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.