the military spirit during this
age, was the reviving and extending of some old laws enacted for the
encouragement of archery, on which the defence of the kingdom was
supposed much to depend. Every man was ordered to have a bow;[v] butts
were ordered to be erected in every parish;[v*] and every bowyer was
ordered, for each bow of yew which he made, to make two of elm or witch,
for the service of the common people.[v**] The use of crossbows and
handguns was also prohibited.[v***]

* 23 Henry VIII. c. 1.

** 26 Henry VIII. c. 13.

*** 32 Henry VIII. c. 12.

**** 22 Henry VIII. c. 14.

v 3 Henry VIII. c. 3.

V* 3 Henry VIII. c. 3.

V** 3 Henry VIII c. 3.

V*** 3 Henry VIII. c. 13.

What rendered the English bowmen more formidable was, that they carried
halberts with them, by which they were enabled, upon occasion, to engage
in close fight with the enemy.[*] Frequent musters or arrays were also
made of the people, even during time of peace; and all men of substance
were obliged to have a complete suit of armor or harness, as it was
called.[**] The martial spirit of the English, during that age, rendered
this precaution, it was thought, sufficient for the defence of the
nation; and as the king had then an absolute power of commanding the
service of all his subjects, he could instantly, in case of danger,
appoint new officers, and levy regiments, and collect an army as
numerous as he pleased. When no faction or division prevailed among
the people, there was no foreign power that ever thought of invading
England. The city of London alone, could muster fifteen thousand
men.[***] Discipline, however, was an advantage wanting to those troops;
though the garrison of Calais was a nursery of officers, and Tournay
first,[****] Boulogne afterwards, served to increase the number. Every
one who served abroad was allowed to alienate his lands without paying
any fees.[v] A general permission was granted to dispose of land by
will.[v*] The parliament was so little jealous of its privileges, (which
indeed were, at that time, scarcely worth preserving,) that there is an
instance of one Strode, who, because he had introduced into the lower
house some bill regarding tin, was severely treated by the stannery
courts in Cornwall: heavy fines were imposed on him; and upon his
refusal to pay, he was thrown into a dungeon, loaded with irons, and
used in such a manner as brought his l