1474, 8th December.—Warrant of 14 Edward IV. to Richard Copeote, to provide whatever was requisite for “bumbardos, canones, culverynes, fowelers, serpentynes, et alios canones quoscumque, ac pulveres, sulphir, saltpetyr, petras, ferrum, plumbum, et omnimodas alias stuffuras, pro eisdem canonibus necessarias et oportunas,” &c.—Same, fo. 841.
1475.—In the enumeration of the English forces in the fourteenth year of Edward IV., we find ordnance repeatedly mentioned. [240]—Same, fo. 844.
Same year,—With the forces of Edward IV., when in France, there were a great number of men whose province it was to pitch their tents, attend upon their artillery, and enclose their camp, “pour servir a leur artillerie et clorre leur cāp.”—Philippe de Commines, book iv. ch. v. fo. 93.
1475.—Before the interview between the English and French Kings, Edward IV. was about a league from Picquigny, “accompaigné de vignt mille Anglois bien artillez de dās son dit parc.”—Nouvelles Chroniques added to Monstrelet, fo. 181.
1480.—Edward IV., in his preparations for the invasion of Scotland, with an army commanded by the Duke of Gloucester, “wherefore al the winter season he mustred his souldiers, prepared his ordinance, rigged his shippes, and left nothyng apperteignying to the warre unpurveyed or unloked for.”—Hall’s Chronicles, fo. 54.
“even in the winter season mustered his men, prepared his artillery, and rigged his ships, that nothing should bee unready at the next spring.”—Speed’s Annals, fo. 876.
1480–1, 2nd March.—Warrant of 20th Edward IV. to William Temple, to seize and provide for the expedition against Scotland, whatever was requisite for “bumbardos, canones, culverynes, fowelers, serpentynes, et alios canones quoscumque, ac pulveres, sulphureos, saltpetre, petras, ferrum, plumbum, et omnimodas, alias stuffuras, pro eisdem canonibus necessarias et oportunas,” &c.—12 Fædera, fo. 140.
1482, 30th June.—Warrant of 22nd Edward IV. to the Bishop of Lincoln, Keeper of the Privy Seal, authorising him to cause John Ebryngton, Treasurer of the Household, to pay £200 “unto our moost dere brothre Richard Duc of Gloucestre, for the cariage of his ordenance into Scotland.” The carriage of the ordnance is afterwards twice mentioned, and it then directs the payment of £100 “unto the Maistre of oure Ordenance, for the bying of 120 draught horsez, for the cariage of our seid Ordenance fro our seid towne of Newcastell, northward,” &c.—12 Fædera, fo. 158. [241]
That document consequently furnishes another instance of a Master of the Ordnance prior to the reign of Richard III. [242]
1483 to 1485.—King Richard III., in altering the north part of Warwick Castle, “beganne and half finished a mighty towre, or strength, for to shoote out gunnes.”—4 Lel. Itin. fol. 163b.