His master was in business as a
barber at the time of the Garrick Jubilee in 1769, and he asserted that
the list of forfeits was generally acknowledged by all the fraternity to
have been in use for centuries. The following lines have found their
way into several works, including Ingledew's "Ballads and Songs of
Yorkshire" (1860). In some collections the lines are headed "Rules for
Seemly Behaviour," and in others "The Barber of Thirsk's Forfeits." We
draw upon Dr Ingledew for the following version, which is the best we
have seen:--
"First come, first served--then come not late,
And when arrived keep your sate;
For he who from these rules shall swerve
Shall pay his forfeit--so observe.
"Who enters here with boots and spurs
Must keep his nook, for if he stirs
And gives with arm'd heel a kick,
A pint he pays for every prick.
"Who rudely takes another's turn
By forfeit glass--may manners learn;
Who reverentless shall swear or curse
Must beg seven ha'pence from his purse.
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