The tales believed by all the population,
And still a sham Godiya, every year,
Is carried by the Mayor and Corporation,

In grand procession-and the mob get beer.

The first mention of this legendary tale occurs in the Flores Historianum of Mathew of Westminster, a work written two hundred and fifty years after the fact it relates: the connecting it with the procession at Coventry, is of still later date, and does not appear to have been introduced until the reign of Charles the Second. Previous to that reign, the fair, which was first granted by Henry the Third, was proclaimed by the mayor, who proceeded to it in procession, attended by a number of guards From that time until the last few

in armour.

years, a procession, which has attracted much notice, has taken place on the Friday in Trinity week, when, says Permant, "a charming fair one still graces the procession, not literally like the good Countess, with her own dishevelled hair, &c. but in linen closely fitted to her limbs, and of a colour emulating their complexion."

Peeping Tom, a personage of nearly as much notoriety as the Countess Godiva, and an auxiliary to the drama, was probably introduced as a droll by the wits in the reign of Charles, as Dugdale

* Etonian Vol. 1. p. 206.

does not mention it A figure, commemorative of the peeper, has long been preserved in Coventry, and is now inserted in the niche of a new house communicating with the high street; it is a very ancient full length oaken statue of a man in armour, with an helmet on his head, greaves on his legs, and sandals on his feet: to favour the posture of his leaning out of the, window, the arms have been cut off at the elbows. From the attitude in which it was originally carved, there is reason to believe either that it was intended for Mars, or some other warlike chieftain. This grotesque figure is newly dressed on each recurrence of the festival, but with strict adherence to the previous garb; and the long peruke and neckcloth, seemed to show that the dress was first bestowed in the reign of Charles II.

In the late years the annual procession of Lady Godiva and Peeping Tom has been revived with a greater degree of pomp and magnificence than has been known for half a century; and we understand it to be the intention of the Corporation to keep up, in future, the splendor of its celebration. following was the order of the last procession

The

GRAND PROCESSION of the SHOW FAIR.
Chief of the Guards. Two Lieutenants-in-Chief.
City Guards, (two and two.)
SAINT GEORGE,

Armed Cap-a-Pee.

City Cryer and Beadle on each side.
City Bailiffs. Mayor's Cryer. City Maces.
SWORD AND MACE.
Mayor's Follower's.

THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL THE MAYOR.
ALDERMEN. Sheriffs' Followers. SHERIFFS.

With Streamers, Masters, and Followers,

Drums and Fifes, and Military Bands.

Thirteen Benefit Societies.

With Streamers, Followers, Drums and Fifes,
and Military Bands.

Woolcombers.

Streamer, Master and Followers.

SHEPHERD AND SHEPHERDESS,

With a Dog, Lamb, &c.

Drums and Fifes.

JASON,

With a Golden Fleece and Drawn Sword.
Five Wool Sorters.

BISHOP BLAZE and WOOLCOMBERS,
In their respective Uniforms, closed with
Drums and Fifes.

The principal inns at Coventry are, the Craven Arms Hotel, and the King's Head.-But we must bid this interesting town farewell, for—

"At length, oh, Coventry! thy neighbouring fields,
And fair surrounding villas, we attend:

ALLESLEY and WHITLEY's pastures; STIVICHALE,
That views with lasting joys thy green domains;
And BAGINTON's fair walls, and STONELY thine,
And CooMBE's majestic pile, both boasting once
Monastic pomp, still equal in renown.”*

1

Jago.

BIRMINGHAM.

Now Bremicham! to thee,.
Queen of the sounding Anvil.

Soon o'er thy furrow'd pavement, Brenicham,
Ride the loose bars obstrep'rous; to the sons
Of languid sense and frame too delicate,
Harsh noise perchance, but harmony to thine;
'Tis noise and hurry all! the thronged streets,
The close piled warehouse, and the busy shop.
With nimble stroke the tinkling hammers move,
While slow and weighty the vast sledge descends
In solemn base responsive, or apart
Or socially conjoined in tuneful peal.
The rough file grates, yet useful is its touch,
As sharp corrosives to the schirrous flesh,
Or to the stubborn temper, keen rebuke.

JAGO.

THIS important manufacturing town is distinguished in the commercial annals of Great Britain as well for a spirit of enterprize, united with habits of perseverance, as for the rare association of a genius to invent and a hand to execute. The first writers who notice Birmingham, mention the success with which the inhabitants cultivated the manufacture of articles of an iron fabric; and Mr. Hutton, the historian of this populous and most industrious