Blind-man's-buff and hot-cockles had each their turn; but the sport that
seemed to afford the most merriment was a pendulous stick having an
apple at one end, and on the other a lighted candle, so that the
unfortunate and liquorish wight who bit at this tempting bait generally
burnt his nose on the rebound, as the stick bounced to and fro on its
pivot. The hall was now cleared for the masks. In this play, the Black
Knight himself generally joined, laughing heartily at and hurrying on
the mis-haps of the revellers. Many horrible and grotesque-looking
shapes and disguises soon made their appearance; but one, more
especially than the rest, excited no slight degree of distress and
alarm. His antics proved a continual source of annoyance to the rest of
the company. He singed Will the Arrowsmith's beard, poured a whole
flagon of hot liquor in the wide hosen of Hobbe Adamson; but the enactor
of St George in a more especial manner attracted his notice; he crept
between his legs, and bore him right into the middle of the pig-sty,
before he could be stayed; from whence the heroic champion of England
issued, sorely shent with the admixtures and impurities of the place.
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