Chapter 844: Aristocratic Game

For the Tudor aristocracy, the entertainment life was still colorful. The wealthy aristocracy enjoyed recreational activities such as checkers, chess, backgammon, tennis, handball, boulette (the predecessor of bowling), fishing, hunting, horse racing and gambling. Because these are decent pastimes, they are very suitable for the status of nobility and dignity. During the reign of Henry VIII, there was a rule: "No one earns less than £100 a year may play tennis and bowling puck." "Of course, Henry VIII himself was very good at playing royal tennis.

Tennis originated in the 12th century as a game in which missionaries in northwestern France hit the ball with their palms in the cloisters of churches. By the 16th century, wooden rackets were used instead of two-handed rackets. In the beginning, tennis balls were made of two hemispheres filled with grass, leaves, or hair, but later with the continuous development of tennis balls, the production of balls became more and more exquisite.

In the subsequent development, the racket was changed from wooden to parchment, the surface area of the racket was enlarged, and the handle of the grip was gradually lengthened. The rope in the middle of the field, adding countless short ropes hanging down to the ground. This is evident when the tennis ball passes under the rope. However, in the 17th century, tennis gradually evolved into a form of gambling. At the beginning, the amount was small, but over time, the more gambling grew, and some people even went bankrupt. This is also the main reason for the decline of tennis in the early 18th century.

Wooden bowling (the predecessor of bowling) is an indoor sport of bocce hitting a post on a boardwalk, and the sport dates back to the ancient Egyptian period in 3200 BC. In the 13th-century German church, a game of "nine-pillar balls" was popular to test the degree of religious belief of believers.

It wasn't until after the Religious Revolution in Europe that Martin Luther unified the nine-pin system, which became the true origin of modern bowling. In the 16th century, the game of 9 bottles was still a game of 9 bottles. After a few years, it will evolve into 10 bottles, and the shape of the bottle will change from diamond-shaped to triangular.

Because the Winchester residence where Isabel and Isabel lived was the temporary residence of the Bishop of Winchester during his tenure at court, any recreational place conducive to improving his mood and relaxing the bishop's mind was indispensable. The very large Winchester House not only has two courtyards full of flowers and trees, but also a garden, an indoor tennis court and a rolling wooden court.

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In the afternoon, Isabel Walton, dressed as a Tudor aristocratic woman, sat on the lawn in a courtyard that had once been a bishop. While arranging the hem of the skirt of the skirt spread on the grass, he looked at the Earl of Essex on the right, "William, why do you have to make me make a painful choice?" Can't you give up your court life? ”

As Isabel spoke, her eyes were focused on the countenance of the Earl of Essex. And the Count was not only concerned about her person, but also about a dozen men and maids who followed behind him. William's left hand pressed down on the hilt of the gauntlet to prevent the end of the scabbard from sticking into the grass. With his right hand on his right knee, he glanced at the servants behind him, then at the baron's daughter, "Isabel, if you want to talk to me about love, we can go to the hall, the garden, the tennis court, or the rolling woods. ”

Isabel stared at him quizzically, "Can't you talk about love here?" ”

William smiled lightly and shook his head, "No, it's okay here. Only, you still don't sit on the grass. ”

"My God, do you think that I will lose the courtesy of a noble lady in the meadow?"

"Well, Isabel, because I want you to be the new mistress here, I don't want the servants to despise your actions."

Raise your hand, throw your feet, smile and smile, even if you stand motionless on the ground, you must obey aristocratic etiquette. Perhaps, only when sleeping and going to the toilet do not have to think about etiquette. At this time, Isabel had the idea of scolding the Earl of Essex. looked at each other helplessly, and it took a long time before he spit out a sentence, "Your Excellency, fortunately, I haven't become your wife yet." ”

William sensed Isabel's resentment from his heart, and hurriedly said with a smile, "Isabel, do you allow me to accompany you to play tennis or bocquet?" ”

Later, the two of them went together to a room on the east side of the residential hall. As the two male servants opened the door for the two of them, Isabel from the northern countryside suddenly realized that the house was actually a house dedicated to playing wooden ball. Just as she was amazed at the luxurious life of the Bishop of Winchester, William, with a smile on his face, walked into the house and turned around. As he looked at her, he bowed slightly and said, "Madam, it is my honor to invite you to the Bishop's rolling wooden court. ”

Isabel snorted softly and lifted the corners of her skirt into the bogus court, which also had a high ceiling. Later, as she stood in front of a boardwalk on the right side of the middle of the house, William pulled out a wooden ball similar to the size of a modern bowling ball from a trough on the side of the boardwalk, which resembled a manger.

When William returned to Isabel with the wooden ball, he smiled and raised the wooden ball in his hand, "Isabel, if you don't know how to play, I can teach you how to play." ”

It's not that Isabel doesn't know how to play modern bowling, she's just not proficient. Moreover, the game of bowling at this point is like a rudimentary version of modern bowling. Whether it is the field or the material of the bowling ball, it looks so rough. However, this does not affect the mood of those who like to play the game of bowling woodball.

"William, you play first, let me see." Isabel didn't rush to the field, just stood on the edge of the boardwalk and looked at the game of bowling nearly 500 years ago.

"Isabel, look, this is how the wooden ball is played." After the Earl of Essex, who was full of vitality, he held the wooden ball with his right hand, and supported his right hand with his left hand underneath. His eyes were fixed on the boardwalk in front of him, and he slowly took a few steps forward.

As he was about to reach the boardwalk, William Parr held the ball with both hands and swung it straight behind him, and then quickly released the ball from his hand. Isabel's gaze moved with the wooden balls rolling forward, with a "Whoa! There was a crackling sound, and the balls knocked down five bottles at the end of the boardwalk.

After a short time, a young boy waiting at the end of the boardwalk immediately ran to the scattered wooden bottles, and quickly placed the crooked wooden bottles back in their original positions. William glanced at the young manservant who was specially placing the bottle, and came to Isabel with a smile, "Isabel, did you see that?" This is the bokloon that the aristocracy loved. ”