A Conversation for The Battle of Agincourt, 1415
Two fingers to all that
Improbable Started conversation Jan 9, 2003
Does any body know the truth behind the following.
(Apologies to any American citizens who aren't familair with the british two finger salutation)
After the deployment of the longbow by the British (or Welsh, I don't really care) the French took to cutting off the the first two fingers of the right hand of any archers taken prisoner in order to make the pulling of a bow impossible.
As a response to this when the British archers faced the enemy in readiness for battle they would wave the two fingers at the French as an incitement or warning. From this the charming gesture became a general method of abuse indicating that the recipient of the gesture might like to go away.
Any informed responses
I hope this is true as it is one of lovely little historical quirks that are such a delight to sad people like me.
Two fingers to all that
luckyharribobaggins Posted Feb 18, 2008
unfrotunately not, check the QI website on the bbc or, the official one on le net, for the actual answer. the longbow story is just a well circulated myth
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Two fingers to all that
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