Early translation into English from Kernowec (Cornish) of The Tale Of Ivan - part 6

St Levan Church (Llanlavan is probably Saint Levan - My poor knowledge of Cwmraeg (Welsh) would suggest so anyway, Llan in Welsh being roughly equivalent to a parish area) - image © Copyright Tim Heaton and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

[cont...] "...37 Then they came together out of Market-Joy (Marchnad-Joy Thursday market). And they said, come with us as far as Coed Carrn yr Wylfa (the Wood of the heap of stones of watching), in the parish of Burnian.

38 There two roads separated, and the merchants wished Ivan to go home Ofay with them ; but that tune he would not, but would go home to his wife. 

39 Then when he had separated from the merchants, he foolishly spent his time to try his wife, whether she proved constant to him, whether she did or did not.

40 And when he came to the door, he heard some one else in the bed ; he placed his hand on his dagger to slay them both ; but he recollected that he ought to suffer twice before he struck once.

41 And he came out again, and then he knocked. Who is there, in the name of God ? said she...." [cont...]

Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine 1818

Proverb on dying in debt

"Let him hang by the heels."  - Somerset.

(Of a man that dies in debt : His wife leaving all at his death, crying his goods in three markets and three Parish Churches is so free of all his debts). 

Ray 1768

[Not sure how the proverb links to the interpretation!  A friend of my wife said that if you die in debt you have made a profit....  Once again we find the number 3 has massive importance in folklore]

Another Devon Wife Sale

Wife sale from 1820 book (via wikipedia)

"From the Western Morning News, March 9th, 1894.

As recently as September, 1873, the following attempted sale of a woman took place in Devonshire. At - -..." [a pity, I would have liked to know where...] "...a young woman, the wife of a man named Phillips, who was said to have left her and his creditors together, and gone to Australia, was the interesting article submitted at the sale of his goods and chattels to competition. The wife's conduct seems to have had a great deal to do with Phillips's disappearance.

On Saturday, Phillips's goods were sold, and the wife claimed a portion of the proceeds, and told the auctioneer he must either share the money with her or sell her. This seems to have called forth the sympathy of a bystander who volunteered to take the role of auctioneer. A halter was borrowed from a neighbour, and the woman was led into the market-place accompanied by a crowd of persons. No bidders, however, seemed to be amongst them, and the woman was obliged to be content. This disgraceful scene was witnessed by a very large number of spectators."

Hewett 1900

A Devon Wife Sale, 1810-1811, Near Plymouth

1820 Wife Sale caricature - from  A.H. Phillips Georgian Scrapbook (1949) - page 123

"RECEIVED of Edward Salter the sum of four pounds ten shillings for goods received and chattels, a bay mare, and also Mrs. Smale, as parting man and wife.

Agreed before witnesses, October l7th, 1810.
 
Witness the mark of
Edward Snow X
James Worth X
Mary Salter X
Edward Salter X

Settled the whole concern by the mark of John Smale X
 
£4 l0s. 0d.

THE SEQUEL.

ON Thursday, May 15th, 1811, the buyer made application to the Plymouth magistrates, stating the circumstances of the case, and that John Smale wanted his wife back again, notwithstanding that he the said buyer liked her very much, and did not wish to part with her.

The magistrates told him he had no legal claim to the woman, and advised him to give her up to her husband, to which he very reluctantly consented. In these good old times when a man grew tired of his wife, it was not an unfrequent practice to put a halter round her neck and offer her in the nearest market place for sale, she tamely submitting to the indignity. Possibly she was glad to obtain release from an unamiable spouse by such easy means. The reader will smile, and say : "Ah ! perhaps so," but such things do not happen in this more enlightened age."

Hewett 1900

Map - Plymouth

Luck money / Earnest money exchainged when selling animals or taking on a servant in Devon

Bampton Fair 2005, where some horses are still sold - By Martin Bodman [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

"IN old fashioned markets it is customary to give luck money on an animal being sold by the farmer himself.

The practice is gradually dying out, as auctions are taking the place of private contracts. In some places a penny merely passes from the seller to the buyer, a practice arising, probably, from some superstitious belief. In some districts a shilling or half-a-crown is given as luck-money. In others again, a man will deal and give a certain sum for a cow or a horse with the proviso that five or ten shillings shall be returned for luck or chap money. The origin of this custom is unknown. Sometimes, when engaging a servant, a shilling is given to clench the bargain. This is called earnest money."

Hewett 1900

Merrivale Potato Market

"The moorfolk in the vicinity [of Merrivale] call the place the Potato Market. It is said that when the plague raged at Tavistock in 1625, and no one dared to go into town, food was brought to the top of the hill and laid among the hut circles.  Then Tavistock men came and fetched it away, leaving money for payment in the same place."

Cresswell 1921

Map - Merrivale 

How Joan lost the sight in her eye - part 3

'...However, without stopping to take touch drink, she started alone for Penzance. She had wasted, as it was, so much time, that it was nearly dark when she reached the market.

After having made her purchases, and as she was about to leave the market, who should Joan spy but Betty's husband, Tom Trenance. There was, stealing about in the shadows, picking from the standings, shoes and stockings from one, hanks of yarn from another, pewter spoons from a third, and so on. He stuffed these things into capacious pockets, and yet no one appeared to notice Tom.

Joan went forth to him.

"Aren't ye ashamed to be here in the dark carrying on such a game?"

"Is that you, Dame Joan," says Tom; "which eye can you see me upon?"

After winking, Joan said she could see Tom plain enough with her right eye.

She had no sooner said the word than Tom Trenance pointed his finger to her eye, and she lost the sight of it from that hour...'

Hunt 1903

Fairy Ointment - part 3

'...Penzance Market was in those days entirely in the street; even the old market-house had not yet an existence. Nancy walked about doing a little business and a great deal of gossiping; when amongst the standings in Market-Jew Street, whom should Nancy see but Tom Trayer, picking off the standings, shoes, stockings, hanks of yarn, and pewter spoons--indeed, some of all the sorts of things which were for sale. Nancy walked up to him, and, taking him by the arm, said, "Tom! ar'then't ashamed to be here carrying on such a game? However thee canst have the impudence, I can't think, to be picking the things from the standings and putting them in thy pocket in broad daylight, and the people all around thee." Tom looked very much surprised when Nancy spoke to him. At last he said, "Is that you, Nancy?--which eye can you see me upon?" Nancy shut her left eye, this made no difference; she then shut her right eye, and, greatly to her surprise, she saw all the people, but she no longer saw Tom. She opened her right eye, and there was Tom as before. She winked, and winked, and was surprised, you may be sure, to find that she could not see Tom with either eye. "Now, Nancy," said Tom, "right or left." "Well," said Nancy, "'tis strange; but there is something wrong with my left eye."...' [cont.]

Hunt 1903

Moretonhampstead, its mythical origins

'For tradition says, that it was so denominated from the circumstance of persons returning after Exeter market being oftentimes compelled to pass the night in a few wretched hovels, on the spot where the town now stands, in leu of  home; these hovels having originally been colonized by certain vagabonds and thieves who broke out of Exeter gaol in days of old.'

Bray 1838

Nursing a Fairie - part 3

[cont.] '...Curious robberies had been from time to time committed in St Ives Market, and although the most careful watch had been kept, the things disappeared, and no thief detected. One day our good housewife was at the market, and to her surprise she saw the father of her nursling. Without ceremony she ran, up to him,--at a moment when he was putting some choice fruit by stealth into his pocket,--and spoke to him. "So, thou seest me, dost thou?" "To be sure I do, and know 'ee too," replied the woman. "Shut this eye," putting his finger on her left eye. "Canst see me now?" "Yes, I tell 'ee, and know 'ee too," again said the woman.

" Water for elf; not water for self;
Yon've lost your eye, your child, and yourself,"

said the gentleman. From that hour she was blind in the right eye. When she got home the boy was gone. She grieved sadly, but she never saw him more, and this once happy couple became poor and wretched.'

Hunt 1903

Bampton Horse Fair

'The great annual Fete of Bampton is its autumn fair for the sale of Exmoor ponies, driven down by hundreds.'

Hope Moncrieff 1895

Pictures


[BBC do not allow copying and then broadcasting - shame]