按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
bells were set a…ringing； and the churches in the Orkneys continued
to put up the usual prayers for James II。 three months after he
had taken up his abode at St。 Germains。 There were then no shops
in the smaller towns or villages； and comparatively few in the
larger； and these were badly furnished with articles for general
use。 The country people were irregularly supplied by hawkers； who
sometimes bore their whole stook upon their back； or occasionally
on that of their pack…horses。 Pots； pans； and household utensils
were sold from door to door。 Until a comparatively recent period；
the whole of the pottery…ware manufactured in Staffordshire was
hawked about and disposed of in this way。 The pedlars carried
frames resembling camp…stools； on which they were accustomed to
display their wares when the opportunity occurred for showing them
to advantage。 The articles which they sold were chiefly of a
fanciful kindribbons； laces； and female finery； the housewives'
great reliance for the supply of general clothing in those days
being on domestic industry。
Every autumn； the mistress of the household was accustomed to lay
in a store of articles sufficient to serve for the entire winter。
It was like laying in a stock of provisions and clothing for a
siege during the time that the roads were closed。 The greater part
of the meat required for winter's use was killed and salted down at
Martinmas； while stockfish and baconed herrings were provided for
Lent。 Scatcherd says that in his district the clothiers united in
groups of three or four； and at the Leeds winter fair they would
purchase an ox； which； having divided； they salted and hung the
pieces for their winter's food。*＇3＇ There was also the winter's
stock of firewood to be provided； and the rushes with which to
strew the floorscarpets being a comparatively modern invention；
besides； there was the store of wheat and barley for bread； the
malt for ale； the honey for sweetening （then used for sugar）； the
salt； the spiceries； and the savoury herbs so much employed in the
ancient cookery。 When the stores were laid in； the housewife was
in a position to bid defiance to bad roads for six months to come。
This was the case of the well…to…do； but the poorer classes； who
could not lay in a store for winter； were often very badly off both
for food and firing； and in many hard seasons they literally
starved。 But charity was active in those days； and many a poor
man's store was eked out by his wealthier neighbour。
When the household supply was thus laid in； the mistress； with her
daughters and servants； sat down to their distaffs and spinning…wheels；
for the manufacture of the family clothing was usually the work of
the winter months。 The fabrics then worn were almost entirely of
wool； silk and cotton being scarcely known。 The wool； when not
grown on the farm； was purchased in a raw state； and was carded；
spun； dyed； and in many cases woven at home： so also with the linen
clothing； which； until quite a recent date； was entirely the
produce of female fingers and household spinning…wheels。 This kind
of work occupied the winter months； occasionally alternated with
knitting； embroidery； and tapestry work。 Many of our country
houses continue to bear witness to the steady industry of the
ladies of even the highest ranks in those times； in the fine
tapestry hangings with which the walls of many of the older rooms
in such mansions are covered。
Among the humbler classes； the same winter's work went on。
The women sat round log fires knitting； plaiting； and spinning by
fire…light； even in the daytime。 Glass had not yet come into
general use； and the openings in the wall which in summer…time
served for windows； had necessarily to be shut close with boards to
keep out the cold； though at the same time they shut out the light。
The chimney； usually of lath and plaster； ending overhead in a cone
and funnel for the smoke； was so roomy in old cottages as to
accommodate almost the whole family sitting around the fire of logs
piled in the reredosse in the middle； and there they carried on
their winter's work。
Such was the domestic occupation of women in the rural districts in
olden times； and it may perhaps be questioned whether the
revolution in our social system； which has taken out of their hands
so many branches of household manufacture and useful domestic
employment； be an altogether unmixed blessing。
Winter at an end； and the roads once more available for travelling；
the Fair of the locality was looked forward to with interest。 Fairs
were among the most important institutions of past times； and were
rendered necessary by the imperfect road communications。 The right
of holding them was regarded as a valuable privilege； conceded by
the sovereign to the lords of the manors； who adopted all manner of
devices to draw crowds to their markets。 They were usually held at
the entrances to valleys closed against locomotion during winter；
or in the middle of rich grazing districts； or； more frequently； in
the neighbourhood of famous cathedrals or churches frequented by
flocks of pilgrims。 The devotion of the people being turned to
account； many of the fairs were held on Sundays in the churchyards；
and almost in every parish a market was instituted on the day on
which the parishioners were called together to do honour to their
patron saint。
The local fair； which was usually held at the beginning or end of
winter； often at both times； became the great festival as well as
market of the district； and the business as well as the gaiety of
the neighbourhood usually centred on such occasions。 High courts
were held by the Bishop or Lord of the Manor； to accommodate which
special buildings were erected； used only at fair time。 Among the
fairs of the first class in England were Winchester； St。 Botolph's
Town （Boston）； and St。 Ives。 We find the great London merchants
travelling thither in caravans； bearing with them all manner of
goods； and bringing back the wool purchased by them in exchange。
Winchester Great Fair attracted merchants from all parts of Europe。
It was held on the hill of St。 Giles； and was divided into streets
of booths； named after the merchants of the different countries who
exposed their wares in them。 〃The passes through the great woody
districts； which English merchants coming from London and the West
would be compelled to traverse； were on this occasion carefully
guarded by mounted 'serjeants…at…arms；' since the wealth which was
being conveyed to St。 Giles's…hill attracted bands of outlaws from
all parts of the country。〃*＇4＇ Weyhill Fair； near Andover； was
another of the great fairs in the same district； which was to the
West country agriculturists and clothiers what Winchester St。
Giles's Fair was to the general merchants。
The principal fair in the northern districts was that of
St。 Botolph's Town （Boston）； which was resorted to by people from