The year book of daily recreation and information concerning remarkable men and manners, times and seasons, solemnities and merry-makings, antiquities and novelties on the plan of the 'Every-day book and table book.' / By William Hone.

  • Hone, William, 1780-1842.
Date:
1838
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The year book of daily recreation and information concerning remarkable men and manners, times and seasons, solemnities and merry-makings, antiquities and novelties on the plan of the 'Every-day book and table book.' / By William Hone. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    784/842 (page 1543)
    row, close to the little inn (B), stood the dealers in glass-ware, looking-glasses, and small articles Ther the inn itself, the sign of which was, I believe, the King’s Arms, was the com- mon resort of the horse dealers. In this house sat the Ptred-poudre court, with power to arbitrate disputes in dealing, quel] riots, fine and otherwise punish summarily, persons guilty of petty offences, having a pair of stocks and a whipping post in front, and a strong room under- neath. Close adjoining northward was the oyster fair. The oysters brought from Lynn were very large, about the size ofa horse’s hoof, and were opened with pin- cers; the more delicate, from Colchester and Whitstable, were very small. In the meadow adjoining were the coal fair, pottery fair, and Staffordshire ware dealers (W, W, W). The greater part of these articles were delivered from on board ves- sels, which drew up close to the bank of the river. Returning and opposite to the fair was kept (T). The show of beautiful animals in that place was perhaps unri- valled, unless in Yorkshire. The finest racers and hunters from Yorkshire, the most bony and muscular draught horses from Suffolk, and from every other coun- this scene. This horse fair drew together a great concourse of gentry, farmers, and dealers from all parts of the neighbouring counties, and scores of valuable animals changed masters in the short space of a few hours. The horse fair was held on the first Friday after Stirbitch fair was proclaimed. Higher up and about fifty yards from the road was Ironmonger’s- row (P), with booths occupied by manufac- turers from Sheffield, Birmingham, Wol- verhampton, and other parts; and dealers in agricultural tools, nails, hatchets, saws, and such like implements. About twenty yards nearer the road were woollen dra- pers; and further on, and opposite to Garlick-row westward, were booths (X) for slop-sellers, and dealers in haubergs or waggoners-frocks, jackets, half-boots, and such like habiliments for robust ploughmen and farm laborers. Then fol- lowed the Hatter’s-row (Y), close to which was_a very respectable coffee-house and tavern (Q), fitted up with neat tables covered with green baize, having glazed sash windows and a boarded floor; kept by the proprietor of Dockrell’s coffee- house, in Cambridge, famed for excellent railk punch. There were likewise a num- ber of suttling booths (I, K), where plain and substantial dinners were served up in a neat comfortable style, well cooked, and moderately charged, except on the horse fair and Michaelmas days, when an extra sixpence generally was tackt to the tail of the goose. The Robin Hood (H), at the back of Garlick-row, near the basket fair, stood pre-eminent. There, after the business of the day was over, aid most commonly on the evening of the horse fair day, novices, who had come to keep the fair, were initiated, or “christened.” The for- mula is as follows:—The fresh man was introduced to the elder members in the “parlor” of the Robin-hood, and two sponsors having been previousiy chosen for him, he was placed in an armed-chair, - his head uncovered, and his shoes off. Two vergers, holding staves and lighted candles, assisted the officiator, who was bell in one hand and a book in the other. He commenced the ceremony by asking, ““Ts' this an Infidel 7 Fi, “Yes.” -@: “‘ What does he require?” R. “ Instruc- tion (or to be instructed).” Q. ‘“¢ Where are the sponsors?—let them stand for- ward!” A bowl of punch, or a bottle of wine, was placed on the table handy for the officiator, who then chaunted the fol- lowing doggrel :— is Over thy head I ring this bell, Because thou art an infidel, And I know thee by thy smell,— Chorus—With a hoccius proxius mandamus, Let nv vengeance light on him, And so call upon him, 2. This child was born in the merry month of -May, Clap a pound of butter to his cheek, and it will soon melt away, And if he longs for a sop, let him have it I ray— Cheeta his hoccius, &c. 3. This child’s shoes are made of running leather, He’ll run from father and mother the deuce knows whither, And here he may runthe length of his tether— Chorus—To a hoccius, &c. at. This child now to Stirbitch fair is come, He may wish to kiss a pretty wench ere he returns home, But let him be advis’d and not to Barnwell roam— Chorus—For a hoccius, &c,