Page:Manners and customs of ye Englyshe.djvu/61



OWN the River with Browne to Greenwich to view the Fair. To the Park, where young Fellows and Hoydens at Archery, Donkey Riding, playing at Kifs-in-the-Ring, and running down the Hill, romping, tripping, and tumbling over Head and Heels, with Shouting, Screaming, and Laughter. Then down to the Fair, made in a narrow Space in the Town by a Couple of Rows of Booths and Sweet-Meat and Toy-Stalls, with Raree Shows at the farther End, and Swings and Roundabouts on the Outſide. The Paſſage moſt inſufferably crammed; and we having to force our Way between Walls hung with Dolls and Gilt Ginger-Bread. The Stalls and Booths crowded alſo, and the Tobacco Smoke riſing from the Drinking Places like a Fog. Young Prentice-Blades and Shop-Boys puſhing about with large Maſquerade Noſes, and did entertain themſelves more than me. But the chief Amuſment of theſe Royſterers and the frolicſome Wenches do ſeem to be ſcratching one another, and the Company, behind, with a Scraper, which is a notched Diſk of Wood, that turns on an Axle in a Mortiſe, with a Handle ſome ſix Inches long, and being dragged down a Man's Back, do make him believe that his Coat is torn, as I thought mine was, when firſt ſerved ſo, which did trouble me. With this Noiſe of continual Tearing, and the Squeaking of Tin Trumpets, and Blowing of Whittles, and