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a) English longbows of 14c are reletively really powerfull, |
Hard to say this, at least with any specifics. We have no English bows from this time period.
I am of an opinion that the "longbow" was brought to England by the Normans, but was not used in large numbers until the late 13th century.
I also believe the Bows used by the Normans were similar to the Viking bows that have been found - these are a bit shorter and a bit lower in draw weight than the Mary Rose Bows.
As to how these went from 6' bows with 100+ bows to 6'6" average length and 150 draw weights I am not sure.
Possibly the bows on the Mary Rose were a bit longer and heavier as that was an elite ship. The other longbow finds in England from this time period point to a shorter (6') and lighter draw bow. examples of this aqre the Flodden bow.
Possibly the longbow became longer and heavier sometime between 1000AD and 1545AD.
Without more evidence, it's hard to say. Would be nice to find a "Mary Rose" from the 14th century, and even the 11th Century.
ETA - thought this would be appropriate to add regarding illustrative evidence of short bows -
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Manuscript drawings and stone carvings invariably show archers using bows of almost their own height or larger which again suggests the use of longbows rather than shortbows. The Bayeux Tapestry is often quoted as a source to back up the argument for bows of the period being shortbows, however those doing so often do not look at all the information this work gives us. If the pictorial evidence of the tapestry is to be taken as truthful in any way, then some of the archers had longer bows than others and the longest bows, in proportion to their users, are longbows. In general the tapestry makers have taken great care to be accurate about the proportions of men and weapons, and men and horses. All the archers in the main panel appear to be using shortbows and this is the evidence that is often used to support the shortbow theory. However, this does not take into account the further 23 archers shown in the lower border. Of these archers most appear to be using longbows. There are currently two schools of thought to explain this; the first is that the Norman archers in the main picture are far better equipped than those in the border so it may be these are meant to be professional soldiers rather than the general levy. If this is so it is quite possible they are mercenary bowmen from eastern Europe, and these archers are known to have used horn and sinew shortbows. They are also known to have sometimes used their bows from horseback as one of them is shown doing towards the end of the tapestry. The other explanation is that the artist is drawing from eyewitness accounts where the fact that a bow is canted over in combat makes it appear shorter from a distance. Until we have more sources we cannot be certain. |
http://www.regia.org/SaxonArchery.htm