TUDOR HOUSES IN DORSET. 81 



Sheepshearing and harvest were times for merriment and 

 feasting. For Dorset Harvest Home see X. & 0. 4s. XII, 461. 

 At Christmas the Lord of Misrule and his followers were 

 chosen. See "The Anatomy of Abuses A D - 1583" in Gent. 

 Mag. Lib. p. 77. The words of the drama acted by the 

 Mummers were given by Mr. Udal in S. and D. N. & O. IX, 9. 

 There was wassailing the old apple trees in cider districts, and 

 burning an ashen faggot on the Eve, besides the Yule log on 

 Christmas Day. [W. Antiq. I, 143]. 



During the last quarter of the 16th century, stage plays took 

 the place of the old passion, miracle, and mystery plays of the 

 friars; and we find that various companies of players acted in 

 the Town halls. [Bristol Past and Present, I, 234]. 



TRAVELLING. 



The ancient British track-ways and Roman roads over the 

 downs were hard and good; but in the valleys the roads were 

 often impassable, and there was consequently but little wheel 

 traffic. 



Everybody rode on horseback, and the women on a padded 

 cushion or soft saddle called a " pillion " behind a man. 

 (Illustrated in Wright p. 496). The " upping stock" or 

 " mounting block," an erection of stone steps for their use, 

 may still be sometimes seen outside churchyards, inns and 

 farmhouses. Goods and mails were conveyed by carriers, 

 with trains of pack horses. Long or short crooks were 

 attached to the saddles, the former for sheaves of corn and 

 bulky materials. Crubs with projecting crosspieces were for 

 heavy articles. Tradesmen rode with great bags, hence the 

 term " bagman." Smugglers slung their casks in similar 

 fashion (Devon N. & G. Ill, 31, and Devon N. & Q. Ill, 60). 

 An illustration of a horse with its loaded crook (W. Antiquary 

 VI, 136). One sometimes notices old halter paths and deep 

 narrow lanes leading down to a paved ford (S. and D. N. & Q. 

 V r 169) or else over a pack horse bridge (Ibid. VII. 283; VIII, 

 289). 



