CHAPTER IV.

APRIL.

"The spring clad all in gladness
Doth laugh at winter's sadness;
And to the bagpipe's sound
The nymphs tread out their ground.

"Fie then, why sit we musing,
Youth's sweet delight refusing;
Say dainty nymphs, and speak:
Shall we play barley-breake?"

_Old Ballad_ (A.D. 1603).

Easter Customs--Pace Eggs--Handball in Churches--Sports
confined to Special Localities--Stoolball and Barley-brake
--Water Tournament--Quintain--Chester Sports--Hock-tide.


From the earliest days of Christianity Easter has always been
celebrated with the greatest joy, and accounted the Queen of
Festivals. Many curious customs are associated with this feast, some
of which represented in a rude, primitive way the Resurrection of our
Lord. There was an old Miracle Play which was performed at Easter;
for we find in the churchwardens' books at Kingston-upon-Thames, in