John Boson 1705

Pilchard Rhyme (Reem an Parra Hern)

Ma canow vee wor Hern gen Cock ha Rooz.
Kameres en zans Garrack glase en Kooz.
Pothe’u an Coocoe devithes Treea
Durt Moar Tees Por Dega dega Creea
Ha kennifer Bennen oggas e Teen ??????(Bilbao MS toon)
Gen Kawall ha Try Cans Hern wor e Kein.
Th’a gweel Barcadoes en Kenifer Choy
Gen Ganow leaz Hern, Hern, Holan moy
Po the’ns Salles da, idden Mees worbar
Pres eu tha Squatcha man ha tedna Kar
Udg’hedda, Goula glaneth en dour sal
E vedn Ri Hanou da tha Muzzy ol
Gorra spladn en Ballier, Pedden ha Teen
Gobar ha Tra broaz Enz rag Varshants feen
Meero why rag Gwethan heer Tarthack Troos
Gorra war hedda Minow pemp canz pooz
Try termen en death meero why dotha
Rag hanter mees durta saim vedn cotha,
The’u hemma vor guir an Hern tha parra
En Marras Gwella ghy vedn wharra
Blethan wor blethan Gra Gorollion toas
Ha gen Hern lean moas ort Dour Gawvas ????
Wor duath Gra Gwenz Noor East wetha pell
Rag an Poble pow tooben debra ol
Ma Peath Hern pokar ol an Beaz
Moy Poble Bohodzack vel poble Broaz


(See below for a translation)

(Gwavas copy from Wm. Borlase MS) OC Vol III No 4 Winter 1938

THE PILCHARD CURING RHYME / REEM AN PARRA HEARN

Attributed to John Boson, c.1700

Ma canow ve war hearn gen cowk ha rooz My verses are of pilchards, with boat and net
Comerez en Zans* Carrack Looez en Cooz. Taken en bay* of the Grey Rock en the Wood.
Pothew an cucow devethez trea When the boats have come in
Durt moer teez por "Dega, Dega!" creia, From sea, with cove folk calling "Tithe, Tithe!"
Ha kiniffer benen ogas a toaz And every woman coming nigh
Gen kawall, ha try canz hearn, war e kein With a creel and three hundred pilchards on her back
Tha gweel barcadoes en keniffer chy, To make up bulks in every building,
Gen ganow leeas, "Hearn, Hearn! Hollan mouy!" With many voices, "Pilchards, Pilchards! More salt!"

Pothens sallez daa, edn meez warbar, When they are well cured, a month altogether,
Preze ew tha squatchia man, ha tedna kerr Its time to break up and pull away.
Oug'hedna, golhy glaneth en dowr sal: After that, wash clean in salt water.
E vedn ry hanow daa tha muzzi oll. It will give all the maids a good name.
Gurra spladn en balliar, pedn ha teen, Place gleaming in a barrel, head and tail,
Gubber ha tra vroaz enz rag vertshants feen. Income and a great thing they are for fine traders.

Meero whye rag gwethan, heer tarthack trooz; Look for a pole, thirteen feet long;
Gurra war hedna meanow pemp canz pooz. Put on that five hundredweight of stones.
Try termen en jeath meero whye dotha. Three times in a day see to them.
Rag hanter meez durta saime vedn cotha. For a fortnight oil will fall from them.
Thew hebma vorr gweer an hearn tha parra; This is a proper way to cure the pilchards;
En marhas, gwelha gye vedn whara. In the market, they will sell best.

Blethan war blethan gwra gurrollian doaz, Year after year let ships come
Ha gen hearn lean moaz urt Dowr Gwavas. And with pichards full go to Gwavas Lake
War duath, gwra gwenz Noor East whetha pell, At length, shall a noth east wind blow far.
Rag an pobell en pow tubm debbry oll. For the people in a hot country to eat all.
Ma peath hearn pecare oll an beaz The pilchard business is like all the world.
Mouy pobell bohodgack vel pobell broaz. More of poor people than rich people

*The word Zans "holy" was evidently transcribed wrongly in mistake for "bay".