I have a written copy of Mowing Match in Roy Palmer's English Country Song Book

It quotes that the words were taken from Becket and filled out with verses from Ammon Wrigley.

Two of Becket's verses are missing from that book. There are sixteen verses printed, plus two from Becket makes eighteen

I'm convinced that other verses are out there and still known by a few, and I intend to track them down.

I've ordered the Richard and Stubbs book, thanks for the tip, we'll see if the words there differ at all.

I contacted Ruskin College, who said they'd either give me Peggy's details to ask permission, or they'd contact her on my behalf. I'm waiting to hear about that.

The tune in Palmer's book is very similar to a song called 'Nutting Girl', and he suggests that the chorus can be adapted to fit Mowing Match if it is deemed to be a little monotonous, although I don't find it so. So I have been um'ing and ah'ing about whether or not to adapt it.

Indeed the tune is very similar if not identical to the chorus of "With Henry Hunt We'll Go", which I found here.

I wondered if you introduce a chorus when you perform Mowing Match, Jim?

Regarding Drinking. Thankyou for showing the words. I found the Maccoll/Seeger album with 'Drinking' on it, it's called 'No Tyme Lyke The Present' from 1976.

Seems quite rare, only on vinyl and quite expensive. Unfortunately I don't have a record player anyway, so I'll have to wait to find out how that tune goes.

Finally there seems to be some question of why Becket didn't record Drinking or Four Loom Weaver in 1952, for which I have a theory.

Becket was in his eighties at the time of recording, which was quite a ripe old age back then.

I think the recording process may have been quite taxing. There must have been only one take because the mistakes are kept in, and during mowing match his voice begins to falter, with a cough developing and during the last verse he stumbles a little, perhaps losing the flow and bowing out gracefully without adding further verses. For this reason, I think Becket called an end to the session, and other songs were not recorded.

Just a theory.