A Proclamation for the Use of the Bowe and Pike together in Military Discipline.
A. D. 1633. Pat. 9. Car. 1. p.[SUP]6[/SUP] n. 9. dors.
Whereas in former tyme bowes and arrowes have been found serviceable weapons for the wars, whereby great victories and conquests have been gotten, and by sundry statutes the use thereof hath been enjoyned; which statutes are still in force, and we expert that our subjects should conform themselves thereunto, knowing the exercise of shooting to be a means to preserve health, strength, and agility of body, and to avoid idleness, unlawfull disports, drunkenness, and such like enormities and disorders, which are too frequent among our people.
And whereas our loving subject William Nead, an ancient archer, hath presented unto us a warlike invention, of the use of the bowe with the pike together, whereby every pikeman may also be a bowman; which warlike service, we, together with our counsell of state and counsell of war, have seen exercised in military discipline, and we do approve the fame to be serviceable and usefull in tyme of warr, and have by our commissions under our great feal of England, authorised the said William Nead, and William Nead his son, whom he hath instructed, to teach and exercise our loving subjects therein: and to that end and purpose, we do by this our proclamation signifie our will and pleasure; that the use and exercise of the bowe and pike together, shall be put together within this our realm of England, and dominion of Wales, that all our loving subjects who are fit to exercise arms, and especially the chief officers of our trayned bands, may be instructed therein, by such ways, and in such manner as shall be prescribed and directed by the said William Nead, and William Nead, or either of them, and those whom either of them shall have sufficiently instructed and deputed in that behalf, at such convenient times and places as shall be appointed by the deputy-lieutenants, or justices of the peace in every county, mayors, bailiffs, constables, and other head officers in every city or town corporate respectively, so that the same may be done without prejudice or hindrance to general musters, trayning, or other publick affairs, willing and requiring them and every of them respectively, upon notice given by the said William Nead, and William Nead, or either of them, or by such others as by either of them shall be thereunto appointed; that they, or some of them, do from tyme to tyme prescribe and appoint convenient tymes and places for the exercise of this warlike service, and by warrant or such other ways and means as shall seem most meet unto them, to cause such of our loving subjects as aforesaid to be present at such tyme and place, there to be exercised and made perfect in the use of the bow and the pike together in military discipline.
And that this our proclamation may take the better effect, we do hereby require and commaund all and singular deputy-lieutenants, and justices of peace, mayors, bailiffs, constables, and all other our officers, ministers and subjects whom it may concern respectively, that they and every of them be aiding and assisting unto the said William Nead, and William Nead, and persons deputed as aforesaid in the exercise and performance of the said premises, according to our will and pleasure herein declared, as they tender our pleasure, and will avoid the contrary, at their perills.
Given at our Court at Oateland, this 12th day of August.
Per ipsum Regem.
