Rev. J. W. Dunn on the Ancient Vill of Warkworth. 415 



tlie cellar door, upon which he had marked hy scratches in 

 chalk, long and short, the amount of liquor for which defend- 

 ant was his debtor. Plaintiff was called Johnnie Dores, — a 

 name which does not disharmonise with his Samsonic 

 arithmetic. 



The freeholders meet to discuss the affairs of the borough 

 in a cottage, which was left to the town by a Mr. Lawson of 

 Gloster Hill, for a school-house, in the year 1736, but which 

 on these occasions is dignified by the name of the "Town 

 Hall." Here, very amusing sc3nes occasionally occur, and 

 words are sometimes uttered whose truth is less regarded 

 than their bitterness. However, we are not worse now-a-days, 

 but it is hoped rather better than jve were in the year of grace 

 1729, as the following extract from the Town's books will 

 testify : — 



" Also agreed on this 29th day of October anno Dni 1729 by 

 the Burro wgrieve constables and majority of freeholders of Wark- 

 worth that whosoever sweareth or curseth when at the Town 

 business, at the Cross or elsewhere, or abuseth his neighbour by 

 base or scurrilous talk shall either be imprisoned in the stocks 

 the space of half-an-hour, or else pay to the Burrowgrieve 6d. 

 per oath, to be immediately levied by the Constables and put 

 into the Town's box. Likewise, its further enacted and consented 

 to that whosoever of the freeholders or innemates shall assail or 

 abuse either Burrowgrieve or constable when discharging their 

 duty, the offender shall either be punished in the stocks half-an- 

 hour, or els6 amerced 4d. each abuse, to be given to the Burrow- 

 grieve for the town's use." 



As in most other places, the freeholders with much ceremony 

 are accustomed to ride their boundaries yearly on the 12th of 

 May. On this important day — when their possessions were 

 worth remembering — the Mayor was wont to come to grief. 

 For, at three different points, where large stones were set up, 

 he was ignominiously bumped by his less distinguished breth- 

 ren, in order to jog his memory. This ceremony was called 

 " dunting the Mayor." A dinner succeeded, at which all 

 disagreeable remembrances were speedily and with due dili- 

 gence washed away. 



I may notice further, in connection with this borough, that, 

 in old days, the herd who drove the village cattle to the moor 

 and had charge of them during the day, claimed the privilege 

 of selling ale at his cottage for the space of a fortnight each 

 year. The freeholders were all expected to present them- 

 selves. Much drinking went on, and, sometimes, the house 

 was quite filled with thirsty burgagers. Policemeii and 



