The Washington times., 1903-09-06
Honorable Artillery Company
of London to Be Guest of
the Ancient and Honorable
Artillery of Boston.
WASHINGTON MINUTE MEN
ALSO TO ENTERTAIN IT
Its Origin Dates Back to the
Days Of Alfred the Great.
Present Commission Was
Granted by Henry VIII.

IN 1896. the Ancient and Honorable
Artillery OF Boston was royalty enter
tained by the crown and British army
at Windsor Castle, Marlborough House,
and Aldershott. The Honorable Artil-
lery Company, of London. viii pay a re-
turn visit 10 the United States, as guests
of the Boston company. arriving about
October l.
The two Will be royalty entertained in
Boston, New York, Chicago, and St
Louis, and VIII be seen in Washington
In Washington the visitors VIII be the
guests of the Minute Men. and elaborate
plans for their entertainment while here
are under consideration. No dates have
yet been arranged for the itinerary.
It's Historic Antecedents.
The first of the auxiliary forces of the
crown was the Honorable Artillery Com
pany. Of London. The uniform was the
blue hussar. with scarlet facings.
It is scarcely possible 10 name q mill
tary body whose history from its lineage
and traditions appeals with greater force
and fascination to all subjects of the
British crown. without hyperbole. it
may be said, the interest attaching 10
the Honorable Artillery Company ex
ceeds the limits of merely national feel
ing and becomes European. if not uni
versal in its stretch. For the antiquity
Of the Honorable Artillery Company Is
unequaled by any other military body
throughout the world.
IN the days OF the Red King. when
"the ways were filled with rapine" and
the struggling commerce of London was
threatened by free lances, or. less eu-
phoniously. by robbers and freebooters.
an armed company" of citizens was
formed to protect lives and property.
Under Ethelred, son-in-law of Alfred
the Great. they had stormed the Danes
in their castle OF Benneet. During tho
last reign OF Edmund Ironside they
thrice drove back the forces of the con-
ouering Canute. Even the great Con-
queror himself. when the arrow of Sang
ulae had seemed 20 place England at his
mercy. hesitated to enter London till n
trigue disarmed its sturdy poDulace.
Bluff King Halls Call
As at present constituted the Honor
able Artillery Company dates from the
reign of Henry VII-1537. The bluff
monarch was fully conscious of the
value of the citizens of London as fight
ing material. and the Honorable ArJil
lery Company, soon to appear armed and
equipped upon our splendid Avenue, were
the minute men" OF London in the
sixteenth century. In those days an in
vasion by a foe was by no means deem
ed unlikely. and he set himself to es-
tablish such a force as should hold Lon
don free from danger. An act was
therefore passed the preamble OF which
follows:
The Kyng. our sovereign Lord. cally-
ing 20 his noble and gracious remem-
brance that by the feats and exercise
OF subiecttes of his realme in shoting
and long bowes there hath continyeally
grown and been within the same great
number OF and multitude OF goOde
Archers which hath defended this
reaIme, and the subjects thereof, against
the cruel malice and danger OF their
outward enemys in tyne heretofore past,
and also have done many notable acts
and discomdtures Of Warre against the
infdeIles and others. and furthermore
subdued and reduced, diverse and many
regions and cOuntIees to their true
obeysance to the great honor, fame. and
surtie OF this realme, and subject and 10
the terrible dTede and fere OF all strange
nacions anythinge 70 attempte or do the
hurte or danger OF theyme or any CT
theym.
After the passing OF this act "ha--
ter was granted August %, 1887, for the
purpose Of promoting the science OF
artillery, namely. for long bows. cross
bows and hand guns
Thus was formed the Honorable Ar
tillery Company, having license Ito use
any short bows and hand guns in London
and suburbs and all other parts Of the
realm OF England, Ireland. Calais and
Wales"
Charles I a Member.
Under Queen Bess the 300 members
were rewarded by receiving commis-
sions during the Armada campaign TO be
distributed throughout the army tenn
porarily 20 instruct the soldiery. The
Inflated Charles I became an active
member Of the company. After the Cor
den riots the only honorary member
ever elected by the company was ad-
mitted In the person OF Capt. Burnard
Turner who had commanded the Lon
whole Of the disturbances. including the
bread riots.
Finally, the Ancient and Honorable
Artillery Company Of London IS the
oldest and most influential military Or
ganization in existence whose colonel
commanding IS his majesty King Ed
ward VII. and the historic organization
armed and equipped, will return the
visit Of the Ancient and Honorable Ar
tillery Of Boston TO London, coming IN
October, when the two organizations
Will be guests Of the Old Guard in New
York. visiting Washington and Chicago
and ST. Louis, the first foreign armed
military. organization to be granted per-
mission to make a friendly visit 20 the
great Republic.
The Ancient and Honorable Ar
tnlery Company % Massachusetts, re-