Page:Manners and customs of ye Englyshe.djvu/77



HIS Day a great Cricket Match, Surrey againſt England, at Lord's, and I thither, all the Way to St. John's Wood, to ſee the Place, having often heard Talk of it, and the Playing, which did tell me was a pretty Sight. Paid 6d. to be let in, and 2d. for a Card of the Innings, and bought a little Book of the Laws of the Game, coſt me 1s. 6d. more, though when I had got it, could hardly underſtand a Word of it; but to think how much Money I ſpend out of Curioſity, and how inquiſitive I am, ſo as to be vexed to the Heart if I cannot thoroughly make out every Thing I ſee! The Cricketing I believe very fine; but could not judge of it; for I think I did never before ſee any Cricket ſince I was a little Varlet Boy at School. But what a Difference between the Manner of Bowling in thoſe Days, and that Players now uſe! for then they did moderately trundle the Ball under-hand; but now they ſling it over-handed from the Elbow, as though viciouſly, and it flies like a Shot, being at leaſt Five Ounces and a Half in Weight, and hard as a Block. I ſaw it ſtrike one of the Bat men on the Knuckles, who Danced and ſhook his Fiſt, as methought well he might. But to ſee how handy ſome did catch it, though knocked off the Bat by a ſtrong Man with all his Force; albeit now and then they milling it, and ſtruck by it on the I lead, or in the Mouth, and how any one can