[THE late Sir Cuthbert Sharp remarks, that ‘It is still the practice during the Christmas holidays for companies of fifteen to perform a sort of play or dance, accompanied by song or music.’ The following version of the song, or interlude, has been transcribed from Sir C. Sharp’s _Bishoprick Garland_, corrected by collation with a MS. copy recently remitted to the editor by a countryman of Durham. The Devonshire peasants have a version almost identical with this, but laths are used instead of swords, and a few different characters are introduced to suit the locality. The pageant called _The Fool Plough_, which consists of a number of sword-dancers dragging a plough with music, was anciently observed in the North of England, not only at Christmas time, but also in the beginning of Lent. Wallis thinks that the _Sword Dance_ is the antic dance, or chorus armatus of the Romans. Brand supposes that it is a composition made up of the gleaning of several obsolete customs anciently followed in England and other countries. The Germans still practise the _Sword Dance_ at Christmas and Easter. We once witnessed a _Sword Dance_ in the Eifel mountains, which closely resembled our own, but no interlude, or drama, was performed.] _Enter Dancers_, _decorated with swords and ribbons_; _the_ CAPTAIN _of the band wearing a cocked hat and a peacock’s feather in it by way of cockade_, _and the_ CLOWN, _or_ ‘BESSY,’ _who acts as treasurer_, _being decorated with a hairy cap and a fox’s brush dependent_. _The_ CAPTAIN _forms with his sword a circle_, _around which walks_. _The_ BESSY _opens the proceedings by singing_— GOOD gentlemen all, to our captain take heed, And hear what he’s got for to sing; He’s lived among music these forty long year, And drunk of the elegant {175} spring. _The_ CAPTAIN _then proceeds as follows_, _his song being accompanied by a violin_, _generally played by the_ BESSY— Six actors I have brought Who were ne’er on a stage before; But they will do their best, And they can do no more. The first that I call in He is a squire’s son; He’s like to lose his sweetheart Because he is too young. But though he is too young, He has money for to rove, And he will spend it all Before he’ll lose his love. _Chorus_. _Fal lal de ral_, _lal de dal_, _fal lal de ra ral da_. _Followed by a symphony on the fiddle_, _during which the introduced actor walks round the circle_. _The_ CAPTAIN _proceeds_— The next that I call in He is a tailor fine; What think you of his work? He made this coat of mine! _Here the_ CAPTAIN _turns round and exhibits his coat_, _which_, _of course_, _is ragged_, _and full of holes_. So comes good master Snip, His best respects to pay: He joins us in our trip To drive dull care away. _Chorus and symphony as above_.