To use
it, powder was put into the barrel, then a ball rammed down the
barrel with a rod, and then the powder lit by a hot rod held with
one hand while the other hand was used to aim the musket. Cannon
were used to besiege castles and destroy their walls, so many
castles were allowed to deteriorate. The existence of cannon also
limited the usefulness of town walls for defense. But townspeople
did not take part in the fighting.
Since the power of the throne changed from one faction to another,
political and personal vindictiveness gave rise to many bills of
attainder that resulted in lords being beheaded and losing their
lands to the King. However, these were done by the form of law;
there were no secret executions in England. Families engaged in
blood feuds. Roving bands ravaged the country, plundering the
people, holding the forests, and robbing collectors of Crown
revenue. Some men made a living by fighting for others in
quarrels. Individual life and property were insecure. Whole
districts were in a permanent alarm of riot and robbery. The roads
were not safe. Nobles employed men who had returned from fighting
in war to use their fighting skill in local defense. There was
fighting between lords and gangs of ruffians holding the roads,
breaking into and seizing manor houses, and openly committing
murders.
Peace was never well-kept nor was law ever well-executed, though
fighting was suspended by agreement during the harvest.
Pages:
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466
467
468
469
470
471
472
473
474