-
Articles/Ads
Article KILWINNING, AND THE KILWINNING ARCHERS. ← Page 2 of 4 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Kilwinning, And The Kilwinning Archers.
III ., in 1488 , to the number of ten thousand , are described to have been all armed with bows . These , however , were probably of very inferior length and strength to the formidable English long bow . So much for the earlier state of archery in Scotland . The minute book of the Kilwinning company of Archers , under date 1688 , intimates that for some time previous to that period , the game of archery liaving fallen into disusethe shooting at the Papingo ( or painted
, parrot ) , and butts was restored , and the society renewed at Kilwinning on the 14 th September of the above year , by the following gentlemen : — William Blair of that ilk , Hugh Montgomery of Cailsfield , William Baillie , merchant in Edinburgh , Hugh Stevenson , & c . & c . The Papingo or Papinay , which was originally a live bird , was attached to the extremity of a pole projecting from the top of the tower of Kilwinning Abbeyand was shot foras it is nowby the archers
sta-, , , tioned in the churchyard directly beneath it . The present town , which is a very modern erection , was built upon the same spot and after the same plan as the ancient and original one , which fell clown a number of years ago , and is upwards of 100 feet in height . The prize , at the period above alluded to , appears by the number , to have consisted of a
piece of fine " Persian taffety , " three ells long , and three quarters broad , of different colours , and of the value of twenty pounds Scots at the least , which trophy was termed a Benn- The archer who gained this by bringing down the Papingo from the church tower , had it tied as a badge of honour about his waist , and was demonstrated thereupon Captain . He then made a triumphant progress through Kilwinning , attended by the other captains , if such there were present , each
decorated with his Benn , and followed by the rest of the archers in array . Every change-keeper in these clays brought forth to them all and other liquors to drink the Captain ' s health ; and certainly on the late competition for the Papingo prize , the ancient practice seemed to have been followed up ; for at every halt in the gallant Captain ' s progress , there was neither lack of " mountain dew , " nor eke of " the blude red wine , " although the genius of '' jolly good ale and old" has long been banished
, in a manner from the northern to the southern side of the Tweed , by that fairy spirit , John Barleycorn , vulgarly known by the name of whiskey . The first prize which seems to have been shot for after the revival of the society , is mentioned in the minutes to have been gained by James Ferguson , Esq ., advocate , on the first Tuesday in May , 1690 . It is not specified of what the prize consisted .
The first Butt prize expressly mentioned , was given by Hugh Montgomery of Coilsfieltl , being a prize of silver plate , and which was gained by James Stevenson , Esq ., Advocate . Since the above period , many noblemen and gentlemen have joined the society , and subscribed the form of obligation , as set forth by the rules , to present a piece of gold or silver plate , when it shall fall in rotation for them to do so .
At the meeting in the end of August last , the Butt prize was an elegant silver cup , the gift of the Captain , W . C . Patrick , Esq ., ol Ladyland . Though there were nearly fifty members on the ground , only eighteen competed for the cup ; so shy were the majority of entering against so many crack marksmen . The shooting was excellent from the outset , and continued to the close a very keen affair . The prize was finally
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Kilwinning, And The Kilwinning Archers.
III ., in 1488 , to the number of ten thousand , are described to have been all armed with bows . These , however , were probably of very inferior length and strength to the formidable English long bow . So much for the earlier state of archery in Scotland . The minute book of the Kilwinning company of Archers , under date 1688 , intimates that for some time previous to that period , the game of archery liaving fallen into disusethe shooting at the Papingo ( or painted
, parrot ) , and butts was restored , and the society renewed at Kilwinning on the 14 th September of the above year , by the following gentlemen : — William Blair of that ilk , Hugh Montgomery of Cailsfield , William Baillie , merchant in Edinburgh , Hugh Stevenson , & c . & c . The Papingo or Papinay , which was originally a live bird , was attached to the extremity of a pole projecting from the top of the tower of Kilwinning Abbeyand was shot foras it is nowby the archers
sta-, , , tioned in the churchyard directly beneath it . The present town , which is a very modern erection , was built upon the same spot and after the same plan as the ancient and original one , which fell clown a number of years ago , and is upwards of 100 feet in height . The prize , at the period above alluded to , appears by the number , to have consisted of a
piece of fine " Persian taffety , " three ells long , and three quarters broad , of different colours , and of the value of twenty pounds Scots at the least , which trophy was termed a Benn- The archer who gained this by bringing down the Papingo from the church tower , had it tied as a badge of honour about his waist , and was demonstrated thereupon Captain . He then made a triumphant progress through Kilwinning , attended by the other captains , if such there were present , each
decorated with his Benn , and followed by the rest of the archers in array . Every change-keeper in these clays brought forth to them all and other liquors to drink the Captain ' s health ; and certainly on the late competition for the Papingo prize , the ancient practice seemed to have been followed up ; for at every halt in the gallant Captain ' s progress , there was neither lack of " mountain dew , " nor eke of " the blude red wine , " although the genius of '' jolly good ale and old" has long been banished
, in a manner from the northern to the southern side of the Tweed , by that fairy spirit , John Barleycorn , vulgarly known by the name of whiskey . The first prize which seems to have been shot for after the revival of the society , is mentioned in the minutes to have been gained by James Ferguson , Esq ., advocate , on the first Tuesday in May , 1690 . It is not specified of what the prize consisted .
The first Butt prize expressly mentioned , was given by Hugh Montgomery of Coilsfieltl , being a prize of silver plate , and which was gained by James Stevenson , Esq ., Advocate . Since the above period , many noblemen and gentlemen have joined the society , and subscribed the form of obligation , as set forth by the rules , to present a piece of gold or silver plate , when it shall fall in rotation for them to do so .
At the meeting in the end of August last , the Butt prize was an elegant silver cup , the gift of the Captain , W . C . Patrick , Esq ., ol Ladyland . Though there were nearly fifty members on the ground , only eighteen competed for the cup ; so shy were the majority of entering against so many crack marksmen . The shooting was excellent from the outset , and continued to the close a very keen affair . The prize was finally