Book I Notes

running at Base] The old game of prisoner’s-base, then a common rustic pastime.

recklessness] i.e. Carelessness. See Spencer.

ruefully] Woefully.

Tarantula] A venomous Spider (so called from Tarento a city of Naples) whose bite is of such a nature, that it is to be cured only by music.

Quintain] A rural sport, chiefly used at marriages, wherein, running a tilt on horse-back with poles, at a large stake fixed in the ground, against which, he that breaks most poles, gains the prize.

Barley-break] Running-matches made by the country girls, with each other, as hereafter described.