The use of “petits canons et coulevrines,” by the French, at this siege, is also mentioned.—Same, fo. 186.
1449.—At the siege, by Count St. Pol, of the castle of Nogent, defended by the English, the French vanguard entered the basse court, and gained the barrier, “mais pource qu’ils doubtoient fort les canons ils se retrahirent pour attendre leurs compaignons.”—Same, vol. iii. fo. 10.
1449.—Assault of Ponteau de Mer, defended by the English, when the French, under Dunois, “entrerent tous dedans icelle ville autant d’une costé que d’autre: moyēnant aussi et par le feu de fusées qui y furent jettées par dedans les fossez ou ils estoient en l’eaue jusques au col,” &c.—Monstrelet, vol. iii. fo. 11.
Same year.—The French, under Dunois, having come against Harcourt, defended by the English, the former, in making their approaches, “esquelles fut tué d’un canon un moult vaillant homme d’armés de la garnison de Louviers, et un Anglois fut pareillement tué d’une coulevrine,” &c.—Same, fo. 15.
Same year.—At the capitulation of the palace and castle of Rouen, by the Duke of Somerset, he stipulated for the departure in safety of himself and the English forces, with their goods, “reservé prisonniers et grosses artilleries,” &c.—3 Monstrelet, fo. 21.
1449.—At the siege of Honfleur, defended by the English, under Curson, who “faisoient grand devoir d’eux deffendre et de tirer canons et autres traicts sur les Francois,” &c.—Same, fo. 26.
1450.—At the siege of Bayeux, by the French, defended by the English, “desquelles deux parties en y eut plusieurs de morts de traict et de coulevrines,” &c.—Same, fo. 28.
Same year.—At the siege of St. Sauveur Le Vicomte, defended by the English, “fut tué d’un canon, un vaillant escuyer du pays de Berry, noīné Jean de Blanchefort.”—Same, fo. 28.
Same year.—On the surrender of Caen, by the Duke of Somerset, to the French, he stipulated for the departure of the English, with their effects, but with a proviso as to delivering up the prisoners, acquitting the burgesses, and others in the town, of all demands, and not taking away any thing of theirs. “Et avec ce qu’ils lasseroient toute artillerie grosse et menue, reservé arcs, arbalestes et coulevrines à main.”—Same, fo. 30.
We have therefore here the hand-coulevrine (hand-culverin or hand-gun) distinctly mentioned as in use amongst the English. It was in all probability an iron cylinder or barrel, of clumsy and unwieldy form, let into a wooden stock, and fired from a rest or crutch, by means of a match. Mr. Grose seems not to have been aware of the above, and, in his Military Antiquities, vol. i. page 153, and vol. ii. page 29, he mentions the year 1471, upon the landing of Edward IV. at Ravenspur, in Yorkshire, as the period of the first introduction of hand-guns into this country.