Annotation:Huckle and Buff
X:24 T:Huckle and Buff A:England;London M:3/2 L:1/8 Q:1/2=100 S:J.Walsh,Third Book of the most celebrated jiggs,etc 1731 Z:Pete Stewart, 2004 <www.hornpipemusic.co.uk> with vmp revisions K:F fgaf f2F2f3f|gabag2G2g3g| agab agfe dcBA|BAGFG2e2f4|| ABcd dAfd cAfd cAGF|ABcd cagf gedc| ABcd cAfd cAGF|EFGA GEcA GEDC| fgag f2F2f3f|gabag2G2g3g| agab agfe dcBA |BAGF G2e2f3_e| dfdB dfbf dfdB|AcAF AcfcAcAF| EGEC EGcG EGEC|EGFAG2=B2"D.C."c4|]
HUCKLE AND BUFF. English, "Old" or Triple Hornpipe (3/2 time). F Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. The melody appears in Walsh's Lancashire Jigs, Hornpipes, Joaks etc. (c. 1731). Huckle and Buff, also called huckle-my-buff and huckle-my-butt, was a hot drink made with beer, egg and brandy. The term is mentioned in many manuscripts from the early 18th century. One such interesting record is that of the trial of one John Cooper, a homosexual, who was mugged and robbed in London in 1732 after a night of drinking, and who sought redress through the courts. A witness at the trial, Margaret Holder, gave this testimony:
I keep the Night- Cellar, the Prisoner came in about 10 at Night, and staid till 2 in the morning, and then the Prosecutor came in, and sat down by him, and said, "Your Servant, Sir; have you any Company belonging to you, for I don't love much Company?" Then they had 3 Pints of Huckle and Buff, as we call it, that's Gin and Ale made hot; and so about 4 o'Clock the Prisoner said he would go home, for his Mother would be up, and he might get in without his Father's Knowledge; and the Prosecutor said, "If you go, I'll go too"; so the Prisoner went up first, and the Prosecutor staid to change a Shilling, and went out after him. I believe the Prisoner is an honest Man; but the Prosecutor and Kitt Sandford too, use to come to my Cellar with such sort of People.