- Arbalest
- Arbalester
- Mounted Crossbowman
A troop of mounted crossbowmen, of special skill and courage, usually formed the bodyguard of the king, and attended him in battle. Mounted crossbowmen were largely employed on the Continent in the fourteenth, and first half of the fifteenth century, and these men were usually allowed one and sometimes even two horses apiece, besides being supplied, when on the march, with carts to carry their crossbows and quarrels - Crossbowmen
The centre figure may be seen bending his crossbow with a windlass, with his foot in the stirrup of the weapon. From Manuscript, Froissart's ' Chronicles. - A store of crossbow bolts, shafts and heads
The crossbowman is aiming at a target to the left of the picture. From a catalogue of the Arsenal of the Emperor Maximilian I. (6. 1459, d. 1519). - Crossbowman approaching game
Crossbowman approaching game by means of a stalkig horse - How a crossbowman should approach animals
How a crossbowman should approach animals by means of a cart concealed with foliage. - Crossbowmen
They represent French soldiers at the defence of Rouen, 1419, shooting from behind the shelter of shields propped up in front of them. - A ship of war, wth crossbowmen
Of this plate Valturius quaintly writes: ' When everything is cleared for navigation before the charge is made upon the enemy, it is well that those who are about to engage the foe should first practise in port, and grow accustomed to turn the tiller in calm water, to get ready the iron grapples and hooked poles, and sharpen the axes and scythes at their ends. The soldiers should learn to stand firm upon the decks and keep their footing, so that what they learn in sham fight they may not shrink from in real action. - Crossbowmen
The centre figure is winding up his windlass crossbow behind the shelter of a shield. From Manuscript, Froissarts ' Chronicles.' The larger shields, which were carried before the knights (by their pages) when on the march, and which were propped up in front of them as a protection from arrows in a battle or a siege, were known as pavises or mantlets. - Crossbowmen
The soldiers carry windlass crossbows. One man is winding up his weapon ; the other is shooting, with his windlass laid on the ground at his feet. - Arquebusier
Picture represents very clearly the half-armour worn by the Arquebusier and the weapon from which they took their name.