1826.—The first Sunday after Midsummer Day.
Fellowship Porters.
Mr. Brand says, “It is the duty of the rector of St. Mary at Hill, in which parish Billingsgate is situated, to preach a sermon every year, on the first Sunday after midsummer-day, before the society of Fellowship Porters, exhorting them to be charitable towards their old decayed brethren, and ‘to bear one another’s burthens.’”
It is remarkable that Mr. Brand, who was the rector of this church, and who quotes largely from the churchwardens’ accounts of that parish, in illustration of manifold customs whereon he treats, says nothing further respecting his “duty,” as rector, towards the Fellowship Porters: he does not even subjoin how long the annual sermon appeared to have been preached, nor does he say so much as a recent compiler who notices the custom as follows:—
“Annually on the Sunday after midsummer-day, according to ancient custom, the fraternity of Fellowship Porters of the city of London repair to the church of St. Mary at Hill in the morning, where, during the reading of the psalms, they reverently approach the altar, two and two, on the rails of which are placed two basins, and into these they put their respective offerings. They are generally followed by the congregation, and the money offered is distributed among the aged poor and inferior members of that fraternity.”[226]
The birds now begin to be very active in devouring the fruits, and cherryclacks are set up to drive them away; the perpetual flapping of which, in the light breezes by night, are too well-known to the student by the nightly lamp.
The Cherryclack.
The lamplight student wan and pale,
In his chamber sits at ease,
And tries to read without avail;
For every moment the light breeze
Springs up and nestles in the trees.
And then he startles at the sound
Of the noisy cherryclack,
That drives its flippant windsails round
With Lybs still puffing at his back,
Provoking endless click-a-tee-clack.