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1832.]

On ancient Archery in England.

brown hedging-bill on a six-feet staff, and he was accoutred for the defence of his country, or the invasion of that of his foes. Thus Holinshed, describing the advance of the opposing hosts at the battle of Bosworth field, exclaims, "Lord how hastilie the soldiers buckled their helms, how quicklie the archers bent their bowes, and frushed their feathers, how readilie the bille-men shooke their billes and proved their staves, ready to approach and join, when the terrible trumpet should sound the bloudie blast to victorie or death."*

The arbalist or crossbow, from its more complicated and consequently more costly structure, never was the general weapon of our armies. Crossbowmen were employed in small bodies, and were indeed the riflemen of our ancient armies. Far less skill was required in making the shot of this weapon deadly to any individual selected from the battle's front, than that of the long-bow; no strength of muscle was necessary for a discharge, effected by the touch of a trigger, and it was drawn up to its bend by a stirrup affixed to its butt or stock, or by a sort of windlass. But while the arbalister was thus free from the necessity of acquiring any remarkable strength or skill for the effective use of his weapon, he lost much in another way, by the time which was occupied in preparing it for use, and might receive half a dozen arrows from an opponent's simple long-bow, in his body, while he was winding up his clumsy apparatus; and these objections will be found to apply with equal force against the modern musket; by reason of the delay in biting the cartridge, priming, ramming down, returning the ramrod, the heating of the piece (the smoke which it raises obscuring friend and foe), the uncertainty of its distant shot, &c. &c. so indeed that musketry has become in most cases only the sounding fury of the battle, while the victory has remained with the bayonet, charged at close quarters, by strong and steady English hands, directed by undaunted English hearts.

The cross-bow appears to be the same weapon which, from its deadly aim was called by the ancients Scorpio.

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It was considered an infamous and murderous weapon, and the users of it were anathematised by the Church in the twelfth century.

"Artem illam mortiferam et Deo odibilem Balistariorum et Sagittariorum adversus Christianos et Catholicos exerceri sub anathemate prohibemus."t-Canon 30 of the 2d Council of Lateran.

This will account for the severity used towards the arbalister who with his steel-bow gave Richard Cœur de Lion his death-wound before the Castle of Chaluz. He had singled out the King in the manner of a modern rifleman, and thus he had placed himself out of the protection of the law, lay under the curse of the church, and his life accordingly became forfeit.

After cannon (the first of which were tubes composed of iron staves and hooped together) had been some time in use, men fell upon the expedient of placing a small tube of the same metal on an arque-but or butt of a cross-bow, and thus the Harquebuss was formed, and by an easy transition perhaps derived its name.

No one can doubt the superiority of cannon, those

"mortal engines whose rude throats "The immortal Jove's dread clamours counterfeit".

over the ancient catapults and balistæ; but that the hand-gun, caliver, or musket, so rapidly superseded and banished the bow, was more owing to the novelty of its effects than to real superiority. All experience has shewn that a novel offensive weapon in warfare, is of great advantage to those by whom it is exclusively employed.

We need go no further for an example than to the invention by our engineers of the Congreve Rockets, and to Napoleon's revival in his cavalry of the long-abandoned lance.

The same advantage would arise to the partial resumption of the longbow, particularly as an engine to be employed against cavalry; always remembering that archers, to be effective, must be numerous. Thus, of an army of twelve thousand men, two thousand might consist of a corps of archers. Such a body should be armed

+ See Moseley, p. 199; also Du Cange, Notes on the Life of St. Louis.

with a bow, a sheaf of arrows, a demipike, a cutlass, and a brace of pistols, for the chance of close encounters.

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Fresh supplies of arrows might be carried by bat horses in attendance on the corps. When opposed to an enemy's cavalry, they should be drawn up at open order, and their depth should be made to conform to that of the approaching squadrons. Every five seconds these would find themselves assailed by an iron sleet of arrowy shower," falling over the whole space of ground which they would occupy in their advance, galling the horses into a state of phrensy, striking down and wounding their riders. At every rapidly succeeding discharge, the whizzing and hurtling of the arrows in the darkened air must increase the confusion. Assailed by innumerable bolts, inevitable as the " thought-executing fires" of heaven, safety could only be sought in turning about to rapid flight. It was in this way that the little band of yeomen at the memorable day of Azincour defeated the boasted chivalry of France the men at arms mounted on their barded horses, and enclosed in complete steel.

The English archers were stationed in the rear of the first line; the French cavalry posted in the rear of their first line.* The skilful bowmen shot over the fronts of both armies, and judging with admirable precision of the distance or length, their dense and successive showers of arrows fell among the French cavalry posted in the rear, and produced such unsteadiness and alarm among the horses, that they became unruly, rushed forward, broke the French line, and thus the enemy's own cavalry were rendered instrumental to their defeat! Can there be a more convincing proof of the importance of shooting compass in a military view?

Such was the result of Archery in ancient days, and such we will venture to predict would be its result if admitted to a partial revival in the arms of modern times, and employed by confident and skilful hands. To restore

A modern writer has justly remarked "that it is too common a practice to cast an ancient servant away with neglect and indifference, when he has been succeeded by a more seemly, if not more useful successor."

As to the claims of Archery to general revival, on the ground of its being a noble and invigorating exercise, an enemy to luxury and vice, they are most undoubted. No man unnerved by debauchery ever yet made a good archer; yet so suited is the art to frames of different degrees of strength, that with bows of proportionate power, not even the fair sex, in modern days, are excluded from this elegant diversion.

The ambrosial air of heaven, the verdant turf, and all its accompanying features, of "bosky hills," and silvery gliding waters, encompass the archer at his sport. In his leisurely walk, with unstrung bow, from end to end, that is between target and target, he presses the fragrant wild thyme with his foot-all the associations of archery are connected with tranquillity of mind, with the beauties of the surrounding magnificent creation!

Sound, sound the music, sound it,
Let hills and dales rebound it,

In praise of Archery.

Used as a game it pleases,
The mind to joy it raises,
And throws off all diseases

Of lazy luxury.

Now, now our care beguiling,
When all the year looks smiling
With healthful harmony.

The sun in glory glowing,
With morning dew, bestowing
Sweet fragrance, life, and growing,
To flowers and every tree.

Thus sung in the last century the pleasing bard of the Caledonian archers, Allan Ramsay; nor can we do better, when all nature is springing into life, when the pestilence by the mercy of Providence is averted from our land, when reflection and mutual conciliation have come, we trust, to heal our speculative and imaginary political differences, than take the field, our bows in hand, and initiate ourselves in that harmless diversion which nerved the arm and recreated

confidence in a weapon so long disused in an offensive character would be perhaps the most difficult point; but that would be attained by the prelimi- the spirits of our revered and gallant nary field practice, and by observing its effects on targets made of board, which the arrows would be found to pierce with the force of bullets.

See Monstrelet's Chronicle.

forefathers.

A. J. K.

*Poems, in English and Latin, on the Royal Company of Archers, Edinburgh.

1726.

1832.]

Archery.-Fund for Ancient English Architecture.

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All your readers must feel obliged to Mr. Kempe for his interesting communication on Archery. Perhaps I may explain to him in what cases Cloth-yard Arrows would be used. It is considered that, in a justly proportioned man, from the tip of the middle finger of one hand to that of the other when the arms are stretched out, equals the height from the sole of the foot to the top of the head. Now the string of the bow should be the height of the archer, and his arrow half the length of his string. If, then, he be six feet high, he would use a cloth-yard arrow. This proportion seldom holds good in nature; but a taller or a shorter man might, by bringing his right ear over the centre of his body and drawing the string to it, leave no more of the arrow beyond the bow than what would equal the length of his middle finger, if not bent round the gripe. I have an original arrow, found in the moat of Clifford's Tower, York, probably of the time of Henry VI.; the nock of which is without horn, and swelling out like that of an Asiatic make. I have also the bow of Philip Constable, the last of the Finsbury archers, whom I can just recollect seeing when a boy.

The silver badge worn by Sir William Wood, author of the "Bowman's Glory," was in the possession of the Toxophilite Society, and exactly resembled what appears in his engraved portrait. Yours, &c.

SAM. R. MEYRICK.

New Kent Road, March 25.

MR. URBAN, IT appears as if Time and the reckless spirit of devastation had entered into a compact, this year, simultaneously to assault the edifices constructed in our ancient national style of architecture.

The good taste and energy of the intelligent and liberal portion of the public have rescued the little architectural gem, the Lady Chapel at St. Saviour's, from destruction. What should we say of the degenerate modern Romans if they were to throw down the Temple of Vesta at Tivoli? and yet there were to be found in these enlightened days men, in our own country, to advocate an act of parallel barbarism.

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The fire, Mr. Urban, has assailed both ends of the noble gothic edifice St. Saviour's. Your allies have extinguished it at the east end; what can they do for the nave? The nave, already reduced to a ruin by the result of a petty party spirit, must, without timely interference, in a short time be entirely destroyed. London will thus lose one of the principal features of a fine cathedral-like pile, and future ages will deride the boasted illumination of the nineteenth century.

St. Alban's Abbey Church, a building of the most sublime and magnificent character, is rapidly sinking into ruins but a few weeks since, a long portion of the south wall of the nave gave way and fell upon the adjoining aisle.

One of the gates at York, a fine specimen of ancient military architecture, is about to be removed.

Crosby Hall has been threatened with destruction, which I trust, however, is about to be averted by the zealous interference of a lady of taste.

Waltham Cross, a remarkable historical monument, is tottering, and has called forth the exertions of the neighbouring inhabitants to keep it up.

On a principle of public taste and public policy, do not these things require a speedy remedy to be applied in some general and national mode?

The Society of Antiquaries of London is perhaps the only body which may be strictly considered as incorporated for purposes, among others, conservative of our national monuments; and they possess no funds effectually convertible to the repair of ancient edifices. Their conservative measures must from their means be chiefly confined to the delineation of ancient buildings, by plans, elevations, &c.

How expedient, therefore, Mr. Urban, does it appear, that public spirited men should combine to form a conservative fund for ancient English architecture, which should be so regulated as to shut out all jobbing, neutralize all jealousy, and secure its application to its proper purposes. Such a fund, among other things, would be a powerful auxiliary to that for erecting churches; and while it aided the support of our fanes erected in the pointed style, would, by keeping up various ancient religious edifices, which their parochial possessors might be too

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poor to repair, afford increased accommodation for the instruction of all classes in Christian principles and Christian duties.

I trust, Mr. Urban, that some of your public-spirited and influential readers, (of whom no doubt you have many,) will give this suggestion their consideration; and if they think proper to call the well-wishers of their country's reputation for science and the arts together, they will find, I am assured, many British hearts prompt to answer the appeal. Yours, &c.

Mr. URBAN,

ALFRED J. KEMPE.

Richmond, Yorkshire,
Jan. 28.

I SEND you a correct drawing of a Coin lately discovered in the ancient Hospital of St. Nicholas, in the vicinity of this town.

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I consider it worthy of notice and publication in your valuable Magazine, because I conceive it to be an unpublished coin of the scanty series of the coins of the Saxon Archbishops of York; and, if my interpretation be correct, it is "the earliest Coin now extant, which can be appropriated to that See."

I believe it to be a Styca of Egbert, the seventh Archbishop of York; he held that See from the year 735 to the year 767; and was subsequently canonized. I read the inscription "EGBERHT. ARchiepiscopus."

Ruding, (vol. iv, page 424, octavo edition) speaking of the Mint of the Archbishops of York, says, "the earliest coin now extant, which can be appropriated to this See, is a Styca from the mint of Archbishop Eanbald. Whether it were struck by the first or second of that name, cannot be determined; but in either case it must be dated at the latter end of the eighth century;" and in a note, he adds: "Eanbald I. was consecrated A. D. 780; his successor of the same name, A. D. 796.-See the Styca, in the 14th plate of Anglo-Saxon Coins, and another with the title Archiepiscopus, which verifies this, in Supplement, Part II."

The coin" in the 14th plate of An

glo-Saxon Coins," bears the name "Eanbald" only, without any title or addition; yet it was considered by Mr. Combe and Mr. Ruding as belonging to the Archbishop, previously to the discovery of the Styca given in the Supplement.

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In the coin before us, the inscription is very perfect and legible; and the addition of the very usual abbreviation AR, for "Archiepiscopus,' may be said in this case also, to "verify" the supposition of its belonging to the Archiepiscopal Mint of York.

The reverse is very imperfect, not so much from the wear and tear of elever centuries, as from the original imperfection of the die; it bears two crosses, with an inscription, but the letters are so illegible that I will not venture to attempt a copy, the correctness of which I could not vouch for.

This Coin is in the possession of Christopher Clarkson, esq. the worthy and able historian of Richmond. Yours, &c.

WM. WRIGHT.

Mr. URBAN, 13, Gracechurch-st. April 3. Allow me a remark upon some observations by W. T. at p. 197.

The publisher of the Year Book was the proprietor, whose estimate of expenses did not include the charges of an artist for drawing subjects which I might have selected in my walks. I had therefore no motive for walking; and, losing my walks, I lost the opportunity of writing as I wished, in my old unrestricted way. Still the volume contains more original articles, and articles better written by correspondents, than either volume of the Every-Day Book and Table Book, in connection with which works it so fully describes the customs and amusements of the seasons and remarkable days, that I deem the "History of the Year" complete in the four volumes, and have nothing to add to the series. It is a finished work; and, notwithstanding the wish of your correspondent, it seems to me unlikely that I shall ever undertake a similar publication. I am endeavouring to " improve my mind " by recollections of my childhood, school-dame, and how I learned my A B C, which may lead to, perhaps, my most important production, a waistcoat-pocket dissertation on the "Horn-Book."

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Yours, &c. W. HONE.

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