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and where the custom still lingers。 The idea of the mistress and her maidens spinning at the great wheels while the master was abroad ploughing his fields； or seeing after his flocks on the purple moors； is very poetical to look back upon； but when such life actually touches on our own days； and we can hear particulars from the lips of those now living； there come out details of coarsenessof the uncouthness of the rustic mingled with the sharpness of the tradesmanof irregularity and fierce lawlessnessthat rather mar the vision of pastoral innocence and simplicity。 Still； as it is the exceptional and exaggerated characteristics of any period that leave the most vivid memory behind them； it would be wrong； and in my opinion faithless； to conclude that such and such forms of society and modes of living were not best for the period when they prevailed； although the abuses they may have led into； and the gradual progress of the world； have made it well that such ways and manners should pass away for ever； and as preposterous to attempt to return to them； as it would be for a man to return to the clothes of his childhood。
The patent granted to Alderman Cockayne； and the further restrictions imposed by James I。 on the export of undyed woollen cloths （met by a prohibition on the part of the States of Holland of the import of English…dyed cloths）； injured the trade of the West Riding manufacturers considerably。 Their independence of character； their dislike of authority； and their strong powers of thought； predisposed them to rebellion against the religious dictation of such men as Laud； and the arbitrary rule of the Stuarts； and the injury done by James and Charles to the trade by which they gained their bread； made the great majority of them Commonwealth men。 I shall have occasion afterwards to give one or two instances of the warm feelings and extensive knowledge on subjects of both home and foreign politics existing at the present day in the villages lying west and east of the mountainous ridge that separates Yorkshire and Lancashire； the inhabitants of which are of the same race and possess the same quality of character。
The descendants of many who served under Cromwell at Dunbar； live on the same lands as their ancestors occupied then； and perhaps there is no part of England where the traditional and fond recollections of the Commonwealth have lingered so long as in that inhabited by the woollen manufacturing population of the West Riding； who had the restrictions taken off their trade by the Protector's admirable commercial policy。 I have it on good authority that； not thirty years ago； the phrase； 〃in Oliver's days；〃 was in common use to denote a time of unusual prosperity。 The class of Christian names prevalent in a district is one indication of the direction in which its tide of hero…worship sets。 Grave enthusiasts in politics or religion perceive not the ludicrous side of those which they give to their children； and some are to be found； still in their infancy； not a dozen miles from Haworth； that will have to go through life as Lamartine； Kossuth； and Dembinsky。 And so there is a testimony to what I have said； of the traditional feeling of the district； in the fact that the Old Testament names in general use among the Puritans are yet the prevalent appellations in most Yorkshire families of middle or humble rank； whatever their religious persuasion may be。 There are numerous records； too； that show the kindly way in which the ejected ministers were received by the gentry； as well as by the poorer part of the inhabitants； during the persecuting days of Charles II。 These little facts all testify to the old hereditary spirit of independence； ready ever to resist authority which was conceived to be unjustly exercised； that distinguishes the people of the West Riding to the present day。
The parish of Halifax touches that of Bradford； in which the chapelry of Haworth is included； and the nature of the ground in the two parishes is much the of the same wild and hilly description。 The abundance of coal； and the number of mountain streams in the district； make it highly favourable to manufactures； and accordingly； as I stated； the inhabitants have for centuries been engaged in making cloth； as well as in agricultural pursuits。 But the intercourse of trade failed； for a long time； to bring amenity and civilization into these outlying hamlets； or widely scattered dwellings。 Mr。 Hunter； in his 〃Life of Oliver Heywood；〃 quotes a sentence out of a memorial of one James Rither； living in the reign of Elizabeth； which is partially true to this day：…
〃They have no superior to court； no civilities to practise： a sour and sturdy humour is the consequence； so that a stranger is shocked by a tone of defiance in every voice； and an air of fierceness in every countenance。〃
Even now； a stranger can hardly ask a question without receiving some crusty reply； if； indeed； he receive any at all。 Sometimes the sour rudeness amounts to positive insult。 Yet； if the 〃foreigner〃 takes all this churlishness good…humouredly； or as a matter of course； and makes good any claim upon their latent kindliness and hospitality； they are faithful and generous； and thoroughly to be relied upon。 As a slight illustration of the roughness that pervades all classes in these out…of…the…way villages； I may relate a little adventure which happened to my husband and myself； three years ago； at Addingham …
From Penigent to Pendle Hill； From Linton to Long…ADDINGHAM And all that Craven coasts did tell； &c。 …
one of the places that sent forth its fighting men to the famous old battle of Flodden Field； and a village not many miles from Haworth。
We were driving along the street； when one of those ne'er…do…weel lads who seem to have a kind of magnetic power for misfortunes； having jumped into the stream that runs through the place； just where all the broken glass and bottles are thrown； staggered naked and nearly covered with blood into a cottage before us。 Besides receiving another bad cut in the arm； he had completely laid open the artery； and was in a fair way of bleeding to deathwhich； one of his relations comforted him by saying； would be likely to 〃save a deal o' trouble。〃
When my husband had checked the effusion of blood with a strap that one of the bystanders unbuckled from his leg； he asked if a surgeon had been sent for。
〃Yoi；〃 was the answer； 〃but we dunna think he'll come。〃
〃Why not？〃
〃He's owd； yo seen； and asthmatic； and it's up…hill。〃
My husband taking a boy for his guide； drove as fast as he could to the surgeon's house； which was about three…quarters of a mile off； and met the aunt of the wounded lad leaving it。
〃Is he coming？〃 inquired my husband。
〃Well； he didna' say he wouldna' come。〃
〃But； tell him the lad may bleed to death。〃
〃I did。〃
〃And what did he say？〃
〃Why； only； 'D…n him； what do I care？'〃
It ended； however； in his sending one of his sons； who； though not brought up to 〃the surgering trade；〃 was able to do what was necessary in the way of bandages and plasters。 The excuse made for the surgeon was； that 〃he was near eighty； and getting a bit doited； and had had a matter o' twenty childer。〃
Among the most unmoved of the lookers…on was the brother of the boy so badly hurt； and while he was lying in a pool of blood on the flag floor； and crying out how much his arm was 〃warching；〃 his stoical relation stood coolly smoking his bit of black pipe； and uttered not a single word of either sympathy or sorrow。
Forest customs； existing in the fringes of dark wood； which clothed the declivity of the hills on either side； tended to brutalize the population until the middle of the seventeenth century。 Execution by beheading was performed in a summary way upon either men or women who were guilty of but very slight crimes； and a dogged； yet in some cases fine； indifference to human life was thus generated。 The roads were so notoriously bad； even up to the last thirty years； that there was little communication between one village and another； if the produce of industry could be conveyed at stated times to the cloth market of the district； it was all that could be done； and； in lonely houses on the distant hill…side； or by the small magnates of secluded hamlets； crimes might be committed almost unknown； certainly without any great uprising of popular indignation calculated to bring down the strong arm of the law。 It must be remembered that in those days there was no rural constabulary； and the few magistrates left to themselves； and generally related to one another； were most of them inclined to tolerate eccentricity； and to wink at faults too much like their own。
Men hardly past middle life talk of the days of their youth； spent in this part of the country； when； during the winter months； they rode up to the saddle…girths in mud； when absolute business was the only reason for stirring beyond the precincts of home； and when that business was conducted under a pressure of difficulties which they themselves； borne along to Bradford market in a swift first…class carriage； can hardly believe to have been possible。 For instance； one woollen manufacturer says that； not five and twenty years ago； he