AW: Re: AW: Re: Bow

[Jens Börner]

Hi,

I really doubt a medieval army on the march relied on bowmen to have =
their
bows ready for being strung to defend against suddenly attacking =
enemies. I
have never seen a hint for that. Especially when the hundred years war =
or
the burgundian wars are concerned. An army on the march would, like =
ernst
mentioned, had have riders ready for scouting the eviroment, in that =
case
even mounted archers. And if such an army would readdy had been =
surprised, I
really doubt the archers would had made the difference, since using them
without formation in larger numbers would had drawn them nearly useless. =


So there are several questions which may help us there:
A.) were bows generally the personmal equpiment of the troups, or were =
they
given out in greater numbers, just like darts
B.) are there text sources describing the battle preparations

with kind regards,
Jens B=F6rner
Diu Minnez=EEt
Reconstrution of german and french daily and military live, clothing and
household equipment in the high and late middle ages
http://www.diu-minnezit.de