Some Fen Tales

    I have a little book that contains some amusing storys from the Fens which I thought might be amusing to share with you .

Fen Land  Tales                                                                                                                           One must eat, and in order to eat one must have sufficient money.In 1539 the cobblers of Wisbech,twenty-two in all,finding times hard, met to air their views at a place called Mill Hill,just beyond the town,It was agreed  that they ask 1s.3d.for every dozen shoes sewn or they would refuse to work .One, a servant of Robert Smyth swore upon the bible that he would not stitch a dozen shoes for under that amount. The cobblers were apprehended by constables, but the magistrate thought fit to let the matter drop, and shoes continued to to be stitched at the old rate

Moans of a 'Flying eight 'lass

"What you doing down there missis?"asked the dutiful constable.

"If yer wants to know,Ive a-sozzled meself,and so would you if you had been a-picking  taters aginst the old fen blow which gits up yer nose in yer ears and in yer knickers.Arter all that yer gits on yer bike with t'others and pushes all the way hume,and what do yer know that old husbanda mine is playing domies with is useless mates and is so teetered wiv drink he cant even put the brussels on.Well two can play at that game"

(The flying Eight were teams of eight women riding cycles,travelling miles in all weather to work in the fields,picking pototoes and hoeing beet )

    

The pictures didnt come out very well ,Sorry!

With lots of love Jan xx