THE YOUNG NATUEALIST. 



149 



once hidden in a hawthorn bush. 

 When Eichard in. was slain at Eed- 

 more Heath the body was plundered 

 of its ornaments, and a soldier secreted 

 the crown in a hawthorn bush, where, 

 however, it was soon found and carried 

 to Lord Stanley, who placed it on the 

 head of Henry vu. It was in memory 

 of this fact that the house of Tudor 

 adopted the heraldic device of a crown 

 in a bush of fruited hawthorn. This 

 adventure was doubtless the origin of 

 the old loyal adage, " Cleave to the 

 crown, though it hang on a bush." The 

 hawthorn is also the floral badge of 

 the clan Ogilvie. In the old Floralia, 

 or feasts of flowers, continued in the 

 May-day customs of merry England, 

 the hawthorn bore a prominent part 

 both in decking the may-pole and in 

 decorating the processionists in their 

 tour round the village. Companies 

 also went into the woods and brought 

 branches of May blossom, which they 

 planted before the doors of popular 

 people, reciting some such doggerel 

 rhymes as — 



"We have been rambling all this night, 



And almost all this day ; 

 And now returned back again, 



We have brought you a branch of May. 



A branch of May we have brought you, 

 And at your door it stands : 

 It is but a sprout, but it's well budded out 

 By the work of our Lord's hands." 



This is a custom of great antiquity, 

 for Chaucer says : — 

 " Forth goeth all the courte, both moste 

 and leste, 



To fetch the flowris freshe, and branche and 

 bloome, 



And namely hawthorne brought both page 

 and groome." 



and Spencer also — 



"Youngthes folke now flocken in everie 

 where, 



To gather May buskets and smelling brere ; 

 And home they hasten the postes to dight, 

 And all the kirk pillours eare day-light 

 With hawthorn buds." 



And Herrick adds his testimony : — 

 " There's not a budding boy or girle, this 

 day 



But is got up, and gone to bring in may. 

 A deale of youth, ere this, is come 

 Back, and with white thorn laden 

 home." 



In some districts it is said to have 

 been a custom that if a labourer 

 brought in a branch of hawthorn in 

 full bloom on May-day morning, he 

 was entitled to receive a dish of cream 

 for breakfast. This wholesome practice 

 has fallen into disuse, since the change 

 of styles has made it practically im- 

 possible to secure a full flowered 

 branch of hawthorn on May-day. In 

 rural districts it was also held a potent 

 charm, to prevent the evil machinations 

 of witches, if a branch of flowering 

 hawthorn gathered on May- day was 

 hung up in the entry of houses. A 

 similar rite was common in Germany. 

 Such harmless fancies may excite a 

 sceptical smile, but they are guileless- 

 ness itself compared to the recent reve- 

 lations of diabolical cruelty, where two 

 hags roasted a helpless infant on red- 

 hot coals to avert a supposed fairy spell. 



