ent period, was left to the aged
or infirm. The writer whom we have before quoted says "The youths are
exercised in the summer holidays in leaping, dancing, wrestling, casting
the hammer, the stone, and in practising their shields; and in winter
holidays the boars prepared for brawn are set to fight, or else in bull
and bear baiting." Such we see were the pursuits to which our
forefathers devoted their leisure time in or about the year 1130. Their
immediate descendants breathed the same spirit. In 1222 certain masters,
or professors as we should call them, made a public profession of their
instruction and discipline, which they imparted to those who were
desirous of making themselves perfect in the above honourable
achievements, which we think they were, in spite of these enlightened
times, or of the slow "march of intellect."

But of all the manly pastimes our ancestors delighted to honour, archery
appears to have gained the greatest sway over the hearts of the
multitude. It is stated that through the introduction of several
"pernicious games," it had for a long time been disused, and in the 33rd
year of the reign of Henry VIII. a statute was made for its revival; it
then continued till the reign of Charles I. A faint trial to revive it
has again been attempted, but we doubt its success.

James I., at the beginning of his reign, to gratify the people,
published a book of sports, of which the women had some time before
participated on Sunday evenings, but which had been prohibited. These
sports consisted of dancing, ringing, wrestling, and other profanations
of that day, and which had risen to such a height that the land would
have been deluged with immorality, if Charles I. had not wisely shown
his piety, by totally abolishing them; this he did as soon as he came to
his throne. In this reign may be said to have ended all those games that
taught Britons to defend their altars and their homes, and unhappily
nothing has been since instituted to compensate for their loss. E.J.K.

* * * * *

ORIGIN OF THE ARTILLERY COMPANY.

Stowe tells us--"About the year 1585, certain gallant, active, and
forward citizens, having had experience abroad and at home, voluntarily
exercised themselves, and trayned uppe others, for the readie use of
warre, so as within two years, there was almost three hundredth
marchants, and others of like quality, very sufficient and skillful to
traine and teache com