alsih2o
First Post
here is the text of a letter wriiten by a not-so-humble man...
lodovico, regent of milan had sent out a call for a military engineer, an architect, a sculptor and a painter.... (severly edited)
" Most Illustrious Lord, having now sufficiently seen and considered all the proofs of all those who would consider themselves masters and inventors of instruments of war, and finding that their invention and use of the said instruments does not differ in any respect from those in common practice, i am emboldened without predjudice to anyone else to put myself in communication with your Excellency, in order to aquaint you with my secrets, thereafter offering myself at your pleasure effectually to demonstrate at any convenient time all those matters which are in part briefly recorded below.
1. I have plans for bridges, very light and stron and suitable for carrying very easily...
2. When a place is besieged Iknow how to cut off water from the trenches, and how to construct an infinite number of.... scalable ladders and other instruments..
4.I have plans for making cannon, very convenient and easy of transport, with which to hurl small stones in the manner of almost hail..
5. And if it should happen that the engagement is at sea, I have plans for constructing many engines most suitable for attack or defense, and ships which can resist the fire of all of the heaviest cannon, and powder and smoke.
6. Also i have ways of arriving at a certain fixed spot by caverns and secret winding passages, made without any noise even though it may be neccesary to pass underneath trenches or a river.
7. Also, i can make covered cars, safe and unassailable, which will enter the serried ranks of the enemy with artillery, and there is no company of men at arms so great as to not be broken by it. And behind these the infantry will be able to follow quite unharmed and without any opposition.
9. Where it si not possible to employ cannon, i can supply catapults, mangonels, traps, and other engines of wonderful efficacy not in general use. In short, as the variety of circumstances shall necessitate, I can supply an infinite number of different engines of attack and defense.
10 In times of peace i believe that i can give you as complete satisfaction as anyone else in architecture, in the construction of buildings both public and private, and in conducting water from one place to another.
Also i can execute sculpture in marble, bronze, or clay, and also painting, in which my work will stand in comparison with that of anyone else whoever he may be
...
And if any of the aforesaid things should seem impossible or impracticable to anyone, I offer myself as ready to make trial of them in your park or in whatever place shall please your excellency, to whom i commend myself with all possible humility."
lodovico, regent of milan had sent out a call for a military engineer, an architect, a sculptor and a painter.... (severly edited)
" Most Illustrious Lord, having now sufficiently seen and considered all the proofs of all those who would consider themselves masters and inventors of instruments of war, and finding that their invention and use of the said instruments does not differ in any respect from those in common practice, i am emboldened without predjudice to anyone else to put myself in communication with your Excellency, in order to aquaint you with my secrets, thereafter offering myself at your pleasure effectually to demonstrate at any convenient time all those matters which are in part briefly recorded below.
1. I have plans for bridges, very light and stron and suitable for carrying very easily...
2. When a place is besieged Iknow how to cut off water from the trenches, and how to construct an infinite number of.... scalable ladders and other instruments..
4.I have plans for making cannon, very convenient and easy of transport, with which to hurl small stones in the manner of almost hail..
5. And if it should happen that the engagement is at sea, I have plans for constructing many engines most suitable for attack or defense, and ships which can resist the fire of all of the heaviest cannon, and powder and smoke.
6. Also i have ways of arriving at a certain fixed spot by caverns and secret winding passages, made without any noise even though it may be neccesary to pass underneath trenches or a river.
7. Also, i can make covered cars, safe and unassailable, which will enter the serried ranks of the enemy with artillery, and there is no company of men at arms so great as to not be broken by it. And behind these the infantry will be able to follow quite unharmed and without any opposition.
9. Where it si not possible to employ cannon, i can supply catapults, mangonels, traps, and other engines of wonderful efficacy not in general use. In short, as the variety of circumstances shall necessitate, I can supply an infinite number of different engines of attack and defense.
10 In times of peace i believe that i can give you as complete satisfaction as anyone else in architecture, in the construction of buildings both public and private, and in conducting water from one place to another.
Also i can execute sculpture in marble, bronze, or clay, and also painting, in which my work will stand in comparison with that of anyone else whoever he may be
...
And if any of the aforesaid things should seem impossible or impracticable to anyone, I offer myself as ready to make trial of them in your park or in whatever place shall please your excellency, to whom i commend myself with all possible humility."
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