1906] Atavistic Reversions? 



types American, Rugby, and Soccer were ar- 

 ranged, though by 1920 the first named, somewhat 

 ameliorated, was fully reestablished as the great 

 athletic event. The chief argument for its revival lay 

 in the natural desire of California youth to play the 

 game which prevails in the rest of the country. 



In a batch of old clippings I recently came upon a 

 quaint account of football as it was waged four 

 hundred years ago. Certain characteristics of the 

 American sport may perhaps be atavistic reversions! 



For as concerning footeball playing I protest unto you that it Battle, 

 maie rather bee called a friendlie kinde of fight than a plaie or not s P ort 

 recreation; a bloudie and murtheryng practise than a fellowlie 

 sporte or pastyme. For doeth not everyone lye in waight for his 

 Adversarie, seekyng to overthrow hym and to picke hym on the 

 nose, though it bee uppon harde stones, in ditch or dale, in 

 valley or hill? In what place so ever it bee he careth not, so he 

 may have hym downe: And he that can serve the moste of this 

 fashion, he is counted the onlie fellowe, and who but he? So 

 that by this meanes sometymes their neckes are broken, some- 

 tymes their backes, sometymes their legges, sometymes their 

 armes, sometymes one parte thrust out of joynt, sometyme 

 another; sometyme the noses gush out with bloud, sometyme 

 their eyes start out; and sometymes they are hurt in one place, 

 sometymes in an other. But who so ever escapeth awaie the 

 best, goeth not scotfree, but is either sore woundfed and bruzed, 

 or els scapeth every harlie. And no marvaile for they have 

 sleightes to meet one betwixt two, to dash hym against the 

 harte with their elbowes, to hitte hym under the shortte ribbes 

 with their griped fists, and with their knees to catch hym upon 

 the hip, and to picke hym on his necke, with an hundred such 

 murtheryng devices: And hereof groweth en vie, malice, rancour, 

 cholour, hatred, displeasure, enmitie, and what not els? And 

 sometyme fightyng, braulyng, contention, quarrell pickyng, 

 murther, homicide, and great effusion of bloud, as experience 

 daily teacheth. 



PHILIP STUBBS: "Anatomy of Abuses" (Sixteenth Century) 



n 195 3 



