Page:A record of European armour and arms through seven centuries (Volume 3).djvu/177

 dynner they kylled no game, saving a doe." We may, indeed, safely assume that these presentation crossbows were used entirely for sporting purposes, and not for service in war.

(a) German work, dated 1575. Top view, showing the moulinet or cranequin winder in position, but slack on the string. From the Franz Thill Collection, Vienna

(b) German work, about 1570-80. Under view, showing the twisted cord. Note the moulinet windlass caught on the winder pin of the stock. From the Franz Thill Collection, Vienna

Next comes the crossbow that was bent with a windlass known as the "moulinet," or as the "cranequin," "crennequin," or "cric," a contrivance which must have been the one used for bending the bow of the famous Ulrich V crossbow (Fig. 936). Half-way down the stock is inserted a strong iron staple or winder pin, from which the jack windlass derived its fulcrum to the lever; for by means of a strong twisted cord loop the jack was fitted at pleasure over the stock, slipping down as far as the winder pin. The actual windlass was on exactly the same wheel and ratchet principle seen in the modern lifting jack. We give illustrations of crossbows showing the moulinet or cranequin winder in position on the stock. The first shows a fine German example (Fig. 937a), dated on·the moulinet ratchet 1575. In the case of this example the moulinet windlass is shown adjusted, but slack on the string. The second gives an under view of another such crossbow of the same