old english longbow shooters - 2 finger draw?

[Stump Buster]

Just 2 quick historical questions...

I read here that the early english longbowmen would draw using two fingers.

1) Which two fingers?
2) Split or 2 under?

THANKS!!!

Stump

[TomMcDonald]

Split first 2 fingers

[Lucas K]

I argee with Tom. It ( the spilt two finger draw) is call the Flemish draw.

[Stump Buster]

Thanks Guys!!!

[TomMcDonald]

The French would cut those drawing fingers off any archers they captured.

[The Vanilla Gorilla]

I heard thats how the origin of "flipping the bird" came about. English archers would show their middle finger to French soldiers, as a way of saying, "You can't get me, sucka!"

Now days its used as a greeting!

[Grey Taylor]

"Pluck Yew"   on Snopes.

Guy