CHAPTER III.
I. Hand-ball an ancient Game.—The Ball, where said to have been invented.—II. Used by the Saxons—III. And by the Schoolboys of London.—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. Balloon-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.
I.—HAND BALL.
The ball has given origin to many popular pastimes, and I have appropriated this chapter to such of them as are or have been usually practised in the fields and other open places. The most ancient amusement of this kind, is distinguished with us by the name of hand-ball, and is, if Homer may be accredited, coeval at least with the destruction of Troy. Herodotus attributes the invention of the ball to the Lydians; [391] succeeding writers have affirmed, that a female of distinction named Anagalla, a native of Corcyra, was the first who made a ball for the purpose of pastime, which she presented to Nausica, the daughter of Alcinous, king of Phœacia, and at the same time taught her how to use it; [392] this piece of history is partly derived from Homer, who introduces the princess of Corcyra with her maidens, amusing themselves at hand-ball:
O'er the green mead the sporting virgins play,
Their shining veils unbound, along the skies,
Tost and retost, the ball incessant flies. [393]
Homer has restricted this pastime to the young maidens of Corcyra, at least he has not mentioned its being practised by the men; in times posterior to the poet, the game of hand-ball was indiscriminately played by both sexes.