Page:History of the Fylde of Lancashire (IA historyoffyldeof00portiala).pdf/112

 and oats 40 bushels. The subjoined tables contain the average prices of some of the common articles of consumption:—

In 1500. In 1541. In 1590. In 1597.

12 Pigeons  4d. 0s. 10d. 1s. 0d. 4s. 3d. 100 Eggs    7d. 1s. 6d. 3s. 6d. 1 Goose     4d. 0s. 8d. 1 Chicken   1d. 0s. 8d. 1 Lb. of Butter    0s. 3d. 0s. 4d.

In 1581, the charge for shoeing a horse was 10d., and sometimes 12d. Here it may be noticed, although perhaps rather digressive, that the herb tobacco was introduced into this country sometime during the summer of 1586, by a party of Englishmen, who for a short time colonised the island of Roanoak, near the coast of Virginia, but, having quarrelled with the aborigines, were removed home in the ships of Sir Francis Drake. Camden, writing of these men, says:—"They were the first that I know of that brought into England that Indian plant which they called tabacca and nicotia, or tobacco, which they used against crudities, being taught it by the Indians. Certainly, from that time forward, it began to grow into great request, and to be sold at a high rate; whilst in a short time many men, everywhere, some for wantonness, some for health sake, with insatiable desires and greediness, sucked in the stinking smoke thereof through an earthen pipe, which presently they blew out again at their nostrils; insomuch that tobacco-shops are now as ordinary in most towns as tap-houses and taverns."

The following rhymes, descriptive of the games and recreations common in Lancashire amongst the youth of both sexes, were written in 1600, by Samuel Rowland:—

"Any they dare challenge for to throw the sledge, To jump or leap over ditch or hedge; To wrestle, play at stool-ball, or to run, To pitch the bar or to shoot off a gun; To play at loggats, nine-holes, or ten-pins, To try it out at foot-ball by the shins; At tick-tacke, seize-noddy, maw, and ruff; At hot-cockles, leap-frog, or blindman's buff; To drink the halper-pots, or deal at the whole can; To play at chess, or pue, and inkhorn; To dance the morris, play at barley-brake; At all exploits a man can think or speak: At shove-groat, venter-point, or cross and pile;