24-08-2016, 04:18 AM
(This post was last modified: 24-08-2016, 05:16 AM by don of tallahassee.)
Historical fact.
In her blog, Ellie shows how she interprets one of the VMS images (on f82r) as a cannon. The cannon in the VMS has trunnions, the things that stick out at the sides. In the early Fifteenth Century, I think the only people experimenting with the new design were the English and some of the French lands (Burgundy ?). Up to that time, cannons were long smooth tubes, usually strapped, roped or chained to carts or gun carriages, but with no trunnions. Trunnions allowed much easier elevating and depressing of the gun barrel, thus helping with the aiming process. They had the additional feature of allowing the gun carriage to be connected to the cannon securely, while still allowing the additional freedom of motion.
I think the limited area where the design was being tried at the time of the origin of the VMS might be related to the area where the VMS author/artist was from or living. Unless it was spy information being smuggled home to somewhere else, maybe gathered by a traveling salesman, cobbler/armorer, bookseller, apothecary or some other disguised agent.
To me, trunnions represented a giant step forward in the science of cannoneering. They might even be considered to be of such importance as to be the entire reason for being of the VMS, to someone looking for such things and wanting to inform the folks back home of the latest developments in the field. I don't believe this to be the case, but only mention it as a possibility. It is the only thing I have yet seen that might warrant all the subterfuge and mystery of the VMS.
I would like to congratulate Ellie again for seeing the cannon. It may turn out to be an important find.
Thank you.
Don of Tallahassee
In her blog, Ellie shows how she interprets one of the VMS images (on f82r) as a cannon. The cannon in the VMS has trunnions, the things that stick out at the sides. In the early Fifteenth Century, I think the only people experimenting with the new design were the English and some of the French lands (Burgundy ?). Up to that time, cannons were long smooth tubes, usually strapped, roped or chained to carts or gun carriages, but with no trunnions. Trunnions allowed much easier elevating and depressing of the gun barrel, thus helping with the aiming process. They had the additional feature of allowing the gun carriage to be connected to the cannon securely, while still allowing the additional freedom of motion.
I think the limited area where the design was being tried at the time of the origin of the VMS might be related to the area where the VMS author/artist was from or living. Unless it was spy information being smuggled home to somewhere else, maybe gathered by a traveling salesman, cobbler/armorer, bookseller, apothecary or some other disguised agent.
To me, trunnions represented a giant step forward in the science of cannoneering. They might even be considered to be of such importance as to be the entire reason for being of the VMS, to someone looking for such things and wanting to inform the folks back home of the latest developments in the field. I don't believe this to be the case, but only mention it as a possibility. It is the only thing I have yet seen that might warrant all the subterfuge and mystery of the VMS.
I would like to congratulate Ellie again for seeing the cannon. It may turn out to be an important find.
Thank you.
Don of Tallahassee