Chapter XXIII: Miscellaneous Customs, Etc (2)

Charity, St., 320.

Charles's wain, 80.

Charms, 506.

Check, term in hawking, 123.

Cherry-pit, old game, 401.

Cherry-tree, in connection with cuckoo-rhyme, 111.

Chess, 402.

Chester mysteries, 311.

Chewet, meaning of term, 101.

Chilblains, 269.

Children of the revels, 297.

Christ-cross-row, name for alphabet, 508.

Christening day, 338.

Christenings, entertainments at, 338.

Christmas, customs at, 329;
carol, 329;
eve, cock-crow on, 103;
gambol, 329;
wassail-bowl at, 330;
candle, 330;
mummers, 331;
nutmeg, gift at, 233.

Christom child, 340.

Chrysolite, supernatural virtues of, 391.

Cicely, St., 321, note.

Cinders of the elements, stars so called, 83.

Cinque-pace, old dance, 425.

Clacking at Easter, 302.

Clare's (St.) fire, meteor so called, 83.

Closing eye of the dead, 372.

Clouds, weather-lore of, 96.

Cloud-in-the-face, term applied to a horse, 191.

Clover-flowers, 212.

Cobwebs, used for stanching blood, 265.

Cock, crows on Christmas Eve, 103;
spirits disappear at cock-crow, 48.

Cock-a-hoop, applied to a reckless person, 107.

Cockatrice, superstitions relating to, 174, 175;
applied to a loose woman, 175.

Cock-boat, 108, note.

Cock-chafer, old name for, 100.

Cock-fighting, 105.

Cockle, badge of pilgrims, 498.

Cock-light, 160.

Cock's-body, 106.

Cock-shut time, name for twilight, 159.

Cock's-passion, 106.

Coddling, apple so called, 206.

Cold palsies, 284.

Colt, its metaphorical use, 175;
pixey, 6.

Columbine, a thankless flower, 212.

Comets, considered ominous, 89.

Cony-catch, term for cheating, 196.

Cooling-card, 415.

Coranto, old dance, 426.

Cormorant, 108.

Corpse, unlucky to keep on board, 370.

Cotswold games, 316.

Couch-glass, 243.

"Coventry Mysteries," 313.

Crab, name of apple, 205.

Crants, name for garlands, 374.

Cricket, a good omen; 251;
unlucky, 516.

Crispin's (St.) Day, 325.

Crocodile, tears of, 176;
said to be deceitful, 176.

Cross, wood of, 208.

Cross-bow, shooting with, 178.

Cross-road, ghosts of suicides haunt, 382.

Crow, bird of ill-omen, 108.

Crow-flowers, 212.

Crowfoot, 213.

Crow-keeper, 109.

Crown, burning, placed on criminals, 436, 437.

Cry, applied to pack of hounds, 179.

Cry Budget, a watchword, 529.

Crystal, old term for the eye, 483.

Cuckold, 113.

Cuckoo, superstitions connected with, 110-113.

Cuckoo-buds, 213.

Cuckoo-flowers, 213.

Cuerpo-Santo, meteor so called, 84.

Curfew-bell, 85.

Curtal dog, 183.

Cut, name for a horse, 192.

Cuttle, a foul-mouthed person so called, 498.

Cypress, 213, 214.

Daffodil, weather-lore of, 214.

Dances, 424-432.

Dancing, ascribed to fairies, 18.

Dark-house, term for a mad-house, 50, 278.

Darnel, 215.

Date, 215.

David's (St.) Day, 226, 303.

Dead, burying of, in their ordinary dress, 375, 376;
feasts of the, 378;
tombs of, ornamented, 377;
cannot die on pigeons' feathers, 367;
closing eyes of, 372;
decorated with flowers, 373.

Dead men's fingers, orchis so called, 227.

Death and burial customs, 362-385.

Death, prophecy at point of, 362;
high spirits presage impending, 363;
warnings at time of, 364, 365;
watch, 516;
delayed until ebb of tide, 370;
devil seizes soul at, 365.

Death's-head rings, 388.

Deer, hunting customs relating to, 177-181;
shooting with cross-bow, 178;
tears of, 180.

Deformed children, 78.

Deformity, superstitions connected with, 269, 270.

Demoniacal possession, 475.

Demonology, 52-61.

Dennis, St., patron saint of France, 326.

Devil, cloven foot of, 57.

Devil's Dyke, myth of, 189.

Dew, its supposed virtues, 90;
curious notions respecting, 63.

Dice, 402.

Disedge, term in falconry, 127.

Divine right of kings, 512.

Dog, its howl ominous, 181, 516;
rides with ghosts, 49;
days, 183, 319;
killer, 183.

Domestic fowl, 113.

Dove, customs associated with, 113-115;
Mahomet's, 115;
of Venus, 115.

Dragon, type of evil, 184;
draws chariot of night, 184;
folk-lore of, 185.

Dreams, prognostics of good and evil, 508;
malicious spirits torment their victims in, 509.

Dribble, term in archery, 411.

Drowning, dangerous to save a person from, 271.

Duck, to swim like a, 116.

Duck-hunting, 115.

Duels, 509.

Dun is in the mire, Christmas game, 403.

Dwarf elder, superstition connected with, 216.

Eagle, gazes on the sun, 116;
its great age, 117;
bird of good omen, 118;
selected for Roman standard, 118.

Ear, tingling of, 480;
biting of, expression of endearment, 481;
want of, for music, 481.

Earnest-money, 528.

Earthquakes, cause of, 93;
ominous, 93, 516.

Easter morning, dancing of sun on, 63;
clacking at, 302;
new clothes worn on, 302;
Monday, 302, 303.

Ebb of tide, death delayed until, 370.

Ebony, emblem of darkness, 215.

Eclipses, savage notions respecting, 71;
unlucky, 72, 516;
a bad omen, 65.

Eels, roused by thunder, 93.

Eggs in moonshine, 78;
witches sail in, 35.

Eisel, name for vinegar, 292.

Elberich, 14.

Elbow, itching of, 481.

Elder, tree on which Judas hanged himself, 216;
plant of bad omen, 216.

Elements, the four, 475.

Elephant, said to have no joints, 186;
capture of, 186.

Elf-fire, 87, note;
elf-locks, 190.

Elfin-grey, 17.

Elmo's (St.) stars, 84.

Elves, 9.

Embossed, applied to deer, 179.

Emmew, a term in falconry, 128.

Engine, name for the rack, 439.

Epilepsy, 271, 283.

Equinox, weather-lore of, 93.

Eringoes, 217.

Etheldreda's (St.) Day, 324.

Evil spirits, assume various forms, 53;
a dead friend, 55.

Exclamations, 529-531.

Exorcism of spirits, 44.

Eyas-musket, name for a young sparrow-hawk, 154.

Eye, closing of, at death, 372;
bitten, 335;
blueness of, 482;
the evil, 335, 482.

Face, to play the hypocrite, 484.

Fading, a dance, 426.

Fairies, assume various forms, 12;
attentive to youthful dead, 22;
beauty of, 10;
fond of cleanliness, 18;
diminutiveness of, 12;
dislike irreligious people, 18;
dress of, 17;
enrich their favorites, 21;
exchange children, 24;
expeditious in their actions, 21;
fatal to speak to, 21;
fond of dancing and music, 17, 18;
haunts of, 15;
immortality of, 11;
kind to mortals, 20;
malignant, 22;
mischievous, 23;
perpetual youth of, 11;
vanish at will, 12.

Fairy revels, 18.

Fairy-rings, 15, 16, 232.

Falcon-gentle, species of hawk, 158.

Falling-sickness, 271.

Fast and loose, a cheating game, 403.

Feet, stumbling of, unlucky, 454.

Fencing, 404.

Fennel, an inflammatory herb, 217.

Fern-seed, renders invisible, 217, 218.

_Feux follets_, name for will-o'-the-wisp, 88.

Fever, spider a cure for, 258.

Fiery dragon, 85.

Fiery Trigon, 79.

Fig, phrases connected with, 218, 219.

Filliping the toad, game of boys, 406.

Finch-egg, 101.

Finger, itching of, 482.

Finger-stone, 92.

Fire-drake, 84, 85.

Fistula, 271, 272.

Fit, 272, 273.

Fitchew, 196.

Flagellation, treatment for persons possessed, 56.

Flap-dragon, 406.

Flap-jacks, name for pancakes, 299.

Flaws, sudden gusts of wind, 95.

Fleas, loach said to breed, 499.

Fleshment, military term, 541.

Fleur-de-lys, 219.

Flibbertigibbet, a fiend, name also for _ignis fatuus_, 6, 61, 85, 269.

Flitter-mouse, term for the bat, 163.

Flower-de-luce, 219.

Flowers, carried on a maiden's coffin, 374;
for decorating corpses, 374;
on graves, 373;
at weddings, 355.

Flowering Sunday, 374.

Fly, form of an evil spirit, 54.

Folk-medicine, 264-295.

Fools, 532.

Football, 407.

Forelooked, term for evil eye, 335.

Forfeits, 533.

Fortune-tellers, 510.

Fox, hunting of, 187;
a weapon so called, 186.

Frateretto, fiend so called, 61.

Friar's lantern, name for _ignis fatuus_, 87, note.

Frogs used for divination, 252.

Fullams, false dice, 403.

Funeral rites, supposed necessity for, 46, 382.

Gad-fly, 252.

Gage, a glove so called, 536, note.

Gall of goat, used by witches, 187.

Galliard, dance, 425, note.

Gambling, 533.

Game laws, 180.

Garters, 534.

Gaudy days, 535.

George (St.) and dragon, myth of, 184.

George's (St.) Day, 304.

Giants, belief in, 512.

Gib cat, 173.

Gillyflower, 221.

Gimmal-ring, 347.

Gleek, old game, 408.

Glove, worn as a favor, 536;
memorial of a friend, 536;
signal of a challenge, 536;
a pledge, 537;
scented, 538.

Glow-worm, superstition relating to, 138.

Goat, superstition relating to, 187.

"God save the mark," exclamation, 529.

God's tokens, plague-spots, 285.

Gold, melted, poured down the throat, 369;
chains, worn by persons of rank, 544;
medicinal virtues of, 273.

Golden-russeting, name of an apple, 206.

Goldfinch, 119.

Good Friday, 301.

Good Lubber, name of a spirit, 8.

Good year, corruption of _goujère_, 274.

Goose, emblem of cowardice, 119;
terms connected with, 118, 119.

Gossamer, notions relating to, 259.

Gossip's bowl, 205.

Gourds, false dice, 402.

Gout, 288.

Grand liquor, the _aurum potabile_ of alchemists, 274.

Grave, position of, 382;
yards, haunted by spectres, 381, 382.

Gudgeon, 498.

Guinea-hen, 113.

Gull, term for a fool, 120;
used for a trick or imposition, 120.

Gull-catcher, applied to sharpers, 120;
groper, 120.

Gurnet, term of reproach, 499.

Habundia, Mab, perhaps, a contraction of, 4.

Hack, punishment of knight, 434.

Hag-seed, 40.

Haggard, term in hawking, 122.

Hair, antipathy to red and yellow, 485;
much, denotes want of intellect, 462, 488;
stands on end through fear, 488;
turns white through sorrow and fear, 489;
used metaphorically, 490;
bride's, dishevelled at wedding, ceremony, 352, 353.

Halcyon days, 131.

Halidom, meaning of, 529.

Hallowmas, 326.

Hand, palmistry of, 490;
worms bred in fingers of idle servants, 491;
terms associated with, 491, 492.

Hare, a melancholy animal, 187;
proverb relating to, 462.

Harebell, 221.

Hare-lip, supposed to be work of fairy, 492.

Hairie-racket, old game, 396.

Hart royal, 178.

Havoc, to cry, 514.

Hawk, catching game with, 121-126;
to seel a, 127;
training of, 126;
to imp a, 128.

Hay, old dance, 427;
exclamation, 529.

Head, shape of, 493.

Heart, seat of understanding, 493, 494;
courage, 494;
death from broken, 493.

Heart's-ease, nickname of, 227;
used for love-philtres, 227.

Hecate, 35.

Hedgehog, said to suck udders of cows, 188;
familiar of witches, 189;
legends connected with, 188, 189;
a term of reproach, 189.

Helen's (St.) fire, meteor so called, 83.

Helme's (St.) the, 83.

Hemlock, its poisonous character, 221;
supposed to be death-drink of Greeks, 221;
nickname for, 223.

Henbane, 223.

Herb of Grace, 221, 222.

Herm's (St.) the, meteor, 83.

Herne's oak, 233, 234.

Heron, used in hawking, 129.

Hid, or hide fox, game so called, 408.

High spirits a bad omen, 363.

Hippopotamus, 504.

Hob-and-his-lanthorn, 87, note.

Hobany's lanthorn, 87, note.

Hobbididance, evil spirit so called, 61.

Hobgoblin, 7.

Hobby-horse, character in morris-dance, 309;
applied to a loose woman, 310.

Hock cart, at harvest-home, 323.

Hold, term in fighting, 530.

Holy-Cross Day, 324.

Holyrood Day, 324.

Holy thistle, 222.

Honey-dew, 91.

Honey-stalks, name for clover-flowers, 212.

Hoodman-blind, 408, 409.

Horn-mad, 278.

Horses, fairies play pranks with, 190;
witches harass, 190;
terms connected with, 191;
forehorse of a team decorated, 192;
hair, notion respecting, 190;
racing, 409.

Hum-buz, name for cockchafer, 100.

Hunting customs, 178, 179.

Hunt's-up, morning song to a newly-married couple, 179, 357.

Hysteria, 275.

Idiots, said to be fairies' children, 334.

Imp, to, term in falconry, 128.

Incubi, class of devils, 78.

Infection, notions respecting, 276.

Iniquity, character in old miracle-plays, 314.

Insane root, 223.

Insanity, influenced by moon, 73, 277.

Irreligious persons, fairies dislike, 18.

Ivy, hung at door of a vintner, 223.

Jack-a-lantern, 87.

Jack-a-Lent, 299.

Jackdaw, 102.

Jacket-a-wad, 87, note.

Jane Shore, 27, 37.

Jaundice, spider a cure for, 258.

Jay, applied to loose woman, 130.

Jesses, trappings of hawks, 126.

Jesus, inscribed on letters, 540.

Jews, torturing of, 474.

Jew's eye, 473.

Jig, an old dance, 427.

Joan of Arc, 26.

Joan in-the wad, 87, note.

John (St.) Baptist's night, 319.

John's (St.) wort, divination by, 318.

Judas, hanged himself on an elder, 216;
kiss, 539.

Justice Jarvis, old pastime, 418.

Kecksies, stalks of hemlock, 224.

Kestrel, applied to hawk, 130.

Key cold, meaning of, 265.

Kid fox, game, 408.

Kingfisher, weather lore of, 131;
hung up in cottages, 131.

Kings, supernatural authority of, 517.

King's evil, 279.

Kiss, at betrothal, 346;
at marriage ceremony, 351;
fee of lady's partner, 538;
saluting ladies with, 539.

Kissing comfits, 539.

Kit-with-the-candle-stick, 87.

Kite, bird of ill-omen, 131;
curious notion respecting, 132.

Knotgrass, hinders growth, 225.

Lace songs, 539.

Lachrymatory vials, 379.

Lady-bird, term of endearment, 253.

Lady-smocks, 225.

Lamb ale, 312.

Lamb-mass, 320.

Lambert's (St.) Day, 324.

Lamb's-wool, 205.

Lammas Day, 320.

Lamps, perpetual, 383.

Lapwing, an eccentric bird, 132;
symbol of insincerity, 133;
draws pursuers from its nest, 133.

Lark, changes eyes with toad, 134;
song of, 135;
mode of capturing, 134.

Laudatory verses, affixed to tomb, 377.

Laugh-and-lie-down, game at cards, 410.

Laurel, symbol of victory, 225.

Lavolta, French dance, 428.

Leap-frog, 409.

Leather-coat, name of apple, 206.

Leech, 281.

Leek, on St. David's Day, 226, 303.

Leet ale, 312, 548.

Lent, Jack-a-lent made at, 299;
fleshmeat not sold during, 300.

Leprosy, 280.

Lethargy, confounded with apoplexy, 280.

Letters, Emmanuel prefixed to, 540.

Light-o'-love, tune of dance, 429.

Lightning, persons struck by, accounted holy, 92.

Lily, 226.

Lion, supposed generosity of, 193;
will not injure a royal prince, 194;
kept without food, 194.

Liver, seat of love, 494;
absence of blood in, 478.

Livery, to sue one's, 541

Lizard, said to be venomous, 253;
used by witches, 254.

Loach breeds fleas, 499.

Loaf mass, 320.

Lob of spirit, 1, 5, 8.

Lob's pound, 8.

Loggat, game so called, 410.

Long purples, name of orchis, 226.

Loose, term in archery, 395.

Lord Mayor's Day, 327;
show, 315;
fool, 327.

Love charms 359.

Love-day, 541.

Love-in-idleness, 227.

Love-lock, 480.

Love philtres, 227, 264, 359.

Lovers, eccentricities of, 361, 406, 478, note, 534.

Lucky days, 512.

Mab, fairy queen, 4, 5, 24.

Magpie, regarded as mysterious bird, 135;
claims for averting ill-luck of seeing, 136;
nicknamed magot-pie, 135.

Magic, system of, 482;
verses, 508.

Mahu, prince of darkness, 61.

Mahomet's dove, 115.

Man in the moon, 68, 244.

Mandrake, resemblance of, to human figure, 228;
watched over by Satan, 230;
its groans, 228;
superstitions relating to, 229-231.

Manningtree ox, 317.

Marbles, 411.

Marigold, opens its flowers at sun's bidding, 230.

Marriage, 342-361;
ceremony mostly on Sunday, 358, 359.

Martin, unlucky to molest a, 136;
builds near human habitations, 136.

Martin's (St.) Day, 328;
summer, 131.

Martlemas, 328.

Mary-bud, name for marigold, 231.

Mankin, used for hare, 168, note.

May-day observances, 305.

Maying, going a, 307.

May-pole, 307.

Meadow cress, 213.

Measles, 281.

Medlar, applied to woman of loose character, 231.

Merlin, 511;
prophecies of, 515.

Mermaid, 500-503.

Meteors, regarded as ominous, 88, 516;
names for, 83.

Metrical charms, 508.

Michaelmas, 324.

Midsummer Eve, 218, 318;
man, 318;
watch, 315.

Military lore, 541.

Mill, name for nine-men's-morris, 413.

Mines, guarded by evil spirits, 59;
truepenny, mining term, 542.

Minnow, term of contempt, 503.

Miracle-plays, 313.

Mirror, bears surprised by, 164.

Mistletoe, notions respecting, 231, 232.

Mock-water, 295.

Moist star, name for moon, 74.

Moldwarp, term for mole, 195.

Mole said to be blind, 194.

Moles on body ominous, 495.

Moon, adoration of, 69;
eclipse of, 71;
man in the, 68, 69, 244;
sanguine color of, 73, 516;
paleness of, 73;
weather-lore of, 76-78;
insane persons affected by, 73;
swearing by, 70;
enchantment of, 71;
invocation of, 70;
inconstancy of, 70;
horns of, 77;
moisture of, 74;
influence over agricultural affairs, 75;
waxing and waning of, 76;
affected by witchcraft, 71.

Moon-calf, 77.

Moralities, 314.

Morris-dance, 186, note, 308, 311, 431.

Moth, a fairy, 9;
insect, 254.

Mother, name for hysteria, 275.

Mother of all humors, the moon, 74.

Mouse, term of endearment, 195.

Mouse-hunt, 195.

Mummy, 282.

Murdered persons bleed at approach of murderer, 486.

Mushroom, superstitions relating to, 232.

Music, ascribed to fairies, 17;
as a medical agency, 278;
cure for madness, 277;
at funerals, 381;
weddings, 352;
of the spheres, 80.

Muss, a scramble, 411.

Mustard, 232;
mustard-seed, a fairy, 9.

Narcissus, legend concerning, 233.

Negro, form of evil spirit, 53.

Nicholas's (St.) Day, 328;
patron of children, 328;
clerks, cant term for highwaymen, 329.

Night crow, 150;
heron, 150;
raven, 150.

Nightingale, sings with breast on thorn, 137;
evil spirits assume form of, 54;
story of, and glow-worm, 138.

Nightmare, charms for, 283.

Nine-holes, old game, 411.

Nine-men's-morris, rustic game, 411.

Nine Worthies, the, 316.

Noddy, game at cards, 413.

Nose, bleeding of, unlucky, 266, 516.

_Novem quinque_, game of dice, 413.

Numbers, odd, 40.

Nuptial kiss, 351.

Nutmeg, gift at Christmas, 233.

O ho! exclamation, 530.

Oak, crown of, a mark of honor, 233;
Herne's, 233.

Oberon, king of fairyland, 2, 3.

Obidicut, evil spirit, 61.

Odd numbers, 40.

Olive, emblem of peace, 234.

One-and-thirty, old game, 399.

Osprey, fascinating influence of, 138.

Ostrich, extraordinary digestion of, 138, 139.

Otnit, German story of, 3, 14.

Ouphe, name for fairy, 9, 17.

Our Lady's smock, 225.

Ousel, name for blackbird, 100.

Owl, bird of ill-omen, 139;
legend concerning, 142.

Owlet's wing used by witches, 141.

Oysters, proverb relating to, 468.

Paddock, term for toad, 144, 262.

Pageants, 315.

Palm, symbol of victory, 234.

Palmers, name for pilgrims, 235.

Palmistry, 475, 490.

Paralysis, 284.

Parish-top, 413.

Parrot, restless before rain, 143;
taught unlucky words, 143.

Partridge, 133.

Passing-bell, 366.

Patrick (St.) drives reptiles from Ireland, 257;
his festival, 304;
purgatory, 304, 368.

Patrons, praying for, 543.

Pavan, a dance, 429.

Peacock, its proverbial use, 143.

Peajock, peacock so called, 144.

Pear, 235.

Pearls, swallowing of, 392;
powdered, thrown over sovereigns, 391;
medicinal properties of, 392;
legendary origin of, 392.

Peas-blossom, name of fairy, 9.

Peascod wooing, 235.

Peg-a-lantern, 87, note.

Peg-morris, game so called, 412.

Pelican, feeds young ones with her blood, 144;
hatched dead, 145.

Periapts, 506.

Pheasant, 145.

Philip, name for sparrow, 154.

Philomel, term for nightingale, 138.

Philosopher's stone, 284.

Phoenix, rises from its own ashes, 145.

Pigeon, feathers of, unlucky, 367;
used as carrier, 146;
constancy of, 147.

Pike, old name for, 503.

Pilgrims, 235.

Pillory, mode of punishment, 437.

Piskey, Devonshire name for fairy, 6.

Pismire, name for ant, 250.

Pixy, name for fairy, 6.

Pixy-led, misled by fairies, 8.

Planets, 78;
influence of, 79;
irregular motion of, 78.

Plantain, its medicinal use, 76, 236;
water, 268.

Pleurisy, 281.

Plica Polonica, 190.

Pluck a crow, 110.

Plucking geese, a boy's sport, 119.

Poake-ledden, 8.

Poison, vulgar error relating to, 286.

Polecat, 196.

Pomander, 287.

Pomewater, name of apple, 207.

Pooka, 6.

Poor man's parmacetti, 267.

Poperin, name for pear, 235.

Popinjay, name for parrot, 143.

Poppy, deadly qualities of, 237.

Porcupine darts his quills, 196.

Porpoise, weather-lore of, 503.

Portents, belief in, 516.

Posy rings, 388, 389.

Potato, 237.

Poverty, badge of, 521.

Prayers, of Church, morbific influence of, 372;
witches say backwards, 40, 41.

Press, old torture, 438.

Primavista, game at cards, 414.

Primero, 414.

Primrose, 237.

Priser, term for a wrestler, 423.

Prison bars or base, rustic game, 397.

Prophecy, at death, 362.

Proud tailor, name for goldfinch, 119.

Proverbs, 444-474.

Puck, name of fairy, 5-8, 11, 87.

Punishments, 433-443.

Push, exclamation, 498;
pin, game, 415.

Puttock, name for kite, 132.

Quails, 148;
fighting, 148.

Quarry, term in falconry, 124.

Quintam, 415.

Quoits, 416.

Rabbit, 196;
suckers, 196.

Race of horses, term for a stud, 193.

Rack, torture of, 438.

Racking clouds, 96.

Ragged-robin, 213.

Rainbow, 91.

Rapture, name for trance, 272, 273.

Rat, rhymed to death, 197;
leaving a ship, ominous, 198.

Raven, bird of ill-omen, 149;
supposed longevity of, 149;
deserts its young, 151;
feathers, used by witches, 151.

Red blood, sign of courage, 477.

Red pestilence, 285.

Reed, for shepherds' pipes, 238.

Rere-mouse, name for bat, 162.

Rheumatism, 288.

Rhyne toll, old manorial custom, 167.

Rings, symbolical use, 386;
exchange in marriage contracts, 346;
death's-head, 388;
running for the, 417;
rush, 242;
posy, 388;
token, 387;
thumb, 389.

Rivo, an exclamation, 530.

Robin Goodfellow, 5-7, 86.

Robin Hood, 310.

Robin Redbreast covers dead bodies with leaves, 152.

Rook, weather-lore of, 153;
bird of good omen, 153;
deserting a rookery, 153.

Rose, associated with "Wars of Roses," 239, 240;
divination by, 318;
symbolical use, 238;
customs connected with, 238;
cakes, 239;
water, 239.

Rosemary, strengthens memory, 240;
symbol of remembrance, 240;
at weddings and funerals, 240;
for garnishing dishes at Christmas, 241.

Roundel, a dance, 429.

Rouse, 528.

Ruddock, name for redbreast, 153.

Rue, divination by, 318.

Running, for the ring, 417;
the figure of eight, 417;
counter, hunting term, 178.

Rush-bearings, 242.

Rush candle, 242.

Rush-ring, 242.

Sabbath of witches, 30.

Saffron, its uses, 242, 243.

Sagittary, 543.

Salad-days, 543.

Saliva, medical notion respecting, 289.

Salt, used metaphorically, 543;
sitting below the, 526.

Salutations, 544.

Sampson, Agnes, reputed witch, 33.

Satyrs' dance, 430.

Scale of dragon, used by witches, 185.

Scambling days, 301.

Scammell or scamel, 121.

Scare-crow, 109.

Scrofula, cure for, 279.

Sea, source of dew, 90;
persons drowned in, 382;
eagle, name for osprey, 138;
gull, 121;
mell or mew, 121;
monster, 504.

Secondary rainbow, 91.

See-saw, game, 417.

Seel, term in falconry, 127.

Serpent, called a worm, 254;
its forked tongue supposed to injure, 255;
said to cause death without pain, 255, 256;
used by witches, 255;
emblem of ingratitude, 256;
cures for bite of, 256;
driven out of Ireland by St. Patrick, 257;
casting of its slough, 257.

Serpigo, name for skin disease, 288.

Servants, taking oath of fidelity, 544;
gold chains worn by, 544;
attend bare-headed, 545.

Sheep-shearing customs, 317.

Sheer ale, 528.

Shepherd's, mill, 413;
purse, 268.

Shepherd-queen, 318.

Sheriffs' post, 545.

Shoe-tye, name for a traveller, 545.

Shoeing-horn, 545.

Shooting stars, 516.

Shore, Jane, 27, 37.

Shove-groat, 417;
shove-halfpenny, 418.

Shrouding-sheet, 380.

Shrove Tuesday, 299.

Sickness, 288.

Sieve, used by witches, 34;
toss in a, punishment so called, 441.

Sigh, notions respecting, 289.

Signatures, doctrine of, 218.

Silence before thunder, 93.

"Six Worthies," 316.

Skimmington, old ceremony of, 443.

Slide, board, or groat, 418, note;
thrift, 418, note.

Slip-thrift, 418, note.

Slough of snake, 257.

Slow-worm, 255.

Smulkin, evil spirit, 61.

Smithfield fair, 321.

Snails, charming of, 198;
omens of fine weather, 199.

Sneak-cup, 528.

Sneck-up, exclamation, 531.

Snipe, applied to foolish man, 154.

Snowballs, 418.

Solemn supper, 545.

Sop o' the moonshine, 78.

Souls, transmigration of, 50.

Soul-bell, 367;
mass cakes, 379.

Souling, going a, 326.

Span-counter, old game, 418.

Sparrow, called Philip, 154;
hawk, 154.

Spear-grass, 243.

Spectre huntsman, 49.

Spider, considered venomous, 258;
cure for jaundice and ague, 258;
web used for stopping blood, 258;
bottled, 259;
gossamer, notion respecting, 259.

Spirits, various kinds of, 60;
unlucky to cross their path, 48;
disappear at cock-crow, 104;
impatient at being interrogated, 45;
their appearance, 45;
walking of, by way of penance, 46;
reason for appearing, 46;
allotted time for work, 47;
signs of their approach, 47;
of revenge, 58.

Spleen, supposed cause of laughter, 496.

Spy, I, exclamation, 531.

Squalls, weather-lore of, 95.

Stalking horse, 191.

Starling, 155.

Stars, influence on mundane events, 80;
heroes reckoned among, 82.

Statute-cap, 546.

Stephen's (St.) Day, hunting wren on, 501.

Sterility, 289.

Stigmatic, deformed person so called, 270.

Stocks, old punishment, 440.

Stool-ball, old game, 419.

Stoop, or swoop, term in falconry, 124.

Stover, fodder for cattle, 243.

Strappado, military punishment, 440.

Strawberry, 243.

Succubi, class of devils, 78.

Suicide, 290.

Sun, weather-lore of, 63-65;
dancing of, 63;
cloudy rising, ominous, 64;
red sunrise, 64;
watery sunset, 65;
supposed to be a planet, 62.

Sunday, fashionable day for weddings, 358.

Sunshine in March, 68.

Swallow, harbinger of spring, 155;
bird of good omen, 156.

Swan, sings before death, 156.

Sword, swearing by, 542;
dance, 430.

Sympathetic indications, 518.

Tailor, exclamation, 531.

Tailor's goose, name for pressing-iron, 118.

Tassel-gentle, name of hawk, 157.

Tavy's (St.) Day, 226, 304.

Tawdry lace, 325.

Tears, of the deer, 180;
crocodile, 176.

Teeth, superstitions relating to, 332, 333.

Telme's (St.) fire, meteor so called, 83.

Ten bones, name for fingers, 491.

Ten commandments, 491.

Tennis, 419.

Termagant, tyrant of miracle-plays, 313.

Tewksbury mustard, 232.

Theatrical lore, 546.

Thorns, legend relating to, 244.

Threshold, bride must not cross, 358.

Thumb, biting of, an insult, 492;
rings, 389.

Thunder, notions relating to, 91;
bolt, 91;
stone, 91.

Tick-tack, old game, 421.

Tiger, roars in stormy weather, 199.

Tire, term in falconry, 127.

Titania, fairy queen, 2, 3, 14.

Tilly-vally, exclamation, 531.

Toad, evil spirit likened to, 262;
changes eyes with lark, 134;
said to be venomous, 261;
stone, 260.

Tokens plague-spots, 285.

Tomb, ornamenting, 377.

Tongue, blister on, 266.

Toothache, 507;
caused by a worm, 290.

Torches at weddings, 357.

Toss in a sieve, punishment so called, 441.

Touching for king's evil, 279.

Tournaments, 547.

Tower, term in falconry, 123.

Transmigration of souls, 50.

Tread a measure, dance, 431.

Trefoil, divination by, 318.

Trial by the stool, for detecting witches, 31.

Trip and go, a morris-dance, 431.

Troll-my-dame, or Troll-madam, game so called, 422.

Truepenny, mining term, 542.

Trump, old game, 422.

Trumpet, for announcing visitors, 547.

Tub-fast, 292.

Turkey, 158.

Turquoise, supposed virtues of, 393.

Tutelary guardians, 57.

Twelfth Day, 297.

Tybert or Tybalt, cat so called, 172.

Unicorn, mode of betraying, 199.

Up-spring, German dance, 431, 432.

Urchin, name for fairy, 9, 17.

Urchins' dance, 9.

Valentine's (St.) Day, 298;
birds choose their mates on, 298;
selecting valentines on, 298;
customs in France on, 298.

Vervain, divination by, 318.

Vice, character in old miracle-plays, 314.

Violet, associated with early death, 244;
superstition relating to, 244.

_Virus lunare_, 75.

Vitalis (St.) invoked in case of nightmare, 283.

Vulture, 158.

Wagtail, used in opprobrious sense, 158.

Wakes, 331.

Walking fire, name for _ignis fatuus_, 86.

Wandering, knight, name of sun, 63;
stars, 78, 79.

War-cry, 547.

Warden, name of pear, 235.

Wasp, 262.

Wassail, bowl, 205;
candle, 330.

Wat, name for hare, 188.

Water, casting, 293;
galls, name for rainbow, 91.

Waxen images, used by witches, 37.

Weasel, considered ominous, 200;
kept in houses, 200;
said to be quarrelsome, 200.

Weathercocks, 108.

Web-and-pin, name for cataract, 269.

Wedding-torch, 357.

Were-wolf, mark of, 31.

Westward, ho, exclamation, 531.

Whale, 504.

Wheel, punishment of, 441.

Whipping, 442.

Whistling of swan, 157.

White dog-rose, 240.

Whitsun, ale, 312;
mysteries, 311.

Whitsuntide, 310.

Wild-goose chase, 118.

Will-o'-the-wisp, 8, 85.

Will-with-a-wisp, 87.

Willow, symbol of sadness, 245;
garlands made of, 245.

Winchester, college, custom at, 387;
goose, 119.

Wind, weather-lore of, 94;
sale of, 34.

Winding-sheet, 380, 516.

Wisp, punishment for a scold, 442.

Witches, in "Macbeth," 27;
create storms, 32;
drawing blood from, 32;
propitiation of, 32;
powers limited, 31;
harass horses, 190;
offspring of, 40;
say their prayers backwards, 40;
sell or give winds, 34;
ointment, 36;
intercourse between, and demons, 40;
protection from, 32;
vanish at will, 35;
destroy cattle, 39;
look into futurity, 36;
beard, characteristic of, 29;
trials, 36.

Witch of Brentford, 27.

Wits, the five, 496.

Woodcock, applied to a foolish person, 159.

Worm, a poor creature, 256;
name for serpent, 254;
toothache, said to be caused by, 290.

Wormwood used in weaning, 246.

Wren, its diminutiveness, 160.

Wrestling, 422.

Yew, planted in churchyards, 247;
stuck in shroud, 274, 380;
poisonous qualities, 248.

THE END.

ENGLISH CLASSICS.

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TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES

Obvious punctuation and printer's errors have been corrected. See below for the detailed list.

page 6--typo fixed: changed 'feeche' to 'fecche'
page 47--spelling normalized: changed 'wide-spread' to 'widespread'
page 54--typo fixed: changed 'London' to 'Loudun'
page 92--spelling normalized: changed 'thunderbolt' to 'thunder-bolt'
page 129--spelling normalized: 'sparrowhawk' changed to 'sparrow-hawk'
page 138--spelling normalized: changed 'glowworm' to 'glow-worm'
page 182--typo fixed: changed 'Georgic' to 'Georgics'
page 189--spelling normalized: changed 'hedgepig' to 'hedge-pig'
page 201--typo fixed: changed 'Biesly' to 'Beisly'
page 202--typo fixed: changed 'Georgic' to 'Georgics'
page 213--typo fixed: changed 'Biesly' to 'Beisly'
page 316--spelling normalized: changed 'merrymakings' to 'merry-makings'
page 327--spelling normalized: changed 'Lord-Mayor's Day' to 'Lord
Mayor's Day'
page 353--typo fixed: changed 'Jeafferson' to 'Jeaffreson'
page 394--typo fixed: changed 'Skakespeare' to 'Shakespeare'
page 399--spelling normalized: changed 'One-and Thirty' to
'One-and-Thirty'
page 486--typo fixed: changed 'Ceila' to 'Celia'
page 542--typo fixed: changed 'Shakepeare' to 'Shakespeare'
page 548--spelling normalized: changed 'Leet-Ale' to 'Leet Ale'
page 549--typo fixed: changed 'Belemite' to 'Belemnite'
page 549--spelling normalized: changed 'Blindworm' to 'Blind-worm'
page 552--spelling normalized: changed 'Foot-ball' to 'Football'
page 552--spelling normalized: changed 'Gadfly' to 'Gad-fly'
page 554--spelling normalized: changed 'Maypole' to 'May-pole'