ARCHERIE REVIV'D, OR THE Bow-Man's EXCELLENCE.
IN Antient times, when learned Homer writ
Of Grecian Conquests, Valour, Weapons, Wit,
The Age refin'd from Vice an Embleme show'd
Of all those Virtues Heaven at first bestow'd.
[Page 2]And though gross ignorance did much deface
The Souls of Men, whose want of Heavenly Grace
Knew not that bliss, which Happy We embrace;
Yet so much Moral Honesty did Crown
Their faultless Deeds, that it was plainly shown,
(Although Divinity was then disguis'd)
They might be stil'd both Pious, Just, and Wise:
Then was the Subject of this Story thought
Brave and successful, and was us'd and sought
By Spirits Noble, Glorious and Supream,
That lov'd and cherish'd my ensuing Theam.
No Tragick History my Fancy moves
To use my Pen; nor no disastrous Loves,
Care-reaping Policies, or dire Mischance,
My Early budding Genius does advance
So soon to write: Nor has my Muse thought good
Some Conquest to relate purchas'd with blood,
Where mingling gore swel'd high th'adjoyning flood,
describe their Troops and Orders, or to tell
On heaps of breathless Foes how Princes fell.
To that vast heigtht my Genius dares not climbe,
Nor change plain Verse for Loud Heroick Rhime.
[Page]Yet as th'aspiring Cedar, now grown high,
Was once a small and tender shrub, So I
Beginning Low, may rise the more secure:
Well stands the Fabrick whose Foundation's sure.
The warlike Bow my Muse designs to praise,
Whose Feather'd Shaft, so fam'd in antient days
Before Hell's Sulphur made the trembling fruit
Of Peasants valiant) durst Fame's cause dispute,
And own him most renown'd who best could Shoot.
We then were ign'rant of that murdring Smoak;
Bright Honour flourish'd on a Manly Stroak;
And daring Valour with a threatning brow
Durst face the worst of dangers Fate could show,
Well arm'd with Barbed Shafts and Parthian Bow.
Fam'd Grecian Writers gloried oft to tell
By what brave Weapons their Fierce Heroes fell;
And in their lofty praises would enhance
Stern Ajax Faulchion, and Achilles Lance;
Enlarging Trophies with ingenious speed,
Equal to th' merit of the haughty deed.
And Shall I th'Archer's praise fail to rehearse,
Because I want their unmatch'd skill in Verse?
[Page 4]They but endeavour'd well, and so do I,
And to write well my utmost power I'le try,
Although my Genius cannot soar so high.
How Bows were first invented few have shown,
Nor need we care, since their tri'd worth is known:
The Wise and Fam'd
Claudianus,
Egyptian Poet sung,
Through Nature the first use of Shooting sprung;
Men imitating Porpentines that grow
Arm'd with Sharp Pricks to shoot th'approaching foe:
Others ascribe th'invention first to be
Made perfect by the
Apol.
Delian Deity;
VVhose Arm with heav'nly influence indued
Life-conqu'ring Shafts in Python's blood embrewed:
VVhence that still lov'd and charming Soul of Rome,
Silver-tongu'd Ovid, took this Fancy from.
The God with num'rous Shafts the Monster slew,
Ovid. Metam.
And through black wounds the Clotted poyson drew.
And in our first Age
Lyra doth explain,
Nich. de Lyra.
'Twas with a Shaft that Lamech murder'd Cain,
This antient and continued use doth raise
Unto the Shooting Art no little praise;
It's Vertue being most extol'd by those
That knew the worth and goodness of their Bowes:
[Page 5]VVhose worth in war attended with success,
And glorious palms, hereafter I'le express;
Declaring to the girded Parthian's Fame,
No Land unconquer'd lay, where Archers came.
Cyaxares the
Median Emperour,
Herod. in Clio.
Triumphant Cyrus'fam'd Progenitor,
A sort of hardy Scythians kept to show
And teach his Son the Vertues of the Bowe;
Thinking (so well he did good Shooting prize)
He could not learn a Nobler Exercise,
That might (if Fate e're cast him from the Throne)
By valour rais'd obtain a second Crown.
Corn. Tacitus.
Nero, 'tis said, on th'Harp so cunning was,
He all Rome's fam'd Musicians did surpass,
And gave this Reason, That, if Destiny
By War enforc'd him from his Realms to fly,
He had that Art to get his Living by.
If then such Trifles can such praise obtain,
What glorious Characters may Shooting gain?
Whose use the death-defying Romans priz'd
As most succesful in their Victories;
And thought their Eagle no ill Fate could know,
Guarded by him that drew the strongest Bowe.
[Page 6] Tranq. Suct.
Domitian Shooting lov'd to that extent,
And in the practice was so excellent,
That 'tis recorded he from far could stand,
And Shooting through the Fingers miss the Hand;
Which Virtue by the Romans so desir'd
(Maugre his shameful Vices) was admir'd.
And Commodus, his Brother in all ill,
Had in the Shooting Art such matchless Skill,
No obvious mark to him too far did show,
That lay within the Level of his Bow.
Nor was this Vertue only practic'd by
Men famous for their vitious Tyranny:
In Ages past 'twas call'd bright honour's Beam,
The Prince's Pastime, and the Schollar's Theam:
And those, that most lov'd vertue, most desir'd
To learn that Vertue which the Age admir'd.
'Twas then the Souldier's guard, the Coward's shame,
The Monarch's Trumpet to divulge his fame,
And swift-wing'd Herald of a glorious name.
Such as had skill its worth did soon discern,
And such as could not Shoot made haste to learn.
None were esteem'd but who that Art did own,
And he that Shot best still had most Renown.
[Page 7]Kings for their strongest guards did Archers claim,
As most conducing to their growing Fame.
Leo de S [...]a. [...]
Leo Rome's fam'd and valiant Emperour
Did (in his Book entitl'd Sleights of War)
Prescribe a Law; that Souldiers should resort
In time of Peace, and daily use this Sport;
By which good use, his well arm'd Troops did share
Choice Skill to do, as well as hearts to dare;
Omitting which decree, to th' Romans shame,
Proves now chief cause of their declining fame.
But more of this, when I the profits show
Arising from the vertues of the Bow,
Shall be declared: this only here is plac'd
To show by whom brave Archerie was grac'd;
VVhose worth not only by the vulgar sort
VVas made the glorious Mistress of Report,
But whose loud fame great Monarchs did create,
Calling this VVeapon, Guardian of the State:
So prizing it that in their strictest Laws,
The Archer's Plea was voted with applause.
This in our Native Clime has been allow'd,
VVhen stubborn factions to the Mandate bow'd;
[Page 8]Witness that Statute that declares it plain,
The Third of the Illustrious
Hen. VII. Stat
Henry's Raign:
Where 'twas enacted every Subject shou'd
Keep ready Bow and Shafts for th' publick Good.
More proofs and large examples I could show
Of Archers worth; but now 'tis fit you know
Its vertue, and why th' Antients lov'd this more
Than that, which more stupendious Titles bore.
And though from th' Rules of History I move,
Whose use is to declare a thing, not prove
The Cause, or why 'tis so admired; Yet I
The place of some fam'd Nuntius will supply,
And boldly thus divulge it, as a thing
Fit for the Pastime of the greatest King:
An Art, whose worth would prove to Honour's Son
A Fertile Branch to graff his Glories on:
An Exercise for Youth most fit and good
To warm the slackned Nerves, and stir the Blood
of Sloth infected Bodies, whose disease
Springs from the Ills of Luxury and Ease;
A Pastime Manly, whose health-saving Art
Adds strength to th' Limbs, and courage to the Heart;
Rowzes distemper'd bodies from their Graves,
And the death-wounded sick men often saves
[Page 9]By their endeavours to this active Sport.
Nor care I thought some forward Wits retort
On my presuming thus; Since 'tis assur'd,
Consumptive Archers have been oft times cur'd
By practicing to Shoot; and Maladies
Remedied by this wholsome Exercise.
Then, 'tis a Sport so Harmless, that therein
Lurks not the smallest scruple of a Sin,
Unless abus'd by Vitious Libertin;
From whose Debauches Scripture is not free,
Nor Pious Maximes of Morality.
But if the Nature of the Sport may move
The Undertaker's deeds obscene to prove;
'Tis th' Archers Glory, that no Pastime shares
So much of God-like Innocence as Theirs.
Methinks I see an Ordinary, where
The Strutting Town-Huffs Revelling appear,
Fill'd with Contagion, Noise, rank Indian Fume,
And debauch'd Reliques, that one might presume
'Twere Pluto's Cave, or Hell's With-drawing Room:
Imagine then a Dozen Fops, or more,
(Newly broke loose from Surgeon, or from Whore)
[Page 10]At
Hazard; and consider, at what cost
Their deep mouth'd Oaths, at every Piece was lost,
Were ragingly surrendred, 'twould appear
The Scene of Horrour, and the seat of Fear:
Here sits a Couple Venting new-coin'd Curses;
Just opposite Two shaking Empty Purses,
Blaspheming Heaven for their want of skill,
And daring Hell, because the Dice ran ill.
Another that calumnious breath defends,
Telling him, Fate must sometimes make amends,
But softly cries, these Fulhams were my Friends;
And smiling with new Grimmace brought from France,
Dammee, to Night I've had excelling Chance;
Then mingling noises like Disorder's Court,
They straight begin afresh the Hellish Sport.
But now exalt your long-fix'd Eyes again,
And view the virdant surface of yon Plain,
VVithin whose clear and smooth dimensions lies
A Plat, where Archers daily Exercise:
See there a Troop of Youths with bended Bowes
(Whose unmatch'd worth no braver Weapen knows)
Contending for a Prize, and mark what Grace
Sits in each line of every Shooters Face;
[Page 11]And with what manly force the Shaft is sent,
Of their choice skill to show a President.
Th' insnar'd Eye to th' heart soft pleasure draws,
And guides the Tongue to publish their applause.
No Hell-born Oaths, nor Stigian Curses there,
Like Poysonous foggs, infect the purer Air;
Nor are their Betts or Pledges known so great,
To ruine men by loss of an Estate.
The noble Sport they prize far more than Wealth,
And use it as protectour to their Health,
Not for their Gains. Then weigh the difference,
One's curst effects, and t'others innocence;
One's noble Pastime, t'others idle Game;
One ever getting Honour, t'other Shame:
And then you loudly will confess the prize
Belongs to th' Archers noble Exercise,
As fam'd and wholsome, and most fitting for
Those Martial Spirits, whose success in War
Is mighty as their Valours, such as court
The grand perfection of this Royal Sport,
That own no worth beyond their Faith, nor know
No manly Weapon equal to the Bow;
Yet glory in that knowledg, proud to be
Known Sons of War, bred up in Honesty.
[Page 12]Vertue, as
Plat. in Phedro.
Plato Learnedly displays,
Is to the World declar'd two several ways;
Either by deeds of such as Knowledg prize,
Or th' love they bear some Vertuous Exercise.
Vice riots fearless in a glorious dress,
Lull'd with the present Joyes it does possess,
Not minding the Before-gone ills of Fate,
Nor caring what comes after, till too late;
This Scene, to one that can subdue his will,
Declares which Exercise is good, which ill
Gamesters thirst for, and present bliss pursue,
Though with the draught they swallow poyson too,
Making the place by their disorder'd Game
The House of Riot, and the Throne of Shame:
Whilst Archers by their pleasant painful sport
Make their abiding Vertue's happy Court;
Where men may learn to do well, not displease
The Powers above by cursing a Disease
Sprung from their Idleness, but to prevent
A Fate which Heaven to Libertins has sent:
Labour the Parent is of Shooting still,
Nor can he own that Art, whose want of will
[Page 13]Renders him dull, whose Nature (far from good)
Serves but to nourish his corrupted Blood;
But he whose Active Spirit does despise
Soft ease to follow manly Exercise,
And learn an Art that does not only show
A choice delight, but is defensive too
To guard his Country from th' insulting Foe.
The first Inventor of fam'd Archerie
(As
Plat. in Zim.
Plato mentions) was a Deity;
A God of worth and boundless Excellence,
Patron of Musick, Medicines, Elloquence,
Wit's Paragon, and Vertue's Quintissence.
But Dicing, though it may
Plat. in Phedro.
Two Parents claim,
Yet both were so alli'd to Vice and Shame,
That Antient Poets blush'd to have their Crimes
Cloud the unblemish'd Lustre of their Rhimes
By Mentioning those vitious sons of Scorn,
One being a Grecian, t'other Lydian born;
Which Nation still so dissolute appears,
That it the slander of all people bears
For wild unthrifty Courses,
Herod. in Clio.
Vanity,
Debauches, and their scorn of Archery:
[Page 14]Whose Vertue their rank Natures did displease,
As being a Foe to their Luxurious Ease.
We read how the too wild
Sardanapalus:
Assyrian King,
Whose shameful vices did the Nation bring
To Ruine, from his tender youth was train'd
To vice, which his immortal Honour stain'd,
Soft ease and idleness, the spurious brood
Of Hell's black Monster, the infectious food
Of those accurst Libidinists, that know
No power beyond what they to Nature owe.
The Blooming Sons of Vertue Action love,
Action, that from the Soul does Vice remove.
Hell has no snares to catch their Innocence,
Imploy'd in harmless sports; Sin no pretence
To draw them to extreams, nor blast their Wills
With the consuming quintessence of ills.
And those that think good Exercise a Crime,
Live not like men, but slumber out their time
Making their blood with too much sordid Ease
The poysonous Fountain of uucur'd Disease.
How many Noble Spirits in this Land
Of Matchless Shape, and worthy to command
[Page 15]An Host of Heroes, think 'twould better prove
Their Honours to enjoy a vitious Love,
Debauch their Country, Kinsmen, and advance
Their deeds to th' height of all extravagance;
Than to be seen ith' Field like Archers truss'd,
Following a Pastime noble, wholsome, just,
An Exercise less Impious than Divine,
VVhere Manly force and Innocence combine?
It might be granted, had our reason been
Corrupt as th' Antients, vitious and obscene;
Had our unweeded knowledg known no odds
In Piety, but as Immortal Gods
Ador'd the Sun and Moon, pursuing Crimes,
Like untaught Natives in remoter Climes;
Bow'd to the Earth thinking it did produce
From its own power all things for humane use:
Or were we ign'rant of a Deity
That gave us Souls, and rules mortality,
Thinking our prayers to Idols better done
Than to the Great All-seeing Three in One,
VVithin whose Heaven a boundless Ocean lies
Of Joyes for Vertuous Men, and Plagues for Vice;
[Page 16]VVe had some reason to prefer Lewd Games,
(Though Harbingers to our Eternal shames)
Before this Noble Pastime; nay to prove
Our Vitious Sports were licenc'd from above,
And that no good had there preheminence,
Because we knew no greater God then Sense;
But since Almighty Providence hath given
Our Souls a Reason next the Bless'd in Heaven,
And unto Man Earth's Creature Vassals made,
Why should a Bestial Lust our Souls invade,
Polluting by some damn'd impiety
The Image of the Glorious Trinity?
Why should our Souls, that amongst Stars should shine,
Swim to perdition through a Sea of VVine,
A Sin that obtains nothing excellent
But Oaths, infernal brawls and excrement;
Obscures Men's heedless Errors, till too late,
Leaving them little health, and less Estate?
And to come nearer to our purpose, Why
Should this brave Exercise of Archerie
(Admir'd by th' Antients, wholesome for the Blood,
A Manly Sport, and grounded on all good)
Yield precedency to the Hellish Vice
Of those two Twins of Horrour, Cards and Dice?
Deny our Souls were ever Rational.
'Tis true, in shooting there is labour us'd;
But 'tis a toyl, if it be not abus'd,
So pleasant, that the softest Pleasures are
Laborious troubles, should we once compare;
A Sport that brings us Profit, Honour, Wealth,
Excelling Courage, heart-delighting Health.
And if, as Ancient
Zen: de dict. & fact. Socr.
Epicharmus writ,
(An owner of a matchless Knowledge, Wit)
Heaven sells its Blessings to Mortality,
As a return for painful Husbandry:
Heaven unto Archers will choice Vertue sell,
That shunning Vice eschew the path to Hell.
Yet do I not so little Reason know,
To think the painful Pastime of the Bow
Fit for all Seasons: Rain or nipping Frost,
More than delight, procures the Archers Cost.
Besides, continual use of one Disport
Dulls the nice Sense, and cuts the pleasure short.
Fencing or Bowling may, if not abus'd,
For change be by the bravest Archers us'd:
[Page 18]Or if their tired spirits would essay
Some gentler Exercise—To see a Play,
And gaze on Nature in her best array,
Best suits a noble Soul, whose worth's exprest
In wisely weighing a Satyrick Jest.
There are some Plays, on whose well polish't Scenes
The quintessence of Art and Nature leans;
Where Poesie is fluently exprest,
And learning triumphs in a glorious Vest:
Plays, that the horrid Rules of Vice controuls,
Teaching the moral Vertues of the Soul.
And, as learn'd Randolph quotes, at first revives
Our nauseous Crimes, then shows to mend our Lives
By feeling Characters. To such as these
I would our Archers good Opinions raise:
On whose sweet Cates they may their senses feed,
Cordials which Nectar of the Gods exceed.
Love they a Tragick Scene? there may they see
Indulgent Age and splendid Majesty
Stoop to an abject Fate, Empires o'return'd,
And Vertue by a Hell-bred Treason spurn'd
To unseen Atomes: whilst pale trembling Guilt
Broods like a Serpent o're the blood it spilt.
There may they have presented to their sight
Variety of Characters, whose Names
Declare their Vices, and in Vices shames:
There may they by the true Presentments shown
Of others hateful Vices purge their own;
And smile at what they think, not what they see,
The worthless Subject, not the Effigie.
To all Judicious Souls a Scene well writ,
Garnish't with reason, sense, ear-charming wit,
Infuses secret pleasures through the Veins,
Which the base froth of idle Vice disdains.
'Tis Reason cloath'd in splendid Phrase that flies
Into the heart, and robs the faculties
Of grosser entertainment, shining there
Like glittering Phebe in our Hemisphere.
Yet suit not Plays all tempers: Some there are
That have choice strength, but little wit to spare;
That through their want of Learning damm that part,
That most ingenious seems to men of Art.
But here perhaps the curious Reader may
Retort, and cherish't by Opinion, say,
[Page 20]They little have, but I perhaps have less,
Which by this barren Poem he may guess.
And though I grant that Fortune was my Foe,
And envious, not permitting me to know
The pretious depth of that Castalian Spring,
Which on learn'd Themes makes our fam'd Poets sing:
Yet I can glory, I from Nature own
A good, which Art has not all Students shown;
A budding Fancy, to invent and raise
Some good designs, though writ in barren phrase.
But to our Theme: Let him, I say, whose Fate
Has made his better part unfortunate,
Not tasting that most blest and luscious Fruit
Of Heaven-infusing Knowledge, Learn to shoot,
And by that Noble Exercise prevent
A Life luxurious and incontinent.
For were a General Randezvous of Sports
Muster'd from Cities, Theatres, and Courts,
The fame of Archerie would soar above,
And from its Throne all meaner Pastimes move;
As being most delightful, manly, good
To cherish Health and purifie the Blood▪
Let Princes therefore shoot for Exercise;
Souldiers t'inlarge their Magnanimities;
[Page 21]Let Nobles shoot, 'cause 'tis a Pastime fit;
Let Scholars shoot to clarifie their Wit;
Let Citizens shoot to purge corrupted Blood;
Let Yeomen shoot, for th' King's and Nation's good:
Let all the Nation Archers prove, and then
We without Lanthorns may find vertuous men.
But lest this praise ungrounded should appear,
And perish in a proof-expecting Ear,
The Archers Conquest next I will rehearse;
Aid bright Thalia, and inspire my Verse,
The Ancient Jews
Josephus c. 5
, as learned
Ioseph writes,
In all Domestick Warrs and Forreign Fights,
Where their brave Chieftain Macchabeus came
To plead his Countrie's Cause, and purchase Fame,
Their chiefest Strength lay in their Archers thought,
Ne're doubting any Conquest where they fought:
The flying Gentiles sigh their silent woes,
Chas'd by their dreadful Death-denouncing Bows,
Inur'd to suffer Fates transcendent harms,
Wanting wise Conduct and Success in Arms.
The Power of Heaven i'th' Scripture is compar'd
To shooting, mention'd as a fierce Reward
[Page 22]For their Transgressions, and stil'd there
Vid. Psalm.
Bow;
With which, 'tis said, his Might shall overthrow
The Hosts of wicked men, men hating Good,
And dye his dreadful Shafts i'th' Gentiles Blood.
This a redoubted Argument is known,
Why all the Noble use o'th' Bow should own,
Since Reason quotes that thing of great regard,
To whom the Power of Heaven is compar'd.
And one proof more, which from Diviner Phrase,
Than now I write, my Genius first did raise;
When Saul was slain (he that had first command
O're Israel's Hosts as King) by the base hand
Of a perfidious Slave, with his brave Son,
A man so truly valiant, that he won
Even his Foes hearts, One that such proofs could show
Of skill and unmatch't knowledge in the Bow,
That several worthy Authors do explain
He ne're was known to shoot a Shaft in vain:
When he, I say, the peerless Ionathan,
O're power'd by Foes, Death's rugged race had ran,
And
Iudah's
Regum 13. David:
best of Monarchs streight was known
To be chose next Successor to the Crown;
The first Edict that issued from his hand,
Was an entire and absolute Command
[Page 23]That all the Israelites should learn to shoot:
From whence proceeded that delightful fruit
Of Peace and Plenty, Wealth and Blessings joynd
To grace that Realm where Arts and Arms combin'd.
And thus we see that shooting was an use
Renown'd, and much esteem'd by th' valiant Jews.
The great
Herod. in Thalia.
Cambyses having batter'd down
The Egyptian Power, and rais'd his glitt'ring Throne
Upon their humble Necks, sent certain Spies
To Ethiopia's Monarch in disguise,
To pry into his strength; But he, too wise
To be beguil'd, and finding th'flatterers
Slaves, though in shape they were Embassadours,
Before them order'd to be brought his Bow,
Whose hardned Steel, forc't by his Arm to show
A choice Obedience, pluck't by yielding String,
The Shaft obeys his power: Which done, the King
Turns to the Persians, who with wonder look
Upon the mighty Weapon, and thus spoke;
Give to great Persia's Monarch this from me,
And bid him, when his Magnanimitie
Into his nervous Arm such strength can yield
To make the Shaft's head kiss the bending Steel,
[Page 24]Then let his Pride o're my Dominions soar,
And yoke my Sun-burnt Natives, not before,
The Bow was after to Cambyses brought,
And through his numerous Host a man was sought
To bend it, but yet none such Strength could bring,
Till Smerdis, valiant Brother to the King,
By his great power two Inches stirr'd the String:
Which Act Gambyses's Envy did create,
Whose impious Rage soon usher'd Smerdis's Fate.
The proud
Sesostris.
Egyptian Monarch (he that rode
Through wealthy Memphis, honour'd like a God,
His Chariot drawn by Kings, whose overthrows
Sprung from the terrours of his fatal Bows)
So scourg'd the Eastern World, spreading his Fame,
And winning Realms where e're his Archers came;
That by his Foes he was accounted there
Patron of Nature, Dignity and Warr:
He Savage barb'rous Nations brought to thrall,
The Assyrians, Thracians, wild Arabians; all,
That his well-guarded Archers durst repell,
And slight his Power, in heaps before him fell.
So numerous were his Conquests, that he made
Statues of Brass, whose Effigy's displaid
[Page 25]His Person arm'd with mighty Bow and Shaft;
Which
Diod. Sic. 2▪
Weapon made him Conquerour so oft,
That 'twas his Glory, th' World should understand
By what great Power he so enrich't his Land.
Like him brave
Herod. in Thalia.
Policrates, Samos Prince,
O're the Greek Ocean bore preheminence,
And his strong Foes vast power long withstood,
Dying his Feather'd Shafts in Persian blood;
Whose fatal numbers by their overthrows,
Declar'd the mighty power o'th' Archers Bows.
Conquest and Honour flourish't in that Age,
Treasons slight Plots not daring to engage
A glorious Nation echoing Warrs Alarms,
Where Valour gloried in triumphant Arms.
A Sword and Spear were but additions then,
And only serv'd to grace the Valiant men,
Or to be us'd at th' Barriers: 'Tis the Bow,
To whose unimitable worth they owe
Their numerous Conquests, fought and bravely won,
When Shafts, like Storms, obscur'd the splendid Sun.
The treacherous Cannon with its murd'ring breath
Was then unknown, and shooting usher'd Death
[Page 26]With a more noble speed, where he that kills,
Stands bravely facing him whose blood he spills,
Acting it boldly. This great Cyrus knew,
Whose flying Troops the
Herod. in Clio.
Massagetans slew
With Bows and barbed Shafts, whose piercing Heads
Death, crown'd with Horrour o're his Army spreads.
The valiant Scythians did such knowledge share
In Archerie and wise conduct in Warr,
That divers Monarchs hoping to atack
Their too well guarded Realms, were beaten back:
Amongst the rest, when great Darius there
With a vast Power had watch't above a year
Some intervenes of Chance, that would express
Some joyful Omens of a good success;
At last, being wearied with so long a stay,
And ready with his Power to march away,
There from the Scythians a man was sent,
That to Darius did four Gifts present,
A
Herod. in Melpom.
Bird, a Frogg, a Mouse, and next to these,
A Quiver full of Arrows. He, to ease
His labouring thoughts, endeavours thus to sift
The dubious meaning of so strange a Gift.
[Page 27]And to his own advantage wrests the sense;
Saying, The Scythians yield preheminence
To my known Power, and by their Gifts declare
They render up their Strength, Earth, Sea, and Air.
This Vote undoubted past; till Gobrias,
A Man, whose natural Prudence did surpass
A vulgar Genius, spoke, and nobly bold
In's Country's Cause thus his Opinion told;
Unless, O Persians, ye like Birds could fly
With wings, and dauntless hover in the sky;
Unless like Mice ye could in Caverns live;
Or Frogg-like, in unsounded Waters dive,
Whose vastie depth no slimy bottom knows,
You never shall escape the Scythian Bows.
This so serene and prudent did appear,
And sank so deeply in Darius's ear,
That raising th' Seige, he streight march't home again,
Asham'd of an attempt so much in vain.
The bold
Suidas.
Athenians did such trust impose
In the known power of their Archers Bows,
That glorying in their blest Securities,
They from their Walls would dare their Enemies,
[Page 28]Whose ponderous Arms, the Legacies of Death,
With an unthought of slowness did bequeath
A sort of men, bold, valiant, noble, strong,
Unapt to suffer, or receive a wrong;
So practis'd in brave shooting, that 'tis said,
Some there could draw a Shaft yard long to th' head;
Bloody and rough in Warr, but soon appeas'd,
Few bearing Envy, and as few diseas'd;
A Nation famous both for Arts and Arms,
Whose noble hearts the beams of Honour warms.
Witness
Diod. Sic. 2.
Demosthenes, whose noble Soul
Scorning the haughty Lacedemon's scrowl,
Sent him in bold Defiance, hating too
In Honour any one should him out-do:
First, with an Elegant Oration made,
The glory of his Enterprize displaid
To his brave Archers, then advancing on
To a hot Charge, before the setting Sun
Had from the clear Horizon snatch't his Light,
His Foes main Force had met Eternal Night;
The rest a certain danger scap't by flight,
And towards Pylos, Nestor's ancient Seat,
To shun th'inrag'd Athenians, took retreat.
[Page 29]Learn'd
Thucid. 4:
Thucidides writes, the Shafts that day
Into the Air such darkness did convey,
They wanted light to view their good Success,
Shooting the Shafts (not aiming) but by guess,
Like showres of Winter's Hail, amongst the press
So strong, and so continu'd, that their Force
Scatter'd whole Troops o'th' Foe's ill-govern'd Horse,
Who oft by Shafts opprest with deadly wound,
O'rethrew their trembling Riders to the ground,
Whose fate to an abas'd disaster bowd,
Trampled to Death by the unruly croud:
So that of twenty thousand fighting men,
To tell their ill Success went home scarce ten.
He that had seen the Glories of that Warr,
The Archers valour, and their Chieftains care,
The fatal Skirmish, when rough danger steel'd
Their hearts, and Death's pale Victims in the field
Lye bathing in warm Gore, whose destinies
Sent from the Shafts of their fierce Enemies
Seem'd far more dreadful, than Death's Sickle e're
Was agent in, more horrid, more severe,
Would hide his wond'ring face, amaz'd to see
The fatal Trophies of brave Archerie.
He that had been Eye-witness to that field,
Where daring Valour dying scorn'd to yield;
Where reeking Blood and Clouds of Arrows made
The Sun-enlightned Sky appear a shade;
Where liveless Trunks o'respread the blushing Earth,
Horrour gain'd triumph, and Destruction birth;
Would think Confusion's pristine Chaos come,
As dreadful Usher to the day of Doom.
Nor can I th' Bows brave Acts too highly show;
My groveling Genius rather creeps too low
In the applause of what does so excel,
This drowzy Age ne're knew its parallel.
What won the Worlds
Alex. Magn.
great Conquerour such fame
But valiant Archers? What advanc't his Name
Above the reach of Envy, Calumny,
Ear-charming Flattery, Malice, Treachery,
But war-like Minds and matchless Archerie?
Search
Arianus 2.
Arianus's Works, and see the cause
Of his eterniz'd Conquests; read th'applause
Paid his industrious Bow-men, whose brave Arms,
Equall'd with Valour, had such potent Charms,
That Asia's barb'rous Ignorants, that knew
No greater Power than what i'th' Skies they view,
[Page 31]With trembling heart, bow'd knee, and Arms displaid,
To the victorious Archers off'rings made.
And though upon this Theme no dulcid Pen,
Though guided by the wisest amongst men,
Can write sufficient praise, a Theme that is
So much above unlearned Emphasis,
That to the World its true applause to bring
Requires a Quill pluck't from an Angel's wing;
A Genius fill'd with heavenly influence,
To praise an Art surpassing Excellence;
Yet this advertisement of Plinius may
Th'undoubted worth of Archerie display.
Plin. l.6. c. 3 [...].
He that the honour of the valiant
Greeks,Or the try'd fate of potent Kingdoms seeks,
Their dangerous Adventures, Quarrels, Fights,
Care-reaping Stratagems, well-grounded sleights,
And last, their famous Victories would know,
Will find the Ancient, noble, useful Bow,
To be fam'd Honour's guide, Kings noblest aid,
The bravest Weapon Mankind e're essai'd.
Scipio, Scipio, vid. Cor. Dac.
the
Numantines in
Spain had long
Sought to o'recome in Warr, but they too strong
[Page 32]In their undaunted aids, his Force repell'd,
Whose fresh Supplies still forc't them from the field;
But when at last a Band of Archers spread
Their piercing Shafts, the frighted Spaniard fled,
Too well foreseeing the destructive woes
Attending Death from mighty Roman Bows.
Tiberius Corn. Tac. 2.
fighting with the
German Twins;
A brace of wild and impious Libertines,
Though mighty in their power, won such fame
By his brave Archers Bows, that where they came,
The closest Ranks were broke, and th'Foe too late
Fear'd an invisible, though certain fate.
The Romans then were worthy of Applause,
Train'd up in VVarr, and skill'd in Honours Laws;
So Martial and so Generous, they thought
Honour atchiev'd by Death too slightly bought;
A Nation fam'd for warlike Policies,
Admired Triumphs, dangerous Victories,
So loving Archerie's fam'd Excellence,
They thought the warlike Bow their chief defence;
And mighty
Leo 6. [...].
Leo's Treatise oft survey'd,
VVhose wise Directions were by all obey'd,
[Page 33]Till that Hell-searching Imp of Pluto's brood
Invented Guns to wrack the general good.
But more of this hereafter, when the state
Of England's pristine Conquests I relate,
Shall be enlarg'd: and since my wearied Muse
Is tir'd with shewing the true noble use
Of Bows in Forraign Climes, I'le now essay
The Fame of English Bow-men to display,
Since none were ever more renown'd then they.
How first to England Archerie was brought
Historiographers long in vain have sought
To understand, and those that nearest guess,
Farr from the truth perhaps their minds express.
The plainest proofs Sir Thomas Elliot writ,
A man of boundless Knowledge, Learning, Wit,
Who in his Treatise writes
De Rebus memor. Angl.
in th'ancient time,
When Ignorance was England's greatest Crime;
When Vortigern the Saxon Monarch first
[...]n Brittish Blood allai'd his brutish thirst,
Nothing so much did terrifie his Foes
As the dread terrours of his Archers Bows▪
By which I gather Vortigern was he
That into England first brought Archerie.
[Page 34]An Art most dreadful to the
French, whose power
Would ne're admit of a Competitour,
Till the brave use of Bows and feather'd Shafts
Scatter'd their Forces, and out-did their Crafts:
Which is confirmed by th' immortal fame
Of
Vid. Hen. 3. Cressie.
Henry, the third Monarch of that Name,
Who, with his valiant Archers, overcame
The Chivalry of France: Their Monarch too,
Proud Philip, who before had scorn'd to do
Great Henry's just Decrees, in Prison try'd
Too soon the rough reward for too much Pride:
A glorious Fight; the potent power of France,
Proud of their Strength, and certain of their Chance,
As being thrice their number, charg'd the Foe,
But met at last a fatal overthrow.
Like him, Iohn King of France hoping t'attack
The English men, Prince Edward stil'd the Black
Near to the walls of Poictiers met his Force,
Being a mighty Power of Foot and Horse.
But he that never knew the wretched state
Of those that fear, resolv'd to try his fate;
And aided by his Archers, who inlarg'd
Their Courages by his, their Battels charg'd,
[Page 35]And e're the Sun had journied half his way,
Routed the Power of France, and won the Day.
Nor can I overpass the fam'd report
Sprung from that glorious Fight at
Agincourt, Speed. Chron.
Where that brave Hero, Henry the Fifth,
A Prince dropt down from Heaven as a Gift
To cherish Piety, atchiev'd such Fame,
That Ages yet to come will speak his Name
(With reverence and admiration crown'd)
With joy to read a Story so renown'd,
As the rehearsal of his glorious Deeds,
And his fam'd Archers Acts: But farther needs
My Pen not rove, since they that e're have read
The living Works of Speed, Stow, Holling shead,
And other Modern Authors, there may see
The noble Conquests sprung from Archerie
In a compendious method, which relates
Those Themes at large my Pen abbreviates.
As also in the contumelious Jarr
Between the Houses York and Lancaster,
Where thousands perish't by a Civil Warr,
Great use was made of Bows and Shafts to quell
Insulting Vice in Natives that rebell.
Nor is that true, though vulgar, Story less
To be esteem'd, the Fight at
Speed. Chron.
Chevy-ChaseHas 'mongst try'd Judgments admiration gain'd,
However by a Fifth-rate Genius stain'd
In dull Lampoon: He that had seen that Day
Stout Douglas and the Northern Earl display
Their more than mortal Valours, would appear
More scar'd with looking, than with fight they were:
He that o'th' Battel had Spectator been,
And the bold Scots by English Archers seen
Sent breathless to Death's Icy bed of Rest,
Each with a Shaft stuck fast in bleeding breast,
Would soon forget to praise a Sword and Spear,
And call the Bow Death's fatal Harbinger:
Whose worth most excellent and powerful too,
May well a just precedency pursue,
Since nothing is more brave, nor nothing more
In Warr successful, or of greater power.
This found the
Speed. Chron.
Scots, of whose two thousand men
Went home to tell the News scarce five times ten:
The rest by Shafts from Bows of bending Yew,
In streams of Crimson Gore paid Nature's due:
The Peasant with the Peer Death's lodging shar'd,
To quell whose power they were alike prepar'd,
[Page 37]And their weak-founded Strength did vainly show,
When Fate sate frowning on each Archer's Bow.
Many Examples more might be exprest
To prove the worth and powerful interest
Of this brave Art of shooting; but to them
That throughly search a Fact e're they condemn
Men knowing and judicious, these few Rules
May satisfie, though lost in th' Ears of Fools:
The wise may easily discern the good
Arising from a Vertue understood
And taught in Persian Colledges, where those
That best could shoot and drew the strongest Bows
Were most esteem'd, and best deserv'd to prove
The dulcid Blessing of the Prince's Love;
When such, whose minds that rank Corruption bred,
Whose poyson got by too much Ease do's spread
Too fast o're pamper'd Bodies, rot, and die
The nauseous Heirs to Vice and Calumny.
'Twas Plato's Counsel that th' Athenians shou'd
Hire Stipendaries with choice skill indu'd,
[Page 38]To teach the Youth to shoot, they knowing well,
No Weapon with the Bow could Parallel.
Nor was his Vote the noblest Theme of Fame's:
England's blest Monarch, prudent, learned
Johan. Major 6. Hist. Scot.
Iames, Amidst his Noble Peers i' th' Parliament
Voted an Act—a glorious President
For this dull Age to Copy, every Scot
Should learn to shoot: blest noble Patriot
How I adore thy memory! yet they
That knew no worser Hell than to obey,
Neglecting his Decrees, their Foes defi'd,
And slighting Archers oft by Archers di'd.
The valiant English then were most renown'd:
Where was that City, or that Plat of Ground,
Where Britains honour grew not? where that Clime,
Where her brave Archers Acts shone not sublime,
And loudly publish't by the Trump of Fame?
Or where that Nation, that, when Bow-men came
Grac't by the English Cross, fear'd not too late
The dreadful Omens of ensuing Fate?
'Twas then a Nation full of pleasing Charms,
England, fam'd Mistress both of Arts and Arms,
[Page 39]Was
Europe's Treasure stil'd, the Heavenly Seat,
Where Honour and Immac'late Vertue met.
No Exercise like shooting was then priz'd,
The prudent Father would his Son advise
To use the Bow, assur'd no Weapon shou'd
Prove half so useful for the Publick Good
As that, being light, and easie to reverse,
In Action brave, in Execution fierce:
Whose Force had, like the uncontrolled will
Of Heaven, the power who e're it struck to kill.
Or as the dreadful Thunder from above,
Thrown by the Death-commanding hand of Iove,
Kills where it touches, whose dread sorce divides
Sky-kissing Cedars, rends the Marble sides
Of some great Rock, whose strength has long withstood
The raging Winds and Deluge-threatning Flood,
Ne're ceasing till it shroud its dreadful head
Ten Fathoms deep in Natures Earthy bed:
So flies a Shaft as swiftly to bequeath
The fatal Legacy of conqu'ring Death
To the two bold Opposer, whose proud Power
Sinks with his liveless Trunk, and is no more.
The use of Guns ('tis granted) has of late
Been thought and prov'd chief Minister of Fate.
[Page 40]The murd'ring Cannon with its thundring breath
In many dreadful fights has usher'd Death
With speed and violence; and Musquets have
Pregnant with shot sent thousands to the Grave;
Within whose noble hearts fear never bred,
Yet fell as Victims to the fatal Lead:
And though it be successful and secure,
Dreadful in Warr, and able to endure
The strongest charge; yet if compar'd to th'Bow,
Its high exalted Fame will nothing show.
Not but Death flies as certain from that Fire,
As from the Bow and Shaft we so admire:
But 'tis impossible it e're should own
By its weak single power a Fam'd renown,
So nobly splendid as our Archerie
Could gain commixt with Magnanimity.
But if with shooting us'd, 'twould nobly show
A power, which never any could out-do
By fight or single Force; a dear-bought prize
Which the succeeding Age would canonize.
Draw out a Band of Archers to the Field,
Brave Spirits train'd in Warr, with courage steel'd,
Whose influence was bred, and nourish't grows
In [...] brute bosoms, whose well temper'd Bows
[Page 41]Dismiss the Steel-tipt Messengers, whilst Fame
By Shouts applauds the Shooters skilful aim;
And see with wonder that undaunted force,
Which the dread rage of Death could ne're divorce:
See those that at pale Terrours face scorn e're to shrink,
That still encourag'd boldly stand on dangers brink
With daring Breasts, six't Eyes, and Arms displaid,
Drawing out Shafts three quarters long to th' head:
Mark with a curious Eye the wretchedness
And fears a Coward's caution doth express;
And next the Archers noble Actions Eye,
Each Face this Motto bearing, We defie:
And then declare the most unequal wrong
Done to the Bow, its Praise deferr'd so long.
The Archers power above all in Warr
Is never to be question'd, since they are
A sort of skilful Undertakers, young,'
wedded to Arms and Honour, Valiant, Strong:
The Art of shooting was their Infant sport,
By which in Troops they daily did resort;
By which they gain'd helth, strength, fame, courage, skill,
Hearts to love vertuous deeds, and banish ill.
No Impotents diseas'd can ever know
The worth and matchless vertues of the Bow.
[Page 42]Archers must strong and healthful prove, and Just,
Not weakned with bad Wine, soft Ease and Lust,
But alwaies fit to entertain a Foe,
And by brave Deeds the worth of shooting show.
Had that too studious
Bertholdus Swart first Inventer of Guns.
Chymist that first brought
Into the World his fatal Guns, but sought
The use of Bows to grace what he design'd
Should be a matchless Weapon for Mankind;
It might be granted that united Power
Treason, nor Rust of Time, could ne're devoure.
But since it is abus'd and common grown,
The glorious Palm to Archers must be thrown,
Whose noble hearts all pannick fears disown.
Yet must not my affection to the Bow,
Like a great Torrent, Reason overflow:
There doubtless are some men that fight with Guns
Of an approved valour, th' noble Sons
Of Heaven born Honour, that dare stake their Blood
And dearest Vitals for their Countrie's good,
And in that Cause think it a bliss to bleed,
Else 'twere a miserable Age indeed.
[Page 43]But with a general Eye survey a Troop,
Each smiling face with th' many there that droop,
And 'mongst five hundred fifty scarce shall bear
A Martial Spirit bold and fit for Warr.
But in a Band of Noble Archers all
The matchless Sons of Valour I dare call,
And prove it true, since still inur'd to shoot;
Which Manly Pastime the weak trembling fruit
Of Cowards ne're durst follow, but possest
By sturdy Bow-men, whose fam'd strength encreast
By daily Exercise; nay 't has been found
By such whose Intellects have been unsound,
Using the healthful Art, Distempers fled,
And Strength and Courage through the Body spread,
A flowing lively warmth possest each Vein,
And sprightly Health banish't Disease and Pain.
A wholsome Pastime which all Sports exceeds,
And he that shooting loves no Physick needs;
A noble Archer his own Doctor is,
And soars above the reach of rank Disease.
Agues or lazy Feavers are for those
That cherish the repute of Guns, not Bows.
England was once the Seat of Archerie,
Parent of Honour, Magnanimity,
And o're all Nations bore Supremacy
For Arts and Arms; her daring Archers then
Durst charge a numerous Host of Warlike men,
Without respect to numbers, death, or fate,
Cherish't with hopes of being fortunate
By their precedent Conquests, which did grow
As if they were entail'd to grace the Bow,
That Weapon being easie to be born,
Of exc'lent Nature, and by Valour worn.
Besides the speed with which brave Archers make,
Their fame is such, that I dare undertake
To shoot ten Shafts well aim'd and carried on
In Battel, e're you twice can charge a Gun.
What then can be inserted to proclaim
That Weapon's worth before the Bow? what Fame
Can be allow'd to that, which Archers have
Not by their Valours won? If to be brave,
Valiant and fort'nate, be a blessing prov'd
By those that Warr and Acts of Honour lov'd;
The Bow may make as great and powerful claim,
As any Weapon incident to Fame.
[Page 45]Why then should that, which only has of late
Been us'd in England's Battels, now create
Oblivion in the best of Weapons use,
That in our pristine Ages did produce
Such glorious Spoils? Or why should Guns, that owe
No worth but what's adherent to the Bow,
Be more esteem'd? It only do's express
This Age's Vices more, it's Vertue less,
Than what by th' honour'd Ancient was possest.
Great
Vid. Baker. Chron.
Charles of blest eterniz'd memory,
Celestial Heaven's unmatch't Epitome,
So lov'd this Art of shooting, that even he
The charms of other Sports would oft resist.
To be a Partner in the Archers List.
And can we soar at greater Excellence,
Then prizing Arts lov'd by so wise a Prince,
Whose greatest Crime was too much Clemency?
Can England e're forget her Archery,
And give t'an upstart power precedency?
No, like the Phoenix from old ashes sprung,
Wee'l give the Bow new life, once more make young
This Art, and once more be renown'd and strong.
[Page 46]Wee'l once more tear Hell's dreadful Banner down,
And bravely arm'd the Front of Vertue crown,
Our conquest win by Valour, not relate
Our good or ill Success the Gifts of Fate,
But by our Deeds, which must be fortunate,
Gain'd and archiev'd, since trembling Destiny
In Archers meets too strong an Enemy.
Therefore if England would victorious prove,
The Spawn of Vice and Cowardise remove:
If, as it heretofore has been the Seat
Of Fame, it would those Glories past repeat,
And like a Taper late extinct Connive
At Vices past, and from a Spark revive
A precious Fire that out-shines the Sun,
And proves a Phaebus in Fame's Horizon,
To light the wandring Hero to a place
Where th'Souls of Archers Heaven's bright Palace grace▪
If, as some Jewel of unvalued worth,
We once more would give glorious Lustre birth,
And Dignify with its past proper stile
The World's Exchequer, this most happy Isle:
Let us call back lost Archerie agen,
And with it's matchless worth possess our men:
[Page 47]Let Gunners with our Archers now joyn hands,
And both in Power combining share Commands;
And then the Land invincible will be
From all Attempts or Forreign policy.
Rash Undertakers may return with loss,
And curse that Fortune that complies with us;
Whilst we triumphant o're the World may spread,
Well arm'd with fatal Bows and hissing Lead,
Our vast united powers the World will awe,
And to our aid fresh numbers daily draw.
The ambitious French, and stubborn Turk will fear
Afresh that fatal power that did appear
In our last Age so dreadful, who o'recome
With pannick doubts, scarce think they'r safe at home.
Regions remote our Forces will admire,
And with large Sums our Archers strive to hire.
Honour will triumph, Valour walk in state,
And Wealth with Piety participate.
Soft-finger'd Peace and bounteous Plenty here
VVill bless and smile upon us all the year:
Nor can we ever fear our Forreign Foes,
Our Frontiers guarded well with Guns and Bows,
VVhose strong contracted Power would dare Alarms,
And Conquest win, though Hell rose up in Arms.
[Page 48]The
Bow and Pike
Bow and Pike hath also been approv'd
By such as Arms and Acts of Honour lov'd,
And often has been found most excellent
Either to act a purpose, or prevent.
From farr use Bows, but Pikes, when near at hand,
The beguil'd Horsinens thoughts may countermand;
And many that long idle stood may be
Imploy'd, and prove main helps to Victory.
Bow fix't to th' Pike will execution do
As well as single, and as bravely too;
The Shaft being no way hindred, nor its power
Oppos'd, but rather is augmented more.
My Genius is to barren too express
A benefit, which prudent Heads might guess
Better than I relate: and though the Fame
Attending Archerie deserves a Name
Greater than VVit can attribute to grace
An art that doth all other Arts surpass;
Yet this, to call it the illustrious prize
Of an eterniz'd Honour, shall suffice;
And writ in lasting leaves of Brass, remain
Till this vast Globe to Chaos turns again.
[Page 49]The Golden Age shall once more be renew'd,
And the accursed Brood of Vice subdu'd,
Whilst Vertue triumphs as the chiefest good.
Treason her blunted Weapon shall lay by,
And bright Astrea once more leave the Sky
To take her dwelling 'mongst the Sons of Men.
Our bed-rid Power shall grow strong agen,
And arm'd with fierce and double Power, despise
The Plots of our ambitious Enemies.
In vain remote Possessors shall design
To suck the sweetness of our English Vine,
Whilst our Hesperia's precious golden Fruit
Is watch't by Dragons, (viz.) brave Men that shoot;
Let 'em revive Alcides, and then know
The use and matchless power of his Bow,
Ere they gain hopes of England's overthrow;
And then perhaps as Impotent as ere,
Assaulting Warriours that ne're knew to fear,
Each Archer proving an Alcides here.
Therefore to you, most honoured Patriots, now
Prostrate to Earth my Muse does humbly bow;
You that your Nations fam'd Militia sway,
[Page 50]And your known Valours o're the World display
By glorious Deeds, whose Magnanimity,
Guarded by Honour from your Infancy,
Gave early hopes of future Gallantry:
You, whose brave thirst of Glory has been known
In Forreign Climes, and to Opposers shown
Bateless and noble: You, whose Valours have
Dar'd Death to's Face, courted a gloomy Grave,
Your Country's Fame immaculate to save,
And, like obstreperous Thunder, terrifi'd
With your dread Fames the rash Insulters pride:
To you, the Souls of Honour, I appeal
To further my Intentions, and reveal
A Good to this forgetful Age, that may
Flourish when we lye mixt with common Clay:
You that have power to do things great and good,
Whose Actions should be Noble as your Blood,
Cannot advance the Nation's profit more,
Than England's best of Weapons to restore
To its first Dignity; nor act a thing
More bravely beneficial to the King,
Than the reviving of old Archerie
To its pristine Estate, Posterity
[Page 51]Will bless your Memories, when they shall read,
Your noble Wills that benefit decreed
For th' Nations good, whose powerful interest
The nearest Mansions of your hearts possest,
And crown'd with Loyalty and Faith recall'd
a Vertue long by scorching Vice exhal'd
From th' English hearts, but now reviv'd agen,
Sent from above t'incourage valiant men.
And next to you, blind Fortune's wealthy Heirs,
That fenc't about with Riches banish cares
For the Realm's good, that never could express
A harm you felt, till too much idleness
Usher'd a fierce Disease, first learn to shoot,
And on this Theme of Archerie dispute;
And doing so, you will not only bind
All generous Spirits to applaud, but find
A dulcid Health, and growing Courage seize
Your Nerves infected late through too much Ease:
The Bow renew'd once more in England raise,
And merit by that Act a Wreath of Bayes,
Stil'd Patrons of your Country, live ador'd
By faithful Subjects, that can ne're afford
Applause to more Deservings, nor partake
Of greater Blessings than that Grant can make
[Page 52]To fertile
Britain, lend your potent aid
To plant an Art, through want of use decay'd,
Amongst our Natives, though of greater worth,
Than that which first gave glorious Conquest birth:
And Fame (when dead) your Monuments will crown
With everlasting Trophies, your renown
Will charm each Breast, whilst every gazer on
Pays watry Tribute to the Marble Stone
For loss of those, whose vertues did create
A Blessing known so useful to the State:
And, whilst you hear inhabit, daily Prayers
For your long Life will still assault your Ears.
The Vertuous and the Loyal will allow
No Wreath, but what shall flourish on your Brow,
Which to their Benefactors paid must prove
Th' undoubted sign of their united love.
Think what a precious benefit 'twill bring
To happy England, from whose use will spring
Honour and Honesty, the glorious Twins
Of Excellence-infusing Cherubins.
And you industrious Yeomen, who with toyl
Manure the bosom of your fertile Soil,
[Page 53]Cherish't with growing hopes of future gains,
When you shall reap the Harvest of your pains,
Forsake your lov'd Olympian Games a while,
With which the tedious Minutes you beguile,
And give the Bow, so useful to the Nation
When bravely exercis'd, your approbation:
Leave Quoits and Ninepins, those Bear-garden Sports,
And follow shooting often us'd in Courts;
An Exercise that rather adds to Fame,
Than any way 'tis incident to shame;
The worth of your Progenitors pursue,
Whose Loyal Valours often did subdue
With their dread Bows and Shafts fierce Enemies,
Though strengthned with fresh Legions, or Surprize:
No rash intruding bold Antagonist
The force of their brave Weapons durst resist,
But hush't as Mid-night Dreams deliberate
The potent sway of their Superiour Fate.
If then that Ignorant Age such Knowledge shar'd,
And of their Archers had such choice regard,
Knowing no Weapon could such Trophies bring,
Such Profit to the Land, Fame to the King;
[Page 54]Why should not you, Successors to their Fate,
New Presidents in th' shooting Art create,
And by your brave Example animate
The noble Spirits of your Country-men,
To rouze and bring up Archerie agen?
By Action all base slothful Ease debarr,
That creeping Poyson, Vice irregular.
Let every Village prove the Seat of Warr,
Whose small Dimensions then need never fear,
When manly Archers once inhabit there.
Enrich't with Peace, you may possess your own,
And reap with Joy the Fruit your care has sown,
Free from Commotions or Dissentions base,
Whose curst effects do English hearts disgrace,
And for your pains procure a rich Reward,
You also still may stand on your own Guard,
Despising those that Peace and Vertue shun,
Though Law not suffers you to use a Gun:
Or if your dwellings e're molested are
By Forreign Insolents, or Civil Warr,
Each man that bears a Bow may guard his own,
And see his rash invader overthrown.
But such Contentions may I never see:
Our Bows against an Outland Enemy
[Page 55]Would bravest be imploy'd: should Archers joyn
With our thrice-fam'd Militia, and combine
United to o'recome some neighb'ring Land,
What Potent Nation could our Force withstand,
Our men well arm'd with Guns, fierce Bows and Darts,
Led on by Heaven, and steel'd with English hearts?
Or were our Noble Warriours Excellence
Only enacted in our own defence,
Were our joynt Forces call'd, not to command
On some brave purpose, but to guard the Land;
Thus aided, Female breasts their fear might cease,
And we in spite of Danger sleep in Peace:
Peace, whose delightful branch would firmly grow,
Watred by Plenty's stream, whose Wealth would flow
About our Land, and pearly Treafures heap,
When the delighted Swains the Grain should reap:
Still free you'l live from Mischiefs brooding Vice,
Treading the narrow Path to Paradise,
Imploy'd by this brave Pastime; and atchieve
What Vertue craves, or Piety can give:
Your sporting hours pleasantly will fly,
Refin'd from Ill or curst Impiety:
Whilst active Vice in Cities ushers harms,
Couching Perdition in her softest Charms.
[Page 56]There may you by the Art of shooting prove
A matchless Courage sent you from above:
And when at Targets striving you essay
Each with a Shaft to bear the Prize away,
Piercing it oft, indeavouring to hold
Your Fortunes high, and hit the wish't for Gold,
You may imagin then what you could do,
If that six't Object were a living Foe.
But on this Theme I have too long digrest,
And th' Profits of the Bow too oft exprest
By this prolix Relation, yet excuse
The now Abortive Issue of my Muse,
And her affection to this honest Sport,
Whose worth and innocency seems to court
Th' unnerv'd Iuventus thus to exercise
An Art, sworn Foe to Infamy and Vice.
My Zeal to th' Nations good in [...]orces me
T' unfold the precious worth of Archerie,
Prompted by England's Genius to declare
A thing so sweet in Peace, so fierce in Warr,
As Manly Shooting, th' Ancients chiefest good,
Whose Vertue then was better understood
Than in this drowzie Age, where nauseous Ease
Our too much pamper'd Natures best does please:
[Page 57]This by instinct infus'd into my heart,
And next my knowledge of this Noble Art,
Flatter'd my daring Muse to take in hand
Shooting's applause, whose Vertue may command
A second Virgil's Phansie to proclaim
The Bow's well merited and matchless Fame:
And upon this, as others have of late
Essai'd their Wits and benefits of Fate,
I, though the meanest of a thousand men,
Something have writ, though with a ruder Pen.
Thou then, the happy Genius of this Age,
Break through these gloomy Clouds, that do presage
Ill to the Realm; and let thy Influence
Infuse in all the useful Excellence
Of Bows and Shafts, rouze thy refulgent head,
And it's fam'd Vertue through the Nation spread;
Search with thy All-discerning Eye the Cave,
Where Treason broods destruction to the Brave;
And then declare the Bow can best defend
The barb'rous deeds proud Rebels did intend:
Display its worth, and like distilling Dews,
Into their Souls its influence infuse.
[Page 58]That charm'd with knowledge of so brave an Art,
They may to all its unmatch't worth impart;
Stile it a Good, useful in Peace and War,
In Pastime priz'd, in Battel singular;
It ushers Health, and strugling Vice confines,
Whose Smiles Eternal Misery designs,
Drawing a Model, whereby all may Scan
The blest Effigies of a Vertuousman,
Pure and Immaculate, as when at first
His Infancy in Innocence was nurst.
Rise from your hateful Couches therefore you,
That in a Sea of Vice your Souls imbrew,
That destitute of Reason to prevent
A nauseous Destiny, too evident
Run headlong to Perdition; now take hold
Of my untwisted Clew, and be not sold
For a short pleasing Dream to endless Woes,
Learn to be good, and Exercise with Bows
Your happy Strength, and by that use create
A Blessing useful, just, and fortunate:
Let the Infectious that have long been nurst
In black and horrid Vice, whose Souls accurst
[Page 59]By Heaven for some Enormance, first repair
Their vicious Life by uncorrupted pray'r;
And next confine themselves to shooting well,
So may they stifle Passions that rebel;
Since 'tis an Art allied to Honesty,
Where Vertue, Fame, and Magnanimity
Combine to show its precious Excellence,
Unbounded Worth, and heavenly Innocence,
The VVeeds of Vice thereby are rooted out:
Nor need the generous Undertaker doubt
The Justice of his Actions, since this Art
Nothing but VVorth and Vertue can impart.
No Execrations forg'd in gloomy Stix
Shall here have vent, nor any Hereticks
VVedded to Sin with Archers e're combine,
Nor taste the dulcid Pleasures of their Vine,
Unless unblinded by blest Heaven to see
The loathed Scene of their Impiety.
The Antients us'd it both for Exercise,
And a Defence against their Enemies;
For Sport in Peace, but for great Deeds in Warr,
VVhose then priz'd worth was known so singular,
That Children, taught by Nature to suppose
The worth of Archerie, would cry for Bows:
[Page 60]And though the dull and drowzy World has since
That blooming Age obscur'd the Excellence
Of this so noble Pastime, trampling down
That Pow'r, which with success their deeds would crown;
Let us, the Heirs of Fame, not Ignomy,
The inthral'd Art of Archerie set free,
And glorying in our Loyalties advance
A Jewel's worth, long lost by th' ignorance
Of this Luxurious Age, a Jem, whose price
The wealth of Kingdoms cannot comprimise.
Were it a thing obnoxious to the Land,
A baleful ill, where Vice had most command;
Were it a sport unfitting for a Man
That had the glorious race of Vertue ran,
And from his Cradle had that bliss possest,
With which All-seeing Heav'n rewards the blest;
Or did it cherish Vice, raise Calumny,
Or stain pure minds with blots of Infamy,
And by his nauseous Rules reduce the Nation
From innocent to vitious Conversation;
It were an act of Justice to deprave
This Art my Genius does declare so brave.
But as Judicious Souls do shooting prize
Only as healthful, and known Foe to Vice
Procures us Fame, Health, Courage, Honesty,
Brave wills to do, and power those Deeds to own;
And from our Hearts roots out what Vice has sow'n;
It must by prudent Souls acknowledg'd prove
The choicest Blessing sent us from above,
Either for our disport in times of Peace,
Or guard in Warr when we expect success.
Joyn therefore all ye Noble Souls that have
Hearts to incourage and reward the Brave,
Where the Decrees of Vertue gain applause:
You that met danger in your Countries Cause
With joy and resolution, once more try
The blest effects of Noble Archerie;
Do you but plant, it of it self will grow,
Then shall ye reap the Blessings that ye sow
With treble gains, commixt with bliss to see
Your brave endeavours thrive so fruitfully:
Then shall this happy Land once more proclaim
Its brave defence, and it's precedent Fame,
Whose ancient Laurel Wreaths will wither'd shew,
Compar'd to th' glorious Virdure of our new;
Heaven with continued blessings will possess
Our Natives, and the Land with Plenty bless,
[Page 62]VVhilst here enrich't by th' Vertues of the Bow
And noble Deeds, Astrea rules below
Impartially o're all, from whence shall spring
Peace to the Realm, and Honour to the King,
VVealth to th' Inhabitants, Glory unto those
VVhose Valours dare reprove insulting Foes:
The world immaculate will be and good.
As when first purg'd by the o'rewhelming Flood
Mankind learn't Innocence and Vertue: so
Shall we, unfound by Sin, its Blessings know,
And this last Age by Archerie possest,
Maugre its brooding Vices, prove the best.