this post was submitted on 02 Apr 2025
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What would the order (in the language of the day) have been, something as simple as “archers” or “archers, release”? “Release arrows?”
“Archers make ready” meaning they place the arrow in the bow but do draw, and possibly aim, might make sense.
No clue how accurate it is but I have heard some films use something like. Archers, Loose. In place as in let the bow string loose.
Nock, aim, loose
We might never know, but they probably didn't even do these commands anyway, it doesn't make sense when you think about it. There would likely have just be a command to begin the attack and then each archer would loose arrows repeatedly at any target they thought they could hit.
Archers weren't always on top of a wall. There might have been friendly infantry in front of them, and the archers firing above them into an advancing foe. You'd want someone who can see the range giving the order to 'loose' when the range was right, and then you'll want to make sure they stop shooting so they don't hit your own side. Can't have the archers firing at everything that moves all the time.
You can aim your own bow, don't need a spotter to range for you. I would assume it's situational, start/stop shooting while individual volley commands may have existed they wouldn't have been used as often.
It would be silly to make your fastest archers wait for the slowest ones.
I've heard release used in films so it is probably wrong too :P