26 
THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE APPLE AND PEAR. 
1659—Thomas Melling a very active man of his age who was able to endure running after the doggs on foot from 
morning till night, neither did this nimbleness abate in him till about a quarter of an yeer before he sickned to death, at which 
time he was about ninety years old. 
1663—Wm. Dykes above 90. 
1666—Henry Seyse, an old souldier of about one hundred. 
Now the diet of all these according to the best information was that which is before menconed. 
1673—Avis Taylor, widow, about 100 years old. Her diet was besides Syder, bread and cheese, oatmeale and pepper, 
w ch she used to chew out of her pocket. 
1 673—Richard Tuffley, a tanner, a very laborious man now living above 100 years old. 
To which may be added : 
1676—Widdow Hill, of Eardesland, hi years old. 
And the Editor mentions : 
j66o —Joyce Andrews of Felton, died PEt. 114. 
1662—Richard Wooton of Fromanton, died at Marden Hit. 104. 
1756—Eliza Collier of Yarpole, JE t. 103 years. 
1777—Joseph Rod of Yarpole, Ht. 104 years. 
1790—Rev. Wm. Davies, Rector of Staunton on Wye, /Et. 105, who died at Hereford. 
And then he quotes the memorable Morrice dance in Herefordshire, reported by Sir Walter 
Raleigh: and thus “reported” again by Dr. Fuller, in his “Worthies of England under Hereford¬ 
shire :— 
„ “There cannot be a more effectual evidence of the healthy air in this shire, than the vigorous vivacity of the inhabitants 
therein. Many aged folk, which in other counties are properties of the chimneys, or confined to their bed, are here found 
as able (if willing) to work. The ingenious Serjeant Hoskin gave an entertainment to King James, and provided ten aged 
people to dance the Morish before him, all of them making up more than 1000 years, so that what was wanting in one, was 
supplied in another,—a nest of Nestors not to be found in another place.” 
The scene of the royal entertainment has been placed at Morehampton, but James I., never 
visited Herefordshire. It was at the Hereford races in 1609 that this assemblage of veteran 
Morris-dancers actually took place, and it was recited in a contemporary tract styled : “ Old Meg of 
Herefordshire for a Mayd-Marian, and Hereford Tozone for a Morris-daunce ; or twelve Moi'ris- 
dauncers in Herefordshire , of tzoelve hundred years old.” London, 1609. 
Henry G. Bull, M.D. 
Postscript .—The readers of this History will scarcely fail to observe the great extent, and variety of the sources from 
which it lias been compiled. Much learning is sometimes concealed beneath a light surface, and omissions may perhaps be 
discovered which have been intentional; all this is in great measure due to the information and authorities, so kindly supplied 
by members of our Club and other gentlemen, to wit: the President (1877) J. Griffith Morris, Esq.; the President elect, 
(1878) the Rev. H. W. Phillott; Thomas Blashill, Esq.; Rev. James Davies; James Davies, Esq. ; Rev. Canon Dolman; 
Rev. W. D. V. Duncombe; J. T. Owen Fowler, Esq.; Rev. F. T. Havergal; Rev. J. E. Jones Machen; E. H. 
Jones, Esq.; Robert Hogg, L.L.D., &c.; Edwin Lees, Esq., F.L.S., &c.; James Renny, Esq.; and above, and beyond all, 
by the Rev. Thomas Woodhouse. This willing assistance, the writer desires most cordially to acknowledge on behalf of 
the Woolhope Club, in whose cause the paper has been written.—H.G.B. 
