(Vol. v., p. 114.)
I have, in my scrap-book, a curious old print of Fairlop Oak, to which
some verses are attached, which I think is somewhat of a rarity. It is
on thin, miserable paper; size, demy quarto; without date or printer's
name; in general character bearing a very Catnachian aspect. The print
of the tree occupies nearly half the sheet, and is a most vile specimen
of both drawing and engraving. The tree is represented as in a
dilapidated condition, with a huge hollow trunk, within which are seen
some persons making themselves "jolly" at a drinking-table. The tree has
but five principal branches, and these are only tipped here and there
with foliage, the work of popular demolition under which the tree is
known to have fallen being plainly seen in its many barren branches, and
still more pointedly suggested by the four persons, who, having climbed
aloft, are airing themselves in the forks of its boughs. The background
is filled up with the incidents of the fair. To the right, in the
fore-ground, is one of the well-known "boats" mounted on wheels, the
deck manned by blockmakers "on their legs" singing a chorus. Behind, in
the distance, is a theatre or exhibition-booth, with the band and sundry
performers entertaining the crowd gratis; on the proscenium above is
written, ... GELL. CLARK. On the left hand is another of these
unclassical erections, with a man in front balancing himself on a
ladder; the name SAUNDERS being inscribed above. Below this is an
exhibition of a minor sort, and several groups of gaping cockneys. A
"boat," a booth, and a set of "knock 'em down" complete the scene; in
the latter case a woman caters for the encouragement of the English but
ignoble sport of "three throws a penny."[5] Below the print is a line in
large type (scarcely legible), announcing it to be "An original Drawing
by an eminent Artist [printed off] a Woodcut engraved on a Block of the
celebrated Tree." I transcribe literally what follows.
[Footnote 5: Query, whence the origin of this fashionable
accompaniment of cockney fairs?]
"The Stem of this vegetable Progidy, which was [roughly hollowed
(?)], measured, at 3 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 by 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.
"This 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 got, &c.
"_Written and sung by 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,
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 [ ... ],
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 coffin 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 conveyed to Barking by water, pursuant of his own
request, 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
windows in the street which diverges out of the Mil-End Road, at the
"King's Arms." That was before 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 popularity, as to be almost one of the things that
were.
There is an engraving of Fairlop Oak, as it appeared 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.) bears some resemblance,
in the outline of the tree, to my specimen of the Catnach literature.