Proclamation of Langholme Fair

Monkbarns wishes the meaning of the choice expressions in the proclamation. They may be explained as follows:—*Hustrin*, hustling, or riotously inclined, being so consonanted to make it alliterate with *custrin*, spelt by Jamieson, *custroun*, and signifying a pitiful fellow. Chaucer has the word *truston* in this sense. *Land-louper*, one who runs over the country, a vagabond. *Dukes-couper* I take to be a petty dealer in ducks or poultry, and to be used in a reproachful sense, as we find "pedlar," "jockey," &c. *Gang-y-gate swinger*, a fighting man, who goes swaggering in the road (or *gate*…