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Marks for Shooting At

The marks usually shot at by the archers for pastime were "butts," "prickes," and "rovers." The "butt" was a level mark, made by placing a target on a slope of a hill or bank of earth, and required a strong arrow. The "pricke" was a "mark of compass," but always of one distance, and had some emblem on a pole for shooting at; and to this mark strong swift arrows of one flight, with a middling size feather, were best suited. The "rover" was a mark of uncertain length, and often an arrow shot forth from a bow. Other marks were used, as the standard, the target, hazel-wands, rose-garlands, and the popinjay, which was an artificial parrot or peacock, or sometimes the common cock, set upon a post or pole, as seen in the engraving.