1 1 8 Yew- Trees of Great Britain and Ireland 



says Meyrick,^ is a roll of expenses of King 

 Edward i. at Rhuddlan Castle, in North Wales, in 

 the tenth and eleventh years of his reign. These 

 prove that he has mounted archers, sagittarii, as 

 well as archers on foot. 



The following extracts show the rate of pay for 

 each kind: 'Thursday, 27th of August, paid to 

 Robt. Giffard, for the wages of eight constables of 

 cavalry, each receiving per diem i2d., and of eight 

 hundred and fifty-seven archers, each receiving by 

 the day 2d., and of their forty-three captains of 

 twenties, each receiving 4d. per diem, from Tues- 

 day the 25th day of August, for the seven following 

 days, ;^55, 6s. od. 



' Archers on Foot. 



' To Master R. Giffard, for the wages of six 

 archers, newly come, from Friday, 28th day of 

 August, for the six following days, £0, 6s. od.' 



Since bows were of so great value in warfare, it 

 is not strange that English kings should have made 

 strenuous efforts to plant and protect yew-trees, 

 and to encourage the use of bows, by various edicts 

 and Acts of Parliament, which also regulated their 

 price, making provision for their importation, and 

 forbidding their exportation. 



' As far back as the thirteenth century, every 

 person not having a greater revenue than one 



^ Ancient Armour, p. 135. 



