472 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



[No. 133. 



" The Stem of this vegetable Progidy, which was 

 [roughly hollowed (?)], measured, at S feet from the 

 ground, about 36 feet in girth, and the boughs extended 

 about 300 feet in circumference. The Fair which was 

 held upon this spot was founded about the year 1720, by 

 Mr. Daniel Day, Block Maker, of Wapping, who gave 

 his men an annual Bean Feast, under the shade of the 

 Oak, on the first Friday in July ; and which has been 

 visited for a number of years by the Block Makers and 

 Watermen of the eastern part of the metropolis, who 

 parade round the spot singing the following songs : — 



" Song from the Block Makers' Boat, sung hy Mr. 

 Hemingway, 

 " George, our great King, as he sat on the throne. 

 The supporters of Fairlop sent in their petition. 

 That he the old Oak in true wisdom would own, 



The answer returned from the head of the Nation, 

 This we agree that the Maggot and Spot 



Never shall be crushed, but for ever shall reign. 

 A Charter we have got to support the old Spot, 



And Fairlop shall flourish again and again. 

 Tills answer so noble abroad quickly spread, 



The enemy to friendship began to complain. 

 That this Fair of mischief was surely the head. 



And if suffered would certainly soon show its aim. 

 Down, cried he, with this Fairlop Tree ; 



But George, ever generous, said. Cease to complain. 

 A Charter we got, &c. 

 ■ Freedom, the Goddess for Britons so fair. 



When she heard that a few of her supporters so free 

 Did reverence the Oak which was always her care, 

 And she said that the day ever sacred should be, 

 The Maggot and Spot the care of us shall be. 



And never shall be crushed, but for ever shall reign. 

 A Charter we got, &c. 

 Bright July now comes on, when we all are so gay. 



The first Friday in the month we all know, 

 Our Maggot for ages shall shine on that day. 



And every year some new splendour shall show, 

 When we agree that the Maggot and Spot 



Never shall be crushed, but for ever shall reign, 

 A Charter we got, &c. 

 Now, my brave boys, since united we be, 



With friendship and harmony keep up the day ; 

 Our boat rigg'd and mann'd well, so pleasant to see. 



There's nothing can equal our Maggot so gay. 

 A Toast now I say to good Daniel Day, 

 Who taught us first this Fair to maintain. 



A Charter we have got, &c. 

 " Written and sung hy Mr. Lidard from the Watermen's 



Boat. 

 " Come to Fairlop Fair, my good fellows invite, 

 To partake of that day, that is our delight ; 

 For we have spirits like fire, our courage is good. 

 And we meet with the best of respect on the road. 

 Would you see us, you'd say, when we are muster'd 



quite gay. 

 Success to the lads that delight in that day. 



Haste away, haste away, all nature seems gay, 

 Let's drink to the joys of Fairlop so gay. 

 Our horses are all of the very best blood. 

 Our boat is well built and her rigging is good. 



With our flags and our badges we unanimous agree, 

 'And join hand-in-hand to s [up ?] port the old Tree. 

 There's old CrufF and young CrufF our music shall 



. play, 

 While George Hull's staunch ponies shall tow us 

 away. 



Haste away, &c. 

 'Twas one Daniel Day that Invented this Fair, 

 As hearty a fellow as ever was there ; 

 The lord of the manor our Charter did gain. 

 And we sons of old Neptune will uphold the name : ' 

 We'll enjoy all the pleasure that springs from the- 



day. 

 And ever remember that old Daniel Day. 



Haste away, &c. 

 From Wapping Old Stairs away then we drive. 

 Upon the first Friday that comes in July ; 

 We breakfast at Woodford, at Loughton we lunch. 

 And return back to Rounden's, to dine and drink 



punch ; 

 Then our boatswain he starts us away to the Fair, 

 While Phoebus does shine on our colours so clear. 



Haste away, &c. 

 It's when from the forest to Ilford we steer, 

 j Every town we go thro' we'll give them three cheers;. 

 Then up to Tommy Wright's for to get refreshed there,. 

 Then return back to Wapping to sup of the best fare ;. 

 Where we'll dance and sing so cheerful and gay. 

 And ever remember that old Daniel Day. 



Haste away, &c. 

 Now, having described our boats, horses, and crew. 

 And our Fairlop so gay, which you all do review. 

 Our boat she comes home by the winding of [. . . .J,. 

 And now you are welcome into Fairlop Hall. 

 Our boat we put by for another fair day. 

 And ever remember that old Daniel Day. 



Haste away, &c. 



" A few years before Mr. Day died, his favourite 

 oak lost a limb, out of which he procured a coflin to be 

 made for his own interment, and often used to lie down 

 in it, to try how it would fit him. He died October 

 13, 1767, aged eighty- four, and his remains were con- 

 veyed to Barking by water, pursuant of his own re- 

 quest, accompanied by six journeymen Block and Pump 

 Makers, to each of whom he bequeathed a new leathern 

 apron and a guinea." 



So runs this historical and poetical (?) fragment. 

 The first song I have often heard sung, or rather 

 bawled, by Mr. Hemingway from one of the wine 

 dows in the street which diverges out of the Mil- 

 End Road, at the " King's Arms." That was be- 

 fore I commenced my teens. Hemingway has long 

 since gone the way of Daniel Day ; and Fairlop 

 has lost so much of its original vigour and po- 

 pularity, as to be almost one of the things that 

 were. 



There is an engraving of Fairlop Oak, as it ap- 

 peared in 1806, in the Gentleman's Magazine for 

 July, 1806, p. 617. I think that some particulars 

 of Fairlop Oak are given in Loudon's Arboretum. 

 The woodcut in the Mirror referred to (p. 114.) 



