"Arbaletriers vont quarriaux prendre, A pointes agues et netes, Qui la furent _en trois charrettes_ Venues par mesire Oudart."--_Année_ 1303, p. 291.
The bows themselves, with other weapons and defences, were also carted after the host, and termed the "artillery" of the expedition:--
"Artillerie est le charroi Qui par duc, par comte ou par roi Ou par aucun seigneur de terre Est charchié (chargé) de quarriaux en guerre, D'arbaletes, de dars, de lances, Et de targes d'une semblance."--_Guiart_, an. 1304.
Notwithstanding the services rendered in the front of the battle by the cross-bowmen, and the other foot-troops; whose post was the more perilous from their being but slightly provided with defensive equipment; the knightly body of their own party made no scruple to ride them down whenever they stood in the way of the glory or ambition of the equestrian order. At Courtray in 1302, the French foot having gallantly repulsed the Flemings, Messire de Valepayelle cried to the Count of Artois,--
"Sire, cil vilain tant feront Que l'onneur en emporteront."--_Guiart_, pt. ii. v. 6132.
"Parmi les pietons se flatissent, Qu'a force de destriers entr'ouvrent: Des leurs meismes le champ queuvrent, Et merveilleux nombre en estraignent."
This is confirmed by the _Grandes Chroniques_: "Nos gens de pie savancent, si auront la victoire et nous ny aurons point d'onneur[280]." All our readers will remember the similar fate of the Genoese cross-bowmen at Cressy: "Or tôt, tuez toute cette ribaudaille, qui nous empêche la voie sans raison[281]."
The arbalester sometimes appears in heavy armour, as in our woodcuts, Nos. 49 and 50. And Matthew Paris has: "Arcubalistarii circiter sexaginta loricati[282]." The provision of quarrels for each cross-bowman of the communal force was fifty, as we learn from the charter of Theobald, count of Champagne in 1220: "Chascuns de la Commune de Vitré qui aura vaillant XX. livres, aura aubeleste en son ostel et quarriaux L." The office of "Master of the Arbalesters" became one of the chief dignities of the French army, and was conferred only on persons of the highest rank. Thibaut de Monleart held this charge under Saint Louis, and in the _Milice Françoise_ of Père Daniel will be found a complete list of the "Maîtres des Arbalêtriers de France" till the days of Francis I., when the office ceased[283]. The little window in city or castle wall, through which the bolts of the crossbow were discharged, was called _arbalestena_. For other pictures of the cross-bowman of the thirteenth century than those given in our woodcuts, Nos. 49 and 50, see Add. MS. 15,268, fol. 122, and Roy. MS. 20, D. 1, fol. 361^b.