[35] Formerly there prevailed a singular custom peculiar to the county of Shropshire, called the “cuckoo-ale,” which was celebrated in the month of May, and sometimes near the latter end of April. As soon as the first cuckoo had been heard all the labouring classes left off work, even if in the middle of the day, and the time was devoted to mirth and jollity over what was called the cuckoo-ale.--_Morning Post_, May 17th, 1821. APRIL 23.] ST. GEORGE’S DAY. St. George’s Day, though now passed over without notice, was formerly celebrated by feasts of cities and corporations, as we learn from Johan Bale, who, speaking of the neglect of public libraries, has the following curious apostrophe: “O cyties of Englande, whose glory standeth more in bellye chere then in the serche of wysdome godlye. How cometh it that neyther you, nor your ydell masmongers, have regarded thys most worthy commodyte of your countrey? I mean the conservacyon of your antiquytees, and of the worthy labours of your lerned men. I thynke the renowne of suche a notable acte wolde have muche longar endured than of all your belly bankettes and table tryumphes, eyther yet of your newly purchased hawles to kepe St. Georges feast in.”--Preface to the _Laboryeuse Journey and Serche of John Lyelande for Englande’s Antiquitees_ in _Lives of Leland, Hearne, and Wood_, vol. i., sign C. Among courtiers and people of fashion blue coats were worn on this day. Captain Face, a character in the _Ram Alley_, alludes to the custom among the knights:-- “Do you bandy tropes? By Dis I will be knight, Wear a blue coat on great St. George’s Day, And with my fellows drive you all from Paul’s.” Dodsley’s _Old Plays_, vol. v. p. 486. In Epigram 33 of _The Seconde Bowle_, by Thomas Freeman, 4to, 1614, quoted also in Dodsley’s _Old Plays_, vol. xii. p. 398, its this distich: “With’s eorum nomine keeping greater sway, Than a Court blew coat on St. George’s Day.” Dr. Forster, in his _Perennial Calendar_ (1824, p. 185), mentioning an allusion to this dress in Reed’s _Old Plays_ (vol. xii.), observes that it was probably because blue was the fashionable colour of Britain, over which St. George presides, and not in imitation of the clothing of the fields in blue, by the flowering of the blue-bells, as many have supposed. The king’s spurs became the fee of the choristers at Windsor on installations and feasts on St. George’s Day. In the “Privy Purse Expenses of Henry VII.” is an entry under the year 1495: “Oct. 1. At Windesor. To the children for the spoures.” A similar disbursement occurs thrice in the Privy Purse Expenses of Henry VIII. in 1530.--_Med. Ævi Kalend._ vol. i. p. 214.