MAY 65 



" Oyez ! Oyez ! Oyez ! " cried the Vicar, with all 

 the power of his particularly sound lungs. 



"What do he say, Betty? What do he say?" 

 asked deaf old Tummus Chalk of his deaf old wife. 



" He be gone silly, sims to I," responded Betty 

 sadly. 



4 'Oyez! Oyez! Oyez! We strictly charge and 

 command that all persons here assembled do keep 

 the peace upon pain of five pounds to be forfeited 

 to the Lady of the Manor, and their bodies to be 

 imprisoned at her pleasure. Also that no manner 

 of person within these precincts do bear any bill, 

 battle-axe, or other weapon. Also that no person 

 do unseemly for any grudge or malice make pertur- 

 bation or trouble upon pain of five pounds and their 

 bodies What is the matter ? Where are they 

 going ? " 



For the crowd was melting away towards The 

 Butts, with the exception of our little party and old 

 Betty and Tummus. 



" An' a very good sarmon too," said old Tummus 

 in his cracked voice, with an attempt at consolation, 

 " so fur as it went, 'wevver. An' I allus stands up 

 fer thy sarmons, passon, whatever folks med say." 



Betty shook him by the coat-sleeve. 



" 'Tent a sarmon," she bawled ; " 'tis summat 

 dotty-like, wi' no sense in't. Don't say nowt or 

 they'll visit it on 'ee. Come on home." 

 | And they hobbled away across the green. 



The rest of us followed the other revellers to 

 The Butts, our enthusiasm dashed for the moment. 



But the main interest of the day was to centre 

 on the doings within the enclosed precincts of The 



