THE FIRST ASSERTION and is Sacred Historicall.
GOD the Author of
Peace and
Loue did so therein delyte,
That of one
Man hee
Members twaine dyd make & them vnyte:
To whom when Children twaine hée gaue,
Genes. 2. & 3
the more to multiply
This
Peace and
Loue, Sathan possest one of them by and by.
Cayn it was who did maligne His Brother
Habell so,
That hée ne ceast by cruell Death this bond to breake in to:
Wherefore when hee had issew left, the Lorde of loue decréede,
That
Cayns hatred should bée rewed for that his filthy déede.
Chap. 4.
As learned
Lyra writes thereon how
Lamech old and blinde:
[...]G. Alleij.
[...].
With Bow and shafts did walke the woods, some wished pray to finde.
His Boy that lead him through the same (as séemed him) espyde
Some beast, which nathles
Cayn was, where hée himselfe did hyde,
So that
(saith Lyra,
Genes 5
) Lamech slew a man there in his wounde:
Lo heare was harmles
Abels death with his reuenged founde.
If
Lyra thus wée may beleeue, Lo here the Bowe and shaft,
Ordained Gods weapon of reuenge on Murders cruell crafte
Lo here the Bowe and arrowe, was first chosen instrument,
As guerdon dew for wicked déede by Goddes most iust iudgement.
A Figure of Goddes
Peace and
Loue the rayne bow yet was set,
Chap. 9.
As couenant twixt him and the earth that hée no more would let
The furious floods consume the Lande, which frutefull afterward
Hée made for humaine vse to serue his chosen and sauegard.
Ismael in the wildernes an infant crying lay,
Genes. 23.
Gods Angell heard the same, and did vnto his Mother say,
Hagar sée thou bée of good cheare, thy Childe vp forthwith take,
And cherish it for God will sure a People great him make.
So this Child grewe, and it is sayd an Archer hee became
And afterward in the wildernes did dwell, called
Paran.
Isaac waring old did byd
Esaw his eldest Sonne,
[...]. 27.
His Bowe and quyuer for to take into the féeldes and ronne,
To kill some venson, which hée did, but yet in the meane while,
Jacob the younger brother could full kindly him beguyle:
[Page] Whereby we sée whom God doth loue, vnlikely though they séeme,
Are soonest blest, when worldlings of their will are frustrate cleene.
Ioseph the sonne of
Iacob so found fauour with his
God,
Genes. 49.
That He was reconed as a braunch which should increase abroad:
Of him t'is said, His Bow bode fast, his armes eke strengthened were,
Euen by the handes of
Iacobs God as did full well appeare.
Ruben, Gad, and halfe
Manasse Tribes three elected, in field
With manly might did shoote in Bow, and carry sword and shéeld:
Leuit. 1.
What time with
Hagarites Iethur, Nephis, and
Noab they
Fought valiantly,
1, Paral. 5.
the Lord did them assist in all assay.
Iosuah discomfiting fiue Kings,
Iosuah. 10.
(though Tribes that did him ayde,
As there to handle Bowes and shafts are not expressly said)
Yet there a Booke is mencioned,
Vers 13.
euen
Iashar so by name.
Or Liber
Not now in vse (which some affirme) showed shootings auncient fame.
And sure the Lord
Iehoua himselfe doth meane thereby his power,
Deu.
[...] 32.
When threatning wise the wicked ones he brings thus in terror,
His Arowes on them he will send (he meaneth in angry moode:)
Vers. 33.
And eke His Bow that he will bend,
Vers. 42.
And dye his shafts in bloud:
These shafts of his so sharpe no stone can cause them to rebound,
But through the thréefold armed coate they pearce with mortal wound.
Balaam in his prophecie of
Israels happy state,
Nume 24.
Saith, that his force the
Vnicorne in strength should coequate.
Vers. 42.
The Nations, he shold eate also, and broose his enemies bones:
Yea, He should shoot his Arowes through those great & mighty ones.
Debora she euen
Baracks wyfe who iudged
Israell,
Iudges. 5,
[...].
In that her song for victorie, which God gaue her, doth tell,
How God deliuered
Iabin King of
Canaan to her hand,
Whose Archers noyse was so appeast eche were throughont her Land.
That where none earst could water drawe, now all deuoid of feare,
Might haue inough sith those their foes so happily vanquisht were.
Whereby we note, although the wicked such defences haue,
Yet for because in vse of them Gods goodnes they depraue,
And arrogate vnto themselues, all glorie, hope, and praise,
Therefore theyr good things turne to euill sometime, if not alwayes.
Hanna the wife of
Elcana when shée did pray so ioyed,
1. Samuel 2.
The Bow with mightie men was broke to her rebuke
employed:
And waykeilngs girded forth them selues with strēgth
(she said) like mē
As who say
God makes simple soules do great things now and then.
[Page]
Ionathas, the Sonne of
Saule king
Dauids mortall foe,
Was
Dauids faithfull Frend, when hée this watchword gaue him to,
That hee should three dayes hyde him by the stone
Ezel by name,
1. Samuel 10. Cap.
Duriug the time of
Saule his wrath and furious raging flame.
Then
Ionathas sayd hée would shoot thrée Arrowes at that stone,
As at a marck, and after hee would make a Boy to rome,
And seeke the shaftes, when if I say vnto the Boy once,
(See,)
The arrowes are on this side thée, bring them and come, saith hée,
The matter then goeth well for thee, no hurt as liueth the Lorde:
But if I say vnto the Boy,
(Behold:) by this watchworde,
The arrowes are beyonde thée, then, make haste and get thée away,
For
God hath so dismissed thee, This
Ionathas could say.
Saule and
Ionathas his Sonne,
1 Samuel. 31. Cap.
with his two Brethren mo,
When the
Philistyans fought with them, felt God his iudgements so
By the Archers and Bowemen of th' vncircumcysed theare,
Saule wounded was, but his thrée Sonnes outright dispatched were.
Dauid then before hée was of
Iuda annoynted King.
Ouer
Saule and
Ionathas moarned, thus lamenting,
The Bow saith hée of
Ionathas turned neuer back in vaine,
Neither
Saules Sword once empty went from the blood of the slaine:
Sée theare the minde of Goddes elect, in doyng good for ill,
Sée pity showed for cruelty, for mallys eke goodwill.
Dauid enduring yet long warres euen with that house of
Saule,
2 Samuel. 1. Cap.
By
Goddes goodwill exalted was, when his foes had the falle,
And prospered so that hée was King ouer all
Israell:
Hée conquered
Ierusalem and
Iebusytes so fell,
Who did deny him to come theare, when yet victoriously,
Hee wan the Castle of
Syon, which hée called his Citty,
When hee made
Ioab generall,
1. Croun. 11.
which
Iebusites first smote,
With whome were mighty Men of armes euen many a one to note:
When one or other of twelue trybes came to him day by day,
1. Croun. 21.
Vntill he had a full great hoast,
Like the hoast of God to say:
Who doth consider well all this most amply may beholde,
Gods fauour towardes
Dauid théef and mercies manyfold.
So as Hee againe A man was founde euen after Goddes owne hart,
Psalm. 89 D Luthers Wordes.
Yea a
King to whome both faith and promise God did sure imparte:
Whose
Psalmody his sacred zeale to God wardes did declare,
Whose
Regiment did shewe for his a Princely prudent care,
[Page] As when he first enacted that eche Childe within his Lande,
2. Sam.
Should be instructed for to shoot, their Enemies to withstande.
1. Chap. vers 18.
In peace time prouident for warres (he said):
He was at peace,
Psalm. 119.
With them that hated peaces: In warres, he did at no time cease,
To serue his God, that he would graunt assured state and stay,
As at a marke that he might ayme to walke ech godly way.
Idem. ve. 15.
For why, he had experience good, whome God doth so elect,
Ought not to feare what euer fall, his duty to neglect:
But trusteth,
Psa. 7. ver 14.
God hath mortall Darts,
yea arrowes keene and sharp,For them that him do persecute, whiles they do mischief warp:
And though the wicked bend their Bowes,
Psal. 11. ve. 2.
& make their Arrowes prest
To shoot in secret, and to hurt the sounde, and harmles brest:
Yet God his fiery Thunderboultes can cast them heare and theare,
Psalm. 18. vers. 13.
And with his fiery lightning shafts can foyle his foes with feare:
And as a marke he will them set, in a most open place,
Psal. 21 vers. 12.
And charge his bow-strings readily against his Enemies face.
Gods Arrowes sharp and kéene which are,
Psalm. 45.
their harts so sore shal sting,
That Folke shall and knéele to him,
Vers. 6.
as to the mightiest King:
In
Syon brake he shaft and bowe,
Psal. 76.
the sworde, the speare and shielde,
And brake the Ray,
Vers. 3.
to ouerthrow the Battell in the fielde:
So that his Children shall not feare,
Psal. 91. vers. 5.
nor yet become afflight,
For all the shafts that flye by day, nor terrour in the night.
Yet for an ordenary meane King
Dauid doth aduance,
The Bowe and shaft, as mans defence, and for his foes noyance:
Extolling eke the exercyse by that same troupe or traine,
Of Shooters, which in peace or warres Gods glorie do maintaine.
As when
[...] Children come to age
(saith he) and actyuenes,
Oh well ys he whose quyuer with such shafts the Lord doth blesse:
Psalm. 127. vers. 4. & 5.
Whether
Prince so peopled be, or
Parent Children such,
And so many be blest with all, they néede not feare the gruch,
Or gréeuous force of Enemy,
Rom 8.
If God be on their side:
In which respect the prayer of
Dauid may be applyde,
When for Gods safe deliuerance from eche such Enemy,
Psalm. 147.
(Thine Arrowes shoot and them consume)
vnto the Lorde prayth he.
Vers. 6.
Then séeth he, God taking his parte, it nought his foes shall boote,
For,
Psalm 58. vers. 7.
They no hurt at all shall do, when they their shafts shall shoote:
So
Dauid and his
Princes all after his warres, offered,
Towards the building of Gods house▪ and thankes to him rendred,
[Page] And when he had raigned .xl. yéers iust ouer
Israell,
1. Croun. 29.
In his owne Citty hee slept and lay, which
Zyon was to tell.
Whose Sonne that wise King
Salomon succéeded in his throane,
1. Reg. 2.
A Prince of peace and glory such, as like was neuer a one:
Him all the foresaid
Potentates, in eche thing méete obaide.
His charets .xiiij C. tho, and Horsemen, it is sayde,
Twelue M. were which hee nothing so much had care vppon,
2. Croun. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
As for to builde the Temple, and to pray in
Gibeon,
To keepe the Arck yeelde peace offrings, and still aduance Gods worde,
With instruments of musick sweete lauding the liuing Lorde:
The race of whose Raigne .xl. yeares then béeyng consummate,
2. Croun.
In the City of
Dauid eke he slept intumulate.
Asa King of
Iuda did destroy all Idolles theare,
Commanding his, the lyuing God truly to serue and feare:
Ere hee with the
Aethiopian King and his huge hoast would feight,
2. Croun. 14
He prayde vnto
Iehoue, and hée did heare his prayer streight:
Of the trybe of
Beniamyn, which bare both Bow and shield,
A valiant hoaste hée had which got the victory in that fielde.
Iehosophat of
Iuda King,
3. Cro 17.
his fathers rowme possest,
Who prospered trusting in his God, and was with riches blest,
He toke of Strangers tribute, and had of
Beniamyns trybe
200000 warlike wights with Bowe and shéeld to byde.
Ahab, King of
Israell, in following the aduise,
Of those 400 Prophets dyd but fondly enterprise,
[...]. Crou. 18.
At
Ramoth theare in
Gilead geanst the King of
Aram,
To feight regarding not
Michah, euen then a certen Man
Drewe a Bowe and smote
Ahab betwéene his ioyntes and eke
The Brigandyne, that so hée dyed to late for helpe to seeke.
Vzzia chosen to be King of
Iuda dyd obay
The Lorde
Iehoue,
[...]. Cro. 26.
and on a time did giue a bold assay,
To warr against the
Phylistens, with bowes and arrowes fell,
And God in eche his enterprise dyd prosper him full well.
Iosyas King of
Iuda, was a Prince of godly mynde,
The temple he restored, and his prayer heard did fynde,
When he a couenaunt made with God.
[...]. Cro. 35
But when vniusty hée
Genst the
AEgiptian King would feight neglecting
Ieremy,
And that same King which did dehorte him from that wilfull feight
The Archers shot and wounded him vnto the death there streight.
[Page]
Iehu annoynted of the Lorde,
2 King. 9.
tooke bowe and arrowes kéene,
And strongly smote
Iehoram tho, his armed armes betwéene
The arrowe pearst euen through his hart, God would it so to bée,
The whordomes of their
Iesabell, and wich-crafts plagued hée.
Elysha sayd vnto
Ioas,
4. King 13.
then king of
Israell
Open a window Eastward and, shoote as I shall thee tell:
The Arrow of health that it may bee, The Arow of the Lords health,
Against all Syria to subuert them and their common wealth.
Iob,
Iob. 16.
when the Lord afflicted him, by
Metaphor did mone
The Lorde hath set mee as a marke
(saith he) for him alone,
And that his Arches hemd him in, and compassed him rounde,
They spared mee no whit
(saith he) but sore my loynes did wounde:
When eke Gods iudgements in his wrath vpon the vngodly,
Hée prooues doth light to their deserts, he saith,
though they do fly
The Iron weapons warlike yet,
Iob. 20.
with the Steele bow they shall
Bee shot, and on them shaftes most sharp by lots must light and fall:
But nombring vp Goddes benefits on him then multiplide.
Iob 29.
His bow, with honour stronger dyd in his owne hand abide.
Esay,
Esay. 5.
the Prophet of the Lorde, when he dyd prophecy
Of
Ierusalems Kuine, and of her captiuity,
Pronounced vnto her Goddes wrath, in these wordes verament,
That all Goddes arrowes sharp should bee, and all his bowes eke bent.
Fortelling how
Ierusalem for sinne,
Chap. 7.
beseged should bée
With arrowes and with bowes shall one agenst her come,
saith hée.
Ere that the
Medes and
Persians should
Babylon destroy:
Chap. 13.
With Bowes
(saith hée) they shall assaile thy Children to anoy.
Of
Idumeas ruyn and, of all
Arabyas too:
He verifiyng said,
Chap. 22.
they fled from drawne sword and bent Bowe,
And that the residew which were euen their owne Archers strong,
Of Kedars Sonnes a few or none should them befound among.
The same
Esay reporteth eke, when
Hezekiah King
Of
Iuda heard the blasphemy of
Rabsechas rayling.
Chap. 37.
Sent from
Senacherib, he asked counsell of
Esay.
Who promisd him the victory, and that without delay.
But as for the
Assyrian king, he neuer enter shall
This Citty, nor once shoot a shaft
(saith hée) to worck her thrall.
This Prophet tellls when as the Lord would chuse his people so,
Chap. 41.
Subdewing kings he gaue them as
The dust his sworde vnto.
[Page] And scatered them vnto his Bowe as stuble,
signifiying.
No power can scape his mightie hand, him to resist applying.
He prophecyeth in the person of
(Christ) the faithfull to assure,
That God his secret fauour, and his feruent loue should dure,
Towardes them. Vnder the shadowe of his hand, he hath hyd me,
And in his quyuer a chosen shaft he me hath hydd,
Chap 49.
saith he,Lastly, I read that
Esay saith, God will his Church enlarge,
By the
Apostles,
Chap. 66.
Ministers, and his
Disciples charge:
In Affrica, Cilicia,
in Parthia,
and Italy.
To them
(he saith) that draw the Bow, not knowing his glory,
Nor haue not heard his fame as yet, ne yet his glory seene,
To those same
Gentiles preach he will, that they may him estéeme,
Ieremy,
Chap. 50.
in prophecying of
Babylon that whoore,
Her wickednes and Idolles
(saith) God will them plague full sore,
And that of mightie Nations, he, a multitude will bring,
Out of the North (in batle aray,) themselues enarmouring:
Their Arrowes shall be as of one that is most strong certaine:
Vers 9.
And expert too, for none of them shall once returne in vaine:
He showes, the Lorde commaunds, they shall
Put themselues in aray,
Geanst Babell round about,
Vers. 14.
all ye (that bend the Bowe) I say.
Shoote at her
(saith he) spare no shaftes, for she against the Lorde
Hath sinned, so that he the same hath greeuously abhorde.
The voyce of them that flée and scape from out of
Babylon
Shall be,
Vers 28.
To shew (Goddes vengeance great ouer her) vnto Syon.
Call vp the Archers geanst Babell, all ye that bend the Bowe,
Besige her round about, let none escape, not hye nor lowe.
Rewarde her after her owne workes, for she hath sinned.
Thus
Saith
Ieremy, shall she be serued for sinnes flagitius.
Yea, more he addes that: Many Kings from th'earth shall raised be
Against her,
Vers. 41.
they shall holde the Bow and Buckler,
eke saith he:But drawing nearer to her end
(To him that bendes the bow,
Chap. 51.
And him that lifts vp brygandyne,
Vers.
[...].
by these wordes he doth show,
The Lord will say, spare not her youngmen, but slay all her hoast,
Make bright the Arrowes,
Vers. 10.
gather the shields,
as if ye spare no cost:The Lord hath raised vp the spirite in the King of the Medes:
His purpose is geanst Babell, to destroy her feete and heades.
And afterward, he veryfieth:
Chap. 5
[...].
The strong men of Babell
Are taken,
Vers. 5
[...].
and their bowes are broke:
God graunt it hap so well:
[Page] But in his
Lamentacions yet,
Lamentat.
this Prophet doth auowe,
God bent his bowe,
Chap. 11.
and made him as a marke for the arrowe:
The arrowe of his quyuer he caused to enter into my raines.
vers. 12. &. 13
This speech doth shew the Prophets grief, for his frends grief & paines,
Ezechiel much alike foresheweth of
Gog and
Magogs fall,
Ezech.
Which fought against Gods People sore,
Chap. 39.
and that with power not smal
Wherefore, the Lord of hoastes by him doth fearcely thus inuay
Gogs Bow out of his left hand, he will smyte and dasshe away.
And out of his right hand will cause the Shaftes to fall downe flat.
A fyre on Magog will he send,
so as forthwith on that,
They which inhabite Cityes do, throughout all Israell
Shall go forth and set fiery flame vppon his weapons fell,
Vppon his shields and Bucklers, and vpon eche shafte and Bowe,
Yea vpon their staues euen in their handes, to burne them on a rowe,
For seauen yeares space: Thus saith the Lorde, at my table ye shall
With Horses, Charyots and valiant men of Warre be filled withall,
So that the Lorde himselfe doth say, by this Prophet Ezechiel,
Iacob I will redeeme and shewe mercy on Israell:
Oseas the Prophet well concludes then this said prophecy,
Ose. 1.
With bow nor sworde God his will saue, but with his mere mercy.
Zacharias zealus in the Lorde confirmes a truth twofolde,
Zacha. 9.
Threatning
Gentiles destruction,
Vers. 10.
which are so wilfull bolde,
To warre against the Lordes
Iuda, he telleth them therfore
The Bow of their Batle shalbe broke, and God will then restore
Peace to the heathen folke on earth, which had vnquyet rest.
And so where warres did worke much woo, Gods peace shal make them blest
But when he speakes of
Iudaes blisse,
Vers. 11.
enlarged, he doth show,
That God
his chosen Iuda hath bent out euen as a Bowe.
In raising vp of Syons sonnes, O Grecia,
then saith he:
Beholde euen as a Gyants sworde,
Nehem.
so strong I haue made thee.
Nehemyas chosen of the Lorde
Ierusalems walle to builde,
By
Sanballat,
Chap. 4.
Tobyas, and the
Arabians then withhyld
Was hindered much,
vers. 16.
yet with th'one half of
Iudaes yong men there,
And with th'other half, which helde, the Bow, the shield and speare,
With manly courage Reard, it was the walle and prosperous stood,
The Rulers saw the same with ioy maugre th'enemies mood.
Fsdras prophecying (against
Asia and
Babilon,
Fsdras,
Egipt,
Chap. 9.
Syria, and of eche gréeuous affliction,
[Page] Which vppon all the worlde shal comme by Goddes decréed iudgement
Saith, Strong is his righ hande by whome his Bow shall so bee bent,
His arrowes which hee shoots, are sharp and shall not misse,
he saies,
When they begin for to bee shot into the latter dayes.
Iudith a worthie Wydow was, and handmayde of the Lorde
Which prayde to God in her distresse,
Iudith. 12.
and walked in his worde
What tyme that Tyrant proude assailde
Nabuchadnezer hée
With
Olophernes his Chéeftaine, and all their huge army
To come against Gods
Israell, Tuelue thousand Archers stoute,
And sixescore thousand others mo of that his Rakehell Rowte,
Beholde
God heard this woman weike, when she for hers so praide:
Thy power Oh God in multitude consisteth not,
she saide,
Nor thy might in stronge men remaines: But thou the hope onely,
Of humble myndes deffendst wayklyngs and which forsaken bee,
Those thou protectst. Her prayer so did please the lyuing Lorde
As by his might this woman weyke conld vse the pearsing sworde
That shée cut of the Captaines head, so mightie in mischeef,
His members quayld, Gods will preuaild, and hers found ioy for gréef.
Iudas Machabeus, he, the first which bare that name,
One of the
Worthies nyne so cald deserues immortall fame
For valiantly encountering with
Demetrius and his hoast,
[...]. Mac. 9.
Whose Archers marching in forwarde, for all their heathnish boast.
Iudas in the Lordes quarrell, yet his Brethren dyd comfort,
Though there he lost his life in feelde the same for to support,
Iohn the deuyne Reuailes to all those that true
Christians bée,
[...]euel. 6.
Firme consolation in distresse by
Christe our Lorde saith he,
Beholde a white Horse, and he which vppon the same doth sit,
A bow had ready drawne in hand: A Crowne and giuen him fit,
And hee should go forth conquering, and ouercome eche wheare,
This
Christe our King doth signify, which such a rule shall beare,
Through out the worlde, that hée shall shoote the shafts of his gospell,
To saue for euer his elect, conquering sinne, death and hell.
THE SECOND ASSERTION and ys Prophane Hystoricall.
PASS on my penne from Pristine soyle of sacred
Parnasse mount,
And raunge the Rurall prophane féeldes to shew of what account.
The
Bow and
Shaft haue béene to fore in learned Writers dayes:
[Page] Let
Claudianus first infer thereof his frendly praise:
Hee saith that Nature first of all the vse of
Shooting gaue,
In the Porpentyne, that beast, who séemes sharp prickes to haue,
Which strongly smyte what so they hit: whereby some learned men
In finding this did imitate with Bowes and shafts as then.
Pliny referres to
Scythes, this, the Sonne of
Iupiter.
Plato, Chalimachus and
Galen more Noble writers ferr
Affirme
Apollo, paterne chief and Patrone first to bée,
Of Shooting in the
Aethnickes dayes: as they in one agrée.
So
Ouid iumpes with their accord,
Lib. 1.
wen lo in that his fable,
Hée telles how th'earth brought
Python forth a serpent admirable
What tyme the
Delyan God which neuer vsde before that drift,
Metamor,
Th'art of
Shooting, but at
Deare and
Roes which ronne so swift:
A thousand shaftes dyd spend vppon that vgly monster theare,
And none of them but forst the bloud to issew out of her.
So that his quyuer almost voyde, he naild her to the grounde,
And dyd her nobly at the last by shooting sharp confounde:
Wherfore that he more famous might make this his enterprise,
A great and solempne game he dyd thencforth himself deuyse
Which of the
Serpent slaine the name of
Pythians sports did beare,
Who for mastry in feats of force should oken garland weare.
Moreouer,
Lib. eodem.
Ouid doth declare
Apollo, after that
With
Gupid (for his Archery) the god of loue did chat:
And séemed to chyde him as a childe with martiall might to mell
Thy bowe and shafts more méete (saith he) are with me for to dwell,
But
Cupid thought this vncouth spéech, and to contend with him
Did nothing bash (at beast saith he) I graunt that bow of thyne
Thou fréely vse: And so at thée his shafts shall spend my Bowe,
And looke how much inferiour is eche beast to God, so knowe
And holde for truth, that euen so much thy glory lesse shall bée
In shootings noble exercyse, then myne is in degrée:
Apollo afterwardes approued these
Cupides words most trewe
When he was wounded with his shafte as sequell did ensewe
When hée, which God of phisicks arte and surgery was calde,
Could make no medicyn for reléef of himself so enthralde,
In
Daphnes loue: who for because a
Virgin shée would bée,
He proffering kisses swéete in vaine, the Goddes then prayed shée,
Th'earth might rather her deuoure all quick euen as she was.
[Page] Then yéelde vnto
Apolloes loue: But sée the altered case,
Well saith this God, sith thou my loue thus scornefull doost abuse,
Into my
Tree thou changd shalt be, and thée Ile alwaies vse
Thou shalt adorne my golden lookes, and eke my pleasant harp.
Thou shalt adorne my Quyuer full of arrowes keene and sharp.
The valiant Knights and Emperours thou shalt adorne also.
Before the Capitoll eke stand, with triumphes stately show
For Conquerours and victors such, as valiant acts haue done,
Before
Augustus Pallaice doore, as braue as is the sunne.
This
Poët eke full conningly in couert wise doth shewe,
Examples vertues to embrace, and vyces to eschewe.
As where he doth on fained Goddes and Goddesses there treat,
Sometimes he toucheth their reuenge, for crimes and vyces great.
Like, as when
Ioue had companie of the
Nymphe Parhâsis,
A Knight of
Phoebus troupe,
Lib. 2.
which bare, a bowe sometyme ywis,
She drawyng neare a certaine wood vnbending there her bowe,
Metamor.
Layde her quyuer vnder her head, and coucht her selfe a low,
Soone
Iupiter spyed her and, with her stroue for some play,
(In'haste her quyuer almost forgot) as then she fled away.
Whome when
Dyana so discryde, as she was following deare,
By
Iunoes iustice was transformd into an vggly Beare.
Phebus hearing that his loue
Coronis,
Eodem.
on a time.
The fairest
Nymphe in Thessaly, with one
Isthis had lyne.
A Gentleman although he were,
Phebus this brookt not well.
But threw his garland from his head, his harp toth'ground eke fell.
His colour changed his fury flamed, his bow and shafts he takes,
To slay the Mother and the Childe, all meane and might he makes.
Phebe or
Diana she,
Lib. 3.
the Goddesse of hunting game.
To bath her selfe in Cristall streame awearied once came,
Metamor.
And being (with her troupe of
Nymphes about her) in the déepe.
Her bowe and quyuer did betake to one of them to kéepe,
With that comes
Cadmus nephew by, a huntsman euen that way,
Whome wandringly (whiles to beholde this Goddesse) he did stay,
She cast an angry looke on him, as though she would haue shot,
A shafte at him, had her bow béene bent, as she had it not.
Yet Nathles water sprinckling she, his face, and head vppon
Apaire of olde Hartes hornes, his head had growyng vp anon,
By which this metamorphose he, who was a Man of late,
And Huntsman two, to beast is like, whome his owne bounds did hate
So that of them he chased was vp hill and downe the dale,
Who after those his houndes before, did hallow lowd and hale:
With turne, and returne, skip and skud, they followe him as their pray,
Whose folly causd his fate so yll with finall death that day.
Salmasis Dianas nymph (but water fairy) went
Oft times vnto a certaine poole,
Lib. 4.
to hunt was her intent:
Metamor.
Yet she with loue of
Mercuries sonne surprisde, in pleasures past
Her youthfull yeares: (vnknowen to
Phoebe) her sisters at the last
Would oft perswade her painefull life, which profit might procure,
Her idle time in casting dart, or shooting to enure,
But she neglecting their aduise a wanton still would be,
And striue with him her louer so, vntill both he and she
Were chaunged from their former shape, one monster made, and were
An
Hermaphrodite which both man and woman did appeare.
Alpheys (a Riuer cald) described her race of auncient Loue,
Which would not leaue her,
Lib. 15.
till she cride vnto
Diana aboue,
Helpe Lady deare: for I thy true and trustie squyer (saith she)
Which haue thy Bow and arrowes oft times carried after thée,
Am now attacht of
Cupids Knight, preserue my Virgins state:
Therewith the Goddesse béeing mooued, a cloude did dissipate,
And couer so her
Nymphe therewith, that she in safetie was.
Her Louer frustrate of his will, away from her did passe.
Ceypheys Lordes within his Court a while at quiet were,
Lib eodem Metamor.
But when a sodaine rumour they (I wot neare what) did heare,
Ceyphey affirmed himselfe to be no occasioner of the same,
One
Atis nimble with the dart, but which did better frame
In handlyng Bowe and shaft, forthwith at
Persey gan to bend,
Whom
Pallas shrouded with her shield, and did from harme defend.
Then
Persey tooke a fierbrand and dasht in
Atis face,
Bée baltering him about therewith that slaine outright he was:
Whose death
Lycab of
Assur Land reuengd with
Atis Bowe,
And with his shaftes, that
Persey then quite dead he laide alowe.
Of discord and dissention here loe thus they rewed the end,
With mischiefe they are ouermacht which mischiefe doe pretend.
And though the partie which begins, when he hath mischiefe done
Hath his pertaker euill, yet God his wrath can no man shone:
[Page]
[...] what the guyltlesse want in power, the same performe God will,
[...] take their quarrell as his owne, the Killers for to kill.
Phebus bright and
Mayas sonne (saith
Ouid) both tyme when
Came th'one from
Delphos, and th'other from the mount
Cyllen.
Apollo Phebus yet so close could step to
Chyon, where
He pleasure tooke which was forspoke by
Mercury his Compere
Which
Chyon in
Appolloes eares dispraysing
Dame Dyane,
Herselfe vnto hym to preferre, it so to passe then came.
Phebe offended therwithall, her venging Bow streight bent
And shot her through the toung as for her worthie punishment:
Of
Ouid I omit here more, as touching tales to write,
And now to other Wryters passe of Archery which recyte.
Apollo, Chéefest of Archers was by
Poets doome enstalde
Whome they the Bearer of the Bow and mighty Shooter calde,
Whereupon
Claudianus saith.
Mars Clipeo melior, Phebus prestantior arcu:
In English. vizt.
Mars with y
e Buckler better was: But
Apollo him with the Bow did passe.
And
Valerius Flaccus: saith.
Arcupotens aduerte precor nunc denique Apollo.
Apollo mighty Archer how? Turne thée I pray thée to mée now.
Hyppochoon, Mnestion, and
Eurytion all thrée
Were
Archers, which (as
Virgill saith) contendted valiantly,
Euen for the garland all at ones, when pastymes funerall
By
AEnéas were celebrate for his Father naturall,
Virgill.
Namley
Anchyses: when
AEney forsaking
Affrica,
And sayling so through
Italy, came into
Silicia,
Eke
Coryney of
Italy (saith
Virgill) shot full well,
But
Asyla the
Troyan dyd in shooting farre excell.
Acastus, hée the Hunter was, an Archer tall and good,
Who went with
Meleager for to kill the Bore in wood.
Which spoylde the Cuntry
Caledon (of whome
Ouid pardy
Saith) fierce
Leucippus, and
Acast with shafts so Noble hée.
Parys an Archer strong so was, that hée did ouerthrowe
Achilles with one shaft onely and wounded him also.
Virgill. Ouid in Epistell.
The same
Paris is of himself so said to make good proof,
His shaft was not more to be feard, then when she flew aloof.
Lycota conning Archer,
Ouid. lib. 12
was more conningly cast downe
[Page]
Mopsus of
Crete for shootings skill of
Silius hath renowne
Ilerdes such an Archer was whose shaft so surely aymed,
[...]
That Birdes hye houering in the ayer,
Sil. 1
[...].
he killed more then maymed,
Ne was hée onely warryer stout, but huntsman skilfull so
In euery course that hée could kill the hynde, the bucke or doo.
Alcon an Archer was of
Crete,
Vale Fl
[...]c.
whose child a Dragon fell
Perforce had caught away from him:
Lib 1. Argo.
at which hée did leuell,
His shafts with such deliuery sure, that hée the Dragon slew,
His childe harmelesse and from that beast did manfully reskew.
Enarus,
Saxo Gram maticus.
was an Archer so endewed with strength and art,
Hée bent his Bowe with such a force, nought could his shoot reuert.
Deucaleon, Hypereseus Sonne, by
Hypso the Nymphe was
An Archer which in shooting farre did others much surpasse.
Vale. Fl
[...]c.
AEthalides an Orator was,
Lib. 1. Argo.
which for his eloquent tonque
Men dyd beléeue of
Mercury,
Lib. 1 Arg.
hée was the onely sonne,
And that this Man in Archery had fortune ioyned with fame,
Valerius Flaccus in his booke doth verify the same.
Catenos,
Quint Cur. Lib. 6. de gest Alexander.
hée a Souldiour did his shaft so surely leuell.
That birdes hye mounting in the skye hée downe starck dead could fel.
Toco a certen Souldiour was an Archer of such skill,
Although in Cuppes his tongue could walke more voyd of wit thē wil,
Saxo. gram.
That hée at banquets oft would boast an apple very small
A farre of held he fech of could euen his first shaft withall.
Aspares one inhabitant in
Garamantia Lande,
Pontanus.
By fyne deliuering of his shafts, is praisde for eye and hand.
Euritus,
Idem.
King of
Ochaly, and Father of
Ioles,
The art of shooting taught vnto the valiant
Hercules.
Hercules, a Shooter such did shew himselfe to bée
So strong in stroke,
Pontanus
so sure sure in ayme, so certen with the eye,
Hée
Centaur Nessus ouerthrew though from him farre hée stood:
And of the hartes (as swifte as winde) hee bathde his shafts in blood,
Besides these hée the
Harpyas (a Rauenous byrde by kinde)
Could cause to tumble out of the ayer, as fethers tost with winde.
Comodus the Emperour,
Herodia.
Sonne of
Marck and
Faustine, was
So sure a Shooter coumpted, that when beasts aloof did passe,
Lib. 1.
Or swiftly ronne he neuer mist, but one or other sure,
He slew with shafte, and none escapte nor could his
[...]
[...]
[Page] But wat his eye once destned had if so hée might yt sée,
The same was sure with Bow and shaft his pryzed pray to bée.
Domitian the Emperour hée in shooting so excelled,
[...]x. Aurel.
That now and then a childe which forth his fingers streched held,
He made his marcke twixt fingers twaine aloof held vp and wyde:
The Childe vnharmed was, and eke his shafts did surely glyde.
Againe two honderth beastes hée did with arrowes kill most sharp,
Some of their heads two shafts had like the hornes of a wilde hart.
Tranquil.
Eight Contreyes,
Geta, Scithia, and with them the
Ithurians,
The Parsij, Parthi, Sarmati, Cretii, Arimaspyans,
And almoste all the Countreyes of the worlde towardes the east
Were noted much in archery to haue their skill encreast.
And these by seuerall
Epithets had seuerall properties,
Eche one his owne pertaining to this shootings exercyse,
The
Poets terme the
Ithuryan Bowe: the
Parthyans shafts they name:
The
Getian string,
Sabellicus in Oraculo.
and Quyuers eke were attribute by fame
Vnto them of
Sarmatia, and so semblably ensewed
In all the other Contreyes their owne propertyes renewed.
And though in shooting eche of these skilfull and practized were,
The Parthyans yet and
Persians chéef prick and praise did beare:
So excellent Archers were they déemed, that as they ranne the way,
They shot behinde them, that therwith their Enemies they could slaye:
And turning euen from them they could so hurt them which pursewed,
As if with wachfull eyes they had euen face to face them vewed.
Whereof
Lucane the
Poet thus mencyoneth.
Lucanus.
Ocyor & missa Parthi post terga sagitta:
That is in English.
More swifter then Parthyan shaft so quick: behind their backe which is let slipis
Cyaxares King of the
Medes,
Herodian in Clio.
which great Grandfather was
To
Cyrus, kept of
Scythians, (which did with Bowe surpas)
A sorte of shooters for the nonce, euen to enstruct and teache
His Sonne
Astyages, that arte most skilfully to reache.
Cyrus a Childe, in this arte was so deligent educate,
That
Xenophon who writ the same,
Xenophon in institut. Cyri.
would neuer haue nominate
The vse and proffit greatly so with
Princely state to grée,
Had not nature experience and effect enforst to hée,
As
Tully saith most congruent, not onely for to showe
What
Cyrus did, but what a
Prince by dewty ought to doo,
Both in pastimes for pleasure, and in seryous matters when
[Page] The same may proffet
Prince, himself and also other men.
Darius King of
Persia, the first that name which bare,
Dyd shew how fit a thing it ought to bée,
Strabo.
and nothing race
A
PRINCE to practize
Archery,
Lib. 15.
as for the same pretence
Hee left for worthy memory on his tombe this sentence.
DARIVS the King lyeth buried heare,
Which in shooting & ryding had neuer his peare.
Theodosius the Emperour had commendations Dew,
Themist. in Orat. 6.
Giuen him by
Themistius his Philosopher trewe,
For thrée things which hée of a Childe did vse especially,
As
Shooting, Ryding well on Horse, and feats of
Cheualry.
Cyrus what time hée conquered in manner all the world,
Herodianus in Clio.
Among his
Persians made this Lawe, and left it sure enrould,
Their Children should from fiue yeares age vntill the yeare twenty
Learne thrée things well, To ryde, To shoot. Tell truth and neuer lye.
Leo the Noble Emperour did full Christianly ordaine
A Law,
Leo de Stratagem. 20.
eche man in time of peace should shooting so mentaine:
Till hée were xl. yeares of age, and that eche house priuate
Should haue a Bowe and xl. shafts in order like and rate,
Ready for eche vse of néede: The omitting of which Lawe
(Saith
Leo) among the youth, hath béene th'effycient ouerthrawe
Of
Romane glory erst so braue, with losse of a great deale
Of th'Empire selfe, and hynderance of our florishing publike veale.
AEthiopians of the world the furdest Southward are,
Whose excellency in shooting,
Herodo. in Thalia.
that same historie doth declare
When to their King,
Cambyses King of
Persia once did sende
Ambassadours with many gifts: Their subtill drifte and ende
Th'ethiopian King discust to prooue them very spyes,
And blamed their King
Cambyses for such vniust enterpryse:
But princely intertaining them, a Fowe he tooke (which bent
And drawne by him vnbent againe) vnto their King hée sent
The same with gréeting (and saith hée) deliuer it him from mée,
And say when any
Persian can shoot in the same that hée,
Then set on
AEthyopians, but in meane time let him yéelde
Thankes vnto God, that hath not giuen the
Persians force in féelde
To conquer other mens Contreyes. The bowe when as it came
Among them, none at all was found which once could stirr the same:
[Page] Saue onely
Smerdis Brother to
Cambyses who, the string
Two fingers styrd, and furder could not, for the which doing,
Cambyses him so sore enuyed, as doth the story say,
That his owne Brother
Smerdis hée therfore outright did slay.
Sesostris,
Herodot. in Euterp.
the most mighty king that Ruled
AEgipt Lande.
Ouercame a great part of the worlde, and that by Archers band
The
Arabyans, Iewes, and Syrians hée brought in subiection,
And further into
Scithia went, then elsse did any one:
Hée ouer came eke
Thracya till the Coastes of
Germany,
In token wheare of euery such obtained victory,
Images hée dyd erect after his owne likenes
In th'one hand Bow, in th'other shaft holding for to witnesse,
What weapons in his conquest, hée did vse in those his dayes,
Whereby he gained glory condigne, and eke a lastingpraise.
Teweer amongst the
Graecians for his shooting bare the bell
Who (when
Hector the
Graecyans ships by fire thought to quell:
Diod, Sic.
)
With his Bow droue them backe agen: Neither could noble
Troy
Haue béene destroyd by
Graecyans, if with shootings dire anoy
Of
Hercules shaftes, it had not bene assaulted as it was,
Whereby the ruyn of the same the soner came to passe.
THE THIRDE ASSERTION Englishe Hystoricall.
RElinquishing those prophane feates and fautors, now my penne
Approche theprowesse and the praise of natiue
Elglishmen:
From
Brute the
Troyans time, who as hée vsed shooting theare
When vnwares he his Father slew, in forest hunting deare.
After hée had by that mischaunce his
Syluius deare bereft,
Anno ante Christ. 1108
Aryued in this our
Albyon then his natiue
Troy so left.
The
Brytons his successors ruled this Lande, till
Caesar hée
Conquered the same, not long before
Christes natiuity:
The
Romanes held the
Brittaines in their rule and tribute long,
The Romans continewed. 483. yeares
Agricola a Capteyn (sent the
Romanes from among)
With shot of arrowes and of darts did gréeue the
Brittons much
They with huge swords and bucklers smal eke kept the Romans tuch.
Hengist a Saxon hether came,
Post Christum. 490.
in kent whose Kingdome was.
And ward vppon the
Brytons till he lyued in quyet case
[Page]
ARTHVRE the mirrour of manhood,
Anno post. Xpū. 518.
and Champion of Cheualrie.
Subdewed the Saxons to him tho, with many a victorie
Among the
Brittons after his time, west
Saxons still bare sway,
Alfird,
872.
a Godly learned King a
Saxon, stories saye
By cruell pursute of the
Danes which troubled then this Land,
Dyd wander with his Bow and shafts their force and did withstand:
For God not onely victor him full many a time did make
Ouer the
Paganes, but by him enforst their force to slake.
Harolde the Dane vsurpt and tooke on him to raigne as king,
Vntill the tyme of
Willyam Duke of
Normandies coming:
Whose powers together béeing met
Haroldes was ouermatcht,
And hée (a shaft shot into his head) at once was so dispacht.
Willyam the Duke had conquerd there this Land & ruled the same,
An. a xpō. nato. 1066.
But not in bondage would shée lyue thoug he her ouercame
It's worth the reading therfore heare to shew how
Stigand then
Archbishop,
1. W. 1.
and how
Egelstyn that Abbot playde the men:
Archb. and Abot of Cantirbury
For fréedome of their Cuutrey, thus therfore they did deuise,
A power of Horsemen and footemen should for time exercyse
Alongst their féeldes as't were lanelike long boughes & large to beare,
To make the Duke should thether come, when hée therof did heare.
And as they said it hapned so, the Duke came with his traine,
Who seeing this thought it had bene euen mouing trées certaine:
Whereto approching with meane space (discomfited in minde)
Hée pawsd, the Kentish power a far did smell him in the winde.
Who (when within their army him enclosed got they had)
Down cast their boughs vp bent their Bowes their shafts to shoot most glad.
The trompets sound, their Banners waue, their weapōs busied were,
To feight with whome they so desyrde in Euntryes quarrel there.
So hée, who thought he had in his fist the whole land late so fast,
Began his life now to despaire, affrighted and agast:
Then they oracion frendly framed, condicions graunt hée should,
Their wonted fréedome that they might in certaine order holde:
Hee thereto grées, confirmes the graunt by pledge sufficyent so,
That by this meanes those liberties continwed hetherto.
Willyam Rufus was his sonne,
Anno 1100
who ruled not so well,
As that men could not wéepe for ioy of his death to heare tell,
13. W. 2.
To his owne subiectes wicked hée and so to strangers was:
But most wicked vnto himselfe when Gods will taking place
[Page] In Hamshyer that new forrest, as hée hunted on a time,
A Knight in shooting at a Deare gaue him his fatall fine.
But now of Noble
Princes I will penne the noble praise,
Euen such as worthie Archery mentained in their dayes.
Henry the First of England King,
Anno. 1105.
fought many a battel strong
Agenst the French with Archers stout,
Anno. 1119. & 1128. 6. 20. & 29. of H. 1.
his other powers among:
A victor eke hée still preuaild in warres: and in peace tyme,
His People vnto shooting did them selues greatly enclyne.
Stephen, King of England stoutly dyd with Archers in his hande
As also by his other powers the Scottish broylles withstand:
Anno. 1139.
He made warres eke genst
Robert then the Earle of
Glocester
Who did inuade his Kingdome with ten knights and in nomber
Of Archers iust so many,
4. St. 1.
which on horseback passed through
The midst of all the Realme, but yet resisted well enough.
Henry the second valyantly aduentured Irelands soyle
With warlike power,
Anno 1171.
some Archers were,
17 H 2.
with labour small and toyle
The Archbishops and Bishops did receiue him for their King,
And hée them ruled like worthie prince in loue and peace tendring.
Richard Coeur de Lyon cald a king and Conquerour was,
With
Phillip king of
France,
Anno. 1191.
who did vnto
Ierusalem passe:
Olde Chronicles report,
2. Ric▪ 1.
his power had Archers them among,
Whose force confounded
Pagans fell and layde them dead along.
In this Kings time was
Robyn Hood: that Archer and outlawe,
And litle
Iohn his partener eke, vnto them which did drawe
One hondred tall and good Archers, on whome foure hondred men
Were their power neuer so strong could not giue onset then:
The Abbots Monkes and Carles rich, these onely did molest
And reskewd woemen when they saw of théeues them so opprest,
Restoring poore mens goods, and eke aboundantly reléeued
Poore Trauellers which wanted food, or were with sicknes gréeued.
And, heare because of Archery I do by penne explane
The vse, the proffet, and the praise, to England by the same,
My self remembreth of a childe in Contreye natiue mine:
(1553.)
A
May game was of
Robyn-hood and of his traine that time
To traine vp young men,
(7. E. 6.)
stripplings and, eche other younger childe
In shooting, yearely this with solempne feast was by the Guylde,
Or Brother hood of Townsmen done, with sport, with ioy, and loue
To proffet which in present tyme, and afterward did proue.
[Page]
Iohn King,
1210.
subdewed
Ireland with manly force and might
Of Horsemen, Archers, speares, and such as put their foes to slight.
Edward the second that valyant
Prince,
1513.
when
Scotland hée reseewed,
From them,
7. E. 2.
whose force his Father had not long before subdewed,
In his hoste for his second ward had Archers and footmen,
Scotland.
But many of the Enemies were slaine by Archers then.
Edward that victorious King the thirde so cald by name,
Anno 1540
When his noble Nauy agenst the French Kings nauy came,
The Batle on the Sea.
Hee had the winde most wishfully and sonne so at his back,
His purpose and his enterprise that hée no time did slack:
13. E. 3.
A shower of
English arrowes sharp from long bowes powered downe,
Vppon the
Frenchmen, whereby fell to our men great renowne,
When at that Bickering
Frenchmen there to leaue their ships were faine,
And leape into the seayes for want of landing place certaine.
Therles of
Northampton,
1544.
and of
Oxeford fought also,
With
Charles Duke of
Brittayne,
17. E. 4.
as the Chronicles do shoe:
At
Morleys where oure men of armes,
Batle at Morles.
and Archers valyant might
Subdewed that Contrey, foilde their foes, and wan that field outright.
That yeare the King the noble Earle of
Darby eke did send,
Gascoyne.
Newly create first King of
Man, with an army to thend
Hee
Gascoyne by strong power might win,
Anno. dicit.
which hée w
t great goodwill,
And Archers ayde, (as God would giue him leaue) did so fulfull:
For many a walled Towne hée theare and castle also wonne,
With skermishes which made his foes to flée away and ronne,
So that hée dubbed there. 50. Knights as Chronicles declare,
And to his King with honour dewe did homewards then repare.
The noble King in person came agenst the French at length,
And made the English
Dragon mount in feelde with force and strength:
Cressy.
When
Oleflam that
Frenchmen bare, went flittering to and fro,
Which ayded was at
Cressy feelde by other Kings twaine me,
Of
Boheme and of
Malogres: their men innumerable,
The English fiftéene hondreth scarse nothing like comparable.
K. Edward hée corageously endured from noone to night,
The English Archers did their best with arrowes long and light.
Their Footemen (being plast among their Horsemen gréeued and gald,
With
Archers girdes) were troden downe and so sore ouerhalde,
That great and gréeuous was their crye, but greater was the showte,
Which in pursute our Shooters gaue th'enimies hoast throughout:
[Page] Their aray was broke, they scattered were, and by our armed men
Were many of them beaten downe, the rest did flee as then.
And see,
Anno. dict.
about that present time. The
Scots with power inuade
This Realme as farre as
Dyrham come,
Dyrham.
with weapon and with blade:
Th'archbishop of
Yorke and States there left as then which were,
With the Archers tall a nomber good and shout of Lankashier
Encountring with the King of
Scots and all his hoste, in fine,
Dauid their King sore wounded was with shafts that present time.
A nomber of his chéef Lordes and Knights were taken there captiues,
Of common Souldiours most parte slame, a few fled with their lyues.
K. Edward yet did vnderstand
Calys betrayed should bée,
Anno. 1349.
Hée therefore as a valyant
Prince gathered an Army,
Of horse and man,
[...]4. E4.
of billes and bowes, of speares and swordes also,
Embarcked in an Nauy meete, and
Calys comes hee to:
About their Kingly Conquerour this English Army clings,
Callys.
As who (next God) would cleaue to him aboue all earthly things,
Hée with a Kingly courage doth likewise vnto them call,
Hée placeth them in Batle ray and princely cheares them all.
But specially to his Archers which, stood on the hilles there drye
Doo well yee Archers play the men, and know
(saith hee) that I
Am EDWARD of Windsore: herewith, thēselues they did prepare,
To set vppon their Enemies, no force nor might they spare.
The shafts from hilles so hye sent downe into the valleys lowe,
Did wash the Frenchmen euery wheare like mighty flakes of snow,
But such a washing as that was with woundes and wofull plight,
They seldome saw, which with the same were foyld and slaine outright.
God giuing him this victory, the King doth order take,
For all things meete, and his returne to
England streight dothe make:
Wheare hée the first Feast did ordaine of
S. George the Marter,
And made the First most noble
Knights of thorder of the
Garter.
After this yet euen that yeare the
Spainyards did beset
The
Brittaine Sea,
Winchelsey.
with Forty and foure Ships like Castles great:
The King againe 50. great Ships with Pynnaces preparde,
The 2. Batle on the Sea.
More like vnto small Cotages. Hee then and Prince
Edward
His Sonne with Nobles Knights and Squiers, and their retenue smal,
Amongst whome (lo the Archers were not least nor worst of all)
Embarckt them selues & Crosse the Seays till such time as they meete
With their prouoking Enemies, I meane the Spanish fleete:
[Page] To bickering and then they fell on both sides for best game,
Twentie and seuen
Spanish shippes by night did flie with shame,
Which left Seauentéene for
English spoyle, and prise the eeuen before,
The Realme fared better by the same against their wils full sore.
Edward the
Blacke Prince so syrnamed King
Edward the 3. his son,
Anno. 1356.
(Who lately with the
Spanyards fought) as Generall now is come,
29. E. 3.
With men of Armes foure thousand, and one thousand soldiours such,
As Armour bare, of Archers eke, two thousand which kept tuch,
Vnder conduct of Earles thrée,
30. E. 3.
of
Oxford, Salisbury,And
Suffolke, which to méete the king of Fraunce did make them redy:
By
Poytiers Towne, in pitched field the
Prince himselfe doth take,
Poyters.
Looke at large in Iohn Stowes. Chronicle.
Chéefe charge vpon himselfe, And doth a graue oration make
To his Soldiours all, but specially, his Archers worthines
He doth extoll, from time to time, Exhorting them no lesse,
To hold on their fidelitie and prooued Prowesse still,
Which they did séeme most dutifull at that time to fulfill:
When they so fast their arrowes shot vpon the
French that day,
Their quiuers emptied were apace, then catch that can or may,
From euery wounded corps a shaft, in haste and it bestowed,
Vpon another where he could, to pay the debt he owed.
Thus passed they the time with toyle, when all their shafts were spent,
To lay on load with Sword and Bill, to hand strokes toot they went,
The
French King and his sonne they tooke, and almost all his peares,
And Thirtie thousand slew besides in those their warlike feares.
Prince
Edward (God thus giuing him a valiant victorie,)
Returneth to his Father streight, and with him his armie.
Richard the second in his time (the
Scots inuading so
His land,
1385.
so far as
Warck Castle) to stoppe his faithlesse foe,
8. R. 2.
Who now had brent within his land,
Warck Castle.
his promisse likewise broke,
Against him sent a chosen power, to giue him battell stroke.
Th' Earle of
Buckingam did leade a thousand Launses tall,
Two Thousand Archers, made his hoste, most faithfull and loyall,
But when they came into the field of th'enemies to haue sight:
They neuer shewed their faces, nor once signe that they would fight.
Wherefore the Earle with his power pursued them homewards then,
Burning their Countrey as he could, and so made hither againe.
Againe the King to
Scotland ward his power did addresse,
Anno. 1385.
Of Knights,
8. R. 2.
of Squiers, and Archers stoute, whose number to expresse,
[Page] The like not heard of in those dayes, which enterd
Scotland Roade:
Who thither come,
Scotland.
their Enemies fled their sight and not aboade.
The King and all his states holding a Parlement as then,
At Westminster a stur began,
1369.
through Criminall causes,
18. R. 2.
when
Four thousand of the Kings Archers (the parliament about)
Encompassed,
Westminst.
as though some euill were worcking in the rowte:
Their Bowes were bent, and they ready the same for to withstand,
But that the King in person was euen presently at hand,
Which did appease the sturr supposde that afterward would fall,
So all was hwisht, and euery man went well apaide withall.
The king in Person went with power ouer into
Ireland
To
Diblyn,
1399.
where he being come did streight way vnderstand,
[...]1. Ric. 2.
His common Enemy
Mack more so sauage ferce and fell,
Ireland.
Against all dewty did resist, and others made rebell:
His grace thought meete to make out then the Earle of
Glocester,
With Launces tall two hondreth and 2000 Archers thether:
The Enemy and all his power to bring vnder his bande,
For I will haue him, (saith the king,) or els out of this Lande
A liue hence will I neuer go. The Chronicles at large
Declare what thereof did ensew in that enioyned charge.
Henry the 4. of
England King,
1402.
a certen power sent forth.
3.
[...]. 4.
The
Earle of Nor thumberland,
Scotland.
and others in the North,
With armed men and Archers tall appointed all aright,
Who with the
Scots their army and their Archers eke should feght.
Our Archers with theirs changed no ground, and both did manly well:
(So as the nobles and the rest on both partes truth to tell,
While they did stand as lookers on) our
English Archery
Slew many a Scot and looke the flower of all their Cheualry:
Henry the 5. that pereles Prince and Conquerour puisant
Agenst the
French at Agincourt about him attendant
Had but 7000 feighting men,
Anno. 1315.
and many of them sick,
2. H 5.
Yet most of them a yeard in length their shaftes there drew to prick,
Euen all the Cheualry in france, and downeright so them slew,
Which 40000 coumpted were:
26. persons.
Of oure Men slaine but few.
To
Troys in
Campaine Championlike this King with army came
Of 16000 Souldiours and the most part of the same
Were
English Archers which behaued them with the rest so well,
An 1420.
And valyent,
[...]. H. 5.
that the victory vnto the king then fell.
[Page]
Richard the thirde and
Henry Earle of
Richmond met in féeld
At
Bosworth where both partes were strong with horse,
Anno. 1485.
sword, bow, & sheeld
Richard,
2. R. 3.
two for wings had, in midst of whome his Archers were
Th' Earle 2. wings of horsmen had and Archers few, did bere
Themselues eche vnto others so, that after long felle fight
The King was slaine, and to the Earle the victory did light:
Who there was Crowned King in feeld, as God him grace did giue,
Not suffering Tyrants longer then hée thinkes good heare to liue.
K. Henry the 7. that noble Prince (the Earle of
Richmond yore,
Anno. 1490
Sent Sir
Humfrey Talbot but,
5 H 7.
with Archers iust sixeschore
To
Newports seege in Flaunders soyle: these Archers euery one
An arrowe shot which made the flemings groueling for to grone:
So that 8000 of them slaine by shafts and gonne shot were,
Of Englishmen in all the hoast, and not one hondreth theare.
At
Black heath feelde the King his power with Cornish rebells met,
Anno. 1497.
Whose Archers drawing a clothyeards length of force were very gret:
12 H. 7.
But greater was the power of God (assistant with the King,
His Army, and his Archers eke,) those Rebells conquering:
Of whome 2000 staine there was, and infinite captiues,
Which had (their guerdon dew to such) the losse of all their liues.
Henry the 8. that mighty Prince and mirour of Maiesty
Ayded the
Douches of
Sauoy with power of Archery,
Anno. 1511.
Fiftéene hondreth tall good men men,
3. H 8.
genst
Duke of
GelderlandWhich did full great good Seruice there her Enemies to withstand
Sir
Edward Poynings did conduct this Army to and fro.
Of whome the Chronicles much fame and valyancy do sho.
This mighty Prince did, also ayde the
King of
Aragon
Agenst French power where as I read our Archers many one
Of the French Horsemen galled so,
Anno 1522.
that foundring,
4. H 8.
downe they fell,
And chasing their footemen also, slew many, as stories tell.
K. Henries Ship,
Anno. dict.
the Regent cald with Carik
French grapling,
Our Archers geanst French-crosbowes shot & held them such tackling:
So as in fine the Englishmen the Carick layde aboarde,
Where vnto them the pryze and pray the Lorde God did affoard.
Arde and
Gwynes,
Anno 1513.
and
Turwyn too with
Turney testified
Our Archers force,
5 H 8.
which freshly shot, as then was veryfied:
King Henry in his Campe at
Arkes, by
Culpepers Conduct
Did cause 200 Archers stout to bee at fall instruct,
Turwyn & Turney.
[Page] Vnder the Banner of
S. George to issew manly owte,
Anno. dict.
Which set to fercely on the French and flew so through the rowte,
That (they forthwith disconfited) twice twelue of them were slaine,
And Twelue score taken Prisoners were, not small yet was the gaine
Oure English got, when as the brason ordeinance and féelde peeces,
Before time lost they wan againe, with bootyes spoyle and fleeces.
Whiles the
King in France was on this manner busied theare,
Anno. 1513.
The Scottish King began as fast his broyles in England heare:
5 H 8.
Genst whome the noble
Norffolke Duke with
Northren noble harts
Of
Archers Cheshyer,
Floddon Feelde.
Lankasshyer, and others playd their partes
Euen brant against that
Flodden-hill so swift their arrowes flew,
K. Ieamy and many a noble
Scot wherby they downeright slew.
Two Knights I read wanne worthy praise in France, at the
Turne Pike
Neare
Hames, with xvi. Archers and no mo which put to flight
So many Frenchmen as then sled:
Anno. 1520.
Both English Knights these were,
12. H. 8.
Sir
William Walgraue and Sir
George that
Somersets name did bere
These turned so many owte of their Iacks at
Turnepike nere to
Hame
All France it turned to reproch and, them to perpetuall fame.
Among that thousand Souldiours which the Citty of
London sent.
Anno dict.
Archers, Harquebushes, Pikes, and Billes conuenient,
Which past from
Douer to
Calys: what seruice Bowemen there
Perfourmed, the Chronicles thereof at large do witnesse beare.
But to bée, bréef, what Archers haue accomplisht Cheualry?
In this Kings dayes to
Gods dew praise and Contreyes vtility?
1523. 1524.
The
Duke of
Suffolke passing
Some,
1542.
and Earle of
Surrey then
Which
Iedworth brent.
1543.
And those two Knightes withall the
Northern men
Which ouerthrew the
Scottish power.
1544.
And those to
LaundersaySent by the King.
Eodem.
As also vnder Lorde
Edward Seymer they
To
Scotland which embarcked were. To
Mutterell eke in Fraunce
Which sent were, and the same beséeged, by (Gods will,) not by chance
All these and euery hoaste of them (I say) in this Kings time
Some part of prowesse, praise, and proffet to the
Bowe resine.
K. Edward the 6 that Mirrour myld and pearle of Princely grace,
His Vnckle the
Duke of
Somerset did send in rightfull case,
With Army vnder his conduct agenst the Scottish power,
1549.
Eche Army other did affront with countenance sterne and stower:
Our Archers marched in aray at
Muskeleborow féelde,
They shot their shaftes so sharp to foyle the
Scots or make them yéelde,
[Page] God gaue our men the victory, such they 14000 slewe
Of Scottes, and 1400▪ were tane Prisoners of their crewe,
Many of them Gentlemen: and but English thréeschore
At that time slaine, the rest aliue did praise the Lorde therefore.
Queene Maryes dayes most miserable and troublesome though they were
Of Archers actes (nothing or small) the Chronicles witnesse beare.