Part 7 (1/2)

PETERBOROUGH CATHEDRAL.

On July 26th, 1681, the Rev. John Wray, M.A., F.R.S., writes in his diary:--

”We (Mr. Wray and Mr. Willoughby) began our journey northwards from Cambridge, and that day, pa.s.sing through Huntingdon and Stilton, we rode as far as Peterborough, 25 miles. There I first heard the Cathedral Service. The Choristers made us pay money for coming into the choir with our spurs on.”

BELLS.

Helpston cracked pippins, And Northborough cracked pans, Glinton fine Organs, And Peakirk tin pans.

The Churches of Tansor and Cotterstock are not very far from each other.

Cotterstock has four bells, and Tansor only two. The villagers say that the Cotterstock bells ask:

”Who rings the best? Who rings the best?”

and Tansor proudly and rapidly replies,

”We do, We do, We do, We do.”

Tansor now possesses three bells, so their answer now is ”We three do.”

The Pancake bell is still rung regularly in Peterborough on Shrove Tuesday.

The Gleaning bell is rung in the district.

In some Parishes a bell was tolled during the time of a corpse being put in its shroud, and was called the ”Winding Bell.”

The Church Bells of Helpston, Northborough, Glinton, and Peakirk are described as:--

PERSONAL.

A mole spot on the body, is considered lucky.

One with the mole on the neck, will gather money by the peck.

A mole on the left shoulder, betokens a drunken husband.

Right eye itching, sign of joy, Left eye itching, sign of sorrow.

Right eye joy, left eye cry.

If your nose itches, you will kiss or shake hands with a fool.

Nose itching, going to hear news.

Rub it on wood and it's sure to come good.

Palm of right hand itching, you will receive money.