OSWALD

Journeyman/Archer

FEUDAL ARCHERS

1135 - 1216

Oswald was born of a poor family around the year 1143 - he parents could not manage another mouth to feed and he was raised by his unmarried uncle, Edgar, who was miller at the village of South Ouse, near Lewes.

Although Oswald enjoyed helping his uncle at the watermill, he was eager to learn more and when the mill wheel was damaged one night in a storm he asked if he could help the carpenter to repair it. The carpenter was impressed with how quickly he learned to use saw and adze - "That young lad of yours could turn his hand to anything," he told Edgar. Oswald took a keen interest in the life of the village and the work done by the watermen, the blacksmith, the baker, the potter, the brewer and carpenter, spending time with all of them and becoming a friend and assistant to all. In the evenings his uncle taught him to shoot a bow, a skill which seemed to be more difficult for him to pick up. A skill he picked up from elsewhere is the use of the slingshot and this can be seen in the lower picture.

As Oswald reached his teens, Edgar insisted he use his various skills to earn some extra money to help feed them and to pay the taxes on the value of the mill. As a journeyman, Edgar explained, he could charge for his help and learn more skills at the same time - and he could visit Rodmell, Iford, or Kingston Hollow to seek work if there was none to be had in South Ouse. He became a jack of all trades and although he had served no apprenticeship and could never claim to be a master craftsman, he quickly earned a reputation as a willing and able worker who could make a good job of practically anything. Over the years his archery also improved.

When a band of outlaws took refuge in the forest to the west of Rodmell, Oswald and Edgar were among the men summoned by the reeve to help flush them out. In a brief skirmish among the beeches and oaks Oswald was struck in the side of the neck by an arrow and although not seriously wounded, he bears the scar to this day. He is proud of his part in this adventure and while he can not claim to have inflicted any wounds in return, he consoles himself in the knowledge that most of the outlaws were captured and hanged at Lewes castle within the week.

It was while working as a journeyman at her manor of Iford that Oswald came to the attention of Lady Matilda, who was very impressed with several pieces of carved oak furniture which he produced for her guest rooms. He now regularly accompanies her on her travels.

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