“I have a little purse in my pocket, All fixed with a silver pin; And all that it wants is a more little silver To line it well within. The clock strikes one, I must be gone, Or else it will be day; Good morning to you, my pretty fair maid, I wish you the merriment of May.”-- _Ibid._ p. 426. At Polebrook, on the last few days of April, the Queen of May and her attendants gather what flowers they can from the surrounding meadows, and call at the houses of the principal inhabitants to beg flowers, the gift or the loan of ribbons, handkerchiefs, dolls, &c., with which to form their garland. This being arranged on hoops, the young maidens assemble on May-morning, and carry it round the village, preceded by a fiddler; and the following quaint song--very similar to the one used at Hitchin, and thought from its phraseology to have been written in the time of the Puritans--is sung by the Queen and her company at the different houses, and a gratuity is solicited. “Remember us poor mayers all, For now we do begin To lead our lives in righteousness, For fear we die in sin. To die in sin is a serious thing, To go where sinners mourn; ’Twould have been better for our poor souls If we had ne’er been born. Now we’ve been travelling all the night, And best part of this day; And now we’re returning back again, And have brought you a branch of May. A branch of May, which looks so gay, Before your door to stand; ’Tis but a sprout, but ’tis well spread out, The work of our Lord’s hand. Arise, arise, you pretty fair maid, Out of your drowsy dream, And step into your dairy-house For a sup of your sweet cream. O, for a sup of your sweet cream, Or a jug of your own beer; And if we tarry in the town, We’ll call another year. Now take the Bible in your hand, And read a chapter through, And when the day of judgment comes, The Lord will think of you. Repent, repent, ye wicked men, Repent before you die; There’s no repentance in the grave, When in the ground you lie. But now my song is almost done, I’ve got no more to say; God bless you all, both great and small, I wish you a joyful May.” The garland is afterwards suspended by ropes from the school-house to an opposite tree, and the mayers and other children amuse themselves by throwing balls over it. With the money collected tea and cakes are provided for the joyous party. The Queen of the May takes her seat at the head of the tea-table, under a bower composed of branches of may and blackthorn; a wreath of flowers is placed on her head, and she is hailed “Lady of the May.” The attendants wait round her, the party of mayers seat themselves at a long table below, and the evening concludes with mirth and merriment.--_Glossary, &c._, p. 424. NORTHUMBERLAND