Archery, The Royal British Bowmen.  [?By] *** Miss Bagley, n...

Hammer

£80

Archery, The Royal British Bowmen.  [?By] *** Miss Bagley, n.d. [c. 1813], 6pp, 14 dizdain stanzas of 10 lines, beginning 'With thoughts relax'd by pleasures flow', and finishing 'May Bowmen all both great & small forever be defended ', the verse explores British geography and to an extent identity, citing Howe and Nelson, ancient families, quotes the Magna Carta's right of habeas corpus, as well as the slightly anachronistic theme of bowmen and archery, which is repeated several times throughout the poem - almost, but not quite, as a chorus, (and 'Bow wow wow' is similarly repeated), in a spirit of revivalism the poet makes each theme seem inherent in the national landscape, watermarked 1813.