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ARCHERY 383
Here the allusion is to prick shooting. To hit the clout
with a ' fore-hand shaft' at twelve score was a fine performance,
as this was a much heavier arrow than that used
in ' under ' hand shooting, the difference of under hand and
' over hand' shooting being, that in the former the bowhand
was placed so high that aim had to be taken under
the bow-hand, while in the latter the aim was taken over
the hand, the arrow forming as it were the fore-sight. This
kind of shooting was the usual one at butts, owing to the
reduced elevation required, but at pricks none but a powerful
and skilful archer could use it. The passage also shows
the prevalence of betting at archery. In this kind of shooting,
which was also called ' flight V it was common to have
a marker, whose business it was to show the shooter where
his arrow had fallen, ' aim' being called when the arrow
was in good line. To this custom reference is made by King
Philip when he says,
Peace, lady ! pause, or be more temperate :
It ill beseems this presence to cry aim
To these ill-tuned repetitions; (John 11. i. 195-7)
and in Ford's speech:
Well; I will take him, then torture my wife, pluck the borrowed
veil of modesty from the so seeming Mistress Page, divulge Page
himself for a secure and wilful Actaeon; and to these violent
proceedings all my neighbours shall cry aim; (M. Wives in. ii. 42-7)
and again, when Malcolm exclaims:
This murderous shaft that's shot
Hath not yet lighted, and our safest way
Is to avoid the aim: therefore, to horse. (Macb. 11. iii. 148-50)
It would be hard to find a better description of a shooting
match than the following :
Costard. By my troth, most pleasant: how both did fit it!
Maria. A mark marvellous well shot, for they both did hit it.
Boyet. A mark! O ! mark but that mark; a mark, says my lady !
Let the mark have a prick in 't, to mete at, if it may be.
Mar. Wide 0' the bow hand ! i' faith your hand is out.
Cost. Indeed a* must shoot nearer, or he'll ne'er hit the clout.
Boy. An' if my hand be out, then belike your hand is in.
Cost. Then will she get the upshoot by cleaving the pin.
(Love's L. L. iv. i. 133-40)
The upshoot was the best shot, up to any point in the contest.
1 He set up his bills here in Messina and challenged Cupid at the flight; and
my uncle's fool, reading the challenge, subscribed for Cupid, and challenged
him at the bird-bolt. (Much Ado 1. i. 39-42)