Lancashire Folk-lore / Illustrative of the Superstitious Beliefs and Practices, Local Customs and Usages of the People of the County Palatine

INDEX.

• Agricultural and Farm Celebrations in the Fylde, 298
• Alchemists, 23;
  • two Lancashire, 30
• Alchemy, 23
• Ale, price of, 281;
  • of Halton, 259;
  • Warrington, 259;
  • Cockerham, 281
• Ale Founders, 281
• All-Souls Night, 49
• " Day, 251
• Apostle Spoons, 262
• Arrowsmith, Father, his execution and the dead hand, 158-163
• Arval, cake and ale, 270-272
• Ascension Day, or Holy Thursday, 249
• Ash-Wednesday, 221
• Ashton, (Sir Thomas), of Ashton, 30
• Ashton-under-Lyne, manorial customs of, 286, 289, 292, 293;
  • the Lord's Yule Feast at, 286;
  • Riding the Black Lad at, 289
• Assheton (Sir John de), 287
• " (Sir Ralph de), 290-292
• Astrologers, Lancashire, 33
• Astrology, 33
• Auld Wife Hakes, 216
• Averia (cattle, goods), 300, 301
• Aylesbury webs and linen, 302

• Baal Worship, 3-45
• Bacon, Customs' dues on, 301
• Ball, or "Old Ball," 234, 235
• Baptismal Customs, 260
• Barguest, bar- or barn-ghaist, 91
• Barnacle Geese, 116-121
• Bel, Belus, or Baal, 45
• Belisama, the River Ribble, 4
• Bells, church, 41, 42;
  • passing and funeral, 41, 42;
  • pancake, 44;
  • curfew, 44;
  • submarine, 44;
  • verses, 42
• Beltane or Beltein fires, 3, 45, 47, 48
• Betrothing and bridal customs, 263
• Bible, for direction, divination, and dreams, 20
• Bible and key, 103
• Bidding to funerals, 274
• Birth and baptismal customs, 260
• Black Lad, at Ashton, 289
• Bleeding, charms to stop, 77
• Boggart, or bogle, 16;
  • the name, 49;
  • the flitting, 58
• Boggart Hole Clough, 50
• Boggarts, ghosts, and haunted places, 49;
  • various, 58;
  • in old halls, 51;
  • in the nineteenth century, 61
• Bones of St. Lawrence at Chorley, 157
• Booker (John), of Manchester, astrologer, 34-38
• Books of Fate, 145
• Boon rents at Denton, 294
• Boon shearing at Ashton, 292, 293
• Bothe (Thomas del) his will, 241
• Bowland, letting sheep, &c., 300
• Bragot-Sunday, 225, 258
• Bridal bouquet, 268;
  • flowers, ib.
• Bride's chair at Warton, 265
• Brindle Church, footprint at, 134
• Bromley (Sir Edward), judge, 189
• Brownies or lares, 16
• Bryn Hall, the Gerards, and the dead man's hand, 158-163
• Bungerley stepping-stones, 90
• Burial by candle light, 273;
  • of a widow in vows, ib.
• Burnley, the church, 89;
  • a witch near, 209;
  • wedding customs at, 265
• Burying in woollen, 269

• Cards, 140
• Carlins, 258
• Carnaval, 217
• Carols, Christmas, 257
• Carr Gulds, 290
• Cartmel Church, Legend of, 137
• Cattle Diseases, Charms for, 79
• Celebrations, Farm and Agricultural, in the Fylde, 298
• Changelings, 263
• Charles I., King, 200, 240
• Charm, a, in cypher, 63
• Charms and spells, 62;
  • against evil beings, ib.;
  • against sickness, wounds, &c., 74;
  • crow, lady-bird, 70-71;
  • to get drink, 72-74;
  • against danger by night, 74;
  • wounds, 74;
  • toothache, 75;
  • rheumatism and cramp, 75;
  • ague, 80;
  • nettle stings, ib.;
  • jaundice, ib.;
  • to get sleep, ib.
• "Chattox, Old," a witch, 186-189
• Child, unbaptized, cannot die, 262
• Childbed presents, 260
• Childbirth, tea-drinking, 261
• " turning the bed after, 261
• Children, gifts to, 262
• Christianizing of pagan gods and festivals, 14
• Christmas, 252;
  • mumming at, 253;
  • carols, 254;
  • games, 255;
  • mutes, 256
• Christmas at Wycoller Hall, 256
• " Carols, 254;
  • rhymes, 253
• Christmas customs in the Fylde, 254;
  • games there, 255
• Christmas-day, old and new, 20;
  • breakfast in the Fylde, 256
• Christmas Eve, creatures worshipping, 253;
  • called "Flesh-day," 256
• " Evergreens, &c., 256
• Christmas Frumenty, 252, 256
• Christmas hobby-horse, 254
• Christmas or Yule Feast, at Ashton-under-Lyne, 286
• Church Festivals, 212, et seq.
• Churches and Churchyards, north and south sides of, 275
• Cinderella and her slipper, 5
• Clayton Hall Boggart, 52
• Clegg Hall Boggart, 52
• Cleworth, Demoniacs in 1594, 92
• Clock-house Boggart, 52
• Cob-seeding, 298
• Cock-penny, at Clitheroe, 220
• Cock-throwing and Cock-fighting, 218;
  • about Blackburn, 220;
  • at Burnley, ib.
• Cockerham Manor, 281;
  • ale in, ib.
• Cokersand Abbey, 281;
  • abbot of, ib.
• Collop Monday, 217
• Constablewick, a Saxon, 295
• Corals with bells, 262
• Corpse, carrying the, 272, 274
• Courting and Wedding Customs in the Fylde, 264
• Cousell and Clarke, conjurors, 86
• Cramp Rings, 75
• Creed and Little Creed, at Eccles, 114
• Cross-buns on Good Friday, 226
• Crow Charm, 70
• Curfew Bell, 44
• Customs of Manors, 276;
  • in Furness, 281;
  • Ashton, 286, 289
• Customs' dues at Warrington, 301
• "Cuthbert, Old mother," and her daughters, 177

• Dalton-in-Furness, funerals at, 271;
  • manor, 299;
  • hunt and rout, ib.
• Dalton-in-Furness, hiring reapers on Sunday, 299
• Danish Traditions, &c., 4, 5
• Darrell's (Rev. John) Narrative, &c. 93, 96;
  • his punishment, 97
• Dead and Dying, the, 7
• " man's hand, 158, 163
• " raising the, 128
• Deasil, or Widersinnis, 151
• Death tick or Death watch, 152
• Dee (Dr. John), 25
• " charged with Witchcraft, 178
• Deities and demi-gods, 12
• "Demdike, Old," a witch, 186;
  • "Young Demdike," ib.
• Demon and Goblin Superstitions, 88
• Demon Pig, 89
• Demoniacal possession in 1594, 92;
  • in 1686, 98
• Demoniacs, 87;
  • dispossessing a, 92;
  • at Morzine, 88
• Demonology, 86
• Denton Rent-boons, 294
• Derby (Edward 3rd) Earl of, charged with keeping a Conjuror, 129
• Device, Elizabeth and Alizon, witches, 186, 189
• Devil, the 16;
  • his names, 84-86;
  • a card-player, 81;
  • raised, 17, 81;
  • exorcised, 17, 81
• Devil, at Burnley, 83
• " and the Tailor of Chatburn, 82;
  • and the Dun horse, ib.;
  • and the schoolmaster at Cockerham, 83
• Devil, sacrifices to, 82;
  • appearances of, ib.
• "Devils of Morzine," (demoniacs) 88
• Dispossession of Devils, 93-98
• Divination, ancient, 7;
  • Lancashire, ib.
• " 102;
  • at marriages, 103;
  • by Bible and key, ib.;
  • Lancashire form of, 104;
  • by the dying, ib.;
  • second-sight, 105;
  • spirits of the dying and dead, ib.;
  • by lots, 106
• Doles at Weddings, 264;
  • at funerals, 270;
  • at Swinton, ib.
• Downham, King and Queen at, 248
• Dreams, 6, 19, 140, 145-149
• Drink-leans, 288
• Druidical Rock basins, 106-110
• Dugdale, the Surey demoniac, 98
• Dukinfield (Sir Robert), and the heriot, 294
• Dying, Death-bed, and Funeral Customs, 268
• Dying hardly, 268

• Easter, Eostre, 8, 226, 227
• " Customs, 227-237;
  • Fylde, 236
• " Day, 227
• " Eggs, 227, 228
• " Monday, 233, 237
• " "Lifting or heaving," 233;
  • game of the ring, 234;
  • Sports, 231
• Easter sports at the Manchester Free Grammar School, 231
• Eating and Drinking Customs, 258
• Eccles, ignorance in, 113-115
• Eccles cakes, 258
• Edward I., King, 27;
  • his gift for "lifting," 233
• Edward III., King, 28;
  • his letter for alms, 133
• Edward IV., King, 32
• Edward VI., King, 34
• Eggs, Pace, Pasche, or Easter, 217, 228;
  • in Blackburn, 228, 229;
  • in East Lancashire, 231;
  • bought for Easter, 229;
  • papal prayer, blessing eggs, 229
• "Elias, the Prophet," a fanatic, 138
• Elizabeth, Queen, 35
• Ellen's (St.) Well, in Brindle, 172
• Elves and Fairies, 110-113
• Everton toffy, 258
• Evil Eye, the, 69
• Ewe Loaf, the, 256
• Exorcism of demons by godly ministers, 95, 98-101

• Fag-pie (or Fig-pie) Sunday, 226, 258
• Fairies, 53;
  • and Elves, 106-110
• Fairy, a, on Mellor Moor, 111
• " Hole, at Warton, 265
• " Queen, 16
• " Tales, Lancashire, 112, 113
• Familiar Spirit, Transfer of a, 210
• Famous History of Witches, 176
• Feeorin (fairies), 53
• Fern Seed, 10
• Festivals, Church and Season, 212
• Finger Stocks of Stone, 288
• Flemings' Wooden Shoes and Oaten Bread, 259
• "Flesh-Day" (Christmas Eve), 256
• Folk-Lore, Eastern, 2-6;
  • Greek and Roman, 5, 6;
  • Scandinavian, 4, 5;
  • various, 113;
  • of Eccles and neighbourhood, 113
• Footprints at Brindle Church, 134;
  • at Smithells Hall, 135
• Fortune-Telling, 121-126;
  • Story of, 122;
  • "Owd Rollison," 123
• Frumenty, 262, 256, 258
• Funeral Biddings, 274;
  • gifts, 275;
  • bay, rosemary, &c., 270, 272, 275
• Funeral Customs, 268;
  • in East Lancashire, 273;
  • at Dalton-in-Furness, 271;
  • at Warton, 271;
  • Fylde, 272
• Funeral Doles, 270;
  • at Swinton, ib.;
  • various, 274
• Funeral Sermons, 274;
  • dinners and drinkings, 272
• Furness, Manorial Customs, 281, 285
• Fylde, The (in Lancashire), passim.
• " Easter Customs in, 236, 242, 243
• " Farm and Agricultural Celebrations in, 298
• " Harvest Home, 298;
  • "shutting of marling," ib.;
  • cob-seeding, ib.

• Gabriel Ratchets, 89, 167
• "Gang-Days," or Rogation Days, 248
• Garstang, a Saxon Constablewick, 295
• Geese, hatched from sea-shells, 116
• Gemmel Rings, 263
• Gerard (Sir Thomas), 131
• " (Sir John), 162
• Gerards of Bryn, 158-162
• Gifts to Infants, 262
• Gloucester (Eleanor), Duchess of, and Witchcraft, 174
• Gloves, Wedding, 268
• Goblin, Gobelinus, Kobold, Khobalus, &c., 16
• Goblin Builders, 89
• " Superstitions, 88
• Good Friday, 226;
  • viands, 226, 237
• "Goose-Intentos," 250
• Graves, Situation and Direction of, 275
• Greek Traditions and Superstitions, 5, 6, 13;
  • Mythology, 13
• Grendels, The, 17
• Grislehurst Boggart, 61
• Groaning Cheese and Cake, 260
• Guld-Riding, 289
• Gunpowder Plot, 251
• Guy Fawkes, 251

• Hackensall Hall Boggart, 59
• Hæver or Hiver, 149
• Hakes, Auld Wife, 216
• Hallowe'en, 3
• Halton Ale, 259
• Hand-bell Ringing, 258
• Hand-festing, 263
• Hartlay (John), a Conjuror, 93-96
• Harvest Home, 298
• Havercake Lads, 258
• Helen's (St.) Well in Brindle, 172;
  • near Sefton, 173
• Henry IV., King, 20
• Henry VI., King, 28, 29, 31;
  • miracles at his tomb, 132
• Henry VII., King, his embassy to Pope Julius II., 132
• Henry VIII., King, 87;
  • his ale, 287
• Heriot or Principal, at Ashton-under-Lyne, 292, 293;
  • story of, 294
• "Hobbe, the King," at Ashton, 288
• Hobby-horse at Christmas, 254
• Hornby, Honour and Manor of, 285
• " Park Mistress and Margaret Brackin, 59
• Horwich Moor, 48
• Hothershall Hall, 5
• House Boggarts, 56
• Household bewitched, 184
• Hunchback, story of the, 5
• Huntingdon's, Earl of, letter, 130
• Hydrocephalus in Cattle, to cure, 79

• Ignagning, 236
• Imps, or Changelings, 263
• Ince Hall, 52
• Ince Manor House, 52
• " Oatmeal Charity at, 249
• Indo-European origin of superstitions, 2
• Infants, gifts to, 262
• Invocation at bedtime, 68, 69

• Jack and the Bean-Stalk, 5
• Jack the Giant-Killer, 5
• James I., King, his Dæmonologie, 185
• Jannocks, 259
• Johnson's (Margaret), confession, 198
• Jolly Lads, 236
• Jourdain (Margery), witch of Eye, 174

• Kelly (Edward), the Seer, 25, 126
• Killing a witch, 208
• King and Queen at Downham, 248
• King of the May, 254
• " of Misrule, 288
• King's Evil, touching for, 77
• Kirkby Ireleth, Manor of, 281
• Knighthood, honour of, 277;
  • compulsory in 1278, 1292, and 1305, ib.
• Knives, &c., 18;
  • Manchester, 280

• Labouring Goblins, 56
• Lady in the straw, 260
• Lady-bird charm, 70, 71
• Lancashire musical instruments, 288
• " Witches, verses on, 179
• Lancaster (Thomas), Earl of, a saint, 133, 134
• Lating or Leeting Witches, 210
• Law Terms, mediæval Latin, 300
• Lawrence, St., his bones at Chorley, 157
• Leadbetter (Charles), a Lancashire astrologer, 40
• Legend of Cartmel Church, 137
• Lent, 221
• Local customs and usages at various seasons, 212, et seq.
• Lord's Day conjuration, 67
• Lostock May-pole, 243
• Lots, casting or drawing, 106
• Lowick, Manor of, 283
• Lubber Fiend, 59, 89

• Magic and Magicians, 126
• Magpies, 143-145
• Malkin Tower, in Pendle Forest, 186, 189, 204, 211
• Manchester knife, a, 289
• " Church, weddings at, 265
• Manorial franchises, &c., 285
• Manors, customs of, 276;
  • in Furness, 281;
  • Ashton-under-Lyne, 286, 289;
  • Smithells, 280;
  • Cockerham, 281;
  • Kirkby Ireleth, ib.;
  • Pennington, 282;
  • Muchland, ib.;
  • Lowick, 283;
  • Nevill Hall, ib.;
  • Much Urswick, 284;
  • Warton, ib.;
  • Hornby, 285;
  • Ashton-under-Lyne, 286, 289
• Maritagium, custom of, 278
• Marsh (Geo.), the martyr, 135-137
• Martins, "shifting of," 143
• Mary Queen of Scots, 131
• May-day Eve, 46, 47, 239
• " Customs, 238-246;
  • in Spotland, 242;
  • in Manchester, 245
• May-day Games, decay of, 241;
  • at Burnley (1579), 244
• May-Poles, 240-243;
  • Parliamentary ordinance against, 241
• May King and Queen, 246
• " Songs, 239
• Mermaid of Marton Mere, 90
• "Messes" at dinners, &c., 271, 274
• Michaelmas Day, 250;
  • goose, ib., 258
• Mid-Lent Sunday, or Mothering Sunday, 222, 225
• Mince Pies, 255, 258
• Miracles, or Miraculous Stories, 131
• " of a dead Duke of Lancaster (King Henry VI.), 132-134
• Miraculous cures by a dead man's hand, 158-163
• Miraculous footprints in Brindle Church, 134;
  • in Smithells Hall, 135
• "Mischief Night," 239
• Mistletoe, 252
• Money gift at funerals, 275
• Moon, the, 70;
  • omens from, 149;
  • names for autumn moons, 250
• More (Sir Thomas), Story of, 300
• "Mothering Sunday," 222, 225
• Mountain Ash, 72
• Muchland, Manor of, 282
• Much-Urswick, Manor of, 284
• Mutes at Christmas, 256
• Mythology of Greece and Rome, 13;
  • Oriental, ib.;
  • Northern, ib.

• Naiades, Nixies, Nisses, 16
• Nails, cutting, 68
• Nevill Hall, Manor of, 283
• New Year's-Day, weather omens, 151;
  • Festival, 214;
  • and Old Christmas-Day, 212
• New-Year's turkey, 258
• " Eve, fire on, 214
• New-Year's Luck, 214;
  • first caller, 215;
  • gifts and wishes, 216
• Nicholas, St., 85
• "Nick, Old" (the devil), 84-86
• Night-mare, 89
• Northumbrian Superstitions, 9
• November 1, All Souls' Day, 251
• November 5, Gunpowder Plot, 251
• Numbers, odd, 4;
  • "3" and "7," ib.
• Nutter (Alice), a wealthy witch, 193

• Oat Cake, 258;
  • Jannocks, 259
• Oatmeal charity at Ince, 249
• "Old Nick" (the devil), 84-86
• "Old Scrat," or Skrat, 90
• Omens and Predications, 138, 139
• Omens, Dreams, Withershins, Cards, Teacups, &c., 140
• Omens—Cats, 141;
  • Dogs, Lambs, Birds, 142;
  • Swallows, Magpies, ib.
  • Deasil, or Widersinnis, 151;
  • weather for New Year's-Day, 151;
  • Death tick, or watch, 152
• Ormskirk gingerbread, 258

• Pace or Pasche-egging, 128;
  • in Blackburn, ib.;
  • East Lanc., 231
• Pagan gods, festivals and temples, changed into Christian saints, feasts and churches, 14
• Pancake Bell, 44;
  • Tuesday, 218
• Passing Bell, 44
• Paternoster, White, &c., at Eccles, 115
• Peel of Fouldrey and Tree-Geese, 116
• Peggy's Well, Legend of, 171
• Pendle, Forest and Hill of, 202, 204
• Pendleton and Pendlebury, May-pole and games, 240, 241
• Pentecost, 16th Sunday after, 250
• Pentecost (See Whitsuntide).
• Persons bewitched, sixteen, 192
• Philosopher's Mercury, 23
• " Stone, 23
• Pigeons' Feathers in beds, 268
• Pilkington (Dame Jane), 273
• Pimpernel, 71
• Pork Pasties, 260
• Prayer and Blessing on Eggs, 229
• Prayer in Verse against Sir Ralph Ashton, 291
• Predications (see Omens).
• Presents to Women in Childbed, 260
• " to Infants, 262
• Prestwich, Burying in Woollen at, 269
• Principal or heriot at Ashton, 293
• Prophet Elias, a fanatic, 138

• Queen of the May, 246

• Radcliffe, Burying in Woollen, 269
• Radcliffe Tower, 51
• Raising the Dead, 128;
  • the Devil, 17, 81
• Rent-boons at Denton, 294
• Rents, Nominal, 280
• Rheumatism, charms to cure, 75
• Riding the Black Lad at Ashton, 289
• Rings, betrothal or gemmel, 263;
  • Wedding, 268
• Robins and Wrens, 142
• Robinson, Edmund, 195, 201
• Rochdale Church, 89
• " Tithe, Easter Dues, &c., 297
• Rogation Days or Gang Days, 248
• Rolleston, Mr., 131
• "Rollison, Owd," 123-125
• Roman Traditions and Superstitions, 5, 6, 18;
  • Mythology, 13

• Saint Cuthbert's Beads, 15
• " John's Eve, 8, 46, 47
• " Vitus's Dance, 87
• Samlesbury Witches, 194
• "Scrat, Old" (or Skrat), 90
• Second-sight in Lancashire, 105
• Services and Tenures, peculiar, 278
• Sheep and Farms in Bowland, 300
• Shoes, Old, for luck, 264, 268
• Shrew Tree in Carnforth, 79
• Shrovetide, 217;
  • Tuesday, 218;
  • Pancakes, ib., 258;
  • Sports, 219;
  • customs in the Fylde, 221
• Sickness, charms to cure, 74
• Simnel Cakes, 223;
  • at Bury, 224, 258
• Sitting-up Courtship, 264
• Skriker, 91
• Smithells Hall, 51;
  • Marsh the Martyr, 135
• Smithells, Manor of, custom, 280
• Sneezing, 6, 68
• Songs, Lancashire, about 1422, 288
• Sparrows, 142
• Spell, description of a, 177
• Spirits of the dying and dead, 105
• Spitting on money, &c., 69, 70
• Stocks for the fingers, 283
• Superstitions in Manchester in the 16th century, 168
• Superstitions of Pendle Forest, 164;
  • of East Lancashire, 165
• Superstitions, popular, 153-157;
  • Nineteenth Century, 164
• Superstitious beliefs, and practices, 1;
  • fears and cruelties, 167
• Superstitious fear of Witchcraft, 182

• Talliage or Tallage, 296;
  • of Lancashire towns, &c., ib.
• Teacups, Omens from, 140
• Teanlay, or All Souls' Night, 49
• Tenants of Ashton-under-Lyne, 288
• Tenures and Services, peculiar, 278
• Thackergate Boggart, 52
• Throwing the Stocking, 264
• Toothache, charms to cure, 75
• Touching for King's Evil, 77
• Towneley, ghost and tradition, 57
• Trash or Skriker, 91
• Tree Barnacles, or Tree Geese, 116
• Turning Bed after Childbirth, 261

• Unbaptized Child, cannot die, 262
• Urswick Much, Manor of, 284
• Utley, hanged for witchcraft, 195

• Vervain, to cure wounds, a rhyming charm, 76, 115;
  • against blasts, 115
• Victor Penny, 219
• Vitus's (St.), Dance, 87

• Waddow Hall, 171
• Waitts, the, 257;
  • of Manchester, 257;
  • of Warrington, 258
• Walton-le-Dale, raising the dead, 128
• Warcock Hill, 17
• Warrington Ale, 259
• Warton, Royal Manor of, 284;
  • wedding customs at, 265
• Warts, cures for, 78;
  • caused by washing in egg-water, 121
• Water Sprites, 89
• Weather Omens, 141-145, 149-152
• Wedding Customs, 263;
  • in the Fylde, 264;
  • at Warton, 265;
  • at Burnley, 265;
  • various, 268
• Weddings at Manchester Church, 265
• Well at Wavertree, 169
• Well, Peggy's, 170;
  • Legend of, 171
• Well, St. Helen's, in Brindle, 172;
  • near Sefton, 173
• Wells and Springs, dedicated to saints, 169
• West Houghton Wakes, 260
• Whitsuntide, 246;
  • Fair, 246;
  • 16th Sunday after, 250
• Whitsuntide Ales, 246
• " Tuesday, 248
• " week, 247
• Whooping Cough, 10
• Wicken or Wiggen Tree (the mountain ash), 72
• Widersinnis, or Deasil, 151;
  • Withershins, 140, 151
• Widow, Burial of a, 273
• Widows, manorial customs, 281-285
• Wilder Lads, 48
• Will-o'-th'-Wisp, 53
• Winwick Church, 89
• Wise Men and Cunning Women, 121
• Wizards, 87;
  • Swimming a, ib.
• Wooden Shoes and Oaten Bread, 259
• Woollen, burying in, 269
• Wounds, to cure, 74;
  • Vervain, 76
• Wycoller Hall, Christmas at, 256

• Yule Loaf, 256