The Manly Sports

Their ancient exercises have been archery, hurling, wrestling, football, dancing, and such like forcible exercises of strength and activity; recreating and hardening, and enabling their bodies and minds for more noble (though more uneasy and dangerous) martial employment; for which they are apt and in readiness with the foremost at all times. But these exercises have been of late (by a strong and potent zeal, and a severe execution of laws) forced out of the country, neglected and out of use; and hunting, hawking, and bowling crept in, and somewhat in request with the better sort; and with the inferior, actions of far worse quality.