A general treatise of artillery, or, Great ordnance writ in Italian by Tomaso Morretii ... ; translated into English, with notes thereupon, and some additions out of French for sea-gunners, by Sir Jonas Moore, Kt. ; with an appendix of artificial fire-works for war and delight, by Sir Abraham Dager ...

THE FIFTH PART: Of shooting in great Artillery. (Book 5)

CHAP. I.

Of necessary Operations before Shooting.

TO shoot securely in Great Ordnance, it is necessary that the Peece be first well Tertiated or Squared upon its Carriage, and that one knows duely to Load and Level the Peece.

To Tertiate a Peece, is to know if it hath its due thickness at the three places, viz. Touch-hole, Trunnions, and Neck; if the Trunnions are rightly placed, and the Chase streight.

To Quadrate a Peece mounted, is to see if it is directly placed, and equally poised: which diligence is used in the Carriage, in regard of the Wheels and Axletree. Also to Quadrate a Peece, signifies to find in the Convex Superfi∣cies of the Base and the Muzzle-ring, the point which is perpendicular over the Soul of the Peece or Cilinder, which is done by an Instru∣ment called the Levell, hanging upon both Cor∣nishes,

[illustration]

[illustration]

and when the Thread covers the proper Mark, moving by little and little the Lead, un∣till it touches the Cornish, which shall be the Point required. See the Fig. 52. But it will be * 1.1 more exact and easie to have the Level in the Interior Base, and in it marked strait the Point from the perpendicular line, which touching im∣mediately the Cornish, will shew you the desi∣red Point. One may do the same thing with a * 1.2 small Line cross the Cornish, with two Plum∣mets which touch the said Cornish, and dividing the part of the Line comprehended betwixt the Plummets in two equal parts, the Point of the Cornish which shall be under the said Division, shall be that required. See Fig. 54. * 1.3

For what belongs to the Muzzle-ring, this manner will be easiest. That one stick a little piece of Wood cross the Mouth, which repre∣sents the Diameter, in the middle of which e∣qually distant from the ends, are noted or mar∣ked a Point; then hanging a Plummet, and making it touch the Center, you shall see noted above the Point desired. * 1.4

These Points upon the Rings serve to place the Dispart.

The things belonging to load a Peece have been before spoken of.

To Dispart a Peece, is to place, fix, or elevate upon the convex Point of the Muzzle-ring a Mark, (which is ordinarily done with a little Wax Candle,) as far distant from the Cylinder of the Peece, as is the Point of the Base-ring; to

the end that the Visual Ray which passeth by these marks, may be parallel to the said Chase, to make Shots at Point blank.

To find the Dispart, viz. the difference of the Semidiameters of the Cornishes, which is either with Calliper Compasses, or with a Pri∣ming Iron thrust into the Touch-hole to the opposite part of the Chase, placing that diffe∣rence upon the top of the Cornish-ring near the Muzzle, over the Middle of the inferiour Cylin∣der.

CHAP. II.

Of several Differences and Ranges of Shot.

AS to the several Shootings in Artillery, the Ball being shot out, flies through the Air with a violent, mixt, and natural motion describing a Parabolical Line, in whose begin∣ning and end are lines sensibly streight, and in the middle curved. In the beginning the Impres•…•… Force driving forwards by the Fire the natura•• gravity of the Ball, describeth a right line; i•…•… the middle that force diminishing, and the natu∣ral gravity prevailing, decscribeth a crooke•• line; in the end the natural gravity overcom∣ing the Imprest Force, which becomes weak or altogether faints, describes of a new a right line in which the Ball tends towards the Center of the Earth, as towards a place natural to all hea∣vy bodies, as doth shew the Fig. 56. * 1.5

The Shooting or Shots in Artillery are there∣fore three. The first called Point Blank, is that space that the Ball flies in a line sensibly right, without any inclination.

The second called the Mean, which compre∣hends all that space the Shot flies in a curved line.

The third, called the Dead Shot, which is the fall of the Ball by a sensible right line, towards the Center of the World, after that the violence is ceased.

The Gunners do take notice of these three parts of a Range, for three several ends.

Those shots of Point Black serve to batter the Rampires and Walls of Forts and Castles.

The middle of the Range or Mean, to mo∣lest a far off the Troups in the Campaigne, and in their Quarters, and to ruine the Houses with∣in Cities, Castles, &c.

The Dead Shots serve for Mortars or Tra∣bucchoes, and Bombes, and other Artificial Fires, to be shot upon the Enemy, especially when they cannot be otherways offended, nor seen, being covered behind with Ramparts, Trenches, Hills, and other Eminencies.

A shot Point Blank, which is the most ordi∣nary and most important, is distinguished into two manners, viz. in regard of the Horizon, and in regard of the Object which it strikes.

As to the Horizon they are of three sorts, first Level, secondly from Low to High, thirdly from High to Low, called under Metal.

The Horizontal, and by the Level of the Chase, is the most secure of all the rest.

That from low to high proves fallacious, be∣cause by the recoyling which the Peece makes, the Shot flies higher than the Mark.

And that from under, or from high to low, is most fallacious, because the Shot, besides other notable effects, comes more low by the recoy∣ling of the Peece. Therefore an Experienced Gunner must remedy these faults, by taking the due advantages in shooting.

As to the Object, a shot Point Blank, is made either at right Angles against the Superficies of the Object, or at oblique Angles.

At right Angles it strikes more furiously than at oblique Angles, therefore it is used against strong Walls to batter them, and are used to make Batteries Cameretta, or Tire by Tire; which is done by discharging all the Peeces of Battery against the self same Mark, and in the same instant, Holding it for a Max∣ime, that ten Cannons discharged together, do far more Execution than dicharged one after a∣nother.

At oblique Angles, they strike either Cross-ways, or rebounding like a Tennis-ball.

If they strike cross-ways, with two Batte∣ries, one upon each side of the Object, it ruins more speedily the Defence either of Earth or Wall.

If they Batter obliquely, or by a Rebound, which is done when they cannot do it right

forward; as if one would batter a Flank co∣vered with an Orillion or Shoulder, one must strike the Curtain in so fit a place and oblique∣••y, so that by the rebound the Shot may leap into the Flank, holding for a Maxime in this operation, that the Angles of Incidence and Re∣flection are equal.

The middle Ranges are divers, according to the divers Elevations of the Artillery.

The Elevations are regulated by the Gunners Square, which is an Instrument of Brass, made of two right Lines, one longer than the other, both which makes a right Angle, from which as from the Centre is described an Arch divided into 90 degrees, or into 12 equal parts called Points; and moreover the said Arch exceedeth a Quadrant by 45 degrees or 6 Points, and this Excess serves for shooting below the Horizon as the Quadrant doth for above; and from the Centre hangs a Thread with a Plummer, whose Leg being placed in the Chase, cutting the Arch, doth shew the degrees of Elevation, or De∣pression. See the Fig. 57.

In this mean shooting one doth observe, that always goes farthest from the Horizon which hath some Elevation, and especially that of most points of Elevation, even to 6 points or 45 degrees, which is said to be the greatest Ele∣vation, which one never exceeds in long Can∣nons.

The dead Shot is that which is commonly worked with the Trabucchi or Mortars, and is

done by giving Elevation from the points 6 or 45 degrees to the points 12 or 90 degrees, which are measured by the abovesaid Square; or with a particular Instrument like a Level, putting a Staff a cross the mouth of the Mortar, and upon that the Quadrant.

In shooting in these is observed, that at the sixth Point is the farthest off, and that at the seventh Point comes the nearest; and that at the eighth nearer, and so nearer and nearer to the twelfth Point, in which the Ball falls, in the same place from which it departed.

THE LAST CHAPTER.

Of the Length of Ranges.

FOrasmuch as the Randoms or Ranges in a Peece of Point blank, and of the greatest Elevation, is difficult to be known without the Experience of every Point; yet in the War, for the length of every Cannon's shot, they ge∣nerally compute the length of three Musquet shot, which will be from 400, to 450 Venetian Geometrical Paces. a 1.6

Nevertheless for more particular knowledg, these following Measures may serve, being Eng∣lish Geometrical Paces.

Shots.	P: Blanke.	Greatest Elevat.
Smeriglio, Base, or Rabonet.	207.	691.
Falconet about 3l.	322.	1843.
Falcon, about 6l.	392.	3226.
Sacre, about 10l.	634.	4032.
Demi-Culvering, about 14l.	783.	4378.
Colebrina, or Culv. about 30l.	1382.	5760.
Culvering, about 50l.	1498.	6106.

Cannons of Battery shoot ⅓ less than Culve∣rings of equal Calibre.

But Demi-Cannons and Quarter-Cannons, fashioned like Culverings, shoot little less than Culvering of equal Calibre.

Cannons Petrieroes, loaded with Artificial bodies, as Chain-shot, Case-shot, Barrel-shot, shoot not much farther than a Musket.

Of Shot made out of Mortars and Trabuc∣choes, betwixt the Middle or Mean shot, and the Dead shot, is to be observed by Experience; those are equal, which are equally removed from the sixth Point of the Quadrant, viz. that the Bombe fall as far distant being shot from the same Peece, and with the same strength at the fifth as at the seventh Point, and the same thing at the fourth as at the eighth, and as much at the third as at the ninth, and second as at the tenth.

Shots from Mortar-peeces are more fallaci∣ous, sometimes flying farther, sometimes shor∣ter than needs, and the Bombes break in the Air, sometimes after the Fall they do not break, which gives time to the Enemy to retire, or to choak it; therefore if you would have a just blow, and to take effect, these following Adver∣tisements must be observed.

Advertisements.

1. One ought exactly to know how many Paces are to the place which you would shoot, which may be done with an Instrument.

2. That the Bombes, or other bodies which are to be shot, be of equal weight, other∣wise the shots will vary.

3. That the Carriage in breadth may be always upon a Level, and without any Descen•• that it do not leap in discharging.

4. That the Powder, with which the Mor∣tar is loaded, be always of the same force and weight.

5. That the Charge of the Mortar, as well in Powder as in Wadding, may be always ramm'd in with blows equally heavy, and o•• equal number.

6. That the Wadds be always either of Wood, or Tampeons, or else of untwisted Okam, for the strongest drives it farthest.

7. That the Fuses be newly made in those days that they are to be used, and that they be

made of a mixture proportionable to the Range that the Shot shall make in the Air, and that it break in the very Fall.

To make the Bombes break in the Fall, the skill is in the Fusee fill'd with mixture of Com∣position, which is to be such, that although the Bombe fall in the water, it ought to break.

To measure a just time, is done by filling the Fusee after the ordinary manner. Moreover take a small Barrel or Cane of Iron, of equal Bore to that of the Fuse, but something longer, with many little Holes all along its length, and filling it in the same manner as the Fuse. Then the Bombe being fitted in the Mortar, you give fire in the same time to the Fuse in the Mortar and the Iron Barrel, letting the Barrel burn un∣till that you see the Bombe break, in which moment you observe the Barrel, and to what hole the Fire burns down, which will give an assured mark of the time that the Fuse ought to have.

If the Bombe in the very Fall shall break, the same quantity of Composition shall be conti∣nued in the Fuse; but if it break before the Fall, you must abate the heat, by adding a small mixture of Charcoal-dust incorporated in the same composition: and if after its Fall it shall delay its effect, then you shall joyn with its mixture a little fine Powder-dust. And so you may by experience with this Barrel observe unto what marke or hole it burns; so that with such Fuses the Bombe shall justly break in

the very Fall amongst the Enemies; afterwards observing always to fill the said Barrel with the first Mixture.

Being necessitated to use an Okam Wadd in lieu of a Tampeon, as was first used, so the Load of the Mortar shall be augmented to such a proportion, that the Bombe may carry to the same place, as it did when it was loaded and stopt with a Tampeon, or if it shall require an∣other Elevation.

A Table for the several Randoms to each degree of the Quadrant, the greatest equal to 10000.

Deg. of Elev.		Elev.	Elev.		Elev.
1	349	89	26	7880	64
2	698	88	27	8090	63
3	1045	87	28	8290	62
4	1392	86	29	8480	61
5	1736	85	30	8660	60
6	2079	84	31	8829	59
7	2419	83	32	8988	58
8	2756	82	33	9135	57
9	3090	81	34	9272	56
10	3420	80	35	9397	55
11	3746	79	36	9511	54
12	4067	78	37	9613	53
13	4384	77	38	9703	52
14	4695	76	39	9781	51
15	5000	75	40	9848	50
16	5299	74	41	9903	49
17	5592	73	42	9945	48
18	5870	72	43	9976	47
19	6157	71	44	9994	46
20	6428	70	45	10000	45
21	6091	69
22	6947	68
23	7193	67
24	7431	66
25	7660	65

The Ʋse of the Table before set down.

To see the different Randoms caused by the different Wadds of Okam and Wood, I have made the Experiment in Mortars and Bombes of 100l weight in a plain field, which loaded equally and weighing each 55l, and the Cham∣ber loaded with fine Powder of five, one, & one, 20 onz. and the Chamber stopped with a Tam∣peon of Wood, and with the Elevation of the Mortar to 45 degrees. I say to the point of the Quadrant 6, the Bombe fell distant 600 Geo∣metrical Paces. a 1.7

Then with the same Mortar, Load, Bombe, and Elevation, but with an Okam Wadd in stead of a Tampeon, the Bombe fell onely di∣stant 480 b 1.8 Geometrical Paces.

For these two different, and all other Ran∣doms the aforesaid Table will serve; in which one may see the Proportion each Shot shall make, with the Elevation of degree to degree, interposing the proportional Numbers, with which and with the help of the Golden Num∣ber, or Rule of Three, one may find what shall be the Random made in this or any other Mor∣tar, at any Elevation, at 45 degrees, or any o∣ther degree being first known.

Example I.

Let it be propounded, that a Mortar of 300 with a Tampeon of Wood, and Elevation of 45 degrees, or Points of the Quadrnt 6, carry

a Ball 800 Paces; if one would know with the same Charge how many Paces it will shoot at the Elevation of 54 degrees.

See then, that at the said 54 degrees of the Ta∣ble corresponds the proportional Numb. 9511, and at the abovesaid Elevation of 458, or points of the Quadrant 6, corresponds the proportio∣nal Number 10000, which by the Golden Rule is so worked.

If 10000 gives me 800, so 9511 gives me the number of Paces which is required.

Thus I Multiply 9511 by 800, and Divide the Product by 10000, the Quotient will be 760, which are the Paces that the Mortar will shoot the Ball, with the Elevation of 54 degrees.

Example II.

Let it be granted or supposed, that a Mortar of 300, at the Elevation of 54 degrees, shoots the Bombe 760 Paces; if one should desire to know what Elevation one ought to give to the same to shoot the Bombe 550 Paces, you must work by the Golden Rule in this manner.

As 760 Paces give the Number proportio∣nal 9510, so 550 Paces will give its proportio∣nal Number.

Wherefore if you multiply the second 9510 by the third 550, and dividing the Product by the first 760, the Quotient will be 6882, which Number, if you seek it amongst the proportio∣nal Numbers in the Tables, and not finding it just, if you take its nearest, it shall be the num∣ber 6947, to which corresponds the degrees 68,

which shall be the Elevation, and which ought to be given to the Mortar of 300, to fall in the distance of 550 Paces, with the same Charge of the first, and that is as much as I esteem ne∣cessary for every Soldier as well as for a Gun∣ner, who intends to be serviceable for his Prince and Countrey.

Of the Petarr.

A Petarr, is a Machine in form of a Mor∣tar, which being loaded with Powder, and placed with its Mouth against Gates, or other wooden Engines, and giving fire, breaks and ruins them.

This Instrument was first invented by a Thief, or Robber, being first made of Wood, and bound about with Iron, not onely against Houses, but also to enter into Towns; which being observed to work admirable effects, it was afterwards put into Exeeution by Princes against the Cities of their Enemies: and to give them greater Force, they made these Pe∣tarrs of Iron, but afterwards finding them too brittle, they were made of Brass, as they are now in use.

The Substance of which the Petard is made of, is an Union or commixture of Copper, Eng∣lish Tin, and Latten well refined. Some do va∣ry both in proportion, and also in the Metal, since that some would have them all of beaten

Copper, without any other mixture: others to every 50l of Brass, 5l of Tin, and two of Latten. Others to every 10l of Brass one of Latten.

The Copper therefore is soft, the Tin gives it hardness, but if it be overmuch it makes it brittle; they would have the Latten mixed with the Copper and Tin together.

The Proportions for the Petarr.

THe Guide-line is divided into 24 equal parts, of which 16 is the Diameter of the Mouth.

The Diameter of the Concave at the Bot∣tom, 10.

The Thickness of the Metal at the Breech, 2.

The Thickness of the Metal at the Mouth, 1.

The Cornice is one part. 1.

The Touch-hole is distant from the bottom of the Guide, part. 8.

Some make it perpendicular to the Guide, and others perpendicular to the Metal; but as well in the one as other fashion, it is terminated in the said point of the Guide.

Some soder or fasten the said little Barrel or Canetta, and others make it to enter with a Screw; the Joynting or Mortaising of the Mouth is part ½.

The Greatness of the Petarr is divers, accor∣ding to the diversity of Matters which it ought to break, but all have the self same Proportion above named.

To break down Bridges they are long in the Guide a Gometrical Foot, which is commonly divided into 12 Inches. a 1.9

2. To break double Bridges they are high in the Guida 11 Inches. b 1.10

3. To break ordinary Bridges reasonable strong, you must allow in the Guida 8 Inches.

4. To break Barriers, Grates, Portcullis, Pallizadoes, they are made high 11 Inches.

They load a Petarr with the finest Powder that can be made, well fifted and dusted. They do not fill the whole, but only ¾ of its length, and ramme the Powder in from time to time to make it close, but not so strongly as to uncorn it.

The Powder, which is put within shall be of weight, for the

First subtle Pound from	9 to 10.
For the second from	6 to 7.
For the third from	5 to 7.
For the Fourth from	3 to 4.

Above the Powder they put a round piece of Past-board thick, and stops it an Inch about, and above that they cast Pitch and Wax melted together, but not over-hot, and above which you put a round piece of Wood well fitted, and above all a round piece of Cloth waxed, which is driven into the Joynt, or, is tied without with a Cord about the Edge, and all this that it may not receive water or moisture.

The Touch-hole is made near the bottom, but better than a third part distant from it; be∣cause

the Powder will be sooner fired, and the Recoyl will be greater.

In the Touch-hole they fix a Spindle or lit∣tle prick of Metal to a Screw, which penetrates to the middle of the Powder; and this is filled with Composition for a time, that the Petarr-Master, and his Company may have time to retreat, and secure themselves, and may resist water.

So you may take fine Powder 3 parts.

Sulphur	6.
Saltpetre	9.

All these Ingredients being stamped and mingled, putting above oyl of Stone by little and little, so that they may impast together, and letting them well dry in the Sun. Then load the Fuse, or take Powder 2 onz. Sulf. 2 onz. Saltpetre 3 onz. Camfire 1 onz. ½ beaten small, and fill the Fuse.

To the Petarr there are one or more Handles for to fasten the Madrill, although the Orl or Edge serve to nail it about.

The Madrillo is a strong beam of wood of Elm or Oak, shod with Iron, which is placed before the Mouth of the Petarr, and fastned to the Gate which you would break, to make grea∣ter ruine. For every Petarr the Madrill is long B 3 of its Petard, measured and comprehending the Edge, and large 2 of the B.

The thickness is ordinarily of four Inches more or less, according to the strength that you are to batter.

Cross to the Madrillo there are two bars of Iron Diagonally let into the wood, each being thick ¼ of an Inch, nailed to it.

The Madrill with the Petard is fastned to the Gate in several manners, according to the na∣ture of the thing which you intend to ruine, since that the Gate may have a Ditch, or if not, it may be well lined with Iron, or not at all.

Therefore if it have a Ditch, it must be hung on with a small Bridge; but if it is without Ditch, or strengthned with Iron, it may be fast∣ned with a Plank; or if armed with a Fork or Rest, and in other particular manners, which would be too long further to explain.

THE END OF THE PETARD.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Fig. LII.
• * 1.2

  Fig. LIII.
• * 1.3

  Fig. LIV.
• * 1.4

  Fig. LV.
• * 1.5

  Fig. LVI.
• a 1.6

  A Geometrical Pace is 5 Foot, and the propor∣tion betwixt the Venetian Foot and Ours, is as 1000 to 1153. Therefore here the proportion will be from 460 to 518 English Paces.
• a 1.7

  691 English Paces.
• b 1.8

  553 Englsh Paces.
• a 1.9

  Which is almost 14 Inches En:
• b 1.10

  12 In∣ches Engl.