Edward III and the Hundred Years War 1337-1377 CE War and Rebellion B1 or B2

Thename"HundredYears'War"ismisleading Thedatesoftheconflict(13371453)covera116yearperiod Therewasnotcontinualfightingforahundredyears.(Truces,BlackDeath) Theactualtimefighting,whenaddedup,comestomuchlessthanonehundredyears Peopleatthetimedidnotseethebattlesaspartofasinglecampaignandprobably referredtotheconflictastheFrenchWars WhatwecalltheHundredYears'Warwasaseriesofbattlesduringthelatterpartofthe MiddleAgesinwhichtheEnglishkingstriedtoasserttheirrighttotheFrenchthrone andwasresistedbytheFrench. TheHundredYearsWarisoftendividedintothreewars 1) TheEdwardianWar13371360 2) TheCarolineWar 13691389 3) TheHenricianWar14151453

1. General Introduction

Feltonfleet History Dept December 2009

 Longtermcauses 1EversinceWilliamI,EnglishkingsholdinglandinFrancehadproveda concernforFrenchkings.FrancewasatraditionalenemyofEnglandwith WilliamII,HenryI,HenryII,RichardI,John,HenryII,EdwardIallgoingtowar withFranceatsometimeorother.HenryIIhadruledmoreFrenchlandsthan thekingofFrance.Thishistoryofdisputeandfrictionmadeitmorelikely thatwarwouldbreakout. Shorttermcauses Between1327and1377aseriesofeventsledEdwardIIItodeclarewaronFrance.Thiswasnota kneejerkreactionbutameasuredresponsetowhatwasseenasFrenchaggressionand provocation.

2. What were the causes of the war?

ClaimtoFrenchthroneDynastic 2:In1328,KingCharlesIVofFrancehaddiedleavingnomaleheir.EdwardIIIputforwardhis claimthroughhismother,daughterofPhilipIV.TheFrenchignoredhisclaimfirstlyasitwas throughawoman(SalicLaw)andsecondlybecausehewastheKingofEngland.TheFrenchwanted theEnglishoutofFrancenotrulingit!Edwardwasdisappointedbutnotsurprisedandchoseat thisstagetodonothing.In1337inresponsetoFrenchactionsherenewedhisclaim. WoolBlockadeEconomic/Financial 3.EnglishwoolwasthebestinEuropeandpreferredbyFlemishmerchantstoFrenchwool.Philip orderedtheCountofFlanderstobantheexportofwooltoFlanders.PhilipVIalsoencouraged piratesandFrenchnavytoattackEnglishshipscarryingwooltoFlanders.TheFrenchweretrying tostrangletheEnglishwooltrade.Woolwasthemedievalequivalenttooilintermsofwealth creation.ThiswasbadforEnglandseconomy. InvasionofGascony_Economic/Financial/territorial 4.In1337,PhilipVIofFranceinvadedGascony.Gasconywasthecentreofthevitalwineandsalt tradebetweenEnglandandthecontinent.Englishmerchantswantedtothislargepartofthewine producingmarketbecauseitmadeyouveryrich.Edwardlostmoneyastaxespaidontheimportof wineandsaltwerepaidtohim(TonnageandPoundage).Winewasanimportantpartofthe Medievaldietduetotheirhighcaloriecontentandtheirpreservativequalities.FromGascony EdwardhopedtoextendcontrolfurtherintoFranceandgainaccesstoevenrichervineyards. FrenchalliancewithScotlandPolitical 5:EdwardIIIwantedtocompletehisgrandfather'sconquestofScotland.Francehadalwaysgiven helptotheScottishintheirfightagainstEngland.FrancehasgivensanctuarytoDavidBruceafter thedefeatoftheScotsatHalidonHillin1333.In1337,theEnglishNavyinterceptedFrenchShips carryingtroopsandweaponstoScotlandsupportinganinvasionofEnglandonbehalfofDavid Bruce.Edwardviewedthisasanactofwar. AmbitionPolitical 6.EdwardIIIwasyoung,ambitiousandbraveandhelikedfighting.Hewantedthegloryand excitementofawarwithFrance.EdwardwantedtorebuildtheAngevinEmpirelostduringthe reignsofJohnandHenryIII.LikeRichardIandhisgrandfather(EdwardI)hewasexpectedto achievegreatthingsinbattle.(Criteriaforagoodking!) ProblemsinEnglandPolitical 7.AwaragainstFrancewouldunitetheEnglishbaronsandstopinternalfeuding.

3. Edward declares war

Onthe1stNovember1337,EdwardIIIdeclaredhimselfthetrueKingofFranceandaddedthe FrenchliliestotheEnglishroyalcoatofarms.HedeclaredwaronFrance.TheWarcanbedivided intotwoperiodsofEnglishsuccessandtwoperiodsoffailure.

First Period of Success 13401360 4. First Campaign 13401342

In1339EdwardinvadesFrance. 1340:EdwardIIIonboardtheThomasled200shipsanddefeated theFrenchNavy(andhiredGenoeseships)attheBattleofSluys. TheEnglishgainedcommandoftheChannelthatallowedwoolmerchantstotradeundisturbed. However,Philip'sarmyrefusedtofightapitchedbattle. ManyofEdward'ssupportersbecameunhappyanddeserted. EdwardchallengesPhiliptopersonalcombatortodecidethematterbetweena100chosen championsfromeachside.Wisely,Philipdeclinestheoffer. Ashortageofmoney,troopsandsuppliesforcesEdwardtoreturntoEngland. ThePopeintervenesandatrucewassignedin1343.

5.

Edward III and his Second Campaign 1346 1347

On12thJuly1346,EdwardIIIlandedaninvasionforce(some4,000menatarmsand10,000archers (longbowmen)inNormandy. EdwardsarmymarchedwestalongtheNormandycostplunderingandburningtownsandvillagesand marchedtojust20milesoutsideParis. PhilipVIofFrance,uncertainofthedirectionthatEdwardmeantultimatelytotake,advancedagainst himwithsome12,000menatarmsandnumerousothermen. Edwardthenturnedsharplynortheastward,crossingtheSeineandtheSomme,totakeupa defensivepositionatCrcy.

( It was du rin gEdward's ta k ing of Ca en, on th eway to C r cy, t hat t he "mooning" incid ent o c cu rr ed . S e ve r a lh und re dNo rman so ld ie rs expo se dt he irb a ck s ide st o the English arche rs an d many o ft he mp a id a h ig hp r i ce fo r do ing so .)

6. The Battle of Crcy

26 th August 1346

1) Edwardchosehisgroundcarefullyonaslopeofahillwithhisflanksprotectedbyriver,marshand

woodland.(Reducedthreatofknightsandbeingsurrounded/outflanked) 2) Frenchforcesnumberedapproximately36,000. 3) Englishforcesnumberedapprox.12,000,including7,000archers 4) Edwardorderedmostofhismenatarmsto dismount.Hethenarrangedthreegroupsof menatarmsandspearmen,witharchers placedontheirsides.Thearchersformedranks A resemblinganoutwardV.Smallpitsweredug infrontofthemtotripuphorses. 5) Edwardheldareservedivisionofmenat armsandarcherstopluganyholesandallow B foranescapeifnecessary. 6) Thebattlelinewas2,000metreswide. Ridge 7) TheFrenchwereextremelyconfidentwiththeFrenchnoblesdiscussingwhomthey weregoingtotakeasprisoners.TheKingofMajorcahadalreadynamedEdwardIIIas hisprisoner!TheFrenchkingPhilipVIorderedtheraisingofthebannerofStDenis.Thissignifiedthat therewastobenomercyshowntotheEnglishandthatnoprisonerswouldbetaken.EdwardIIIreplied byraisinghisDragonbannerstatingthatnoquarterwouldbeshowntotheFrench.Themindgames hadstarted!

8) EdwardwaitedfortheFrenchtoattack. 9)At4pmTheFrenchking,PhilipVIsentforwardhisGenoesecrossbowmen,whilehisknightswere preparingforachargetoannihilate"ThecontemptiblelittleEnglisharmy."Astheyadvanced,asudden rainstormswirledaroundthetwoarmies.TheEnglisharchersremovedtheirbowstringstocoverinside theirjacketsandhats;thecrossbowmencouldtakenosuchprecautionswiththeircumbersomeweapons. 10)TheChroniclerFroissartdescribestheGenoeseaswhoopingandshouting.OncetheEnglish formationwaswithincrossbowrangetheGenoesefiredtheirbolts;buttherainhadloosenedthestrings oftheircrossbowsandtheirshotsfellshort.TheintentionwasfortheGenoesetocreateaholeinthe Englishlines,whichcouldthenbeenteredbyFrenchknightswhowouldthenattacktheEnglishfromthe rearwhilstanotherdivisionofFrenchknightsattackedfromthefront. 11)Froissartthensays:TheEnglisharcherseachsteppedforthonepace,drewthebowstringtohisear, andlettheirarrowsfly;sowhollyandsothickthatitseemedassnow.TheGenoesecrossbowmenwere nomatchfortheEnglisharcherswhooutrangedthemandhadaquickerfirerate.(16permin3permin)
(EachEnglisharchercarriedtwosheavesofarrows(48)intobattle.Resupplywasaccomplishedbygoingbackthroughthe linesorhavingmorearrowsbroughtforward.)15)Arrows,dependingontypeandweight,couldbeshot250to300metres. TheEnglisharcherscouldshootanaverageof10arrowsperminute.

12)ThebarrageinflictedsignificantcasualtiesontheGenoeseandforcedthemtoretreat. 13)TheFrenchknightsbecameimpatientandbegantheirattackridingdownmanyoftheunfortunate Genoeseastheywent.AstheFrenchknightscharged,theyhadtoridetotheirrighttoavoidaridge, whichsquashedtheFrenchknightsintoacompactunit!TheEnglisharchersshotablanketvolleyofarrows rightintothechargingknights.Theirhorsesswerved,plungedandreared.SoontheFrenchknightswere intotaldisorder. 14)TheFrenchknightsintherearmistooktheagonisingcriesofthecrushedGenoeseasthoseofthe Englishandchargedforward,eagernottomissoutonanopportunitytograbtheirprisoners.Repeatedly theFrenchknightstriedtochargebuteachtimetheyweremetwithahailofdeadlyarrows. 15)Thetotalnumberofarrowsshotduringthebattleisestimatedatmillion 16)Fromthestartofthebattleat4:00pmuntiltheendatmidnight,therewere14to16chargesmade againsttheEnglishlines. 17)Casualtieswereestimatedfrom5,000(low)to10,000ormore(high)fortheFrenchKnightsand Genoesecrossbowmen.Englishcasualtieswereseveralhundred.(700) 18)Edward,thesixteenyearoldBlackPrincewonhisspurs. 19)Asmall,trainedprofessionalarmyhaddefeatedalargedisorderlyfeudalarmy.

7. Uniforms, arms and equipment at Crcy

Thepowerofthemedievalfeudalarmylayinthechargeofitsmassofmountedknights. Aftertheimpactdeliveredwiththelance,thebattlebrokeintohandtohandcombat withswordandshield,mace,shortspear,daggerandwarhammer. Dependinguponwealthandrankamountedknightoftenworejointedsteel armourincorporatingbackandbreastplates,avisoredbascinethelmetandsteelplated gauntletswithspikesontheback;thelegsandfeetprotectedbysteelgreavesand boots,calledjambs.Weaponscarriedwerealance,shield,swordanddagger.Overthe armouraknightworeajuponorsurcoatemblazonedwithhisarms. TheFrenchhadaforceofGenoesecrossbowmen,theirweaponsfiringavarietyof missiles;ironboltsorstoneandleadbullets,toarangeofsome200yards.The crossbowfiredwithaflattrajectory,itsmissilecapableofpenetratingarmour. TheweaponofKingEdwardsarcherswasasixfootyewbowdischarginga featheredarrowametreinlength.Arrowswerefiredwithahightrajectory,descending ontheapproachingfoeatanangle.Therateoffirewasupto12arrowseveryminute againstthecrossbowsrateof3shotseveryminute;thecrossbowrequiringtobe reloadedbymeansofawinch.Forclosequarterfightingthearchersusedhammersor daggerstobatteratanadversarysarmourorpenetratebetweentheplates. TheWelshandIrishinfantrymen,carryingspearsandknives,madeupadisorderly moboflittleuseduringbattle,beingmainlyconcernedwithransackingthecountryside andmurderingtheinhabitantsorpillagingabattlefieldoncethecombatwasover.A knightormanatarms,knockedfromhishorseandpinnedbeneathitsbody,wouldbe easilyovercomebytheswarmsofthesemen.

Knights

Crossbowmen

Longbowmen

EdwardIIIsInfantry

Artillery

TheEnglisharmypossessedsimpleartillery;improvementsingunpowderreducing thesizeofgunsandprojectilesandmakingthemsufficientlymobiletobeusedinbattle. ItseemsthattheFrenchhadnotbythetimeofCrcyacquiredartillery.

8. Why did Edward III win the Battle of Crcy?

 BattlePosition
Hechosehisbattlepositionwell.Hewasoutnumbered.Hissideswereprotectedby woodsandriverwhichwouldpreventtheFrenchfromsurroundinghimorattackinghis armyfrombehind.WoodsdidnotsuitFrenchknightsonhorseback.Therewasaslight slopeupwardstotheEnglisharmy.Thiswouldfavourhisarchersandmakeahorse chargemoredifficult.Slopedisadvantagedcrossbowfirebutaidedlongbowmen.Slope alsogaveEdwardbetterview.Philipsviewwasnotasgood.

Battleformation
Englishoutnumbered31.Edwardhadtoensurethatheusedallhissoldiers.He arrangedarchersinoutwardVshape.Thismeantthatallhisarcherscouldfireatthe sametimeandhitadeeperandlargerareaofFrenchtroops.Knightsdismounted, armedthemselveswithpolearms,togiveprotectiontoarcherswhowerealsoplaced behindwoodenstakesandpits.

BattleTactics
Edwardsuseofarcherswasdecisive.Archersfiringdiagonallyensuredgreaterhits. TheycouldpickofftheFrenchfromadistance.Edwardrealisedthatalthoughthedays oftheknight(heavycavalry)werenearlyover,his5,000knightswerenomatchforthe 20,000French.

Mentalattitude
Despitebeingoutnumbered,theEnglishwereorganised,hadaclearplanofactionand werepositiveintheirminds.EdwardcounteredFrenchmindgames.

9. Why did the French Lose?

Overconfidence

Frenchbelievedthattheyjusthadtoturnupandthebattlewaswon.Theywere discussingwhowasgoingtotakewhichprisoners.Overconfidenceledtocomplacency. Mistakesandwrongdecisionsweremade.

Battletactics
Knightswerenolongerthethreatorforcethattheyhadbeenovertheprevious150 years.Countertacticstotheknighthadbeendeveloped(pits,pikes,longbow).French hadnotadaptedtoevolution(change)ofwarfare.Crossbowlimiteduseagainst longbow(firerate,distance,reliability).LimitedwidthofbattlefieldmeantthatFrench couldnotdeployalltheirtroopsatthesametime.

Lackofcommand
Frencharmywasfeudal(Englishwasprofessional).Menfromdifferentregionswould notcooperatewitheachotherortakecommands.UnitsofFrencharmywereworking independentlyofeachotherwithnocentralcoordinationorcommand. 10. The Siege of Calais (Sept4th1346toAug.4th1347 ) 2 n d Campaign

AfterCrcy,Edwardrealisedthathisarmywasnotbigenoughtofollowalengthy campaign.HemarchedtothecoastandlaidsiegetoCalais.Calaiswasanimportant portandhadbeenhometomanyofthepirateswhowereharassingEnglishshipsinthe Channel. ThesiegelastedfromSept4th1346toAug.4th1347duringwhichtimeEdward hadsuppliesandreinforcementsshippedinfromEngland.PhilipVItriedtocausea diversionbysupportingarebellioninScotland,butDavidBrucewascapturedatthe BattleofNeville'sCrossandtheplanfailed.PhilipfailedinhisattemptstohelpCalais andtheinhabitantswerereducedtoeatingcatsanddogs. TheEnglishtroopsweregettingrestlessandthefleetwasthreateningtomutiny. FinallyCalaisstarvedintosurrenderonthe4thAugust,1347.Apparentlyatthefinish, sixoftheleadingcitizenscametoEdwardwithropesaroundtheirnecksreadyfor execution.Theybroughtwiththemthekeystothetown.Edwardwasabouttoexecute themwhenQueenPhillippaintervenedandEdwardreluctantlysparedtheirlives. ThecaptureofCalaisgavetheEnglishcontroloftheChannelStraitsandmade CalaisthecentralmarketforEnglishwool.EnglishpeoplewereinvitedtoliveinCalais byEdwardanditremainedinEnglishhandsuntil1558. TiredandwiththethreatoftheBlackDeathlooming,Edwardmadeatrucewith PhilipVIandreturnedtoEnglandtoenjoyhistriumph.

11. Free Companies

Despitethetruceof1347,therewerestillbandsofmercenarysoldierswho

remainedinFrance.Thebandsweremadeupofmanynationalities,English,French, SwissGenoeseandSpanish.Oneachsidetheseruthlessmercenariesmadealivingby robberyandviolence.Theystolefood,raidedhousesforvaluables,attackedcastles, townsandvillagesandheldhostagesforransom.Theywerequitehappytokillanyone whoopposedthem.These'freecompanies'operatedthroughoutthewarevenwhen thereweretruces.Theywerenotmerelyhooliganbands,butwereoftenledby respectablebaronswhofoughtnotonlyforlootbutadventureandforwhomwarwasa sport.Theyweresoldiersoffortune.AmongthefamousleaderswasBertranddu Guesclin.Evenwhenwarwasgoingonthesemercenariessoldtheirservicestovarious princesanddukes.Thesehiredsoldiers,oftengreedy,brutal,andundisciplined,were capableofdesertingontheeveofbattle,betrayingtheirpatrons,andplundering civilians.Muchoftheirmutinousbehaviourwastheresultoftheiremployer's unwillingnessorinabilitytopayfortheirservices.Whenrigiddiscipline,sustainedby promptpayment,wasenforced(asinthearmyofMauriceofNassau),mercenariescould provetobeeffectivesoldiers.

12. The Jacquerie. 13561358

NamedafterJacquesBonhommethepopularnameforaFrenchpeasant.Thehumiliating defeatatPoitierswasthelaststrawformanyFrenchpeople.Theyhadbeentaxed heavilytofinancethewarandmuchoftheirpropertyandlandhadbeenlootedand destroyed.ThiswasarevoltbyFrenchpeasantsandangryParisiansagainstthepoor leadershipandgovernmentofFrance.Theyplunderedandlootedvillagesandtowns, killingandrapingindiscriminately.TherebellionwasparticularlysavageinMay1358 butwaseventuallycrushedbyFrenchoverlordsinJune1358.

13. Treaty of Brtigny. 1360

EdwardandJohnmetanditwasagreedthatEdwardshouldobtain TheDuchyofAquitaine TheportofCalais butonconditionthatheshouldgiveuphisclaimtothethroneofFrance.

14. First Period of English Decline. 13601375

TheEnglishpowerbegantodeclinebecause: TheBlackPrincedecidedtoheavilytaxthebaronsofAquitainetopayforthewarin Spain.TheyrefusedtoaccepttheruleofEdwardIIIandrebelledagainsthim. EdwardIIIwasbecominganold,senilemanandwasnomatchforthenewandable FrenchKingCharlesV CharlesVappointedBertrandduGuesclinashisgeneral.Hewastoprovetobeone ofthemostbrilliantmilitaryfiguresinthehistoryofmedievalwarfare. DuGuesclin'splanwastoavoidpitchedbattleswiththeEnglish.Herealisedfrom thelessonslearntatCrcyandPoitiersthattheLongbowwasonlyeffectiveifusedina defensiveformation.HedecidedtolettheEnglishwearthemselvesoutmarching acrossFrancechasingtheenemyandtirethemselveslayingsiegetocastles.Bitbybit DuGuesclinregainedterritorieslosttotheEnglish. In1372,theEnglishfleetwasdestroyedatthebattleofLaRochelleandtherefore lostcommandoftheseas. FrenchangeredbythemassacreatLimogesin1370.(BlackPrince) TheBlackPrincecaughtdysenterywhilstfightinginSpainin1372.Hehadtoreturn homeanddiedin1376. JohnofGaunttookoverfromtheBlackPrince,butwithlittlesuccess.TheEnglish troopswerenotbeingpaidandwerebecomingdispiritedandinEnglandpeoplewere beginningtogrowwearyofpayingtaxestofinanceawarthatEnglandappearedtobe losing.ThefeudingthatwastoresultintheWarsoftheRoseswasbeginningtoshow itsuglyhead. Finallyin1375,EdwardIIIsignedtheTreatyofBruges.OnlyCalais,Bayonneand BordeauxremainedinEnglishhands.

15. Longbow v Crossbow

16. The Longbow

In1188WilliamdeBraose,anEnglishknightfightingtheWelsh,reportedthatanarrowhad penetratedhischainmailandclothing,passedthroughhisthighandsaddleandfinallyentered hishorse.TheEnglishnowrealisedthatevenmailcladknightswerenotsafefromthepowerof thelongbow.ThelongbowwassoonadoptedbytheEnglisharmy.Thiswasoneoftheweapons usedbytheEnglishInfantryfromthereignofEdwardIuntiltheTudorperiod.Itenabledthe EnglishtowinthevictoriesattheBattlesofFalkirk(1297),HalidonHill(1333),bothagainstthe Scots;andSluys(1340),Crcy(1346),Poitiers(1356),andAgincourt(1415)againsttheFrench. Thebowstavewasmadeofyewandmeasured6feetandhadanaveragerangeof250 metresandcouldpiercethearmourofmountedknights.Itcouldpiercea5inchthickplankof oakat100metres.Agoodlongbowmancouldfire12arrowsinaminutecomparedto3shafts fromacrossbow. Althoughnotaslethalasacrossbowitwasmoreaccurate.Atrangesupto55metresthe arrowflewstraight,andtheheaviertypeknownasasheafarrowwasused,whichgavebetter penetration.Atlongerrangesaflightarrowwasused.Thismeantthatthelongbowmencould firevolleyaftervolleyofarrowsontotheenemy,oftenwithdevastatingeffects.Theywere particularlyeffectivefromadefensiverole,firingonchargingcavalry. Bowstringsweremadeofflaxorhempandwaterproofedwithbeeswax.Eacharrowwas justunderametrelong,weremadefromdealorash.Thefeatherwaspluckedfromthefeathers ofgeeseandthencoloured.Thetipwasmadefromiron.Thearrowswerecarriedina waterproof,leatherquiverthatheld24arrows,(asheaf).Bowmenusedamixtureofwax,resin andtallowtocoattheirbows. Bowmenwouldoftenrideaponytothebattlefieldandthendismount.Alongwiththeir archerequipmenttheycarriedashieldandasturdywoodenpostwithareinforcedmetaltip. Justbeforebattlethearchershammeredthesepostsintothegroundwiththesharpmetalpoint facingata45angletowardstheenemy.Theycarriedalonghandledmalletforthisjob.The archersthenpositionedthemselvesbehindtheirshield.Frombehindthisdeadlybarricadethe bowmenwereprotectedfromchargingcavalry.Manypreferredtostripthemselvestothewaist beforetheactionstarted. Thearcher'sfingerswereprotectedfrombeingdamagedbythebowstring,byaleather guardcalledatabandhiswristbyabracer.Onhisheadheworeametalhelmetwithaleather capinside. Anarcherrequiredyearsoftraininginordertousethelongbowtoitsgreatesteffect. Practicewascarriedoutfiringatabutt.Infact,archerywasmadeacompulsorysportbylaw.In anattempttomaketheEnglishthebestlongbowmenintheworld,alawwaspassedorderingall menearninglessthan100penceayeartoownalongbow.Everyvillagehadtoarrangefora spacetobesetasideformentopracticeusingtheirlongbows.EverySunday,afterchurch,all menbetween16and60hadtopractise.In1314,EdwardIIbecameconcernedbyreportsthat youngpeopleweremoreinterestedinplayinganewgamecalledfootballthanpractising archery.KingEdward'sanswertothisproblemwastobanfootballinEngland. ThelongbowcontinuedtobeapopularweaponfortheEnglisharmyuntilTudortimes, whenthedevelopmentoffirearms(musketsandpistols)andartillerymadethelongbow obsolete.Althoughfarsuperiortoearlyfirearmsinitsaccuracyandrateoffire,theshortageof trainedarchersandtheexpenseofemployingarchers,forcedtheEnglisharmiestoabandonthe longbows.Thelongbowwasreallyonlyeffectiveinadefensiveroleandwasoflimitedvaluein attacking.Thedevelopmentoffirearmsgavemoreflexibilitytomilitarytacticians.However,it wasn'tuntiltheAmericanCivilWarinthe1860'sthatariflewiththesamekillingrangeasthe Longbowwasdeveloped.TheFrenchsofearedthelongbowthatifanarcherwascapturedhe hadhisarrowfingerscutoff.Beforebattles,indefiance,Englisharchersusedtoputuptwo fingerstotheFrench,theoriginoftheinfamous'V'sign.

17. Staff Weapons Polearms

18. The Crossbow