ust have produced many profane allusions, besides
familiarizing what ought always to preserve its due effect of awe upon
the mind." Both its names are alluded to in the following passage in
Shirley's "Bird in a Cage:"

"Shall's to barlibreak?
I was in hell last; 'tis little less to be in a petticoat sometimes."

[769] See Jamieson's "Scottish Dictionary," 1879, vol. i. p. 122.

[770] "Glossary," vol. i. p. 57.

_Base._ This was a rustic game, known also as "Prison base" or "Prison
bars." It is mentioned in "Cymbeline" (v. 3) by Posthumus:

"Lads more like to run
The country base, than to commit such slaughter."

And in "Two Gentlemen of Verona" (i. 2) by Lucetta:

"Indeed, I bid the base for Proteus."[771]

[771] Ibid. vol. i. p. 58.

The success of this pastime depended upon the agility of the candidates,
and their skill in running. Early in the reign of Edward III. it is
spoken of as a childish amusement, and was prohibited to be played in
the avenues of the palace at Westminster during the session of
Parliament, because of the interruption it occasioned to the members and
others in passing to and fro as their business required. It was also
played by men, and especially in Cheshire and other adjoining counties,
where it seems to have been in high repute among all classes. Strutt
thus describes the game:[772] "The performance of this pastime requires
two parties of equal number, each of them having a base or home to
themselves, at the distance of about twenty or thirty yards. The players
then on either side, taking hold of hands, extend themselves in length,
and opposite to each other, as far as they conveniently can, always
remembering that one of them must touch the base. When any one of them
quits the hand of his fellow and runs into the field, which is called
giving the chase, he is immediately followed by one of his opponents. He
is again followed by a second from the former side, and he by a second
opponent, and so on alternately until as many are out as choose to run,
every one pursuing the man he first followed, and no other; and if he
overtake him near enough to touch him, his party claims one towards
their game, and both return home. They then run forth again and again in
like manner until the number is completed that decides the victory. This
number is optional, and rarely exceeds twenty."

[772] "Spo