THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
801 
commanding all the saltpetre and sulphur that could be found to be sold to 
the said Eoldeston. Only 750 lb. saltpetre and 810 lb. sulphur were 
produced by this edict. 
We hear of this writ and its results in an entry of these same accounts of 
John Cook:— 
“ Et eidem Thomse ad opus Eegis pro gunnis suis dccl. lib. sal pete, et 
cccx lib. sulphur vivi, per breve Eegis datum xxv die Novembris, per quod Eex 
mandavit prefato custodi quod provideri faceret ad opus Eegis totum salte petre et 
sulphur vivi quod inveniri poterit vendendum, et illud prefato Thomse liberari 
faceret per indenturam ipsius Thomse receptionem ejusdem sal petre et sulphur vivi 
testificantem, sicut continetur ibidem.’* 
This quantity appears to have been found insufficient to complete the 
siege operations, for again on the 15th September 1347, the king, being 
still before Calais, where he had now remained for more than a year, issues 
a writ, and Cook again pays to William de Stanes money for saltpetre and 
sulphur supplied by him to Thomas de Eoldeston. On this occasion 2021 lb. 
of saltpetre, and 466 lb. of sulphur were bought, at a very high price. We 
read:— 
“ Et Willielmo Stanes pro mm.xxi. lib. de saltpetra et cccc.lx.vi. lib. sulphur 
vivi ab eodem Willielmo ad opus Eegis per Thomam de Eoldeston clericum Privatse 
Garderobise Eegis emptis c.lx.vii 1 , IX s . n d ., precium cujuslibet librae sal pete 
xviiid., et sulphur vivi viii d .” 
Mr Hunter considers that this price of eighteenpence a pound for salt¬ 
petre, and eightpence for sulphur, was far beyond the usual price; in all 
probability the war had increased the value of these commodities. 
Although the above accounts are for powder, and do not relate except 
indirectly to cannon, they shew that Edward III. must have made what in 
those days was extraordinary use of cannon at Calais; and, read by the light 
of a series of entries produced by Mr Burtt, they are full of interest. This 
series is a comjpotus of accounts, and recites that by virtue of a writ under 
the Great Seal directed to the Barons of the Exchequer, 28th Jan. anno 
regni 27 (1353), Eobert de Mildenhale, keeper of the king’s wardrobe, 
had furnished his account of all his receipts and expenses between the 17th 
Oct. anno regni 18 (1344) and 29 Sept, anno regni 25 (1351). The 
extracts are of considerable length, and it is only necessary here to name the 
munitions which have reference to our own subject. 
,e Et par aliud breve Eegis de predicto sigillo Griffon’ datum primo die Eebruarii, 
anno xix°, (1345) per quod Eex mandavit eidem custodi quod omnes arcus, sagittas, 
balistas, baudic’, quarell’, haucepes, armaturas, gunnis cum sagittis et pellotis, 
reparare, et coffras (et) dolia pro eis imponendis et trussandis providere et emere, 
et ea in manibus pro passagio Eegis eskippare faceret, sicut &c. &c. 
Again, 
“per breve Eegis de sigillo predicto datum iiij die March eodem anno (xx mo -1346) 
per quod Eex mandavit eidem custodi quod omnes pavillones, arcus, sagittas, 
balistas, baudric’ hausepes, armaturas, gunnis cum pelotis et pulvere pro eisdenx 
gunnis &c. &c.” to be repaired and shipped &c. 
