'the armynge poyntis muste be made of fyne twyne suche as men make stryngis for crossbowes'

My questions-
-What is the 'fine twyne' made of? Hemp? Flax? Gut?
-Is there a difference between the material used for crossbow strings as compared to that used for longbow strings?

I seem to recall another mss. saying that longbow strings should be made of silk, but can't locate it.

Also, the Hastings goes on to say:

'they muste be wexid with cordeweneris coode'

Any idea what 'coode' could be? It clearly says they should be waxed with the substance, but what is it?

Any help appreciated, especially if it can be tracked back to a primary source.

Thanks!

The bowstrings of the Mary Rose bows are silk. See above thread. Gina's posting about 16 entries down on the first page.

quote:

---

I thought so too...
although, at Bosworth the other year, a couple of archers told me that the bow strings in the Mary Rose were red silk - they bought all of our stock. But that isbow strings, not cross bows...
Gina

---

Not sure about the "coode".

[ 07-09-2007: Message edited by: Fire Stryker ]

--------------------

He thinks that the "coode" is a beeswax and pitch mixture.

--------------------

Same for 'coode'. Anyone have access to the OED? May be in there.

A wax-like or taffy-like substance that shoemakers cere their threads with.

Post-medieval wax is understood to have been made from a mixture of pitch, rosin, and some oil, and generally has no natural wax in it, although some recipes do allow for some beeswax.

1. sb. Obs. Also Coode. Pitch, cobbler's wax.
1358 Ord. in Riley London Mem (1868) Code, rosin,, or other manner of refuse.
c1440 Wycliffe Ex. ii 3 (MS. Bodl. 277) She took a segge leep, and clemede it with coode
[1382 glewishe cley 1388 tar]
c1440 Promp. Parv. 85 Code, Sowters wex [H.P. coode]
c.1485 Digby Myst. (1882) ii, 103 Be-paynted with sowter's code.[OED 2d Ed.]
2. Thread wax. See Handwax and Shoemakers Wax.

--------------------

Lately, i've been wanting to make my own bow strings using a flemish braid at events. I have seen these made without a jig but can't find instructions that show how, only those using a jig. I don't feel comfortable using a jig as it nothing i have evidence for and know it can be done with tension and a large post alone. Does anyone have a link that shows this method please?? i'm a bit stuck.

Thanks everyone.

--------------------

I used my shed door for the last string I made.

--------------------

Dru

--------------------

That's the great thing about my job, I learn something new almost every day!

Did you know the frayed ends of a lace that get covered by the chape are called 'feasings'?

So much trivia, so little time....

quote:

---

Originally posted by Fire Stryker:
http://www.wolfeargent.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=7&t=000336

The bowstrings of the Mary Rose bows are silk. See above thread. Gina's posting about 16 entries down on the first page.

Not sure about the "coode".

[ 07-09-2007: Message edited by: Fire Stryker ]

---

Gina,

You don't happen to know where they got this gem of information from do you? I've never noticed any references to surviving strings from the Mary Rose ... bows, arrows (minus fletching but with some glue) bracers, even a horn nock ... but not strings. SO I'd be very interested.

To make a Flemish twist string without a string jig, you make all of the string pieces the same length and scrap some of the threads away. Start at the end, go in 1/2 inch and scrap with a sharp knife so a few pieces of thread are shaved off. The go to the 1 inch point, then 1 1/2 inch, etc. The length of the taper depends on the number of strands. When you're done, you should have a bundle that tapers nicely. Everything else is the same since the jig is just to make the bundles.

I don't know if the jig was used in period or not. It permits making strings quicker, but I think going without the jig results in a smoother taper and a better looking string.

As long as we're on the topic, does anyone know if longbow strings had loops at both ends, or just one end so it could be adjusted more readily?

quote:

---

Originally posted by Dave Key:
Gina,

You don't happen to know where they got this gem of information from do you? I've never noticed any references to surviving strings from the Mary Rose ... bows, arrows (minus fletching but with some glue) bracers, even a horn nock ... but not strings. SO I'd be very interested.

Cheers
Dave

---

That's soret of what I was saying. To my knowledge they have never found any bowstrings on the Mary Rose (in fact I ewent down there yesterday and that's what it says ... though the horn nock is nicely displayed with a big raspberry text to those who say they're not finished bows).
So .... where did the 'Bosworth archers' get their information from I wonder? ... which is why I asked in the first place.

I don't know from where the Bosworth archers got their information.

I do have a note that some time ago Elizabeth Wincott Heckett of the Dept of Archaeology at UC Cork said that one of the silk cords found in Viking age Dublin might have been a bowstring. I didn't follow this up as I was looking for other silk textiles and only noted the bowstring reference in passing. It might be worth following through, but it was only a tentative possibility in the piece I read.

Many thanks

quote:

---

Originally posted by Dave Key:
Alan,
...(in fact I ewent down there yesterday and that's what it says ... though the horn nock is nicely displayed with a big raspberry text to those who say they're not finished bows)...Cheers
Dave

---

Were stringers bound by a guild? I wonder, as this chap seems mightly suspicious of them.