[307]. An old tavern-sign in Cheshire bore the following inscription:—
‘Good bear sold here,
Our own Bruin.’
The book which records this quotes from the Congleton Town Register: ‘1599.—Paid the bearward, 4s. 4d.’ ‘1601.—Gave the bearward at the great cock-fight, 6s. 8d.’ (Cheshire Ballads, p. 259.)
[308]. A story is told of an officious clerk belonging to an old rural church who, overwhelmed with the honour of having a bishop presiding at a visitation there, ransacked his brains for something worthy the occasion, and then in stentorian voice gave out, instead of the usual Sternholdic lines, the following variation:—
‘Ye little hills and dales,
Why do ye skip and hop?
Is it because yer glad to see
His Grace the Lord Bish-op?’
[309]. Curiously enough, we have the name of ‘Robert Harpmaker’ mentioned in an old Oxford record, 1452. (Mun. Acad. Oxon.) This we may look upon, therefore, as an old-standing nuisance.