rude
familiarities of his gruesome head as he charged and dispersed maids
and children, amid shrieks and laughter, are probably familiar
memories of all Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Derbyshire childhoods. I do
not know if the Old Horse and the Old Tup belong to other parts of the
British Isles. It is a rude and somewhat vulgar performance,
especially if undertaken by older revellers, when the men wear skirts
and bonnets, and the women don great-coats and hats--the Fool, the
Doctor, and a darker character with a besom, are often of the party,
but the Knights of Christendom and the Eastern Potentates take no
share in these proceedings, which are oftenest and most inoffensively
performed by little boys not yet promoted to be "mummers." It is,
however, essential that one of them should have a good voice, true and
tuneful enough to sing a long ballad, and lead the chorus.

In the scale of contributions to the numerous itinerant Christmas
Boxes of Christmas week--such as the Ringers, the Waits, the Brass
Band, the Hand-bells, the Mummers (Peace Egg), the Superior Mummers,
who do more intricate sword-play (and in the North Riding are called
Morris Dancers), &c. &c., the Old Tup stands low down on the list. I
never heard the Rhymes of the Old Horse; they cannot be the same.
These diversions are very strictly localized and handed on by word of
mouth.

Of the best version of "Peace Egg" which I have seen performed, I have
as yet quite vainly endeavoured to get any part transcribed. It is
oral tradition. It is practised for some weeks beforehand, and the
costumes, including wonderful head-dresses about the size of the
plumed bonnet of a Highlander in full-dress, are carefully preserved
from year to year. These paste-board erections are covered with
flowers, feathers, bugles, and coloured streamers. The dresses are of
coloured calico, with ribbons everywhere; "points" to the breeches and
hose, shoulder-knots and sashes.

But, as a rough rule, it is one of the conveniences of mumming play,
that the finery may be according to the taste and the resources of the
company.

The swords are of steel, and those I have seen are short. In some
places I believe rapiers are used. I am very sorry to be unable to
give proper directions for the sword-play, which is so pretty. I have
only one version in which such directions are given. I have copied the
"Grand Sword Dance" in its proper place for the benefit of those who
can interpret it. It is