18 
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OE 
carried cannon about with them on tlieir march through the country. When the 
troops of Sir John Chandos were besieging Montsac in 1369., they, “leverent 
devant ies murs aucuns canons quhl portoient/' 1 and in the same year before 
La Roche-sur-Yon, they had cc plusieurs canons et espringalles, quails avoient 
de pourveance en.leur ost, et pourvus de longtemps et usages de mener." 2 
According to Cuvelier, a troubadour of the 14th century, bombards were 
used by the Black Prince at Najara in 1367, but Froissart is silent on the 
subject, though he especially notices the Spanish slings. Cuvelier says that 
the English weapons included 
“ Bombardes, ars a tour, espees et espois .” 3 
It is very probable that the English did carry with them some small 
bombards, to be used whenever a castle was to be besieged. 
The department of gunnery in the Tower appears to have become of 
sufficient importance in or before the year 1370 (44, Edw. III.), to have 
had an officer of its own under the keeper of the wardrobe. An account 
rendered by this officer of his receipts and expenses, from the 1st March 
44th year (1370), to 31st March (48th year) 1374, is given by Mr Hunter in 
Archaeologia, 4 and as that publication is probably accessible to but few of 
those for whom these papers are designed, and the account presents features 
of great interest in connection with early English cannon, it is here re¬ 
published. 
“ Particule compotis Johannis de Derby de omnibus receptis expen. et eustag. per 
ipsum fact, pro gunner, li. a primo die Martij anno xliiij 0 usque ultimum diem 
eiusdem mens, anno xlviij 0 . 
Eec. denar. 
Empt. divers 
rerum. 
f Idem reddet compotum de xxiiij.li. xij.s. v.d. reeept. de 
j Johanne de Sleford clerico private Garderobe Eeg. infra Turrim 
j London, per divers, vie. per temp, hums comp, 
k Summa xxiiij. li. xij. s. v. d. 
Idem computat in bagg. de eoreo oil. et patell. ten’, fagot, 
salic. tahvod. et al. necessar. divers, offic. gunner, tangent, 
empt. et expend, super factur. pullveris et pil. plumb, pro 
gunner, necnon cariag. portag. et batell. plumb, barell. cum 
sulfur et salpetr. et al. rerum predict, de diversis locis usque 
Turrim London. Quenesburgh. et alibi una cum vadiis divers, 
operar. operanc. et laboranc. circa pulveres et pil. plumb. 
■« predict, faciend. et fundend. infra tempus hums compoti cxvj. 
s. vj. d. Et in ij. mort. eneis iij. pestell. ferr. xij. coclear, ferr. 
pro pil. plumb, fundend. x. form, de laton. pro eisdem pil. 
faciend. j. par. balanc. xxx. barell. parv. cum garnett. hasp, et 
stapul. pro pil. plumb, inponend et custodiend. viij. al. barell. 
maioribus pro pulv. xxx. cerur. parv. pendent, pro predict, xxx. 
barell. eexx. lb. salpetr. ij sars. et xviij. belowes empt. ad 
diversa precia infra dictum tempus xix. li. viij. s. ij. d. 
1 Froissart, Vol. I. Part 2, ch. 273, p. 579. • 
2 Ibid. ch. 284, p. 685. This usage of carrying cannon was cited as one of the arguments 
that cannon were employed at Cre^y. See “ Proceedings,” R.A. Institution, Yol. IY. p. 298. 
3 Chron; de Bertrand du Guesclin par Cuvelier, line 11,069. Paris 4°, 1839. 
4 Archaeologia, Vol. XXXII. p. 386, 
