THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION 
7 
noticed at an earlier date, requiring a new pin or wedge (cheville) after each 
discharge. A pair of bellows (buffet) and a charcoal pan (payrolet) were 
provided for each cannon to heat the firing-irons. 
Cannon of small calibre, throwing arrows, are again mentioned in a receipt 
bearing date the 29th December, 1371, given by “ Jehan de Lions, sergent 
d’armes du roy et maistre de ses artilleries.” 1 2 
But it is needless to multiply instances of the employment or purchase of 
cannon of the same nature throughout the kingdom of France, propelling 
arrows or leaden shot. As yet we have met with no cannon of large size, 
nor with any other projectile in France than the arrow or leaden bullet. 3 
In 1374, however, we find new projectiles employed in France, and the 
cannon from which they are to be thrown are considerably larger than any 
which have yet apppeared. 
On the 1st November, 1374, Jean de Yienne, admiral of France, and the 
king's lieutenant in Lower Normandy, engaged at monthly wages of 15 gold 
francs one Girart du Figac, a “ canonnier,” to make certain large cannon 
throwing stones, and to fire them as often as might be required at the siege 
of St Sauveur le Yicomte. For these purposes stores of iron, steel, wood 
charcoal, a forge and bellows were required. 
The original document from which this information is obtained is here 
extracted from the Etudes. 3 It is as follows: 
“ Jehan de Yienne, seigneur de Roulans, admiral de France et lieutenant du roy 
nostre sire on pais de la basse Normandie, a nostre bien ame Nicolas le Prestel, 
receveur an diocese de Constance des aides ordennees pour le fait de la guerre, salut. 
Nous avons retenu et retenons par ces presentes pour servir le roy nostre seigneur 
en nostre compagnie es bastides de devant St Sauveur le Yicomte, Gerart de 
Fyugahc, canonnier,pour faire faire certains gros canons getans pierres et en faire geter 
toutesfoiz que besoing en sera; et lui avons ordonne qu’il ait et preigne de gaiges, 
pour chascun mois, la somme de quinse frans d’or. Si vous mandons que ses diz 
gaiges vous lui paiez par chascun mois qu’il sera oudit service et jusques a ce 
que vous en aiez lettres de nous de cassement; et aussi vous mandons que vous lui 
faciez baillier et delivrer par juste et loial pris que vous paiez des deniers du roy, fer, 
acier, buche, charbon, forge, souffles et tous autres habillements dont il vous requerra 
qui seront necessaires aux ouvrages des canons qu’il nous a promis a faire, en 
prenant de tout ce lettres de recognoissances par lesquels rapportant avec ces pre¬ 
sentes, tout ce que paiez aurez pour ceste cause, vous sera alloue en voz comptes 
sanz contredit. Donne au Pont l’Abbe sous nostre seel, le premier jour de 
Novembre, 1’an mil ccclx et quatorze. 
“ Par monseigneur le lieutenant, 
« Signe, LE GUES.” 
Girart had completed the manufacture of one cannon on the 4th May, 
1375, and calls himself, in a receipt for his materials, “ cannonier et 
1 B. R. orig. parch, au cabinet genealogique, s6rie des titres originaux. 
2 The author desires to modify the opinion expressed in his last paper that the stones mentioned 
in the directions for the defence of Montauban were intended as projectiles for cannon. He now 
considers that there are good grounds for believing these stones were to be thrown on the besiegers 
heads at close quarters, as shewn in the directions for the defence of Bioule. 
3 Yol. III. p. 96. 
