Mariners and vintners, Noah and the persons in his Ark, apparelled in the habit of carpenters and salmon-takers. The weavers personated Abraham and Isaac, with their offering and altar. The smiths represented Pharaoh, with his host. The skinners, the camell with the children of Israel, &c.--See Harris, _History of Dublin_, 1766, p. 147. MAY 22.] COVENTRY SHOW FAIR. This celebrated fair, says Brand (_Pop. Antiq._ 1849, vol. i. p. 286), commences upon Friday in Trinity week, and lasts for eight days. The charter for it was granted by Henry III. in 1218, at the instigation of Randle, Earl of Chester. For many years it was one of the chief marts in the kingdom, and was celebrated for the show designated the Procession of Lady Godiva, of which Brand has given a long account. MAY 25.] THE SHREWSBURY SHOW. In the _Book of Days_ (vol. i. pp. 704-708) will be found an interesting and amusing account of the Shrewsbury Show, which appears, from the records of the reign of Henry VI., to have been held time out of mind on the second Monday after Trinity Sunday. FLITTING DAY. SCOTLAND. The 25th of May, as the Whitsunday term (old style), is a great day in Scotland, being that on which, for the most part, people change their residences. The Scotch generally lease their houses by the year, and are thus at every twelve-month’s end able to shift their place of abode. Accordingly, every Candlemas a Scotch family gets an opportunity of considering whether it will, in the language of the country, sit or flit. The landlord or his agent calls to learn the decision on this point; and if “flit” is the resolution, he takes measures by advertising to obtain a new tenant. The two or three days following upon the Purification, therefore, become distinguished by a feathering of the streets with boards projected from the windows, intimating “A House to Let.”--See _Book of Days_, vol. i. p. 679. MAY 29.] RESTORATION OR ROYAL OAK DAY. In the _Diary_ of John Evelyn (1859, vol. i. p. 373), under the date of May 29th, 1665, is the following statement:-- This was the first anniversary appointed by Act of Parliament to be observed as a day of General Thanksgiving for the miraculous restoration of His Majesty: our vicar preaching on Psalm cxviii., 24, requiring us to be thankful and rejoice, as indeed we had cause.[63] [63] The special form of prayer in commemoration of the Restoration of Charles II., was removed from the Prayer Book by Act of Parliament (22 Vict. c. 2. March 25, 1859). On this day the chaplain of the House of Commons preached in St. Margaret’s Church, Westminster, before “the House,” usually represented by the Speaker, the Sergeant-at-arms, the clerks, and other officers, and some half-dozen members. This observance has been discontinued since 1858.--Timbs’ _Something for Everybody_, 1861, p. 74.