The Cross-doiv 133 



been said, the yew was largely planted by order of 

 Charles vii. in Normandy for the purpose of supply- 

 ing wood for the manufacture of cross-bows ; and 

 these continued in use in Enoland till the end of 

 the reign of Elizabeth ; but it is probable that the 

 use of yew was superseded at an early date by 

 that of steel, which had long been employed in 

 Italy. 



It is certain that the long-bow was a more 

 favourite weapon with the English, for the reasons 

 which are given by Demmin. 



The cross-bow, more difficult to bend, necessarily 

 took more time. The cross-bowman could only 

 shoot three bolts durino- the time in which a skilful 

 archer mioht discharofe from ten to twelve arrows. 

 Besides this, rain slackened the string of the cross- 

 bow, thereby taking away all strength ; but the 

 string of the long-bow was easily protected from 

 damp. The loss of the battle of Cre9y (1346) was 

 partly the result of this accident, for the French bow- 

 men could hardly make any return to the arrows of 

 the English archers; and in 1356, when, after the 

 defeat of Poictiers, the inferiority of the cross-bow 

 in this respect was again shown, bodies of French 

 archers were formed, who soon acquired so great 

 skill as to excite the envy of the nobles, by whom 

 they were dissolved.' 



' After the defeat at Poictiers, the inferiority of 

 the cross-bow was so evident, that in France corps 



