The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and
Instruction, by Various

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Title: The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction
Vol. 19. No. 538 - 17 Mar 1832

Author: Various

Release Date: April 3, 2004 [EBook #11886]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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THE MIRROR OF LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION.

VOL. XIX. NO. 538.] SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 1832. [PRICE 2_d_.

* * * * *

[Illustration: THE ARBALEST, OR CROSS-BOW.]

THE ARBALEST, OR CROSS-BOW.

The Bow would appear to have been in most ancient nations the principal
implement of war; and to keep alive this "mystery of murder," archery, or
the art of shooting with a bow and arrow, seems to have been a favourite
pastime in days of peace. In no country, however, has archery been more
encouraged than in this island; wherefore the English archers became the
best in Europe, and procured many signal victories. Tributary as have been
the bow and arrow to some of the brightest scenes in our history, it is
not surprising that its exercise should have become cherished among us as
an amusement. Strutt tells us that in the early ages of chivalry, the
usage of the bow was considered as an essential part of the education of a
young man who wished to make a figure in life. Hence the long-bow and
cross-bow have been and are playthings in the hands of youth; and would
that they had only been the toys of the playground instead of leading men
to slaughter each other for the costly toys of the game of life. It is
chiefly to the use of the cross-bow that we propose to confine ourselves
upon the present occasion.

The arbalest, or cross-bow, was not only much shorter than the long-bow,
but fastened also upon a stock, and discharged by means of a catch or
trigger, which Mr. Strutt reasonably enough thinks gave rise to the lock
on the modern musket. The old logicians illustrate the distinction in
their quaintest fashion. Bayle, explaining the difference between
testimony