town on the afternoon of Easter Monday, escorted by noisy men who rattle money boxes and invite passers-by to contribute to the "Blake Lad," i.e. to give them money for drink. The effigies generally have black-gloved hands, and hold the reins; but still the black suit is in favour. There is always one Black Lad with some claim to legitimacy, for whom the annual ten shillings is duly paid from the estate office.
I might also mention that in Ashton and district the custom of "lifting"—especially women—was another Easter terror to all "decent folk" abroad on that day.
If you can lay your hands on Butterworth's History of Ashton-under-Lyne you will be interested by the allusions to old local customs contained in "The Custom Roll and Rental of the Manor of Assheton-under-Lyne." This first recites "The Covenant made between John of Assheton, Knight, and tenants of the town of Assheton, of their swine, the year of the reign of King Richard the Second after the Conquest, the third, that the aforesaid tenants shall have their swine going in the demesnes of the aforesaid town etc." Then follows an agreement about corn-grinding, 1st year Henry IV., and finally the Rent Roll of John de Assheton—anno Regni Regis Henrici Sexti primo: "At the feast of Martin in winter etc. All the tenants of the Lordship of Assheton-under-Lyne, taking their tenements to ffarm for twenty winter term, at John of Assheton, Knight, the which came out of Normandy. At the same Feast, with all the services, customs, and usages, as after is in this book written and rehearsed, and as it has been used and customed of old time, &c., &c."
Happily some sort of copy or translation was made of this document last century, for now the trustees of the estate will not allow any of the muniments to be examined by any one. With regard to the Black Lad, for instance, one thing wanted is to trace the payments for the rite in the old Manor Court Rolls as far back as may be. This is not permitted.
Before reading the notes will you see in Hone's Every Day Book, vol. ii., March 27, "Riding the Black Lad. An account of an ancient usage still maintained under this name at Ashtonunder-Lyne will be found in the annexed letter"? The letter is dated Ashton-under-Lyne, March, 1826. Yours sincerely,
