  | 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. | PAGE | | 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 Coeur 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 T
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