to swear a solemn oath, that no other pastime or exercise should take up any part of their leisure, the whole of which was to be devoted to the practice of the noble art of shooting with the cross-bow.  Once a year a grand match was held, under the patronage of some saint, to whose church-steeple was affixed the bird, or semblance of a bird, to be hit by the victor. {5} The conqueror in the game was Roi des Arbaletriers for the coming year, and received a jewelled decoration accordingly, which he was entitled to wear for twelve months; after which he restored it to the guild, to be again striven for.  The family of him who died during the year that he was king, were bound to present the decoration to the church of the patron saint of the guild, and to furnish a similar prize to be contended for afresh.  These noble cross-bow men of the middle ages formed a sort of armed guard to the powers in existence, and almost invariably took the aristocratic, in preference to the democratic side, in the numerous civil dissensions of the Flemish towns.  Hence they were protected by the authorities, and easily obtained favourable and sheltered sites for their exercise-ground.  And thus they came to occupy the old fosse, and took possession of the great orchard of the hospital, lying tranquil and sunny in the hollow below the rampart.

But, in the sixteenth century, it became necessary to construct a street through the exercise-ground of the “Arbaletriers du Grand Serment,” and, after much delay, the company were induced by the beloved Infanta Isabella to give up the requisite plot of ground.  In recompense for this, Isabella—­who herself was a member of the guild, and had even shot down the bird, and been queen in 1615—­made many presents to the arbaletriers; and, in return, the grateful city, which had long wanted a nearer road to St. Gudule, but been baffled by the noble archers, called the street after her name.  She, as a sort of indemnification to the arbaletriers, caused a “great mansion” to be built for their accommodation in the new Rue d’Isabelle.  This mansion was placed in front of their exercise-ground, and was of a square shape.  On a remote part of the walls, may still be read—­

   PHILLIPPO IIII.  HISPAN.  REGE.  ISABELLA-CLARA-EUGENIA HISPAN. 
   INFANS.  MAGNAE GULDAE REGINA GULDAE FRATRIBUS POSUIT.

In that mansion were held all the splendid feasts of the Grand Serment des Arbaletriers.  The master-archer lived there constantly, in order to be ever at hand to render his services to the guild.  The great saloon was also used for the court balls and festivals, when the archers were not admitted.  The Infanta caused other and smaller houses to be built in her new street, to serve as residences for her “garde noble;” and for her “garde bourgeoise,” a small habitation each, some of which still remain, to remind us of English almshouses.  The “great mansion,” with its quadrangular form; the spacious saloon—­once used for the archducal balls, where the dark, grave Spaniards mixed with the blond nobility of Brabant and Flanders—­now a schoolroom for Belgian girls; the cross-bow men’s archery-ground—­all are there—­the pensionnat of Madame Heger.