126 Old Cufitoms of Morpeth. B\^ Wm. Woodman. 



Immediately after the death, the looking-glass was covered 

 with a white linen cloth, two unlighted candles were placed upon 

 the dressing table, the windows were closed and the blinds 

 drawn. The first thing was to cause the bell to be tolled ; this 

 originally was that all who heard it might pray for the passing 

 soul. 



In 1738 it was ordered by the Court Leet "that whereas the 

 great bell or alarm bell that rings \rhen there is any fire, very 

 often rings for persons after they are dead, and falls out to be 

 at dead of night, which very much affrights and disturbs the 

 inhabitants, we doe order that the said great bell shall not be 

 tolled from ten o'clock at night until six o'clock in the 

 morning." So that at this time the purpose of tolling the bell 

 was forgotten. When the bell had tolled, it stopped for a few 

 minutes, and then nine strokes were given for a man, six for a 

 woman, and three for a child. Gloves were sent to lady 

 relatives, gloves and hat-bands, with an iuvitation to attend the 

 funeral, were sent to gentlemen : in the case of a young woman 

 the hat-bands were tied with white ribbon, and light coloured 

 cake was sent. Ladies did not attend funerals. All persons 

 present at the funeral, except the doctor and clergyman — who 

 had silk scarves — wore long black camlet cloaks with their 

 hat-bands. Each of the several guilds or trades had a large 

 supply of cloaks for the brethren. 



In 1732 a bye-law was passed as follows : "It is ordered that 

 one hour before the time fixed for a funeral, Robert Mitford the 

 bell-man, shall goe with his bell and give notice to the people to 

 gather, and when that hour is expired he shall tingle his bell to 

 give notice to the people to move out of the house, and the 

 corpse to be brought forth and move away. And we doe 

 farther recommend that there shall be noe service of bread or 

 ale or any other liquor, but only mourning to be given to such 

 as the managers of the funeral shall think fit." The parish 

 clerk and sexton, in their gowns and silver-tipped staves, stood 

 at the door of the house from which the body was to be carried, 

 while the company were assembling, and in the procession, 

 walked before the hearse. Wine and cake were on the table, 

 the latter wrapped in paper, each person taking a piece with 

 him. Immediately followino^ the hearse, walked two women 

 called servers, with hoods. The bell in the town tolled until the 

 procession was supposed to reach the Stoney-cross-bank — on 



