Main Discussion Area > English Warbow
data on the Mary Rose bows/arrows
bow-toxo:
--- Quote from: scattershot on August 22, 2008, 01:00:15 pm --- I'm still having trouble envisioning a medievel archer of fairly small stature (compared to today's man) drawing a 36" arrow "full to the barb", as they say, fom a 100 lb+ bow.
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The mediaeval archers of fairly tall stature [compared to today's man] were the ones preferred as recruits or royal guardsmen and they would be the most likely ones to shoot clothyard arrows. The illustration for "The Double armed Man" shows a draw to the chest, arrow at a 45 degree angle. If the archer is over 5'9", the arrow would be a clothyard, longer than the arrows in his quiver. There seem to be none on the Mary Rose although a fitting bow was there. Clearly, despite the mediaeval enthusiasm for clothyards, not everyone was shooting them. I won't try to guess how many were. One source said that at Agincourt, most shot a yard.
stevesjem:
Here is a paper that gives some interesting thoughts on medieval measurements and distances.
http://www.englishwarbow.com/old_english_distances.html
Cheers
Steve
majsnuff:
In the book "Engllish Longbowmen 1330-1515" by Clive Bartlett. Page 22, paragraph 3, of topic "The War Bow", describes the "Stave" as being "3 fingers thick and squared and 7' long. To be well got up, polished and without knots." The following paragraph states that; "Englishmen living in Ireland..... betwixt 60 and 16 in age, shall have an English warbow of his own length and one fistmele at the least between the nyckes"
A footnote on that page states that one bowyer, a "Richard Gallaway" could fashion a bow from the such a stave in 1-3/4 hours.
Obviously a much better bowyer than I. ;D
Hope this helps.
D. Tiller:
They also where not worried about the "prety-ness" of the bow when they where wipping them out.
bow-toxo:
--- Quote from: Yeomanbowman on August 22, 2008, 07:37:16 pm ---I believe the reference to clothyard shooting Cornish archers B.T. is paraphrasing is from the Cornish rebellion in 1497, which would make it roughly contemporary with the Mary Rose equipment. However, regardless of the standardisation of the clothyard the arrows found onboard were largely for a 30” draw length. I think it would be a mistake to assume medieval/Tudor archers were routinely shooting 36” arrows. The only modern warbow archer I know able to shoot arrows this long is about 6’6” tall. Not may of these to the pound, either now or then!
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I agree that clothyard arrows were not for everyone or for butt shooting at all. However it depends how you shoot it. Today's warbow archers seem to draw behind the ear. Mediaeval texts state that a long arrow shot in high arc is to be drawn to the breast, specifically the "right pap"[nipple]'. I am 5' 8" and my arrow length by mediaeval recipe is 31 1/2 " which I cut to 30. Drawing a clothyard to my breast leaves it a few inches short of the arrowhead. It needs someone taller.While no clothyard arrows were found on the MR, there was one bow of the right length to shoot them.
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