Observations on popular antiquities chiefly illustrating the origin of our vulgar customs, ceremonies, and superstitions / by John Brand.

  • John Brand
Date:
1900
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Observations on popular antiquities chiefly illustrating the origin of our vulgar customs, ceremonies, and superstitions / by John Brand. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    50/858 (page 34)
    Steward to the Stomach, chiefe Ganimede to the Guts, prime peere of the Pullets, first Favourite to the Frying-pans, greatest Bashaw to the Batter-bowles, Protector of the Pancakes, first Founder of the Fritters, Baron of Bacon-flitch, Earle of Egge- baskets, &c. This corpulent Commander of those chollericke things called Cookes, will shew himselfe to be but of ignoble education ; for by his manners you may finde him better fed than taught wherever he comes.” “ This furnishyng of our bellies with delicates,” says Polydore Vergil, “ that we use on Fastingham Tuiesday, what tyme some eate tyl they be enforsed to forbeare all again, sprong of Bacchus Feastes^ that were celebrated in Rome with great joy and delicious fare.” In Blomefield’s Norfolk we read that among the Records of the City of Norwich mention is made of one John Gladman, “who was ever, and at thys our is a man of sad disposition, and trewe and feythfull to God and to the Kyng, of disporte as hath ben acus- tomed in ony Cite or Burgh thorowe alle this reame, on Tuesday in the last ende of Cristemesse [1440], viz*. Fastyngonge Tuesday, made a disport with hys neyghbours, havyng his hors trappyd with tynn- soyle and other nyse disgisy things, corroned as Kyng of Crestemesse, in tokyn that seson should end with the twelve monethes of the yere, aforn hym went yche moneth dysguysed after the seson requiryd, and Lenton cladin whyte and red heryngs skinns and his hors trappyd with oystershells after him, in token that sadnesse shuld folowe and an holy tyme, and so rode in divers stretis of the Cite with other people with hym disguysed, makvng myrth, disportes, and plays, &c.” In Naogeorgus we read— “ Both men and women chaunge their weede, the men in maydes aray, And wanton wenches drest like men, doe trauell by the way, And to their neighbours houses go, or where it likes them best, Perhaps unto some auncient friend or olde acquainted ghest, Unknowne, and speaking but fewe wordes, the meat deuour they up That is before them set, and cleane they swinge of euery cup. Some runne about the streets attyrde like Monks, and some like Kings, Accompanied with pompe and garde, and other stately things. Some hatch yong fooles as hennes do egges with good and speedie lucke, Or as the goose doth vse to do, or as the quacking ducke. Some like wilde beastes doe runne abrode in skinnes that diuers bee Arayde, and eke with lothsome shapes, that dreadfull are to see : They counterfet both beares and woolves, and lions fierce in sight. And raging bulles. Some play the cranes, with wings and stilts upright. Some like the filthie forme of apes, and some like fooles are drest, Which best beseeme these Papistes all, that thus keepe Bacchus feast. But others beare a torde, that on a cushion soft they lay. And one there is that with a flap doth keepe the flies away. I would there might an other be, an officer of those. Whose roome might serve to take away the scent from every nose. Some others make a man all stuft with straw or ragges within, Apparayled in dublet faire, and hoscn passing trim : Whom as a man that lately dyed of honest life and fame, In blanket hid they beare about, and streightwayes with the same