habilitie not of the matter it selfe whiche deserueth no lyttle thinge to be sayde of it PHI. If it deserue no little thinge to be sayd of it Toxophile I maruell howe â—t chaunceth than that no man hitherto hath written any thinge of it wherin you must graunte me that eyther the matter is noughte vnworthye and barren to be written vppon or els some men are to blame whiche both loue it and vse it and yet could neuer finde in theyr heart to saye one good woorde of it seinge that very triflinge matters hath not lacked great learned men to sette them out as gnattes and nuttes many other mo like thinges wherfore eyther you maye honestlie laye verie great faut vpoÌ„ men bycause they neuer yet praysed it or els I may iustlie take awaye no litle thinge from shooting bycause it neuer yet deserued it TOX. Trulye herein Philologe you take not so muche from it as you giue to it For great and commodious thynges are neuer greatlie praysed not bycause they be not worthie but bicause their excellencie nedeth no man hys prayse hauinge all theyr coÌ„mendation of them selfe not borowed of other men his lippes which rather prayse them selfe in spekynge much of a litle thynge than that matter whiche they entreat vpon Great good thinges be not praysed For who euer praysed Hercules sayeth the Greke prouerbe And that no man hitherto hath written any booke of shoting the fault is not to be layed in the thyng whiche was worthie to be written vpon but of men which were negligent in doyng it and this was the cause therof as I suppose Menâ—e that vsed shootyng moste and knewe it best were not learned men that were lerned vsed litle shooting and were ignorant in the nature of the thynge and so fewe menne hath bene that hithetto were able to wryte vpon it Yet howe longe shotyng hath continued what common wealthes hath moste vsed it howe honeste a thynge it is for all men what kynde of liuing so euer they folow what pleasure and profit coÌ„meth of it both in peace and warre all maner of tongues writers Hebrue Greke and Latine hath so plentifullie spoken of it as of fewe other thinges like So what shooting is howe many kindes there is of it what goodnesse is ioyned with it is tolde onelye howe it is to be learned and brought to a perfectnesse amonges men is not toulde PHI. Than Toxophile if it be so as you do saye let vs go forwarde and examin howe plentifullie this is done that you speke and firste of the inuention of it than what honestie profit is in the vse of it bothe for warre peace more than in other pastimes laste of all howe it ought to be learned amonges men for the encrease of it whiche thinge if you do not onelye I nowe for youre coÌ„munication but many other mo when they shall knowe of it for your labour shotyng it selfe also if it coulde speke for your kyndnesse wyll can you very moche thanke TOXOPH What good thynges meÌ„ speake of shoting what good thinges shooting bringes to men as my wit knowlege will serue me gladly shall I say my mind But how the thing is to be learned I will surely leue to some other which bothe for greater experience in it also for their lerninge can set it out better than I. PHI. Well as for that I knowe both what you can do in shooting by experience yâ— you caÌ„ also speke well ynough of shooting for youre learning but go on with the first part And I do not doubt but what my desyre what your loue toward it the honestie of shoting the profite that may come therby to many other shall get the seconde parte out of you at the last TOXOPH Of the first finders out of shoting diâ—ers men diuerslye doo wryte Clandianus in histri Claudiane the poete sayth that nature gaue example of shotyng first by the Porpentine whiche doth shote his prickes and will hitte any thinge that fightes with it whereby men learned afterwarde to immitate the same in findyng out both bowe and shaftes Plin. 7. 56. Plinie referreth it to Schythes the sonne of Iupiter Better and more noble wryters bringe shoting from a more noble inuentour as Plato In sympo Calimachus In hym and Galene from Apollo Apolâ— Yet longe afore those dayes do we reade in the bible of shotinge expreslye Gen. 21. And also if we shall beleue Nicholas de Lyra Nic. de lyra Lamech killed Cain with a shafte So this great continuaunce of shoting doth not a lytle praise shotinge nor that neither doth not a litle set it oute that it is referred to thinuention of Apollo Galen in eâ—hor ad bonâ—â— artâ—â— for the which poynt shoting is highlye praised of Galene where he sayth yâ— mean craftes befirst fouÌ„d out by men or beastes as weauing by a spider and suche other but high and coÌ„mendable sciences by goddes as shotinge and musicke by Apollo And thus shotynge for the necessitie of it vsed in Adams dayes for the noblenesse of it referred to Apollo hath not ben onelie coÌ„mended in all tunges and writers but also had in greate price both in the best coÌ„mune wealthes in warre tyme for the defeÌ„ce of their lawes for it â—crod I clio as the Persians which vnder Cyrus coÌ„quered in a maner all the worlde had a lawe that their children shulde learne thre thinges onelie from v. yeare oulde vnto .xx. to ryde an horse well to shote well â—â—o de straâ—â—g 20. to speake truthe alwayes neuer lye The Romaines as Leo themperour in his boke of sleightes of warre telleth had a lawe that euery man shoulde vse shoting in peace tyme while he was .xl. yere olde and that euerye house shoulde haue a bowe and .xl. shaftes ready for all nedes the omittinge of whiche lawe sayth Leo amonges the youthe hath ben the onely occasion why the Romaynes lost a great dele of their empire But more of this I wil speake wheÌ„ I come to the profite of shoting in warre If I shuld rehearse the statutes made of noble princes of Englande in parliamentes for the settyng forwarde of shoting through this realme and specially that acte made for shoting the thyrde yere of the reygne of our moost drad soueraygne lorde king Henry the .viii. I could be very long But these fewe exaÌ„ples specially of so great men noble coÌ„mon wealthes shall stand in stede of many PHI. That suche princes and suche coÌ„mune welthes haue moche regarded shoting you haue well declared But why shotinge ought so of it selfe to be regarded you haue scarcelye yet proued TOX. Examples I graunt out of histories do shew a thing to be so not proue a thing why it shuld be so Yet this I suppose yâ— neither great mens qualities being coÌ„meÌ„dable be without great authoritie for other men honestly to folow them nor yet those great learned men that wrote suche
⧠Reioyse Englande be gladde and merie TROTHE ouercoÌ„mmeth thyne enemyes all The Scot the Frencheman the Pope and heresie OVERCOMMED by Trothe haue had a fall Sticke to the Trothe and euermore thou shall Through Christ King Henry the Boke and the Bowe All maner of enemies quite ouerthrowe Gualterus Haddonus Cantabrigien Mittere qui celeres summa uelit arte sagittas Ars erit ex isto summa profecta libro Quicquid habent arcus rigidi neruique rotundi Sumere fi libet hoc sumere fonte licet Aschamus est author magnuÌ„ queÌ„ fecit Apollo Arte sua magnum Pallas arte sua Docta manê° dedit huÌ„c dedit huÌ„c meÌ„s doct a libelluÌ„ Quae ui det Ars Vsus uisa parata facit Optimus haec author quia tradidit optima scripta Conuenit bec uobis optima uelle sequi To the moste graciouse and our most drad Soueraigne lord Kyng Henrie the .viii. by the grace of God kyng of Englande Fraunce and Irelande Defender of the faythe and of the churche of Englande also of Irelande in earth supreme head next vnder Christ be al health victorie and felicitie WHAT tyme as moste gracious Prince your highnes this last year past tooke that your moost honorable and victorious iourney into Fraunce accompanied vvith such a porte of the Nobilitie and yeomanrie of Englande as neyther hath bene lyke knovven by experience nor yet red of in Historie accompanied also vvith the daylie prayers good hartes and vvilles of all and euery one your graces subiectes lefte behinde you here at home in Englande the same tyme I beinge at my booke in Cambrige sorie that my litle habilitie could stretche out no better to helpe forvvard so noble an enterprice yet vvith my good vvylle prayer and harte nothinge behynde hym that vvas formoste of all conceyued a vvonderful desire bi the praier vvishing talking communicatioÌ„ that vvas in euery maÌ„s mouth for your Graces moost victoriouse retourne to offer vp sumthinge at your home cumming to your Highnesse vvhich shuld both be a token of mi loue and deutie tovvard your Maiestie also a signe of my good minde and zeale tovvarde mi countrie This occasion geuen to me at that time caused me to take in hand againe this litle purpose of shoting begon of me before yet not ended thaÌ„ for other studies more mete for that trade of liuinge vvhiche God and mi frendes had set me vnto But vvhen your Graces moste ioifull happie victorie preueÌ„ted mi dailie and spedie diligencie to performe this matter I vvas compelled to vvaite an other time to prepare offer vp this litle boke vnto your Maiestie And vvhan it hath pleased youre Highenesse of your infinit goodnesse also your most honorable Counsel to knovv and pervse ouer the contentes some parte of this boke and so to alovv it that other meÌ„ might rede it throughe the furderaunce and setting forthe of the right vvorshipfull and mi Singuler good Master sir Vvilliam Pagette Knight moost vvorthie Secretarie to your highnes most open redie succoure to al poore honest learned meÌ„s sutes I moost humblie beseche your Grace to take in good vvorthe this litle treatise purposed begoÌ„ and ended of me onelie for this intent that Labour Honest pastime Vertu might recouer againe that place and right that Idlenesse Vnthriftie gamning and Vice hath put them fro And althoughe to haue vvritten this boke either in latin or Greke vvhich thing I vvold be verie glad yet to do if I might surelie knovv your Graces pleasure there in had bene more easier fit for mi trade in study yet neuerthelesse I supposinge it no point of honestie that mi commodite should stop hinder ani parte either of the pleasure or profite of manie haue vvritten this Englishe matter in the Englishe tongue for Englishe men vvhere in this I trust that your Grace if it shall please your Highnesse to rede it shal perceaue it to be a thinge Honeste for me to vvrite pleasaunt for some to rede and profitable for manie to folow conte ning a pastime honest for the minde holsome for the body fit for eueri man vile for no man vsing the day opeÌ„place for Honestie to rule it not lurking in corners for misorder to abuse it Therfore I trust it shal apere to be bothe a sure token of my zeele to set forvvarde shootinge and some signe of my minde tovvardes honestie and learninge Thus I vvil trouble your crace no longer but vvith my daylie praier I vvil beseche God to preserue your Grace in al health and felicitie to the feare and ouerthrovve of all your ennemies to the pleasure ioyfulnesse and succour of al your subiectes to the vtter destruction of papistrie and heresie to the continuall setting forth of Goddes vvorde and his glorye Your Graces most bounden Scholer Roger Ascham ⧠TO ALL GENTLE MEN AND YOMEN OF ENGLANDE BIas the wyse man came to Cresus the ryche kyng on a tyme when he was makynge newe shyppes purposyng to haue subdued by water the out yles lying betwixt Grece and Asia minor What newes now in Grece saith the king to Bias None other newes but these sayeth Bias that the yles of Grece haue prepared a wonderful companye of horsemen to ouerrun Lydia withall There is nothyng vnder heauen sayth the kynge that I woulde so soone wisshe as that they durst be so bolde to mete vs on the lande with horse And thinke you sayeth Bias that there is anye thyng which they wolde sooner wysshe then that you shulde be so fonde to mete them on the water with shyppes And so Cresus hearyng not the true newes but perceyuyng the wise mannes mynde and counsell both gaue then ouer makyng of his shyppes and left also behynde him a wonderful example for all commune wealthes to folowe that is euermore to regarde and set most by that thing whervnto nature hath made them moost apt and vse hath made them moost fitte By this matter I meane the shotyng in the long bowe for English men which thyng with all my hert I do wysh and if I were of authoritie I wolde counsel all the gentlemen and yomen of Englande not to chaunge it with any other thyng how good soeuer it seme to be but that styll accordyng to the oulde wont of England youth shulde vse it for the moost honest pastyme in peace that men myght handle it as a mooste sure weapon in warre Other stronge weapons whiche bothe experience doth proue to be good and the wysdom of the kinges Maiestie his counsel prouydes to be had are not ordeyned to take away shotyng but that both not compared togither whether shuld be better then the other but so ioyned togither that the one shoulde be alwayes an ayde and helpe for the other myght so strengthen the Realme on all sydes that no kynde of enemy in any kynde of weapon myght passe and go beyonde vs. For this purpose I partelye prouoked by the
togyther PHIL. Uery well sayde Toxophile and I promyse you I agree to this iudgement of yours altogyther and therefore I can not a lytle maruayle why Englysshe men brynge nomore helpe to shotynge then nature it selfe gyueth them For you se that euen children be put to theyr owne shiftes in shotyng hauing nothynge taughte them but that they maye chose and chaunce to shoote ill rather then well vnaptlye soner then fitlye vnto wardlye more easely then wel fauouredlye whiche thynge causeth manye neuer begynne to shoote and moo to leaue it of when they haue begone and moost of all to shote both worse weaker then they might shote if they were taught But peraduenture some men wyll saye that wyth vse of shootynge a man shall learne to shoote true it is he shall learne but what shal he learne marye to shoote noughtly For all Use in all thynges yf it be not stayed with Cunnyng wyll verie easely brynge a man to do yâ— thynge what so euer he goeth aboute with muche ill fauorednes and deformitie Which thinge how much harme it doth in learning both Crassus excellencie dothe proue in Tullie and I my selfe haue experiens in my lytle shootyng 〈…〉 And therfore Toxophile you must nedes graunt me that ether Englishe men do il in not ioynyng Knowlege of shooting to Use or els there is no knowlege or cuÌ„ninge which can be gathered of shooting TOX. Learnyng to shoote is lytle regarded in England for this consideration bycause men be so apte by nature they haue a greate redy forwardnesse and wil to vse it al though no man teache them al thoughe no man byd them so of theyr owne corage they ruÌ„ne hedlynge on it and shoote they ill shote they well greate hede they take not And in verie dede Aptnesse with Use may do sumwhat without Knowlege but not the tenthe parte if so be they were ioyned with knowlege Whyche thre thynges be seperate as you se not of theyr owne kynde but through the negligence of meÌ„ whyche coupleth them not to gyther And where ye doubte whether there can be gadered any knowlege or arte in shootyng or no surely I thynke that a maÌ„ being wel exercised in it and sumwhat honestly learned with all myght soone with diligent obseruynge and markynge the hole nature of shootynge find out â—s it were an Arte of it as Artes in other matters haue bene founde out afore seynge that shootyng staÌ„deth by those thinges which maye both be thorowlye perceued and perfitly knowen and suche that neuer failes but be euer certayne belongynge to one moost perfect ende as shootyng streight and keping of a lenght bring a man to hit the marke yâ— chefe end in shootyng which two thynges a man may attaine vnto by diligent vsynge and well handlynge those instrumentes which belong vnto them Therfore I can not see but there lieth hyd in the nature of Shootyâ—ge an Arte whiche by notynge and obseruynge of him that is exercised in it yf he be any thyng learned at al maye be taught to the greate forderaunce of Artillarie through out al this Realme And trew lye I meruell gretelye that Englysshe men woulde neuer yet sâ—ke for the Arte of shootynge seinge they be so apte vnto it so praysed of there frendes so feared of there ennemyes for it Uegâ—â—â—â—s Uegetius woulde haue maysters appointed whyche shoulde teache youthe to shoote faire Leo the Emperour of Rome sheweth the same custome Leo. 6. 5. to haue bene alwayes amongest yâ— olde Romaynes whych custome of teachyng youth to shoote saythe he after it was omitted and litle hede taken of Strabo 11. brought the hole Empire of Rome to grete Ruine Schola Persica that is the Scole of the Persians appoynted to brynge vp youthe whiles they were .xx. yeare olde in shooting is as notably knowne in Histories as the Impire of yâ— Persians whych schole â—or Ta. â— as doth apere in Cornelius Tacitus as sone as they gaue ouer and fell to other idle pastimes brought bothe them and yâ— Parthians vnder yâ— subiection of the Romaines â—â—lâ—g 7. Plato would haue common maisters and stipendes for to teache youthe to shoote for the same purpose he would haue abrode feylde nere euery Citie made common for men to vse shotyng in whyche sayeng the more reasonably it is spoken of Plato the more vnresonable is theyr dede whiche woulde ditche vp those feeldes priuatly for ther owne profyt whyche lyeth open generallye for the commoÌ„ vse men by suche goodes be made ryther not honester sayth Tullie Yf men can be perswaded to haue shootynge taughte 〈…〉 this aucthorite whyche foloweth will perswade them or els none and that is as I haue ones sayde before of Kynge Dauyd whose fyrste acte and ordinaunce was after he was kynge that all Iudea should learne to shoote Yf shotyng could speake she would accuse England of vnkyndnesse and slouthfulnesse of vnkyndnesse toward her bycause she beyng left to a lytle blynd vse lackes her best maintener which is cunnynge of shouthfulnesse towarde theyr owne selfe bycause they are content wyth that whych aptnesse and vse doth graunt them in shootynge and wyl seke for no knowlege as other noble coÌ„mon welthes haue done and the iustlier shootynge myght make thys complaynt seynge that of fence and weapons there is made an Arte a thynge in no wyse to be compared to shootynge For of fence all mooste in euerye towne there is not onely Masters to teache it wyth his Prouostes Usshers Scholers and othernames of arte Schole but there hath not fayled also whyche hathe diligently and well fauouredly written it and is sâ—t ouâ— in Priute that euery man maye rede it What discommoditie doeth comme by the lacke of knowlege in shootynge it were ouer longe to 〈…〉 hearce For manye that haue bene apte and loueâ— shootynge bycause they knewe not whyche way to houlde to comme to shootynge haue cleane tourned them selues from shootynge And I maye telle you Philologe the lacke of teachynge to shoote in Englande causeth very manye men to playe with the kynges Actes as a man dyd ones eyther with the Mayre of London or yorke I can not tel whether whiche dyd commaund by proclamation euerye man in the Citie to hange a lanâ—erne wyth a candell afore his dore whiche thynge the man dyd but he dyd not lyght it And so many bye bowes bicause of the acte but yet they shote not not of euyll wyll but bycause they knowe not howe to shoote But to conclude of this matter in shoting as in all other thynges Aptnesse Aptenesse is the fyrste and chyefe thynge whiche if it be awaye neyther Cunnynge or Use doeth anye good at all as the Scottes and Fraunce men wyth knowledge and Use of shootynge shall become good Archers whan a cuÌ„nynge shypwright shall make a stronge shyppe of a Salowe tree or whan a husbandman shall becom ryche wyth sowyng wheat on New markscunnyng et heath Cunnynge muste be had Cunnynâ—â— bothe to
thinges lacke good ceasoÌ„ iustly at al tymes for any other to approue theÌ„ Princes beinge children oughte to be brought vp in shoting both bycause it is an exercise moost holsom and also a pastyme moost honest wherin labour prepareth the body to hardnesse the minde to couragiousnesse sufferyng neither the one to be marde with tendernesse nor yet the other to be hurte with ydlenesse as we reade how Sardanapalus and suche other were bycause they were not brought vp with outwarde honest payneful pastymes to be men but cockerde vp with inwarde noughtie ydle wantonnesse to be women For how fit labour is for al youth Iupiter or els Minos amonges them of Grece Ciâ— 2. â—uâ— Qu. and Lycurgus amonges the Lacedemonians do shewe by their lawes which neuer ordeyned any thing for yâ— bringyng vp of youth that was not ioyned with labour And the labour which is in shoting of al other is best both bycause it encreaseth strength and preserueth health moost beinge not vehement but moderate not ouerlaying any one part with werysomnesse but softly exercisynge euery parte with equalnesse as the armes and breastes with drawinge the other parties with going being not so paynfull for the labour as pleasaunt for the pastyme which exercise by the iudgement of the best physicions is most alowable Gal. 2. de san tuâ—â—d By shoting also is the mynde honestly exercised where a maÌ„ alwaies desireth to be best which is a worde of honestie and that by the same waye that vertue it selfe doeth couetinge to come nighest a moost perfite ende or meane standing betwixte .ii. extremes eschewinge shorte or gone or eithersyde wide Ariâ—â— .1 de morib for the which causes Aristotle him selfe sayth that shoting and vertue be very like Moreouer that shoting of all other is the moost honest pastyme and hath leest occasion to noughtinesse ioyned with it .ii. thinges very playnelye do proue which be as a man wolde saye the tutours and ouerseers to shotinge Daye light and open place where euerye man doeth come the maynteyners and kepers of shoting from all vnhonest doing If shotinge faulte at any tyme it hydes it not it lurkes not in corners and huddermother but openly accuseth bewrayeth it selfe which is the nexte waye to amendement as wyse men do saye And these thinges I suppose be signes not of noughtinesse for any man to disalowe it but rather verye playne tokens of honestie for euerye man to prayse it The vse of shotinge also in greate mennes chyldren shall greatlye encrease the loue aud vse of shotinge in all the residue of youth For meane mennes myndes loue to be lyke greate menne as Plato and Isocrates do saye Iso in niâ— And that euerye bodye shoulde learne to shote when they be yonge defence of the coÌ„mune wealth doth require wheÌ„ they be olde which thing can not be done mightelye when they be men excepte they learne it perfitelye when they be boyes And therfore shotinge of all pastymes is moost fitte to be vsed in childhode bycause it is an imitation of moost ernest thinges to be done in manhode Wherfore shoting is fitte for great mens children both bycause it strengthneth the body with holsome labour and pleaseth the mynde with honest pastime and also encourageth all other youth ernestlye to folowe the same And these reasons as I suppose stirred vp both great men to bring vp their chyldren in shotinge and also noble commune wealthes so straytelye to commaunde shoting Therfore seinge Princes moued by honest occasions hath in al commune wealthes vsed shotynge I suppose there is none other degree of men neither lowe nor hye learned nor leude yonge nor oulde PHIL. You shal nede wade no further in this matter Toxophile but if you can proue me that scholers and men gyuen to learning maye honestlie vse shoting I wyll soone grauÌ„t you that all other sortes of men maye not onelye lelullie but ought of dutie to vse it But I thinke you can not proue but that all these examples of shotinge brought from so longe a tyme vsed of so noble princes confirmed by so wyse mennes lawes and iudgementes are sette afore temporall men onelye to followe them whereby they may the better and stroÌ„glyer defende the commune wealth withall And nothing belongeth to scholers and learned men which haue an other parte of the commune wealth quiete and peaceable put to their cure and charge whose ende as it is diuerse froÌ„ the other so there is no one waye that leadeth to them both TOXO. I graunte Philologe that scholers and lay men haue diuerse offices and charges in the coÌ„mune wealth whiche requires diuerse briÌ„ging vp in their youth if they shal do them as they ought to do in their age Yet as temporall men of necessitie are compelled to take somewhat of learning to do their office the better withal So scholers maye the boldlyer borowe somewhat of laye mennes pastimes to maynteyne their health in studie withall And surelie of al other thinges shoting is necessary for both sortes to learne Whiche thing when it hath ben euermore vsed in Englande how moche good it hath done both oulde men and Chronicles doo tell and also our enemies can beare vs recorde For if it be true as I haue hearde saye when the kynge of Englande hath ben in Fraunce the preestes at home bicause they were archers haue ben able to ouerthrowe all Scotlande Agayne ther is an other thing which aboue all other doeth moue me not onely to loue shotinge to prayse shoting to exhorte all other to shotinge but also to vse shoting my selfe and that is our kyng his moost royall purpose and wyll whiche in all his statutes generallye doth commaunde men and with his owne mouthe moost gentlie doeth exhortemen and by his greate gyftes and rewardes greatly doth encourage men and with his moost princelie example very oft doth prouoke all other meÌ„ to the same But here you wyll come in with teÌ„poral man and scholer I tell you plainlye scholer or vnscholer yea if I were .xx. scholers I wolde thinke it were my dutie bothe with exhortinge men to shote and also with shoting my selfe to helpe to set forwarde that thing which the kinge his wisdome and his counsell so greatlye laboureth to go forwarde whiche thinge surelye they do bycause they knowe it to be in warre the defence and wal of our countrie in peace an exercise moost holsome for the body a pastime moost honest for the mynde and as I am able to proue my selfe of al other moste fit and agreable with learninge and learned men PHI. If you can proue this thing so playnly as you speake it ernestly theÌ„ wil I not only thinke as you do but become a shooter and do as you do But yet beware I saye lest you for the great loue you bear towarde shootinge blindlie iudge of shootinge For loue al other to ernest affections be not for nought paynted blinde Take hede I saye least you prefer shootinge afore other
Englande be verye excellent shoters and the best bowmen in warre This sentence whether Crinitus wrote it more leudly of ignoraunce or Textor confirmeth it more piuyshlye of enuye may be called in question and doubte but this surelye do I knowe very well that Textor hath both red in Gaguâ—us the Frenche hystorie and also hath hearde his father or graundfather taulke except perchauÌ„ce he was borne and bred in a Cloyster after that sort of the shotynge of Englisshe men that Textor neded not to haue gone so piuishlye beyonde Englande for shoting but myght very soone eueÌ„ in the first towne of kent haue founde suche plentie of shotinge as is not in al the realme of Scotland agayne The Scottes surely be good men of warre in theyr owne feate as can be but as for shotinge they neyther can vse it for any profyte nor yet wil chaleÌ„ge it for any prayse although master Textor of his geÌ„tlenesse wold gyue it them Textor neaded not to haue fylled vppe his booke with suche lyes if he hadde read the storye of Scotlande 〈…〉 Mâ— â— whiche Ioannes Maior doeth wryte wherein he myghte haue learned that when Iames Stewart fyrst kyng of that name at the ParliameÌ„t holden at Saynt Iohnnes towne or Perthie commaunded vnder payne of a great forfyte that euerye Scotte shoulde learne to shote yet neyther the loue of theyr couÌ„trie the feare of their enemies the auoydyng of punishment nor the receyuinge of anye profyte that myght come by it coulde make them to be good Archers whiche be vnapte and vnfytte thervnto by Gods prouidence and nature Therfore the Scottes them selues proue Textor a lyer bothe with authoritie and also daily experience and by a certayne Prouerbe that they haue amonges them in theyr coÌ„munication wherby they gyue the whole prayse of shotynge honestlye to Englysihe men saying thus that euery Englysihe Archer beareth vnder his gyrdle .xxiiii. Scottes But to lette Textor and the Scottes go yet one thynge woulde I wysshe for the Scottes and that is this that seinge one God one faythe one compasse of the see one lande and countrie one tungue in speakynge one maner and trade in lyuynge lyke courage and stomake in war lyke quicknesse of witte to learning hath made Englande and Scotlande bothe one they wolde suffre them no longer to be two but cleane gyueouer the Pope which seketh none other thinge as many a noble and wyse Scottish man doth knowe but to fede vp dissention parties betwixt them vs procuryng that thynge to be two which God nature and reason wold haue one Howe profytable suche an attonement were for Scotlande Iohn 〈…〉 both IohaÌ„nes Maior and Ector Boetius which wrote the Scottes Chronicles do tell also all the gentlemen of Scotlande with the poore coÌ„munaltie do wel knowe So that there is nothing that stoppeth this matter saue onelye a fewe freers and suche lyke whiche with the dregges of our Englysh Papi strie lurkyng now amonges them study nothing els but to brewe battell and stryfe betwixte both the people Wherby onely they hope to maynetayne theyr Papisticall kyngdome to the destrution of the noble blood of Scotlande that then they maye with authoritie do that whiche neither noble man nor poore man in Scotlande yet doeth knowe And as for Scottishe men and Englishe men be not enemyes by nature but by custome not by our good wyll but by theyr owne follye whiche shoulde take more honour in being coupled Englande then we shulde take profite in being ioyned to Scotlande Wales being headye and rebelling many yeares agaynst vs laye wylde vntylled vnhabited without lawe iustice ciuilitie and ordre and then was amoÌ„ges them more stealing thaÌ„ true dealing more suretie for them that studyed to be noughte then quyetnesse for them that laboured to be good when nowe thanked be God and noble Englande there is no countrie better inhabited more ciuile more diligent in honest craftes to get bothe true and plentifull lyuynge withall And this felicitie my mynde gyueth me within these few dayes shal chauÌ„ce also to Scotlande by the godly wysedome of oure mooste noble Prince kynge Henrye the .viii. by whome God hath wrought more wonderfull thynges then euer by any prince before as banishing the byshop of Rome and herisie bringyng to light god his worde and veritie establishing suche iustice and equitie through euery parte of this his realme as neuer was sene afore To suche a Prince of suche a wysdome God hath reserued this mooste noble attonement wherby neither we shal be any more troubled nor the Sâ—ottes with their best countries any more destroyed nor yâ— see whiche God ordeyneth profytable for both shall from eyther be any more stopped to the great quietnesse wealth felicitie of all the people dwellynge in this I le to the high renoume prayse of our moost noble kyng to the feare of all maner of nacions that owe ill wyll to either countrie to the hygh pleasure of God which as he is one and hateth al diuision so is he best of all pleased to se thinges which be wyde and amysse brought to peace and attonement But Textor I beshrowe him hath almooste broughte vs from our coÌ„municatioÌ„ of shoting Now sir by my iudgement the Artillarie of Englande farre excedeth all other realmes but yet one thing I doubt longe haue surely in that point doubted wheÌ„ or by whom shotyng was first brought in to Englande for the same purpose as I was ones in companye wyth syr Thomas Eliot knight which surelie for his lerning in all kynde of knowlege bringeth much worshyp to all the nobilite of Englande I was so bould to aske hym yf he at any tyme had marked any thing as coÌ„cernynge the bryngynge in of shootynge in to Englande he aunswered me gentlye agayne that he had a worcke in hand which he nameth De rebus memora bilibus Anglie which I trust we shal se in print shortlye and for the accomplyshmente of that boke he had read perused ouer many olde monumeÌ„tes of Englande and in sekyng for that purpose he marked this of shootynge in an excedyng olde cronicle the which had no name that what tyme as the Saxons came first into this realme in kyng Uortigers dayes wheÌ„ they had bene here a whyle and at last began to faull out with the Brittons they troubled and subdewed the Brittons wyth nothynge so much as with theyr bowe and shaftes whiche wepon beynge straunge not sene here before was wonderfull terrible vnto them and this beginninge I can thynke verie well to be true But nowas concerning many exaÌ„ples for the prayse of English archers in warre surely I wil not belong in a matter yâ— no maÌ„ doubteth in those few yâ— I wil name shal either be proued by yâ— histories of our enemies or els done by men that now liue Kynge Edward the thirde at the battel of Cressie ageinst Philip yâ— FreÌ„che king as â—aguinus the freÌ„ch Historiographer plainlye doeth tell slewe that
daye all the nobilite of Fraunce onlye wyth hys archers Such lyke battel also fought yâ— noble black prince Edward beside Poeters where Iohn yâ— french king with hys sonne in a maner al yâ— peres of FrauÌ„ce were taken beside .xxx. M. which that daye were â—layue verie few Englyshe men by reason of theyr bowes Kynge Henrie the fifte a prince pereles and moste vyctoriouse conqueroure of all that euer dyed yet in this parte of the world at the battel of Dagin court with .vii. M. fyghtynge men and yet many of them sycke beynge suche Archers as the Cronycle sayeth that mooste parte of them drewe a yarde slewe all the Cheualrie of Fraunce to the nomber of XL. M. and moo and lost not paste .xxvi. Englysshe men The bloudye Ciuil warre of England betwixt the house of Yorke and Lancaster where shaftes flewe of bothe sydes to the destruction of mannye a yoman of Englande whome foreine battell coulde neuer haue subdewed bothe I wyll passe ouer for the pyttyefulnesse of it and yet maye we hyghelye prayse GOD in the remembraunce of it seynge he of hys prouydence hathe so knytte to gether those .ii. noble houses with so noble and pleasunte a flowre The excellent prince Thomas Hawarde nowe Duke of Northfolk for whose good prosperite with al his noble familie al English hertes dayly doth pray with bowmeÌ„ of England slew kyng Iamie with many a noble Scot eueÌ„ braÌ„t ageÌ„st FlodoÌ„ hil in which battel yâ— stoute archers of Cheshire Lanchasshire for one day bestowed to yâ— death for their price couÌ„try sake hath gotten immortall name and prayse for euer The feare onely of Englysh Archers hathe done more wonderfull thinges than euer I redde in anye historye greke or latin and moost wonderfull of all now of late beside Carlile betwixt Eske and Leuen at Sandy sikes where the hoole nobilite of Scotlande for fere of the Archers of Englonde next the stroke of God as both Englysh men and Scotyshe men that were present hath toulde me were drowened and taken prisoners Nor that noble acte also whyche althoughe it be almost iost by tyme commeth not behynd in worthinesse whycâ—e my synguler good frende and Master Sir William â—algraue and Sir George Somerset dyd with a few Archers to yâ— number as it is sayd of .xvi. at the Turne pike besyde HaÌ„mes where they turned with so fewe Archers so many Frenchemen to flight and turned so many oute of theyr Iackes whych turne turned all fraunce to shame reproche and those .ii. noble Knightes to perpetuall prayse fame And thus you se Philologe in al contries Asia Aphrike and Europe in Inde Aethiop Aegypt Iurie Parthia Persia Grece and Italie Schythia Turkey and Englande from the begynninge of the world euen to thys daye that shotynge hath had the cheife stroke in warre PHI. These examples surelye apte for the prayse of shotynge I not feyned by poetes but proued by trewe histories distinct by tyme and order hath delyted me excedyng muche but yet me thynke that all thys prayse belongeth to stronge shootynge and drawynge of myghtye bowes not to prickyng and nere shotinge for which cause you and many other bothe loue vse shootyng TOX. Euer more Philologe you wyl haue some ouertwhart reson to drawe forthe more communication with all but neuerthelesse you shall perceaue if you wyl that vse of prickyng and desyre of nere shootynge at home are the onelye causes of stronge shootyng in warre and why for you se that the strongest men do not drawe alwayes the strongest shoote whiche thyng prouethe that drawinge stronge liethe not so muche in the strength of man as in the vse of shotyng And experience teacheth the same in other thynges for you shal se a weake smithe whiche wyl wyth a lipe and turnyng of his arme take vp a barre of yron yâ— another man thrise as stronge can not stirre And a strong man not vsed to shote hath his armes breste and shoulders and other partes wherwith he shuld drawe stronglye one hindering and stoppinge an other euen as a dosen stronge horses not vsed to the carte lettes troubles one another And so the more stronge man not vsed to shoote shootes moost vnhaÌ„sumlye but yet if a strong man with vse of shooting coulde applye all the partes of hys bodye togyther to theyr moost strengthe than should he both drawe stronger than other and also shoote better than other But nowe a stronge man not vsed to shoote at a girde can heue vp plucke in suÌ„der many a good bowe as wild horses at a brunte doth race pluck in peces many a stronge carte And thus strong meÌ„ without vse can do nothynge in shoting to any purpose neither in warre nor peace but if they happen to shoote yet they haue done within a shoote or two when a weake man that is vsed to shoote shal serue for all tymes and purposes and shall shoote .x. shaftes agaynst the others .iiii. drawe them vp to the poynte euerye tyme and shoote them to the mooste aduauntage drawyng and withdrawing his shafte when he list marky â—ge at one man yet let driuyng at an other man whiche thynges in a set battayle although a man shal not alwayes vse yet in bickerynges and at ouerthwarte meatinges when fewe archers be togyther they do moste good of all Agayne he that is not vsed to shoote shall euermore with vntowardnesse of houldynge his bowe nockynge his shafte not lookyng to his stryng betyme put his bowe alwayes in ieoperdy of breakynge than he were better to be at home moreouer he shal shoote very fewe shaftes and those full vnhandsum lye some not halfe drawen some to hygh and some to lowe nor he can not driue a shoote at a tyme nor stoppe a shoote at a neede but oute muste it and verye ofte to euel profe PHI. And that is best I trow in war to let it go and not to stoppe it TOX. No not so but somtyme to houlde a shafte at the heade whyche if they be but few archers doth more good with the feare of it than it shoulde do if it were shot with the stroke of it PHI. That is a wonder to me yâ— the feare of a displeasure shoulde do more harme than the displeasure it selfe TOX. Yes ye knowe that a man whiche fereth to be banyshed out of hys cuntrye can neyther be mery eate drynke nor sleape for feare yet when he is banished in dede he slepeth and eateth as well as any other And many menne doubtyng and fearyng whether they shoulde dye or no euen for verye feare of deathe preuenteth them selfe with a more bytter deathe then the other death shoulde haue bene in deade And thus feare is euer worse than the thynge feared â—irl pâ—d 3. as is pratelye proued by the communication of Cyrus and Tigranes the kynges sunne of Armenie in Xenophou PHI. I grante Toxophile that vse of shotyng maketh a man drawe strong to shoote at most aduauntage to