"for as much as the exercise of archery is lawful, laudable, healthful, and innocent, and to the end that God's holy name may not be dishonoured by any of that society, it is agreed and hereby declared, that if any of them shall that day curse or swear, in the hearing of any of that company, and the same proved before the captain and lieutenant, he shall pay down one shilling, so proportionally for every oath," &c., for the use of the poor. These rules have continued, with little variation, to the present day, (1835.) A subscription is made among the members for a second prize. An account of the last shooting at Middleton-one-Row, 1834, will show how the prizes were awarded. Five pair of targets were set up, the distance between one shooting point and another being 102 yards, that is, two yards being allowed for the stand, and 100 yards for the flight of the arrow. The outer circle was white, the second black, the third blue, the fourth red, and the centre gold. The first prize, the silver arrow, was won by Mr. Crowe, by placing the arrow in the gold, which entitled him to the custody of the arrow, and to the honorary title of Captain of Archers for the ensuing year. The second prize was the subscription silver cup, value about seventeen guineas, this year, was won by Mr. Leafe, and he holds the rank of lieutenant, by placing the most centrical arrow in the gold, during the days of shooting. There is also a captain of numbers, a lieutenant of the arrow, gained by placing the first arrow in the red; and, last of all, the "spooney," by placing the last arrow in the white, by which he gained the ancient horn spoon, on which is inscribed, "Risum teneatis, amici!" ["Take the laugh friendly?"] After King Charles' death archery began to decline, but was revived again about sixty years past, in which sport the ladies enter into with great elegance and spirit, and several are so expert as to win prizes. The Earl of Aylesford established a club at his seat, at Packington, Warwickshire, which he called the Woodmen of Arden. When Queen Victoria visited Scotland, she was attended, in the city of Edinburgh, with a company of archers, as her body guard, in 1842. COCKING. "His comb was redder than the fin corall, Embatteled as it were a castell wall." CHAUCER. This sport was much practiced; Roger Ascham, the learned tutor to Queen Elizabeth, wrote a treatise upon it. The royal cock-pit, Whitehall, recently levelled to the ground, was built by Henry VIII. King James was so passionately fond of it, he amused himself with it twice a week. And there is still in existence, a poem on this diversion, wrote by Dr. R. Wild, a nonconformist divine (born 1609.) Besides the celebrated cock-pit, Whitehall, there was one in Drury, Grays Inn, and Shoe Lanes. And Thirty-four years past, the writer was detained a day, when upon business at Walsall, in Staffordshire, and to pass away an hour, went into a cock-pit, where a main was being fought; and there he met with a church of England clergyman. strange as it may appear to many readers, he is satisfied, the gentleman might have been worse employed. On enquiry, he found this clergyman was highly respected, exemplary in all his duties, and by his mixing with the multitude in their diversions, had a great hold upon their affections, and exerted a due influence upon their conduct. Although it is the last place where etiquette of any sort can be preserved; this gentleman, by "becoming all things to all men," kept up, among a rude people, a greater degree of order and decorum than he had ever witnessed in such places. Those who are very cynical upon these subjects, should recollect the latin proverb " Omnia bona bonis."* FISHING. In former days, when it was found necessary to have moats round castles or dwellings, for better security; these were turned into the ever ready purposes of fish ponds; and, as the people were Catholics, and had fish days as their regular food, the diversion of fishing was often had close at home; and it was not exclusively followed by our sex. The ladies not only followed it, but there was one Dame, Julyans Berners, prioress of Sopewell Nunnery, near St. Albans; a pious lady, *All things are good, to good men. of noble family, wrote an ingenious and learned treatise upon the subject; long before the kind hearted Izack Walton, who wrote his immortal work, 1653. According to Aubrey "The younger fry of wealthy families, were either to enter the church, or enter into the retinue of noble families, or men in office. Commerce then was regarded with a supercilious eye, by the generality of the sons of the proud born "Jolter headed country gentry." Hence, arisen the numerous "Will Wimbles," and "the led captains," who endeavoured to make themselves necessary to some rich gentleman or nobleman, for the privilege of getting his feet under their table; if they were "Too coy to flatter-and too proud to serve, Thine be the joyless dignity to starve." SMOLLET. That was often their only alternative! Hence, as Carew writes: "Thus mean in state, and calm in sprite, My fish-ful-pond is my delight!" They, therefore, were skilful in the art of angling, and the making of artificial flies, which brought into more note this delightful and bewitching method of catching fish. But as the science of insects was then but little known, the most part of them were not like anything in nature; and, if you might be foolish enough to fall down and worship some of them, you would not have broken one of the commandments.* But the use of them was successful.† These younger sons of the high born were also usefully employed in studying the points of a horse, breaking in of hunters and hounds, and training pointers, training and feeding gamecocks, with the cures of the diseases to which such useful animals are liable; and thus the art of farriery and veterinary surgery became considerably improved. They also were able to superintend, and refine the overflowing hospitality of their patron; and sometimes, too, would drink hard, and shout loud, and brag well in his service at an election contest. * There are a variety of opinions at the present time about these flies, whether they should be exactly agreeable to nature, or according to the fancy of the artists, questions not of importance enough for me to enter upon, so I shall leave the different partizans still to † An angler, between 1754 and 1764, taken chiefly in Wales, 47,120 fish, principally trout, which he gave away; some pike, chub, eel, and flounder not noticed. Magna Britannia Notitia, 1708. In fact, they usefully served their part in the manners and customs of the age, and perhaps were not badly employed. In truth, "An idler is like a watch that wants both hands, As useless if it goes, as when it stands." COWPER. The celebrated Kirby fish-hook was brought into use at this period, and whose good qualities have kept his name up so long; he was taught the art of tempering them by Prince Rupert. Angling is frequently alluded to by almost all the writers of the period. Thus speaks Drayton: "The goodly well-grown trout, I with my angle strike, Next to the chase and shooting, fishing was the principal out-door amusement, particularly by the fair sex! In King Charles II.'s reign, ladies used to fish in the canal in St. James Park, London." "The angler's tackle was very beautiful, and very costly; some have been valued as high as £50, and they were fond of displaying it."-Walton. Of entrance to a quarrel; but being in, Bear it, that the opposer may beware of thee." SHAKSPEARE. I PRESUME my readers will be no better pleased with reading this part of the sports than I am in writing it, but, as it is a prominent feature in the manners and customs of the period, I have no alternative. They had become frequent, at which the common weapons were broad-swords, small-swords, daggers, and single sticks ;* and the gladiators, who mangled each other for the amusement of the crowd, and the benefit of the taverns in which they were holden, devoted themselves to this savage calling as a regular trade, and subsisted upon the subscription purses, or admittance fees. Many of these fellows went or sent round the country challenges to combat in every village. The following sketch gives a description of the nature of the fight at that time: "Seats The single stick is excellent practice to prepare sailors for a boarding party. The weapon is an ash stick, about the thickness of the thumb, and about four feet long, with a wicker, or basket handle, to protect the hand. There are but few untaught men, with the broad-sword, that could beat the proficient with a single stick. were filled, two drums were beating, dogs yelping, butchers and foot-soldiers clattering with their sticks; at last the two heroes, in their bosom'd Holland shirts, mount the stage about three o'clock, cut large collops out of each other, to divert the mob, and make work for the surgeons; smoking, drinking, cuffing, and stinking, all the while the company stay." The writer adds, that even the ladies attended such exhibitions, and viewed them with interest. The most distinguished of these bullies was Figg. This personage taught "the noble art of self-defence," in Oxford-street road, London, where gentlemen were trained in the use of the small sword, and single stick.† In the Spectator, No. 436, honourable mention is made of John Parkes, or Sparkes, a prize fighter. He was buried on the north side of St. Michael's Church, Coventry, under a flat stone, upon which was originally engraved the following inscription: To the memory of Mr. John Parkes, He was a man of a mild disposition, In the principal parts of Europe, At length quitted the stage, sheathed his sword, The Baron de Bielfield, who was in London in the year 1741, after mentioning the national sport, boxing, he speaks of a combat with swords. The feet of the antagonists, he says, were placed in sandals, which were affixed to the ground, so that they could not stir in the least from one position. Their swords were extremely sharp, and very slight toward the point; and the wounds they gave each other were never very deep; "but the blood soon flowed, at which the people applauded exceedingly." It was from the cultivation of the science of the art of selfdefence, that scientific boxing took its rise, which was found to be a great change for the better; for, some how or other, men will, or rather do, quarrel. And it has been found much better, when such untoward events arise, to settle the difference with the fists rather than with more deadly weapons; have " a clear stage, and fair play." Hence England, since then, has rarely * Works of T. Brown. + Pierce Egan's Boxiana. |