CANNON, a military engine for throwing balls, &c. by the help of GUNPOWDER.
The invention of brass cannon is by Laney ascribed to J. Owen. He says that they were first known in England in the year 1535; but he yet acknowledges that, in 1346, there were four pieces of cannon in the English army at the battle of Cressy, and that these were the first that were known in France. And Mezeray relates, that by means of five or six pieces of cannon, King Edward struck terror into the French army, it being the first time they had seen any of these thundering machines; though others affirm that cannon were known also in France at the same time, but that the French king, in his hurry to attack the English, and in confidence of victory, left all his cannon be-
hind him as useless encumbrances. The Germans carry the invention farther back, and attribute it to Albertus Magnus, a Dominican monk, about the year 1250. Vossius rejects all these opinions, and finds cannon in China almost 1700 years ago. According to him, they were invented by the Emperor Kitey in the year of Christ 85. See ARTILLERY and GUNNERY.