BOW AND ARROW. In AncitF.tts AND ARODERY will be found a brief account of the military arrangements under which bowmen formed a component clement in the armies of the middle ages; and under is n description of the cross-bow, which was once so favorite a weapon. We here describe the more effective, though simpler imple ment. The long-bow first gained ascendency in England in the 14t13 century. It was found that a dozen arrows could be discharged from this weapon while the arhalester was winding up his cumbrous cross-bow, and discharging one arrow or quarrel frotn it. Moreover, the long-bow being held vertically, the bowmen wereable to stand in closer array than the arbalesters; they were enabled also to take a greater supply of the munitions of war into the field, seeing that the bow and arrows were much lighter in weight. In the time of Edward III., a bow was priced Is. to ls. 04., and a sheaf of arrows, 1*. to ls. 24.: in the time of Henry VIII., the price (fixed by law) of the bow \Tried from 64. togs. 44. The last-named monarch adopted extraordinary means for encouraging the use of the long-bow. Many ordinances were issued for insnrin7 a good supply of bow•s:aves. The Lawyers, string makers. fletchers, and makers were all placed under strius-ent regulations. Merchants were compelled to import good bow-staves with cargo, in certain proportions. Very long bow staveswere admitted dnty-free. Yew W119 con sidered the be-4 wood; but in order that the supply should not be ton speedily used up, howvers were ordered to use elm, ash, and wych-hazel in certain proportions to yew.
The heads of families were bidden to provide bows for their sons and servants; and town councils or officers were required to provide shooting-hutts just outside cash town. Some of the bows had tWo arches, connected by a middle straight piece. The best length was regarded as about 5 ft. 8 in. from midi to nook; but in earlier times, some of the bows were much longer. The first arrows were made of reeds; these materials were afterwards superseded by cornel-wood; but the wood finally adopted as the hest was ash. The arrows had heads pointed with steel, sometimes liirhed to render their action more terrible. They were feathered with pnrtious of goose-wing. The hest length for a bow of the above•named size was set down at 2 ft. 3 inches. Sometimes the arrows were tipped with combustibles. The best makers of arrow-heads, as well as bows, were compelled by law to go from town to town, to exercise their craft wherever it was most needed. The bowman usually carried 24 arrows, called a sheaf, or a quiver, at his right side or.at, his back: besides others in his girdle. Ile kept his bow in a case; hence Falstaff's comparison of prince Hal to a bow-case, in allusion to bis slenderness. Bowmen, in their hours of sport. used arrow-heads called rigged, creased, shouldered, and according to the shape.
The circumstances attending the decline of the use of the long-bow are narrated in the articles above cited.