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further pageant after the issue of this pamphlet does not appear. The writer names a Mr L- as one of the most principal supporters of the guising on the side of Barton." He concludes by declaring his conviction that Barton was the first offender and assailant, by invading Eccles with guisers; and that the victory remained with Eccles, which had only sought to defend its own territory.

HOGHTON PAGEANT IN 1617.

THE following is given in Nichols's "Progresses of James I." as "A speech made to King James at his coming to Hoghton Tower [in August 1617] by two conceived to be the household gods. The first attired in a purple taffeta mantle, in one hand a palm-tree branch, on his head a garland of the same, and in the other hand a dog":

First Tutelar God.

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

And so have flourished in this fairer clime
Successively from that to this our time,
Still offering up to our immortal powers
Sweet incense, wine, and odoriferous flowers,
While sacred Vesta, in her virgin tire,

With vows and wishes tends the hallowed fire.
Now seeing that thy majesty we see,

Greater than country gods, more good than we,
We render up to thy more powerful guard

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

For by thy helping and auspicious hand

He and his home shall ever, ever stand,

And flourish in despite of envious Fate,

And then live, like Augustus, fortunate.

And long, long mayest thou live! To which both men,
God, saints, and angels, say, "Amen, Amen!”

The Second Tutelar God begins :—

Thou greatest of mortals!

[He is nonplussed.

The First God begins again :

Dread Lord! the splendour and the glorious ray
Of thy high majesty hath stricken dumb
His weaker godhead. If that himself he come
Unto thy service straight, he will commend
These foresters, and charge them to attend
Thy pleasure in this park, and show such sport
To the chief huntsman and thy princely court
As the small circuit of this round affords,

And be more ready than he was in 's words.

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

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

CUSTOM AT LIVERPOOL FAIRS.

THE fair days are 25th July and 11th November. Ten days before and ten days after each fair day, a hand (or perhaps a glove) is exhibited in front of the town-hall, which denotes protection; during which time no person coming to or going from the town on business connected with the fair can be arrested for debt within its liberty. This custom is noticed in Gore's Directory, but it has long been discontinued, and no such exemption now exists.

LIVERPOOL MAY-DAY CELEBRATIONS.

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

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

PRESTON GUILD MERCHANT-ITS CELEBRATION EVERY TWENTY YEARS.

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

G