content_output-045_5 (Q6151)

"Beraldus saith that at the first invention of Ordnance they were called by the name of Bombards (a word compounded of the verbes Bombo, which signifieth to sound, and of Ardeo, to burne), and they that used them they called Bombardeer, which name is yet partly retained. After which, as Bertholdus saith, they were called Turacio and Turrafragi, of the breaking-down of towers and walls: and by John de Monte Reggio they were called Tormenti, their shot Sphera tormentaria, and the gunners Magistri tormentorum. But now [1628] Ordnance are eyther named at the will of the inventor, either according to his own name (as the Canon was) or by the names of birds and beasts of prey, for their swiftness or their cruelty; as the Faulconet, Faulcon, Saker, and Culvering, etc., for swiftnesse of flying; as the Basiliske, Serpentine, Aspitic, Dragon, Syrene, etc., for cruelty."