FIFTY YEARS OF A SHOWMAN'S LIFE 



"To this ende, we summoned toe our presence 

 a certayne Bardic Scribe, who hath been soe 

 fortunate as toe enjoye ye societie of ye Messe 

 during noe lesse a period than twentie-eight yeares. 

 As he still retaj^neth manie of hys faculties, we 

 bade hym give tongue upon ye subject in metrical 

 form and in such spirite of thankfulnesse for ye 

 good companie Providence hath permitted hym 

 to keep as wolde make clear hys indebtedness for 

 ye same. He, having fulfilled our behest with 

 becoming regard for ye principles hithertoe govern- 

 ing our proceedyngs, and with a due sense of ye 

 moralle and material benefits he hath deryved 

 therefrom, yt hath been our good wille and 

 pleasure to enact that ye information so obtained 

 be printed and circulated among our well-beloved 

 and trustie adherents. This hath accordinglie 

 been accomplyshed as follows herewyth, and yt 

 is our fervent hope that yt may enable us and our 

 successors toe definitelie settle, in accordance 

 with well-establyshed precedent, and with due 

 consideration for conflicting claims, such poynts 

 of ritual or etiquette as may hereafter aryse. 



c That faire appetytes, good digestyons, and a 

 reasonable liquor-carrying capacitie may ever be 

 ye portion of alle who, in response toe our lawful 

 summons, are faithful particypators in our ancient 

 rites, will ever bee our earnest prayer. 



" Given under our hande and seale this seven- 

 teenth daye of June, in ye year one thousand, 

 nine hundred and tenne, atte our Court atte - 

 in ye Countie of Somerset. 



" (Signed) - 



" President of ye Messe." 

 278 



