A handsome quintain still stands on Offham village green, in Kent,
although it is no longer used for the skilful practice of former
days. It is the custom to hoist married men, who are not blest with
children, on the quintain, which is made to revolve rapidly.
Sometimes discontented and disobedient wives share the same fate.
Chester was famous for its Easter sports, when the mayor with his
mace, the corporation with twenty guilds, marched to the Rood-eye,
to play at football. But “inasmuch as great strife did arise among
the young persons of the same city” on account of the game, a
change was made in the reign of Henry VIII., and foot-races and
horse-races were substituted for the time-honoured football, and an
arrow All My Good Hockey Cards Clip of silver was given to the best archer.
But Easter sports are almost finished: however, we have not long to
wait for another popular anniversary; for the famous Hock-tide
sports always took place a fortnight after Easter, and much
amusement, and profit also, were derived from the quaint observances
of Hock Monday and Tuesday. The meaning of the word and the origin
of the custom have been the subjects of much conjecture; but the
festival is supposed to be held in remembrance of the victory of our
Saxon forefathers over the Danes in the time of Ethelred. The custom
was that on Hock Monday the men should go out into the streets and
roads with cords, and stop and bind all the women they met,
releasing them on payment of a small ransom. On the following day
the women bound the men, and the proceeds were devoted to charitable
purposes. It is to be noted that the women always extracted the most
money, and in the old churchwardens accounts we find frequent
records of this strange method of collecting subscriptions–_e.g._,
St. Lawrences, Reading, A.D. 1499:–”Item, received of Hoc money
gaderyd” (gathered) “of women xx_s_. Item, received of Hoc money
gaderyd of men iiij_s_.” We also find that the women had a supper
given to them as a reward for their exertions, for there is the
“item for wives supper at Hock-tide xxiij_d_.”
The observance of Hock-tide seems to have been particularly popular
in the ancient town of Reading. At Coventry there was an “old
Coventry Play of Hock Tuesday,” which was performed with great
delight before Queen Elizabeth at Kenilworth: the players divided
themselves into two companies to represent the Saxons and the Danes:
a great battle ensued, and by the help of the Saxon women the former
were victorious, and led the Danes captive. The queen laughed much
at the pageant, and gave the performers two bucks and five marks in
money.
So ends the month of sunshine and of shower; but the rustic youths
are making ready for the morris-dance, and the merry milk-maids are
preparing their ribbons to adorn themselves for the revels of May
Day. The May-pole is being erected on the village green, and all is
in readiness for the rejoicings of to-morrow.
CHAPTER V.
MAY.
“Colin met Sylvia on the green
Once on the charming first of May,
And shepherds neer tell false, I ween,
Yet twas by chance, the shepherds say.
“Colin he bowd and blushd, then said,
Will you, sweet maid, this first of May,
Begin the dance by Colin led,
To make this quite his holiday?
“Sylvia replied, I neer from home
Yet venturd, till this first of May;
It is not fit for maids to roam,
And make a shepherds holiday.
“It is most fit, replied the youth,
That Sylvia should this first of May
By me be taught that love and truth
Can make of life a holiday.”–LADY CRAVEN.
