llG rxCURSIOX FROM RUABON 



flufF, with every butt of malmf,'y, and with every 

 butt of tire, on forfeiture of thirteen (hillings and 

 eight-pence for every butt of fuch wineo, and for 

 each bow-flafF fl;iort. — Even fo lately as the thir- 

 teenth year of Ehzabeth, the flatutc of the twelfth 

 of Edward IV. was ordered to be duly put into 

 execution ; and that all merchants flrangers, ufing 

 to bring v/ares into this realm from the eadern 

 countries, as well as from the feventy-two Hanfe 

 towns, fnould thenceforth be comprized and"tneant 

 under the name of fuch merchanis as were bound' 

 by the faid flatutes. This acl recites that archery 

 was a lingular defence of the realm, and an occafion 

 not only of many noble victories, but a very whole- 

 fome exercife. — Thus it appears that this countiy 

 ever depended on the imported bow-ftaves for their 

 bell: and moil valuable bows, v/hich v/ould not have 

 been the cafe if our church-yards had been planted, 

 aiid well flocked with yew-trees, for this purpofe* 

 On further inquiry, it appears that the Englifli yew 

 was of very inferior goodncfs : and our brave archers^ 

 who v/ere the glory of the nation, and the terror of 

 its enemies, were compelled to have recourfe to fo- 

 reign materials. — In the " A<3: for Bowyers," of the 

 eighth of Elizabeth, the prices of bows are thus 

 fettled : 



Bows meet for men's fhooimg, being o.v//j«^^Z> yew, of bed 

 fort, were to bear no greater price than bs. ^d. each. 



Bows meet for men's fliooting of fecond fort, 3^. /i^d. 



Bows of a coirfc-r fort, called livery bows, 2s. 

 ■ 'Bows oi En^lij]} ^cvjf zs, 



'^r- Thus 



