dowk, upon a peyn therfore to be
ordeigned."--pp. 83, 84, 3d. ed.

I believe that one item of "folk-faith" is that "farm-yard odours are
healthy." I have often {100} heard it affirmed at least; and, indeed,
has not the common councilman, whom the _Times_ has happily designated
as the "defender of filth", totally and publicly staked his reputation
on the dogma in its most extravagant shape, within the last few months?
It is clear that nearly four centuries ago, the citizens of London
thought differently; even though "the corupte savours and lothsom
innoyaunc" were infinitely less loathsome than in the present Smithfield
and the City slaughter-houses.

It would be interesting to know to what act of parliament Arnold's
citizens refer, and whether it has ever been repealed. It is curious to
notice, too, that the danger from infuriated beasts running wild through
the streets is not amongst the evils of the system represented. They go
further, however, and forbid even the _killing_ within the city.

Moreover, it would really seem that the swan was not then a mere
ornamental bird, either alive or dead, but an ordinary article of
citizen-dinners, it being classed with "gies and dowks" in the business
of the poulterer. At the same time, no mention being made of swine in
any of these ordonnances or petitions, would at first sight seem to show
that the flesh of the hog was in abhorrence with the Catholic citizen,
as much perhaps as with the Jews themselves; at any rate, that it was
not a vendible article of food in those days. When did it become so?
This conclusion would, however, be erroneous; for amongst "the articles
of the good governauce of the cite of London" shortly following we have
this:--

"Also yf ony persone kepe or norrysh hoggis, oxen, kyen, or
mallardis within the ward, in noyoying of ther neyhbours."--p.
91.

The proper or appointed place for keeping hoggis was Hoggistone, now
Hoxton; as Houndsditch[2] was for the hounds.

There is another among these petitions to the Lord Mayor and
corporation, worthy of notice, in connection with sanatory law.

"Also in avoydig ye abhomynable savours causid by ye kepig of ye
kenell in ye mote and ye diches there, and i especiall by sethig
of ye houndes mete wt roten bones, and vnclenly keping of ye
houdes, wherof moche people is anoyed, soo yt when the wynde is
in any poyte of the northe, all the fowle stynke is blowen ouer
the cit