Constknee

I really like this painting by Graham Turner – one of the very best historical illustrators out there. Whatever your views about the effectiveness and the tactical advantages/disadvantages of long-range shooting, there inevitably comes the moment when a charging enemy is at your front door. This image captures an essence of that desperate few moments.Charging cavalry don’t just ride up to a line of archers and say ‘Ello, Ello', then turn for home. They wheel and spin and surge and they try to break through. That is when the archers must work fast. That is when the power of heavy bows really counts for targeted shots. That is when rate of shooting really matters and a moment for which stamina must be conserved. It requires constant repetitions of heavy shooting.My only tiny criticism of Graham’s beautiful painting is that the foreground archer is looking down to nock his arrow. Look up man, there’s an enemy bearing down on you. It is a pet peeve of mine that so many modern archers spend far too long looking down and fiddling, as if engaged in intricate crochet work, in order to put their arrow onto the string. On the battlefield, they would need to keep their eye on the foe and they would need to nock quickly. It is really quite easy with a little practice. Don’t look down.Oh, by the way – to day Oct25 is the anniversary of the Battle of Agincourt in 1415. ... See MoreSee Less

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