When the musters had been made, and duly reported, the young men, as was usual, were to mix in various sports, of which the chief was to shoot at the popinjay, an ancient game formerly practised with archery, but at this period with fire-arms.
[Note: Festival of the Popinjay.

The Festival of the Popinjay is still, I believe, practised at Maybole, in Ayrshire.

The following passage in the history of the Somerville family, suggested the scenes in the text.

The author of that curious manuscript thus celebrates his father's demeanour at such an assembly.
"Having now passed his infancie, in the tenth year of his age, he was by his grandfather putt to the grammar school, ther being then att the toune of Delserf a very able master that taught the grammar, and fitted boyes for the colledge.

Dureing his educating in this place, they had then a custome every year to solemnize the first Sunday of May with danceing about a May-pole, fyreing of pieces, and all manner of ravelling then in use.