About 1647, Mr. Rowland Barlett's house at Castlemorton was plundered during his absence at Ledbury Fair, and among the money, plate and jewels they carried away was a 'cock-eagle stone', a variety of ergillaceous oxide of iron, then much valued by physicians on account of its supposed medicinal virtues. One of the uses of this stone was to suspend it on pregnant women, .. in order that the virtue from the stone should impart some of the qualities of the 'king of birds' to the unconscious babe. Stones with holes in them were regarded as lucky, and would ward off evil influences. Farmers used to buy any that were found, and sometimes they can still be seen hanging under the eaves. They are known as 'hag stones'.
The Bartlett family were noted for keeping up old traditions and customs. A later was one of the last country gentlemen to retain a fool (a professional jester) in his house. 'As big a fool as Jack Havod' was a current saying in Noake's day.
