istant gamekeeper, and then I very
often followed the parson; so you zee I'ze a true churchman, every inch
of me; only I don't like poaching, and when his reverence wants me to
help him sack his tithes, old Jack Coppinger will tell him to his head,
he may e'en carry the bag himself." "A toast from the chair! Let's
hear the lawyer' zentiments on this zubject," said another; with which
request Gradus complied, by giving, "May he who ~288~~ploughs and plants
the soil reap all its fruits!" "Ay, Measter Gradus, that is as it should
be," reiterated a farmer on his right, "zo I'll give you, 'The varmers
against the parsons,' and there's old Tom Sykes yonder, the thatcher, he
will give you a zong about the 'tithe pig and the tenth child,' a main
good stave, I do azzure you." A request which the old thatcher most
readily complied with, to the great delight of all present; for
independent of his dialect, which was of the true rich west-country
character, there was considerable wit and humour in the song, and
an archness of manner in the performer, that greatly increased the
good-humour of the society. In this way the evening was spent very
pleasantly; and as the cause was to come on the first thing on the
ensuing morning, Transit and myself determined to await the issue,
anticipating that, if our merry-hearted companions, the rustics, should
be successful, there would be no lack of merriment, and some exhibition
of good sport both for the pen and pencil.

We had strayed after breakfast to view the cathedral, which is very well
worthy the attention of the curious, and certainly contains some very
ancient relics of the great and the good of earliest times. On our
return, the deafening shouts of the multitude, who were congregated
outside the Sessions House, proclaimed a favourable verdict for the
farmers, who, in the excess of their joy at having beaten their
reverend adversary, gave loose to the most unrestrained expressions
of exultation: a messenger was immediately despatched to Berkeley to
convey, express, the glad tidings; and the head farmers of the parish,
with whom were the church-wardens, determined to commemorate their
victory by roasting a bullock whole on the brow of the hill which
overlooked their vicar's residence, and for the preparation of which
festivity they also sent their instructions. The next grand point was,
how to ~289~~convey the witnesses, who were very numerous, to the scene
of action, a distance of eight