of fornication she shall say the word adultery, she being nobbut covered with a sheet from the shoulders.  At this day (1824) I cannot but say I am glad to say that there be a good feeling abroad for its abolishment, indeed, there be in many places so strong a feeling again this way of judging our daughters for a fault of this kind that they have bidden the clergy to set their faces against any lass ever being so judged, and though our clergy be in the main but a despert reckless lot, I hear that mostly they are of the same mind as those they do hold as their flock.  Indeed, at one village not far from here a father set his back against his lass standing at the church, though she had been so judged to do, and the whole of thereabouts siding with the lass it was held by the parson and his fox-chasing, wine-bibbing crew for to pull in their tongues a piece which they most wisely did, or, for a truth, they would have found themselves astride of the wrong horse.  It is now time this shameful practice was for ever laid on one side for it be not for the good of our own daughters that they witness such sights even in a place called God’s house, but it oft be ought but that to our shame and the greater shame of all who hold its government of it.  I could here give you a good list of curious cases of the which for the most part I did witness myself of both the hearing and of the standing of both many wed and single so browten to public shame, but as it would be to no good purpose I will hold from the putting pen to paper in this matter, letting what hath been wrote end this matter, for of a truth it is to a better purpose that both pen, ink, paunce box and paper, can be putten.”  Concerning the innumerable customs and superstitions associated with the dead and dying, Calvert collected a number of interesting facts.  “It be held by many,” he writes, “that a dying body cannot quit this life if they do be lying upon a bed which happen to have pigeon feathers gotten in by chance.

“A body cannot get their time over with ease to themselves if there be one in the room who will not give them up.  It be better for all such who cannot bring themselves to part with those they love to withdraw from the room so that death may enter and claim his rights.

“It be held to be a sure sign that an ailing body will die if there be a downcome of soot.

“It be also a sure sign that death be awaiting for his own if an ullot [owlet] do thrice hoot so that the ailing one do hear it and remark thereon.

“It be an ill sign if a death glow be seen to settle upon the face of an ailing one or if such cry out they do see a shroud o’ the quilt.

“If there be a death watch heard, then the ailing one need not longer hold on to hope, for it be for that time gone from that house and will not enter again until a corpse be hugged out.

“It be an ill sign to the dying if a dark winged moth make at the bed light and fall at it, but it be a good sign should a light winged one come thrice and go its way unharmed.  Even if it do fall at it, it doth say nothing worse than the ailing one will soon die but that the death shall be the freeing of a happy soul.