On 14 Oct 2004 12:36:57 GMT,
JAXAshby wrote:
jim a crossbow of long ago would so easily go through metal armor of
the time at a distance of up to 30 feet, that a pope outlawed the use
of crossbows except against the infidels. the pope did not outlaw
longbows.


Finally, some accurate facts from you. But again, only half the story.

Yes, a bodkin point would penetrate mail at 30ft, and at 30 yards, and
some distance beyond. Yes, pope Innocent II declared the crossbow
"ateful to God and unfit for Christians." sometime in the 12th centyury.
What you seem to miss, is that he did so, because the crossbow leveled
the field wrt the armoured knight. Allowing any peasant to kill an
expensively trained and armoured knight.




--
Jim Richardson http://www.eskimo.com/~warlock
Ahhh... I see the ****-up fairy has visited us again.