Surname Origins, Their Source and Significations (1875)

class of armour our word 'artillery ' was first applied, a fact which our Bible translators have pre-served, where, in describing the meeting between David and Jonathan, they speak of the latter as giving his 'artillery to the lad.' Cotgrave, too, in his dictionary, printed at the beginning of the seventeenth century, has the following Artellier, a bowyer or bow-maker, also a fletcher, or one that makes both bows and arrows.' The mention of the fletcher brings us to the more general weapon. Such an entry as the following would seem strange to the eyes of the nineteenth century: — 'To Nicolas Frost, bowman, Stephen Sedar, fletcher,' Ralph, the stringer, and divers others of the said mysteries, in money, paid to them, viz.: — to the aforesaid Nicholas, for 500 bows, 311. 8s.; to the aforesaid Stephen, for 1,700 sheaves of arrows, 1481. 15s.; and to the aforesaid Ralph, for forty gross of bowstrings, 12l.' (Exchequer Issues, 14 Henry IV.) This short extract in itself shows us the origin of at least three distinct surnames, Bowyer,' 'Fletcher,' and 'Stringer.' We should hardly recognise the first, however, in such entries as 'Adam le Boghiere,' or 'William le Boghycre.' 'John le Bower' reminds us that some of our 'Bowers' are similarly sprung, while 'George le Boyer' answers for our 'Boyers.' 'Besides these, we have 'Robert Bowmaker' or 'John Bowmaykere' to represent the fuller sobriquet. So much for the how. Next comes the arrow. This was a very care-

1 We find the Pattenmakers of London petitioning the Commons, in 1464, that they may have restored to them the use of the 'tymber called Aspe,' which had been of late entirely in the hands of the manufacturers of arrows, 'so that the Flecchers thorough the Reame may sell their an-owes at more esy price than they were wonte to doo.' The aspe was a species of poplar. — Rol. Parl. Ed. IV.

SURNAMES OF OFFICE.

ful piece of workmanship. Four distinct classes of artizans were engaged in its structure, and, as we might expect, all are familiar names of to-day. 'John le Arowsmyth' we may set first. He confined himself to the manufacture of the arrow-head. Thus we find the following statement made in an Act passedin 1405: — ' Item, because the Arrowsmyths do make many faulty heads for arrows and quarels, it is ordained and established that all heads for arrows and quarels, after this time to be made, shall be well boiled or braised, and hardened at the points with steel.'            (Stat. Realm.)'     ' Clement le Settere' or 'Alexander le Settere' 2 was busied in affixing these to the shaft, and 'John le Tippere' or 'William le Tippere' in pointing them off. Nor is this all — there is yet the feather. Of the origin of such medieval folk as 'Robert le Fleccher' or 'Ada le Fletcher,' we are reminded by Milton, where, in describing an angel, he says

His locks behind,

Illustrious on his shoulders, fledge with wings,

Lay waving round.

The fletcher, or fledger as I had well-nigh called him, spent his time, in fact, in feathering arrows. Skelton in 'The Maner of the World ' says

1 The 'arrowsmith' has a much longer and less euphonious title in a statute of Elizabeth regarding the hiring of servants by the year. In it are included 'Weavers, Tuckers, Fullers, Pewterers, Cutlers, Smithes, Farrours, Sadlers, Spurryers, Turners, Bowyers, Fletchers, Arrowhead-makers, Butchers, Cookes, or Myllers.'-5 Eliz. c. iv. 2.

2 Thus, among the London occupations, Cocke Lovell includes those of the

'Spooners, turners, and hatters,

Lyne-webbers, setters, and lyne-drapers.'