Page

CHAPTER II.

New Forest-Retains more of its Forest Character than any

other-Boundaries now nearly the same as in Charles II's.

time - Places in the Forest — Its Features as you pass

through it-As compared with other Forests-Not the

ruin of a Forest, but a Forest in its prime— The Cause of

this—Picturesque Style of the Cottages and small Enclo.

sures in its Neighbourhood - A Day's stroll through it by

the Author - Feelings inspired by its Solitude and Air of

Antiquity_Forest Farms, Swine, Catile and their Bells

Spot where Rufus was killed, near Stony-Cross— The De.

scendants of Purkiss, who conveyed the Body of Rufus to

Winchester-Tradition of the Cart-wheel-Gilpin's Parson-

age and School-His Opinion of the Origin of the New

Forest Horses-Wild Population of the Forest-Adventure

of a Physician with them-Forest Walks and Lodges-

Stirrup of Rufus preserved at Lyndhurst-—The Forest Court

a singular Scene, as described by Mr. Stewart Rose

83

CHAPTER III.

Sherwood Forest-In a very different state to New Forest-

Celebrated as the Scene of Robin Hood's Exploits— The

Norman Kings, especially John, fond of Hunting there

Formerly of great extent; containing Nottingham, Mans-

field, Annesley, Newstead, etc.— Its Constitution and Affairs

- Curious Fact regarding the Byrons and Chaworths,

Present Extent of the Forest— Bilhaghe an unique and im-

pressive Remains of a portion of it — Birkland a beautiful

tract of Birch Woodland-Its Fairyland Character-Con-

cluding Remarks

99

CHAPTER IV.

Forest Enclosures-Injuries to the Arts, Manufactures, and the

Intellectual Taste of the Public to be apprehended from such

Enclosures-Logic of Lawyers and Land surveyors-Open

Lands needed for Public Enjoyment_That Open Lands are

Unproductive, shewn to be a very false notion - Unchristian

principle on which Enclosures have been conducted-Enclo-

sures inimical to our National Interests.-Numbers who

seek the refreshment of Summer Visits to our Forests,

Coasts, Moors, and Mountains—The Utilitarian Enclosures

of certain Lands recommended

110

CHAPTER V.

Wild English Cattle-Places where they still exist-Bewick's

Description of them—The Author's Visit to Chillingham

Park in 1836, to see the great Herd

. 119

PART III.

HABITS, AMUSEMENTS, AND CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE.

CHAPTER I.

Page

Cottage Life-Wide space between the Life of the Hall and that

of the Cottage—The Routine of the Labourer's Life-A

Blow aimed at his Domestic Security—A Highland Hut-

A Night passed in one—Abodes of Poverty called Rookeries

- The Beauty of English Cottages in some parts of England

-A Thought on seeing such by Professor Wilson-Delight-

fulness of some of the Cottages of the Wealthy and Refined 126

CHAPTER II.

Popular Festivals and Festivities--Sketch of their History-

Of Catholic origin-The great Change in the Public Taste

regarding them traced to the Reformation - Subsequent

co-operating Causes pointed out~ The Intellectual Cha-

racter of the Popular Taste still Progressive

142

CHAPTER III.

May-Day Festivities Forinerly celebrated with more Gaiety

than any others—Came down from Pagan Antiquity in all

their Arcadian Beauty-It was the Festival of the Poets--

None now more entirely obsolete — Washington Irving's

Delight at seeing Plough-bullocks and May-poles in the

Neighbourhood of Newstead — Great Decline of these things

during the last Thirty Years even there—A few May-poles

still to be found in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire-May-

dances quite gone by-May-day celebrated with enthusiasm

by the Poets-European observance of May derived from

the Roman Festival of Flora-Saxon Customs of this period

of the Year-Druid Customs-Blowing of Horns at Oxford

and other places—Custom mentioned by Erasmus, of placing

a Deer's Horns on St. Paul's Altar-Custom of the Hindus

-Beltane in Ireland and Scotland-May-feast of Northum-

berland-Fishing for the Wedding-ring—Roman Feast of

Flora imitated in France and England - Various Additions

here of Robin Hood, Maid Marian, Friar Tuck, etc. --Spen-

ser and Herrick's description of May-day Festivities-Henry

VIII., Elizabeth, and James I.'s going a-Maying-Sheriffs

and Aldermen of London going a-Maying-Congratulated

by Lydgate the Poet-In 1644, all May-poles pulled down

- In 1654 Maying again, in presence of the Lord Protector

-Great May-pole in the Strand raised again at the Restora.

tion— Aubrey's Account of the May-booms in Holland-

Complaints of Aubrey and Evelyn of Injury done to the

Woods by Mayers-May Customs that yet remain

152

CHAPTER IV.

Page

Easter Festivities-May the Festival of the Young, Easter that

of the Church-Celebration of Easter in Catholic Countries
– Royal distribution of Alms on Maunday Thursday at
Whitehall, still kept up-Easter at Moscow, Jerusalem
Kome, and other Places Eating Hot-cross-buns, and
going to Church the sole remaining Ceremonies in Eng-
land-Easter Morning as described by Goethe-Strange
Plays acted in Churches by the Monks at Easter-Church-
wardens' Accounts at Reading for such Expenses—Paschal
Lights—Lighting the Annual Fire at the Holy Sepulchre
at Jerusalem-Easter Customs in various Countries- Pas-
chal Eggs—Peculiar Privileges attached to their Presenta-
tion in Russia — Courts shut, and Business suspended
formerly in London-Still a time of great Recreation to
Mechanics there-Less observed in Country Towns—Pace-
Eggs still given in some Countries-Heaving, or Lifting

-Ball-Play

- 166

CHAPTER V.

Whitsuntide Festivities--Sole Religious Festival that continues

a Popular one- This partly owing to Friendly Societies

-Joyous Aspect of this Village Fete-Whitsuntide Village

Processions as seen by the Author in his Youth-- Fine sub-

ject for a Painter, These Love Feasts of the People very

appropriate to this Period, being that of the AGAPAI, or

Love Feasts of the early Christians-Objections to their

being held at Public Houses — This remediable – Whit-

suntide as witnessed at Warsop in Nottinghamshire-Con-

cluding Remarks

• 183

CHAPTER VI.

Christmas Festivities - The Festival of the Fireside-Its Ancient

Usages made familiar by our Popular Writers—Burton's

Account of Christmas Games— Withers' Poetical Descrip-

tion of Christmas 200 years ago--Scott's View of them as

seen in the past-Pageants at this season in Catholic Coun-

tries, as at Rome, Naples, and in Spain-Interesting Domes-

tic Custom in Germany-Christmas as now passed by the

Poor, and by the Middle and Higher Classes—The Waits

- Christmas Visiting and Country Games Christmas

Carols, as sung about Manchester, collected by the late

Miss Jewsbury-Christmas Customs still kept up-George

and the Dragon — Blessing Orchards, etc. - Concluding

Remarks on the Present State of the Popular Festivals 192

CHAPTER VII.

The Fairy Superstitions — Fairies all vanished from the Country

-Gone in Chaucer's Days, Bishop Corbett's Farewell to
them — Hogg their last Poet - Fairies of Caldon-Low-

Page

Made Immortal by Milton and Shakspeare-Belief of them

yet lingering in Wales-Robin Goodfellow and the Lubber.

fiend of Milton thrown out of Employ by the Thrashing-

Machine — Fairies' Waterfall at Aberpergum - Morgan

Lewis, the Neath Guide's account of their positive Depar-

219

ture

CHAPTER VIII.

The Village Inn—The Old-fashioned Village Inn a very different

place to the New Beer-Shop-Its General Aspect-Its Old

Tree-Remarkable Tree of this kind at the Golden Grove,

near Chertsey- The Country Inn Kitchen-Description of

Landlords by which such Inns are kept— Their Cleanness

and Rural Plenty-Patronised by all Classes, from the

Squire downwards - Humorous Characters often found

there-Curious Scene once witnessed by the Author at a

Country Inn in Yorkshire, The New Beer-Shops a uni.

versal Nuisance

· 228

CHAPTER IX.

Popular Places of Resort — Wakes, Statutes, and Fairs—The

Wake, the Feast of the Dedication of the Parish Church,

now dwindled into a Village Holiday-Anticipation of it

by the Rural People—Wake Festivities—The Wake, in

some places yet connected with Church-rites.—STATUTES :

Meetings by Legal Statute for the Hiring of Servants-

Attendance of Farmers, their Wives, and Men and Women

Servants — Their Appearance — Shepherds, Ploughmen,

Milkmaids, and their Insignia-Earnest Money-After-

noon Jollification-- In the Northern Counties the Bondage-

girls hired at similar Meetings.-Fairs: Places of both

Business and Pleasure to all classes of Country People-

Nottingham great October, or Goose Fair taken as a speci-

-Preparations for its Attendance-Fair Scenery and

Characters—Proclamation of the Fair-Corporation Pro-

cession-Gig Fair-Peculiar Tastes and Pleasures of Fair.

: goers-Good subjects for the Painter presented

245

men-

Page

CHAPTER XI.

WRESTLING: its History and present Practice_This Exercise

formerly so general, now confined to a few Counties

Cornwall and Devon, Lancashire, Cumberland and West-

morland-these Counties possessing Practices peculiar to

themselves—Grand Annual Wrestling in Clerkenwell, for-

merly attended by the Lord Mayor and Corporation of

London-Curious Anecdote of a Minister of the Society of

Friends of that day-West of England and Westmorland

and Cumberland Clubs in London - Attempt of Sir Thomas

Parkyn to establish Wrestling in Nottinghamshire-Cornish

Wrestling-Fuller's Opinion of it-Account of it by an

Eye-witness—Champions of Cornwall and Devon-Games

established at St. Ives in Cornwall by John Knill— The

Canns of Dartmoor, and Widdicombs of the Moors-De-

scription of a Match at the Eagle Tavern Green, City Road,

in 1826, between Devon and Cornwall

- 279

CHAPTER XII.

Favourite Pursuits of English Cottagers and Workmen- The

Genius of the Working Class—Its Effects on the Happiness

of that Class- Almost every Man his Hobby-Pigeon-

fanciers, Dog-fanciers, Lovers of Music, Singing, Bell.

ringing, Poaching, Bird-stuffing, Bird-catching--X Caveat

against kidnapping of Nightingales—Interior of a Bird-

catcher's House- Anecdote of a Bird-catcher-Angling, its

effect on the Spirits-Lovers of Gardens and Bees- Anec-

dote of a Bee-lover and the Abbess of Caverswall- Florists-

Entomologists—Crabbe's Description of some known to him

-- Artizans' Gardens—Account of 5000 of these at Notting-

ham-Happiness to be diffused through the Working-class

by sound Legislation

293

CHAPTER XIII.

Sunday in the Country-Goethe's Description of a Sunday in

Germany— Applicable in a great degree to Sunday here-

Trip to Richmond by the Steamer, and its result-Passing

of Sunday by many Inhabitants of large Towns—The

Street Preacher— The Sailor's Chapel— The Irvingite Street-

preacher-A Camp-meeting- Profound Air of Repose in

the Country on this day-The Farmer and his Household

-Groups going Churchward— The Country Church a place

congenial to Worship-Social Pleasures of Sunday Evening

-Millions who enjoy the Blessings of a day of Rest-

Holy Influence of Sunday-Evening Walk

312

CHAPTER XIV.

Cheap Pleasures of Country Life-No great Events needed by

the Lover of Nature to render him happy-Recollections of
early Delight in the Country-Objects of Pleasurable Ob-
servation as they present themselves in the course of the