Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 24, 1913.djvu/125

 Collcc(a)ica. 1 09

were made for them.'' Rowland Phillips says, — "In Wales there was scarcely any necessity for such orders [the Book of Sports] for the people enjoyed to the fulness of their hearts all games and sports. Sunday was the day of all others for games, and the Parish Churchyard shared with the old tennis court or castle green the scene for athletic sports on Sunday afternoon." The Rev. Rees Pritchards (c. 1620) in Catnvyll y Cymry^ writing of the Welsh Sabbath, says : —

' ' A day for drunkenness and gaming, A day for dancing and for loafing, A day for harlotry and play, Such is the Welshman's Sabbath day."

Fifth November. — The Fifth of November was celebrated in Newport by rolling a lighted barrel of tar down Stow Hill, a street in the town. This custom was ended because the people threw into the fire a policeman, who had interfered with their wild sport.

Stow Fair. — This was held in Whit week up to 1S60. All the people were allowed to sell beer at Fair time. They hung a bush or branch from the house. Stow Fair always had a Lord Mayor elected, who presided over the wild pleasures, and punished any strangers who visited his kingdom without ])aying a toll. The punishment was being ducked in the muddy pool, or sitting in the stocks.

May 2th. — At Caerleon the boys arm themselves with ash branches and oak branches, and fight each other.

Tree BelieJ. — By the gate of St. Woolos Church [Newport] there used to stand a very old tree that was hollow inside. The water used to ooze through the bark and stand in the hollow part, and was then supposed to have healing properties. The little girls of the district used to bring their dolls, and christen them in the water on Sunday mornings.

Marriage. — I was told by a working woman of the wedding, which took place lately [1909], of a doctor living at a village a few miles from Newport. '-As the family was much respected they roped the bride." On enquiry I found this meant that, as the bride and bridegroom were leaving the church, young men held up a rope and prevented the bride from getting away until money was given them. As the rope had been dropped in the muddy road.