T3E ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
289 
slumbering archives of the middle ages have been disturbed, and so 
searched on behalf of the disciples of science, that much valuable infor¬ 
mation has been obtained on this subject. 
The researches of M. M. Heinaud and Eave, of Colonel Omodej of the 
late Piedmontese army, of M. Lacabane, &c., and most especially of the 
Emperor Napoleon III., have thrown great light upon our subject; and it 
is by the aid of their learned works, and those of many minor contributors, 
that the author has endeavoured to make his way to some understanding of 
this question; tracing back to its original source, wherever possible, every 
statement on which any doubt may be cast, or where two opinions clash; 
and referring to, and being guided by the original text, not trusting to 
translations. 
In this paper, as a rule, those numerous alleged instances of the early 
employment of cannon, which upon careful investigation have not proved 
trustworthy, will, except in some case of peculiar interest, be omitted; and 
we will confine ourselves to the unquestionable authority of contemporary 
public documents, and in some instances contemporary chroniclers. 
These will carry us back no farther than the year 1326, in which year 
dates the earliest authentic document hitherto found proving the existence 
of cannon. 
This record, which is still in existence, gives authority to the priors, the 
gonfalonier, and twelve good men, to appoint persons to superintend the 
manufacture of cannons of brass, and iron balls, for the defence of the 
commune, camps, and territory of Florence. 
It bears date the 11th Eebruary, 1326, and is as follows :— 
<{ Item possint dicti domini priores artium et vexillifer jus tithe una cum dicto 
officio duodecim bonorum virorum, 1 2 eisque liceat nominare, eligere et deputare 
unum vel duos magistros in officiales et pro officialibus ad faciendum et fieri 
faciendum pro ipso communi pilas seu palloctas ferreas et canones de metallo, pro 
ipsis canonibus et palottis habendis et operandis per ipsos magistros et officiales et 
alias personas in defensione communis Elorentise et castrorum et terrarum quae 
pro ipso communi tenentur, et in damnum et prejudicium inimicorum pro illo 
tempore et terminio et cum illis officio *et salario eisdem per commune Elorentiae et 
de ipsius communis pecunia per camerarium camere dicti communis, solvendo illis 
temporibus et terminis et cum ea immunitate et eo modo et forma et cum illis 
pactis et conditionibus, quibus ipsis prioribus et vexillifero et dicto officio sir. 
bonorum virorum placuerit.” 3 
Now, about this time, the Genoese and English came frequently in contact 
on the sea, and it is possible that through the former the use of cannon 
might have been communicated from Italy; so that at the first glance there 
appears no reason why we should refuse to admit that as early as 1327, 
1 In 1321, during the wars made by Castruccio de Lucques on the Florentines, the latter, casting 
the blame of their ill success on the gonfalonier and priors, joined to them these twelve councillors 
(boni viri), as a check upon their actions. 
2 Vol. XXIII. (dist. II. class 2 .) of the Riformagioni of Florence, p, 65. This document was 
first published by M. Libri in his Histoirc des Sciences Mathem. en Italie, tom IV., p. 487, and 
was verified by M. de Mas-Latrie of the Ecolo des Chartes. It has since been more than once 
published. 
