Shooting flying was not an ordinary accomplishment: it was but just coming in, and most people took 'pot shots,' and would not risk shooting at a bird on the wing.
The dreadful Sound the springing Pheasant hears
Leaves his Close Haunt, and to some Tree repairs;
The Dog, aloft the painted Fowl surveys,
Observes his Motions, and at distance Bays.
His noisie Foe the stooping Pheasant eyes,
Fear binds his Feet, and useless Pinions ties,
Till the sure Fowler, with a sudden Aim,
From the tall Bough, precipitates the Game.
Partridges, because they flew well, and strongly, were then not shot, but snared, by means of a trained dog.
Now the warm Scent assumes the Covey near,
He treads with Caution, and he points with Fear.
Then lest some Sentry Fowl his Fraud descry,
And bid his Fellows from the Danger fly,
Close to the Ground in Expectation lies,
Till in the Snare the flutt'ring Covey rise.
'But if I miss Sitting, I commonly hit 'em Flying,' says Bellair in Mrs. Centlivre's 'Love at a Venture,' which shows that it was only when the former failed, that he tried the latter plan. And, in an advertisement for a gamekeeper, it is noticed: 'Any one that is a very good Coach man, and can Shoot flying, perfectly well, may hear of a good Place.' If being a good coachman was useful to a gamekeeper, what can we say to this: 'Any Gentleman that wants a Man for Shooting, Hunting, Setting, or any Manner of Game, may hear of one well qualified. He is a good Scholar, and shaves well.'
Luttrell notes, Mar. 15, 1707: 'Yesterday the lords past the bill for the preservation of the game, in which is a clause, that if any poulterer, after the 1st of May next, sells hare, pheasant, partridge &c. shall forfeit 5l. for every offence, unless he has a certificate from the lord of the mannor that they were not taken by poachers.' The killing of game must have been earlier then than now, for, appended to Spectator No. 156, Aug. 29, 1711, is the following: 'Advertisement—Mr. Spectator gives his most humble service to Mr. R. M. of Chippenham in Wilts, and hath received the Partridges.'
There were rifle matches in those days. One was shot at the artillery ground, Finsbury, on July 16, 1703, for a cup value twenty-five guineas: 'No gun to exceed 4 foot and a half in the Barrel, the distance to be 200 yards, and but one Shot a piece, the nearest the Centre to win.' On July 7, 1709, was a match for four pieces of plate: 'to stand 100 yards distance from the Target.' A deer, value 50s., was to be shot for more than once—and the prize once sank as low as 'a pair of breeches.' There was one very singular prize: 'A very fine brass Gun, in the form of a Walking Cane, to be us'd as a Gun or Pistol, and in it a fine Prospect Glass, and a Perpetual Almanack engrav'd about the Head, and a Sun Dial in the Head, and several other ingenious Utensils.'
Archery was still kept up, as we see by the following advertisement[388]: 'All Gentlemen who are Lovers of the Ancient and Noble Exercise of Archery, are hereby Invited by the Stewards of the Annual Feast for the Clerkenwell Archers, to Dine with them at Mrs. Mary Barton's, at the Sign of Sir John Oldcastle, upon Friday the 18th Day of July 1707 at One of the Clock, and to pay the Bearer Thomas Beaumont, Marshal to the Regiment of Archers, Two Shillings and Sixpence; and to take a Sealed Ticket, that the certain Number may be known, and Provision made accordingly.
CHAPTER XXIV.
SWORD-PLAY AND OTHER SPORTS. GARDEN, ETC.
Challenges — The stakes — The combatants — Description of fights — General combativeness — Boxing — Cudgel-playing — Pedestrianism — Tennis — Cricket — Football — Skating — Billiards — Country wakes — Bowling — Bowling greens — Formal gardening — Clipping trees — Books on gardening — Trees and flowers — Town and country life — Country labourers.