The Longbow

Shooting arrows with the penetrative ability of a modern-day bullet and boasting a rate of shooting not seen again in English hands until the late 19th century, the longbow was the weapon at the heart of the English military ascendancy in the century after 1340. Capable of subjecting the enemy to a hail of deadly projectiles that inflicted appalling wounds, the longbow in the hands of massed archers made possible the extraordinary victories enjoyed by English forces over superior numbers at Crécy, Poitiers and Agincourt, and remained a key battlefield weapon throughout the Wars of the Roses and beyond; it also played a leading role in raiding, siege and naval warfare. Its influence and use spread to the armies of Burgundy, Scotland and other powers, and its reputation as a cost-effective, easily produced and decisive weapon led to calls for its widespread adoption in the nascent armies of the American Republic as late as the 1770s.

Wielded by Englishmen, Welshmen and (surprisingly) Frenchmen from lands held by the English crown, the longbow fulfilled the requirements of all infantry missile weapons throughout history - it was a relatively cheap, though well-made, and robust weapon suitable for mass production that projected a man-stopping missile over a suitable distance at a sustainable, relatively rapid rate of shooting. The longbow was a 'self-bow' - that is to say, it was made from one piece of wood, normally yew, with the 'belly' of the bow being 'heartwood' and a thinner layer of 'sapwood' being the 'back' of the bow. The optimal length was between 5ft 7in and 6ft 2in and the optimal thickness 'three fingers', resulting in a draw-weight of 80-120lb; the tips featured 'nocks' made of horn, mainly to protect the limb tips but also to aid in stringing the bow. Its arrows were normally made of aspen, a light and strong wood - although ash and other woods were also used - with a variety of metal heads available, depending on the intended use. A sophisticated piece of ammunition requiring many resources and skill to manufacture, the longbow arrow could penetrate plate armour if the conditions were right; this study argues, however, that the 'blunt trauma' inflicted on the target, however well armoured, resulted in horrendous injuries and was far more significant on the field of battle.

For archers in English service, training traditionally started at age 7, and it is safe to say that although other military skills might have needed to be instilled in newly recruited military archers, their shooting prowess, honed by frequent practice, could be relied upon. Many authorities assert that English archers were distinguished by their ability to shoot powerfully and accurately over a variety of ranges by aiming 'instinctively' - an unconscious act with all the concentration focused on the eye, like changing gear when driving a car - while drawing the string back 'to the ear' with two fingers (hence the archers' two-fingered 'salute' to their opponents).

Featuring specially commissioned full-colour artwork and informed by the latest research into this intriguing weapon, this lively study debunks lingering myths and casts new light on the battle-winning longbow, the lethal missile weapon that enabled English victories against the odds in a series of famous battles of the 14th and 15th centuries.