Lyr Req: Earl of Totnes

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Earl of Totnes
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 28 Dec 07 - 06:28 PM

This long poem can be found in two books that are viewable with Google Book Search:

In The West Country Garland edited by Richard Nicholls Worth, 1875, where it is called THE RIDE TO SEA and is printed with this introduction:

ON the door of Haccombe Church, in Devon, are a couple of horse-shoes. The following ballad, written by a master of the Exeter Grammar School early in the present century, tells the traditional story concerning them.

In Belgravia a magazine edited by Mary Elizabeth Braddon, 1868. The poem doesn't have its own title. The text excerpted here precedes the poem:

HORSE-SHOES ON CHURCH-DOORS

IN many parts of Devonshire, and in others of the western counties, the stranger is somewhat puzzled at finding one or more horse-shoes nailed in regular order on the principal—generally the great west-door of the church. ... [H]orse-shoes are arranged in various patterns—sometimes in the form of a cross—and to most of them some story is attached accounting for their remarkable position. ... [W]e would suggest that all these stories are more or less inventions after the fact, and that the horse-shoe was originally intended, as it still is when hung or nailed over the doors of Devonshire farm-houses, to keep all evil things—witch, ill-wisher, ghost, "fairy, or fiend"—from crossing the sacred threshold. That it was possible for such creatures to enter a consecrated building, and that no ordinary means would expel them, was undoubtedly the ancient belief, not only of western England, but of all Christendom. ... The horse-shoe itself is, probably from its form and from its material—no goblin can endure iron—one of the most ancient defences against evil spirits—more powerful even than St. John's wort or mountain ash.

On the door of Haccombe Church—one of the most interesting in Devonshire from its fine memorials of the Haccombes and Carews, who have held the manor for ages—are two horse-shoes, of which the traditional story is told in the following ballad, written, we believe, by a master of the Exeter Grammar-School early in the present century. It deserves preservation on its own account; for, if it has not the true old ballad "ring," it recalls the later verses, which had a merit of their own, of Mickle and his followers. The Champernownes of Dartington rank among the most ancient families of Devon. The only Earl of Totnes was Sir George Carew, created in 1626, and famous in the Irish wars of Elizabeth and James I.; but tradition in these matters is not very particular.

The text of the poem appears to follow the text in the DT, but I haven't compared them in detail.

Subject: RE: Lyrics request: Earl of Totnes
From:
Date: 01 Sep 01 - 03:19 PM

To complete this query

Earl of Totnes

Subject: Lyrics request: Earl of Totnes
From:
Date: 16 Nov 96 - 03:20 PM

Seeking works for "Earl of Totnes"

The only recordong I know of is per Robin & Barry
Dransfield, on The Rout of the Blues. Unfortunately
There are many words I can't quite get. The following
is the best I could do...

The feast was over at Techam Hall
And the wassail bowl had been served to all
The Earl of Totnes rose from his place
The chanters came in to say the grace.

But scarce was ended this holy rite
There stepped from the crowd a valiant knight
His armor bright and his visage brown
His name was Sir Arthur de Jump a-noun

Good Earl of Totness approached a me
My fleetest courser from Barbary
And whether good or ill betide
A wager with you I mean for to ride

No Barbary Courser do I own
But I have brought the Earl of Devonshire home
I'll write you a wager by land or by sea

Help!