Anecdotes OF ARCHERY; FROM THE Earlieft Ages to the year 1791.

Anecdotes of Archery

Part 5 of 34

WILLIAM II. being hunting in the New-Foreft, in company with Sir WALTER TYRRELL, and others; this knight unfortunately let fly an arrow at a flag, which glancing againft a tree, took a different direction, and pierced the king's breaft, who immediately expired. To perpetuate the memory of Co remarkable an event, John LORD DELWAR, who had feen the tree growing, erected a pillar in the very place where it ftood, with the following infcription :

" HIRE STOOD THE OAK TREE ON WHICH
" AN ARROW, SHOT BY SIR WALTER TYR-
" RELL AT A STAG, GLANCED, AND STRUCK
" KING WILLIAM THE SECOND, SURNAMED
" RUFUS, IN THE BREAST, OF WHICH HE IN-
" STANTLY DIED, ON THE SECOND DAY OF
" AUGUST, A. D. 1100."

" KING WILLIAM THE SECOND, SURNA
" MED RUFUS, BEING SLAIN AS BEFORE RE-
" LATED, WAS LAID IN A CART BELONG-
" ING TO ONE PURKESS, AND DRAWN FROM
" THENCE TO WINCHESTER, AND BURIED
" IN THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF THAT
" CITY."

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RICHARD STRONGBOW, Earl of Clare, Pembroke, and Buckingham, was famous for his flrength and fkill in Archery ; after reducing Ireland for king Henry II. he died 1177.

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