I think the image of Judith and Holophernes does not realistically show an incident in a natural way. I guess the illuminator just wanted to show that Holophernes is burning down a city therefore he iconographically painted Holophernes with an incendiary weapon despite it has been used this way or not - but all the spectators of the image will clearly know what is ment. A problem we always face when reading a historic images.
Of corse the window dressing of the early authors is an other problem as every Büchsenmeister (bussenmester) tried to exaggerate his knowledge and camouflage his recipes as they were not interested to spread their knowledge to competitors nore they wanted only to sell their books. The fireworks books maybe can be interpreted as an application paper or catalogue for their services to lords of castles or city mayors.
Actually I am not sure how to interpret the weapons, that of Holopernes the Kriegsbuch of 1411 and the one of Franz Helm. Also my actual experience with this type of weapons is too poor presently - There is so mutch more to learn... Probably our friend Matchlock has a clue?
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