Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 12.djvu/336

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NOTES AND QUERIES. [io S..XIL OCT. 2, i%9.

University, amongst them " alle Catours (caterers), Manciples, Spencers (stewards), Cokes," and many others. All who had the privileges w r ere necessarily liable to the jurisdiction of the Chancellor in testa- mentary matters. E. A. FRY. 124, Chancery Lane.

" MATTHEW, MARK, LUKE, AND JOHN " (10 S. xii. 47, 95, 154, 218). The best infor- mation as to this old prayer is that given in the report from Edward Feild (afterwards Bishop of Newfoundland) to the Bishop of Worcester on the state of parochial education in his diocese, printed in the thirteenth annual report of the National Society, 1841, pp. 124-6 ; see also p. 164, Appendix No. 4.

See further 1 S. xi. 206 ; xii. 206, and to the First Series. G. A. M.
 * Nursery Rhymes ' in the General Index

HARVEST SUPPER SONGS (10 S. xii. 30, 71, 137, 237). In ' N. & Q.' of the 26th of April, 1873 (4 S. xi. 341), I mentioned that I had heard the song " Then drink, boys, drink ! " at a harvest supper at Sawston, near Cambridge, any one spilling the ale being liable to the penalty referred to in the song. The supper at which I was present was in September, 1851, and I sang two songs, one being

Harvest Home, Harvest Home,

Welcome fruits of labour.

The farmer's mother was very deaf, and he kept calling out, " Please sing it louder, Master John ; mother can't hear." I have often laughed since at the efforts I made to please the good-natured man.

This was in the Exhibition year, and my father would post letters to me from the building ; but unfortunately I have not preserved ths envelopes with the postmark. Perhaps other contributors have been more careful. JOHN C. FRANCIS.

Permit me to call the attention of the querist, MR. ARTHUR TROWER, to the existence of the Folk-Song Society, founded in 1898 for the purpose of recording anc publishing English traditional music. Its Journal, of which thirteen parts have already appeared, contains some six or seven hundred folk-songs transcribed from the lips of country singers, and furnished by the Editing Committee with valuable notes anc references to enable the student to trace their history and development so far as they are known. Lists of the chief works on the subject are given in part 6, p. 61 part 11, p. 144; and part 13, p. 319. The first four songs in part 3 were said by the

inger to have been sung especially at Sussex harvest suppers, and other harvest ongs from the same county will be found n Miss Broad wood's ' Sussex Songs ' Stanley Lucas, Weber & Co.) and Barrett's English Folk-Songs ' (Novello).

I Should like to suggest to your readers- .hat those who are interested in the preserva- tion of our old songs and ballads, but have not sufficient musical knowledge to record hem, might often aid the work of collecting y communicating to the Society the names and addresses of singers. The Hon. Secre- tary is Mrs. Walter Ford, 19, Berners Street r

. W. PERCY MERRICK.

Elvetham, Shepperton.

The verse as given at the last reference is the same as that I heard first nearly sixty years ago. After the harvest was " well mown " or " well shown " (that is, mowrt with the scythe or shorn with the sickle) ame the harvest supper for the men a tempting and well-spread board, with plenty of strong " yale." This was either in the kitchen of the house, or in one of the barns made ready for the purpose.

There was a fixed time for supper, and long before that guests were at the door, but none entered until the headman came to lead them to the feast. The seats filled, with the farmer at the head of the table, the headman at the foot, a grace was said or sung

We thank the Lord, &c. ;

and then the " aitin' " began, the servings of beef and plum pudding being inost generous, with beer a less strong home- brew, generally made for the occasion. The " aitin' " over, the " drinkin' " began. Each mug was filled by the servers, and when this was done, the headman arose, and with him the whole company. Then, raising his mug or glass, the headman gave the toast :

Here 's a health unto our master, &c. Each guest then drained or drank part of his mugful, and before sitting down joined in the chorus,

Then drink, boys, drink !

finishing with "Hip, hip, huzza!" three times, with " one more for the missus an T childeren." More drinking with songs and snatches of song followed, all the company joining in a lusty

Wey won't goo whom till mornin', Till dayleet doe? appear !

When the candles died out one by one they had to go, though neither ready nor willing.. THOS. RATCLIFFE.