The St George’s Day bells at Chester

In 1609 or 1610 the sheriff of Chester, Robert Amory, had three silver bells made to be run for by horses on the Roodee every St George’s Day, the winner keeping the best bell for a year. Hone says this gave rise to the saying about bearing the bell. The show for 1610 was to include wild men dressed in ivy with clubs and fireworks, Mercury coming down from a cloud, and St George himself in full armour.