NOTICES OF PERU. 



303 



to every Monday by a large number of people, when similar 

 amusements are offered as on the holy festival, though the 

 scene is not so extensive nor so joyous. 



The feast of St. John is variously celebrated in various coun- 

 tries. In Northumberland, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland, the 

 festival is celebrated with bonfires by the young people. Not 

 many years ago, there was a stone pulpit in the University of 

 Oxford, from which an annual sermon was preached ; and to 

 make it resemble the preaching of St. John in the wilderness^ 

 it was fenced round with green boughs. Googe has described 

 the whole custom in the following verses : — 



** Then doth the joyfutl feast of John 



the Baptist take his turn. 

 When honfitrs great, with loftie flame, 



in every towne doe burne ; 

 And young men round about with maides, 



doe dance in every streete. 

 With garlands wrought of motherwort, 



or else with vervain sweete, 

 And many other flowers faire, 



with violets in their handes, 

 Whereas they all do fondly thinke, 



that whosoever standes. 

 And ihorow the flowers beholds the flame, 



his eyes shall feel no paine. 

 When thus till night they danced have, 



ihey through the fire amaine^ 

 With striving mindes doe runne, and all 



their hearbes they cast therein. 

 And then with words devout and prayer* 



they solemnly begin, 

 Desiring God that all their ills 



may there consumed bee 5 

 Whereby they thinke through all that yeare 



from agues to be free. 

 Some others get a rotten Wheele, 



all worne and cast aside. 

 Which covered round about with strawe 



and tow, they closely hide : 

 And caryed to some mountaines top, 



being all with fire light, 

 They hurle it downe with violence, 



when dark appears the night : 



