CHAP. XVI.] THE FOUETH DAT. 261 



both weary and hungry ; and now meat and rest will be 

 pleasant. 



Pet. And Coridon and I have had not an unpleasant day, 

 and yet I have caught but five trouts : for indeed we went 

 to a good honest ale-house, and there we played at shovel- 

 board l half the day ; all the time that it rained we were 

 there, and as merry as they that fished. And I am glad we 

 are now with a dry house over our heads ; for, hark ! how it 

 rains and blows. Come hostess, give us more ale, and our 

 supper with what haste you may : and when we have 

 supped let us have your song, Piscator, and the catch 

 that your scholar promised us, or else Coridon will be 

 dogged. 



Pise. Nay, I will not be worse than my word, you shall 

 not want my song, and I hope I shall be perfect in it. 



Fen. And I hope the like for my catch, which I have- 

 ready too : and therefore let's go merrily to supper, and 

 then have a gentle touch at singing and drinking ; but the 

 last with moderation. 



Cor. Come, now for your song, for we have fed heartily. 

 Come hostess, lay a few more sticks on the fire, and now 

 sing when you will. 



1 Variously called shovel-board, shuffle -board, shove-board, shove-groat, 

 &c. Strutt says that in former times the mansions of the rich were not 

 thought complete without a shovel-board-table, which was generally placed 

 in the great hall ; and we know that Henry VIII. used to play at it and 

 lose his money. Dr. Plott, in his History of Staffordshire, informs us that 

 in the hall at Chartley, the shuffle -board-table, though ten yards one foot 

 and an inch long, was made up of about two hundred and fifty pieces. 

 Strutt (who describes the board minutely) says, that he saw a shuffle 

 or shovel-board-table at a low public-house in Benjamin-street, near Clerken- 

 well-green, which was about three feet in breadth, and thirty-nine feet two 

 inches in length. The game was played by pushing a smooth piece of 

 money along the board to reach certain marks or divisions, which counted 

 according to their nominal value, as in the " Royal Game of Goose." Groats 

 were customarily used at this game, and hence it is found entitled " Shove 

 Groat." Taylor, the water poet, says, Edward the Sixth's shillings were 

 for the most part used ; and thus laments the " beardless face," worn still 

 more ' ' smooth and plaine : " 



But had my stamp been bearded, as with haire, 

 Long before this it had been worne and bare ; 

 For why, with me the thriftless every day, 

 With my face downward do at Shove-board play. 



Travels of Twelve Pence, p. 68. 



