Thoughts required medievel Longbow

[crispy]

Hi everyone, I've had a friend query me about two illustrations in a book she has been reading (don't know the name of the book yet) and I thought I'd ask on here for any thoughts from anyone else as they'll probably differ from mine.


Q1. In this book, one of the characters shows another how to
wrap the extra bowstrings around their head under their hat to keep
them dry in the rain...she was wondering of the salt from their skin
when they perspired would degrade them...does anyone have any thoughts on this?

Q2. Secondly, another character - a fletcher - is teaching a boy to carry
his arrows with the feathers down, in other words, to turn the quiver
upside down when he isn't expecting to fight so when the rain gets
into the quiver it runs in the direction of the feathers...when he
expects to fight, turn the quiver rightside up so he can pull the
arrows out in position to place in the bow in a hurry, has anyone heard of this before?

Basically my thoughts are, Q1-- the strings would have to be under the hat for a long time before the salt would degrade them to become useless. But a downpour would render the string U/S til dry again?
But that made me think, forget the salt, if that archer is on the march just the perspiration would soak the string like in a downpour, surely is it much better than leaving it on the bow with a keeper?
Q2--This one's got me as there are two queries in my mind, what is a Fletcher doing in a battle, even though I'm sure they campaigned with the English armies? And secondly why carry the arrows upside down so the rain soaks the feathers.

Has anyone got any other thoughts on the two questions above?
I've not seen the illustrations my friend is on about and as yet I don't know what book she has been reading.

Thoughts/ideas much appreciated?

[Longbow_Gold]

I'm wondering about the 2nd question also, as I get the feeling that it may be because the 'nap' of the feathers, lean towards the nock end of the arrow, and so I imaging that it's merely a case of allowing the rain to keep the 'nap' in the fletches, so that it dosn't weaken the arrows flight ability, especially when natural turkey/goose feathers are being used.

This is merely a guess as I am not knowledgeable enough to really comment on why this would be and I would prefer someone more knowledgeable to mention why the arrows were placed upside down during the rain.

Willie

[gwynn]

Originally Posted by crispy

Q1. In this book, one of the characters shows another how to
wrap the extra bowstrings around their head under their hat to keep
them dry in the rain......SNIP
Q2. Secondly, - is teaching a boy to carry
his arrows with the feathers down, in other words, to turn the quiver
upside down when he isn't expecting to fight so when the rain gets
into the quiver it runs in the direction of the feathers

My thoughts....Q1, yeah sure, supposed to have happened but if you're on a battlefield you will be wearing a helmet, leather, metal, whatever, under which you'll be wearing a padded coif, so I would have thought it would have gone between helmet and coif - got to keep your spares somewhere.

Q2 - quivers were usually a bag laced up, so rain no problem. Often laced up both ends as, if you're using broadheads, you want to take them out point first, so they don't snag.

Many pictures show bowmen carrying arrows under the belt or laying them on the ground, some show the big wicker baskets which were also used as quivers. Personal preference I suppose - remember, you're only going to use this arrow once!

[crispy]

Hey, thanks guys, it seems so reasonable now, I knew there'd be REALLY intelligent people out there to help me. I wonder how many other people have read this and wondered? Wonder no more, that is until I come up with another mind boggling question. Once again, thanks to you both.
Regards, Lee

[gwynn]

hasn't scanned too well but gives you an idea of the wicker basket


Schilling chronicles
and ....