University of Virginia Library

The second Entertainment.

At Bun-hill, on the Shooting day; Another habited like an Archer did thus greet the L. Mayor and Aldermen after they were placed in their Tent.
Why this is nobly done, to come to grace
A Sport, so wel becomes the Time & Place,
Old Time made much on't, & it thought no praise
Too deere for't, nor no honour in those dayes,
Not only Kings ordaind Lawes to defend it,
But shinde the first Examples to commend it,
In their owne Persons honord it so farre,
A Land of Peace show'd like a field of Warre;
But chiefly Henry, (Memories Fame) the Eight,
And the Sixt Edward; gaue it worth and weight,
By Act and fauour, (not without desert)
It being the comliest and the Manliest Art,
And whereas meaner Crafts took their first forme
From humble Things, as Twisting from a worme,
And Weauing from the Spiders limber frame;
Musicke and Archery from Apollo came:
He cals himself great Maister of this Sport,
In whose bright name faire Wisedome keepes her Court:
Well may this Instrument be first in Fame,
Aboue all others that haue got a Name,
In war or peace; when Heauen it selfe doth show,
“The Couenant of Mercy, by a Bow:
And as each Creature, nay, each sencelesse Thing,
Is made a Glasse to see Heauens goodnesse in;
So though this be a meere delight, a Game,
Iustice may see heere somthing she may claime,
(Without wrong done to State) and cal't her own,
Since the greatst power is oft through weakenesse known.
What are Reproofs? with thē I first begin,
But Arrowes shot against the Brest of Sin;
Who hits Vice home, & cleaues a wrong in twaine,
So that it neuer comes to close againe,
Shewes not he noble Archery? Ile pray euer,
He may be followed, mended he can neuer:
And as a cunning Bowman markes his ground,
And frō light things (which being tost vp) is found
Where the winde sits (for his aduantage best)
Before he let his Arrow passe his Brest;
So the graue Magistrate, discreetly wise,
Makes vse of light occasions that arise,
To lead him on to weightier, windes a Cause,
Frō things but weakly told, much substance draws
And will the state of Truth exactly trye,
Before he let the Shaft of Iudgement flie:
Then in this Art, there's Vertue still exprest,
For euery man desires heere to be Best,
Their Ayme is still Perfection, to outreach,
And goe beyond each other; which do's teach
A Noble Strife in our more serious Deeds,
Assuring Glory to him best exceeds:
And where some sports seek corners for their shame
Day-light and open Place, commends this Game;
Much like an Honest Cause, it appeares Bold
In publicke Court, for all Eyes to behold;
To the Archers.
On then, Apolloes Scholers, You ne're found
Nobler Spectators compast in this Ground;
To whom I wish (worthy their Vertuous Wayes)
Peace to their Hearts, long Health, & Blessed daies.