Forest of Rossendale. 129 



of the churchwardens, after service had commenced on the 

 Sabbath morning, each carrying his staff, the badge of Office, to 

 parade the streets, and visit the highways and by-lanes in search of 

 Sunday desecrators. Unless Report (who to be sure is a foul- 

 tongued jade at times) does them injustice, the example which 

 many of these functionaries displayed in their own person was not 

 always of the best ; seeing, that instead of returning to the Church, 

 they were in the habit of ensconcing themselves in the back 

 parlour of the village Inn ; and it was frequently observed on such 

 occasions that their self-denying devotions at the shrine of Bacchus 

 had been so deep and strong as visibly to affect the steadiness 

 of their gait for the remainder of the day. It is even said, though 

 we give no credence to the statement, that the village urchins, on 

 occasional times when one of these officials was more than usually 

 elevated, might be seen 



" Following, with mischievous wile, 



To pluck his gown,' 



not in the expectation of 



" sharing the good man's smile," 



as the poet of " sweet Auburn " expresses it ; but with a view to 

 invoking that peculiar blessing which the votaries of the afore- 

 mentioned god are mostly accustomed to pronounce. 



•757- 



To 2 Pair of Handcuffs, .. 



To waiting of a man 2 Days and i Night, 

 To numbering ye People and writing return, 

 [In other words, taking the Census.] 



1760. 



Guide Post at 4 Lane-ends, 



Proclaiming King George 3d 



1762. 

 To one Lock and Key for Town Box, . . . . . . . . 007 



The " Town Box " here referred to is that in which the Standard 

 Weights and Measures were kept. 



