174
Catalogue of Brand Material.
Ecclesiastical (Guild) accounts
settled, 1449 et sqq. - Dean and Chapter purchased new
spinning-wheels for workhouse
poor -----
Kept as high festival with many
lights ; query if dues paid ? Christmas bell-ringing begun
LOCALITY.
South Staffs. (Walsall).
Peterborough.
Halesowen Abbey. ^ Bucks. (EUesborough).
IRELAND.
Observanxe.
" Women and girls fast ; the girls to get husbands, the women to get better ones "
Reference ?
MAN. I. Observance. locality.
Fair held, Dec. 6th (Nov. 24th,O.S.), hen killed, carried through fair with dirge, as in funeral proces- sion, " wake " held over her. Ale drunk at public house. Next day, mourners went to the pubhc-house to " peel " (pluck) the hen. Head and feet cut off and buried. More drink. Say- ing about a man not sober after the fair. " Oh, he has been to peel the hen " - - - - Colby.
II. Legends.
Formerly all quarrels were inade up this day ; each party
plucked and buried a few feathers in token of covenant. Fair founded beside St. Katharine's Church, and ceremony
instituted by Katharine, spinster heiress of Colby Mooar, to-
preserve her memory. Healing Well on fair-ground, another, same ded. at Port
Erin.
Prenionstratensian house. Legally in Salop, locally in Worcestershire.
