YEW. 281 



The yew, however, proved fatal to three of 

 our kings. Harold was killed by an arrow at 

 the battle of Hastings, in Sussex. William 

 the Second was slain by an arrow in the New 

 Forest* Hampshire ; 



" Lo, Rufus, tugging at the deadly dart, 



Bleeds in the forest like a wounded hart." Pope, 



and Richard Coeur de Lion received his death 

 wound from the same weapon, at the siege of 

 the castle of Chalus, near Limoges, in the 

 department of Upper Vienne, in France. 



The Cheshire men are supposed to have 

 been the most expert in the exercise of the 

 bow, as it is related that in the year 1397, in 

 the reign of Richard the Second, Westmin- 

 ster-hall being in an extremely ruinous state, 

 that monarch built a temporary room for his 

 parliament, formed with wood and covered 

 with tiles. It was open on all sides, that the 

 constituents might see every thing that was 

 said and done ; and to secure freedom of de- 

 bate, he surrounded the house with four 

 thousand Cheshire archers, with bows bent 

 and arrows knocked, ready to shoot. This 

 fully answered the intent, for every sacrifice 

 was made to the royal pleasure. * 



* Pennant's London, p. 39, 3d edition. 



