Cribs in the Voynich MS

[Koen G]

Is there some other historical explanation that is more convincing?

There must be. The clerical figure has a halo, which you couldn't just slap on anyone. Also, he is wielding a scourge, which is not exactly a battle weapon. Therefore, going by the iconography alone, I would expect this to be some historical figure who is known to have "scourged" a certain group of opponents, and was probably sainted for it.