THE ROYAL ARCHERS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVI, Issue 6503, 30 December 1881, Page 5

THE ROYAL ARCHERS.

The Boyal Archers, as many of our readers may possibly he aware, represent one o( the most ancient and honourable bodyguards of Christendom. Their muster-roll embraces the names of almost all, if not ah', the oldest and best families in this kingdom. We might almost say of them, as Aytoun singe of the Scottish corps in the French service—

Not one at all that company But bore a gentle name— Not one whose fathers had act stood

On Scotland's fields 0 1 tame. Whenever they are called out to attend the Sovereign they are entitled to present their feudal tribute of two barbed arrows, and in virtue of this to claim the continuance of their rights and privilege*. This ceremony is known as the " Beddeudo.” At Holyrood, during the recent volunteer review by the Queen, it was dispensed with. The Archers, who had turned out in a large and loyal body to guard their Sovereign, were informed that the Heddando was not to take place. This decision deprived the officers of the Boyal Company, at the head of whom were the Duke of Aberrant and Lord Lothian, of the customary audience with Her Majesty ; and deprived the Queen of the Bitrot, and indeed only, opportunity of making a gracious acknowledgment of the Archers’ services. The omirsion could not be for the sake of saving time, as the Beddeudo could have been easily gone through daring the quarter of an boor that the Secretary at War kept the company waiting in the quadrangle or Holyrood tin he came downstairs to administer the oath of allegiance. If it was by the way of saving trouble, Her Majesty —if properly advised—could never have desired to relieve herself of a very trifling exertion at the cost of a'slight to her own bodyguard. The Glasgow Herald say* most probably Mr Childers, or some Cockney JaoVia-fMc* under him, who know little and oared less about the traditions of the Scottish Archers, thought that the Beddeudo was some piece of Scotch noosecie which bad better be rot alone.