298 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 
XLYII.—Ancrent Cross-Bow or ‘‘ Latcn,’’ oBTAINED IN DUBLIN DUR- 
ING THE HExcaVaTIONs IN THE PLUNKET-sTREET AREA, IN 1883. By 
Witiiam Frazer, F.R.C.8.1., M.R.I. A. 
[ Read, June 9, 1884. ] 
Tuts interesting specimen of a weapon that has long fallen into disuse 
in active warfare came into my possession through the medium of per- 
sons who had bought it from its original discoverer. Soon after it was 
unearthed, I endeavoured to ascertain the circumstances under which 
it was procured ; but it was possible to rely with certainty only on the 
following points, which I have reasonable ground for believing are 
correct :— 
About a year since, extensive clearances were being made in our city 
in what is known as the Plunket-street Area: when removing the old 
dilapidated houses portions of the ancient walls were laid bare, con- 
structed of firm stone masonry. These outlying fortifications of the 
city had on one side of them probably, in former times, a wide fosse or 
ditch, such as was usual in similar situations; but all trace had disap- 
peared of such a ditch, and it was filled with soil. Now, I believe 
that it was in excavating somewhere on the site of this old ditch that 
the cross-bow was procured; but when or whereabouts, or at what 
exact depth from the surface it was obtained, I am unable to say. It 
must have fallen into my possession within a few days of its discovery, 
for the woodwork of the shaft was sodden with moisture and soft from 
having lain so many years in damp clay, and it required careful dry- 
ing for its preservation. Subsequently I saturated the woodwork 
with the best preservative I know of, pure paraffine, which not only 
keeps the wood from decay, but preserves it from the ravages of worms, 
a fertile source of anxiety to collectors like myself. Another conclu- 
sive evidence of its recent removal from the ground was, that mud still 
filled up different portions of its sunk ornamentation; and I regret to 
say that inserted pieces, probably of silver work, were missing, which 
I found it impossible to recover. This was the more annoying, as their 
value was trifling, and they could not have been long taken away— 
possibly by the finder; however, enough traces of decoration remained 
to show that the shaft was originally ornamented with inserted twists 
of silver wire, and small portions of bone, inlaid in little circles, form- 
ing patterns sunk into the wooden stock. 
This ornamental and neatly-made weapon is of such light and ele- 
gant form that we can without difficulty believe it was intended for the 
use of a lady or noble, and such as would be better adapted for hunt- 
ing purposes than as a weapon of warfare; in fact it appears to be 
such a cross-bow as in the days of Queen Elizabeth would be termed 
a ‘*Prodd”’ or ‘‘ Latch,’? and of which several examples, still more 
elaborate in their decorations than this specimen, are preserved in col- 
lections of ancient arms and armour. The formidable arbalast of 
older construction required the use of a winding apparatus to set the 
bow a eraneqguin, or moulinot, but this was utilized by means of a le- 
