1463.—At the siege of the castle of Bamborough, after the battle of Hexham, when defended by Sir Ralph Grey, the Earl of Warwick, “cum maximis bumbardis, obsedit idem castrum. Et ibi in casu quoque cujusdem parietis castri, excussione bumbardi, cecidit dictus R. Gray quem credebant mortuum.” Annales W. Wyrcestrii.
Same year.—At the sieges of the castles of Alnwick, Dunstanborough, and Bamborough, ordnance was sent from Newcastle, sufficient both for the sieges and for the field, in case any action in the field should be fought. Ordnance was, at the same period, conducted from Newcastle to Warkworth Castle, to the Earl of Warwick.—Fenn’s Collection of Original Letters, vol. i. p. 274.
1464.—In the fourth year of Edward IV., Henry Cressewell held the office of “kepyng of the artillery within oure castell of Pountfret, in oure shire of York.”—5 Rot. Parl. 4 Edw. IV. fo. 532.
Same year.—John Newburgh held the office “of keping of the artellerye within oure castell of Carnarvan, and gunner of alle oure townes and castells within Northewales.” &c.—Same, 4 Edward IV. fo. 543.
1464.—Roger Kelsall held “the office of the artyllary withynne our castell of Chestre.”—Rot. Parl. 4 Edward IV. fo. 546.
1467–8.—Henry Cresswell continued to hold the office of keeping the artillery of the castle of Pontefract.—Same, 7 and 8 Edw. IV. fo. 585.
1469.—A letter of permission of this year, from the Duke of Norfolk, has been published, authorizing John Paston and the persons who had held the manor of Caistor, in Norfolk, against the duke (Caistor Castle had been besieged by him), to depart, with goods, horses, and harness, “except gonnes, crosse-bows, and quarrels, and alle other hostlements [warlike implements], to the said maneur annexed and belonginge.”—Fenn’s Collection of Original Letters, vol. ii. p. 27.
Same year.—At the battle fought near Hornfield, Lincolnshire, often called Lose Coat Field, the forces of Edward IV. “set on the Lincolnshir men, and sparkelid [scattered] them with his ordinaunce,” &c.—2 Lel. Coll. fo. 502, p. 719.
“And losyde his gonnys of his ordynaunce uppone them and faught with them, and anone the comons fledde away.”—MS. Chronicle, by J. Warkworth, p. 8, printed for the Camden Society.
1470.—Vaucler and his forces, on the Earl of Warwick’s attempting to enter Calais, “luy tirerent de grans coups de canon.”—Philippe de Commines, c. iv. fo. 65.