_Artelleries_, missile weapons; cf. 1 Sam xx. 40, 1 Macc. vi. 51 (A. V.).
'Artillarie now a dayes is taken for ii. thinges: Gunnes and Bowes';
Ascham, Toxophilus, ed. Arber, p. 65. In Chaucer's time it referred to
bows, crossbows, and engines for casting stones. Cotgrave explains F.
_artillier_ as 'one that maketh both bowes and arrowes.'
2525-6. Owing to the repetition of the words _grete edifices_, one of the
early scribes (whom others followed) passed from one to the other, thus
omitting the words 'apperteneth som tyme to pryde and eek men make heighe
toures and grete edifices.' But MSS. Cp. and Ln. supply all but the last
three words 'and grete edifices,' and as we know that 'grete edifices' must
recur, they really supply all but the sole word 'and,' which the sense
absolutely requires. Curiously enough, these very MSS. omit the rest of
clause 2525, so that none of the MSS. are perfect, but the text is easily
pieced together. It is further verified by the Lat. text, which
has:--'Munitio turrium et aliorum altorum aedificiorum ad superbiam
plerumque pertinet ... praeterea turres cum magno labore et infinitis
expensis fiunt; et etiam cum factae fuerint, nihil ualent, nisi cum auxilio
prudentium et fidelium amicorum et cum magnis expensis defendantur.' The F.
text supplies the gap with--'appartiennent aucune fois a orgueil: apres on
fait les tours et les grans edifices.'--MS. Reg. 19 C. vii. leaf 133, back.
Hence there is no doubt as to the reading. [215]
All former editions are here defective, and supply the gap with the single
word _is_, which is found in ed. 1532.