{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/prwe/prwe345.htm","path":"neu/eng/prwe/prwe345.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/prwe/prwe345.htm","text":"PADSTOW HOBBY HORSE.\nMR. GEORGE RAWLINGS writes, September 1, 1865:-- Formerly all the respectable people kept the anniversary decorated with the choicest flowers, but some unlucky day a number of rough characters from a distance joined it, and committed some sad assaults on old and young--spoiling all their nice summer clothes, and covering their faces and persons with smut. From that time--fifty years since--the procession is formed of the lowest.\n\u2026 The Maypole was once decorated with the best flowers-- now, with only some elm branches and furze in blossom. The horse is formed as follows :-- The dress is made of sailcloth painted black--a fierce mask-- eyes red--horse's head--horse-hair matte and tail distended by a hoop. Some would call it very frightful. Carried by a powerful man--they could inflict much mischief with the snappers, &c. No doubt it is a remnant of the ancient days, and it represents the Devil, or the power of Darkness. They commence singing at sunrise.\nTHE MORNING SONG\nUnite and unite and let us all unite,\nFor summer it is come unto day;\nAnd whither we are going we all will unite\nIn\n the merry morning of May.\n \u00a0\nArise up, Mr. --, and joy you betide,\nFor summer is come unto day;\nAnd bright is your bride that lays by your side\nArise up, Mrs. --, and gold be your ring,\nAnd give to us a cup of ale, the merrier we shall sing\nArise up, Miss --, all in your smock of silk,\nAnd all your body under as white as any milk,\nThe young men of Padstow might, if they would,\nThey might have built a ship and gilded her with gold\nNow fare you well, and we bid you good cheer,\nWe will come no mote unto your house before another year,\nTHE DAY SONG\nAwake, St. George, our English knight,\nFor summer is a' come O, and winter is ago;\nAnd every day God give us His grace\nBy\n day and by night O!\n \u00a0\nWhere is St. George, where is he O?\nHe is out in his long boat all on the salt sea O!\nAnd in every land O! the land where'er we go,\nAnd for to fetch the summer home.\nThe summer and the May O,\nFor summer is a conic,\nAnd winter is a go.\n \u00a0\nWhere are the French dogs that make such boast O?\nThey shall eat the grey goose feather,\nAnd we will cattle roast O !\nAnd in every land O ! the land where'er we go,\nThe summer and the May O\n \u00a0\nThou mightst have shown thy knavish face!\nThou mightst have tarried at home O !\nBut thou shalt be an old cuckold,\nAnd thou shalt wear the horns O;\nThe summer and the May O.\nADDITIONAL CHORUS\n \u00a0\nWith hal-an-tow [a] and jolly rumble O,\nFor summer is a come O, and winter is a go,\nAnd in every land O, the land where'er we go,\nUp flies the kite, and down falls the lark O !\nAunt Ursula Birdhood she had an old ewe,\nAnd she died in her own park O !\n[a] Cornish jollification","title":"Popular Romances of the West of England: Appendix: Padstow Hobby Horse","type":"page"}