According to the rule in the calendar by which Easter Sunday may fall at the earliest on the 22d of March, Whit Sunday, which is the seventh Sunday after Easter, may fall at the earliest on the 10th of May. WHIT SUNDAY CUSTOMS. On Easter-eve and Whitsunday-eve, the Font-hallowing was one of the many various ceremonies in early times. The writer of a MS volume of Homilies in the Harleian Library, No. 2371, says, “in the begynning of holy chirch, all the children weren kept to be chrystened on thys even, at the font-hallowyng; but now, for enchesone that in so long abydynge they might dye without chrystendome, therefore holi chirch ordeyneth to chrysten at all tymes of the yeare; save eyght dayes before these Evenys, the chylde shalle abyde till the font hallowing, if it may safely for perill of death, and ells not." Among the ancient annual church disbursements of St. Mary at Hill, in the city of London, the following entry sometimes occurs:-"Water for the Font on Whitson Eve, id." Noble Strewing the Church. Collinson, in his History of Somersetshire, speaking of Yatton, says, that "John Lane of this parish, gent., left half an acre of ground, called the Groves, to the poor for ever, reserving a quantity of the grass for strewing the church on Whitsunday." Alms Houses. Mr. A. Wood says that "there were no alms houses, at least they were very scarce, before the Reformation; that over against Christ Church, Oxon, is one of the ancientest. In every church was a poor man's box, but I never remembered the use of it; nay, there was one at great inns, as I remember it was before the wars. These were the days when England was famous for the grey goose quills." The rule in the calendar, stated yesterday, applies to this day. Many particulars concerning usages at Whitsuntide are stated in the Every Duy Book. Whitsuntide was formerly one of the seasons greatly preferred for marrying, and in which a great many weddings were performed before the passing of the marriage act. Previous to the operation of that law, one George Keith, an episcopal Scotch minister who had been "driven from Scotland," says the rev. Mark Noble, in London; and, to procure a maintenance, "for his attachment to episcopacy," settled carried on the trade, since so successfully set up a marriage-office in the Fleet, and pursued by the "Blacksmith" of Gretna Green. Few persons so much injured the public morals, or caused so much distress in families, as this unworthy man and his brethren. They had their setters, or * Brand i. 231. barkers, to ask people passing in the streets whether they wanted a clergyman to marry them. Keith and his journey, men one morning, during the Whitsun holidays, at May Fair Chapel, locked together a greater number of couples than had been married at any ten churches within the bills of mortality. He had transferred his practice from the Fleet to May Fair, where he continued to officiate for many years, till he was again obliged to take refuge in the Fleet. At length the Bishop of London excommunicated him, and caused the sentence to be repeated in May Fair Chapel. In 1700, Keith published "The Guide; or, the Christian Pathway to Everlasting Life,"-yet he was an utter disgrace to the clerical character. He frequently performed the marriage ceremony while he and the parties he united were in a state of brutal intoxication, The "Adventurer," speaking of "signs," observes, that the "hand and pen" properly belonged to the schoolmasters, "though the very reverend and right worthy order of my neighbours, the Fleet parsons, have assumed it to themselves, as a mark of marriages performed without imposition." Keith lived till he had attained his 89th year. He died in 1735. The origin of this very curious and singular custom, which is triennially celebrated on Whit-Tuesday, is involved in doubt and obscurity. Some suppose that it was coeval with the foundation of Eton college, and that it derives its title from a Monkish procession taking place annually to a small mount (perhaps formerly a Saxon barrow, near a village, at present situated on the Bath road,) called Salthill; and that, by the monks composing this procession, was then and there sold consecrated" salt," whence the name of the place. It can however be satisfactorily traced as far back as the time of Elizabeth, who when on a visit to the college desired to see an account of the ancient ceremonies observed there from the period of its foundation. In the list was an annual procession of the scholars, who, on these occasions, repeated verses, and gathered money for a dinner and other purposes. † It is well known that this spectacle consists at present of a procession of the boys to Salthill, where money is collected for the captain as a kind of provision against his going to the University. But, though thus much is well known, the little minutia attendant on the occasion are not so. 66 The students begin to assemble at about 9 o'clock in the morning, and at half past there is what is termed, in the Etonian phraseology, an "absence.' This may require a little explanation, as it is called lucus à non lucendo, from all being required to be "present;" and on Montem-day" it is performed thus: The boys, in order, march three times round the playing or school yard, and are each successive time called over by the head Master, who stands at his "Chamber door." Behind each "fifth form boy" marches a "lower boy," carrying a white pole, and hence this part of the school receive the appellation of “pole bearers." After this necessary part of the ceremony it becomes nearly time to proceed to Salthill; but to check too great impatience on the part of the Etonians, sundry stout fellows are placed at all places of exit, well armed with staves. At ten the boys begin to move, and dire is the rout, and dreadful is the squeeze, each striving with each to be out first, since the only perImitted way is through the cloisters, and thence into the playing fields; and the last passage is narrow in the extreme. When once fairly out, the "pole-bearers" dutifully hold out their poles, to be smitten in twain by the valorous swords of the fifth form, girded on for that sole purpose. Their march ought to be performed in great and extended order, two and two, but before they get half-way "confusion worse confounded" takes the place of military array; and in uproar wild they arrive at Salthill, where they are once more marshalled. But the most important personages, and + Beauties of England Windsor Guide. and Wales by J. Britton. whose duty is most heavy, have been omitted; these are the "Salt-bearers." Their proper number is only two, but they are assisted by many others denominated "Servitors," or scouts, or runners; these are composed of the residue of the 6th form, after the marshal, captain, lieutenant, ensign, sergeants, and corporals have been deducted; and also of a certain number of the king's scholars in the 5th form, called "Liberty boys." On the morning of Montem they frequently rise as early as six o'clock, and forthwith scour the country, levying contributions on all they fall in with. As a multitude of persons usually flock from all quarters to visit the "sight," the number whom they meet is generally very great. Mr. Britton, whom I cite, says "that the refusal of passengers to buy salt would, perhaps, be attended with danger." When "salt" has been purchased, or, in other words, when money-for, of course, nothing but money will suffice-has been contributed, the buyer or contributor is presented with a ticket, which is affixed to some conspicuous part of the dress, i. e. the hat of a gentleman, &c., and this token secures an exemption from future demands. One of the Montem tickets was quaintly and appropriately inscribed with the Latin words Mos pro lege, "Custom in place of right." In consideration of the great fatigue they would otherwise undergo in thus scouring the country, each salt bearer and scout is allowed a horse and gig, for the double purpose of saving time and labour, and of being enabled, by extending their circuit, to gather contributions from greater numbers, and therefore to a greater amount. Having collected the salt from the company, the salt bearers, &c., levy a contribution from the boys, of at least one shilling each, which in the whole school would amount to upwards of £30. When they have reached Salt-hill, the object of the procession, another piece of mummery takes place, the College flag incribed with the motto pro more et monte, "For our custom and the Mount," is bravely waved three times by the ensign standing on the summit of the montem or Hill. The real business of the procession is then accomplished, but by far the most satisfactory part, to the boys at least, now begins; for after an "absence" on the mount the fifth form are distributed to dine by themselves, and the lower boys by themselves. The scene that then takes place can be easily left to the imagination. Another amusement is, after dinner to lounge about a certain garden; and then, provided the Captain, or head boy, who is to receive the "benefit" of the Montem, be disliked (as was the case last Montem, June 9th 1829,) the boys forthwith set about with sword and with mischievous industry to demolish the trees, shrubs, plants, flowers, &c. ; the payment of all which damage falls to the Captain. At the last Montem the Royal Life Guards (Blue), then stationed in Windsor, were called to keep guard there, and much mirth was excited by the Etonians challenging the Blues to single combat, when, soon as the ponderous sword of the Guardsman was uplifted, the affrighted Student betook himself to his heels. After another "absence"on the Montem the procession retires to Eton about five. This is the part enacted by the Etonians, but the sight attracts multitudes, and, if the weather is fine, the company are a greater "show" than the "show" itself. The carriages are many, and as time advances their number increases, till their fair occupants, if they desire to get a good place," are often obliged to take to the foot. 66 The day after the Montem the Captain gives a breakfast to the first two hundred boys, in the College Hall. Having thus, in however deficient and faulty a style, attempted to show the Moutem as it is, without being influenced by undue prejudice, I proceed in a brief manner to describe the various titles and customs adopted by the Etonians, on this, as it may be called, their triennial day of jubilee. (1.) A Marshal, who however is in reality inferior to the Captain. He is dressed in a Marshal's uniform, and carries a baton. Several servants and pages in the dresses of different nations follow him two and two. (2.) A Captain, really the commanding officer, for whose "benefit" the Montem is held, and who is head boy of the school. The Captain cannot be other than a king's scholar, for no oppidon, that is to say, no boy not on the foundation, is allowed to be one. He is dressed in the usual regimental dress, superbly adorned, and is attended as the Marshal. (3.) A Lieutenant, in the usual dress. (4.) An Ensign, the second boy, that is a king's scholar, to whom is entrusted the College Flag. Besides these a great many (5.) Sergeants, and (6.) Corporals, in their proper uniforms. These are all who are of acknowledged rank; they consist entirely of king's scholars, and sixth form. (7.) The rest of the hifth form are attired in military coats, cocked hats and feathers, white trowsers, and boots; girded with a sword, quite a la milituire, of all ranks. The dresses worn by the fifth form on this day are continued till the midsummer holidays, while, on the contrary, the fancy costumes of the sixth form and salt-bearers are merely put on for the occasion: hence the boys of the fifth form obtain the cognomen of " lobsters." (8.) The remainder of the boys, entitled "lower boys," are dressed in white waistcoats, trowsers, silk-stockings, and pumps their coats are blue, and they carry a white pole. (9.) The Salt-bearers and their Servitors, Scouts, or Runners, wear every kind of fancy dress that can be devised, of all nations and of all colors (each however is furnished with a large embroidered bag for "salt,") so that they are the gayest of the gay. Throughout this account, the word "benefit" has been used in a doubtful and ambiguous sense, and may require a little explanation. All however that need be urged is that frequently, far from proving beneficial to the young man whom it is intended to assist during his stay at the University, the Montem has the very opposite effect of leaving him out of pocket. The cause of which is the expense of the superb dress he has to wear, the dinner at Salt-hill which he has to give to certain boys, the payment of all damage done to the garden, and above all the breakfast, which is expected to be an elegant dejeuné a la fourchette,provided at his own cost for two-hundred school-fellows! the collection, however, frequently amounts to between £800 and £1000. His Majesty's contribution varies from £50 to £100. Here it occurs as being proper to add from the "Winsor guide" a pleasant note "Some writers of the present day have objected to the continuance of this custom, on the ground of its inutility, but it has been successfully vindicated by several able advocates, one of whom thus pleasingly describes the attractions of this animated spectacle:- Out upon the eternal hunting for causes and reasons! I love the no-meaning Eton Montem. I love to be asked for salt by a pretty boy in silk stockings and satin doublet, though the custom has been called somehing between begging and robbing. 1 love the apologetical Mos pro lege, which defies the Police and the Mendicity Society. I love the absurdity of a Captain taking precedence of a Marshal, bearing a guilt Bâton at an angle of forty-five degrees from his right hip; and an Ensign flourishing a flag with the grace of a Tight-rope Dancer; and Sergeants paged by fair-skinned Indians and beardless Turks; and Corporals in sashes and gorgets, guarded by innocent Polemen in blue jackets and white trowsers. I love the mixture of real and mock dignity; the Provost in his cassock clearing the way for the Duchess of Leinster to see the ensign make his bow, or the Headmaster gravely dispensing leave of absense till nine to Counts of the Holy Roman Empire and Grand Seigniors. I love the crush in the cloisters and mob on the Mount-I love the clatter of carriages and the plunging of horsemen— I love the universal gaiety, from the Peer who smiles and sighs that he is no longer an Eton Boy, to the Country Girl who marvels that such little Gentlemen have cocked huts and real swords. Give me a Montem with all its tom-foolery I had almost said before a coronation. It is a right English scene ;-there is the staymaker's wife from Thames Street, "elbowing a Cavendish, and a Gentleman-commoner of Cambridge playing the agree able to a farmer's pretty daughter from Chippenham-green. Cynics, Cynics, abandon your heresy !'" There are copies of doggrel verses distributed on the occasion, and, having fortunately one of the last before me, it is annexed. It will be instantly perceived that there is no attempt at euphuism in them-the names are those of the Boys in their order in the procession. Montem Ode, June 9, 1829. Behold me once more your old poet ecstatic, Though old, blind, and nearly three parts rheumatic, • Windsor, not London, gent.e reader. Yet, alert in my car, Like a young man-of-war, Or a horse, Or a shay, Or (I'm quite at a loss What next I should say); So with out anymore gaytropes and fine figures, Hail! masters, young, old, white, dusky, or niggers. Late as I lay upon my bed, And snugly dream't upon my pillow, Great Phoebus self stood at my head, And cried, with voice emphatic, hillo, Get up and sing of Montem, and of salt. He said and vanished like a pint of malt. Pregnant with inspiration, up I rose, First snatched my lyre-then put on my clothes, Harnessed my steed, I did indeed, And, as I drank a pint of purl, I Hark! by the sound of the fifes and drums, In red and gold like a leaving book; In your boots 'stead of shoes; But they're gone by, With a page, or Two in his train, Stalks o'er the plain: But who comes next? By my fame, I think 'tis BARRETT, Just look at him if you please, sir. * It may perhaps be necessary to explain this to some readers. There is a custom at Eton of giving a book to a boy at his departure; this is therefore called a leaving book, and, as it is generally handsomely bound and gilt, the simile is on this occasion very appropriate. Pilgarlic. Then comes CREASY, Don't he please ye? Lo! as bright As night By the harvest moon or star-lit; With gloves on his knuckles, And shoes and buckles, March away, march away, Mr. SCARLETT. Not less enchanting, See Mr. CARLTON, saunter in And the portly Mr. CRAVEN, Then comes Mr. SNOW, With lace very handy; And JILP the very pink of fashion, With breeches, shoes, and hat, and sash. on After him comes gallant MOORE, And see behind him Mr. HULSE, As any jay, In honor of the Montem day. What ensign is this; No, sirs, in a word, Let the plain truth be heard; Ensign ELLIOT, advance With your new step from France,→ The people all talk, The gents cry out" well done he !" He's a noble youth, Who looks as nice Or Achilles. And brave Mr. YARD, With a mantle of velvet, If it should, rain ill-starr'd |