Introduction: The windlass crossbow was used from the 15th to the 17th century. The crossbowman would attach the windlass to the butt of the crossbow and very quickly and effortlessly rearm the crossbow.  The crossbows‚ silent discharge, made the crossbow better for hunting than a firearm , and even with the existence of the firearm, it was a superbly effective weapon of war. The silence permitted hunting without scaring away animals or letting the enemy combatant aware of the incoming volley. The lack of a smell from flashing gunpowder meant the crossbowman’s position was not given away. Both the crossbow and longbow were last used for naval warfare in the 17th century.

There are three primary reasons military crossbows are seldom found in collections today:

(1) The military crossbow is made of wood and therefore biodegradable. Without care, it will rot into oblivion.

(2) When military crossbows finally became useless, they were often used for firewood because they had no monetary value or other use.

(3) Military crossbows were seldom preserved because they have an odd shape and are not very aesthetically pleasing , unlike elaborately decorated crossbows for the hunt of the wealthy that have inlay and other expensive decoration. Ironically, even though there were more military crossbows during their working life, they are now much rarer.

Discussion: Crossbows presented a significant problem to the armored knight. A well-placed bolt shot by the most inexperienced crossbowman could penetrate armor. A lifetime of knightly training with the most expensive implements of war could be trumped by a peasant with a newly acquired crossbow in a few seconds. The crossbow’s effectiveness did not go unnoticed. In 1139, the Second Lateran Council under Pope Innocent II (d.1143) issued a canon (decree) that stated that the Church had outlawed the use of the crossbow and longbow among Christians. It could only be used against non-Christians.

Crossbows for the hunt were much more elaborate and expensive, such as this one under discussion. Only the wealthy typically went on a hunt. Just as topics and negotiations are discussed on the golf course today, the hunt in the Medieval and Renaissance periods played the same role. It was also a time to show off ‚ wealth and socialize among the rich. The wealthy hunted bear, boar, and deer in what was referred to as the ‚ high hunt. Lesser animals, such as birds and rabbits, were hunted by the poor. The hunt for the wealthy and noble was an elaborate affair planned with military precision and included many servants. Among the multitude of servants were beaters who made noise using implements to scare animals toward the hunters. The hunters would be camouflaged in natural terrain, camouflaged carts, artificial hedges, atop trees, or any combination as the animals were driven to them. Hunting was also done on horseback.

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