and a couple of blind fiddlers scraping on the
centre of the roof of the hearse, did we sally forth in most grotesque
order, amid the joyous acclamations of the multitude, on our way to
Berkeley, every countenance portraying exultation and good-humour, and
every where upon the road meeting with a corresponding welcome. A more
humorous or whimsical procession cannot well be imagined, men, animals,
and vehicles being perfectly unique. By the time we had reached our
destination, the potent effects of the Gloucester ale, added to the
smoking and vociferous expressions of joy that attended us throughout,
had left very few of our rustic friends without the visible and outward
signs of their inward devotions to the jolly god. On our arrival near to
Berkeley, we were met by crowds of the joyous inhabitants, and proceeded
onward to the spot selected for the festive scene, where we found the
bullock already roasting on the top of the hill, and where also they had
pitched a tent, and brought some small cannon, with which they fired
a _feu de joie_ on our arrival, taking special care to point their
artillery in the direction of the vicar's residence. On the opposite
side of the road was the church; and it is not a little singular, that
the steeple, belfry, and tower are completely detached from the body of
the building. The vicar, dreading the riotous joy of his parishioners
upon ~291~~this occasion, had locked up the church, and issued his
mandate to the wardens to prevent a merry peal; but these persons
insisting that as the church was detached from the belfry, the vicar had
no authority over it, they directed the ringers to give them a triple
bob major, which canonical music was merrily repeated at intervals,
to the great dismay of the parson, who, over and above the loss he was
likely to sustain in his future interests, had by this defect suffered
under a legal expenditure of some thousands of pounds. The colonel did
not show, perhaps from prudential motives of respect to his old friend,
but his agents were well instructed in their duty, and there was no
lack of a plentiful supply of provision and ale for his tenantry to make
right merry with. Thus ended our trip to Berkeley, where, after taking
a view of the castle on the following morning, and surveying the
delightful scenery with which that most ancient building is surrounded,
we bade adieu to our friend Gradus, and mounted the Cheltenham coach, as
it passed through, on our w