130 



up the fountain of the one, nor vary the aspect of the 

 other, nor cause the glorious moon and planets to for- 

 sake their prescribed bounds. All else was changed- 

 Most of the towns and villages had new names given 

 them, and from out the chaos of war and time arose the 

 seven kingdoms of the Saxon Heptarchy. Minor changes 

 followed, and when Alfred united the whole country 

 under his paternal sway, he projected a final division of 

 the kingdom into counties, with well-defined boundaries 

 and names. 



The counties were again divided into parishes, and 

 then commenced the annual festival of marking the 

 respective boundaries. This was done by the inha- 

 bitants, who went round them every year, and stopped at 

 certain spots, where different ceremonies were performed, 

 in order that the localities might be impressed on the 

 memory of the young, as they were attested by the 

 recollections of the old. Rogation week, or one of the 

 three days before Holy Thursday, the feast of our 

 Lord's ascension, was selected for the purpose, at which 

 time the minister of the parish, accompanied by his 

 churchwardens and chief parishioners, went round the 

 boundaries, and stopped at remarkable spots and trees, 

 where he recited passages in the gospels, and implored 

 the blessing of the Most High on the fruits of the earth, 

 beseeching Him to preserve the rights and properties of 

 the inhabitants, and to keep them in safety. Many a 

 memorial-tree, thus honoured, earned down the recollec- 



