Part I

the Abbey, whence each of tliem fhot an arrow, which fell not far from Whitby Laths, but on the contrary fide ci the lane. In memory of this tranfa<flion, a pillar was fet up by the" Abbot in the place where each of the arrows fell, which were Handing in 1779; each pillar fiill retaining the name of the owner of each arrow. Their diilance from Whitby Abbey is more than a meafured mile, which fcems very far for the flight of an arrow; but when we confider the advantage a (hooter muft have from an elevation, fo great as the top of the abbey, fituated on a high cliff, the faft will not appear fo very extraordinary. Thefe very pillars are mentioned; and the fields called by the aforefaid names in the * Poffib'y without Invitation. ANECDOTES OF ARCHERY. 23 Id deeds for that ground^-, now in the poflef- fion of Mr. Thomas Watson'. It appears by his Epitaph, that Robert Fitz-ooth lived i;9 )'cars after this time (1 1S8); a very long period tor a life abounding with fo many dangerous en- erprizes, and rendered obnoxious both to church and Hate, Perhaps no part of Er.glifli hiftory iftbrded fo fair an opportunity for fuch pradiccs, is the turbulent reigns of Richard I. King joiix, and Henry J II. Hubert, Archbifhop of Canterbury and ihief Julliciary of England, we are told, ijTued everal proclamations for the fuppre/Ting of outaws ; and even fet a price on the head of this lero. Several llratagems were ufed to apprelend him, but in vain. Force he repelled by brcc; nor was he lefs artful than- his enemies. At length being clofely purfued, many of his fol- owers flain, and the reft difperfed, he took reige in the Prigry of Kirklees, about twelve �niles from Leeds, in Yorkfldre, the Priorefs It that time being his near relation. Old age, lifappointmenr, and fatigue, brought on difeafej I monk was called in to open a vein, who, either hrough ignorance or defign, performed his part ill, that the bleeding could not be flopped. * Th?t each of the arrows of thefc renowned ihootcrs fell, s above defcribsd, is probable ; but that they were fliot from 3me other place than the top of the Abbey is equally probable. : 24 ANECDOTES OF ARCHERY. Believing he fhould not recover, and wifluiig to point cut the place where his remains might be depofited, he called for his bow and difcharging two arrows, the firft fell in the river Calder, the fecond falling in the park, marked the place of his future fepulture. He died on the 24th of December, in the year 1247 , as appears by the following epitaph, which was once legible on his tomb, in Kirklees park ; where, though the tomb remains, yet the infcription hath been long obliterated. It was, however, prcferved by Dr. Gale, Dean of York, and inferted from his papers by Mr. Thoresbv> in his Ducat. Leod. and is as follows Hear, xjndernead dis latil stean, ' Laiz Robert Earl of Huntington 5 Nea Arcir ver az hie sa geud. An pipl kauld im Robin Heud -. Sick utlawz az hi an iz men, ViL England nivr si agen. Obit 24 Kal. Dekembiis, 1247. In a fmall grove part of the cemetery formerly belonging to this Priory, is a large flat graveftonc, on which is carved the figure of a Crofs de Calvary, extending the whole length ol * Suppofing him twenty-one years of age, when on hi vifit to Abbot Richard at Whitby, he muft at this tlim have been at leaft in his eightieth year. : ANECDOTES OF ARCHERY. 25 m fione, and round the margin is infcribed Mo- naftic charaders -f DovcE : Fhu : de : Nazareh : Donne : Mercy : Elizabeh : de . Stanton ; Prior.es : DE : Cette Maison. The lady whofe memory is here recorded, is faid to have been related to Robin Hood, and under whofe proteilion he took refuge fomedme before his death. Thefe being the only monuments, remaining at the place make it probable, at leaft, that they have been preferved on account of the fuppofed affinity of the perfons over whofe remains they were crefted. R. Hood's mother had two fifters f, each older than herfelf. The firft married Roger Lord Mowbray ; the other married into the family of Wake. As neither of thefe could be prio- refs of Kirklees, Elizabeth Stanton might be one of their defcendants. In the churchyard of Katherfage, a village in Derby (hire, were depofited, as tradition informs * This Norman infcription (hews its antiquity.---- Robin Hood's anceftors were Normans, and pofTeff.-d the Lordihip of Kyme, in Lincolnfliire. There is a markettown in that county called Stanton. �f Dr. Stukelet. i6 ANECDOTES OF ARCHERY. US, the remains of John Little, the fen-aat and companion of Robin Hood. The grave is diftinguiflied by a large ftone, placed at the head, and another at the feet ; on each of which are' yet fome remains of the letters I. L. The revolution which delivered the Swifs Cantons from the Germanic yoke, happened about the year 1307. In which William Tell, a renowned Archer and inhabitant of Underwald, was the principal inllrument. Grisier, the Governor under Albert, the Emperor, exercifed the moft glaring ads of ty- ranny and oppreffion. Among ft the reft of his experiments to try the patience of the people, it is faid that he placed his hat on the top of a pole, and commanded every one to pay the fame le- fpeft to this infignia in his abfence, they did to his perfon when prefent, on pain of fuch puniihment as he fhould think proper to inflift. William Tell refufing this bafe fubmiffion, was brought before Gris er, who knowing him to be a /ood marfkman, wantonly ordered him to fhoot an arrow at an apple placed on the head of his own fon ; at the fame time informing him, that if he miffed the mark, he fhould be hanged on the ipot. His fon, then but a child, was placed at >\N�CDOT�S OF ARCHERY. 1"] the diftance of one hundred and twenty paces from his father ; who drawing the bow, with a trembling hand let fly the arrow, which carried away the apple without touching the boy, amidft the fhouts and acclamations of many thoufands of fpedators. The tyrant perceiving he had another arrow concealed under his cloak, afked -- him, For what purpofe ? as he was only to liave one (hot ? To which, he boldly replied, " To " have iliot thee to the heart if I had had the " misfortune to kill my fon." Grisler, who had promifed to give him his lile on his confefling the truth, nT)w ordered hin\ to be bound and carried prifoner to a place on the lake of Lucern; but Tell happily efcaping ou: of the boat, in crolling the lake, retired to the mountains. His fellow-citizens, animated by hi.5 fortitude and patriotifm, flew to arms, attacked G and vanquifhed r i s l k r , who fell by an arrow from the hand of Tell. The confequence was that the affociation for independency took place on the inftant*. Amongst the numerous levies made by Edward II. for the purpofe of invading Scotland, in the year 13 14, vve find particular mention made of the Northumbrian Archers in Ha Rvt y's life of King Robert Bruce, an Heroic Poem, printed in the year 1768. * See Stumpf}'& Sceiweizer Chronica, fol. 1548. "C 3 -- 28 ANECDOTES OF ARCHERY. Frem Humber's dreams, whofe tumbling waves refaund^ And deafen all the adjoining coafts around. To where the Tweed in fofter windings flows, :-- Full fifty thoufand quiver'd warriors rofe A hnrdy race, who well experienced, knew To fit the fJiaft, and twang the bended yew ; Bred up to danger, and inured to daie In di{lar;t fight, and aim the feather'd war; Thefe bands their country's higheft triumphs boaft ; And Glocester and Hertford led the hoft. The country from the Humber to the Tweed, formerly the ancient Deira, was ftill covered with woods and forefts, abounding with vaft quantities of game; a circum fiance which would certainly encourage the ufe of the bow. In the year 13 4.1, the 15th of Eov.'AnD III. Sir John Eli. and of Elland, being. High' SheritF of the county of York ; and the king tlien engaged in foreign wars : Three gentlemen who lived in the neighbourhood of Elland, namely. Sir. Robert Beaumont Quarmby of Quarmby, and Look, wood of Lockwood, liaving by fome means dlfpleafed the High Sheriff, he rcfolved on their utter deilruclion. Arming his tenants, he repaired by night to each of their lioufes, and cruelly murdered them all. * Thefe troops with many others, fufrered a total defeat at Binnockburn, in confe4uence of a difpute amongf: the officers before the battle began. ANECDOTES OF ARCHERY. 29 Lady Beaumont, with her twofons, fled for proteftion to urearton-Hall in Lancailiire, the feat of Sir Thomas Break ton, her near relation. She was prefently followed by the two fons of Loc:kwood and Quarmby, accompanied by their relation young Lacy of Crumble-bcttom. Thefe youths were entertained alternately, at the hofpitable manfions of Townley and BreartonHall; where, befides the ordinary education, they were inftrufted in all the manly exercifes of -- the times, riding, fencing, and particularly fhooting in the long bow. Here they continued till the youngell of the party had attained to his fifteenth year ; when it was unanimoufly agreed, they fhould with a few trufty alTcciates return into Yorkfhire, and retaliate on the Houfe of EUand, the cruel treatment their families had experienced. Having prepared every thing for their depar- ture, they fet out and travelled through unfreauented paths till they came to Crumble-bottom v/ood ; it being pre-concerted to lay in ambufn there, and furprife Sir John Elland, coming from the Sheriffturn at Brigg-houfe. This plan was carried into execution, by openly charging him with his former crimes, and attacking him, A furrounded by his fervants and retainers lliarp conflid enlued, in which Sir John being iepe- ted from his friends, was furrounded and ibiaa.. C :: ^O ANECDOTES OF ARCHERY. From hence thefe daring adventurers fled to the wildernefs of Fournefs- Fells in Lancaftiire; in this place fo remote from fociety and deftitute of every accomodation they fpent the winter, planning ichemes for their future attempts on th;: remains of a family, they wifned to extirpate from the face of the earth. The males of which, now only confiftcd of a fon and grandfon of the decteafed knight. On the eve of Palm-Sunday, they arrived near the place, took poffeiTion of EUand mill, under cover of the night. Here they meant to wait the coming of Sir John Elland, his fon, and family, and attack them as they paiTed over the ftepping llones of the river in their way to the church. Sir John having the day before heard, that a band of armed llrangers had been feen in the neighbourhood ; was fo much alarmed, that when entreated by his Lady to attend her to church, he concealed his fufpicions, by putting on armour under his cloaths. The confpirators had a full view of the family as they defcended the hi'.l from the houfe to the river. Already had the Knight begun to crofs the water, when the door of the mill opened, and Beaumont holding his bow came forward, and with a determined and refolute air drew the arrow to the head, which flying ftruck the Knight on the breaft, and glanced to a diHance. Lockwood at that inftant Hepped ANECDOTES OF ARCHERY. 31 forth and crying cut " Coufin, you (hoot wide," difchargtd hia arrow, which meeting with the fame refiftance was equvally ineffedual ; here it is faid, the Knight was feen to fmile juft before a fecond arrow from the bow of Lockwoou, entering his head laid hi::i dead on the fpot ; at the fame time an arrow from feme other of the party mortaUy wounded his only fon, who expired foon after; and with him the male-line of Ell and of Elland*. Having thus accomplifhed their moll fanguine intentions, the troop began their retreat with all pollible expedition, meanwhile the inhabitants of Elland hearing of the death of their Lord, haftily coUefted fuch arms as they could, and came up with the fugitives in Aneley wood. The loud fliouts of the people gave notice of their approach ; Beaumont, Lockv/ood, and Quarmby, had juft time to face about and form their little corps, when the enemy appeared in fight. So long as any arrows remained amongft them this refolute band did great execution, and flew many of the Ellandcrs ; but thofe being expended they were foon overpowered by numbers, and totally de- feated. Quarmby, left wounded in the wood, * Sib John Elland left one only filter, who carried the fftate of Elland Hall and the Manor of Elland into the ncble f.imily of Savile, by aiarrying an anceflor of the late Lord Marquis of Halifax. 32 ANECDOTES OF ARCHERY. was killed by the purfuers. Beaumont efcaped to the Continent, ferved under the knights of St. John in Hungary, and afterwards in the Ifland of Rhodes, with great reputation*. Lock wood after efcaping from his purfuers, arrived at Ca- mel-Hall nigh Cawthorn in the county of York. This houfe was then the property of Boswell, the under- fheriff, and tenanted by a perfonof the name of Lacy. Lockwcod's ftay herefeems to have been prolonged by an affair of gallantry, which took place betwixt him and the daughter of his hoft. Bos- well hearing of this prevailed with Lacy to deliver the uhfufpefting Lockwood into his hands; for this purpoie he befet the houfe, and called -- aloud to the youth to furrender himfelf who, far from fubmitting, appeared with his bow in his hand, with which he defended himfelf fo well that the fheriff would probably have drawn off his men, had it not been for the perfidy of the daughter of Lacy, who rufhing faddenly upon him cut his bow-firing afunder, and fled in an infiant. Dif- appointed but not conquered, this intrepid youth Hill refufed to furrender; Bosv/ell had then re- * This gentleman wrote fome years after to one of his friends in Yorkfliire, giving an account of his proceedings abroad. The letter was dire�led " To Jenuin Dixok, " dwelling at Hole-Koufe, within the pariih Aldnao.ibury ** in the county of York." ANECDOTES OF ARCHERY. 33 courfe to feigned fpeeches, and hypocritical pro- mifes, which fucceedod to his wifh, and the brave and gallant Lockwood, furrendcred himfelf into the hands of who villains, firft bound him, and then put him to death. Sucii were the confe- quences of this fatal quarrel, which exhibits a mournful pldure of the ferocious manners of the times *. Edward III. in the 15th year of his reign iiTued an order to the fneriffs of mod of the Eng- liflii counties ; for providing five hundred white bows and five hundred bundles of arrows for the then intended war againft France in 1 34.1. Similar orders were repeated in the fcllovving years; with this difference only, that the Iheriff of Gloucefterfhire is dircfled to furnifh five hundred painted bows, as well as the fame number of white. The famous battle of CrelTey was fought four years afterwards, in which the Engllfn are faid to have had four thoufand Archers, who were oppofed to 15C00 Genoefe crofs-bow men. Thefe having their bow firings moiHened with rain, their arrows fell Ihort for want of the ufual elafticity ; the Englifii having guarded agalnfl this inconvenience, gained a complete vidory in 1346. * Vide Hia. of Halifax. ; 34 ANECDOTES OF ARCHERY. The battle of Poifliers was fought ten year? after, (A. D. 1356) and gained by the fuperiority of the Englifh Archers. A. D. I "592, an aft pafled to oblige fervants to flioot with bows and arrows on Holydays and Sundays. Sometimes the archers gained great vidories without the leaf!: afliftancc from the men at arms particularly the decifive vidlory over the Scots at Hamildon in 1402. Jn that bloody battle the men at arms did not ftrike a llroke ; but were mere fpeftators of the valour and victory of the Archers. The Earl of Douglas who commanded theScots army in that aflion, enraged to fee his men falling thick around him by ffiowers of arrows, and trufting to the goodnefs of his armour (which had been three years in making;) accompanied by about eighty lords, knights, and gentlemen in complete armour, rafhcd forward and attacked tlie Englifh Archers fword in hand. But he foon had rcafon to repent his ralhnefs. The Hiiglini arrows were fo fliarp and ftrong, and difcharged with fo much force, that no armour could repel them. Earl Douglas, after having received five wounds was made prifoner ; .ind all his brave companions were either killed or taken *. * Henry's Hift. vol, v. page 463. ANECDOTES OF ARCHERY. 35 Philip de Comines acknowledges what our n . writers aflert, that the Englifh Archers ex:!]ed thofe of every other nation : And Sir John Fortescue fays again and lin, *' that the might of the realme of Eng- land flandyth upon Archers." In 14.03 was the battle of Shrewfbury, the befi: light, and the moil defperate that England had ever feen : The Arcliers on both fides did terrible execution. And here the Prince ,of Wales, afterwards Henry V. was wounded in the face by an arrow. The French depended chiefly on their men at arms, and the Scots on their pilcemen ; but the ranks of both were often thinned and thrown into diforder, by flights of arrows, before they could reach their enemies. Of tins there are number- lefs inftances, and none where it is more evident than in the battle of Agincourt : Some of the particulars of which, though well known, may not be unacceptable to fome of our readers. On the morning of Friday, the memorable 25th of Oiflober, A. D- 1415, the Englifli and French armies were ranged in order of battle, each in three lines, with bodies of cavalry on each wing. I 36 ANECDOTES OF ARCHERY. The Constable D'Albert, who commanded the French army, fell into the fnare that was laid for him, by drawing up his army in the plain between two woods. This deprived him in a great meafure of the advantage he fhould have derived from the prodigious fuperiority of his numbers * ; obliged him to make his lines unneceiTarily deep, about thirty men in file ; to crowd his troops, particularly his cavalry, fo clofe together, that they could hardly move or ufe their arms; and, in a word, was tlie chief caufe of all the difafters that followed. The firft line of the French army, which con- fided of eighty thoufand men-at-arms on foot, mixed with four thoufand Archers, and five hundred men at-arms, mounted on each wing, was commanded by the Constable D'Albert, the Dukes of Orleans and Bourbon, and many other nobles; the Dukes of ALEN90N, Brabant, Bar, &c. conduced the fecondline; and the Earls of Marle, Damartine, Fauconeerg, &c. were at the head of the third line. The King of England employed He various arts to fupply his defeft of numbers. placed two hundred of his beft Archers in am- * The Englifti army confifted of about ten thoufand, of whom not a few v/ere fick. That of the French amounted to one hundred thoufand ; fome contemporary v/riters fay one hundred and forty thoufand. ANECDOTES OF ARCHERY. 37 bufti, in a low meadow, on the flank of the firft line of the French. His own firil line confilled wholly of Archers, four in file; each of whom, befides his bow and arrows, had a battle-ax, a fword, and a llake pointed with iron at both ends, which he fixed before him in the ground, the point inclining outwards, to proteft him from cavalry ; which was a new invention, and had a happy effeft. That he might not be encumbered, he difmified all his prifoners on their word of honour to fur- render themfelves at Calais, if he obtained the -- viftory, and lodged all his baggage in the village of Agincourt, in his rear, under a flender guard. The command of the firft line was, at his earned requeft, committed to Edward Duke of York, affifted by the Lords Beaumont, WilloughBY, and Fanhope; the fecond was condufted by the King, with his youngeft brother Humphry Duke of Gloucester, the Earls of Oxford, Marshal, and Suffolk ; and the third was led by the Duke of Exeter, the King's uncle. The lines being formed, the king. In fhining armour, with a crown of gold, adorned with precious ftones, on his lielmet, mounted on a fine white horfe, rode along them, and add'-effed each corps with a cheerful countenance and ani- D 3S ANECDOTES OF ARCHERY. mating fpeeches. To inflame their refentment againft their enemies, he told them, that the French had determined to cut ofF three fingers of the right-hand of every prifoner ; and, to roufe their love of honour, he declared, that every foldier in that army who behaved well, ftiould from thenceforth be deemed a gentleman, and en- titled to bear coat- armour. When the two armies were drawn up in this manner, they flood a confiderable time gazing at one another in folemn filence. But the King dreading that the French would difcover the danger of their fituation and decline a battle, com- manded the charge to be founded about ten o'clock in the forenoon. At that inftant the firft line of the EngliHi kneeled down and kiffed the ground ; and then flarting up, difcharged a flight of arrows, which did great execution among the m crowded ranks of the French. Immediately af- ter, upon .a fi.gnal being given, the Archers ambui>. amfe, and difcharged their arrows on the flank of the French line, and threw it into fome diforder The battle now became general, and raged with uncommon fury. The Englifn Archers having expended all their arrows, threw away their bows, and rufliing forward, made dreadful havoc with their fwords and battle-axes. The firft line of the enemy was, by thefe means, defeated ; its leaders being either killed or taken prifoners. ANECDOTES OF ARCHERY. 39 The fc'cond line commanded by the Duke D'ALENfON', (who had made avow to kill or taice the King of England, or to peiilli in the attempt) now advanced to the charge, and was encountered by the fccond line of the EngUfli, conduced by the King. This conflict was more clofe and furious than the former--The Duke of Gloucester, wounded and unhorfed, was protefted by his royal brother till he was carried -- ofF the field The Duke i;>'Alen9Cn forced his way to the King, and aflaulted him with great fury ; but that prince brought him to the ground, where he was inflanily defpatched. Difcourged by this difafter, the fecond line made no more refinance, and the third fled without ftriking a blow; yielJing a complete and glorious victory to the EngliOi, after a viohnt flruggle of three hours duration. The King, after returning to England, fenfible of the very great ufe and importance of his Archers, dire�ls the flieriffs of counties to colled fix wing- feathers from every goofe, for the purpofe of improving arrows ; which were to be paid for by the King. It appears that ihefe flx feathers fliould confifl: of the fecond, third, and fourth of each wing. D2 40 ANECDOTES OF ARCHERY. James I. of Scotland, who had feen and ad- mired the de.\rerity of the Englifti Archers, and who was himfelf an excellent Archer, endeavoured to revive the exercife of Archery amongft his own fubjeds, by whom it had been too much ne- glected. With this view he ridiculed their aufcward manner of handling their bows, in his humcuroas Poem of Chriftis Kirk cf the Grene , and procured the following law to be made in his firfl; parliament. (A. D. J424.) " That all men might bufk them to be " Archares fra tha be 12 yeres of age, and that '� at ilk teime punds worth of land there be made " bow markes, and fpeciallie near paroche kirks, " quhair upon halie dayis men may cum and at " the leift fchute thryfe about, and have ufage " of Archarie; and whafa lifis not Archarie, ** the Laird of the land fall rais of him a wed" der; and giff the Laird taifis not the faid " pane, the King's Shiref or his Minilters (hall " rais it to the King.' * With that a freyni of his cry'd,--" Fy !" And up an arrow drew ; He fortit it fae furiouiTy The bow in flenderis flew : <' It was as weel, for if, trow I," For had the tre been trew, Men faid, that kend his Archery, That he had flain enow. ANECDOTES OF ARCHERY . 4! But the untimely death of that excellent Prince, which happened in the year i437> prevented the execution of this