"Cheerfulness is the best hymn to the Divinity."-ADDISON.

LONDON:

CRADOCK & CO., 48, PATERNOSTER ROW.

1847.

London:

Printed by STEWART and MURray,

Old Bailey.

CONTENTS.

SECTION I.

HISTORICAL SKETCH, &C.

General and Introductory Remarks- Writings for "the Mil-

lion"-London in a Wood-The Vicinity of the Metropolis

in Ancient times-Beasts of the Chase, &c.-Fitz-Stephen's

Compliment to the Londoners, especially to the Virtues of

the Women-Hunting, Hawking, and other Sports-Ed-

ward III.-Hunting Exploits of Queen Elizabeth-Privileges

of the Chase enjoyed by Londoners-Easter Monday Stag

Hunt-"Mysteries" and "Moralities."—Juvenile Sports—

Sunday Pastimes-The Water Quintain-Origin of Skating-

Dancing Maidens-Accident at Paris Garden-Queen Eliza-

beth and James I.-Amusements in the 16th and 17th Cen-

turies-Prize Fighting-Bull and Bear Baiting-Advance of

Civilization-The Drama-Literature and the Fine Arts-

Concerts-Coffee Shops-Railway and Steam-Boat Convey-

ance.

SECTION II.

DAYS OF NOTE AND THEIR OBSERVANCES, &c.

New Year's day-Gifts to Queen Elizabeth - Observances in

Paris-Twelfth Day-How to draw for King and Queen-

Candlemas-St Valentine's Day-Love Divinations-Shrove

Tuesday-St. David's Day-St. Patrick's Day-Palm Sunday

-Maunday Thursday-Royal Donations-Good Friday-Cross
Buns-Greenwich Fair and its Sports-Spital Sermons-Boys

of Christ Church Hospital-Rogation Week-Holy Thursday—
Parochial Perambulations-Whitsuntide.

17

SECTION III.

DAYS OF NOTE AND THEIR OBSERVANCES, &c.

-

All Fools' Day-May-Day-May-Poles-Symbols-May Fair--

Milkmaids' Garlands-Chimney Sweepers-Trinity Sunday

and Monday-Restoration of Charles the Second-Midsummer-

Day-Worship of Baal and Moloch-Festive Illuminations,

&c.-The City Watch-Lammas-Day-Dogget's Prize Coat-

and-Badge-Swan-Hopping-St. Bartholomew's Fair St.

Matthew's Day-St. Michael the Archangel-Michaelmas-

Goose-eating-Ancient Tenures-Croydon Fair-Civic Cerc-

monies-Swearing-in of the Sheriffs-Chopping the Sticks,

and counting the Hob-nails-The Gunpowder Plot, and the

burning of Guy Fawkes-The Butchers of Clare Market-Cere-

mony of "Burning the Pope"-Lord Mayor's Day -St.

Thomas's Day-Christmas-Eve Ceremonies-Christmas Carols

-The Mistletoe-Boar's Head at the Temple-The King of

Christmas at Lincoln's Inn-Childermas-Day-The King of

the Cockneys-Origin of Christmas-boxes.

SECTION IV.

FIELD SPORTS, RETROSPECTIVE GLANCE, &c.

31

-

Necessity for Relaxation-A Retrospective Glance-British and

Saxon Eras-Christianity-The Norman Conquest, and its Ad-

vantages - Civilizing Influences - Tilts and Tournaments

Henry the Eighth-James the First-Ascendancy of the Puri-

tans-Hunting, Hawking, &c.-Seasons for Hunting-Game

Laws-Preservation of Game at Westminster-Horse-racing

in Smithfield, Hyde Park, &c. - Foot-racing-Foot-ball,

Trap-ball, and Cricket-Prisoners' Base-The Quintain. 48

SECTION V.

TOURNAMENTS, ARCHERY, &c.

-

Tilting-Tournaments and Jousts-The Troy Game-Sword-play

-Swash-Bucklers-Prize-fighting Swordsmen A Chivalric

Contrast-Prohibition of Fencing-Bull and Bear Baiting-

Cock-fighting-Whipping the Cock-Threshing the Hen-

Camberwell, Peckham, and Fairlop Fair, &c.-Vauxhall Gar-

dens, Surrey Zoological Gardens, &c.—Archery.

58

SPORTS, PASTIMES,

AND

CUSTOMS OF LONDON.

SECTION I.

HISTORICAL SKETCH, ETC.

Ed

General and Introductory Remarks.-Writings for "the Million"-London in a Wood-The vicinity of the Metropolis in Ancient Times-Beasts of the Chase, &c.-Fitz-Stephen's Compliment to the Londoners, especially to the Virtues of the Women - Hunting, Hawking, and other Sports ward III.-Hunting Exploits of Queen Elizabeth-Privileges of the Chase enjoyed by Londoners - Easter Monday Stag Hunt-"Mysteries" and "Moralities "—Juvenile SportsSunday Pastimes-The Water Quintain-Origin of SkatingDancing Maidens-Accident at Paris Garden-Queen Elizabeth and James I.-Amusements in the 16th and 17th Centuries-Prize Fighting-Bull and Bear-Baiting-Advance of Civilization-The Drama-Literature and the Fine ArtsConcerts-Coffee Shops-Railway and Steam-Boat Convey

ance.

To indicate, to the native of the metropolis as well as to the stranger, the simplest mode of obtaining a general view of London, with "all its national establishments, public buildings, exhibitions, &c.," within the brief period of seven days, was one of our former labours in the diffusion of "useful

knowledge;" more recently we offered, equally to the resident as to the visitor, a series of "Excursions"-by railway, steam-boat, stage-coach, and omnibus-within a circle of from forty to fifty miles around the capital;* and we now

* Vide Nos. 10 and 26 of "The New Library of Useful Knowledge."

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