W'MIm'iifC^mM m THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES THE NORFOLK GARLAND. THE NOEFOLK GARLAND: A COLLECTION OF THE SUPERSTITIOUS BELIEFS AND PRACIIGES, PEOVEEBS, CUEIOUS CUSTOMS, BALLADS AND SONGS, OF THE' PEOPLE OF NORFOLK, AS WELL AS ANECDOTES ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE GENIUS OR PECULIARITIES OF NORFOLK CELEBRITIES. C O M P I L E IJ AND E L» 1 X E D IS Y JOHN GLYDE, Jun., AUTHOR OF "SUFFOLK IN IHi; NINETEENTH CENTURY," "the NEW SUFFOLK UAHLAND." LONDON : JARROLD AND SONS, 3, l'.\ 1" K i: X (>S r i: I; 15U1LDINGS. AN J) LONDON STREET, NUKWHH. ANU m- riri; aitiiok, sr. maxtuew h, ii'HWIcii. DA CONTENTS. PAGE Folk Lore ......... 3 Curious Customs 77 Old Ballads ... . , 173 Norfolk Poets and Poetry . . . 315 Anecdotes of Xorfolk Worthies 3G7 «.I384'1«) PREFACE. Norfolk is rich in legendary lore^ and it has often been mentioned with regret that no general attempt has been made to note down those legends, beliefs, and practices that have been transmitted to us from remote antiquity, and which are fast disappearing. I have endeavoured in this volume to present in a collected form a mass of those tradi- tions that have from time immemorial been floating among the peasantry of this county. This " folk lore/' as it has been aptly termed, will often be found to exhibit beautiful touches of a loving nature as well as fine poetic feeling, and will go far to illustrate the habits and manners of our fore- fathers. Besides the " Folk Lore," I have from various out-of-the- way sources collected much curious information illustrating customs and local usages now obsolete ; songs and ballads belonging to the county that reflect the superstitions of the people, or are remarkable for their historic or heroic character ; and anecdotes which photograph, as it were, the habits and the dispositions of many of those of whom Nor- folk men and women have reason to be proud ; the whole forming a volume of miscellanies that I trust will bo wel- come to all lovers of East Anglian literature. 1 intended when I mapped out the work to include ex- tracts from the writings of living poets among the selections which I proposed to give, but 1 ionnd as I proceeded that IV the poets and rliymers were too ntinierGus for me to embrace them in this volume. My thanks are especially due to Mr. William Henderson^ author of Notes on the Folk Lore of the Northern Counties of Encjlaml, to the proprietors of Notes and Queries and Chambers' Booh of Bays for their kind permission to use from their volumes whatever would help to make the collec- tion more perfect, and I am under obligations to many gen- tlemen who have kindly noted for me morsels of folk lore known in their districts. My thanks also are especially due to those gentlemen who sent me orders for the volume before publication, thereby to a great extent shielding me from any risk of loss by its publication. It is gratifying to me to see that this list includes so many of the working members of the Norfolk and Norwich Archaeological Society — the men that are best able to judge of the extent and value of my labours. November, 1872. I. ^fi\\\ Jore, (Jjurioufi d^uHtaiufi, it^t (Jjolli Jorc. LIFE AND DEATH OF MAN. Mr. HendeesoNj in his opening chapter on the Folk Lore of the Northern Counties, has remarked that throughout the Borders, and in the six northern counties of England, peculiar rites and customs are bound up with every stage of human life. To begin at the beginning — the nursery has there a folk lore of its own. We have no doubt that in every district in England, careful enquiry would show that peculiar " rites and customs are bound up with every stage of human life/' and that the stray beliefs of the peasantry in the North and in the East, though differing in degree, are the same in kiud, and have had, in the majority of cases, a common tradition for their origin. The three great events of human life — Birth, Marriage, and Death, with their Church rites of Baptism, Wedding, and Burial — have naturally drawn around them some of the most curious and most deeply-rooted cus- toms and beliefs. To these I shall first solicit attention. BIRTH AND BAPTISM. In our rural villages it is thonght particularly disgraceful to cross the highway after cliildbirtli and before being ''churched," and some people say that a mother must not 4 THE NORFOLK GARLAND, go into a neighbour's house till after she has been churched. The principle of this is a good one, but in practice it some- titnes degenerates in this district into mere superstition. Mr. Henderson says : ''^I am informed that old custom enjoins Irish women to stay at home till after their churching as rigidly as their English sisters. They have^ however^ their own way of evading it. They will pull a little thatch from their roof, or take a splinter of slate or tile off it, fasten this at the top of their bonnet, and go where they please, stoutly averring afterwards to the priest, or any one else, that they have not gone from under their own roof.'' In the North of England it is believed that children born during the hour after midnight have the power through life of seeing the spirits of the departed. In the Eastern dis- trict, however, this faculty of seeing much that is hidden from others is given to children born at the " chime hours," i.e., the hours of three, six, nine, or twelve. In addition, it is said that such children cannot be bewitched. The gift of " seeing," however, is not without its inconveniences at times, as many stories, fearful or grotesque, testify; for those so gifted never see a hearse nor pass a churchyard at night without some such vision. Many people hold that it is unlucky to weigh new-born children. If weighed, they will probably die, or, at any rate, will not thrive. An East Anglian, writing in Chambers' Booh of Dayx, says, " I have caused great concern in the mind of a worthy old monthly nurse by insisting on weighing mine. They have, however, all done very well, with the exception of one, the weighing of whom was accidentally forgotten. The nurses always protested against the weighing, though in a timorous sort of way, saying that no doubt it was all non- sense, but still it had better not be done." One nursery practice common here exists also in the North and in the extreme West of England — that of not cutting a baby's nails until it is a year old. They are generally bitten off by the mother or the nurse. The reason assigned is that FOLK LORE. 5 if they are cut, the child will become a thief. After the first twelve months of the child's life have passed over, it is even then, according to Folk Lore, very important on what day baby's nails are given up to the scissors. Friday is a day to be specially avoided, and Sunday is a still worse day for nail trimming. In Durham they say : Better a child had ne'er been born, Than cut his nails on a Sunday morn ! But in Xorfolk the old rh}Tne is : Cut them on Monday, cut them for health ; Cut them on Tuesday, cut them for wealth ; Cut them on Wednesday, cut them for news ; Cut them on Thursday, for a new pair of shoes ; Cut them on Friday, cut them for sorrow ; Cut them on Satui'day, see your true love to-morrow ; Cut them on Sunday, and the devil will be with you all the week. Small white specks on the nails is a sure indication of good coming to the fortunate possessor. The proverb runs : A gift on the thumb is sure to come ; A gift on the finger is sure to linger. Some sagacious elderly dames shrewdly explain the meaning of the speck by the finger upon which it happens to bo They commence with the thumb, and say, " Gift — Friend — Foe — Sweetheart — Journey to go." The belief, I find, is still existing that it is very important that a child should go up in the world before it goes down. When children first leave their mother's room, they ought, it is said, to be carried upstairs before they go downstairs, or they will never rise to riches and distinction in their after life; and accordingly when, as is often the case, the mother's room is the highest in the house, and there is no upstairs for the nurso to climb, she will got over the difficulty by plncing a chair near the door, and then step u])on that with the babe in her 6 THE NORFOLK GARLAND. arms as slie leaves the room. This has been done in Suffolk. Au Essex clergyman informs me that he has known the practice adopted in his neighbourhood ; and Mr. Rayson^ of Pulham St. Mary, says : '' In the last century Mr. Robert Self, who was then the owner and occupier of the Pulham Market Hall estate, used to have his new-born children carried to the uppermost room in the house in compliance with this superstition.^^ To rock an empty cradle is considered very unlucky, it being an omen of the child's death. The belief thus ex- pressed holds its ground also in the southern counties of Scotland, particularly in Selkirkshire. It crops out, too, in Holland, where it is affirmed to be injurious to the infant and a prognostic of its death ; and in Sweden, where they say that it makes the child noisy and given to crying. It is also deprecated on another ground, that it is ominous of another claimant for that place of rest. The writer on Bast Anglian superstitions in Ghamhers' Booh of Days says : " It is quite curious to see the face of alarm with which a poor woman, with her tenth baby in her arms, will dash across a room to prevent the baby but one from engaging in such a dan- gerous amusement as rocking the empty cradle." This idea is prevalent in the counties of Dui^ham and Yorkshire. Some folks hold that it is not good for children to sleep upon bones, that is, upon the lap ; while others aver that if the mother gives away all the baby's clothes she has, or the cradle, she will be sure to have another baby. On baby^s first visit to another house it is expected that an offering will be made to it, and an egg is frequently given on these occasions. It is afiirmed that cats suck the breath of infants, and so kill them. This extremely unphilosophical notion of cats preferring exhausted to pure air is frequently a cause of great annoyance to poor pussy, when after having established herself close to baby in a snug warm cradle, she finds herself ignominiously hustled out under suspicion of compassing the FOLK LORE. 7 deatli of her quiet new aequaiutance, who is not yet big enough to pull her tail. Another superstition connected with infants in which jaoor pussy is the victim is thus illustrated by a Norfolk author in liamhles in an Old City — " Not long since, a woman holding qu.ite a respectable rank among the working classes, and in her way a perfect character, avowed herself determined to droivnd the cat as soon as ever her baby, which was lying ill, should die ; for which determination the only explanation she could offer was that the cat jumped upon the nurse's lap as the baby lay there soon after it was born, from which time it ailed, and ever since that time the cat had regularly gone under its bed once a day and coughed twice. These mysterious actions of poor ' Tabby ' were assigned as the cause of the baby wasting, and its fate was to be sealed as soon as that of the poor infant was decided. That the baby happened to be the twenty-fourth child of his mother, who had succeeded in rearing four only of the two dozen, was a fact that seemed to possess no weight whatever in her estimation. '^ These notions are just about as authoritative as that respecting children born with a caul (holy or fortunate hood) around their heads. It is deemed that such are lucky, and that they can never be drowned. Seaman used to purchase cauls to save them from the dangers of the seas. Sir Thomas Browne noticed the belief " that children are some- times born with this natural cap, which midwives were wont to sell to credulous lawyers who held an opinion that it contributed to their promotion " or endued them Avith eloquence. Brand says, twenty guineas were asked for one in 1770, twelve pounds in ISlIi, six guineas in 1848. In this last case the caul was of some antiquity, and fiflecn pounds liad originally been given for it by a seaman, who had carried it al;out with him for thirty years. The belief as to the fortunate character of a caul is also prevalent in Holland. Baptism is believed to affect the child physically. The 8 THE NORFOLK GARLAND. Eev. Robert Forby tells us in the Appendix to bis Vocahu- larij, tbat it is generally believed by Norfolk nurses tbat a child never thrives well till it is named, and this is one cause of the earnest desire frequently expressed to have children privately baptised. If the child is sick, baptism is even supposed to promote the cure, and this virtue is also believed to be inherent in the rite of confirmation. From two clergymen long resident in Border parishes I have received corroborative testimony. They inform me, also, that it is considered lucky for the child to cry at its baptism. The fact of its not crying when sprinkled with baptismal water is held to be a sure sign that the child will not live — that it is too good for this wicked world. A clergyman informs me that it is in his district considered unlucky to receive the rite of confirmation from the Bishop's left hand, though he has not heard the reason why. In the North of England, according to Henderson's Folk Lore of the Northern Counties, the evil is very pointedly defined : — " The unfortunate recipients of the left hand are doomed on the spot to a life of single blessedness." The Rev. Robert Forby mentions that at one of the con- firmations of the venerable Bishop Bathurst, an old woman was observed eagerly pressing forward to the church. A stander-by, struck with the contrast between her and the youthful candidates around her, enquired if she was going to be confirmed, and being answered in the afiirmative, ex- pressed his surprise that she should have deferred it to such an advanced age. The old woman replied, with some degree of asperity, " that it was not so ; that she had already been bishopped seven times, and intended to be again ; it was so good for her rheumatism ! " COURTSHIP AND MARRIAGE. Passing from the Folk Lore of Birth and Infancy to that of Courtship and Marriage, I find much that is very curious. FOLK LORE. V and mucli tliat manifests a depth of superstition that seems incredible. The charms, omens, and portents connected Tvith an event naturally looked upon as the happiest of human life, are numerous, and the list I am enabled to ^ve will show that in the Eastern Counties, as well as in the Northern Counties, of England, charms and spells are not all spent upon the sick and wounded. COURTSHIP. The omen-instructed damsel is ever on the watch for some sign by which she can arrive at a knowledge of her lot in life ; and an endeavor to raise the veil of futurity, and thus get a peep at the figure of the husband that is in store for her, seems to be among the natural longings of many village maidens. The Rev. Robert Forby says in his Appendix that young women keep vigil on St. Mark's Eve for the purpose of ascertaining who their future husbands will be. Precisely at midnight the husband-seeker must go alone into the garden, taking with her some hemp seed, which she is to sow^ re- peating at the same time the following lines : Hemp seed I sow, Hemp seed, grow ; He that is my true love Come after me and mow. It is believed that if this be done with full faith in the efficacy of" the charm, the figure of the future husband will appear with a scythe, and in the act of mowing. |jf)ve divination by means of dumb cake is known to have been practised in tliis district on St. Mark's Eve. Dumb Cahe, so called from the rigiu silence which attends its manufacture, is a species of dreainiTig bread prepared by 10 THE NORFOLK GARLAND. uiiman'ied females with ingredients traditionally suggested in witches' doggerel thus : An egg-shell full of salt, An egg-shell full of wheatmeal, An egg-shell full of barlejmeal. It must be baked before the fire a little before twelve o'clock at night. The maker of the cake must be quite alone, must be fasting, and not a word must be spoken. By some girls it is behoved that exactly at twelve o'clock the sweet- heart will come in and turn the cake. But the more general formula is to cut the mystic viand, when baked, into three divisions, a part of each to be eaten and the remainder to be put under the pillow. When the clock strikes twelve, the damsels must go upstau'S backwards and jump into bed, keeping a profound silence whatever may happen. Those who are to be married, or are full of hope, fancy they see visions of their future husbands hurrying after them ; while those who are to live and die old maids see nothing at all. I have heard of the use of the following spell by the country maidens in Norfolk : A clover, a clover of two, put it in yonr right shoe. The first young man you meet in field, street, or lane, You'll have him or one of his name. The " clover of two " means a piece of clover with only two leaves upon it. It is considered that if a young woman fill an egg with salt, and eat it before going to bed, her future husband will bring her drink during the night, while another supersti- tion asserts that the sweetheart or future husband is dreamed of if wedding cake drawn through the ring be laid under the pillow and slept upon. The following charm has been furnished by a gentleman residing on the borders of Norfolk : FOLK LORE. 11 To-night, to-niglit, is Fiidiiy night, Lay me down in dirty white, Dream who my husband is to be, And lay my children Isy uiy side, If I'm to live to be his bride. These lines are repeated three Friday nights successively, and on the last the young woman dreams of her future husband. Other modes of matrimonial divination are adopted in this county. A common flat cake of flour, water, currants, &c., is made, and a wedding-ring and a sixpence are put therein. When the company are about to retire on the wedding day, the cake is broken and distributed amongst the unmarried females. She who gets the ring in her portion of the cake will shortly be married, and she who gets the sixpence will die an old maid. At marriage festivals a wedding-ring is put into the posset, and after serving it out, the unmarried person whose cup contains the ring will be the first of the company to be married. This and the previous formula for divination at marriages are well known in Lancashire. If while shelling green peas, a maiden finds one having nine peas, she should lay it on the lintel of the kitchen door, and the first male who enters it will be her husband or sweetheart. At the first full moon of the New Year, young women take a pail of water into the garden and look into it. The number of years they have to wait before marriage is made known to them by the number of moons they see pass on the face of the water. Over-anxious maidens sometimes try to siiynmon their future husbands thus : A blade-bone of mutton is laid in a secret place, and taken out on three successive Friday evenings and a slit cut in it and replaced, after which it is affinned the future husband will cut his finger, and come to have it bound up. It is interesting to compare the spells made use of in different districts. A young woman at Wakefield, in York- 12 THE NORFOLK GARLAND, shire, not long ago, thus practised a variation of this mutton bone spell. She obtained the bladebone of a shoulder of mutton, and into its thinnest part drove a new penknife; then she went secretly into the garden and buried knife and bone together, firmly believing that so long as they were in the ground, her betrothed would be in a state of uneasiness, which would gi-adually increase till he would be compelled to visit her. I know an instance of a cook in a gentleman's family — a Norfolk woman rather above the average in intelligence — who, on one occasion, in order to force her lover to an inter- view, used the following spell. She thrust a penknife into the post at the foot of the bed, reciting as she did it the following doggerel rhyme : It's not this post alone I stick, But Will Marshall's heart I mean to prick, Whether he be asleep or awake, I'd have him come to me and speak. This spell is differently used in Buckinghamshire. There the damsel desirous of seeing her lover sticks two pins across through the candle she is burning, taking care that the pins pass through the wick, using the same rhyme adapted to the candle. By the time the candle burn down to the pins and go out the lover, it is bebeved, is certain to present himself. In the North of England a similar use of candles' and pins prevails. A servant in the city of Durham peeped, out of curiosity, into the box of her fellow-servant and was astonished to find there the end of a tallow candle stuck through and through with pins. "A^Tiat's that, Molly," said Bessie, "that I see'd i' thy box ? " " Oh," said Molly, "it's to bring my sweet- heart. Thou see'st sometimes he's slow a coming, and if I stick a candle full o' pins it always fetches him." * * In the neighbourhood of the Hartz Mountains the girls try to ©btain a glimpse of their future husbands in the following manner : — At nightfall the maiden shut herself in her sleeping-room, takes off all her clothes and FOLK LORE. 13 At midnight on New Year's Eve, four girls prepare supper for fice, the fifth plate being for the futm-e husband of oue of the party. They watch in silence, one at each of the four corners of the room, and as the clock strikes twelve, the gentleman will come in to supper. In some places the following method is tried by anxious young women. Four young men are selected, whose names are written on separate slips of paper, and on a fifth slip is written the word ''Death." They draw lots, and if "Death" is drawn they select four more names, and try again till they succeed in drawing a young man. My informant assures me that he knows of two instances in which the lottery proved correct. The following variation of this spell has been made known to me by a clergyman of this district. The maiden who desires to try divination in this form writes - several Christian names of men, as well as her own Christian name, upon separate slips of paper. Each name is rolled up in a ball of clay, and the whole put into a pail of water, and as the clay dissolves they are gx-adually liberated. The first man's name that floats to the top of the water is that of the girl's future husband; but should it be her own name, she is doomed to die an old maid. On Christmas Eve, and also on New Year's Eve, maidens in this district have been known to wash their chemises, leaving them in front of the fire to dry, and sit watching until midnight for the purpose of discovering their future husbands. places upon a table covered with a white cloth two beakers, the one filled with wine, the other with pure water. She then repeats the following words : My dear St. Andrew, Let now uppear l>efore me My lieiirl'H beloved ; If be hIuiII 1>o rich, He will pour a cup of wine j If be Hball bo poor. Let biiD pour ii cup of wuter. This done the form of the future huaband will appear, and drink from one of the cupH. If poor he will sip the water, if rich the wine. 14 THE NORFOLK GARLAND. Exactly as tlie clock strikes twelve they expect their sweet- hearts to come in and turn the linen. A word must not be spoken during the time of watching. To discover the trade of the future husband, the following plan is adopted : — On St. Mark^s Eve, just prior to retiring to bed, two maidens wash the hearCh-stone perfectly clean. They then take two pewter pots and place one on each side of the hearthstone, bottom upwards, retiring from the room backwards, and going upstairs in the same manner. In addition to this, they have to undress with their back to the bed, and get into bed backwards. If a word is spoken during this operation, the spell is broken. As soon as they awake in the morning, they rush down to see what is under each of the pewter pots. If it is a small quantity of earth, then the husband is to be a laborer ; if a piece of wood or shaving, then he will be a carpenter, &c., &c. The first egg laid by a pullet is sought for by young men, who present it to their sweethearts with the idea that it is the luckiest gift that can be bestowed. Girls, however, use eggs for more mystical purposes. The first egg which a hen has laid is made use of by some over-curious maidens to gain a knowledge of the occupation of their future husbands. The egg (it must be a maiden one) is broken into a tumbler of water about noon, when the sun is out on Midsummer day. It is allowed to stand for some time in the sun, and the shape which the white assumes denotes the trade of the future husband. That is, should it bear a fanciful resemblance to a ship, the girl will be sure to marry a sailor ; if it resemble a pair of scissors, her husband will be a tailor ; if a sugar-loaf, a grocer ; if a shoe, a shoemaker, &c., &c. I have heard of young women breaking the egg when they go to bed, and examining the glass in the morning. I have been informed of the following observances : — Girls make a hole in the road, at a four cross ways, and, it is said, apply their ears to it with the hope of learning what FOLK LORE. 15 trade their future liusband is to be. It is also said tliat in trarelling along the road, to see three crows not flying' but sitting in the road denotes a wedding. This branch of our subject does not lack a considerable list of omens. The dandelion fLeontodon taraxacmnj is used as a plant of omen by young men and maidens. When its seeds are ripened, they stand above the head of the plant in a globular form, with a feathery tuft at the end of each seed, and then are easily detached. The flower stalk must be plucked carefully, so as not to injure the globe of seeds, and you are then to blow off" the seeds with your breath. So many puffs as are required to blow every seed clean off*, so many years it will be before you are married. Another plant of omen is the yarrow ( 8 rhillcea millefolium) , called by us yarroway. The mode of divination is this : — You must take one of the serrated leaves of the plant, and with it tickle the inside of the nostrils, repeating at the same time the following lines : Yarroway, yarroway, beai* a white blow ; If my love love me, my nose will bleed now. If the blood follows this charm, success in courtship is held to be certain. If a brake is cut across, the veins are supposed to show the initials of the name of the future husband. MAltKIAGE. I am not aware of any particular day in the week that is looked upon as more auspicious than the others for the cele- bration of the marriage ceremony. Friday is looked upon as an unlucky day for the commencement of any now undci-- taking, and but few marriages occur on that day. Good Fi-iday, however, is made use of by the working classes for the celebration; !inc in a short time going to the altar, or the cniiiiniiiiidii r;ii!s, on a siinihir errand upon their own account. I Imvc known tho ceremony to be completed without iiny ring licing used, ai;d I have known the ring to be borrowed foi- ihe occasion. o 18 THE NORFOLK GARLAND. Sometimes the bridegroom makes a jocular remark^ that he considers the job a very dear one.'^ A clergyman says : " Once a man took the trouble to pay my fee entirely in threepenny and fourpenny pieces^ which was^ I suppose, a very good joke ; not so much so^ however, as when a friend of mine had his fee paid in coppers/^ It is customary at the marriage of a young lady of social rank and influence for the pathway from the church to the carriage to be strewed with flowers by young girls. This is an old English custom. Shakspeare says : Our bridal flowers serve for a buried corpse. And another poet says : Come straw apace; Lord, shall I ever live To walk to church on flowers ? O 'tis fine To see a bride trip it to church so lightly, As if her new choppines would scorn to bruze A silly flower. As an illustration of the peculiarities of certain districts, I may mention that in some parts of Kent it was formerly the fashion to strew a wedding couplers pathway, not with flowers, but with emblems of the bridegroom^s trade ; thus a carpenter walked on sha^sdngs, a butcher on sheepskin, a shoemaker on leather parings, a paper-hanger on shps of paper, and a blacksmith on pieces of old iron. Mr. Nail, in his interesting chapters on East Anglia, gives an illustra- tion of the mode adopted by the friends of the bride and bridegroom to manifest their joyfulness on the occasion. He was visiting Bradwell, near Yarmouth, when his note-taking was inteiTupted by a rural wedding. As the wedding party came out at the south porch, the girls of the village lined the pathway, strevfing the gravel walk with fern leaves. They had mustered all the handbells of the neighbourhood to greet the happy couple with a wedding peal. In the lane POLK LORE. 19 tlie young men liad prepared a rougher salute of guns and pistols ; and the clergyman, who joined Mr. Nail after the service, assured him that as the evening drew on a continual discharge of firearms would be kept up. This custom, which is peculiar in this district to the villages on the Norfolk coast, and in the hundreds of Flegg, Walsham, and Blofield, is quite tame when compared with the wildness of the wedding customs in the dales of Yorkshire. There the friends of the bride and bridegroom career round the bridal party like Arabs of the desert, galloping over ground on which, in cooler moments, they would hesitate even to walk a horse — shouting all the time, and firing volleys from the guns they carry with them. In rural parts, too, of the County of Dm-ham, the bridal party is escorted to church by men armed with guns, which they fire again and again close to the ears of the bride and bridegroom. At marriages among the labouring classes I have frequently seen the man who attended to give the bride away, hurriedly show his right to kiss the bride first, in consequence of his position as " daddy." In this we have the remnant of an old custom. The Romans confirmed their nuptials by a kiss. The early Christians adopted the same afiectionate salute at their betrothals, and the modern Greeks gave a ceremonious kiss at their marriages. The nuptial kiss in church is enjoined by the York Missal. Shakespeare refers to the custom in his " Taming of the Shrew." He took the bride about the neck AjiiI kibt hor lips with such a clamorous smack, Thjit, at the parting, all the church did echo. At the marriage of Mary Queen of Scots to Lord Darnley tlio latter kissed the former. I have been present at weddings among the middle classes, where the bridegroom has rather ostentatiously saluted the bride by a nuptial kiss, not merely before leaving the altar rails, but the moment the marriage 20 THE NORFOLK GARLAND. ceremony was concluded. But I have never seen, what I find in former times was not an unusual circumstance, i.e., that the clergyman who performed the ceremony claimed the first kiss as his peculiar privilege. A gentleman who has had long experience among the clergy, tells me that though he cannot refer me to an actual case, yet the idea that it is the clergyman's privilege is of such universal acceptance, that he has no doubt that in years gone by the privilege was exercised. Another tells me that he has known it done in the Woodland district, and a friend informs me that she recollects the privi- lege, in her young time, being used by a clergyman residing in a town on the borders of Norfolk. On one occasion, a gentleman from Norwich was to marry at Bungay a lady re- siding at that town. He was aware of the predilection of the clergyman, and feeling much annoyed at the probability of the privilege being exercised at his wedding, determined to prevent it if possible. He therefore anxiously watched every movement after the Prayer Book was closed, and as soon as the service was fairly over, he hurried away his be- loved, and exulted when he arrived at her home at his having succeeded in depriving the parson of his accustomed first kiss of the bride.* * In the North of England the custom was common. Mr. Henderson says: "A clergyman, a stranger, after performing a marriage in a country village in Yorkshire, was surprised to see the party keep together, as if expecting something more. ' What are you waiting for ? ' he asked at last. ' Please, sir,' was the bridegroom's answer, 'ye've no kissed Molly.' And my old friend, the late Dr. Eaine, used to relate how the Eev. T. E. Sacrist of the Cathedral and Vicar of Merrington, invariably kept up the custom when he performed the marriage cerei-nony, and this plainly as a matter of oV)ligation, for he was one of the most shy and retiriDg of men. Nay, I can testify that within the last ten years, a fair lady from the county of Durham, who was married in the South of England, so undoubtedly reckoned upon the clerical salute, that after waiting for it in vain, she boldly took the initiative, and bestowed a kiss upon thf> much-amazed south-country vicar." — Folk Lore of the Northern Counties, p. 24. FOLK LORE. 21 DEATH AND BURIAL. It is to the last stage of liHman life that we must look for the most numerous class of om^ens and poi'tents. Death is predicated by such a variety of things in a peasant^s Folk Lore, that they are difficult to classify. The croaking of a raven flying over the house is an omen of a death in it, and the howling of a dog at night under the window of a room in which a sick person is lying, is looked upon as a warning of death being near. This omen of the howling of a dog is known, not only in nearly all parts of England, but also in France, in Germany, and even in Con- stantinople. But Mrs. Lubbock, a great authority on the superstitions of East ISToi-folk, had a remedy for it. She said, when asked about the howling dog, " Pull off your left foot shoe and turn it, and it will quiet him. , I always used to do so when I was at service. A dog won't howl three times after." \^ the body does not, very soon after death, become stiff and rigid, it is generally believed to indicate that another death in the family will take place in a short time. " Some years ago," says Mr. Rayson, ''^after the death of a relative, the nurse informed me that she was glad the body was quite stiff and rigid, and on ray enquiring the reason of her satisfaction, she told me that if the corpse had been supple and plijible, there would have been another death in the family within the year." 'I'lic Rev. Augustus Sutton, Rector of West Tofts, Jirandon, having had three deaths in his parish in a very short period, was gravely informed at the last funeral that it was not to Ijo wondered at, as the first two corpses were quite limp till the time of their V)wiiiil. It is said that there is no superstition more prevalent, or more deeply rooted in the minds of the people of Norfolk, than the "limp corpse." In thr> City of Norwivh it is as tiriiily believed as in the lone village. Another clergyman, writing of East 22 THE NORFOLK GARLAND. Anglia,* says : "In the case of a child of my own, every joint of the corpse was as flexible as in life. I was perplexed at this, thinking that perhaps the little fellow might after all be in a trance. While I was considering the matter, I ob- served a bystander looking very grave, and evidently having something on her mind. On asking her what she wished to say, I received for answer that though she did not put any faith in it herself, yet people did say that such a thing was the sign of another death in the family within the twelve- month." The following are among the omens that are thoroughly believed in this district : — If a swarm of bees light on a dead tree, or the dead bough of a hving tree, there wiU be a daath in the family. The flying of a bird into a room and out again, or its tapping against the window pane several times, is held to presage death. If an apple tree or pear tree bloom twice in the year, it denotes a death in the family. If green broom be picked when in bloom, father or mother will die before the year. If you see four crows sitting in the road, you will soon lose a relative ; so also if a snake enter the house. Again, if hawthorn blossom, popularly called May blossom, be picked, the head of the family will die during the year. A gentleman from Essex says : " I well remember being at a house in Norfolk when a young lady (suffering from consumption) died rather unexpectedly in the night. The evening before there were three large winding sheets in the candle, a black retriever howled, and one of the bells rung without having been pulled. These forebodings were talked much of in the family afterwards, and very seriously too." If a grave is open on Sunday, there will be another dug in the course of the week. This sajdng is well known in some of the rural parishes, A woman coming from church in an East Norfolk village, and observing an open * For many of my East Acglian authorities, I am indebted to Chambers' Book of Days, and I desire in this way, once for all, to express my obliga- tion to its pages. FOLK LORE. 23 grave, remarked^ " Ah ! there will be somebody else wanting a grave before the week is out ! " Strangely enough (the population of the place was then under a thousand) , her words came true, and the grave was dug for her. A winding sheet in a candle is also another omen of death. A winding o sheet is produced from a candle, if after it has guttered, the strip which has run down, instead of being absorbed into the general tallow, remains unmelted ; if under these circum- stances it curls over away from the flame, it is a presage of death to the person in whose direction it points. In some parts of the county it is held that if any one hears the cuckoo's first note when in bed, there is sure to be illness or death to the hearer or one of his family. If any one be about to die suddenly, or lose a relation, the cuckoo will light upon a piece of touchwood^ or rotten bough, and cuclioo. A writer having remarked in Notes and Queries that in Norfolk agricultural labourers generally believe that if in drilling corn they miss putting the seed in one row, it is a certain sign that some one will die on the farm before many months have elapsed, the late Rev. E. T. Taylor of Martham wrote to the Editor stating that a friend had informed him that, before drills were invented, the labourers in Norfolk considered it unlucky to miss a " bout " in corn or seed sowing, which sometimes happened when broad-cast was the only method. The ill luck did not relate alone to a death in the family of the farmer or his dependants, but also to losses of cattle or accidents. ^Ir. Rayson says : " 1 called one evening on an old friend more than eighty years of age, who had lost her husband about six months before. AVliilst sitting with her I heard the clock strike the hour in an adjoining room, and counted it sevpii, and being suq:)rised that it was no later, I invrch on St. Mark's Eve, to ascertain who will betaken from this world in the coming year. The belief on this S'lbject is that the apparitions of those who will die, or have a:iy dangerous sickness, in the course of the following year, w ilk into the parish church at midnight on the 25th of April. Infants and young children not yet able to walk, are said to roll in on the pavement. Those who are to die remain there, but those who are to recover return after a longer or shorter FOLK LORE. time, accordmg to the contmuance of their future sickness. Those who wish to witness these appearances are to watch in the church porch on the night in question one hour on each side of midnight. If the watcher fall asleep during the vigil, he will die himself during the year. The Eev. Robert Forby says, writing in 1823 or 1824, that the belief in this vigil is. thought to be quite extinct in Norfolk ; but the Rev. John Gunn, Rector of Irstead, communicated in 1847 to the Nor- folk and Norwich Archasological Society some facts which proved the prevalence of the belief in more recent years. According to the testimony of Mrs. Lubbock, of Irstead, Robert Staff, who formerly kept the Maid's Head Inn at Stalham, opposite the church, said that he and two other men had been able to tell who were going to die or to be married in the course of the year. They watched the church porch opposite to the house on St. Mark's Eve. Those who were to die went into the church singly and stayed there, and those who were to be married went in in couples and came out asrain : and this Staff had seen. He often mentioned his power to see these apparitions to Mrs. Lubbock, but he would never tell anybody who were to die or to be married, " for he did not watch with that intent." This practice is, I find from Mr. Henderson, known in Yorkshire, He says : " I have heard of one case in which inti- m ition of death was given by the sight of the watcher's own f. »rm and features. It is that of an old woman at Scar- b trough, who kept St. Mark's vigil in the porch of St. Mary's in that town, about eighty years ago. Figure after figure glided into the church, turning round to her as they went in, so that she recognised their familiar faces. At last a figure turned and gazed at Iier, she knew herself, screamed, and fill s(mseless to the ground. Her neighbors found her there in the morning, and cari-ied lui' lionie, but she did not long survive the shock. An old man who recently died at Fishlake, in the West JJiding of Yorkshire, was in the ludnt of keeping these vigils, and was in consequence an object 2(3 THE NORFOLK GARLAND, of some dread to his neighbors. The old sexton at did so too, in order, it was said, to count the gains of the coming year. The author of David Copperfield has remarked the behef among the hibouringjDopulation of fishing ports and villages on the Norfolk coast, that deaths mostly occur during the falling of the tide. "When the true-hearted Mr. Peggotty sat and watched life's flickerings by the bedside of poor Barkis, he said to David Copperfield, '''^ People can't die along the coast, except when the tide's pretty nigh out. They can't be born unless it's pretty nigh in — not properly born till flood. He's agoing out with the tide — he's agoing cu.i with the tide. It's ebb at half arter three, slack water half an hour. If he lives till it tm*ns, he'll hold his own till past the flood, and go out with the next tide." And after many hours watching, "it being low water, he went out with the tide." It is customary in rural parishes, on the death of the master of the house in particular, to prevent the bees from deserting the hives, to make them acquainted with the event. This is done generally by giving three taps wdth the house key at the hive, and informing the bees that the master is dead; a piece of crape is likewise attached to each hi^Ce, and in some villages a piece of the funeral cake is placed for the bees to regale themselves vipon. The before-quoted East AngHan says : " A neighbour of mine had bought a hive of bees at an auction of the goods of a farmer who had recently died. The bees seemed very sickly and not likely to thrive, when my neighbour's sei'vant bethought him they had never been put in mourning for their late master. On this he got a piece of crape and tied to a stick, which he fastened to the hive. After this the bees recovered, and when I saw them they were in a very flourishing state — a result which was unhesitatingly attiibuted to theii' having been put into mourning." It is believed, moreover, that bees will not tolerate being put into mourning except for their owner or one of his or FOLK LOBE. 27 her relatives, as the following instance will prove. A school- master residing on the border-ground of Norfolk says : " Putting bees into mourning in case of a death in the family, is a universal practice in this district. Last year (18(36) a neighbour of mine, Mrs. John B , had to leave her cottage and go to lodgings till another house should be vacant. Not having suitable accommodation for her hive at her temporary residence, she put it with the hives belonging to her sister-in-law, Mrs. Robert B , and they appeared to be comf oi"tably settled there ; but after a time a death occurring in Mrs. Robertas family of some one not akin to Mrs. John, Mrs. Robert put the skcps into mourning by attaching a piece of crape about four inches square to the front of the skep, and Mrs. John^s with the rest, which she ought not to have done. Mrs. John's bees found it out and took flight, leaving the comb full of honey." In some of the villages on the moors in Yorkshire, the inhabitants, not content with informing the bees of their owner's death, go a step further, and actually invite them to the funeral, naming the day and the hour, from the belief that, if this compliment be omitted, the bees will die. It is believed that if every remnant of Christmas decora- tion is not cleared out of Church before Candlemas Day (the Purification, Feb. 2nd), there will be a death that year in the family occupying the pew where a leaf or berry is left. My East Angliau authority says : " An old lady (now dead) whom I knew was so persuaded of the truth of this superstition, that she would not be contented to leave the clearing of her pew to the constituted authorities, but used to send her servant on Candlemas Eve to see that her own seat, at any rate, was free from danger." The belief that the departure of the dying is rcnder(>d painful and prolonged if pigeons or game featlaers are in the bed, holds its ground in this district. Generally speaking persons will not allow game feathers to be put into a bed, and they are geucrully burnt as a precaution. " Of com'se 28 THE NORFOLK GARLAND. we don't believe that can have anything to do with a hard death/' an old woman said to a finend of mine near Yar- mouth. He replied, " Then you, yourself, use such feathers." " Oh, no ; we always burn them, unless we want them for a chair cushion," was the answer. Another superstition is to the effect that the clothes of the dead will never wear long, and that as the body decays so will the garments and linen which belonged to the deceased. In Essex the popular expression of the common belief is "the clothes of the dead always wear full of holes." When a person dies, and his or her clothes are given away to the poor, it is frequently remarked, " Ah, they may look very well, but they won't wear; they belong to the dead." In Denmark it is forbidden to bury a corpse in the clothes of a living person, lest as the clothes rot that person should waste away and perish. There is a strong feeling of repugnance amongst the in- habitants of rural parishes to burial without the sanctuary. This does not mean in unconsecrated ground, but on the north side of the church or in a remote part of the church- yard. Sir John CuUum speaks of the great partiality for burying on the south and east sides of the churchyard, and observing, soon after he became Rector of Hawstead, that the south side of the church was crowded with graves, he prevailed upon a few persons to bury their friends on the north side, which was entirely vacant ; but the example was not followed as he hoped it would be. A clergyman of a rural parish in Norfolk said : " If I were on any occasion to urge a parishioner to inter a deceased relative on the north side of the church, he would answer me with some expres- sion of surprise, if not of offence, at the proposal, 'No, sir, it is not in the sanctuary.' " The Rev. R. Forby says : " In many churchyards may be seen a row of graves oji the extreme verge, which are occupied by the bodies of strangers buried at the parish charge, of suicides, or of those who are considered unfit to associate underground with the good FOLK LORE. 29 people of the parish. These are said to 'be out of the sanctuary/ " The formation of cemeteries has indirectly tended to check the drinking customs at funerals. Prior to the closing of churchyards as places of interment in towns, it was not unusual to see a very long funeral procession consisting of mourners on foot wending its way to the place of burial. The poor especially seemed to delight in inviting a large number of fidends to attend a funeral. Cake and wine, or ale, were served out to each person before startiug, and the bearers of the corpse were hberally regaled with cake, and either rum, gin, or brandy. This custom among the poor was simply an imitation of the practice of their richer neigh- bours in the previous century, when giving drink at funerals and in\'iting a large number of persons was largely adopted among the middle and upper classes of Norfolk and the ad- joining counties. Instances are on record of a barrel of beer, two gallons of sack, and four gallons of claret being consumed at a funeral, and the cost of wine has been five times more than the cost of the coffin. I learn fi'om Suckling^s jffi.sfor?/ of Suffolk that in the will of James Cooke, of Sporle, near Swaff'ham, made in 1506, it is ordered, " I •R'ill that myn executors, as sone as it may come to ther knouleg that I am dede, that they make a drynkyng for my soul to the value of vi.s. viii.d., /;; the church of Sporle." The driukiug was accordingly held in the middle aisle. In one of the parishes on the borders of Norfolk there is a tradition that when the warrior Sir Robert Atte Tye was buried, four dozens of wine were dnnik, according to his last directions, over his grave, before the coflBu was covered with earth. THE CUBE OE DISEASE. In treating of this department of the Folk Lore of this county, my aim will be specially to illustrate the superstitious character of the household medicine of our rural population. The belief in witchcraft is far from being extinct, as the patronage so freely bestowed on " cunning " men and women proves ; but enquiries into the domestic treatment of disease among the poor bring us in contact with a more pleasing character, namely, " the charmer." This personage is generally an elderly woman of good reputation, and is supposed to be gifted with supernatural power, which she exercises for good. By her incantations and ceremonies she stops blood, removes swellings and warts, and destroys the effect of burns, scalds, &c. In fact, the domestic treat- ment of disease among the poor would be found upon enquiry to consist to no inconsiderable extent of charms and ceremonies. Mr. George Rayson, of Pulbam St. Mary, has, in the second volume of The East Anglian, given some very interesting illustrations of the Folk Lore of his district. He tells us that charms for the prevention and cure of various kinds of diseases are still practised to a far greater extent than many persons would readily believe, not only by ignorant and illiterate people, but also by those who from their position and general intelligence might be supposed to be beyond the influence of such old-world superstitions. But little more than fifty years ago the owner of the Hall estate in Pulham was the possessor of some very potent charms for the cure of agues and other diseases, and often practised his art for the benefit of his neighbours. Even in 1865, an intelligent man told Mr. Rayson that the formula to be used in curing by charms was of little consequence, as the cure was really effected by a miracle-working faith. POLK LORE. 31 THE AVHOOPING COUGH. The cliarm-remedies for whooping cough are^ I think, more numerous than for any other of the ills that flesh is heii* to, and the directions of the medical attendant are often set aside in their favour. The following are among those to which my attention has been called. It is necessaiy that a live flat-fish should be procured — ''a, little dab " will do. Then it must be placed whilst alive on the bare chest of the patient, and kept there till it is dead. This is considered to be a certain remedy, though it must be confessed it is one somewhat difiicult of accomplishment. Then there is the spider remedy. Let the parent of the child afflicted find a dark spider in her own house, and hold it over the head of the child, repeating three times. Spider, as you waste away "Whooping cough no longer stay. The spider must then be hung up in a bag over the mantle- shelf, and when the spider has dried up the cough will be gone. On the border ground of Norfolk and Suffolk the follomng charm has been tried. A hole was dug in a meadow, and into this the poor little sufl'erer was placed in a bent position head doAvni wards. The flag cut in making the hole was then placed over him, and the child remained in the liole until he coughed. It is thought that if this charm be done in the evening, ^vith only the father or the mother to witness it, the child will soon recover. In another parish a variation of tliis cliarm was tried. The cliild was laid faco downwards on the turf of tlio meadow ; the turf was then cut round the cliild in the shape of a cofiin. The child was taken u]) and the flag tui'ned i-Dots upwards, and as the grass withered it was believed the cough wasted. This also must 1)0 done secretly or the charm will fail. 32 THE NORrOLK GARLAND, To eat a roasted mouse is said to be a certain cure for the disease. I have heard of a live frog, which had been held with its head -uatliin the mouth of the person affected, being hung up the chimney of the patient's house, in the behef that as it died the whooping cough would vanish. An instance is recorded of a woman who obtained a number of small snails. These were passed through the hands of the invaHd and then suspended in a chimney on a string, in order that as they died the whooping might leave the children. Among other remedies the following may be enumerated : — Let the patient drink some milk which a ferret has lapped ; or be dragged three times, then wait three days and be dragged three times again under a gooseberry bush or bramble, both ends of which are growing in the ground ; or procure hair from the cross on the back of a donkey, and having placed it in a bag hang it round the invahd^s neck next the skin. If this be done secretly a speedy cure will result. The presumed efficacy in this hair is connected no doubt with the fact that the ass is the animal which was ridden by Jesus, and with the superstition that the cross was imprinted on its back as a memorial of that event. The Rev. Cuthbert Bede was informed by the agent of a large landed proprietor in Lincolnshire, that he had known numerous instances of this charm being practised, and that in every case a cure had been effected. THE AGUE. The ague is a disease that was, prior to improved drainage, very prevalent in certain parts of the Eastern Counties, and as there is a notion that it cannot be cured by a regular doctor, charms for its cure are numerous. Mr. Henderson, in his Folk Lore of the Northern Counties, says : — " Charm remedies are almost universal for the ague. It is said in Devonshire that you may give it to your neighbour by burying FOLK LORE. 33 under his tliresliold a bag contaiuing the parings of a dead man's nails, and some of the hairs of his head ; yom* neigh- bour will be afflicted with ague till the bag is removed. In Somersetshire and the adjoining counties the patient shuts a large black spider into a box and leaves it to perish. In Flanders he imprisons it between the two halves of a walnut shell and wears it round his neck ; in Ireland he swallows it alive. Flemish Folk Lore enjoins any one who has the ague to go early in the morning to an old wiUow, make three knots in one of its branches, and say, ' Good morrow, old one ; I give thee the cold ; good morrow, old one.' " Miss Strickland, in her Old Friends ami New Acquaintatices, mentions the following cure, well known in the Eastern district : — '^ Go to the four cross-ways to-night all alone, and just as the clock strikes twelve turn yourself about three times and then drive a tenpenny nail into the ground up to the head and walk away from the place backwards before the clock is done striking, and you'll miss the ague ; but the next person who passes over the nail will take it in your stead." A clergyman in Norfolk, being afflicted with a severe tertian ague, was soHcited, after the usual medical treatment had failed, to take as much of the " snuff of a candle " as would lie on a sixpence, and make into an electuary with honey. He complied, and to his surprise a complete cure was effected. It is esteemed a sovereign specific by the Norfolk rustics. Many of the charms ignorantly used by the East Anglian peasantry as cures for the ague arc evidently relics of the sacrificial rites offered to the powers of darkness by the Pajran Saxons and Danes. In one district I have heard of the folloAving superstitious practice. A man who had been labouring under an obstinate ague for several months, purchased a new red earthen pan, in which lif put the parings of his finger and toe nails, together with a lock of hair, and a small piece of i-;iw ])eef, wliicli, in order to render the charm effectual, he considered it necessary to S4 THE NORFOLK GARLAND. steal. He then tied a piece of black silk over tlie pan^ and buried it in the centre of a wood^ in ground that had never before been broken, in the firm belief that as the meat decayed, his fever would abate and finally disappear. In the Fen district of Lincolnshire a spider covered with dough and taken as a pill is a charm for ague in which people place great faith, and I find that to swallow a spider or its web when placed in a small piece of apple is an acknow- ledged cure in Suffolk. Miss Strickland heretically mentions an instance of its being tried in vain, but its failure excited great astonishment : " As true as I^m alive, he (the ague) neither minded pepper and gin taken fasting on a Friday morning, nor blackbottle spiders made into pills with fresh butter.''^ I have heard also that the practice of catching a shrew, boring a hole in an ash tree, inserting the animal and plugging it up alive, as a cure for the ague, is followed in the Eastern Counties. The idea is that as the creature dies and decays, so the disease gradually departs. Fright is also looked upon in this district as a cure for ague. A writer in Ghamhers' Booh of Days says : " An old woman has told me that she was actually cured in this way when she was young. She had had ague for a long time, and nothing would cure it. Now it happened that she had a fat pig in the sty, and a fat pig is an important creature in a poor man^s establishment. Well aware of the importance of piggy in her eyes, and determined to give her as great a shock as possible, her husband came to her with a very long face as she was tottering downstairs one day, and told her that the pig was dead. Horror at this fearful news overcame all other feehngs. She forgot all about her ague, and hurried to the scene of the catastrophe, where she found, to her great relief, that the pig was alive and well. The fi-ight, however, had done its work, and from that day to this (she must be now about eighty years old) she has never had a touch of the ague, though she has resided on the same spot." FOLK LORE. 35 MISCELLANEOUS DISEASES. "Warts or Writs. — There are many persons wlio profess to cure warts, or '^ writs/^ as they are sometimes called, by passing the hand over them and muttering at the same time some mysterious word. If persons have any scruple about consulting such accredited professors of the healing art, they may get rid of their warts in other ways. Thus, let the patient steal a piece of beef (it must be stolen or it ^vill have no efficacy), and bury it in the ground, and then as the beef decays the warts will gradually die away. Or make the sign of the cross on each wart with a pin or pebble stone, and then throw the pin or pebble away. Or go to an ash tree which has its '' keys,'^ that is, husks with seeds, upon it, and cut the initial letter both of your Christian and surname on the bark. It is then necessary to count the exact number of the warts, and, in addition to the letters, to cut a notch for each. The result will be that as the bark grows up the warts will go away. Or take the froth of new beer and apply it on three successive mornings to the warts, when no one can see you. The froth must not be wiped away, but allowed to work off of itself, and then the warts will disappear. Or gather a green sloe, rub it on your warts, throw it over your left shoulder, and you will soon be free from them. I have been told of a boy thirteen years old who had a large number of " writs " on his hands. He attended school, and one Friday the schoolmaster, who had frequently seen the boy's hands dirty from the number of " writs," asked him to count them accurately, and then tell him the exact number. The lad did so, and some days after- wards ho was startled by the boy wlio sat next him at the desk exclaiming, " Why, Tom, where arc your writs ? " They were all gone. Bleeding at the Nose. — Bleeding at the nose is cured by wearing a skein of scarlet silk round the neck, tied with 36 THE NORFOLK GARLAND, nine knots down the front.* If the patient is a male, the silk should be put on and the knots tied by a female, and vice versa. Cramp. — Mr. Rayson informs me that finger rings made from the handles of coffins are deemed sure preventives against cramp. He says : " In my boyhood the old parish clerk of the village used to preserve the old coffin handles which he found in the churchyard for the purpose of making cramp rings." Some persons wear in their pockets the patella of a sheep or lamb, known here as the "cramp bone/' for the cure of this painful disorder. I knew an intelligent man, a great politician and what is termed a sceptic in theo- logy, who always carried a cramp bone in his pocket. In Lancashire the cramp is believed to be prevented by tying the garter round the left leg below the knee. Wens and Excrescences. — To cure wens or fleshy excres- cences the revolting remedy has been tried of passing the hand of a dead body on three successive days over the part affected. But even this remedy is mild when compared with the practice in some other counties, where it is considered necessary to have the wen stroked by the dead hand of a man that had been hanged. In some cases this has been done after the criminal is dead, but still hanging. On exe- cution days at Northampton numbers of sufierers used to congregate round the gallows in order to receive the " dead stroke," as it is termed. In 1853 the body of a suicide, who had hanged himself in a village not far from Hartlepool, was laid in an outhouse awaiting the coroner's inquest. The wife of a pitman at Castle Eden Colliery, suffering from a wen in the neck, according to advice given her by a " cunning woman," went alone and laid all night in the outhouse with the hand of the corpse on her wen. Epilepsy. — Mr. Henderson says that in Yorkshire the charm to cure a person afflicted with epilepsy is a ring made out " of a half-crown from the offertory collection, but thirty pence are tendered for it, collected from as many different FOLK LORE. 37 persous. Not ten years ago the Vicar of Danby, near Wkitby, was asked for a lialf-crown after Holy Communion by a farmer, one of his most respectable parishioners, the thirty pence being prepared in exchange/^ The writer of the article on East of England superstitions in Chamhers' Boole of Daijs says : " I recollect that when I was a boy a person came to my father (a clergyman) and asked for a ' sacramental shilling/ i.e., one out of the alms collected at the Holy Communion, to be made into a ring and worn as a cure for epilepsy." But, generally speaking, in Norfolk the eharm differs sHghtly from this. If a young woman has fits, she obtains from nine or eleven unmarried men (if the suf- ferer be a man his relief comes fi'om the liberality of maidens) a small piece of silver, either a piece of a broken spoon, buckle, brooch, or a coin, and a penny. The pieces thus obtained are taken to a silversmith or other worker in metal, who forms therefrom a ring, which is to be worn by the person afflicted on the fourth finger of the left hand. If any of the silver remains after the ring is made, the workman has it as his perquisite, and the pennies also are intended as the wages for his work. The late Rev. E. S. Taylor of Martham, writing to Notes and Queries, said that a friend of the sufferer gives out that he is making a collection for the purpose, and calls upon the parties expected to contribute, and the pieces of silver must be given " unasked," to ensure its efficacy. A watchmaker in the \nllage in which the rev. gentleman resided said that he had made ten or a dozen such rings within as many years, and that he had full faith in their cura- tive properties. Fits. — That little animal the mole is the victim rif nn ab- surd and cruel practice arising from ignorant belief, as the following rustic prescription will show : — A gentleman re- siding in 1865 on the border ground of Norfolk and Suffolk, was asked by an elderly d:ime to " catch a live moll " for her. " For wha<^ purpose ?" said the gentleman. " Why, sir, you see, my darter's little gal is got fits, and I'm told if 1 get a 38 THE NORFOLK GARLAND, live moll^ cut the tip of his nose off, and let nine drops bleed onter a lump of sugar^ and give that to the child^ ^tis a sartin cure/' Rheumatism. — The right fore foot of a female hare is the remedy for an attack of rheumatism, Mr, Rayson^ writing in 1865^ says that a tradesman in a neighbouring village was superstitious enough to try this remedy within the last two years. There is' a very strong belief that a gahanic ring, as it is called^ worn on the finger will cure rheumatism. A large number of persons may be seen with a clumsy-looking silver ring, which has a piece of copper let into the inside^ and this^ though in constant contact throughout^ is supposed (aided by the moisture of the hand) to keep up a gentle but continual galvanic current, and so to alleviate or remove rheumatism. Toothache. — Mr. Rayson remarks that he knew a person who continued throughout life always to dress and undress the left leg and foot before the right one^ as a means of pre- venting the toothache. This plan has the merit of being less revolting than the charm cure tried in Devonshire — that of biting a tooth out of a skull in a churchyard, and keeping it always in your pocket. Small Pox. — There are some very strange notions about the cure of small pox. Fried mice are relied on in some parts of the county as a specific for it, and a clergyman says, '' I am afraid that it is considered necessary that they should be fried alive.'' Sore Eyes. — Earrings are considered to be a cure for sore eyes. The Thrush. — The thrush is a very common complaint among infants and persons in the last extremity of sickness. There is a notion about this disease that a person must have it once in his life, either at his birth or death. Norfolk nurses like to see it in babies. They say that it is healthy and makes them feed more freely, but if it appears in a sick adult person he is given over as past recovery, and it is extremely rare in such cases that the patient survives. FOLK LORE. 39 Remedies for a Thorn in the Flesh. — Mr. Rayson tells us iu the East Anglian that to prevent a swellmg from a thorn having entered the fleshy the following charm is prac- tised : Christ was of a Virgin born, And crowned was with a crown of thorn He did neither swell nor rebel. And I hope this never will. At the same time the middle finger of the right hand must be kept in motion round the thorn, and at the end of the words, three times repeated, the thorn should be touched each time with the tip of the finger. Then with God's blessing it will give no further trouble. A thorn is extracted from the flesh by the following incantation :* Jesus of a maid was bom, He was pricked with nails and thorn. Neither blains nor boils did fetch at the bone, No more shall this, by Christ our Lord. Amen. Lord bless what I have said. Amen. So be it unto thee as I have said. Bleeding. — To stop bleeding from arteries cut or bruised, the following words are repeated three times, desiring the blessing of God : Stand fast, lie as Christ did, When he was crucified upon the cross, Blood remiiin up in the veins, As Christ's did in all his pains. • The following converBation, which ia given in Chamhert' Brolc oj Day», took placa in a Dorsetshire villa(?e, and it will show that our superstitious notions on the cure of diseases are quite paralleled in other counties. " Well, Betty," said a lady, " how are you ? " " Pure, thank you, ma'ara, but I has been rather poorlyish." " What has been the matter with you ?" " Why, ma'am, T was trouMed with a risind of the lights ; but I tooked a dose of ihot, and that has a keepit them down." 40 THE NOEFOLK GARLAND. Typhus Fever. — Even for so dangerous a disease as typhus fever our rural peasantry do not hesitate to try their own remedies. Some years ago a clergyman in Norfolk,, whilst visiting a poor man suffering fi'om typhus fever^ found that his wife had applied the milt or spleen of a cow to the soles of his feet^ having been assured that it was an efficacious remedy. As the poor man was under regular medical treat- ment^ the visitor persuaded the wife to remove the milt^ which had actually become offensive from putrefaction. In Huntingdonshire, however, the remedy has been tried with great success. A woman told the Rev. Cuthbert Bede that when her sister lay bad with typhus fever, they applied the skirt of a sheep to the soles of her feet, and kept it there for seven hours, and this drew away the fever from her head. When the doctor paid his next visit he could not imagine what it was that had brought about so speedy a change in her symptoms, but they were afraid to tell him what they had done. The young woman recovered " in consequence of the application of the skii't.^' The rector of a parish in East Norfolk was solicited (in vain of course) for the loan of the church plate to lay on the stomach of a child, which was much swelled from some mesenteric disease, this being held to be a sovereign remedy in such cases. DiARRHCEA. — The Rev. Robert Forby says : " Not more than three years ago (1830) a cottager lamented to me that her poor neighbour must certainly die of diarrhoea, for she had already given her two doses of Good Friday bread with- out any benefit. The patient, however, recovered." This belief in the virtues of Good Friday bread as a sovereign remedy for diarrhoea is still prevalent. The bread is not eaten, but a small portion is grated into water, and partaken of as thick sop. The writer of the article on East of England superstitions in Chambers' Booh of Days mentions the belief that hot cross buns, if properly made, will never get mouldy. To make them projDerly, the whole of the business must be done on the Good Friday itself. The materials should be FOLK LORE. 41 mixedj tlie dougli made^ and the buns baked on tliat day, and this, I think, before a certain hour; but whether this hour is sunrise or church-time I cannot say. Hernia. — The ash tree enters largely into the Folk Lore of the peasantry, and as a means of curing hernia in young children the following use has been made of it ; — A young- ash is split, and the child is passed, naked, three times through it at sunrise, each time with the head towards the rising sun. The tree is then tied up tightly, so that it may grow together. Mr. Rayson says that two children of re- spectable farmers in the parish of Pulham St. Mary were some years sinee passed through a tree in this manner, and their parents assured him that a cure was effected. Sir John Cullum, ill the Appendix to his History of Hawstead, men- tions that he had twice seen this custom practised in that parish within a few years. He says : " For this purpose a young ash was each time selected, and split longitudinally about five feet ; the fissure was kept wide open by my gar- dener, while the friend of the child, having first stripped him naked, passed him thrice through it, always head fore- most. As soon as the operation was performed, the wounded tree was bound up with packthread, and as the bark healed the child was to recover. The first of these young patients was to be cured of the rickets, the second of a rupture. About the former I had no opportunity of making any en- quiry, but I frequently saw the father of the latter, who assured me that his child, without any other assistance, gradually mended, and at last grew perfectly well.'' Otlier things beside charms are allowed to interfere in the physician's province. The notion of planetary influence on the human frame, or the dominion of the moon on man's body, passing under the twelve zodiacal constellations, lins even now many believers, :iiid llieir influence is believed to have an equal effect upon brutes. The prevalent opinion at the commencement of the present century mny be best 42 THE NORFOLK GARLAND. explained by examples. Forby says a prudent dairy wife never weans a calf when tbe " sign " is in the head^ lest it should go dizzy, and the precaution is common to kill hogs in the increase of the moon, because pork killed in the waning of the moon shrinks in boiling. A wealthy yeoman enquired of a farrier when he would perform a certain opera- tion on his colt. The leech assumed a most oracular look, and said, with a gaze of great gravity, that he would just stop home and see how the sign lay, and then let him know. About the close of the last century, a medical practitioner of great eminence sent a purge to a patient, and desired him to take it immediately. On the following day he called at his house, and enquired how it had operated. The patient (a substantial farmer) said he had not taken it, and upon the doctor remonstrating against this disobedience, the sick man gravely answered " that he looked into his almanack, and seeing the sign lay in ' bowels,^ he thought that and the physic together would be too much for him." SIGNS AND OMENS. Among the mass of the people there is an intense desire to know future events, and "wise men^^ and "cunning women/^ gipsy fortune-tellers and astrologers, have in consequence reaped many a golden harvest from the credulity of the people. Besides this intense desire, there is among a large portion of the uneducated a habit of predicting particular events from the most trivial occurrences of daily life, and a larce class of small circumstances are regarded as indicative of good or evil fortune to the person experiencing their in- fluence. A flake of soot on the bars of the grate is said to indicate the approach of a stranger. A hollow cinder thrown out of the fire by a jet of gas from burning coals is looked upon as a coffin if it be long, and as a money-box if it be round. It is unlucky to begin any piece of work on a Friday, and, as I have already mentioned, even to cut the finger nails on that day is to " cut them for sorrow." This day is said to be regarded as evil because it was the day on which our Saviour^s blood was shed. The spilling of salt, or the crossing of knives, is thought to be a sure forerunner of a quarrel. To turn back after you have once started on a journey, or to be recalled and told of something previously forgotten, is considered very unlucky. To watch any one till he is out of sight is regarded as unlucky. If the foot itches, it is a sign that you will soon tread on strange ground. If the right hand itches, it indicates that you will receive money ; if the left hand, that you will pay money. If you shiver, some one, it is said, is walking over your future grave. If you set the broom in a corner, you will bo sure to have strangers come to the house. If a girl goes to her place by daylight, she will not stop lon^^ in it. If you make your bed at bedtime, you will look fair in the morning. If you 44 THE NORFOLK GARLAND. stumble upstairs you will be married the same year. If you set a hen on an even number of eggs, you will have no chickens. It is customary also to put a mark like a cross on each egg. If a goose begins to sit on her eggs when the wind is in the east, she will sit five weeks before she hatches. A horse is believed to have the power of seeing ghosts. This is probably derived from the account of Balaam^s ass discerning the angel. Mushrooms will not grow after they have been seen. If you eat the marrow of pork, you will go mad. You should always burn a tooth when it is drawn, because if a dog should find it and eat it, you would have a dog^s tooth come in its place. It is dangerous to let blood in the dog days. Two sticks lying across in one's path denotes ill luck. A hare crossing the path when going on a journey is considered unlucky. If soon after starting a person meets a weasel or an old woman, he had better turn back, or the journey will be unfortunate. To find old iron or any metal is a sign of good luck. Some old dames will not pass even a pin or a horse shoe without pick- ing it up. If you make a present of a knife or a pair of scissors, or any sharp instrument, the person receiving it must give you a trifle for it, otherwise all love or friendship between you would be cut off. If when you see a shooting star you form a wish before it disappears, it will be sure to be fulfilled. The spilling of salt is v_ery ominous, and the proverb is well known : Help me to salt, Help me to sorrow. A man in one of the villages in Bast Norfolk bordering on the sea coast, was observed for a long time to drive a horse round whose neck something was tied, which he said would act as a preservative against every mishap, stumbling in- cluded. This, when stolen by a mischievous urchin at the instigation of some village wags, was found to be the thumb FOLK LORE. 45 of an old leather glove, containing a transcript of the Lord's Prayer. There are many signs and portents connected with the clothing. It is held to be lucky to put on any article of dress, particularly stockings, inside out ; but if you wish the omen to hold good, you must continue to wear the reversed portion of your attire in that condition till the regular time comes for putting it off — that is, either till bedtime or clean- ing time. If you set it right, you will " change the luck." Of course it will be of no use to put on anything with the wrong side out on purpose. If a girl's petticoat is longer than her frock, that is a sign that her father loves her better than her mother does. Forby says that every person must have at least some part of his dress new on Easter Sunday, or he will have no good fortune that year. This was more regarded forty years ago than it is now, for though Easter is considered to have a right to the honour, a glance round a Church or Sunday School in Norfolk on Whit-Sunday shows very plainly that it is the one chosen for beginning to wear new things. Among the host of small superstitions are some charms and omens connected with money. If a small black spider — a money spider it is called — descend upon you, it prognosti- cates good luck — some persons say you will soon i-eceive a legacy. If when you first hear the cuckoo you turn a penny over in your pocket, you will not be without money all the year. It is considered lucky to turn over a piece of money at first sight of the new moon, but to catch the first sight ■ of it over the left shoulder is said to be unlucky. A gentleman who i-csides ten miles from Thetford writes : " Last winter I had a set of rough country lads in a night school. 'I'li<'y linppciicd to catch sight of the new moon through the window, :iiul :ill, I think, tliat had any money in tlieir pockets tniiicd it for luck. As may be supposed, it was (Imic in ;i jokinu; sort of way, but still it was done. The boys could not agree what 46 THE NORFOLK GARLAND. was tlie right form of words to use on the occasion^ but it seemed to be understood that there was a proper formula for it/' It is also considered lucky to carry a bent sixpence in your pocket, or one with a hole in it. In travelling along the road, to see one crow is bad luck ; two crows, good luck ; three crows, a wedding ; four crows, a burying ; live crows, speed ; six crows, very good luck indeed. It is to be understood that the crows are not flying but sitting in the road. Rooks building near a house are a sign of prosperity, and it is said that the presence of crickets betokens good luck to the house they inhabit, but their sudden departure from a hearth which has long echoed with their cry, betokens approaching misfortune. It is a popular belief that vipers, snakes, &c., will not die till the sun is down, no matter into how many pieces they may be cut. Some superstitions respecting bees are firmly believed by many of the country people in Norfolk. Bees, they say, must not be bought, they must be obtained by barter. To be guilty of selling bees is a grievous omen, but you may easily obtain a hive in lieu of a small pig or some other equivalent. There may seem little difierence in the eyes of enlightened persons between selling and bartering, but the superstitious beekeeper sees a grand distinction, and it is not his fault if you don't see it too. Bees will not thrive if you quarrel about them. A clergyman was congratulating a parishioner on her bees looking so well, and at the same time expressing his suiprise that her next door neighbour's hives, which had formerly been so prosperous, now seemed quite deserted, " Ah," she answered, " them bees couldn't du." ^' How was that ? " he asked. "Why," she said, "there was words about them ; and bees '11 never du if there's words about them." Many of our rustics firmly believe that if you break two things you will break a third. A neighbour, says a clergyman, saw one of her servants take up a coarse earthenware basin and deliberately throw it down upon the brick floor. " What FOLK LORE. 47 did you do that for?^' asked the mistress. "Because, ma^ma, IM broke tew things/^ answered the servant, " so I thout the third ^d better be this here/' pointing to the remains of the least valuable piece of pottery in the establishment, which had been sacrificed to glut the vengeance of the offended ceramic deities. Mr. Rayson, in his notes in the East Anglian, says : " I have just been told by a lady who has resided for some months with a Norfolk family at Kentish Town, that when the new moon first appears, all the family (including the ser- vants) are accustomed to hasten out of the house, in order that they may not see the new moon through glass, which is beheved to be very unlucky. A respectable tradesman's wife in my own village gravely assured a lady who visited her in her illness, that she knew she should have nothing but trou- ble for a month to come, as she had unfortunately seen the new moon through a glass window. She added that she always dreaded such warnings, as her husband then was sure to spend most of his time at the public-house." There are several omens connected with flowers and plants. To pluck the fir.^t primrose that appears in the garden in spring and take into the house, is believed to be an unlucky omen for the family. Into farmhouses the carrying of a single flower or a few is sometimes very strongly reseLt3d. It is said if the first primroses brought into a farm house be less than tliirteen, so many eggs only will each hen or goose hatch during the season. A clergyman in East Norfolk was called upon not many years since to decide a quarrel between two old women, arising from one of them liaviiig given a single primrose to her neighbour's child, for Llic purpose of making her hens hatch but one chicken from each sot of eggs that season. I'^orby says it is considered iiiilnckv to l)uru elder wood, but lif ilnes not tell us why. The writer in Chambers' Book of JJaijs says that in I lie Eastern Counties the belief exists that the cross was made of el windows were closed and tlie doors barred, a lire was lighted ;ind tlio oven lieated, and then the box which contained llic imps was ])laced in the oven Jiiid the (\i,<o savoil, :nu\ also donviui; tho Xovv Tostainent to bo tho Si-riptuiv of (.>od, was oonvit'tod of liorosy. and burnod tho wth of May. loTiK 15S'2. — This yotu", tbe xviij day of Soptombor. Ivfoio tlusi^ now ShovitVs (^Honry Pnv and Ed\vai\i Johnson "> woiv swoni, ono Abydall Lowis, an herotio, for donyin>; tho divinity i^f Christ, was bnrnt in tho Castlo Ditoh. whoro Dootr. Gardouor, Ooano of Xt. Ohnroh, pivachtnl. and tho said Lowis diod nu^st obsti- natoly without vopoutanoo or any spooih. 15SS. — This yoar, npou Tuosday, boinur tho Itth day of .l:\iuiary. Fi'anois "Knight, alias Kot, Mastor of Arts, wsva burnt iit tl\o Oastlo Ditch for most horriblo horosy. donyiiiLr that Christ was t"!od bofoi-o Tils asoonsion. at\d doiiyiiiLr also {\\c di\iuity of tho Uolv tihost. and for many othor orrouootis opinions. POOKAS BOX IN CHURCHES. "Before the ReibrmaTion." says Anthony Wood, "in everv ehnvoU wa^i a poor n\an's box." Poor boxes are often ruentionoil in tho tweU'tb eentnry. At that period IVpe Innocent 111. gvoatly exteniloJ Papal power, and amonij other tliiiiii's he ordered hollow tniiiks to bo phu\al in all tho chiirehes to receive alin-> for the remission '.'( the sins o( the donors. The eoiinnon poor box in the elmrehes appears to have been a shaft of ojik hollowed out. at the top covered by a hins;ed lid of iron, with a slit in it for the money to fall thronirh into the cavltv, and seenred bv one or two iron locks. One of tlie most cnriously constrneted ot' the ancient poor boxes now ivmaining is tltat in the chnrch of Cawston, m"'ar Aylsham. The chnivh was built betweeit 18So and I 111. The poor box was provided with throe keys, two of which were for the church xN-aixlenSj and the third was most probably for the clora:vman, as one of the kevholes was more in-na- CURIOUS CUSTOMS. 83 merited than tlio others. The most singular part of this box is an inverted iron cup for preventing the money from being taken out by means of any instrument through the holes on the top of the box. The church of Loddon, near Bungay, built about 1495, also contains a depository of this description. It is rude in make and bulky, upon a stand. It consists of two partitions, both of which admit of being fastened with padlocks. In the cover of one is a slit for the ofTerings, the other cover is solid. This has been explained on the supposition that one was the receiving box and the other the treasury or store. Hone says that when a sufficient sum was collected, it was taken out of the receiving box and placed in tlif; adjoining box in the presence of the two churchwardens. Ben Jonson in his masque of the Metamorphosed Gipsies, as it was thrice presented before King James, 1(321, &c., makes a gipsy tell Tom Ticklefoot, a rustic musician : On Sundays you rob the poor's box with your tabor; The collectors would do it, you save them a labour. Whereunto a countryman answers : Faith, but. a little, they'll do it now upstant.* From this we gather that it was customary at that time to put money in the parish poor's box on Sundays, and that the trustees of the poor were sometimes suspected of misapply- ing it. 'J'lie neglect of this mode of jjiiblic contribution is noted in Hogarth's Marriage Scene of the Itah's I'rofjress by a cobweb covering the poor's box in the ehurrh. Thf-ro is an intimation to the f-amc effect in I'cjinmont and Fletcher's play of the iSpo/ii/inh Curate, which further intimates that poor's boxes had posies : The poor man's box is there too; if ye find anything Besides the posy, and that half nibb'd out too, • Notwithdtandiiijf. 84 THE ■NORFOLK GARLAND. For fear it sTinuld awaken too mucli charity, Give it to pious uses : that is, spend it. The posies or mottoes on poor's boxes were sBort sentences to incite benevolence, such as " He that giveth to the poor lendeth to the Lord/' &c. SOLITARY SERMON. The one solitary sermon preached in the " open air '' to the inhabitants of a city in which more than fifty discourses are deHvered every Sunday now, forms a striking contrast between the present and the past. After the celebration of mass in their respective churches, the various congregations of Norwich used to assemble in an open space before the Palace and to the north of the Cathedi-al, called lie Grene- yoA'd. The mayor and aldermen, with their famihes, had a covered seat or booth erected for them against the walls of the Palace ; the dean, prebendaries, and clergy sat in bal- conies or galleries attached to the north wall of the Cathe- dral. The bishop and his chancellor sat in the Palace near the open window, and the people congregated round the Cross at which the sermon was preached, erected in the centre of the area. A CURIOUS SERMON. The following appears to us a curiosity in theological literature. It was preached in the parish church of Burston, a small village near Diss, in Norfolk, about the beginning of last century, by the Rev. Hugh Moor : " Fight the good fight," &c., 1 Timothy, 6 ch., 12 v. Beloved, we ai-e met together to solemnize the funeral of Mr. Proctor. His father's name was Mr. Thomas Pi'octor, of the second family ; his brother's name also was Mr. Thomas Proctor. He lived some time at Barston Hall, in Norfolk, and was high constable of CURIOUS CUSTOMS. 85 Diss Hundred. This man's name was Mr. Robert Proctor, and his wife's was Mrs. Buxton, late wife of Mr. Matthew Buxton ; she came from Helsdou Hall, beyond Norwich. He was a good husband and she a good housewife, and they got money ; she brought a thousand pounds with her for portion. But now, beloved, I shall make it clear by demonstrative argu- ments — first, he was a good man, and that in several respects : he was a loving man to his neighbours, a charitable man to the poor, a favourable man in his tithes, and a good landlord to his tenants. There sits one Mr. Spurgeon can tell what a great sum of money he forgave him upon his death-bed : it was four score pounds. Now, beloved, was not this a good man, and a man of God, and his wife a good woman .'' — and she came from Helsdou Hall, beyond Norwich. This is the first argument. Secondly, to prove this man to be a good man and a man of God. In the time of his sickness, which was long and tedious, he sent for Mr. Cole, minister of Shimpling, to pray for him. He was not a self-ended man, to be prayed for himself only; no, beloved, he desired him to pray for all his relations and acquaintances : for Mr. Buxton's worship, and for all Mr. Buxton's children, in case it should please God to send him any ; and to Mr. Cole's prayers he devoutly said, " Amen, amen, amen ! " Was not this a good man, and a man of God, think you, and his wife a good woman ? — and she came from Helsdon Hall, beyond Norwich. Thirdly and lastly, beloved, I come to a clear demonstrative argu- ment to prove this man to be a good man, and a man of God, and that is this— there was one Thomas Proctor, a very poor beggar-boy ; he came into this country upon the back of a dun cow : it was not a black cow, nor a brindled cow, nor a brown cow ; no, beloved, it was a dun cow. Well, beloved, this poor boy came a begging to this good man's door. He did not do as some would have done, give him a small alms and send him away, or chide him and make him a pass and bond him into his own country. No, beloved, he took him into Lin own l)OU.se, and bound him an apprentice to a gunsmith in Norwich. After his time was out he took him home again, and married him to a kinswoman of his wife's, one Mrs. Christian Robertson, here pre- sent. There she sits. She was a very good fortune, and to her this good man gave a considerable jointure. By her he had three daughters; this good man took home the eldest, brought her up to a woman's estate, married her to a very honourable gentleman, Mr. Buxton, hero present— there he sits— gave him a vast pr.rtion with her, and the remainder of his cdtatv he gave his two daughters. 86 THE NORFOLK GARLAND. Now, was not this a good man, and a man of God, tbink you, and his wife a good woman ? — and she came from Helsdon Hall, beyond Norwich. Beloved, you may remember some time since I preached at the funeral of Mrs. Proctor, all which time I troubled you with many of her ti'anscendent virtues, but your memories perhaps may fail you, and therefore I shall now remind you of one or two of them. The first is, she was a good knitter as any in the county of Norfolk. When her husband and family were in bed and asleep, she would get a cushion, clap herself down by the fire, and sit and knit. But, beloved, be assured she was no prodigal woman but a sparing woman, for, to spare candle, she would stir up the coals with her knitting pins, and by that light she would sit and knit, and make as good work as many other women by daylight. Beloved, I have a pair of stockings upon my legs that were knit in the same manner, and they are the best stockings that ever I wore in my life. Secondly, she was the best maker of toast in drink that ever I eat in my life, and they were brown toasts, too ; for when I used to go in a morning, she would ask me to eat a toast, which I was very willing to do, because she had such an artificial way of toasting it- no ways slack, nor burning it. Besides, she had such a pretty way of grating nutmeg and dipping it in the beer, and such a piece o£ rare cheese, that I must needs say that they were the best toasts that ever I eat in my life. Well, beloved, the days are short, and many of you have a great way to your habitations, and therefore I hasten to a conclusion. I think I have sufficiently proved this man to be a good man, and his wife a good woman, but fearing your memoi-ies should fail you, I shall repeat the particulars, viz. : 1. His love to his neighbour. 2. His charity to the poor. 3. His favourableness in his tithes. 4. His goodness to his tenants. 6. His devotion to his prayei-s, in saying, "Amen, amen, amen !" to the prayers of Mr. Cule, Mr. Gibbs, and myself. With reference to tlie above, the Eev. Henry Temple Frere, Eector of Burston, writes me (May, 18G8) : "The only notices that I can find in the Burston Eegister at all rele- vant are these : — ' September, 1713. Uxor Stephain Buxton de Diss Haywood ' — possibly Thomas Proctor^s daughter ; CURIOUS CUSTOMS. 87 and ' 1662. Elizabeth Moor, the wife of Hugh Moor (sic), Rector of Burstou, buried January 10th.' Hugh Moor's name is not signed to any page of the Register, nor is his burial recorded. The entries to the end of 1672 are written in a fine bold hand. They change for 1673, when probably we must place Hugh Moor's death or resignation. It is traditionally said that when he commended Mrs. Proctor's knitting, he stuck his leg out of the pulpit and slapped his calf for emphasis, but this is really all I can add." Sir Thos. Beevor, Bart., says : " I find fi'om Blomcfield that Hugh Moor (skj held Bui'ston from 1626 to 1674; Robert Proctor held Gissing from 1613 to 1668 ; Thos. Cole held ShimpHng from 1649 to 1684." The sermon is quoted as extracted from the British Maga- zine for November, 1 750. HOUR GLASSES IN PULPITS. In St. Edmund's Church, South Burliugham, stands an elegant pulpit of the fifteenth century. It is painted with diaper pattern, in red, green, and gold, and it is in Norfolk the only specimen of its kind. On it there still remains an old hour glass, though such appendages were in all proba- Ijility not introduced until some centuries after the erection of this pulpit. In Salhouse Church, near Norwich, an iron hour-glass stand still remains, and at Ediugthorpe Church, near North Walshara, there is also the hour-glass stand on the right hand side of the pulpit. Hour glasses are relics of Puritanic tiincs, and appear to have constituted in thf)se days part of the furniture of the pulpit. Butler in his llnililiras speaks of " gifted men preaching by a carnal hour glass," and Gay in his Pastorals writes : He 8.11(1 that Hcavon would take ber soul no doubt, And spoke tbe hour ^laas in ber praise quite out. 88 THE NORFOLK GARLAND. Hogarth in his " Sleeping- Congregation " has introduced an hour glass on the left side of the preacher^ and Wilkie has painted one in his " John Knox preaching before Mary Queen of Scots." FEMALE PARISH CLERKS. In the memoir of Bishop Blomfield it is mentioned that when he was presented to the rectory of Dunton, in Buck- inghamshire^, the parish clerk was a woman over seventy years of age^ who could not read, and who, when she stole the communion plate of the church, took it to the nearest pawnbroker, in ignorance that the name of the parish was engraved in conspicuous letters upon it. The majority of our readers are doubtless quite unaware that until very recently a female parish clerk existed in Norfolk. The parish was Ickburgh, near Brandon. It is the parish church to Buckcnliam Hall, the seat of the Hon. Francis Baring. The woman was appointed in 1822, and the anomaly ceased only in 18G6, the female parish clerk having had a reign of 44 years. THE SHRINES AND PILGRIMAGES OF NORFOLK. Many places in Norfolk were during the mediseval period noted as the resorts of pilgrims from all parts of Great Britain, although but very little is now known relative to the shrines which caused these localities to be so attractive. In a few cases, however, local traditions and ancient docu- ments have combinedly furnished particulars of considerable interest to the public generally as well as to the antiquary ; and to the industry of the Rev. Richard Hart of Catton we are indebted for the chief details relating to the " Shrines and Pilgrimages of Norfolk " which we here give. In the church of East Dereham, in this county, were anciently deposited the relics of St. Withburga, natural daughter of Anna, King of the East Angles, who was CURIOUS CUSTOMS. 89 revered for her extraordinary sanctity as well as her royal descent. It was in the ninth century that the Abbot and monks of Ely conceived and executed the pious theft of these relics, laying down their plans with a tact and pre- cision that might have put the most accomplished London burglar to the blush. They cleverly managed to intoxicate the East Dereham clergy, and having divided the entire distance into stages, with relays of men and horses, got far beyond the reach of pursuit before the rightful owners awoke to a sense of their great loss. In the church of Trimmingham-near-the-Sea was anciently deposited the alleged head of St. John the Baptist. Visitors to this church, if they asked questions about this relic, were sometimes directed to a strip of brass, which it was said "would tell them all about it.^^ This was a remarkable proof of the fallibility of local tradition, inasmuch as on this brass were the words only : " Praye for the soule of William Paston,'' &c. St. Walstan of Bawburgh (or Baber) was held in deep reverence by our ancestors, and his eflSgy, with a scythe for his emblem, is still to be seen on the rood screens at Bur- liugham St. Andrew, Ludham, Barnham Broom, Sparham, and Denton. Although born of respectable parentage, and according to the legend even of royal descent, St. Walstan voluntarily embraced a life of poverty, and hired himself as a common labourer to a farmer at Tarerham in this county. Walstan is alleged to have given away his food, and the very shoes off his feet, in charity to the poor; but when his mistress came to rebuke him for his thoughtlessness and want of thrift, she found him barefooted loading a cart with thorns, yet totally unhurt. The time of his death having been miraculously revealed to him, Walstan's last request to his master was that his body might be placed in a cart drawn by two unbroken oxen, and they should be left entirely to themselves. On two occasions they are said to have stopped with the sacred body, viz., once on the top of a hill, from 90 THE NORFOLK GARLAND. wliieli a fountain gushed fortli ; it is further said that they crossed over a deep pond of water as if it had been a solid mass of earth or stone. At last they are said to have reached Bawburgh, the place of Walstan^s birth, where the saint was buried, and a church built over his mortal remains, Walstan's shrine and altar in the north aisle of this church were constantly served by six chantry priests, and the offerings were so considerable that in 1309 the church was totally rebuilt and splendidly adorned. There was a chapel on Bawburgh bridge, and it was the duty of a hermit who constantly dwelt there to sprinkle the pilgrims with holy water before they approached the sacred shrine. In those times St. Walstan was looked upon as the patron saint of agriculture, and diseased cattle used to be brought thither to be blessed. In a chapel at the upper end of the church at Winparthing was preserved a sword called '^ the good swerde of Win- farthing," to which numerous pilgrims are said to have resorted. One of its alleged properties was sufficiently curious, for it is said that when the yoke of matrimony galled a woman (or, to speak less metaphorically, when any woman longed to be a widow), she had nothing else to do but to cause a light to be burnt continually before this sword for a whole year ; but the omission even of a single day was sure to break the charm, and if a suspicious husband examined his chandler's bills this might of course occasionally happen, and the illumination be brought to a full stop. According to the legend, this relic originally belonged to a robber, who once took sanctuary in the church of Win- farthing, but escaped through the negligence of the watch- men, leaving his sword behind him. Matthew Paris has given us a long and interesting account of the Holy Cross of Broomholme, strikingly characteristic of the age in which he lived. He says that Baldwin, Earl of Flanders, had been elected Emperor of Constantinople^ where he reigned honourably for many years, but he on one CURIOUS CUSTOMS. 91 occasion rashly went forth to battle without those precious relics which the patriarchs and bishops were always wont to carry before him when he fought against the enemies of the Cross. On that disastrous day the infidel force was ten times more numerous than his own. The Christian army was surrounded by the barbarians, Baldwin himself was slain, and all his followers were either taken prisoners or put to the sword. When the melancholy news reached Constantinople, the Emperor's chaplain, who was an Englishman, and had all the relics under his care, taking with him those which were held most sacred, and many valuable jewels besides, secretly fled to his native country. On his arrival in England, he immediately repaired to St. Alban's, the most celebrated abbey in the kingdom, and sold to one of the monks a silver gilt crucifix, two of the fiugers of St. Margaret, and several gold rings set with precious stones. He then took from his cloak-bag a certain wooden cross, which he affirmed with an oath was undoubtedly made of the wood of that cross on which our Saviour died, but the monks did not believe him, and he was allowed to depart with this inestimable but unrecognised treasure. Now this chaplain had two little sons, respecting whose maintenance and edu- cation he was extremely anxious, and with this object in view he visited many abbeys, offering the said cross on the condition of their receiving himself and his children as monks. Having suffered many repulses from the richer monasteries, he at last arrived at the priory of Broomholmo, which was then miserably poor, and its buildings were of the most humble and inconvenient description. Ilequcsting to see the prior inul l»ietlircn, he showed them the aforesaid cross, made of two pieces of wood placed transversely, the one over the other, the entire lengtli I icing that of a man's hand. He humbly implored them to receive himself and his children as monks in compensation for this and other relics. The prior and brethren rejoiced at the iic(|uisitir)n of so valu- 92 THE NORFOLK GARLAND. able a treasure^ and reverently taking this blessed wood into their oratory^ placed it there with all becoming devotion. In the year of our Lord 1223 miracles began to be wrought in this monastery, to the honour and glory of the cross. Life was restored to the dead, sight to. the blind, the lame were enabled to walk, lepers were cleansed, and devils were cast out. This cross was visited, adored, and worshipped, not only by the English people, but by natives of the most dis- tant lands, who heard of these wonderful miracles. But Walsingham, it is said, stood at the head of all the Norfolk pilgrimages. Kings Henry III., Edward I., Edward II., Henry VIII. , and a multitude of illustrious pilgrims from all parts of the world, visited " The Sacred Milk.''^ King Henry VIII., who in the year 1539 desecrated the shrine of Walsingham, had in the earlier part of his reign twice visited it as a devotee, walking barefoot, it is said, from the palace of East Barsham to this place; and if we are to believe Sir Henry Spelman, King Henry on his death-bed bequeathed his soul to the care of our Lady of Walsingham ! Down even to recent times, aged Norfolk peasants have been known to term the Milky Way of the heavens " The Walsingham Way,^^ as if specially created to point out the road to that once celebrated shrine ; and in the days of Erasmus few Englishmen thought that they could prosper throughout the year unless, according to their means, they should have made some offering to the shrine of our Lady at Walsingham, A chapel had been founded at Walsingham a little before the Conquest. The Virgin Mother was alleged to have appeared m person to the widow of Ricoldie de Faverches, and the chapel was said to have been built after the exact model of the Sancta Gasa at Loretto — the sacred cottage which, according to the legend, had been miraculously trans- ported by angels from Nazareth till it found its last resting- place at Loretto. According to an ancient narrative, the CURIOUS CUSTOMS. 93 foundations of this chapel were originally laid where '^ The ' Wishing Wells" are now seen^ but they were continually dis- arranged in a most unaccountable way^ till the founders at last recognised this circumstance as a token of the will of Heaven, and the site was removed to the norLh-west, where the chapel afterwards stood. For upwards of five centuries from that date Walsingham flourished gloriously, having been resorted to by numerous pilgrims from all parts of the world, and enriched by their benefactions. In one year the offering's at this shrine amounted to £200, which cannot be estimated at less than £3,000 of our present currency, and in one week (while the visitors were there) the gifts amounted to 133 shillings, or about £61 10s. present value, independently of donations in wax, which were a considerable source of revenue. From the Fasten Letters we learn that when John Fasten lay ill at the Inner Temple, his mother (in addition to a former oflFering) presented an image of liis weight in ivax to the shrine of our Lady of Walsingham. Walsingham Friory has been for many years a mere wreck of what it once was, but wdth the help of Erasmus, who visited it just previous to its being dismantled, we may in some measure be enabled to see it in its ancient glories. After praising in general terms the beauty of the church, he describes more particularly the chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mar}', which was then in an unfinished state, or, in other words, witli the doors and windows open to the weather. Nevertheless it enclosed a small wooden chapel of exceeding splendour, to which pilgi-ims were admitted through small wickets at the sides, it had no Avindows, but a multitude of wax tapers continually burning su])])li('(l tlic want of natural light, wliilc llie fumes of incense breathed forth the most delicious perfume. " You would pro- nounce it," says Erasmus, ''the very dwelling-place of the Gods, such is thf bliize of silver and gold and jewels on every side 1 " 94 THE NORFOLK GARLAND, One of the canons was always in attendance to receive the oblations of the faithful, not that it was compulsory to give anything, but he says many gave because he was looking on, while others ]}retended to give hut actually stole. He describes this magnificent chapel as having then con- tained many statues of the saints — some of silver, others of solid gold ; and they exhibited to him at the same time altar plate, jewels, and other valuable treasures, which he says would have taken the whole day even to enumerate. Closely adjacent to the church was a building which, according to the legend, had, like the Sanda Gasa at Loretto, been suddenly transported by a miracle from a great distance in the very depth of winter, and when the ground was thickly covered with snow, while at the SB.me time two wells gushed forth from the ground beneath at the command of the Blessed Virgin Mary. They were wonder- fully cold, and said to be endowed with healing virtues as far as regarded all diseases of the head and stomach. Wheti he heard these things, Erasmus looked around him with amazement. Everything that he saw appeared to be new, and yet this legend extended into a very remote antiquity. He says, " Looking around me, I enquired how many years had elapsed since the house was brought thither, to which the canon replied, ' Several centuries.'' ' And yet,' I re- joined, ' these walls do not appear to be old ! ' The guide assented. ' Nor yet these wooden columns ! ' He did not deny that they had been very recently erected, and indeed the thing spoke for itself. ' And then again,' I said, ' the roof and reeds appear to be even still more recent.' This he readily allowed. ^And as to these beams and cross-beams, they do not seem to have been put up many years.' He acknowledged the fact. And now, when no part of the building had eluded this scrutiny — 'Wlience then,' I asked, ' do it appear that this house was brought from so great a distance ? ' Immediately the guide pointed out a very ancient bear's skin, nailed to the roof, and CURIOUS CUSTOMS. 95 laughed at my duluess for having overlooked so manifest an argument." In the large gate of the priory^ the guide pointed out to Erasmus a very small wicket, about an ell high and three- quarters of an ell "wide, through which even a foot passenger could only pass by stooping and stepping carefully over the lower ledge. They assured Erasmus that in the year 1314 a knight on horseback, fleeing from the eager pursuit of his enemies, called upon the Blessed Virgin in his extremity, and that, without dismounting, he and his steed were miraculously and instantly conveyed through this narrow opening. A brass plate is said to have been fastened to the gate in per- petual memory of this wonderful event. They exhibited to Erasmus a finger joint of gigantic pro- portions, telling him that it had belonged to St. Peter. He enquired of the attendant whether he was to understand the Apostle of that name ? and being answered in the afiirma- tive, "Then," exclaimed Erasmus, ''St. Peter must have been a man of prodigious stature ! " at which one of the pilgrims unfortunately laughed, and the guide was only to be appeased by the payment of an extra fee. The most illustrious relic which this monastery possessed was "The Sacred I\Hlk." This was produced with great solemnity. The canon in attendance put on his surplice and stole, and having prostrated himself before the altar in prayer, drew forth with much reverence the crystal ampoule in which it was contained, and hold it to the pilgrims, who kissed it as they knelt. He at the same time received their oblations on a wooden tablet, such as were then used to col- lect tolls in Germany. Erasmus read on an inscription in the Lady Chapel that a certain pious man named William, a native of Paris, a most diligent collector of relics, went in tlio course of his travels to Constantinople, of which his brother happened to be then Patriarch. This brother told him about " The Sacred Milk," earnestly advising him to beg, buy, or steal it, as l>oing fur more valuable than any of his other 96 THE NORFOLK GARLAND. rolicSj or even tlie whole of them put together. William, however, obtained the relic honestly after all. He persuaded a nun to give him a portion of the milk, but on the journey homewards he was death-stricken. In his last mortal agony, William conjured a friend to convey this precious relic to the church of St. Genevieve at Paris. This his friend faithfully promised to do, but he also was assailed by a deadly malady, and being at the point of death, entrusted the sacred deposit to an English earl, who religiously fulfilled the injunction, but solicited and obtained from the clergy to whom he con- veyed the relic that portion which was subsequently en- shrined at Walsingliam. The E,ev. Ei chard Hart, in reviewing some of the above facts, says : " Most assuredly we have but little cause to regret the circumstance that pilgrims are no longer matters of daily experience. In too many instances we know that they degenerated into a fashionable lounge — the refuge of frivolity — and very gross and flagrant abuses were thp natural result. In other instances, he who had violated the laws of God and man visited the shrine, either as an im- posed penance or as a voluntary expiation of his guilt ; while the superstitious devotee, in utter forgetfulness of the duties which he owed to his family and his home, wandered about from shrine to shrine, laying up for himself, as he fondly imagined, a large stock of merit against the time to come. Still it would be unjust to deny that some beneficial results may have arisen out of this exploded system. Wlien the whole continent of Europe was convulsed with war, the person of the pilgrim was held sacred ; and shielded by a common religion, he could travel even through a hostile country fearlessly and unmolested. Pilgrimages also mate- rially tended towards the structure and decoration of our churches. England was in those times much less wealthy than she is at the present day, yet the most magnificent churches, still the glory of our land, were erected and endowed with an unsparing liberality." FEASTS AND PAGEANTS. NORWICH PAGEANTS. The city of Norwicli has for many centuries been celebrated for*its shows, its festivals, and its pageants. Prior to and during a portion of the Tudor period of Norwich history, Whit-Monday and Tuesday were perhaps the most popular of all the festival days in the year. Miracle plays were ex- hibited by a procession in the streets on these anniversary days, and not merely the inhabitants of the city assembled, but the people also from all the surrounding districts may be said to have flocked into the city to witness these rude dramatic entertainments. They possess considerable interest at the present day in consequence of the excellent illustra- tions which they give of the life and amusements of the people in the middle ages. In the dark ages, when the Bible was not permitted to circulate among the people, these miracle plays constituted an attempt on the part of the monks — some of whom were authors and others were actors — to supplant the Pagan revels of the olden time by amusements that more particularly referred to Christian beliefs and church usages. The ^^assion for dramatic representation has ever been a strong one among the masses of the people, and those rude and irreverent stage amusements which delighted our ancestors have through tlic force of social progress had to make way for the elabo- rate stage mechanism and dramatic display of the 18th and 10th centuries. The miracle plays were performed at Norwich and else- where in the open air, and they were got up at such an enor- mous cost that the St. Luke's Guild- — a, fraternity composed of the pewtorcrs, braziers, plumbers, bell founders, and other trades of the city — which had for many years the entire management and burden of these Whit-Monday exhibitions, H 98 THE NORFOLK GARLAND. was almost ruined by the expense. To relieve themselves, the bi'ethren of this guild addressed a petition to the Mayor and Corporation of Norwich^ praying that every occupation in the city should be compelled to set forth and bear the expense of one pageant in the Whitsuntide dramatic proces- sional entertainments. As each branch of trade had then its own company or trade guild^ bound together on the " protection " principle for their own common advantage, and governed by laws of their own, it was easy to make such an arrangement, and the Mayor and Corporation, after hearing the petition, agreed that henceforth every occupation in the city should find and set forth one such pageant in the procession on Monday in Pentecost week as should be ap- pointed by the Mayor and Aldermen. Mr. Henry Harrod found in the Assembly Booh in the Record Room of the Corporation, the following list of the early Norwich pageants : rs, \ rs, ( 1. Mercers, Drapers, Haberdasliers &. Glasiers, Steynevs, Screven ers Pchemyters, Carpenters, Graver Caryei's, Colermakers, Whele- i Wrights ... ... ... ... / 3. Grocers, Raffeuien (Cbandlers) 4. Shermen, Fullers, Thik Woollen \ Weavers, Cooligbtmakers, Masons, Lyme Brners 5. Bakers, Briiers, Inkepers, Cooks, i Millers, Vynteners, Coupers ... ) 6. Taillors, Broderers, Reders, and Tylers / 7. Tanners, Coryors, Cordwainers 8. Smythes i 9. Dyers, Calaunderers, Goldsmythes, \ Goldbeters, Saddlers, Pewterers, and Brasyers J Creation of the World. Helle Carte. Paradyse. Abell and Cain. Noyse Sbipp. Abrabam and Isaak. Moises and Aaron, with the Children of Israel, and Pharo with his Knygbts. Conflict of David and Golias. The Birth of Christe, with Shepherds and Three Kyngs of Colen. CURIOUS CUSTOMS. 99 10. Barbers, Waxchandlers, Surgeons, Fisitians, Hardwaremen, Hatters, Cappers, Skinners Glovers, ( The Baptysme of CLriste. Poyntemakers, Girdelers, Pursers, Bagmakers, " Scapps," Wyre- drawers, Cax-dmakers ... 11. Bochers, Fishmongers, Watermen ... Resun-ection. 12. Worsted Weavers The Holy Gost. This bare list of pageants and the trades by whom they were performed is all that Mr. Harrod found respecting the matter in the archives of the Corporation ; bu as the same Miracle Plays were represented in other cities and towns, a very fair idea of the pageants that drew thousands of our ancestors to Tombland and Castle Hill may be obtained by a reference to other accounts that have been published. The pageants were performed on movable stages, con- structed for the purpose. Each company brought forth its pageant and the carriage or stage in which they played. These carriages were high places, made like two rooms, one above the other, open at the top. The lower room was used as a dressing room, the higher room was the performing place. By an excellent arrangement, to prevent crowding, each play was performed in the principal streets and public places in the city, and scaffolds were erected to enable some of the spectators to sit during the performance. The first probably begun on Tombland, and then moved on to the Market Hill, which was most likely the Mayor's position at the .show. By the time this pageant was ended, the second was ready to take its place, and then it moved forwavfl to another street, and then to another, &c., so that all tiio pageants were being exhibited at different places in the city at the same time. Order was thus, to a great extent, well preserved, in spite d " to be George this year, ami lu iiave £10 for his labour and 10-4 THE NORFOLK GARLAND, finding apparel ;" a very large sum when the value of money at that time is considered. In 1537 was "bought for the apparel of the George and Margaret eight yards of tawny and four yards of crimson velvety to be in the custody of the aldermen/^ so that St. Margaret^* who is always painted with the Dragon as well as St. George, also appeared in the procession, and was called the Lady of the Guild. In 1468, in the inventory of the goods belonging to the guild, is " a scarlet gown for the George, with blue garters'^ — (in the reign of Edward IV. the colour of the gown or surcoat of the Knights of the Garter was changed from blue to purple, and it was embroidered all over with blue garters ; the hood was similarly decorated) — " a coat of armour for the George, beaten with silver ; a chaplet for St. George, with a brooch of common gilt ; and all the horse^s furniture, a dragon, a basnet, a pair of gauntlets, two white gowns for th^e hench- men, and a sword, the scabbard covered with velvet and bossed." In 1549 the company sold their old pageant-dresses, and among them a black velvet vestment, a jerkin of crimson velvet, a cap of russet velvet, a coat of armour of white damask, with a red cross ; a horse harness of black velvet with copper buckles, gilt, for the George ; and a horse har- ness of crimson velvet, with flowers of gold, for the Lady. In 1556, " a gown of crimson velvet, pirled with gold," was bought for the George. In 1558, it was ordered " that ther shall be neither George nor Margaret, but for pastime the Dragon to come in and show himself as in other yeres." * The legend of this saint assures us tl-iat, in answer to her prayer for a conflict face to face with her secret and hidden enemy, the devil, he ap- peared to her in the shape of a dragon and swallowed her alive, and that ■while in his stomach she made the sign of the cross, which caused him to burst asunder, and she thus "issued out all whole and sound." There is a painting by Raffaelle of this event, in which the saint is represented with her foot on the head of a gigantic dragon, and holding a palm branch. — Fairholt's Introduction to The Civic Garland. CURIOUS CUSTOMS. 105 When tlie compaBy dissolved itself in 1731, the inventory of their goods contained the following items connected with pageants, and the valne set upon them : One large silver-headed staflF, with the effigies of St. George on horseback trampling the Dragon under his feet ... ... . . ... ... £5 5 One new dragon, commonly called Suap-Dragon 3 3 Two standards, one of St. George and the Dragon and the other the English colours ... ... 1 1 Four sashes for the standard-bearers 10 6 Two habits for the standard-bearers ... ... 2 2 Five habits for the wiflers 2 12 6 Two habits, one for the club-bearer, another for his man, who are now called fools ... ... 010 6 The club-bearers and whifflers were always seen in the London pageants, their duty being to clear the way, and the Norwich Corporation retained their whifflers to the last. The fi'onti.spiece to the first part of my Lord Mayors' Pageants represents the London civic whiffler of the time of Charles I., and the last of his race appeared at Norwich previous to the operation of the Reform' Bill in 1832. His costume was curious, and had been handed down from the age of the Tudors. It consisted of white stockings, gartered below the knee with crimson ribbons, capacious trunk breeches of blue plush, a doublet of white cotton, with full sleeves, trimmed Avitli light Ijlue ribbons and ornamented with gilf butt'io. 118 THE NORFOLK GARLAND. comons liath cliosyn, or to as many of them as your maiestie and your counsell shall ap -"ynt and thynke mete, for to redresse and refourme all suclie good lawes, statutes, proclamacions,. and all other procedynges, whiche hath byn hydden by your Justices of your peace, Shreues, Escheatoures, and other your officers from your pore comons synes the ffirst yere of the reigu of your noble grandfather kyng henry the seventh. We pray that these your officers that hath offended your grace and your comons, and so proved by the compleynt of your pore comons do gyve onto those pore men so assembled iiij.d. euery day so long as they have remayned ther. We pray that no lorde, knyght, esqiiyer, nor gentleman, do grase nor fede eny bullockes or shepe, if he may spend fforty poundes a yere by his landes, but only for the provicion of his howse. By me Robert Kett By me Thomas Aldryche Thomas Cod RHYMING WILL. Tlie following rliyming will is transcribed from a Cojnmon- jolace Book of- about tlie year 1740. The date of Ray's Philosophical Letters (from which it was copied) is not given : From Mr. Baifs Philosopliical Letters, p. 102. Sr. Phil. Shippon to Mr. Ray. — An humoursome Rhythming will of one More, who died not long since, about Mershlaud, in Norfolk, arid gave his estate to his Grand-daughter, now married to one Mr. Shelton, a gentleman of this county that hath a good estate near Bury. " In the name of God, Amen ! I, Thomas More, The 4th year of my Age above Three score, Revoking all the Wills I made before. Making this my last ; and First, I do implore Almighty God into his hand to take My Soul, which not alone himself did make, But did redeem it with the precious Blood Of his dear Son ; that Title still holds good. I next bequeath my Body to the Dust From whence it came, which is most just, Desiring yet that I be laid close by My eldest Daughter, tho' I know not why. CUEIOrS CUSTOM!?. 119 I leave my Grand child, Martha, her full due, My Lands and all my Cattle, save a few You shall hereafter in this Schedule find, To piety or Charity design'd ; Whom I my sole Exeeiitrix invest. To pay my debts, and so take all the i*est. But since that sh.e is under Age, I pray Sir Edward Walpole* and her father may The Supei-v'isors be of this my Will ; Provided that my Cousin Colvil still And Major Speusly her assistants be : Four honest men are more than two or three. Then I shall not care how soon I die, If they'll accept it, and I'll tell you why ; There's not a man of them but is so just, Witb whom almost my Soul I dare to trust. Provided she doth make her son Heir to my house at least, and half my Land ; If she hath such, and when she hath so done, She be a means to let him understand It is my Will his name be written thus, I, A. B. C. or D. Moore, alias Epitaph. Hei-e lies in this cold monument. As appears by his last Will and Testament. He was very rich, his name was More, Who never knew poet die rich before ? But to speak Truth, his Verses do shew it. He liv'd a rich Man, but dy'd a poor poet. MEDICAL CHARGES (1G81 — 1732). Surgeons connected with the Poor Law Board frequently comi)lain, and ofttimes not without reason, of the miserably • It haa been thought that some idea may be formed of the date of the •will from the mention of Sir Edward Walpole, but there have been three of this name— 1. Sir Edward Walpolo of Ilonghton, born l(J'2l, created 1001, died 1007; 2. Sir Edward Walpole of Pindibiish and Spalding, of same family as above, created 1003, died 1000 ; 3. Sir Edward Walpolp, son of Sir Robert Walpole, born 1700, created 17"j3, died 1784. The reference ia probably to the first, who was M.P. for Lynn for many years. 120 THE NORFOLK GARLAND. small sums that are allowed at the present day for attendance on pauper patients^ but the following items of medical charges, which appear in old account books of the parish of Pulham St. Mary Magdalen, Norfolk, not only contrast very curiously with the professional fees of modern times, but show that parochial surgeons were no better paid in the 1 7th than they are in the 19th century. The list of items cannot fail to interest the majority of my readers : £ s. d. 1681. It. Allowed for phisicke and Cliirurgery for several poore people ... ... ... ... 00 16 06 1682. It. Pd. Dr. Tubby for healing of Barber's thigh 2 6 It. Pd. for getting ye widd. Hammond bled, & other charges for her & ym yt helpd and looked to her 2 6 1687. Payd to dockter Tubby for setting Eliz. New- man's boyes arme ... ... ... ... ... 03 6 To dockter Tubby for Administring fissake to John Bolton In siknes ... ... ... ... 02 1688. Itm. To Richard goodwin's wife when sicke, & paid for her blediug and fissake and woode ... 050 It. Pd. for bleding will Willby 006 It. Pd. Tho. Tubby for heleing of Richard Goodwin's Boyes Arme ... ... ... ... 04 1689. It. Pd. to Tho. Tubby for surgery for the poore as appears ... ... ... ... ... ... 00 7 1699. Pd. to Doctor Tull for heeling old John Bowen leg last yeare 00 10 00 ■pd. for small things for Widdo Allen 00 01 04 Pd. More for bleeding her 2 times 00 01 06 Pd. Doctor Tull for looking to old John Bowen being bruised by a fall 00 05 00 1701. Pd. Mr. Tull for a plaister for Miller's wife ... 00 01 00 1703. Itm. Payd to Doctor Tull, he being fetcht from Norwich* for John Hines his wife when in Tra- vaile of Child Birth 00 05 00 1710. Paid Doctor Tull for curing young Tiler of the eyche 00 01 06 1722. Item. Paid Mr. Tull for plaisters and salve for the poore 00 04 00 * A distance of fifteen miles. CURIOUS CUSTOMS. 121 1723. Item. Paid Mr. Tull for plaisters and salve for theyeere 03 00 00 1732. Item. Paid Doctter Yull His bill for Robert Kerrison when He was 111 00 07 06 The original bills of Dr. Tull to which the last two items refer, were found pinned to the leaves of the book, appa- rently as vouchers for the entries. They are as follows : Aprell the aiten, 1723 Rasaved of thon. dixe sen., the som of 3 pound fore the Ceure of Batlye, and godye Boise arme, and gudye whipe, wich is in fooll. By me Thomas Tull. Robert Cearison his bill, augt. ye 7, 1732. Item, a purg ye 8, a cordle ye 10, a purg ye 11, ditto ... ye 13, ditto ... 7 6 Oct. 26. Reed, the Contents of this bill p' me Tho. Yull. No intimation is given of the nature of the disease with which Kerrison was afflicted, but it is presumed that the doctor's treatment was successful, as no record of his death at that time appears in the parish register. in:Hl!IXG I'lES. s. d. 1 3 6 1 1 1 Prior to modern alterations in municipal laws, the cus- tomary duty or service rendered to the Crown by the city of Norwich on account of fee farm, consisted in the yearly delivery at Court of "twenty-four herring pies." This re- markable feudal tenure originated in times before the foun- dation of Yarmouth, when the valley of the Yare was still an estuary, and Norwich, now some eighteen miles from the 122 THE NORFOLK GARLAND. sea, an important fishing station. The course of procedure was this : Out of their official allowance, the sheriffs of the city for the time being annually made provision, according to a prescribed formula, for the manufacture of these pies, which were forthwith transmitted to the lord of the manor of Carleton, to be by him or his tenant carried to the royal palace and placed on the sovereign's table. The following indenture, being the identical one to which Blomefield {Hist. Norw. foL, 1741, pp. 263, 264) refers, will explain the rest : This Indenture, made at Norwich, at tte Guildhall there, the twenty seventh of September, at ten of ye clocke of ye forenoon of ye same day, in ye twenty fifth year of ye reign of our Lord Charles the 2ad, by ye grace of God of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of ye Faith, &c., and in ye year of our Lord 1673, Between John Leverington and Robert I'reeman, sheriffs of ye city of Norwich, on one part, and Edward Eden, gentleman, tenant of Thomas Lurd Richardson, Baron of Cramond, &c., of ye other part, Witnesseth, that ye aforesaid sheriffs, on ye day, houre, and place aforesaid, delivered to ye said Edward Eden one hundred herrings (viz., of ye large hundred), of ye first new herrings that came to ye said city, in twenty four pies, well seasoned with ye following spices, viz., halfe a pounde of ginger, halfe a Dounde of pepper, a quarter of cinnamon, one ounce of spice of cloves, one ounce of long pepper, halfe an ounce of grains of para- dise, and halfe an ounce of galangals, to be brought to ye King's palace, wherever he is in England, and there to be delivered. And be it known that ye said Edward Eden or his attorney carrying ye said pyes, shall receive at the king's house six loves, six dishes out of ye kitchen, one flaggon of wine, one flaggon of beer, one truss of hay, one bushel of oats, one j)rickett of wax, and six candles of tallow; In Testimony of whiche ye parties aforesaid have alter- nately set their seals to this Indenture, ye day, houre, and place, and yeare aforesaid. Blomefield gives at length a curious letter, dated ''Hampton Court, iiij. of Oct., 1629," from the household officers of the king to the mayor and sheriffs of Norwich, on the subject of these pies, which it seems in the instance CURIOUS CUSTOMS. 123 referred to " were not well baked in good and strong pastye as they ought to have been/^ Divers of them, also, were found to contain no more than " four herrings," whereas the tenure required five to be put into every pye at the least." Neither were they made of the first new herruigs that reached the city. And other "just exceptions against the goodness of them " were hkewise taken, to which a par- ticular answer, " for his Majesty's better satisfaction," was demanded. The cost to the sheriffs of these pies in 1 754 was £2, independently of carriage, &c. TRIAL BY WAGER OP BATTEL. Trial by wager of battel — a relic of feudal times which was not finally abolished in England till the year 1818 — was practised in Norfolk upon many occasions, such trials being permitted for civil as well as criminal cases. Thus, in the 34th Henry III., Agnes, wife of Adam de Eattlesden, im- pleaded Richer de Reymes for the fourth part of a fee in Overstrand and Northrepps. Richer had released it to Roger de Herleberghe for eighty marks of silver. Roger was called to warrant it, and a duel, or combat of trial, was fought on this account between the said Roger and a free- man of Simon son of Hugh, in behalf and right of Agnes, and after that they came to an agreement. The manner in which the barbarous trial of " wager of battel " was conducted, may be thus briefly stated. The battle was fought in the presence of the Court, and in tho following form. At sunrise tho parties assembled, and tho lists were set out by the Court. The accuser and accused were to be bare-armed nnd bare-legged, and each of them armed witli a wooden truncheon an ell long, .-iinl a square wooden target. All being ready, they took each other's hands, and supposing the case to be one of murder, each swore, the accuser that the accnsod did kill the deceased, and the accused swore that he did not. Each mnn was also 124 THE NORFOLK GARLAND. required to swear that he had about him no bone, no stone, no charm of any sort, whereby the law of the devil may be exalted or the law of God depressed ; after which they foug-ht it out. If the accused could defend himself till the stars appeared in the evening, he was held to be acquitted, but if he was beaten or cried out so as to surrender, he was condemned to be hanged. DUCKING STOOLS. Blomefield, referring to the fact that St. George's Guild had a tenement in Norwich which they sometimes used as a Guildhall, adds, they had also customs at Fyve Brigge Stathe, and were obliged to find a cucke stool there. From the Court Book, he further notices two instances of the use of the cucke stool : 1562. A woman, for whoredom, to ryde on a cart witli a paper in her hand, and tynklyd with a bason ; and so at one o'clock to be had to the cokyng-stool, and ducked in the water. 1597. Margaret Grove, a common skould, to be carried with a bason rung before her, to the cucke stool at Fye Bridge, and there to be three times ducked.* There was also a cucking stool at Harleston. From the numerous references to the cucking stool in the ancient records of many boroughs, we have abundant proof that the ladies were in former times very frequently subject to visitations of ill tongue, and that their lords and masters/ were sufl&ciently ungallant to consider no remedy so effectual for preventing a recurrence of the disorder as the cold-water cure administered by means of the cucking or ducking stool. The cucking or ducking stool was a means adopted for the punishment of scolds and incorrigible women by ducking them in the water, after having secured them in a chair or * Blomefield's History of Norfolk, 1741, vol. 2, p. 739. CURIOUS CUSTOMS. 125 stool fixed at the end of a pole, serving as a lever by which they were immersed in some pond or river. The practice continued till within the last century, and corporate bodies were required to furnish themselves with these appliances, as they are now enforced to provide and maintain fire engines. PUNISHMENT OF BOILING TO DEATH. The horrible punishment of boiling criminals to death for such a Clime as poisoning, was inflicted in the time of Henry VIII., but this barbarous mode of executing justice did not, it is said, remain on the statute book for any lengthened period. A cauldron filled with water was fixed in the most public spot in whatever town the execution took place — in London Smithfield was the spot selected — and a fire being placed under, the culprit was plunged into the water as soon as it boiled. To increase the barbarity, a chain was affixed to the body, and by means of a gibbet the man or woman was pulled up and down in the boiling water until life was entirely extinct. An instance of this mode of punishment occurred at King's Lynn in the sixteenth cen- tury, as may be seen by the following record : 1531. This year here was a maid boiled to death in the Market Place for poisoning her mistress.* PRESSING TO DEATH. (( Pressing Uj death" was a sentence passed upnu tho accused should ho obstinately refuse to plead to the indict- ment, he not being "mute by the visitation of God." Tho Rev. l?icli;iitiiiu' oil :i (l(i||)liiii. 1:!. A lion supporting llic ai-ins 134 THE NORFOLK GARLAND. of Norwicli. 14. Charon carrying a reputed witcli to Hades. 15. Cerberus. 16. A huntsman. 17. Actaeon (addressing his dogs, with the words, " Actason ego sum, dominum cog- nosciti vestrum.^^) 18. A white hart couchant (underneath the name of the maker of the sign, Johannes Fairchild, struxit). 19. Prudence. 20. Fortitude. 21. Temperance. 22. Justice. 23. Diana. 24. Time devouring an infant (underneath, " Tempus edax rerum.^^) 25. An astronomer, who is seated on a " circumfenter, and by some chemical preparations is so affected that in fine weather he faces that quarter from which it is about to come.^^ There is a ballad on this sign in Sovgs and other Poems, by Alexander Brome, Gent., London, 1661, p. 123. POETICAL SIGNBOARDS AND TAVERN RHYMES. In King Street, Norwich, there was for years a house combining the double attractions of a barber's shop and a beer shop. By the side of the pole, the barber's recognised sign, ajDpear the following lines : Rove not from pole to pole, But step in here ; Where nought exceeds the shaving But the beer. This witty inscrijjtion, attributed to Dean Swift, is said to have been penned by him for a barber who at the same time kept a public-house. Sir Walter Scott in his Fortunes of Nigel, as a motto to one of his chapters, gives the following version : Rove not from pole to pole — the man lives here Whose razor's only equall'd by his beer ; And where in either sense the Cockney put, May, if he pleases, get confounded cut. At Swainsthorpe, a village five miles from Norwich, is a CURIOUS CUSTOMS. 135 public-house kiio"svn as the Dun Cow. Under the portrait of the cow there was formerly the following couplet : Walk in, gentlemen, I trust you will find The Dun Cow's milk is to your mind. A writer in the first volume of Tlie East Anglian gives the following Knes, as copied by him from a fly-sheet in a public -house at Mulbarton, in Norfolk : THE landlord's KIND CAUTION TO HIS CUSTOMERS. Right welcome all who visit here, I'll treat you with good wholesome cheer ; I deal in ale, as chrystal clear, In porter brown, in good strong beer. I've rum and gin, and brandy too, They suit myself and will please you ; My wines would make a Nabob smile ; My whiskey will your hearts beguile ; My chairs ai-e easy, fires are bright. So take a seat, yourselves delight ; My tobacco's rich, pipes white as snow, Alike they're formed to soothe your woe. I'm ready to attend your call. But I've no chalk to spoil my wallj Chalk ever does sweet peace destroy, Stirs up foul anger, stifles joy. My liquor's good, my dealing just, My profit's small — I cannot trust. I'm sure these lines can cause no sorrow. So pay to-day, I'll trust to-morrow. If I refuse to trust a friend, Or if I trust or money lend. The one he takes it in disdain, The other will my house refrain. The same writer says tliat he saw the following written in paint over the fire-place in a house some three or four parishes from Mulbarton : 136 THE NORFOLK GARLAND. All you tliat stand before the fire, To see you sit is my desire ; Tliat others may, as well as you, See the fire, and feel it too. Since man to man is so unjust. None can tell what man to trust ; I've trusted many to my sorrow, Pay to-day, trust to-morrow. In tlie kitchen of the Crown Inn, at Banham, near Attle- borough, in one of those large, okl-fashioned, open fire- places, which were once so common but are now seldom met with, and above the mantel-piece, the following lines are painted : Take not abroad a lighted pip^. Or else a pot you're fined ; But stay till your tobacco's out, Or leave your pipe behind. At the village of Great Cressingham, more than sixty- years since, below the sign of the Robin Hood, was this couplet : Robin Hood is not at home. But pray walk in and drink with little John. The landlord was a little man and his name was John. FRAGMENTS. ROADS AND TRAVELLING. Happily, says the Rev. Richard Hart, those who have been born within the last fifty years will find it difficult to understand how very, very bad nearly all the English roads used to be, even in my own individual experience ; yet, with the evidence before us, we can have no reasonable doubt that CURIOUS CUSTOMS. 137 in moving about from place to place, our ancestors must have had still greater difficulties to contend with, for there were then very few roads of any description, and public convey- ances were utterly unknown. The turnpike road from Hethersett to Fettlebridge, beyond Attleborough, con- structed between the years 1694 and 1707, is indeed reputed to have been the very earhest in the whole kingdom. Even in " the golden days of good Queen Bess,^^ Kempe thought that he had accomplished a prodigious feat in walking from London to Norwich in nine successive days, at the rate of about fourteen miles a day.* About the same period we read of a Queen's Messenger '' riding in hast " from London to Yarmouth " in the space of ten dayes.^'f From this and other similar documents, we learn that the day's journey scarcely ever exceeded twenty miles, although the messengers '^rode in hast, and with like spede returned. '^ Almost two centuries earlier than this, when Henry Duke of Lancaster, afterwards Henry IV., rode with his unfor- tunate kinsman Richard 11. from Conway to London, in such extreme haste that he would not even allow the deposed monarch time to change his clothes, the journey occupied eleven days actually upon the road. They rested the whole of the Sunday at Lichfield. The greatest distance that they accomplished in any one day was twenty-four miles, but fourteen miles was the usual average. | It was in 1568 that post horses were first established in Norwich, and it was then expressly provided that no horse should be used for more than twelve or fourteen miles together, and the hire of a hackney for a journey was fixed at twelvepcnce the first day and cightponco each day after. No one was to hire any post horses in the city unless he was licensed by the Queen's Majesty's warrant, or that of the Duke of Norfolk, the Privy Council, or the Mayor. * Kempe'a Uine Days' Wonder, republished by the Camdea Society, t Oriijinal Pa-pers, 2, lOi, &c. X See Hollingahed. 138 THE NOEPOLK GARLAND. Mail coaclies from Norwicli to London were not estab- lished till 1 785;, more than two centuries later^ but private enterprise anticipated this luxury at least fifty-one years before this period^ as will be seen in " Gleanings from Old Newspapers/^ PHENOMENA IN NOKFOLKj A.D. 1646. The following extracts relating to strange phenomena in Norfolk are taken from a rare tracts entitled Signes from Heaven, or severall Apparitions scene and hearde in Ayre in the Counties of Camhridge and Norfolke, on the 21st day of May last past, in the Afternoone j 1646. 4to., Lond.^ 1646, four leaves : "Also at Brandon, in the County of Norfolke, the inhabi- tants were forced to come out of their houses to behold so strange a spectacle of a spire steeple ascending up from the earth, and a pike or lance descending downwards from Heaven. The Lorde in Mercy blesse and preserve His Church, and settle peace and truth among all degrees, and more especially among our churchmen. ^^ " In Brandon, in the county aforesaid, was seen at the same time a navie or fleet of ships in the ayre, swiftly passing under sayle, with flags and steamers hanged out, as if they were ready to give an encounter." '■'■ In Marshland, in the county of Norfolk aforesaid, within three miles of King^s Linne, a captain and a lieutenant, with divers other persons of credit, did heare, in the time of thunder, a sound as of a whole regiment of drums beating a call, with perfect notes and stops, much admired at of all that heard it."* THE NOErOLK WONDEE. The Norfolk Wonder, or the Maiden's Trance, being a strange and true relation of one Sarah Barker, of Elsom, in * Halliwell's Norfolk Anthology. CURIOUS- CUSTOMS. 139 Norfolk, of sixteen years of age, wlio on tlie 2nd of tliis instant May (being in perfect healtli) fell into a trance, and lay as dead for three days and nights together, when, just as they were going to bury her in the church, she came to life again, to the amazement of all that saw her, and declared what strange things she had seen in the other world, as the joys of Heaven and the dismal terror and amazing torments of Hell ; and lastly, how an angel all in white told her what should happen in England "and France betwixt this and December next, and it would as surely come to pass as she should die three days after, which happened accordingly ; with her last prayer, written by her own hand a little before she died, which she left as a legacy to all young persons of both sexes, to put them in mind of mortality. Licensed according to Order. Printed for T. Wells, in Holborn, 1708. This little tract contains seven pages besides the title, which is sufficient to explain the whole, being, in fact, a copious analysis of it.* THE KING SHALL HAVE WRECK OF THE SEA. One of the King's prerogatives was and still is " The King shall have wreck of the sea throughout the realm ; whales and great sturgeons taken in the sea or elsewhere ■ within the realm, except in certain places privileged by the Kiug," so reads statute 1, c. 2, of the 17 Edward IT. Charles John Palmer, Esq., F.S.A., the accomplished anti- quary and historian of Great Yarmouth, writing in May, 1857, says "Whales, sturgeons, porpoises, dolphins, and other fish, having in them a great or largo thickness of fat- ness, are called ' Fishes Royal,' inid from ancient time have, by right of custom, belonged to the Crown. In 1559 Queen Elizabeth, by charter, made a grant to the town of Yar- mouth of all fishes royal taken between Winterton Ness in • IlalliwcH's Norfolk Anthology. 140 THE NORFOLK GARLAND. Norfolk, and Easton Ness, in Suffolk, which grant was con- firmed by James I. in 1G08, and the town enjoyed the privi- lege, such as it was, till 1835, when the Municipal Corpora- tion Act abolished all local admiralty jurisdictions. "A few years since (1857) a whale came on shore at Win- terton, and I, as receiver of droits for the Crown, reported the circumstance, and was instructed to assert the Queen^s right to the same, which I did, although the parties who had got possession of it were allowed to retain it." KITTY WITCH ROW. Brand in his Popular Antiquities says that a woman dressed in a grotesque and frightful manner was otherwise called a kitch witch, probably for the sake of a jingle. It was customary many years ago at Yarmouth for women of the lowest order to go in troops from house to house to levy contributions, at some season of the year and on some pre- tence which nobody now seems to recollect, having men^s shirts over their own apparel, and their faces smeared with blood. These hideous beldams have long discontinued their perambulations, but in memory of them one of the many rows in that town is called Kitty Witch Row. HUNTING SQUIRRELS ON CHRISTMAS DAY. The Rev. Robert Forby, writing of the end of the last century, says that in many parts of the country, particularly where there is much wood, the custom prevails of hunting squirrels on Christmas Day. Why this pretty, harmless animal should be selected for this barbarous diversion, or why this particular festival should be chosen for the grande chasse, does not appear to be known ; but on a Christmas morning half the idle fellows and boys in a parish assemble in any wood or plantation where squirrels are known to har- bour, and having started their game, pursue it with sticks CUEIOUS CUSTOMS. 141 and stones from tree to tree^ hallooing and shouting with all their might, till the squirrel is killed. It is a cruel sport, and is very properly discountenanced and falling into disuse ; but on a fine morning the shouts of the hunters echoing through the woods, with occasional bursts of laughter and rustic merriment, have a very lively and exhilarating effect. POT DAY. Within the memory of many persons now living, it was the custom, amongst even very substantial farmers, to cook only three times a week, of which Sunday was always one. These days of periodical cookery were called ^^ pot days,^^ and as their friends were usually acquainted with them, a person intending to go to the house uninvited, would calcu- late accordingly, and say " I will go on such a day, for I know that is pot day."* HOLLOW MEAT. Before the improved system of husbandry was introduced into Norfolk, there were many warrens, and the country was very much overrun with rabbits. In the light-land farms these formed a considerable part of the diet of the farming servants, and were known by the name of " hollow meat ;" and as the servants in Scotland are said to have stipulated against salmon, so it was the practice here when a servant let himself to a farm, to make a proviso that ho should bo fed upon " hollow meat " only a certain number of days in the week. * Farby's A\^j)enii.xx. EPITAPHS AND EPIGEAMS. EPITAPHS. The following epitaph, in Haddiscoe Churcli is worthy of record : William Saltar, Yarmouth Stage Coachman, Died October 9th, 1776, Aged 59 Years. Here lies Will Saltar, bonest man, Deny it envy if you can ; True to his business and bis trust, Always punctual, always just. His borses, could tbey speak, would tell Tbey lov'd tbeir good old master well. His up-bill work is cbiefly done. His stage is ended, race is run ; One journey is remaining still, To climb up Sion's boly bill. And now bis faults are all forgiv'n, Elijab like, drives up to Heav'n, Takes tbe reward of all bis pains, And leaves to otber bands tbe reins. The following, certainly in very bad taste, was formerly in Thetford churchyard : My grandfather was buried bere. My cousin Jane, and two uncles dear ; My father perished with a mortification in bis thighs. My sister dropped down dead in tbe Minories ; But tbe reason why I am bere, according to my thinking, Is owing to my good living and hard driuking. Therefore, good Christians, if you'd wish to live long. Beware of drinking brandy, gin, or anything strong. CURIOUS CUSTOMS. 143 The followmg is in Bacton Cliurcli, near North "Walsham : To the memory of Micaiah Gaze, wlio departed this life November 4th, 1751, aged 61 years. Tou that pass by this phice may think on me, For as you are so once you did me see ; What I am now will quickly be your doom ; My house is straight, but by my side there's I'oom. And if your dust should fall into my grave, 'Tis no great matter, ev'ry man shall have His very dust, and neither new nor more, For he that made it keeps it all in store. The following epitaph is to be seen in the churchyard of the village of Mundesley^ near North Walsham, and on the coast. It is scarcely necessary to remark that the person commemorated by this epitaph was drowned at sea, and washed upon Mundesley beach. The date on the stone is September 8th, 1832 : Sleep, stranger, sleep, within thy naiTOW bed. Till earth and sea shall both give up their dead ; Up ! seek the Saviour — Lo ! the Judge in sight; Wake, reader, wake, and Christ shall give thee light. At Stow Bardolph there is the following to the memory of Sir Thomas Hare, Bart., wlio died July 1st, 1G93, aged 35 : The glorious sun which sets at night Appears next morniDg clear and bright; The gaudy deckings of the earth Do every spring receive new birth; But life, when fled, has no return. In vain we sigh, in vain wc mourn. Yet does the turtle justly grieve her fate Wlien she is left behind witliotit her mate; Kor less does she who raised tbis tomb, And wishes here to have a room With that dear he who underneath doth lie, Who was the treasure of her heart, the pleasure of her eye. 144 THE NORFOLK GARLAND. On an altar tomb in Ditchiugham churchyard there is the following epitaph to an unknown person : Without a name, for ever senseless, dumb ; Dust only now contains this silent tomb; Where 'twas I liv'd or died it matters not, To whom related, or of whom begot. I was, but am not, ask no more of me, 'Tis all I am, and all that you must be. In Wheatacre Churchy near Beccles^ there is the fol- lowing : Here lies the body of Beatrice, the beloved wife of John Guavor, clerk, Rector of this parish, and [obliterated] in the county of Suffolk. She was truly religious, Meek in apprehension, Expert in geogi-aphy, Compassionate aud charitable. Born 24th Sept., 1699, died 27th April, 1740. Mr. Orchard, in his select collection of epitaphs, gives the following from Attleborough : John Dowe. Here lieth the Dowe who ne'er in his life did good, Nor would have done though longer he had stood. A wife he had, both beautiful and wise, But he ne'er would such goodness exercise. Death was his friend to bring him to his grave. For he in life commendam none could have. In Witchingham Church, Norfolk, the following is on Thomas Allyn and his two wives, 1650 : Death here advantage hath of life, 1 spye, One husband with two wives at once may lye. CURIOUS CUSTOMS. 145 The following inscription is in Cantley Cliurcli : Here lyeth the body of Robert Gilbert, of Cantley, in the eoimty of Norf., Gent., who dyed on the 5th of November, 1714, aged 59 years. In wise frugality Inxiiriant, In justice and good acts extravagant, To all the world an universal friend, No foe to any but the savage kind. How many fair estates have been eras'd By the sarae gen'rous means that his increas'd. His duty thus perform'd to heaven and earth. Each leisure hour fresh toilsom sports gave birth ; Had Nimrod seen he would the game decline. To Gilbert's mighty hunter's name resign. Tho' hundreds to the ground he oft has chas'd, That subtle fox Death earth'd him here at last. And left a fragrant scent so sweet behind That ought to be pursu'd by all mankind. TLc following arc in Norwich Cathedral : Depositum Johanni Spendlove, Prebendarii, Julii 8, Anno Domini 1666. Dean Suckling's daughter, Prebend Speudlove's wife, For a fur better Cliang'd til is present life, Mardi tlic 2].st, Ki.W. Riohardus Corbet, Theologia) Doctor, Ecclosioe Cathedralia Ohristi, Oxonif-nHis, priiiiuni ji.luinnuH, iiidf di'c.'inus, exinde episcopus, illinc hue trunalatuM, ct hinc in Ca-luui, Jiilii 28, 1635. Translation, Richard Corbet, D.D., first student of Christ Church, Oxford, then dean, and next binhop of that place, thence translated hither, and from thence to heaven, on the '28th of .Inly. I(i:55. L 1 10 THE NORFOLK GARLAND. Here William Inglott, organist, doth rest, Whose art in musick this Cathedral blest ; For descant most, for voluntary all, He past on organ, song, and virginall. He left this life at age of sixty-seven, , And now 'mongst angels all sings St. in Heaven ; His fame iiies far, his name shall never die, See, art and age here crown his memorie. Non digitis, Inglotte, tuis terrestria tangis, Tangis nunc digitis organa celsa poll. Anno Dom. 1621. Buried the last day This erected the 15th of December, 1621. day of June, 1622. Here lies the body of Honest Tom Page, Who died in the 33d year of his age. EPIGRAMS BY DR. SAYERS. In 1803 Edward Whetstone, the old clerk of Trowse parish, gave an organ to the church. Originally he had only bequeathed the purchase money, but having mentioned his intention to the vicar and othei- principal inhabitants, and vs^ishing to hear his own organ, they agreed to allow him an annuity out of the rates equivalent to the interest of his legacy, which was thus made available in his lifetime. Soon after the organ was placed in the church the following- epigrams by Dr. Sayers found their way into the Norfolk Chronicle : On Trowse Organ. Fungar vice cotis acutem. — Horace. I, Whetstone, clerk of this good parish, Having no organ fit for singing. And wishing much my breath to cherish. Bought pipes to set the church a ringing. Now, though I ne'er could hum a stave, To some renown I still aspire. For this brave oi'gan which I gave Is deem'd the Whetstone of the choir. CURIOUS CUSTOMS. 147 On the Same. Ned "Whetstone to Trowse parish left An organ, which in giving, He thought that when of breath bereft, He'd make more noise than living. But fearing that if he should go. The choice might be ill-suited. He chose to live to witness how His will was executed. PEOYEEBS. The student of humanity can never afford to neglect or pass by the proverbs of a people. They generally inculcate patience, frugality _, manly iudependencej and perseverance, and embody good sense, natural equity, and a spirit of kindness. The following are some of the most popular proverbs in this county : I£ the ben does not prate she will not lay — i.e., scolding wives make the best housewives. If it won't pndding it will froize — i.e., i£ it won't do for one thing it will for another. His religion is copyhold, and he has not taken it up. — This is said of one who never goes to any place of worship. A wheelwright's dog is a carpentei''s uncle — i.e., a bad wheelwright makes a good carpenter^ I'll give him a kick for a culp — i e., a Rowland for an Oliver. Laurence has got hold of him — i.e., he is lazy. Hitty missy, as the blind man shot the crow — i.e., accidentally. Tou must eat another yard of jpudding first — i.e., you must wait till you grow older. It is a good thing to eat your l^rown bread first — i.e., if you are unfortunate in the early part of life, you may hope for better success in future. The dog that fetches will carry — i.e., a talebearer will tell tales of you as well as to you. I was not born in a wood to be scared by an owl — i.e., I am not so easily frightened as you may imagine. Little knocks rive great blocks — i.e., steady perseverance with little means gets through great difficulties. I will come when the cuckoo has picked up the dirt — i.e., in the spring. What's hers is mine, what's mine is my own, quoth the husband. CURIOUS CUSTOMS. 149 Nip a nettle hard and it will not sting you — i.e., strong and decided measures prevail best with, troublesome people. Tou may know a carpenter by his chips. — This is usually applied to great eaters, who leave many bones on their plates. Elbow grease gives the best polish — i.e., hard rubbing makes fur- nitui-e look brighter. The miller's boy said so — i.e., it was a matter of common report. She is fond of gape seed — i.e., of staring at everything that passes. He has got his jag — i.e., as much drink as he can fairly carry. To go down the red lane — i.e., to be swallowed. The beard will pay for the shaving. — This is used when a person is paid for his labour by taking part or the whole of that which he is employed about, as cutting bushes, &c. In general it means the work will produce enough to pay itself. Thei'e is a good steward abroad when there is a wind frost — i.e., you have no occasion to look to your labourers, they must work to keep themselves warm. God's lambs will play. — An apology for riotous youth ; probably it was originally a sneer at some unlucky Puritan who had been detected in some indiscretion. I gave it him as it came from mill, undressed — i.e., the bran and flour mixed together. It means, I spoke my mind plainly, and with- out dressing up. When the cat is away the mice will play — i.e., if the master is out of the way servants will be idle. To make one eat humble pie — i.e., to make him lower his tone and be submissive. Tou can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear — i.e., you cannot make a handsome thing out of base materials. It is frequently applied to a stupid fellow upon whom education is thrown away. It will take the gilt off the gingerbread — i.e., it will reduce his profits. To give one tlie seal of the day — i.e., to l>e commonly civil to him, but nothing more. L'ittle fish are sweet. — It means small gifts are always acceptable. 150 THE NORFOLK GARLAND. You will catch more flies with a spoonful of honey than with a gallon of vinegar — i.e., kind language prevails more than sharp reproof. A lame tongue gets nothing. Go to Bungay to get new bottomed. — The explanation given of this common saying is that people broke at Beccles and removed to Bungay and throve there. I made my obedience to him, but he would neither speak nor grunt. — This is said when a superior passes without returning your civility. A ground sweat cures all disorders — i.e., in the grave all com- plaints cease from troubling. Give him that which costs you nothing — i.e., civility. He does not know great A from a bull's foot. It is better to rub than rust. He was meant for a gentleman, but was spoilt in the making. He lies bare of a suit — i.e., he has no money. He will make a tight old man. — This is said of a lazy fellow, who does not hvirt himself with work. He has laid a stone at my door — i.e., in modern cant phrase, he has cut me. He has a^ Friday look — i.e., sulky, downcast. He has made a hole in his manners. Ill weeds grow apace. A Scotch mist will wet an Englishman to the skin. It's an ill wind that blows nobody good. Choose a wife on Saturday instead of Sunday. It does not rain but it pours. A green Christmas makes a fat churchyard. Winter's thunder is summer's wonder. There's good land where there's a foul way. There's a scabby sheep in every flock. God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb. CUKIOIJS CUSTOMS. 151 Don't lose the ship for a ha'porth of tar. It's a pity fine w^eather should do harm. The darkest hour is nearest dawn. One hour's sleep before midnight is worth two after. Of a ragged colt cometh many a good horse. Never offer your hen for sale on a rainy day. Happy is the bride the sun shines on. As white as the driven snow. After a storm comes a calm. Make your hay while the sun shines. Friday night's dreams on Saturday told, Are sure to come true, be they never so old. THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS. A writer in the Fortniglitly Review has remarked that the upper and middle classes seldom trouble themselves much about the weather except for conversational purposes, unless a journey or a party of pleasure is involved. But with the poor, whose comforts depend upon the weather, it is very different. The farm labourer, whose day^s wage often de- pends on the ckjuds, and the fisherman, whose meal rests with the winds, naturally pay great attention to the weather, and hence wo find that their proverbs smack of the fierce- ness of men who have struggled with the storm, and their vocabulary teems with words expressive of every shade jiiid variety of weather. Such expressions as " being under a cloud " and "laying up for a rainy day" are common, nnd when a north-east wind blows it is said "there's a good steward abroad." Among their weather terms we have flu- "rime frost," the "dag," the "smur," ami a gentle hut long-continued rain is "a regular sop." The peasant in his rude fashion is a meteorologist. From living almost constantly abroad he gets a habit of studying 152 THE NORFOLK GARLAND. tlie clouds, and speaks confidently of those " water-carts," " Noah's Arks/' forerunners of continued rain.- More than half a century has passed since Howard first reduced the forms of clouds to a systematic nomenclature, and his suc- cessors have so far improved upon his plans that there is not a cloud which cannot be scientifically named and defined. But our fishermen and the shrewdest of our peasants knew these facts long ago. They name the clouds after natural objects, and you may hear them talk of " bullfinch skies " to express the lovely vermillion tints of sunset clouds, and the " shepherd's flock " to denote what one of our poets has described with so perfect a touch : Detached in ranges through the air. Spotless as snow and countless as they're fair, Scattered immensely wide from east to west, The beauteous semblance of a flock at re.-it. Weather rhymes and proverbs are treasured up in almost every village, and that they contain some germs of truth is pretty certain, or they would not have held their ground so long. Thus : Candlemas Day, the good housewife's goose lay ; Valentine's Day, yours and mine may. That is, geese if kept warm and properly taken care of, the common practice of good housewives, will lay eggs by the 2nd of February; if not, they will in any case do so by the 14th. If Candlemas Day be fair and clear, The shepherd would rather see his wife on a bier. As far as the sun bhines into the cottage on Candlemas Day, So far will the snow blow in afore Old May. A cold and late spring is anticipated if Candlemas Day is fine, and mortality among ewes and lambs result from incle- CURIOUS CUSTOMS. 153 ment weather. Sir Thomas Brown in his Vulgar Errors speaks of a general tradition that inferreth the coklness of the succeeding spring fi-om the shining of the sun on Can- dlemas Day. In other parts of Eugland we hear it said : If Candlemas Day be fan- and briglit, Wiuter will have auother figlit. If Candlemas Day be f.iir and clear. There'll be two winters in the year. The Germans say the badger peeps out of his hole on Can- dlemas Day, and if he finds snow, he walks abroad ; if he sees the sun shining, he di'aws back again into his hole. The French have a similar saying of the bear. The farmer should have on Candlemas .Day Half his turnips and half his hay. You should on Candlemas Day Throw candle and candlestick away. Dayliglit being suJB&cient by this time. When Candlemas Day is come and gone, The snow won't lie on a hot stone. This means that the sun on Candlemas Day has too much power for the snow to lay long without thawing. We must not forget, however, that these weather proverbs were ap- plied during the " Old Stylo," when Candlemas Day was twelve days later in the year than it is now. So many fogs in March, So many floats in May. If the bushes hang of a drop on St. Matthias' Day before sunrise, it will bf! a diijppiug season. If the b.ushes be dry, we may look for a dry summer. March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. A bushel of March duot is worth a Jew's eye or a king's ransom. 154 ' THE NORFOLK GARLAND. Mad as a March liare. In April the cuckoo shows his cold bill. In May he sings both night and day, In June he change his tune, In July away he fly, In August go he must. If the cock moults before the hen. We shall have weather thick and thin ; But if the hen moult befoi'e the cock, We shall have weather as hard as a rock. If the robin sings in the bush, Then the weather will be coarse ; But if the robin sings on the barn, Then the weather will be warm. If the cuckoo the last week before he leaves chatters and " cuckoos " on the tops of the oaks, it is a sure sign of a fine harvest. If bad weather is coming, he sings low among the bushes, and can scarcely get his cuckoo out. If he comes in April, there will be an early harvest ; if he does not come till May, then the harvest is into October. If he sings after Midsummer, the harvest will last till Michaelmas. Sow in the slop. Heavy at top. That is, wheat sown when the ground is wet is most pro- ductive. The weather will fine when the rooks play pitch half-penny. That is, if flying in flocks some of them stoop down and pick up worms, imitating the action of a boy playing pitch half-penny. A rainbow at morning Is the shepherd's warning; But a rainbow at night Is the shepherd's delight. CURIOUS CUSTOMS. 155 The philosophy of this rustic proverb is clear enough. In the morning the rainbow is seen in the clouds westward^ the quarter from which we get most rain, and of course in the evening in the opposite quarter of the heavens. First comes David, tlien comes Chad, And then comes Winneral as tliougli he was mad ; White or black, Or old house tback. This alludes to the stormy weather commonly experienced at the beginning of March. St. David^s Day is the 1st of March, St. Chad's the 2nd. The first two lines of this weather proverb are known in Suffolk, but St. Winwaloe, whose anniversary falls on the _3rd of March, is there called Winnold, and not, as in genuine Norfolk^ Winneral. The Norfolk proverb means that at this period there will be either snow, rain, or wind, which latter is intended by " old house thack." When the wind's in tbe east, It's neitLer good for man nor beast ; When the wind's in the south, It's in the rain's mouth. If red the sun begins his race, Expect that i-aiu will flow apace. When clouds appear like I'ocks and towers, The earth's refreshed with frequent showers. A sunshiny shower Won't last half-an-hour. liaiii at early morn brings out the proverb : If it rains before seven 'Twill hi lid iij) before eleven. Another couplet on ;i niiny morning is : Between twelve and two You'll see what tlio diiy will do. 156 THE NORFOLK GARLAND. It will clear up if you can see enough blue sky to make a pair of breechds. Many liaws, many sloes, Many cold toes. Many Lips and haws, Many frosts and snaws. A swarm of bees in May Is worth a load of hay ; A swarm of bees in June Is worth a silver spune ; A swarm of bees in July Is not worth a fly. The first cock of hay Frights the cuckoo away. He who bathes in May Will soon be laid in clay ; He who bathes in June Will sing a merry tune ; He who bathes in July Will dance like a fly. Cast not a clout till May is out. Mist in May and heat in June, Makes the harvest right soon. As welcome as flowers in May. March dust and May sun Makes corn white and maids dun. When a sun-dog comes on the south side of the sun there will be fair weather^ when on the north side there will be foul weather. If you see the old moon with the new there will be stormy- weather. When the new moon happens on a Saturday it is believed to be a sign of unfavourable weather^ and if the full moon CURIOUS CUSTOMS. 157 falls on a Sunday the belief is greatly strengthened. The proverb is : Saturday's new and Sunday's full, Never was good and never wool. The new moon " lying on its back/' -with the horns of its crescent pointing upwards, is believed to indicate a dry moon; and, on the contrary, when the new moon appears with the horns of the crescent pointing downwards, or, as it is locally expressed, '^^when it hangs dripping," it will be a wet moon. There is also a saying with reference to the new moon that When early seen, 'Tis seldom seen. A "burr," that is a halo, round the moon is a sign of rain. The sun rising clear in the morning and going to bed again, as it is called, immediately, is a sure indication of a foul day. If there be bad weather and the sun does not appear all the week, it is firmly believed that it will shine on Saturday. Many country people maintain that the sun always peeps through the clouds on that day, if only for a minute, just as it were to show his face. If woolly fleeces spread the heavenly way, No rain be sure disturbs the summer's day. Sow beans in the nmd, And they'll grow like a wood. Sow beans and peas on David and Chad, Be the weather good or bad. Wlien the sloe tree is white as a sheet. Sow your barley whether it be dry or wet. M.my frosts and many thowes, Make many rotten yowes (owes). 158 THE NORFOLK GARLAND. If the ice will bear a goose before Christmas it will not bear a duck afterwards. Plough deep while others sleep, And you shall have corn to sell and to keep. This rule in gardening never forget, To sow dry and plant wet. After a famine in the stall, Comes a famine in the hall. When the wind doth feed the clay, England woe and well-a-day ; But when the clay doth feed the sand, Then it is well for Angle-land, Ckauinrjfi (roni Old IJciufipapiji;^). OxE of the most distinctive features of modern times, and the most indubitable sign of the broadening intelligence of the people, is the number and volume of the newspapers that are required to satisfy the appetite of the public. No greater contrast is afforded by the narrow winding streets and alleys, and the quaint projecting gables and low storeys of an old city, when compared with the broad ways and stately fronts of our own time, than is presented to our view when comparing the dingy leaf of a century and half ago called a newspaper with the broad sheet and its seventy columns that is found scarcely adequate to satisfy the wants of the reader of the present day, but which has to be sup- plemented by a daily issue. Newspaper literature seems to have had its rise in Norwich very early in the eighteenth century. The Norivich Postman, a small quarto foolscap, published for a penny a number in the year 1 700, was the first newspaper published in the city. One of the earliest publications of this kind was the Weekly Cotirnnt or Weeklij Pdcket, printed by a Mr. Collins near the Red Well in St. Andrew's. This was a small folio, containing only a verj small quantity of news, and appeared in 1714. In 1721 appeared the Norwich Weekly Mercury or Protestant PacJcet, and about the same time the Norwich Gazette. From some old volumes of these papers I have selected a few advertisements and announcements as calculated to give my readers an insight into the manners and customs of our fore- fathers in Norfolk a century and half ago. 160 THE NORFOLK GARLAND. STAGE COACHES. In tliese days^ when one may breakfast in Dovonsliire, dine in London, and sup in Edinburgh, and all in the same day, it will be interesting to read some of the old advertisements exhibiting the methods of locomotion in use by our steady slow-going forefathers. The first to which I direct my readers^ attention is taken from the Norwich Gazette of May 19, 1722, and refers to the setting out of an "empty coach," a rather unprofitable speculation one might suppose for the proprietor, who, however, seemed to think that it might not- withstanding be filled with passengers. ON Saturday, 26fcli Instant, an Empty COACH will Set out from Bartholomew Hunton's in St. Giles', in Norwicla, for Cambridge, and will go by tbe Way of Bury St. Edmvmd's : And a Week after another Coach will set out from Bartholomew Hunton's aforesaid for Leeds in Yorkshire, and will go by Way of Wisbich, Spalding, and Lincoln. All Persons who intend to go by either of these Coaches are desired to apply them- selves to Bartholomew Huntou aforesaid, who will use them Very Reasonably. I hope Bartholomew Hunton was as good as his word, and used his passengers " very reasonably," and that he likewise got them safely to their destination. The next advertisement is copied from the Norwich Weelcly Mercury or Protestant Packet, in which it appeared in 1727. The advertisement is interesting for two or three reasons. In these days, if your conveyance is announced to start at 9"35, and you get to the starting-place at 9"36, you will indubitably find that the snorting monster has left you in the lurch, and is already speeding on its desti- nation a mile off. In 1727 the fortunate traveller had a margin, not of a few moments merely, but of two days. To be sure it then took three days to get from Norwich to London ; now we may do it in little more than . CURIOUS CUSTOMS. 161 three hours. Now we are bound bj iron necessity to one route ; then the passengers might choose any route they pleased — it was a.l the same to the coachman. Here is the advertisement : NOTICE is Hereby Given that on Thursday or Friday next, the 6th and 7th of June, a COACH AND HORSES will set out for London from Mr. Thomas Bateman's in St. Giles's Parish, in Norwich, and will perform the same in 3 Days. The said Coach will go either by Newmarket or Ipswich as the Passengers shall Agree upon. Tlie next advertisement shows that in 1741 some little im- provement had taken place in the matter of travelling*, for in the summer — the time, it vnll be observed, to which the fore- going refers — the proprietors actually undertake to accom- plish the journey in two days, although they stipulate for three in the winter. The date of the announcement is May 30, 1741: THIS is to Give Notice that the London Stage Coach sets out on Thursday, the 11th of June, from Mr. John Godfrey's, at the Duke's Palace, in Norwich, and sets up at the Bull Inn, in Bishopsgate Street, in London. The said Coach sets out eveiy Thursday Morning from the Duke's Palace for London, and cvtry Thursday Morning from the Bull Inn for Norwich, and meets at the White Swan in Bury St. Edmund's, and so continue going and coming in Two Days during the Summer, and in Three Days the Winter. Parcels are taken in at Reasonable Rates at the abovesaid Places. To be performed from Bury to London and London tut it out without any Danger to House or Chimney. And as he served his apprenticeship in Norwich he hopes the Citizens will make use of him sooner than of one that is a Stranger. NOTE : He has a lai-ge Quantity of SOOT t<; dispose of to any countryman that wants. In the issue of the Norwich Gazrlh; of November 17lli, I 7 1 1 J we find ouc Williiim Cii-ay propounding and practising 16-i THE NORFOLK GARLAND. a unique metliod for tlie recovery of old debts. It may ber recommended to the attention of the tradesmen of the Norfolk towns : NOTICE is Hereby Given, that all Persons indebted for Strong- Beer to Mr. WILLIAM GRAY (commonly called Major Gray), at the Sign of the Fountain in Saint Benedict's Parish, in Norwich, that if they will come to his House in the Parish aforesaid, and spend Six Pence in Jorams of Beer Ready Money, for every six pence they so spend, six pence more shall be set off of everyone of their respective Debt or Debts, provided the Persons so indebted do in that manner drink them- selves out of such Debts within tLe Space of one Six Months from the Date hereof; but upon Failure thereof they shall be prosecuted according to Law. As witness- my Hand, WILLIAM GRAY. The following from the Norwich Gazette of April 28th^ 1722, is enigmatical as well as curious. One would think^ as the gravedigger in Hamlet says concerning the grave, that the coffin was a house that lasted its tenant "till doomsday." It appears, however^ that formerly it was possible for a coffin to serve two occupants in succession. How Robert Robinson came into possession of his gloomy chattels I am unable to sav, but one cannot read the announcement without being haunted with grim visions of a midnight trade now happily rarely practised, Uobrrt Uotlinson, in Saint Peter's Ptirish, in Noi-wich [near BEDLAM], has great Choice of good SECOND- HAND COFFINS to Sell for Ready Money. Here is another, almost as curious in its way as any of the foregoing. Norfolk was in 1722 blessed with a "famous rat-catcher," and this is what he said of himself in the public prints ; WILLIA:\1 hunt, of Woodrising, Taylor and Rat Catcher, in April last past, at the House of Mr. Robert CURIOUS CUSTOMS. 105 Adley in Woodton, catcli'd in nne Fortnight no less than 1418 Rats, the Truth of which will be attested by the Neighbourhood. The famous rat catcher is now to be spoken with at Woodton Hall. AMUSEMENTS, FESTIVITIES, &c. Nothing pei'liaps has uudergone a greater change during the last century than the character of the amusements and sports of the people. Modern newspapers teem with accounts of the matches of the cricket clubs of which every village and hamlet in the country can now boast. In the old news- papers we find no indications of the game, but in place thereof we meet Avith a number of advertisements relating to the old-fashioned and now almost obsolete game of ■^'camp." Here is one copied from the NoncirJi Gazette of Afay 2nd, 1741: To be Camp'd for Free, at Brundwell White Horse, near Blofield, on the 10th of May, Ten Hats with Silver Buttons and hoops : To hand up at One o'clock and play between Two and Three. The famous Lynn ]\Iart had sometimes some curious visitors. The following was in the same paper as the above i.f J-Vl.ruary 3rd, 1722: By His Majesty's Permission. THIS is to Give Notice to all Gentlemen, Ladies, and C)tliors, that on Monday next, at Mr. Green's, in the Market Place, in Lynn, will be acted an excellent new Play called DIDO and ^ENEAS, or the wonderful Prince of Troy, with the enchantments of CIRCE, the Queen of Magic Art, where you will see her drawn iu her chariot by Two Dragons, and how she flew away with the wondrous Prince of Troy. Likewise, a Young Woman that Dances with Swords, who turns round several Hundred Times together with incredible Swift- ness, and carries Quart Pots and tankards on the hilts 166 THE NORFOLK GARLAND. of the Swoi'Js with the Pointa in her Moutli to Ad- miration. Also a Dance performed by an Italian, Scai-amouch, and Havlequin, called the Hoop'd Petti- coat Dance, with several other Entertainments too tedious to mention here. Also the Noble Wax Work, performed to a greater Curiosity than ever was before, representing the Court of Queen Eleanor and Fair Rosamond, the Figures as large as Men and Women. And lastly, several live creatures which tumble and Show yovi Variety of Comical Actions at the Word of Command. Performed by JOHN KIRBY, who will continue his Diversions there during the Mart. The following news paragraphs show that the lojal and patriotic feeling, which appears to be a strong characteristic of the Norfolk people, and which was so enthusiastically manifested on the occasion of the visit of the Prince and Princess of Wales, with the Queen of Denmark and the Duke of Edinburgh, in 1866, existed and made itself appa- rent early in the eighteenth century. An old newspaper, dated June 2nd, 1722, gives the following narrative : Tuesday last being the Anniversary of the Happy Restauration, the same was celebrated here with greater Demonstrations of Joy than has perhaps ever been known before : For besides ringing of Bells, firing of Guns, Bonfires, &c., the Streets were almost generally strewn with Sand, Thyme, Greens, and Flowers, Oaken Boughs set up at the Doors, Garlands and Pictures hung out, and Variety of Comick and Antick Dances performed in the Streets. Admiral Vernon^s successes were thus celebrated : Saturday, May 23 : On Thursday last, upon receiving th-e glorious news of the brave Admiral Vernon's taking Carthagena, the Bells in this city were rung, the Guns fired, at Night were Bonfires and Illuminations, and an uncommon face of Joy and Gladness appeared through the vrh-yif City, T\\f PopuJaoe r-arric-d about 2 Hrn, CURTCUS CUSTOMS. 167 one representing Admiral Yernon, whom tbey Inizza'd all the Way ; the other representing Don Bias, the Spanish Admiral, who looked very dejected and was houted. Similar rejoicings took place at Wymondliam, wliere it is added, " Trees were planted in the Streets like a Grove/' and grand processions were made. The follo^ving refers to a wonderful boat apparently ex- hibited in Norwich in the year 1722, and which was reported to give " much Satisfaction to all Beholders : " These are to inform all that are curious that here is arrived in Norwich, and is to be spoken with at the Lower Half Moon, the Author and Inventor of a won- derful and surprizing Machine or LEATHER BOAT, which he can fold up into a Handkerchief, and after it has been opened, by a Blast or Two of Wind, can enter thei'ein, and Convey himself over or to any part of the River, be it ever so Liirge, at any Time, with Sailing and Rowing tlei'ein, which gives much Satisfaction to all Beholders. NOTE. Gentlemen, Ladies, and Others that have a Mind to be entertained with this Invention, being a strange Device, may send to the Place above mentioned, or may command him to any River or Water where they shall think Proper. The Master of this Machino stays in this Town but 1 !■ Days. RUNAWAY APPRENTICES, WIA^ES, &c. NothiiiiT ii^ more common in the ccjluiinis of the old news- papers than advertisements concerning runaway apprentices, very similar in tlieir character to those wliich l)efore tlu^ great war in America were so coninKni in the newspapers of tho United States. Hero is one of tlieso announcements and warnings, dated Deccmljer ], 1722 : Run Away on Sunday last from his Master, IVfr. Geo. Kitson, Taylcr.in Norwich, one PHINEAS SCriTT, his 108 THE NORFOLK GARLAND. Apprentice, a short thick Ladd about 19 Tears old, in a Drab-coloured Coat with Bastard-Pearl Buttons on it, wears a Wigg, and sometimes a Fui-r'd Velvet Cap. Wlioever can discover where he is Harboured shall have a Guinea paid by his said Master, and if Anyone entertains him they shall be prosecuted according to Law. Sometimes the captors are requested to lodge the runaways in some one of His Majesty^s gaols. The following chronicles the loss of a " stout sturdy Girl/' who was a " little round- shouldered : " Run Away from her Master, Mr. William Osborn of Lynn, one ANNE PEARSON, his Apprentice, who has Two Years to serve ; she is a Stout Sturdy Girl about 19 Tears of Age, Full-Faced, and a little Round- Shouldered ; and had on when she went away a Purple and White coloured Gown : Whoever secures the said Anne Pearson and carries her to her Master aforesaid shall be well Rewarded and allowed reasonable Charges, but whoever harbours, entertains, or conceals her shall be prosecuted as the Law in such cases directs, by Me, William Osboni. The next of this class of advertisements which I have selected refers to a more serious delinquency than either of the two former. Here it is : Whereas Sarah, the wife of William Rogers of Upton, in the county of Norfolk, Bricklayer, has lately eloped from her said Husband, and carry'd off with her divers Parcels of Goods and Sums of Money ; this is to fore- warne all Persons from trusting her upon any account whatever, for her said Husband will pay no Debts that she shall contract : AND if any Person will stop and secui'e her and give notice of it to her said Husband, they shall have Half a Guinea Reward over and above their Charges. She is a Middle-Sized Woman of about 40, has a ruddy Complection, a Brown Eye, Long ' CURIOUS CUSTOMS. 169 Tisaaed, and lias several Suits of Cloatbs with ber. She is gon away with a tall thiu Youug Man of about 18 or £0 years old. The following concerning a certain "tliick-set quaddy man/' who in 1722 broke out of the Bethel, will be read with interest by all who are acquainted -with that noble insti- tution, and the able and humane arrangements by which its present management is characterised : BROKE out of BETH-ELL [or BEDLAM] in Norwich, on 1 hursday, the 9th of tbis instant August, one George Blood worth, a Distempered Man of about 35 Yeats of Age : He went away without either Hat or Wigg, and is supposed to have on only a Wastecoat and Breeches of a Dark Colour : He is a good thick-set q'uaddy Man, pretty much Pock-broken, and of a Swarthy Complection, the Hairs of bis Fuce not cut for Two Months Past, and bis Shirt is marked witb G. B. Whoever secures the said George Bloodworth, or will bring him to the Master of Bedlam aforesaid, shall be fully satisfied for their Trouble. MISCELLANIES. I cannot close this sketch without Ijringing before the attention of my readers a few other gleanings from the old newspapers which I have been unable to include under any of the above classes, but which I think will be acceptable either from their quaintness or as illustrations of manners and customs now grown obsolete. Among these latter I have stumbled upon a number of advertisements showing the manner in which the old word " pennyworth '' was for- merly used. It is not unusual to find a large estate announced "to be sold a pennyworth," the phrase of course being equi- valent to the modern formula, "to Ix; sold a bargain." The printer of the Nonuirh Gazette in 1722, "being determined to take an apprentice," announces that " if he is a lustij 170 TTTE NORFOLK GARLAND. proper Lacltl he will be accepted on more easie Terms/' tlie word " lusty " in the sense intended by Mr. Crossgrove having long since disappeared from polite literature. Then there are adveitlsements showing the fearful character of sraall-pox among our forefathers in the eighteenth century. Here is one of them : — " Wanted a Journeyman Chandler having had the small pox^ and being a good workman in the trade shall be kindly entertained by Eobert Sadler^ near the Eed Well^ Norwich." Here is the announcement of a marvel calculated to produce no small degree of alarm among the unlettered portion of the readers of Norwich newspapers in 1 749 : — " Among the many Rationales that will be given with respect to the late trembling of the earth, it is said that Sir Isaac Newioi Predicted that in the year 1750 the Planet Jupiter would in its passage be so near our Globe as possibly to brush it ; if so, it would give Earth a great shake." Lest I should further disturb the gravity of my readers, and shake their fiiith in the sincerity of my transcriptions, I close these old volumes, and hope these gleanings may serve to wile away a half -hour, and give the modern student a useful glimpse of the nature of newspaper literature in the commencement of the eighteenth century. II. (DM galladfi, |3ofjiiT, H Old gallads. BALLADS BY TH01U.S DELONY. Thomas Delony, of Norwich, was one of those minstrel bards that Bishop Perc-y in his Reliq^ies of Ancient Poetry made known to our modern public. Mr. J. H. Dixon, who t-dited Delony's Garland of Goodwill for the Percy Society, says of the author ; — " It would appear that the minstrel was a silk weaver, who made his poetical debut at Norwich about the year 1586. At any rate, the earliest naetrical composition by him that is known to exist was printed in that year under the title ef A most jot fall Songe viade in the tehal/e of all her Majesties faithful lovinj snlijects, which is a broadside of twenty-five four-line stanzas. The Lamentation of Beccles, another of his Vjallads, published after the great fire in that town, was also issued in 1586." Mr. Halliwell says:—" At a later period it is probable that hardly a month passed without the publication of some one or other of his efforts, but most of his productions have l'>ng since peiished. They were for the most part of a humonrous character, but he sometimes wrote in a serious, and even occasionally in a religious vein." He acquired great popularity before the close of the sixteenth century. Even the classic Drayton, in an allui^ion to his "rhyme," dc-ij-'nates it "as full of state and pleasing;" and Tom Nash — that creature of genius, of famine, and despair — who from living at Lowestoft probably knew him personally, has in his Have uilh you to Saffron Waldcn, the following curious notice (i him : — " Thomas Delony, the balletirg silke-weaver, hath rime enough for all niyracU'P, and wit to make a Garland of Goodwill nuire than the premisses, witli an epistle of Momus and ZoyJuE ; whereas hia Muse, from the first peeping forth, hath stood at livery at an ale house whiepe, never exceeding a penny quart, day nor niirht, and this deare yeare, together with the silencing of his looms, scarce that, he being constrained to betake him to carded ale, whence it proceede.h that since Candlt mas, or his jigge, John for the King, not one merrie dittie will come from him, Imt the 'I'hunder- boU against Sweaiers— K< pent, England, Kepent— and the Strange Judge- ments of God." Mr. Dixon says : — " Delony's works exhibit tht; faults and excellencies of a self-taught man, whose life, there is too great reason to fear, was one continued struggle for exi'^tt'DCC, find who often wiote, not aa fancy willed or the mnae dictated, but because authorabip \yu; a worldly 17i THE NORFOLK GARLAND. affair, an unpoetical matter of pounds shillings and pence. On no other hypothesis could the author of Tim Banishment of the Two DiUces be the author of Shore's Wife, or could the author ef The Spanish Lady be the writer of disgusting ballads on the executions of the poor persecuted Catholics of his time." Delony was a writer of romances as well as of ballads, and his JacJc of Newbury, his Thomas of Reading, and his History of the Gentle Craft went through numerous editions. In 1596 we fiad Delony mentioned by Stephen Slany, Lord Mayor of London, in a letter to Lord Burleigh (dated July 25th), as having published a " book for the silk weavers " which merited punishment. Stow tells us the nature of the offence when he says that in this book on the Dearth of Corn, Delony in a ballad "brought in the Queen speaking with her people dialogue wise in very fond and indecent sort." It is not known whether any proceedings were in consequence instituted against him, but he con- tinued to write uatil the year 1600, when according to the evidence of Kempe, the actor (author of the Nine Days' Wonder), Delony was dead. Many of his historical ballads were collected soon after his decease, and published under the title of Strange Histories. An edition issued in 1607 is now so scarce that only two copies are known, and one of these is imper- fect. From this I have selected some of the best publications of this Prince of Ballad Writers. The Three Old Ballads on the Overthrow of the Spanish Armada, are, however, reprinted from black-letter copies in the British Museum, supposed to be unique. They were written a.d. 15S8. The Qiteenes visiting of the Gani^^e at Tilsburle, ivlflo Iter Entertainment there. TO THE TUNE OF AYILSOX's WILDE. WITHIX the yeare of Clirist our Lord a thousand and five liundrcth full, And eightie eight by just record, the which no man may disanuU ; And in the thirtieth yeare remaining of good Queene Elizabeth's reigning, A mightie power there was prepared by Philip then the King of Spaine, Against the maiden Queene of England which in jieace before did reigne. Her Eyall ships to sea she sent, t(j garde the coast on everie side : AjuI seeing liow her foes were bent, her realnn; full well she did provide OLD BALLADS. "With many the usands so prepared as like "was ujver eist declared, Of horsemen and of footenien plentie, whose good harts full "well is seene In the safegarde of their countrie and the service of our ()ueene. In Essex faire, that fertill soile, upon the hill of Tilsbnrie : To give our Spanish foes the foile, in gallant canipe they now do lye, Where good orders is ordained, and true justice eke maintained For the punishment of persons that are lewde or Ijadly hciit ; To see a sight so strange in England, 'twas our gracious Queenes intent. And on the eight of August she from feire Saint James tooke her way, "With many Lords of high degree in princely rohes and rich aray, And to l^ardge upon the water, being King Hem-yes royall daughter, She did goe Avith trumpets sounding, and with duhbing drums apace. Along the Thames, that famous river, for to view the canipe a space. AN'lion slie as forre as Gravesend came, right over against tliat |)rettie towne : Her royidl grace with all her traiiu!, was landed tliero witli great renowne. Tlie Lordes any John Wolfe for Edwarde While, 1588. 180 THE NORFOLK GARLAND. A Joyful new Ballad, declaring the liajij^ie ohfaining of the great Galleazzo, wherein Don Pietro de Valdez was the chief e, through the mightie poivei' and I'^rovidence of God, being a sjpeciall tohen of his gracious and fatherly goodness towards ns, to the great encouragement of all those that ivillingly fight in the defence of his Gosjyel, and our good Queene of England. TO THE TUNE OF MOUNSEURS ALMAIGNE. OXOP.LE England fall downe upon thy knee, And praise thy God with tliankfull hart •\yhich still niaintaineth thee. The forraine forces, that seekes thy utter spoile : Shall then through his especiall grace be broiight to shamefull foile. With mightie power they come unto our coast : To over runne our countrie quite, they make their brags and boast. In strength of men they set their onely stay : But we upon the 1-ord our God will put our trust alway. Great is their number of ships upon the sea : And their provision wonderful], but Lord thou art our stay. Their armed souldiers are many by account, Their aiders eke in this attempt doG sundrie waies siirmount. OLD BALLADS. 181 The Pope of Rome mth inauy blessed graines : To sanctify their bad pretense bestowed both cost and paines. But little land, be not disniaide at all ; The Lord no doubt is on our side, which soone will worke their fall. In happie houre our foes we did discry . And under saile with gallant wind as they cam passing by. ^Vhich suddaine tidings to Plymouth being brought, Full soone our Lord high Admirall, for to pursue them sought. And to his traine coragiously he saide : aS''ow for the Lord and our good Queene to light be not afraide. Eegard our cause, and play your partes like men : The Lord no doubt will prosper us, hi all our actions then. This great Galleazzo, which was so huge and hyo : Tliat liki' II liiihvarkc on the sea, did seemc to each mans eye. There was it taken unto our gieat reliofe : And divers Nobles in wliich truiuu Don Pietro was the chiefe. »Sti'onge was she stuft, witli Cannons great and small : Ami iitlici' instruments of warre, which wu obtauieil all. 182 THE NORFOLK GARLAND. A certaine signe of good successe we trust : That God Avill overthrow the rest, as he hath done the first. Then did onr N"avie pursue the rest amaine : With roaring noise of Cannons great, till they neare Callice came : Witli manly courage, they followed them so fast : Another mightie Gallion did seem to yeeld at last, And in distresse for saveguard of their lives, A flag of truce they did hang out with many mournfull cries : Which when our men, did perfectly espie : Some little barkes they sent to her to board her quietly. But these false Spaniards, esteeming them but weake : "W^ien they within their danger came, their malice forth did breake. With charged cannons, they laide about them then : For to destroy those proper barkes and all their valiant men. AVhich when our men perceived so to be : Like Lions fierce they forward went, to quite this injurie, And bourding them with strong and mightie hand : They kild the men untill their arke did sinke in CaUice sand. OLD BALLADS. 18^ The cliiefest Captaiue Of this Gallion so liie : Don Hugo de Moncaldo lie, witliin this fight did die, Who was the Generall of all the Gallions great : But through his braines Avith ponders force a bullet strong did beat. And manie more by sword did loose their breath : And manie more within the sea did swimme and tooke their death. There might you see the salt and fomiug flood : Died and staind like scarlet red, with store of Spanish blood. This mightie vcssell was threescore yards in length : Most wonderfull to each man's eie, for making and for strength. In her was placed an hundreth Cannons great : Ami mightily provided eke, with bread-corne, wine, and meat. There was of oares, two hundreth I weene : Tlireescore foote and twelve in length well measured to be scene. And yet subdued, with manic others more : And not a Ship of ours lost, the Lord be thunkt therefore. Our pleasant countrie, so fruitfull and so faire, They doc intend by deadly wane, to make both poore and bare. 184 THE NOliFOLK GARLAND. Our townes and cities, to racke aud sacke likewise : To kill and murder man aud wife as malice doth arise. And to deflower oiu' virgins in our sight : And in the cradle cruelly the tender babe to smite. Gods holy truth they meane for to cast downe : And to deprive our noble Queene Eoth of her life and crowns. Our wealth and riches, which we enjoyed long : They doe appoint their pray and spoile, by crueltie and wrong ; To set our houses a her on our heades : And cursedly to cut our throates, as w^e lye in our beds. Our children's braines, to dash against the ground : And from the earth our mcmorie for ever to confound. To change our joy to griefe and mourning sad r And never more to see the dayes of pleasure we have had. But God AIniightie be blessed evermore : Who doth encourage Englislimen, to beate them from our shoare. With roaring Cannons, their hastie steps to stay : And with the force of thundering sh&t to make them flye away. OLD BALLADS. 185 "WTio made account before this time or day : Atrainst the walls of faire London their banners to display. But their intent the Lord will bring to nought, If faithfully we call and cry for succour as we ought. D And you deare bretheren which beareth armes this day. For safegarde of your native soile, marke well what I shall say. Eegard your dueties, thmke on your countries good : And feare not in defense thereof, to sjDcnd your dearest bloud. Our gracious Queene doth greete you every one : And saith she will among you be in every bitter storme. Desiring j^ou true English harts to beare : To God, and her, and to the laud wherein you nursed were. Lord God Almightie, which hath the liarts in hand : Of everie person to dispose, defend this English land. Elesse tliou our Sovcraigne with long and liajtjiie life : Indue her Councel with tliy grace and end this mortall strife. Give to the rest of Commons more and lesse : Loving harts, obo whom I wish long life to be, .7ith many happy years : I do pronounce before you aU, This treacherous lord that's here, A traitor to our noble King ; As time shall shew it clear. The Duke of Hereford hearing that, In mind was grieved much ; And did return this answer flat, Which did Duke Norfolk touch : The term of traitor, truthless duke. In scorn and great disdain. With fiat deliance to thy face, I do return again ; Anfl, therefore, if it please your grace. To grant me leave (quoth lie) To combat with my deadly foe. That here accuseth me ; I do not doubt but plainly prove. That like a perjured knight, He liath most falsely .sought my shame. Against all truth and right. 196 THE NORFOLK GARLAND. The King did grant this just request, And did there^A^th agree, At Coventry in August next, This combat fought should be. The dukes on sturdy steeds full stout. In coats of steel most bright, "With spears in rests, did enter lists. This combat fierce to fight. The King then cast his warden down, Commanding them to stay ; And with his lords he counsel took To stint that mortal fray. By judgment of our sovereign lord. Whicli now in place doth stand, For evermore I banish thee Out of thy native land ; Charging thee, on pain of death, When fifteen days are past. Thou never tread on English ground, So long as life doth last. Thus they were sworn before the Kiug, Ere they did further pass, The one should never come in place Where as the other was. Then both the dukes, with heavy hearts. Were parted presently, Their uncouth streams of froward chance In foreign lands to try. The Duke of ISTorfolk coming then Where he could sliipping take, The bitter tears fell down his cheaks. And thus his moan did make : Now let me sigh and sob my fill. Ere I from hence depart, Tliat inward pangs with speed may burst My sore alllicted heart. Oh, cursed man ! whoso loathed life Is held so much in scorn ; Wliose company is clean despis'd And left as one forlorn ! Now take thy leave and last adieu, Of this thy country dear, Which never more thou must l)elii)l(l, Nor yet approach it near. 198 THE NORFOLK GARLAND, Now happy should I count myself, If death my heart had torn ; That I might have my bones entomb'd^ Where I was bred and born : Or that by Neptune's wrathful rage I might be fore'd to die While that sweet England's pleasant banks. Did stand before mine eye : How sweet a scent hath English ground Within my senses now ! How fair unto my outward sight Seems ev'ry branch and bough ! The fields and flow'rs, the streets and stones. Seem such unto my mind, That in all other countries, sure. The like I ne'er shall find. 0, that the sun, with shining face. Would stay his steeds by strength ; That this same day might stretched be To twenty years in length ; And that the true performing tide Her hasty course would stay ; That ^olus would never yield To bear me hence away ! That by the fountain of my eyes, The fields might water'd be ; That I might grow my grievous plant Upon each springing tree. But time, T see, with eagle's wings, So swift doth fly away ; And dusty clouds begin to dim The brightness of the day. OLD BALLADS. 199 The fatal hour draweth on, The winds and tides agree ; And now sweet England, over soon, I must depart from thee. The mariners have hoisted sail, And call to catch me in ; And now, in woful heart, I feel, My torments to begin. Therefore, farewell for evermore, Sweet England, unto thee ; And farewell, all my friends, which I Again shall never see. O, England, here I kiss the ground Upon my bended knee 1 Whereby to show to all the world How dearly I love thee. This being said, away he went. As fortune did him guide, And at the length, thro' grief of heart, In Venice there he died. The noble duke, in doleful sort. Did leave his life in France, And at the last, the mighty Lord Did him full high advance. The. Lords of England afterwards Did send f With mickle joy and triumphing The pirate's head he brought along For to present unto our King, ig; OLD BALLADS. 207 Who briefly unto him did say, Before he knew well what was done, " Where is the knight, and pirate gay, That I myself may give the doom 1" " You may thank God," then said the lord, "And four men in the ship," quoth he, " That we are safely come ashore, Sith you never had such an enemy : That is, Henry Hunt, and Peter Simon, William Horsley, and Peter's son ; Therefore reward them for their pains. For they did service at their turn." To the merchant therefore the King he said, " In lieu of what he hath from thee tane, I give thee a noble a-day, Sir Andrew's whistle and his chain ; To Peter Simon a crown a-day ; And half-a-crown a-day to Peter's son. And that was for a shot so gay, AVliich bravely brought Sii' Andrew down ; Horsley, I will make thee a knight, And in Yorkshire thou shalt dwell ; Lord Howard shall Earl Bury hight, For this act he deservetli well ; Ninety pound to our English men. Who in this fight did stoutly stand ; And twelve pence a-day to the Scots till they Come to my brother King's high land." AN EXCELLENT SONG ON THE WINNING OF GALES BY THE ENGLISH. The fate of the Armada did not quench the fury of Philip IT, who pre- pared a flf-et for a second invasion of England, but Eliza holh anticipated the attack, by a descent on the Spanish coast, and the victory celebrated in the followinif very spirited sea song conuneniorates that event. The expedition sailed from I'lymouth under the command of Admiral Lord 208 THE NORrOLK GARLAND. Howard, with the Earl of Essex as General of the Army, on the Ist of June, 1596, and reached Cadiz on the 20th of that month. The armament ■was intended to destroy the Spanish fleet in Cadiz, and was equipped with such great celerity, that it arrived oiF that city before any news of its preparation had reached Spain. The smallest of the ships, commanded by the Admiral, entered the harbor the day after their arrival, and the soldiers under the Earl of Essex attacked the town, and would have put the garrison to the sword, had it not been ransomed by the payment of about 600,000 ducats. The Spaniards offered two millions of ducats as a ransom for their fleet lying in Puerto Real, but this was refused by the Lord High Admiral, who sent Sir Walter Ealeigh and Lord Thomas Howard to destroy it. A large number of vessels, freighted for the West Indies, two rich galleons with 100 trap guns, a number of ships of war, and 1200 pieces of ordnance, were taken or sunk. The Spaniards fought well, but in the end were completely defeated, and their loss was estimated at twenty millions of ducats. Cadiz was plundered, all the forts demolished, and a great part of the town laid in ashes. Percy says that the Earl of Essex knighted on this occasion not fewer than sixty persons, which gave rise to the following sarcasm : — "A gentleman of Wales, a knight of Cales, And a laird of the north country ; But a yeoman of Kent, with his yearly rent. Will buy them out all three." The ballad is re-printed from Delony's " Garland of Good Will," and will be found to contain many variations from that which Percy printed. Long had tlie proud Spaniards Advanced to conquer i:s, Threatening our country With fire and sword ; Often preparing Their navy most sumptuous, With all the provision That Spain could afford. Dub, a-dub, dub, Thus strike the drums, Tan-ta-ra, ta-ra-ra. The Englishman comes. To the seas presently Went our lord admiral, With knights couragious. And captains full good ; OLD BALLADS. 209 The Earl of Essex, A prosperous general, With him prepared To pass the salt flood, Dub a-dub, &c. At Plymouth speedily Took they ships valiantly ; Braver shii^s never AVere seen under sail ; With their fair colours spread, And streamers o'er their head ; Now, bragging Spaniards Take heed of your tail. Dub-a-dub, &c. Unto Cales cunningly Came we most hajipily, Where the King's navy Did secretly ride ; Being upon their backs. Piercing their butts of sack, Ere that the Spaniards Our coming descry'd. Tan-ta-ra, ta-ra-ra, The English man comes ; Bounce-a- bounce, bounce-a-bounce, Off went the guns. Great was the crying, Running and riding, WJiich at that season Was made at that pluce; Then beacons were fired, As need was required ; To hide th(!ir great treasure They had little, space. Alas ! tlicy cryed, English man conies, &c. P 210 THB NORFOLK GARLAND. There you might see tlie ships, How they were tired fast,* And how the men drown'd Themselves in the sea ; There you may hear them cry, Wail and weep piteously, When as they saw no shift Te escape thence away. Duh-a-dul), &c. The great Saint Philij), The pride of the Spaniards, Was burnt to the bottom. And sunk in the sea ; But the Saint Andrew, And eke the Saijit Matthew, We took in fight manfully And brought them away. Dub-a-dub, &c. The Earl of Essex, Most valiant and hardy. With horsemen and footmen March'd towards the town ; The enemies which saw them, Eull greatly aif righted, Did fly for their safeguard, And durst not come down. Dub-a-dub, &c. Now, quoth the noble earl, Courage, my soldiers all ! Fight, and be valiant, And spoil you shall have ; And well rewarded all, Erom the great to the small ; * The Duke of Medina, the Spanish Admiral, set fire to the ships in order to prevent their falling into the hands of the English. OLD BALLADS. 211 But look that the -women And children you save, Dub-a-dub, &c. The Spaniards at that eight, Saw 'twas in vain to fight, Hung up their flags of truce, Yielding the town ; We march'd in presently, Decking the walls on high Witli our English colours. Which purchas'd renown. Dub-a-dub, &c. Ent'ring the houses then. And of the richest men, For gold and treasure We searched each day ; In some places we did find Pye baking in the oven. Meat at the fire roasting, And men run away. Dub-a-dub, &c. Full of rich merchandize, Every shop wo did see, Damask and sattins. And velvet full fair, "Wliich soldiers measure out By the lengtli of their swords ; Of all commodities, Each one hath share. Dub-a-dub, &c. Thus Cales was taken, And our brave general j\rari:]iM in the market place, TIhtc 111' (lid stand ; 212 THE NORFOLK GARLAND. There many prisoners Of good account were took ; Many crav'd mercy, And mercy they found. Dub-a-dub, &c. "WTien as our general Saw they delayed time, And would not ransom The town as they said, "With their fair wainscots, Their presses and bedsteads, Their joint-stools and tables, A fire we made. And when the town burnt in a flame, With tan-ta-ra, tan-ta-ra-rara, From thence we came. THE SPANISH LADY'S LOVE TO AN ENGLISH MAN. This beautiful old ballad, says Percy, most probably took its rise from one of those descents made on the Spanish coasts in the time of Elizabeth. In the "West of England there was a tradition that the gentleman was a member of the Popham family, by whom the lady's picture, and the chain and bracelets mentioned in the ballad, were said to have been preserved. Another tradition identifies the hero in Sir Richard Levison, of Trentham, in Staffordshire, who distinguished himself in the Spanish expeditions towards the close of Elizabeth's reign. The story, modified by different circumstances but agreeing in the main incidents, is common to many ballads, of which this is probably the earliest, and certainly best worthy of preservation. It is pervaded by a sweetness and gentleness of spirit that greatly heightens the pathos of the narrative. The subject was dramatized by Thomas Hull in a musical entertainment produced at Covent Garden in 1765. The following ballad is taken from Deloney's " Garland of Good Will," published by the " Percy Society." Will you hear a Spanish lady, How she woo'd an English man ? Garments gay, as rich as may be, Deck'd with jewels, had she on. OLD BALLADS. 213 Of a comely countenance and grace was she ; And by bixth and parentage of high degree; As his prisoner there he kept her, In his hands her life did lie ; Cupid's bands did tie her faster, By the liking of her eye ; In his courteous company was all her joy , To favour him in anything she was not coy. At the last there came commandment For to set the ladies free ; With their jewels still adorned, INone to do them injury. Alas ! then said this lady gay, full woe is me : ! let me still sustain this kind captivity. ! gallant captain, show some pity To a lady in distress ; Leave me not within the city, For to die in heaviness. Thou hast set this present day my body free. But my heart in prison strong remains with thee. How should'st thou, fair lady, love me, A\Tiom thou know'st thy country's foe ? Thy fair words make me suspect thee, Serpents are where flowers grow. All the evil I think to thee, most gracious knight, God grant unto myself the same may fidly light. Blessed be the time and season That you came on Spanish ground : If you may our foes be termed, Gentle foes we have you found. With our cities, you have won our hearts each one ; Then to your country, bear away that is your own. Rest you still, most gallant lady, liest you still, and weep no more ; 214 THE NORFOLK GARLAND. Of fair lovers there are plenty, Spain doth yield a wondrous store. Spaniards fraught with jealousie we often find, But English men throughout the world are counted kind. Leave me not unto a Spaniard, You alone enjoy my heart ; I am lovely, young, and tender, And so love is my desert ; Still to serve thee day and night my miiid is prest ; The wife of every English man is counted blest. It would be a shame, fair lady. For to bccir a woman hence ; EngHsh soldiers never carry Any such without offence. I will quickly change myself, if it be so. And like a page I'll follow thee where'er thou go. I have neither gold nor silver To maintain thee in this case ; And to travel 'tis great charges, As you know, in every place. My chains and jcAvels every one shall be thine own. And eke ten thousand pounds in gold, that lies unlvnown. On the seas are many dangers, Many storms do there arise, Which will be to ladies dreadful. And force tears from wat'ry eyes. AVell, in worth, I could endure extremity, For I could find in heart to lose my life for thee. Courteous lady, be contented. Here comes all that breeds the strife ; I, in England, have already A sweet woman to my wife. I will not falsifie my vow iov gold or gain, Xor yet for all the fairest dames that live in Spain. OLD BALLADS. 215 Oh ! how happy is that woman That enjoys so true a friend ; IMany days of joy God send you ! Of my suit I'll make an end : Upon my knees I pardon crave for this offence, "Which love and true affection did first commence. Commend me to thy loving lady, Bear to her this chain of gold, And these bracelets for a token, Grieving that I was so bold ; All my jewels, in like sort, bear thou with thee. For these are fitting for thy wife, and not for me. I will spend my days in prayer, Love and all her laws defie ; In a nunnery will I shroud me. Far from other company ; But ere my prayers have end, be sure of this. For thee and for thy love I will not miss. Thus farewel ! most gentle captain, And farewel my heart's content ; Count not Spanish ladies wanton, Though to thee my love was bent ; Joy and true prosperity go still with tlice. Tlie like fall ever to thy share, most fair lady. THE REP.ELLTON OP \VATT TYLER AND JACKE STRAW WITH OTUEKS AGAINST K. RICIIAKD THE SECOND. TO tiil: tune op "the miller would A-wooma hide." "Watt Tyler is from Oarfonl gaii. And willi him many n ]iin]icr inaii. And he a cajitainc is Ix'coinc, Marcliing in field with pliile ami (Iruiiimc. 216 THE NOErOLK GARLAND. Jacke Straw, an other in like case, From Essex fiockes a mighty pace. Hob Carter with his stragling traine, Jacke Shepheard comes with him amaine ; So doth Tom Miller, in like sort As if he meant to take some fort. With bowes and bils, with speare and shield, On Black-heath have they pitcht their field : An hundred thousand men in all, Whose force is not accounted small ; And for King Eichard did they send, Much evU to him they did intend. For the taxe the which our King Upon his commons then did bring. And now because his royall Grace Denyed to come within their chase, They spoyled Southwark round about. And took the Marshals prisoners out. All those that in the Kings-bench lay, • At libertie they set that day ; And then they marcht mth one consent Through London vdth a lewd intent. And for to fit their lewd desu'e. They set the Savoy all on fire ; And for the hate that they did beare Unto the Duke of Lankasteare, Therefore his house they burned quite, Through envy, malice, and desjiight. Then to the Temple did they turne. The lawj'ers bookes there did they burne, And spoyld their lodgings one by one. And all they could lay hand upon. Then into Smitlrfield did they hie, To Saint Jones place that stands thereby, And set the same on fier flat, Which burned seven days after that. Unto the Tower of London then Fast trooped these rebellious men, OLD BALLADS. 217 And having entered soone the same, With hidious cryes and mickle shame, The grave Lord Chauncelor then they tooke^ Amazde, "with fearefull pittious looke ; The Lord High Treasurer likewise they Took from tliat place that present day ; And with their hooting lowd and shrUl Stroke off their heads on Tower Hill. Into the cittie came they then, Like rude disordered franticke men. They robd the churches every where, And put the priestes in deadly feare. Into the Counters then they get. Where men m prison lay for debt ; They broke the doores and let them out, And threw the Counter bookes about. Tearing and spoyling them each one, And records all they light upon. Tlie doores of ^Newgate broke they downe. That prisoners ran about the towne, Forcing all the smiths they meete To knocke the irons from their feete ; And then, like vdlaines voyde of awe. Followed Watt Tyler and Jacke Strawe. And though this outrage was not small, The King gave pardon to them all, So tliey would part home quietly ; Lut they his pardon did deiie. And being all in Smithfield then. Even threescore thousand fighting men, Which there Watt Tyler then did bring, Of purpose for to meete our King. And tlicrewitliall his roj-all grace Sent Sir Jolin Ncwtcni to tliat place, Unto Watt Tyler, Avilliug liim To come and speake with our young King. But the proud rebell, in ili'spiglit, ' Did picke a quarrell with the knight. 218 THE NORFOLK GARLAND. The Mayor of London being l)y, Wlien lie beheld this villainie, Unto Wat Tyler rode he then, Being in midst of all his men, Saying, traitor, yield, 'tis best ; In the King's name I thee arrest : And therewith to his dagger start, And tlirust the rebell to the hart ; Who falling dead unto the ground, The same did all the host confound. And downs they threw tlieir weapons all, And humbly they for pardon call. Thus did that proud rebellion cease, And after followed a joyfull peace. THE MAIDEN'S SONG. It was a knight in Scotland borne, Follow my love, come over the strand, Was taken prisoner and left forlorne. Even by the good Earle of JSTorthumberland. Then he was cast in prison strong, FoUow my love, leape over the strand, Where he could not walke nor lie along. Even by the good Earle of ^Northumberland. And as in sorrow tlius he lay, Follow my love, come over the strand, The carle's sweete daughter walkt that way. And slie the faire flower of Northumberland. And passing by, like an angell bright. Follow my love, come over the strand, This prisoner had of her a siglit, And she the faire flower of Northumberland. OLD BALLADS. 219 And loud to her this knight did crie, Follow my love, come over the strand, The salt teares standing in his eye, And she the faire flower of Xorthumljerland. Faire lady, he said, take pity on me, Follow my love, come over the strand. And let me not in prison dye, And you the faire flower of iS^orthumberland. Faire sir, how shoidd I take pity on thee, Follow my love, come over the strand, Thou being a foe to our countrey. And I the faire flower of IS^orthumberland 1 Faire lady, I am no foe, he said, Follow my love, come over the strand. Through thy sweete love heere was I stay'd, For thee, the faire flower of JS'orthumberland. VThj ehouldst thou come heere for love of me, Follow my lovo, come over the strand, Having wife and children in the countrie, And I the faire flower of Northumberland ] I swear, by the Blessed Trinitie, Follow my love, come over the strand, I have no wife, nor children I, Nov dwcUing at home in merrio Scotland. If curteously you will set me free, Follow my love, come over the strand, I vow that I will marrie thee So soon as I come in faire Scotlund. Thou shalt be a lady of castles and towers, Follow my love, come over the strand, And sit like a queenc in princely bowers, M'lien I am at liume in faire Scollaiid. 220 THE NORFOLK GARLAND. Then parted hence this lady gay. Follow my love, come over the strand. And got her father's ring away, To helpe this sad knight into faire Scotland. Likewise much gold she got by sleight, Follow my love, come over the strand, And all to helpe this forlorne knight To wend from her father to faire Scotland. Two gallant steedes both good and able, Follow my love, come over the strand, She likewise took out of the stable. To ride with this knight into faire Scotland. And to the jaylor she sent this ring, Follow my love, come over the strand, The knight from prison forth to bring. To wend with her into faire Scotland. This token set the prisoner free, Follow my love, come over the strand, Who straight went to this faire lady. To wend with her into faire Scotland. A gallant steed he did bestride, Follow my love, come over the strand, And with the lady away did ride. And she the faire flower of Northumberland. They rode till they came to a water cleare, Follow my love, come over the strand, Good sir, how should I follow you here. And I the faire flower of Northumberland 1 The water is rough and wonderfull deepe, Follow my love, come over the strand. And on my saddle I shall not keepe, And I the faire flower of Northumberland. OLD BALLADS. 221 Feare not the foorde, faire lady, quoth he, Follow my love, come over the strand. For long I cannot stay for thee, And thou the fah-e flower of Northumberland. The lady prickt her wanton steed, FoUow my love, come over the strand. And over the river sworn with speede, And she the faire flower of Northumberland. From top to toe all wet was shee, Follow my love, come over the strand ; This have I done for love of thee, And I the faire flower of Northumberland. Thus rode she all one winter's night. Follow my love, come over the strand, Till Edinborow they saw in sight, The chiefest towne in all Scotland. Now chuse, quoth he, thou wanton flower, Follow my love, come over the strand, Where thou wUt be my paramour. Or get thee home to Northumberland. For I have wife and children five. Follow my love, come over the strand, 111 Edinborow they be alive, Then get thee home to faire England. This favour shalt thou have to boote. Follow my love, come over the strand, I'll have thy horse, go thou on foote. Go, get thee home to Northumberland. 0, false and faithless knight, quoth she. Follow my love, come over the strand, And canst tlioii dcrile so bad with mo. And I the faire flower of Northumberland? 222 THE NORFOLK GAEL AND. Disliouour not a ladies name, Follow my love, come over the etrand. But draw thy sword and end my shame. And I the faire flower of Northumberland. He tooke her from her stately steed, Follow my love, come over the strand, And left her there in extreme need, And she the faire flower of JSTorthumherland. Then sate she downe full heavily, Follow my love, come over the strand. At length two knights came riding by. Two gallant knights of faire England. She fell downe humbly on her knee, Follow my love, come over the strand, Saying, courteous knights, take pittie on me. And I the faire flower of JSTorthumberland. I have offended my father deere, Follow my love, come over the strand, And by a false knight that brought me heere, From the good Earle of Northumberland. They took her up behind them then, Follow my love, come over the strand, And brought her to her father's again, And he the "ood Earle of Northumberland. o^ All you faire maidens be warned by me. Follow my love, come over the strand, Scots were never true, nor never will be, To lord, nor lady, nor faire England. JEALOUSY. A maiden faire I dare not wed. For feare to have Acteon's head ; OLD BALLADS. 223 A maiden blacke is often proud, A maiden little avlU he loud , A maiden that is high of growth They say is subject imto sloath. Thus faire or foule, yea, little or taU, Some faults remaine among them all. But of all the faults that be, ]S"one is so bad as jealou&ie. For jealousie is fierce and fell, And burnes as hot as fire in hell. It breeds suspicion "Hdthout cause, And breakes the bonds ol reason's lawes. To none it is a greater foo Than unto those where it doth grow. And God keepe me both day and night From that fell, fond, and ugly si^right ; For Avhy of all the plagues that be, The secret plague is jealousie. Therefore I wish all Avomen kind, Never to beare a jealous minde. THE WEAVER'S SONG. '\\nien Hercules did use to spin, And PaUas wrought upon the loomc, Our trade to flourish did begin, "While conscience went not selling broomc. Tlien love and friendship did agree To keepo the baud of aniitio. When princes sonnes kept sheep in field. And riuecnes made cakes of whcaton flower. Then men to lucre did iml yield, "Which brought good clicfjre in evcric bower. Then love and frirmlsliip did agree To hold the bauds of amitie. ^24 THE NORFOLK GARLAND. But when that giants, huge and hie, Did fight with speares like weavers beanies, Then they in iron beds did lie, And brought poore men to hard extreames. Yet love and friendship did agree To hold the bands of aniitie. Then David tooke his sling and stone, Not fearing great Goliahs strength, He pearc't his braines and broke the bone, Though he were fiftie foote of length. For love and friendship, &c. But while the Greekes besieged Troy, Penelope apace did spin. And weavers wrought with niickle joy. Though little gaines were coining in. For love and friendship, &c. Had Helen then sate carding wooU, (Whose beauteous face did breed such strife) Shee had not been Sir Paris trull, Nor caus'd so many lose their life. Yet we by love did still agree, &c. Or had King Priams wanton sonne Beene making quils with sweet content. He had not then his friends undone When he to Greece a gadding went. For love and friendship did agree, &c. The cedar trees indure more stormes Than little slirubbs that sprout on hie, The weavers live more voyd of harmes Than princes of great dignitie. While love and friendship doth agree, &c. The shepheard sitting in the field Doth tune his pipe Avith hearts delight ; OLD BALLADS. 225 ^^^len princes watch with speare and shield, The poore man soundly sleepes all night. AVliile love and friendship doth agi'ee, &c. Yet tliis by proofe is daily tride, For God's good gifts we are ingrate, And no man through the world so Avide Lives well contented with his state. Xo love and friendship we can see To hold the bands of amitie. FLODDEN FIELD. King Jamie hath made a vow, Keepe it well if he may, That he will be at lovely London Upon Saint James his day. Upon Saint James his day at noone At faire London will I be, And all the lords in merrie Scotland They shall diae there with me. Then he spake good Queene Margaret, The teares fell from her eye : Leave off these warres, most noble King, Keepe your fidelitie ; The water runs swift and wondrous decpo From bottome unto the brimme, My brother Henry hath men good enough, England is hard to winne. Away (fpxoth he) with this siUy foole, In prison fast let her lie, For she is come of tlie English bloud, And for thciso words slio shall dye. Witli that bespake Lf^rd Thomas Howard, The Queenea Chamberlaino that day : 226 THE NORFOLK GARLAND, If that you piit Queene Margaret to death, Scotland shall rue it alway. Then in a rage King Jamie did say, Away with this foolish mome, He shall be hanged, and the other be burned, As soon as I come home. At Flodden Field the Scots came in, Which made our English men faine, At Bramstone Greene tliis battade was seene. There was King Jamie slaine. ■'o Then presently the Scots did flie. Their cannons they left behind, Their ensignes gay were won all away. Our souldiers did beate them blinde. To tell you plaine, twelve thousand were slaine That to the fight did stand ; And many prisoners tooke that day, The best in all Scotland. That day made many fatherlesse child, And many a widow poore, And many a Scottish gay lady Sate weeping in her bower. Jacke with a feather was lapt all in leather, His boastings were all in vaine, He had such a chance with a new morrice dance. He never went home again. THE WOOLLEN MANUFACTOET. The followinpr graphic description, frem the pen of Delony, of a woollen manufactory at the end of the sixteenth century, is of peculiar interest at the present day, as he, in consequence of having been a weaver, was well acquainted with all the details ©f such an establishment. Within one roome, being large and long. There stood two hundred loonies full strong. OLD BALLADS. 227 Two hundred men, the truth is so, Wrought in these loomes all in a row. By every one a prettie boy Sate making quils with mickle joy ; And in another place hard by, An hundred women niemly Were carding hard with joyfull cheere, Who singing sat with voyces cleere. And in a chamber close beside, Two hundred maydens did abide. In peticoats of stammel red, And milke-white kerchers on their head ; Their smocke sleeves like to winter snow That on the western mountaines flow, And each sleeve with a silken band Was featly tied at the hand ; These pretty maids did never lin, But in that place all day did spin ; And si:)inniiig so with voyces meet. Like nightingales they sung full sweet. Then to another loome came they. Where chUdren were in poore array. And every one sat picking woU, The finest from the course to cidl. The number was seven score and ten, The children of poore silly men. And these, their labours to requite. Had every one a penny at night, Beside their meate and drijik all day, Which W{i8 to them a wondrous stay. Witliin another jilace likewise, Fidl liftio proi)er men he spies ; And these wofe shearemen every one, Whose skill and cunning there was showne. And hard by them there did remaino Full four score rowers taking paine. A dye-house likewise had In; tlicii, Wherein he k(;i»t full fortic men ; 228 THE NORFOLK GARLAND. Aiid likewise in his fulling mill, Full twenty persons kept he still. Each weeke ten good fat oxen he Spent in his house for certaintie, Beside good butter, cheese, and fish, And many another holesome dish. He kept a butcher all the yeere, A brewer eke for ale and beere. A baker for to bake her bread, Which stood his household in good stead. Five cookes within his kitchen great Were all the yeere to dresse his meat. Sixe scullion boyes unto their hands To make clean dishes, pots, and pans. Beside poore children that did stay To turn the broaches every day. The old man that did see this sight Was much amaz'd, as weU he might. This was a gallant cloathier sure, Whose fame for ever shall endure. ^S I CAME FEOM WALSINGHAM. The scene of this ballad is the same as " Gentle herdsman, tell to me," and was probably written not long after the dissolution of the monasteries, while the remembrance of them was fresh in the minds of the people. Bishop Percy, in his Beliques, calls it " As ye came from the Holy Land," and his copy of the ballad was communicated to him by Mr. Shenstone, as corrected by that gentleman from an ancient copy, and supplied with a concluding stanza. Thia is, to say the least, very singular, as the Bishop's old folio MS. was found to contain this ballad, and the last stanza is so good that it certainly needed no such substitute as the Bishop printed. I have taken the ballad from Delony's " Garland of Good- will," as privately printed for the members of the Percy Society. The pilgrimage to Walsingham suggested the plan of many popular pieces. In the P>^pys' Collection, vol. i., p. 226, there is a kind of interlude, the first stanza of which is — As I went to Walsingham To the shrine with speede, Met I with a jolly palmer In a pilgrimes weede. OLD BALLADS, 229 Now God yon save, you jolly palmer ! Welcome, lady gay. Oft have I sued to thee for love. Oft have I said you nay. Tlie following ballad was once very popular ; it is quoted in Fletcher's "Knight of the Burning Pestle," Act 2, and in another old play called "Hans' Beer-pot: his Invisible Comedy," &e., 4to, 1618. The tune " Walsinghani," to which it was sung, is mentioned by Mr. Chappell as in Queen Elizabeth's and Lady Neville's Virginal Books, and other old tune books. In "The "Weakest Goes to the Wall," 1600, the scene being laid in Burgundy, the following lines are given :— King Kichard's gone to Walsingbam, to the holy-land, To kill Turk and Saracen, that the truth do withstand; Christ hia cross be his good speed, Christ his foes to quell. Send him help in time of need, and to come home well. Among other superstitions belonging to the place, says a writer in Chambers's Book of Days, was one that the Milky Way pointed directly to the home of the Virgin, in order to guide pilgrims directly on their road, hence it is called the Walsingham Way, which had its counterpart on earth in the broad way which led through Norfolk. At every town that it passed through a cross was erected pointing out the path to the holy spot. As you came from the holy-land Of Walsingham, Met you not with my true love By the way as you came 1 ITow should I know your true love, That have met many a one As I came from the holy-land, That have come, that have gone 1 She is neither white nor brown. But as the lieavens fair ; There is none liutli a form so divine On the earth, in the air. 8uch a one did T meet (good sii-) With angel-like face; WTio like a f|Ufcn did apjiear In her gait, in her grace. 230 THE NORFOLK GARLAND. She hath left me here all alone, All alone and unknown, Who sometime lov'd me as her life, And call'd me her own. "What's the cause she hath left thee alone, And a new way doth take, That sometime did love thee as her life, And her joy did thee make 1 I loved her all my youth But now am old, as you see ; Love liketh not the fallen fruit, 'Nor the withered tree 1 For love is a careless child, ■ And forgets promise past ; He is blind, he is deaf, when he list. And in faith never fast. For love is a great delight, And yet a trustless joy ; He is won with a word of despair, Ajid is lost with a toy. Such is the love of womankind. Or the word (love) abus'd Under which many childish desires And conceits are excus'd. But love is a durable fire. In the niLad ever burning ; Never sick, never dead, never cold, From itself never turnin Arise, and let me inn. I am waking, sweete, he said, Sweete ladye, what is your will ? 1 have unhethought me of awhile How my wed-lord weell spill. Twenty-four good knights, shee sayes^ That dwell about this towne, Even twenty-four of my next cozens Will helpe to dinge him downe. All that beheard his litle footepage As he watered his master's steed. And for his master's sad perille His verry heart did bleed. He mourned still, and wept fall sore ; I sweare by the holy roode, The teares he for his master wept Were blent water and bloude. And that beheard his deare master As he stood at his garden pale ; Sayes, ever alacke, my litle footepage,, What causes thee to wail 1 Hath any one done to thee wronge, Any of thy fellowes here 1 Or is any one of thy good friends dead. That thou shedst manye a teare ? Or, if it be my head bookes-man, Aggrieved he shal bee, For no man here withiu my howse Shall do wrong unto thee. OLD BALLADS. 233 O, it is not your head bookes-man, JSTor none of his degree : But on to-morrow ere it be noone All deemed to die are yee. And of that bethank your head steward, And thank your gay ladie. If this be true, my litle footepage, The heyre of my land thoust bee. If it be not true, my dear master, No good death let me die. If it be not true, thou litle footepage, A dead corse thou shalt lie. O call now downe my faire ladye, O call her downe to mee ; And teU my ladye gay how sicke And like to die I bee. Downe then came liis ladye faire. All clad in purple and pall ; The rings that were on her fingers Cast light thorrow the hall. What is your will, my owno wcd-lurd 1 What is your will with me 1 see, my ladye deere, how sicke And like to die I bee. And thou be sicke, my own wcd-lord, 8oe sore it grieveth me ; Eut my live maydens and niysclfe Will ' watch thy ' bedde for thee. And at the waking of your first slecpo. We will a hott drinkc make ; Ajid at the waking of your ' next ' slcepo, Your sorrows we will eiuko. 234 THE NORFOLK GARLAND. He put a silk cote on his backe, And mail of manye a fold ; And hee putt a Steele cap on his head, "Was gilt with good red gold. He layd a bright browne sword by his side, And another at his feete ; " And twenty good knights he placed at hand To watch him in his sleepe." And about the middle time of the night Came twentye-four traitrous inn ; Sir Giles he was the foremost man, The leader of that giiin. Old Eobin with his bright browne sword Sir Gyles' head soon did win ; And scant of all those twenty-four Went out one quick agenn. None, save only a little footepage, Crept forth at a window of stone : And he had two armes when he came in, And he went back with one. Upp then came that ladie gaye, With torches burning bright : She thought to have brought Sir Gyles a driuke, But shee found her owne wedd knight. -'o^ The first thinge that she stumbled on It was Sir Gyles his foote : Sayes, Ever alacke, and woe is mee ! Here lyes my sweete hart-roote. The next thinge that she stumbled on It was Sir Gyles his heade : Sayes, Ever alacke, and woe is me ! Here lyes my tme love deade. OLD BALLADS. 235 He ciitt the pappes beside lier brest, And did her body spille ; He cutt the eares beside her heade, And bade her love her iille. He called then up his little foot-page, And made hiiu there his heyre ; And sayd, henceforth my worldlye goodes And countrye I forsweare. He shope the crosse on liis right shoulder Of the white ' clothe ' and the redde,* And "went into the holy land, ^\'liereas Clirist was quicke and dead. In the foregoing piece, Giles, steward to a rich old merchant trading to Portugal, is qualified with the title of iSir, not as being a knight, but rather. Bishop Percy thinks, as having reached an inferior order of priesthood. GENTLE HERDSMAN, TELL TO ME, DIALOGTJE BETWEEN A PILGRIM AND HERDSMAN. Bishop Percy says the scene of this beautiful old ballad is laid near Wal- Bingham, in Norfolk, where was anciently an image of the Virgin Mary, famous overall Europe for the numerous pilgrimages made to it and the great riches it possessed. Erasmus has given a very exact and humorous description of the superstitions practised therein his time. He tells us, the rich offerings in silver, gold, and precious stones that were there shown him were incredible, there being scarce a person of any note in England but that some time or other paid a visit or sent a present to " Our Lady of Walsingham." At the dissolution of the monasteries in l.'JIJS this siik-ndid image, with another from Ipswich, was carried to Chelsea, and there burnt in the presence of Commissioners. This poem is printed by Bishop Percy from a copy in manuscript, which he says had greatly suUfn-a by the hand of time. Ves- tiges of several of the lines remaining, the Bishop ackowledges that some • Every person who went on a crusade to the Holy Land usually wore a cioss on his upper garment, on the right shDuldcr, as a badg<> of Iiis profession. DillV'reut nations were di-itingiiitilicd liy crosses of diflurfnt colors, 'llio Englinh worry you shall lieare, In tiiiKj Ijrought forth to light. A gentleman of good account In Norfolk dwelt of late, AVlin dill in liMiior far .surmount Most mi'ii of his estate. • Chappell's Popular MuBic of the Olden Time, page 200. 262 THE NOEFOLK GARLAND. Sore sicko lie was, and like to dye, Ko helpe liis life could save ; His wife by him as sicke did lye, And both possest one grave. No love between these two was lost. Each was to other kiude, In love they liv'd, in love they dyed. And left too babes behind : The one a fine and pretty boy, I^ot passing three years olde ; The other a girl more young than he, And fram'd in beautyes molde. The father left his little son, As plainlye doth appeare, When he to perfect age should come, Three hundred pounds a yeare. And to his little daughter Jane Five hundred pounds in gold. To be paid down on marriage-day, "Which might not be controll'd : Bnt if the children chance to dye. Ere they to age should come, Their uncle should possesse their wealth ; For so the wiLle did run. Now, brother, said the dying man. Look to my children deare ; Be good unto mj^ boy and girl, No friends else have they here : To God and you I recommend ISIy cliildren deare this daye ; A little while be sure we have Within this world to stays. You must be father and mother both, And uncle all in one ; God knows what will become of them, When I am dead and gone : OLD BALLADS. 263 With that bespoke their mother deare, brother kiude, quoth shee, You are the man must bring oiu' babes To wealth or miserie ! And if you keep them carefully, Then God -will you reward ; Eut if you other^vise shoidd deal, God will your deedes regard, With lips as cold as any stone, They kist their children small : God bless you both, my children deare ; With that the teares did fall. These speeches then their brother spake To this sicke couple there, The keeping of your little ones Sweet sister do not fear : God never prosper me nor mine, Nor aught else that I have, If I do wrong your children neare, When you are layd in grave. The parents being dead and gone. The children home he takes, And bringes them straite into his house. Where much of them he makes. He had not kept tliese pretty babes A twelvemonth and a daye. But for their wealth he did devise To make them both awayo. He bargain'd with two ruffians strong, "VMiich were of furious mood. That they should take tliese children young. And slayc them in a wood. He told his wife an artful tale, He would tlio children send To be brought uj) in faire London, With one that was his friend. 2G4 THE NORFOLK GARLAND. Away then -went those pretty habes, Eejoicing at that tide, Eejoicing with a merry minde, They should on cock horse ride. They prate and prattle pleasantly, As they rode on the waye. To those that should their butchers be, And work their lives decaye : ■ To that the pretty speeche they had. Made Murder's heart relent : And they that undertooke the deed, Full sore did now repent. Yet one of them more hard of heart, Did vowe to do his charge, Because the wretch that hired him. Had paid him very large. The other won't agree thereto. So here they fall to strife ; With one another they did fight. About the children's life : And he that was of mildest mood. Did slaye the other there. Within an unfrequented wood ; The babes did quake for feare ! He took the children by the hand. Tears standing in their eye, And bad them straightwaye follow him, And look they did not crye : And two long miles he ledd them on, While they for food complaino. Staye here, quoth he, I'll bring you bread, When I come back a^ain. o These pretty babes, with hand in hand, Went wandering up and downe ; And never more could see the man Approaching from the town : OLD BALLADS, 265 Their prettye lippes -svith black-berries, Were all besmear'd and dyed, And when tliey sawe the darksome night, They sat them doAvne and cryed. Thus wandered these poor innocents, Till death did end their grief, In one another's armes they dyed. As wanting due relief : Ko burial ' this ' pretty * pair ' Of any man receives Till Eobin-redbreast piously Did cover them with leaves. And now the heavy wrathe of God Upon their uncle fell ; Yea, fearful fiends did haunt his house, His conscience felt an hell : His barnes were fir'd, his goodes consum'd, His landes were barren made. His cattle dyed within the field. And nothing with him stay'd. And in a voyage to Portugal Two of his sonnes did dye ; And to conclude, himself was brought To want ami miserye : He pawn'd and mortgaged all his land Ere seven years came about, And now at length this wicked act iJid by this means come out : The fcllowc, that did take in hand These children for to kill. Was for a robbery judg'd to dyo, Such was God's blessed will : Who did confess the very truth, As here liath been displuy'd : Their undo having dyed in gaol Where he for debt was layd. 266 THE NORFOLK GARLAND. You that executors be made, And overseers eke Of children that be fatherless, And infants mild and meek ; Take you example by this thing, And yield to each his right, Lest God with such like miserye Your wicked minds requite. NANCY AND JEMMY OF TAEMOUTH, OB THE CONSTANT LOVEES' GAELAND. IN FOUR PARTS. Part 1. Showing how beautiful Nancy of Yarmouth fell in love with young Jemmy the Sailor. Part 2. How the Father conveyed a letter to destroy young Jemmy, hia daughter's sweetheart. Part 3. Showing how the Ghost of young Jemmy the Sailor appeared to beautiful Nancy of Yarmouth. Part 4. How the Ghosts of these two unfortunate lovers appeared to the Boatswain, and he, having his trial, was hanged at the yard's arm. TUNE, THE YARMOUTH TRAGEDY. PART I. Lovers, I pray, lend an ear to my story, Take an example by this constant pair ; How love a young virgin did blast in her glory. Beautiful Kancy of Yarmouth we hear. She was a merchant's only daughter. Heir unto fifteen hundred a year ; A young man courted her who called her bis jewel. The son of a gentleman who lived near. Many long years the maid he admired ; "When they were infants in love they agreed ; And when at age this young couple arrived Cupid an arrow between them displayed. OLD BALLADS. 267 Their tender hearts were linked together, But when her parents the same did hear, They to their charming young beautiful daughter Acted a part that ^yas hard and severe. Daughter, they said, give over your proceedings j If that against our consent you do wed. For ever more we resolve to disown you If you wed with one that is mean bred. Her mother said. You are a great fortune. Besides, you are beautiful charmiug and young ; You are a match, dear child, that is fitting For any Lord that is in Christendom. Then did reply the young beautiful virgin, Eiches and honour I do defy ; If that I am denied of my dearest lover Then farewell world which is vanity. Jemmy's the man that I do admire. He is the riches that I do adore. For to be great I never desire. My heart is fixed never to love more. Then said her father, 'Tis my resolution. Although I have no more daughters but thee. If tliat witli him you resolve for to marry Banished for ever from mc thou shall bo. "WeU, cruel father, but this I desire, Grant me that J(!iiiiiiy once more I may see, Tliough you do us part T still will be loyal, For none iu the world I admire Ijut ho. For the young nmn lie scnl in passion. Saying, For ever, sir, take your leave ; I liave a match more fit for my daughter, Therefore it is but foUy to grieve. 2G8 THE NORrOLK GARLAND, HonourM father, then said the young lady, Promised we are by tlie powers above ; Why of all comforts will you bereave me 1 Our love is fixed never to be removed. Then said her father, A trip to the ocean You first shall go in a ship of my own, And I'll consent you shall have my daughter When to Yarmouth again you return. Honour'd sir, then said the two lovers, Since 'tis your will we are bound to obey ; Our constant hearts can never be parted, But our eager desires no longer can stay. Then said N'ancy, Behold, dearest Jemmy, Here take this ring, the pledge of our vow. With it my heart keep it safe in your bosom, Carry it with you wherever you go. Then in his arms he closely did infold her, While crystal tears like a fountain did flow, Crying, My heart in return I do give you, And you shall be present wherever I go. When on the ocean, my dear, I am sailing, The thoughts of my jewel the compass shall steer ; These tedious long days speedy time will devour And bring me home safe again to my dear. Therefore be constant, my dear lovely jewel. For by the heavens if you are untrue, My troubled ghost shall torment you for ever, Dead or alive I will have none but you. Her lovely arms round his neck she twined. And saying. My dear, when you are on the sea, If the fates unto us should prove cruel That we each other no more ever see. OLD BALLADS. 269 "No man aKve shall ever enjoy me ; Soon as the tidings of death reach my ear, Then like a poor unfortunate lover Dovra to the grave I will go to my dear. Then with a sorrowful sigh he departed ; The winds next morning blew a pleasant gale ; All things being ready the famed Mac Galley Then for Barbadoes she straightway set sail. PART II. Jemmy was floating upon the wide ocean, And her cruel parents were plotting the while, How that the heart of their beautiful daughter "With cursed gold should strive to beguile. Many a lord of fame, birth, and breeding. Came to court this young beautiful maid ; But their rich presents and proffers she slighted, Constant I'll be to my jewel, she said. 'Now for awhile we leave this fair maiden And tell how things with her did go ; In fair Barbadoes the ship fairly arrived, But now observe this lover's overthrow. Young Jemmy, comely in every feature, A Barbadoes love whose fortune was great. So lixeil her eyes that she cried, If 1 liavc not Tliis brave English sailor I'll die fur his sake. She drest herself in a gallant attire, "With costly diamonds slie plaited Iht liitir, A hundred slaves drest to attend licr, She sent for this young man to come to her. Come noble sailoi-, she cried, can you fancy A lady whose riches are very great 1 A hundred slaves yf)u shall liave to attend you, Music to charm you in your silent sloop. 270 THE NORFOLK GARLAND. In robes of gold, my clear, I'll deck you. Pearls and ricli jewels I'll lay at your feet, In a chariot of gold you shall ride for your pleasure ; If you can fiincy me, answer me straight. Amazed with wonder awhile he stood gazing, Forbear, noble lady, at length he reply'd, In flourishing England I've vow'd to a lady, At my return to make her my bride. She is a charming young beautiful creature, She has my heart, I can love no more ; I bear in my eyes her sweet lovely feature, No other creature on earth I adore. Hearing of this she did rave in distraction, Crying, Unfortunate maid thus to love One that does basely slight all my glory And of my person he will not aj^prove. Lords of renown I their favour slighted, !Now I must die for a sailor so bold ; I must not blame him because he is constant. True love is far better than cold. o"- A costly jewel she instantly gave him. Then in her trembling hand took a knife. One fatal stroke, before they could save her, Quickly did put an end to her life. Great lamentation was made for this lady, Jemmy on board the ship he did steer, And then to England they homeward came sailing With a longdng desire to meet with his dear. But when her father found ho was returning, A letter he T\Tote to the boatswain his friend, Saying a handsome reward I will give you If you the life of young Jemmy avlU end. OLD BALLADS. 271 Void of all grace and for the sake of the money, The cruel boatswain the same to complete, As they on the deck were lovingly walking He suddenly tumbled him into the deep. PART III. In dead of the night, when all were asleep, His troubled ghost to his love did appear, Crying, Arise, you beautifid Xancy, Perform the vows you made to yoxir dear. You are my own, therefore tarry no longer ; Seven long years for your sake did I stay ; Hymen does wait for to crown us with i:)leasure, The bride guests are ready, then come away. She cried, "Who is there under my window, Surely it is the voice of my dear ; Lifting her head off her downy pillows Straight to the casement she then did repair. By the light of the moon, which brightly was shining, She espied her lover, who to her did say, Your parents are sleeping ; before they awake, Stir my dear creature and come away. O Jemmy, she cried, if my father should hear thee, We shall be ruined ; therefore pray prejiare, At the sea -side I will instnntly meet you, With my two maids I'U come to you there. Her nightgown I(jny in Norfolk ; as he was coniiuiiig from Linn Market, and Bargain'd for a great quantity of Barly for eight shillings a Bushell and gave earnest; and when ho came to fetch it broiiglit Carts and Horses (to their thinking), and while 'twas measuring the Divell vanished, and tore the Barne in pieces, and scattered all the Corne with such Windos and Tempest, which hath done sucli great harme both by 8ea and Land, the like was never heartl of before; the Farmer now* lyeing destracted. Sent in a lictter to be Printed by Chrisiopher Emmerson, George Dixon, and Gcurcjc llij'jlns. *"new" in original. 274 THE NOKFOLK GARLAND. TO THE TUNE OP " IN SUMMER TIME," &C. Good People all pray lend an eare to this my Song, that's strange and true, "Wherein I breifly shall Declare, the full Relation here to you. If any Misers you do knoAV, that hoards up Corne, to starve the Poore, If that these Lines you to them show 'twill make them sure bring out their Store. In Norfolk did this chance befall, at Boivton where this Man did dwell. And Goodman Inglehred they do liim call, who had great store of Corne to sell. But he as many thousands more, without any remorse or pitty. Was fully resolv'd to keep his Store, to bring a Dearth in Town and City. He being at Market on a day, at Linn, a plaace that's known full well : And Ptiding home upon the way, He had a Customer from Hell. The Divell did him over take, in Habbit being very brave. Who did a bargaine with him make, and Halfe-a-crowne in earnest gave. The price was very great they made, and Early that must be the Graine, Eight shillings a bushell must be paid, heing weU contented with such gaine. And thus the Divell and he agreed, likewise the time to fetch the same ; The Miser hy'd him home with speed, for to provide against he came. OLD BALLADS. 275 "Wlien he came home he was full glad, and to his "Wife he did unfold What bargin, and what price he had, likewise what quantity he sold. With that his Wife made this reply, as by his Servants it was told, None but the Divell would give so high a i^rice (quoth she) as you have sold. THE SECOND PART, TO THE SAME TUNE. To Thrashing straight he set his Men, to make it ready against the day, And the Divell was as ready then, against the time to fetch't away. The day being come, the Divell brought his Furniture, to take these stores, With Horse and Carts, as to their thought, the Man he straight threw 'ope the doores. To measuring straight his Early out, this Man begun with all his sp^ed ; With that the Divell made a Eout, ami of his Bargain soone was freed. The Divel vanish'd straight away, such Storms and Winds, nere heard before, No People thereabouts durst stay ; the Barns in poeces all he tore. His Bams and Corne it was all spoil'd, and all the Country round likewise, Had all their Houses then Vntyl'd, such Winds they nere saw from the Skys, This Farmer fell distracted straight, he cannot take no Heat nor Sleep, And cryes the Divil dfith for him waiglit, his Bargaine must with hini keep. 276 THE NORFOLK GARLAND. All you that hoard, and buy up Come, and kcepe it up, to make it deere. Although you loug have been forborne, there's Eods in pildec for you I beare. Your Villainy now is brought about, and pay for't deare you will ere long, Your Stores you will be made bring out, you shall not doe the Poore such wrong. The Lord I hope will heare the cryes, of thousands which are in distresse, Of gallant Hearts, that daily lyes still hoping, yet have no redresse. The Lord preserve our King, and blesse him from the trecherous hands of those That are his Enemies, yet professe they love him, yet prove secret Foes. The Queen God send her safe to land, and all the Progeny preserve ; Likewise for those that faithfull stand and from him yet did never swerve. My prayers shall daily be for those, with many thousands more beside. But such I take his cheifest Foes, that's given to Covetuousness and Pride. For you that deale in Corne and Graine, to whom these Lines in cheif belong, Beware of such unlawfull gain, where none but Poore doth bear the wrong, ©• So to conclude and make an end, for Peace and Plenty, let us i)ray. That God may stand the poore-mans freind, for the Poore are now the rich-mans pray. LonHon, printed for William Gilbertson, at the Bible in Giltspur-street. OLD BALLA.DS. 277 THE NORFOLK FAEMEE'S JOUENET TO LONDON. This curious ballad was written by Edward Ford, probably early in the seventeenth century. The original is entitled "A merry discourse betweene Norfolke Thomas and Sisly Standtoo't, his wife : together with their thanklesse journey from Norfolke to London, onely to see their friends, and how they doe respect and entertaine 'um for their love and labour." To London is mad Tliomas come With Sisly, here, his wife alone, To see some friends, I hear are gone To Heaven awhile ago : But I do hope it is a lye. As I shall find it by and by, Or else poore Tom and Sisso should cry Till Doonies-day. TH0AIA3. For though they be none of the best, I should be loath, I do protest, To hear that they are gone to rest And never take their leave : For I do love 'um all so well, A little thing would make me dwell Within the sounding of Bow-bell, At London. SISLT. Xay, husband, do not you say so ; Our cottage poorc wee'l not forego For the best house that stands aroo 'Twixt Cheap and Charing Crosse ; For though f iir house; be thatch't with straw, We do not live, as sonic, in awe, For 'tis our own by common law, III Nnil'ulkc. 278 THE NORFOLK GARLAND. Besides, we live at heart's content ; "VVe take no care to pay our rent, For that is done incontinent, In twinkling of an eye. When here at London, as they say, They brawle and brabble every day, And few or none but finds a way To Hogdsdon. THOMAS. Mum, Sisly ; keep your clapper still ; There's them can hear at Highgate Hdl ; There's rats has been in Peggie's mill, Or else she lies herselfe. "What if the world be vilde and bad, Shall I be such a foolish lad To blaze and noyse it all abroad 1 I scorn it. Although, indeed, I must confesse Thou speakest but truth, my honest Sisse, Yet ever while you live marke this. And take it for a rule. That every chimney must not smoake, J^or every beggar weare a cloake, !Nor every truth must not be spoke In sadnesse. But hang that cobler and his ends. That lives too well, and never minds : Would they were whipt that nere offends ! Peace, chuck, I meane not thee. But thou wilt scold sometime, I know, The more is Thomas Standtoo't's wo ; But, hang it, come let's trip and go To Fleet Street. OLD BALLADS. 279 And tliiis tliey trudg'd along the street, "With many a jostle they did meet, Which put poore Thomas in a sweat, And something angry, too ; "Which made him tliinke they told a lye, That said there did so many dye, When as he could not go hardly For people, SISLT. At length, quoth she, good husband, stay, And tell me what this place is, pray, Where things are carried as they may 1 I never saw the like. For yonder's one doth ride in state, And here's a beggar at a gate, And there's a woman that will prate For nothing. See, here is one that soundly beats. And thumps his hemp until he sweats ; And here's another greedy eats : I fear hee'l choke himsclfo. And yonder goes a gallant bilk. And there's a woman winding silk, And here's another fetching milk. At Hackney. And hero's the prettiest sight of all, A woman that is mighty tall. And yet her spouse a little squall : I wonder how they met. And here's a man in ni luour stands. And has it scemes lost both his hands ; 'Tis pitty tliat ho has no lands To kci'i) him. Now you must by this time suppose them about the Exchange. 280 THE NORFOLK GARLAND. And here's a world of people fine, That do in silks and satins shine : I woiild that suite and cloak were mine, I hope I wish no harme. And here hangs pictures two or three, The best that ever I did see : I thinke one looks full butt at me, And laughs too. And here's a man hath many a rat, Both in his hand and on his hat ; Me thinks he keeps 'urn very fat, 0, strange what tailes they have. And here's a gentlewoman, too, That hides her face from me and you : I wonder what she means to do In summer. And here's an empty church, I see, Great pity 'tis, most certainly. It should indeed no fuller be. And all these peoj^le here. And there's an old man carries wood, And here's a young man doth no good ; And here's a woman wears a hood ; Hey dazie ! THOMAS. Come, Sisly, let us go along. And not stand gaping here among A sort of people that do throng ; I never saw the like. But let us to our brother go, Tliat will us welcome well, I know, For he himselfe did tell me so At Norfolke. OLD BALLADS. 281 Soft ! let lis knock, for here's the doore ; But if because our clothes are poore, They should not let us in therefore, 'Two'd make a dog to laugh ; For I have heard my mother say That if a man fall to decay There's few or none will bid him stay, Y'are welcome. But silence ! not a word but mum ; For see, our brother now doth come, Methinks he looks as he were dum ; What makes him not to speake 1 Good brother, we our loves unfold. For though my Sisse and I are old, Yet we have made a little bold To see you. BROTHER, And truly I do thank j'ou for 't ; Ye'r welcome both with all my heart : We'll drink a cup before we part ; An't please you but to stay. For I have friends within, truly, Tliat if they should a stranger see. They straight would very fearefull be Of danger. TUOMAS. Wliy, brother, we no sicknesso liavo, Nor are wo started rrniii dur grave ; Your love is all that we do (^rave : What need y<»ii then tn I'caic' ? We do not coiiu; to eat your luast, Xor yet to put you unto cost. But now, I see, our labour's lost, Poore Sisly ! 282 THE NOKFOLK QAELAND. BROTnER. Pray do not tliink the fault is mine. For if you'l drink a pint of wine, I'll give it you, and nere repine. Hang money ! what care I ? And liad I not so many ghease, Indeed I seriously professe. Your welcome should be more, or lease, Good brother. THOMAS. No, thank you, brother ; e'ene farewell, A blind man now with ease may smell, That all things are not carried well : What love, pray, call you this 1 Come now, unto thy sister we Will go with all celerity ; 1^0 doubt that she shall kinder be Unto us. They condescend and were content, And to their sister straight they went ; But all in vain their time was spent. For w^hen they hither came, Their sister did her maid compell And bid her thus much to them tell, Indeed she was not very well At that time. From thence they to their couzen go, Eeing much desirous for to know Whether that she would serve 'um so, Or use 'um in that kind. But being there, this newes was brought That she a smock had newly bought. And she was gone to have it wrought With woosted. OLD BALLADS. 283 "Well now, says Thomas to his dear, What sayst thou, Sisly, to this gear 1 "We have gone far, yet nere the near "We thank our kindred for't. But if that brothers be so kind, "What favour shall a stranger find 1 Protest, it troubles much my mind To think on't. SISLY. I^ay husband, let us not do so ; The best is, we can homewards go, And yet not trouble friend nor foe ; "What need we then to care 1 For now each one, I'll tell you true, "Will only ask you, How do you 'i I am glad to see you well, Sir Hugh, Good morrow. THOMAS. Why then, old Sisly thou and I Will back again to jS^orfolkc hie, And bid a iig for company ; Our dog is sport enough. But when we come to London next, Our friends shall have a better text, I swear and vow I am soundly vext ; Who cares for't 1 UPON THE NORFOLK LARGESS. We have a custom, no whure else is known, For liere we reap, wlierc iKjtliing ere was sown, Our luirvestmcn sliall run ye, cap aud k'g, And leave their work ut any time to beg : 284 THE NORFOLK OARIAND. They make a harvest of each passenger, And therefore have they a lord treasurer. Here ye must pence, as well as pray'rs bestovr, 'Tis not enough to say, God speed the plow. These ask as men that meant to make ye stand, For they petition with their arms in hand ; And till ye give, or some good sign appears, They listen to ye with their harvest-eares. If nothing drops into the gaping purse, Ye carry with ye, to be sure, a curse ; But if a largess come, they shout ye deaf, Had you as many eares as a wheat-sheaf. Sometimes the hollow greater is by odds. As when 'tis answered from the ivye tods. Here all unite, and each his accent bears, That were but now together by the eares. And, which a contradiction doth imply, Because they get a largess they must cry ; Cry with whoever of it hears, May Avish their tankard had no other teares ; Thus in a word our reapers now-a-days Eeap in the field and glean in the highways. PEOSPERITT TO HOUGHTON. Ihinc est hibendum — Hor. TO THE TUNE OF AN APE, A LION, A FOX, AND AN ASS, &0. I. Some bards of old times, much delighted with sack. Have wrote in its praise, and extoll'd the sweet smack ; Ding a ding D'urfey (peace rest with his soul) Has rendered immortal the strong beer of Knowl : Some there are smote too with love of mild ale, And others stand up when they're able for stale ; Yet the Hogen of Hougliton remains still unsung, Tho' such excellent li(|uor was ne'er tip't o'er tongue. OLD BALLABS. 285 II. Had the Trojans drank Hogen, those Hades of renown, They'd ne'er suflfer'd the Greeks t'have deniolish'd their town, But have fought all like furies ; inspired with this Paris long kept his life and his favourite INIiss : "Who takes but his dose on't, was ne'er known to sneak, And 'tis the only thing extant to make a cat speak ; So says Dr. Turner, and he sure can toll, At least till he gets himself rocky with JSTell. III. The old ballads write Homer delighted vrith nectar, And make a great fuss with the tall boy called Hector ; But had fortune thrown Mm on Norfolk's fair coast. He'd have only prais'd Hogen and sung Col. Hoste : Amongst all his heroes not one can be found Could tip up four bottles and then stand his ground ; And for Bully Achilles, who did swagger and damn, "With this Hogen the doctor had soon made a lamb. IV. Your foreign ISIonsicurs with Champagne make a rout, And duU^English skulls love Nump Parson's stout ; Tokay's too much guzzled by paltry Poles, But its Hogen agrees best with true British sords ; The doctor's pcrswadcd Sir liobert's one glass Is the occasion things now are at so good a pass ; And swears if .Sir Joseph's as wise as some thiidc, He should part witli his liuUs for a draught of such drink. V. Come, a health to Sir Ilobcrt. Sure none can refuse. And he that won't pledge, luay hi' die in a noose ; Small return Imi his cares. May he still be adored, And let's take one more to my lady and lord ; May Hougliton long flourish to give us dcliglit, May its masters be all great and good as tlic Kiiiglit; !May a race long succeed, like tlu-. pliice without i'uults. That may tread in his paths, and keep full the vaults. 280 THE NOKFOLK GARLAND. VI. But hold, one cup more I must take if I die, You may guess what I mean, here's Miss Hammond's soft eye ; She's so lovely, so lively,, as the blooming bud fresh, She all language can utter, or painting express. 'Tis well judged of Venus to stay in the sky, She'd make a poor figure when t'other is by ; And while poupets of drawing-room beauties make boast, I'll defy them to match me the liquor or toast. HOUGHTON HAEE HUNTING. This and the preceding ballad are copied from the collection in the Cheetham Library, formed by Mr. Halliwell. They are both of them from the celebrated press of Horace Walpole at Strawberry Hill. TUNE, " AND A BEGGING WE WILL GO." I. Come all ye gallant Knights and squires, Tell why poor Puss's fall Has ne'er been sung nor thought on by One sportsman of you all 1 When to Houghton we do go, &c. II. Young complimented fox-hunting, And on it Avrote a song ; Ko matter if 'twas true or not. At least you'll grant 'twas long. When to Houghton we do go, &c. III. To Hogen next, Floyd gave its due, And sung Miss Hammond's eye, And Avhy poor Bun is quite forgot, I cannot tell, not I. When to Houghton we do go, &c. OLD BALLADS. 287 IV. But since none else -will venture it, The merits I "will sing (If you'll all join in cliorus) of Eoth Tows-hill and of Fring. "VVHien a liunting we do go, &c. V. How hotli of them, each in his turn, Have brought good nags to shame ; And sure I hope their riders were Kot in the least to blame. "When a hunting we did go, &c. VI. Lord Lifford, one of Euston's suit, "With blood saw cover'd o'er, Grey horse e'er got on Tows-hill top, Both sides so wliip so spore. 'V\''hen a hunting we did go, &c. VII. Mount Edgcomb too, who ne'er was wont To make his court down Avind, To Fring Hills made poor Cloudy yield, And fairly staid behind. "When a hunting we did go, &c. VIII. Since then a hare shews sport enough, To make fox-hunters sob, "Why should she not be sung by them, And witli th(3m bear a Bol). '\\'h(;n a hunting wo do go, &c. O NOBLE FESTUS. DU. connET, cisnop of nouwicii, 1 582-1 G35. Bishop Percy in his Reli'iues says this was written about the beginning of the BevenUjenth century by Dr. Corbet, the witty Bishop of Norwich, and 288 THE NORFOLK OAKLAND. the copy he printed was from a third edition of his poems, 12mo, 1672, com- pared with a more ancient copy in the editor's folio M.S. The editors of this celebrated folio have given some interesting notes to this poem, the pith of which we extract. Fuller, in his History of the University of Cambridge, says that when Sir Walter Mildmay appeared at Court after he had founded Emmanuel Col- lege, "the queen told him ' Sir Walter, I hear you have erected a Puritan foundation.' ' No, Madam,' saith he, ' far be it from me to countenance anything contrary to your established laws ; but I have set an acorn, which, when it becomes an oak, God alone knows what will be the fruit thereof.' " John Gifford, Ezekiel Culverwell, Jeremiah Burroughes, Stephen Marshall, Thomas Shepherd, Nathaniel Ward, Samuel Crooke, John Cotton, Thomas Hooker, John Nates, John Stoughton, all well-known Puritan divines, were members of Mildmay's College. Eichard Greenham referred to in the poem was born 1531, educated at and fellow of Pembroke Hall, Cambridge. He became pastor of the congregation at Drayton near Cambridge. Bishop Hall says he excelled in experimental divinity, that he knew how to stay a weak conscience, how to raise a fallen, and how to strike a remorseless one. Brook, in his Lives of the Puritans, says he took such uncommon pains, and was so remarkably ardent in his preaching, that at the conclusion of the service his perspiration was so great that his shirt was usually as wet as if it had been drenched in water j was a most exact and conscientious Nonconformist, choosing on all occasions to suflFer rather than sacrifice a good conscience ; died a most comfortable and happy death in the year 1591. With regard to the " cure " the reading of bis writings is said in the following piece to have effected, Brook says : " In addition to his public ministerial labours, he had a remarkable talent for comforting afflicted consciences, and in this department the Lord greatly blessed his endeavours. Having himself waded through the deep waters, and laboured under many painful conflicts, he was eminently qualified for relieving others. The fame of his usefulness in resolving the doubts of inquiring souls having spread through the country, multitudes from all quarters flocked to him as to a wise physician, and by the blessing of God obtained the desired comforb. Numerous persons, who to his own knowledge had laboured under the most racking terrors of conscience, were restored to joy and peace in believing. When any complained of blasphemous thoughts, his advice was 'do not /ear them but abhor them.' " William Perkins (1558 — 1602), who is also referred to, was of Cambridge, a fellow of Christ's College, and afterwards preacher at St. Andrew's Church. He was both a Boanerges and a Barnabas, according to Brook. " Mr^ Perkins' sermons were all law and all gospel. He used to apply the ter- rors of the law so directly to the consciences of his hearers, that their hearts would often sink under the convictions ; and he used to pronounce the word ' damn ' with so peculiar an emphasis that it left a doleful echo in their ears a long time after." " As for his books," says Fuller, " it is a miracle almost to conceive how thick they lye, and yet how far they over- spread all over Christendom." OLD BALLADS. 289 His popularity is attested by Humerous editions of his works being issued during his life. The reference in the following piece is, no doubt, to his " Golden chaine, or the description of Tbeologie, containing the order of the causes of Salvation and Damnation, according to God's Word, a ■view wVifieof is to be seen in the table annexed." See Vol. 1 of the 1612 edition of his works. This table, a side note on it inforais us, " may be instead of an ocular catechisme to them which cannot reade; for by the pointing of the finger they may sensibly perceive the chiefe points of religion, and the order of them." The reader is instructed that "the ■white line sheweth the order of the causes of salvation from the fii'st to the last. The blacke line sheweth the order of the causes of damnation." Some of these latter causes are " the decree of reprobation," "a calling not effectual," " no calling," 'ignorance and vanitie of mind," " the har- dening of the heart," " a reprobate sense," " greedines in sinne," " fiilnea of sinne." A bold analysis of perdition this; an audacious piece of theological presumption. The black line has a fearful look, as of some dark, deadly flood moving across the page. No wonder Those crooked veins Lon? stuck in my brains, That I feared my reprobation. Am T mad, noble Ffestus, "when zeal and godly knowledge put me in hope to deale ■with the Pope, as Avell as the best in the colledge ? Boldlye I preacht, " War & cross, •war a suri^lus, Mitres, cope?, and rochetts ! Come heare me pray 9 times a day, & ffill your head with crotchetts." In the house of pure Kiiiainu'll, I had my educatyoii, till my flViends did surmise T dazed my eyes with the liglit ^l' i'I'IU'ImI i'lu. JJiddlye I preacht, &c. They brtund iiii', like (a) bet and .spur', as possessing peculiar exceilonce in its style. He says, " If any man were to discover the true language of nature and feeling in this little poem of Mrs. Opie's, he would gain no credit for 332 THE NORFOLK OAKLAND. his metaphorical taste, because the beauties of it are too striking for a moment's hesitation." Miss Brightwell, in her memoir, says, "The authoress was present at the time when Mr. Smith pronounced this eulogium upon her verses, and she used laughingly to tell how unexpectedly the compliment came upon her, and how she shrank down upon her seat in order to screen herself from the observation of those around her." SONG. Go, youth beloved, in distant lands, New friends, new hoj^es, new joys to find ! Yet sometimes deign, midst fairer maids, To think on her thou leav'st beliind. Thy love, thy fate, dear youth to share. Must never be my happy lot ; But thou mayst grant this humble prayer — Forget me not, forget me not ! Yet should the thought of my distress, Too painful to thy feelings be, Heed not the wish I now express, Nor ever deign to think on me ; But, oh ! if grief thy steps attend, If want, if sickness be thy lot, And thou require a soothing friend, Forget me not ! forget me not ! LINES FOE THE ALBUM AT COSSEY, THE SEAT OF SIK WILLIAM JERNINGHAM, BAET. Hail ! lovely scene with varied beauties graced. Where Nature's form delights, adorned by taste ! Bleak rose yon hill, and its unsheltered head, No waving trees with grateful gloom o'erspread, From day's fierce beams to guard the dazzled siglit, And give in beauteous contrast shade and light. Yon river wandered from its parent source. But narrow, dark, ungraceful was its course; NORFOLK rOETb AND POETRY. 333 And no rich scenery on its bank's green side, New beauties caught from the reflecting tide. Say, then, what magic power's creative hand Called forth such changes in the rugged laud ? Eouud }'onder hill's unsheltered barren head, Who the bright wreaths of waving foliage spread, That in rich masses deepening shadows throw, And spot with quivering light each hill's green brow, "While Philomela keeps his vigils there, And charms with plaintive song the Avakeful oar ? Who midst yon flowery banks expanding wide, Taught the bright stream to roll its deepened tide, Woo to its clear expanse the beams of day, ibid from its breast reflect the trembling ray, While the clear wave each neighbouring object shows. And softened beauty o'er those objects throws 1 Who bade (soft shelter from day's garish power) Here smile a cottage, and there frown a tower ? Who thus to Eden changed the untutored waste ?■ Tlie wand, the magic wand, was thine, Taste ! Waked by thy touch, thou bidst new beauties grow, And those already there more brightly glow. So when Pygmalion saw Avith fond surprise Bi'iieath his hand a beauteous form arise, Still new attractions wantoned o'er the face, AVhen animati<>n waked each latent grace ; The form, the features, both were there bcforw, Lut, when Avith life inspired, they charmed still more ; While tlie fair wonder to tlic sight improved, And graceful too as beautiful she moved. IJut though tliy charms, Cossey, I a knows amongst these lords and dukes what good luck may betide ye ; For dukes, and lords, and noblemen, in spite of all their botlier, "Will sonieliines full in love, they say, with a red raw country inawther." Tlien off to Norwich arm in arm, they smash'd along right well, Ami when they got to town set up at the Barking J>icky Hotel, On rolls and cheese, and decent swijjcs, so comfortably they baitetl, Till Giles declared he felt himself more than halfway "coxelated." Giles jjaid his reckoning like a man, and off tlicy both «lid to(U]Ic, But where to find tbe Festival, put both of them in a muddle ; Tbey enipiircd of evcrybotly they mr-l " wln'ie the Festival was liekU" Sdui" said on " lleigham Cawnscr " aud jjomo in "Cha]>ol Field." 844 THE NUKJi'OliK gakland. Some said 'twas li«ld nn the l)itclie.s at Ihe Holkham Arms or Cliccciuors, "NMiilst others s-vvore right liard and last 'twas held at the Xut Crackers. At last they saw some carriages a smashing might aud main, So Giles and Dinah ran behind till they got to St. Andrew's Plain. " Consarne it, Dinali, mor," says Giles, " here's a hustle and contu- sion, l)o they call this the Festival .' AVhy 'tis mure like a lievolutiuu. Here's the horse soldiers -with their Lroad .sAvords drawn up in battle array, IJ' the }»eoplc do not mind their work, thej'll surely kill and slay. " I>y gums," says Giles, " now Dinah, mor, the safest way I think. As Ave are no Eevolutioners, is to'clindi St. Andrew's Bank." " No, no," says Diiudi, "that Avon't do, to tlie Festival Ave are come, And to see it I am determined before 1 do go liome." Then aAvay tliey crush'd through thick and thin, in spite of Avar's alarms ; (iilr.s Jlourislicd high his crab stick Avitli Dinah under his arm ; The gentry pouring in the llali, Giles thought he needs must folloAv, Till a consequential dotu' keeper cry'd " Stop I you country fellow." ''"What for," quoth Giles, '• you «aucy scamp, I'll get the King to line ye, ]\ly name it is Giles -bilLcilicad, and this is my mawther Dinah; AVe arc all the Avay from Aslnvellthorpe, this Festival to see, Besides my maAvther have a mind a lady for to be." Then lip there came a great stout man, Avith a rare large three- I'ocked s([uivcr, AN'ith a great red nose on his fat face, like a luni}) of bullock's ii\er. NOIJFOLK rOETS AND I'OETKY. olo " Liiwk ; wliu is he," says Dinah, " he look so Ml of Avratli I" " AVhy that," says Giles, "'tis my belief, is his Majesty '^^'ilJiam the l^ourth." And with that Giles made a reverend Ijoav, and s\ing God save the Kiiig, The constable cateh'd him a box on the ear, ■\vliich made his thick head ring. "Come, dash my buttons ihuugh," says Giles, "if that is tlie way 3"0u treat me, K ever I come to a Festival again, I'll give you leave to beat me." Then next there comes tlie bellman, Avith his plate on his left breast, •Says Giles " that's the Duke of Sussex,''' or else my mark 1 have missed ; If I could but speak to his Grace I Avouldn't mind laying a penny, That if his Highness be uot engaged, he would marry my mawther Dinah." But his Highness pass'd Avith a lofty air, and took no notice of Giles, Nor did he deigu to cast one look on Ijinah's amorous smiles. " Consarnc these dukes and lords," (pioth Giles, " what a set of chaps they are, They certainly don't like I'inali, because she have got sandy liair." And then caiuf a laily all in while with rings on In r lingers threi', .Says Oilrs, ••Look, J)inali, lliat's the (^>ueen, Goil save her Maj.-sty ; 1 have a good mind to slcp up li In i Grace, anil .siy that 1 waited upon her, To a.sk if .she can't give J)iiiah a jiliice as tine of lu'r maids of honor." • The only Feat ival at Norwich at which Iho Duke cf Sussex iiHendod was that held in 1821, and it is that event, therefore, 11i;i( tlio ballad cuiii- metuorates. 31-0 THE NORFOLK GARLAND. l>ut the lady she frowned, as well she might, at Giles's red-raw fist, >Shc took his nose hetwixt her fingers, and gave it a lime-burner's twist. " Cousaruc it," says Giles, " leave go of my snout, or you'll spoil my constitution ; By George, if you treat your subjects so, no Avonder at this revo- lution." And now the fiddles Ijegan for to s(|ueak, the trumpets, and the bassoons • Says Giles, " The rebellion is broke out in the hall and these are the dying groans ; Eun, Dinah ! run, mor ! " now (piotli Giles, "before their bayonets prick ye." Then off they quickly ran away to their quarters at the Barking Dickev. WILLIAM JOHNSON FOX. [1786— 18G4.] William Jolinson Fox was born at Wrenthani, in SufiFolk, on the 1st of March, 1786. After a few years his father removed to Norwich and com- menced business as a small manufacturer, in which, as soon as his age per- mitted, William assisted him, and hence the well-known nom de plume of the " Norwich Weaver Boy." Not liking the manufacturing business, he, when about fourteen years of ago, through the influence of an uncle, ob- tained a situation in tha Bank of Mcsrs. Kitt and Buck. At the age of eighteen he felt a strong desire to become a Dissenting minister, and in consequence he, in 1806, entered as a student at Homerton Academy. In 1809 he became niinister of a small orthodox congregation at Fareham, Hants, but having a few years later adopted wider theological views, he honestly resigned his charge. His fame as a preacher having spread throughout the country, he, in 1817, was invited to London as the minister of Parliament Court Chapel, and many of the leading thinkers of the metropolis became attendants on his ministry. In 1839 he delivered a lecture on "The Moral View of the Corn Law Question," and he, a few years after, commenced the Anti Corn Law Speeches at the first meeting held in Covent Garden Theatre by the League. In 1847 he entered Parliament, having been re- turned, free of expense, at the head of the poll for Oldham, for which borough he sat until 1863. Mr. Fox's first appearance as a journalist was in 1821-2, when he wrote a series of articles for the Norwich Mercury, en- titled the " Hyderabad Papers." Ho, from that time to his decease, was a freqiient contributor to several of the most influential and liberal NORFOLK POETS AND POETKY. oi" newspapers, magazines, and reviews. His letters to the Lcuijuc, under the title of the " Norwich Weaver Boy," and his contributions to the Wtckhj Dis2)atch, undev the signature of " Publicola," being Ihe best known of his productions. Mr. Fox died on June :Jrd, 1S64, and was buried at Brorupton Cemetery. MAN. Xut lor false and fleeting joys, rieasure, tliat Avliilc tasted, cloys, Xor for self-iiiflieted pain, Borne to purchase heavenly gain, Did God make man ; r.ut fur wisdom, happiness, lUrssed life and life to hless, Love the soul of Deity, And proga-css through eternity, l)id God make man. For cultured earth and conijuered ■\va\e, Fancy bright, and science grave, ]\riud and heart Avith blending powers, ]juilding more than Eden's bowers, F)id • Chridiun still, Ildd by tluj. Head ! and could in spirit feed Uu TRUTHS Avhose visible forms it little seemed to heed. '' "Without Avcre lightings and within Avere fears ;" While thou, in meekness, held'st thine onward way ; l!ut the seed sown Ijy thee, ])(>rchancc in tears, Hath borne some harvest in nur later day, Few of uur (/liristian brethren now gainsay Our Christian faith, hoAvever some condemn Our negligence of rites theiuselves obey ; Increasing charity liath taught to them AVc may f/ic c.tslal utiyht yet ircd'cnri: the gem. 'J'o do this Avell and Avisely Avas thy aim ; Evil and good rei)ort liave been thy meed I Uut far beyond all prrishable fame, iVnd compensation by the world deciceil, Is his, Avho single-hearted strives to plead For (.Iosi)cl Truth in Oo.sjjcl Love sublime I The recompense laid tip for thosf imlicil, Who whih' on eartii tln!y journey licavenward climb, •Shall be aAvarded him Avho now hath done Avith tinn-. A A 354 THE NOKi'OLK GARLAND. But not by sect or shore was limited A love .so boundless, and so vast as thine, Flowing from Christ, its copious fountain-head, It lived along the far extended line Which links all human kind ; and could combine All people, and all lands in its embrace ; Earth was to thee one universal shrine, For gospel love to consecrate, tbrough grace, By making human hearts Jehovah's dwelling place. There was a breadth, a largeness in thy soul, A fulness, richness, amplitude of heart, Which no sectarian limits could control, To set thee from thy fellow-men apart : It comprehended Traffic's busy mart, The peasant's lowly cot, the noble's hall : Love unto God and man thy only chart. Poor, rich, learn'd, ignorant, the great, tlin small, Thy sympathies could share, for God had made them all The kidnapp'd slave, the prisoner in his cell, The sceptred monarch in his regal dome ; The giddy trifler, bound by Fashion's spell. The hardy sailor breasting Ocean's foam ; All in that heart of thine could find a home Whence humble prayer up-rose for all and each ; Yet though thy love thus far and wide could roam, It flowed no less to Want Avithin its reach. But there out-poured its balm in thought, and act, and speech ! And often on these errands, by thy side, A kindred qjirif, who erst hove iJi// ncuiie, Xot less by virtue, than by blood allied ; With thee upheld the Cross, endured the shame : The palace or the prison, to both the same. Provided deeds of mercy could be done ; Here you might Avretchedness or vice reclaim, There by your christian meekness might be \\un Some votaries of the world a heavenly course to run. NORFOLK POETS AND POETEY. 355 Xor was it less your object aud yuiir care, By breaking up the niind't; most baiTcn soil, The children of the poorest to prejiare For soiH<; participation in that sj^oil "Wliich knoAvledge offers to the sons of toil I Your true philanthropy Avas not content Into old Avounds to pour yoiu- Avine and oil, I3ut in your progress, Avheresoe'er ye Avent, To teach and train the yoimg your earnest aid Avas lent. .Vnd Avell, I Tveen your recompense ye had ; AVlicre'er ye trod, some fioAvers their SAveets disclose, Tlie moral Avilderness became more glad, The desert places blossom'd as the rose ! Something Avas done to soften ShiA-ery's Avoes ; The prisoner's dungeon caught a transient ray (-)f light, and life, from lieaA-en ; and c\'en those On AA'hom the hnv's last mortal sentence lay, Look'd up Avliere crimes and tears shall all bo Avipod aAvay ! If " Jumlij tu ijour lives " you thus appear. And both are noAv from time and earth set free. The graA-e could break no bonds that joined you here, Kor " ill i/oar (J.eaths can ijuu divided he ;" Together now ye keep your jubilee In heaven's high courts, Avhcre the angelic choir, On hai-ps of gold hymning harmoniously, Surpassing far oartli's faint and feeble lyre, Slug praises to tlie Landj aud His Eternal Sire ! O, that some distant ecliti "i llial strain Could fall upon my Avakeful, Avistful ear ; That [ might rvlio upon earth again The blissful nuisic of th:it liiightcr s[)here I Dut dce|i humility itnd reverent fear, Bid me irom that SAvect aspiration turn Oncf more traise the mercy with my heart and voice Which formed thy life by faith, then bade thee rise To glory not unveiled below the skies. Thy prayer for me ascended ere I knew Or joy or hope l^eynnd earth's bounded view, To see me rescued from the iron reitrn Of ignorance of God, and burst its chain. To see me in the golden day of youth Devoted to the cause of blessed truth ! Tlay prayer is heard, and in this Avorld of tears, Of anxious labours, and prolific fears, Where for ourselves or others, all will find Much to aftlict and liow the labouring mind, Divine religion strews my way Avith flowers, Celestial pleasures gild my peaceful hours. E'en here a chalice meets my favoured lip, 'Tis hope transporting, 'tis delight to sip. Oft to my elevated thought 'tis given To rise witli ia]iture e'en on this side heaven : The high desire that others may be blest. When it expands a jiiortal's glowing breast. Savours of heaven, .so pure and so serene, In it our cares revolve, unfelt, unseen : Like a bright orb, before wliose sacred fire A million meteors fraught with death expire. NORFOLK POETS AND POETRY. 361 Sucli happiness didst thou for ino implore, And thy example taaght my soiil with power. Thiue Avas a life of prayer ami kindest love, I dwell upon it now thou'rt far ahove ; And Live to trace, if compiest I obtain O'er many an evil which attempts to reign, A lesson learned of thee, hy wia^ls or deeds, And praise that God from whom all good proeeeds. Ah ! if ascended spirits see or know Aught of the lives of those they loved lielow, ^ly deep contrition thou hast seen — still .see. For my offences 'gainst thy God and Thee^ "Wlien counsel was rejected, and my heart, Colhall cherr. Shall chasten eveiy mortal joy, and reign Supreme o'er human bliss or hunian jiain, And giM with bright niagnitiecnce the way From earthly scencH, to heaven's eternal day. ini; iiMivpii. Thy I0.SX, sweet .spirit Htill is nioiinied by nif, K'lii while I lile.ss the hand that rescued thee, Fffim this dark world's alllictions, conlliels, woea, To heaven's eternal glory and repo.sc. 362 THE NORFOLK GARLAND. I^HE REV. PERRY NTIRSEY. The Rev. Perry Nur^ey was born at the Grove, Little Bealiags, Suffolk and was educated at Dr. Clarke's of East Berghtslt, and othtsr schools, after which he was entered at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, and passed a vei-y good degree. He W3.s curate at East Dereham for several years, also at Tittleshall, and after that he went to Burlingham St. Andrew and St. Peter, as curate to the Rev. J. Burroughcs, where he remained more than twenty years, and was, during- that curacy, elected chaplain to the Blo- I'leld Union. In October, 1&C3, Dr. Pelham, Bishop of Norwich, unsolicited presented him to the living of Crostwick, near Koiwich, for the faithful discharge of his duties as curate. lie died at Crostwick rectory in April, 18G7, in the CSth year of his age, and in the burial ground of that little paiish his remains were interred. The Rev. Perry Nuvsey married first Miss Smith, sister to Colonel Smith, and daughter of the Rev. W. Smith, rector of Palling and Waxhaui, near Great Yarmouth, by whom he had three sons ; and secondly. Miss Boult, of Beccles, by whom he had five children. He published, 1829, a volume of poems, called. Evening and Other Pncms, which was dedicated to hia father. Perry Nursey, Esq. STANZAS. Flow oil, gentle stream, tliroixgli this far-winding vale, ►Still thruiigli these green l)anks let thy bright waters roll ; And oil : let thy niurnuirs float light on the gale, A^'hile the bright dreams of childhood now steal o'er my soul. Ilnw oft when the morning sun peep'd (I'er the hill, And the dew drop of summer look'd bright on the mead, How oft have my infant steps, lonely and still, Paused near thee to listen the shepherd's loved reed ! In the hot noon of summer, how oft have I found Beneath thy green willows a peaceful retreat ! Lull'd to rest by the wild hum of l>ees, and the sound Of thy waters that temptingly danced at my feet. How oft 'mid the stillness of eve have 1 loved Along thy cool margin unheeded to stray, While the nightingale's song every care liatli removed. And stole with its sweetness my charm'd soul away .' NORFOLK POETS AXD POETRY. 363 Flow on then, feir stream, through this far-winding va](>, Still through tliese green banks let thy bright waters roll ; Oh ! stUl let th_y murmurs Hoat light on the gale, AVhUe the Inio-ht dreams of eliildliood thus steal o'er mv soul. DR. HIXDS. The Eight Eev. Samuel Hinds, D.D , some time Bishop of Norwich, son of the late Abel Hinds, Esq., of Baibadoes, was born in that island in 170:?, and educated at Queen's College, Oxford, where he graduated in 1815, and obtained the Chancellor's prize for the Latin essay. He became Vice- Pi incipal of Alban Hall, Oxford ; Principal of Codrington College, Barba- does; was vicar of Yardley, Herts, 183 1-43 i and in the last-mentioned year went to Ireland and became rector and prebendary of Castleknock, Dub- lin, and chaplain to Archbishop Whately. He was afterwards successively chaplain to the Earl of Bessborough and Earl of Clarendon, Dean of Cur- lisle, and in 1849 succeeded Dr. Stanley in the see of Norwich, which he re- &igncd in 1857. Dr. Hinds died at his residence, Notting-hill, en Felnuary 7th, 1872, in his 7!ith year. THE OFT-FORGIVEN. Yes, I'll lielieve thee though thou art A dream for ever fading ; I'll take thee to my ruined heart, AVitlidut Cine Aveak upbraiding. ;MorG oft have I to CJod reluninl. Ami 111' A\\\ luriicd to mr. ; lie never yet my soirow spuined — Oh I b(i\v could T s]iurn lliee? MARTHA AND MARY. J;lamc not a sister, iClier way Of seeking God'.s not lliine ; (liidenoi if .slic at lioup' will slay, Xor in tliy good work Join. ( )*er 111 ;itli .md lull, IVoni door to ilooi', Go tliou !unl s(!('k ami find TTin prai^' wlio yet may ]iniist' Iier more Whom thou •lo'-t Ifave bcliind. III. ^iicaloliM) of :Mfo\\\ W\o\t\mi g^necdotcfi of |p:oifolIi ^iolorllmji. RErUTEl) INSOLENGE OF QUEEN ELIZABETH. Archbishop Parker^ who was born at Norwich, was noted for thu splendour of his liospitahty when called upon to cutcrtaui, as he frequently was, either foreign ambassadors or ecclesiastics, English peers, or even Queen Elizabeth her- self. It is said by Sir John Harrington that on one of these occasional visits, after having expressed her thanks to the Archbishop, the Queen turned round to his wife and said, '' And you — madam I may not call you, and mistress I am ashamed to call you — but yet 1 do thank you/' A VEROICT GETTER. Sir James Scarlett* was renowned as a verdict getter. A country attorney once paid him a very high compliment when he thought he was undervaluing his (pialificatioiis, by saying, " lleally there is nothing in a man getting so many verdicts who always has the luck to be on tlic right side of the cause." His weight Avith the Court .iiid jury was not unhappily expressed by another pei'son when jiskcd at whnt he rated Mr. Scarlett's value. " A tiiii-teenth juryman," was the answer. A reniarkaljje instance is rcimembered in Westminster Hall of his acting in the lace of the jury n I the critical moment of their beginning to consider tiieir ver- * Sir Jamo/5 Scailetl wiiH i;l<-cti'd M.P. for Norwicli in 1K!2, and two joiirM later, on Sir liobert Pet-l coniimr int) pfnver, ho was made Ciiief liiirun, and raided to tlie peerage aa Uurou Abingur of tho City of Norwicli. '668 THE NOKi'OLK GARLAND. diet. He had defended a gentleman of rank and fortime against a charge of an odious description. He had per- formed his part with even more than his accustomed zeal and skill. As soon as the judge had summed up^ he tied up his })apers deliberately, and with a, face smiling and easy, but carefully turned towards the jury, he rose and said loud enough to be generally heard that he was engaged to dinner, and in so clear a case there was no occasion for Jiim to wait what must Ijc the certain event. He then retired, delibe- rately bowing to the Court. The prosecuting counsel were astonished at this excess of confidence or of effrontery, nor was it lost upon the jury, who began their deliberation. But one of the junior counsel having occasion to leave the Court found that all this confidence and fearlessness had never crossed the threshold, for behind the door stood Sir James Scarlett, trembling with anxiety, his face the colour of his brief, awaiting the i-esult of the ^^ clearest case in the world ^^ in breathless suspense. AN UNJJEKGKADUATE's WAGER LOST. When the K.ev. Robert Robinson* first occupied the pul- pit at Cambridge, he was exposed to annoyance from the younger gownsmen. They incurred no danger of rustica- tion, or even suffering an imposition for irregularities of that kind. It was soon after his settlement there that a wager was made among a party of undergraduates. One of them wagered that he would take his station on the steps of Robinson's pulpit, with a large ear trumpet in his hand, and * The Eev. Robert Kobinson was born at Swaffham in January 1735, and having commenced preaching among the MethodistSj he accepted an invi- tation from the congregation at the Tabernacle, Norwich. But it was not long before he became a Baptist, and in 1759 he went to Cambridge, pre- ceding Eobert Hall as the minister of the congregation in St. Andrew's- street, and there he remained during the rest of his life. He was con- sidered the richest colloquial preacher of his day, and in all Dissenting circles his hon mots formed a staple of after-dinner conversation, as much as those of Sidney Smith did at a later period of history in all companies. ANECDOTES. 369 remain tliere till tlio end of the service. Accordingly, lie mounted the stejDs, put the trumpet to his ear, and played the part of a deaf man with all possible gravity. His friends were in the aisle below tittering at the hoax, the congrega- tion Avere scandalised, but the preacher alone seemed insen- sible to what was going on. The sermon was on God's mercy ; or, whatever the subject might have been at first in due time it turned to that, and the preacher proceeded to this effect : — " Not only, my Christian friends, does the mercy of God extend to the most enormous of criminals, so that none, how- ever guilty, may not, if duly penitent, bo partakers of the Divine grace; but there are none so low, so mean, so worth- less, as not to be the objects of God's fathoi'ly solicitude and care. Indeed I do hope that it may one day bo extended to " — and then leaning over the pulpit he stretched out his arm to its utmost length, and placing it on the head of the gownsman finished his sentence — '''' to this silly boy." The wager was lost, for the trumpet fell, and the discom- fited stripling bolted. BOTTLES AND CORKS. An elderly ofiicer, once travelling in tlio old Cambridge coach to London with an eminent lawyer, made many eu- (luiries concerning the llev. Robert Robinson. " [ met him," said he, " in this very coach when I was a young man, and when my tone of conversation was that universal among young officers, and talked in a very free tone with tiiis Mr. R. I did not take him for a clergyman, though lie was dressed in black, for he was by no means solemn ; on the contrary, he told several droll stories. But there was one very odd thing about him, that ho continually interlarded liis stories with the exclamation, ' BdUIis claw. ijord Erskine and Dr. Tail', wli" wcit' l.n one of these occasions Parr promised lliat lie would wiilc Erskinc's e])itaph, to wliidi the other replied "that such an intention on the doctor's part was almost a temptation to commit suicide." 37Jt THE NORFOLK GARLAND, GETTING THE WOEST OF IT. PorsoUj born at East Euston^ near North Walsham, wliere his father was parish clerk, was once disputing with an acquaintance, who, getting the worst of it, said, " Professor, mij opinion of jou is most contemptible/^ '' Sir,^^ returned the great Grecian, " I never knew an opinion of yours that was not contemptible/^ A VALUABLE PAIL OP WATER. Dr. Messenger Monsey* was for years the victim of that incredulity which makes the capitalist imagine a great and prosperous country to be the most insecure of all debtors. He preferred investing his money in any wild speculation to confiding it to the safe custody of the Funds. Even his ready cash he for a long time could not bring himself to trust in the hands of a banker. When he left home for any length of time he had recourse to the most absurd schemes for the protection of his money. Before setting out on one occasion for a journey to Norfolk, incredulous with regard to cashboxes and bureaus, he hid a considerable quantity of gold and silver and bank notes in the fire-place of his study, covering them up artistically with cinders and shavings. A month afterwards, returning", luckily, a few days before he was expected, he found his old house- maid preparing to entertain a few friends at tea in her master's room. The hospitable domestic was on the point of Ughting the fire, and had just applied a candle to the doctor's notes when he entered the room, seized on a pail of water that chanced to be standing near, and throwing its contents over the fuel and the old woman. *Dr. Messenger Monsey was the son of a Norfolk clergyman. He studied physic under Sir Benjamin Wrinch at Norwich, and after some ye^ars private practice he, through the interest of Lord Godolphin, was elecied physician to the Eoyal Hospital at Chelsea. He was also well known as Sir Eobert Walpole's Norfolk doctor. ANECDOTES, 375 extinguished the fire and her presence of mind at the same time. Some of the notes, as it was, were injured, and the Bank of England made objections to cashing them. POESONIANA. When Porson was told that Dr. Pretyman, then Bishop of Lincoln, had been left a large estate by a person who had seen him only once, he said, " It would not have happened if the person had seen him twice." He used to call Bishop Porteus, Bishop Proteus forha\'ing as he considered changed his opinions from liberal to illiberal. He was sometimes ver}- uncourteous in society. Dining one day at Home Tooke's at Wimbledon, some differences occurred between the host and himself, and on Porson being subsequently asked for a toast, he rejDlied, " I will give you the man who is in all respects the very reverse of John Home Tooke.^' GO SOBiK. That Duke of Norfolk who was intimate with Foote the comedian was much addicted to the bottle. On a masque- rade night he asked Foote what new character he should go in ? "Go sober," said Foote. WALI'OLE's N'OUroLK DOCTOR. The eccentric Messenger Monsey was ii great favourite with Sir Robert Waljjole, who always extolled the merits of his Norfolk doctor, but never advanced his interests. Instead of covering the great minister with adulation, Monsuy treated him like an ordinary individual, telling him wluii his jukes were poor, and not hesitating to worst him in .Mi-gumi-nt. " How happens it," asked Sir liobert over liis wine, " iliai nobody will beat me at billiards, or contradict me, Imt Dr. Monsey?" "Other people," put in the doctor, "get places — I get a dinner and praise." 376 THE NORFOLK GARLAND. THE FEARLESS BOY. Horatio Nelson^ when about ten years old, was sent with his brother WilHam to a large school at North Walshanij where the following incident occurred. There were some fine pears growing in the schoolmaster's garden which the boys regarded as lawful booty, and in the highest degree tempting, but'the boldest among them was afraid to venture for the fruit. Horatio volunteered ujoon the service. He was lowered down at night from his bed room windoAV by some sheets, he plundered the tree, and was drawn up with the pears, which he distributed among his schoolfellows without receiving any for himself. "I only took them,'' he said, " because every other boy was afraid." BARON ALDERSON's HUMOUR. Amongst the grimly humourous addresses attributed to judges speakiug from the bench to prisoners at the bar. Baron Alderson's* rejoinder to a man convicted of swindling is memorable. In reply to the final enquiry why sentence should not be passed upon him, the prisoner, with blasphe- mous obstinacy, persisted in asserting his innocence. The miserable fellow concluded his address by saying deliberately, and in a singularly solemn tone, " May God strike me dead, now at this moment, and here where I stand, if I am not innocent." As the speaker's guilt had been clearly ascer- tained, every hearer was painfully moved by this abominable self -imprecation. A thrill of horror ran through the Court. A minute of painful silence ensued, and then the judge sub- stituted another emotion in the minds of all present by saying, in a cold matter-of-fact voice, " Prisoner at the bar, as Providence has not interposed in the behalf of society * Born a*; Great Yarmouth ; son of Mr. Eobert Aldcrson, who for many years held the combined offices of Recorder at Norwich, Yarmouth, and Ipswich. ANECDOTES. 377 the sentence of tlic Court is that you ho transported for twenty years." Another very humourous story is told of the same judg'c, that in passing sentence on a wretched bigamist^ whose crime was attended by many palliating* circumstances^ he roused the laughter of his auditors and created a general sympathy for the criminal. Eyeing the prisoner — au honest artizan^ whose wife had been a thief, virago^ and habitual drunkard, and who had not taken a second woman to church until he had good reason to beheve as well as hope that his wife was dead — the judge is reported to have said : " Prisoner at the bar, I find it difficult to expi'ess my sense of the crime which is charged against you, and which you have not ventured to deny. Your crime belongs to a class of offences which, if they were nut promptly punished, would cause an unspeakable amount of human misery, and would ere long bring about the utter demoralization of our species. Your sin is not merely an infringement of a human enactment, it is a violation of divine law. The sentence of this Court is that you he imprisoned for one day, without hard labour." THE TWENTY-FIl'TH QWUA) A BISIIOI'. Jienjauiiu Jiathurst, Esq., the father of the late Bishop of Norwich, having mari-ied, lirst Miss Poole an heiress, heliad issue by her twenty-two children ; by his second wife. Miss Brodrick, daughter of l)i-. i)i-odrick, a In'other of Jjord Middleton's, Mr. Batliurst had a second family was found impossible. In this dilemma Lady Walpole very ingenu- ously invited Faustini to accompany her to a remote part of the house, under pretence of showing him some beautiful china, and during their absence the company obtained a song from Cuzzoni, who supposed that her rival had quitted the field. A similar expedient was used with equal success to obtain the happiness of a song from Faustini. TRYING TO BRIDE A JUDGE. On one occasion when Baron Aldersou went the Welsh ANECDOTES. 381 circuit as judge, the defeudant iu an action which stood for trial in Cardigan, sent to him on his arrival iu that town a statement of his case, with a two-pound note enclosed ! BISHOP STANLEY AND HIS EOOKS. Bishop Stanley, whilst residing at Norwich, was sometimes spoken of as " Jackdaw Stanley," by those rev. gentlemen whose ease he incommoded. This unepiscopal epithet was thus derived. The bishop was very anxious to establish a rookery in the palace grounds, and for this purpose he had conveyed from the Cathedral Close a quantity of nests. He thus established a cawing colony in his own trees by depopu- lating those of others. Soon after, and while some of the citizens were yet annoyed at losing their favourite rooks, a few mischievous boys broke into the bishop's grounds and robbed the nests. One of the culprits was taken before the magistrates and charged with the theft, his lordship being present in the court to urge the suit. When the young urchin was asked what reason he could assign why he should not be sent to gaol for the robbery, he boldly con- fronted the bishop, and said that he did not take his rooks. " They warn't yours," said he : " you stole them from the Dean and Chapter : I took them from you." A peal of laughter followed this defence, and the duty-enforciug bishop was after this often spoken of in th(^ diocese as " Jackdaw Stanley." am KDWARD COKE A RIOTER. Sir Edward Coke felt very acutely the loss (jf the liord Chief Justiceship, and after his deprivation he tried Id regain the favour of Ihickingliani tlie king's favourite, by marrying his daughter, Ijady Frances, only fourteen years old, who was a very rich heiress, to ]>uckingliam's elder brother. Sir William Villiers, wlio was nearly thriee lier age, and exceedingly poor. Sir Mdward's wife, liowever, l^ady Ilatton, became frantic willi rngf; wlien slie heard of the 382 THE NORFOLK GARLAND. proposed match, not so mucli at her disapproval of Sir John Villiers, as on accovint of such an important family arrangement having been made without consulting her. When the first burst of her resentment had passed over, she appeared more calm, but this arose from her having secretly formed a resolution to carry off her daughter, and marry her to another. The same night. Sir Edward still keeping up his habit of going to bed at nine o'clock, soon after ten o'clock she sallied forth with the Lady Frances, from Hatton house, Holborn. They entered a coach which was waiting for them at a little distance, and travelling by unfrequented roads they arrived next morning at a house of the Earl of Argyle's at Oatland, then rented by Sir Edward Withipolo, their cousin. There they were shut up in the hope that there could be no trace of the place of their concealment. While they lay hid Lady Hatton, not only did everything possible to prejudice her daughter against Sir John Villiers, but offered her in marriage to the young Earl of Oxford, and actually showed her a forged letter purporting to come from that nobleman, which asserted that he was deeply attached to her, and that he aspired to her hand. Meanwhile, Sir Edward Coke, having ascertained the retreat of the fugitives, applied to the Privy Council for a warrant to search for his daughter, and as there was some difficulty in obtaining it, he resolved to take the law into his own hands. Accordingly, the ex-Chief Justice of England mustered a band of armed men, consisting of his sons, his dependents, and his servants, and himself putting on a breastplate with a sword at his side, and pistols at his saddle bow, he marched at their head upon Oatland. When they arrived there they found the gate leading to the house bolted and barricaded. This they forced open without difficulty, but the outer door of the house was so secured as long to defy all their effijrts to gain admission. The ex-Chief Justice repeatedly demanded his child in the king's ANECDOTES. 383 name, and laid down for law, tliat, " if death should ensue it would be justifiable homicide in him, but murder in those who opposed him/' One of the party, gaining entrance by a window, let in all the rest, but still there were several doors to be broken open. At last Sir Edward found the object of his pursuit secreted in a small closet, and without stopping to parley, lest there should be a rescue, he seized his daughter, tore her from her mother, and placing her behind her brother, rode off with her to his house at Stoke Pogis, in Buckinghamshire. There he secured her in an upper chambei', of which he himself kept the key. GREY HORSES FOR THE JUDGE. Baron Alderson, on one occasion was met at Lancaster by the sheriff, on horseback, with a cortege of eighty persons all mounted on grey horses. The judge was placed in a coach drawn by six greys, and seven outriders wera mounted on greys also. NAT LEE AND SIR ROGER l'eSTRANOE. Sir Roger L'Estrange once visited Nat Lee, the author of Aludander the Great, whilst he was confined in a mad-house. Sir Roger was at that time ccnsurer of tlie press, and Lee did not entertain a high opinion of his abilities. Upon the knight enquiring whetlier the poet knew him, Lee answered : Custom iiiiiy alter men, and manners cliange, But I am still ritninj,'e Lee. unci you L'Estrange; I'm poor in purse. ;ia you are poor iu brains. • UKK ")F NORrni.K. The venerable jiroprietor of HolUhani, so well known as "Coke of Norfolk," was for many years a leading niiin among tin; VVliigs, wlicn W'liiggisni meant opposition ('hted in drinkimr hub-u- nob ^vlth a man who was sure to be scorched before he could be fit company for him. TKE TAYLORS OF NORWICH. It was of this celebrated family that Sydney Smith said they iworsed the ordinary saying, that it takes nine tailors to mnk*' M man. liisiioi' Stanley's courtesy. In the summer of 1828, Henry Crabb Ruibnson, who was travelling with a friend in the Pyrenees, arrived, after a long walk, at Arreau, and thus i-ecords in his diary an agreeable adventure with Dr. Stanley. He says,: " Shutt and 1 had reconciled ourselves to dining in a neat kitchen with the people of the house, when a lively-looking man in l)hicl<, n sort of Yorick in coiinteuance, having first surveyed us, stepped up and very civilly ort'ered us the use of tin' |i,iil(pur in which were himself ;uid in'> family. ' We have finished our dinner/ he said, ';inil -hnil be li;i|i|iy t«i li;i\c your company.' The lady was a most, agreeable person, iuid \ho family altogether very iiniiahh'. We Imd m vcit plcasanl evening. The genllenifin was a good Liberal Whig, and we agreed so well that on jjarting next day, he gave us his card. 'I am a Ciieshire clei'gyman,' he said, 'and I shidl be glad to sec you at my living, if yt>u ever are in my nrigld)orJi«»(»(l.' " H. C. H. say. s, " When I next wiw liim, he was beoinu' i;i-h> ACCOMMODATING PRINCIPLES, Id one of Sir Robert Walpole's letters he gives a very instructive picture of a skilful minister and a condegcending Parliament. " My dear friend," writes Sir Robert, " there is scarcely a member whose purse I do not know to a six- dcnce, and whose very soul almost I could not purchase at the offer. The reason former ministers have been deceived in this matter is evident — they never considered the temper ANECDOTES. 39o of the people they had to deal with. I have kuowu a miuister so weak as to offer an avaricious old rascal a star and garter^ and attempt to bribe a young rogue who set no value upon money with a lucrative employment. I pursue methods as opposite as the poles, and therefore my admin- istration has been attended with a different effect." PORSON^S FAVOURITE BEVERAGE. Porson's favourite beverage for breakfast was porter. One Sunday morning meeting Dr. Goodall (Provost of Eton) he said, " Where are you going ? " " To chui'ch." " Where is Mrs. Goodall?" ^^ At breakfast." " Very well, TMl go and breakfast with her." Person accordingly presented himself before Mrs. Goodall and being asked what ho chose to take, he said '' Porter." It was sent for pot after pot, and the sixth pot was just being canned into the house when Dr. Goodall returned from church. BRIEF LET 11' BE. When Baron Martin was at the hiw and addressing the Court of Exchequer in an insurance case he was interrupted by Mr. Baron Alderson observing, " Mr. Martin, do you think anv office would insure voiir life "' IJcmcnibcr vouiw is a very lirief existence." IM{. t'AKK^S nil'.KfTIOXS FOR HIS FL'N'KRAI.. Di-. Parr left in his (jwn liandwriting minute directions for his funeral. He described the hour and the ]ilaee of inter- ment, the order of the procession, the manner of preparing the ehurch for tin- occasion, tlie mode of eonthicting fhe service, he enumerated the clerical friends to lie invited, the persons to be engaged as bearers, aniil ili'' most i-xtraordinarv ]):irl o^ these directions was the following: " I liy ))articular .stress upon the f"llcp\viiig directions — >My IkukU nmst be bound by the crape hntb;iiid which T won- at tlie buiial of 396 THE NORrOLK GABLAND. my dauglitev Catheriuej upon my breast must be placed a piece of flannel wliicli Catherine wore at her dying moments at Teignmouth. There must be a lock of Madelaine^s hair, enclosed in silk and wrapped in paper bearing her name, there must be a lock of ray late wife^s hair preserved in the same way, there must be a lock of Sarah Wynne^s hair preserved in the same way. All these locks of hair must be laid on my bosom as carefully as possible, covered and fastened with a piece of black silk to keep them together." THE DUKE OV NORFOLK^S LOSS BY GAMBLING. " The late Duke of Norfolk," says the author of Rouge et Noir writing in 1823, "in one evening lost the sum of £70,000 in a gaming house on the right side of St. James's Street. Suspecting foul play, he put the dice in his pocket, and, as was his custom when up late, took a bed in the house. The blacklegs were all dismayed, till one of the worthies, who is believed to have been a principal in poisoning the horses at Newmarket, for which Dan Dawson was hanged, offered for £5000 to go to the duke's room with a brace of pistols and a pair of dice, and if the duke was awake to shoot him ; if asleep, to change the dice ! Fortunately for the gang, the duke ' snored,' as the agent stated, ' like a pig ;' and the dice were changed. His Grace had them broken in the morning, when finding them good, he paid the money, and left off gamblirg." CRITICISMS ON DK. PARR. The distinguished scholar. Dr. Parr, who, to the massy erudition of a former ago, joined all the free and enlightened intelligence of the present. — Thomas Moore. That model of pedants. — Sir W. Scott. There is a lovingness of heart about Parr, a susceptibility of the affections, which would endear him, even without his Greek. — William Taylor, AifECDOTES. 397 Having spent an evening at Mr. Langton's with the Rev. Dr. Parr, Johnson was much pleased with the conversation of that learned gentleman, and after he was gone said to Mr. Langton, " Sir, I am obliged to jou for having asked me this evening ; Parr is a fair man ; I do not know when I have had an occasion for such free controversy. It is remarkable how much of a man's life may pass without meeting with any instance oi this kind uf open discussion. — Lanqton's Jolin.^oriia. Porson had no very high opuiiuu of Parr, and could not endure his metaphvsics. One eveuinor Parr was besrinninor a regular harangue on the origin of evil, when Porson stopped him short by asking, " \\\\ixl was the use of it V Porson, who shrank on all occasions from praise of himself, was only annoyed by the eulogies which Parr lavished on him in print when Parr published the Biraarhs on Combe's Statement, in which Porson is termed a ''giant in litera- ture," &c. Porson said, " How should Dr. Parr be able to take the measure of a giant?" — Porsoniaaa. A great scholar, as rude and violent as most Greek scholars are, unless they happen to be bishops. He has left nothing behind him worth leaving, ho was rather fitted for the law than the church, and would have been a more con- siderable man if ho had been more knocked about among his equals. He lived with country gentlemen and clergy- men wlio flattered and feared him. — Sij'lnnj Smifh. Of Bentley'a feuda — of^Porsou'H— Parr'a Moat eavuge Greek and Lutia ward few remains are left, and mankind would have beou nothing the worse if their battles IkuI never been waged ut all. Dr. Parr was renowned fur hi.s smoking, even more than Dr. Isaac Barrow. He wimld empty twenty pipes of an evening in his own house, and when ho was on his good beliaviour in fashionable circles, it is said li<' pined aftrr the weed. — Dr. Madflen. 398 THE NORFOLK GARLAND. To half of Busliby's skill in mode and tense, Add Bentley's pedantry without his sense ; From Warburton take all his spleen you find, But leave his genius and his wit behind ; Squeeze Churchill's rancour from the verse it flowa in, And knead it stift' with Johnson's turgid prosing ; And all the piety of ^Saint Voltaire, Mix the gross compounds — Trial — Dr. Parr. — E2ngrain. BISHOP JEGON. Dr. Joliu Jegon, Dean and Bishop of Norwich^ was the last of the Elizabethan bishops. He was previously Master of Corpus Christi College^ and was knoAvn as a strict disciplinarian. Whilst he was there, he was made the subject of the following pasquinade : — Doctor John Jegon, Beue't College Master, Broke the scholars' heads, gave the walls a plaistei'. To which the Master replied : Knew I but the wag that writ this in his bravery, I'd praise him for his wit, but flog him for his knaveiy. CRITICISMS ON HORACE WALPOLE. He waSj unless we have formed a very erroneous judg- ment of his character, the most eccentric, the most artificial, the most fastidious, the most capricious of men. His mind was a bundle of inconsistent whims and affectations. His features wei-o covered by mask within mask. When the outer disguise of obvious affectation was removed, you were still as far as ever from seeing the real man. He played innumerable parts, and over-acted them all. When he talked misanthropy he out-Timoned Timou, when he talked philanthropy he left Howard at an immeasurable distance. — Macaiday. Mr. Walpole is spirits of hartshorn. — Lady Toivnshend. Horace Walpole was an agreeable, lively man, veiy ANECDOTES. 399 affected^ always aiming at wit, iu which he fell very short of his old friend George Selwyn. — Lord Ossorij. He united the good sense of Fontenelle with the Attic salt and graces of Count Anthony Hamilton. — ^VaJpoliana. I must do him the justice to say that except the delight he has in teazing me for what he calls over-strictnesSj I have never heard a seijtence fromhiui which >av(.>uivd <>f infidelity. — Hannah More. I am sorry to say that lie umits no tipportunity of burlesquing Scripture, religion, and the clergy. — Bishop Portens. His birth was premature^ and lie was all his life a very slight, feeble, and unmanly figure. He died in 1797. The late publication of his Memoirs has lowered his reputa- tion for candour, disinterestedness, and truth ; and they have by their undisguised and nndeniable fal.sehciod anil malice excited a strong impression against the accuracy oi his other anecdotical works. His Letters too, which are channing in their style and topics, arc unha])pily tinetured with the same readiness to sacrifice truth to eitlur ])roiudice or pleasantry. — Ludij Suffolk's Correspoadenee . MRS. OPIE's OI'INION or I,oi;i) IIYRON, His voice was such a voice as the Devil tempted Eve with ; yon feared its fnsciiiatii'n the moment you heard it. Y I .v I S rntNTBU AT THE " NOKKOLK .NKWH " OFFICK, KXCHANUK KTBKKT, .VOHWICII. INDEX. PAGE A Lament for Walsinglmm . . . 239 Advertisements in Norssdch Newspapers a Centuiy ag;o ... 107 Aikiii (Dr. John), I'ocms on "Evils of War" and '-Death of Jolm Howard" 325 Aikin (Lucy), The Swallow ... 330 AMcrson's (Baron) Humour ... 370 Anecdotes : — Accommodating Principles ... 394 A Cold Compliment ... 370 A Fool Confimied 3'.)2 A Gentleman's Fasliion ... 373 An Odd Bird 379 Arranging Precedence ... 380 A .Short Creed 379 Ask him to Luncheon ... 378 Auricular Confession ... 394 An Undergraduate's ^\'ager Lost ... 308 A Verdict Getter 307 A Valu.'ihlc Pail of Water ... 371 Balhid .Singing Divine ... 372 Baron .\M'rs.,'i's Humour ... 370 Belief in the Devil 390 Bishop .Stanley and his Rooks 3Kl Bi.^hop Stanley's Courtesv ... 887 Bottles and Corks ... * ... 309 Brief let it ho 395 Claw and Claw 878 Charles Duke of N'orfolk ... 'MX Coke of N'orfolk 3^3 Costly Kpicurism ... ... 37'i Crokcr (J. W.) and Sir Robert Peel 393 Coke (Sir Edward) a Rioter 381 Cooper's r'Sir A.ntloy) Fees ... 3HK Dr Tooth 391 En .g to Yotint: Phv- sician.i ... yHl Fearless Boy 370 Force of Habit 371 Gently, ■fcnimy 394 Getting the worst of it PAGB . 374 . 375 . 383 Go Sober Grey Hoi'scs for the Judge ... Henry Crabb Robinson and Joseph John Gumey ... 385 Illiterate Prcacliing 388 Making Free of the Cellar ... 391 Xat Lee and Sir Roger L'Estnmge 383 Nelson's Generosity 393 Nelson's Nightcap ... ... 3911 Only a Liquid 393 Operation for a Baronetcy ... 370 Pan- (Dr. Samuel) and Sir James Mackintosh ... 380 Parr's (Dr. Sauuiel) Egoti.fm 380 Pan-'s (Dr. Sanuiel) PurgiUory 387 179 375 Partnership Dissolved Porsouiana Porson's Extraordinary' Me- mory' ... ... ... 389 Porson and the Porters ... 379 Porson ami Gibbon ... ... 3M0 Porson'.s Favourite Bcvorngc 395 Principle in High Life ... 392 Reputed Insolence of Queen Elizabeth ... 807 Secret of Succc^ 390 Talking Politics 371 The Taylor's of Nonvich ... 387 Th(! 'I'wenty-fiffli Child a Bishop 377 The Letter If. Trying to Bribe a Judg'' . " Fsclcis Warning ... ... 387 Walpolc's (Sir Robert) Nor- folk Doctor 375 W: ' ''' ' Briber)' 381 Yn ... 373 Anno Boloyn, Traniiation of Poem on 247 Anne JJolcyn, Song* in Praise of ■ 243,245 402 INDEX. PAGE 1 Amusements and Festivities in ISth Century ]Cn, As I came from Walsingliam, IJallad of 22S lialhuls and Songs: — A Coimtry Parson and his Man 307 | A Lament for Walsingliam ... 289 As I came from Walsingham 228 Anne Bolcyn, Translation of Poem on ... 247 Anne Bole-^m, Songs in Praise of ... ■ 243, 24;-, A tnie Relation how the DeA'il met with one Goodman Inglebred, of Bowton 273 Bailiff's Daughter of Islington 241 Banishment of the Dukes of Norfolk and Hereford lft3 Children in the Wood 2G() Cry of the Radish Boys at Great Yarmouth ... ,000 Elegy on the Rev. John Por- ter, D.D 303 riodden Fiokl 225 Gentle Herdsman Tell to Me 235 His Majesties Progress into Norfolk ... ' 203 Houghton Hare Hunting 28(5 Inscription on a Kew-huilt House at Easton ... 311 Jealousy 222 Legend of the Headless Horses 2411 i\Iaiden"s Song 218 Madam E. B. of Blakeney ... 30(; Nancy and Jemmy of Yar- moutli 2C,C, Norfolk Fanner's Jouniey to London 277 Norfolk Drollery 304 Norfolk Freeholders ... 290 Death! Rock me Asleep... 247 Noble Festus 287 Old Robin of Portingalc 231 On the Death of John Lewes, Burned for Heresy 255 On the Cruel Whips found in the Spanish Ships... 18C On the Victory over the Spanish Armada ... 180 Prosperity to Houghton 284 Queen Elizabeth's Visit to the Camp at Tilbury ... 174 Rebellion of Watt Tyler and Jack Straw 215 Sir Andrew Barton 200 PAGE Spanish Lady's Love ... 212 The Cook's Catastrophe ... 313 The Norfolk Largess ...283 The Winning of Calais ... 207 The Woollen Manufactory ... 22G To the Ladye's of the New Dresse ... ... ... 291 Two Monstrous Children ... 251 To the Fair Maiden M. H. at Sharrington Hall 305 Upon a Dog named Fudle ... 308 Weaver's Song 223 '\^'arning-pieee for Ingroosers of Carne 273 William the Conqueror ... 190 Yarmouth Water Frolic ... 301 Ballad Singing Divine (Dr. Corbet) 372 ]5anishment of Dukes of Norfolk and Hereford, Ballad on the... 193 Bailiff's Daughter of Islington 241 ]5enefit of Clergy 81 Barton (Bernard), His Tribute to Joseph John Gurney, 351, His Sonnet to Elizabeth Fry 358 Bentley (Mrs. Elizabeth), Poem on the Death of Dr, Lubbock 340 Boiling to Death asa Punishment 125 Biniiing of Heretics ... ... 81 Christmas Customs in Norfolk 112 Clun-cli Porch, Refuge in ... 80 Churches, Poor's Box in ... 82 Curious Customs ... ... 77 Death, Pressing to 125 Death, Punishment of Boiling to 125 Dclony Thomas, Ballads and Songs of 173 Ducking Stools 124 Enfield (Dr. William), His Poem, " The Example of Christ" ... 322 Epigrams, bv Dr. Sayers ... 14G Epitaphs ^ 142 Fairies and their Doings ... GO Female Parish Clerk 88 Folk Lore : — Ague, Charms and Cures for 32 Baby's Nails 5 ]5aptismal Superstitions ... 8 Bible and Witchcraft ... 53 Burial without the Sanctuary 28 Bees must be put in Mourning and infonned of a Death ... 20 Bees Dislike Dissensions ... 4G Cats Suck the Breath of Infants 6 INDEX. 403 Clcr^nnan's Privilege Weddings ... Cliildren bom in Chime Hoxu-s see the Spirits of the De- parted Child should go up the Worid before it goes down Children Crying at Baptism Children passed through Ash Trees to cure Hernia Christmas Decorations must be Cleared out of Church before Candlemas Day Church Bells, Legend delat- ing to Clotlies of the Dead never Wear Long Confinnatiou Superstition ... Cramp Cures... Cimning Women, Inlluencc of Crooked Sixpence Lucky ... Dancing in a Ilog's Trough Dog Howling Drills Pres.iging Death Dumb Cake ... Kider, the Wood of the Cross Ei)ilcpsy Ciu'cd Evil Eye Fairies, Superstitious comiec- ted with ... Fits Cured by the Blooil of tiie Mole Finger Kings made from ( 'ofliu Handles u Cure for Cramp Fright a Cure for Ague Game Feathers cause a Lin- gering Death Jlarleston, Swunming Witches at Hemp Seed .Scattered Hogs i-hould be Killed in tiie Incrpa>e of the Moon Horse Shoes nailed to Cott.ngcs ■.\'* <'harm against Wilclies Husband, How to Discover yotir Future MarkV (St.) Eve. Wuldiing in Church I'mvli ... Matrimonial Divinati'in May MarriftgcH Unlucky •Mite lloasted ns n Cure for Wlinoping Cough ... .Mil c Fried a Cure for SiiuiII I'ox New <.'lothc"' on En*tcr Sundnv 8 n 27 (57 I'S 8 ■M o7 4(1 17 21 23 U 48 3G 51 CO 37 •Hi 34 27 53 '.) 12 JO 13 II Hi 32 3.'' ir, PAGE Xew Moon seen thi'ough Glass unlucky ... ... ... 47 Xosc Bleeding, Ciu'e for ... 3."> Omens connected with Flowers 4 7 Phantom Dogs ... ... Go llheumatism alleviated by Confirmation ... ... 8 liheumatism, Cures for ... 38 Salt Spilling Ominous ... 44 Signs and Omens ... ... 43 Sir Thomas BolevnV Spectre Wart Cures 3.1 Whooping-Cough Cures ... 31 Wens Cured bv a Dead Man's Hand .; 3(; Wishing-welis at WaUhighani 74 Witchcraft, Super.-titions con- nected with ... ... 4'J Fox (William .lohnson), his Poems on " .^Ian and Pr<>- plicts " ... ... ... 317 Fry (Mrs. Elizabeth). Smuut in Menmry of, by Bernard Burton 3.'"»8 Gentle HcrdMuan 'IVil to .Me ... 2;!."> 'ileaiiings fn>m Old .N'cwspiipcr'- l.'>'.' fireenc Pobert, Iiis '• Sjiepherd's Wife's Si.rg" 318 Go-HJi (.Mrs. Kcbccca), ".Mv Native Dale" ... ..'.311 Gurnev(.Io>e|ih.I<>lin). hi.s Poem on '"Silent Wnrhliip" 3l'.t, Tribute li)tli<" .Meninry ii, y.'d, Aiicc- d'lte iif ... ... ... 38.-1 II.irvcHt Cutch .. Ill llrrriiig I'ic" ... 121 JJindn (Bihluip), his J'neni.», "'I'lie Oft forgiven," iiimI "Marth.i ami Mary" 36 The Headless Horses, Ballad on the 249 The Heart in the Hand ... G8 TJie S waff ham Legend ... 68 AVishing Wells at Walsing- ham ... ... ... 74 Martin (Sarah), Recollections of my beloved Grandmother ... 359 ]Ma3'-daj-, Reward for bringing in Hawthorn on 113 Medical Charges (1681-1732)... 119 I\Iiraclc Plays at N'orwich ... 98 Nancy and Jemmy of Yarmouth, Ballad on ...' 200 Ncw.spapers, Curious Gleanings from Old Norfolk lo9 Norfolk Rebels, Petition of the 114 Norfolk Drollery, The 304 Norfolk Farmer's Joiu-ney to London ... ... " ... 277 Norfolk Largess, The 283 Norfolk, Anecdotes of Dukes of 371,375, 378 396 Norwich Pageants ... ... 97 Norwich Guild. A Mayor's Feast: temp. Elizabeth ... 107 Norwidi, Origin of the Spinning Trades in ^ 128 Nursey, (Rev. Perry) Stanzas by 362 Obsolete Punishments ... ..'. 126 O Death ! Rock mc Asleep, Song supposed to have been written bv Anno Bolepi ... 247 Old Ballads" and Songs 173 Old Robin of Portingale, Ballad of 231 Opie(Mrs.), Her opinion of Lord IJyron, 399, Song, 332, Lines for the Albmn at Cossey ... 332 PaiT Dr., Criticisms on, 396, His Directions for His Funeral, TAGE 395, His Egotism, 386, Anec- dotes of, 370, 373, 379, 380, 387 Petition of the Norfolk Rebels in 1549 114 Plough Monday 110 Porsoniana ... ... ... 375 Proverbs 148 Proverbs on the Weather and the Crops ... ... ... 151 Potter (Rev. Robert), His " Holk- ham" 320 Poems : — Dialogue between Giles Jol- terhead and his Darter Dinah (Samuel Lane) ... 342 Death of John Howard (Dr. Aiken) 325 Death of Dr. Lubbock (Eliza- beth Bentley) 340 Example of Christ (Dr. En- field) 322 Evils of War Deprecated (Dr. Aikin) 325 Holkham (Rev. Robert Potter) 320 Hudibras Modernized (William Taylor) 328 Hymn (Wilham Taylor) ... 330 Lines for the Album at Cossey (Mrs. Opie) 332 Martha and Mary (Dr. Hinds) 363 Man (William Johnson Fox) 347 IMemorial of Joseph John Gurney, Esq. (Bernard Bar- ton) 350 Alorning Plymn on Easter-day (Bishop Hornc) 323 My Native Dale (Mrs. Rebecca Gooch) 341 Phophets (William Johnson Fox) 347 The Image of Death (Rev. Robert Southwell) ... 315 The Swallow (Miss Li;cy Aikin) ... ... ... 336 The Quaker and His Robin (CorncHus Whur) 337 The Oft Forgiven (Dr. Hinds) 363 Recollections of my Beloved Grandmother (Sarah Martin) 358 Silent Worship (Joseph John Gurney) ... ... ... 348 Shepherd's Wife's Song (Robt. Greene) ... ... ... 318 Song (Sir James Edward Smith) 327 INDEX. 405 PAGE Song (Mrs. Opic) ... ... 332 Soiiuet in ]\Icmory of Eliza- beth Fry (Bernard I'arton) 358 Stanzas (Kev. Perry Xiu-sey) 3(52 Refuge ui the Chiuxli Porch ... bO Reputed Insolence of (iucen Elizabeth 3G7 Rhyming Will US Sanctuary, Privilege of ... 77 Scarlett (Sir James). Anecdotes of 3G7, 372, 3'JO Spanish Ai-mada, Deloncy's Bal- lads on the ... 1 7 1 Sermon, A ('m-ioii.~ ... ... S4 Smith (Sir James Edward), .Song by ... ... ... 327 Solitary Sennon ... ... S-t Southwell Rev. Robert, His Poem on the Image of Death 31 j Stage Coach Travelling from Norwich a Ccnturv ago ... 1 GO Taylor (WillLun),' lludibras Modernized. 32S, Ihnm ... 330 The Shrines and Pilgrimages of Norfolk ... ... ' ... ^S Trade and Commerce in 18th Century ... 1G2 r.VGE Trial by Wager of Battle ... 123 Valentine's Day lOa Viands for Particular Days ... 113 Walpolc (Sir Robert), Anecdotes of ... 375, 378, 380, 384, 394 Walpole (Horace), Criticisms on 398 Weaver's Song, by Deloncy ... 223 Whur (Cornelius), The Quaker and his Robm ... ... 337 William the Conqueror, Delo- i.ey's Ballad on I'JO Witchcraft, Belief in, 50, Cure for, 51, Witches Pool at Ilar- leston, 53, Norfolk Witches in IGIG, 52, Tests for, 53, ■' Cunning JNIen " and " Cmi- ning Women " frequently Employed, 58, Old Nan J5ar- rit of Eye ... ... ... 5'J \\'()ollcn Manufactory described by Deloney ... ... ... 22G Yarmouth \\'ater Frolic, Dr. (ilover's Poem on the ... 301 Yarmouth, Cry of tlic RaiUsh Boys of 300 m,. MINTON'S IILES, EICHLY GLAZED AND DEC BATED WITH ENAMELS, FOR HEARTHS, FIRE PLACES, WALL DECOMTION, FURNITURE, FLOWER BOXES, &c. ADDRESS ONLY, rn N INA WORKS STOKK-TJP()N-4MM^]NT. J'dfh iii.t, i!^r., iiUliJ lie sriu (if Ihiir Loinlii)) HoUSfj 28, W iill'iiinlr^ .]fiiiisiiiii Ifiiiisr- i,r, mi np^dlrnfinn, , irill be Hcnt direct frmn till' MaiiuJ'arfdiij. \ '^-•••^^t^^t ■ -«" i f>* i ' *""- i * l * l '*1' i l* r '*^r*O i *»'> i VS-VVy i Tr» r * i ' » * I Tr ii ' l ^^rir'T I * l 'V'»*ir>'N'>*^Tr>'V'^-^ V^ j j jw ^y I'l . I . , . . BY THE SAME AUTHOR. THE FFOLK G/RLjll, A MISCELLANY OF ANECDOTES, ROMANTIC BALLADS, DESCRIPTIVE POEMS AND SONGS, HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES, AND STATISTICAL RETURNS, RELATING TO THE COUNTY OF SUFFOLK. "The 'New Suffolk Garland,' strikes us as being one of tlic most valuable and interesting compilations of county lore that has ever been published, and we shall be much m.istakcn if it is not largely patronized." — Norfolk News. " The time and labour spent about the work must have been great. Mr. Glyde evidently set out with the intention of giving his readers an interesting volume, and he has, \\e think, succeeded. He has broken up no debatable ground, but he has re-produced and given a fulness to many things which lay scattered about almost in shreds — has dived into works accessible to but few, availed himself of valuable collections of old Suffolk literatm-e, which by reason of their scanty and exclusive possession, are beyond the reach of the orchnary reader. We intended to give qiiotations from the work, but this om- space will not permit, and this is the less necessary, as we have no doubt that those who arc at all interested in the literature of the county ^vill take care to add this volume to then- libraries." — Suffolk Chronicle. '• A work of considerable local interest and importance." — Suffolk Mercury. '• It is impossible to open the volume anywhere without alighting upon some bit of anecdote, song, or story, that entices the reader to foUow the scrap to the end, and as the book is made for desultory reading, this is high merit. Its qualification, however, to Siiffolk readers ^\^ll be its local character. The local superstitions, old customs, ancient ballads, etc., arc well selected and highly characteristic. The volume is well got up, pi-inted on good paper, and handsomely bound." — Ipswich Journal. •' In this handsome volume of 450 pages, well printed on tinted paper, Mr. Glyde has brought together a new and interesting collection of cm-iosities and gems, such as every Suffolk man may like to have in his po.ssession." — Bury and Norv.-ich Post. >' The author of this work has devoted himself with uncommon diligence and pamstakiug assiduity to the compilation of a misccliany of anecdotes, l)allads, and curious hah-forgotten rhymes, biographical and historical notes, and statistical retm-ns, relating to the county of Suffolk — and we can conscientiously congratulate the author upon what appears to us the highly successful issue of his labovu-." — Essex Teleorai'ii. IPSWICH : ( Price 10s. 6d., Cloth, Extra Gilt, Post Free from the Author. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY Los Angeles This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. DECEIVE $i\^liMi. TJMEUg im&ij^ D ..y fimi^ .#rdU»'« AUG 1 9 19 '986 Form L9-50m-ll,'S0 (2554)444 3 1158 00833 8633