Newington Green, 1830.
CONTENTS.
| [INTRODUCTION.] | |
| A GENERAL ARRANGEMENT OF THE POPULAR SPORTS, PASTIMES,AND MILITARY GAMES, TOGETHER WITH THE VARIOUS SPECTACLESOF MIRTH OR SPLENDOUR, EXHIBITED PUBLICLY ORPRIVATELY, FOR THE SAKE OF AMUSEMENT, AT DIFFERENTPERIOD, IN ENGLAND. | PAGE |
| I. Object of the Work, to describe the Pastimes and tracetheir Origin—II. The Romans in Britain—III. The Saxons—IV.The Normans—V. Tournaments and Justs—VI. Other Sports ofthe Nobility, and the Citizens and Yeomen—VII. KnightlyAccomplishments—VIII. Esquireship—IX. Military Sportspatronized by the Ladies—X. Decline of such Exercises—XI.and of Chivalry—XII. Military Exercises under Henry theSeventh—XIII. and under Henry the Eighth—XIV. PrincelyExercises under James the First—XV. Revival of Learning—XVI.Recreations of the Sixteenth Century—XVII. Old Sports of theCitizens of London—XVIII. Modern Pastimes of the Londoners—XIX.Cotswold and Cornish Games—XX. Splendour of the ancient Kingsand Nobility—XXI. Royal and noble Entertainments—XXII. CivicShows—XXIII. Setting out of Pageants—XXIV. Processions ofQueen Mary and King Philip of Spain in London—XXV. ChesterPageants—XXVI. Public Shows of the Sixteenth Century—XXVII.Queen Elizabeth at Kenelworth Castle—XXVIII. Love of PublicSights illustrated from Shakspeare—XXIX. Rope-dancing, tutoredAnimals, and Puppet-shows—XXX. Minstrelsy, Bell-ringing,&c.—XXXI. Baiting of Animals—XXXII. Pastimes formerly onSundays—XXXIII. Royal Interference with them—XXXIV. Zeal againstWakes and May-Games—XXXV. Dice and Cards—XXXVI. Regulationof Gaming for Money by Richard Cœur de Lion, &c.—XXXVII.Statutes against Cards, Ball-play, &c.—XXXVIII. Prohibitions ofSkittle play—XXXIX. Archery succeeded by Bowling—XL. ModernGambling—XLI. Ladies' Pastimes, Needle-work—XLII. Dancingand Chess-play—XLIII. Ladies' Recreations in the ThirteenthCentury.—XLIV. The Author's Labours.—Character of the Engravings. | xv |
| [BOOK I.] RURAL EXERCISES PRACTISED BY PERSONS OF RANK. | |
| [CHAPTER I]. | |
| I. Hunting more ancient than Hawking—II. State of Hunting amongthe Britons—III. The Saxons expert in Hunting—IV. The Danesalso—V. The Saxons subsequently and the Normans—VI. Theirtyrannical Proceedings—VII. Hunting and Hawking after theConquest—VIII. Laws relating to Hunting—IX. Hunting and Hawkingfollowed by the Clergy—X. The manner in which the dignified Clergyin the Middle Ages pursued these Pastimes—XI. The English Ladiesfond of these Sports—XII. Privileges of the Citizens of Londonto hunt;—private Privileges for Hunting—XIII. Two Treatises onHunting considered—XIV. Names of Beasts to be hunted—XV. Wolvesnot all destroyed in Edgar's Time—XVI. Dogs for Hunting—XVII.Various Methods of Hunting—XVIII. Terms used in Hunting;—Timeswhen to hunt | 1 |
| [CHAPTER II.] | |
| I. Hawking practised by the Nobility—II. Its Origin not wellknown;—a favourite Amusement with the Saxons—III. Romantic Storyrelative to Hawking—IV. Grand Falconer of France, his Stateand Privileges—V. Edward III. partial to Hawking;—Sir ThomasJermin—VI. Ladies fond of Hawking—VII. Its Decline—VIII. Howit was performed—IX. Embellishments of the Hawk—X. Treatisesconcerning Hawking;—Superstitious Cure of Hawks—XI. Lawsrespecting Hawks—XII. Their great Value—XIII. The differentSpecies of Hawks, and their Appropriation—XIV. Terms used inHawking—XV. Fowling and Fishing;—the Stalking Horse;—Lowbelling | 24 |
| [CHAPTER III.] | |
| I. Horse-racing known to the Saxons—II. Races in Smithfield, and why—III. Races, at what Seasons practised—IV. The Chester Races—V. Stamford Races—VI. Value of Running-horses—VII. Highly prized by the Poets, &c.—VIII. Horse-racing commended as a liberal Pastime—IX. Charles II. and other Monarchs encouragers of Horse-racing;—Races on Coleshill-heath | 40 |
| [BOOK II.] RURAL EXERCISES GENERALLY PRACTISED. | |
| [CHAPTER I]. | |
| I. The English famous for their Skill in Archery—II. The use ofthe Bow known to the Saxons and Danes—III. Form of the SaxonBow, &c.—IV. Archery improved by the Normans—V. The Ladies fondof Archery—VI. Observations relative to the Cross-Bow—VII. ItsForm and the Manner in which it was used—VIII. Bows ordered tobe kept—IX. The decay of Archery and why—X. Ordinances in itsFavour;—the Fraternity of St. George established—XI. The Priceof Bows—XII. Equipments for Archery—XIII. Directions for itsPractice—XIV. The Marks to shoot at—XV. The Length of the Bow andArrows—XVI. Extraordinary Performances of the Archers—XVII. Themodern Archers inferior to the ancient in long Shooting—XVIII. TheDuke of Shoreditch, why so called;—grand Procession of the LondonArchers—XIX. Archery a royal Sport;—a good Archer, why calledArthur—XX. Prizes given to the Archers | 48 |
| [CHAPTER II]. | |
| I. Slinging of Stones an ancient Art—II. Known to the Saxons—III.And the Normans—IV. How practised of late Years—V. Throwingof Weights and Stones with the Hand—VI. By the Londoners—VII.Casting of the Bar and Hammer—VIII. Of Spears—IX. Of Quoits—X.Swinging of Dumb Bells—XI. Foot Races—XII. The Game ofBase—XIII. Wrestling much practised formerly—XIV. Prizes for—XV.How performed—XVI. Swimming—XVII. Sliding—XVIII. Skating—XIX.Rowing—XX. Sailing | 71 |
| [CHAPTER III]. | |
| I. Hand-ball an ancient Game—The Ball, where said to have beeninvented—II. Used by the Saxons—III. And by the Schoolboys ofLondon—IV. Ball Play in France—V. Tennis Courts erected—VI.Tennis fashionable in England—VII. A famous Woman Player—VIII.Hand-ball played for Tansy Cakes—IX. Fives—X. Ballon-ball—XI.Stool-ball—XII. Hurling—XIII. Foot-ball;—Camp-ball—XIV.Goff;—Cambuc;—Bandy-ball—XV. Stow-ball—XVI. Pall-mall—XVII.Ring-ball—XVIII. Club-ball—XIX. Cricket—XX. Trap-Ball—XXI.Northen-spell—XXII. Tip-cat | 91 |
| [BOOK III.] PASTIMES USUALLY EXERCISED IN TOWNS AND CITIES, OR PLACES ADJOINING TO THEM. | |
| [CHAPTER I]. | |
| I. Tournament a general Name for several Exercises—II. TheQuintain an ancient Military Exercise—III. Various Kinds of theQuintain—IV. Derivation of the Term—V. The Water Quintain—VI.Running at the Quintain practised by the Citizens of London; andwhy—VII. The Manner in which it was performed—VIII. Exhibited forthe Pastime of Queen Elizabeth—IX. Tilting at a Water Butt—X.The Human Quintain—XI. Exercises probably derived from it—XII.Running at the Ring—XIII. Difference between the Tournaments andthe Justs—XIV. Origin of the Tournament—XV. The Troy Game;—theBohordicum or Cane Game—XVI. Derivation of Tournament;—how theExercise was performed—XVII. Lists and Barriers—XVIII. When theTournament was first practised—XIX. When first in England—XX. ItsLaws and Ordinances—XXI. Pages, and Perquisites of the Kings atArms, &c.—XXII. Preliminaries of the Tournament—XXIII. Lists forOrdeal Combats—XXIV. Respect paid to the Ladies—XXV. Justs lesshonourable than Tournaments—XXVI. The Round Table—XXVII. Natureof the Justs—XXVIII. Made in honour of the Fair Sex—XXIX. GreatSplendour of these Pastimes;—The Nobility partial to them—XXX.Toys for initiating their Children in them—XXXI. Boat Justs, orTilting on the Water—XXXII. Challenges to all comers | 111 |
| [CHAPTER II.] | |
| I. Ancient Plays—II. Miracle Plays, Dramas from Scripture, &c.continued several Days—III. The Coventry Play—IV. Mysteriesdescribed—V. How enlivened—VI. Moralities described—The Fool inPlays, whence derived—VII. Secular Plays—VIII. Interludes—IX.Chaucer's Definition of the Tragedies of his Time—X. Playsperformed in Churches—XI. Cornish Miracle Plays—XII. ItinerantPlayers, their evil Characters—XIII. Court-Plays—XIV. Play inhonour of the Princess Mary's Marriage—XV. The Play of HockTuesday—XVI. Decline of Secular Plays—XVII. Origin of PuppetPlays—XVIII. Nature of the Performances—XIX. Giants and otherPuppet Characters—XX. Puppet Plays superseded by Pantomimes—XXI.The modern Puppet-show Man—XXII. Moving Pictures described | 150 |
| [CHAPTER III.] | |
| I. The British Bards—II. The Northern Scalds—III. The Anglo-SaxonGleemen—IV. The Nature of their Performances—V. A Royal Playerwith three Darts—VI. Bravery of a Minstrel in the Conqueror'sArmy—VII. Other Performances by Gleemen—VIII. The Harp anInstrument of Music much used by the Saxons—IX. The NormanMinstrels, and their different Denominations and Professions—X.Troubadours—XI. Jestours—XII. Tales and Manners of theJesters—XIII. Further Illustration of their Practices—XIV.Patronage, Privileges, and Excesses of the Minstrels—XV. AGuild of Minstrels—XVI. Abuses and Decline of Minstrelsy—XVII.Minstrels were Satirists and Flatterers—XVIII. Anecdotes ofoffending Minstrels, Women Minstrels—XIX. The Dress of theMinstrels—XX. The King of the Minstrels, why so called—XXI.Rewards given to Minstrels—XXII. Payments to Minstrels—XXIII.Wealth of certain Minstrels—XXIV. Minstrels were sometimes DancingMasters | 170 |
| [CHAPTER IV.] | |
| I. The Joculator—II. His different Denominations and extraordinaryDeceptions—III. His Performances ascribed to Magic—IV. AsiaticJugglers—V. Remarkable Story from Froissart—VI. Tricks of theJugglers ascribed to the Agency of the Devil; but more reasonablyaccounted for—VII. John Rykell, a celebrated Tregetour—VIII.Their various Performances—IX. Privileges of the Joculators atParis.—The King's Joculator an Officer of Rank—X. The greatDisrepute of modern Jugglers | 197 |
| [CHAPTER V.] | |
| I. Dancing, Tumbling, and Balancing, part of the Joculator'sProfession—II. Performed by Women—III. Dancing connected withTumbling—IV. Antiquity of Tumbling—much encouraged—V. VariousDances described—VI. The Gleemen's Dances—VII. Exemplificationof Gleemen's Dances—VIII. The Sword Dance—IX. Rope Dancingand wonderful Performances on the Rope—X. Rope Dancing fromthe Battlements of St. Paul's—XI. Rope Dancing from St. Paul'sSteeple—XII. Rope Dancing from All Saints' Church, Hertford—XIII.A Dutchman's Feats on St. Paul's Weathercock—XIV. Jacob Hall theRope Dancer—XV. Modern celebrated Rope Dancing—XVI. Rope Dancingat Sadler's Wells—XVII. Fool's Dance—XVIII. Morris Dance—XIX.Egg Dance—XX. Ladder Dance—XXI. Jocular Dances—XXII. WireDancing—XXIII. Ballette Dances—XXIV. Leaping and Vaulting—XXV.Balancing—XXVI. Remarkable Feats—XXVII. The Posture-Master'sTricks—XXVIII. The Mountebank—XXIX. The Tinker—XXX. TheFire-Eater | 207 |
| [CHAPTER VI]. | |
| I. Animals, how tutored by the Jugglers—Tricks performed byBears—II. Tricks performed by Apes and Monkeys—III. By Horsesamong the Sybarites—IV. In the thirteenth Century—V. In QueenAnne's Reign—VI. Origin of the Exhibitions at Astley's, theCircus, &c.—VII. Dancing Dogs—VIII. The Hare beating a Tabor, andlearned Pig—IX. A Dancing Cock—The Deserter Bird—X. Imitationsof Animals—XI. Mummings and Masquerades—XII. Mumming to RoyalPersonages—XIII. Partial Imitations of Animals—XIV. The Horse inthe Morris dance—XV. Counterfeit Voices of Animals—XVI. Animalstrained for Baiting—XVII. Paris Garden—XVIII. Bull and BearBaiting patronised by Royalty—XIX. How performed—XX. Bears andBear-wards—XXI. Baiting in Queen Anne's time—XXII. Sword Play.&c.—XXIII. Public Sword Play—XXIV. Quarter Staff—XXV. Wrestling,&c. in Bear Gardens—XXVI. Extraordinary Trial of Strength | 239 |
| [CHAPTER VII.] | |
| I. Ancient Specimens of Bowling—Poem on Bowling—II.Bowling-greens first made by the English—III. Bowling-alleys—IV.Long-bowling—V. Supposed Origin of Billiards—VI. Kayles—VII.Closh—VIII. Loggats—IX. Nine-pins—Skittles—X. Dutch-pins—XI.Four-corners—XII. Half-bowl—XIII. Nine-holes—XIV. John Bull—XV.Pitch and Hustle—XVI. Bull-baiting in Towns and Villages—XVII.Bull-running—At Stamford, &c.—XVIII. At Tutbury—XIX.Badger-baiting—XX. Cock-fighting—XXI. Throwing at Cocks—XXII.Duck-hunting—XXIII. Squirrel-hunting—XXIV. Rabbit-hunting | 266 |
| [BOOK IV.] DOMESTIC AMUSEMENTS OF VARIOUS KINDS; AND PASTIMES APPROPRIATED TO PARTICULAR SEASONS. | |
| [CHAPTER I.] | |
| I. Secular Music fashionable—II. Ballad-singers encouragedby the Populace—III. Music Houses—IV. Origin ofVauxhall—V. Ranelagh—VI. Sadler's Wells—VII. MaryboneGardens—Operas—Oratorios—VIII. Bell-ringing—IX. ItsAntiquity—X. Hand-bells—XI. Burlesque Music—XII. Dancing—XIII.Its Antiquity, &c.—XIV. Shovel-board—XV. Anecdote of PrinceHenry—XVI. Billiards—XVII. Mississippi—XVIII. The Rocks ofScilly—XIX. Shove-groat—XX. Swinging—XXI. Tetter-totter—XXII.Shuttle-cock | 286 |
| [CHAPTER II.] | |
| I. Sedentary Games—II. Dice-playing;—Its Prevalency and BadEffects—III. Ancient Dice-box;—Anecdote relating to falseDice—IV. Chess;—Its Antiquity—V. The Morals of Chess—VI. EarlyChess-play in France and England—VII. The Chess-board—VIII. ThePieces, and their Form—IX. The various Games of Chess—X. AncientGames similar to Chess—XI. The Philosopher's Game—XII. Draughts,French and Polish—XIII. Merelles, or Nine Mens' Morris—XIV.Fox and Geese—XV. The Solitary Game—XVI. Backgammon, ancientlycalled Tables;—The different Manners of playing at Tables—XVII.Backgammon, its former and present Estimation—XVIII. Domino—XIX.Cards, when invented—XX. Card-playing much practised—XXI.Forbidden—XXII. Censured by Poets—XXIII. A Specimen of ancientCards—XXIV. Games formerly played with Cards—XXV. The Game ofGoose—and of the Snake—XXVI. Cross and Pile | 305 |
| [CHAPTER III.] | |
| I. The Lord of Misrule said to be peculiar to the English—II. ACourt Officer—III.The Master of the King's Revels—IV. The Lord of Misrule and hisConduct reprobated—V. The King of Christmas—of the Cockneys—VI. AKing of Christmas at Norwich—VII. The King of the Bean—VIII. Whenceoriginated—IX. The Festival of Fools—X. The Boy Bishop—XI. The FoolPlough—XII. Easter Games—XIII. Shrove-Tuesday—XIV. Hock-Tuesday—XV.May-Games—XVI. The Lord and Lady of the May—XVII. GrandMay-Game at Greenwich—XVIII. Royal May-Game at Shooter's-hill—XIX. May Milk-Maids—XX. May Festival of the Chimney Sweepers—XXI.Whitsun-Games—XXII. The Vigil of Saint John the Baptist, how kept—XXIII.Its supposed origin—XXIV. Setting of the Midsummer Watch—XXV.Processions on Saint Clement's and Saint Catherine's day—XXVI.Wassails—XXVII. Sheep-shearing and Harvest-home—XXVIII. Wakes—XXIXSunday Festivals—XXX. Church Ales—XXXI. Fairs, and their Diversionsand Abuses—XXXII. Bonfires—XXXIII. Illuminations—XXXIV.Fireworks—XXXV. London Fireworks—XXXVI. Fireworks on Tower-hill,at Public Gardens, and in Pageants | 339 |
| [CHAPTER IV.] | |
| I. Popular manly Pastimes imitated by Children—II. Horses—III.Racing and Chacing—IV. Wrestling and other GymnasticSports—V. Marbles, and Span-counter—VI. Tops, &c.;—The Devilamong the Tailors—VII. Even or Odd—Chuck-halfpenny;—Duckand Drake—VIII. Baste the Bear;—Hunt the Slipper,&c.—IX. Sporting with Insects;—Kites;—Windmills—X.Bob-cherry—XI. Hoodman-blind;—Hot-cockles—XII.Cock-fighting—XIII. Anonymous Pastimes;—Mock Honours atBoarding-schools—XIV. Houses of Cards;—Questions andCommands;—Handy-dandy;—Snap-dragon;—Push-pin;—Crambo;—Lotteries—XV. Obsolete Pastimes-XVI. Creag;—Queke-board;—Hand in and Handout;—White and Black, and Making and Marring;—Figgum;—Moselthe Peg;-Hole about the Church-yard;—Penny-prick;—Pick-point,&c.;—Mottoes, Similes, and Cross-purposes;—The Parson has losthis Cloak | 379 |
INTRODUCTION.
A GENERAL ARRANGEMENT OF THE POPULAR SPORTS, PASTIMES, AND MILITARY GAMES, TOGETHER WITH THE VARIOUS SPECTACLES OF MIRTH OR SPLENDOUR, EXHIBITED PUBLICLY OR PRIVATELY, FOR THE SAKE OF AMUSEMENT, AT DIFFERENT PERIODS, IN ENGLAND.
CONTENTS.