boy was dressed as a woman, but all had their faces daubed with soot and red ochre, and dragged an old plough with a wooden share. In the country, if refused a present, the boys were yoked to the plough, and the path in front of the house ploughed up. In the town, the toe of the share was inserted under the scraper, and the ploughboys tugged, and away went the scraper. They were called Plough Witches and Mumpers. The leader used to repeat some doggerel, but I can only remember one verse, and unfortunately I have not been able to find anyone who can remember more. It was: A Mr. Towers, in 1711, left £10 to be laid out in land, and the rent to be given to the poor in candles on Plough Monday. The occupants of the alms-houses have been the recipients for many years. I should imagine this gift was intended for Candlemas Day. February 14th, St. Valentine's Day, is still observed, and it is the custom for the night of the 13th February to be called Baulk Valentine, as on this night mischievous people or urchins would give runaway knocks, or ring the bells at various houses. Sometimes a packet or parcel, affixed to a piece of string, was put on the doorstep, a knock given, and the person answering and opening the door would see the parcel and stoop to pick it up; then the lad with the string would jerk it away. Occasionally, these packets were sent by spiteful people, and had pins fixed in them point upward to catch and scratch their hands. On this evening (February 13th), those who could not afford to buy Valentines sat at home and wrote them. The following are a few of the favourite verses : (1) The rose is red, the violet's blue Carnation's sweet and so are you; (2) As I lay on my mossy bed, A rose sprang up and it was red, (3) As the grapes grow on the vine, (4) The rose is red, the gillyver's yellow, (6) As I walked up the garden path, "Good morrow, Valentine!" is still used, and even last year I had letters from some friends on Valentine's morning, and at the bottom end of the letter, after the signature, was G. M. V.; and G. M. V. has often been put on outside the envelopes, meaning the old greeting of "Good morrow, Valentine! At St. John's Church, on Shrove Tuesday, the Pancake bell is rang at a quarter to twelve. The Sanctus, or small bell, is used. The 15th of March is called Wyldbore's Day, and on this day the bells of St. John's Church are rung merrily. Matthew Wyldbore, a former M.P. for Peterborough and resident, was one day on the common which borders the fens, and a dense fog suddenly came on; he could not find his way, and was afraid to move lest he should fall into a cross-drain or fen dyke, when the bells of St. John's Church began to ring, and he located his position, and returned in safety to the city. He was also fond of bellringing, and a good amateur singer; and in consequence of his escape he left the following bequest by will, proved March 22nd, 1781. "I also charge and make chargeable the estate which I bought of the Rev. Mr. Bates, lying in the Parish of Peter 1899. 22 borough with its Hamlets, with an annual payment of five pounds to the minister of the said Parish, to be by him annually disposed of on the day of my death to the ringers of the said Parish Church of St. John the Baptist in Peterboro', part in money and part in an entertainment, as the said minister shall think best, on condition that the said ringers shall ring one peal or more of the same bells on the same day." The estates of the testator are also made liable to the payment of £1 1s. to the minister of the parish for preaching an annual sermon in the church, and ten shillings for the poor of Peterboro' as an allowance for bread. Mr. Wyldbore resided in the Mansion House, which he built, and died on March 15th, 1781, and the payments have been regularly made. Upon the Peterboro' Inclosure, a close in Newark, substituted in lieu of the ancient estate, and belonging to the late Mr. S. Stanley's executors, is liable to the above payments. Having done with the charitable payments, the following is a copy of the curious directions contained in the will: "My Will and desire also is that all those persons who voted for me at the election in the year 1774, and who also shall attend my body to the grave, and who will accept of it, shall receive five shillings each of my executors and a pair of white gloves, and I desire that my executors will make this my request known to them.” Mr. Wyldbore was buried in Peterboro' Church, where there is a mural marble monument to his memory. On Palm Sunday it was, until recently, the general custom for people to carry small sprays of catkins of the willow in their hands; and even now you see a few people doing this. April 26th was known as "Break Day," as on this day the fen commons used to be broke, as it was called, by turning in stock. This was before the enclosures. À similar custom is still maintained at St. Neot's, in Hunts.: the gates of the common being taken off October 1st, and put on again May 1st. May Day is still a great day with children; from early in the morning till the afternoon, you see groups of children carrying garlands carefully covered with a white cloth. These garlands are made with hoops and halfhoops, gaily decorated with flowers, foliage, ribbons and coloured paper, and in the centre, generally, the best doll to be had. The structure is fastened to a pole, and two girls carry it. The little girls are gaily dressed in their Spring clothes, with wreaths of tissue-paper roses and streamers on their heads, and also coloured tissue-paper trimmings and streamers on their dresses. Then there are their attendants, also similarly dressed; but the most important is the young lady who carries the money-box, who is keenly watched by several pairs of interested eyes. They come round to the various houses, and when the door opens they begin to sing their songs (several of which I have copied), and uncover the garland, and the money-box is rattled. Generally, the doorway is filled with all the family, and a penny is usually given, and off the party trudge to the next house and the performance is continued; sometimes, for a larger gratuity, more verses will be sung. In the afternoon their mothers take the money, and a high tea is provided; and, if fine, the children still sport their finery, and a very pleasant evening is spent. On old May Day the custom is repeated; but it depends for its success upon the state of the weather on May 1st. May Day Garland Songs. I. Good morrow, Lords and Ladies ! It is the first of May, We hope you'll view our garlands, They are so bright and gay. Chorus-To the greenwoods we will go, To the greenwoods we will go, go, go, To the greenwoods we will go. This bunch of May it looks so gay, Before your door it stands; It is but a sprout, but it's well spread out By the work of our Lord's hands. Chorus-To the greenwoods, etc. The cuckoo sings in April, The cuckoo sings in May, Chorus-To the green woods, etc. II. Come, see our new garland, Here are cowslips and daisies, And anemones too; And hawthorn so sweet, But yet there's no garland III. Awake, awake, good people all, Hallelujah! to the Lamb, who died on Mount Calvary, A bunch of May have I brought you, It's only a sprout, but well spread about Hallelujah! to the Lamb, who died on Mount Calvary, Take the Bible in your hands, And read the Scriptures through, And when the day of Judgment comes, The Lord will think of you. Hallelujah! to the Lamb, who died on Mount Calvary I have a purse within my pocket, And all I want is silver now To line it well within. Hallelujah! to the Lamb, who died on Mount Calvary, Hallelujah Hallelujah! to the Lamb. |
