The Glory of the English Bow
The Bow-Mans Glory; or, Archery Revived. Giving an account of the many signal favours vouchsafed to Archers and Archery by those renowned monarchs, King Henry VIII. James, and Charles I. As by their several gracious Commissions here recited may appear. With a brief account of the Manner of the Archers marching on several days of Solemnity.
London: printed by S[amuel] R[oycroft] and are to be sold by Edward Gough at Cow-Cross, 1682.
Price: $5,750.00
About the item
First edition. Pp. [xvi], 78, [2]. A-F8. 2 parts in one volume, with second title page to second part (continuously paginated): “A Remembrance of the Worthy Shooting by the Duke of Shoreditch and His Associates the Worshipful Citizens of London upon Tuesday the 17th of September, 1583, by W.M.”. 1 vols. 12mo. The Glory of the English Bow. Period black morocco, boards with gilt fillet borders and central panel formed of a double rule and roll-tool of flowers, cornerpieces of gilt flowers, richly gilt spine with floral motifs, board edges gilt, a.e.g. Title page with paper repair in gutter. Wing W3416; Lake & Wright p. 318.
Item #239705
One of the more important archery books of the period after Ascham’s TOXOPHILUS (1545), written by Wood who was "Marshall to the Regiment of Archers." It is dedicated to Charles II and begins with a poem "In Praise of Archery," followed by the royal patents granting rights to archers - printed in black letter here. After the description of the 1583 tournament, there follows "A Brief Relation of the Several Appearances of Archers since His Majesties Restauration." Wood was for many years Marshal of the Finsbury Archers. He died on September 4, 1691, and at his burial three flights of whistling arrows, archer's honors, were discharged over his grave.
