So we once a year,
Go round without fear,
To keep in remembrance the day:
With assistance from you,
To bring to your view,
Guy Fawkes again blazing away:
While with crackers and fire,
In fullest desire,
In his chair he thus merrily burns,
So jolly we’ll be,
And shout—may you see,
Of this day many happy returns.
So please to remember, &c.
Then hollo boys! hollo boys! shout and huzza,
Hollo boys! hollo boys! keep up the day,
Hollo boys! hollo boys! let the bells ring,
Down with the pope, and God save the king.
Huzza! Huzza! Huzza!
There was a publication in 1825, of similar character to the preceding. “Guy” was the subject of the cut, and the topic of the verses was a prayer for—
————“a halfpenny to buy a faggot,
And another to buy a match,
And another to buy some touch paper,
That the powder soon may catch.”
It contained the general averment—
“We know no reason,
Why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot.”
Though it is not requisite to relate more particulars of the “gunpowder treason” than have been already mentioned,[413] yet a friendly finger points to a passage in an old writer, concerning one of the conspirators, which is at least amusing:—“Some days before the fatal stroke should be given, Master Keys, being at Tichmersh, in Northamptonshire, at the house of Mr. Gilbert Pickering, his brother-in-law, (but of a different religion, as a true protestant,) suddenly whipped out his sword, and in merriment made many offers therewith at the heads, necks, and sides of many gentlemen and gentlewomen then in his company. This, then, was taken as a mere frolic, and for the present passed accordingly; but afterwards, when the treason was discovered, such as remembered his gestures, thought thereby he did act what he intended to do, (if the plot had took effect,) hack and hew, kill and slay, all eminent persons of a different religion to themselves.”[414]