Hardicanute, on Tuesday the 8th of June, 1042, is pointed out as its origin. The weight of argument preponderates in favour of the national deliverance by Hardicanute's death; and it must not be forgotten, that the festival was celebrated on a Tuesday, and that Hoke-Tuesday was the Tuesday in the second week after Easter. Spelman derives the term from the German Hocken, in reference to the act of binding, which was formerly practised by the women upon the men, on Hoke Tuesday; an opinion which Mr. Denne has well supported.-Archæolog. vol. vii. page 244. A payment, called Hock-Tuesday money, was anciently made, by the tenant to the landlord, for the permission given by the latter to the former, to celebrate the festivities of this memorable day.-Jac. Law Dict. in verb.

Whatever the etymology of its name, or the origin of the game itself, might be, its subject was the massacre of the Danes, expressed in actions and rhymes, and acted annually in the town of Coventry, till its suppression, shortly after the Reformation.

It consisted of fierce sham contests between the English and Danish forces; first, by the "launce knights" on horseback, armed with spears and shields, who being many of them dismounted, then fought with swords and targets. Afterwards succeeded two "hosts of footmen," one after the other; first marching in ranks; then facing about in military array, they changing their form from ranks into squadrons, then into triangles, then into rings, and then "winding out again, they joined in battle. Twice the Danes had the better; but at the last conflict they were beaten down, overcome, and many of them led captive for triumph by our English women.

BRYDEALE.-In Laneham's account of the festivities of Kenilworth Castle, for the "disport" of her Majesty, is a ludicrous narrative of a rustic marriage or bryde-ale, celebrated before her; and which makes part of our author's description. The History of Jack of Newbury affords the following mention of this procession.

*Strutt's Sports and Pastimes, &c. p. 148.

"The bride being attired in a gown of sheep's russet, and a kirtle of fine worsted, attired with a 'billement of gold, and her hair as yellow as gold, hanging down behind her, which was curiously combed and plaited; she was led to church between two sweet boys, with bride laces and rosemary tied about their silken sleeves. There was a fair bride-cup of silver gilt carried before her, wherein was a goodly branch of rosemary, gilded very fair, hung about with silken ribbons of all colours.

"Musicians came next; then a group of maidens, some bearing great bride-cakes, others garlands of white finely gilded; and thus they passed on to the church."

Out of the bride-cup, thus described, it was customary for all the persons present, together with the newly-married couple, to drink in the church. There is a ludicrous reference to this in "the mad wedding of Catherine and Petruchio;" the latter of whom

"Quaff'd off the muscadel,

And threw the sops all in the sexton's face." The "custom, indeed, was universal, from the prince to the peasant; and at the mar

riage of the Elector Palatine to the daughter of James I. in 1613, we are informed, by an eye-witness, that there was, in conclusion, "a joy pronounced by the king and queen, and seconded with congratulations of the lords there present; which were crowned with draughts of ippocras, out of a great golden bowl, as an health to the prosperity of the marriage, (began by the Prince Palatine, and answered by the Princess.) After which were served, by six or seven barons, as many bowls filled with wafers; so, much of that work was consummate."-Laneham's Letter, 16, note.

QUINTAIN.-Among the divertisements performed before her Majesty at Kenilworth (and connected with the Brydeale just mentioned) was that of "a comely quintain," (as Laneham facetiously describes it,) "for feats of arms, where, in a great company of young men and lasses, the bridegroom had the first course at the quintain, and broke his spear tres hardiment. But his mare in his manage did a little so titubate (stumble), that much ado had his manhood to sit in VOL. III.

D

his saddle, and to escape the foil of a fall.".

66

Now, Sir, after the bridegroom had made his course, ran the rest of the band; awhile, in some order, but soon after, tag and rag, cut and long tail, where the speciality of the sport was to see how some, for his slackness, had a good bob with the bag; and some, for his haste, to topple downright, and come tumbling to the post; some striving so much at the first setting out, that it seemed a question between man and beast, whether the race should be performed on horseback or on foot; and some put forth with spurs, would run his race bias among the thickest of the throng, that down they came together, hand over head. Another, while he directed his course to the quintain, his jument (stallion) would carry him to a mare among the people; ano. ther would run and miss the quintain with his staff, and hit the board with his head.”*

The quyntyne, or quintane, was, originally, a martial sport, sport, familiar to the Romans, and supposed to derive its name from an individual

Laneham's Letter, Elizabeth's Progresses: Nichols, vol. i. fol. 249.