Yet all this can hardly rayse it to a tolerable condition of wealth
and inhabitance. Wherefore I will [138] detayne you no longer,
then vntill I haue shewed you a solemne custome in times past here
yeerely obserued, and onely of late daies discontinued, which was
thus:
Vpon little Easter Sunday, the Freeholders of the towne and mannour,
by themselues or their deputies, did there assemble: amongst whom,
one (as it fell to his lot by turne) brauely apparelled,
gallantly mounted, with a Crowne on his head, a scepter in his hand,
a sword borne before him, and dutifully attended by all the rest also
on horseback, rode thorow the principall streete to the Church:
there the Curate in his best beseene, solemnely receiued him at the
Churchyard stile, and conducted him to heare diuine seruice:
after which, he repaired with the same pompe, to a house foreprouided
for that purpose, made a feast to his attendants, kept the tables
end himselfe, and was serued with kneeling, assay, & all other rites
due to the estate of a Prince: with which dinner, the ceremony ended,
and euery man returned home again.
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