Page:Cassell's Illustrated History of England vol 1.djvu/155

TO A.D.1200.] the person holding the cord retired to some paces distance, while another lifted the bird's cap and set him at liberty. The falconer then called the bird, showing the lure.

These details, with the accompanying engravings, are taken from the "Livre du Roy Modus," the most ancient of all the works on hawking.

The tournament, which was the principal amusement of the Norman nobility at the time of the Conquest, was not introduced into England until the reign of Stephen, and will, therefore, be treated of hereafter.



Various military exercises were, however, in existence, among which was the quintain. A stuff, from which a shield was hung, was fixed in the ground, and the performer, on horseback, rode full tilt at the mark, endeavoring to strike the shield with his lance.



Sometimes the quintain was the figure of a Turk or Saracen, which was placed on a pivot in such a manner that, if the horseman failed to strike it in the face, he received a severe blow from the other end of the quintain, which turned round with great velocity.

Some military sports are described by Strutt as peculiar to the young men of London in the twelfth century. At this period, also, he tells us that it was common for the young men and maidens of the city to meet for dancing and merry-making after the labours of the day, and that the city damsels played on the citherns, and kept up the dance by the light of the moon (usque imminiente luá).

Many other sports were also common at this period, among which may be noticed sword and buckler play, and various games of ball.

The leisure hours of the Anglo-Saxon women were spent in spinning, or in similar employments; and the lady of the house did not disdain to be among her maids, encouraging and assisting them in their duties. Strutt relates the following account, given by Ingulphus, of Edgitha, queen to Edward the Confessor:—"I have often seen her," he says,



"While I was yet a boy, when my father was at the king's palace; and as I came from school, when I have met her, she would examine me in my learning, and from grammar she would proceed to logic (which she also understood), concluding with me in the most subtle argument; then causing one of her attendant maids to present me with three or four pieces of money, I was dismissed, being sent to the larder, where I was sure to get some eatables." The simplicity of manners here described soon disappeared when the throne of England was occupied by Norman kings.



The articles of costume were of great variety. A taste for gorgeous finery appears in the dress of the male sex.



We read of a king's coronation garment being made of silk, woven with gold flowers; and of a cloak stud led with gold and gems. The dress of the soldiers and civilians usually consisted of a close coat or tunic, reaching only to the knee,