Crossbow
This range weapon consisted of a tiller, made of wood and attached to this tiller was a short bow at one end. It would shoot a projectile often called a bolt or quarrel. This quarrel or bolt would rests along the shelf, a flat section of wood with a groove in it. The string that would launch these bolts would primarily be made of hemp or other strong resilient fibers. The mechanism that holds the drawn bow string was made from a vertical rod that is thrust up through a hole in the bottom of notched wood, forcing the string out. This rod was then attached perpendicular to a rear facing lever used to fire the bolt called a trigger. Widely used throughout medieval Europe the steel prods version of this weapon came into use around the 14th century.