64 



THE YEW TREE. 



main branches will have attained a growth 

 and vigour equal to what the original ones 

 would have presented to us, had they been al- 

 lowed to remain on the tree. 



Ere the combined force of charcoal and salt- 

 petre had enabled us to blow ourselves up in- 

 stantaneously, we followed the slower process 

 of destroying life by means of the bow made 

 from the yew tree : and this, to men of mo- 

 derately sanguinary habits, must, I think, have 

 been sufficiently expeditious : for we learn, 

 at the hunting-fray of Chevy Chase, that, 



" The English archers bent their bows, 

 Their hearts were good and true ; 

 At the first flight of arrows sent, 

 Full threescore Scots they slew." 



The bow from the yew tree was in use by 

 private sportsmen as well as by warriors. In 

 the very old song of the Sow and the Tailor, 

 the latter cries out, 



" Wyfe, wyfe, bring me my yewen bow, 

 That I maye shoot the carrion crow." 



Some people are of opinion, that the yew 

 tree was planted close to the churches by way 



