Singular Ceremony In Making Alnwick Freemen.

SINGULAR CEREMONY IN MAKING ALNWICK FREEMEN .

AMONGST the many curious customs that have been enacted in " Merrie England" in the olden time , perhaps the ancient ceremony of making freemen at Alnwick is as singular as any of them . Annually on St . Mirk ' s Eve , met in the Town Hall the officials of the Corporation , with the candidates for the freedom , and the freemen , with a sprinkling of the public . The young men then established their right as freemen to the governing power , locally known as the "Four-ancl-Twenty . " They paid their feesswore loyalt 10 the

, y Queen , fealty to the lord of the manor , and obedience to the Common Coancil , and were then enrolled . The young freemen afterwards treated each other at the different public-houses , and . looked forward with joy , hope , and fear to the coming morrow . We are told : " On the morning of St . Mark ' s Daj the houses of the new freemen are distinguished by a holly tree planted kefore each door , as a signal for their friends to assemble . About eight o ' clock the candidates for the franchise , beinsj- mounted on horseback ancl armed with

swords , assemble in the Market Place , where they are joined by the chamberlains ancl the bailiff of the lord of the manor ( the Duke of Northumberland ) , attended by two men armed with halberds . The young- freemen being arranged in order , with music playing , march to the west end of the town , where hey deliver their swords . Then they proceed , under the guidance of the moor grieves , till they reach the ceremonial well , where their friends await their arrival . The young freemen being arrived at the wellimmediatelprepire

, y for immersion , and , after divesting themselves of their proper garments , they are soon equipped in a white dress and cap ornamented with ribands . The sons of the oldest freemen have the honour of taking the first leap , ancl being arranged accordingly , when the signal is given , plunging into the ceremonial well , they scramble through the pool , ancl after being well drenched , they are assisted out of the puddle at the further end in a rueful condition . They then

resume their former dresses , remount their horses , ancl proceed to perambulate the remainder of their large common , of which they have become free by this achievement . " The late Mr . Tate , historian of Alnwick , states : " The famous Freeman ' s Well is four miles south-west of Alnwick , ancl is situated on the declivity of a high hill called the ' Freeman Hill . ' It is fed by a powerful spring , and is properly dammed up some time before the 25 th of April

byrustics employed by the- Corporation authorities . When filled with water it is about one hundred feet long , from six to fifteen feet broad , ancl from three to five feet deep . To impede the progress of the freemen in plunging through the well , turf dykes are built across , and straw ropes fixed from side to side ; ancl that these traps to catch the unwary may not be visible , the rustics take care to stir the mud from the bottomso that the water is rendered a

disagree-, able puddle . " In the Lonsdale Magazine for 1832 a contributor says : " They re-enter the town sword in hand , and are met by women dressed in ribbons , with bells and garlands , dancing and singing . These are called Timber Waits . The houses of the new freemen are on that clay distinguished by a great holly-bush , as a signal for their friends to assemble ancl make merry with them after their return . "

Respecting the origin of this serio-ludicrous practice , it is traced b y tradition to King John . It is related that during his residence at Alnwick Castle curiosity suggested to the monarch the idea of arraying himself as a palmer for the purpose of visiting the peasantry iu disguise , ancl like another Haroun Alraschid , thus ascertaining the opinions of the people with regard to their king . The tale goes : " Upon St . Mark ' s Day , thus disguised , he sallied forth ,