Page:Lancashire Legends, Traditions, Pageants, Sports, Etc., with an Appendix Containing a Rare Tract.djvu/16

 of our local pageants, &c., including that of the still noted Preston Guild. Further information respecting this ancient pageant may be found in the very full and intering "History" of this guild by Mr William Dobson and my late colleague, who, amongst other matter, contributed a new translation of the "Custumal," which preserves some singular items from the ancient Breton laws. The wakes and rushbearings have engaged the attention of the historian as well as the novelist; and the description given by the latter enables us to live over again many episodes of youthful days. The third portion relates to Lancashire sports and games. The division might have been much enlarged, but it was deemed unnecessary to include such as leap-frog, weights, ring by ring, sally water, &c., &c., since they are still well known and practised daily. The introductory article may be instanced as explaining many of our ancient games of which the names only now remain. The fourth part contains an account of our old punishments, together with several still in use. Whipping has been revived as one of our legal punishments, and it is not improbable but that the occasional use of the stocks will shortly follow. The fifth division contains a collection of popular rhymes, proverbs, similes, &c., in common use amongst our peasantry. Many of these are to be found in Collier's "Tummus and Meary" and other similar works; but more especially in the writings of Waugh and Brierley, respectively two of our most talented and popular Lancashire authors.

The sixth portion of the work is devoted to miscellaneous superstitions and observances, all of which have been collected within the past four or five years, and are still believed in, and practised at the present time. They