In the preface to "The Compound of Alchemy" (Osborn fa16), Rabbards notes that he has "these fortie yeares amongst manie other most commendable exercises and inventions of so warlike Engines, founde out divers devices of rare service, both for Sea and land" and expresses his intention to "impart some other rare experiments of Distillations and Fire-Workes of great service, not hitherto committed in writing or put in practise by any of our nation." This apparently refers to Osborn a8, the only known copy of the work.

Signature on f. 1 of W. Bayntun, Gray's Inn.

Descriptions of military machines are accompanied by colored illustrations.

Binding: contemporary brown calf, with gold tooling of Lyonese style with semis of eaglets.

In English.

Military art and science > Early works to 1800.

Military art and science > Great Britain > History > 16th century.

Military art and science > Technological innovations > History.