ARCHERY REVIVED: A Poëtical Essay, Penned upon occasion of the intended Muster of the Company of Archers in Scotland, June 11. 1677. — Hae Nugae seria ducent. printer's or publisher's device EDINBURGH, Printed by the Heir of Andrew Anderson, Printer to His most Sacred Majesty. 1677. To the Most NOBLE and POTENT, JOHN MARQUIS of ATHOL, EARL OF ATHOL and TULLIBARDIN, LORD MURRAY and GASK, etc. LORD KEEPER Of His Majesty's Privy Seal in the Kingdom of Scotland, and one of the most Honourable Members of His Majesty's Privy Council; one of the Commissioners of His Majesty's Thesaury and Exchequer; Captain of His Majesty's Lifeguard of Horse: And Captain of the Noble and Generous Company of Archers in that Kingdom. My Lord, THE great Blessing of Peace being the Improvement of Arts, and that of War, so long as this Mass of Earth continues in its Fabric of Creation, beyond all Dispute most useful; To cultivate this Art in time of Peace, is no less the Interest of Mankind, than it is in Summer to provide Food and Raiment for the Winter; Peace and War succeeding each other by short intervals, so naturally, and almost with the Motion of the Sun in the Zodiac. The Practice then of this Art, since first Man begun to lose the Reins of his Choler, (continued through a long Tract of Ages to this hour) having rendered it no less honourable than its first Institution was , it cannot but be agreeable to the Genius of Mankind, to prosecute an Art Necessary, Useful, and Honourable. Nor is the use of Arms (even the length of an Imaginary War) to be intermitted in the highest Crisis of the most serene Peace, unless the one half of the World resolve to become slaves to the other; Liberty being situate like the Brain, which though it rest secure in the immediate embraces of a P●a Mater, yet if not guarded by the triple Contravallation of a dura Mater, Scull and Pericranium, the first being a very tender Membrane, were not able of itself to protect it from Injury: So Peace, if not fortified by a continual Guard and a constant Exercise of Arms, is not able of itself to preserve itself, nor maintain the Liberty of the great Monarchies or smallest Estates and Republics; as the jealous Practice of Luca, Geneve, Ragouse, and many other States do fully evidence; nor do I think that Nation worthy of Peace, who neglects the use of Arms, when they have attained it. Besides, my Lord, if I were Umpire in the Quarrel betwixt those two famous Rivals of the World, Peace and War; I could almost declare the First more injurious to the Latter, than the Latter to it; War both procuring and preserving Peace: But Peace (somewhat ungrate) in a few years ofttimes destroying its Rival, rendering the Spirits of Men by soft ease, and its consequences, so unapt for War, as by this subtle insinuation of Peace, like that of the Serpent in Paradise, Nations have on a sudden forfeit their Liberty, Honour and Peace itself. This Consideration made the Poet justly exclaim of the state of the Roman Empire in his time, Nunc patimur longae Pacis mala, saevior armis Luxuria incubuit, victumque ulciscitur Orbem. The repose of a few months in Capua made soon an Army that had jumped over the Pyrences and Alps, as though they had been Mole hills, sweeped with their very breath their way to Cannae, and from thence cut out a passage to Rome; and became so terrible, as Fame itself could hardly represent the Valour of it in her magnifying Glass: This same formidable and well disciplined Army, a few month's ease made no less contemptible and ridiculous than a Company of drunken Boors at a Low-Dutch Fair. Whereas the Practice and Use of warlike Exercises in time of Peace, preserves and maintains it firmly; no Nation being more secure, than that which is perfect in the Art of War. The Conquest of the soft and peaceable Eastern Nations, was but the business of an ordinary Compagne or two, to the meanest of the Roman Generals; those effeminate Gallants hugging so their Delilah of Peace, as they permitted her to cut their Hair, and deprive them of both Strength and Courage: But, to disturb the peace of the Western or Northern Nations accustomed to War, was a Province only for a Caesar, a Germanicus, an Agricola, or the like, Nec facile vincuntur vincere, (non vinci) assueti. Pray, what did all the Romans huffings upon the Rhine for some hundred years produce? when they thought forsooth they had secured that vast Continent betwixt the Alps and the German-Ocean, what says their Noble and Ingenuous Historian? why after he has reckoned up a great many Consuls, Generals, Emperors, affronted, disgraced, and defeat in subduing those stubborn Warriors, many Legions cut off, much Time and Treasure spent, Germani (says he) magis triumphati quam victi sunt; they were forced for honour's cause, to rest contented with an imaginary Conquest of that warlike Nation; a virtue so transmitted to their posterity, that how dear the Germans yet esteem their Liberty, may appear by our weekly Gazettes. Nay this very day we know, that the Turk having found the Business with the Stern and Martial Pole too hot, has now tacked about, and is forced to turn his conquering Arms against the more peaceable and soft Russian, whom if not assisted by the other Europaeans, he may bring in some Distress. To relate how much our Nation, (however traduced by our unkind scribbling Neighbours) has maintained its Liberty against a●● Assailants, and though sometimes overrun by powerful Armies, yet never losing Courage, or embracing the title of Conquered (as those who brag more of their valour have done) but still rallying and recovering their ground, not to be conquered by Arms, but a glorious Succession only; were, my Lord, to make an History of an intended Epistle Dedicatory, and therefore rather to be pointed at, than tyrannically to impose the Patience upon your Lordship of an ample Rehearsal: which should I in this place attempt, the same might be said of this Piece, as the Stoic said of the city Mindas, the Ports were so big, and the Town so little, he was afraid it might escape out at the Ports. Upon these grounds then, my Lord, having endeavoured to prove that the exercise of War is the only Bulwark of Peace; I do now subsume, at least presume, that amongst all the methods of War known in History, that of Archery, being since the memory of Man universally practised (though now by the use of fire-arms almost only reserved for sport) is the most noble and useful, and by consequence the most necessary to be cultivate, whilst now we are blessed with Peace, that we may be in readiness for War; the Bow having been, before the invention of Guns, the only received weapon, and if well used, I am confident of equal force in Battle, though not of so much noise, as the Musket, now only in use amongst those, whose Predecessors excelled in Archery, and the use of Bow. Since then, my Lord, your Lordship has thought it worth your pains to revive in this Nation, the almost extinguished Art of Archery, and by your own Example (worthy of one descended of so Noble and Ancient a Line of Ancestors, Famous both in Peace and War) to encourage all the Nobility, Gentry, and Commons of this Kingdom, to resume the Exercise of an Art so much hitherto neglected. As the whole Nation with one voice do own the Obligation to your Lordship's generous Endeavours, hoping that from your Lordship's Original, many thousand Copies may be quickly dispersed, and transmitted to Posterity. So I having the honour to be of that worthy Society, of which your Lordship is pleased to receive the Title of Captain; and not in good capacity to attend your Lordship in the Compliment of Parade (being yet but a bad Proficient in the Art) am ambitious by another Art (in which I pretend to some smattering Knowledge) to demonstrate in the ensuing Poëtical Essay, how much in the general Concurrence of the Nation, a particular Person may express himself, My Lord, Your Lordship's most Humble and most Devoted. W. C. Archery Revived. TO rake the Bowels of Antiquity, In se●ting out the Praise of Archery; Or rouse our valiant Predecessors Ghosts, Of whose bold Actings grave tradition boasts, Only to show us how in every Age Our Archer did excel, in Martial Rage; Or state the Question 'twixt the Bow and Gun, Which of those Champions have most Honour won? Or which o'th' two in Field most useful are, To carry on the Motions of a War? Were a brave Subject, such as might infuse Thoughts, worth the Labour of a Nobler Muse To mould in Verse, than any I pretend To be of my acquaintance; And if penned By one whose envied Leisure doth licence, With what in others we can scarce dispense, Though done in fashion of a scantling Proëme, Would bear the Name of an Heroic Poëme. But I who am allowed by sullen Fate To live in silence, 'cause our wits do hate All Native Product; and with pain do read Aught that derives its Birth from this side Tweed, I cannot safely trade in such a Theme, Unless I entered in a stranger's name, And so perhaps it may procure Esteem: For where our own will strictly surveyed be, A strangers would at least pass Censure-free. Yet maugre all those counter-checks of Fate, I'll venture on it, and expatiate A little on the Subject: 'specially In honour of a brave fraternity: Whose joint endeavours might with ease contrive A better Art than this, far more revive An Art scarce yet extinct, an Art which all Once practised; an Art Epidemical. Yet will I not extol this Art so high, As with its rivals may beget envy: Decrying Wars inventions of late; No, I'll not bend my Bow at such a rate: Lest while in praise of Archery I sing, The Bow too much bend may un-nock the string. Nor will I give directions for the Bow, That were to teach an Art, I do not know: But modestly i'll comment on the Game, In praise of all who bear an Archers name. " For many one do talk, (as all men know) " Of Robinhood, who ne'er shot in his Bow. If Arts perfection do consist in that, We thereby nature strive to imitate: And every Art derives its excellence From its proximity to nature; thence Archery may be termed the noblest Art, Which humane genius ever did impart. It so approaches nature 'tis the same, And differs from't in nothing but the name. The Bull wi●h horn, the Lion with his paw Defends himself, and fights by nature's law, And man by the same rule his Bow doth draw. The Bow so ancient in its primitive use, As it appears, Dame nature did infuse The knowledge of it, to be learned by nought But proper instinct: and so cheaply bought, As those, who ne'er were blest with knowing Art; Yet, in this knowledge, have been f●und expert. Witness those Heroes, who practised the Game, Before invention did receive a name. Before the race of man yet understood, What 'twas to bathe their shafts in humane blood: Before their choler did advance so far, As to engage them in a civil war. These only used their Bows to purchase food, So much as frugal nature then allowed; Fierce in the sport, and eager in the chase, Of all alive, save their own species. Yea, wh●n the race increased, and private jars At first d d squander into open wars; The Bow did chief serve them, to annoy Each other, which before they did employ In sports more innocent: and with such force They'd use their Bows, as neither Foot, nor Horse Can then sustain their fury: nothing more Destructive of mankind: and where before Through Herds of beasts their Arrows would make way, They now were forced to fight themselves at bay Against each other: whilst the Birds and Beasts, (Who looked upon men's battles as their Feasts,) Would stand aloof, until the angry Bow Had done its office; and revenged so Their quarrel, than they would advance apace, And feed upon the bleeding carcases, Tearing the bowels of the yet halfdead Of such as on their Ancestors did feed: These were the only Victors, of the prey These Masters were, who ever had the day. Plump with such food, they'd to the Woods resort, Where man pursuing of his native sport, Would kill those Conqerors; and so feed upon His own flesh in a piece of Venison. Thus did the active Bow make sport and war, Assisting man, in what he e'er would dare So fortunately, as it soon became The proper instrument of a Warriors fame. When bold Columbus ploughed the western Seas, And with rude keel disturbed nature's ease; Approaching gently to that happy shore, Which never had seen Masts, or Sails before; Some thousand Indians, with their Bows in hand Appeared to dispute his descent on Land; Those naked varlets, who no art did know, Pray who did teach those Lads the use of Bow? From th'other World by Seas so separate, As amongst some it has begot debate, How these came thither from mount Ararat: From Africa then, Europe, or Asia Had they this Art? no, sure, by nature's law They learned this Art at first, for self-defence, From which the art of War did soon commence. Nor can we think that from those savages This noble Art to our World crossed the Seas; Since ages, before that discovery Each part o'th' World practised Archery. All this kind nature taught then, t'evidence Her care for man's food, and his self-defence: She generously taught her Sons to know No other weapon, but the nervous Bow; Of which the constant, and delightful use Did soon the art of Archery produce; An Art so graceful, as doth plainly show What pleasure nature taketh in the Bow Strong nerves, straight joints, a daring, constant eye, Are requisite for complete Archery, All which a complete nature do imply. The Bow doth courage, health, and strength improve, Refresheth nature, gently doth remove Noisome distempers, purifies the blood, Increaseth nature's heat, digests the good And wholesome nutriment: expels the bad, Cherisheth jovial minds, revives the sad Dejected spirits, who at any price Should much frequent this generous exercise. In fine, this Art with nature so complies, It hath the same friends, the same enemies: Who e'er loves health, and strength, will love this Art, Practise it often, hug it in his heart; And who loves neither, but desires to die, Is both this Art, and nature's enemy. This Art our Ancestors so well did know, How both in war, and sport to use the Bow; That when their rage did cool, and softer peace Allowed their wearied spirits some small surcease From wars consuming toil; lest idleness Might damp their courage, and perhaps oppress Th●ir active Vitals: they would still foment Their generous sports with the same instrument. Each Youth with Bow, and Quiver furnished With store of pointed Arrows, mustered In time, and places ordered by the Law, In select Bands, This fair Militia Would with such art, and vigour use the Bow, And of their action make so goodly show: Such flights of Arrows at one lusty draught Of brawny arms, whom exercise had taught, Would pierce the trembling azure altogether, With such a force, as one should scarce know whether Those sprightly Archers loved best peace, of war, Making those sports only preliminar To bloody conflicts. For when th'exercise O'th' Bow, had made them gallantly despise All battel-hazards, then with such delight, With Bow in hand they'd march up to the fight, As if they were in Butts to snoot at white. Who then had viewed our armies, would have said He see the pride of nature there displayed; To see whole Squadrons of tall Archers stretch Their joints at once, as if they meant to reach Their enemies with fists: and then advance, With graceful pace as if they were to dance; Full stretched nerv's, and bodies full erected, With cheerful aspect, which they much affected: Then letting fly their Arrows all at once, They'd make the welkin whistle for the nonce. Rebounding strings such music would afford, As did Arion, when thrown over board. Which had Pythagoras heard, he had declared That of his Planets nought with this compared. These gallant Warriors fought with such a grace, Their bodies falling covered the place, Where e'rst they stood, and now depryved of breath, They yet appeared even graceful in their death. A feathered Arrow in each bleeding breast The valour of our Archers would attest. The winged shaft did seldom miss its aim, Such was the cunning of the noble Game. What brave exploits have been performed by Bows, Who has but tasted history, fully knows, They're famous in the mouths of every Boy Who has at Schools rehearsed the siege of Troy. The Amazonian valour to this day Famous in history plainly doth display How much this active Art was in esteem, By which a few Girls did procure the name Of brave redoubted Warriors; and 'tis known How terrible the name of Amazon Was to the Eastern Nations; and how far These Lasses did extend their fame by war, Against the greatest Monarches then in power, Whose guards one would ha'thought, might soon devour Such troops of naked Sluts: yet by this Art, (In which 'bove others they were then expert) They have brought strong and numerous Armies low, And made the Sword and Lance stoop to the Bow. The Parthian Archer in his cunning Flight, Would with his arrows so renew the Fight, As those, who did pursue their Victory, Were conquered by this subtle Archery. The Scythian now by name of Tartar known, Has won great Honour by this art alone; Fight on Horse back with his Iron-bow Great Armies he does quickly overthrow, And to this day the archer Scythian Is terrible to th' Pole and Russian. The English Monarches in their wars of France, Did by the Bow their Honour much advance, In three great Battles famous to this hour, Of Cressie, Pottiers, and of Agineour: Whose grave Historians do confess they own These Successes entirely to the Bow. Nor has our Nation less practised the Game, And by the Bow deserve their share of Fame; Witness our wars with Romans, Picts and Danes. Whose Memory in Marble yet remains: Where the brave Archer oft did overthrow Well ordered Legions, with his faithful Bow: By this our Kings their Crown and Sceptre held, By this the English Force we oft repelled, Maintaining stoutly those inhuman Jars, Scarce by the Union yet made Civil Wars. Since first the Balliols' unhappy Case, Umpyred by Edward Longshanks broke the Peace; The two brave Nations, living formerly In strictest Bonds of love, and amity, Begun to bristle, and have ever since, (Till become Subjects of one Glorious Prince) Dispute the Case so warmly, as (God knows) What slaughter on each side, by stubborn Bows Have been performed: what Romans, Saxons, Danes, And Normans spared, that Blood, on British plains, By British hands, so prodigally spent, Shows that our Bows in vain were never bend, From Trent to Tine, from thence to th'Banks of Tweed, Forth, Tay, and Clyde, who cannot plainly read The History of our Islands wars, and thence May understand both Nation's Excellence, In knowledge of the Use of warlike Bow, Better than from Speed, Hollingshed, or Stow; Who by their bold writing Prerogative, Do always place us on the Defensive. Though some of their own Writers do aver, The one as oft as th'other Vanquisher. But as our Difference one Succession wrought, So has another to this Island brought, A fair Atonement, making Quarrels cease, And (save in words) has bound us to the Peace. All these were Feathered Wars, and justly claim No small proportion in the Wings of Fame: Our Nation in the Bow did much delight, Whether they were for Sport, or meant to fight. Though now with use of Fire-arms so endued, The Bow has almost gone in Desuetude: If so the ancient Scots, who still remain In their first Love, did not yet entertain This Princely Art, which else would sure expire, If like the Embers of an evening Fire, The Northern Climate had not all this while, Cherished this Art, and keeped it on the File; Glenlivet Battle, where Historians say, The Arrows did obscure the light of day For some good space, doth openly declare, How much in this art the bold Highlander Excels; to those, to those alone we own, The Relics of th'almost extinguished Bow. Hence a most Noble Hero much inclined, Yet to revive this Art, has now designed T'erect again the Arms of Archery, And counterbalance bold antiquity, In a most flourishing Society. To whose Endeavours, since the Nation owes The now received Exercise of Bows: Were I as knowing in Thalîas' art, As these are in the use of Bows expert, I'd sing the boisterous thundering Cannon dumb, In the Clarind of their Encomium. Yet I am hopeful by this rude Essay, I may to quainter Muses show the way, And usher in, of some more happy Brain, The richer Fancy, and excite their Pen. And now, though I did promise formerly, I ' de not wars late inventions decry; Yet warm i'th' Subject, I cannot refrain, But must a little on our Times complain, Who have caressed these late Inventions so, As 've too much neglected th'use of Bow. Pity then, such an Art should be outdone, By th'airy Fanfara's of Monsieur Gun, That roaring Gallant, who the world doth choke By his continual Storms of Fire and Smoak. That flaming Hector, whose asiduous Use, Has made the world a mere Vesuvious. Proud of his Conquests, o'er the generous Bow In Brazil, Peru, and in Mexico; Where with his (there unheardof) Smoke and Thunder, He broke the Archer-squadrons all asunder. On him do all now , and plainly show A general Contempt o'th' Noble Bow. Our Gallants now in Gun do so delight, As they their worthy ancestors do slight, Upbraiding them for their so mean a choice, As that o'th' Bow, an Exercise for Boys, Compared with their Monks-Brat, that Spurious Rogue By heaven's anger only now in vogue: Who doth derive his Genealogy, From an officious Piece of Chemistry, Conceived without Nature or Arts Consent, And thrust into the world by Accident. Yet has this Monster gained so great applause, As both to War and Peace he now gives Laws; Yea at this time, our Gunners possibly Do look upon this Show of Archery, As a mere formal piece of Pageantry. Well, Gentlemen, who knows but in the Nation, Th'old-fashioned Bow may yet become in Fashion; This is but its first Trial, and we hope Our Archers shortly may the Gunning-fop Out-ballance; nay perhaps ere all be done, He'll quash the roaring Language of the Gun. " Mean time speak good of Archers, and be low, " For all your Fathers shot once in a Bow. FINIS.