Welcome to the very late release of the August issue of the ChivalryDaze Newsletter.  I apologize for not getting the newsletter out at the beginning of the month.  I had completed this issue early then completely forgot about it.  Well lets just see if I can remember to get the next one out as scheduled.  8)
 

When the English start commonly smoking tobacco in the late 16th century, most of the better tobacco was being grown in Spanish colonies in the New World. Since the England's relations with Spain were not good at that time, they were obliged to obtain tobacco through middlemen which made it rather costly. This expense is reflected in the small size the Elizabethan period pipe (1580-1600). 

When relations with Spain improved and tobacco production started in Virginia prices drop and pipes became a little larger (1610-1625). As the 17th century progressed and Virginia's tobacco output increased, the pipe bowl capacity increased and the stem became longer which provide cooler smoking. By the 18th century pipe bowls were at about the largest they would typically get, and the stems were sometimes up to a foot long. The stems were NOT broken off as they were passed between users as is often told. By 1800, pipes were being finely crafted, sometimes with images or text molded on to the pipe bowl.

Clay Pipe, circa 1630 - 1650, colonial made, 5" long

Source: Tuckahoe Trading Company

I can think of a lot of words that I would apply to tax collectors, but "chicken-chasers" is not one of them.

However that's what they were called in English in the Middle Ages.  The word used then was catchpoule, from the Latin, cacepollus, a person who runs after fowl.  The usage came about because the revenue agent would often confiscate a deadbeat's chickens for non-payment of taxes.  He was a guy of whom you would definitely not want to run afow . . . uh, afoul.

Source: FORGOTTEN ENGLISH

"I'll give you an airplane ride for £5," said the pilot.

"Sorry, cannae afford it," replied Jock.

"Tell you what," said the pilot, "I'll give you and your wife a free ride if you promise not to yell. Otherwise it'll be £10."

So up they went and the pilot rolled, looped, stalled and did all he could to scare Jock. Nothing worked and the defeated pilot finally landed the plane. Turning around to the rear seat he said, 

"Gotta hand it to you. For country folk you sure are brave!"

"Aye," said Jock "But ye nearly had me there when the wife fell oot!"

andrew@ChivalryDaze.zzn.com

MSN Messenger ID#: sworddaze

Arrows were usually carried in a bunch of twenty-four stuck through a loop in the waist belt.  

The Scots, who had a great respect for the southern bowmen, had a saying: 'Every English archer carries twenty Scots under his belt'.

In Europe and America through the 19th century, the punishment for certain crimes was to pillory the perpetrator in public.  A wooden apparatus secured their necks and hands, forcing the miscreants to remain in one spot while people stared at them, called them names, or even threw things at them.  It was not fun. 

The Scots had their own word for this device.  They called it a "fixfax," from "flachs," the German word for neck tendons.

Source: FORGOTTEN ENGLISH