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, Cattle 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

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

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

Page

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.

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

CHAPTER III.

-

May-Day Festivities-Formerly 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

-

142

152

CHAPTER IV.

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,
Rome, 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

CHAPTER V.

Page

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

CHAPTER VI.

166

- 183

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

CHAPTER VII.

-

192

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-

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-

ture

Page

219

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-

men- -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

CHAPTER X.

Sports and Pastimes of the People-History of their Changes

and Present State-Sports generated by the Feudal Habits

-Sports introduced by the Catholic Church. The mere

Brutal portion of both these remaining in the last Cen-

tury Many of these now abolished, and a better class

encouraged Sports and Pastimes prevalent in Farming

Districts and obscure Hamlets-Prevalence of Cricket-

Description of a Cricket-Match between Nottingham and

the Sussex Club-Auguries drawn from the present Popular

Taste

245

- 257

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

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--A 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

CHAPTER XIII.

Page

279

293

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