in 1750 "the gentleman's magazine" published a song called "a ballad of new scotland", to be sung to the tune "king john and the abbot of canterbury". "new scotland" is a reference to halifax in canada, founded 1749. a collection of songs called "the button hole gallery" (c 1720 - 1750) contains a riddling song called "the button hole". it was sung to the air "the abbot of canterbury". it reappeared as part of a collection of songs called "merry songs" (1897), edited by john s. farmer.