The Yew Tree was a weapon of mass destruction. The Yew tree was used to make bow and arrows and until gunpowder was invented in the 1400’s and men could kill each other even better they used bow and arrows.
Every half decent place had to have a good supply of Yew trees.
Every part of the Yew tree is poisonous except the flesh on the red berries.
The Yew tree became much scarcer in Ireland and Britain when bows and arrows were not needed anymore. Farmers got rid of them as they didn’t want animals eating them.
Listen to Mooney Goes Wild (7th Feb 2021) 2:40 – 4:45
The Battle of Agincourt
The Battle of Agincourt was an English victory in the Hundred Years’ War. It took place on 25 October 1415 near Azincourt, in northern France. The unexpected English victory against the numerically superior French army boosted English morale and prestige, crippled France and started a new period of English dominance in the war.
The English put this unexpected victory down to the longbow.
At weekends all farmers trained on the longbow. We know this as dug up remains from back then showed extremely string right arms with huge muscles. Arrows could travel 300meters.
The Yew was the nuclear weapon of its day. The 2 fingered salute also comes from back then.
These 2 fingers were used to pull back the string, when you defeated the enemy you didn’t put them in jail. Instead you cut off these 2 fingers as they could never use a bow and arrow again. A real insult to people then was to hold up your 2 fingers to them. By doing this you are saying to them that ‘I can still get you’. This insult is 1000 years old.
Listen to Mooney Goes Wild (7th Feb 2021) 4:45 – 6:25
What does toxic mean?
What is a toxophilite – It is a person who studies or is an expert of archery.
Toxo is the greek word for bow.
The Yew tree can often be found in graveyards. There are a number of reasons for this, the Yew tree symbolises old age but another reason is because of farmers.
Graveyards have very rich soil and this nutrient rich soil produces excellent grass. Farmers used to turn a blind eye to their livestock going into graveyards and eating grass. As a result the priests/clergy planted Yew trees and cut the branches. The branches and leaves were poisonous and the farmers kept the animals out.
Listen to Mooney Goes Wild (7th Feb 2021) 13:15 – 15:28
