Crossbowmen
The centre figure is winding up his windlass crossbow behind the shelter of a shield. From Manuscript, Froissarts ' Chronicles.' The larger shields, which were carried before the knights (by their pages) when on the march, and which were propped up in front of them as a protection from arrows in a battle or a siege, were known as pavises or mantlets.
Crossbowmen
They represent French soldiers at the defence of Rouen, 1419, shooting from behind the shelter of shields propped up in front of them.