“And when I walk abroad let no dog bark!”
** “June 25, 1748.--At May Fair Ducking Pond, on Monday next, the 27th inst., Mr. Hooton's Dog Nero (ten years old, with hardly a tooth in his head to hold a duck, but well known for his goodness to all that have seen him hunt) hunts six ducks for a guinea, against the bitch called the Flying Spaniel, from the Ducking Pond on the other side of the water, who has beat all she has hunted against, excepting Mr. Hooton's Good-Blood. To begin at two o'clock.
“Mr. Hooton begs his customers won't take it amiss to pay Twopence admittance at the gate, and take a ticket, which will be allowed as Cash in their reckoning. No person admitted without a tickct, that such as are not liked may be kept out.
“A new Ducking Pond to be opened on Monday next at Lirneiouse Cause, being the 11th August, where four dogs are to play for Four Pounds, and a lamb to be roasted whole, to be given away to all gentlemen sportsmen. To begin at Ten o'clock in the forenoon.”--Postman, 7th August 1707.
“Erith Diversion, 24th May 1790.--This is to acquaint the publick, that on Whit-Monday, and during the holidays, the undermentioned diversions will take place. First, a new Hat to be run for by men; a fine Ham to be played for at Trap- ball; a pair of new Pumps to be jumped for in a sack; a large Plumb-pudding to be sung for; a Guinea to be cudgelled for,--with smoking, grinning through a collar, with many other diversions too tedious to mention.
But what are the hopes of man! A press-gang (this is the freedom of the press with a vengeance! this the boasted monarchy of the middle classes!) interrupted and put an end to these water-side sports.
Kent has long been renowned for strong muscles and strong stomachs!
“Bromley in Kent, July 14, 1726.--A strange eating worthy is to perform a Tryal of Skill on St. James's Day, which is the day of our Fair for a wager of Five Guineas,--viz.: he is to eat four pounds of bacon, a bushel of French beans, with two pounds of butter, a quartern loaf, and to drink a gallon of strong beer.”
The old proverb of “buttering bacon” here receives farinaceous illustration!
“In a fore one-pair room, on the west side of Sun-court,” a Frenchman exhibited, during the time of May Fair, the “astonishing strength of the 'Strong Woman,' * his wife.”