HENRY VII. directs a large body of Archers to be fent to Brittany, and that they fhall be reviewed before they embark. In the 19th year of his reign, the fame king forbids the ufe of the crofs-bow;
" much ufed in this realm, whereby honour and
" victory had been gotten againft outward ene-
" mies, and the realm greatly defended."
This King inftituted a band of Archers to guard his perfon, under the title of Yeomen of the Guard. This band is at prefent eftablifhed; but they are now armed with fwords and halberts, inftead of bows. Still, however, to keep up the memory of their predeceffors fkill, they annually practice fhooting with bows and arrows.
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HENRY VIII. in the 3d year of his reign, directs, that every father fhould provide a bow and two arrows for his fon, when he fhall be feven years old. Alfo in the 6th of the fame king's reign, every one, except clergy and judges, are obliged to fhoot at butts.
Anno 1510, FERDINAND, King of Arragon, foliciting fuccours from Henry VIII. againft the Moors in Africa, his defires were complied with, and fifteen hundred Archers fent him under the command of THOMAS LORD DARCY.
Anno 1513, JAMES IV. King of Scotland, invaded the Englifh borders while KING HENRY was in France. The EARL of SURREY, being Lord Lieutenant, raifed the Militia of the northern counties, amounting to twenty-fix thoufand men, and advanced to meet him. The battle (which happened at Flowden Field) was bloody and terminated in the total defeat of the Scots; whofe King, with the Archbifhop of St. Andrews, two Abbots, twelve Earls, and feventeen Lords, were flain in battle. The victory, in a great meafure,. feems to have been owing to SIR EDWARD STANLEY and his Archers.