The History Guy (a website worth getting lost on and a great source for links too) list five Anglo-French wars between 1066 and 1200.
http://www.historyguy.com/anglo_french.html
That first war in 1066 is what made the English royals quite French for a long time. That is until more recently when they became quite German. They fought with the French for quite a long time, and then more recently with the Germans.
As for what the common Englishman would do with things French, holes, & etc...
Perhaps the English aristocracy was of a different opinion?
But yes, this flintlock is undoubtedly a beautiful work of art. It may very well be considered one of the more magnificent works of art in the form of a firearm. But this firearm was made with swivels to accommodate a sling for carrying it in the field. And I'm a complete idiot when it comes to firearms forensics, but I thought I saw evidence of wear from use on the frizzen spring where the frizzen contacts it when the gun is discharged and on the frizzen itself too. Unfortunately the photographs are quite grainy (actually digital "noise") because I couldn't use the flash and had to set the ISO (formerly known as ASA) to its highest setting.