Page:A History of Domestic Manners and Sentiments in England During the Middle Ages.djvu/453

 and Sentiments. 433 inftance may be ftated. In the now rather celebrated manufcript of the French romance of "Alexander," hi the Bodleian Library at Oxford, which was written and illuminated in the fourteenth century, we have No. 271. A Puppet Shoiv. reprefentations of a puppet lliow, which appears to be identical with our modern Punch and Judy. We copy one of thefe curious early drawings in our cut No. 271. Among the paftimes moft popular at this time with the lower and middle clalTes were archery, the praftice of which was enforced by authority, and fliooting with the croslbow, as well as moll: of the ordinary rough games known at a later period, fuch as football and the like. The Englilh archers were celebrated throughout Europe. The poet Barclay, who wrote at the clofe of the century, makes the lliepherd in one of his eclogues not only boaft of his Ikill in archery, but he adds — / can dance the ray ; I can both pipe andfing^ If I ivere mery ; I can both hurle and fling ; I runne, I ivrejile, I can ivelk throive the barre. No jhepherd thrcnveth the axeltree Jo jarre ; If I ivere mery, I could -well leape andjpring ,• / ivere a man mete to feri/e a prince or king. Bvdl-baiting, bear-baiting, and fuch like fports, were alfo purfued with avidity ; and even gentlemen and young noblemen took part in them. Any game, in faft, which produced violent exercife and violent excitement was in favour with all ranks. Among the higher claires, hunting and hawking were purfued with more eagernefs than ever, and 3 K they