The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-10-12

VI SOftutIy
pegs and the posture of the body was
evidently that of attack, but Tom now
does nothing but peep and probably
dream of the fair vision which ended
so disasterously for him
At st. Mary's hall was shown the
mounting stone which Lady Godiva
used in gaining the back of her steed for
the canter in decollette and a hand
some statue of herself upon the horse.
Like the Passion Play" the pro-
cession of Lady Godva does not take
place annually, the pageant being held
every three or seven years, and it is
presented during the famous Coventry
show-fair. 1t is most gorgeous offair
and worthy of a passing note. 1t is
cient armor and the weapons of war
fare that We're used many centuries
ago. Next comes a representation of
st. George, for this hero was born in
Coventry. and he Is clad in complete
armor also. He is followed by streamers
bearing the city arms, which are an
elephant supporting upon its back u
triple-towered castle with crest dis
playing what was once called cat-a-
mountain (catamounD.
The chief attraction of the pageant
is the Lady Godiva impersonated by
a woman on horseback habited in a
white cambric dress closely fitted to
her body. Her profusion of long flow
ing locks is decorated with a filler
or bandeau of flowers and surmoaned
by a plume of white feathers. Upon
either side of her ride the city crier
and beadle, one half of whose garments
are green and the other half red, being
divided down the center. The horse
of the lady is covered with rich hous-
ings and trappings.
The mayor of the city and magis-
trates follow wearing scarlet robes
and attended by a concourse Of child
rem not over five years of age, and all
mounted. Each horse is attended by
two men-one to lead it and the other
to protect the child. The attendants
are Invariably in their shirt sleeves
with pink ribands around the arm and
rosettes of the same color upon their
breasts and front of thdir hats.
The procession closes with the vari-
Gus crafts and labor organizations Of
the community. the most interesting of
which are the Woolcombers. This fra
ternity always presents the tradition
al shepherd and shepherdess, the former
riding upon a horse and bearing a dog
before him. the latter seated in u bower
of branches and bowers upon the back
of a horse with live lamb in her lap
The Woolcombers also present Jason
bearing the golden fleece in triumph
and Bishop Blaze, the patron saint of
the organization.
The citizens look upon this procession
almost with reverence, but evidently
Queen Elizabeth did not so regard it. for
she is accredited with the adage. "Ye men
Of Coventry, good lack what fools ye be-
The Godiva pageant is held during the
celebrated Coventry show-fair which
commences upon the Friday in Trinity
week and continues for eight days. It's
charter was granted in 1918 by Henry
III. and for many centuries it was the
chief mart in the kingdom.
Here were also presented the famous
Morris dances, the origin and purpose
of which have puzzled scholar and savant
alike Some claim that the naTne is a
dei.vative of Morisco. the Spanish for
Moor, and that the dance is purely a
variant of the fandango
Originally the dances were presented
by company of strolling players con-
ssting of five men and a boy .iressed in
girls clothes whom they called Maid Mar
ian, said to be so named from morone,
an italian head-piece which he wore, but
later the performers were local oharac-
ters from all classes of society. The pas
time was so popular that Henry VIII and
his mobiles participated therein, and Robin
Hood and his men. and at one time the
dance was executed by eight aged men,
the Oldest of whom was 100 and the young
est 70, their combined ages representing
500 years.
The performers were gaily attred, wore
bells suspended from their garters and
played upon various musical Instruments.
According to ancient usage their num-
ber was usually. six with Maid Marian
and fool. but later Tom the Piper and
the hobby horse we're introduced The
six dancers took the parts Of Robin
Hood Friar Tuck. Will Scarlet Little
John, Allen-a-Dale and Georse-a-Green.
We are all familiar with Robin Hcod
and his compatriots, but Maid Marian
Is a mystery. As there was in the eley-
onth century a pretty French pastoral
drama entitled lie Jeu de Berg-' ct de
la Bereere.' in which the principal char
acters are a shepherd and shepherdess,
Robin and Marian, many suppose the