| Bill (weapon) |
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One advantage that it had over other polearms was that while it had the stopping power of a spear and the power of an axe, it also had the addition of a pronounced hook. If the sheer power of a swing did not fell the horse or its rider, the bills hooks were excellent at finding a chink in the plate armour of cavalrymen at the time, dragging the unlucky horseman off his mount to be finished off with either a sword or the bill itself. These characteristics also made it effective against heavily armoured infantry, dragging them into the melee or exploiting the weak points in their armour. During the 16th Century when most European states were adopting the Pike and Arquebus , the English preferred to stick with the tried and tested combination of bill and English Longbow that had been so successful during the Hundred Years' War , the Wars Of The Roses and in constant conflicts with the Scots . Even in the Elizabethan period bills were still common with levies sent to fight the Scots. |
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