By the Rev. A. C. Smith. 315 
but as it is joined with “ Hope” at Trowbridge and Salisbury, 
it may reasonably be doubted whether it is not an ecclesiastical 
rather than a naval sign. We have the “Jolly Tar,” indeed at 
Hannington, and the “ Ship” six times repeated, and the two signs 
practically combined at Warminster under the figure of the “ Ship 
and Punch-bowl.” But I fancy the “ Ship” is an honourable title 
applied by courtesy to the humble craft which plies on our canals ; 
as is honestly stated in the sign of the “ Barge,” at Melksham, 
Marlborough, and Bradford. We have moreover the “ Bridge Inn,” 
at West Lavington, Woodford, and Bishops Cannings. 
The various trades are better represented. We have the arms of 
the bakers, carpenters, masons, plumbers, weavers, carriers, wheel- 
wrights: we have the “ Bleeding Horse,” representing the trade of 
the farrier, at Ramsbury ; the “ Boot,’ at Westbury and Wardour, 
and the “ Shoe,” at Plaitford and North Wraxall, representing that 
of the cobbler. But (as might be anticipated) it is in Agricultural 
emblems that the heart of the Wiltshireman revels! What more 
intelligible to him than the “ Plough” or the “ Wheatsheaf?” the 
former occurring eleven, the latter twelve times, as tavern signs, in 
rural districts. Then the “ Waggon and Horses,’ four times; the 
“ Pack-horse,” three times; the “‘ Wool-nack,’ three times; the 
“ Harrow,” the “ Shears,” the “ Mait-shovel,” the “ Hop-pole,” the 
“ Barleymow,” the “ Windmill,’ and the “ Shepherd’s Rest,” com- 
plete the tale of this division, and bring its total number to about 
eighty-five. 
(5) The next division represents the “‘ Sporting”’ propensities of the 
county, both of former and of modern days; and inasmuch as the 
sports of olden time were in many respects different from those of 
the present day, an examination of this section will very conclusively 
prove what a tenacious hold the popular sign-board had on the 
public mind; and though the pastime commemorated has long since 
dropped out of use, the sign to which it gave rise, in very many 
instances still flourishes. Now the old English sports comprehended 
the favourite amusements (and cruel indeed and barbarous most of 
them were) of bear-baiting, bull-baiting, cock-fighting, cock- 
throwing, and falconry; as well as the hunting, coursing, racing, 
