“Remember, remember,
Th’ fifth o’ November,
Th’ gunpowder plot,
Shall ne’er be forgot!
Pray gi’s a bit o’ coal,
Ter stick in th’ bun-fire hole!
A stick an’ a stake,
For King George’s sake—
A stowp an’ a reel,
Or else wey’ll steal.”
Long Ago, 1873, vol. i. p. 338.
Lincolnshire.
In this county the following quaint rhyme was sung on the anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot:
“Remember, remember
The fifth o’ November!
Guy and his companions’ plot:
We’re going to blow the Parliament up!
By God’s mercy we wase catcht,
With a dark lantern an’ lighted matcht!”
Long Ago, 1873, vol. i. p. 338.
Middlesex.
It is stated in the register at Harlington, under the date of 1683, that half an acre of land was given by some person, whose name has been forgotten, for the benefit of the bell-ringers of the parish, to provide them with a leg of pork for ringing on the 5th of November. It is called the Pork Acre. The ground is let by the parish officers at 50s. a year, which is paid by them to the bell-ringer.—Edwards, Old English Customs and Charities, 1842, p. 27.
Northamptonshire.
The following is the rhyme formerly sung in this county: