Part II

law. The arrow feems to have been the decifive weapon at the great battle of I'owton, between the Yorkiils and Lancaftrians, where thirty fix thoufa-.d feven hundred and twenty-fix En^;lifhmen fell a fiicrifice to the ambition of contend- ing Princes. The battle begun about nine o'clock in the morning of the 29th of March 1461, at which time a thick fnow falling was driven by a brifk wind full in the faces of the Lancaftrians, who vyere thereby prevented from cbferving the exa.�t diftance of the enemy. The Lord Fauconberg, an old and ex- perienced officer, made an admirable ufe of this accident ; for he ordered his men to advance as near as they conveniently could, and to difcharge a flight of arrows, and then retire with all fpeed out of the reach of thofe of the enemy. This ftratagem had a wonderful efFeft : The Lancaltrians feeling the arrows, and thinking their enemies were not many yards diflant, emp- tied their quivers by repeated difcharges, Ed- D3 42 ANECDOTES OF ARCHERY. ward's men all the while keeping theirs in referve. The Lord Fauconberg perceiving the Lancaftrians' fhot was near fpent, and that they were advancing, as was cuftomary, fword in hand, to begin a clofe fight, plied them with another furious difcharge, wliich obliged them to fall back on the main body. Moft authors agree, that this condu<5l of Fauconberg's was a great help to the vidory . Stow obferves that the flain were buried in five great pits in the field by North- Saxton church; and adds, that a Mr. Hun gate caufed them to be removed from thence, and buried iti the churchyard of Saxton; but they were certainly buried in many parts of the field, as their remains are often difcovered there by the plough- fhare. Mr. Drake informs us, that in the year 1734, himfelf and two other gentlemen were prefent at this place, to fee one of thefe graves opened in the field ; where, amongft vaft quantities of bones, they found fome arrow piles, pieces of broken fwords, and five very frefh groat-pieces of Henry IV. V. and VI's. coin. Thefe laying, * Thomas Lord CuproRD, noted for his cruelty at the battle of Watcefield, was, three months after, killed at this battle, by a headkls airow, which piercing his throat,; he died immediately, aged 26. ANECDOTES OF ARCHERY. 43 nearly altogether, clofe to a thigh bone, made it probable that they had not had time to ftrip the dead before their interment. In the 5th year of Edward IV. an aft pafT- ed, that every Englilhman, and Irilhman dwell- ing with Englifhmen, fliould have an Englifh bow of his own height ; which is direfted to be made of yew, vvych, hazel, alh, or awborne, or any other reafonable tree, according to their power. This aft alfo dire�ts, that butts fliall be made in every townlhip, which the inhabitants are obliged to flioot up and down every feafl: day, under the penalty of a halfpenny, when they Ihall omit this exercife. In the 4th year of the fame King it appears, 1 by Rymer's Fcedera, that one thoufand Archers were to be fent to the DuKt of Bu rg a ndy, whofe pay is fettled at fixpence a-day ; which is more than a common fuldier receives clear in the prefent times, when provifions are much dearer, and the value of money fo much decreafed. This circumftance feems to prove very clearly, the great eftimation in which Archers were ftill held In the fame year Edward, preparing for a war with France, direfts the flierifFs to procure bows and arrows, as moll fpeci^y requifite and neccfiary. ; 44 ANECDOTES OF ARCHERY. Richard III. by his attention to Archery, was able to fend one thoufand bow-men to the Duke ofBRETACNE; and he availed himfelfof the fame troops at the battle of Bofworth : At this battle the Archers, on the fide of King Richard, were commanded by the Duke of Norfolk ; and the Earl of Oxfokd was Captain of thofe of the Earl of Richmoind. Henry VII. directs a large body of Archers to be fent to Brittany, and that they Ihall be reviewed before they embark. In the 19th year of his reign, the fame king forbids the ufe of the crofs-bow; " becaufe the long-bow had been ' much ufed in this realm, whereby honour and " viftory had been gotten againfl: outward ene" mies, and the realm greatly defended." This King inflituted a band of Archers to guard his perfon, under the title of Tec.i:cn of the Guard. This band is at prefent eftablifhed but they are now armed with fwords and halberts, inflead of bows. Still, however, to keep up the memory of their^predeceffors fkill, they annually praftice (hooting with bows and arrows Henry VIII. in the 3d year of his reign, direds, that every father Ihould provide a bow 1 ANECDOTES OF ARCHERY. 45 and two arrows for his fon, when he (hall be feven years eld. Alfo in the 6th of the fame king's reign, every one, except clergy and judges, are obliged to fhoot at butts. Anno 1510, Ferdinand, King of Arragon, Henry foliciting fuccours from VIII. againll the MooKs in Africa, his defires were complied with, and fifteen hundred Archers fent him un- der the command of Thomas Lord Darcy. Anno 1 5 13, James IV. King of Scotland, in- vaded the Englifh borders wliile King Henry was in France. The Earl of Surrey, being Lord Lieutenant, raifed the Militia of the nortiieru counties, amounting to twenty- fix thoufand men, and advanced to meet him. The battle (which happened at Flowden Field) was bloody and terminated in the total defeat of the Scots ; whofe King, with the Archbifhop of St. Andrews, two Abbots, twelve Earls, and feventeen Lords, were flain in battle. The viftory, in a great meafure, feems to have been owing to Sir Edward Stanley and his Archers. The names of the nobility and gentry who were prefent, Vv^ith their tenants, at this memorable battle, arc recorded in a curious old Poem,faid to have been written by a fchoolmafier at Ingleton, in the Wefl Riding ot the county of York, which is particularly interelling, as it prefents a ; 46 ANECDOTES OF ARCHERY. ftriking piflure of the manner of ralfing our aricicnt Miiida, the true conllkutional force of this country: Men, who were one day at the plough, and the next ranged under the banners of their refpeftivc leaders with arms in tl^eir hands, which they ufed only againft the hoilile invader; whom having repelled, the furvivors returned to their refpefuve employments, amidfi: the congratula- tions of their dearell connexions, thsir friends, and their countrymen. Then might you fee on every fide The ways all fill'd with men of war ; Here fi'.ken ftreamers waving wide, Thers polifn'd helms gliit'ring afar. From Lancafliire and CheOiire fall They to the Kifty Stanley drew; From Hornby where as he in hail Set forward with a comely crew. What banners brnve before him blaz'd, The people mus'd where he did pifs Poor hufbandmen were much airj.iz'd. And women wond'ring, cried,--alas I Young wives did weep In woeful cheer. To fee their friends in harnefs dreft : Some rent their clothes, fome tore their hair. Some held thuir babes unto their bie�it. * Hetiry Jenkins believed he micht be about twelve years of ape at the time of the battle ot Flowden Field, when he was (ent to Northallerton with on hcrfe-load of auows, which a bigger boy had the charge of froiL thence to the army under the Earl of Surrey, "AKECDOTES OF ARCHERY. 47 There woeful mothers mourning flood, Viewing their fon% harnefs'd on hoire; And fiiouting fliiic!:d when they forth rode, And of tlieir lives took little force. From Penigent to Pendle-hill, From Linton to Long Addingham, And all that Craven coafts did till. They with the lufty Clii'ford came. A!l Sta'ndifte hundred went with him. With Ibiplings flrong from Whorledale, And all that Ilanto.i hills did climb, With Longdroth eke and Litton Dale. Next whom Lord LuMLEvf- and Latimer J, Were equal match'il with all their pow'r; With whom was next their neighbour near. Lord Con vers ftout and ftift' in ftoure �. Sir-Walter Aufith, fage and grave, Was with Sir Henry Sherburn bent; And under Bulmer's banner brave The Bi/liopric of Durham went ||. � Henri', the thivteenth Lor.l Clifford, on account of the hatred the , Houfe of York bore to his tamily, was concealed in the difguife of a fhcp- herd, from feven years old till he arrived at his thiity-fecond year ; when, in the firft parliament of Henry VII, he was reftored in blood and honour, to all his baronies, lands, and caftles. He died in 1513. t John Lord Lumlcy married Joan, filler to Lord Scroop of Bolton. i John Nerille Lord Latimer, married Catherine Par, and leaving her a widow, fhe became the laft wife of Henry Vlll. ^ William Lord Conyers of Hornby Caftle, near Richmond in V'ork(hire, married Maud, daughter of Henry Percy Earl of Northumberland. II There were many ancient families in the North of England at this time, whofe names are not mentioned in this Poem. But it muft be remembered, that the King, with a great part of bis nobility, and a numcrcus army, was then in France. ANECDOTES OF ARCHERY. 5|.8 Whom enfued Sir Christopher Ward, With him Sib Edward Efxincham; Next went isiR Nicholas A�pi.eyard, Sir Metham, Sidney, Everingham. Next went biR Bold and Butler brave, Two lufty Knights of Lancalhlre ; Then Burkerton bold and Bygot grave, With Warcup wild, a worthy fquire. Next Richard Cholmley and Christon ftout. With men of Hatfield and of Hull; Lawrence of Dun with all his rout. The people frefh with them did pull. John Clartice then was 'nexed near With Stapylton of ftomach ftern; Next whom Fitz-V/illiam forth did fare. Who martial faites was not to learn. The next the left-hand wing did wield, Sir Marmaduke Constable old 5 With him a troop well tried in field. And eke his fons and kinsfolk bold. Next him in place was 'nexed near Lord ScRoop-f- of Bolton ftern and ftoutj On I'.orfecack who had not his peer, No Engliihman Scots more did doubt. With him did wend all Wenfadale, From Morton unto Moifdale Moor; All they that dwelt on th' Banks of Swale, With nim were bent in harnefs ftour. * Sir Marmaduke Conflable was High Shcri/y of the county of York, A. D. 1509 t John 1 ord Scroop married Catherine, daughter of Henry CUfrord Earl �f Cumberland. ANECDOTES OF ARCHERY. 49 From Werefdalc warlike wights did wend. From Bifhop's Dale went bow-men bold,- From Coverdale to Cotter-end, And all to Kidfton cauley cold j From Mollerftang and Middleham, And all from Mafic and Middleconby, And all that climb the mountain Cam, Whofe crown from fnow is fcldom free j With liifty lads and large of length Which dwelt at Seimer water-fide. All Richmondfhire its total ftrength The lufly Scroop did lead and guide. Next went Sir PhilipTilnet tall. With him Sir Thomas Barkley bravC) Sir John Radcliffe in arms royal. And eke Sir William Gascoin grave. Next whom did pafs with ail his rout, Sir Christopher Pickering proud. With Sir Bryan Stapylton flout,j Two valiant knights of noble blood. Next with Sir John Stanley there ysde The Bishop of Ely's fervants bold, Sir Lionel Percy eke did lead Soaie hundred men well tried and told. Next went Sir Minham Markinfil * In armour-coat of cunn'ng workj The next went Sir John Maundevill> With him the citizens of Y. ik. * Markenficld of Markenfield nigh Ripon, a knightly family, M-hoJe only remaining brarch is James Markcr.fieldj now inhabiting a fmall cottage in t tanimerf;ate, Ripon, retiucej in circumflances, opprelTed with aige, bul ftill refpeaed. E 50 ANECDOTES OF ARCHERY. Sib George Darcy in banner bright Did bear a bloody broken fpear, Next went Sib Magnus with his might. And Chostance bold of luity cheer. Sir Guy Dawnie with his glorious rout. And then M'Dawbie's fcrvants bold, Then Richard Tempest v/ith his rout, Iniere-ward thus their 'ray did hold. The right-hand wing with all his rout The lufty Lord Dacres did lead , . 'With him the bov/s of Kendal ftout With milk-white coats and croffes red. All Kefvvick eke and Cockermouth, And ail from Copeland's craggy hills. All Weftmoreland both north and fouth, Whofe weapons were huge maffy bills. All Carlifle eke and Cumberland, They with Lord Dacres proud did pafs. From Branton and from Broughly fands From Grayftone and from Raven-Giafs. With ftriplings ftrnng from Stanemore fide. And Auftin-moor men marched kenej All thofe that Gilfland grave did hide. With horfemen light from Hefliam-Leaven. All thefe did march in Dacres' band. All thefe enfued his banner broad j , No Juftier Lord was in the land. Nor more might bcaft of birth and blood. * Thomas Dacrc Lord Dacrc of Gilfland. ANECDOTES OF ARCHERY. 5i Moft lively lais in Lonfdale bred. With weapons of unwelldy weight, All fuch as Tatham Fells had fed, Went under Stanley's ftreamer bright. From Bowland bill-men bold were boun. With fuch as Botton banks did hide ; From Wharemor? up to Whittington, And all to Wenning water-fidc. From Silverdale to Kent Sand-fide, Whofe (o'\ is fown with cockle fliells. From Cartmel eke and Comey fide, With fellows fierce from Furnace Fells. From Warton unto Warrington, From Wi^an unto Wirefdale, Fiom Wcdicar to Waddington, From old Ribchefter to Ratchdale. From Pou'ton and Prefton, with pikes, They with the Stanley ftoiit forth went. From Pemberton and Pilling-Dikes For battle bill-men bold were bent. Thus Stanley rtout the lad of all Of tl-e rcre-ward the rule did wield ; Which done, to Bolton in Glendale, The total army took the field. Thus marched forth thefe men of war. And every band th-ir banner iliew'd. And trumpets hoarfe were heard afar And glittering harnefs fiiining view'd. E2 52 ANECDOTES OF ARCHERY The founding bows were foon up bent, fv>nfie did their arrows fliarp up takej .'iotne did ia hand their halberts hcnt, Some rui'ly bills did riifflng Ihake. With the rere-ward the river pa!1:. All ready in ranks and battle array, They had no need more time to v.-afte. Tor victuals they had none that day s Yet they fuch fteifaft faith did bear, Unto their King and native land, Each one the other did up cheer Cainfl foes to fight whilil they could fland. And never flee whilfi: life did laft, But rather die by dint of fword. Thus over plains and hills they pafs'd Until they came to Sandiford, A brook of breadth a tailor's yard, Where th' Earl of Surrey thus did da" Good fellow foldiers, be not fcar'd, " But fi^ht it out like men this day." Strike but three ftrokes with ftomach ftout^ And rtioot each man fharp arrows three. And you (hall fee without all doubt The beaten Scjts begin to flee. The Admiral did plain afpedl. The Scots airay'd in battles four: The man was fage and circumfped:^ And foon perceived that his fowcr ANECDOTES OF ARCHERY. 53 So great a ftrength cou'd not withftand 5 Wherefore he to his father fent, Dcfiring him ftraight out of hand With rere-ward ready to be bent, And join with him on equal ground : Whereto the Earl agreed anon j Then drum ftruck up with dreadful found, And trumpets blew with doleful tone. The Englishmen their feather'd flights, Sent out anon from founding boW, Which wounded many warlike wights. And many a groom to ground did throw. On either fide were foldiers flain , And ftiicken down by ftrength of hand ; That who cou'd win, none vvcet might plain. The victory in doubt did ftand. Till at the laft great Stanley ftout. Came marching up the mountain fteep. His folks cou'd hardly faft: their feet. But forc'd on hands and feet to creep. My ** Lanca/hire mod lively wights, " And chofen mates of Chcfliire ftrong; ** From founding bow your feather'd flights, ** Let fiercely fly your foes among." The noife then made the mountains ring. And Stanley ftout, they all did cry. Out went anon the grey goofe wing. And 'mongft the Scots did flicnering fly. �Sir _ Bryan Tunftal of Thurland Caftle, a vaUant Captain, was flaJn jn this tattle. He was interred in the chancel 0; Tunftal church, whcio Ui eftgy ac full length, cut in ftone, is piac�d recumbent upon his tomb, E3 54 ANECDOTES OF ARCHERY. The King himfelf was wounded fore. An arrow fierce in's forehead light. That hardly he cou'd fee his foes The blood fo blemilhcd his fij^ht. Yet like a warrior flout he faid. And fiercely did exhoit that tide; His men to be nothing difmay'd, But battle boldly there to bide. But what svalTd his valour great, Or bold device all was but vain ; His captains keen faii'd at his feet. And ftandard-bearer down was flain. The van-guard was led by Lord Thomas and Sir Edward Howard. The centre by their father Lord Surrey ; and the rear by Sir Edward Stanley. The Lord Dacres, with a body of horfe, was to aft as a referve on all occalions. The king of Scots exhorting his men to behave like foldiers, immediately joined battle. Sir Edward Howard for fometime fuftained a heavy charge, and had nearly been routed by the fingular valour of the Earls cf Len'cx and Argyle, had not the Lord * Sir Edward Stanley, after his return from this battle, began to build the magnificent Chapel of Hornby in Lancafliirc; on one par of which is an eagle cut in ftone, and the following infcription, " Edvvardus Stanley, " Miles Dominii Monteaglc, me fieri fecit." Kc dying before it was perfcAcd, the paiiflrfiiiiflied the bsdycf the chapel, which is of jnlerigr work-.- nanfliip. ANECDOTES OF ARCHERY. 55 Dacres, with the Ba (lard Heron, brought ap the referve, and reflored the fight. Lord Thomas Howard met with a brave refiftance from the Earls of Craufoud and Montrose. The King and the Earl of Surrey maintained a long and a fharp difpute, till Sir Edward Stanley bringing up his Archers, who let fly their arrows with fuch force and effeft, that the Scots troops began to give way by opening their ranks. The King per- ceiving the diforder redoubled his efforts, and preiTmg forward with irrefiftible fury, had well nigh overthrown the Englifli ftandard, when Lord Thomas Howard coming to the afTiflance of his father, and being joined by Lord D AC re's horfe, immediately gave a turn to the fortune of the day. The Scottifh monarch, with the flower of his nobility and gentry, threw them- felves into a ring, in which form they did all that valiant men could do to defend themfelves ; nor did any one exceed the King in perfonal valour; but being mortally wounded in the forehead with an arrow he fell, and with his life ended this fierce and cruel con Aid. The royal corpfe being found the next morning, and acknowledged by feveral of both nations, was conveyed to the Charter-houfe, from thence to Shene, a Monaftry in Surrey; "Where," fays Stowe, " it remain' ed for a time, in what order I am not certain 5 f * but fmc& the diffolution of the Abbeys in the? 56 ANECDOTES OF ARCHERY. ** reign of Edward VI. Henry Grey, then *' Duke of Suffolk, keeping houfe there, I have *' been fhevved the fame body, as was affirmed, ** wrapped in lead, thrown into an old wafte *� room, amongft old timber, ftone, lead, and A ' other rubbifli." ftrange monument of hu- man inllability 1 During the reign of Henry VIII. feveral ftatutes were made for the promotion of Archery. The 8th of Elizabeth, chap. 10, regulates the price of bows ; and the 13th of the fame reign, chap. 12, enacls, that *� bow-ftaves fhall ** be brought into the realme from the Hanfe- " towns and the eaftward :" So that Archery ftill continued to be an objedl of attention in the le- giflature. In a fplendid (hooting match at Windfor, be- fore the King, when the exercife was nearly over, his Majefty obferving one of his guard, named Barlow, preparing to (hoot, faid to him, " Beat '� them all, and thou (halt be Duke of Archers." Barlow drew his bow, executed the King's com- mand, and received the promifed reward ; being created Duke of Shoreditch, that being the * Eugh Bows, Bow firings, Livery arrows, 2s. 8d. each. o 6 per dozen� ....... i 10 per iheaf. ANECDOTES OF ARCHERY. 57 place of his refidence. Several others of the mofi: expert markfmen were honoured with titles, as Earl of Pancridge, Marqjjis of Clerkenwell, &c. The following letter inferted in Lodge's Illu' Jlrations of Briiip Ilijlory, fcrves to flicw what attention was paid to this article in our armies fo late as the year 154^.. The Lords of the Council to the Earl cf Shrenxfbury. " After our right hearty commendations to �' your L rdship, where thies bearers Thomas *' Scarden, and John Stoddar. the King's " bowyer and Hetcher, do preflently repair into " thofe parts for the putting in order of the *' bowes and arrows, as wele at Barwick, as other ** places theire; and for theire help have alio with �' them three other bowyers and fi'e fietchers. ** Your Lordfliip {hall undeiilard, that we have ** delivered unto them condudl-rnoney, and alfo " wages for one month, to begin at their arrival, '� after the rate following: That is to fay, the ** faid ScAKDEN and Stoddar atXild. by *' the daye, and every of the faid fletchers and < bowycrs Vllld. by the daye; praying your � Lordfhip to take order for continuance of ** theire wages after the r3te aforefaid, when the ** faid month fhall be expired, for the time of 5^ ANECDOTES OF ARCHERY. *' their being there accordingly. And thus fare *' your good Lordfhip right hartely well. " From Baynard's Caftle, the XXI Id. day of ** January 1544. Your LordiTiip's affured *' loving friends. " T'h'^m \s Wriothesley, ** Ihomas Westminster, ' Charles Suffolk, " William Paget.' King Henry VIII. and Queen Cathe- rine, came from Greenwich to Shooter's Hill one May- Day, where they were received by two huiidred Archers, c!ad in green, with a Captain perfoi.acing Robin Hood ; who firft fhewed the Kirig the ikilj of his Archers in fliooting : after which the Ladies were condudled into the wood, and feafli;d with venifon and wine, in arbours and bowers curioufly decorated. On the 17th cf September 1583, the London Archers to the number of three thoufand, with each a long-bow and four arrows marched to a place near Shoreditch, called HodgforCs Fields, where a tent was pitched for the chief citizens. Proclamation was made by found of trumpet that every man fhould (land at lead forty feet from each fide of the butts . * Thefe butts were diftant from each other 148 yards ; ANECDOTES OF ARCHERY . 59 This exercife lafted two days ; on the evening of the fccond day the viftors were led off the field mounted on horfes, and attended by twu hundred perlbns with each a lighted torch in his hand. The drefles of this aflembly would, at this day, be thought a little fingular. 'J'he Archers were diflinguiflicd by green ribbons and fafhes mod part of the company had hats and jerkins of black velvet, doublets of fatin and tafFety ; and upwards of nine hundred perfons, each of whom wore a chain of gold. Prince Henry, fon of James J. at eight years of age, learned to fhoot both with the bow and gun ; at the fame time this prince had an officer in his eftablifhment who was ftyled Bcvj Bearer. Chari.es I. appears from the dedication of a treatife, entitled The Bo^vman's Glory, to have been himfelf an Archer. And, in the eighth year of his reign, he iffued a commiffion to the Chancellor, Lord Mayor, and feveral of the Privy Council, to prevent the fields near London being fo inclofed as to interrupt the necefTary and profitable exercife of fhooting ; as alfo to lower the mounds where they prevented the view from one mark to another. o ANECDOTES OF ARCHERY. This Prince likewife iflued two proclamations in 1631 and 1633, for the promotion of Archery ; the laft of wliich recommends the ufe of the bow and pike together. On the 2 id of March 1661, four hundred Archers marched with flying colours to HydePark, where feveral of the Archers with crofsbows (hot near twenty fcore yards; and fome of them, to the amazement of the fpeftators, hit the mark at that very great diitance : There were likewife three fhowers of whiilling arrows. So fplendid was the appearance, and pleaiing the exercife, that three regiments of foot laid down their arms to join the fpedators. John King, of Hipperholm near Halifax, in Yorkfhire, was efteemed the befl Archer of his time in England. He was fent for to the court of Charles I. and won great wagers. Being viftor at a great fhocting match