<p><strong><em>Toxophilus</em>, 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. </strong></p><p><br></p><p>"how honest a pastime for the mind, how wholesome an exercise for the body" - Roger Ascham</p><p><br></p><p>The work comprises two books combined together: <em>The First Book of the School of Shooting</em> and <em>The Second Book of the School of Shooting</em>. 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.</p><p><br></p><p>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 now in an affordable, modern edition complete with a new prefatory biography of the author.</p><p><br></p><p>Contents include:</p><ul><li>Introduction</li><li>Chronicle of Life, Work, and Times of Roger Ascham</li><li>Apologia</li><li>The Royal Arms</li><li>Dedication to King Henry VIII</li><li>To All Gentlemen and Yeoman of England</li><li>The First Book of the School of Shooting</li><li>The Second School of Shooting</li><li>Glossary of Old Words</li><li>Imprints of the first two editions of Toxophilus</li><li>Notes on the Glossary of Old Words</li><li>Additional Archery Terminology</li></ul><p><br></p>