Toxophilus, originally
published in 1545, is considered to be the first book on archery
written in English. This comprehensive treatise on longbow archery
provides a fascinating insight into historical shooting.
"how
honest a pastime for the mind, how wholesome an exercise for the body" -
Roger Ascham
The work
comprises two books combined together: The First Book of the
School of Shooting and The Second Book of the
School of Shooting. They are written in the form of a
dialogue between Toxophilus 'A lover of the bow' and Philogus 'A lover
of learning'. In the discussion, Toxophilus justifies his love of
archery as a pastime, puts forward his reasons for retaining the bow as a
weapon of war instead of the newly favoured hand gun, and he gives
practical instructions on the technique of shooting in the
bow.
This antiquarian
book will appeal to those with an interest in the history and
development of the use of a bow and arrow, and it would make for the
perfect addition to collections of related literature. Many old books
such as this are increasingly hard-to-come-by and expensive, and it is
with this in mind that we are republishing this text in an
affordable, modern edition complete with a new prefatory biography of
the author.
Contents
include:
- Introduction
- Chronicle
of Life, Work, and Times of Roger
Ascham
- Apologia
- The Royal
Arms
- Dedication to King Henry
VIII
- To All Gentlemen and Yeoman of
England
- The First Book of the School of
Shooting
- The Second School of
Shooting
- Glossary of Old
Words
- Imprints of the first two editions of
Toxophilus
- Notes on the Glossary of Old
Words
- Additional Archery
Terminology
