Bishop Blaize at Bradford

St Blaise, said to have been torn with iron combs at his martyrdom, was the patron of woolcombers, and Bradford honoured him and the Golden Fleece every seventh year with a great procession on his day. At the festival of 3 February 1825 there were woolstaplers on horses covered with fleeces, spinners, merchants, apprentices in scarlet with plumed caps, 470 woolcombers in wigs of combed wool and dyers in red and blue, with a King and Queen, Jason, Medea, and Bishop Blaize himself in full robes with his chaplain. Before it set off, verses in praise of the bishop and the combing trade were recited. Chambers notes the festival was most often held when trade was good.