Dr. Heylin in his Cosmographical Description of the World, tells us, That the Czeremissi, a People living in great Forrests, without Houses, feeding on Honey & the Flesh of Wild Beasts & Clothed with their Skins, under the Empire of the Czar of Russia, are such excellent Archers, and so light of Foot, that they carry their Bows continually in their hands, and practise their Children so timely in it, that (after such an age) till they can hit a White that is set before them, they give them nothing to eat.
Further; it is recorded of the Parthians (and indeed all the Persians too) that their greatest Fame consisted in their skilful handling their Bows and Arrows, & were deservedly reckon’d the best Archers in the World, having the Art of Shooting backwards, and making their Retreat and Flight more pernicious and terrible, than their Charge and Onset. So that when Marcus Crassus in his expedition against them, was told by an Astrologer, that having found an ill Aspect in Scorpio, he presaged his Enterprize would prove unsuccesseful, Tush Man (quoth he) I fear not Scorpio, but Sagittarius.
And to descend to our own Countrymen the English, the frequent Victories they obtained over the French formerly, rendred them as famous and able Bow-men (next the Parthians) as were in the World.
But since the Ingenious Franciscan Fryer (Bertholdus Swart) appeared in Germany, his Sulphureous Brain has quite (or almost) blown up the Reputation of the Bow, and all other Ancient Devices and Engines of War, by his Accidental Invention of that Fatal Instrument the Gun, which he first communicated to the Venetians, Anno 1330. Who gave by these (then so called) Bombards, a notable discomfiture to the Genoys; and was next made use of by the Inhabitants of the Baltick Sea; And at the Siege of Callice Anno 1347. used by the English; who taught it the Mounsieur Frenchman, and he gratified him with the death of the Famous Leader, Thomas Mountacute Earl of Salisbury, shot at the Siege of Orleance, Anno. 1425. After which Spain learnt it, and the Jews and Moors from thence taught the Turk; and from the first Invention of large and unweildy, they were made fit for Walls and Hands; and in fine is a less expensive way of shedding blood than that of Archery is.
Thus you see how Ancient the Use of the Bow is, and how lately its Disuse began (I mean in relation to the Common-Wealth, as a defensive, or offensive Weapon) and how great the Ancient Fame of our English was in the knowledge of it: However the Glory of it is somewhat still preserved (though in a Pastime) by the Honourable City of London, whose Lord Mayor annually appears to see a Prize performed by Shooting with a Pound Arrow: And therefore all I have to say more, is, That it is deservedly placed amongst my Recreations, having Metamorphosed its Use, and become a Healthful Conserver, instead of Destroyer of mens Bodies. And is vulgarly distinguished into two sorts, the Long-bow, and the Cross or Crow-Bow.
I shall begin first with the Long-bow, whose Use is (now) thus to be understood. That it conduces much to the Health of our Body, disperses our stagnated Blood, extends our contracted Limbs, and renders the Members of our Bodies plyant, and flexible; and for the better obtaining these Effects, the following Rules are to be Observed.
Before the Archer goes to his Sport (to follow the Method of this Treatise) he must first provide himself with necessary Accoutrements, viz, The Bow which claimes his first Care, must be the best (as best is best Cheap) of Spanish or English Yew, (the VVithen, or Elme being the worst:) Next his Shaft, which must be of Birch, Sugar-Chest, or Brazeel, with Gray, or White Feathers.
Thus equipt, to the Field, and here we are to understand three sorts of Marks, viz, The But, which is a Mark that is level, and requires a strong Arrow with a broad Feather: The Prick, a Mark of some compass, of a certain distance, requires an Arrow that is strong, and nimble, with a middle Feather: The Rover, is an uncertain Mark, and Proportionable to the distance, suit your Arrows. But before you Shoot, hold a little, and hearken to your Charge.
First, The Archer must have a good Eye, to see and discern his Mark; attended with a Knowing Judgment, to Understand the distance of Ground, and in what compass his Arrow must Fly, and to take the true Advantage of a Side-Wind; and a Dexterity to give his Shaft a sharp strong and sudden Loose, and without hanging on the string, to draw his Arrow close to the Head, and in an instant deliver it.
Secondly, He must observe a Decorum in his standing Posture, that his Body be fair, comely, and upright; his left Foot a convenient stride before his right, with both his Hams stiff, his left Arm holding his Bow in the midst, stretch’d out streight; and with his three Fore-Fingers and Thumb of his right-hand, draw the string to his right Ear, the Notch of his Arrow resting between his fore and long Fingers of his Right-Hand, and the Steel of his Arrow below the Feathers upon the middle Knuckle of his fore-finger, on his Left-Hand, drawing it up close, as abovesaid.