British Popular Customs, Present and Past / Illustrating the Social and Domestic Manners of the People. Arranged According to the Calendar of the Year.

by T. F. Thiselton-Dyer

ST. MARGARET’S DAY.

Cambridgeshire.

On the feast of St. Margaret in 1511, the Miracle Play of the Holy Martyr St. George was acted on a stage in an open field at Bassingborne in Cambridgeshire, at which there were a minstrel and three waits hired from Cambridge, with a property-man and a painter. The following extract from an old churchwarden’s book belonging to the parish of Bassingborne, gives the various subscriptions and expenses connected with it:—

Memorandum:—Received at the play held on St. Margaret’s day, A.D. MDXI., in Basingborn of the holy martyr St. George.

Received of the Township of Royston xii^s. Tharfield vi^s viii^d, Melton v^s iiii^d, Lillington x^s vi^d, Whaddon iv^s iiii^d, Steeplemenden iiii^s, Barly iv^s i^d, Ashwell iiii^s, Abingdon iii^s iv^d, Orwell iii^s, Wendy ii^s ix^d, Wimpole ii^s vii^d, Meldreth ii^s iv^d, Arrington ii^s iv^d, Shepreth ii^s iv^d, Kelsey ii^s v^d, Willington i^s x^d, Fulmer i^s viii^d, Gilden Morden i^s, Tadlow i^s, Croydon i^s i^d, Hattey x^d, Wratlingworth ix^d, Hastingfield ix^d, Barkney viii^d, Foxten iv^d, Kneesnorth vi^d.

Item received of the town of Bassingborn on the Monday and Friday after the play, together with other comers on the Monday, xiv^s v^d.

Item received on the Wednesday after the play, with a pot of ale at Kneesnorth, all costs deducted, i^s vii^d.

Expenses of the said Play.

First paid to the garnement man for garnements and propyrts and playbooks, xx^s.

To a minstrel and three waits of Cambridge for the Wednesday, Saturday, and Monday. Two of them the first day, and three the other days, v^s xi^d.