Spot on, Rene. The location of the trigger is wrong in the same wa as in the VM, a rare feature. Unless this is some mechanism we are not aware of.
About the hand though, this is actually very accurate. I once came across this while researching a reason for the crosdbowman's weird hand placement.
By the 15th century, no mechanism had been invented yet to snap the bolt into place. So when aiming down, as this fellow is doing, the bolt would slide forward and fall right off. Especially with a bolt so long as his, it would topple right away.
So what they needed to do was actually hold it in place with a finger or thumb, and retract at the moment of shooting. Granted, this fellow's grip is a bit overconfident in his own reflexes, but there's a reason for the principle.
But yeah, the trigger bar. Too bad this MS appears to be digitized only in a few pages.
About the hand though, this is actually very accurate. I once came across this while researching a reason for the crosdbowman's weird hand placement.
By the 15th century, no mechanism had been invented yet to snap the bolt into place. So when aiming down, as this fellow is doing, the bolt would slide forward and fall right off. Especially with a bolt so long as his, it would topple right away.
So what they needed to do was actually hold it in place with a finger or thumb, and retract at the moment of shooting. Granted, this fellow's grip is a bit overconfident in his own reflexes, but there's a reason for the principle.
But yeah, the trigger bar. Too bad this MS appears to be digitized only in a few pages.