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Updated: May 28, 2025
The Greeks and the Romans were great devotees of ball-play; China was noted for her players; in the courts of Italy and France, we are told, it was in especial favor, and Fitz-Stephen, writing in the 13th century, speaks of the London schoolboys playing at "the celebrated game of ball."
She did so; but, alas! at the same moment, fifty more, in the desperation of terror, jumped too, and the little boat, with all that were in her, turned over, and was seen no more. Then the waters poured over the "White Ship," and with a great plunge that gallant vessel went down. With her went down all the souls she carried save three. One of these was the brave Fitz-Stephen.
Stephens, he deems it the most effectual way, to flatter his vanity, and accordingly tells him, with great gravity, that he traces his descent from Fitz-Stephen, son of Stephen, Earl of Ammerle, who was son of Od, Earl of Bloys, and Lord of Holderness, who flourished about A.D. 1095! 6thly. The late Mr. 7thly. Mr. Barrett is zealous to establish the antiquity of Bristol. 8thly. Mr.
'Neither he, nor his brother, nor his sister, nor the King's niece, nor her brother, nor any one of all the brave three hundred, noble or commoner, except we three, has risen above the water! Fitz-Stephen, with a ghastly face, cried, 'Woe! woe, to me! and sunk to the bottom. The other two clung to the yard for some hours.
Far across the calm waters might have been heard the song and the laughter of the two hundred voyagers. In a few hours, thought they, we shall be across, and then will we renew our feast in England. "Fitz-Stephen!" cried the prince, flushed with wine himself, and in a tone of excitement "Fitz-Stephen, how far say you is my father's ship before ours?" "Five leagues," replied the sailor, "or more."
From early records it appears that the amusements of our ancestors had a direct tendency to utility; since nearly all their recreations were resolvable into public defence against the attacks of an enemy. The "play at ball was," says Fitz-Stephen, "derived from the Romans, and was the common exercise of every schoolboy."
Ireland, however, was destined to be reached through Wales, and along that mountain coast we early find Norman castles and Norman ships. A bitter feud between North and South Wales hastened an invasion, in which Robert Fitz-Aymon and his companions played, by anticipation, the parts of Strongbow and Fitz-Stephen, in the invasion of Ireland.
"My brother, what sound is that, like the roar of distant thunder?" "It is nothing, my sister; go down again and sleep." "It sounds like the breaking of wares on the rocks." "How can that be, when the sea is scarcely ruffled?" "I fear me we run a risk, sailing so close to shore," said the maiden. "I myself heard Fitz-Stephen say that the currents ran strong along this coast of Normandy."
Every man on board the "White Ship" was startled by that shock into instant sobriety. The brave Fitz-Stephen left the now useless helm, and rushed to where the prince, entrusted to his care, was clinging to the mast of the fast-filling vessel. With his own hand he cut loose the small boat which she carried, and by sheer force placed William in it, and a few of the crew.
It is related by Fitz-Stephen thus: "Every Friday in Lent a company of young men enter the field on horseback, conducted by the best horsemen. Then march forth the sons of citizens and other young men armed with lances and shields, and these practise feats of war, and show by good proof how serviceable they would be in martial affairs."
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