AURRfONWY. 109 



fife and drum proceed with a cart to convey delin- 

 quents to the place of punishment : when they 

 come to a house where a proper object resides, the 

 storming party try by all the means in their power 

 to gain access into the house, and by climbing to 

 the windows with ladders, or by forcing back- 

 doors, they generally succeed. The culprit being 

 arrested, and having time allowed him to dress, if 

 caught in bed, is placed in the cart, and triumph- 

 antly hurried to the stocks : where one of the party, 

 having secured his feet, gives him a lecture upon 

 the heinousness of idleness and breaking an old 

 established custom ; then taking hold of his right 

 hand, he asks him a few questions such as these : 

 Whether he likes better the mistress or the maid, 

 ale or butter-milk ; whether he would go through 

 the gate of a field if open, or over the stile. Sac. 

 If in his answers he fixes upon what is obviously 

 preferable, his hand is the more thickly covered 

 with some dirty mud, and he is then released with 

 cheers. This sport which would be impracticable 

 in a larger and less intimate community is con- 

 tinued with the greatest good humour until eight ; 

 when the rest of the day is spent in playing at ball 

 in the castle. The same custom used not long 

 ago to be observed also on Whitmonday. It is 



