Companies of Archers 127 



the neglect of it is to be deplored/ The decline 

 in archery had, at various times, been met by the 

 formation of societies for its practice ; thus in 

 Wood's Bowman s Glory * we find a full account of 

 the ceremonies in practice at the archery meetings 

 at Mile End, instituted by Prince Arthur in the 

 reign of Henry VIL, and afterwards held by 

 Henry vm. 



There was created in jest a Duke of Shore- 

 ditch, who was the best archer ; the second and 

 third were created Marquesses of Clerkenwell and 

 Islington. 



The Archers of the Fraternity of St. George, 

 established by Henry vm. in 1537, are now extinct, 

 but their society was incorporated with the Archers' 

 division, and, until recently, formed a branch of the 

 Hon. Artillery Company of London. 2 



The Woodmen of Arden, the Kentish Bowmen, 

 and the Toxophilites are still existing companies. 3 



The Royal Company of Archers in Scotland is 

 said to have arisen in the time of James i. The 

 Commissioners appointed by him to superintend 

 the exercise of archery in different districts selected 

 the most expert archers, and formed them into a 

 company which acted as the King's principal body- 

 guard. 4 In the year 1703 they obtained a Royal 



1 The Bowman's Glory, or Archery Revived. 



2 Hargrave, Anecdotes of Archery, p. 54. 



3 Pop. EncycL, Blackie. 4 Ibid. 



