Before I start, you will have to forgive my ignorance of medieval weaponry. What I know could be written on the head on a pin. But here goes anyway.
Most of us have seen the Tolkien films concerning Hobbits, Lords of Rings, orcs, elves, dragons and so on. And most of us will remember the dramatic scene when the dragon/fire-drake Smaug meets his end by being pierced by a very special black arrow. In the film, the bow from which the arrow is fired is an elaborate device called a “dwarvish wind lance” See here.
My medieval weaponry ignorance means I didn’t realise that similar such weapons were in use in England in the 14th century – maybe earlier, I don’t know.
My trusty Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary defines it as follows:
Spring.ald: a young man: stripling. <have any penniless young springald defy his parents to marry a green girl—J.H. Wheelwright>
Origin of SPRINGALD: probably from Middle England, a kind of catapult, from Middle French espringale, from Old French, from springuier to jump, dance, of Germani Origina; akin to Old High German springan to jump, spring. First known use 1501.
Hmm…well 1501 is definitely not the first known use. How do I know? Because I came upon a reference to these weapons called springalds from 1338, when Edward III’s London had to be defended from European invaders using the Thames. See here.
Among London’s other defences were wooden piles driven into the Thames, to force vessels to pass one by one, and everyone who had quays along the riverside had to construct pallisades wooden brattices. The latter were covered structures that protected the wharves, quays, steps and so on from enemy landings, and also from arrows on any vessels that did get through. All aldermen had to list every able-bodied householder who could handle a weapon
Springalds were also set up. For instance, One Simon Turgys, “with six men by day and twelve by night” was instructed to guard the postern by the Tower with one springald. Other sections of the Thames “from the Lion Turret to the Stonewharf by the Woolwharf, from the Stonewharf to the Bridge, from Ebbegate to Castle Baynard, and the Bridge itself, were defended by four springalds mounted on the new Tower (by the postern).
According to Wikipedia, a springald was a cratelike construction, not at all like the “dwarvish wind lance”. A Google Images search for springald produces all manner of weapons, from ordinary crossbows to cannon, from catapults to ballistas (which Merriam-Webster tells me is an ancient military engine often in the form of a crossbow for hurling large missiles). This, I confess, looks more like the dwarvish wind lance.
When I read of the 14th-century springald, Smaug’s end came to mind, but after looking at this site, I think the Wikipedia crate is closer to the mark for a springald. Oh well, maybe it’s not quite as dramatic as the Tolkien movie, but impressive enough. No Frenchman with warlike intentions was going to find London an easy target. And might just find himself being bull’s-eyed! So what did the sneaky enemy do? Why, they descended upon lesser coastal towns instead. The Kent shoreline was particularly badly hit. Not cricket, I know.
murreyandblue 