[670]. Danmarks Gamle Folkeviser, III. x f.; Nordboernes Aandsliv, II. 408.
[671]. Refrains of rowing are found in many Danish ballads, mostly irrelevant, as these refrains so often are, but unmistakable. See Steenstrup, Vore Folkeviser, p. 77, for several examples.
[672]. In Wright-Halliwell, Reliquiae Antiquae, I. 240: it belongs to the fourteenth century. Some rimes for St. Clement’s day are printed by G. F. Northall, English Folk-Rhymes, 1892, mostly begging verses (pp. 222 ff.): although there is a ceremony at Woolwich connected with blacksmiths, song, however, yielding to formal speech.
[673]. 23 November. See Hampson, Medii Aevi Kalendarium, I. 61; and Brand-Ellis, Antiquities, same date. The Germanic year has been recently studied by Dr. A. Tille, Yule and Christmas, London, 1899; he corrects in some particulars the current ideas set forth by Weinhold, according to which the seasons were regulated by natural signs,—solstice and the like. Dr. Tille contends that this was rather done by economic conditions. Before the German had a settled agricultural life, Michaelmas superseded Martinmas, the oldest Germanic festival. Actual harvest festivals are comparatively late. While Dr. Tille’s idea of borrowing and of Christian influence goes entirely too far, his emphasis on economic conditions must be noted and approved.
[674]. Great Expectations, Chap. XII.
[675]. Or rather Mr. J. Cocke; see note to Works, ed. Rimbault, p. 288, and p. 89. See also the tinker as “master of music” and chief singer of catches, in Chappell, pp. 187. 353.
[676]. Among the Romans, too; see Tibullus, Eleg. II. 1:—
Atque aliqua assiduae textis operata Minervae
Cantat, et applauso tela sonat latere.
[677]. See letter in Evening Post, quoted above, p. [168]; Böckel, work quoted; and the preface written by “Carmen Sylva” for the Countess Martinengo’s Bard of the Dimbovitzka, London, 1892.