Chapter I: 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
PERIOD, IN ENGLAND.

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I. Object of the Work, to describe the Pastimes and trace
their Origin--II. The Romans in Britain--III. The Saxons--IV.
The Normans--V. Tournaments and Justs--VI. Other Sports of
the Nobility, and the Citizens and Yeomen--VII. Knightly
Accomplishments--VIII. Esquireship--IX. Military Sports
patronized by the Ladies--X. Decline of such Exercises--XI.
and of Chivalry--XII. Military Exercises under Henry the
Seventh--XIII. and under Henry the Eighth--XIV. Princely
Exercises under James the First--XV. Revival of Learning--XVI.
Recreations of the Sixteenth Century--XVII. Old Sports of the
Citizens of London--XVIII. Modern Pastimes of the Londoners--XIX.
Cotswold and Cornish Games--XX. Splendour of the ancient Kings
and Nobility--XXI. Royal and noble Entertainments--XXII. Civic
Shows--XXIII. Setting out of Pageants--XXIV. Processions of
Queen Mary and King Philip of Spain in London--XXV. Chester
Pageants--XXVI. Public Shows of the Sixteenth Century--XXVII.
Queen Elizabeth at Kenelworth Castle--XXVIII. Love of Public
Sights illustrated from Shakspeare--XXIX. Rope-dancing, tutored
Animals, and Puppet-shows--XXX. Minstrelsy, Bell-ringing,
&c.--XXXI. Baiting of Animals--XXXII. Pastimes formerly on
Sundays--XXXIII. Royal Interference with them--XXXIV. Zeal
against Wakes and May-Games--XXXV. Dice and Cards--XXXVI.
Regulation of Gaming for Money by Richard Cœur de Lion,
&c.--XXXVII. Statutes against Cards, Ball-play, &c.--XXXVIII.
Prohibitions of Skittle play--XXXIX. Archery succeeded
by Bowling--XL. Modern Gambling--XLI. Ladies' Pastimes,
Needle-work--XLII. Dancing and Chess-play--XLIII. Ladies'
Recreations in the Thirteenth Century.--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 among
the Britons--III. The Saxons expert in Hunting--IV. The Danes
also--V. The Saxons subsequently and the Normans--VI. Their
tyrannical Proceedings--VII. Hunting and Hawking after the
Conquest--VIII. Laws relating to Hunting--IX. Hunting and Hawking
followed by the Clergy--X. The manner in which the dignified
Clergy in the Middle Ages pursued these Pastimes--XI. The English
Ladies fond of these Sports--XII. Privileges of the Citizens
of London to hunt;--private Privileges for Hunting--XIII. Two
Treatises on Hunting considered--XIV. Names of Beasts to be
hunted--XV. Wolves not all destroyed in Edgar's Time--XVI. Dogs
for Hunting--XVII. Various Methods of Hunting--XVIII. Terms used
in Hunting;--Times when to hunt 1

CHAPTER II.

I. Hawking practised by the Nobility--II. Its Origin not
well known;--a favourite Amusement with the Saxons--III.
Romantic Story relative to Hawking--IV. Grand Falconer of
France, his State and Privileges--V. Edward III. partial to
Hawking;--Sir Thomas Jermin--VI. Ladies fond of Hawking--VII. Its
Decline--VIII. How it was performed--IX. Embellishments of the
Hawk--X. Treatises concerning Hawking;--Superstitious Cure of
Hawks--XI. Laws respecting Hawks--XII. Their great Value--XIII.
The different Species of Hawks, and their Appropriation--XIV.
Terms used in Hawking--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 of
the Bow known to the Saxons and Danes--III. Form of the Saxon
Bow, &c.--IV. Archery improved by the Normans--V. The Ladies fond
of Archery--VI. Observations relative to the Cross-Bow--VII. Its
Form and the Manner in which it was used--VIII. Bows ordered
to be kept--IX. The decay of Archery and why--X. Ordinances in
its Favour;--the Fraternity of St. George established--XI. The
Price of Bows--XII. Equipments for Archery--XIII. Directions
for its Practice--XIV. The Marks to shoot at--XV. The Length
of the Bow and Arrows--XVI. Extraordinary Performances of the
Archers--XVII. The modern Archers inferior to the ancient in long
Shooting--XVIII. The Duke of Shoreditch, why so called;--grand
Procession of the London Archers--XIX. Archery a royal Sport;--a
good Archer, why called Arthur--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. Throwing of 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 of Base--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 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. 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.