The queen's remark to the suggestion evinces a knowledge of the game as well as the condition of her mind

""Twill make me think the world is full of rubs,

And that my fortune runs against the bias."

This passage also discloses the fact that ladies played the game. Shakespeare, in another place, uses the expression "challenge her to bowl."

It was during the reign of Henry VI., in the year 1455, that the first bowling-alley was established in London; that is, became a legal pastime within the walls. As already noted, the love for gaming2 grew in the course of a century to such an extent, that it became necessary to prohibit the playing at bowls by the common people, particularly as it prevented the due practice of archery.

ITZSTEVENS, writing in 1477-8, mentions the curious game of halfbowl as being included among the

66

plays" which

many imagined plays

were followed by all classes "to

their own impoverishment, and by their ungracious procurement and encouraging, do inducen others into such plays, till they be utterly undone and impoverished of their goods." Hone says it was played in his time.

The game was played with a perfect hemisphere and fifteen conical pins. The following diagram will explain the position of the pins, and the course of the half-bowl from the player's standpoint, whose object

1 Stow.

2 It is curious to note that the first book printed at the first printing press in England, was a treatise on the Game of Chess, 1477. Saunderson's History.

was to knock down the pins after clearing the two outside the circle.

During the Tudor period games of ball seem to have got a fair hold among all grades of society. Henry VIII. added "divers fair tennis-courts and bowling-alleys to Whitehall," though even he had to prohibit bowling and other games among the lower classes, in consequence of their over-indulgence in the pastimes. Neglect of duty and the trying to make life "all beer and skittles" was more than the "merrie monarch" could tolerate.

An act was passed forbidding anyone from playing bowls but the "wealthy and well-to-do," and that no one "by himself, factor, deputy, servant or other, shall, for his or her gain, lucre, or living, keep, have, hold, occupy, exercise, or maintain any common house, alley, or place of bowling. Artificers, servants, etc., might play at Christmas-time, and a license might be granted to anyone with over 100 per annum, to keep a bowling-green for private play only," and no one could "play at any bowle or bowles in open place out of his own garden or orchard."

This act was not repealed till 1845, when by 8 and 9 Vic. Cap. 109, bowls and other games of skill were permitted to be indulged in by the people.

Probably the close proximity of the playgrounds to taverns and hostelries was the immediate cause of so much excess and debauchery. All places of any importance had bowling-greens and alleys attached.

from MS. Bodleian Library, dated 1344.

Steven Gosson in his School of Abuse, 1579, describes the sad condition due to this social evil. "Common bowling alleyes," he writes, "are privy moths that eat up the credit of many idle citizens, whose gaines at home are not able to weigh downe theyr losses abroad; whose shoppes are so farre from maintaining theyr playe that theyre wives and children cry out for bread, and go to bedde supperlesse ofte in the yeare Oh, what a wonderful change is this! our wrestling at armes is turned to wallowing in ladies' laps, our courage to cowardice, our running to ryot, our bowes to bowls, and our darts to dishes."

Queen Elizabeth tried to put down the so-called unlawful games, so that "tables, dice, cards, and bowles, were taken and brent"; but in the cause of charity she could be liberal, and licensed "one, John Seconton Powlter, being a poore man, having foure small children, and fallen into decays, ys licensed to have, and use some playes and games at or uppon

.

nyne severall Sundaies for his better relief"; and the county magistrates were instructed to assist him.1 Gaming on Sundays seemed to be the rule, and later became a law of the land.2

The name of Elizabeth naturally brings to mind the oft told story of Sir Francis Drake being engaged with Hawkins, in a game of bowls on Plymouth Hoe, when Captain Thomas Flemming brought the tidings of the appearance of the Spanish Armada off the Lizard; and Drake's remark, "There is time to finish the game and beat the Spaniards afterwards." This celebrated game was played on the little terrace bowling-green, behind 1 Cardwell's Documentary Annals.

2

A Harleian MS. of date 15th January, 1586, dwells on the great number of actors at that time performing in the city of London; and deplores the fact, that they not only played every day in the week, but also on Sundays.

3 Seymour Lucas does not indicate much of a green in his admirable picture, but this is probably an artistic license.

E

the Pelican Inn; Drake's ship, in which he circumnavigated the world, was called the "Pelican"-1

"See every man the Pelican

Which round the world did go."

The great Armada was sighted about 4 o'clock on the afternoon of the 19th July, 1588. Thus time, place, and players of this game of bowls are as much a matter of history as the great naval event itself.

Charles Kingsley 2 relates that when Drake was asked by the Lord High Admiral of England, Lord Howard, for his counsel in the emergency, he answered, aiming his bowl, "They'll come soon enough for us to show them sport, and yet slow enough for us to be ready; so let no man hurry himself, and as example is better than precept, here goes," throwing his bowl and continuing his game. The game seems to have been played in rubbers; Hawkins, who won the game, thus addressing Drake, “There, Vice-Admiral, you're beaten, and that's the rubber. Pay up three dollars, old highflyer."

"Now Howard may get to his Flaccus,

And Drake to his Devon again,

And Hawkins bowl rubbers to Bacchus

For where are the galleons of Spain?"3

1 "The famous ship Pelican, in which Drake sailed round the world . Elizabeth's self consecrated her solemnly, and having banqueted on board, there and then honoured Drake with the dignity of knighthood."

Westward Ho!

2 W. H. K. Wright (see English Illustrated Magazine, 1888) says he has verified the story of this game of bowls, and gives proofs.

3"Ballad to Queen Elizabeth of the Spanish Armada.”—Austin Dobson. Drake's memory is associated with a large meteoric stone ball, 100 lbs. in weight, which is always under an oak table in the hall of the ancient manor of Combe, Sydenham, near Williton, Somersetshire. It is said, the ball will always return to its resting place, no matter to what distance it may be