FOOTBALL

The passion for football was particularly exuberant in Elizabethan times.  Football was originally called "gameball" meaning fight or battle.  There were no rules, the first to get the ball into their opponents teams' goal was the winner.  There wasn't even a penalty for roughing the ref.  The ball was a pig's bladder, stuffed with dried peas and was tightly sewn.

Resentment of football up to this time had been mainly for practical reasons. The game had been regarded as a public disturbance that resulted in damage to property as well as the numerous fights and brawls.

Between England and France from 1338 to 1453 the court was also unfavourably disposed towards football.  Edward III, Richard II, Henry IV and Henry V made football punishable by law because the well-loved recreation prevented their subjects from practising more useful military disciplines, particularly archery, which played an important and valuable role in the English army at that time.