By W. L. Barker, Esq. 151 



its authenticity. The wrath of the tithingraen (to say nothing 

 of the ladies of Hungerford) would be quickly visited on the 

 presumptuous antiquarian who should dare to assert that the 

 tradition is a fable. He would be handed down to posterity 

 as a modern specimen of a magnified flint implement, and 

 the ladies might begin to dispute his sagacity, if he were 

 found to prefer science to sense. Great excitement accompanies 

 the progress of the tithingmen through the town. Each officer 

 carries a staff tastefully ornamented with flowers, surmounted by 

 an orange, and bedecked with blue ribbon, and his steps are atten- 

 ded by a crowd of youthful admirers whose enthusiasm beggars 

 description. On the following Friday a court called Court Baron 

 is held, at which the officers elect are sworn in ; every resident in 

 the Borough above fourteen years of age must attend or be fined 

 one penny, and the constable and hay ward for the tithing of Sandon 

 Fee are elected and sworn in. A banquet is served in the evening 

 in honor of the new constable. The " immortal memory of John 

 O. Q-aunt " is drunk in solemn silence, and a breakfast on the fol- 

 lowing morning terminates the Hock-tide revelry. Such is a gen- 

 eral outline of the proceedings of Hock-tide. Bear with me while 

 I enter more fully than I have hitherto done into the peculiarities 

 attaching to the various Borough offices. The tithingmen are 

 assistant constables, four of whom are nominated by the Hock- 

 tide jury, the constable electing whichever two he pleases. 

 If one objects to serve, he is fined £2. Each tithingman on taking 

 office pays lOs. 6d. to the constable. 



The bailiff collects the Tolls of Fair, and summonses the juries. 

 A bailiff at his election pays £1 Is. to the constable. On retiring 

 from this post he becomes portreeve, and his share of duty is limited 

 to the collection of Quit-rents. 



The Government of the Borough of Hungerford is conducted 

 by the constable and a body of commoners called feoffees. If a 

 difference of opinion arises between these gentlemen, and on a vote 

 being taken, six feoffees side with the constable, the point is carried 

 in favor of the latter. The feoffees must not number less than 

 six. When they have dwindled to that figure, a fresh feoffment 



