[MR] History Squad: Agincourt Archers Shooting Speed

[Garth Groff and Sally Sanford]

Noble Friends,

Baroness Dolce dei Bracchi sent me a link to this History Squad video, here
presented on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mw1Npjb2fSk .

It is a very interesting piece, especially for the presenter's comments on
helms and other gear. As someone who has shot a period longbow in full
combat rig of gambezon and spangenhelm (at full weight, not a cheap
renfaire lightweight) in an SCA all-period shoot, I can appreciate the
presenter's comments. I still can't understand how archers wearing a kettle
helm could shoot without having the wide brim get in the way of the string.
But they did, if period illustrations are to be believed.

However shooting speed is IMHO not particularly relevant to the Battle of
Agincourt, or most other English archery battles.

Let us consider for a moment the number of arrows that were taken onto the
field at Agincourt. Based on surviving inventories quoted in various
modern sources, the general number was around 500,000 arrows for Henry's
medieval "Tour de France". Some arrows would have been expended during
skirmishes as Henry tried to get his army across the Seine. Henry had
roughly 5,000 archers at Agincourt. That means that each archer had at best
100 arrows available (delivered to the shooting line in bags of 24). So the
entire stock could have theoretically been exhausted in just five to ten
minutes of speed shooting by each man.

That the English archers did not run out of arrows until well into the
three-hour battle suggests their shooting was slower and more controlled.
The initial long-distance shots would probably have been delivered in
volleys of three or four a minute at targets called by archery captains.
When the enemy reached close range, the shooting was probably more
carefully aimed by individual archers at targets of opportunity. It was
incumbent on archers to make every shot count, since they knew there was
limited ammunition. Beyond what was in the baggage train, there would have
been no additional replacements.

Yours Aye,

Mungo Napier, Laird of Mallard Lodge  🦆
Continuing a crusade to keep the original Merry Rose relevant and in
business.