Old England: A Pictorial Museum (page 41/52)

1253.—Breaching Tower; Archers behind their Pavison; Canon, Crossbow-men, &c.

A few words by way of appendage to this part of our subject may here be devoted to the subject of our engravings, representing the storming of a fort (Fig. 1251), the siege of a town (Fig. 1252), and the chief machines used on such occasions, namely, the breaching and the moveable towers (Figs. 1253 and 1274). Cannon we see were now in constant use. [...] [more...]

1254.—Jousting Tournament. Harleian MS. 4379

This wood engraving shows two knights on their horses, charging towards one another with their lances pointed. In the background are great tents or marquees and a watching audience. The heraldic [...] [more...]

1273.—Present State of Borthwick Castle.

Bortwick castle was built in the 1430s; it is inhabited (now as a hotel) and is in good condition, despite the grass growing on the battlements in this 1840s engraving. It capitulated to [...] [more...]

1274.—Moveable Towers of Archers, Cannon, etc.

(Royal MS. 14 Edw. IV)

“A few words by way of appendage to this part of our subject may here be devoted to the subject of our engravings, representing the storming of a fort (Fig. 1251), the siege of a town (Fig. 1252), and the chief machines used on such occasions, namely, the breaching and the moveable towers (Figs. 1253 and 1274). Cannon we see were now [14th Century] in constant use. The art of attacking fortified places was greatly advanced by the English during the period under review, as the French had found to their cost when Henry V. was among them. Every town that he attacked he took; a fact that forms a striking contrast to the state of things but a few years before, when, for instance, Edward III. was kept for a whole twelvemonth before Calais, wasting his resources and losing his temper. Henry’s engineers, it appears, drew their lines of contravallation and circumvallation, approached by entrenchments, ran their secret mine through the bowels of the earth, battered the walls with rams as well as artillery, showered darts, stones, and bullets over the ramparts and their defenders.” (p. 382)

Here we see the moveable tower, or siege tower, on wheels, with a large array of planks mounted as a shield to deflect arrows or other missiles; soldiers fire cannon [more...] [$]

1275.—Tomb of Sir John Crosby.

A tomb lies in a quiet corner of a church, partly in deep shadow. [more...]

1303.—Guy’s Cliff in the 17th Century
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1304.—Chapel at Guy’s Cliff
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1305.—Church of Aston Cantlow

Shakespeare’s parents may have been married in this church, didicated to St. John the Baptist. The church clock dates from the fourteenth century. The village was mentioned in the Domesday Book in the 11th Century. You can just see some people [...] [more...]