10-03-2005, 01:28 PM
Yes, there is a Roman account of this, and straw was a common filler in the padding of cheap linen armors/undergarments in the post Roman era. I mentioned earlier on this thread that this straw filling strongly suggested that it was uncommon to wash these garments. The straw would turn to mush, whereas felt padding would be largely unaffected by water save for its weight, which is why the idea of the waterproof leather covering garment was proposed by the DRB author, a historian recalling the "better" equipment of the "earlier" Romans. How early, we do not know, but I suspect the late first, and 2nd centuries AD when Roman was at its zenith of power.
