colour. How much greater glory would Sophronia do the general, if she would choose rather to work the battle of Blenheim in tapestry, than signalize herself with so much vehemence against those who are Frenchinen in their hearts.

A third reason that I shall mention, is the profit that is brought to the family where these pretty arts are encouraged. It is manifest that this way of life not only keeps fair ladies from running out into expenses, but is at the same time an actual improvement. How memorable would that matron be, who shall have it inscribed upon her monument, that she wrought out the whole Bible in tapestry, and died in a good old age, after having covered three hundred yards of wall in the mansion-house!"

The premises being considered, I humbly submit the following proposals to all mothers in Great-Britain:

I. That no young virgin whatsoever be allowed to receive the adresses of her first lover, but in a suit of her own embroidering.

II. That before every fresh servant she be obliged to appear in a new stomacher at least.

III. That no one be actually married till she hath the child-bed, pillows, &c. ready stitched, as likewise the mantle for the boy quite finished.

These laws, if I mistake not, would effectually restore the decayed art of needle-work, and make the virgins of Great Britain exceedingly nimble-fingered in their business.

FLITCH OF BACON. No. 607.

MR. SPECTATOR,

'I SEND you a passage out of Dr. Plot's Natural History of Staffordshire whichmay serve to fill up your paper.

Sir Philip de Somervile held the manors of Whichenovre, Scirescot, Ridware, Netherton, and Cowley, all in com. Stafford, of the earls of Lancaster, by this memorable service. The said Sir Philip shall find, maintain, and sustain, one bacon-flitch, hanging in his hall at Whichenovre, ready arrayed all times of the year, but in Lent, to be given to every man or woman married, after the day of the year of their marriage be past, in form following:

'Whensoever that any such before-named will come to inquire for the bacon in their own person, they shall come to the bailiff, or to the porter of the lordship of Whichenovre, and shall say to them in the manner as ensueth:

Bayliff, or porter, I do you to know, that I am come for myself, to demand one bacon-flyke hanging in the hall of the lord of Whichenovre, after the form thereunto belonging.'

'After which relation, the bailiff or porter shall assign a day to him, upon promise by his faith to return, and with him to bring twain of his neighbours. And in the mean time the said bailiff shall take with him twain of the freeholders of the lordship of Whichenovre, and they three shall go to the manor of Rudlow, belonging to Robert Knightleye, and there shall summon the aforesaid Knightleye, or his bailiff, commanding him to be ready at Whichenovre the day appointed, at prime of day, with his carriage, that is to say, a horse and a saddle, a sack and a prike, for to convey the said bacon

and corn a journey out of the county of Stafford, as his costages. And then the said bailiff shall, with the said freeholders, summon all the tenants of the said manor, to be ready at the day appointed, at. Whichenovre, for: to do and perform the services which they owe to the bacon. And at the day assigned, all such as owe services to the bacon shall be ready at the gate of the manor of Whichenovre, from the sun-rising to noon, attending and awaiting for the coming of him who fetcheth the bacon. And when he is come, there shall be delivered to him and his fellows chapelets, and to all those which shall be there, to do their services due to the bacon. And they shall lead the said demandant with trumps and tabours, and other manner of minstrelsy, to the hall-door, where he shall find the lord of Whichenovre, or his steward, ready to deliver the bacon in this manner.

He shall inquire of him, which, demandeth the bacon, if he have brought twain of his neighbours with him; which must answer, They be here ready.' And then the steward shall cause these two neighbours to swear, if the said demandant be a wedded man, or have been a man wedded; and if since his marriage one year and a day be past; and if he be a freeman, or a villain. And if his said neighbours make oath, that he hath for him all these three points rehearsed; then shall the bacon be taken down and brought to the hall door, and shall there be laid upon one half quarter of wheat, and upon one other of rye. And he that demandeth the bacon shall kneel upon his knee, and shall hold his right hand upon a book, which book shall be laid upon the bacon and the corn, and shall make oath in this manner :

Hear ye, sir Philip de Somervile, lord of Which

enovre,

enovre, mavntener and gyver of this baconne: that I A sithe I wedded B my wife, and sithe I had hyr in my kepving, and at my wylle, by a year and a day after our marriage, I would not have chaunged for none other; farer ne fowler; richer ne pourer; ne for none other descended of greater lynage; slepying ne waking at noo tyme. And if the seyd B were sole and I sole, 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 and his sevntes, and this flesh and all fishes!

And his neighbours shall make oath, that they trust verily he hath said truly. And if it be found by his neighbours before mentioned, that he be a freeman, 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 appertalacth 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 herse and saddle to such time as he be passed his lordship: and so shall they depart the manor of Whichonovre with the corn and the bacon tofore him that bath won it, with trumpets, tabourets, and other maurer of minstrelsy. And all the free tenants of Which novre shall conduct him to be passed the lordship of Whichenovre. And then shall they all return except han, to whom appertaineth to make the carriage and jo etnoy without the county of Stafford, at the costs of his lord of Whichenovre ellend

FLITCH OF BACON. No. 608.

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 antient manuscript under the title of The register of Whichenovre-hall, and of the bacon flitch there maintained.

In the begining of this record is recited the law of 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 cross-examine the witnesses. After this proceeds the register in manner following:

'Aubry de Falstaff, son of sir John Falstaff, knt. with dame Maude his wife, were the first that demanded the bacon, he having bribed twain of his father's companions to swear falsely in his behoof, whereby he gained the flitch: but he and his said wife falling immediately into a dispute how the said bacon should be dressed, it was by order of the judges taken from him, and hung up again in the hall.

Alison the wife of Stephen Freckle brought her said husband along with her, and set forth the good conditions and behaviour of her consort, adding withal that she doubted not but that he was ready to attest the life of her, his wife; whereupon he, the said Stephen, shaking his head, she turned short upon him and gave him a box on the ear.

VOL. III.

D

"Philip