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evident other district of the town than that division first represented.

Act III.-Scene I. A chamber, made out by the work known among us under the denomination of Saxon architecture. It must be allowed, a certain attention has been bestowed by a partial copy from such species of constructure, but devoid of that necessary discrimination, whether the parts were applicable to interiors or exteriors.

Scene II. A camp view, entirely in the modern way, without any display of that martial decoration that marked the triumphant way of Edward, whose military parade is here supposed to be set forth to shew a conquered land, his transcendent glory, as well as his royal clemency.

Dresses. Our Edward, the only one of all his mighty army, comes forward in armour of that common make worn about James I.'s day, with a helmet of the Roman and Grecian cast. Queen Philippa, in her robes, sports of the fashions of the passing moment; and as for the king's muster roll of lords, knights, squires, yeomen, and common soldiers, they one and all were habited in the usual James the First's play-house mode, "cut short, and long tail." In regard to the French nobles, and the rest of their fellows, each in their several degrees, they owed their raiment to the same uncostumic source; and one of their principal leaders had a cap on his head stuck about with flower-de-lis's, more like a crown than the common head covering of a personage, who, in his sphere, did not warrant any alliance to the royal blood of France. Adverting to the hustle of monks, nuns, boys, and other fillers-up of scenic processions, a total lack of decorum, and of religious ceremonials, were manifest in glaring colours, and we are at some loss to say whether the manager intended to turn such orders into ridicule, or that he thought any thing would down with the gaping town, good, bad, or indifferent.

Decorations. A modern side drum and fife, [such warlike music not in use before the sixteenth century] a few modern swords, ditto cross bows, so intended, but carrying more the shape of picaxes than this missile weapon; two banners with Edward's arms, borne by two modern heralds, for why or wherefore this theatre alone can tell.

As I have, in my observations of the representation of King John, [page] at Drury-Lane Theatre, stated the manner in which the ancient martial array of England ought to have been brought into action, it will here be seen to what a despicable ebb of diminished splendour Edward and his brave hosts were reduced to, when gold and silver armours, armorial bearings, royal standards, ancestrel banners, shields of arms, maces, spears, lances, battle-axes, swords, long-bows, cross-bows, bills, and all the long etcetera of ancient instruments, inflicting wounds and death, were, on this occasion, not thought of the least moment to be resorted to, either to give probability to this scene shew, or do honour to the memory of our ancestors!

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CUSTOMS

PECULIAR TO CUMBERLAND, WESTMORELAND, LANCA-
SHIRE, AND YORKSHIRE.

Extracted from a Topographical Description of Cumberland, Westmoreland, Lancashire, and
Part of Yorkshire, by F. Housman. Just published.

COURTSHIPS.

IN the Courtships of the country people there is something singu lar, which, although certainly imprudent, is not attended with those criminal effects which, it might be apprehended, would be the natural consequence. Connections are often formed early in life, which the numerous dancing parties, not only at fairs, but at most of the village alehouses several times a year, and the indis creet connivance of parents, afford easy opportunities of doing. At these places of rural amusement it is usual for almost every lad to select his lass.

The acquaintance (I speak of the sons, daughters, and servants of farmers, mechanics, and country tradesmen) generally commences at these public meetings; and the youth afterwards visits his sweetheart at her own home. These visits are most commonly made on the Saturday evenings, that the next day's work may not be incommoded. After the family are gone to bed, the fire darken. ed, and the candle extinguished, he cautiously enters the house. In this murky situation they remain for a few hours, adjusting their love concerns, and conversing on the common topics of the day, till the increasing cold of a winter's night, or the light of a summer's morning, announces the time of separation. With these proceedings the parents, or masters of the lovers, are well enough acquainted, but generally connive at them: they have no notion of denying those under their care that indulgence which they themselves and their ancestors have practised with impunity before them.

This dark method of courtship is economical; here is no loss of time, at least for work; nor of those expensive articles fire and candle. That is, however, its only advantage; and the inconve niences, or rather misfortunes, attending it are weighty, and of the most serious nature. Two young people, perhaps, with the purest intentions, form a connection; repeatedly pay and receive visits of this sort; when, alas! the ardour of youth and of love, aided by the most enticing opportunity, too often breaks down the barriers of virtue, the frail fair one yields to lascivious love, and wholly throws herself upon the mercy of her paramour. The natural consequence of this criminality soon appears in her pregnancy, and the unhappy couple must either endeavour to palliate their shame and guilt by perhaps a premature marriage, or suffer the ruin of the poor girl to be completed. These considerations ought to induce parents and masters of families to be strictly cau

VOL. 2.-No. 8.

tious

tious how they admit these private addresses to be paid the females under their care.

I do not mean to say that illicit amours are always, nor even generally, the consequence of Cumbrian courtship, but that it happens not unfrequently; and, I believe, the number of illegitimate children is more to be attributed to that than to any other

cause.

When a marriage is nearly concluded on, and it is understood that the girl's parents have no objection to the match, the young man ventures to shew himself, and continues in conversation with the family till they retire to bed. This is the manner in which Cumberland courtship is usually conducted; but there are certainly many instances wherein more prudent and rational modes are adopted.

MARRIAGES.

A few procure

We now take a view of their Marriages. licenses to be married, but the greatest part have banns published in the church, by which a considerable saving is made. The friends of the bride and bridegroom, and often their neighbours, are invited to the wedding. If the church is at a distance, the weddingers mostly ride; and the bridegroom and his party approaches the bride's house in a full gallop, which opens the amusements of the day. Having alighted, the bridegroom salutes the bride, and the whole company breakfast together; after which the party mount their horses, and women and men gallop over hill and dale to the church, eagerly contending who shall arrive there first. The alehouse near the kirk (which is never wanting, for

"Where'er the Lord erects a house of prayer,
"The Devil always builds a chapel there,"

receives the joyful guests, who cheer their spirits with a hearty glass before the performance of the ceremony. After tying the indissoluble knot, the party again adjourn to the inn, inviting the parson to partake of their cheer. An hour, at least, is spent in swallowing punch without intermission; and the company, now almost mad with liquor, again mount their nags, and furiously scamper away, headlong, towards the bride's house, fancying every difficulty vanishes before them; while all the villagers (who for some time have been upon the watch) are standing on the neighbouring hills to see the race. It is accounted a fortunate circumstance if they all arrive safe at the bride's house; but it too often happens that some of the party get a tumble, and that a desperate female alights upon hér head and shoulders

BIDDEN-WEDDING.

The Bidden-Wedding, as it is provincially called, was very common a few years ago, and is not yet quite obsolete. In that case, the bridegroom and a few of his friends ride about the villages, for several miles round, bidding, or inviting, their neighLours to come to the wedding on the day appointed. The wed

ding is likewise advertised in the county newspaper, with a general invitation, and enumerating the various rural sports to be exhibited upon the occasion, such as horse races, foot races, leaping, wrestling, &c. for suitable prizes. This generally brings together a great concourse of people, who, after enjoying the sports of the day, make a contribution to the new-married couple. This sometimes amounts to a considerable sum, and is found very useful to the wedded pair in setting them forward in the world.

CHRISTENINGS

Are often attended with great companies, music, dancing, and expensive feasting; but not so much so at present as formerly. It is customary at these times for the sponsors to make small presents to the midwife; or, if a doctor has been employed, to the mother of the child.

VISITING THE SICK

Be

Is a Christian virtue which the people of Cumberland possess in a high degree. Also, when a person dies, the neighbours are called in during the expiring moments, and continue to assist the family in laying out the corpse, which is placed upon a bed hung round, and covered with the best linen the house affords. tween the death and interment, which is from two to three days, the neighbours watch by the corpse alternately-the old people during the day, and till bed-time; and the young people afterwards till morning. Bread, cheese, and ale, with pipes and tobacco, are provided for those who attend the corpse. The friends of the deceased, as well as the neighbours for several miles round, are generally invited to the funeral, who are served with bread and cheese, ale, drams, pipes and tobacco. After the burial, a select party of friends and neighbours are again invited to supper.

FEASTING AND RURAL AMUSEMENTS

Take place at several seasons of the year; but the principal are at Christmas, when the greatest hospitality prevails among the villagers; every family is provided with goose pies, minced pies, and ale. Where flocks of sheep are kept, there is also an ancient custom of killing the fattest among them before Christmas. Of this sheep they make the first meal for breakfast on Christmasday, which consists of minced meat, made rich with fruit, and boiled in the ventricle of the animal.

CHRISTMAS

Is ushered in, and continues with feasting and dancing till after the Twelfth-day: formerly no work was done, even by the servants, during the greatest part of that time; but at present only Christmas-day and New-year's-day are entirely kept holiday. Although the original occasion of indulging the appetite, and gratifying the senses with rural sports and Fastings-even, or Shrovetide, is now almost forgotten; yet the custom still continues to be

02

observed

observed in this county. How tenacious are we in retaining those old customs which gratify the senses! and, on the contrary, how readily do we quit, when at liberty, those institutions which mor tify the sensual appetite!

EASTER

Is likewise a time of similar rejoicings; as is Whitsuntide in some places. In sheep-farming districts, the sheep-shearing season is generally concluded with festive entertainments: and the corn-harvest is terminated on every farm with equal hilarity. This last is called the kirn, a provincial term for churn, from the cream, and oaten or wheaten cake, which formerly was the principal ingredient in the feast, and still continues to form the last dish of the kirn supper.

Nothing marks more strongly the character and manners of a people than their public amusements, and their mode of spending such leisure hours as usually occur.

DIVERSIONS.

The Diversions of the young men are of the athletic kind, such as running, leaping, wrestling, foot-ball, trippet, hunting, and horse-racing. The savage sport of cock-fighting has also taken deep root in this county, and draws together a large collection of rude gamblers once a year, at every village alehouse; and that about the beginning and end of Lent.-Girls often play at handball; dancing is a common amusement of both sexes; as well as an occasional game at cards. The boys divert themselves with these sports in miniature: and also play at other more juvenile games, which are mostly faint representations of the warlike feats of their ancient forefathers. The game called beggarly Scot, in par ticular, exhibits a striking view of the free-booting practices of the former border inhabitants. The boys divide themselves into two parties, one of which represents the Scots, and the other the English; they fix upon two holds, at the distance of about 60 or 100 yards, and a boundary line is marked between them. The boys then pull off their coats, waistcoats, and hats; and each party places its clothes at its proper hold. The object now on both sides, is to plunder the enemy in the most dexterous manner, without being taken prisoner; because, if they are caught on their adversaries' ground, they are carried to a supposed place of confinement, and can no longer assist their friends in making prizes of the clothes, who are probably, at last, totally overpowered. Sometimes the prisoners are mutually allowed to fight and plunder for the conquerors.

The villagers spend their winter evenings generally in small parties over homely fires: men (except manufacturers and some mechanics) do nothing after night sets in; but women of every description, from eight years old and upwards, are employed till bed-time (about ten o'clock) in spinning, knitting, sewing, &c.

OBSERVA

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