Then fell upon the City a time of great sadness. In the churches the images were covered up with painted cloths, on which was declared, one knows not how, the “Wrath and furie great of God”; the butchers’ stalls were closed; the shambles were innocent of blood; the cooks’ shops furnished nothing but fish; and devout people, and men and women of religion, took but one meal in the day. On Palm Sunday there was the Procession of the Entry into Jerusalem; after the Procession and Mass the boys led the Ass about the parish begging for money and eggs. For three days before Easter in this City of multitudinous bells—bells of monasteries, bells of colleges, bells of hospitals, bells of churches—there was a stillness profound. No bells were rung at all. The sexton climbed the tower or the steeple and called to mass with a wooden clapper. The boys ran about the streets with wooden clappers calling the people to church. It is even said that during the solemn darkness of the Tenebrose, the ’prentices carried on a free fight. And during this week the curious custom was observed of bringing into every great man’s house a twisted tree. At Easter Eve all fires were put out and renewed from flint and steel. The water for baptism was hallowed with a procession of crosses, tapers, and banners. It was lucky to carry some banner. On Easter Day the Resurrection was represented in many churches. On this day, also, people ate radishes to keep off agues. On one of the three days before the Ascension the parish bounds were beaten by the parish beadles and a pack of boys. On Ascension Day it was the custom to eat birds, for their upward flight was held to be a symbol of the Ascension. At church the image of our Lord was literally pulled up to the roof with ropes, while an image of Satan was thrown down and broken to pieces. On Whit Sunday white pigeons and doves were set free in the church. On Corpus Christi Day, the Host was carried about in a procession followed by representations of the Saints. “Fayre Ursley with her maidens all, doth passe amid the wayes: And valiant George with speare that killed the dreadful dragon here: The Devil’s house is drawn about where in there doth appere A wondrous sorte of damned sprites, with foule and fearful looke: Great Christopher doth wade and pass with Christ around the brooke: Sebastian full of feathered shafts the dint of dart doth feel: Then walketh Kathren with hir sworde in hande and cruel wheele: The Challis and the Singing Cake with Barbara is led, And sundrie other Pageants playde in worship of their bred. Saint John before the Bred doth go, and poynting towards him, Doth show the same to be the Lambe that takes away our sinne: On whom two cladde in Angels’ shape to sundrie flowers fling A number great of salving belles with pleasant sound doe ring.”