The English and the Genoese Crossbowmen

King philip sent forth his elite genoese crossbowmen to soften up the english archers. A sudden, spectacular summer shower passed across the battlefield. The first volley of several thousand crossbow bolts fell short of the english lines. When they felt those arrows piercing their arms, their heads, their faces, the genoese, who had never met archers before, were thrown into confusion. Many threw down their crossbows. They began to fall back. King philip was enraged, although he only had himself to blame. He decided that it was time for the real fighting to start, which meant a cavalry charge. Kill all that rabble. They are only getting in our