At the siege of Zeteuel, in 1407, five "bombards," as the heavy pieces of ordnance were then called, were able to discharge only forty shot in the course of a day; and it is noticed as a remarkable circumstance at the siege of Albahar, that two batteries discharged one hundred and forty balls in the course of the twenty-four hours! In the Italian wars between France and Spain, in the beginning of the sixteenth century, the difficulty of moving the heavy cannon then in use was so great that only a very small number of pieces were brought upon the battle-field.

At the battle of Cerignola, in 1503, the number of cannon in the French army was only thirteen.

Indeed, during the greater part of this century, four or five pieces were considered sufficient for an ordinary army in the field, and many agreed to the doctrine of Machiavelli, that the only legitimate use of artillery was in the attack and defence of places.

But in the wars of Henry IV.

of France, this arm of service was again increased, and the troops which this king destined against the house of Austria had an artillery train of fifty pieces.
Great improvements were also made about this period in the manufacture of powder, and all kinds of fire-arms.