Fives,

Fives, a game of hand-ball still popular in England, chiefly at the great public schools. The game existed at least as early as the 14th century, both in France and England, being termed 'palm-play' in the former, and 'hand-tennis' in the latter; its name is derived from its being played with the 'bunch of fives'—i.e. hand. The principle of the game is very simple, although the minor rules depend largely on local tradition. In a 'single' one player constitutes a side; in a 'double' there are two on either side. A roomy court is requisite, bounded by a high wall at one end, and against this wall a ball is propelled by striking it with the open hand. A 'close' court has also two side walls, and the whole is sometimes covered. The game is begun by one player striking the ball against the wall, and causing it to rebound anywhere beyond the floor-score, which is about two yards from the wall; the ball as it rebounds is then returned by the opposing sides alternately, a player's stroke counting a failure whenever the ball does not touch the wall higher than three feet from the ground, and the opposite side scoring one. The ball may be struck either from a direct rebound before it reaches the ground, or after it has 'dapped' or hopped from the ground once. Fifteen is usually game. When the players are skilful the ball is kept going by the alternate strikers for many minutes at a time, and the game is thus rendered exciting both for players and onlookers.