1 28 Yew- Trees of Great Britain and Ireland 



Charter from Queen Anne, confirming and multi- 

 plying their privileges. 



Stow * shows how the enclosing of open spaces 

 led to the disuse of archery : 



' In the east end of Fore Street is More Lane ; 

 then next is Grub Street, of late years inhabited, 

 for the most part, by bowyers, fletchers, bowstring 

 makers, and such-like occupations, now little 

 occupied ; archery giving place to a number of 

 bowling-alleys and dining-houses, which in all 

 places are increased and too much frequented.' 



* What should I speak of the ancient daily ex- 

 ercises in the long-bow by citizens of this City, 

 now almost clean left off and forsaken ? I over- 

 pass it ; for by the mean of closing in the common 

 grounds, our archers, for want of room to shoot 

 abroad, creep into bowling-alleys and ordinary 

 dining-houses, near home, where they have room 

 enought to hazard their money at unlawful games.' 



Charles i. in the fourth year of his reign granted 

 a commission under the Great Seal for enforcing 

 the use of the long-bow. 



A portion of the Royal Army, at the commence- 

 ment of the Civil War, were armed with bows. 

 The last occasion of their being used was at the 

 siege of Devizes, under Cromwell. 2 



This was due to a deficient supply of suitable 

 arms, and not to the superiority of bows over 



1 Survey of London, 1 598. 2 Verney Memoirs. 



