By the Rev. Canon Wordsworth. 287 



in their own customary privilege) did not grudge the poor 

 homeless children gathering their " nitches " of snapping-wood in 

 Grovely. 



The " Sum " of these rights and customs, as I see, has been 

 printed by Sir Eichard Colt Hoare in his Modern Wilts (Hundred 

 of Duwoorth, 1829, pp. 187 — 90J But, as few of us can afford 

 to purchase that great work, and I have not that portion myself, 

 I have transcribed the documents from the MS. copy in a 

 note-book in the Eector's custody at Wishford, which Mr. Mac- 

 donald has kindly lent me. Another copy is in the keeping of 

 the Parish Council there. 



Eegarding the " Sum of the Ancient Custom belonging to Wish- 

 ford and Barford out of the Forest of Grovely," which forms, 

 perhaps the most interesting portion of the note-book, we remark 

 that the 5th Section concerns the right by antient custom for 

 Wishford folk to fell, and bring,about Holy Thursday (i.e.,Asceusion 

 Day) one load of trees upon a cart to be drawn " by strength of 

 people " ; and the like right and custom for Barford folk, upon 

 Whitsun-Monday. 



The rights as to wood for thatching, hurdles, and snapwood are 

 detailed in subsequent sections. The 17th tells how the Wishford 

 people " have iised to go in a dance to the Cathedral Church of 

 our Blessed Lady in the City of New Sarum on Whit-Tuesday," to 

 make their claim there in the familiar words. The 18th section 

 tells how those of Barford St. Martin make a similar dance and 

 claim at the same place and day, omitting the words " and all " 

 before the third exclamation of the name " Grovely." 



Ascension Day, being a movable feast, is of course unaffected 

 by change of style. In old times, as at present, it must always 

 have occurred between April 30th and June 3rd, or on one of those 

 days. In other words it ordinarily falls in the month of May. 

 Whitsun-Monday and Whit-Tuesday occur between May 11th and 

 June 15th, (the " Fence month " mentioned in the Customs, cap. 2, 

 is the thirty days round Midsummer, from June 9th to July 8th.) 



The Sarum printed kalendars generally place the summer solstice 

 — when Sol enters Cancer — at June 13th. Earlier kalendars (in 



