Which Bombard Shoots Farthest?
Six mountings of a bombard compared, with questions on recoil and the crossbow
The outer column carries six small sketches of bombards in different mountings: lying flat on the ground, slung from a cord, set on two small wheels, on two large wheels, on a single large wheel braced by a beam resting on the ground, and flat on the ground braced by a vertical stop buried deep in the earth. A first question asks which of them shoots farthest, and how far. Two further notes ask how much forward range a bombard loses if it recoils a quarter-braccio, and what a crossbow gains or loses when loosed while fixed, thrust forward, or drawn back.
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Six mountings of a bombard compared for range
Six bombards are drawn in contrasting supports: one prone on the ground, one suspended from a cord, one on two small wheels, one on two large wheels, one on a single large wheel braced by a ground-resting beam, and one prone and braced by a buried vertical stop. Leonardo asks which shoots farthest, and how far.
Range lost to recoil
If the bombard recoils backward by a quarter-braccio, Leonardo asks how much it loses in the forward direction from its true and proper range. The question ties the piece's kick to the distance it can throw.
Crossbow loosed fixed, advanced, or drawn back
A companion question asks what a crossbow gains or loses relative to its natural range when it is loosed while standing fixed, while thrust forward, or while drawn backward.