Michaelmas Goose.“September, when by custom (right divine)Geese are ordain’d to bleed at Michael’s shrine.”Churchill.
Michaelmas Goose.
“September, when by custom (right divine)Geese are ordain’d to bleed at Michael’s shrine.”
“September, when by custom (right divine)Geese are ordain’d to bleed at Michael’s shrine.”
Churchill.
Mr. Brand notices the English custom of having a roast goose to dinner on Michaelmas-day. He cites Blount as telling us that “goose-intentos” is a word used in Lancashire, where “the husbandmen claim it as a due to have a gooseintentoson the sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost; which custom took origin from the last word of the old church-prayer of that day: ‘Tua, nos quæsumus, Domine, gratia semper præveniat et sequitur; ac bonis operibus jugiter præstet esse intentos.’ The common people very humourously mistake it for a goose withten toes.” To this Mr. Brand objects, on the authority of Beckwith, in his new edition of the “Jocular Tenures:” that “besides that the sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost, or after Trinity rather, being movable, and seldom falling upon Michaelmas-day, which is an immovable feast, the service for that day could very rarely be used at Michaelmas, there does not appear to be the most distant allusion to a goose in the words of that prayer. Probably no other reason can be given for this custom, but that Michaelmas-day was a great festival, and geese at that time most plentiful. In Denmark, where the harvest is later, every family has a roasted goose for supper on St. Martin’s Eve.”
Mr. Douce is quoted by Mr. Brand, as saying, “I have somewhere seen the following reason for eating goose on Michaelmas-day, viz. that queen Elizabeth received the news of the defeat of the Spanish Armada, whilst she was eating a goose on Michaelmas-day, and that in commemoration of that event she ever afterwards on that day dined on a goose.” This Mr. Brand regards as strong proof that the custom prevailed even at court in queen Elizabeth’s time; and observing that it was in use in the tenth year of king Edward the Fourth, as will be shown presently, he represents it to have been a practice in queen Elizabeth’s reign, before the event of the Spanish defeat, from the “Posies of Gascoigne,” published in 1575.
“And when the tenauntes cometo paie their quarter’s rent,They bring some fowle at Midsummer,a dish of fish in Lent,At Christmasse a capon,atMichaelmasseA GOOSE;And somewhat else at New-yeres tide,for feare their lease flie loose.”Gascoyne.
“And when the tenauntes cometo paie their quarter’s rent,They bring some fowle at Midsummer,a dish of fish in Lent,At Christmasse a capon,atMichaelmasseA GOOSE;And somewhat else at New-yeres tide,for feare their lease flie loose.”
“And when the tenauntes cometo paie their quarter’s rent,They bring some fowle at Midsummer,a dish of fish in Lent,At Christmasse a capon,atMichaelmasseA GOOSE;And somewhat else at New-yeres tide,for feare their lease flie loose.”
Gascoyne.
So also the periodical paper called “The World,” represents that “When the reformation of the calendar was in agitation, to the great disgust of many worthy persons who urged how great the harmony was in the old establishment between the holidays and their attributes, (if I may call them so,) and what confusion would follow ifMichaelmas-day, for instance, was not tobe celebrated when stubble-geese are in their highest perfection; it was replied, that such a propriety was merely imaginary, and would be lost of itself, even without any alteration of the calendar by authority: for if the errors in it were suffered to go on, they would in a certain number of years produce such a variation, that we should be mourning for a good king Charles on a false thirtieth of January, at a time of year when our ancestors used to be tumbling over head and heels in Greenwich-park in honour of Whitsuntide: and at length be choosing king and queen for Twelfth Night, when we ought to be admiring the London prentice at Bartholomew-fair.”
According to Brand, geese are eaten by ploughmen at the harvest-home; and it is a popular saying, “If you eat goose on Michaelmas-day you will never want money all the year round.”
In 1470, John de la Hay took of William Barnaby, lord of Lastres, in the county of Hereford, one parcel of the land of that demesne, rendering twenty-pence a year, and onegoosefit for the lord’s dinner on the feast of St. Michael the archangel, with suit of court and other services.
According to Martin, in his “Description of the Western Islands of Scotland,” the protestant inhabitants of Skie, observe the festivals of Christmas, Easter, Good Friday, and that of St. Michael, on which latter day they have a cavalcade in each parish, and several families bake the cake called St. Michael’s bannock. So also, “They have likewise a general cavalcade on St. Michael’s-day in Kilbar village, and do then also take a turn round their church. Every family, as soon as the solemnity is ended, is accustomed to bake St. Michael’s cake, and all strangers, together with those of the family, must eat the bread that night.” We read too, in Macauley’s History, that “It was, till of late, a universal custom among the islanders, on Michaelmas-day, to prepare in every family a loaf or cake of bread, enormously large, and compounded of different ingredients. This cake belonged to the archangel, and had its name from him. Every one in each family, whether strangers or domestics, had his portion of this kind of shew-bread, and had, of course, some title to the friendship and protection of Michael.”
Macauley, in the “History of St. Kilda,” says, that “In Ireland a sheep was killed in every family that could afford one, on the same anniversary; and it was ordained by law that a part of it should be given to the poor. This, and a great deal more was done in that kingdom, to perpetuate the memory of a miracle wrought there by St. Patrick through the assistance of the archangel. In commemoration of this, Michaelmas was instituted a festival day of joy, plenty, and universal benevolence.”
Mr. Brand found in a London newspaper of October 18, 1787, the following extraordinaryseptennialcustom at Bishops Stortford, in Hertfordshire, and in the adjacent neighbourhood, onoldMichaelmas-day: “On the morning of this day, called Ganging-day, a great number of young men assemble in the fields, when a very active fellow is nominated the leader. This person they are bound to follow, who, for the sake of diversion, generally chooses the route through ponds, ditches, and places of difficult passage. Every person they meet is bumped, male or female; which is performed by two other persons taking them up by their arms, and swinging them against each other. The women in general keep at home at this period, except those of less scrupulous character, who, for the sake of partaking of a gallon of ale and a plumb-cake, which every landlord or publican is obliged to furnish the revellers with, generally spend the best part of the night in the fields, if the weather is fair; it being strictly according to ancient usage not to partake of the cheer any where else.”
M. Stevenson, in “The Twelve Moneths, Lond. 1661, 4to.” mentions the following superstition; “They say, so many dayes old the moon is on Michaelmass-day, so many floods after.”
An amusing account of a Canada goose once the property of Mr. Sharpe, at Little Grove, near East Barnet, was inserted by that gentleman in his copy of “Willughby’s Ornithology.” He says:—
The following account of a Canada goose is so extraordinary, that I am aware it would with difficulty gain credit, were not a whole parish able to vouch for the truth of it. The Canada geese are not fond of a poultry-yard, but are rather of a rambling disposition. One of these birds, however, was observed to attach itself, in the strongest and most affectionate manner, to the house-dog; and would never quit the kennel, except for the purpose of feeding, when it would return again immediately. It always sat by the dog; but never presumed to go into the kennel, except in rainy weather. Whenever the dog barked, the goose would cackle and run at the person she supposed the dog barked at, and try to bite him by the heels. Sometimes she would attempt to feed with the dog; but this the dog, who treated his faithful companion rather with indifference, would not suffer.
This bird would not go to roost with the others at night, unless driven by main force; and when, in the morning, she was turned into the field, she would never stir from the yard gate, but sit there the whole day, in sight of the dog. At last, orders were given that she should be no longer molested, but suffered to accompany the dog as she liked: being thus left to herself, she ran about the yard with him all the night; and what is particularly extraordinary, and can be attested by the whole parish, whenever the dog went out of the yard and ran into the village, the goose always accompanied him, contriving to keep up with him by the assistance of her wings; and in this way of running and flying, followed him all over the parish.
This extraordinary affection of the goose towards the dog, which continued till his death, two years after it was first observed, is supposed to have originated from his having accidentally saved her from a fox in the very moment of distress. While the dog was ill, the goose never quitted him day or night, not even to feed; and it was apprehended that she would have been starved to death, had not orders been given for a pan of corn to be set every day close to the kennel. At this time the goose generally sat in the kennel, and would not suffer any one to approach it, except the person who brought the dog’s or her own food. The end of this faithful bird was melancholy; for, when the dog died, she would still keep possession of the kennel; and a new house-dog being introduced, which in size and colour resembled that lately lost, the poor goose was unhappily deceived; and going into the kennel as usual, the new inhabitant seized her by the throat, and killed her.
Michaelmas-day is one of the “four usual quarter-days, or days for payment of rent in the year.”
A Michaelmas Notice to quit.ToALLgad-flies and gnats, famed for even-tide hum,To the blue-bottles, too, with their gossamer drum;To all long-legs and moths, thoughtless rogues still at ease,Old Winter sends greeting—health, friendship, and these.Whereas, on complaint lodged before me this day,That for months back, to wit, from the first day of May,Various insects, pretenders to beauty and birth,Have, on venturesome wing, lately traversed the earth,And, mistaking fair Clara’s chaste lips for a rose,Stung the beauty in public—and frightened her beaux.And, whereas, on the last sultry evening in June,The said Clara was harmlessly humming a tune;A blue-bottle, sprung from some dunghill, no doubt,Buzzed about her so long—he at last put her out.And whereassundry haunches and high-seasoned pies,And a thousand sweet necks have been o’errun with flies;In his wisdom, Old Winter thinks nothing more fitThan to publish this friendly ‘memento to quit.’At your peril, ye long-legs, this notice despise!Hasten hence, ye vile gad-flies! a word to the wise!Hornets, horse-stingers, wasps, fly so hostile a land,Or your death-warrant’s signed by Old Winter’s chill hand.[332]
A Michaelmas Notice to quit.
ToALLgad-flies and gnats, famed for even-tide hum,To the blue-bottles, too, with their gossamer drum;To all long-legs and moths, thoughtless rogues still at ease,Old Winter sends greeting—health, friendship, and these.Whereas, on complaint lodged before me this day,That for months back, to wit, from the first day of May,Various insects, pretenders to beauty and birth,Have, on venturesome wing, lately traversed the earth,And, mistaking fair Clara’s chaste lips for a rose,Stung the beauty in public—and frightened her beaux.And, whereas, on the last sultry evening in June,The said Clara was harmlessly humming a tune;A blue-bottle, sprung from some dunghill, no doubt,Buzzed about her so long—he at last put her out.And whereassundry haunches and high-seasoned pies,And a thousand sweet necks have been o’errun with flies;In his wisdom, Old Winter thinks nothing more fitThan to publish this friendly ‘memento to quit.’At your peril, ye long-legs, this notice despise!Hasten hence, ye vile gad-flies! a word to the wise!Hornets, horse-stingers, wasps, fly so hostile a land,Or your death-warrant’s signed by Old Winter’s chill hand.[332]
ToALLgad-flies and gnats, famed for even-tide hum,To the blue-bottles, too, with their gossamer drum;To all long-legs and moths, thoughtless rogues still at ease,Old Winter sends greeting—health, friendship, and these.
Whereas, on complaint lodged before me this day,That for months back, to wit, from the first day of May,Various insects, pretenders to beauty and birth,Have, on venturesome wing, lately traversed the earth,And, mistaking fair Clara’s chaste lips for a rose,Stung the beauty in public—and frightened her beaux.
And, whereas, on the last sultry evening in June,The said Clara was harmlessly humming a tune;A blue-bottle, sprung from some dunghill, no doubt,Buzzed about her so long—he at last put her out.
And whereassundry haunches and high-seasoned pies,And a thousand sweet necks have been o’errun with flies;In his wisdom, Old Winter thinks nothing more fitThan to publish this friendly ‘memento to quit.’
At your peril, ye long-legs, this notice despise!Hasten hence, ye vile gad-flies! a word to the wise!Hornets, horse-stingers, wasps, fly so hostile a land,Or your death-warrant’s signed by Old Winter’s chill hand.[332]
Michaelmas Daisy.Aster Tradescanti.Dedicated toSt. Michael and all Angels.
[331]Golden Legend.[332]From Times Telescope.
[331]Golden Legend.
[332]From Times Telescope.
St. Jerome, Priest, Doctor of the Church,A. D.420.St. Gregory, Bp. surnamed the Apostle of Armenia, and the Illuminator, 4th Cent.St. Honorius, Abp. of Canterbury,A. D.653.
St. Jerome, Priest, Doctor of the Church,A. D.420.St. Gregory, Bp. surnamed the Apostle of Armenia, and the Illuminator, 4th Cent.St. Honorius, Abp. of Canterbury,A. D.653.
This saint is in the church of England calendar and almanacs. Particulars concerning him will be related hereafter; it is sufficient to observe, for the present, that the church of England sets him forth as an authority for reading the Old Testament Apocrypha.
The annual election of a bailiff at this town, before noticed,[333]is still accompanied by the rude mirth of the populace. The Editor is obliged to a lady for the following communication.
To the Editor of the Every-Day Book.
Dear Sir,
I have just cast my eye upon your definition of the term “costermonger,” and it reminds me of an annual custom at Kidderminster, (my native town,) which you may perhaps think an account of, a fit subject for insertion in theEvery-Day Book.
The magistrate and other officers of the town are annually elected, and the first Monday after Michaelmas-day is the day of their inauguration, in celebration of which, they each of them cause to be thrown to the populace, (who assemble to the amount of some thousands,) from the windows of their houses, or sometimes from the town-hall, a large quantity of apples, in the whole often amounting, from twenty to thirty pots, (baskets containing five pecks each.) This practice occasions, of course, a kind of prescriptive holiday in the town, and any one having the temerity to refuse his apprentice or servant leave to attend the “apple-throwing,” would most probably have cause to repent such an invasion of right. A rude concourse therefore fills the streets which are the scenes of action; and as a sort of “safety valve,” if I may “compare great things with small,” recourse is had by the crowd to the flinging about of old shoes, cabbage stalks, and almost every accessible kind of missile; till at length the sashes are raised, and the gifts of Pomona begin to shower down upon the heads of the multitude. Woe be to the unlucky wight who may chance to ride through the town during the introductory part of this custom; no sooner does he appear, than a thousand aims are taken at him and his horse, or carriage, and the poor belated rider “sees, or dreams he sees,” (if ignorant of the practice,) the inhabitants of a whole town raised to oppose his single progress, without being able to form the most distant idea of their motive for so doing. At Ludlow there is a custom as ancient and equally foolish, that of pulling a rope, but of this I know nothing except by report.
I am,
H. M.
Golden Amaryllis.Amaryllis Aurea.Dedicated toSt. Jerome.
[333]InCol. 1337.
[333]InCol. 1337.