Or fritter rich, with apples stored within."
According to Fitz-Stephen, "After dinner, all the youths go into the fields to play at the ball. The scholars of every school have their ball and bastion in their hands. The ancient and wealthy men of the city come forth on horseback to see the sport of the young men, and to take part of the pleasure, in beholding their agility." And till within the last few years:
"... The humble play
Of trap or football on a holiday,
In Finsbury fields,"—
was sufficiently common in the neighbourhood of London and other places. See Brande's Popular Antiquities, vol. i. pp. 63-94. (Bohn's edition), and Hone's Every-Day Book, vol. i. pp. 244. 255-260.]
Vossioner; its Meaning.—In looking over a parcel of brass rubbings made some years since, I find the word vossioner used, and not knowing its signification, I should be glad to be enlightened on the subject; but, in order to enable your readers to judge more correctly, I think it better to copy the whole of the epitaph in which the word occurs. The plate is in Ufton Church, near Southam, county Warwick; it measures eighteen inches in width by sixteen deep.
"Here lyeth the boddyes of Richard Hoddomes, Parsson and Pattron and Vossioner of the Churche and Parishe of Oufton, in the Countie of Warrike, who died one Mydsomer Daye, 1587. And Margerye his Wiffe wth her seven Childryn, as namelye, Richard, John, and John, Anne, Jane, Elizabeth, Ayles, his iiii Daughters, whose soule restethe with God."
I give the epitaph verbatim, with its true orthography. There are some curious points in this epitaph. First, the date of the death of the clergyman only is given; second, the children are called hers, while the four daughters are his; and two of the sons bear the same Christian name, whilst only one soul is said to rest with God. The family is represented kneeling. Above the inscription, and between the clergyman and his lady, is a desk, on which is represented two books lying open before them.
J. B. Whitborne.