THE

SPORTS AND PASTIMES

OF THE

PEOPLE OF ENGLAND.

InCLUdInG THE

RURAL AND DOMESTIC RECREATIONS,

MAY GAMES, MUMMERIES, SHOWS, PROCESSIONS, PAGEANTS, AND POMPOUS SPECTACLES,

VROi i

THE EARLIEST PERIOD TO THE PRESENT TIME.

BY JOSEPH STRUTT.

ILLUSTRATEd bT

©ite &unfcrefc airtr JFortg IBttgrabtngs,

IN WhICh ARE REPRESENTEd

MOST OF THE POPULAR DIVERSIONS;

SELECTED FROM ANCIENT PAINTINGS.

A NEW EDITION, WITH A COPIOUS INDEX,
BY WILLIAM HONE,

AUThOR OF THE EVERY-DAY BOOK, TABLE BOOK, YEAR BOOK, ETC.

LONDON. PRINTED FOR THOMAS TEGG AND SON, 73, CHEAPSIDE.

ADVERTISEMENT.

There are two previous editions of Mr. Strutt's Sports and Pastimes of the people of England. The first appeared in 1801; the second, which was published in 1810, the year wherein the author died, was an incorrect reprint, without a single additional line. Both were in quarto, and as each of the plates, with few exceptions, contained several subjects referred to in different parts of the work, and as there were no paginal references on the plates, they were frequently embarrassing to the reader.

The present edition is of a more convenient size, and at one-sixth of the price of the former editions; and every engraving is on the page it illustrates.

To a volume abounding in historical and other interesting facts, an Index seemed indispensable; and a very copious one is annexed. The Two former editions were without.

If Mr. Strutt had lived, I am persuaded he would have incorporated into the body of the work some notes, which were needlessly placed on the bottom margins. I have ventured to take them up into the pages ; but without any undue alteration of the author's language.

I hope, therefore, that my aim to render this edition generally desirable and available, has been fully accomplished.

W. Hone.

Newington Green, 1880.

CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTION.

A GENERAL ARRANGEMENT OF THE POPULAR SPORTS, PASTIMES,
AND MILITARY GAMES, TOGETHER WITH THE VARIOUS SPEC-
TACLES OF MIRTH OR P LENDOUR, EXHIBITED PUBLICLY OR
PRIVATELY, FOR THE SAKE OF AMUSEMENT, AT DIFFERENT
PERIOD, IN ENGLAND.

PACE

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. Tour-
naments and Justs—VI. Other Sports of the Nobility, and the Citizens and
Yeomen—VII. Knightly Accomplishments—VIII. Esquireship—IX. Mili-
tary 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 Cen-
tury—XVII. Old Sports of the Citizens of London—XVIII. Modern Pas-
times of the Londoners—XIX. Cotswold and Cornish Games—XX. Splen-
dour of the ancient Kings and Nobility—XXI. Royal and noble Entertain-
ments—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 cf
Animals—XXXII. Pastimes formerly on Sundays—XXXIII. Royal Inter-
ference with them—XXXIV. Zeal against Wakesaad May-Games—XXXV.
Dice and Cards—XXXVI. Regulation of Gaming for Money by Richard
Creur de Lion, &c.—XXXVII. Statute* against Cards, Ball-play, &c.—
XXXVIII. Prohibitions of Skittle play—XXXIX. Archery succeeded by
Bowling—XL. Modern Gambling—XLI. Ladies' Pastimes, Needle-work—
XLH. Dancing and Chess-play—XLIIL Ladies' Recreations in the Thir-
teenth Century.—XLIV. The Author's Labours.—Character of the En-
graringa xv