What did a medieval archer take on campaign?

[@mathewstoker2131]

Love your work Kevin. I run D&D (Dungeons & Dragons) fantasy roleplaying games for a small group of family and friends. I watch yours, the Modern History channel and some others to lend a little spark of "realism" to my campaigns and adventure stories. It aids with the suspension of disbelief and helps the players get a feel for the setting; of a world without all of our modern conveniences, like fridges, supermarkets, GPS and vehicular travel.

[@Vikingr4Jesus5919]

Yea I do the same for LOTRO!

[@Firebutton]

This is an awesome approach to DnD.

[@philhelm1318]

On a similar note, I've always thought that most adventurers wouldn't want the heaviest armor. When I was in Iraq we started out with flak vests but were later issued plated ballistic vests. I hated them since it was just more weight to carry. Aragon had it right - save the heavy armor for when he knew he was going into battle.

[@fireandiron4181]

@@philhelm1318 That's always been my thought. The more shit you bring, the more shit you have to carry. Especially back in the old days, only the rich had horses or wagons.

[@Redlady1917]

Not a great system for historical realism haha

[@SuperOtter13]

"I will pick that up later" is how I've lost a lot of tiny bits of kit.🙂 Great content sir, keep up the good work!

[@thehistorysquad]

Thanks! 👍

[@alancoe1002]

Only the archaeologists are grateful!

[@michaelusmc9322]

Having been in the infantry and known what it's like to live out of ones pack in the field, to me this is really fascinating. I know exactly how much thought each infantryman puts into his kit and seeing someone's equipment from the distant past really brings that person to life for me. Excellent presentation

[@thehistorysquad]

Cheers Michael. Semper Fidelis 👍🏻

[@moccus3466]

Kevin visited my school years ago, before retiring. Did an awesome presentation and demonstration of some firearms from the English civil war.

[@jakekharn9741]

It's interesting to see what a bow man would have carried, its not miles away from what a modern soldier would carry. Another fantastic video! Thank you Kevin and the team.

[@thehistorysquad]

That's right. Thanks for the visit 👍🏻

[@wolfgangholtzclaw2637]

Excellent Kevin, the things an Archer (soldier) carried. I too carried my little things in my butt pack (vietnam era) some coffee, some cocoa, some extra pieces of cardboard, and some soap and a razor for my face and a washcloth. In those days, pre kevlar, we washed our face in our helmet, before day light, shaved in the dark, and by day light were in chow line, getting our grub. In some ways all Armies alike, despite the centuries. God Bless you Kevin!

[@thehistorysquad]

Yes, that's for sure 👍🏻

[@mwillblade]

Gear has changed so much, that I don't even recognize sailor's uniforms anymore. I don't think they have butt packs anymore either. I think they use an M4 as the main rifle now.

[@captianpip450]

I heard the a marine in WW2 cook, shaved and went to the bathroom in His M2 helmet, but cleaned it after every use. Mr. Hicks you are respected in my home for all your service, plus grandma thinks you're a bit funny too.

[@wolfgangholtzclaw2637]

@@mwillblade A couple of years after I retired there was a nearby recruiting office... Those guys who years ago loved to see you have little time for us old salts. We might scare the troops. I was ex Airborne and he said, yeah yeah yeah... back when they had wooden parachutes. Got the message...now I am never going back... We old ones are just too hideous!!!

[@mwillblade]

@@wolfgangholtzclaw2637 Sounds like we were in during the good times. So different now for all branches.

[@charlieross4674]

What a grand way to talk about the horn cup bought by his wife. So grateful. Lovely to hear that

[@davidmuir7711]

Hello Kevin. I read somewhere that the training began young and was constant for the bowmen to develop the necessary strength to pull back those 150lb.+ draw bows. Long-dead long-bowmen can still be recognized by the way their scapula or shoulder bones. Wow, great video, very informative.

[@BraveAbandon]

Haha an archer all the way to the bone

[@46templar]

Your a lucky guy to be loved by so many friends Kevin and another wonderful nugget

[@CMacK1294]

Honestly, that ampule of soil from Agincourt gave me an idea for a minor magical item for Dungeons and Dragons. Nice little content. I always love the smaller details that get overlooked. The little trinkets and things people would have carried, and the superstitions around them. Makes for great inspiration for fantasy settings.

[@dripwooper]

Had these videos been around when I was a kid in school, it may very well have changed my career path. The way you tell stories from history is amazing and your passion for it is infectious. Thanks for making this channel!

[@thehistorysquad]

Wow, that's really kind, thank you. I'm glad you're enjoying the channel 👍🏻.

[@owenlindkvist5355]

I truly appreciate your efforts to educate us about the small, often overlook, yet still important details about history.

[@paulkehoe67]

hell of a drop off that cliff behind chepstow castle,, i remember taking my aunty up there about 10 yrs ago, she loved it... i was trying to imagine where the archers would place emselves,, it would have been a grand building back in its day & tbh it still is! it was a lovely day as i remember , just like today,, the weathers not so bad!!!

[@legus9684]

I gotta say, these medieval archer videos are really a treat, I absolutely love them.

[@jtc863]

“Grandad, what is that hanging around your neck?” “Soil from Agincourt.” “It smells.” “Hey, this soil is sacred. I’ll have you know I saved the King himself from a French knight that day!” “Really? Did you shoot him with your bow?” “No, slipped on my dung just as he went in for the kill. Fell flat on his arse so he did.” “Gross.” “Yes,” remarked the old yeoman fondly as he clutched the foul vial round his neck. “It was.”

[@Dryghtendanitsu]

Perfect! I am working on a novel where my main character, a prince, decides to tag allong with a group of scouts as they go to take a peek at a group of enemy scouts to see who they're dealing with. This will be very valuble for my work. Thanks!

[@jamesgodwin7894]

Hello from America! I’m a lover of history like yourself. Although I mostly research my countries history, it’s very fun and exciting to see all the rich history from across the pond! Can’t wait for the next video.

[@dawg7230]

"Ive always got a bow in waiting just to let you know that" is the most raw and brutal line id never thought id hear clicking on this vid, great vid, gangster archer

[@charlyvanbuuren2947]

Very informative! Though i'am from the Netherlands i have always been very interested in the hundred years war. And the eighties years war that we had to go thru here in the Netherlands and that was the birth of our nation...

[@kenbiemac337]

The insight on the items used by archers from medieval history is so cool. Thank you!

[@ThatKenpoGuy]

Absolutely love your work, Mr. Hicks! I just found your youtube channel after seeing various clips you have done over the years. As a former soldier, I really enjoy seeing what those who came before carried and why! I also perform stage combat so it also helps to keep costumes accurate!

[@Swagdonaldz]

your channel has been an absolute gem, i remember watching videos of you shooting longbows a few years ago and really got me interested in archery and got me shooting, seeing you make history videos now is just insane. thank you for everything!

[@thehistorysquad]

You're welcome, I'm glad you enjoy the content 👍🏻

[@als3022]

Loved seeing Momentos and talismans the archers kept on them. From those I have known who served that desire hasn't changed too much.

[@Quicks1lvr]

5,000 of these blokes at Agincourt. 48 arrows each. 240,000 arrows total. Absolutely boggles the mind when you think of it. Thanks again for the awesome video! Subbed as well.

[@patrickhell22]

As an American, I think it's super cool that you have an amulet with soil from the Agincourt battlefield. As a former soldier, I would love to do the same with the Gettysburg battlefield.

[@kiwifruit27]

Awesome stuff as usual and just a whisker away from 70k subs. Watching your subs increasing each video is almost as exciting as your videos. Thanks again for educating us all

[@thehistorysquad]

Yes, it's great seeing it grow so quickly, I'm glad everyone's enjoying the content. We've just passed the 70k mark now - YAY 😃

[@lazerbean]

After discovering reenactment in my teen years (15years ago) it’s been on my bucket list to take up archery as a hobby. My daughter is now old enough that I can leave her occasionally on the weekend to join my local medieval longbow group (the michelham bowman) at Michelham priory, sussex. I have found your video extremely helpful, and glad to learn what a tinder box is, as this was something one of my dungeons and dragons players found in our game the other day. Like a previous commenter, learning these things contributes to improving the DandD game also! Thank you

[@thehistorysquad]

My pleasure 👍

[@Buchertn]

I've been absolutely gorging myself on your channel since I found it. Thanks for making very entertaining historical content!

[@thehistorysquad]

You're welcome, I'm glad you enjoy it!

[@Lloyd-Johns]

Love the bit about the shorter rosary! Great video. Cheers from New Zealand!

[@leon.benedict]

Probably the only man who I believe when he says he IS Robin Hood. Happy to have found your channel, it's truly a treat.

[@thehistorysquad]

😉 thanks

[@eeeguba432]

This is really cool Including the "boring" Stuff. Its just neat to see a full kit

[@julianrudolph7434]

Dear Mr. Hicks Ive been with my Parents to Warwick Castle nearly 20 Years ago - and i remember quite dulm that there was an archer - and i was absolutely fascinated and started becoming interested in english and medieval history - anf now after all these years !! Im a grown man and find you again on youtube 🤩😍😍 its AMAZING !! KEEP UPNTHE GOOD WORK !!! Greetings from austria !

[@thehistorysquad]

Hi Julian, thanks so much!! I will do 👍🏻

[@Mithraschosen]

Amazing work, Kevin! Just ran across your channel and your quality is top-tier. Keep teaching history like this and this generation may turn around for the better!

[@thehistorysquad]

Thanks! Will do!

[@TimberwolfCY]

I'm really enjoying your down-to-earth, relatable accounts and descriptions. They're not technical, they're meaty and practical and passionate, and I love that. I hope you continue with the archery theme, it's been fascinating to see it from a layman's perspective rather than a modern or academic one! I hope you'll cover clothing next, I'm very curious about the jerkin/doublet you're wearing, along with the rest! Thank you!

[@thehistorysquad]

Thanks very much. I will be doing something on clothing in due course. 👍🏻

[@TimberwolfCY]

@@thehistorysquad Awesome! Thank you so much sir!

[@magnum8256]

Hey, I saw a video. It's you. You introduced the British longbow. Today, KZbin recommended this video to me. I found that you have your own channel. Thank God I found this channel. I like your accent. It's really cool

[@thehistorysquad]

Thanks, I'm glad you found it too 👍🏻

[@Chardonbois]

Fascinating Kevin. Thank you for sharing your knowledge in this brilliant living history lesson.

[@billk8579]

Really enjoy your videos. Shared the one about Prince Henry taking the arrow to his face and the surgeon’s skill. My daughter being a CRNA (nurse anesthetist) found it fascinating. Both my wife and daughter love the history of Britain. Thanks for sharing these.

[@thehistorysquad]

And thanks to you too Bill for sharing 👍🏻

[@EokaBeamer69]

Always a pleasure to listen to you. You pay great attention to the small details.

[@thehistorysquad]

I appreciate that!

[@alexmeanin8049]

Great! Your explanations are highly precise, I've spent number of time, playing bowman, in outdoor Tolkien games, lurkin' woods with my longbow, shooting, fighting, and battling... I'm amazed with your perfomance, keep doing!

[@thehistorysquad]

Cheers Alex, will do 👍🏻

[@peterreece6547]

Hi Kevin, another informative vid. Your comments on your bow and arrows, especially the bow becoming firewood when broken, it took me awhile to not become emotionally attached to my arrows. At the start of my time with bow and arrow I would lose the odd one in the undergrowth and as I got better at hitting the target and trying for smaller and smaller groups I started breaking them. Cheers young man and keep them videos coming. My bow nowhere near as long as yours, mine 68” recurve take down.Peter R.

[@thehistorysquad]

Thanks Peter, keep shooting 👍🏻

[@simeonstyche5232]

Hi Kevin, I've just today discovered your channel and I'm blown away by how accessible you make it and how fun it is! Keep up the good work man, and thank you for the fantastic content!

[@thehistorysquad]

Wow, thanks very much 👍🏻

[@ShinKyuubi]

I have a flint and steel set myself, though mine is more about my youth camping with my dad..and the cub scouts. I can't tell you how many times I've heard "Have at least 3 ways of starting a fire" so I have my own little leather bag of fire starters: some storm matches, a flint wheel and tender, a ferro rod, and a flint and steel set. I practice striking the flint and steel every once in awhile to make sure I can get a good spark..with the weather turning warmer and nights being nice now I might get around to making some char cloth and practice getting a fire going with it..flint and steel is one of the ones you really gotta practice with to make sure you can do it when you need it. My dad's idea of camping growing up when I would stay with him was old school, hike into the woods to a water source and set up camp near it.

[@DM-rock-n-roller]

Excellent segment! My new favorite among your many. Cheers, sir.

[@thehistorysquad]

Glad you enjoyed it 👍🏻

[@andrewrice2376]

Excellent as always, Kevin. Good to see that what I've gathered over the last few years to use as Archer's kit when I'm displaying them is all as per the same as yours, Sir! :)

[@thehistorysquad]

You have good taste 😜. Cheers Andrew 👍🏻

[@CrimsonCrux]

I remember seeing some vids of Kev demonstrating the poleaxe and falchion during the War of the Roses period a while back and how great they were in their authenticity. I happened on the channel randomly and have been hooked since. Excellent stuff.

[@thehistorysquad]

Thanks very much. Stay tuned for more 😉

[@deathdeathington]

"Look after your kit and your kit will look after you." ~ Words told to me by a Lofty Wise man.

[@florencewilkinson1152]

In my attempt (as part of a college art project) to build a fantasy world from the bottom up, i have come across many a source, but I must say that this video has aided massively in the creation of a believable medieval-era archer costume design and the passion behind your delivery did not go unseen. Thank you ever so much for sharing such fascinating and detailed knowledge - there is no doubt in my mind that I am the only one to appreciate it a lot.

[@mackataxe8655]

I think I've watched all of your stuff on KZbin. What a hidden gem of a channel. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge!

[@thehistorysquad]

You're very welcome!

[@grimdesaye6534]

Your Rig is Outstanding! Wish I had such nice items:) God Bless.

[@adamwilliams434]

I'm a medieval archer reenactor myself, I use a gamberson with a red and white woffenrock with a kettle helmet. It's common to use a shooting glove and a vambrace to prevent injury on our arm. Kevin you nailed most of the items they would commonly use. For all the Hollywood fans out there we never wear arrow quivers on our back, we wear upon our hip, I wear mine on the right because I'm right handed and use my left to position and shoot my arrows, its very common for us to use Bodkin arrows. Also thanks for Heart ♡ love your videos

[@thehistorysquad]

Cheers Adam!

[@reddithistoryarchive8563]

As always top notch content, you can always consult a book to get a idea of how a bowman of that time carried, but to see it in a video with a description for each is something else. As always continuing to support your channel, it's amazing! Please continue to make more

[@thehistorysquad]

Thanks so much for your support.... I will 👍🏻

[@arthurdoucette1786]

Greetings once again from nova Scotia, thanks for another great film, I very much enjoyed your insight into the day to day life of a medieval archers, arguably the the backbone of any kind of fighting force from the start, or at least since we graduated from throwing stones....I really enjoyed this video, and I look forward to the next chapter in the story, I love your passion for history, and the ability to teach about it, you are a BORN teacher. Thanks again and as always best regards, Arthur

[@thehistorysquad]

Thank you kindly Arthur 👍🏻

[@mikefricker3603]

Fascinating as usual. Thanks Kevin

[@BraveAbandon]

The hunting horn is super cool! I would absolutely love to hear about the different kinds of preparations for hunting and traditions and superstitions and prayers for the occasion!

[@DoomNedwob]

Hi Kevin, I love it when one of your films pops up when I'm sitting down for a sandwich 😊 I thought you were going to pull out the kitchen sink from your bag too! It seems to hold so much. Fascinating as always, thank you.

[@thehistorysquad]

LOL, thanks for the visit 👍🏻

[@ShamWowProphet]

Stumbled across to find your show Kevin. I love them! Both the content is so educational and also the delivery of the story. Pure gold Kevin! Im a subscriber and an addict! Lol!

[@thehistorysquad]

Wow, thanks Garrett, welcome to the channel, I hope you continue to enjoy the stories and history. I have a lot more coming down the line 👍🏻

[@OrthoJihadi]

Absolutely loved this Kevin! Way more in depth than I thought it would be… perfect!

[@thehistorysquad]

Cheers John, glad you enjoyed it 👍🏻

[@hellequingentlemanbastard9497]

I just started reading - again - Bernard Cornwells Grail-Quest Series about Archer Thomas of Hookton and I'll finish them off with Azincourt. It's great to see what personal objects an Archer carried besides the obvious, because these things are never shown in books, or at least I never came across one where they talked about it.

[@thehistorysquad]

LOL, and interesting thing for you is that Bernard and I met on a few occasions and he actually used me as some of his research material for the Grail Quest series. I love them, they're great reads 👍🏻

[@hellequingentlemanbastard9497]

@@thehistorysquad - Me too, I do love a book were the "hero" is not a knight in shining armour but a simple (or not so simple) Archer. Another series I really like is fromToby Clements the 4 part "Kingmaker" Series. And from Michael Jecks "The Vintener Trilogy".

[@thomasnuyts9725]

Bernard is a master in drawing you into the Agincourt Battle action, often had to force myself to breathe when reading the Agincourt volume. Many thanks to Bernard to have brought so much joy iwith medieval history during lockdown period. Wonder whether the archers were carrying some kind of fletchtite and spare points on them to mend their arrows, oh and some dices to kill the time, which is what war mostly was/ is: dreadful waiting...

[@ollikoskinen1]

I read Azincourt in high school - it is one of my favourite historical fiction books. I was almost the age as the main character.

[@TorTor323]

Really like your stories and videos! Can’t wait to see some more of the longbow man kit!

[@paulholloway1447]

Always enjoyed your talks ,demonstration at Warwick.

[@Cahirable]

Just regarding the restringing of crossbows, that's a bit of a myth we can blame the French for. A few medieval French chroniclers, who had no idea about crossbows, got it into their heads that the Genoese failed at Crécy because they couldn't unstring their crossbows in time and the strings became wet. This then got picked up in the 19th century and has become canon. Tellingly, French and Italian authors familiar with crossbows (eg: Villani and the anonymous author of the Cronique du Normandie) make no mention of the rain effecting the crossbowmen's performance and point to a lack of equipment, ammunition and being outnumbered by more than 3:1 as the reasons for their defeat. It's not actually that difficult to destring or restring a crossbow, you just need a bastard string, which goes on the outside of the limb. You just use your spanning device to pull the bastard string back into the nut, then string/destring the crossbow and use the spanning device to ease off the tension. It might not be as quick as with a longbow, but can be done in far less than a minute. There's even a medieval illumination showing both the bastard string and the crossbow cord together: manuscriptminiatures.com/4523/7233. Otherwise, fantastic video!

[@thehistorysquad]

Hi Hegrim, thanks for the visit and comment. Just a note, with my lightweight crossbow I can use a bastard string, but my own experience with my heavy crossbow it's just not possible. Although I imagine more experienced crossbowmen of the day would have an easier time than me.

[@Raldazzar2]

So, whilst I'm aware that this is the internet and anyone can say anything, so I suppose my question is, why did that become the prevailing theory? was it to save face? plain old ignorance? I'm just curious as to why something so seemingly small and minute in terms of details could've snowballed into such a huge myth. (Not super familiar with them, more of an archer, but had heard it myself!)

[@Cahirable]

@@thehistorysquad Good to know! I don't have any experience with windlass/cranequin crossbows and just assumed they'd be the same. In hindsight, the shorter draw length of steel crossbows might make a bastard string unusable as well.

[@Cahirable]

@@Raldazzar2 It's hard to know where Jean de Venette and the author of the Grandes Chroniques heard about it happening or why they chose it as an explanation, but the reason it became so prominent is that Froissart repeated it, and Froissart was for a very long time the ultimate medieval authority for both English and French scholars. Additionally, some uncommon but very valuable works like the Chronique Normandie weren't edited and published until the late 19th century, by which time the idea had become fully entrenched. I suspect that the detail in Venette of the archers putting their strings under their caps to keep them dry also appeared to be a detail from an eyewitness or someone in the know, even though Venette and Froissart say that it made the crossbow cords tighten rather than slacken. Other authors, like Payne-Gallwey, made the assumption that crossbow strings of the time weren't waxed and lent some credence to the theory, but we now know that crossbow strings of the time were waxed, so even long term immersion in water wouldn't be a serious issue for them.

[@jamesrichards9567]

So glad I discovered this channel!

[@hexitg9817]

Yesterday I found your channel. I binged most of your videos for 1 day. Keep it up

[@thehistorysquad]

Wow, thank you! I'm glad you found us too and look forward to sharing lots more videos with you 👍🏻

[@Smoshy16]

Kevin, another insightful bit! A couple of quick questions: Would almost all archers have carried the same things or did it come down to wealth? Would archers perceive other archers as better or worse than themselves (skill wise) by what they carried?

[@thehistorysquad]

Hi Smosh, from my understanding yes they would most likely have carried very similar things. However when it came to better bowmen, these were often household bowmen and would wear livery colours and carry better quality kit and equipment. So yes I think the perception would be there 👍🏻

[@ufc990]

It's a bit of both, when you break it down archers from vastly different cultures and time periods are still humans and require the same things to survive and fight effectively. So all would have carried some rations, some means of cooking them, clothing, shelter, weapons, etc. But the quality and type of things they'd take would indeed depend on status, culture, etc. For example the bottle Kevin showed here, or the differing kit displayed by various men at arms.

[@TheEvertw]

The kit of soldiers hasn't changed much, really. If you have to lug everything by foot for hundreds of miles, you take what is essential for survival, and that hasn't changed much since man first started fighting ;-)

[@predwin1998]

Others have already pointed out that it would be very similar with some differences largely based on wealth. Besides that there's obviously a difference between the essentials such as your bowl, cutlery, clothing and whatever you carry your water in, compared to the more miscelaneous trinkets which in this example included some superstitious items and a flute among other things. Clearly the latter category would have been more personalised than the former, and Kevin showed some common examples but naturally not every archer would have brought a flute. Perhaps another person might carry a dice set or some wood to carve as entertainment instead. Still, while the form it takes would differ per soldier, you can expect nearly every soldier would have brought something for entertainment and some (potentially useless) trinkets of sentimental and/or religious value to them, as shown in this film.

[@Sengrath2986]

They would definitely look down on crossbow men tho'.

[@katthompson3852]

Loved this! One of my favourites. I'm pinching something from here and making a leather arm guard with the inscription for my archery (recurve). Always wondered how flint worked 🙂 thank you. Brilliant!

[@thehistorysquad]

👍👍

[@alexsrandomcontent2703]

Dude this guy needs more subs more views more likes this content is awsome

[@thehistorysquad]

Thanks Alex!!

[@kirkmorrison6131]

I have a canteen made by me from horn. I cleaned it very well lined with pitch and plugged with beech on both ends and a cork at the top. Btw Mr Hicks you can use the notches on a glass cutter to sharpen your flints. It works wonderfully

[@thehistorysquad]

What a great tip, thanks 👍🏻

[@kirkmorrison6131]

@@thehistorysquad You're most welcome they leave the edge as sharp as a knife

[@JagerLange]

Great stuff for a Monday, thanks as always. I have a similar horn that I've had for years but have never mastered getting a decent sound from it. It's also about a foot long and as wide as a wine glass at the end and I worry about just how big this bull was that it came from... :P

[@macewindow4642]

Showed up in my recommended, never saw the channel before. Sometimes youtube gives a gift. Fantastic to learn what was used long ago. Plus if you ever find yourself hunting in season and you want to be quieter than using a rifle, this is kind of an example(of course i have never hunted but i have been camping. Minus the weapons, this is what you would bring mostly). Of course you would need a way of cooking such as a cast iron pot or skillet.

[@mitchel8522]

Very nice again kevin, these small trinkets give the individual a bit more character.

[@darrellpratt4479]

As usual amazing. Love the silver horn that was a gift.

[@thehistorysquad]

Me too 👍🏻. Thanks for the visit.

[@lanzknecht8599]

Thanks again for this interesting excursion in history! Did the troops cook given rations (like Roman Legionares ) or did they recieve their food already prepared?

[@thehistorysquad]

It was a little bit of both. 👍🏻

[@flak88gun]

I have heard that during Anglo-Saxon times each levy would bring a side of salted pork that when finished would be approximately the time he owed his lord. Approximately 90 days

[@RichWoods23]

@@flak88gun That implies that he had to carry forty pounds or more of meat with him. Seems a bit much. Even if lumped in with the baggage train it still wouldn't keep well, out on campaign in summer. Preserved meats were usually just eaten over winter, before people could start on the runts of the spring litters and there were enough animals around to hunt.

[@flak88gun]

@@RichWoods23 those are some off the reasons I prefenced with "I've heard". Perhaps just for winter if England was in danger or at a static defense construction project like a wall or Duke. Just something to look into.

[@RichWoods23]

@@flak88gun The fyrd would only be raised at times of war, though, and that means summer because it's the campaigning season: in winter the roads are impassable and the cold would quickly sap everyone's strength unless they could find proper shelter at least every other night. All the fighting normally takes place in May, June and July, because it's too wet in March and April, and everyone is needed in the fields and orchards for harvest in August and September. There are are a handful of campaigns known to have taken place in September and October, where the aggressor plans to grab all the grain stores and take and then occupy a town for winter, but for that they use professional soldiers, the huscarls, not the fyrd who are just extra mouths to feed. For the same reasons construction projects stop in winter, just like they can do even today (you can't get much done when your mortar freezes).

[@sergius4615]

Another fascinating ride in a time machine. Thank you Kevin!

[@thehistorysquad]

🤣 I've been out shooting the bow recently and have a special video coming soon 👍🏻

[@Ezra1499]

Thankyou for making these videos, I have learnt a lot from them. I quite enjoy your presenting style, it is like a conversation with your viewers. The voices you do and the personalisation of the objects make your videos a pleasure to watch. I also enjoy the human element of keeping the small mistakes (the coin dropping and your reaction put a smile on my face) and not letting things like that break your concentration on a good story. I do have to mention the time you did the gas mask video and you took the hood off but the nose clamp remained and you began talking in a strange nasal way, even surprising yourself. That had me laughing so much, all the while learning amazing new things. Cheers heaps mate, look forward to future videos.

[@thehistorysquad]

Wow, that's really kind Ezra, thank you!

[@davidc6510]

Another great short history film. Thanks for sharing!

[@TheChellowBowman]

These videos are great they're really handy as I myself want to be a bowmen so im looking for the kit and buying what can. Thank you Kevin always helpful.

[@thehistorysquad]

You're welcome 👍🏻

[@mbah8011]

Hi Kevin, I am always excited to see a new video from you. Thank you.

[@thehistorysquad]

My pleasure!

[@Qvik_]

Found this channel randomly, and I'm so glad I did.

[@thehistorysquad]

Cheers Mark, welcome 👍🏻

[@matthewtaylor4442]

I love your videos. Keep up the good work!

[@thehistorysquad]

Thanks, will do!

[@mindreaver9515]

It’s crazy seeing how many views you’re getting now as appose to last year, they’ve gone through the roof! So nice seeing someone who has such a passion for something get noticed more and more. Not to long ago I posted on one of Kevin’s videos, mentioning that I’d been feeling very low lately and so on, not only did he reply, but he also checked up on me months later to see how I was doing. Nothing but interest and respect for this man, viewer for life.

[@thehistorysquad]

Hey, thanks for your visit again and for your comment 👍🏻 I hope you're doing okay now.

[@FreeThinking850]

I’ve got quite a bit of English flint. I used to go to a beach where there’s loads. Love these videos.

[@foxenandfamily5060]

OH! The tune you played on your flute is one we play a lot at our Bristol Renaissance Faire in Wisconsin! We call it Nonesuch, and there are words to it. It's as familiar to me as the back of my hand. Also, of course, I knew you were Robin o' the Hood, but I've never told a soul, I swear.😊

[@JCOwens-zq6fd]

I find it quite interesting how a bowmans kit from so long ago is very very similar to what a slodier carries today. Though it was the humble archer that our modern soldier was modeled after.

[@RichWoods23]

Any similarity will be because the same basic problems needed to be solved: food, water, warmth, ammunition, etc.

[@TheMetalViking666]

i cannot simply believe how likable you are! great stuff, and can't believe i haven't found you before!

[@thehistorysquad]

Thanks very much, I'm glad you've found us now 👍🏻

[@lisaconner7609]

Very nice Kevin! I had to help make beaded rosarys at St Thomas Moore as a child, they sent them to the missionarys, ~memories😇Great vid, very informative!

[@monkeytherapycentre7364]

Great content as always!

[@maxwellbowden9961]

I'd love to have a beer with Kev. Very entertaining and informative

[@gilanbarona9814]

I enjoyed this, Sir. If we ever meet one day, I'd like to compare notes. I am an archer, but I shoot a horsebow with the thumb. I represent your counterpart from the opposite side of the world, and we have our own stuff with us. They are quite similar to what you carry in many ways.

[@thehistorysquad]

We would have lots to talk about, that's for sure 👍🏻 Thanks for the visit here.

[@johnherman1174]

That would be an interesting comparison for sure did horse archers ride their mounts continuously or only in battle? I’m sure that plays a huge part in how much and what they carried

[@blindarchershaunhenderson3769]

@@johnherman1174 it would depend on which horse archers you are talking about for instance Mongolian horse archers ride the horses into battle and faught from horseback shooting and harrying the enemy from a distance, but don't forget that many horse archery cultures also hunted on horseback it wasn't all about warfare, in comparison, English horse archers would ride into battle positions and then dismount to shoot, they could shoot from horseback but this was not preferable, and in England hunting on horseback was done with the spear or lance not so much with the bow, most of the differences between coaches came down to the train over which they fort and Hunted in northern Europe for instance most land was heavily wooded or arable, where as steppe tends to be, and still is vast open grasslands😎🏹🙏

[@gilanbarona9814]

@@johnherman1174 It depended on circumstances. Horse warriors in nomadic lands often also used their horses to herd cattle. The Mongol hordes went to war with livestock and whole communities on the hoof.

[@MZeki-gw2xg]

Do you reenact Turkic horsemen?

[@TheWasprevan]

I REALLY enjoy your videos, very informative, entertaining and engaging, great voice as well. If I had you back when I was in highschool as my teacher I'd of learned so much better.

[@michaelkrinsky3582]

I'm watching this and thinking of Bernard Cornwell's Thomas of Hookton when - Lo and behold! Who should turn up in the credits! I love Cornwell's books and characters, from Richard Sharpe to Uther of Bebbanburg. Thanks again for another interesting video, Kevin! :)

[@maximusstarblazer]

Something I am noticing is how each episode Kevin does had very little video editing involved (although I know some is obviously required) with the very few camera cuts. Superb presentations, that I believe are better than what you see on Television. Well done and really fun. Thanks sir for your channel and your talent!

[@thehistorysquad]

Thanks Maximus, I appreciate your comment. I do try to tell the story in as few takes as possible so as to reduce editing for my lovely wife. We don't use autocue either as it takes away from the natural storytelling, which is why I sometime read pieces of text 👍🏻

[@BinnyBongBaron_AoE]

I'm really enjoying these! Thanks to all involved :)

[@thehistorysquad]

....all the best people 😜

[@BinnyBongBaron_AoE]

@@thehistorysquad I'm inclined to concur! I loved the bit about the soil from Agincourt. 🫡

[@anthony99900]

Good to see the subscribers numbers going up. This guy deserves it

[@thehistorysquad]

Thanks Anthony 👍🏻

[@jaymac7203]

Such an interesting glimpse on what a bowman might carry with him back in the day 🧐🤔

[@BoristheBlade]

3:21 - what model radio mic did the medieval archer carry?

[@johnhorton9637]

Love your videos. Always learning something with some entertainment

[@farmdude2020]

Don't forget the healing potions, remedies, and elixirs for that level 99 boss. In all seriousness, great insight as always!

[@jerrysundin8425]

I really like this guy. Very nice all together!

[@of-Rivia]

Fantastic video, very informative! I saw this in my KZbin recommendations and had to check it out. I love history and watch many historical KZbin channels, so I will be sure to check out more of the videos here as well. Great stuff!

[@thehistorysquad]

Thank you & welcome aboard!

[@alanhoff2762]

Always enjoy your shows.