The British nation a history / by George MWrong . Knioiit, Twelfth Century. Note tlie luige shield and tlieIons robe of chain armour. Knkmit, Knd of TiimTEENTii Century. Note the small shield and the metalplates on the shoulder. rings or plates of steel; often in one piece with it was ahood drawn over the head. In the left hand he carried ashield, sometimes three or four feet long and decorated CIVILIZATION IN THE THIRTEENTH CENTURY 163 as time went on witli his own coat of arms; in his righta spear with a tiny flag or pennant that indicated hisrank. At his side hung a sword. Great skill was r
The British nation a history / by George MWrong . Knioiit, Twelfth Century. Note tlie luige shield and tlieIons robe of chain armour. Knkmit, Knd of TiimTEENTii Century. Note the small shield and the metalplates on the shoulder. rings or plates of steel; often in one piece with it was ahood drawn over the head. In the left hand he carried ashield, sometimes three or four feet long and decorated CIVILIZATION IN THE THIRTEENTH CENTURY 163 as time went on witli his own coat of arms; in his righta spear with a tiny flag or pennant that indicated hisrank. At his side hung a sword. Great skill was requiredto manage his horse and at the same time to use spearund shield with effect. Of the rank and file the best. Cross-bowmanWITH HIS Shield on his Back. Archek with Long-bow and Sheaf The cross-bow proved much lessOF Arrows. effective than the long-bow. equipped had a short sleeveless tunic of leather or ofcloth, a steel cap, and a sword or spear, but we hear offighting men armed only with axes, scythes, or most formidable weapon of the Middle Ages was the long-bow—sometimes six feet in length,kng^^ Edward I made it the great national weapon, and incessant practice developed in its usersremarkable strength and skill. The bowmen shot asteel-pointed arrow which could penetrate four inchesof oak, and even plate armour; it is on record that anarrow pierced the mail shirt, the mail breeches, the thighand the wooden saddle of a rider, and sank^ deep into hishorses flank. To kill a horse with such a weapon was 164 THE BRITISH NATION comparatively easy. The fire of the long-bow was morerapid than that of the mnsket of u later time; it wasdeadly at a range of two hundred yards or more, andth
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, bookidbritishnatio, bookyear1910
