The Auto-Biography of John Britton, F.S.A., Honorary Member of Numerous English and Foreign Societies

urn:iso:std:iso:639:ed-3:eng

414–415

text excerpt

During my abode at Maidford, I visited the town of Tetbury with my grandmother, and, on another occasion, with one of my uncles.  Both required farm servants; […]  These servants were hired by the year, and subject to the law of old customs.  The meeting, or human market, was and is called “a mop.”  The servants congregated in groups, or rows, on the sides of a public street, dressed in their best, or Sunday clothes, whilst the masters and mistresses walked in front of the said rows, inspecting and questioning the servants whose appearances seemed most prepossessing to the chooser.  These meetings constituted a sort of fair, as perambulating dealers in gingerbread and toys, shows, &c., usually attended them.  At most of these “mops” it was, and may yet be, the custom to roast an ox, or a couple of sheep, and retail the same at sixpence the plate to numerous visitors who came from miles around to seek pleasure in a holiday.  At night the public-houses were full of company; drinking, dancing, and singing were kept up to a late hour; peace and order either winked or slept, whilst the shepherd and dairy-maid enjoyed their annual saturnalia.

excerpt from 'The Auto-Biography of John Britton, F.S.A., Honorary Member of Numerous English and Foreign Societies' pp. 414–415 (197 words)

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1658922990688