moners, Lydgate the poet, that was a monk of Bury, fent to them by a pursuivant a joyful commendation of that feason, containing fixteen ftaves of metre royal." A famous place for erecting the May-pole for the citizens was before the church of St. Andrew, in Leadenhall Street, now called in confequence St. Andrew Undershaft. There was also a famous May-pole in the Strand, of which it was faid : Fairly we marched on, till our approach Y'cleap'd a May Pole, which in all our land No city, town, nor streete can paralell, Nor can the lofty spire of Clerkenwell, Although we have the advantage of a rock, Pearch up more high his turning weather-cock. * This remarkable May-pole was 134 feet in height, and it was erected, as appears from an old tract, "upon the cost of the parishioners there adjacent, and the gracious confent of his facred Majefty, with the illuftrious Prince the Duke of York. This tree was a most choice and remarkable piece; 'twas made below Bridge, and brought in two parts up to Scotland Yard, near the King's Palace, and from thence it was conveyed, April 14th (1661), to the Strand to be erected. It was brought with a ftreamer flourishing before it; Drums beating all the way, and other fortes of mufick; it was supposed to be fo long, that Landsmen could not possibly raise *Cities Loyalty Displayed, 4to. (1661). it; (Prince James, Duke of York, Lord High Admiral of England, commanded twelve feamen off a boord to come and officiate the business, whereupon they came and brought their cables, Pullies, and other tacklings, with fix great anchors ;) after these were brought three Crowns, bore by three men bare-headed, and a streamer displaying all the way before them; Drums beating, and other musick playing; numerous multitudes of people thronging the streets with great fhouts and acclamations all day long. The May-pole then being joyned together, and hoopt about with bands of iron, the crown and cane with the King's Arms richly gilded, was placed on the head of it, a large top like a Balcony was about the middle of it." Then amid founds of trumpets and drums, the loud cheerings, and the fhouts of the people, the May-pole, "far more glorious, bigger, and higher than ever any one that ftood before it," was raised upright, which highly did please the merrie Monarch, and the illuftrious Prince, Duke of York; and "little children did much rejoice, and antient people did clap their hands, faying, golden days began to appear." A crufade against May-poles was commenced in the reign of the youthful Edward the Sixth ; and the Lords and Commons folemnly enacted in 1644, "that all and fingular May Poles that are or shall be erected, shall be taken down and removed by the constable,” under a penalty upon "the faid officers, to be fined five fhillings week till the faid May-pole be taken down." Almost the first act of the restored Charles, was the repeal of thefe edicts. Maypoles are no longer an inftitution of the country, and " 'Pafquil's every Palinodia" thus mourned the change in the customs of merrie Happy the age, and harmlesse were the dayes (For then true love and amity were found), And Whitsun ales and May Games did abound, With merry lasses daunced the rod about, The lords of castles, mannors, townes, and towers, And all good sports and merriments decayed, SHEPHERDS AND SHEPHERDESSES. HE charms of rural and paftoral life have in almost every age been fung by poets; fcenes of Arcadian innocence and fimplicity have been prefented by painters in funny pictures, and with the moft pleafing colours; and effayifts and novelifts have drawn abundant materials from paftoral life and occupations. The works of old Spenfer abound with the loves and woes of gentle fhepherds; and Milton, turning his gaze awhile from a "Paradife Loft," and the glittering thrones of the Cherubim, found there was yet an elyfium on earth; and exclaimed in the gladfome ftrains of " "L'Allegro," Straight mine eye hath caught new pleasures, Russet lawns, and fallows gray Where the nibbling flocks do stray. |