THE SCHOOLE OP SHOOTYNGE 37
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hich you knowe better than I. For everye newe thjmgemuste alwayes have more than it neadeth, or elles it wyllnot waxe better and better, but ever decaye, and be worseand worse. Newe ale if it runne not over the barrell whanit is newe tunned, wil sone lease his pith, and his head aforehe be longe drawen on. And lyke wyse as that colte whyche at the fyrste takyngeyp, nedeth lytle breakyng and handlyng, but is fitte andgentle ynoughe for the saddle, seeldome or never provethwell, even so that bowe whyche at the fyrste byinge, wyth-out any more proofe and trimmjrnge, is fit and easie toshoote in, shall neyther be profitable to laste longe nor yetpleasant to shoote well. And therfore as a younge horsefull of corage, wyth handlynge and breakinge, is broughtunto a sure pace and goynge, so shall a newe bowe fressheand quicke of caste, by sinkyng and cuttyng, be brought toa stedfast shootyng. And an easie and gentle bow whan itis newe, is not much unlyke a softe spirited boye when heis younge. But yet as of an unrulie boye with right hand-Ijmg, proveth oftenest of al a well ordered man ; so of anunfit and staffysh bow with good trimming, muste nedesfolowe alwayes a stedfast shotynge bowe. And suche a perfite bowe, whiche never wyll deceyve aman, excepte a man deceyve it, must be had for that per-fecte ende, whyche you looke for in shootinge. Phi. Well Toxophile, I see wel you be cunninger in thisgere than T : but put case that I have thre or f ower suchegood bowes, pyked and dressed, as you now speke of, yet Ido remembre yat manye learned men do saye, that it iseasier to gette a good thynge, than to save and keepe a goodthyng, wherfore if you can teache me as concemyng thatpoynte, you have satisfyed me plentifuUye as concemyngea bowe. Tox. Trulye it was the nexte thyng that I woulde havecome unto, for so the matter laye. Whan you have broughte youre bowe to suche a pojmte,as I spake of, than you must have an herden or wuUen clothwaxed, wherwith every day you must rubbe and chafe yourbowe, tyll it shyne and glytter withall. Whyche thyngeshall cause it bothe to be cleane, well favoured, goodlye of
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