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Collectmtea.
Lawrence, has a tradition that it was once a place of some importance and had seven Churches. There is no external evidence in support of the tradition. The parish has for many centuries been closely connected with the see of Worcester, the Bishop being lord of the manor, and formerly having a country house there. {For the " Mayor's " procession and duckings in the mill-pond, cf. Folk-Lore (1912), vol. xxii. p. 449.) (Tradition current in Alvechurch thirty years ago.)
The longest day, June 24, St. Barnabas, Old Style —
Barnaby bright.
The longest day and the shortest night.
(Told me by M. H., old village woman, born 1817.) Cf. "Barnaby the bright," Spenser, Epithala?niiim.
Rhy7ne. — Crows were supposed to say to each other — " Dead horse ! Dead horse " ! " Wheer ? Wheer " ? " Theer ! Theer " ! " Is he fat? Is he fat"? " Bag o' bones ! Bag o' bones."
(M. H., born 1S17.)
Rattling of IVindow as Omen. — ^The carrier's wife was sitting up one night with her old mother, whose illness was not considered serious. " I always thought she was going to get better until the window rattled, and then of course I knew as she was going to die." The old woman died shortly afterwards.
(From the speaker herself, cir. 1895.)
Pigeon as Omen. — A pigeon alighting on the window-sill was regarded as an omen of some disaster.
(From farmer's daughter, cir. 1895.)
Laying a Ghost. — Old Parson Tonyn, rector in the early part of the last century, was sent for to lay a ghost. He was said to have bound it down to walk no more for as many years as there were ears of corn in the nearest field or drops of rain in the next shower.
(Told me by old members of my family, who belonged to Parson Tonyn's congregation.)
