The Sports and Pastimes of the People of England

THE

SPORTS AND PASTIMES

OF THE

PEOPLE OF ENGLAND.

INCLUDING THE

RURAL AND DOMESTIC RECREATIONS,

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

FROM

THE EARLIEST PERIOD TO THE PRESENT TIME.

BY JOSEPH STRUTT.

LLUSTRATED BY

One Hundred and Forty Engravings,

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, 73, CHEAPSIDE,

R. GRIFFIN AND CO., GLASGOW; TEGG AND CO., DUBLIN:

ALSO, J. AND S. A. TEGG, SYDNEY AND HOBART TOWN.

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.

Newington Green, 1830.

W. HONE.

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.

PAGE

1. 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-