It is clear
that they were superstitious practices of sufficient prevalence and
influence on the popular mind to call for the interference of the
queen's commissioners.
A.B.
_Decking Churches with Yew on Easter Day._--In the village of Berkely
near Frome, Somerset, and on the borders of Wiltshire, the church is
decorated on Easter Sunday with yew, evidently as an emblem of the
Resurrection. Flowers in churches on that day are common, but I believe
the use of yew to be unusual.
W. Durrant Cooper.
_Strewing Straw or Chaff._--The custom mentioned by your correspondent
"B." (p. 245.) as prevailing in Gloucestershire, is not peculiar to that
county. In Kent, it is commonly practised by the rustics. The publican,
all the world over, decorates his sign-board with a foaming can and
pipes, to proclaim the entertainment to be found within. On the same
principle, these rustics hang up _their_ sign-board,--as one of them,
with whom I was once remonstrating, most graphically explained to me.
When they knew of a house where the master deems a little wholesome
discipline necessary to ensure the obedience of love, considering it a
pity that the world should be ignorant of his manly virtues, they strew
"well threshed" chaff or straw before his door, as an emblematical
sign-board, to proclaim that the sweet fare and "good entertainment" of
a "well threshed" article may be found within.
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