Lancashire legends, traditions, pageants, sports, &c. ; with an appendix containing a rare tract on the Lancashire witches, &c., &c.

(gfDV0f IHnurfUi'P ^omnH-ill^; A'.

Cornell University Library
DA 670.L2H28

Lancashire legends traditions, pageants

3 1924 028 040 057

Cornell University
Library

The original of tliis book is in
tlie Cornell University Library.

There are no known copyright restrictions in
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I

EWSEAVED BV BASIC «. CO^iDffimiHGH. FROM k IHOTO BT C,

A DUVSL ,\ cri„ MANCHESTER

LANCASHIRE LEGENDS,

WITH AN APPENDIX

CONTAINING

A RARE TRACT ON THE LANCASHIRE WITCHES,
<5r=f. &=€.

BY
JOHN HARLAND, F.S.A.

AND

T. T. WILKINSON, F.R.A.S. &c.

LONDON:

GEORGE ROUTLEDGE AND SONS.

MANCHESTER : L. C. GENT.

1873-

K.Sim o"=|

PRINTED BY BALLANTYNE AND COMPANY
EDINBURGH AND LONDON

To

THE PRESIDENT AND COUNCIL OF THE
CHETHAM SOCIETY;

of which body

The Late John Harland, f.s.a.

7uas so useful and worthy

a Member,

Cfjt's Valumz fa JScifcatEii

by

the Surviving Editor

T. T. WILKINSON.

PREFACE.

Popular legends and traditions are rapidly disappearing
from the fireside literature of our county. Some of them
pass away with the ancient mansions to which they were
attached ; others die out with the individuals who were
wont to repeat them orally to their descendants ; and
not a few have become modified by the changes which
have taken place in our social relationships to each other.
Elementary education, also, is doing its work slowly, but
surely, and with the spread of correct information amongst
the masses, much of our popular superstition will cease
to exist. That which remains will become modified ac-
cording to prevalent ideas, just as Pagan rites, ceremonies,
and beliefs, were Christianised by our forefathers and
accepted under their modified forms.

How, or when, many of these popular legends took
their rise cannot now be determined. Their origin is
lost in the far distant past, and forms matter for mere
conjecture. Some have probably been invented in order
to account for certain unusual appearances, and a resort
to the supernatural has been too frequently indulged in
when natural phenomena have not admitted of an easy
explanation to those who lacked the requisite information.
The ringing of the curfew bell at Burnley, and other
places, is plainly a relic of early Norman times, and the
origin of the custom is well understood ; but when the
mysteri ous writing was found on the walls of the cellar

b

vi Preface.

at Barcroft Hall, the confinement of the heir to the
estates until he became an idiot, by a younger brother, was
needed to connect the writing with an item in the family
pedigree. . Many generations, no doubt looked with
wonder upon the sculptured Paschal Lamb on the south
front of the steeple at Burnley before it was connected
with the demon pigs and the goblin builders, whose origin
has never yet been satisfactorily explained. The same
may be said of the rude figure of the pig and bell at
Winwick church, and its curious legend, which Mr
Worsley has proved to belong to St Anthony ■ and his
well-known badge.*

When readers were few it was necessary to give as
much publicity as possible to important local transactions.
Hence we can explain the custom of holding a ruler or
wand when taking the oath in presence of a jury on be-
ing enrolled as a holder of property in a Manor ; and
the same necessity suggested the practice of paying money
on the font of the parish church in the presence of the
congregation. Paying pepper-corns, presenting gloves,
spurs, &c., instead of rent for land, are obviously relics
of military service handed down to us from feudal times;
and when white gloves are presented to judges in courts
of law, they intimate that the sheriff vacates his office
with clean hands, which had a real significance when
disembowelling formed one of the accessories to capital
punishments.

The agency of the Devil is a frequent ingredient in the
composition of our local legends. His bonds are always
signed with the blood of his victims, and not a few of
our localities can produce traditional instances of his
crafty doings. He is also credited with the production

* Proceedings of the Liverpool Architectural and Archseoloeical
Society, 1871. ^

Preface. vii

of certain natural appearances which seem to lie beyond
the powers of human labour. The Roman roads which
intersect our wild and still almost impassable moors, are
said to have been formed by diabolical agency. Huge
boulders which lie scattered on the crests of our hills,
marking the outcrop of the millstone grit, are popularly
said to have been hurled by him from their parent rocks
when exhibiting his feats of strength, forcibly reminding
us of the labours of Thor, one of the principal deities of
our Scandinavian ancestors.

When we examine our minor superstitions we find
many that will admit of no rational explanation. They
have descended to us from , remote antiquity and
different races of people. Very many are relics of ancient
faiths and ceremonial rites ; and not a few have served
as explanations of natural phenomena, and were accepted
as satisfactory by those to whorh they were addressed.
In certain cases their origin is tolerably clear. The
custom of turning to the east is undoubtedly a relic of
sun worship, to which our early ancestors are known to
have been addicted. Looking backwards when leaving
home is considered unlucky ; and this has grown into a
superstition from the fact of its having been disastrous to
Lot's wife. Many religiously disposed persons object
to a national census on the ground that it is sinful, and
they adduce in proof the punishment which overtook
David when he numbered the people. Hook-nosed
persons are considered to be avaricious, because this
characteristic attaches to the Jews, who have lain under
this imputation for more than a thousand years. A
superstitious regard for certain numbers has caused
thirteen at dinner to be looked upon as ominous, since
Judas was a traitor when he sat at meat with the twelve. In
Courts Leet once calling suffices for ordinary cases, but

viii Preface.

three times are considered necessary when the authority
of the sovereign is concerned. The origin of many of
our pageants and pastimes is not difficult to trace.
Most of them have degenerated from rehgious or civic
festivals, some of which date from the very earliest coloni-
sation of the county. Several might be noted that still
retain marked characteristics of Pagan, early Christian,
and medieval times. With slight modifications, the same
may be said of our punishments, whether legal or popu-
lar, and even of the games which are practised in
nurseries and playgrounds by our children. The
derivation of the great bulk, however, of all these,
whether legend, pageant, or game, must for ever remain
in a state of much uncertainty; and hence we have
rarely ventured to enter upon a branch of the subject
which is scarcely adapted for the general reader.

The following pages are intended to preserve a few of
the more important legends, traditions, pageants, &c., a.s
well as a portion of the more miscellaneous folk-lore of
the county. In the first part of the work we have given
a series of legends and traditions mostly attaching to
our ancient mansions, and these are usually introduced
by short genealogical notices of the principal persons
named, together with the present state of the houses they
either erected or improved. In the case of the Old Hall
at Samlesbury it may be considered that more detail
ought to have been given of the recent extensive reno-
vations, but this has been so ably done by Mr James
Croston in his exhaustive account of " Samlesbury Hall
and its owners," that nothing more than a reference to
that sumptuous work is required. It may be hoped,
however, that this praiseworthy example will be followed
by other owners of our historic mansions.

The second portion contains several curious accounts

Preface. ix

of our local pageants, &c., including that of the still noted
Preston Guild. Further information respecting this
ancient pageant may be found in the very full and inter-
ing " History " of this guild by Mr William Dobson and
my late colleague, who, amongst other matter, contributed
a new translation of the " Custumal," which preserves
some singular items from the ancient Breton laws. The
wakes and rushbearings have engaged the attention of
the historian as well as the novelist ; and the description
given by the latter enables us to live over again many
episodes of youthful days.

The third portion relates to Lancashire sports and
games. The division might have been much enlarged,
but it was deemed unnecessary to include such as leap-
frog, weights, ring by ring, sally water. Sec, &c., since
they are still well known and practised daily. The intro-
ductory article may be instanced as explaining many of
our ancient games of which the names only now remain.

The fourth part contains an account of our old punish-
ments, together with several still in use. Whipping has
been revived as one of our legal punishments, and it is
not improbable but that the occasional use of the stocks
will shortly follow.

The fifth division contains a collection of popular
rhymes, proverbs, similes, &c., in common use amongst
our peasantry. Many of these are to be found in Col-
lier's " Tummus and Meary " and other similar works ;
but more especially in the writings of Waugh and
Brierley, respectively two of our most talented and popu-
lar Lancashire authors.

The sixth portion of the work is devoted to miscel-
laneous superstitions and observances, all of which have
been collected within the past four or five years, and are
still believed in, and practised at the present time. They

X Preface.

have been classified under different heads as far as pos-
sible ; but there are many curious items which do not
readily admit of any special arrangement.

In the appendix will be found a reprint of a rare old
chap-book on the Lancashire Witches, an account of
the Lady in White of Samlesbury Hall, &c., all of which
will probably be acceptable both to the general and the
antiquarian reader.

We have now the pleasing duty of tendering our ac-
knowledgments to R. W. Procter, Edwin Waugh, Benjamin
Brierley, and William Beamont, Esqrs., and other authors
whose writings are occasionally quoted. Our thanks are
also due to W. C. Boulter, Esq., of Hull, and Joseph
Chatwood, Esq., President of the Manchester Literary
Club, for the poems and extracts contained in the memoir.
We are also much indebted to. W. A. Waddington, Esq.,
of Burnley, for his spirited and accurate sketch of the
Foldys Cross, which forms so appropriate a vignette to
the present volume. The inscription round the octa-
gonal base runs thus : — "Orate pro anima Johannis Foldys
cappellani qui istam crucem fieri fecit anno domini
Mcccccxx." This stately memorial was erected in the
churchyard fat Burnley by a Foldys of Danes House,
who was then incumbent, and, after being thrown down
many years ago in a drunken frolic, it was removed to Towne-
ley, where it has been re-erected on the lawn behind the
Hall. It is to be hoped that in a short time it will be
restored to its original site, from which it ought never to
have been removed.

T. T. W.
Burnley,

November 1872.

CONTENTS

PAGE

MEMOIR OF JOHN HARLAND, F.S.A., . . . xv

PART I.

LEGENDS AND TRADITIONS. "

Intrpduction, i

Ashton Church and Ace of Spades, 3

Barcroft Hall and the Idiot's Curse, 4

Bemshaw Tower and Lady Sybil 5

Burnley Cross and the Demon Pigs, 7

Clayton Hall and Kersal Cell, ...... 8

Clegg Hall Tragedy, .10

Dildnim, King of Cats, 12

Dilworth Written Stone 13

Dule upo' Dun 15

Dun Cow and the Old Rib 16

Eagle and Child . 19

Egerton Hall and " Old Madam," 22

Entwisel, Sir Bertine 23

Fairfax in Ashton Church, 26

Gorton, Reddish, and Nicker Ditch, 26

Habergham Hall and the Lady's Lament, .... 29

Hale, Chylde of, 31

Hanging Ditch, Manchester, 34

Hornby Chapel and Sir Edward Stanley, .... 34

Hulme Hall Treasure, 37

Ince Hall and the Dead Hand 38

Kersal Hall Traditions, 41

Lostock Tower— "too late," 43

Mab's Cross at Wigan, 45

Ormskirk Church, , 47

Rhodes and Pilkington Traditions, 49

Rochdale Church, St Chad's, 52

Stretford Road, Great Stone, 53

Sykes's' Wife at Lumb Farm, . . . . • . 55

xn

Contents.

Towneley Hall Tradition, .

Turton Tower,

Tyrone's Bed, near Rochdale,

Unsworth and its Dragons, .

Wardley Hall Skull, .

Wardley Hall Tradition, .

Whalley Crosses, . /

Winwick Church and the Demon,

Worsley Giant, Tradition of the,

WyecoUer Hall and the Spectre Horseman,

PART II.
PAGEANTS, MASKINGS, AND MUMMINGS.

Introduction,

Aca's Fair, Manchester,

Ashton Gyst-Ale,

Burnley Waits,

Downham King and Queen, . . • .

Eccles Guising, .........

Hoghton Pageant in 1 617,

Liverpool Fair, Custom at,

Liverpool May-Day Celebrations,

Preston Guild Merchant, .......

Pace Egg Mummers,

Robin Hood and Maid Marion,

Rushbearings, .........

Rushbearings on the Lancashire Border, ....

Rushbearing in East Lancashire,

Hambleton Fair, or Hapton Rushbearing, . - . .

Rochdale Rushbearings

Warton Rushbearing, . ^

Whalley Rushbearing, ....;..

Wakes in Lancashire,

Wakes at Didsbury

Eciles Wakes and Eccles Cakes, ....."

PART III.

SPORTS AND GAMES.

Introduction,

Ancient Customs in Games,

Barley Brake and Blindman's Buff) • . . . .

57
59
60

63
65
70

73
76

78
79

83
84
85
87

93
95
96

97
loi
108
109
no

HI
112
112
121
121
123

125
126

131
132

141

Contents. xiii

PAGE

Clitheroe Sports and Pastimes 142

Cockfighting at Manchester and Liverpool, . . » 143

Cockfighting for Eccles Tithes, . . . . . . 145

Fighting " Up and Down," 14S

Hunting at Extwistle Hall, 147

Miscellaneous Games — Archery Butts, &c., . . . 148

BuUbaiting 149

Hand Ball, Bandy Ball 149

Spell and Nur, 149

Tip, Blackthorn, Fives 150

Prison Bars, Quoits, Skates, . . . . . .151

Slinging, Trippet 152

Ignagning and Ignagnus, . . . . . . • 1 53

Otter Hunting in the Fylde, 154

Kersal Moor Races, 154

Kersal Moor Races, eighteenth century 155

Manchester Races ; Castle Irwell, 157

Races by Nude Men, 159

School Holidays in 1790, 159

Treacle Dipping, 161

PART IV.

PUNISHMENTS— LEGAL AND POPULAR.

Introduction, 165

Stocks, Whipping Post, &c., 166

Stocks, at Burnley 166

Scold's Brank or Bridle 166

Cuck Stool or Ducking Stool, . ' 167

Ducking Pits at Burnley, .167

Ducking Stool at Liverpool, 168

Ducking Stool in the Fylde, . . . . . .169

Penance Stool at Bisphara, 1 70

Kirkham Ducking Stool . .170

Manchester GallovifS and Tumbrel 171

Beheading a Thief, 172

The Old Appeal of Murder, i73

Penance in the Fylde, 174

Stang Riding, &c., in Lancashire, I74

Ringing the Pan, 176

Notchel Crying in East Lancashire, 176

Wife Selling, . ' . . I77

xiv Contents.

PART V.
POPULAR RHYMES, PROVERBS, SIMILES, &c.

PAGE

Introduction l8l

Wigan Nursery Song, . . . • . . .182

Popular Rhymes, ........ 183

Proud Preston — Christ's Croft, 184

' Three Rivers at Mytton, .185

Lancashire Riddles, . .186

Proverbs, 189-201

Similes, ... ....... 190

Lancashire Sayings, ........ 193

Farmer's Rhymes and Proverbs, 202

Sayings, &c., ......... 212

Wilson's Proverbs in Rhyme, 213

PART VI.

MISCELLANEOUS SUPERSTITIONS & OBSERVANCES.

Introduction, . . . . . . , . . 217

Folklore of Birds, ........ 218

Folklore of Cats, . ....... 219

Folklore of Children, ....... 220

Superstitions respecting Courtship, 222

Superstitions respecting Fish and Bacon, . ... . 224

Superstitions respecting Hair, ...... 224

Precepts in Medicine, ....... 225

Observances as to Money, 227

Omens respecting events, ....... 228

Weather Wisdom, ... . . . . . 231

Witchcraft Superstitions, 234

Miscellaneous Observances, &c., 235

The Devil at Cockerham 241

APPENDIX.

Introduction, ■•...,... 247

Lancashire Witches Tract, 248

Eagle and Child, ... . . . . _ 2Cq

Samlesbury Hall and the Lady in White, .... 261

The Dragon of Wantley, 264

Osbaldeston Hall, . . 270

Mellor Hall, or Abbot House, 2^2

MEMOIR

JOHN HARLAND, F.S.A.

The daily life of an antiquary is usually quiet and un-
obtrusive. His thoughts and actions relate more to the
past than to the present ; the common occurrences of the
day are deemed of minor importance ; he is most
interested in things that were ; and his special function
is to rescue from oblivion that which the busy men of
the world have had little inclination, or leisure, to pre-
serve. He makes no conquests which absorb the
attention, or elicit the applause of the public, for he is
seldom either a general or a statesman ; and yet his
victories are frequently of greater importance than those
which occur on the battle-field or in the senate. The
actions of the former may affect the destinies of a nation —
the measures of the latter may change the course of his
country's policy ; but the researches of the man of letters
not unfrequently reverse the whole current of public
opinion, and thus produce more permanent, and more
widely extended effects than the arms of the one or the
legislation of the other. Events occur at distant intervals
which it would perhaps be impolitic, at the time, to illus-
trate in all their bearings. The secret causes which

xvi Memoir of John Harland.

produced these events are therefore studiously concealed
by the personages concerned ; but after ages have passed
away, some zealous antiquary carefully examines all the
documents relating to such transactions ; and then pro-
ceeds to assign to each his due meed of praise or blame,
as in his opinion they deserve.

It is by such examinations into the public archives, or
into the collections of private individuals, that modern
generations have been led to reject many of the
stereotyped assertions of our popular histories. Not a
few of our kings, queens, and great personages, have
suffered materially by the process ; whilst others have
regained their proper positions and legitimate characters,
of which they ought never to have been deprived.
National changes, both in religion and politics, have thus
been assigned to their true causes ; and even now we
are beginning to learn that the political liberties which
we are so rapidly acquiring involve nothing more than a
return to those privileges which our ancestors enjoyed
nine centuries ago under ancient Saxon rule.

When such results have followed from an examination
of our national records ; it is not too much to expect that
similar modifications of opinion, in a less degree, must have
been produced by an inspection of our local collections.
Such is manifestly the case ; and the many excellent local
histories issued during the present century bear ample
testimony to the fact. Local antiquaries have been
silently, but effectually, at work, and the result is a mass
of evidence with regard to local events and social polity
which cannot be overlooked by any future historian. In
the County of Lancaster the Chetham and Historic ^oas.'ass
have issued numerous volumes, which lay open to our
gaze both the public and the private lives of the princi-
pal personages who figure in our county history ; and not

Memoir of John Harland. xvii

a few of these volumes contain a fund of information
relating to the domestic habits and family connections of
our mediaeval, and more recent ancestors.

It is here that the labours of the plodding, careful
antiquary make themselves felt \ and it is thus that the
value of his collections becomes known. He may have
to wait long before his objects are accomplished ; he may
even be removed from earth before his works are duly
appreciated ; but sooner or later he will obtain his reward.
This thought was ever present to the mind of the sub-
ject of this brief memoir ; he knew the value of the
volumes which he so liberally contributed to the Chetham
Society, and although he has so recently " gone to his
rest," it is already acknowledged that no one can here-
after write the history of this great county without being
deeply indebted to the " Mamecestre," " The Shuttkworth
Accounts^' and his other works, for most valuable
materials respecting families, places, men, manners, oc-
cupations, and prices ; which are so plentifully scattered
throughout those valuable volumes.

John Harland, says the Rev. Brooke Herford,
" whose great-grandfather was an enterprising farmer and
grazier, living near Dunkeld in the middle of the last
century, was born at Hull, May 27, 1806." He was the
eldest child of John Harland and his wife Mary, daughter
of John Breasley of Selby. His father followed the
combined businesses of clock and watchmaker, and
jeweller, in Scale Lane, Hull; and issued a medal in
commemoration of the peace and end of the war in
December 1813. " It was mainly to his mother" that
their son " owed the elementary instruction which was
the only foundation on which he built up his various and
extensive knowledge. At the age of fourteen he went,
on trial, into the office of Messrs Allanson and Sydney,

xviii Memoir of John Harland.

the proprietors of the Hull Packet newspaper, and was
apprenticed to them for seven years from January i,
1821, to learn letterpress printing." The celebrated
painter Etty was Mr Harland's predecessor as an ap- ■
prentice ; and when he removed from Hull to London he
left a scrap-book, containing a series of early sketches, as
a memento, in the hands of Mr George Walker, a
journeyman printer in the same office. " From the
beginning of his apprenticeship he gave all his energies
to self-improvement ; soon rose from compositor to
reader ; then was put into the "office; and, teaching him- .
self short-hand, was advanced to reporting. With
indomitable industry, he made for himself during 1825-6,
a system of short-hand in which he embodied all the
best points of several stenographic systems, and soon
became the most expert short-hand writer in the king-
dom." During his residence at Hull he was first the
playmate and then the companion of Benjamin Boulter,
Esq., surgeon ; to whom he wrote a series of characteristic
letters during his five years' stay at Glasgow as a medical
student. Only two of these letters are now in existence ;
but the following extracts from them will show that he
was making rapid progress in self-instruction.

Hull, March gth, 1827.

My- Dear Friend— I received and read your letter with
pleasure. . . You mistook my meaning respecting Hog-
manay night. I did not mean to censure the jovialities .
of a single night, but to express a wish that these festivities
should not be too often indulged in, as they are peculiarly
unfitting for study. I am happy to find that I have no need
to give you any such hints, since I hear you apply with a
zeal which is worthy of its reward. I need not here say that
it will afford me the most sincere gratification to hear of your
complete success, and well merited diploma. Our theatrical

Memoir of yohn Harland. xix

campaign is drawing near to a close ; but I am ill qualified
to give you any particulars, as I have been but seldom this
season. . . I have broken my flute and have not yet
replaced it with a new one, so that I am out of practice.
There is nothing new in the musical world at present. You
have seen by the newspapers the steps our aristocracy are
taking in the Fine Arts and Architecture. . . I have not
ten months longer to stay in " servile chains " — and then —
huzza for liberty — I shall be free ! I hear that your studies
will soon be. varied by the comparatively delightful one of
Botany ; and this exercise in the morning will better enable
you to support the tedium of confinement during the long
summer days. Should Fate have willed us to meet again,
either here or elsewhere, I shall rejoice in the happy hours
we shall again enjoy ; and should it be otherwise, I can only
say, that I sincerely wish Fame, Fortune, and Beauty, may
crown the efforts of the truly Brave, the arduous aspirant for
Honours. Meanwhile, I hope, when opportunity permits,
he will not forget in his correspondence, his sincere friend, ,

J. Harland.
Mr B. Boulter, Glasgow.

In the latter portion of the same year, Mr Boulter,
who was still at Glasgow, is anxious to ascertain how he
is progressing in his studies, and also what are his future
prospects in life, now that his apprenticeship is drawing
to a close. Mr Harland's reply fully proves that he was
hard at work mentally and bodily, although suffering at
times from an ailment which ultimately deprived him of
the free use of his legs : —

Hull, Oct. 15, 1827.

My Dear Friend — You desire me to mention what books

I have read, or am reading ;with my critical judgment on the

same. As,with some exceptions, they areprincipally light works

which I now read, as novels, poetry, romances, &c., I am afraid

. they would afford you little gratification, either in the perusal

XX Memoir of yohn Harland.

of my critique, or of the works themselves. However, I will
mention a few, requesting you to put your veto upon my
not writing any more on this subject, if you find it at all
tedious. I have lately waded through/our out of six thick
8vo volumes of Dr. Franklin's " Life and Works." I would
say of them that they are a bed of oysters from which the
dihgent searcher might collect many pearls; but a great
portion of the work is interesting onlytothe statesman and the
philosopher. " Babylon the Great" is a very fine picturesque
portrait of London and its inhabitants in the present day.
If you have commenced, or rather resumed, romance reading,
I would recommend to your notice " Tales of the O'Hara
Family," as possessing great interest. Lady Morgan's
" Florence M'Carthy " I like very well. Miss Porter's " Vil-
lage and Mariendorpt " is also a very amusing work. But
if you want something in the grotesque style, read Hogg's
"Winter Evening Tales," and, above all, Blackwood^ s Mag'
azine. It is without exception the most delightful emollient
I know for the gloom and dulness too often concomitants of
severe study. I never miss reading it shortly after it makes
its appearance, and there is inevitably some article, long or
short, that proves a sure provocative of laughter and delight.
Your remarks on my progress in knowledge are, I think,
more the effect of your good wishes than of your firm belief
in my acquirements. However, I am obliged to you for the
kindness and good wishes displayed by you in this respect,
and will merely observe that I am nearer the summit of
stetiographical excellence than when I last wrote. I find
you blame me for not giving you any idea what my proceed-
ings will be after my apprenticeship expires. Though the
time now draws so near, I must confess that I am more un-
, determined than when I parted from you. ... I spent
most of my last Hull fair at your father's. I need not say
that at times I felt the want of your presence as the enlivener
of the social board, and the mainspring of joy and cheerful-
ness. My bodily health is in general better than I could
have supposed it would have been at this season of the year.
I may speak in the same terms of my leg. . . . Hoping we
may meet again soon, or if not, that we may congratulate each

Memoir of John Harland. xxi

other on having reached wealth, honour, and fame ; endeared
by the recollection that it will be by our own industry,
which alone will pave the way to these blessings. That such
may be our future lot ; that we and our children may be ever
united in the bonds of friendship and companionship ; and
that you and I may enjoy many hours of delightful inter-
course and retrospection is the sincere wish of
Yours sincerely,

John Harland.
Mr B. Boulter,
Student of Medicine, College, Glasgow.

The wish expressed by Mr Harland in the last clause of
the preceding letter, was ultimately realised. His early
friend died very suddenly in November 1867; but in
January of the same year, his son, the present W. Con-
sitt Boulter, Esq., F.S.A., was in correspondence with
him on antiquarian subjects. In addition to the two
letters already given, Mr Boulter has kindly communi-
cated the following extracts from the letters which passed
between them : —

" I am very glad to find that a son of one of my oldest
friends is so early [age 19] applying himself to the study of
antiquities and archaeology. I began about the same age ;
but it is very rare to find _)'(7«»g" men caring about the history
of the past" {yoth January 1867).

" I annex a list of my volumes ; besides which, I have
printed many articles in The Manchester Literary and Philo-
sophical Society's Memoirs ; in The Journal of the British
Archceological Association ; The Lancashire and Cheshire
Historic Society's Transactions; The Archceologia Cam-
brensis ; Chambers's Book of Days ; &c. &c. I am also the
'Monkbarns' and 'Jonathan Oldhuck' of Country Words"
(j,oth January 1867). .

Mr Boulter was then collecting materials for his Bibli-
ography of Hull, and hence the necessity of the preceding
enumeration and list, which includes a pamphlet entitled

xxli Memoir of John Harland.

" Ten Days in Paris," privately printed by Mr Harland
in 1854.

"Being only twenty-three when I left Hull altogether, I
had not made much progress in local antiquities. I had
acquired a smattering of Anglo-Saxon, and had copied and
corrected the translation in Tickell of a monumental inscrip-
tion, in short-hand, to a lady, on a marble tablet in Sculcotes
Church. Also one or two Anglo-Saxon, or early English,
inscriptions in churches in the Holderness ; one, I think, at
or near Swine. I have somewhere the copy of an old deed
of Myton, which I could send you some day, if you are at all
interested in old deeds. I have one or two silver pennies of
Hull (temp. Edward I.), and a few copper tokens of the last
and present century. These constitute my HuU reliques "
{'^th February 1867.)

" Between 1820 and 1830 there was a low comedian at the
Theatre in Humber Street, named George Bailey, who used
to sing comic songs ; perhaps of his own writing ; one of
which I remember was called ' Hull is a wonderful town, oh!'
Its burden was —

'And Geordie Bailey, singing gaily,
Hey down, ho down, derry, derry down,
Oh ! this Hull is a wonderful town oh ! '

I know Peter Arnull and Gawtrees best of the Hull editors"
(28/A February 1867^.

" With one apprentice between us in time I was a succes-
sor of Etty in apprenticeship at the Hull Packet office. Etty
gave a book containing some of his early chalk sketches to
George Walker, who is, or was, lately in one of the Leeds
printing offices" ("25//^ May 1867^.

"Your last letter of 2Sth November is before me, un-
answered ; another proof of the uncertainty of all earthly
things. Since I received it you have lost your beloved,
father, my dear old friend. Amongst my papers, I found the
other day a copy of some verses written in a volume of
Bums's Poems, which I gave him in 1826. If the volume is

11 in the house you will find the verses on the first blank

Memoir of y ohn Harland. xxlii

leaf. If not, and you wish' to see a copy, I will make one
for you" {2d January, 1868).

The volume of Burns's Poems, however, could not be
found, and on this being made known to Mr Harland,
he copied the verses and enclosed them in his next letter.
They are well worthy of preservation.
" To B. B.
In thoughts of joyous scenes,
In memory's pleasing dreams,
In Friendship's brightest gleams.

Remember me !

By all our hours of gladness,
Of reason, mirth, and sadness,
Unmixed with aught of madness.

Remember me !

Through hours, and days, and years,
Through Fortune's smiles and tears.
Through all Life's hopes and fears.
Remember me !

Whate'er of good or ill
May yet befall me, till
The clutch of Death, I'll still

Remember thee !

J. H."
November \ 826.

Mr Harland always retained a fondness for poetry;
and not unfrequently indulged in that species of com-
position. He had studied Shakespeare critically, and
was well acquainted with the works of our leading authors,
both ancient and modern. He proved his familiarity
with our great dramatist in his contribution to our joint
" Essay on Songs and Ballads," which appeared in the
Transactions of the Historic Society of Lancashire and
Cheshire, and in 1843 he published a few of his own
compositions as "Stray Leaves," under the signature

XX iv Memoir of yohn Harland.

t

" Iota." Five other fugitive pieces were printed in the
volume of " Lancashire Lyrics " which he edited in 1866 ;
one more appeared in Country Words ; and only a few
weeks before his death he read the following simnel song
to a meeting of the Manchester Literary Club, of which
he was long a valued member.

"A SYMNELLE SONGE.

Ye Lovers of oure olde Folk-lore,

Come listen to ane Balade more.

And chorusse synge from youre hearte's core —

To ' The Goode olde Burye Symnelle ! '

Mid-lenten faste yt makes ryche feaste.

For olde and yonge, lyttelle and leaste ;

For waterynge mouthes, sure, ne'er have ceaste ;

For ' The Goode olde Burye Symnelle ! '

Confeccion's hyghest arte yt makes

This huge, rounde, sugarye Kynge of Cakes,

To figure for three F's yt takes,

This ' Goode olde Burye Symnelle ! '

It speakes of deareste Familye tyes ;
From Friend X.a Friend va. Lent yt hyes ;
To alle goode Felloweshippe yt cryes ;
' I'm a ryghte trewe Burye Symnelle ! '
Longe maye symbolique Symnelles send
Friende's everye lovynge wyshe to friend ;
From ' Auld Lang Syne,' till tyme shalle ende,
The ' Goode olde Burye Symnelle ! '

J. H."

Chetham Hill, March 16, 1868.

When Mr Harland penned the preceding lines he had
engaged to accompany the Literary Club in an excursion
to Stratford-upon-Avon, on the anniversary of Shakespeare's
birth and death. As the time drew near he felt unwell
and wrote to the President playfully requesting that he

Memoir of John Harland. xxv

might " be scratched for that day." As will be seen his
name was indeed withdrawn to join that "of the great
shade " on the very day of the celebration.

Mr Harland continued as reporter and contributor tQ
the Hull newspapers for several years after the expiration
of his apprenticeship. During this period his reports
were so remarkable for their fullness and accuracy, that
they attracted the attention of every public speaker who
visited the town. On one occasion he presented the
Rev. Dr Beard with so accurate a report of his address
in Bond Alley Lane Chapel, that " he mentioned the
circumstance to the late John Edward Taylor, who was
then conducting the Manchester Guardian with that
energy and ability which placed it at the head of the
provincial press. The consequence was an offer which
induced Mr Harland to remove to Manchester in Nov-
ember 1830," in which city and its vicinity he resided
till his death. He had here ample opportunities of
proving the superiority of his method of writing short-
hand ; and so verbally accurate were his reports of trials,
public meetings, &c., that they were even cited in courts
of law as proof that certain expressions had been used.
A gentleman connected with the Manchester Guardian,
in an obituary notice, gives an interesting anecdote of
this extreme accuracy. He says : — "A man was being tried
at Lancaster for making a seditious speech, and Mr
Harland had to produce and read his notes as evidence
against him. These notes were read slowly to allow the
Judge to write down the evidence. While this was going
on,' the counsel for the defence turned to a gentleman who
sat near him, and said, ' I '11 turn this fellow inside out.'
The cross-examination for the defence began. 'You
profess to give the exact words ? ' ' Yes.' ' You say the
prisoner said so and so ; now read what immediately fol-

xxvi Memoir of John Harland.

lows.' Mr Harland turned to the place in his notes, and
read off without hesitation, and without waiting for his
evidence to be taken down, a passage of one hundred
words or more. Again he wa,s required to turn to another
part of the speech, and the second passage then read
agreed perfectly with what the counsel knew the prisoner
had said. The learned counsel desisted, and remarked
to the gentleman to whom he had previously spoken, ' I
don't think there is another man in England who could
do that' "

At first the Guardian was only a weekly paper ; but it
began to be published on Wednesdays and Saturdays in
1836 ; and became a daily paper in 1855. Mr Harland
continued to occupy an important position on the staff
through all these changes ; conducting the literary de-
partment of the journal with rare skill and industry, until
July r, 1839, when he was admitted to a partnership in
the paper, which he retained till his retirement in Decem-
ber i860. " While thus busied with his own professional
work, however, he found time for the cultivation of
literary tastes in other and higher directions. Possessing
a keen sense of humour; endowed with considerable
poetic powers j skilled in mediseval Latin ; and a loving
student of early English history, he speedily made him-
self a reputation among local literary men, and, as his
pursuits took more decidedly the direction of archaeology,
gradually, became widely known as an antiquary." He
published many of his early dissertations in the columns
of the Guardian ; some of which were afterwards in-
cluded in the " Collectanea," issued by the Chetham
Society, and other works. In December 1854 he was
elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, and was
placed upon the Council of the Chetham Society in 1855 ;
an office which he only vacated by death. He was also

Memoir of yohn Harland. xxvii

a member of the Historic Society of Lancashire and
Cheshire ; to whose Transactions he contributed some
interesting papers, and presented to their library a valu-
able series of antiquarian cuttings from the Manchester
Guardian. The Rosicrucians also enrolled him as one
of their earliest members. For several years he acted as
Secretary to the order, and edited for this society
Edmonde Dudlay's " Tree of the Commonwealth," writ-
ten by the author when under sentence of death for
high treason. In a scrap-book entitled The Manches-
ter Olio, now in the Chetham Library, Mr Harland in-
cluded the transactions of this useful body, amongst a vast
mass of other matter, but he has unfortunately omitted
to particularise his own'contributions. He was never
a member of the Manchester Literary and Philosophical
Society, although he contributed an excellent biogra-
phical notice of his friend, the late John Just, of Bury, to
volume xi. of their Memoirs. To Notes and Queries
Mr Harland was an occasional contributor ; he suppHed
most of the articles relating to Lancashire to Chambers's
" Book of Days ; " of which his accounts of " John Shaw's
Club," and the " Rev. Joshua Brookes," may be particu-
larised. He supplied an account of the " Find of six
thousand silver pennies at Eccles " to the Reliquary ; and
amongst other papers contributed to that journal may be
noticed " an admirable contribution under the signature
'Crux' on 'Local and other Names and Words.'"
When Country Words was established he was ready with
his help ; he contributed several curious papers under
the nom deplume of " Monkbarns," and his essays on our
Folk-speech, under the signature " Jonathan Oldbuck,"
attest both the fluency of his pen, and the extent and
accuracy of his information. In 1851 he published a
series of " Ancient Charters and other Muniments of the

xxviii Memoir of John Harland.

Borough of Clithero ; " several of which were afterwards
included in his " Mamecestre," and in the same year he
printed the " Autobiography of William Stout, of Lancas-
ter, Wholesale and Retail Grocer and Ironmonger, a
member of the Society of Friends, a.d. 1665-1732."
This quaint and characteristic work was dedicated to his
friend A. B. Rowley, Esq., the owner of the manuscript,
and several curious notes were added by Mr Harland in
illustration of portions of the text. Mr Harland published
"An Historical Account of Salley Abbey," in Yorkshire,
during 1853, illustrated by a series of lithographic sketches
of the existing remains. This work was appropriately
dedicated to Dixon Robinson, Esq., of Clitheroe Castle,
who largely promoted the publication. It contains by
far the most accurate and complete account of these
interesting ruins ; and the writer of this notice had the
pleasure of re-examining all the principal details on the
spot, in company with Mr Harland, when the Literary
Club visited that locality. He had also the gratification
of being present at a similar examination of the ruins of
Whalley Abbey, on a later visit of the same club, when
Mr Harland not only exhibited an amended plan of this
Cistercian House, but read an exhaustive paper on the
subject within the walls, which, in a condensed form, has
since been issued as a guide-book to Whalley and the
neighbourhood, under the editorship of the Rev. Brooke
Herford, his literary executor.

During 1853 Sir James Kay-Shuttleworth, Bart, men-
tioned to the president of the Chetham Society that
there were several books of accounts in the muniment
chest at Gawthorpe Hall, which might furnish much use-
ful information respecting the prices of labour, &c.,
between the years 1582 and 162 1. These were exa-
mined in March 1854, and as the Council considered the

Memoir of yohn Harland. xxlx

information valuable, it was decided to publish the more
important portions. They selected Mr Harland as the
most competent person to edit and illustrate the accounts.
The result was that during 1856-7-8 four volumes were
issued, which are probably unequalled for the variety and
importance of the information they contain. The first
volume includes the House and Farm Accounts up to
September 1618. These are continued in the second
volume up to October 1621, when they close ; and then
follows " Appendix I.," containing a genealogical and
biographical account of the Shuttleworth family, and de-
scriptions of their several residences. " Appendix II."
contains an exhaustive comparison of prices, wages, &c.,
of great value and interest ; and this is followed by
" Notes," occupying 740 closely printed quarto pages,
illustrating the productions, manufactures, weights,
measures, manners, customs, persons, and families men-
tioned in the accounts. Mr Harland put forth his
whole strength in this work ; and these four volumes will
ever remain a standing monument of his extensive
acquirements, his unwearied industry, and patient
research.

Besides the documents relating to the house and farm
accounts, the muniment chest at Gawthorpe contained
three other series of documents relating to the "Lancashire
Lieutenancy" under the Tudors and Stuarts. These
seventy-eight papers were published by the Chetham
Society, under the editorship of Mr Harland, as two of
their volumes for 1853. He prefaced the documents by
an introduction occupying one hundred and eleven pages,
illustrating military and other matters during the Tudor
and Stuart periods. The genealogical, and other matter,
contained in numerous notes scattered throughout the
two volumes, is extremely valuable, and fully sustain the

XXX Memoir of John Har land.

credit of the editor. Mr Mayer of Liverpool contributed
seven plates illustrative of ancient armour to these vol-
umes at Mr Harland's special request. One of the most
valuable of his contributions to the Chetham Society is
the "Mamecestre," in three volumes, issued during i86 1-2.
The first volume contains twelve chapters on the early
history of Manchester, and including the Lancashire
town charters. The second volume continues the
charters, and enters fully into the transfer, survey, and
extent of the manor ; and in the third volume we have
an account of the rental of the manor, its various owners,
&c., with special notice of the Mosleys, commencing
with Sir Nicholas Mosley, who was Lord Mayor of
London in 1599. At the close of the work we have a
most valuable " Glossarial Gazetter," in which the deri-
vations of a vast number of local names are very ably and
satisfactorily explained. This chapter is of the utmost
value to every student of local history.

" The Songs of the Wilsons " have long been popular
in Lancashire. Mr Harland drew attention to their
merits in a series of articles published in the Manchester
Guardian, and in 1865 he was induced by Mr Gent " to
edit a new revised and enlarged edition of the songs,
with a brief memoir of the Wilson family." In the same
year he issued a collection of the " Ballads and Songs of
Lancashire," in which he included several which until
then had only existed in broadsides. Each ballad or
song is illustrated by judicious notes explaining its
origin and connection with local family history. The
edition was soon exhausted, and he next published the
" Lancashire Lyrics ; " a series of modern songs and bal-
lads of the County Palatine. This work contains some
of the best compositions of our local poets, arranged
under six heads ; and the selection bears ample testimony

Memoir of yokn Harland. xxxi

to the good taste and nice appreciation of the compiler.
In 1862 Mr Harland assisted Mr William Dobson in
compiling a " History of Preston Guilds ; " to which he
added a new translation of the " Custumal " of the
ancient borough. He also contributed a paper contain-
ing the names of eight hundred inhabitants of Manchester,
who took the oath of allegiance to Charles II. in 1679,
to the second volume of the Chetham " Miscellanies ; "
and edited, for private circulation, an edition of Prest-
wick's " Respublica," to which he added a carefully
prepared explanatory preface. On February 7, 1865,
Mr Harland proposed to join the writer of the present
notice in preparing and publishing a work on the " Folk-
lore of Lancashire." In a letter dated April 30, 18S6,
he acknowledged the receipt of my " manuscript notes
on twenty-six subjects " to be included in the volume ;
and on May ist he wrote to say that " another packet of
manuscript " had reached him that morning. The work
was published in January 1867, when he congratulated
me on our work being ended. Our intercourse during
the whole of this period was cordial in the extreme ; and
at the close of every interview I was more and more
deeply impressed with his upright manly worth, and his
varied attainments. As the matter we had collected
more than sufficed for the " Folk-lore," we re-arranged
the remainder and began to prepare for a volume of
" Lancashire Legends, Pageants, &c. ; " but when he
undertook the new edition of Baines's " Lancashire "
this project was laid aside for a time, and on his la-
mented decease the manuscript was placed in my posses-
sion by his literary executor. It formed the germ of the
present work.

In 1863 Mr Harland reprinted from "The Church of
the People " a series of essays entitled " Some Account

xxxii Memoir of John Harland.

of Seats and Pews in old Parish Churches of the County
Palatine of Lancaster." It is a small pamphlet of sixteen
pages, and contains much curious information respecting
seats and pews in the Churches of Ashton-under-Lyne,
Eccles and Whalley. During this and the early part of
the following year he published several " Church Notes"
in the Eccles Advertiser, which were afterwards issued in
an octavo pamphlet of eighty-two pages, and entitled
" The Ancient Parish Church of Eccles ; its antiquity,
alterations, and improvements. By Crux." Why he
adopted this signature when publishing this very merito-
rious and exhaustive account of an ancient parish church
is not known, but he also adopted the same nom deplume
when writing to the Reliquary.

In 1864-5 he edited two volumes of "Court Leet
Records" of the manor of Manchester. They contain
many valuable accounts of the social and civil life of the
inhabitants of that city during the sixteenth century. His
introduction, preparatory chapter, notes and appendices,
are especially curious and interesting. He closed his
extracts at the date of the death of Queen Elizabeth ;
and expressed a hope that other extracts would be made
commencing with the reign of James I. This hope was
not realised. During Mr Harland's connection with the
Manchester Guardian he published in that journal, and
in the Weekly Express, a vast number of antiquarian
articles of much local interest. A selection from these
was issued in two volumes as " Collectanea relating to
Manchester and its neighbourhood at various periods."
We have here descriptions of Manchester from British to
Saxon times ; these are followed by accounts of Roman
remains, relics, maps, plans, directories, local events,
notices of notables, &c., of the highest importance to
local history. The second volume more especially deals

Memoir of yohn Harland. xxxiii

with places and institutions, genealogy and biography ;
and concludes with recollections of Manchester persons
and places. The life-pictures in these volumes are
sketched with a master-hand. The last work which Mr
Harland edited for the Chetham Society was issued after
his death. It contains "Three Lancashire Documents"
of much interest. The first of these is the De Lacy In-
quisition ofi3ii;the second is the survey of West Derby,
Amounderness, and Lonsdale, 1330 to 1346; and the
third is the Custom Roll and Rental of Ashton-under-
Lyne for 1422. To all these he added introductions,
indexes, and "after-words," explaining obscure points
and giving the meaning of many personal and local names.
In February 1868 he finished the third edition of Greg-
son's " Fragments," which had been revised, enlarged,
and indexed by him when confined to bed by the
affection in his knee. This edition is a great improve-
ment upon the second issued by Gregson in 1824. The
indexes alone occupy thirty-eight folio pages ; and he
added considerably from the Duchy Records.

The last and greatest work he undertook was a new
edition of Baines's " History of Lancashire." It was
originally issued in four volumes, and had long been out
of print. When it was decided to republish the work it
was deemed advisable to issue it in two volumes ; and
although the labour of verification and completion
approached at times to a re-writing of large portions of
the book,- Mr Harland did not shrink from the task, and
he did his work well. The writer visited him towards
the close of 1867, and found him hard at work with the
last sheets of the first volume. He was then looking
haggard and -careworn — the heavy work was evidently
telling on his constitution ; and yet both in conversation
with myself, and in his letters to Mr Gent, joint publisher

XXX iv Memoir of y ohn Harland.

of this and several of his other works, he spoke and
wrote hopefully of completing his labours within a reason-
able time. On my next visit I found he was seriously
ill. His medical attendant durst not risk the excitement
of an interview, and I left without seeing him. In two
days more he had passed to his rest. He died on the
23d April 1868, and his remains were interred in
Rusholme Road Cemetery the Tuesday following.
Although the funeral Was strictly private, the carriages of
many private friends joined the procession. The Chet-
ham Society, the Geological Society, the Literary Club,
and several other public bodies were represented ; and
the venerable Samuel Bamford, although blind and
upwards of eighty years of age, was also present to do
honour to the memory of his old and valued friend.
During the week, Mr Harland's career was sketched with
appreciative and kindly hands in all the local journals,
as also in the Reliquary ; and the son of one of his early
friends bore testimony to his worth in one of the Hull
papers to which he had contributed in early life. He
there states that Mr Harland " was a member of the Hull
Mechanics' Institute in its early existence, and took con-
siderable trouble to forward its success. He was also a
musician of no mean ability, and in the summer season,
before the business of the day commenced, he was wont,
with one or two of his friends, and with an ordinary
hedge, tree, or bush, for a music stool, they would execute
a duet, or a trio of some favourite theme, and return home
with a sharpened appetite for breakfast." At the time
of his death he was under engagements to edit Dr
Whitaker's "Richmondshire," " Craven," and the " ,Whal-
ley," the last of which has since been so ably accomplished
by J. G. Nichols, Esq., F.S.A., for issue in two volumes.
Mr Harland "was twice married; first in 1833 to

Memoir of yohn Harland. xxxv

Mary, daughter of the late Samuel Whitfield of Birming-
ham, who died in 1849; secondly, in 1852, to Eliza,
daughter of the late Joseph Pilkington of Manchester,
who, together with four children by the first marriage,
and five by the second, survives him. By a wide circle
of friends he was warmly esteemed as a kind and genial
friend ; a sincere and single-minded Christian. Born a
Churchman he became a Unitarian by conviction in
1828. In the busiest years of his newspaper life, when
he might have claimed exemption from extra work, he
found time to be teacher and superintendent in a Sunday-
school ; and throughout his life was as active as he was
unobtrusive in doing good." Such is the just and well-
deserved tribute paid to his memory by the Rev. Brooke
Herford, who carried on and completed the " History of
Lancashire " with competent ability and in the spirit of
his predecessor. Mr Harland's collection of works on
Shorthand was very extensive, ranging from the sixteenth
century downwards. They are now in the Chetham
Library as a permanent memorial of one whose literary
life was so intimately associated with the varied stores
contained in those quaint old rooms." It may be added
that the frontispiece to this volume is engraved from a
photograph taken by C. A. Du Val & Co., of Manches-
ter, and is an excellent likeness of Mr Harland as he
appeared just before he was seized with his fatal illness.

T. T. W.

LANCASHIRE LEGENDS, &c.

PART I.
LEGENDS AND TRADITIONa

INTRODUCTION.

In any endeavour to bring together the legends and
traditions which form so striking a feature in the folk-lore
of Lancashire, it is impossible to pass over unnoticed
that collection which bears the name of the late Mr
John Roby of Rochdale. In 1829 he published "The
Traditions of Lancashire," in two volumes, containing
twenty tales, more or less founded upon traditions current
in their respective localities. During 1831 he published
a second series of so-called " Traditions," likewise in two
volumes, and also containing a score of tales. A pos-
thumous volume, which appeared in 1854, contained
three legends, but only one of these — " Mother Red
Cap " — has its scene in Lancashire.

In the preface to the first series of his " Traditions of
Lancashire," Mr Roby has the following passage : — " A
native of Lancashire, and residing there during the greater
part of his life, he has been enabled to collect a mass of
local traditions, now fast dying from the memories of the

A

Lancashire Legends.

inhabitants. It is his object to perpetuate these interest-
ing relics of the past, and to present them in a form that
may be generally acceptable, divested of the dust and
dross in which the originals are but too often disfigured,
so as to appear worthless and uninviting. . . . The
tales are arranged chronologically, forming a somewhat
irregular series from the earliest records to those of a
comparatively modern date." This passage sufficiently
indicates that the original legend was simply taken as
the basis of a story of pure fiction. In short, the real
character of the work would be better described by such
a title as " Romantic Tales, suggested by Lancashire
Traditions." Three of Mr Roby's traditions have no
local habitation assigned to them, and are apparently
pure fictions. A fourth, "The Luck of Muncaster," is
not a Lancashire, but a Cumberland tradition. In the
traditions to be found in the present volume, the popu-
lar legend in every case has been sought to be preserved,
without any attempt to add the slightest embellishment,
much less to rear a superstructure of invented fiction
upon the crumbling foundations of a genuine tradition.
In short, it is Lancashire folk-lore, and not tlae product of
an editor's inventive imagination, that is recorded in the
following pages. Where it is practicable, the traditions
are arranged alphabetically, according to the names of
their localities.

Ashton-tmder-Lyne Church.

ASHTON-UNDER.LYNE CHURCH AND THE ACE
OF SPADES.

Sir John Assheton, in the sth Henry VI. (1426-27)
became possessed of the manor of Ashton-under-Lyne,
on payment of the nominal rent of one penny yearly.
He is generally supposed to have founded the church
about the year 1420. We find him assigning the forms
or benches to his tenants: the names for whose use
they are appropriated are all female. From this, and
from Sir John Towneley's fixing that the greater part of
the seats in Whalley Church should be occupied " first
come first served," and his adding, that this would make
" the proud wives of Whalley come early to church " — it
would seem that seats in our churches were first put up
for women. Eighteen forms or benches are mentioned
for the occupation in Ashton Church of a hundred wives
and widows, who are named, besides their daughters and
servant wenches. Their husbands had not this privilege,
being forced to stand or kneel in the aisles as the ser-
vice required. In the windows there yet remains a
considerable quantity of stained glass, but very much
mutilated. Three or four figures on the north side repre-
sent a king, saints, &c. In the chancel are the coats
and effigies of the Asshetons in armour, kneeling. In
one part seems to have been portrayed the Invention
of the Holy Cross by St Helen. At whatever period
the church was built, the steeple must either have been
erected afterwards, or have undergone considerable
repairs in the time of the last Sir Thomas Assheton ;
for upon the south side are the arms of Assheton impal-
ing Stayley. There is a tradition that while the work-
men were one day amusing themselves at cards, a female

4 . Lancashire Legends.

unexpectedly presented herself. She asked them to turn
up an ace, promising, in case of compliance, that she
would build several yards of the steeple ; upon which they
fortunately turned up the ace of spades. This tale, says
Mr Roby, in his "Traditions," may owe its origin to
the following circumstances : — Upon the marriage of Sir
Thomas Assheton with the daughter of Ralph Stayley,
a considerable accumulation of property was the conse-
quence. This might induce him to repair the church
and perform sundry other acts of charity and beneficence.
Whilst the work was going on, Lady Elizabeth Assheton,
it is not improbable, surprised the workmen at their pas-
time, and might desire that her arms should be fixed in
the steeple, impaled with those of her husband. The
shape of an escutcheon having a considerable resem-
blance to a spade-ace, in all likelihood, gave origin to
the fable.

EARCROFT HALL AND THE IDIOT'S CURSE.

The Barcrofts of Barcroft were for many generations a
most respectable Lancashire family. The Hall is not
more than a mile from Townley, and the fine estate by
which it is surrounded must have been often coveted by
their more ancient and wealthy neighbours. Barcroft is
still a good specimen of the later Tudor style, and its
ample cellarage not only conveys an idea of the liberal
hospitality of its former owners, but has given occasion
for a tradition which is not to the credit of one of the
last possessors. The tradition states that one of the
heirs to Barcroft was either an idiot or imbecile ; that he
was fastened by a younger brother with a chain in one of
the cellars, and that he was there starved to death. This

Bernshaw Tower and Lady Sybil. 5

younger brother reported the heir as dead long before
he was released from his sufferings, and thus obtained
possession of the property. It is added, that during one
of his lucid intervals, the prisoner pronounced a curse
upon the family of the Barcrofts, to the effect that the
name should perish for ever, and that the property should
pass into other hands. Some rude scribblings on one of
the walls of the cellars are still pointed out as the work
of the captive ; and his curse is said to have been ful-
filled in the person of Thomas Barcroft, who died in
1688 without male issue.* After passing through the
hands of the Bradshaws, the Pimlots, and the Isher-
woods, the property was finally sold to Charles Towneley,
Esq., the celebrated antiquary, in 1795.

BERNSHAW TOWER AND LADY SYBIL.

Bernshaw Tower, formerly a small fortified house, is
now in ruins, httle else than the foundations being
visible above the surface. It stood: in one of the many
beautiful ravines branching off from the great gorge of
Cliviger, about five miles from Burnley, and not far from
the noted Eagle's Crag. Its last owner, and heiress, was
celebrated for her wealth and beauty : she was intellec-
tual beyond most of her sex, and frequently visited the
Eagle's Crag in order to study nature and admire the
varied aspects of the surrounding country. On these
occasions she often felt a strong desire to possess super-

* In Dr Whitaker's pedigree of this family, William Barcroft, a
lunatic, is stated to have died in 1641. His elder brother, Robert,
died in 1647. His younger brother, Thomas, had one son, who
died in 1642, and five daughters.

Lancashire Legends.

natural powers ; and, in an unguarded moment, was
induced to sell her soul to the devil in order that she
might be able to join in the nightly revelries of the then
famous Lancashire Witches. The bond was duly attested
with her blood, and her utmost wishes were at all times
fulfilled.

Hapton Tower was then occupied by a junior branch
of the Towneley family, and "Lord William" had long
been a suitor for the hand of " Lady Sybil " of Bernshaw
Tower, but his proposals were constantly rejected. In
despair he had recourse to a famous Lancashire witch,
one Mother Helston, and after using many spells and
incantations, she promised him success on the next All-
Hallow's Eve. On that day he went out hunting, ac-
cording to her directions, when, on nearing Eagle's Crag,
he started a milk-white doe, and his dogs immediately
gave chase. They scoured the country for many miles,
and, at last, when the hounds were nearly exhausted,
they again approached the Crag. A strange hound then
joined them, which Lord William knew full well. It was
the familiar of Mother Helston, which had been sent to
capture Lady Sybil, who had assumed the disguise of the
white doe. On passing the Crag, Lord William's horse
had well-nigh thrown its rider down the fearful abyss ;
but just as the doe was making for the next precipice,
the strange hound seized her by the throat and held her
fast, until Lord William threw an enchanted silken leash
around her neck, and led her in triumph to Hapton
Tower. During the night the Tower was shaken as by
an earthquake, and in the morning the captured doe
appeared as the fair heiress of Bernshaw. Counter-spells
were adopted — her powers of witchcraft were suspended
—and soon Lord William had the happiness to lead his
newly-wedded bride to his ancestral home. Within a

Burnley Cross and the Demon Pigs. 7

year, however, she had renewed her diabolical practices,
and whilst enjoying a frolic in Cliviger Mill, under the
form of a beautiful white cat, she had one paw cut off by
the man-servant, Robin, who had been set to watch by
Giles Robinson, the miller. Next morning Lady Sybil was
found at home in bed, pale and exhausted • but Robin's
presence at the Tower, with a lady's hand, soon dispelled
the mystery of her sudden indisposition. The owner of the
hand, with its costly signet ring, was soon detected, and
many angry expostulations from her husband followed.
By means of some diabolical process the hand was re-
stored to Lady Sybil's arm ; but a red mark round the
wrist bore witness to the sharpness of Robin's whittle.
A reconciliation with her offended husband was after-
wards effected ; but her bodily strength gave way, and
her health rapidly declined. On the approach of death
the services of the neighbouring clergy were requested,
and by their assistance the devil's bond was cancelled.
Lady Sybil soon died in peace, but Bernshaw Tower was
ever after deserted. As Mr Roby truly observes, popular
tradition " still alleges that her grave was dug where the
dark Eagle Crag shoots out its cold, bare peak into the
sky ; and on the eve of All-Hallows, the hound and the
milk-white doe meet on the crag a spectre huntsman in
full chase. The belated peasant crosses himself at the
sound, as he remembers the fate of the Witch of Bern-
shaw Tower."

BURNLEY CROSS AND THE DEMON PIGS.

Godly Lane Cross, stands in a small plantation a few
hundred yards from the Old Market Place of Burnley.
It is evidently of great antiquity, and most probably

8 Lancashire Legends.

has been removed from the churchyard to its present
site. Like those at Whalley and Dewsbury, this Saxon
rehc is supposed to commemorate the preaching of
Paulinus, the first Christian missionary in these parts,
about the year 597. The cross has been of large size,
and from what remains, it maybe inferred that it has
been bound by simple fillets, terminating at the apex in a
spiral form. Dr Whitaker is inclined to attach consider-
able weight to the above supposition, from the fact, that
a neighbouring field retains the name of "Bishop Leap."
The tradition is, that prior to the foundation of any
church in Burnley, religious rites were celebrated on the
spot where this ancient cross now stands, and that
Paulinus baptized his converts in the River Brun.
Upon the attempt being made to erect an oratory, the
materials were nightly removed by supernatural agents,
in the form of pigs, to where St Peter's Church now
stands. This popular opinion probably owes its origin
to an ancient mural tablet, or escutcheon, yet remaining
on the south side of the steeple. Its principal charge
bears some resemblance to a pig ; but was probably
originally intended to represent the Paschal Lamb, since
it appears to be surrounded by rude representations of
the instruments of the Passion. A similar charge is also
sculptured on the old font.

CLAYTON HALL AiS^D KERSAL CELL.

Further down the same by-lane (from the moor) that
contains Kersal Hall, stands Kersal Cell, the retreat of
" Dr " Byrom in the middle of the last century. It is a
snug substantial residence, reminding us of Hawthorne's
"House of Seven Gables." In the "Doctor's" time,

Clayton Hall and Kersal Cell. 9

it would be all that a poet could desire. In fixing here
his hermitage, hundreds of years ago, its original recluse.
Sir Hugh le Biron, showed taste as well as sanctity.
He was no " friar of orders grey," no monk of the frater-
nity of Black Penitents ; but a stalwart knight, once
owner of Clayton Hall and Kersal Cell ; both of which
mansions have since become linked with nobler though
untitled names. Tradition asserts that Sir Hugh left
Clayton Hall for the Holy Land, with an esquire bear-
ing his shield, and a hundred stout followers in his train.
As the knight and retainers marched away, his lady
prettily waved her handkerchief from the tower or turret
of Clayton Hall. Arrived at the Holy Land, Le Biron
dealt out his deadly blows with no niggardly measure,
spreading dismay through the ranks of the enemy.
Wherever an infidel's head was visible, there also was
the arm of Sir Hugh, ready to cleave it in twain. At
length his conscience became troubled, and he began to
doubt the righteousness of his righteous cause. The
ghosts of those slain by his valour rose in vast num-
bers before his distempered vision ; the wailing of
widows and the weeping of orphans, seemed to haunt
him wheresoever he went, until he was glad to escape
from the land thus rendered unholy, and turn his steps
towards the English home from which he had been too
long estranged. As he passed slowly up his own avenue
he met a funeral train, bearing the remains of his
lady to her final resting-place, there, as the tomb-stone
sweetly expresses it, to " sleep in Jesus." Year after
year she had pined for her absent lord, gradually sink-
ing, the victim of " hope deferred." This blow severed
the last link that bound Le Biron to the world, and he
retreated from its turmoil to that solitude of Kersal Cell.
Here, a " hermit lone," he alternately prayed and wan-

lo Lancashire Legends.

dered, — climbing the picturesque heights of Kersal, or
the wooded ways of Prestwich — until death, remember-
ing the repentant warrior, removed him to the peaceful
grave. — Procter's " Our Turf, Stage, and Jiing."

THE CLEGG HALL TRAGEDY.

Clegg Hall, about two miles N.E. from Rochdale,
stands on the only estate within the parish of Whalley
which still continues in the local family name. On this
site was the old house built by Bernulf de Clegg and
Quenilda his wife as early as the reign of Stephen.
Not a vestige of it remains. The present comparatively
modern erection was built by Theophilus Ashton, of
Rochdale, a lawyer, and one of the Ashtons of Little
Clegg, about the year 1620. After many changes of
occupants, it is now in part used as a country alehouse ;
other portions are inhabited by the labouring classes,
who find employment in that populous manufacturing
district. It is the property of the Fentons, by purchase
from the late John Entwisle, Esq., of Foxholes. To
Clegg Hall, or rather what was once the site of that
ancient house, tradition points through the dim vista of
past ages as the scene of an unnatural and cruel tragedy.
It was in the square, low, dark mansion, built in the
reign of Stephen, that this crime is said to have been
perpetrated, — one of those half-timbered houses, called
post-and-petrel, having huge main timbers, crooks, &c.,
the interstices being wattled and filled with a compost of
clay and chopped straw. Of this rude and primitive
architecture were the houses of the English gentry in for-
mer ages. Here, then, was that horrible deed perpetrated

The Clegg Hall Tragedy. 1 1

which gave rise to the stories yet extant relating to the
" Clegg Hall boggarts." The prevailing tradition is not
exact as to the date of its occurrence ; but it is said that
some time about the thirteenth or fourteenth century, a
tragedy resembling that of the babes in the wood was
perpetrated here. A wicked uncle destroyed the lawful
heirs of Clegg Hall and estates — two orphan children
that were left to his care — by throwing them over a bal-
cony into the moat, in order that he might seize on their
inheritance. Ever afterwards — so the story goes— the
house was the reputed haunt of a troubled and angry
spirit, until means were taken for its removal, or rather
expulsion. Of course, this " boggart " could not be the
manes of the murdered children, or it would have been
seen as a plurality of spirits ; but was, in all likelihood,
the wretched ghost of the ruffianly relative, whose double
crime would not let him rest in the peace of the grave,
Even after the original house was almost wholly pulled
down, and that of a.d. 1620 erected on its site, the " bog-
.gart" still haunted the ancient spot, and its occasional visi-
tations were the source of the great alarm and annoyance
to which the inmates were subjected. From these slight
rnaterials, Mr Roby has woven one of those fictions, full
of romantic incident, which have rendered his " Tradi-
tions of Lancashire " * so famous. We have taken such

* It is only just to state that the story of " Clegg Hall Boggart "
■was communicated to Mr Roby by Mr William Nuttall, of Roch-
dale, author of "La Voyageur," and the composer of a ballad on
the tradition. In this ballad, entitled " Sir Roland and Clegg Hall
Boggart," Mr Nuttall makes Sir Roland murder the children in bed
with a dagger. Remorse eventually drove him mad, and he died
raving during a violent storm. The Hall was ever after haunted by
the children's ghosts, and also by demons, till St Antonea (St An.
thony), with a relic from the Virgin's shrine, exorcised and laid the
evil spirits.

1 2 Lancashire Legends.

facts only as seem really traditionary, recommending the
lovers of the marvellous to the work just cited for a very
entertaining tale on this subject.

In a curious MS. volume, now the property of
Charles Clay, Esq., M.D., of Manchester, Mr Nuttall
states that " many ridiculous tales weye told of ' the two
boggarts [so that they were the ghosts of the children]
of Clegg Hall,' by the country people. At one time,
they unceasingly importuned a pious monk in the neigh-
bourhood to exorcise or ' lay the ghosts,' to which request
he consented. Having provided himself with a variety
of charms and spells, he boldly entered on his under-
taking, and in a few hours brought the ghosts to a parley.
They demanded, as the condition of future quiet [the
sacrifice of] a body and a soul. The spectators (who
could not see the ghosts), on being informed of their
desire, were petrified, none being willing to become the
victim. The cunning monk told the tremblers, 'Bring
me the body of a cock and the sole of a shoe.' This
being done, the spirits were forbidden to ' revisit the pale
glimpses of the moon ' till the whole of the sacrifice
was consumed. Thus ended the first laying of the Clegg
Hall boggarts. But, in later times, it was conceived that
the sacrifice must have been wholly consumed, and, con-
sequently, that the two boggarts had full liberty to walk
again ; and hence the revival of the tradition and super-
stition." Another ballad by Mr Nuttall, entitled, " Rolfe
and Quenilda," has Clegg Hall for its scene.

DILDRUM, KING OF THE CATS;

The following tradition is often heard in South Lanca-
shire : — A gentleman was one evening sitting cosily in

The " Written Stone " in Dilworth. 1 3

his parlour, reading or meditating, when he was inter-
rupted by the appearance of a cat, which came down the
chimney, and called out, " Tell Dildrum, Doldrum 's
dead ! " He was naturally startled by the occurrence ;
and when, shortly afterwards, his wife entered, he related
to her what had happened, and their own cat, which had
accompanied her, exclaimed, "Is Doldrum dead?" and
immediately rushed up the chimney, and was heard 01
no more. Of course there were numberless conjectures
upon such a remarkable event, but the general opinion
appears to be that Doldrum had been king of cat-land,
and that Dildrum was the next heir.— TV! and Q., 2d ser,
X. 464.

, THE "WRITTEN STONE" IN DILWORTH;

The anonymous author of " The New Clock " mentions,
in his "Curious Comers round Preston," that, having
heard of a farm called "Written Stone," from an
ancient stone bearing an inscription which stands near
it, and that the place was reputed to be the haunt of bog-
garts, he determined to visit it. It is in the township ox
Dilworth, and parish of Ribchester, about two miles from
the village of Longridge, and seven miles N.E. of Pres-
ton. Turning down a narrow lane, or old bridle-road,
it soon plunged the searcher into a deep ravine, with a
rapid mountain rivulet coursing through it, and a tall
hedge of holly and hazel making the place a grove. For
half a mile he walked and waded through mud and water,
and on emerging from this long and tedious lane, turning
to his right into a neat farmyard, he espied in a comer
the object of his search. He describes it as a huge
stone, a foot thick, nine feet long, two feet wide, and

14 Lancashire Legends.

apparently from the adjacent rocks, placed like a grave-
stone on the cop. The inscription is on the side facing
the road : — Ravffe : Radcliffe : laide : this : stone :
TO : LYE : FOR : ever : a.d. 1655." *

The characters (he adds) are not the raised letters so
prevalent in the seventeenth century, but deeply cut in
the stone. He found the farmhouse tenanted by a
young woman of very respectable appearance, the daugh-
ter of the owner of the estate, who, in this romantic spot,
leads almost the life of a recluse. She had no dread of
supernatural visitants, having never been disturbed by
ghost or hobgoblin ; and her theory on the subject was
pithily summed up in the declaration, " that if folks only
did what was right in this world, they would have
nothing to fear." The date on the stone speaks of the
days of sorcery and witchcraft, and of the troubled times
of Cromwell's protectorate. Tradition declares this spot
to have been the scene of a cruel and barbarous murder,
and it is stated that this stone was put down in order to
appease the restless spirit of the deceased, which played
its nightly gambols long after the body had been " hearsed
in earth." A story is told of one of the former occupants
of Written Stone farm, who, thinking that the stone
would make a capital " buttery stone," removed it into
the house and applied it to that use. The result was,
that the indignant or liberated spirit would never suffer
his family to rest. Whatever pots, pans, kettles, or
articles of crockery were placed on the stone, were tilted

* InBaines's "Lancashire" (vol. iii. p. 383), there is a somewhat
different version of this inscription : — " Rafe Ratcliffe laid this stone
here to lie for ever. a.d. 1607." He adds, that this Rafe was
owner of the estate. It will be seen that neither christian name
nor surname nor date agrees with the text, which latter, however, we
believe to be correct.

The Dule tipo' Dun. 15

over, their contents spilled, and the vessels themselves
kept up a clattering dance the live-long night, at the
beck of the unseen spirit. Thus worried out of his
night's rest, the farmer soon found himself compelled to
have the stone carefully conveyed back to its original
resting-place, where it has remained ever since, and the
good man's family have not again been disturbed by
inexplicable nocturnal noises. Well may they say with
Hamlet, " Rest, perturbed spirit ! "

THE DULE UPO' DUN.

The tradition upon which Mr i^oby has founded one of
his stories appeared many years ago in the Kaleidoscope, a
Liverpool weekly literary publication. Barely three miles
from Clitheroe, as you enter a small village on the right
of the high road to Gisburne, stood a public-house,
having for its sign the above title, which, being translated
into plain English, is " The Devil upon Dun " (horse)
The story runs that a poor tailor sold himself to Satan
for seven years, after which term, according to the con-
tract, signed, as is customary, with the victim's own
blood, his soul was to become " the devil's own." Ha
was to have three wishes, and these were expended in a
wish for a collop of bacon ; in a second, that his wife were
" far enough ;" and then that she were back home again.
At the end of the seven years the Father of Lies appeared
and claimed his victim, who tremblingly contended that
the contract was won from him by fraud and dishonest
pretences, and had not been fulfilled. He ventured to
hint at the other party's lack of power to bestow riches
or any great gift ; on which Satan was goaded into grant-
ing him another wish. " Then," said the trembUng tailor.

1 6 Lancashire Legends.

" I wish thou wert riding back again to thy quarters, on
yonder dun horse, and never able to plague me again,
or any other poor wretch whom thou hast gotten into
thy clutches ! " The demon, with a roar, went away
riveted to the back of this dun horse, and the tailor
watched his departure almost beside himself for joy.
He lived happy to a good old age, leaving behind him
at his death good store of this world's gear, which was
divided amongst his poorer relatives. One of them,
having bought the house where the tailor dwelt, set up
the trade of a tapster therein, having for his sign, " The
Dule upo' Dun." On it is depicted "Old Homie,"
mounted upon a scraggy dun horse, without saddle,
bridle, or any sort of equipments whatever — the terrified
steed being " off and away" at full gallop from the door,
where a small hilarious tailor, with shears and measures,
appears to view the departure of him of the cloven foot
with anything but grief or disapprobation. The house
itself is one of those ancient gabled black-and-white
edifices, now fast disappearing under the march of im-
provement. Many windows of little lozenge-shaped
panes set in lead, might be seen here in all the various
stages of renovation and decay. Over the door, till
lately, swung the old and quaint sign, attesting the truth
of the tradition and the excellence of mine host's beer.

THE DUN COW AND THE OLD RIB.

The anonymous writer of " Curious Corners round
Preston," states that the " Old Rib " is the name giyen
to an old farm in the township of Whittingham, in the
parish of Kirkham, five miles north of Preston. The
name, he says, is derived from an extraordinary rib,

The Dun Cow and the Old Rib. 1 7

which was taken from an extraordinary old dun cow ;
which rib is placed over the door of the farmhouse, as
a monument to the excellence of the defunct animal.
About a quarter of a mile below the Towneley Arms
Inn, in Longridge, about seven miles north-east of Pres-
ton, the seeker diverged from the main road into one of
those old lanes or pack-horse roads so common in Eng-
land, a short distance down which lane he came to the
house bearing the name of "The Old Rib." It is a
somewhat lofty, square building, with four turrets, like
elongated sugar-loaves. The windows are of various
forms and sizes, some of elaborate workmanship ; and
altogether the place has the aspect of having once been
a mansion of some importance. On the doorway, at one
end of the house, the architect and sculptor appear to
have bestowed the greatest labour. The door is of oak,
thick and strong, and studded with large square-headed
nails ; and there is a ponderous iron ring, serving at
once for latch and knocker. Some armorial bearings
are seen above, and over these again the " Old Rib,"
The doorway has the date of 16 15, so that the place was
in existence two years before the visit of King James I.
to Hoghton Tower. The remains of a moat may be
traced around the Old Rib House ; but the moat has
been filled up, and the surface is nearly level with its old
banks. The few out-buildings standing near are ruins,
notwithstanding that they had been built at a much later
J)eriod, in all probability, than the house itself. As to
the tradition of the "Old Dun Cow," it is related
that "once upon a time" there wandered over the
elevated and dark moors of Parlick, Bleasdale, Bowland,
and Browsholme, a dun cow of stupendous size, and
withal of most generous and extraordinary nature;
and it is supposed in its daily pasturings to have been

1 8 L ancashire L egends.

in the habit of quenching its thirst at " Nick's Water-
Pot," — a well on the summit of Parlick. The great
merit of this wonderful cow was, that to all comers she
gave an abundant supply of milk. Hence her fame
spread ; and from the heights of Browsholme, the brows
of Leagrim, the valley of Chipping — from lofty Bleas-
dale and lowly Thornley, from haughty Parlick and
humble Goosnargh, came milk-seekers in plenty, and
none went empty-handed away. No matter how large
the pail, it was always filled to the brim. But judging
from the size of the rib, the cow must have been of
gigantic size — a very Brobdignagian beast ! The rib is
still about a yard in length, and several inches in thick-
ness ; but within the memory of many residing in the
district, it was more than twice its present size. Besides
the decay consequent on time and exposure to the ele-
ments, the rib has suffered greatly from the ruthless
hands of relic lovers or despoilers, who have cut and
carried off portions of the rib as memorials of the Old
Dun Cow. In short, the rib in its pristine proportions
must have been " very like a whale," as Polonius says —
at least, a whale's jaw-bone. Can this have been the
origin of the quaint ballad which runs thus ? —

" Did you ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever,

ever, ever, ever see a vjfhale ? "
" No I never, never, never, never, never, never, never, never, never,
never, never, never, never saw a whale;
But I 've often, often, often, often, often, often, often, often, often,

often, often, often, often seen a cow,
Yes, I've often, often, often, often, often, often, often, often,
often, often, often, often, often seen a cow."

To return to the legend of the Old Dun Cow ; it may be
conjectured that, with such ribs, and giving an ever-flow-
ing, never-failing supply of milk, it must have needed a

The Eagle and Child. i g

ladder to milk old Cushy. But alas ! " much would
have more." We know how the goose was served that
laid golden eggs. It is conjectured that one of the far-
famed Pendle witches (perhaps bribed and instigated by-
some envious milk-seller who had lost his custom, and
wished to destroy the opposition shop) took, instead of
a milk-pail, a large riddle or sieve, and went up to milk
the old dun cow. At work she kept all day ; the milk
flowed in rich and copious streams ; but at night the
riddle was still empty. In vain the bountiful milk-giver
taxed her powers to fill the old hag's strange milk-pail ;
the effort was too much ; the fountain that had never
failed before at last became dry ; and either through the
exhaustion of nature, or from vexation and disappoint-
ment at being outwitted by an old woman, the old cow
gave up the ghost, and those dreary moors ceased for
ever to be " a land flowing with milk." The rib hangs
over the door, a sad memento of the Old Dun Cow, and
by its size challenges the attention of the passer-by — a
sort of " Ex pede Herculem."

THE EAGLE AND CHILD.

The fabulous tradition of the Eagle and Child, the
crest of the Stanleys, Earls of Derby, associates itself
with the family of Lathom, and is thus gravely related :
— Sir Thomas Lathom, the father of Isabel, having this
only child, and cherishing an ardent desire for a son
to inherit his name and fortune, had an intrigue with a
young gentlewoman, the fruit of which was a son. This
infant he contrived to have conveyed by a confidential
servant to the foot of a tree in his park frequented
by an eagle ; and Sir Thomas and his lady, taking their

20 Lancashire Legends,

usual walk, found the infant as if by accident. The old
lady, considering it a gift from Heaven brought thither
by the bird of prey and miraculously preserved, con-
sented to adopt the boy as their heir.

" That their content was such to see the hap,
The ancient lady hugs it in her lap ;
Smothers it in kisses, bathes it in her tears,
And unto Lathona House the babe she bears."

The name of Oskatel was given to the little foundling,
Mary Oskatel being the name of his mother. From
this time the crest of the eagle and child was assumed ;
but as the old knight approached near the grave, his
conscience smote him, and on his death-bed he be-
queathed the principal part of his fortune to Isabel, his
daughter, now become the lady of Sir John Stanley,
leaving poor Oskatel, on whom the king had conferred
the honour of knighthood, only the manors of Islam
and Urmston, near Manchester, and some possessions
in the county of Chester, in which county he settled, and
became the founder of the family of Latham of Ast-
bury. This story is an after-thought, adapted to that
which had previously existed. In the Harleian MS.
(cod. 2151, fol. 4) is an account of some painted
windows in Astbury Church, near Congleton, on which
a figure is represented, with a sword and spurs, habited
in a white tabard, the hands clasped, over the head a
shield placed angle-wise under a helmet and mantle,
emblazoned or, on a chief indented, azure, three bezants,
over all a bondlet, gules; crest, an eagle standing on
an empty cradle, with wings displayed, regardant or,
with the inscription, " Orate pro anima Philippi Dom.
Roberti Lathom militis " — ^^(Pray for the soul of Philip,
son of Sir Robert Lathom, knight). This Philip Lathop

The Eagle and Child. 2 1

of Astbury was uncle of Sir Thomas, alias Oskatel, the
father of Isabella ; and it would be a strange circum-
stance if an uncle should have assumed a crest bearing
allusion to the adoption of an illegitimate child. Suppos-
ing Sir Oskatel to have been the son of Sir Thomas,
instead of Sir Thomas himself, the fact of Philip bearing
the crest would be still more extraordinary. That there
was an Oskel or Oskatel Lathom, who bore as his crest
an eagle standing on a child, is proved by the painting
formerly in the windows of Northenden Church, 1580,
— ^viz., an eagle sinister, regardant, rising, standing on a
child, swaddled, placed on a nest ; inscribed, " Oskell
Lathum" (Harl. MS. 2151, fol. to). But this may have
been because it was the old Lathom crest ; and the
eagle seems to have been from a remote period a
favourite cognisance of the family. The Torbocks,
the younger branch of the Lathoms, took an eagle's
claw for a difference on the family shield; and the
grant of Witherington by Sir Thomas Lathom, sen.,
reputed further of Sir Oskatel, was sealed with the
Lathom arms on an eagle's breast. But a legend of the
eagle and child is as old as the time of King Alfred —
several centuries earlier than the time of the De Lathoms :
— " One day as Alfred was hunting in a wood, he heard
the cry of a little infant in a tree, and ordered his hunts-
men to examine the place. They ascended the branches,
and found at the top, in an eagle's nest, a beautiful child
dressed in purple, with golden bracelets (the marks of
nobility) on his arms. The King had him brought down
and baptized and well educated. From the accident
he named the foundling Nestingum. His grandson's
daughter is said to have been one of the ladies for whom
Edgar indulged an improper passion." If for Edgar we
read Oscital, the Danish prince, this would complete

2 2 L ancashire L egends.

the parallel with the Lancashire tradition, as given by
Baines in his history of the county.

Mr Roby, who expands this tradition into an interest-
ing little romance, states that Sir Oskatel, the Earl of
Derby's illegitimate child, palmed upon the Countess, and
for a time adopted as heir to the Stanleys, had reserved to
him and his descendants the manors of Islam and Urm-
ston near Manchester, with other valuable estates. At
the same time was given to him the signet of his arms,
with the crest assumed for his sake, "an eagle regardant,
proper." It was only subsequent to the supplanting of
Sir Oskatel (continues our author) that his rivals took
the present crest of the eagle and child, where the eagle
is represented as having secured his prey, in token of
their triumph over the foundling, whom he is preparing
to devour. This crest the descendants of Sir John
Stanley, the present Earls of Derby, continue to hold. —
See Appendix.

"OLD MADAM" OF EGERTON HALL.

Egerton Hall, in the township of Turton, was a quaint
old residence some two centuries ago ; but most of it
has been pulled down, and the rest converted into a
plain modem cottage. There was a curious legend con-
nected with the old house, which still clings to the site,
respecting the occasional appearance of the form of an
old lady, dressed in white silk, and who is known by the
name of the " Old Madam " to the residents in the dis-
trict. This tradition is a very common one in most
parts of Lancashire, as well as in other counties, and
answers to the " Lady in White," who has become the
common property of the folk-lore of nearly every country
in Europe.

Sir Bertine Entwisel. 23

SIR BERTINE ENTWISEL.

In Roby's " Traditions of Lancashire " is given " the
ballad of Sir Bertine, the famous Lancashire knight, who'
was killed at St Alban's, fighting for the glorious Red
Rose of Lancashire." A marble tablet to his memory,
erected by a descendant in the parish church of St
Chad, Rochdale, states that he was Viscount and Baron
of Brybeke in Normandy, and sometime bailiff of
Constantin ; that he distinguished himself in arms in
the service of his sovereigns Henry V. and Henry VI.,
more particularly at Agincourt ; and that he was killed
at the first battle of St Alban's, " fighting on King Henry'
VI. party, 28th May 1455. On whose sowl Jesu have
mercy." The story goes, that being summoned by
Henry VI., to aid him against his foes, he went at the
head of a body of his retainers, men-at-arms, spears
and lances, to join the King, notwithstanding the en-
treaties of his wife and daughter that he would stay
at home. In his absence the ladies were startled by
various evil omens; the great bell of the hall tolled with-
out human hands ; fingers tapped outside the casements;
heavy footsteps, as of an armed man, were heard upon
the stairs and in the chambers ; and these evil auguries
received their solution in an aged man appearing at
the hall on the third day, bearing the bloody signet
ring of Sir Bertine, and telling his wretched widow that
he was slain in battle, and buried in the Priory of St
Alban's.

" The brave Sir Bertine Entwisel
Hath donned his coat of steel,
And left his hall, his stately home,
To fight for England's weal.

24 Lancashire Legends.

" To fight for England's weal, I trow,

And good King Harry's right ;

His loyal heart was warm and true,

His sword and buckler bright.

" That sword, once felt the craven foe,
Its hilt was black with gore ;
And many a mother's son did rue
His might at Agincourt.

" And now he stately steps his hall —
' A summons from the King ?
My armour bright, my casque and plume.
My sword and buckler bring.

" ' Blow, warder, blow ; thy horn is shrill ;
My liegemen hither call ;
For I must away to the south countrie.
And spears and lances all.'

" ' Oh, go not to the south countrie ! '
His lady weeping said ;
' Oh, go not to the battle-field.

For I dreamed of the waters red ! '

" ' Oh, go not to the south countrie,'

Cried out his daughter dear ;

' Oh, go not to the bloody fight,

For I dreamed of the waters clear ! '

" Sir Bertine raised his dark vizor,

And he kissed his fond lady ;
' I must away to the wars and fight,

For our King in jeopardy ! '

" The lady gat her to the tower.
She clomb the battlement ;
She watched and greet, while thro' the woods
The glittering falchions went.

" The wind was high, the storm grew loud.
Fierce rose the billowy sea ;
When from Sir Bertine's lordly tower
The bell boomed heavily.

Sir Bertine Entwisel. 2 5

" ' O mother dear ! what bodes that speech
From yonder iron tongue ? '
' 'Tis but the rude, rude blast, my love,
That idle bell hath swung.'

" Upon the rattling casement still
The beating rain fell fast.
When creeping fingers, wandering thrice,
Across that window passed.

" ' O mother dear ! what means that sound
Upon the lattice nigh ? '
' 'Tis but the cold, cold arrowy sleet.
That hurtles in the sky.'

" The blast was still — a pause more dread
Ne'er terror felt — when, lo !
An armed footstep on the stair
Clanked heavily and slow.

" Up flew the latch and tirling pin ;
Wide swung the grated door ;
Then came a solemn, stately tread
Upon the quaking floor !

" A shudder through the building ran,
A chill and icy blast ;
A moan, as tho' in agony
Some viewless spirit passed.

" ' O mother dear, my heart is froze.
My limbs are stark and cold : '
Her mother spake not, for again
That turret-bell hath tolled.

" Three days passed by ; at eventide
There came an aged man ;
He bent him low before the dame.
His wrinkled cheek was wan,

" ' Now speak, thou evil messenger.
Thy biddings sho^v to me.'
That aged man nor look vouchsafed.
Nor ever a word spake he.

26 Lancashire Legends.

'■' ' What bringest thou ? ' the lady said,
' I charge thee by the rood.'
He drew a signet from his hand ;
'Twas speckled o'er with blood.

"Thy husband's grave is wide and deep ;

In St Alban's Priory
His body lies ; but on his soul
Christ Jesu have mercy ! ' "

GENERAL FAIRFAX BURIED IN ASHTON CHURCH.

In one of his MS. vols, in Chatham's Library, Thomas
Barrett, the Manchester antiquary, says : — " They have
long had a tradition at Ashton-under-Lyne, that in the
chancel of the church, the famous General Fairfax lies
buried. How this came about I am at a loss to account
for, unless done through privacy, to preserve his corpse
from the ill-usage of his enemies, and that it was thus
secreted through the means of Colonel Dukinfield, who
served in the same cause with Fairfax in the Parhamen-
tary army. Dukinfield Hall lies very near Ashton."

GORTON, REDDISH, AND THE NICKER DITCH.

According to a tradition noted in Greswell's MS. collec-
tions for a history of Manchester—" The inhabitants of
Manchester are said to have behaved themselves vaUantly
against the Danes when they landed about a.d. 869."
Whitaker says, " The house upon the Gore Brook chal-
lenged the denomination of Gore-ton." An old MS.
formerly in the possession of the Rev. Joshua Brookes,
A.M., chaplain of the College Church, Manchester, gives

Gorton, Reddish, and Nicker Ditch. 2 7

the following tradition: — "There is now to be seen in
Denton, Gorton, Birch, &c., a ditch called Nicko or
Micko, which (tradition says) was made in one night,
from Ashton Moss to Ouse [Hough's] Moss ; such a
number of men being appointed as to cast up each the
length of himself, in order to entrench themselves from
the Danes, then invading England. The land on one
side the ditch is called ' Danes ' to this day, and the
place in Gorton called ' Winding Hill ' is said to take its
name from the Briton's winding or going round to drive
off the Danes. The township of Reddish (anciently written
and still locally pronounced by the peasantry. Red-ditch),
adjoining to Gorton and Denton, is said to take its name
from the water in this ditch after the engagement being
red." Such are the older traditions. Mr John Higson, of
Droylsden,who has given considerable attention to the sub-
ject, supplies us with the existing traditions of the neigh-
bourhood. He says that the above appears substantially
correct (i.e., to agree with current tradition), except as
to the hill in Gorton, which old residents call " Winning
Hill," and the name is so written in old title-deeds. The
tradition is, that the great battle was " won " here, and
that the name was given to commemorate the happy
event, which unbound the necks of the Saxons from the
thraldom of the Danfes. During the battle the brook
running through Gorton (by traditional etymology Gore-
town or the Blood-town) is said to have been filled with
human gore, and was thence styled " Gore Brook," which
name it has certainly borne five centuries and a half.
The vale running from Gorton to Audenshaw is "the
Dane Wood." There are also " the Danes " in Gorton ;
" Dane Head " and " Dane Shut " in Audenshaw. The
two former are supposed to have been occupied by these
invaders prior to the final conflict; and, after that en-

2 8 L ancashire L egends.

gagement was over, a fugitive is said to have been
decapitated at the third, and another to have been shot
at the latter. The probable etymology, however (adds
Mr Higson), is " dane, dene, or den," a valley with a
stream running through the midst of it. The formation
of the Nicker Pitch was apparently anterior to the
general cultivation of the land through which it passes, as
it forms the meare or boundary of various townships.
He says this is known in the locality as " Th' Nicko-
ditch," and thinks its etymology is of Danish origin ; for
according to Scandinavian mythology Odin assumes the
name of Nickar, or Hnickar, when he acts as the des-
troying or evil principle. In this character, and under
this name, he inhabits the lakes and rivers of Scandinavia.
[The editor has felt bound to give the ancient traditions
and those still current in the neighbourhood, with the
interpretation suggested by an intelligent resident well
acquainted with the localities and their present names.
But he must add that he sees no sufficient authority or
reason for these traditional etymologies of the local
names at the head of this parish. As to Gorton, Whit-
aker is probably right in deriving its name from the
brook ; but Gor (Anglo-Saxon) not only means gore or
blood, but also, and with more probable significance here,
dirt or mud. It also denotes a tn'angular plot of land ;
and either of these meanings is more likely to be the
true one than that of a supposed bloody battle with the
Danes. Mr Higson has correctly given the more pro-
bable etymology for the places pronounced Dane and
Danes ; for in Lancashire generally, dean or dene is
pronounced dane, and these places are denes or hollow
places, some of which are to be found in Worsley (the
Deans or Danes Brow, &c.) The wood, the head, and the
shut or shoot (A.S. sceot, pronounced sheot), are all

Habergham Hall. 29

applicable to a little dene, hollow, or valley. And so the
invading Danes may disappear from these etymologies ;
and without them, what becomes of the battle ? So as to
Reddish, so far from being the red ditch, the etymologies
of the thirteenth g.nd fourteenth centuries are Re-dich
or dyche, i.e., the reed or reedy ditch. As to the Nicko
or Nicker ditch, the old MS. quoted above gives us an
alternative, " Micko," which we think guides to the true
etymology. In deeds of the fourteenth century this was
always called the Michel, Mikel, or Muchil Diche (from
the Anglo-Saxon micd, mucel, pronounced mickle, muckle),
and, of course, meaning the great ditch. There was an
estate in the neighbourhood called the Milk Wall Slade,
and this name may have been a corruption of Mickle, or
Muckle, into Milk-wall ; but there is not the slightest
warrant in old deeds and charters for the Nicker or
Nicko Ditch ; so that the Scandinavian myth must de-
part with the Danes themselves.]

HABERGHAM HALL AND THE LADY'S LAMENT.

Habergham Hall, near Burnley, was long the residence
of a respectable family of the same name. In the year
1 201 Alina and Sabina de Habringham litigated the pos-
session of four bovates of land, about eighty acres, against
their sister Eugenia. Roger de Lacy was on good terms
with this family, and, in 1204, gave to Matthew de Ham-
bringham two bovates of land in Hambringham. The
last heir-male was John Habergham, Esq., who was born
in the year 1650, and died without legitimate issue in the
beginning of the last century. Where he died, and where
he was buried, are not known ; for during the latter por-
tion of his life he wandered about as a vagabond, with-

Lancashire Legentfs.

out a home, and deserted by those friends who had .as-
sisted in wasting his family estates. He married Fleet-
wood, daughter of Nicholas Towneley, Esq., of Royle
Hall, but their union was not a happy one. She bore
with her husband's misconduct as long as possible ; and
on being deprived of her home, by the forfeiture of the
Habergham estate, she went to reside with her friends,
and dying in 1703, was buried at Padiham. Tradition
states that Mrs Habergham soothed her sorrow by com-
posing and singing the following stanzas, which are still
held in remembrance, not only in the neighbourhood,
but throughout Lancashire. They are here reprinted,
with some verbal alterations, from Harland's "Lancashire
Ballads:"—

Love's Evil Choice.
I sowed the seeds of love ;
It was all in the spring,
In April, May, and June likewise,
When small birds they do sing.
My garden planted was with care,

With blooming wild-flowers everywhere ;
Yet had I not the leave to choose

The flower I loved most dear.
The gardener standing by

Proffered to choose for me
The pink, the primrose, and the rose.

But I refused all three.
The primrose I forsook

Because it came too soon ;
The violet I o'erlooked,

And vowed to wait till June.
In June the red rose sprang,

But 'twas no flower for me ;
I plucked it up, lo ! by the stalk,

And planted the willow-tree.
The willow I now must wear,
With sorrows twined among,

The " Chylde of Hakr

That all the world may know

I falsehood loved too long.
The willow-tree will twist,

The willow-tree will twine,
I wish I was in that dear youth's arms

That once had this heart of mine.
The gardener he stood by.

And warned me to take care ;
For in the midst of a red rosebud

There grows a sharp thorn there.
I said I 'd take no care,

TUl I did feel the smart ;
And when I plucked the red rosebud,

It pierced me to the heart.
Now I '11 make a hyssop posy.

No other can I touch ;
For all the world do plainly see

I loved one flower too much.
My garden is now run wild ;

Where shall I plant anew ?
My bed, that once was thick with thyme.

Is now o'errun with rue.

THE "CHYLDE OF HALE."

John Middleton, the " Chylde of Hale," was bom at
the village of Hale, in the parish of Childwall, during
1578, and was buried in the churchyard of Hale in 1623.
His gravestone is yet shown about the centre of the
south aisle, with the following inscription upon it in
letters run in with lead : — " Here lyeth the bodye of John
Middleton, the Chylde of Hale. Born a.d. 1578.
Dyed a.d. 1623." He is said to have been nine feet
three inches in height; his hand measured seventeen
inches from the carpus to the end of the middle finger ;
and the breadth of his palm was eight inches and a half.

Lancashire Legends.

Sir Gilbert Ireland took him to the court of James I., on
which occasion some Lancashire gentlemen dressed him
" with large rufifs about his neck and hands ; a striped
doublet of crimson and white round his waist ; a blue
girdle embroidered with gold ; large white plush
breeches powdered with blue flowers ; green stockings ;
broad shoes of a light colour, having red heels, and tied
with large bows of red ribbon ; just below his knees
bandages of the same colour, with large bows ; by his
side a sword, suspended by a broad belt over his shoul-
der, and embroidered, as his girdle, with blue and gold,
with the addition of gold fringe upon the edge." In this
costume he is said to have wrestled with the king's
wrestler, whom he overcame and put out his thumb.
This displeased some of the courtiers, and hence the
King dismissed him with a present of ;^2o. He re-
turned home by Brazenose College, Oxford, which was
then full of Lancashire students. While resident at Ox-
ford his portrait was taken of full life size, and is now to
be seen in the College Library. There is also another
likeness of him preserved at High Leigh; and an
original painting of the " Chylde " is kept in the gallery
at Hale Hall, bearing the following inscription : — " This
is the true portraiture of John Middleton, the ' Chylde
of Hale,' who was born at Hale 1578, and was buried
at Hale, 1623." About eighty years ago, the body is said
to have been taken up, and the principal bones were for
some time preserved at Hale Hall. The thigh-bone
reached from the hip of a common man to his feet, and
the rest measured in proportion. After some time, the
bones were reburied in the churchyard, but whereabouts
is not known. He could only stand upright in the centre
of the cottage in which he resided ; and tradition states
that he attained his wonderful stature in one night, in con-

Th& " Chylde of Hale r 33

sequence of some spells and incantations that were prac-
tised against him. The Rev. William Stewart, in his
" Memorials of Hale, 1848," says that "the cottage is
now inhabited by Mr Thomas Johnson, and is situated
near the south-west corner of the Parsonage Green. A
descendant of his family, Charles Chadwick, was living
in 1804, and was more than six feet high. Some de-
scendants of Charles Chadwick are now living of the
name of BlundeU, very similar in bulk to the ' Chylde,'
but only of common size as to height." Another writer
states, what is well known in the neighbourhood, that —
" There exists a cavity in the sands near Hale, in
Lancashire, where tradition asserts that, on one occasion
the famous ' Chylde ' fell asleep, and on awaking found
all his clothes had burst j and so much had he grown
during this short nap, that he doubted his own identity.
On his way homewards, he was attacked by a furious
bull; but so strong had he become, that he caught it
by the horns and threw it to an immense distance.
The bull did not approve of such tossing, and, con-
sequently, suffered him to proceed without further
molestation." A still more extravagant tradition re-
lates that " he was so strong in one of his illnesses
that his friends had to chain him in bed. When
he recovered, two of the chains were given away ; one
was sent to Chester in order to keep the Dee Mills
from floating down the river; the second was sent to
Boston to prevent the Stump from being blown into
the sea ; and the third was lent in order to chain down
his infernal majesty, who had been captured when
suffering from an internal complaint ! On another ^
occasion, some robbers attempted to break into his
mother's house ; and had removed a window for that
purpose ; but, on being confronted by the " Chylde," they

C

34 Lancashire Legends.

took to their heels, and never looked behind them till
they reached the shores of the Mersey, at LiverpooL
The bed said to have been used by this modern giant
was exhibited at Hale until within these few years ; and,
if a genuine relic, proves him to have been of vast size.

HANGING DITCH, MANCHESTER. ■

Local tradition declares that it derived this ominous
name from having been the scene of the execution of
several Romish clergy and recusants in the reign of
Queen Elizabeth. But there are two very strong reasons
against this being the fact : — First, there is no record of
any execution in Manchester on the ground of recusancy
or treason during the whole of that reign ; second, there
was formerly a " hanging bridge " over the stream, which
has left its name and some portion of one of the piers
remaining. Now, Hanging Bridge needs no search for
a derivation ; and we can hardly doubt that the ditch
below the Hanging Bridge soon took the name of the
Hanging Ditch.

HORNBY CHAPEL AND SIR EDWARD STANLEY,

Sir Edward Stanley, fifth son of Thomas, first Earl of
Derby, early received the notice and favour of Henry
Vin. It is said of him that " the camp was his school,
and his learning the pike and sword." The King's greet-
ing when they met was, " Ho ! my soldier." Honour
floated in his veins, and valour danced in his spirit. At
the battle of Flodden he commanded the rear of the
English army, and through his great bravery and skill,
he mainly contributed to that memorable victory. A

Hornby Chapel and Sir Edw. Stanley. 35

sudden feint inducing the Scots to descend a hill, their
stronghold, an opening was caused in their ranks, which
Sir Edward Stanley espying, he attacked them on a sudden
with his Lancashire bowmen. So unexpected an assault
put them into great disorder, which gave the first hopes
of success, and kindled fresh courage through the Eng-
lish ranks, ending in the complete overthrow and discom-
fiture of their enemies. Upon this signal achievement,
Sir Edward received from the hand of his royal master
a letter of thanks, with an assurance of some future
reward. Accordingly, the following year, the King keep-
ing Whitsuntide at Eltham, in Kent, and Sir Edward
being in his train, his majesty commanded that, for his
valiant acts against the Scots at Flodden — an achieve-
ment worthy of his ancestors, who bore an eagle on
their crest — he should be created Lord Monteagle ; and
he had a special summons to Parliament in the same
year by the title of Baron Stanley, Lord Monteagle. On
various occasions in France, and also in the northern
rebellions headed by Aske and Captain Cobbler, he ren-
dered great service both by his bravery and his craft.
Marrying into the family of the Harringtons, he resided
the latter part of his life at Hornby Castle, engaged in
schemes for the most part tending to his own wealth
and aggrandisement. Foul surmises prevailed, especially
during his later years, as to the means by which he
possessed himself of the estates which he then held in
right of his lady, and those, too, that he enjoyed through
the attainder of her uncle. Sir James Harrington. Stanley
acknowledged himself a free-thinker and a materialist —
a character of rare occurrence in that age, showing him
to be " as daring in his opinions as in his pursuits.
Amongst his recorded expressions are — "That the soul of
man was like the winding-up of a watch; and that when

36 Lancashire Legends.

the spring was run down, the man died, and the soul was
extinct." He displayed a thorough contempt for the
maxims and opinions of the world, and an utter reckless-
ness of its censure or esteem. Dr Whitaker says of him,
" From several hints obUquely thrown out by friends as
well as enemies, this man appears to have been a very-
wicked person, of a cast and character very uncommon in
those unreflecting times . . . There certainly was some-
thing very extraordinary about the man, which, amidst
the feudal and knightly habits in which young persons of
his high rank were then bred, prompted him to speculate,
however unhappily, on any metaphysical, subject. Now
whether this abominable persuasion [of atheism] were
the cause or effect of his actual guilt — whether he had
reasoned himself into materialism in order to drown the
voice of conscience, or fell into the sin of murder because
he had previously reasoned himself out of all ideas of re-
sponsibiUty, does not appear ; but his practice, as might
have been expected, was suited to his principles, and
Hornby was too rich a bait to a man who hoped for no
enjoyment but in the present life, and feared no retribu-
tion in another. Accordingly we find him loudly accused
of having poisoned his brother-in-law, John Harrington, by
the agency of a servant ; and he is suspected also of hav-
ing, through subornation of perjury, proved, or attempted
to prove, himself tenant of the Honour of Hornby." Mr
Roby has written a pleasant fiction, based on the character
and imputed crimes of Lord Monteagle, in which he re-
presents him as occupying midnight vigils in the castle-
turret, in " wizard spells and rites unholy." He sends for
the parson of Slaidburn, that he may put him to shame
in an argument on the authenticity of the Christian reli-
gion ; but the parson has the better of the argument, and
does not fear to taunt the ruthless baron with the mur-

The Hulme Hall Treasure. 2>7

der of John Harrington, whom he styles " my lady's
cousin." The dispute with the pkrson ends with an
apparition of the murdered man, in the form of a thick
white cloud, and the unbelieving baron becomes an altered
man. Under the ministrations of the worthy parson,
he became gradually more enlightened; his terrors were
calmed, and he at length accepted Christianity as truth.
Soon afterwards arose that noble structure the chapel
of Hornby, bearing on its front the following legend : —
"Edwardus Stanley, Miles, Diis Monteagle, me fieri fecit''
— (Edward Stanley, Knight, Lord Monteagle, caused me
to be erected). Its foundation was generally ascribed
to some vow made at Flodden ; but at that time the bold
soldier was not a vower of vows ; and Mr Roby thinks
that his conversion from infidelity is the more probable
cause of his chapel-building. It is recorded that Edward
Stanley, Baron Monteagle, died in the faith he had once
despised.

THE HULME HALL TREASURE. ,

Buried treasure and its unearthly guardians attach them-
selves to many of our ancient mansions ; and they cease
to be haunted as soon as the cause is removed. There
is a tradition of this kind relating to Hulme Hall,
formerly the seat of a branch of the Prestwich family.
During the civil wars its then owner, Sir Thomas Prest-
wich, was very much impoverished by fines and seques-
trations; so that in 1660 he sold the mansion and
estate to Sir Oswald Mosley. His mother had, on
many occasions, induced him to advance large sums of
money to Charles I. and his adherents, under the as-
surance that she had hidden treasures which would
amply repay him. This hoard was supposed to have

38 Lancashire Legends.

been hidden either in the Hall itself or in the grounds
adjoining ; and it was said to be protected by spells
and incantations known only to the Lady Dowager her-
self. Time passed on, and the old lady became infirm j
and at last she was struck down by apoplexy before she
could either practise the requisite incantations or inform
her son where the treasure was secreted. After her
burial diligent search was made, but without result ; and
he too went down to the grave in comparative poverty.
Since that period fortune-tellers and astrologers have
frequently tried their powers in order to discover this
hidden wealth ; but they have not yet been successful.
It is still believed, however, that on some future occasion
they will be more fortunate, and that the demons who
guard the hoard will be overcome and forced to give up
their charge. The Hall and estate passed from the hands
of the Mosleys into the possession of other proprietors,
and were ultimately sold to the late Duke of Bridge-
water. Some years ago the site was required for other
purposes, and the Hall was pulled down ; but although
considerable care was taken, no money was discovered.

INCE HALL AND THE DEAD HAND.

Ince Hall is one of those curious half-timbered man-
sions which are now becoming rare in this county. Its
six sharply-pointed gables, and its long ranges of mul-
lioned windows, give it an imposing appearance from a
distance ; and on a nearer approach the remains of a
moat are visible, which proves that it has once possessed
means of defence. The estate connected with the Hall
belonged to the Gerards for upwards of seven hundred
years; the owners being descended from Walter Fitzother,

Ince Hall and the Dead Hand. 39

castellan of Windsor at the time when Domesday Book
was compiled. William, son of Walter, adopted De
Windsor for his family name ; but his brother Gerard was
content with his ordinary patronymic, and became the
ancestor of the Gerards of Bryn, now represented by
Sir Robert Gerard of Garswood Hall.

The family of Ince is also very ancient, dating nearly,
if not quite, from the conquest. Private documents
show that Richard de Ince, in 1322, held one-sixteenth
ofa knight's fee in Aspull ; and a grandson of this Richard
left, as sole heiress, a daughter Ellen, who married John
the third son of Sir Peter Gerard, of Bryn, about the
year 1368. The township of Ince was conveyed to him
by this marriage, and the family resided at the old Hall
for many generations. Maurice Fitz-Gerald, or Gerard,
was a younger son of this family, and was one of the
adventurers who accompanied Strongbow, Earl of Pem-
broke, on his expedition to conquer Ireland in 11 70.
The present Earls of Macclesfield are also lineally
descended from the same John Gerard of Ince. This
portion of the property subsequently belonged to a branch
of the Walmsleys, whose parent stock resided at Showley,
near Blackburn, and is now owned by Richard Walmsley,
Esq., of Bath.

The mansion which has obtained the name of Ince
Hall, without the designation of " old/' was built by
Roger Browne during the reign of James I. He was.
descended from Roger Browne de Ince, who is desig-
nated as a "gentleman," and held some lands here in the
14 Richard II., or 1390. A descendant named William
resided here in 2 Elizabeth, or 1559, and was succeeded
by his son Roger, who mortgaged his estates in order to
defray the expenses of this costly erection. He died
comparatively poor, but the mortgages were redeemed

40 Lancashire Pageants.

by his brother Ralph, his hpir and successor, during 12
James I, or 1614.

There is a stoiy of wrong; attaching to Ince Hall which
has given rise to the legend of the Dead Hand. One of
its early possessors lay Qn his death-bed, and a lawyer
was sent for at the last moment to make his will ; but
before he reached the man was dead. In this dilemma
it was determined to try the effect of a dead rnan's hand
on the corpse, and the attorney's clerk was sent for one to
Bryn Hall in all haste. The body of the dead man was
rubbed with the holy hand, and it was asserted that he
revived sufficiently to sign his will. After the funeral a
daughter of the deceased produced a will which was not
signed, leaving the property to his son and daughter ; but
the lawyer soon produced another will signed by the dead
hand, which conveyed all the property to himself. The
son quarrelled with the attorney, and after wounding him,
as he supposed mortally, he left the country and was never
heard of more. The daughter also disappeared, but no
one knew how or when. After many years the gardener
turned up a skull in the garden with his spade, and the
secret was revealed. When this took place the Hall had
long been uninhabited ; for the murdered daughter's
ghost hung suspended in the air before the dishonest
lawyer wherever he went. . It is said that he spent the
remainder of his days in Wigan, the victim of remorse and
despair. There is a room in the Hall which is said to
be haunted by the ghost of a young lady, and her shadowy
form is frequently seen by the passers by hovering over
the spot where her remains were buried.

The Holy Hand alluded to in the preceding legend is
now kept in the Catholic chapel at Ashton-in-Mackerfield.
It is known to have belonged to Father Arrowsmith, who
was executed at Lancaster on the 28th August 1628. As

Kersal Hall Traditions. 41

the crime for which he suffered has been variously stated,
we may add that — Father Edmund Arrowsmith, of the
Society of Jesus, was born at Haydock, in the parish of
Winwick, during 1585. In 1605 he entered the college
at Douay, and in 1612 was ordained priest. In the next
year he was sent on the mission to England ; and in
1628 he was apprehended and brought to Lancaster on
a charge of being a Romish priest, contrary to the laws
" in that case made and provided." He was tried and
sentenced to death at the August assizes of that year.
After he was cut down one of his friends cut off his right
hand, which was kept for many years at Bryn Hall. On
the demolition of that ancient structure it was removed
to Garswood, and afterwards to Ashton, where it still
remains in the custody of the priest.

The virtues of this " Dead Hand " are said to be
manifold. It is believed to remove tumours when rubbed
over the parts affected ; and persons come from long dis-
tances to be cured by it of various diseases. In August
1872, a paralytic walked frorn Salford to Mackerfield, in
order that she might be cured by the holy hand. She
was found exhausted on a door-step by the way, not being
able to reach her destination, and this brought the
matter under the parish authorities. It is preserved
with great care in a white silken bag, and many wonder-
ful cures are said to have been wrought by this saintly
relic.

KERSAL HALL TRADITIONS.

Though many of the antiquated mansions of Lancashire
can boast of a ghostly legend, or a half-historical tradi-
tion, few are so rich in boggart-lore as Kersal Hall (now

42 Lancashire Legends.

a dependency of Kersal Cell), two or three hobgoblin
stories being attached to its name. When Richard
Peveril, the last Saxon inheritor of Kersal, in defending
his home against Norman intruders, was overpowered by-
numbers, his body was thrown into the Irwell opposite
to his own door. The knight who slew Peveril took
immediate possession of the envied domain by right of
conquest ; but his triumph was of short duration. While
he slumbered at midnight, the gnomes of the lower
earth and the spirits of the upper air united their forces
to effect his destruction. When daylight appeared, the
Norman was found extended upon the spacious thresh-
old — a notice or caution, written with his own crimson
fluid, being visible on his brow, to the effect that all
trespassers would be prosecuted to the utmost rigour of
fairy law. The night thus made hideous must have
been especially dreary to the retainers of Kersal Hall ;
the rhyming history of Anthony de Irwell averring that
they could not sleep in their beds : —

" Terror o'er each hind would creep,
As, starting from his dreamy sleep.
He listened to the echoing shout
Which told him that the fiends were out."

Bold Avaranches was the next victim, and then came
Eustace Dauntesey as chief of the fated mansion.
Dauntesey wooed a maiden — no doubt a beautiful young
lady, with a handsome fortune — who was ultimately won
by a rival suitor. The wedding-day v/as fixed, and the
prospect of their coming happiness was utter misery to
Eustace. Having in his studious youth perfected him-
self in the black art — a genteel accomplishment in the
dark ages— he drew a magic circle, even at the witching
hour, and summoned the evil one to a consultation.
The usual bargain was soon struck, the soul of Eustace

Lostock Tower — " Too Late.''' 43

being bartered for the coveted body of the maid ; the
compact to close at the lady's death, and the demon to
remain meanwhile by the side of Dauntesey in the form
of an elegant " self," or genteel companion. Eustace
and his dear one (in a double sense) stood before the
altar in due course, and the marriage ceremony was
completed. On stepping out of the sacred edifice the
elements were found to be unfavourable. The flowers
strewed before their feet stuck to their wet shoes, and the
torch of Hymen refused to burn brightly in a soaking
shower; Arrived within his festive hall, the ill-fortune
of Eustace took another shape. His bride began to
melt away before his eyes. Familiar as he was with
magic, here was a mystery beyond his comprehension.
Something is recorded about a holy prayer, a sunny
beam, and an angel train, bearing her slowly to a fleecy
cloud, in whose bosom she became lost to earth. Taken
altogether, the affair was a perfect swindle in its bearings
upon Eustace. Awakened to consciousness by a touch
from his sinister companion, Dauntesey saw a yawning
gulf at his feet, and felt himself gradually going in a
direction exactly the reverse of that taken by his bride
of an hour. — Procter ( " Our Turf, Stage, and Ring!'

LOSTOCK TOWER— "TOO LATE."

Lostock Tower lies about four miles to the west of
Bolton. It was formerly an imposing structure, formed
mainly of wood and plaster, and surrounded by a moat.
There is now little left except the gateway, which occu-
pies the site of a much more ancient building. This is
mostly built of brick and stone, interspersed with string-

44 Lancashire Legends.

courses and mouldings. The windows are very large,
and are divided into compartments by strong muUions.
Over one of the upper windows there is a deep panel
containing a coat of arms, now almost obliterated. On
the front of the house there is the date "a.d. 1591 ;"
and a panel over the doorway, on which is the inscrip-
tion "S. F. A. 1702," obviously marks the period when
this portion of the Hall was either enlarged or repaired.
This characteristic residence was not very judiciously
situated, according to modern ideas. There is much
low ground in the neighbourhood, which contains several
rather picturesque sheets of water, and it is, besides, in
the immediate vicinity of the boggy tract known as Red
Moss. The river Croal rises from this marshy ground,
which, after passing through Bolton, falls into the Irwell ;
the far-famed Douglas, also, has its origin in the same
Moss, and, after flowing through Wigan, falls into the
Ribble near Hesketh.

Lostock Tower formerly belonged to the Andertons,
but has since merged into the hands of the Blundells of
Ince. There is a story of wrong connected with one of
the early Andertons, which has passed into a tradition, and
is even yet a source of heart-burning to a family nampd
Heaton resident in a neighbouring township of the same
name. This tradition states that one of the Heatons
was an improvident man, and wasted much of his patri-
mony. He became deeply involved in debt, and mort-
gaged his township to Anderton of the Tower. The
day for payment duly arrived, but the Heatons had not
raised the money. The evening passed on, and at a
somewhat early hour the Andertons retired to bed.
They had not lain long before the Heatons were thunder-
ing at the doors ; for they had raised the amount at the
last moment, and were ready to pay. The owner of the

Mab's Cross. 45

Tower, however, coveted the property, and refused to let
them in because they ought to have been ready before
the going down of the sun. On the morrow he said
they were too late, and declared that the mortgage was
foreclosed. The wrong done to the Heatons was never
forgiven, for the family was utterly ruined ; and it is
stated that the soul of the wrongdoer is doomed to re-
visit the scene of his crime until the property is restored.
It is also affirmed that no horse from the Tower, so long
as it was occupied by an Anderton, could ever be forced
to cross the stream into the manor of Heaton. Sir
Francis Anderton took part in the RebelUon of 1745,
and soon after lost his estates. In 1750 he was reported
to be over sixty years of age, and childless ; his property
was held by the crown under trustees, and eventually
passed to the Blundells, he living in retirement until his
death. This gentleman's fate is considered to be an act
of retributive justice for the wrong done to the Heaton
family by his ancestor of the Tower.

MAB'S CROSS

In the Church of Wigan near one of the four gates called
Standish Gate, stands a ruined' stone cross, connected
with an ancient tradition, which the late Mr Roby, more
suo, ha,s expanded and embelHshed into a long and
interesting story; but the principal source he draws from
is the genealogical roll of the Bradshaighs, from which we
take the old tradition, in the quaint terms of the original :

« Sir William Bradshaigh, second son to Sir John, was

a great traveller and a soldier, and married to Mabel,
daughter and sole heiress of Hugh Norres de Haghe

46 Lancashire Legends.

[Haigh] and Blackrode, and had issue, &c. Of this
Mabel is a story by tradition of undoubted verity, that
in Sir William Bradshaigh's absence (being ten years
away in the holy wars) she married a Welsh knight.
Sir William, returning from the wars, came in a palmer's
habit amongst the poor to Haghe ; who when she saw
and congetringe [conjecturing] that he favoured [resem-
bled] her former husband, wept — for which the knight
[her second husband] chastised her ; at which Sir
William went and made himself known to his tenants ;
in which space the knight fled, but near to Newton
Park, Sir William overtook and slew him. The said
Dame Mabel was enjoined by her confessor to do
penance by going once every week, barefooted and bare-
legged, to a cross near Wigan from the Haghe, whilst
she lived, and [it is] called Mabb's to this day ; and
their monument lies in Wigan Church, as you see them
there pourtrayed." Sir William Bradshaigh was outlawed
during the space of a year and a day for killing the
Welsh knight ; but he and his lady, it is said, lived
happily together afterwards until their death. The
remains of the effigies on their tomb have been decayed
by time, perhaps further injured by iconoclasts, and
finally have suffered from the embellishing hands of
whitewashing churchwardens. The tradition trips in
stating that Sir William was in the Holy Wars, as he
was not born till about ten years after the sixth and last
of the Crusades. It is probable that he was in the
disastrous campaign of Edward II. against the Scots ;
and his long absence from home is accounted for by
the supposition that he was for the greater part of the
time a captive.

The most ancient and interesting monument in Wigan
parish church is placed under the stairs leading to the

Ormskirk Church.

47

east gallery, where two mangled figures of whitewashed
stone preserve the remembrance of Sir William Brad-
shaigh, of Haigh, and his lady Mabel — he in an antique
coat of mail, cross-legged, with his sword partly drawn
from the scabbard by his left side, and on his shoulder
his shield, charged with two bends ; and she in a long
robe, veiled, her hands elevated and conjoined in the
attitude of fervent prayer. The history of this valorous
knight and his lady is preserved in the family pedigree
of the Bradshaighs in the terms already given. In
1664, when Sir William Dugdale made his visitation,
he sketched a drawing of the monument, as it then
stood, upon the family pedigree, now in the possession
of the Earl of Balcarres. Sir William was not only out-
lawed for slaying the Welsh knight, but in the Inquisi-
tiones ad quod damnum of 11 Edward II. (13 17-18), he
is designated " a felon." Mab's Cross stands at the top
of Standish Gate, Wigan, at the entrance to the town
from the Standish road, and consists of the base of a
pillar and half a shaft of four sides, rounded off by time,
to which the lady made her weekly pilgrimages, in peni-
tential attire, from the chapel at Haigh Hall, a distance
of two miles, in an age when ten years' widowhood was
not thought a sufficient expiation of the crime of taking
a second husband.

ORMSKIRK CHURCH.

This church is a large massive structure, on a slightly
rising ground, north-west of the town, and has a tower
commanding a fine view of the Irish Sea, Liverpool, Pres-
ton, &c., and also a spire at the south-east corner, which is

48 Lancashire Legends.

partly modern, but resting on an ancient octagonal base.
The church was probably built soon after the Conquest by
Orm, the proprietor of Hatton. A local tradition, of no
well-ascertained authority, represents it as having been
erected at the cost of two maiden ladies [? sisters] named
Orm, who, being unable to decide whether it should have
a tower or a spire, accommodated their differences by
giving it both. A more probable tradition states that
the spire was attached to the original edifice, and that, on
the suppression of Burscough Priory, the tower was built
for the reception of eight of the bells taken thence, the
remainder of the priory bells being removed to Croston
Church. The tenor bell at Ormskirk, which is said to
have been the third at Burscough, has a Latin inscription
in old English letters, "J. S. de Burscough, Esq., and E.
my wife, made [this bell] in honour of the Trinity. E,B.

1497."

Roby observes that this tradition is an idle and im-
pertinent invention, as the old ladies might each- have had
her way by building a tower and surmounting it by a
spire. But who can say whether, in self-will, one lady
would like to see her tower capped, surmounted, and so
to speak, extinguished, by the spire of her sister? He
suggests as a more probable solution that at the dissolu-
tion of the Priory of Burscough, temp. Henry VIII., the
bells of its conventual church were removed to Orms-
kirk ; and, as the small tower beneath the spire was not
sufficiently capacious to receive them, the present square
steeple was added. This suggestion receives some con-
firmation in the fact that the tenor bell of Ormskirk
church, said to have been previously the third bell at
Burscough Priory, bears some apparent proof of its trans-
lation. Round the circle below the ear is the following
inscription, all, except the founder's initials, in black

Rhodes and Pilkington. 49

letter :— " J. S. * de Burscough, * Armig. * et * E. * vr.
me fecerunt in honoris Trinitatis. * R.B. 1497." That
is, "J. S. of Burscough, Esq., and E. his wife, made me
in honour of the Trinity." Where each asterisk is marked
are the rose, portcullis, and fleur-de-lis. The Lancashire
rose and the portcullis (borne by the Countess of Rich-
mond and Derby, as a daughter of the Duke of Somerset)
were favourite badges of Henry VII., who, besides the
fleur-de-lis of France, being usually quartered at that
time in the royal arms of England, had some claim to
that bearing as the grandson of Sir Owen Tudor and
Catherine of France, relict of Henry V. Henry VII.
visited the neighbourhood, at Lathom House, the year
before this bell was cast ; and hence it was probably pre-
sented to the Priory in honour of his visit.

RHODES AND PILKINGTON.

In Watson's MSS. the following traditionary story relating
to the estate called Rhodes, in the manor of Pilkington,
is preserved : — " Rhodes of Rhodes, having his estate,
and it being land of inheritance, and lying within the
manor of Pilkington, then belonging to Sir John [? Sir
Thomas] Pilkington, the knight, desirous of purchasing
the estate, applied to Rhodes ; but he, being unwilling
to part with it, refused to sell. The estate is of consider-
able length, and is bounded by the river Irwell for more
than a mile, and at the extremity of the land stood a
cowhouse, of which Rhodes made use as a shelter for
young cattle during winter, but at other times it was dis-
used. Into this building, it is said. Sir John ordered
some of his own cattle to be put, and locked them up

D

50 Lancashire Legends.

there, giving out that they were stolen, and a reward was
offered accordingly. Some time passed before the cattle
were found ; at length, as had been concerted, some of
Sir John's people found them in the above cowhouse ;
and proceedings in law were immediately commenced
against Rhodes for this pretended robbery, against
which Rhodes defended himself; but the fact of the
cattle being locked up in his building being notorious,
and the presumption of his being privy to, if not a prin-
cipal in, the concealment, was evidence so strong against
Rhodes, that he was obliged to come upon terms with
Sir John, which caused the loss of his inheritance. Sii
John afterwards forfeited the manor of Pilkington : this,
in those days, was called a just judgment, and believed
to have been inflicted upon him for the above treachery.
The manor was given to the Derby family by the crown.
The mansion-house was formerly encompassed by a
moat, part of which still remains."

The late Mr Thomas Barritt, the antiquary, gives the
following very different account of the matter : — " In
Prestwich parish is a place called the Rhodes, where
there is an old hall nearly surrounded with a moat. This
appears to have been long ago the seat of some old family
of note, but of what name I cannot learn. There is,
however, a tradition in that neighbourhood that the first
Earl of Derby had lands given him in Lancashire by his
stepson, Henry VII., that belonged to gentry in this
county; particularly in Broughton, Pilkington, Prest-
wich, Bury, and Chetham. The owners of these estates
not taking the part of Henry, were by him outlawed, and
were driven from their homes by the Earl of Derby.
Amongst them was Sir John Chetham of Chetham,
whose seat was at what is now called Peel, a little
beyond Scotland Bridge, Manchester. His house was

Rhodes and Pilkington, 5 1

razed. Quere, whether the site of a Roman castrum at
this place, mentioned by the Rev. John Whitaker, was
not the old situation of Sir John Chetham's house ?
This land is now owned by the present Earl of Derby
(i 780), who likewise now owns one half of Rhodes estate,
and one half of the old hall, which is now divided into
two dwellings. On a chimneypiece in one of the par-
lours I observed the letters ' H.P.,' which recalled to
memory that this house was once the residence of the
Prestwich family of Prestwich, one of which family
founded Prestwich church. All or great part of this
estate was sold by the sequestrators in the time of the
civil war in the reign of Charles I., and one half was
bought by a Mr Fox, whose family hath lived there till
very lately. But after the Restoration, Charles, Earl of
Derby, son of that Earl who was beheaded at Bolton,
laid claim to the share that Mr Fox had bought, who
was determined to keep his purchase. The Earl, on
finding this, had recourse to the following stratagem : —
It was pretended that two oxen had been stolen from
Knowsley ; but they were privily conveyed one night
into the shippon of Mr Fox. Persons were immediately
dispatched all over the country in search of the beasts,
which were found in the shippon of Mr Fox, who was
seized on as the thief, and threatened with being sent to
prison. Mr Fox, knowing his innocence, and that the
charge was a juggle, was willing to go to prison ; but the
persons sent by the Earl, and instructed how to proceed,
finding this, offered him the Earl's pardon on condition he
would deliver up the land, which Mr Fox still refused,
and persisted in going to prison. But when he had got
a little distance from the house, his wife and children
followed, and persuaded him to hearken to the terms pro-
posed by the Earl's servants ; who then offered him his

52 Lancashire Legends.

release upon these terms, — that the Earl should receive
again the estate, and Mr Fox still continue thereon, and
become the Earl's tenant, and, on paying rent for the
same, continue, he and his heirs, tenants for ever; which
place they now enjoy."

THE SITE OF ST CHAD'S CHURCH, ROCHDALE.

Towards the close of the reign of William the Con-
queror, Gamel, the Saxon thane. Lord of Recedham or
Rochdale, being left in the quiet possession of his lands
and privileges, was " minded, for the fear of God and the
salvation of his immortal soul, to build a chapel unto
St Chadde," nigh to the banks of the Rache or Roach.
According to Mr Roby, in his " Traditions," a place was
set apart on the north bank of the river, in a low and
sheltered spot now called " The Newgate." Piles of
timber and huge stones were gathered in profusion ; the
foundations were laid ; stakes having been driven, and
several courses of rubble stone laid ready to receive the
grouting or cement. In one night, the whole mass was
conveyed, without the loss of a single stone, to the sum-
mit of a steep hill on the opposite bank, and apparently
without any visible signs of the mode of removal. The
Saxon thane was greatly incensed at what he supposed
to be a trick of some of his own vassals, and threatened
punishment ; to obviate which, a number of the villeins
and bordarii with great difficulty and labour conveyed
the building materials back to the site for the church ;
but again were they all removed in the night to the top
of the hill. Gamel having learned the truth, sought
counsel from Holy Church, and it was thereon resolved

Stretford Road Great Stone. 5 3

that the chapel should be built on the hill-top, as the
unknown persons would not permit it to be erected on
the site originally selected. This explains the chapel or
church of St Chadde, still standing on a hill so high
that one hundred and twenty-four steps were cut to
accomplish the ascent, and enable the good people to
go to prayers. Such are the outlines of the tradition as
dramatically told by Roby in his popular work under
the title of " The Goblin Builders." We find no vestige
of the tradition in Baines's " Lancashire " or Dr Whita-
ker's " Whalley." There is a belief and a saying in
Rochdale, which Roby connects with his tradition, but
which seems to have no natural relation to it, that " in
Rochdale strangers prosper and natives fail."

STRETFORD ROAD GREAT STONE.

Not far from the " Great Stone Farm," and lying on the
footpath, is the " Plague Stone," whence the farm takes
its name. It is an oblong coarse gritstone, foreign to
the locality, and quite different from the stone quarried
at Collyhurst. Some term it a " travelled stone." It
was probably brought hither during the glacial period
by iceberg agency, and deposited in a manner similar
to the huge boulder now exhibited in Peel Park, Man-
chester. The Stretford stone measures five feet four
inches in length ; and the breadth and height are two
and three feet respectively. On the upper surface are
two cavities, or small rock basins, divided by a ridge,
or moulding, the cavities measuring thirteen inches in
length, eight inches in breadth, and seven inches in
depth. There are, of course, various traditions to ac-
count for the origin and use of this curious relic of the

54 Lancashire Legends.

olden time. One of these states that the stone was
hurled from the Castle Field, and that the two cavities
are the prints of Giant Tarquin's finger and thumb.
Another alleges that it was thrown from the Old Bridge
at Manchester ; that it is gradually sinking into the earth,
like Nixon's stone in Delamere Forest, and that on its
final disappearance, the destruction of the world will
ensue. A third tradition is recorded by Baines in his
" History of Lancashire" (vol. ii. p. 257), and was also
noticed in a paper read before the Rosicrucian Brother-
hood of Manchester. The latter account, as obtained
from two old residents near the memorial, is somewhat
as follows : — During a malignant plague visitation (one
of which took place in a.d. 1351, three near the close of
the sixteenth, and six or seven during the seventeenth
century), in order to prevent the infection from spread-
ing, the inhabitaiits, like those of Eyam, Derbyshire,
during a similar epidemic, were confined within specified
limits, marked on the highways leading to the town by
certain stones like the one now under notice. A similar
stone once existed at Cheetham Hill, according to the
statement of an old person still living ; and Rochdale
had also, till within these few years, its plague stones,
locally called " milk stones," evidently a corruption of
" mickle " or great stones. The Stretford tradition goes
on to assert that a market was held there, and the towns-
people, after washing the money in one of the basins,
filled with water or vinegar, as a disinfectant, deposited
it in the other, filled in like manner, and then retired to
a short distance. The country folks then advanced for
the corn, vegetables, and other produce, and left their
money in one of the cavities. There yet remain two
other traditions respecting this stone. The first is,
that the stone was formerly on the opposite side of the

Old Sykes's Wife. 55

road, and about fifty or sixty yards nearer to Manchester ;
secondly, that before the plague visitation, the stone
bore a cross and bells, and was used as a mass stone or
altar — the custom being for travellers and other passers-
by there to stop and perform their devotions. The late
Mr John Higson has given some further particulars in
the Ashton Reporter newspaper, but they do not affect the
tradition.

OLD STKES'S WIFE.

In a secluded dell, on the banks of Mellor Brook, not
far from the famous Old Hall of Samlesbury, stands a
lonely farmhouse which was occupied for many genera-
tions by a family named Sykes. They gave their name
to the homestead, or vice versa, on its being cleared from
the forest ; and from the fact of the pastures lying at a
short distance from a broad and deep portion of the
brook, it became generally known by the name of Sykes
Lumb Farm. The Sykes, however, have long since
become extinct ; but the doings of one of the race have
passed into tradition, and will, no doubt, be handed
down to many future generations.

It is said that one of the latest occupiers of the farm
had become very rich, partly by the constant hoarding
of his ancestors, partly by the thrift of his too covetous
wife, but much more by having discovered the hidden
treasures of some former possessor. Be this as it may,
civil troubles arose, and the Wars of the Roses exhausted
not only the wealth but the population of Lancashire.
Old Sykes's wife had neither son nor daughter. Her
husband was too old to be called off to the wars ; and
hence her only anxiety was lest some lawless marauders
should seize upon their stores. She had, besides, no

56 Lancashire Legends.

notion of becoming dependent upon the bounty of the
Southworths of the Hall, nor did she relish the idea of
sohciting charity at the gates of the lordly Abbot of
Whalley. The treasure was therefore carefully secured
in earthenware jars, and was then buried deep beneath
the roots of an apple-tree in the orchard. Years passed
away, and the troubles of the country did not cease. The
Yorkists at length lost the ascendancy, and the reins of
government passed into the hands of the Lancastrians ; —
until at last the northern feud was healed by the ming-
ling of the White Rose with the Red. Henry VII. sat
upon the throne with Elizabeth of York as Queen ; —
but, ere peace thus blessed the land. Old Sykes had paid
the debt of nature, and left his widow the sole possessor
of their buried wealth. She, too, soon passed away;
and, as the legend asserts, so suddenly that she had no
opportunity to disclose the place where she had deposited
her treasure. Rumour had not failed to give her the
credit of being possessed of considerable wealth ; but,
although her relatives made diligent search, they were
Tinsuccessful in discovering the place of the hidden jars.
The farm passed into other hands, and Old Sykes's wife
might have been forgotten had not her ghost, unable to
find rest, continued occasionally to visit the old farm-
house. Many a time, in the dusk of the evening, have
the neighbouring peasants met an old wrinkled woman
dressed in ancient garb, passing along the gloomy road
which leads across the Lumb, but fear always prevented
them from speaking. She never Hfted her head, but
helped herself noiselessly along, by means of a crooked
stick, which bore no resemblance to those then in use.
At times she was seen in the old barn, on other occa-
sions in the house, but more frequently in the orchard,
stajiding by an apple-tree which still flourished over the

Towneley Hall. 5 7

place where the buried treasure was afterwards said to
have been found. Generations passed away, and still
her visits continued. One informant minutely described
her withered visage, her short quaintly-cut gown, her
striped petticoat, and her stick. He was so much
alarmed that he ran away from the place, notwithstand-
ing that he had engaged to perform some urgent work.
" She was not there," he gravely said, " when I went to
pluck an apple, but no sooner did I raise my hand to-
wards the fruit, than she made her appearance just before
me." At last, it is said, an occupier of the farm, when
somewhat elated by liquor, ventured to question her as
to the reasons of her visits. She returned no answer,
but after moving slowly towards the stump of an old
apple-tree, she pointed significantly towards a portion of
the orchard which had never been disturbed. On search
being made, the treasure was found deep down in the
earth, and as the soil was being removed, the venerable
looking shade was seen standing on the edge of the
trench. When the last jar was lifted out, an unearthly
smile passed over her withered features ; her bodily
form became less and less distinct, until at last it dis-
appeared altogether. Since then the old farmhouse
has ceased to be haunted. Old Sykes's wife is believed
to have found eternal rest; — but there are yet many,
both old and young, who walk with quickened pace
past the Lumb whenever they are belated, fearful lest
they should be once more confronted with the dreaded
form of its unearthly visitor.

TOWNELEY HALL.
The license for enclosing the old park of Towneley, which
lay west from the house, is dated 6th Henry VII. (1490-

58 Lancashire Legends.

91). The malice and the superstition of the common
people have doomed the spirit of some former and hither-
to forgotten possessor of this estate to wander in restless
and long unappeased solicitude, crying —

" Lay out, lay out
Horelaw and Hollinliey Clough."

" Lay out " means the reverse of " take in," — i.e., to
throw open, or disappropriate land previously enclosed.
To show at once the foundation and the antiquity of this
story, as well ds to illustrate a remark that traditions,
when stripped of the marvellous, have generally their
basis in truth, Dr Whitaker quotes the following record :
— " By letters patent dated February 28, i James I.
(1604), the said King grants unto Charles, Lord Mount-
joy, Earl of Devon, in consideration of the good services
done by him in the time of Queen Elizabeth and since,
inter alia, all that parcel of land called Horelaw Pasture,
containing by estimation 194 acres, of 24 feet to every
perch, abutting on the north upon a pasture called
HoUinhey, parcel of the possession of the Duchy of
Lancashire, and formerly enclosed in severalty by John
Towneley, knight." This was evidently an encroach-
ment, which had been seized by the officers of the
Duchy, and granted out afresh. But the offence was
remembered long after it had been redressed, and even
when the name of the offending party was forgotten.
Enclosures were always unpopular among the common
people, who uniformly inflicted upon enclosers that
punishment after death which they were unable to do in
their lifetime. It is also said that this spirit requires one
life every seven years, and that some fatal accident
happens at the end of each period.

Turton Tower. 59

TURTON TOWER.

Turton Tower is now one of the most interesting struc-
tures in the neighbourhood of Bolton. The manor is
said to have been granted by WiUiam the Conqueror to
De Orrell, one of his followers, for military services ren-
dered to him in the conquest of England. De Orrell,
having fixed upon the place of his residence, erected a
strong house of defence, which was afterwards known as
Turton Tower ; and it is said that the wages of the work-
men were then only one penny a day. Even at this low
rate of payment the Tower is said to have been built in
such a style of magnificence that the family never re-
covered from the difficulties created by the immense
outlay. The principal portions of the Tower, as it now
exists, were built of stone by William, son of John
Orrell, Esq., in 1596; but the older portions still retain
their gabled wood-and-plaster decorations, so character-
istic of the many ancient mansions of the early Tudor
period still or lately existing in Lancashire. The Orrells
disposed of their estates to the noted Humphrey Che-
tham ; and subsequently, through Mr Hoare, it became
the property of James Kay, Esq., of Pendleton, who has
made it his principal residence, and has. restored the
decayed portions of the house with strict regard to their
original design. Some years ago the writer spent several
pleasant hours in and around this imposing feudal struc-
ture, and heard the tradition that the tower is haunted '
by a lady who can occasionally be heard passing along
the lobbies and into the rooms, as if dressed in very stiff
rustling silk, but is never able to be seen. It is said
that the sound is most distinct as she sweeps along the
broad massive oaken staircase which leads from the hall
into the upper rooms. Many traditions also prevail in

6o Lancashire Legends.

the neighbourhood respecting the wealth and expenditure
of Sir Humphrey Chetham during his residence at the
Tower; and certainly they are quite justified by those
portions of the structure which bear his name.

At a short distance from the Tower there is a farm-
house, known by the name of Timberbottom, or the
Skull House. It is so called from" the circumstance that
two skulls are or were kept here, one of which was much
decayed, and the other appeared to have been cut through
by a blow from some sharp instrument. Tradition says that
these skulls must be kept in the house, or the inmates
will never cease to be disturbed. They are said to have
been buried many times in the graveyard at Bradshaw
Chapel, but they have always had to be exhumed and
brought back to the farmhouse. They have even been
thrown into the adjacent river, but to no purpose ; for
they had to be fished up and restored to their old quar-
ters before the ghosts of their owners could once more
rest in peace.

TYRONE'S BED.

In a bend of the Roach, to the north of Morland or
Merland, is Tyrone's Bed, a woody glen, admired for its
picturesque scenery, which is said to have been the retreat
of one of the Earls of Tyrone in the reign of Elizabeth.
The craggy rocks on the one side of this lovely valley,
and the steep wooded slopes on the other, with the
rivulet in the channel below, are not inappropriately
termed " the bed ; " but the chief interest of this " ro-
mantiq dell " centred in the ancient home of the Holts
of Grizelhurst, but of which not a vestige now remains.
At the period of the legend it was surrounded " by dark

Tyrone's Bed. 6 1

and almost trackless woods," which would furnish a
refuge for the wanderer, " secure from hostility or alarm."
The Earl of Tyrone who claimed to be a King in Ireland,
by his rebellions harassed Queen Elizabeth and her
armies for years during the latter period of her reign.
His history would fill a volume. Hugh O'Neale was
nephew to Shan (John) O'Neale, or "the great O'Neale,"
as he was more commonly called. He was well known
for his great courage, a virtue much prized by the half-
civilised hordes he commanded. He was created Earl
of Tyrone by Queen Elizabeth; but disliking the allegi-
ance this implied, and desirous to liberate his country
from the English yoke, he entered into a correspondence
with Spain, procured from thence a supply of arms and
ammunition ; and having united many of the Irish chiefs
in a dependence upon himself, he soon proved himself a
formidable enemy of English rule in Ireland. The first
English commander that opposed him, Sir John Norris,
after a war, and purposely protracted negotiations with
Tyrone, died at length, it was said, of vexation and discon-
tent. He was succeeded by Sir Henry Bagnall, who, going
to the relief of Blackwater, was surrounded; fifteen hundred
men and the general himself were slain on the spot, and
the rest put to flight. This victory raised the renown of
Tyrone, who was hailed as the deliverer of his country,
and the restorer of Irish liberty. The unfortunate Earl of
Essex was afterwards appointed to take command of the
English army ; but his troops were so terrified at the
reputation of Tyrone, that many of them counterfeited
sickness, and others deserted. Tyrone asked a confer-
ence, and Essex received from him a proposal of peace,
in which Tyrone had inserted many unreasonable and
exorbitant conditions. Essex, anxious to return to Eng-
land, nevertheless accepted the proposal, which led to a

62 Lancashire Legends.

suspicion that he had betrayed his high trust. From
this time the beam of his royal mistress's favour was
obscured, and the result was his disgrace and death.
Meanwhile Tyrone broke the truce, and overran almost
the whole of Ireland. Essex being recalled, the Queen
appointed Mountjoy as Lord Deputy of Ireland. He de-
feated T>Tone in Ulster. Four thousand Spaniards, under
Don Juan d'Aguila, landed and took Kinsale ; Mountjoy
besieged it; and on Tyrone and many other Irish chief-
tains marching to its relief, he intercepted them, and at-
tacked and put them to flight, slaughtering twelve hundred
men. Tyrone and other chiefs fled, and the Spaniards
capitulated. It is supposed that at this period the out-
lawed Earl crossed the sea into England, and remained
for some time concealed in the neighbourhood of Roch-
dale. The site of a few cottages in a romantic dell by the
river Roach is still associated with the memory of the
unfortunate Earl, and yet bears the name of " Tyrone's
Bed." Upon this fact Mr Roby has based a fictitious
love story,* there being a prediction that —

"Woman's breast

Thou shall darken o'er with woe ;

Kone thou lookest on or lovest
Joy or hope hereafter know.

Many a maid thy glance shall rue :

Where it smites it shall subdue."

Tyrone is made to save from drowning Constance the
daughter of Holt of Grizelhurst ; they love ; she conceals

* It would be more correct to state that the tradition in Mr Roby's
work is really derived from a ballad by Mr William Nuttall, of
Rochdale, entitled " Tyrone and Constance, or the Outlaw in the
Dell of Grizelhurst." The story was first told to Mr Nuttall, as
he states, by a Mr Ralph Holt, formerly steward to the late William
Bamford of Bamford, Esq. In his " notes " to the ballad, Mr Nut-
tall relates the story at considerable length,

The Dragon of Unsworth. 63

him from pursuit by the sheriff and posse in a hidden
chamber, the entrance to which is from her own bedroom.
He escapes, and she wastes away and dies, the victim
of the prophecy. Tyrone eventually secured a pardon
from Queen EUzabeth. One incident is related, illus-
trative of his character. Appearing in person to execute
a treaty, immediately on the issue of some sanguinary
engagement, Tyrone was requested to sign the terms.
" Here is my signature," said he, laying his bloody hand
on the deed ; " 'tis the mark of the Kings of Ulster."
Hence, tradition gravely asserts, was the origin of " the
bloody hand," the arms of Ulster, and, in heraldic shields,
the badge of knighthood. It is scarcely necessary to
add that this derivation for the arms is altogether a fable.

THE DRAGON OF UNSWORTH.

Traditions respecting the ravages formerly made by
the so-called dragons occur in many counties. Yorkshire
has claimed the legend of the Dragon of Wantley, and
the Lambton Worm has rendered the county of Durham
famous. One of the most noted dragon stories of Lancashire
has its locality assigned to Unsworth, a small village or
hamlet about three miles from Bury. Tha principal
mansion in this village is occupied by a lineal descendant
of the ancient family of Unsworth, who probably derived
their name from the homestead they have so long occu-
pied. The house contains little worthy of notice ; but it has
long been famous for containing an ancient carved oak
table and panel connected with a legend attaching to the
family. It is said that Thomas Unsworth was the owner
of this property when the district was devastated by an
enormous dragon, which was not content with its ordinary

64 " Lancashire Legends.

fare but proceeded to swallow up the women and chil-
dren. The scales of this dragon were so hard and firmly-
set, that bullets shot by the guns of those days took no
effect upon the monster ; and the owner of Unsworth,
finding this the case, loaded his gun with his dagger and
mortally wounded the dragon under the throat, as it was
raising its head to rush at its assailant. The table is said
to have been constructed after this event, and was partly
carved by the dagger which had destroyed the reptile.
The carvings on the table and panel are somewhat curious.
One is a representation of St George and the Dragon,
another contains rude figures of the eagle and child,
a third the lion and unicorn, and a fourth of the Dragon
of Unsworth. The crest of the family consists of a man
in black armour holding a battle axe in one hand ; and
tradition states that this is a portrait of Thomas Unsworth
in the dress he wore at the time of the conflict. What
may have given rise to the legend it is quite impossible
to determine ; but an estate was once granted to a mem-
ber of this family for some important military service, and
this may have had something to do with its origin.
There are several carvings of the dragon in the possession
of the family. One of these resembles a long serpent
with the head and wings of a sphinx ; another represents
the monster as a serpent with the head of an old man ;
and a third resembles a serpent in folds with stings at
the ends of the tongue and tail. The initials " C.V.,"
under the head of one of the figures, serve to indicate
that the carvings have been executed for one of the
owners of the mansion.

There is a singular circumstance connected with most
of these dragon stories which is worthy of special notice.
It is that of the frequent use of sacred and mystic num-
bers in the narratives, and this in some degree supports

Wardley Hall Skull. 65

the conjecture that they are allegorical in their nature.
In the case of the Dragon of Wantley (Wharncliffe) there
are seven heads mentioned, and twice seven eyes ; the
monster itself ate up three children, the fight lasted two
days and one night, and he turned twice three times round
when he received his fatal wound. The Lambton Worm
had nine holes on each side of his mouth, he encircled
Worm hill threeixax^s, he drank the milk of nine cows ; the
reckless heir of Lambton returned a true knight at the end
of seven years, and for nine generations the sybil's curse
remained on his house in consequence of the non-per-
formance of his vow. His mail was also studded all
over with spear heads, just the same expedient which
was adopted by More of More Hall.

WARDLEY HALL SKULL.

In the township of Worsley, about seven miles west of
Manchester, and to the east of Kempnall Hall, is the
ancient pile of Wardley Hall, erected in the reign of
Edward VI. It is situated in the midst of a small woody
glade, and was originally surrounded by a moat, except
on the east side, which was protected by natural de-
fences. This black-and-white half-timbered edifice is
of a quadrangular form, consisting of ornamented wood
and plaster frames, interlined with bricks (plastered and
whitewashed, the wood-work being painted black), and
entered by a covered archway, opening into a courtyard in
the centre, like so many of the manor houses of the same
age in Lancashire. About 1830 it was in a ruinous con-
dition, one part being occupied as a farmhouse, and the
other formed into a cluster of nine cottages. The hall has
since been thoroughly renovated, and has been occupied

66 Lancashire Legends.

for many years, under the Earl of Ellesmere, by a gentle-
man farmer and colliery-owner. In the room called the
hall is a coat-of-arms, in a frame, belonging to the Downes
family : a stag couchant within the shield ; crest, a stag's
head. The room has an ornamented wainscot, and a
fluted roof of oak. The stairs have an air of noble an-
tiquity about them, which has been somewhat diminished
by the daubings of a modem painter. The chimneys
are clustered. The Tildesleys became lords of Ward-
ley by marriage with the Worsleys in the reign of Henry
IV., and settled here before they occupied Morley.
On the eve of the civil wars, Wardley was quitted
by the Tildesleys, and became the residence of Roger
Downes, Esq., whose son John, married Penelope,
daughter of Sir Cecil Trafford, knight, who, endeavour-
ing to convert Mr Downes [a Catholic] to PrQ-
testantism, became himself a Catholic. The issue of
that marriage was Roger Downes, son and heir, and
an only daughter, named Penelope, after her mother.
She married Richard, Earl Rivers, a rake, a warrior, and
a statesman. There is a human skull kept at the Hall,
which tradition says once belonged to Roger Downes,
the last male representative of his family, and who was
one of the most abandoned courtiers of Charles II.

Roby, in his "Traditions," has represented him as
rushing forth " hot from the stews " — drawing his sword
as he staggered along — and swearing that he would kill
the first man he met. His victim was a poor tailor,
whom he ran through with his weapon, and killed him
on the spot. He was apprehended for the crime ; but
his interest at court soon procured him a free pardon, and
he immediately began to pursue his usual reckless course.
At length " Heaven avenged the innocent blood he had
shed ; " for " in the lusty vigour," continues Roby, " of

Wardley Hall Skull. 67

a dranken debauch, passing over London Bridge, he
encountered another brawl, wherein, having run at the
watchman with his rapier, one blow of the bill which
they carried severed his head from his trunk. The latter
was cast over the parapet into the Thames, and the head
was carefully packed up in a box and sent to his sisters
at Wardley. It was Maria who ventured to open the
package and read the sad fate of her brother from a paper
which was enclosed. The skull was removed, secretly
at first, but invariably it returned to the Hall, and no
human power could drive it thence. It hath been riven
to pieces, burnt, and otherwise destroyed j but on the
subsequent day it was seen filling its wonted place.
This wilful piece of mortality will not allow the little
aperture in which it rests to be walled up — it remains
there — whitened and bleached by the weather, looking
forth from those rayless sockets upon the scenes which,
when living, they had once beheld." This curious
legend exists under various forms, and has been noticed
by several writers, but all agree ia the main facts. One
account varies the place of his death, stating, in short, that
Roger Downes, in the licentious spirit of the age, having
abandoned himself to. vicious courses, was killed by a
watchman in a fray at Epsom Wells, in June 1676, and
dying without issue, the family quitted Wardley. It is of
this Roger Downes that Lucas speaks, when he says that,
according to tradition, " while in London, in a drunken
frolic, he vowed to his companions that he would kill the
first man he met ; then, sallying forth, he ran his sword
through a poor tailor. Soon after this, being in a riot,
a watchman made a stroke at him with his bill, which
severed his head from his body. The head was
enclosed in a box and sent to his sister, who lived at
Wardley Hall. "The skull," adds the narrator, "has

68 Lancashire Legends.

been kept at Wardley ever since, and many supersti-
tious notions are entertained concerning it, not worth
repeating." After the Downeses ceased to reside there,
Wardley Hall was occupied for a time by Lord Barry-
more. Towards the end of the eighteenth century,
Thomas Barritt, the Manchester antiquary, visited the
Hall, where he says there is " a human skull, which, time
out of mind, hath had a superstitious veneration paid to
it, by [the occupiers of the hall] not permitting it to be
removed from its situation, which is on the topmost
step ot a staircase. There is a tradition that, if removed,
or ill-used, some uncommon noise and disturbance
always follows, to the terror of the whole house ; yet I
cannot persuade myself this is always the case. But
some few years ago, I and three of my acquaintances
went to view this surprising piece of household furniture,
and found it as above mentioned, and bleached white
with the weather, that beats in upon it from a four-square
window in the hall, which the tenants never permit to be
glazed or filled up, thus to oblige the skull, which,
they say, is unruly and disturbed at the hole not
being always open. However, one of us, who was
last in company with the skull, removed it from
its place into a dark part of the room, and there
left it, and returned home ; but the night but one
following, such a storm arose' about the house, of
wind and lightning, as tore down some trees, and un-
thatched outhousing. We hearing of this, my father
went over in a few days after to see his mother, who
lived near the Hall, and was witness to the wreck the
storm had made. Yet all this might have happened had
the skull never been removed ; but withal it keeps alive
the credibility of the tradition (or the credulity of its
believers). But what I can learn of the above affair

Wardley Hall Skull. 69

from old people in the neighbourhood is, that a young
man of the Downes family, being in London, one night
in his frolics vowed to his companions that he would kill
the first man he met ; and accordingly he ran his sword
through a man immediately, a tailor by trade. Howeverj
justice overtook him in his career of wickedness ; for in
some while after, he being in a riot upon London Bridge,
a watchman made a stroke at him with his bill, and severed
his head from his body, which head was enclosed in a
box, and sent to his sister, who then lived at Wardley,
where it hath continued ever since." Barritt adds — '
" There is likewise a skull near Wigan of this surprising
sort, of which I have heard stories too ridiculous to
relate." In the " Traditions," the substance of this
legend is given with graphic effect under the appel-
lation of the "Skull House." It is there remarked
of Wardley that, — " A human skull is still shown
here, which is usually kept in a little locked recess
in the staircase wall, and which the occupiers of the
Hall would never permit to be removed. This, grim
caput mortuum being, it is said, much averse to any
change of place or position, never failed to punish the
individual severely which should dare to lay hands upon
it with any such purpose. If removed, drowned in
the neighbouring pond (which is in fact a part of the old
moat which formerly surrounded the house), or buried,
it was sure to return ; so that, in the end, each succeed-
ing tenant was fain to endure its presence rather than
be subject to the terrors and annoyances consequent
upon its removal. Even the square aperture in the wall
was not permitted to be glazed without the skull or its
long-defunct owner creating some disturbance. It was
almost bleached white by exposure to the weather, and
many curious persons have made a pilgrimage there,

70 Lancashire Legends.

even of late years." Mr Roby then relates the freak of
Barritt and his companions, and gives the story of the
skull from Barritt's MS. The editor of the present
volume visited the Hall some years ago, and found that
a locked door concealed at once the square aperture and
its fearful tenant. Of this " place of a skull," two keys
were provided ; one being kept by the tenant of the Hall,
who farms some of the adjacent land, and the other being
in the possession of the late (and first) Countess of
Ellesmere, the lady of the lamented " Lord Francis
Egerton." The Countess occasionally accompanied
visitors from the neighbouring Worsley Hall, and herself
unlocked the door and revealed to her friends the grin-
ning skull of Wardley Hall. The writer paid another
visit to this quaint old Hall in October 1861, and again
held the old skull in his hands. The bone of the lower
jaw had become detached ; but there is no sign of
violence about the skull itself. If the tradition as to the
violent death of its owner be correct, that result has been
effected without any fracture of the bone. The keystone
of an arched entrance into the courtyard has on its outer
face, " R. H. D. 1625," and beneath this, " 1818." On
its inner face, " 1846." These dates doubtless indicate
the times of rebuilding or repairing a portion of the old
place.

WARDLEY HALL.

Wardley Hall was originally the property of the Wors-
leys or Workedleys, who were settled at Worsley about
the time of the Norman Conquest. They retained pos-
session of Wardley till about the reign of Edward II.,
when Thurston de Tyldesley marrying Margaret, daughter

Wardley Hall. 71

and heiress of Jordan de Workesley, it passed to the
Tyldesleys; and, prior to the herald's visitation of 1567,
became the residence of the elder branch of the family ;
a younger branch being settled at Morley Hall in Astley,
which had come to the family by the marriage of Edmund,
second son of Thurstan Tyldesley, of Tyldesley and
Wardley, with Anne, daughter and sole heiress of
Thomas Leyland, of Morley; and from that line de-
scended the unfortunate and gallant royalist Sir Thomas
Tyldesley. Wardley continued the property of the
Tyldesleys until the beginning of the seventeenth cen-
tury, when Thurston, son of Thomas Tyldesley, of
Gray's Inn, Attorney-General for the Duchy of Lan-
caster, sold the estate in parcels, and Wardley passed to
the Cheshire family of Downes. Roger Downes, the
first of the name settled at Wardley, was Vice-Chamber-
lain of Chester to William Earl of Derby, and James Lord
Strange, his son. He died about 1638, leaving by his
wife, a daughter of John Calvert, of Cockefham, three
sons and one daughter. Francis and Lawrence both
died young ; John succeeded to the estates on the death
of his father; and Jane married Robert Snede, Esq., of
Keele, Staffordshire. John Downes, a zealous Roman
Catholic and supporter of the Royalist cause, accom-
panied Lord Strange (afterwards the unfortunate Earl of
Derby) to the siege of Manchester in September 1642.
He married Penelope, daughter of Sir Cecil Trafford,
knight, the only issue being Roger, son and heir (who
was unfortunately killed by a watchman at Epsom Wells
in June 1676), and a daughter named Penelope. How
the story of the skull arose, it is impossible to say ; but it
seems to have been to a great extent true ; at least, as re-
gards Roger Downes, who is represented as being one
of the wildest and most licentious of the courtiers of

72 Lancashire Legends.

Charles II. Upon the wall of Wigan Church is a tablet
to the memory of this same Roger Downes, with the
inscription : — " Rogerus Downes de Wardley, arraiger,
filius Johannis Downes, hujus comitatis, armigeri, obiit
27 Junii 1676, atatis suae 28" — (Roger Downes of Ward-
ley, Esq., son of John Downes of this county, Esq., died
27th June 1676,. aged twenty-eight years).

Thomas Barritt, the antiquary, besides the story he has
given relating to the skull in his " MS. Pedigrees," offers
the following explanation : — " Thomas Stockport told
me that the skull belonged to a Romish priest, who was
executed at Lancaster for seditious practices in the
time of William III. He was most likely the priest at
Wardley, to which place his head being sent, might be
preserved as a relic of his martyrdom. . . . The late Rev.
Mr Kenyon of Peel, and librarian at the College in this
town [Chetham's Library, Manchester], told me, about
the year 1779, that the family vault of the Downeses
in Wigan Church had been opened about that. time,
and a coffin discovered, on which was an inscription to
the memory of the above young Downes. Curiosity led
to the opening of it, and the skeleton, head and all, was
there ; but, whatever was the cause of his death, the
upper part of the skull had been sawed off, a little above
the eyes, by a surgeon, perhaps by order of his friends,
to be satisfied of the nature of his disease. His shroud
was in tolerable preservation ; and Mr Kenyon showed
me some of the ribbon that tied his suit at the arms,
wrists, and ankles ; it was of a brown colour — what it
was at first could not be ascertained." Penelope, sister
and heiress of Roger Downes, conveyed the estate by
marriage to Richard Savage, fourth Earl Rivers, who
died in 1712, leaving an only daughter, Elizabeth,
married to James, fourth Earl of Barrymore, the repre-

The Crosses in Whalley Churchyard. 73'

sentative of an ancient Irish family. The only issue by
this marriage was a daughter named Penelope, wife of
James, second surviving son of George, Earl of Chol-
mondeley, who died without issue in 1775. Wardley is
now the property of the Earl of EUesmere. The hall
itself is an interesting structure, of the time of Edward
VI.; partially surrounded by a moat, and constructed of
ornamental timber and plaster, the interstices of the
framework being filled with bricks. It is quadrangular
in form, with a courtyard in the centre, the entrance
being by a covered archway. The principal room has
an ornamented wainscot, and a ceiling of fluted oak ,■
in this room is also preserved a coat of arms of the
Downes family — sable a hart lodged argent. Wardley
Hall has been engraved in Philips's " Old Halls of Lan-
cashire," and in other works.

THE CROSSES IN WHALLEY CHURCHYARD.

The parish church at Whalley is one of the most inte-
resting structures in the county. Its foundation dates
from the earlier Saxon times, when Northumbria was an
independent kingdom, and when York, the ancient Ebo-
racum, still retained its importance as the metropolis of
the North. The curious old document entitled the Status
de Blackburnshire, preserves an ancient traditional ac-
count that the parish of Whalley was little more than a
wilderness at the close of the sixth century ; that it was
remote from the usual centres of population, and almost
inaccessible, and that it was " entangled with woods, and
overrun with wild beasts." Notwithstanding these diffi-
culties, St Augustine is represented as penetrating into
these wilds and converting the inhabitants to Christianity.

74 Lancashire Legends.

This record further states that he preached at Whalley,
and, as a consequence of his ministry, a parish church
was erected, which was dedicated to All Saints, and de-
nominated the " White Church under the Leigh." It was
then, also, that the three tall crosses were formed and
erected at Whalley in honour of Augustine's mission;
and that " after seven centuries these continued to be
called the crosses of Augustine." After quoting the
Status, Dr Whitaker very justly requires his readers to
suspend their assent to " this ancient ecclesiastical
story," since the " account is merely abstracted from
a monkish manuscript of the fourteenth century." In
his opinion there, is no evidence whatever, nor even
a probability, that St Augustine ever visited Whalley;
whilst there is much to show that Paulinus is really the
person intended.

We know, from the authority of the venerable Bede,
that Paulinus, under the auspices of Edwin of Northum-
bria, his illustrious convert, passed through Dejra and
Bernicia, preaching the gospel to the inhabitants, and
baptizing great numbers of them in the rivers which in-
tersect these provinces. His presence at Dewsbury was
attested by an inscription on one of these stately and
beautiful Saxon crosses. There is another of these relics
at Burnley ; and tradition " assigns with one voice " that
the three crosses now standing in the churchyard at
Whalley were erected to commemorate the same events.
The writer of the Status, or some transcriber, must there-
fore have transferred the labours of Paulinus to Augus-
tine, and thus in some degree has done injustice to the
zealous missionary. The " obeliscal form and ornaments
of fretwork," which distinguish these crosses, are cha-
racteristic of the state of art among the Saxons, Nor-
wegians, and Danes; and the period of their erection

The Crosses in Whalley Churchyard. 75

may therefore be placed with much probability about the
middle of the seventh century, since Paulinus was
banished Northumbria in a.d. 631, " on the death of his
royal convert."

Bede tells the story of Edwin's conversion with dramatic
effect. There is the doubt as to the truth of the Chris-
tian doctrines — the hope that the power of the true God
will aid him in his troubles, and the resolve that, if he
be successful, then he would cast away his idols.
Paulinus took advantage of this hesitation, and by con-
firming the sign of the hand upon Edwin's head, he
brought the king to his knees in full determination that
he and his should embrace Christianity. Coifi, his
chief priest, was the next important convert ; and after
he had resolved to abandon the worship of Thor and
Woden, he encouraged the people to imitate his example
and learn from Paulinus. He then mounted the king's
war-horse, and defiled the heathen temple at York by
casting a spear into the sacred enclosure. He and " all
the nobility of the nation, with a large number of the
common sort," then " received the faith " and were bap-
tized. PauHnus was appointed Archbishop of York, and
soon after set out into the most distant patts of the king-
dom, preaching, converting, and baptizing the crowds
who flocked to hear him. When we look upon these
weather-worn crosses, we may imagine that we see the
venerable Archbishop standing on the banks of the
Calder, or at Bishop Leap on the Brun, surrounded by
the rude inhabitants of the district, eager to be instructed
in the doctrines of the new religion. He is said by Bede
to have been " tall of stature, a little stooping, his
hair black, his visage meagre, his nose slender and
aquiline, his aspect both venerable and majestic." No
wonder, then, that his fervid exhortations produced con-

76 Lancashire Legends.

verts by the thousand — they, were awed by his presence
as well as convinced by his arguments ; and he was
powerfully assisted by " James the deacon, a man of zeal
and great fame in Christ's ChurcL" It was fortunate
that the mistake in the Status should have been investi-
gated by such a competent authority as the historian of
Whalley ; and there is satisfaction in the thought that
tradition has restored to the great " Apostle of the North"
the honour of having banished the Paganism of the
kingdom of Northumbria, and planted Christianity in its
Stead.

WINWICK CHURCH.

The parish church of Winwick stands near that miracle-
working spot where St Oswald, King of the Northum-
brians, was killed. The founder had destined a different
site for it, but his intention was overruled. Winwick
had not then even received its name, the church being
one of the earliest erections in the parish. The founda-
tion of the church was laid where the founder had
directed ; and the close of the first day's labour showed
that the workmen had not been idle by the progress
made in the building. But the approach of night
brought to pass an event which uttedy destroyed the
repose of the few inhabitants around the spot. A pig
was seen running hastily to the site of the new church ;
and as he ran he was heard to cry or scream aloud,
" We-ee-wick, we-ee-wick, we-ee-wick." Then, taking
up a stone in his mouth, he carried it up to the spot
sanctified by the death of St Oswald, and thus employ-
ing himself through the whole night, succeeded in re-
moving all the stones which had been laid by the

Winwick Church. 77

builders. The founder, feeling himself justly reproved
for not having chosen that sacred spot for the site of
his church, unhesitatingly yielded to the wise counsel of
the pig. Thus the pig not only decided the site of the
church, but gave a name to the parish. In support of
this tradition, there is the figure of a pig sculptured on
the tower of the church, just above the western en-
trance ; and also the following Latin doggrel : —

" Hie locus Oswalde, quondam placint tibi valde ;
Northanhumbrorum fueras Rex, nunc que Polonim
Regaa tenes, loco papus Marcelde vocato."

" This place, O Oswald, formerly pleased thee greatly ;
Thou wert King of the Northumbrians, and now of the Poles (?);
Thou boldest the kingdom in the place called Marcelde " [Macer
or Mackerfield].

There are other churches in Lancashire besides Win-
wick whose sites have been changed by the devil, and
he has also built some bridges ; that at Kirkby Lons-
dale owes much of its beauty to the string of his apron
giving way when he was carrying stones in it The
stones may be seen yet in the picturesque groups of
rock below the bridge. According to some a priest,
according to others the devil, stamped his foot into the
church wall at Brindle, to prove the truth of Popery ;
and George Marsh the martyr did the same at
Smithell's Hall, to prove the truth of Protestantism.
The footmarks still remain on the wall and the flag.
There is great sameness in these traditions, one story
doing for several places, except that at Winwick it was
as a pig, at Leyland as a cat, and somewhere else
as a fish, that Satan played his pranks. — N, ana Q.,
vi. 71.

78 Lancashire Legends.

THE GIANT OF WORSLEY.

WoRSLEY Hall and manor are said to date their
foundation from about the time of the Conquest. At
that time the owner was an eminent hero, whose deeds
are recorded in ancient romance. Eliseus de Workesley
or Worsley was one of the first Norman barons who
raised his vassals and joined in the first crusade. His
personal acquaintance with Robert, Duke of Normandy,
is said to have induced him to accompany his friend and
patron in attempting to rescue the Holy Land from the
hands of the Saracens. It was for this too that Robert
relinquished his claims to the English crown, and mort-
gaged the revenues of his Norman duchy. Eliseus de
Worsley met with numerous enemies in the forms of
giants, Saracens, and dragons, all of which he conquered
and slew. On arriving at Rhodes, he emulated " More
of More Hall," by encountering a venomous serpent
which was devastating the district. In this combat, how-
ever, he was unsuccessful; for the serpent is said to
have stung him so severely that he died and was buried
on the spot. In Hopkinson's MS. " Pedigrees of the
North Riding of Yorkshire " (fol. 483), is a notice of him
which states that " he was of such strength and valour
that he was a reputed giant, and in old scrips [writ-
ings,] is often called ' Elias Gigas.' He fought many
duels, combats, &c., for the love of our Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ, and obtained many victories." These un-
doubtedly gave rise to the legend; the serpent being
probably selected to typify the crafty dealings by which
some rapacious landowner sought to enrich himself at
the expense of others.

Wyecoller Hall and its Spectre Horseman. 7 9

WYECOLLER HALL AND ITS SPECTRE HORSEMAN.

Wyecoller Hall, near Colne, was long the seat of
the Cunlififes of Billington. They were noted persons
in their day, and the names of successive members of
the family are attached to documents relating to the pro-
perty of the Abbots of Whalley. But evil days came,
and their ancestral estates passed out of their hands.
In the days of the Commonwealth their loyalty cost
them dear ; and ultimately they retired to Wyecoller
with a remnant only of their once extensive estates.
About 181 9 the last of the family passed away, and the
Hall is now a mass of ruins. Little but the antique fire-
place remains entire ; and even the room alluded to in
the following legend cannot now be identified. Tradi- ,
tion says that once every year a spectre horseman visits
Wyecoller HalL He is attired in the costume of the
early Stuart period, and the trappings of his horse are
of a most uncouth description. On the evening of his
visit the weather is always wild and tempestuous. There
is no moon to light the lonely roads, and the residents of
the district do not venture out of their cottages. When
the wind howls the loudest the horseman can be heard
dashing up the road at full speed, and after crossing the
narrow bridge, he suddenly stops at the door of the hall.
The rider then dismounts and makes his way up the
broad oaken stairs into one of the rooms of the house.
Dreadful screams, as from a woman, are then heard,
which soon subside into groans. The horseman then
makes his appearance at the door — at once mounts his
steed — and gallops off the road he came. His body
can be seen through by those who may chance to be
present ; his horse appears to be wild with rage, and its

8o Lancashire Legends.

nostrils stream with fire. The tradition is that one of
the Cunliffes murdered his wife in that room, and that
the spectre horseman is the ghost of the murderer, who is
doomed to pay an annual visit to the home of his victim.
She is said to have predicted the extinction of the family,
which has literally been fulfilled.

PART II.

PAGEANTS, MASKINGS, AND MUMMINGS.

PAGEANTS, MASKINGS, AND

M U M M I N G S.

INTRODUCTION.

These formed a very imposing if not important part of
the festal celebrations of old Lancashire. The only one
of them which retains anything of its ancient splendour
and reputation is the Preston Guild, held every twenty
years, during which that town is the scene of great
rejoicings and festivities, with various, pageants- and
processions during several days, together with dinners,
balls, concerts, and various kinds of outdoor games and
sports. The " ale-gysts " and the " guisings " are fast
passing away, and the " rush-bearings " are only now to
be seen at a few places in the county, though formerly
almost every parish had its rush-cart and rash-bearing
festival.

§4 Lancashire Pageants.

ACA'S, OR ACRES, OR ST MATTHEW'S FAIR,
MANCHESTER.

Robert Greslet, the fifth Baron of Manchester of that
name, granted a portion of land to one Aca, a clerk, for
the sum of three shillings yearly. In the Testa de Nevill
it is stated that.: — "The Robert Grelle, that now is,"
gave this oxgang belonging to his " demense of Mame-
cestre," and that the same Aca now holds this land.
Some hold that Acres Fields derived their name from
Aca, their early proprietor; but -in the "Mamecestre"
a suggestion is offered that their derivation may probably
merely be from cecer, plural acres, fields, lands, anything
sown, acres. Aca was probably the chantry priest of
an ancient chapel dedicated to St Matthew, which was
afterwards known as " Grelle's Chantry," and the land is
supposed to have included the "Four Acres" upon which
the ancient fair was long held. The first charter for a
fair in Manchester appears to have been granted by
Henry III., when a minor, to Robert Greslet, in 1222, for
the consideration of a palfrey for a licence until the king
came of age. A more extensive charter was obtained
in 1227, and the fair was held in accordance therewith
on the eve feast of St Matthew the Apostle, and the days
following, i.e., on the 20th, 21st, and 22d of September.
Owing to the enterprise of the inhabitants of Manches-
ter this fair attained considerable importance. Many
merchants from distant parts attended this central mart,
and the proceedings were originally commenced by a
formal opening of the fair by the Baron of Manchester
in person. During the three days no person was
permitted to wear arms, and each adult inhabitant
was bound to assist the "^/if/^-sergeant," or principal
peace-o'Sizzx in putting down any riot or disorder which

Gyst-AleSy Guisings, or Mar lings. 85

might arise. The authority of the lord was not acceptable
to some of the inhabitants, and consequently on the first
day of the fair they used to assemble in large crowds,
many being armed with whips, and others with large
quantities of acorns which they had procured from the
neighbouring woods. This was intended as a protest
against the claims of the lord of the manor for the time
being; and on the first horses, cows, sheep, or pigs,
making their appearance on the ground, some of the men
cracked their whips, others pelted the cattle with the
acorns, and the rest shouted with a deafening noise,
" First horse," " First cow," " First sheep," "First pig."
At a later period this, rough commencement degenerated
into mere juvenile sport, and was finally discontinued
long before the fair was removed to Knot Mill.

GYST-ALES, GUISINGS, OR MARLINGS—
THE ASHTON GYST-ALE.

The gyst-ale, or guising feast, was an annual festival of
the town of Ashton-under-Lyne. It appears from the
rental of Sir John de Assheton, compiled a.d. 1422, that
a sum of twenty shillings was paid to him as lord of the
manor for the privilege of holding this feast by its then
conductors. The persons named in the roll as having
paid three shillings and fourpence each are : — " Margret,
that was the wife of Hobbe the Kynges (of Misrule);
Hobbe Adamson ; Roger the Baxter ; Robert Somayster,
Jenkyn of the Wode ; and Thomas of Curtnal." The
meaning of the itrm gyst-ale ii involved in some obscurity,
and the custom itself is not mentioned by either Brand
or Ellis in their collections of popular antiquities. Most
probably the payments mentioned above were for the^.f/,

86 Lancashire Pageants.

or hire, for the privilege of selling ale and other refresh-
ments during the festivals held on the payment of the
rents of the manor. These guisings were frequently held
in the spring, most probably about Lady Day, when
manorial rents were usually paid ; and as the fields were
manured with marl about the same period, the term
mar lings has been supposed to indicate the rough play, or
marlocking which was then practised. This, however,
must be a mistake, since the term relates to merry pranks,
or pleasure gambols only, and has no connection with
marl as a manure.

These gyst-ales, or guisings, once ranked amongst the
principal festivals of Lancashire, and large sums of money
were subscribed by all ranks of society in order that they
might be celebrated with becoming splendour. The lord
of the manor, the vicar of the parish, the farmer, and the
operative, severally announced the sums they intended
to give, and when the treasurer exclaimed "A largesse !"
the -crowd demanded " From whom ? " and then due pro-
clamation was made of the sum subscribed. The real
amount, however, was seldom named, but it was an-
nounced that "Lord Johnson," or some other equally
distinguished person had contributed " a portion of
ten thousand pounds" towards the expenses of the feast.

After the subscription lists were closed an immense
garland was prepared, which contained abundance of
every flower in season, interspersed with a profusion of
evergreens and ribbons of every shade and pattern. The
framework of this garland was made of wood, to which
hooks were affixed, and on these were suspended a large
collection of watches, jewels, and silver articles borrowed
from the richer residents in the town. On the day of the
gyst this garland was borne through the principal streets
and thoroughfares, attended by crowds of townspeople

Gyst-Ales, Guisings, or Marlings. 87

dressed in their best attire. These were formed into a
procession by a master of the ceremonies, locally termed
the King. Another principal attendant was the Fool,
dressed in a grotesque cap, a hideous grinning mask, a
long tail hanging behind, and a bell with which he com-
manded attention when announcements were to be made.
In an early period of these guisings the fool was usually
mounted on a hobby-horse, and indulged in grotesque
.pranks at he passed along. Hence we obtained the term
" hob-riding," and more recently the proverbial expres-
sion of " riding one's hobby to death."

In the manor roll from which we have previously
quoted, " Jack the mercer " is inserted as having paid
the lord of the manor the annual sum of 6j-. ?>d. for the
privilege of hob-riding ; and the office appears to have
become a lucrative one, when rivalry between towns and
villages was excited. On such occasions the residents
spared neither time nor expense to outshine their neigh-
bours, and it will be seen in a subsequent article that .a
single village has been known to expend several thousand
pounds on this unmeaning pageant.

WAITS AT BURNLEY.

For about three weeks before Christmas the inhabitants
of Burnley and the neighbourhood are almost nightly
roused from their slumbers by the " Christmas waits."
Two men generally go together. They parade the streets
and lanes, playing Christmas tunes on fiddles, or any
other instruments they prefer. On stopping at any
person's door they generally play some favourite air,
and then wish the family a " Merry Christmas when it
comes," and "hope that all are well within." These
good wishes are followed up by the following ditty,
chanted to a quaint old air by both performers : —

88 Lancashire Pageants.

" Good master and mistress.
We wish you good cheer;
For this is Old Christmas,
A merry time of the year,
When Christ did come to save us
From all our worldly sin.
We wish you a happy Christmas,
And all good health within."

There are several variations of this ditty ; but all are
much to the same purport. After Christmas Day the
" waits " go round to their friends and collect money.
The last " wait " in Burnley was unfortunately burnt to
death some years ago in a warehouse which took fire
during the night. He had been his usual rounds, and
had gone to sleep amongst the waste just before the fire
broke out.

DOWNHAM KING AND QUEEN.

In the parish of Whalley the ancient annual amusements
of rush-bearings and village-wakes are very general, and
it is only within a very few years that the practice of
adorning a man and woman in the costume of the king
and queen was observed yearly at Downham wakes,
when a crown was carried before them, " by prescriptive
right " as they maintained, founded on a grant from
some king at a period too early to form the subject of
record. This innocent delusion has been discarded ;
but the practice still prevails of parties of eight or ten
women running after and " lifting " or " heaving " men
on Easter Tuesday, in allusion, it is said, to the resurrec-
tion of the Saviour. The last " Downham Queen " died
in Burnley about six years ago; "lifting" frequently
causes much amusement, and sometimes dissatisfaction.
The men lift the women on Monday, and vice versa on
the Tuesday.

Eccles Guising. 8g

ECCLES GUISING.

The gyst-ak or guising was celebrated in Eccles and the
neighbouring townships with much rustic splendour, at
the termination of the marling season, when the villagers,
with a king at their head, walked in procession with
garlands, to which silver-plate was attached, which was
contributed by the principal gentry in the neighbourhood.
The object of ambition was to excel in the splendour of
their procession, which was conducted with the person-
ages and the circumstances described in the account
of gyst-aks. We have, however, a still more curious
record of the guisings of Eccles and of the adjacent town-
ship of Barton-upon-Irwell in a quaint and exceedingly
rare octavo pamphlet of nineteen pages, printed in 1778,
and of which Mr William Ford, the Manchester book-
seller and antiquary, never saw but one copy. Its title-
page runs thus : — " The History of Eccles and Barton's
Contentious Guising War. i. An account of the
heathens and ancient Christians observing the first of
May having some resemblance to guising. 2. Some
fictitious debates bordering within the matter of truth ;
with an account of these guisings, from the first rise to
the present time, between Eccles and Barton, with several
entertaining remarks. By F. H**r**g**n."
[? Harrington.]

Barton and Eccles they will not agree,

For envy and pride is the reason, you '11 see.

France and Spain with England are the same,

And a great many more compose the ill-natured train.

You, neighbours, over each other do crow,

And now and then turn out to make a great show,

Like England and America do make a great noise :

Be wise, for it only diverts our girls and boys.

90 Lancashire Pageants.

Price threepence." In his preface, the writer, who
speaks of having visited other countries, and being now
at a low ebb, says, " Having lived in the parish of Eccles
for the last eight months (1777), I have had some oppor-
tunity of making some remarks of the customs, manners,
and behaviour of the inhabitants of the said parish, not
only to strangers, but to each other, which behaviour I
shall treat upon, together with some remarks upon the
folly oi guising." In some doggrel lines he reproves the
local folly of guising, stigmatises a recent song as " base
scurrility " and " lies," and adds —

" If Eccles has faults, Barton has the same ;
Wisdom it will be not each other to blame."

The origin of Eccles guisings he understands to be,
that "Mr Chorlton, of Monks Hall, had some men
getting marl, and it being a custom for the general part
of the neighbours to give some little to these men to
drink, which enables them to go through that hard
labour with cheerfulness, was a sort of foundation for
the above custom. Some few young people of Catch Inn
[a locality near the village, but within the township of
Barton ; there is still a Catch Inn or Catching Lane]
made a small garland, by some called a posey, and on
Friday, June 13th, 1777, carried the garland to the
marl pit, and made the marlers a present of it, with
3s. 6d. The marlers in the evening bringing the garland
into Eccles, it excited the curiosity of the young people
to know by what means they got it, and being informed
they had it from some young people of Catch Inn, it
was then thought by the young people of Eccles an insult
upon them for Catch Inn people to bring a garland to
Mr Chorlton's marl-pit, as they belonged to the town-
ship of Barton, and Monks Hall and the pit belonged to

Eccles Guising.

91

the township [village] of Eccles." The pamphlet con-
tinues the story in an inflated style, as describing a war
between two great nations ; but it may suffice to say
that the marl-pit was alternately taken possession oi by
parties of guisers from Eccles and from Barton, and that
the rivalry was displayed chiefly in the amount of sub-
scriptions these places could respectively collect, and in
the splendour of the display of flowers, ribbons, and
especially of silver-plate, in the processions of each
party. These " guisings " were continued throughout the
summer and autumn of 1777, and the following brief
account of the respective sums collected in succession
from the two places will suffice to show the extent of
the extravagance and folly of this "guising war" : —

1777-
June 13,

» 3°.
Aug. 4,
Sept. 24,

Barton,

Barton.

/o 3 6

506

37 o o

644 17 o

£b%^ I o

1777.

Eccles.

June 16,

£0 4

6

July 14, .

13

Sept. I,

• 347 II

6

Oct. 20, .

. 1881 5

6

Eccles, .

. ;^2242 I

6

So that the two places contributed from motives of
rivalry to pageants of idle display and folly, not to
say disorder, nearly three thousand pounds I These
sums, however, do not seem to have been spent, but
only exhibited, or, as the writer says, " laid down on the
drumhead," by way of vain display ! They were pro-
bably lent for the hour, and returned to the pockets of
the owners, except so much as may have been ex-
pended in horse-hire and other expenses, and in ale,
&c., for the least with which these pageants seem to
have terminated. From the pamphlet, it appears that
on the 14th July, the Eccles guisers (exceeding a
hundred men and women), with spikes, swords, &c. ;

92 Lancashire Pageants.

some dressed as Robin Hood and Little John, others
as Adam and Eve "in a single-horse chair, with an
orange-tree fixed before them and oranges growing
thereon," proceeded to Barton and various parts of the
parish of Eccles, with drums beating, colours fly-
ing, trumpets sounding, music playing, and about six-
teen couples of morris-dancers. The Barton subscrip-
tion Q>i ^2i1 would seem to have included a communion-
plate for the church. Their pageant of August 4 is not
described in detail. The Eccles pageant of September i
was the month of Eccles wakes, and their procession of
more than a hundred and fifty men and women
marched to Pendleton Pole, with a king and queen at
their head. Thep^347, lis. 6d. was "tendered" in vain
pomp, by way of doubling the enemy's amount of cash.
Barton next mustered about two hundred and twenty
men and women, with about twenty-one guns, cannons,
and muskets, which they began firing at five o'clock in
the morning of the 24th of September, after which, with
a bull at their head with bells about his neck, they
marched to Eccles. The pamphlet describes the order
of the procession, which consisted of many guisers on
horseback. The queen had thirty-four maids of honour,
and there were twenty couple of morris-dancers, several
bands of music, many colours, and a " grand garland
drawn by four good horses and proper attendance." In
the evening, the treasurer exhibited his cash, £,(>^% 17s.
The last of these rival guisings was that of Eccles, on
the 20th October, when their procession numbered two
hundred and sixteen horsemen, and nearly a hundred
footmen. They assembled at Pendleton. The queen
had fifty-six maids of honour, every one handsomely
dressed, and with a watch by her side. After marching
as far as Sallord, they returned to Eccles, and the cash

Hoghton Pageant in 1 6 1 7. 93

displayed was ;^i88i, ss. 6d. Whether there was any
further pageant after the issue of this pamphlet does ■

not appear. The writer names a Mr L as " one of

the most principal supporters of the guising on the side
of Barton." He concludes by declaring his conviction
that Barton was the first offender and assailant, by in-
vading Eccles with guisers ; and that the victory re-
mained with Eccles, which had only sought to defend
its own territory.

HOGHTON PAGEANT IN 1617.

The following is given in Nichols's " Progresses of
James I." as " A speech made to King James at his
coming to Hoghton Tower [in August 161 7] by two
conceived to be the household gods. The first attired
in a purple taffeta mantle, in one hand a palm-tree
branch, on his head a garland of the same, and in the
other hand a dog " : —

First Tutelar God.
This day, great King, for government admired.
Which these thy subjects have so much desired.
Shall be kept holy in their heart's best treasure.
And vowed to James, as is this month to Csesar.
And now the landlord of this ancient tower,
Thrice fortunate to see this happy hour,
Whose trembling heart thy presence sets on fire.
Unto this house (the heart of all the shire)
Does bid thee hearty welcome, and would speak it
In higher notes, but extreme joy doth break it.
He makes his guest most welcome, in whose eyes
Love-tears do sit, — not he that shouts and cries.
And we, the gods and guardians of this place,
I of this house — he of the fniitful chace —
Since the Hoghtons from this hill took name.
Who with the stiff unbridled Saxons came ;

94 Lancashire Pageants.

And so have flourished in this fairer clime

Successively from that to this our time,

Still offering up to our immortal powers

Sweet incense, wine, and odoriferous flowers,

While sacred Vesta, in her virgin tire.

With vows and wishes tends the hallowed fire.

Now seeing that thy majesty we see,

Greater than country gods, more good than we.

We render up to thy more powerful guard

This house. This knight is thine, he is thy ward ;

For by thy helping and auspicious hand

He and his home shall ever, ever stand.

And flourish in despite of envious Fate,

And then live, like Augustus, fortunate.

And long, long mayest thou live ! To which both men,

God, saints, and angels, say, "Amen, Amen ! "

The Second Tutelar God begins : —

Thou greatest of mortals ! [ffe is nonplussed.

The First God begins again : —
Dread Lord ! the splendour and the glorious ray
Of thy high majesty hath stricken dumb
His weaker godhead. If that himself he come
Unto thy service straight, he will commend
These foresters, and charge them to attend
Thy pleasure in this park, and show such sport
To the chief huntsman and thy princely court
As the small circuit of this round affords.
And be more ready than he was in 's words.

This is doubtless the same pageant thus recorded in
Nicholas Asshetoti s Journal : — "Then, about ten or
eleven o'clock, a naask of noblemen, knights, gentlemen,
and courtiers, afore the King, in the middle round, in the
garden. Some speeches; of the rest, dancing the
Huckler, Tom Bedlo, and the Coup Justice of Peace."
The Rev. Canon Raines, who edited the journal for the
Chetham Society, observes — " These ancient and fashion-
able Lancashire dances have passed away and are for-

Custom at Liverpool Fairs. 95

gotten. The origin of the second name is obviously "
(from the Tom o' Bedlams, released from that hospital,
and licensed to beg, wearing tin badges. There was
also a play or interlude of " Tom o' Bedlam, the Tinker").
The particular frolic here referred to seems to be de-
scribed in the following passage from the " History of
Preston," vol. ii. p. 358 : — " A grand masque took place,
and a rush-bearing was introduced, in which a man was
enclosed in a dendrological foliage of fronds, and was
the admiration of the company. This spectacle was
exhibited in that part of the garden called ' the middle
circular.' Speeches were made in dialogue wittily plea-
sant, and all kinds of frolics were carried on to the
highest pitch, by Robin Goodfellow, Will Huckler, Tom
Bedloe, Old Crambo, Jem Tosspot, Dolly Wango, and
the Cap Justice. These characters were played to the
life ; and the Justices Crooke, Houghton, and Doddridge,
who were present, declared to the King that ' the Cap
Justice was acted to the very life.' Sir John Finett,
knight, and master of the ceremonies to the King, per-
formed the part of Cap Justice." Crambo is named in
Ben Jonson's masque of the " Fortunate Isles." Recent
inquiry has thrown much doubt upon the strict accuracy
of this passage.

CUSTOM AT LIVERPOOL FAIRS.
The fair days are 25th July and nth November. Ten
days before and ten days after each fair day, a hand (or
perhaps a glove) is exhibited in front of the town-hall,
which denotes protection ; during which time no person
coming to or going from the town on business connected
with the fair can be arrested for debt within its liberty.
This custom is noticed in Goris Directory, but it has long
been discontinued, and no such exemption now exists.

g6 Lancashire Pageants.

LIVERPOOL MAY-DAY CELEBRATIONS.

The first of May has lost many of its attractions since
May-poles and May-queens passed out of fashion. Yet,
in most country places and small towns it has become
usual for each driver of a team to decorate his horses
with gaudy ribbons and other ornaments on that day. In
Liverpool and Birkenhead, where some thousands of men
are employed as carters, this May-Day dressing has grown
into a most imposing institution. Every driver of a
team in and around the docks appears to enter into
rivalry with his neighbours, and the consequence is that
most of the horses are gaily dressed and expensively
ornamented. The drivers put on new suits, covered with
white linen slops, and sport new whips in honour of the
occasion. Some of the embeUishments for the horses are
of a most costly character ; not a few are disposed in
admirable taste ; and in several instances they amount to
actual art exhibitions, since the carts are filled with the
articles in which their owners deal. Real and artificial
flowers are disposed in wreaths and other forms upon
different portions of the harness — brilUant velvet cloths,
worked in silver and gold, are thrown over the loins of
the horses ; and if their owners are of sufficient standing
to bear coats of arms, these are emblazoned upon the
cloths, surrounded with many curious and artistic devices.
Not only are the men interested in these displays, but
wives and daughters, mistresses and servants, vie with
each other as to who shall produce the most gorgeous
exhibition. A few years ago the Corporation of Liver-
pool exhibited no fewer than one hundred and sixty-six
horses in the procession, the first cart containing all the
implements used by the scavenging department most

Preston Guild Merchant. 97

artistically arranged. The railway companies, the brewers,
the spirit merchants, and all the principal dock-carriers,
&c., send their teams with samples of produce to swell
the procession. After parading the principal streets,
headed by bands of music and banners, the horses are
taken home to their respective stables, and public dinners
are given to the carters by the Corporation, the railway
companies, and other extensive firms. The Mayor and
other members of the Corporation attend these annual
feasts, and after the repasts are ended, the carters are
usually addressed by some popular speaker, and much
good advice is frequently given them from such quaint
old sayings as— "The grey mare is the better horse;"
" One man can lead a horse to the water, but ten cannot
make him drink;" "Never put the cart before the
horse," &c.

PRESTON GUILD MERCHANT— ITS CELEBRATION
EVERY TWENTY YEARS.

One of the most ancient pageant festivals in the kingdom
is held in the borough of Preston every twenty years,
under the designation of the "Preston Guild Merchant."
The guilds were of Anglo-Saxon origin, and Camden
describes the Gilda Mercatoria as a liberty or privilege
granted to merchants, whereby they were entitled to hold
certain pleas of land and other possessions within their
own precincts, and whereby neighbours enter into asso-
ciations, and become bound to each other to bring forth
him who commits any crime, or to make satisfaction to
the injured party. At present, the Guild at Preston
has for its object to receive and register the claims of
persons having any right to the freedom or the franchises

G

98 Lancashire Pageants.

of the borough, whether by ancestry, prescription, or
purchase, and to celebrate a periodical jubilee, rendered
distinguished by the rarity of its recurrence. The first
royal charter granted to Preston was in the reign of
Henry II. It is without date, but held to be about
II 79 or 1 1 80. By it that king confirmed to the
burgesses of Preston all the same liberties and free
customs which he had granted to Newcastle-under-Lyne,
the principal of which were a grant of Guild Merchant,
exemption from tolls, soc, sac, &c., throughout the king-
dom, &c. Dr Kuerden, in his MS. collections in the
Heralds' College (vol. iv. p. 23), has preserved a paper
entitled, " First Gild Merchant at Preston, second
Edward III." (1328). It consists of thirteen rules or
ordinances, the second of which ordains that " it shall
be lawful to the mayor, bailiffs, and burgesses, their
heirs and successors, to set a Guild Merchant at every
twenty years' end or erer (earlier), if they have need, to
confirm charters, or other distres that 'long to our fran-
chises." From an examination of the Preston Guild
roll in the time of Richard II., this festival appears to
have been held before the mayor, three stewards or
seneschals, nine aldermen, and a clerk of the Guild.
From that time till the grant of the governing charter,
the entries have been in the same form ; but since the
reign of Charles II., with one exception (in i Anne), all
the guilds have been holden before the mayor, the
three senior aldermen, who are called seneschals or
stewards, four other aldermen, called aldermen of the
Guild, and the clerk of the Guild. The officers 01
the guilds seem to have exercised at some of these
celebrations the whole power of legislating for the body
corporate and for the burgesses. The guilds form a
kind of court of session of corporate legislation, held

Preston Guild Merchant. 99

every twenty years, at which all the laws for the govern-
ment of the corporation are passed, and at which all the
privileges of the burgesses are first claimed. Including
that called by Kuerden the first guild, there have been
twenty-one guilds, and those of 1802 and 1822 were
presided over by the same individual, tire late Nicholas
Grimshaw, Esq., who was seven times mayor of Preston,
and is the only mayor who has twice, at an interval 01
twenty years, presided over this festival. These cere-
monials and the attendant festivities attract a very large
number of visitors of all classes. At that of 1822, from
fifty to sixty thousand persons were present. On the first
day, Monday, September 2, the companies or fraternities
assembled at eight a.m., under their respective banners,
and in their gayest attire. At 10.30 they were formed in
order by the grand-marshal, and the mayor and corpora-
tion moved throi^h their lines in procession to the
parish church, accompanied by a large assemblage ot
nobility and gentry, amongst whom were the Lord-
Lieutenant, and the High Sheriff of the county, the Earl
of Wilton, the Earl of Stamford and Warrington, Lords
Lindsay, Aylmer, Grey, &c. After divine service, the
grand procession commenced, and the companies, de-
corated with the insignia of their trades, and headed by
the bands of music, paraded the town in the following
order : — ist, Tanners, skinners, curriers, and glovers ;
2d, Cotton spinners and weavers, headed by their masters,
and accompanied by machines in motion, mounted on
stages, by which all the processes of the business were
performed, from the steam-engine to the loom j 3d,
cordwainers ; 4th, carpenters ; 5th, butchers ; 6th, vint-
ners ; 7th, tailors ; 8th, plasterers ; 9th, smiths ; loth,
gardeners; iith^ Oddfellows ; 12th, printers and book-
binders: 13th, FreemasoKS} the rear of the procession

lOO Lancashire Pageants.

being brought up by the corporation and the gentry.
But the great attraction of the Guild was the proces-
sion of the lady-mayoress on the following day, when
about 1 60 ladies, headed by the representative of the
lady-mayoress, supported by the mayor, and the mayor's
chaplain ; the Countess of Derby, supported by the
Earl ; the Countess of Wilton, by the Hon. Mr Stanley ;
Lady Lindsay, Lady Hoghton, the Misses Stanley, and
numerous other ladies of distinction, all decorated with
towering plumes, and dressed in the full costume of the
ball-room, passed in procession from the Guildhall along
the principal street to the parish church, where divine
service was performed, and afterwards round the market-
place to the Guildhall. These splendid processions were
only the forerunners of other entertainments. For a
whole fortnight the town remained full of company ;
banquets, plays, balls, and races, each in their turn
claimed the attention of the visitors. A fancy ball, at
which from six to seven hundred of the gentry of the city
were present, was given in the first week. The second
week was ushered in by an ascent of Mr Livingston in his
balloon, and a series of musical performances of the first
order, consisting of oratorios and concerts, while a charity
ball and a masquerade served to engage and delight the
company during the remainder of the festival. It is
erroneously supposed by some to be obligatory upon the
corporation to celebrate a guild every twenty years ; no
such obligation exists. The guilds have, indeed, for up-
wards of two centuries and a half, been held at regular
intervals, by virtue of a bye-law of the mayor, stewards,
and aldermen of the Guild, and passed in the reign of
Queen Elizabeth ; but this is quite a matter of choice and
arrangement ; and should the entertainments and pro-
cessions ever wholly cease, no privilege or franchise

The Pace-Egg Mummers. i oi

would be lost. The "ordinances" and " orders " may
be found in Barnes's Lancashire, and for the guilds of
1842 and 1862, see Bobsori s History of Preston Guild.

THE PACE-EGG MUMMERS.

Though from its title this piece of rustic pageantry and
mumming apparently belongs to Easter, it is evident
from the fourth, fifth, and sixth lines of the doggrel that
it was a piece written for and enacted at Christmas.
The writer has seen and heard it performed in the open
air, before country houses, at both seasons, and some
years ago a sort of dramatic entertainment of a similar
kind was performed at the annual Christmas festive
night of the Manchester Mechanics' Institute, in the old
Free Trade Hall, Peter Street. The dramatis personm
are usually the Fool, whose byplay, antics, and buffeting
of the spectators, especially women, with a bladder sus-
pended to a stick, serve to sustain the action of the
piece throughout ; St George, the champion of England ;
Slasher, a soldier with sword and buckler ; the Doctor,
a specimen of the old itinerant quack-salver ; the Prince
of Paradine, wherever that may be ; perhaps originally a
misprint for Palestine. He is " a black Morocco dog,"
and the son of the King of Egypt, who, on finding his
son slain, calls on Hector to slay St George. It is need-
less to say that the English champion defeats Hector,
as he had before vanquished Slasher and the Prince;
and here ends the heroic part of the piece. As is found
in many of these relics of mediaeval pageants, the play
ends with the appearance of two devils, Beelzebub and
Little Devil Doubt.

I02 Lancashire Pageants.

ACT I.

Enter Actors.

Fool. — Room, room, brave gallants ! give us room to
sport ;
For in this room we wish for to resort —
Resort, and to repeat to you our merry rhyme,
For remember, good sirs, this is Christmas-time.
The time to cut up goose-pies now doth appear,
So we are come to act our merry Christmas here.
At the sound of the trumpet, and beat of the drum:
Make room, brave gentlemen, and let our actors come.
We are the merry actors that traverse the street ;
We are the merry actors that fight for our meat ;
We are the merry actors that show pleasant play :
Step in, St George, thou champion, and clear the way.

Enter St George.

I am St George, who from old England sprung ;

My famous name throughout the world hath rung ;

Many bloody deeds and wonders have I made known

And made the tyrants tremble on their throne.

I followed a fair lady to a giant's gate.

Confined in dungeon deep, to meet her fate ;

Then I resolved, with true knight-errantry,

To burst the door, and set the prisoner free,

When a giant almost struck me dead,

But by my valour 1 cut off his head.

I 've searched the world all round and round,

But a man to equal me I never found.

Enter Slasher to St George.

Slasher. — I am a valiant soldier, and Slasher is my
name;

The Pace-Egg Mummers. 103

With sword and buckler by my side, I hope to win the

game ;
And for to fight with me I see thou art not able,
So with my trusty broad-sword I soon will thee disable.

St George. — Disable ! disable ! it lies not in thy power,
For with my glittering sword and spear I soon will thee

devour.
Stand off ! Slasher ! let no more be said.
For if I draw my sword I'm sure to break thy head.

Slasher. — How canst thou break ttiy head ?
Since it is made of iron.
And my body's made of steel.
My hands and feet of knuckle-bone,
I challenge thee to the field.
(They fight, and Slasher is wounded. — Exit St George^

Enter Fool to Slasher.

Pool. — Alas ! alas ! my chiefest son is slain ;
What must I do to raise him up again ?
Here he lies in the presence of you all ;
I '11 lovingly for a doctor call.

{Aloud) A doctor ! a doctor ! ten pounds for a doctor.
I '11 go and fetch a doctor {going).

Enter Doctor.

Doctor. — Here am I.

Fool — Are you the doctor ?

Doctor.— Ys.^ ; that you may plainly see
By my art and activity.

Pool. — Well, what's your fee to cure this man?

Doctor. — Ten pound's is my fee :
But, Jack, if thou be an honest man,
I '11 only take five off thee.

I04 Lancashire Pageants.

Fool. — You '11 be wondrous cunning if you get any
(aside).
Well, how far have you travelled in doctorship ?

Doctor. — From Italy, Titaly [Sicily], High Germany,
France, and Spain,
And now am returned to cure diseases in Old England
again.
Fool.- — So far, and no further ?
Doctor. — O yes ! a great deal further.
Fool. — How far ?
Doctor. — From the fireside cupboard up-stairs and

into bed.
Fool. — What diseases can you cure ?
Doctor. — All sorts.
Fool. — What 's all sorts ?

Doctor. — The itch, the pitch, the palsy, and the gout.
If a man gets nineteen devils in his skull, I'll cast twenty

of them out.
I have in my pockets crutches for lame ducks, spectacles
for blind humble-bees, packsaddles and panniers
for grasshoppers, and plaisters for broken-backed
mice. I cured Sir Harry of a nang-nail, almost
fifty yards long ; surely I can cure this poor man.
Here, Jack ; take a little out of my bottle,
And let it run down thy throttle ;
If thou be not quite slain,
Rise, Jack, and fight again. {Slasher rises.)
Slasher. — O my back !
Fool — ^What 's amiss with thy back ?
Slasher. — My back it is wounded.
And my heart is confounded.
To be struck out of seven senses into fourscore,
The like was never seen in old England before !

The Pace-Egg Mummers. 105

Enter St George.

hark ! St George, I hear the silver trumpet sound,
That summons us from off this bloody ground :
Down yonder is the way {pointing).

Farewell, St George ! we can no longer stay.

Exeunt Slasher, Doctor, and Fool.

ACT II.

St George. — I am St George, that noble champion

bold.
And with my trusty sword I won ten thousand pounds

in gold ;
'Twas I that fought the fiery dragon, and brought him to

the slaughter,
And by those means I won the King of Egypt's daughter.

Enter Prince of Faradine \_Palestine\.
Prince. — I am Black Prince of Paradine, born of high
renown.
Soon I will fetch St George's lofty courage down ;
Before St George shall be received by me,
St George shall die to all eternity.

St George. — Stand off, thou black Morocco dog,
Or by my sword thou 'It die,

1 '11 pierce thy body full of holes,
And make thy buttons fly.

Prince. — Draw out thy sword and slay.
Pull out thy purse and pay.
For I will have a recompense
Before I go away.

St George. — Now Prince Paradine, where have you
been,

io6 Lancashire Pageants.

And what fine sights pray have you seen?
Dost think that no naan of thy age
Dares such a black as thee engage ?
Lay down thy sword, take to me a spear,
And then I'll fight thee without dread or fear.

{They fight, and the Prince of Paradine is slain.)

St George. — Now Prince of Paradine is dead,
And all his joys entirely fled,
Take him and give him to the flies,
And never more come near my eyes.

Enter King of Egypt.

King. — I am\he King of Egypt, as plainly doth appear;
I 'm come to seek my son, my son and only heir,

St George. — He is slain !

King. — Who did him slay, who did him kill.
And on the ground his precious blood did spill?

St George. — I did him slay, I did him kill.
And on the ground his precious blood did spill.
Please you, my liege, my honour to maintain ;
Had you been there you might have fared the same.

King. — Cursed Christian ! what is this thou'st done?
Thou hast ruined me, and slain my only son.

St George. — He gave me a challenge : why should I
it deny?
How high he was, but see how low he lies !

King. — O Hector ! Hector ! help me with speed,
For in my life I never stood more need.

Enter Hector.
And stand not there with sword in hand.
But rise and fight ajt my command.

Hector. — Yes, yes, my liege, I will obey;
And by my sword I hope to win the day.

The Pace-Egg Mummers. 107

If that be he who doth stand there
That slew my master's son and heir,
If he be sprung from royal blood,
I'll make it run like Noah's flood.

St George. — Hold, Hector ! do not be so hot.
For here thou knowest not who thou 'st got ;
For I can tame thee of thy pride,
And lay thine anger too aside.
Inch thee arid cut thee as small as flies,
And send thee over sea to make mince-pies.
Mince-pies hot and mince-pies cold,
I'll send thee to Black Sam before thou'rt three days old!

Hector. — How canst thou tame me of my pride.
And lay mine anger too aside,
Inch me, and cut me as small as flies,
Send me over the sea to make mince-pies,
Mince-pies hot, mince-pies cold.
How canst thou send me to Black, Sam before I'm three

days old ?
Since my head is made of iron.
My body's made of steel.
My hands and feet of knuckle-bone,
I challenge thee to the field.

{They fight, and Hector is wounded.)

I am a valiant knight, and Hector is my name.

Many bloody battles have I fought, and always won the

same.
But from St George I received this bloody wound,

{A trumpet sounds^

Hark ! hark ! I hear the silver trumpet sound ;

Down yonder is the way {pointing).

Farewell, St George ! I can no longer stay. (Exit.)

io8 Lancashire Pageants.

Enter Fool to St George.

St George. — Here comes from post. Old Bold Ben.

Fool. — Why, master, did ever I take you to be my
friend ?

St George. — Why, Jack, did ever I do thee any harm ?

Fool — Thou proud saucy coxcomb, begone !

St George. — A coxcomb ! I defy that name !
With a sword thou ought to be stabbed for the same.

Fool — To be stabbed is the least I fear;
Appoint your time and place, I '11 meet you there.

St George.— 1 '11 cross the water at the hour of five,
And meet you there, sir, if I be alive. (Exit.)

Enter Beelzebub.

Here come I, Beelzebub,

And over my shoulders I carry my club,

And in my hand a dripping pan.

And I think myself a jolly old man ;

And if you don't believe what I say.

Enter in Devil Doubt, and clear the way.

Enter Devil Doubt.

Here come I, little Devil Doubt,
If you do not give me money I '11 sweep you all out.
Money I want, and money I crave ;
If you do not give me money, I '11 sweep you all to the
grave.

MAY-DAY— ROBIN HOOD AND MAID MARION.

In the sixteenth century, or perhaps earlier, Robin
Hood presided in the May-Day pageant as lord of the
May, and Maid Marlon was the lady of the May.
Their companions were distinguished as " Robin Hood's

Rush-bearings. 109

men," and were all dressed in " Lincoln green." In
Garrick's collection of old plays is one entitled, "A
New Play of Robin Hoo'd, for to be played in the May-
games : very pleasant and full of pastime." These May-
games seem to have been acted, before the Reformation,
within the walls of the old parish and Collegiate Church
of Manchester; for HoUinworth says that John Brad-
ford, the martyr, "preaching in Manchester in King
Edward [the VI.'s] days, told the people, as it were by
a prophetical spirit, that because they did not readily
embrace the Word of God, mass should be said again in
that church, and the play of Robin Hood acted there ;
which accordingly came to pass in Queen Mary's reign."

RUSH-BEARINGS.

The ancient custom of strewing church-floors with rushes,
which were renewed every year on the day of the dedi-
cation of the church, seems to have been practised in
times before the floors were flagged, to cover the soil or
mud of the floors, and to give warmth in winter, and a
sort of cleanliness in summer. In the parish register Oi
Kirkham are entries to this effect : — " 1604. Rushes
to strew the church cost this year 9s. 6d." " 1631.
Paid for carrying the rushes out of the church in the
sickness time, 5s." In Thomas Newton's " Herbal to
the Bible," 1587, it is stated that "with sedge and rushes
many in the country do use in summer-time to strew
their parlours and churches, as well for coolness as for
pleasant smell." Brand adds — "As our ancestors rarely
washed their floors, disguises of uncleanhness became
very necessary." It may be noted that disbursements for

no La7icashire Pageants.

rushes never appear ill the Kirkham register after 1634,
when the church was flagged for the first time. The
custom was, however, observed till of late years in Pen-
wortham Church. The festival of rush-bearing does not
always, however, coincide with the feast of the dedication.
At Altcar the church is dedicated to St Michael (Sept.
29), yet the rush-bearing is celebrated in July. Mr Roby
speaks of it as an unmeaning pageant still practised in
the northern and eastern parts of Lancashire, for the
purpose of levying contributions. The rush-cart, pre-
ceded by a large silk banner, and decorated with flowers,
ribbons, &c., is drawn round to the dwellings of the
principal inhabitants by morrice-dancers, who perform
an uncouth dance, one of the mummers being a man
in motley attire, a sort of compound of the ancient fool
and of Maid Marion ; who jingles a horse-collar hung
with bells, and makes jokes with the bystanders. The
rush-bearing is still kept up with much ceremony at
Ambleside.

WAKES AND RUSH-BEARINGS ON THE LANCASHIRE
AND YORKSHIRE BORDER.

The village festival which, in most counties of England,
takes place on the anniversary of the day when the
parish church was consecrated, or on the day of the saint
to whom it is dedicated, is kept here at a different time
and in a different manner than in any other county I
have lived in. At the approach of autumn, when rushes
are in full length, certain days are set apart for the
different towns and villages in the neighbourhood of
Saddleworth, when all work is stopped, and everybody
rejoices and makes merry. Some young men of the
parish load a hand-cart with rushes, sometimes ten to

Rusk-bearing in East Lancashire, 1 1 1

twelve feet high \ and with these carts, which are often
most gorgeously decorated with flags, ribbons, &c., some-
times with plate borrowed for the purpose from the
wealthier parishioners, and preceded by fife and drum,
they march in procession through the parish, stopping at
almost every house, and after three hearty cheers for the
inhabitants, ask either for a present of money or for
some refreshments. The money collected is divided
among those who loaded and decorated the rush-cart.
This custom of gathering rushes Is very old, and dates
its origin from times when such luxuries as carpeted
pews, with cushions and curtains, hot-water or gas
pipes, were not known in our country churches. In
those days, at the approach of winter, the young people
collected the rushes and took them to the parish church,
and covered the floor with them, to keep warm the feet
of the good Christians whom the cold winter's wind, and
the long, dreary walk over the snow-covered Yorkshire
moors, could not keep from attending matins or even-
song. A good old neighbour of mine, seventy-eight
years old, well remembers the time when six or eight
rush-carts met at Saddleworth Church, and with their
contents a warm (church) carpet was prepared for the
coming winter. — N. and Q., 2d sen xii. 229.

RUSH-BEARING IN EAST LANCASHIRE.

These used to have a real significance. The rushes
were cut, dried, and then carried in carts to the church-
yard. The rushes were then strewn along the aisles of
the church and in the bottoms of the pews in preparation
for winter. Carpets and cushions (locally termed " wis?i-
ons") were then unknown, except in the pews of the

1 1 2 Lancashire Pageants,

wealthy. Barrowford rush-bearing is always held on the
first Sunday after the 19th August. This festival is still
visited by vast numbers of persons from Burnley, Colne,
Padiham, and elsewhere. Cheap trips are run on the
East Lancashire line from Burnley and Colne to Nelson
Station. Riot and drunkenness reign supreme. Rusli-
bearing Sundays are also ' observed at other places, as
Holme, Worsthorn, Downham, &c.,but usually not in so
disreputable a manner. Most of the clergy take advan-
tage of these Sundays, and fix their " charity sermons "
for those days. They thus obtain contributions from
many distant friends, who pay special visits to their
relatives on these occasions. In Yorkshire these pastimes
take the name of " feasts."

HAMBLETQN FAIR.

Hambleton Hill is one of the most elevated points in
East Lancashire. It ranks third to Pendle and Bouls-
worth. On the first Sunday in May vast numbers of per-
sons are in the habit of climbing the hill ; and this annual
gathering has now taken the name of " the fair." The
neighbouring Sunday-schools are almost emptied on that
day, notwithstanding all the efforts of the superintendents
and ministers.

ROCHDALE RUSH-BEARING.

The annual ceremony 'of rush-bearing is celebrated in
Rochdale and in many other parishes in Lancashire.
This custom, partaking of the nature of a village-wake,
is of high antiquity, probably as remote as the age of
Pope Gregory IV. (a.d. 827), who, on the introduction of

Rochdale Rusk-bearing. 113

Christianity into this country, recommended to Melletus,
the coadjutor of St Augustine, that on the anniversary of
the dedication of the Christian churches wrested from the
pagans, the converts to Christianity should " build them-
selves huts of the boughs of trees about their churches,
and celebrate the solemnities with religious feastings."
On a fixed day in every year — in Rochdale on the 19th
August — a kind of obtuse pyramid of rushes, erected on
a cart, is highly ornamented in front, and surmounted
by a splendid garland. To the vehicle so laden, from
thirty to forty young men, wearing white jackets and
ornamented with ribbons and flowers, are harnessed in
pairs. A band of music is always in attendance, which
strikes up on the cart moving on, and thousands ol
spectators, attracted from a distance of ten or even
twenty miles around, hail with repeated cheers the
showy pageant. The procession then advances to the
town, and, on arriving in front of each of the inns, a
kind of morrice-dance is performed by the men in
harness, who jingle copper bells, and beat or rather
stamp tune with their wooden shoes — the clown, who is
dressed in female attire, all the while collecting money
to refresh the actors in the grotesque exhibition. From
the town,, the procession passes to the neighbouring
mansions, where the dance is again repeated, and where
the performers are presented by the ladies with garlands
and money. Till about the early part of the nineteenth
century the rush-bearing usually terminated at the church,
and the rushes were spread on the clay floor under the
benches used as seats by the congregation, to serve as a
winter carpet ; while the garlands were hung up in the
chancel and over the pews of the families by whom they
had been presented, where they remained till their
beauty had faded. But within the last half century

H

114 Lancashire Pageants.

the church is frequently the last place thought of in this
festival, which has degenerated into mere rustic satur-
nalia. Formerly not fewer than a dozen of these pro-
cessions from different parts of the parish entered Roch-
dale on the annual celebration ; but they have now (1832)
dwindled down to three or four, and are gradually dying
away. This is in accordance with what Baines says in his
" Lancashire," but a correspondent of Hone's "Year Book,"
signing "J. L." and dating from Rochdale, May 31, 1825,
gives the following account of the custom of rush-bearing
in that neighbourhood, illustrated by a woodcut (col. x.
1 103). A few years ago, I was told by an old man now
deceased, that he remembered the rushes to have been
borne on the shoulders of the country people in bundles,
some very plain and others ornamented with ribbons,
garlands, &c., to the churchyard in Rochdale ; that they
were there dried previous to being put into the church,
and that these rush-bearers received a small compensa-
tion from ithe churchwardens. This was before churches
were floored with wood. The rushes were strewed for
the purpose of rendering the congregation more comfort-
able, and saving •their feet from being chilled by the
stone pavements, and, in some instances, the clay floors.
In many churches rushes are used in the same manner
in the present day ; but the old, homely method of rush-
bearing on the shoulders has given place to the more
luxurious and gorgeous display of the rush-cart and
banner. The rushes are laid transversely on the rush-
cart, and are cut by sharp knives to the form desired, in
which no little art is required. The bolts, as they are
termed, are formed of the largest rushes tied up in
bundles of about two inches in diameter. These bolts,
as the work of making proceeds, are afiixed to rods
fixed in the four corners of the cart, and carved to the

Rochdale Rush-bearing. 115

form required. When the cart is finished, the load of
rushes is decorated with carnations and other flowers, in
different devices, and surmounted by branches of oak,
and a person rides upon the top. The carts are some-
times drawn by horses gaily caparisoned, but more
frequently by young men, to the number of twenty or
thirty couples, profusely adorned with ribbons, tinsel,
&c. They were generally preceded by men with horse-
bells about them, grotesquely jumping from side to side,
and jingling the bells. After these is a band of music,
and sometimes a set of morris-dancers (but without the
ancient appendage of bells) followed by young women
bearing garlands ; then comes the banner, made of silk
of various colours, joined by narrow ribbon fretted,
the whole profusely covered on both sides with roses,
stars, &c., of tinsel (which in this part is called horse-
gold), and which being viewed when the sun shines upon
it, dazzles the eye. The banners are generally from
four to five yards broad and six to eight yards long,
having on either side in the centre a painting of Britannia,
the king's arms, or some other device. The whole pro-
cession is flanked by men with long cart-whips, which
they keep continually cracking to make a clear path
On the front of some carts is a white cloth, to which is
attached a number of silver spoons, tankards, cups, and
watches, tastefully displayed. Great rivalry exists be-
tween the young men of the neighbouring villages which
should produce the best-formed cart and banner, and it
not unfrequently happens that when two of them meet
in the street, a scuffle takes place and many bloody
noses are the result. Six or seven rush-carts are fre-
quently in the town of Rochdale on the third Monday
in August, which is the day for strewing them. A col-
lection is made by each party from the gentry and other

1 1 6 L ancashire Pageants.

inhabitants, which enables the rush-bearers to sacrifice
very freely at the shrine of Sir John Barleycorn. The
displays are very gay, and afford much gratification to a
stranger who never before witnessed a rush-bearing.
The practice is 'general in the months of July, August,
and September, Those held round this place are at
Ashworth, Littleborough, Milnrow, Shaw, Oldham,
Royton, Middleton, Heywood, and Whitworth ; the
customs at each place being much alike. The person
who has the forming of a rush-cart is called a featherer,
and it was one of these men who unfortunately lost his
life at the riots in this town on Easter Monday in April
1794 or 1795. He resided at Mereland, and for a num-
ber of years afterwards, in commemoration of his death,
the young men who drew the rush-cart from Mereland
wore a black scarf, but it is now discontinued. The
author of "Scarsdale" has given a graphic account of rush-
bearings as they were celebrated fifty years ago. He says :
— On the bowling-green behind the house a booth had
been built with ribs of timber covered with canvas, and
a floor of rough boards to protect the smooth sward.
Here, to the accompaniment of a couple of fiddles,
flageolets and a fife, about fifty couple were in the full
excitement of a country-dance, while many country lads
and lasses were looking on. Through the garden behind
the green wandered other groups. In front of the inn
stood the rush-cart, which to our southern readers may
require a more detailed description. One of the larger
carts used in Lancashire either to carry manufactured
goods or to bring harvest from the field had been
heaped with rushes to the height of about twenty-four
feet from the ground. The rushes were skilfully arranged
into a perfectly smooth conical stack, rising to a sharp
ridge at the top. From this centre four hedges, formed

Rochdale Rtish-bearing. 117

of rushes woven into a neat pattern, and each hedge
about two feet high, descended to the four corners of
the cart. On the summit was a bower in the form of a
crown, made of holly, laurel, and other evergreens, round
which were twined garlands. An immense wreath of
large flowers encircled the base of the arbour, and a
smaller one decorated its top. On each of the smooth
sides of the cone, between the boundary of rush-hedges,
were inscriptions in brilliantly coloured flowers, such as
"Colliers and Weavers," "Fear God," "Honour the
King," &c. Spangled flags of various bright hues hung
from the sides of the crowning bower. A large silver
salver from the Hall, with some silver tankards, hung on
the front. About thirty young men, with white shirts
down to the waist, profusely adorned with gay ribbons,
and with wreaths of flowers on their heads, were yoked
in couples between two strong new ropes. Each couple
held a stave fastened on either side into a knot in the
rope, and they were engaged in practising some dances,
with which their entry into the principal streets of Roch-
dale was to be celebrated. A strong horse was in the
shafts, and behind was a band of other gaily-dressed
young men, similarly yoked between ropes, to hold the
cart while descending any steep hill. A bugle sounded
to summon the dancers from the booth, the revellers
from the club-room, and the wandering groups and
whispering lovers from the garden. Some miles of road
had to be traversed, and all the rush-carts from the
neighbouring villages were to meet in Rochdale at noon.
There issued from behind the house the whole united
band, with a big drum, two bugles, two trumpets, seve-
ral other brass instruments, with fifes, flageolets, &c.
They were the heralds of an immense banner, held in
the air by four men, two on each side, who grasped long

1 1 8 L ancashire Pageants.

slender poles supporting a transverse piece, from which
swung this mighty achievement of the art of Scarsdale.
In the centre were the Scarsdale arms, which had never
been so fiercely emblazoned before ; on the top was a
view of Scarsdale Hall, painted on paper mounted on
cloth. There were masonic devices, emblematic monsters,
wonderfully shaped spangles, roses, wreaths, and other
caprices of the imagination of the Scarsdale artists. The
result was one of barbaric splendour of colour and tinsel.
This marvellous pomp was heralded by a deafening
clamour of the band, which did its worst against rival
sounds, even almost drowning the frantic shouts with
which the phenomenon of the banner was greeted. Seth
Diggle had been promoted to the post of honour on the
top of the cart, where he held a banner on which the
Scarsdale arms were emblazoned on the Union Jack.
Before the cart started for Rochdale, however, a country-
dance was formed on each side of the road, it being the
privilege of the young men yoked in the cart to choose
their partners from the prettiest country girls — nothing
loath for such a distinction. The band struck up loudly,
the banners stood grandly at one end of the two sets of
thirty couples, and at the other the cart, with Seth in the
bower at its crown. Half-an-hour was devoted to this
dance, when the bugle again sounded, the dance at once
ceased, the young men kissed their partners and took
their places, and, amidst the shouts of the crowd, and the
wildest efibrts of the band, the Scarsdale rush-cart started
for Rochdale. About the same time a similar fete was
in progress at Hurstwood, at Martinmere, at Eastleton,
at Milnrow, at Smallbridge, at Whitworth, at Spotland,
and other villages ; for it was the glory of Rochdale to
assemble at its rush-bearing, forty years ago, at least
eight, and sometimes a dozen, rush-carts from the neigh-

Rochdale Rush-bearing. 119

bouring villages. Meanwhile, the gala of the rush-bear-
ing was in the delirium of its frenzy, the rush-carts hav-
ing assembled in the street opposite the Butts, each with
its band in front, the order of procession extending over
the bridge across the Roche, and a considerable distance
up Yorkshire Street. Every band played with stentorian
energy, " Rule Britannia ; " the young men drawing every
cart vied with each other in the vigour and picturesque
character of their dances; the flags in every bower
on the top of the rush-carts were waved triumphantly ;
the spangled and decorated banners carried before each
band glittered in the bright noon ; from every window
hung flags or coloured dr9,peries, handkerchiefs were
waved, and loud huzzas broke to swell the exulting
torrent of acclamation. The main thoroughfares were
crowded by a multitude of folk in their gayest dresses ;
in side-streets were stalls with Eccles cakes, Everton
toflfy, and Ormskirk gingerbread ; and booths with shows
of every kind frequenting a country fair. Conjurors
stood on their stages, watching for the passage of the
procession to attract a crowd of gazers by their wonder-
ful tricks. Mountebanks and clowns were ready to
perform, when the streets were clear from the grand
pageant of the day. There was a bear on the Butts^
growling defiance at the dogs by which it was to be
baited, and climbing at intervals to the top of the
high stake to which he was chained. Then a pilot
balloon of gay colours floated gracefully from a garden
of the " Orchard," near the river, and the roar of guns
boomed on the ear at short intervals as the pretty
phantom rose in the still air to a great height, and then
floated away in the tide of an upper current. When the
twenty-first gun had been fired, the procession commenced
its progress through the town, amidst the wildest shouts

1 20 Lancashire Pageants.

, — ■ — — - — ■ ^irf

and gestures from the crowd. Yorkshire Street, especi-
ally at its steepest and most tortuous part, in the heart
of the town, consisted five-and-thirty years ago either of
quaint stone houses with muUioned windows, gothic doors,
and peaked gables, or of white-and -black timber-houses
projecting over first a low-browed shop, then with an
overhanging story, containing often a wooden oriel,
and higher a gabled story, whose bolder projection in-
vaded the upper area of the street. Smithy Door, and
Old Millgate, and other streets in the neighbourhood of
the Collegiate Church of Manchester, half a century
ago, consisted mainly of such structures, which have now
to a great extent disappeared. Chester still abounds
with them in a picturesque form. In this narrow and tor-
tuous lane of ancient houses, the procession of rush-carts
almost brushed the projecting gables. The men on the
crown of each cart were covered with flowers flung by
fair hands from the highest windows, just too far off to
be reached by a friendly grasp. Overhead, webs of col-
oured flannel and calico stretched across from the peaks
of opposite roofs, but little above the flagstaff of each
crown. There was barely room for the great banners to
pass. Every window was decorated and crowded. The
bray of the bands resounded in the narrow steep street.
There was a confusion of gay colours, an agitation of
bright forms, a tumult of rude joy, the transient frenzy
of a carnival, as each long train of white-shirted ribbon-
covered men dragged its cart up the hill, pausing and
dancing at intervals amidst the exultation of the crowd.

Whalley Rush-bearing. 1 2 1

WARTON RUSH-BEARING.

The inhabitants of the village of Warton, by Morecambe
Bay, and their visitors, repair, on the Sunday nearest
the sth of August (St Oswald's Day), to the services
of the church, and make good cheer within the rules
of sobriety in their houses. The next day is spent
in several kinds of diversions, the chief of which is
usually a rush-bearing, in this manner : — They cut hard
rushes from the marsh, and having made them up in
bundles, they dress them in fine linen, silk, ribbons,
flowers, &c. The young women then take these gay
effigies in their arms and walk in procession, with music,
drums, ringing of bells, and other demonstrations of
joy, to the church, where they deposit the rushes over
the cancelli. This ceremony performed, they return
to the village, where scenes of festivity ensue, and the
remainder of the day, and sometimes part of the night, is
spent in dancing in the open air round the May-pole
(adorned with evergreens and flowers), if the weather be
fine; if not, in the houses. This is mentioned in Lucas's
"History;" but the custom has fallen into disuse, as being
no longer necessary.

WHALLEY RUSH-BEARING.

Dr Whitaker, in his history of the parish, says this was
a high festival at Whalley. In the old churchwardens'
accounts there are annual charges for dressing and
cleaning the church, churchyard, &c., for this occasion.
It is curious, however, to observe that even in 1617
the old festivals were beginning to decline. The

12 2 L ancashire Pageants.

" Journal " says " much less solemnity than formerly."
Canon Raines adds : — It was specially provided in
the " Book of Sports " that women should have leave
to carry rushes to the church for the decoration of
the same according to their ancient custom. The
old churchwardens' accounts have entirely perished
from carelessness; but in those after 1700 laudable
attention appears to have been paid to the cleansing of
the church, and there are regular entries every year as fol-
lows : — " Paid for dressing the church against St James's
Day, five shillings." The rushes were brought on the
rush-cart by the north gate into the church free of ex-
pense. Garlands were suspended in the church and on
the top of the steeple. It is about seventy years since
the floor of Whalley Church was strewed with rushes; and
after the occasion for its use ceased, the rush-cart door
disappeared, though the festival itself was kept up, and
the morris-dancers played their parts in it for more than
seventy years afterwards. For fifty years, on the 5th
August, the village was crowded like a fair, booths were
erected, and horse-races and other rustic sports attracted
numbers of people from the surrounding country. But
the festival gradually decHned, and within the last two
years [before 1848] St James's Day, the rush-cart, and the
festival, have altogether ceased in Whalley. St James's
Day, old style, would be on the 6th August, and the
rush-bearing day, the sth August, would therefore be the
Eve of St James'.

Wakes. 123

WAKES.

" So blithe and bonny now the lads and lasses are.
That ever as anon the bagpipe up doth blow,
Cast in a gallant round about the hearth they go,
And at each pause they kiss. Was never seen such rule
In any place but here at bonfire or at Yule ;
And every village smokes at wakes with lusty cheer.
Then " Hey " (tliey cry) "for Lun and Lancasheere,"
That one high hill was heard to tell it to his brother.
That instantly agreed to tell it to some other."

— Drayton.

It is necessary to distinguish between two ancient anni-
versaries. Every church at its consecration received the
name of some patron saint, whose feast-day or festival
became of course the festival of that church, which the
people naturally celebrated with peculiar festivity. The
day on which the edifice was actually dedicated was also
kept as the established feast of the parish. These two
feasts were clearly distinguished among the Saxons, and
in the laws of Edward the Confessor the Dies dedica-
tionis is discriminated from the Propria festiviiatis sancti,
that is, the dedication day was distinguished from the
saint's festival. These feasts remained' till the Reforma-
tion] when, in 1536, the dedication day was ordered to
be kept, and the festival of the saint to be celebrated
no longer. Anciently the dedication day could not have
been observed with the same regularity as that of the
patron saint, which was denominated " the church's holi-
day," and still remains in many parishes to the present
time ; while the dedication day is forgotten in most if not
in all. The eve being of old considered a part of the day
(Sunday commencing on Saturday at sunset), the services
of the church commenced on the evening before the

1 24 Lancashire Pageants.

saint's day, and were called vigils or eves, and, from the late
hour, wcBccan or wakes. In a remarkable letter of Pope
Gregory, written about the year 601, to the Abbot Mel-
letus, he says — " When, therefore, Almighty God shall
bring you to the most reverend man our brother bishop,
St Augustine, tell him what I have, upon mature delibera-
tion on the affair of the English, thought of; namely,
that the temples of the idols in that nation ought not to
be destroyed. Let holy water be made, and sprinkled
in the said temples ; let altars be erected, and let relics
be deposited in them. For since those temples are
built, it is requisite that they be converted from the wor-
ship of the devils to the service of the true God ; that
the nation, not seeing those temples destroyed, may re-
move error from their hearts, and knowing and adoring
the true God, may the more familiarly resort to the same
places to which they have been s.ccustomed. And be-
cause they are wont to sacrifice manyoxen in honour of the
devils, let them celebrate a religious and solemn festival,
not slaughtering the beasts for devils, but to be consumed
by themselves, to the praise of God. Some solemnity
must be exchanged for them, as that on the day of the
dedication or the suffering days \naialitia] of holy martyrs
whose relics are there deposited, they may build them-
selves booths of the boughs of the trees about those
churches which have been turned to that use from temples,
and celebrate the solemnity with religious feasting, and
no more offer beasts to the devil." In comphance with
these injunctions, in every parish, on the returning anni-
versary of the saint, little pavilions or booths were con-
structed of boughs, and the peopled indulged in them in
hospitality and mirth. The feasts of the saint's day,
however, were soon abused ; and even in the body of the
church, when the people were assembled for devotion,

1 Didshtry Wakes. 125

they began to mind diversions and to introduce drinking.
The growing intemperance gradually stained the service
of the vigil, and so scandalised the Puritans of the seven-
teenth century, that numbers of the wakes were disused
entirely, especially in the east and some of the western
parts of England; but they are commonly observed in the
North, and in some of the midland counties. The wakes
gradually led to the establishment of the commercial or
trade marts which are called /aOT. The people resorted
in crowds to the festival, and a considerable provision was
needed for their entertainment. This induced the little
country hucksters and traders to come and offer their
wares ; and thus arising many temporary erections for
hospitality in the neighbourhood of the church, various
booths were set up for the sale of different commodities.
In larger towns, surrounded by populous districts, the
resort of people to the wakes would be great, and the
attendance of traders numerous ; and this resort and
attendance constitute a fair. The festival being a feria
or holiday, it took itself, and connected to the mart, the
appellation oi feria or fair. These fairs were generally
held in churchyards, and even in the churches, and also
on Sundays, till the indecency and scandal were so great
as to need reformation. — For this and additional inform-
ation see Whitaker's Manchester, vol. ii. 440-448.

DIDSBURY WAKES.

The Stockport Advertiser of August 5, 1825, contains the
following paragraph : — " Didsbury wakes will be cele^
brated on the 8th, 9th, and loth of August. A long bill
of fare of the diversions to be enjoyed at this most
delightful village has been published. The enjoyments

125 Lancashii'e Pageants.

consist chiefly of ass-races, for purses of gold ; prison^
bar playing, and grinning through collars, for ale ; bag-
racing, for hats ; foot-racing, for sums of money ; maiden
plates, for ladies under twenty years of age, for gown-
pieces, shawls, Sz:c. ; treacled-loaf-eating, for various re-
wards ; smoking-matches ; apple-dumpling-eating ; wheel-
barrow-racing, the best heats ; bell-racing, and balls each
evening. ' Que nunc prescribere longum est.' The
humours of Didsbury festival are always well regulated ;
the display of youths of both sexes, vieing with each
other in dress and fashion, as well as cheerful and bloom-
ing faces, is not exceeded by any similar event ; and the
gaieties of each day are succeeded by the evening parties
fantastically tripping through the innocent relaxation of
country-dances, reels, &c., to as favourite tunes, at the
' Cock ' and ' Ring o' Bells ' inns."

ECCLES "WAKES AND ECCLES CAKES.

An annual festival is held at Eccles, of great rustic cele-
brity and of high antiquity, as old probably as the first
erection of the church, called " Eccles Wakes," celebrated
on the first Sunday in September ; and there is a wake
at Swinton on the first Sunday after the 23d July, and
another at Woodgate on Saturday in Whitsuntide. The
Eccles wake commences on the Sunday, it is continued
during the three succeeding days, and consists (amongst
many other things) of feasting upon a kind of local
confectionary called " Eccles cakes " and ale, with
various ancient and modern sports. All the authorities
agree in assigning the first institution of wakes to the
annual assembly of the people to watch and pray on the

Eccles Wakes and Eccles Cakes. 127

festival of the saint to whom their church was dedicated,
and this was doubtless originally the case in Eccles ; the
festival of St Mary the Virgin being on the 22d August,
and the wake on the first Sunday after the 25 th August,
it has been asserted that the correspondence is tolerably
well preserved. There is some error here ; no festival
of St Mary the Virgin falling on the 22d August. The
Assumption (or death) was on August 15, and the 22d
would be the octave of the Assumption. But the first
Sunday after the 25 th of August would be nearer to the
feast of the Nativity of the Virgin (September 8) than to
the Assumption. A Roman Catholic custom of making
a kind of oatcakes, called "soul-mass cakes," on All
Souls' Day (November 2), and giving them on that day
amongst the poor, no longer exists in Eccles ; and the
couplet which the people were expected to repeat in
return for this benevolence is almost forgotten —

" God save your saul.
Bairns and all."

The following is a copy of a bill which sets forth a
programme of the sports of Eccles Wake : —

"Eccles Wake. — On Monday morning, at eleven
o'clock, the sports will commence with that most ancient,
loyal, rational, constitutional, and lawful diversion,

BULL-BAITING,

in all its primitive excellence ; for which this place has
long been noted. At one o'clock there will be a foot-
race ; at two o'clock a bull-baiting for a horse-collar ;
at four, donkey-races for a pair of panniers ; at five, a
race for a stuff-hat; the day's sport to conclude with
baiting the bull ' Fury,' for a superior dog-chain.

128 L ancaskire Pageants.

"On Tuesday, the sports will be repeated; also on
Wednesday, with the additional attraction of a smock-
race by ladies. A main of cocks to be fought on
Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, for twenty guineas,
and five guineas the byes, between the gentlemen of
Manchester and Eccles. The wake to conclude with a
fiddling-match by all the fiddlers that attend, for a piece
of silver." Wakes are probably as ancient as the intro-
duction of Christianity into this county, and were at
first purely religious festivals. But in course of time, as
the festivities were prolonged into night, the Legend of
St John the Baptist says that the attendants " fell to
lecherie and songes, dances, harping, piping, and also to
glotony and sinne, and so turned holynesse to cursyd-
nesse." In the reign of Elizabeth, wakes were in part
suppressed, but were again allowed by James I. in his
" Book of Sports." Since then they have been carried
en under varied programmes ; but even now —

" Tarts and custards, creams and cakes,
Are the junkets still at wakes ;
Unto which the tribes resort,
Where the business is the sport."

PART III.

SPORTS AND GAMES.

SPORTS AND GAMES.

INTRODUCTION.

Many of the old open-air sports and games of Lan-
cashire are now altogether lost, the names alone surviv-
ing. A few particulars as to the ancient customs in
games and sports, as well as to those which still survive,
shorn of their ancient garb, may interest the reader.

132 Lancashire sports.

ANCIENT CUSTOMS IN GAMES USED BY BOYS
AND GIRLS.

MERRILY SET OUT IN VERSE.

" Any they dare challenge for to throw the sledge,
To jump or leap over ditch or hedge ;
To wrestle, play at stool-ball, or to run.
To pitch the bar, or to shoot off a gun ;
To play at loggats, nine holes, or ten pins.
To try it out at football, by the shins ;
At tick-tacke, seize noddy, maw and ruff ;
At hot-cocklesj leap-frog, or blindman's buff ;
To drink the halper-pots, or deal at the whole can ;
To play at chess, or pue, and inkhorn ;
To dance the morris, play at barley-brake ;
At all exploits a man can think or speak :
At shove-groat, venter-point, or crop and pile ;
At ' beshrew him that 's last at any stile ; '
At leaping over a Christmas bonfire.
Or at the drawing dame out of the mire ;
At shoot-cock, Gregory, stool-ball, and what-not ;
Pick-point, top and scourge, to make him hot."

These lines have been erroneously attributed by
Baines, in his " History of Lancashire " (ii. 579), to the
second Randle Holme, who merely quoted them as
descriptive of Lancashire games and sports in the six-
teenth and seventeenth centuries. They are from
Samuel Rowland's " Letting of Humour's Blood in the
Head-Vaine" (1600). Some of these names of games,
and indeed the games themselves, having become ob-
solete, a few brief explanations may be necessary for the
general reader : — Stool-ball is a pastime still practised in
the North of England. It consists in simply setting a
stool on the ground, and one of the players takes his
place before it, while his antagonist, standing at a dis-
tance, tosses a ball with the intention of striking the

Ancient Customs in Games. 133

stool ; and this it is the business of the former to pre-
vent, by beating it away with the hand, reckoning one
to the game for every stroke of the ball ; if, however, the
ball should be missed by the hand, and touch the stool,
the players change places; asthey also do if the person
who threw the ball can catch and hold it when driven
back before it reaches the ground. The conqueror is
he who strikes the ball most times before it touches the
stool. Elsewhere, it is played with a number of stools
' and as many players. This seems to have been a game
for women more than men, but occasionally it was
played by young persons of both sexes indiscriminately,
as the following lines show, from Tom D'Urfey's play of
"Don Quixote" (1694) :—

' ' Down in a vale, on a summer's day,

All the lads and lasses met to be merry ;'
A match for kisses at stool-ball to play,

And for cakes and ale, and cider and perry.

Chorus — Come all, great, small, short, taD, —
Away to stool-ball."

Pitching or casting the bar was, in Tudor times, a
favourite gymnastic exercise. A poet of the sixteenth

century thinks it highly commendable for kings and
princes, by way of exercise, to throw " the stone, the bar,
or the plummet." Henry VIII. retained " the casting of
the bar " among his favourite amusements. The sledge
hammer was also used for the same purpose. Loggats
(says Sir Thomas Hanmer) is the ancient name of a
play or game, one of those made "unlawful" by the
33d Henry VIII. It is now called kittle-pins {i-e.,
skittles), in which the boys often make use of bones
instead of wooden pins, throwing at them with another
bone, • instead of bowling. Hamlet asks, "Did these
bones cost no more the breeding, but to play at loggats

134 Lancashire Sports.

with them ?" Nine-holes was a boyish game played at
the beginning of the seventeenth century. Nine holes
are made in a square board, in three rows, three holes in
each row, at equal distances, twelve to fourteen inches
apart. The holes are numbered one to nine, so placed
as to form fifteen as the total of each row. The board
is fixed horizontally on the ground, and surrounded on
three sides with a gentle acclivity. Every player being
furnished with a certain number of small metal balls,
stands in his turn by a mark on the ground, about five
or six feet from the board ; at which he bowls the balls.
According to the value of the figures belonging to the
holes into which the balls roll, his game is reckoned ;
and he who obtains the highest number is the winner.
Another game, having the same name, was more re-
cently played by schoolboys. A board was set upright
resembling a bridge, with nine small arches, numbered
one to nine ; at this the boys bowled marbles. If the
marble struck against the side or piers of the arches,
it became the property of the boy owning the board ; if
it went through any arch, the bowler claimed a number
of marbles equal to the number upon the arch it passed
through. Ten-pins was in reality nine-pins. Moor, in
his " Suffolk Words," says, " We have, like others, nine-
pins, which we rather unaccountably call ten-pins, or
rather tempins, although I never saw more than nine
used in the game." Probably the game was once played
with ten pins, as an evasion of the statute which made
nine pins an unlawful game. The most ancient form of
nine-pins was " cayles " or " kayles " (from the French
quilles), which was played with pins, but all ranged in one
row, and thrown at with a stick. These kayle-pins were
afterwards called kettle or kittle-pins, and hence, by an
easy corruption, skittle-pins. The game of skittles, how-

Ancient Customs in Games. 135

ever, differs materially from nine-pins, though requiring
the same number of pins. At nine-pins, the player
stands at a distance settled by mutual consent of the
parties, and casts the bowl at the pins ; the point is to
beat them all down in the fewest throws. Skittles is
played by bowling and tipping ; the first at a given
distance, the second standing close to the frame upon
which the pins are placed, and throwing the bowl
through in the midst of them. In both cases the num-
ber of pins beaten down before the return of the bowl
(for it usually passes beyond the frame) are called fair,
and reckoned to the account of the player ; but those
that fall by the coming back of the bowl are said to be
foul, and of course not counted. One chalk or score is
reckoned for every fair pin ; and the game of skittles
consists in obtaining thirty-one chalks precisely. Less
loses, or at least gives the antagonist a chance of win-
ning the game ; and more requires the player to go again
for nine, which must also be brought exactly to secure
himself. Football needs no explanation. Tick-tack was
a kind of backgammon, played both with men and
pegs, and more complicated than the ordinary back-
gammon, or, as the French call it, tric-trac, whence our
name of tick-tack. It is frequently referred to by
English writers of the seventeenth century. Seize noddy,
maw and ruff, were all games of cards. Sir John Har-
•rington, after describing primero, perhaps the most
ancient game of cards played in England, enumerates
in rhyme the card games that succeeded it : —
" Then thirdly followed heaving of the maw,
A game without civility or law,
An odious play, and yet in court oft seen,
A saucy knave to trump both king and queen.
Then followed lodum, . .
Now noddy followed next."

136 Lancashire sports.

In Thomas Heywood's play of " A Woman Killed with
Kindness" (third edition, 1617), the game Qi ruff vs,
mentioned, and is proposed to be played with honours.
Double ruff, and English ruff, with honours, are men-
tioned in "The Complete Gamester" (1674), as distin-
guished from French ruff. Noddy is supposed to have
been very similar to, if not the origin of, the game of
cribbage ; and noddy-fifteen is given in Carr's " Craven
Glossary." Any number can play — the cards are all
dealt out — the elder hand plays one (of which he hath
a pair or a pryal, if a good player) — saying or singing,
" There 's a good card for thee," passing it to his right-
hand neighbour. The person next in succession who
holds its pair covers it, saying, " There 's a still better
than he," and passes both onward. The person holding
the third of the sort (ace, six, queen, or what-not) puts
it on, with " There 's the best of all three." The holder
of the fourth crowns all with the emphatic, " And there
is niddy-noddee." He wins the tack, turns it down,
and begins again. He who is first out receives from his
adversaries a fish, or a bean, as the case may be, for
each unplayed card. If j«2^ have any particular signi-
fication, it may be the French sixteen, and in that case,
\i fifteen-noddy were made unlawful, they might play it
with an additional point, just as ten pins may have been
substituted for nine pins. Maw was played with a piquet
pack of thirty-six cards, and any number of persons
from two to six formed the party of players. At ruff,
the greatest sort of the suit carried away the game ; ruff
became a term for a court-card, and to n^^f meant to
trump at cards. Hot cockles (said to be a corruption of
the French hautes coquilles, but the French name for
this game is Main-chaude, literally warm-hand) is a play
in which one kneels, and, covering his eyes, lays his head

Ancient Customs in Games. 137

in another's lap, and guesses who struck him. Gay de-
scribes this pastime in the following lines : —

"As at hot cockles once I laid me down,
And felt the weighty hand of many a clown,
Buxoma gave a gentle tap, and I
Quick rose, and read soft mischief in her eye."

Leap-frog and blind-man's buff are still favourite games.
The line "To drink the halper pots, or deal at the
whole can," is evidently an allusion to some competition
in drinking, either in half or whole measures. Perhaps
halper should be halfer. The' pot of ale was once a
measure; the pottle was two quarts; and the drinking
off at once this measure of liquor was termed a " pottle
draught." Chess is never likely to be obsolete. Pue is
probably a misprint for put, a game at cards, still
lingering in some districts. It was in vogue in the
seventeenth century. Inkhorn is not known as a game.
Inkhom terms were fine words, savouring of the ink-
horn. The morris-dance was a very ancient dance, in
which the performers were dressed in grotesque cos-
tume, with bells, &c. It was sometimes performed
by itself, but was much more frequently danced in pro-
cessions and pageants, especially in those of the May-
games. In the sixteenth century, it was frequently in-
troduced on the stage. The bells on the dancers' dresses
were to be sounded as they danced. They were of un-
equal sizes, and named the fore-bell, the second bell, the
treble, the tenor or great bell ; and mention is also made
of double bells. In 156 1, two dozen of morris-bells were
valued at one shilling. There was no particular number
of morris-dancers, usually five or more, besides two musi-
cians (pipe and tabor), and the performer of the hobby-
horse. The morris-dance is sometimes yet to be seen in
Lancashire in connection with the rush-carts, the May-

138 Lancashire Sports.

games, and the mummings about Christmas. Barley-
brake was an ancient rural game, described by Gifford as
played by six persons, three of each sex, who were
coupled by lot. A piece of ground was then chosen,
and divided into three compartments, of which the
middle one was called hell. The couple condemned to
this division tried to catch the others, who advanced
from the two extremities ; if they succeeded, hell was
filled by the couple excluded by pre-occupation from the
other places. In this "catching," however, there was
some difficulty, as the middle couple, hand in hand,
were not to separate before they had succeeded, whilst
the others must break hands whenever they find
themselves hard pressed. When all had been taken in
turn, the last couple were said to be in hell, and the game
ended. There is a description of the game in a little
tract called " Barley-breake, or a Warning for Wantons "
(4to, Lond. 1607). This game would seem to have left
its traces in a boys' game still played in the North of
England (especially in the East Riding of Yorkshire), in
which a couple link hands, and sally forth from home
(the modern substitute for hell), shouting something like
" Aggery, ag, ag, ag 's gi'en warning," and trying to tick
or touch with the free hand any of a number of boys run-
ning about separately. These latter try, by slipping
behind the linked couple, and throwing their individual
weight on the joined hands, to separate them, without
being first touched or ticked ; and if they sunder the
couple, each of the severed ones has to bear a boy
"home" on his back. Whoever is touched is con-
demned to replace the toucher in the linked couple.
Shove-groat is a variety of the old game of shovel-hoard.
A shilling or other smooth coin was placed on the extreme
edge of the shovel-board, and propelled towards a mark

Ancient Customs in Games. 139

by a smart stroke with the palm of the hand. Some-
times a groat-piece was used, and in the present times a
halfpenny ; and the game of shove-halfpenny is mentioned
in the Times of April 25, 1845, as then played by the lower
orders. Taylor, the water-poet, states that in his time,
the beginning of the seventeenth century, " Edward (VI.)
shillings " were chiefly used at shove-hoard. Venter-jioint
was a children's game of the sixteenth century, named but
nowhere described. Cross and pile is the old name of
what is now called " tossing," or " heads and tails," the
coin now used being generally a halfpenny, of which the
obverse or bust of the Queen is the "head," and the re-
verse, whether the figure of Britannia or the harp of the
Irish halfpenny, or other device, is called the tail. The
origin of the term "cross and pile" is not very clear.
The cross, in form that of St George, its four arms of
equal length, was the favourite form for the reverse of
silver coins from the time of Henry III., and perhaps at
one time facilitated thtfourihing or farthing of the coin,
i.e., the dividing it into four equal quarters. But what
was the pile? Not the pellets, for they were always
inserted in the angles between the arms of the cross.
Not the legend or reading on the coin, for that was •
found both on obverse and reverse. It does not appear
to be from the 'LdXinpilus (the beard), 01 pilum (an arrow
or spear). Yet it was clearly the opposite side of the
coin to the cross side. Grafton records, that in 1249 an
order was made to coin a silver groat, which was to have
on one side the picture of the King's face (Henry III.),
and on the other a cross extended to the edge. In
1304, the controller of the King's Exchequer, by order
of the King's treasurer, sent to the treasurer for Ireland
twenty-four stamps for coining money there, viz., "three
piles with six crosses, for pennies; the same for half-

140 Lancashire Sports.

pennies ; and two piles, with four crosses, for farthings."
This at least shows that " cross and pile " were terms for
the opposite sides of coins. The next sport is appar-
ently a. foot-race to the next stile. Leaping over a Christ-
mas bonfire appears to be a relic of the leaping through
or over the bel-tain fires in honour of Bel or Baal, at
various festivals. The name of the next game contains
a misprint. It should be drawing dun out of the mire.
Dun was a favourite name for horse or mare of that
colour, to which the saying " Dun is the mouse " doubt-
less refers. " Dule upo' Dun," a Lancashire tradition, is
anglice the devil upon the dun horse or mare. The
rural game is described as played with a log of wood
representing dun (the cart-horse), and a cry is raised that
he is stuck in the mire. Two of the company advance
either with or without ropes, to draw him out. They find
themselves unable, call for help, and gradually the whole
company take part, when dun is extricated of course ; the
fun consisting in the awkward and affected efforts of the
rustics to lift the log, and sundry arch contrivances to let
the ends of it fall on one another's toes. Chaucer and
Ben Johnson have references to it. Shoot-cock is the
same with our shuttlecock ; was played by boys in the
fourteenth century, and was a fashionable pastime among
grown persons in the reign of James I. Gregory was a
children's game of the sixteenth century. Stool-ball has
been already noticed. Perhaps this second time it
occurs in the verses it should be read stow-ball, which
appears to have been a species of golf, and played with
a golf-ball. Pick-point occurs in an enumeration of chil-
dren's games in the sixteenth century. Top and scourge
is simply the whipping-top, one of the most ancient of
boys' pastimes, for it was in vogue amongst the ancient
Greeks and Romans. Peg-top is a modern play.

Barley-Brake and Buff. 141

BARLEY-BRAKE AND BUFF.

This game was formerly played in May. Randle Holme,
the Chester antiquary, and heraldic deputy of Sir William
Dugdale, mentions barley-brake as among the sports
which prevailed in Lancashire, and which he thus records
in doggerel from Rowland —

" To play at chess, or pue and inkhorn,
To dance the morrice, play at barley-brake,
At all exploits a man can think and speak," &c.

Many of the games mentioned in his rude verses are
now forgotten ; but there is some reason to think 'that
barley-brake still lingers in Lancashire and other counties
under its more modern name of prison bars. It may be
further observed that " Blindman's Buff" was formerly
called " blende-bok," and has been supposed to be the
same .with the Jul or yule-bok, the goat or stag of the
Pagan Yule-tide. Rudbeck supposes this, game to be
a relic of the rites of Bacchus, who is pointed out by
the name of Bocke ; and he considers the hoodwinking,
&c., of this gam.e as a memorial of the bacchanalian
orgies. From the Gothic celebration of these rites is
perhaps to bfe deduced the Lancashire boggart, the
name of an undefined sprite which has connected
its name to Boggart Hole, in Pendle Forest (?), the
scene of pseudo-witchcraft. The boggart is the terror
of children ; and when a horse takes fright at some
object unobserved by its master, the vulgar opinion
is that it has " seen th' boggart." Originally, the
strange disguises worn by the principal mummer and
representative of the Bock of Yule, have given rise to the
superstition respecting a terrible sprite, the Backer, which

142 Lancashire Sports.

becomes in the provincialism of Lancashire the boggari.
Mummers and maskers were finally suppressed by a statute
of Henry VIII., which awarded against them an impri-
sonment of three months, and a fine at the discretion of
the justices ; so that in England the game of blindman's
buff, and probably the modern entertainment of the
masquerade, are the only relics of the Bock of Yule.

CLITHEROE SPCiRTS AND PASTIMES.

" Village wakes," says Mr Wright, " rush-bearingSj
and other rude customs of antiquity, continue to be
observed in this locality ; besides the practice of
dressing up two figures as the king and queen, some-
thing in the Guy Fawkes costume, and carrying them
round the borough boundaries. The very objection-
able custom of lifting or heaving is not yet extinct
at Clitheroe ; and, reprehensible in all ages, it must be
doubly so when simplicity characterises the religious
observances of so many Christian sects." Another
writer thus describes these practices in 1784 : —

'^Lifting was originally designed to represent our
Saviour's resurrection. The men lift the women on
Easter Monday, and the women the men on Tuesday.
One or more take hold of each leg, and one or more of
each arm, near the body, and lift the person up into a
horizontal position three times. It is a rude, indecent,
and dangerous diversion, practised chiefiy by the lower
class of people. Our magistrates constantly prohibit it
by the bellman, but it subsists at the end of the town ;
and the women have of late years converted it into a
money job. I believe it is chiefly confined to these
northern counties."

Cock-Fighting. 143

The lifters, however, have both ancient and high
authority for the custom. They justify themselves by
quoting the scriptural passage — " And I, if I be lifted up,
will draw all men unto me ; " and from the Liber Con-
traroiularis Hospicii, 17 Edward I., it appears that
Edward Longshanks was lifted from his bed on Easter
Tuesday by a party of ladies of the bedchamber. The
writer has witnessed the process of lifting at Bowdon,
near Manchester, within the last half dozen years, and
he is informed that the ceremony is still continued. In
1774 fourpence was paid to the sexton at Eccles for
" warning people against lifting at Easter."

COCK-FIGHTING AT MANCHESTER AND LIVERPOOL.

The inhuman practice of fighting cocks appears to have
been very prevalent amongst the upper classes in Lanca-
shire during the last century. Almost every town had
its cockpit ; and not a few places and streets derive their
names from this once so-called " national sport." In the
" Manchester Racing Calendar," from 1760 to 1800,
there are the following "Rules for Matching and
Fighting of Cocks, which have been in practice ever
since the reign of King Charles II.

" I. To begin the same by fighting the lighter pair of
cocks which fall in match first, proceeding upwards
towards the end, that every lighter pair may fight earlier
than those that are heavier.

" 2. In matching, with relation to the battles, it is a
rule always in London, that after the cocks of the main
are weighed, the match-bills are compared.

" 3. That every pair of dead or equal weight are
separated, and fight against others ; provided it appears

144 Lancashire Sports.

that the main can be enlarged by adding thereto, that
ne battle or more thereby."

In accordance with these rules a " cock match " was
fought " on the isth of April 1761, and the three follow-
ing days," which " consisted of twenty-eight battles," and
was won by a Mr Diconson. The same gentleman was
a competitor in the following year, when twenty-five
battles were fought, and victory again declared in his
favour. In 1772 "the ladies' stand" was first erected ;
and there was a "cock match" on the 13th of June, at
the close of the races, " between the gentlemen of York-
shire and the gentlemen of Lancashire," when the former
were victorious in " twenty-two battles and nine byes."
Subsequent matches are recorded in 1790, 1791, 1793,
1798, 1799, and 1800, at which the Earl of Mexborough,
Sir Peter Warburton, William Hulton, Esq., Sitwell
Sitwell, Esq., and Windsor Hunloke, Esq., appear as
competitors. " The cockpit in Salford " is announced
as the place where " the mains are to be fought."

In Liverpool similar sports were popular ; for in 1790
" the great main of cocks between Thomas Townley
Parker, Esq., of Ceurden, and John Clifton, Esq., of
Lytham," is announced as "to be fought on Easter
Monday, the 5th day of April, and the three following
days, at the new cockpit in Cockspur Street — to show
forty-one cocks each. Ten guineas each battle, and two
hundred guineas the main." The doings of these four
days are still matter for conversation amongst the old
retainers of these two county families ; and from what
we have heard, it is well that the law has interfered to
put a stop to such scenes of drunkenness, debauchery,
and inhumanity.

up and Down Fighting. 145

ECCLES TITHES STAKED ON A COCKFIGHT.
A SINGULAR tradition prevails in Eccles, to the effect
that in the reign of Henry VIII., or in that of Edward
VI., the tithes of Eccles became the subject of a bet on
a cockfight, and were won from Brandon, Duke of Suffolk,
by Sir John Anderton, of Lydiate, in this county. Ac-
cording to this tradition, the tithes were granted to the
Duke by his royal master, Henry VIII. Subsequent to
this grant a cockfight took place in Westminster, when
Sir John Anderton is said to have produced the first
duck-wing cock that was ever fought at a main, with the
vaunting challenge —

" There 's the jewel of England !

For a hundred in hand, ^

And a hundred in land,
I '11 fight him 'gainst any cock in England ! "

The Duke of Sufifolk, on finding that Anderton was able
to make good his bet, produced another cock, and bet
the tithes of Eccles parish as his share of the wager.
Anderton won the battle, and became possessed of the
tithes ; and he afterwards, according to the story, sold
them to Sir John Heathcote, of Longton, county of Staf-
ford. So much currency has this story obtained, that
duck-winged cocks are called "■Anderton jewels" in Lan-
cashire to this day. The whole story (adds Baines)
appears to be a fabrication.

UP AND DOWN FIGHTING.
Writing about 1832, Mr Baines, in his "Lancashire,"
says there is amongst the inhabitants of Bolton [and the
neighbourhood] a mode of settling their quarrels by single
combat that cannot be too strongly condemned. At
almost every assize in Lancashire several individuals are

K

146 Lancashire Sports.

tried for murder or manslaughter, arising out of battles,
when, to the astonishment of strangers, evidence is given
of parties mutually agreeing to fight " up and down,"
which includes the right of kicking — -punching, ox purring,
as it is called in Lancashire — on every part of the body,
in all possible situations, and of squeezing the throat, or
"throttling," to the very verge of death. At races, fairs,
and on other public occasions, contests of this nature are
witnessed by crowds of persons who take part on each side
with as much interest as is excited by the regular boxing-
matches of the South. That death often occurs in such
matches will not be thought extraordinary, especially when
it is considered that clogs, or heavy wooden-soled shoes,
covered with iron plates, and studded with large nails,
are commonly worn in the districts where this barbarous
custom prevails. To check these revolting contests, seve-
ral of ^ the judges, about seventy years ago, revived
the almost obsolete punishment of burning in the
hand, upon conviction of manslaughter arising from kick-
ing. By an Act of the third year of George IV., cap. 38
[1822], that punishment is abolished ; but the punishment
of transportation for life, or for years, or imprisonment
and hard labour not exceeding three years, is extended
to this crime ; and it is understood that the highest inflic-
tion will be resorted to, if necessary, for the purpose of
putting an end to a practice which is a disgrace to a
civilised country. Persons best acquainted with the habits
and pastimes of the inhabitants say that the custom of up
and down fighting, with purring, was less frequent amongst
the forty thousand inhabitants of 183 1 than it was amongst
the fifteen thousand inhabitants of 1773 ; and they augur
that, from the combined operation of the terrors of the
law, the dissemination of religious instruction, and that
spirit of civilisation which is slowly but perceptibly

Owd Squire Parker o" Extwistle Hall. 147

spreading through the district, it will shortly only be
known as a matter of history.

HUNTING AT EXTWISTLE HALL.

Most of our Lancashire gentry appear to have been fond
of field-sports ; and their prowess has frequently been
made the subject of local songs and ballads. The late Mr
Harland included one of these — " The Stonyhurst Buck
Hunt" — in his "Early Lancashire Ballads j" and the
following composition relates to the same " noble sport,"
by one of the Parkers of Extwistle, near Burnley. From
some memoranda, in a copy of " Merlinus Liberatus," for
1699, the present owner of Extwistle and Cuerden con-
siders " the Owd Squire " to have been Robert Parker, of
Extwistle, who married a co-heiress of Christopher Ban-
astre, of Banke, and by her obtained Cuerden. He kept
a " Journal of Events," which includes the days he went
hunting and killed " haires."

OWD SQUIRE PARKER O' EXTWISTLE HALL.

" Come all ye jolly sportsmen, give ear to me all.
An' I'll sing you of a huntin at Extwistle Hall.
Sich huntin, sich huntin, you never did see ;
So come, jolly sportsmen, and listen unto me.

Sich huntin, sich huntin, you never did see ;

So come, jolly sportsmen, and listen unto me.

" There were Squire Parker, and Holden o' th' Clough,
T' one mounted on Nudger, and t'other on Rough ;
An' tantivy, tantivy, the bugles did call.
To join in that huntin fra Extwistle Hall.

Sich huntin, sich huntin, you never did see ;

So come, jolly sportsmen, and listen unto me.

" They hunted fra Roggerham to Wyecoller Moor,
But t' buck kept ahead and made th' horses to snore ;

148 Lancashire Sports.

There were th' Owd Dog and Pincher, but Rover bet all
That started that morning fra Extwistle Hall.

Sich huntin, sich huntin, you never did see ;

So come, jolly sportsmen, and listen unto me.

" They hunted to Langridge, and then back again,
Till by Pendle Water the buck it were ta'en ;
Some horses they stumbled, some riders did fall.
For they'd hunted beawt restin fra Extwistle Hall.

Sich huntin, such huntin, you never did see ;

So come, jolly sportsmen, and listen unto me.

" Owd Nudger kept leadin, and let nought come near.
An' it neighed an' it marlocked when th' hunters did cheer ;
So come, jolly sportsmen, an' join wi' me all
In a health to Squire Parker o' Extwistle Hall.
Sich huntin, sich huntin, you never did see ;
So drink to Squire Parker, Rover, Nudger, an' me."

The above song was taken down from the singing of
" Blacking Tommy," alias " Tommy o' Raddles," a/ias
Thomas Walker, who can sing the song, but not redie it.
The word l/eawi signifieswif/iouf; and marlock is an expres-
sive dialectical word signifying /ra«^x, ox playful tricks.

MISCELLANEOUS GAMES.

ARCHERY BUTTS.

The butts, or the archery ground for Burnley, was situ-
ated in that portion of Keighley Green on which the
cotton-mills belonging to Messrs Spencer & Moore now
stand. In those " good old days " the ley was a narrow
strip of flat land, on the banks of the river Brun, bounded
by a "scar" on the one hand, and by a nicely wooded
steep on the other. Some old cottages still bear the
name of " The Butts." " Scair Foot," and " Scar Top"

spell and Nur. 149

are mentioned in title-deeds to property, but these have
recently been modernised into Church Street.

BULL-BAITING.
This inhuman practice has been followed within the last
fifty years, both at Chatburn and Waddington, near
Clitheroe. This sport, however, is now quite extinct ;
but a lady still resides in Burnley who ran up into the
attic when the last baited bull broke loose from its tor-
mentors at Chatburn.

HAND-BALL.
This is still a favourite play in East Lancashire, espe-
cially with schoolboys and girls. Four stones are placed
in the form of a lozenge. One of the party is then
selected to give the ball. On its being thrown, the boy or
girl on the outside of the row hits it with the hand. The
thrower then runs for the ball, and if she can hit the
striker before he or she reaches the next stone, the one
who is hit becomes the thrower, and the other takes a
place at the head of the line. By increasing the number
of stones, more players can be accommodated ; and each
stone is called " home."

BANDY-BALL.
This game is played with a ball of wood and stout
cudgels. The ball is struck in the same manner as
" golf," and that side which drives it first across a given
hne wins the game.

SPELL AND NUR.
Spell and nur is played somewhat differently in the
neighbourhood of Burnley, from what is said of it by

150 Lancashire Sports.

Strutt in his "Sports and Pastimes." The game has also
been discussed in Notes and Queries. If the ball is struck
so as to diverge too much either to the right or to the left
of fixed marks, the player loses the number of his wide
balls. These limits are agreed upon by the players be-
fore the game is commeneed.

TIP.
" Tip," or " tipcat," is still played at Burnley ; but the
game is locally known as " playing at t' bad." " Bad " is
a North-country word descriptive of the short thick piece
of wood driven by the players. He who can drive the
bad the greatest distance in so many strokes wins the
game.

BLACKTHORN.

Any number of boys and girls can play at " blackthorn."
Two or three, or it may be only one, stand at a line or
mark, placed at some distance from another line, along
which all the rest of the players stand in a row. The
following dialogue then takes place : —

" Blackthorn, blackthorn, blue milk and barleycorn ;
How many geese have you to-day? "

Am. — " More than you can catch and carry away."

They players then run towards each other's marks, and
if any one be caught before he gets home to the opposite
mark, he has to carry the one who catches him to the
mark, where he takes his place as an additional catcher.
In this way the game goes on till all are caught.

FIVES.
This game is frequently played by boys at both public

Skates. 151

and private schools. The pupils at the Burnley Gram-
mar-School do not confine themselves to five players on
one side. That party which succeeds in keeping up the
ball for the longest space of time wins the game. The
factory operatives are also very fond of the game, the
cotton-mills affording sufficient blank wall space for the
purpose.

PRISON BARS.

This game is much practised in East Lancashire. It is
quite a favourite play with schoolboys ; and they perform
it exactly as laid down by Strutt in his " Sports and
Pastimes," p. 79, Tegg's edition.

QUOITS AND BOWLS.!

These are still favourites with most classes, and ample
scope is afforded for both plays at most of our watering-
places on the western coast. " Bowling-greens " are very
common. A quoiting-ground forms an appendage to
almost every cricket-field in East Lancashire.

SKATES.

A PECULIAR form of skates is used in some parts of Lan-
cashire. A long piece of iron is made smooth at the
bottom edge ; the back and front are then made sharp,
and are turned up at right angles to the flat edge. When
these points are driven into the soles of the skater's shoes
or clogs, he is fully equipped.

152 Lancashire Sports.

SLINGING.

Slinging is much practised as an amusement by boys
and young men. There are three kinds of sHngs in use —

First, A piece of leather forms the centre ; two equal
strings are then attached to it. The stone is then placed
in the leather portion, and both strings are held in the
hand. On a whirling motion being given to the whole,
one string is let loose, and the stone is thrown forward
with great velocity.

In the second form, a flexible stick takes the place of
one of the strings, and the other string is wrapped once
or twice round the stick. Motion is then communicated
to the stone by a quick vertical stroke from behind to the
front of the person slinging.

The third method is by fastening the stone into a
cloven stick and then projecting it forward. When throw-
ing day bullets, the stick is pointed at the top in the form
of a cone, and the bullet is firmly pressed upon it. These
missiles are then thrown either by a vertical or a hori-
zontal motion, at the pleasure of the slinger.

T R I P P E T.

This game is played in the fields, and was very popular
in East Lancashire some forty years ago. It is still
practised by the colliers in this district. The players
choose a smooth water-worn boulder of sandstone or
limestone, with a gently sloping side. The trippet is
about two inches long, and is made of holly. It is about
one inch in diameter in the middle, and slopes off towards
each end in a somewhat conical form. A portion of the

Ignagning and Ignagnus. 153

under-side is then made flat, and this is called "the
belly." The trippet is then placed upon the sloping side
of the boulder, with the point overhanging ; and the
player, having provided himself with a long, flexible,
heavy-headed club, gently taps the trippet so as to make
it rise from the stone. As it falls, he strikes the trippet
with all his might, and the player who drives it the
greatest number of yards in a certain number of strokes
wins the game.

IGNAGNING AND IGNAGNUS.

Some years ago a morris or sword-dance known by this
name was common in the Fylde. Some fifty years ago
there were seven actors in it. A " merryman " first
entered the house for permission to act. This being
granted, there advanced a " Toss-pot " in rags, the Grand
Turk and his son, St George, a Doctor, and a Bessy. St
George and ' the Turk fight ; the latter falls ; but the
Doctor, after boasting of his qualifications and travels,
brings him again to life, saying —

" I 've a bottle in my pocket called alicumpane :
Rise, brave Turk, and fight the battle again."

The whole concludes with a song. A horse-head was
carried [the " hobby "], and this was formerly a sport of
Whitsuntide ; but now its successor, named " Jolly Lads,"
is performed at Easter. I believe it to be a remnant of
the Danish sword-dance ; but what is the derivation of
ignagning ? I have been told it was in honour of the
sun — a kind of agnalia ; whilst others say that it derives
its cognomen from Ignis Agnce. — Notes and Queries,
V- 315-

154 Lancashire Sports.

OTTER-HUNTING IN THE FYLDE.

Thomas Tyldesley, of Myerscough Lodge and Foxhall
(Blackpool), in his diary, under the date of Friday,
August 28, 1713, records that he "went an otter-hunting,
and killed an otter near New Mill, which Cuddy Threl-
fall and I dressed. We were a great many, good com-
pany — Cuddy Threlfall and Barton, Thomas Barton, and
all the neighbourhood — and we ate the whole otter. I
paid for Wilding, Cuddy Threlfall, and self, 3 s. ; so to
bed. We drank the house dry." James Lomax, Esq.,
of Clayton Hall, was long noted for his love of otter-
hunting, and his pack of hounds were notorious through-
out the whole of Ribblesdale.

KERSAL MOOR RACES.

The yearly Manchester Whitsuntide races were estab-
lished on Kersal Moor in the year 1730. Afterwards
a long controversy arose on the propriety of continuing
or discontinuing the races in a large manufacturing town.
Ashton Lever, Esq., and William Hulton, Esq., advo-
cated the races, which were opposed by Edmund Chet-
ham, Esq., Mr John Byrom, M.A., and Mrs Ann Chet-
ham, through whose exertions they were discontinued
from 1745, the year of the second Jacobite rising, to
about 1760, when they were resumed. For many years
these local races formed one of the chief attractions to
Manchester, and the population of the large manufactur-
ing district of which it is the centre, during the Lanca-
shire annual holiday at Whitsuntide. A few years ago the
site of the races was removed from Kersal Moor to some

Kersal Moor Races. 155

flat ground forming a delta of the river Irwell, between
Broughton Suspension Bridge and Pendleton, near Castle
Irwell, the house of Mr Fitzgerald, the owner of the
ground. Here the races were held for many years in th^
Whitsuntide week ; but of late railway and other excur-
sions and pleasure-trips have largely competed with the
races in the popular favour of some half million of holi-
day Lancashire lads and lasses.

KERSAL MOOR RACES IN THE EIGHTEENTH
CENTURY.

Kersal Moor, or, as provincially pronounced, " Karsy
Moour," was one of the oldest race-courses in the king-
dom, and was unrivalled for the crowds of merry gazers
who annually witnessed its sports. " Nimrod," in an
article in the Sporting Magazine for 1822, thus inci-
dentally writes : "No course I was ever on is so well
kept as Manchester. I have ridden over it amongst a
hundred thousand spectators, and nothing can be better
than the clear way for the race-horses, and the good-
humour of the people." So far back as 1730, races were
first established on the Moor. In that year John Byrom
issued a pamphlet against them, condemning all such
sports on the score of their immoral tendencies. Never-
theless, the meetings were continued until 1745, in
which year Prince Charles Edward Stuart marched into
the town at the head of his Highland clans. Kersal
Moor races were discontinued during fifteen years, the
influence of Byrom and his friends being sufficient to
prevent their renewal, until Wednesday, the ist October,
1760. Manchester races consisted then, as now, of
three days' sport ; but, uninfluenced by Whitsuntide,
they took place on the 7th, 8th, and 9th September,

156 Lancashire sports.

The prizes of the meeting were restricted to one for each
day, and were made to yield plenty of running, being
thoroughly earned by multiplied heats of three or four
miles each. The first official printer of our race-lists
was Mr Joseph Harrop, appointed in 1765. In 1766
there was no race on the middle day " for want of
horses," and blank days occurred on several other occa-
sions. The sports were extended over four days in 1767,
when a silver cup was added for hunters. After a
trial of three years, the number of racing days was re-
duced to the former standard. Previously the races had
been held in August, September, or October; but in
1772 Whitsuntide became the recognised race-week. In
that year a ladies' stand was erected, and the lack of
diversion was compensated by the presence of the fair
sex, who are stated to have " shone forth a pleasing
sight to many thousands of spectators, in all the beauty
of their sex, in all the gaiety of fashion, and with that
delicacy of behaviour which inspires the heart," and so
on. The ten years next ensuing yielded nothing of
interest, though programmes of the races were regularly
advertised, and the stakes were frequently interspersed
with matches. Although John Byrom died in 1763, the
opposition which he had commenced to the sports died
not with him, but was renewed at intervals by other
persons until 1 782, when the ensuing manifesto, signed by
the borough-reve, constables, and forty others, was issued
to the pubHc : — " We, the undersigned gentlemen, being
of opinion that it would be for the interest of the town
that the races should be discontinued, are determined to
subscribe to them no longer." Despite the borough-reve
and all the constables, &c., the Whitsuntide diversions
were enjoyed that year as usual. Another ten years of
mediocre racing must be passed over, and then (1792)

Manchester Races on the New Course. 157

came a step in advance, in the shape of four days' sport,
and a stake increased to ;^ioo. In 1793 and 1794
there were five days' races, commencing on the Monday,
there yet being only one stake a day contested, all of
which were in heats. From 1795 to 1804 there were
usually two prizes daily, and in the latter year Mr Houlds-
worth's name first appears on the list. — " Our Turf, our
Stage, and our Ring," by R. W. Procter.

MANCHESTER RACES ON THE NEW COURSE, NEAR
CASTLE IRWELL.

With the extinction of races on Kersal Moor, it seemed
probable that the Manchester meetings would suddenly
end, and their name be lost by amalgamation with some
friendly rival. In this strait it was suggested that Rad-
cliffe Bridge races might be accepted as a substitute ;
next the good folks of Horwich invited us to their bleak
moor ; then Newton did its best to please us, by fixing
its races to our time — the Wednesday, Thursday, and
Friday of Whitweek. At the eleventh hour, however, when
all these claims had been mooted, and when White Moss
had been rejected, a site was secured near Castle Irwell.
Apart from association, I have never had much fancy for
the new course at the foot of the old moor. Being on a
dead level, there is no convenient hill within its circle of
ropes and chains whence the heads of the crowd maybe
overlooked. One of the pleasantest features of our new
course is the river Irwell, winding round three sides of
the arena. The river is also the source of occasional
merriment. As the approaches to the race-ground are
jealouslyguarded by toll-men, it follows that many urchins,
penniless tramps, and artizans out of employ, are usually

158 Lancashire Sports.

excluded. Of these unfortunates, some turn listlessly
homewards, while others, more persevering, gather in
groups along the bank of the stream, and select a place
for fording. The youngsters then strip, and fasten their
bundled apparel upon their heads; the men turn up their
trousers, slinging their shoes and stockings over their
shoulders ; thus prepared, they enter the water, some
crossing with comparative ease, but others, on dropping
a cap or swimming a stocking, or sinking deeper than
they expected, lose heart and return, to the infinite
amusement of those on the winning side. After the
river, the suspension bridge that spans it is the chief
point of interest. Several times have I curiously exa-
mined the mechanism of this structure, since 1831, in
which year it betrayed forty or fifty marching soldiers,
treating them to a plunge-bath in the stream beneath
when they least expected or desired such a visitation.
Though several of these involuntary bathers were severely
injured, no one was drowned or killed. The first race
on the new course [in May 1847], for the Wilton Stakes,
ended in a dead heat; which tie was considered a favour-
able omen. On account of the Art Treasures Exhibition
there were four days' races in 1857. During the race
for the " Exhibition Stakes " a serious accident occurred.
Josephine, one of the competing horses, fell at the back
of the course, through catching her leg against the rails,
and her boy-rider, Johnson, fell under her. Upon the
filly rising from the ground, the jockey was conveyed to
the grand stand, where it was seen that his collar-bone
was broken. In the races of i86r, a wild, unmanage-
able horse, named North Lancashire, ran on the rails,
and threw over his rider. Motley, who received a fracture
of the, right leg. While galloping riderless along the
course, the horse knocked down a boy, inflicting a severe

School Holidays in the \Zth Century. 159

concussion of the brain. — Procter's " Our Turf, Stage,
and Ring"

Several years ago the races were transferred to the
present ground at Old Trafford.

FOOT-RACES BY NUDE MEN.
A CORRESPONDENT in Notes and Queries says : — " Dur-
ing the summer of 1824 I remember seeing at Whitworth
in Lancashire [a hamlet in the parish, and three miles
north of the town of Rochdale], two races, at different
periods, of this description. On one occasion two men
ran on Whitworth Moor, with only a small cloth or belt
round the loins. On the other occasion the runners
were six in number, stark naked, the distance being
seven miles, or seven times round the moor. There were
hundreds, perhaps thousands, of spectators, men and
women, and it did not appear to shock them, as being
anything out of the ordinary course of things. It is with
reference to this usage, no doubt, that the Lancashire
riddle says —

' As I was going over Rooley Moor, Rooley Moor shaked,
I saw four-and-twenty men running stark nak'd ;
The first was the last and the last was the first. '^

The answer is — The twenty-four spokes of a wheel."

Races by nude men are not yet extinct in many parts
of Lancashire, notwithstanding the vigilance of the
county police.

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
We frequently hear that, in the eighteenth century, old
customs, festivals, and hoHdays were much more — much
better, as some would say — observed than at present.
In some articles of agreement, made in December 1790,

i6o Lancashire Sports.

between the trustees of the Liverpool Blue Coat Hospital
and Mr James Meredith of Manchester, for the labour
of two hundred children in " pin-making," for a term of
eleven years, it was stipulated that the following holidays
should be allowed the boys : —

Christmas, fourteen days, (for amusement).

Good Friday.

Easter, two afternoons, and from three o'clock the
third day.

Whitsuntide, the same.

Shrove Tuesday.

Ash Wednesday.

Conversion of St Paul, 25 th January.

King Charles' martyrdom, 30th January.

Purification, 2d February.

St Mathias, 24th February.

Annunciation (Ladyday), 25th March.

St Mark, 2Sth April.

St Philip and St James, ist May.

Ascension-day (Holy Thursday).

Restoration of King Charles (Royal Oak-day), 29th May.

St Barnabas, nth June.

St John the Baptist (Midsummer-day), 24th June.

St James (July 25), Liverpool summer fair.

St Bartholomew, 24th August.

St Matthew, 21st September.

St Michael (Michaelmas quarter-day), 29th September.

Liberty-day.

St Luke, 1 8th October.

King's inauguration.

St Simon and St Jude, 28th October.

All-Saints, ist November.

Gunpowder Plot, 5th November.

Martinmas (Liverpool winter fair), November 11.

Treacle- Dipping. 1 6 1

St Andrew's-day, 30th November.

St Thomas (shortest day), 21st December.

In all, these vacancies make about, six weeks holidays
in the year — less than is now given in boarding and
private schools, but very much more than working boys,
apprenticed or otherwise, now enjoy. The most remark-
able feature of the above list is, that, with the exception
of the fortnight at Christmas, and three afternoons in the
Easter week, and the like at Whitsuntide, all the holidays
of the year are of single days (twenty-seven in all),
averaging more than two in every month of the year.
There were three in October and four in November.
Now, for apprentices, there are, in addition to Sundays,
only two days' holiday legally demandable, viz., Christ-
mas Day and Good Friday. But the custom in Lanca-
shire is to give, in large manufacturing establishments,
the whole of the Whitsuntide week as a yearly holiday ;
and in shops and small establishments, the whole, or the
afternoons, of three days ; in many cases in the country,
Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday ; but in Manchester
and the neighbouring district, the three or four race-days,
Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday — Saturday being
usually set apart for wives, sisters, and daughters from
the country to go into Manchester and stare about them,
whence it is derisively called " Gaping Saturday." In
Blackburn, the annual holidays are Easter Week; in
Burnley, the three days of the July fair.

TREACLE-DIPPING.

The late Mr Gregson, in his " Gimcrackiana," describes
amongst the sports of the visitors at Southport, treacle-
dipping, sack-running, and steering soap-tailed pigs to
their styes. In a note to his verses on Southport, he^

L

1 62 Lancashire sports.

observes that some of these pastimes are not to be
found in Strutt, such as the elegant amusement termed
" treacle-dipping," which he believes found its way to
Southport from some place in the neighbourhood of
Bolton. For those to whom it may not be familiar, he
adds a short description : — "A large dish is placed on
an exalted station, and into it is poured a quantity of
treacle, till about three or four inches in depth ; a few
shillings or sixpences are then thrown in. Needy adven-
turers then essay to dive into this silver mine, and bring
up the metal with their teeth, upon which their faces are
wiped with feathers — thus forming altogether a delicious
spectacle ! " Dipping for apples, or money, in mugs full
of water is not uncommon throughout Lancashire, and
sometimes forms the subject of heavy wagers. The
apples chosen for the sport are tolerably large, and the
performers have to dip for them into the water with their
hands tied behind their backs. He who catches most
apples in his mouth within a given time, wins the wager.
In the case of money, it must be brought up in the
mouth from the bottom of the mug.

PART IV.

PUNISHMENTS.

PUNISHMENTS— LEGAL AND POPULAR.

INTRODUCTION.

Among the old legal punishments, descending, many of
them, from Saxon times, the chief, or at least the most
remarkable in Lancashire, were the stocks, the whipping-
post, the cucking or ducking stool, the tumbrel, the
scold's brank or bridle, the piUory, and the gallows.
Of those popular punishments, which were inflicted in the
spirit of Lynch-law for offences which the ordinary pro-
cesses of law and modes of legal punishment would not
reach, the most striking were riding the stang and ring-
ing the pan. The following are a few brief notices of
these.

1 6 6 L ancashire Ptmishments.

STOCKS, WHIPPING-POSTS, &c.

There is, or was, at Walton-on-the-Hill, about three miles
from the Liverpool Exchange, on the Preston road, an
iron stocks. It stood close to the churchyard wall ;
and within at least two years (before January 1859) a
person was confined there by order of the local magis-
trates of the district. I don't remember for what offence.
— Notes and Queries, 2d series, vii. 39.

STOCKS, &c., AT BURNLEY.

The remains of the stocks and whipping-post are still
standing close to the pedestal of the old Market-cross, in
Burnley. The punishment of sitting in the stocks has
frequently been inflicted on notorious drunkards within
the last twenty years ; but the writer has never known
the whipping-post used. Both Padiham and Colne still
retain the framework of these instruments of torture.

THE SCOLD'S BRANK OR BRIDLE.

Hanging up in the Warrington Museum may be seen a
representation of a withered female face wearing the
brank or scold's bridle ; one of which instruments, as
inflexible as iron and ingenuity can make it, for keeping
an unruly tongue quiet by mechanical means, hangs up
beside it. Almost within the time of living memory,
Cicily Pewsill, an inmate of the workhouse, and a notori-
ous scold, was seen wearing this disagreeable head-gear
in the streets of Warrington, for half an hour or more.

The Cuck-Stool or Ducking-Stool. iG"]

One can hardly conceive a punishment more degrading
to the offender, or less calculated to refine the spectators,
and yet it seems to have been common in every part of
England, and there are few places where a brank or
scold's bridle is not shown as the effective mode in
which our fathers curbed an unruly tongue. Cicily
Pewsill's case still lingers in tradition, as the last occa-
sion of its application in Warrington, and it will soon
pass into history. — Beamonfs " Warrington in the
Thirteenth Century!'

SCOLD'S BRIDLE AT HOLME.

Dr Whitaker, the historian of Whalley, formerly pos-
sessed a scold's brank, which had evidently done much
duty. - Dr Plott says : — " This artifice is much to be
preferred to the ducking-stool, which not only endangers
the health of the party, but gives liberty of tongue
betwixt every dip. . . . The offender, by order of the
magistrate, when the brank is fastened with a padlock
behind, is led round the town by an officer, to her
shame." The present occupier of Holme is not aware
what has become of his grandfather's brank.

THE CUCK-STOOL OR DUCKING-STOOL.

As recently as the beginning of the eighteenth century
this machine for the punishment of scolds was in use in
the parish and town of Liverpool. It was a chair sus-
pended by a long pole over some pool of water ; and the
scolding woman being tied fast in the chair, could be
ducked more or less deeply in the pond, as those on its
bank raised their end of the pole. It is, says Baines,

1 6 8 L ancashire Punishments.

impossible now to fix the date when the chair of correc-
tion was first introduced into Liverpool, or to say when,
by the improvement in female manners, it was no longer
found to be necessary ; but that it was in request as late
as the year 1695 ™^y tie inferred from an item in the
parochial expenditure of that year, which runs thus : —
" Paid Edward Accres for mending the cuck-stool, fifteen
shillings." For many ages the ducking-stool stood at
the south end of the town of Ormskirk ; but from the
improvement in female manners, or the refinement in
modem taste, it was removed in 1780. According to
Blount, this cooling apparatus was in use in the Saxon
era, when it was named the scealfing-stole, and described
to be a chair in which quarrelsome women were placed,
and plunged under water. The poet Gay celebrates this
correctional chair, which was evidently in use in his time,
in the following terms (Pastorals, iii. v. 105) : —

" I '11 speed me to the pond where the high stool
On the long plank hangs o'er the muddy pool —
That stool the dread of every scolding quean."

DUCKING-PITS, &c., AT BURNLEY.

This mode of punishing female offenders has long been
disused in Burnley and the neighbourhood. The places,
however, can still be identified. The pit for Burnley
was formed on what is now termed Brown Hill. When
the present genteel residences were erected there, the
pond was filled up. The ducking-pits for the Pendle
district were formed by the side of the northern branch
of the river Calder, here locally termed " Pendle Water."
The ford across the river at that point is well known as
the " Duck-Pit Hippings."

Cucking or Ducking-Stool, Liverpool. 169

CUCKING OR DUCKING-STOOL, LIVERPOOL.

In the " Moore Rental" (1667-8), its editor, Thomas Hey-
wood, Esq., F.S.A., observes that " the ducking (properly
cucking) stool, at this period, with the pillory and stocks,
ornamented every English market-town. Misson gives
an elaborate account of the machinery for ducking scold-
ing women, the trebuchet and the stool ; and the punish-
ment he describes as "pleasant enough." Bakers and
brewers "who offended the statute " were subject to im-
mersion, as also cuck-queans, which Lord Coke (3d inst.
-219) and Mr WiUiam Gifford held to mean scolds, though
other etymologists will have the word to signify the
female of cuckold ; and on reading this last critic's two
notes upon the subject (Johnson's Works, ii. 482, iv. 424),
we were almost led to believe that a woman was some-
times ducked because her husband was unfaithful. In
the last edition of Bums (v. 246), Hawkins is quoted to
show that after conviction for scolding, on indictment,
the ducking must be inflicted. The last trace of the
cucking-stool in Liverpool is the order for its repair,
1695, still remaining on the parish books. In Man-
chester, Barritt saw one standing in the pit — since the
Infirmary Pool — now the Flags — half a century later.

The ducking-stool, according to Mr Richard Brookes'
" Liverpool from 1775 to 1800," was in use in 1779, by
the authority of the magistrates, in the House of Correc-
tion, which formerly stood upon Mount Pleasant, in that
town. Its use there is noticed in Howard's " Appendix
to the State of Prisons in England and Wales" (p. 258),
and it is also alluded to by Mr James Nield, the philan-
thropist, in the Gentleman's Magazine io^c 1803.

1 70 Lancashire Punishments.

THE DUCKING-STOOL IN THE FYLDE.

Different persons now living, says Rev. W. Thomber
in 1837, well remember that formidable machine the
cuck-stool, once the dread of scolds, standing in Great
Carlton. The stool or chair was placed at the end of a
long pole, balanced on a pivot, and suspended over a
^ond of water, in which the offender was ducked. At
Poulton, he adds, a few are still living who remember
the remains of the chair fixed over the cuck-stool at the
Breck, for the punishment of scolds. Poulton must
surely have been infested with these scourges of domestic
happiness, for no less than three ponds there all bear the
name of cuck-stool. It was in use even to a late period ;
for the last female doomed to undergo this punishment,
escaped by the interference of Madame Hornby, who
became surety for her future good behaviour.

PENANCE STOOL.

In the belfry of Bispham [Bishop Ham] parish church
was formerly deposited a simple-looking wooden frame,
formed of four pieces of wood with cross - bars, &c.
This was described by old people as having been for-
merly used as a penance-stool. The offending parties were
fastened to the stool by means of cross pieces of wood.
The frame has recently been removed; but to what
place is not known.

Manchester Gallows and Tumbrel. 1 7 1

KIRKHAM DUCKING-STOOL.

The ancient borough of Kirkham, in Amoundemess,
formerly possessed a bridle, or brank, for scolds, as well
as a ducking-stool. A pool near the old workhouse
long bore the name of the Cuckstool Pit, but it is now
filled up.

MANCHESTER GALLOWS AND TUMBREL.

An inquisition at Preston in 1359, found that Man-
chester had been held by its lords time out of mind, not
as a borough, but as a market-town, with the privileges
to market-towns belonging, including the right to punish
all breakers of the assise of bread and ale, as well as
butchers, tanners, regulators, &c.,with right also of gallows
and tumbrel. Where the gallows stood in Manchester is
not known. Those for the Hundred of Salford were fixed
at a little distance from the town of Salford, in a field
still called the Gallows Field, on the banks of the Irwell,
leading from Boat-house Lane to the lock, and opposite
the great Hulme Meadow. Thtjiillory, or neck-stocks,
stood in the market-place till 181 2, when it was removed
with the common stocks, which stood beneath it. The
tumbrel (says Baines) was the same instrument of correc-
tion as the cuckstool, which is described by our Saxon
ancestors as "a chair in which scolding women were
plunged into water." In Domesday it is called Cathedra
Stercoris, and was anciently used for the punishment of
brewers and bakers who transgressed the laws. " Some
(says Blount) think it is a corruption from ducking-stool,
others from choking-stool, because women plunged in
water by this means were commonly suffocated." In

172 Lancashire Punishments.

Saxon times the fosse, over which the correctional stool
was suspended, was used for the ordeal of plunging. In
the ancient collection of laws entitled " Regia Majestas
Scotiarum," it is stated that criminal pleas belonged to
those barons who held their courts with " Sac et socfurca
et fossa [gallows and' pit], toll et theam, infangtheof et
utfangtheof.'" On the words " furca et fossa," Sir Henry
Spelman remarks, that they express the right of hanging
male and drowning female criminals ; and adduces an
instance in which the latter punishment was used in the
reign of Richard II. " The Manchester stool (says
Rev. John Whitaker) remained within these few years
(1775) an open-bottomed chair of wood, placed on the
end of a long pole (balanced upon a pivot), and sus-
pended over the large collection of water called Pool-
house, or Pool Fold, which continued open until about
the middle of the seventeenth century. It was afterwards
suspended over the water of Daub Holes (afterwards the
Infirmary Pond), and was used to punish scolds and
common prostitutes."

BEHEADING A THIEF.

Dr Whitaker remarks that from an old perambu-
lation record of the township of Wiswall, near Whal-
ley, it appears that one of the meres, or landmarks,
was called " Jeppe knave grave," for one Jeppe, says
the record, "ki fust decoUe come laron" (who was
beheaded as a thief). Jeppe (pronounced Yep) is
a monosyllabic Saxon name; but this punishment
could not have been prior to the Conquest, for the
Saxon laws imposed either a money fine or banishment
for theft, which they did not punish capitally. It is said
that Earl Waltheof was the first person upon whom the

The Old Appeal of Murder. 173

sentence of decapitation was executed, in the year 1075.
The beheading of thieves appears to have been a Nor-
man punishment, and seems to have been specially
applied to cases oifurtum manifestum, or thieves caught
in the act. In such cases the right of beheading the
offenders belonged to the Earls of Chester, and was pro-
bably imported into Lancashire by the Halton branch of
the Lacies, on their succeeding to the fee of Clitheroe.

THE OLD APPEAL OF MURDER.

An incident in local history, says Mr Beamont,
will illustrate the ancient custom in law of appeal.
On the occurrence of the murder of Sir Botiler,
usually named "the Bewsey Tragedy," as described
in one of the Harleian MSS., we learn that Lady
Butler pursued the murderers of her husband, and
indicted them ; but that, being married to the Lord
Grey, he made her suit void. The substitution of
the word appealed, for indicted, is requisite to make
the passage intelligible; for a wife's second marriage,
while it had no effect upon an indictment, would cer-
tainly make void her appeal against her husband's mur-
derers. In the sense then used, an appeal did not
mean a resort to a higher tribunal from the decision of a
lower, in order to obtain the reversal of the judgment, —
which is the ordinary acceptation of the term ; but it
signified a criminal prosecution by one private person
against another, on account of some particular injury he
has suffered, rather than for the offence against the public.
In England appeals of this kind were formerly permitted
in treason, murder, rape, mayhem, and arson. In rob-
bery, mayhem, and arson, the parties injured must be
the appellants. In rape, the appeal must be made either

1 74 Lancashire Punishments.

by the husband or the next of kin. In murder, the appeal
is given to the wife, on account of the loss her husband ;
and therefore, if she marries again before or pending her
appeal, the appeal is gone. But if there should be no
wife, or she herself be implicated or suspected, the appeal
devolves upon the next heir -male of the murdered
ancestor.

DOING PENANCE IN THE FYLDE.

About half a century ago, says Mr Thomber, in 1837,
the frail member, the victim of the seducer, did public
penance within Poulton Church ; and, barefoot, clothed
in white, with a hghted candle in each hand, she had to
pass along the aisles, a spectacle of mirth and jeering to
an unfeeling crowd. Jane Breckul was the last to
undergo this painful exhibition at Poulton ; for the cries
of this unfortunate girl, melting the hearts of the well-
disposed, raised a clamour against it, which led to its
discontinuance. A woman who died only last year
(1836) was the last offender who performed this penance
in the church of Bispham, and stood upon a stool, the
remains of which, till lately, might be seen in the belfry
of the ancient tower.

STANG RIDING.
The practice of what is locally termed " stang riding "
was practised in Lancashire some forty years ago.
When a man or woman is detected in an act of unfaith-
fulness, a framework of two long poles is procured,
across which is placed a flat board, to serve as a seat.
The person who has offended is then caught by the
crowd, and tied fast to the seat with cords. A proces-
sion 'is then formed, and the culprit is carried aloft on
the shoulders of four men, attended by a crowd, who

Stang Riding. 175

make all the discordant noises they can, on pots, pans,
tea-trays, &c., as they pass along the road. On arriving
at the front of any house, the procession halts, and the
leader of the gang proclaims the names of the parties,
with the time and place where the fault has been com-
mitted. When the real parties cannot be captured, a
substitute is found, and the procession passes along as if
the offenders were really present. The writer accompa-
nied one of these processions, in the neighbourhood of
Blackburn, when quite a youth ; and the feud thus
created was not allayed for many years.

" Buck-thanging " is a Lancashire punishment still
practised by school boys. The offender is taken and
placed on his back ; four boys then seize each an arm,
or a leg, and the person is then swung as high as pos-
sible, and then allowed to fall with a heavy bump on the
ground. " Stretching" is a variation of this, for there is
then no throwing up, but each leg and arm are pulled
"different ways, in the manner of a rack, so as to produce
excruciating pain.

" Tossing in the Blanket," or " pack-sheeting," is still
practised in the neighbourhood of Burnley. This is
done when a sweetheart jilts her lover, and weds
another. The forsaken one is then placed on a blanket,
or sheet, and is then tossed by four persons, who hold
the corners. A fine is then inflicted, which is immedi-
ately spent at the next public-house.

" Back-slamming" is another of these punishments.
In this case, the offender is swung against a door, or
wall, by two or more persons, who hold him, face up-
wards, by the arms and legs, and thus turn him into a
sort of battering ram.

" Mischief Night " is well known, and much amuse-
ment, and occasionally anger, is caused by the practice
of fastening doors, smearing the handle, stopping up

1 76 Lancashire Punishments.

chimneys, laying emblematical plants, or shrubs, at the
doors, or in the windows, so as to please, or irritate, the
occupants. The eve of All Fools' Day is not yet for-
gotten.

RINGING THE PAN.
If a couple be found courting on a Friday night, they
are frequently treated to an impromptu concert. The
musical instruments usually employed are the frying-pans,
shovels, tongs, pokers, and, indeed, any implements
which can be made to produce a sufficiently discordant
noise. A pretended bellman usually precedes the pro-
cession, and at stated intervals calls out —

" Oh ! dear a me !
A. B. and C. D. (mentioning names),
Court six neets aot o' seven,
Un corn'd let Friday neet olooan."

The writer saw this ceremony performed in the neigh-
bourhood of Burnley twice during the year 1868. The
actors term the ceremony " ringing the pan."

NOTCHEL CRYING.
On Wednesday (in March 1859), there was, at Accring-
ton, an extraordinary instance of the disgraceful practice
of " notchel crying." The public bellman went round
the town announcing that a certain man (an inhabitant
of the town) would not, from that day forward, be
answerable or accountable for any debt which his wife
might contract. On the afternoon of the same day the
same important functionary was employed by the wife
to inform the inhabitants of Accrington that, as she was
up to that day straight with her husband, she would not
be answerable for any debts which he might contract ;

Wife Selling. 177

and stated, by way of additional information, that she
had been allowed by him five shillings a week to find
herself and him in meat and lodging ; and that he was
also not a very constant husband ; and that if he had
brought home the money which he had given to other
women, he might have maintained them in very comfort-
able circumstances. Great crowds followed the bellman
up and down during his oration. This ceremony is
occasionally performed at the present time ; but it is
gradually giving way to the posting of small placards on
the walls of the town or village where the unthrifty one
resides. Not long ago a fair one Tetorted on her lord by
a counter announcement, to the effect that as he had long
been supported by her earnings, she would decline to
keep him any longer, and tradesmen might beware
accordingly.

WIFE SELLING.

It is not uncommon for wives to be sold by their hus-
bands. There is a wide-spread popular error that this
is a legal transaction, when the wife is brought into the
place of sale with a halter round her neck, and when the
buyer obtains a written receipt for the money he has
ventured upon her. Some years ago, a case of this kind
occurred near Haslingden ; and, on one occasion, it was
urged in a county court that the real husband was not
liable for his wife's debts, since he had sold her some
time before for half-a-crown.

M

PART V.

POPULAR RHYMES, PROVERBS, SAYINGS,
AND SIMILES.

POPULAR RHYMES, PROVERBS, SAYINGS,
AND SIMILES.

INTRODUCTION.

The popular rhymes, proverbs, similes, &c., of Lanca-
shire are very numerous. Many of them date from pre-
historic times, and have been handed down by tradition
from generation to generation with little or no variation. ,
Some of the more common of these have found resting-
places in the works of Tim Bobbin, Waugh, Brierky,
Staton, WUson, Martindale, and others, and have thus
become a portion of our Lancashire literature ; the rest
are still current in the undisturbed nooks and corners of
our county. It would require a volume to include all
the folk-rhymes and wise-sayings of the peasantry of
Lancashire ; and hence a few only of the more curious
or important are here included.

1 82 Lancashire Rhymes, &c.

POPULAR LOVE-RHYME.

The following lines very forcibly express the condition
of many a country milkmaid, when motherly influences,
or other considerations, render her incapable of giving a
final decision upon the claims of two rival suitors. The
rhymes may be changed so as to suit other Christian
names at pleasure :—

Heigh ho ! my heart is low,

My mind runs all on one ;
W stands for William true.

But J for my love John.

WIGAN NURSERY SONG.

Little John Jiggy Jag,

He rode a penny nag,
And went to Wigan to woo-oo-oo.

When he came to a beck [brook],

He fell and broke his neck ;
Johnny, now how dost thou do-oo-oo ?

I made him a hat

Out of my coat-lap,
With stockings of pearly blue-ue-ue,

A hat and a feather,

To keep out the cold weather ;
So Johnny, dear, how dost thou do-oo-oo ?

WINWICK CHURCH RHYME.

The church at little Winwick,

It stands upon a sod ;
And when a maid is married there,

The steeple gives a nod.

Rhymes. 183

Alas ! how many ages

Their rapid flight have flown,
Since on that high and lofty spire

There 's moved a single stone !

PRESCOT, HUYTON, AND CHILDWALL.

Prescot, Huyton, and merry Childow,
Three parish churches all in a row :
Prescot for mugs ; Huyton for ploydes ;
Childow for ringing and singing besides.
[Ploydes — ploys — ^merry meetings ; although some think
" ploughs " are meant.]

POPULAR RHYMES.

Them that buys beef buys bones ; *
Them that buys land buys stones ;
Them that buys eggs buys shells ;
Them that buys ale buys nought else.

Many men has many minds,

But women has but two ;
Everything is what they 'd have.

And nothing would they do.

New moon ! new moon ! I pray to thee :
Tell me who my true love shall be ;
Whether he 's dark, or whether fair ;
And what the colour of his hair.

In « ford " and " ham," in " ley " and " ton,"
Most old English surnames run.

1 84 Lancashire Rhymes, &c.

PROUD PRESTON.

Proud Preston, as the town has long been termed, was
probably so called from its being the residence of gen-
teel families in days of yore, before the introduction of
the cotton trade; having been, as Dr Whitaker says,
" the resort of well-born but ill-portioned and ill-endowed
old maids and widows." The paschal lamb couchant,
with the letters P.P. (for Princeps Pads, Prince of
Peace), form the armorial bearings of the town. Hence,
perhaps, the old lines —

"Proud Preston,
Poor people ;
High church,
Low steeple."

The name in the first line yet adheres to the place. The
prefix in the second is no longer strictly appHcable.
Nor is the last line now true ; for in 1815, the tower of
the church, which was then only about the height of the
nave, was pulled down, and a new one of proportionate
size erected. In 1853, the old church also disappeared,
and the present beautiful structure was built on the
same site.

CHRIST'S CROFT.

Roger de Poictou, for the services of his family to Duke
WilHam, in the Norman conquest of England, received
all the lands between the Ribble and the Mersey, as a
gift from the Conqueror. Lancashire does not appear in
the Domesday survey as such, but these lands are de-
scribed as " inter Ripa et Mersham." Subsequently the

Rhymes. 185

appellation " Christis Crofte " was given to this extensive
portion of South Lancashire, and it is celebrated as a
place of security in troublesome times, probably from its
being comparatively wild and uninhabited —

" When all England is alofte,

Safe are they that are in Christis Crofte ; —
And where should Christis Crofte be,
But between the Ribble and Mersey."

THE THREE RIVERS AT MYTTON.

The Hodder, which divides Lancashire from Yorkshire
for a considerable portion of its course, joins the Ribble
at Winkley, in Aighton, and winds along a beautiful vale,
forming the southern boundary of the parish of Mytton.
The Calder, issuing from the deep hollows of Whalley
and Read, meets the Ribble at Hacking, a short distance
below Mytton Church. The confluence of these three
rivers gives additional breadth and depth to the main
stream, and at times disastrous floods are the consequence.
This has given rise to a distich which has in it something
of a depreciatory character : —

" The Hodder, the Calder, Ribble, and Rain,
All joined together, can't carry a bean."

Another version is —

" Hodder and Calder, and Ribble and Rain,
All meet together in Mytton demesne."

It has been conjectured that Mytton = Myd-town = Myt-
ton, from its being situated, as it were, in the midst of
the three rivers.

1 86 Lancashire Rhymes, &€.

THE THREE HILLS.

An old rhyme says that —

" Ingleborough, Pendle Hill, and Penygent,
Are the highest hills between Scotland and Trent."

The recent ordnance survey has proved this to be a
fallacy; for Pendle Hill, being 1831 feet above the level
of the sea, is nearly 800 feet lower than Grey Friar, in
the north of Lancashire, and considerably lower than
Whernside in Yorkshire. However, the following version
may be true : — •

" Pendle Hill, Penygent, and little Ingleborough,
Are three such hills as you '11 not find by seeking England
thorough. "

LANCASHIRE RIDDLES.

Red within, and red without ;
Four corners round about.
Ans. — A brick.

All hair except the head ; —
Guess me right and go to bed.
Ans. — ^A cow-tie.

Four stiff slanders.
Four dillydanders.
Two hookers, two snookers,
And a flip-flap.

Ans. — A cow.

Clink, clank, under the bank ;
Ten against four ; try once more.

Ans.—h girl in pattens, milking.

Riddles. 187

Little Nanny Netticoat
Has a white petticoat ;
The longer she stands

The shorter she grows ;
Now cross both your hands,

And tell me who knows.
Ans. — A candle.

We have a horse

Without any head ;
He is never alive,

And will never be dead.

Ans. — A clothes-horse.

As round as an apple,

As deep as a cup ;
All the Queen's horses

Can't draw it up.

Ans. — A well.

A riddle, a riddle.

As I suppose ;
Full of eyes,

But never a nose.

Ans. — A sieve.

Long.legs, crooked thighs,
Little head, and no eyes.
Ans. — Tongs.

Humpty-dumpty sat on a wall.
Humpty-dumpty got a great fall ;
Threescore men, and threescore more,
Can't make Humpty as before.

Ans. — A broken egg.

Old Mother Twitchett has but one eye.
And a long tail which she makes fly ;
And every time she goes over a gap.
She leaves a piece of her tail in a trap.
/i«j.— Needle and thread.

1 88 Lancashire Rhymes, &c.

Meal-porridge hot,

Meal-porridge cold,
Meal-porridge in a pot,
Nine days old.
Beef and bacon boiled in a hat ;
In four letters spell me that.

/i«j. — T-h-a-t.

Higgledy-piggledy,

Here we lie;
Picked and plucked,

And put in a pie.

Ans. — Pigeons.

LANCASHIRE RHYMES.

Lancashire law —
No stakes, no draw.

This is often quoted by those who, having lost a wager,
do not wish to pay, on the ground that no stakes had
been deposited.

As foolish as monkeys
Till twenty or more ;
As bold as lions
Till forty and four ;
As cunning as foxes
Till threescore and ten.
They then become asses.
Or something — not men.

WEATHER RHYMES.

If red the sun begins his race.
Expect that rain will fall apace.

Proverbs. 1 89

The evening red, the morning gray,
Are certain signs of one fair day.

If woolly fleeces spread the heavenly way,
No rain, be sure, disturbs that summer's day.

In the waning of the moon,
A cloudy morn — fair afternoon.

When clouds appear like rocks and towers.
The earth 's refreshed by frequent showers.

When Pendle wears its woolly cap.
The fanners all may take a nap.

Owd Know \i.e., knoll, a hill between Rochdale and
Rossendale] hes bin awsin [offering] to put hur durty
cap on a time or two to-day ; an as soon us hoo can
shap to see it, ther '11 be waytur amang us, yo '11 see.

Of the Duddon and other streams in the north of
Lancashire, a local expression states that, " Up with a
shower, down in an hour."

PROVERBS.

It is of no use laying sorrow to your heart when others
only lay it to their heels.

Mouse-coloured dun is the foulest colour under the
sun.

A Friday's flit will not long sit.

My butter-cake always leets [falls] th' butter-side
down.

Two are company, three are none.

Too much of ought is good for nought.

All this for nothing, and more for a penny.

Long and lazy, little and loud.

Fair and foolish, dark and proud.

I go Lancashire Rhymes, &c.

One year's seeding makes seven years' weeding.

If you see a pin and let it lie,

You '11 need a pin before you die.

You're a long time out of your money if you take me
for a flat [foolish person].

I 'm nod gooin to a fair to buy thee for a foo [fool] ;
if ah doo, ah shall wear [spend] my brass [money]
badly.

SIMILES.

Just tak' th' chill off it [ale].

Aw're us't that aw could ha' swallut it iv it had bin as
cowd as snowbo's ; bo' mi clock-wark 's gettin like owd
Gimp's cart-shaft — rayther temporary.

As hee 's th' Teawer o' Babel, an' a breek or two o'
th' top on't.

Aw 'm thawin' neaw, like a snowbo' on a top-bar.

Aw 've no moor use for a penknife nor Queen Victorey
has for a yeld-hook [heald-hook].

A foowt-bo' 'ut '11 beawnce like a yung widow at a club-
dinner.

He doanc't abeawt th' floor like a scopperill.

As toof as Jone o' Buckler's barn-beef.

As still as a mile-stone.

" Every mon to his likin, but no moor o' yor stew for
me," as HoUoper said when he fund th' ratton-bwones
in his lobscouse.

" Neaw for summat fresh," as Adam o' Rappers said
when he roll't off th' kitchen slate into th' midden-
hole.

Similes. 191

He danc't up an' deawti war nor a drunken pace-egger.
As stiff [dead] as a maggot.

As cramm'd [ill-tempered] as a wisket, an' as 'cute
as Dick's hat-band.

That winter 'ut things wurn so bad bent him deawn
like a windle.

His hant wur as thin as a comm [comb].
He 'ire as quiet as a stopt clock ; he 're stark deead.
Aw 'd no brass [money] o' mi awn ; nobbut what had
as monny legs as an earwig.

We 're o' 00 a litter, like Kitter pigs [«>., the pigs of
the sand-knockers of Sraallbridge].

It 's war [worse] nor muckin wi' sond an' drainin wi'
cinders.

His e'e-seet cuts across somewheer abeawt th' end ov
his nose as sharp as a pair o' sithors.

" Every one to ther likins/' as owd George o' Jammy's
sed when he swallut th' suwerin.

Oif aw seet deawn th' fowt, like a thrail dog.

It 'ud melt th' heart o' a whet-stone, or, what's
harder, a putter-eawt.

That 's same as owd Nanny Roger's blynt hoss ; it 's a
ripper.

He Sprawlt like a stricken tooad upo' the greawnd.

As quiet as a chapel.

He 're straight as ony picken-rod.

And limber as a snig.

Goo trailin' abeawt

Like a hen at 's i' th' meawt [moult].

192 Lancashire Rhymes, &c.

Rascots i' th' ward ar' as thick as wasps in a hummobee
neest.

As thrunk as Throp's wife, when she hang'd hersel' in
th' dish-cloot.

As cross as an ex [the letter x].

Hoo keck'd as stiff as if hoo'd swallud a poker.

As droy as soot.

As fat as a snig, as smoot as a mowdywarp, an as
plain as a pike-staff.

As gaunt as a grewant [greyhound].

As mute and modest as mowdywarps.

As stiff as a gablock [crowbar].

As gawmless as a goose.

As hongry as a rotton.

Me throttle 's as dry as a kex [gex = gewse = Longsaxi-
frage\.

It 'd weeary a grooin tree.

He skens [squints] ill enough to crack a lookin'-glass
welly.

He 's as feaw [ugly] as an empty pot ole o'er beside
bein as dirty as Thump o' Dolly's 'at deed wi bein
wesht.

He stares like a tarrier-dog uts watchin a ratton.

Aw 've no moor use for a book nor a duck has for a
umbrell.

Aw'st keep comin ogeean, yo may depend j— like
Clegg Ho' boggart.

As rich as Cheetham o' Castleton.

They swore like hoss-swappers.

Sayings. 193

Tim Bobbin cud write a clear print bond, as smo as
smithy smudge.

As consated as a wisket [basket].

He used to be as limber [lively] as a'treawt when he 're
young ; bud neaw he 's us wambley [shaky] and slamp
[tottering] as a barrow full o' warp sizin.

As hard as a cobbler's lapstone.

A I face as long as Solomon Sampson's sow ; which
could never learn to talk, but was a devil to think.

Poor and peart, like the parson's pig,

Puffing like a porpoise-pig.

Squilting like a duck in thunder.

Grinning like my granny at a hot pufF-cake.

Like a mule at a nettle early in spring.

Grinning like a clown through a horse-collar at Eccles
wakes for a pound o' 'bacco.

As patient as Willy Wood's horse, ut died one day in
a fit o' patience, waitin for fodder.

LANCASHIRE SAYINGS.

Kent and Keer

Have parted many a good man and his mere [mare].

[The river Kent, at low water, flows in several chan-
nels over the sands, to the middle of Morecambe Bay.
The Keer enters upon the sands in a broad and rapid
current, rendering the passage over it at times more dan-
gerous than fording the Kent. Many have perished in

N

194 Lancashire Rhymes, &€.

fordiftg both rivers when swollen, and in crossing the
adjacent sands, without due regard to the state of the
tide].

" All we, like sheep, have gone astray."

[In a letter of Henry Tilson, Bishop of Elphin, dated
April 2, 1 65 1, the prelate writes — "I trist to do God
service in the exercise of my ministry amongst that
moorish and late rebellious plundering people [at Cum-
berworth]. When I went first to Rochdale, you may
remember what the old ostler at the baiting willed me
to do. " Take with you (said he) a great box full o' tar,
for you shall find a great company of scabbed sheep."]

As fierce as a dig. [A dig is a duck.]

As drunk as David's old sow.

Grinning like a Cheshire cat chewing gravel.

Never done like PiUing Moss.

As common as ploughs.

His e'en twinkled like a farthing rushlight.

Quite young and all alive,
Like an old maid of forty-five.

What everybody has to do, nobody does it.

Hoo howds up hur yed like a new bowt tit.

A steady person is said to be " like Colne clock-
always at one ; " i.e, always the same.

Birtle [or Bircle] folk are a deeal on 'em sib an' sib,
rib an' rib,— o' 00 a litter, — Fittons and Diggles, and
Fittons and Diggles o'er again.

He '11 sit a fire eawt ony time, tellin' his bits 0' country
tales.

Sayings, 195

Newyer's days keep'n comin reawn, like old Ratcher's
cream-jug, 'ut never stopt till someb'dy wur laid under
th' table.

Yo 're puttin yo'r yed in a dog-kennel neaw.

He's ta'en his reed and geirs in, lang sin' \i.e., he's
dead].

On a bed a men lee, that fawert he 're wavin his last
draw-deawn o' life.

A plum-pudding. — At eawr club-dinner it coom on th'
table i' thunner an' leetnin [blazing brandy], an' had
welly ha sweel't a chap's ee-brees off wi' lookin at it.
That were th' sort for shiftin' ther ribs, an' makkin 'em
tak' ther wynt thick.

Good ale. — Noan o' yor brew'd besoms this; bo'
gradely stingo. A quart o' this o' th' top ov a beef-
stake 'ud mak' a chap's ribs feel do'some [healthy], would
nor it ? Well, here 's luck ! That 's what aw co' milk
o' paradise, or natyer's pap. Yo' may seawk at it till
yo're blynt, an' ne'er be satisfied.

Wur eaivT Sally crause ? Bo' aw no 'casion t 'ax that
if hur tung wur no' fast. Her temper '11 ne'er be meawlt
[mouldy] wi' keepin'.

Two gradely red-hot Jacobins o' th' Gallythumpian
breed, 'ut could smell a pa'son a field off, an' 'ud rayther
see a quart o' ale upo' th' table any time nor goo an'
harken him prache.

It favourit him to a wrinkle.

Owder and th' maddher.

Don' yo know what we ha' opo' th' throne o' Englan'
just meet neaw ? A mother an' her childer, mon ! And

196 Lancashire Rhymes, &c.

a gradely dacent little woman, too, as ever bote off th'
edge o' a moufin.

Iv that 's aw th' arran yo hav', aw deawt yo 've made a
lost gate.

Aw ail mich 0' naut yet, whan aw'm meyt whot [able
to eat meals] an' sich like.

Folk connut expect to ha' youth at bwoth ends o' life,
aw guess ; an' we mun o' un us owd be, or young dee,
as th' sayin' is.

It 's cowd enough theer to starve an otter to deeath
i' winter-time.

Folk at 's a dur to keep oppen connut do 't wi' th'
wynt. [Folk that have a house to maintain cannot do it
with the wind.]

Owdham rough yeds. Bowton trotters.' Smo'bridge
Cossacks. Heywood " monkey-teawn."

Anti-vegeiarian diet. — I loike summat at's deed ov a
knife.

Country people say that town's folk have nothing
wholesome about them. They're o' offal and boilin'
pieces.

He '11 seawk lamp-oil through a 'bacco-pipe, iv ony-
body '11 give him a droight o' ale to wesh it deawn wi'.

Iv yo'rn up at th' Smo'bridge, yo'dd'n be fit to heyt'
yerth bobs and scaplins welly [small fragments]. Th'
wynt's cleean up theer, an' ther's plenty on't, and we
con help ersels to 't when we liken.

Aw 's ne'er get eawt o' this hoyl, till aw'm carried eawt
feet foremost.

Sayings. 197

Keep yor heart eawt o' yor clogs.

It 's a fine thing is laming ; it ta'es no reawm up, men ;
an' then th' baillies connut fot it, thea sees.

Aw'm noan one o' th' best, yo know ; naw, nor th'
warst nothur, Jone. Happen not ; but thee'rt too good
to burn, as hea 't be [too good to burn, howsoever it
be].

That clock begins o' givin short 'lowance, as soon as
ever aw get agate o' talkin.

Aw 'd sooner see thee nor two fiddlers, ony time.

They [cheap-trippers] felt fain at they 'rn wick.

Tormentil grows oftenest abeawt th' edge o' th' sing-
ing layrock neest.

Solomon's seal — to cure black e'en wi'.

We 're o' somebory's childer.

Tfie sign of the Roebuck and Grapes — " Sitho, sitho',
Mary, at yon brass dog, heytin' brass marrables ! "

Enoof is us good us o feeost.

Sit thee deawn, and thee '11 be less bi th' legs.

A quart ov ale wouldn' come amiss ; and he wouldn't
wynd aboon wonst afore he 'd see 'd th' bottom o' th'
pot.

Lord John, th' Wheyver. — Aw think they'n ha' to fot
Lord Jone back to wheyve his cut deawn. To my
thinkin, he 'd no business t' ha laft his looms. But aw
dare say he knows his job better nor aw do. He '11 be
as fause as a boggart, or elze he'd never ha' bin i' that
shop as lang as he has — not he.

1 98 Lancashire Rhymes, &c.

Th' best o' folk need'n bidin' wi' a bit, sometimes.

See yo, tae this cheer ; it 's as chep sittin' as stonnin',
for ought aw know.

Aw '11 find you some gradely good stuff [oat cake] ; an'
it 's a deael howsomer [wholesomer] nor loaf, too, mind
yo.

It 's some o' a cowd neet. Meh nose fair sweats
again.

Thee 'rt noan one o' th' warst mak' o' folk, as rough as
t' art.

"That's just reet," as Ab' o' Finders said when his
woife bote her tung i' two.

Owd woman, yo desarv'n a cumfutabble sattle'ment
i' th' top shop [heaven] when yo de'en.

By th' mass, iv aw're heer a bit moor, aw'd mae some
rickin i' this cawve-cote [some noise like springing a
watchman's rattle in this calf-house] too.

Whay, mon yo'dd'n fair sink into a deead sleep, an
fair dee i' th' spell, iv one didn't wakkin yo up a bit
neaw and then.

Aw'd goo as far as owther graiss grew, or waytur run,
afore aw'd live amoon sich doins.

By Guy, he's hardly wit enof to keep fro' runnin'
again waytur.

Thi' dd'n just getten a yure o' th' owd dog into 'em ;
an' they sit afore th' fire, as quiet, to look at, as two pot
dolls.

Up [chimbley] wi' tho ; soot's good for th' bally-
wurch ; an' it'll be a bit ov an' eawt for tho.

Sayings. 199

Yo're a rook o' th' biggest nowmuns at ever trode
ov a floor.

Aw never sprad my e'en upo' th' marrow trick to this
i' my loife.

Are yo noan flayed o' throwing yor choles [jaws] off'
th' hinges ?

Ther 's moor in his yed nor a smo'-tooth comb con fot
eawt.

It 's enough to ma'e onybody cry their shoon full.

A bad trade '11 spoil a good mon sometimes, iv he'll
stick weel to 't.

Keep yor peckurs up.

Tho' we live'n o' th' floor, same as layrocks,
We'n goo up, like layrocks, to sing.

Theaw geawses within two tumbles ov a leawse.

I oather anger't some he-witch, or the Dule threw his
club o'er me 't momin when I geet op ; for misfortins
coom on me as thick as leet.

Fworse is medsn for a mad dhog.

Gexin's [guessing] akin to lyin.

Proof o' th' puddin 's i' th' eatin.

Sich wark as this ma'es me t'scrat where aw dunno itch.

Thoose 'ut couno' tell a bitter-bump fro' a gillhooter
[a bittern from an owl].

As sure as a tup's a sheep.

They'n th' bigg'st meawths i' yon country at ever aw
seed clapt under a lip ! Aw hove one on 'em his yure

200 Lancashire Rhymes', &c.

up, to see iv his meauth went o' reawnd ; but he knockt
me into the dhitch.

He 's one o' thoose at '11 lend onybody a shillin', iv
they'n give him fourteenpence to stick to.

On receiving a present of game from a son. — It isn't
so oft 'at th' kittlin brings th' owd cat a meawse, but it
has done this time.

Thae 'rt to white abeawt th' ear-roots to carry a gray
toppin whoam, aw deawt.

Aw wouldn't lend te a dog to catch a ration wi'.

[Some statesmen might do] to sceawr warps, or to
wesh barrils eawt at th' back o' th' Bull's Yed ; but are
no moor fit to govern a nation nor Breawn at the Shore,
or Owd Batterlash, at beat waytur far runnin !

Boarding 's t' best laving {i.e., putting the feast on the
board is the best invitation).

Love's a philter, they sayn, to mak' th' dead wick
[quick].

As uneasy as a keeper wi' varmint.

Better so than run offfleyed [affrighted] loike a heawnd
cotched poaching.

A mow o' hay 's as soft i' moi arms as moi owd wench.

Colliers v. Farm Labourers. — What t' farreps, mon,
dost gaum [suppose] us chaps as tears t' guts eawt o' th'
eairth am nobbut a set o' gaumrils [du-llards] an' neatrils
[idiots], loike fellies as scrat holes for praties loike
rations, an' niver crooks their backs but t' m.ow gress,
or t' ma'e a doike ? Thae be far.

To the question, — "What have you got there?" a

Proverbs. 201

common reply is — " Lay-o'ers [lay-overs, i.e., thumps] for
meddlers."

To the query, " Where did you get it ? " the answer
is,." Where Kester [Christopher] bought his coat." To
the further inquiry — " Where wur that ? " the ready reply
is, " Where 't wur to be hed."

PROVERBS.

He that would have his fold full

Must keep an old tup and a young bull.

He who will have a full flock

Must have an old stagge [gander] and a young cock.

A cod's head is a cod's head still.
Whether in a pewter or a silver dish.

Good-will, when getten, is as good as gowd [gold].

A creaking door hangs long o' th' hinges.

There's a hill again a slack, all Craven through.
(About equivalent to " every bean hath its black.")

" No, thank you," has lost many a good butter-cake.

He'll go through th' wood, and ta' th' crummock
[crooked stick] at last.

Candlemas-day coom and goan,
Th' snow lies on a whot stoan.

If you willn't when you may,
When you will, I'll say you nay.

The third time throws best ; or, pays for all.

Stroke with one hand and strike with the other.

202 Lancashire Rhymes, &c.

When ability faileth friendship decayeth.

He shall find my frowns lie buried with his follies, and
my favours to be revived with his good fortunes.

'Bout's bare, but it's yeasy. Bout, Lancashire for
without, i.e., he that is without money is bare, but it is
easy [safe] travelling — he has no fear of robbery. John
Byrom quotes this proverb in a letter after noticing an
alarm about highwaymen, and adding — " This is a terror
that poor folks know nothing on."

POPULAR RHYMES AND PROVERBS.
We take the following, which relate to the north-eastern
and north-western borders of Lancashire, from a paper,
by Mr A. C. Gibson, Esq., F.S.A., on " Popular Rhymes
and Proverbs." As to the prosperous and beautiful
village of Bowness, on Windermere —

" New church, old steeple,
Poor town, and proud people."

The Vale of Troutbeck opens upon Windermere about
midway between Bowness and Ambleside, and is divided
into three Hundreds, each of which maintains a bridge
over the stream, a bull for breeding purposes, and a
constable for the preservation of order, — severally known
as "the Hundred Bridge," &c. Hence the men of
Troutbeck are given to astonish strangers by boasting
that their little chapelry possessed "three hundred
bridges, three hundred bulls, and three hundred con-
stables." It is probable that some revengeful victim of
this quibble perpetrated the following : —

" There 's three hundred brigs i' Troutbeck,
Three hundred bulls,
Three hundred constables,
And many hundred^/j / "

Rhymes and Proverbs. 203

There is an old school rhyme —

" God made man, man made money ; >

God made bees, bees made honey ;
God made the devil, the devil made sin;
God made a hole to put the devil in."

An old farmer in Fumess, whose worldly goods had
been subjected to the tender mercies of the law, is said to
have added to this the following couplet : —

' ' But the devil hissel made lawyers and 'tumies,
And placed 'em at U'ston and Dawton in Fumess ;"

that is, at Ulverston and Dalton, pronounced as in the
rhyme. In High Furness it is said that " the towns are
finished and the country unfinished." The first part of this
paradoxical adage has arisen from the custom of distin-
guishing Hawkshead, the only town the district boasts,
as " a finished town," because it has shown no increase,
either in extent or population, probably for centuries.
The second part refers chiefly to the western border of
High Furness, where the chapelry of Seathwaite extends
along the Lancashire side of the river Duddon, in the
upper part of its course, and the scenery is remarkably
wild ; so that the arrangement, or rather the non-arrange-
ment, of —

' ' Crags, knolls, and mounds confusedly hurled,
The fragments of an earlier world,"

has given to the minds of certain imaginative observers
the impression that the fair work of creation has been
left somewhat incomplete there. Wordsworth tells of a
traveller who, having arrived at Seathwaite over-night,
walked out before breakfast; and being asked, on his
return to the little public-house, how far he had been,
replied, " As far as it is finished I " The soil and
climate of Seathwaite are not favourable to the produc-

204 Lancashire Rhymes, &c.

tion of the finer varieties of grain. The high grounds
are all sheep pastures, and the " few small crofts of
stone-encumbered ground," divided by dry-walls, and
attached to each tenement, are devoted to the growth
of summer grass and winter fodder for ' the hardy
cattle, and of oats and potatoes for the equally hardy
families. This limited range of agricultural produce is
remarked upon in two jingling verses, wherein nearly all
the farms in Seathwaite are mentioned —

" Newfield and Nettleslack,

Hollinhouse and Longhouse,
Turner Hall and Under-Crag,

Beckhouse, Thrang, and Tongue-house,
Browside, Troutwell, Hinging-house,

Dalehead, and Cockley Beck,
Yan may gadder o' t' wheat they grow,

And niwer fill a peck ! "

In the fall of the year, a caller at any Seathwaite farm-
house will notice upon a hanging-shelf, or some such
repository, a bundle of what looks rather like dirty straw,
but which, on examination, turns out to be half peeled
rushes saturated with fat ; and are the principal, if not
the sole provision made for the supply of light to the
household in the evenings of winter. In the dales
around Seathwaite a proverbial saying may be heard to the
effect that " a Seathwaite candle 's a greased seeve ;" seeve
being Cumbrian for rush. Another domestic custom in
Seathwaithe has given rise to another proverb. The
week's meat (generally mutton) is all boiled on the
Sunday for broth, and the cold meat is eaten on the
other six days of the week. This dried mutton is not
very nice when eaten hot, but when cold is excellent ;
while the broth is simply detestable, so much so, that
people in the neighbouring dales, when they find their

Rhymes and Proverbs. 205

soup watery, their tea washy, their porridge thin, or their
toddy weak, will say—" It 's hot and wet, like Seath-
waite broth ; " implying, of course, that this is all that
can be said in its praise. Another saying, " We 've no
back-doors in Seathwaite," indicates the primitive char-
acter of their domestic arrangements, as well as their
intolerance of modern household conventionalities. It
is quoted by their neighbours to illustrate these wants,
and is used also when any person, of homely manners
and habits, is expected to observe some unaccustomed
requirement of a more advanced state of civiUsation.
It is said to have had its birth in a Seathwaite youth
taking a basket of provision to the front door of a gentle-
man at Coniston ; and on being desired by a servant to
go to the back, replying, in a tone of remonstrance,
" We 've neah back-dooars i' Seeathet ! " The road
from Cumberland to Furness winds sharply round the
foot of the mountain called Black Combe. The people
of Broughton-in-Fumess hold that nothing good ever
came round that nook.

Mr W. Dobson, of Preston, says^" It is a very com-
mon expression to say of a person having two houses,
even if temporarily, that he has ' Lathom and Knowsley.
These were formerly the Lancashire seats of the Earls of
Derby. Lathom, on the death of the ninth Earl in 1702,
passed by descent to his daughter Lady Ashbumham, and
ultimately by sale to the Booth family, the representative
of which now owns it. Knowsley passed with the earl-
dom to the heir-male, and is now the seat of the head
of the Stanley family. Though separate possessions
for above a hundred and fifty years, the expression
' Lathom and Knowsley ' still survives. Another proverb
relates to one of these houses — ' There 's been worse stirs
than that at Lathom,' alluding, no doubt, to the havoc

2o6 Lancashire Rhymes, &c.

made there when the Parliamentary forces took it in
1645. This saying comes in when a flitting, a white-
washing, or any other domestic ' stir ' of an unpleasant
nature, makes an apology needful on the score of un-
tidiness and confusion."

Fuller, in his "Worthies," notices only two Lanca-
shire proverbs. [The first he gives — "Lancashire fair
women," which is doubtless the origin of our more
modern phrase of " Lancashire Witches." " I beheve "
(adds the quaint old worthy) " that the God of nature,
having given fair complexions to the women of this
county, Art may save her pains (not to say her sins) in
endeavouring to better them. But let the females of
this county know, that though in the Old Testament
express notice be taken of the beauty of many women
— Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, Abigail, Tamar, Abishag,
Esther, — yet in the New Testament no mention is made
at all of the fairness of any woman ; not because they
wanted, but because grace is chief gospel beauty. Ehza^
beth's unblamableness, the Virgin Mary's pondering
God's Word, the Canaanitish woman's faith, Mary Mag-
dalen's charity, Lydia's attention to Paul's preaching,
— these soul - piercing perfections are far better than
skin-deep fairness." The other proverb cited by Fuller
is —

" It is written upon a wall in Rome,
' Ribchester was as rich as any town in Christendome ! ' "

He adds : "We suppose some monumental wall in Rome,
as a register whereon the names of principal places were
inscribed, then subject to the Roman empire ; and pro-
bably this Ribchester anciently was some eminent colony
(as by pieces of coins and columns, there daily digged

Rhymes and Proverbs. 207

out, doth appear). However, at this day, it is not so
much as a market-town ; but whether decayed by age or
destroyed by accident, is uncertain." Antiquarians were
formerly much divided in opinion as to whether this was
the site of the ancient Roman station Rerigonium, or
that of Coccium. This question may now be considered
to be set at rest by the discovery of the site of Coccium
at Walton-le-dale, by Mr Hardwick, who has fully de-
scribed it in his " History of Preston."

"As old as Pendle Hill."— "This," says Captain
Grose, " is generally understood to mean coeval with
the creation ; although, if it be, as some have supposed,
the effect of a volcano, its first existence may be of a
later date."

" If Rivington Pike do wear a hood,
Be sure the day will ne'er be good."

A mist upon Rivington Hill is considered to be a sure
sign of foul weather.

"Stop-ford law — no stake, no draw." — Stockport is
the place meant, nearly one-half of which borough is in
Lancashire. " This proverb," says Grose, " is commonly
used to signify that only such as contribute are entitled
to drink of the hquor."

" The constable of Openshaw sets beggars in stocks
at Manchester." — Grose erroneously puts this among
Cheshire proverbs, and adds : " Ray has not given the
meaning of this proverb, nor can I guess at it." This,
however, may mean that when the constable of Open-
shaw found Manchester sparks enjoying themselves too
freely in his district, he could follow them home, and

2o8 Lancashire Rhymes, &c.

then have them placed in the stocks for drunkenness
and disorderly conduct.

The Lancashire proverbial saying, " As drunk as
blazes," is probably corrupted from " as drunk as Blai-
zers." The day of Bishop Blaize, February 3, the patron
saint of the wool-combers, is celebrated every seventh
year by a procession of the masters and workmen in the
woollen manufacture. The procession is accompanied
by music, maskers, morris-dancers, &c., ^nd the festivi-
ties of the latter part of the day become, for the most
part, drunken orgies. Hence, probably, the origin of
the saying.

When a person is much addicted to talking unneces-
sarily, he is often said to be able to " Talk a horse's
leg off;" and there is a variation of this saying which
asserts that such a one will " Talk th' leg off a brass
pan."

God bless hur ! Aw could eyt hur to a thum-butter-
cake, that aw cud.

Dun yo think yon chap's o his weft in ? He 's sum-
mat like Owd Calamity wur, when they tee'd him deawn
i bed and then shavet his toppin.

He beeats Wrynot; an Wrynot beats the Dule, he
does.

It is not the hen that cackles most that lays most
eggs.

Jackasses never can sing well, because they pitch
their notes too high.

A mouse that has only one hole is easily taken.
A woman's tongue wags like a lamb's tail

Rhymes and Proverbs. 209

A small house has a wide throat.

Attorneys' houses are built upon the heads of fools.

Those who are doing nothing are doing ill.

Brawling curs never want sore ears.

Truth and sweet oil always come to the top.

It is all in the day's work.

Robin Hood could bear any wind but a thaw wind.

The devil's children always have the devil's luck.

Like a pig's tail— going all day, and nothing done at
night.

A wise head makes a still tongue.

Every dog considers himself a lion at home.

One half of the devil's meal runs to bran.

There 's no getting white meal out of a coal-sack.

He has none of his chairs at home (i.e., he is wrong in
his head).

Don't stretch thy arm further than thy sleeve will
reach.

Every herring should hang by its own gills.

They are not all thieves that dogs bark at.

There 's more flies caught with honey than alegar.

That man is safest who always serves a good con-
science.

A man might as well eat the devil as the broth he 's

boiled in.

O

2IO Lancashire Rhymes, &c.

" As thick (friendly) as inkle weavers." Inkle, or
beggar's inkle, is a kind of coarse tape, used by cooks to
secure meat previously to being spitted ; and by farriers
to tie round horses' feet, &c. The introduction of this
kind of tape was from the Low Countries during the
persecutions of the sixteenth century. The traffic was
carried on by a few foreign weavers, who kept the secret
among themselves ; and being of one trade, country, and
religion, of course became staunch and familiar friends.
Hence the expression.

The proverb, " It is the still (quiet) sow that eats up
the draff," is prevalent in Scotland as well as in Lanca-
shire. " As the sow fills the draff sours," also occurs in
the North. The dialects of the North counties are very
similar to the Lowland Scotch.

If he had as much brass (money) as he has in his face
he would be a rich man.

Heart healing reacheth to the bottom of the sore.
The more common the good the better it is.
Envy may have its wish, but will miss its end.
' Who more bold than blind Bayard ?
One scabbed sheep may infect the whole.
.Better late than never.
Enough you Ve got — then ask for noa more.
It is good to cut our coats according to our cloth.
The burnt child dreads the fire.
Great hopes are quickly dashed.
Hopes come oft in heaps.

Rhymes and Proverbs. 2 1 1

Much would have more.

Excessive shows of sorrow spend themselves quickly.

A plain rule — the briefer the better.

Malice seldom underdoes its work.

Home is home, though never so homely.

What men do weakly, God overrules wisely.

'Tis an old proverb, that those that fare well and flit
have St Patrick's curse.

They say, self-sore is no sore, but certainly 'tis the
worst of sores.

It has become a proverb — Better workmen the worse
husbands.

It is an old saying — The soft drop wears the hard
stone by frequent falling.

Affliction seldom comes alone.

As a dog or storm drives sheep together, so do afflic-
tions God's people.

Truth seeks not comers, but some causes need shifts.

As dogs set men a-fighting, so wicked people use to
stir up strife.

Some may better steal a horse than others look o'er
the hedge.

Crosses come with comforts.

Experience is the mother of wisdom.

Prudence saves handsomely what indiscretion spends
vainly.

212 Lancashire Rhymes, &c.

He bites as keen as an otter ; he can dinge [indent]
iron.

You'll sooner get blood out of a stone, than get him
to give you anything.

He 's a keen un ; he '11 flay two cats for one skin.

He '11 never get on ; his back 's too stiff ; there 's a
booan in it at willont bend.

They 're as like as two peys [peas] ; their wives
wouldn't know toan fro' t' other.

He 's a good un, is Jack ; he never says dee [die].

There 's noa good in him, I can see, by t' cast of his
een.

As queer as Dick's hat-band, that went nine times
round, and wouldn't tie.

He 's as deeof as a dur nail ; but offer him owt, and
he '11 hear you a mile off.

Like a cat ; always leets on his feet.

It's noa yuse tynin t' yate [shutting the gate] when
t' hoss is stown.

When poverty enters the dqor, love flies out at the
window.

Many years ago, during a violent thunderstorm, Jem
O' Bradeley's wife asked him to pray. The answer was,
"Pray thysel;" and she began, "Thou shalt have no
other gods but me." Bradeley, hearing this, declared
that he would " be beawt then." This incident gave rise
to the now common expression^" If that 's all, I '11 be
Jem O' Bradeley on 't, I '11 be beawt."

Rhymes and Proverbs. 213

CHAPTER OF PROVERBS.

By the Rev. Thomas Wilson, B.D., Head-Master of
Clitheiroe Grammar School, 1775-1813.

Buonaparte, the bully, resolves to come over,
With' flat-bottomed wherries from Calais to Dover;
No perils to him in the billows are found,
For " if born to be hanged, he can never be drowned."

From a Corsican dunghill this fungus did spring,
He was soon made a captain, and would be a king ;
But the higher he rises, his conduct's more evil,
For " a beggar on horseback will ride to the devil."

To seize all we have, and then clap us in gaol,
To devour all our victuals and drink up our ale,
And to grind us to dust, is the Corsican's will,
For they say " all is grist that e'er .comes to his mill."

To stay quiet at home that great hero can't bear,
Or perhaps " he would have other fish to fry " there ;
So as fish of that sort do not suit his desire.
He " leaps out of the frying-pan into the fire."

He builds barges and cock-boats and crafts without end,
And numbers the host which to England he '11 send ;
But in spite of his craft, and in spite of his boast,
" He reckons, 'tis true, but 'tis not with his host."

He rides upon France, and he tramples on Spain,
And Holland and Italy holds in a chain ;
He says Britain he '11 conquer, and still understands,
" That one bird in the bush is worth four in his hands."

He trusts that his luck will all dangers expel,
" But the pitcher is broke which goes oft to the well ; "
And when our brave soldiers this bully surround,
" Though he 's thought penny-wise, he '11 pound-foolish be
found."

2 14 Lancashire Rhymes, &c.

France cannot forget that our fathers of yore,
Used to pepper and butcher, at sea and on shore ;
And we '11 speedily prove to this mock Alexander,
" What was sauce for the goose will be sauce for the
gander."

I 've heard, and I 've read in a great many books,'
Half the Frenchmen are tailors and " t'other half cooks ; "
We 've trimmings in store for the knights of the cloth,
" And the cooks that come here will but spoil their own
broth."

It is said that the French are a numerous race.
And perhaps it is true, for " ill weeds grow apace ; "
But come when they will, and as many as dare,
I suspect they' 11 "arrive the day after the fair."

To invade us more safely these warriors boast,
They will wait till a storm drives our fleet from the coast,
That 'twill be " an ill wind " will be soon understood.
For a wind that blows Frenchmen " blows nobody good."

They would treat Britain worse than they've treated

Mynheer,
But they '11 find that " they 've got the wrong sow by the

ear ; "
Let them come, then, in swarms, by this Corsican led.
And I '11 warrant we'll "Tiit the right nail on the head."

PART VI,

MISCELLANEOUS SUPERSTITIONS
AND OBSERVANCES.

MISCELLANEOUS SUPERSTITIONS AND
OBSERVANCES.

INTRODUCTION.

There are many superstitions and observances still
current in Lancashire which do not readily admit of
classification. Some of these are, no doubt, due to the
earliest settlers in the county ; others have been intro-
duced by those who have successively conquered and
colonised the district ; and the rest have probably had
their origin in the local circumstances by which the
peasantry have been surrounded. Natural phenomena
never fail to arrest the attention of an ignorant popula-
tion; and their effects are always attributed to causes,
which, so far as they can judge, appear sufficient for their
production. Unaccustomed to reason, it is enough for
them, when one circumstance frequently follows another,
to suggest that some occult relation exists between them ;
and hence the omens and auguries, the spells and incan-
tations, the weather-wisdom and the medical lore, which
prevail in the undisturbed nooks and corners of our
county.

It would not be difficult to assign many of the follow-
ing items to their respective sources ; and to explain
their probable import in accordance with commonly
received theories ; but we have contented ourselves with
merely noting their existence, leaving for others the task

2 1 8 Lancashire Superstitions.

of forming a comparative folk-lore from the abundant
materials which are in course of being collected. Every-
one of the following instances is current in some portion
of the county ; not a few have been familiar to the writer
from childhood ; and the rest have been written down
as they occurred, almost from the mOuths of the narra-
tors. So far as is known, the majority of these examples
have never before found their way into any printed
collection of the folk-wisdom of this or any other county.
Under this limitation, the folk-lore of

BIRDS

Furnishes several curious superstitions. Popular
opinion states that if we turn over any money which we
may happen to have in our pockets, when we first hear
the cuckoo in the spring, we shall thereby secure a
prosperous year. Lovers are told that if they will take
off their left shoe when the cuckoo is first heard, they
will find a hair in it of the same colour as that of their
respective future husbands or wives. Children greet
them, on their first appearance, with

" Cuckoo ! Cuckoo ! cherry tree,
Lay an egg and give it me. "

They are popularly said to indicate length of life accord-
ing to the number of times they shout out their only
notes. Hence, they are addressed in the following
terms, and their answers are considered ominous by
those who put the questions : —

" Cuckoo ! cuckoo ! cherry tree.
Pretty bird, come tell to me,
How many years ! Before you fly.
How many years before I die ? "

The story of the " Babes in the Wood " appears to have

Birds. 2 1 9

done good service for the robin. Farmers and their
servants are frequently told that if they kill a robin their
cows will give blood instead of milk ; and they are also
said to cover dead bodies with leaves whenever they are
suffered to lie out of doors unburied. Crows are said to
bespatter persons with dung who have neglected to pro-
vide some new article of dress for Easter Sunday ; and
boys who are sent to scare them away from the crops
imagine that they do it most effectually by screaming
out —

" Crow ! crow ! fly away ; ,

Come again o' Setterday.
Crow ! crow ! get out o' my sect,
Or I'll eat thy liver to mom at neet. "

The magpie augury assumes different forms in different
counties. The following is prevalent in East Lanca-
shire : —

" One for sorrow ; two for mirth ;
Three for a wedding ; four for a birth ;
Five for the rich ; six for the poor ;

Seven for a bitch ; eight for a ;

Nine for a burying ; ten for a dance ;
Eleven for England ; twelve for France."

CATS.
The hairs from cats are considered to be very detrimental
to health ; and these animals are not unfrequently sent
away from a house, or destroyed, when any child, or
young person, begins to show symptoms of bad health.
When cats' hairs get into the stomach they are supposed
to be almost indigestible ; but that they admit of being
dissolved by eating a portion of an egg-shell every morn-
ing fasting. This medicine is frequently prescribed.
If a cat sleeps in a child's cradle, or on its bed, it is

220 Lancashire Superstitions.

supposed to inhale the child's life, and disease soon
follows. When we desire a cat to stay at home, we
must grease its feet with new butter and it will not
wander away. Again : — a witch and a cat are always
good company. Their natures are much alike ; and
hence, they help to form a portion of every " load of
mischief."

Superstitious observances respecting the health and
preservation of

CHILDREN

Are very numerous, 'and are constantly practised in
our nurseries and cottages. Young children are often
reminded that they ought not to walk backwards in a
room, or on a road ; — if they do, death will soon deprive
them of their mothers. Many persons consider it sinful
to give a child the same Christian name as another who
is dead : one female remarked to the writer that " id
worgooin ageean God Omeety as hed ta'en t'other away."
A child with two crowns, or two circular tufts of hair, will
live in two kings' reigns. Very few nurses yrill convey
a child down-^t2xxi, the first time it is removed from the
room ; they always carry '\X up z. few steps, if possible,
towards the attic, in order that it may hereafter rise in
the world. For want of other means the nurse some-
times mounts a chair with the child in her arms. The
belief in changelings is not yet extinct; especially
amongst the lower Irish population.

A person now living in Burnley firmly believed that
her withered, consumptive child was a changeling.
She told the writer that it would not live long ; and
when it diedj she said " the fairies had got their own."
Our peasantry also hold that unbaptized children neither

Children. 221

go to heaven nor to liell ; but wander in an intermediate
state, and become either fairies or pixies. Baptism is
said to drive the devil out of children ; and neghgent
mothers are frequently reminded that they become better
tempered and have better health after they have been
christened.

When an infant smiles in its sleep our nurses say that
the angels are whispering to it ; but when it starts up in
terror, then some demon is tormenting it. Precocious
children are seldom long-lived; — they are often reminded
that they " are too fause [wise] to live." If children are
weighed before they are a year old ; or if their finger
nails are cut, instead of being bitten off, during the same
period, bad health and misfortune will follow. When
children cut their teeth early, their mothers are supposed
to be prolific ; the old adage being —

" Soon ith goom [gum] ; quick ith woom [womb]."

The good or ill fortune of children is the subject of
several predictions. Female infants with small white
hands are considered to be " born ladies." Their future
success in life is frequently tested by means of tickUng
their knees, while the following words are being
repeated : —

" If you 're to be a lady,
As I expect to see ;
You will neither laugh nor smile,
While I tickle on your knee."

Occasionally nurses may be detected tying three pieces
of straw to the top of a stick. This is done in order
to test the the disposition of a strange child; for it is
said that —

" Three straws stuck on a staif
Will make a baby cry or laugh."

222 Lancashire Superstitions.

COURTSHIP

Is always an engrossing subject, and has appropriated
its full share of omens and superstitious ceremonies.
The dictum that "Long courtships make bad mar-
riages," is never questioned by any ; for it is well
known that —

" Happy is the wooing
Tliat 's not long a-doing. "

In cases of extreme haste we are told that, " Cold pud-
ding cures hot love ;" and are at the same time reminded
that, " It is best to be slow to make haste." Rubbing
against a newly-married couple is said to be infectious ;
and if an unmarried person stumbles on going up-stairs
it is taken as a sign of early marriage. When a bramble,
or briar, or a thorn branch, adheres to a lady's dress when
she is walking with her lover, it is a sure omen that
he will be faithful. The same encouraging information
is obtained by placing sprigs of the tea plant on the back
of one hand and striking them with the other. If they
stick firmly to the hand which strikes them, so will the
lover whose intentions are being tested. Should a young
female attend church when her own banns are published,
her children will be bom deaf and dumb as a punish-
ment for her want of decency. No one ought to try on
her wedding-dress before the day of the marriage ; for
popular opinion affirms that if she does she will never
live happily with her husband. Fortune in marriage is
still tried in Lancashire as it was in the days of Gay ;
his "Spell" has lost nothing of its force by lapse of
time : —

" Two hazel nuts I threw into the flame.
And to each nut I gave a sweetheart's name ;

Courtship. 223

Tkis with the loudest bounce me sore amazed,
That in a flame of brightest colour blazed j
As blazed the nut, so may thy passion glow,
For 'twas thy nut that did so brightly glow."

Priority of time as to marriage is frequently deter-
mined by means of the " merrythought " bone of a fowl.
Two persons take hold of it with their smallest fingers,
holding the bone the forked side downwards; and the
one who breaks the largest piece from the bone will be
the first to be married. It is considered to be highly
improper for lovers to see each other on a Friday even-
ing. When a couple are found transgressing this rule,
they are followed home by a crowd beating frying-pans,
shovels, tongs, or any implements that will make a dis-
cordant noise when struck, whilst the leader of the gang
loudly proclaims the crime they have been committing.
Great care ought to be taken when the day of the marriage
is selected. The popular dictum is — " As the day of the
wedding so will be the married life of the couple." The
sun ought to shine on every wedding party, for, " Happy
is the bride that the sun shines on." On no account
refuse to relieve a beggar on that day, lest you be sub-
jected to crosses, denials, and disappointments through
life. Sunday is considered to be a very improper day
for marriages, and hence they are seldom celebrated on
that day, especially in country churches. In East Lan-
cashire Thursday appears to be the favoured day; and
this is in accordance with the practice of our Scandin-
avian ancestors, although it is somewhat at variance with
the following metrical regulations : —

" Monday for health — Tuesday for wealth —
Wednesday best day,of all ;
Thursday for losses — Friday for crosses —
Saturday no luck at all.

2 24 Lancashire Superstitions.

FISH AND BACON

Are included in the same category of superstitions, and
various rules have been laid down for the guidance of
family purveyors. Shell-fish are iiot considered to be
wholesome in any month whose name does not contain
the letter R. There is, however, one exception : —

" Cockles and ray,
Come in in May."

Pigs are popularly said to be able " to see the wind,"
in consequence of their restlessness before and during
stormy weather. We are advised never to kill domestic
pigs during the waning of the moon ; for then their flesh
is unwholesome, and will not absorb the salt. The follow-
ing caution is also current throughout the county :^-

' ' Unless your bacon you would mar,
Kill not your pig without the R."

HAIR.

The folk-lore of hair contains several curious items. We
are told that if a horse-hair be placed in a stream of
running water it will soon become alive ; but those who
are only very slightly acquainted with natural history will
be able to correct and also to explain the origin of this
mistake. If a hair be placed on a schoolboy's hand, it
is expected to split the cane with which the school-
master is punishing him. When the splitting does not
take place, the hair will so deaden the pain as to make
it scarcely felt. Youths generally pluck hairs from the
heads of their playmates on each return of their birth-

Medicine. '225

days. They also pull the hair upwards at the back of
the head, in order to ensure them a lucky and prosper-
ous year. This is locally termed " randling." When a
child is bitten by a dog, the bite is said to be effectually
cured by binding a few hairs from the dog over the
wound. As " like cures like," no hydrophobia can pos-
sibly result. During 187 2 an assault case was heard before
two of our county magistrates, which arose from the
owner of a dog refusing to give some of its hairs to the
mother of a child that had been bitten. Red-haired
persons, we are told, do not soon turn grey ; their passions
are more intense than those whose hair is of a different
colour ; and they are not unfrequently reproached
with having descended' from the Scots and Danes,
Red-haired children are supposed to indicate infidelity
on the part of the mother ; they are consequently looked
upon as unlucky, and are not wanted in a neighbour's
house on the morning of New Year's Day. Hair on the
arms is considered to betoken coming riches ; for "When
hairy mich, you '11 soon be rich ; " and when the hair
of the eyebrows meets over the bridge of the nose, it is
taken as an indication that the person who possesses this
peculiarity will certainly be hanged

MEDICINE.

Medical properties enter largely into the common
notions of our peasantry. Most heads of families pos-
sess a knowledge of herbs and roots sufficient to enable
them to treat ordinary diseases with considerable suc-
cess ; and at the proper seasons they never faU to lay in
an ample stock of these simples for future use. Herbals
are in much request ; and herb doctors are met with in

P

2 26 Lancashire Stiperstitions.

every town and village, who profess not only to know
what herbs to prescribe for any given disease, but also to
gather them " when their proper planets are ruling."
There is, however, much to be added to this medical
folk-wisdom which is purely superstitious. Thus, in order
to cure warts, we are instructed to put the same number
of small pebbles into a bag as there are warts ; then to
drop the bag where three or four roads meet, and the
person who picks it up will obtain the warts in addition.
Warts will also disappear soon after they are rubbed with ,
a black snail ; but it must afterwards be impaled on a
spike of the hawthorn, or no effect will be produced.
A farmer, lately resident in Gliviger, found one of his
visitors suffering from toothache; and after exhorting
him to have more faith in Jesus, gave him the following
charm, written on paper, which he was to wear suspended
from his neck, and over his heart, in full assurance that
he would never again suffer from pain in his teeth.
"As St John sat on a stone weeping, Jesus passed by,
and saw him, and said, 'Why weepest thou?' And
John answered and said, ' Because my tooth doth ache.'
Jesus answered and said, ' Whosoever keepeth this charm
for the sake of me, his teeth shall never ache again.'
The same is good and for ever." Placing a cold iron
key on the nape of the neck is frequently practised in
order to stop bleeding at the nose. When persons are
afflicted with tumours of any kind, they are advised to
rub them with a dead man's hand. Smoke from a lime-
kiln, the fumes from ammonia, or liquor from a gas-manu-
factory, are remedies for whooping-cough. This disease
is also supposed to be cured by passing the patient nine
times round the body of an ass. Those who suffer from
rheumatic pains are advised to carry small potatoes in
their pockets, which are held not only to cure, but to

Money. 227

prevent a return of the disease. Consumption is believed
to be produced, in many cases, by drinking water which
has been boiled too long ; and it is frequently sought to
be cured by digging a hole into the earth and causing the
patient to lie down and breathe into it. This remedy is
supposed to be effectual in cases of ordinary coughs,
asthmas, whooping-cough, low spirits, and hysteria. Twin
children are said to be sympathetic ; when one is suffer-
ing the other is more or less affected. The same medi-
cines cure both. When one dies the other is expected
to increase in strength, and to enjoy more vigorous
health. In the vegetable kingdom, the bane and the
antidote always grow near each other. The common
dock is the antidote to the nettle ; and hence we are
told from childhood that when we are stung by a nettle
we must rub the leaf of the dock over the part, repeat-
ing the words — " Nettle come out, dock go in ; " and
the smarting will gradually cease.

MONEY.

There are several curious aphorisms current in the
county respecting money. When we obtain possession
of a piece of gold, we are sometimes advised to rub it
over both eyelids, and we shall, in consequence, soon
see more. When a rainbow appears we must mark the
spot where it touches the earth, and we shall there find
a pot of gold by digging. Bad luck soon follows the
finding of a sixpence, unless it happens to be crooked.
This notion has passed into a proverb, since —

" A coin that's crook
Brings more to t' roolt [heap], "

2 28 Lancashire Superstitions.

Many persons will not part with money that has moulded.
The pieces are not only considered to be lucky, but ha,ve
the property of attracting others to them. Young per-
sons may occasionally be detected in the act of stirring
a cup of tea, or other liquid, so as to cause it to rotate
rapidly, and produce a circle of foam in the centre. The
quantity of foam indicates the amount of money which
will ultimately be bequeathed to the persons who thus
try their fortunes.

OMENS

Are drawn from a variety of circumstances. Some of
them are trivial enough ; whilst others are both curious
and interesting. Occasionally they contain words which
have passed from our lexicons ; but on examination they
will be found to have been derived from the speech of
our ancestors a thousand years ago. Thus, when a corpse
is soft and pliant, it is said to be lennock ; and is a sure
sign that there will soon be another death in that family.
The same misfortune is predicted when horses are restive
at a funeral. If a dove fly into a house where any one
is dead, or on the point of dying, the person at whose
feet the bird falls will die next. Deaths, or accidents,
always happen in [threes; the coroner will have to
hold three inquests in the town, or village, where one
is rendered necessary. When the relatives of a person
in ill health are troubled with " broken dreams," out of
which they start in terror, it is considered that they are a
sure indication that the patient will die. The same event
is frequently predicted when bees forsake a hive, or
crickets the hearth. Most of our peasantry retain a firm
belief in the appearance of ghosts and apparitions. They

Omens. 229

even consider it possible for some persons, born at parti-
cular hours, to see their own spirits. When this is the
case, it is considered certain that those persons will soon
die. There are, however, certain evenings in the year,
and particular hours of those evenings, when spirits are
more frequently abroad. Twilight and midnight are
favourable times, and so is daybreak during the winter
season. Hence we are told that if a person sits in the
church porch from eleven o'clock to one, on St Mark's
Eve, he will see the spirits of those who are doomed to
die during the next year pass by and enter the church.
If his own spirit be amongst them it will turn round and
look him in the face ; and should he fall asleep in the
porch he may assure himself that he will be one of the
first victims.

The caution that we must avoid passing under a ladder,
lest we should come to be hanged, has probably de-
scended to us from early practice at Lancaster ; but no
conjecture can be hazarded as to the origin of the supersti-
tion which asserts that when an ass brays it betokens the
death of a weaver or an Irishman. Undue levity is fre-
quently checked by the remark, that " if you sin^ before
breakfast, you will cry before supper." A flat hand, or a
dimpled chin, is supposed to indicate an open liberal
disposition ; whilst crooked fingers and hooked nails
betoken avarice and covetousness in the persons who are
so unfortunate as to possess such peculiarities.

Should the sun shine through the fruit trees on Christ-
mas-day, it is an indication that there will be a plentiful
supply of fruit during the next season; the same is inferred
as to grain, if, after dull weather, the sun bursts out upon
the farmer as he is sowing his seed. In the rite of con-
firmation, those upon whom the bishop lays his right hand
consider themselves most fortunate, since they are thereby

230 Lancashire Superstitions.

insured of a prosperous career through life. The person
■who takes the last piece of bread from a plate during any
meal is favoured with a double omen ; for he or she will
either be blessed with a handsome partner, or die un-
married. Good fortune is supposed to be indicated by
specks on the nails ; and they have different significa-
tions, according to the fingers on which they may make
their appearance. The common adage says —

" Specks on the fingers,
Fortune oft lingers.
Specks on the thumbs.
Fortune surely comes."

Our marriageable females are not devoid of that curiosity
which attaches to their sex. They are sometimes anxi-
ous to ascertain the intentions of their admirers, and
various modes of prying into the future are resorted to
in order to acquire the desired information. On such
occasions popular opinion directs that if a lady desires to
infer the name of her future husband she must peel an
apple without breaking the rind, and hang the shred on a
nail behind the door — the initials of the name of the first
gentleman who enters the house after this has been done
will be the same as those of the person she will marry.
If she desires more special information she must stitch
two nuts in the sleeve of her chemise, and give them the
names of the two persons respecting whom she may en-
tertain expectations ; then the one of these who is the
first to give her a kiss will be her future husband.

Burning apple pippins is a very common test, and is
practised in almost every cottage. In this case we are
directed to place two pippins on the mouth of a pair of
tongs, so as to touch each other. The lady who is per-
forming the experiment now gives her own name to the
left-hand pippin, and that on the right must bear the

Weather Wisdom. 231

name of the person whose intentions are being tested.
The tongs must now be placed in a hollow portion of the
fire, where the heat is most intense, and if both pippins
fly off on the same side the parties will be married, if on
opposite sides there will be no union ; and if both burn
together, without flying off, the gentleman will never pro-
pose to the lady who is placed beside him.

WEATHER WISDOM

Is generally to be sought among the farming population.
Their out-door avocations lead them to observe the
states of the atmosphere, and they have treasured up
many items of weather-lore, which embody much close
and continued observation. Some of these scraps have
been thrown into rude rhymes ; easily remembered, and
are handed down, without much alteration, from genera-
tion to generation. Frost on the shortest day is said
to indicate a long winter : —

" A hoar frost ;
Third day crost ;
The fourth lost."

Eclipses are popularly believed to have great influence
on the weather for many months after the events.
During the late wet season (1872), it was frequently
remarked that the eclipse on June 6th had " shaken the
weather all to pieces." When the Aurora Borealis is
visible, rough winds and heavy rain are expected to
follow in a few days ; this appearance is also said to
indicate war, especially when the displays are of a dark
red colour. We are often told that whatever kind of
weather we have on a Friday we shall have similar

232 Lancashire Superstitions.

weather on a Sunday, — " sic a Friday sic a Sunday," is
known as an item of weather-wisdom both in the north
of England and in Scotland. When rooks return to their
roosting places in groups, they are said to be " coming
home," and rain is expected soon to follow. Horses,
cows, and sheep always make for the hedges, and stand
with their tails to the wind when rain is about to fall.
If bats are seen during the day, warm weather is pre-
dicted j and invalids are assured of improvement by the
adage —

" When the wind is west.
Health is always best."

Certain days and months have their distinctive charac-
teristics expressed in appropriate rhymes, thus —

" If Candlemas day be fair and dear,
There will be two winters in one year."

And further —

" February fill dyke,

With either black or white."

" Whenever April blows its horn,
It fills the bams with hay and com."

" March wind and May sun,
Make clothes white and maids dun."

" Sunshine and rain
Bring cuckoos from Spain ;
But the first cock of hay,
Flays the cuckoo away."

To those who are not acquainted with Lancashire
provincialisms, it may be necessary to add that a " cock
of hay" means a small heap, and represents that stage
in hay-making which immediately precedes the larger
heaps locally termed "rickles." "Flays" is obviously

Weather Wisdom. 233

equivalent to "frightens." Predictions as to coming
winter are derived from several sources. Those who
are apprehensive of much sickness from warm open
weather in December, are consoled by the assurance
that—

" As the day lengthens,
So the cold strengthens."

At an earlier date we are assured that —

" If on the trees the leaves still hold,
The winter coming will be cold."

The poultry in our farm-yards also furnish their quota
to our weather-maxims, for —

" When the cock moults before the hen,
We shall have weather thick and thin ;
When the hen moults before the cock.
The ground will be as hard as block."

In seedtime and harvest there is need for much judg-
ment and circumspection ; and hence several items are
still current on these subjects. Our farmers are advised
that —

" When the sloe tree is white as a sheet.
Sow your barley whether it be dry or weet."

Again —

" If the moon shows a silver shield.
Be not afraid' to reap your field. "

And lastly, since the ass is considered to be extremely
isensitive to changes in the weather —

" When the donkey sounds his horn, j

It is quite time to house your com."

2 34 Lancashire Superstitions.

■ WITCHCRAFT

Still keeps its bold on the minds of many of our
peasants. They never doubt its reality, although their
conceptions of its effects, and the powers of those who
are supposed to practise the art, have undergone much
modification since the time when witchcraft was made
a capital crime. At present reputed witches are supposed
to employ themselves much more in doing mischief than
in " raising storms and causing great devastations both
by sea and land." Witch feasts are now unknown ; nor
do " the old crones " now fly through the air on broom-
sticks ; but they are supposed to be able to cause bad
luck to those who offend them ; to produce fatal dis-
eases in those they desire to punish more severely ; and
to plague the- farmers by aiflicting their cattle, and
rendering their produce almost unprofitable. Sickles,
triple pieces of iron, and horse shoes, may still be found
on the beams and behind the doors of stables and ship-
pons ; which are supposed to possess the power of
destroying, or preventing, the effects of witchcraft ; and
self-holed stones, termed " lucky-stones," are still sus-
pended over the backs of cows in order that they may
be protected from every diabolical influence.

When cream is " bynged," and will produce no butter
by any amount of churning, it is said to be bewitched,
and a piece of red hot-iron is frequently put into the churn,
in order that " the witch may be burnt out," and that
butter may be produced. To prevent cream from being
bynged, dairy-maids are taught to sing when churning —

" Come, butter, come ;
Peter stands at t' yate,
Waiting for a butter cake ;
Come, butter, come."

Miscellaneous Superstitions. 235

When we see a fire on the top of a hill, we are some-
times assured that the flame is a witch-fire, and that the
witches may be seen, ft-om a distance, dancing round it
at midnight. It is firmly believed that no witch, nor
even any very ill-disposed person, can step over anything
in the shape of a cross. Hence persons are advised
to lay a broom across the doorway when any suspected
person is coming in. If their suspicions are well-grounded,
the witch will make some excuse and pass along the
road. The power of a witch is supposed to be destroyed
by sprinkling salt into the fire nine mornings in succes-
sion. The person who sprinkles the salt must be the
one affected by the supposed witchcraft, and as the salt
drops down must repeat, " Salt ! salt ! I put thee into
the fire, and may the person who has bewitched me
neither eat, drink, nor sleep, until the spell is broken."
During 187 1 a young man, resident near Manchester,
suspected his own mother of having bewitched him, and
the above spell was repeated in the presence of the
magistrates before whom he was summoned, in conse-
quence of his inhuman conduct to his mother. There
is also a female resident near Burnley, who refuses to
live with her husband, because she suspects him of
having bewitched her on many occasions.

MISCELLANEOUS SUPERSTITIONS

And observances are abundant throughout the county.
They relate to a variety of subjects connected with the
daily life of the peasantry ; some are used as safeguards
from evil ; and others for the purpose of securing pro-

236 Lancashire Superstitions.

sperity to their ordinary undertakings. Very few persons
will cut their nails on a Sunday,, for —

" Better that man had never been bom,
Who cuts his nails on a Sunday mom."

Those who are removing into another house are advised
to place a Bible, some oatmeal, and some salt in the
cupboard of the new house, in order that they may have
prosperity during ^their stay. Some persons are said to
be born unlucky ; nothing they attempt prospers ; and
this notion has passed into the oft-repeated remark that
" They are always in the lane when luck is in the field."
It is considered to be very unlucky to break any glass
vessel, more especially a mirror ; for that reflects both
ourselves and our fortunes. The " lucky-bone " of a
fowl is frequently worn in the pocket in order to insure
prosperity ; and crooked pins possess the same property
when they are cast into a well of clear water. These
pins are popularly supposed to bring whatever good luck
the persons may wish for who thus deposits them. When
a new suit of clothes is put on for the first time, the
wearer is expected to pay " bebbrage," or a forfeit, so
that his clothes may wear well. If a person has a run
of bad luck at cards, he is advised to change his chair,
or turn it round, in order that fortune may turn to him.
Foxglove flowers are popularly termed fairy caps; for
these imaginary beings are supposed to wear them. Tea
is considered to be a cooling drink for summer, and a
heating one for winter. If we crush a beetle on the road,
we are told that we shall cause it to rain on the morrow;
and when blisters rise on our tongues, they are a sure
sign that we have been telling lies.

On the first day of April boys are frequently sent for
" pigeons' milk," or " strap oil," and sometimes get

Miscellaneous Superstitions. 237

thrashed for their ignorance. Pale-faced persons are
said to have white livers ; thin-lipped women are con-
sidered to be very ill-tempered ; and if we ask advice
from a woman, we are advised always to take her first
suggestions, since her instinct is an unerring guide.
When we are in doubt respecting the propriety of com-
mencing any new undertaking, or with respect to taking
any step in life which involves risk, it is usual to open
the Bible for direction.' The first verse that meets the
eye is supposed to contain a hint as to the course we
ought to adopt. The aristocracy sometimes complain
that their estates are rapidly being absorbed by the
money-making, trading population. If the Lancashire
adage be true, their misfortunes will only be temporary.
We frequently hear it affirmed that " It only takes three
generations from clogs to clogs." This evidently means
that a father will get riches during the time he wears
clogs ; that his sons will squander his money and
estates ; and that their children will come to wearing
clogs again. This is no doubt correct in numerous
instances ; but there are many marked exceptions.

It is customary for tailors or friends to give a boy a
penny when he puts on his first suit. This is done that
he may have good luck during the time he wears it.
Children are also advised to wrap up a tooth, after it
has been extracted, in a piece of brown paper with salt,
and then bum it in the fire. If this is not done, they
are informed that they will have to seek their teeth in
hell. When we see a " Will o' the Wisp," we ought to
thrust the blade of a clasp-knife into the ground, and
lie down upon it. The Wisp is supposed to be a demon,
which leads persons into quagmires, but is afraid of sharp
implements, and hence will soon disappear. On the
fifth day of November, and on St John's Eve, two fires

238 Lancashire Superstitions.

are occasionally lighted out of doors, not very far fron
each other. Young persons, of both sexes, then chas(
each other between them ; in utter ignorance, however
that this " passing between two fires " is of early easterr
origin, and was formerly of much significance.

The virtues of the symbol of the cross are acknowledgec
by our peasantry on many widely different occasions,
If the fire will not burn readily, almost every housewife
will place the poker against the bars^ and amongst thf
coals, so as to form a cross, in full confidence that thf
fire will soon burn briskly. Blackberries are considered
to be unwholesome, and ought not to be eaten, after th«
spiders have covered them with their silken webs ; foi
then " the Devil has thrown his club over them." Ver)
few mothers will suffer the full moon to shine in at the
bedroom windows when their children have retired tc
rest ; for the popular opinion is, that her rays will cause
the sleepers to lose their senses. Should children
observe the moon looking into their rooms, they are
taught to endeavour to avert her influence by repeating
the words —

" I see the moon ;
The moon sees me.
God bless the priest
That christened me."

Common salt is considered to have many purifying
qualities; and a plateful is frequently placed on the
chest of a corpse, under the impression that it will pre
vent the body from swelling. Miners are in genera
very ignorant, and consequently very superstitious. Verj
few of them go to work without some charm being hunj
round the neck, or worn in the pocket. Gambling ii
one of their besetting sins, and they possess quite a cod(
of observances in order that every one may leave off i

1 Miscellaneous Superstitions. 2 39

■winner. No one will whistle when he is working in the
mine, under the idea that the roof may fall upon and
smother him.

The near approach of visitors is indicated by various
omens ; and rules are laid down by which even their sex
may be distinguished. Thus : — a flake of soot on the
first bar of the fire-grate betokens a boy visitor ; on the
second a man j on the third a woman ; and on Xht fourth
a girl. If the hands are clapped before the flake, it will
fly off at the end of as many strokes as there will be days
before the visitor arrives. The number of flakes also indi-
cates the number of persons who will visit the house within
the limited time. Our modern Lancashire witches are cele-
brated for their beauty; and many of them are not a little
proud of their fair complexions. Maid-servants possess
this weakness in common with their mistresses ; some ot
them employ natural cosmetics in order to preserve their
beauty, and may be detected washing themselves in cold
spring water for this purpose, or in May dew during that
month of the year. This is said, and with much truth,
to have the property of removing freckles from the skin.
The old adage is still in full force —

" Those who wish to be fair and stout,

Must wipe their faces with the dish-clout ;
Those who wish to be wrinkled and grey,
Must keep the dish-clout far away. "

Thin oatmeal bread is much used by the operatives in
Lancashire ; and may be found on the rack in almost
every house. From this our youths have obtained the
name of " Oat Cake Lads," and under this designation
have rendered themselves notorious during several popu-
lar commotions. At certain seasons of the year, groups
of children parade the villages and demand a piece of

240 Lancashire Superstitions.

oat-cake at every house ; while some rattle at the door
the rest sing —

" One for Peter ; two for Paul ;
Three for Christ, who made us all.
Up with your kettle — down with your pon ;
Give us some oat cake, and we will begone."

At Christmas they are more jealous of one another,
and are desirous of securing all the presents individually.
Hence, each boy or girl visits the houses alone ; and
both early in the morning and late at night we may hear
a feeble voice at our doors plaintively calling —

" I wish you a merry Christmas,

And a happy New Year ;
Your pocket full of money.

Your cellar full of beer.
The road is very dirty,

But my shoes [or clogs] are very clean ;
I 've got a little pocket,

To put a penny in.
I knock at the knocker,

I ring the little bell ;—
Please give me then a penny,

For singing this so well."

As will have been seen in the early portions of this
work, several of our local legends turn upon the strata-
gems by which the devil has been outwitted. This is a
portion of our folk-lore which we hold in common with
many different races of people ; and has probably been
imported into our country by some of our earlier colonists.
At Hothersall Hall, near Ribchester, a demon is sup-
posed to be " laid " under a laurel tree until he can spin
a rope from the sands of the River Ribble, which runs
near the house. The same stratagem occurred to a
schoolmaster resident at Cockerham, near Lancaster, on

Miscellaneous Superstitions. 241

the shores of Morecambe Bay, when he was at his wits'
end how he might avoid being carried bodily ofF to hell.
Some local rhymester has woven the story into rude
verse; but the transcriber has mislaid his reference to
the old magazine in which the composition first
appeared : —

"the devil at cockerham."

" A story strange I '11 tell to you,
Of something very old and new.
New — because of it you 've never heard ;
Strange — even now, upon my word.

" The devil his presence hath maintained ;
He came unfettered and unchained ;
In the churchyard his form was seen.
His habit mixed of blue and green ;
Such ne'er before, or since, was seen.

" What time his reverence had escaped.
When the wide gates of hell wide gaped ;
He with his horrid crew in plight,
From thence on lowly earth alight.

" As smoke uprolleth from some mighty fire.
These spirits blue and green rise from the mire ;
All shapes and sizes they at will assume —
Of grovelling snakes, or wamors decked with plume.

" Wandering up and down the earth,
Midst scenes of sorrow, scenes of mirth ;
Till at last the devil tired hard,
Alights in Cockerham Churchyard ;
Invisible, but still he prowled
About, and oft at midnight howled,
Scaring the natives of the vale.
Dwelling in neighbourhood of my tale.
All things went wrong, and nought was right,
None could do aught, try as they might ;
By night, by day, his presence was felt.
When they ate or fasted, stood or knelt.

Q

242 Lancashire Superstitions.

' ' The people at length in assembly met,
And appointed the schoolmaster the devil to get ;
To try his skill if he could not master.
And with his power the devil bind faster ;
So proud of his station, and confidence placed in him,
He determined to seek and try to chasten him.

"One day in the school, in the comer of churchyard,
The windows all fastened, the doors aU barred,
With the gypsies' blarney, and the witches' cant,
He drew him forth with his horrible rant.

" Amazed stood the pedagogue, frightened to see,
A spirit in harness from head to the knee ;
With eyes large as saucers, and horns on his head.
His tail out behind, a dread shadow he shed.

' ' AU silent he stood, the master quaked more.
And tried to move, 'as if for the door ;
The spirit his tail gave a wag from behind.
Now for his doom ! the master made up his mind.
' Ay,' thought he, ' I 'm now in a pickle.
But wouldn't I mangle him, if now I 'd my sickle !'
So to put on a bold face, he straightway began —
' Who art thou ? answer, fiend or man ? '
' Know I 'm the devil, hear and tremble.
And unless thou attendest me, thou 'It soon me resemble ;
And unless by thy lore thou anon entanglest me.
By the shivers and brimstone, mangled thou 'It be.'

" 'Twas said in a voice deep as thunder outpoured,
'Twas a terrible sound, as a lion had roared.
Aghast stood the master, his limbs oscillating,
Too frightened to speak, or to think, contemplating !
' Quick,' said the devil, ' three questions thou must put,
Or otherwise off with me thou must to my hut.'

" This put the chap more in a terrible flutter.
His voice now had gone, he could only mutter ;
At length, after thrice essaying, he thus began — ■
' TeU me, kind sir,' (O Moses ! how wan
Was the fellow's countenance as he began) —
' How many drops of dew on yon hedges are hinging? '
The devil and imps flew past it swinging ;

Miscellaneous Superstitions. 24.2,

He numbered' them all. And the man in his walks,
Said — ' In this field how many wheat stalks ? '
At one swoop of his scythe, the stalks he all trandles,
And bound them up quick in manifold bundles,
And gave him the number, as he held them in hand.

" Now the poor fellow's was a pitiful case,
As plain might be seen from his long length of face.
' Now make me, dear sir, a rope of your sand.
Which will bear washing in Cocker, and not lose a strand. '

" The devil and mate then went down to the strand,
In a jiffy they twisted a fine rope of sand,
And dragged it along with them over the land ;
But when they brought the rope to be washed.
To atoms it went — the rope was all smashed.

" The devil was foiled, v7roth,.and gave him a shaking ;
Up he flew to the steeple — ^his frame all a-quaking.
With one horrid frig — his mind very unwilling,
He strode to the brig o'er Broadfleet at Pilling."

Pilling is a small town and chapelry in the parish of
Garstang, and has long been noted for its moss. In the
year 1745, th^fe was an irruption of this moss, similar to
that of Solway Moss in 1771. Part of it, near Heskam
House, gradually rose to a great height, and then moved
slowly towards the south, covering more than one
hundred acres of land under cultivation. The vast
supplies of turf for fuel obtained from this dreary waste
has given rise to the saying — "As inexhaustible as
Pilling Moss." The " Devil's Stride," from Cockerham
to Pilling, must have been, at least, the orthodox seven
miles in length.

APPENDIX.

LANCASHIRE WITCHES TRACT.

APPENDIX.

THE LANCASHIRE WITCHES.

INTRODUCTION.

From internal evidence, it may be inferred that the author
of the following rare tract probably lived in the early
days of James I. ; for although the Pendle Forest Witches
form the burden of the story, they are nowhere alluded
to as having suffered capital punishment at Lancaster,
which many of them did in 1612. Another batch very
narrowly escaped the same fate in 1633. — See Whitaker^s
Whalley ; Potts' s Discoverie, by Crossley ; or Croston's
Samksbury Hall.

248 Appendix.

THE FAMOUS HISTORY OF THE LANCASHIRE
WITCHES,

Containing the manner of their becoming such ; their enchant-
ments, spells, revels, merry pranks, raising of storms and tem-
pests, riding on winds, &c. The entertainments and frolics
which have happened among them ; with the loves and
humours of Roger and Dorothy. Also, a Treatise of witches
in general, conducive to mirth and recreation. The like never
before published.

Chapter I.

The Lancashire Witch's Tentation, and of the Devil's ap-
pearing to her in sundry shapes and giving her motley.

Lancashire is a famous and noted place, abounding
witii rivers, hills, woods, pastures, and pleasant towns,
many of which are of great antiquity. It has also been
famous for witches, and the strange pranks they played.
Therefore, since the name of Lancashire witches has
been so frequent in the mouths of old and young, and
many imperfect stories have been rumoured abroad, it
would doubtless tend to the satisfaction of the reader
to give some account of them in their merry sports and
pastimes.

Some time since lived one Mother Cuthbert, in a little
hovel at the bottom of a hill, called Wood and Moun-
tain Hill [Pendle], in Lancashire. This woman had two
lusty daughters, who both carded and spun for their
living, yet were very poor, which made them often repine
at and lament their want. One day as Mother Cuthbert
was sauntering about the hill-side, picking the wool off the
bushes, out started a thing like a rabbit, which ran about
two or three times and then changed into a hound, and

Lancashire Witches. 249

afterwards into a man, which made the old beldame to
tremble, yet she had no power to run away. So putting
a purse of money in her hand, and charging her to be
there the next day, he immediately vanished away, and
old Mother Cuthbert returned home, being somewhat
disturbed between jealousy and fear.

Chapter II.

Strange and wonderful apparitions ; how one witch had
power to make another ; and other strange things.

The old woman opened not her purse until she came
home, and then found in it ten angels ; so, calling to her
daughters, she told them what had happened. The
wenches rejoiced that the treasure of the house had in-
creased, that they might stuff themselves with beef and
pudding which they had long been strangers to ; and
advised their mother to go again as he had ordered, and
so she did. The first thing she saw was a tree rising out
of the ground which moved towards her, and, to her sur-
prise, multiplied into a very thick wood round her, so
that she was afraid of losing herself, when on a sudden
she saw a house, and heard the sound of rnusick. This
appeared most strange ; however, she took courage and
went towards it, when she found a great many women all
dancing and revelling; and the house appeared like a
stately palace, and the tables were furnished with a great
variety of delicacies. The dance being ended, she was
desired to sit at the table with the rest, but she scrupled
it at first, till at length, being hungry, she fell roundly
to. After dinner the matron which received her, by
striking the floor with her wand, caused divers of the

250 Appendix.

familiars, in the shape of cats, bears, apes, &c., to enter
and dance antic dances, whilst she played on the gridiron
and tongs. This done, taking Mother Cuthbert aside,
she demanded how she liked the cheer and sport ? She
answered, very well ; but desired to know where she was
and her company ? Mother Crady then told her that she
was Witch of Penmure [Penmaenmawr], a great moun-
tain in Wales, and the rest were her countrywomen of the
same faculty ; and being desirous to have her of the
fraternity [sisterhood?] she had contrived this way to
entertain her, to show that she might always live jocund
and merry. Mother Cuthbert, overcome with per-
suasions, consented, when immediately they anointed her
breast with a certain ointment, then, speaking a charm or
two, they gave her the rest to use upon occasion, and
also in another box a little thing like a mole, that was to
be her imp. So, all mounting upon a coal-staff, away
they flew and she with them ; but they left her at the
door of her own house, and kept still on their way with
the wind.

Chapter III.

A Lancashire witch enchants the Mayor of the town, who
had caused her to be whipped ; with the circumstances
attending.

Mother Cuthebrt being thus entered into the society
of witches, by the force of her ointment, and counsel of
her imp, who could speak when he pleased, and turn
himself into divers shapes, finding the power she had,
began to play many pranks.

Sometime before this, the Mayor of Lancaster had
caused Mother Cuthbert to be whipped, for breaking his
pales to make her a fire in the cold winter, which

Lancashire Witches. 251

she resented much ; and now, knowing her power to
revenge it, she trudges thither, where she found him
carousing with many friends. She took an opportunity
to slip a letter into his hands, and retired unknown,
which he had no sooner perused, but telling his company
he must run a race, he immediately went into the next
room, and stripped himself stark naked, then taking a
hand whip, he ran into the street, lashing his sides and
back, crying " There he goes ! I win ! I win ! " Whilst
the people followed, caUing him to stay, thinking he was
distracted, yet he ran on to the further end of the town,
lashing himself till he was bloody. At which time,
coming to his wits, he was in the greatest consternation,
swearing the devil had put this trick upon him ; for all
the time he imagined he had been on horseback, and
was riding a race, not feeling the lashes he gave himself
till he had completed his number, and filled the measure
of the witch's resentment.

Chapter IV.

The eld woman's two daughters become witches, and one of
them, in the shape of a mare, is revenged upon her false
sweetheart and rival.

Mother Cuthbert, growing more and more perfect in
her art, resolved to bring in her daughters for a snack
and thereupon communicates to them all that had
befallen her. They were content to be ruled by the
mother, and she anointed them, and used the best means
she was able to make them perfect in their new trade.

Their names were Margery and Cicely. The first was
courted by Roger Clodpate, a plain, downright country
fellow ; but he was wheedled from her by Dorothy, a

252 Appendix.

gentleman's dairymaid not far distant. This vexed
Margery, and made her resolved to be revenged for it ;
so one day as they went abroad in the fields about
courtship, she, by cg.sting up dust in' the air and other
enchantments, raised up a mighty storm of rain, which
so swelled the ditches that they overflowed in their way
and stopped them ; but as they began to think of going
back, Margery immediately transformed herself into the
shape of a black mare, and came gently towards them ;
when Roger, glad of the opportunity, first mounted his
sweetheart, and then got up himself But they were no
sooner in the middle of the water than she threw them
heels overhead, and ran away laughing, soon recovering
her shsipe; while Roger and Dorothy were in a piteous
case, and forced to trudge home, like drowned rats, with
the story of their unfortunate disaster.

Chapter V.

A witch rescues a man, who was going to gaol, and plagues
the bailiffs, by leading them a dance over hedge and
ditch.

A POOR man, being arrested by a cruel creditor for
debt, and he not being able to pay it, they were carrying
him to Lancaster Gaol, when Mother Cuthbert met them,
and desired to know the matter. The officers answered
her very surlily, pushing her aside, which, raising her
choler, she said, " But you shall let him go before we
do part." And they said he should not. Whereupon
she bade the poor man stop his ears close ; and then she
drew out a pipe which had been given her by the Witch
of Penmure, and then set piping, and led them through
hedges and thorns, over ditches, banks, and poles, some-

Lancashire Witches. 253

times tumbling, and other times tearing and bruising
their flesh, while the poor fellow got time enough to
make his escape ; but the catchpoles cried out for mercy,
thinking the devil had led them a dance. At length
she left them in the middle of a stinking pond, to shift
for themselves.

Chapter VI.

Of a Lancashire witch being in love with a gentleman ; of
her haunting him in the shape of a hare, and obtaining
her ends.

Cicely, the youngest daughter of the Lancashire witch,
being in love with a gentleman's son about a mile from
their home, was resolved to have him in her arms at any
rate ; wherefore, knowing he admired hunting, she often
turned herself into a hare to make him sport, and still
drew him towards her mother's house ; for when he went
that way he was used to call to chat with them, the
which caused in Cicely the first fatal passion. But once
this had liked to have proved fatal ; for the charm want-
ing somewhat of its force, one of the foremost hounds
catched her by the haunches, just as she was entering
her creep-hole, and gave her a terrible pinch ; and happy
was it for her that she was so near, or her loving had
been for ever spoiled. The young man, commonly
losing the hare about this house, began to wonder, and
supposing it to have run in at the sink, he entered the
house, where he found Cicely rubbing of her back ; but
not meeting what he sought, nor looking for such a
transformation, he departed, and she for the future grew
cautious of showing him any more sport of that kind.
But when he was going to be married to a beautiful

254 Appendix.

young gentlewoman, she by enchantment caused the
lady to lose herself in a wood, and there cast her in a
deep sleep for a day and a night. In the meantime she
personated the bride ; but knowing it could not long
continue, she cast him likewise into a deep sleep, and
then fetched the young lady to his arms, that when they
both awaked, they thought they had been all the time
together.

Chapter VII.

Mother Cuthbert eticliants several thieves, and takes away
the money ; with the manner of setting spells.

Old Mother Cuthbert going along the road, she over-
heard some thieves bragging of a mighty purchase they
had made, whereupon she resolved to herself that she
would come in for a share ; and accordingly she mut-
tered some words, on which the horses began for to
stumble, which made them [not the horses, but the
thieves] curse and swear. At length they supposed they
heard the rattling of clubs and staves, as if the whole
city had been up in arms to seize them ; and finding
they could not spur their horses on, nor make them
stir a foot, they got off, leaving the portmanteaus behind
them, and ran away on foot. The prize she conveyed
home, and hearing some poor people had been robbed,
she gave them back what they had lost. The fright the
rogues were put into was caused by enchantment, in
which she was so good a proficient, that she would often
set spells on the highway, so that any being robbed, the
rogues had no power to get away.

The description of a spell. — A spell is a piece of paper
written with magical characters, fixed in a critical season
of the moon and conjunction of the planets; or, some^

Lancashire Witches. 255

times, by repeating mystical words. But of these there
are many sorts.

Chapter VIII.

The manner of a witch-feast ; or, a general meeting.

There being a general meeting of the witches, to consult
for merry pranks, and to be even with any who had in-
jured them, one of them must needs bring her husband
with her ; but charged him and made him promise that,
whatever he saw or heard, he should not speak a word
of it. To this he promised to be obedient. He was
carried thither in the night, but he knew not what way ;
and there he found a stately palace (to his thinking), fur-
nished with goods of exceeding value ; and it shined in
the night with artificial lights as at noonday. Here they
had all manner of good cheer, and he was as frolicsome
as the merriest. The man observed his covenant till he
came to eat, when, looking about and seeing no salt (for
it seems witches never use any), he, before he was aware,
cried out, " What, in God's name, have we no salt here ? "
Upon this, all the lights immediately went out, and the
company flew away ; so dreadful is the name of God to
those servants of Satan. Storms of rain and hail, at-
tended with lightning and terrible claps of thunder,
ensued. The rain poured on him, the wind blew, and
instead of a palace, when dayhght appeared, he found
himself in an old uncovered barn, about twenty miles
from home. And from that time he never desired to go
with his wife to see curiosities.

256 Appendix.

Chapter IX.

The Humours of Roger and Doll, with the manner how
they were served by a Lancashire Witch.

Roger and Dorothy being got in a merry humour, one day
meeting with Margery, began to swear at her, and called
her " Leaden Heels," but she passed by as if she minded
it not. They had not far to go before there was a stile
to go over ; — but when they was on the top, they could
not get down on either side, fancying there was ponds
of water round about them, till some travellers came by,
who, finding them thus mounted on the wooden horse
in a strange posture, made them dismount. However,
not satisfied, she watched their motions, and found them in
a barn that stood by the road, where the cows used to
be driven in to be milked. There, being seated upon the
straw, toying together, and wondering at what had hap-
pened, . . . Margery, who stood there invisible, sprinkled
Roger with a certain dust, which changed his very coun-
tenance, making it appear to his mistress like an ass's
head ; which so frighted her, that she gave a lusty spring,
and throwing him quite down, she got up, running, and cry-
ing out, " The devil ! the devil ! " This so terrified Roger,
that he followed, crying out, " What ails you, my dear ?
—what ails you ?" In this manner, to the laughter of a
great number of people, they ran until they were so
tired, they were forced to lie down, being no longer able
to hold out. Thus, at this time, her revenge was
satisfied.

Lancashire Witches. 257

Chapter X.

How some Witches, revelling in a gentlemaii s house, served
the servants who surprised them.

It happened one time that a great number of Lanca-
shire witches were revelling in a gentleman's house in
his absence, and making merry with what they found,
the dogs not daring to stir — they having, it seems, the
power to strike them mute. However, during the
frolic, some of the servants came home, and, thinking
they had been ordinary thieves, went to seize them.
But they happened to catch a Tartar ; for, each taking
one, they flew away with them, who in vain called for
help, till they had lodged them on the top of very high
trees ; and then raised prodigious storms of thunder and
lightning, with hard showers of rain, they left them there
to do penance for their intrusion.

Chapter XI.

A brief Treatise on Witches in general, with several things
worthy of notice.

About this time great search was made after witches,
and many were apprehended, but most of them gave the
hangman and the gaoler the slip ; though some hold
that when a witch is taken she hath no power to avoid,
justice. It happened as some of them were going in a
cart to be tried, a coach passed by in which appeared a
person like a judge, who, calling to one, bid her to be of
good cheer and take comfort, for neither she nor any of
her company should be harmed ; and on that night all

R

258 Appendix.

the prison locks flew open, and they made their escape ;
and many, when they had been cast into the water for a
trial, have swam like a cork. One of them boasted she
could go over the sea in an egg shell. It is held on
all hands that they adore the devil, and become his bond-
slaves, to have for a term of years their pleasure and
revenge. And indeed many of them are more mis-
chievous than others in laming and destroying of cattle,
and in drowning ships at sea, by raising storms. But
the Lancashire Witches we see, chiefly divert themselves
in merriment, and are therefore found to be more
sociable than the rest.

Chapter XII.

A short description of the famous Lapland Witches.

The Lapland witches, they tell us, can send wind to
sailors, and take delight in nothing more than raising of
storms and tempests, which they effect by repeating
certain charms, and throwing up sand into the air. The
best way to avoid their power is to believe in God,
who will not suffer them to hurt us ; for here they are
held to be restrained. As many mistake their children
and relations to be bewitched when they die of distem-
pers somewhat strange to the unskilful, so one poor
woman or other is falsely accused of things which they
are entirely ignorant of So it has often happened.

This may suffice as to what comically or really hap-
pened, or related to witches ; or such as are imagined to
be possessed with evil and familiar spirits.

The Eagle and Child. 259

THE EAGLE AND CHILD.
(Seepage 19.)

Probably the most curious version of this legend is that
contained in Hare's MSS., vol. ii. ; which has been
printed by the Lancaster Herald in the seventh volume
of ^ht Journal oi the British Archaeological Association.
As the orthography is almost unintelligible to most
readers the spelling is here modernised.

" The Fause Fable of the Lord Lathom. A Fayned
Tale." — When the war was 'twixt the Englishmen and
the Irishmen, the power of the English so sore assaulted
the Irishmen, that the king of them, being of Ireland,
was constrained to take succour, by flight, into other
parts for his safeguard ; and the queen, being pregnant
and great with child, right near her time of deliverance,
for dread of the rudeness of the commonalty, took her
flight into the wilderness, where her chance was to suffer
travail of child ; bringing forth two children, the one a
son, the other a daughter ; when after by natural com-
pulsion, she and such gentlewomen as were with her
was constrained to sleep, insomuch that the two
children were ravished from the mother ; and the
daughter, as it is said, is kept in Ireland with the fairies.
Insomuch that against the time of death of any of that
blood of Stanleys, she maketh a certain noise in one
quarter of Ireland, where she useth [to stay].

The son was taken and borne away with an eagle, and
brought into Lancashire, into a park called Lathom
Park, whereas did dwell a certain Lord named the Lord
Lathom ; the which Lord Lathom walking in his park
heard a child lament and cry, and perceived the skirts

26o Appendix.

of the mantle lying over the nest side, and made his
servants to bring down the child unto him.

And whereas both he and his wife being in far age,
and she past conceiving of child ; considering they never
could have issue ; reckoning that God had sent this child
by miracle, they condescended to make this child their
heir, and so did. At length this Lord Lathom and his
wife deceased, and this young man, which was named
Oskell of Lathom, reigned and ruled this land as, right
heir, and he had to issue a daughter which was his heir
and child by the Lady Lathom.

It chanced so that one Stanley, being a younger
brother of the House of Wolton in Cheshire, was servant
to the Abbot of West Chester ; this young man Stanley
was carver to the Abbot, and he would not break his fast
on the Sunday till he had heard the High Mass. Insomuch
that it chanced one Sunday when the meat was served
on the table, he had so great hunger he carved the pig's
head, and conveyed one of the ears of the pig and did
eat it.

When the Abbot sat down, and perchance missed this
pig's ear, he was miscontent and in a great fume,
and reviled so extremely and so heinously this young
Stanley, that he threw the napkin at his head, and said he
would do him no more service and departed. And he
came to the king's court and obtained his service, and
proved so active a fellow that the renown sprang and
inflamed upon him, insomuch that the fame and bruit
descended from him around this realm.

And when, as the use then was, that noble adventurers
would seek their fortune and chance into divers and
strange nations, one renowned gallant came into Eng-
land, and he called as challenger for death and life, come
who list. Insomuch that the king commanded this Stan-

Samlesbury Hall. 261

ley to cope with him ; and, to make short protestation,
his chance was to overthrow the challenger and obtain
the victory.

Then the king made him knight, and gave him cer-
tain lands to live on.

After this foresaid Stanley came for marriage to the
daughter of Oskell of Lathom, which was found in the
eagle's nest, and obtained her favour, and espoused her.
And then after the death of Oskell he was Lord Lathom,
and enjoyed it many years. And for such service as
he did afterwards the king made him Lord Stanley ; and
he was the first lord of the name; and so by that reason
the Stanleys descended of Lathom give the eagle and
child in their arms.

SAMLESBURY HALL AND THE LADY IN WHITE.

Midway between Blackburn and Preston, on a broad
and rich plain of glacial drift, stands the famous old Hall
of Samlesbury. The view towards the south comprehends
the wooded heights of Hoghton ; — on the east the back-
ground is filled in by the elevated ridges which run
through Mellor, Ramsgreave, and Billington to Pendle ;
— the west is occupied by Preston and the broad
estuary of the Ribble, the ancient Belisama ; — and on
the north the correctly-named Longridge leads on to the
heights of Bowland ; — thus enclosing a landscape which,
for picturesque beauty, and historic interest, has few
equals in the country.

It was here, in the early part of the reign of Henry IL,
that Gospatric de Samlesbury was seated in his ances-
tral home ; surrounded by rich pastures and shut in by
primeval forests of oak, from which the massive timbers

262 Appendix.

were selected which formed the framework of the mag-
nificent structure erected during the reign of Edward
III. The family pedigrees tell us that Cicely de Samles-
bury married John de Ewyas about the middle of the
thirteenth century ; but, dying without male heir, his
daughter was united to Sir Gilbert de Southworth, and
the property thus acquired remained in the possession
of his family for upwards of three hundred and fifty years.
It was then sold to the Braddylls, and ultimately passed
into the hands of Joseph Harrison, Esq., of Galligreaves,
Blackburn ; whose eldest son, William Harrison, Esq.,
now resides at the Hall.

After the disposal of the property by John Southworth,
Esq., in 1677, the house was suffered to fall into decay.
For many years it was occupied by a number of cottagers ;
it was afterwards converted into a farmhouse, and passed
through various stages of degradation from neglect. Mr
Harrison, however, determined that this fine old structure
should be no longer thus desecrated. With a wise and
just appreciation he restored both the exterior and the
interior of the house in accordance with their original
design ; and under his hands the Old Hall at Samlesbury
has become one of the most interesting and instructive
mansions in the county.

Sir John Southworth was the most distinguished per-
sonage of his race. He was high in military command
during the early years of the reign of Elizabeth — he
mustered three hundred men at Berwick; and served
the office of Sheriff of Lancashire in 1562. His posses-
sions included Southworth, Samlesbury, Mellor, besides
lands in eighteen other townships ; but he was illiterate,
bigoted, and self-willed. His rigid devotion to the faith
of his ancestors led him to speak rashly of the changes
introduced into the national religion ; he also acted un-

Samlesbury Hall. 263

wisely in contravening the laws, for which he was
ultimately cast into prison, and otherwise treated with
much severity until his death in 1595.

Tradition states that during his later years one of his
daughters had formed an intimate acquaintance with the
' heir of a neighbouring knightly house. The attachment
was mutual, and nothing was wanting to complete their
happiness except the consent of the lady's father. Sir
John was thereupon consulted ; but the tale of their
devoted attachment only served to increase his rage, and
he dismissed the supplicants with the most bitter de-
nunciations. " No daughter of his should ever be united
to the son of a family which had deserted its ancestral
faith," and he forbade the youth his presence for ever.
Difficulty, however, only served to increase the ardour of
the devoted lovers ; and after many secret interviews
among the wooded slopes of the Ribble, an elopement
was agreed upon, in the hope that time would bring her
father's pardon. The day and place were unfortunately
overheard by one of the lady's brothers, who was hiding
in a thicket close by, and he determined to prevent
what he considered to be his sister's disgrace.

On the evening agreed upon both parties met at the
hour appointed j and as the young knight moved away
with his betrothed, her brother rushed from his hiding
place, and slew both him and two friends by whom he was
accompanied. The bodies were secretly buried within
the precincts of the domestic chapel at the Hall ; and
Lady Dorothy was sent abroad to a convent where she
was kept under strict surveillance. Her mind at last
gave way — the name of her murdered lover was ever on
her lips, and she died a raving maniac. Some years
ago three human skeletons were found near the walls of
the Hall, and popular opinion has connected them with
the tradition. The legend also states that on certain

■^u^. -L .tTLyy^nwui..

clear, still evenings a lady in white can be seen passing
along the gallery and the corridors, and then from the Hall
into the grounds : that she there meets a handsome knight
who receives heron his bended knees, and he then accom-
panies her along the walks. On arriving at a certain
spot, most probably the lover's grave, both the phantoms
stand still, and, as they seem to utter soft wailings of
despair, they embrace each other, and then their forms
rise slowly from the earth and melt away into the clear
blue of the surrounding sky.

THE DRAGON OF WANTLEY.

The story of the Dragon of Wantley has been claimed
for several districts. Hunter, in his " Hallamshire," 1820,
claims that locality for the scene of the conflict ; but Mr
Gregson, in his "Fragments," pp. 151-2, shows pretty
conclusively that the tradition must be assigned to More
Hall, in the Hundred of West Derby. Sir William de
la More, who flourished about 1326, was a noted war-
rior. He distinguished himself at the battle of Poictiers,
and was knighted by Edward I. His prowess gained him
great fame, and he is supposed to have been the hero of
the legend ; although a similar story is told of Sir Thomas
Venables, of Golborne David, in the county of Chester.
It is not improbable that the issue of some family feud
or Border fray is there allegorised by the author of the
ballad, which is reprinted in the " Fragments " from a
broadside issued for Randal Taylor, near Stationers'
Hall, London, 1685.

The Dragon of Want ley. 265

A TRUE RELATION OF THE DREADFUL COMBATE BETWEEN
MORE OF MORE HALL AND THE DRAGON OF WANTLEV.

Old stories tell how Hercules

A dragon slew at Lerna,

With seven heads and fourteen eyes,

To see and well discerna ;

But he had a club

This dragon to drub,

Or he had ne'er don't, I warrant ye,

But More of More Hall,

With nothing at all,

He slew the Dragon of Wantley.

This dragon had two furious wings.

Each one upon each shoulder,

With a sting in his Tayl,

As long as a Flayl,

Which made him bolder and bolder.

He had long claws.

And in his jaws,

Four and forty teeth of iron.

With a hide as tough as any buff.

Which did him round inviron.

Have you not heard that the Trojan horse

Held seventy men in his belly ?

This Dragon was not quite so big,

But very near I '11 tell ye.

Devour did he.

Poor children three.

That could not with him grapple ;

And at one sup

He eat them up.

As one should eat an apple.

All sorts of cattle this Dragon did eat.
Some say he 'd eat up trees.
And that the forest sure he would
Devour up by degrees.

266 Appendix.

For houses and churches
Were to him gorse and burches,
He eat all and left none behind,
But some stones, dear Jack,
Which he could not crack,
Which on the hills you will find.

In Yorkshire fair, near Rotherham,

The place I know it well ;

Some two or three miles or thereabout,

I vow I cannot tell ;

But there is a ledge

Just on the hill edge,

And Matthew's house hard by it ;

Oh ! there and then

Was this Dragon's den.

You could not choose but spy it.

Some say this Dragon was a Witch;

Some say he was the Devil ;

For from his nose a smoke arose.

And with it burning snivil ;

Which he cast off.

When he did cough ;

In a well which he did stand by,

Which made it look

Just like a brook

Running with burning brandy.

Hard by a furious Knight there dwelt,

Of whom a:ll towns did ring,

For he could wrestle, play at staff.

Kick, cuff, box, huff,

Call son of a witch.

Do any kind of thing ;

By the tail and the main.

With his hands twain.

He swung a horse till he was dead.

And that which was stranger.

He, for very anger,

Eat him all up but his head !

The Dragon of Wantley. 267

Three cliildren, as I told, being eat ;

Men, women, girls, and boys ;

Sighing and sobbing, came to his lodging.

And made a hideous noyse,

Oh ! save us all, More of More Hall,

Thou peerles Knight of these woods ;

Do but slay this Dragon,

We won't leave us a rag on,

We'll give thee all our goods.

Tut, tut, quoth he, no goods I want.

But I want, I want in sooth,

A fair maid of sixteen, that's brisk,

And smiles about the mouth ;

Hair as black as a sloe,

Both above and below.

With a blush her cheeks adorning ;

To 'noynt me o'er night.

Ere I go to fight,

And to dress me in the morning.

This being done, he did engage
To hew this dragon down ;
But first he went new armour to
Bespeak, at Sheffield town.
With spikes all about.
Not within, but without,
' Of steel, so shai-p and strong.
Both behind and before.
Arms, legs, all o'er.
Some five or six inches long.

Had you but seen him in this dress,

How fierce he look't and big,'

You would have thought him for to be

An Egyptian Porcu-pig ;

He frighted all.

Cats, dogs, and all,

Each cow, each horse, each hog.

268 \ Appendix.

For fear did flee

For they took him to be

Some strange, outlandish hedgehog.

To see this fight, all people there

Got upon trees and houses ;

On churches some, and chimneys some.

But they put on their trowses ;

Not to spoil their hose.

As soon as he rose,

To make him strong and mighty,

He drank by the tale,

Six pots of ale,

And a quart of aqua-vitas.

It is not strength that always wins,

For wit doth strength excel ;

Which made our cunning champion

Creep down into a well j

Where he did think.

This dragon would drink ;

And so he did in truth ;

And as he stoop't low

Jle rose up and cryed, bo !

And hit him in the mouth.

Oh ! quoth the Dragon ; pox take you ! come out

Thou that disturb'st me at my drink ;

And then he turned and spit at him —

Good lack ! how he did stink,

Beshrew thy soul,

Thy body is foul.

Thy dung smells not like balsame ;

Thou son of a witch.

Thou stink'st so sore,

Sure thy dyet is unwholesome.

Our politick knight, on the other side,

Crept out upon the brink.

And gave the Dragon such a doust,

He knew not what to think ;

By cock, quoth he, j

The Dragon of Want ley. 269

Say you so, do you see,

And then at him he let flie :

With hand and with foot.

And so they went to 't,

And the word it was — Hey, boyes, hey !

Your word, quoth the Dragon, I don't understand.

Then to 't they fell at all ;

Like two wild bears, so fierce, I may

Compare great things with small.

Two dayes and a night

With this Dragon did fight

our champion on the ground ;

Tho' their strength it was great,

Yet their skill it was neat.

They never had one woimd.

At length the hard ground began for to quake,

The Dragon gave him such a knock ;

Which made him to reel,

And straightway he thought

To lift him high as a rock.

And thence let him fall ;

But More of More Hall,

Like a valiant son of Mars,

As he came like a lout,

So he turned him about.

And hit him a kick on the back.

Oh ! quoth the Dragon with a sigh.

And tum'd six times together ;

Sobbing and tearing, cursing and swearing,

Out of his throat of leather.

Oh ! thou rascall.

More of More Hall,

Would I had seen you never ;

With the thing at thy foot.

Thou has prick't my gut.

Oh ! I am quite undone for ever ! i

Murder ! murder ! the Dragon cryed,
Alack ! alack ! for grief ;

2 'JO Appendix.

Had you but miss't that place you would

Have done me no mischief.

Then his head he shak't,

Trembled and quaik't,

And down he layed, and cried ;

First on one knee,

Then on back tumbled he,

So groaned, kick't, burst, and dyed.

OSBALDESTON HALL.

The origin of this ancient structure dates from Saxon
times. It was evidently the home of Oswald ; for this
is merely another form of the name, and ton designates
the homestead on his estate. This family does not
appear to have been dispossessed by the Normans, the
county was then perhaps too wild and uncultivated to
be attractive to the conquerors ; and hence we find Eilfi
of Osbaldeston, a Saxon; living in the twelfth century, who
had a son whose name appears in documents about 1245.
The property continued in the family without interruption
until 1 701, when it passed into collateral lines on the
death of Thomas, son of Edward Osbaldeston, the last
male heir of his race. During the Tudor and early
Stuart sovereigns the Osbaldestons formed one of the
most distinguished families in the county ; several of its
members received the honour of knighthood, and one of
them was connected by marriage with the Earls of Derby.
They founded a Chantry in the parish church of Black-
burn, and until recently a brass plate in the family chapel
contained the figure of a man in armour, underneath which
was the following inscription — " Here lyeth the bodye

Osbaldeston Hall. 271

of Sir Edward Osbaldeston ; a charitable, courteous, and
valiant knight, qui obiit a.d. 1636, set. 63."

The Hall at Osbaldeston is now in a dilapidated con-
dition. From what remains it is evident that the house
formerly consisted of two wings, and a large central portion
set further back. On three sides it was protected by a
moat, while the fourth side was swept by the river Ribble.
Several ranges of transomed and muUioned windows
attest the grandeur and magnificence of the place when
finished by Sir Edward during the reign of the first
Stuart. The large drawing-room is nearly entire, and
over the fireplace are some elaborate carvings, containing
the family arms with their numerous quarterings, and the
initials of John, Edward, Margaret, and Maud Osbaldes-
ton. Excessive subdivisions of the estates, consequent
upon large families, led to the decline of the house, until
at last the remnant was disposed of for a trifling con-
sideration. There is one room in the old Hall whose
walls are smeared with several red marks, which tradition
states can never be obliterated. They have some
resemblance to blood, and are considered to have been
caused when one of the family was brutally murdered.
It is said that there was once a great family gathering at
Osbaldeston Hall, at which every member of the family
was present. The feast was ended, and the liquor was
flowing freely round when family differences began to be
discussed. These ended in anger and recriminations,
until at length two of the company challenged each other
to mortal combat. Friends interfered and the quarrel
seemed to be allayed, but soon after the two accidentally
met in this room, and Thomas Osbaldeston drew his
sword and murdered his brother-in-law without resistance.
For this crime he was deemed a felon, and forfeited his

272 Appendix.

lands. Ever since that time the room has been haunted.
Tradition says that the ghost of the murdered man con-
tinues to visit the scene of the conflict, and during the
silent hours of night it may be. seen passing from the
room with uplifted hands, and with the appearance of
blood streaming from a wound in the breast.

MELLOR HALL, OR ABBOT HOUSE.

Mellor Hall, or Abbot House, is an ancient structure
of the early Tudor period. It formerly possessed an
antique porch and pointed gables, but these have long
since disappeared. The internal walls and partitions
were formed of " raddle and daub," held together by up- ,
right and cross beams which reached from wall to wall.
The upper rooms were reached by a spiral stone staircase,
and the floor of that over the hall was formed of yellow
clay spread on " raddles " at least a foot thick. A por-
tion of the south-west angle of this room had been
partitioned off, and was known by the name of the "Priesf s
room." This was probably the hiding-place for one of
the missionary priests when the Hall was occupied by a
junior branch of the Southworths of Samlesbury. Tradi-
tion states that the last owner of that name wasted all
his property, and was ultimately compelled to beg for
bread. A large flat stone was formerly pointed out
upon which the old man used to sit while he chanted in
tremulous tones —

" When I was young and in my prime,
All these fields down here were mine •
But now I'm old, and grown so poor,
I'm forced to beg from door to door."

The Legend of Sir Tarqum. 273

THE LEGEND OF SIR TARQUIN.

Mancunium, Mamecestre, the modern Manchester, was
pfobably founded by Agricola, in the year a.d. 79. It
continued in the hands of the Romans, until their final
departure from Britain, during the reign of Honorious,
about A.D. 425. After the Romans left the country,
their camp on the Irwell was occupied by the native
Britons, who had again to give place to the victorious
Saxons. These hardy warriors appear to have become
masters of Lancashire about a.d. 618, when they seized
the old Roman station at Mamecestre, which more than
a century before is fabled to have been occupied by
a semi-mythic personage named Sir Ta,rquin. Tradition
states that he was " a giant in size and a monster in
brutality." Be this as it may, the Britons made two des-
perate attempts under King Arthur and his knights, to
retake this stronghold ; and Sir Tarquin is said to have
fallen a victim to the prowess of Sir Lancelot du Lake
in single combat, during the second attack.

After the death of King Arthur, the Saxons and Danes
regained their ascendancy ; but the tradition has outlived
the success of the Britons. The combat between the
two knights not only forms an interesting incident in
the " Morte d' Arthur ; " but has been alluded to by
Shakspeare in the second part of his Henry IV. ; and pre-
served to us in Bishop Percy's valuable "Reliques."
There is- also an extended version of fhe metrical legend
included in the privately printed " Memoirs of the
Mosley Family/' but we prefer to give the original
ballad, merely localising it by the words included within
brackets.

" When Arthur first in court began,
And was approved King,

> 74 Appendix.

By force of arms great victories wanne,
And conquest home did bring.

Then into England straight he came.

With fifty good and able
Knights, that resorted unto him,

And were of his Round Table.

And he had jousts and tournaments,

Whereto were many prest ;
Wherein some knights did far excell,

And eke surmount the rest.

But one Sir Lancelot du Lake,

Who was approved well.
He for his deedes and feats of armes.

All others did excell.

When he had rested him awhile.

In play, and game, and sport.
He said he would go prove himselfe,

In some adventurous sorte.

He armed rode in [Lancashire]

And met a damsel faire,
Who told him of adventures great.

Whereto he gave good eare.

' Such wolde I find,' quoth Lancelot,

' For that cause came I hither ' ;
' Thou seem'st,' quoth she, ' a knight full good,

And I will bring thee thither.

' [In Mamecestre] a knight doth dwell,

That now is of great fame ;
Therefore tell me what knight thou art,

And what may be thy name. '

' My name is Lancelot du Lake ; '

Quoth shee : ' It likes me than ;
Here dwells a knight who never was

Yet match t with any man.

The Legend of Sir Tarquin. 275

' Who has in prison threescore knights

And four, that he did wound ;
Knights of King Arthur's court they be,

And of his Table Round.'

She brought him to the [Irwell] side,

And also to a tree,
Whereon a copper bason hung.

And many shields to see.

He struck soe hard, the bason broke ;

Sir Tarquin soon he spyed ;
Who drove a horse before him fast,

Whereon a knight lay tyed.

' Sir knight,' then said Sir Lancelot,
' Bring me that horse-load hither,

And lay him down and let him reste.
We'll try our force together :

' For, as I understand thou hast,

Soe far as thou art able.
Done great despite and shame unto

The knights of the Round Table.'

' If thou be of the Table Round ; '

Quoth Tarquin speedily,
' Both thee and all thy fellowship

I utterlye defye.'

' That's over much,' quoth Lancelot, tho'

' Defend thee by and by : ' —
They sett their speares unto their steedes.

And eache att other flye.

They coucht their speares (their horses ran
As though there had been thunder).

And strucke them each immidst their shields,
Wherewith they broke insunder-

Their horses' backs brake under them.
The knights were both astounde ;

To voyd their horses they made haste.
And light upon the grounde.

276 Appendix.

They tooke then to their shields full fast,
Their swords they drew out than ;

With mighty strokes most eagerlye,
Each at the other ran.

, They wounded were and bled full sore,
They both for breath did stand ;
And leaning on their swords awhile,
Quoth Tarquin : ' Hold thy hand ;

' And tell to me what I shall aske ; '

' Say on, ' quoth Lancelot tho'.
' Thou art,' quoth Tarquin, ' the best knight

That ever I did know.

' And like a knight that I did hate,

Soe that thou be not hee,
I will deliver all the rest,

And eke accord with thee.'

' That is well said,' quoth Lancelot ;

But sith it must be soe.
What knight is that thou hatest thus ;

I pray thee to me shew.'

' His name is Lancelot du Lake ;

He slew my brother deere ;
Him I despise of all the rest,

I would I had him here.'

' Thy wish thou hast, but yet unknovme,

I am Lancelot du Lake,
Now knight of Arthur's Table Round ;

King Haudes' son of Schuwake ;

' And I desire thee do thy worst ; '
' Ho ! Ho ! ' quoth Tarquin tho',

' One of us two shall end our lives.
Before that we doe goe.

' If thou be Lancelot du Lake,

Then welcome shall thou bee ;
Wherfor see thou thyselfe defend.

For now defye I thee.'

The Legend of Sir Tarquin. 277

They buckled then together soe,

Like unto wilde boars rashing ;
And with their swords and shields they ran,

At one another slashing.

The ground besprinkled was with bloode ;

Tarquin he ga'n to yielde,
For he gave back for wearinesse,

And lowe did bear his shield.

This soone Sir Lancelot espyde,

He leapt upon him then,
He pulled him downe upon his knee,

And pushing off his helme ;

Forthwith he struck his neck in two,

And when he had soe done ;
From prison three score knights and foure

Delyvered everye one ! "

This legend has been noticed by Hollingworth in his
" Chronicles of Manchester," who, after quoting Chaucer
respecting the state of the county when —

" In al that lond dursten non Christen rout,
[•Al Christen folk bin fled from the countrey ;
Through Paynims that conquered al about.
The plagues of Northumbria by lond and see,"

gives in his own quaint manner the following particulars.
" It is said that Sir Tarquine, a stoute enemie of King
Arthur, kept this castle (of Manchester) and neere to the
fooarde in Medlock, about Mab-house, hung a bason on
a tree, on which bason whosoever did strike, Sir Tarquine,
or some of his companye, would come and fighte with
him ;. and that Sir Lancelot de Lake, a Knight of King
Arthure's Round Table, did beate upon the bason—
foughte with Tarquine — killed him — possessed himselfe
of the Castle — ^^and loosed the prisoners. Whosoever
thinketh it worth his pains to reade more of it may reade
the history of King Arthur. It is certain that about a.d.

278 Appendix.

520, there was such a Prince or King, and it is not in-
credible that hee or his Knightes might contend about
this castle when he was in this countie ; and (as Minius
sayeth) hee put the Saxons to flight in a memorable
battle near Wigan, about twelve miles off."

Mr Roby, also, in the first series of his " Traditions,"
included a prose version of " Sir Tarquin," but this was
suppressed in the later editions, and a short notice only
was added to his tale of the " Goblin Builders." His first
essay was evidently based upon the " Morte d' Arthur,"
and the extended metrical version of which he quotes
the opening stanza.

" Within this ancient British land,
In Lancashire I understand.
Near Manchester, there lived a knight of fame,
Of a prodigious strength and might,
Who vanquished many a worthy knight,
A giant great — and Tarquin was his name."

INDEX.

Abbot of Chester, 260
Accrington, notchel crying, 1 76
Ace of Spades, 4
Acoms, pelting with, 85
Acres Fair, 84
Adventures of a Skull, 67
Alfred, King, Legend respect-
ing, 21
Amusements at Didsbury, 126
Ancient games, 132
Ancient houses, 120
Anderton's jewels, 145
Appeal of murder, 1 73
Apple catching for money, 1 62
Archery butts, 148
Ashton gyst-ale, 85
Ashton Manor, pajmient for, 3
Assheton's Journal, 94
Astbury Church, paintings at, 20

Bacon, superstitions about, 124

Back-slamming, 175

Ballad quoted, 18

Bandy-ball, game of, 149

Barcroft of Barcroft, 4

Barley Brake, game of, 138, 141

Barton and Eccles, rhymes on, 89

Bear-baiting, 119

Beasts offered to the Devil, 124

Beheading a thief, 1 72

Benches in churches for women, 3

Bemshaw Tower, 5

Birds, superstitions respecting,

218
Biron, Lady, funeral of, 9
Blindman's buff, 141
Blackthorn, game of, 150
Boggart hole in Pendle Forest,

141

Book of Sports, 122
Bowt's bare, 202
Bradshaigh, Sir William, 45
Bradshaw chapel, skulls at, 60
Bradshaw, John, preaching, 109
Brank at Holme, lost, 167
Buck-thanging, punishment of,

175
Bull-baiting at Eccles, 127
Bull-baiting at Chatburn, 149
Burnley waits, 87
Burnley holidays, 161
Byrom, John, opposed to races,

154, 156

Castle Irwell, races at, 157

Cats, king of, 13

Cats, superstition respecting, 219

Chad's church, Rochdale, 52

Chapter of proverbs, 213

Chatburn, the tailor of, 15

Chests, carvings on, 65

Children put to death, 12

Children, superstitions respect-
ing, 220

Christ's croft, 183

Christmas rhymes, 240

Christmas song, 88

Churches strewed with rushes,
109

Church feasts, 123

Churchyards, fairs held in, 125

Churning rhymes, 234

Chylde of Hale, dress of, legends,
31, 33

Cicely's hunting pranks, 253

Clayton hall, 8

Clegg Hall boggart, 11 [237

Clogs worn, clogs to clogs, 146,

28o

Index.

Cockerham, the Devil at, 24I
Cockfighting at Eccles, rules

for, 128, 143
Coifi abandons paganism, 75
Courting on Fridays, 176
Courtship, superstitions respect-
ing, 222
Cross and pile, game of, 139
Cuck stool at Liverpool, 167
Cucking stool at Ormskirk, 168
Cunliffesof WyecoUer, 79

Danish sword dance, 153
Debtor relieved by a witch, 252
Decorations at rushbearings, 118
Demons, forms of, 77
Demon pigs, 7
Denton, derivation of, 28
Devil's bond, 6
Devil outwitted, 240
Devil's stride, 243
Derby, Earls of, crest, 22
Didsbury wakes, 125
Dilworth, written stone at, 13
Downham, King and Queen at,

88
Downes, Roger, superstitions

respecting remains of, 66, 69
Dragon of Wantley, 265
Drawing dun out of mire, 140
Drowning female criminals, 172
Ducking pits at Burnley, 165
Dule upo' Dun, 15
Dun cow and old rib, 16
Drunk as blazes, 208

Eagle Crag in Cliviger, 5
Eagle and child, legend of, 19,

259
Earl of Mexborough, cockfighter,

144
Eccles guising, 89
Eccles pageant, 92
Eccles tithes wagered on cocks,

14s
Edward Longshanks "lifted,"

143
Edwin of Northumbria, 75
Egerton lady and the skull, 70
Entwisel, Sir Berline, ballad, 23

Eustace Dauntesey sells his

soul, 42
Expenses of guising, 91

Fair women of Lancashire, 206
Fairs at Manchester proclaimed,

84
Fairs, origm of, 125
Fairfax, General, 26
Farmhouse, description of, 17
Fighting "up and down," 145
Fish, superstitions respecting, 224
Fives, game of, 150
Fleetwood Habergham, ballad

by, 30

Flodden Field, battle of, 35
Fox, Mr, and Earl of Derby, 51
Furness, rhymes and proverbs

in, 202
Fylde, ducking stools in the, 170

Gallows at Manchester, 171
" Gaping Saturday," 161
Ghosts, vanishing of, 56
Goblin builders, 53
Godly lane, cross in, 7
Gorton, derivation of, 27
Great main of cocks, 144
Grinning through collars, 126
Grith, meaning of, 85

Habergham Hall, 29
Habergham's, Mrs, lament, 3 r
Habergham, John, reckless life

of, 30
Hair, superstitions respecting,

224
Hale, Chylde of, 31
Halper pots, 137
Hand-ball, game of, 149
Hanging ditch, origin of, 34
Hanging male criminals, 1 72
Harrop, Joseph, printer of race

lists, 156
Heaving or "lifting," 142
Hector, speech of, 107
Helston, Mother, the witch, 6
Hidden treasure, 38
Higson, John, on plague stone,

54
Hoghton pageant in 1617, 93

Index.

281

Holt, Constance, saved from

drowning, 62
Holy water, use of, 124
Hornby chapel, 34
Hot cockles, game of, 136
Hulme Hall, 37
Hunting at Extwistle, 147

Idiot starved to death, 4
Ignanging and Ignagnus, 153
Ince Hall and the dead hand, 38
Inn, "Dule upo' Dun," 16
Inscription on written stone, 14
Inscription at Hornby church, 37

Jealous woman, revenge of, 175
Jem o' Bradeley, 212
Jeppe knave grave, 172

"Kent and keer," proverb, 193
Kersal Hall, traditions of, 41
Kersal moor, races at, 154
Kirkham, ducking stool at, 171
Knight murdered, 263

Lady in white, 22, 261
Lancashire v. Yorkshire, 144
Lancashire riddles, rhymes, 186,

188
Lancashire witches, revels of,

247. 257
Lancaster, mayor of, punished,

251
Lapland witches, account of, 258
Latham, Sir Thomas, 19
Latham and Knowsley, sayings,

legend, 205, 259
Laws of Edward the Confes-
sor, 133
Loggats, game of, 133
Lomax, Jaines, otter hunter, 154
Lostock tower, description of, 44
Love's evil choice, 30
Lifting or heaving, 142
Liverpool fair, custom at, 95
Liverpool May-day customs, 96
Lucky bone, superstitions re-
specting, 236
Mabel Bradshaigh, penance of,

47
Mab's cross, 45

Manchester gallows and tum-
brel, 171

Maid Marion, 108

Margery's pranks, 252

Marlock, meanings of, 86, 148

Marsh, George, footprint of, 77

Medicines, superstitions respec-
ting, 225

Melletus on festivals, 1 24

Mellor Hall, 272

Men no seats in churches, 3

Milk or mickle stones, 54

Money, hidden, 55

Money, superstitions about, 227

Mischief night, 175

Miscellaneous superstitions, 217,

Moon superstitions, 238

Mortgage, the forfeited, 45

More of More Hall, 264

Morris dance, 137

Murder at Dilworth, 14

Murder, appeal of, 173

Nicker, derivation of, 29
Nine-holes, game of, 134
Norman punishment, 173
Notchel crying, 176
Nude men, races by, 159
Nuttall, William, ballad by, 1 1
Nuts, omens from, 222

Oat-cake lads, 239
Oat-cakes, presentation of, 127
Old Crambo, &c., 95
Omens or signs of death, 23
Omens from doves, specks, pip-
pins, 228-230
O'Neal, rebellion of, 61
Origin of guilds, 97
Ormskirk, church bell at, 48
Osbaldeston Hall, legend of, 270
Oskatel, Sir, legend of, 20
Oswald's, St, Church, 61
Otter hunting, 154

Pace egg mummers, loi
Pack-sheeting, punishment of,

I7S
Pageants, maskings, &c., 81
Parker of Extwistle, huntmg

song, 147

2»2

Index.

Paulinus at Whalley, 74
Parker, Thomas Townley, cock-
fighter, 144
Penance stool at Bispham, 1 70
Penance in Fylde, 1 74
Pendle hill rhymes, 186, 189
Personal appearance of Paulin-
us, 75
Peyeril, Richard, his fate, 42
Pigs, demon, 8

Pining Moss, eruption of, 243
Pillory at Manchester, 171
Pitching the bar, 133
Plague stone at Stretford, 53
Plott's, Dr, preference of brank,

167
Popular rhymes, 183
Preston guilds, merchant, 97
Preston festivities, 99
Prison bars, game of, 151
Proud Preston, 184
Proverbs, speeches upon, 97
Proverbs, 189, 201
Punching, meaning of, 146
Punishments, various, 165

Quoits and bowls, 151

Race course, the oldest, 155
Races, accidents at, 158
Rebellions, northern, 35
Rhodes of Rhodes defrauded, 50
Rhodes and Pilkington tradi-
tions, 49
Rib, old, and dun cow, 16
Ringing the pan, 176
Robin Hood, 108
Robbers robbed by a witch, 254
Rochdale proverb, 53
Rochdale rushbearing, 114, 119
Roger's transformation, 256
Rowland's rhymes for games, 132
Rooley moor, riddle, 1 59
Rushbearings, 109
Rushcarts, no, 113, 115, 117

Saddleworth rushcart, in
Sale of a wife, 177
Sale, terms of, to the devil, 15
Samlesbury hall, its legend, 261

Samlesbury hall, views from, 261
Saxon cross at Burnley, 8
School holidays in 1790, 159
Scold's branks, 166, 167
Seathwaite, farms in, 204
Seise-noddy, game of, 136
Shoot-cock or shuttlecock, 140
Shovegroat, game of, 138
Signature by the dead hand, 39
Similes, sayings, &c., 190, 193
Skates, kind of, 151
Skittles, game of, 1 35
Slinging, methods of, 152
Southworth, Sir John, 262
Southworth, Dorothy's sad death,

263
Spectre horseman, huntsman,

79, 7
Spell and nur, game of, 149
Spell for witchcraft, 235
Sports at Southport, 161
Stang riding, 1 74
Stanley and the pig's ear, 260
Stanley, Sir Edward, 34
Stocks at Walton, Burnley, 166
Stool-ball, game of, 132
St George, speech of, 102
Sykes's wife, her appearance, 55

Tailor killed by Downes, 66
Tarquin the giant, 54, 273
Ten-pins, game of, 134
Thick as Inkle weavers, 210
Tick-tack, game of, 135
Timberbottom, skulls at, 60
Timbered hall, description of, 65
Tip, game of, 150
Toothache charm, 226
Top and scouge, 140
Towneley, Lord William, 6
Towneley Hall, legend of, 57
Treacle dipping, 162
Trippet, game of, 152
Turton tower, wages when

erected^ 59
Tutelar gods, 93
Tyrone's bed, signature, 60, 63

Unsworth, Dragons of, 63
Unsworth, curious table at, 64

Index.

283

Unsworth's crest, 65

Wakes described by Drayton,

123
Wantley, Dragon of, 265
Wardley Hall skull, 65
Wardley Hall, owners, descrip-

of, 70, 71
Warton rushbearing, 121
Weather rhymes, 188, 232
Weather wisdom, 23 1
Whalley crosses, nishbearings,

73. 121
Whitaker's opinion of Stanley, 36
White lady at Samlesbury, 264
Wife selling, 177

Wigan church, monuments in,

49, 72
Wigan nursery song, 182
Will o' the wisp superstition,

237
Wilson's proverb rhymes, 213
Winwick church and pig, rhyme,

76, 182
Wishes, tailor of Chatburn's 15
Witchcraft superstitions, 234
Witches' temptation, dance,

feast, 248, 249, 255
Witches released from gaol, 257
Women's possessions, 121
Worsley giant, combats of, 78
Wyecoller Hall stnd spectre, 79

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