pose, that ships trading to
Venice were obliged to bring ten bow staves along with every butt of
Malmsey. The yew was also consecrated--a large tree, or more being in
every churchyard; and they were held sacred.[3] In funeral processions
the branches were carried over the dead by mourners, and thrown under
the coffin in the grave. The following extract from the ancient laws
of Wales will show the value that was there set upon these trees, and
also how the consecrated yew of the priests had risen in value over
the reputed sacred mistletoe of the Druids:--

"A consecrated yew, its value is a pound.

"A misletoe branch, threescore pence.

"An oak, sixscore pence.

"Principal branch of an oak, thirty pence.

"A yew tree, (not consecrated) fifteen pence.

"A sweet apple, threescore pence.

"A sour apple, thirty pence.

"A thorn-tree, seven pence halfpenny. Every tree after that,
fourpence."

[3] Yew trees--those gloomy tenants of our churchyards--appear to
have been planted there in ancient times. In the will of Henry
VI. there is the following item:--"The space between the wall
of the church and the wall of the cloyster shall conteyne 38
feyte, which is left for to sett in certayne trees and flowers,
behovable and convenient for the custom of the said church."
Several reasons may be assigned for giving this tree a preference
to every other evergreen. It is very hardy, long-lived, and,
though in time it attains a considerable height, produces
branches in abundance, so low as to be always within reach
of the hand, and at last affords a beautiful wood for
furniture.--The date of the yews at Bedfont is 1704.

By a statute made in the 5th year of Edward IV., every Englishman, and
Irishman dwelling with Englishmen, was directed to have a bow of his
own height made of yew, wych-hazel, ash, or awburne--that is, laburnum,
which is still styled "awburne saugh," or awburne willow, in many
parts of Scotland. His skill in the use of the long bow was the proud
distinction of the English yeoman, and it was his boast that none but an
Englishman could bend that powerful weapon. It seems that there was a
peculiar art in the English use of this bow; for our archers did not
employ all their muscular strength in drawing the string with the right
hand, but thrust the whole weight of the body into the horns of the bow
with the left. Chaucer