Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 11.djvu/293

 ON THE GAME OF PALL MALL. 257 occupied by houses, and as early as IGGO, on July 2G, scarcely two months after the return of Charles II., Pep^^s makes the entry — ■'■' We went to Wood's at the Pell Mell (our old house for clubbing) and there we spent till ten at night." ^ Immediately on his Restoration; Charles II. commenced extensive works in the Park ; tlie canal was made and a machine constructed for raising water, a decoy formed with great variety of fowl for the royal pleasure, a snow house and an ice house, as in France and Italy, for cooling drinks ; also the new Mall, on the north side, to which Charles, who was very fond of the game, constantly resorted. This was the "well polished Mall," of which his panegyrist Waller wrote, in describing the King's " matchless force '' and manly posture, when his first touch sent the flying ball more than half way to the goal, like a shot from a culverin.* Charles had been proclaimed in London on May 8, and entered the metropolis May 29, 1660 ; on September 16, in the same 3'ear, we find Pep3''S strolling " to the Park, where I saw how far they had proceeded in the Pellmell." In a subsequent year he writes again, — May 15, 1663, "I walked in the Park, discoursing with the keeper of the Pell Mell, who was sweeping of it, who told me of what the earth is mixed that do floor the Mall, and that over all there is cockle-shells powdered, and spread to keep it fast ; which, however, in dry weather turns to dust and deadens the ball." That this fashionable disport was then much practised by gallants in the winter season appears from an incident which he relates on January 4, following.^ There exists a view of Hi. James' Park, looking towards Whitehall, which has supplied an illustration of the game found regarding the locality and its dis- Thomas Rugge, in his Diurnall, 1G59 to tinguished inhabitants. 167"2 (MS. in Brit. Mus.). mentions that 3 Diary, vol. i., p. 97. " This," Mr. " a Pele Mele was made at the further end Cunningham well observes, " is not only of St. James' Park, which was made for one of thoeai'liest references to Pall Mall his Majesty to play, being a very princely as an inhabited locality, but one of the pl^y-" In Sept., 1661, he records that the earliest uses of the word 'clubbing' in road formerly used for coaches, &c.," from its modern signification of a club, and Charing Cross to St. James', by St. James' additionally interesting, seeing that the Park wall and the backside of Pall MaW, street still maintains what Johnson would is now altered, by reason a new Pall Mall have called its ' clubbable' character." is made for the use of His Majesty in St. improved by His Majesty," 1661. from the coaches was very troublesome to ' Diary, vol. i. pp. 107, 417, vol. ii. the players at Mall." p. iil. Lord Braybrookc observes, that
 * Waller, " St. James' Park, as lately James' Park by the wall, and the ilust