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Possibly, the above Tune alludes to King Henry the Seventh,grandson of Owen Tudor, who had experien F-ced the affection of the Welsh towards him at Bosworth-field; consequently, he reformed those unmerciful laws which were enacted against the Welsh by his predecessors, and granted them a Charter of Liberty and immunity, the same as the English.

ACCOUNT of the CORNISH MAY SONG.

The inhabitants of Cornwall, being a remnant of the Ancient Britons, consequently they still some of their ancient customs, as the Welsh do. This old traditional Ballad is the fource of co lity of the inhabitants of the Town and neighbourhood of Helston, in Cornwall, where it is alway and universally danced by them, on the eighth of May, when they hail the Summer with peculiar ings; rural revelry, feftivity, and mirth. The common people call the ceremony FFYNNU, and Fi which implies prosperity, and happiness: and others call it, FLORA-day. This custom seems to l ginated from the DRUIDS; because, the fruits of the earth are then tender; and to avert their beir Led, it was usual to return thanks to GOD for his infinite blefsings, and to rejoice at the flouris prospect of the produce of the Earth; which was generally, celebrated on the sixth day of the new m

The custom now is this: at break of day, the commonalty of HELSTON go into the fields and to gather all kinds of flowers, to decorate their hats and bosoms, to enjoy the flowery meads, and ruping of the birds: and during their excursions, if they find any person at work, they make him a pole, carried on men's shoulders, to the river, over which he is to leap in a wide place, if he can cannot, he must leap in, for leap he must, or pay money. After this rustic sport is over, they. th turn to the Town and bring their flowery garlands, or Summer home, (Hawthorn boughs, Sycamor Then they form themselves into various dancing groups, with the lasses, and they jig it, hand in } over the town; claiming a right of dancing through any person's house, in at one door, out at the and so through the garden: thus they continue their FFODI, or prosperous song, and dance,until it is d

Hail bounteous may, that dost inspire
Mirth and youth, and warm desire;
Woods and groves, are of thy drefsing;
Hill, and dale, doth boaft thy blessing.
Thus we salute thee with our early Song,
And welcome thee, and wish thee long.

Milto

In the afternoon, the gentry of the place, take their May excursions in parties, and some go to farm-houses in the neighbourhood to drink Sillabubs, Cider, Tea, &c; and afterwards, they return t Town in a Morrice-dance; both the Ladies and Gentlemen elegantly drefsed in their summer attiret and adorned with nosegays, and accompanied with Minftrels, who play for the dancers this traditio May-Tune; so they whisk it along all through the ftreets, and after a few dancing efsays, each gen leads his partner into the Afsembly-room, where there is always a Ball that Evening; and fuch B of fair women, in their native simplicity, as are rarely to be seen. There they enjoy their happy dan til supper time; when they repair to their festive houses to their convivial repasts: thus, the night is ed with harmony, as well as the day. The inferior clafses of the people pass their evening in sim merriment at the public houses, and at other places; which is continued until midnight, with the gi hilarity and decorum.

To welcome the summer was a very ancient custom among the old Britons, by the number of N Carols, which are still preserved among the Welsh; and indeed, it is an universal custom among mos tions. The month of May, among the ancient Romans, was consecrated to MAIA, the daughter of A and mother of MERCURY. Hall's Chronicle mentions King Henry the eighth, and Queen Catherine's ing a maying, from Greenwich to the high ground of Shooters-hill, accompanied with Lord's Ladies.

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NB. HALAN, or KALAN, mentioned above is the Caiends of May, or of any other month; and Tô, is what they call, a large bunch of Flowers, which is carried on a pole on men's should

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