Weapons on the Mary Rose

 The Anthony Roll is a record of the armaments on board Henry VIII's navy. It offers a fascinating glimpse of the weapons on board his warship The Mary Rose. 

Anglo-Saxon Women

 Six years ago I made this video about Anglo-Saxon women 

H H Holmes

 H H Holmes was a serial killer. But many myths exist about him - probably the result of journalists making them up. This article seeks to debunk them. 

The Inquisition

 I wrote a brief history of the Inquisition 

The Royal George

 On 29 August 1782, the warship Royal George sank while anchored at Spithead off Portsmouth. More than 800 people died including about 300 wives and 60 children of the sailors who were visiting to say goodbye before the ship sailed.

Treaty of Nerchinsk

 On 27 August 1689, China and Russia signed the treaty of Nerchinsk. It was the first time China signed a treaty with a European country. 

Battle of Crecy

 On 26 August 1346, the English totally defeated the French at the Battle of Crecy. English longbowmen played a decisive part in the battle.

It's a popular myth that the two-finger gesture started because, in the Middle Ages, French soldiers cut two fingers off captured English archers (or threatened to do that) so they could no longer use a bow. So English archers waved two fingers at the French as a gesture of defiance.

It isn't true. The two-finger gesture was first recorded in 1901. It's thought it started in the 19th century but nobody is sure how or why. There is no evidence it has anything to do with archery. There is no evidence that the French ever cut two fingers off captured English archers or threatened to do that. Why would they? If the French captured an English archer wouldn't it be easier just to kill him?