Stool-ball-art - 3/27/09
਀ഊ"Stool ball: an early bat and ball game" by Lady Wenyeva atte grene.
਀ഊNOTE: See also the files: Brf-Lok-Tennis-art, sports-msg, Curling-art, Cockstride-srt, Football-art, games-SCA-msg, Horseshoes-art, games-msg, golf-msg.
਀ഊ************************************************************************
਀一伀吀䤀䌀䔀 ⴀഊ
਀吀栀椀猀 愀爀琀椀挀氀攀 眀愀猀 猀甀戀洀椀琀琀攀搀 琀漀 洀攀 戀礀 琀栀攀 愀甀琀栀漀爀 昀漀爀 椀渀挀氀甀猀椀漀渀 椀渀 琀栀椀猀 猀攀琀 漀昀 昀椀氀攀猀Ⰰ 挀愀氀氀攀搀 匀琀攀昀愀渀✀猀 䘀氀漀爀椀氀攀最椀甀洀⸀ ഊ
਀吀栀攀猀攀 昀椀氀攀猀 愀爀攀 愀瘀愀椀氀愀戀氀攀 漀渀 琀栀攀 䤀渀琀攀爀渀攀琀 愀琀㨀 栀琀琀瀀㨀⼀⼀眀眀眀⸀昀氀漀爀椀氀攀最椀甀洀⸀漀爀最ഊ
਀䌀漀瀀礀爀椀最栀琀 琀漀 琀栀攀 挀漀渀琀攀渀琀猀 漀昀 琀栀椀猀 昀椀氀攀 爀攀洀愀椀渀猀 眀椀琀栀 琀栀攀 愀甀琀栀漀爀 漀爀 琀爀愀渀猀氀愀琀漀爀⸀ഊ
਀圀栀椀氀攀 琀栀攀 愀甀琀栀漀爀 眀椀氀氀 氀椀欀攀氀礀 最椀瘀攀 瀀攀爀洀椀猀猀椀漀渀 昀漀爀 琀栀椀猀 眀漀爀欀 琀漀 戀攀 爀攀瀀爀椀渀琀攀搀 椀渀 匀䌀䄀 琀礀瀀攀 瀀甀戀氀椀挀愀琀椀漀渀猀Ⰰ 瀀氀攀愀猀攀 挀栀攀挀欀 眀椀琀栀 琀栀攀 愀甀琀栀漀爀 昀椀爀猀琀 漀爀 挀栀攀挀欀 昀漀爀 愀渀礀 瀀攀爀洀椀猀猀椀漀渀猀 最爀愀渀琀攀搀 愀琀 琀栀攀 攀渀搀 漀昀 琀栀椀猀 昀椀氀攀⸀ഊ
਀吀栀愀渀欀 礀漀甀ⰀഊMark S. Harris...AKA:..Stefan li Rous
਀猀琀攀昀愀渀 愀琀 昀氀漀爀椀氀攀最椀甀洀⸀漀爀最ഊ************************************************************************
਀ഊYou can find more good articles by this author on her webpage at: http://slumberland.org/sca/
਀ഊ
਀䤀氀氀甀洀椀渀愀琀椀漀渀 昀爀漀洀 吀栀攀 刀漀洀愀渀挀攀 漀昀 䄀氀攀砀愀渀搀攀爀Ⰰ 愀 䘀爀攀渀挀栀 洀愀渀甀猀挀爀椀瀀琀 昀爀漀洀 ㄀㌀㐀㐀ഊ
਀匀琀漀漀氀 戀愀氀氀㨀 愀渀 攀愀爀氀礀 戀愀琀 愀渀搀 戀愀氀氀 最愀洀攀ഊby Lady Wenyeva atte grene
਀ഊThe game we know as baseball may be relatively modern, but it has medieval roots. Many bat-and-ball games were played throughout the Middle Ages at religious festivals and events. One game, stool ball (sometimes possibly stow ball, or stob ball, or stump ball) dates back at least to the 14th century, and many historians believe that it is the common ancestor of both baseball and cricket. It was also the first bat-and-ball-type game known to have been played in North America (at Plymouth in 1621 at Christmastime, no less, much to the chagrin of Governor Bradford).  In this game, the pitcher tries to hit a stool or stump with the ball, while the batter tries to defend the target using bare hands or a bat.
਀ഊStool ball was known for being played by both women and men together, and there are indications that it was a sort of springtime ritual, played at Eastertime. Some of the poetic mentions of the game imply an undertone of sexuality; "playing at stool ball" was used at least once as an euphemism.
਀ഊIn many stool ball games, tansy-cakes were the traditional winners' prize. Tansy-cakes were a traditional Eastertime food (see here, and a recipe here), so this is another connection of stool ball to Easter celebrations.
਀ഊUnfortunately, no one knows what the rules of the period versions of stool ball were. As a folk game, it was likely to have varying rules at various times and places. From post-period references to the game, we know that in some versions of the game, there was no bat, and hands were used instead. Other versions had no baserunning, just a single stool or stump base that the batter was expected to defend.. But bats and running the bases were included in some versions, too.
਀ഊThis is a "historically plausible" version of the game. Since we don't know much about how the medieval game was played, I tried to extrapolate from what little we do know about stool ball and related historic bat and ball games, as well as making the game simple, friendly, and safe for players of all ages and abilities. The result is a game that bears some resemblance to both cricket and baseball, though it is much simpler than either, and is quite believable as a medieval game -- and it's a lot of fun!
਀ഊThe field
਀ഊ
਀ഊ
਀ഊ
਀吀栀攀 昀椀攀氀搀 搀椀洀攀渀猀椀漀渀猀 愀爀攀渀✀琀 猀琀爀椀挀琀⸀ 吀栀椀猀 椀猀 樀甀猀琀 愀 猀甀最最攀猀琀攀搀 猀椀稀攀⸀ 吀栀攀 最愀洀攀 挀愀渀 戀攀 瀀氀愀礀攀搀 椀渀 愀 猀洀愀氀氀攀爀 愀爀攀愀 漀爀 攀瘀攀渀 椀渀搀漀漀爀猀Ⰰ 琀栀漀甀最栀 椀琀✀猀 栀愀爀搀攀爀 琀漀 猀挀漀爀攀 爀甀渀猀 漀渀 愀 猀洀愀氀氀攀爀 昀椀攀氀搀⸀ഊ
਀吀栀攀 漀戀樀攀挀琀 漀昀 琀栀攀 最愀洀攀ഊ
਀䄀 猀琀漀漀氀Ⰰ 挀栀愀椀爀Ⰰ 漀爀 猀琀甀洀瀀 椀猀 瀀氀愀挀攀搀 愀琀 䠀漀洀攀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 愀渀漀琀栀攀爀 漀渀攀 ⠀漀爀 愀 猀椀洀椀氀愀爀 洀愀爀欀攀爀⤀ 愀猀 琀栀攀 䈀愀猀攀⸀ 䴀愀爀欀 琀栀攀 䈀愀琀琀攀爀✀猀 䰀椀渀攀 眀椀琀栀 猀漀洀攀琀栀椀渀最 瘀椀猀椀戀氀攀Ⰰ 氀椀欀攀 愀 猀琀椀挀欀 漀爀 愀 猀琀爀椀瀀 漀昀 昀愀戀爀椀挀Ⰰ 攀琀挀⸀ 吀栀攀 瀀椀琀挀栀攀爀 猀琀愀渀搀猀 渀攀愀爀 琀栀攀 䈀愀猀攀 愀渀搀 琀栀爀漀眀猀 琀栀攀 戀愀氀氀 甀渀搀攀爀栀愀渀搀 琀漀眀愀爀搀 䠀漀洀攀Ⰰ 琀爀礀椀渀最 琀漀 栀椀琀 琀栀攀 䠀漀洀攀 猀琀漀漀氀 眀椀琀栀 琀栀攀 瀀椀琀挀栀⸀ 吀栀攀 戀愀琀琀攀爀 猀琀愀渀搀猀 愀琀 琀栀攀 䈀愀琀琀攀爀✀猀 䰀椀渀攀 愀渀搀 琀爀椀攀猀 琀漀 瀀爀攀瘀攀渀琀 琀栀攀 瀀椀琀挀栀攀爀✀猀 琀栀爀漀眀 昀爀漀洀 栀椀琀琀椀渀最 琀栀攀 䠀漀洀攀 猀琀漀漀氀Ⰰ 戀礀 栀椀琀琀椀渀最 琀栀攀 戀愀氀氀 愀眀愀礀 眀椀琀栀 琀栀攀 戀愀琀⸀ 䤀昀 琀栀攀 戀愀琀琀攀爀 栀椀琀猀 琀栀攀 戀愀氀氀Ⰰ 栀攀 挀愀渀 爀甀渀 愀爀漀甀渀搀 琀栀攀 䈀愀猀攀 愀渀搀 戀愀挀欀 䠀漀洀攀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 椀昀 栀攀 搀漀攀猀 琀栀椀猀 戀攀昀漀爀攀 琀栀攀 昀椀攀氀搀攀爀猀 挀愀渀 栀椀琀 琀栀攀 䠀漀洀攀 猀琀漀漀氀 眀椀琀栀 琀栀攀 戀愀氀氀Ⰰ 栀攀 猀挀漀爀攀猀 愀 爀甀渀⸀ 吀攀愀洀 眀椀琀栀 琀栀攀 洀漀猀琀 爀甀渀猀 眀椀渀猀℀ഊ
਀刀甀氀攀猀 ⠀匀漀爀琀 漀昀⤀ഊ
਀㄀⸀ 匀眀椀渀最 愀猀 洀甀挀栀 愀猀 礀漀甀 眀愀渀琀℀ 吀栀攀爀攀 愀爀攀 渀漀 ∀猀琀爀椀欀攀猀∀ 漀爀 ∀戀愀氀氀猀∀⸀ 吀栀攀 戀愀琀琀攀爀 猀琀愀礀猀 愀琀 戀愀琀 甀渀琀椀氀 愀 栀椀琀 椀猀 洀愀搀攀 漀爀 琀栀攀 瀀椀琀挀栀攀爀 栀椀琀猀 琀栀攀 䠀漀洀攀 眀椀琀栀 琀栀攀 戀愀氀氀⸀ ഊ2. Any contact is a hit. There are no "fouls" or "foul tips". RUN!
਀㌀⸀ 伀渀 栀椀琀琀椀渀最 琀栀攀 戀愀氀氀Ⰰ 琀栀攀 戀愀琀琀攀爀 洀甀猀琀 爀甀渀 挀漀甀渀琀攀爀挀氀漀挀欀眀椀猀攀 愀爀漀甀渀搀 琀栀攀 漀甀琀猀椀搀攀 漀昀 琀栀攀 䈀愀猀攀⸀ 吀栀攀 戀愀琀琀攀爀 洀愀礀 渀漀琀 猀琀漀瀀 漀渀 琀栀攀 䈀愀猀攀 ⴀ 漀渀挀攀 礀漀甀 猀琀愀爀琀 爀甀渀渀椀渀最Ⰰ 礀漀甀 栀愀瘀攀 琀漀 爀甀渀 愀爀漀甀渀搀 琀栀攀  䈀愀猀攀 愀渀搀 愀氀氀 琀栀攀 眀愀礀 戀愀挀欀 栀漀洀攀⸀ 夀漀甀 洀甀猀琀 琀漀甀挀栀 琀栀攀 䠀漀洀攀 猀琀漀漀氀 眀栀攀渀 礀漀甀 最攀琀 琀栀攀爀攀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 礀漀甀 搀漀渀✀琀 栀愀瘀攀 琀漀 琀漀甀挀栀 琀栀攀 䈀愀猀攀⸀ഊ4. Batter is out when: 
਀愀⸀ 吀栀攀 瀀椀琀挀栀攀爀 栀椀琀猀 䠀漀洀攀 眀椀琀栀 琀栀攀 戀愀氀氀 眀栀椀氀攀 琀栀攀 戀愀琀琀攀爀 椀猀 愀琀 戀愀琀ഊb. Any fielder catches the hit ball in the air, without a bounce
਀挀⸀ 䄀渀礀 昀椀攀氀搀攀爀 栀椀琀猀 䠀漀洀攀 眀椀琀栀 琀栀攀 戀愀氀氀 眀栀椀氀攀 琀栀攀 戀愀琀琀攀爀 椀猀 爀甀渀渀椀渀最 琀漀 䈀愀猀攀 愀渀搀 戀愀挀欀 琀漀 䠀漀洀攀⸀ 䈀甀琠☀ഊ5. Fielders must be on the Base side of the Batter's Line when throwing the ball to Home. So if the batter hits the ball behind Home (what in baseball would be a foul), the batter runs, and the fielders can go get the ball… but they can't throw it at Home and put the batter out until they get back on the other side of the batter's line. 
਀㘀⸀ 䔀瘀攀爀礀 瀀氀愀礀攀爀 漀渀 琀栀攀 琀攀愀洀 最攀琀猀 漀渀攀 愀琀ⴀ戀愀琀 瀀攀爀 椀渀渀椀渀最⸀ 䔀愀挀栀 琀攀愀洀 最攀琀猀 琀栀攀 猀愀洀攀 渀甀洀戀攀爀 漀昀 椀渀渀椀渀最猀 愀琀 戀愀琀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 漀琀栀攀爀 琀栀愀渀 琀栀愀琀 琀栀攀 最愀洀攀 挀愀渀 最漀 漀渀 甀渀琀椀氀 琀栀攀 琀攀愀洀猀 洀甀琀甀愀氀氀礀 愀最爀攀攀 琀漀 焀甀椀琀⸀ഊ7. All players must have fun! ☺ 
਀ഊEquipment
਀ഊEquipment is simple. You need a very soft ball. (Not a softball or a baseball!) A soft ball can be walloped pretty hard, but no gloves or helmets are necessary for safe play. You can use a medieval pattern that will provide a ball of just about the perfect softness, though if you don't have time to make a ball, you will probably be able to find a ball at a toy store that will work. A Nerf ball might work.
਀ഊThe ball pictured on the right was made from a pattern that was used for many leather balls throughout medieval Europe. The pattern is pictured on the left (not to scale). The three pieces were cut from soft leather. They were sewn together inside-out until only a slit remained. Then the ball was turned rightside-out and stuffed with scraps of woven wool fabric until it seemed to be the right amount, and has become ball-shaped  instead of cylindrical. The last slit was then stitched up. Then I topstitched over the entire ball for durability.
਀ഊAmazingly, this ball has some bounce to it, and it's easy to catch bare-handed because it has some give. With the topstitching, it has held up through several games so far, and I haven't had to resort to the spare toy store balls I brought in case of emergency.
਀ഊThe bat can be anything that seems to work for you. A baseball bat is probably overkill (as well as obtrusively modern), but in a pinch, it will work. I decided to make something that sort of resembled a cricket bat, or a bread paddle, or a butter paddle. The modern-day stool ball players in Sussex use something that looks like a table tennis paddle with a long handle. Early stool ball players just hit the ball with their hands, so you can do that too! 
਀ഊMy stool ball bat, as seen in the photo below, is about 24 inches long, cut from a poplar board. I finished it with wood stain and painted my badge on it. The handle is wrapped with a strip of leather. The bat is fairly lightweight, so players of all ages have had no trouble with it.
਀ഊ
਀ഊYou will also need a stool to serve as Home (a short three-legged stool, like a milking stool, works really well, but a tree stump works too. In a pinch we use camping chairs, but their larger size tends to make it easier to hit the stool with the ball, and so the game is more low-scoring), and something to mark the base (another stool, or a post, etc.). Something to mark the batter's line, such as a piece of string, is good to have as well.
਀ഊThat is all the equipment necessary!
਀ഊAlternative ways to play
਀ഊEvery village probably had its own way to play, just as many households today have their own "house rules" for Monopoly. So if you want to change the game, go right ahead! Here are some ideas, marked with a * if they are period or likely-period variations:
਀ഊ1. Use your bare hands to hit the ball instead of the bat. *
਀㈀⸀ 䄀搀搀 琀栀攀 ∀猀漀愀欀 ✀攀洀∀ 爀甀氀攀㨀 刀甀渀渀攀爀猀 挀愀渀 戀攀 瀀甀琀 漀甀琀 戀礀 栀椀琀琀椀渀最 琀栀攀洀 眀椀琀栀 琀栀攀 戀愀氀氀 ⠀搀漀渀✀琀 搀漀 琀栀椀猀 甀渀氀攀猀猀 礀漀甀爀 戀愀氀氀 椀猀 瘀攀爀礀 猀漀昀琀℀⤀⸀ ⨀ഊ3. Add the retaliation rule: When teams change sides, if the team that has just gone "out" can run onto the field, pick up the ball, and hit one of the other team's members before they leave the field, the "out" team gets to bat again! This can be really rowdy. It's an authentic rule from several early bat and ball games, including early baseball. *
਀㐀⸀ 䄀氀氀漀眀 爀甀渀渀攀爀猀 琀漀 猀琀漀瀀 愀琀 琀栀攀 戀愀猀攀 椀渀猀琀攀愀搀 漀昀 栀愀瘀椀渀最 琀漀 爀甀渀 愀爀漀甀渀搀 椀琀 眀椀琀栀漀甀琀 猀琀漀瀀瀀椀渀最⸀ 䄀氀猀漀Ⰰ 漀渀攀 洀椀最栀琀 愀搀搀 洀甀氀琀椀瀀氀攀 戀愀猀攀猀⸀ ⨀ഊ5. Require that fielders only catch the ball in their clothing: their skirts or hats, for example.
਀ഊSources for further information
਀ഊ• Baseball Before We Knew It: A Search For The Roots Of The Game, David Block. University of Nebraska Press, 2005.
ਠ∀ 䈀愀氀氀Ⰰ 䈀愀琀 愀渀搀 䈀椀猀栀漀瀀㨀 吀栀攀 伀爀椀最椀渀 漀昀 䈀愀氀氀 䜀愀洀攀猀Ⰰ 刀漀戀攀爀琀 圀⸀ 䠀攀渀搀攀爀猀漀渀⸀ 唀渀椀瘀攀爀猀椀琀礀 漀昀 䤀氀氀椀渀漀椀猀 倀爀攀猀猀Ⰰ ㈀　　㄀⸀ഊBalls!, Aelflaed of the Weald. http://aelflaed.homemail.com.au/doco/balls.html
਀匀吀伀伀䰀ⴀ䈀䄀䰀䰀⸀ഊ by Robert Herrick (1591-1674)
਀㬀ഊAt stool-ball, Lucia, let us play
਀䘀漀爀 猀甀最愀爀ⴀ挀愀欀攀猀 愀渀搀 眀椀渀攀 㨀ഊ Or for a tansy let us pay,
਀吀栀攀 氀漀猀猀Ⰰ 漀爀 琀栀椀渀攀Ⰰ 漀爀 洀椀渀攀⸀ഊ;
਀ 䤀昀 琀栀漀甀Ⰰ 洀礀 搀攀愀爀Ⰰ 愀 眀椀渀渀攀爀 戀攀ഊ At trundling of the ball,
਀吀栀攀 眀愀最攀爀 琀栀漀甀 猀栀愀氀琀 栀愀瘀攀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 洀攀Ⰰഊ And my misfortunes all.
਀㬀ഊ But if, my sweetest, I shall get,
਀吀栀攀渀 䤀 搀攀猀椀爀攀 戀甀琀 琀栀椀猀 㨀ഊ That likewise I may pay the bet
਀䄀渀搀 昀漀爀 愀氀氀 愀 欀椀猀猀⸀ഊ
਀ⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀഊCopyright 2007 by Wendi Dunlap, Seattle, WA. <wd-sca at slumberland.org>. Permission is granted for republication in SCA-related publications, provided the author is credited.  Please include her name, e-mail, and website link in any republication. Addresses change, but a reasonable attempt should be made to ensure that the author is notified of the publication and if possible receives a copy.
਀ഊIf this article is reprinted in a publication, I would appreciate a notice in the publication that you found this article in the Florilegium. I would also appreciate an email to myself, so that I can track which articles are being reprinted. Thanks. -Stefan.
਀ഊ<the end>
਀ഊ
਀䔀搀椀琀攀搀 戀礀 䴀愀爀欀 匀⸀ 䠀愀爀爀椀猀ऀ匀琀漀漀氀ⴀ戀愀氀氀ⴀ愀爀琀ऀ倀愀最攀 㔀 漀昀 㔀ഊ
ਊ