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Early guns had no carriages; the one in the figure lies on a trestle table. Next the smaller natures were mounted on trunks, ie heavy baulks of timber grooved to receive the piece, the latter being retained in place by iron straps. Later guns of wrought iron ( and some of bronze) were fitted with iron rings through which ropes could be passed for the same purpose. Up to about the end of the 14th century guns were taken in ordinary farm carts - or even wheelbarrows - to the battlefield where they were brought into action by being unloaded, laid upon the ground in the general direction of the target, elevated by being propped up by wooden stakes or other pieces of timber, and chocked at the rear to absorb recoil. In some cases the trunk with its gun was dragged along the ground like a sledge. For some heavy guns made in the 15th century, four-wheeled carriages were especially built but these could not stand the shock of firing. The gun, with or without trunk, had to be unloaded and laid on the ground, for which purpose the use of a gin (sheerlegs) was necessary. Mons Meg's carriage is a typical example. The modern term to lay a gun probably derives from the ancient practice of laying a gun on the ground. |
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WL Ruffell Issue 77 March 1993 |
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