The Bow-Mans Glory;

London: Printed by S.R., and are to be sold by Edward Gough. 1682.

First edition. 8vo. 173x110mm. pp.[16], 78, [2]. With a separate title page for "A remembrance of the worthy show and shooting by he Duke of Shoreditch, and his associaties ... By W.M." (p. [33]-71). Contains the scarce Postscript which was missing from three of the six copies appearing in the auction records since 1975. Contemporary brick red morocco with double fillet border and gilt panel of double fillet and roll-tool decoration with inner and outer corner pieces to upper and lower covers. Rebacked (two strips from the original spine are loosely inserted) and corners repaired and strengthened. All edges gilt. Front pastedown has the armorial bookplate of Constantine John Baron Mulgrave who was a politician naval officer and explorer. Some browning but otherwise very good internally and overall a lovely copy (with the Postscript) of a rare and important book on archery combining poetry, history and reportage as well as setting out the patents of Henry VIII, James I and Charles I granting rights to archers. William Wood was the Marshal to the Regiment of Archers and one of the leading toxophilites of his day. He was knighted by Charles II to whom this book is dedicated. He died in 1691, the same year as the second edition of The Bow-Man's Glory.