kepe his gere whiche is no small thinge in war but yet me thinke that the customable shoting at home speciallye at buttes and prickes make nothynge at all for stronge shooting which doch moste good in war Therfore I suppose yf men shulde vse to goo into the feyldes and learne to shote myghty stronge shootes and neuer care for any marke at al they shulde do muche better TOX. The trouthe is that fashion muche vsed would do muche good but this is to be feared least that waye coulde not prouoke men to vse muche shotyng bycause ther shulde be lytle pleasure in it And that in shoting is beste yâ— prouoketh a man to vse shotinge moste For muche vse maketh men shoote bothe strong well whiche two thinges in shootinge euery man doeth desyre And the chyefe mayntayner of vse in any thyng is comparyson and honeste contention For whan a manne stryueth to be better than an other he wyll gladly vse that thing though it be neuer so paynful wherein he woulde excell whiche thynge Aristotle verye pratelye doth note sayenge Where is comparison â—rist theto 〈…〉 Thâ—od there is victorie where is victorie there is pleasure And where is pleasure no man careth what labour or payne he taketh bycause of the prayse and pleasure that he shal haue in doynge better than other men Agayne 〈…〉 you knowe Hesiodus wryteth to hys brother Perses yâ— al craftes men by contending one honestly with an other do encrease theyr cuÌ„nyng with theyr substance And therfore in London and other great Cities men of one crafte moste commonly dwelle togyther bycause in honest stryuyng togyther who shall do best euery one maye waxe bothe cunninger and rycher so lykewyse in shootynge to make matches to assemble archers togyther to contende who shall shoote best and winne the game encreaseth yâ— vse of shotynge wonderfully amonges men PHI. Of Use you speake very much Toxophile but I am sure in al other matters Use can do nothing wythoute two other thinges be ioyned wyth it one is a natural Aptnesse to a thinge the other is a true waye or Knowlege howe to do the thing to which ii yf Use be ioyned as thirde felowe of them thre procedeth perfectnesse and excellencie If a manne lacke the first two Aptnesse and Cunnyng Use can do lytle good at all For he that woulde be an oratour and is nothinge naturallye fitte for it that is to saye lacketh a good wytte and memorie lacketh a good voyce countenaunce and body and other suche like ye yf he had all these thinges and knewe not what howe where when nor to whome he shulde speake surelye the vse of spekynge woulde brynge out none other frute but playne follye and bablyng so yâ— Use is the laste and the least necessarye of all thre yet no thing can be done excellently without them al thre And therfore Toxophile I my selfe bicause I neuer knewe whether I was apte for shooting or no nor neuer knewe waye howe I shulde learne to shoote I haue not vsed to shoote and so I thinke fiue hundred more in Englande do besyde me And surely yf I knewe that I were apte and yâ— you woulde teach me howe to shoote I woulde become an archer and the rather bycause of the good communication the whiche I haue had with you this daye of shotyng TOX. Aptnesse Knowlege and Use euen as you saye make all thinges perfecte Aptnesse is the fyrst and chyefest thinge without whiche the other two do no good at all Knowledge doeth encrease al maner of Aptnesse bothe lesse and more Use sayth Cicero is farre aboue all teachinge And thus they all three muste be had to do any thinge very well and yf anye one be awaye what so euer is done is done verye meanly Aptnesse is yâ— gyfte of nature Knowlege is gotten by yâ— helpe of other Use lyeth in our owne diligence labour So that Aptnesse vse be ours and with in vs through nature labour Knowledge not ours but coÌ„mynge by other and therfore moost diligently of all men to be sought for Howe these three thinges stande with the artillery of Englande a woorde or twoo I will saye All Englishe men generally be apte for shotyng and howe Lyke as that grounde is plentifull and frutefull whiche withoute anye tyllynge bryngeth out corne as for example yf a man shoulde go to the myll or market with corne and happen to spyl some in the waye yet it wolde take roote and growe bycause yâ— soyle is so good so EnglaÌ„d may be thought very frutefull and apt to brynge oute shoters where children euen from the cradell loue it and yong men without any teachyng so diligentlye vse it Agayne lykewyse as a good grounde well tylled and well husbanded bringeth out great plentie of byg â—ared corne and good to the faule so if the youthe of Englande being apte of it selfe to shote were taught and learned how to shote the Archers of England shuld not be only a great deale raÌ„ker and mo then they be but also a good deale bygger and stronger Archers then they be This coÌ„moditie shoulde folowe also yâ— the youth of Englande were taught to shote that euen as plowing of a good grounde for wheate doth not onely make it mete for the seede but also riueth and plucketh vp by the rootes all thistles brambles and weedes which growe of theyr owne accorde to the destruction of bothe corne and grounde Euen so shulde the teaching of youth to shote not only make them shote well but also plucke awaye by the rootes all other desyre to noughtye pastymes as disynge â–ª cardyng and boouling which without any teaching are vsed euery where to the great harme of all youth of this realme And lykewise as burnyng of thistles and diligent weding them out of the corne doth not halfe somocheryd them as wheÌ„ yâ— ground is falloed and tilled for good grayne as I haue hearde many a good husâ—andman say euen so neither hote punishment nor yet diligent searching out of suche vnthriftinesse by the officers shal so throwly wede these vngracious games out of the realme as occupying and bringyng vp youth in shotynge and other honest pastyme Thirdly as a grounde which is apt for corne and also wel tilled for corne yet if a man let it lye stil and do not occupye it .iii. or .iiii. yeare but then wyll sow it if it be wheate sayth Columella it wil turne into rye so if a man be neuer so apte to shote nor neuer so wel taught in his youth to shote yet if he giue it ouer and not vse to shote truly when he shal be eyther coÌ„pelled in warre tyme for his countrye sake or els prouoked at home for his pleasure sake to faule to his bowe he shal be come of a fayre archer a stark squyrter and dribber Therefore in shotynge as in all other thinges there can neyther be many in number nor excellent in dede excepte these .iii. thynges Aptnesse Knowledge and Use goo
⧠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
rather expresse than my dede shall perfourme perfecte shootinge I truste no man will be offended with this litle booke excepte it be suÌ„me fletchers and bowiers thinking hereby that manye that loue shootynge shall be taughte to refuse suche noughtie wares as they woulde vtter Honest fletchers and bowyers do not so and they that be vnhonest oughte rather to amende them selues for doinge ill than be angrie with me â—o sayinge wel â— fletcher hath euen as good a quarell to be angry with aâ— archer that refuseth an ill shaft as a bladesmith hath to a fletcher that forsaketh to bye of him a noughtie knyfe For as an archer must be content that a fletcher know a good shafte in euery poynte for the perfecter makynge of it So an honeste fletcher will also be content that a shooter knowe a good shafte in euery poynt for the perfiter vsing of it bicause the one knoweth like a fletcher how to make it the other knoweth lyke an archer howe to vse it And seyng the knowlege is one in them bothe yet the ende diuerse surely that fletcher is an enemye to archers and artillery whiche can not be content that an archer knowe a shafte as well for his vse in shotynge as he hym selfe shoulde knowe a shafte for hys aduauntage in sellynge And the rather bycause shaftes be not made so muche to be solde but chefely to be vsed And seynge that vse and occupiyng is the ende why a shafte is made the making as it were a meane for occupying surely the knowelege in euery poynte of a good shafte is more to be required in a shooter than a fletcher Yet as I sayde before no honest fletcher wil be angry with me seinge I do not teache howe to make a shafte whiche belongeth onelye to a good fletcher but to knowe and handle a shafte which belongeth to an archer And this lytle booke I truste shall please and profite both partes For good bowes and shaftes shall be better knowen to the coÌ„moditie of al shoters and good shotyng may perchaunce be the more occupied to the profite of all bowyers and fletchers And thus I praye God that all fletchers getting theyr lyuynge truly and al archers vsynge shootynge honestly and all maner of men that fauour artillery maye lyue continuallye in healthe and merinesse obeying theyr prince as they shulde and louing God as they ought to whom for al thinges be al honour and glorye for euer Amen ⧠TOXOPHILVS The schole of shootinge conteyned in tvvo bookes To all Gentlemen and yomen of Englande pleasaunte for theyr pastyme to rede and profitable for theyr use to folow both in war and peace The contentes of the first booke ⧠Earnest businesse ought to be refreshed wyth honeste pastyme Fol. 1. Shootyng moost honest pastyme 3. The inuention of shootinge 5. Shootynge fit for princes and greate men 5. Shootyng fit for Scholers and studentes 8. Shootynge fitter for studentes than any musike or Instrumentes 9. Youthe ought to learne to singe 11. No maner of man doth or can vse to muche shootynge 14. Agaynste vnlawfull gammes and namelye cardes and dise 16. Shootyng in war 24. Obedience the best propertie of a Souldyar 25. Reasons and authorites agaynste shootynge in war with the confutacion of the same 26. God is pleased with stronge wepons and valyaunt feates of war 28. The commoditie of Shootyng in war throughe the Histories Greke and Latin all nations Christen and Herhen 29. Use of shootynge at home causethe stronge shootinge in warre 41. Use of shootynge at home except men be apte by nature and connynge by teachyng doth litle good at all 43. Lacke of learnynge to shoote causethe Englande lacke many a good archer 46. In learnyng any thyng a man must couete to be best or els he shal neuer attayne to be meane 47 A Table conÌ„teyning the seconde booke Hitting the marke by Shotyng areyght Kepyng a length Both come partly By knowing thinges beloÌ„ging to shootyng Proper for euerye sere maÌ„nes vse Braser Shotingloue Strynge Bowe Shaftes General to all men â—ether Marke By handelinge thynges beloÌ„ging to shotyng without a man Standinge Nockynge Drawinge Holdynge Lowsinge within a man Bolde corage Auoydynge all affection TOXOPHILVS A The first boke of the schole of shoting Philologus Toxophilus PHILOLOGVS You studie to sore Toxophile TOX. I wil not hurt my self ouermoche I warrauÌ„t you PHI. Take hede you do not for we Physicions saye that it is nether good for the eyes in so cleare a Sunne nor yet holsome for the bodie â—o soone after meate to looke vpon a mans boke TOX. In eatinge and studyinge I will neuer folowe anye Physike for yf I dyd I am sure I shoulde haue small pleasure in the one and lesse courage in the other But what newes draue you hyther I praye you PHI. Small newes trulie but that as I came on walkynge I fortuned to come with thre or foure that went to shote at the pryckes And when I sawe not you amonges them but at the last espyed you lokynge on your booke here so sadlye I thought to come and holde you with some communication lest your boke shoulde runne awaye with you For me thought by your waueryng pace earnest lokyng your boke led you not you it TOX. In dede as it chaunced my mynde went faster then my feete for I happened here to reade in Phedro Platonis a place that entretes wonderfullie of the nature of soules In Phedro which place whether it were for the passynge eloquence of Plato and the Greke tongue or for the hyghe and godlie description of the matter kept my mynde so occupied that it had no leisure to loke to my feete For I was reding howe some soules being well fethered flewe alwayes about heaueÌ„ and heauenlie matters other some hauinge their fethers mowted awaye and droupinge sanke downe into earthlie thinges PHI. I remeÌ„bre the place verie wel and it is wonderfullie sayd of Plato now I se it was no maruell though your fete fayled you seing your minde flewe so fast TOX. I am gladde now that you letted me for my head akes with loking on it and bycause you tell me so I am verye sorie that I was not with those good feloes you spake vpon for it is a verie faire day for a maÌ„ to shote in PHI. And me thinke you were a great dele better occupied in better coÌ„panie for it is a very faire daye for a maÌ„ to go to his boke in TOX. Al dayes and wethers wil serue for that purpose and surelie this occasioÌ„ was ill lost PHI. Yea but clere wether maketh clere mindes and it is best as I suppose to spend yâ— best time vpon the best thinges And me thought you shot verie wel and at that marke at which euery good scoler shoulde moste busilie shote at And I suppose it be a great dele more pleasure also to se a soule flye in Plato then a shafte flye at the prickes I graunte you shoting is not the worst thing in
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
on so farre In suppâ—â— that he can neuer retourne backe vntyl he be so lyght that he nede feare no theues by the waye Nowe if a simple man happen onse in his lyfe to win of suche players than will they eyther entreate him to kepe them company whyles he hath lost all agayne or els they will vse the moste dyuelyshe fashion of all For one of the players that standeth nexte him shall haue a payre of false dise and cast them out vpon the bourde the honest man shall take them cast them as he did the other the thirde shall espye them to be false dise and shall crye oute harâ—e wyth all the othes vnder God that he hath falselye wonne theyr moneye and than there is nothynge but houlde thy throte from my dagger than euery man layeth hande on the simple man and taketh all theyr moneye from him and his owne also thinking him selfe wel that he scapeth with his lyfe Cursed sweryng blasphemie of Christe These halfe verses Chaucer in an other place more at large doth well set out and verye liuely expresse sayinge Ey by goddes precious hert and his nayles And by the blood of Christe that is in Hales Seuen is my chaunce and thine is sinke and treye Ey goddes armes if thou falsly playe This dagger shall thorough thine herte go This frute commeth of the â—eched boones twoâ— Forsâ—eringe Ire falsnes and Homicide c Thoughe these verses be very ernestlie 〈…〉 yet they do not halfe so grisely sette out the horâ—blenes of blasphemy which suche gamneâ—s vse as it is in dede and as I haue hearde my selfe For no man can wryte a thing so earnestlye as whan it is spokeÌ„ wyth â—esture as learned men you knowe do saye Howe will you thinke that suche furiousenes wyth woode countenaunces and brenning eyes with staringe and bragging with heart redie to leape out of the â—elly for dwelling can be expressed yâ— tenth part to the vttermost Two men I herd my selfe whose sayinges be far more grisely than Chaucers verses One whan he had lost his moneye sware me God from top to toe with one breath that he had lost al his money for lacke of sweringe The other losyng his money and heaping othes vpon othes one in a nothers necke moost horrible not spekeable was rebuked of an honest man whiche stode by for so do doynge he by and by starynge him in the face and clappyng his fiste with all his moneye he had vpon the boorde sware me by the flesshe of God that yf sweryng woulde helpe him but one ace he woulde not leue one pece of god vnsworne neyther wythin nor without The remembrauÌ„ce of this blasphemy Philologe doth make me quake at the hart therefore I wyll speake no more of it And so to conclude wyth suche gamnyng I thynke there is no vngraciousenes in all thys worlde that carieth a man so far from god as thys faulte doth And yf there were anye so desperate a persone that woulde begynne his hell here in earth I trowe he shoulde not fynde hell more lyke hell it selfe then the lyfe of those men is which dayly haunt and vse suche vngracious games PHIL. You handle this gere in dede And I suppose if ye had ben a prentice at suche games you coulde not haue sayd more of them then you haue done and by lyke you haue had somwhat to do with them TOX. In dede you may honestlye gather that I hate them greatly in that I speake agaynst them not that I haue vsed them greatlye in that I speake of them For thynges be knowen dyuerse wayes as Socrates you knowe doeth proue in Alcibiades And if euery man shulde be that that he speaketh or wryteth vpoÌ„ then shulde Homer haue bene the best capitayne moost cowarde hardye hasty wyse and woode sage and simple And Terence an ouldeman a yong an honest man and a bawde with suche lyke Surelye euerye man ought to praye to God dayly to kepe them froÌ„ suche vnthriftynesse and speciallye all the youth of Englande for what youth doth begynne a man wyll folowe coÌ„monlye euen to his dyinge daye whiche thinge Adrastus in Euripides pretelye doth expresse Euripides in supplâ— sayinge VVhat thing a man in tender age hath moost in vre That same to death alwayes to kepe he shal be sure Therfore in age who greatly longes good frute to mowe In youth he must him selfe aplye good seede to sowe For the foundation of youth well sette as Plato doth saye the whole bodye of the commune wealth shal floryshe therafter If the yonge tree growâ— croked when it is oulde a man shal rather breake it thaÌ„ streyght it And I thinke there is no one thinge yâ— crokes youth more then suche vnlefull games Nor let no maÌ„ say if they be honestly vsed they do no harme For how can that pastyme whiche neither exerciseth the bodye with any honest labour nor yet the minde with any honest thinking haue any honestie ioyned with it Nor let noman assure hym selfe that he can vse it honestlye for if he stande therein he maye fortune haue a faule the thing is more slipperye then he knoweth of A man maye I graunt syt on a brante hyll syde but if he gyue neuer so lytle forwarde he can not stoppe though he woulde neuer so fayne but he must nedes runne heedling he knoweth not how farre What honest pretences vayne pleasure layeth dayly as it were entisemeÌ„tes or baytes to pull men forwarde withall Homer doeth well shewe by the Sirenes and Circes And amonges all in that shyp there was but one Ulysses and yet he hadde done to as the other dyd yf a goddesse had not taught hym And so lykewyse I thinke they be easye to numbre whiche passe by playing honestlye excepte the grace of God saue and kepe them Therfore they that wyll not go to farre in playing let them folowe this couÌ„sell of the Poete ⧠Stoppe the begynninges PHILOLO Well or you go any further I pray you tell me this one thing Doo ye speake agaynste meane mennes playinge onelye or agaynste greate mennes playinge to or put you anye difference betwixte them TOXOPHI If I shulde excuse my selfe herein and saye that I spake of the one and not of the other I feare leaste I shoulde as fondlye excuse my selfe as a certayne preacher dyd whome I hearde vpon a tyme speake agaynste manye abuses as he sayde and at last he spake agaynst candelles and then he fearynge least some men woulde haue bene angrye and offended with him naye sayeth he you must take me as I meane I speake not agaynst greate candelles but agaynst lytle candels for they be not all one ê™ he I promyse you And so euerye man laughed him to scorne In dede as for greate men and greate mennes matters I lyft not greatlye to meddle Yet this I woulde wysshe that all great men in Englande had red ouer diligentlye the Pardoners tale in Chaucer and there they shoulde perceyue and se
in the historie But as I began to saye the Romaynes dyd not so muche prayse the goodnesse of shootinge whan they had it as they dyd lament the lacke of it whan they wanted it as Leo the .v. the noble Emperour doth playnly testifie in sundrie places in those bokes whiche he wrote in Greke of the sleyghtes and polâ—ies of warre PHIL. Surelie of that booke I haue not heard before and howe came you to the syghte of it TOX. The booke is rare trulie but this laste yeare when master Cheke translated the sayd booke out of greke in to Latin to yâ— kinges maiestie he of his gentlenesse wolde haue me very ofte in hys chaÌ„ber and for the familiaritie that I had wyth hym more than manye other woulde suffer me to reade of it whan I woulde the whiche thinge to do surelye I was very desirous and glad because of the excellent handelynge of all thynges that euer he taketh in hande And verily Philologe as ofte as I remembre the departynge of that man from the vniuersitie whiche thinge I do not seldome so ofte do I well perceyue our moste helpe and furtheraunce to learnynge to haue gon awaye with him For by yâ— great coÌ„moditie yâ— we toke in hearyng hym reade priuatly in his chambre all Homer Sophocles and Euripides Herodotus Thurydides Xenophon Isocrates and Plato we feele the great discommoditie in not hearynge of hym Aristotle Demosthenes whiche ii authours with all diligence last of all he thought to haue redde vnto vs. And when I consider howe manye men he succoured with his helpe hys ayde to abyde here for learninge and howe all men were prouoked and styrred vp by his councell and daylye example howe they shulde come to learning surely I perceyue that sentence of Plato to be true which sayeth that there is nothyng better in any common wealthe than that there shoulde be alwayes one or other excellent passyng man whose lyfe and vertue shoulde plucke forwarde the will diligence laboure and hope of all other that folowyng his footesteppes they myght comme to the same ende wherevnto labour lerning vertue had coÌ„ueied him before The great hinderance of learning in lackinge thys man greatly I shulde lament if this discoÌ„moditie of oures were not ioyned with the coÌ„moditie welth of yâ— hole realme for which purpose our noble king full of wysedome hath called vp this excellent man full of learnynge to teache noble prince Edwarde an office ful of hope comforte solace to al true hertes of England For whome al England dayly doth praye that he passing his Tutour in learnyng knowledge folowynge his father in wisedome felicitie accordyng to that example which is set afore his eyes may so set out and mayntayne goddes worde to the abolishment of al papistry the confusion of al heresie that therby he feared of his ennemies loued of al his subiectes maye bring to his own glory immortal fame memorie to this realme welthe honour felicitie to true and vnfayned religion perpetuall peace concorde and vnitie But to retourne to shootynge agayne what Leo sayeth of shootynge amonges the Romaynes hys woordes be so muche for the prayse of shootynge and the booke also so rare to be gotten Leo. 6. 5. that I learned the places by harte whyche be as I suppose euen thus Fyrste in his sixte booke as concerning what harneys is best Lette all the youth of Rome be compelled to vse shootyng eyther more or lesse alwayes to bear theyr bowe theyr quiuer aboute with them vntyll they be .xl. yeares oulde For sithens shootynge was necglected and decayed among the Romaynes many a battayle and fyelde hath ben loste Lco. 11. 50. Agayne in the .11 booke and .50 chapiter I call that by bookes and chapiters whyche the greke booke deuideth by chapiters and paragraphes Let your souldyers haue theyr weapons wel appoynted and trimmed but abâ—ue all other thynges regarde moste shootinge and therfore lette men when there is no warre vse shootinge at home For the leauynge of onely of shotynge hath broughte in â—uyne and decaye the hole Empire of Rome Afterwarde he commaundeth agayne hys capitayne by these wordes 〈…〉 11 Arme your hoste as I haue appoynted you but specially with bowe and arrowes plentie For shootynge is a thinge of muche myghte and power in warre and chyefely agaynst the Sarracenes and Turkes whiche people hath all their hope of victorie in theyr bowe and shaftes Besydes all this in an other place he wryteth thus to his Captayne Artillerie is easie to be prepared and in time of great nede a thing moste profitable therfore we straytlye commaunde you to make proclamation to al men vnder our dominion which be eyther in war or peace to all cities borowes and townes and fynally to all maner of men 〈…〉 that euerye seare persone haue bowe and shaftes of his owne euerye house besyde this to haue a standing bearyng bowe and xl shaftes for all nedes and that they excercise them selues in holtes hilles and dales playnes and wodes for all maner of chaunces in warre Howe muche shooting was vsed among the olde Romanes and what meanes noble captaynes and Emperous made to haue it encrease amonge them and what hurte came by the decaye of it these wordes of Leo the emperour which in a maner I haue rehersed woorde for woorde playnly doth declare And yet shotynge although they set neuer so muche by it was neuer so good than as it is nowe in Englande whiche thing to be true is very probable in that Leo doth saye that he woulde haue his souldiers take of theyr arrowe heades Leo. 7. 18. and one shote at an other for theyr excercise whiche playe yf Englyshe archers vsed I thinke they shoulde fynde smal play and lesse pleasure in it at all The great vpperhande maynteyned alwayes in warre by artillery doeth appeare verye playnlye by this reason also that whan the spanyardes franchmen and germanes grekes macedonians and egyptians eche contry vsing one singuler weapon for whyche they were greatelye feared in warre as the Spanyarde Lancea the Francheman Gesa the German Framea the Grecian Machera the Macedonian Sarissa yet coulde they not escape but be subiectes to the empire of Rome whan the Parthians hauyng all theyr hope in artillerie gaue no place to theÌ„ but ouercame the Romanes ofter than the Romaynes them and kepte battel with them many an hundred yeare Plutarch â— M. â—rass 〈…〉 Spart and sâ—ue the ryche Crassus and his son wyth many a stoute Romayne more with theyr bowes They draue Marcus Antonius ouer the hylles of Media Armenia to his great shame and reproch They sâ—ue Iulianus Apostata and Autoninus Caracalla they helde in perpetual pryson yâ— most noble emperour Ualerian in despite of all the Romaynes and many other princes whiche wrote for his delyueraunce as Bel solis called kynge of kynges Ualerius kynge of Cadusia Arthabesdes kyng of Armenia and many other princes more whom yâ— Parthians by
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
purpose there be dyuerse kyndes some be blonte heades some sharpe some bothe blonte and sharpe The blont heades men vse bycause they perceaue them to be good to kepe a lengthe wyth all they kepe a good lengthe bycause a man poulethe them no ferder at one tyme than at another For in felynge the plompe ende alwayes equallye he maye lowse them Yet in a winde and agaynste the wynd the wether hath so much power on the brode end y◠no man can kepe no sure lengthe wyth such a heade Therfore a blont hede in a caulme or downe a wind is very good otherwyse none worse Sharpe heades at the ende wythout anye shoulders I call that the shoulder in a heade whyche a mans finger shall feele afore it come to the poynte wyll perche quycklye throughe a wynde but yet it hath .ii. discommodities the one that it wyll kepe no lengthe it kepeth no lengthe bycause no manne can poule it certaynly as far one tyme as at an other it is not drawen certaynlye so far one tyme as at an other bycause it lackethe shouldrynge wherwyth as wyth a sure token a man myghte be warned when to lowse and also bycause menne are afrayde of the sharpe poynt for settyng it in y◠bow The seconde in cōmoditie is when it is lyghted on y◠ground y◠smal poynte shall at euerye tyme be in ieopardye of hurrynge whyche thynge of all other wyll sones make the shafte lese the lengthe Now when blonte heades be good to kepe a lengthe wythall yet noughte for a wynde sharpe heades good to perche the wether wyth al yet nought for a length certayne heade makers dwellyng in London perceyuynge the commoditie of both kynde of heades ioyned wyth a discommoditie inuented newe files and other instrumentes where wyth he broughte heades for pryckynge to such a perfitnesse that all the commodities of the twoo other heades should be put in one heade wyth out anye discommoditie at all They made a certayne kynde of heades whyche men call hie rigged creased or shouldred heades or syluer spone heades for a certayne lykenesse that suche heades haue wyth the knob ende of some syluer spones These heades be good both to kepe a length withal and also to perche a wynde wythal to kepe a length wythall bycause a man maye certaynly poule it to the shouldrynge euery shoote no farther to perche a wynde wythall bycause the pointe from the shoulder forwarde breketh the wether as al other sharpe thynges doo So the blonte shoulder seruethe for a sure lengthe kepynge the poynte also is euerfit for a roughe and greate wether percyng And thus much as shortlye as I could as concernyng heades both for war peace PHI. But is there no cūning as con cerning setting on of y◠head TOX. Wel remēbred But that poynt belongeth to fletchers yet you may desyre hym to set youre heade full on and close on Ful on is whan the wood is bet hard vp to the ende or stoppynge of the heade close on is when there is lefte wood on euerye syde the shafte ynoughe to fyll the head withall or when it is neyther to little nor yet to greate If there be any faulte in anye of these poyntes y◠head whan it lyghteth on any hard stone or grounde wil be in ieoperdy eyther of breakynge or els otherwyse hurtynge Stoppynge of heades eyther wyth leade or any thynge els shall not nede now bycause euery siluer spone or showldred head is stopped of it selfe Shorte heades be better than longe For firste the longe head is worse for the maker to fyle strayght compace euery waye agayne it is worse for the fletcher to set strayght on thyrdlye it is alwayes in more ieoperdie of breakinge whan it is on And nowe I trowe Philologe we haue done as concernynge all Instrumentes belongyng to shootynge whiche euery sere archer ought to prouyde for hym selfe And there remayneth .ii thynges behinde whiche be generall or cōmon to euery man the Wether the Barke but bicause they be so knit wyth shootynge strayght or kepynge of a lengthe I wyll deferre them to that place and now we will come God wyllyng to handle oure instrumentes the thing that euery man desireth to do wel PHI. If you can teache me so well to handle these instrumētes as you haue described them I suppose I shal be an archer good ynough TOX. To learne any thing as you knowe better than I Philologe speciallye to do a thing with a mannes handes must be done if a man woulde be excellent in his youthe Yonge trees in gardens which lacke al senses and beastes wtout reson when they be yong may with handling and teaching be brought to wonderfull thynges And this is not onely true in natural thinges but in artificiall thinges to as the potter most connyngly doth cast his pottes whan his claye is softe workable and waxe taketh printe whan it is warme leathie weke not whan claye and waxe be hard and oulde and euen so euerye man in his youthe bothe with witte and body is moste apte and pliable to receyue any cunnyng that shulde be taught hym This cōmunication of teaching youthe maketh me to remembre the right worshipfull and my singuler good mayster Sir Humfrey Wingfelde to who◠nexte God I ought to refer for his manifolde benefites bestowed on me the poore talent of learnyng which god hath lent me For his sake do I owe my seruice to all other of the name noble house of the Wyngfeldes bothe in woord and dede Thys worshypfull man hath euer loued and vsed to haue many children brought vp in learnynge in his house amonges whome I my selfe was one For whom at terme tymes he woulde bryng downe from Londō both bowe and shaftes And when they shuld playe he woulde go with them him selfe in to the fyelde se them shoote and he that shot fayrest shulde haue the best bowe and shaftes and he that shot ilfauouredlye shulde be mocked of his felowes till he shot better Woulde to god all Englande had vsed or wolde vse to lay the foundacion of youth after the example of this worshipful man in bringyng vp chyldren in the Booke and the Bowe by whiche two thynges the hole common welth both in peace and warre is chefelye ruled and defended wythall But to our purpose he that muste come to this high perfectnes in shootyng whiche we speake of muste nedes begin to learne it in hys youthe the omitting of whiche thinge in Englande bothe maketh fewer shooters and also euery man that is a shoter shote warse than he myght if he were taught PHI. Euen as I knowe that this is true whiche you saye euen so Toxophile haue you quyte discouraged me and drawen my minde cleane from shootynge seinge by this reason no man y◠hath not vsed it in his youthe can be excellent in it And I suppose the same reson woulde discourage many other mo yf they hearde you talke after this sorte TOX. This