ANTIQUITIES. 



673 



and ribbands, and hanging their 

 silver watches, spoons, and other 

 glittering articles upon it, carry 

 it about to collect money ; this is 

 called carrying the garland." 



The Sherrffes' Breakfasts. 



"There is ananchantcustomein 

 this cittie of Chester, the memory 

 of man now livinge not knowings 

 the original,* that upon Mondaye 

 in Easter weeke, yearely, co- 

 naonly called Black Mondaye, f 

 the two sheriffes of the cittie doe 

 shoote for a breakfaste of calves- 

 heades and bacon, comonly called 

 the sheriffes' breakfaste4 the 

 manner beinge thus : the daye be- 

 fore, the drum sowndeth through 

 the cittie with a proclamation for 

 all gentelmen, yeomen, and good 

 felloweg, that will come with their 

 bowes and arrowes to take parte 

 with one sherrifFor the other, and 



upon Monday-morning, on the 

 Rode-dee, the mayor, shreeves, 

 aldermen, and any other gentel- 

 men, that wol be there, the one 

 sherife chosing one, and the other 

 sherife chosing another, and soe 

 of the archers ; then one sherife 

 shoteth and the other sherif he 

 shoteth to shade him, beinge at 

 length some twelve score : soe all 

 the archers on one side to shode 

 it till it be shode and so till three 

 shutes be wonne, and then all the 

 winers' side goe up together firste 

 with arrowes in their handes, and 

 all the loosers with bowes in their 

 hands together, to the comon- 

 hall of the cittie, where the mayor 

 aldermen and gentelmen, and the 

 reste take pane together of the 

 saidbreakfasteinlovynge manner ; 

 this is yearly done, it beinge 

 a comendable exercise, a good 

 recreation and a lovynge assem- 

 blye." 



• By some MS. annals, quoted in another part of Archdeacon Rogers's book it 

 appears to have been begun in 1511. 



t So called from remarkably dark and inclement weather, which happened on 

 an Easter Monday, when King Edward the Third lay with his army before Paris, 

 and proved fatal to many of his troops. See How's Chronicle. 



t In the year 1640, the sheriffs gave a piece of plate to be run for, instead 

 of the calves-head breakfast. In 1674, a resolution was entered in the corporation 

 Journals, that the calves-head feast was held by ancient custom and usage, and 

 was not to be at the pleasure of the sheriffs and leave-lookers. In the month of 

 March 1676-7, the sheriffs and leave-lookers were fined 10^ for not keeping the 

 calves-head feast. The sheriffs of late years have given an annual dinner, but noi 

 any fixed day. 



Vol. LII. 



2X 



