How to Shoot the Longbow by Soar Hugh D. H.;Spears Lorén;

Author:Soar, Hugh D. H.;Spears, Lorén; [Soar, Hugh D. H.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Westholme Publishing

Twenty-four bracers were recovered from the warship and of these twenty-one are more or less whole; the remaining three are fragmentary and include one of horn. With the exception of one of ivory, the complete ones are all of leather, mostly bovine.

A bracer or arm-guard probably remained with an archer during his whole shooting life, and any decoration present might reveal something of his personality, or his affiliation. Thus, religious symbolism in the form of a crucifixion appears on one and Marion aves on two others. Association with a guild is suggested by at least one, where a grid-iron symbol of the Girdlers Company is stamped. St Peter’s keys—symbol of Exeter Cathedral—may indicate the origin of the owner, while at least two, and possibly others have royal insignia. The rose appears on several, suggestive of the Tudor emblem, or even personalized association with the ship.

Of particular interest is an ivory example, a fine and unique piece which was found attached to a right forearm. The bracer was however small, as was its wearer. If the owner were indeed an archer then this would indicate left-handedness—not a welcome characteristic at any time, and especially so on board ship. The circumstance is a little perplexing.

And so, with an unsolved Tudor puzzle behind us we will slip forward into the seventeenth century and, sadly, to a dearth of equipment for study.

The glut of sixteenth-century archery material available for study leaves us ill-prepared for the paucity that is to follow. For although recreational archery thrived, at least for a time, through the support and personal interest of King Charles II and the activity of the Society of Finsbury Archers—just one item of consequence remains to intrigue. This, the Renishaw Hall bow, whose early history is largely undocumented and which was known for many years as “Robin Hood’s Bow,” we will now consider; and we will draw upon a monograph prepared for the Society of Archer Antiquaries in 2011 by member Michael Leach.12

The bow is laminated and consists of a yew belly, a back believed to be hickory and a core laminate that may be of wych elm. The tips are damaged and there are no stringing horns, although there is evidence for cone shaped ends that, undamaged, could have accommodated them. The length now is 68 inches, suggesting an original length of 70 inches. There is evidence for scarfing of the core laminate, a feature of some later, eighteenth century bows; however the weapon is known to have been damaged when dropped in 1949 and this may reflect repair work then.

Of particular interest is the presence of a number of small indents forming a “steeple” pattern on the upper limb by the arrow pass. These show similarity with bowyers marks previously noted on sixteenth century bows where they seem to indicate the upper limb and also perhaps identify the maker; their presence on the Renishaw bow may thus be the mark of a Yorkshire bow maker. In addition, the back of each limb has

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