Just noticed the reference to the letters on the hat, O B to me the hat represents the rider of the horse and the horse itself already has a head and tail in the form of snappers. This fellow on the horse is old Hob himself (the Devil) although along with many words at the time the H has been dropped.. he has been nicknamed old Bonaparte on occasion too although its origins are a mystery really. I suppose his place in this is the bringer of bad weather and bad winds, by the End of mayday he has been killed off for another year heralding the coming of summer good fortune and bountiful harvest with a hint of the Hob that will rise again in Autumn and winter ready to be killed off again the next year.


I am from Padstow and the Ursula mentioned in the St George part of the song was my Great great great great great great great great grandmother she was born in 1629 real name Ursula Butson.