191 1.] Dz-VNA— NOTES ON CANNON. 163 



The difficulties in the construction of these big bombards were 

 greatly lessened by the system of forging the very heavy breech piece 

 so that it could be screwed to the chase — and unscrewed, when de- 

 sired ; the square holes for the levers, that worked like capstan bars 

 on board ship, are conspicuous in such guns, usually in the rear 

 ring of the chase, and at the rear end of the breech. In some bom- 

 bards there were three divisions, greatly adding to convenience in 

 transportation. 



Here are the dimensions of the largest bombard that has come 

 down to us, the one on the Place du Marche at Ghent. The lady is 

 called " Dulle Crete." which they tell me can be translated " Mad 

 Meg." Her caliber is 26" ; interior of chase 10' 4", or five calibers. 

 Chamber caliber 10.23", l<?i''gth 4'-6.i6" ; five to six calibers. The 

 exterior length 16' 6". The gun is built up of 32 longitudinal iron 

 bars, 2.17" wide. 1.2" thick; these are soldered together. Over 

 them are 41 iron rings, welded together and diminishing in thick- 

 ness from the junction with the breech to the muzzle, except the 

 three which form the muzzle moulding or swell. In addition, there 

 are 20 bands, called " rondelles." in two of which, the one at the 

 extreme end of the breech and the one at the end of the chase, 

 are holes for the levers used in unscrewing breech from the chase. 

 Curiously enough, the breech is not exactly in line with the chase, 

 inclining slightly to the left. — might possibly be a trifle trying for the 

 right-hand side of the chase after a few shots. 3ileg's weight is 

 36,080 pounds, but painters of that day represent Flemish women 

 of her class as distinctly heavy. The ball weighed 748 lbs., and the 

 powder charge was 88 lbs., between ^ and % the weight of the pro- 

 jectile. The range was about 3,000 yards, at least Meg claimed that, 

 though her efl:'ective range could not have been more than three hun- 

 dred yards. But, it is only fair to remember that in Nelson's day 

 six hundred yards was long fighting range. 



The date of this huge, but rather useless engine of construction 

 — destruction. I fear, would be gross flattery — is rather uncertain. 

 The Flemings took it to the siege of Oudenarde, in 1452 ; a coat-of 

 arms I found near the vent is that of the father of Charles the 

 Bold, called " Philip the Good," because he was bad. He warred 

 from 1422 until 1467. 



