Dec. 21.]

ST. THOMAS’ DAY.

In some parts of the country St. Thomas’ Day is observed by a custom called Going a Gooding.[87] The poor people go round the parish and call at the houses of the principal inhabitants, begging money or provisions wherewith to celebrate the approaching festivity of Christmas. In return for the alms bestowed during these “gooding” peregrinations, it was customary for the recipients, in former times, to present to their benefactors a sprig of holly or mistletoe.—Book of Days, vol. ii. p. 724; see Gent. Mag. 1794, vol. lxiv. p. 292.

Girls, says Halliwell, used to have a method of divination with a “St. Thomas’s Onion,” for the purpose of ascertaining their future partners. They peeled the onion, wrapped it up in a clean handkerchief, and then, placing it under their heads, said the following lines:

One of the old cries of London was, “Buy my rope of onions—white St. Thomas’s Onions.”—Popular Rhymes, 1849, p. 224.

Bedfordshire.

An ancient annual payment of 5l. out of an estate at Biddenham, formerly belonging to the family of Boteler, and now the property of Lord Viscount Hampden, is regularly paid on St. Thomas’s Day to the overseers of the poor for the purchase of a bull, which is killed, and the flesh thereof given amongst the poor persons of the parish. For many years past the annual fund, being insufficient to purchase a bull, the deficiency has been made good out of other charities belonging to the parish. It was proposed some years ago by the vicar that the 5l. a year should be laid out in buying meat, but the poor insisted on the customary purchase of a bull being continued, and the usage is accordingly kept up.—Edwards, Old English Customs and Charities, 1842, p. 64.

Berkshire.

The cruel practice of bull-baiting was continued annually on St. Thomas’s Day, in the market place of the town of Wokingham so lately as 1821. In 1822, upon the passing of the Act against cruelty to animals, the corporation resolved on abolishing the custom. The alderman (as the chief magistrate is called there) went with his officers in procession, and solemnly pulled up the bull-ring, which had from time immemorial been fixed in the market-place. The bull-baiting at Wokingham was regarded with no ordinary attachment by the inhabitants; for, besides the love of sport, it was here connected with something more solid, viz., the Christmas dinner. In 1661, George Staverton gave by will, out of his Staines house, after the death of his wife, 4l. to buy a bull for the use of the poor of Wokingham parish, to be increased to 6l. after the death of his wife and her daughter, the bull to be baited, and then cut up, “one poor’s piece not exceeding another’s in bigness.” Great was the wrath of the populace in 1822 at the loss, not of the beef—for the corporation duly distributed the meat—but of the baiting. They vented their rage for successive years in occasional breaches of the peace. They found out, often informed by the sympathising farmer or butcher, where the devoted animal was domiciled; proceeded at night to liberate him from stall or meadow, and to chase him across the country with all the noisy accompaniments imaginable. So long was this feeling kept alive that, thirteen years afterwards, viz., in 1835, the mob broke into the place where one of the two animals to be divided was abiding and baited him, in defiance of the authorities, in the market-place; one enthusiastic individual, tradition relates, actually lying on the ground and seizing the miserable brute by the nostril with his own teeth. This was not to be endured, and a sentence of imprisonment in Reading Gaol cooled the ardour of the ringleaders, and gave the coup de grÂce to the sport. The bequest of Staverton now yields an income of 20l., and has for several years been appropriated to the purchase of two bulls. The flesh is divided and distributed annually on St. Thomas’s Day by the alderman, churchwardens, and overseers, to nearly every poor family (between 200 and 300), without regard to their receiving parochial relief. The produce of the offal and hide is laid out in the purchase of shoes and stockings for the poor women and children. The bulls’ tongues are recognised by courtesy as the perquisites of the alderman and town clerk.—N. & Q. 2nd S. vol. v. p. 35.

Cheshire.

The poor people go from farm to farm “a-thomasin,” and generally carry with them a bag and a can, into which meal, flour, and corn, are put. Begging on this day is universal in this and the neighbouring counties.—Jour. of the Arch. Assoc. 1850, vol. v. p. 253.

Dorsetshire.

At the village of Thornton, near Sherborne, a custom prevails amongst the tenants of the manor, of depositing five shillings in a hole in a certain tombstone in the churchyard, which precludes the lord of the manor from taking the tithe of hay during the year. This must be done before twelve o’clock on St. Thomas’s Day, or the privilege is void.—Med. Ævi Kalend. 1842, vol. i. p. 83.

There was a custom very generally practised in some parts of this county, and which may even now be practised. A few days before Christmas the women, children, and old men in a parish would visit by turns the houses of their wealthier neighbours, and in return for, and in recognition of Christmas greetings, and their general demand of “Please give me something to keep up a Christmas,” would receive substantial pieces or “hunks” of bread and cheese, bread and meat, or small sums of money. The old and infirm of either sex were generally represented by their children or grandchildren, those only being refused the dole who did not belong to the parish.—N. & Q. 4th S. vol. x. p. 494.

Herefordshire.

St. Thomas’s Day is called by the poor inhabitants of this county “Mumping Day;” and the custom of going from house to house asking for contributions, is termed going a-mumping.

Hertfordshire.

Small pyramids, says Fosbroke (EncyclopÆdia of Antiquities, 1840, p. 661), formed of gilt evergreens, apples, and nuts, are carried about at this time in Hertfordshire for presents.

Isle of Man.

Formerly, it was customary for the people to go to the mountains to catch deer and sheep for Christmas, and in the evening always to kindle a large fire on the top of every fingan or cliff. Hence, at the time of casting peats, every one laid aside a large one, saying: “Faaid mooar moayney son oie’l fingan,” that is, “A large turf for Fingan’s Eve.”—Train, History of Isle of Man, 1845, vol. ii. p. 124; Cregeen’s Manks Dictionary, p. 67.

Nottinghamshire.

Samuel Higgs, by his will, bearing date 11th May, 1820 (as appears from the church tablet), gave 50l. to the vicar and churchwardens of the parish of Farnsfield, and directed that the interest should be given every year on the 21st of December, in equal proportions, to the poor men and women who could repeat the Lord’s prayer, the creed, and the ten commandments, before the vicar or other such person as he should appoint to hear them. The interest is applied according to the donor’s orders, and the poor persons appointed to partake of the charity continue to receive it during their lives.—Edwards, Old English Customs and Charities, 1842, p. 209.

Oxfordshire.

At Tainton, a quarter of barley is provided annually, at the expense of Lord Dynevor, the lord of the manor, and made into loaves called “cobbs.” These were formerly given away in Tainton church to such of the poor children of Burford as attended. A sermon was preached on St. Thomas’s Day, 6s. 8d. being paid out of Lord Dynevor’s estate to the preacher. The children, however, made so much riot and disturbance in the church, that, about the year 1809, it was thought better to distribute the cobbs in a stable belonging to one of the churchwardens, which course has been pursued ever since.—Edwards, Old English Customs and Charities, 1842, p. 25.

Staffordshire.

In many parts of this county not only the old women and widows, but representatives from every poor family in the parish, go round for alms. The clergyman is expected to give one shilling to each person, and consequently the celebration of the day is attended with no small expense. Some of the parishioners give alms in money, others in kind. Thus, for example, some of the farmers give corn, which the millers grind gratis. In some places the money collected is given to the clergyman and churchwardens, who, on the Sunday nearest to St. Thomas’s Day, distribute it at the vestry. The fund is called St. Thomas’s Dole, and the day itself Doleing Day.—N. & Q. 2nd S. vol. iv. pp. 103, 487.

Sussex.

A sum of 15l. was placed in the Arundel Savings-Bank in the year 1824, the interest of which is distributed on St. Thomas’s Day. It is said that this money was found, many years since, on the person of a beggar, who died by the road-side; and the interest of it has always been appropriated by the parish officers for the use of the poor.—Edwards, Old English Customs and Charities, 1842, p. 129.

Warwickshire.

In this county it is customary for the poor people to visit the farm-houses to beg contributions of corn. This is called going a-corning.

Worcestershire.

At Harvington the following rhyme is sung:

Yorkshire.

Drake, in his Eboracum (1736, p. 217), gives the following account of a custom that once existed at York on St. Thomas’s Day, which he says he obtained from a manuscript that fell into his hands. “William the Conqueror, in the third year of his reign (on St. Thomas’s Day), laid siege to the city of York, but finding himself unable, either by policy or strength, to gain it, raised the siege, which he had no sooner done, but by accident he met with two fryers at a place called Skelton, not far from York, and had been to seek reliefe from their fellows and themselves against Christmas: the one having a wallet full of victualls and a shoulder of mutton in his hand, with two great cakes hanging about his neck; the other having bottles of ale, with provisions, likewise of beife and mutton in his wallett. The king, knowing their poverty and condition, thought they might be serviceable to him towards the attaining York, wherefore (being accompanied with Sir George Fothergill, general of the field, a Norman born), he gave them money, and withall a promise, that if they would lett him and his soldiers into their priory at a time appointed, he would not only rebuild their priory, but indowe it likewise with large revenues and ample privileges. The fryers easily consented and the conqueror as soon sent back his army, which, that night, according to agreement, were let into the priory by the two fryers, by which they immediately made themselves masters of all York; after which Sir Robert Clifford, who was governor thereof, was so far from being blamed by the conqueror for his stout defence made the preceding days, that he was highly esteemed and rewarded for his valour, being created Lord Clifford and there knighted, with the four magistrates then in office, viz., Horongate, Talbot (who after came to be Lord Talbott), Lassells, and Erringham.

“The arms of the city of York at that time was, argent, a cross, gules, viz., St. George’s cross. The conqueror charged the cross with five lyons, passant gardant, or, in memory of the five worthy captains, magistrates, who governed the city so well, that he afterwards made Sir Robert Clifford governour thereof and the other four to aid him in counsell; and the better to keep the city in obedience he built two castles, and double moated them about; and to shew the confidence and trust that he put in these old, but new made, officers by him he offered them freely to ask whatsoever they would of him before he went, and he would grant their request, wherefore they (abominating the treachery of the two fryers to their eternal infamy), desired that, on St. Thomas’s Day for ever, they might have a fryer of the priory of St. Peter’s to ride through the city on horseback, with his face to the horse’s tayle, and that in his hand, instead of a bridle, he should have a rope, and in the other a shoulder of mutton, with one cake hanging on his back and another on his breast, with his face painted like a Jew; and the youth of the city to ride with him, and to cry and shout “Youl, Youl,” with the officers of the city rideing before and making proclamation, that on this day the city was betrayed; and their request was granted them, which custom continued till the dissolution of the said fryery; and afterwards in imitation of the same, the young men and artizans of the city on the aforesaid St. Thomas’s Day, used to dress up one of their own companions like a fryer, and called him youl, which custom continued till within this three-score years, there being many now living which can testify the same, but upon what occasion since discontinued I cannot learn: this being done in memory of betraying the city by the said fryers to William the Conqueror.”

WALES.

William Rogers, by will, June 1806, gave to the minister and churchwardens of Nevern, Pembrokeshire, and their successors, 800l., Three per Cent. Consols, to be transferred by his executors within six months after his decease; and it was his will that the dividends should be laid out annually, one moiety thereof in good beef, the other moiety thereof in good barley, the same to be distributed on every St. Thomas’s Day in each year, by the minister and churchwardens, to and among the poor of the said parish of Nevern.—Edwards, Old English Customs and Charities, p. 24.