Part 13

The actual date of the first employment of portable firearms is uncertain, but representations of them are frequently met with in the illustrated MSS. of the early part of the fifteenth century, their form at first being simply a tube fastened to a wooden stock, and, according to the coloured drawings, the tube was either of brass or iron. The manner of firing was to apply a match by hand to a touch-hole situated on the upper part of the barrel. The first improvement was to drill the touch-hole in the side of the barrel, with the priming held in a pan formed in a projection also on the side of the barrel, which had a cover, moving on a pivot, thus protecting the powder from the wet or wind till the moment of firing, when it was pushed back by hand. This was the general kind of firearm used during the first half of the fifteenth century. For some time after their introduction, hand firearms were viewed with disfavour, and it was considered more or less unfair to employ them, seeing that the Gothic armour worn by the knights had power to resist the ordinary weapons of the field, but took no account of the effects of missiles from the clumsy "gonner." That they were in use in 1453 is evident, as the great Talbot, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury, buried at Whitchurch, came to his end from this cause. "Though at first with manfull courage and sore fighting the Earle wanne the entre of their camp, yet at length they compassed him about, and, _shooting him through the thigh with an hand-gonne_, slew his horse and finally killed him lying on the ground, whom they never durst look in the face, while he stood on his feet" (Hollinshed's _Chronicle_). This was at Chatillon, 20th July 1453.

The first lock was apparently a curved piece of metal in the shape of an S and pivoted in the centre, the upper point holding the match, the lower part, which was prolonged like the lever in the cross-bow, by its weight keeping the match from the pan till this lower part was compressed to the stock on firing.

The next stage was the matchlock proper. This is the first lock where the mechanism is complete on a plate. The cock is kept back by a spring acting on the long arm of a lever, while fastened to the short end was a sear or trigger. The pan still projects on the side of the barrel, a principle seen in modern Eastern matchlocks. The next matchlocks had the pan fixed to and forming part of the plate; later matchlocks only vary in the shape of the plate. In the reign of William III. the plates are of the same size as the flint-lock, so that the locks could be changed when required. The matchlock was altogether in use for nearly 200 years, owing to its great simplicity and cheapness. There is a variation of the matchlock in which, by elaborate mechanism, the match is caused to descend on the priming with a snap-action. It is difficult to see the advantage to be obtained from this, as the match it would appear must have broken by contact with the pan, unless it may have taken the form of a stick of hard composition. The head of the match-holders in these locks is a short tube, which gives some probability to this theory, but there is no record to prove it.

The _wheel-lock_ is supposed to have been invented in 1517, although a lock belonging to the writer has the date of 1509, yet it is not certain if 1569 is not meant. Nuremberg is reported to be the place of its invention, where indeed, at the time, most things were claimed to have been invented; and the city mark is constantly met with on early locks. It was an important invention, and, except for the delicacy of its mechanism and great expense of production, it was an efficient lock. It consisted briefly of a steel wheel, having from two to four grooves affixed to an axle which passed through the lock-plate, the edge of the wheel appearing through the bottom of the pan. The outer part of the axle was square for a key to fit on, and the inner had a shoulder or crank, which was connected by a shackle chain of three links to an extremely strong spring. The fire stone (pyrites) was fixed in a holder, screwed to the farther end of the lock-plate. The pan had a sliding cover. To put the lock in action a key or "spanner" was placed on the outer end of the axle, and given a 3/4 turn; by this the spring was compressed, and kept at tension by the nose of a sear, connected with the trigger, entering a small hole on the inner surface of the wheel. The pan was then primed, the sliding cover brought over it, and the pyrites holder depressed, bringing the pyrites down on the cover. On pulling the trigger the wheel revolved, its axle shoulder knocked back the pan cover and allowed the grooves to grate sparks from the fire-stone, thus firing the priming. There are numerous variations in the wheel-lock of all dates and of many nationalities. By the shape of the feeds, the number of grooves, and by the internal mechanism, and of course by the ornamentation, a tolerable idea can be got of the date or origin of a piece. It is remarkable that the earliest locks were more complete and had appliances that we fail to find in the later. Thus in Fig. 40, a type of the earliest pistol, the lock possesses a safety catch to prevent premature discharge, also a spring-catch to keep the pan cover back. Those, which would be thought advantages, are not to be found in the two examples in Plate VIII. of later date and finer workmanship. In some cases the wheel winds itself, when the pyrites holder is drawn back, thus dispensing with a key. This principle is such an obvious improvement that it seems strange it was not universally adopted.

A result of the introduction of the wheel-lock was the invention of pistols, which never carry match-locks. The name may have been derived from Pistoia in Tuscany, or, as it has been suggested, from the name of the coin pistole, referring to the bore. There is a word in Italian _pistolese_, but it signifies a knife. Fig. 40 is a good example of an early pistol. It is of the class used by the Reiters, German cavalry, the first body of troops armed with pistols. The barrels at this time are of great thickness, owing to the dread of bursting, and the stocks sloped abruptly, being terminated by a ball butt. This was probably to act as a counterpoise, and also to facilitate drawing the piece from the holster. It would be more efficient, too, when used as a club, as it very frequently was, according to pictures of the time. In early engravings of the Reiter he is armed not only with a pair, but on occasion with four of these pistols, two in the holsters and two fastened to his belt by hasps (Fig. 40 is furnished with a hook or hasp on the reverse side). The Reiter also had a sword. The introduction of the pistol altered the tactics of war; the bodies of horse no longer charged home, but galloped up by ranks, within a few paces of the enemy, discharged their pistols, and then wheeled outward by half troops towards each flank, leaving the front clear for the succeeding rank to take their place. They then reloaded and re-formed ready for another advance. Many of the earlier pistols were wholly of steel. The smaller pistols had a flat butt, cut slanting, and were called Dags. In course of time the barrels were made longer and thinner, the stocks became more straight, and the ball butt elongated, and finally disappeared. The wheel-lock was used for pistols up to 1650. Crusoe, in the Instructions for the Cavallerie, 1632, gives some fifteen motions for the "firing Exercise" of the wheel pistol.

The Queen possesses a double-barrelled wheel rifle, in which one barrel was placed vertically over the other, dated 1588. It is fired by means of two wheel-locks on one plate, in one of which the works are outside, and the other has them hidden by the plate, the stock is of dark wood, and the fittings of the locks are of chased and gilt metal. Its double barrel, date of the rifling, and the fact of its having a steel ramrod, all make it remarkable. The Dresden arms are on the heel plate, a cypher HF on the stock, and the barrel has a bear as armourer's mark.

The wheel-lock was rarely used for infantry arms, but was of necessity employed by cavalry, where the match was inconvenient.

The next form of lock was the _Snap-hance_, evolved from the wheel-lock by converting the pyrites holder into a fire-steel, and replacing the wheel by a hammer, acted on by a spring and affixed to the opposite side of the pan. The pan and cover remained the same, and the latter slid back as the hammer fell on the steel, leaving the powder bare for the sparks to fall on.

The earliest actual lock of this sort is on a pair of pistols in the Dresden Armoury, dated 1598. The pistols are of the Scotch form, but are probably of Spanish make, as the Highlanders obtained their firearms largely from Spain.

The example Fig. 42 is a snap-hance of Italian make, but of later type (about 1640). It was selected on account of the beautiful chiselled steel of which it is composed. This is in three degrees of relief. The hammer has two dragons entwined on it, and the plate and fire-steel are very richly fashioned, having the armourer's signature on it, GIOVANNI · VATE · BORGOGNONE · IN · BRESCIA. Part of the fire-steel is missing.

The most famous makers of firearms of the middle of the seventeenth century lived in Brescia, such as Lazarino Cominazzo, father and son, Lazaro Lazarino, Francino, and others. Their weapons were famed for extreme lightness and beauty of decoration.

Fig. 39 is a late example of Cominazzo's work. The barrel has a beautiful fluted twist on it, and the lock-plate and hammer, as well as the butt, are chiselled in high relief. These armourers made weapons with each class of lock. It was quite the thing for any one on their grand tour to visit Brescia, and bring back one of these famed weapons. Evelyn in his _Diary_ tells us how he paid a visit to "old Lazarino Cominazzo," and got from him a carbine for which he paid a good deal of money. He seems to have been rather proud of his acquisition, as he more than once alludes to it.

The Civil War in England showed firearms in use with all four classes of lock. The infantry on both sides were chiefly armed with the heavy musket fired from a rest, having the match-lock. The cavalry had carbines fitted with snap-hances or the early complete flint, or were provided with wheel-locks.

The wheel-lock disappears from military arms about 1670, but continued in use in Germany for sporting rifles until a much later date. The _Flint-lock_ proper came into use about 1630. The earliest specimens appear to be Spanish. The mainspring in these was on the outside of the lock-plate, and the mechanism of the simplest character, consisting of a catch forming a ledge, protruding to the outside of the lock-plate, for the foot of the hammer to rest on when cocked, and on this ledge being drawn back on pressing the trigger the hammer falls, striking the steel, which also covers the pan.

The example Fig. 43 is one of a class where the ornamentation is very elaborate. The design is formed mostly by the chisel and hammer, and even in the internal mechanism the file appears scarcely to have been used. Many of these fine locks exist, but never have any armourer's mark on them; the mechanism, however, points to their Spanish origin. Works of this description were found in Spanish locks to the latter end of the eighteenth century. In both English and French flint-locks the mechanism was on the inside of the lock-plate, and a tumbler connected the hammer with the action of the mainspring. A later improvement was to add a bridle to give two bearings for the tumbler axle, and a small swivel connecting the tumbler with the mainspring, both of these improvements ensuring greater smoothness in the action. This form of improved mechanism was continued in the percussion lock, after the use of a flint was discontinued, and, indeed, the hammer used in the first military breechloader generally employed in our army, the Snider, was acted on by mechanism of much the same sort.

Figs. 43 and 44 show specimens of the Highland pistol, a class which stands quite by itself. These weapons no doubt were evolved from the early steel wheel dags in common use in Germany. Many Highlanders were to be found in the armies of other European nations, whence they probably took the fashion and also procured their firearms. The earliest weapons of the sort, as well as the latest, were all of steel (or rarely brass). The stocks had a heart-shaped butt, and were furnished with snap-hance locks. There is one of this description, undoubtedly a Scotch weapon, in the armoury in the old castle of Nürnberg, where the arms have always been stored, belonging probably to one of the many Scotch officers employed in Germany during the wars of the seventeenth century. Later on the butt of the pistol assumed a claw form and the ordinary flint-lock was employed, the mechanism, however, being of a distinctive sort, possibly of Dutch origin. The latest of these pistols have a rounded butt as in Fig. 44. The ornament found on the back of the hammer in Fig. 43 is not to be seen in any other class of lock.

The Highlanders looking at length on their weapons as part of the equipment of their national garb, a colony of armourers sprang up in the village of Doune in Stirlingshire, a place where "trysts" or fairs were held, and where the Highlanders resorted to exchange their cattle for other goods. The following account is given in _Scottish National Memorials_, of this trade of Doune. "The only remains of any of the ancient branches of trade is the making of Highland pistols. The reputation of Doune for this manufacture, about the time of the German war, was very great. This art was introduced to Doune about the year 1646 by Thomas Caddell, who having been instructed in his craft at Muthil, a village in Strathearn in Perthshire, came and settled at Doune. This famous tradesman possessed a most profound genius, and an inquisitive mind, and though a man of no education and remote from every means of instruction in the mechanical arts, his study and persevering exertions brought his art to so high a degree of perfection that no pistols made in Britain excelled or perhaps equalled those of his making either for sureness, strength, or beauty. He taught the trade to his children and several apprentices, of whom was one John Campbell, whose son and grandson carried on the business. While the ancient dress of Caledonia was worn, that is, the 'philabeg' belted-plaid, pistols, and dirk, the pistols made in Doune excelled all others, and acquired superior reputation over France and Germany; a pair superbly ornamented were fabricated by a tradesman taught in Doune, and by the city of Glasgow given in compliment to the Marquis de Bouillé. The above Mr. Campbell's grandson, who has now given over business, made pistols for the first nobility in Europe, as Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick, the Hereditary Prince of Brunswick, the Duke of Cumberland, and others. The trade is now (1798) carried on by John Murdoch (the maker of Fig. 44). These pistols were sold (1798) at from four to twenty-four guineas a pair."

The names of some of these armourers were the Caddells, James Sutherland, Thomas Murdoch, John Murdoch, S. Michie, John Campbell, J. Stuart, David M'Kenzie, and others. The trade died out at the commencement of this century.

These weapons were remarkable for grace of outline and great lightness. The butt has a small knob, which, when unscrewed, forms a picker to clear the touch-hole with. The mainsprings in many cases appear to be weak, having little room to work in the slender stocks.

INDEX

Almayne rivets, 14, 15

Ambras Collection, 48

Archers, 36-38, 52, 56, 60

Armet, 32, 36, 44, 48, 51, 53, 71, 72

Arthur, King, 8, 12, 21

Arundel, Lord, 60

Arundel Society, 40

Augsburg, 40, 41, 60

Back-plates, 28, 29, 40, 44

Bastard of Burgundy, 77

Battle Abbey, Arms of, 53

Bavier, The, 53

Bayeux Tapestry, 18

Beauchamp, Effigy of, 24, 30

Bedford, Duke of, 38

Bernabo Visconti (Statue of), 20

Bernal Collection, 14, 68, 73

Black Prince, 10

Böheim, 40, 41

Bohun, Sir Humphrey de, 14

Bourbon, Duke of, 11, 63

Bourdonasses, 36, 37

Bows and Arrows, 38

Brantôme, 14-16, 72

Brassey, Mr. Leonard, 11

Breast-plates, 15, 28-30, 37, 40, 44, 47, 60, 64, 68

Brescia, 15, 90

Battle before, 36

Brett Collection, 12

British Museum, 10, 17, 47, 53

Brittany, Duke of, 14

Brooke, Lord, 11

Bucarte, Lord, 60

Burges Collection, 10, 19, 47

Burgundian Armour, 49-51

Burgundy, Duke of, 14, 38

Cabassets, 72

Cadell, Thomas (Armourer), 93-94

Cajazzo, Count, 40

Calais, 38

Canterbury, 54

Cap-à-pie Armour, 6, 7, 11, 23, 27, 29, 32, 44, 46, 51, 56, 72

_Capitana, The_, Capture of, 82

Cassel, Battle of, 8

Chain Mail, _see_ Mail Armour

Charles I., 71, 72

Charles V., 16, 60

Charolois, Count of, 53

Chatsworth, 72

Chausses, 18

Christian II., 74

Cinquedea, The, 81

Civil War in England, 90

Coeur-de-Lion, 17

Colman Family (Armourers), 40, 60, 68, 72

Colman, Lorenz, 28, 41

Cologne, 12, 13

Cominazzo (Maker of Firearms), 90

Commines, Philip de, 32, 36, 38, 53

Constantinople, 25

Corselets, 14, 48

Cosimo, Piero di, 47

Cosson, Baron de, 54

Coutts-Lindsay Collection, 12

Crests, 32, 48, 53

Crossbows, 15, 83

Crossbow-men, 36

Cuirasses, 14, 71

Cumberland, Earl of, 11

Currie, Mr. David, 12, 67, 68, 73

Damascened Armour, 22, 67, 68

Dillon, Lord, 9

Douglas, Sir Archibald, 77

Doune (Stirlingshire), 93

Dover Castle Collection, 10

Doyac, John, 14

Dugdale, Sir William, 77

Dukes of Albany and Orleans, Fight between, 38

Ear-pieces, 68

Edward I., 22

Edward III., 77

Edward VI., 10, 38, 60

Elbow-guards, 30

Farleigh Castle, 11

Flint-locks, 90

Flodden, Battle of, 7

Florence, 15

Fluted Armour, 11, 41, 43, 44, 47, 51, 53

Fornovo, Battle of, 36

Frederick the Victorious, 39

French Revolution (Destruction of Armour), 24, 25

Froissart, 16, 17

Gage, Sir John, 53

Galatin, 17

Gauntlets, 42, 44, 64, 68

Ghisi, Giorgio, 72

Gilded Armour, 60

Gordon, Mr. Panmure, 46

Gorget, The, 71

Greenwich, 9

Grünewalt, Hans (Armourer), 40

Grünewalt, Heinrich, 40

Guidarelli, Guidarello (Effigy of), 36

Halberds, 39

Hall, 24, 38, 52, 60

Harding, 60

Harold, 18

Hatton, Sir Christopher, 63

Hauberk, The, 18, 19

Head-pieces, 51, 53, 60

Helm, 39, 43, 51, 60

Helmets, 18, 20, 28, 32, 41, 48, 68, 71, 72; Tilting, 51, 52

Henry IV., 8, 14, 54

Henry V., 8

Henry VI., 60

Henry VII., 16, 38, 51, 53, 59

Henry VIII., 9, 10, 13-15, 24, 48, 51, 52, 54, 59, 78

Herbert, Lord Richard, 37

Horse-armour, 41, 44, 46, 51, 74

Hothfield, Lord, 11

Hutin, Louis, 14, 16

Italian Armourers, 14

Jarnac and La Chateigneraye (Duel between), 22

Joan of Arc, 54

John of Eltham, 8

Kenyon, Lord, 74

Kirkener, Erasmus, 53

Lances, 36, 37

Layard, 17

Lodelowe, Abbot Thomas de, 53

Londesborough Collection, 11, 68

Longfield, Mr. F. H., 18

Louis X., 16

Louis XI. 14, 16, 39

Macquoid, Mr. Percy, 45, 82

Madrid Armoury, 16

Mail Armour, 17, 18, 22

Mantua, Court of, 41 Marquis of, 36

Marignan, Battle of, 14

Matchlocks, 85

Matthew of Paris, 14

Maximilian Armour, 51

Maximilian, Emperor, 9, 13, 20, 24, 40, 41, 53, 60

Medici, Cosmo de', 68

Meyrick Collection, 11, 20, 53, 73

Middle Temple Hall, 18

Mielich, Hans, 73, 74

Milan, 13, 14, 39

Milan, Duke of, 14

Milanese Armour, 14, 40 Buckler, 72

Missaglias, The (Armourers), 39, 40

Mola, Gasparo, 72

Monstrelet, 14, 17

Montfort, Simon de, 22

Montlhéry, Battle of, 38, 53

Montmorency, Duke of, 11, 63

Moorish Steel-Workers, 15, 16

Morion, 16, 72

National Gallery, 20, 21, 30, 32, 47

Neck-guards, 68

Negrolis, The (Armourers), 68

Netherlandish Armour, 16

Nineveh, 17, 20

Norfolk, Duke of, 13, 81

Nucius, Nicander, 59

Nuremberg, 28, 40, 44, 45, 85

Otterbourne, Battle of, 12

Otto IV., Count, Figure of, 30

Oxford, Earl of, 37

Paton, Sir Noël, 12, 19, 22, 26, 28, 53

Pauldron, The, 40, 44

Pearson, Sir Wheatman, 11, 46

Pembroke, Earl of, 11

Penshurst Castle Collection, 11, 52, 78

Perugino, 30

Philip II., 74

Picinino (Milan), 72

Pistols, 86, 92

Plate Armour, 23

Plumpton Correspondence, 37

Pollajuolo, 68

Pommel, The, 55, 78

Pourpoint, The, 15

Pratt (Dealer in Armour), 25, 28

Prussia, King of, 46

Rapier, The, 81

Reiters (German Cavalry), 86-89

Richard II., 13

Richard III., 37

Rifles, 89

Romano, Giulio, 72

Rosa, Salvator, 68

Rosebecque, Battle of, 16

Roundel, The, 74

St. George (Figure of), 31, 32, 40

St. Michael (in full Armour), 30

St. Quentin, Battle of, 11

St. William (in Garofalo's _Madonna and Child_), 32

Sant' Egidio, Battle of, 32

Sallads, 14, 24, 25, 29, 40, 52, 53

Saxony, Duke of, 43

Scales, Lord, 77

Shoulder-guards, 30, 36, 51

Shrewsbury Collection, 12

Sidney, Sir Philip, 52, 82

Sigman, Georgius, 73

Smith, Mr. Cozens, 72

Smith, Sir James, 56

Snap-hance Lock, 89, 90

Sollerets, 28, 29, 30, 32, 39, 40, 52, 53

Soltykoff Collection, 73

South Kensington Museum, 10, 30, 35, 36

Spacini, Hieronymus, 72

Spain, Philip of, 17

Spanish Armada, 82

Spurs, Battle of the, 19

Stafford, Lord, 44

Standard Collar of Mail, 21, 22

Strozzi, 14

Suffolk, Duke of, 52, 60

Sullivan, Mr. J. F., 56

Swords, 9, 12, 15, 16, 31, 53, 54, 55, 59, 77, 82

Talbot, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury, 85

Talbot, Sir Gilbert, 16

Target, The, 72, 73, 74, 84

Tassets, 64

Terouenne, 60

Towcester, Battle of, 37

Tower, The, 9, 10, 11, 14, 44, 46, 48, 53, 63, 67, 77, 83

Tuilles, 40, 42

Uccello, Paolo, 32, 52

Verrocchio, 68

Vikings, The, 17, 18

Vinsauf, Geoffrey de, 17

Vischer, Peter, 30

Visor, The, 44, 48, 51, 52, 71

Wace, 18

Wallace Collection, 10, 29, 46, 48, 53, 60

Walpole, Horace, 11, 64

Wars of the Roses, 24, 37

Warwick Castle, 77

Warwick, Earl of, 8, 9, 37, 54

Weinsberg, Count, Effigy of, 30

Westminster, 9, 10, 51, 54, 77

Westminster, Duke of, 47, 64

Wheel-lock, 85, 86

William III., 85

William of Toulouse, 8

Williams, Mr. Morgan, 41

Wilton House, 11

Wilton, Lord Grey de, 8, 9

Windsor Collection, 10, 54, 63, 82

Wolsey, 15

Woolwich Collection, 10, 20, 48

Wyatt, Costume worn by, 21

Zouche, Lord, 12, 25

THE END

_Printed by_ R. & R. CLARK, LIMITED, _Edinburgh_