R. R. inquires the origin of the above saying, but has forgotten the context, viz. "and get your head shaved." I have often heard it explained as an allusion to the fact, that, in former days, persons who showed symptoms of insanity were sent to Bath to drink the medicinal waters; the process of shaving the head being previously resorted to. The saying is applied to those who either relate "crack-brained" stories, or propose undertakings that raise a doubt as to their sanity.
N. L. T.
Ridings and Chaffings (Vol. ix., p. 370.).—Though unable to give Mr. Thomas Russell Potter any information respecting the "Ridings and Chaffings" of Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire, I send the following note of a somewhat similar custom prevalent in Oxfordshire (I never heard of it elsewhere), thinking it may perhaps interest him and others of your correspondents.
I remember once, about three years ago, I was walking in Blenheim Park, with a friend then resident at Woodstock, when suddenly the stillness of a summer evening was broken by strange and inharmonious sounds, coming to us across the water from the old town. The sounds grew louder and louder, and in great surprise I appealed to my friend for an explanation; when I learned that it was a custom in that part of the country, whenever it was discovered that a man had been beating his wife, for the neighbours to provide themselves with all sorts of instruments, fire-irons, kettles, and pots, in fine, anything capable of making a noise, and proceed en masse to the house of the offender, before whose door they performed in concert, till their indignation subsided or their arms grew weary; and that the noise we then heard was the distant sound of such music.
I do not know if my friend gave any name to this practice; if he did, I have since forgotten it. Doubtless, some of your Oxford readers can assist me.
R. V. T.
Mincing Lane.
At Marchington, in Staffordshire, the custom exists of having what is called a "Rantipole Riding" for every man who beats his wife. The ceremony is performed with great care and solemnity. A committee is formed to examine into the case. Then the village poet is employed to give a history of the occurrence in verse. The procession goes round in the evening with a cart, which serves as a stage on which the scene is acted and from which the verses are recited. The custom has been there observed, with so much judgment and discretion, that it has been productive of much good, and has now almost entirely put a stop to this disgraceful practice. I can remember several "ridings" in my younger days.
H. B.
Mr. Potter will find, upon referring to Vol. i., p. 245., that this custom prevails in Gloucestershire, with the substitution of straw for chaff. I have seen the Gloucestershire version both in Kent and Sussex, and have received an explanation of it similar to Mr. Potter's own supposition.