How to Attack an Enemy Ship

1441

“When there is fighting, then it is good [to use] jars full of soap and to throw them onto the ship, at the enemies. When the jars break, the soap runs out all over the ship, the warriors slip and fall to the ground… Better than a jar full of soap is one full of hog’s fat also called grease. If and when you wish to burn your enemy’s ship, hurl there a jar of hog’s fat. It works two ways: [men] on the ship cannot hold their feet steady; later, if you throw a small sack or tube full of powder, it burns the ship.”

Mariano Taccola, De ingeneis

This technique will ensure that your naval battle has all the dignity and gravity of Jell-O wrestling.