The Latin for our English word farm is _fundus_, which originally signifies a “stone’s-throw of land,” or as much land as could be included within the range of a stone thrown from a sling. The materials of which slings were composed, were either flax, hair or leather, woven into bands or cut into thongs, broad in the centre to receive the load, and tapering off to the extremities. Slings have been made with three strings, with a cup let into the leather to hold the bullet or stone, and were called “Fronde à culôt.” In plate xiii, fig. 3, there is a representation of a slinger of the early part of the thirteenth century, whose weapon differs from that of the Anglo-Saxon or common sling, in having a cup for the reception of the projectile. Slings were sometimes attached to sticks to increase their power, as, besides the ancient cord sling, there appears in the manuscripts of the thirteenth century a variety of this arm; the “Staff Sling.” (plate xiii, fig. 2.) It seems to have been in vogue for naval warfare, or in the conflicts of siege operations. ~Force of slings.~ ~Used for the English, A. D. 1342.~ ~Bullets out of slings.~ The slings projected their missiles with such force that no armour could resist their stroke. Slings never appear to have been much used by the English, although Froissart mentions an instance of their having been used for them by the people of Brittany, in a battle fought in that province during the reign of Philip de Valois, between the troops of Walter de Manin, an English knight, and Louis d’Espagne, who commanded six thousand men on behalf of Charles de Blois, then competitor with the Earl of Montford for the Duchy of Brittany. Froissart says, that what made Louis lose the battle was, that during the engagement the country people came unexpectedly and assaulted his army with _bullets_ and slings. ~Slings at the siege of Sancere, 1572.~ ~Range.~ ~Slings last used, 1814.~ According to the same author, slings were used in naval combats, when stones were also sometimes thrown by hand.[2] Slings were used in 1572, at the siege of Sancere by the Huguenots, in order to save their powder. They were also used by the people of Brittany to such an extent against the Roman Catholic party, that the war was called “Guerre de Fronde.” With respect to the range of this projectile, it is said, that a good slinger could project a stone 600 yards. This seems doubtful. The most recent instance of slings being used in war, occurs in “Straith on Fortification,” page 121, and which contains an extract from the siege journal of Serjeant St. Jacques of the French Corps de Genie, who was most successfully employed with a small French garrison in the defence of the Castles of Monzowin, Arragon, against the Spaniards, 1814.