The mock mayor of Costessy

On Whit Tuesday the poor of Costessy, near Norwich, elected a mock mayor in imitation of the Norwich city guild. He wore a brass jack-chain for his chain of office and was attended by a sword-bearer with a wooden sword of state, mace-bearers and a copy of the Norwich snapdragon. After speeches at the steward’s house the mock corporation dined on roast beef, plum pudding and the strong ale called nogg in a barn decked with boughs and flowers. A correspondent signing P. B. noted that no member of this corporation could read or write.