From: History of the Berwickshire Naturalists Club, Edinburgh, 1843, pp. 44-6
As one object of this Club is to examine the antiquities of Berwickshire, a brief notice of the above game may not be unacceptable. Though still kept up, the interest taken in it has greatly decreased, and it may not, improbably, disappear ere long. It is not so much, therefore, from its present state that a complete description is to be drawn, as from tire recollections of the oldest inhabitants. I have only to regret that the details here presented are not more complete.
Fastern's Eve, or, as it is here called, Fastern's Fen, was once almost, if not altogether, a holiday to the inhabitants of Dunse. As in many other parishes, cock-fighting was the principal amusement during the forenoon, and, at one period, it seems, to have been in high estimation. The parish school, which was set apart for it, is described as having been sometimes crowded to the door, and the fees collected on the occasion formed a perquisite of some value. It is certainly to the honour of the present generation that this practice has disappeared.
The amusements of the afternoon are both more peculiar and inviting. The game is ball, played in a manner which, if not peculiar to Dunse, is at least not common. Preparations for it used to begin nearly a week before. Three young men were chosen to conduct them, and were called “ba'-men." They met on the Wednesday of the preceding week, to hold, along with their friends, the shaping of the ball, when they paraded the town, accompanied by a drum and fiddle, playing the tune,
“Never let the gree gang doon
For the gude o' our toon."
In this style they called at the houses of the more respectable inhabitants, danced with the servants, and received contributions.
Till the day itself arrived, their only duties were to collect these contributions and prepare the balls. Three are required for the game, but four are always prepared. The family at Dunse Castle have so liberally supported the practice, that it. has been customary to leave there one of the balls, which it is said are preserved. Of those played with, the first is gilt, and called the "golden ball," the second, from its colour, is called the “silver ball" the third is spotted.
About eleven o'clock in the forenoon the honour of throwing off the ball was at one time exposed to auction, in the churchyard, over one of the tombstones. The arrangement of the working classes in Dunse, under the different trades, was at that time much more complete than at present; and it was a subject of considerable competition among them who should have the honour of throwing up the ball. My informant states it as a very early recollection, that the whip-men (carters) bought it for fifteen shillings,-a sum which, making allowance for the difference of the value in money, shews the estimation in which it was held. The children of the Drummelzier family, or o£ the more respectable families in Dunse itself, have of late enjoyed the honour, but it has not unfrequently been left to the ball-men themselves.
It was from the top of a small building that stood close to the old Town-house, that the ball was usually thrown. Since that was taken down, it is simply from the street. About one o'clock the shops are shut, the golden ball is thrown off, and the game begins.
The opposing parties are the married and unmarried men. Their object is not to kick the ball, but to snatch it up and carry it off. This, however, is exceedingly difficult. It is thrown into the middle of the crowd, and whoever happens to gain it, is sure that hundreds will rush on him from every point. The scenes to which this leads, are, as may be supposed, exceedingly varied and amusing. At one time the crowd is rolled together in a mass, every individual in which is making the greatest exertions to gain or retain the ball. And should the possessor of it be able to escape, or to throw it to any distance, the rush which is made, and the eager pursuit, exhibit a very animated sight. The game of the married men is to carry the ball into the church, the doors of which are set open on the occasion. The unmarried men endeavour to reach any mill in the parish, and put the ball into the hopper.
The contests, though conducted in good humour, are usually very determined, and when the game was in higher estimation than at present, it is said that accidents sometimes happened from the pressure of the crowd.
Though the unmarried men might carry the ball to any mill in the parish, they generally endeavour to reach Clock-mill, about hall' a mile to the west of Dunse. It was once customary, therefore, for a party of their opponents to be stationed before it, and many a hard contest took place there. The parties, however, scarcely met on equal terms. The young men, spent with previous exertion, were no match for these fresh opponents; and it not unfrequently ended in their being plunged in the mill-lead. If, however, in spite of all opposition, the mill-hopper was fairly reached, the game was won. And then came their honours. The miller entertained them with pork and dumplins; and, what was of far more importance, dusted them, especially their hats, with flour. Like the laurel wreaths of other regions, this marked them out for the gaze of their fellow-townsmen.
In this way the three balls are played for successively. The person who succeeds in kirlting or in milling- such are the phrases- the first or golden ball, receives from the ball-men a reward of 1s. 6d., for the second 1s., and for the third 6d.
I have no means of ascertaining the antiquity of this practice. The oldest inhabitants tell us that, ever since they recollect, it has been falling off. It seems indeed at one time to have been engaged in with much greater spirit. Whoever did not play was marked, and the inhabitants not unusually assembled next day to inflict punishment. They dragged him forth, carried him down to the cross, and, as is said, knocked him against it. When one thinks of the population, leaving for one day their laborious occupations, and entering with spirit into the excitements of this game, lie would be a stern moralist who would forbid them the enjoyment. But every picture has its darker shades. The evening was generally spent in dancing and drinking. It was remarked too, that if any private quarrels had arisen, they were one way or other settled and set at rest on Fastern's E'en.