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AN 


HISTORICAL  SKETCH 


OF  THE 


PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS 


OF 


ENGLAND, 

ILLUSTRATED  BY  NUMEROUS  EXAMPLES. 


BY 


JAMES  ORCHARD  HALLIWELL, 


F.   R.   S.,   F.    S.   A. 


ALBANY,  N.  Y.  . 
J.  MUNSELL,  78  STATE  STREET. 

1863 


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f. 


NOTE. 


In  reproducing  this  little  volume,  the  object 
of  the  publisher  is  to  aid  persons  investigating 
the  history  of  the  English  language,  and  at  the 
same  time  to  gratify  the  curiosity  of  those  who 
would  like  to  know  not  only  the  provincial 
English  words,  so  often  declared  to  he  Ameri- 
canisms, but  how  they  are  employed  and  pro- 
is  i 
*  nounced  in  phrases  and  sentences.     As  there 

are  known  to  be  fifty  thousand  of  such  words 
in  actual  local  use,  not  received  into  our  dic- 
tionaries, the  subject  is  certainly  as  interesting 
)  as  important. 

The  Essay  forms  the  introduction  to  the  Dic- 
tionary of  Archaic  and  Provincial  Words,  by  Mr. 
J.  O.  Halliwell,  an  author  distinguished  for  his 
learned  and  disinterested  exertions  to  extend  a 
knowledge   of   the    Euglish    language.     Fifty 


172       . 


IV  NOTE. 

copies  of  it  were  published  separately.  It 
furnishes  from  the  writings  of  both  ancient  and 
modern  provincial  authors,  examples  in  prose 
and  verse  of  all  the  existing  dialects.  At  the 
close  of  these  are  besides  examples  chronologic- 
al Iv  arranged  of  compositions  in  English  from 
the  thirteenth  century  downwards. 

Mr.  Halliwell's  consent  to  its  publication  is 
kindly  expressed  in  the  following  note  : 


No.  6  St.  Mary's  Place, 

Brompton,  near  London 
28th  Oct.,  1861. 

Dear  Sir  : 


•l 


You  are  heartily  welcome  to  reprint  the 
Dialect  Essay.  It  always  gives  me  pleasure 
when  any  interest  in  my  pursuits  is  taken  in 
your  great  country,  which,  though  troubled, 
must  rise  again  grander  than  ever. 

Yours  truly, 

J.  O.  IIALLRYELL. 

To  Joel  Munsell,  Esq. 


THE 


ENGLISH  PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS, 


INTRODUCTION. 

Robert  of  Gloucester,  after  describing  the  Norman 
Conquest,  thus  alludes  to  'the  change  of  language  intro- 
duced by  that  event: 

And  the  Normans  ne  couthe  speke  tho  bote  her  owe  speche , 
And  speke  French  as  dude  atom,  and  here  chyldren  dude 

also  teche. 
So  that  hey  men  of  this  lond,  that  of  her  blod  come, 
Holdeth  alle  thulke  speche  that  hii  of  hem  nome. 
Vor  bote  a  man  couthe  French,  me  tolth  of  hym  wel  lute, 
Ac  loioe  men  holdeth  to  E)iglyss,  and  to  her  hunde  speche 

•gute. 
Teh  weue  ther  ne  be  man  in  world  contreyes  none, 
That  ne  holdeth  to  her  kunde  speche,  bote  Engelond  one. 
Ac  wel  me  wot  vor  to  conne  bothe  wel  yt  ys, 
Vor  the  more  that  a  man  con,  the  more  worth  he  ys. 


This  extract  describes  very  correctly  the  general  history 
of  the  languages  current  in  England  for  the  first  two 
centuries  after  the  battle  of  Hastings.     Anglo-Norman 


/ 


G  PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS. 

was  almost  exclusively  the  language  of  the  court,  of  the 
Norman  gentry,  and  of  literature.  "  The  works  in  Eng- 
lish which  were  written  hefore  the  Wars  of  the  Barons 
belong, "  says  Mr.  Wright,  '•  to  the  last  expiring  re- 
mains of  an  older  and  totally  different  Anglo-Saxon  style, 
or  to  the  first  attempts  of  a  new  English  one  formed 
upon  a  Norman  model.  Of  the  two  grand  monuments 
of  the  poetry  of  this  period,  Layamon  belongs  to  the 
former  of  these  classes,  and  the  singular  poem  entitled  the 
Ormulum  to  the  latter.  After  the  middle  of  the  thir- 
teenth century,  the  attempts  at  poetical  composition  in 
English  became  more  frequent  and  more  successful,  and 
previous  to  the  age  of  Chaucer  we  have  several  poems 
of  a  very  remarkable  character,  and  some  good  imitations 
of  the  harmony  and  spirit  of  the  French  versification  of 
the  time.  "  After  the  Barons'  Wars,  the  Anglo-Xorman 
was  gradually  intermingled  with  the  Anglo-Saxon,  and 
no  long  time  elapsed  before  the  mongrel  language,  Eng- 
lish, was  in  general  use,  formed,  however,  from  the 
latter.  A  writer  of  the  following  century  thus  alleges 
his  reason  for  writing  in  English  : 

In  Englis  tonge  y  schal  gow  telle, 
gyf  ge  so  long  with  me  wyl  dwclle; 
Ne  Latyn  wil  y  speke  ne  waste, 
Bot  Englisch  that  men  uses  maste, 
For  that  ys  goure  kynde  langage, 
That  ge  hale  here  most  of  usage ; 


PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS.  7 

That  can  cell  man  unthcrstonde 

That  is  bom  in  Englonde  ; 

For  that  langage  ys  most  schewed, 

Als  wcl  mowe  lereth  as  lewed. 

Latyn  also  y  trowe  can  nanc, 

Bot  tho  that  hath  hit  of  schole  tane ; 

Som  can  Frensch  and  no  Latyne, 

That  useth  has  court  and  duellt  therinue, 

And  som  can  of  Latyn  aparty, 

That  can  Frensch  ful  febylly  ; 

And  som  untherstondith  Englisch, 

That  nother  can  Latyn  ne  Frensch 

Bot  lerde,  and  lewde,  old  and  "gong, 

Alle  untherstondith  Englisch  tonge. 

Therfore  y  holde  hit  most  siker  thanne 

To  schewe  the  langage  that  ech  man  can  ; 

And  for  lewethe  men  namely, 

That  can  no  more  of  clergy, 

Tho  ken  tham  whare  most  nede, 

For  clerkes  can  both  se  and  rede 

In  divers  bokes  of  Holy  Writt, 

How  they  schul  lyve,  yf  thay  loke  hit : 

Tharefore  y  wylle  me  holly  halde 

To  that  langagc  that  Englisch  ys  calde. 

MS.  Bodl  48,  f.  48. 

The  author  of  the  Cursor  Mnndi  thought  each  nation 

should  be  contented  with  one  language,  and  that  the 

English  should  discard  the  Anglo-Norman  : 

This  ilk  bok  it  es  translate 
Into  Inglis  tong  to  rede, 
For  the  love  of  Inglis  lede, 
Inglis  lede  of  Ingland, 
For  the  commun  at  understand. 
Frankis  rimes  here  I  redd 
Communlik  in  ilk  sted. 


8  PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS. 

Mast  es  it  wroght  for  Frankis  man, 

Quat  is  for  him  na  Frankiscanf. 

( )('  England  the  nacion 

Es  [nglisman  thar  in  eommun; 

The  speche  that  man  wit  mast  may  specie, 

Mast  thar  wit  to  speke  war  nede. 

Selden  was  for  am  chance 

Praised  Inglis  tong  in  France! 

Gicc  we  ilkan  thare  langage, 

Me  think  we  do  tham  non  outrage. 

JIS.  Cott.  Vespas.  A.  iii,  f.  2. 

In  the  curious  tale  of  King  Edward  and  the  Shep- 
herd, the  latter  is  described  as  being  perfectly  astonished 
with  the  French  and  Latin  of  the  court : 

The  lordis  anon  to  ehawmbur  went, 
The  kyng  aftur  the  scheperde  sent, 

He  was  brojt  forth  fulle  sone ; 
He  clawed  his  hed,  his  hare  he  rent, 
He  wende  wcl  to  have  be  schent, 

He  ne  wyst  what  was  to  done. 
"When  he  French  and  Latyn  herde, 
He  hade  mervelle  how  it  ferde, 

And  drow  hym  ever  alone  : 
Jhesu,  he  seid,  for  thi  gret  grace, 
Bryng  me  fayre  out  of  this  place  ! 

Lady,  now  here  my  bone  I 

MS.  Cantab.  Ff.  v.  48,  f.  55. 

In  the  fifteenth  century,  English  may  be  said  to  have 
been  the  general  language  of  this  country.*     At  this 

*  Anno,  Counters  of  Stafford,  thus  writes  in  1438,1  "  ordeyne  and  make  my 
testament  in  English  tonge  for  my  most  profit,  redyng,  and  uuderstandyng 
in  this  wise." 


PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS.  9 

period,  too,  what  is  now  called  old  English,  rapidly  lost 
its  grammatical  forms,  and  the  English  of  the  time  of 
Henry  VIII,  orthography  excepted,  differs  very  little 
from  that  of  the  present  day.  A  few  archaisms  now  ob- 
solete, and  old  phrases,  constitute  the  essential  differences. 
Our  present  subject  is  the  provincial  dialects  to  which 
these  very  brief  remarks  on  the  general  history  of  the  Eng- 
lish language  are  merely  preliminary, — a  subject  of  great 
difficulty,  and  one  which  requires  far  more  reading  than 
has  yet  been  attempted  to  develop  satisfactorily,  especial- 
ly in  its  earlier  period.  Believing  that  the  principal  use 
of  the  study  of  the  English  dialects  consists  in  the  ex- 
planation of  archaisms,  I  have  not  attempted  that  research 
which  would  be  necessary  to  understand  their  history, 
albeit  this  latter  is  by  no  means  an  unimportant  inquiry. 
The  Anglo-Saxon  dialects  were  not  numerous,  as  far  as  can 
be  judged  from  the  manuscripts  in  that  language  which 
have  been  preserved,  and  it  seems  probable  that  most  of 
cur  English  dialects  might  be  traced  historically  and  ety- 
mologically  to  the  original  tribes  of  the  Saxons,  Angles, 
and  Jutes,  not  forgetting  the  Danes,  whose  language,' 
according  to  Wallingford,  so  long  influenced  the  dialect 
of  Yorkshire.  In  order  to  accomplish  this  we  require 
many  more  early  documents  which  bear  upon  the  sub- 
ject than  have  yet  been  discovered,  and  the  uncertainty 


10  PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS. 

which  occurs  inmost  cases  of'fixing  the  exact  locality  in 
which  they  were  written  adds  to  our  difficulties.  When 
we  conic  to  a  later  period,  the  thirteenth  and  fourteenth 
centuries,  there  being  no  standard  literary  form  of  our 
native  language,  every  manuscript  sufficiently  exhibits 
i  -  dialect,  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  all  English  works 
of  this  period  may  one  day  be  classed  according  to  their 
dialects.  In  such  an  undertaking,  great  assistance  will 
be  derived  from  a  knowledge  of  our  local  dialects 
as  they  now  exist.  Hence  the  value  of  specimens  of 
modern  provincial  language,  for  in  many  instances,  as 
in  Robert  of  Gloucester's  Chronicle,  compared  with  the 
present  dialect  of  Gloucestershire,  the  organic  forms  of 
the  dialect  have  remained  unchanged  for  centuries.  The 
Aymbyteof  Ttvwyt  is,  perhaps,  the  most  remarkable  speci- 
men of  early  English  manuscripts  written  in  a  broad  dia- 
lect, and  it  proves  very  satisfactorily  that  in  the  fourteenth 
century  the  principal  features  of  what  istermed  the  West- 
ern dialect  were  those  also  of  the  Kentish  dialect.  There 
can  be,  in  fact,  little  doubt  that  the  former  was  long  cur- 
Tent  throughout  the  southern  counties,  and  even  extend- 
ed in  some  degree  as  far  as  Essex.*     If  we  judge  from 

*  This  is  stated  on  sufficiently  ample  authority,  but  Verstegan  appears  to 
limit  it  in  his  time  to  the  Western  counties, — "  Weseethat  in  some  several]  pnrts 
of  England  Itselfe,  both  the  names  of  things,  aud  pronuntiations  of  words,  are 
somewhat  different,  and  that  among  the  country  people  that  never  borrow  any 
words  out  of  the  Latiu  or  French,  und  of  this  different  pronuntiation  one  eS- 


PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS.  11 

the  specimens  of  early  English  of  which  the  localities  of 
composition  are  known,  we  might  perhaps  divide  the  dia- 
lects of  the  fourteenth  century  into  three  grand  classes, 
the  Northern,  the  Midland,  and  the  Southern,  the  las^ 
being  that  now  retained  in  the  Western  counties.  But, 
with  the  few  materials  yet  published,  I  set  little  reliance 
on  any  classification  of  the  kind.  If  we  may  decide  from 
Mr.  Wright's  Specimens  of  Lyric  Poetry,  which  were 
written  in  Herefordshire,  or  from  Audelay's  Poems,  writ- 
ten in  Shropshire  in  the  fifteenth  century,  those  counties 
would  belong  to  the  Midland  division,  rather  than  to  the 
West  or  South. 

The  few  writers  who  have  entered  on  the  subject  of 
the  early  English  provincial  dialects,  have  advocated  their 
theories  without  a  due  consideration  of  the  probability, 
in  many  cases  the  certainty,  of  an  essen.tial  distinction 
between  the*  language  of  literature  and  that  of  the  natives 
of  a  county.  Hence  arises  a  fallacy  which  has  led  to  curi- 
ous anomalies.  We  are  not  to  suppose,  merely  because 
we  find  an  early  manuscript  written  in  any  county  in 
standard  English,  that  that  manuscript  is  a  correct  crite- 

ample  in  steed  of  many  shal  suffice,  as  this  :  for  pronouncing  according  as  one 
would  say  at  London,  /  would  eat  more  cheese  if  I  had  it,  the  Northern  man 
saith,  Ay  sud  eat  mare  cheese  gin  ay  hadet,  and  the  Westerne  man  saith,  Chud 
eat  more  cheese  an  chad  it.  Lo  heere  three  different  pronountiations  in  our 
owue  country  in  one  thing,  and  hereof  many  the  like  examples  might  be  al- 
leaged."—  Versieaan's  Restitution,  163-t,  p.  195. 


12  PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS. 

rion  of  the  dialect  of  the  couuty.  There  are  several 
manuscripts  written  in  Kent  of  about  the  same  date  as 
the  Ayenbyte  of  Intoyt,  which  have  none  of  the  dialectical 
tnarks  of  that  curious  work.  Most  of  the  quotations  here 
given  IVum  early  manuscripts  must  be  taken  with  a  similar 
limitation  as  to  their  dialect.  Hence  the  difficulty,  from 
want  of  authentic  specimens,  of  forming  a  classification, 
which  has  led  to  an  alphabetical  arrangement  of  the 
counties  in  the  following  brief  notices. 


\ 


ENGLISH   DIALECTS. 


BEDFORDSHIRE. 

The  dialect  of  this  county  has  been  fully  investigated 
in  Batchelor's  Orthoepical  Analysis  of  the  English  Lan- 
guage, 8vo.  1809.  Ew  takes  the  place  of  ow,  ea  of  a, 
ow  of  the  long  o,  oi  of  i,  &c.  When  r  precedes  s  aud  e 
final,  or  s  and  other  consonants,  it  is  frequently  not  pro- 
nounced. Ow  final  is  often  changed  into  er ;  ge  final, 
into  dge  ;  and  g  final  is  sometimes  omitted. 


BERKSHIRE. 

The  Berkshire  dialect  partly  belongs  to  the  Western, 
and  partly  to  the  Midland,  more  strongly  marked  with 
the  features  of  the  former  in  the  south-west  of  the  county. 
The  a  is  changed  into  o,  the  dipthongs  are  pronounced 
broadly,  and  the  vowels  are  lengthened.  Way  is  pro- 
nounced woye ;  thik  and  thaJc  for  this  and  that ;  he  for 
him.  and  she  for  her. 
3 


14  PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS. 

BUCKINGHAM  SHIRK. 

The  language  of  the  peasantry  is  not  very  broad,  al- 
though many  dialectical  words  are  in  general  use.  A 
list  of  the  latter  was  kindly  forwarded  to  me  by  Dr. 
lltissey. 

CAMBRIDGESHIRE. 

There  is  little  to  distinguish  the  Cambridgeshire  dia- 
lect from  that  of  the  adjoining  counties.  It  is  nearly 
allied  to  that  of  Norfolk  and  Suffolk.  The  perfect  tense 
is  formed  strongly,  as  lilt,  hot,  sit,  sot,  spare,  spore,  e.g. 
"  if  I  am  spore,  "  i.  c.  spared,  &Q.  I  have  to  return  my 
thanks  to  the  Rev.  J.  J.  Smith  and  the  Rev.  Charles 
Warren  for  brief  lists  of  provincialisms  current  in  this 
county. 

CHESHIRE. 

The  Cheshire  dialect  changes  Hnto  w,  id  into  w  or  oo, 
i  into  oi  or  ee,  o  into  u,  a  into  o,  o  into  a,  u  into  i,  ea 
into  7/0,  and  oa  into  wo.  Mr.  Wilbraham  has  published 
a  very  useful  and  correct  glossary  of  Cheshire  words, 
second  ed.  12mo.  1836. 

Extract  from 

A  Speech  of  Judas  Iscariot. 

In  the  Play  of   Christ's  Entry  into  Jerusalem. 

By  deare  God  in  magistie  ! 

I  am  so  wroth  as  I  maye  be, 

And  some  waye  I  will  wrecken  me, 


PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS.  15 

As  sone  as  ever  I  maie. 

My  mayster  Jesus,  as  men  ruaye  see, 

Was  rubbed  heade,  foote,  and  knye, 

With  oyntmente  of  more  daintie 

Then  I  see  manye  a  daie. 

To  that  I  have  greate  envye, 

Tliat  he  suffred  to  destroye 

More  then  all  his  good  thrye, 

And  his  dames  towe. 

Hade  I  of  it  hade  maisterye, 

I  woulde  have  soulde  it  sone  in  hie, 

And  put  it  up  in  tresuerye, 

As  I  was  wonte  to  doe. 

Whatsoever  wes  geven  to  Jesu, 

I  have  kepte,  since  I  hym  knewe  ; 

For  he  hopes  I  wilbe  trewe, 

His  purse  allwaie  I  bare. 

Hym  hade  bene  better,  in  good  faye, 

Hade  spared  oyntmente  that  daie, 

For  wrocken  I  wilbe  some  waie 

Of  waste  that  was  done  thier ; 

Three  hundreth  penny  worthes  it  was 

That  he  let  spill  in  that  place  ; 

Therefore  God  geve  me  harde  grace, 

But  hymselfe  shalbe  soulde 

To  the  Jewes,  or  that  I  sitte. 

For  the  tenth  penye  of  it : 

And  this  my  maister  shalbe  quite 

My  greffe  a  hundreth  foulde. 

Chester  Plays,  ii,  12. 

CORNWALL. 

It  is  almost  unnecessary  to  observe,  that  the  ancient 
Cornish  language  has  long  been  obsolete.  It  appears  to 
have  been  gradually  disused  from  the  time  of  Henry 
VIII,  but  it  was  spoken  in  some  parts  of  the  country 


16  PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS. 

till  the  eighteenth  century.  Modern  Cornish  is  now  an 
English  dialect,  and  a  specimen  of  it  is  here  given. 
Polwhele  has  recorded  a  valuable  list  of  Cornish  provin- 
cialisms, and  a  new  glossary  has  recently  been  published, 
in  Specimens  of  Cornish  Provincial  Dialect,  8vo.  1846. 
In  addition  to  these.  I  have  to  acknowledge  several 
words,  hitherto  unnoticed,  communicated  by  Miss  Hicks, 
and  R.  T.  Smith,  Esq. 

Harrison,  Description  of  Britaine,  p.  14,  thus  mentions 
the  Cornish  language  :  "  The  Cornish  and  Devonshire 
men,  whose  countrie  the  Britons  call  Cerniw,  have  a 
speach  in  like  sort  of  their  owne,  and  such  as  hath  in 
deed  more  affinitie  with  the  Armoricane  toong  than  I 
can  well  discusse  of.  Yet  in  mine  opinion,  they  are  both 
but  a  corrupted  kind  of  British,  albeit  so  far  degenerating 
in  these  daies  from  the  old,  that  if  either  of  them  doo 
meete  with  a  Welshman,  they  are  not  able  at  the  first 
to  understand  one  another,  except  here  and  there  in 
some  od  words,  without  the  helpe  of  interpreters." 

In  Cornwal,  Pembr.  and  Devon  they  for  to  milk  say 
milky,  for  to  squint,  to  squinny,  this,  thicky,  &c,  and 
after  most  verbs  ending  with  consonants  they  clap  a  y 
but  more  commonly  the  lower  part  of  Pembrokeshire. — 
Lhayd's  MS.  Additions  to  Ray,  Ashm.  Mus. 

The  Cornwall  Schoolboy. 

An  ould  man  found,  one  day,  ayung  gentleman's  port- 
mantle,  as  he  were  a  going  to  es  dennar;  he  took'd  et 
en  and  gived  et  to  es  wife,  and  said,  "  Mally,  here's  a 
roul  of  lither,  look.  see.  I  suppoasc  some  poor  ould  shoe- 
maker or  other  have  los'en,  tak'en  and  put' en  a  top  of  the 


PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS.  17 

teaster  of  tha  bed,  he'll  be  glad  to  hab'en  agen  sum 
day,  I  dear  say.''  The  ould  man.  Jan,  that  was  es  neame, 
went  to  es  work  as  before.  Mally  then  open'd  the 
portmantle,  and  found  en  et  three  hunderd  pounds. 
Soon  after  thes,  the  ould  man  not  being  very  well,  Mally 
said,  "  Jan,  I'ave  saaved  away  a  little  money,  by  the 
•bye,  and  as  thee  caan't  read  or  write,  thee  shu'st  go  to 
scool"  (he  were  then  nigh  threescore  and  ten).  He 
went  but  a  very  short  time,  and  coined  hoam  one  day, 
and  said,  "  Mally,  I  wain't  go  to  scool  no  more,  'caase 
the  childer  do  be  laffen  at  me  ;  they  can  tell  their  letters, 
and  I  caan't  tell  my  A,  B,  C,  and  I  wuld  rayther  go 
to  work  agen."  "  Do  as  thee  wool/'  ses  Mally.  Jan  had 
not  ben  out  many  days,  afore  the  yung  gentleman  came 
by  that  lost  the  portmantle,  and  said,  "Well,  my  ould 
man,  did'ee  see  or  hear  tell  of  sich  a  thing  as  a  port- 
mantle V  "Portmantle,  sar,  was't  that  un,  sumthing 
like  thickey  ?  (pointing  to  one  behind  es  saddle. )  I 
found  one  the  t'other  day  zackly  like  that.''  "  Where 
es  et?"  "  Come  along,  I  carr'd  'en  en  and  gov'en  to 
my  wife  Mally  ;  thee  sha't  av'en.  Mally,  where  es  that 
roul  of  lither  that  Igiv'd  tha  the  t'other  day  ?"  "  What 
roul  of  lither  ?"  said  Mally.  "  The  roul  of  lither  I  broft 
en  and  tould  tha  to  put'en  a  top  of  the  teaster  of  the 
bed,  afore  I  go'd  to  scool."  "  Drat  tha  emperance," 
said  the  gentleman,  "  thee  artbetwattled,  that  was  before 
I  were  born." 

A  Western  Eclogue. 

Pengrouze,  a  lad  in  many  a  science  blest, 
Outshone  his  toning  brothers  of  the  west : 
Of  smugling,  hurling,  wrestling,  much  he  knew, 
And  much  of  tin,  and  much  of  pilchards  too. 
Fam'd  at  each  village,  town,  and  country-house, 
Menacken,  Helstone,  Polkinhorne,  and  Grouze ; 
Trespissen,  Buddock,  Cony-yerle,  Treverry, 
Polbastard,  Hallabazzack,  Eglesderry, 


18  PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS. 

Pencob,  and  Bestijeg,  Treviskey,  Breague, 
Irewinnick,  Buskenwyn,  Busveal,  Roscreague: 

But  what  avail'd  his  fame  and  various   art, 

Since  he,  by  love,  was  smitten  to  the  heart? 

The  shaft  a  beam  of  Bet  Polglaze's  eyes  ; 

And  now  he  dumplin  loaths,  and  pilchard  pies. 

Young  was  the  lass,  a  servant  at  St.  Tizzy, 

Born  at  Polpiss,  and  bred  at  Mevagizzy. 

Calm  o'er  the  mountain  blush'd  the  rising  day, 

And  ting'd  the  summit  with  a  purple  ray, 

When  sleepless  from  his  hutch  the  lover  stole, 

And  met,  by  chance,  the  mistress  of  his  soul. 

And  "  Whither  go'st  ?"  he  scratched  his  skull  and  cry'd; 

"  Arrear,  God  bless  us,"  well  the  nymph  reply'd, 

"  To  Yealston  sure,  to  buy  a  pound  o'  backy, 

That  us  and  measter  wonderfully  lacky ; 

Grod  bless  us  ale,  this  fortnight,  'pon  my  word, 

We  nothing  smoaks  but  oak  leaves  and  cue-terd. 

Pengrouze. 

Arrear  then,  Bessy,  ly  aloane  the  backy, 
Sty  here  a  tiny  bit  and  let  us  talky. 
Bessy,  I  loves  thee,  wot  a  ha  me,  zay, 
Wot  ha  Pengrouze,  why  wot  a,  Bessy,  ha3  ? 

Bet  Polglaze. 

Ah,  hunkin,  hunkin,  mind  at  Moushole  fair 
What  did  you  at  the  Choughs,  the  alehouse  there  ? 
When  you  stows  eighteen  pence  in  cakes  and  beer, 
To  treat  that  dirty  trollup,  Mall  Rosevear  : 
You  stutfs  it  in  her  gills,  and  makes  such  pucker, 
Arrear  the  people  thoft  you  wid  have  choack  her. 

Pengrouze. 
Curse  Mall  Rosevear,  I  says,  a  great  jack  whore, 
1  ne'er  sees  such  a  dirty  drab   before  : 
I  stuffs  her  gills  with  cakes  and  beer,  the  hunk, 
She  stuffs  herself,  she  meslin  and  got  drunk. 


PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS.  19 

Best*  drink  sure  for  her  jaws  wan't  good  enow, 
So  leckerf  makes  her  drunk  as  David's  sow  ; 
Her  feace  is  like  a  bull's,  and  'tis  a  fooel, 
Her  legs  are  like  the  legs'  o'  cobbler's  stooel  ; 
Her  eyes  be  grean's  a  lick,!  as  yaffers  big, 
Noase  flat's  my  bond,  and  neck  so  black's  a  pig. 

Bet  Polglaze. 

Ay,  but  I've  more  to  say;  this  isn't  ale, 
You  deane'd  wy  Mall  Rosevear  't  a  sartin  bale ; 
She  toald  me  so,  and  lefts  me  wy  a  sneare — 
Ay !  you,  Pengrouze,  did  deance  wy  Mall  Rosevear. 

Pengrouze. 

Now,  Bessy,  hire  me,  Bessy,  vath  and  soale, 
Hire  me,  I  says,  and  thou  shat  hire  the  whoale  ; 
One  night,  a  Wensday  night,  I  vows  to  Groade, 
Aloane,  a  hossback,  to  Tresouze  I  roade ; 
Sure  Bessy  vath,  dist  hire  me,  'tis  no  lies, 
A  d — mnder  bale  was  never  seed  wy  eyes. 
I  hires  sum  mizzick  at  an  oald  bearne  doore, 
And  hires  a  wondrous  rousing  on  the  floore ; 
So  in  I  pops  my  head  ;  says  I,  arreare ! 
Why,  what  a  devil's  neame  is  doing  heare  ? 
Why  deancing,  cries  the  crowder  by  the  wale, 
Why  deancing,  deancing,  measter — 'tis  a  bale. 
Deancing,  says  I,  by  Gam  I  hires  sum  preancers, 
But  tell  us  where  the  devil  be  the  deancers ; 
For  fy  the  dust  and  strawze  so  fleed  about, 
I  could  not,  Bessy,  spy  the  hoppers  out. 
At  laste  I  spies  Rosevear,  I  wish  her  dead, 
Who  meakes  me  deance  all  nite,  the  stinking  jade. 
Says  I,  I  have  no  shoose  to  kick  a  foote  : 
Why  kick,  says  Mall  Rosevear,  then  kick  thy  boote. 

*  Best  drink  implies  strong  beer.  t  Brandy. 

'\  Green  as  a  leek. 


20  PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS. 

And,  Bet,  di.st  hire  mc,  for  to  leert  us  ale, 
A  furthing  candle  wink"d  again  the  wale. 

Bet  PoJglaze. 

Ah,  hunkin,  hunkin,  I  am  huge  afraid 
That  you  is  laughing  at  a  simple  maid. 

Penyrouze. 

Peare,  dearest  Bet,  let's  hug  thee  to  my  hearty 
And  may  us  never  never  never  pearte ! 
No,  if  I  lies  than,  Bessy,  than  I  wishes 
The  Shackleheads  may  never  close  the  fishes  ; 
That  picky  dogs  may  eat  the  sceane  when  fule, 
Eat'n  to  rags,  and  let  go  ale  the  schule. 

Bet  Polglaze. 
Then  here's  my  hond,  and  wy  it  teake  my  hearte. 

Penyrouze. 

Goade  bless  us  too,  and  here  is  mines,  ods  hearte ! 
One  buss,  and  then  to  Pilcharding  I'll  packy. 

Bet  Pohjlaze. 
And  I  to  Yealstone  for  my  measter's  backy. 


A  Cornish  Song. 

Come,  all  ye  jolly  Tinner  boys,  and  listen  to  mc ; 
1'  11  tell  ee  of  a  storie  shall  make  ye  for  to  see, 
Consarning  Boney  Peartie,  the  schaarnes  which  he  had 

maade 
To  stop  our  tin  and  copper  mines,  and  all  our  pilchard 

traade. 
lie  summonsed  forty  thousand   men,  to  Polland  they 

did  goa, 
All  for  to   rob   and  plunder   there  you  very  well  do 

knawa ; 


PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS.  21 

But  ten-thousand  were  killed,  and  laade  dead  in  blood 

and  goare, 
And  thirty  thousand  ranned    away,    and  I  cante  tell 

where,  I'm  sure. 
And  should  that  Bony  Peartie  have  forty  thousand  still 
To  maake  into  an  array  to  work  his  wicked  will, 
And  try  for  to  invaade  us  if  he  doeut  quickly  fly — 
Why,  forty  thousand  Cornish    boys    shall    knawa  the 

reason  why. 
Hurea  for  tin  and  copper,  boys,  and  fisheries  likewise ! 
Hurea  for  Cornish  maadens —  oh,  bless  their  pretty  eyes ! 
Hurea  for  our  ould  gentrie,  and  may  they  never  faale ! 
Hurea,  hurea  for  Cornwall !  hurea,  boys,  "  one  and  ale  !" 

CUMBERLAND. 

The  dialects  of  Cumberland,  Westmoreland,  North- 
umberland, and  Durham  may  be  considered  to  be  iden- 
tical in  all  essential  peculiarities,  the  chief  differences 
arising  from  the  mode  of  pronunciation.  According  to 
Boucher,  the  dialect  of  Cumberland  is  much  less  uni- 
form than  that  of  Westmoreland.  In  Cumberland,  too 
is  in  frequent  use  instead  of  the  long  o,  as  will  be  no- 
ticed in  the  following  example.  A  glossary  of  Cum- 
berland words  was  kindly  forwarded  to  me  by  Mr. 
Thomas  Sanderson. 

Love  in  Cumberland. 

Tune.—"  Cuddle  me.  Cuddy." 

Wa,  Jwohn,  what'n  mannishment's  'tis 

'At  tou's  gawn  to  dee  for  a  hizzy  ! 
Aw  hard  'o  this  torrable  fiss, 

An'  aw's  cum't  to  advise  tha'. — 'at  is  ee. 

4 


22  PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS. 

Mun,  thou'll  nobbet  lwosc  tee  gud  neame 
Wi'  gowlin  an'  whingin  sea  mickle  ; 

Cockswunturs  !  niin  beyde  about  heame, 
An'  let  ber  e'en  ga  to  auld  Nickle. 

Thy  plew-geer's  aw  liggin  how-strow, 
An'  somebody's  stown  thee  thy  couter ; 

Oh  faiks  !  thou's  duin  little  'at  dow 
To  fash  theesel  ivver  about  her. 

Your  Seymey  has  broken  car  stang, 

An'  mendit  it  wid  a  clog-coaker  ; 
Pump-tree's  geane  aw  wheyt  wrang, 

An'  they've  sent  for  auld  Tom  Stawkcr. 

Young  filly's  dung  ourc  the  lang  stee, 
An'  leam'd  peer  Andrew  the  theeker; 

Thee  mudder  wad  suffer't  for  tee, 

An  haw  hadn't  happ'n't  to  cleek  her. 

Thou's  spoilt  for  aw  manner  o'  wark  : 
Thou  nobbet  sits  peghan  an'  pleenan. 

Odswucke,  man  !  doff  that  durty  sark, 
An'  pretha  gi'e  way  git  a  clean  an  ! 

An'  then  gow  to  Carel  wi'  me, — 

Let  her  gang  to  knock-cross  wid  her  scwornin, 
Sec  clanken  at  market  we'll  see, 

A' 11  up'od  ta'  forgit  her  'or  mwornin'  ! 


Song,  by  Miss  Blamire. 

What  ails  this  heart  o'  mine  ? 

What  means  this  wat'ry  e'e  ? 
What  gars  me  ay  turn  pale  as  death 

When  I  tak'  leave  u'  thee  '( 

When  tin  hi  art  far  awa', 

Thou'll  dearer  be  to  me  ; 


PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS.  23 

But  change  o'  place,  and  change  o'  folk, 
May  gar  thy  fancy  jee. 

When  I  sit  down  at  e'  en, 

Or  walk  in  morning  air, 
Ilk  rustling  bough  will  seem  to  say, 

I  us'd  to  meet  thee  there  : 

Then  I'll  sit  down  and  wail, 

And  greet  aneath  a  tree, 
And  gin  a  leaf  fa'  i'  my  lap, 
I's  ca't  a  word  frae  thee. 

I'll  hie  me  to  the  bow'r 

Where  yews  wi'  roses  tred, 
And  where,  wi'  monie  a  blushing  bud, 

I  strove  my  face  to  hide  ; 

I'll  doat  on  ilka  spot, 

Where  I  ha'e  been  wi'  thee, 
And  ca'  to  mind  some  kindly  look 

'Neath  ilka  hollow  tree. 

Wi'  sec  thoughts  i'  my  mind, 

Time  thro'  the  warl  may  gae, 
And  find  me  still,  in  twenty  years, 

The  same  as  I'm  to-day  : 

'Tis  friendship  bears  the  sway, 

And  keeps  friends  i'  the  e'e  ; 
And  gin  I  think  I  see  thee  still, 

Wha  can  part  thee  and  me  ? 


DERBYSHIRE. 

"  This  dialect,"  observes  Dr.  Bosworth,  "  is  remark- 
able for  its  broad  pronunciation.  In  me  the  e  is  pro- 
nounced long  and  broad,  as  mee.  The  I  is  often  omit- 
ted after  a  or  o,  as  aw  for  all,  caw,  call,  bowd,  bold, 


24  PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS. 

coud,  cold.  Words  in  ing  generally  admit  the  g,  but 
sometimes  it  is  changed  into  k  ;  as  think  for  thing,  lovin 
fur  loving.  They  use  con  for  can  ;  conn*  r  for  cannot ; 
shanner  for  shall  not ;  wool,  wooner  for  will,  and  will 
not ;  i/o  for  you,  &c."  Lists  of  provincial  words  pecu- 
liar to  this  county  have  been  kindly  forwarded  by  Dr. 
Bosworth,  Thomas  Bateman,  Esq.,  the  llev.  Samuel 
Fox,  the  Rev.  William  Shilleto,  Mrs.  Butler,  and  L. 
Jewitt,  Esq. 

A  Dialogue  between  Farmer  Bennet  and 
Tummus  LlDE. 

Farmer  Bennet.  Tummus,  why  dunner  yo  mend  inch 
shoom  ? 

Tummus  hide.  Becoz,  mester,  'tis  zo  cood,  I  Conner 
work  wee  the  tachin  at  aw.  I've  brockn  it  ten  times  I'm 
shur  to  de — it  freezes  zo  hard.  Why,  Hester  hung 
out  a  smock-frock  to  dry,  an  in  three  minits  it  wor 
frozzen  as  stiff  as  a  proker,  an  I  Conner  afford  to  keep 
a  good  fire  ;  I  wish  I  cud.  I'd  soon  mend  yore  shoon, 
and  others  tow.  I'd  soon  yarn  some  munny,  I  warrant 
ye.  Conner  yo  find  sum  work  for  m',  mester.  these 
hard  times?  I'll  doo  onnythink  to  addle  a  penny.  I 
con  thresh — I  con  split  wood — I  con  mak  spars — I  con 
thack.  I  con  skower  a  dike,  and  I  con  trench  tow,  but 
it  freezes  zo  hard.  I  con  winner — I  con  fother.  or  milk, 
if  there  be  need  on't.  I  woodner  mind  drivin  plow  or 
onnythink. 

Former  B.  I  banner  got  nothing  for  ye  to  doo, 
Tummus  ;  but  Mester  Boord  towd  me  jist  now  that  they 
wor  gooiu  to  winner,  and  that  they  shud  want  sum- 
body  to  help  'em. 

Tummus  L.  O,  I'm  glad  on't.  I'll  run  oor  and  zee 
whether  I  con   help  'em ;  but  I  hanner  bin  wcein  the 


PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS.  25 

threshold  ov  Mester  Boord's  doer  for  a  nation  time, 
becoz  I  thoot  misses  didner  use  Hester  well ;  bur  I 
dunner  bear  malice,  and  zo  I'll  goo. 

Farmer  B.  What  did  Missus  Boord  za  or  doo  to 
Hester  then  ? 

Tummus  L.  Why,  Hester  may  be  wor  summut  to 
blame  too  ;  for  her  wor  one  on  'em,  de  ye  zee,  that  jawd 
Skimmerton, — the  mak-gam  that  frunted  zum  o'  the 
gentefook.  They  said  'twor  time  to  dun  wee  sich 
litter  or  sich  stuft",  or  I  dunner  know  what  they  cawd  it ; 
but  they  wor  frunted  wee  Hester  bout  it ;  and  I  said, 
if  they  wor  frunted  wee  Hester,  they  mid  bee  frunted 
wee  mee.  This  set  misses's  back  up,  and  Hester 
hanner  bin  a  charrin  there  sin.  But  'tis  no  use  to 
bear  malice  :  and  zo  I'll  goo  oor,  and  zee  which  we  the 
winde  blows. 

Bosworth's  Anglo-Saxon  Dictionary,  Introd.  p.  31. 


DEVONSHIRE. 

The  munuscript  Ashmole  83  contains  an  early  ro- 
mance, written  about  the  year  1377,  which  appears  to 
have  been  composed  by  a  clergyman  living  in  the  diocese 
of  Exeter.  Several  extracts  from  it  will  be  found  in  the 
following  pages.  The  manuscript  possesses  great  in- 
terest, having  part  of  the  author's  original  draught  of  the 
romance.     See  farther  in  Mr.  Black's  Catalogue,  col.  15. 

A  Devonshire  Song  is  printed  in  Wits  Interpreter, 
ed.  1671,  p.  171  ;  the  Devonshire  Ditty  occurs  in 
the  same  work,  p.  247.  The  Exmoor  Scolding  and  the 
Exmoor  Courtship,  specimens  of  the  broad  Devonshire 
dialect  at  the  commencement  of  the  last  century,  have 
been  lately  republished.     The  third  edition  was  pub- 


20  PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS. 

lifihed  at  Exeter  in  174G,  4to.  Mr.  Marshall  has  given 
a  list  of  West  Devonshire  words  in  his  Rural  Economy 
of  the  West  of  Kni/lii ml,  1796,  vol.  i,  pp.  323-32,  but 
the  best  yet  printed  is  that  by  Mr.  Palmer,  appended  to 
a  Dialogue  in  the  Devonshire  Dialect,  8vo.  1837.  A 
brief  glossary  is  also  added  to  the  Devonshire  Dialogue^ 
8vo.  1839.  My  principal  guide,  however,  for  the  dialect- 
ical words  of  this  county,  is  a  large  manuscript  collection 
stated  in  Mr.  Thomas  llodd's  Catalogue  of  Manuscripts 
for  1845  (No.  270)  to  have  been  written  by  Dr.  Milles, 
Dean  of  Exeter,  and  quoted  in  this  work,  as  Dean  3Iilles' 
Manuscript.  I  have  been  since  informed  that  it  was 
compiled  by  the  late  Rev.  Richard  Hole,  but  in  either 
case  its  integrity  and  value  are  undoubted.  Notes  of 
Devonshire  words  have  been  kindly  transmitted  by  the 
Rev.  John  Wilkinson,  J.  H.  James,  Esq.,  William  Chap- 
pell,  Esq.,  Mrs.  Lovell,  and  Mr.  J.  Metcalfe.  The  West 
Country  dialect  is  now  spoken  in  greater  purity  in 
Devonshire  than  in  any  other  county. 

The  following  remarks  on  the.  English  dialects  are 
taken  from  Aubrey's  Natural  History  of  Wiltshire,  a 
manuscript  preserved  in  the  library  of  the  Royal  Society : 

The  Northern  parts  of  England  speake  gutturally; 
and  in  Yorkshire  and  the  bishoprick  of  Durham  they 
have  more  of  the  cadence,  or  Scottish  tone  than  they 
have  at  Edinborough  :  in  like  manner,  in  Hereford- 
shire they  have  more  of  the  Welch  cadence  than  they 
have  in  Wales.  The  Westerne  people  cannot  open 
their  mouthes  to  speak  ore  rotunda.  Wee  pronounce 
jift'if,  pale,  &c,  and  especially  in  Devonshire.  The  Ex- 
eter Coll.  men  in  disputations,  when  they  allege  Causa 


PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS.  27 

Causse  est  Causa  Gausati,  they  pronounce  it  Gaza, 
Gazse  est  Gaza  Gazati  very  ungracefully.  Now  econ- 
tra  the  French  and  Italians  doe  naturally  pronounce 
a  fully  ore  rotundo,  and  e,  and  even  children  of  French 
born  in  England  ;  and  the  farther  you  goe  South  the 
more  fully,  qd.  NB.  This  must  proceed  from  the  earth 
or  aire,  or  both.  One  may  observe,  that  the  speech 
(twang  or  accent — adiantus)  of  ye  vulgar  begins  to  alter 
some  thing  towards  the  Herefordshire  manner  even  at 
Cyrencester.  Mr.  Thorn.  Hobbs  told  me,  that  Sir 
Charles  Cavendish  did  say,  that  the  Creekes  doe  sing 
their  words  (as  the  Hereff.  doe  in  some  degree).  From 
hence  arose  the  accents,  not  used  by  the  ancients.  I 
have  a  conceit,  that  the  Britons  of  the  South  part  of 
this  isle,  e.  g.  the  Trinobantes,  &c,  did  speak  no  more 
gutturall,  or  twangings,  than  the  inhabitants  doe  now. 
The  tone,  accent,  &c,  depends  on  the  temper  of  the 
earth  (and  so  to  plants)  and  aire. 

A  Lovers'  Dialogue. 

Rab.  I  love  dearly,  Bet,  to  hear  the  tell ;  but,  good 
loving  now,  let's  tell  o'zummet  else.     Time  slips  away. 

Bet.  I,  fegs,  that  it  dith.  I  warnis  our  vokes  wonder 
what  the  godger's  a  come  o'  me.  Fll  drive  home.  I 
wish  thee  good  neart. 

Rab.  Why  there  now.  Oh,  Bet !  you  guess  what  I 
ha  to  tell  about,  and  you  warnt  hear  me. 

Bet.  I,  say  so,  co  ; — a  fiddle-de-dee — blind  mares. 

Rab.  There  agen  ! — did  ever  any  boddy  hear  the  like  ? 
Well,  soce,  what  be  I  to  do  ? 

Bet.  I  wish,  Rab,  you'd  leave  vetting  me.  Pithee, 
let's  hear  no  more  o'at. 

Rab.  Woll,  I  zee  how  'tis.  You'll  be  the  death  o'me, 
that's  a  zure  thing. 

Bet.  Dear  hart,  how  you  tell !  I  the  death  o'thee  ! — 
no,  not  vor  the  world,  Rab.     Why  I'd  ne'er  the  heart 


28  PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS. 

to  hurt  thee  nor  any  kindest  thing  in  all  my  born  days. 
What  whiinzies  you  have  !  Why  do  ye  put  yourself  in 
such  a  pucker  ? 

Rah.  Why,  because  the  ininnet  I  go  about  to  break 
my  meend,  whip  soce,  you  be  a-go,  and  than  I  coud 
bite  my  tongue. 

Bet.  Why  than  will  you  veass  me  away  when  you 
know  I  can't  abide  to  hear  o'at  ?  Good-now,  don't'ee 
zay  no  more  about  et.  Us  have  always  been  good 
friends — let  us  bide  so. 

Rab.  I've  now  began,  and  I  want  let  thee  go  till  thee 
hast  a-heard  me  out. 

Bet.  Well,  I  woll,  but  don't'ee  cream  my  hand  zo. 

Rah.  I  don't  know  what  I  do  nor  what  I  zay; — many 
many  nearts  I  ha'nt  a  teen'd  my  eyes  vor  thinking  o' 
thee.  I  can't  live  so,  'tis  never  the  neer  to  tell  o'at ; 
and  I  must  make  an  end  o'at  wan  way  or  t'other.  I 
be  bent  upon't;  therefore  don't  stand  shilly-shally,  but 
lookeedezee,  iv  thee  d isn't  zay  thee  wid  ha  me,  bevore 
thicca  cloud  hath  heal'd  every  sheen  o'  the  moon,  zure 
and  double  zure  I'll  ne'er  ax  thee  agen,  but  go  a  soger 
and  never  zee  home  no  more.  Lock  !  lock  !  my  precious, 
what  dist  cry  vor  ? 

Bet.  I  be  a  cruel  moody-hearted  tiresome  body ;  and 
you  scare  wan,  you  do  zo.  I'm  in  a  sad  quandory. 
Iv  I  say  is,  I  may  be  sorry  ;  and  if  I  zay  no,  I  may  bo 
sorry  too,  ziminet.     I  hop  you  widn't  use  me  badly. 

Ra/>.  Dist  think,  my  sweeting,  I  shall  e'er  be  maz'd 
anew  to  claw  out  my  own  eyes '(  and  thee  art  dearer  to 
me  than  they  be. 

Bet.  Hold  not  so  breach  now,  but  hear  first  what  I've 
to  zay.  You  must  know,  Rab,  the  leet  money  I've  a 
croop'd  up  I  be  a  shirk'd  outo',  but 'twill  never  goodee 
way  an.     I'll  tell  thee  how  I  was  c     need. 

Rab.  Good-now,  lovey,  don'tee  think  o'at.  We  shall 
fadgee  and  find  without  et.  1  can  work,  and  will  work, 
and  all    my  carking  and  caring  will  be  for  thee,  and 


PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS.  29 

everything  shall  bee  as  thee  woud  ha'et.  Thee  shall 
do  what  thee  wid. 

Bet.  I  say  so  too.  Co,  co,  Rab,  how  you  tell !  Why, 
pithee,  dou'tee  think  I  be  such  a  ninny-hammer  as  to 
desire  et.  If  'tis  ordained  I  shall  ha  thee,  I'll  do  my 
best  to  make  tha  a  oude  wife.  I  don't  want  to  be 
cocker'd  Hark !  hark  !  don't  I  hear  the  bell  lowering 
for  aight? — 'tis,  as  I  live.  I  shall  ha  et  whan  I  get 
home. 

Rab.  If  I  let  thee  go  now,  will  meet  me  agen  to- 
morrow evening  in  the  dimmet? 

Bet.  No.     To-morrow  morninir  at  milking  time  I  woll. 

Rab.  Sure. 

Bet.  Sure  and  sure.     So  I  wish  thee  good  neart. 

Rab.  Neart,  neart,  my  sweeting  ! 

John  Chawbacon  and  his  wife  Moll,  cum  up  t' 
Exeter  to  zee  the  railway  opened. 

"  Lor  Johnny  !  lor  Johnny  !  now  whativver  es  that, 
A  urning  along  like  a  hoss  upon  wheels  ? 

'Tis  as  bright  as  yer  buttons,  and  as  black  as  yer  hat, 
And  jist  listen,  Johnny,  and  yer  how  'a  squeals  !" 

"  Dash  my  buttons,  Moll — I'll  be  darn'd  if  I  know  ; 

Us  was  vools  to  come  yerr  and  to  urn  into  danger ; 
Let's  be  off — 'a  spits  vire  !  lor,  do  let  us  go — 

And  'a  holds  up  his  head  like  a  gooze  at  a  stranger. 

"I  be  a  bit  vrighten'd — but  let  us  bide  yerr ; 

And  hark  how  'a  puffs,  and  'a  caughs.  and  'a  blows ; 
He  edden  unlike  the    old  cart-hoss  last  yer — 

Broken-winded  ; — and  yet  only  zee  how  'a  goes  ! 

"  'A  urns  upon  ladders,  with  they  things  like  wheels, 
Or  hurdles,  or  palings,  put  down  on  the  ground ; 

But  why  do  they  let  'un  stray  out  of  the  veels  ? 
'Tis  a  wonder  they  don't  clap  'un  into  the  pound." 

5 


30  PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS. 

"  'A  can't  be  alive,  Jan — I  don't  think  'a  can." 
"  I  hain't  zure  'o  that,  Moll,  for  jist  look'ec  how 

'A  breathes  like  a  boss,  or  a  znivell'd  old  man  : — 
And  hark  how  he's  bust  out  a  caughing,  goodnow. 

" 'A  never  could  dra'  all  they  waggins,  d'ee  zee, 
If  'a  lived  upon  vatches,  or  turmets,  or  hay ; 

Why,  they  waggins  be  vill'd  up  with  people — they  be 
And  do  'ee  but  look  how  they'm  larfin  away ! 

"  And  look  to  they  childern  a  urning  about, 

Wi'  their  mouths  vull  of  gingerbread,  there  by  the 

zhows ; 
And  zee  to  the  scores  of  fine  ladies  turn'd  out; 
And  gentlemen,  all  in  their  best  Zunday  clothes. 

"  And  look  to  this  houze  made  o'  canvas  zo  zmart ; 

And  the  dinner  zet  out  with  such  bussle  and  fuss  ;— 
"But  us  brought  a  squab  pie,  you  know,  in  the  cart, 

And  a  keg  of  good  zider — zo  that's  nort  to  us. 


i' 


"  I  tell  'ee  what  'tis,  Moll — this  here  is  my  mind, 
The  world's  gone  quite  maze,  as  zure  as  you'm  born 

'Tis  as  true  as  I'm  living — and  that  they  will  vind, 
With  their  hosses  on  wheels  that  don't  live  upon  corn 

"  I  wouldn't  go  homeward  b'mbye  to  the  varm 
Behind  such  a  critter,  when  all's  zed  and  dun, 

We've  a  travell'd  score  miles,  but  we  never  got  harm, 
Yor  there's  nort  like  a  market  cart  under  the  zun." 


DORSETSHIRE. 

"  The  rustic  dialect  of  Dorsetshire,"  observes  Mr. 
Barnes,  "is,  with  little  variation,  that  of  most  of  the 
Western  parts  of  England    which  were  included  in  the 


PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS.  31 

kingdom  of  the  West  Saxons,  the  counties  of  Surrey, 
Hants,  Berks,  Wilts,  and  Dorset,  and  parts  of  Somerset 
and  Devon."  The  Dorset  dialect,  however  has  essen- 
tial features  of  that  of  the  Western  counties  which  are 
not  heard  in  Surrey  or  Hants,  as  will  be  sufficiently 
apparent  from  the  specimens  here  given.  The  language 
of  the  south-east  part  of  Dorsetshire  is  more  nearly 
allied  to  that  of  Hants. 

"  In  the  town  of  Poole,"  according  to  Dr.  Salter, 
"  there  is  a  small  part  which  appears  to  be  inhabited  by 
a  peculiar  race  of  people,  who  are,  and  probably  long 
have  been,  the  fishing  population  of  the  neighbourhood. 
Their  manner  of  speaking  is  totally  different  from  that 
of  the  neighbouring  rustics.  They  have  a  great  predi- 
lection for  changing  all  the  vowels  into  short  u,  using  it 
in  the  second  person,  but  without  a  pronoun,  and  sup- 
pressing syllables,  e.  g.  cas'n  cart,  can  you  not  carry  it, 
&c."  Mr.  Vernon,  in  remarking  upon  these  facts, 
observes,  "  the  language  of  our  seamen  in  general  is 
well  worth  a  close  investigation,  as  it  certainly  contains 
not  a  few  archaisms ;  but  the  subject  requires  time  and 
patience,  for  in  the  mouths  of  those  who  call  the  Belle- 
rophon  and  the  Ville  de  Milan,  the  Billy  Ruffian  and 
the  Wheel-em-along,  there  is  nothing 

'  But  doth  suffer  a  sea-change 
Into  something  new  and  strange.' ' 

This  must  be  received  with  some  limitation,  and  perhaps 
applies  almost  entirely  to  difficult  modern  terms  not 
easily  intelligible  to  the  uneducated.     Many  of  the  prin- 


32  PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS. 

cipal  English  nautical  terms  have  remained  unchanged 
for  centuries. 

Valuable  lists  of  Dorsetshire  words  have  been  libe- 
rally sent  me  by  the  Rev.  C.  W.  Bingham,  James  David- 
son, Esq.,  Samuel  Bagster,  Esq.,  Dr.  Salter,  and  G. 
Gollop,  Esq. ;  but  my  principal  references  have  been 
made  to  the  glossary  attached  by  Mr.  Barnes  to  his 
Poems  of  Rural  Life  in  the  Dorset  Dialect,  8vo.  1844. 
The  same  work  contains  a  dissertation  on  the  dialect, 
with  an  account  of  its  peculiar  features.  The  change 
of  o  into  a,  so  common  in  Dorsetshire,  completely  dis- 
appears as  we  proceed  in  a  westerly  direction  towards 
Worcestershire. 


A  Letter  from  a  Parish  Clerk  in  Dorsetshire  to 

AN  ABSENT  VlCAR, 

In  tho  Dialect  of  the  County.    From   Ibems  on  several   Occasions,  formerly 
written  by  John  Free,  D.  D.,  8vo.  Lond,  1757,  p.  81. 

Meastcr,  an't  please  you,  I  do  zend 
Theaz  letter  to  you  as  a  vriend, 
Hoping  you'll  pardon  the  inditing, 
Becaz  I  am  not  us'd  to  writing, 
And  that  you  will  not  take  unkind 
A  word  or  zo  from  poor  George  Hind, 
For  I  am  always  in  the  way, 
And  needs  must  hear  what  people  zay. 
First  of  the  house  they  make  a  joke, 
And  zay  the  chimnies  never  smoak. 
Now  the  occasion  of  these  jests. 
As  1  do  think,  where  zwallows  nests, 
That  chane'd  the  other  day  to  vaal 
Into  the  parlour  sut  and  aal. 


PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS.  33 

Bezide,  the  people  not  a  few 

Begin  to  murmur  much  at  you, 

For  leaving  of  them  in  the  lurch, 

And  letting  straingers  zerve  the  church, 

Who  are  in  haste  to  go  agen, 

Zo,  we  ha'nt  zang  the  Lord  knows  when. 

And  for  their  preaching,  I  do  know 

As  well  as  moost,  'tis  but  zo,  zo. 

Zure  if  the  call  you  had  were  right 

You  ne'er  could  thus  your  neighbours  slight. 

But  I  do  fear  you've  zet  your  aim  on 

Naught  in  the  world  but  vilthy  mammon,  &c. 

Axen  Maidens  to  goo  to  Fiair. 

To-marra  work  so  hard's  ya  can, 
An'  git  yer  jobs  up  under  han', 
Var  Dick  an'  I,  an'  Poll's  young  man 

Be  gwain  to  fiair;  an'  zoo 
If  you'll  tiake  hold  ov  each  a  yarm 
Along  the  road  ar  in  the  zwarm 
0'  vo'ke  we'll  kip  ye  out  o'harm, 

An'  gi  ye  a  fiairen  too. 

We  woon't  stay  Hate  ther;  I'll  be  boun' 
We'll  bring  our  shiades  back  out  o'  town 
Zome  woys  avore  the  zun  is  down, 

So  long's  the  sky  is  clear ; 
An'  zoo,  when  al  yer  work's  a-done, 
Yer  mother  cant  but  let  ye  run 
An'  zee  a  little  o'  the  fun 

Wher  nothin  is  to  fear. 

The  zun  ha'  flow'rs  to  love  his  light, 
The  moon  ha'  sparklen  brooks  at  night, 
The  trees  da  like  the  playsome  flight 
Ov  ayer  vrom  the  west. 


34  PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS. 

Let  zome  like  empty  sounds  to  mock 
Ther  luonesome  vaice  by  hill  or  rock, 
But  merry  chaps  da  like  t'  unlock 
Ther  hearts  to  maidens  best. 

Zoo  you  git  ready  now,  d'ye  hear  ? 

Ther's  nar  another  fiair  so  near, 

An'  thiese  don't  come  but  twice  a  year, 

An'  you  woon't  vind  us  spiaren. 
We'll  goo  to  all  the  zights  an'  shows 
0'  tumblers  wi'  ther  spangled  cloa's, 
An'  conjurers  wi'  cunnen  blows, 

An'  raffle  var  a  fiairen. 

The  "Woodlands. 

O  spread  agen  your  leaves  an'  flow'rs, 

Luonesome  woodlands  !  zunny  woodlands  ! 

Here  underneath  the  dewy  show'rs 

0'  warm-air'd  spring-time,  zunny  woodlands  ! 

As  when,  in  drong  ar  oben  groun', 

Wi'  happy  buoyish  heart  I  voun' 

The  twitt'ren  birds  a-builden  roun' 

Your  high  bough'd  hedges,  zunny  woodlands  ! 

Ya  gie'd  me  life,  ya  gie'd  me  jay, 

Luonesome  woodlands  !  zunny  woodlands  ! 

Ya  gie'd  me  health  as  in  my  play 

I  rambled  droo  ye,  zunny  woodlands  ! 

Ya  gie'd  me  freedom  var  to  rove 

In  airy  mead  or  shiady  grove ; 

Ya  gie'd  me  smilen  Fanny's  love, 

The  best  ov  all  o't,  zunny  woodlands  ! 

My  vust  shill  skylark  whiver'd  high, 

Luonesome  woodlands  !  zunny  woodlands  ! 

To  zing  below  your  deep-blue  sky, 

An'  white  spring-clouds,  0  zunny  woodlands  ! 


PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS.  35 

An'  boughs  o'  trees  that  oonce  stood  here, 
Wer  glossy  green  the  happy  year 
That  gie'd  me  oon  I  lov'd  so  dear, 

An'  now  ha  lost,  0  zunny  woodlands  ! 

0  let  me  rove  agen  unspied, 

Luonesome  woodlands  !  zunny  woodlands  ! 
Along  your  green-bough'd  hedges'  zide, 

As  then  I  rambled,  zunny  woodlands  ! 
An'  wher  the  missen  trees  oonce  stood, 
Ar  tongues  oonce  rung  among  the  wood, 
My  memory  shall  miake  em  good, 

Though  you've  alost  em,  zunny  woodlands  ! 

The  Weepen  Liady. 

When  Hate  o'  nights,  upon  the  green, 

By  thik  wold  house,  the  moon  da  sheen, 

A  liady  there  a-hangen  low 

Her  head's  a-wak-en  to  an'  fro 

In  robes  so  white's  the  driven  snow; 

Wi'  oon  yarm  down,  while  oon  da  rest 

Al  lily-white  upon  the  breast 
0  thik  poor  weepen  liady. 

The  curdlin  win'  an'  whislen  squall 

Do  shiake  the  ivy  by  the  wall, 

An'  miake  the  plyen  tree-tops  rock, 

But  never  ruffle  her  white  frock 

An'  slammen  door  an'  rottlen  lock 
That  in  thik  empty  house  da  sound, 
Da  never  seem  to  miake  look  round 
Thik  downcast  weepen  liaday, 

A  liaday,  as  the  tiale  da  goo, 

That  oonce  liv'd  there,  an'  lov'd  too  true, 

Wer  by  a  young  man  cast  azide 

A  mother  sad,  but  not  a  bride ; 


36  PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS. 

An'  then  her  father  in  his  pride 
An  anger  offer 'd  oon  o'  two 
Vull  bitter  things  to  undergoo 
To  ^ik  poor  wcepen  liady. 

That  she  herzuf  should  leave  his  door, 
To  darken  it  again  noo  niuore, 
Ar  that  her  little  playsome  chile, 
A-zent  awoy  a  thousand  mile, 
Should  never  meet  her  eyes  to  smile, 
An'  play  again,  till  she  in  shiame 
Should  die  an'  leave  a  tarnish'd  niaine, 
A  sad  varsiaken  liady. 

"  Let  me  be  lost,"  she  cried,  "the  while, 
I  do  but  know  var  my  poor  chile ;" 
An'  left  the  huome  ov  al  her  pride, 
To  wander  droo  the  wordle  wide, 
Wi'  grief  that  vew  but  she  ha'  tried, 
An'  lik'  a  flow'r  a  blow  ha'  broke, 
She  wither'd  wi'  th'ik  deadly  stroke, 
An'  died  a  weepen  liady. 

An'  she  da  keep  a-comen  on, 
To  zee  thSk  father  dead  an'  gone, 
As  if  her  soul  could  have  noo  rest 
Avore  her  teary  chiak's  a-prest 
By  his  vargiv-en  kiss  :  zoo  blest 
]>e  they  that  can  but  live  in  love, 
An'  vine  a  pliace  o'  rest  above, 
Unlik'  the  weepen  liady. 


DURHAM. 

The  Durham  dialect  is  the  same  as  that  spoken  in 
Northumberland  and  the  North  Hiding  of  Yorkshire, 
the  former  being  more  like  Scotch,  and  the  latter  more 


PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS.  37 

like  English,  but  each  in  a  very  slight  degree.  The 
Durham  pronunciation,  though  soft,  is  monotonous  and 
drawling.  See  the  Quarterly  Review  for  Feb.  1836,  p. 
358. 

No  glossary  of  Durham  words  has  yet  appeared,-  but 
Kennett  has  recorded  a  considerable  number  in  his 
Manuscript  Glossary.  I  have  been  enabled  to  add  many 
unknown  to  that  author,  derived  from  communications 
by  the  Rev.  R.  Douglas,  George  B.  Richardson,  Esq., 
Miss  Portus,  E.  T.  Warburton,  Esq.,  and  Mr.  S.  Ward. 

If  the  following  anecdote  be  true,  Southern  English 
is  but  little  known  amongst  some  of  the  lower  orders  in 
Durham  : 

"  John,"  said  a  master  tanner  in  South  Durham,  the 
other  day,  to  one  of  his  men,  "  bring  in  some  fuel." 
John  walked  off,  revolving  the  word  in  his  mind,  and 
returned  with  a  pitchfork  !  "  I  don't  want  that,"  said 
the  wondering  tanner;  "I  want  fuel,  John."  "  Beg 
your  pardon,"  replied  the  man,  ';  I  thought  you  wanted 
something  to  turn  over  the  skins."  And  off  he  went 
again,  not  a  whit  the  wiser,  but  ashamed  to  confess  his 
ignorance.  Much  meditating,  he  next  pitched  upon 
the  besom,  shouldering  which,  he  returned  to  the 
counting-house.  His  master  was  now  in  a  passion. 
"  What  a  stupid  ass  you  are,  John,"  he  exclaimed;  "  I 
want  some  sticks  and  shavings  to  light  the  fire."  "Oh- 
h-h-h  !"  rejoined  the  rustic,  "  that's  what  you  want,  is 
it  ?  Why  couldn't  you  say  so  at  first,  master,  instead 
of  using  a  London  dictionary  word  ?"  And,  wishful  to 
show  that  he  was  not  alone  in  his  ignorance,  he  called 
a  comrade  to  the  tanner's  presence,  and  asked  him  if  he 
knew  what  fuel  was.  "  Aye  !"  answered  Joe.  "ducks 
and  geese,  and  sike  like  !" — Gateshead  Observer. 

6 


J 


7282 


38  PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS. 

ESSEX. 

The  dialect  of  Essex  is  closely  allied  in  some  parts  of 
the  county  to  that  of  Kent,  and  in  others  to  that  of 
Suffolk,  though  generally  not  so  broad,  nor  spoken  with 
the  strong  Suffolk  whining  tone.  Mr.  Charles  Clark 
has  given  a  glossary  of  Essex  words  at  the  end  of  John 
Nbalces  and  Mary  Styles,  or  an  Essex  Calf's  Visit  to 
Tiptree  Races,  8vo.  1839,  and  I  am  indebted  for  many 
others  to  the  kindness  of  the  Rev.  W.  Pridden  and  Mr. 
Edward  T.  Hill.  A  list  of  Essex  words  is  given  in  the 
Monthly  Magazine  for  July,  1814,  pp.  498-9. 

From 

A  Poem  op  the  Fifteenth  Century, 

By  the  Vicar  of  Maldon. 

Therfor,  my  leffe  chyld,  I  schalle  teche  the, 

Ilerkcn  me  welle  the  maner  and  the  gyse, 

How  thi  sowle  inward  schalle  aqueyntyd  be 

With  thewis  good  and  vertw  in  alle  wysse : 

Rede  and  conseyve,  for  he  is  to  dispice, 

That  redyth  ay,  and  noot  what  is  rnent, 

Suche  redyng  is  not  but  wynde  despent. 

Pray  thi  God  and  prayse  hym  with  alle  thi  hart, 

Fadir  and  modyr  have  in  reverence, 

Love  hem  welle,  and  be  thou  never  to  smert 

To  her  mennys  consayle,  but  kepe  the  thens, 

Tylle  thu  be  clepid  be  elene  withowgt  offence: 

Salyw  gladly  to  hym  that  is  moor  dygne 

Than  art  thiself'e,  thu  schalt  thi  plase  resygne. 

Drede  thi  mayster,  thy  thynge  loke  thu  kepe, 

Take  hede  to  thy  housohl.  ay  love  thy  wyff, 

Plesaunte  wordes  ougt  of  thi  mowth  schalle  crepe; 

Be  not  irous,  kepe  thi  behest  os  lyff, 

Be  tempryd,  wyjte,  and  non  excessyff ; 


PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS.  39 

Thy  wyves  wordes  make  thu  noon  actorite, 
In  folisciepe  no  moor  tlianne  nedyth  the. 

MS.  Earl.  271,  f.  26. 

Cock-a-Bevis  Hill. 

At  Tottum's  Cock-a-Bevis  Hill, 

A  sput  suppass'd  by  few, 
Where  toddlers  ollis  haut  to  eye 

The  proper  pritty  wiew; 

Where  people  crake  so  ov  the  place 

Leas-ways,  so  I've  hard  say  ; 
An'  fruni  its  top  yow,  sarteny, 

Can  see  a  nionsus  way. 

'Bout  this  oad  Hill,  I  warrant  ya, 

Their  bog  it  nuver  ceases  ; 
They'd  growl  shud  yow  nut  own  that  it 

Beats  Danbury's  au'  to  pieces. 

But  no  sense  ov  a  place,  some  think, 

Is  this  ere  hill  so  high, — 
Cos  there,  full  oft,  'tis  nation  coad, 

But  that  don't  argufy. 

Yit,  if  they  their  inquirations  maake 

In  winter  time,  some  will 
Condemn  that  place  as  no  great  shakes, 

Where  folks  ha'  the  coad-chill! 

As  sum'dy,  'haps,  when  nigh  the  sput, 

May  ha'  a  wish  to  see't, — 
From  Mauldon  toun  to  Keldon  'tis, 

An'  'gin  a  four  releet, 

Where  up  the  road  the  load  it  goos 

So  lugsome  an'  so  stiff, 
That  bosses  mosly  kitch  a  whop, 

Frum  drivers  in  a  tiff. 


40  PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS. 

But  who'd  pay  a  hoss  when  tugging  on  ? 

None  but  a  tetchy  elf: 
Tis  right  on  plain  etch  chap  desarves 

A  clumsy  thump  himself. 

Haul'd  o'er  the  coals,  sich  fellars  e'er 

Shud  be,  by  Martin's  Act; 
liut,  then,  they're  rayther  muggy  oft, 

So  with  uin  we're  not  zact. 

But  thussina,  'haps,  to  let  him  oaf 

Is  wrong,  becos  etch  carter. 
If  maade  to  smart,  his  F's  and  Q's 

He'd  mine  forever  arter. 

At  Cock-a-Bevis  Hill,  too,  the 

Wiseacres  show  a  tree, 
Which  if  yow  clamber  up,  besure, 

A  precious  way  yow  see. 

I  dorn't  think  I  cud  clime  it  now, 

Aldoe  I  uster  cud  ; 
Ishud'nt  warsley  loike  to  troy, 

For  guelch  cum  down  I  shud. 

My  head  'ood  swim, — I  'oodn't  do'it 

Nut  even  for  a  guinea: 
A  naarbour  ax'd  me,  tother  day, 

"  Naa,  naa,"  says  I,  "  nut  quinny." 

At  Cock-a-Bevis  Hill,  I  was 

A-goon  to  tell  the  folks, 
Some  warses  back — when  I  bargun — 

In  peace  there  lived  John  Noakes. 

GLOUCESTERSHIRE. 

It  has  been  already  remarked  that  the  organic  forms 
of  the  Gloucestershire  dialect  have  remained  unchanged 
for  centuries,  and  are  to  be  traced  in  Robert  of  Glou- 


PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS.  41 

cester's  Chronicle.  Many  Anglo-Saxon  words  are  here 
preserved  in  great  purity.  "  He  geunne  it  him,"  he 
gave  it  him,  the  verb  geunne  being  in  general  use 
amongst  the  peasantry.  The  dialect  is  more  similar  to 
that  of  Somersetshire  than  of  the  adjoining  counties, 
though  not  so  strongly  marked  as  a  Western  dialect. 
They  change  o  into  a,  s  into  z, /into  v,  t  into  d,p  into 
b,  short  a  into  i  or  aoy,  long  e  into  eea,  long  i  into  ey, 
long  o  into  ooa.  The  Anglo-Saxon  termination  en  is 
still  preserved  ;  thee  is  used  for  thou  and  you;  thilk  is  in 
constant  use ;  her  is  put  for  she,  she  for  her,  I  for  me, 
and  ou  for  he,  she,  or  it.  Communications  of  Gloucester- 
shire words  have  been  received  from  the  Rev.  H.  T. 
Ellacombe,  Miss  Shipton,  and  Mr.  E.  Wright. 

George  Ridler's  Oven. 

The  stwons  that  built  George  Ridler's  oven, 
And  thauy  qeum  from  the  Bleakeney's  quaar ; 

And  George  he  wur  a  jolly  old  mon, 
And  his  yead  it  graw'd  above  his  yare. 

One  thing  of  George  Ridler  I  must  commend, 

And  that  wur  not  a  notable  theng ; 
He  mead  his  braags  avoore  he  died, 

Wi'  any  dree  brothers  his  zons  zs'hou'd  zeng. 

There's  Dick  the  treble  and  John  the  mean, 
Let  every  mon  zing  in  his  auwn  pleace ; 

And  George  he  wur  the  elder  brother, 
And  therevoore  he  would  zing  the  beass. 

Mine  hostess's  moid  (and  her  neaum  'twur  Nell) 

A  pretty  wench,  and  I  lov'd  her  well ; 
I  lov'd  her  well  and  good  reauzon  why, 

Because  zshe  lov'd  my  dog  and  I. 


42  PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS. 

My  dog  is  good  to  catch  a  hen, 
A  duck  or  goose  is  vood  for  men ; 

And  where  good  company  I  spy, 
0  thethcr  gwoes  my  dog  and  I. 

My  mwother  told  I  when  I  wur  young, 

If  I  did  vollow  the  strong-beer  pwoot ; 
That  drenk  would  pruv  my  auverdrow, 
And  meauk  me  wear  a  thzread-bare  cwoat. 

My  dog  has  gotten  zitch  a  trick, 

To  visit  moids  when  thauy  be  zick ; 
When  thauy  be  zick  and  like  to  die, 
O  thether  gwoes  my  dog  and  I. 

When  I  have  dree  zispences  under  my  thumb, 
0  then  I  be  welcome  wherever  I  come ; 

But  when  I  have  none,  0  then  I  pass  by, 
'Tis  poverty  pearts  good  company. 

If  I  should  die,  as  it  may  hap, 

My  greauve  shall  be  under  the  good  yeal  tap ; 
In  vouled  earms  there  wool  us  lie, 

Cheek  by  jowl  my  dog  and  I ! 


HAMPSHIRE. 

The  romance  of  Octovian,  according  to  Mr.  D'Israeli, 
"  is  in  the  Hampshire  dialect  nearly  as  it  is  spoken 
now."  Although  somewhat  doubtful  as  to  the  literal 
correctness  of  this  opinion,  an  extract  from  it  may  be 
compared  with  a  modern  specimen  of  the  dialect.  A 
short  glossary  of  Hampshire  words  is  given  in  War- 
ner's collections  for  that  county.     The  dialect  of  the 


PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS.  43 

west  of  the  county  is  similar  to  that  of  Wiltshire,  / 
being  changed  into  v,  and  th  into  d ;  and  un  for  him, 
her,  it.  It  is  a  common  saying,  that  in  Hampshire, 
every  thing  is  called  he  except  a  tom-cat  which  is  called 
she. 

Extract  from  the  early  Romance  of 
OCTOVIAN  IMPERATOR. 

The  knyjtys  logh  yn  the  halle, 

The  mantellys  they  yeve  menstrales  alle ; 

Lavor  and  basyn  they  gon  calle 

To  wassche  and  aryse, 
And  syth  to  daunce  on  the  walle 

Of  Parys. 

Whan  the  soudan  thys  tydyng  herde, 
For  ire  as  he  wer  wod  he  ferd  ; 
He  ran  with  a  drawe  swerde 

To  hys  mauientrye, 
And  alle  hys  goddys  ther  he  amerrede 

With  greet  envye. 

Asterot,  Jopyn,  and  Mahoun 
He  alle  to-hew  with  hys  fachoun, 
Ahd  Jubiter  he  drew  adoun 

Of  hys  autere  : 
He  seyde,  by  nere  worth  a  scaloune 

Alle  y-fere. 

Tho  he  hadde  hys  goddys  y-bete, 

He  was  abated  of  alle  hys  hete. 

To  sende  hys  sendys  nolde  he  najt  lete, 

Tho  anoonryjt, 
To  Babylonye  after  lordes  grete 

To  help  hyni  fyxt. 

MS.  Cott.  Calig.  A.  ii.  f.  28. 


44  PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS. 

To  the  Editor  of  the  Times,  from  a  Poor  Man  at  Andovcr, 

A  Letter  on  the  Union  Workhouse. 

Sir, — Hunger,    as  I've    heerd  say.    breaks    through 
Stone  Walls  ;  but  yet  I  shodn't  have  thought  of  letting 

you  know  about   my  ] r   .Missus's  death,  but  all  my 

neibours  say  tell  it  out,  and  it  can't  do  you  no  harm 
and  may  do  others  good,  specially  as  Parliament  is  to 
meet  soon,  when  the  I  ientlefoke  will  be  talking  about  the 
working  f'oke. 

I  be  but  a  farmers  working  man,  and  was  married  to  my 
Missus  2G  years  agone,  and  have  three  Childern  living 
with  me,  one  10,  another  7,  and  t'other  3.  I  be  subject 
to  bad  rumatiz.  and  never  earns  no  more,  as  you  may 
judge,  than  to  pay  rent  and  keep  our  bodies  and  souls 
together  when  we  be  all  well.  I  was  tended  by  Mr. 
Westlake  when  he  was  Union  Doctor,  but  when  the 
Guardians  turned  him  out  it  was  a  bad  job  for  all  the 
Poor,  and  a  precious  bad  job  for  me  and  mine. 

Mr.  Payne  when  he  come  to  be  our  Union  Doctor 
tended  upon  me  up  to  almost  the- end  of  last  April,  but 
when  I  send  up  to  the  Union  House  as  usual,  Mr. 
Broad,  the  Releving  Officer,  send  back  word  there  was 
nothing  for  me,  and  Mr.  Payne  wodnt  come  no  more. 
I  was  too  bad  to  work  and  had  not  Vittals  for  me,  the 
Missus,  and  the  young  ones,  so  I  was  forced  to  sell  off 
the  Bed,  Bedstead,  and  furniture  of  the  young  ones,  to 
by  Vittals  with,  and  then  I  and  Missus  and  the  young 
ones  had  only  one  bed  for  all  of  us.  Missus  was  very 
bad.  to,  then,  but  as  we  knowd  twere  no  use  to  ask  the 
Union  for  nothink  cept  we'd  all  go  into  the  Workhouse, 
and  which  Missus  couldn't  a  bear,  as  she'd  bin  parted 
from  the  childern.  she  sends  down  to  tell  Mr.  Westlake 
how  bad  we  was  a  doing  off  and  he  comes  to  us  directly 
and  tends  upon  ns  out  of  charity,  ami  gives  Missus 
Mutton  and  things,  which  he  said,  and  we  know'd  too 
well,  she  wanted  of,  and  he  gives  this  out  of  his  own 
Pocket. 


PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS.  45 

Missus  complaint  growd  upon  her  and  she  got  so  very 
bad,  and  Mr.  Westlake  says  to  us,  I  do  think  the 
guardians  wouldn't  let  your  wife  lay  here  and  starve, 
but  would  do  something  for  you  if  they  knowed  how 
bad  you  wanted  things  and  so,  says  he,  I'll  give  you  a 
Sertificate  for  some  Mutton  and  things,  and  you  take  it 
to  Mr.  Broad,  the  releving  officer.  Well  I  does  this, 
and  he  tells  me  that  hed  give  it  to  the  guardians  and 
let  me  know  what  they  said.  I  sees  him  again,  and  0, 
says  he,  I  gived  that  Sertificate  to  the  Guardians,  but 
they  chucked  it  a  one  side  and  said  they  wouldnt  tend 
to  no  such  thing,  nor  give  you  nothing,  not  even  if 
Missus  was  dying,  if  you  has  anything  to  do  with  Mr. 
Westlake,  as  they  had  turned  him  off. 

I  told  my  Missus  this,  and  then  says  she  we  must  try 
to  get  their  Union  Doctor,  Mr.  Payne,  as  we  can't  go  on 
for  ever  taking  things  from  Mr.  Westlake's  Pocket, 
and  he  turned  out  of  Place,  and  so  good  to  many  poor 
folks  besides  us.  So  we  gets  Mr.  Payne  after  a  bit  to 
come  down ;  and  he  says  to  Missus  your  very  bad,  and 
I  shall  order  the  Union  to  send  you  Mutton  and  other 
things.  Next  Week  Mr.  Payne  calls  again,  and  asks  Mis- 
sus did  she  have  the  things  he'd  ordered  for  her  to  have  ? 
She  says  I've  had  a  shillings  worth  of  Mutton,  Sir. 
Why,  says  he,  you  wants  other  things  besides  Mutton, 
and  I  ordered  them  for  you  in  the  Union  Book,  and  you 
ought  to  have  them  in  your  bad  state.  This  goes  on  for 
5  or  6  weeks,  only  a  shillings  worth  of  Mutton  a  Week 
being  allowed  her,  and  then  one  Week  a  little  Gin  was 
allowed,  and  after  that  as  Missus  couldnt  get  out  of  bed 
a  Woman  was  sent  to  nurse  and  help  her. 

I  didnt  ask  Mr.  Payne  to  order  these  ere  things,  tho' 
bad  enof  God  knows  they  was  wanted ;  but  in  the  first 
week  in  last  November  I  was  served  with  a  summons  to 
tend  afore  our  Mayor  and  Justices  under  the  Vagrance 
Act ;  I  think  they  said  twas  cause  I  had  not  found  these 
things  for  Missus  myself;  but  the  Union  Doctor  had 

7 


46  PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS. 

ordered  em  of  the  ( ruardians  on  his  sponsibility.  Well, 
I  attends  afore  the  Justices,  and  there  was  nothing 
against  me,  and  so  they  puts  it  oif,  and  orders  nie  to  tend 
afore  em  again  next  week,  which  I  does,  and  then  there 
wasnt  enof  for  cm  to  send  me  to  Gaol,  as  the  Guardians 
wanted,  for  a  Month,  and  they  puts  it  off  again  for  an- 
other Week,  and  says  I  must  come  afore  em  again,  and 
which  I  does;  and  they  tells  me  theres  nothing  proved, 
that  I  could  aford  to  pay  for  the  things,  and  1  mite  go 
about  my  business. 

I  just  loses  three  days'  work,  or  pretty  handy,  by  this, 
and  that  made  bad  a  good  bit  worse.  Next  Pay  Mr. 
Payne  comes  again,  and  Missus  was  so  outdaceous  bad, 
she  says  cant  you  give  me  something  to  do  me  good 
and  ease  me  a  bit ;  says  Mr.  Payne,  I  dont  see  you  be 
much  worse.  Yes,  I  be,  says  Missus,  and  I  wish  you'd  be 
so  good  as  to  let  me  send  for  Mr.  Westlake,  as  I  thinks 
he  knows  what'd  make  me  easier,  and  cure  the  bad  pains 
I  do  suffer.  Mr.  Payne  abused  my  poor  Missus,  and 
dared  her  to  do  anything  of  that  sort,  and  so  we  were 
feared  to  do  it,  lest  I  should  be  pulled  up  again  afore  the 
Justices,  and  lose  more  days  work  and  prhaps  get  sent 
to  Gaol.  Eight  days  after  this  Mr.  Payne  never  having 
come  nist  us,  and  the  Union  having  lowed  us  nothing 
at  all,  my  poor  Missus  dies,  and  dies  from  want,  and  in 
agonies  of  pain,  and  as  bad  off  as  if  shed  been  a  Savage, 
for  she  could  only  have  died  of  want  of  them  things 
which  she  wanted  and  I  couldnt  buy  if  she'd  been  in  a 
foreign  land,  were  there  no  Parsons  and  People  as  I've 
heard  tell  be  treated  as  bad  as  dogs. 

Years  agone,  it' any  body  had  been  half  so  bad  as  my 
Missus,  and  Dobody  else  would  have  tended  to  her  there'd 
been  the  clergyman  of  the  parish,  at  all  events,  who'd 
have  prayed  with  her,  and  seen  to  that  she  didn't  die 
of  starvation,  but  our  Parson  is  in  favor  of  this  here 
new  Law,  and  as  he  gets  60?.  a  year  from  the  (iuardians, 
he  arnt  a  going  to  quarrel  with  his  Bread  and  Cheese 


PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS.  47 

for  the  likes  of  we,  and  so  lie  didnt  come  to  us.  Altho' 
he  must  have  knowed  how  ill  Missus  was;  and  she,  poor 
creature,  went  out  of  this  here  world  without  any  Spirit- 
ual consilation  whatsoniever  from  the  Poor  Man's  Church. 

We'd  but  one  bed  as  I've  telled  you,  and  only  one 
Bedroom,  and  it  was  very  bad  to  be  all  in  the  same  Booni 
and  bed  with  poor  Missus  after  she  were  dead ;  and  as 
I'd  no  money  to  pay  for  a  Coffin,  I  goes  to  Mr.  Broad, 
then  to  Mr.  Majer,  one  of  the  Guardians,  and  their 
to  the  overseers  and  axes  all  of  'em  to  find  a  Coffin,  but 
'twere  no  use,  and  so,  not  knowing  what  in  the  World 
to  do,  off  I  goes  to  tell  Mr.  Westlake  of  it,  and  he  was 
soon  down  at  the  House,  and  blamed  me  much  for  not 
letting  he  know  afore  Missus  died,  and  finding  we'd  no 
food  nor  fire,  nothing  for  a  shrowd  cept  we  could 
wash  up  something,  and  that  we'd  no  soap  to  do  that 
with,  he  gives  us  something  to  get  these  ere  things,  and 
tells  me  to  go  again  to  the  Releving  Officer  and  t'others 
and  try  and  get  a  Coffin,  and  to  tell  un  Missus  ought  to 
be  burried  as  soon  as  possible,  else  t'would  make  us  all 
ill.  This  I  does  as  afore,  but  get  nothing,  and  then  Mr. 
Westlake  give  me  an  order  where  to  get  a  Coffin,  and  if 
he  had  not  stood  a  friend  to  me  and  mine  I  can't  think 
what  would  have  become  of  em,  as  twas  sad  at  Nights 
to  see  the  poor  little  things  pretty  nigh  break  their  hearts 
when  they  seed  their  poor  dead  mother  by  their  side  upon 
the  Bed. 

My  troubles  wasnt  to  end  even  here,  for  Strang  to  tell 
the  Begistrer  for  Deaths  for  this  District  dont  live  in 
this  the  largest  Parish  with  about  5000  inhabitants,  but 
at  a  little  Village  of  not  more  then  400  People  and  5 
Miles  off,  so  I  fyad  to  walk  there  and  back  ten  miles, 
which  is  very  hard  upon  us  poor  folk,  and  what  is  worse 
when  I  got  there  the  Begistrer  wasnt  up  ;  and  when  he 
got  up  he  wouldnt  tend  to  me  afore  hed  had  his 
breakfast  and  I  was  aforced  to  wait  about  until  hed  had 
done  breakfast  and  it  seemed  as  'twas  a  very  long  time 


48  PRO  VINCI  AL  DIALECTS. 

for  a  poor  chap  like  me  to  be  kept  a  waiting,  whilst  a 
man  who  is  paid  foT  doing  what  I  wanted  won't  do  such 
little  work  as  that  afore  here  made  hisself  comfortable, 
fcho'  I  tolled  him  how  bad  I  wanted  to  get  back,  and 
that  I  shnold  loose  a  Day  by  his  keeping  me  waiting 
about. 

That  this  is  mostly  the  fault  of  the  Guardians  rather 
than  anybody  else  is  my  firm  beleif  tho'  if  Mr.  Payne 
had  done  his  duty  bed  a  been  with  Missus  many  times 
afore  she  died  and  not  have  left  her  as  he  did,  when  he 
knowed  she  was  mi  bad,  and  bed  a  made  un  give  her 
what  she  wanted;  but  then  he  must  do,  he  says,  just 
what  tht'  ( i  uardians  wishes,  and  that  arnt  to  attend  much 
on  the  Poor,  and  the  Releving  Officer  is  docked  if  what 
he  gives  by  even  the  Doctors  orders  arnt  proved  of  by 
the  Guardians  aterward,  and  he  had  to  pay  for  the  little 
Gin  the  Doctor  ordered  out  of  his  own  Pocket,  and.  as 
the  Newspaper  says,  for  the  Nurse,  as  this  was  put  in 
our  Paper  by  I'm  sure  I  don't  know  who,  but  I  believes 
tis  true,  last  week. 

And  now,  Sir,  I  shall  leave  it  to  you  to  judge  whether 
the  Poor  can  be  treated  any  where  so  bad  as  they  be  in 
the  Andover  Union. 


HEREFORDSHIRE. 

The  pronoun  a  is  used  for  he,  she,  or  it.  Strong 
preterits  are  current,  climb,  cl<mil<.  heave,  hove,  pick, 
puck,  shake,  shi(c7c,  squeeze,  squozr>,  &c.  The  dialect  of 
this  county  must  be  classed  as  belonging  to  the  Midland 
division.  The  word  just  is  used  in  rather  a  peculiar 
manner.  Instead  of  saying,  I  have  but  just  returned, 
they  say  I  returned  but  just.  A  list  of  Herefordshire 
words  is  given  in  Duncumb's  History  of  Hereford,  and 


PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS  49 

a  more  extended  one  has  recently  been  separately  pub- 
lished, 8vo.  1839.  I  am  indebted  for  many  words  not 
to  be  found  in  either  of  these  to  lists  given  me  by  Sir 
S.  R.  Meyrick,  T.  W.  Lane,  Esq.,  and  Mr.  Perry. 

From 

Maximon, 

A  tale  in  a  manuscript  written  in  Herefordshire  of  the  time  of  Edward  II. 

Herkne  to  my  ron, 
As  ich  ou  telle  con, 

Of  elde  al  hou  yt  gos, 
Of  a  mody  mon, 
Hibte  Maxumon, 

Soth  withoute  les. 
Clerc  he  was  ful  god, 
So  moni  mon  understod. 

Nou  herkne  hou  it  wes. 

Ys  wille  he  hevede  y-noh, 
Purpre  and  pal  he  droh, 

Ant  other  murthes  mo. 
He  wes  the  feyrest  mon, 
With-outeu  Absolon, 

That  seththe  wes  ant  tho. 
Tho  laste  is  lyf  so  longe, 
That  he  bigan  unstronge, 

As  mony  tides  so. 
Him  con  rewe  sore 
Al  is  wilde  lore, 

For  elde  him  dude  so  wo ; 

So  sone  as  elde  him  com 
Ys  boc  and  honde  he  nom, 

Ant  gan  of  reuthes  rede, 
Of  his  herte  ord 
He  made  moni  word, 

Ant  of  is  lyves  dede. 


50  PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS. 

He  gan  mene  is  mone  ; 
So  feble  were  is  bone, 

STs  hew  bigon  to  \ve<le, 
So  elene  be  was  y-gon3 
Thai  lieu  ne  bade  be  non  : 

Ys  berte  gan  to  blcde. 

Cave  and  kunde  of  elde 
Maketb  mi  body  felde, 

That  y  ne  niai  stonde  upriht; 
Ant  min  berte  unbolde, 
Ant  mi  body  to  coble. 

That  er  thou  wes  so  lybt. 
Ant  mi  body  thunne, 
Such  is  worldes  wunne, 

This  day  me  tbinketh  nybt. 

MS.  Harl.  2253,  f.  82. 

From  an  English  translation  of 

Macer  de  Virtutibus  Herbarum, 

Made  by  John  Lelamour,  scolemaister  of  Herforde,  1373. 

Mowsere  growith  lowe  by  the  grownde,  and  berith  a 
yellowe  floure.  Drinke  the  juis  with  wyne  other  ale,  and 
anoynte  the  reynes  and  the  bak  with  the  blode  of  a  fox, 
for  the  stone.  Also  stampe  him  and  mylfoly  togadyr, 
and  drinke  that  juis  with  white  wyne,  and  that  wille 
make  one  to  pisse.  Also  drinke  the  juis  with  stale  ale, 
a  seke  man  that  is  woundid,  and  yf  be  bolditbe  that 
drinke  he  shalle  lyfc,  and  yf  he  caste  hit  he  shall  dye. 
Also  drinke  the  juis  of  this  erbe  for  the  squy nancy. 

MS.  Sloane  5,  f  35. 


HUNTINGDONSHIRE. 

There  seem  to  be  no  peculiarities  of  dialect  here  which 
arc  not  common  to  the  adjoining  county  of  Cambridge- 


PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS.     .  51 

shire.  They  say  mort  for  a  quantity ;  a  mort  of  people,  a 
mort  of  rain.  To-year  for  this  year,  like  to-day  or  to-mor- 
row. Wonderful  for  very;  his  pain  were  wonderful  great. 
To  get  himself ready ,  for  to  dress  himself;  he  is  too  weak 
to  get  himself  ready.  If  a  disorder  or  illness  of  any 
kind  be  inquired  for  they  never  say  it  is  better  or  worse, 
but  ^ai'sbetter,  or  that's  worse,  with  an  emphasis  on  that. 
The  Rev.  Joseph  Horner  kindly  favoured  me  with  a 
list  of  the  few  provincial  words  which  may  be  pecu- 
liar to  this  county. 


ISLE  OF  WIGHT. 

The  dialect  of  the  native  inhabitants  of  this  island 
differs  in  many  respects  from  the  county  to  which  it  is 
opposite.  The  accent  is  rather  mincing  than  broad,  and 
has  little  of  the  vulgar  character  of  the  West  Country 
dialects.  The  tendency  to  insert  y  in  the  middle  of 
words  may  be  remarked,  and  the  substitution  of  v  for  f 
is  not  uncommon  among  the  peasantry,  but  by  no  means 
general.  The  pronunciation  may  generally  be  correctly 
represented  by  the  duplication  of  the  vowels. 

No  printed  glossary  of  Isle  of  Wight  provincialisms 
has  yet  appeared,  but  a  very  valuable  one  in  manuscript, 
compiled  by  Captain  Henry  Smith,  was  most  kindly 
placed  at  my  disposal  by  his  relative,  Charles  Roach 
Smith,  Esq.,  F.  S.  A.  Useful  communications  have  also 
been  received  from  E.  J.  Vernon,  Esq.,  Dr.  Broomfield, 
and  Dr.  Salter. 


52  PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS. 

Specimen  op  the  Isle  of  Wight  dialect. 

Jan.      What's  got  there  you? 
Will.     A  hlustnashun  straddlebob  craalun  about  in  the 

nainmut  bag. 
Jan.     Straddlebob  !      Where  ded'st  leyarn  to  caal'n  by 

that  oeyam  ? 
Will.     Why,  what  shoud  e  caal'n  ?  tcs  the  right  neyam 

csn  ut? 
Jan.     Right  neyam,  no  !  why  ye  gurt  zote  vool,  casn't 

zee  tes  a  Dumbledore  ? 
Will.     I  knows  tes,  but  vur  aal  that  Straddlebob's  zo 

right  a  neyam  vorn  as  Dumbledore  ez. 
Jan.     Come,  I'll  be  deyand  if  I  doant  laay  thee  a  quart 

o'  that. 
Will.     Done  !  and  I'll  ax  meyastur  to  night  when  I  goos 
whooam,  bee't  how't  wool. 
(Accordingly  meyastur  was  applied  to  by  Will, 
who  made  his  decision   known  to  Jan  the 
next  morning.) 
Will.     I  zay,  Jan  !     I  axed  meyastur  about  that  are  last 

night. 
Jan.     Well !  what  ded  'ur  zay? 

117//.     Why  a  zed  one  neyam  ez  jest  zo  vittun  vorn  as 
tothcr,  and  he  louz  a  ben  caaled  Straddlebob 
ever  zunce  the  island  was  vust  meyad. 
Jan.     The  devvul  a  hav !  if  that's  the  keeas  I  spooas  I 

lost  the  quart. 
Will.     That  thee  has't  lucky  !  and  we'll  goo  down  to 
Arverton  to  the  Red  Lion  and   drink  un  ater 
we  done  work. 


KENT. 

The  modern  Kentish  dialect  is  slightly  broad, indeed 
more  SO  than  that  of  Surrey    or  Sussex.      Dai//,   plaiy, 


PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS.  53 

war?/,  for  day,  play,  way,  &c.  They  say  toho  for  how, 
and  vice  versa.  Mate,  instead  of  boy  or  lad,  is  the  usual 
address  amongst  equals.  The  interchange  of  v  and  w  is 
common  here  as  well  as  in  the  metropolis.  As  in  most 
parts  of  England,  the  pronunciation  of  names  of  places 
differs  very  much  from  the  orthography,  e.  g.  Sunnuck 
for  Sevenoaks,  Dairn  for  Darenth,  Leusum  for  Lewis- 
ham,  &c.  No  glossary  of  Kentish  words  has  yet  been 
published,  unless  we  may  so  style  a  short  list  of  words 
in  Lewis's  History  and  Antiquities  of  the  Isle  of  Tenet, 
1736,  pp.  35-39,  but  I  have  received  valuable  commu- 
nications from  the  Rev.  M.  H.  Lloyd,  John  Brent,  Esq., 
the  Rev.  Thomas  Streatfeild,  the  Rev.  L.  B.  Larking, 
John  Pemberton  Bartlett,  Esq.,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hussy. 
Thomas  Wright,  Esq.,  Miss  Cotterell,  J.  R.  Hughes, 
Esq.,  and  A.  J.  Hunkin,  Esq.  An  early  song  in  this 
dialect  occurs  in  Raveuscroft's  Melismata,  1611. 

We  have  a  most  curious  specimen  of  the  Kentish 
dialect  of  the  fourteenth  century  (1340)  in  the  Ayenhyte 
of  Inwyt,  a  manuscript  in  the  Arundel  Collection.  An 
extract  from  it  will  be  found  at  p.  801,  and  another  is 
here  given.  The  change  of/  into  v,  and  s  into  z,  are 
now  generally  peculiar  to  the  West  Country  dialect,  but 
appear  at  this  early  period  to  have  extended  over  the 
South  of  England.  In  the  next  century,  the  broadness 
of  the  dialect  was  not  so  general.  At  least,  a  poem  of 
the  fifteenth  century,  in  a  manuscript  at  Oxford,  written 
in  Kent,  is  remarkably  pure,  although  the  author  excuses 
himself  for  his  language  : 
8 


54  PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS. 

And  though  myn  English  be  sympill  to  myn  entent, 
Hold  luc  excusid,  for  I  was  burne  in  Kent. 

MS.  Laud.  416,  f.  49. 

The  principal  peculiarity  in  this  manuscript  seems  to 
consist  in  e  being  the  prefix  to  the  verb  instead  of /or//. 
For  a  long  period,  however,  the  dialect  of  the  Kentish 
peasantry  was  strongly  marked.  In  a  rare  tract  entitled, 
How  the  Plowman  lerned  his  Paternoster,  a  character  is 
thus  mentioned  : 

He  was  patched,  tome,  and  all  to-rente  : 
It  semed  by  his  langage  that  he  was  borne  in  Kente. 

Reliquiae  Antiquse,  vol.  i,  p.  40. 

The  following  very  curious  passage  from  Caxton  will 
further  illustrate  this  fact : 

And  certayrily  our  langage  now  used  varyeth  ferre 
from  that  whiche  was  used  and  spoken  whan  I  was 
borne,  for  we  Englysshemen  ben  borne  under  the 
domynacyon  of  the  mone,  whiche  is  never  stedfaste,  but 
ever  waverynge,  wexynge  one  season,  and  waneth 
and  dyscreaseth  another  season  ;  and  that  comyn  Eng- 
lysshe  that  is  spoken  in  one  shyre  varyeth  from  ano- 
ther, insomoche  that  in  mydayes  happened  that  certayn 
marchauntes  were  in  a  shippe  in  Tamyse  for  to  have 
sayled  over  the  sec  into  Zelande,  and  for  laeke  of  wynde, 
thei  taryed  atte  Forlond,  and  wente  to  lande  for  to 
refreshe  them.  And  one  of  theym,  named  Sheffelde,  a 
mercer,  cam  into  an  hows  and  axed  for  mete,  and  specy- 
ally  lie  axyd  after  eggys  ;  and  the  goode  wyf  answerde 
that  she  coude  speke  no  Frenshe.  and  the  niarchaunt 
was  angry  for  he  also  coude  speke  no  Frenshe,  but  wolde 
have  hadde  egges  and  she  understode  hym  not;  and 
thenne  at  laste  another  sayd  that  he  wolde  have  eyren. 


PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS.  55 


Then  the  good  wyf  said  that  she  understod  hym  wel- 
Loo,  what  sholde  a  man  in  thyse  dayes  now  wryte  egges 
or  eyren  !  Certaynly  it  is  harde  to  playse  every  man, 
bycause  of  dyversite  and  chaunge  of  langage. 

Gaxton's  Eneydos,  1490. 

Extract  from  the  Ayenbyte  of  Inwyt,  MS. 
Arundel  57,  ff.  86-87. 

Me  ret  ine  lives  of  holy  vaderes  thet  an  holy  man 
tealde  hou  he  com  to  by  monek,  and  zede  hou  thet  he 
hedde  y-by  ane  payenes  zone,  thet  wes  a  prest  to  the 
momenettes.  And  tho  he  wes  a  child  on  time  he  yede 
into  the  temple  mid  his  vader  priveliehe  :  ther  he  yzcg 
ane  gratne  dyevel  thet  zet  ope  ane  vyealdinde  stole,  and 
al  his  rnayne  aboute  him- ,  Ther  com  on  of  the  princes, 
and  leat  to  him  ;  tho  he  him  aksede  the  ilke  thet  zet  ine 
the  stole  huannes  he  com,  and  he  ansuerede  thet  he  com 
vram  ane  londe  huer  he  hedde  arered  and  y-mad  manye 
werren  and  manye  vigtinges,  zuo  thet  moche  volk  weren 
y-sslage  and  moche  blod  ther  y-ssed.  The  mayster  him 
acsede  ine  hon  moche  time  he  hette  thet  y-do,  and  he 
ansuerede  ine  thritti  dages.  He  him  zede,  Ine  zuo 
moche  time  hest  zuo  lite  y-do  ?  Tho  he  het  thet  ha  wer 
rigt  wel  y-beate,  and  evele  y-drage,  Efter  than  com  an 
other  thet  alsuo  to  him  leat  ase  the  verste.  The  mayster 
him  acsede  huanues  ha  com.  He  ansuerede  thet  he  com 
vram  the  ze  huer  he  hedde  y-mad  manye  tempestes,  vele 
ssipes  to-broke,  and  moche  volk  adreyct.  The  maister 
acsede  ine  hou  long  time.  He  ansuerede  ine  tuenti 
dages.  He  zayde,  ine  zuo  moche  time  hest  zuo  lite  y-do  ? 
Efterward  com  the  thridde,  thet  ansuerede  thet  he  com 
vra  mane  cite  huer  he  hedde  y-by  at  ane  bredale,  and  ther 
he  hedde  arered  and  y-mad  cheastes  and  striff,  zuo  thet 
moche  volk  ther  were  y-slage  and  ther-to  he  hedde  y- 
slage  thane  hosebounde.  The  maister  him  acsede  hou 
long  time  he  zette  thet  vor  to  done.     He  ansuerede  thet 


56  PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS. 

ine  ten  dages.  Tho  he  het  thet  he  were  wel  y-byate  vor 
thet  he  heckle  zuo  alonge  abide  thet  to  done  without 
more.  Ate  lasten  come  another  to-vore  the  prince,  and 
to  him  he  beag ;  and  he  him  acsede,  huannes  comst 
thou  ?  He  ansuerede  thet  he  com  vram  the  ermitage 
huer  lie  heddc  y-by  vuurti  yer  vor  to  vondi  ane  monek  of 
lornicacion,  thet  is  the  zenne  of  lecherie,  and  zuo  moche 
ich  habbe  y-do  thet  ine  thise  nygt  ich  bine  habbe  over- 
come, and  y-do  him  valle  into  the  zenne.  Tho  lhip  op 
the  mayster,  and  him  keste  and  beclepte,  and  dede  the 
coroune  ope  his  heved,  an  dede  him  zitte  bezide  him, 
and  to  him  zede  thet  he  hedde  grat  thing  y-do  and  grat 
prowesse.  Tho  zayde  the  guode  man  thet  huanne  he 
hedde  thet  y-hyerd  and  thet  y-zoge,  thet  he  thogte  thet 
hit  were  grat  thing  to  by  monek,  and  be  tho  encheysoun 
he  becom  monek. 

Extract  from  MS.  Laud.  416,  written  by  a  na- 
tive of  Kent  about  1460. 

Also  use  not  to  pley  at  the  dice  ne  at  the  tablis, 

Ne  none  maner  gainys  uppon  the  holidais; 

Use  no  tavernys  where  be  jestis  and  fablis, 

Syngyng  of  lewde  balettes,  rondelettes,  or  virolais  ; 

2s  ( ir  erly  in  mornyng  to  fecche  home  fresch  mais, 

For  yt  makyth  maydins  to  stomble  and  falle  in  the  breirs, 

And  afterward  they  telle  her  councele  to  the  freirs. 

Now  y-wis  yt  were  wele  done  to  know 

The  dyfference  bytwene  a  damselle  and  a  maide, 

For  alle  bene  lyke  whan  they  stond  in  a  row; 

But  1  wylle  telle  what  experience  said, 

And  in  what  wyse  they  be  entyrid  and  araied  j 

Maydyns  were  callis  of  silk  and  of  thred, 

And  damscllis  kerchevis  pynnid  uppon  ther  hed. 

Wyffis  may  not  to  chirch  tille  they  be  entyred, 
Ebridyllid  and  paytrellid,  to  shew  her  aray, 
And  fetyd  alle  abowte  as  an  hacony  to  be  hyred ; 


PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS.  57 

Than  she  lokyth  aboute  her  if  eny  be  so  gay  ; 
And  oon  thyng  I  comend,  which  is  most  to  my  pay, 
Ther  kerchef  hanggyth  so  low,  that  no  man  can  a-spye, 
To  loke  undirnethe  oons  to  shrew  her  eie. 

Janeglyng  in  chirche  among  hem  is  not  usid, 
To  telle  alle  her  howswyfry  of  the  weke  byfore ; 
And  also  her  husbondis  shalle  not  be  accusid, 
Now  crokyd  and  crabbed  they  bene  ever  more ; 
And  suche  thyngges  lo !  they  can  kepe  no  store, 
They  bene  as  close  and  covert  as  the  horn  of  Gabriellc, 
That  wylle  not  be  herd  but  from  hevyn  to  belle. 

From  Dick  and  Sal,  a  modern  Poem  in  the  Kent- 
ish Dialect. 

Ya  see,  when  Middlemas  come  roun, 

I  thought  dat  Sal  and  I 
Ud  go  to  Canterbury  town, 

To  see  what  we  cud  buy. 

Fer  when  I  liv'd  at  Challock  Leys, 

Our  Secont-man  had  been  : 
An  wonce,  when  we  was  carrin  peas, 

He  told  me  what  he'd  sin. 

He  said  dare  was  a  teejus  fair, 

Dat  lasted  for  a  wick  ; 
An  all  de  ploughmen  dat  went  dare, 

Must  car  dair  shining  stick. 

And  how  dat  dare  was  nable  rigs. 

An  Merriander's  jokes; 
Snuff-boxes,  shows,  and  whirligigs, 

An  houged  sights  a  folks. 

But  what  queer'd  me,  he  sed  'twas  kep 

All  roun  about  the  church ; 
An  how  dey  had  him  up  de  steps, 

And  left  him  in  de  lurch. 


58  PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS. 

At  last  he  got  into  de  street, 
An  den  lie  lost  his  road  ; 

An  Dot  an  he  come  to  a  gate, 
Where  all  de  Boadgers  stood. 

Den  she  keteht  fast  hold  av  his  han, 
For  she  was  rather  scar'd  ; 

Tom  sed,  when  fust  he  see  'em  stan, 
He  thought  she'd  be  a-fared. 


*e* 


LANCASHIRE. 

The  dialect  of  Lancashire  is  principally  known  by 
Collier's  Dialogue,  published  under  the  name  of  Tim 
Bobbin.  A  glossary  of  the  fifteenth  century,  written 
in  Lancashire,  is  preserved  in  31S.  Lansd.  560,  f. 
45.  A  letter  in  the  Lancashire  dialect  occurs  in  Braith- 
waite's  Two  Lancashire  Lovers,  1640,  and  other  early 
specimens  are  given  in  Haywood's  Late  Lancashire 
Witches,  4to.  ]  634,  and  Shadwell's  Lancashire  Witches, 
4to.  1682.  The  glossary  at  the  end  of  Tim  Bobbin  is 
imperfect  as  a  collection  for  the  county,  and  I  have  been 
chiefly  indebted  for  Lancashire  words  to  my  father, 
Thomas  Halliwell,  Esq.  Brief  notes  have  also  been  re- 
ceived from  the  Rev.  L.  Jones,  George  Smeeton,  Esq., 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Hume,  G.  R.  Spencer,  Esq.,  and  Mr.  R. 
Proctor.  The  features  of  the  dialect  will  be  seen  from 
the  following  specimens ;  o  and  on  are  changed  into  «,  ea 
into  o,  al  into  au,  g  into  k,  long  o  into  oi,  and  </  final 
into  t.  The  Saxon  termination  en  is  retained,  but  gen- 
erally mute. 


PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS.  59 

Extract  from  Tim  Bobbin's  Dialogue  between 
tummus  and  meary. 

M.  Odds  fish  !  boh  that  wur  breve.  I  wou'd  I'd  bin 
eb  yore  Kele. 

T.  Whau  wbau,  bob  tbeawst  hear.  It  wur  o  dree 
wey  too-to ;  beawe'er  I  geet  tbere  be  suse  o'clock,  on 
before  eb  opp'nt  dur,  I  covert  Nip  with  th'  cleawt,  ot  eh 
droy  meh  nese  web,  t'let  him  see  heaw  I  stoart  ber. 
Then  I  opp'nt  dur;  on  wbot  te  dule  dust  think,  boh 
three  little  tyney  Bandyhewits  cooni  weaughing  os  if  th' 
little  ewals  wou'd  o  worrit  me,  on  after  that  swallut  me 
whick  :  Boh  presontly  tbere  coom  o  fine  wummon ;  on  I 
took  ber  for  a  boo  justice,  boor  so  meety  fine  :  For  I 
heard  Ruchott  o'  Jack's  tell  mehmeastor,  that  boo  jus- 
tices awlus  did  th'  mooast  o'th'  wark :  Heawe'er,  I  axt 
bur  if  Mr.  Justice  wur  o  whoam;  hoo  cou'd  naw  opp'n 
hur  meawth  t'sey  eigh,  or  now  ;  boh  simpurt  on  sed  iss 
(tbe  dickkons  iss  hur  on  him  too)— Sed  I,  I  wuddid'n  tell 
him  I'd  fene  speyk  to  him. 

A  Letter  printed  and  distributed  in  the  Proces- 
sion THAT  WAS  FORMED  AT  MANCHESTER  IN  'COM- 
MEMORATION of  Free  Trade. 

Bury,  July  15th,  1846. 

To  Me  Lawrd  Jhon  Russell, — Well,  me  Lawrd, 
yoan  gett'n  ut  last  up  to  th'  top  o'  th'  ladthur,  un  th' 
heemust  stave  asnt  brokk'n  wi  yo  this  time  us  it  did  afore. 
Wayst  see  i'  t'neaw  wethur  yo  kun  keep  yur  stonniu  ur 
not ;  awm  rayther  fyert  ut  yoan  find  it  slippy  un  noan 
safe  footin  ;  but,  heawsumevvur,  thirs  nawt  like  thryin. 

But  wot'r  yo  fur  dooin  ?  Yo  seemn  to  think  ut  o  vast 
dyelo  things  wants  mendin,  un  yo  tbinkn  reet,  for  they 
dun  : — but  kon  yo  man  nidge  um  ?  Yur  fust  job  '11  be 
a  twoff  un ;  un  tho  it'll  be  o  sweet  subjek,  it'll  ha  sum 


60  PKOVINCIAL  DIALECTS. 

seawr  stuff  obeawt  it.  But  scawr  ur  not  yo  mun  stick 
like  breek,  un  not  let  that  can  tin,  lcawsy  stuff  obeawt 
"  slave-groon  un  free-groon  "  stop  yo.  Bless  me  life 
mon  !  its  anoof  to  gie  won  th'  bally  wratch  to  yer  o 
set  o  gawnblins  uts  beyyin,  un  spinnin,  un  weyvin,  un 
warm  slave-groon  kottn  eitch  day  o  thir  lives,  tawk 
obeawt  thir  konshunsus  nor  lettin  urn  sweetn  thir  faybry 
pie  fur  th'  chilthur  wi  o  bit  o  slave-groon  shugur.  It's 
oa  humbug,  me  Lawrd,  un  tell  um  aw  say  so.  Stick  yo 
fast  to  the  skame  o'  having  oa  th'  dewties  olike :  but  yo 
may  slip  eawt  thoos  twothrey  yer  ut  yore  fur  keepin  up 
o  differunce,  us  soon  us  ynn  o  mind.  We  kun  spare  om 
wen  wer  bizzy. 

Sum  o  yur  skames  ur  weel  onoof ;  but  th'  main  thing 
'11  be  for  yo  to  ta  care  to  spend  us  little  brass  us  yo  kon, 
un  giv  us  o  gud  thrade. 

Yoan  lettn  Sur  Robbut  (yoa  knoan  he's  a  Berry  muff 
un  we're  sharp  chaps) — aw  say  yoan  lettn  Sur  Robbut 
get  howd  o  yur  tools  and  wurtch  wi  um  wonst,  wi  not 
beein  sharp  onooff.  He  made  o  gud  hondlin  on  um,  too 
uns  gettn  t'wajus  for  his  wark,  tko'  t'skame  wur  yoars, 
un  iv  yo  dunnut  mind  he'll  do  t'same  ogen.  He'll  let 
yo  get  th'  patthurns  reddy,  and  make  t'kestins,  un 
t'bowts,  un  t'skrews  un  sitchn  :  but  he'll  put  t'mosheen 
together,  un  dray  th'  wage  ut  th'  Sethurde  neet,  iv  yo 
annut  yur  een  obeawt  yo. 

Dunnot  be  fyert,  mon,  but  rap  eawt  wi  awt  uts  reet, 
un  us  Berry  fokc  '11  elp  yo  us  ard  as  we  kon.  Wayn 
helpt  Kobdin  un  wayn  elp  yo,  if  yoan  set  obeawt  yur 
wark  gradely. 

Wayre  havvin  o  greyt  stur  to  day  beer  for  us  wurtchin 
foke,  un  wayre  to  have  doance  o  Munday  neet.  Aw 
nobbut  wush  ut  yo  k'd  kum  deawn  un  see  us — yoad  see 
sitch  o  seet  un  yer  sitch  sheawtin  yoa  ne'er  seed  nur  i 
yor  life.  They  konnut  sheawt  i  Lunnon — its  nobbot 
gradely  butthermilk  un  porritoh  Lankeshur  lads  ut  kun 
sheawt  wot  koin  sheawtin. 


PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS.  61 

But  yo  man  ne'er  heed,  Lawrd  John.  Punnos  be 
fyert,  us  aw  sed  ofore,  but  ston  up  for  wots  reet,  un  iv 
t'  parlyment  winnit  let  yo  ha  yer  oan  rode,  kum  eawt,  un 
let  t'  gangway  kawves  thry  how  thay  kun  seawk  t'  pub- 
lic pap. 

Awm  noan  yust  to  ritin,  un  aw  feel  tyert,  so  aw  mun 
lyev  awt  moor  ut  aw  av  to  say  tell  me  honst's  restut  itsel. 
So  aw  remain,  me  Lawrd, 

Yours  for  evvnr, 

Bury  Muff. 

A  Lancashire  Ballad. 

Now,  aw  me  gud  gentles,  an  yau  won  tarry, 
He  tel  how  Gilbert  Scott  soudn's  mare  Berry. 
He  soudn's  mare  Berry  at  Warikin  fair; 
When  heel  be  pade,  hee  knows  not,  ere  or  nere. 
Soon  as  hee  coom  whoom,  an  toud  his  wife  Grace, 
Hon  up  wi  th'  kippo,  an  swat  him  ore  th'  face  ; 
Hoo  pickdt  him  oth'  hilloc,  wi  sick  a  thwack, 
That  hoo  had  whel  ni  a  brokken  his  back. 
Thou  hooer,  quo  hee,  wo't  but  lemme  rise, 
He  gi  thee  auth'  leet,  wench,  that  imme  lies. 
Thou  udgit,  quo  hoo,  but  wher  dus  hee  dwel  ? 
Belakin,  quo  hee,  but  I  connan  tel. 
I  tuck  him  to  be  sum  gud  greslmon's  son ; 
He  spent  too  pense  on  mee  when  hee  had  doon. 
He  gin  mee  a  lunch'n  o  denty  snig  py, 
An  shaukdt  mee  bith'  haundt  most  lovingly. 
Then  Grace,  hoo  prompdt  bur,  so  neeat  an  so  fine. 
To  War'kiu  hoo  went,  o  Wensday  betime. 
An  theer  too,  hoo  stade  ful  five  markit  days, 
Til  th'  mon,  wi  th'  mare,  were  coom  to  Raunley  Shaw's. 
As  Grace  was  restin  won  day  in  hur  rowm, 
Hoo  spydt  th'  mon  a  ridin  o  th'  mare  down  the  town. 
Bounce  gus  hur  hart,  an  hoo  wer  so  glopen 
That  out  o  th'  windo  hoo'd  like  fort  lopen. 
9 


C2  PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS. 

Hoo  staumpdt,  an  hoo  star'dt,  an  down  stairs  hoo  run, 

Wi'  th'  hat  under  th'  arm.  an  windt  welly  gon. 

Hur  bed-gear  flew  off.  an  so  did  hur  snowd, 

Hoo  staumpdt,  an  hoo  star'dt.  as  an  hoo'd  been  wood. 

To  Raunley's  hoo  hy'd,  an  hoo  hove  up  th'  latch, 

Afore  th'  nmii  had  teed  th'  mare  welly  too  th'  cratch. 

Mc  gud  inoii.  quo  hoo.  frend,  hoc  -rods  yau  merry. 

An  desires  yau'd  send  him  money  for  Berry. 

Ay.  money,  quo  hee,  that  !  connan  spare  : 

Belakin,  quo  hoo,  hut  then  He  ha  th'  mare. 

Hoo  poodt.  an  hoo  thromperdt  him.  shaum't  be  seen  ; 

Thou  hangmon,  quo  hoo,  He  poo  out  thin  een : 

lie  mak  thee  azompan,  haud  thee  a  groat 

He  oth'r  ha'  th'  money,  or  poo  out  the  throat  ; 

'Tween   them  they  made  such  a  wearison  din, 

That  for  t'  intreat  them.  Raunly  Shaw  coom  in, 

Coom.  fy,  I'y.  naunt  (irace,  coom,  i'y.  an  a  doon; 

What,  deel,  ar  yau  monkeen,  or  ar  yau  woon  ? 

Belakin,  quo  hee,  yau  lane  so  hard  on — 

I  think  now  that  th'  woman  has  quite  spoildt  th'  mon. 

Coom,  fy,  i'y.  naunt  Grace,  coom,  I'y.  an  a  doon  ; 

Yaust  ha'  th'  mare,  or  th'  money,  whether  yau  won. 

So  Grace  got  th'  money,  an  whoomwardt  hoo's  gon, 

Hoo  keeps  it  aw,  an  gees  Gilbert  Scott  non. 


LEICESTERSHIRE.      . 

The  dialect  of  this  county  has  been  entirely  neglected, 
with  the  exception  of  a  few  brief  remarks  in  Macaulay's 
History  of  Olaybrook,  1791 ;  hut  it  deserves  a  careful 
study.  A  valuable  glossary  of  Leicestershire  words  was 
given  me  by  Mr.  John  (iibson,  but  too  late  to  be  used  in 
the  early  part  of  the  work. 

The  dialect  of  the  common  people,  though  broad,  is 


PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS.  63 

sufficiently  plain  and  intelligible.  They  have  a  strong 
propensity  to  aspirate  their  words  ;  the  letter  h  comes  in 
almost  on  every  occasion  where  it  ought  not,  and  is  as 
frequently  omitted  where  it  ought  to  come  in.  The 
words  fine,  mine,  and  such  like,  are  pronounced  as  if 
they  were  spelt  foine,  moine  ;  place,  face,  &c.  as  if  they 
were  spelt  pleace,  feace',  and  in  the  plural  sometimes 
you  hear  pleacen  ;  closen  for  closes  ;  and  many  other 
words  in  the  same  style  of  Saxon  termination.  The 
words  there  and  where  are  generally  pronounced  thus, 
tin  err,  wheere;  the  words  mercy,  deserve,  cY.c.  thus  marry, 
desarve.  The  following  peculiarities  of  pronunciation 
are  likewise  observable  :  uz,  strongly  aspirated,  for  us, 
war  for  was,  meed  for  maid,  faiiher  for  father,  e'ery  for 
every,  brig  for  bridge,  thurrough  for  furrow,  hawf  for 
half,  c&vt-rit  for  rut,  malefactory,  for  manufactory  inac- 
tions for  anxious. 

JIacaulay's  Claybrook,  1791,  pp.  128-9. 


LINCOLNSHIRE. 

The  river  With  am  may  be  considered  with  tolerable 
accuracy  the  boundary  line  between  the  Northern  and 
Southern  dialects  of  the  county,  which  differ  consider- 
ably from  each  other ;  the  former  being  more  nearly  al- 
lied to  that  of  Yorkshire,  the  latter  to  the  speech  of 
East  Anglia,  but  neither  are  nearly  so  broad  as  the  more 
Northern  dialects.  Many  singular  phrases  are  in  use. 
They  say,  Very  not  well,  I  used  to  could,  You  shouldn't 
have  ought,  &c.  The  Lincolnshire  words  were  partially 
collected  by  Skinner  in  the  seventeenth  century,  but  no 
regular  glossary  has  yet  appeared.  This  deficiency,, 
however,  as-  far  as  the  present  work  is  concerned,  has 


64  PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS. 

been  amply  supplied  by  as  many  as  nineteen  long  com- 
munications, eacb  forming-  a  small  glossary  by  itself,  and 
of  peculiar  value,  from  tbe  Rev.  James  Adcock  of  Lin- 
coln, to  whom  1  beg  to  return  my  best  acknowledg- 
ments. I  have  also  to  acknowledge  assistance  from  Sir 
E.  F.  Bromhead,  Bart.,  tbe  Rev.  Dr.  Oliver,  Robert 
Goodacre,  Esq.,  T.  R.  Jackson,  Esq.,  Mr.  E.  Johnson, 
and  papers  kindly  inserted  at  my  suggestion  in  the  Lin- 
coln Standard. 

Extract  from  MS.  Digby  86,  written  in  Lincoln- 
shire, temp.  Edw.  I. 

Nigtingale,  thou  havest  wrong, 
Wolt  thou  me  senden  of  this  lond, 

For  ich  holde  with  the  rigtte; 
I  take  witnesse  of  sire  Wawain, 
That  Jhesu  Crist  jaf  migt  and  main, 

And  strengthe  for  to  figtte. 

So  wide  so  he  hevede  i-gon, 
Trewe  ne  founde  he  nevere  non 

Bi  daye  ne  bi  nijtte. 
Fowel,  for  thi  false  mouth, 
Thi  sawe  shal  ben  wide  couth, 

I  rede  the  fie  with  mijtte. 

Ich  habbe  leve  to  ben  here, 
In  orchard  and  in  erbere, 

Mine  songes  for  to  singe  ; 
Herdi  nevere  bi  no  levedi, 
Bote  hendinese  and  curteysi, 

And  joye  hy  gunnen  me  bringe. 

Of  muchele  murthc  hy  telleth  me, 
Fere,  also  I  telle  the, 

IJy  liveth  in  louginginge. 


PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS.  65 

Fowel,  thou  sitest  on  hasel  bou, 
Thou  lastest  hem,  thou  havest  wou, 
Thi  word  shal  wide  springe. 

Hit  springeth  wide,  wel  ich  wot, 
Hou  tel  hit  him  that  hit  not, 

This  sawes  ue  beth  nout  newe  ; 
Fowel,  herkne  to  mi  sawe, 
Ich  wile  the  telle  of  here  lawe, 

Thou  ne  kepest  nout  hem,  I  knowe. 

Thenk  on  Constantines  quene, 
Foul  wel  hire  semede  fow  and  grene, 

Hou  sore  hit  son  hire  rewe  : 
Hoe  fedde  a  crupel  in  hire  hour, 
And  helede  him  with  covertour, 

Loke  war  wimmen  ben  trewe.         Reliq.  Antiq. 


From 

"  Neddy  and  Sally  ;  a  Lincolnshire  Tale," 

By  John  Brown,  12mo.  n.  d. 

Cum,  Sail,  its  time  we  started  now, 
Yon's  Farmer  Haycock's  lasses  ready, 

And  maister  says  he'll  feed  the  cow, 
He  didn't  say  so, — did  he  Neddy  ? 

Yees,  that  he  did,  so  make  thee  haste, 
And  git  the  sen  made  smart  and  pretty, 

We  yaller  ribbon  round  the  waist 

The  same  as  oud  Squire  Lowden's  Kitty. 

And  I'll  go  fetch  my  sister  Bess, 
I'm  sartin  sure  she's  up  and  ready, 

Come  gie's  a  bus,  thou  can't  do  less, 
Says  Sally,  No,  thou  musn't,  Neddy. 


66  PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS. 


See,  yonder's  Besa  a  cummin  cross 
The  fields,  we  lots  o'  lads  and  lasses, 

All  haim  be  haini.  and  brother  doss 
A  shouting  to  the  folks  as  passes. 

Odds  dickens.  Sail,  we'll  hev  a  spree, 
Me  heart's  as  light  as  ony  leather, 
There's  nol  a  chap  dost  russel  me, 

Not  all  the  town's  chaps  put  together. 


MIDDLESEX. 

The  metropolitan  county  presents  little  in  its  dialect 
worthy  of  remark,  being  for  the  most  part  merely  a  coarse 
pronunciation  of  London  slang  and  vulgarity.  The  lan- 
guage of  the  lower  orders  of  the  metropolis  is  pictured 
very  faithfully  in  the  works  of  Mr.  Dickens.  The  in- 
terchange of  v  and  w  is  a  leading  characteristic.  Some 
of  the  old  cant  words  mixed  with  numerous  ones  of  late 
formation,  are  to  be  traced  in  the  Loudon  slang. 


*> 


The  Thimble  Rig. 

"Now,  then,  my  jolly  sportsmen!  I've  got  more 
money  than  the  parson  of  the  parish.  Those  as  don't 
play  can't  vin,  and  those  as  are  here  harnt  there  !  I'd 
hold  any  on  you,  from  a  tanner  to  a  sovereign,  or  ten, 
as  you  don't  tell  which  thimble  the  pea  is  under."  "  It's 
there,  sir."  "  1  ban  tellings."  "  I'll  go  it  again." 
"  Vat  you  don't  see  don't  look  at,  and  vat  you  do  see 
don't  tell.  Ill  hould  you  a  soveren,  sir,  you  don't  tell 
me  vitch  thimble  the  pea  is  under."  "  Lay  him,  sir, 
(in  a  whisper);  it's  under  the  middle'un.     I'll  go  you 


PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS.  67 

halves."  "  Lay  him  another ;  that's  right."  "  I'm 
blow'd  but  we've  lost;  who'd  a  thought  it?"  Smack 
goes  the  flat's  hat  over  his  eyes ;  exit  the  confederates 
with  a  loud  laugh. 


NORFOLK. 

"  The  most  general  and  pervading  characteristic  of 
our  pronunciation,"  observes  Mr.  Forby,  "  is  a  narrow- 
ness and  tenuity,  precisely  the  reverse  of  the  round, 
sonorous,  mouth-filling  tones  of  Northern  English.  The 
broad  and  open  sounds  of  vowels,  the  rich  and  full  tones 
of  diphthongs,  are  generally  thus  reduced."  The  same 
writer  enters  very  minutely  into  the  subject  of  the  pecu- 
liarities of  this  dialect,  and  his  glossary  of  East  Anglian 
words,  2  vols.  8vo.  1830,  is  the  most  complete  publica- 
tion of  the  kind.  A  brief  list  of  Norfolk  words  is  given 
in  Brown's  Certain  Miscellany  Tracts,  8vo.  1684,  p.  146. 
A  glossary  of  the  provincialisms  of  the  same  county 
occurs  in  Marshall's  Rural  Economy  of  Norfolk,  1787, 
and  Observations  on  the  Dialect  in  Erratics  by  a  Sailor, 
1809.  In  addition  to  these,  I  have  had  the  advantage 
of  using  communications  from  the  Rev.  George  Mun- 
ford,  the  Very  Rev.  F.  C.  Husenbeth,  Mrs.  Robins,  and 
Goddard  Johnson,  Esq. 

A  vocabulary  of  the  fifteenth  century  written  in  Nor- 
folk, is  preserved  in  MS.  Add  it.  12,195,  but  the  Prompt- 
orium  Parvulorum  is  a  much  more  valuable  and  exten- 
sive repository  of  early  Norfolk  words.  A  manuscript 
of  Capgrave's  Life  of  St.  Katherine  in  the  Bodleian 
Library,   'MS.    Rawl.  Poet,    118,  was  written  in    this 


08  PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS. 

county.  It  would  appear  from  the  following  passage 
that  Norfolk  was,  in  early  times,  one  of  the  least 
refined  parts  of  the  island  : 

I  wende  riflynge  Tore  restitucion,  quod  he, 

For  I  lerncd  nevere  rede  on  boke  ; 

And  I  kan  no  Frensshe,  in  feith, 

But  of  the  fertheste  ende  of  Northfolk. 

Piers  Ploughman,  ed.  Wright,  p.  91. 

Old  Measures  of  Weight. 

From  MS.  Cotton,  Claudius  E.  viii.  fol.  8,  of  the  fourteenth  century,  written  at 

Norwich. 

Sex  waxpunde  makiet  .j.  ledpound.  .xij.  ledpunde  .j. 
fotmel.  .xxiiij.  fotmel  .j.  fothir  of  Bristouwe,  ys  haved 
.cc.  and  .xxviij1'.  wexpound. 

Sex  waxpunde  makiet  .j  leedpound.  .xviij.  leedpund 
.j.  leed  bole,  .xviij.  leed  boles,  .j.  fothir  of  the  North- 
leondes,  ys  haat  .xc.  and  .xiiij.  leed  punde,  that  beeth 
.xix.  hundryd  and  foure  and  fourti  wexpunde,  and  ys 

avet  more  bi  six  and leed  punde,  that  beeth  to 

hundred  and  sextene  wexpunde. 

Sevene  waxpund  makiet  onleve  ponde  one  waye,  twelf 
we}"en  on  fothir,  this  aveit  two  thousand  and  .ix.  score 
and  foure  wexpund,  that  beeth  thre  hundryd  and  twelf've 
leedpound,  this  his  more  than  that  of  the  Norethlandbe 
foure  and  thritti  more  of  leedpoundcs,  that  beeth  foure 
and  twenti  lasse. 

Norfolk  Degrees  of  Comparison. 

Positive.  Comparative.  Superlative. 

Little  .     .     Less       ....  Least 

Lesser      .     .     .  Lessest 

Lesserer     .     .     .  Lessercst. 

Lesserer  still     .  Lessest  of  all. 

Littler    ....  Littlest. 

Tiny       .        Tinier       .      .     .  Tiniest. 

Titty    .     .     Tittier   ....  Tittiest 


PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS.  69 

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 

A  midland  dialect,  less  broad  and  not  so  similiar  to 
the  Northern  as  Warwickshire.  I  have  to  acknowledge 
communications  on  the  dialect  of  this  county  from  the 
Rev.  J.  B.  P.  Dennis,  and  Charles  Young,  Esq. 

NORTHUMBERLAND. 

Northumberland  has  a  dialect  the  most  broad  of  all 
the  English  counties,  nearly  approaching  the  Scotch,  the 
broadest  of  all  English  dialects.  The  Scottish  bur  is 
heard  in  this  county  and  in  the  North  of  Durham.  A 
large  number  of  specimens  of  the  dialect  have  been  pub- 
lished, and  the  provincial  words  have  been  collected  by 
Mr.  Brockett,  but  no  extensive  glossary  of  words  pecu- 
liar to  the  county  has  been  published  separately.  A 
short  list,  however,  is  given  in  Ray's  English  Words,  ed. 
1691 ;  and  others,  recently  collected,  were  sent  me  by 
George  B.  Richardson,  Esq.  and  the  Rev.  R.  Douglas. 
An  early  specimen  of  the  Northumberland  dialect  occurs 
in  Bullein's  Dialogue,  1564,  reprinted  in  Waldron's 
notes  to  the  Sad,  Shepherd,  p.  187. 

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE. 

Formerly  belonged  in  dialect  to  the  Northern  division, 
but  may  now,  I  believe,  be  included  in  the  Midland. 
I  speak,  however,   with  uncertainty,  no    work  on  the 
Nottinghamshire  dialect  having  yet  appeared. 
10 


70  PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS. 

From  a  Treatise  ox  tiik  Fistula  in  axo,  by  John 
Arderne.  of  Newark. 

Johan  Arderne  fro  the  first  pestelence  that  was  in 
the  yere  of  our  Lord  1349,  duelled  in  Newerke  in  Not- 
inghamschire  unto  the  yere  of  our  Lorde  1370,  and  ther 
I  heled  many  men  of  fistula  in  ano  ;  of  which  the  first 
was  Sir  Adam  Everyngham  of  Lax  ton  in  the  Clay  byside 
Tnkkesfordj  whiche  Sir  Adam  for  sothe  was  in  (lascone 
with  Sir  Henry  that  tyme  named  herle  of  Derby,  and 
after  was  made  Duke  of  Laneastre,  a  noble  and  worthy 
lord.     The  forsaid  Sir  Adam  forsoth  sufferend  fistulam 
in  ano,  made  for  to  aske  counsell  at  alle  the  lecdicz  and 
corurgienz  that  he  myght  fynd  in  Gascone,  at  Burdeux, 
at    Briggerac,  Tolows,  and  Neyybon,  and  Peyters,  and 
many  other  placez,  and  alle  forsoke  hym  for  uncurable; 
whiche  y-se  and  y-herde,  the  forsaid  Adam  hastied  for 
to  torne  home  to  his  contree,  and  when  he  come  home 
he  did  of  al  his  knyghtly  clothings,  and  cladde  mourn- 
yng  clothes  in  purpose  of  abydyng  dissolvyng  or  lesyng 
of  his  body  beyng  nyg  to  hym.     At  the  laste  I  forsaid 
Johan  Arderne  y-sogt   and  covenant  y-made,   come  to 
hyine  and  did  my  cure  to  hym,  and.  our  Lorde  beyng 
mene,  I  heled  hyme  perfitely  within  halfe  a  yere,  and 
afterward  hole  and  sound  he  ledde  a  glad  life  30  yere 
and  more.     For  whiche  cure  I  gate  myche  honour  and 
lovyng  thurg  alle  Ynglond  ;  and  the  forsaid  Duke  of 
Laneastre    and    many  other   gentilez  wondred  thereof. 
Afte[r]ward  I  cured  Hugon  Derlyng  of  Fowick  of  Dalne 
by  Snaythe.     Afterward  I   cured   Johan  Schefeld    of 
Rightwelle  aside  Tekille. 

MS.  Shane.  5G3,  f.  124. 


PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS.  71 

OXFORDSHIRE. 

The  provincial  speech  of  this  county  has  none  of  the 
marked  features  of  the  Western  dialect,  although  many 
of  the  Gloucestershire  and  Wiltshire  words  are  in  use. 
The  Oxfordshire  dialect  may  he  descrihed  as  rather 
broad,  and  at  the  same  time  sharp,  with  a  tendency  to 
contraction.  Us  is  used  instead  of  7,  as  in  some  other 
counties.  There  are  not  a  large  number  of  words  quite 
peculiar  to  the  county,  and  no  glossary  has  yet  been 
published.  Kennett  has  preserved  many  now  obsolete, 
and  I  am  indebted  for  several  to  Mr.  A.  Chapman,  and 
Francis  Francillon,  Esq.  In  the  sixteenth  century,  the 
Oxfordshire  dialect  was  broad  Western.  In  Scogin's 
Jests,  we  have  an  Oxfordshire  rustic  introduced,  saying 
ich  for  I,  dis  for  this,  vay  for  fay,  chill  for  I  will,  vor 
for  for,  &c. 

RUTLANDSHIRE. 

The  dialect  of  Rutlandshire  possesses  few,  if  any, 
features  not  to  be  found  in  the  adjoining  counties.  It 
would  appear  to  be  most  similiar  to  that  of  Leicester- 
shire, judging  from  a  communication  on  the  subject  from 
the  Rev.  A.  S.  Atcheson. 

SHROPSHIRE. 

In  the  modern  dialect  of  this  county,  a  is  frequently 
changed  into  o  or  e  ;  c  into  q,  co  into  qu  ;  d  final  is  often 
suppressed  or  commuted  into  t  in  the  present  tense ;  e 


72  PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS. 

is  sometimes  lengthened  at  the  commencement  of  a  word, 
as  eend,  end,  and  it  is  frequently  changed  into  a  ;  g  is 
often  omitted  before  h ;  the  h  is  almost  invariably 
wrongly  used,  omitted  where  it  should  be  pronounced, 
and  pronounced  where  it  should  be  omitted ;  i  is  changed 
into  ci  ore;  I  into  w ;  o  is  generally  lengthened ;  r  when 
followed  by  s  is  often  dropped,  the  sin  such  cases  being 
doubled;  t  is  entirely  dropped  in  many  words  where  it  pre- 
cedes s,  and  is  superseded  by  e,  especially  if  there  be  any 
plurality ;  y  is  prefixed  to  a  vast  number  of  words  which 
commence  with  the  aspirate,  and  is  substituted  for  it. 
See  further  observations  in  Mr.  Hartshorne's  Shropshire 
glossary  appended  to  his  Salopia  Antiqua,  8vo.  1841, 
from  which  the  above  notices  of  the  peculiarities  of  the 
dialect  have  been  taken.  To  this  work  I  have  been 
chiefly  indebted  for  Shropshire  words,  but  many  un- 
known to  31r.  Ilartshorne  have  been  derived  from 
Llhuyd's  MS.  Additions  to  Ray,  a  manuscript  glossary 
compiled  about  1780,  and  from  communications  of  the 
Rev.  L.  Darwall  and  Thomas  Wright,  Esq. 

A  translation  of  the  Pars  Ocidi'm  English  verse,  made 
by  John  Mirkes,  a  canon  of  Lilleshul,  in  Shropshire,  is 
preserved  in  MS.  Cotton.  Claud.,  A.  ii  and  MS.  Douce, 
60,  103,  manuscripts  of  the  fifteenth  century.  The 
poem  commences  as  follows  : 

(Jod  seyth  hymself,  as  wryten  we  fynde, 
That  whenne  the  blynde  ledeth  the  blynde, 
Into  the  dyche  they  fallen  boo, 
For  they  ne  sen  whare  by  to  go. 

MS.  Oott.  Claud.,  A.  ii,  f.  127. 


PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS.  73 

God  seith  himself,  as  writen  y  fynde, 
That  whan  the  blynde  ledeth  the  blynde, 
Into  the  diche  they  i'alleth  bo, 
For  they  ne  seen  howe  they  go. 

MS.  Douce,  60,  f.  147. 

It  should  not  be  forgotten  that  the  dialect  of  a  manu- 
script is  not  necessarily  that  used  by  the  author  himself. 
It  oftener  depended  on  the  scribe.  We  have  copies  of 
Hampole's  Prick  of  Conscience  written  in  nearly  every 
dialect. 

The  Poems  of  John  Audelay,  a  monk  of  Haghmon, 
who  wrote  about  14(30,  afford  a  faithful  specimen  of  the 
Shropshire  dialect  of  that  period.  A  small  volume  of 
his  poetry  was  printed  by  the  Percy  Society,  8vo.  1844  : 

As  I  lay  seke  in  my  langure, 

In  an  abbay  here  be  West, 
This  boke  I  made  with  gret  dolour, 

When  I  mygt  not  slep  ne  have  no  rest; 
Offt  with  my  prayers  I  me  blest, 

And  sayd  hyle  to  heven  kyng, 
I  knowlache,  Lord,  hit  is  the  best 

Mekele  to  take  thi  vesetyng, 
Ellis  wot  I  wil  that  I  were  lorne. 

Of  al  lordis  be  he  blest ! 

Fore  al  that  ge  done  is  fore  the  best, 

Fore  in  thi  defawte  was  never  mon  lost, 
That  is  here  of  womon  borne. 

Mervel  ge  not  of  this  makyng, 

Fore  1  me  excuse,  hit  is  not  Ij 
This  was  the  Hole  Gost  wercheng, 

That  sayd  these  wordis  so  faythfully ; 
Fore  I  quoth  never  hot  hye  foly, 

God  hath  me  chastyst  fore  my  levyng ! 


74  PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS. 

I  thong  my  God  my  grace  treuly 

Fore  his  gracious  vesityag. 
Beware,  seris.  T  goue  pray, 

Fore  I  mad  this  with  good  entent, 

In  the  reverens  of  God  omnipotent; 

Prays  fore  me  that  beth  present. 
My  name  is  Jon  the  blynd  Awdlay. 

The  similarities  between  the  dialect  of  Audelay's 
poems  and  that  of  modern  Shropshire  are  not  very 
easily  perceptible.  The  tendency  to  turn  o  into  a,  and 
to  drop  the  h,  may  be  recognized,  as  aid  for  hold,  &c. 
1  is  still  turned  into  e,  which  may  be  regarded  as  one  of 
Audelay's  dialectical  peculiarities,  especially  in  the  pre- 
fixes to  the  verbs ;  but  the  ch  for  sh  or  sch,  so  common 
in  Audelay,  does  not  appear  to  be  still  current.  There 
is  much  uncertainty  in  reasoning  on  the  early  provin- 
cial dialects  from  a  single  specimen,  owing  to  the  wide 
difference  between  the  broad  and  the  more  polished 
specimens  of  the  language  of  the  same  county  ;  and  Au- 
delay's poems  can  be  by  no  means  considered  as  afford- 
ing an  example  of  the  broadest  and  purest  early  Salo- 
pian dialect. 

SOMERSETSHIRE. 

The  Parret  divides  the  two  varieties  of  the  dialects 
of  Somersetshire,  the  inhabitants  of  the  west  of  that 
river  using  the  Devonshire  language,  the  difference  be- 
ing readily  recognized  by  the  broad  ise  for  I,  er  for  he, 
and  the  termination  th  to  the  third  person  singular  of 
the  present  tense  of  the  indicative  mood.     The  Somer- 


PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS.  75 

setshire  dialect  changes  th  into  d,  s  into  z,  /  into  v,  in- 
verts the  order  of  many  of  the  consonants,  and  adds  y 
to  the  infinitive  of  verbs.  It  also  turns  many  mono- 
syllables into  words  of  two  syllables,  as  oyer,  air,  booath, 
both,  fayer,  fair,  vier,  fire,  stayers,  stairs,  shower,  sure, 
&c.  See  Jennings'  Observations  on  some  of  the  Dialects 
in  the  West  of  England,  1825,  p.  7. 

A  singularly  valuable  glossary  of  Somersetshire  words 
was  placed  in  my  hands  at'  the  commencement  of  the 
present  undertaking  by  Henry  Norris,  Esq.,  of  South 
Petherton.  It  was  compiled  about  fifty  years  since  by 
Mr.  Norris's  father,  at  the  suggestion  of  the  late  Mr. 
Boucher,  and  Mr.  Norris  has  continually  enriched  it 
with  additions  collected  by  himself.  To  this  I  am  in- 
debted for  several  hundred  words  which  would  other- 
wise have  escaped  me  ;  and  many  others  have  been  de- 
rived from  lists  formed  by  my  brother,  the  Rev.  Thom- 
as Halliwell  of  Wrington,  Thomas  Elliott,  Esq.,  Miss 
Elizabeth  Carew,  the  Rev  C.  W.  Bingham,  Mr.  Elijah 
Tucker,  and  Mr.  Kemp. 

Numerous  examples  of  the  Somersetshire  dialect  are 
to  be  found  in  old  plays,  in  which  country  characters 
are  frequently  introduced  and  in  other  early  works.  It 
should,  however,  be  remarked  that  many  writers  have 
unhesitatingly  assigned  early  specimens,  containing  the 
prevailing  marks  of  Western  dialect,  to  this  county, 
when  the  style  might  be  referred  to  many  others  in  the 
South  and  West  of  England  ;  and  on  this  account  I  have 
omitted  a  list  of  pieces  stated  by  various  authors  to  be 
specimens  of  Somersetshire  dialect.     We  have  already 


76  PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS. 

seen  that  though  the  essential  features  of  the  present 
West  country  dialect  may  he  found,  they  may  possibly 
suit  specimens  of  the  South,  Kent,  or  even  Essex  dia- 
lects, in  the  state  the  latter  existed  two  or  three  centu- 
ries ago. 

The  Peasant  in  London, 

From  a  Work  of  the  Seventeenth  Century. 

Our  Taunton-den  is  a  dungeon, 

And  yvaith  cham  glad  chain  here ; 
This  vamous  zitty  of  Lungeon 

Is  worth  all  Zoinerset-zhere ; 
In  wagons,  in  carts,  and  in  coaches, 

Che  never  did  yet  zee  more  horse, 
The  wenches  do  zhine  like  roches, 

And  as  proud  as  my  fathers  vore  horse. 

Fairholt's  Lord  Mayors'  Pageants,  ii,  217. 

John's  account  of  his  Trip  to  Bristol,  on  the 
occasion  of  Prince  Albert's  visit,  to  his  Uncle 
Pen,  1843. 

Nunk  !  did  ever  I  tell  thee  o'  my  Prister  trip, 

Ta  zee  Purnce  Albert  an'  tha  gurt  irn  ship? 

How  Meary  goo'd  wi'  me  (thee's  know  Meary  mi  wife) 

An'  how  I  got  vrighten'd  maust  out  o'  mi  life  ? 

Nif  us  niver  did'n,  'ch  'eel  tell  thee  o't  now  ; 
An'  be  drat  if  tid'n  true  iv'ry  word,  I  da  vow  ! 
Vor  Measter  an'  Miss  war  bwoth  o'm  along; 
Any  one  o'm  ool  tell  thee  nif  us  da  zay  wrong. 

We  goo'd  to  Purgeoter  wi'  Joe's  liddle  'oss ; — 
Thee's   know   thick  us   da  meanne,  tha  da  call'n   wold 

Boss  : 
An'  a  trotted  in  vine  style  ;  an'  when  we  got  there, 
The  voke  was  sa  thick  that  'twas  jiss  lik  a  vair. 


PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS.  77 

We  did'n  goo  droo  et,  but  goo'd  to  tha  station — 
There  war  gurt  irn  'osses  all  in  a  nlw  vashion ; 
An'  there  war  gurt  boxes  ta  'old  moor'n  a  thousan', 
Za  long  as  all  Petherton,  an'  za  high  as  tha  houzen, 

Ther  war  gennelmens'  sarvants  a-dresscd  all  in  blue, 
Wi'  rud-collar'd  quoats,  an'  a  lot  o'  em  too; 
An'  all  o'  em  number'd — vor  one  us  did  zee 
War  mark'd  in  gurt  viggers,  a  hunderd  an'  dree. 

Hem  war  nation  aveard  when  tha  vuss  put  hem  in 
Ta  the  "-rut  ooden  box,  maust  sa  bi^-'s  a  corn  binn ; 
^'had  two  gurt  large  winders  wi'  'oles  vor  tha  glass; 
Tha  lock'd  op  tha  doors,  an'  there  hem  war  vass. 

Hem  had'n  bin  there  more'n  a  minnit  or  zoo, 
Vore  zumbody  wussell'd  an'  off  us  did  goo ! 
My  eyes  !  how  hem  veel'd  ! — what  a  way  vor  ta  ride  ! 
Hem  dra'd  in  her  breath,  an'  hem  thought  hein'd  a 
died. 

Vore  ever  us  know'd  et  us  'oller'd  out  ';stap  !" 
Hem  opp'd  wi'  es  hond  an'  catch'd  wukl  o'  es  'at ; 
All  the  voke  laugh'd  at  hem,  an'  that  made  hem  mad ; 
But  thof  a'  zed  nothin,  him  veel'd  cruel  bad. 

When  vust  hem  look'd  out,  hem  war  vrighten'd  still 

moor ; 
Hem  thoft  'twar  tha  "  wuld  one"  a-draggin,  vor  sure ; 
Vor  narry  a  'oss,  nor  nothin  war  in  et ; 
I'll  be  clurn'd  if  we  did'n  goo  thirty  miles  in  a  minit. 

Tha  cows  in  tha  veels  did  cock  up  their  tails, 
An'  did  urn  vor  their  lives  roun'  tha  'edges  an'  rails ; 
Tha  'osses  did  glowy,  an'  tha  sheep  glowied  too, 
An'  the  jackasses  blared  out  "  ooh — eh — ooh  !" 

About  a  mile  off  hem  zeed  a  church-steeple, 
An'  in  less  'an  a  minnit  a  zeed  all  the  people  ; 
11 


78  PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS. 

Us  war  plowing  right  at  'cm  ta  zee  who  hem  cou'd  vind, 
But  avore  hem  cou'd  look,  tha  war  a  mile  behind. 

Thee'st  bin  to  a  vare  where  the  conjercrs  ply — 
"  Pristo  Jack  an'  begone  !"  and  tha  tilings  vice  awy ; 
Dash  my  wig  !  an'  if  'twad'n  the  same  wi'  tha  people, 
Wi'  the  waggins  an'  'osses,  tha  church  an'  tha  steeple. 

(J wain  auver  a  brudge,  athurt  a  gurt  river, 
Tha  dreyv'd  jis  sa  hard  an'  sa  ventersom's  iver; 
An'  rummcU'd  lik  thunder;  hem  thof't  to  be  ground 
All  ta  pieces,  an'  smash'd,  an'  murder'd,  an'  drown'd.  ■ 

Oh  dear  !  my  poor  hed  !  when  us  think  o'et  now, 
How  us  ever  got  auver't  hem  can't  tell  thee  'ow; 
Mi  bed  did  whirdlely  all  roun'  and  roun' — 
Hem  cou'd'n  ston'  op,  nor  hem  cou'd'n  zit  down. 

When  us  got  in  ta  Brister — But  hem  wo'n't  tell  the 

now, 
(Vor  1  da  zee  thee  art  vidgetty  naw  vor  ta  goo) 
How  hem  zeed   tha  Queen's  husbond  the  Pirnce  an' 

hes  train  ; 
How  tha  Pirnce  an'  tha  ship  war  buoth  catch'd  in  tha 

rain. 

Uch  '1  tell'ee  tha  rest  o'et  zum  other  time, 

Vor  hem   promised  hem's  wile  hein'd  be  woam  avore 

nine ; 
An'  now  tha  clock's  hattin  a  quarter  past  ten  j 
Zo  gee  us  tlii  bond,  an'  good  night,  N  uncle  Ben  ! 


Mr.  Guy  and  the  Bobbers. 

Mr.  Guy  war  a  go  nn  el  man 
0'  Huntspill,  well  knawn 

As  a  grazier,  a  hirch  one, 
Wi'  Ions  o'  hiz  awn. 


PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS.  79 

A  oten  went  ta  Lunnun 

Hiz  cattle  vor  ta  zill ; 
All  tha  hosses  that  a  rawd 

Niver  minded  hadge  or  hill. 
A  war  afeard  o'  naw  one ; 

A  niver  made  hiz  will, 
Like  wither  vawk,  avaur  a  went 

Hiz  cattle  vor  ta  zill. 
One  time  a'd  bin  ta  Lunnun 

An  zawld  iz  cattle  well ; 
A  brought  awa  a  power  o'  gawld, 

As  I've  a  hired  tell. 
As  late  at  night  a  rawd  along 

All  droo  a  unketood, 
A  ooman  rawze  vrom  off  tha  groun, 

An  right  avaur  en  stood. 
She  look'd  za  pitis  Mr.  Guy 

At  once  hiz  hoss's  pace 
Stapt  short,  a  wonderin  how,  at  night, 

She  com'd  in  jitch  a  place. 
A  little  trunk  war  in  her  hon  ; 

She  zim'd  vur  «;won  wi'  chile. 
She  ax'd  en  nif  a'd  take  er  up 

An  cor  er  a  veo  mile. 
Mr.  Guy,  a  man  o'  veelin 

Vor  a  ooman  in  distress, 
Than  took  er  up  behind  en; 

A  cood'n  do  na  less. 
A  corr'd  er  trunk  avaur  en, 

An  by  hiz  belt  o'leather 
A  bid  er  hawld  vast :  on  tha  rawd 

Athout  much  tak,  together. 
Not  vur  tha  went  avaur  she  gid 

A  whissle  loud  an  long, 
Which  Mr.  Guy  thawt  very  strange ; 

Er  voice  too  zim'd  za  strong ! 
She'd  lost  er  dog,  she  zed ;  an  than 

Another  whizzle  blaw'd, 


80  PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS. 

That  stortled  Mr.  Guy  ; — a  stapt 

lliz  hoss  upon  the  rawd. 
Goo  on,  zed  she ;  bit  Mr.  Guy 

Zum  rig  beginn'd  ta  fear  : 
Vor  voices  rawze  upon  tha  wine, 

An  zim'd  a  comin  near. 
Again  tha  rawd  alonp;;  again 

She  whissled.     Mr  Guy 
Whipt  out  hiz  knife  an  cut  tha  belt, 

Than  push'd  er  off! — Vor  why? 
Tha  ooman  he  took  up  bchine, 

Begummers,  war  a  man  ! 
Tha  rubbers  zaw  ad  lad  th«r  plots 

Our  grazier  to  trepan. 
I  sholl  not  stap  ta  tell  what  zed 

Tha  man  in  ooman's  clawze ; 
Bit  he,  an  all  o'm  jist  behine, 

War  what  you  mid  suppawze, 
Tha.  cust.  tha.  swaur,  tha  dreaten'd  too, 

An  ater  Mr.  Guy 
Tha  gallop'd  all ;  'twar  niver-tha-near  : 

lliz  hoss  along  did  vly.' 
Auver  downs,  droo  dales,  awa  a  went, 

'Twar  da-light  now  amawst, 
Till  at  an  inn  a  stapt.  at  last, 

Ta  thenk  what  he'd  a  lost. 
A  lost  ? — why.  nothin — but  hiz  belt  ! 

A  zummet  moor  ad  gain'd  : 
Thic  little  trunk  a  corr'd  awa — 

It  gawld  g'lore  contain 'd  ! 
Nif  Mr.  Guy  war  hirch  avaur, 

A  now  war  hircher  still  : 
Tha  plunder  o'  tha  hi^hwamen 

Hiz  coffers  went  ta  vill. 
In  safety  Mr.  Guy  rawd  whim  ; 

A  otcn  tawld  tha  storry. 
Ta  meet  wi'  jitch  a  rig  myzel 

I  shood'n,  soce,  be  zorry. 


PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS.  81 


STAFFORDSHIRE. 


Kennett  has  recorded  numerous  Staffordshire  provin- 
cialisms, most  of  which  are  probably  now  obsolete,  and 
would  have  escaped  me  but  for  his  valuable  collections. 
A  valuable  manuscript  glossary  by  Mr.  Clive,  but  ex- 
tending no  further  than  B  in  the  part  seen  by  me,  was 
also  found  of  use,  and  a  few  words  in  neither  of  these 
manuscripts  were  given  me  by  Miss  L.  Marshall  and 
Mr.  Edward  T.  Gooch.  The  following  specimen  of  the 
dialect,  taken  from  Knight's  Quarterly  Magazine,  1823, 
will  sufficiently  exhibit  its  general  character.  The 
lengthening  of  the  vowel  i  appears  very  common.  In 
the  collieries  surnames  are  very  frecpuently  confused. 
It  constantly  happens  that  a  son  has  a  surname  very 
different  from  that  of  his  father.  Nicknames  are  very 
prevalent,  e.  g.  Old  Puff,  Nosey,  Bullyhed,  Loy-a-bed, 
Old  Blackbird,  Stumpy,  Cowskin,  Spindle-shanks,  Cock- 
eye, Pigtail,  Yellow-belly,  &c. 

Dialect  of  the  Bilston  Folk. 

The  dialect  of  the  lower  order  here  has  frequently 
been  noticed,  as  well  as  the  peculiar  countenance  of  the 
real  "  Bilston  folk."  "We  noticed  ourselves  (upon  the 
excursion)  the  following: — "Thee  shatn't,"  for  "you 
sh'a'nt;"  "thee  cost'na,"  for  "you  can't;''  "  thee  host 
aff,  surry,  or  oil  mosh  thoi  yed  fur  thee,"  for  "  take 
yourself  away,  sirrah,  or  I'll  crush  your  head;"  "  weear 
bist  thee  ?"  for  "  where  are  you  ?"  "in  a  cazulty  wee 
loik,"  for  "by  chance;"  with  "  thee  bist,  thee  shonna;" 
"you  are,  you  sha'n't."  A  young  woman  turned  around 
to  address  a  small  child  crying  after  her  upon  the  thresh- 


82  PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS. 

old  of  the  hovel,  as  she  went  off  towards  the  mine,  "  Ah, 
be  seized,  yung'un  if  thee  dos'n'r  knoo'  my  bock  as  well 
as  thee  knoo  asi  moy  ice-;-."  Some  of  the  better 
appareled,  who  affect  a  superior  style,  use  words  which 
they  please  to  term  "  dicksunary  words,"  such  as  "  ease- 
ment, convinciated,  abstimonious,  timothy"  (for  timid). 
One  female,  in  conversation  with  a  crony  at  the  "  truck- 
shop"  door,  spoke  of  "  Sal  Johnson's  aspirating  her 
mon's  mind  soo'a,  and  'maciating  his  temper."  and  "  I 
never  seed  a  sentiment  o'  nothin'  bod  till  it  took  Turn 
all  at  once't,"  (sentiment  here  used  for  symptom) 
speaking  of  indisposition. —  Wanderings  of  a  Pen  and 
Pencil. 

Conversation  between  a  Staffordshire  Canal 
Boatman  and  his  Wife. 

Lady.  Dun  yo  know  Soiden-mouth,  Tummy  ? 

Gent.  Eees ;  an'  a'  neation  good  feller  he  is  tew. 

Lady.  A  desput  quoiet  mon  !  But  he  loves  a  sup  o' 
drink.     Dun  yo  know  his  woif  ? 

(rent.  Know  her  !  ay.  Her's  the  very  devil  when 
her  sperit's  up. 

Lady.  Her  is.  Her  uses  that  mon  sheamful — her 
rags  him  every  neet  of  her  loif. 

Gent.  Her  does.  Oive  known  her  come  into  the 
public  and  call  him  all  the  neames  her  could  lay  her 
tongue  tew  afore  all  the  company.  Her  oughts  to  stay 
till  her's  got  him  i'the  boat,  and  then  her  mit  say  wha 
her'd  a  moind.     But  her  taks  aiter  her  feyther. 

Lady.     Hew  was  her  feyther  ? 

Gent.     Whoy,  singing  Jemmy. 

Lady.  Oi  don't  think  as  how  Oi  ever  know'd  sing- 
ing Jemmy.     Was  he  ode  Soaker's  brother  ? 

Gent.  Eees,  he  was.  lie  lived  a  top  o'  Hell  Bonk. 
He  was  the  wickedest,  swearninst  mon  as  ever  I  know'd. 
I  should  think  as  how  he  was  the  wickedest  mon  i'  the 
wold,  and  sav  he  had  the  rheuinatiz  so  bad. 


PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS.  83 


SUFFOLK. 

The  characteristics  of  the  Suffolk  dialect  are  in  all 
essential  particulars  the  same  as  those  of  the  Norfolk, 
so  carefully  investigated  by  Mr.  Forby.  The  natives 
of  Suffolk  in  speaking  elevate  and  depress  the  voice  in 
a  very  remarkable  manner,  so  that  "  the  Suffolk  whine" 
has  long  been  proverbial.  The  natives  of  all  parts  of 
East  Anglia  Generally  speak  in  a  kind  of  sing-song 
tone.  The  first  published  list  of  Suffolk  words  is  given 
in  Cullum's  History  of  Hawsted,  1784,  but  no  regular 
glossary  appeared  till  the  publication  of  Major  Moor's 
Suffolk  Words  and  Phrases,  8vo.  1823,  a  very  valuable 
collection  of  provincialisms.  With  the  greatest  liber- 
ality, Major  Moor  kindly  placed  in  my  hands  his  inter- 
leaved copy  of  this  work,  containing  copious  and  import- 
ant additions  collected  by  him  during  the  last  twenty 
years  ;  nor  have  I  been  less  fortunate  in  the  equally 
liberal  loan  of  most  valuable  and  numerous  manuscript 
additions  to  Forby's  East  Anglia,  collected  in  Suffolk  by 
D.  E.  Davy,  Esq.  Brief  lists  have  also  been  sent  by 
Miss  Ac;nes  Strickland  and  the  Rev.  S.  Charles. 

An  early  book  of  medical  receipts,  by  a  person  who 
practised  in  Suffolk  in  the  fifteenth  century,  is  preserved 
in  MS.  Harl.  1735;  an  English  poem,  written  at  Clare 
in  1445,  is  in  MS.  Addit.  11,814 ;  and  Bokenham's 
Lives  of  the  Saints  in  MS.  Arundel,  327,  transcribed  in 
1447,  is  also  written  in  the  Suffolk  dialect. 


84  PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS. 


Extract  prom   \  MS.  of  English  poetry  of  the 

FIFTEENTH  CENTURY,  WRITTEN  IN  SUFFOLK,  IN  THE 

possession  of  W.  S.  Fitch,  Esq. 

Herketh  now  further  at  this  frome, 

How  this  sheperd  wolde  coine; 

To  Abraham  the  tydyngus  coniyn, 

The  prophetys  hit  undernomyn, 

That  is  Moyses  and  Jonas, 

Abacnc  and  Elias, 

Ant  Danyell  and  Jeromie, 

And  Davyd  and  I-saye, 

And  Elisen  and  Samucll, 

Thei  seyn  Groddys  comyng  ryght  well, 

Lonjr  it  were  of  hem  alio  to  telle. 

But  herkynth  how  Ysaycon  spelle, 

A  child  that  is  i-boryn  to  us, 

And  a  sone  i-gevyn  us, 

That  shallc  upholden  his  kyndome, 

And  alle  this  shall  byn  his  noine, 

Wondurfull  God  and  of  myght, 

And  rewfull,  and  i'adur  of  ryght, 

Of  the  world  that  hereaftur  shall  byn, 

And  Prince  of  Pes  men  shalle  him  seyn  : 

These  buth  the  nomes  as  ge  mowe  i-leven, 

That  the  prophetys  to  hym  gevyn. 

From  Bokenam's  Livks  of  the  Saints,  written 

in  1447. 

Whylom,  as  the  story  techy th  us, 

In  Antyoche,  that  grete  cyte 

A  man  ther  was  clepyd  Theodosius 

For  of  paynyinrye  the  patryark  was  he, 

And  had  the  reule  and  al  the  governaunce, 

To  whom  alle  prestys  dede  obecyaunce. 


PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS.  85 

This  Theodosius  had  a  wyf  ful  mete 

To  hys  astate,  of  whom  was  born 

A  doughtyr  fayr,  and  clepyd  Margarite, 

But  ryht  as  of  a  ful  sharp  thorn, 

As  provyded  was  of  (rod  beforn, 

Growyth  a  rose  bothe  fayr  and  good ; 

So  sprong  Margrete  of  the  hethene  blood. 

MS.  Arundel  327,  f.  7. 

A  Letter  in  the  Suffolk   Dialect,  written  in 

THE  YEAR  1814. 

Dear  Frinnd, 

I  was  axed  some  stounds  agon  by  Billy  P.  our 
'sesser  at  Mulladen  to  make  inquiration  a'  yeow  if  Mas- 
ter    had  pahd  in  that  there  money  into  the  Bank. 

Billy  P.  he  fare  kienda  unasy  about  it,  and  when  I  see 
him  at  Church  ta  day  he  sah  timmy,  says  he,  prah  ha 
yeow  wrot — so  I  kienda  weft  um  off — and  I  sah,  says 

I,  I  heent  hard  from  Squire  D  as  yit,  but  I  dare 

sah,  I  shall  afore  long — So  prah  write  me  some  lines,  an 
send  me  wahd,  wutha  the  money  is  pahd  a'  nae.  I 
dont  know  what  to  make  of  our  Mulladen  folks,  nut  I — 
but  somehow  or  another,  theyre  alius  in  dibles.  an  I'll 
be  rot  if  I  dont  begin  to  think  some  on  em  all  tahn  up 
scaly  at  last;  an  as  to  that  there  fulla — he  grow  so  big 
and  so  purdy  that  he  want  to  be  took  down  a  peg — an 
I'm  glad  to  hare  that  yeow  gint  it  em  properly  at  Wick- 
hum.  I'm  gooin  to  meet  the  Mulladen  folks  a'  Friday 
to  go  a  bounden.  so  prah  write  me  wahd  afore  thennum, 
an  let  me  know  if  the  money  be  pahd,  that  I  may  make 
Billy  P.  asy.  How  stammin  cowd  tis  nowadays — we 
heent  no  feed  no  where,  and  the  stock  run  blorein  about 
for  wittles  jest  as  if  twa  winter — yeow  mah  pend  ont 
twool  be  a  mortal  bad  season  for  green  geese,  an  we 
shant  ha  no  spring  wahts  afore  Soom  fair.  I  dipt  my 
ship  last  Tuesday  (list  a'  me — I  mean  Wensday)  an  tha 

12 


8G  PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS. 

scringe  up  their  backs  so  nashunly  I'm  afeard  they're 
wholly  stryd — but  'strus  God  tis  a  strange  cowd  time. 
1  heent  got  do  news  to  tell  ye,  only  we're  all  stammenly 

set  up  about  that  there  corn  hill — seme  folks  dent  fare 
ta  like  it  no  matters,  an  tlia  sab  there  was  a  uasbun  noise 
about  it  at  Norrij  last  Saturday  was  a  fautnit.  The  mob 
thay  got  3  efijis,  a  farmer,  a  squire,  and  a  mulla,  an 
strus  yeowre  alive  thay  hung  urn  all  on  one  jibbit — so 
folks  sab.  Howsomever  we  arc  all  quite  enough  here, 
case  we  fare  to  think  it  for  our  good.  If  you  see  that 
there  chap  Harry,  give  my  sarvice  to  em. 


SUSSEX. 

The  dialect  of  the  east  of  Sussex  is  very  nearly  the 
same  as  that  of  Kent,  while  that  of  the  west  is  similar 
to  the  Hampshire  phraseology.  "  In  Sussex,"  says  Ray, 
English  Words,  ed.  1G74.  p.  80,  "  for  hasp,  clasp,  wasp, 
they  pronounce  hapse,  elapse,  wapse,  &c. ;  for  neck, 
nick  ;  for  throat,  throttle  ;  for  choak,  chock  ;  let'n  down, 
let'n  stand,  come  again  and  fet'n  anon."  These  obser- 
vations still  hold  good.  In  East  Sussex  day  is  pro- 
nounced dee,  and  the  peasantry  are  generally  distin- 
guished for  a  broad  strong  mode  of  speaking.  They 
pronounce  ow  final  as  er,  but  this  habit  is  not  peculiar; 
and  they  often  introduce  an  r  before  the  letters  d  and  /. 
A  (Un.^ii,;/  <f  tin'  Provincialisms  in  use  in  tin  County 
of  Sussex,  by  W.  I>.  Cooper,  was  printed  in  ls:->(>.  a 
neat  little  work,  a  copy  of  which,  with  numerous  manu- 
script additions,  was  kindly  sent  me  by  the  author. 
Several  Sussex  words,  not  included  in  Mr.  Cooper's  list, 


PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS.  87 

were  sent  to  me  by  M.  A.  Lower,  Esq.,  the  Rev.  James 
Sandham,  Colonel  Davies,  and  M.  T.  Robinson,  Esq. ; 
and  Mr.  Holloway's  General  Dictionary  of  Provincial- 
isms, 8vo.  1838,  contains  a  considerable  number. 

Tom  Cladpole's  Journey  to  Lunnun,  the  first 
seven  stanzas. 

Last  Middlemus  I  'member  well, 

When  harvest  was  all  over ; 
Us  cheps  had  hous'd  up  all  de  banes, 

An  stack'd  up  all  de  clover. 

I  think,  says  I,  I'll  take  a  trip 

To  Lunnun,  dat  I  wol, 
An  see  how  things  goo  on  a  bit, 

Lest  I  shu'd  die  a  fool ! 

Fer  sister  Sal,  five  years  agoo, 

Went  off  wud  Squyer  Brown  ; 
Housemaid,  or  summut;  don't  know  what, 

To  live  at  Lunnun  town. 

Dey  'hav'd  uncommon  well  to  Sal, 

An  ge  ur  clothes  an  dat ; 
So  Sal  'hav'd  nashun  well  to  dem, 

An  grow'd  quite  tall  an  fat. 

I  ax'd  01'  Ben  to  let  me  goo, 

Hem  rum  ol'  fellur  he, 
He  scratch'd  his  wig,  'To  Lunnun,  Tom?' 

Den  turn'd  his  quid,  'I'll  see.' 

So  strate  to  mother  home  goos  I, 

An  thus  to  ur  did  say, 
Mother,  I'll  goo  an  see  our  Sal, 

Fer  measter  says  I  may. 


88  PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS. 

De  poor  ol'  gal  did  shake  ur  head, 

Ah  !  Tom,  twant  never  do, 
Poor  Sal  is  gone  a  tejus  way, 

An  must  I  now  loose  you  ? 

A  Dialogue   between   two   Farm-labourers   in 

Sussex. 

Tom.  Why,  Jim,  where  a  bin  ? 
Jim.  Down  to  look  at  the  ship. 
Tom.  Did  ye  look  at  the  stack  ? 
Jim.  Umps,  I  did,  and  it  roakes  terrible  ! 
Tom.  Why  didn't  ye  make  a  hole  in  it? 
Jim.  I  be  guain  to  it. 

Tom.  D's  a  pity,  'twas  sich  a  mortal  good  'un. 
Jim.  Es  sure  !     Well,  It's  melancholy  fine  time  for 
the  crops,  aint  it  ? 

Tom.  Ah  !  it'll  be  ripping  time  pretty  soon  now. 
Jim.  Ah  !     I  shan't  do  much  at  that  for  the  rumatiz. 
Tom.  What  be  guain  to  do  with  that  ere  jug  ?     You'd 
better  let  it  bide.     Do  you  think  the  chimbley  sweeper 
will  come  to-day. 

Jim.   [se  !  he's  safe  to  come,  let  it  be  how  t'wull. 
Tom.  Which  way  do  you  think  he'll  come  ? 
Jim.  He'll  come  athirt  and  across  the  common. 
Tom.  What,  caterways,  aye  ? 

Jim.  Iss.     Did  you  mind  what  I  was  a  telling  of? 
Tom.  To  be  sure ;  but  dang  ye  if  I  could  sense  it, 
could  you  ? 

Jim.  Lor,  yis.     I  don't  think  it  took  much  cuteness 
to  do  that ! 


WARWICKSHIRE. 

The  following  observations  on  the  dialect  of  this 
county  are  taken  from  a  manuscript  glossary  of  War- 
wickshire words,  compiled  by  the  late  Mr.  T.  Sharp, 


PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS.  89 

and  kindly  communicated  to  me  by  Mr.  Staunton,  of 
Longbridge  House,  near  Warwick  :  "  The  dipthong  ea 
is  usually  pronounced  like  ai,  as  mait,  ait,  plaise,  paise, 
waik,  say,  for  meat,  eat,  please,  weak,  sea.  The  vowel 
o  gives  place  to  u,  in  sung,  lung,  amung,  for  sony,  lony, 
among  ;  wunst  for  once  ;  grun,  fun,  and  pun,  for  ground, 
found,  and  pound.  Shownd  is  also  frequent  for  the 
imperative  of  show.  A  and  o  are  often  interchanged, 
as  drap,  shap,  yander,  for  drop,  shop,  yonder  ;  and  (per 
contra)  hommer,  rot,  and  gonder,  for  hammer,  rat,  and 
yander.  J  is  substituted  for  d,  in  juke,  jell,  jeth,  and 
jed,  for  duke,  deal,  death,  and  dead  ;  whilst  juice  is  often 
pronounced  duce.  D  is  added  to  words  ending  in  own, 
as  drownded  and  gownd,  for  drowned  and  yown.  E  is 
sometimes  converted  into  a,  as  batty,  laft,  fatch,  for 
betty,  left,  and  fetch.  The  nom.  case  and  the  ace.  are 
perpetually  and  barbarously  confounded  in  such  phrases 
as,  They  ought  to  have  spoke  to  we  ;  her  told  him  so ; 
he  told  she  so  ;  us  wont  be  hurt,  will  us  ?  This  is  one 
of  our  most  grating  provincialisms."  This  manuscript 
glossary  has  been  fully  used  in  the  following  pages.  I 
have  also  received  communications  from  Mr.  Perry,  Mr. 
W.  Reader,  the  Rev.  W.  T.  Bree,  the  Rev.  J.  Staunton, 
Mr.  J.  T.  Watson,  and  Thomas  Haslewood,  Esq.  The 
modern  dialect  of  Warwickshire  contains  a  very  large 
proportion  of  North  country  words,  more  than  might 
have  been  expected  from  its  locality.  They  say  yat  for 
gate,  feul,  fool,  sheeam,  shame,  weeat,  wheat,  Yethard, 
Edward,  Jeeams,  James,  leean,  lane,  rooad,  road,  wool, 
will,  p-yaaper,  paper,  feeace,  face,  cooat,  coat,  &c. 


90  PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS. 


WESTMORELAND. 

A  bran  new  Warkby  William  de  Worfat,  containing 
a  true  Calendar  of  his  thoughts  concerning  good  nebber- 
hood,  l2mo.  Kendal,  17s").  pp.  44,  is  a  good  specimen  of 
the  Westmoreland  dialect,  but  of  great  rarity.  This  dia- 
lect is  very  similar  to  that  of  Cumberland. 

A  Westmoreland  Dialogue. 

Sarah.  What  ycc  hev  hard  hee  yan  ev  my  sweetharts. 
Lord  !     This  ward  is  brimful  a  lee  for  sartan. 

Jennet.  Aye,  thears  lees  enow,  but  I  reckon  that  nin. 

Sarah.  Yee  may  be  mistaan  as  weel  as  udder  fowk ; 
yee  mun  know  I  went  to  Arnside  tawer  wie  aur  Breaady 
toth  Bull,  an  she  wod  nit  stand,  but  set  off  an  run  up 
Tawer-hill,  an  throoth  loan  on  tae  Middle  Barra  plane, 
an  I  hefter  he,  tul  I  wer  welly  brosen.  Dick  wor  cumin 
up  frae  Silver  dale,  an  tornd  her,  helpt  me  wie  her  toth 
bull,  an  then  went  heaam  wie  me,  an  while  ea  leev  I'll 
nivver  tak  a  kaw  mair.  Ise  sure  its  a  varra  shamful 
sarvis  to  send  onny  young  woman  on,  en  what  1  think 
nicone  hart  is  dun  ea  nae  spot  but  Beothans  parish. 
En  frae  this  nebbors  ses  we  er  sweetharts. 

A  "Grahamed"  Letter. 

TET  HEDDITUR  ET  KENDAL  MERCURY. 

Sur, — Es  as  sea  oft  plaagip  ye  aboot  summut  ur  udder, 
it  maks  me  freetend  et  yell  be  gittin  oot  uv  o'  pashens, 
but.  ye  kna,  et  wer  varra  unlarncd  in  oor  dawle,  en, 
therefore,  obleiged  when  in  a  bit  ov  a  difficultee  to  ax 
sumbody  et  can  enleeten  us  ont.  Aw  whope,  hooiver, 
et  this'en  el  be't  last  time  et  al  hev  occashun  for  yer 
advice  ;  for  if  aw  can  manage  to  git  hoad  uv  this  situwa- 
shun  et  aw  hev  uv  me  ee,  al  be  a  gentelman  oot  days 


PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS.  91 

uv  me  life.     Noo,  ye  see,  Mr.  Hedditur,  yaw   day  be- 
fowre  t'rent  com  du,  aw  meen  afowre  t'time  et  fader  was 
stinted  to  pay't  in  ;  for't  landlawrd  wiv  mickle  perswadin 
gev  him  a  week  or  twa  ower;  but  he  telled  him  plane 
enuf  if  he  dudent  stum  up  that  he  wad  send  t'Bumbal- 
lies  ta  seez  t'sticks  en  turn  byath  fader  en  mudder,  me- 
sel  en   oot  barns,  tut  dner.     0,  man,  thur  landlawrds 
thur   hard-hart' d   chaps.     Aw  beleev  he  wad  du'it  tu, 
for  yan  niver  sees  him  hike  plissant,  especialle  et  farm, 
for  o'its  et  best   condishun,  en  we've  lade  sum  uv  this 
neu-fashend  manner  et  they  co'  Guanney  ont  (Fadder 
likes  to  be  like  t'  neabers).     Sartenly,  it  suits  for  yaw 
year,  en  theer's   sum  varra  bounie  crops  whor  its  been 
lade  on  middlin  thick  ;  but  it  we'at  stand  t'end  es  weel 
es  a  good  foad  midden.     Whiah  Mr.  Hedditur,  es  aw 
was  gangen  to  say,  yaw  day  afowre  t'time  et  Fader  hed 
ta  pay't  rent  he  sent  me  wid  a  coo  en  a  stirk  tuv  a  girt 
fare,  they  co  Branten  Fare,  nar  Appelby,  en  aw  was  to 
sell  them  if  any  body  bad  me  out,  for  brass  he  mud  hev, 
whedder  aw  gat  ther  woorth  ur  nut.     When  aw  was  ut 
fare  aw  gat  reet  intuit  middel  uv  o'at  thrang,  whor  aw 
thout  aw  cudnt  help  but  meet  wid  a  customar;  but  aw 
was  farely  cheetcd,  for  aw  stude  theer  nar  o't  day  we've 
me  hands  uv  me  pockets,  en  neabody  es  mickle  es  axd 
me  what  awd  gayne  aboot,  en  ye  ma  be   sure  aw  pood  a 
langfawce,  tell  a  gude-looken  gentleman  like  feller  com 
up  tuv  me,  and  nca  dootseen  aw  was  sare  grhevd.  began 
ta  ax  me  es  to  whea  aw  was  ?  whor  aw  coo  fra  ?  hoo  me 
Fadder  gat  his  leeven,  en  a  deel  mare  sec  like  questions. 
Ov  coorse,  aw  telld  him  nout  but  truth,  for,  ye  kna  aw 
nivver  like  ta  tell  a  lee  ta  neabody,  en  aw  dudnt  forgit, 
et  saame  time  to  let  him  kna  hoo  badly  on'  Fadder  was, 
en  hoo  it  wud  put  him  aboot  when  aw  hednt  selt  beeas. 
T'gentleman.  puer  feller!  was  a  varra  feelen   man,  for 
he  seemed  a  girt  deel  hurt,  en  gev  me  what  aw  wanted 
fur  me  coo  en  stirk,  widoot  iver  a  wurd  ov  barteren. 
Efthr  o'  was  sattled,  en   we'ed  gitteu  eader  a  glass,  aw 


92  PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS. 

axed  him  for  his  nyame  to  tak  ta  Fadder,  en  he  wrayate 
me't  doon  wid  a  wad  pensel,  ont  back  uv  a  Lull  green 
card  ;  but  unfortunatele  aw  put  it  intul  me  waysco-7t 
pocket  en't  name  gat  rubbed  oot  afowre  aw  gat  hyame. 
Ont  tudder  side  et  card,  Mr.  Hedditur,  was  an  adver- 
tisement, ov  which  this  is  a  wurd  for  wurd  copy  : 

•  W  A  XTED  1 M  M  E 1 1 1  ATE  LY, 

A  Man  of  Good  Character, 

At  a  Salary  of  £500  per  Annum, 

To  Mind  his  own  Business, 

And  a  further  sum  of  £500, 

To  LEAVE  OTHER  PEOPLE'S  ALONE  ! 

B@°"  For  further  particulars  inquire  of  the   Secretary 
for  the  Home  Department." 

Et  first  aw  dudnt  tak  mickle  nouticeont;  but  sen 
aw've  been  consideren  that  me  Fadder  is  sare  fashed 
we've  sea  mony  ov  us,  en,  as  aw  suppowse,  all  hev  as 
gude  a  chance  a  gitten  a  situwashun  es  onybody  else, 
aw  want  to  kna.  Mr.  Hedditur,  boo  aw  mun  gang  aboot 
it.  Aw  cannet  tell  what  sud  ale  me  gitten  ont,  for 
aw've  alias  bourne  a  gude  carickter,  en  thats  t'sort  uv  a 
chap  they  want,  en  aw've  nea  doot  aw  cud  sune  larn 
t'trade.  Aw  see  it  corns  ta  nar  twenty  pund  a  week, 
fchroot  ycr,  en  its  a  grand  thing  for  a  puer  body.  T'la- 
borin  fowks  aboot  here  cant  hardlys  mak  hofe  es  mony 
shillens.  0  man,  t'fowk  lies  sare  shift  to  git  a  putten 
on,  noo  o'  days.  But  besides  o'  that,  aw  can  tell  ye 
summet  mare  underneath,  it  maks  me  want  ta  gang  ta 
Lnnnen  sea  mickle  es  aw  suppowse  its  whare  this  situ- 
wation  is.  Ye  kna,  Mr.  Hedditur,  me  sweethart  Nanny 
(es  like  ta  sham  we  tellen  ye,  but  ye  munnet  menshion 
t'our  agen  for  awt  worl)  es  aw  was  a  Baing  me  sweethart 
Nanny  went  up  ta  Lunnen  ta  be  a  Leddies  made,  en  aw 
sud  like  varra  we'el  to  see  her  et  times.  Es  we  ur  sea 
far  off  taen  t'other,  we  rite  letters  back  en  forrett  ivery 
noo  en  then  es  udder  fowk  does ;  but  theers  laytly  been 
sum  queer  stowries  in  oor  dawlc  aboot  a  feller  they  co 


PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS.  93 

Jammy  G-raani.  They  sa  lie's  been  peepen  intul  oat 
letturs  et  gang  up  ta  Lunnen,  en  then  tellen  oot  en 
maken  oot  mischeef  et  iver  he  can.  By  gum!  if  aw 
thouthe'ed  been  breken  t'seals  ov  my  letturs  es  aw  sent 
ta  Nanny — first  time  aw  met  him  aw  wad  giv  him  sic  a 
thumppen  es  he  niver  gat  in  his  life  befowre.  Aw 
wonder  they  hev'nt  kick'd  sec  a  good-for-nout  feller  oot 
uv  t'Post  lang  sen,  whon  hes  gilty  uv  sec  like  sneeken 
lo-lif  d  tricks  es  them.  Me  hand's  beginning  ta  wark,  en 
aw  mun  finish  we  beggin  ov  ye  ta  tell  me  o'  ye  kna 
aboot  situwashun,  for  es  detarmend  ta  heft,  en  aw  dun- 
net  kna  whea  Secretary  of  t'Home  Department  is,  en 
theei^fowre  es  at  a  loss  whea  ta  apply  tu. 
Yer  eflecshunet  frind, 

Jacob  Stubbs, 

29th  July,  1844.  fra  t'Dawle. 

PS. — T'wedder's  nobbet  been  va'rra  bad  thur  twea  ur 
thre  days  back,  en  thuuner  shooers  hevbeen  fleen  aboot. 


WILTSHIRE. 

The  dialect  of  this  county  is  so  nearly  related  to  that 
which  is.  denominated  the  West-Country  dialect,  that 
the  distinction  must  be  sought  for  in  words  peculiar  to 
itself  rather  than  in  any  general  feature.  The  Saxon 
plural  termination  en  is  still  common,  and  oi  is  generally 
pronounced  as  wit  Instances  of  their  perfects  may  be 
cited,  snap,  snopt,  hide,  hod,  lead,  lod,  scrape,  scrope, 
&c.  Some  of  their  phrases  are  quaint.  That's  makes 
me  out,  puzzles  me;  a  hind  of  a  middling  sort  of  away 
he  is  in,  out  of  sorts,  &c.  Mr.  Britton  published  a  gloss- 
ary of  Wiltshire  words   in  his  Topographical   Sketches 

of  North  Wilts,  vol.  iii,  pp.  369-80;  and  a  more  com- 
o 


94  PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS. 

plcte  one  by  Mr.  Akcrman  has  recently  appeared,  12rao. 
L842.  Many  words  peculiar  to  this  county  will  be 
found  in  the  following  pages  which  have  escaped  both 
these  writers,  collected  chiefly  from  Kennett,  Aubrey, 
and  MS.  lists  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hussey,  Dr.  S.  Merri- 
man,  the  Rev.  Richard  Crawley,  and  Mr.  M.  Jackson. 
The  Chronicon  Vilodunense,  edited  by  W.  H.  Black, 
fol.  1830,  is  a  specimen  of  the  Wiltshire  dialect  in  the 
fifteenth  century.  It  is  so  frequently  quoted  in  this 
work  that  any  further  notice  is  unnecessary.  The  fol- 
lowing clever  pieces  in  the  modern  dialect  of  the  county 
are  from  the  pen  of  Mr.  Akerman. 

The  Harnet  and  the  Bittle. 

A  harnet  zet  in  a  hollur  tree, — 

A  proper  spiteful  twoad  was  he ; 

And  a  merrily  zung  while  he  did  zet 

His  stingc  as  shearp  as  a  bagganet : 
Oh,  whoso  vine  and  bowld  as  I, 
I  vears  not  bee,  nor  wapse,  nor  vly  ! 

A  bittle  up  thuck  tree  did  clim, 
And  scarnvally  did  look  at  him; 
/ays  he,  "  Zur  harnet,  who  giv  thee 
A  right  to  zet  in  thuck  there  tree? 

Yor  ael  you  zengs  zo  nation  vine, 

I  tell  'e  'tis  a  house  o'  mine.  " 

The  harnet's  conscience  velt  a  twinge, 
But  grawin'  bowld  wihia  long  Btinge, 
/ays  he.  "  Possession's  the  best  laaw  ; 
Zo  here  th'  shaVn't  put  a  elaaw! 
Be  off,  and  leave  the  tree  to  me, 
The  mixen's  good  enough  for  thee  !" 


PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS.  95 

Just  then  a  yuckel,  passin'  by, 
Was  axed  by  them  the  cause  to  try : 
*'  Ha  !  ha !  I  zee  how  'tis  !"  zays  he, 
"  They'll  make  a  vamous  nuneh  for  me  !" 

His  bill  was  shearp,  his  stomach  lear, 

Zo  up  a  snapped  the  caddlin  pair ! 

MORAL. 

Ael  you  as  be  to  laaw  inclined, 

This  leetle  stwory  bear  in  mind ; 

Vor  if  to  laaw  you  aims  to  gwo, 

You'll  vind  they'll  alius  zar'e  zo  : 

You'll  meet  the  vate  o  these   here  two, 
They'll  take  your  cwoat  and  carcass  too ! 

The  Genuine  Remains  of  William  Little,  a  Wilt- 
shire man. 

I've  alius  bin  as  vlush  o'  money  as  a  twoad  is  o' 
veathers  ;  but  if  ever  I  gets  rich,  I'll  put  it  ael  in  Zis- 
zeter  bank,  and  not  do  as  owld  Smith,  the  miller,  did, 
comin'  whoam  vrom  market  one  nite.  Martal  avraid  o' 
thieves  a  was.  zo  a  puts  his  pound-bills  and  ael  th' 
money  a'd  got  about  un  in  a  hole  in  the  wall,  and  the 
next  marnin'  a'  couldn't  remember  whereabouts  'twas, 
and  had  to  pull  purty  nigh  a  mile  o'  wall  down  before 
a'  could  vind  it.     Stoopid  owld  wosbird  ! 

Owld  Jan  Wilkins  used  to  zay  he  alius  cut's  stakes, 
when  a  went  a  hedgin',  too  lang,  bekaze  a'  cou'd  easily 
cut  'em  sharter  if  a'  wanted,  but  a'  cou'dnt  make  um 
langer  if  'em  was  too  shart.  Zo  says  I :  zo  I  alius  axes 
vor  more  than  I  wants.  Iv  I  gets  that,  well  and  good  ; 
but  if  I  axes  vor  little,  and  gets  less,  it's  martal  akkerd 
to  ax  a  zccond  time,  d'ye  kneow  ! 

Piple  zay  as  how  they  gied  th'  neam  o'  moonrakers 
to  us  Wiltshire  vauk  bekase  a  passel  o'  stupid  bodies  one 
night  tried  to  rake  the  shadow  o'  th'  moon  out  o'  th' 


9G  PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS. 

bruk,  and  tuk't  vor  a  thin  cheese.  But  that's  th'  wrong 
ind  o'  th'  stwory.  The  chaps  az  was  doin'  o'  this  was 
smugglers,  and  they  was  a  vishin'  up  some  kegs  oj 
sperrits,  and  only  purtended  to  rake  out  a  cheese  !  Zo 
the  exciseman  az  axed  'em  the  question  had  his  grin  at 
'em  ;  but  they  had  a  good  laugh  at  he  when  'em  got 
whoame  the  stuff. 

Owld  Molly  Sannell  axed  Molly  Dafter  to  gie  her  a 
drap  o'  barm  one  day.  "  I  ha'n't  a  got  nam !"  says 
she  ;  "  bezides,  I  do  want  un  mezelf'  to  bake  wi'." 

Measter  Groddin  used  to  zay  as  how  childeru  costed  a 
sight  o'  money  to  breng  um  up,  and  'twas  all  very  well 
whilst  um  was  leetle,  and  zucked  th'  mother,  but  when 
um  began  to  zuck  the  vather,  'twas  nation  akkerd. 

Measter  Cuss  and  his  zun  Etherd  went  to  Lonnun  a 
lectio  time  zence,  and  when  um  got  to  their  journey's 
ind,  Measter  Cuss  missed  a  girt  passel  a  carr'd  wi'  un 
to  th'  cwoach.  "  Lard,  vather  !"  zays  Etherd,  "  I  zeed 
un  drap  out  at  Yize!"  (Devizes.) 

North  Wiltshire  eloquence. 

"Now,  do'e  plaze  to  walk  in  a  bit,  zur,  and  rest'e,  and 
dwont'e  mind  my  measter  up  ag'in  th'  chimley  earner. 
Poor  zowl  on  hiu,  he've  a  bin  despcrt  ill  ever  zence 
t'other  night,  when  a  wur  tuk  ter'ble  bad  wi'  th'  rkeu- 
matiz  in's  legs  and  stummick.  He've  a  bin  and  tuk 
dree  bottles  o'  doctor's  stuff,  but  I'll  be  whipped  if  a 
do  simbly  a  bit  th'  better  var't.  Lawk,  zur,  but  I  be 
main  sc*row  to  be  ael  in  zich  a  caddel,  ael  alang  o'they 
childem.  They've  a  bin  a  leasin',  and  when  um  COOmed 
whoame,  they  ael  tuk  and  drowed  the  earn  ael  amang 
th'  vire  stuff,  and  zo  here  wo  be,  ael  in  a  muggle  like. 
And  yon  he  lookin'  middlinish,  zur,  and  ad  as  if  e  was 
shrammed.  I'll  take  and  bleow  up  th'  vire  a  mossel  ; 
but  whai  he  them  bellises  at?  here  they  be  slat  a-two  ! 
and  here's  my  yeppurn  they've  a'  bin  and  searched,  and 
I've  agot  oarra  'nother  'gin  Zunday  besepts thisum  !" 


PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS.  97 

This  elegant  sample  of  North  Wiltshire  eloquence 
was  uttered  nearly  in  a  breath,  by  Mistress  Varges,  the 
wife  of  a  labourer  with  a  large  family,  as  the  poor  man's 
master  entered  the  cottage  to  inquire  after  his  health, 
and  whether  he  would  soon  be  able  to  return  to  his 
work. 

WORCESTERSHIRE. 

In  Worcestershire,  the  peculiarities  of  speech  most 
striking  to  a  stranger  is  perhaps  the  interchange  of  her 
and  she,  e.  g.  "  her's  going  for  a  walk  with  she."  This 
perversion  is  even  used  in  the  genitive,  "  she's  bonnet." 
As  in  Gloucestershire  and  Herefordshire,  the  pronoun 
which  is  constantly  used  to  connect  sentences,  and  to 
act  as  a  species  of  conjunction.  At  a  recent  trial  at 
Worcester,  a  butcher,  who  was  on  his  trial  for  sheep- 
stealing,  said  in  defence,  "  I  bought  the  sheep  of  a  man 
at  Broomsgrove  fair,  which  he  is  a  friend  of  the  prose- 
cutor's, and  won't  appear ;  which  I  could  have  trans- 
ported the  prosecutor  ever  so  long  agoo  if  I  liked."  As 
in  many  other  counties,  the  neuter  is  frequently  invest- 
ed with  the  masculine  gender.  A  more  striking  feature 
is  the  continual  dropping  of  the  i  in  such  words  as  stair, 
fair,  pronounced  star,  far,  &c. ;  and  the  letter  r  is 
sometimes  sounded  between  a  final  vowel,  or  vowel- 
sound,  and  an  initial  one.  No  works  on  the  dialect  of 
this  county  have  yet  appeared,  and  the  majority  of  the 
words  here  quoted  as  peculiar  to  it  have  been  collected 
by  myself.  I  have,  however,  received  short  communi- 
cations from  J.  Noake,  Esq.,  Jabez  Allies,  Esq.,  Miss 


98  PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS. 

Bedford,  Mrs.  John  Walcot,  Thomas  Boulton,  Esq.,  Mr. 
R.  Bright,  and  Mr.  William  .Johnson.  The  following 
extract  is  taken  from  a  manuscript  in  my  possession. 

Extract  from  a  MS.  of  Medical  Receipts  written 
by  Syr  Tomas  .Jamys,  Vicar  off  Badseye,  about 

THE  YEAR  1450. 

For  the  skawle  a  gode  medcyn.  Take  pedylyon  to 
handfnlle  ever  that  he  he  flowryd.  and  than  he  ys  ten- 
dur,  and  than  take  and  sethe  hym  welle  in  a  potelle  of 
stronge  lye  tille  the  to  halfe  be  soddyn  awey,  and  than 
wesehe  the  skallyd  hede  in  stronge  pysse  that  ys  hoote, 
and  than  schave  awey  the  schawle  clene,  and  let  not  for 
bledyng  ;  and  than  make  a  plasture  of  pedylyon,  and 
ley  it  on  the  hede  gode  and  warme,  and  so  let  it  ly  a 
day  and  a  nyth,  and  than  take  it  awey,  and  so  than  take 
thy  mele  and  ronnying  watur  of  a  broke,  and  thereof 
make  theke  papelettes,  and  than  sprede  them  on  a  clothe 
that  wolle  cover  al  the  soore,  and  so  ley  it  on  the  sore 
hede.  and  let  it  ly  iij.  dayys  and  iij.  nythtes  ever  it  be 
remeveyd,  and  than  take  it  of,  and  wesehe  the  hede 
welle  in  strong  pysse  ayenne,  and  than  take  and  schave 
it  clene  to  the  flesche,  and  than  take  rede  oynownce  as 
mony  ase  wolle  suffyce  for  to  make  a  plasture  over  the 
sore,  and  boyle  them  welle  in  wature,  and  than  stampe 
them,  and  temper  them  with  the  softe  of  calamynte,  and 
old  barow  grese  that  ys  maltyne  clene,  and  so  use  this 
tylle  the  seke  be  hole. 


YORKSHIRE. 

There  are  numerous  early  manuscripts  still  preserved 
which  were  written  in  various  parts  of  Yorkshire,  most 
of  them  containing  marks  of  the  dialect  of  the  county. 


PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS.  99 

The  Toicnrfey  Mysteries,  which  have  heen  printed  hy 
the  Surtees  Society,  were  written  in  the  neighbourhood 
of  Wakefield.  An  English  commentary  on  the  Psalms, 
translated  from  the  Latin  work  by  Hampole  a  manuscript 
in  Eton  College  Library,  was  also  written  in  this  county, 
the  writer  observing,  "  in  this  werke  I  seke  no  strange 
Inglyshe  bot  the  lightest  and  the  commonest,  and  swilke 
that  es  maste  like  til  the  Latyn,  so  that  thas  that 
knawes  noght  the  Latyn  wordes."  A  metrical  transla- 
tion of  Grrosthead's  Chasteau  d' Amour,  in  MS.  Egerton 
927,  was  made  by  a  "  munke  of  Sallay,"  who  calls  it 
The  Myrow  of  lewed  Men.  To  these  may  be  added  MS. 
Earl  1022,  MS.  Harl  5396,  MS.  Coll.  Sim.  xviii.  6, 
and  the  Thornton  MS.  so  often  quoted  in  the  following 
pages. 

Higden,  writing  about  1350,  says  "the  whole  speech 
of  the  Northumbrians,  especially  in  Yorkshire,  is  so 
harsh  and  rude  that  we  Southern  men  can  hardly  un- 
derstand it;"  and  Wallingford,  who  wrote  long  before, 
observes  that  "  there  is,  and  long  has  been,  a  great  ad- 
mixture of  people  of  Danish  race  in  that  province,  and 
a  great  similarity  of  language."  See  the  Quarterly 
Review,  Feb.  1836,  p.  365.  There  seem  to  be  few 
traces  of  Danish  in  the  modern  Yorkshire  dialect. 

So  numerous  are  modern  pieces  in  the  Yorkshire  dia- 
lect, that  it  would  be  difficult  to  give  a  complete  list. 
The  rustic  of  this  county  has  even  had  a  newspaper  in 
his  native  dialect,  the  Yorkshire  Comet,  the  first  num- 
ber of  which  appeared  in  March,  1844 ;  but  in  conse- 
quence of  certain  personal  allusions  giving  offence,  the 


100  PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS. 

publisher  was   threatened  with  a  prosecution,  and  lie 
relinquished    the   work  after   the    publication    of  the 
seventh  number,  and  refused  to  sell  the  objectionable 
parts.     The  most  complete  Glossary  of  Yorkshire,  Words 
was  compiled  by  Mr.  Carr,  2  vols.  8vo.  1*28,  but  it  is 
confined  to  Craven,  the  dialect  said  to  be  used  by  Chau- 
cer's North  country  scholars.     See  Mr.  Wright's  edi- 
tion, vol.  i,  p.  160.     Dr.  Willan's  list  of  words  used  in 
the   mountainous    district  of  the  West-Riding,  in   the 
Archseologia,   vol.   xvii.    pp.   138-167,  should   also  be 
noticed  j  and  long  previously  a  Yorkshire  glossary  ap- 
peared at  the  end  of  the  Praise  of  Yorkshire  Ale,  12mo. 
1697.     Thoresby's   list  of   West-Riding   words,  1703, 
was   published    in    Ray's    Philosophical    Letters;    and 
Watson  gives  a    Vocabulary  of  Uncommon    Words  ns,,l 
in  Halifax   Parish  in  his   History  of  Halifax,  1775. 
These   latter  have  been  reprinted   in  the    Hallamshire 
Glossary,  8vo.  1829,  a  small  collection  of  words  used 
in  the  neighbourhood  of  Sheffield.     The  Sheffield  dia- 
lect has  been  very  carefully  investigated  in  an  Essay 
by  the  Rev.  11.  II.  Piper,  12mo.  1825.     In  addition  to 
the   printed 'glossaries,   I    have  had   the   advantage   of 
using  manuscript  lists  of  Yorkshire  words  communicated 
by  Wm.  Turner,  Esq.,  William  Henry  Leatham,    Esq., 
Henry  Jack, on.  Esq.,  Dr.  Charles    Kooke.  the    Uev.  P. 
Wright,    Mr.  M.  A.  Denham,   Mr.  Thomas  Sanderson, 
John    Richard    Walbran,    Esq.,    Mr.   Ranks,   and   N. 
Scatcherd,  Esq. 


PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS.  101 

A  Charm  for  the  Tooth-ache, 

From  the  Thornton  Manuscript,  f.  176. 

A  Gharme  for  the  Teihe-werhe. — Say  the  charme  thris, 
to  it  be  sayd  ix.  tymes,  and  ay  thrys  at  a  chareuiyuge. 
I  conjoure  thee,  laythely  beste,  with  that  ilke  spere, 
That  Longyous  in  his  hande  gane  here, 
And  also  with  ane  hatte  of  thorne, 
That  one  my  Lordis  hede  was  borne, 
With  alle  the  wordis  mare  and  lesse, 
With  the  Office  of  the  .Messe, 
With  my  Lorde  and  his  xii.  postilles, 
With  oure  Lady  and  her  x.  maydcnys, 
Saynt  Margrete,  the  haly  quene, 
Saynt  Kateriu,  the  haly  virgyne, 
ix.  tymes  G-oddis  forbott,  thou  wikkyde  worme, 
Thet  ever  thou  make  any  rystynge, 
Bot  awaye  mote  thou  wende, 
To  the  erde  and  the  stane  ! 

Dicky  Dickeson's  Address  to't  Knawn  World, 

From  the  First  Number  of  the  Yorkshire  Comet,  published  in  1844. 

Dear  Iwerybody: — -Ah  sudn't  wonder  bud,  when 
some  foaks  hear  o'  me  startin'  on  a  Paper,  they'll  say, 
what  in't  world  hez  maade  Dicky  Dickeson  bethink 
hizsen  o'  cummin'  sich  a  caaper  as  that  ?  Wah,  if  ye'll 
nobbut  hev  hauf  o't  paatience  o'  Joab,  Ah'll  try  ta  tell 
ya.  Ye  raun  knaw,  'at  aboot  six  year  sin',  Ah  wur  i'  a 
public-boose,  wheare  ther  wur  a  feller  as  wur  braggin' 
on  his  larnin',  an'  so  Ah  axed  him  what  he  knawed 
aboot  onny  kuawledgement,  an'  he  said  he  thowt  he'd  a 
rare  lump  moare  information  i'  his  heead,  ner  Ah  hed  i' 
mine.  Noo,  ye  knaw,  Ah  sudn't  ha'  been  a  quarter  as 
ill  mad,  if  ther  hedn't  been  a  lot  o'  chaps  in't  plaace  'at 
reckoned  ta  hev  noa  small  share  o'  gumption.  Soa,  as 
sooin  as  Ah  gat  hoame  that  neet,  Ah  sware  ta  oor  Bet, 
'at  as  suare  as  shoo  was  a  match-hawker,  Ah  wud  leearn 
14 


102  PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS. 

all' t  polishnicnts  'at  Schooilmaister  (Jill  could  teich  ma. 
Varry  weel,  slap  at  it  Ah  went,  makkin'  pothukes,  an' 
stroakcs,  an'  Ah  hardly  knaws  what;  an'  then  Ah 
leearnt  Bpclderin',  readin',  i'  fact,  all  'at  long-heeaded 
Schoolmaister  (Jill  knew  hizsen  ;  so  'at.  when  Ah'd 
done  wi'  him,  Ah  wur  coonted  as  clever  a  chap  as  me 
feyther  afore  ma,  'an  ye  mun  consider  'at  Ah  wur  noa 
small  beer  when  Ah'd  come  ta  that  pass,  for  he  could 
tell,  hoot  lukin',  hoo  mich  paaper  it  wud  tak'  ta  lap  up 
an  ounce  o'  'hacca.  Weel,  as  sooin  as  Ah'd  gotten  ta 
be  sa  wonderful  wise,  d'ye  see  *  Ah  thowt-an'  it  wur  a 
bitter  thowt,  tew  ! — what  a  pity  it  wor  'at  ivveryhody 
couldn't  dew  as  mich  as  Ah  could.  More  Ah  studied 
about  it.  an'  war  it  pottered  ma,  Ah'll  assuare  ya. 
Wun  neet,  hooivver,  as  oor  Bet  an'  me  wur  set  be't  fire- 
side, shoo  turned  hersen  suddenly  round,  an'  said, 
"Thoo's  a  fooil,  Dicky!"  "What!  Bet,  does  thoo 
really  meean  ta  say  Ah'z  a  fooil?"  "Ah  dew,"  shoo 
said  :  "  thoo's  a  real  fooil !"  "  Hoo  does  ta  mak'  that 
oot,  Bet?"  said  Ah,  for  Ah  wur  noane  hauf  suited 
aboot  it.  ••  Ah'll  say  it  ageean  an'  ageean,"  says  shoo; 
"  thoo's  a  fooil,  an'  if  ta's  onny  way  parti kelar  to  knaw, 
Ah'll  tell  tha  hoo  Ah  maks  it  oot.  In't  first  plaace, 
hike  what  braans  thoo  hcz;  as  starlin'  as  onny  'at  ivver 
thease  gurt  men  bed  ;  an'  yet,  like  a  fooil  as  Ah  say 
thoo  is,  thoo  taks  it  as  eeasy  ;;s  a  pig  in't  muck." 
"Weel,  weel,"  Ah  continid,  "what  wod  ta  ha' ma  ta  dew, 
lass?  Tell  us,  an'  Ah'll  dew't."  "Then,"  says  Mo, 
'■  start  a  paaper  i'  thee  awn  naative  tongue,  an'  call  it 
t'Yorshar  Comet.  Ah'll  be  bun  for't  it'll  pay  as  weel 
as  ivver  gooid  coin  did."  Noo,  then,  as  sooin  as  Ah 
heeard  oor  Bet's  noations,  Ah  wur  ommusi  stark  mad 
ta  carry  'em  ootj  for  Ah  thowt.  as  shoo  did  'at  it  wud 
pay  capital,  an'  beside.  Ah  sud  maybe  be  improovin't 
Btaatc  o'  saciaty,  an't  murals  u't  vicious.  Ye  doan'1  need 
ta  think  'al  Ah'z  now!  bud  an  ignarant  mushruni.  for, 
though  Ah  say't  mysen,  Ah  can  tell  ya  'at  Dicky  Dicke- 


PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS.  103 

son's  as  full  o'  knawledge  as  a  lien's  full  o'  ineeat.  Nut 
'at  Ah  wants  ta  crack  o'  mysen,  nowt  o't  soart ;  it  isn't 
what  Ah  says  an'  thinks  o'  mysen,  bud  what  other 
foaks  says  an'  thinks  o'  ma;  an'  if  ye  ha'  no  objections, 
ye's  just  read  a  letter  'at  Ah  gat  fro'  Naathan  Vickus 
aboot  a  year  an'  a  hauf  sin,'  when  all  that  talk  wur 
agate  relatin'  ta  Otley  gerrin'  franchised.  It  ran  as 
follers : 

"Pig-Colt  Farm,  Octoaber,  1842. 
"  Dear  Dicky, 

"  Ah  mun  confess  at  Ah've  heeard  some  talk  aboot 
oor  toon  sennin'  two  Members  ta  Parlement,  an'  if  ivver 
it  sud  come  ta  pass,  thoo  ma  be  suare  'at  Naathan  Vickus 
'11  stick  to  tha  up  hill  an'  doon  daale.  Ah'z  noane  sa 
thick,  Dicky,  bud  what  Ah  knaws  pretty  near  what  a 
chap  is  be't  cut  on  his  jib,  thoo  unnerstans;  an',  de- 
pend on't,  lad,  that's  what  Ah  judges  thee  by.  Thoo's 
a  man  'at  '11  dew  honour  to't  toon  wheareivver  ta  goes 
goes,  an'  if  there's  onny  feathers  for  onnybody's  cap, 
it's  Dicky  Dickesou  'at's  boon  ta  get  'em,  or  else  All's 
a  fooil  of  a  judge  o'  human  flesh,  that's  all.  Ah  hev 
varry  gurt  pleasure  i'  offerin'  tha  my  voate,  an'  oor 
Toby's  in't  bargain  ;  an'  Ah  dew  promise  tha,  'at  if 
ivvery  pig,  mule  an'  cauf  aboot  my  farm  wur  receava- 
ble  as  common  sense  creaturs,  thoo  sud  fin'  a  supporter 
i'  ivvery  one  on  'em  "YVT  a  bucket  o'  compliments  ta 
the  sister  Bet  an't  rest  o't  breed, 

"  Ah  is,  dear  Dicky, 

"  Moast  respectful  thine, 

"Naathan  Vickus." 

Ta  Mr.  Dickeson,  Esq. 

Noo,  then,  Ah  ax  ageean,  is  ther  onny  o'  ya,  dear 
readers,  as  wod  hev't  leeast  bit  o'  doot  o'  yer  minds 
noo  ?  Is  ther,  Ah  say  ?  Noa  :  Ah  fancies  Ah  can 
hear  some  o'  ya  chucklin',  an'  sayin',  "  Hurra  for  Dicky 
Dickeson  !  he  flogs  all  'at's  goane  afore  him  !"  An' 
let  ma  tell  ya,  'at  so  Ah  meeans  ta  dew ;  an'  if  onny  of 


104  PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS. 

ya  is  trubbled  m'  sects  o'  ghoasts  or  dull  thowts,  Ali'll 
guarantee  ta  frcctcn  'em  oot  «>'  ya,  an'  that's  what  noa 
soul  afore  ma's  done  vet.  liml  Ah  mini  gi'  ower 
writin  tul  ya  at  present,  for  <><>r  Bet  tells  ma  'at  me 
porridge  hez  been  waitin'  this  hauf  boor,  an',  as  a  mat- 
ter in  coarse,  they're  stiff  wi'  B tannin'.  Ah  can  nobbut 
beg  on  ya  ta  read  t'Yorshar  Comet  ivvery  week,  an',  be 
dewin'  soa,  tak'  my  word  i'or't.  ye'll  saave  monny  a  poond 
i't  yeear  i'  pills,  boalusses,  an'  all  sich  belly-muck  as 
tha  arc 

Bet  joins  wi'  ma  i'  luv  ta  ya  all,  (shoo's  a  deacent 
lass,  is  Bet!)  an'  wi'  a  tboosand  hoapes  'at  ye'll  in- 
couragc  ma. 

Ah  is,  dear  Ivverybody, 

Yer  varry  humble  sarvant, 

Dicky  Dickeson. 

T'Editor's  Study. 

A  Leeds  Advertisement. 

Mistress  Biddy  Bucklebewit, 

Laate  Haup'ny  Cheeseeaake-Makker  tul  Her  Majesty, 

Begs  ta  inform  t'public  'at  shoo  hcz  just 

Setten  up  for  hersen  i'  that  line, 

26,  Paastry  Square,  Leeds, 

AVheare  sha  carries  on 

All  them  extensive  businesses 

0'  tart-makker,  honest  brandy-snap  baaker,   treeacle- 

stick  boiler,   humbug  importer,  spice-pig   traader,   an' 

univarsal  deeaf-nut,  breead.  cheese,  bunnack,  an'  giner- 

beer  decaler  ;  an'  fro't  experience  'at  shoo's  hed  i'  them 

lines  o'  genius  wal  wi'  her  Majesty,  shoo  legs  ta  assuare 

t'inhabitants  'at  shoo's  t'impedence  ta  think  here's  noa- 

body   '11   gi'   more   for  t'brass,  or  sich    inconceeavalile 

qualaty  as  shoo  will. 

Biddy  liueklebewit  alsoa  desires  ta  noatice,  'at  as  for 
punctualaty,  ooabody  ran  ]>v,  more  soa  ner  hersen;  for 
shoo  awlus  hez  t'oven  boat,  an'   what's  better,  keeps  a 


PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS.  105 

wheelbarrow  for  t'express    purpose  o'  despatcliin'  arti- 
cles ta  all  t'paarts  o't  gloabe. 

P.  S. — F  consequence  o't  immense  saale  an'  superi- 
oraty  o'  B.  B.'s  goods,  lots  o'  unprincapled  foaks  hez 
been  induced  ta  adopt  her  receapts  like,  an'  ta  defraud 
her;  ta  prevent  which  t'Honarable  Commissioners  o' 
Stamps  hez  ordered  'at  all  B.  B.'s  stuff  be  figured  wi'  a 
billy-gooat's  heead,  (them  animals  bein'  tremendous 
fond  o'  lollipop)  soa  'at  noane  i'  futur  '11  be  ge-nu-ine 
but  what  is  ornamented  as  afore  particalarized.  Be 
suare  ta  think  on 

No.  26,  Paastry  Square,  Leeds. 

Scraps  from  Newspapers. 

Frond. — Felix  Flibberton  hed  a  sad  roond  wi'  his 
wife  this  week,  caused,  as  we're  teld,  be  Mistress  Flib- 
berton bein'  guilty  on  a  piece  o'  roguery,  t'like  o'  which 
we  seldom  hear  tell  on.  It's  said,  when  F,elix  taasted 
on  his  teea,  tiast  Thursday  mornin',  he  fan  it  oot  'at  it 
worn't  ower  strong,  but  on't  contraary,  wur  considera- 
bly weaker  ner  common.  0'  this  fact  comin'  ta  leet, 
he  called  his  wife  tut  scratch,  an'  axed  as  lovinly  as  ha 
wur  aable,  hoo  it  happened  'at  his  teea  wur  i'  that 
pickle.  Noo,  Felix  an'  his  wife's  coffee  an'  sich  like, 
wur  aullus  prepaared  i'  separate  pots, — Ah  nieean  tea- 
pots;  an',  that  mornin',  Mister  Flibberton  hevin'  ligged 
rayther  long  i'  bed,  his  wife  hed  thowt  proper  ta  gulp 
her  brekfast  afore  he  landed  doon.  T'question  wor, 
hed  t'mistress  ta'en  t'biggest  shaare  o't  teea,  as  theare 
wur  noane  in  t'cannister  then  ?  T'poor  woman  said,  ther 
wur  precious  little  ta  mak'  t'brekfast  on  ;  but  what  ther 
wor,  shoo  divided  fairly,  leeavin'  her  husband  be  far  t'big- 
ger  hauf.  Nut  chusin'  ta  believe  all  'at  his  wife  splutter- 
ed oot,  Felix  shooted  o't  sarvant,  whoa  depoased  'at 
when  shoo  gat  up,  shoo  wur  suare  'at  theare  wur  then 
plenty  i't  canister  ta  mak'  six  rare  strong  cups.  El'ter 
a    deeal    o'  cross-examinaation  between   t'mistress  an't 


106  PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS. 

sarvant,  t'formcr  began  o'  roarin',  an'  confessed  'at  shoo 
hed  defrauded  lier  lawful  partner,  devoatin'  tul  her  awn 
use  three,  wal  tul  her  husband  shoo  nobbut  left  one  an' 
a  haul'  spooinful  o' teea.  Felix  wodn't  grant  una  par- 
don then,  bud  bun  her  owcr  ta  keep  t'peeace  for  three 
months;  an',  suppoasin'  'at  shoo  brak  it  ageean,  he 
threeatened  sendin'  a  brief  o't  whoale  caase  ta  Maistcr 
Wilkins,  barrister,  an'  ta  tak'  sich  steps  as  he  mud  ad- 
vise. 

A  Munificent  Gift. — Dr  Swabbs,  Physician  extra- 
ordinary ta  ivverybody  'at  wants  poisonin',  hez  once 
more  come  oot  ov  his  shell,  an'  letten  t'world  knaw  'at 
he's  t'saame  Dr.  Swabbs  still  'at  ivver  ha  wor.  0' 
Tuesday  neet,  wal  t'doctor  wur  smookin'  his  pipe,  an' 
swillin'  his  tummler  o'  brandy  an'  watter,  a  depitation 
o'maad-sarvants,  consistin'  o't  cooks  an'  seven  or  eight 
hoose  an'  chaamer-maads,  waated  on  him  wi'  a  lloond 
llobin,  petitionin'  for  a  small  donaatiou  i'  order  ta  buy 
a  mixtur  ta  poison  t'mice  wi',  as  they  wur  gerrin  varry 
impedent  i'  ther  walks  intut  kitchen  an'  cupboard;  i' 
fact  as't  trustwarthy  cook  said,  one  on  'em  hed  t'bare- 
faacedness  ta  come  an'  wag  his  tail  i'  her  chocolate,  and 
then  as  bare  faaccdly  maade  his  escaape,  wi'oot  stoppiri' 
ta  be  walloped  for't.  T'doctor  wur  soa  moved  be  thease 
argements,  'at  he  threw  doon  his  pipe,  brekkin'  on't.  as 
t'hoose-maaid  teld  ma,  thrusted  his  hand  intul  his 
pocket,  an'  drew  sixpence.  What  a  blessin'  wod  it  be 
if  men  generally  wod  nobbut  foller  Dr.  Swabbs's  ex- 
ample ! 

A  TAtarary  Saciaty. — A  Litarary  Saciaty  hez  been 
formed  i'  Otley  be  some  perseverin'  an'  common-sense 
young  men  'at's  ov  apinion  'at  it's  nowt  bud  reight  'at 
they  sud  hcv  as  mich  larnin'  as  tha  can  afford  ta  pay 
for.  A  committee's  been  maade,  consistin'  o'  seven  o't 
wisest  o'  thease  conspirators  tut  owerthraw  o'  ignarance, 
an'  rules  drawn  up  an'  {dinted  i'  a  hcxcellcnt  style, 
vanv  creditable  boath  tut  author  an'  tut  printer  thereon, 


PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS.  107 

Ah's  suare.  we've  just  seen  a  catalogue  o't  books  they've 
already  gotten,  an'  as  it  could'nt  miss  but  speik  volums 
i'  ther  faavour,  we  beg  ta  subjoin  t'naames  on  a  to-tbree 
o't  principal  warks  : — Jack  t'Griant-Killer,  Tom  Thumb, 
Cock  Robin,  Mother  Hubbard,  Jumpin'  Joan,  Puss  i' 
Booits,  Tom  t'Piper's  Sou,  an'  a  splendid  haup'ny  edi- 
tion o'  Whittin'ton  an'  his  Cat.  This  is  a  grand  op- 
portunaty  for  lovers  o'  soond  mathamatical,  an'  other 
litarary  pursuits,  ta  come  forrard,  an'  suppoart  an'  sus- 
taan  a  novelty  fro'  which  tha  ma  gether  all  t'informa- 
tion  ther  minds  is  on  t'luke  oot  for. 

Deborah  Duckiton's  Advice  Corner. 

If  ya  tuke  noatice,  ye  would  see,  'at  flatter  end  o' 
March  i't  first  quarter,  t'mooin  wur  laad  ov  her  back,  a 
suare  sign  o'  stormy  weather.  Ye'll  all  knaw,  'at 
theare's  been  part  frost  an'  snawsin';  an',  if  my  judg- 
ment isn't  awfully  wrong,  we's  ha  some  more.  Weel, 
noo,  i'  frosty  weather,  ye're  aware,  it's  rayther  daanger- 
ous  walkin',  becos  o't  varry  gurt  slapeness  o't  i*ooads 
an't  flegs;  Ah'z  quite  posative  on't,  for  even  i'  my  time 
Ah've  seen  more  ner  one  long-legged  coavey  browt  ov 
a  level  wi't  grund,  an'  Ah've  seen  monny  a  stootan'  re- 
spectable woman,  tew.  Let  me  prescribe  a  remady, 
then,  for  all  sich  misfortuns.  Shaadrach  Scheddul, — a 
celebraated  horse-shooer  i'  oor  toon,  propoased  ta  sharpen 
barns  for  three-haupence  a  heead ;  lads  an'  lasses,  fro' 
ten  ta  sixteen  year  o'  aage,  thruppance ;  an'  all  aboon 
that  owdness,  wbether  tha've  big  feet,  little  feet,  or  noa 
feet  at  all,  fowerpence. 

N.B.  Ivvery  allooance  '11  be  maade  for  wooden  legs; 
an'  o'  them  'at  honestly  doesn't  wish  tabe  blessed  wi't 
last-naamed  articles  o'  weear,  it's  moast  respectfully  re- 
quested 'at  they'll  avaal  thersens  o't  sharpenin'  inven- 
tion. Shaadrach  Scheddul  alloos  five  per  cent,  off  for 
ready  brass,  or  six  months'  credit ; — auther  '11  dew. 


108  PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS. 

Ah  advise  all  laadics  'at  doesn't  wish  ta  hev  ther 
husbands'  stockins  ootraageously  mucky  on  a  weshin'- 
day.  nut  ta  alloo  'cm  t'privilege  o'  spoartin'  knee- 
breeches,  them  hcvin'  been  proved,  be  varry  clever 
philosophers  ta  be  t'leeadin'  cause  theareof,  an't  princi- 
pal  reeason  why  t'leg  o't  stockin'  doesn't  last  as  long  as 
t'fooit. 

Visits  ta  Dicky  Dickeson-. 

0'  Friday  Picky  Dickeson  wur  visited  i'  his  study 
be't  Marquis  o'  Crabbum,  an',  eftcr  a  deal  o'  enquiries 
aboot  t' weather,  an'  monny  remarks  eonsarnin'  this 
thing,  an'  that,  t'lattcr  praceeded  ta  explaan  what  ha'd 
come  for,  soapin'  an'  smilin'  tut  lamed  editor,  as  it's 
generally  knawn  all  thease  topmarkers  dew — when 
tba've  owt  ta  ger  oot  on  him.  It  appears  'at  t'aim  o't 
Marquis  wur  ta  induce  Mr.  Dickeson,  as  a  capitalist  o' 
sumo  noate,  ta  join  wi'  him  i'  buyin'  in  all  t'paaper 
shaavins  'at  tha  can  lig  ther  bans  on,  soa  as  ta  hev  all 
t'traade  ta  thersens.  Mr.  Dickeson  agreed,  an'  t'fire- 
lectin'  an'  shaavin'-decalin'  world  is  lukin'  wi'  mich 
terror  an'  int'rest  tut  result. 

Immediately  ef'ter  t'Marquis  o'  Crabbum  bed  maade 
bis  exit,  a  uentle  rap  wur  heeard  at  t' door  o't  study,  an' 
when  Mr.  Dickeson  bad  'em  walk  forrard,  in  popped  a 
bonny,  blue-e'ed,  Grecian-noazed,  white-tooithed  lass  o' 
eighteen,  an'  be't  way  i'  which  t'editor  smacked  her 
roasy  checks  wi'  his  lips,  here's  na  doot  bud  it  wur 
Nanny  Tract.  Shoo'd  browt  two  ooatcaakes,  'at  shoo'd 
newly  baaked,  ye  knaw.  Mr.  Dickeson  set  tul  ta  eit 
'em,  an'  Nanny  set  tul  ta  watch  him  ;  an'  when  t'first 
bed  finished  bis  performance  on't  ooat-caakes,  here's  na 
need  ta  say  'at  he  began  o'  squeazin't  latter;  ay,  an'  ye 
ma  say  what  ya've  a  mind  aboot  t'modesty  o't  laadies, 
bud  Nanny  squeazed  him  as  weal,  an'  wor  ther  owt 
wrong  in't.  think  ya ?  Shallywally!  Bud,  hooivver, 
t'editor  hedn't  been  long   at  this  gam',  afore  ha  beerd 


PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS.  109 

another  noise, — a  shufflin',  slinkin'  nosie,  Ah  meean, 
an'  nut  areg'lar  rap, — ootside  o't  door;  soa,  takkin'  his 
shoe  s  off,  he  crept  nicely  tut  spot,  an',  be  gow  !  if  ha 
didn't  fin't  printer's  divil  lissenin'  theare,  here's  he 
nowt  for  tellin'  ya  ou't.  Mr.  Dickeson,  ommust  choaked 
wi'  madness  at  this  turn-up,  (for  wheare's  ther  onny- 
body  'at  likes  ta  hev  ther  love-dewins  heeard  an'  seen  ?) 
shoved  him  intut  middle  on  his  study;  an'  commandin' 
Nanny  ta  hod  him  a  minute,  (which  saame  shoo  did  ta 
perfection,)  he  went  tut  other  end  o't  plaace,  an'  puttin' 
on  a  middlin'-sized  clog,  tuke  a  run  pause  at  t'posteri- 
ors  o't  impedent  printer's  divil,  an'  thearehy  makkin' 
him  sing  "  God  saave  t'Queen  "  i'  sich  prime  style,  'at 
delicate  Nanny  wur  ta'en  wi'  a  fit  o'  faantin'.  T'  music 
hevin'  ceeased  as  sooin  as  t'performer  wur  turned  oot, 
Nanny  bethowt  hersen  ta  come  roond ;  bud,  shaameful 
ta  say,  her  an'  Dicky  didn't  paart  wal  fower  i't  efter- 
nooin,  at  which  time  t'lass  wur  wanted  up  at  hoame  ta 
darn  stockins  an'  crimp  frills. 

Miscellanies. 

Men  an'  women  is  like  soa  monny  cards,  played  wi' 
be  two  oppoancnts,  Time  an'  Eternity :  Time  get's  a 
gam  noo  an'  then,  an'  hez  t'pleasure  o'  keepin'  his 
caards  for  a  bit,  bud  Eternity's  be  far  t'better  hand,  an' 
proves,  day  be  day,  an'  hoor  be  hoor,  'at  he's  winnin' 
incalcalably  fast. 

Whenivver  ya  see  one  o'  thease  heng-doon,  black 
craape  thingums  'at  comes  hauf  doon  a  woman's  bonnet 
an'  faace,  be  suare  'at  shoo's  widowed,  an'  "  Ta  Let!" 

It's  confidently  rumoured  in  t'palitical  world  'at  t'tax 
is  goin'  ta  be  ta'en  off  leather-breeches,  an  putten  on 
white  hats. 

Why  does  a  young  laady  i'  a  ridin'-habit  resemmle 
Shakspeare  ?  Cos  shoo's  (offen)  miss-cooated  (inis- 
quoted). 

A  lad  i'  Otley,  knawn  t'inhabitants  for  his  odd 
15 


110         PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS. 

dewins  like,  an'  for  his  modesty,  tew.  wun  day  went  a 
errand  for  an  owd  woman  'at  ilia  called  Betty  Cruttice: 
an'  he  wur  sa  sharp  ower  it.  an'  did  it  sa  pleasantly  be- 
side, 'at  Betty  axed  him  ta  hev  a  bit  o'  apple-pie  for 
his  trouble.  "Noa,  thenk  ya,"  said  t'lad.  i;  Thoo'd 
better.  Willy,"  said  Betty.  '-Noa,  thenk  ya."  repeeat- 
ed  t'lad  ;  an'  off  he  ran  hoaine,  an'  as  sooin  as  ha  gat 
intut  hoose,  hurst  out  a-roarin'  an'  sohbin'  as  if  his 
heart  wod  brck.  "  Billy,  me  lad,"  says  his  mother, 
'•what's  t 'matter  wi'  tha ?"  aWah,"  blubbered  poor 
Billy,  "  Betty  Cruttice  axed  ma  ta  hev  a  bit  o'  apple- 
pie'  an'  Ah  said,  Xoa,  thenk  ya  !" 

Poakers  is  like  brawlin'  tongues — just  t'things  ta  stir 
up  lires  wi'. 

Why  does  a  inland  sea  resemmle  a  linen-draaper's 
shop?  Cos  it  contaans  surges  an'  bays  (serges  an' 
baizi  i. 

"  What's  said  for  thease  remarkable  articles  ?"  shoot- 
ed  an  auctioneer  at  a  saale  to  three  week  sin'.  "  Here's 
a  likeness  o'  Queen  Victoria,  ta'en  in  t'year  seventeen 
ninety-two,  a  couple  o'pini  pots,  'at's  been  drunk  oot  on 
bc't  celabraated  Bobby  Burns,  an'  a  pair  o'  tongs  'at 
General  Fairfax  faaght  wi'  at  t'battle  o'  Marston  Moor, 
all  i'  wun  lot  :  ay,  ay,  an'  here's  another  thing  ta  goa 
wi'  'em,  a  hay -fork  'at  Noah  used  ta  bed  doon  his  beeasts 
wi'  when  ha  wur  in  t'ark,  sometime  i'  fowerteen  hun- 
dred. Bud,  hooivver,  it  maks  na  odds  tut  year.  Fower 
articles  here,  all  antiquaties ;  what's  said  for  'cm?  Six- 
pence is  said  for  'em.  laadies  an'  gcnnlemen — eight- 
pence  is  said  for  'em — ninepence,  tenpence.  a  shillin's 
said  lor  'em,  laadies  an'  gennlenien,  an'  thenk  ya  for 
yer  magnanimaty.  Are  ya  all  done  at  ashillin'?  Varry 
weel,  then.  Ah  sahn't  dwell;  soo  thease  three  articles 
is  goin'."  •■  Vc'rt!  reight,  maaster."  shooted  a  cobbler 
fro't  crood,  "they  aregoin',  tew;  for  if  my  e'es  tell  ma 
reight.  theare'e  na  hannlcs  on't  pots,  na  noase  on't  pictur, 
an'  na  legs  on't  tongs." 


PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS.  Ill 

"  Hoo  sweet — hoo  varry  sweet — is  life  !"  as  t'flee  said 
when  ha  wur  stuck  i'  treeacle. 

Why  does  a  lad,  detected  i'  robbin'  a  bee-hive  ger  a 
a  double  booty  be't  ?  Cos  he  gets  boath  honey  an' 
whacks  (wax). 

A  striplin'  runnin'  uptul  apaaver,  'at  wur  hammerin' 
an'  brayin'  soa  at  his  wark,  'at  t'sweeat  fair  ran  doon 
his  cheeks,  began  o'  scraapin't  sweeat  off  his  faace  intul 
a  pot  wi'  a  piece  o'  tin.  "  Hollow  I"  shoot's  t'man, 
rubbin'  his  sniartin'  featurs  wi'  his  reight  hand,  "  what 
meeans  tha  ta  be  comin'  ta  scraape  t'skin  off  a  man's 
coontenance  ?"  "Nay,  nay,"  said  t'lacl,  "Ah  worn't 
scraapin't  skin  off,  noo,  but  nobbut  t'sweeat,  which  wur 
o'  noa  use  ta  ye,  maaster,  wal  it  wor  ta  me,  as  Ah've 
been  all  ower,  an'  couldn't  get  na  <yroo/se-greease  onny- 
wheare  till  E  saw  ye." 

A  Fable. 

I't'  Fable  book,  we  read  at  school. 
On  an  owd  Frosk,  an  arrand  Fooyl ; 

Pride  crack'd  her  little  bit  o'Brain  : 
(T  book  o'  me  Neyve,  Mun)  we  a  pox, 
Shoo'd  needs  meytch  Bellies  Ave  an  Ox ; 

Troath,  shoo  wor  meeghtily  mistayne. 

Two  on  bur  young:  ons,  they  pretend 
Just  goane  a  gaterds  we  a  Friend, 

Stapisht  an'  starin',  brought  her  word — 
"  Mother,  we've  seen  for  suer,  To-neeght. 
"  A  hairy  Boggard  !  sich  a  seeght ! 

"As  big  !  as  big  !  eeh  Loord  !  eeh  Loord  !" 

Shoo  puffs,  and  thrusts,  and  girns.  and  swells, 
[Th'  Bairns  thowt  sho'  or  dooin'  summot  else] 

To  ratch  her  Coyt  o'  speckl'd  Leather ; — 
"Wor  it  as  big,  my  Lads,  as  me  ?" 
"  Bless  us,"  said  Toan,  "as  big  as  ye 

"  Yoar  but  a  Beean  anent  a  Blether  !" 


112  PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS. 

No  grain  o'  Marcy  on  her  Guts, 
At  it  ageean  shoo  swells  and  struts, 

As  if  the  varry  hangment  bad  her. 
Thinkin'  ther  Mother  nohbut  joak'd, 
Th'  young  Lobs  wi'  laughin',  wor  hawf  choak'd; 

A  thing  which  made  her  ten  times  madder. 

Another  thrust,  and  thick  as  Hops, 
Her  Pudding's  plaister'd  all  their  Chops, 

'Mess  there  wor  then  a  bonny  sturring; 
Deead  in  a  minute  as  a  Stoanc 
All  t'Hopes  o'  t'  Family  wor  gooane 

And  not  a  six-pince  left  for  t'burying. 

We  think,  do  you  see,  there's  no  small  chonce 
This  little  hectoring  dog  <>'  Fronce 

May  cut  just  sitch  another  Caper; 
He'll  trust,  fur  sartin,  ol  a  pod 
Ye. — mortal  Tripes  can  never  hod 

Sitch  heaps  o'  wind,  an'  reek,  an'  vapor. 

What's  bred  i'  t'Booane,  an'  runs  i'  t'Blooyd, 
If  nought,  can  niver  come  to  gooyd, 

Loa  Mayster  Melville's  crackt  his  Pitcher, 
Mooar  Fowk  are  sweeatin',  every  Lim', 
A  feeard  o'  being  swing'd  like  him, 

Wi'  Sammy  Whitbread's  twinging  switch'r 


SPECIMENS 


OF    THE 


EARLY  ENGLISH  LANGUAGE, 

CHRONOLOGICALLY    ARRANGED. 


From 

Simon  de  Ghent's  Rule  op  Nuns, 

Of  the  earlier  part  of  the  thirteenth  century. 

Holy  men  -]  holi  wummen  beob  of  alle  vondunges 
swubest  ofte  i-tempted,  -]  han  to  goddre  heale ;  vor 
i}>e  vihte  ageines  han,  heo  bigiteb  ]>e  blisfule  kempene 
crune.  Lo  !  }>auh  hwu  be  meneb  bam  bi  Jeremie  : 
persecutores  nostri  velociorcs  aquilis  celi,  super  monies 
persecuti  sunt  nos  ;  in  deserto  insidiati  sunt  nobis.  J>et 
is,  ure  wifterwines  beob  swifture  ]>en  }>e  earnes;  up 
obe  bulles  heo  clumben  efter  us,  ^  }>er  fuhten  mid 
us,  -\  get  i?Se  wildernesse  beo  aspieden  us  to  slean. 
Ure  wij>erwines  beob  J>reo  :  }>e  veond,  J>e  world,  -]  ure 
owune  vlesbs,  ase  ich  er  seide.  Libtlicbe  ne  mei  me 
nout  oJ>erbule  i-cnowen  hwuc  of  f>cos  }>reo  weorreb 
him  ;  vor  evricbon  helped  oJ>er,  )>auh  ]>e  veond  kun- 
delicheeggeb  us  to  atternesse,  as  to  prude,  tooverbowe, 
to  onde,  ^  to  wrefcfce,  -^  to  bore  attri  kundles,  ]>et 
beofc    her  efter    i-nemmed.   J>et  flesh    put    propremen 


114  PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS. 

touward  swetnesse,  *]  touward  eise,  -\  toward  softnesse, 
ant  te  world  bit  mon  giscen  wordes  weole,  -]  wunne  *] 
wui'schipe,  *]  o)>er  swuche  ginegoven,  J>et  bidweolieb 
kang  men  to  luvien  one  scbeadewe.  J>eos  wi&erwines, 
he  seift,  voluwed  us  on  hulles,  -]  awaited  us  i%e  wil- 
dernesse,  hu  heo  us  muwen  heruien.  Hul,  \>et  is  heih 
lif,  J>er  }>es  deoflcs  assauz  beob  ofte  strengest ;  wilder- 
nesse,  pet  is  onlich  lif  of  ancre  wuninge,  vor  also  ase 
ine  wildernesse  beo$  alle  wilde  bestes,  ^  nulled  nout 
i-J>olen  monues  neihlechunge,  aub  fleob  hwon  heo  ham 
i-herefc  oj^er  i-seo^,  also  schulen  ancren  over  alle  o}>re 
wummen  beon  wilde  o  fisse  wise,  -]  peonne  beob  heo 
over  alle  of>re  leovest  to  ure  Loverde,  -\  swetest  him 
]>unche%  ham;  vor  of  alle  flesches  peonne  is  wilde 
deores  fleschs  leovest  "]  swetest,  I  }>isse  wildernesse 
wende  ure  Loverdes  folc,  ase  Exode  tellefc,  touward 
ted  eadie  londe  of  Jerusalem,  }>et  he  ham  hefde  bihoten. 
And  ge,  mine  leove  sustren,  wendeb  bi  ]>en  ilke  weie 
toward  te  heie  Jerusalem,  to  J>e  kinedom  ]>  he  haveft 
bihoten  his  i-corene.  Grob  ]>auh  ful  warliche,  vor  i 
}>isse  wildernesse  beob  monie  uvele  bestes ;  Hun  of 
prude,  neddre  of  attri  onde,  unicorne  of  wrebfte,  beore 
of  dead  slouhfce,  vox  of  giscunge,  suwe  of  givernesse, 
scorpiun  mid  te  teile  of  stinkinde  lecherie,  )>et  is  gol- 
nesse.  Her  beob  nu  a-reawe  i-told  ]>e  seoven  heaved 
sunnen. 

Hymn  to  the  Virgin. 

Time  of  Henry  III. 

Blessed  beo  thu  lavedi, 

ful  of  hovene  blisse, 
Swete  flur  of  parais, 

moder  of  milternisse ; 
Thu  praye  Jhesu  Crist  thi  sone, 

that  he  me  i-wisse, 
Thare  a  londe  al  swo  ihc  beo, 

that  he  me  ne  i-missc. 


PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS,  115 

Of  the,  faire  lavedi,  ruin  oreisun 

ich  wile  biginnen ! 
Thi  deore  swete  sunnes  love 

thu  lere  me  to  winnen. 
Wei  ofte  ich  sike  and  sorwe  make, 

ne  mai  ich  nevere  blinnen, 
Bote  thu,  thruh  thin  milde  mod, 

bringe  me  out  of  sunne. 

Ofte  ihc  seke  merci, 

thin  swete  name  ich  calle  : 
Mi  flehs  is  foul,  this  world  is  fals, 

thu  loke  that  ich  ne  falle. 
Lavedi  freo,  thu  schild  me 

frarn  the  pine  of  helle  ! 
And  send  me  into  that  blisse 

that  tunge  ne  mai  tellen. 

Mine  werkes,  lavedi, 

heo  makieth  me  ful  won ; 
Wei  ofte  ich  clepie  and  calle. 

thu  i-her  me  for  than. 
Bote  ic  chabbe  the  help  of  the, 

other  I  ne  kan  ; 
Help  thu  me,  ful  wel  thu  mist, 

thu  helpest  moni  a  man. 

I-blessed  beo  thu,  lavedi, 

so  fair  and  so  briht ; 
Al  min  hope  is  uppon  the 

bi  dai  and  bi  nicht. 
Helpe,  thruh  thin  milde  mode, 

for  wel  wel  thu  mist, 
That  ich  nevere  for  feondes  sake 

fur-go  thin  echc  liht. 

Briht  and  scene  quen  of  hovene, 

ich  bidde  thin  sunnes  hore ; 


11G  PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS. 

The  sunne's  that  ich  habbe  i-cun, 

hco  rewweth  me  ful  sore. 

"Wei  ofte  ich  chabbe  the  I'ur-saken, 

the  wil  ich  never  eft  more ; 

Lavedi,  for  thine  sake, 

treuthen  feondes  lore. 

I-blessed  beo  thu,  lavedi, 

so  feir  and  so  hende  ; 
Thu  praie  Jhesu  Crist  thi  sone, 

that  he  me  i-scude, 
Whare  a  loiide  al  swo  ich  beo, 

er  ich  bonne  wende, 
That  ich  mote  in  parais 

wonieu  withuten  ende. 

Bricht  and  scene  quen  of  storre, 

so  me  liht  and  lere, 
In  this  false  fikele  world 

so  me  led  and  steore, 
That  ich  at  min  ende  dai 

ne  habbe  non  feond  to  fere ; 
Jhesu,  mit  ti  swete  blod, 

thu  bohtest  me  ful  dere. 

* 

Jhesu,  seinte  Marie  sone, 

thu  idier  thin  moder  bone  ; 
To  the  ne  d'ar  I  clepien  noht, 

to  hire  ich  make  min  mene  ; 
Thu  do  that  ich  for  hire  sake 

beo  i-maked  so  clene, 
That  ich  noht  at  dai  of  dome 

beo  flemed  of  thin  exsene. 
MS.  Egerton  G13,  Reliq.  Antiq.  i.  102-3. 


*J 


PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS.  117 

From 

The  Harrowing  of  Hell, 

MS.  Digby  86,  time  of  Edward  I. 

Hou  Jhesu  Crist  herowede  helle, 

Of  harde  gates  ich  wille  telle. 

Leve  trend,  nou  beth  stille, 

Lesteth  that  ich  tellen  wille, 

Ou  Jhesu  fader  him  bithoute, 

And  Adam  hout  of  helle  broute. 

In  helle  was  Adam  and  Eve, 

That  weren  -Jhesu  Crist  wel  leve ; 

And  Seint  Johan  the  Baptist, 

That  was  newen  Jhesu  Crist ; 

Davit  the  prophete  and  Abraham, 

For  the  sunnes  of  Adetn  ; 

And  moni  other  holi  mon, 

Mo  then  ich  ou  tellen  con 

Till  Jhesu  fader  nom  fles  and  blod 

Of  the  maiden  Marie  god, 

And  suth  then  was  don  ful  michel  some, 

Bonden  and  beten  and  maked  ful  lome, 

Tille  that  Gode  Friday  at  non, 

Thenne  he  was  on  rode  i-don, 

His  honden  from  his  body  wonden, 

Nit  here  niigte  hoe  him  shenden, 

To  helle  sone  he  nom  gate 

Adam  and  Eve  hout  to  take ; 

Tho  the  he  to  helle  cam, 

Suche  wordes  he  bigan. 

From 

COKAYGNE, 

A  poem  written  very  early  in  the  fourteenth  century. 

Ther  is  a  wel  fair  abbei, 
Of  white  monkes,  and  of  grei, 
Ther  beth  bowris  and  halles  : 
Al  of  pasteiis  beth  the  walles, 
16 


118  PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS. 

Of  fleis,  of  fisse,  and  rich  met, 
The  likfullist  that  man  mai  et. 
Fluren  cakes  beth  the  schingles  alle, 
Of  cherche,  cloister,  boure  and  halle. 
The  pinnes  beth  fat  podinges, 
Rich  met  to  princez  and  kinges. 
Ther  is  a  cloister  fair  and  lijt, 
Brod  and  lang,  of  sembli  sigt. 
The  pilers  of  that  cloister  alle 
Beth  i-turned  of  cristale, 
With  harlas  and  capitale 
Of  grene  iaspe  and  rede  corale. 
In  the  praer  is  a  tre 
Swithe  likful  for  to  se, 
The  rote  is  gingevir  and  galingale. 
The  siouns  beth  al  sedwale. 
Trie  maces  beth  the  flure, 
The  rind  cauel  of  swet  odur ; 
The  frute  gilofre  of  gode  smakke, 
Of  cucubes  ther  nis  no  lakke. 

MS.  Harl.  913,  f.  4. 

From 

The  Proverbs  op  Hendyng, 

MS.  Harl.  2253,  time  of  Edward  II. 

Mon  that  wol  of  wysdani  heren, 
At  wyse  Hendyng  he  may  lernen, 
That  wes  Marcolves  sone ; 

Gode  thonkes  ant  monie  thewes 

For  te  teche  fele  shrewes, 
For  that  wes  ever  is  wone. 
Jhesu  Crist,  al  folkes  red, 
That  for  us  alle  tholede  ded 

Upon  the  rode  tre, 
Lene  us  alle  to  ben  wys, 
Ant  to  ende  in  his  servys ! 


PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS.  119 

Amen,  par  charite" ! 
'  God  biginning  maketh  god  endyng,' 
Quoth  Hendyng. 

Wyt  and  wysdom  lurneth  gerne, 
Ant  loke  that  none  other  werne 

To  be  wys  ant  hende ; 
For  betere  were  to  bue  wis, 
Then  for  te  where  feh  ant  grys, 

Wher  so  mon  shal  ende. 
'  Wyt  and  wysdom  is  god  warysoun/ 
Quoth  Hendyng. 

Ne  may  no  mon  that  is  in  londe, 
For  nothyng  that  he  con  fonde, 

Wonen  at  home  ant  spede ; 
So  fele  thewes  for  te  leorne, 
Ase  he  that  hath  y-sotht  jeorne 

In  wel  fele  theode. 
'  Ase  fele  thede,  ase  fele  thewes  ;' 
Quoth  Hendyng. 

The  Creed, 

From  a  MS.  written  in  the  reign  of  Edward  III. 

I  byleve  in  God,  fader  almyjthi,  maker  of  hevene 
and  of  erthe,  and  in  Jhesu  Crist,  the  sone  of  hym  only 
oure  lord,  the  wusche  is  consceyved  of  the  holy  gost, 
y-boren  of  Marie  mayden,  suffrede  passioun  under 
Pounce  Pilate,  y-crucified,  ded,  and  buried,  wente  doun 
in  to  helle,  the  thridde  day  he  roos  from  dethe,  he 
steyet  up  to  hevenes,  he  sitteth  on  the  right  syde  of 
God  the  fadur  almygti,  thennes  he  is  to  come  to  deme 
the  queke  and  the  dede.  I  byleve  in  the  holy  gost, 
holy  chirche  general,  the  comunyng  of  halewes,  the 
forjefenesse  of  synnes,  the  rysyng  of  flech,  and  the  lyf 
whit-oute  ende.     Amen. 


120  PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS. 

From 

A  Poem  on  Blood-letting, 

Written  about  A.  D.  1830. 

Maystris  that  uthyth  blode  letyng, 

And  therwyth  giteth  gowr  levyng, 

Here  ge  may  lere  wysdom  ful  gode, 

In  what  place  ge  schulle  let  blode 

In  man,  woman,  and  in  childe, 

For  evelys  that  ben  wyk  and  wilde. 

Weynis  ther  ben  .xxx.''  and  two 

That  on  a  man  mot  ben  undo ; 

.xvj.  in  the  heved  ful  rigt, 

And  .xvj.  beneth  in  gow  i-pygt. 

In  what  place  thay  schal  be  founde, 

I  schal  gow  telle  in  a  stounde. 

Besydis  the  ere  ther  ben  two, 

That  on  a  man  mot  ben  undo 

To  kepe  hys  heved  fro  evyl  turnyng, 

And  fro  the  scalle,  wythout  lesyng. 

Two  at  the  templys  thay  mot  blede 

For  stoppynge  of  kynde,  as  I  rode. 

And  on  is  in  the  mydde  for-hevede, 

For  lepre  sausfleme  mot  blede. 

Abo  we  the  nose  thare  is  on, 

For  fuethynge  mot  be  undon  ; 

And  also  whan  eyhen  ben  sore, 

And  for  resyng  gout  everemore. 

Two  they  ben  at  the  eyhen  ende, 

"VVhan  they  beth  bleryt  for  to  amende, 

And  for  that  cometh  of  smokynge, 

I  wol  tel  yow  no  lesynge, 

At  the  holle  of  the  grot  ther  ben  two, 

That  for  lepre  and  streyt   breyt  mot  be  undo. 

In  the  lyppys  .iiij.  ther  ben  gode  to  bledene, 

As  I  yow  telle  now  bydene ; 

Two  by  the  eyhen  abowen  also, 

I  telle  yow  tbere  ben  two 


PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS.  121 

For  sor  of  tho  mowthe  to  blede, 
What  hyt  is  I  fynde  as  I  rede. 
Two  under  the  tongue  wythout  lese 
Mot  blede  for  the  squynase ; 
And  whan  the  townge  is  akynge 
Throgt  eny  mauer  swollynge. 

From 

An  Astrological  Manuscript, 

Written  about  the  year  1400. 

Man  born  wile  the  sonne  is  in  Cankyr,  that  is  the 
xiiij.  day  in  Jun  tyl  the  xiij.  day  in  Jul,  xxx.  day.  is 
whit  colorid,  femynin  herte ;  but  he  be  born  the  owr  of 
Mars  or  of  Sol  or  of  Jupiter,  man  bold  and  hardy,  and 
sly  inowh  to  falshede  and  tresowne,  fayr  spekere  and 
evil  spekere,  and  suptyl  and  wily  and  fals,  broken  in 
arm  or  in  fase,  desese  in  cheyl  or  nere,  mekyl  wytty 
and  mikyl  onwis  and  onkynde,  and  fals  in  fele  thingis 
in  word  and  dede ;  shrewe  to  woordin  wyth,  hatyd  of 
fele  and  wol  fewe  lowyd ;  a  womman  schal  make  him 
to  sinne ;  he  schal  lovin  a  woman  brown  of  complexown 
and  of  bettur  blod  than  is  hymself;  he  schal  lovin  no 
man  but  for  hiis  owne  profyt. 

A  Song, 

Temp.  Henry  VI. 

What  so  mene  seyne, 
Love  is  no  peyne 
To  theme  serteyne 

Butt  varians ; 
For  they  constreyne 
Ther  hertes  to  feyne, 
Ther  mowthis  to  pleyne 

Ther  displesauns. 
Whych  is  in  dede 
Butt  feynyd  drede, 
So  God  me  spede  ! 


122        PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS. 

And  dowbilnys. 
Ther  othis  to  bcde, 
Ther  lyvya  to  lede, 
And  prot'erith  mede 

New-fangellenys. 
For  whcnne  they  pray, 
Ye  shalle  have  nay, 
What  so  they  say, 

Beware,  for  shame. 
For  every  daye 
They  waite  ther  pray, 
Wher  so  they  may, 

And  make  butt  game. 
Thenne  semyth  me 
Ye  may  welle  se 
They  be  so  fre 

In  evyry  plase  : 
Hitt  were  pete 
Butt  they  shold  be 
Bogelid,  perde, 

Withowtyne  grase. 

MS.  Cantab.  Ff.  i.  6,  f.  45. 

Extract  from 

The  Romance  of  Sir  Perceval, 

Written  about  1440. 

Thofe  he  were  of  no  pryde, 
Forthirmore  ganne  he  glyde 
Tille  a  chambir  ther  besyde, 

Moo  sellys  to  see ; 
Riche  clothes  fande  he  sprede, 
A  lady  slepande  on  a  bedde, 
He  said,   '•  Forsothe  a  tokyne  to  wedde 

Salle  thou  lefe  with  mee." 
Ther  he  kyste  that  swete  thynge, 
Of  hir  fynger  he  tuke  a  rynge, 
His  awenne  modir  takynnynge 


PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS,  123 

He  lefte  with  that  fre. 
He  went  forthe  to  his  mere, 
Tuke  with  hym  his  schorte  spere, 
Lepe  one  lofte  as  he  was  ere, 

His  way  rydes  he. 
Now  on  his  way  rydes  he, 
Moo  selles  to  see ; 
A  knyghte  wolde  he  nedis  bee 

Withowttene  any  bade. 
He  come  ther  the  kyng  was 
Servede  of  the  firste  mese, 
To  hym  was  the  maste  has 

That  the  childe  hade  ; 
And  thare  made  he  no  lett 
At  gate,  dore  ne  wykett, 
Bot  in  graythely  he  gett, 

Syche  maistres  he  made  ! 
At  his  first  in  comynge, 
His  mere  withowttene  faylynge 
Kyste  the  forhevede  of  the  kynge, 

So  nerehande  he  rade  ! 
The  kyng  had  ferly  thaa, 
And  up  his  hande  ganne  he  taa, 
And  putt  it  forthir  hym  fraa 

The  mouthe  of  the  mere. 
He  saide,  "  Faire  childe  and  free, 
Stonde  stille  besyde  mee, 
And  telle  me  wythene  that  thou  bee, 

And  what  thou  wille  here." 
Thanne  saide  the  fole  of  the  filde, 
"  I  ame  myne  awnne  modirs  childe 
Comene  fro  the  woddez  wylde 

Tille  Arthure  the  dere  ; 
gisterday  saw  I  knyghtis  three, 
Sich  one  salle  thou  make  mee 
On  this  mere  by-for  the, 

Thi  mete  or  thou  schere  !" 


124  PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS. 

From 

Manuscript  Porkington  10, 

Written  in  the  reign  of  Edward  IV. 

God  that  dyed  for  us  alle, 

And  dranke  bothe  eysell  and  galle, 

He  bryng  us  alle  oute  off  bale  ; 
And  gyve  hym  good  lyve  and  long, 
That  woll  attend  to  my  son-. 

And  herkyne  on  to  my  talle. 
Ther  dwelyd  a  man  in  my  contr6, 
The  wyche  hade  wyvys  thre 

Yn  proses  of  certyn  tyme  ; 
Be  hys  fyrst  wyffe  a  chyld  he  had, 
The  wyche  was  a  propyr  lad 

And  ryght  an  happy  hynd ; 
And  his  fader  lovyd  hym  ryght  welle, 
Hys  steppe-dame  lovyd  hyme  never  a  delle, 

I  telle  gowe  as  y  thynke; 
She  thoght  hyt  lost  be  the  rode 
Alle  that  ever  dyd  hyme  good, 

Off  mette  other  of  drynke  ; 
Not  halfe  ynowe  thereof  he  had, 
And  gyt  in  fay  the  hit  was  fulle  bad, 

And  alle  hyr  thoght  yt  lost. 

Y  pray  God  evyll  mot  sche  fare, 
For  oft  sche  dyde  hym  moche  care, 

As  far  forthe  as  sche  durst ! 
She  good  wyffe  to  hyr  husbond  yone  say, 
For  to  put  away  thys  boy 

Y  hold  yt  for  the  beste ; 
In  fayth  he  hys  a  lether  lade, 

Y  wold  som  other  man  hym  had, 
That  beter  niygt  hym  chaste. 

Than  anone  spake  the  good  man, 
And  to  hys  wyff  sayd  he  than, 
He  ys  but  gong  of  age, 


PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS.  125 

He  schall  be  with  us  lenger, 
Tyll  that  he  be  strenger, 

To  wyn  beter  wage. 
We  have  a  mane  a  strong  freke, 
The  wyche  one  fyld  kypythe  owr  nette, 

And  slepyth  half  the  day ; 
He  schall  come  home  be  Mary  myld. 
And  to  the  fylde  schalle  go  the  chyld, 

And  kepe  hem  gyfe  he  may. 

A  Letter, 

Temp.  Henry  Till. 

Kyghte  honorable  and  my  syngular  goode  lorde  and 
mayster,  all  circumstauncys  and  thankes  sett  aside, 
pleasithe  yt  youre  good  lordeshipe  to  be  advertisid, 
that  where  I  was  constitute  and  made  by  youre  honora- 
ble desire  and  commaundmente  commissarie  generall 
of  the  dyosese  of  Saynte  Assaph,  I  have  done  my  dyly- 
gens  and  dutie  for  the  expulsinge  and  takynge  awaye 
of  certen  abusions,  supersticions,  and  ipocryses  usid 
within  the  saide  diosece  of  Saynte  Assaph,  accordynge 
to  the  kynges  honorable  actes  and  injunctions  therin 
made.  That  notwithstondinge,  ther  ys  an  image  of 
Darvellgadarn  within  the  saide  diosese,  in  whome  the 
people  have  so  greate  confidence,  hope  and  truste,  that 
they  cumme  daylye  a  pillgramage  unto  hym,  somme 
withe  kyne,  other  with  oxen  or  horsis,  and  the  reste 
withe  money,  insomuche  that  there  was  fyve  or  syxe 
hundrethe  pilgrames,  to  a  mans  estimacion,  that  offered 
to  the  said  image  the  fifte  daie  of  this  presente  monethe 
of  Aprill.  The  innocente  people  hathe  ben  sore  aluryd 
and  entisid  to  worshipe  the  saide  image,  insomuche 
that  there  is  a  commyn  sayinge  as  yet  amongist  them 
that  whosoever  will  offer  anie  thinge  to  the  saide  image 
of  Davellgadarn,  he  hathe  power  to  fatche  hym  or  them 
that  so  offers  oute  of  hell  when  they  be  dampned. 
Therfore,  for  the  reformacion  and  amendmente  of  the 
17 


126  PROVINCIAL  DIALECTS. 

premisses,  I  wolde  gladlie  knowe  by  this  berer  youre 
honorable  pleasure  and  will,  as  knowithe  God,  who  ever 
preserve  your  lordeshipe  longe  in  welthe  and  honor. 
Writen  in  Northe  Wales,  the  vj.  daye  of  this  presentc 
Aprill. 

Youre  bedman  and  dayelye  orator  by  dutie, 

Elis  Price. 


THE  END. 


This  book  is  DUB  on  the  last  date  stamped  below 


A*6»    1949 
JAN  8  6 1950 

AUG  13  1957 

APR  2  9  i960 


TfECO  IP-' 


APR  1 1  i383 


4MFEBH 


RECE.1V 


., 


LD-Uf!L 


JUL  7 


AM 
7.4 


ED 


1965 


AW 
7-4 


4-S> 

: 
OEC  20  19^    pni 


pM 
9-10 


A-9 

FormL-9-10m-2,'31 


v?v' 


i  **» 


►  r" 


"V\  ..-•■ 


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