Ancient Sports and Pastimes of the English

The Ball is vsed by noble men and gentlemen in Tennis courts, and by people of meaner sort in the open fields, and streetes. Running at the Quinten for prises.

J. Aspin (Author of Ancient Sports and Pastimes of the English)

The marching forth of Citizens sonnes, and other yong men on horsebacke, with disarmed Launces and Shieldes, there to practise feates of warre, man agaynst man hath long since been left of, but in their Citie, they haue vsed on horsebacke, to runne at a dead marke, called a Quinten: This exercise of running at the Quinten, was practised by the youthfull Citizens, as well in Sommer as in Winter, namely, in the feast of Christmasse, I haue seene a Quinten set vpon Cornehill, by the Leaden Hall, where the attendantes on the Lords of merrie Disports haue runne, and made great pastime, for he that hit not the brode end of the Quinten, was of all men laughed to scorne, and he that hit it full, if he rid not the faster, had a sound blowe in his necke, with a bagge full of sand hanged on the otherend.

I haue also in the Sommer season seene some vpon the riuer of Thames rowed in whirries, with staues in their hands, flat at the fore end, running one against another, and for the most part, one, or both ouerthrowne, and well dowked. And for defence and vse of the weapon, there is a speciall profession of men that teach it.

Ye may reade in mine Annales , how that in the yeare Also in the yeare. Which is sufficient to proue that of olde time the exercising of wrestling, and such like hath beene much more vsed then of later yeares.

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The youthes of this Citie also haue vsed on holy dayes after Euening prayer, at their Maisters doores, to exercise their Wasters and Bucklers: Sliding vpon the Ice is now but childrens play: Of triumphant shewes made by the Citizens of London, yee may read in the yere These Citizens did minister wine, as Bottelers, which is their seruice at the coronation. More, in the yeare A shew by torch light, being a Mommery of more then horses.

One other shew in the yeare , made by the Citizens for disport of the yong prince Richard , son to the blacke prince, in the feast of Christmas in this manner. On the Sonday before Candlemas in the night, one hundred and thirty Cittizens disguised, and well horsed in a mummerie with sound of Trumpets, Shackbuts, Cornets, Shalmes, and other Minstrels, and innumerable torch lights of Waxe, rode from Newgate through Cheape ouer the bridge, through Southwarke, and so to Kennington besides Lambhith, where the young Prince remayned with his mother and the Duke of Lancaster his vncle, the Earles of Cambridge, Hertford, Warwicke and Suffolke, with diuers other Lordes.

In the First ranke did ride Then followed one richly arrayed like an Emperour, and after him some distance, one stately tyred like a Pope, whom followed Cardinals, and after them eight or tenne with black visors not amiable, as if they had beene Legates from some forrain Princes. These maskers after they had entered the Mannor of Kennington, alighted from their horses, and entred the hall on foot, which done, the Prince, his mother, and the Lordes came out of the Chamber into the hall, whome the saide mummers did salute: Then the mummers set to the Prince three jewels, one after another, which were a boule of gold, a cup of gold, and a ring of gold, which the Prince wanne at three casts.

Then they set to the Princes mother, the Duke, the Earles, and other Lordes, to euery one a ring of gold, which they did also win: After which they were feasted, and the musicke sounded, the prince and Lords daunced on the one part with the mummers, which did also daunce: The like was to Henry the fourth in the 2. Thus much for sportfull shewes in Triumphes may suffice: Amongst the which the Mayor of London, and eyther of the shiriffes had their seuerall Lordes of Misrule, euer contending without quarrell or offence, who should make the rarest pastimes to delight the Beholders.

These Lordes beginning their rule on Alhollon Eue, continued the same till the morrow after the Feast of the Purification, commonlie called Candlemas day: In all which space there were fine and subtle disguisinges, Maskes and Mummeries, with playing at Cardes for Counters, Nayles and pointes in euery house, more for pastimes then for gaine.

Against the feast of Christmas, euery mans house, as also their parish churches were decked with holme, Iuie, Bayes, and what soeuer the season of the yeare aforded to be greene: The Conduits and Standardes in the streetes were likewise garnished, amongst the which I reade in the yeare In the weeke before Easter, had ye great shewes made for the fetching in of a twisted tree, or With, as they termed it, out of the Woodes into the Kinges house, and the like into euery mans house of Honor or Worship.

In the moneth of May, namely on May day in the morning, euery man, except impediment, would walke into the sweete meadowes and greene woods, there to reioyce their spirites with the beauty and sauour of sweete flowers, and with the harmony of birds, praysing God in their kind, and for example hereof Edward Hall hath noted, that K. Henry the eight, as in the 3. One being their Chieftaine was called Robin Hoode , who required the king and his companie to stay and see his men shoote, whereunto the king graunting, Robin hoode whistled, and all the Archers shot off, loosing all at once, and when he whistled againe, they likewise shot againe, their arrowes whistled by craft of the head, so that the noyse was straunge and loude, which greatly delighted the King, Queene, and their Companie.

I find also that in the moneth of May, the Citizens of London of all estates, lightly in euery Parish, or sometimes two or three parishes ioyning togither, had their seuerall mayings, and did fetch in Maypoles, with diuerse warlike shewes, with good Archers, Morice dauncers, and other deuices for pastime all the day long, and towards the Euening they had stage playes, and Bonefiers in the streetes: Mightie Flora, Goddesse of fresh flowers , which clothed hath the soyle in lustie greene.

Made buds spring, with her sweete showers , by influence of the Sunne shine. To doe pleasance of intent full cleane , unto the States which now sit here. It was also played by men, and especially in Cheshire and other adjoining counties, where it seems to have been in high repute among all classes. Strutt thus describes the game: The players then on either side, taking hold of hands, extend themselves in length, and opposite to each other, as far as they conveniently can, always remembering that one of them must touch the base.

When any one of them quits the hand of his fellow and runs into the field, which is called giving the chase, he is immediately followed by one of his opponents. He is again followed by a second from the former side, and he by a second opponent, and so on alternately until as many are out as choose to run, every one pursuing the man he first followed, and no other; and if he overtake him near enough to touch him, his party claims one towards their, game, and both return home.

They then run forth again and again in like manner until the number is completed that decides the victory. This number is optional, and rarely exceeds twenty.

It occurs again in "Venus and Adonis: This sport, which is noticed in "The Tempest" ii. It is minutely described in Markham's "Hunger's Prevention" , which is quoted by Dyce. The term "bat-fowling," however, had another signification, says Mr. Harting, 9 "in Shakespeare's day, and it may have been in this secondary sense that it is used in "The Tempest," being a slang word for a particular mode of cheating.

Bat-fowling was practised about dusk, when the rogue pretended to have dropped a ring or a jewel at the door of some well-furnished shop, and, going in, asked the apprentice of the house to light his candle to look for it. After some peering about the bat-fowler would drop the candle as if by accident. Shakespeare is guilty of an anachronism in "Antony and Cleopatra" ii. The modern manner of playing at billiards differs from that formerly in use.

At the commencement of the last century the billiard-table was square, having only three pockets for the balls to run in, situated on one of the sides — that is, at each corner, and the third between them. About the middle of the table a small arch of iron was placed, and at a little distance from it an upright cone called a king. At certain periods of the game it was necessary for the balls to be driven through the one and round the other, without knocking either of them down, which was not easily effected, because they were not fastened to the table.

This old game, popularly called "One-and-Thirty," is alluded to by Grumio in "Taming of the Shrew" i. Strutt 11 says that "perhaps Bone-ace is the same as the game called Ace of Hearts, prohibited with all lotteries by cards and dice. This nursery amusement, which consisted in peeping from behind something, and crying "Bo! Frequent allusions occur to this game, which seems to have been a popular pastime in olden times. The small ball, now called the jack, at which the players aim, was sometimes termed the "mistress. Thus, in "Cymbeline" ii. I had a hundred pound on't.

A further reference to this game occurs in the following dialogue in " Richard II" iii. What sport shall we devise here in this garden, To drive away the heavy thought of care. Madam, we'll play at bowls.

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Thus, to quote another instance, in the "Taming of the Shrew" iv. Some of the old terms connected with card-playing are curious, a few of which are alluded to by Shakespeare. Thus, in "King Lear" v. So, "to set up a side" was to become partners in the game; "to pull or pluck down a side" was to lose it. So, in "Coriolanus" ii. A pack of cards was formerly termed "a deck of cards," as in "3 Henry VI" v. This consisted in throwing cherry stones into a little hole — a game, says Nares, still practised with dumps or money.

In "Twelfth Night" iii.

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As might be expected, several allusions occur in Shakespeare's plays to this popular game. In "The Tempest" v. This is a dishonorable termination to the adversary, who thereby loses the game. Thus, in Bacon's Twelfth Essay: Among the notices of this game, may be quoted that in "Henry V" iv. Dun is in the mire. This is a Christmas sport, which Gifford describes as follows: Two of the company advance, either with or without ropes, to draw him out. After repeated attempts, they find themselves unable to do it, and call for more assistance.

The game continues till all the company take part in it, when Dun is extricated. Much merriment is occasioned from the awkward efforts of the rustics to lift the log, and from sundry arch contrivances to let the ends of it fall on one another's toes. This was a cheating game, much practised in Shakespeare's day, whereby gypsies and other vagrants beguiled the common people of their money; and hence was very often to be seen at fairs. Its other name was "pricking at the belt or girdle;" and it is thus described by Sir J.

One of the folds was made to resemble the middle of the girdle, so that whoever could thrust a skewer into it would think he held it fast to the' table; whereas, when he has so done, the person with whom he plays may take hold of both ends, and draw it away. It is constantly alluded to by old writers, and is thus described in Drayton's "Mooncalf: And with a stick, a short string, and a noose.

Would show the people tricks at fast and loose. In years gone by, there were three degrees in fencing, a master's, a provost's, and a scholar's.

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In "Titus Andronicus" i. Among the numerous allusions to fencing quoted by Shakespeare may be mentioned the following: It is used in the "Merry Wives of Windsor" i. In "Romeo and Juliet" iii. Of the other old fencing terms quoted in the passage above, it appears that "passado" implied a pass or motion forwards. It occurs in "Romeo and Juliet" ii. Shakespeare has also alluded to other fencing terms, such as the "foin," a thrust, which is used by the Host in the "Merry Wives of Windsor" iii. A "bout," too, is another fencing term, to which the King refers in "Hamlet" iv. This is a common and cruel diversion of boys.

They lay a board, two or three feet long, at right angles over a transverse piece two or three inches thick, then, placing the toad at one end of the board, the other end is struck by a bat or large stick, which throws the poor toad forty or fifty feet perpendicularly from the earth; and the fall generally kills it.

In "2 Henry IV" i. A small combustible body was set on fire, and put afloat in a glass of liquor. The courage of the toper was tried in the attempt to toss off the glass in such a manner as to prevent the flap-dragon doing mischief — raisins in hot brandy being the usual flap-dragons. Shakespeare several times mentions this custom, as in "Love's Labour's Lost" v. As candles' ends made the most formidable flap-dragon, the greatest merit was ascribed to the heroism of swallowing them.

Ben Jonson, in "The Masque of the Moon " , p. An allusion to this once highly popular game occurs in "Comedy of Errors" ii.