Where any Ram shulde stonde. [366]
And again, in his character of the miller,
————for over al ther he cam,
At wrastlyng he wolde have away the Ram. [367]
Other rewards, no doubt, were sometimes proposed, as we may see upon the engraving below, where two men are wrestling for a cock: the original drawing, from a manuscript in the Royal Library, [368] is certainly more ancient than the time of Chaucer.
17. Ancient Wrestling.
In modern times the prizes were not only much varied, but were occasionally of higher value. If we may believe the author of the old poem, entitled "A mery Geste of Robyn Hode," there were several prizes put up at once. The poet, speaking of a knight who was going to Robin Hood, says, [369]
——Unto Bernisdale,