INTRODUCTION 



THERE is no English tree which has gathered round 

 itself so much of historic, poetic, and legendary lore 

 as the Yew ; none is so closely associated, directly 

 or indirectly, with events, persons, and buildings, 

 which are famous in our national history. In early 

 and mediaeval times it was a source of our country's 

 greatness and supremacy, by supplying the bows 

 and arrows with which our great victories were 

 won ; but in spite of this, it has never attained 

 that love and veneration in the popular mind, so 

 lavishly bestowed on its rival, the oak, which has 

 played such a conspicuous part in the successes of 

 later days. 



While men look upon the yew in wonder at its 

 hoary age and vast antiquity, there is in their 

 minds none of the cheery, reverential feeling in- 

 spired by the ' brave old oak,' but rather a sense of 

 awe, produced by the sombre and gloomy shade of 

 its foliage, and the deathly character it bears, in all 

 its relations. 



The literature which treats of it, even from the 

 earliest times, bears an impression of sadness, and 



most of the poetic allusions to it have more or less 



A 



