When Edward I launched his campaigns to subdue Wales in the 13th century, the crossbow was the recognised missile weapon of choice throughout Western Europe. However, from the outset, Edward augmented his meagre supply of crossbowmen with larger numbers of longbowmen. The crossbowmen were often largely made up of foreign mercenaries, whilst the longbowmen were mainly Welsh, with an increasing number of English. The crossbowmen were paid 3d per day, whereas other infantry, including the longbowmen were paid 2d. It is often argued by English authors that the longbow was a superior weapon. However, the superior esteem in which the crossbow was held by contemporaries is demonstrated by the crossbowmen’s higher pay.
‘…the longbow must always have a great advantage in rapidity of discharge over the arbalest (crossbow)1. This is usually held to be between 3 and 6 to one in the bow’s favour. So it might be assumed that more arrows than quarrels, per man, would be needed for a campaign. Additionally, longbow arrows at the time, were 8 for a penny. The same penny would only buy 3 crossbow bolts. Despite this difference in cost and apparent difference in requirement, at the outset of the 1277 campaign, the same 100 rounds per man were actually ordered. Nor was this arrangement changed as a result of experience in the field. In subsequent campaigns this parity was always maintained.
It is unsafe to draw the conclusion from this, that actual expenditure of ammunition, during a campaign for the longbow and crossbow was the same. For one thing our records for re-supply of ammunition during the campaign are incomplete. On the other hand the same provision seems to have been made year on year. So at least the inference must be there, that under campaign conditions, ammunition expenditure for longbows and crossbows was similar. This does not call into question the theoretical difference in rate of discharge between the two weapons. However it does suggest that under campaign conditions this difference was not an overall factor.
The comparative costs of longbow and crossbow is also interesting. In the 13th century, crossbows cost between 3s and 7s each, dependent on size and complexity. At the same time, longbows cost between 1s and 1/6d, dependent on quality of wood used.
It is usually claimed that the development of the longbow as the national weapon of the English was an object of Government policy. ‘He (Edward I) decided not to try to make efficient crossbowmen of the peasants…but to train his levies in… the techniques of longbow shooting.2 However, there is little direct evidence for this. Is it just possible that the adoption of the longbow over the crossbow was due simply to the parsimony of the peasantry/yeomanry, who had to choose and finance their own equipment ?
Footnotes.
1. Sir Charles Oman The Art of War in the Middle Ages Greenhill Books, 1991, orig 1898
2. Robert Hardy Longbow Patrick Stephens, 1976 & 1992
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