Historic%20Yorkshire

THE BISHOP BLAIZE FESTIVAL. 189
said to have been " a personageof verybecoming gravity."
At several places along the route the verses we have
given above were repeated by AldermanThompson, who
was then but a boy of five years, and who eventually
became M.P. for Bradford; and it is said that the spectators
were greatly pleased at the manner in which he
recited the lines. At one o'clock the processionpartook
of refreshment, which consisted of sandwiches and ale, in
a field near to Mr. Fawcett's factory. At three o'clock
the pageantry againmoved off, and did not disperse until
five o'clock in the afternoon. The rejoicings were continued
in the evening by a sumptuous dinner being
provided at the Court House, which was attended by the
spinners, manufacturers,and merchants. The apprentices
and masters' sons also dined togetherat the Sun Inn. At
the former dinner were present a number of very influential
gentlemen, and lengthy speeches were made
suitable to the occasion. Nor did the festivities end on
this day,for a " StuffBall" was given at theCourt House
on the followingevening, which was attended by a large
number ofladiesand gentlemenof the higher class.
Other attempts have been made to organise festivals
similar to the above, especially in 1833, Dut without
success. With the advance of time improvements were
made in woolcombing; and machinery eventuallyperformed
the work which had been done by hand, and the
employment of the handcombers was to a great extent at
an end.
According to Ribadencia, St. Blaize met with a strange
end. He says: — " St. Blaize was scourged, and seven
holy women anointed themselves with his blood; whereupon
their flesh was combed with iron combs, and their
wounds ran nothingbut milk; their flesh was whiter than
snow;angels came visibly and healed their wounds as
fast as they weremade; and they wereput into the fire,
which would not consume them, wherefore they were
ordered to be beheaded,and were beheaded accordingly.
Then St. Blaize was ordered to be drowned in the lake,