Gods Three Arrows, Section 18 – Appendix 2
§. 18. Of warlike recreations.
WEre your Artillery exerciſes onelyonly for recreation, they are the beſt recreations that can be uſed. Were there at this time no need or uſe of them, they may be herafter of abſolute neceſſity. Delight in the things which men do, ſwalloweth up the pains that is taken about them, makes men the more diligent and conſtant in their exerciſes, and bringeth them to the greater experience & perfection therein. Not only expert ſouldiers, but experienced Captains alſo are made by Military recreations uſed in Artillery Gardens. So as if ſuddenly Armies were to be raiſed of more men then all the Military Companies can afford, yet might ſufficient ſtore of Captains, and other Commanders and Officers be taken out of your Companies to governe and guide, to inſtruct and encourage ſuch as for want of former exerciſing were altogether inexperienced. Of the fifty thouſand that out of Zabulon came to David in Hebron, by way of commendation, it is ſaid that they could ſet a battell in array, and lead an 1 Chron. 12. 33, 38.army. This implieth, that by their practiſing of Artillery exerciſes, they were all able to lead and order armies, to ſet them in array, and go before them. Beſides the policy of other nations and ages, our Anceſtors will diſcerned the need, uſe, and benefit of ſuch recreations as might fit men for War: which moved them to make ſuch ſtrict Statute Lawes for the exerciſe of ſhooting, as they did: For,
1. Every Maſter of a Family (except ſpirituall men, & Iuſtices 9. Statute in 33. yeare of Hen. 8.of one Bench or other) was to exerciſe ſhooting himſelf.
2. He was to keep bows & arrows continually in his houſe.
3. He was to bring up thoſe that were in his houſe in the exerciſe of ſhooting.
4. If he ſuffred any betwixt the age of 7 and 17, ſon or ſervant to abide in his houſe without bow or arrowes a monethmonth together, for every ſuch default he was to pay 40 ſhillings.
5. If a ſervant took wages, his Maſter might buy him bow, and arrowes, and deduct the price out of his wages.
6. If any man-ſervant betwixt the yeares of 17 and 60, that took wages, were a monethmonth without bow and arrowes, for every ſuch default he forfeited 6 ſhillings and 8 pence.
In thoſe daies guns (the ſure and ſore meſſengers of death) were not ſo in uſe as now they are. Strength and skill in ſhooting was it that made our Engliſh nation famous for War. Their exerciſe therof in time of peace, and that for recreation, made them ſo expert as they were therein, at times of War. The *Gen. 48. 22. Ioſ. 24 12. 1 King. 22. 34. 2 King. 6. 22.—9. 24.—13. 15, &c. 1 Chron. 5. 18.—8. 40.—12 2.—17. 17.—…6. 14.—35. 23. Pſal. 44. 6.—76. 3.frequent mention of bowes and arrowes, in Scripture, as inſtruments of War, ſheweth that of ancient time they have been uſed to that purpoſe: and a1 Sam. 20. 20.Ionathans uſing his bow and arrowes for recreation, ſheweth that of old among Gods people ſuch recreations were uſed as might the better fit men to War. The men of Gibeah without queſtion from their youth were exerciſed in ſport, to ſling ſtones at a marke, or els they could never have attained to ſuch extraordinary skill, as to bIudg. 20. 16. 1 Chron. 12. 2.ſling ſtones at an haires breadth and not faile. The skill which the men of Benjamin (of which Tribe thoſe Gibeonites were) are after this noted to have in ſlinging ſtones with the right and left hand, ſheweth, that this was an uſuall exerciſe of the youth and men of that Tribe.
Such recreations in peace as are preparations unto War, juſtly deſerve to be reckoned up among thoſe neceſſary vocations whereby Polities are preſerued: and while you are exerciſing your ſelves therein, you are imployed in your calling, and you go on in that way, where in God promiſeth to give his Angels charge over you, to beare you up in their hands, Pſal. 91. 11, 12.leaſt you daſh your feet against a ſtone.
§. 19. Of neglect of Artillery exerciſes.
VVHen I duly weigh that little which hath been ſaid, and withall conſider how much more might be ſaid of, and for the warrant, honour, need, uſe, and benefit of your Artillery profeſſion, I cannot ſufficiently wonder at the blindnes, careleſnes, improvidence, and ſecurity of this our age, in neglecting and diſ-reſpecting a matter of ſo great conſequence, ſo nearly concerning the glory, tranquillity, and ſafety of the whole land, and of all ſocieties and ſeverall perſons therin. Me thinks that it is more then meet that every City and Corporation, if not every Towne and Village throughout the Land, ſhould have an Artillery Garden: and that the great populous Cities, eſpecially LONDON, ſhould have as many Artillery Gardens, as it hath Wards: and that publique allowances ſhould be afforded to ſuch as willingly offer themſelves to theſe Military exerciſes. I have heard of liberall legacies and bountifull donations given for making Cawſies, mending High-waies, building Bridges, and other ſuch like works, but little or nothing for purchaſing and maintaining Artillery Gardens, and the Warlike exerciſes appertaining thereto. I cannot therfore much wonder that there are no more ſuch Companies as yours is, and no more of your Company.
§. 20. Of applying all to the preſent Artillery Gentlemen.
BVt becauſe every rare thing is precious, I rejoyce that you are of thoſe, who, by how much the more rare they Quia omne rarum pretioſum, gaudeo te de illis eſſe, qui quanto rariores, tanto apparebūt glorioſiores. Bern. Ep 1. ad Rob. nep ſuum.are, by ſo much the more glorious they appeare to be. By you it muſt be effected, if it be effected, that the ancient Engliſh name and Renowne for Martiall diſcipline be preſerved (if not repaired alſo) and propagated to poſterity. Be not therefore now ſlacke in proſecuting that which you have ſo well begun. Be diligent to keep your training daies, and to exerciſe your armes, that ſuch as by much practice are well experienced, may be preſidents and patterns to others: and thoſe others by like conſtant practice may attaine to anſwerable experience. Let no diſcouragements diſmay you. The leſſe encouragement you have from others, the greater is your praiſe, that ſo willingly take ſuch paines at your owne coſt, to make your ſelves ſerviceable for the defence, ſecurity, and ſafety of the Land and Kingdome where you live. In you my Text is in our daies and Land verified; for of you it may be truly ſaid, THEY were MEN of WARRE.
FINIS.
Since Englands Deliverances (noted in The Churches Conqueſt, §. 93.) were printed, I found a remarkable one omitted, which I had rather ſhould be here ſet out of place, then not ſet downe at all. Mr. Camden thus relates it.
OVt of the ſmothered fire of the rebellion in the North, there brake forth as it were out of the embers, a new flame, at Naworth in Cumberland neare the wall of Severus, called Picts Wall: kindled by Leonard Dacres ſecond ſonne to William Lord Dacres of Gilleſland. This Leonard Dacres (when the Lord Dacres his Nephew by his elder brother died) ſtomacked much that ſo goodly an inheritance was come by law to his Neeces (whom the Duke of Norfolke their father in law had betrothed to his ſonnes) and commenced ſuit againſt them: which, when it proceeded not according to his deſire, he fell to plotting and practicing with the Rebels. But when they had taken up the banners of Rebellion ſooner then he thought, and were proclaimed Enemies to their Country, whiles he was at Court, he was admitted to ſalute the Queene, tendring her his beſt ſervice againſt the Rebels, and in that reſpect was ſent home againe. By the way (as was found afterwards) he imparted counſailes with them by Meſſengers that went betweene him and them: and incouraged them, promiſing great matters from the Ambaſſadours of forraigne Princes: and amongſt other things, that he (having levied men in the Queenes name) would make away the Lord Scroope Warden of the Weſt March, and the Biſhop of Carleole: which when he could not effect, he ſent letters of Commendations after the Earles that were flying to the Scots, ſeized upon the Castle of Greiſtoke and other houſes belonging to the Dacres, fortified the Caſtle of Naworth as his owne inheritance, and under colour of defending his owne and reſiſting the Rebels, gathered together 3000 of the Rank-riders of the borders, and ſome others which were moſt devoted to the Dacres, which in that tract was a name of great reputation. Againſt theſe marcheth the Lord Hunſdon with the old garriſon ſouldiers of Barwicke. The Rebels not truſting to their ſtrong holds, march forth to encounter him: and a three cornered battell flanked on every ſide with horſemen, receive him at the little river Gelt. The fight was maintained on both ſides very ſharply: and Leonard (though he were crook-backed) omitted nothing that could be required in a moſt valiant Leader: but after very many of his men were ſlaine, he left the victory (though with ſmall joy) to the Lord Hunſdon, and withdrew himſelf into Scotland hard by: from whence ſhortly after he croſſed the Seas into the Low Countries, and died a poore man at Lovaine: ſo as it ſeemeth his father was not much deceived, who upon his death-bed, prayed God to ſend him much ſorrow for his diſobedience.
After the forementioned defeate a letter (26. Febr. 1569.) was drawne and preſented by the Secretary of State unto her Majeſtie to ſigne: which was a letter of thankes to the Lord Hunſdon for his good ſervice in that overthrow: it being the very firſt act (as that letter intimates) that ever was executed by fight in field in her time againſt any rebels. With that letter, which ſhe ſent but did not ſigne, ſhe wrote of her ſelfe and with her owne hand on the ſame leafe this enſuing letter, which by the helpe of a Gentleman my friend and neighbour, I came to ſight of. And, becauſe it is worthy of all memory, pertinent to the forementioned ſtory, full of encouragement to faithfull Subjects and valiant Soldiers, and for the honour of that noble Family ſo nearly all…ed to her, and ſince ſo honoured by his Majeſty, I have made bold to publiſh it word for word, not altering one ſyllable or letter therein, nor the manner of expreſſing or placing her name.
Your loving kinneswoman Elizabeth R
I Doute muche my Harrie wither that the victorye given me more joyed me or that you wer by God appointed the instrument of my glory and I aſſure you for my countries good the first might ſuffice but for my harts contentation the ſecond more pleaſed me It likes me not a litell that with a good teſtimony of your faithe ther is ſeen a ſtout courage of your mind that more truſted to the goodnes of your quarell than to the wekenes of your nomber Well I can ſay no more beatus eſt ille ſervus quem cum Dominus venerit inveniet faciendo ſua mandata And that you may not thinke that you have done nothing for your profit thogh you have done muche for your honor I intend to make this jorny ſomewhat to increaſe your livelode that you may not ſay to your ſelfe perditur quod factum eſt ingratae.