Statute of lidward IV. 121 



500 bundles of arrows for the intended war against 

 France in 1341.' ^ 



* In the fifth year of Edward iv., ch. iv. (Irish), it 

 was enacted by Statute that 'every Englishman, 

 and every Irishman dwelling with Englishmen, 

 should have a bow of his own height, made either 

 of yew, wych-hazel, ash, or anolune laburnum.'" 

 The Act directs that butts should be erected in 

 every township, which the inhabitants were to 

 shoot at up and down, upon all feast days, under 

 the penalty of one halfpenny for every time they 

 omitted to perform this exercise. 



A petition from the Commons to Edward iv. 

 states that ' such bowstaffes as be brought within 

 this Realm, be sett now to outrageous prices,' and 

 prays that for every tun-tight of merchandise as 

 shall be conveyed in every ' Carik, Calee, or shipp, 

 iiii bowestaffes be brought, upon pain of forfeiture 

 to your Highness, for lacke of bringing every such 

 bowstaff vis. viiid.' ; and an Act of 12 Edward iv.^ 

 is enacted to this effect, ordering also that no 

 bowyer might sell a bow to any of the King's 

 subjects for more than 3s. \A. And an Act of 

 Richard iii., a.d. 1483,' orders a general planting 



' Hargrave, Anecdotes, p. 39. - Strull, Sports, etc. 



^ This was confirmed in the third year of Henry vil., and in the thirty- 

 third year of his son Henry viii. ; but these Acts were repealed in the third 

 year of Queen Mary, and the following prices were settled by Parliament; for 

 a bow made of the best foreign wood, six shillings and eightpence : for an 

 inferior sort, three shillings and fourpence ; and for one made of English yew, 

 two shillings. ■* Stow. 



