death of Charles, it again began to decline,
and was confined in practice to a few counties
only, till about thirty years ago, when it was
revived with increased splendor throughout
every part of England, as will appear by the
number of societies that were instituted ;
many of which exist and continue their yearly
and monthly meetings to this day.

It is seldom in this stern and strifeful
world that an instrument of destruction be-
comes altogether converted into an instrument
of harmless gratification, and yet such is the
case with the arrow, if we except its use by
a few hordes of savages that are still without
the pale of civilization. From the earliest
period to which the pages of history lead us,
to the time when a restless monk, insiead of
counting his beads, amused himself in com-
pounding saltpetre, sulphur, and charcoal, it
has been the principal missile weapon in war,
and through it hath many a momentous day
been lost and won. Had some benevolent
philosopher of old been told, that such a
change would happen in the employment of
the mortal shaft, he might have supposed that
it would come when Bellona had been driven
from the earth. But, alas ! he would have
given too much credit to future ages ; the ar-
row and the javelin have been abandoned by
the soldier, merely that deadlier weapons
might supply their place.

This is especially an interesting subject to
us, as never was the arrow in more able hands
than when ia the grasp of the English archer.
They who have attentively perused the ac-
counts of our earlier battles must be well
aware of this historical fact. Talking about
English archery also brings to our recollec-
tion the well-known tale, so fascinating to
our boyhood, of the unequalled out.'.a\v,
Robin Hood, and his merry men ; but tnose
days are gone, and live only in ancient lays



Sir William Wood.



42



PIERCE EGAN'S BOOK OF SPORTS.



and legends. Sherwood's goodly trees have
disappeared and the stout earls of the North
no longer " to drive the deer with hound and
horn lead their " bowmen bold " to the de-
bateable coverts of Chevy Chace.

The Archery Meetings, or Bow Meetings,
as they are variously called, at present es-
tablished in this country, are, so far as our
knowledge extends, a national peculiarity.
We have seen our horse-racing imitated,
however imperfectly, in Germany, France,
America, and even 'India, but they have, as
yet, been imitated no where. In these days
of refinement, when the recreations of the
wealthier orders are too often luxurious and
enervating, and when their semi-foreign
habits of life have too much estranged them
from the interchange of domestic hospitalities,
we hail with pleasure a rural and elegant
amusement, having a strong tendency to cor-
rect both these evils. It is a curious, but
well-ascertained fact, that these meetings are
in some degree merely a revival of the cus-
toms of former times. Our forefathers made
a law, and an admirable one it was, that
in every parish, or hundred, as might be
convenient, a certain portion of ground should
be set apart fcr the practice of archery, and a
butt and target erected at the public expense.
It accorded well with the manly and warlike
character of the people, and old chroniclers
tell us that it was a favorite pastime among
the young and active peasantry on holydays,
or on a summer's evening, when their hours
of labour were past. Does not this circum-
stance let us into one grand secret of the su-
periority of British bowmen over all their
competitors ? It also in some measure ac-
counts for the wonderful rapidity with which
effective armies were raised and brought into
the field during the wars of York and Lan-
caster, and other periods of trouble in England.
When the spirit of a proud people is aroused
by a call upon their honor, or even by a fa-
vorite war-cry, it is not difficult to bring
them en masse into action ; but no such armies
could have been raised in such a space of
time, had not the arts of military life been
much cultivated throughout the land.

It is highly honorable to the natives of
this island that, even when little more than
semi-barbarians, they disdained to use the
poisoned arrow, after the fashion of some
more civilized eastern nations. Indeed the
same may be said, generally speaking, of all
the different states in the quarter of the globe
of which Britain forms so distinguished a part,
and it is one of the finest illustrations of the
European character. A few exceptions may
be found, but exceptions should be thrown
into the shade in all great national pictures.

However, in what we have hitherto written,
as in the speeches of old Nestor, it may be
observed that too much has been said about
the past, and too little about the present. To
those who may have never chanced to witness
each a thing, a brief description of a modern



Archery Meeting may not be uninteresting.
There may be various regulations and obser-
vances in the many established throughout
the country, but, in the leading and most
essential points, they are nearly alike. A
sufficient number of members having first
been elected, the meetings occur at stated in-
tervals, during the season of the year favor-
able to such amusements.

Non cuivis homini contingitadire Corinthum,
says the proverb, and it is not every one that
can conveniently give an Archery Meeting.
Two things are indispensable a fortune able
to bear the expense, and a park, or other
grounds, favorable to the purpose ; and such,
members as are without these advantages are
not expected to give one. A uniform is ap-
pointed, which is always (to our knowledge)
green, but may vary in minor points according
to the caprice of fashion or of taste ; and those
members who do not appear in it are fined.
It is this costume that chiefly imparts the
characteristic and beautiful appearance to the
scene, which it must be allowed to possess,
especially if laid in some wild and romantic
park. It is then and there that the lover of
antiquity might muse on ancestral times, and
fancy that they were again about to return.

Prizes, proportionate to the funds of the
society, and as appropriate as the good taste
of the directing party can make them, are
prepared for the occasion; there being dif-
ferent ones, of course, for the male and female
archers. Of themselves alone they are not of
any great value, but, by the glory attached to
them, they become, like the monarch's glove
to Fluellin, doubly and trebly enhanced in the
estimation of those who obtain them.

Every thing being prepared, they who have
the direction of affairs give the signal to com-
mence ; and we may say with the poet
Protinus JEne&s celeri certare sagitta
Inritat, qui forte velint, et praemia ponit :

The distance at which the gentlemen shoot
is one hundred yards that of the ladies
sixty ; and the skill with which the latter
frequently acquit themselves shows that
Queen Bess was not the only Englishwoman
who could " draw a long bow." Sometimes,
during the pastime, the company are enlivened
by the music of an attending band. When
the sports are ended, the judges declare aloud
the names of the winners of the prizes, who
receive them on the field, according to the
true principles of chivalry. To prevent any
mistake, the arrows of every one should bear
some particular mark or motto, that they may
be distinguished when in the target ; else it
would be very difficult, if not sometimes im-
possible, to declare the victors. The evening
is generally concluded by a ball, which need
only be mentioned as differing from other
balls with respect to the costume of the as-
sembled party ; but that circumstance giveg
to it a very unique and pleasing appearance.

Such are the leading features of a modern
Bow meeting. Of course, as in all such out-



PIERCE EGAN'S BOOK OF SPORTS.



43



of-door amusements, much depends upon the
weather; but, when that is favorable, it
may easily be conceived to be a scene of much
pleasure and animation. It moreover pos-
sesses the advantage of being one of those
morning amusements, of which the gentler
sex can partake, without in the slightest de-
gree infringing upon the rules of elegance
and strict propriety. Though admirers of the
chase ourselves, we quite agree with the poet
when he counsels the British fair against

The cap, the -whip, the masculine attire,
In which they roughen to the sense, and all
The winning softness of their sex is lost.

But the female archer does not come under
the lash of such satire. The ancient Greeks,
who well knew what arts of life accorded best
with feminine grace and purity, disdained
not to paint Diana with the quiver upon her
shoulder, and the bow in her hand ; and
Virgil, when describing the magnificence with
which Queen Dido was attired for the hunt,
tells us that she wore a golden quiver. In-
deed, the very act of discharging the arrow
from the bow, to be done properly , must be
done gracefully.

The chief natural requisites for shooting
well, we should describe to be a quick
and steady eye, and a quick and steady
hand. The proper position in which the
bow should be held and its string drawn
back, which cannot well be shown upon
paper, having been acquired, art and expe-
rience have lo instruct the archer, first, to
point the arrow in a direct line ; and secondly,
to elevate it according to the distance of the
mark, and the strength of the bow. One
thing should be most particularly attended to
that the strength of the bow be well adapt-
ed to the strength of the arm that has to bend
it. The command of Richard to his army on
Bosworth field, " Draw, archers, draw your
arrows to the head," was in the true language
of an able warrior. It is also essential that
the arrow should be drawn to its head with a
steady hand, which is not likely to be the case
if the bow require more strength than the arm
can conveniently give ; and the consequence
of which is. that the shaft is apt to swerve
from the direct line, and fly unsteadily. On
the other hand, if a bow of great power is not
beyond the strength of the archer, it is the most
effective, as the arrow may then be shot hori-
zontally to a greater distance, and is, conse-
quently, likelier to hit the target than when
it requires to be much elevated.

Archery, however, is an art, and, like all
other arts, requires practice to reach perfec-
tion ; and thus, while surprise and admiration
are often raised by some of the most expert,
laughter frequently follows the attempts of the
unskilful, who are generally new hands, and
who, like the suitors of Penelope, sometimes
make sad failures. Let the novice bear in
mind the saying of Xenophon that it was
" downright impiety for such as had never
learned to ride, to supplicate the Gods for



victory in engagements of horse ; or for such
as had never learned the use of the bow, to
ask the superiority at that weapon over those
who understood it."

Of course, the point of an arrow formed
merely for amusement, is very differently con-
structed from such as were used in warfare,
but the effect even of the former, when well
shot, is such as few unacquainted with it
would be likely to imagine. We remember
to have seen one, that, having missed the
target, and struck against a strong tin quiver
lying near, drove its point right through.
Due precautions against accident are therefore
needful, but the arrangements are generally
so good, that we never heard of the slightest
unpleasant circumstance of the kind. Those
who are sceptical about the force of an arrow,
and we have heard some who are, might soon
be undeceived by witnessing it. The effemi-
nate courtier, in the play, may tell Harry
Percy that

" but for these vile guns
He would himself have been a soldier. "

We much doubt, however, whether the man
who would shrink from the sound of cannon,
would have felt at all comfortable had he been
confronted by the merry bowmen of old Eng-
land.

During the last few years these meetings
have been much upon the increase. We looJc
upon it as a good omen. Any innocent re-
creation, tending to encourage good fellow-
ship in a neighbourhood, is beneficial in many
respects, but is in none more so than in the
opposing influence which it possesses with the
gay and inconsiderate, against the fascinations
of a continental residence. We would rather
see our youth, beauty and chivalry, enjoying
themselves upon their native green sward, or
shaded by the wide-spreading foliage of the
aboriginal oak, than revelling in Parisian
saloons, or amidst the midnight carnivals of
Italy. Let those who choose decry, as did
the partisans of Cromwell, the unoffending
amusements of the different orders of society,
as immoral and ungodly. We are not of that
class, but rather agree with Mr. Burke, when
he says that " to make us love our country,
our country ought to be lovely ;" and are un-
philosophical enough to believe that those
amusements, especially if hallowed by time,
are esteemed at a higher rate by the people,
and have a happier tendency on the general
mind, than sophists, or political economists^
may write down in their tablets.

DOINGS AND SAYINGS IN THE PRIZE RING

TOM GAYNOR AND NED NEAL.
The rain came down in torrents all the
morning, but notwithstanding the ardour
of the Fancy could not, and would not, be
damped by " the pitiless pelting showers ;" and
if the road did not display numerous barouches,
drags, &c., as a May-day morning, neverthe-



44



PIERCE EGAN'S BOOK OF SPORTS.



less, most of the old ring-goers came t>ut to
witness the mill. The turnpikes of course,
had aturn; the innkeepers were busy; ihe blunt
changed masters ; and the penny was turned
to a good account. The battle between Ne;xl
and Gaynor took place on Tuesday, March
15th, 1831, in the same field where Neal de-
feated the great gun (Tom Cannon), called
"Warfield, in the parish of Wingfield, Berk-
shire. At one o'clock, NEAL, attended by
Spring and Young Sam, threw his hat into the
ring, and was received with loud shouts of
approbation : he walked up leisurely, and, in
the most composed manner, tied his blue fogle
to the stakes. GAYNOR soon afterwards made
his appearance, and shied his tile also within
the ropes waited upon by Harry Holt, and
the lively kid (Ned Stockman), when the yel-
Inwman was tied to the blue emblem. Curtis
was to have undertaken the office of bottie-
holder to Gaynor; but, as he said, a violent
attack of the screw-matics prevented him.
tSimon Byrne was also expected to have acted
as second to Neal ; but as he did not appear,
Josh. Hudson was mentioned ; neither of the
above boxers was on the ground. Neal was
decidedly the favorite at 5 and C to 4, pre-
vious to setting to. Tom Cannon observed to
Neal, " this is your lucky ground, but it is
softer to-day." On Gaynor entering the ring,
Neal went up to him, asked him how he did,
and shook hands with him. The spot selected
for the ring was perfectly dry : the office was
given for the men to peel; when the battle
commenced.

ROUND 1. Neal looked remarkably well,
his condition was good, and owing to the re-
novating effects of training, no traces were
visible of his recent battle with Sam : his
weight was nearly the same, 12 stone 31bs.
On being asked the question, Neal ieplied,
" he had not been to scale since his las. light."
Gaynor astonished his friends and backers by
the improvement his frame had undergone in
the course of a few weeks, by his careful at-
tention to regimen and exercise : he had also
completely shaken-off all the up-all-night ap-
pearances of a Lush-crib in the heart of the
metropolis the waste-butt sort of thing the
nails in the coffin, and the general stale ap-
pearance connected, with the character of a
lighting man and a London Landlord. Tom had
made the best use of his time : he entered the
ring slap up to the mark, confident of success,
and made up his mind to nothing else but
winning. The attitude? of the men were ex-
cellent ; the stakes were high ; the combatants
were perfectly aware of each other's milling
talents, and both were determined, not to give
half a chance away. It was therefore cau-
tion, extreme CAUTION, and CAUTION to the
very echo. They dodged each other, kept a
good look out, and both prepared for any
opening the.t might offer. Ned hopped from
any thing like mischief as quick as a squirrel ;
and Gaynor jumped out of danger like a pos-
ture-master. Several minutes occurred, when



Gaynor rubbed his hands, as if tired of doing
nothing. At the expiration of Fifteen mi-
nutes, Tom put down his hands, and stood
completely still, smiling [Applause]. Gaynor
at length made an offer, but Neal got away.
" Wake him up," said Stockman, " and let
Ned know he is in the ring." Twenty-two
minutes had now expired, and not a blow
struck. " Go to work," from all parts of the
ring. Thirty -Jive minutes, and nothing like
mischief, when Gaynor let fly with his right
hand, which was beautifully stopped by Neal
[Applause]. The spectators were almost
tired with watching the movements of the
combatants the caution observed on both
sides was so excessive. Neal hit out, when
Gaynor stopped the blow capitally. Ned also
followed his opponent up in the corner, and
made himself up for mischief when the
peepers of the crowd were on the stretch ex-
pecting smashing work ; but it not appearing
exactly safe to Neal. he retreated backwards,
to the great disappointment of his friends.
FORTY-THREE MINUTES had elapsed,
when Gaynor, as if worn out with attitudi-
nising, made play with his right hand, which
was immediately returned by Neal ; several
blows were exchanged ; and, in closing, Neal
tried to fib his adversary ; the struggle for the
throw was severe on both sides, but Gaynor
obtained it. Both down, but Neal under-
most.

2. Nothing the matter, but bcth ready for
the attack. After a little dodging, Neal fol-
lowed up Gaynor to the ropes, but missed a
tremendous right-handed blow, which, if it
had touched the listener of Gaynor, might have
altered the state of affairs. In closing, Gay-
nor was extremely active with his mauleys :
Neal was by no means idle, and the fibbing
system was adopted on both sides, until Neal
went down. Great shouting. " The Queen's
Read," said Stockman, " shall now be the
King's Head we shall win it without a
scratched face ; and I'll crown my man with
laurels."

3. The left eye of Gaynor was touched a
little. " Look," said Sam, " at the mouse!"
" Never mind," replied the lively kid, " your
man will soon smell a rat. You ought not to
have brought the man here. You took the
fight out of him ! But he is ready made to
our hands." Neal stopped a rum one aimed
at his nob, and Gaynor also got out of mischief.
The latter hit Neal on his ribs, and Ned re-
turned slightly. Caution on both sides. Gay-
iior ran in, and in closing, after a most des-
perate struggle, got Ned down. Lots of ap-
plause for the hero of the Queen's Head.
During the half minute while Gaynor was sit-
ting on his second's knee, Spring exclaimed
" First blood!" pointing to Gaynor's mouth ;
this was most vehemently disputed by Holt,
but to us a very slight tinge of claret appeared
on Gaynor's ivories.

4. This was a short round. After two or
three blows, Neal went down. Gaynor sung



PIERCE EGAN'S BOOK OF SPORTS



out "Take notice, the first knock-down
blow !" This was denied by the seconds of
the opposite party but no opinion is of any
value to decide the event as to betting, except
the umpires and referee.

5. Both down Gaynor uppermost.

6. The face of Neal looked red, but nothing
more. He stopped, in a most scientific style,
two hits. Exchanges, when Gaynor laughed,
and pointed at his opponent indicating he
did not value his attempts. In closing, Neal
struggled violently to obtain the throw, but
Gaynor, who is a first-rate wrestler, got Neal
down. Loud shouting. The claret was visi-
ble enough on the top of Neal's nose.

7. The left hand of Neal told on his oppo-
nent's mug, when he ran in and caught hold
of Gaynor so tightly, that, in spite of the
struggles of the latter, Neal positively lifted
iim o(T the ground and threw him so heavily
as to be pronounced almost a burster. 7 to 4
on Neal.

8. 9. These rounds were decidedly in favor
of Neal. He touched Tom upon some of the
old places, the scars of former brave contests,
and the claret was seen trickling down his iron
heek. But he was as game as a pebble. In
closing, both down.

10. The science of both of the men was much
admired, and the stops on both sides were of
the first character of the Art of Slf-Dpf'm:u..
Gaynor retreated from mischiof, and Neal took
care of himself. The strength of the latter
was here manifested in a great degree ; he
again got Gaynor off his legs threw him on
the ground with severity enough to take the
fight o it of any one Gaynor's head made a
dent in the ground. " Bravo, Neal he must
win it he has too much wear-and-tear for
Gaynor." Two to one.

11, 12, 13, 11, 15, 1G. These rounds were
like the former ; they partook more of wrest-
ling than milling; and although Neal was
decidedly the favorite, the old ring-goers and
his immediate friends perceived that his ener-
gies were on the wane ; he did not, as hereto-
fore in his former battles, go right up to his
opponent's head, and fight with him ; in fact,
he was too cautious, and retreated at times
when he might have done some severe execu-
tion. During some of these rounds 3 to 1 had
been laid on Neal.

17. Gaynor, although piping, was confident,
and in a masterly style he threw Neal. Great
applause, and " well done, Gaynor."

18. The men were now on their mettle, and
milling' was the order of the round. Some
sharp hits occurred between them. Gaynor's
nob showed the /iandy-work of his opponent,
and the left peeper of Ned was considerably
damaged, and put on the winking list. Gay-
nor ran after Neal, but Ned was not to be
had. Both down. One hour and a quarter
had elapsed.

19. This was one of the best rounds in the
fight ; and, as the Sage of the East would
have said, had he but seen the men, the looker A'



on had the best of it. They stood up to each
other well exchanging hits the c*aret on
both their mugs, until both down. " Well
done, on both sides," and applause from all
parts of the ring.

20, 21, 22. Neal stood well on his pins
his wind was also good and the general
opinion entertained round the ring was, that
ne must win ; in fact, the JVeaMtes could not
*ay out their blunt, no takers were, except in a
few slight instances, to be met with. Gaynor
undermost in both of these rounds.

23. This was a truly distressing round to
Tom, and, after some blows were exchanged
between them, Ned, by the dint of strength,
threw Gayuor, who fell upon his head, and
Neal went down upon him. Harry Holt, a
capital second at all times, never exerted him-
self more to bring up his man clean and well
than he did throughout the fight ; he placed
Gaynor's head right indeed it was almost out
of place, so great was the shock he had re-
ceived. " It will soon be over it is as right
as a trivet how can Neal lose it ?'* from the
Blue Fngle party. " By de powers of Moll
Kelly," said a Patlander, " do dat again for
me, Ned, and you shall have all the four

Misses , with 2000 per annum, for your

wives ; and I'll give you the ould widow into
the bargain."

24. Gaynor came to the scratch a tiny bit
grnggy with bellows to mend but never-
theless his game was the delighl of all the
spectators. He sparred a short time for wind
when he made play, and some hits were
exchanged. In closing, he threw Neal. The
applause was great, and " we don't know what
to make of it."

25. Short. Both down. Gaynor under
most.

26. 27, 28, 29. Although the friends of
Neal had made up their minds, at this period
of the fight, 'that he must win the battle, they
did not approve of his fondness to obtain the
throws they were aware it must ultimately
tear him to pieces. He now and then made
use of his left hand, which told on the mug of
his opponent ; but, in general, the defensive
mode was too prominent : it wanted more of
the fighting character. Both down in these
rounds, after severe struggles for the/alls.

30. Short. Exchanges. Both down.

31. Neal commenced fighting, and Gaynor
stood well up to him ; counter hits, and not
light ones. Both down.

32. Gay nor pi anted a severe facer. "Bravo I
that's the way, Tom," said Stockman, " He
don't like it ; two more of the same sort wili
do the trick and I'll order a diamond neck-