this prohibition barreth the common and meaner sort of people from using such exercises as may make their bodies more able for war, when we or our successors shall have occasion to use them; and in place thereof sets up filthy tiplings and drunkenness, and breeds a number of idle and discontented speeches in their ale-houses: for when shall the common people have leave to exercise, if not upon the Sundays and holidays, seeing they must apply their labour, and win their living, in all working days?"

Acting upon this principle, the King commanded that no recreations should be denied to his subjects which did not militate against the laws and the canons of the church.

"And as for our good people's lawful recreation," continues the Monarch, "our pleasure likewise is, that after the end of divine service our good people may not be disturbed, letted, or discouraged, from any lawful recreation, such as dancing, either men or women, archery for men, leaping, vaulting, or any other such harmless recreation; nor from having of May games, Whitson ales, and Morris-dances, and the setting up of Maypoles, and other sports therewith used, so as the same be had in due and convenient time without impediment or neglect of divine service; and that women shall have leave to carry rushes to the church for the decorating of it, according

to

to their old custom. But withall, we do here account still as prohibited all unlawful games to be used upon Sunday only, as bear and bull baiting, interludes, and, at all times in the meaner sort of people by law prohibited,, bowling."

Charles I., perfectly coinciding in his father's ideas, confirmed the above proclamation in the ninth year of his reign, strictly forbidding all the public authorities to interfere with or prevent the sports mentioned, or the feasts of the Church called Wakes.

The following passage, from a small book called "the Court of King James," is explanatory of the amusements of the time: "Sir Thomas Monson was a great lover of musick, and had as good as England had, especially for voices, and was at infinite charge in breeding some in Italy."

A servant of his, named Symon, “was an excellent musician, and did sing delicately; but was a more general musician than ever the world had: he had a cætro of an immense length and bigness: with this, being his tabor-stick, his palm of his hand his tabor, and his mouth his pipe, he would so imitate a tabor and pipe, as if it had been so indeed; to this musick would Mrs. Turner, the young ladies, and some of the gig, dance ever after supper; the old lady, who loved that musick as well as her daughters, would sit and laugh: she could scarce sit for laughing,"

The

The same work, which was published at a very suspicious time for veracity, represents James I. ` as entertained in a way that would make a man of sense blush: The Monarch, it is said, would leave his dining or supping room to witness the pastimes and fooleries performed by Sir Edward Zouch, Sir George Goring, and Sir John Finit; the first sung indecent songs,, and related tale of the same description; the former of which were written by Finit, who procured fiddlers as an accompany ment to Zouch; "and Goring was master of the game for fooleries: sometimes presenting David Droman and Archee Armstrong the King's fool on the back of the other fools, to tilt one at another, till they fell together by the ears; sometimes antick dances: but Sir John Millisent, who was never known before, was commended for notable fooling, and so he was the best extempore fool of them all."

According to Burton, some of the amusements of our citizens, and their ladies particularly, were derived from monkeys and diminutive breeds of dogs; and those of winter arose from cards, tables, and dice, shovelboard, chess, the philosophers game, small trunks, shuttlecock, billiards, musick, masks, singing, dancing, ulegames, frolicks, jests, riddles, catches, purposes, questions and commands, merry tales of knights errant, queens, lovers, lords, ladies, giants, dwarfs, thieves, cheat

ers,

ers, witches, fairies, goblins, friars, &c.; whether it is quite correct to include the general avidity for hearing the news of the day amongst its amusements may be doubted, as much depends upon the nature of it; that it was eagerly communicated and enquired for, we have this author's testimony.

"Some men's whole delight is to take tobacco, and drink all day long in a tavern or ale-house, to discourse, sing, jest, roar, talk of a cock and a bull over a pot, &c.; or when three or four good companions meet, tell old stories by the fireside, or in the sun, as old folks usually do, quæ aprici meminere senes, remembering afresh and with pleasure antient matters and such like accidents which happened in their younger years."

It is curious to observe the temporising manners at the close of the Protectorate government: the writer who, in the Mercurius Politicus informs his readers" that Charles Stuart, having left Brussels, was about a week past at Calais," adds, "Yesterday, his Excellency the Lord General Monk and his officers were entertained at dinner at Mercer's chapel, in London, by the Company of Mercers. About twelve o'clock his Excellency arrived there, with his lady and son, and, being received by a committee of that Company appointed thereunto, was by them conducted into the chapel, where he took a turn or two, loud

VOL. III.

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musick

musick and trumpets sounding all the while, and then was conducted up to the room where dinner was prepared in a very sumptuous manner, with several concerts of the best musick, that nothing might be wanting to express the good affections of that most eminent Company to so great a General.

"After dinner, for divertisement, there was a representation of a pastoral, and after many signal testimonies of respect and honour, which passed on both sides, his Excellency departed with much satisfaction."

A notice to the following purport was given in the London Gazette of August 22d, 1670:

"Whereas his Sacred Majesty hath been pleased, after the example of his Royal ancestors, to incorporate the musicians of England, for encouragement of that excellent science, and the said Corporation to have power over all that profess the same, and to allow and make free all such as they shall think fit. This is to give notice to all persons concerned in music, that the Corporation sits the Saturday in every week at their hall in Durham-yard in the Strand, in pursuance of the trust and authority to them committed by his most gracious Majesty; and that they have granted several deputations into several counties to execute the same."

Wrestling has been already mentioned as a fa

vourite