Hail to the day, whose kind auspicious rays Deign’d first to smile on famous Bishop Blase! To the great author of our Combing trade, This day’s devoted, and due honour’s paid To him whose fame thro’ Britain’s isle resounds, To him whose goodness to the poor abounds. Long shall his name in British annals shine, And grateful ages offer at his shrine! By this our trade are thousands daily fed, By it supplied with means to earn their bread. In various forms our trade its work imparts, In different methods, and by different arts: Preserves from starving indigents distress’d, As Combers, Spinners, Weavers, and the rest. We boast no gems, or costly garments vain, Borrow’d from India or the coast of Spain; Our native soil with wool our trade supplies, While foreign countries envy us the prize. No foreign broil our common good annoys, Our country’s product all our art employs; Our fleecy flocks abound in every vale, Our bleating lambs proclaim the joyful tale. So let not Spain with us attempt to vie, Nor India’s wealth pretend to soar so high; Nor Jason pride him in his Colchian spoil, By hardships gain’d, and enterprising toil; Since Britons all with ease attain the prize, And every hill resounds with golden cries, To celebrate our founder’s great renown. Our shepherd and our shepherdess we crown. For England’s commerce and for George’s sway Each loyal subject give a loud Huzza. Huzza! _Every Day Book_, vol. i. p. 209. See also _Northamptonshire Words and Phrases_, ii. p. 416. Minshen, in his _Ductor in Linguas_, (1617, p. 236), under the word Hock-tide speaks of S. Blase his day, about Candlemas, when countrywomen goe about and make good cheere; and if they finde any of their neighbour women a spinning that day, they burne and make a blaze of fire of the distaffe, and thereof called S. Blaze his day. Dr. Percy, in his _Notes to the Northumberland Household Book_ (1825, pp. 333-435), tells us that the anniversary of St. Blasius is the 3rd of February, when it is customary in many parts of England to light fires on the hills on St. Blayse night: a custom anciently taken up, perhaps, for no better reason than the jingling resemblance of his name to the word “blaze.” _Candles offered to St. Blaze._--In honour of St. Blaze there formerly were offered to him candles, which after receiving benediction were considered holy, and became highly serviceable to all pious uses. _Clavis Calendaria_, Brady, 1812. vol. i. p. 299. _Beauties of England and Wales_, Brayley and Britton, 1809, vol. ii. p. 418. SHROVE TUESDAY.