there were only two or three houses where Crewe Crewkerne, a market-town of Somersetshire, in the fertile valley of the Parret, 15 miles SE. of Taunton. It has a cruciform Perpendicular church, with a splendid west front; a grammar-school (1499), occupying commodious new buildings; a railway station (1860); and manufactures of sailcloth, girth-web, hair-seating, &c. Pop. of parish (1891) 4946; of town, 3500. See Pulman's Book of the Axe (4th ed. 1875). CRICHTON In 1581 Crichton, JAMES, surnamed the Admirable,' son of Robert Crichton of Eliock, Dumfriesshire, Lord Advocate of Scotland, was born on 19th August 1560. He was educated at St Salvator's College, St Andrews, where George Buchanan was his tutor, and where he graduated M. A. in 1575. In 1577 Crichton left Scotland. He was for two years in France, where he seems to have served in the French army. There is no trustworthy evidence that he distinguished himself as a disputant at the university of Paris. In July 1579 he was at Genoa, and addressed the senate in a Latin oration, which was printed. Next year he reached Venice, and printed a Latin poem addressed to the scholar Aldus Manutius, grandson of the founder of the Aldine press. Aldus took the youth under his patronage, and issued a printed handbill announcing a great scholastic disputation in which Crichton was to take part. The young Scotchman was there with unparalleled powers of memory. described as a skilled athlete, scholar, poet, linguist, (according to Aldus) Crichton went to Padua and overcame all the scholars there in public disputations. At the end of 1583 Aldus issued an edition of Cicero's De Universitate, dedicated to Crichton's memory, and asserted there that his versatile protégé died on 3d November 1583. No details are given, and although Aldus's date has been widely adopted, it is clearly an error. In 1584 Crichton visited Milan. There late in that year he published an elegy on the death of the archbishop, Cardinal Borromeo, and two gratulatory odes-one addressed to the cardinal's successor, Gasper Visconti, and the other to Charles Emmanuel, Duke of Savoy, on his marriage. Early next year (March 1585) he issued a collection of scattered Latin poems dedicated to the chiefmagistrate of Milan. This is the latest date at which he is known to have been alive. In 1591 Crichton's younger brother Robert had become owner of his father's property in Scotland. Hence Crichton died between 1585 and 1591. In 1601 one Thomas Wright, in Passions of the Mind, related that when in Italy he heard that a young (unnamed) Scotchman, of most rare and singular parts,' was attacked by an (unspecified) Italian prince in disguise; that the prince, running some risk from the Scotchman's sword, announced his name; that the Scotchman, who was previously acquainted with the prince, handed him his sword, and the prince thereupon basely ran his opponent through the body. John Johnston, in Heroes Scoti (1603), states that Crichton was killed at Mantua Crib-biting is a bad habit and an unsoundness by a son of the duke in a nocturnal brawl, and met with especially in the lighter breeds of horses, that he was buried at Mantua. Crichton's early and those spending a considerable amount of leisure 17th-century biographers combine Wright's and in the stable. The act consists in the animal Johnston's stories, adding such doubtful details as seizing with his teeth the manger, rack, or any that Crichton was tutor to his assailant, the Duke other such object, and taking in at the same of Mantua's son, on the recommendation of Pope time a deep inspiration, technically called wind- Clement VIII. Wright and Johnston were pracsucking. Crib-biting springs often from idle tically contemporaries of Crichton, and the outline play, may be first indulged in during grooming, of their story is doubtless true. But the fatal especially if the operation is conducted in the encounter at Mantua must be dated at least two stall, and the animal be needlessly teased or years later than the date of Crichton's death tickled; is occasionally learned, apparently, by supplied by Aldus. John Johnston in 1603 first imitation from a neighbour; and in the first used the epithet 'admirable' in describing Crichton instance is frequently a symptom of some form of ('omnibus in studiis admirabilis'), and it was again indigestion. Its indulgence may be suspected employed in David Leitch's Philosophia illacrywhere the outer margins of the front teeth are mans (1637). But Crichton chiefly owes his popuworn and rugged, and will soon be proved by turn- lar reputation, as well as his designation of the ing the animal loose where he can find suitable Admirable,' to Sir Thomas Urquhart of Cromarty, objects to lay hold of. It usually interferes with who wrote an extravagantly fantastic account of thriving and condition, and leads to attacks of the scholastic and athletic prowess which he disindigestion. It can be prevented only by the use played at Paris and Mantua in his Discovery of a of a muzzle or throat-strap; but in those newly-most exquisite Jewel (1652). There is little that is acquired cases resulting from gastric derangement, means must further be taken to remove the acidity or other such disorder. Cribbage, a game at cards, probably of English origin. It does not appear in foreign treatises on games, and in the Academy of Play (1768), translated from the French, cribbage is called an English game. Cribbage is played with a pack of fifty-two cards; the scores accrue in consequence of certain combinations in play, hand, and crib (for an account of which see any treatise on the game). The scores are marked on a cribbage board pierced with holes. Cribbage was formerly called noddy. It is mentioned under that name in an epigram by Sir John Harrington (1615). Nares (Glossary) says noddy was not played with a board; but Gayton (Festivous Notes upon Don Quixot, 1654) speaks of noddy-boards. The earliest description of the game is in The Compleat Gamester (1674). Under cribbage it is stated that the game was sixty-one, 'set up with counters; and that knave-noddy is one in hand and two to the dealer-i.e. if turned up. In 1791 Anthony Pasquin (pseudonym) published a treatise on the game of cribbage; and in 1800 cribbage was added to revised editions of Hoyle's Games. The most comprehensive work on the game is Walker's Cribbage Player's Handbook, long out of print, but republished in great part in Bohn's Handbook of Games. | historical in Urquhart's fables, although they have been largely accepted by later biographers, including P. F. Tytler, the first edition of whose biography of CRICHTON Crichton appeared in 1819, and the second in 1825. Aldus's testimony to Crichton's versatility is alone worthy of serious consideration. Aldus was in the habit of praising extravagantly promising young strangers at the Italian universities, and ascribes to a Polish contemporary of Crichton, Stanislaus Niegoseuski, almost the identical accomplishments with which he credits Crichton. That Crichton's power of memory was extraordinary, is, however, independently corroborated by a physician of Treviso near Venice, named Bartolomeo Burchelati, in his Epitaphiorum Dialogi Septem (1583). And there is no reason to doubt his linguistic facility or his skill as a fencer. But the numerous Latin verses and prose essays which Crichton printed indicate no special capacity. Harrison Ainsworth wrote a novel on Crichton's apocryphal career in 1837. For a critical and bibliographical account, see articles in Dictionary of National Biography, and in Gentleman's Magazine for March 1888 (both by Sidney L. Lee). A genealogical paper by John Stuart in Proceedings of Society of Antiquaries of Scotland (1855), ii. 103-18, is also useful. Unique copies of most of Crichton's publications are in the Grenville Library of the British Museum. Cricket. Like that of most games played with a ball, the origin of cricket may be said to be lost in obscurity. Numerous researches have been made in the hope of fixing a date, but no really satisfactory conclusion has been arrived at, though it is tolerably certain that the game, in some shape or form, existed at a very remote period of antiquity. Various attempts have been made to prove that the birthplace of cricket was outside the limits of Great Britain; but the weight of evidence favours the popular view that to England alone the world is indebted for this manly and universally liked game. It is considered highly probable that the word cricket is a corruption of creag, a variation of an old Saxon word signifying a game played with a crooked bat; if so, it would appear that cricket was known amongst us nearly 600 years ago, as the word is found to have been in use during the reign of Edward I. (1300). This, however, is supported only by material of slender character. Strutt, one of our best authorities on ancient sport, adduces some evidence to show that club-ball,' played in the 14th century, may have been the parent of cricket, but both cat-and-dog' (mention of which occurs in the 16th century) and 'stool-ball' (frequently referred to in the 17th century) have a closer affinity. It is stated in Russell's History of Guildford that cricket was played in that well-known Surrey town in the middle of the 16th century, but for fifty years subsequently no trace has been found; and indeed history tells us really little or nothing of the game that is not speculative until the opening of the 18th century, from which period its growth may be readily followed, though scarcely anything of a definite character is to be gleaned even at that time as to the mode of playing the game. While it was then generally admitted to be healthful, it was condemned on account of the amount of gambling associated with it. There is some evidence of a match having been played between Kent and All England previously; but the earliest matches of which copies of the scores have been preserved were those of Kent v. All England, decided on the Artillery Ground, Finsbury, in 1746, and of Hambledon (a club started about 1750, and which held a somewhat similar position to that afterwards taken up by the Marylebone Club, inasmuch as the Hambledonians played matches in different parts of England, and generally promoted the interests of the game) against Kent, which took place at Bishopsbourne Paddock, near Canterbury, August 19, 1772. Nearly two years after the latter match—viz. February 25, 1774-a committee of noblemen and gentlemen met at the Star and Garter, in Pall Mall, London, and formally drew up a set of laws for the government of the game, and these are believed to have been the first written laws. They have from time to time undergone extensive alteration and addition. In those days the runs scored were recorded by means of notches made on the edge of a strip of wood; the wickets were placed, as now, 22 yards apart, with a popping-crease, 3 feet 10 inches (now 4 feet) in front of each; the stumps, two in number, were 22 inches long, and the bail 6 inches (a previous wicket having been 2 feet wide, with a hole dug out of the ground in the centre, and 1 foot high); the ball weighed from 5 to 6 ounces. Towards the end of the 18th century a third stump was added to the wicket, which then became 2 inches higher and 1 inch broader, and the only change made since has been a further increase both in height and width. There was at first no limit to the size of the bat, and the early instruments were curved at the end, so that little else than hitting could have been attempted; but as the character of the bowling changed and became more destructive, alterations were made in the instrument of defence, which even at the beginning of the 19th century was inelegant compared with that now used. The later portion of the 18th century was remarkable for the formation of the Marylebone Club, which took place in 1787 on the dissolution of the White Conduit Club, which had had an existence of several years, and had played matches in the fields from which the club took its name. The new club, destined to become the controller of cricket, located itself in Dorset Square, in the parish of Marylebone, for about a quarter of a century; then went to North Bank, Regent's Park, but after a brief period had again to make a move, and finally in 1814 settled down in the St John's Wood Road, its present quarters. Lord's,' as the home of the M.C.C. has always been known, is the best-appointed cricket ground in the kingdom. To John Nyren (born in 1764) and Lambert (born in 1779) we are indebted for the earliest printed instructions as to how to play the game; but these cricketers of vast experience had many imitators, and the comparatively large amount of cricket literature that sprung up at this period furthered the interests of the game in a marked degree. Round-arm bowling was introduced during the lifetimes of these two famous cricketers, and both viewed it with disfavour, Lambert declaring that if continued it would have a degenerating effect. Two counties claimed to have introduced the new style, Kent averring that Wills was the discoverer, and Sussex that the honour rested with Broadbridge. Wills was perhaps the first to really put into practice the style of bowling identical with that now so universally adopted, though the delivery then was not nearly so high as it subsequently became. Round-arm bowling was not allowed to have an uninterrupted career. The delivery increased in height as the advantage of so doing was observed, and so suspiciously like throwing was some of this bowling thought, that after it had been practised for eight or ten years the Marylebone Club discarded it altogether. It was revived, however, about 1825, and on the hard and uneven surfaces upon which cricket was then frequently played, it became so dangerous that recourse was had to leg-guards and batting-gloves, articles which had had no previous existence. During the second quarter of the 19th century the game made rapid strides, and grew in popularity with the middle and upper classes. The celebrated I Zingari, consisting entirely of gentlemen, was formed in 1845, and cricket began to be taken up by other countries in a slight degree. County cricket, too, which is at the present time the mainstay of the game, was becoming general, though the interest in many of the matches was discounted by some of the players being found in the ranks of two or three counties in one season. Several of the counties played matches early in the 19th century and even before; but properly organised county clubs did not exist for many years afterwards, as the following dates of formation show: Surrey, 1845; Sussex, 1857 (having been conducted by a committee from 1842); Kent, 1859 (re-formed in 1879); Notts, 1859; Yorkshire, 1863; Lancashire, 1864; Middlesex, 1868; Gloucestershire and Derbyshire, 1870. In June 1873 rules were passed respecting the qualification of county players, and since then county cricket has left little room for the elevens which were wont to perambulate the country under the respective titles of All England, United All England, and later still the United South. Even the matches between the Gentlemen and Players, and North v. South, which at one time were the most attractive of the season, have in a measure had to take a secondary position, for the increased demands of the counties have made it almost impossible for such contests to be of a thoroughly representative character. International cricket dates back as far as 1859, when George Parr took a team out to America. This was followed two years later by the visit of a team to Australia under the captaincy of H. H. Stephenson, and up to 1876 three teams had visited America, and four Australia, while in 1868 England welcomed a party of aborigines. Then 1878 was signalised by the arrival in England of Conway's Australian eleven, the first of its kind, but destined to be followed by many others. The latest develop ment in the game was the two new M.C.C. rules (1889), increasing the number of balls in an over from four to five, and allowing a captain to declare an innings closed. So much for its history and the variety of opinions held by its historians. As to the merits of the game as now played but one opinion exists. By general assent cricket stands pre-eminent amongst the many outdoor pastimes pursued during the summer months. All classes play it, and at important matches the company of lookers-on includes representatives of all grades of society. The keenest interest, too, is shown in connection with the leading fixtures of the season, and the results of many matches are telegraphed to all parts of the world. One of the great reasons of the remarkable popularity of this game is its uncertainty. Cricket is not solely an affair of skill; chance is also a factor to a very large extent. Conditions of ground and weather exert such a remarkable influence on the game that in many cases a side which apparently possessed little hope of success has come out of a match victorious. A mistake in the field, an act of carelessness on the part of a batsman, may change the character of the whole game, and indeed 'never lost till won' may with greater reason be applied to cricket than any other pastime. Within the reach of almost every one, cricket is, as a most enthusiastic lover of the game has put it, a health-giving, glorious amusement, calculated to bring out all good qualities, trying alike temper, patience, and courage. To excel at cricket it is necessary that the study of the game should be commenced at an early age, as a great deal of patience and practice is requisite. At nearly all, if not all, of our public schools, a cricket coach' or tutor is engaged, and as many of the masters are capable and only too willing to give good advice, the youth of the middle and upper classes have splendid opportunities of cultivating a good style, a most essential element towards success. Instruction from old cricketers given at practice time is the best of all instruction, and this should always be remembered by those less fortunately placed than public-school boys and university men, from whose ranks the best amateur talent is drawn. In speaking of practice, Dr W. G. Grace, the most famous cricketer of this age, says, 'that the more nearly the practice-game approaches to a match, and the more steady and painstaking the player is, the better. One of the best methods of practice I know of is for sixteen people to play amongst themselves; eleven to go into the field, two to go to the wickets, two to the umpiring, and one scoring. An afternoon's practice, to last for four hours, will thus give a quarter of an hour in each position to every player, and each player will gain experience in every department of the game, getting half an hour's batting (fifteen minutes at each wicket, no matter how often out), half an hour's bowling (fifteen minutes at each wicket), half an hour's umpiring (fifteen minutes at each end), a quarter of an hour's scoring, and two and a quarter hour's fielding, being fifteen minutes at each place; overs of four balls being bowled, and discipline kept up thoroughly as in a match. The advantage of having eleven in the field when you are practising is that you thereby best learn how to judge the runs, and there is nothing so important to a cricketer as to be able to do this well.' The game of cricket can be played either at single-wicket or double-wicket, but matches at the former have become very rare. For the latter, two wickets must be pitched opposite and parallel to each other at a distance of 22 yards, each wicket to be 8 inches in width, and to consist of three stumps (of equal and sufficient size to prevent the ball from passing through, 27 inches out of the ground) with two bails (4 inches in length, and when in position not to project more than half an inch above the stumps) upon the top. In a line with the wicket and extending three feet on either side of it, is the bowling-crease, beyond the limits of which the bowler must not go. He uses a ball measuring in circumference not less than 9 inches, nor more than 9 inches, and weighing not less than 5 ounces, nor more than 5 ounces; and he bowls either round-arm or underhand, and at what pace he pleases. Four feet in front of the wicket and parallel with it is the popping-crease, which defines the batsman's territory. Anywhere behind the popping-crease the batsman is in his own ground. The bat used must not exceed 44 inches in its widest part, and must not be more than 38 inches in length. A match is played between two sides of eleven players each, unless otherwise agreed to; each side has two innings, taken alternately, unless the side which goes in second scores eighty runs (sixty in a one-day match) less than the opposing side, in which case it follows its innings (ie. has to play again). The choice of innings is decided by tossing. Two members of one side go in to bat, and the rival eleven take up various positions in the field, the ball being bowled in overs from each wicket alternately. The score is reckoned by runs, and a run is obtained each time the batsmen, after a hit, or at any time while the ball is in play, cross and make good their ground from end to end; also by means of a no-ball (the penalty for delivering the ball unfairly or from the wrong position), wide ball (a ball that in the opinion of the umpire is not within reach of the batsman), and in the event of the fieldsman stopping the ball otherwise than with any part of his person. The side which scores the greatest number of runs wins the match. The batsman may be bowled, caught, stumped, or run out; he may be out leg before wicket, for obstructing the field, for hitting the ball twice (except for the pur |