Page:History and characteristics of Bishop Auckland.djvu/201

174 HISTORY OP BISHOP AUCKLAKB. A kind of Harvest Home, called a " Mell Supper/' was held with great spirit by the fanners in this neighbourhood during the early part of the present century. Brand says the word " Mell" is derived from the French word " Mesler" — ^to mingle or mix together. Hutchinson says it is so called from the ancient sacrifice of mingling the new meaL Eugene Aram adopted a similar interpretation, though he imagined it might be derived from a mell wherewith com was anciently reduced to meal in a mortar. This supper was given on the evening of the day on which the farmer finished the shearing of his corn, and at which a kind of rustic masquerade was practised, the company, who usually consisted of the farm servants and a few young men from the town, being dressed in various characters called ** guisers. Music and dancing formed the principle part of the entertainment Two great holidays for the young folk of Auckland in former days, and which were looked forward to with some degree of interest, were Byers Green and Hamsterley Hoppinga In York- shire such a gathering is called a " Wake," and in Lancashire a " Rush-bearing." These festivals were originally called feasts of the Dedication, being always held upon the days of the Saints, to whom the respective parish churches are dedicated. These curious old feasts, like many other similar ones, had their origin far back in the twilight of history, and are said to have been insti- tuted by St Gregory the Great In a letter written by him to Mellitus, the abbot (who was sent into England with St Austin), he thus alludes to them : — " It may therefore be permitted to them (viz., the English), that on the dedication day, or other solemn days of martyrs, they make themselves bowers about their churches, and refreshing themselves and feasting together after a good religious sort, kill their oxen now to the praise of God and increase of charity, which before they were wont to sacrifice to the DeviL" The meetings were originally held in the church- yards, where it was the custom to build bowers and tents, and perform rude dramas known by the name of Mysteries and Moralities, illustrative of Scripture history. In the "Bolden Euke" it is stated that the villeins of West Auckland, amongst other services, had to build eighteen booths at the Fair of St Cuthbert, in Durham. The modem word, " Hopping," now given to those festivals, is supposed to be derived from the practice of hopping and dancing on those occasions. The religious tenor of these assemblages, however, seems to have been long forgotten ; and climbing up greasy poles, grinning through horse-collars, leaping in sacks, and some other unmentionable feats, have formed the staple amusement At the present day, donkey and foot-racing, coursing, athletic games, fiddUng, dancing, and drinking, with an occasional boxing match, by way of variety, form the general pastimes. When, in former days, any of those untoward domestic episodes occurred, which give such scandal to modem society, and employment to the gentlemen of the " Long Robe" in the divorce court; or, when any inhabitant had had recourse to corporal punishment, to correct the delinquencies of his " better half," it was customary to give publicity to the same, and punish the offender by what was termed "Riding the Stang." This was done by mounting some reckless chturacter upon a plank of wood or short ladder, which was then carried through the streets on the shoulders of other four individuals of the same clasa An uncouth rhyme was usually chanted or shouted out by the rider, in which was set forth (in anything but delicate language) the names of the individuals, and the character of the crime with which they were charged. At the conclusion of the speech, the mob which usually accompanied the procession^ finished it off with a round of hurrahs and howling. The proceedings were generally brought to a close by burning the guilty pafty ot parties in dEgy, either in the Market-place or in front of the house in which they lived. The following is a fair specimen of the stang rhyme above alluded to : — Hey Derry ! Hey Deny I Hey Deny Dan, Wb neither for your cause, nor my caiiBe that I ride the atang. Digitized by Google