180 GUNPOWDER. 



two distinct enquiries : viz. the discovery of the composition of 

 gunpowder ; and the discovery of finding out the means of ap- 

 plying it to the purposes of war. 



Polydore Vergil, who died in 1555, attributes the discovery 

 of gunpowder to some very ignoble German, whose name he 

 wishes might never be handed down to posterity. He further 

 informs us that this German invented also an iron ttibe, and 

 taught the Venetians the use of guru A. D. 1380. This, 

 continues Dr. Watson, is the common account of the discovery 

 of gunpowder : its truth, however, is rendered doubtful by what 

 follows : 



The battle of Ctessy was fought 1346, and an historian who 

 lived at that time is quoted by Spondanus as affirming, that the 

 English greatly increased the confusion the French had been 

 thrown into, by discharging upon them from their cannon y hot 

 iron bullets. Three years before the battle of Cressy, the Moors 

 were besieged by the Spaniards in the city of Algeziras ; and 

 we learn from Mariana the Spanish historian, " that the be- 

 sieged did great harm among the Christians with iron bullets 

 they shot." The same author adds, "This is t\\Q first time we 

 find any mention of gunpowder and ball in. our histories." The 

 Earls of Derby and Salisbury are mentioned by Mariana as 

 having assisted at the siege of Algeziras, and as they returned 

 to England in the latter end of the year 1343, it is not an im- 

 probable conjecture, that, having been witnesses of the havoc 

 occasioned by the Moorish fire-arms, they brought the secret 

 from Spain into England, and introduced the use of artillery 

 into the English army at the battle of Cressy. 



It was to cover the disgrace of the French arms that Edward 

 was alleged to have used gunpowder, and to which was owing his 

 success. This advantage the French might have resorted to, 

 and fought the English by the same means ; for father Daniel 

 cites a record preserved in the Chamber of Accounts at Paris, 



