281), the custom is that on Monday after Whitsun week there is a fat
live lamb provided; and the maids of the town, having their thumbs tied
behind them, run after it, and she that with her mouth takes and holds
the lamb, is declared _Lady of the Lamb_, which being dressed, with the
skin hanging on, is carried on a long pole before the lady and her
companions to the green, attended with music, and a Morisco dance of
men, and another of women, where the rest of the day is spent in
dancing, mirth, and merry glee. The next day the lamb is part baked,
boiled, and roasted, for the lady’s feast, where she sits majestically
at the upper end of the table, and her companions with her, with music
and other attendants, which ends the solemnity.
MAY 20.] CORPUS CHRISTI EVE.
In North Wales, at Llanasaph, there is a custom of strewing green herbs
and flowers at the doors of houses on Corpus Christi Eve.--Pennant’s
_Manuscript_ quoted by Brand, _Pop. Antiq._ 1849, vol. i. p. 297.
At Caerwis on Thursday after Trinity Sunday, which they call _Dudd Son
Duw_, or _Dydd Gwyl Duw_, on the Eve before, they strew a sort of fern
before their doors, called _red yn mair_--Pennant’s MS.
MAY 21.] CORPUS CHRISTI DAY.
Corpus Christi Day is held on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday, to
celebrate, as the name indicates, the doctrine of Transubstantiation,
and was instituted in the year 1264 by Pope Urban IV.
In olden times the Skinners’ fraternity of Corpus Christi made their
procession on this day, having “borne before them more than two hundred
torches of wax, costly garnished, burning bright” (or painted and gilded
with various devices); and “above two hundred clerks and priests, in
surplices and copes, singing,” after which came the officers; “the mayor
and aldermen in scarlet, and then the skinners in their best liveries.”
A temporary revival of these imposing shows took place in Mary’s days
previously to their discontinuance.--Timbs’ _Something for Everybody_,
1861, p. 84.
NORFOLK.
At one time on Corpus Christi Day the crafts or companies of Norwich
walked in procession from the common hall, by Cutter Row, and round the
market to the hall again. Each company had its banner, on which was
painted its patron or guardian saint.--See _History of Norwich_, 1768,
vol. i. p. 175.
NORTHUMBERLAND.
The earliest mention of the religious ceremony of Corpus Christi play
and procession in Newcastle-upon-Tyne occurs in the Ordinary of the
Coopers’ Company, dated January 20th, 1426; though the great popularity
of these exhibitions at York and other places must have induced the
clergy, merchants, and incorporated traders of that town, to adopt them
long before this time. There can be but little doubt that the several
trades strove to outvie each other in the splendour of their
exhibitions. The Company of Merchant Adventurers were concerned in the
representation of five plays. The hoastmen, drapers, mercers, and
boothmen had probably each one.
“Hoggmaygowyk” was the title of one of their plays, the representing of
which, in 1554, cost 4_l._ 2_s._ This Company, in 1480, made an act for
settling the order of their procession on Corpus Christi Day. In 1586
the offering of Abraham and Isaac was exhibited by the slaters.
By the Ordinary of the goldsmiths, plumbers, glaziers, pewterers, and
painters, dated 1436, they were commanded to play at their feast the
three Kings of Coleyn. In the books of the fullers and dyers, one of the
charges for the play of 1564 is: “Item, for 3 yards of lyn cloth for
God’s coat, 3_s._ 2_d._ ob.” About the year 1578, the Corpus Christi
plays seem to have been on the decline; for the Ordinary of the millers,
dated that year, says, “Whensoever the general plaies of the town shall
be commanded by the mayor, &c.,” they are to play, “the Antient playe
of, &c.” Similar expressions are used in the Ordinary of the house
carpenters in 1579, in that of the masons in 1581, and also in that of
the joiners in 1589. Weaver, in his _Funeral Monuments_, says that these
plays were finally suppressed in all towns of the kingdom, about the
beginning of the reign of James I. The only vestige that remains of the
Newcastle Mysteries was preserved by Bourne. It is entitled “Noah’s Ark;
or, the Shipwright’s Ancient Play or Dirge,” wherein God, an Angel, Noah
and his wife, and the Devil are the characters. Mackenzie, _History of
Newcastle_, 1827, vol. ii. p. 708; Hone’s _Ancient Mysteries Described_,
1823, p. 213.
YORKSHIRE.
The play of Corpus Christi was acted in the City of York till the
twenty-sixth year of Queen Elizabeth’s reign, 1584.
It consisted of a solemn procession, in remembrance of the Sacrament of
the Body of Christ; the symbolic representation being borne in a shrine.
Every trade in the city was obliged to furnish a pageant at its own
expense, and join the procession, and each individual had to personify
some particular passage in the Old or New Testament, and to repeat some
poetry on the occasion. The whole was preceded by a great number of
lighted torches, and a multitude of priests in their proper habits;
after which followed the mayor and citizens, surrounded by an immense
concourse of spectators. Commencing at the great gate of the priory of
the Holy Trinity, they proceeded to the Cathedral Church and thence to
St. Leonard’s Hospital, where they left the sacrament. There are several
public orders yet remaining in the old register of the city relative to
the regulation of this ceremony; and indulgences were granted from the
Pope to those who contributed to the relief of the fraternity, or who
observed the annual ceremony in the most devout manner, particularly if
they personally attended from the country.--Drake’s _Eboracum_, 1736;
Hargrove, _History of York_, 1818, vol. ii. p. 494.
IRELAND.
Corpus Christi Day was formerly celebrated at Dublin with high
veneration. In the Chain-book of the City of Dublin are several entries
to that purpose. We are told that there was a grand procession, in which
the glovers were to represent Adam and Eve, with an angel bearing a
sword before them.
The corrisees (perhaps curriers) were to represent Cain and Abel, with
an altar and their offering.
Mariners and vintners, Noah and the persons in his Ark, apparelled in
the habit of carpenters and salmon-takers.
The weavers personated Abraham and Isaac, with their offering and altar.
The smiths represented Pharaoh, with his host.
The skinners, the camell with the children of Israel, &c.--See Harris,
_History of Dublin_, 1766, p. 147.
MAY 22.] COVENTRY SHOW FAIR.
This celebrated fair, says Brand (_Pop. Antiq._ 1849, vol. i. p. 286),
commences upon Friday in Trinity week, and lasts for eight days. The
charter for it was granted by Henry III. in 1218, at the instigation of
Randle, Earl of Chester. For many years it was one of the chief marts in
the kingdom, and was celebrated for the show designated the Procession
of Lady Godiva, of which Brand has given a long account.
MAY 25.] THE SHREWSBURY SHOW.
In the _Book of Days_ (vol. i. pp. 704-708) will be found an interesting
and amusing account of the Shrewsbury Show, which appears, from the
records of the reign of Henry VI., to have been held time out of mind on
the second Monday after Trinity Sunday.
FLITTING DAY.
SCOTLAND.
The 25th of May, as the Whitsunday term (old style), is a great day in
Scotland, being that on which, for the most part, people change their
residences. The Scotch generally lease their houses by the year, and are
thus at every twelve-month’s end able to shift their place of abode.
Accordingly, every Candlemas a Scotch family gets an opportunity of
considering whether it will, in the language of the country, sit or
flit. The landlord or his agent calls to learn the decision on this
point; and if “flit” is the resolution, he takes measures by advertising
to obtain a new tenant. The two or three days following upon the
Purification, therefore, become distinguished by a feathering of the
streets with boards projected from the windows, intimating “A House to
Let.”--See _Book of Days_, vol. i. p. 679.
MAY 29.] RESTORATION OR ROYAL OAK DAY.
In the _Diary_ of John Evelyn (1859, vol. i. p. 373), under the date of
May 29th, 1665, is the following statement:--
This was the first anniversary appointed by Act of Parliament to be
observed as a day of General Thanksgiving for the miraculous restoration
of His Majesty: our vicar preaching on Psalm cxviii., 24, requiring us
to be thankful and rejoice, as indeed we had cause.[63]
[63] The special form of prayer in commemoration of the Restoration of
Charles II., was removed from the Prayer Book by Act of Parliament (22
Vict. c. 2. March 25, 1859).
On this day the chaplain of the House of Commons preached in St.
Margaret’s Church, Westminster, before “the House,” usually represented
by the Speaker, the Sergeant-at-arms, the clerks, and other officers,
and some half-dozen members. This observance has been discontinued since
1858.--Timbs’ _Something for Everybody_, 1861, p. 74.
It is customary, especially in the North of England, for the common
people to wear in their hats the leaves of the oak, which are sometimes
covered with gold leaf.--Brand, _Pop. Antiq._, 1849, vol. i. p. 273.
CORNWALL.
At Looe, as well as in other districts of East Cornwall, the usage of
wearing an oaken leaf on the 29th of May was enforced by spitting at, or
“cobbing,” the offender.--_Once a Week_, September 24th, 1870.
DERBYSHIRE.
On the 29th of May branches of young oak are gathered and put up over
the doors of many houses, and a small sprig of the same tree is commonly
worn in the button-hole.--_Jour. of Arch. Assoc._, 1852, vol. viii. p.
206.
DEVONSHIRE.
In the vicinity of Starcross the children celebrate this anniversary by
carrying about what they call May babies, i.e., little dolls, carefully
and neatly dressed, decked with flowers, and laid in boxes somewhat
resembling coffins, though such resemblance is not, apparently, the
intention of the artists.--_N. & Q. 2nd S._ vol. ii. p. 405.
In the _Every Day Book_ (1826, vol. i. p. 718) occurs the following:--
At Tiverton, on the 29th of May, it is customary for a number of young
men, dressed in the style of the seventeenth century, and armed with
swords, to parade the streets, and gather contributions from the
inhabitants. At the head of the procession walks a man called “Oliver,”
dressed in black, with his face and hands smeared over with soot and
grease, and his body bound by a strong cord, the end of which is held by
one of the men to prevent his running too far. After these come another
troop, dressed in the same style, each man bearing a large branch of
oak; four others, carrying a kind of throne made of oaken boughs, on
which a child is seated, bring up the rear. A great deal of merriment is
excited among the boys at the pranks of “Master Oliver,” who capers
about in a most ludicrous manner. Some of them amuse themselves by
casting dirt, whilst others, more mischievously inclined, throw stones
at him: but woe betide the young urchin who is caught; his face assumes
a most awful appearance from the soot and grease with which “Oliver”
begrimes it, whilst his companions, who have been lucky enough to escape
his clutches, testify their pleasure by loud shouts. In the evening the
whole party have a feast, the expenses of which are defrayed by the
collection made in the morning.
DURHAM.
Mr. Cuthbert Carlton, of Durham, gives in the _Durham Chronicle_, of
November 29th, 1872, the following account of a curious custom called
“Push Penny.” He says: “This custom, which has been discontinued nearly
a quarter of a century, is thus referred to in the _Derbyshire Times_ of
Saturday last:--‘There is a custom which has been upheld from time
immemorial by the Dean and Chapter of Durham on three days in the
year--30th of January, 29th of May, and 5th of November, the anniversary
of King Charles’ Martyrdom, Royal Oak Day, and Gunpowder Plot, which is
known among Durham lads as “push-penny.” On these days the Chapter
causes twenty shillings in copper to be scrambled for in the college
yard by the juveniles, who never fail to be present.’ The practice
observed every 29th of May, and 5th of November, was to throw away
within the college thirty shillings in penny pieces. Whether the custom
dates from time immemorial, it is difficult to say, but the two last
dates would seem only to point to the origin of the custom at the end of
the seventeenth, or beginning of the eighteenth centuries, to testify
the loyalty of the Dean and Chapter to the Throne, and their
appreciation of the happy restoration of the ‘Merry Monarch,’ and the
escape of the King and his Parliament on the 5th of November. There was
some such custom, however, during the monastic period, when pennies were
thrown away to the citizens who were wont to assemble in the vicinity of
the Prior’s mansion. At Bishop Auckland the bishop was accustomed to
throw away silver pennies at certain times of the year, and it is even
said that so much as a peck of copper was in earlier times scattered
broad-cast among the people. The Reformation, however, swept these and
many other old customs away, but after the Restoration of Charles II.,
the Dean and Chapter no doubt considered the 29th of May and the 5th of
November ought to be kept as days of rejoicing, and as one means of
doing so caused one of their officials to throw a bag full of pennies to
the people who met in the college. The duty was entrusted to the senior
verger of the cathedral. For many years it was the practice for the
children of the Blue Coat Schools to attend Divine service in the
cathedral, who were drawn up in rank and file in the nave, for the
inspection of the prebends, who minutely examined the new scholastic
garments of the Blue Coat scholars. This being done they were ushered
into the choir, and at the end of the service a regular pell-mell rush
was made for the cloister doors, in order to be present at ‘push-penny.’
The scenes on these occasions were almost beyond description. For a few
years the custom thus continued, the attendants at ‘push-penny’
gradually diminishing; for twenty-five years, however, it has been
discontinued, nor is it likely to be revived.”
At Durham also on the 29th of May, the choir ascend the large tower of
the cathedral, and sing anthems from the three sides of it. This is done
in remembrance of the monks chanting masses from it in behalf of Queen
Philippa, when engaged in the sanguinary battle of Redhills with the
Scotch King, David I., 1346. The battle is commonly called the battle of
Neville’s Cross, from the beautiful cross erected on the field of
victory by the powerful Baron of that name, a fragment of which still
remains. The reason given why anthems are only sung from three sides of
the tower, not from the fourth, is that a chorister once overbalanced
himself, and falling from it was killed.--_Times_, May 6th, 1875.
HAMPSHIRE.
The working men of Basingstoke and other towns in Hampshire arise early
on the 29th of May to gather slips of oak with the galls on; these they
put in their hats or anywhere about their persons. They also hang pieces
to the knockers, latches, or other parts of the house-doors of the
wealthy, who take them in to place in their halls, &c. After breakfast
these men go round to such houses for beer, &c. Should they not receive
anything the following verses should be said:
“Shig-shag, penny a rag
[Bang his head in Croommell’s bag],
All up in a bundle.”--
but fear often prevents them. However, the lads have no fear, and use it
freely to any one without an oak-apple or oak leaf on some part of his
person, and visible--ill-treating him for his want of loyalty. After
noon the loyalty ceases and then if any one be charged with having
_shig-shag_, the following verses are said:
“Shig-shag’s gone past,
You’re the biggest fool at last;
When shig-shag comes again,
You’ll be the biggest fool then.”
And the one who charges the other with the oak-leaf receives the
ill-treatment.--_N. & Q. 1st S._ vol. xii. p. 100.
MIDDLESEX.
It was the custom, some years ago, to decorate the monument of Richard
Penderell (in the churchyard of St. Giles-in-the-Fields, London), on the
29th of May, with oak branches; but in proportion to the decay of
popularity in kings, this practice has declined.--Canfield, _Portraits,
Memoirs, and Characters of Remarkable Persons_, 1794, p. 186.
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE.
Formerly all the principal families in the town of Northampton placed a
large branch of oak over the door of their houses, or in their
balconies, in remembrance of the restoration of Charles II. The
oak-boughs are gradually disappearing, but the corporate body still goes
in procession to All Saints Church, accompanied by the boys and girls of
the different charity schools, each of them having a sprig of oak, with
a gilt _oak-apple_ placed in the front of their dress; and should the
season be unpropitious, and oak-apples be scarce, small gilded potatoes
are substituted. The commemoration of this day has probably been more
generally and loyally observed in this town than in many other places,
from a feeling of gratitude to that monarch, who munificently
contributed 1000 tons of timber out of Whittlewood Forest and remitted
the duty of chimney-money in Northampton for seven years, towards the
rebuilding of the town after the destructive fire of 1675. The statue of
the king, which is placed in the centre of the balustrade on the portico
of All Saints’ Church, is always enveloped in oak-boughs on this
day.--_Glossary of Northamptonshire Words and Phrases_, vol. ii. p. 68.
NORTHUMBERLAND.
At one time the boys at Newcastle-upon-Tyne had a taunting rhyme, with
which they used to insult such persons as they met on this day who had
not oak-leaves in their hats:
“Royal oak,
The Whigs to provoke.”
There was a retort courteous by others, who contemptuously wore
plane-tree leaves:
“Plane-tree leaves;
The Church folk are thieves.”
Brand, _Pop. Antiq._ 1849, vol. i. p. 274.
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE.
On Royal Oak Day branches of that tree are carried in procession, and
decorate many of the signs of public houses in Nottingham and
elsewhere.--_Jour. of the Arch. Assoc._, 1853, vol. viii. p. 234.
On this day the Notts juveniles not only wear the usual piece of
oak-twig, but each young loyalist is armed with a nettle, with which
instrument of torture are coerced those unfortunates who are unprovided
with “royal oak,” as it is called. Some who are unable to procure it
endeavour to avoid the penalty by wearing “dog oak” (maple), but the
punishment is always more severe on discovery of the imposition.--_N. &
Q. 1st S._ vol. viii. p. 490.
WORCESTERSHIRE.
In some parts of this county a garland, similar to the May-day one, is
taken about on the 29th of May.--_N. & Q. 1st S._ vol. x. p. 92.
At Upton-upon-Severn oak-apple day is anxiously looked forward to by old
and young. Early in the morning ropes are stretched across the street,
upon which are hung garlands, composed of all such flowers as are in
bloom. The garlands are also ornamented with coloured ribbons and
handkerchiefs, and all the tea-spoons which can be collected are hung in
the middle. Maypoles, though less common, and large boughs of oak are
pressed into service. Many are the penn’orths of gold leaf sold the day
before, with which to gild the oak-apple for the button-hole. A benefit
club meets on this day, and walks in procession with band and flags to
church, after which they make a progress through the town, with music
playing and colours flying, finishing up with a dinner.--_Illustrated
London News_, May 30th, 1857, p. 515.
SCOTLAND.
_Riding the Marches._--The practice of Riding the Marches, says a writer
in the _Stat. Acc. of Scotland_ (1845, vol. iii. p. 399), is observed in
the parish of Hawick, Roxburghshire. This ancient ceremonial takes place
on the last Friday of May (old style), and is considered one of the most
important days of the year. The honour of carrying the standard of the
town devolves upon the cornet, a young man previously elected for the
purpose; and he and the magistrates of the town on horseback, and a
large body of the inhabitants and the burgesses, set out in procession
for the purpose of riding round the property of the town, and making
formal demonstration of their legal rights.
The following are a few stanzas from an ancient song, which is sung by
the cornet and his attendants from the roof of an old tenement belonging
to the town, and loudly joined in by the surrounding multitudes:--
“We’ll a’ hie to the muir a riding,
Drumlanrig gave it for providing
Our ancestors of martial order
To drive the English off our border.
At Flodden field our fathers fought it,
And honour gained, though dear they bought it;
By Teviot side they took this colour,
A dear memorial of their valour.
Though twice of old our town was burned,
Yet twice the foemen back we turned,
And ever should our rights be trod on,
We’ll face the foe to Tirioden.[64]
Up wi’ Hawick its rights and common!
Up wi’ a’ the border bowmen!
Tiribus and Tirioden.
We are up to guard the common.”
[64] The slogan or war-cry of the burgh was “Tiribus and Tirioden,” a
phrase probably derived from the Saxons or Danes. The first word may
be understood as making tolerably good Anglo-Saxon. Tyr hœbbe us; May
Tyr have us in his keeping. Whilst the other conjoins the names of Tyr
and Odin, whose united aid is supposed to be invoked.
Mr. Wilson, author of _Annals and Old Memories of Hawick_, thinks that
the meaning of the phrase, in our sense, is, “Gods of thunder and war,
protect us;” in another sense, “To battle, sons of the gods.”
The ancient feudal system of “the Riding of the Marches” by the
burgesses still exists also at Inveresk, once within the fifty years.
They appear mounted on horseback, and armed with swords. The seven
incorporated trades, each headed by its captain, follow in the train of
the magistrates and town-council, the whole cavalcade being preceded by
the town officers, with their ancient Brabant spears, and a champion
armed cap-a-pie. A gratuity is also allowed to a minstrel, who attends
at the succeeding feast, and recites in verse the glories of the
pageantry.[65]--_Stat. Acc. of Scotland_, 1845, vol. i. p. 268.
[65] Until about the year 1830, on the annual payment of their rent to
the agent of the Duke of Buccleuch, an entertainment was given by the
magistrates, under the title of “the Hen Feast.” It derived this title
from the consideration that “the kain fowls” due by the lessees of the
burgh mills were served up on this occasion.--_Ibid._, p. 269.
JUNE.] PAIGNTON FAIR.
DEVONSHIRE.
A correspondent of _N. & Q._ (_1st S._ vol. viii. p. 66) quotes from an
old newspaper (June 7th, 1809) the following account of Paignton Fair,
held at Exeter. At this fair, says the writer, the ancient custom of
drawing through the town a plum-pudding of immense size, and afterwards
of distributing it to the populace, was revived on Tuesday last. The
ingredients which composed this enormous pudding were--four hundred
pounds of flour, one hundred and seventy pounds of beef suet, one
hundred and forty pounds of raisins, and two hundred and forty eggs. It
was kept constantly boiling in a brewer’s copper from Saturday morning
to the Tuesday following, when it was placed on a car, decorated with
ribbons, evergreens, &c., and drawn along the streets by eight oxen.
SCOTLAND.
A solemn festival in the Scotch Metropolis is ordained by the _Statutes_
of George Heriot’s Hospital (cap. ii.) in the following words: “But
especially upon the first Monday in June, every year, shall be kept a
solemn commemoration and thanksgiving unto God, in this form which
followeth: In the morning, about eight of the clock of that day, the
lord provost, all the ministers, magistrates, and ordinary Council of
the city of Edinburgh, shall assemble themselves in the
Committee-chamber of the said hospital; from thence, all the scholars
and officers of the said hospital going before them two-by-two, they
shall go, with all the solemnity that may be, to the Grey-Friars’ Church
of the said city, where they shall hear a sermon preached by one of the
said ministers, every one yearly in their courses, according to the
antiquity of their ministry in the said city.” On this occasion the
statue of the founder is fancifully decorated with flowers. Each of the
boys receives a new suit of clothes; their relations and friends
assemble, and the citizens, old and young, being admitted to view the
hospital, the gaiety of the scene is highly gratifying.--_Every Day
Book_, vol. ii. p. 747.
JUNE 1.] WILTSHIRE.