Page:A record of European armour and arms through seven centuries (Volume 3).djvu/180

XVIth century date, especially as this specimen happens to possess a certain historical interest. The crossbow in question is No. 1327 of the Wallace Collection (Fig. 939). We know that it must be of earlier date than 1558; for on the bow is an inscription which translated reads: "DON FERDINAND KING OF THE ROMANS," and repeats the name of the bow maker twice, "JUAN DE ENSINAS." This shows that the crossbow was made by the Spanish crossbow maker, Juan de Ensinas, for Ferdinand, King of the Romans, younger brother of Charles V, and was obviously made previously to 1558, the date at which Ferdinand became Emperor. The stock of this crossbow is of course adapted to the bow's being bent by a lever of the goat's-foot order; but unfortunately the lever belonging to the weapon is now lost. We, however, give illustrations of two such levers, which are also to be seen in the Wallace Collection (Nos. 1287 and 1291 (Fig. 940, a, b). But they are, it must be confessed, of considerably later date than the Juan de Ensinas crossbow.

Fig. 939. Crossbow

Spanish, about 1550. Made by Juan de Ensinas for Ferdinand, King of the Romans, younger brother of Charles V. Wallace Collection (Laking Catalogue, No. 1327)

There is in the Tower of London a peculiar and somewhat complicated crossbow, charged by a lever permanently attached to the stock. The mechanism of this lever the present writer has seen on other crossbows. Though it is rarely met with, it is a true type and not a mere expression of individual whim; so it is worthy of record (Fig. 941, a, b). The bow is bent by moving down the lever that lies beneath the lower end of the tiller (Fig. 941a), and afterwards returning it to the normal position; this draws back the string to the shooting place. The bow is then ready for discharge. This may be effected in two