ns_.

T.T. WILKINSON.

Burnley, Lancashire.

* * * * *

MINOR NOTES.

_Proclamation of Langholme Fair._--In an old paper I find the following
proclamation of a fair, to be held in a town in Scotland; it may, perhaps,
amuse some of your numerous readers:--

"O yes! and that's a time. O yes! and that's twa times. O yes! and
that's the third and last time: All manner of pearson or pearsons
whatsoever let 'em draw near, and I shall let you ken that there is a
fair to be held at the muckle town of Langholme, for the space of aught
days; wherein if any hustrin, custrin, land-louper, dukes-couper, or
gang-y-gate swinger, shall breed any urdam, durdam, brabblement, or
squabblement, he shall have his lugs tacked to the muckle trone, with a
nail of twal-a-penny, until he down of his hobshanks and up with his
mucle doubs, and pray to heaven neen times, Gold bles the king, and
thrice the muckle Lord of Relton, pay a groat to me Jammey Ferguson,
bailiff of the aforesaid manor. So ye heard my proclamation, and I'll
haam to dinner."

Perhaps some of your correspondents north of the Tweed can give the meaning
(if there be any) of a few of the choice expressions contained in this
document.

MONKBARNS.

_Seats in Churches._--The following curious notice of seats in churches
occurs in Thompson's _History of Swine_; which is quoted by him from
_Whitaker's Whalley_, 2nd edit. 4to. p. 228.:--

"My man Shuttleworth, of Harking, made this form and here will I sit
when I come; and any cousin Nowell may make one behind me, if he
please, and my son Sherburne shall make one on the other side; and Mr.
Catteral another behind him; and for the residue the use shall be,
_first come first speed; and that will make the proud wives of Whalley
rise betimes to come to church_."

Which seems to convey the idea, that it was at that time customary for
persons to make their seats in the churches. Query, When did pews come into
general use?

R.W.E.

Hull.

[The earliest notice of pews occurs in the _Vision of Piers Plouman_,
p. 95., edit. 1813:--

"Among wyves and wodewes ich am ywoned sute
Yparroked _in puwes_. The person hit knoweth."

See also _The History of Pews_, a paper read before the Cambridge
Camden Society, 1841.]

{57} _Flemish Account._--T.B.M. (Vol. i., p. 8.) requests references to
early insta