Probus is in East Cornwall, and its church is famed for its beautiful tower. Tradition has it that this church was built by Saint Probus, but for want of funds he could not add the tower, and in his need asked St. Grace to help him.
She consented, but when the church was consecrated Probus praised himself, but made no mention of her. Then a mysterious voice was heard, repeating the following distich: —
Not the first but the la-ast."
This town, consequently, has two patron saints.
I know of no other feasten ceremonies in this month; but here, as elsewhere, the children of the poor make up parties " to go a blackberrying." This fruit, by old people, was said not to be good after Michaelmas, kept by them loth October (old style); after that date they told you the devil spat on them, and birds fouled them. I knew an old lady whose birthday falling on that day she religiously kept it by eating for the last time that year blackberrytart with clotted cream.
This brings me round to the month from which I started. Many of the feasts are of course omitted, as no local customs are now connected with them. There must be one for nearly every Sunday in the year, and a mere record of their names would be most wearisome. I cannot do better, therefore, than finish this portion of my work with two quotations. The first, from " Parochalia," by Mr. T. Q. Couch, Journal Royal Institute of Cornwall, 1861, runs thus:—
" The patron saint of Lanivet feast is not known; it is marked by no particular customs, but is a time for general visiting and merrymaking, with an occasional wrestling-match. A local verse says:—
On the first Sunday after the first Tuesday in May, :Lanivrey men fare as well as they."
In some parishes the fatted oxen intended to be eaten at these feasts were, the day before they were killed, led through the streets, garlanded with flowers and preceded by music.
