Swearing on the Horns
Swearing on the Horns was a farcical initiation ceremony held at pubs in the London suburb of Highgate from the 17th-19th century. The oath was administered by the Landlord or Host and the initiated pledged their dedication to merriment and debauchery. They were then dubbed the Freemen of Highgate.
The oath was: "You must not eat brown bread when you can get white, except if you like brown bread best. You must not drink small beer while you can get strong, except if you like the small the best. You must not kiss the maid while you can kiss the mistress, except if you like the maid the best, but sooner than lose a good chance, you may kiss them both."
Swearing on the Horns and becoming Freemen of Highgate bestowed several privileges. The first reward was a kiss from the prettiest girl in the pub, but if none could be found he must settle for what he got. Freemen in need of rest may kick a pig out of a ditch and take its place, unless three pigs be in the ditch, then he may only dislodge the middle one and take its place.
