seems to be a trace of the descent of the Holy Ghost on the heads of the
Apostles in what passes at Whitsuntide Fair, in some parts of
Lancashire, where one person holds a stick over the head of another,
whilst a third, unperceived, strikes the stick, and thus gives a smart
blow to the first.
LEICESTERSHIRE.
A fair used to be held on Whitsun Monday at Hinckley, when the millers
from various parts of the country walked in procession dressed in
ribbons, with what they called the _King of the Millers_ at their head.
A writer (in 1787) describing one of these fairs says: To the old
ceremony of riding millers, many improvements were made upon a more
extensive and significant plan: several personages introduced that bore
allusions to the manufacture, and were connected with the place. Old
Hugo Baron de Grentemaisnel, who made his first appearance in 1786,
armed in light and easy pasteboard armour, was this second time armed
cap-a-pie in heavy sinker plate, with pike and shield, on the latter the
arms of the town. The representative baron of Hinckley had the
satisfaction of being accompanied by his lady, the Baroness Adeliza,
habited in the true antique style, with steeple hat, ruff-points,
mantle, &c., all in suitable colours; each riding on nimble white steeds
properly caparisoned; they were preceded by the town banner, and two red
streamers embroidered with their respective names. Several bands of
music gave cheerful spirit to the pageant, but more particularly the
militia band from Leicester. The frame-work knitters, wool-combers,
butchers, carpenters, &c., had each their plays, and rode in companies
bearing devices or allusions to their different trades. Two characters,
well supported, were Bishop Blaise and his chaplain, who figured at the
head of the wool-combers. In their train, appeared a pretty innocent
young pair, a gentle shepherd and shepherdess: the latter carrying a
lamb, the emblem of her little self more than of the trade. Some other
little folks, well dressed, were mounted on ponies, holding instruments,
the marks of their fathers’ businesses, and ornamented with ribbons of
all colours waving in the air.--See Nichols, _History of Hinckley_,
1813, p. 678.
Throsby, in his _History of Leicester_ (1791, vol. iii. p. 85), gives
the following account of a custom observed in his time at Ratby. He
says:--There shall be two persons chosen annually, by a majority, to be
called caterers, which shall on every Whit Monday go to Leicester, to
what inn they shall think proper, where a calf’s head shall be provided
for their breakfast; and when the bones are picked clean, they are to be
put into a dish and served up with the dinner. Likewise, the innkeeper
is to provide two large rich pies, for the caterers to take home, that
their families may partake of some of their festivity. Likewise, there
shall be provided for every person a short silk lace, tagged at both
ends with silver, which, when so equipped, they shall all proceed to
Enderby, and sell the grass of the Wether (a meadow so called) to the
best bidder; from thence they shall go to the meadow, and all dismount,
and each person shall take a small piece of grass from the
before-mentioned Wether, and tie it round with their tagged lace, and
wear it in their hats, and ride in procession to the High Cross in
Leicester, and there throw them among the populace; from thence proceed
to their inn, and go in procession to St. Mary’s Church, where a sermon
shall be preached for the benefit of the hospital founded by Henry, Earl
of Leicester. When service is over, a deed shall be read over by the
clergyman, concerning the gift of the above Wether, and the church shall
be stuck with flowers. When the ceremony is over, they are to return to
their inn to dinner, and close the day with mirth and festivity.
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE.
At Corby near Rockingham, every twentieth year, the inhabitants assemble
at an early hour, and stop up all roads and bye-ways in the parish, and
demand a certain toll of every person, gentle or simple, who may have
occasion to pass through the village on that day. In case of
non-compliance a stout pole is produced, and the nonconformist is placed
thereon, in a riding attitude, carried through the village, and taken to
the parish stocks and imprisoned until the authorities choose to grant a
dismissal. It appears that Queen Elizabeth granted to the inhabitants of
Corby a charter to free them from town toll throughout England, Wales,
and Scotland; and also to exempt them from serving on juries at
Northampton, and to free the knights of the shire from the militia law.
This custom of taking toll has been observed every twenty years in
commemoration of the granting of the charter.--_N. & Q. 3rd S._ vol. i.
p. 424.
OXFORDSHIRE.
Until within the last century, a custom prevailed in the parish of
Ensham, by which the towns-people were allowed on Whitsun Monday to cut
down and carry away as much timber as could be drawn by men’s hands into
the Abbey yard, the churchwardens previously marking out such timber by
giving the first chop; so much as they could carry out again,
notwithstanding the opposition of the servants of the Abbey to prevent
it, they were to keep for the reparation of the church. By this service
they held their right of commonage at Lammas and Michaelmas, but about
the beginning of last century this practice was laid aside by mutual
consent.--_Every Day Book_, vol. ii. p. 669.
SHROPSHIRE.
An old custom, called the “Boy’s Bailiff,” formerly prevailed at
Wenlock, in Whitsun week. It consisted of a man who wore a hair-cloth
gown, and was called the bailiff, a recorder, justices, and other
municipal officers. There were a large retinue of men and boys mounted
on horseback, begirt with wooden swords, which they carried on their
right sides, so that they were obliged to draw their swords out with
their left hands. They used to call at the gentlemen’s houses in the
franchise, where they were regaled with refreshment; and they afterwards
assembled at the Guildhall, where the town clerk read some sort of
rigmarole which they called their charter, one part of which was--
“We go from Bickbury, and Badger, to Stoke on the Clee,
To Monkhopton, Round Acton, and so return we.”
The first three named places are the extreme points of the franchise,
and the other two are on the return to Much Wenlock. This custom is
supposed to have originated in going a bannering.--Brand, _Pop. Antiq._,
1849, vol. i. p. 284.
STAFFORDSHIRE.
The Court of Array, or view of men and arms, was held on Whitsun Monday
in the vicinity of Lichfield, called Greenhill, where every householder
failing to answer his name when called from the dozeners’ list was fined
a penny. The origin of this singular ceremony is unknown; it existed
long before the charters of incorporation, and may perhaps be the
remains of the commissions of array issued in the time of Henry V., who
ordered every man to keep in his possession arms and armour, according
to his goods and station in life, whence the enrolment of a regular
armour took place. These statutes of array were repealed. Something,
however, like the old custom was continued, and a booth erected for this
purpose, in which the magistrates received all the inhabitants who chose
to visit them, and partake of a collation provided for that purpose.
The business of the day commenced about eight o’clock in the morning,
when the constables, attended by armed men wearing their colours of
distinction, with drums beating, preceded by morris dancers, with the
Maid Marian, tabor and pipe, &c., conducted the bailiffs and sheriff,
and other city officers, to the bower, where they were received with a
salute from the men at arms. The constable then returned to collect the
dozeners with their standards or posies, who, with the inhabitants of
each separate ward, were with like ceremonies conducted to the bower.
The posies were probably originally images of saints: they afterwards
became emblems of trades, or in many instances mere puppets or garlands
borne upon the heads of their ancient halberds; these were in every ward
received with a volley from the men at arms, who also fired over every
separate house, for which they received money and liquor from the
inhabitants. Greenhill was on these occasions crowned with shows,
booths, and stalls, and the day was regarded as a festival for the city
and neighbourhood. About nine o’clock in the evening, the whole of the
posies being collected, a procession was formed to conduct them to what
was called the christening, and was in the following order:--
Tabor and pipe decorated with ribands.
Tom fool and Maid Marian.
Morrice dancers, dancing sarabands, clashing their staves.
Two captains of the armed men.
Twenty-four armed men with drums.
Twenty-one dozeners with standards or posies.
Two constables.
Gaoler.
Sheriff.
Serjeants at Mace and Town Crier.
Bailiffs, and Town Clerk.
Citizens, inhabitants, &c.
On arriving at the door of St. Mary’s Church, after passing up Boar
Street, and down Sadler Street, an address was made by the town clerk,
recommending a peaceable demeanour, and watchful attendance to their
duty; and a volley being fired over the posies the business of the day
ended. At one time the images were deposited in the belfry of the
adjoining church, from which it may be concluded that the origin of this
procession was religious. This custom was abolished by the magistrates
in 1805, at which time the expense was annually about £70; but was
afterwards in some degree continued by private subscription.--_Account
of Lichfield_, 1818, 1819, p. 87.
Southey, in his _Common Place Book_ (1849, 2nd S. p. 336), gives the
following extract from Mrs. Fienne’s MSS:--
“At Lichfield they have a custom at Whitsuntide, ye Monday and Tuesday,
called the Green Bower Feast, by which they hold their charter. The
bailiff and sheriff assist at the ceremony of dressing up babies with
garlands of flowers and greens, and carry them in procession through all
the streets, and then assemble themselves at the market-place, and so go
in a solemn procession through the great street to a hill beyond the
town, where is a large green bower made, in which they have their feast.
Many smaller bowers are made around for company, and for booths to sell
fruit, sweetmeats, ginger-bread,” &c.
WALES.
At Tenby a women’s benefit club walked in procession to church with band
and banners before them and bunches of flowers in their hands. After the
service they dined, and wound up the evening by dancing.--Mason’s _Tales
and Traditions of Tenby_, 1858, p. 23.
MAY 12.] WHITSUN TUESDAY.
BEDFORDSHIRE.
At Biddenham there is an ancient customary donation of a quantity of
malt, made at Whitsuntide by the proprietor of Kempston Mill, near the
parish. The malt is always delivered to the overseers of the poor for
the time being, and brewed by them into ale, which is distributed among
all the poor inhabitants of Biddenham on Whit Tuesday.--_Old English
Customs and Charities_, 1842, p. 65.
BUCKINGHAMSHIRE.
The Eton Montem was a long celebrated and time-honoured ceremony
peculiar to Eton, and said to have been coeval with the foundation of
the college, and was observed biennially but latterly triennially down
to the year 1844, when it was totally abolished. It was a procession of
the scholars dressed either in military or fancy costume, to a small
mount on the south side of the Bath Road (supposed to be a British or
Saxon barrow), where they exacted money for salt, as the phrase was,
from all persons present, and from travellers passing. The ceremony was
called the _Montem_. The procession of boys, accompanied by bands of
music, and carrying standards, was usually followed by many old
Etonians, and even by members of the royal family--in some cases by the
king and queen. Arrived at Salt-hill, the boys ascended the “mons,” or
mount, the “captain” unfolded the grand standard, and delivered a speech
in Latin, and the “salt” was collected. The principal “salt-bearers”
were superbly dressed, and carried embroidered bags for the money. The
donation of the king and queen was called the “royal salt,” and tickets
were given to those who had paid their salt.[59] Immense numbers of
people used to assemble to witness the procession, and the money
collected frequently exceeded £1000. After deducting the necessary
expenses, the remainder was given to the senior scholar, who was elected
to Cambridge, for his support at that University.
[59] The mottoes on the tickets varied in different years. In 1773,
the words were “Ad Montem;” in 1781 and 1787 “Mos pro lege est;” in
1790, 1796, 1808, 1812, “Pro more et monte;” and in 1799 and 1805,
“Mos pro lege.”--Brand, _Pop. Antiq._, 1849, vol. i. p. 436.
The origin of this custom, notwithstanding much antiquarian research, is
unknown. Some, however, are of opinion that it was identical with the
_bairn_ or _boy_-bishop. It originally took place on the 6th of
December, the festival of St. Nicholas (the patron of children; being
the day on which it was customary at Salisbury, and in other places
where the ceremony was observed, to elect the _boy_-bishop, from among
the children belonging to the cathedral), but afterwards it was held on
Whitsun Tuesday.--Sheahan, _History of Buckinghamshire_, 1862, p. 862;
Lysons’ _Magna Britannia_, 1813, vol. i. pt. ii. p. 558; _Gent. Mag._,
1820, vol. xc. p. 55; See _N. & Q. 1st S._, vol i. pp. 110, 322; _2nd
S._ vol. ii. p. 146.
CUMBERLAND.
The ten principal estates in the parish of Hesket were formerly called
_Red Spears_, from the titles of the owners, obtained from the curious
tenure of riding through the town of Penrith on every Whitsun Tuesday,
brandishing their spears. These _Red-Spear Knights_ seem to have been
regarded as sureties to the sheriff for the peaceable behaviour of the
inhabitants.--Britton and Brayley, _Beauties of England and Wales_,
1802, vol. iii. p. 171.
MIDDLESEX.
On the evening of Whitsun Tuesday, a sermon is annually preached in the
ancient church of St. James, Mitre Court, Aldgate, London, from a text
having special reference to flowers. This is popularly called the
“Flower sermon.”--_Kalendar of the English Church_, 1865, p. 74.
On this day is delivered in St. Leonard’s Church, Shoreditch, a
“Botanical sermon”--the Fairchild Lecture,--for which purpose funds were
left by Thomas Fairchild, who died in 1729. It was formerly the custom
of the President and several Fellows of the Royal Society to hear this
sermon preached.--Timbs’ _Something for Everybody_, 1861, p. 80.
SCOTLAND.
The custom of “riding the marches” existed at Lanark, and took place
annually on the day after Whitsun Fair, by the magistrates and
burgesses, known by the name of the Langemark or Landsmark Day, from the
Saxon _langemark_.[60]--Sinclair’s _Stat. Acc. of Scotland_, 1795, vol.
xv. p. 45.
[60] See _Riding the Marches_, p. 307.
MAY 14.] COTESWOLD GAMES.
The vicinity of Chipping Campden was the theatre of the Coteswold Games,
which, in the reign of James I. and his unfortunate successor, were
celebrated in this part of England. They were instituted by a
public-spirited attorney of Burton-on-the-Heath, in Warwickshire, named
Robert Dover, and like the Olympic games of the ancients, consisted of
most kinds of manly exercises. The victors were rewarded by prizes,
distributed by the institutor, who, arrayed in a discarded habit of
James’, superintended the games in person for many years. The meetings
were annually held on Whitsun Thursday, and were frequently attended by
an immense number of people.
Ben Jonson, Drayton, and other poets[61] of that age, wrote verses on
this festivity, which, in 1636, were collected into one volume, and
published under the title of _Annalia Dubrensia_.
[61] Thomas Randolph, Thomas Heywood, Owen Feltham, and Shackerly
Marmyon.
These diversities were at length terminated by the breaking out of the
civil wars, but were revived at the Restoration; and the memory of their
founder is still preserved in the name Dover’s Hill, applied to an
eminence of the Cotswold range, about a mile from the village of
Campden.--Britton and Brayley, _Beauties of England and Wales_, 1803,
vol. v. p. 655; see _Book of Days_, vol. i. 712.
MAY 16.] NORFOLK.
In the parish of Rockland, annually on the 16th of May, a sort of
country fair is held, called by the villagers the “Guild,” and which is
evidently a relic of the Guild of St. John the Baptist, held here in St.
Peter’s Church before the Reformation. On this occasion a mayor of the
Guild is elected, and he is chaired about the three parishes of
Rockland, and gathers largess, which is afterwards spent in a frolic.
There is another antique custom connected with the guild which yet
obtains: the inhabitants of certain houses in the “Street” have the
privilege of hanging oaken-boughs outside their doors (and their houses
are thence called “bough houses”), and on the day of the guild they draw
home-brewed ale for all customers, and are not interfered with for so
doing, either by the village licensed publican or the excise
authorities.--_N. &. Q. 2nd S._ vol. vii. p. 450.
EEL FAIR.
SURREY.
About the middle of May there is an annual migration of young eels up
the Thames at Kingston. They appear in shoals, giving to the margin of
the river an appearance not altogether agreeable; but their origin and
destination are alike matter of conjecture. It is reasonably supposed
that these swarms migrate from the lakes in Richmond Park, where immense
numbers are annually bred, and that they descend the rivers, stocking
the creeks and streams for some miles above the town. There is generally
a crowd of eager men, women, and children, provided with every possible
vessel wherein to catch the slippery prey on the first intimation of
their approach; and the animated scene has caused the occasion to be
called Eel Fair.--Biden, _History of Kingston-upon-Thames_, 1852, p.
128.
MAY 17.] TRINITY SUNDAY.
Its observance is said to have first been established by Archbishop
Becket, soon after his consecration. “Hic post consecrationem suam
instituit festivitatem principalem S. Trinitatis annis singulis in
perpetuam celebrandam, quo die primam missam suam celebravit.”--Wharton,
H., _Anglia Sacra_, 1691, fol. pt. i. p. 8.
It is still customary for the judges and great law-officers of the
Crown, together with the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Council, to
attend Divine Service at St. Paul’s Cathedral, and hear a sermon.
On Trinity Sunday, formerly, processions of children, with garlands of
flowers and ribbons, were common.--Timbs’ _Something for Everybody_,
1861, p. 83.
LINCOLNSHIRE.
The parish of Clee possesses a right of cutting rushes from a piece of
land, called “Bescars,” for the purpose of strewing the floor of the
church every Trinity Sunday. A small quantity of grass is annually cut
to preserve this right.--Edwards, _Old English Customs and Charities_,
p. 217.
NORTHUMBERLAND.
The following extract is taken from the Newcastle _Daily Journal_ of
June 17th, 1867:--
Yesterday being Trinity Sunday, in pursuance of a time-honoured custom,
the Master, Deputy-Master, and Brethren of the Ancient and Honourable
Corporation of the Trinity House attended officially in All Saints’
Parish Church, Newcastle. A noteworthy relic of the past in connection
with the service was the performance on the organ (on the entrance and
exit of the Master and Brethren) of the national air, ‘Rule Britannia.’
The rendering of a secular air--even as an evidence of respect--has been
objected to; but the organist cites the custom of half a century.
WILTSHIRE.
Aubrey, in his _Miscellanies_ (1714, p. 49), speaking of Newnton, says:
“Upon every Trinity Sunday, the parishioners being come to the door of
the hayward’s house, the door was struck thrice in honour of the Holy
Trinity; they then entered. The bell was rung; after which, silence
being ordered, they read their prayers aforesaid. Then was a ghirland of
flowers (about the year 1660 one was killed striving to take away the
ghirland) made upon an hoop, brought forth by a maid of the town upon
her neck, and a young man (a bachelor) of another parish first saluted
her three times in honour of the Trinity, in respect of God the Father.
Then she puts the ghirland upon his neck and kisses him three times in
honour of the Trinity, particularly God the Son. Then he puts the
ghirland on her neck again, and kisses her three times in honour of the
Holy Trinity and particularly the Holy Ghost. Then he takes the ghirland
from her neck, and, by the custom, must give her a penny at least,
which, as fancy leads, is now exceeded, as 2_s._ 6_d._, &c. The method
of giving this ghirland is from house to house annually, till it comes
round. In the evening, every commoner sends his supper to this house,
which is called the _Eale-house_; and having before laid in there
equally a stock of malt, which was brewed in the house, they sup
together, and what was left was given to the poor.”
WALES.
A very ancient custom is observed on Trinity Sunday in Carnarvonshire:
the offerings of calves and lambs which happen to be born with the _Nod
Beuno_, or mark of St. Beuno--a certain natural mark in the ear,--have
not yet entirely ceased. They are brought to church (but formerly to the
monastery[62]) of Clynnok Vaur on Trinity Sunday, and delivered to the
churchwardens, who sell and account for them, depositing the money in a
great chest, called _Cyff St. Beuno_, made of one oak, and secured with
three locks. From this, the Welsh have a proverb for attempting any very
difficult thing. “You may as well try to break open St. Beuno’s chest.”
The little money resulting from the sacred beasts, or casual offerings,
is applied either to the relief of the poor or in aid of repairs.--
Pennant, _Tour through North Wales_, 1781, vol. ii. p. 210.
[62] This monastery was founded A.D. 616, by Guithin of Gwydaint. It
was afterwards turned into a monastery of white monks, but these seem
soon to have been suppressed, for, at the time of Pope Nicholas IV.’s
taxation it was a collegiate church, consisting of five Portionists or
Prebendaries, and continued so to the time of the
dissolution.--Leland, _Itin._ vol. v. p. 15; Dugdale, _Monast.
Anglic._ 1825, vol. v. p. 631.
MAY 18.] TRINITY MONDAY.
HAMPSHIRE.
An annual fair is held on Trinity Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday at
Southampton. It is opened by the Mayor and bailiffs, with much ceremony,
on the preceding Saturday afternoon. The Mayor erects a pole with a
large glove fixed to the top of it, near the miller’s house; and the
bailiff then takes possession of the fair, as chief magistrate in its
precinct during the fair, and invites the Mayor and his suite to a
collation in his tent. He appoints a guard of halberdiers who keep the
peace by day, and watch the fair by night. During the fair no person can
be arrested for debt within its precincts. On the Wednesday at noon, the
Mayor dissolves the fair, by taking down the pole and glove, or rather
ordering it to be taken down; which at one time was done by the young
men of the town, who fired at it with single balls, till it was
destroyed, or they were tired of the sport.--Englefield, _Walk through
Southampton_, 1805, p. 75.
KENT.
Deptford Fair originated in trifling pastimes for persons who assembled
to see the Master and Brethren of the Trinity House, on their annual
visit to the Trinity House, at Deptford. First there were juggling
matches; then came a booth or two; afterwards a few shows.--_Every Day
Book_, vol. i. p. 724.
OXFORDSHIRE.