. Manners and customs of the English nation, from the invation of Julius Cæsar to the present time . , boat-racing, run-ning at the ring, were sports which all classes ofpeople enjoyed. Ladies joined in playing atbowls—skating was introduced by some courtierswho had spent much time in Holland—and swim-ming and foot races were fashionable. Huntingwas the favourite pastime of James I,, and there-fore was not likely to be neglected by the countrygentry. He was also fond of hawking, and keptthat diversion alive for a time, though from itsvery nature it was destined soon to go out offashion. Ball g
. Manners and customs of the English nation, from the invation of Julius Cæsar to the present time . , boat-racing, run-ning at the ring, were sports which all classes ofpeople enjoyed. Ladies joined in playing atbowls—skating was introduced by some courtierswho had spent much time in Holland—and swim-ming and foot races were fashionable. Huntingwas the favourite pastime of James I,, and there-fore was not likely to be neglected by the countrygentry. He was also fond of hawking, and keptthat diversion alive for a time, though from itsvery nature it was destined soon to go out offashion. Ball games had much superseded thejousts and tournaments of past times. Tenniswas in high favour, and pall-mall, or striking aball through a ring suspended to a pole, wasbecoming fashionable. Bowling, cards, dice,dancing, masques, balls, and musical entertain-ments, varied town life. Working-people stuck totheir foot-ball, quoits, pitching the bar, cricket,shovel-board, bull and bear baiting, and cock-fight-ing. The Puritans put down May-games, Whit-sun-ales, morris-dances, and all amusements that. Shooting. THE ENGLISH NATION. 233 savoured of a Catholic origin. They also, as wehave seen, suppressed, as far as they could, thesavage sports of bear and bull baiting. Hewsonand Pride killed all the bears at the bear-gardento put an end to that cruel pastime, and thenceoriginated Butlers Hudibras. The bowling-greensof the English were famous, and horse-racing wasmuch in vogue. In Scotland the Reformation putto flight all sorts of games, dancing, and merry-makings, as sinful and unbecoming of Christians,and polemic discussions were the only excitementswhich varied the ascetic gloom.* Since 1688, the diversions and manners of theEnglish have undergone a considerable ancient hospitality is no more, and manyfavourite diversions are now forgotten. Thoseremaining to us are operas, dramatic exhibitions,and masquerades—hunting, racing, and dancing—foot-ball, cricket, and som
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