Costume -- Great Britain -- History; Great Britain -- History; Great Britain -- History -- Pictorial works
(Fig. 1): _January_. This month was called by the English,
when heathen, “Wolf-monath,” because the wolves were most
troublesome at this period of the year. When the English
became Christians it was called “Aefter-Yule,” i.e.,
After-Christmas. Here there is a ploughing scene. Four oxen
yoked together in couples are drawing a plough of a very
solid-looking type. (In those days horses were not employed
in farm work.) A farm-hand, bare-headed, bare-footed, and
wearing only a single garment, is goading the oxen with a
sharp-pointed ox-goad, similar to a long spear in appearance.
A man in superior attire is guiding the plough, while another
is scattering seed as the plough passes. A good representation
of the plough of that period is shown here. (Fig. 2):
_August_. This month was called by the English “Arn-moneth”
or “Barn-moneth,” i.e., “harvest-month.” This drawing gives
a representation of a farm wagon of good construction, and
of the costumes of the workers, who appear to be of at least
two grades--some bare-footed, wearing a single garment,
while others have better-cut garments, and wear shoes and
stockings in addition. At the head of a party is a man with
a spear in his right hand, blowing a horn, who may be either
superintending the work or may be the “advance guard” of a
hunting party entering the field. The implements, sickles, and
forks appear to be very similar to those in use at the present
time.]
SAXON ANTIQUITIES.
[Illustration: Plate 15.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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