THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
291 
there appear in other documents likely to yield such information, any notice 
of cannon under any name at this period. 
This question has been thus carefully investigated, because almost every 
writer on the subject mentions this as an authentic case of the early employ¬ 
ment of cannon. 
A manuscript in the British Museum 1 called the “ Kalendare of Brute ” is 
quoted by Strutt 2 as an authority for the employment of cannon in 1332, 
but from internal evidence it appears that the MS. is of a date certainly as 
late as the fifteenth century, so that this again cannot be considered of 
any value. 
In the year 1338, however, we come upon unquestionable testimony that 
cannon, both of iron and brass, were employed at that date on board English 
ships of war. We find an “ indenture between John Starlyng, formerly clerk 
of the Ships, Galleys, Barges, Balingers, and other the King's Vessels, 
and Helmyng Leget, keeper of the same, 22nd June, 12 Edward III. 
1338. 3 
The said John delivered to the said Helmyng in a ship called the 
“ Bernard de la Tour ” “ ij canons de ferr sanz estuff.” 
The same delivered to the same the barge called “ La Marie de la Tour,” 
whereof John Brambehill is master, with the “ apparaill,” &c., “un canon 
de ferr ove ii chambres, un autre de bras ove une chambre, un ketill, un 
spogeour, &c. &c. 
Also, “La nief appelle la carake dont Petre de Lenant est meistre,” 
amongst other articles, “ un canon.” 
Also, “La hulke appellee c X'pofre de la Toure 4 dont John Kyngeston 
est meistre ”—among other things, “ iii canons de ferr ove v chambres, un 
handgone, un.de ferr p r les canons.” 
It must be observed here that these cannon, whether of brass or iron, 
appear to have been, as we shall presently find was the case at about the 
same period in Erance, breech loaders, with moveable chambers to contain 
the charge; each gun being provided with more than one of these 
chambers. 
Among the parcels in the storehouse in the same day was “un petit 
barrell de gonpouder le quart' plein; ” and there is no other mention of 
powder for the service of these guns. 
This same year, 1338, gives us the first Erench document relating to 
cannon which has been hitherto discovered. It is in the Cabinet des Titres 
of the Imperial Library at Paris, 5 and relates, according to Lacabane, to 
provision for the expedition to attack Southampton, which was fitted out 
at Leure and Harfleur in this year. 6 
1 Harleian, No. 24. 
2 Maimers and Customs, &c. Yol. II. p. 32. 
3 Roll T. G-. 11,097. This was first published by Sir Nicholas Harris Nicolas, in his History of 
the Royal Navy. London, Bentley, 1847, Yol. II. Appendix, p. 475. 
4 Later in this same year, a ship “ Christopher” was taken by the French from the English, after 
a fight of nine hours, when according to Grafton (p. 236, ed. prin.), guns were fired. 
5 B. R. original parchemin parmi les titres scelles de Clairambault, Yol. XXY. fol. 1825. 
6 This document was first published by M. Leon Lacabane, in his Bibliothequc de 1’ Ecole des 
Chartes, 2nd sgrie, tom. I. p. 51. 
