What about the Viking bows that have been recovered ? They were all longbow length. As someone who makes self bows I would say short self bows would be of hardly any use in warfare as they have too short of a power stroke. Other then composite bows I have not come across any short length bows that c...

I found it pretty good. He mixes up the names of things a couple of times but overall he has written a pretty authentic account of the campaign/battle.

No the weopons are not sharp but we do train in full armour to allow decent hits.

Thanks for the info guys.Yes LMS does focus on the 14th C and perticulary the era of the Black Prince however I have a interest in all the medieval period(like most people) and particulary the history of the English longbow and as such I am always reseaching the armours the archers had to contend wi...

What is the thoughts on when akertons appeared? Would the normans in 1066 have been wearing them or just a thick woolen tunic?

Would like to add that the average Mary Rose bow was longer on average than the viking ones and the average wieght about 120 ib(compared to sub 100 lb for norse bows)The vikings highly valued archery but never had the numbers to make it the weopon it became with the English(which is why we call them...

I think French refrences to the rough, home made looking doublets worn by some of the archers were actually describing jacks.If you look at most of the records of musters men were usually required to have at least an akerton/gamberson/jack as their armour.

What is the difference between the Wisby lamellar and a brigandine?

Thanks for your help mate, I think we'll go with the royal flag as the crowd will see it matches the princes surcote and it should look impressive

The most common form of armour for archers would have been jacks with some better off archers in maille or brigindines. Most of the archers are described as wearing simple steel caps so not sure what type of helmet this refers to.

Thanks cannonshots. So we dont need to make the royal standard(red&blue with lions&fleurs)just all black with white ostrich feathers ?

Can anyone tell me if the Prince of Wales battle standard/flag would have had the cadency marks the same as his surcote ?Have got a battle of Poitiers coming up soon and would appreciate any advice on this.

Where do the visors on sugarloafs fit in with this comparision ?

I think it would have worked in reverse as well with 2nd and 3rd sons of knights serving as archers,perhaps as vintinars and centinars and using it at a stepping stone to knighthood in regards to getting wealth and experiance.

I think there was a few cases of archers being knighted, Sir Robert Knolly and Sir John Hawkwoodcome to mind and I'm sure I've read of others.

Those tests and pics were fantastic! If you do more could you try some with hardend steel bodkins,would be very interesting to see how they compered to the soft iron ones as we know English arrows were often fitted with tempered steel heads.

Sorry, I should have said the gamberson in question was made in France

Read a reference to a gamberson in first half of 14thC being stuffed with 3 pounds of cotton.So I think cotton wool could be a way to go.

Ernst, your comment is very interesting as I thought liveries/uniforms came later then this date, but now I am wondering about that.We know white tunics/surcotes were worn by a lot of archers in the 15thc but were they wearing them earlier?

All I've been able to discover so far is that they were issued to a company of archers along with swords and daggers in 1295. So your'e probably close to the mark.

Can anyone tell me what blaunchecotes are ?

Need some advice on the material to use in making banners and standards,especially as one is going to be a banner of the Black Prince for a Poitiers re-enactment. What would be best?Linen,silk or would just cotton be Ok ?

In the case of the Black Prince I think he would have had trusted knights about him but as far as I know his personal guard refers to his household archers.The English had very few sergants as their archers were expected to do the same roles such as bodyguards, skirmishers,scouts,infantry and such.

Have thought a lot about archers and sucotes and think they must have been wearing them(or tunics)as most of them wore armour and were instructed to diplay the cross of Saint George.The proffesional ones at least.

I think your pretty much on track but the Welsh company your talking of were pretty much full time proffesionals in the employ of the English so their surcotes would have been pretty much the same as their English comrades.

I think most of the surcotes would be sort of in between the older looser below knee and the later tight fitting jupon, mid thigh and snug on the torso. The green and white was worn by his archers from Flint and Cheshire.His household archers would have worn surcotes based on his own colours but Ith...

Thanks for the replys guys.If troops were told to have the red cross on white livery, then they must be wearing something over their armour. Does this mean some kind of surcote ? We have all seen pics of red crosses on white akertons but I havent seen much of outer wear for non noble troops.

Can any one tell me if the red cross of Saint George was displayed on other colours such as green when worn on clothing as instructed by the Black Prince or must it be on a white background? Any help on this would be much appreciated.

Can anyone tell me which is the appropiate name for mid 14th cen, aventail or camail for use by an English knight.

Sorry.Hundred Years War and the free companies especially.

We know that wealthy Lords and Knights supplied livery, or at least badges to the archers and sergants in thier employ but what about household or poorer Knights that may be serving under thier command? Would these Knights still display thier own coat of arms or thier Lord's, or a combination of bot...

I also think the knight would win 8 or 9 times out of ten because of better armour and better weopons. The European weopons(mace,hammer,pollaxe,halberd and such) were designed to combat plate armour,also the Japanese bow would be pretty much ineffective against plate,they were no English longbow.