Fact or Fiction? - 40

Pictures from Google - free to use - search

Oh dear, it's been a while since my last Truth or Fiction, hasn't it? Here

The last story, about the demise of my first car, was partly true, part-fiction.

My car did become unusable because of Trev's heavy-handed 'mechanics' and the fact that it was left far too long. I did eventually sell it for £50, to a guy who was a Spitfire enthusiast, so it at least went to a good home.

The trees did get a trim, but we paid someone to do it. The car was not drastically injured during the removal of the trees.

---

Here's another Fact or Fiction, Truth or Dare tale from the deepest, darkest depths of my memories.

On Good Friday, Trev and I took our granddaughter to Leeds, to visit the Royal Armouries. There was a Jousting contest on and we thought it would be fun for her (and us).

A number of years ago, when I was still writing my first novel - Deadlier Than The Male - and researching the history of it all, we took our kids, @danielles and @storminatcup - no jousting, just lots of sharp and shiny things for them to look at.

We listened to one of the presentations for longbows - because it was relevant to my research - and the kids were as enthralled as Trev and I were.

After the talk, the guy stuck around in case anyone wanted to ask questions. I had lots of questions!

The number of arrows in the air at any one time at the battle of Agincourt could be as many as FOUR from one bowman. Think about that fact for a moment. From firing the first arrow up, rather than directly across, the next and the next and the next could be nocked and fired before the first had hit the ground (or the target) across the battlefield.

With hundreds of longbow archers all firing at once, the results were devastating. The longbow was a deadly and devastating innovation in the art of warfare.

One of my questions was this:

What would it sound like? - I mean, all those arrows in the air, swooshing across to the targets made a lot of swooshing noises in the films. I wondered how accurate that depiction was.

The answer:

Unless you were close enough to hear the twang of the bowstring or the thud of the arrow hitting the ground (that was a tactic, of course, all the arrows in the ground prevented the horses from moving freely about the battlefield) or the thud and scream of the arrow hitting a soft-target (horse or man), then it was silent death raining down.

Fascinating!

We had a good chat and people were standing about listening to my questions and his answers and even the discussion on why I was so interested.

"I'm writing a book," I said. "And part of the story may or may not involve the battle of Agincourt."

"Oh, very interesting," he said. "I have a crossbow in the back if you're interested to see that?"

Before I could nod, say 'Yes please!' or indicate that I'd love to, BOTH my dear children (butter wouldn't melt) put up their hands in a 'STOP' stance and shouted, "No! She's not allowed sharp things!"

Oh my life!

I didn't get to see that crossbow...

If it hadn't been for those pesky kids, I'd have gotten away with it!

So, truth or fiction? Tell me in the comments.