Re: Re: Shields

From: donald_at_...
Date: Mon, 06 Sep 2004 23:16:50 GMT

In message <fckpj058giv23be5alv7mdpm2loo9ki6r8_at_...> Stephen Tempest writes:
>bethexton_at_... writes:
>
>>I don't know....one of the features of heavy cavalry is that they can
>>trample almost any amount of light infantry usually....they charge
>>fast enough that the footmen can neither run away nor get in many
>>shots with melee weapons. [I assume you mean 'missile weapons']
>
>Nice theory. Shame for the French that it didn't work at Crecy or
>Agincourt...
>
>Although to be fair the longbowmen were interspersed with heavy
>infantry (dismounted English knights) and at the second battle also
>behind stake pallisades, so they did have more anti-cavalry protection
>than normal.

It's also misleading to think of English longbowmen as light infantry, they wore some armour and fought in close order. Add to that a careful selection of position to give a good field of fire and a rate of fire not equalled until the advent of the machine gun in the 19th century. Basically the charge was badly disrupted before the knights reached the archers.

>In Gloranthan terms, I'm guessing the Welsh longbowmen would follow
>the Grey Goose practice, with spirits such as Darken-the-sky,
>Fly-straight, Fly-fast, Fly-far, Strike-true...
>
>Let the grey geese fly!

And backed up with Hellerings to make sure the ground was muddy enough and Orlanthi to ensure the wind blows in their favour.

-- 
Donald Oddy
http://www.grove.demon.co.uk/