After depositing their offerings and taking something to eat, it was then the custom for ten, twelve, or sometimes even twenty young men, headed by a bard, a harper, or some fluent speaker, to mount their horses, and drive away full speed in the direction of the bride's house to demand her in marriage for the bridegroom. But on the morning of the wedding, the young woman, that is, the bride-elect, was not to be got possession of without much trouble and argument, and searching. When the bridegroom's procession halted at the house of the bride's parents, the leader of the party, finding the door barred against their entrance, would formally demand the bride, generally in rhyme appropriate to the occasion, delivered something as follows:-- "Open windows, open doors, And with flowers strew the floors; Heap the hearth with blazing wood, Load the spit with festal food; The "crochon [2]" on its hook be placed, And tap a barrel of the best! For this is Catty's wedding day! Now bring the fair one out, I pray." Then one of the bride's party from within made a reply as follows, with the door still closed:-- "Who are ye all? ye noisy train! Be ye thieves or honest men? Tell us now what brings you here, Or this intrusion will cost you dear?" Then the one from without rejoins:-- "Honest men are we, who seek A dainty maid both fair and meek, Very good and very pretty, And known to all by name of Catty; We come to claim her for a bride; Come, father, let the fair be tied To him who loves her ever well." The one within again answers:-- "So ye say, but time will tell; My daughter's very well at home So ye may pack and homeward roam." Again the one without exclaims in resolute tones:-- "Your home no more she's doomed to share Like every marriageable fair, Her father's roof she quits for one Where she is mistress; wooed and won. It now remains to see her wedded, And homeward brought and safely bedded. Unless you give her up, we swear The roof from off your house to tear, Burst in the doors and batter walls, To rescue her whom wedlock calls." Another of the bridegroom's party then calls aloud, in a voice of authority:-- "Ho! peace in the King's name, here, peace! Let vaunts and taunting language cease; While we the bridesmen, come to sue The favour to all bridesmen due, The daughter from the father's hand, And entertainment kindly bland." The above rhyme appeared in "Adventures of Twm Shon Catty." There are a good many such verses composed for, or at such occasion, still extant in the Welsh language.