We will examine a selection of armour , and children may try them on - breast plate, helm, jack, sword, mace, bow and arrows and musket. We will muster and train the county militia and re-create a battle from history using safe wooden equipment.

The Longbow

Each boy child at the age of seven had to be given a small bow and two arrows by his father and be taken to the butts to practise shooting the arrows from the bow. At the age of 14 the youth had to be supplied with a larger bow and six arrows. Every ordinary man, between 15 and 60, had to keep a bow and six arrows and practise with it weekly. This was how the longbow, at this time, gave the English such an advantage in battle. The French considered it to be an unchivalrous weapon. According to contemporary accounts, the power of the Longbow (at about 100 pounds pull) at short range, could shoot an arrow to penetrate 4 inches of seasoned oak. The bow was more effective that the musket at this time. In less time that it took to load one ball into a musket the average English military archer could fire 12 to 15 arrows per minute and hit a man-sized target at a minimum of 200 yards. The maximum range was about 400 yards. The longbow gave a decided military advantage to English (and Welsh) troops during the 100 years war with France. Notable famous victories were: 1346, The Battle of Crecy, 1356 The Battle of Poiters, 1415 The Battle of Agincourt. and against the Scots 1513 The Battle of Flodden. Of course military archers took years to train and, with the improvement in the manufacture of guns from caliver to harquebus (muskets), had largely ceased to be an English weapon of war by the time of the Armada in 1588. By 1595 the longbow was finally retired from military service.

The Militia

In times of peace there might not be a musterof the militia for three years but could last two or more days. Under the threat of disorder or invasion, special musters might be held monthly, weekly or daily. When the local militia met for a muster it might be followed by training in which they had to practise their drill with pikes and halberds. Each county had its own militia to protect the county against foreign invasion.

The militia in England existed from Anglo Saxon times. Its working was governed during the earlier Tudor period by the "Statute of Winchester" which laid down every subject's responsibility in community watch and hue and cry. This statute had been confirmed by Henry VIII in 1515.

"And further it is commanded that every man have in his house harness for to keep the peace after the ancient assize; that is to say, every man between fifteen years of age and sixty years, shall be assessed and sworn to armor according to the quantity of their lands and goods; that is to wit, for fifteen pounds lands, and goods of forty marks, an hauberke, an helm of iron, a lance, a knife, and a horse; and for ten pounds of lands, and twenty marks goods, an hauberke, an helme of iron, a lance, and a knife; and for five pound lands, a doublet, an helme of iron, a lance, and a knife; and from forty shillings of land and more up to one hundred shillings, a lance, a bow and arrows, and a knife; and he that hath less than forty shillings yearly shall be sworn to falces, gisarmes , knives, and other small arms; and he that hath less than twenty marks in goods, shall have swords, knives, and other small arms; and all other that may shall have bows and arrows out of the forest, and in the forest bows and pilets. And that view of armor be made every year two times. And in every hundred and franchise two constables shall be chosen to make the view of armor; and the constables aforesaid shall present before justices assigned, when they shall come into the country, such defaults as they shall have found about armor....".

During Elizabeth I's reign each county had a Lord Lieutenant appointed to oversee the musters and by 1585 this had become a permanent post. The long musters were often held at the holy days of Easter, Whitsun,Michelmas and on occasion Christmas. They often became social events.

The better off practise their horsemanship and swordfighting and manly sports of leaping, throwing, running and wrestling. Although the latter became unpopular with the gentry in the latter Tudor period.