crusade of 1250 to the lack of crossbows. At Damietta a force of three hundred crossbows was used. Matthew Paris shows crossbowmen in illustrations from his manuscript and even states the distance between the English and Welsh in terms of 'a crossbow shot'. Feudal tenure was given to crossbowmen. From Mendlesham in Suffolk John de Cordebof held 'by serjanty of staying with his crossbow in the army for forty days at his own cost.' In the north William le Arbalester held four carucates by virtue of his outstanding crossbow service, forty days at his own cost and more at the kings, transporting revenue throughout the realm. Eventually a pattern of pay developed. The English archer was paid more than his Welsh counterpart, and the crossbowman was paid more than the ordinary archer. In battle, the Welsh king Edward I gave preference to his Gascon crossbowmen. On August 26, 1346, the English and French engaged at Crecy-in-Ponthieu. The English took up defensive positions on high ground. The carts and baggage were protected at the rear of the formation, and the three units of cavalry and heavy infantry were placed in an open v in front of the baggage. The archers were ordered in two companies, one on either side of the infantry, so as not to impede hand-to-hand combat. This allowed the archers to set up both long range fire and cross field cover. The French forces were larger but less organized. It is clear that the Genoese mercenary crossbowmen began the battle, advancing in ranks three deep, each rank firing, then pausing to reload as the next ranks advanced past. Each time they would stop to shoot, they would shout a halt, and the English would step forward and return fire. Normally, with the crossbows used at this time, the range advantage would have allowed the crossbowmen to force the confrontation. The English would either have had to attack or remain and be slowly decimated. However, the rains had caused the crossbow strings to stretc...
