In the distant past the village serfs who worked the land, were held in bondage by the Squire.

I n other words they were held in a form of slavery and not freemen able to roam at will and when called by the King, the landowners would rally their serfs to fight for the Kings Colours.

During the week the Serfs worked the land for the Squire for six days with Sunday the Sabbath being a day of rest.

After the morning church service, the men would assemble in a field by the Squires hall and practice with the sword, musket, pike & long Bow so as to to be ready to fight the enemy of the King.

After much battling and target practice the serfs were rewarded with the Kings payment.

This came in kind with several mugs of ale at the Tavern for followed by a feast of oxen roasted upon the spit.

This was how the traditional Sunday Roast which the British still enjoy originated.

This training was carried out in earnest by men fit as an Ox and the secret weapon of the day was the Welsh Long Bow.

The welsh bow was m uch larger than the normal long bow and required much effort to draw fully.

It was not a weapon for an old man, at full draw it had enough power to shoot an arrow through armour, being feared by all warriors in combat.

At the battle of Agincourt the Kings Army was lined up for combat with the French, they King had one advantage in that the British had scores of Archers all equipped with Welsh Longbows.

The normal French bowmen could achieve a range of 400 to 500 yards, but the English Archers with Longbows at full draw could reach 800 yards.

A s a result they the French were decimated without the English even coming into range.

Victory for England was total.