Keiva:
What is little known about the medieval battles between the English and the French is that the French were justifiably terrified of the efficacy of the crossbow. Shakespeare immortalized the battle of Agincourt in Hank 5. Most of the French army was wiped out with the loss of few if any Englishmen (and none of any account). See in this regard Kenneth Branagh's awesome film Henry V.
ANYWAY! The French feared the longbow so much they began to return captured bowmen minus the middle finger of the right hand, so they could no longer pluck the string on the bows, which were usually made of yew.
The English rank and file soon marched into battle with their middle fingers raised to show they were still a force to be reckoned with. Rather than a rebel yell, of course, they called out repeatedly, "Pluck yew, pluck yew, pleck yew."
I LOVE history, even when it's made up.
TEd
