Guns & English Shooting (Part III)

18th Century

This is the third installment of The Art of English Shooting by George Edie, Gent., an informative 18^th century tome that helps an author or reader with background detail of antique guns and their uses.  

While writing, oftentimes subplots pop up from unknown places (subconscious or the universe), and it stops me dead. From this moment, I must ferret out the details.

As previously stated in Part I, when writing TWINS, I delved into ancient guns, black powder, and how they were used, fired, cleaned, plus definitions (how they looked, their uses) on gun parts such as flash pan and flint. This attention helps to round out the plot or subplots. It makes the reader feel s/he is there, in the scene you wrote. 

This series is to provide knowledge in the handling of guns during the 18^th century, bird hunting, and what sort of bird dogs to use. It can also be used as a study of the written language during this time frame. It helps the author with authenticity.

So, here we are at the next set of instructions from a 1777 pamphlet to keep a gun in good shape, and how/when to shoot game. If you’ve missed the other installments, just scroll down to the previous blogs on this page. (I haven't that many.)

This blog will begin with “Of Wood-cock Shooting” and end with “Of Water-fowl and Fen-Shooting”. So very interesting.

Now, to continue… Oh, and don’t forget, this is verbatim from the book. I have not made any corrections to punctuation or spelling.

Page (20)

"Of Woodcock-Shooting.

"The season for Cock-shooting, generally begins towards the latter end of November; they are birds of passage, and come over to us in flights in the night-time, about the full of the moon: the first flight, which is sometimes in October, is commonly very scanty; but they continue coming over, more or less, every moon, till February; consequently, it will generally be found they are in greater plenty towards the latter end of the winter; though this is no absolute rule... they remain with us generally till the middle or latter end of March.

See? You can insert a hunting party in your manuscript as a sure thing during the months of December and February. Any time before or after, a true sportsman reading your novel might get annoyed due to the scanty gathering of woodcocks in his neck of the woods. The last thing an author wants is a bad review simply because you’ve entered months wherein woodcocks may not be available for the hunt.

"Their haunts are chiefly in the springs and bogs, in woods and coppices; and in the beginning of the winter, before the leaves are well off, they prefer the out-parts of the woods.

"For springing them, we use spaniels, and a leash, or two brace, of the steady keen-nosed sort, are sufficient for two or three shooters... and, as in pheasant-shooting, it is necessary to keep as near the dogs as possible...

"A Woodcock is a very tender bird; and being a large mark, affords easy pretty shooting, where a person has got the art of shooting flying tolerable well; but it frequently occurs that the bird rises in a perpendicular line, which is the most difficult shot that is; in this case, an unexperienced sportsman will find it more adviseable to forbear firing... til the bird has arrived at the height of the perpendicular, and flies offward; but as a shot will be often lost by this delay, the good marksman should never wait it, except he judges the shot will be better.

In other words, aim your gun and fire.

17th Century

"Of Snipe-Shooting.

"The Snipe, like the woodcock, is a bird of passage; they begin coming over to us about the middle or latter end of October, and remain with us pretty forward in the spring. They frequent, like the woodcock, the springs, bogs, and marshy places; but with this difference, that the cock seeks these in cover, and snipe in open clear parts, as fields and commons.

"Snipes afford as pretty sport to a good marksman, as any bird whatsoever; tho’ they are very quick fliers, yet are every tender, and will fall almost at the bare report of the gun.

Fodder for your next chapter - very tender, quick flying snipes. What more could an author want?

"The several disagreeable circumstances met with in wood-shooting, are in this sport avoided; and a person has here no other inconvenience, than a little wet and dirt, which may be easily guarded against by wearing boots.

"We spring snipes either with spaniels, or by making a flight sharp kind of noise, about the places where we know they haunt: they mostly fly directly against the wind (if there is any material air stirring), and a shot after them is the best and most sure: the slant and cross shots are rather difficult, as they are a small mark, and fly exceedingly quick.

"For practice in this, which is very nice, swallow-shooting may be used in summer to advantage.

"Of Water-fowl and Fen-Shooting.

"The haunts of the Water-fowl, as Geese, ducks, Widgeons, &c. are well known.

"In shooting them, we use the longest killing gun, and as large shot, as the No. 1 or 2.

"The proper dog is the rough, curled, water spaniel, of which the white sort are commonly the best; they should be under the strictest command; be ready at fetching any thing out of the water, without biteing it; and catching what is only wounded; should be used, on occasion, to creep quiet, and close behind the master's heel; of such, one or two will be sufficient for this sort of shooting.

"The fowl may either be shot swimming, or, which is better, taken on the wing; as in the water they are strongly guarded by the close lying of their wings and feathers; therefore, if a person is a good marksman, it will be always best to spring them first.

"The best place to throw the shot, if opportunity will allow, is under the wing, as that is by much the tenderest place; and the worse of all is the breast, as the feathers here lie extremely thick and close. This sport, though very good, where wild-fowl are plenty, is very little practised by gentlemen, owing to the several disagreeable circumstances attending it.

"The fen-shooting is but little followed by gentlemen sportsmen, any more than wild-fowl shooting. The haunts of the fen-birds are sufficiently known by their title.

"We use, in general, the No. 3 shot, which will serve as well for the bittern, and curlew, as the plover.

"One or two steady water or land spaniels may be used; and it will be always best to spring the birds before firing.

Here ends the third installment of The Art of English Shooting.

Next time, we’ll discuss: 

Of various Upland Winter Shooting, and  

Necessary Observations for the young Sportsman.

How cool is that?

For more happy reading on London 1660’s, and one French Revolution novel, please find my works where ebook prices have been reduced at: 

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Historical Novelists Book Fair

We will take a bit of a break from The Art Of English Shooting which you will see below, and then in a few day's time, above. 

In the meantime...
Welcome to the Historical Novelists Book Fair April 12-15 in this year of our Lord 2013. 

http://tgunwriter.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/on-line-spring-book-fair-historical.html#comment-form

According to the rules of the game, I am to start with latest release, a story of espionage in London 1662. It is titled: Of Carrion Feathers. But to get a better picture of my plan, let's begin with why I chose London during the 1660's.

My goal is to write a London novel each year from 1660-1666 when most all of the inner city burnt to the ground. The reason for a book each year is simple. The current events of those years were so extraordinary that I simply had to dedicate a book per year to explain it all.  That means I cannot speak of something in one book that happens a year later, which is sometimes difficult. Historians have a tendency to blur data as long as it's within a certain span of time.


For instance, the very end of 1659 there were whispers to bring the king back to England. When the king returned in May 1660, the churches were silent of music, but I cannot speak of music in the churches until quite awhile after the king resettled in England. Historians will say music returned to the churches with the Restoration (1660). Well, that is true, but in 1659 or in 1660 during Viola, there was no music in the churches. It took quite a while for this to happen.  But I digress...

As above, 1660 brought King Charles II back to England, and what a time that was. So many singing and dancing in the streets. The transition from Puritan to Anglicanism was extreme. Due to ever changing rules, good folk did not know if they were married or not. Many took this confusion to heart and left their spousal unit to marry again, but across town where they were not known. Viola, A Woeful Tale of Marriage is about a young woman who finds she is married to a bigamist. It's a rousing good tale. 

Then, in London 1661, we have TWINS (An EPIC 2012 Finalist) that begins with a little known superstition where a man can only sire one child at a time. If a woman has twins, especially fraternal, then it is clear to all she is an adulteress.  

But that's not the only storyline. TWINS deals with a papist (Catholic) merchant in an overwhelmingly Protestant London. If it were known our protagonists were Catholic, they'd be run out of town to the distance of at least 7 miles. It's a good conflict. 

TWINS is about trade in London during the year 1661, prior to when the East India Company got a better hold in the business. (The company did not fare well during the Civil Wars or Cromwellian years.) Our merchant - the twins' uncle - is in the Levant Company, and Edgar goes to sea as a learning experience. What he doesn't expect is to fall into a battle with pirates, or deal with a corrupt Levant official. 

Emmatha is forced to stay behind and marry a widower, and a Catholic, gentleman farmer (who has several children by his ex sister-in-law). Is this confusing? Where's the twins' father in all this? You'll have to read it to find out. 

By 1661, trade was better, and more ports of call were being explored, but it wasn't until Catherine of Braganza (1662) that England made so many more strides in that area. TWINS is another good rumpus tale that men and women alike will enjoy.

Of Carrion Feathers is London 1662 during the worst of the nonconformist uprisings, and plots are rampant against the king. With all the plots that abounded, it was a wonder King Charles II escaped this year unscathed. 

There is little written about espionage during this time, but I did find a lovely volume that detailed from the smallest to the largest plots, and the king's burgeoning spy network.  It's a Cambridge study in early modern British history, titled: Intelligence and Espionage in the Reign of Charles II, 1660-1685

There were even women in these spy groups, which added to the danger. My chief protagonist is Beatrice Short who is very bright, but not discreet. She is discovered snooping about the Undersecretary's desk, and finds ciphers. He recognizes her brilliance and blackmails Beatrice into becoming a spy for the Crown. 

Beatrice does not want to be a spy.  Since the king returned from exile, he had brought the French way of the theatre, which put women on stage.  Beatrice wants to be an actress, but as a servant, she doesn't have the coin to take music and dance lessons. After getting caught by the Undersecretary, he strikes a bargain with her. If she spies, and breaks code, the Crown will pay for her lessons. 

Beatrice reluctantly agrees. She is paired with a jaded spy called Oliver Prior. For most of their spy mission, neither knows the other works for the Undersecretary--a wily, controlling fellow. Beatrice figures it out much sooner that Prior, since she's so smart, but when Oliver finds out, he is furious.  For more on the full of this story, let's look at the back cover. 

Now, to continue with this book fair, and its rules. Let us do a small excerpt Of Carrion Feathers, London 1662

Beatrice trod up stairs.  At the first level she found a lit candle.  With it in one hand and the dish of starch in the other, she climbed one level after the other `til she reached the top.  The candlelight wavered.  She was on a very dark floor with two doors shut tight. 

She heard rats in the walls, and a clock ticked somewhere near.  No sconces or lanthorns lit the way.  Cold drafts snatched at her skirt hems, and Beatrice frowned.  She’d found herself in a very dreary place. 

She set the starch pot on the floor, and opened the door on the left.  Ladder-stairs led to the garret.  She faced the other door, and opened it to see a large chamber.  The clock ticked louder, and raising the candle, she saw it on a mantelshelf.  Windows were shuttered.  The room was near pitch, and Beatrice was glad to have the candle.  With it, she scanned more of the chamber.  A long table stood against one wall.  Joint stools, and hard backed chairs clustered about something large in the center of the room. 

Beatrice tiptoed around the chairs and stools to the large thing--a box--garnished with thick, metal handles.  The nearer she got, the more it looked like a coffin sitting on joint stools.  She raised the candle, and stepped closer.  She dipped the candle toward the box, and mewed in fear. 

It was an empty coffin.  Grains covered the bottom of it with black wool draped over one side.  It stretched silent in the dark chamber. 

Waiting to be filled. 

Don't forget my other, not of London 1660's novel: The First Apostle, a story of Camille Desmoulins during the French Revolution. You can see it along the banner of my blog. It's the one with the red cover and a guillotine. 

If you want to see what the story is really like, go to amazon.com and Look Inside the books. All ebooks have been reduced in cost. Check out the link: 

http://www.amazon.com/Katherine-Pym/e/B004GILIAS

Guns & English Shooting (Part II)

18th Century Bird Hunt

Last installment discussed the beginning of an old book I found: The Art of English Shooting, published in London 1777. This second part will continue the discussion.

If you missed the first part, you can scroll down below this page.

As previously stated, the title is rather long. The author used its length to show the reader what is discussed within the volume. We are going through the title breakdown. Last installment discussed as follows:

Of the Knowledge of a good Fowling-Piece.

The ordering and managing the Fowling-Piece.

This installment will start with The Appendages of the Fowling-Piece and end with Of Pheasant-Shooting.

The Appendages gives a clear description of an antique rifle. This is good for those who are interested in yester-year shooting pieces, and authors who find it difficult to explain what a protagonist is doing while working with a gun. The problem is, some of the terms in this volume are impossible to find (in my personal library and elsewhere), and never seemed to have made it to the dictionaries.

The internet doesn't have explanations, so I must ask someone who knows guns to help me figure it out. What is a britch-pin for example? I found an expert who stated, “Today, we call it a breech-pin.”

Now, off we go... (spelling and punctuation as shown in book)

Page (11)

"The Appendages of the Gun.

"The necessary appendages in the Fowling-piece are, an iron rod, with a screw or worm at one end, and a scrape (to clear rust or caked powder) at the other, which rod is to be used for the washing and dry-cleaning the inside of the barrel, and turn-screw should be kept for the use of the lock.

As a visual person, I would like to see pictures of this. There are none in the booklet. To solve the problem, I printed or copied data, then took it a gun shop that had an antique selection. I've been known to clap strong eyes on the pieces, all the while pointing and asking questions. But I digress.  

To continue... 

"A flask, or horn, for the carriage of the powder, the size and shape of which may be according to fancy; however, it will be proper to have the measure of the charge to hold the exact quantity (powder) the gun is found to carry.

"A leather pouch, or small canvas bag, to carry the shot; with a tin, or other measure, that will hold the exact charge of the gun: this article of the exact measure for the powder and shot should be particularly observed; as it not only saves trouble, but is charging with more certainty and exactness.

"The Choice of Powder, Shot, and Flints.

"The best sort of Powder is small-grained, hard to crumble between the finger and thumb, and of a bluish cast; which should be the only sort used, by rights, for the Fowling-piece.

"The shot should be round and solid; and the more it has these properties the better it is: the size must be according to the shooting that it is intended for; there is from No. 1 to 6, and smaller, which is called mustard-seed, or dust-shot; but No. 5 is small enough for any shooting whatsoever; the No. 1 may be used for wild-geese; the No. 2, for ducks, widgeons, and other water-fowl; the No. 3 for pheasants... and all fen-fowl; the No. 4, for partridges, woodcocks, etc. and the No. 5, for snipes, and all the smaller birds.

"As to the choice of flints, the clear ones are the best; but whether the dark or light sort, is immaterial, as there are good of both kinds: the size should be suited to the lock of the gun, and be neither too large and thick, nor too small and slight; the first will not give fire freely, and the other will be very apt to break."

Didn't know that about flints, did you? And what does ‘clear’ flint mean? See through? Very interesting.

The next section will consist of how to shoot partridge. According to this small volume, by Act of Parliament, partridge hunting season was from September 1st to February 12, of the Gregorian calendar. Keep in mind England went from the Julian to Gregorian in 1752 with the rest of the world, so the dates are as they would be as today's.

The author of this tome states partridge shooting was deemed the most genteel and best sport in England which is good for Georgian/Regency readers and authors. It's a great help to understand background detail in the stories.

17th Century

"Of Partidge-Shooting.

"In the beginning of the season, they haunt the wheat, barley, oat, peas and bean stubbles; but the wheat-vetch is their favourite: they also lie in turnips, clover-feed, on fallow-land; and indeed, at times, are found any where.

"The most proper dog, and what is generally used for Partridge-shooting, is the pointer, a dog extremely well calculated for the sport; as Partridges can seldom or ever be seen on the ground, if the stubble, etc. be but three or four inches high: if the pointer be staunch, and have a good nose, he will seldom pass in common fields within forty yards of a covy, without intimating by a point pretty near the exact line they lie in.

"A brace, or leash of dogs, are sufficient, where the fields are not uncommonly large; if they are, two brace or more will be preferable."

I can already see a sub-plot form in my mind's eye...

"The small light dogs are, for many reasons, to be preferred to the large, heavy, Spanish breed; as they hunt the ground over quicker; quarter it better; and will go over two or three times as much as the heavy sort, without being tired, or loosing the skin off their feet.

Remember, I have not made any corrections. What you read is what was printed in 1777.

Below is a very suspenseful moment in the hunt…

"...Now appears the difference between the good and bad sportsman; the greatest coolness and composure are now necessary: when they rise, lift your gun deliberately to your shoulder; single out that bird which flies most separate from the rest, and when you find your aim true and steady, and not before then, fire; observing carefully the way the rest of the covey take, and mark, as nearly as you can, where they go down.

"As to rules for shooting flying, they are of little or no signification: a good gun, a cool and steady aim, and practice; for the nice difference in aiming at or before the mark, must all contribute to make a good flying marksman.

"The best of Partridge-shooting, in the sportsman's esteem, is, when the birds take to the hedges, (as we term it) … in the time of rain, for shelter; where they will lie for some time after the rain is over: when it is fair, and not before, take two or three spaniels, or rather, a brace of good hedge-pointers, and hunt the hedges near where you know the covey lies: two persons should go together in this sport, one on each side the hedge; the bird being reckoned his shot, on the whole side of the hedge it flies out. The birds will soon separate, and afford excellent diversion, by rising singly, and near you, giving time for the better aim.

"When pointers are used, the birds are frequently obliged to be beat out, by striking the bush where the point is made, and they will often lie and suffer themselves to be taken by both spaniels and pointers; so stupid and lazy are they after rain...”

There’s room for one more:

“Of Pheasant-Shooting.

“This sport begins, by Act of Parliament, on the first of October, and lasts till the first of February.

“The Pheasant’s brood is called an eye, as the brood of the Partridge is a covey. They are of late years become much more scarce than formerly; however, they are found in the woods in most of the counties of England, more or less: they afford very pretty shooting, though far more fatiguing and tiresome than partridge-shooting; owing to the bushes, briars, and other disagreeable circumstances of the woods.

“Spaniels are to be used in this sport: and two, three, or four brace, may be taken together into the wood: the number of persons together should not exceed three or four, and they should go regularly up and down the wood, and spread at about thirty or forty yards distance: the dogs should not be of the wild sort, but keen-nosed, and apt to give their tongue, (i.e. bark or yelp) when they come on the scent.

“Keep as near the dogs as possible; and when they spring, one or more, let such only fire at the bird as to whom, in point of rising, it belongs; which rule should be always observed in all sorts of shooting in company. In pheasant-shooting, the trees frequently interfere, therefore forbear firing till you have a clear aim at the bird; which, if it cannot be had, it is better to let him escape for another chance.”  

In other words, once the birds are flushed from the bushes, make certain you do not shoot your hunting buddies while trying to aim at the birds. If they fly free before you can steady your gun and shoot, then let the birds live. 

So ends Part II of proper gaming in Georgian England.

Next Installment: Of Woodcock-Shooting


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