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BOWL PLAYING.

       ADOLPHUS, BERNARDUS, the Arbitrators.

      Adol. You have been often bragging what a mighty Gamester you were at Bowls. Come now, I have a Mind to try what a one you are.

      Ber. I'll answer you, if you have a Mind to that Sport. Now you'll find according to the Proverb; You have met with your Match.

      Adol. Well, and you shall find I am a Match for you too.

      Ber. Shall we play single Hands or double Hands?

      Adol. I had rather play single, that another may not come in with me for a Share of the Victory.

      Ber. And I had rather have it so too, that the Victory may be entirely my own.

      Adol. They shall look on, and be Judges.

      Ber. I take you up; But what shall he that beats get, or he that is beaten lose?

      Adol. What if he that beats shall have a Piece of his Ear cut off.

      Ber. Nay, rather let one of his Stones be cut out. It is a mean Thing to play for Money; you are a Frenchman, and I a German, we'll both play for the Honour of his Country.

      Adol. If I shall beat you, you shall cry out thrice, let France flourish; If I shall be beat (which I hope I shan't) I'll in the same Words celebrate your Germany.

      Ber. Well, a Match. Now for good Luck; since two great Nations are at Stake in this Game, let the Bowls be both alike.

      Adol. Do you see that Stone that lies by the Port there.

      Ber. Yes I do.

      Adol. That shall be the Jack.

      Ber. Very well, let it be so; but I say let the Bowls be alike.

      Adol. They are as like as two Peas. Take which you please, it's all one to me.

      Ber. Bowl away.

      Adol. Hey-day, you whirl your Bowl as if your Arm was a Sling.

      Ber. You have bit your Lip, and whirled your Bowl long enough: Come bowl away. A strong Bowl indeed, but I am best.

      Adol. If it had not been for that mischievous Bit of a Brick-bat there, that lay in my Way, I had beat you off.

      Ber. Stand fair.

      Adol. I won't cheat: I intend to beat you, by Art, and not to cheat ye, since we contend for the Prize of Honour: Rub, rub.

      Ber. A great Cast in Troth.

      Adol. Nay, don't laugh before you've won. We are equal yet.

      Ber. This is who shall: He that first hits the Jack is up. I have beat you, sing.

      Adol. Stay, you should have said how many you'd make up, for my Hand is not come in yet.

      Ber. Judgment, Gentlemen.

      Arbitr. 3.

      Adol. Very well.

      Ber. Well, what do you say now? Are you beat or no?

      Adol. You have had better Luck than I, but yet I won't vail to you, as to Strength and Art; I'll stand to what the Company says.

      Arb. The German has beat, and the Victory is the more glorious, that he has beat so good a Gamester.

      Ber. Now Cock, crow.

      Adol. I am hoarse.

      Ber. That's no new Thing to Cocks; but if you can't crow like an old Cock, crow like a Cockeril.

      Adol. Let Germany flourish thrice.

      Ber. You ought to have said so thrice. I am a-dry; let us drink somewhere, I'll make an end of the Song there.

      Adol. I won't stand upon that, if the Company likes it.

      Arb. That will be the best, the Cock will crow clearer when his Throat is gargled.

* * * * *

      _3. The Play of striking a Ball through an Iron Ring.

      GASPAR, ERASMUS.

      Gas._ Come, let's begin, Marcolphus shall come in, in the Losers Place.

      Er. But what shall we play for?

      Gas. He that is beat shall make and repeat extempore a Distich, in Praise of him that beat him.

      Er. With all my Heart.

      Gas. Shall we toss up who shall go first?

      Er. Do you go first if you will, I had rather go last.

      Gas. You have the better of me, because you know the Ground.

      Er. You're upon your own Ground.

      Gas. Indeed I am better acquainted with the Ground, than I am with my Books; but that's but a small Commendation.

      Er. You that are so good a Gamester ought to give me Odds.

      Gas. Nay, you should rather give me Odds; but there's no great Honour in getting a Victory, when Odds is taken: He only can properly be said to get the Game, that gets it by his own Art; we are as well match'd as can be.

      Er. Yours is a better Ball than mine.

      Gas. And yours is beyond me.

      Er. Play fair, without cheating and cozening.

      Gas. You shall say you have had to do with a fair Gamester.

      Er. But I would first know the Orders of the Bowling-alley.

      Gas. We make 4 up; whoever bowls beyond this Line it goes for nothing; if you can go beyond those other Bounds, do it fairly and welcome: Whoever hits a Bowl out of his Place loses his Cast.

      Er. I understand these Things.

      Gas. I have shut you out.

      Er. But I'll give you a Remove.

      Gas. If you do that I'll give you the Game.

      Er. Will you upon your Word?

      Gas. Yes, upon my Word: You have no other Way for it but to bank your Bowl so as to make it rebound on mine.

      Er. I'll try: Well, what say you now Friend? Are not you beaten away? (Have I not struck you away?)

      Gas. I am, I confess it; I wish you were but as wise as you are lucky; you can scarce do so once in a hundred Times.

      Er. I'll lay you, if you will, that I do it once in three Times. But come pay me what I have won.

      Gas. What's that?

      Er. Why, a Distich.

      Gas. Well, I'll pay it now.

      Er. And an extempore one too. Why do you bite your Nails?

      Gas. I have it.

      Er. Recite it out.

      Gas. As loud as you will.

      Young Standers-by, dap ye the Conqueror brave, Who me has beat, is the more learned Knave.

      Han't you a Distich now?

      Er. I have, and I'll give you as good as you bring.

* * * * *

      4. Leaping.

      VINCENT, LAURENCE.

      Vi. Have you a Mind to jump with me?

      Lau. That Play is not good presently after Dinner.

      Vi. Why so?

      Lau. Because that a Fulness of Belly makes the Body heavy.

      Vi. Not very much to those that live upon Scholars Commons, for these oftentimes are ready for a Supper before they have done

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