236 Collectanea.
" Trailing Ale. — At the time of harvest, the men of the parish used to come round, often bringing a stone jar with them, and ask for "trailing ale." It was supposed thai, if this was refused, the men would trample down the corn. I never heard of this being done, and believe the custom of asking for it has died out some time ago. I think the following points about " trailing ale " gathered from my brother are correct, as he has been making enquiries in the neighbourhood from some of the older people who remember it : —
When any one walked through a field of standing corn while it was being reaped, the reapers would demand from him something for " trailing ale." When cows or foals strayed into standing corn, the owner of the corn was entitled to ask the owner of the cattle for "trailing ale." If a footpath was made through standing corn, the people who used it would be asked for " trailing ale."
Harvest. — After harvest the men were nearly always given a feed of some sort. This was usually on the day on which the last load was carried. This load was usually decorated with boughs, and brought home with a little shouting and jubilation. On my father's farm the men had always bread and cheese and onions and beer, but on some farms a big hot dinner was provided. I believe this was always done in my grandfather's time, but it was found too much trouble to keep it up, so the men were given 2s. a head and the bread and cheese etc., instead of the hot meat and pudding. This was always called a "hawkey."
After harvest one or two men from each farm would go round to the neighbouring farmers and ask for " largesse," as they had finished harvest. I believe the collection was made on behalf of all the men on the farm, but I think the custom degenerated into one or two men just going independently and seeing what they could get for themselves. -
Fiflh of Noveviber. — The boys used to dress up a figure, or often dress themselves up, and go round Hie village singing the usual rhyme.
Christmas was of course another excuse for singing for money from door to door, and " While Shepherds watched their flocks
2Cf. N. cr Q., 6th S., vol. iii., p. 469, vol. iv., p. 193 (Easi Jno/i'n, 1881), and Robert Bloomfield, TAe Horkey,
