EARLY GOLF IN ENGLAND.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 9162, 3 June 1901, Page 4

EARLY GOLF IN ENGLAND.

Mr E. J. L. Scott, of the British Museum, has been burrowing among old documents m the muniment room of the Dean and Chapter of Westminster, and has unearthed a document that shows that golf was a common recreation of the gentry of Westminster during the time of the Commonwealth. It is as follows -. "To the Honoble ye Governors of the Colledge and Free Schoole at Westminster, the Humble petticion of Thomas Harbotle, Keeper of Tuttlefeilds, there— "Sheweth that yor petr m obedience to yor Honors and reference to his s'd place, humbly presenteth to yor Honors considerations, these ensuing disorders '. and intrenchments committed by the ! partyes vnder-named and others vnknowne | vpon Tuttlefeilds afores'd and the preveiledges thereof tending to the defaceing of the s'd feilds, the hindrance of the ' t meeting of the Gentry for their recreation at Bowles, Goffe, and Stowball, and the • gennerall prejudice of the Inhabitants of the Citty and libertie of Westmr for their feeding of their Cattell, herbage, and I other profitts due vnto them by antyent ' Custome m and vpon the s'd Common of Tuttlefeilds; Wen they humbly desire yor Honors by yor favorable Order, will . redresse for the present, and prevent for the future." ; j Mr Scott, who has communicated his discovery to the Athenaum, says : "Murray's new Dictionary gives one or two ' quotations to prove that it was a game [ known to England m the 17th century, but does not localise it."