It was thrown by machines, by the hand, and by cross bows, fastened to the heads of arrows. The Crusaders obtained a knowledge of a sort of wild fire from the Saracens, which could only be extinguished by dust or vinegar. It was composed of the gum of resinous trees, reduced to powder with sulphur, to which was added naptha, and other bitumens, and probably nitre.
Wild fire in the Holy Wars.
It is much spoken of in all the Holy Wars, as being frequently employed by the Saracens against the Christians. Procopius, in his history of the Goths, calls it Media’s oil, considering it an infernal composition prepared by that sorceress. Geoffrey de Vinesauf’s account.Geoffrey de Vinesauf, who accompanied Richard I. to the Crusades, says that it could not be extinguished by water, but that sand thrown upon it abated its virulence, and vinegar poured upon it put it out. Father Daniel’s account.Father Daniel says this wild fire was not only used in sieges, but even in battles, and that Philip Augustus, King of France, having found a quantity of it ready prepared at Acre, brought it with him to France, Used at the siege of Dieppe.and used it at the siege of Dieppe, for burning the English vessels in that harbour.
Greek fire and gunpowder, both used at the siege of Ypres, 1383.
The Greek fire was used long after the invention of firearms; when the Bishop of Norwich besieged Ypres, 1383, the garrison is said by Walsingham to have defended itself so well, with stones, arrows, lances, and certain engines called guns, that they obliged the English to raise the siege with such precipitation, that they left behind them their great guns, which were of inestimable value.
Greek fire was probably a more recent invention than Gunpowder.
Powder used by Arabs, 14th century.
It is ascertained that Gunpowder was employed by the Arabs as an agent for throwing bolts and stones, about the commencement of the fourteenth century, and that the Moors first availed themselves of its advantages in their wars with the Spaniards. From Spain, the use of Gunpowder and Artillery gradually extended itself to France, and thence over the other States of Europe.