320 Mr. Mallet on the Physical Conditions 



The following is from Voisin: — " This enormous cannon, or ancient bombard, is one 

 of the most curious pieces of artillery known, both in dimensions and construction, which 

 is a chef d^auvre of the art of forging. It is 18 feet in length, by 10 feet 6 inches in circum- 

 ference; the mouth is 2| feet in diameter; it is forged from bars of iron, and weighs 

 33,606 lbs., and threw a stone ball of 600 lbs. weight. Its construction appears to date 

 from the early years of the invention of artillery ; in all probability it was forged wiiile 

 Philippe Van Artevelde, Riswaert of Flanders, was besieging Oudenarde, in 1382. 



" It is certain that the people of Ghent, at war with their Duke Philippe, used it in 1411, 

 and at the attack of Oudenarde, in 1452 ; and that, forced to abandon the siege, their 

 creat piece of artillery, which they were not able to drag along with them, fell into the 

 hands of the burghers of that city, commanded by Gaspard Van der Moiren. It is probable 

 that they of Oudenarde, who took part with the Duke of Burgundy, caused the arms of 

 that prince to be engraved upon it. 



" During the great revolt against the Spaniards, this famous piece, which Oudenarde 

 had preserved for nearly a century as a civic trophy, was recaptured by the Gantois leader, 

 Rockelfing, transported to Ghent by the Escaut, and discharged on the 8th March, 1578, 

 from the quay Kuypyat, now the plain Des Recollets. It was placed, the same year, — 

 at jMannekins-aerd, near the Marche du Vendredi, where it is still to be seen, — upon wooden 

 trestles, which were several times renewed. These trestles were replaced, about 1783, by 

 the throe freestone pedestals, which are represented, and on which it now stands. 



" It served for throwing stone balls, or barrels containing a kind of grape-shot, composed 

 of pieces of stone, iron, or glass, &c. The chamber is made separate from the chase, but is 

 reunited to it in the same manner as in some of the bronze pieces which defend the entrance 

 of the Dardanelles: these have nearly the same form and dimensions as the bombard of 

 Ghent, which is believed to be the largest in Europe. The cannon which draws the 

 attention of strangers in the Arsenal at St. Petersburg is 21 feet long, but it only weighs 

 17,435 lbs., and its caliber is only 68 lbs. 



" The great cannon of Ghent still bears the sobriquet of Dulle Griette (the Raging 

 Meg), whether in allusion to the noise which it made by its report, or to perpetuate the 

 evil fame of Margaret, Countess of Flanders, who died in 1279. The hatred which this 

 princess bore all her life to the children of her first marriage, Jean et Baudoin d'Avesnes, 

 caused the greatest misfortunes in Flanders, and she bore to the grave the name of the 

 Black Lady, which the people had given her. Some of the French chroniclers say the 

 piece was commonly called " Margot la Folic." 



