The following is part of an old song which I have faithfully copied; it was, I am told, sung at Wakes in the north of England, and also previous to Christmas: from the appearance, little doubt is left as to its being of northern composition. I have seen in former volumes of the MIRROR, specimens of two ancient ballads, and as they are a curiosity, I have sent mine as being, I think, equally so. There is an old ballad which I have met with and purchased, entitled "The Outlandish Knight," but it is certainly greatly altered, though the tale is preserved. This ean night, this ean night, Every night and awle, Fire and fleet,[1] and candle lyght, And Chryst receyve thy sawle. When those from hence dost passe awaye, Every night and awle, To whinnye moore thou com'st at last, And Chryste receyve thy sawle. If ever thou gav'st either hosen or shune, Every night and awle, Sit thee down and put them on, And Chryst receyve thy sawle. But if hosen and shune thou never gav'st nean, Every night and awle, The whinnes shall prick thee to the bare beane, And Chryst receyve thy sawle. From whynne moore then thou may'st passe, Every night and awle, To brigge of dread thou com'st at last, And Christ receyve thy sawle. From brigge of dread that thou may'st passe, Every night and awle, To purgatory fire thou com'st at last, And Chryst receyve thy sawle. If e'er thou gav'st either meate or drinke, Every night and awle, The fire shall never make thee shrynke, And Chryst receyve thy sawle. But yf meate and drinke thou never gav'st neane, Every night and awle, The fire shall burn thee to the bare beane, And Chryst receyve thy sawle. [1] Fleet from the Saxon flere, is cremon lactu, hence we have flett or flit, milk. The next I give you is an extract from the Court Rolls of the Borough of Hales Owen, of the _Custom of Bride Ale._ "A payne ys made that no person or persons that shall brewe any weddyn ale to sell, shall not brewe aboue twelve stryke of mault at the most, and that the said persons so marryed shall not keep nor haue above eyght messe of persons at hys dinner within the burrowe, and before hys brydall daye he shall keep no unlawfull games in hys house nor out of hys house on payne of 20_s_." Besides "Bride Ale," there was the Church Ales, and Easter Ales, Whitsuntide Ales, and a quantity of others which we have no accounts of. I conclude this short notice with the hope of soon supplying you with a fund of information against Christmas. W.H.H. * * * * * BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIR OF HELEN.