Whereas the people of our realm, nobles as well as commoners, usually practiced in their games the art of archery, whereby honour and profit accrued to the whole realm and we gained not a little help in our wars, with God’s favour; and now the art is almost totally neglected and the people amuse themselves with throwing stones, wood or iron, or playing handball, football, or “stick-ball” [pila cacularis, perhaps a kind of cricket] or hokey or cock-fighting; and some indulge in other dishonest games, which are less useful or worthwile, so that the kingdom, in short becomes truly destitute of archers.
We, wishing to provide an appropriate remedy for this, order you that in all places in your shire, as well within liberties as without, where you shall deem to be expedient, you shall cause to be proclaimed that everyone in the shire, on festival days when he has holiday, shall learn and exercise himself in the art of archery, and use for his games bows and arrows, or crossbolts or bolts, forbidding all and single, on our orders, to meddle or toy in any way in these games of throwing stones, wood, or iron, playing handball, football, “stickball”, or hockey, or cock-fighting, or any other games of this kind, which are worthless, under pain of imprisonment.
By the king himself.
(Aus: English Historical Documents 1327-1485, e.d. A.R.Myers, Volume IV, London, Edinburgh: 1969, S.1182.)
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