The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia

How it begins

[1] running at Base] The old game of prisoner’s-base, then a common rustic pastime. [4] Tarantula] A venomous Spider (so called from Tarento a city of Naples) whose bite is of such a nature, that it is to be cured only by music. [5] Quintain] A rural sport, chiefly used at marriages, wherein, running a tilt on horse-back with poles, at a large stake fixed in the ground, against which, he that breaks most poles, gains the prize. [6] Barley-break] Running-matches made by the country girls, with each other, as hereafter described. [3] Keep] i.e. A strong tower in the middle of a castle, the last resort of the besieged.