GOD Almighty, who is the author of al good vnto Man, putteth into his minde good motions, inuen­tions, and actions, for his helpe and preseruation.

As he did vnto Noah when he built the Arke, whereby both hee and his family were preserued from the Flood.

At which time also, the Lord made his Coue­nant with them, for their comfort, and set his Bow in the Cloud for confirmation thereof: and after­ward, it pleased God to inspire into man such wis­dome, and policy, to imitate and make materiall Bowes, for their vse and defence, against the wilde beasts of the field, which otherwise might haue deuoured them: and likewise when enuie and strife grew betwixt man and man, it serued for a chiefe weapon amongst them, to maintaine their rights, and to defend themselues one against the other, & so [Page]by vse the Bow became the best weapon of all others vnto succeeding ages.

And after this began the name of Archer; for it is said of Ismael, the sonne of Abraham, that God was with him, and he dwelt in the wildernesse, and was an Archer.

So likewise were the two sonnes of Izhac, for Esau was an Archer, and he vsed his Bow for Hun­ting.

But Iacob vsed it for Warres, for hee saith vn­to his sonne Ioseph, I haue giuen thee one porti­on of ground, which I got from the Amorite with my Sword, and with my Bow.

And so successiuely it was vsed amongst the Is­raelites, and of great estimation, for King Dauid he saith, that the Lord he teacheth the vse thereof, and likewise inableth a man therevnto in these words, The Lord, saith he, teacheth my hands to Warre, so that a Bow of Steele is broken by mee: and all King Dauids Worthies and chiefe men of Ware, were armed with Bowes and Arrowes.

King David also, hee commanded that the chil­dren should be taught to shoot, & to learne the vse of the Bow, & so to succeeding ages it continued, and was accounted of amongst all the famous Nati­ons in the world, to be the best Weapon.

It is recorded in holy Writ, that the Assyrians they vsed the Bow and Arrowes, in all their warres against the Israelites.

The Persians; their Kings were admirable Bow­men, [Page]and they accounted of it as their best weapon for warres, and still it is in vse with them.

And likewise the Romanes in all their conquests, they esteemed of the Bowmen to bee the best and surest souldiers.

The Parthians with their Bowes and Arrowes, vanquished the famous Romane Captaine, Crassus, with all his Legions (which came into their coun­trey to conquer it) and slew them all.

The Turkes, they haue vsed this weapon in all their conquests, and doe still vse it, so that by their continuall vse and perfect skill therein, together with their innumerable multitude of Arrowes fly­ing in the sight of their enemies, when they goe to warres, they are a terrour vnto all their Christian neighbours that inhabit about them, and what King or Potentate is of that force and power, as is the Turke now at this day.

But of all the Nations in the world, our Brittish Nation were most excellent and famous, in this weapon the long Bow and Arrowes, before wee were so variable in neglecting the vse thereof.

And certainly, if we of all other Nations, being so expert in the vse thereof; and also by agilitie so inabled, I say if we had exercised and vsed the long Bow and Arrowes in the Warres, as heretofore our Predecessors haue done, we had been famous thereby as they were.

For then our Brittish Nation were accounted the absolute best warriours in the world, and got [Page]by the vse of the Bow, victorious battailes, and conquests, to their immortall fame and honour, as in our Chronicle-Histories it is recorded, whereof I will set downe some few, omitting many more for brevitie.

I will first begin with King William the Conque­ror, for he conquered this Land by the vse of the Bow, as is recorded by Sr Iohn Haward, in his book of the History of the three first Norman Kings.

Also King Edward the third, who hauing title to the Crowne of France, inuaded it, and in a set bat­tell at Cresse, he subdued the French, so that most of the Nobilitie were either slain, or taken; and also conquered the strong towne of Callis, all which was accomplished by the seruice of the Bowmen.

After that, his sonne the famous Prince Edward called the Blacke Prince, hee in a set battell at Poy­tiers, tooke the French King prisoner, and withall most of the Nobilitie were either slaine or taken: and all these battels and Victories were gotten by the Bowmens seruice.

So likewise King Henry the fift, in the battaile at Agincourt, obtained a glorious Victory: In which battaile, as the story saith, were taken and slaine, the flower of all the Nobilitie of France, notwith­standing the vnequalitie of the number in all these battels, for it is Recorded, that the French excee­ded the Brittons in number ten for one, and this was atchieued by the seruice of the Bowmen.

After this, in the time of King Henry the sixt, [Page]what famous battels were gotten vnder the leading of the Duke of Bedford, then Regent in France, by his valiant Bowmen.

I will forbeare to speake of the ciuill Warres here in our owne Land, for they were vnnaturall warres, therefore let them die in obliuion.

But after this, King Edward the fourth made a iourney into France with his Bowmen, where hee obtained of the French King, a Peace according to his desire.

Likewise when King Henry the seventh came in against Richard the murderous vsurper, & subdued him: in all which Warres, the Bow and Arrowes were altogether their chiefest and best weapons.

And likewise King Henry the eight, when hee made his journeys into France, & like a conqueror won the Cities of Turwin, and of Tourney, and af­terward of Bullen; in all which journeys, hee was furnished with his valiant Bowmen, which still were a terrour vnto their enemies, the showers of Arrowes which they shot, did euen darken the skies, and did so amaze the enemy, that the very ob­ject thereof, was as grieuous vnto them, as death it selfe, for they are vnauoidable, as did appeare by the many wounds which they gaue vnto all either horse, or foot, for no part of the body, the very eye is not free from the Arrow.

And this is certaine, that if either man or horse be wounded with a sheafe Arrow, with a Barb'd head thereon, let it be in what part of the body so euer, [Page]if it doth not deadly execution, it makes him vnca­pable of doing any seruice, for either they must pull out the Arrow, and so mortifie and rend the flesh, veynes, & sinews, and sometimes in so pulling of the Arrow out, to leaue the head behind, or else cut out the piece, in what place so euer it sticketh.

But especially for horse it is acknowledged by all Commanders, that it is the absolute best weapon of all others, for no horse will endure the hurt of an Arrow, but with the smart thereof hee will dis­order all those about him, and both spoile himselfe and his Rider.

But now, by new Inuentions and Stratagems, the old Militarie discipline in the Warres is altered; and therefore the Bow is cast by as altogether vn­seruiceable in these times.

True it is, that many are the Inuentions of man, and haue been from the beginning, some good and well-pleasing to God, and some againe wicked and offensiue both to God, and all good men.

Amongst all which, Bartholdus Swart the Fran­ciscan Fryer, with his most diuellish Inuention of Gunpowder, is the most damnable, and from hell it selfe inuented.

But it is now of that estimation, that many other both Inuentions and Weapons, formerly in great account, are quite laid aside as altogether vnneces­sary, especially with vs, this ancient famous wea­pon, the Bow and Arrowes is quite extinguished.

Other Nations notwithstanding they make vse [Page]of new Inuentions; yet doe they not leaue off these famous ancient Weapons the Bow and Arrowes, as we haue done these many yeares.

And because now in these later variable times, since these sulphurious Inuentions haue beene dis­couered, and thereby the vse of Hand-guns and Muskets haue been in request, the Bow and Ar­rowes haue been altogether neglected by our Na­tion, as is aforesaid, because they are thought to be vneffectuall, and not of force to do that execution which the fiery weapons doe.

Yet notwithstanding, if the Premises before spo­ken of be well considered, (viz.) the number of Arrowes still flying, (for euery Archer may shoot sixe Arrowes within the time of the charging, and discharging of one Musket) and the number of Bowmen stil shooting, (for how many so euer they be, they may all shoot together) also the many wounds which the Arrowes doe giue, (for few of them fly in vaine amongst a multitude) together with the terrour of the Obiect, and sight of so ma­ny voleys of Arrowes still flying vpon the enemy: It cannot bee denied but it must needs disorder them, whether they be horse or foot.

Besides, in the raine or moist weather, the Bow and Arrowes are seruiceable, vpon all advantages, when the fiery weapons cannot be vsed.

But there is an Obiection to bee made, that it would bee double charges to maintaine Bow­men in the Warres, and the effects that may be [Page]done thereby, will not counteruaile it.

Besides, to haue Bowmen with others in the Warres, according to the Martiall discipline now vsed, This obiection is answered by the chiefe sub­iect of this Discourse, which shewes that the Pike­man now is made a Bow­man also by this new In­vention pra­ctised. they would be troublesome vnto the rest, and cannot be placed to doe seruice, as in former times they haue done, by reason there are not in these times, set battailes fought in the field, as in former times haue been: and in those set battels the Bow­men were placed and barricadoed in, whereby the horsemen could not breake in vpon them; and be­ing so conueniently placed, to shoot their voleys of Arrowes, thereby to gall and wound the horse, and therewithall to disorder them, and this is said to be the most materiall seruice that the Bowmen did.

I will not now further dilate vpon the many good seruices, which the Bowmen haue done in former times, ancient Histories relate suffi­ciently thereof, as before I haue shewed. But it is apparent by Record, that it was a conquering weapon: for I finde in those battels formerly spo­ken of, that the Bowmen did so wound & anoy the enemy with Arrows, that they could neither fight nor fly, and that the English like conquerors, did kill and take prisoners whom they listed; so that euery English souldier had two, three, or foure prisoners; and I thinke I may say without offence, that it is a weapon well pleasing to God: But sure I am, it is the cheapest weapon of all others, and the easiest both to be had, and to be practised.

Besides, it was a good Common-wealths handy Trade, and employed many thousands at worke, which liued well thereby; for in euery City and Towne in euery Shire throughout the Land, yea in euery Country Parish, there were of Bowyers, Fletchers, String-makers, and Arrow-head makers, or some others thereunto depending, that liued by their imployment therein. And for recreation and exercise it exceedeth all, it makes vs apt and fit to doe our Prince seruice vpon all sudden occasions, it encreaseth strength and agility, it maintaines health, and expels diseases, It procures a stomack, and causeth good digesture, and being moderate­ly vsed, the exercise thereof is maintained with ve­rie small charges,

Much more besides may be spoken of this lau­dable Exercise of Shooting, for the exercise there­of expels drunkennesse, swearing, dicing, carding, quoyting, cat-playing, besides many other vaine and vngodly vices.

Besides, the Sabbath day was not so prophaned when this exercise was vsed, for then the country Famers and Yeomen, with others likewise, with their sonnes and men seruants, notwithstanding they dwelt farre from their Parish Churches, yet would they take their Bowes and Arrowes for their recreation and exercise, and so shoot to their Parish Churches and goe to diuine Seruice, both morning and euening; whereas now, there are many that spend their time much worse vpon the [Page]Sabbath day, either in some of these vnlawfull games or vices before spoken of, or some others as bad, or else sitting in the Alehouse drinking, swearing, sucking Tobacco, and so spending their time and patrimony also, and scarce go to Church, especially to euening Prayer once in a quarter of a yeare.

All these premises considered, (obliged mee) both for the honour of God, my bounden duty and allegiance vnto my gracious Soueraigne, with my naturall loue to my country, for the honour and preseruation of the same, both to study and practise how I might be seruiceable thereunto.

And thereupon, being an Archer, I practised how to bring that famous ancient weapon, the Long-bow and Arrowes into the field againe, to doe seruice for my Prince and Country, as in for­mer times they haue done.

To this end and purpose I endeauored my selfe many yeares, practising with many inuentions, vntill at last it pleased God to perfect me therein: So that now I doe constantly affirme, not onely by my owne perfect experience and practice, but by the practice of the worthy Society of the traind Band, in the Artillerie Garden in London, it being practised there this twelue months, and approued of, not onely by that worthy Society, and the an­cient experienced Captaine thereof, Captaine Bingham; but by the approbation of many other honourable Commanders,

That the Souldier with his Corslet and his Pike may be a Bowman also, with great ease and readi­nesse, with great strength and aduantage, and with­out incumbrance, and therewith to encounter his enemy in the open field, with the Muskettiers and others; whereas without the Bow the Pikemen are but as a marke for the Muskettiers and Horsemen to play vpon, doing no seruice vntill they come to the push or charge.

But now being armed with the Bow, The former Obiection an­swered. they are ready to come on vpon all aduantages, his Pike be­ing his barricadoe, and with his Arrowes he shall offend his enemy from 18 or 20 score yards, vnto sixe score yards, as well as the Muskettiers, whe­ther his enemy be horse or foot, vntill they come to close, which they will hardly do, as many Com­manders doe verifie, if these weapons were well exercised and practised together, and men made perfect therein, according as is requisite in all other weapons.

But some haue obiected, that the weight of the Bow and Arrowes will be too much for the Pike­man to carie.

But it is easily answered, for it is very probable, that the weight is of no moment, for the Bow be­ing fastned vnto the Pike in the place where they shoulder the Pike, it is thereby caried with great ease: And likewise the Pike is a Rest for the Bow­arme for drawing of his Bow, being made fast in the place aforesaid with the Engin; for he chargeth [Page]not his Bow-arme with any strength by drawing, but onely to guide his Arrow towards his marke, by which helpe, he may draw a Bow much stron­ger then otherwise he could doe.

I reade also, that in former times when Bow­men had continued long in the Field, by reason of their lying on the ground, or by some other incon­ueniences, that thereby they grew weake, so that they were not able to draw their Bowes.

But now by this Inuention, with the helpe of the Pike, being a Rest for the Bow-arme, as is afore­said, the Bowman is inabled to vse his Bow, and to shoot, notwithstanding these inconueniences.

For it is probable, that any Archer may draw his Bow with his right arme, which is his drawing arme, when hee cannot beare it out with his left arme, which is his holding-out, or Bow-arme.

I haue had conference with some Commanders, debating vpon seruices which may bee done with the Bow and Arrowes, and some are opinioned, that they wil be seruiceable for to shoot fire-works vpon some occasion; and I know by experience, that an Archer may shoot an ounce of fire-worke vpon an Arrow twelue score yards.

But they all doe approue, that the Pikemen be­ing armed with Bowes and Arrowes, according to this Inuention practised, they are thereby enabled to doe very materiall seruice, for the guard of con­uoyes, which for the most part are assaulted by the horse.

And although now in these times, there are many stratagems vsed in the Warres, which in former times were not; yet notwithstanding I presume, that Bowes and Arrowes vsed by this Inuention, will be found very seruiceable many wayes as yet vndiscouered.

And therefore I conclude, that by this Inuenti­on, the Bow man may performe that seruice many wayes, which in former times hee could not doe, being armed with his Corslet, and barrocadoed with his Pike, and thereby imboldened to come on, as is aforesaid, or if occasion be, vpon any ser­uice, he may take his Bow from his Pike, and so be a Bowman, or Pikeman alone.

Now the perfection of this exercise if they haue been Bowmen, may be attained vnto by practice without any great difficultie, and thereby hee is a Double-Armed man: And for the order and po­stures belonging to the Pike and Bow, for the true vse thereof, is as followeth.

First, the whole body of Pikes must keepe their fyles of Pikes straight by line, for in so doing they may all shoot, as well the middle and the Reare, as the Front, without offending one another.

Secondly, euery follower must shoot right ouer his Leaders head, and so shoot thorow his own fyle of Pikes, for that must be his true direction to make his shoot.

Thirdly, if the enemy comes on, and that the leaders doe shoot brest high, then are the follow­ers [Page]to beare their Bowhand euen with the top of his leaders head, for that is the lowest and shortest distance, that they can shoot, standing in their or­der, and square body.

Fourthly, after your last shoot, which is about sixescore yards, you must fasten your Bow, and come vp to your close order for the charge, and if it be for horse, while the fiue or sixe first Ranges stand charged with their Pikes, rested at the foot, and their Swords drawne, the middle & the reare may shoot their voleys of Arrowes, and doe good seruice, whereas without their Bowes they can doe nothing, but stand with their Pikes sloapt, or ported

These obseruations for the practice of this exer­cise, I haue here set downe for instruction vnto all those, that hereafter shall endeuour to practise the same.

Here followeth the proper words of command, belonging to this exercise for the Pike and Bow, according as it hath beene practised by the worthy Societie in the Artilerie Garden in London.

• [Page]Order your Pike.
• Slope your Pike.
• Vnfasten your Bow.
• Draw out your Arrow.
• Nock your Arrow.
• Shoot wholly together.
• Port your Pike and March.
• Port and Retire.
• Fasten your Bow.
• Recouer your Pike.
• Aduance your Pike.
• Come vp to your close Order.
• Charge your Pike.
• Recouer your Pike.
• Shoulder your Pike and March.
• Comport your Pike and March.

Here followeth also: Sixe severall Portraitures, most proper for this exercise with the Pike and Bow, by this Invention, with the Observations, and words of command, properly be­longing to each severall posture.

This Portraiture is first placed, being pro­perly the first Posture: for the Pikeman standing ordered, is ready also for all other Postures, or service whatsoeuer he shall be commanded: As,

• Advance your Pike, &c.
• Shoulder your Pike, and March.
• Slope your Pike.
• Vnfasten your bow, and shoot.
• Port your pike and march.
• Port your pike and retire, &c.

The Pikeman stands sloapt and shooting.

This Portraiture is properly for shooting, with this obseruation, the Butt end of the Pike be fast in the ground at the right foot.

The words of command for this posture, are as followeth:

• Sloape your pike.
• Vnfasten your bow.
• Draw out your arrow.
• Nocke your arrow.
• Shoot wholly together.

The Pikeman stands ported to march or retire.

This Portraiture is most proper for the third place, for after shooting the first volley of Ar­rowes at the furthest distance, If any fall short, you are ready being so ported, to march ten paces, or more or lesse, as you shall be com­manded, to shoot your second volley of arrowes; and then againe be­ing so ported, you are rea­die to retire, as afore­said, to shoot the third volley of arrowes. &c.

After which, the words of command are, Fasten your bow.

And Recouer your pike.

This Portraiture is placed next after the former, for when the Souldier hath shot his volleys of arrowes, and fastned his bow, if the enemy will come to the push, then is he readily a pike­man, and so to receiue his enemy at the push.

The words of command for this posture, are as followeth:

• Aduance your Pike.
• Come vp to your close Order.
• Charge your Pike.

This Portraiture of charging for horse, is to shew, that the Bow is very materiall for this ser­uice; for the siue or sixe first rankes standing coucht at this charge, the middle and the reare may shoot their volleyes of arrowes, and therewith both gaule, wound, disorder, and kill the enemy, both man and horse.

The words of command are,

• Fiue first Rankes draw your Swords close to your pouldrons.
• Charge at the foot, and couch low.
• Middle and Reare, port and come vp to your order, and shoot your Arrowes.

This Portraiture of shouldering and marching, is placed to shew with what ease the Bow is caried with the Pike, and with­out incumbrance vnto the pike­man, either for cariage or seruice.

The words of command for this posture are,

Shoulder your Pike and March.

Likewise comporting is very proper vpon some occasion for the Pike and Bow: the words are,

Comport your Pike and March.

FINIS.