Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustrations. See 14315-h.htm or 14315-h.zip: (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/4/3/1/14315/14315-h/14315-h.htm) or (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/4/3/1/14315/14315-h.zip) OLD ENGLISH SPORTS Pastimes and Customs by P. H. DITCHFIELD, M.A. Fellow of the Royal Historical Society; Rector of Barkham, Berks Hon. Sec. of Berks Archæological Society, etc. First published by Methuen & Co., 1891 TO LADY RUSSEL THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED WITH THE AUTHOR'S KINDEST REGARDS. PREFACE. Encouraged by the kind reception which his former book, _Our English Villages_, met with at the hands of both critics and the public, the author has ventured to reproduce in book-form another series of articles which have appeared during the past year in the pages of _The Parish Magazine_. He desires to express his thanks to Canon Erskine Clarke for kindly permitting him to reprint the articles, which have been expanded and in part rewritten. The Sports and Pastimes of England have had many chroniclers, both ancient and modern, amongst whom may be mentioned Strutt, Brand, Hone, Stow, and several others, to whose works the writer is indebted for much valuable information. The object of this book is to describe, in simple language, the holiday festivals as they occurred in each month of the year; and the sports, games, pastimes, and customs associated with these rural feasts. It is hoped that such a description may not be without interest to our English villagers, and perhaps to others who love the study of the past. Possibly it may help forward the revival of the best features of old village life, and the restoration of some of those pleasing customs which Time has deprived us of. The writer is much indebted to Mr. E.R.R. Bindon for his very careful revision of the proof-sheets. BARKHAM RECTORY, 1891. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. JANUARY. Dedication Festivals--New Year's Day--"Wassail"--Twelfth Night--"King of the Bean"--St. Distaffs Day--Plough Monday--Winter Games--Skating--Sword-dancing CHAPTER II. FEBRUARY. Hunting--Candlemas Day--St. Blaize's Day--Shrove-tide-- Football--Battledore and Shuttlecock--Cock-throwing CHAPTER III. MARCH. Archery--Lent--"Mothering" Sunday--Palm Sunday-- "Shere" Thursday--Watching the Sepulchre CHAPTER IV. APRIL. Easter Customs--Pace Eggs--Handball in Churches--Sports confined to special localities--Stoolball and Barley-brake--Water Tournament:--Quintain--Chester Sports--Hock-tide CHAPTER V. MAY. May-day Festivities--May-pole--Morris-dancers--The Book of Sports--Bowling--Beating the Bounds--George Herbert's description of a Country Parson CHAPTER VI. JUNE. Whitsuntide Sports--Church-ales--Church-house--Quarter-staff-- Whistling and Jingling Matches--St. John's Eve--Wrestling CHAPTER VII. JULY. Cricket--Club-ball--Trap-ball--Golf--Pall-mall--Tennis--Rush-bearing CHAPTER VIII. AUGUST.