300 Hampshire Folklore.
Here we have an entirely new feature introduced, — the horn, — and therewith open wide fields of argument ; but taking all its possible meanings, implications, and connec- tions, one fact stands clear, — it was connected with Revels, and those Revels of apparently great antiquity, and in some way a lingering echo of the old High Woods, the old, wild, woodland life, with rights, privileges, and ceremonies that Time turned to abuses, and a nicer Civilization swept away.
" In comely sort their foreheads did adorn With goodly coronets of hardy home,"
wrote Nicholas Breton in 1 612, of the frequenters of Horn Fair at Charlton, and it is only within the last half century or so that the custom of " Horning the Colts " has been discontinued at Weyhill Fair, near Andover. A " colt " was a new-comer to the Fair. At the village inns were kept caps fitted with horns, between which a " cup " was placed. This cap was placed on the colt's head, who sat with it on while the old hands sang :
" So swiftly runs the hare, so cunning runs the fox, Why shouldn't this young heifer grow up to be an ox, And drink with his daddy with a large pair of horns. Chorus. With a large pair of horns." ^
The cup was then handed to the novice, who drank the half pint of liquor it contained. After this he paid for half a gallon for the others to drink.
According to one account, the cap at the Star Inn was " like a dog with an open mouth, which was painted red
^A variant of the song is given in the Papers and Proceedings of the Hafiipshire Field Club, vol. iii, pp. 127-42 : —
" So swift runs the hare, so keen runs the fox, Why should not this young calf grow up to be an ox, And get his own living among briars and thorns, And drink like his daddy with a large pair of horns ? Chorus. Horns, boys, horns, horns, boys, horns,
And drink like his daddy with a large pair of horns."
