“When Myton is pulled down,
Hull shall become a great town.”
As a matter of history, it may be stated that when the town was threatened by Charles I., a number of houses in Myton Lane, as well as the Charter-house, were laid in ruins by Sir John Hotham, governor of Hull, so that they might not give shelter to the Royalists. Ray refers to this couplet, and, in error, calls Myton, Dighton.
Selling church-bells has given rise to satirical rhymes. Here are three Lincolnshire rhymes on this topic:—
“The poor Hatton people
Sold the bells to build up the steeple.”
The next says:—
“Owersby’s parish,
Wicked people,
Sold their bells to Kelsey
To build a steeple.”
It is stated in the third:—
“Poor Scartho people,
Sold their bells to repair the steeple.”
About 1710, the spire of Arlesey Church, Bedfordshire, fell down, and it is believed the bells were broken. The metal was sold to a distant parish to raise money to rebuild the spire, and until the year 1877 only one small bell was suspended in the steeple to call the inhabitants to the house of prayer. The transaction gave rise to the saying:—
“Arlesey, Arlesey, wicked people,
Sold their bells to build their steeple.”