Elizabethan Weapons

Although my characters are likely to have weapons they have created themselves to hunt with (such as spears made from tree branches) I have also researched weapons of the era in the idea that these will influence the weapons they create and possibly steal from passers through the woods or nearby villages. Muskets were introduced in this era; however, it is unlikely that my characters will use these or even know how too, probably opting for more close quarter combat weapons such as daggers and axes. The constant threat of the Catholic Spanish invading England meant that many medieval weapons were still in use, weapons available in this era included:

 The Mace 

This was an armour fighting weapon, therefore not a likely weapon choice for hunting and survival. It was a more advanced design of a club, used to bludgeon the enemy.

Flanged Mace

http://www.medievalwarfare.info/weapons.htm#spears

Swords and Daggers 

Basilard

The Basilard was a two-edged long bladed dagger.

http://www.castlerockmuseum.com/exhibits/daggers/DA02.1/index.php

Rondel

http://www.medievalwarfare.info/weapons.htm#spears

A rondel dagger or roundel dagger was a type of stiff-bladed dagger in Europe in the late Middle Ages (from the 14th century onwards), used by a variety of people from merchants to knights. It was worn at the waist and might be used as a utility tool, or worn into battle or a jousting tournament as a side-arm.

This weapon could be used and incorporated into my character designs

Spears

The Lance

A long spear like weapon used on horseback, again, unlikely choice for my characters.

The Halberd

The halberd consists of an axe blade topped with a spike mounted on a long shaft, it also has a hook on the back side of the axe for grappling mounted combatants.

Bill and Billhooks

This which was originally used as a farming tool, was a cross between a broad curved knife with a hook at the end, and an axe

http://www.machetespecialists.com/hiofma.html

Ranged Weapons

Longbow

One of the simpler longbow designs is known as the self bow. By definition, a self bow is made from a single piece of wood. Truly traditional English longbows are self bows, made from yew wood

The longbow is another weapon I could use for my characters choice of weapon.

Crossbow

http://www.elizabethanenglandlife.com/different-kinds-of-elizabethan-era-weapons.html

A crossbow is a range weapon that shoots projectiles (called bolts or quarrels) consisting of a bow mounted on a stock. A crossbow is a bow mounted on a stock (or tiller) with a mechanism that holds the drawn bow string. Early designs featured a slot in the stock, into which the cocked string was placed. To fire this design, a vertical rod is thrust up through a hole in the bottom of the notch, forcing the string out. This rod is usually attached perpendicular to a rear-facing firing lever called a trigger or 'tickler'.

Quarterstaff

A shaft of hardwood between 5 and seven feet in length, sometimes with metal tips, ferules or spikes

http://www.larpinn.co.uk/hand-weapons-spearstaff-c-89_189_92.html

Due to this weapons simplicity to manufacture, it is likely that this would be a common weapon and easy for my characters to discover.