Statute of Edward II. 119 



hundred pence was obligated to have in his posses- 

 sion a bow and arrows, with other arms offensive 

 and defensive ; and all such as had no possessions, 

 but could afford to purchase arms, were commanded 

 to have a bow with sharp arrows, if they dwelt 

 without the royal forests, 1 and a bow with round- 

 headed arrows, if they dwelt within the forests.' 2 



The words of the Statute (temp. Edw. n. apud 

 Winton) are ' Ark et setes hors de foreste et en 

 foreste ark et piles.' The latter were used to 

 prevent the owners killing the King's deer. 3 



It was also ordained by the forementioned Statute 

 that proper officers should be appointed to see that 

 these weapons were kept in good order, and ready 

 for immediate service. 



In an epistle to the sheriffs of London, dated 



1 * A Forrest is a certen Territorie of wooddy grounds and fruitful pastures ', 

 priviledged for wild beasts and foules, of Forrest, Chase, and Warren, to rest 

 and abide in, in the safe protection of the King, for his princely delight and 

 pleasure, which Territorie of Ground, so priviledged, is meered and bounded 

 with unremoveable markes, meeres, and boundaries, either known by matter 

 of record, or else by prescription : And also replenished with wilde beasts of 

 Venerie or Chase, and with great coverts of vert, for the succour of the said 

 wilde beastes to have their abode in : For the preservation and continuance 

 of which said place, together with the Vert and Venison, there are certen 

 particular Lawes, priviledges and Officers, belonging to the same, meete for 

 that purpose, that are only proper unto a Forrest and not to any other place.' 

 A Treatise and Discourse of tJie Lawes of the Forrest : John Man wood, 

 Lond. 1598, p. 143. 



2 Strutt, Sports and Pastimes, p. 54. 



3 One of the duties of a forester in former times was to see that no un- 

 authorised person carried bows and arrows of a kind which might be used for 

 killing deer : ' if he find any man in the forest with bows and arrows, or with 

 greyhounds, intending to offend there, he may arrest and imprison him, as if 

 he had actually done the fact. ' Manwood, op. cit. 



