St George. Enter Fool to St George. Here comes from post, Old Bold Ben. Fool. Why, master, did ever I take you to be my friend? St George.-Why, Jack, did ever I do thee any harm? St George.-A coxcomb! I defy that name! Appoint your time and place, I'll meet you there. St George.-I'll cross the water at the hour of five, And meet you there, sir, if I be alive. (Exit.) Enter Beelzebub. Here come I, Beelzebub, And over my shoulders I carry my club, And in my hand a dripping pan, And I think myself a jolly old man ; And if you don't believe what I say, Enter in Devil Doubt, and clear the way. Enter Devil Doubt. Here come I, little Devil Doubt, If you do not give me money I'll sweep you all out. If you do not give me money, I'll sweep you all to the grave. MAY-DAY-ROBIN HOOD AND MAID MARION. IN the sixteenth century, or perhaps earlier, Robin Hood presided in the May-Day pageant as lord of the May, and Maid Marion was the lady of the May. Their companions were distinguished as "Robin Hood's In men," and were all dressed in "Lincoln green.” Garrick's collection of old plays is one entitled, "A New Play of Robin Hood, for to be played in the Maygames very pleasant and full of pastime." These Maygames seem to have been acted, before the Reformation, within the walls of the old parish and Collegiate Church of Manchester; for Hollinworth says that John Bradford, the martyr, "preaching in Manchester in King Edward [the VI.'s] days, told the people, as it were by a prophetical spirit, that because they did not readily embrace the Word of God, mass should be said again in that church, and the play of Robin Hood acted there; which accordingly came to pass in Queen Mary's reign." RUSH-BEARINGS. Rushes "1631. THE ancient custom of strewing church-floors with rushes, which were renewed every year on the day of the dedication of the church, seems to have been practised in times before the floors were flagged, to cover the soil or mud of the floors, and to give warmth in winter, and a sort of cleanliness in summer. In the parish register o Kirkham are entries to this effect:-" 1604. to strew the church cost this year 9s. 6d." Paid for carrying the rushes out of the church in the sickness time, 5s." In Thomas Newton's "Herbal to the Bible," 1587, it is stated that "with sedge and rushes many in the country do use in summer-time to strew their parlours and churches, as well for coolness as for pleasant smell." Brand adds-"As our ancestors rarely washed their floors, disguises of uncleanliness became very necessary." It may be noted that disbursements for rushes never appear in the Kirkham register after 1634, when the church was flagged for the first time. The custom was, however, observed till of late years in Penwortham Church. The festival of rush-bearing does not always, however, coincide with the feast of the dedication. At Altcar the church is dedicated to St Michael (Sept. 29), yet the rush-bearing is celebrated in July. Mr Roby speaks of it as an unmeaning pageant still practised in the northern and eastern parts of Lancashire, for the purpose of levying contributions. The rush-cart, preceded by a large silk banner, and decorated with flowers, ribbons, &c., is drawn round to the dwellings of the principal inhabitants by morrice-dancers, who perform an uncouth dance, one of the mummers being a man in motley attire, a sort of compound of the ancient fool. and of Maid Marion; who jingles a horse-collar hung with bells, and makes jokes with the bystanders. The rush-bearing is still kept up with much ceremony at Ambleside. WAKES AND RUSH-BEARINGS ON THE LANCASHIRE AND YORKSHIRE BORDER. THE village festival which, in most counties of England, takes place on the anniversary of the day when the parish church was consecrated, or on the day of the saint to whom it is dedicated, is kept here at a different time and in a different manner than in any other county I have lived in. At the approach of autumn, when rushes are in full length, certain days are set apart for the different towns and villages in the neighbourhood of Saddleworth, when all work is stopped, and everybody rejoices and makes merry. Some young men of the parish load a hand-cart with rushes, sometimes ten to Rush-bearing in East Lancashire. 111 twelve feet high; and with these carts, which are often most gorgeously decorated with flags, ribbons, &c., sometimes with plate borrowed for the purpose from the wealthier parishioners, and preceded by fife and drum, they march in procession through the parish, stopping at almost every house, and after three hearty cheers for the inhabitants, ask either for a present of money or for some refreshments. The money collected is divided among those who loaded and decorated the rush-cart. This custom of gathering rushes is very old, and dates its origin from times when such luxuries as carpeted pews, with cushions and curtains, hot-water or gas pipes, were not known in our country churches. those days, at the approach of winter, the young people collected the rushes and took them to the parish church, and covered the floor with them, to keep warm the feet of the good Christians whom the cold winter's wind, and the long, dreary walk over the snow-covered Yorkshire moors, could not keep from attending matins or evensong. A good old neighbour of mine, seventy-eight years old, well remembers the time when six or eight rush-carts met at Saddleworth Church, and with their contents a warm (church) carpet' was prepared for the coming winter.-N. and Q., 2d ser. xii. 229. In RUSH-BEARING IN EAST LANCASHIRE. THESE used to have a real significance. The rushes were cut, dried, and then carried in carts to the churchyard. The rushes were then strewn along the aisles of the church and in the bottoms of the pews in preparation for winter. Carpets and cushions (locally termed "wishons") were then unknown, except in the pews of the wealthy. Barrowford rush-bearing is always held on the first Sunday after the 19th August. This festival is still visited by vast numbers of persons from Burnley, Colne, Padiham, and elsewhere. Cheap trips are run on the East Lancashire line from Burnley and Colne to Nelson Station. Riot and drunkenness reign supreme. Rushbearing Sundays are also observed at other places, as Holme, Worsthorn, Downham, &c., but usually not in so disreputable a manner. Most of the clergy take advantage of these Sundays, and fix their "charity sermons for those days. They thus obtain contributions from. many distant friends, who pay special visits to their relatives on these occasions. In Yorkshire these pastimes take the name of "feasts." HAMBLETON FAIR. HAMBLETON HILL is one of the most elevated points in East Lancashire. It ranks third to Pendle and Boulsworth. On the first Sunday in May vast numbers of persons are in the habit of climbing the hill; and this annual gathering has now taken the name of "the fair." The neighbouring Sunday-schools are almost emptied on that day, notwithstanding all the efforts of the superintendents and ministers. ROCHDALE RUSH-BEARING. THE annual ceremony of rush-bearing is celebrated in Rochdale and in many other parishes in Lancashire. This custom, partaking of the nature of a village-wake, is of high antiquity, probably as remote as the age of Pope Gregory IV. (A.D. 827), who, on the introduction of |