England in the Days of Old

In Short

This collection of historical essays functions as a cabinet of curiosities for the social historian. By examining everything from the evolution of the clergyman’s wig to the grisly traditions of the headsman’s axe, the narrative illuminates the mundane and the macabre aspects of English life. It eschews dry academic posturing in favor of a conversational, anecdotal approach to the past. Because it treats history as a tapestry of human behavior rather than a timeline of kings, it remains a charming, informative window into the rhythms of a bygone era.

The Story

The journey begins with an exploration of personal appearance, specifically the rise and fall of the professional wig. Once an essential marker of status for clergymen and physicians—a "necessary prop" for the weight of authority—these elaborate hairpieces eventually succumbed to changing fashions, taxes, and the practical demands of a modernizing society. The narrative then shifts to the civic theater of municipal life. In towns like Nottingham and Wycombe, the transition of power was a choreographed performance, involving the ceremonial "burying of the mace" and public processions that codified the authority of the mayor through rigid, often bizarre, local customs.

The focus then turns toward the darker corners of public justice. The practice of spiking the heads of executed rebels on city gates—a grim spectacle intended to terrorize the populace—is examined through the fates of figures like David, Prince of Wales, and Sir William Wallace. These accounts reveal a period when legal authority was maintained through brutal, public displays of violence. Yet, the narrative also captures the human reaction to such cruelty, noting how the return of a fallen leader’s remains could transform a site of execution into a place of solemn, orchestrated mourning.

From the state’s harsh hand, the story moves to the peculiarities of life and death among common people. It details the ghoulish struggles over mortal remains, where the living clashed with creditors over the right to bury their dead, sometimes leading to burials in unconventional containers like bacon chests. This tension between the sacred and the profane continues into the realm of popular entertainment. The narrative describes the widespread obsession with bear-baiting, a brutal pastime that drew massive crowds and even received royal patronage. It illustrates how these sports were deeply woven into the social fabric, sometimes competing directly with church services for the attention of the public.

Finally, the survey settles into the cyclical nature of the year. It tracks the harvest home celebrations, where the last sheaf of grain was treated with ritualistic reverence, and examines the midsummer fires—remnants of ancient pagan traditions intended to ward off witchcraft. These customs are presented as a collective effort to find meaning, luck, and community in a world governed by the seasons. The narrative concludes with a look at the life of the antiquarian John Stow, whose own obsession with the "slight circumstances" of London life mirrors the book's broader goal: to rescue the transient details of the past from the erosion of time, ensuring that the habits and spirits of the ancestors remain visible to the modern reader.

How It Unfolds

The rise of the professional wig The text traces how wigs evolved from religious controversy to a mandatory badge for the clergy and medical profession. It highlights the social pressure to conform, noting that even a bishop’s appearance was subject to royal scrutiny.

Civic ritual and municipal power The narrative moves to the pomp and ceremony surrounding the election of mayors in various English towns. These accounts reveal how public performance, from tolling bells to floral processions, reinforced the gravity of local governance.

The spectacle of the scaffold The focus shifts to the grim, historical practice of displaying the heads of executed rebels on city gates. By examining the fates of figures like William Wallace, the account illustrates the brutal intersection of political power and public terror.

The struggle over the body The narrative recounts the desperate, often dark measures taken to bury the deceased in the shadow of insurmountable debt. These stories bring to life the intense social and financial pressures faced by ordinary families.

Popular amusements and the seasons The account describes the prevalence of bear-baiting and the deep-rooted superstitions surrounding Midsummer Eve. These sections emphasize how leisure and ritual were essential outlets for the people in an era defined by hard labor.

The chronicler’s eye The book closes by reflecting on the work of the historian John Stow. His commitment to recording the price of milk and the character of his neighbors serves as the ultimate justification for the volume’s focus on the minor details of history.

The People

John Stow stands as the moral compass of the work. A former tailor who surrendered his trade for the sake of chronicling London, he represents the dedicated, often under-appreciated observer of social history. He lacks wealth but possesses an insatiable curiosity for the "slight circumstances" of his age.

Queen Elizabeth I is depicted as a central figure of cultural authority who bridged the gap between statecraft and popular spectacle. She appears not just as a monarch, but as a patron of the brutal sport of bear-baiting, demonstrating how the highest levels of power were deeply invested in the common pastimes of the day.

The unfortunate rebel Sir William Wallace represents the human cost of the era's severe legal codes. His betrayal and subsequent execution serve as a stark reminder of the political volatility of the time.

Finally, the anonymous "old squire" John Revett serves as a poignant example of the precarious nature of life among the landed gentry. His story—a frantic, secret midnight removal of a body to prevent seizure by creditors—highlights the desperate measures that defined the transition of legacy and status in the face of poverty.

In Its Own Voice

The book captures the peculiar importance of hair in the medical profession during the 18th century:

"Seemed but a necessary prop To bear the weight of wig at top."

The historical account of a Swedish king’s sharp wit provides the origin for a familiar idiom:

"The kyng of Swedland--so runs the ancient record--coming to a towne of his enemyes with very little company, his enemyes, to slyghte his forces, did hang out a goose for him to shoote; but perceiving before nyghte that these fewe soldiers had invaded and sette their chief houlds on fire, they demanded of him what his intent was, to whom he replyed, 'To cook your goose'."

What It's Really About

At its core, this volume explores the tension between the formal structures of history—law, monarchy, and religion—and the informal, often messy reality of lived experience. It argues that the true "byways" of English history are found in the things people leave behind: their fashions, their superstitions, their sports, and their rituals. The book asks us to reconsider what is "valuable" in the historical record, suggesting that the price of milk or the way a mayor held a mace is as significant as the outcome of a battle. It is an argument for the enduring power of the ordinary, suggesting that by observing the small habits of our ancestors, we gain a more honest, tactile understanding of the human condition.

Why Read It Today

Readers who find satisfaction in the "micro-history" style will find much to admire here. It is a book that rewards the curious mind, those who prefer the texture of life to the bare bones of dates and treaties. There is a distinct, rhythmic warmth to the writing, which feels like a long, engaging conversation with a knowledgeable enthusiast. The prose is clear and unpretentious, making complex or archaic customs accessible.

However, a modern reader must be prepared for the Victorian sensibility of the author. The text occasionally reflects the period's lack of irony regarding the cruelty of past practices; the treatment of bear-baiting or the brutal execution of rebels is reported with a detached, scholarly interest that may strike contemporary sensibilities as somewhat callous. Furthermore, while the writing is precise, the episodic nature of the work means it lacks a driving narrative arc, functioning better as a companion for browsing than a single, linear read. It is best enjoyed in quiet sessions, allowing the reader to inhabit a world where snuff-taking, harvest festivals, and municipal pageantry were the pulse of daily existence. What stays with you is the realization that the people of the past, despite their different fashions and superstitions, were driven by the same anxieties, joys, and desires as those living today.