XXIV.—RABBIT-HUNTING.
Hentzner, who visited England at the close of the sixteenth century, mentions this diversion, and assures us that he saw it performed in the presence of the lord mayor of London, when the annual wrestling was concluded: his words are as follow; "after this is over, a parcel of live rabbits are turned loose among the crowd, which are pursued by a number of boys, who endeavour to catch them with all the noise they can make."
BOOK IV.
DOMESTIC AMUSEMENTS OF VARIOUS KINDS; AND PASTIMES APPROPRIATED TO PARTICULAR SEASONS.
CHAPTER I.
I. Secular Music fashionable.—II. Ballad-singers encouraged by the Populace.—III. Music Houses.—IV. Origin of Vauxhall.—V. Ranelagh.—VI. Sadler's Wells.—VII. Marybone Gardens—Operas—Oratorios.—VIII. Bell-ringing.—IX. Its Antiquity.—X. Hand-bells.—XI. Burlesque Music.—XII. Dancing.—XIII. Its Antiquity, &c.—XIV. Shovel-board.—XV. Anecdote of Prince Henry.—XVI. Billiards.—XVII. Mississipi.—XVIII. The Rocks of Scilly.—XIX. Steve groat.—XX. Swinging.—XXI. Tetter-totter.—XXII. Shuttle-cock.