escended of greater Lynage; slepyng ne wakyng, at noo tyme. And if
the seyd _B_ were sole and I sole I would take her to be my Wife
before all the Wymen of the Worlde, of what condiciones soever they
be: good or evylle, as help me God ond his Seyntes, and this Flesh
and all Fleshes.'

And his Neighbours shall make Oath, that they trust verily he hath
said truly. And if it be found by his Neighbours before-named that
he be a Free-man, there shall be delivered to him half a Quarter of
Wheat and a Cheese; and if he be a Villain, he shall have half a
Quarter of Rye without Cheese. And then shall _Knightleye_ the Lord
of _Rudlow_ be called for, to carry all these Things tofore
rehearsed; and the said Corn shall be laid on one Horse and the
Bacon above it: and he to whom the Bacon appertaineth shall ascend
upon his Horse; and shall take the Cheese before him if he have a
Horse. And if he have none, the Lord of _Whichenovre_ shall cause
him to have one Horse and Saddle, to such time as he be past his
Lordship: and so shall they depart the Manor of _Whichenovre_ with
the Corn and the Bacon, tofore him that hath won it, with Trumpets,
Tabourets, and other manner of Minstrelsie. And all the Free Tenants
of _Whichenovre_ shall Conduct him to be passed the Lordship of
_Whichenovre_. And then shall they all return; except him, to whom
appertained to make the Carriage and Journey without the County of
_Stafford_, at the Costs of his Lord of _Whichenovre_.

* * * * *

No. 608. Monday, October 18, 1714. Addison. [1]

'--Perjuria ridet Amantum--'

Ovid.

_Mr._ SPECTATOR,

'According to my Promise, I herewith transmit to you a List of several
Persons, who from time to time demanded the _Flitch of Bacon_ of Sir
_Philip de Somervile_ and his Descendants; as it is preserved in an
ancient Manuscript under the Title of _The Register of
Whichenovre-Hall, and of the Bacon Flitch there maintained_.

'In the Beginning of this Record is recited the Law or Institution in
Form, as it is already printed in your last Paper: To which are added
Two By-Laws, as a Comment upon the General Law, the Substance whereof
is, that the Wife shall take the same Oath as the Husband, _mutatis
mutandis_; and that the Judges shall, as they think meet, interrogate
or c