Banning the Wakes in Exeter and Somersetshire

Exeter Morris Men dancing!

"When an order was made in 1627 and in 1631, at Exeter, and in Somersetshire, for the suppression of the Wakes [I think these where Wakes on the night before the parish church's saint day, associated with dancing, music and drink, and the feasting on the day itself], both the Ministers and the People desired their continuance, not only for preserving the memorial of the dedication of their several Churches, but for civilizing the parishioners, composing differences by the mediation and meeting of friends, increasing of love, and unity, by these feasts of charity, and for the relief and comfort of the poor."

Brand 1813

 






  

 

Map - Exeter

Poverty and strife - a proverb from Somerset

"Poverty breeds strife. - Somerset."

Ray 1768



[The riots where predicted in the 18th century...]

Free living Somerset Proverb - or the destitution of the poor...

"Out of door out of debt. - Somerset   - Of one that pays not when once gone. "

Ray 1768

Early translation into English from Kernowec (Cornish) of The Tale Of Ivan - part 1

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.

THE TALE OF IVAN.
( Translated from the Cornish.)

MR EDITOR, I HAVE sent you the following translation of one of the "Inabinogi," or tales for the instruction of youth, which is chiefly curious, as it is the only tale that I am aware of which is in existence in foe Cornish language; at the same time, it may not be disagreeable to some of your readers, to see how the ancients of the times gone by conveyed their lessons of instruction to the young. It is to be found in the 251, 252, pp. of Llwyd's Archaeologia Britannica, with a Welsh translation annexed. 

Yours, PWY. 

Jesus College, Oxford, 23d April 1818.

1 There were formerly a man and woman living in the parish of Llanlavan, in the place which is called Ty Hwrdh.

2 And (the) work became scarce and therefore said the man to his wife, I will go and search for work, and you may live here.

3 He took fair leave, and travelled far towards the East ; and at last he came to the house of a husbandman (Villanus), and asked there for work to perform.

4 What work canst thou perform ? said the husbandman. I can perform every kind of work, said Ivan, Then they agreed for three pounds as the hire of a year..." [cont...]

Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine 1818

Proverb on poverty and abundance

"Where there is store of oatmeal you may put enough in the crock [pot.]" - Somerset

Ray 1768

Wise money - a poverty proverb from Somerset

""Money is wise, it knows its way." - Somerset

Says the poor man that must pay as soon as he receives."


Ray 1768

Tithes - a proverb

"A good tither a good thriver" - Somerset.

Ray 1768

[A tithe was a sort of tax taken by the church. It used to consist of every 10th animal / plant produced, but by the 19th century was more usually paid for with its monetary equivalent. The church did play the part of (a rather inadequate) welfare state, but also used the profits for 'spiritual' purposes, such as paying clergy, feeding abbots, entertaining nobility, sending off missionaries etc. On top of this taxes where paid. As tithes where means based it would be a reasonable indicator of your relative wealth.]

Somerset proverb about the parshiality of charity

""She loves the poor well but cannot abide beggars" - Somerset

(Of pretenders to charity)"

Ray 1768

Proverb on want and poverty

"I will not want when I have and when I han't too" - Somerset

Ray 1768

Mothering Sunday in Devon (part 1)

Seakale - David Baird [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

 "In many parts of Devonshire and other western counties, the fourth Sunday in Lent is observed as a holiday, under the title of Mothering Sunday. Servants, apprentices, and young working-folks in general visit their parents, and between them make up very happy home parties. The previous Saturday is a busy day, for the mother is looking forward with great pleasure to the morrow's meetings and festivities. She busies herself in preparing the materials for a good dinner for the joyous youngsters, and gives them the very best she can afford. Of course the mothering-cake is her chief care. It is big and rich, and must be well baked, sugared, and ornamented with fanciful designs. The dinner on Sunday consists of a hind quarter of lamb with mint sauce, a well-boiled suet pudding, seakale, and cauliflower, wheat furmity, with home-made wines. The day is one of mirthful enjoyment, mutual congratulations, and benevolence. The remains of the feast are usually distributed amongst needy neighbours who are unable to purchase these delicacies for themselves..." [cont.]

Hewett 1900

Dream Oneiromancy in Devon

Dreaming of Beer... - If you wish to use  my photos please attribute this blog.

"Oneiromancy is the art of interpreting dreams. This kind of divination is still in use among the masses, and has been practised from the most remote ages. In rural districts there are to be found ancient dames whose interpretations of dreams are looked upon with reverence, and are a source of revenue to the old women.

At breakfast, it is not uncommon for members of of a family to narrate their dreams, and seek the elucidation thereof.

"A dream is an ill-arranged action of the thinking faculties during a state of partial sleep, and is but a momentary impression, perfectly natural in its operation; the state of mind which causes it being produced by temporary functional derangement."

If I dream of water pure,
Before the coming morn,
"Tis a sign I shall be poor,
And unto wealth not born.
If I dream of tasting beer,
Middling then will be my cheer
Chequered with the good and bad,
Sometimes joyful, sometimes sad ;
But should I dream of drinking wine,
Wealth and pleasure will be mine.
The stronger the drink, the better the cheer,
Dreams of my destiny appear.

The belief that dreams are indicative or symbolical of coming events is very common among the masses. Some persons look upon dreams as absolutely true mediums of revealing the secrets of futurity."

Hewett 1900

[In her frustrating style I am once again left not knowing what parts of Hewett's work reffer to Devon and what is to do with wider beleifs she picked up else where through books. However in this case I have included it all. Barring the rhyme (which may or may not have been used in Devon) the rest is generic enough to believe it covered Devon beliefs quite well.]

Hewett's Haloween - Part 8 - Blind-mans prophosy

Not really this ceremony - but an approximation... - Blind Mans Bluff Game - 1751 - Jean-Honoré Fragonard

"Heedless of this affectionate raillery, everything drifted along smoothly, and four dishes of water were brought in and placed severally in three corners of the room, and the fourth, emptied of its contents, was placed in the fourth corner. Then four blind-folded operators were led into the room and placed back to back in its centre, the lights having been previously extinguished. Then all four fell on their knees and each crept at discretion to any, or all to the same, corner.
 

The empty dish portended celibacy or poverty. The dish of clean water, that the future one would never before have married. The dish of dirty water, that the future spouse would be a widow or widower. The dish of water with pebbles at the bottom, riches and honour."

Hewett 1900

Map - Haldon Hills 

The King of Prussia and the "Fairy"

Betsy's Cove in the Prussia Cove area - © Copyright Mari Buckley and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

"Of these smuggers there was, during the close of the last century, a native of Breage named Carter, who was called the King of Prussia from some fancied resemblance to the Great Frederick, whose name at one time was a household word in England. This man became the leader of the Cornish smugglers. He chose for his home and his smuggler's hold a rocky cove about two miles east of Marazion, which still bears the name of Prussia Cove, where his gang cut deep channels in the hard rock, which are still visible, to allow of the near approach of their boats.

The "King of Prussia" was exceedingly clever at avoiding the excise officers, always removing his stores in time. Amongst them were some old cannon, the possession of which probably induced Carter to run the risk that might have brought him to destruction. From the cliffs one moonlight night he watched his boats approaching the landing-place laden with a rich booty of smuggled goods, but at the same moment appeared the revenue cutter Fairy under all sail in swift pursuit, for her crew had also distinguished them. The king's vessel gained rapidly on the boats. The old smuggler stood gazing anxiously at the chase. Then with sudden determination he bade the men with him "fire the guns." They had been placed at the edge of the cliff, loaded, and were discharged at the cutter, which could not elevate her guns high enough to reply, and was obliged to sheer of; the boats meanwhile landing. Of course early dawn saw the white sails of the cutter again off the cliffs, and the captain and his crew landed, and mounted the hill. There was no sign of cannon there now! The officer went to Carter's house for an explanation, and was met by the smuggler, who at once attacked him about "practising the cutter's guns at midnight, and disturbing the neighbourhood," utterly denying all knowledge of the firing himself. No evidence of who had fired the cannon on the cliff could be obtained, though the smuggler was well known, and the matter was let drop.

Carter, however, did not prosper to the end of his career, and was at last detected and punished. He died at a great old age, a very poor man."

Valentine (undated)

Map - Prussia Cove

The Fairy Gardens - part 1

'IF the adventurous traveller who visits the Land's End district will go down as far as he can on the south-west side of the Logan Rock Cairn, and look over, he will see, in little sheltered places between the cairns, close down to the water's edge, beautifully green spots, with here and there some ferns and cliff-pinks. These are the gardens of the Small People, or, as they are called by the natives, Small Folk. They are beautiful little creatures, who appear to pass a life of constant enjoyment amongst their own favourite flowers. They are harmless and if man does not meddle with them when they are holding their fairs--which are indeed high festivals--the Small Folk never interfere with man or anything belonging to him. They are known to do much good, especially when they discover a case of oppressed poverty; but they do it in their own way. They love to do good for its own sake, and the publication of it in any way draws down their censure, and sometimes severe anger, on the object whom it was their purpose to serve. To prove that those lovely little creatures are no dream, I may quote the words of a native of St Levan:...' [cont.]


Hunt 1903

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