CHAPTER I.--ANCIENT ARMS.

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The bow--The sling--Crossbow--Field artillery of the Normans-- Artillery of the ancients--Range of the crossbow and longbow--The ram of Vespasian--Guns first employed in 1327--Guns at the battle of Cressy--Cannon of 1390--Skill of English archers--Defensive armour-- Portable firearms invented in 1430--Primitive hand-gun--Iron cannon recovered from the _Mary Rose_, wrecked in 1545--“Chambers”--Match- lock and wheel-lock--Fire-lock--Damascus gun-barrels--Birmingham guns--Spanish pistol with magazine--Percussion lock--The revolving pistol not a new invention--Colt’s revolver--Breech-loading guns 1