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Page xi:-
[en]tirely on spoils, to plunder each side, and, having
allured partners to share their irregularities, to do all
manner of mischief. To finish therefore this evil, the
foregoing boundary was drawn by the consent of both, and
pyramids of hewn stone erected, that the laws of each
country might more precisely and effectually reach these
villains: however, their old habits were not thus
eradicated, even after the kingdoms had both one King,
(though one may reasonably conjecture that this disposition
would then gradually have fallen away of itself,) till James
I. whether or no to facilitate the journeys of his
dun-cow is not recorded, made some sort of a
transportation or dispersion of this set of inhabitants, and
since that time the mischief has ceased.
Such were some of the insignificant causes, which have
either given birth to great wars, or have been alleged as
the reason of them, to cover the real one; or when excited
indeed by other motives, and avowed as such, have fed their
malignity with continual and pernicious materials; insomuch,
that, what was said by Vellius Paterculus to have been the
case for 115 years in the contest between Rome and Carthage,
has, by their means, been much more properly applied here,
and that for a length of time prodigiously greater,
viz. Between these people, there was either war, or
preparation for war, or a peace that was never observed, for
several centuries. However, as oft as I think of these
destructive trifles, I cannot help calling to mind a
sentence of Pope Sixtus Quintus, which I have somewhere
read. A friar, who had formerly been an intimate of this
Pope, came to visit him after his exaltation, and being
encouraged to use his former familiarity, told him, he
wondered how he, a plain man, had acquired the triple crown,
which so many subtle spirits wished for in vain! To this the
Pope answered, "Hadst thou been abroad as I have been, and
seen by what folly the world is governed, thou wouldst
wonder at nothing."
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archery
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I cannot quit this subject, without taking notice of that
superiority in archery which the English have always
boasted, and which has had so material an effect in almost
all the battles which they formerly fought, against
different modes of discipline, and different nations.
Whatever effect political regulations might have had in
preserving this superiority, or whatever the consequent
practice of it as an amusement may have done, I think I may
safely aver, that the custom of poaching occasioned by the
severity of the game-laws established by the conqueror, had
no small effect in preserving it. It was this that produced
so many noted archers and outlaws in the forest of Englewood
as well as that of Sherwood. For, not to mention Adam Bell
and his partners, tradition still preserves the name of
Watty of Croglin, Woodhead Andrew, Robin Oth'moors, Gruff
Elleck (Alexander,) and of several others, as of persons
distinguished in that line, even amongst a people who were
almost to a man of the same stamp. Besides, as their
squabbles and the subsequent marodings made the skill thus
acquired at times absolutely necessary to the inhabitants on
each side of the boundary, we may easily conclude, that a
necessity of this kind, continually kept alive, must produce
no small degree of dexterity. In addition to the motives
which might induce the inferior countries of England to
exercise themselves in archery, in the borders, was
self-defence, and the provision of sustenance: two motives
always powerful, and in those parts unremittingly urgent.
Thus the trifles which continued its use, and the trifles
which made that use needful, when combined together, and
directed by particular contingencies, affected, by their
number and collected force, the history of the times in a
very distinguished manner. Whoever will consider the
circumstances of the battles which were then fought, will
find, that wherever the ground or circumstances favoured the
archers for a number of regular discharges, they generally
produced such a confusion, particularly among the enemy's
horse, as gave the men at arms of their own party an
opportunity of easily compleating it. I need cite no further
particulars of this than the battle of Homeldon, when the
forces of the Northern Marches encountered the gallant
Archibald Earl of Douglas; the men at arms stood still that
day, and the bowmen had the whole business upon their hands.
It is recorded, that no armour could resist their arrows,
though that of Earl Douglas and his associates had been
three years in making.
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gazetteer links
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-- "Debateable Ground" -- Debatable Land
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-- "Englewood" -- Inglewood Forest
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