without malice, is rarely remembered. In their dancing parties the attachments of the country people are generally formed. ENSHAM, OXON. Old Custom. Till within the last century, an old custom prevailed in the parish of Ensham, Oxfordshire, by which the townspeople were allowed on Whit 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 the last century, this practice was laid aside by mutual consent.* KIDLINGTON, Oxon. There is a custom at Kidlington, in Oxfordshire, on Monday after Whitson Week, to provide a fat live lamb; 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 roast, 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.† place of family residence,) the focus of popular attraction to the neighbouring villagers, established a guild or festival for rural sports, on Whit Monday and Tuesday. Having, during the late war, while with his regiment (the East Norfolk Militia) had an opportunity of observing the various celebrations of Whitsuntide, in different parts of the kingdom, he was thus enabled to constitute Necton guild, a superior holiday festival. Arranged under his immediate patronage, and conducted by his principal tenantry, it soon became, and still continues, the most respectable resort of Whitsuntide festivities in Norfolk. Previous to the festival, the following printed notice is usually circulated. 'WHITSUN HOLIDAYS "On the afternoons of Whit Monday and Whit Tuesday next, a guild for rural games, Maypole dances, &c. will be held in the grounds of William Mason, Esq., Necton. "The guild being entirely distinct from a fair, no stalls, stands, or booths, or other conveniences for the sale of goods, will be suffered to be brought upon the grounds, but by those who have special leave for that purpose, in writing, given on application to John Carr, master beadle. "The guild will open each day at two P. M., and canteens, (where refreshments of all sorts may be had, and cold dinners supplied,) will close each night by sound of bell at eleven. "N. B. As this guild is regularly policed, it is hoped that the hilarity of the festival will continue to be preserved as heretofore, by the order and obliging conduct of all those who come to mix in the entertainment. "Signed by * * Mayor. "GOD SAVE THE KING, " The field selected for the purpose is opposite the park of Necton-hall. Near beautifully and picturesquely situated, the centre is a raised mound of earth, fenced round to protect it from the pressure of the crowd, on which is erected a "Maypole," crowned with a streamer or garlands of flowers and evergreens, suspennant, and encircled by numerous pended longitudinally from the top to the bottom of the pole :-this is called Constable of Necton in a red scarf, with his staff of office. Master beadle of the guild, with a halberd. Six boys and girls, Maypole dancers, two and two, hand in hand. Band of Music. Maskers, or morris-dancers, fancifully attired, two and two. hea Pursuivant with a truncheon, habited in a tabard, on which is depictured an alle gorical representation of the arms of Necton. Sword-bearer in grotesque dress, on horseback. THE MAYOR OF THE GUILD, On horseback, in full dress suit and purple robes with his chain of office. The mayor elect on horseback. Principal tenantry on horseback, two and two. Maskers or morris-dancers, fancifully attired, two and two. Band of music. Man bearing a standard. Members of Royal Oak Friendly Society, with purple and light blue favours in their hats, two and two. Members of the Necton Old Club Friendly Society with light blue favours in their hats, two and two. "With pleasure I receive The procession then returns by the same route and in the same order, with the exception of the new and the past VOL. II.-74. mayors who have changed places. The rustic sports then commence;-the master beadle, ringing a bell, proclaims the sport and the prize, the competitors for which Wheel-barrow races, blindfold. Whistling matches. is permanent in the field, and about three Grinning ditto, through a horse-collar. French toques instead of caps. &c. &c. &c. &c. These are occasionally enlivened with Maypole dances, by the boys and girls of the village, selected and dressed for the occasion, and also by the maskers or morrisdancers. When the shades of evening prevent the continuance of these sports, the spacious "mayor's booth" is then the object of attraction. Well lighted, and the floor boarded for the occasion, country dances commence, which are generally kept up with great spirit and harmony, till the master beadle with his bell announces the time arrived for closing the booths and canteens, "by order of the mayor." A few minutes, and sometimes (by permission) a little longer, terminates the amusement, which is always concluded, on both evenings, by the whole company joining in the national anthem of "God save the king." That "Necton guild" is considered as a superior establishment to a rustic fair, or other merry-making, by the numerous, respectable, and fashionable companies who generally attend from all parts of the neighbourhood. Undisturbed by those scenes of intoxication and disorder, usually prevalent at village fairs, the greatest harmony prevails throughout, and the superior attention and acccommodation afforded by the patron and directors of the festival, to all classes of well-behaved and respectable visiters, cannot fail to render "Necton guild," a popular and attractive resort of Whitsuntide festivities. I have attempted a sketch of the Maypole stand, &c. from my own knowledge, for I have usually rambled to Necton one or two evenings of each year, since the "guild" was established, and hence I have given you the particulars from actual observation, though I am indebted to a friend, who is a diligent and accurate recorder of customs for the speeches, &c. I must further observe, that the mound of earth I have endeavoured to represent I find you have removed the publishing office since I wrote last, but I hope you do not mean to withdraw yourself from the work. Should you continue "the soul" of the Every-Day Book “body, you shall hear from me again, whenever and as soon as I can. K. To obviate the possibility of misapprehension in consequence of the EVERYDAY BOOK being published by Messrs. HUNT and CLARKE, I take this opportu nity of observing, that those gentlemen have no other concern in the work than that of being its publishers, and that it has never ceased from my entire management from the time they undertook that service for me on my own solicitation. No one has any share or interest in it, or any power of influencing its management, and it will continue to be conducted and written by me, as it has been, from the first hour of its commencement. I hope that this is a full and final answer to every inquiry on the subject. May, 1826. WHITSUN ALES. W. HONE. It is pleasant to read the notices of these ancient revels in our topographical histories. One of them gives the following account of a Cornish merriment. "For the church-ale, two young men of the parish are yerely chosen by their last foregoers to be wardens, who, dividing the task, make collection among the parishioners, of whatsoever provision it pleaseth them voluntarily to bestow. This they employ in brewing, baking, and other acates, against Whitsuntide, upon which holidays the neighbours meet at the church house, and there merily feed on their owne victuals, each contributing some petty portion to the stock, which, by many smalls, groweth to a meetly greatness; for there is entertayned a kind of emulation between these wardens, who, by his graciousness in gathering, and good husbandry in expending, can best advance the churche's profit. Besides, the neighbour parishes at those times lovingly visit one another, and frankly spend their money together. The afternoons are consumed in such exercises as olde and yonge folk (having leysure) doe accustomably weare out the time withall. When the feast is ended, the wardens yeeld in their accounts to the parishioners; and such money as exceedeth the disbursement is layd up in store, to defray any extraordinary charges arising in the parish, or imposed on them for the good of the countrey or the prince's service; neither of which commonly gripe so much, but that somewhat stil remayneth to cover the purse's bottom."* "There were no rates Another says, for the poor in my grandfather's days; but for Kingston St. Michael (no small parish) the church-ale of Whitsuntide did the business. In every parish is (or was) a church-house to which belonged spits, crocks, &c. utensils for dressing provision. Here the housekeepers met, and were merry, and gave their charity. The young people were there too, and had dancing, bowling, shooting at butts, &c. the ancients sitting gravely by, and looking on. All things were civil, and with out scandal."f Mr. Douce tells us, that "At present the Whitsun ales are conducted in the following manner. Two persons are chosen, previously to the meeting, to be lord and lady of the ale, who dress as suitably as they can, to the characters they assume. A large empty barn, or some such building, is provided for the lord's hall, and fitted up with seats to accommodate the company. Here they assemble to dance and regale in the best manner their circumstances and the place will afford; and each young fellow treats his girl with a riband or favour. The lord and lady honour the hall with their presence, attended by the steward, swordbearer, purse-bearer, and mace-bearer Carew's Cornwall. Aubrey's Wiltshire. with their several badges or ensigns of office. They have likewise a train-bearer, or page, and a fool or jester, drest in a party-coloured jacket, whose ribaldry and gesticulation, contribute not a little to the entertainment of some part of the company. The lord's music, consisting of a pipe and tabor, is employed to conduct the dance. Some people think this custom is a commemoration of the ancient Drink-lean, a day of festivity, formerly observed by the tenants, and vassals of the lord of the fee, within his manor; the memory of which, on account of the jollity of those meetings, the people have thus preserved ever since. The glossaries inform us, that this Drink-lean was a contribution of tenants, towards a potation or ale, provided to entertain the lord or his steward."* The "Reading Mercury" of May 24, 1819, contains the following advertisement: "Peppard Revel will be held on Whit Monday, May 31, 1819; and for the encouragement of young and old gamesters, there will be a good hat to be played for at cudgels; for the first seven couple that play, the man that breaks most heads to have the prize; and one shilling and sixpence will be given to each man that breaks a head, and one shilling to the man that has his head broke." |