66 New-year's-gift, in a blue coat, serving-man like, with an orange, and a sprig of rosemary gilt on his head, his hat full of broaches, with a collar of ginger-bread; his torch-bearer carrying a march-pain, with a bottle of wine on either arm. Mumming, in a masquing pied suit, with a visor; his torch-bearer carrying the box, and ringing it. "Wassall, like a neat sempster and songster; her page bearing a brown bowl, drest with ribbands, and rosemary, before her. 66 Offering, in a short gown, with a porter's staff in his hand; a wyth borne before him, and a bason, by his torchbearer. Baby Cocke, drest like a boy, in a fine long coat, biggin, bib, muckender, and a little dagger; his usher bearing a great cake, with a bean and a pease." Note III. Who lists, may in their mumming spy It seems certain, that the Mummers of England, who (in Northumberland at least) used to go about in disguise to the neighbouring houses, bearing the then useless ploughshare, and the Guisards of Scotland, not yet in total disuse, present, in some indistinct degree, a shadow of the old mysteries, which were the origin of the English drama. In Scotland, (me ipso teste,) we were wont, during my boyhood, to take the characters of the apostles, at least of Peter, Paul, and Judas Iscariot, which last carried the bag, in which the dole of our neighbours' plumb-cake was depo sited. One played a Champion, and recited some traditional rhymes; another was .......... Alexander, king of Macedon, Who conquered all the world but Scotland alone; These, and many such verses, were repeated, but by rote, and unconnectedly. There was also occasionally, I believe, a Saint George. In all, there was a confused resemblance of the ancient mysteries, in which the characters of scripture, the Nine Worthies, and other popular personages, were usually exhibited. It were much to be wished, that the Chester Mysteries were published from the MS. in the Museum, with the annotations which a diligent investigator of popular antiquities might still supply. The late acute and valuable antiquary, Mr Ritson, showed me several memoranda towards such a task, which are probably now dispersed or lost. See, however, his Remarks on Shakespeare, 1783, p. 38. Note IV. Where my great-grandsire came of old, With amber beard and flaxen hair.—P. 304. Mr Scott of Harden, my kind and affectionate friend, and distant relation, has the original of a poetical invitation, addressed from his grandfather to my relative, from which a few lines in the text are imitated. They are dated, as the epistle in the text, from Mertoun-house, the seat of the Harden family. "With amber beard, and flaxen hair, Come hither, Christmas-day, and dine; And easy mirth with thoughts divine. On it no sin to feast or play; Our ancestors made of a goose; Pray come, and welcome, or plague rott Mr Walter Scott, Lessudden. The venerable old gentleman, to whom the lines are addressed, was the younger brother of William Scott of Reaburn. Being the cadet of a cadet of the Harden family, he had very little to lose; yet he contrived to lose the small property he had, by engaging in the civil wars and intrigues of the house of Stuart. His veneration for the exiled family was so great, that he swore he would not shave his beard till they were restored: a mark of attachment, which, I suppose, had been common during Cromwell's usurpation; for, in Cowley's " Cutter of Coleman Street," one drunken cavalier upbraids another, that, when he was not 4 able to afford to pay a barber, he affected to "wear a beard for the king." I sincerely hope this was not absolutely the original reason of my ancestor's beard; which, as appears from a portrait in the possession of Sir Henry Hay Macdougal, Bart. and another painted for the famous Dr Pitcairn, was a beard of a most dignified and venerable appearance. * V. The spirit's blasted tree.-P. 307. I am permitted to illustrate this passage, by inserting “Ceubren yr Ellyll, or the Spirit's Blasted Tree," a legendary tale, by Mr George Warrington: "The event, on which this tale is founded, is preserved by tradition in the family of the Vaughans of Hengwyrt; nor is it entirely lost, even among the common people, who still point out this oak to the passenger. The enmity between the two Welsh chieftains, Howel Sele, and Owen Glyndowr, was extreme, and marked by vile treachery in the one, and ferocious cruelty in the other † The story is somewhat changed and softened, as more favourable to the characters of the two chiefs, and as better answering the purpose of poetry, by admitting the passion of pity, and a greater degree of sentiment in the description. Some trace of Howel * The old gentleman was an intimate of this celebrated genius. By the favour of the late Earl of Kelly, descended on the maternal side from Dr Pitcairn, my father became possessed of the portrait in question. The history of their feud may be found in Pennant's Tour in Wales. Sele's mansion was to be seen, some few years ago, and may perhaps be still visible, in the park of Nannau, now belonging to Sir Robert Vaughan, Baronet, in the wild and romantic tracts of Merionethshire. The abbey mentioned passes under two names, Vaner and Cymmer. The former is retained, as more generally used. THE SPIRIT'S BLASTED TREE. Through Nannau's Chace as Howel passed, Starting, he bent an eager ear, How should the sounds return again? Then sudden anger flashed his eye, And deep revenge he vowed to take, Unhappy chief! would nought avail, Thy warning from the hoary seer? Three ravens gave the note of death, As through mid air they winged their way; They croak,-they scent their destined prey. |