Does anyone know of any other images of this? Was it a likely practice, or artist error? Would it give any benefit when not on horseback, such as more stability, and therefore quicker reloading in the field (given that mounted crossbowmen might not have had the benefit of field pavises)? Could the use in this image have some kind of relevance to the fact that the bowyers are target-shooting (ie not necessarily using bows designed for horseback, but still strong enough to require a cranequin)?
I know that Lafayette's OP was specifically about the right kind of bow for a mounted crossbowman, which is what I'm interested in also. However, on the issue of stirrups vs rings, it seems we have some important questions: what role would they have played when on horseback (eg, Would the ring have been used as a hanging point at all? Would a wide stirrup just provide more edge/points to get in the way of things when mounted?).
And, given that some mounted crossbowmen fought from horseback, some rode to battle but dismounted to fight, and it's not hard to imagine that some chose or were forced to do both, then a bow 'for' mounted crossbow use should ideally work well in both contexts ... so, are there limitations of using a 'ring' bow when not on a horse?
![](images/icon_clip.gif)
![Mittelalterliches-Hausbuch-Fol-12r-showing-cranequin-and-stirrup.gif](files/mittelalterliches_hausbuch_fol_12r_showing_cranequin_and_stirrup_570.gif)