The Flitch to be presented tonight has been kindly donated by Ragley Estate Meats Hillers Farm Shop Dunnington Heath Nr Alcester The event has been generously sponsored by HCB Solicitors 35 High Street Alcester Alcester Court Leet Flitch Trial 2013 OTHER FORTHCOMING COURT LEET AND TOWN EVENTS 30th March Court Leet Coffee Morning Town Hall 30th March Town Criers Competition Malt Mill Lane 24th April Court Leet Ale Tasting 1 High Street 4th May Court Leet Assizes High Street 18th May Food Festival High Street 21st May Court Leet Ale Tasting 2 High Street 26th May Alcester Pram Race High Street 2nd June Garden Walkabout Church Street 9th June Georgian Street Market High Street 21st-23rd June Folk Festival Alcester Pubs 6th July Duck Race Stratford Road For Further Information about Alcester Court Leet visit www.alcestercourtleet.co.uk Printed on Recycled Paper The origin of the flitch trial is not known for certain, but there seem to two predominant theories. The first is that the trial emerged out of an ancient customary pagan practice seeking to reward strong monogamous relationships, and thus strengthen early social cohesion. As with a numbers of early customs, it became adopted and adapted by the early Christian church. Indeed it seems that early trials, in the 10th to 14th Centuries were conducted by monks within the priories. It only became adopted and conducted by the civil Courts Leet and Courts Baron after the dissolution of the monasteries the 16th Century. The second, and more romantic, theory arises from an old folk tale of a young and rich Lord of a Manor who went with his young wife to a priory on the anniversary of their wedding disguised as a poor travelling couple, and sought the Abbott’s blessing. The Abbott was so impressed by the couple's devotion that he gave them a flitch of bacon. Every year after that the Lord of the Manor provided a similar flitch for any other couple who could swear a year and a day after their wedding that they had not offended each other in deed or word; or ever wished themselves unmarried-again. The earliest written record of a flitch trial is in 1105, and references lo such trials arise in literature from the 14th Century in the poem of "Piers Ploughman" based in the Welsh Borders, and in Chaucer's “Canterbury Tales”, where the Wife of Bath alludes to such practice as customary and widespread. The only regularly held flitch trial at the present time is at Great Dunmow in Essex which has been held at approximately 4 year intervals since about 1850. ALCESTER COURT LEET FLITCH TRIAL Saturday 23rd February 2013 Participants Judge Clerk of he Court Counsel for the Claimants Counsel for the Flitch Court Crier Jury Bailiff Constable The Jury Mr Justice John Saunders Chris Wright John Madge Charles Underwood Dave Parkes Terry Pegrum Martin Burden 12 men and women of good character! And of course :The Claimants -three honest, upright and brave local couples!