The popular fear which these large guns generated is probably best illustrated by the names, not only given to certain types of artillery, such as basilisks and falcons, but also to individual cannons such as ‘Monster’, ‘Lion’ and ‘Messenger’. Erhard Schoen’s broadsheet from around 1535 (Plate 3.11) showing two large field-guns being prepared and loaded by their gunners depicts the awe in which such large cannons were held. Their size and ornamental design demonstrate their importance while their names “Fierce Buck’ and ‘Brutal Butcher’ is put in action ‘he will dance across moats, through ring walls, inner walls and bastions, through churches, houses, cellars, kitchens. He will move through halls, living rooms, bedrooms’ and what he does not destroy directly will fall indirectly through his ‘kiss’. In other words, he is not only a serious threat to other soldiers and armies, but he will w4eak havoc on civilians too, who will find no shelter from his in their churches or their homes. - 119
1 comment
Dinesh said: