Main Discussion Area > English Warbow
data on the Mary Rose bows/arrows
outcaste:
--- Quote from: bow-toxo on October 29, 2008, 12:04:44 am ---
--- 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!
--- End quote ---
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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Hi,
I think there are some biomechanical issues that should be looked at when drawing to the chest. You are certainly at a mechanical disadvantage and I would therefore suggest that though not impossible, a lighter bow would have to be employed. When shooting heavy bows the body suffers from quite large compressive forces, reducing draw length. Also it is my understanding that the measurement of a Yard was not a standard lenth until after the MR. Could this suggest that a yard arrow might well be anywhere between 30-36 ins?
Just a thought,
Alistair
bow-toxo:
--- Quote from: majsnuff on October 28, 2008, 10:37:52 am ---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.
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Staves of that description were ordered. By mediaeval standards they were of a length to make bows long enough to shoot clothyard arrows. The second quote is from a directive of Fdward IV and the bow length is the same as when measured by another recipe. That is the length for a longbow to shoot the normal arrows just long enough to be drawn to the ear. That is the way I make my longbows. you are getting the real info.
adb:
Hi,
Hugh Soar's book... "Secrets of the Warbow" has some detailed measurements of a couple of mary rose warbows... length, circumfurances, width, depth, etc.
stevesjem:
A Clotrhyard measurement comes from the measuring stick used to measure cloth, his was supposed to be 3 feet + 1Inch or (Ynce), however don't be led to believe that 3 feet was 36" because back then the measurement for feet or "Natural feet" as it was knows was actually only 9.9" in modern Inches, so a Clothyard would be:
3 x 9.9" + 1" = 30.7", funnily enough 30.5" is the most common length of arrow found on the MR, hense this is the reason that the EWBS chose this length of arrow as the minimum spec arrow for our "Livery Arrow" .
The arrow measurements I quote are not from a book, these come from actual measurements made by me at the MR.
Hope this helps.
Steve
stevesjem:
--- Quote from: bow-toxo on October 29, 2008, 12:04:44 am ---
While no clothyard arrows were found on the MR, there was one bow of the right length to shoot them.
--- End quote ---
Could you please explain this statement, I have seen and handled pretty much all of the bows and would be very interested to know where you got that bit of info from.
Cheers
Steve
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