occasion, wear their scarlet robes, which add considerably to the effect of the procession. The remaining members of the corporation wear black gowns. The sheriffs, chamberlains, and wardens are each attended by two followers. The city companies now commence their appearance in the cavalcade, beginning with the most ancient, and following according to their seniority. In the printed order of the procession, for several years past, the Mercers, according to its right of precedency, has always been placed at the head of the incorporated companies; but neither master nor followers have been seen in the show, to represent the premier company in the city. The procession of the companies and numerous benefit societies is terminated by that of the Wool-combers, which, although last in the cavalcade, is by no means least in its display of attractions; for, instead of confining themselves, as in the case of the other companies, to an exhibition of the streamer, master, and followers, the latter having in general no mark or distinction (a few only carrying little ornamented truncheons, surmounted by a device or symbol, showing the trade to which they belong), this junior fraternity has, for many years past, contrived to obtain and deserve a greater share of notice than any other company. The streamer is, with great characteristic propriety, woollen, instead of silk, and discovers some ingenuity in its fabric. This is followed by the master and his customary attendant, as in the case of the other companies; but the Wool-combers stop not here, adding first, a Shepherd and Shepherdess, the former of whom used to ride upon a horse, bearing a dog before him, whilst the shepherdess was seated upon another horse, within a sort of bower, formed of branches and flowers, and in her lap an artificial lamb, each carrying the emblematic crook. At the procession of 1824, this interesting little pair were first displayed underneath a large bower, constructed upon a platform affixed to a carriage drawn by a pair of horses, and a living lamb supplied the place of the former artificial one, the dog attending upon the shepherd as usual, and has been so repeated on each succeeding occasion. Following is the representative of the renowned Jason, bearing the golden fleece in triumph, in his left hand, and in his right a naked sword, with numerous wool-sorters, in characteristic fancy dresses; and next appears the patron saint of the wool-combers, Bishop Blaze, the representative of this saint and martyr of the Romish Church was, until very recently, dressed out with great ingenuity, by the adapting of combed jersey to various parts of his costume. The mitre was black, with white lining, and in a remarkable degree produced the desired effect. Two broad belts of black jersey, crossing over the front of his body, served, upon the white ground of a shirt, to give a very good appearance to that part of the dress; whilst the "lawn sleeves" were at once recognised in those of the bishop's shirt. A black gown has been substituted for the more characteristic dress above described, but the mitre is still formed according to that description, and he bears a book in his left hand, and the iron comb of the trade in his right. An indefinite number of woolcombers follow, who usually excite a considerable degree of attention, from their dresses being composed of various combinations of coloured jersey. The foregoing account of this celebrated pageant describes it as seen until the year 1826,1 since which period the corporation have ceased to form any part of the cavalcade, and by the change in the disposal of corporate funds, prescribed by the Municipal Reform Act, the pecuniary aid formerly contributed by the old corporation has been withdrawn. The masters of the companies have also discontinued their presence, but allow the use of their streamers, and supply a representative and followers. The feeling of the citizens for processional display has not, however, been removed; and some spirited individuals have projected, and successfully carried out, various additions to the late processions, to supply the place of the corporation group; this has been occupied by a characteristic attendant upon Lady Godiva, in the representative of the celebrated Leofric, Earl of Mercia, with pages, esquires, and attendants, attired in the costume of the period, and forming a novel and imposing addition to the procession. The following account of the procession in 1848, is extracted from the Coventry Herald:-"Large as was the influx of visitors contributed by common stages, horse, and foot, it was prodigiously augmented by the torrent of human beings which poured into the town in rapid succession by the railway trains, which, 1 We are indebted for it to a minute account of the procession published some years since by Mr. Merridew of Coventry, from authentic information, we are enabled to state, brought into Coventry on that day the amazing number of 15,600 persons. In various parts of the town had been erected triumphal arches of great height, ornamented with flowers and evergreens; and of which verdant materials wreaths were suspended across the public thoroughfares in many other places. Many private houses were also similarly decorated in front. The cavalcade started at eleven o'clock, headed by Mr. Wombwell's elephant bearing a castle, and thus forming a living and literal representation of the city arms of Coventry. Madame Warton's performance of Godiva was regarded as highly satisfactory. She was attired in a close-fitting elastic silk dress, of pinky-white colour, entire from the neck to the toes, excepting the arms, which were uncovered; over this a simple white satin tunic, edged with gold fringe, completed her riding habit. Her only head-dress was the perfectly unartificial and not very profuse supply of glossy black hair, simply braided in front, and hanging down, slightly confined behind, Mr. Warton, her husband, rode a short distance in the rear, as Edward the Black Prince, clad in a suit of mail. Queen Margaret, Sir John Falstaff, Robin Hood, Friar Tuck, William and Adam Botoner (the celebrated mayors of Coventry), Sir Thomas White (its great benefactor), and Sir W. Dugdale, the eminent local historian, also found representatives in the cavalcade. Last in the procession was a sylvan bower bearing the Shepherd and Shepherdess,'-a capacious platform furnished with flowers, fountains, and foreign birds in golden cages. The fleecy lambs and faithful dog formed an object which attracted all eyes, while the arbour of evergreens rising and tapering off to the height of forty feet, formed a magnificent finish to the cavalcade. The show concluded at three o'clock." There are many who consider this custom would be " more honoured in the breach than in the observance." Some, even, perhaps, who go so far as to recall the adage of Queen Elizabeth, "Ye men of Coventry, Good lack, what fools ye be !"] EVE OF THURSDAY AFTER TRINITY SUNDAY. "IN Wales, on Thursday after Trinity Sunday, which they call Dudd son Duw, or Dydd gwyl duw, on the eve before, they strew a sort of fern before their doors, called Red yn Mair." This is at Caerwis. Mr. Pennant's MS. ST. BARNABAS' DAY. JUNE 11. IN the Churchwardens' Accounts of St. Mary-at-Hill, in the city of London, 17 and 19 Edward IV., Palmer and Clerk, churchwardens, the following entry occurs: "For Rose garlondis and Woodrove garlondis on St. Barnebe's Daye, xjd." And, under the year 1486: "Item, for two doss' di bocse garlands for prestes and clerkes on Saynt Barnabe daye, js. xd." Ibid. 1512, Woulffe and Marten, churchwardens, the following: "Recd of the gadryng of the Maydens on St. Barnabas' Day, vjs. viijd." And, among the church disbursements of the same year, we have: " Rose-garlands and Lavender, St. Barnabas, js. vjd." In the same accounts, for 1509, is the following : "For bred, wine, and ale, for the singers of the King's Chapel, and for the Clarks of this town, on St. Barnabas, js. iijd." Collinson, in his History of Somersetshire, ii. 265, speaking of Glastonbury, tells us, that "besides the Holy Thorn, there grew in the Abbey churchyard, on the north side of St. Joseph's Chapel, a miraculous walnut-tree, which never budded forth before the feast of St. Barnabas, viz. the 11th 1 Gerard, in his Historie of Plants, p. 965, says, "Woodrooffe hath many square stalkes full of joints, and at every knot or joint seaven or eight long narrow leaves, set round about like a starre or the rowell of a spurre; the flowers grow at the top of the stemmes, of a white colour, and of a very sweete smell, as is the rest of the herbe, which being made up into garlands, or bundles, and hanged up in houses in the heate of sommer, doth very well attemper the aire, coole, and make fresh the place, to the delight and comfort of such as are therein." of June, and on that very day shot forth leaves, and flourished like its usual species. This tree is gone, and in the place thereof stands a very fine walnut-tree of the common sort. It is strange to say how much this tree was sought after by the credulous; and, though not an uncommon walnut, Queen Anne, King James, and many of the nobility of the realm, even when the times of monkish superstition had ceased, gave large sums of money for small cuttings from the original.' Among Ray's Proverbs, the following is preserved relating to Saint Barnabas : "Barnaby Bright, The longest day and shortest night." It was formerly believed that storms were prevalent on this day. So in the ancient Romish calendar,-" Barnabæ Apost. tempestas sæpe oritur." "This The author of the Festa Anglo Romana says, p. 72, Barnaby-day, or thereabout, is the summer solstice or sun- . sted, when the sun seems to stand, and begins to go back, being the longest day in the year, about the 11th or 12th of June; it is taken for the whole time, when the days appear not for fourteen days together either to lengthen or shorten." CORPUS CHRISTI DAY AND PLAYS. CORPUS CHRISTI DAY, says the Festa Anglo Romana, p. 73, in alı Roman Catholic countries is celebrated with music, lights, flowers, strewed all along the streets, their richest tapestries hung out upon the walls, &c. The following is Googe's translation of what Naogeorgus has said upon the ceremonies of this day in his Popish King. dom, f. 53. "Then doth ensue the solemne feast of Corpus Christi Day, Who then can shewe their wicked use, and fond and foolish play : |