Regulating Unlwaful Games in England, 1509-1603. ​

​

The year is 1588. Queen Elizabeth I has been reigning for three decades. She has brought stability following the Henrician Reformation and the subsequent Marian counter-Reformation, while in the process elevating England to a European powerhouse that could rival both France and Spain – something which had not always been the case. And, following a series of initial voyages to the Caribbean led by Francis Drake, England had entered onto the scene of global trade for the first time. Both Elizabeth and Drake’s stock looked to be at an all-time high. But all was not rosy for England…

 

Drake, along with other courtiers like Robert Devereux, 2nd Early of Essex, had launched a series of raids along the northern tip of Spain in 1585, 1586 and 1587. They had pillaged several ports and ships including the successful attack on the city of Cadiz that was one of the most profitable of any raid in English history. Of course, the Spanish and King Philip I were furious. In response Philip began to assemble a great armada with the goal of taking deposing Elizabeth and restoring Catholicism to England.

 

With this as the political backdrop, one balmy afternoon in May 1588 Drake was supposedly playing bowls on Plymouth Hoe. Captain Fleming abruptly halted their game by delivering the news of an imminent Spanish invasion and the oncoming armada. Questioning whether to finish bowling Drake purportedly announced: "there is plenty of time to win this game, and to thrash the Spaniards too!" The equanimity exuded was because Drake had supposedly calculated that high tide would prevent a swift Spanish arrival, affording him time to beat Howard at bowls. 

​

Irrespective of its disputed legitimacy, what is uncontentious is that in the decade proceeding the events at Plymouth Elizabeth I reaffirmed all Henrician gaming statutes. Consequently, debarring certain men from playing bowls and stating “non manner of pson shall at any tyme playe at any bowle or bowles in open place out of his garden or orchard.” If the bounds of Drake’s garden failed to extend to Plymouth Hoe this celebrated anecdote of English triumphalism would be a criminal act. Although should one be too surprised at stories of Drake, a famed English pirate, engaging in illicit gaming?

​

To read the full essay on illict Tudor gaming open the document below.