Athletics and Football (extract)

14 ATHLETICS rouste and becomeblunt, yet certainly bodilyexercisesare very commendable as well for baunishing idlenessas for making the body able and durable for travell.' ' The exercisesthat I would have you use, although but moderately, not making a craft of them' (whichmeans, we suppose, that a prince should be an amateur, not a ' pro '), 1 are running, leaping, wrestling,fencing, dancing, and playingat the caitch, or tennise, archerie, palle- malle, and such like other fair and pleasant field games.' Both Peacham and his Majesty seemto despise hammer-throwing, the former expressinghis dislike,and the latter saying nothing Sports in timoef Queen Elizabeth. of it, from which it appears that fashionhad changed since the time of Henry VIII. Although wecan hardly fancy James I. running or jumping, there is little doubt that athletic skill was honoured in his Court. In Arthur Wilson's life of James L, published in 1653, we hear of the royal favourite, the Duke of Buckingham,that ' no man dances better; no man runs or jumpsbetter.' ' Indeed,' remarks the sarcastic chronicler, ' he jumps higher than ever Englishmandid in so short a time, froma private gentleman to