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ROUND ABOUT RYE 75
call the reader's mind to Kipling's " Tree Song," which has been set to music by an East Sussex lady, Miss Florence Aylward (Mrs. H. Kinder) and published by Chappell & Co. :
" Ellum she hateth mankind, and waiteth
Till every gust be laid, To drop a limb on the head of him,
That anyway trusts her shade, But whether a lad be sober or sad,
Or mellow with ale from the horn, He will take no wrong when he lieth along
'Neath Oak, and Ash, and Thorn ! "
Queen Elizabeth must have had a great liking for the " ancient towne," and made many progresses to Rye. It will be recalled that the second story in " Rewards and Fairies," tells how Gloriana spent three days—" knighting of fat Mayors," and christened the town Rye Royal. The year after the Armada she presented it with " six brass guns beautifully ornamented with the arms of Spain, which stood on the spot called the Green." Tradition claims that the old and curious clock which adorns the northern side of the church tower was also the gift of Elizabeth. The clock is remarkable by reason of two gilt " quarter-boys," who strike the quarters with a thin, clear note upon two bells, and between them is a kind of |
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