EVOLUTION OF GUNS AND RIFLES 
the defence thereof. He that dwells two furlongs distant from a town, or 
within five miles from the sea -coast, has a similar permission; and this 
last may shoot at any wild beast or fowl, save only deer, heron, shove - 
lard, partridge, or wild duck. But none under the degree of a Baron might 
shoot with any hand-gun within any city or town, or shoot at any fowl 
whatever with any hail shot. It is evident from these provisions that while 
it was desired to encourage in a large degree the use of firearms as weapons 
of war, they were not to be used, except by a very limited number of people, 
as shot-guns for sporting purposes. Sport remained, as it had for centuries 
been, a monopoly of the privileged classes. 
Germany seems to have been the chief mother of the gunmaking art. 
But in France there seems to have been a factory of sporting arms at St 
Etienne as early as 1535. Henry VIII imported firearms from the Continent, 
and finally brought from Hainault a number of skilled handgun makers. 
They were quartered in the Tower, and represent the first establishment 
of the gunmaking industry in this country. In Elizabeth’s reign the busi- 
ness of gunmaking was firmly established in the Minories. The industry 
was made the subject of a monopoly by James I, and soon came near to 
extinction, but survived, and was finally incorporated as the Gunmakers’ 
Company in 1637. The gunmaking craft in Birmingham rose to impor- 
tance about fifty years later. The proof of guns, both in London and at 
Birmingham, appears to have been systematic in, and since, the seven- 
teenth century; but it was only 100 years ago that the proof was regulated 
by Act of Parliament. Naturally enough, we have to look abroad for 
information as to the art of gunmaking in its earlier years. In this matter 
the Spaniards, then a leading nation of the world, were second to no 
European nation. 
The interesting book written in 1644 by de Espinar, who was arquebus 
bearer to Philip IV of Spain, tells us that the first gun barrels of any 
excellence which were used in Spain came from Germany, and gives a list 
of the marks used by their makers. He also speaks of a famous Italian 
maker of former times named Lazari Cominazzo, who fiourished in the 
early years of the seventeenth century. His barrels had a wide reputation, 
and were known among connoisseurs as Lazzarini. So famous were they 
that forged imitations of them became common. De Espinar tells of two 
workmen sent by the Emperor Charles V as being his best gunmakers 
in Germany to serve Philip II of Spain. Their names were Master Simon 
the elder and Master Peter his brother. This family remained in Spain 
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