T. baccata 



but the authors consider that it probably dated 

 back to prehistoric times. It consisted of a single 

 stave of Yew 4 ft. 1 1 J inches long, perfect, 

 except for about one inch being broken off one 

 end. Archery as a pastime was indulged in at 

 one period almost to the exclusion of other sports, 

 and all men and youths were expected to prac- 

 tise assiduously every Sunday and on all holidays, 

 whilst in Scotland Robert the Bruce ordered 

 every person worth a cow to have a spear, or a 

 good bow and sheath of 24 arrows, and they 

 were expected to practise on every possible 

 occasion. Men above twenty-four years of age 

 were not expected at one period to shoot at a 

 mark at a less distance than 220 yards. Loudon 

 records that in the reign of Edward VI. every 

 Englishman dwelling in Ireland was expressly 

 ordered to have an English bow of his own 

 height, made of Yew, Wych, Hazel, Ash, Aw- 

 burne or Laburnum. Referring to the various 

 kinds of wood used for bows, Roger Ascham 

 says : " As for Brasell, Elme, Wych, and Ashe, 

 experience doth prove them to be mean for 

 bowes ; and so to conclude Ewe of all other 

 things is that whereof perfite shootinge would 

 have a bowe made." At the present time several 

 rather strong archery clubs exist, but archery 

 cannot claim to be a national pastime, for although 

 youths, after a first perusal of Robin Hood, are 

 fired with enthusiasm to emulate the doughty 



183 



