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Show Crossbow, Medieval Arm, Death to Man or Beast Used not only as a military weapon weap-on but also as the sporting arm of the hunter of the Middle ages, the powerful crossbow, or arbalest, has a romantic and interesting history, notes Bob Becker in the Chicago 1 Tribune. It is believed to have been introduced into England as a military mili-tary and sporting arm by the Norman Nor-man invaders in 1066, and it is known to have been popular in continental con-tinental European countries even before that time, having been used for hunting stags, wild boars, hares, and other game. As a soldier's weapon it was branded as "hateful to God and unfit for Christians." But sportsmen of the Middle ages became so fond of their crossbows that they continued to use them for more than 50 years after the introduction intro-duction of the handgun. Crossbows date back to the Fourth century. Manuscripts of the Tenth century mention the weapon. The main parts of the crossbow are the arbrier (or stock) and the short, powerful bow mounted on the stock at right angles. At the bow end is a "stirrup" or loop of iron The bowstring, when at tension, is released by a trigger. For its discharge dis-charge the weapon is held up to the shoulder. The force of the released bowstring bow-string propels a short arrow known as a bolt (or quarrel), a stone, clay ball, or other missile with terrific force. The earliest types of crossbows cross-bows were crude affairs with wooden wood-en bows. These were liable to warp I or break. So brossbowmen devised the composite bow made by combining combin-ing horn and whalebone, or yew and animal tendons. It is thought that the first composite' bows, those made by the Saracens, were brought to Europe during the Twelfth century. |
