The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-01-16
THE Fitch OF BACON.
Good Old Custom of the Lords of Dur
NOW


Only short time ago-within a few
weeks-the people of Dunmow gave away
three fitches of bacon to three married
couples because they swore that their
married life was one of unalloyed bliss
Now, when you come to look at such a
proceeding from modern standpoint, it
seems decidedly foolish; but when you
realize that the fashion was instituted
some six hundred years ago, you think
there must be something IN it to have
w1thstood the test of time. A certain
English gentleman called Robert Fitz-
waiter existed in the early part of the
thirteenth century, and probably would
have been forgotten now had not King
John taken liking to him. This favor
lite OF tickle prince must have been a
devout man, for he braced up the priory
OF Dunmow, which was falling into de-
cay, by certain expenditures of money.
When the priory was again firmly re-es-
tabllshed, proclamation was made that
IF any pair could, after a twelvemonth
OF marriage, come forward and make
oath at Dunmow that during the whole
time they had never had quarrel, never
regretted their marriage, and if again
open TO the engagement would make ex-
actly that they had made" the reward
was TO be fitch or CANNON of bacon
1t may be that Mr.. FitZwalter had no
hand in this offer, for history inclines to
the belief that 1t emanated wholly from
the prlors. In their celibate state they
were wont to look doubtfully upon the
idea Of conjugal happiness, and possibly
they thought it a joke to offer such re-
ward, believing, with monkish cynicism,
that they would ''save their bacon.';
(Whether the origin of the last saying is
due to these priors is doubtful but it is
certain that the phrase has been used by
every writer in connection with Dun
NOV Prlory.) Matrimony in those DAYS
must not have been perfect, for there is
no record of anybody coming forward
until 1445. Indeed, Chaucer wrote be-
fore this,
The bacon was not fet for (Dhem, trow,
That some men have in Essex, at Dunmow.
Whatever this may mean, it points at
least to marital woe, and to Richard
Wright belongs the honor of furnishing
an example of welded bliss. Mr.. Wright
was laboringman who hailed from
Badbury, County of Norfolk, and he got
his fitch of bacon; this in l445 Twelve
years later, Stephen Samuel, of Ayston-
parva, in Essex, took an oath in the
presence of his neighbors, and he too cot
the fitch. How tittingly the instru-
ments of fate are chosen is shown by the
fact that by profession he was husband
man. When the iron hand of Henry
VIII. fell upon priories and such, that at
Dunmow was not exempt, but the GUS
tom was continued by the proprietors.
One Jacob Shakeshaft made demand for
the bacon, and was placed on trial before
jury of six maidens and six bachelors:
these he had TO satisfy that the fitch in
question was deserved. Success crowned
his efforts, and he was carried through
the town in chair with his wife; and be-
ing Of shrewd mind, it is related that he
sold slices Of the bacon to the admiring
NG-hi ah 81
thousand. David Osborne, the painter,
made a picture of some similar procession
Of a lucky pair. But there was disap-
poIntment and sorrow in store for John
Glider, who in 1772 came to the priory
gates and claimed the bacon, for the gates
were closed, and Mr. Glider had to 90
away unsatistied. The lord Of the
manor of DunmoW was aStonished, not to
say grieved, at the demand made upon
him by happy pair in 1851. His lord
ship positively declined to dispose of his
bacon in that way, but the neighbors
were interested to such an extent that the
claimants got the prize, after making
good their assertions. In fact, such was
the skepticism on the part of all except
the parties concerned that solemn oath
was at all times required of any pair who
came forward as models of happiness
and peace, and to make the oath i'm
pressive they were obliged to swear upon
two great stones lying near the church
door. In 1856 Harrison Ainsworth re-
vived the custom, and as the Lord of Dun
NOW and the clergy and neighboring
gentry declined to take any such thing
under their protection, the town hall was
used, and two couples received each a
fitch. This year the custom was again
observed, and three gentlemen with their
wives were rendered happy by the pre-
sentation of f1itches. They were tried by
the jury of six maidens and six bache-
lors, and counsel appeared for both sides,
Hymen winning. The ceremony was
public one, neither the chairing nor the
swearing being omitted, and numbers of
people were present. A doctor and
clergyman were two of the benefciaries.
-Harper's Weekly.