CONCLUSION 399 



Bishop Latimer, a yeoman's son, following the old- 

 time vogue, now unhappily abandoned, of dealing in 

 the pulpit with things affecting the daily life of the 

 people, exhorted the folk to practise shooting. "In 

 my tyme," he said, " my poore father was as diligent 

 to teach me to shote as to learne anye other thynge, & 

 so I thynke other menne dyd theyr children. He 

 taughte me how to drawe, how to laye my bodye in 

 my bowe, and not to drawe wyth strength of armes as 

 other nacions do, but with strength of the bodye. I 

 had my bowe boughte me accordyng to my age and 

 strength, as I increased in them, so my bowes were 

 made bigger and bigger, for men shal never shot well, 

 excepte they be boughte up in it. It is a goodly art, 

 a holsome kynde of exercise and much commended 

 in phisike."^ 



The next question in order and one nearest akin to 



took to archery as a healthsome pastime. His treatise on shooting, 

 "Toxophilus," is a most interesting book for the modern reader. Those 

 who wish to promote the practice of rifle-shooting would find that a cheap 

 edition largely circulated would be useful for their purpose, as most of 

 the hints, maxims, and directions are applicable to shooting generally. 

 "By shootinge," he says, "is the mynde honestlye exercised and of all 

 other is the most honestepastyme (not lurking in holes and comers) . . . 

 whereof followeth healthe of bodye, quickness of witte, habilitye to defend 

 our country as our enemyes can bear record, everye body should learne 

 to shoote when they be younge," so that they may defend the country 

 when they are older. But he says, "these things cannot be done 

 mightelye except they learn it perfectly when they be boys ... for 

 much use maketh men shoote both strong and well." The eye, he urges, 

 must be well trained, because it is the "guide and succourer of all other 

 parts ... for having a man's eye always on his mark is the onlye way 

 to shoote streighte." The footing, standing, and setting of the limbs and 

 body of the shooter must be " comely to the eye and to the most advan- 

 tage," while the instruments and tackle should be clean, in good order, 

 and ready for use. — " Toxophilus," or " Schole of Shootinge," Roger 

 Ascham (Bennett's edition, 1761). 



* "Sixth Sermon." Preached before King Edward VI (Arber's Re- 

 prints). 



