T. baccata 



scholar, Roger Ascham, wrote a very amusing 

 book entitled, Toxophilus, The Schoole of Shooting, 

 and this book he claims to have been the first 

 ever written on the subject. From the manner 

 in which the book is written we should imagine 

 Mr Ascham to have been a very precise and 

 crotchety old gentleman. Although the book 

 affords the reader of the present day much 

 amusement, it was not intended by the author 

 to be anything but really serious business. His 

 decision to write the book was made during the 

 war with France which took place during the 

 reign of Henry VIII., and in the introductory 

 chapter he gives his reasons for attempting the 

 work. The following, in his own quaint language, 

 is a portion of the introduction : 



" To all Gentle men and Yoemen of Englande." 



" By this matter I meane the fhotying in the 

 long bo we, for Englifh men ; which thyng with 

 all my hert I do wyth, and I were of authorite, I 

 wolde compel all the gentle men and yoemen of 

 Englande, not to chaunge it with any other thyng 

 to be ; but that ftyll, accordyng to theoulde wont 

 of Englande youth fhoulde vfe it for the mooft 

 honeft paftyme in peace, that men myght handle 

 it as a mooft fure weapon in warre." 



In describing the battles of Cressy, Poitiers, 

 177 



