Fettdalism. 1 49 



Ante ortum solis, 

 Luceat nisi Polus, 

 Nil scribit nisi Colis. 



Toties voluerit, 

 Gallus ut cantaverit ; 

 Per cujus solum sonitum 

 Curia est summonita 

 Clamat clam pro Rege 

 In Curia sine Lege, etc., etc., etc. 



Every one knows the ciistom of tlie Priory of Diinmow in 

 Essex. "We cannot, however, refrain from quoting the doggrel 

 which the applicant for the famous flitch of bacon has to re- 

 peat, kneeling on two stones at the church door. 



" You shall swear by the custom of our confession 

 That you never made any nuptial transgression 

 Since you were married to your wife 

 By household brawles or contentious strife. 

 Or otherwise in bed or at board 

 Offended each other in deed or in word, 

 Or since the Parish Clerk said Amen, 

 Wished yourselves unmarried agen ; 

 Or in a twelve month and a day 

 Repented not in thought any way ; 

 But continued true and in desire 

 As when you joyned hands in holy Quire. 

 If to these conditions, without all fear. 

 Of your own accord you will freely swear, 

 A Gamon of Bacon you shall receive, 

 And bear it hence with love and good leave ; 

 For this is our custom at Dunmow well known, 

 Though the sjiort be ours, the Bacon's your own." 



The customs pertaining to the Honour of Tutbury involve 

 the assembling annually of a species of court leet, over which 

 the king of minstrels presides. The suitors of this peculiar 

 court are also minstrels residing in the counties of Stafford, 

 Derby, Nottingham, Leicester and "Warwick. Two juries are 

 empanelled by the Stewards of Music, each consisting of 

 twelve minstrels, who are sworn by the steward to keep the 

 King of Music's counsel, their fellows' and their own. The 

 better to inform the jurors of their duty the steward gives 

 them a lecture on the science of music, and the latter then 

 proceed to the election of a new king, and three stewards of 



