8 



The bunch of mistletoe in the oak was so large that it could be exceedingly 

 well seen from the adjoining lane, notwithstanding the foliage of the tree. 

 '"There's no mistake about it," said one gentlemen, as if he thought there 

 possibly might have been, its portrait and the description in last year's volume of 

 the Club notwithstanding ! A ladder had been placed against the tree, with the 

 same thoughtful consideration to every detail that could add to the pleasure of 

 the visitors that prevailed throughout the reception, and it was Boon mounted. 

 There was no white yearling bull with garlanded horns to sacrifice beneath 

 the tree for the festivities, nor was there an Archdruid to cut the mistletoe 

 with a golden sickle — indeed the Druidical programme was rather reversed on 

 the present occasion — but anyway the mistletoe bunch was reached and gathered 

 amidst three rounds of applause that were given by the assembled multitude 

 below, and small sprays of " the heaven born plant unpolluted by any touch of 

 the eaith" were distributed to the ladies present and to all others who wished 

 for it. 



A great surprise now awaited the members. The Messrs. Fortey had 

 prepared a grand entertainment for the visitors. Here was the boar's head and 

 hams, roasted bustards and peacocks, heron pies, venison pasties, &c., with a 

 bountiful supply of good old metheglin or mead in ample skins. No, no ! This 

 was what there would have been if the festivities had been held 2,000 years ago. 

 The pies to-day were of pigeon and veal, whilst chickens, and beef, and lamb, and 

 tongues, and hams, with all right and proper additions, loaded the table. 

 What was to be done ? The heads of the Club looked grave as they remembered 

 their rules, which ignore all entertainments, and thought perchance of the 

 modest baskets that had been sent on to the Castle at Wigmore. Was this 

 the exuberant, irrepressible hospitality which belonged to the ancient Forest 

 that set all other laws but its own at defiance? or had the Messrs. Fortey 

 borne in mind that high festivities were a necessary accompaniment of the 

 ancient Druidical ceremony of cutting the mistletoe from the oak ? The ques- 

 tion, however, was soon settled. In the true spirit of philosophy the members 

 " took it kindly"'— 



" They set them downe, find made good chere, 

 And eate and dranke full well." 



Ballad of Adam Bell. 



But picturesque as was the whole scene, merry and gay, a veil must here be 



drawn on it. Something is due to the mystic character of the plant — 



" Oh, Oh, the mistletoe ! 

 Ah ! nobody knows, nor ever shall know, 

 Half that's done under the mistletoe." 



Barry Cornwall. 



Let it be well understood then, to be safe, that only such business matters are 



here eleminated as it behoves a faithful chronicler of the Club to enter on its 



archives. The Fresident, in the name of the Club, begged the acceptance by the 



Messrs. Fortey of the volume of the Transactions now in the press, which contains 



the history of their ancient forest, in pleasant recollection of the very hospitable 



