A similar attempt had just been made at Berg-op-Zoom.
The use of this projectile became quite common in France under Louis XIII.

Howitzes were not much used till the seventeenth century.

They are of German origin, and the howitzer first bore the name of _hausmitz_.
The _strap-shot_ consists of a round ball attached to a _sabot_ of the same calibre, by means of two strips of tin passing over the shot at right angles, and fastened to a third, which is soldered around the sabot.

One end of the sabot is arranged for attaching it to the cartridge, the other being hollowed out to receive the shot.

The supposed advantages of this arrangement are, 1st, a diminution of the windage; 2d, the gun may be loaded with greater rapidity; and, 3d, the cartridge is transported with greater safety.
The _case_ or _canister-shot_ is prepared by filling a tin canister with grape-shot or musket-balls, and attaching it to the cartridge by means of a sabot.