Woodlife Trails

A series of statutes passed in the 14th and 15th centuries banned a large number of field sports and other games in order to protect regular archery practice. Edward IV passed a law that every Engishman from the age of 16 to 60 should own a longbow (of his own height) and to practice every Sunday after church and on feast days. In 1542 an Act established that the minimum target distance for anyone over the age of 24 years was 220 yards (!) A trained archer could shoot 12 to 15 arrows per minute and hit a man-sized target at a minimum of 200 yards. All men from 16 to 60 had a duty to protect the country in time of crisis (the posse comitatus). The acts have never been repealed.

In a law case (Oxford police v. hales, quinn, fairclough et al.) the defendants had set up archery targets on the high street and were prosecuted. Their defence was that archery was a legal duty. The magistrates concurred and allowed their defence but fined each defendant 10 guineas plus costs for failing to wear their swords during the exercise.

It was with this ancient law in mind that a few stalwart archers from the Essex Bushcraft group, bravely mustered at midday on a private field in a bitterly cold northerly wind to practice shooting at 25 meters at a paper crow stuck on to some hay bales. They each had their Bushcraft knife at their sides.

Master archer John managed to group well, while Mark managed to hit the straw bale(once) with his 7ft home made Ash bow. Pablo, with his small hunter bow without sights, grouped badly but scored well finishing with an amazing kill shot from a kneeling position (try that with yer Long Bows ha ha).

A great few hours with lots of Bushcraft talk. It was great to meet JP from Bearclaw. What with him and Les from Wildcrafts, the December meet should be amazing.

How many of you broke the law today by not practicing? (Members of other countries exempted of course).

Pablo.