THE ROMANCE OF OUR TREES 



and the appreciation of the skill of this Swiss archer 

 has lost nothing through lapse of time, for, whether 

 fact or fiction, William Tell typifies sturdy patriot- 

 ism's stand against tyranny and aggression. The 

 long-bow and the cross-bow are famous in history. 

 Were not the battles of Crecy, Poictiers, and Agin- 

 court won by the English mainly with the long-bow 

 in the hands of archers of wondrous skill? Three 

 English kings met their deaths from the yew-bow, and 

 it was the most popular weapon through the inter- 

 necine Wars of the Roses. 



Indeed, in both warfare and the chase the bow 

 was held in exalted estimation long after the inven- 

 tion of gunpowder had paved the way to a complete 

 change in the arms of warfare. In the early days of 

 English history there were in force special enactments 

 for the planting and protection of the Yew-trees. 

 As far back as the 13 th century every person not 

 having a greater revenue than one hundred pence 

 was obligated to have in his possession a bow and 

 arrows, and all such as had no possessions but could 

 afford to purchase arms were commanded to have a 

 bow with sharp arrows if they dwelt without the 

 royal forests. 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 



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