Games and pastimes (Optional)
Applicants must show proficiency in, and ability to teach, one indoor and one outdoor game appropriate to their persona. Suggested indoor games of choice will be chest, and the outdoor game will be the bow and stable hunt. Other games are included here, and the fencing rules are included and to be used as a survival skill. Christiana Elizabeth is carded in Rapier, and also holds a junior tan card.
Elizabethan Games
Elizabethan Board Games
The Game of Chess
For the purpose of the game chess to be played by Christiana, (Golden Swan), she will be using her own man, and a 64 checker square board also provide by her. The rules will be from the game orthodox chess (orthochess). Popularized during the Italian Renaissance. The game is played on an 8x8 checkerboard with a King, a Queen, 2 Rocks, 2 Bishops, 2 knights and 8 pawns per side and is play by two people.
Origin of Chess (History of chess)
Throughout early history there were many different types of chess been played. I will briefly cover some of these till I reach the game that Christiana will be playing which will be cover in further detail. The origin of chess was an invention been variously ascribed to the Greeks, Romans, Babylonians, Scythians, Egyptians, Jews, Persians, Chinese, Hindus, Arabians, Araucanians, Castillians, Irish and Welsh. Some even tried to fix upon particular individuals as the originators of the game.
It is assumed that the welsh recreation of tawlbwrdd (throw board) and the ancient Irish pastime of fithcheall are assumed to be identical with chess; the contrary can also be proved, while little is known of the Irish fithcheall it appears not to be a sedentary game at all. The dimness, which shrouds the origin of chess in early and medieval times, crossed over from India into Persia and came known to that country shatranj. Some believe the word to mean “the play of the king”; but undoubltly “Sir William Jone’s” derivation carries with it the most plausibility. How the game was introduced to Persia, there is no means of knowing. In the time of Khosrau I Anushirvan (539-579), an ambassador from the sovereign of Hind (India) carried a chessboard and chessmen, asking him to solve the secrets of the game, if he could, or pay tribute. The king asked for seven days of grace, during which time the wise men vainly tried to discover the secrete. Finally the king’s minister took the pieces home and discovered the secret in a day and a night. He than journeyed to India with the game of his invention, nard that the Indians could not reconstruct.
Other Persians and Arabian writers state that shatranji came into Persia from India, and there appears to be consensus to be considered to settle this question. The game passed from the Hindus to the Persians and thence to the Arabs and from there, directly or indirectly to Europe sometime around the 10th century. The Spaniards very likely received it from a Muslin conquerors, the Italians not improbably from the Byzantines, and in either case it would pass northward to France, going on thence to Scandinavia and England. Some say that chess was introduced during the crusades, and the theory being that the Christian warriors learned to play it at Constantinople. St. Peter Damian (Pietro Damiani), cardinal bishop of Ostia, to Pope Alexander II (1061 written, assuming its authenticity, shown chess was known in Italy before the Crusades.
Concerning chess in England it was reported suspiciously early around 1035. As regards the individual pieces, the king seems to have had the same moves as at present, but it is said that he could formerly be captured. The kings castling privilege is a European invention: but he formerly leaped two and even three squares, and also to his Kt2. Casting dates no further back than the first half of the 16th century. The queen however has suffered curious changes in name, sex and power. In shatranji the piece was called farz or firs signifying a counselor, minister or general. This was Latin zed into farzia or fercia. The French slightly altered the latter form into fierce, fierge and as some say viege (virgin) which, if true, might explain it becoming a female. The pawn on reaching the eight square became a farzin and not any other piece, which promotion was of the same kind as at draughts (in French, dames), so she became a dame or are old Latin manuscripts in which the terms ferzia and regina are used indifferently.
The queen formerly moved only one square diagonally and was consequently the weakest piece on the board. The immense power now possessed by her seems to have conferred as late as about the middle of the 15th century, thus the old system the queens could never meet each other, for they operated on diagonals of different colors. The bishop’s scope of action was also formerly very limited, as he could move only two squares diagonally and had no power over the intermediate square, which he could leap over whether it was occupied or not. This limitation of the bishop’s powers prevailed in Europe until the 15th century. This piece was called among the Persians pil “elephant,” but the Arabs, not having the letter p in their alphabet wrote it as fil, or with their definite article al-fil, whence alphilus, alfinus, alifere, the latter being the word used by the Italians, while the French perhaps get their fol and fou from the same source. The pawns formerly could move one square at starting: their powers in this respect were increased about the early part of the 16th century. It was customary for them on arriving at an eighth square to be exchanged only for a farzin (queen) no other piece. The rooks (called by the Indians rukh and the Persians rokh, meaning a soldier and the knights appear to have always had the same powers as at present. As to the chessboards, they were uncolored and it was not until the 13th century that the checkered boards were used in Europe.
The change of shatranj into the modern chess took place probably first in France and than Spain in the early 15th century where the new game called Axedrex de la daman being also adopted by the Italians under the name of scacci alla rabiosa. The time of the first important writer on modern chess, the Spaniard Ruy Lopez de Sigura (1561) is also the period when the latest improvements castling, was introduced for his book “Libro de la invencion liberal y arte del luego de Axedrez (Book of the Liberal Invention Art of Playing Chess), though treating of it as already in use also gives the old mode of play, which allowed the king a leap of two or three squares. Shortly afterward the old shatranj disappeared altogether. Lopez was the first who merits the name of chess analyst, and at this time the Spanish and Italian schools of chess flourished – the former represented by Ruy Lopez, Alfonso Ceronm Santa Maria, Busnardo, and Carlos Avalos the latter by Giovanni Leonardo da Cutri and Paolo Boi. In the years 1562-75 both Italian masters visted Spain and defeated their Spanish antagonists.
Notes of Changes of the chessmen moves:
· Viceroy to Queen: The French made changes in the middle of the 15th century to had the viceroy change to the queen, which gave her unlimited moves in any direction
· Bishop: Before the 15th century the bishop could move two squares diagonally in any direction, and it could jump over any piece on the first square it move.
· Pawn: In the early 16th century pawn promoting allowing the pawn upon reaching the eighth rank, can be promoted to any other higher piece. Originally the pawns could only move one square at a time, even on the first move. Their function was to form a front line, as a result a pawn became relatively unless if it advanced to far into enemy territory, but with the introduction of pawn promotion, this brought about the two-move rule. Sometimes when a pawn uses the two moves to pass an opposing pawn, avoiding the necessary opposition, the en passant rule was introduced.
· King: Seems to have always moved the same as at present, except that the game used to be played until he was actually captured. Because of the king’s vulnerability due to the queen’s new powers, several methods pf castling were tried before the 16th century. One method was to allow the king to move two or three squares on its initial move. Another method was to allow the king to move directly to King’s Knight two. The present castling was introduced by a priest named Ruy Lopex in the mid 16th century (1561)
· Chessboard: Squares on the chessboard were all the same color till the 13th century.
Rules of Orthodox Chess (To be played by Christiana)
Chess is a game played by two players, one player playing with white the other black. At the start of the game each player has 16 pieces, which is one king, one queen, 2 bishops, 2 knights, 2 rooks, and 8 pawns. The game is played on a chessboard of 64 squares that are alternately light and dark, composed of 8 rolls and 8 columns. The board must be laid down as such that there is a black square in the lower left corner. To facilitate notation of moves, all squares are given a name. From the view of the white player, the rows are number 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8; the lowest row has number 1, and the upper rows has number 8. The columns are named from left to right a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h. A square gets name, consisting of the combination of it column letter and row-number. I.e. the square in the lower left corner (for white) is a1
A8 B8 C8 D8 E8 F8 G8 H8
A7 B7 C7 D7 E7 F7 G7 H7
A6 B6 C6 D6 E6 F6 G6 H6
A5 B5 C5 D5 E5 F5 G5 H5
A4 B4 C4 D4 E4 F4 G4 H4
A3 B3 C3 D3 E3 F3 G3 H3
A2 B2 C2 D2 E2 F2 G2 H2
A1 B1 C1 D1 E1 F1 G1 H1
Note: That all rules for this game will use this format for easier understanding.
The player with the white pieces makes the first move. A move consist pf moving one of the pieces, by the rules of movement for that piece, however there is one special exception, name castling, where a player can move two pieces simultaneously. The player can take a piece of the opponent by moving one of his own pieces to the square that contains a piece of the opponent. The opponent’s piece is them removed from the board, and out of play for the rest of the game; taking is not a compulsory.
At the start of the game, the position of the pieces is as follows
A B C D E F G H
Rook Knight Bishop Queen King Bishop Knight Rook Row 8
Pawn Pawn Pawn Pawn Pawn Pawn Pawn Pawn Row 7
Row 6
Row 5
Row 4
Row 3
Pawn Pawn Pawn Pawn Pawn Pawn Pawn Pawn Row 2
Rook Knight Bishop Queen King Bishop Knight Rook Row 1
Rows 8 & 7 Black; Row 2 & 1 White.
Rook Knight Bishop Queen King Bishop Knight Rook Row 8
Pawn Pawn Pawn Pawn Pawn Pawn Pawn Pawn Row 7
Row 6
Row 5
Row 4
Row 3
Pawn Pawn Pawn Pawn Pawn Pawn Pawn Pawn Row 2
Rook Knight Bishop Queen King Bishop Knight Rook Row 1
Rows 8 & 7 Black; Row 2 & 1 White.
At the seventh row there are 8 black pawns, and at second row there are eight white pawns. On the first role starting left to right we have a rook, knight, bishop, queen, king, bishop, knight, and a rook. The queen are on their own color square with the dark square in each players left hand corner.
Chessmen’s moves and pieces:
Rook: The rook moves in a straight line, horizontally or vertically; a rook cannot jump over other pieces, which means all squares between where the rook starts its move and where the rook ends its move must be empty. As for all pieces , when the square where the rook ends his move contains a piece of the opponent, then the piece is taken. The square where a rook ends its move may not contain a piece of the player owning the rook.
Bishop: The bishop moves in a straight diagonal line, and cannot jump over other pieces. It must stay to its own color square, however it can take an opponent piece where the bishop ends its move. It cannot end its move on a piece of the owner of the bishop.
Queen: The Queen has the combined moves of a rook and bishop, therefore the queen may move in any straight line horizontal, vertical, or diagonal.
Knight: The knight makes its move that consist of first one step in a horizontal or vertical direction, and then one step diagonally in an outward direction. The knight jumps; it is allowed that the first square that the knight passes over is occupied by an arbitrary piece. For instance, white can start the game by moving his knight from B1 to C3. The knight does further not affect the piece that is jumped over; as usual, a knight takes a piece of the opponent by moving to the square that contains those pieces.
Pawn: The pawn moves differently regarding whether it moves to an empty square or whether it takes a piece of the opponent. When a pawn does not take, it moves one square straightforward. When the pawn is still in the second row (from the owning player’s view), the pawn may make a double step straightforward. For example white pawn D2 can be moved to D4. When a pawn takes an opponent’s men the pawn must move one square diagonally forward. Example. White pawn on D4 takes Black knight on C5. There is one special rule called taking en-passant. This is when a pawn makes a double step from the second row to the fourth row, and there is an enemy pawn on the adjacent square on the fourth role, then this enemy pawn in the next move may move diagonally to the square that was passed over by the double stepping pawn, which is on the third row. In the same move, the double stepping pawn is taken. This taking en-passant must be done directly; if the player who could take en-passant does not do this in the first move after the double step, this pawn cannot be taken anymore by an en-passant move. Pawns when they reach the last row of the board are promoted. When a player moves a pawn to the last row of the board; the pawn is replaced by a queen, rook, knight, or bishop, of the same color as the pawn. It is usual for the player to promote the pawn to a queen, but other type of pieces is allowed. It is not required that the pawn is promoted to a piece taken, thus it is possible to have a player with two queens.
King: The king moves one square in any direction, horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. There is one special type of move that can be made, which is by a king and rook simultaneously called casting. The king is the most important piece of the game, and moves must be made in such a way that the king is never check.
Check: When a king of the player can be taken by a piece of the opponent, one says that the king is in check. For example the white player moves his rook to a position such it attacks the black king, i.e., if black does not do anything about it the rook could take the black king in the next move; we say that the white rook gives check. It is considered good manners to say check when one checks ones opponent.
Note that there are three different possible ways to remove a check
· Move the king away to a square where he is not in check
· Take the piece that gives the check
· In case of a check, given by a rook, bishop, or queen, move a piece between the checking piece and the king.
It is not allowed to make a move, such that ones king is in check after the move. If a player accidentally tries to make such a move (following the rules that one must move with the piece one has touched
Mate: When a player is in check, and he cannot make a move such that after the move, the king is not in check, then he is mated. The player that is mated has lost the game, and the player that mated him has won the game.
Stalemate: When a player cannot make any legal move, but he is not in check, then the player is said to be stalemated, in other wards a draw.
Other rules
· Resign and draw proposals: A player can resign from the game, which mean the opponent has won. After making a move, a player can propose a draw; his opponent can accept the proposal, in which case the game ends and is a draw, or refuse the proposal, in which case the game continues.
· Repetition of moves: If the same position with the same player to move is repeated three times in the game, the player to move can claim draw; i.e. when the right to make a certain castling move is lost by one of the players between positions, then the positions are considered to be different. One case where repetition of move occurs is when a player continues to give check forever.
· 50 moves rules: If there have been 50 consecutive moves of white and of black without
o any piece been taken
o any pawn move
Then a player can claim a draw.
· Touching pieces: When the player touches one of his own pieces, he must, if possible, make a legal move with this piece. When a player touches a piece of the opponent, he must, if possible, take the piece.
· Other rules; There are other rules, telling what should happen in special occasions, like that players started the game with a wrong setup. These rules are not so important in friendly games.
Notes on Shatranj Chess: pre-assessor to the Orthodox Chess
Introduction to Shatranj is the second know variant of chess which purportedly developed from the first know variant, Chaturanga, by making a few minor changes. The game first appeared in Persia around the 7th century and still remains immensely popular throughout the Arab world for the next nine centuries.
Setup: The array is similar to that if Orthodox chess, with Elephants replacing bishops and generals replacing queens. The game was also played with Generald and Kings transposed; so in all cases; kings and generals face their own kind.
A B C D E F G H
Rook Knight Elephant King General Elephant Knight Rook Row 8
Pawn Pawn Pawn Pawn Pawn Pawn Pawn Pawn Row 7
Row 6
Row 5
Row 4
Row 3
Pawn Pawn Pawn Pawn Pawn Pawn Pawn Pawn Row 2
Pawn Pawn Pawn Pawn Pawn Pawn Pawn Pawn Row 2
Rook Knight Elephant King General Elephant Knight Rook Row 1
Pieces and rules
Kings: move as in orthodox chess
Rock: moves as in orthodox chess
Knight: moves as in orthodox chess
Pawn: moves as in orthodox chess
General: moves to the first diagonal square
Elephant: leaps to the second diagonal square, never occupying the first diagonal
It is told that Shatranj is the immediate precursor to Orthodox chess.
· The board is not checkered
· Elephants replace the Orthodox Bishops
· Generals replace the Orthodox Queen
· There is no initial two step pawn move
· There is no en passant capture option
· There is no castling option
· Pawns arriving to the eighth row are always promoted to generals
· Stalemate counts as a win
· Bare kings count as a win, provided that your king cannot be bared on the very next move
· Two bare kings count as a draw.
Elizabethan Outdoor Games & Sports
Elizabethan Fencing (note: Christiana will be using SCA rules of An Tir Rapier in the option of survival as per Golden Swan. An Tir rapier card issued by Senior Marshall Draven Mac Raith to Guinevere Beverly Swan AKA Cristiana expires August 04, 2012)
Skill in fencing during this era was a requirement for upper class nobility. There was different type of swords, which range from the smallest broadsword measuring from 30 inches to the great swords, which measured up to 72 inches in length. The weight of these swords used, in this era are usually presumed to be heavier than they actually were.
Shill in using the sword effectively took time, and practice and effort. A knight was trained first as a page from the age of 7 to 14 and then as a squire from the age of 14 to 21; therefore a knight was usually around 21 before being accepted into knighthood. It was the duty of the knight to learn how to fight, and become accomplished at using the sword as his primary weapon, and so serve their sovereign according to the code of chivalry. It would almost take 14 years of training to enable the knight to use his sword with considerable strength and skill. These skills were still required in the Elizabethan age for tournaments.
The art of fencing was introduced in the 1500s in personal fighting skills and private self-defense. The use of the sword and the acquisition of fencing arts changed as technology increased and firearms were introduced and used in military warfare. The old feudal system had ceased and so to had the avenues to settle personal scores, thus social changes during this era led to an increase in the popular art of dueling, or fencing as a means to settle private disagreements especially those concerning reputation and honor. Fencing masters came into great demand, as a sword was an important part of nobles apparel, and it was important that he had adequate fencing skills. Note the wearing of the sword with civilian dress was, a custom that starts in Spain in the late 15th century. The elegant rapier was the preference to the order, than the older, clumsier cutting sword, as the fencing master introduced new techniques. Swordplay was no longer simply dependent on brut strength.
Elizabethan Hawking or Falconry
The Elizabethan sport of hawking or falconry was one of the favorite forms of hunting during the Elizabethan era, and was a favorite pastime with the upper and noble classes. Falconry, which is referred to as the sport of royalty, and primary because the lower class could not easily afford to train the birds. Falconry provided an opportunity for kings and lords to host other nobles for grand hunting parties. It should be noted the most popular choice of hunting bird was the Hawk. Queen Elizabeth herself loved the hunt and this included the sport of hawking or falconry.
Hawking or Falconry is an ancient sport of hunting of small wild game or birds with trained birds of prey, which was not restricted to falcons as hawks and rarely eagles were used. The bird is taken when it is young from the nests to start their training, which a falconer subjected them to rigorous counts of training. The falconer was extremely important as these birds of prey required considerable human contact and attention on a daily basis, or the birds of prey would quickly grow wild and therefore unreliable. In the training of a bird of prey the falconer must train the bird to fly, when released at their quarry. It is essential that the hunting bird’s talons be well placed in the prey before it is landed. This is an expensive sport, which required the birds to have special housing, which consisted of mews (cages). Various accessories were required in the training of the birds in hawking and in hunting would require hoods, jesses, bells, and lures. The bells were attached to the bird’s legs and the important of this was so the trainer could keep track of their whereabouts.
Summary for hawking
· The hawk is taken young from its nest
· Hawks must be in close contact with humans
· The falconer trains the hawk to perch on his fist by feeding it morsels of food from his hand.
· The hawk is then encourage to fly to the falconer’s fist to take food
· The hawk is trained to fly the quarry, and return to the falconer’s fist for a reward thus leaving the prey untouched for the falconer.
It has being known that sound forms of taming a hawk or falcon were extremely cruel during this era as the birds were temporary blinded by sealing their eyes with needle and thread. The end of the thread was tied over the head of the bird so that the trainer could open and close the bird’s eyes, as a result of this it made it easy to train hawks or falcons to hunt other birds. A book called the “Boke of St. Albans” in 1486 author unknown provides a list of falconry laws of ownership; yet another set of rules regulating the lives of the Elizabethans. These Laws of Ownership are listed as follows.
· King: Gry Falcon (male & female)
· Prince: Peregrine Falcon
· Duke: Rock Falcon which is a subspecies of the Peregrine
· Earl: Tiercel Peregrine Falcon (male)
· Baron: Bastarde Hawk
· Knight: Saker
· Squire: Lanner
· Lady: Female Merlin
· Yeoman: Goshawk or Hobby
· Priest: Female Sparrowhawk
· Knaves, Servants, Children: Kestrel
Elizabethan Hunting:
This particular sport is involved and will not be preformed at the Golden Swan, although John Willard and sometimes Christiana would do hunting, with Christiana hunting with the aid of her female Merlin (see Elizabethan Hawking).
Hunting was one of the most popular sports enjoyed by most Elizabethan upper classes and Nobility. Hunting had always been enjoyed by Nobility as it provided training for warfare, such as tracking skills, weapon usage, horsemanship, and courage, all were required fro the art of war. During the Elizabethan era it was viewed as a sport and both man and women engaged in the hunting activity. A variety of animals formally living in the wilds of England were hunted. There are different types of hunts, which were therefore more suitable for men or women. These are; The ‘At Force’ Hunt and the: ‘Bow and Stable’ Hunt
At force hunts were the most strenuous form of hunting, which were designed for the young and very active men. As the name suggest there were many huntsmen involved in this type of hunting who arranged themselves into teams. Dogs often accompanied the hunter on the at force hunts to hunt the wild boar which was an extremely dangerous animal and would be the chosen main prey for this type of hunt. The hunting teams would chase the prey till it was near exhaustion, or would corner the animal just before the kill.
The bow and stable hunts were the less strenuous from of hunting. The bow and stable hunts were designed for women or the less active, or infirm men. This kind of hunt is conducted on horseback using the bow as the main weapon. Dogs also accompanied the hunt on the bow and stable hunts and would drive the prey into an enclosed space where the hunter either men or women could kill the animal at close range. The docile deer would be the main choice of prey for this type of hunt.
Elizabethan hunting laws under (Sumptuary laws – forest law) related to gaming and hunting. The reigning monarch normally owned the Forest of England. In the Elizabethan era an estimated sixty-nine royal forest existed. Only the monarch or his/her servants hunted in the forest, and if the wealthy class wanted to hunt they would have to gain permission by the granting of a royal license. The animals subject to the forest law were red deer, fallow deer, roe deer, and wild boar. The commoners had the right to hunt any beast over the common land unless some special royal guest had restricted such right. The strict forest laws reserved the rights of hunting to the ruling class were hated and resented by the low classes. Peasants accused of poaching were liable to hanging, castration, blinding, or being sewn into the deerskin and then hunted down by dogs.
Elizabethan Archery (note:) Christiana has chosen this to be one of the outdoor games that are simple to teach and was noted as a sport in the Elizabethan era. Due to the fact that this is an S.C.A. event we will have to obey by the S.C.A. Tir rules of archery. Please refer to the An Tir Guild on Archery. Note: Christiana (AKA Guinevere Beverly Swan- has obtained her Junior Tam card from An Tir, which will expires in August 04, 2010 issued by Moreenn-senior tam). As this is the chosen game, the listings below will be for archery competition, and not that of survival, hunting, or defense. I will not go into the great detail in this subject for the listing above, except for a sporting tourney.
The Boke of St Albans is an old English text, was printed in 1486 in the town of ST Albans, its author unknown. The book covers subjects of hunting, heraldry, and hawking. The animals, which were prey on from the Boke of St Albans, are
i) The stag – usually aided in the hunt by dogs and bow and arrow, in order o stay out of range of its horns. Suitable as prey for the bow and stable hunt.
ii) Deer, hart or roebuck – usually hunted with the aid of dogs and bow and arrow. Suitable as prey for the bow and stable hunt.
iii) Boar – usually hunted with the aid of dogs and with long spears, in order to stay away from the boars’ tusks. Suitable as prey for at force hunting
iv) Foxes – usually hunted by chasing them with dogs and letting the dogs tear the fox apart. Foxes were rarely hunted as food, and are suitable prey for the bow and stable hunt.
v) Rabbits – hunted with trained dogs or ferrets down into the burrow
vi) Otters – hunted with dogs as a sport not as food
vii) Game birds – (geese, ducks, pheasant, partridge, grouse, etc.) usually hunted with dogs to chase them into taking off, then with bow and arrow to bring them down, and have the dogs to fetch the corpse back. Suitable as prey for the bow and stable hunt.
History of the Longbow Archery:
The English longbow, more than any other weapon of its time was responsible for the vast changes in the nature of medieval warfare. In doing so it made England the foremost power in Europe during the 14th and 15th century. Such was the power of the long bow that contemporary accounts claim that at short range, an arrow fired from it could penetrate 4 inches of seasoned oak. As a result of the longbow a knight could be felled at a range of 200 yards by a single arrow. Archers of the longbow begun training at a very early age, traditionally seven. Training at long ranges was mandatory, complete with fines and violations in the 14th and 15th century. Local tournaments were held regularly, and the best archers were chosen for military duties, which were hand picked troops from the best archers in England. Archery units were an elite group of infantry.
In the 15th century, the use of the long bow dwindles, and in 1472 the practice of archery went down because of a shortage of bow staves. In 1477 Edward IV of England banned an early form of cricket because it was interfering with archery practice. Crossbows were banned in 1508 to promote and increase the use of the longbow. With the introduction of the musket in 1520, the fate of the bow in England was just about sealed. In 1588 the English fleet used the musket to defeat the Spanish Armada, and in 1595 all bows were ordered to be replaced with muskets.
Archery groups were very popular at the time of King Henry VIII a number of archery groups started for the sport. The first group was called a “Patent of King Henry VIII Concerning Archierie (old English spelling). The first organized archery contest was held in 1583 with over 3,000 participants.
As we all have heard of the William Tell story, I have included this story, as it could have been used in archery contest. The legendary William Tell was said to be a traveling storyteller. In 1307 AD he was ordered to shoot an apple off his son’s head because he refused to bow to a hat put on a pole as a sign of imperial authority. He succeeded in shooting the apple, but some tellings of the story say that he had an extra bolt hidden on him. This was in case he accidentally kicked his son. If so he would shoot the official who ordered him to shoot the apple.
In the 12th century the English longbow was developed from a Welsh bow tat had been used against the English. In 1252 the longbow was accepted as a formal military weapon.
The English longbow is a self-bow made from a piece of wood that is shaped and seasoned for the purpose. The wood of choice was Yew, but availability problems often required the use of Wych Elm, Elm, and Ash as substitutes. The medieval craftsmen also known as a bowyer selected the staves of this wood with great care. A master bowyer could craft a longbow within less than two hours. The length of the bow at finish would be from 68 to 78 inches in length and upwards to 2 inches thick at the riser. The length was more or less fitted to the individual user. Draws weights were from 80 lbs to 120 lbs with a draw length between 29 to 32 inches, as the draw was to the ear or to the breast. The limb had horns inserted to protect the limb tips and to ease stringing of the bow. There is no arrow rest on the handle, and the archer would let the arrow ride of his index finger, which severed as the arrow rest. Bowstrings were made mostly from hemp. Although flax and even silk were used in later times. The string was about 1/8 inch in diameter, and was constructed with either single or double loop ends.
English war arrows were also known as the livery, sheaf, or standard arrow. They would have large diameter, and were cut to a legal yard in length and made of a variety of woods; aspen, popular, elder, birch, and willow. Heavier woods like ash and hornbeam were also used in arrows, but primarily because they are heavier, they would not travel as far, but had greater penetration. Flechings were between 7 and 9 inches and were tied and glued to the shaft. Fletches were usually made pf gray goose, peacock or swan.
Full and skeleton gloves appear to have been common, while tabs are not to be found. The common quiver type was a simple belt quiver or arrow bag. In the absence of this, a common practice was to simply stuff a sheaf of arrows through the belt. The back quiver was never used in warfare.
The Antimony of the Equipment for Archery
Nomenclature of an arrow:
- Shaft: Wood
- Point or Pie: The front end of the arrow
- Arrowhead: The pointed or fore end part of an arrow made separately from the shaft. These for the Elizabethan era made be made of hand wrought steel.
- Arrow length: Measurement from bottom of nock to shoulder of point for target arrow, or to back of point or blade for field or hunting bow.
- Crest: Mark or identification colors of arrow
- Fletching: The arrow features spaced 120 degrees apart and near the back of the arrow shaft.
- Cock feature: Perpendicular to arrow nock, not necessarily from the male bird, but is so named as it stands erect, or at right angles to the arrow when the arrow is properly placed of the bow
- Hen feathers: The two feathers that are next to the bow while being shot. Not necessarily from the female bird, also may be called shaft feathers.
- Since the feather angle to the shaft is not an actual part of the arrow, one might see that the cock feather is actually at a right angle to the shaft at all points of contact with the shaft. It is important to note that if one feather is set to an angle or spiral, it will then be necessary to place all other feathers on that same arrow likewise to be proper.
- Nock: The string sloth at the feather end of the arrow shaft. The nock should always be perpendicular to the flat grain layers of a wood arrow. In our case most of our arrows are equipped with a molded plastic, which saves the arrow when, or if broken by other arrows. In the Elizabethan era, the nock was a slit cut into the wood shaft perpendicular to the flat grain of the shaft.
Nomenclature of a Bow:
As in this era that Christiana will be presenting; the long bow was the archers weapon of choice for England. The advent of the newer bows did not come until much later, and therefore references will be made in reference of the long bow. There are many different kinds of long bows, but I will concentrate on the English long bow.
- Tip ends: the extreme end of the bow
- Bow nocks: Receives the bowstring loops on each end of the bow. The nocks should be of sufficient depth to hold safely the bowstring loops, and should have smoothly rounded edges, which will lessen the danger of undue wear to the string loops.
- Bow limbs: The working part of the bow
- Fistmele: The correct measurement for any given bow from the back of the bow handle to the string when in braced positioned.
- Belly or back profile: shows general shape of a flat bow with straight limbs and a bow without recurved ends
- Handle of bow: The center portion of the bow which is gripped while in use, also referred to as the grip
- Bowstring; although not the actual part of the bow, it is necessary to hold the bow in a braced position and to accelerate, push, cast or throw the arrow.
Nomenclature of a Bowstring:
- The loops. The part of the string that goes around the bow tips and into the bow nocks, thus holding the bow into the braced position
i) Flemish or corded loop
ii) Endless string, bound loops – is one which finished actually has two ends or loops, but s so called because of the manner in which the string is made. An endless string in the making uses two pegs, which are spaced at a given distance apart. The thread which is used is tied to one of these pegs and thence wound about the pegs until the proper number of strands is evident, at strands are then bound at the ends of the string, called the serving, and after the strands are served they are further bound together to form the string loop. The center section of the string should also be served or bound to eliminate wear which completes the endless string
iii) Timber hitch commonly called bowknot.
- Eye: The end loop of a bow string
- The main bowstring: A sufficient number of strands of strong threads to hold the tension of the bow it is for. The entire string should be kept waxed.
- String serving: Protects the string from glove, armguard and arrow wear.
- Nocking points; located exactly at right angle with the bowstring, and the top end of the bow handle, or arrow rest when bow is strung or braced. Prevents the arrow nock from moving up or down the string when drawing the arrow. Nocking point on bowstring: constant place located on the string so that each arrow is shot from the same position on the string every time.
- Bowstring loop: maybe on one or both ends of a bowstring, or a single loop string necessitates the use of a timber hitch on the opposite end of the string usually the lower end.
- String twist: Must be checked very carefully before stringing the bow. If twisted the wrong direction, the string will unwind all parts and come apart. String twist is not always the same, i.e. if the Flemish loop is twisted the wrong direction, it will come all apart.
Rules of Safety and Things to Remember
1) Never point a bow or a crossbow at a person; either are consider a lethal weapon
2) Never shoot your arrow until you are very certain that no one is near or behind target. Do not allow a person to stand in front of you while you are shooting, even if the person seems a safe distance from you.
3) Do not nock an arrow until you are certain that it is safe to do so.
4) Remember that when shooting in tournaments, obey your tam; if tam calls hold it means stop shooting immediately
5) Never shoot an arrow straight up into the air. One never knows exactly where that arrow will fall and a critical injury could be a result.
6) A broken or cracked wood arrow should be discarded permanently to avoid a possible injury.
7) Never draw a bow without an arrow for which it was intended to be used, unless of the same length. Never draw another person’s bow without his/ her permission. A bow that is overdrawn is easily broken.
8) Never shoot broad head arrows on a target archery range. These arrows are specifically designed for hunting.
9) Always make it a practice to use sound judgment and good sense when you are armed with a bow and arrow, as accidents can happen so easily and be costly.
10) In field archery always follow the paths on the range and never cross a shooting lane; an arrow may be on its way to the target and you may be seriously hurt.
11) ALWAYS HEED the instruction of the tam; remember the instructions are for your safety and enjoyment
12) For spectators, never handle the equipment on the ranges. Equipment is costly and can easily be broken when in the hands of one who does not know how to handle the equipment.
13) Never look for a lost arrow behind an unattended target. ALWAYS LEAVE AN ARROW, standing up in the target, or a person to make sure no one shoots while retrieving your lost arrow.
14) Always be a good sport on the range. Remember some archers do not appreciate chatter while they are shooting and in most cases you will find that you yourself will shoot a better round if you tend to the business of shooting.
15) Above all, be fair and square on the range. Archery is too old a sport and like life itself, we are here too short a time to abuse it.
16) SCA archery rules will over dominate these rules, but are similar in every respect.
- OBEY your archery tam
- When on the archery field for fun or a tourney there must be at least a junior tam, or senior tam
- Footwork must straddle the firing line.
- The tam will set the competition rules as per S.C.A. guild lines.
-
Terms used in Archery and may be commanded by the Tam.
- Archers to the line: Archers to straddle the firing line
and prepare for the following commands
- Nock, nocking the arrow, When one nocks the arrow, he places the nock of the arrow upon the bowstring at the nocking point; at that time the bow and arrow are ready for use. There are two methods of nocking an arrow an arrow and each has its place in archery. The conventional method, the method which is most commonly used is accomplished as follows; grasp the bow in the bow hand with the bowstring above the bow and horizontal to the ground; lay an arrow over the top side of the bow’s upper limb, holding the arrow by the nock with thumb and index finger of the string hand, place index finger of the bow hand lightly over the arrow shaft to hold it against the bow; slide the arrow downwardly until the nock is laying on top of the bowstring nocking point; at this point the index finger which s under the arrow nock may slipped under the bowstring while the thumb keeps the nock in position; The thumb and index ay then again hold the arrow nock while it is in placed onto the nocking point of the string. The arrow is ready to draw.
Battle Method: This will be the method used in the Golden Swan. This method was used in ancient days when the archers were in battle, usually because of the limited space between archers and also hunters in limited space. Hold the bow vertically in shooting position; bend the elbow and with the bowstring against the inside of the forearm ay the bow against the chest; hold an arrow below the feathers about midway on the shaft and lay it over the rest, with the arrow nock towards the nocking point; the arrow rest will be on the side of the bow which is away from the body the index finger of the bow hand may be used to hold the arrow against the bow while the bow arm is again returned to shooting position, and until the draw is started.
- Draw: To draw is to pull the bowstring as is necessary to shooting the bow and arrow
- Loose, release: this term refers to the actual release of the bowstring from the fingers or the drawing aid, or to put an arrow into motion be releasing the string
- At your own time: No time limited on letting loose arrows to target, however there is a limit of arrows to be let loose, usually six
- Time limited: This is when a countdown is used to let loose arrows. The archer is allowed to have his bow nock at this stage in ready, to let loose arrow, when instructed by the tam. The tam will set a limit of time, until he or she says hold, place bows on ground. There is now limit of arrow to be let loose in this event.
- Field is clear, retrieve: This is when the range is safe to enter for the archers, and to retrieve their arrows. All archers must have their bows resting on the ground with no arrows nock, before it is safe to enter the range, and only be command of the archery tam.
Other Hardware for Archery:
- Shooting glove: This is a necessary item to help protect the fingers from bowstring burn and usually worn as a single glove on the bowstring hand which draws and releases the bowstring.
- Quiver: An arrow quiver is a devise used specifically for carrying or holding arrows which may not be in immediate actual use
a. Hip Pocket; is a heavy leather pocket liner used either by target or field archers when a minimum number of arrows are carried
b. Ground Quiver: is one fashioned in many ways from a steel rod in a manner, which will hold a fight of arrows. This quiver has a sharp pointed end on the bottom of the main vertical rod, which is forced into the turf a few inches. The upper end usually has a small circular loop. Some are fashioned also with a pair of extended rods, which serve as the bow supports.
c. Back Quiver: is used by roving and field archers and is fashioned to be carried on the back. A side quiver is sometimes similar and has the same basic function as the back quiver, however with this quiver it is usually hung from the archer’s belt which circles his / her waist.
- Armguard: an accessory used as a protector from the bowstring slapping the forearm of the hand holding the bow.
The Archery Field and targets:
- Shooting Line: The line or lines marked on the ground parallel to the line of targets and which is perpendicular to the shooting lanes of the archery range. In target archery the archer must straddle the shooting line. Note: In field archery the archers must stand behind the shooting line. According to SCA rules archers will straddle the line
Stance – An archer’s posture while shooting a bow and arrow requires the following points; stand relaxed and comfortably erect, feet should be spaced a comfortable distance apart, between 8 to 14 inches, depending on individual; stand straddle the shooting line, body facing the target; stand approximately 18 inches away from either of the lane lines unless directed otherwise by the tam. Upon completion of shooting an end always step back from the shooting line and not forward of it.
- Archery Butt: Usually a stand that is used to secure the target to
- Target Face: A standard face for target archery, usually 48 inch in diameter, which is spaced, colored, and value as follows
a. Bull’s eye gold value 9 size 9.6 inches
b. Red ring, value 7, size 19.2 inches
c. Blue ring, value 5, size 28.8 inches
d. Black ring, value 3, size 38.4 inches
e. White ring, value 1, size 48 inches
Note: the gold ring may be replaced with a center black spot not to exceed 3 inches.
- Field Archery Classifications: There are different divisions, but we will look at only one which is called the Instinctive division which refers to Bare Bow and space aim shooters, all having the same basic meaning; no bow sights on their bows, nor any calibrated markings of any kind attached to their bows in aiding their aim.
- Archery Ranges: the target range; target archery is played on a level field that is usually planted to lawn. If planted with trees it adds considerably to the comfort and enjoyment of the archers. Targets must be at the north end of a target range so that the archers shooting from the south have the sunlight to their backs. At no time is it acceptable to have the range so situated that the line from the archer to the target will vary more than a 45-degree angle from the north. There should be a space of not less than ten feet from the center of an end target to the edge of the field. There should be no rocks, or obstacles on the field, which could cause damage to the arrows, which miss a target. There should be a suitable bunker or backstop behind the targets or space of approx. 20 yards. All shooting lines should be within four inches of width and must be parallel to the target face, or to a line of targets. These lines must be measured from a point exactly under the center of the gold on the target face. Targets should be safely spaced fifteen feet from the center of one target to the center of the next. The shooting lanes should be equally spaced between the targets and perpendicular to the shooting and target lines. Lanes can be marked if desire. For spectator viewing follow the S.C.A. handbook on Archery for safe setbacks for spectators.
Field Range: This is compared to hunting with targets position so that, one, can proceed to the next target. We will not be using this in the game of archery.
Bear & Bull Baiting, Cock Fighting
From the 16th century, bears were maintained for the purpose of bear bailing. One of the best-known areas for this sport took places at the “bear gardens.” The construction consisted of a circular high fence area, the “pit” and raised seating area for the spectators. A post would be set in the ground towards the edge of the pit and a bear would be chained to it, either by the leg or neck. A number of well trained hunting dogs would be set on the bear, being replaced as (dogs) as the tired or were wounded or killed. In a few cases the bear was let loose, allowing it to chase after animals or people. The main bear garden in London was Paris Garden at Southwark.
Henry VIII was a fan of this sport and had a pit constructed at Whitehall, also Elizabeth I was fond of this entertainment, and was featured regularly in her tours. When an attempt was made to ban bear baiting on Sundays, Elizabeth I overruled the Parliament. Robert Laneham’s letter describes this spectacle [resented by Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester presented at Kenilworth Castle in 1575.
Thursday, the fourteenth of July, and the sixth day of her majesty’s coming, a great sort of bandogs (mastiff) were then tied in the outer court and thirteen bears in the inner…
Well, sir, the bears were brought forth into the court, the dogs set to them, to argue the points even face to face. They had learned council also on both parts, what may they be counted partial that are retained but to one side? I know not. Very fierce, both one and the other, and eager in argument. If the dog in pleading would pluck the bear by the throat, the bear with traverse would claw him again by the scalp, confess and a list, but avoid it could not that was bound to the bar, and his council told him that it could be to him no policy in pleading.
Therefore, with fending and proving, with plucking and tugging, scratching and biting, by plain tooth and nail on one side and the other, such expense of blood and leather was there between them, as months licking, I think will not recover, and yet remain as far out as ever they were.
It was a sport very pleasant, of these beasts, to see the bear with his pink eyes leering after his enemies approach the nimbleness and wayt of the dog to take his advantage, and the force and experience of the bear again to avoid the assaults. If he were bitten in one place, how he would pinch in another to get free, that if he were taken once, then what shift, with biting, with clawing, with roaring, tossing and tumbling, he would work to wind himself free from them. And when he was loose, to shake his ears twice or thrice with the blood and the slather about his physiognomy, was a matter of goodly relief.
A variation involved other animals being baited, especially bulls, but in one occasion, a pony with an ape tied to its back was baited (a spectator description). Bull baiting was a contest in which trained bulldogs attacked tethered bulls, the bull with a rope its horns, which was fastened to a stake with an iron ring in it, situated in the center of the ring. The rope about 15 feet long was used to confine the animal to a space of 30 feet diameter. The owner of the dogs stood around the circle each holding their dogs by its ears, and when the sport began; one of the dogs would be let loose. The bull was baited for about an hour. Bull baiting was more common to England, than bear bailing because of the scar ness and cost of bears.
With the screaming of the ape, beholding the curs hanging from the ears, and neck, is very laughable.
Attempt were made to end this sport by the Puritans with little effect when a number of spectators were killed when a stand collapsed at the Paris Gardens on January 12, 1583. The Puritans viewed this as sign of God’s anger, though not primarily because of the cruelty but because bear baiting was taking place of Sunday.
Credits:
Books & Manuals
Encyclopedia Britannica 1968 – chess, horseshoe pitching
An Tir Book of Rapier Combat (standards and guild lines for rapier combat in
An Tir
II Systema (Kristophe Sprenger, Cadet to Don Kieran Gunn)
The Encyclopedia of Archery: Paul C. Hougham (1958) A.S. Barnes and Company, Inc.
Internet:
Mhtml:file://D:\Elizabethan%20Fencing.mht
Mhtml:file://D:\Elizabethan%20Hawking.mht
Mhtml:file://D:\Elizabethan%20Hunting.mht
Mhtml:file://D:\Elizabethan%20Games.mht
Mhtml:file://D:\Elizabethan%20Bear%20&%20Bull%20Ba iting.mht
Mhtml:file://D:\History%20of%20Chess.mht
Further Reading:
Chess:
Swordplay
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Mhtml:file://D:\DiGrassi%20His%20True%20Arte%20of%20Defence.mht
Mhtml:file://D:\Vincentio%20Saviolo%20His%20Practise.mht
Archery
Goggle search – Rules of An Tir Target Archery
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