Now boys with squibs and crackers play  

 
  Here is our most recent attempt at notation for the rhyme might not be perfect but close....refinements anyone? cbladey@verizon.net

 
 
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And bonfires blaze turns night to day 
-Poor Robins Almanack 1677

Berkshire

Remember, remember the Vifth of November

Gunpowder, treason and plot,

Pray tell me the reason why Gunpowder treason,

Should iver be vorgot.

Our Quane's a valiant Zawlger.

Car's her blunderbus on her right shawldewr,

Cocks her pistol, drays her rapier,

Praay gie us zummit vor her zaayke yer,

A stick, an'a styaake vor Quane Vickey's zaakye,

If e wunt gie on I'll taayke tow.

The better vor we an' the wrus vor you.

-1890's,Northall, English Folk Rhymes.,246.

The Berkshire boys, as they carried their Guy and collected wood for their bonfires, used to add the words—
"Our king's a valiant soldier,
With his blunderbuss on his shoulder,
Cocks his pistol, draws his rapier;
Pray give us something for his sake here.
A stick and a stake, for our good king's sake:
If ye won't give one, I'll take two,
The better for me, and the worse for you.
[pg 109]
CHORUS—
"Hollow, boys, hollow, boys, make the bells ring,
Hollow, boys, hollow, boys, God save the King."
Some of the rhymes tell us about the nefarious deeds of wicked Guy Fawkes, who
"... with his companions did contrive
To blow the House of Parliament up alive,
With three score barrels of powder down below,
To prove Old England's wicked overthrow;
But by God's mercy all of them got catched,
With their dark lantern, and their lighted match.
Ladies and gentlemen sitting by the fire,
Please put hands in pockets and give us our desire:
While you can drink one glass, we can drink two,
The better for we, and none the worse for you."
This rhyme was concluded with the following strange jingle—
"Rumour, rumour, pump a derry,
Prick his heart and burn his body,
And send his soul to Purgatory." 
 

- Ditchfield, P.H., M.A., Old English Sports, Pastimes and Customs., Methuen, 1891.
 

Northamptonshire:

Worcestershire:

Oxfordshire:
 

Sussex:

Remember Remember the Fifth of November 
                         The Gunpowder Treason and Plot 
                       I'll tell you a reason why Jesuit Treason 
                             Should never be forgot 
                   If there hadn't been given protection from Heaven 
                        To the Parliament Houses and Throne 
                 When the Pope to the flames had devoted King James 
                       They had all to destruction been blown 
                       Then ever let England her gratitude show 
                     To the Power that averted that terrible blow, 
                     In thanksgiving to God our voices we'll raise 
                      To Him be the glory, to Him be the praise. 
                   And thus was remembered trhe fifth of November 
                           The Jesuit Treason and Plot 
                    For should Popery reign we may have  it again, 
                      So let Protestants say, IT SHALL NOT!! 
                       Shout boys shout! let the ring bells ring-- 
                            Down with the Jesuits and 
                               GOD SAVE THE KING 
                             -Source Cited John Geering (Programme Book Waterloo  B.s. 1998) 

Nottinghamshire:

Yorkshire:

Gunpowder Plot shall never be forgot
As long as Bells Brown sells Tom Trot.
-1892 (a type of toffee)
Guy Fawkes, Guy 
Stick him up on high, 
Hang him on a lamp post 
And there let him die. 
Guy,Guy,Guy, 
Poke Him in the eye, 
Put him on the fire 
And there let him die 
-Opie op.cit. p 281.
The herrings come to see the bonfires on Guy Fawkes Day 
-Sussex,1883
Derbyshire
Remember, remember, 
Th' fifth o' November, 
Th' gunpowder plot. 
Shall ne'er be forgot! 
Pray gi 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
Kent
Guy Fawkes, Guy 
Stick him up on high, 
Hang him on a lamp post 
And there let him die. 
Guy,Guy,Guy, 
Poke Him in the eye, 
Put him on the fire 
And there let him die 
Burn his body from his head 
Then you'll say 
Guy Fawkes is dead 
Hip, Hip, Hooray! 
-Folkestone, Opie op.cit. p 281.
Lancashire
The Greenfield, Saddleworth (Nr Oldham) version runs as follows:

"We've come a cob coaling for bonfire night
Your coal or your money we hope you'll provide.
If you give us nowt we'll steal nowt, farewell and goodbye,
We won't come again till next bonfire time.

Fol a dee fol a die fol a diddle aye die day

Now down in yon cellar there's nobbut but bugs
They've etten me stockings and half o mi clogs.
We'll get a sharp knife and cut their yeads off
And have a good supper of bugs' yeads and broth.

Fol a dee fol a die fol a diddle aye die day"

Always followed by:

"Up a ladder down a wall, will you give us a cob o coal!"
 

Steve Cooke
ex Greenfield 

We come cob o'coaling for Bonfire time,
Your coal and your money we hope you'll enjoy,
Fol-di-day, fol-di-day, fol-di-diddle-i-do-day,
Down in yon cellar, there's an old um-ber-ella,
And in yonder corner ther's an old pepper pot (or box)
Pepper pot, pepper pot morning till neet, 
If you give us nowt, we'steal nowt,
But wish you good neet!-(Oldham, Opie, The Lore and Language of Schoolchildren, Oxford, Clarendon,1961.)
A chumping,wooding or cob coaling chant used when collecting
burnables for the fire.

Another Cob Coaling Song from the Watersons:
We come a cob a coalin', come a coalin', come a coalin' 
We come a cob a coalin' on/(for) Bon Fire Night. 
We come a cob-coalin' on/(for) Bon Fire Night 
For coal and for money we hope you'll set right, 
Fol the ray, fall the ray, fol the riddle-ee-I dum day. 
Now the first house we come to is an old cobbler's shop, 
with nought on his cornice but an old pepper pot, 
Pepper pot, ball of wax morning to night, 
If you give us nowt, we'll take nowt, farewell and good night. 
Now me father is dead. He's dead and he's gone, 
Attention to his grave. 
Hello boys, hello boys, let the bells ring, 
Fire boys, fire boys, fire  we sing. 
The fifth of November we hope you'll remember 
for gunpowder treason and plot, 
I see no reason for Gunpowder treason to ever be forgot. 
Oh we, 
Come a cob a coalin', come a coalin', come a coalin', 
We come a cob a coalin' on Bon Fire Night. 
 Oldham Tinkers- add a verse: 
We knock at your knocker, and ring at your bell, 
To see what you'll give us for singing so well, 
(Iona and Peter Opie, 1992: 120 identify this excerpt as a ditty used by 
Christmas carolers!) 
This verse follows the verse about the cobbler. 
They also have a chant which they recite after they insert before the above 
"knocker" excerpt: 
Up a ladder, down a wall, a cob a call 'll save us all 
If you haven't got a penny, a  'apenny will do, 
If you haven't got a 'apenny, God bless you 
-A song from the Lancashire and Yorkshire border associated with Bonfire Night. it might have been part of a mummers Play. 
A.L. Lloyd found the song for the Watersons in the 1960s. 
 
 
 
 

Bonfire night, the stars are bright
Every little angel dressed in white.
Can you eat a biscuit?
Can you smoke a pipe?
Can you go a -courting
At ten o'clock at night?
-Opie, op.cit. p.282. Blacburn, Lancs.
 

Lincolnshire
Remember, remember 
The fifth o' November!
Guy and his companion's plot:
We're going to blow the Parliament up!
By God's mercy we wase catcht,
With a dark lantern an' lighted match!
-Long Ago, 1873, vol. i. p. 338.

London
Madam, madam, where you stand,
In your pocket put your hand.
There you will find something nice
For the "Holler" boys’ delight;
A loaf of bread to stick in his eye,
A pound of cheese to choke him,
A bottle of beer to rinse him down,
And a jolly good fire to roast him." 
-London, Evening Standard, Nov. 5 1932 
 

Covent Garden
Remember, Remember
The Fifth Of November
Gunpowder, Treason and plot

We see no reason
Why gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot

Guy Fawkes, Guy
With his lantern so sly
Got into parliament house. 
-1836 Theater Broadside advertising Harlequin Guy Fawkes a Pantomime 

-Henry Mayhew. London Labour and the London Poor Volume 3. London. Griffen, Bohn and Company, Stationer’s Hall Court. 1851
 

London Kensington 1901

 

Please to remember

The Fifth of November
Should never be forgot.
Guy,Guy,Guy

Hit 'im in the eye!

Stick 'im up the chimney-pots and there let 'im lie

-Source-C.S. Burne, Folk-Lore., Vol. XIV, 1903,p.91

U.S.A.
 

Mummer's Poem In Newburyport, Massachusetts (1760 ?)

The Fifth of November,

As you well remember,

Was gunpowder treason and plot;

 I know of no reason 

Why the gunpowder treason 

Should ever be forgot.

 

When the first King James the septre swayed,

This hellish powder plot was laid.

Thirty-six barrels of powder placed down below

All for old England's overthrow:

Happy the man, and happy the day

That caught Guy Fawkes in the middle of this play.

You'll hear our bell go jink, jink, jink;

Pray madam, sirs, if you' something give,

We'll burn the dog and never let him live.

 

We'll burn the dog without his head,

And then you'll say the dog is dead.

From Rome, from Rome, the pope is come,

All in ten thousand fears;

The fiery serpent's to be seen,

All head, mouth, nose and ears.

The treacherous knave had so contrived,

To blow king parliament all up alive.

God by his grace he did prevent

To save both king and parliament.

Happy the man, and happy the day,

That catched Guy Fawkes in the middle of his play.

 

Match touch, catch prime,

In the good nick of time.

Here is the pope that we got,

The whole promoter of the plot.

We'll stick a pitchfork in his back

And throw him in the fire.

-Hennig Cohen and Tristram Coffin, eds. The Folklore of American Holidays (Detroit: Gale Research Company, 1987), 319.

South end forever [cut] North end forever. Extraordinary verses on Pope-night. or, A commemoration the fifth of November, giving a history of the attempt, made by the papishes, to blow up king and Parliament, A. D. 1588. Together with some account of the Pope himself, and his wife Joan: with several other things worthy of notice, too tedious to mention. Sold by the printers boys in Boston [1768]. 

1. HUZZA! brave Boys, behold the Pope, 
     Pretender and Old-Nick, 
     How they together lay their Heads, 
     To plot a poison Trick? 
     2. To blow up KING and PARLIAMENT 
     To Flitters, rent and torn: 
     --Oh! blund'ring Poet, Since the Plot, 
     Was this Pretender born.-- 
     3. Yet, sure upon this famous Stage, 
     He's got together now; 
     And had he then, he'd been a Rogue 
     As bad as t'other two. 
     4. Come on, brave Youths, drag on your Pope 
     Let's see his frightful Phiz: 
     Let's view his Features rough and fierce, 
     That Map of Ugliness! 
     5. Distorted Joints, so huge and broad! 
     So horribly drest up! 
     'Twould puzzle Newton's Self to tell, 
     The D--l from the Pope. 
     6. See I how He Shakes his tot'ring Head 
     And knocks his palsy Knees; 
     A Proof He is the Scarlet Whore, 
     And got the soul Disease. 
     7. Most terrible for to behold, 
     He Stinks much worse then Rum: 
     Here, you behold the Pope, and here 
     Old Harry in his Rome. 
     8. D'ye ask why Satan Stands behind? 
     Before he durst not go, 
     Because his Pride won't let him Stoop, 
     To kiss the Pope's great Toe. 
     9. Old Boys, and young, be Sure observe 
     The Fifth Day of November; 
     What tho' it is a Day apast? 
     You still can it remember. 
     10. The little Popes, they go out First, 
     With little teney Boys: 
     In Frolicks they are full of Gale 
     And laughing make a Noise. 
     11. The Girls run out to fee the Sight, 
     The Boys eke ev'ry one; 
     Along they are a dragging them, 
     With Granadier's Caps on. 
     12. The great Ones next go out, and meet 
     With many a Smart Rebuf: 
     They're hall'd along from Street to Street 
     And call hard Names enough. 
     13. "A Pagan, Jew, Mahometan, 
     Turk, Strumpet, Wizzard, Witch;" 
     In short the Number of his Name's, 
     Six Hundred Sixty six. 
     14. "How dreadful do his Features show? 
     "How fearful is his Grin? 
     "Made up of ev'ry Thing that's bad; 
     He is the Man of Sin. 
     15. If that his deeden Self could see 
     Himself so turn'd to Fun: 
     In Rage He'd tear out His Pope's Eyes, 
     And scratch his Rev'rend Bum. 
     16. He'd kick his tripple Crown about, 
     And weary of his Life, 
     He'd curse the Rabble, and away 
     He'd run to tell his Wife. 
     17. [Some Wits begin to cavil here 
     And laughing seem to query, 
     "How Pope should have a Wife, and yet, 
     The Clergy never marry." 
     18. Laugh if you please, yet still I'm sure 
     If false I'm not alone; 
     Pray Critic, did you never hear 
     Not read of fair Pope-Joan.] 
     19. "Help Joan! see how I'm drag'd and bounc'd, 
     "Pursu'd, surrounded, -- Wife! 
     "And when I'm bang'd to Death, I shall 
     "Be barbacu'd alive." 
     20. Joan cry's, "Why in this Passion, Sir? 
     "And why so raving mad? 
     "You surely must mistake the Case, 
     "It cannot be so bad." 
     21. "You Fool! I saw it with my Eyes, 
     "I cannot be deceiv'd." 
     "Yes, but You told me t'other Day, 
     "Sight! must not be believ'd." 
     22. A sham'd, inrag'd, and mad, and vex'd, 
     He mutters ten Times more. 
     "I'll make a Bull, and my He-Cow 
     "Shall bellow, grunt and rear." 
     23. Oh! Pope, we pity thy sad Case,
     So dismal and forlorn! 
     We know that thou a Cuckold art, 
     For thou hast many an Horn. 
     24. And eke sev'n Heads he has also. 
     Tho' but one on him flicks: 
     Ten Horns he in his Pocket puts, 
     And Heads no less than six. 
     25. His Pockets full of Heads and Horns, 
     In's Hand he holds his Keys; 
     So down He bends beneath their Weight, 
     With Age, Shame and Disease. 
     26. His End so near, each Cardinal 
     Quite old himself would feign: 
     He tries to stoop and cough that he 
     Might his Successor reign. 
     27. And now, their Frolick to compleat, 
     They to the Mill-Dam go, 
     Burn Him to Nothing first, and then 
     Plunge Him the Waves into. 
     28. But to conclude, from what we've heard, 
     With Pleasure serve that King: 
     Be not Pretenders, Papishes, 
     Nor Pope, nor t'other Thing. 
Sold by the Printers Boys in Boston. 
 

Mrs. Daniel Lathrop Coit (b. 1767, d. 1848), 

Norwich Conn. USA

The fifth of November
You must always remembner;
The Gunpowder Plot
Must never be forgot.
Ding! Dong!
The Pope's come to town
 

In:Perkins, Mary E., :Old houses of the antient [sic ] town of Norwich, 1660-1800 : with maps, illustrations, portraits, and genealogies., Publisher Press, Norwich Conn., 1895

Mass. U.S.A. Newburyport
The Fifth of November, 
as you well remember 
was Gunpowder treason and plot 
and where is the reason 
that gunpowder treason 
should ever be forgot? 

When James the First 
the scepter swayed 
this hellish powder plot was laid 
they placed the powder down below, 
all for old England's overthrow; 
lucky the man, and happy the day, that caught Guy Fawkes in the middle of his play. 

Hark! our bell goes jink, jink, jink; 
pray, madam, pray sir, give us something to drink; 
pray, madam, pray, sir, if you'll something give, 
we'll burn the dog and not let him live. 
We'll burn the dog without his head, 
And then you'll say the dog is dead. 

Look here, from Rome 
the Pope has come, 
that fiery serpent dire. 
Here's the Pope that we have got, 
the old promoter of the plot -- 
we'll stick a pitchfork in his back 
and throw him in the fire! 
 

Pope Night 
Lay up the faggots neat and trim; 
pile 'em up higher, set 'em  afire! 
The Pope roasts us and we'll roast him! 
(old song) 
 

Ame's Almanac 1735

Gun Powder Plot
We ha'nt forgot.

Ame's Almanac 1746
Powder-plot is not forgot
'Twill be observed b y many a Sot

The Center for Fawkesian Pursuits: Linthicum Maryland
Remember Remember the fifth of November 
                       Gunpowder Treason and Plot! 
     We See no Reason That Gunpowder Treason Ever should be Forgot! 
 Remember, Remember, that Pope’s Day in Boston Lead to the Liberty Tree! 
 We See no reason that Pope’s Day in Boston should be forgot by you or me! 
                  King Billy King Billy Toss Us an Orange 
                          You came to set us free! 
                    A Lemon a Lemon for Bigoted James 
                 Our Proud constitution he’ll not re-arrange! 
            Holla! boys Holla!  boys, ring in the night (ring bells) 
              Holla boys, Holla boys burn fires bright (stomp) 
       -The Official  Chant/Prayer  of the  Center for  Fawkesian  Pursuits  Bonfire SocietyLinthicum,Maryland,U.S.A.Composed October, 1998

Center For Fawkesian Pursuits Chant Commemorative of 911 
Remember, Remember eleven September
Bin-laden, terror and plot
We see no reason that trade center terror shouldEver Be Forgot!11/2001 
Other Places

Market Rasen
Please to remember 
The Fifth of November,
The poor old guy
With a hole in his stocking
A hole in his hat where his hair comse through.
If yoiu haven't got a penny a halfpenny will do,
If you haven't got a halfpenny
God bless you.
-Opie op.cit. p282

Northampton
Guy Fawkes, Guy
Hit him in the eye,
Hang him on a lamp-post
And leave him there to die.
Umbrella down the cellar
There I saw a naked fella
Burn his body, save his soul,
Please give me a lump of coal;
If a lump of coal won't do,
Please give me a ha'penny,
Then up and down the Drapery,
Round and round the Market Square,
Till I get to Marefair,
Where I'll spend my ha'penny,
Guy Fawkes, Guy.
-Opie, op.cit. p.282
Aberdeen
A penny for the guy,
A penny for the guy,
A big umbrella
And a flashy tie.
The guy, the guy,
Pin him in the eye;
Stick him up a lamp post,
Don't let him die
-Opie, op.cit.p.282.

Bradfield
Cake, cake, cake; Copper copper,copper.
Oil aboiler roaster, 
A bit of bread and toaster. 
Hole in my stocking.
Hole in my shoe,
Hole in my hat 
Where my hair peeps through,
If you haven't got a copper, Silver will do. 
If you haven't got a silver, 
God bless you.
-Joanne Frost, eleven, Bradfield Comprehensive School, Lore and Language, vol.4 #2, July 1985, "Rhymes and Songs for Halloween and Bonfire Night". Ervin Beck, p.3.
Bonfire night when the stars shine bright
Three little angels dressed in white 
One with a fiddle, one with a drum 
One with a pancake stuck to its bum
- Jane Curry, Eleven, Bradfield Comprehensive School.,Lore and Language, vol.4 #2, July 1985, "Rhymes and Songs for Halloween and Bonfire Night". Ervin Beck, p.11.

Exeter

Please to remember the Fifth of Novbember

Up with the ladder, down with the rope

Please give us a penny to burn the old pope.

-Robert D. Storch, "Please toRemember the Fifth of November": Conflict, solidarity and Public Order in Southern England, 1815-1900" In:Popular Culture and Custom in Nineteenth-Century England, ed. Robert D. Storch,London,1982.

Barnsley 
Remember, remember the Fifth of November 
Bangers and rockets and Catherine wheels, too 
The wind, the wind, the wind blows high, 
Just like the old woman who lived in the shoe. 
-Lore and Language, vol.4 #2, July 1985, "Rhymes and Songs for Halloween and Bonfire Night". Ervin Beck, p.10.

Bethnal Green

Listen all who would be free,

Everychild of Liberty,

Listen to the tale I tell-

Treachery! as false as hell,

Is amongst us; so we beat

The effigy of foul deceit

(The Effigy is beaten)

'Tis a holiday for Guy,. 
He was better than a spy! 
Wretched villain-who would flood 
The bosom of the earth with blood! 
Would hang the lover of the cause, 
of Equal Rights and Equal Laws!-- 

Sneak, a tyrant's will to please- 
Sells his soul for bread and cheese 
To the Tyrants, who enslave 
Us from the cradle to the grave: 
(The effigy is beaten) 

(hang effigy, cuti it down, smear head with ochre and impale it on a stick. Throw body into the fire. 

Then all, circled in a ring 
Warm with Liberty-we'll sing 
"Rule, Brittannia rules the waves, 
Britons never will be slaves!"-1833, Source: 

-Robert D. Storch, "Please toRemember the Fifth of November": Conflict, solidarity and Public Order in Southern England, 1815-1900" In:Popular Culture and Custom in Nineteenth-Century England, ed. Robert D. Storch,London,1982.

Chelmsford 1866

What can be the reason

Why gunpowder, treason,

Should ever be forgot?

Inhabitants of the Chelmsford!

Let us rightly commemorate the

MERCIFUL, AND MIRACULOUS  discovery

of the DIABOLICAL and COWARDLY

plot of the 5th of November, 1605

when certain Popish Gentlemen...

sought to overthrow the PROTESTANT

Constitution of the country. Surely

there is cause still to

REMEMBER THE FIFTH OF NOVEMBER...

Source:

-Robert D. Storch, "Please toRemember the Fifth of November": Conflict, solidarity and Public Order in Southern England, 1815-1900" In:Popular Culture and Custom in Nineteenth-Century England, ed. Robert D. Storch,London,1982.

 

 

Guilford

Last year, remember

Just 'fore November

I pitched into the Guys right slick;

But one fine morning,

I got a warning

Which made me do the other trick.

No broken panes have I to mend,

Because d'ye see, I'm Guy Fawke's friend.

 

I wrote an "article",

Of which every particle

Praised up the Guys and the days of yore.

When men were not punished

Nor yet admonished

If they smashed a window or broke a door.

No broken panes have I top mend,

Becauee d'ye see, I'm Guyt Fawke's friend.

-Robert D. Storch, "Please toRemember the Fifth of November": Conflict, solidarity and Public Order in Southern England, 1815-1900" In:Popular Culture and Custom in Nineteenth-Century England, ed. Robert D. Storch,London,1982.

 

Wisewood
A banger, a banger, a boom, boom, boom!
A rocket, a rocket, zoom, zoom, zoom!
A sparkler, SSSSSSSSSSSHH!
-Eil Eady, fourteen, Wisewood Comprehensive School.,Lore and Language, vol.4 #2, July 1985, "Rhymes and Songs for Halloween and Bonfire Night". Ervin Beck, p.p.14.

St Catherines School
(to the tune of Clementine)
Build a bonfire, build a bonfire.
Put the teacher on the top.
Put the prefect in the middle
And we'll burn the bloomin' lot.
-Mark Thompson, ten, St. Catherine's School.,Lore and Language, vol.4 #2, July 1985, "Rhymes and Songs for Halloween and Bonfire Night". Ervin Beck, p.13.

The North of England
Happy was the man 
And happy was the day, 
That caught Guy 
Going to his play, 
With a dark lanthorn 
And a brimstone match 
Ready for the prime to touch. 
As I was going through the dark entry 
I spied the devil 
Stand back! Stand back! 
Queen Mary's daughter. 
Put your hand in your pocket, 
And give us some money 
To kindle our bonfire. Hurrah. 
-Brand's Pop. Antiq. 1849, vol i p. 308. 

From: An Agreeable Companion, 1742
Don't you Remember
The Fifth of November,
'Twas Gun-Powder Treason Day,
I let of my Gun,
And made 'em all run.
And Stole all their bonfire away.
-Opie, op.cit. p.282

From: The Jacobite Relics of Scotland 1816
Let the Whigs remember the fifth of November-Opie, op.cit. p.282

From: The Children's Friend, 1825
Remember, remember, The Fifth of November,
The gunpowder treason and plot;
The king and his train Had like to be slain, 
And I hope it will ne'er be forgot
-Opie, op.cit. p.282

No Place Mentioned...
 

Don't you Remember,

The Fifth of November

'Twas Gunpowder Treason Day,

I let off my gun,

And made'em all run.

And stole all their Bonfire away-1742, Ooie, Iona and Peter, The Lore and Language of Schoolchildren, Oxford, 1959,282.

"Pray to remember

The fifth of November
Gunpowder treason and plot,
When the King and his train
Had nearly been slain,
Therefore it shall not be forgot."

- Ditchfield, P.H., M.A., Old English Sports, Pastimes and Customs., Methuen, 1891.
 

Old Guy Fawkes 

Kind folks, you see, our effigy,

Designed for Guy Fawkes;

Who with base mind, was once inclin'd

To give King James hard knocks.

'Twas his intent, the Parliament

To send them all on high;

To them no joke, amid the smoke,

To be hurled to the sky.

All hundreneat, this dire thief,

His powder well had plac'd;

But heav'n design'd is wicked mind

Should quickly be disgrac'd

For he was caught, before he thought

His plan it could be known;

A letter sent, show'd the intent,

That many shold be blown.

 

Now we are taught, that Guy was caught,

The Fifth day of November;

Therefore to night, with fire bright,

We wish it to remember.

Holloo boys, holloo boys, let the bells ring

Holloo boys, holloo boys,

God save the Queen.

Hussa! hussa! hussa!

 

Bodleian

Search term is in ballad no. 1 of the sheet

Printer: Green, J.K. (Walworth)

Date: [s.a.]

Imprint: Printed and Sold by J.K. Green, 9, Thurlow Place, East Street, Walworth

Illus. Ballads on sheet: 1

Copies: Johnson Ballads 2066

Ballads:

1. A new speech for old Guy Fawkes ("Kind folks, you see, our effigy ...")

Subject: Guy Fawkes day; Fawkes, Guy, 1570-1606

The Last Improved New Speech for the Fifth of November 

Young and old now remember,

The fifth of November,

For which I good reasons can give;

They may say what they will,

But many papists are still,

Where (?) they were when old Guy Faux did live.

In Rome there's a Pope;

Who deserves a good ropw, 

For being a knave and a fool

To try Englands shackle,

With such(????) tackle,

As what he must (?)term (?) a Bull

He from Rome sent Wisemen,

To tell us all lies man,

Who swore he a Bishop should be,

And in Westminster City,

(O, dear what a pity),

None but papists should live in his see.

But the Gunpowder Plot,

Is not yet forgot,

Nor the tricks of the Papists of old,

How with fire they did burn,

And on roastingspits turn,

Those who died for fatth (?), young, brave & old.

 

 

Good people 9?) pray

Remember this day,

Which to your kind notice we bring

Here's the figure of sloy

Old villainous Guy

Who wanted to murder the King

With a powder a store,

He bitterly swore,

?As he dark down? the vault to prepare,

How the Parliament too

By him and his crew,

Should all be blown up in the air.

Please to remember the fifth of November,

Gunpowder treason and plot;

We know not the reason why gunpoder wder treason 

Should ever be forgot

While the castle of Edinburgh Stands on a rock.

But James, very wise,

Did the Papists surprise,

Who plotted the cruelty great

He guess'd their intent,

And Suffolk was sent,

Who sav'd both the kingdom and state.

With a lantern was found

Guy Fawkes underground,

And quick was the traitor bound fast;

They said hs should die--

So hang him up high, 

And burn him to ashes at last.

Then please to remember, &c.

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 blowing away.

While with cracker and fire,

In the 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 Halloo Boys! Halloo, boys! shout & hussa!

Halloo boys halloo boys! keep up...???

Halloo boys! halloo boys! ?????

Down with the pope ??????????????

Sheet Title: R. Goodluck's best London edition of improved Guy Fawkes' speeches Printer: Ford, J. and son (London) Date: [s.a.] Imprint: London; Printed & Published for the Proprietor by J. Ford & Son, Phoenix Press 11a Beech S., Up the Gateway Illus. Ballads on sheet: 3 Copies: Johnson Ballads 1267 
Ballads: 1. [None] ("Good gentlefolks, pray ...")Subject: Guy Fawkes day; Fawkes, Guy, 1570-1606 
3. The last improved new speech for the fifth of November ("Young and old now remember ...") 
Subject: Guy Fawkes day; Fawkes, Guy, 1570-1606 

Remember, remember, 
The Fifth of November 
Gunpowder treason and plot: 
For I see no reason 
Why Gunpowder Treason 
Should ever be forgot 
Guy Fawkes, Guy, 'tis our intent. 
To blow up the king and his parliament. 
Threescore barrels, laid below, 
To prove old England's overthrow. 
By God's providence he got catched 
With a dark lantern and burning match. 
A stick and a stake 
For King George's sake! 
And a rope and a cart 
To hang Bonyparte! 
Pope, Pope, Spanish Pope! 
Noody's (qu. news is) coming to town. 
A halfpenny loaf to feed old Pope, 
And a penn 'orth of cheese to choke him; 
A pint of beer to drink his health, 
And a twopenny faggot to burn (qu. smoke) him; 
Burn his body from his head, 
And then we'll say, "Old Pope is dead." 
Holla, boys, holla, make your voices ring! 
Holla, boys, holla, God save the King! 
Hip, hip, hoorr-r-r-ray!"
- Source: J.C R. in Notes and Queries Vol 4. 2nd S. No. 10-1. Dec. 5, 1857 p. 451.

Guy Fawkes Day
(Possibly Yorkshire) 
A Stick and a stake,
For King James's sake.
Please give us a coil,(1) a coil.
1. Coal.
Awd Grimey sits upon yon hill,
As black as onny awd craw.
He's gitten on his lang grey coat
Wi' buttons doon afoor.
He's gitten on his lang grey coat
Wi' buttons doon afoor.

-(1673-1915) and Traditional  Poems 
Compiled with an Historical Introduction byF. W. Moorman 
(Professor of English Language, University of Leeds) 
London Published for the Yorkshire Dialect Society 
by Sidgwick and Jackson, Ltd., 1916, 1917 
 

The Guy Fawkes Song

Fr the Latest Research click here
 
The Tune!
 

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 (Alternate: Guy, Guy, Guy)
              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.
 

 The Meltonians Versions Guy Fawkes Song 
Lumber’s Song Tune:Bow Wow wow 
 

 I’ll sing a doleful ditty, Guy Fawkes the prince of Sinisters 
Who once blew up the house, the King, and all his ministers. 
That is he would have blown them up & folk will neer forget him. 
His will was good to do the deed, that is if they had let him. 
 

 He straitway came from Lambeth Marsh & wish’d the state undone 
Then coming over Vauxhall bridge that way came into London 
That is he would have come that way, to perpetrate his guilt Sir
 But a little thing prevented him, the Bridge it was not built Sir. 
 

Then searching thro the dreary vault, at witching hour of night Sir 
About to touch the powder train with portable gas light Sir 
That is I mean he’d have used the gas, but was prewented
 Cause Gas you see in James time it hadn’t been inwented.

And when they caught him in the act & saw what he was bent for
 Immediately to Scotland Yard the new Police was sent for 
That is they would have sent for them, for fear of Guy’s resistance 
Only that the new Police they were not in existence. 
 

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 & steady 
Poor Guy they cannot kill again because he’s dead already. 
 

That Mr. Fawkes was ill advis’d there cannot be a doubt Sir
 For if he’d left them to themselves, his wish might come about Sir 
That is if he’d gone in the house & listen’d to the pother 
He’d soon have seen the members try to blow up one another. 
 -The Meltonians R. B. Peake 1837, London,.Act Two, Scene I. 
 

Guy Fawkes An Old Song Re-Sung
(The Musical Rights Rserved)

I sing the doleful tragedy,
Guy Fawkes, that Prince of Sinisters,
Who once blew up the Parliament,
The king and all his ministers;
That is, he would have, if he could,
For he had all the effrontery
To send each single Member back
In that way to the Countery.

He sneaked into the dreary vault
At the witching time o'night, Sir,
Resolved to fire his devilish train
Of Yankee dynamite, Sir;
That is, he would ha' used that stuff,
And solely was prevented,
'Cause dynamite in Jame's time,
You see, was not invented.

But a little bird let drop a word
To James, that very sly fox;
So he bade them search the aforesaid vault,
And there they found poor Guy Fawkes;
A score or more of lively squibs
Were peeping from his pockets,
And a Catherine's wheel was round his ribs,
And a brace of big sky-rockets.

But Sergeant Cox he collared him,
Combustibles and all, Sir,
And ran him safely into quod
Right down Westminster Hall, Sir;
That is, he would ha' done that deed
Of gunpowder and glory;
But Cox, do you see, he didn't live
Till the reign of Queen Victori',

For trial they committed Guy
Remandin' and remandin' him
For more conclusive evidence,
Till there wasn't any standin' 'em;
And they'd not ha' found the missin' link
They wanted to convict him,
If he hadn't coughed the time-fuze up
That by swallowin' down he'd tricked 'em,

The Judges he sentenced him to death,
But they sent him a reprieve, Sir,
and in ten years' time they let Guy out
On a quiet ticket-of-leave, Sir,
That is, they would ha' done all that
Just some odd centuries later;
But, as it was, they went and took
And hung him for a traitor.

-Spectator

Source: Littell's Living Age, October, 1885,167,2154,pg.2.

The Russian Guy Fawkes

Air-"Popular."

I sing a Northern autocrat, old Nick the prince of Sinisters,
Who made away with Turkey once, the Sultan and his Ministers:
That is, he would have made away with them, but was prevented,
For France and England stopped the way, and Nick was circumvented..

Chorus- Bow, wow, wow!
The Russian Bear is going to the dogs I trow.

A flimsy quarrel to hush up he so was at no loss you see,
And being out of temper said, "I'm fighting for the Cross you see."
Most piously upon his sword he then invoked a blessing,
And vowed that with its naked edge he'd give the Turks a dressing.

Bow, wow, wow, &c.

With coolness quite cucumbrian, despising all formalities,
He sent his army to invade the neutral Principalities:
Then passing o'er the Danube he besieged Constantinople,
At least he has not done so yet, and never, we may home, will.

Bow, wow, wow, &c

By sea his arms with victory not long were unrewarded:
Sinope's famous triumph stands in history recorded;
And yet opinions differ-no two men think the same now,
For what he calls a victory we've quite another name now.

Bow, wow, wow, &c

Another drubbing soon he gave the Turks at Oltenitza,
And made them run with holy gun, and holier howitzer:
'Twas so at last his version ran-to horse-marines and Prussians,
But according to the Turkish tale the rush was by the Russians.

Bow, wow, wow, &c

At Cronstadt too great stones he sank, with powder each well loaded,
And thus blew up the British fleet, and all our hopes exploded;
That is, he means to blow them up-the papers clearly show it,
But now the trick itself is blown we think he'll hardly do it.

Bow, wow, wow, &c

His pledged "parole de gentleman" he never once has broken,
Nor crooked policy has shown, but upright and plainspoken:
Upright, at least, he might have proved, but in truth there's no denying
The attitude he has preserved towards us has been lying.

Bow, wow, wow, &c

They say his fleet outnumbers ours, but it must not be forgotten
That recent travelers have found out one half his ships are rotten;
If his forces are his weakness, he can't be very strong now,
So we hope to make short work of him; it will not take us long now.

Bow, wow, wow,
The Russian Bear is going to
the dogs I trow.

Punch.

-"The Russian Guy Fawkes", In: Littell's Living Age., 1854,5,527, p. 601, Note: "Punch".* 
 
 
 

Other versions/sources: 
 -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"  Noted in :Robert B. (Robert Barnabas) Brough, 1828-1860 / William Brough, 1826-1870(1828-1860 / 1826-1870) The Second Calender; And The Queen of Beauty, who had the Fight with the Genie. an Extravaganza, in Two Acts, By the Brothers Brough ... As Performed at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket. Correctly Printed from the Prompter's Copy, with the Cast of Characters, Scenic Arrangement Sides of Entrance and Exit, and Relative Positions of the Dramatis Personæ. Illustrated with an Engraving by Mr. Wall, Taken during the Representation of the Piece  London  National Acting Drama Office [1853] Alluded to.....

1825- Thomas Hudson wrote lyrics  Source: Moffat, Alfred,  English Songs of the Georgian Period., London, Bayley and Ferguson, 1900 p.74.*
 

The song appears here: C. 1825-1826,Guy Faux, Universal Songster, George, and Robert Cruikshank, John Fairburn, Routledge and Jones, Publisher.. On Page 64 in volume 3 of US, last song on the page is ascribed to H. Powell-so is he: H.P.?  
 

The New Guy Fawkes, H. Wace
 
Letters to the Editor
The new Guy fawkes
To the editor of the Times
Sir,-Mr. Lloyd George's speech at the National Liberal Club recalls to my mind an old song, of which the first verse, with slight variants, seems exactly to sketch the situation:--

I sing a shocking tragedy,
Lloyd George, the prince of Sinisters,
Who once blew up the House of Lords,
The Dukes and Tory Ministers:
That is, he would have blown them up,
And folks should ne'er forget him:
But a little thing prevented him,
Which was, they wouldn't let him.
Bow, wow, wow, &c.
It might serve as a chorus in meetings of the right sort.

Faithfully yours, 
Canterbury, Dec. 4. H. Wace.The London Times, Tuesday, Dec. 7, 1909, pg.10 issue 29136, col A
 
 

A new Speech for the 5th of November on the Downfall of Guy Fawkes
Broadside: Printed and sold by D. Batchelar, opposite the Refuge for the Destitute, Hackney Road, London 
Good gentlefolks, pray 
Remember this day, 
Which to your kind notice we bring; 
Here's the figure of sly 
Old villainous Guy, 
Who wanted to murder the King: 
With powder a store, 
He bitterly swore, 
As he skulk'd in the vault to prepare, 
How the Parliament too, 
By him and his crew, 
Should all be blown up to the air, 
So please to remember the fifth of November, 
Gunpowder treason and plot; 
We know no reason why gunpowder treason 
Should ever be forgot. 
But James, very wise, 
Did the Papists surprise, 
Who plotted the cruelty great; 
He guess'd their intent, 
And Suffolk was sent, 
Who sav'd both the kingdom and state, 
With a lantern was found 
Guy Fawkes under ground, 
And quick was the traitor bound fast; 
They said he should die--- 
So hang him up high, 
And burn him to ashes at last 
Then please to remember, &c. 
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 the fullest desire, 
In his chair he thus merrily burns; 
So jolly we'll be, 
And about may you see 
Of this day many happy returns. 
So please to remember, &c. 
Then halloo boys! halloo, boys! shout and huzza! 
Halloo, boys! halloo, boys! keep up the day; 
Halloo, boys! halloo, boys! let the bells ring! 
Down with the Pope, and God save the Queen! 
Hurrah!hurrah!hurrah! 
(undated) 
Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine Vol. 68 (422) Dec. 1850 Page 689 
Who Rolled the Powder In? 
A lay of the Gunpowder Plot 
[“Upon this the conversation dropped, and soon afterwards Tresham departed. 
When he found himself alone, he suffered his rage to find vent in words. “Perdition seize 
Them!” he cried:” I shall now loose two thousand pounds, in addition to what I have already advanced; 
And, as Mounteagle will not have the disclosure made till the beginning of November, there is no way of 
Avoiding payment.  They would not fall into the snare I laid to throw the blame of the discovery, when it takes place, upon their own indiscretion.  But I must devise some other plan.””- Ainsworth’s Life and Times of Guy Fawkes.] 
They’ve done their task, and every cask 
Is piled within the cell: 
They’ve heaped the wood in order good, 
And hid the powder well. 
And Guido Fawkes, who seldom talks, 
Remarked with cheerful glee— 
“The moon is brigit—they’ll fly by night! 
Now, sirs, let’s turn the key.” 
The wind without blew cold and stout, 
As though it smelt of snow— 
But was’t the breeze that made the knees 
Of  Tresham tremble so? 
With ready hand, at Guy’s command, 
He rolled the powder in; 
But what’s the cause that Tresham’s jaws 
Are chattering to the chin? 
Nor wine nor beer his heart can cheer, 
As in his chamber lone 
He walks the plank with heavy clank, 
And vents the frequent groan. 
“Alack!” quoth he, “that this should be— 
Alack, and well-a-day! 
I had the hope to bring the Pope, 
But in a different way. 
“I’d risk a rope to bring the Pope 
By gradual means and slow; 
But Guido Fawkes, who seldom talks, 
Won’t let me manage so. 
That furious man has hatched aplan 
That must undo us all; 
He’d blow the Peers unto the spheres, 
And throne the Cardinal! 
“It’s time I took from other book 
Than his a saving leaf; 
I’ll do it—Yes! I’ll e’en confess, 
Like many a conscious thief. 
And on the whole, upon my soul, 
As Garnet used to teach, 
When human schemes are vain as dreams, 
‘Tis always best to peach! 
“My mind’s made up!” he drained the cup, 
Then straightway sate him down, 
Divulged the whole, whitewashed his soul, 
And saved the British crown:-- 
Disclosed the walks of Guido Faweks, 
And swore, with pious aim, 
That from the first he thought him cursed,
And still opined the same. 
Poor Guido died, and Tresham eyed 
His dangling corpse on high; 
Yet no one durst reflect at first 
On him who played the spy. 
Did any want a Protestant, 
As stift as a rattan, 
To rail at hom ‘tainst priests at Rome— 
Why, Tresham was their man! 
‘Twas nothing though he’d kissed the Toe 
Abroad in various ways, 
Or managed rather that his wife’s father 
Should hear the blame and praise. 
Yet somehow men, who knew him when 
He wooed the Man of Sin, 
Would slightly sneer, and whisper near, 
WHO ROLLED THE POWDER IN? 
Moral 
If you, dear youth, are bent on truth 
In these degenerate days, 
And if you dare one hour to spare 
For aught but “Roman Lays:” 
If, shunning rhymes, you read the Times, 
And search its columns through, 
You’ll find perhaps that Tresham’s lapse 
Is matchedby something new. 
Our champion John, with armour on, 
Is ready now to stand. 
(For so we hope) against the Pope, 
At least on English land. 
‘Gainst foreign rule and Roman bull 
He’ll fight, and surely win. 
But—tarry yet- and don’t forget 
WHO ROLLED THE POWDER IN! 

Old Guy Fawkes 

Hurrah for our bonfire, 
Oh pile it up high, 
For tonight-yes tonight!- 
When it blazes up bright 
A traitor must die! 
How he’ll crackle and burn, 
Our-jolly old Guy! 
In the middle we’ll throw him, 
No mercy we’ll show him, 
The Traitor must die! 
Go, old Ragamuffin, 
Don’t stop to ask why, 
You know that the reason, 
Was Gunpowder Treason! 
So, burn till you die!- 19^th Century Calendar 
 

How do you celebrate Guy Fawkes Day? Let us know!