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The Crossbow
There are two societies of crossbowmen in Dresden, both of considerable
antiquity. The Bogenschlitzen-Gesellschaft - the older and more important
of the two with a membership of nearly four hundred - is styled ' privilegirte,'
which implies Royal patronage.
As this Society has ancient privileges and interesting associations,
I will briefly narrate its history and describe the manner of shooting
its members now practise with the crossbow.
The records of the Society date from 1416, and it is said to have been
founded in 1286, the date its club flag displays.
The ' Bogenschiitzen-Gesellschaft1 of Dresden originally
consisted of a kind of militia or municipal guard of crossbowmen, which
was raised for the defence of the town in case of attack by an enemy.
From days immemorial, the Society has been endowed with corporate rights
and other privileges by the Sovereign as well as by the town council. When
the crossbow was laid aside, as no longer of use in warfare, the Sovereign
and town council, however, continued their patronage of the Society and
took part in its annual fetes.
The crossbowmen were shown special favour, were supported by grants
of land and money, and were employed at all State ceremonies and popular
festivals, on which occasions and especially in processions they were under
the control of the town council.
The Diet of the Kingdom of Saxony recognised the corporate rights of
the Society, and this recognition even found expression in legislation.
At the present time, it is curious to note, the rules of the Society
are subject to the approval of the Saxon Government.
In recent years the Town Council of Dresden, under strong protest from
the crossbowmen, have discontinued their ancient subsidies, and withdrawn
from that control of the Society they previously exercised for several
centuries.
In consequence of these alterations, its members were obliged to purchase
a new plot of land for their meetings.
This consists of a large field near the Elbe, outside Dresden, which
has been used for the annual competitions with the crossbow for the past
twenty-seven years.
The Society owns several valuable medals. These were struck from time
to time to celebrate notable events in its history that have occurred since
1 Company, society, or guild of archers.
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