42 LEONARD WHEATCROFT. OF ASHOVER. 



seemed very willing. So coming home againe I set very many 

 at worke, the butcher for one, who dres't for me against that 

 time, and while the wedding did last, 35 head of wares. As for 

 beer, it was brewed before, to the vallew of 8 Quarters of malt 

 with many more needfull commodityes to the valine of 62 

 poundes, 9 and nine pence. 



" The wedding dayes did last long. For eleven dayes together 

 there was 1 1 dinners got : all was shot diners, and there was 

 which breakfasted, dined, and supped, to the number of 200 

 persons : and I had one cooke or two all the while. But before 

 I proceed any furder I will say something of the day itself. 



"Wednesday being May 20th before the Dayspring brake 

 forth, I awoke, and leaping forth of my bed was not long before 

 I had put on my wedding apparril. and arming myself for the day 

 of uniting love, many came to see me that morning. Then did 

 my chosen ringers, Henry Poursgloue, Gyles Low, John Bower. 

 and Jonathan Street ivith flying colours tied to the ivrist of t/ieir 

 hand, cause the merry bells to ring aloud, so that at last manv 

 came, and went along with me to fetch the Bride. 



"So coming to this Towne of Winster we found them all in 

 readiness, and though they had before many times assaulted me, 

 yet now was the wayes made open, so that I, with the rest of 

 my friendes, safely arrived at her father's house, where we was 

 noe little made welcome. But when they saw I would take their 

 daughter, the pearly teares fell from their eyes, yet withal, did 

 they rejoyce. So when Breakfast was ended, the trumpet of each 

 man's heart sounded to horse. Then bringing the damsel away, 

 we advanced towardes Justice Spateman's,* who was then in 

 power according to the Act of Parliament to marry. Then 

 coming to his house I alighted with my bride, and many more, 

 and went in and was wed. The bride-gartersf being taken, and 



* The Spatemans lived at Road Nook, in the parish of Morton, or Bracken- 

 lield, a1x>ut three miles from Ashover. 



t Bride-garters. — " There was formerly a custom in the North of England 

 which will be thought to have bordered very closely upon indecency ; it was 

 for the young men present at a wedding to strive, immediately after the cere- 

 mony, who could first pluck off the bride's garters from her legs. This was 



