One of the most curious features in the first of these scenes is that of the cages, especially that of the squirrel, which is evidently made to turn round with the animal’s motion, like squirrel-cages of the present day. We have now frequent allusions to the keeping of birds in cages, and parrots, magpies, jays, and various singing birds, are often mentioned among domestic pets. During the earlier half of the century of which we are now more especially speaking, the poems of Lydgate furnish us with several examples. Thus, in that entitled “The Chorle and the Bird,” we are told-- _The chorle_ (countryman) _was gladde that he this birdde hadde take,_. _Mery of chere, of looke, and of visage,_. _And in al haste he cast for to make_. _Within his house a pratie litelle cage,_. _And with hir songe to rejoise his corage_. And in another of Lydgate’s minor poems, it is said of Spring,-- _Whiche sesoun prykethe_ (stirs up) _fresshe corages,_ _Rejoissethe beastys walkyng in ther pasture,_ _Causith briddys to syngen in ther cages,_ _Whan blood renewyth in every creature_. Among these, we find birds mentioned which are not now usually kept in cages. Thus, in a manuscript of the time of Edward IV., we find a receipt for food for that favourite bird of the mediæval poets, the nightingale.[51] Small animals of various kinds were also tamed and kept in the house, either loose or in cages. The plot of some of the earlier fabliaux turns upon the practice of taming squirrels as pets, and keeping them in cages; and this animal continued long to be an especial favourite, for its liveliness and activity. In one of the compartments of the curious tapestry of Nancy, of the fifteenth century, which has been engraved by M. Achille Jubinal, we see a lady with a tame squirrel in her hand, which she holds by a string, as represented in our cut No. 252. [Illustration: _No. 252. Lady and Squirrel._] The parlour was now the room where the domestic amusements were introduced. The guest in the early tract on “Dyce Play,” quoted in a former page, tells us, “and, after the table was removed, in came one of the waiters with a fair silver bowl, full of dice and cards. Now, masters, quoth the goodman, who is so disposed, fall too.” Gambling was carried to a great height during the fifteenth century, and was severely condemned by the moralists, but without much success. Dice were the older implements of play, and tables (or backgammon). A religious poem on saints’ days, in a manuscript written about the year 1460, warning against idle amusements, says-- _Also use not to pley at the dice ne at the tablis,_ _Ne none maner gamys, uppon the holidais;_ _Use no tavernys where be jestis and fablis,_ _Syngyng of lewde balettes, rondelettes, or virolais._