Book II.] CHESTER. 65 



tymeeurye master of them vnto the said drapers, afore 

 the mayre for the tyme being, a paynted baule of wood 

 with floures and amies upon the poynte of a spere, 

 being goodly arayd upon horsebacke acordingly, — 

 from hensforth shall the said tuesday houre and place 

 gyue and delyuer vnto the said drapers afor the 

 mayre for the tyme beyng vpon horsbak a bell of 

 syluer to the value of ms. \\\\d., or above, to be ordered 

 as is aforesaid by the drapers and the mayre of the 

 said citie for the tyme being to whome shall runne 

 best and furthest vpon horsback before them the said 

 daye and tyme and place ; and that allsoe euery man 

 that hayth bene maryed within the said citie sithens 

 Shraffs teuesday last past, shall vpon the said Shraffs 

 tuesday next to come, at the said tyme and place, geue 

 and delyuer vnto the said drapers afore the mayre 

 being an arrow of siluer, to the value of fyve pence or 

 aboue, in value and recompence of such baule of silk 

 or veluet." 



On every Easter Monday the Sheriffs of Chester 

 used formerly to shoot, on the race-course, for a calfs- 

 head and bacon breakfast, which, at a subsequent 

 period, was changed by them : a piece of plate, to be 

 run for by horses on Easter Tuesday, being substituted. 



" The maner being thus : — The day before, the drum 

 sowndeth through the cittie, with a proclamation for all gen- 

 tlemen, yeomen, and good fellowes, that will come with their 

 bowes and arrowes to take parte with one sheriff or the 

 other, and upon Monday morning, on the Rode-dee, the 

 mayor, shreeves, aldermen, and any other gentlemen, that wol 

 be there, the one sherife chosing one, and the other sherife 

 chosing another, and soe of the archers ; then one sherife 

 VOL. I. F 



