your self just between your third Staff and your first mark there set up your fourth Staff then resort to your Angle again and standing behind the second Staff note whither a right line from the Angle to that notch before made on the subtendent Staff or side of the Triangle will direct you for that way precisely shall you go on until you come in a right line with the second and third Staff and erect there the fifth Staff this done measure the distance between the second and third Staff reserving that for a Divisor then multiply your distance between the first and third Staff by the distance between the fourth and fifth Staff the product divide by your reserved Divisor and it yieldeth in the Quotient the true distance between the two marks Example Let A B be the distance I would know C my first Station where the first Staff is erected I my Triangle made of three Staves and placed at the Station C directed with one of the containing sides to A which is the first mark as you may see in the Figure and with the other side to D and E the second and third Staves H is the notch or mark upon the side subtended to the Angle where the line visual from C passeth to the second mark B my Triangle now I scituate at D as it was before at C the one contained side lying even with the erected Staves the other directed to my fourth Staff F placed in a right line with E the third Staff and A the first mark Again my line visual proceeding from D to H the notch in the subrended side of the Angle is extended to my fifth Staff G scituated exactly between E the third Staff and B the other mark This done I measure the distance between my second and third Staff finding it 20 foot likewise between the fourth and fifth Staff and find it 72 foot finally between the first and third Staff 65 paces so that according to the Rule before given multiplying 65 by 72 I have 4680. which divided by 20 yieldeth in the Quotient 234 and so many paces is there between A and B. I have not set out the Figures in just proportions answering to these numbers for that is not requisite but in such form as may best open and make manifest the scituation of the Staves and Triangle wherein consists all the difficulty of this Practice CHAP. X. How you may readily find out the distance to any Tower Castle Forts c. by help of the former Quadrant LEt the Quadrant be made upon a square Board as is there marked A D B Q. Let D B be divided into 90 Degrees or equal parts and instead of the 12 equal parts or right and contrary shadows g m and h m let the two sides D Q and B Q be divided each into 1200 equal parts or as many as you please and marked from the Center A and have a Ruler or Index to be moved round upon the Center Aâ— having two sights upon it set just upon the feducial line of the Index and let it be divided into such equal parts as the Lymb B Q or D Q. Let this Instrument thus fitted be handsomly placed upon its Staff or otherwise lay the feducial of your Index upon the beginning of the Degrees of the Quadrant and turn your whole Instrument the Index not moved till you may espy through the sight your mark then remove your Index to the contrary side of the Quadrant placing the line feducial on the side line where the degrees end and look through the sights and in that very line set up a mark a certain distance the farther the better this done take away your Instrument and set up a Staff there and remove the Instrument to the mark you espyed set your Index on the beginning of the Degrees moving your whole Instrument till you find through the Sights the Staff at the first Station then remove your Index your Quadrant keeping its place till you may again espy through the Sights your mark which done note the Degrees cut by the line feducial and then work thus upon some even smooth Superficies whether it be Board Plate or Paper Draw first a streight line and open your Compasses to some small distance call that space a score and make so many such divisions upon your Line as there is scores between your Stations then upon the end of your line raise a perpendicular and fixing one foot of your Compasses at the other end opening it to what wideness you please draw an Arch rising from the same line that represents your Stationary distance and dividing it into 90 equal parts or Degrees as you was taught in the making your Quadrant extend from the Center to the number of Degrees cut by your feducial line a right line until it concur with the perpendicular before erected then see how much of that space which representeth the score in dividing your Stationary distance is contained in the perpendicular so many score is the mark off from your first Station and by dividing the Hypothenusal line you may find the Distance from the second Station Example A the first Station C the second D the mark A C 80 paces Degrees of the Quadrant cut by the line feducial at the second Station is 71 d. ½ and H is the unity or measure representing one score E F 4 parts G F 12 G E 12 â…” or thereabouts Thus may you conclude the mark to be distant from the first Station 12 score paces the Hypothenusal line or distance of the mark from the second Station 12 score and 13 paces See the Figure To perform this Work by Calculation In the foregoing Figure B is the place to be measured A the mark where I first disposed my Instrument from it I go Orthogonally to C the Index suppose cuts there 400 in the right side of your square the distance between B and C I have supposed 80 paces wherefore multiply 1200 by 80 and there cometh 96000 whâ—ch divided by 400 declareth unto me 240 paces the true length from A to B. Or by dividing 1440000 the square of 1200 with 400 the parts cut you shall produce in the Quotient 3600 your proportionable part found by the Rule of Reduction which augmented in 80 yieldeth 288000 and that divided by 1200 bringeth in the Quotient 240 which is the length A B agreeing with the former operation But if you would find C B or the Hypothenusal line being the distance between the second Station and the mark then by the former Table of Squares or with your Pen find the Square of A C and the Square A B the distance already found from the first Station these two Squares added together the Square Root of that Sum is the distance C B viz. 253 paces or if the Sum of the Square of A B and A C be sought for in the Table of Squares you will find against it 253 paces the length of C B which was
THE Compleat Gunner IN THREE PARTS PART I. Shewing the Art of Founding and Casting Pieces of Ordnance with the composition of Metal thereunto necessary The Composition and Matters of Gunpowders the Several Sorts Colours and Operation PART II. Discovers the necessary Instruments and variety of Instructions to the compleating of a Gunner with a Table of Squares and Cubes serving for the Resolution of Questions of Gunnery and other Arts. AS ALSO The way of taking Heights Distances and Profundities either with or without Instruments PART III. Shews the Nature of Fire-works the manner of Composing many that are Excellent and Useful both for Sea and Land for the defence of our selves as well as the offence of our Enemies Translated out of Casimir Diego Vffano Hexam and other Authors To which is added the Doctrine of Projects applyed to Gunnery by those late famous Authors Galilaeus and Torricellio now rendred into English TOGETHER WITH Some Excellent Observations out of Mersennus and other famous Authors LONDON Printed for Rob. Pawlet Tho. Passinger and Benj. Hurlock 1672. TO THE READER Courteous Reader AMong Arts and Sciences Mathematical Gunnery will not deserve the least respect which has been practised for many years as you may read in the first Chapter of this Book where we treat of its Original and from time to time Necessity and Art together have produced many new Invention so that some may judge it almost impossible to add more unto this Art and are ready to say of this as of other Studies Nil dictum quod non dictum prius But we have not only indeavoured the inquisition into the most knowing Professors of these Arts both German Italian Frenchmen Netherlander c. from whence we have drawn the more Excellent and useful parts which were never before in our English Tongue but may boldly adventure to call some things in it new And finding the great Occasion which these present times do require in the knowledge of these things made me the readier to compose this Work adjudging it a very great injury to our Country-men to be deprived of the knowledge of such things which are of so great importance in this very juncture of time I did therefore incourage my self in this Work hoping my endeavours in the same will shew my willingness to serve my Countrey-men And as it is the part of wise men not to censure any thing without a good consideration and a perfect knowledge of the subject upon which they ought to ground their judgment So also I hope you will not blame my Indeavours when you have judiciously examined the same I have divided it into three Parts endeavouring that it might be imperfect in nothing that is necessary to this Art or useful for a Gunner to know I will assure you that I have no other end in publishing this Treatise than what I have mentioned before I shall only crave your pardon for the faults that may be committed in the Printing as being not there present at the Correction of any part of it my occasions calling me other wayes yet I hope their care was so much that the faults are not material or at most not so much but your Courtesie may supply that defect So I recommend this Work to your good reception and bid you farewell W. T. THE Compleat Gunner CHAP. I. Treating of the Earth necessary in making of Molds for the Casting of Pieces of Ordnance with the manner of Casting c. WE will not dispute of the first Invention of Guns that is whether it came from Archimedes as the Italians do report or from an Englishman or from a Monk for this knowledge matters not much to the Art nor is it of any profitable signification to the Artist especially considering that Authors do not really consent in this thing Our intent is therefore not to trouble the ingenious Students with vain uncertain repetitions but to composea compleat Piece of Gunnery and therein to discourse from the beginning to the end all that is necessary to be known or learned after the knowledge of common Arithmetick by one that intends to be a perfect Proâ—icient in the said Art We do suppose it therefore necessary for a Master Gunner to know first the making of Molds and casting of Pieces Therefore I shall first begin to discourse of the property and Nature of the Earth fit for casting or making Molds for this is of great moment considering that many or indeed most Earths are not for this purpose for the Earth â—â—t for the casting of Pieces of Ordnance must be such as will not be melted or fuse although it be put into a very great fire but must remain firm and hard and these Earths are generally of a Reddish or Iron-like colour which is well known to many Potters especially such as make Chymical Vessels The Earth being obtained it must be sifted and cast up after the usual manner as men do in the making of Morter then let it be moistned with an Alchalated Water especially such as is made of Niter for that purpose and make it like paste then as is usual let it be beaten up strongly with an Iron Bar the more 't is beaten the better it is in the beating add one sixt part of Horse dung and a proportionable part of Flox or Hair and let it again be well beaten and incorporated alwayes keeping a Moity of this Earth without Hair or Flox which is for Ground-work and these Compositions or Earth thus incorporated you must reserve for the making your Molds for Pieces of Ordnance according to the Rules prescribed in the next Chapter CHAP. II. Of making Molds and Casting Pieces of Ordnance with the â—â—â—ture of Metals and allowance of Powder for proof AS a Master Builder when he intends the Building a Ship makes first a Mold or Moddel of the same so the Master Gunner or he that takes in hand the business of Casting Guns must have a form or Model of his Piece intended made of wood or such other matter he may think most convenient which then being brought to the Founder with an intent to be Cast must first be smeered all over with Palm Oyle or instead of that our Lard or Hogs-grease then first cover it over with the said earth thinly and let it dry leisurely then lay on more encreasing it to such a thickness as you may judge convenient for your purpose and it must be so made that it may be taken into several parts so that the pattern may be taken out and the Mold again exactly closed and the outside strengthned with Iron plates as long as the Chace of the Piece is and hooped together with Iron hoops to knock on and off Then must there be made with the same earth upon a square Bar of Iron bound round with a Cord that the clay may stick well a form exactly round of the fashion of the concave of your Piece whether you intend it a Cylender or a Chamber-board Piece proportioned
equal But if you should perceive that the Ghynne or any part give way presently let your Piece sink and underlay and settle well the feet of the Ghynne and that as gently as may be to the end the Cross beam or Rouler may not be disjoyned or broken Then wind it up carefully and very gently by the help of two men onely and in such a manner as when one of the Leavers is brought down it must be held there fast until the other has got purchase and then must this other also be brought down this must be reiterated so often until it be so high that the Carriage may be placed under it so that the Trunions may fall into the Sockets or holes of the Carriage and then Guide the Piece by the Spar so that it faâ—l easily in and so rest it self in the Carriage and then let it be well clasped over and then locked in and fastned with Forelocks and so you may draw away your Piece where you please On board Ships this Ghynne is not of use it being the Boatswains business to fix a Tackle that may be able to hoist up any Piece into its Carriage the Slings one part must come about the Casacabel and the other part about a Billet so made that it may fit in at the Muzzle and by strength of hands or by help of a Windless or Capstain it may be hoysed up so that the Carriage may be brought under so that the Gun being Loared its Trunions may fall in to the holes of the Carriage which then clasp over with its Iron Clasps let them be Forelocked and then with Hand-Tackles be brought where you please See the Figure of the Gynne and the Field and Ship-Pieces mounted in the Figure 11. CHAP. VI. The way to draw a Piece of Ordnance with the necessary things thereunto belonging both for Land and Sea SEeing we have discovered the way of Casting a Piece and Mounting it in its Carriage it follows in the next place that in this Chapter we treat of and shew the manner of drawing them from place to place for Service where care must be taken what the way is that you are to pass for if the way be foul moorish and dirty there is then required as many more Horses as in good wayes That is For a whole Cannon of 8000 l. you may use 15 couple of Horses besides the Tyllar For a Demi-Cannon of about 6000 l. you may use 11 couple of Horses besides the Tyllar For a Piece of 4000 l. weight you may use 8 couple of Horses besides the Tyllar For a Field Piece of about 3000 l. use 6 couple of Horses besides the Tyllar For a Saker of 1800 l. weight you may use 4 couple of Horses besides the Tyllar For a Piece of 1500 l. weight you may use 3 couple of Horses besides the Tyllar For a Faucon two couple of Horses besides the Tyllar For a small Drake of about 250 l. one Horse will serve and by the same Rule you may find how many Horses will draw any weight whatsoever Many times when Horses are wanting men are made use of Upon such occasions you must divide your men into three drawing files according to the greatness of the Piece now to the end the Ranks may spread and every man may draw equally alike fasten to the end of the Carriage a Cross beam or bar to which you must fasten the drawing Ropes equally at such distance that one may not impead the other and let there be besure one to steer the Piece when you come to any winding or turning If the drawing Ropes be long 't is necessary to cross it with Ropes or some light peeces of wood like a Ladder with two or more cross peeces let them be made fast for the better and more steady drawing and to every there must be a Neck-line fastned to the Ropes and so to cast over every mans Sholders in manner as is used to draw our Western Barges And you must know your proportion of men fit to draw any Piece of Ordnance and that must be regulated according to the goodness or badness of the way and so more or less men allowing every man to draw about 50 60 or 80 pounds for 't is supposed a man may draw in ordinary way 50 or 60 pounds but in very good way more than 80 pounds however 't is good to have men enough Let the Spunge Ladle c. be made fast along the Piece to the Ring and Britch end Sometimes by reason of the unevenness steepness or other defects of the way it sometimes happens that you may be forc'd to dismount your Piece and remount it again there 't is necessary every Gunner have with him a Ghynne a Wynche and all appurtenances necessary thereunto As to the Sea Gunner on board Ship their occasions require no more than the Wynch and their Piece being mounted according to the directions given in the former Chapter then with one or two Tackles he bring the Piece to the place desired where it ought to be well fastned in its place for which purpose there is thereunto required Tackâ—es and Britchins and in case of foul weather or that any of the Geeâ— or Tackling be suspected or by my much tumbling every thing hanging upon the Nail for fear any Bolts should give way or draw it iâ— usual to nail down to the Deck with Spikes one Coyne behind each Truck or at least the after Trucks which to great Pieces are commonly dead Trucks so that each Piece may have little or no play But in case any thing should give way in foul weather then with all speed dismount the Piece as soon as possible you can for fear of further mischief for which purpose put in his way as he runs from side to side Rugs Pillows Beds c and stand ready with Crows and Handspikes and with Tackles to hitch or ketch him close and fast to any Ring by the Ship side or such other place as best presents As for the length of the Tackles useful it is usually known thus see how long the Piece is and make the Tackles four times as long and let the Britchin be twice the length of the Piece and something more The manner of drawing of Pieces by Man and Horse you will see in the third Figure CHAP. VII To Grove or Examine the goodness of a Piece of Ordnance whether it be Flawed Hony-Combed Crackt Chamber-bor'd c. With the difference of Common Legitimate and Bastard Pieces IT remains necessary for this Chapter to treat or shew the way to know whether a Piece be serviceable or no which is usually done in the first proof by Powder which we intend not to Write of here having mentioned it before and more will be said when we have shewed the composition of Powder That knowledge of a Piece we here intend is to examine a Piece bought or to be taken into Service whether good or serviceable or out of many
Gunners upon some occasions to use Disparts between the Trunions of their Pieces made of a just height on purpose to serve that place by the method we have even now prescribed and let them be tyed about the Piece with a twine because else at every Shot they will be to seek when upon a suddain they should use them and they will much avail and stand them in great stead I could express other wayes only I think these sufficient CHAP. XVI How to give Level with a Piece of Ordnance to make a Shot at any Mark assigned SEt your dispart on the Muzzle Ring just over the Center of the mouth of the Piece which you may best do by putting a stick cross the bore and dividing it into two equal parts then with a Plumb line hanging over the mouth of the Piece being guided by the divided stick you shall have good aim where to set your Dispart this being done go to the Base Ring if the Piece be true bored then find which is the highest part and middle of that Ring but if the Piece be not true bored then find which part of the Base Ring is just over the Cylender and take that for your true line when you have found out the dispart and placed it and also found what point in the Base Ring is to answer to it then make some very small mark on the Base Ring in that place hold your head about two foot from the Base Ring and there you may best observe as the Piece is traversing when you are in a direct line with the mark this done give one of your men order to raise and fall the Piece with his Hand-spike as you shall appoint him until you can holding your head two foot from the Britch of the Piece with your eye perceive the mark at the Base Ring and the top of the dispart in a direct line with the mark you must shoot at at that instant stop the motion of the Piece with a Coyn that it may remain as you have directed it then Prime your Piece and give fire The way of Shoting Mira Comme or by the mettall of the peice 412. Paces Shooting punctually Levill by a dispart 206. Paces 248 4 10 paces right Rainge folio 72 73. Before you place your Dispart you are to take notice whether the ground be Level whereon the Wheels of the Gun stand or if they be not one higher than the other and if the Trunions stand just over the Axeltree of the Wheels or no whether one Trunion lye higher on the Carriage than the other whether the Gun be truely placed in the Carriage or not that is that it be not nearer one side than the other whether the Carriage be truly made according to the direction we have already prescribed in the first part whether the Axeltree be placed just cross the Carriage or not CHAP. XVII How if a Shot do carry to the right or to the left under or over the mark by reason of some known fault to amend it in making the next Shot AFter you have made one Shot and find the Piece carry just over the mark then do all that has been taught again and when your Piece lyes directly against the mark observe how much the last stroak of the Shot is above the mark so much longer make your dispart that the top of it may be just seen from the Britch of the Piece in a direct line with the stroke of the Shot when it is of this length then level your Piece with this new dispart to the assigned mark Give fire and without doubt it will strike the same If the first Shot strike under the mark then bring the Piece in all points as before to pass mark how much of the dispart is over the stroke of the Shot and cut it just so short as being at the Britch you may discern the top of it with the mark on the Base Ring and stroke of the Shot in a just right line and when you perceive it is of such a length level the Piece to the assigned mark as at the first then Prime and Give fire If the first Shot strike on the right hand of the mark to mend it you must level the Piece as formerly you standing behind the Britch of the Piece observe the stroke of the Shot over the dispart and that part of the Base Ring as you at that instant look over in a right line towards the dispart and the stroke of the Shot set up in that place a Pin with a little soft Wax on the Base Ring so this Pin will be in a right line with the dispart and stroke of the Shot This being done level your Piece to the mark assigned by this Pin and the dispart and without question you will make a fair Shot for when you level by the Metal of the Base Ring where the Pin is placed and the mark of the Piece standing at that direction look over the top of the dispart from the notch in the Base Ring and you shall find it to lye just so much to the left as the former Shot struck to the right from the assigned mark which should in all likelyhood now strike the mark But if a Shot be both too wide and too low then you must use both the directions above taught to make the next Shot first regulate the dispart by cutting it shorter according as the Shots mark is lower than the assigned mark when this is done then proceed to my directions to mend shooting wide and these things performed with care and diligence cannot choose but mend a bad Shot CHAP. XVIII Of shooting at Random at a Mark beyond the right line of the Pieces reach or right Range of a Shot and the way of framing a Table of Randoms by help of the Gunners Quadrant FOr the effecting of this matter we must have a Quadrant with a Thread and Plummet which is described in the first Chapter of this second Section to one side of this Quadrant so that one end of the Ruler may go into the Cavity of the Piece and let a Piece of Lead be fastned to the end of the Rule to make it lye close to the bottom of the Metal within the Quadrant hanging without and the plumb-Plumb-line swaying or hanging down from the Center of the Quadrant perpendicular to the Horizontal line for the Quadrant being thus placed you may mount a Piece to what degree you shall find fit to shoot by Now every one that will learn to shoot at Random must draw his Piece on a level ground where first shooting level he must observe that distance in feet or paces then mount his Piece to one degree and mark where that shall graze thus finding the distance of every degree from the level to the tenth degree by these distances make a Table to which annex the degrees against the distance by which Table you may using the Art of Proportions find how far another Piece will