CHAPTER IX The Fifth of November-Berks songs-Beckley OUR historical customs, or customs which Probably few of those who take part in these functions recall to mind that November 5th was instituted by the House of Commons as "a holiday for ever in thankfulness to God for our deliverance and detestation of the Papists;" but this ignorance does not prevent them from keeping up the custom and enjoying the excitement of the bonfire and fireworks. The usual rhyme which the youths repeat when they carry round the guy and collect fuel for their bonfires or largess for themselves is as follows: "Please to remember the Fifth of November, I see no reason why gunpowder treason A common variation of the last two lines is "When the king and his train had nearly been slain, Therefore it shall not be forgot." The Berkshire boys used to add the words : "Our king's a valiant soldier With his blunderbuss on his shoulder; Pray give us something for his sake here. A stick and a stake, for our good king's sake. If you won't give one, I'll take two; The better for me, the worse for you. Chorus Holloa, boys, holloa, boys, make the bells ring; Holloa, boys, holloa, boys, God save the Queen." King" is evidently the correct rhyme for "ring," but on the accession of her Majesty Queen Victoria the correctness of the poetry was sacrificed to the appropriateness of the address to the reigning sovereign. Some of the rhymes tell us of the nefarious deeds of wicked Guy Fawkes, and the following, we believe, is still extant : up "Guy Fawkes and his companions did contrive Please put hands in pockets and give us our While you can drink one glass, we can drink two, Prick his heart and burn his body, From Beckley, Oxon, we have the following rhyme, which is still said by the youths when collecting wood for their fire : "Don't you know 'tis the Fifth of November, Gunpowder Plot? We've come to beg A stick or a stake, For King George's sake. We'll take two; Your door shall go." At Headington, in the same county, the boys sing the following verses : "Remember, remember, To make it alight. Beetles and wedges, We'll take two; The better for us, And the worse for you." A slight menace is very common in these Gunpowder Plot ditties. At several places at the present time it is customary to celebrate Guy Fawkes Day with much elaborate ceremonial, torchlight processions, composed of people in very fancy dress costume. The display of fireworks in many towns is very grand and elaborate. At Hampstead very elaborate preparations are made; several bonfire clubs combine in making the display effective, and the procession is usually very picturesque and imposing. One car at the last celebration, representing the British Isles and the Colonies, with attendant beefeaters and pages, was sent by Sir Augustus Harris. On the South Coast these observances are usual in several towns. At Rye the "Borough Bonfire Boys" organise a procession, light bonfires, and burn effigies. At Folkstone the procession consists of carts and waggons, gaily decorated, and containing tableaux vivants, contributed by the Friendly Society. The Ancient Order of Druids send a party representing the Ancient Britons. A blacksmith's forge, a butcher's car, fire brigades, and other shows, make up the procession, and torches and Chinese lanterns, and bands of music, add brightness to the festival. At Marylebone and Bermondsey the bonfire clubs are much in evidence. Political guys are not unknown, and at the last occasion the Sultan of Turkey thrashing a poor Armenian was one of the representations. In the old Middlesex suburban town of Enfield a huge fancy-dress procession is formed on the evening of Guy Fawkes Day; thousands of people throng the streets, and fires of all colours blaze along the line of route. Groups allegorical of local traditions associated with the old Enfield chase, Colonel Somerset's staghounds, the Herts Yeomanry, fire brigades, and schools, form interesting features in the long procession. Money is collected for the Cottage Hospital, and a monster bonfire is lighted on the green and the traditional guy burned. The almost universal observance of the |