Of  sixty  and  wdl  mo )
That  I  durrt  not  shoot  for  dreade
Lest  they  would  me  iloa**

OUSailad,


It  was  In  the  sports  of  tlie  field  only,  that  the  ancient
inhabitants  of  France  used  the  long  bow  with  any  considerable
address.     Their  princes,  indeed,  with  the  warlike  dukes  of


208  THE   BOOK    OF    ARCHERY.
Burgundy,  and  other  independent  nobles,  laboured  for  centuries
to  create  efficient  bands  of  military  archers  in  their  respective
dominions.  Sensible  of  the  advantages  which  would  result  from
being  able  to  combat  the  English  with  their  own  weapons,
during  the  scourging  visitations  of  those  "  nock  shotten
islanders,"  they  heaped  honours  and  rewards  upon  all  who
excelled  in  drawing  the  bow.*  '<  Ordonnons,"  says  the  decree
issued  to  promote  this  object  by  Charles  VII.  <*qu'en  chaque
paroisse  de  notre  royaume,  y  aura  un  archer  qui  sera,  et  se  tiendra
continuellement  en  habillement  sufRsant,  et  seront  appell6s  les
francs  archers.  £t  seront  tenus  en  habillement  sous  dit,  et  de
tirer  k  Tare,  et  aller  en  leur  habillement  toutes  les  fastes  et  jours
non  ouvrables,"  &c,  &c.  But  experience  at  length  convinced
them  of  the  vanity  of  these  attempts.  ''  In  the  end,*'  says  a
passage  from  one  of  the  Harleian  MSS.,  "  the  French  king  and
the  captains  of  many  nations  did  manifestly  see,  that  neither  his,
nor  any  other  people,  could  attain  to  shoot  so  strong,  and  with
that  dexterity  and  excellence  which  the  English  bowmen  did.
