I am looking for information on when tassels, for cleaning arrows, were first used.

Can anyone provide a source for this information.

Thank you for any help you can give.

John Edgerton
Newark, California, USA

Hello John.
I think the best way to find any information is to look at contemporary pictures. I've had a very quick look in some of my books and until now I've come back to 1715.
It's a portrait of Archibald Burnet of Carlops, member of The Royal Company of Archers, painted 1715 by Richard Wait and it shows him with a bow and a tassel.
I found the portrait in Ian Hay's book: "The Royal Company of Archers" from 1951, but I will keep looking and maybe come back with some more.
Ole

Ole

Thank you. I thought it might be early 1700's, I had seen then in illustrations in mid 1700's.. What I am trying to find is any pre 1600 examples. I do not think I have seen any.

John

If I remember correctly, Roger Ascham in 1545 mentions no tassel, but a linen or woollen cloth to clean shafts - perhaps an indication that these wer not (yet) in use at his times?

Jan

That is right. Thanks for reminding me of that point, I had not remembered that.

John