In _Songs and other Poems_, by Alex. Brome, Gent. Lond. 12mo. 1661,
there is (at p. 123.) a ballad upon a sign-post set up by one Mr. Pecke,
at Skoale in Norfolk. It appears from this ballad, that the sign in
question had figures of Bacchus, Diana, Justice, and Prudence, "a fellow
that's small, with a quadrant discerning the wind," Temperance,
Fortitude, Time, Charon and Cerberus. This sign is noticed in the
_Journal_ of Mr. E. Browne (Sir Thomas Browne's Works, ed. Wilkin, i.
53.). Under date of 4th March, 1663-64, he says:--"About three mile
further I came to Scoale, where is very handsome inne, and the noblest
sighne post in England, about and upon which are carved a great many
stories, as of Charon and Cerberus, of Actæon and Diana, and many other;
the sighne it self is the white harte, which hangs downe carved in a
stately wreath." Blomefield, in his _History of Norfolk_ (8vo. edit. i.
130.), speaking of Osmundestone or Scole, has the following passage:--
"Here are two very good inns for the entertainment of travellers;
the _White Hart_ is much noted in these parts, being called, by way
of distinction, _Scole Inn_; the house is a large brick building,
adorned with imagery and carved work in several places, as big as
the life. It was built in 1655, by _John Peck_, Esq., whose arms
impaling his wife's, are over the porch door. The sign is very
large, beautified all over with a great number of images of large
stature carved in wood, and was the work of one _Fairchild_; the
arms about it are those of the chief towns and gentlemen in the
county, viz. _Norwich, Yarmouth, Duke of Norfolk, Earl of Yarmouth,
Bacon of Garboldisham, Hobart, Conwaleis_, impaling _Bukton, Teye,
Thurston, Castleton_, and many others; _Peck's_ arms are _arg_. on
a chevron ingrailed, _gul_. three croslets pattee of the field; his
wife's are _arg_., a fess between two crescents in chief, a lion
rampant in base _gul_., which coat I think is borne by the name of
_Jetheston_. Here was lately a very round large bed, big enough to
hold fifteen or twenty couple, in imitation (I suppose) of the
remarkable great bed at _Ware_. The house was in all things
accommodated, at first, for large business; but the road not
supporting it, it is in much decay at present; though there is a
good bowling-green and a pretty large garden, with land sufficient
for passengers' horses. The business of these two inns is much
supported by the annual cock-matches that are here fought."
In Cruttwell's _Tour through the whole Island of Great Britain_ (Lond.
12mo. 1801), vol. v. 208., is the following:--
"Osmondeston, or Schole. The inn here was once remarkable for a
pompous sign, with ridiculous ornaments, and is said to have cost a
thousand pounds; long since decayed."
I shall be glad to be referred to any other notices of this sign, and am
desirous of knowing if any drawing or engraving of it be extant.