However insignificant in itself, this siege commands a place in our
record, as being the first in which cannon were employed. Our country’s
favourite hero, the Black Prince, having entered Sologne with hostile
intentions, laid siege to Romorantin. The English were repulsed in
their first assault; but were not disheartened. They continued their
attacks, but still in vain, till some engineers advised an experiment
to be made with the newly-discovered gunpowder. They planted some
batteries of cannon so as to enable them to throw into the place a
number of inflammable missiles. By this means they set fire to some
buildings in the lower court of the castle. The conflagration soon
extended to one of the towers. The besieged were then constrained to
surrender to the conqueror, and were made prisoners of war. This is the
first time that mention is made in history of artillery being employed
for besieging places. It was ten years after the battle of Crecy, at
which, it is said, cannon were first used in the field.