The third part of the principles of the art military practised in the warres of the United Provinces vnder the Lords the States Generall and His Highnesse the Prince of Orange : treating of severall peeces of ordnance ... : together with a list of all necessary preparations appertaining to an armie ... / written and composed by Henry Hexham.

THE FIRST CHAPTER.

Treating of the Leagues, Alligations, and Commixture of mettals, wherewith Ordnance are Cast, and made inthese Countries, and else where.

THe Alloye wherewith our Ordnance is made here in these Countries, is commonly old cast brasse peeces, ill proportio∣ned, burst, or made vnseruiceable with too much Shooting, and there∣fore, must be refounded into some better, and more seruiceable formes, or are such perhaps, as are too great for ordinarie Carriages and bullets. If these old brasse peeces be of too fine a mettall (wich yet is seldome found) the M^r. Founder maye mingle some slighter copper amongst it; yea so much as he in his iudg∣ment shall think sitting: so that the Ordnance, which he makes be answerable to their proofe.

Our newe Ordnance then being founded with these new alligations, and alloyes are commixted with three fourth parts of red Copper, made vp in Sowes one fourth part of Bell mettal cast also in Sowes, and one ninth part of the finest Cornish tinne you can gett.

These bricks are peeces of red copper weighing, about 50 lb. weight, cast after the fashion of a square footed pauement, and your great Sowes, are peeces of other Cop∣per, melted one timelesse, then your brick Copper, where of some of them weighes 200, 300. yea the greatest 600 lb. a peece, The is tinne mix ed amongst the Copper, and Bell-mettal, that they maye run ne the better in melting, which makes your peece more solid and firme.

But in Italy S. ^nor. Alexander Bianco (as master Norton oneof his ma^tias, master Gunoners, And Enginier citeth in his practize of Artilerie) saith, That the best Alligations of these mettals for Ordnance is for every 200. lb. of Copper 20 lb. of tinne, and 5 lb. of brasse, or Latton is to be mixted therewith. And Digeo Vffano a Spainyard, Captaine of the Ordnance in the Castle of Antwerpe, in his instruction of Artilerie affirmeth, that the best ligature for Ordnance is 100 lb. of Copper, 8 lb. of tinne and 5 lb. of Latton, and 10 lb. of Sow-lead, affirming that lead being tough & cold, maketh the peece-become hard. But le Sieur de Brissac, a french man in his militatie discourses saith, that the french, Founders vnto every 100 lb. of Copper doe either ad 20 lb. of Bell-mettal, which is 25 pound of Tinne & Lead for 100 lb. of Copper, orbrasse, or else 10 lb. of soft tinne to every 100 lb. of Copper.

The Lords the States have in the Hagh avery brave founderie, and a work-house ioyning to it, in which they doe all their massive workes, and behinde that aspacious roome, where they Settand place all their carriages, which is kept faire and dry, and besides the Master Founder hath a house to dwell in, all which belongs to the Land.

The Master Founder must be very carefull in makeing choise of his powders, & Earths where∣with he is to make his Mouldes for the Casting of brasse Ordnance in, that they be able to resist the fire, and receiue the melted mettals: So that they maye render them to be east, and founded neately, without being Subject, either to be diminished, crackt, or peeld, when they shalbe nealed, which is such a matter, as without experience cannot be done well. Wherefore, I wil conclude with master Norton in his practize of Artillerie, that good Earths are neither fatt, nor leane, but betweene both, and of a fine and subtill graine or mould, which soone dryeth, and remayneth firme, without breaking, being able to resist the vehemencie of the fire, and such Earths are most com∣monly of a yellow, or a red colour.

Now to finde such Earths, as are fitt for your worke, it behoueth you to sinke diversse pits, or Caues vnder ground, which have not bin much stirred. And after you have begun your worke, and Compounded your Earths in a bouke, or heape, and wett, and moistned them like paste, beginn then to heate them with a rod of yron, as the Potters vse to doe their Claye. Then take two third parts of the whole lumpe, and mixe it with lint of linnen cloath, and then beate the same together, vntill they be well incorporated, that they maye appeare all one substance, and if any small stones should chance to fall amongst it, then pick thene out, or bruise them, as small as maye be, that the powders being well tempred, maye serue for your moulds and formes.

Of makeing of moulds for the founding of Ordnance.

THe Master Founder having prepared, and resolued of what kind, and what sort of that kinde the Ordnance is, which he intends to cast, he is then first to make a perfect Modell there of, either of timber, or of Earth, orboth, with all the Mouldures, Ornaments, & compartiments, euen as you would have the peece to be, which you must thinnely annoint with soft hogt-grease, and then cover it over uith a Colume of the afore said tempered Earthp, made and dryed by little and litle, aug∣menting it, vntill it be of a Competent strength, and thicknesse. This Colume must be made so, as it may be taken into two or more parts, to the end, to take the said modell, or patterne out of yt, and it is to beforti∣fyed on the outside, with plates of yron, at long as the Chase of the peece is, and with yron Wyres an inch each from an other, and lastly with y-ron Hoopes a foote, or two assunder, to knock off, and on, as occasion shall require. Their must elso be a smooth, and equall Cillender, whose Dyamitre must be iust the beigth of the Bore, and made of the same Earth, moulded vpon a stronge Iron square Barre, and vpon a Cord woulded about the same, to make therewith the soule, Concaue or hollow Cillinder of the peece, by placing yt (by helpe of the Base, and Muzzle ring) exactly in the midst of the Vacuity of the outermost Colume, which whenthe Patterne, or Modell Shalbe taken out, will remaine hollow, to receiue the metrall, that must make the bodie of the peece. All these must be well ioynted together, polished smooth, dryed Nealed, that the met∣tall maye runne fine, and come off smooth and neate.

Lastly, the patterne of the breech, with all the Mouldures, and Cascabell, is in like manner to be Couvered ouer, by litle and litle with the same tempered Earth, which must afterwards be Luted neatly, and strongly to the breech end of the outter Colume: all which Mouldures, Rings, Armes, Devises, Flowers, Trunions, Dol∣phins, and Circles, maye be at pleasure added there vnto, vpon the patterne, either with waxe, earth, or play∣ster, and so the perfect Impression thereof wilbe receiued by the Concavity of the outward Colume, keeping still the due prescribed proportion of the peeces (yow intend to cast) accordingto the kind & sort thereof, for the rest se master Norton in his 21, & 22 Chapters of the practize of Artillerie.

Having thus digressed, I will returne againe to my former matter, and giue the gentle Reader to vnder stand, shat the States have Conditioned with their Master Founder, that he shalbe at the charge of ma∣keing all Mouldures, Formes, castings, borings, and finding of firing, for which he hath from the States six gildens, or 12 hillings starling, for the founding, of 100 lb. weight; so that for a whole Canon, which weighs 7000 lb. weight, he hath 840 gilders for him and his men, the rest proportionally. Now when any old brasse peeces are to be cast, they are deliuered to him by weight, and he is allowed him ten pounds in every 100 lb. weight for drosse and wast: for you must vnderstand, that Copper & brasse have much more drosse in them, then gould or silver, because the finer the Alloye is, the lesser it will consume by fire.

The greatest number of new peeces cast in the States Founderie at the Hagh, euery yeare by the helpe of some, 20 men are sixe whole Canons, twelve half Canons, and sixe long Feild peeces, or demy Culvering, makeing in all the number of 24 peeces of Ordnance. But of late yeares they cast diverse sorts of french short Demy Canon, and smaller Drakes, as now the occasion of fervice requires.

These Ordnance being founded and made, the Master Feunder is to deliuer them to the States vpon Proofe in the presence of some Commissioners, and the Controuleur of the Ordnance, who are to ouersee them, and to take care, that the peece, which is to be tryed, be well loaded with her due weight of powder, and bullet, and rammed well home.

The proofe of a whole Canon which weights 7000 lb. weight, and carries an yron bullet of 48 lb. weight must be charged with 32 lb. of fine powder, and with the bullet aboue said well rammed home; but the ordi∣nary charge then of it wilbe noe more then 20, 19, or 18 lb. of sine pouder at the least: A halfe Canon which weighs 4500 lb. weight and shootes a bullet of 24 lb. weight, the proofe Shott must be 16 pounds of fine powder & the ordinarie charge 12 lb.

A Feild peece, which weighs 3200 pound weight, carrying a bullet, of 12 lb. must be loaded with nine pounds of fine powder, but the ordinarie charge is noe more but sixe pounds.

The Faulconet, that weighs 2100 lb. which carries a bullet of sixe pound weight, must be loaded with 4 and a halfe lb. of fine powder for it proofs shotr, and with 3 lb. for its ordinarie charge.

Note also, that a Canon, which shoots a bullet of 48 lb. must be bored for a bullet of 52 lb.

Weight, A Demy Canon, which carries a bullet of 24 lb. must be bored for a bullet of 28 pound.

Weight, A quarter Canon, which carries a bullet of 12 lb. must le bored for a bullet of 16 lib.

A Faulconet which carries a bullet of 6 lb. weight, must be bored for a bullet of 8 lb.

Your whole Canon, and Demy Canon, are commonly peeces for Batterie, vsed at seiges for to make a breach, but your Feild peeces, and Drakes are to be drawne to some suddaine peece of seruice, as in the day of Battle, vpon a Passage, or vppon Plate Formes, & Batteries made vpon the line of Circumvalatione, or for the defence of a Campe, when an ennemy is at hand, and the rest of the short chambred Drakes likewise.

A Canon or a smaller peece of Ordnance, maye shoote in 12 howres some 80 shoot, yea 100, if it be not Ouer Heated, but after yow have made with it some 10 or 12 shott at the most, it must have a Cooling time, by casting ouer the breech of it a Danck hair cloath a pretie while, and that will coole it enough.

For a whole Canon mounted vpon a block waggon, or vpon its owne Catriage, it is commonly drawne in these hollow, and marshie Countries, with a teeme of 15 couple of Bustie horses, besides the Thiller horse, ma∣king account, that euery couple of horses, must drawe for their shares 600, yea 650 pound weight if they be well putt to it. A Demy Canon with eleuen couple and a Thiller horse, a quarter Canon with eight coupple and a Thiller horse, & a Faulconet with foure couple & a Thiller horse, and your smaller Drakes with a number proportionable to the weight abouesaid, yea euen to a small Drake carrying a bullet but of one pound weight, is drawne but with a Thiller horse. The length of the chase of euery peece both Reinforced & Chambred is noted aboue its figure.

The Demonstration of the eight peeces of Ordnance, which are in most vse, vnder the Lords the States service.

And first of foure peeces of Ordnance reinforced Plate A.

NVm. 1. is a Faulconet weighing in mettal 2100 lb. weight, being 10 and three quart of a foot long' which shootes an yron bullet of 6 lb. weight, which being layd leuell by the mettall, other∣wise called the Horiozontall levell 800, by the Levelaxis, or dispart, commonly called point blanck 400, & at the bighest range 4090 paces at 2 and a halfe foote to the pace.

Number 2 is a Feild peece, or a quarter Canon, weighing 3200 lb. being 8 foote and three quart of a foote long, wch shootes an iron bullet of 12 lb. weight, & carries by the mettall 600, by the Axis or point blanck 300, and at the highest range 3800 paces.

Number 3, is a Demy Canon, weighing 4500 pound weight being 10 and a halfe foote longe, carrying an yron bullet of 24 lb. weight, which will shoote levell by the metall, or Horiozontall levell 800, by the Axis or point blanck 400, and at the highest range 6000 paces.

Number 4, is a whole Canon, weighing in mettall 7000 lb. weight, carrying a bullet of 48 lb. weight, which shoots by the mettall, or Horiozontall levell 1000, by the Axis, or point blanck 500, and at the highest range 7000 paces at two foote and a halfe to the pace.

I referre the Reader to the other ranges specifyed in the Quadrant and table fallowing.

Of the other foure peeces of Ordnance, called Drakes chambred Plate B.

NVmber 5. is a small Drake, weighing 280 lb. weight in mettall, and is 4 foote long, carrying a bullet of 3 lb. weight, charged with one lb. of powder, which will shoote levell by the met∣tall 176, by the Axis, or point blanck 40 and at the highest range 800 pace.

Number 6. is a Drake weighing 580 pounds, is 5 foot long corring a bullett of 6 lb. weight loaded with 2 lb. of powder, which will shoote levell by the mettall 196, by the Axis or point blanck, 100, and at the highest range 2500 paces.

Number 7. is a quarter Canon Drake weighing 1130 lb. weight in mettall, is 6 foote long carrying a bullet of 12 lb. weight, charged with 4 lb. of powder, which will shoote levell by the mettall 264, by the Axis, or point blanck 140 and at the highest range 2500 paces.

Number 8. is a short Demy Canon Drake, weighing 2250 lb. weight in mettall, is 7 foote long, carrying a bullet of 24 lb. weight, with 6 lb. of powder which, will shoote by the mettall, or Horio∣zontall levell 340, by the Axis, despart, or point blanck 180 and at the best, or highest elevation 2770 paces. Note by the waye, that the longer the chase of a peece is, being reinforced & well charged, the further it will carrie its bullet, and the stroak the more violent, as you maye see by long Culverings, and slinghs of some 24 or 25 foote long in chase, whereof the experience hath bin tryed at Arnham in Gelderland, where a long Sling lay vpon a Bulwarke, which shott from Arnham to Nemegen being 6 English miles distant one from an other. Againe, the Shorter the chase of a peeces is, as in these Drakes, the shorter it carries the bullet, as you maye see by their seuerall ranges.

Yet this doth not alwaies hold true for Count Maurice Prince of Orange of blessed memorie, tryed ance a half Canon vpon the Strand at Scheveling, giving it the due charge of powder, and caused the Canonier to levell in vpon its highest range, at 6000 paces, to trye this conclusion, to see how farre it would carry, when it was shorter, caussed some two foote and a half of yt to besawne off, made it be loaded againe, shoot it off, and found that it carried it bullet as farre as it had done before.

To conclude, with Touch-holes, I have seene in Ostend vpon the West Bulwark, that some touch holes of Canon, were blowne so great with often and continuall shooting, that I have putt my fist into them. Now such a touch hole being blowne some three or foure incles, maye easely be remedied. For if yow bore the

hole round, and driue in a screw of yron into it, as thick as your finger, and in the midst of the screw aboue said, bore a small Touch hole in yt, yow shall finde this to last longer vnblowne, then any other way, which hath bin invented, for now when ordnance are cast a new at this day, for the preventing of this two much blo∣wing, they yse now to make such a touch hole with a screw, as is here mentioned which will not so soone be blowne great, and as your brasse or Copper Touch holes will.