seven
o’clock at night
On Fastern 's E'en when we war fou . Scots Song . The night which sunk down on the sickbed of Ramorny was not doomed to be a quiet one . Two hours had passed since curfew bell , then rung at seven o'clock at night , and in those primitive times all were retired to rest , excepting such whom devotion , or duty , or debauchery made watchers ; and the evening being that of Shrovetide , or , as it was called in Scotland , Fastern 's E'en , the vigils of gaiety were by far the most frequented of the three . The common people had , throughout the day , toiled and struggled at football ; the nobles and gentry had fought cocks , and hearkened to the wanton music of the minstrel ; while the citizens had gorged themselves upon pancakes fried in lard , and brose , or brewis -- the fat broth , that is , in which salted beef had been boiled , poured upon highly toasted oatmeal , a dish which even now is not ungrateful to simple , old fashioned Scottish palates . These were all exercises and festive dishes proper to the holiday . It was no less a solemnity of the evening that the devout Catholic should drink as much good ale and wine as he had means to procure ; and , if young and able , that he should dance at the ring , or figure among the morrice dancers , who , in the city of Perth , as elsewhere , wore a peculiarly fantastic garb , and distinguished themselves by their address and activity .