were shrinking from the tilt-yard, and
were backward on occasions even when required for war. Lord Surrey, when
waiting on the Border, expecting the Duke of Albany to invade the northern
counties, in 1523, complained of the growing "slowness" of the young lords
"to be at such journeys,"[67] and of their "inclination to dancing,
carding, and dicing." The people had followed the example, and were falling
out of archery practice, exchanging it for similar amusements. Henry VIII.,
in his earlier days an Englishman after the old type, set himself
resolutely to oppose these downward tendencies, and to brace again the
slackened sinews of the nation. In his own person he was the best rider,
the best lance, and the best archer in England; and while a boy he was
dreaming of fresh Agincourts, and even of fresh crusades. In 1511, when he
had been king only three years, parliament re-enacted the Winchester
statute, with new and remarkable provisions; and twice subsequently in the
course of his reign he returned back upon the subject, insisting upon it
with increasing stringency. The language of the Act of 1511 is not a little
striking. "The King's Highness," so the words run, "calling to his gracious
remembrance that by the feats and exercise of the subjects of his realm in
shooting in long bows, there had continually grown and been within the same
great numbers and multitudes of good archers, which hath not only defended
the realm and the subjects thereof against the cruel malice and dangers of
their enemies in times heretofore past, but also, with little numbers and
puissance in regard of their opposites, have done many notable acts and
discomfitures of war against the infidels and others; and furthermore
reduced divers regions and countries to their due obeysance, to the great
honour, fame, and surety of this realm and subjects, and to the terrible
dread and fear of all strange nations, anything to attempt or do to the
hurt or damage of them: Yet nevertheless that archery and shooting in long
bows is but little used, but daily does minish and decay, and abate more
and more; for that much part of the commonalty and poor people of this
realm, whereby of old time the great number and substance of archers had
grown and multiplied, be not of power nor ability to buy them long bows of
yew to exercise shooting in the same, and to sustain the continual charge
thereof; and also because, by means and occasions of customable usage of
tennis p