Various Questions and Inventions

Piece elevated to the sixth point, or to seventy-two minutes.

A woodcut illustration of a large cannon (bombard) mounted on a heavy wooden carriage with spoked wheels. The cannon barrel is elevated at a high angle, described as the "sesto ponto" (sixth point). A gunner's quadrant with a plumb line is attached to the muzzle of the cannon to measure the angle of elevation. The scene is set on a simple, textured terrain suggesting earth and low vegetation.

DUKE. What do you wish to infer from this? N. Firstly, I wish to infer this: that by firing a piece at the elevation of the first point, it will shoot much farther than it would while remaining level; and by firing it at the elevation of the second point, it will shoot much farther than it would at the elevation of the first point; and thus at the elevation of the third point, it will shoot farther than at the elevation of the second; and thus at the elevation of the fourth, it will shoot significantly farther again than it would at the elevation of the third; and similarly, at the elevation of the fifth, it will shoot somewhat more than at the elevation of the fourth; and thus at the ultimate elevation, that is, at the sixth point, with a lead ball, it will shoot somewhat more than at the elevation of the fifth, but only a little more. For reason demonstrates that these two shots, that is, fired at the fifth and sixth points, are so close, or so little different, that any small advantage found in the fifth, whether by vigor of powder or otherwise, would cause the said fifth to shoot as much as the sixth, and perhaps more. And whoever could elevate such a piece, as is done with mortars, that is, to the seventh point, without doubt at the said seventh point it will shoot somewhat less than at the said sixth, and thus at the eighth point it will shoot much less than at the said seventh, and similarly, at the ninth it will shoot much less than at the eighth, and thus at the tenth it will shoot much less than at the ninth, and thus...