the line or threed did come righte ouer the head of those two pinnes, and so passed a yard further at both the ends, than the two pinnes: & thus they did lay euery peece at that plate, and then the peeces lying still, ready to haue fire giuen vnto them, then they take their Quadrant, beeing very large, of two foote in the semy Dyametre, that is to say, from the Senter of the circle, end euery degree was set out in foure partes, and put the rule into the mouth of the peece, and the plommet line did hang at one degree and a quarter iust, and that they did note in a booke for remembrance, and this being done, they shotte off theyr peeces. And now when that the nighte was come, and the same very darke, and the mornyng very foggy, or that they could not see the walles of the Towne, yet they battered the walles of the Towne as perfitely all the night, and as well as though it had bin by day, for euery time y t [Page 85] they had charged all their peeces, they did this, first, they did plome the mouth of the peece, and likewise at the taile of the peece, right vppon the line that was vnder y e peece, right vpon the mark, and then they toke their Quadrant, and put their rule into the mouth of the peece, thē koined the tayle of the peece vp and downe, till that the plummet line did fall vpon that degree and place that it did before the nighte, and that was at one degree and a quarter iust: and thus when they had laid all their peeces, then they shotte them off, and charged them agayne, and so contiūed all the night long.
And so in this manner, they may in like case handle the two side batteries, but and if that it chance that the battering peeces doe lie vppon hygher ground than the place that is battered, then y e rule that is fastned, must be vnto that place wheras the plommet is made fast vnto, for [Page 86] that the degrees goeth downewards towardes the lower ground as you may see by these two figures.
CHAPTER. 25.
How to plant Ordnaūce by night, to batter the walles of any Towne, or displace any Ordnaunce in any Bulwarkes, or any such other like, as well by night as by day.
YEt furthermore, there maye be meanes founde, that if there be any Ordnaunce placed that doth damage or hurte you, and that you maye not come at it by no meanes in the daye for to displace their Ordnaunce, but vnto your greate hurt and losse, both of men and Ordnaunce, yet you may displace [Page 87] them by nighte neere as well as by day, both for to place youre Ordnaunce in the night, and also for to shoote perfitly vnto the place in the night, although the nighte bee neuer so darke: and then if that you doe see cause, when that you haue beaten or displaced theyr Ordnaunce, you maye carye awaye youre Ordnaunce before it is daye, as thus. First prepare an Astrolobe, the larger the better, and then two stakes or pinnes of yron like to a foote long, or there aboutes, according vnto your discretion, and also a sledge or beetle, to driue those stakes or pinnes into the grounde, and then viewing the grounde meete for the purpose a reasonable distance from the place that you doe meane to beate in the nighte, goe into that place in the daye tyme, and firste where you doe meane for to lay your Ordnaunce, there dryue in one of youre stakes, and then in lyke manner goe backawardes about twentye foote, and stande so, that you maye see the marke that you doe meane to shoote at ouer the toppe of the sticke that you haue dryuen, and then there in that very place dryue your other stake, and then goe a little backewardes more, and viewe whether that the two stakes stand as one right line vnto the marke, and if that they doe not, you maye amende them, and sette them ryghte, then take youre Astrolobe, and holde that vppon youre thombe by the ringe, and then turne youre Athilleyday or Rule wyth the two sightes that is on the backe side of the Astrolobe vppe and downe, tyll that you maye see that place that you doe meane to shoote at, thorough the two syghtes of the Athilleyday holdyng that vppe before youre eyes, winking wyth one of youre eyes, standing at that place where you doe meane for to place youre Ordnaunce that is betweene the two stakes, then looke vppon the Athilleyday or Rule wyth the two sightes, [Page 88] at what degree and place that the ende doth pointe vnto, then remēmber to write that degree, and place it in some Booke or Table, for that it is finished: then in the nyghte you may bring your Ordnaunce vnto that place between the two stakes, and then place one of your peeces righte betweene the two stakes, and then take a threed or line, and make that fast vnto the two stakes, and that shall lay the peece right vpon the marke. And then for to place the rest, they must doe this. First on the one side measure out iust how many foote you doe meane to lay your peeces in distance asunder, then from the line of the stake, measure it truly, and there make a marke, or driue a stake: and then at the other end, at that certayne distance, there in like manner driue another stake: then betweene those two stakes place another peece, and then make a line fast vnto those two stakes, and that in like maner shal lay the peece right vppon the marke, and then you may place another peece vppon the other side of the peece, and so forth. And then when your Ordnaunce is all charged, then plome the middle of the mouth of the peece right vpon the line, vnderneth the peece, and then in like manner, the middle of the taile of the peece to be plomed, that it stand right ouer the line, vnderneath the peece, and then take your Quadrant with the rule fastned vnto it, and put the rule into the mouth of the peece, and then koyne the peece vp and downe, till the plommet line do fall vpon that degree and place that the Athilley day did pointe vnto vppon, the Astrolobe, and that shall giue the peece the true height of the marke. As for example, suppose this after the breach in the wall of the Towne was made sautable, there the flanckes lay so, that they coulde not come neere vnto the breache, neyther could they plant their Ordnaunce for to displace those flanckes, but that they shoulde bee beaten from their Ordnaunce to their great losse and hinderance, [Page 89] therefore firste they prepared an Astrolobe of the largest sort, & two pinnes of yron made sharp at the endes, to goe into the ground, and then they caused an assaulte to be giuen vnto the contrary side of the towne, and whilest they helde them play there, then two or three chose out thyr groūd meete for their purpose, and ther droue one pinne, and then they went backe twenty foote, and right against that pinne they droue another pinne so euē, that the two pinnes, and the place of the bulwarke where the flankers lay, were all there vpon one right line: and then one of thē tooke the Astrolobe, hanging it perpendicularly vpright, then they turned the Athilley day vp and downe, till hee mighte see thorough both the sightes, the very place that the flanckers lay, and then they departed, and wente their way, and looked vpon what degree the poynte of the Athilley day stoode vpon, and found it to be vpon iust two degrees and a halfe, and that they wrote in a booke for remembrance, and then after a night or two, when they saw their time, the nighte being very darke, then they carried three peeces of artillerie, and placed the chiefest betweene the two pinnes, and vnto those two pinnes they made a line fast vnto them both close vnto the ground, and then they placed vpon the one side, one of the peeces, and the other peece vpon the other side, as this. First they measured out tenne foote from the formoste pinne iust vpon the one side, making a perfit square angle, and then in like maner they measured out. 10. fote more at the hindermost pinne, so that those two pinnes stode iust. 20. fote asunder, & so placed the peece betweene those two pinnes: & nowe for that they must shoote all three peeces vnto one place where the flākers lay, & for that the peeces did lye. 10, foot asunder, therefore they remoued the hindermost pinnes of both y e sides. 4. inches, so that there was. 10. fote distāce, & 4. inches, & the cause was this, for that the marke was. 10. [Page 90] skore off from the place where the peeces lay, and the peeces lay iust from the middle, vnto the middel, tenne foote asunder, and the line vnderneath the peece, was iust twentie foote long, and there is thirtie tymes the length of the lyne vnderneath the peece vnto the marke, and thirtye inches maketh two foot and a halfe, and foure times two foote and a halfe, maketh tenne foote, so that the hyndermost pinne beyng remoued foure ynches further off, must needes lay that line iust vpon the marke that the middlemost lyeth vpon, without any faile, and in this order the one peece was placed on the one side, and the other peece on the other syde: and nowe those peeces beeing charged, firste they plome the mouth of the peeces righte vppon the lyne, and then in like manner the breeche or tayle righte vppon the lyne, and then they tooke theyr Quadrante, and putte the rule into the mouth of the peece, and koyned the breeche of the peece, till the plommet line fell at two degrees and a halfe iust, for that the Athiley day dyd shewe vnto them on the Astrolobe: and they shooting off those peeces, they made a perfite shotte at the place appoynted, and thus they charged and shotte all the nyght, and then before day, when they hadde serued their turne, they conueyed their Ordnaunce from that place, for feare of being beaten away from them when it was day light.
And furthermore, by that meanes in like manner, they may place their Ordnaunce in the night out of a Towne, to annoye their enimies, as they may or can by no deuice or practise, but by industry or policie they may be preuē ted by practise, and especially if that he doe knowe what the enimie doth meane for to doe, for this wee doe see many times in warres, that policie doth preuayle as oftentimes as greate and huge armies of menne of greate strength, hauing all kinde of engines for that purpose, for [Page 91] euen as it pleaseth God, so goeth the victorie, although it commeth by a naturall cause, and that naturall cause that I speake of, is knoweledge and industrie in those affaires!
CHAPTER. 26.
How to keepe a Hauen or Riuer on the Sea coast for to sincke a Shippe as well by night as by day in all pointes.
NOw for the keeping of a Hauen or Ryuer, there maye be suche meanes or wayes vsed by industrie, that you maye keepe a Hauen or Riuer in this sorte, so that there may no Shippe passe neither by night nor by daye, but that hee shall be sunke, or else he escapeth very hardly, although y e nighte be neuer so darke, so that the night be not Foggy or Mistie, so that the Hauen or Riuer be not aboue a mile broad or ouer, as this. First, if the entraunce of the Riuer be therefore, to haue a watche there, then as soone as the watch doth perceiue thē and their number, then they must haue a watchtoken, and that must be a light or lights vn to the Castell or Bulwarkes, and then the watchtokens beeing so agreed vpon that the Castels or Bulwarkes may know y e number of the Shippes by the forme of the lights of the Castels or Bulwarkes, if that they be on the one side, & the other on the other sid, thē at certaine knowē places appointed for that purpose, and at a certaine distance from the Castels or Bulwarkes towards the Sea wardes, each of thē for to carrie a light thither, & to place the lightes as neere the water as may bee, and if that it [Page 92] chanceth so, that ther is but one Castell or bulwarke, and none vppon the other side, then they hauing a bote or Skiffe, or any other craft, they may rowe ouer the water, and place their Lightes in that knowen place appoynted, and then afore nighte, that place beeing alwayes knowen vnto them, they may place their Ordnaunce right vppon that marke vppon the farther side of the water, the Light stāding alwayes to the Seawardes of the marke that the Ordnaunce is placed right against, like. 20. or. 30. foote, & then the night being neuer so darke, the light is y e better seene: then must the Shippes needes in their comming betweene the light and you, take away the sightes of youre lightes, and then immediately, as soone as you do see that the light is shaddowed, then giue fire vnto those peeces that be placed against your ymagined marke appoynted, & then there is no doubt but you shall make a perfit shott at that Shippe, being sure that the mouth of the peece bee koyned lowe ynough, least they shoulde shoote ouer the Shippe, & especially if it be in a place where it doth ebbe and flowe: for at the full Sea, they must koyne the peeces at one proportion, and at a low water, at another proportion: and this being handled discretely, they shall not faile the hitting of y e Ship. And furthermore, as it is declared in the, 2. Chapter going before, they maye haue a line drawen vnderneath the peece vpon the ground for to lay their peeces right vpon their appointed marke at al times after y t they haue shot off their peeces in the night, then in the night they may place thē againe, &c. As for example, Heere with vs at graues end, as there is. 2. Bulwarkes y e one right against the other, the riuer of Thames running betweene them, and nowe they would keepe the riuer so, that there shoulde no Ship passe, neyther by night nor by day, but that they should be sonke: then they must keepe a watche at the Nasse or poynt belowe, at the entrance of y e [Page 93] Tilberrie hope, and that is a mile and a halfe from the Bulwarke, and there alwayes they must needes see them, and their number of Shippes, and specially by the help of a light vpon the further side of the water, and then they beeing knowen vnto the whatche, the watche must make vnto them a token by a light or lightes that they haue agreed vpon before, and then thorough the watche token, the Bulwarke knoweth that theyr commeth such a number of Shippes, or but one or two as it chanceth, and then each of the Bulwarkes hath an imagined marke, twentie skore towards the Nasse or Seawards, y t they do alwaies plant their Ordnaunce right against it, both by day, and by night, and then as soone as they doe see their watchtoken then both the Bulwarks do place their lightes hard vnto the water, like twenty foote to the Seawards of their imagined marke: then the peeces being planted and koyned, so that the dispart standeth vnderneath the poynt blanke at the full sea one degree, and at the lowe water three degrees, then giuing fire vnto the peece or peeces, as soone as the Ship taketh away or shadoweth y e light, thē theris no doubt but they do strike the Ship very neere y e water without any faile. And for that the lighte standeth to the Seawards of the marke appointed, the shott must haue a time to come vnto the Ship, and the Ship goeth away in the meane time. And furthermore, when that the peeces bee charged againe, then the line that is vnderneath the peece, by plomming of hir at the mouth, and at the tayle of the peece, is laid right vpon the marke agayne: and thē furthermore, if the Shipp chance to passe further, scaping both the Bulwarkes, then they may haue more ymagined markes, and also lightes placed there, and in like manner, lines vnderneath the peeces right vpon those markes. &c. And furthermore, you may know by the lightes, whiche side of the water the Ship commeth two wayes, and one [Page 94] way is this, the land being higher then the water, and the lightes being placed hard vnto the water, if that the ship commeth hard vpon the further side of the water next vnto the light, then the hold of the ship will shaddowe the light, and if that she commeth on your side, then the sayles will shaddowe the lightes. And furthermore if the Ship commeth right in the middle of the water or Riuer, then both the Bulwarkes shall haue the lightes shaddowed at one time, and if the Ship come on the further side of the water from you, then your lightes will bee first shaddowed, and if on the side you be on, then your light will bee last shaddowed: and then furthermore for the making of a perfite shotte, if that the other Bulwarke shoote before you, then koyne the mouth of the peece one degree lower, for that the Shippe commeth vpon your side of the water, and then for the neerenesse of her comming, you must needes koyne the peece so much the lower. &c.