I suppose that even with a 10 arrows per minute "test", we don't know enough of the particulars to accurately replicate such a test. We can try (emphasis on try with all possible humility involved) based on the limited information we do have to extrapolate such a test, but the results would doubtlessly be in some form of contention.
We don't know for certain what draw weight was used; it's not obvious. The Mary rose bows, our best evidence but still a hundred years removed from the period in question, vary considerably in draw weight, do they not? isn't it about 80-180 lbs, with the average being around 130? that's still a huge range. I personally think it varied considerably according to the archer's capabilities. I don't think all archers back then, even if they trained from early childhood, would have cared much about draw weights because this isn't something they measured with a modern scale. The archer's skill in delivering the results (relative accuracy at different ranges, and perhaps to a lesser degree rate of shooting) would have mattered more than the draw weight. A higher draw weight would have assisted in power and range, but not necessarily in speed of discharge. I suppose the question is, which is more important? Volume of arrows (rate of shooting), concentration of arrows (volley unity and accuracy) or the range and power you can send? (draw weights, et all) If an archer is more skilled at about 100 lbs. draw weight, he likely would have used a bow he was comfortable with than a 150 + heavy weight, and shot to the best of his ability. So in order to replicate a modern test, you'd need several archers shooting at different weights to try to get as much information as possible, and that would require getting a lot of archers together and for a long time. Time, accommodations, and probably a lot of money, to get the experts to participate in such a test.
We don't know for certain what arrows were used in tests back then and how much these arrows varied, though we can approximate and extrapolate based on what information we do have. So again, we'd have to shoot with a variety of arrows from each bow to get an idea of what might have delivered the best results. I suspect for a military archer, they would have used some sort of arrow intended for military use, but how standardized was this arrow? We could use the three types of arrows by EWBS standards and try them out, say 4 of each for each individual test.
And we are also not absolutely sure what kind of target was used. "Pricks" (I think that's Ascham's term for target butts? I could be wrong) perhaps would have been fairly simple to set up, and perhaps a 4" target may have been used, but I think this is unlikely at a very long range (due to the difficulty of hitting such a small target at anything greater than 50 yards/meters what have you). Still, challenge!
So, if we were to try to get a test together of this magnitude, it would be a big deal:
1. Several archers (I'd say 4-5 minimum) with a variety of bows (yew and meane wood) and draw weights likely available or average at the time (say, 90-150 lbs. or so). Each archer would have a different skill level, each bow would have different qualities. You'd then make a statistical analysis of the results, but for such results to be conclusive you have to repeat the test as many times as was humanly possible.
2. Have different ranges and different targets for the archers to shoot at: say a man-sized target or a targeted area at 200 meters (higher range can be achieved, but we're trying for accuracy and this would be a challenge enough) or so; 150 meters, 100 meters, 50 meters, and maybe 20, with the closer ranges (50 and 20) having smaller targets to aim at.
3. Have the archers try for accuracy at each target within a time limit for each (so, give them a minute or so with twelve arrows available, and they try to loose all of these arrows at each target). Naturally, due to the strenuousness of this task (and arguably nigh impossibility with heavier draw weights), there would need to be a considerable break of time between each test of range so that our testing archers do not get too tired.
4. summary: 4-5 archers with a range of draw weights and bow types against some form of target agreed upon; 12 arrows (4 of each different replica type) allowed within a minute at 200 meters (repeat a few times); 12 arrows allowed within a minute at 150 meters (repeat); 12 arrows allowed within a minute at 100 meters (repeat); 12 arrows allowed within a minute at 50 meters (repeat); and for fun, 12 arrows allowed within a minute at 20 meters.
Anyway, you all will probably agree that something like this (note: I am probably a little off on the numbers) would be an absolutely insanely challenging and expensive undertaking. And what would the results even say about historical archery? What would be the point? All we'd be doing is comparing a few modern archers' abilities based on the limited information we have and having fun with it by challenging ourselves, by seeing what we could do.
That said, something like the above would be insanely awesome to try and videotape, too. Maybe one day. . .
Anyway, hopefully a good translation of the latin text will provide a few clues to such a rate of shooting test, but I suspect it's probably vague or cursory information at best.
