Let's say I'm a travelling merchant, with no looted life anywhere and generally living off of each day's profits as they were. All my wares are in the large baggage I carry on my back.
Now, encountering rain would hardly be ideal in such livelihood especially if my goods were vulnerable to water damage.
What would I have to protect myself and my goods from rain, pre-umbrella?
Seeking shelter certainly is a logical first step but I want to know what other methods people had of preparing for the rainy days.
Surprisingly enough, wool is relatively water resistant, especially when felted. Wool broadcloths were made into hooded cloaks and other types of outer garments (greatcoats, etc). You would stay dry underneath for quite some time even in heavy rains (I still use a cloak in lieu of an umbrella on windy, rainy days). Umbrellas (umbrilloes in early newspapers) come about in the late 18th century using waxed or oiled fabrics. Waterproofing fabrics is not new at this point. Painting canvas with oil paint or wax will achieve that. But, it makes the fabric heavy and stiff as well as prone to cracking if bent often (such as the top of a knapsack). A leather bag could also help keep goods dry.
Pacific Northwest native americans had excellent foul weather clothing made from cedar bark and spruce root, [the Makah] (http://www.webportalnet.com/society/culture/makah/faq/Q002.htm) Journals of Lewis and Clark noted that they were visited by [Clatsop] (http://lewisandclarkjournals.unl.edu/read/?_xmlsrc=lc.ronda.01.08.xml) people while stranded on the Washington side of the Collumbia river. Their own buckskin clothing being inadequate for a PNW winter, they were extremely impressed with the bark capes and hats used by their visitors.