A archer spreadsheet. Ca 1450-1477.

I bought the book English Longbowman 1330-1515 by Cliver Bartlett almost ten years ago. In the middle of the book there’s two illustrations made by Gerry Embleton of the equipment of a household archer. At the beginning of my re-enactment career I looked carefully at the pictures and thought to myself: Wow, if I could get all these things it’s a real accomplishment and there’s

nothing more I need for my medieval archer. Now ten years later I can say I almost have it all, and some more I have added myself!

My picture describes the equipment of a junior officer of a small company in the years 1450-1477.

Missing in the picture is the writing-and the washing-kit.
The stuff I have added myself are: An English livery cote. Some extra garment (a pourpoint, a green jerkin and a watch-cote and a doublet in red livery colour). A straw-hat and one felt-hat. A leather costrel instead of the canteen in metal. A pair of wool socks. Three caltrops from at least the 18^th century.

A selection of medieval arrows I have made the last year(except the heads that I’ve bought from M.Stretton and H.Cole) . From the left: 1, 2. Two heavy bodkins on bob-tailed ash and birch shafts made for piercing plate.

3. A bodkin on a barrelled ash shaft made for piercing lighter armours and 4. a “towton” head on a tapered birch shaft.

5, 6 two E.W.B.S Livery arrows with “tudor” heads.

7, 8, 9. Two type 16 and one swept type 16. The first one is a lighter one on a barrelled aspen shaft, the two next have tapered shafts of birch and poplar.

10, 11, 12. Swallowtails. The first on is a real “horsekiller” with a heavy bob-tailed birch shaft. The other two are lighter hunting arrows with barrelled shafts of aspen and birch.

13, 14. Two light bodkins, the first with a tapered pine shaft and the second have a barrelled shaft of aspen.

15. A crescent shaped head for hunting birds on a barrelled ash shaft with a “bouncing ball” some four inches from the head. This will make the arrow bounce on water when shot close to the surface.

16. A roving head on a chested aspen shaft. This head will not burry itself deep in tree trunks or small game or “rot surfa” (disappear under the grass). A predecessor to the modern judo-head?

Just some of the equipment I have managed to make, buy, trade or “get hold of” over the years.

//Robin.