The ale-stake, which was a long pole either attached to the front of the house or standing in the road before the door, seems to have been the first sign in use with English ale-sellers. In early times every person who brewed ale for sale was, as has been already mentioned, compelled by law to exhibit the ale-stake as a signal to the local ale-conner that his services were required. Very early mention is to be found of these signs. In 1393 Florence North, a Chelsea ale-wife, was presented for neglecting to put up an ale-stake in front of her house. Similar allusions are to be found in many early writers. Chaucer’s Pardoner when asked to begin his tale—
“It shall be donn,” quod he, “and that anoon. But first,” quod he, “here at this ale-stake, I will both drynke and byten on a cake.”
The accompanying cut is taken from a manuscript of the fourteenth century. The figures are doubtless an ale-wife and a pilgrim. {216}
“The ale-pole doth but signifie that there is good ale in the house where the ale-pole standeth,” writes an old author, “and will tell him that he muste go near the house and there he shall find the drinke, and not stand sucking the ale-pole in vayne.” And again:—
For lyke as the jolly ale-house Is always knowen by the good ale-stake, So are proude jelots sone perceaved, to, By their proude folly, and wanton gate.
An Ale-stake.
Skelton, writing of the fame of Elynour Rummynge’s “noppy ale,” alludes to the ale-pole thus:—
Another brought her bedes Of jet or of cole, To offer to the ale-pole.
