Page:A book of nursery songs and rhymes (1895).pdf/169

 NOTES

I. THE TASK

This is known under various forms throughout England. In Northumberland it is called 'Whittingham Fair,' and begins:—

Are you going to Whittingham Fair, Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme? Remember me to one who loves thee, For once she was a true lover of mine.

'Northumbrian Minstrelsy,' p. 79; Broadwood and Maitland, 'Country Songs,' as 'Scarborough Fair,' a Yorkshire version; Halliwell's 'Nursery Rhymes,' pp. 109, 241. I give a Cornish version as the most complete of all. In Cornwall formerly it formed a portion of a sort of play, and was sung by a young man and a young woman. The story was that she was engaged to him, he died, and his ghost came to claim her. She escapes through setting the ghost tasks, after he has set her others, which are impossible of accomplishment.

II. A LYING TALE

This odd song was taken down from a Cornishman. Lying tales are favourite nursery entertainments for children, and there exists a great variety of them.

III. THREE JOVIAL WELSHMEN

In a collection of 'Forty Early Ballad Books' in the British Museum, No. 21 is 'The Woods' Chorister,' and this contains the 'Three Jovial Welshmen.' The last verse is:—

Old Reynard, being wet and weary, He scarce could go or stand, Came boldly to the Huntsmen, To be at their command. With a hoop! hoop! etc.

I have added verses seven and eight, to give some finish to the song—as singers add as suits their fancy and their powers of rhyme, ad lib. See also Halliwell's 'Nursery Rhymes,' p. 161.