Page:A record of European armour and arms through seven centuries (Volume 3).djvu/184

 or arbalète à jalet, a crossbow which fired not bolts, but pellets or stones. When reference is made in XVIth century records to the crossbow or latch with the double, or even treble, string, in all probability it is the arbalète à jalet that is meant. In the case of this weapon, as in that of a catapult, it was necessary that a small pouch should be used as a receptacle for the charge, whether stone or pellet; we can see from the illustration (Fig. 943) that the use of double cords was almost indispensable in order to hold in position the small pouch in question. Our illustration of the complete prodd or arbalète à jalet shows a weapon sumptuous in its Renaissance ornamentation, though, as we have confessed, far in advance of the period with which we have been dealing. Inasmuch, however, as it is not our intention to refer again to any form of crossbow, we are content to let a representation of this beautiful prodd, though it is a most advanced form, figure as our pictorial example of the use of the double strings. The prodd in question is No. 1018 in the Wallace Collection (Fig. 944). The double cords as used on the arbalète à jalet

Italian, late XVIth century. Showing the use of the double strings Wallace Collection (Laking Catalogue, No. 1018)

It must not be considered that we have described every type of cross