Earls of Cromartie > [NSLBLANK]

1714.] CAPTAIN-GENERAL OF THE ARCHERS. clxxxv
the Council gave their Captain-General great praise for obtaining the charter,
which they acknowledge with the cheerfulness and respect due to so valuable
a gift. It gives his Lordship, they add, a just title to be called not only the
restorer but (under her Majesty) the founder of a society which, it is hoped,
in a short time, by his Lordship's conduct and patronage, will revive the
ancient exercise of bows and arrows, so much of late neglected, though of
great use to this nation in time of our warlike progenitors. 1
Lord Cromartie maintained his interest in the archers to the last. Even
when he was eighty-three years of age he wrote to the Council, " I am
much in hopes to be tolerably fit for a try at butts, though scarcely for a
journey at rovers. Meanwhile I wish a merry sederunt, and pray accept the
will for the deed, for no captain can be more desirous to serve a company,
; nor hath any better reason for being so." 2
Soon after the date of that letter, the first known public march of the
archers was made. It is recorded that the Company " marched in order
through Leith, with the Ensign (Earl of Lauderdale) at their head, and
Marchiston, one of their briggadiers, in the rear, and received from the guard
the usual honours, to the place where they dined, and were there attended
by their Captain-General and Magistrates of Edinburgh." 3
On the occasion of shooting for the Musselburgh arrow, on the 4th of
August 1713, Lord Cromartie wrote to the Council the quaint letter excusing
his non-attendance, which is printed in this collection. The letter was also
a practical resignation of his office of Captain-General. But it was not
accepted, and Lord Cromartie held the office till his death in the following
year.
Exactly two months previous to his death, Lord Cromartie was able to
1 Original Letter in the Archives of the - Ibid.
Archers. 3 Archives of the Archers.
2 a