THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
S3 
“ Rex universis et singulis vicecomitibus, &c. 
“ Sciatis quod assignavimus dilecfcum nobis Thomam Norwich ad emendum et 
providendum, ad opus nostrum, per supervisum, dilecti nobis Thomse Restwold, 
in civitate nostra Londonise et alibi, &c., pro denariis nostris, prompte in manu 
per manus dicti Tliomse solvendis, Duo magna et duo minora ingenia, vocata 
Canons , sexcentas Petras pro eisdem ingeniis et pro aliis ingeniis; Duodecim 
Ralistas.ccc. libras de saltpetre, c. libras sulphuris vivi, unum dolium 
Carbonum de Salugli, &c. 
“ Et dolia et barellos pro prsemissis imponendis, pro stauro et munitione Castri 
nostri de Brest, &c. 
T. R. apud Westmon”. 1 
In Mr Devoirs valuable collection of extracts from the Issue Rolls of the 
Exchequer, under date 10th December 1379, occurs the following interesting 
item. 2 
To John Walssh, receiver of the king’s provisions at Cherburgh. In money 
paid to him by John d’Arundell, marshal of England, late keeper of the castle and 
town of Cherburgh, at the time he was discharged from the custody aforesaid, for 
the undermentioned things remaining there for the king’s use for the defence and 
provision of the castle and town aforesaid, viz : for ten guns to throw stones, two 
of which are of iron, and eight of other metal, seven of the said guns casting large 
stones twenty-four inches in circumference, and the three remaining casting large 
stones fifteen inches in circumference; 2001b. of powder, 261b. of saltpetre, and 
241b. of pure sulphur, were paid for at the exchequer in the account of the 17th 
day of June, in the eighth year &c.” 
Here we have iron guns, and others, doubtless brass, projecting stones of 
eight inches and five inches in diameter, not so large certainly as some of 
those mentioned by Eroissart, but yet very formidable pieces. 
At the same time that such large guns were in use for the armaments of 
fortresses, the small cannon were employed in considerable numbers in the 
attack. “'An inquisition taken in 1375 at Huntercombe, (a place belonging 
to the Abbey of Dorchester), and now preserved among the records 3 at the 
chapter-house Westminster, states that one Nicholas Huntercombe, with 
others, to the number of forty men, armed with ‘ haubergeons, plates, 
bacenettes cum aventayles, paletes, lanceis, scutis, arcubus, sagittis, balistis, 
et gonnes, venerunt ad manerium de Huntercombe/ and there made 
assault, &c.” 4 
In 1373, when the English were besieging St Malo, Eroissart tells us 
that 
“Si firent les seigneurs de l’ost ouvrer et charpenter manteaux d’assaut; et 
avoient en l’ost bien quatre cents canons mis et assis tout autour de la ville qui 
contraindoient durement ceux de dedans.” 5 
To this the learned editor of EroissarEs chronicles, M. Buclion, appends 
a note to the following effect:—• 
“ Some modern historians consider that this number of 400 cannon is either 
exaggerated or erroneous. Others, among whom is Father Daniel, think that the 
1 Fcedera. Yol. VII. p. 187. 
2 Issues of the Exchequer, by Frederick Devon. London, 1837, p. 212. 
3 Coram Eege, Hil.j 50 Edw. III. 
4 Hewitt, Ancient Armour, &c. Yol. II. p. 298. This evidence was discovered by Mr Burtt. 
5 Froissart, Yol. II. ch. 29, p. 31. 
