Page:History of the Fylde of Lancashire (IA historyoffyldeof00portiala).pdf/217

 to the superiority of the English arms, and yielded up his life on Flodden Field, the yeomanry and husbandmen of this town were well represented; and the cheerful alacrity with which they hastened to join the royal standard under Lord Stanley, in company with others from the Fylde, between here and Preston, is lauded in an ancient ballad, written to celebrate the victory, from which the following lines are extracted:—

"From Ribchester unto Rachdale, From Poulton to Preston with pikes, They with y^e Stanley howte forthe went."

There is no necessity to recapitulate the stirring incidents of the Civil Wars, the bivouacking and plundering in the neighbourhood or the frequent demands for recruits by the royal and parliamentary generals, but it will be sufficiently convincing of the earnestness and loyalty of the inhabitants to state, that most of the local families of influence risked their lives and fortunes in the service of the king, leaving little doubt that those of humbler sphere would be actuated by a like enthusiasm.

About a century ago it was customary amongst the gentry and more wealthy yeomanry to hold their interments at night by the light of lamps or lanterns, and during the passage of the funeral procession through the town, each householder illuminated his windows with burning candles. The last person to be buried with this ceremony was the Rev. Thomas Turner, the vicar, who died in 1810.

Of the domestic habits of Poulton at that period, and rather earlier, it need only be said that they presented little variation from those of other towns or villages similarly situated; removed from the enervating and seductive temptations of a city, and forced, for the most part, to earn their bread under the broad canopy of heaven, it is not surprising to find that the people were a long-lived and vigorous race. Their feastings and merry-*makings took place at fair-times, and at such other seasons as were universally set apart in rural districts for rejoicings and festivity, notably harvest gatherings and the first of May, the latter being especially honoured. On that day the causeways were strewn with flowers, and all things suitable for the festival were lavishly provided; wine, ale, and sweetmeats being freely contributed by the gentry and others. The peasantry were