NORTON, Robert.

Rare first edition of this beautifully illustrated work on gunpowder weapons, including the geometrical principles of infantry formations and artillery, rarely found complete, by the military engineer Robert Norton (d. 1635). 

Among the laudatory verses is one by Captain John Smith, President of Virginia, who signs himself Hungariensis; this was in remembrance of his service for the Austrian army in the Hungarian wars against the Ottomans. The first part of the work is devoted to the mathematical principles of warfare, including arithmetical calculations such as squares and cubic roots, in order to calculate the sizes of square battalions of infantry as well as other infantry formations according to different proportions, and geometrical calculations underpinning the accurate firing of artillery. One such calculation involves measuring the height of a defensive tower simply from its reflection in a puddle of water. The second part recounts the history of the invention of gunpowder in China, including the history of the English use of gunpowder weapons, with tables of their gross weights, metal weights, and maximum elevation ranges, as well as English weapons, with more extensive tables including the bore, dimensions of the shot, weight of powder and dimensions of the powder ladle, and the length of and weight of the gun. Norton discusses the production of guns and shot, including the metals and alloys used, the earth used to create moulds for casting in the foundry, and testing the quality of finished pieces. He describes the methods for firing, including how to measure the correct amount of powder for the charge and the weight and diameter of a piece of shot, correct loading, and how to fire accurately. He illustrates methods and mechanisms for winching guns up inclines, dragging them with men, cattle and horses, organising wagon trains, transporting guns by ship, etc. Norton also applies gunnery and gunpowder to siege tactics, including making bridges over rivers to move guns and approach breaches, establishing batteries and counter-batteries, mining, etc., and describes the disposition of guns on open battlefields and with infantry and cavalry. Much of the practical advice in the book is derived from the real-life use of artillery in the Siege of Ostend during the Dutch Revolt.

Finally, there is an illustrated chapter describing the use of fireworks for ‘triumph and service’, beginning with an historical discussion of the origins of fire, and describing rockets with their various uses in firework displays, i.e. as ‘breaks’, ‘flyers’ and ‘runners’, as well as Catherine Wheels. Norton also describes the production of wooden frames for fireworks including frames resembling castles, 'flying dragons' that run on lines and return again, and nocturnal combats involving men armed with wooden swords bearing fireworks, 'which will be a pleasant sight', all charmingly illustrated in the plates. Finally, there are two brief chapters, the first on firing arrows and grenades from crossbows, the second on two new inventions: one a multi-barreled gun promising ‘great slaughter’ of the enemy, the other a ‘piked culverin’ armed with spikes to defend against cavalry charges, both illustrated. The wonderful engraved plates depict cannons in their various sizes, cannons being used against infantry and buildings, the use of cannons in sieges and batteries, mechanisms for transport, mathematical diagrams, various kinds of grenades, fireworks, etc. The plates, which bear French and German captions, were reused from de Bry's plates for the 1621 French-German edition of Diego Ufano's Tratado dela artilleria.