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Fawkes Song A History

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Notation and Sound

   Introduction

The Guy Fawkes song is the only song consistently associated with the Gunpowder Plot. It is rarely performed now. In fact, only one archival recording is known. The song appears to predate its appearance in the music hall performances of the singer of comic songs: Thomas Hudson. It is found in early 19th century song books and is also associated with “Mr. Rayner.”  As part of seasonally printed “Guy Fawkes’ speeches” the song seems to have become more than simply popular but also a part of the seasonal celebrations themselves.  It is most often termed a “comic song.” This genre was performed at pleasure gardens and upon other public stages from which popularity in the print market place could grow quickly.

Perhaps the most important aspect of the song is its transformation as political satire. Its rapid transformation and publication by satirists is perhaps an indication of its origin being earlier than the earliest printed sources cited here. If this is the case it may have origins in the late 18th century. The dating of the song is important as it describes Guy Fawkes as an inept clown. This transformation of Fawkes is typically thought to originate in the early to mid 19th century. Prior to this transformation Fawkes was first regarded as the Devil and then as an anti-hero similar to Robin Hood.

In its manifestation as satire the song joins the rich tradition of political cartooning which has produced a large inventory of illustrations reflective of the changing cultural perception of Guy Fawkes and the plot. One interesting aspect of the song is that the term “prince of sinisters” has not been discovered in any other context.

 Image:

Thomas Hudson singing the Guy Fawkes Song from A London Garland, 1895.

The Song

Vickery/George IV Version

From: The Universal Songster, or, museum of mirth: forming the most ..., Volume 3, John Fairburn, 1826

GUY FAUX.
Air—“  Bow, wow, wow.”—(H. P.)

I sing a shocking tragedy,
Guy Faux, the prince of sinisters,
Who once blew up the House of Lords,
The king, and all the ministers;
That is, he would have blown them up,
And folks can ne'er forget him,
His will was good to do the job,
If they had only let him.
Bow, wow, wow, &c.

And so he stole from Lambeth, sir,
And wished the state was undone,
Then crossing over Vauxhall-Bridge,
That way came into London;
At least, he would have come that way,
To perpetrate his guilt, sir;

But one little thing prevented him. , .

You see, the bridge wa’rn’t built, sir.,

- , Bow, wow, wow, &c.

Then, creeping through those dreary vaults,
With portable gas-light, sir,
About to touch the powder-train,
I scarce can tell for fright, sir;
I mean to say he would have used
The gas, when thus presented;
But gas, they say, in James's time,
It had’n’t been invented.
- Bow, wow, wow, &c.

And when they caught him in the fact,
He uscd a little kickery,
And so they went to Bow-street, sir,
For that bold runner, Vickery;
In course they wounld have chosen him,
For fear, sir, he's no starter at,
But Vickery wa'rn’t living then,
He was’n’t born till arter that.
Bow, wow, wow, &c.

And next they put poor Guy to death,
For ages to remember, -
And now again he dies cach year,
One day in dark November;
I mean to say his effigies,
For truth is stern and steady,
And Guy can never die again,
Because he's dead a'ready.
Bow, wow, wow, &c.

Now bless our gracious George the Fourth,
And bless his royal son, sir,
May he and son be ne'er blown up,
That is, if e'er he's one, sir;
And if he does, he sure will reign,
Thus prophesics my song, sir,
And, if he don't—why, then, he wo'n't,
So you see I can't go wrong, sir.
Bow, wow, wow, &c.
* * * * * * * *

-Berkshire Chronicle Saturday 24 November 1827

From: A COLLECTION OF NATIONAL ENGLISH, AIRS,

W. Chappell

1838

The Guy Fawkes Song-

I'll sing a doleful tragedy of Guy Fawkes the Prince of Sinisters,

Who once blew up the House of Lords, the King and all his ministers--

That is, he would have blown them up, and folks will ne'er forget him.

He was so keen to do that deed--that is, if they'd have let him.

Chorus:.  Bow wow wow, fol di rol di iddy iddy, bow wow wow.

He straightway came from Lambeth side and wished the state was undone,

And crossing over Vauxhall Bridge, that way came into London--

That is, he would have gone that way to perpetrate his guilt, sirs,

But a little thing prevented him--the bridge it wasn't built, sirs.

While searching through those dusty vaults with portable gas-light, sirs,

About to touch the powder train at witching hour of night, sirs--

That is, I mean he would have used the gas but was prevented,

For gas, you see, in James' time, it had not been invented.

And when they caught him in the act, so very near the crown's end,

They straightway sent to Bow Street that brave old runner Townsend-

That is, they would have sent for him, for fear he was not starter at,

But Townsend wasn't living then, he wasn't born 'til after that.

So let's bless the Royal Majesty, and bless the Royal son, sirs,

And may he never get blown up if to the thrown he comes, sirs.

And if he does, I'm sure he'll reign--so prophesies my song, sirs;

But if he don't, why then he won't, and so I can't be wrong, sirs.

-Traditional as found in: Charles Chilton, Digital Tradition Database, http://www.mudcat.org/

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Historical References in the Song Versions

It is important to note that the lyrics are those of a “fill in the blank” song. That is, each reference can be updated or replaced by another. Even though these particular, traditional references produce one date range the song may possibly still have earlier origins.

The Bow Street Runners

They were founded as a police force in London by Henry Fielding in 1749. Both Vickery and Townsend served at the same time with the Bow Street Rnners.

Vickery

John Vickery, a highly experienced Bow Street principal officer, in his evidence to an 1816 Select Committee, suggested that national officers be created –“whether it would be considered at all a trespass upon the liberties of the subject, to make a certain number of officers constables for England, is a consideration I would submit.”

His ideas were echoed by a convicted recidivist some twenty-three years later; in the 1839 Select Committee Report, the statement of a twenty-one year-old habitual thief includes his view that:

        “It would be one of the best things as ever was established if there were forty or fifty clever constables to travel through England, and go to all fairs, races, etc, and if they knew the cant they might detect them when taken, as they use cant words to one another; and they would soon know the faces of thieves and drive them off; they should change their rounds.”

-http://arts.monash.edu.au/eras/edition_5/coxarticle.htm

Upon the death of Townsend, Vickery became favorite police officer of the King. Vickery died June 18, 1840 (The Gentleman's Magazine. F. Jefferies [etc.], 1840)

According to the records of the Old Bailey, John Vickery was listed as a Sadler in the record of the trial of John Hankis, September 11, 1799. Vickery was listed as victim. In the trial of George Martin for Theft on April 2 1800 he is listed as a police officer.

-http://www.oldbaileyonline.org/

John Townshend

1870

Charles Dickens on Townsend

Our informant has his doubts as to their exact rank; they may be pensioners, he thiaks, or they may be yeomen. He cannot say. We decide that they must be mutes; scarlet mutes accustomed to attend the funerals of deceased ceremonials; the more so as they carry truncheons of the kind borne occasionally by the preposterous funereal humbugs to whom we liken them. Of course, these staves are not so gloomy as those others, but are decorative, as beseems the wearers of scarlet and gold uniforms. Certain black-coated creatures of an inferior race (why does the civilian inevitably shrink before Mm who wears a red coat ?) are standing around the fire. Officials some of these—you may detect them by a certain haughty air—the remainder, mere spectators desirous of assisting in the solemnity, depressed by a general feeling of inferiority and wearing propitiatory smiles. These are all under the command of one who can only be described as a Gorgeous Personage. In full uniform is the Personage. A cocked hat with waving white plumes, suggestive of field-marshals and generals, adorns his head. A sense of deep responsibility casts a gloom upon his brow. Finally, helmeted, calm, prosaic, and modern, is the Inspector of Police. Of course, he has us all in custody, and is even severer in his aspect than the military; of whom he appears to have a low opinion, albeit the truncheons of the scarlet mutes appear to interest him, as having some affinity with the weapons used by " the force." His presence here is obviously necessary. Has he not superseded the Bow-street runner? And was it not a Bow-street runner who, as a matter of fact, captured the original Guy Fawkes? At all events, the old song tells us how, on the discovery of the Gunpowder Plot, "they sent to Bow-street for that brave old runner Townshend." It is afterwards stated, certainly:

That is they would have sent for him,
For fear he was no starter at;
But Townshend wasn't living then,
He wasn't born till arter that.

Still, we prefer to decline to believe in the non-existence of Townshend in 1605

-Dickens, Charles, All the Year Round.,New Series, Volume 3.1870, "Looking For Guy Fawkes," pp. 324-328.

"23. This information was supplied in 1828 by Townshend, the most famous and most experienced of the Bow Street Runners (Fitzgerald 1888, 1, 128-29) ."

-http://www.albany.edu/scj/jcjpc/vol4is3/simpson.html

Townshend died in 1832 (Chronicles of Bow Street Police-office: With an Account of the Magistrates, "runners," and Police; and a Selection of the Most Interesting Cases Percy Hetherington Fitzgerald, Chapman and Hall, 1888)

 p.110. He was favorite officer of the King until his death.

Townshend is mentioned in the records of the Old Bailey as early as 1786 when he is listed as a member of Bow Street in the case of John Spencer et. al. grand larceny, 26th April 1786.

-http://www.oldbaileyonline.org/

King George IV and his "royal heir"–

Geprge IV reigned from 1820 but served as Regent from 1789.

Because his wife was married before her children were disqualified and were not considered legitimate heirs. The next king was his brother William IV

Questions of illegitimate heirs have arisen relating to George IV's wife Caroline of Brunswick.

"In 1806, it was rumoured that a child living with her was her son, in which case he would have a right of succession, if his father were the Prince of Wales. A secret investigation was set up, the "Delicate Investigation," but did not prove the allegation, although it showed that her conduct was improper.- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caroline_of_Brunswick

This is most likely the source of this reference however, there is evidence of another illegitimate heir related to Maria Fitzherbert. An American geneology researcher named Bruce Shattuck alleges that a son was born to George IV and Maria Fitzherbert. According to Shattuck, this son, who went by the name James Henry Adolph Fitzherbert, was paid by William IV, in 1832, to go into exile in America." - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Fitzherbert

William IV succeeded George IV in 1830

This was later than the publication of the version found in the  Universal Songster currently the earliest known publication date.

Queen Victoria

"Victoria became Queen in 1837 with the death of her Uncle William IV and was crowned in 1838 at Westminster Abbey,Victoria and Albert had nine children, four boys and five girls".

-http://histclo.hispeed.com/royal/eng/royal-ukvI.htm

Vauxhall Bridge

Vauxhall Bridge was constructed from 1813 to1816.

"The previous bridge was the nine-span Regent's Bridge, designed by James Walker and opened in 1816 as a toll-bridge"

- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vauxhall_Bridge.

History of Use Of Gas as Fuel

“Professor Jan Pieter Minckeleers lit his lecture room at the University of Louvain in 1783 and Lord Dundonald lit his house at Culross, Scotland, in 1787, the gas being carried in sealed vessels from the local tar works. In France, Philippe le Bon patented a gas fire in 1799 and demonstrated street lighting in 1801. Other demonstrations followed in France and in the United States, but, it is generally recognized that the first commercial gas works was built by the London and Westminster Gas Light and Coke Company in Great Peter Street in 1812 laying wooden pipes to illuminate Westminster Bridge with gas lights on New Year's Eve in 1813. In 1816, Rembrandt Peale and four others established the Gas Light Company of Baltimore, the first manufactured gas company in America. In 1821, natural gas was being used commercially in Fredonia, New York. The first German gas works was built in Hannover in 1825 and by 1870 there were 340 gas works in Germany making town gas from coal, wood, peat and other materials.”

-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Town_gas

This evidence supports the existence of a popular knowledge of the innovation in England to be accomplished by 1812. Portable lighting using gas derived from coal and other materials originated in the 18th century.

"Dr. John Clayton, in an extract from a letter in the "Philosophical Transactions" for 1735, calls gas the "spirit" of coal; and discovered its flammability by an accident. This "spirit" happened to catch fire, by coming in contact with a candle, as it escaped from a fracture in one of his distillatory vessels. By preserving the gas in bladders, he entertained his friends, by exhibiting its flammability."

 -http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas_lighting

"Natural gas was actually known to the ancients, but it was considered by them to be a supernatural manifestation. Noticed only when ignited, it appeared as a mysterious fire bursting from fissures in the ground. Natural gas seeps were discovered in Iran between 6000 and 2000 B.C. The use of gas was mentioned in China about 900 B.C. Apparently, natural gas was unknown in Europe until its discovery in England in 1659. However, since manufactured gas (coal gas) was already commercially available, natural gas remained unpopular. In 1815, natural gas was discovered in the United States during the digging of a salt brine well in Charleston, West Virginia.

One of the earliest attempts to harness it for economic use occurred in 1824 in Fredonia, New York and led to the formation of the first natural gas company in the United States, the Fredonia Gas Light Company, in 1859. "

- http://hearth.com/econtent/index.php/articles/history_and_nature_of_fuel_gases

Based upon Gas and the construction of Vauxhall Bridge, a date range of 1812-1816 is possible for this particular version. This is consistent with notoriety of Vickery by 1816 and comes well after the Delicate Investigation of 1806. If popularity is assumed to come before publication then, this would also fit with the publication date of c. 1826-28. This date range is also in keeping with the iconography of Guy Fawkes as Anti-Hero which is strong in the later 18th century but in decline beginning in the first quarter of the 19th;, hence, the description in the song of the ineffective terrorist or “clown terrorist”  unable to accomplish his mission. If as a fill-in-the-blank song the references changed over time it is also possible that it would date from time of  the earliest reference of 1806, that is, if this reference was the lone survivor of an earlier edition. Bear in mind also that these are all printed editions which may have post-dated the song had it originated in the popular or oral tradition.

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Parodies

It is interesting to note that,  Parodies of the Works of English & American Authors

by Walter Hamilton, Compiled by Walter Hamilton published by Reeves & Turner, 1887, contains, starting on page 155 under the Title The Gunpower Plot  six parodies of the song starting with an 1840 version. The original version was much earlier, however the time between original composition and creation of parodies seems relatively short. I have included samplea of parodies below.

Earliest known parody-

Coventry Herald - Friday 31 May 1839

'THE BEDCHAMBER PLOT; OR, GUY FAWKES PARODIED.

Tune— Bow Wow Wow

" I sing a palace Peelodraine Peel, that prince of Sinisters,

 Had robb'd our Queen of all her Maids, well as all her Ministers;

That is, he would have done the Queen, and folks won't soon forget him.

His will was good to do the deed—that is—if she'd ha’ let him.

Tow-row-row.

From Privy Gardens forth far'd, and Story’s Gate preferr'd, Sir,

So did he through Bird Cage-walk to cage the Royal Bird, Sir,

 That is, would hare that way to perpetrate his malice,

Only he took the shorter cut through the Horse Guards to "the Palace.

Tow-row-row.

His comrogues next he called to meet at witching time of night, Sir,

Rosolv'd to clench the thing complete as soon as 'twas daylight, Sir,

That is he would have done the job, and solely was prevented,

 'Cause—when his plot to book was brought, he's! but his own consent to't.

Tow-row-row.

Then o'er his toast and tea, the post, his party's prospects baulking,

Brought verbun sap of sad mishap, there needed no more talking,

He answered soon that afternoon, but though their wrath they smother.

No longer he'd his party lead if they could find another.

Tow-row-row.

Now Peel, you know, was always thought to a very sly fox,

And yet  in this Bedchamber Plot far'd as bad as Guy Fawkes ;

 For that he meant to blow 'em I think there's little doubt, Sir,

That is, I mean, provided had not ha' been found out, Sir.

Tow-row-row.

Additional References

-Bodleian Library: Guy Fawkes, Johnson Ballads 2539 , Guy Fawkes and the Parliament, Harting b 112706 (1819-44),Guy Fawkes, Harting b11863 1819-44,Guy Fawkes, Harting b 363, Harting B 36 3,  Found in The Meltonians, Peake, R.B., Dec.1837, also: Third Edition Guy Fawkes a C Comic Song written and Composed A Wag.,London, Metzler and Co..(Undated with inscription date 1866) also found in:A Match for a King, April-May 1849, A.R. Smith. Louise Pound, "American Ballads and Songs" The song appears in a play from 1840  Guy Faux; Or, The Gunpowder Treason An Historical Melo-Drama,  In Three Acts, By George Macfarren,  in Act 1. (See the Pantomime volume for the text of this play)

 
-Source: The Book of Bonfire Night..., Volume II, "Faux Music", Conrad J. Bladey, 2013

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Authors

 Re: James Smith as author:

Monmouthshire Merlin

12th November 1875

GtlY FAWKES DAY. The London Telegraph remarks: "Considering that James I. himself was neither respected nor liked by his subjects—though he was by no means the fool it has been the custom to depict him-and that the nation found it expedient to behead his son and banish his grandson, it seems at first eight hardly evident why the mere anniversary of a plot which utterly failed should keep its position so tenaciously when events very much more important are never commemorated. The de- sign was a mere might-have-been, as James Smith describes it in his witty song, wherein he chants of Guy Fawkes, that prince of sinisters, Who once blew up the House of Lords, the King, and all the Ministers; That is, he would have blown them up, and folks won't soon forget him his will was good to do the deed, if only they ‘d have let him.' One might imagine, for example, that the accession of Queen Elizabeth, as initiating the final defeat of the Papal system in this country, would have been much more generally kapt as a yearly holiday by

10th S. IV. Nov. 18, 1905.] NOTES AND QUERIES. 409 --

THAT Is, HE would HAVE.”—During the Crimean War, after , a , false , rumour , of , the

capture of Sebastopol which had set England, , , , , agog with joy, , one of the , periodicals , pub the, ,

lished a very amusing skit based. upon the above theme, of which the first verse (in my memory) was :—

I sing about  a subject now of which each paper has
1tS full–

The glorious , deed , so , lately , done, , the , taking , of

Sebastopol:.

That is, , they would , have , taken , it, , as , such , was

their intention, yet,

They haven't, so , this , latest joke , I hope you , will, , ,

not mention yet.

Chorus: Bow, wow, wow ! &c.  

Chorus: Bow, wow, wow ! &c.  

This was evidently based upon something of , James , Smith's ; , for , Barham, in , a , note to the ‘Auto-da-Fé,’ , where , he , has , said , that, the Spanish Queen ordered “some masses of Handel's,” explains—

That is, she would have ordered them—but none are known, I fear, as his, For Handel never wrote a mass, and so she’d David Perez's— with the same chorus, and credits it as “Posthumous note by the ghost of James Smith, Esq." But in the entertaining collection of Smith's miscellanea published by his brother Horace after James's death, there is nothing ºf the kind. Also I have forgotten a few lines of the Sebastopol poem, which I once knew , entire, , and , cannot , identify , the , old anthology , in , which , I , saw , it. , I , should , be obliged for information where I can find the poem, as well as whether Smith's original survives. Forrest MORGAN. Hartford, Connecticut, U.S. [The idea is taken from the well-known poem beginning “I sing a doleful tragedy: Guy Fawkes, that prince of sinisters,” the whole of which we once heard sung by a famous West-Country duke.]

474 NOTES AND QUERIES. [10th S. IV. DEc. 9, 1905.

            HE would  HAve”      (10* S. iv.

409).-The        Globe of 18    November       contained

the following:—

“There is an interesting note in ‘N. &. Q.      on a

Humorous device employed  by         early  nineteenth

century  song writers. It consisted in making a

full-blooded assertion, and then contradicting it

with words , beginning, “That is, , he , would , have.”

There seems , to be , some doubt as , to , the , author

who first , employed , this , idea, , but , we , think the

editor , of , ‘N. & Q2 is , right in , stating that it is, ,

taken from the well-known poem beginning:

 “I  sing a doleful tragedy; Guy Faux, that prince of

sinisters.’ , He might have , added , that , these , lines

were by Hudson, the song writer, , who, , moreover,, , ,

used it in a number of other songs. , Hudson's com, , , ,

positions fill an octavo volume, but of the man  himself we have never been able to obtain much  information.”  H. W. U.

GUY FAWKES

I sing a doleful tragedy—Guy Fawkes, the Prince of Sinisters,
Who once blew up the House of Lords, the King, and all his Ministers;
That is—he would have blown them up, and folks will ne’er forget him—
His will was good to do the deed-that is, if they’d have let him!

Chorus- Bow, wow, wow
              Tol lol de riddle lol de rol lol de ray.

He straightway came from Lambeth side, and wish’d the State was undone,
And crossing over Vauxhall Bridge, that way com’d into London;
That is- he would have come that way to perpetrate his guilt, sirs,
But a little thing prevented him- the bridge it was not built, sirs.

Then searching through the dreary vaults, with portable gas-light, sirs,
About to touch the powder train, at witching hour of night, sirs,
That is—I mean, he would have used the gas, but was prevented,
‘Cause gas, you see, in James’s time, it had not been invented

And when they caught him int the fact, so very near the Crown’s end,
They straightway sent to Bow Street for that brave old runner Townshend;
That is—they would have sent for him—for fear he is no starter at—
But Townshend wasn’t living then-he wasn’t born till arter that.

So then they put poor Guy to death, for ages to remember,
And boys now kill him once a-year, in dreary, dark November;
That is—I mean his effigy, for truth is strong and steady—
Poor Guy they cannot kill again, because he’s dead already.

Then bless her Gracious Majesty, and bless her Royal Son, sirs—
And may he never get blown up, if to the Throne he comes, sirs;
And if he lives, I’m sure he’ll reign, so prophesies my song, sirs—
And if he don’t, why then he won’t, and so I can’t be wrong, sirs.-

 -Bodleian Library:  Guy Fawkes,Johnson Ballads 2539 , Guy Fawkes and the Parliament, Harting b 112706 (1819-44),Guy Fawkes, Harting b11863 1819-44,Guy Fawkes Harting b 363, Harting B 36 3,  Found in The Meltonians,Peake, R.B., Dec.1837, also: Third Edition Guy Fawkes a C Comic Song written and Composed A Wag.,London, Metzler and Co..(Undated with inscription date 1866) also found in:A Match for a King, April-May 1849, A.R. Smith.

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Barrett's Input

The  monthly review
OF
THE DRAMA, MUSIC, AND THE FINE ARTS
EDITED BY
C L E M E N T S C O T 'I' . .
NEW SERIES. -
Vol. IX. JANUARY to JUNE, 1887. The melody of
“Mihi est propositum,” for instance, would serve for a penitential
psalm; but the humour of its text doubtless caused many a mediaeval
scholar to shake his sides over the learned toper's euthanasian project.
Interesting specimens of comic songs that were popular in the early and
late Plantagenet days are “The Man in the Moon,” “The Tournament
of Tottenham,” and “London Lackpenny.” Characteristic of the tastes
of the people for whom all these lays were written is the fact that twelve
per cent. of the musical illustrations to Mr. Barrett's(W.A.) delightful lectures
have Ale for their theme. The first of these beery ballads is dated 1430,
the last 1780. The examples also include songs in dialect, cockney and
provincial, character-songs and patter-songs—Hudson's once famous
“Tripe on a Friday,” Horace Smith's “Guy Fawkes,” Beuler's “Tea in
the Arbour,” with which London streets were only too familiar half-a MAR. 1, 1887.] OUR MUSICAL-BOX. 157
century ago, Hood's immortal “Lieutenant Luff,” and one or two of
Henry S. Leigh's inimitable topsyturvy lyrics.

*WA Barrett Mr. W. A. Barrett, Her Majesty's Assistant Inspector of Music, in
the shape of two lectures upon the “Comic Songs of England,” delivered
by him last month at the London Institution. Mr. Barrett deals with
the subject of his discourses exhaustively, recording the phases through
which the association of popular melody with humorous verse has passed
from the close of the twelfth century down to the present day, and illus
trating each period of transition with specimen lyrics, many of which
throw considerable light on the domestic habits and political tendencies
of the English people at different periods of its history. With profound
erudition, rendered palatable and digestible to his readers by vivacity of
style and a happy vein of anecdote, he traverses seven centuries of
comic song, making us acquainted with all the laughing lyrists of our
native country from Walter de Mapes to the music-hall bards of the

present , day, , and , with , typical , ditties , of their , composition, , ranging

between , the , monkish , Bacchanalian, , “I , intend , to end , my days In , a

tavern drinking,” and the late...

Chappell

A COLLECTION
oF
NATIONAL ENGLISH, AIRS,
CoNSISTING oF
autism gang, ifiallav, 8c mam: muns,
INTERSPERSED WITH REMARKS AND ANECDOTE,
AND PRECEDED BY
AN ESSAY ON ENGLISH‘ MINSTRELSY.

W. Chappell

1838

NoS. XLVIII AND XLIX. Two difi'erent editions of the BARKING BARBER. The first from a
very old copy, the second from a modern edition, varying considerably from each other. It would
puzzle a modern musician to construct an air of so much apparent simplicity, combined with such
really good design. A great number of comic songs are sung to this tune, and on account of its
popularity we have selected the following.

GUY FAWKES.
I sing a doleful tragedy,—
Guy Fawkes, that prince of sinisters,
Who once blew up the house of Lords,
The King and all his ministers:
That is, he would have blown ’em up,
And folks won’t soon forget him :
His will was good to do the deed,
That is if they’d ha’ let him.
Tow row row !

Straightwa he came from Lambeth side,
And wis ’d the state was undone,
And crossing over Vauxhall bridge,
Came that way into London:
That is, he would have come that way,
To perpetrate his guilt, sir;
But, the river was too wide to jump,
And the bridge, it wasn't built, sir.
Tow row row !

Then, he sneak'd into the dreary vault,
At ’witching time 0’ night, sir,
Resolv’d to fire the owder train
With portable gas ight, sir I
That is, he would have us'd the gas,
But solely was prevented,
’Cause Gas, you know, in James’s time,
It wasn’t then invented.
Tow row row !

,Now, James, you know, was always thought,
To be a very sly fox,
So he bid ’em search th’ aforesaid vault,
And there they found poor Guy Fawkes,
For that he meant to blow them up,
I think there's little doubt, sir,
That is, I mean, provided he
Had not ha’ been found out, sir!
Tow row row !

So, having caught him in the fact,
So very near the crown's end,
Away they sent to Bow-street,
For that fam’d old runner Townsend :
That is, they would have sent for him,
For fear he was no starter at,
But Townsend wasn't living then,
He warn’t aborn till arter that.
Tow row row !

So, as he did not live that reign,
No folks knew ought about him,
And so they did the best they could,
That is, the did without him.
They quickly hung poor Guy aloft,
The gallows held him high, sir;
But, tho’ it sav’d the parliament,
’Twas gallows hard for Guy, sir.
Tow row row !

Now let us sing long live the king,
And bless his royal son, sir;
And may he never be blown up!
That is, if he have one, sir.
For, if he has, he’ll surely reign,
For so predicts my song, sir;
And if he don't, why then he won't,
And so I can't be wrong, sir.
Tow row row!

P56

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In Latin:

Cardiff and Merthyr Guardian, Glamorgan, Monmouth, and Brecon Gazette - Saturday 28 October 1837

(From a Correspondent.)

 The following classical translation of a highly admired ballad, obtained the prize at the last examination of the students of University College, London. We know not which most to admire, the purity of the style or the acute philosophy and high moral tone of the composition.

 GUY FAUX. Air- Miss Bailey

I sing a song of old Guy Faux, that very Prince of Sinisters,

Who once blew up the House of Lords, the King and all his Ministers

That is, he would have blown 'em up and folks -would ne'er forget him

His will was good to do the deed ;-that is, if folks would let him.

Chorus.—Bow, wow, wow, &c.

Guy Fauxi laudes celebro, cano senem nefarium, Qui Regerm et Ministros et totum domum Pariumi, Certe cremavit olim et omnes ad orcum misit- At perpetrare crimen populs Guy non permisit. ClAorui.-Ululatu concinamos, &c.

This rogue he came to Lambeth side while yet the deed was undone,

And crossing over Vauxhall Bridge, that way got into London

That is he would have gone that way to perpetrate his guilt,

Sir, But a little thing prevented him-the bridge it was not. built,

Sir. hic scurra venit Lambeth, crimen nondum perpetravit, Pontem Vauxhalli transciens, in urbcn sic intravit Haud dubie tunc facinus balatro xneditabat. At parva res praevertit Guy, pons nusquam adhuc stabat.

Then underneath the Parliament in dreary vaults and damp, Sir,

He went to fire the powder train with a portable gas

(lamp, Sir; That is, I mean, he would have used the gas, but was prevented,

Because you know in James's time the gas it wurn't invented.

Tune nigro conditorio et subter Capitolium   Manu lucernam condidit, fascicuios et oleum Vicos tunc enim oleo cives illuminabant, Nec tempore Jacobi" gas lampades fiagrabant.

So then they hung poor Guy, d'ye ser, for ages to remember,

And now boys burns him once a year in dreary dark November

That is, I mean, his effigy, for truth is strong and steady,
 Poor Guy, you know, they cannot burn-cause vv ? he's dead already.

 Per collum tunc suspensus, amputatione membri, A pueris nunc uritur quinto die Novembri "Nil autem nisi effigies, quum Guy benitrna sorte, Ah hostibus ereptus, placida quiescit morte.

 God bless his Royal Majesty, likewise his Rova! son, Sir,

And may he never be blowed Up-that is, if he gets one, Sir;

 And if he does, why then he'll reign, so prophecies my song, Sir,

And if he don't, why then he won't, so still I can't be wrong,

Sir. Nunc vivant Rex et Princeps, et populo sint grati Nec pulvere nitrato sint a Fauxibus cremati Princeps regnabit, Principem si querm Rex generavevit; Si non, regnabit nunquam, nec poeta sic erraverit.

Guy Fawkes Charlton Kings

From: Gwilym Davies:

Alternative title: The Prince of Sinisters

Performer: Goode, Archer

Place Collected: Charlton Kings

Date collected: 1974

Collector: Davies, Gwilym

Roud Number: 4974

This humorous take on Guy Fawkes dates from about 1800 and was printed in various songbooks. It is very likely that Mr Goode learnt his version from a printed source, as no other traditional version has been noted.

Notes by Gwilym Davies 23 June 2015

Guy Fawkes

 As collected

1.    I’ll sing a dole ful trag ed y; Guy Fawkes the prince of sinis ters,

Who once blew up the ’ouse of Lords,the King and all his min is ters.

That is, he would have blown them up, and folks will ne’er for get him.

He had the will to do the deed, that is, if they had let him.

Chorus:

Guy, Guy, Guy. Fol de rol de rid dy id dy. Guy, Guy Guy.

2.

He straightway came from Lambeth side, and wished the State was undone

And, crossing over Vauxhall bridge, that way came into London.

That is, he would have came (sic) that way, to perpetrate his guilt, sir.

One little thing prevented him: that bridge, it was not built, sir.

3.

Then searching through those dreary vaults, with portable gas-light, sir.

About to light that powder train at the witching hour of night, sir

That is, I mean, he would have used that gas, but was prevented.

For gas, you see, in James’s time, it had not been invented.

4.

And when they caught him in the act, so very near the Crown’s end,

They straightway sent to Bow Street for that brave old Runner, Townsend

That is, they would have sent for him, for fear he was no starter-hand

But Townsend wasn’t living then; he was not born till after that.

5.

So then they put poor Guy to death, for ages to remember.

Now boys they burn him once a year, in dreary dark November.

That is, I mean his effigy, for truth be strong and steady.

Poor Guy they cannot kill again, for he is dead already.

Source:

Sung by Archer Goode, Cheltenham; Collected by Gwilym Davies, 1974

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Notation and Sound

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