'LIBRARY
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BallaDS anD Romances.
EDITED BY
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AND
FREDERICK J. FURNIVALL, M.A.
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LONDON :
N. TRUBNER & CO., GO PATERNOSTER ROW.
1868.
PREFACE
TO
THE THIRD VOLUME.
Of this third volume the Historical Ballads are the principal
feature. Though the Robiu Hood set are continued by Adam
Bell, and Young e Cloudeslee, the Arthur set by The Carle off
Carlile, the Romances and Romance-poems by Sir Degree and
Sir Cawline, yet the Historical Ballads far outweigh these in
number and importance. Starting at King Edgar, they take
us down through William the Conquerour, The Drowning of
Henery the I his Children, Edward the Third, the Seege of
Roune (1418-19), Proud where the Spencers, the Murthering
of Edward the Fourth his Sonnes, The Rose of Englande, Sir
John Butler, Bosivorth Feilde, Ladye Bessiye, 'Sir Andrew
Bartton (1511), the Wininge of Cales (1596), The Spanish
Ladies Love, to A Prophecye of James I.'s time, 1620 a.d.,
written some twenty years before the MS. was copied.
More Songs also appear in this volume than in either of the
previous ones, and include the beautiful Nut-Brown Mayde
(though in a poor text), Baloive (in which Mr. Chappell and
Dr. Rimbault have helped us), and a spirited hawking song, A
Cauilere. But the piece of chief merit is undoubtedly the fine
alliterative poem in two fitts, now for the first time printed, Death
& Liffe. The best authority on English alliterative poetry, the
vi TREFACE TO THE THIltD VOLUME.
Rev. Walter W. Skeat, has been good enough both to ' introduct '
and comment on the poem for us, and also to write us an Essay
on Alliterative Metre, which we commend to the study of our
readers.
Of the other Introductions, Mr. Hales has written all, except
those to Sir John Butler (which is by Dr. Robson), jEneas &.
Dido (by Mr. W. Chappell), and the following by Mr. Furnivall :
In olde Times paste, Thomas of Potte, The Pore Man & the
Kinge, Noiv the Springe is come, Carle off Carlile, A Cauilere,
Sir Andrew Bartton, Kinge Humber, Seege off Roune. For
the slightness of several of the Introductions we hope that our
readers will accept the excuse of other pressing engagements,
which have kept back the volume since Nov. 11, 1867, when
the text was all finished, and the MS. returned to its owners.
We again return thanks to Messrs. Skeat, Dyce and Chappell,
to Mr. G. E. Adams (Rouge Dragon), Doctors Robson and
Rinibault, and to Mr. Alfred Tennyson for a letter on the origin
of the legend of Godiva.
February 29, 1868.
Vll
CONTENTS
OF
THE THIRD VOLUME.
AN ESSAY ON ALLITERATIVE POETRY, BY THE REV. W. W. SKEA1
XO^ES
SIR CAWLINE
SIR DEGREE
DEATH AND LIFFE
ADAM BELL, CLEME OF THE
CLOUGH, AND WILLIAM OF
CLOCDESLEE
YOIW'GE CLOUDESLEE .
IN OLD TIMES PASTE
DARKESOME CELL
MARKE MORE FOOLE .
THOMAS OF POTTE
WILLIAM THE CONQUEROUR
THE DROWNING OF HENERY THE I HIS CHILDREN
MIKTHERING OF EDWARD THE FOURTH HIS SONNES
THE FALL OF PRINCES
THE NUTT-BROWNE MAYD .
THE ROSE OF ENGLANDE .
THE PORE MAN AND THE KINGE
SIR JOHN BUTLER
WILL STEWAR1 AND JOHN .
NOW THE SPRINGE IS COME
HOSwrilUH FEJLDE
PAGE
xi
xli
1
16
49
76
102
119
123
127
135
151
156
162
168
174
187
195
205
215
230
233
Vlll
CONTENTS OF THE THIRD VOLUME.
TINEAS AND DIDO
THE SQDIER
O NOBLE FESTUS
CARLE OFF CARLILE
HERO AND LEANDER
CRESSUS .
SONGS OF SHEPARDES
THE LAUINIAN SHORE
COME MY DAINTY DOXEYS
TO OXFFORDE ..
LADTE BESSIYE .
ARE WOMEN FAIRE ? .
A CAUILERE
A rROP[H]ECYE
MAUDLINE
COME, PRETTY WANTON
HEE IS A FOOLE
LULLA, LULLA!
A LOUER OFF LATE .
GREAT OR PROUDE .
THE SPANISH LADIES LOVE
SIR ANDREW BARTTON
PATIENT GRISSELL
SCROOPE AND BROWNE
KINGE HUMBER
IN THE DAYES OF OLDE
AMINTAS .
WININGE OF CALES .
EDWARD THE THIRD
AS YEE CAME FROM THE HOLYE
LEOFFRICUS (OR GODIVA)
PROUDE WHERE THE SPENCERS
KINGE EDGAR .
CHRISTOPHER WHITE .
QUEBNB DIDO .
\uih\SO AND (iANSELO
LAND
PAGE
260
263
269
275
295
301
303
308
313
315
319
364
366
371
374
385
386
387
389
391
393
399
421
431
435
441
450
453
457
465
473
478
485
494
499
507
CONTENTS OF THE THIRD VOLUME.
IX
BALOWE .
GENTLE HEARD SMAN
I AM
CORIDON .
SEEGE OFF ROUNE
SUCH A LOVER AM I
APPENDED .
GLOSSARY TO THE THREE VOLUMES
INDEX TO THE THREE VOLUMES
PAGE
515
524
529
530
532
542
544
547
573
XI
AN ESSAY ON ALLITERATIVE POETRY.
By the Rev. W. W. SKEAT
{Editor of " Piers Plowman.")
Nothing has more tended to obscure the rules and laws of
English prosody, than the absurd and mischievously false
terminology that has been made use of in discussing it. Whilst
it is pretty clear that it is based on quite a different system
from the Latin and Greek metres — on an accentual, that is, not
on a temporal system — we have attempted to explain its peculi-
arities by terms borrowed from the Latin and Greek, such as
trochees, dactyls, &c, and we make perpetual use of the words
long and short. The truth is, the whole terminology of English
prosody, if it is not to be misleading and fruitful in all kinds of
errors, has yet to be invented. Instead of short and long, I
think the terms soft and loud might be employed with great
advantage. Dr. Guest 1 shows clearly enough that " an increase
of loudness is the only thing essential to our English accent,"
in opposition to the theory of Mitford, that it consists rather in
sharpness of tone, though the two are often found together.
Whichever view, however, is the more correct, this at least is
certain, that, whereas the words long and short are almost sure
to mislead, the words loud and soft will by no means do so in
an equal degree ; and I shall therefore henceforth employ these
terms only. I define a loud syllable as that whereon an accent
falls, a soft syllable as an unaccented one. In German, the
terms heaving and sinking (hebung und senkung) have some-
1 Guest, Hist. Eng. Rhythms, vol. i. p. 77.
xii AN ESSAY ON ALLITERATIVE POETRY.
times been employed to denote this raising and sinking of the
voice. 1
It were much to be wished that we had some genuine English
terms to supply the place of the trochee, the iambus, the dactyl,
and the anapaest. A trochee means a long syllable succeeded
by a short one ; but an English trochee is something quite
different, viz., a loud syllable followed by a soft one, and it may
even happen that the loud syllable is as rapid as the other, as
for instance in the words Egypt or impact, which have so
puzzled some writers, that they have, in despair, named them
spondees ! Were it allowable to give new names, they should
be given on the principle of representing the things meant by
help of the accents on the very names themselves. Thus a loud
syllable followed by a soft one might be called (not a trochee,
but) a Tonic ; a soft one, succeeded by a loud one, might be
called a Return ; a loud one, followed by two soft ones, might be
named (not a dactyl, but) a Dominant ; and, finally, instead
of anapaest, we might use some such term as Arabesque or
Solitaire, until a better one can be thought of ; for single words
thus accented are rare in English, the nearest approach to them
being exhibited by such words as refugee,cavalier, and serenade ;
and none of these even are free from a slight accent on the
first syllable. I feel convinced that until some such new terms
are invented, writers upon English metre will continue to say
one thing, and to mean another. I shall therefore introduce
hereafter the terms above defined, merely to save all miscon-
ception and a good deal of tedious explanation.
The Anglo-Saxon and Early English alliterative poems are,
for the most part, closely related in their structure to the
Icelandic measure called Fornyr'Salag. Their versification,
however, is often less regular, and in the poems of the four-
1 Dr. Latham, in his English Gram- way, viz., by employing algebraical
mar, gets out of the difficulty another .symbols.
AN ESSAY ON ALLITERATIVE POETRY. Xlll
teenth and fifteenth centuries especially we meet with several
infringements even of the most important and cardinal rules of it
In what follows, therefore, I hope I may be understood as
speaking with reference to the Anglo-Saxon and Early English
poems only, and with reference rather to Early English than to
Anglo-Saxon ; for many remarks that are perfectly true and
important as regards these contravene the rules of Icelandic
prosody, and relate to licences that, regarded from that point of
view, would seem almost intolerable.
The principal rules of alliteration, such as we actually find
them to be from a careful survey of Early English literature,
may be very briefly stated.
Supposing the poem to be divided into short lines, 1 as e.g.
in Thorpe's editions of Csedmon and Beowulf, the following
canons will be found to hold, at least in those lines which are
of the strictest type :
1. The complete verse, or alliterative couplet, consists of
two lines, each containing two loud syllables, coupled together
by the use of alliteration.
2. The initial letters which are common to two or more of
these loud syllables are called the rime-letters. Each couplet
should, if possible, have three of these, of which tivo belong to
the first line, and are called the sub-letters ; and one, which is
called the chief-letter, to the second line.
3. The chief-letter should begin the first of the two loud
syllables in the second line. If the couplet contain only tivo
rime-letters, it is because one of the sab-letters is dropped.
4. If the chief-letter be a consonant, the sub-letters should
be the same consonant, or a consonant having the same sound.
If a vowel, it is sufficient that the sub-letters be vowels. They
need not be the same, and in practice are generally different.
1 In "Death andLiffe" and " Scotitsh answer i" the short line* of Beowulf,
ffeilde," the sections of each long line #
XIV AN ESSAY ON ALLITERATIVE POETRY.
We sometimes meet with a combination of consonants, such
as sp, st, and the like, taking the place of a rime-letter. In this
case the other rime-letters often, but not always, present the same
combination, though the recurrence of the first letter only of
the combination is sometimes deemed sufficient.
These rules may be exemplified by the following examples,
in which the feet consist either of a loud syllable standing alone
(which I shall call a Tone), of a loud syllable and one soft
syllable (which I shall call a Tonic as above explained), or of a
loud syllable followed by two soft syllables, i.e. of a Dominant ;
from which it appears that the one thing essential to a foot is
its loud syllable.
(1) swi<5e gesSelige ; very happy ;
synna ne ciibon ; sins they knew not.
{Ccedmon, ed. Thorpe, p. 2. 1. 12.)
(2) hkm & foah-setl home and a high seat
Aeofena rices. of heaven's kingdom.
(C&dmon, p. 3, 1. 9.)
(3) e<5el-sta8olas the native settlements
eft gesette. might again establish.
(C&dmon, p. 6, 1. 25.)
In example (1), the rules are all fulfilled : the initial letters
of sivifte and scelige are the sub-letters ; that of synna is the
chief-letter. In example (2), the first foot of the first line has
but two syllables. In example (3), the vowel e is the rime-
letter, and there is but one sub-letter. These rules alone will
not, however, carry us very far on our way. One most impor-
tant modification of the verse may be thus explained.
Lines do not always begin with a loud syllable, but often one
or two, and sometimes (in Early English especially) even three
soft syllables precede it. These syllables are necessary to the
sense, but not to the scansion of the line. SThis complement,
which I shall call the catch, answers to the Icelandic malfylling.
The use of it is a very necessary license, and lines in which it
occurs are more common than those without it. No special
AN ESSAY ON ALLITERATIVE POETRY. XV
stress should, in reading or reciting, be laid upon the syllables
of which the catch consists. The following are examples of its
use :
dome & dugefce of sway and dignity
&) rfreame benam. and joy deprived them.
(Ccedmon, p. 4, 1. 19.)
geond-)/blen/yro filled throughout with fire
&)/aer-cyle. and cold intense.
(Ccedmon, p. 3, 1. 29.)
ge-^remed ^rymme provoked bitterly,
<?rap on wrafce. he gripped in wrath.
(Ccedmon, p. 4, 1. 29.)
Here cfe, geond, <&, ge, are the catches. The third example
shows us the combination gr used as a rime-letter. I add a few
examples from Early English.
In) cuntinaunce of clothinge,
gweinteliche degyset ;
To) ^reyere and to ^enaunce
^litten heom monye ;
Bote in a) ilfayes morwnyngo
on) il/aluerne hulles,
Me bi-i/el a/erly,
A) /eyrie me thouhte ;
I) sftimberde in A sZepyng,
hit) sownede so murie.
(Piers Plowman, ed. Skeat, A. prol. 1. 24, 25, 5, 6, 10.)
I have said, in rule 2, that rime-letters are the initial letters
of certain loud syllables. In a large number of instances, the
rime-letters arc made to begin words also, such words being
chosen as commence with loud syllables, as in —
wereda wuldor-eining
wordum herigen ; (Ccedmon, 1. 3.)
Worchinge and wondringo
as the) world asketh; (Piers PL A. prol. 19.)
This is undoubtedly the best arrangement, but it cannot always
be followed ; when it is not, care should be taken that the
XVI AN ESSAY ON ALLITERATIVE POETRY.
initial syllable of the word is as soft and rapid as possible, as in
gescdige and bifalle in the lines
swi8e gesaelige
synna ne cii}>on ; (Ccedm. ed. Thorpe, p. 2. 1. 12.)
Mony) ferlyes han bifalle
in a) fewe 3eres. (P. PL A. prol. 62.)
Indeed, these can hardly be considered as exceptions ; for ge~
and hi- are mere prefixes, and it is with the syllables succeeding
them that the words themselves truly begin.
The more this rule is departed from, the more risk is there
of the true rhythm of the line being unperceived.
Occasional instances may be found where rime-letters begin
soft syllables, of which I shall adduce instances ; this, however,
is decidedly bad, the fundamental principle of alliterative verse
being this, that alliteration and heavy stress should always go
together.
The second line of the couplet is nearly always the more
regular. Sometimes, but rarely, it contains three loud syllables.
In the first line, however, the occurrence of three loud syllables
is by no means uncommon. Examples :
Ayhtlic Aeofen-timber ; the joyous heavenly-frame ;
Aolmas chelde — the waters parted (he).
(Ccedmon, p. 9, 1. 23.)
/Begre/VeoJjo-beawas, fair kindly thews,
/red eallum leof — the Lord dear to all.
(Ccedmon, p. 5, 1. 29.)
Now is) ilfeede \>o il/ayden i-nomen, •
and no) mo of hem alle. (Piers Plowman, A. iii. 1.)
Another variation, not uncommon in Old English, is that each
line of the couplet is alliterated by itself, independently of the
other line. Examples :
For) James \>e ^entel
Wnd hit in his Aook
what )>is) il/ountein be-;«ench
and \>\s) rZerke dklo.
(Piers Plowman, A. i. 1.09, 1 ; see also iii. 93, vii. 57, 69.)
AN ESSAY" ON ALLITERATIVE POETRY. xvii
t
The following licences are also taken :
(a) The chief-letter falls on the second loud syllable of the
line ; as in
Vn-)£uynde to heore k\m
and to) alle cristene; (P. PL A. i. 166.)
(b) Sometimes there are two rime-letters in the second line,
and one in the first, which is the converse of the usual arrange-
ment.
An example is furnished by the line —
tyle he had syluer
for his) sawes and his selynge. (P. PL A. ii. 112.)
(c) The chief-letter is sometimes omitted, which is certainly
a great blemish, and such lines of course occur but rarely.
Examples are :
I wol) worschupe \>er-wi\>
treiithe in my lyue. (P. PL A. vii. 94.)
And) beere heor brks on \>i Mc
to Caleys to sulle. (P. PL A. iii. 189.)
(d) Eime-letters sometimes begin soft syllables, even when
the soft syllable occurs in the initial catch. An obvious instance
is afforded by the line —
In G7a-)morgan with gibe
thare) ^//adchipe was evere. {Morte Arthure, 1. 59.)
(e) By a very bold licence, the chief-letter even occurs in the
initial catch of the second line. This, according to all the rules
of Icelandic prosody, involves an absurd contradiction ; but
there are not only some, but rather numerous instances of this
in Old English, and I add several examples in order that the
point may become more obvious. I could add many more.
And) nidob as Ich ev scide
in) profitable werkes. (P. PL A. i. 120.)
ber to) wonen with M»rong
cvhil) god is in heuene. (P. PL A. ii. 74.)
vol. in. a
XV111 AN ESSAY ON ALLITERATIVE POETRY.
yit I) ^>reye J?e, quod j>hv$,
p&v) eharite, 31!* bou conne. (P. PI. A. vii. 240.)
God) jiuej> Aim his blessyng
)>at Ais) lyflode so swynkeb. (P. P/. A. vii. 239.)
where it should be noted that his is not without a slight em-
phasis on it, notwithstanding its position. In William and the
Werwolf this licence is rather common, and I may instance
lines 2836, 3000, 3113, 3133, 3137, 3467, 3614, 3984 as oc-
curring to me after a very slight search. One instance may
suffice ; the rest are quite as decisive :
&),/airest of alle/ason
/or) eny riche holde. (Werwolf, 2836.)
(/) Occasionally no alliteration is apparent at all. I fail to
discover any in the line,
whi tat) reniaunce fel
on) Saul and his children. (P. PL A. iii. 245.)
3^et this line is undoubtedly genuine, as appears by a collation
of MSS. See also Werwolf, 1. 5035.
In fact, a continual and oft-repeated perusal of thousands of
alliterative verses has convinced me that our old poets con-
sidered such licences quite allowable, provided that the swing
of the line was well kept up by the regular recurrence of loud
syllables. A line wholly without alliteration was quite admis-
sible as a variation, and is not to be rejected as spurious. If
however two or three irregular lines occur close together, they
may then be regarded as probably not genuine. When, for
instance, we meet with
/erne his /awe | at is so lelo,
&) s#e teche it furfrer, (P. PL ii. 31,)
and, only three lines below, come upon
when) ke6 was me fro
I) lokod and byA&de,
it is not surprising to find that these lines rest on the authority
AN ESSAY ON ALLITERATIVE TOETRY. XIX
of one MS. only, and are in all probability an interpolation. In
the same way I was first enabled to suspect the spuriousness of
1. 817-821 in Pierce the Ploughmans Crede, which lines are, in
fact, omitted in both the existing MSS. But occasional licences,
even when most bold, are scarcely to be regretted. They give
freedom to the poet, and relief to the reader, who in old times
was often a listener.
It appears further, from rules 2 and 3, that the second line
should contain but one rime-letter. The point aimed at was no
doubt this, viz., that in order to give the greater force and stress
to the syllable containing the chief-letter, it is desirable that
the second loud syllable in the second line of the couplet should
not begin with a rime-letter. Hence couplets with four rime-
letters are by no means good. Yet there are several instances
in Piers Plowman, as
In a) somer sesun
whon) softo was the sonne. (P. PL A. prol. 1.)
That I) was in a wildernesse
artiste I neuer where. (P. PL A. prol. 12.)
There is, however, no such objection to four rime-letters, if the
first three can be got into the first line of the couplet. The
following lines are very effective: —
With) r/eop r/ich and devk
and) r/mlful of siht. (P. PL A. prol. 16.)
■Faire/loiiros/or to/6ccho
that he hi)-/6re him seyc. (Will, and Werwolf, 1. 26.)
<S%athylle &6ttlande by skylle
he) sZystys [read skyftys] as hym lykys. (Mortc Arthure, 1 32.)
As regards the number of rime-letters in a couplet, three has
generally been considered as the standard, regular, and most
pleasing and effective number; but it is not always easy to be
attained to, and hence couplets with only two are common
enough. I think it would be well worth inquiry as to whether
or not the frequent occurrence of only two rime-letters in an
a 2
XX AN ESSAY ON ALLITERATIVE POETRY.
Anglo-Saxon couplet is a mark of antiquity. I imagine it will
be found to be so, 1 for it would appear that their system of
verse was but a rough one at first, and was elaborated in course
of time. It is tolerably certain, on the other hand, that the
frequent introduction of a fourth rime-letter in Early English
poems is a mark of lateness of date, as is curiously shown by
the alterations made in the Lincoln's Inn MS. of Piers Ploiv-
man, where the lines
Wende I) wydene in this world
wondres to here —
Vndur a) brod banke
bi a) Bourne syde —
I sauh a) Tour on a Toft
tritely I-maket —
have been improved (?) by altering the words here, syde, and
I-maket, into ivayte, brymme, and ytymbred respectively. 2
With regard to the complement or catch, Kask says : 3 —
" The chief-letter does not necessarily stand first in the second
line, but is often preceded by one or more short words, yet not
by such as require the tone or emphasis in reading. These
short precursory words which, though independent of the struc-
ture of the verse, are necessary to the completion of the sense,
constitute what may be called the complement, which, in
arranging verses that are transcribed continuously, we must
be careful not to confound with the verse itself, lest the allitera-
tion, the structure of the verse, and even the sense, be thereby
destroyed." This statement Br. Guest tries to hold up to
ridicule in strong terms, 4 but I take it to be perfectly sound
and correct as regards the main point at which Eask is aiming,
though requiring some limitation, for though the catch may
consist of " one or more words," it is rarely of more than two
1 Such, I find, is also Dr. Guost's s Rask's Anglo-Sa.ron Grammar, trans-
opinion ; Guest's Hist. Eng. Rhythms, lated by Thorpe, 1830, p. 136.
vol. i.p. 141. * Guest, Hist. Eng. lihythms, vol. ii.
2 See Piers Plowman, Text A, ed. p. C.
Skeat, p. xxii.
AN ESSAY ON ALLITERATIVE POETRY. Xxi
syllables. The catch, as Dr. Guest points out, is not absolutely
toneless ; yet it is clear that the accented syllables which occur
in it have a comparatively lighter tone, a slighter stress, than
those in the body of the verse ; they do not attain, in fact, to
the same strength of accent as those syllables possess which
have accent and metrical ictus both, and to which special force
is lent by the use of rime-letters. Even in modern English
verse, all accents are far from being equal, much depending on
the position of words, so that we may even to some extent alter
the accent on a word by merely shifting its place. Thus if we
alter
Larger e6nstellations burning, mellow moons and happy skies,
into —
Constellations burning larger, mellow moons and happy skie-s,
we give a very different effect to the words larger and constel-
lations ; whilst in both cases the accent on mellow is com-
paratively slight. Whilst allowing to the catch, when of two
or three syllables, a slight accent, we neglect it, in scansion, as
compared with the heavier ones that follow.
In further illustration of the statement, that special stress is
given to syllables by the use of rime-letters, I may draw atten-
tion to the fact that this is true in poetry that is by no
means professedly alliterative. It was not by chance that
Shakespeare wrote —
Full fathom five thy father lies ; — -
Though thou the waters warp;
and the like ; or that Gray wrote —
Ruin seize thee, ruthless king ; —
"Weave the warp and weave the woof,
The winding sheet of Edward's race ;
or that Pope chose the words —
Puffs, powders, patches, bibles, billets-doux ;
Xxii AN ESSAY ON ALLITERATIVE POETRY.
where the absurd contrast between "bibles" and "billets-doux"
is much heightened by the fact that they begin with the same
letter. It may be said that alliteration draws attention rather
to the words themselves than to their initial syllables, but in
English it comes to much the same thing, owing to our habit
of throwing back the accent, and in English poetry, accent and
alliteration go together ; or if not, the alliteration fails to strike
the ear, and has but little effect. Hardly any alliterative
effect is produced by the repetition of the w in EdivarcVs in the
above line from Gray. This is why the licence of beginning a
soft syllable with a rime-letter is over-bold and almost ruinous.
See Hyde Clarke's English Grammar, pp. 13 7-145. l
All Anglo-Saxon poetry is alliterative, and very nearly all of
it alliterative only, without any addition of rime whatever.
This is by no means the casein Icelandic; their poets delighted
in adding various complexities, such as full-rimes, half -rimes,
line-rimes, and assonances. Space would fail me to discuss
these here, nor is it necessary perhaps to do more than point,
out the very few examples of rime which are to* be found in
Anglo-Saxon.
There are some instances of full-rime in Csedmon, but they
occur in words close together, and in the same short line, as in
the lines "gleam and dream,'' "wide and side,''' &c. ; they
are found also in other poems, as "frodne and godne " in the
" Traveller's Song," " loenne and samne " in " Alfred's Metres,
&c. : see Guest, vol. i. p. 126, &c. There are also half -rimes,
as in " sar and sorge," "his boda freoeZan," &c. The most
curious example is in the Eiming Poem in the Exeter MS.,
1 Compare — Nein ! Seufzen nor und Stiihncn unci
rvcfj\bs rd t' wto. t6v re vovv rd r v/x^aT' schcucr Sklavensehritt.
el (Sophocles, (Ed. Col. 37].) (Uhland, Des Scmqcrs Find.)
Ncu patri;e validas in viscera vertite But minds of mortall men are muchell
Tires. (Virgil, Mn. vi. 833.) niard
II pietoso pastor pianse al suo pianto. And niov'd amissc with massy mucks
(Tasso, G. L. vii. 16.) unmeet regard.
. . . . aie Saite noch Gesang, (Spencer, /•'. Q. iii. 10. 31.)
AN ESSAY ON ALLITERATIVE POETRY. XX111
which is written in rime throughout, the alliteration being
mostly preserved at the same time, as in
wic ofer wongum,
wennan gongum ;
lisse mid longum,
leoma getongum.
{Codex Exoniensis, ed. Thorpe, p. 353.)
See also the most extraordinary lines in the same poem (p.
354), beginning
flail mah fliteb,
flan mon hwiteS,
where there is indeed abundant proof that the Anglo-Saxons
were acquainted with rime in its modern sense.
Other examples occur in the "Phoenix" (p. 198 of the same
vol.) in the oft-quoted lines
ne) forstes fn£est
ne) fyres bl££st,
ne) h^egles hryre
ne) hrimes dryre.
Of another curious example I shall speak presently.
The following notation may perhaps prove useful for marking
the scansion of Anglo-Saxon and Early English alliterative
poems. If we denote a Tone by T, a Tonic by t, a Dominant
by d, and a catch by a line ( — ), it is easy to represent the
scansion of Csedmon, to the extent of any number of lines, by
putting a comma at the end of a line, and the mark | at the
end of a couplet. The poem begins thus :
Us is) rilit micel Tor us it is very right
baet we) rodera wi'ard That we the heaven's Warden,
wereda wuldor-cining The Glory- King of hosts,
wordum herigen, With (our) words should praise,
mddum lufien; With (our) minds should love;
he is) mdegna spt'd, He is of powers the Speed,
heafod ealra The Head of all
heah-gesceafta.' High-created (ones).
1 The accents merely mark stress ; I system of accents which regulates (ho
am obliged hero to ignore the usual length of the vowels.
Xxiv AN E;?SAY ON ALLITERATIVE POETRY.
The scansion is as follows :
— T t, — d T | d t t, t d | t d, — t T | 1 1, 1 1 | .
I have no space here to discuss CEedmon's " longer rhythms."
I cannot see that they present any difficulty. The lines have
more feet in them, and that is all. Commonly, these lines have
four feet, whereas the more usual length is just half this, or of
two feet.
With some slight modifications, the same method is applicable
to the scansion of all other existing English poems that are
written in alliterative verse. It will be found upon comparison
that the one striking and chief point of difference between
Anglo-Saxon poems, as Cajdmon's, and Early English poems, as
Piers Plowman, is this, that whereas Caedmon's poem abounds
in tonics, and has the tonic foot as its base and foundation (the
dominant being merely a variation of it), Piers Plowman is the
exact contrary, and its base is the dominant foot, for which the
tonic is occasionally employed. Beyond this there is very little
difference, excepting that in the later poems there is, as might
be expected,- a freer and more frequent use of initial catches.
There has been much discussion as to whether alliterative
poems should be printed in couplets of short lines, or in long
lines comprising two sections. It is more a matter of con-
venience of typography than anything else ; but if there be a
choice, it is better to print the later (Old English) poems in
long lines, as they are invariably so written in MSS., and it
may be allowable to print the earlier (Anglo-Saxon) poems in
short lines, because, though written as prose in the MSS.,
metrical dots occur very frequently (though seldom regularly),
which are often not separated from each other by more than
the length of a half-line. 1 Even these, however, are sometimes
1 Such, at least, has been the usual from the usual method of printing
practice with respect to Anglo-Saxon Icelandic ponns. But it should be
poems, the idea probably being taken noted that when such a poem as Piers
AN ESSAY ON ALLITERATIVE POETRY. XXV
printed in long lines, and I believe this to be the least con-
fusing ; for nearly all those who have adopted short lines have
forgotten to set back the second line of the couplet (as should
always be done), and then the eye of the reader cannot detect
how the lines pal)- off.
In printing the later poems in long lines, the two parts of the
couplet (which is now but one line) become sections, as before
explained, and the pause which was formerly made at the end
of the first [short] line becomes the middle pause, marked in
the Scotish Feilde by a colon, and in Death and Liffe by an
inverted full-stop. This pause was always made, there can be
no doubt, in reciting such poems aloud, and in some manuscripts
is carefully marked throughout by a dot, though others omit it.
It is very essential to the harmony of the verse, and is worth
retaining, as it greatly assists the reader. It should be noted,
also, that the second section of the verse is almost always the
most carefully and smoothly written, and very rarely contains
more than two feet, on which account it is often shorter than
the first section. The greatest stress of all generally falls on
the first loud syllable of this section (i. e. on the one com-
mencing with the chief-letter) which is just what it should do.
This stress is heightened in many instances by the introduction
of a very short catch at the beginning of the second section,
consisting of one soft and rapid syllable.
That this is the usual rule appears from the following
analyses of the catches beginning the second sections in the 109
lines of the Prologue to Piers Plowman:
Second sections without catches, 28.
With a one-syllable catch, 67.
With a catch of two syllables, 12.
Plowman is written as prose (as in MS. lias not boon an utter and an unnecessary
Digby 102), there is the same marking mistake, adopted rather because it hap-
off into half-lines, and it may be (pies- pened to be convenient than because any
tioned whether the printing in half-lines good reason could be given for it.
XXVI
AN ESSAY ON ALLITERATIVE POETRY.
With a catch of three syllables, 2 ; though there may be
doubt about these ; I refer to the lines,
and —
That) Ponl precheth of hem '
I dar not) pr6ouen Were (1. 38) ;
That heore) Pariseh hath ben pore
seththe the) Pestilence tyme (1. 81).
The
In 1. 104, the catch seems to contain the chief-letter.
line is —
Cookes and heore knaues
cryen) hote pies, hote.
It should be observed further that the catch in the second
section is very frequently modified by the way in which the
first section terminates. If this ends in a Tone, a catch of one
or two syllables is required for smoothness, to make up, as it
were, a Tonic or a Dominant ; if it ends in a Tonic, the catch
should have but one syllable ; if it ends in a Dominant, the
catch should be dispensed with. 2
The earliest alliterative poem after the Conquest is, perhaps,
Layamon's Brut. In this poem, of which there are two copies
that often do not agree as to the readings, rimes are continually
found mixed up with the alliteration, without any preparation or
warning to the reader, and the scansion of it has consequently
caused some perplexity. To be sure of the right scansion, I
think that most heed should be paid to such passages as stand
the same in both MSS., and I fancy that instances may be
1 him is here emphatic ; see the
context.
2 Modern poets learn this rule by the
ear. Thus, in Lord Lyron's lines —
Know ye the laud where the cypress and
myrtle
Are) emblems of deeds that are done
in their clime ;
Where the) rage of the vulture, the love
of the turtle,
Now) melt into softness, now madden
to crime,
the words myrtle and turtle are succeeded
by a catch of one syllable ; but clime by
one of two syllables. Let the reader
change Are into Arc as, and Where tin'
into The, and see how he likes it then ;
the former of these changes is by no
means pleasing. See this worked out in
Edgar A. Poe's essay on The Rationale
of Verse, which, though very mail to-
wards the conclusion, contains some
good hints.
AN ESSAY ON ALLITERATIVE POETRY. XXV'll
detected in which the rime was superadded as an after-thought,
either by the scribe or by the poet himself. The following lines
occur at p. 165 of vol. i. of Sir F. Maddeu's edition, in the
second column :
Ho was) wis and war
he) welde thes riche
al) hit hine louede
that) liucde on londe,
which lines are clearly alliterative. But in the first column,
i.e. in the other MS. copy, the first couplet is altered to —
he wes wis he wes heir
he welde that riche hcer ;
where the word hcer (here) is clearly inserted to make a rime,
though neither the sense nor the rhythm require it. The
variations between the two copies render it dangerous to theorize
on the rhythm, though we may feel tolerably confident about
the readings as far as the sense and the language are concerned.
But it seems worth remark that there is an Anglo-Saxon poem
of 20 couplets to be found in the Saxon Chronicle — the one to
which I said I should have to refer again — which presents the
same kind of mixture of alliteration and rime as is found in
Layamon. It is on the death of iElfred, the son of JEthelred,
and is entered in the Chronicle under the date 1036. 1 One
couplet is clearly rime —
siime hi man bende
siime hi man blende ;
whilst another is a fair alliterative specimen,
that hi hlission
blithe mid Criste.
Most of the lines are still less regular, but this poem ex-
hibits, I believe, the nearest approach to Layamon's rhythm
that is to be found in Anglo-Saxon, and it is on this account
that it seems worth while to mention it.
1 Grcin, Angehachsische Bibl/'othek, vol. i. p. 357. See A.-S. Chron., ed. Thorpe,
p. 294.
XXV111 AN ESSAY ON ALLITERATIVE POETRY.
I now give a list of all the poems I have as yet met with
that have been written as alliterative, yet without rime, since
the Conquest. It is a very short one, but many of the poems
are of great length, most of them are of importance, and they
all possess considerable energy and vigour.
The oft-quoted statement of Chaucer, in the prologue to the
" Persones Tale," that alliterative metre was not familiar to a
southern man, deserves notice. The best examples of the
metre are to be found in poems written in the northern and
ivestem dialects. The example which seems to contain most
southern forms is the " Ploughmans Crede," which must, how-
ever, have been written after Chaucer's remark was made.
1. Layamon's Brut, about a.d. 1200. The author was a
native of Ernley on Severn. There are two texts (MSS. Cotton ;
Calig. A. ix., and Otho, C. xiii.). Both of these were edited by
SirF. Madden for the Society of Antiquaries, in 1847, in 3 vols.
8vo. (Here, however, a considerable admixture of rime is
occasionally found. It should be compared with the "Bestiary "
from MS. Arundel 292, printed in Reliquice Antiquce, vol. i.
p. 208.)
2. Seinte Marherete, about a.d. 1200. See MSS. Keg. 17.
A. xxvii., and Bodl. 34. This poem, as edited by Mr. Cockayne,
was reissued by the E. E. T. S. (Early English Text Society) in
1866. The metre is tolerablv regular.
3. William of Palerne, translated from the French by one
William, at the request of Humphrey de Bohun, Earl of Here-
ford, then residing at Gloucester, about A. d. 1360. The MS. is
in King's College, Cambridge, No. 13. It was printed by Sir
F. Madden for the Roxburghe Club, 1832, 4to ; and I am now
preparing a reprint of this edition for the E. E. T. S.
4. Alexander (A) ; a fragment originally written at about
the same date, preserved in the Bodleian Library (MS. Greaves,
60), now being edited by myself for the E. E. T. S. in William
of Palerne. (Sir F. Madden conjectures it to have been written
AX ESSAY OX ALLITERATIVE POETRY. XXIX
by the author of No. 3. A comparison of the language of the
poems, latety made by myself, confirms this supposition.)
5. The Vision of William concerning Piers the Plowman,
together with Vita de Bowel, Dobet, and Dobest, by William
Langland, said to be a native of Cleobury Mortimer in Shrop-
shire. Of this there are three texts at least. A. About A. d,
1362; MS. Vernon in the Bodleian, printed by Skeat for the
E. E. T. S. (1867, 8vo), and collated with MS. Harl. 875 and
several others. B. About 1366-67; first printed by Crowley
in 1550, 4to. An excellent MS. in Trin. Coll. Camb., marked
B. 15. 17, was printed by T. Wright (1842, 2 vols. 12 mo).
There are several other MSS., such as Laud 581, &c. Bb. A
text slightly altered from B, and found in MS. Bodley 814,
MS. Additional 10574, and MS. Cotton Calig. A. xi. Never
printed. C. A little later than B. MS. Phillips 8231, printed
by Whitaker (1813, 4to) ; and in several other MSS. ; as, e. g.
MS. Vesp. B. xvi.
6. Pierce the Ploughmans Crede, about a. d. 1394; first
printed by R. Wolfe (1553, 4to), and reprinted from his edition
by Crowley, Whitaker, and T. Wright. MSS. still exist ; one
in Trin. Coll. Camb. R. 3. 15, and another in MS. Bibl. Reg.
18. B. xvii. These are more correct than R. Wolfe's printed
copy, and the former has been lately printed by myself for the
E. E. T. S. (1867, 8vo). The author is evidently the same as
the author of the Ploivman's Tale, which is inserted in some
editions of Chaucer.
7. The Deposition of Richard II. (a. d. 1399). A fragment
only is known, existing in MS. Camb. Univ. Lib. LI. 4. 14 ;
printed by T. Wright for the Camden Society (1838, 4to), and
reprinted in Political Poems by the same editor. This is the
only other poem that Can be attributed to William Langland,
and I think it quite probable that he wrote it. Mr. Wright,
however, thinks differently, and the question requires much
careful investigation.
XXX AN ESSAY ON ALLITERATIVE TOETRT.
8. Two poems, one on Cleanness, and a second on Patience,
(MS. Cotton, Nero, A. x.), printed by K. Morris for the E.E.T.S.
(1864, 8vo). The dialect is West-Midland, and Mr. Morris
supposes it to be Lancashire. The MS. can scarcely be older
than a. d. 1400.
9. The Destruction of Jerusalem, called by Warton (History
of English Poetry, vol. ii. p. 105 ; 1840) The Warres of the
Jeives. MS. Cotton, Calig. A. ii. ; MS. Camb. Univ. Lib. Mm.
5. 14 ; and elsewhere. To be edited for the Early English Text
Society.
10. Morte Arthure; about a.d. 1440. MS. in the Thornton
volume at Lincoln, printed by Halliwell (1848, 8vo), and re-
printed by Eev. G. G. Perry for the E. E. T. S. (1865, 8vo). The
scribe was archdeacon of Bedford in the church of Lincoln,
though a native of Yorkshire.
11. Alexander (B and C). There are two fragments, one
(C) preserved in MS. Ashmole 44 and MS. Dublin D. 4. 12, the
other (B) in MS. Bodley 2464. Both were printed by Steven-
son for the Eoxburghe Club (1849, 4to). The fragment C has
traces of a northern dialect, and is about a.d. 1450. But the
other is much older (probably before 1400), and its language
approaches that of fragment A (No. 4), though I hardly think
they belong to the same poem.
12. The Destruction of Troy, translated from Guido de
Colonna ; an edition is now being prepared for the E. E. T. S.,
to be published in 1868. The dialect is certainly of a Northern
tendency. The MS. is in the Hunterian museum at Glasgow,
numbered S. 4. 14. I have observed a line in it (1. 1248)
which almost entirely coincides with 1. 4212 in the Morte
Arthure, and other indications show some connection between
the two. Either they are by the same author, or one is imi-
tated from the other. The Morte Arthure seems superior to
the Troy poem, which makes the former supposition doubtful ;
but this point will no doubt be settled when the edition of the
AN ESSAY ON ALLITERATIVE TOETRY. XXxi
latter poem which is now being prepared for the E. E. T. S.
shall have been printed.
13. A poem of 146 lines, beginning —
Crist crowned king, that on Cros diciest ;
of which 27 lines are quoted by Bishop Percy (Rcl. v. ii. p. 312;
from 5th ed.) a small 4to. MS. in private hands. It is a pity
he did not quote the remaining 119 lines at the same time. He
conjectures it to be of the reign of Henry V.
14. Chevelerc Assigns, or the Knight of the Swan ; temp.
Henry VI. ; eel. Utterson (Koxburghe Club), 1820. A short
poem of 370 lines, contained in MS. Cotton Calig. A. ii., the
same, be it observed, as contains a copy of No. 9. The editor
draws attention to its having a few rimed endings, but the
author clearly did not regard them as essential. The following
list comprises all of them: where, there (12, 13); lene, tweyne
(28, 29); were, there (31, 32): swycle, leyde (158, 159); faste,
caste (166, 167); siuanes, cheynes (198, 199, and again at 350,
351); were, mysfare (237, 238); myskarrye,marye (260, 261).
There are also several assonances, such as wenden, lenger (302,
303). The following is a specimen to show the effect of the
superadded rime :
And it) wexedde in my honde
&) welled e so faste,
That I) toke the other fyue,
&) fro the fyer caste.
It is a faulty specimen of verse, upon the whole ; the alliter-
ation is not always well kept up, and many of the lines halt, as
does the fourth line of these here quoted ; unless, indeed, we
alter the whole system of accents, putting three Tonics in every
line, not counting the catches.
15. A fragment of a poem, not in very regular rhythm, about
Thomas Becket, beginning —
Thomas takes thejuelle, & .Ihesn thankos.
It is printed in the Appendix to Lancelot da Lac, ed. Steven-
son (Mai t land Club), 1839.
XXX11 AN ESSAY ON ALLITERATIVE POETRY.
In the same Appendix is another short poem in this rhythm,
not very regular. It begins with the line —
When Rome is removyde into Inglande.
Of another poem we find the first line in the preface :
Quhen the koke in the northe halows his nest.
All three poems are from MS. Univ. Lib. Camb. Kk. 1. 5. the
same MS. that contains Lancelot of the Laik in Lowland Scotch.
16. The Tua Mary it Women and the Wedo ; by William
Dnnbar, about a. d. 1500; see Dunbar's works, ed. D. Laing,
vol. i. p. 61. Conybeare quotes from this in his Illustrations
of Anglo-Saxon Poetry, p. Ixxii. ; and shows how the author
sometimes kept up the same rime-letter throughout two couplets,
as in the following:
Silver SHouris down SHook
as the) SHeen cristal,
and) birdis SHouted in the SHaw
with their) SHrill notis ;
the) Golden Glittering GLeam
so) GLaddened their heartis,
they) made a GLorious GLee
among the) GReen boiighis.
17. Death and Life ; printed in the present work, probably
by the author of No. 18.
18. Scotish Feilde; printed in the present work, vol. i.
p. 199, written about a. d. 1513, by one of the family of the
Leghs of Baguleigh in Cheshire.
19. Ancient Scottisli Prophecies, reprinted by the Bannatyne
Club, 1833 ; some of them having been printed by Waldegrave,
1603. The alliteration is often imperfect, though some are
perfectly according to rule, and may be cited as among the
latest English specimens of this kind of verse.
Vpon) London Law
a)-16ne as I lay : —
Striueling thai st ra it place
a) strength of that lande: —
{ o
AN ESSAY ON ALLITERATIVE POETKY. XXX1U
Then a) chiftaine vnchosen
shal) choose for himselfe,
And) ride through the Kealme
and) Boy shal be called. (See pp. 26, 31, 35.)
20. I may add that the "Keply of Friar Daw Topias " and
"Jack Upland" (see Wright's Political Poems, vol. ii. pp. 16-
114) are more or less alliterative, and without rime.
21. There is yet at least one more poem, of which a fragment
exists in the Vernon MS. fol. 403, and which must be older
than a. d. 1400. I hardly know what it is (though it makes
mention of the baptism of Vespasian) ; but I have already called
attention to it in my " Piers Plowman," text A., p. xvii.
note.
22. See also two scraps printed in Reliqukv Antiquce, vol. i.
pp. 84, 240.
It was, in my opinion, a mere mistake, a superfluous exertion
of human ingenuity, when rimes were regularly superadded
to the alliteration, and the lines arranged in regular stanzas.
Yet some of these gallant efforts possess great merit; I
have no space for more than the names of some of the more
important. 1
1. Songs on King Edward's wars, by Laurence Minot,
about a. d. 1352, in a northern dialect. They are not all
founded on a basis of Dominants, and therefore not all of the
type now under consideration.
2. Sir Gawayne and the Grene Knijjb, about a.d. 1530,
ed. Sir F. Madden, 1839; re-ed. Morris (Early English Text
Society), 1864.
3. Golagros and Gaivayne ; and
4. Awntyrs of Arthure ; in the same vol. as Sir. F. Madden's
Gaivayne.
1 Here, again, I am speaking of of writing such poems in English is
English poetry, in which the addition very great, whence many of the speci-
of rime to alliteration makes tho poet's mens are rather short. A like objection
work a dance in fetters. The difficulty does not apply to Icelandic poetry.
VOL. III. I)
XXxiv AN ESSAY ON ALLITERATIVE POETRY.
5. " Susanna and the Elders, or the Pistill of Susan ; " see
Select Remains of Scottish Poetry, by D. Laing, 1822.
6. Tail of Raul Coilzear ; see the same work.
7. " Saint John the Evangelist," printed in Religious Piece*,
ed. Perry (Early English Text Society), 1867.
8. The Bake of the Howlat, by Sir K. de Holande, about A. J>.
1455. Printed by Pinkerton, 1792; and for the Bannatyne
Club, 1823.
9. The prologue to book viii. of Gawain Douglas's trans-
lation of the JEneid.
10. See also three poems in the Reliq. Antiq. at p. 291 of
vol. i., and pp. 7 and 19 of vol. ii. ; and a fourth in Guest's
Eng. Rhythms, vol. ii. p. 298.
In the above poems the longer lines are of the standard
length, and have the true swing. Poems (such as those of
William Audelay) in which alliteration abounds, but which are
not of the true type, are very numerous.
These are all that I have noticed, though I dare say these
lists are not altogether complete.
It may be interesting to observe that the alliterative rhythm
is suitable for all Teutonic and Scandinavian languages. Ex-
amples from some old German dialects will be found in
Conybeare's Illustrations, at p. Ii. It is also the rhythm of the
Heliand, an Old-Saxon poem of about a.d. 840. The best
examples, both ancient and modern, are to be found in Ice-
landic, in which language they are all-abundant at the present
day.
I have before remarked that, in Anglo-Saxon, the prevalent
foot is a Tonic, but in Old English the prevalent one is a
Dominant. Something of this change may be observed in
canto xxi. of Tegner's Frithiofs Saga, written in Swedish in
1825 ; and doubtless any one writing in this metre in modern
English would have to do the same, or would find it convenient
to do so at the very least. Our older poems remind one of the
AN ESSAY ON ALLITERATIVE POETRY. XXXV
ringing of hammer-blows on an anvil, or the regular tramp of an
army on the march ; our later ones have often the rapidity and
impetuosity of a charge of cavalry, and a sound as of the
galloping of horses. One special characteristic belongs equally
to both, that it was evidently considered a beauty (and rightly
so) to make every line, if possible, end with a Tonic, and not
with a Tone or a Dominant. By forgetting to pronounce his
final e's, a modern reader is very apt to lose something of this
effect ; yet an analysis of the 109 lines in the prologue to the
earliest version of Piers Plowman gives the following results :
Lines ending in a Tone, 7.
Lines ending in a Dominant, 1.
Lines about which there may be doubt, 21.
Lines certainly ending in a Tonic, 80.
That is, 73 per cent, at the very lowest computation, which
is quite enough to give a very decided character to the verse.
This is the place to mention also an empirical rule, which is
the result of my own observation. In verses beginning with
such a common formula as " He saide," or " And saide," and
the like, these words sometiynes form no part of the verse what-
ever, not even belonging to the initial catch. We may well
suppose that they were uttered in a lower tone by the reciter,
who immediately after raised his voice to the loud pitch which
he had to maintain in recitation, and proceeded to give the
words of the speech which such a phrase introduced.
The same rule holds good for the words " quoth he,"
"quoth I," &c, even in the middle of a line. This accounts
for the greater length of lines wherein such phrases occur. I
may instance the following :
"And seide — ■
Hedde I) loue of the kyng,
luite woldc I recche." (Piers Plowman, A. iv. 51.)
b 2
XXXvi AN ESSAY ON ALLITEUATIVE POETRY*.
" Woltou) wedde this wommon — quod the kyng —
gif) I' wol assente ? " (Piers PI. A. iii. 113.)
I) was not wont to worche— quod a wastour —
git) wol I not higinne. (Piers PL A. vii. lo3.)
& sayd —
0) loiielye liffe,
cease thou such wordes: (Death § Liffe, 258.)
The usefulness of the rule consists in this : that the examples
of it are rather numerous, especially in Piers Ploivman.
Alliterative verse is well deserving of careful study and at-
tention. Although not altogether confined to " Gothic poetry"
— for it has been "employed by the Finlanders, and by several
Oriental nations" — it is a special characteristic of it. 1 It is the
prevailing measure in Icelandic and Anglo-Saxon, and appears
in the Old Saxon of the Heliand, as well as in the song
of " Hildibrant and Hadubrant," and in the " Wessobrunn
Prayer." 2 It has been employed by poets during some
fifteen hundred years, and is employed still. Considering it as
an English rhythm, we may fairly say that, at any rate when
unfettered by rime, it is of a bold and vigorous character, and
is marked also, in the later poems, by considerable rapidity.
This characteristic, viz. of vigour, has been very generally con-
ceded to it, but it has not often been credited with other
merits which it possesses in quite an equal degree, when em-
ployed by a skilful writer. It has much versatility, and is as
suitable for descriptions of scenery and for pathetic utterances
as it is for vivid pictures of battle-scenes or even for theological
disquisitions. See Mr. Perry's preface to Morte Arthure, p. xi.
Owing to a loss of many very convenient words of Anglo-Saxon
origin, it would be found much more difficult to compose in it at
the present day than formerly, besides the additional difficulty
arising from a want of familiarity with it ; for though the ear of a
1 Marsh, Lectures on English, 1st so- 2 Bosworth 's Anglo-Saxon Dictionary,
lies, p. . r ;;')i). pp. cxxiv, cxxvi.
AN ESSAY ON ALLITERATIVE POETKT. XXXV11
modern Englishman can perceive alliteration, it is not trained to
perceive it at once, as readily as it does rimed endings. But the
metre is in itself a good one, and might still be employed by us
with effect if skilfully adapted to suitable subject-matter. The
same not overwise energy that has been bestowed upon the
attempt to naturalize hexameters, would have revived this metre
long ago, and the gain would have been greater. The verses
quoted above from Dunbar, though they are more loosely and
irregularly written than they should be, are quite sufficient to
show that something may be made of it, though I have nowhere
seen any example of it in modern English except in a few lines
of my own, some of which are quoted in tbe preface to Text A.
of Piers Plowman.
There is yet one more point too important to be disregarded.
It has often been remarked that the metre of Milton has so
influenced English writers that many a passage in modern
English prose presents a succession of nearly perfect blank
verses. There are several such in Dickens's Old Curiosity
Shop. Now this suggests that alliterative verse may have
influenced Old English prose in like manner. This is a point
which has hardly ever been considered ; but it might throw
much light on the rhythm of such prose writings. The suc-
cession of dominants would introduce a remarkable rapidity,
very different from the measured cadence, which is due to on
imitation of Milton. There is an undoubted instance of the
kind in one of Dan Jon Gaytrigg's sermons, in Religious
Pieces in Prose and Verse (ed. Perry, Early English Text
Society). There the cadence is so evident that the scribe has
in many places written it as verse, and I can safely repeat what
I have once before said, that it affords an example of " the
regular alliterative verse, perfect as regards accent, imperfect
as regards alliteration ; in fact, the very kind of metre into
which the old Piers Plowman metre would naturally dege-
XXXvill AN ESSAY ON ALLITERATIVE POETKT.
nerate." l It contains several perfect lines, alliteration and all,
such as,
Welthe oi' wandreth, whethire so betyde,
Mr. Perry has remarked that he does not see his way to
bringfino; the whole of the sermon into this form. But I am
clear that I see mine, and I coidd easily show that, with a little
close attention, very nearly the whole piece can be marked off
into well-defined lines from one end to the other, though it
occupies over thirteen pages. What makes me sure that this is
no mere fancy, is that a similar attempt to mark off other prose
pieces in the same volume failed signally. I could not find a
single true line in a whole page of it, whilst in a page of the
Sermon I found forty. Be this as it may, the hint is, I am
sure, well worth attention.
A good example of this rhythmical prose, founded on
alliterative verse at its base, appears even in Anglo-Saxon
times. The prologue to the A.-S. version of " St. Basil's Advice
to a Spiritual Son," was marked as verse by Hickes ; but its
latest editor, Mr. Norman, remarks that "although not in verse,
it (like some of the Homilies, as for instance that of St. Cuth-
bert, &c.) may be said to be a sort of alliterative prose." I
should add that the prologue is not the only part of it to which
the remark applies. I propose for it the name of Semi-
alliterative Rhythmical Prose, for it is marked rather by the
want of alliteration than by its presence, the rhythm and length
of the lines being at the same time well preserved. Or it may
be termed, with almost equal fitness, Imperfect Alliterative
Verse, as it is open to any one to call it bad verse instead of good
prose. I think that good prose is the fairer title of the two.
For the help of the student who wishes to see more of this
subject, or to form judgments about it for himself, I subjoin
the following references :
s>
1 Religious Pieces, ed. Perry, p. vi. of Preface.
AN ESSAY ON ALLITEUATIVE TOETRY. XXXIX
Guest, History of English Rhythms, vol. i. p. 142, &c.
Eask, Anglo-Saxon Grammar, tr. by Thorpe, 1830, p. 135.
Conybeare, Illustrations of Anglo-Saxon Poetry, p. xxxvi.,&c.
Marsh, Lectures on English, 1st series, p. 546.
Craik, Hist. Eng. Literature, i. 243.
Whitaker, Preface to Piers Plowman.
Professor Morley, English Writers, i. 264.
Yercj, Reliques, ii. 298, 5th ed. 1
Vernon, Anglo-Saxon Guide, p. 135.
Warton's History of English Poetry, vol. ii.
Hyde Clarke's English Grammar, p. 137.
I may also refer him to further remarks of my own, at the
end of Mr. Perry's edition of Morte Arihure, and in my edition
of Piers Plowman, Text A. preface p. xxx. ; also to my essay
on the versification of Chaucer, at the end of the preface to the
Aldine edition, as edited by Mr. Eichard Morris (Bell and Daldy,
1865). On the more general subject of English metre, see Guest's
English Rhythms ; a Treatise on Versification, by E. W. Evans ;
and the excellent essay by W. Mitford, called An Inquiry into
the Principles of Harmony in Language, and of the Me-
chanism of Verse, 2nd ed. 1804.
1 The reader must be warned against in the alliterative metre." This is
three extraordinary misstatements in indeed a curious craze, for the allitera-
this essay, following close upon one tive metre is founded on Dominants,
another near the end of it. These are the Alexandrine on Returns. Percy
(1) that Kobert of Gloucester wrote in gives some examples, and the metre
anapaestic verse, whereas he wrote in which he selects for murdering is the
the long Alexandrine verse, containing Fnnch one, as the reader may easily
(when perfect) six Returns; (2) that the judge for himself, M'hen he finds that
French alone have retained this old the line
Gothic metre [the twelve-syllabled Le sOcces fat tofijoflrs | On enfant dC 1'aSdace
Alexandrine] for their serious poems, .
whereas we may be sure that Michael is marked by him as it is marked here.
Drayton, the author of the Polyolbion, and is supposed to consist of four
meant his poem seriously; and (3) Anap^sts! Yet one more blunder to
that the cadence of Piers Plowman be laid at the door ot the " Anapaests !
"so exactly resembles tho French Would that we were well rid of tlum,
Alexandrine, that I believe no peculiar- and that tho " longs " and " shorts were
ities of their versification can be pro- buried beside them !
duccd which cannot be exactly matched
xli
NOTES.
p. xxviii., Allit. Essay, Chaucer's lines are :
But trusteth wel, I am a suthern man,
I can not geste, rim, raw., ruf, by letter.
v. iii. p. 202, 1. 42-3, ed. Morris,
p. 16, 1. 1, 2. Sir Degree. The Affleck MS. of this Bomance is not complete.
It wants both beginning and ending, and a few other lines. Some of its
deficiencies were supplied by Mr. Laing from the Cambridge University MS.,
which contains the first 602 lines of the romance. The Affleck MS. starts
with
Knijt
Ferli fele wolde fonde
And sechen aventouris, bi ni3te and dai,
How jhe mi3te here strengthe asai ;
So did a Kny3t Sire Degarree,
Ich wille 3011 telle wat man was he.
and ends with —
" Certes, Sire, (he saide,) nai ;
Ac 3if hit your wille were,
To mi Moder we wende i-fere,
For sche is in gret mourning."
" Blethelich, (quath he,) bi Heuene King."
From line 1070 to line 1115 — the end — is printed by Mr. Laing in the
Abbot sford Club Sir Degarre (as he gives notice) from a black-letter
edition (Copland's).
The Bomance has been printed five times in editions known to us, not
four only as stated in p. 16, 1. 6, for the edition printed by John Kynge,
mentioned on p. 18 below, is noticed by Mr. Laing in these words: 'Among
Seidell's books in that [the Bodleian] Library, there is a copy of the
edition printed at London by John King, in the year 1560, 4to, 16 loaves
(Dibdin's Typographical Antiquities, vol. iv. p. 338)." Further, Mr. Laing
mentions that "the late learned Archdeacon Todd, in his ' Illustrations of
Gowrr and Chaucer,' 1 has described a fragment on two leaves containing
160 lines of this Bomance, as forming part of a Manuscript supposed to be
of the Fourteenth Century, now tho property of the Earl of Ellesmere ; but
the volume, at present, is unfortunately not accessible."
Mr. Laing also states that tho Wynkyn de Worde 4to is in 18 leaves,
and is described in Dibdin's Typ. Ant. ii. 376 ; that the mutilated Douce
transcript, apparently made from W. de Worde's edition, is dated 1564 ;
1 Tage 107, Lend. 1810, 8vo and 4to.
xlii NOTES.
and that Uttorson reprinted Copland's edition (probably about 1545)
■which is in the Garrick collection in the British Museum. — F.
p. 56, 1. 11, " noe truse can be taken," i.e. no truce, no peace can be made : —
" Could not take truce with the unruly spleen
Of Tybalt deaf to peace."
Shakespeare's Borneo §■ Juliet, iii. 1.
" With my vex'd spirits I cannot take a truce."
Shakespeare's King John, iii. 1. — Dyce.
The linking of treasure with truse makes me hold still that the two are like
in kind, aud that my note is right. — F.
p. 135, Thomas of Potte. Ritsotf printed another version in his Ancient Songs,
1790, p. 248, from a large white letter sheet, published May 29, 1657;
among the King's pamphlets in the Museum. Its title is "The Two
Constant Lovers in Scotland ; or, a Pattern of True Love: expressed in this
ensuing Dialogue, between an Earls daughter in Scotland, and a poor
Serving-man ; she refusing to marry the Lord Fenix, which her Father
would force her to take. ; but clave to her first love Tomey o' the Pots.
To a pleasant new tune." A slightly different version of the present
Ballad was printed in 1677, for F. Coles, T. Vere, J. Wright, and J. Clarke,
and reprinted by Ritson in his Pieces of Ancient Popular Poetry, 1791,
with collations. Utterson had an undated edition printed by A. P. for
F. Coles, T. Vere, and J. Wright. From this, collated with the 1677 ed.,
Mr. Hazlitt printed the Ballad in his Early Popular Poetry, ii. 251, with
the heading, " The Lovers Quarrel or Cupids Triumph. Being the Pleasant
History of fair Rosamond of Scotland. This may be sung to the tune of
Floras Farewel." Ritson printed a different version of the tale in his
Ancient Songs, 1790. See other bibliographical details in Halliwell's
Notices of Popular English Histories, No. 15, p. 17, 18, and Hazlitt's Early
Popular Poetry, ii. 251-2. Compare the opinions of the deceased wife of
The Knight of la- Tour Landry, ab. 1370 (p. 178-9, E. E. Text Soc. 1868)
against her daughters marrying men of a lower degree than themselves:
"I wylle not that they haue or take ony plesaunce of them that ben of lower
estate or degrez than they be of ; that is to wete, that no woman vnwedded
shalle not sette her loue vpon no man of lower or lesse degree than she is of. .
These whiche louen suche folke, done ageynste theyre worship and honoure. .
I, theyr modyr, charge and deffende them that they take no playsaunce, ne
that in no wyse sette theyr loue to none of lower degree then they be come
of. . . Also they whiche putto and sette theyr loue on thre maner of folke,
that is to wete, wedded men, prestes, and monkes, and as to seruauntes
and folk of noughte, these maner of wymmen whiche take to theyr pera-
mours and loue suche folke, I hold them of none extyme ne valewe, but
that they be more gretter harlottes than they that ben dayly at the bordell.
For many wymmen of the world done that synne of lechery but only for
nede and pouerte, or els by cause they haue ben deceyued of hit by false
counceylle of bawdes. But alle gentylle women whiche haue ynough to lyue
on, the whiche make theyre peramours or louers suche maner of folke as
before is sayd, it is by the grete ease wherin they be, and by the brennynge
lecheryc of theyr bodyos. For they knowe wel that, after the lawo of theyr
maryage, they may not haue for theyr lordes, ne to be theyr husbondes, men
of the chircho ne other of no valewe. This loue is not for to recouere ony
worship, but alio dishonour and shame." — F.
p. 151. Thorne (Twysden's X Scriptores, c. 1786) is the earliest authority for
the story told in this ballad. He brings his chronicle down to the end
of the fourteenth century, but professes to base it on Sprot, who had
written down to 1232, and whose work seems to have perished, though
there is a spurious chronicle, called Sprott's.
NOTES. xliii
I. Thorne points to Kent as the only county where the old English
custom still prevailed. He probably alludes to the law of gavelkind or
socage tenure, by which all the children shared equally. This was stipulated
for by the citizens of London {Liber Albus, ed. liiley, ii. pp. 246, 247, 504),
and undoubtedly prevailed in other parts of England besides Kent, but
gradually died out before the growing use of primogeniture. Elton says
{Tenures of Kent, p. 50) that the boJy of Kentish usages as we now possess
them was formally allowed in the 21st year of Edward I., also "The
Kentish usage was not a mere partition as it has come to be in our time, but
it was curiously mingled with a custom of borough English."
As early as Glanville's time (lib. vii. cap. 3, v. 6) socage lands only went
to the daughters, failing sons. But this, I think, was an innovation. See
Coote on A Neglected Fact in English History, p. 57, and the authorities he
cites.
II. Fitz-Stephen says ( Vita S. Thorns, p. 230), that by the custom of
Kent, a man condemned for contempt of court pays a customary fine of 40j>\
instead of 100s. as in London. This he ascribes to the burdens arising from
its exposed position.
III. There is a legal distich, which I, as a Kentish man, remember, but
cannot give a reference for, " The traitor to the bough, and his son to the
plough," implying that in cases of felony the lands of the felon did not
escheat to the crown.
IV. On the other hand, the claims of the county of Kent to be exempt
from making presentments of Englishry was disallowed in 6 Edward II.
and 7 Edward III. Yearbooks of Edward L, 30 and 31, ed. Horwood, p. xl.
— C. H. Pearson.
p. 151, 1. 4 ; p. 153, 1. 35 ; p. 155, 1. 83, 94. The Consuetudines Cantite or
Customs of Kent, are given in the Record Commission Statutes, i. 223-5.
1. that all the Bodies of Kentishmen be free, as well as the other free Bodies
of England.
2. they do not choose the King's Escheator.
3. they may give and sell lands without license asked of their Lords.
4. they may plead by Writ of the King, or Pleint, for the obtaining of their right,
as well of their Lords as of other Men.
5. they ought not to come to the common Summonee of the Eire, but only by
the Borsholder and four Men of the Borough.
6. if attainted of Felony, they lose their goods only, and their heirs shall take
their lands ; whereupon it is said in Kentish ' the Father to the Boughe, and the
Sonne to the Plough.'
7. a Felon's Wife is dowable out of his lands, and the King shall not have the
lands for a year, or wast them.
8. a mau's lands are shared between all his sons, the messuage going to the
youngot.
9. a dead man's goods shall be parted in 3 parts, 1 to pay his debts, 1 for his
children equally, the third for the widow.
10. an infant heir is taken charge of, not by the lord, but by his next of blood
to whom the inheritance cannot descend.
11. t he heir is married, not by the lord, but by his own friends.
12. the heir comes of age at 15 years.
13. the widow has £ her husband's land for dower while she is chaste, and
the widower A his wife's.
&c. &c. — F.
p. 174. The Nuttbrownc Maid. " 1558-9. John Kynge ys fyned for that he did
xliv KOTES.
prynt the nutbrowne mayde w'out lycense, ij* vj d ." Collier's Registers, i. 16.
See the note there.
p. 177, 1. 1, notes, for i tshalle read it skedle.
p. 301, Crcssus. See the " curious ballad " on " Troylus & Cressyd," from MS. Ash-
mole, 48, fol. 120, in The Marriage of Wit $ Wisdom, (Shaksp. Soc.) p. 102.
p. 374. Maudline. This ballad should have been divided into 4-line verses. It is
printed also in Early Ballads, ed. E. Bell, 1856, p. 217.— F.
p. 402. 1. 17. See Henry's answer, August 12, 5th year of his reign, in Harl.
MS. 787, leaf 58.— F.
p. 466, last line, p. 470, 1. 10. See the "Articles of Enquiry for the Monastery
of Walsingham," in Harl. MS. 791, leaf 27.— F.
p. 473. There are several charters or grants by Godiva and Leofricus in Kemble's
Codex Diplomaticus. — F.
p. 499, QuceneDido. 1564-5. A ballett intituled the Wanderynge prynce. [No doubt
the ballad printed by Percy (Keliques, iii. 244), under the title of " Queen
Dido," and which Ritson, in closer adherence to the old printed copies,
calls, "The Wandering Prince of Troy." See Ancient Songs, ii. 141, edit.
1 829.] Collier's Extracts.— F.
p. 541, The Egerton MS. gives the name of the writer (and not the copier,
seemingly), of the Sege of Bone, thus :
Thys processe made Johffn page,
Alle in raffe, 1 and not in ryme,
By cause of space he hadde no tyme;
But whenne thys werre ys at A nende,
And he haue lyffe and space, he wylle hit a-mende,
They that haue hyrde thys redynge,
To hys blysse he tham brynge
That for vs dyde vppon a tree
Say Amen for Charyte, Amen !
Explicit \> e sege of Bone. — F.
1 Raff= refuse, a confused heap, a jumble. Here it means in lines jumbled together: see
Raffle in Wedgwood. Byrne would mean regular verses with properly rimed endings.— Skeat.
Bishop i&erc^s jfolto 0i%>.
35alXati5> anfi 3iio matters.
dX«c
^r Cafolfne: 1
" This old romantic tale," says Percy, in his Introduction to the
Sir Cauline of the Reliques. "was preserved in the Editor's folio
MS., but in so very defective and mutilated a condition (not
from any chasm in the MS., but from great omission in the
transcript, probably copied from the faulty recitation of some
illiterate minstrel), and the whole appeared so far short of the
perfection it seemed to deserve, that the Editor was tempted to
add several stanzas in the first part, and still more in the second,
to connect and complete the story in the manner which appeared
to him most interesting and affecting."
The First Part of the Bishop's version concludes with the
triumphant return of Sir Cauline from his encounter with the
Eldridge Knight, and the acceptance of his love by the King's
daughter. It comprises the first 129 lines of the MS. copy ; it
consists of 189 lines. The Second Part has only one feature in
common with the latter stanzas of the MS. copy, viz., the fight
with the Giant. All its other incidents — the stolen interviews
of the lovers, their interruption by the King, Sir Cauline's
1 A strange romantic old song -very which, will account fur its being so cor-
<!< tcftive & obscure. N.J5. This socines rupted.— I',
to have been originally a Scotch Song:
VOL. III. D
2 SIR CAWLINE.
banishment, his reappearance in disguise, his death, her death —
are the Bishop's own production. Altogether, the MS. copy
contains 201 lines; that in the Reliques 392. These additional
stanzas show, indeed, an extensive acquaintance with old balladry,
and a considerable talent of imitation. Percy could write such
mimicries with a fatal facility, " stans pede in uno." Of his
capacity in this respect there is no better instance than his
Sir Cauline. For our part we prefer the Folio copy, with all its
roughness and imperfections, to the Bishop's revision, with all
its cleverness. Ever so few gold-grains are more precious than
heaps of tinsel. If one touch of nature makes the whole world
kin, one touch of affectation mars and dissolves that universal
kinsmanship. Percy's version abounds in affectations. The
general sense of unreality that pervades his interpolations and
additions reaches its climax in the concluding passage of his
Second Part, where Sir Cauline, wounded to his death in his
fight with the Soldan, is recognised by his lady.
It is my life, my lord, she sayes,
And shriekte and swound awaye.
Sir Cauline juste lifto up his eyes
When he heard his ladye crye,
ladye, I am thine enrae true love,
For thee I wisht to dye.
Thon giving her one partinge looke,
He closed his eyes in death e,
Ere Christabelle, that ladye milde,
Begane to drawe her breathe.
But when she found her comelye knightc
Indeed was dead and gone,
Shoe layde her pale cold cheeke to his,
And thus she made her moane.
staye, my deare and onlye lord,
For mee thy faithfullo feero ;
Tis nint (hat I shold followe thee,
Who hast bought my lovo soe deare.
SIR CAWLINE. 3
Then fayntinge in a dcadlye swoune,
And with a deepe-fette sigho,
That bursto her gentle hearte in twayne,
Fayre Christabelle did dye.
As Mr. Furnivall in his original Proposal for the publication of
the Folio said, " With a true instinct Professor Child remarked
in his Ballads (ed. 1861, vol. iii. p. 172), "It is difficult to
believe that this charming romance had so traffic and so senti-
mental a conclusion."
However, the Bishop understood and served his generation.
The story of the fight with the Eldridge Knight is told in the
Scotch ballad of King Malcolm and Sir Colvin, given by
Buchan in his Ballads of the North of Scotland (copied by
Professor Child). But there can be little doubt that this is one
of that collector's many fabrications.
lESUS : lord mickle of might, 1
that dyed ffor vs on the roode
to maintaine vs in all our right,
4 that loues 2 true English blood.
ffor by 3 a K.night I say my song, r]1 sing you
was bold & ffull hardye ;
Sir Robert Briuse wold fforth to ffiaht
8 in-to Ireland ouer the sea ;
& in that land dwells a kino: T . ,
o sin Irish
which ouer all does beare the bell, knight,
& with him there dwelled a curteous Knight,
12 men call him S/r Cawline. SirCawline,
1 For the first four stanfcas Percy has The fcinge had a ladye to his daughter,
in the Beliquea these two : In fashyon she hath no peere;
The First Part. Al11 ' princely wightes thai Ladye wooed
In Ireland, ferr over the sea, To be tho 3' r wedded feerc.— F.
There dwelleth a bonnye kinge ; • love. — P.
And with him a yong and comlye knighte, 3 of.— P.
Men call him syr Cauline.
SIR CAWLINE.
who loved a
king's lovely
daughter,
16
And lie hath a Ladye to his daughter,
of ffashyon shee hath noe peere ;
K.mgMa & lordes they woed her both,
trusted to haue beene her peere. 1
[page 3G9]
but durst not
disclose his
love,
Sir Cawline loues her best of one, 2
but nothing durst hee say
to discreeue 3 his councell to noe man,
20 but deerlye loued this niayd. 4
and had at
last to take
to his bed,
till itt beffell vpon a day, 5
great dill 6 to him was dight ;
the maydens loue remoued his mind,
24 to care bed went the Knight ;
and declares
he should
die.
28
& one while he spread his armes him ffroe,
7 & cryed soe pittyouslye
" ffor the maydens loue that I haue most minde,
this day may comfort mee,
or else ere noone 8 I shalbe dead ! 9 "
thus can Sir Cawline say.
Just bed ire
dinner,
the King
asks for him,
when our parish masse that itt 10 was done,
32 & our u king was bowne to dine,
he sayes, " where is Sir Cawline
that was wont to serue me with ale & wine ? 12 "
1 perhaps fere. — P. peere is equal,
mate, match. — F.
2 All, or any. — P. loveth her host of
all.— Bel.
3 discreeve, discribe, discover. Chauc.
forte, diskevere. — P. He discreeve. —
Bel.
4 he lovde this may. — Bel.
5 on a daye it so beffell. — Bel.
grief. A.-S. deol, deceit, trouble ? — F.
7 For the next five lines Z?< /. lias three :
One while he sprcd them nj T o :
Ami aye ! but I winne that ladyes love,
For dole now I imm dye.
8 Only half the second n in the MS.
— F.
9 This was the usual resource of love-
sick knights. Compare Sir Generides,
p. 1237, and Will Stewart below. — F.
10 And whan our parish-masso. — Bel.
" Our.- Bel.
'- That is wont to serve I he wyne. — Bel.
SIR CAWLINE.
but then answered a curteous Knight
36 ffast wringinge his hands, 1
" Sir Cawlines sicke, & like to be dead
without and a good leedginge. 2 "
and is told
that he's
very ill.
" ffeitch yee 3 downe my daughter deere,
40 shee is a Leeche ffull nine 4 ;
I, and take you doe 5 & the baken bread,
and eene 6 on 7 the wine soe red, 8
& looke no day[n]tinesse ffor him to deare,
44 for ffull loth I wold him teene. 9 "
The King
sends his
daughter to
cure Sir
Cawline.
48
this Ladye is gone to his chamber, 10
her maydens ffollowing Nye,
" well," shee sayth, "how doth my Lord ? "
" sicke ! " againe saith hee. 11
She goes to
him,
asks how
he is,
" I, but rise vp wightlye, man, for shame !
neuer lye soe cowardlye here 12 !
itt 13 is told in my ffathers hall,
52 ffor my loue you will dye. 14 "
and tells him
not to lie
there like a
coward.
" itt is ffor yowr Loue, ffayre Ladye, 15
that all this dill I drye.
ffor if you wold comfort me w/th a Kisse, 16
He says he's
in love wit
her;
if she'll kiss
1 fas! Ins bands wringing. — P.
2 I : to Leche i.s to heal, tun'.
Lye. — P. Leedginge is from the Vv.
allegt r, to aeswagt , mil igate, allay, solace.
1 raw. This stanza is in Bel. :
Then aunswerde him a courteous knighte,
A nd fast his handes gan wringe :
Syr ( lauline is sicke, and like to dye
Withoul a good leechinge. — F.
3 Fetche me.- Eel.
4 Cp. I spaine in Eger $• Grime,
vol. i. p. 362-3, p. 393.— F.
4 Goe take him doughe. — Eel. An
odd misreading of Percy's. The & is
redundanl (as ii so often is), ami doe is
the auxiliary verb. — F.
6 ? MS. edne.— F.
7 And serve him with.— ],', /.
8 the red wine.— P.
9 Lothe I were him to tine.— Eel.
10 Fair Christ al.ellu to his chaumber
goes. — Hi I.
11 thou fayr ladye. — Bel.
12 here i/(/r,/d\;\a in AW.]. — P. ? here
soe cowardlye lye. — F.
13 For it.— Bel.
" You dye for loue of mee. — Eel.
15 Fayre ladye, it is for your love. —
Eel.
10 Compare Sir Generides again, p. 238.
SIR CAWLINE.
him he'll get
up.
But he can't
be her peer
unless he'll
watch all
night by
Eldridge
Hill,
and fight the
Eldridge
King.
This. Sir
Cawline
undertakes,
5G then were I brought ffrom bale to blisse;
noe x longer here 2 wold I lye."
3 " alas ! soe well you know, Sir knight,
I cannott bee jour peere."
60 " ffor some deeds of armes ffaine wold I doe
to be jour Bacheeleere. 4 "
" vpon Elclrige hill there growes 5 a thorne
vpon the mores brodiuge G ;
04 & wold you, 7 Sir Knight, wake there all night
to day of the other 8 Morninge 9 ?
"nor the Eldrige K:ing that is 10 mickle of Might
will examine you beforne ;
68 & there was neuer man that bare his liffe away
since the day that I was borne. 11 "
"but I will ffor yowr sake, ffaire Ladye,
walke on the bents [soe] 12 browne, 13
72 & He either bring you a ready e token
or He neuer come to you againe. 14 "
Again, when Sir Generides is expecting
death :
The flesh wasted fro the boon,
He was so feble he might not goon,
In him was noon hope of life : (p. 30-i-\
his love, Clarionas, comes to kiss him,
and at once
So glad he was of hir comyng,
Of his enel he felt no-thing ;
He kist and dipt with al his. might,
And kept hir in his armes al that night.
(p. 308.)— F.
' ? MS. now.— F. 2 No lenger.— Rt 1.
3 For the next stanza Rel. lias :
Syr knighte, my father is a hinge,
I am his onlye heire ;
Alas! and well yon knowe, syr knighte,
I never can he youro fere.
() ladye, thou art a kinges daughter,
\iiil I am not thv peere,
Bui let nir doe some deedes of armes
To be your bacheleere.
Some deedes of armes if thou wilt doe,
My bacheleere to bee,
(But ever and aye my heart wold rue,
Giff harm shold happe to thee,)
4 knight.— P. 5 groweth.— I?'. I.
6 brode, to prick. G.D.— P. ? breadth,
cp. 1. 76.— F. ' dare ye.— Rel.
8 Untill the fayre.— Rel.
9 id est, till Day of the next Morning.
10 knighte, so.— Rel.
11 And never man bare life awaye,
But he did him scath and seorne.
-Rel. 12 Cp. 1. 81.— F.
1:1 Thai knighte he is a foul paynim,
Ami Large of limb and bone;
And but if heaven may bo thy speede
Thy life it is but gone
Nowe on the Eldridgo hilles He
walke,
For thy sake, faire ladle. — Rel.
" never more you see. — Rel.
SIR CAWLINE.
but this Ladye is gone to her Chamber, 1
her Maydens ffollowing bright ;
70 & Str Cawlins gone to the mores soe broad, 2
ffor to wake there all night.
vnto midnight they 3 Moone did rise,
he walked vp and downe,
80 & a lightsome bugle then 4 heard he blow
ouer the bents soe browne.
saies hee, " and if cryance 5 come vntill 6 my hart,
I am ffarr ffrom any good towne 7 ; "
84 & he spyed ene a litle him by, 8
a ffuryous King 9 & a 10 ffell,
& a n ladye bright his brydle led,
that seemly e itt was to see 12 ;
88 & soe fast hee called vpon 13 Sir Cawline,
" Oh man, I redd thee fflye !
ffor if cryance come vntill H thy hart,
I am a-feard least l5 thou mun dye."
92 he sayes, " [no] cryance comes to 16 my hart,
nor ifaith I ffeare not thee 17 ;
ffor because 18 thou minged l9 not christ before,
Thee lesse me dreadeth thee." [page 370]
and goes to
the moor.
At midnight
a bugle
blows ;
he sees a
furious king,
who warns
him that
if he's craven
he'll die.
1 The ladye is gone to her owne
chaumbere. — Bel.
2 Syr Cauline lope from care-bed
soone,
And to the Eldridge bills is gone. —
Bel. Two bad lines for one good one.
— F.
3 that the. Bel.
* Then a Lightsome bugle. — Bel.
5 MS. cryamce. Fear, Old Vv. criente,
crainte. — F. ^,
6 Quoth hee, If cryance come till. —
Bel.
' My life it is but gone. — Bel. 1st ed. ;
printed right in the 2nd, with a note:
" This line is restored from the folio MS.''
■ ■ V.
8 And soone he spyde on the mores
so broad. — Bel.
9 knight : vide infra. — P.
111 witjit and. -Bel.
u A.— Bel.
12 Clad in a fayre kyrtell.— Bel.
" on- Bel.
11 Km- 1ml if cryanco come till. — Bel.
15 I weene but.— Bel.
1(1 He savtb, 'No' cryanco comes till.
— Bel.
17 in faith, 1 wyll not flee. — Bel.
18 For, cause. — Bel.
19 id est, mentionedst. — P.
8
SIR CAWLINE.
Cawline
charges the
King.
Their spears
break ;
they fight
with swords.
96 but Sir Cawline he shooke a speare,
the Kmg was bold, and abode 1 ,
& the timber these 2 Children bore 2
soe soone in sunder slode, 3
100 if or they tooke & 4 2 good swords,
& they Layden on good Loade. 5
Cawline cuts
off the
King's right
hand.
but the Elridge ~Kincj 6 was mickle of might,
& stiffly to the ground did stand ; 7
104 but S/r Cawline with an aukeward 8 stroke
he brought him ffrom his hand, 9
I, & fflying ouer his head soe hye, 10
ffell downe of y l that Lay land :
His Queen
begshini to
spare
her Lord,
108 ,2 & his lady stood a litle thereby,
ffast ringing her hands :
"for they maydens loue that you haue most meed,
smyte you my Lord no more,
I The Eldridge knighte, he pricked his
steed ;
Syr Cauline bold abode :
Then cither shooke his trustye
gpeare. — Bel.
" bare. — Bel. s yode. — Bel.
4 " & " is often redundant : compare
line 120.— Dyee.
5 Then tooke they out theyr two good
swordes,
And layden on full faste,
Till helme and hawberke, mail and
sheelde,
They all were well-nye brast. — Bel.
6 The Eldridge kuight.— Bel.
7 And stiffe in stower did stande. —
Bel.
8 a backward. — Bel.
9 smote off his right hand. — Bel.
10 That Sonne he with paine and laeke
of bloud.— Bel.
II on.- Bel.
'-' For the next two stanzas /iV.has six :
Then up Byr Cauline lift his brande
All over his head so hye:
Ami lure I sweare by the holy roode,
Nimr, caytiffe, thou shall dye.
Then up and came that ladye brighte,
Faste wringing of her hande :
For the maydens love, that most you
love,
Withold that deadlye brande.
For the maydens love, that most you
love,
Now smyte no more I praye ;
And aye whatever thou wilt, my lord,
He shall thy hests obaye.
Now sweare to mee, thou Eldridge
knighte,
And here on this lay-land,
That thou wilt believe on Christ his laye,
And therto plight thy hand :
And that thou never on Eldridge come
To sporte, gamon, or playi :
Ami that thou here give up thy armes
Until thy dying d.iye.
The Eldridge knighte gave up his armes
With many a sorrowfulle si^he;
And sware to obey syr Caulines hest,
Till the tyme that he shold dye
SIR CAWLINE.
112 " & lieest neuer come vpon Eldrige [hill]
him to sport, garaon, or play,
& to ineete noe man of middle l earth,
& that hues 2 on christs his lay. 3 "
116 but he then vp, and that Eldryge 'King 4
sett him in his sadle againe, 5
& that Eldryge King G & his Ladye
to then- castle are they gone. 7
120 8 & liee tooke then vp & that Eldryge sword
as hard as any fflynt,
and he'll
never fij, r lit
Christian
again.
The King
and Queen
ride off.
Cawline
takes up
his sword,
1 ? MS. tnildle; or middle, with the
left stroke of the first d dotted for i. On
" middle earth " see note 4 , p. 92, vol. i.
— F.
2 leeves, i.e. believes. — P.
3 lay, i. e. law. — P.
4 And he then up and the Eldridge
knighte. — Eel.
5 anone. — JRel.
6 And the Eldridge knighte. — Bel.
1 gane. — Dyce.
8 Henceforth Percy has it all his own
way, except in three stanzas. For the
next six stanzas he has these thirty-six :
Then he tooke up the bloudy hand,
That was so large of bone,
And on it he founde five ringes of gold
Of knightes that had be slone.
Then be tooke up the Eldridge sworde,
As hard as any flint;
And be tooke off those ringes five,
As brighl as lyre and brent.
Eome then pricked syr ('.-inline
As light as leafe on tree :
I-wys he neither stinl ne blanne,
Till be his ladye see.
Then downe be knelt upon his I
Before I bal lady gay :
l ) ladye, I have I. in on the Eldridge hills ;
These 1 nkeiis I bring away.
Now welcome, welcome, syr Cauline,
Thrice welcome unto mee,
For now I perceive thou art a true
knighte,
Of valour bolde and free.
ladye, I am thy own true knighte,
Thy hests for to obaye :
And mought I hope to winne thy love ! —
Ne more his tonge colde saye.
The ladye blushed scarlette redde,
And fette a gentill sighe :
Alas ! syr knight how may this bee,
For my degree's soe highe ?
But sith thou hast hight, thou comely
youth,
To be my batchilere,
He promise if thee I may not wedde
I will have none other fere.
Then shee held forthe her lilly-white
hand
Towards that knighte so free :
He gave to it one gentill kisse,
His heart was brought from balo to
blisse,
The teares sterte from his ee.
Put keep my counsayl, syr Cauline,
Ne let no man it knowe ;
Fui' and ever my lather sholde it ken,
I wot he wolde us sloe.
r, ana i ! i , 1 1 daye forthe that ladye faj re
Lovde syr Cauline the knighte:
From that daye forthe he onlyjoyde
\\ han slice was in his sight.
Yea and oftentimes they mette
Within a fay re arboure,
Where they in hive and sweet daliaunce
Past niaiiye a pleasaun! boure.
10
SIR CAWLINE.
rings and
hand,
and grives
them to
his love.
124
& soe he did those ringes 5,
harder then flyer, and brent.
ffirst he presented to the K.ings daughter
they hand, & then they sword.
Part the Second.
Everye -white will have its blacke,
And everye sweete its sowre :
This founde the ladye Christabelle
In an untimely howre.
For so it befelle as syr Cauline
Was with that ladye faire,
The kinge her father walked forthe
To take the evenyng aire :
And into the arbonre as he went
To rest his wearye feet,
He found his daughter and syr Cauline
There sette in daliaunce sweet.
The kinge hee sterted forthe, I-wys,
And an angrye man was hee :
Nowe, tray toure, thou shalt hange or drawe,
And rewe shall thy ladle.
Then forthe syr Cauline he was ledde,
And throwne in dungeon deepe :
And the ladye into a towre so hye,
There left to wayle and weepe.
The queene she was syr Caulines friend,
And to the kinge sayd shee :
I praye you save syr Caulines life,
And let him banisht bee.
Now, dame, that traitor shal be sent
Across the salt sea fome :
But here I will make thee a band,
If ever he come within this land,
A foule deathe is his doome.
All woe-begone was that gentil knight
To parte from his ladye ;
And many a time he sighed sore,
And cast a wistfulle eye :
Faire Christabelle, from thee to parte,
Farre lever had I dye.
Faire Christabelle, that ladye bright,
Was had fortlio of the towro ;
But ever slice droopeth in her minde,
As nipt by an ungentle winde
Doth some faire lillye flowre.
And ever shee doth lament and weepe
To tint her lover soe :
Syr Cauline, thou little think'st on mee,
But I will still be true.
Manye a kinge, and manye a duke,
And lords of high degree,
Did sue to that fayre ladye of love ;
But never shee wolde them nee.
When manye a day was past and gone,
Ne comforte she colde flnde,
The kynge proclaimed a tourneament,
The * cheere his daughters mind :
And there came lords, and there came
knights,
Fro manye a farre countrye,
To break a spere for theyr ladyes love
Before that faire ladye.
And many a ladye there was sette
In purple and in palle :
But faire Christabelle soe woe-begone
Was the fayrest of them all.
Then manye a knighte was mickle of
might
Before his ladye gaye ;
But a strangor wight, whom no man
knewe,
He wan the prize eche daye.
His acton it was all of blacke,
His hewberke, and his sheelde,
Ne noe man wist whence he did come,
Ne noe man knewe where he did gone,
Whan they came out the feelde.
And now three days were prostlye past
In feates of chivalrye,
When lo upon the fourth morninge
A sorrowfullc sight they see.
A hugye giaunt stiffe and starke,
All foule of limbe and lore ;
Two goggling eyen like fire farden,
A mouthe from care to eare.
Before him came a dwarffe full lowe,
That waited on his knee,
* To. 2nd edition.— F.
SIR CAWLINE.
11
" but a serrett l buffett you baue him giuen,
the King & the crowne ! " shee sayd.
128 "I, but 34 2 stripes
cornen beside the rood." 3
& a Gyant that was both stiffe [&] strong,
he lope now them amonge,
132 & vpon his squier 4 5 heads he bare,
vnmackley 5 made was hee.
& he dranke then on the Kings wine,
& hee put the cup in his sleeue ;
136 & all the trembled & were wan
ffor feare he shold them greeffe. 6
"He tell thee mine Arrand, King" he sayes,
" mine errand what I doe heere ;
] 40 ffor I will bren thy temples hye,
or He haue thy daughter deere ;
in, or else vpon, yond more soe brood
thou shalt ffmd mee a ppeare. 7 '
144 the King he turned him round about,
(Lord, in his heart he 8 was woe !),
But he has
more to do.
A five-
headed giant
leaps in,
drinks the
King's wine,
and demands
his
daughter.
The King's
in a great
fright,
says, " is there noe Knight of the 9 round table and asks
this matter will vndergoe ? £? ht for
° him,
And at his backe five heads he hare,
All wan and pale of blee.
Sir, quoth the dwarfiv, and louted lowe,
Behold that hend Soldain !
Behold these heads I beare with me!
They are kings which he hath slain.
The Eldridge knight is his own couslne,
Whom a knight of thine hath Bhent :
And hee is come to avenge his wrong,
And to thee, all thy knightes among,
Defiance here hath sent.
But yette he will appease his wrath
Thy daughters love to winne:
And but thou yeeldehim that fayremayd,
Thy halls and towers must brenne.
Thy head, syr king, must goo with nice ;
Or else thy daughter deere ;
Or else within these lists soe broad
Thou must finde him a peere.
1 ? closed fist. Serre, to join closely.
Halliwell. Fr. serrer, to close . . force or
presse neere together ; to locke, shut or
put up. Cotgrave. If a king's daughter
might talk slang, "a sliutting'-up blow"
would just do here. — F.
* Read " four and thirty."— F.
3 Somo very great omission here. — P.
1 swire, neck. Percy turns the
" squieri' into a dwarf, with five dead
kings' heads at his back. But the Bishop
knew what swire meant. — F.
5 unmacMey, uneven, unequal, mis-
shapen. Makly is even, equal. G. D.
— P. ° groove. — P.
7 MS. appoare. — F. a peere. — P.
8 And in his heart. — AW.
9 Is there never a knighte of mj.—Rel.
12
SIR CAWLINE.
and have his
lands
and
daughter.
148 J " I, & hee sliall haue my broad Lauds,
& keepe them well his hue ;
I, aud soe hee shall my daughter deere,
to be his weded wiffe."
1 Percy composes again :
Is there never a knighte amongst yee all
Will fight for my daughter and mee ?
AVhoever will fight yon grimme soldan,
Eight fair his meede shall bee.
For hee shall have my broad lay-lands,
And of my crowne be heyre ;
And he shall winne faire Christabelle
To be his wedded fere.
But every knighte of his round table
Did stand both still and pale ;
For whenever they lookt on the grim
soldan,
It made their hearts to quail.
All woe-begone was that fayre ladye,
When she sawe no helpe was nye :
She cast her thought on her owne true-
love,
And the teares gusht from her eye.
Up then sterte the stranger knighte,
Sayd, Ladye, be not affrayd :
He fight for thee with this grimme
soldan,
Thoughe he be unmacklye made.
And if thou wilt lend me the Eldridge
sworde,
That lyeth within thy bowre,
I truste in Christe for to slay this fiende
Thoughe he bo stiff in stowre.
Goe fetch him downe the Eldridge
sworde,
The kinge he cryde, with speede :
Nowe heaven assist thee, courteous
knighte ;
My daughter is thy meede.
The p- vaunt he stepped into the lists,
And sayd, A wave, awaye :
I sweare, as I am the hend soldan,
Thou leltest mo hero all daye.
Then forthe the stranger knight hocamo
In his blacke armoure dight:
The ladye sighed a gentle sighe,
" That this were my true knighte ! "
And nowe the gyaunt and knighte be
mett
Within the lists soe broad ;
And now with swordes soe sharpe of
Steele,
They gan to lay on load.
The soldan strucke the knighte a stroke,
That made him reele asyde ;
Then woe-begone was that fayre ladye,
And thrice she deeply sighde.
The soldan strucke a second stroke,
That made the bloude to flowe :
All pale and wan was that ladye fayre,
And thrice she wept for woe.
The soldan strucke a third fell stroke,
Which brought the knighte on his
knee:
Sad sorrow pierced that ladyes heart,
And she shriekt loud shreikings three.
The knighte he leapt upon his feete,
All recklesse of the pain:
Quoth hee, But heaven be now my speede,
Or else I sliall be slaine.
He grasped his sworde with mayne and
mighte,
And spying a secrette part,
He drave it into the soldan's syde,
And pierced him to the heart.
Then all the people gave a shoute,
Whan they sawe the soldan falle :
The ladye wept, and thanked Christ,
That had reskewed her from thrall.
And nowe (lie kinge with all his barons
Hose uppe from offe his scale,
And downe he stepped inlu I he listes
That curt eons knighte to greete.
Bui he for payne and lacke of bluude
Was fallen into a swounde,
SIR CAWLINE.
152 & then stood vp Sir Cawline
his owne errand ffor to say :
" ifaith, 1 I wold to god, Sir," sayd St'r Cawline,
" that Soldan I will assay.
156 " goe, ffeitch me downe my Eldrige sword,
ffor I woone itt att [a] ffray."
" but away, away ! " sayd the hend Soldan,
" thou tarryest niee here all day ! "
1G0 but the hend Soldan & Sir Cawline
the Sought a summers day :
now has hee slaine that hend Soldan,
& brought his 5 heads away.
13
Sir Cawline
agrees to
fight the
Giant.
He does so,
and slays
him.
1 G4 & the 'King has betaken him his broade lands
& all his venison. 2
" but take you too & jour Lands [soe] broad,
& brooke 3 them well jour liffe,
1G8 ffor you promised mee jour daughter deere
to be my weded wiffe."
The King
gives
Cawline
all his lands,
but Cawline
asks for his
daughter,
And there all walteringe in his gore,
Laye lifelesse on the grounde.
Come downe, come downe, my daughter
dc-.in ,
Thou art a leeche of skille ;
Farre Lever bad 1 lose halfe my landes,
Than thi.s good knighte sholde spille.
Downe then steppeth that fayre ladye,
To helpe him if she maye;
But whin she did his beavere raise,
It is my life, my lord, she sayes,
And shriekte and swound awaye.
Sir Cauline juste Lifte up bis eyes
When be beard his ladye crye,
ladye, I am thine owne true love.
For thee J wisht to dyo.
Tin ii giving luf one partingo looke,
Ho dosed his eyes in deathe,
Ere Christahelle, that ladye milde,
Begane to drawe her breathe.
But when she found her comelye knighte
Indeed was dead and gone,
Shoe layde her pale cold cheeke to his,
And thus she made her moane.
O staye, my deare and onlye lord,
For mee thy faithfulle feere;
Ti meet thai I shold followe time,
Wlio hast bought my love soe deare.
Then fayntinge in a deadlye swoune,
And with a deepe-fette sighe,
That burste her gentle hearte in frwayne,
Fayre Christabelle did dye.
1 In faith. — P.
2 all for his warryson, i.e. reward.
—P.
3 broke, i.e. enjoy. — P.
14
SIR CAWLINE.
and the
King
promises her
to him
at once.
" now by my ffaith," then sayes our "King,
" ffor that wee will not striffe ;
172 ffor thou shalt haue my daughter dere
to be thy weded wiffe."
[page 371]
Cawline
goes into a
garden to
pray,
where a
steward
the other morninge Sir Cawline rose
by the dawning of the day,
176 & vntill a garden did he goe
his Mattins ffor to say ;
& that Lespyed a ffalse steward —
a shames death that he might dye !-
lets a lion
out on him
■weaponless.
180 & he lett a lyon out of a bande,
Sir Cawline ffor to teare ;
& he had noe wepon him vpon,
nor noe wepon did weare.
He thrusts
hiscloakinto
the lion's
mouth
till its heart
bursts.
184 but hee tooke then his Mantle of greene,
into the Lyons mouth itt thrust ;
he held the Lyon soe sore to the wall
till the Lyons hart did burst. 1
A watchman
cries, " Sir
Cawline's
slain."
His love
swoons,
188 & the watchmen cryed vpon the walls
& sayd, " Sir Cawlines slaine !
and w/th a beast is not ffull litle,
a Lyon of Mickle mayne."
192 then the 'Kings daughter shee ffell downe,
" for peerlesse is my payne ! "
but Sir
Cawline
says " I am
here,"
" peace, my Lady ! " sayes S/r Cawline,
" I haue bought thy loue ffull deere.
106 peace, my Lady ! " sayes S/r Cawline,
" peace, Lady, ffor I am heere ! "
1 brast.— P.
SIR CAWLINE.
15
200
then lie clid marry this Kmga daughter
wi'th gold & siluer bright,
& 15 sonnes this Ladye beere
to Sir Cawline the Knight. 1
marries her
and they
have 15 sons.
ffins.
1 N.B. I ventured to make great addi-
tions to this Fragment ; of which. I have
given notice to the Reader, in my I s .' Vol.
of Reliques &e. — P. The" notice " con-
sists of Percy's " it was necessary to
supply several stanzas in the first part,
& still more in the second, to connect &
complete the story " ; inverted commas
to a but and No ; his * * * at the end ;
and two notes that he has altered — slode,
1. 99, to yode, and aukewctrd, 1. 104, to
backward. — P.
Between the first and second parts,
Percy put in his second edition the
following note :
*** In this conclusion of the First
Paet, and at the beginning of the Second,
the reader will observe a resemblance to
the story of Sigismunda and Guiscard,
as told by Boccace and Dryden: See
the latter's Description of the Lovers
meeting in the Cave, and those beautiful
lines, which contain a reflection so like
this of our poet, " everye white, &c. viz.
" But as extremes are short of ill and
good,
And tides at highest mark regorge
their flood ;
So Fate, that could no more improve
their joy.
Took a malicious pleasure to destroy.
Tancred, who fondly loved, &c."
16
[In five Parts.— P.]
There are extant two complete MS. copies of this romance — one
in the Auchinleck MS., one here at last printed from the Folio.
Besides these, there are imperfect MS. copies, one in the Public
Library of Cambridge (Ff. ii. 38), containing some 602 lines,
one in the Douce Collection (MS. Selden, c. 39), containing
some 352 lines in all. The romance has been four times printed
— by Wynkyn de Worde, by Copland, in Mr. Utterson's Early
Popular Poetry, and more recently for the Abbotsford Club.
Of all these copies, the earliest and the most perfect is that
treasured in the Auchinleck MS., printed for the Abbotsford
Club. Next in merit, so far as it goes, is the Cambridge copy.
This opens as follows :
{From Camb. Univ. MS. Ff. ii. 38, fol. 257 b.)
Lystenyb, lordynges gente & fro,
y wyll yow tell of sir degare.
knyjtes \>at were some tyme in lande,
Far bey wolde J>em-selfe fande
To seke auenturs nyght & day,
How \>at bey my3t )>er strenkyth assay.
So dud a knyght sir degare,
I scliall yow telle what man was he.
In bretayne be lasso ber was a kyngo,
Of grete power in all thynge ;
Styffeste in armowr vndur schylde,
And moost doghtyest to fy3t in fylde ;
For ther was none verament
That my3t in warre nor in twrnament,
Nodur in Iustyng for no thynge,
Hym owte of hys sadull brynge,
Nor owt of hys sterop brynge hys foto ;
[fol. 258] So stronge he was of boone & blode.
There was an unique copy of Wynkyn de Worde's edition sold
at Heber's sale. Probably the edition issued by Copland circ.
SIR DEGREE.
17
1545, of which a copy is preserved in the British Museum,
differed but slightly from that of the earlier printer. From one
of these printed editions the Douce fragments would seem to
have been transcribed ; from one of these the following version,
viciously executed, as indeed are generally the Percy folio ver-
sions. The correspondence of the three copies will be sufficiently
illustrated by comparing the following two extracts together, and
with verses 381-92 of the Folio version :
{From Copland's Edition.)
Syr Degore stode in a studye than
And thought he was a doughtie man
And I am in my yonge bloud
And I haue horse and armure good
And as I trowe a full good steedo
I wyll assaye if I may spede
And I may beare the kinge downe
I maye be a man of great renownc
And if that he me fel can
There knoweth no body what I am
Death or lyfe what so betide
I wyll once against hym ryde
Thus in the citie hys ynne he takes
And resteth him and merye makes.
QFrom Donee's MS. 261, fol. 8.)
Syr Degore stode in study than
And thought ho was a doughtye man
And I am in my younge bloode
And I haue horse and armure good
And as I trowc a full good steede
I wyll assaye yf that I may spede
1 Donee's MS. note in MS. 261 :
" This MS. was purchased by some
bookseller at the sale of the Fairfax
library at Leeds Castle, in 1831.
"The MS. from which the metrical
romance of l!<il>cr! ///<■ /Jrril was printed
by J. Herbert, in 1798 was certainly
written by the person who wrote the
present MS., and illuminated with tlio
same kind of rude drawings. He was
probably a. collector of met rical romances
liko the transcriber of Bishop Percy's
VOL. III.
celebrated MS., which was written al
the time of Charles II. ; and there may
be other volumes of the like nature as
the present existing in obscure Libra-
ries, and ei'eii made up by the present.
bran criber.
•• Qy. what became of the MS. of Robert
the Devil, which was successively in the
possession of Mr. Eawlinson, Horace
Walpole, Mr. Edwards of Pall Mall,
Mr. Egerton, Mr. Allen, Mr. Caulfield,
an 1 ■ MEasterre Samuelle Irelande'?"
18 SIR DEGREE.
And yf I maye beare the Kinge downo
I maye be a man of greate renown e
And yf that he me fall canne
There knoweth no bodye what I am
Death or lyfe what me betyde
I wyll ones agaynste hym ryde
Thus in the cyttye hys ynne he takes
And rested hym and myrry makes
(So vpon a daye the Kinge he mette
He kneled downe and fayre hym grette
He sayde Syr Kinge of muche myght
My lorde bathe sent me to youe right
To warne youe howe yt shalbe
My lorde will come and iuste with the
)
The Auchinleck MS. narrates this same " study : ' in this
wi^e :
{From Abbotsford Club Copy.)
Sire Degarre thous thencbe gan,
" Ieb am a staleworht man ;
And of min owen Ich baue a stede,
Swerd, & spere, & riehe wede ;
And }if Ich felle the Kyng adoun,
Euere Ich baue wonnen renoun.
And thei that he me harte sore,
No man wot wer Ich was bore ;
Whether doth other lif me bitide
A3en the King Ich wille ride."
In the cite his in he taketh,
And resteth him & meri maketh.
No doubt many other copies, of various degrees of inferiority,
were once in circulation. In the Eegisters of the Stationers'
Company (see Mr. Collier's Extracts) occurs this entry :
Recevyd of John Kynge for his lycense for pryntinge of these
copyes Lucas Vrialis, nyce wanton, impatiens poverte, the proud
wyves pater noster, the Squyre of Low deggre, Syr deggre ; graunted
the X of June 1560. ij s .
A sketch of the romance from Copland's edition is given by
Ellis in his Early English Metrical Romances, with all the
ponderous facetiousness that characterises that work.
SIR DEGREE. 19
The romance is certainly older than the middle of the four-
teenth century, for that is the date at which the Auchinleck MS.
was written. Warton (who gives a most inaccurate analysis of
.t, which is transcribed by the editor of the Abbotsford Club
edition) conjectures that it may belong to the same century as
the Squire of Loiv Degree and Sir Guy — that is, according to
him, the thirteenth.
For the name, says the Auchinleck MS. :
DegSre nowt elles ne is
But thing that not never whar is
the thing that negth forlorn al so
For thi the schild he nemmede thous tho.
The romance is, in our opinion, of more than ordinary merit.
It possesses the singular charm of brevity and conciseness ; does
not impair or destroy its power by the endless diffuseness and
prolixity which are the besetting disfigurements of that branch
of literature to which it belongs. How often in romances does
what bids fair to be a mighty river spread out vaguely into a
marsh ! what should grow into .a stately tree, end in a weak wild
wanton luxuriance ! This so common fault at least is avoided
in this romance of Sir Degore. But there are other than nega-
tive merits. There is, indeed, no considerable novelty about
the incidents introduced; a jealous father, a clandestine child-
delivery, a fight between son and father (here between son and
grandfather too), an unconsummated marriage between son and
mother — these are persons and situations that were never wearied
of by that simple audience for whose ears romances were designed.
The romance-writer's business was rather to re-dispose these
than to cancel and supersede them. This work of rearrange-
ment is well performed in the present case. The old figures are
skilfully re-dressed and introduced ; fresh lights are thrown upon
their faces, fresh vigour is infused through their limbs.
c 2
20
SIR DEGREE.
[The First Part.]
[How Sir Degree's Father ravished a Princess, and begat him ; and how he was
brought up by a Hermit.]
I'll tell yon a
talc of Sir
Degree.
An English
king,
feared in
fight,
has a
beautiful
daughter.
She is wooed
by well-born
suitors,
LoRDINGS, & you will hold you still,
a gentle tale I will you tell,
all of knights of this countrye
4 the w7«'ch haue trauelled beyond the sea,
as did a knight called Sir Degree,
one of the best was ffound him before. 1
that 2 time in England dwelled a King,
8 a stout man in manners and all thinge,
both in Armour and on the sheeld 3
he was much doubted in battell & in ffeild.
there was noe man in verament
12 that lusted with him in turnament
that out of bis stirropps might stirr his ffoote,
he was soe strong without doubt.
the King had no more Children but one,
16 a daughter white as whales bone 4 ;
that mayd hee loued as his liffe ;
her mother was dead, the Queene his wiffe ;
in trauell of Chyld shee dyed, alas !
20 & when this mayd of age was,
Kings sonnes her wooed then,
Emperoures, Dukes, & other men,
for to haue had her in Marryage
24 for loue of her great heritage.
1 then found was hee : sic leg 7 ; 1 metri
gratia, but as Degree is occasionally
written Degore, Pt. 2, 1. 303 [Pt. 3,
1. 483] it may perhaps have been so
here. — P. The old edition reprinted by
Utterson calls the hero "Sir Degore"
throughout. — Skeat (who gives the va-
rious readings here).
2 what.— P.
3 in Shield.— P.
4 when first taken mil of the lish ii is
very white. — P. Strange that Percy
should have supposed, as our earliest
writers did, that the ivory of those days
was made from the bones of the whale !
It was, in fact, made from the teeth of
the walrus. The simile in the toxt is
frequently found in much later poets; e.g.
To show his teeth as ivkitc as whale' s-
bone.
Shakespeare's Love's Labour's Lost, v. 2.
Dyce.
SIR DEGREE.
21
but then they Kmg he made answer,
" that neu«s/- man hee shold wedd her
wt'th-out hee might with stont Iustiuge
28 the King out of his sadle bringe,
to make him loose his stirropps too.
many one assayd, & cold not doe ;
but euery yeere, as right itt wold,
32 a great ffeast the King did hold
vpon his Queenes 1 mourning day,
the which was buryed in an abbey.
soe vpon a day the King wold ryde
3G vnto an abbey there besyde,
to a dirges & masses 2 both,
the pore to ffeed, & the naked to cloth.
his owne daughter shee with him rode,
40 & in the fforrest shee still abode,
& sayd, ' downe shee must light,
better her clothes to amend right.'
a- downe they be light all three
44 her damsells, & soe did shee.
a ffull long stond 3 they there abode
till all they men away rode.
They gatt vp, & after they wold, [page 372]
48 but they cold not they right way hold ;
the wood was roughe & thicke I- wis,
& they tooke their way all amisse.
they rode south, they rode west,
52 vnto the thicke of that fforrest,
& vnto a bane 4 the came att Last.
then varryed they wonderous ffast, 5
but none can
win her
by unhorsing
tin' King in a
joust.
On the
anniversary
of bis wife's
death,
the King
rides to an
Abbey near
to hear Mass
and give
alms.
His daughter
and her
maids
dismount in
the forest,
and then
cannot find
their way
out.
They stop at
a glade,
1 Three strokes for the u. — F.
2 MS. masques ; but see 1. 124, 12
— F.
To do diriges and masses botho.— I'll.
To do dyryges & masses botbe. — Ff.
(Cambr. MS. Ff. ii. 38.)
3 space of time. — P.
* perhaps Laue. see Part 5, line 58.
—P.
5 And into a lando they came at the
laste,
Then weried they wonder fasto. — Utt.
In-to a launde they are comen
And bane ryght well vndwnomen.
— Ff.
00
SIR DEGREE.
and all lie on
the grass,
save the
King's
daughter,
who wanders
off,
loses her
way,
and fears
she shall be
torn by wild
beasts.
But then she
sees a hand-
some knight,
who tells her
that
he has long
loved her,
and Bhe
ffor the wist amisse they had gone,
56 & downe the light euery one.
the wheather was hott affore none ;
the wist not what was best ffor to haue done,
hut layd them downe vpon the greene.
60 some of them ffell on sleepe, as I weene,
& thus they fell on sleepe euerye one
sauing the 'Kings daughter alone,
& shee went fforth to gather mowers
64 & to heare the song of the small ffowles.
soe long shee did fforth passe
till that shee wist not where itt was.
then can shee cry wonderous sore,
68 shee weeped & wrange her hands thore, 1
& sayes, " alacke that I was borne !
her in 2 this fforrest I am fforlorne,
& wilde beasts will me rende
72 or 3 any man may mee ffind ! "
tliey way to her damsells shee wold haue came,
but shee wist not how to come. 4
then shee was ware of a Ioyfull sight :
76 a-fore her there stood a ffayre Knight
tli at was wellfauored of ffoote & hand;
there [was] not such a one in all the Land ;
& by the rich clothing that hee had on,
80 hee seemed to be a gentleman. 5
soe stout a man then was hee,
he sayes, " Madam, god yee see !
be yee dread arright of nought ;
84 I haue noe armour with me brought,
but I haue loued you this many a yeere,
& now that I haue ffound you here
1 I here— P.
,J MS. herin.— F.
8 before. I'.
4 The waye to her damosels shewolde
haue numc. — I'm.
To lmr maydenys sche vrolde anone,
But sche wyste not whych wey to
goon.— Fi'.
5 gentlemon. — P.
ylR DEGREE.
23
you shall bee my Leim»an ere I goo,
88 whether itt turnes to wayle or woe. 1 '
but then no more adoe cold shee,
but wept and cryed, and cold not fflee.
anon he began her to behold,
92 & he did with her whatsoeuer hee wold,
& there hee bereft her of her maydenhead. 2
& right before her the Knight stoode :
& hee sayes, " Madam gentle & ffree,
96 now with child, Madam, I doe thinke you bee,
& well I wott hee will be a knaue 3 ;
therfore my good sword he shall haue,
my sword heere vpon my hand,
loo therewith the Last I did kill a Gyant,
& I brake the poynt of itt in his head,
& here in the fforrest I haue him Layd. 4
take itt vp now, dame, fFor itt is heere ;
104 thou speakes not with, mee this many a yeere ;
yett peraduenture they time may come
that I may speake with my owne sonne,
& by this sword I may him ken."
108 hee kist his loue, & went then ;
the knight passed as hee come,
all weeping the Ladye the sword vp nume, 5
& shee went fforth sore weeping,
112 & there shee ffound her mayds sleeping,
shee hid the sword as well as slice might,
& called them vp anon-right,
& tooke 6 their horsses euerye one,
116 & began to ryde fforth anon.
then they were ware att the Last,
many a Knight came pricking ffast ;
must now
yield to him.
He then
ravishes her,
tells her
he has
begotten
a boy on her,
and leaves
liis sword
with liiT Eor
the boy
so that he
may here-
after know
him by it.
He then goes
away.
The Princess
takes his
sword,
returns to
(u C maids,
and they ride
till they
meet her
Father's
knight .
1 weale or woe. — P.
2 maydenhood. — P.
: ' A hoy, a male child. So in Chauc.
-P.
1 ? MS. Lqydor Lqgd.— F. layd.— P.
And in the felde I it Leued. — Utt.
I brake the poynt in his hedd,
Where-of y wot ]>at he was dedd,
-Ff.
5 nume, nomc, took ; Sax. niman, to
take.— P.
'■ They took.— P.
24
SIR DEGREE.
who lead
them to the
abbey.
After service
all ride
home, and
are merry.
The Princess
glows big,
and \veeps>
oi'tcn.
Her maiden
asks her why
she weeps.
She
confesses
that she is
with child ;
and if it's
known,
her father
will be
accused
of incest.
Her maiden
Si-.y.-t she*ll
manage itall
secretly.
ffroHi they 'K.ing they were sent
120 to witt w7i/ch way his daughter went.
they brought them into the right way,
& rodden ffayre vnto the Abbey,
there was done service and all thinge,
124 with many a Masse, with ricb offeringe ;
& when these masses were all done,
& come to passe the hye noone,
the "King to his pallace did ryde,
] 28 And much people by his syde,
& after, euery man was glad & blythe.
this Ladye swooned many a sithe, 1
& euer her belly waxed more & more ;
132 shee weeped & wrang her hands ffull sore,
soe vpon a day shee can sore weepe,
& a mayd of hers tooke good heede 2
& said, " Madam, ffor S' Chary tye,
136 why weepe yee soe sore ? tell itt mee ! "
" mayden, if I shold tell itt before,
if thou shold mee beraye 3 I were but Lore ;
ffor euer I haue beene meeke & mild,
1 40 & trulye now I am with chyld ;
& if any man itt vnder-yeede,
men wold tell in euerye steade 4
that mine owne ffather of mee itt wan,
144 ffor I neuer loued any other man.
& if my ffather he might know itt,
such sorrow his hart wold gett
that hee wold neuer merry bee,
145 ffor all his loue is Layde on mee."
" O gentle Lady, greeue itt nougbt ;
stilly itt shall bee fforth brought ;
there shall none know itt certainlye,
152 truly, Madam, but you and I."
[page 373]
1 time.— P.
- perhaps, keep.— P.
■ bewray. — P.
1 place. -P.
SIR DEGREE.
2.5
the time was come that sliee was vnbound,
& deliuered whole and sound.
a ffayre man Chylde there was borne :
156 glad of itt was the Lady fforlorne.
this mayd serued her att her will,
& layd the Child in a cradle,
& wrapped him in clothes anon,
ICO & was ready till haue gone.
then was this Child to with mother hold ' ;
shee gaue itt 20V in gold,
and 10" in siluer alsoe ;
1G4 vnder his head shee can itt doe ;
& much itt is that a Child behoues. 2
with itt shee giues a payre of gloues,
& bade the child wed no whTe in Lande
168 without those gloues wold on her hand ;
& then the gloues wold serue no where,
sauing the mother that did him beare.
a letter with the Child put shee,
172 with the gloues alsoe perdye :
then was itt in the Letter writt,
whosoeuer itt found, shold itt witt, —
' ffor gods loue, if any good man
176 This litle Child ffind can,
gett him to be Christened of the preists hand,
& helpe him ffor to line on Land
w/th this siluer that is heare,
180 till the time that hee may armoure beare ;
& helpe him with his owne good,
ffor hee is come of a gentle blood.'
& when that they had all this downe, 3
184 the Mayd shee tooke her way right soone :
The Princess
gives birth
to a boy,
who is put in
a cradle
with 30i.
under his
head,
a pair
of gloves,
(the boy is to
marry no
girl unless
they'll
tit her,)
and a letter
asking the
finder
to have the
boy
christened,
and bring
him up till
he can fight.
Then the
maiden
carries the
1 to its— hold, i.e. held.— P.
Yi t was the childe vnto tho mother
hold.— Utt.
3yt hys modur can hym boholde
And toko iiij powndo of golde. — Ff.
2 is of use to. — P.
3 perhaps done. — P.
26
SIR DEGREE.
boy and
cradle
to a
hermit's
door,
anil leaves
them there.
Next
morning
the hermit
finds the
boy,
thanks
Christ,
christens the
child
Sir Degree
(t. i. almost
lost),
with this Child in the cradle, and all thinge,
shee stale away in an eueninge,
& went her way, & wist not where,
188 through thicke and thinn, & through bryar. 1
then shee was readylye ware anon
of an hermitage made in stone,
a holy man that there was wooninge, 2
192 & thither shee went without Leasinge.
& when shee came to the hermitts dore,
shee sett the cradle there before,
& turned againe anon-right,
196 & came againe the same night.
the hermitt wakened in the morrow,
& eke his knaue 3 alsoe.
the Hermitt sayd, " Lore?, I crye thee mercye !
200 methinke I heare a younge chyld crye."
this holy man his dore vndid,
& ffound the Child in that stead.
there he lift vp the sheete anon,
204 & looked on the litle groome 4 ;
then held he vp his right hand, 5
& thanked Iesus christ in that stond, 6
& bare the child into the Chappell.
208 ffor ioy of him hee wronge the bell,
And layd vp the gloues & the treasure, [page 374]
& christened the child with much honor,
& in the worshipp of the holy Triny tye
212 he called the childs name Sir Degree ;
ffor Degree, to vnderstand I- wis,
a thing that almost lost itt is ;
as a thing; that was almost lost aaroe, 7
216 therfore he called his name soe.
1 briere. — P. Pronounced brere
Levins, col. 209, 1. 15.— F.
2 dwelling. — P.
3 servant-boy. — P.
4 puer, famulus. Jun. — P. grome
Utt. grome. — Ff.
see 5 honde.— P.
6 There is a tag at the end like an s.
—F.
7 gone, past. — P. A Dcgarer would
no doubt be formed from a Low-Latin
devagari, as degaster from devastate. — F.
SIR DEGREE.
27
the Hermitt he was a holy man of liffe,
& he had a sister which was a wiffc,
& sent this child to her full raue l
220 w/th much mono by his knaue,
& bade that shee shold take good heede
the litle child to Nourish & ffeede.
this htle Chyld Degree,
224 vnto the Cytye borne was hee.
the goodman & the wiffe in fifere
kept the child as itt their owne were
till the time 10° 2 winters were come & spent ;
225 then*to the hermitt they him sent,
the hermitt longed him to see ;
then was [he] a ffayre child & a ffree,
& he taus-ht this child of clarkes Lore
232 other 10 winters without more ;
& when hee was of 20 yeere,
hee was a man of great power, 3
a staleworth 4 man in euerye worke,
236 & of his time a well good clarke. 5
then he tooke [him] his fflorence & his gloues
that he had kept ffrom [him] in his house, 6
& gaue him his owne letter to reade.
240 hee looked there-in the same steade 7 ;
"hermitt," hee sayd, " ffor St. Charytye,
was this letter made by 8 mee ? "
and sends
him to his
sister
to be suckled.
She brings
the boy up
till he is 10
years old,
and then
sends him
back to the
hermit,
who teaches
him till he's
20,
then gives
him his
mother's
money,
gloves, and
letter,
1 rathe [in pencil] P. C— P. rathe
(=raue). — Utt. soon. — Ff. and grome
for knaue in 1. 220. - ten.— P.
3 powere. — P. ' stout. — P.
5 And of his tyine,* a well good cderkc.
—Utt.
And also of hys tyme, a godo clerko.
~Ff.
fi IIo toko hym hys tresure and hys
gloffe
That he had token to hys be-hoffe.
— Ff.
lit. has no Mm in 1. 237, hut has it in
1. 238.— Skeat.
7 IIo loked therin the same stede.f
—Utt.
And he behelde all that dede. — Ff.
s about, concerning. — F. Same in
Utt. as in Percy. Was Jjys lettur wretyn
for me ? — Ff. — Skoat.
* " of hys time ''=/<>?• his time, /or his day. — Skeat.
t "the same stede" = thereupon ; lit. at the same place, = Fr. sur le champ. — Skeat.
28
SIR DEGREE.
and tells him
how he
found
him.
Degree
thanks the
hermit,
"I, Sir," liee sayes, "by him that mee deeme shall,
244 thus I you. Sound ; " and told him all.
he sett him on his knees ffull blythe,
& thanked the hermitt often sythe ;
& he gaue the hermitt halfe of the golde ;
248 & the remnant vp did hee ffoulde.
and says he'll
search out
his father,
armed only
with a good
oak sapling.
Degree sets
off through a
forest,
[The Second Part.]
[How Degree kills a Dragon, and prepares to fight a King.]
^Then sayes Degree, " I will not blinne l
till I haue ffound my ffather or some of my
kinne. 1 "
" to seeke thy kinne 1 thou mayst not endure
2': parte. <t without horsse or good armour. 2 "
then sayd Degree, " by St. Iohn,
horsse nor harnesse He haue none,
but a good bitter 3 in my hand,
256 Lmine enemyes therewith to withstand,
A full good sapline of an oke ;
& home 4 therewith 1st sett a str[o]ke, —
haue hee neuer soe good armour him on,
260 or be hee neuer soe tall a man, 5 —
I shall him ffell to the ground
with this same batt in that stond."
the Child kissed the hermitt thoe, 6
264 & alsoe tooke his leaue to goe.
fforth went Degree, the sooth to say,
throughout a fforrest halfe a day ;
he heard noe man, nor saw none,
268 till itt passed the hye noone ;
MS. me for nno. — F.
armoure.
8 A.-S. bitd, beetle.— F,
4 on whom. The o of stroke in this
lino is eaten out by ink.— F.
mon.
-P.
6 then.— P.
SIR DEGREE.
29
then heard hee great stroakes ffall
that made great noyse wi'thall.
fFull soone lie thought that thing to see,
272 to witt what the stroakes might bee.
there was an Erie stout & gay
was come thither that same day
to hunt ffor a deere or a doe,
276 but his hounds were gone him ffroe.
& there was a Dragon ffeirce and grim,
fFull of flyer & alsoe of venim,
wt'th a wyde throate, & tushes great,
280 vpon the Erie can he beate ;
& as a Lyon were his ffeete ;
his tayle was long & ffull vnmeete ;
betweene his head & his tayle
28 1 22 flbote without ffayle.
his belly was like a whole tunn,
itt shone ffull bright againe the l ssunn.
His eyen as bright as any glasse, [page 375]
288 his scales as hard as anye 2 brasse ;
& therto hee was necked like a horsse,
& bare his head vpp with great ffbrce ;
hee was to looke on, as I you tell,
292 as thoe hee had beene a fleende of hell ;
many man hee had shent, 3
& many a horsse hee had rent ;
& to this Erie hard battell he began,
296 but hee defended him like a man,
& boldlyc stroke on him With his sword 4 ;
but of his stroakes he was not affeard,
ffor his skin was as hard as anye stone,
300 where-ffore hee cold him noe harme done.
& when the Erie degree see,
he sayd " hclpe, ffor Charytye ! "
and at noon
hears a
noise of
blows.
He finds a
grim dragon
24 feet long,
looking like
a fiend of
hell,
attacking nn
Earl.
The Earl
calls on
Degree to
help him,
1 There is a tag to the c. — F.
1 ( Ine stroke too 6 w in the MS.
3 int. al. marred, spoiled, &e. — P.
I'. * swerde. — P.
30
SIR DEGREE.
and Degree
knocks the
dragon
down.
But it
recovers,
and cuts
Degree
down.
For which
Degree
smashes the
dragon's
brains out.
The Earl
asks Degree
to his palace,
knights him,
and offers
hi in half his
land
tli en answered Sir Degore,
304 " gladlye ! " he sayes, and god before. 1
when the dragon of Degree had a sight,
hee left the Erie, & came to him right,
then the Child that was soe younge
308 tooke his staffe that was soe stronge,
& smote the dragon on the crowne
that in the wood hee ffell downe.
the dragon recouered anon-right,
312 & hitt the Child with such might
with his tayle in that tyde,
that hee ffell downe vpon his side,
then degree 2 recouered anon-right,
316 & defended him with much might ;
with his staffe that was soe longe
he broke of him ffoote and bone
that itt was wonder ffor to see.
320 hee was soe tanghe 3 hee might not dye,
yett hee hitt 4 him on the croAvne soe hye
that hee made his braines ont fLye. 5
then the Erie was glad & blythe,
324 & thanked Degree often sithe, 6
& he prayed him hee wold with him ryde
vnto the pallace there beside ;
& there he made him a ~K.night,
328 & made him good cheere that night ;
rents, tresnre, & halfe of his Land
hee wold hane seized 7 into his hand,
1 God before (Utt. ; Ff. omits it.— Sk.)
i.e. God going before, God giving his
aid. Compare, —
" for, God before,
We'll chide this Dauphin at his father's
door."
Shakespeare's I Inn*)/ V. i. 2.
"Yet, God before, tell him we will
come, on." — find. iii. o.
1 <pioto these passages to show that
this expression, which was very common
in our earliest poetry, continued long in
use. — Dyce.
* ? MS. dregree.— F.
3 toughe. — P.
1 smote. — Utt.
. 3 And on the hed ho hym hatrid,
That hys hedd all-to-clatride. — Ff.
,! times. — P.
7 put into possession. Jun. — P.
SIR DEGREE.
31
& alsoe Lis daughter to be his wiffe,
332 & all his lands after his liffe.
& then Sir Degree thanked him hartilye,
and prayed him, " of his curtesye
to lett his women affore him come,
336 wiues, mayds, more and some,
& alsoe jour daughter eke ;
& if my gloues be ffor them meete,
or will vpon of any of their hands,
340 then wold I be ffaine ' to take my 2 Lands ;
& if my gloues will not doe soe,
I will take my leaue and goe."
all the women were out brought
344 that thereabout might be sought,
& all assayd the gloues then,
but they were ffitt for no woman.
Sir Degree tooke his gloues thoe,
348 & alsoe tooke his leaue to goe.
the Erie hee was a ~Lord of gentle blood,
hee gaue Sir Degree a steede ffull good,
& therto gaue him good armour 3
352 which was ffairc and sure,
& alsoe a page his man to bee,
& a hackney to ryde on trulye.
then fforth went Sir Degree, the sooth to say,
356 many a mile vpon a summers day.
soe vpon a day much people he mett ;
he houed * still, & ffayre them grett ;
he asked tin- squier what fcydinge,
360 & wence came all those people rydinge.
the squier answered verament,
he sayd, " they came fl'rom the pro-lament.
& when they powlaiment was most planere,"
364 the King lett cry both farr & nere
and his
daughter.
Degree asks
to see all his
womankind :
if his gloves
fit any one,
he'll wed
her;
if not, he'll
go away.
The gloves
fit none of
the women,
so Degree
takes leave
of them.
The Earl
gives him
a steed,
armour,
and a page
mounted.
They start,
and meet
a crowd
coming from
tin 1 Parlia-
ment
of a King
who has
1 glad.— P. '-' your. I'.
3 1'. lias added an e ;ii the end in the
.MS, F.
4 halted, stood.— F.
full.
32
SIR DEGREE.
promised his
lands and
daughter
to any
knight
who'll joust
with him.
No one has
been able to
do it,
for the King
has broken
their necks
or backs,
or speared
or killed
them.
Degree
resolves to
try the King,
meets him,
and saysho'll
joust with
him.
The King is
»/l;. -I.
' If any man durst be soe bold
As with, the King lust wold, [pagc37«j
he shold haue his daughter in marryage,
368 & all his lands & his herytage.'
itt is a land good and ffayre,
& the king thereto hath no hey re.
certaine no man dare grant thereto ;
372 many a man assay d, & might not doe,
for there is no man that rides to him
but hee beates them with stroakes grim ;
of some hee breakes the necke anon ;
376 of some he brakes backe and bone ;
some through the bodye hee glyds ;
& some to the death hee smites.
vnto him may a man doe nothinge,
380 such a grace euer hath our Kinge."
Sir Degree stood in a study then,
& thought hee was a mighty man,
" & I am in my younge blood ;
384 & I haue horsse & armour goode,
& as I trow I haue a good steede ;
I will assay if I can speede ;
& if I can beare that King downe,
388 I shalbe a man of great renowne ;
& if hee mee Sell can,
there knowes no body who I am."
thus in the Citye his inne he takes ;
392 he rested him, & merry makes.
soe on a day the King hee mett,
he kneeled downe, & faire him grett,
& sayd, " my Lor<i, thou King of much might !
396 my Lord hath sent mee to thee right
to warne you how itt must bee :
my Jjord will come & flight with yec ;
to lust with thee my Lord hath nomm. 1 "
400 the King sayd, " lice shalbe welcome,
1 nomm, i.e. taken ; undertaken ; or taken upon him. —P.
SIR DEGREE.
33
be hee rZnight or Barrowne,
Erie, duke, or Clmrle l in towne :
theres no man He 2 fforsake ;
404 who all may winn, all let him take."
soe on the Morrow the day was sett,
the "King aduised much the bett,
but there was not any liuing man
408 that Sir Degree trusted vpon ;
but to the church that day went hee
to heare a Masse to the trinitye ;
& to the ffather hee offered a ffloren,
412 & to the sonne another ffine ;
the 3? to the holy ghost hee offered ;
the preist in his masse ffor him hee prayed.
& when the Masses were done,
416 vnto his inne hee went ffull soone,
where hee did arme him well indeed
in rich armor good att need,
his good steed he began to stryde ;
420 he tooke his speare, & fforth gan ryde.
his man tooke another spere,
and after his "Master did itt beare :
thus in the ffeild Sir Degree abode then,
424 & the Kmg came with many men.
Next
morning
Degree
goes to Mass,
then arms
himself,
mounts,
and rides
into the field,
where the
King meets
him.
a slave, a vassal. See Chauc. — P.
2 there is
I will.— P.
TOL. III.
34
SIR DEGREE.
The lookers-
on
have never
seen so fair a
man
as Degree.
The King
breaks his
spear on
Degree
without
moving him,
and says
he is a man.
They charge
again,
and the King
nearly
unhorses
Degree,
who gets
angry.
3? parte. «<
432
436
440
444
448
452
[The Third Part.]
[How Degree throws the King, and marries his own Mother.]
Many came thither readylye
ffor to see their iusting tralye ;
& all that euer in the ffeild were,
they sayd & did sweare
that ' ere that time the neuer see
soe ffayre a man with their eye
as was that younge Knight Sir Degree ; '
.but no man wist ffrom wence came * hee.
They rode together att the last
vpon their good steeds ffull ffast :
to dashe him downe he had meant,
& in his sheild sett snch a dint 2
that his good speare all to-brast ;
but Sir Degree was strong, & sate fast.
then sayd the King, " alas, alas !
this is a wonderffull case.
there was neuer man that I might hitt
that might euer my stroake sitt !
this is a man ffor the nones 3 !
he is a man of great bones ! "
they rode together then with great randome, 4
& he had thought to haue smitten the child downe,
& he hitt Sir Degree soone anon
Right vpon the brest bone,
that his horsse was reared on hye,
& Sir Degree he was ffallen nye,
& yett Sir Degree his course out yode,
& waxed angrye in his moode ;
he sayd, " alacke ! I haue mist yett,
and hee hath mee twyse hitt ;
[page 377]
1 cane MS.— F.
2 perhaps dent, impression, mark.
-P.
3 made on purpose for this adventure.
-P.
4 precipitation, see Jun. — P.
SIR DEGREE.
35
by god I will aduise better,
456 I will not long be his debtor ! "
then they rode together with much might,
& in their shields their speres pight l ;
& in their sheelds their speres all to-broke 2
460 vnto their hands with that stroke.
& then the Kmg began to speake,
" giue me a speare that will not breake,
& he anon shall be smitten downe
464 If hee were as strong as Sampson.
& if hee bee the devill of hell,
I shall him downe ffell ;
& if his necke will not in too,
468 his backe shall, ere I doe goe."
the Kmg tooke a spere stiffe & strong,
& Sir Degree another strong & longe,
& stoutlye to the Kmg hee smitt.
472 [The 3 ] Kmg ffayled ; Sir Degree him hitt,
he made the Kings horsse turne vp his ffeete,
& soe S^r Degree him beate.
then there was much noyse & crye ;
476 the King was sore ashamed welnye,
& well I wott his daughter was sorrye,
ffor then shee wist that shee must marrye
vntill a man of a strange countrye
430 the which, before shee neuer see,
& to lead her Hue with such a one
that shee neuer wist from whence hee came. 4
the King sayd then to S/r Degore,
484 " come hither, my ffayre sonne, me before,
ffor if thou were as a gentle a man
as thou art seeming to looke vpon, .-
& if thou coldest witt & reason doe
488 as thou art doughtye man too,
They charge
again,
and shiver
their spears.
The King
calls for a
fresh one :
he'll break
Degree's
neck or
back.
But Degree
upsets him
and his
horse too.
The King's
daughter is
sorry
that she'll
have to
marry a
stranger.
The King
calls Degree,
1 struck, Gl. Chaucer. — P.
2 There is a blotted letter in the MS.
with an r over it. — F.
3 The.— P.
u 2
(•(line.
36
SIB DEGREE.
pires him
hi?
daughter,
and makes
him heir of
his lauds.
Degree
marries
the
daughter,
(no: trying
■ 'ves
on her),
and she's his
own
mother !
But neither
knows this.
After noon
they are
put to bed
solemnly,
and then
Degree
I wold thinke my Lands well besett
if itt were 5 times bett l ;
ffor -words spoken I must 2 needs bold.
492 afore mj Barrons that beene soe bold,
I take tbee my daugbter by tbe band,
& I cease 3 tbee into my Land
to be my beyre after mee,
496 in Ioy and blisse ffor to bee."
great ordinance tben tbere was wrougbt,
& to tbe cbnrcb dore tbey were brougbt,
4 & there were wedd in verament
500 vnto tbe holy Sacrament.
& looke what ffolly hapened there !
that he shold marry his owne mother, 5
the wh ich had borne him of her syde !
504 & bee knew nothing that tyde 6 ;
shee knew nothing of his kinne,
nor yett shee knew nothing of him,
but both together ordayned to bed,
508 yet pe/-aduenture they might be sibb. 7
this did Sir Degree the bold,
hee weded her to haue & hold,
itt passed on the hye time of noone,
512 & the day was almost done ;
to bed were brought hee and shee
with great myrth and solempnytyc.
So- Degree stood & behold tben,
516 & thought on the hermitt, the holy man,
that hee shold neuer [wed] ffor-tliy
neither wydow nor Ladye
1 better, larger. — F.
2 There are six strokes for mu in the
MS.— F.
ssession. — P.
4 The Cambridge MS. 1'f. ii. 38 is in-
complete, and ends here -with
And were w.-ddyd to-gedor rerament
vndur holy saerame:
lo ! what fortun and lalaunce
Be-fallyth many a man porow chau^ce,
And comyp forbe in-to vncowpe lede,
And takvth a -«-yfe. — Skeat.
P. has added c at the end in the MS.
-r.
Cp. the same incident in Eglamore,
vol. ii. p. 380, 1. 1065.— F.
7 kin, relations. — P.
SIR DEGREE.
37
wali-out shee might the gloues doe
520 lightlye on her hands towe.
" alacke ! " then saves S<r Degree,
" the time that euer I borne sliold bee ! "
& sayd anon with heauy eheere,
524 " rather then all my Kingdome heere
that is now ceazed into my hands, 1
That [I were fayre out of this lande." 2 ] [page 37S]
the King these words hard thoe,
52s & sayes, "my sonne, why sayst thou soe ?
is there ought against thv will
either done or sayd, that dov thee ill,
or any man that hath misdoone ?
532 tell mee, & itt shall be amended soone."
" no, Lord," sayes degree then,
"but for this marryage 3 done has beene.
I will not with no woman meddle,
536 neither wiffe, widdow, nor damsell,
without shee may these gloues doe
Lightly vpon her hands tow."
& when they Lady can that heere,
540 anon shee changed all her eheere,
for shee knew that the gloues longed to her,
& sayes, " giue me the gloues, fayre Str."
shee tooke the gloues in that steede,
544 & lightly vpon her hands them did.
then shee fell downe & began to cry ;
says, (i Lord god, I aske thee mercy !
I am the mother that did you bra re,
548 & you are mine owne sonne deere ! "
Sir Degree tooke her vp thoe
ffull lightly in his armes towe,
thinks of
bis gloves,
and laments
reless-
The King
asks what
the matter
is.
Degree Baya
he can lie
with no
woman
whom his
gloves will
not fit.
His wife
asks for
the gloves,
i hem
on,
and tells
Degree
she Is his
mother.
They rejoice
' Here follow a leaf and three quarters a The tag to the a, which 1 read e
in a different handwriting. — F. here, and in lines 555, 567, 568, may
'-' BIS. cut away. — F. not be mean! for one; but marryag
That nowe is seased into my hande would look ugly. — F.
That I were fayre out of this lande! — Utt.
38
SIR DEGREE.
ami kiss.
Then she
tells her
father
that Degree
is her son,
and how he
was begotten
on her.
Degree asks
her where
his father
is.
She can't
tell him.
but she
gives him
his father's
pointless
sword.
Degree
declares
that he'll
Not sleep
till he finds
is
father.
then either of other were ffull blythe, 1
552 & kissed together many a sithe.
the King of them had much marueile,
& at the noyse without fayle,
& was abashed of their weepinge.
556 " daughter ! what meanes this tiling ? "
" father," shee sayd, " will you itt heere ?
you wend that I a may den were,
no, truly, ffather, I am none !
560 for itt is 20 winters a-gone.
this is my sonne, god doth know,
& by these gloues see itt, Lowe ! "
shee told him altogether there
564 how hee was begotten of her.
& then bespake S?'r Degree,
" sweet mother ! " sayd hee,
" where is my fathers wooninge, 2
568 or when heard you of him any tydinge ? "
" sonne, 3 " shee sayd, " by heauen Kmye
I can tell you of 1dm noe tydinge.
but when thy father from me went,
572 a poyntles sword he me Lent,
& hee charged me to keepe itt then
till that time thow wert a man."
shee feicth 4 the sword anon tho,
& S/r degree itt out drew :
Long & broad itt was, pardye ;
there was not such a one in that country.
" now truly," sayes Degree then,
" hee that weelded itt was a man !
but if god of heauen hee may 5 keepe,
night nor day I will not sleepe
till that time I may my father see,
584 in Christcndome if that hee bee."
576
580
1 blifce, lsetus, Sax.
2 dwelling.— P.
:t ? MS. sound.— F.
4 Hero again is the cth for Ich noticed
bi fore, vol. i. p. 23, 1. 73, &c. &c.— F.
5 her nice. — P.
SIR DEGREE.
39
4' 1 parte <
592
596
600
604
608
Degree
makes
ready to
start,
and will
take only
his own
man with
him.
[The Fourth Part.]
[How Sir Degree sets out in search of his Father, falls in love, and undertakes to
fight a Giant.]
"He made [liim merry that ilk night,] l [page 379]
& on the morrow when itt was day light
hee went to the Chirch to heare a masse,
& made him ready for to passe.
the King sayd, " my next kinne, 2
I will giue thee ~Knights w/th thee to winne. 3 "
" Gramercy, Lo;v7," sayes Degree then,
." but wi'th me shall goe no other man
But my knaue that may take heede
of my armour & of my steede."
hee leapt on his horsse, the sooth 4 to say,
& forthe he rode on his Iourney.
many a mile & many a way
hee rode forth on his palfrey,
& euermor 5 hee rode west
vntil hee came to [a] 6 forrest.
there wild beasts came him by,
& Fowles song therto merrely.
they rode soe Long that itt grew to night ;
they sun went downe, & fayled light,
soone after the found a castell cleere, —
a Lady truly dwelled there, —
a fayre Castle of lime & stone,
but other towne there was none.
Sir Degree sayd to his knaue that tyde,
" wee will to yonder castle ryde,
& all night abyde will wee,
& aske Lodging ffor Charity."
They ride
westward,
and one
night
come to a
castle,
whore
Degree
resolves
612
to ask for
lodging.
1 p[rinted] c[opy]. — P. MS. pared pugnare, superare, lucrari, Bens'? Voc.
away. — F. -P.
2 The MS. lias one stroke too many.
— F.
3 A.S. winnan, lahorare, contendere,
4 Truth.— P.
6 ever anon. — P.
8 a.— P.
40
SIR DEGREE.
They ride
in,
and stable
their horses,
but can find
no one
about,
only a fire.
Degree sits
down on the
dais,
and soon
3 girls in
knicker-
bockers
come in
from
hunting,
but will not
speak to
him.
Then comes
a dwarf
four feet
high,
1 went.— P.
8 Bease, the upper
where tho high table
the bridge itt was undrawen thoe,
they gates they stood open alsoe.
into they castle they can speede,
616 but first they stabled vp their steede,
& the sett vp their hackney.
enonghe they found of corne & hay.
they yode l about & began to call
620 both in the court & in the hall ;
but neither for loue nor awe,
liuinge man they none sawe ;
but in the middst of the hall floore
624 they found a fayre fyer in that hower.
his man sayes, " leaue Sir,
1 haue wonder who hath made this flyer ? "
" but if hee come againe to night,
628 I will him tarry, as I am true 'knight"
hee sett him downe vpon the desse, 2
& hee made him well att ease.
soone after hee was ware of one
632 that into the dore gan to come :
3 maydens flayre & flree
were trussed vp aboue the knee ;
2 of them bowes did beare,
636 & other towe charged were
with, venison that was soe good.
then S*x Degree vp stoode,
& blessed them anon-wright.
640 but they spake not to the Knight,
But into a chamber they be gone, [page 379, col. 2]
& they shut they dore ffull soone. 3
anon then after that withall
644 a dwarffe came into the hall :
4 foote was they lenght of him ;
his visage was both great & grim ;
8 Only one stroke for the n in the MS.
Part of the Hall : — F.
stood. — P.
SIR DEGREE.
41
the hayre that on liis head was,
648 looked as yellowe as any glasse ;
with milke white Lace & goodly hlee,
ffull stoutly then Looked hee ;
hee ware a sercote ' of greene,
652 with hlanchmere 2 itt was ffringed, I weene ;
hee was well cladd & well dight,
his shoes were crooked as a Knight ;
& hee was large of ffoote & hand
656 as any man within the Land.
Sir degree looked on him thoe,
& to him renerence he did doe ;
but he to him wold not speake 3 a word,
660 but made him ready to lay the bord.
he Layd on clothe, & sett on bread,
alsoe wine white and red ;
torches in the hall 4 hee did light,
664 & all things to supper he did dight.
anon then with great Honor
there came a Lac??/ forth of her bower,
& with her shee had mayds 15
668 r;7iat were some in red, & some in greene.
Si'r degree ffollowed anon-right,
but they spake not to the "Knight ;
they yode 5 & washed euery one ;
672 & then to super wold shee gone,
that ffayre Lady that was soc bright.
att middest of the messe shee sate downe right,
& of euery side her maydens 5,
676 ffayre & goodlye [as any were] 6 aliue. 7
yellow -
haired,
green -
coated,
shoe-
crooked.
He too
won't say a
word to
Degree, but
lays the
table
for supper.
Then comes
a lady
with fifteen
maids,
who also
won't speak
to Degree.
The lady
and
her maidens
sit down to
supper.
1 Sur-coat. — P.
2 ? a kind of fur. — F.
3 nold speake, sic leg'! 1 — P.
4 The Sloane .MS. l>okc of Curtasye
us wax candles to the sitting- and
bed-moms, Candles of Paris (whatever
they were) to the hall al supper time.
In chainb«r no ly3t bez-shalh be brent,
Pot of wax Jjer-to, yf 30 take tent.
In halle at soper schalle caldelfl (so)
brenne
of parys, )>< r-in Jwt alle mew kenne.
Babees Boke &c. p. 327, 1. 833-6.
s went. — P.
G & goodlye as any were. p. c. — P.
7 On the back of pago 379, column 2 1 ? ,
42
SIR DEGREE.
Degree sits
down too,
and takes
out his
knife,
but can
hardly cat
anything for
looking at
the beautiful
lady.
After supper
the lady goes
to her bed-
room ,
and Degree
follows her.
She plays
the harp,
1 " By god," then sayes S*'r Degree,
" I liaue you blessed, & you not mee ;
but you seeme dumbe. by St. Iobn
680 I will make you speake & I can ! "
Sir Degree cold of curtesye ;
he went & sett him before the Ladye.
& when hee had taken his seate,
684 hee tooke his kniffe & cut his meate. 2
null litle att [supper] eates hee,
soe much hee beholds this Mayden ffree ;
hee thought shee were the fayrest Ladye
688 that euer before hee did see.
& when that they had supped all,
the dwarffe brought watter into the hall ;
the yode & washed euery one, 3
692 & then to Chamber wold shee gone.
" now trulye," sayes Degree, " & after I will
to looke on this Ladye all my ffill."
soe vpon the stayres the way hee nome, 4
696 & soone into the Chamber hee come,
the Lady that was ffayre and bright,
vpon her bed shee sate downe right,
& harped notes sweete and nine.
700 her mayds Billed a peece 5 of wine ;
[page 380]
are written, in a Inter hand, the follow-
ing lines : —
I promised Silvia to he true,
nay out of zeale I swore it tooe ;
& that She might beleivc mo more,
gave her in writeing what I swore. —
nor vowes nor oathes can lovers hind ;
Soe long as pleased, soe long are kindc. —
it was on a leafe : the wind hut blew ;
away both leafe & promise flew.
[a space, and then] I tell thee Char-
miorn. — F.
1 Qere tho ordinary handwriting of
the MS. begins again. — F.
2 Kemenilicr that forks were a luxury
not then introduced. Assume thai I tegree
had washed his hands, and then he'd
have fulfilled the requirements of Trac-
tus Urbanitatis :
To be mete when bou art sette,
Fayre & honestly thow ete hyt:
Fyrst loke b«t by handes be elene,
And brtt by knyf be sharpe & kene,
And cutte by breed & alle by mote
Ryjth euen as bou doste hit ete.
Babees Boke &c. p. 14, 1. 39-44.
8 See the laying of the sum ape, or towel
for the lord to wash with, described in
Russell, p. 132 of Babees Boke &c, and
the washing at p. 323.— F.
■' nome, took. — P.
5 cup. See " Ffor to serve a Lord" in
Babees Boke, and Ladye Bessiye. — F.
SIR DEGREE.
43
& then S/r Degree sett him downe
ffor to heare the harpe sound ;
& through the notes of the harp shrill
704 he layd him downe and slept his mil.
that ffaire Lady that ilke night
shee bade couer the gentle Knight ;
& rich clothes on him they cast,
708 & shee went to another bed att Last.
& soe on the morrow when itt was day,
the Lady rose, the sooth to say,
& into the chamber they way can take.
712 shee sayd, "S/r Knight, arise and wake !
& then shee sayd all in game,
"you are worthy e ffor to haue blame !
ffor like a beast all night you did sleepe ;
71 G & of my mayds you tooke no keepe."
& then bespake S/r Degree,
" mercy, madam, & fforgiue mee !
the notes that thy harpe itt made, 1
720 or else the good wine that I had.
but tell me now, my Ladye hcnd, 2
ere I out of this chamber wend, 3
who is Lord in this Lande,
724 or who holds this castle in his hand,
& whether you be mayd or wiffe,
& in what manner you lead your liffe,
& why you [have] soe 4 manye women
728 alone with-out 5 any men."
" S/r," slice sayd, " I wold you tell
& if you wold amend itt well,
my ffather was a bold Barron,
732 & holden Lord ouer tower & towne,
& hee had neuer child but mee,
& I am heyre hecre in this countrye ;
plays Degree
to sleep,
and has him
covered with
rich clothes.
In the
morning
she wakes
him
and
reproaches
him for his
rudeness.
Degree begs
her pardon,
and asks
her
whether
she's
married,
and why she
has no men
there.
She says
tli at she is
her father's
heiress,
1 of tliy harpe it made, i.e. caused it,
Sc. my sleepiness. — P.
2 hend, gentle. Gl. Chau. — P.
3 wend, go. — P.
4 you | have] so. p. c.
5 wiihouten. — P.
44
SIR DEGREE.
and has had
many
suitors,
but a giant
who wants
her
has killed
'ein all.
She swoons,
and on her
recovery,
Degree
declares he'll
help her.
She promises
him her
lands
and herself
to do what
he will with.
Degree is
glad
of the
chance of
winning her.
The giant
approaches,
and the
drawbridge
is drawn up.
& there liath woed [me] many a TLwight
736 & many a Squier well clight ' ;
but there then woones there beside
a stout Gyant, & hee is ffull of pryde,
& hee hath me desired long and yore 2 ;
740 & him to loue I can neuer more ;
& hee hath slaine my men eche one,
all sauing my sorry dwarffe alone."
as shee stood talking, shee fell to the ground
744 & swooned there in that stond.
& then her Damsells about her come
& comfort her, & her vp nome. 3
the Ladye wakened, & looked on Sir Degree.
748 " O Leaue Dame ! " then sayes hee,
" be not adread while I am here ;
ffor I will helpe thee to my power. 4 ' :
"Sir," shee sayes, " all my Lands
752 I doe itt ceaze into jour hands,
& all my goods I will thee giue,
& alsoe my body while I doe Hue, 5
& ffor to bee att yowr owne will
756 earlye, late, lowde, and still,
yea and jour Leman ffor to bee,
to wreake 6 mee vpon my enemye."
then was S/r Degree ffaine 7 to ffight
7 GO to defend this Ladye in her wright,
& ffor to sloe the other Knight
& winne the Ladye that was soe bright.
& as the stood talking in ffeere, 8
764 her damsells came with a heauy chcere,
& bade " draw the bridge hastilye ;
for yonder comes jour enemye ;
w/thout you itt draw soone, anon
768 hee will destroye vs euerye one.''
[page 381]
1 drek'd, dressed.— P.
8 bofore, formerly. — P.
3 nome, took. — P.
4 P. has added an c at the end.
-F.
5 Tins line is partly pared away-
6 revenge. — P.
7 glad.— P.
8 together. — P.
SIR DEGREE.
45
[The Fifth Part.]
5 a . parte<
776
780
784
'88
;:»j.
796
[How Sir Degree kills the Giant, fights and finds his Father, and marries his Love. |
"Sir Degree hee start vp anon Degree
& thought to make him readye soone,
& out of a window liee him see ;
then to his horsse ffull soone did hye.
soe stout a man as hee was one,
in armor say l shee neuer none.
then Sir Degree rode fforth aniaine rides forth.
ffor to ryde this Gyant againe :
The smote together hard in soothe The giant
. charges him,
that Sir Degrees horsse backe brake in 2. and breaks
his horse's
" thou hast," say es Sir Degree, "slaine my goodsteede, back in two.
but I hope Isl quitt well thy meede !
to sloe thy steed nought I will,
but flight w/th thee all my flill."
then they ffoughten on ffoote in ffeere
w/th hard strokes vpon helmetts Cleere.
the Gyant hee gaue Sir Degree
huge strokes that were great plentye,
and Sir Degree did him alsoe
till his kelmett & basenett 2 were burst in 2.
the Gyant hee was agreeued sore
because he had of his blood ffbrlore, 3
& such a stroke he gaue Sir Degree thoc
that to the ground he made him goe.
Sir Degree recouered anon-right,
& such a stroke hee gaue that Knight,
& vpon the crowne soe hee itt sett,
I hut througe his holme and basenett
Then they
fight
on foot,
giving one
another
huge
strokes.
The giant
fells Degree ;
hill lie
recovers
himself,
SOU
he made his sword to goe through his head,
& then the gyant ffell downe dead.
this Ladye lay in her castle,
& shee saw the whole battell,
and kills
the giant.
The lady is
as glad as
' saw. — P.
' 2 head-piece. — P.
» lost.— P.
46
SIR DEGREE.
the birds of
daylight,
thanks
Degree,
kisses liim
100 times,
gives him all
her lands
and goods
and herself.
Degree
says he must
first seek
adventures
for a year ;
then he'll
come to her.
He rides
westward
till a knight
in rich
armour
rides up to
him
& shee was glad to see that sight
as euer the bird was of daylight.
then Sir Degree came into the hall,
804 & against him came the damsell,
& shee thanked him ffor his good deed,
& into her chamber shee did him lead,
& vnarmed him anon thoe,
808 & kist a 100 times and moe,
& sayd, " Sir, now all my Lands
I doe ceaze into thy hands,
& all my goods I doe thee gine,
812 & my bodye the whilest I Hue,
& ffor to bee att jour owne will
ear lye, late, lowd, and still."
he sayd, " Madam, godamercye
8 1 6 ffor all the ffavour yon hane granted mee !
but I must into ffarr countiyee,
more aduentures ffor to see
vntill this 12 monthes be agoe, 1
820 & then I will come you toe."
hee betooke her to the heauen Kmg.
the Lady wept att their departinge.
hee leaped on his horsse, the soothe to say,
824 & rode fforth on his Iourney ;
& euermore he rode west
till a Lane he ffound in a fforrest,
& there came to him [pricking a] Knight 2
828 That well was armed, & on his horsse dight [page 3Si>]
in armour that wold well endure,
with ffine gold and rich azure,
& 3 bores heads where thcrin,
832 the w7w'ch were of gold fline ; —
itt might well bee his owne, soones ffcll, 3
ffor once hee woone them in battcll ; —
1 gone, past. — P.
2 MS. cut away.— F. pricking a K\ —P.
3 sa?is faile, without fail. Sec 1.841.
-F.
SIR DEGREE.
47
& he sayd, " villaine ! what doest thou here
836 within my fforrest to sloe my deere ? "
Si'r Degree answered him w<'th words meeke,
& sayes, " of thy deere I take noe keepe,
but I am an aduenturous 'Knight,
840 & I am goinge to seeke warr & flight."
his ffather answered & sayd sans ffell,
" if thou be come flbr to seeke battell,
buske 1 thee shortlye in a stonde,
844 flbr thy fiellow thou hast flbunde."
then looke what ffolly happened that tyde !
the sonne againe the ffather did ryde,
& neither knew of other right ;
848 & thus they began to flight.
they smote together soe hard in soothe
that their horsses bacckes brake bothe ;
& then they ffbught on ffoote in fere
852 with hard strokes vpon helmetts cleere.
& this his ffather amarueyled was
of his sword that was poyntles,
& sayd to him anon-right,
856 " abyde awhile, thou gentle Knight !
where was thou borne, in what Land ? "
" St'r," hee sayd, " in England.
a Kings daughter is my mother ;
860 but I cannott tell who is my ffather.
" what is thy name ? " then sayes hee.
" Sir, my name is Degree.'"
" St'r Degree, thou art right welcome !
864 ffbr well I know thou art my sonne.
by that sword I know thee heere ;
the poynt is in my poteuere. 2 "
hee tooke the poynt & sett itt tooe, 3
868 & they accorded both tooe. 4
and asks
him why he's
come to kill
his deer.
Degree says
he doesn't
want his
deer,
but to fight.
The knight
tells him
to make
ready,
and they
fight
fiercely
till the
knight
sees that
Degree's
sword is
pointless,
and asks him
where he was
born.
"In
England.
But I know
not my
father.''
" Welcome,
my son!
I know \ on
by your
Bword."
Be I'ns the
point on to
it,
1 prepare. — P.
2 A pocket or pouch.
Sec Boy $
Mantle, vol. ii. p. 305, 1. 21.— F.
■ ? MS. looc.--F. to.— P. •' tho.
-P.
48
SIR DEGREE.
and father
and son are
reconciled.
They go
together
to England.
Degree's
mother
recognises
his father,
and they are
married.
Degree
marries his
own love ;
and so his
troubles
are over.
soe long they haue spoken together,
both the sonne and the ffather,
that they haue both accorded att one,
872 the ffather & the sonne alone,
then went fforth Sir Degree
with his owne ffather trulye.
vntill they niight England see,
576 they drew thither as they wold bee ;
& when they to the ISLmgB palace were come,
they were welcome w^'th all and some.
& there they Ladye spyed them ouer a Avail,
880 & to them shee began to call,
& shee sayd, " my deere sonne, S/r Degree,
thon hast thy ffather brought with thee ! "
" now thankes be to god ! " sayd the Kinge,
884 " ffor now I know with-out leasinge
who is Degrees ffather indeede."
the Ladye swooned in that steade.
then shee & her sonne were parted in twaine,
888 ffor hee & shee were to nye of kinne ;
& then this ~Knight wedded that ffayre Ladye
before all the Lords in that conntrye.
& then went fforth S/r degree,
892 & soe did the Kmg & all his meanye ;
vnto the castle the roden in ffere —
w/th a companye right ffayre —
where dwelled this l Ladye bright
896 w7wch before he wan in ffight.
& there Sir Degree marryed that gay Ladye
before all the nobles in that countrye.
& thus came the Knight out of his care.
900 god grant vs all well to ffare I
ililis.
1 that.— P.
[" Iaa May Morning " and " The Turke vn Tmien" printed in L. & Hum.
Songs, p. 7A-79, follow here, and take wp p. 383 of the MS.]
49
2 This poem, which is certainly one of the finest in the Folio
Manuscript, is now printed for the first time, and, as it would
appear at present, from the only copy of it in existence. From
its allegorical nature, it contains no historical allusions to assist
us in discovering its date or its author, and the only way left is
to examine the internal evidence. From this, however, it is plain
that the author wrote the poem in imitation of Langland's
Vision of Piers Plowman ; and a comparison of the two throws
considerable light upon its construction and its language. The
author seems most indebted to the later passus of Piers PIoav-
man, and I should infer from the line,
& bade them barre bigglye • Belzebub his gates, 3 (1. 390)
and from other indications, that the particular text of Piers
Plowman which he knew best was the latest one. And since
the latter part of this latest text was very likely not written
much before 1380, we may be tolerably certain at the outset
that the date of " Death and Liffe " is, at any rate, later than this.
Again, if we compare k ' Death and Liffe " with one of the latest
pieces of alliterative verse known, viz., the " Scotish ffeilde " (see
vol. i. p. 1 99 of the present work), we see a remarkable similarity
1 2 fitts. Two of these short Lines are Langland's Vision of whom this poem is
properly but one.— P. The Anglo-Saxon imitated. Ami as tin- stop helps tho
alliterative poems are usually written as reader by marking the pause in each Line,
prose with frequenl dots, and printed il has been carried on through the lines
commonly in short lines; the Early Eng- which are written lung in the MS. and
li h ones in long lines. The lines of the without pause-marks. — F.
present poem in the Folio MS. are written -This Introduction is by the Rev.
short to I. 87 of the text. They are hero W. W. Skeat K.
printed long, with an inverted full Btop '■' See Whitaker's edition of Piers Plovi-
ai the break between them, after Mr. »ia»,p. 354. The passage about "barre
Bkeat's plan in his Piers Plowman, from we |>e jatos" is not in Wright's edition.
VOL. III. E
50 DEATH AND LIFFE.
in the style, diction, and rhythm of these two poems. I have little
doubt but that the same man was the author of both. There is,
in both, the same free use of the words leeds, frekes; bearnes,
segges, as equivalent to men; the same choice of peculiar words,
such as iveld (to rule over), to keyre to (to turn towards), to ding
(to strike), even down to the occurrence in both of the unusual
word nay, as equivalent to ne, i.e. nor. Where we find in
" Death and Liffe,"
the red rayling roses ■ the riches of flowers (1. 24),
we find the corresponding line in " Scotish ffeilde," viz.
rayled full of red roses • and riches enowe (1. 26).
So too, the line in " Death and Liffe,"
a bright tmrnisht blade ■ all bloody leronen (1. 172),
is explained by
till all bis bright armour ■ was all blovdye bercnen (1. 31 of S. F.).
We may even venture, with confidence, to correct one poem by
help of the other. Thus, in S. F. 1. 337,
many squires full swiftly ■ were snapped to the death,
it is certain, no less from the Lyme MS. than from the alliteration,
that squires and snapped should be swires and swapped. And
we find the word sweeres, accordingly, in D. & L. 1. 54. As
another instance, take D. & L. 1. 407 :
he cast a light on the Land ■ as beanies on the sunn.
Here on is obviously an error for of; and it at once occurred to
me that beanies is an error for leames, the older form, and the
only one that agrees with the alliteration. This conjecture is
changed to certainty by observing S. F. 1. 309 :
with leames full light ■ all the land over.
Once more, we find, in D. & L. 1. 185,
botli enuye & anger ■ in their yerne weeds.
DEATH AND LIFFE. 51
If we consider yerne to mean eager (cf. 1. 250), we get no
particular sense, and destroy the alliteration ; but if we take it to
mean iron, we are right both ways. That this is correct, is
rendered probable by a similar expression in S. F. 1. 363, viz.,
" in their Steele weeds," which is not dubious at all.
It may be observed, too, that the two poems are very nearly of
the same length, and are both similarly divided into two pails.
I shall show presently that the author of " Death and Liffe " was
familiar with "Piers Plowman," and it is equally certain that the
author of " Scotish ffeilde " w 7 as so too. Compare S. F. 1. 106,
& profor him a present ' all of pure gold,
with the original line as it stands in " Piers Plowman,"
And profrede Pees a present • al of pure golde.
(P. PI. ed. Wright, p. 70 ; or ed. Skeat, p. 47.)
Percy himself seems to have been in two minds about this poem.
In one place he says, that " for aught that appears, [it] may have
been written as early [as], if not before, the time of Langland ; " !
and in another place he says, of the " Scotish ffeilde," and with
reference to " Death and Liffe," that " from a similitude of style,
[it] seems to have been written by the same Author." 2 The
former opinion is out of the question ; the latter is, I think, as
good as proved to be correct. Percy further says : " The subject
of this piece is a vision, wherein the poet sees a contest for
superiority between 'our lady Dame Life,' and the * ugly fiend
Dame Death;' who, with their several attributes and concomi-
tants, are personified in a fine vein of allegoric painting." 3 It
is, indeed, written with great boldness and vigour, and with no
small skill. Life is represented as beautiful, loving, cheering
and blessing all things with her gracious and happy presence,
whilst, on the other hand, and in perfect contrast, Death is
1 Ri liqu is, rol. ii. p. '■'•o:i (.5ili ed.) sent work.
- See vol. i. p. 199, note, of the | re- ;1 Reliques, rol. ii. p. 304.
]■: '1
52 DEATH AND LIFFE.
repulsive, terrifying, unsparing, with sorrow and sickness in her
train.
The picture of Lady Life as she comes " ever laughing for love,"
is the happiest piece of description in the Folio. All nature
" sways to her as she moves, and circles her with music : "
. . as shee came by the bankes ■ the boughes cche one
they lowted to that Ladye ■ & layd forth their branches ;
blossomes & burgens ■ breathed full sweete,
fflowers fflourished in the frith ■ where shee fforth stepedd,
cf- the grass that was gray ' greened beliue ;
breme birds on the boughos ■ busilye did singe,
§■ all the wild in the wood • whilye the ioyed. (1. G9-75.)
The dispute between the Ladies turns upon the real meaning
of the death of Christ. Death boasts of the fall of Adam and of
the thousands she has slain, and how she had pierced the heart
of our Lord himself. But, at the mention of His hallowed name,
Life rises up to reply victoriously, and to reprove unanswerably.
She reminds Death of Christ's resurrection, of His triumph over
all the powers of hell, of the impotence of her boasting, and of
her everlasting defeat and condemnation. The poet has a
glimpse of the glories of the general resurrection, and awakes
renewed in hope and comforted at heart with the ioot, sprig, &c. : e.g. "As
white as is tho blossom on the Rise."
Mi. G. 216: "As white us Lillie or
Rose on the rise." It. It. 1015. Jun.
— P. Ger. reis, a twig. Skeat.
7 A.S. hlutan, incurvare &c. .Tun. — P.
s burgen, burgeon, the same as bud.
Jun.— P.
;| i.e Knights. Thus in "King Richard
F''s Song (Qu. printed in Eor. Walpole's
royl Authors. St. (!. U bachaliers qi son
legiere sain doubtless means Knights.
See also many other places in this col-
li .t i' m. I'. See Gloss, to Lkik- h>t. Sk.
"' i.e. children, human creatures. — P.
11 lovely Lady. Vid. Lin. 258.— P.
60
DEATH AND LIFFE.
She was
clad
in green
her dress
cut low to
show her
breasts
and her
beautiful
neck.
A crown
was on her
head, and a
sceptre in
her hand.
Her suite
were,
Comfort,
Hope,
Love,
Courtesy,
and Honour
her steward.
that was comelye cladd ' in kirtle & Mantle
84 of goodlyest greene ■ that euer groome l ware,
for the kind 2 of that cloth * can noe clarke tell ;
& shee the most gracyous groome ' that on the ground
longed ;
of her druryes 3 to deeme * to dull be my Avitts,
85 & the price of her [perrie 4 ] ■ can no P[erson] 5 tell ;
& the colour 6 of her kirtle ' was caruen ffull lowe,
that her hlisfull breastes " bearnes might 7 behold,
with, a naked necke ' that neighed 8 her till,
92 that gaue light on the Land ■ as beames of the sunn,
all the Kmgs christened ■ with their cleere gold
might not buy that ilke broche 9 ' that buckeled her
mantle,
& the crowne on her head ' was caruen in heauen,
96 w/th a scepter sett in her hand ■ of selcoth 10 gemmes :
thus louelye to looke vpon ■ on Land shee abydeth.
merry were the Meanye u " of men that shee had,
bly th bearnes of blee ' bright as the sunn :
100 Sir Comfort, that Knight ' when the court dineth,
S/r Hope & S/r Hind " yee 12 sturdy e beene both,
Sir Liffe & S/r Likinge ■ & Sir Loue alsoe,
Sir Cunninge 13 & S/r Curtesye ' that curteous were of
deeds,
104 & Sir Honor ouer all " vnder her seluen.
a stout man & a staleworth 14 ■ her steward I-wisse.
1 groome, puer, famulus, also a young
man, see Johnson, from Fairfax: "in-
treat this groom & silly Maid." — here it
is used equivalent to homo, m. & f. — P.
2 Qu. kind : if knid, perhaps from
knitt.—P.
3 Drurie, chaueero denotat amicitiam,
amorem. Lye. Scot, gifts, presents,
love-tokens. Gloss, ad G. D. — P.
4 In this line a word is missing. It
is surely the word jierric, precious stones,
never missed in describing ladies: see
P. VI. ed. Wright, p. 511, note to 1. 901.
— Skeal.
5 Person. — P.
6 Qu. Collar, or y e Part round the
neck. See Johnson. — P.
' nnight MS.-F.
8 neighed them till. Qu. — P.
9 i.e. an ornament, jewel, clasp.
—P.
10 i.e. rarus. Lye. — P.
11 familia, multitude. Lye. — P.
12 that or who. Qu.— P.
1:1 One stroke too few in the MS.-
" i.e. fortis, stout, lusty, strong.
—P.
Jun.
-F.
Lye.
DEATH AND LIFFE.
01
sb.ee had Ladyes of loue " longed her about :
Dame mirth, & Dame Meekenes ' & Dame Mercy the
hynd, 1
108 dallyance & disport ■ 2 damsells ffull sweete,
with all beawtye [&] blisse ■ bearnes to behold,
there was minstrelsye made ' in full many a wise, —
who-soe had craft or cuninge " kindlye to showe, —
112 both of 2 birds & beastes ' & bearnes in the leaues ;
& ffishes of the fflood ■ ffaine 3 of her were ;
birds made merrye with, their mouth ' as they in mind
cold,
tho 4 I was moued with that mirth ■ that maruell mee
thought ;
116 what woman that was " that all the world lowted,
I thought speedylye to spye ' speede if I might,
then I kered 5 to a knight ■ Sir Comfort the good, 6
kneeling low on my knees ■ curteouslye him praysed.
120 I willed him of his worshipp ■ to witt 7 me the sooth 8
of yonder h&dye of loue ' & of her royall meanye.
hee cherished me cheerlye ■ by cheeke & by chin,
& sayd, "ccrtes my sonne ■ the sooth thou shalt
knowe.
124 this is my Lady dame Line " that leadeth vs all,
slice is worthy & wise * the welder of Ioye,
greatlye gouerneth the ground ' & the greene grasse,
Bhee hath ffostered & fled thee ■ sith thou was ffirst
borne,
128 &yettbeffore thou wast borne ' shee bred in thy hart,
thou art welcome, I-wisse ' vnto my winn Ladye.
If tlii.i i wilt wonders witt ' fcare not to ffraine, 9
Her ladies
were,
Mirth,
Mercy,
and Disport;
and about
her was
song of men,
of birds
and beasts.
I longed to
know who
this lady
was.
I knelt to
Sir Comfort
and asked
him to tell
me.
He said,
" She is
Lady Life,
who has
kept you
from your
birth.
Ymi are
well nine to
her."
1 Hine, villicus, A.S. hine, serrus,
domesticus. Lye. perhaps hend. — P.
Certainly hynd, hend, gentle. Skeat.
'-' of, delend. P. of=by, and is re-
quired by the verb made in I. 110. — Sk.
;| faine, hilar is, glad. Lye.- P.
4 i.e. then. P.
6 here, A.S. Cerran, cyrran, vertere.
I,Vr. I'.
■prayed, (hi.— I'. Lines 117-19 are
written as fcnir in the MS. — F.
7 witt, scire, hie est, facere notum. — P.
See ken, I. L31.- 1'.
8 sooth, varus, Veritas. Jun. I'.
!l frayne, interrogare. Jun. to ask,
desire. Gloss. G. D.— P.
62
DEATH AND LIFFE.
blowing a
burly blast,
and an
ugly ghost
appeared,
with a gold
crown,
136
I thought
I would be
hers for
ever,
and our
joy lasted
till an hour
after noon.
But by two 140
a horn \vn~-,
heard from
the North,
& I shall kindlye thee ken T ' cave thou noe more."
132 then I was fearfull enoughe • & ffaythfrullye thought
' that I shold long with, dame liffe ■ & loue her for euer,
there shall no man vpon mold " my mind from her take
for all the glitteringe gold ' vnder the god of heanen.'
thus in liking this lininge * the Longed 2 the more
till that itt neighed neere noone ' & one hower after
there was rydinge & revell " that ronge in the hankes
all the world was full woe ' winne to 3 behold,
or itt turned from 12 • till 2 of the clocke,
much of this melody e " was maymed & marde:
In a nooke of the north ■ there was a noyse hard,
as itt had beene a home ' the highest of others,
w/th the biggest bere 4 ' that euer bearne wist ;
& the burlyest 5 blast ■ that euer blowne was,
throughe the rattlinge rout * runge ouer the ffeelds.
the ground g'ogled 6 for greeffe " of that grim dame ;
I went nere out of my witt ' for wayling care ;
yett I bode on the bent * & boldly e looked,
once againe into the north ■ mine eye then I cast.
I there saw a sight ■ was sorrowfull to behold.
152 one of the A^glyest 7 ghosts ' that on the earth gone,
there was no man of this sight ' but hee was affrayd,
soe grislye & great ' & grim to behold.
& a quintfull 8 queene 9 ■ came quakinge before,
wi'thacarued crowneonher head ■ all of pure gold, [p.387]
& shee the ffoulcst ffreake 10 ' that formed was euer
144
148
156
1 ken, scire, perspicere, wtelligrre. Jim.
here it signifies (transitively) to shew,
make known, inform. See Witt, ver. 1-0.
—P.
2 abode. MS. Longer. — F.
3 Avinn, Woe to. Qu. — P. The word
woe is the difficulty : may it be A.-S. wo,
wok, in the original sense of bent, in-
clined? Or rather, it's put for wo\d'\e =
mad. Wi tine is joy, pleasure. — Sk.
* here, fremere, fremitus, rearing,
raging noise. Lye. — P.
5 burly, great of stature or size, bulky,
corpulent. Johns. — P.
6 joggled, wagged, shook. — Sk.
7 most fright-causing. — F.
9 quaintfnl, quaint, neat, exact, nice,
having a petty elegance. X.ih Qi'aint
is in Spencer quailed, depressed. John-
son. — P.
9 Sc. Pride, compare this with Line
183.— P.
10 freke, homo, a hunr.n creature.
Lye.-P.
DEATH AND LIFFE.
G3
both of bide & bew ' & bcarc l alsoe.
sbee was naked as my nayle ' botb aboue & belowe,
160 sbee was lapped about ' in Linenn breecbcs.
a more fearffull face " no freake migbt behold ;
for sbee was long, & leane ■ & lodlye 2 to see ;
there was noe man on the mold " soe mightye of
strengbt,
164 but a looke of that Lady " & his lilfe passed.
his 3 eyes farden 4 as the fyer ■ that in the furnace
burnes ;
they were hollow in her head ■ with, full beauye
browes;
her cheekes were leane ' with lipps full side, 5
168 with a maruelous mouth • full of long tushes,
& the nebb 6 of her nose * to her navell hanged,
& her lere 7 like tlr% lead • that latelye was beaten,
sbee bare in her right hand ■ & 8 vnrid 9 weapon,
172 a bright burnisbt blade ' all bloody beronen, 10
& in the left hand " like the legg of a grype, 11
with the talents that were touchinge ' & teenfull 12
enoughe.
w/'th that sbee burnisbt vp her brand ' & bradd 13 out
her geere ;
17G & I for feare of that freake ' ffell in a swond.
had not Sir Comfort come ' & my care stinted,
I had bcenc slainc with that sight ■ of that sorrowfull
bin lye.
and naked.
I Tor face
was fearful
to see.
Death was
in her look.
Her eyes
flamed like
fire.
Her nose
hung down
to her
navel.
In her right
hand was a
bloody
sword,
in her left
a vulture's
talons.
I swooned,
but Sir
Comfort
1 hair. P.
- Lodly or ledlye, [si. leidur. Tin-pis
sordidus, A.1. leid, abominabilis. M' Lye
MS. P. Loathly, Cf. 1. 303.— Sk.
a Her. -P.
4 i.e. fared, passed, went, were— p.
5 side, longus, prolixus. Lye. — P.
8 nebbe, rostrum, AS. vultus, item
is. Jun. — P.
; Lere, l.\ re, < !aro. Lye. Item, com-
ion, G loss, ad G. D, P.
s an, V.
1 unricl, perhaps the same as tint
in G. Doug! ; rude, hideous, horrible.
Gloss, ad G. P.— P. The root seems to
be the A.-S. r&SeoT kri%e, cruel, tin-re.
The prefix may be the A.-S. an- or on-.
— Sk.
10 Forti beronen or berunen, vid. p.
3G7, St. is [of MS.]. P. be-jun, run
over witli.— Sk.
" i.e. Griffin.— P.
'- teen, est injuria, vexatho. Jun. Sor-
row, grief. Johnson. — P.
1:1 braid, brade, vet. expergrfaccre, au-
ft rre, ednc re. Lye. —P.
64
DEATH AND LIFFE.
reassured
me,
told me she
was Death,
with Pride,
her suite,
Envy,
Wrath,
Mischief,
Sorrow,
and all who
loathed
their life.
She stept
on the
grass,
and the
trees
trembled,
the leaves
dropt.
the fish
were still.
She hied to
the happy
crowd.
and slew
kings,
princes,
dukes,
180
184
188
192
196
200
204
then he lowtecl to me low ■ & learned rne well,
sayd, " be thon not abashed ■ but abyde there a while ;
here may thou sitt & see " selcothes l ffull manye.
yonder damsell is death " that dresseth her to smyte.
loe, pryde passeth before ' & the price beareth,
many sorrowffull souldiers ' following her fast after :
both enuye & anger ' in their yerne 2 weeds,
morninge & mone ' Sir Mis[c]heefe his ffere, 3
Sorrow & sicknesse ' & sikinge in hart ;
all ///at were lothinge of their liffe * were lent 4 to her
court,
when shee draweth vp her darts ' & dresseth her to
smite,
there is no groome vnder god ' may garr her to stint,
then I blushed 6 to that bearne ■ & balefullye looked :
he 6 stepped forth barefooted ■ on the bents browne,
the greene grasse in her gate
shee grindeth all to
powder, 7
trees tremble for ffeare ' & tipen 8 to the ground,
leaues lighten downe lowe ' & leauen their might,
fowles faylen to fflce " when 9 the heard wapen,
& the flashes in the fflood ■ ff'aylen to swimme 10
fibr dread of dame death ■ that dolefully e threates.
with that shee hyeth to the hill ■ & the heai'd ffindeth :
in the roughest of the rout ' shee reacheth forth darts,
there shee fell att the first fflappe ■ 1500
of comelyes Queenes with crowne * & K.i/nga full noble,
proud princes in the presse ' prestlye n slice quellethe ;
of dukes that were doughtyc • shee dang out the
braynes ;
' i.e. rarities, vid. L. 96. — P.
2 yerne, promptus, cupidus. L. — P.
3 fere, socvus, vet. ang. L. — P.
* led.— P. Qu. MS. letit, or a t crossed
through for the first stroke of an n. — F.
lent is short for loujid; thus were lent =
abode, dwelt. Sec lent iu Halliwell,
- Sk,
5 vide Lin. 389.— P.
6 she.— P.
7 Compare this passage with the beau-
tiful bit about Life, lines 69-75. — F.
8 tip, leviter tangere. L. — P.
9 wan. Query. — P.
10 MS. swimne. — F.
11 prest, paratus, statim. Lye. — P.
DEATH AND LIFFE.
()0
merry maydens on the mold ' shee mightilye killetke ;
there might no weapon them warrant " nor no walled
towne.
yonnge children in their craddle " they dolefullye dyen ;
208 shee spareth fl'or no specyaltye ■ but spilleth the
gainest l ;
the more woe shee workcth ■ more mighty e shee
seemeth.
when my Lady dame liffe ■ looked on her deeds,
& saw how dolefullye " shee dunge 2 downe her people,
212 slice cast vp a crye ■ to the hye Kmg of heauen ;
& he hearkneth itt hendlye ' in his hye throne,
hee called on countenance " & hade his course take,
" ryde thou to the reschew ' of yonder wrought 3
Ladye.
216 hee was bowne 4 att his bidd ' & bradd 5 on his way.
t/nit wight, 6 as the wind ' that wappeth" in the skye,
he ran out of the rainebow 8 ' through the ragged
clowds,
& light on the Land ■ where the Lords [lay] slaine.
220 & vnto dolefull death ■ he dresses him to speake ;
sayth : "thou wrathefull Queene ' that euer woe worketh,
cease of thy sorrow " thy soueraigine com?»andeth,
& let thy burnished blade " on the bent rest,
224 that my Lady dame liffe ' her likinge may haue."
then death glowed & gran ' for gryme 9 of her talke, 10
merry
maids,
and babies
too.
Life then
cried to
God,
and He sent
Countenance
to her rescue.
Countenance
rushes down
like the
wind,
and bids
Death
cease her
slaughter,
that Life
might have
her way.
Loath '
1 gain,t] • wngain, (aukward,
clumsy) i.e. clever: bandy, ready, dex-
trous. Johnson. — P. '-' dang. — P.
3 wrought, Scot, wraik, to vex; Sax.
■i, exulare ; wreccan persequi, ulcisci ;
wrecca, miser, exul. Wrought perhaps is
the sain, with the Scotch wrachit, i.e.
wretched. — P.
4 bown, paratus. L. — P.
5 vid. 176 rer. P.
8 wight, swift) nimble. Johnson. P.
' wappeth, A.s. wappian, Fluctuare,
[wapean, triijlmi, tn \\aver, MosworthJ,
i> waxeth, see Saxon, written so
in folio 106 "Saxon Harold," also ver.
248 of this song. — P. See Waft in "Wedg-
wood. Wappe is used in Maleore s
Arthur of the lapping of the waves in
tlie liil about Arthur's death, and Sir
Bedevere. — Sk.
H The W is made over a y in the M.S.
V.
9 Query foregrim, i.e. very grim: furc
in composition sometimes strengthens
the meaning, e.g. fore done, fore shame,
fore slow. See Johnson on these, gryme
is foulness, dirtiness, impurity. — P. A.-S.
grim, fury, rage; grymetan, to rage. — F.
10 looked fiercely and grinned for rage
at Countenance's talk. — P.
VOL. in.
66
DEATH AND LIFFE.
earthed her
sword.
Life kisses
Counten-
ance,
and then
rebukes
Death:
" Devil's
daughter,
[page 388]
why kill'st
thou man,
and grass,
and trees,
God's handi-
work ?
He blest
them,
bade them
increase and
multiply,
but shee did as shee dained l ' durst sliee noe other ;
shee pight the poynt of her sword ' in the plaine earth,
228 & with a looke full layetk 2 ■ shee looked on the hills,
then my Lady dame Liffe ' shee looketk full gay,
kyreth 3 to countenance * & him comelye thankes,
kissed kindlye that ~K.night ■ then carped 4 shee no
more,
232 but vnto dolefull death • shee dresseth her to speake,
sayth : " thou woefull wretch ' weaknesse of care,
bold birth 5 full of bale ' bringer of sorrowe,
dame daughter of the devill ' death is thy name ;
236 but if thy fare be thy 6 fairer ' the feend haue thy soule.
couldest thou any cause fund " thou Kaitiffe wretch,
That neither reason nor wright 7 • may raigne w/th
thy name ?
why kills thou the body ■ that neuer care rought 8 ?
240 the grasse nor the greene trees ' greeued thee neuer,
but come fibrth in their kinds ' christyans to helpe,
with all beawtye & blisse ' that barne 9 might devise,
but of my meanye thou marreth ' marveild I haue
244 how thou dare doe them to death • eche day soe manye,
& the handy worke of him ■ that heaueu weldeth !
how keepeth thou his comandements ' thou kaytiffe
retch !
wheras banely 10 hee them blessed " & biddeth them
thriue.
248 waxe fforth in the Avord ' & worth u vnto manye,
1 ordained, bade. — Sk. The context
wants the meaning — " was told to." — F.
- kith, loath, A.S. la* ; O. E. laid ; in-
visus, molestus, odiosus, fastidiuni creans.
Jun.— P.
3 Kereth, ver. 118, qnem vide. — P.
A.S. eyrrun, to turn. — F.
' to carp, to talk. Scottish. Lin. 361,
Gloss, to Etamsays Evergreen. Here it
seems used forcomplained. Carpit, .spoke,
talked, complained. Gloss, to G. Doug 8 .
—P.
5 Birth, hulk. . . burthen. Gloss, ad
G. Doug.— P. 6 the.— Sk.
' right. — P. 8 wrought. — Sk.
MS. harme. The alliteration re-
quires h ; and h is continually miswritten
for h. It should be barne = bearne (1. 265).
— Sk.
10 hand)/, perhaps readily, from bane,
p. 363, St. 28.— P. Bane, kind, courteous,
friendly. Northern. This is Kennett's
explanation of the word in MS. Langd,
1033. JIalliwell. — F.
11 worth, esse, fieri, A.S. worthan. Lye.
—P.
DEATH AND L1FFE.
67
& thou lett them of their leake 1 ' w/th thy lidder 2
turnes !
but w/th wondering 3 & with woe " thou waiteth them
full yorne, 4
& as a theefe in a rout ■ thou throngeth them 5 to death,
252 that neither nature, nor I ' ffor none of thy deeds
may bring vp our bearnes ■ their bale thee betyde !
but if thou 6 blinn 7 of that bine ' thou buy must full
deere ;
they may wary 8 the weeke " that euer thou wast
fformed."
256 then death dolefullye ■ drew vp her browes,
armed her to answer ■ & vpright shee standeth,
& sayd : " o, louelye liff'e * cease thou such wordes !
thou payneth thee with pratinge ' to pray me to cease.
260 itt is reason & right ' that I may rent take
thus to kill of the kind ' both 'Kings & dukes,
Loyall Ladds & liuelye " of ilke sort some ;
all shall drye 9 with the dints " that I deale with my
hands.
264 I wold haue kept the cormnandement ' of the hye Kmg
of heauen,
but the bearne itt brake ' that thou bred vp ffirst
when Adam & Eue l0 ' of the earth were shapen,
& were put into Paradice ' to play w/th their selues,
268 & were brought into blisse ' bidd if the u wold.
he warned 12 them nothing in the world ■ but a wretched
branche
and tliou
puttest
them to
death.
Stop, or
you'll suffer
for it 1"
Death
answers
" It is right
that I
should kill
some,
for the
first man
broke God's
commands
in Paradise,
1 Irak, vid. lin. 301.— P. A.-S. lac,
play, sport. — F.
2 lidder, slow, sluggish, lazy. Gloss.
ad G. D. ; or perhaps as the Sax. ItSer,
i.e. mains, Bordidus, servilis. — P. A.-S.
li/&rc, lyier, bud, wicked. Bosworth. —
P.
8 Only half of the last n is in the MS.
— F.
* greedy, vid. L. 18.5. — P. eagerly.
A.-S. georne.- F. waiteth is used for
waitest; this agrees with tholcd for
thok <dst in 1. 1.— Sk. 5 MS. then.— F.
i.e. unless thou. — P.
7 blinn, vet. A. cessare, desinere, dcsis-
tere. Lye.— P. ? bine.— F.
8 wary, Chauc. est detestari, execrari,
vid. Junius. — P.
9 ilrie, dricn, tolerare, pati. Sax. drco-
yin. Lye. dre, to suffer, endure. Gloss,
ad G. I), dye, qu.— P.
10 There is a tag at the end like an r
in tho MS.— F.
" bide if they.— P. I2 forbade.— Sk.
F 2
68
DEATH AISD LIFFE.
when Eve
plucked the
apple.
Then I,
Death, gript
my sword,
and hit
Adam and
Eve and
their off-
spring.
Leave me,
Life I I hate
thee and thy
servants,
and have no
pleasure in
their mirth.
My gladdest
game is to
hew at thy
joys."
of the ffayutyest ffruit ■ that euer in ffrith grew;
yett his bidding they brake ' as the booke recordeth.
272 when Eue ffell to the ffruite ' wc'th fnngars white,
& plucked them of the plant ■ & poysoned them both,
I was fFaine of that ffray ■ my ffawchyon I gryped,
& delt Adam such a dint ' that hee dolue euer after.
276 Eue & her ofspring ■ I hitt them, I hope,
for all the musters l that they made " I mett wt'th them
once.
therfore, liffe, thou me leaue ' I loue thee but a litle ;
I hate thee & thy houshold - & thy hyndes 2 all !
280 mee gladdeth not of their glee " nor of their gay lookes;
att thy dallyance & thy disport ' noe dayntye 3 I haue ;
thy ffayre liffe & thy ffairenesse ' ffeareth 4 me but litle ;
thy blisse is my bale " breuelye 5 of others,
284 there is no game vnder heauen ■ soe gladlye I wishe
as to haue a slapp wt'th my ffawchyon ■ att thy fayre
state."
[The Second Part.]
Life rejoins :
"Thy sword
shall never
bite me ;
but when
men
are joyful
with wife
and child,
r Then liffe on the land ■ Ladylike shee speakes,
sayth : " these words thou hast wasted ' wayte 6
thou no other ;
2 ffitt <( shall thy bitter brand neuer " on my body byte.
I am grounded in god ■ & grow for euermore ;
but to these men of the mold ■ marvell me thinketh
in whatt hole of thy hart " thou thy wrath keepeth :
202 where ioy & gentlenesse ■ are ioyned 7 together
betweene bis wight 8 & his wiffe ■ & his winne 9 children.
1 musters
— F
Qu. — P. devices, tricks.
- servants. — F.
:i daintye, &e. I have no scruple, cere*
Sec Johnson, Ad Verb
3 d . sense.
mony. See Johnson, Ad \
— P. daintye, delight.— F.
* fear — frighten. So in Shakespeare:
' Warwick was a bug, that feared us
all.'— S.
5 bremely, Vid. p. 246, St. 19, vid. p.
388, lin. 360.— P. ? briefly.— F.
G Q,u. vato, Scot. i.e. wott. — P.
7 The i has an accent on it as if for c.
— F. 8 a wight. — P. " pleasant. — F.
DEATH AND LIFFE.
69
& when ffaith & ffellowshipp • are ffastened ffor aye,
loue & charitye ■ which, our lord likethe,
296 then thou waletb. l them with wracke • & wratkeffully
beginneth ;
vncurteouslyo thou cometh " vnknowne of them all,
& lacheth 2 away the land ■ that the hord holdeth,
or woryes his wiffe ' or waits 3 downe his children.
300 mikle woe thus thou waketh ■ where mirth was before,
this is a deed of the devill • death, thou vsest ;
but if thou leaue not thy lake 4 " & learne thee a better,
thou wilt lach 5 att the last ■ a lothelich 6 name."
304 " doe away, damsell," quoth death ■ " I dread thee
nought !
of my losse 7 that I losse 8 ■ lay thou noe thought ;
thou prouet mee full prestlye ' of many proper thinge ;
I haue not all kinds soe ill ■ as thou me vpbraydest ;
308 where I wend on my way ■ the world will depart,
bearnes wold be ouer bold " bales ffor to want,
the 7 sinnes for to serue * & sett them full euer,
& giue no glory ynto god ■ that sendeth vs all grace.
312 if the dint of my dart ' deared 9 them neuer,
to lett them worke all their will ' itt were litle Ioy.
shold I for their fayrnesse ' their ffoolishnes allowe,
my liffe (giue thou me leaue) ' noe Leed 10 vpon earth
316 but I shall master his might • mauger his cheekes
as a Conquerour keene ' biggest of other,
to deale dolefull dints ' & doe as my list;
for I fayled neuer in fight ■ hut I the ffeild wan
thou
destroyed t
their lands
or loved
ones :
a deed of the
devil."
Death
answers :
"I am not so
guilty as
you, Life,
would make
me.
Prevent
men from
sinning,
and subdue
them all.
Never have
I failed
in tib'ht.
1 to wale, eligere, forte hie transitive
pro 'to make to wail.' — P. waleth =
afflictest. A.-S. tva/an, to afflict, rex.
- 8k.
- lach, latche. To bake, catch, Bnatch.
A.-S. Iteccan, c prehendere, rapere.
I'rry iii Chauc! — P.
* A.-S. westtan, to roll, tumble. F.
4 lake, Ludere. Lye. — I'.
■ A..-S. lesccan, gelacean, to take, catch,
seize. (See note 2 .) — F.
6 i.e. loathsome. — P.
' praise, fame. — F.
8 lose.— P.
9 Dere, Chauc est leedere, nocere. Lye.
—P.
10 Leed, leid, a Person (Scottish),
Gloss, to Ramsay's Evergreen, hid, a
man, from teod, Sax. Homo. Gloss, ad
(i. I). —P.
70
DEATH AND LIFFE.
I killed
Adam,
Methuselah,
Joseph,
Abraham,
Saul,
Jonathan,
David,
Solomon,
Alexander,
Arthur,
Hector,
Lancelot,
Gallaway,
and all the
knights of
the Round
Table.
I jousted
with Jesus,
320 si tli the ffirst ffroake ■ that formed was euer,
& will not leaue till the last bee ■ on the beere layd.
but sitt sadlye, 1 thy liffe 2 " & 3 soothe thou shalt know.
If euer any man vpon mold " any mirth had,
324 that leaped away with thee, liffe " & laughed me to
scorne,
but I dang them with my dints ■ vnto the derffe 4
earthe.
both Adam & Eue • & Abell, I killed ;
Moyses & Methasula * & the meeke Aronn [page 3S9]
328 Iosua & Ioseph * & Iacob the smoothe,
Abraham & Isace * & Esau the roughe ;
Samuell, 5 for all his ffingers ' I slew with my hands,
& Ionathan, his gentle sonne * in Gilboa hills ;
332 david dyed on the dints ' that I delt oft,
soe did Salomon his sonne ■ that was sage holden,
& Alexander alsoe " to whom all the world lowted ;
in the middest of his mirth ' I made him to bow ;
336 the hye honor that he had ■ helped him but litle ;
when I swang him on the swire 6 " to swelt 7 him
behoued.
Arthur of England ■ & Hector the keene,
both Lancelott & leonades ■ with other leeds manye,
340 & Gallaway the good Kmght " & Gawaine the hynde, 8
& all the rowte I rent ■ ffrom the round table :
was none soe hardye nor soe hye " soe holy nor soe
wicked,
but I burst them with my brand ' & brought them
assunder.
344 how shold any wight weene ' to winn me on ground ?
haue not I lusted gentlye * with Iesu of heauen ?
1 seriously, composed, still. — P.
2 Thou Life.— P.
3 the.— P.
4 See pag. 116, St. 39.— P. fierce,
cruel. — F.
3 Saul. lege.—?.
6 swire, swira, swir-ban, collum, cervix.
—P.
7 Swelt, S. sweltan, obixe, languescere.
Swelt, to be choaked, suffocated, die.
Gloss, ad G. D.— P.
8 heude, as in 1. 107.- Sk.
DEATH AND LIFFE. 71
he was frayd of my mice * in ffreshest of time.
yett I knocked him on the crosse ' & carued l throughe and pierced
his heart."
his hart."
348 & with that shee cast of her crowne ' & kneeled downe At Christ's
. name all
lOWe kneel.
when shee minned 2 the name ' of that noble prince ;
soe did liffe vpon land ' & her leeds all
both of heauen and of earth ■ & of hell ffeends,
352 all tbey lowted downe lowe ' their Jjord to honor.
then liffe kneeled on her knees ' with her crowne in Life
her hand,
& looketh vp a long while ' towards the hye heauen ;
shee riseth vpp rudlye 3 ' & dresseth her to speake,
356 shee calleth to ber companye ' & biddeth them 4 come then can*
her company
neere, to her,
both ~K.ings and Queenes " & comelye dukes:
" woi'ke wiselye by jour witts ' my words to heare
that I speake ffor jour speed " & spare itt noe longer." 5
360 then shee tumeth to them ' & talketh these words, ? ( n J* sa y s '■
" Death, thy
shee sayth 6 : " dame death, of thy deeds ' now is thy witl f\- e
doome shapen T^iL.
through thy wittles words ' that thou hast carped,
w7n'ch thou makest with thy mouth ■ & mightylye
avowes. 7
364 tbou hast blowen thy blast ' breemlye 8 abroade J h01 J hasfc
J J boasted
how hast thou wasted this world ' sith wights were ^dersof
first,
euer murthercd & marde ' thou makes thy avant. 9
of one point lett vs proue ' or 10 wee part in sunder :
1 carve, secare, incidere, sculpcre. Jun. 5 The next two pages are borrowed
See also Johnson : Sense 6 , . h — P. from P. PI. Passus xviii. — Sk.
- mil/, i, mini/, to mention. Vid. Iun. 6 On these introductory words, see Mr.
Lye. — P. The alliteration and sense Skeat's Kssay on Allit. Metre. — F.
both show it should be nemned. nem is 7 avewest. — P.
iniswrittcn miii. — Sk. * forte breemlye, breme, est atro.r,
3 rude, is stiff, strong. It. forcible, ferox ; A. -Sax. hreman, f rem ere. Lye.
vehement, apwd G. Douglas.— P. ? for 'vid. p. 216, St. 19, 388, 1. 283.— P. MS.
radlye, A.-Sax. radlice, quickly, speedily. breenlye or breitlye. — F.
— F. 1 thenn MS.— F. ° boast.— Sk. ' '» ere.— Sk,
I J,
PKATTf AM) LIFFE.
of jousting
with Jesus.
But he
conqui rc-.l
then.
Thou didst
beat and
buffet him,
and wound
him on the
cross
with a spear.
But the
glory of his
( iu.liicad
drove thee
into Hell,
where thou
toldest
368 how didest thou lust att Ierusalem ' with Iesumy lord,
where thou deemed his deat[h] " in one dayes time ?
there was thou shamed, & shent 1 ' & stripped ffbr aye !
when thou saw the Kmg come ' w/th the crosse on his
shoulder ;
372 on the top of Caluarye ' thou earnest him against ;
like a traytour vntrew ' treason thou thought ;
thou layd vpon my leege lord ' lotheliche hands,
sithen beate him on his body ■ & buffetted him rightlye,
376 till the railinge 2 red blood " ran from his s[i]des,
sith rent him on the rood " w/th ffull red wounds.
to all the woes that him wasted ■ I wott not ffew,
tho deemedst to haue 3 beene dead ■ & dressed for
euer.
380 but, death, how didst thou then ' w/th all thy derffe 4
words,
when thou prickedst att his pappe ' w/th the poynt of
a speare,
& touched the tabernackle ' of his trew hart
where my bower was bigged 5 ■ to abyde for euer?
384 when the glory of his godhead ■ glented 6 in thy face,
then was thou feard of this fare ' in thy false hart ;
then thou hyed into hell hole ' to hyde thee beliue ;
thy fawchon flew out of thy fist ' soe fast thou thee
hyed;
388 thou durst not blushe 7 once backe ■ for better.or worsse
but drew thee downe ffull ■ in that deepe hell,
& bade them barre bigglye 8 • Belzebub his gates,
then the told 9 them tydands ■ that teened them sore,
1 shend, akent, confundere dedecorare.
Lye. P.
2 railing, rails, apnd G. Dougl is,
springe, gushes forth, runs, iEn. xi. 724,
( 'rix.r \ l 'visa labuntur aibatht re plumes,
which is thus rendered "al the blu.de ha-
boundantly ftirtli ralis" and — the "licht
downis up to the skyis glydis." rayled
is ased by Chaucer in this Sense. — P.
' J liim lo have. P,
* Vid. P. 116 [of MS.]— P.
5 big, Scotis est condeiv, sedificare.
Lye.— P.
6 to glent, to glance. Urry. In Chauc^
" Her eyin glent aside." Tr. & Cres. —
P.
' so we say "at first blush." See
Johnson. — P.
8 biggly, i.e. mightily. — P.
9 thou 't oldest. -P.
DKATTI AND I.IFFE.
/.}
392 how that King came ' to kithen ' his strenght,
& how shee had beaten thee on thy bent " & thy brand
taken,
with euerlasting lifie " that longed 2 him till.
then the sorrow was ffull sore ■ att Sathans hart ;
396 hee threw ffeends in the ffycr ' many Sell thousands ;
&, death, thou dange itt on ■ whilest thou dree 3 might ;
for ffalte of thy ffawchyon " thou fought with, thy hand.
host this neuer of thy red deeds ■ thou ravished bitche !
400 thou may shrinke for shame ' when the sooth heares.
then I leapt to my lord ■ that caught me vpp soone,
& all wounded as hee was ■ with, weapon in hand
he fastened foote vpon earth ■ & ffollowed thee fifast
404 till he came to the caue ■ that cursed was holden.
he abode before Barathron ■ that bearne, while he
liked,
that was euer merke as midnight " with mour[n]inge
& sorrowe ;
he cast a light on the Land • as beames on 4 the sunn.
403 then cryed that King • with a cleere steuen, 5
" pull open jour ports ' you princes within !
here shall come in the King ' crowned with ioy,
which is the hyest burne 6 ' in battell to smite."
412 there was ffleringe 7 of ffeends • throughe the fyer
gaynest, 7
hundreds hurled on heapes ■ in holes about ;
the broad gates, all of brasse " brake all in sunder,
& the Kmg with his crosse " came in before.
4lf. he leapt vnto Lucifer ■ that Lord himselfe,
then he went to the tower ' where chaynes were manye,
how Christ's
everlasting
Life had
beaten thee.
Eoast not,
then, beaten
bitch !
For Christ
followed
thee to Hell,
and bade its
princes open
its gates
and receive
their King.
The gates
burst
asunder.
Christ bound
Lucifer,
1 Kytlio, to appear, Item, to make
appear, to show, ab A.S. cySan, nan-arc,
osb adere, cyie notitia, cy%ere martyr,
testis. Gloss, ad G-. Doug. — P.
- belonged. Sk.
3 dree, Qu. P. rfree=endure, hold
out. A. -Sax. dreogan. This is from
Goth. <lriiigmi = serve a^ a soldier, fight,
the very sense here, viz. to hold out in
fighting. — Sk.
1 of. — P. Should he lemes of. bcame
is a stupid alteration for leme, and de-
stroys the chief-letter. Sk.
1 voice, sound. Lye. — P.
Qu. barne. —P.
7 ? flcinge. gaynest = quickest. — Sk.
74
DEATH AND LIFFE.
& bound liini soc biglye " that hee for bale rored.
death, tliou daredst l that day " & durst not be seene
420 fibr all the glitering gold " vnder god himseluen.
Then to the tower hee went * where chanes are many ;
hee tooke Adam & Eue ■ out of the old world,
Abraham & Isacc • & all that hee wold,
424 david, & danyell ' & many deare bearnes
that were put into prison ■ & pained ffull long.
he betooke me the treasure * that neuer shall haue end,
that neuer danger of death ' shold me deere after.
428 then wee wenten fforth ■ winlye 2 together,
& Left the dungeon of devills " & thee, death, in the
middest.
& now thou prickes ffor pride ■ praising thy seluen !
therfore bee not abashed ■ my barnes soe deere,
432 of her ffauchyon soe ffeirce ' nor of her ffell words,
shee hath noe might, nay no meane ' no more you to
greeue,
nor on jour comelye corsses ' to clapp once her hands.
I shall looke you ffull liuelye ' & latche ffull well,
436 & keere 3 yee ffurther of this kithe 4 ■ aboue the cleare
skyes.
If yee [loue] well 5 the Ladye " that light in 6 the mayden,
& be christened with creame 7 * & in jouy creede
beleeue,
haue no doubt 8 of yonder death ■ my deare children ;
and fear not 440 for yonder [death] is damned ' with devills to dwell,
where is wondering, & woe ' & wayling ffor sorrow,
death was damned that day " Daring ffull still,
shee hath no might, nay no maine 9 ' to meddle with
yonder ost,
[page 390]
rescued
Adam and
Eve,
Abraham,
Daniel, and
many more.
He freed me
from death,
and we went
forth
together,
leaving thee,
Death, in the
dungeon of
devils.
My children,
fear not then
Death's
sword.
I shall lead
you up to
Heaven.
Love Mary,
be chris-
tened,
she cannot
meddle with
everlasting
Life."
1 deredst. — P. This daring, 1. 442, is
Chaucer's dare, said of a hare that lies
and dares. See Morris, Specimens, p. 436,
note to Werwolf, 1. 15. — Skeat.
- A.-S. wynlice, joyously. — F.
3 turn?— Sk.
4 A.-S. cifi, a region ; cy%%e, a home,
Dative country. — F.
'•" ye serve well, or love. Qu. — P.
6 hight is. Qu— P.
7 chreame, Gr. XP'CA" 1 - gallice ehresme,
oleum sacratum quo in Bapl™ utebantur.
Lye.— P.
8 fear.— Sk.
9 maine, S. mepyi, rohur, vis. Nescio
an Might respiciat animi, Main, vim
corporis. Lye. — P.
DEATH AND LIFFE.
75
444 against euerlasting liffe ' that Ladye soe true."
then my Lady dame liffe ' with Lookes soe gay,
that was comelye cladd ■ with christall x and Mantle,
all the dead on the ground ■ doughtilye 2 shee rayseth
448 fairer by 2 ffold ■ then they before were.
with that sheehyeth ouer the hills ■ with hundreds ffull
manye. 3
I -wold haue ffollowed on that faire 4 ■ but no further I
might ;
what with wandering 5 & with woe ■ I waked beliue.
452 thus fared I throw a ffrith ■ in a ffresh time,
where I sayd a sleepe ' in a slade greene ;
there dreamed I the dreame * vrhick dread all be-
frighted.
but hee that rent all was 6 on the rood ' riche 7 itt him-
seluen,
456 & bring ts to his blisse ' with blessings enowe !
therto Iesu of Ierusalem ' grant vs thy grace,
& saue there our howse ■ holy for euer ! Amen !
ffillS.
Then Life
raised the
dead,
and hied
away with
hundreds.
I tried to
follow,
but awoke.
Such was
my dream.
May Christ
fulfil it,
and bring us
to His bliss!
1 kyrtle Query, petticoat. Lat. En-
combomata. Jun. — P. A word like
plicor follows in the MS., but is not
in Junius. — F.
2 dcughty, strenuus, impavidus, ani-
■mosus. Jun. — P.
8 Only half the n in the MS.— F.
4 fair thing, Scil* —P.
6 Only one stroke for the second n in
the MS.— F.
6 was cdl rent, Qu. — P. all is de trop.
— Sk.
' ? rule, control. A.-S. ricsian. Or
riche = rithe, rihte, set right.- -Sk.
76
Sfoam : 33dl : CItme of tfte Clause] 8c
OTi'Utam : off Cloufctsrtee x 1
The version here given of this well-known ballad differs very
slightly from that printed by Copland circ. 1550, reprinted (with
some alterations from the Folio) in the Reliques, and again by
Ritson in his Pieces of Popular Poetry.
The ballad is no doubt far older than the oldest copy extant.
Dunbar (who died circ. 1530) makes mention of one of its three
famous heroes. A fragment of an edition older than that pub-
lished by Copland has been recovered by Mr. Payne Collier.
It's merry to
hunt in the
green forest.
[The First Part.]
[How ' Cloudeslee is tane and damned to death.']
MERRYE : itt was in the greene fforrest
amonge the leaues greene,
wheras men hunt East & west
4 with bowes & arrowes keene,
And I'll tell
you of 3
northern
yeomen,
to raise the deere out of their den ;
such sights has oft beene seene,
as by 3 yeomen of the north countrye,
8 by them itt is I meane.
Adam Bell,
Clym of the
Cloughe,
and William
Clovvdcslee,
the one of them hight Adam Bell,
another Clymm of the Cloughe,
the 3? was yvilliam of Clowdeslee,
12 an archer good enoughe.
1 In 3 Parts. N.B. This is in print in Old Black Letter. Some corrections may
be had from this. — P.
ADAM liELL, ETC.
77
16
they were outlawed for venison,
these yeomen eueryeche one ;
they swore then 1 brethren on a clay
to English wood for to gone.
now lithe 2 & listen, gentlemen
that of mirth loueth to heare !
2 of them were single men,
20 the o a . had a weded ffere. 3
outlawed for
taking
will/am was the weded man ;
4 much more then was his care,
hee sayd to his brethren vpon a day,
24 to Carleile hee wold fare,
William is
married,
and says
he 11 go to
Carlisle
there to speake wt'th faire Allice his wiffe
and his children three.
" by my truth," said Adam Bell,
28 " not by the councell of mee ;
to see his
wife and
children.
Adam
warns him
" for if wee 5 goe to Carlile, Brother,
& from this wylde wood wende,
If that the Iustice doe you take,
32 yowr liffe is att an end."
" If that I come not to Morrow, brother,
by prime 6 to you againe,
trust you then that I am tane
36 or else that I am slaine."
that he'll
be taken.
hee tookc his leaue of his brethren 2,
& to Carlile hee is gone ;
there he knocked att his owne windowe
40 shortly e and anon.
William
goes to his
home,
knocks for
1 them. Beliques (collated only now
and then). — F.
2 lithe, attend, hearken, listen. Lye.
—P.
3 fere, companion. Iun. — P.
4 One stroke too many in the MS.— F.
■ s ye. -IM.
6 MS. priiie F.
78
his wife,
ami tells her
to let him in.
ADAM BELL, CLIME OF THE CLOUGHE,
"where be you, ffayre Allice ? " he sayd,
" my wiffe, and children three ?
lightlye lett in thy owne husband,
44 William of Clowdeslee."
She says
the place
is watched.
" alas ! " then sayd ffaire Allice,
and sighed verry sore,
" This place hath beene beset for you
48 this halfe a yeere & more."
[page 391]
" Let me in,
and give me
food."
" now am I heere," said Clowdeslee,
" I wold that in I were ;
now ffeitch vis 1 meate & drinke enoughe,
52 & lett vs make good cheere."
she does so. shee ffeitcht him meate & drinke plentye,
like a true weded wiffe ;
& pleased him with that shee had,
56 whom shee loued as her liffe.
An old
woman
kept 7 years
by William's
charity
there lay an old wiffe in the place,
a litle before 2 the ffyer,
■which wilh'am had found of charytye
60 more then seauen yeere.
goes to
the Justice,
and tells him
Clowdeslee
is at home.
vp shee rose, & forth shee goes, —
Euill mote shee speede therfore ! — ■
for shee had sett 3 no ffoote on ground
64 not 7 yeere before.
shee went into the Iustice hall
as ffast as shee cold hye :
" this night," shee sayd, " is come to towne
68 William of Clowdeslee."
1 ? MS. for vus, or vs, us. — F.
* besyde. — Bel.
3 One stroke too many in the MS. — F.
76
AND WILLIAM OF CLOUDESLEE.
therof the Iustice was full faine, 1
soe was the Sherriffe alsoe ;
" thou shalt not trauell hither, dame, for nought ;
M thy meede thou shalt haue ere thou goe."
they gaue to her a right good gowne, —
of Scarlett itt was, as I heard saine, 2 —
shee tooke the gift, & home shee went,
& couched her downe againe.
79
He is glad,
and gives her
a scarlet
gown.
they raysed the towne of Merry Carlilc
in all they hast they can,
& came thronging to wtlKams house
80 as fast as they might gone ;
Then he
raises
the town,
there they besett the good yeaman
about on euerye syde.
william heard great noyse of the flfolkes
84 that thitherward fast hyed.
and
surrounds
William's
house.
Alice opened a backe windowe,
& looked all about :
shoe was ware of the Iustice & Sherr[i]ffe both,
& with them 3 a ffull great rout.
William's
wife Alice
sees them,
" A llice, 4 treason ! " then cryed Allice,
" Euer woe may thou bee !
goe into my chamber, sweet husband," shee sayd,
92 " Sweete William of Clowdeslee."
he tooke his sword & his buckeler,
his bow, & his children 3 ;
he went into the strongest chamber,
96
where he thought the surest to bee.
and sends
William into
her room.
1 glad.— P.
2 Of scarlate, and ofgraine, — Eel.
3 One stroke too many in the MS. — F.
1 Alas.— Bel.
80
ADAM UELL, CLIME OF THE CLOUGHE,
She seizes
a poleaxe.
William
shouts the
Justice on
the breast,
but it is
armoured.
The Justice
calls on him
to yield,
and orders
the house
to be fired.
His men fire
it.
William lets
his wife and
children out
of a window,
and prays
t lie Justice
to spare
them.
ffayre Allice, like a louer true,
tooke a Pollaxe in her hand ;
said, "liee shall dye that cometh in
100 this dore, while I may stand."
Cloudeslye bent a right good bow
that was of a trustye tree ;
he sniote the Iustice on the brest
104 that his arrowe burst in 3.
" gods curse on his heart," sayd william,
" this day thy cote did on !
if itt had beene no better then mine,
108 itt had beene neere the bone."
" yeelde thee, Cloudeslee," said the Iustice,
" & the bow & arrowes thee froe."
"gods cursse on his hart," sayd faire Allice,
112 " that my husband councell[e]th soe ! "
"sett {Bre on the house," said the shirriffe,
" sith itt will nt»e better bee ;
& burne wee there william," he sayth,
116 " his wiffe & his Children 3."
the ffyred the house in many a place,
the ffyer ffledd on hye ! :
" alas ! " then said ffayre Allice,
120 "I see here wee shall dye."
will/am opened a backe windowe
that was in his chamber hye ;
& there with sheetes he did let downe
124 his wiffe and children 3.
"haue you here my treasure," said William,
" my wiffe & Children 3 ;
for gods loue doe them noe hareme,
128 but wrcake you all on mee ! "
And burnt the old woman and her Scarlett gowne, 1 hope. — F.
AND WILLIAM OF CLOUDESLEE.
81
132
"Will/am sliott soe wonderous well
Till his arrowes were all agoe,
& ffire soe ffast about him ffell
that his bow string burnt in towe.
[page 392]
He shoots
on,
the sparkles brent & fell vpon
good william of Clowdcslee ;
but then was hee a wofull man, & sayd
" this is a cowards death to me !
but the fire
gains on
him,
" leever had I," said will/rtm,
" w/th my sword in the rout to runn,
then here amonge my enemyes wood l
140 soe cruellye to burne."
and he
resolves
to cut his
way
through his
foes.
he tooke his sword & his buckeler then,
& amongst them all hee ran :
where the people thickest were,
144 he smote downe many a man ;
there might no man abide his stroakes,
soe ffeircleye on them hee rann.
then the threw windowes & dores att him,
148 & then the tooke that yeoman.
He rushes
out,
and kills
many,
but is taken,
152
there they bound him hand & ffoote,
& in a deepe dungeon 2 him cast.
"now Clowdeslee," sayd the Justice,
" thou shalt be hanged in hast."
and east into
a dungeon.
"one vow shall I make,'' sayd the Shirriffe,
"a paire of new gallowi s shall I fibr thee make ; 3 \[\
& all the gates of Carlile shalbe slmtt ;
156 there shall aoe man come in theratt.
The SherifE
promises
in a
pair of new
gallows.
1 i.e furious. — P.
- < )nc Btroke too few for i n in the MS.
3 A payr of now gallowes, sayd the
sherife,
Now shall I for the make. Eel.
VOL. in.
82
ADAM BELL, CLIME OF THE CLOUGHE,
" there shall not helpe yett Clym of the Cloughh,
nor yett Adam Bell,
tho they came with a 100*? men,
160 nor all the devills in hell."
Next
morning
Carlisle
gates are
shut,
and the new
gallows set
up.
A little boy
(who is
Clowdeslee's
swineherd)
sees them,
Erlye in the morninge ' the Iustice arose ;
to the gates ffast can hee gone,
& commanded to shutt close
164 lightlye euery-eche one.
then went hee to the markett place
as ffast as hee cold hye ;
there he new a paire of gallowes he sett vpp 2
168 hard by the pillorye.
a litle boy stood them amonge,
& asked what meant that gallow tree,
the said, "to hang a good yeoman
172 called william of Clowdeslee."
176
the litle boy was towne swinarde,
& kept ffaire Allice swine ;
full oft hee had seene will/am in the wood,
& giuen him there to dine.
runs to the
wood,
and tells
Clowdeslee's
mates of his
danger.
he went out att a crevis of the wall ;
lightlye to the wood hee runn ;
there mett hee with these wightye yeomen
180 shortlye & anon :
" alas ! " then said the litle boy,
"you tarry here all too longe ;
Cloudeslee is tane, & damned to death,
184 and readye to be hanged. 3 "
Only half the second n in the MS. —P. A payre of new gallows there he
"* • set up. — 7iV.
2 a new paire of gallowes he set up.
up.
3 hung. — P.
188
AND WILLIAM OF CLOUDESLEE.
"Alas," then sayd good Adam Bell,
" that euer wee saw this day !
he had better haue tariyed with vs,
soe oft as wee did him pray.
83
Adam Bell
laments
Clowdeslee's
fate,
"bee might haue dwelt in greene fforrest
vnder the shaddoowes 1 greene,
& kept both him & vs att rest,
1 92 out of all trouble and teene. 2 "
Adam bent a right good bowe ;
a great hart soone bee bad slaine :
" take that, child," bee said, "to thy dinner,
196 & bring me mine arrowe againe."
shoots a hart
for the boy,
" now goe wee hence," said these iollye 3 yeomen,
" tarry wee no longer here ;
wee shall him borrow, by gods grace,
200 tho wee buy itt ffull deere."
to Carlile went these bold 4 yeomen,
all in a mor[n]inge of may.
here is a ffitt of Clowdeslee ;
204 another is flbr to say.
and then
goes with
Cliin to
Carlisle.
1 Bhadowes. — Bel. shadowes skeene. —
Printed Copy, in Bel.
2 i.e. vexation. Jun. — P.
3 wightye.— Bel. * good,— Bel.
a '_'
84
ADAM BELL, CLIME OF THE CLOUGHE,
They find
Carlisle
gates shut.
[The Second Part.]
[How Clowdeslee is rescued by Adam Bell and Clim of the Cloughe.]
And when they came [to *] merry Carlile
all in a morning tyde,
they found the gates shutt them vnto
round about on euerye syde.
208
2? parte.
212
"Alas," then said good Adam Bell,
" that euer wee were made men !
these gates be shutt soe wonderous ffast
that we may not come therin."
Clim
proposes
" Let's say
we are the
King's
messengers."
then spake Clim of the Cloughe :
" with a wile wee will vs in bringe
Lett vs say wee be messengers
216 straight come ffrom our Kinge."
[page 393]
Adam said, " I haue a Letter well [written 2 ;]
now lett vs wiselye marke 3 ;
wee will say wee haue the Kings seale ;
220 I hold the porter no clarke."
Adam beats
at the
gates,
then Adam Bell beate att the gates
with strokes hard and stronge.
the Porter marueiled who was theratt,
224 & to the gates hee thronge.
and Clim
says they're
the King's
messengers.
" who be there," said the Porter,
" that makes all this knockino-e 4 ? "
"we be 2 messengers," Quoth Clim of the Cloughe,
228 " be come right ffrom our Kinge."
1 to.— P.
2 written. — Bel.
3 werke. — Bel.
4 dinne. — Bel.
AND WILLIAM OF CLOUDESLEE.
85
232
"wee haue a letter," said Adam Bell,
" to the Iustice wee must itt bringe ;
let vs in our message to doe,
that wee were againe to the Kinge."
" here cometh none in," said the pointer,
" by him that dyed on a tree,
till that ffalse theefe be hanged,
236 called will/am of Cloudeslee."
The Porter
at first
refuses to
let them in,
then spake good l Clim of the Clough,
& swore by Marye flfree,
" if that wee stand long without,
240 like a theefe hanged thou shalt bee.
" Loe ! here wee haue the "Kings seale !
what. Lurden, 2 art thou woode ? ''
the Porter [weend 3 ] itt had beene soe,
244 & lightlye did off his hoode.
" welcome is my hords seale ! " he said ;
" for that you shall come in."
he opened the gates shortlye :
248 an euill opening ffor him !
" Now are wee in," said Adam Bell,
" wheroff wee are right ffaine ;
but christ hee knowes assuredlye 4
252 how wee shall gett out againe."
" had wee the Keyes," sayd Clim of the Cloughe,
" right well then shold wee speede ;
then might wee come out well enouge
256 when wee see time & neode."
but they
show him
the King's
seal,
and then ho
lets them
in.
To make
sure of
getting out,
1 the good yeman. — Bel.
■ a heavy stupid fellow. L. — P.
3 thought. — P. went. — Eel. i.e. weened,
mote ib.
* knowes, that harrowed hell. — Eel.
86
ADAM BELL, CLIME OF TIIE CLOUGHE,
they wring
the Porter's
neck, and
take his
keys away.
260
the called the Porter to conncell,
& wrang his necke in towe ;
& cast him in a deepe du[n]geon,
& tooke his keycs him ffroe.
" noAv am I Porter," sayd Adam Bell;
" see, brother, the Keyes haue wee here ;
the worst Porter in merry Carlile
264 that came l this 100? yeere.
Then they " n0 w we e will our bowes bend,
into the towne will wee goe,
ffor to delitier onr deere Brother
268 that lyeth in care & woe."
bend their
bows,
and go to
the market-
place,
then they ben[t] their good ewe bowes,
& looked their strings were round 2 :
the Markett place in merry Carlile
272 they besett in that stonde. 3
& as they looked them beside,
a paire of new gallowes there they see,
& the Instice with a qnest 4 of Squiers
276 that indged willmm hanged to bee.
where
Clowdeslee
is bound,
and has a
rope round
his neck.
& Clowdeslee lay ready there in 5 a Cart,
ffast bonnd both ffoote and hand ;
& a strong rope about his necke,
280 all readye ffor to hange.
1 The have had.— Eel.
2 qu. sound. — P. So Aseham says,
" The stringe. must be rounde." Toxoph.
p. 149, Ed. 1761. A precept not very
intelligible now. P.'s note in h'/liqucs, i.
142. A string not round would of course
spoil the shooting. — F.
3 stound, signum, Momentum, liora,
spatium, tempus. Lye. — P.
4 quest, search ; searchers collectively
■ — also an impanel'd Jury. See Johnson.
—P.
* MS. therein.— F.
AND WILLIAM OF CLOUDESLEE.
87
284
the Iustice called to him a Ladcl :
Clowdeslee clothes hee shold haue,
to take the measure of that yeoman,
therafter to make his graue.
The Justice
sends a lad
to measure
him for his
grave,
" I haue seene as great Marveill," said Cloudeslee,
" as betweene ' this and prime 2 ;
he that maketh a graue flfor mee,
288 himselfe may lye therin."
"thou speukest proudlye," said the Iustice;
" I will thee hang with my hand."
ffull well hard this his brethren towe
292 there still as they did stand.
and
threatens to
hang
Clowdeslee
himself.
then Cloudeslee cast his eye aside,
& saw his tow brethren
att a corner of the Markett place
296 ready the Iustice to slaine.
" I see comfort," said Cloudeslee,
" yett hope I well to ffare ;
If I might haue my hands att will,
300 right litle wold I care."
[page 394]
Clowdeslee
says he'd
care little
if he could
get his
hands free.
then spake good Adam Bell
to Clim of the Cloughe soe ffree,
" brother, see you marke the Iustice well
304 loe, yonder you may him see ! "
Adam tells
Clim to
shoot the
Justice,
" att the shirriffe shoote I will
stronglye with an arrow kecne ;
a better shoote in merry Carlilo
308 this 7 yeere was not seene."
while he
shoots tho
Sheriff.
Only half the w in tho MS.— F.
2 prime, the first Part of the day.
Dawn, morning. Johnson. — P.
88
ADAM BELL, CLIME OF THE CLOUGHE,
They both
shoot ;
and Sheriff
and Justice
they loosed their arrowes both att once ;
of no man had they dread ;
the one hitt the shirr[i]ffe, the other the Iustice,
312 that both their sides can bleede.
get their
death -
wounds.
all men voyded that them stoode nye
when the Instice ffell to the ground,
& the shirriffe nye him by :
316 either had his deathes wound.
They loose
Clowdeslee.
all they citizens ffast gan fflye,
they durst no longer abyde.
there lightlye they losed Clowdeslee.
320 where hee with ropes lay tyde.
He seizes an
axe and
smites men
down.
william start to an officer of the towne,
his axe out of his hand hee wrunge ;
on eche side he smote them clowne,
324 hee thought hee tarryed all to longe.
willmm said to his brethren towe,
" this day lett vs liue and dye ;
If euer you haue need as I haue now,
328 the same shall you ffind by mee."
Adam and
Clim shoot
on
332
they shott soe well that tyde,
for their stringes were of silke sure,
that the kept the streetes on euery side ;
that battell long did endure.
and kill
many,
they fought together like brethren true,
like hardy men and bold ;
many a man to the ground they threw,
336 & made many a hart cold. 1
1 And many ;t heart made cold. — P. and Bet.
AND WILLIAM OF CLOUDESLEE.
89
but when their arrowes were all gone,
men pressed to them ffull ffast ;
they drew their swords then anon,
340 & their bowes fFrom them cast.
till their
arrows fail.
Then they
draw their
swords,
they went lightlye on their way
With swords & buckelers round
by that itt was niidd l of the day,
344 the made many a wound.
and by noon
kill many
men.
there was many an outhorne 2 in Carlile was blowne, The horns
are blown,
& the bells backward did ringe ; and beUs
rung back-
many a woman said " alas ! " wards.
348 & many their hands did ringe.
the Maior of Carleile fforth come was,
& with him a ffull great route ;
these yeomen dread him ffull sore,
352 for of their Hues they stoode in great doubt.
The Mayor
comes down
with a
force
the Maior came armed a ffull great pace,
w*th a Pollaxe in his hande ;
many a strong man with him was,
356 there in thai stowre 3 to stand.
of strong
men,
360
they maior smote att Cloudeslee with his bill,
liis buckeler brast in 2 ;
ffull many a yeaman with great euill,
" alas, treason ! " the crycd ffull woe 4 :
"keepe well the gates," ffast they bade,
" that these trayters thereout not goe."
cnts
Clowdeslee's
buckler in
two,
and orders
the spates
to be kept
fast.
1 middle, middst. — P.
2 Out-horne. An outlaw (!). Ilalli-
F, Read a nouthorne, a,
neat's horn. Nowt cattle, Wright's
(ilnss.— Skeat.
3 fight, conflict. Lye. — P.
4 Alas ! they crycd for wo. — Rcl.
90
ADAM BELL, CLIME OF THE CLOUGHE,
But the
three get
safely out.
Adam
throws back
the keys,
and tells
the people
to appoint a
new Porter.
but all ffor naught was that they wrought,
364 ffor soe fast they were downe Laycl,
till they all 3 that soe mauffully ffought
were gotten out att a brayde. 1
"haue here jour keyes ! " said Adam Bell,
368 " mine office here I fforsake ;
If you doe by my Councell,
a new Porter doe you make."
he threw their keyes att their heads,
372 & bad them euill 2 to thriue,
& all that letteth any good yeoman
to come & comfort his wiffe.
The three
go to the
trysting
tree,
find fresh
bows and
arrows,
and eat and
drink well.
thus be the good yeomen gone to the wood :
376 as lightly e as leaue on lynde 3
they laugh & be merry in their wood 4 ;
there enemyes were ffarr behind.
when they came to merry greenwood,
380 vnder the trustye tree,
there they ffound bowes ffull good,
And arrowes great plentye. [page 395]
" soe god me help ! " sayd Adam Bell
384 & Clim of the Cloughe soe ffree,
" I wold wee were in Merry Carlile
before that ffaire Meanye."
the sate downe & made goode cheere,
388 & eate & dranke ffull well.
a 2 d ffitt of the wightye yeomen :
another I will you tell.
1 Qu. all ahraide, i.e. abroad. North
Country dialect: abroad, /oris, c^ abroad,
Scot, braid, lotus, quod a Sax. brad, al.
breider. Jun. — P. "att a brayde "is
suddenly. — F.
2 No i in the MS.— F.
3 Linden Tree. Lye. A Lime Tree.
Gloss, to G. Doug.— P.
4 A manifest mistake for " mood,"
which the other copies have. — Dyce.
AND WILLIAM OF CLOUDESLEE.
91
[The Third Part.]
[How the three Outlaws are pardoned by the King, and shoot before him.]
392
As they sate in English woode
vnder the greenwoode tree,
they thought they hard a woman weepe,
but her they cold not see.
3"! parte. <J
396
sore then sighed ffaire Allice,
& said, " alas that euer I saw this day !
ffor [nowe x ] is my dere husband slaine ;
alas, and wellaway !
They hear a
woman
lamenting
that her
husband is
slain.
" Might I haue spoken with his deare brethren,
400 or with either of them twaine,
to show them what him befell,
my hart were out of paine."
Cloudeslee walked a litle aside ;
404 hee looked vnder the greenewood lynde
hee was ware of his wiffe & Children 3
ffull woe in hart and minde.
Clowdeslee
finds that
she is his
wife, with
his three
children.
" welcome wiffe," then said will/«m,
408 " vnder the trustye tree !
I had wend yesterday, by sweet S* Iohn,
thou sh oldest me neuer had see."
He welcomes
them,
" now well is mo," she said, " /hut } r ce be here !
412 my hart is out of woe."
" dame," he said, "be merry & gladd,
& thanke my bretheren towe."
and tells his
wife to
thank his
mates.
nowe. — Bel.
92
" Don't talk
of that,"
says Adam:
" let's shoot
our supper."
ADAM BELL, CLIME OF THE CLOUGHE,
" lierof to speake," said Adam Bell,
416 " I-wis itt is noe boote ;
the meate that wee must supp witk-all,
itt runeth yett ffast on ffoote."
Each of the
three shoots
a fat hart,
then went they downe into the Lawnde, 1
420 these Noblemen all 3 ;
eche of them slew a hart of greece, 2
they best that they cold see.
and
Clowdeslee
gives the
best to his
wife.
" haue here the best, Allice my wiffe,"
424 saith william of Cloudeslee,
"because yee soe boldlye stood by mee
when I was slaine Bull nye."
They sup
and are
merry.
Clowdeslee
says " We'll
go to the
King for
pardon."
then they went to supper
428 with such meate as they hadd,
& thanked god ffor their ffortune :
they were both merry and glad.
& when they had supped well,
432 certaine, without any lease,
Cloudeslee said, " wee will to our King,
to gett vs a Charter of peace ;
" Allice shalbe att our soiourninge
4.36 att a nnnnerye heere besyde ;
my 2 sonnes shall with her goe,
& there they shall abyde.
"My Eldest sonne shall goe with mee,
440 for him I haue noe care,
& hee shall bring you word againe
how that wee doe ffare."
1 Qu. Lawne. — P. a launde. — Rcl.
A clear space in a forest. — F.
Fr. graissc, fat. — F,
AND WILLIAM OF CLOUDESLEE.
93
thus be these good yeomen to London gone
444 as ffast as they might hye,
till they came to the Kinge palace
where they wold needs bee.
They then
goto
Loudon,
but when they came to the "Kings court
448 & to the pallace gate,
of no man wold they aske leaue,
but boldlye went in theratt.
walk
straight
into the
they proceeded p?*esentlye into the hall,
452 of no man they had dread ;
the Porter came after, & did them call,
& w/th them gan to chyde.
King's hall,
the vsher said, " yeomen, what wold you haue ?
456 I pray you tell to mee ;
you might make officers shent l :
good sirrs, ffrom whence bee yee ? "
" Sir, wee be outlawes of the fforrest,
4G0 certes without any Lease ;
& hither wee be come to the King,
to gett vs a Charter of peace."
& when they came before the Kinge,
464 as ill was the law of the land
they kneeled downe w/thout lettinge,
& eche held vpp his hande.
i bey sayd : " hord, wee beseechc yee sure
468 I Imt yee will grant vs grace !
for wee haue slaine jour ffatt fallow deere
in 2 many a sundrye place."
tell the
Usher who
they are,
kneel to the
King,
and ask his
pardon for
killing his
deer.
1 For no! keeping them out. Seethe
itities of Prince Edward's Porters, a. d.
1474, in Household Ordinances, p. *30.
ind of Henry VIIL's Porters, ibid.p. 239.
Also Boke of Curtasye, 1. 3C1-78, Babecs
Book&c, p. 310— F.
- im in .MS.— F.
94
The King
asks their
names.
They tell
him.
ADAM BELL, CLIME OF THE CLOUGHE,
" whatt be jour names ? " then sayd the Kmg ;
472 " anon that you tell mee."
They sayd, "Adam Bell, Clim 1 of the Clough, [page 39G]
and william of Cloudeslee."
He swears
he'll hang
them all,
and orders
their arrest.
"be yee those theenes," then said our Ki[ng],
476 " that men haue told to me ?
here I make a vow to god,
you shall bee hanged all 3.
" yee shalbe dead without mercye,
480 as I am ~King of this land ! "
he commanded his officer[s] euery one
ffast on them to lay hand.
there they tooke these good yeomen
484 & arrested them all 3.
"soe may I thriue," said Adam Bell,
" this game liketh not mee.
They pray
him to let
them go
with the
weapons
they
brought.
" but, good Lord, wee beseeche you now
488 that yee will grant vs grace,
in soe much as wee doe to you come,
or else that wee may from you passe 2
" with, such weapons as wee haue heere
492 till wee be out of yowr place ;
& iff wee Hue this 100? yeere,
of you wee will aske noe grace."
The King
refuses:
they shall
be hanged.
The Queen
intercedes
for them,
"yee speake proudlye," said the Kmg ;
496 " yee shall be hanged all 3."
" that were great pittye," sayd the Queene,
" if any grace might bee.
1 MS. Cliim.— F.
2 Insomuch as frele to you we comen,
As frele fro you to passo. — Iiel.
AND WILLIAM OF CLOUDESLEE.
95
" my Lord!, when I came ffirst into this Land
500 to be your weded wiffe,
[you said] the ffirst boone that I wold aske,
you wold grant me belyue.
and asks the
King for the
boon he
promised
her.
" & I asked yee neuer none till now ;
504 therefore, good hord, grant itt mee."
" now aske itt, Madam," said the King,
" & granted itt shalbe."
He says it
shall be
granted.
"then, good my Lore?, I you beseeche,
508 these yeomen grant yee mee."
" Maddam, 1 yee might haue asked a boone
that shold haue beene worth them all 3.
"Then give
me these
yeomen."
" you might haue asked towers & townes,
512 Parkes & ffoi'rests plentye."
" none soe pleasant to my pay, 2 " shee sayd,
"nor none 3 soe leefe 4 to mee."
" Madam, sith itt is yo«r desire,
516 jour askinge granted shalbe ;
but I had leever haue giuen you
good Markett townes three."
the Queene was a glad woman,
520 & said, " Lord, god a mercye !
I dare vndertakc fibr them
that true men the}' shalbee.
" I will,
though I'd
rather have
given you
3 market
towns."
The Queen
" but, good hord, speake some merrye word,
524 thai some comfort they might see."
:t I grant you grace," then said the Kmg,
•■ washe ffellowes, & to meate goe yee."
then gets the
King to
order her
men food.
1 .MS. Maddan.— P.
1 rid. Page 363, St. 23 [of MS.; in the
'2ml Pari i if John de Reeve]. — P.
3 nore in MS. — F.
1 leefe, dear, beloved. Johns" — P.
96
ADAM BELL, CLIME OF TTIE CLOUGHE,
Soon come
messengers
they had not sitten but a while,
528 certaine without Leasinge, 1
there came 2 messengers out of the North
with letters to our kinge.
from
Carlisle.
The King
aslcs after
bis Justice
and Sheriff.
" They've
been slain
& when they came before the King
532 the kneeled downe vpon their knee,
& said, " jour officers greete you well
of Carlile in the North cuntrye."
" how flfareth my Iustice ? " sayd the King,
536 " and my Sherriffe alsoe ? "
" Sir, they be slaine, without leasinge,
& many an officer moe."
by Adam,
Clim, and
Clowdeslee. :
" who hath them slaine ? " then said the King
540 " anon that you tell mee."
" Adam Bell, Clim of the Cloughe,
& william of Cloudeslee."
"alas ! ffor wrath, 2 " then sayd our King,
544 " my hart is wonderous sore ;
I had rather then a 1000 1 /
I had knowen this before,
" If I'd
known this
before, I'd
have hung
them."
" ffor I haue granted them grace,
548 & thai fforthinketh 3 mee ;
but had I knowen all this before,
they had beene hangd all 3."
The King
then reads
of the 300
men slain
by the 3
outlaws,
the King hee opened the letter anon,
552 himselfe he read itt thoe,
& there found how these outlawes bad slaine
300 men and moe :
j.e. Lying. Jun. — P.
- rewth.— Bel.
repents. — F.
AND WILLIAM OF CLOUDESLEE.
97
" ffirst the Iustice & the Sheriffe,
556 & the Maior of Carlile towne, —
of all the Constables and catcpoules,
Aliue were left but one.
(the Mayor,
Catchpolls,
lpage 397]
" the Baliffes & the Beadeles both,
560 & the Sargeaunt of the law,
& 40 fforresters of the ffee,
these outlawes haue the slawe,"
Beadles,
Serjeant
of Law,
and 40
foresters,)
" & broke his parkes, & slaine his deere,
564 of all they Coice 2 the best ;
soe pe?illous outlawes as they were,
walked not by East nor west."
and his deer
killed.
when the Kmg this Letter had read,
568 in hart he sighed sore,
"take vp the tables, 3 " then sayd hee,
"ffor I can eate no more."
the ~King then called his best archers
572 to the butts with him to goe,
" to see 4 these ffellowes shoot," said hee,
" that in the north haue wrought this woe."
the "Kings archers busket 5 them blythe,
576 soe did the Queenes alsoe,
soe did these 3 weightye yeomen,
they thought w/th them to goe.
there 2"° or 3*f they shott about
580 for to assay their hand ;
there was no shoote these yeomen shott
that any pricke G might stand.
and can eat
no more.
But he
calls his
archers
to shoot
against
the 3
outlaws.
' slain.— P.
2 Qu. chose. — P.
3 They were laid on trestles.- F.
' I w.vll Be.— Bel.
5 busked; Scot, busk it, dress'd, decked
VOL. III.
(a Fr. busc, a busk that weomen (so)
wear). Gloss, ad G. Doug' see P. 364,
St. 36, Pag. 246, St, 26.— P.
6 ? here the wooden pin in the centre
of tli c target. — F.
98
ADAM BELL, CLIME OF THE CLOUGIIE,
Clowdeslee
says the
butts arc too
wide.
then spake william of Cloudeslee,
584 "by him that ffor me dyed,
I hold him not a good archer
that shooteth att butts soe wyde."
" wheratt ? " said the Kinge,
588 " I pray you tell to mee."
" att such a butt, Sir," hee said,
"as men vse in my countrye."
He sets
2 hazel
sticks at 400
paces,
william went into the ffeild,
592 & his 2 brethren with him ;
there they sett vp 2 hassell rodds
400 paces betweene.
shoots, and
splits one
in two.
Then he
proposes to
tie his son
to a stake,
" I hold him an archer," said Cloudeslee,
596 " that yonder wand cleeueth in towe."
"heere is none such," said the "King,
"for no man can soe doe."
"I shall assay," sayd Cloudeslee,
600 " or that I ffurther goe."
Cloudeslee with a bearing l arrow
claue the wand in towe.
"thou art the best archer," said our King,
604 " fforsooth that euer I see."
" & yett ffor jour loue," said william,
" I will doe more mastery e :
" I haue a sonne is 7 yeere old,
608 hee is to me ffull deere ;
I will tye him to a stake —
all shall see him that bee here, —
1 ? moaning of bearing. Strutt says,
" I rathor think the poet meant an arrow
shot ' compass,' for the pricke or wand
was a 'mark of compass,' that is, the
arrow in its flight formed the segment of
a circle." Sports, p. 65, ed. Hone. As
all arrows do that, this can be no ex-
planation of either "mark of compass"
(on which see my note on " pricks " in
The Babccs Book, cfc.) or " bearing." — F.
AND WILLIAM OF CLOUDESLEE.
99
" & lay an apple vpon his head,
612 & goe sixe score paces hini ffroe,
& I my selfe with a broad arrrowe
shall cleaue the apple in towe."
and splil an
apple on his
head at 120
paces.
"now hast thee," said the Kinge ;
616 " by him that dyed on a tree,
but if thou dost not as thou has sayd,
hanged shalt thou bee !
" & thou touch his head or gowne
620 in sight that men may see,
by all the Saints ^/i<zt bee in heauen,
I shall you hang all 3: ! "
The King
agrees ;
but if
Clowdeslee
fails, he's tc
be hanged,
and Adam
and Clim
too.
" that I haue promised," said william,
624 " that I will neuer flbrsa\e : "
& there euen before the 'King,
in the earth he droue a stake,
& bound thereto his eldest sonne,
628 & bade him stand still thereatt,
& turned the childes'flace him fl'roe
because hee should not start.
Clowdeslee
ties his boy
to a stake,
an apple vpon his head he sett,
632 & then his bow he bent ;
sixe score paces they were mcaten, 1
& thither Cloudcslee went.
puts an
apple on hia
head,
there he drew out a ffaire broad arrow,-
636 his bowe 2 was great and long, —
he sett that arrowe in his bowe
that was both stifle & stronge ;
Bets an
arrow in
his bow,
1 meted, i.e. measured. — P.
2 There is a tag at the end like a. — F,
100
ADAM DELL, CLIME OF THE CLOUGHE,
he prayed the people that were there
640 That they wold still stand, 1
" ffor hee that shooteth ffor such a wager
had need of a steedye hand."
[page 398]
much people prayed for Cloudeslee,
644 that his liffe saued might bee ;
& when hee made him readye to shoote,
there was many a weepinge eye.
and cleaves
the apple in
two.
The King
thus Cloudeslye claue the aple in 2,
648 as many a man might see :
" now god fforffbidd, 2 " then said the Km*/,
" that thou sholdest shoote att mee !
gives him
8d. a day,
and makes
him his
bowbearer.
" I gaue 3 thee 8 pence a day,
652 & my bow shalt thow beare,
& ouer all the north cuntrye
I make thee CheefFe ryder."
The Queen
gives him
13d. a day,
makes him a
gentleman,
puts his son
in her wine-
cellar,
" & He giue thee 13? a day," said the Queene,
656 "by god and by my ffay !
come ffeich thy payment when thou wilt,
no man shall say thee nay.
" willi am, I make thee a gentleman,
660 of Cloathinge and of ffee ;
& thy 2 bretheren, yeomen of my chamber,
for they are louely 4 to see.
" jour sonne, ffor hee is tendar of age,
664 of my winesellar he shalbe ;
& when hee comes to mans estate,
better prefferred shall hee bee.
1 The same injunction is often heard
at, firing-points now. — F.
2 Over Gods forbode.— Eel.
8 give. — P.
4 so semely. — Rel.
AND WILLIAM OF CLOUDESLEE.
101
" & wilh'am, bring me yo»r wiffe," said the Queene,
668 " I long her sore to see ;
shee shall bee my cheefe gentlewoman l
to gouerne my nnrserye."
the yeomen thanked them full curteouslye,
672 & sayd, " to some Bishopp wee will wend ;
of all the sinns that wee haue done,
to be assoyled 2 att his hand."
and promises
to set his
wife
over her
nursery.
Tin three
go to a
Bishop
to be
shriven,
soe forth be gone these good yeomen
676 as ffast as they can hye,
& after came & liued with, the K.mg f
& dyed good yeomen all 3.
and then
live
and die well.
Thus endeth the liffe of these good yeomen,
680 god send them eternall blisse !
& all that with, a hand-bow shooteth,
that of heauen they may neuer misse ! IlirilS.
God send
them and all
bowmen
bliss 1
MS. gentlewonnan. — F.
2 i.e. absolved, Assoile, absolvere,
liberare. Lye. — P.
102
As the Cyclic poets adopted the lesser Homeric heroes as the
centres of new epics, as the Eomancists in process of time cele-
hrated other members of the Round Table besides its great
founder, as the ballad-writers sung of Much and Scarlett as well
as of Robin Hood, so here one who appears as a minor character
in the great poem of " Adam Bell, Gym of the Clough, and
William of Cloudeslee," has a poem devoted to his special honour.
The piece was printed in 1605 by James Roberts, along with
his reprint of Copland's edition of the greater poem of which
this is a parasite. With this the Folio copy has been collated.
Listen, my
Northern
lads,
to the brave
deeds
of voung
William
Clowdeslee,
who loved a
bonny lass.
12
10
JjISTE : northeren Ladds, to blyther things
then yett were brought to light,
performed by our Countrymen
in many 2 a ffray and flight,
of Adam Bell, Clim of the Clough,
and william of Clowdeslee, 3
who were in flavor with the Kinge
flbr all their miserye.
younge william of the wine-sellar, 4
when yeoman hee was made,
gan fibllowe then his Sathers stepps,
hee loued a bonny mayde.
" gods crosse ! " quoth. wilhVrm, " if I misse,
& may not of her speede,
lie make 1000 northerne 5 hartes 6
flbr verry woe to bleede.
1 List Northcrno Laddes to blither
things.— E.
2 miekle. — R.
3 Cloudisly.— R.
4 Pec the last poem, 1. 664, p. 100.—?.
5 Only half of the second n in the MS.
-F.
6 a thousand Northen hearts. — R.
YOUNGE CLOUDESLEE.
103
gone is lice l a wooinge now,
our Ladye -will 2 him guide ;
to merry mansfeild, will, 3 I trow,
20 a time hee will abyde.
" Soone dop 4 the dore, ffaire Sislye bright, 5
I come with all the hast ;
I am come a wooinge to 6 thee for loue,
24 heere am I come att Last."
" I know you not," q?(otk Sisely 7 tho,
" from whence that yee be come 8 ;
my loue you may not haue, I trow,
28 I vow by this ffaire 9 sonne. 10
" ffor why, my loue is ffixt so sure
vpon another wight ;
I sweare by sweet Ann, He neuer
32 abuse him out of sight !
" this night I hope to see my loue
in all his pryde and glee ;
If there were thousands, none but him [page 399]
36 my hart wold ioye to see."
lie goes
courting
to Mansfield,
and tells fair
Sisely to
open the
door.
Sisely says
she can't
love him,
as her love
is fixed on
another,
whom she
hopes to see
to-night.
40
" gods cursse vppon [him,] n " younge will/am sayd, Young
Clowdeslee
before me that hath sped ! curses him,
a ffoule ill on the carryon nursse
that ffirst did binde his head ! "
gan wilKom tho for to prepare
a medcine ffor the chaffe 12 ;
" his liffc," quoth, hee, " ffull hard may ffare ;
44 bees best to keepe alaffe."
and resolves
to kill her
lover.
1 he is.— R. 2 well.— E.
3 where. — R.
4 dope, i.e. do open. — P.
5 Some dop the dore fuire Cicelie
bright.— R.
• to omitted.— R. ' Cicelie.— R.
8 MS. become. — F. bee come. — R.
9 ffaure with a dot over tho u in the
MS.— F.
10 sun.— P. " him.— R.
12 ? for chujTc, a term of reproach.
Halliwell. See Lord en, 1. 71. — F. medi-
cino for that chaffe. — R.
104
YOUNGE CLOUDESLEE.
He draws
his sword,
48
he drew then out his bright browne sword,
which was soe bright and keene ;
a stonter man & hardyer
neere handled sword, I weene.
and by way
of trying it,
" browne tempered Sword & worthye l blade,
vnto thy master showe,
if thou 2 to tryall thou be put,
52 how thou canst 3 byde a blowe."
cuts in two
an oak
56 inches
round,
younge Will/'om to an oke gan hye
which, was in compasse round
well 56 4 inches nye,
& ffeld itt to the ground.
wishing it
was Ms rival.
" soe mote he ffare," quoth, wilh'am tho,
" that ffor her loue hath Layde
which I haue loued, & neere did know
60 him sutor till that mayde.
He longs
for his
father,
" & now, deere ffather stout & stronge,
william of Cloudeslee,
how happy were thy troubled sonne
64 if here I might 5 thee see,
Adam,
and Clim,
as they'd
fight 1000
men.
" & thy 2 6 brethren Adam Bell
& Clim of the Cloughe ;
against a 1000 men & more
68 wee 4 wold bee enoughe.
}\c calls on
Siscly's lover
to conic on,
72
" growne itt is null 4 a clocke,
& night will come beliue ;
Come on, thou Lorden, sisleys 7 loue !
this night I must 8 thee shriue.
1 strong, and worthy. — E.
2 that.— P. now.— E.
3 canst thou. — E.
* Read "six and fifty."— F. six and
fifty.— E.
6 mot.— E.
7 Lurden Cisleis. — E.
8 must I.— R.
" too.— E.
YOUNGE CLOUDESLEE. 105
" prepare thee strong, thou ffowle black calfe ! !
what ere thou be, I weene
He giue thy coxcombe sayke 2 a girde 3
76 in mansfeiild as was neuer 4 seene."
will/«m a young ffawne had slaine and takes
J ° a fawn
in 5 sherwood merry fforrest ;
a ffairer ffawne ffor mans meate 6
80 in sherwood was neuer drest.
hee hyed then till a northeren Lasse 7 to an old
woman
not halfe a mile him ffroe, 8
he said, " dop the dore, 9 thou good ould nursse,
84 that in to thee I goe ;
" I ffaint With being in the woods 10 ;
loe, heere I haue a kidd
which. I haue slaine ffor thee & mee n ;
88 come, dresse itt then, I bidd ; to cook for
him.
" ffeitch bread and other lolly ffare,
Avhereof thou hast some store ;
a blyther guest this 100 yeere
92 came neuer heere before."
the good old naunt 12 gan lryc apace The old
CI ft 1 1 1 C
to lett young William in ; lets him in,
" a happy nursse," quoth william then,
96 " as can be lightlye seene.
1 fow black Caufe. — R. ' Mansfield as neuer was. — It.
2 In what district is sayke used for s MS. im. — F. 8 ymeat. — It.
such ? Jn Somersetshire, jitch is the 7 Northcrne lasse. — R.
word, llalliwcll, ]>. xxvii., xxviii. In H lie fro. — R.
Lancashire, sick (K. xxiii.), but at Bury !l dop dore. — R. I0 wood.— R.
Hitch {Hi.) ; and in ( iloiuvstershiru cilch " slo for thee and I. — R.
(II. xviii.) n Nant. R.
3 a gird. — R.
106
YOUNGE CLOUDESLEE.
and he
promises
her a reward
100
" wend till that house hard by," q?foth hee,
" thats made of lime and stone,
where is a Lasse, ffaire Cis," hey ! said, 2
" I loue her as my owne.
if she'll fetch
Sisely to
him.
" If thou canst ffeitch her vnto me
that wee may merry bee,
I make a vowe, in the fforrest
104 of deere thou shalt haue fFee."
She under-
takes
to bring
Sisely,
"rest then, ffaire Sir," the woman said,
" I sweare by good S' Iohn
I will bring to you that same maid
108 ffull quicklye and anon."
" meane [time], 3 " qwotk William, " He be Cooke,
to see the ffawne well drest 4 : "
a stouter Cooke did neuer come
1 12 within the ffaire fforrest.
and hies off
to her,
thicke 5 blyth old lasse had witt enoughe 6
ffor to declare his mind ;
soe ffast shee hyed, & neere did stay,
116 but left william behinde,
while
William
cooks the
fawn.
where wilh'am like a nimble cooke
is dressing of the ffare,
& ffor this damsell doth hee looke,
120 "I wold that shee weer heere ! "
[page 400]
» [insert] he.— P. The MS. is Cishey,
for Cis he, or, moro probably, CisJcy. — F.
2 Cisse hee said. — E.
3 meane time. — P. meane time. — E.
* I drest.— li.
5 ? the district of thicke for that. In
Dorsetshire thik is used. See Ilalli-
well's Gloss, p. xvi., and Barnes's Glos-
sary. Thickeo, this, Devon, and thicca
cloud, p. xr. Halliwell. Thick, the one
that, that which, Somersetshire. Thee's
know thick us da meanne, tha da call 'm
wold Boss {it>. p. xxvii. col. 1). — F.
6 enow. — E.
YOUNGE CLOUDESLEE.
107
"god speed, blyth Cisley l ! " q?toth that old Lasse.
" god dild 2 yee," qwoth Cisley, " againe ;
how doe yee, naunt lone 3 ? " sliee said,
124 " tell me itt, I am ffaine."
the good old woman 4 said " weele shee was,
& comen an arrand to 5 you ;
for you must to my cottage gone
1 28 ffull quickley, 6 I tell you true,
" where wee ffull merry meane to bee
all with my elder Ladd."
when Cisley hard of itt, trulye
132 shee was exceeding gladd.
" gods cursse light on me," q?roth Cisley tho,
" if wtth you that 7 I doe not bye !
I neuer ioyed more, fforsoothe,
136 then in yowr Companye."
happy the good wiffe thought her selfe
that of her purpose shee had sped, 8
& home wi'th Sisley shee is came, 9
140 soe lightly e they did tread l0 ;
& coming in, here wilh'am soone
had made readye his ffare ;
the good old wiffe did wonder much
144 soe soone as shee came there.
The old
dame
tells Sisely
she must
come and
make merry
in her
cottage.
Sisely gladly
agrees to go,
and into the
cottage they
walk.
William has
his venison
ready,
Cisley to wilhVn» now is gone, 11
god send her Mickle glee,
yett was shee in a maze, god wott,
148 when shee saw itt was hee.
and Sisely
with him.
i Cisse.— R.
7 yield it. — F. requite, speed : "Well,
God dild you ! " says Ophelia. Hamlet,
act iv. sc. 5. — Dyce.
3 done you Nant Iono. — R.
• lone.— R.
s till.— R. 6 q-iick.— R.
7 that omitted.— R.
8 that her purpose he had of sped. — R.
9 she doth come. — R.
10 did they read. — R.
11 come. — R.
108
YOUNGE CLOUDE.SLEE.
But she says
she'd never
have come if
she'd known
he was there.
William
prays her to
stop and eat
his kid ;
and his
loving words
win her
heart.
Meantime
Sisely's
lover,
a noble-
minded
man,
"had I beene ware, good Sir," sliee said,
" of that itt bad beene you,
I wold bane stayd att borne in sooth,
152 I tell yon verry true."
"faire Cisley," said then 1 wilb'rnn Kind,
" misdeeme thee not of mee ;
I sent not ffor thee to that 2 end
156 to doe the iniurye.
" sitt downe that wee may talke awhile,
& eate all of the best,
the ffattest kidd that euer was slaine
160 in merry Sherwood fforrest. 3 "
bis louinge 4 Avords wan Cisley then
With him to keepe 5 a while ;
but in the meane time Cisleys loue
164 of her was tho beguile.
a stout & sturdy man bee was
of qualitye & kind,
& knowen 6 through all the north cuntrye
168 to beare a noble minde.
comes to her
cottage ;
but she is
lied.
"but," quoth. 7 willmm, " doe I care ?
if that bee meane to weare,
first lett 8 him winne, 9 else neuer shall
172 he haue the mayd, I sweare."
ffull softly e is her loue[r] 10 come,
and knocked att the dore :
but tho u he mist Cisleys companye, 12
176 wher-att bee stampt and 13 swore.
1 then said. — It.
2 to the.— R.
8 Sir-wood Forrest. — It.
4 Only half the n in the MS.— F.
6 to keepe with him.— R.
c knowne. — R.
7 Jint what quoth.— R.
8 There appears to he some letter
between the e and t in the MS. — F. let.
— R.
! ' wime in tho MS. — F.
10 loner.— R. " i.e. then.— P.
12 roome. — R.
13 Only half the n in the MS.— F.
YOUNGE CLOUDESLEE.
109
180
"a misclieeffe on his heart," qwoth hee,
" that hath allured this ' mayd
to bee with him in company ! "
he cared not what hee sayd,
He curses
her beguiler,
hee was soe 2 with anger moued,
he sware a well great othe,
" deere shold hee pay if I him knew,
184 fforsooth & by my trothe ! "
gone hee is to ffind her out,
not knowing where shee is ;
still wandering in the weary wood
188 his true loue he doth misse.
and swears
he shall pay
for her if
he finds him.
willAim purchased 3 hath the game
which, hee doth meane to hold,
" come, rescew her and if you can,
192 and dare to be soe bold ! "
But William
means to
keep her.
Att lenght when hee had wandred long [page 401 ] At last
the lover
about the iiorrest side, 4
a Candle lio-lit a ffurloner of 5
o o
196 Hull quickley hee espyed.
then to the house hee hyed him ffast,
where quicklye hee gan hcare
the voice of his owne true loue 6
200 a makinge bonny chcere.
hears
Sisclj '.-,
voice.
then gan he say to Cisley tho,
" Cisley, come away !
I haue beene wandring thee to Hind
204 since shutting in of day."
He calls her
to come to
him.
1 the.- I.'.
2 yso. — B.
3 pui\'h;ist. — R.
* wide. — R.
6 off— R.
8 ownu deere truo loue.
-R,
110
YOUJSGE CLOUDESLEE.
William
asks who
dares do this.
208
" who calls ffaire Cisley l ? " qnoth. wilh'am tlio, 2
" what carle dares be soe bold,
once to aduenture to her to speake
who [I] haue in my hold 3 ? "
The lover
threatens
him.
" List thee, ffaire Sir," qwoth Cisley s lone,
" lett quickelye her ffrom yon part :
ffor all your Lordlye words, Tie sweare 4
212 He hane her, or lie make yon 5 smart ! "
William says
he'll
young William to his bright browne sword
gan qnickelye then to take :
" because thou soe doest challenge me,
216 He make thy kingdome quake.
fight for his
love.
" betake thee to thy weapon stronge,
ffaire time I giue to thee ;
& ffor my loue as well as thine
220 a combatt flight will I."
" neuer lett sunn," q?(oth Cisley s lone,
" shine more vpon my head,
If I doe flrye, by heauen aboue,
224 wert thou a gyant bredd ! "
He takes his
sword,
and the fight
begins.
It lasts two
hours,
to Bilbo blade got wilh'am tho
that was both stifle and stronge 6 :
a stout battell then they Sought,
228 weer neere 2 7 houres longe ;
where many a greiuous wound was giuen 8
to eche on either part,
till both the champyons then were droue
almost quite out of hart.
1 Cisse.— E.
2 then.— E.
8 whom I haue now in hold. — R.
4 I swoare. — It.
5 or make you. — R.
6 and buckler stiffo. — R.
7 well mo two. — R.
8 giue. — R.
YOUNGE CLOUDESLEE.
Ill
23G
jDittyous moane fFaire Cisley made,
that all the fForrest rouge ;
the greiuous shrikes made such a noysc,
shee had soe shrill a tounge.
att last came in the keepers 3
with bowes and arrowes keene,
where they lett flye among these 2,
240 a 100? 1 as I weene.
Siscly
moaning
and
shrieking
all the
while.
Then three
keepers
come to stop
them,
will/am strong & stout 2 in hart,
when he had them espyed,
sett on courage ffor his part,
244 among the thickest hee hyed.
but William
the cheefe ranger of the woods
att mrst did william smite,
where att one blow he smote his head
248 ffrom of his shoulders quite.
cuts off tho
chief-
ranger's
head,
& being in soe ffuryous teene,
about him then hee Laid,
he slew immedyatlye the wight
252 was sutor to the mayde.
and then
kills Sisely's
lover.
great moane was then 3 made ;
the like was ncuer hard,
which made the people all around
256 to crye, they were soe ffeard.
The people
make great
moan,
" arme, arme ! " the cuntryc cryed,
" for gods loue quicklyc hye ! "
neuer was such a slaughter seene
2G0 in all the north countrye.
and raise tl.e
Cuiintry.
1 an hundred.— It.
stout and strong. — R.
3 then. — Jt.
112
YOLWGE CLOUDESLEE.
William kills
the other two
keepers,
wilKani still, tho * wounded sore,
continued still his 2 flight
till he had slaine them all 4
264 that verry winters 3 night.
all the contrye then was raysed,
the traitor ffor to take
that ffor the loue of Cisley ffaire
268 had all the slaughter make.
and then
hies
to a cave
with Sisely.
to the woods hyed william tho, — ■
itt was the best 4 of all his play,-
where in a eaue with Cisley ffaire
272 hee liued many a day.
Procla-
mation is
made to take
William.
proclamation then was sent [ pa g e 402]
the cuntrye all arounde,
' the ~Lord of Mansfeild shold hee bee
276 that ffirst the traytor ffounde.'
His father,
Adam, and
Clim,
to 5 the court these tydings came,
where all men doth 6 bewayle
the young & lustye Wilh'am
280 w//;'ch soe had made them quaile.
hyed vp william of Cloudeslee 7
& lustye Adam Bell,
& ffamous Clim of the Cloughc,
284 w/u'ch 3 did them 8 excell :
go to the
King,
and ask
mercy for
William's
son.
to the 'King they hyed them ffiast,
ffull quicklye & anon,
" mercye, I pray," qwoth old wilk'am,
288 " ffor william my sonne ! "
1 Will still though.— E.
2 in his. — II. ■' winter. — E.
* twas best.— R. 5 Till.— R.
6 did.— R.
7 Hied vp thon "William, Cloudosley.
— R. 8 then did. -R.
YOUNGE CLOUDESLEE.
113
" no mercye, traitors ! " quoth the ~King,
" you shall be hanged all 4 ! l
vnder my nose this plott yee haue 2 laid,
292 to bring to passe before."
" Insooth," bespake then Adam Bell,
" ill signe jour grace hath seene
of any such commotyon
296 since with you wee haue beene.
The Kins,'
says he'll
hang all four
of them.
Adam then
says
" If then wee can no mercye haue,
but leese both liffe and goods,
of yowr good grace wee take our leaue,
300 & hye vs to the woods."
" arme, arme," then quoth the K.mg,
" my merry men euer-eche one, 3
ffull ffast againe these rebells nowe *
304 [that] 5 vnto the woods are gone ! "
" O, woe is vs ! what shall wee doe,
or which way shall wee worke,
to hunt them fforth out of the woods,
308 soe traiterouslye there that lurke ?
"list you," quoth a counsellor graue,
a wise man he seemed,
" the craued the TSLing his pardon ffree
312 vnto them to haue deemed."
they'll take
to the woods.
The King
orders his
men to arm
and pursue
the rebels.
The men
don't like the
job.
A counsellor
advises that
the rebels ba
pardoned.
" gods fforbott 6 ! " quoth the Kmg,
" I neuer itt will doe !
for they shall hang, eche mothers sonne,
316 I tell you verry true ! 7 "
The King
swears
he'll hang
them,
1 hang'd shall yeo be all fouro. — R.
* haue you. — R.
a euery chone. — R.
* now.— R. 5 that omitted .— R.
s forebode, Praceptum. Chauc. Goddea
VOL. III.
forebode to breke, dei prceceptum violare.
Lye. — P. Seo vol. i. p. 18, note '. "prick
him godsforbod." Hoywood's /■.'/</-
grammes, 236. — F. forbod. — R.
7 fairo sir I tell you true. — R.
114
YOUNGE CLOUDESLEE.
and sends
50,000 men
after them,
some of
whom go to
the woods.
But Adam
and Clim go
on killing
the King's
deer.
Then the
King
says,
" they are
fine fellows.
50000 men were charged
after them ffor to take ;
some of them sett in sundrye townes,
320 in companyes l did waite ;
to the woods gan some to goe,
in hope to ffincl them out ;
& them perforce they thaught to take,
324 if that they might ffind them out.
to they woods still they 2 came,
dispatched still they were,
w7«'ch made ffull many a trembling hart 3
323 & many a man in ffeare.
still the outlawes Adam Bell
& Clim of the Cloughe
made lolly cheere with venison,
332 stronge drinke & wine enoughe.
" Crist mee blesse ! " then said our King,
" such men were neuer knowne ;
they are they 4 stoutest harted men
336 that manhood euer shone 5 !
Make out
their
pardon,
" come, my secretary good,
& cause 6 to be declared
a generall pardon to them all,
340 -which neuer shalbe discared.
and give
them good
store
if they'll
come and
live with
me."
" liuings plenty they shall haue 7
of gold & eke of ffee,
If they did 8 as they did before,
344 come Hue in court with mee."
1 compamyee in the MS. — F.
2 still as they.— R.
8 heart.— R.
4 the.— R.
5 showne. — R.
* MS. caused. — F. cause. — P.
7 Liuing plenty shall they haue. — R.
B they will do.— P. they will.— R.
YOCNGE CLOUDESLEE.
115
348
soddenlye went fforth the newes
declared by trumpetts sound,
wherof these 3 were well advised
in cane as they were in ground.
The three
hear of this,
"but list you, Sirs," quoth, willmm younge, but young
" I dare not trust the Kinge ; r page 40 .3] doubtethe
itt is some ffeitch is in bis head,
352 wherby to bring vs in.
"nay, stay wee heere, or ffirst lett mee
a messenger bee sent
vnto the Court, where I may know
356 his maiestyes entent."
and asks
that he may
go to
court and
see him.
this pleased Adam Bell,
" soe wee may Hue in peace,
wee are att his most bye commando,
360 & neuer will we cease ;
Adam
agree?,
" but if that still wee shall be vrged,
& called by traitors x name,
& threated hanging for euery thing,
364 his hiprnesse is too blame.
3C8
" neare 2 had his grace subiects more true 3
& sturdyer then wee,
"which are att his hjgnesse will,
god send him well to bee ! "
saying that
the King
never had
better
subjects
than
themselves.
soe to the court is young willwmi gone
to parley with tbc Kinge,
where 4 all men to the Kings presence
372 did striue for to him brin^e. 5
Young
William
goes to the
King,
1 traitrous. — R.
s ne'er.— P.
3 moro subjects true. li.
* Which,— It.
6 him for to bring.
-R.
IK)
YOUNGE CLOUDESLEE.
kneels to
him,
376
when hee before the K.mg was come,
he kneeled clowne ffull lowe ;
he showed qiiicklye to the Kinge
what duty they did owe.
and soon
wins him
over.
in such delightffull order blythe,
the ~King was quicklye woon l
to comfort them in their request,
330 as hee before had done.
The King
asks him
to stay the
night at
court,
" ffeitch bread & drinke," then said his grace,
" & rueate all of the best ;
& stay all night heere att the court,
384 & soundlye take thy rest."
and gives
him his seal
in token of
pardon.
" gramercy 2 to yo^tr grace," said will :
"for pardon granted, I see."
" for signe thereof, heere take my seale,
388 & for more certaintye."
" gods cursse vpon me," said will/am,
" for my part if I meane
Euer againe to stirr vp striffe !
392 itt neuer shalbe seene."
The Lords
and Ladies
welcome
him,
the Nobles all to Wilh'om came,
he were soe stout & trim,
& all the Ladyes for verry ioy
396 did come to welcome him.
and tell him
to bring
Sisely to
court.
" ffaire Cisley now I haue to wiffe,
in ffeild I haue her woone. 3 "
"bring her, for gods lone," said the 4 all,
400 " welcome shee shall bee soone. 5 "
<vonru .— R.
2 (ininiriviis. — K.
3 wonne. — R.
* they.— R.
1 full welcome shall she be. — R.
YOUNGE CLOUDESLEE.
117
404
forth againe "went williawra backe,
to woode that hee did hye,
& to his ffather there hee shewed
the King his pardon ffree.
He goes
back,
and shows
his father
the King's
pardon.
" health to his grace," said Adam Bell,
" I begg itt on my knee."
the like said Clim of the Cloughe
408 & wilh'am of Cloudeslee.
to the court they all prepare
as ffast as * they can hye,
where gracyouslye they were receined
412 with mirth and merry glee.
Cisley ffaire is gone 2 alone
vpon a gelding ffayre ;
a properer 3 damsell neuer came
416 in any courtly e ayre.
" welcome, Cisley ! " sayd the Queene,
" & Lady I thee make,
to waite vpon my owne person
420 in all my cheefe estate. 4 "
soe quicklye -was the 5 matter done
which, was soe hardlye doubted,
I/mi all contentions after that
424 from court were quicklye rooted. 6
fauorable was the kinee,
for good 7 they did him ffind ;
They neuer after ffought againe 8 [page km]
428 to vex his royall minde.
Then all of
them
come to
court,
with Sisely
on a good
gelding.
The Queen
welcomes
her and
makes her a
Lady in
Waiting.
And so all
the trouble
is happily
settled,
1 etien as fast as. — R.
2 wend.— II.
3 proprer.— R.
* chiefc-I state- Et.
5 this. — R.
' row ted. — J\.
7 so good. — R.
s The neuer after sought againo. — R.
118
YOUNGE CLOUDESLEE.
and our
heroes
never after
troubled the
King.
432
long time 1 they liued in court
soe neere vnto the Kinge,
that neuer after attempted - was
offred ffor any thinge.
May God
prevent men
rebelling
god aboue, giue all men grace,
in quiett ffor to Hue,
& not rebelliouslye abroad
436 their princes ffor to greeue !
in hope of
getting
pardon,
let not the hope of pardon moue
a subiect to attempt
his soueraignes anger, or his loue,
440 ffrom him for to exempt ;
and make
all serve God
and the
King.
but that all men may ready e bee
With all their maine and might
to serue the lord, & loue the Kinge,
444 in honor day and night.
ffinis.
1 MS. tine. — F. Long time they. — E.
2 ? read " attempt there was." — Skeat.
was attempt. — E.
[This is headed throughout, The second part, of Adam Bell. The first part has no
such heading ; but lias this title, Adam Bell, dim of the Clough, and William
Cloudesle. Land. 1G05. 9 leaves. Eegister A, C 2. Part II., 7 leaves. Eegister
A 2, B4.
There are two copies in Bodley. 4° C. 39, Art, Seld. ; 'Ma-lone, 299.— G. Parker.]
[ " Come Wanton Wenches,'''' printed in Lo. & Hum. Songs,
2>. 80-1, follows here in the MS. p. 404.]
119
fox oftie x times? paste : x
What can one say on the moral of this song, better than " read
Mr. Tennyson's Golden Year'"' ? " The Old Time sure was best"
is a cry that has been dinned into Englishmen's ears for many a
century ; and though lately the loud-voiced satisfaction of the
comfortable classes and their orators was inclined to substitute
for the old cry " The present time sure is best," yet now that
a certainty of greater consideration in legislation for the poor
and weak, the ignorant and needy, is at hand, now that the
trustees of power are to be more quickly answerable to the sub-
jects of their trust for the fulfilment of it, many would willingly
in their cowardly qualms cry for old times of corruption again.
When will men have faith and its cheer, and work onwards for
England's future, instead of moaning and raving, and trying to
drag their country back ?
Still, the present poem is no Niagara and After, but a kind
of Young-England regret for the chivalry, the merry outlaw green-
wood life, the songs and dances, bows and hunts of an earlier time,
the pillars of pleasure seen without the intervening spaces of sad-
ness at the end of the arcade of English life — to use Mr. Herbert
Spencer's figure — while the spaces near are painfully plain.
Merry England is to the writer — a hunting man, witness lines
38 to 41— merry no longer ; and the cause of the decay of all the
olden pleasures is that put forward by so many of our early writers,
Pride, and, in the writer's time, miserliness in other things
to maintain it. With Conscience (ii. 189, 1. 126,) he could say,
"you must banish pride, and then all England were blest."
' An ( )l,l Song in Praise of Archery.— P. mid I lie good old times.— P.
120 IN OLDE TIMES PASTE.
This is a change from Kobert of Brunne's time in 1303, when
Envy — which I suppose to include social grumbling and dis-
content, then more than justifiable — was the Englishman's special
sin :
And Englys men namely
Are burghe kynde of herte by.
A forbyseyn ys tolde bys,
Seyde on Frenshe men and on Englys ;
Frenche men synne yn lechery,
And Englys men yn enuye.
Handlyng Synne, p. 131, 1. 4154-5.
Let us hope that the writer of the present piece had no more
ground for his complaint than the authors of similar ones have
now. The " fine old English Grentle-man " has never ceased from
the land, though his gentle-ness has been shown in forms varying
with the ages as they have passed on.
Of the poem itself we know no other copy. — F.
in merry IN : old times past when merry men [page 405]
old days
lived did merry makers ' make,
no man did greater matters then
Lancelot 4 then Lancelott of Dulake.
du Lake,
Robin Hood, good Robin hood 3 was liui[n]ge then,
which now is quite fforgott,
Ma y d & soe was ffaire Mayd Marryan,
Marry an, J •> '
8 a pretty wench, god wott.
raowtoiee* willi'am of Cloudeslee did dwell
amongst the buckes & does,
ciim of the Clim of the Cloughe & Adam Bell
Clough, and . . .
Adam Beii. 12 killed venison with their bowes.
J hv i oll y throuffhe the wood these Iollye bowmen went,
bowmen ° ^ '
huntc,1 > both ouer hill & dale, & dale & dale,
vp & downe, vpp & downe,
1 6 through many a parke & pale :U:$:
1 ? MS. makers may be altered to in the MS.— F.
matters.— F. 3 Thero is a tag to the d. — F.
8 The first two lines are written as one
IN OLDE TIMES PASTE.
121
The Maydens on the holydayes
did countrey carrolls singe,
& some did passe the time away
20 with dancinge flbr the ringc.
yea 20 groates was mony then
wold make men make good cheere,
& 20 nobles gentlemen
24 might hue on all the yeere.
William of Cloudeslee did dwell, &c.
the maidens
sang carols
and danced,
20 groats
would make
a feast,
Then were there playes att whitsonty de, l
& sommer games about ;
then ffreind wi'th ffreind wold goe & ryde
28 to driue the sommer out ;
& after merry somrner time,
then winter time came in ;
then were as merry matters done
32 when Christmas did begin. 2
William, &c.
and summer
games were
played.
Winter was
merry
at Christmas
too.
Then did they chant itt merrilye
w/th hunting in the wood,
wherin they hound[s] mad such a crye
3G as did the hearers good ;
the hunters with their hunting homes
did cause the woods to ringe :
to see them pricke amongst the thornes,
40 itt weere pastime ffor a kinge.
William, &c.
Then was it
merry too in
woods
with cry of
hounds
and hunteis'
horns.
Sir Lancelott dulake, a-dew !
thou was a worthy Knight ;
& eke maid Marryan sure & trew,
44 good Robin Hoods delight.
But now !
farewell
Lancelot
and Marian,
1 Soo Strutt and "Brand on the Whit-
son-ales &c. Strutt quotes Sir Brvis:
Iu soiuor at Whitsontyde,
When kni^htos most on horsebacke
ride, &c. — F.
2 MS. begim.— P.
122
Clowdeslee,
Clim and
Adam.
The world
changed.
Pleasure
tinned to
spite.
48
52
IN OLDE TIMES PASTE.
will/am of Cloudeslee, ffarewell,
with thy companyons old,
Clim of the Clough, & Adam Bell,
three bowemen braue & bold ! l
for now the world is altered quite,
as itt had neuer beene ;
for plesure now is turned to spite ;
the like was neuer seene.
Men are
misers ;
the rich
don't hunt,
men don't
shoot.
Sure, the
old time
was best.
May God
send us
good bow-
men again !
More sparinge for a pennye nowe
then then was for a pound ;
rich men, alas, they know not how
56 to keepe ne hawke nor hound,
all merriments are quite fforgott,
& bowes are laid aside ;
all is to litle now, god wott,
CO to maintaine wordlye pryde.
where I began, there will I end,
the old time sure was best ;
vnless that misers quicklye mend,
64 old mirth may take his rest.
pray wee then good bowmen may rise,
as hath beene here to-ffore,
to-ffore, to-ffore,
68 to maintaine, to Maintaine,
& make our mirth the more,
the more, the more. ffillis.
1 Should " William, &c," be repeated
here, and the next, four lines belong to
the next stanza? Or are four lines
wanting after 1. 52, and the last two
stanzas in reality one of sixteen lines,
counting the repeats to-ffore, the more
with the lines preceding them? — Skeat.
123
JDailtfstome Cell: 1 r^^]
This song was printed by Percy in bis Reliques, ii. 343, with
Bishop Corbet's " Noble Ffestus," from the Folio, p. 447, and
four other mad songs to make up half a dozen "selected out of
a much larger quantity." Percy says : " It is worth attention that
the English have more songs and ballads on the subject of mad-
ness than any of their neighbours. Whether it is that we are
more liable to this calamity than other nations, or whether our
native gloominess hath peculiarly recommended subjects of this
cast to our writers, the fact is incontestible, as any one may be
satisfied, who will compare the printed collections of French,
Italian Songs, &c. with those in our language." Mr. Payne Collier
considers that the madness was shammed, and that the cause of
it was the desire of the idle and dissolute beggars — who swarmed
DO
over the country on the dissolution of the monasteries — to excite
their hearers' pity and get alms. They were called Bedlam
Beggars , and are mentioned by Edgar in " King Lear " :
The country gives mc proof and precedent
Of Bedlam beggars, who, with roaring voices,
Stick in their nurab'd and mortify'd bare arms
pricks, noils, sprigs of rosemary;
And, with this horrible object, from low farms,
Poor pi liin ! . shi , p-cotes, and mills,
Sometime with lunatic bans, sometime with prayer,
Inforce their charity.
In Dekker's Bell/mam of London, 1616, till the different species of
;ars are enumerated. Amongst the rest are mentioned Tom of
Bedlam's band of mad caps, otherwise called Poor Tom's floek of wild
. . and those wild geese, or hair brains, are called Abraham men.
An Abraham man is afterwards described in this manner: " Of all
1 Thai common old song of Mad-tom. Collated with a copy in a 12° collection of
Bongs printed by Boreman, 17 ; jo. 1'.
124 DARKESOME CELL.
the mad rascals (that are of this wing), the Abraham man is the
most fantastick. The fellow (quoth this old Lady of the Lake unto
me), that sate half naked (at table to-day) from the girdle upward,
is the best Abraham man that ever came to my house, and the
notablest villain : he swears he hath been in Bedlam, and will talk
frantickly of purpose : you see pins stuck in sundry places of his
naked flesh, especially in his arms, which pain he gladly puts himself
to (being indeed no torment at all, his skin is either so dead with
some foul disease, or so hardened with weather, only to make you
believe he is out of his wits) : he calls himself by the name of Poor
Tom, and coming near anybody, cries out, Poor Tom is a cold. . . .
(Mr. Payne Collier's note to Dodsley's Collection of Old Plays, ii. 4,
quoted in Chappell's Popular Music, i. 334-5.)
Mr. Chappell prints the tune of the song, which is to be
played majestically, but cannot settle who is the author of it:
certainly not Purcell or Henry Lawes ; possibly Lawes's master,
John Cooper, called " Cuperario " after his visit to Italy. Mr.
Chappell continues :
There is an equal uncertainty about the authorship of the words.
In Walton's Angler, 1653, Piscator says, " I'll promise you I'll sing a
song that was lately made at my request by Mr. William Basse, one
that made the choice songs of The Hunter in his career, and Tom of
Bedlam, and many others of note." There are, however, so many
Toms of Bedlam, that it is impossible to determine from this passage
to which of them Isaak Walton refers. — F.
From hell ^ FORTH : ffrom my sadd & darksome 1 cell,
JfomJback ffrom 2 the deepe abisse of hell,
madd Tom is come into 3 the world againe
4 to see if hee can ease 4 his distempered braine.
ffeare & dispayre pursue 5 my soule !
Se FnSea harke how the angry ffuryes howle !
Pluto laughes, proserepine 6 is gladd
8 to see poore naked Tom of Bedlam madd.
1 dark and dismal.— P. 5 Fears and cares oppress &c— P.
2 Or from.— P. There is a flourish like an s to the e of
3 to view. — P. '' cure. — P. pursue. — F. G & Proserp™-. — P.
DARKESOME CELL.
125
12
16
20
24
through woods ' I wander night and day
to seeke 2 my stragling sences ;
In an angrye mood I ffound out time 3
with his Pentarchye 4 of tenses.
when mee he spyes, away hce fflyes ;
time 5 will stay ffor no man ;
In vaine with cryes hee rends 6 the skyes,
pitty 7 is not common.
Cold & comfortlesse I lye. 8
helpe, 9 oh helpe ! or else I dye.
harke ! I heerc Appolloes teeme,
the Carman 'gins to whistle ;
Chast Dyana bends her browe, 10
11 the bore begins to bristle.
Come, vulcan, with tooles & with takells, 12
& knocke of my troublesome shakells !
bid Charles make ready his waine
to ffeitch my fiiue sences
13
againe.
he wanders
about,
seeking his
senses.
He lies
comfortless.
Last night I heard the dogstar barke,
28 Mars mett venus in the darke ;
Limping vulcan heates 14 an Iron barr,
& ffuxyouslye runs 15 att the god of warr.
Mars with his weapons 16 layd about,
32 but vulcans temples had 17 they gout,
ifor his broad homes did hang soe in I8 his light
that hee cold not see to aime arright. 19
Vulcan
knocks off
his
shackles !
He hears the
dogstar
bark ;
he sees
Vulcan and
Mars fight,
1 the world. —P.
* find.— P.
8 I met old Time.— P.
1 pentateuch. — P.
5 Fur time. — P.
6 I rend, qu. — P. I rent. — Bel.
7 Tor pity. — P.
• I be.— P.
■ Help, help&c— P.
"' bowe.— P.
" And.— P.
12 tackle, qu. — P.
13 Cp. "Bless thy five wits." King Lear,
iii. 4.— Dyce. To bring me my senses &c.
—P.
'•* heat.— P. het.— Bel.
15 made. — P. IS weapon. — P.
17 limping V: had got. — P.
1H his broad horns did so hang in. — P.
19 aim bis blows aright. — P.
126
DARKESOME CELL.
ami
Bacchus
burst with
Mercurye, the nimble post of keauen,
36 stayd to see this quarrell. 1
gorreld-bellyed Bacchus, gyant-like
bestryds a strong beere barrell :
drinking
beer.
Poor Tom is
very dry.
Give him
drink.
to me he dranke, [I did him thanke,
40 but I cold gett noe Cyder ;
hee dranke] 2 whole butts till hee burst his gutts ;
but mine were neere the wyder.
poore naked Tom is verry 3 clrye ;
44 a litle drinke, if or charity e !
He hears
Action's
hounds.
hearke ! I heare Acteons hounds. 4
the huntsmen woopp and hallowe ;
Bingwood, Boyster, 5 Bowman, Iowler,
48 all the chase doe ffollowe.
The man in
the moon
wants a cup
of sack.
the man in the moone drinkes Clarrett,
eates pouthered 6 beeffe, turnipp & Carrett
7 a cup of old Maligo 8 sacke
52 will ffire the bush att his backe.
ffinis.
1 Stood still ... the q 1 . —P.
2 The words included in these
brackets are omitted in the printed
copies. — P.
3 Pore torn is very. — P.
4 home. — lv !.
5 Rock-wood, Jowler, Bowman. — P.
6 salted. See Babees Book Index. — f
7 hut.— P.
8 of nialaga. — P.
12\
iHarfte more ffoole:
More here is probably a corruption of Morio (a word con-
nected with the Greek ficopos), " homo," says Facciolati, " qui
naturali stoliditate et stultitia risum excitat." " Quidam," says
Augustine in his 26th epistle, "tantge sunt fatuitatis ut non
multum a pecoribus differant; quos moriones vulgo vocant."
^Vith. regard to its use here of the cap-and-belled fool of the
sixteenth century, compare the following epigram of Martial
(viii. 13) :
Morio dictus erat ; viginti millibus emi ;
Redde mihi nummos, Gargiliane ; sapit.
which may be roughly rendered :
I bought Tom Fool for twenty thousand pence.
Return my money, dealer ; he has sense.
The court of the Tudors, or the first Stuarts, in whose time
probably the following piece was written, was seldom without its
Fool. From Will Somers to Archie Armstrong the succession is
continuous. Who was the individual whose acuteness is here
celebrated, we cannot precisely state.
We have not seen any other copy of the piece.
10 : passe the time there as l 1 went,
a history there I chanced 2 to reede ;
when as Salamon raigned K/7/7, When
Solomon
4 he did many a worthie deede, was King
1 whereas.— P. * MS. changed. — F.
128
MARKE MORE FOOLE.
it was
felony not
to restore to
the owner
goods found.
& many statutes hee caused to be made ;
& this was one l amongst the rest plaine, 2
" itt was ffelomy to any one that found ought was
lost,
& wold not restore itt to the owner againe."
A merchant
lost his
purse with
100/. in it,
and offered
20/. for its
restoration.
Soe then there was a rich Merchant,
as be rode to a markett towne,
itt was his chance to lose his pursse ;
12 he said there was in itt a 100\'.
a proclamation he caused to be made,
" whosoeuer cold find the same againe,
sbold giue itt him againe without all doubt,
16 & bee shold have ffor 20" his paine."
A poor man
finds the
purse,
but doesn't
understand
the gold.
Soe then there was a silly poore man [page 407 ]
bad 2 sheepes pells vpon his backe to sell,
& going to the Markett towne
20 hee ffound the pursse, & liked itt well ;
hee tooke itt vp into his hand,
& needs see what was in it hee wold ;
but the same he cold not vnderstand ;
24 ffor why, there was nothing in it but gold.
The mer-
chant
accuses him
of finding
the purse.
He says he
has it, and
will restore
it for the -201.
The rich man hee pursued him soone, 3
"thou horeson villaine," quoth he then,
" I thinke itt is thou that has found my pursse,
28 & wilt thou not giue itt me againe ? "
" good Sir," sayd hee, " I ffound such a pursse ;
the truth ffull soone itt shall be knowne ;
you shall haue itt againe, its neuer the worse,
32 but pay me my safteye 4 that is mine owne."
1 MS. ome.— F.
2 among them plain. — P.
3 eftsoon. — P.
* I don't find this word elsewhere in
the same sense. — P.
MAEKE MORE FOOLE.
129
he had 120?.
in his purse,
" Let me see wliats in the pursse," said the Merchant; The mer-
chant says
" Found thou a 100 1 . 1 and no more ?
thou horeson villaine ! thou hast paid thy-selfe ;
36 for in my pursse was ffull sixe score.
itts best my pursse to me thou restore,
or before the Kim/ thou shalt be brought." andhe'ii
, take the
"I warrant," umith lice, "when I come the Kvnq poor man
^ before the
before, King.
40 heele not reward me againe with nought."
Then they Ledd him towards the Kinge,
& as they led him on the way,
& there mett him a gallant Kmght,
44 & with him was his Ladye gay.
With tugging & lugging this pore man,
his lether sekins J began to cracke ;
the gelding was wanton they Ladye rode on,
48 & threw her downe beside his backe.
On their
road to the
King,
a knight
and his lady
meet them.
The poor
man's sheep-
skins crack,
the lady's
gelding
throws her
Then to the earth shee gott a thawacke ;
no hurt in the world the pore man did meane ;
to the ground hee cast the Ladye there ;
52 on a stubb shee dang out one of her eyen.
the Knight wold needs vpon 2 him haue beene.
" nay," sayd the Merchant, " I pray you, Sir,
stay ;
I haue a actyon against him alreadye ;
56 he slialbe 3 brought to the King, & hangd this
day."
Then they Ledd him towards the Kmg,
but the poreman liked not their Leading well ;
& coming neere to the sea side,
6(> be thought to bo drowned or saue him selfe.
on to a stub,
and puts out
one of her
eyes.
The knight
wants to
punish the
poor man.
He is afraid,
and to save
ins. — P.
2 Cp. our "I'll be down upon you."
VOL. III.
3 There is a b followed by a letter
1 'lotted out, after be. — F.
130
MAItKE MORE FOOLE.
himself
leaps into
the sea,
that is, on
two fisher-
men,
and breaks
one's neck.
64
& as hee lope into the sea,
no harme to no man he did wott,
but there hee light vpon 2 ffisher-men ;
w-ith the leape he broke one of their neckes in a
boate.
The other
wants to be
down on the
poor man
for this.
They go
before the
King.
The mer-
chant says
he lost a
purse
of 120?.
and the
poor man
won't give
it up except
for 20?.
The knight
says the man
made his
lady lose one
of her eyes.
And the
fisher
says the
man broke
his brother's
neck.
The other wold needs vpon him haue beene.
" nay," said the Merchant, " I pray thee now stay ;
we haue 2 actyons against him alreadye ;
68 he shalbe carry ed to the 'King & hangd this day."
then they Led him bound before the King,
where he sate in a gallerye gay.
"my Leege," said the Marchant, " wee haue brought
such a villane
72 as came not before you this many a day.
" ffor itt was my chance to loose my pursse,
& in itt there was ffull sixe score * ;
& now the villaine will not giue itt me againe
76 except that hee had 20'.' more."
" I kut 2 I have a worsse mache then that," sayd the
Knight,
" for I know not what the villaine did meane ;
he caused my gelding to cast my Ladye ;
80 on a stubb shee hath dang out one of her eyen."
" But I Lave the worst match of all," sayd the ffisher,
" ffor I may sighe & say god wott :
hee lope att mee & my brother vpon the seas ;
84 with the leape he hath broken my brothers neck
in a bote."
the King hee turned him round about,
being well aduised of euery thinge :
Qwoth he, "neuer since I can remember,
88 came 3 such matterrs since I was Kinge. 3 "
' pounds six score. — P.
2 ? MS. hut. Cut, say. Hall.— F.
3 before a king. — P.
MARKE MORE FOOLE. 131
Then Marke More, ffoole, beinge by, Marke, the
fool «isks
"how now, Brother Solomon ?" then q?(.oth hee, soiomonto
let him
" gine yon will not giue iudgment of these 3 matters, judge these
CtlUSGS.
92 I pray you returne them * ore to mee."
"with all my hart," quoth. Salomon to him, Solomon
agrees
" take you the iudgment of them as yett ; gladly.
ffor neuer came matters me before,
96 /I 'it ffainer of I wold be quitt."
"Well," q^oth Marke, "wee haue these 3 men [ P age408]
heere,
& euery one hath put vp a bill ; g Marke
, , i • j i i calls on the
but, pore man, come hitlier to me, p00 r man
100 lets heare what tale thou canst tell for thy selfe." answers,
"why, my Lore?," qwoth hee, "as touching this He says
"Themer-
Mercnant, chant
as he rode to a markett towne
itt was his chance to loose his pursse ; lost his woi.
purse,
104 he said there was in itt a 100"
" A proclamatyon he caused to be made, and offered
' whosoeuer cold find the same againe plaine,
shold giue itt him againe without all doubt,
108 & hee shold haue 20 1 ' ffor his paine.' 20/. reward
& itt was my chance to fiind that pursse, i°found it,
& gladlye to him I wold itt restore ; offer it him,
but now hee wold reward mee with nothinge,
112 but Challengheth 2 in his pursse 20V more." and he asks
me for 201.
" Hast thou any wittnesse of that ? " said my hord
Marke ;
" I pray thee, fellow, tell me round."
" yes, my Lord, heres his owne man His own
m 1 Ti is
116 thai c;iiryed the Message ffrom towne to towne." witness!"
1 you turn them. — P. 2 The heth in the MS. appears crossed out. — F.
k2
132
MARKE MORE FOOLE.
The mer-
chant's man
says that's
true.
" Then,"
said Marke,
" the poor
man shall
keep this
purse,
and you
shall follow
him till you
find
another."
the man was called before thern all,
& said itt was a 100" plaine,
& that his master wold giue 20V
120 to any wold giue him his pursse againe.
"I had fforgotten 20! 1 ," said the Merchant,
" gine me leaue ffor my selfe to say."
"nay," said Marke, "thou Chalengeth 1 more then
thine owne ;
124 therfore with the pore fell owe the pursse shall
stay.
& this shall bee my iudgment straight :
thou shalt ffollow eche day by the heeles playne
till thou haue ffound such another pursse with him,
128 & then keepe itt thy selfe, & neere giue itt him
againe.
" I'd sooner
give him 20/.
than do
that," says
the mer-
chant.
" Pay the
money then,
and go."
" As to the
knight,"
says the
poor man,
" he and the
merchant
made
my skins
rattle,
" Marry, ouer gods fforbott," said the Merchant,
" that euer soe badd shold be my share !
how shokl I ffind a 100'; of him
132 that hath not a 100 pence to loose 2 ?
rather He giue him 20 1 . 1 more,
& with that hee hath, lett him stay." 3
" Marry, render vs downe the money," said Marke,
136 " soe may thou chance goe quietlye away."
" ifellow ! how hinderedst thou the Knight ?
thou must make him amends here, I meane ;
itts against Law & right ;
140 his Ladye, shee hath lost one of her eyen."
" why, my hord, as they ledd me towards the King,
for ffeare lest I shold loose my trattle, 4
these lether skins you see mee bringe,
144 with tugging and lugging began to rattle."
1 Fr. chalanger, to claime, challenge, — P.
make title vnto. Cotgrave. — F. * For trattle, Halliwoll gives to prattle
2 spare. — P. or talk idly : for trattlis, the clung of
* And what he hath let with him stay. sheep, hares, &c, — F.
MARKE MORE FOOLE.
133
i * » The gelding was wanton the Lady rode vpon,-
no hurt in the world, nry Lord, I did meane, —
to the ground he cast that Ladye there,
148 & on a stub shee dang out one of her eyen."
" ffellow," quoth Marke, " hast 2 thy wiffe 2 eyes ?
I pray thee," quoth hee, " tell me then."
" yes, my Lore?, a good honest pore woman,
152 that for her liuinge takes great paine."
frightened
the lady's
horse,
and he threw
her on a
stub."
" Has your
wife two
eyes ? "
" Yes."
" Why then, this shalbe my iudgment straight,
tho thou perhapps may thinke itt strange :
thy wiffe with 2 eyes, his Ladye hath but one,
156 as thou hast drest her, with him thoust change."
" marry ouer gods flforbott," then sayd the Knight,
" that euer soe badd shold be my shame ;
I had rather giue him a 100'*
160 then to be trobled with his dunish 3 dame."
" Then the
knight
shall change
wives."
" I'd sooner
give him
100?." says
the knight.
" Pay down
your money
and go."
IC„s
" Marry ! tender vs downe the mony," said Marke,
" soe may thou be gone within a while."
but the ffisher ffor feare he shold have beene called, The fisher-
man is
he ran away a quarter of a mile. alarmed,
J l and runs off,
" I pray you call him againe," qwoth Marke,
" giffe hee bee within sight ;
for neuer came matter me before,
but euerye man shold hauc his right."
but is called
back,
They called the ffisher backe againe :
"bow now, fellow ? why didst not stay ? "
"my Lo/v/," quoth hee, " I hauc a great way home, and makes
& fiaine I wold be gone my way."
excuses
' (Margined note by the writer of the
M8). This verse Bhold come in att
this * mark aboue [which is where it
now is — F.]
- hath.— P.
3 ? dunny, deaf, stupid. Halliwell. — F.
134
MARKE MORE FOOLE.
" As to the
fisherman,"
says the poor
man,
" to save
myself, I
leapt into
the sea,
but came on
his brother,
and broke
his neck."
" Then,"
says Marke,
" this
fisherman
shall put his
boat in the
same spot,
and jump on
you."
" but, ffellow, how hinderedst thou this ffisher ?
I pray thee," quoth. Marke, "to vs tell."
"my hord, as I came neere the sea syde,
176 I thought either to be drowned or saue my selfe.
" And as I lope into the sea, —
no harnie to no mann I did wott, —
there I light vpon this ffishers brother ;
180 w-ith a leape I broke his necke in a boate."
"ffisher," quoth Marke, " knowest thou where the
boate stood ?
thoust sett her againe in the selfe same steade,
& thoust leape att him as he did att thy brother,
184 & soe thou may quitt thy brothers cleede. 1 "
li And break
my neck, or
be drowned,"
says the
fisherman :
"I'd rather
give him
20/."
" Pay down
the money,
and go
then."
The poor
man takes
all the
money, and
say b he
doesn't care
how often
he's brought
before the
King.
The other
three say
they'll never
come again
while
Marke's
there.
" Marry, gods fforbott," then sayd the ffisher [page 409]
" that euer soe badd shold be my lucke !
If I leape att him as he did att my brother,
188 1st either be drowned or breake my necke ;
rather He giue him 2 Of :
& I wold, my Lord, I had neere come hither."
" Marry, tender vs downe the money," said Marke,
192 "& you shalbe packinge all 3 together."
The pore man he was well content,
& verry well pleased of euerye thinge ;
he sayd he wold neere take great care
196 how oft hee came before the Kinge.
these other 3 cold neuer agree,
but euery one ffell out with other,
& sayd they wold neere come more to the Kmgr
200 while hee was in companye with marke his
brother.
1 d.ad.— P. death.— F.
135
Though men in early days made the ballads as well as the laws
of the nation, they were more just to women in the one than
the other. Against the Marquis lifting Grisilde from her father's
cottage to his own throne, they set the Lady's love for her Squyer
of Lowe Degree, and against King Cophetua, Lord Arundel's
fair heiress with her Thomas Potts. If " Lady Clara Vere de
Vere " had been written centuries ago, we may be sure that some
male predecessor of Elizabeth Barrett Browning would have
answered it with " A Poet's Wooing," suited to the time. In-
deed, we may go further, and say, that as minstrels sang more for
knights, who held the purse, than ladies fair, the stooping of a
high-born heiress to a fighting lord of lowly birth was a more
frequent topic in old ballads and romances than the taking by a
noble of a lowborn bride. Serving-man might be squire, squire
be knight, and knight an earl : to any and all, the highest lady
in the land was a possible prize, were a strong right hand and a
stout heart the possession of him who dared to try for her. And
in the present ballad the writer has boldly faced the bathos, if
any there were, in name as well as in fact, for he has married
Lord Arundel's daughter to Thomas Potts.
In the middle of the sixteenth century Hewe Eodes counsels
his Wayting-Servant :
For your promoeyon resort to such as ye may lake avauwtage,
Ami tylme« for rewardes, to gentylwomew for marriage.
Se your >y be imlyfferent, amonge womeD that be fayre,
I t. 11 i hem storyes of lone, and so to you they wyll repayre;
Suche pastymes somtymi doth many men auaunce
In ua\ ofmaryage, and your good Dame it wylenhaunce:
and no doubt in earlier days good-looking young serving-men
1 Shewing how be won Lord Arundel's Vol. i. p. 189, 12° iutitled The Lover's
Daughter from Lord Phoenix, being only Quarrel or CupicPs Triumph, — P.
a serving Man. Jn Pepys' Merrim?,
136 THOMAS OP POTTE.
had an eye to their mistresses' hands and fortunes, besides being
honestly, desperately in love with them. We have seen, in The
Lord of Leame (i. 190-8), how the young shepherd-boy was
taken by the Duke of France's daughter into her service, and
how she fell in love with him, and married him ; we know how
in William of Palerne (or William and the Werwolf) the
Emperor's daughter Melior loves, and must love, her gens et tres
biax young serving-man, though he is only a cowherd's foundling,
and though she tries to school her heart, saying :
what ? fy ! schold i a fundeling ' for his fairenesse tak ?
nay, my wille wol nou3t a-sent ■ to my wicked hert.
wel kud kinges & kaysers ■ krauen me i-now ;
I nel leie mi loue so low ■ now at J>is time;
desparaged were i disgisili ■ 311 i dede in bis wise ;
I wol breke out fram bat barot ' & blame my hert.
and with the immense advantage that continual access to a young
mistress's presence gave a man when kettle and other drums had
not been invented to bring suitors, and tournaments and feasts
came rarely, we may well believe that Thomas Pottses did some-
times secure their ladies, notwithstanding " the great gulf fixed
between churl and noble " on which Mr. Hales has remarked in
Glasgerion, vol. i. p. 248. We can hardly suppose the subject a
popular one among highborn dames ; and without the fact's actual
happening, I doubt whether it would have been chosen for a
ballad theme. Grant that it did occasionally happen, and then
the balladist would not refuse to sing the constancy of a love that
glorified all on whom it shone — as well a Thomas Potts as a
banished Earl. Anything less like a hero coming to fight for his
love it would be difficult to conceive than the canny Potts as he
rode from his Scotch home on his old dock-tailed white horse.
This is how he chose his charger, when offered his master's best :
theres an old horsse, — for him you doe giffe I be out of my saddle cast,
not care, — they beene soe wild thcyle neuer be
this day wold sett my Lady ffree, tane againe.
that is a white, with a cutt tayle, lett me haue age sober & wise ;
ffull 16 yeeres of age is heo. . . itt is a purrt of wisdome, you know
Master, those [better young'] horsses ittplaine;
beene wild and wicked, if I bo out of my sadlo cast ,
& litle they can skill of the old traine ; heele either stand .still or turne againe.
THOMAS OF POTTE.
137
Still, though Potts is unhorsed and wounded, and has to rely
on his white steed's wisdom, Potts has pluck, and gives Lord
Phenix so much of fighting that he wants no more. And his
Lordship, being convinced that Lady Eozamond prefers Potts to
him, generously promises her that she shall have her Potts, and
if her father will not endow them, he will :
Up send ffor thy father, the. Lord of Arrundale,
& marry ed together I will you see.
giffe hee will [not] maintains you well,
both gold and Land you shall haue from me.
Need we say that the Lady, his true-love, turns Thomas a Pott's
name into "The Lord of Arrundale," and exhorts all her maids
& Ladyes of England, faire & ffree,
looke you neuer change jour old louo for no new,
nor neuer change for no pouertye. — F.
12
16
20
ALL : you Lords of Scottland ffaire,
& ladyes alsoe bright of blee ;
there is a ladye amongst them all,
of her report you shall heare of me.
of her bewtye shee is soe bright,
& of her colour soe bright of blee ;
shee is daughter to the Lord Arrndell,
his heyre apparraut ffor to bee.
" Ee see that bryde," ~Lord Phenix sayes,
" tltnt is a Ladye of bye degree,
& iff I like her countenance well,
the heyre of all my Land sheest bee."
to that Ladye ffayre Lord Phenix came,
& to that Like-some dame said hee,
" now god thee saue, my Ladye ffaire !
the heyre of all my Land thost bee."
"Leaue of jour suite," the Ladye sayd,
" you are a Lord of honor ffree,
you may gett Ladyes enowe att home,
& I haue ;i lone in mine ownc countrye.
Lords and
Ladies of
Scotland,
I'll tell you
of a fair
Lad}',
Lord
Arundel's
heir.
Lord Phenix
offers to
marry her.
She tells
him that
she lias a
lover,
138
THOMAS OF POTTE.
a serving-
man,
Thomas a
Pott.
Lord Phenix
says he
has 40?. to
Thomas's 3?.
" I haue a loner true of mine l owne,
a servinge man of a small degree ;
he is the ffirst lone that ener I had,
24 & the last that hee shalbee :
Thomas a Pott, itt is his name."
" gine Thomas a Pott then he his name,
I wott I ken him soe readilye ;
28 I can spend 40'.' by weeke,
& hee cannott spend pounds 3."
The Lady
says she'll
stick to
Thomas.
" god giue you good of yo«r gold," said the Ladye,
" and alsoe, Sir, of jour ffee !
32 hee was the ffirst loue that euer I had,
& the Last, Sir, shall hee hee."
Lord Phenix
tells her
father,
and he says
she shan't
have his
land
unless she
marries
Lord
Phenix.
So she is
forced to be
his bride.
With that Lord Phenix was sore amoued ;
vnto her ffather then went hee ;
36 hee told her ffather how itt was proued,
how that his daughters mind was sett.
" thou art my daughter," the Erie of Arrndell said,
" the heyre of all my Land to bee ;
40 thoust be bryde to the Lord Phenix,
daughter, giue thoule be heyre to mee."
for lacke of her loue this Ladye must Lose,
her foolish wooing lay all aside ;
44 the day is appoynted, 2 & ffreinds are agreede,
shee is fforcte to be the hord Phenix bryde.
But she
means
to beguile
him.
with that the Lady began to muse —
a greeued woman, god wott, was shee —
48 how shee might hord Phenix beguile,
& scape vnmarryed ffrom him that day.
1 MS. nine.— F.
2 There is a mark like an undottcd
in the MS. before they. — F.
THOMAS OF POTTE.
139
52
shee called to her her litle ffoote page ;
to Iacke her boy, soe tenderlye
sayes, " come thou hither, thou litle ffoote page,
for indeed I dare trust none but thee.
She tells her
page, Jack,
" to Strawberry castle, boy, thou must goe,
to Thomas Pott there as hee can bee,
50 & giue him here this Letter ffaire,
& on guilford greene bidd him meete me.
" looke thou marke his contenance well,
& his colour tell to mee ;
60 & hye thee ffast, and come againe,
& 40 shillings I will giue thee.
to take a
letter to
Thomas,
" for if he blush in his fface,
then in his hart heese * sorry bee.
64 Then lett my ffather say what hee will,
for false to Potts He neuer bee.
[page 410]
and if he
blushes,
then he'll
be sorry,
and she'll be
true to him ;
" & giue hee smile then wt'th his mouth,
then in his heart heele merry be ;
68 then may hee gett him a loue where-euer he can,
for small of his companye my part shalbe."
if he smiles,
then she'll
give him up.
then one while that the boy hee went,
another while, god wott, rann hee ;
72 & when hee came to strawberry castle,
there Thomas Potts hee see ;
The boy
goes to
Thomas,
76
then he gaue him this letter ffaire.
& when he began then for to reade,
tiny 2 boy had told him by word of mouth
' his loue must be the Lord Phenix bryde.
gives him
the letter,
and tells
him his
love must
marry Lord
Phenix.
1 beese, i.e. he will be, or must be. — P.
'-' the.— P.
140
THOMAS OF POTTE.
Thomas
blushes,
weeps,
cannot read
the letter,
80
with that, Thomas a Pott began to blushe
the teares trickeled in his eye :
" indeed this letter I cannot 1 reede,
nor neuer a word to see or spye ;
but bids the
boy tell his
Lady
" I pray thee, boy, to me thonle be trew,
& heers 5 marke I will gine thee ;
84 & all these words thou must pursue,
& tell thy Lady this ffroni mee :
that Lord
Phenix
shall not
marry her ;
" tell her by ffaith & troth shee is mine owne,
by some part of promise, & soe itts be found,
88 hord Phenix shall neuer marry her by night nor day
without he can winn her with his hand.
he'll lose his
life to stop
it.
" on Gilford greene I will her meete,
& bidd that Ladye ffor mee pray ;
92 for there He Loose my liffe soe sweete
or else the wedding I will stay."
The boy goes
back.
The Lady
meets him,
then backe againe the boy he went
as ffast againe as he cold hye.
96 the Ladye mett him 5 mile on the way :
" why hast thou stayd soe long ? " saies shee.
100
" boy," said the Ladye, " thou art but younge ;
to please my mind thoule mocke and scorne ;
I will not beleeue thee on word of mouth
vnlesse on this booke thou wilt be sworne."
and he tells
her
how Thomas
cried.
104
" marry, by this booke," the boy can say,
" as Christ himselfe be true to mee,
Thomas Pott cold not his letter reade
for teares trickling in his eye."
1 MS. camot.— F.
108
THOMAS OF POTTE.
" if this be true," the Ladye sayd,
" thou Bonny boy, thou tells to mee,
40? I did thee promise,
but heeres 10" He giue itt thee.
" all my maids," the Lady sayd,
" that this day doe waite on mee,
112 wee will ffall downe vpon our knees,
for Thomas Pott now pray will wee.
" if his ffortune be now ffor to winn, 1
wee will pray to christ in Trinytye ;
116 lie make him the mower of all his kinn,
ffor they 2 ~Lord of Arrundale he shalbe."
now lett vs leaue talking of this Ladye faire,
in her prayer good where shee can bee ;
120 & He tell you hou Thomas Pott
for ayd to his LorcZ & master came hee.
& when hee came Loro" Iockye before,
he kneeled him low downe on his knee ;
124 saies, " thou art welcome Thomas Pott !
thou art allwayes full of thy curtesye.
" has thou slaine any of thy ffellowes,
or hast thou wrought me some villanye ? "
128 " S/r, none of my ffellowes I haue slaine,
nor I haue wrought you noe villanye ;
" but I haue a loue in Scottland ffaire,
I doubt I must lose her through pouertye ; 3
132 if you will not beleeue me by word of mouth,
behold the letter shee writt vnto mee."
141
The Lady
gives him
10?.,
says she and
her maids
will pray for
Thomas,
and she'll
make him
Lord
Arundel.
Thomas
goes to his
Lord,
Jockye,
n ii*l trllsliim
that he is
like to
lose his lovo
through his
poverty.
' MS. wim.- F.
2 the.— P.
3 The next stanza 1ml one is written
in the MS. between lines 131, 132, but
marked bya bracket, and by Percy, to go
in its proper place. — F.
142
THOMAS OF POTTE.
Lord Jockye
says
" Tou shan't
lose her :
you shall
have
gold and
silver,
136
when ~Lord Iockye looked the letter vpon,
the tender words in itt cold bee :
" Thomas Pott, take thon no care,
thoust nener loose her throughe pouertye.
" thou shalt have 40 1 . 1 a weeke,
in gold & siluer thou shalt rowe, 1
140 & Harbye towne I will thee all owe
as longe as thou dost meane to wooe
40 men,
and 40 horse,
and I'll go
with you."
" thou shalt haue 40'? e of thy ffellowes ffaire,
& 40 horsse to goe with thee,
144 & 40 speares of the best I haue,
& I my-selfe in thy companye. 2 "
Thomas
declines the
offer.
"I thanke you, Master," sayd Thomas Pott,
" neither man nor boy shall goe with niee ;
148 I wold not ffor a 1000V [page4ii]
take one man in my companye."
Lord Jockye
advises him
152
" why then, god be with thee, Thomas Pott !
thou art well knowen & proued for a man ;
Looke thou shedd no guiltlesse bloode,
nor neuer confound no gentlman ;
to fix a place
to fight his
rival,
and he'll
provide for
him.
Thomas goes
to
Lord Phenix
and Lady
Eosamond,
" but looke thou take with him some truce,
apoint a place of lybertye ;
156 lett him provide as well as hee cann,
& as well provided thou shalt bee."
& when Thomas Pott came to Gilford greene,
& walked there a litle beside,
160 then was hee ware of the Lord Phenix,
& with him Ladye Rozamund his bryde.
1 row, i.e. roll. Soo Gloss, ad G.
Douglas. So Page 21-20. Thretty lang
twelf monthis rowing over, i.e. rolling
over. — P.
2 Only half the n in the MS.— F.
THOMAS OF POTTE.
143
164
away by the bryde rode Thomas of Pott,
but noe word to her tliat he did say ;
but when he came ~Lord Phenix before,
he gaue him the right time of the day.
" thou art welcome, Thorn as a Potts !
thou serving man, welcome to mee !
168 how ffares they Lord & Master att home,
& all the Ladyes in thy cuntrye ? "
and gives
Lord Phenix
the time
o' day.
Lord riienix
asks
how
Thomas's
master is.
" Sir, my LorcZ & my Master is in verry good health ; "Very well
I wott I ken itt soe readylye.
172 I pray you, will you ryde to one outsyde, 1
a word or towe to talke with mee."
"you are a Nobleman," sayd Thomas a Potts,
" yee are a borne Lore? in Scottland ffree ;
176 you may gett Ladyes enowe att home ;
you shall neuer take my loue ffrom mee ! "
" away, away, thou Thomas a Potts !
thou seruing man, stand thou a- side !
180 I wott theres not a serving man this day,
I know, can hinder mee of my bryde."
But let me
have a word
with you.
You are a
Lord,
and can get
ladies at
home.
You shan't
have my
love.
" If I be but a seruing man," sayd Thomas,
" & you are a Lord of honor ffree,
184 a speare or 2 lie w/th you runn,
before lie loose her thus cowardlye."
I'll fight you
for her."
"on Gilford fn-cene," liorcl Yhenix saies, "lie thee Lord Phenix
° accepts the
meete ;
neither man nor boy shall come hither w/th mee."
188 " & as I am a man," said Thomas a Pott,
" He haue as ffew in my companye."
fight ;
' i.e. on uiie side : the expression is still used in Northamptonshire. — P.
144
TnOMAS OF POTTE.
and the
wedding is
put off.
Rosamond
is glad,
192
With that the wedding-day was stayd,
the bryde went vnmarryed home againe
then to her maydens ffast shee loughe,
& in her hart shee was ffull ffaine.
and says
she'll
pray for
Thomas,
and if he
wins,
will make
him Lord
Arundel.
" but all my mayds," they Ladye sayd,
" that this day doe waite on mee,
196 wee will ffall downe againe vpon our knees,
for Thomas a Potts now pray will wee.
" if his ffortune be ffor to winn, —
weele pray to Christ in Trynitye, —
200 He make him the mower of all his kinn,
for the Lore? of Arrundale he shalbe."
[The Second Part.]
Thomas goes
home again,
and falls
sick.
204
2'\ parte <
208
"now let vs leaue talking of this Lady fayre,
in her prayers good where shee can bee ;
He tell you the troth how Thomas a Potts
for aide to his Lord againe came l hee.
& when he came to strawberry castle,
to try ffor his Ladye he had but one weeke ;
alacke, ffor sorrow hee cannott fforbeare,
for 4 clayes then he ffell sicke.
Lord Jockye
asks whether
he has got his
love.
with that his Lore? & Master to him came,
sayes, " I pray thee, Thomas, tell mee without all
doubt,
212 whether hast thou gotten the bonny Ladye,
or thou man 2 gange the Ladye w/thoute."
1 MS. cane.— F.
2 maun, i.e. must. — P.
THOMAS OV rOTTE.
145
" marry, master, yett that matter is vntryde ;
within 2 dayes tryed itt must bee.
216 he is a Lord!, & I am but a seruing man :
I doubt I must loose her through pouertyc."
"why, Thomas a Pott, take thou no care ;
tboust neuer loose her through pouertye ;
" That'll be
settled in
tWO day 3,
and T shall
lose her from
poverty."
"No,
Thomas,
220 " thou shalt hauc halfe my Land a yeere,
& that will raise thee many a pound ;
before thou shalt loose thy bonny ladye,
thou shalt drop angells with him to the ground. 1
224 " & thou shalt haue 40 of thy ffellowes fi'aire,
& 40 horsses to goe with thee,
& 40 speres of the best I haue,
& I my-selfe in thy companye."
228 " I thanke you, Master," sayd Thomas a Potts,
"but of one thinge, Sir, I wold be ffaine ;
If I shold loose my bonny 2 Ladye,
how shall I increase yowr goods againe ? "
I'll lend you
half
my land,
and 40 men
and horses,
and go with,
you myself,
•232 " why, if thou winn thy Lady ffaire,
thou maye well fforth for to pay mee ;
if thou loose thy Lady, thou hast losse enoughe ;
not one penny I will aske thee."
236 " Master, you haue '■><> horsses in one hold, [page412]
you keepe them ranke and royallye ;
theres an old horsse, — for him you doe not care, —
this day wold sett my Lady ffiree,
240 " that is a white, with a cutt fcayle,
Hull 16 yceres of age is hee ;
giffe you wold lend me thai old horsse,
then I shold gett her easilye."
and never
ask for a
return if you
lose."
"If you'll
lend nie your
old docked
horse, that's
all 1 want."
1 Cp. BessieoffBedna.il, vol ii. p. 284, 1. 104-24.— F.
VOL. III. L
MS. bomy.— F.
146
THOMAS OF POTTE.
" Don't be
foolish,
Thomas ;
have a
better
horse."
244 "thou takes a ffoolish part," the honl lockye saycl,
" & a ffoolish part thou takes on thee ;
thou shalt haue a better the[n] euer he was,
that 40" cost more nor bee."
" None of
your wild
animals for
me ; 1 want
248 " Master, those horsses beene wild and wicked,
& litle they can skill of the old traine ;
giffe I he out of my saddle cast,
they beene soe wild theyle neuer be tane againe.
a sober one,
that if I'm
thrown will
stand still."
252 " lett me haue age sober & wise ;
itt is a part of wisdome, you know itt plaine ;
if I be out of my sadle cast,
heele either stand still or turne aQ-aine."
" Take the
old horse
then, and
100 men."
256 " thou shalt haue that horsse with all my hart,
& my cote plate of siluer ffree,
& a 100? men att thy backe
for to fight if neede shalbee."
" No," says
Thomas,
" neither
man nor boy,
260 " I thauke you, Master," said Thomas a Potts,
" neither man nor boy shall goe with mee.
as you are a Lord off honor borne,
let none of my ffellowes know this of mee ;
keep 'em all
back."
At Gilford
Green
Thomas finds
Lord Phenix
and men,
264 " ffor if they wott of my goinge,
I wott behind me they will not bee ;
without you keepe them vnder a locke,
vppon that green e I shall them see."
268 & when Thomas came to Gilford greene
& walked there some houres 3 ;
then was he ware of the Jjord Phenix,
and 4 men in his companye.
272 "you haue broken jour vow," sayd Thomas a Pott,
" yoitv vowe that you made vnto mee;
you said you wold come jour selfe alone,
& you haue brought more then 2 or o."
THOMAS OF POTTK.
147
276
280
''these are nay waiting men," Lord Phenix sayd,
" that euery day doe waite on mee ;
giffe any of these shold art vs stirr,
my speare sliold runn throwe his bodye."
" He runn noe race," said Thomas Potts,
" till that this othe heere made may bee :
1 if the one of vs be slaine,
the other fforgiuen that hee may bee.' '
init they are
only his
waiting
men,
284
and he vows
"He make a vow," Lord Phenix sayes,
" my men shall beare wittnesse with thee,
giffe thou slay mee att this time,
neuer the worsse beloued in Scottland thou shalt Thomas
bee."
they shall
not hurt
288 then they turned their horsses round about,
to run ! the race more egarlye.
Lord Phenix he was stiffe & stout,
he has runn Thomas quite thorrow the thye,
292 & beere Thomas out of his saddle ffaire ;
vpon the ground there did hee lye.
he saies, " for my liffe I doe not care,
but ffor the loue of my Ladye.
296 '• but shall I lose my Ladye ffaire ?
I thought shee shold haue beene my wiffe ;
I pray thee, Lord Phenix, ryde not away,
for with thee I will loose my Liffe."
300 then a Thomas a Potts was a seruing man,
he was alsoe a Phisityan good ;
he clapt his hand vpon his wound ;
svith some kind of words he stauncht the blood. 3
Theycharge,
and Lord
Phenix
runs Thomas
through the
thigh, and
grounds
him.
Thomas says
he'llfight on.
He
staunches
his wound,
1 MS. rum. !•'.
- Though.— P.
3 The notes to Brand's Popular Anti-
quities, ii. 167, ed. 1841, give (from the
Athenian Oracle, i. 158) this charm to
Htop bleeding at the nose and ;ill other
haemorrhages :
In the blood of Adam, Sin was taken,
In the blond of Christ it was all to-
shaken.
And by the same blood I do thee charge,
That tile blood of [Thomas Potts] rim no
longer at large. — F.
L 2
148
THOMAS OF POTTE.
charges Lord
Phenix,
runs him
through the
«rm,
304 then into his sadle againe hee leepe,
the blood in his body began to warme ;
he mist hord Phenix bodye there,
but he run him quite throw thebrawne of the arrne,
unhorses
him,
and says
" fight on,
or give up
my Lady."
Lord Phenix
says he can't
fight,
308 & he bore him quite out of his saddle ffaire,
vpon the ground there did he lye ;
he said, " I pray thee, hord Phenix, rise & flight,
or else yeeld this Ladye sweete to mee."
312 "to ffight with thee,"q-woth Phenix, "I cannott stand;
nor ffor to flight, I cannott, sure ;
thou hast run me through the brawne of the arme ;
noe longer of thy spere I cannott endure,
and he'll give
up the Lady.
316 " thoust haue that Ladye with all my hart,
sith itt was like neuer better to proue ;
nor neuer a noble man this day
that will seeke to take a pore mans loue."
[page 413]
Then
Thomas
320 " Why then, be of good cheere," saies Thomas Pott,
" indeed, your bucher He neuer bee,
for lie come & stanche jour bloode,
giff any thankes youle giue to mee."
staunches
Lord
Phenix's
wound,
and offers
him another
chance :
324 as he was stanching 1 the Phenix blood,
these words Thomas a Pott cann to him proue, 2
" He neuer take a Ladye of you thus,
but here He giue you another choice :
to let
Rosamond
stand
between
them and
take which
she likes.
328 " heere is a lane of 2 miles longe ;
att either end sett wee will bee ;
the Ladye shall sitt vs between e,
& soe will wee sett this Ladye ffree."
1 MS. stamching. — F.
praie.
-F.
THOMAS OF POTTE.
149
332 " if thoule doe soe," Lord Phenix sayes,
" Thomas a Pott, as tliou dost tell mee ;
whether I gett lier or goe without her,
heeres 40'.' lie giue itt tliee."
336 & when the Ladye there can stand,
a womans mind that day to proue ;
" now, by my ffaith," said this Ladye ffaire,
"this day Thomas a Pott shall haue his owne loue."
340 toward Thomas a Pott the Lady sliee went,
to leape behind him hastilye ;
" nay, abyde a while," sayd hord Phenix,
" ffor better yett proned thou shalt bee :
344 " thou shalt stay heere w/th all thy maids, —
in number wtth thee thou hast but 3, —
Thomas a Pott & lie goe beyond yonder wall,
there the one of vs shall dye."
348 & when they came beyond the wall,
the one wold not the other nye ;
Lord* Phenix he had giuen his word
with Thomas a Pott neuer to flight.
352 " giue me a Choice," hord Phenix sayes,
" Thomas a Pott, I doe pray thee ;
lett mee goe to yonder Ladye ffaire
to see whether shee be true to thee."
356 & when hee came that Ladye too,
vnto that likcsome dame sayd hee,
" now god thee saue, thou Ladye ffaire,
the heyre of all my Land thoust bee !
360 " ffor this Thomas a Potts I haue Blaine.
lie hath more then deadlye wounds 2 or 3 ;
thou art mine ownc Ladye," he sayd,
" & marryed together wee will bee."
Lord Phenix
accepts this
and gives
Thomas 40/.
Rosamond
chooses
Thomas,
and is going
to him,
when Lord
Phenix tells
her to stop,
while
Thomas
and he fight
to the death.
TTe asks
Thomas
to let him
prove her.
He goes to
her, tells her
he has killed
Thouuis,
and she is
now his.
150
THOMAS OF POTTE.
Rosamond
says she'll
have him
hanged,
and then
swoons.
Lord Phenix
undeceives
her, says
Thomas is
alive.
and shall
marry her.
Lord
Arundel
consents too.
So Maids
and Ladies
all, don't
change an
old love
for a new
or a rich one.
Thomas a
Pott shall
be Lord
Arundel.
364 the Ladye said, " if Thomas a Potts this day thou
haue slaine,
thou hast slaine a better man than euer was thee ;
& He sell all the state of my Lande,
but thoust be hanged on a gallow tree."
368 with, that they Lady shee ffell in a soone,
a greeued woman, I wott, was shee :
Lore? Phenix hee was readye there,
tooke her in his armes most hastilye ;
372 " hord, sweete, 1 & stand on thy ffeete !
this day Thomas a Pott aliue can bee ;
He send ffor thy father, the Loro" of Arrundale,
& marryed together I will you see.
376 giffe hee will you 2 main tain e you well,
both gold and Land you shall haue from me."
" He see that wedding," my hord of Arrundale said,
" of my daughters loue that is soe ffaire ;
380 & sith itt will no better be,
of all my Land Thomas a Pott shall be my heyre."
" now all my maids," the Ladye said,
" & Ladyes of England, faire & ffree,
384 looke you neuer change yo«r old loue for no new,
nor neuer change for no pouertye ;
" ffor I had a louer true of mine owne, 3
a seruing man of a small degree ;
388 ffrom Thomas a Pott He turne his name,
& the hord of Arrundale hee shall bee."
(finis.
1 ( ) Lady sweete. — Dyce.
2 fur not. V.
3 MS. owme.-l'.
151
TOfllfam tl)f ConqtieromV
The copy of this ballad in Strange Histories, 1607, and Chappell's
Popular Music,i. 94, is entitled "The valiant courage and policy
of the Kentishmen with long tails whereby they kept their
ancient laws and customs which William the Conquerour sought
to take from them — to the tune of Rogero." " It was written by
Deloney the ballading silk-weaver," who died in or before 1600.
Evans, who prints this ballad from another copy ( The Garland of
Delight) extracts the following account of the event which gave
rise to it, from The Lives of the three Norman Kings of England,
by Sir John Heyward, 4to, 1613, p. 97: "Further, by the counsel
of Stigand, Archbishop of Canterbury, and of Eglesine, Abbot of
St. Augustine's (who at that time were the chief governors of
Kent), as the King was riding towards Dover, at Swanscombe,
two miles from Gravesend, the Kentishmen came towards him
armed, and bearing: boughs in their hands as if it had been a
moving wood : they enclosed him upon the sudden, and with a
firm countenance, but words well tempered with modesty and
respect, they demanded of him the use of their ancient liberties
and laws : that in other matters they would yield obedience unto
him : that without this they desired not to live. The king was
content to strike sail to the storm, and to give them a vain satis-
faction for the present ; knowing right well that the general
customs and laws of the residue of the realm would in short
1 This seems modern by it's elegance. The Garland of Delight. Eyans prints
The story of the Kentish-Men's pre- this ballad from the latter, but the for-
Berving their liberties, 1066 Anno. Col- mer is a better authority. As Percy
lat'il with a Copy in Popys's Collection says 'Strange Histories or Garland,'
of Penny MerrimV, Vol. 3. p. 39. B. L. both here and inhisfirst note to the next
In y t Strange Histi ries or Garland of poem, 1 think he may have seen some
Delight. To the Tune of Rogero.- P. copy made up of the two Garlands.
Strange Historiesie a dill' rent book from W. C.
152
WILLIAM THE C0NQUER0UR.
time overflow these particular places. So pledges being given
on both sides, they conducted him to Rochester, and yielded up
the county of Kent and the castle of Dover into his power."
(Chappell, Pop. Mus.i. 94.)
When
William
conquered
England,
he was
crowned by
the Arch-
bishop of
York ;
punished his
opponents,
WHEN william duke of normandye [page4U]
with glitering l speare & sheild
had entered into 2 ffaire England,
4 & told 3 his ffoes in ffeild,
vpon christmas day, in soleme 4 sort,
then was hee crowned heere
by Albert, Archbishopp of yorke,
8 & many a noble peere.
which being done, he changed quite
the customes of England,''
& punished 6 such as daylye sought
12 his statutes to w/thstand.
and subdued
London,
but Kent
withstood
him.
& many cytyes hee subdued,
ffaire London with the rest,
but 7 then Kent did still withstand his power, 8
16 & did his lawes detest.
He went to
Dover to
destroy the
castle,
20
to douer then he tooke the 9 way,
the castle downe for 10 to flinge
which Aueragus had * ! builded there,
the noble Brittaine 12 Kino-e.
hut theArch-
bishop of
Canterbury,
the Abbot of
St. Austin's,
24
but when 13 the braue Archbishopp bold
of Canterbury knew,
the Abbott of S) Austines eke,
with all their gallant crew,
1 glistering. — P.
2 There's a w seemingly before the/.
F.
1 solemn.- I'.
3 foil'd.— P.
5 of this Land.— P.
6 punisht. — P.
8 force. — P.
10 Del.— P.
is British.— P.
7 del.— P.
9 his.— P.
" del.- P.
13 which when.
WILLIAM THE CONQUEROUR.
153
the l sett themselues in order 2 bright,
these mischeefes to preuent,
w/th all the yeomen braue & bold
28 that Avere in ffruitfull Kent.
and the
Kent Lsb
yeomen
att Canterbury they did 3 meete
A'pon one certaine day,
4 with sword, with sheild, with bill, with bow,
32 to stopp 5 the conquerours Avay.
met at
Canterbury,
" 6 let vs not liue like bondmen pore
to ffrenchmen in their pryde,
but lett vs 7 keepe our ancyent lybertyes,
36 what chance soeuer tyde 8 !
and resolved
" & rather lett vs 9 dye in bloody ffeild,
with manly courage prest,
then to endure the seruile yoke
40 Av/a'ch wee thus much 10 detest ! "
rot to
submit.
thus did the Kentish Commons crye
vnto their leaders still,
& then they marched 1 1 in AA'arlike sort,
44 & stood att SAA T ansco 12 hill.
They
marched to
Swanscomb
Hill,
& ATider a Avood 13 they hidd themselues,
vnder tin \ shadow greene,
wherby H to gett them vantage good
48 of all their ffoes vnseene. 15
hid in a
wood ,
they.— P.
armour. — P.
did they.— P.
sword & speur .
Ami Stopt.— P.
yeild like.— P.
del.— P.
so e'er betyde.—
del.— P.
& how.— P.
p.
10 so much. — P.
11 Ami so march! forth. — P.
'- Swanscomb. — P.
13 There in the woods. — P.
' Therby.— P.
'■'' .And for y e conqt 8 coming there
They privily laid wait,
Ami therby suddenly appal'd
his lofty high conceit. — P.
154
WILLIAM THE 00NQULI50UR.
ami on
William's
approach
inarched out,
each carry-
ing a bough.
& when ' the spyed his approchc
in place where they did stand,
they marched fforth to liemm him in ;
52 eche man tooke - a boAv in his hande.
William sees
a wood
moving
towards
him,
3 before, behind, & on eche syde
as hee did cast his eyes, 4
he espyed these woods 5 in sober pace
56 approach to him ffhll nye.
and quakes
for fear.
The shape of men he cold not see,
the bowes did hyde them soe ;
& how 6 his hart did quake for feare
60 to see a fforrest goe !
The Kentish
men hem
him in,
draw their
swords,
throw down
their boughs,
but when the Kentish men had thus
enclosed the Conquerour round,
then suddenly they drew their swords,
64 & threw their bouges to ground ;
sound a
charge,
and deploy.
their banners they displayed 7 in sight,
their trumpetts sounded 8 a charge,
the rattling drummes strike vp alarme, 9
68 their troopes streitch fforth to the Large, 10
William is
aghast,
11 wheratt this dreadfull Conquerour
theratt was sore agazed, 12
& most in perill when he thought 13
72 all prills had beene past.
For when as they did. — P.
del. tooke. — P.
Percy marks to come in here :
So that up to the conquerors sight
Amazed as he stood
They soem'd to he a walking grove
Or else a moving wood. — 1\
eye.— P.
spyed the wood with, — P.
6 now with fear did quake. — P.
7 display.— P.
8 sounde. — P.
9 Their .... alarms. — P.
10 out at large. — P.
11 The conqf with all his train
Were hereat sore aghast. — P.
12 aghast or agast. — P.
18 they thought.— P.
WILLIAM tiii: COXOrKROI'tt.
155
1 therfore vnto the Kentishmen
an Embassadoure he sent,
to know they 2 cause they tooke in band
7G these warres, to what entent. 1
and send-
to ask what
the Kc-uti-.lt
men want.
80
to whom they made this short reply, "Our
liberties,
"ffor liberty weele ffip/ht, 3 and King
And to enioy King Edwards the Confessors 4 Lawes [page 41s]
w7</ch wee doe hold arrisht. 5 " law?."
"why 6 then," said the dreadfull Conquerour,
"you shall haue what you will ;
jour liberty es, yoiir ancyent customes, 7
84 soe that you wilbe still ;
William
agrees to
" & eche thing else which you will craue
with reason att my hands,
soe that you will acknowledge me
88 cheefe "King of ffaire England."
give them
all they ask,
the Kentishmen therevpon agreed, 8
& layd all 9 their armes asyde ;
& by this meanes King Edwards lawes
92 doe still in kent 10 abyde.
and the
Kentish men
lay down
their arms.
96
& in no place in England else
such customes n doe remaine,
as they by their manlike ,2 policye
did of duke william gaine.
ffinis.
Thus Kent
alone keeps
its old
customs.
1-1 Unto the Kentishmen he sent
The cause to understand
For \vh?t intent & for what cause
They took this war in hand.— P.
2 the.— P. :| we fight.— P.
1 del.— P.
' our right. — P.
u del. why. -P.
7 Yowr ancient customs & your laws.
— P. See note at the end of the volume.
- F.
H agreed thereon. — P.
■' delend all— P.
10 In Kent doo still.— P.
" t hose Customs. — P.
12 Which they by manly. — P.
156
CIk t ffiurinnfttg of Setters t&e t i : ftte Cln'Itirm : l
"This," says Percy, "as well as the foregoing, is an excellent
ballad." To us it seems the song of a very pedestrian Muse.
The subject is excellent. It is preserved also in Strange
Histories.
When
Henry I. had
subdued the
French,
W HEN : as royall Kmg 2 henery the ffirst
had ffoyled his ffoes in ffrance,
& spent the pl[e]asant springe
4 his honors 3 to adnance.
he came
back to
England,
then into England he returned 4
wrth flame & victorye,
what t[i]me the suhiects of this Land
8 receiued him ioyfullye.
but left his
children in
France, —
but att his home returne,
his children left hee still
in ifrance, ffor to soiourne
12 to purchase learned skill.
Duke
William,
Lord
Kichard,
Duke william with his brother dere,
~Lord Richard was his name,
who was the Erie of Chester then,
16 w[ho] 5 thirsted after flame ;
1 a.d. 1120. To the tune of The
Ladies Daughter. This, as well as the
foregoing, is an excellent ballad. Collated
with a copy in Strange Histories or The
Garland of Delight, 12"?°, Canto 3 d , B.
L., in Pepys Collection of Penny Mer-
rim**, vol. 3. p. 14— P.
2 After our royl king. — P.
3 honour. — P.
4 Into fair England he return'd.
5 and thirsted.— P.
THE DROWNING OF IIENERY THE I. HIS CHILDREN.
157
20
the ~Kivgs ffaire daughter eke,
the Lady Many bright,
with diners noble peeres,
& many a Lardy Knight ;
Lady
Mary,—
with peers
and knights.
all these he left l together there,
in pleasure 2 and delight,
when that our ~King to England came
24 after the bloody e flight.
but when ffaire fflora had
drawen fforth her treasure drye,
then winter sadd and cold 3
28 with hoarye head drew niee. 4
When
summer was
over,
and winter
came on,
then these princes all with one assent 5
prepared all things meete
to passe the seas into 6 fl'aire England,
32 whose sight to them was sweete.
the princes
" to England lett vs hye,"
this euerye one did say,
" ffor Christamas draweth nye ;
36 no longer lett vs stay,
wanted to
spend
Christmas in
England,
but let vs 7 spend the Merry Christamas time 8
in game and pleasant sort, 1 '
where Lady pleasure doth attend
40 w/th many a princely sport."
and enjoy
themselves.
1 were left. — P.
2 pleasures. — P.
s cold and sad. — P.
* nigh.— P.
5 Those princes all.
cons[ent], — P.
•> for.— P.
» \Ict vs] del.— P.
8 MS. tine.— F.
u within our Father's court.
158 THE DROWNING OF HENERY THE I. HIS CHILDREN.
They set sail, to seas ' these princes went,
full ffraught 2 with mirth & ioy ;
but all their merryment 3
44 returned to greet 4 anoye.
but the
Bailors got
drunk,
for the say lor s & the shipmen, 5
throughe ffoule excesse of wine,
they were soe amazed that 6 on the sea
48 they showed themselues like swine.
no one could
steer,
and the ship
went at
random.
The princes
weep
and fear,
but at last
see England
the sterne 7 no man cold guide,
the ~M.aster sleeping Lay,
the saylors all beSyde
52 went reeling euerye way,
soe that the shipp att randome rode
vpon the ffbminge filoode,
wherby in pcrill of their hues
56 these princes 8 alway stoode,
which, caused distilling 9 teares
from their faire eyes to ffall,
their harts were filled w/th ffeare, 10
60 No Ioy u they had att all, [page4i6]
the wished themselues vpon the land
1000 times and more ;
then att they last 12 they come in sight
64 of Englands pleasant shore.
1 To sea.— P.
That y telle an evel lype,
Mori that cloth him into shypc
Whil the weder is wod ;
For, he ho come to the depe.
He may wrynge hard ant wepe,
Ant be of drery mod.
' Ofte rap reweth ; '
Quoth Hendyng.
Religuice Antigua, i. 115. — F,
- Kulfill'd.— P.
3 this their merrim^ — P.
4 did turn, to dear. — P.
5 The sailors .... Shipmen all. — P.
were so disguis'd that. — P.
7 A.-S. steor-ern, the steering-place,
the stern. — F.
s The princes. — P.
9 which made distilling. — P.
10 fears.— P.
no
helpe.— P,
'- And at the last.— P
THE DROWNING OF HENERY THE I. HIS CHILDREN.
159
then euery one began
to turne these siges ' to smiles,
their coulours 2 pale and wan
68 a cheerfull looke Exiles.
and smile.
the princelye Lords most louihglye
their Ladycs doe embrace ;
3 " In england," quoth they "wee shalbe
72 within a litle space." 3
Lords
embrace
their ladies,
"take comforts to jour selues,"
thus euerye one did say,
" & be no more dismay d ;
76 behold the Land att Last ! " 4
aud all take
comfort.
5 but as they did thus cheerfullye
their comfort to attaine,
then soddainlye vpon a rocke
80 the shipp itt burst in twayne. 5
But at that
moment
the ship
strikes, and
breaks in
two.
w/th that a greiuous scrike G
among them there was made,
& euery one did seeke
84 on something to be stayd.
Every one
seeks a
support,
but all in vaine ! such helpe the lacke. 7
the shipp soe soone did sinke
Unit in the seas 8 they were constrained
88 to take their latest drinke.
but all are
whelmed,
1 their sighes.- P.
2 colour P.
3 — s For now in England shall we be
Quoth thoy in little space.— P.
4 then they said
Behold the Land at last
Then l.o &e.
The worst is gone & past. — P.
s—5 -\yhji,. fi lrv ( [j,i this joyful hope
With comfort entertains
The goodly ship upon a rock
In sunder hurst in twaine. — P.
,; shriek.— P.
7 they sought. —P.
8 sea.- P.
160
THE DROWNING OF HENERY THE I. HIS CHILDREN.
notwith-
standing
their efforts,
92
there might you see the Lords
and Ladyes ffor to lye
amidst the salt sea ffome,
w/th many a greiuous crye
still laboured for their Hues l defence
with streched armes abroad,
& lifting vpp their Lilly hands
96 for helpe w/th one accordd.
except Buke
Richard,
who gets
into the
cockboat ;
but he turns
to rescue his
sister,
but as good ffortune wold,
the sweete young duke did gett
into the Cockebotte then,
100 where safelye he did sitt.
but when he heard his si[s]ter 2 crye,
the Kings faire daughter deere,
he turned his boate to take her in
104 whose death did draw soe neere ;
others crowd
into the
boat,
and all arc
drowned.
but while he turned his boate
to take his sister in, 3
the rest such shifft did make
108 in seas as they did swimn,
for to 4 the boate a number gott,
soe many att the Last, 5
that the boate & all thai was 6 theiin
112 was drowned & ouer cast.
of Lords & gentlemen,
& ladyes ffaire of fface,
not one escaped then ;
116 this was 7 a heauinesse !
1 labouring .... life's. — P.]
2 sister.— P.
■ he strove to take
His sweet yoting sister in. — P.
4 That to.— P.
4 as at the last.— P.
6 The boat .... were.
7 Which was.— P.
THE DROWNING OF IIENEIIY THE I. HIS CHILDREN.
161
CO t5 i e and ten l were drowned in all,
not one escaped death,
but one pore bucher, who had swoome
1 20 himselfe quite out of breath.
w7Mch was 2 most heauy newes
vnto our comlye Kinge ;
all mirth hee did refuse, 3
124 this word when he did 4 bringe,
70 perish.
One, a
butcher,
alone
escapes.
The King is
sad at the
news,
and refuses
all mirth.
128
where by 5 this meanes no child wee 6 had
his Kingdome to succeede.
7 his sisters sonne was crowned K.inge,
as wee may plainly reede. 7
ffinis.
No child
succeeds him
but his
nephew.
1 Thre Score & ten.— P.
2 This was.— P.
3 Who did all mirth refuse. — P.
4 they did.— P.
5 For.— P.
6 he.— P.
"Whereby his sister's Son was king,
As you shall plainly read. — P.
VOL. III.
162
iWurtfirn'ntj: of Oftitoarti tin ffottrtl; I) is stottnt** 1
Tins ballad differs very slightly from that published in the 1659
edition of The Crown Garland of Golden Roses (reprinted by
the Percy Society, ed. Mr. Chappell), and reprinted from that
work in Evans' Old Ballads, iii. 38. The piece is there intituled
" An excellent soug* made of the successors of King Edward the
Fourth, to the tune of man in desperation." It contains
three stanzas more than the present version, one after v. 8, one
after v. 28, one after v. 126. Else the differences are merely
verbal.
The ballad is evidently the production of a professional hand.
It tells its story in a business-like manner, with no great ex-
citement either of the imagination or the feelings. Pegasus here
appears as a sort of cab-horse. His driver awaited on his " stand "
any call that might be made for him. Poor Pegasus, well broken
to harness, jogged steadily away in the required direction, when
the call came, — to the Tower, it might be, or to Bosworth Field,
or to Swanscombe. His pace seldom varied. His caracolling
and flying days were past and gone. He did his work in a
sober plodding style, not without an occasional thought of the
" feed " that might reward his efforts.
There is another ballad on this same subject — and of no
greater merit — in the 1612 edition of the Croivn Garland, also
reprinted by Evans.
" The greater proportion of the ballads are historical," says
Mr. Chappell in his Preface to the Percy Society reprint of
1 This is but of moderate excellence, Song on this Subject, but very different
tho' written so late as James the l'.'s from this, in the printed Collection, 12 m .°,
Time. See Stan" 31,32. There is a Vol. ii. p. 100.— P.
3IUKT1IE1UNG OF EDWAKL) THE FOUKTH HIS SONNES.
163
the 1612 edition, "and from early times down to the end of the
seventeenth century the common people knew history chiefly
from ballads. Aubrey mentions that his nurse could repeat the
History of England from the Conquest down to the time of
Charles I. in ballads." Could any nurses of the present day
perform such a feat ?
WHEN : as the King of England dyed,
Edward the fourth by name,
he left 2 sonnes of tender yeeres
4 for to succeed the same.
When
Edward IT.
died
he left two
young sous.
then Richard, duke of Glouster,
desiring Kingly sway,
desired l by treason how to make
8 his brothers sonnes away.
Glo'ster and
Buckingham
plot to kill
them,
betwixt them they Layd downe their plott, 2
& straight together went
to Stony Stratford, where they mett
12 the 'King incontinent.
[page 417]
and meet the
young King
at Stony
Stratford.
the sweete young King did entertaine
his vnckle Louinglye, 3
not thinkinge of their 4 vile intent,
16 nor of their 6 trecherye.
& then the duke of Buek[i]ngham,
to sett abroach this thinge,
he began a quarrcll for the noncte
20 w'tli them that kept the Kinge.
Buckingham
P.
1 contrived. — V.
* Then he & Buckingham did plot. —
3 Lines 13, 11 are written before 1. 11
in the MS., but are marked at the sido
witli a bracket. — F.
1 Ins.- P.
* his.— P.
m 2
1G4
MERTHERING, OF EDWARD THE FOURTH HIS SONNES.
arrests Lord
Gray,
Lord Rivers,
24
& then they did arrest Lord Gray,
the Brother to the Queene ;
her other brother, the hord Riuers,
in durance as they had beene.
and Sir T.
Vaughau,
the King's
friends,
Sir Thomas Vaughan then Likewise x
did there and then 2 arrest ;
soe was the ~King of all his ffreinds
28 suddenly dispossest.
and has
tliilli put to
death.
in breeffe, these Noblemen were sent
to Pontfracte Castle soone,
where the, [in] 3 short time afterwards,
32 to death was eche man doone.
Glo'ster and
Buckingham
take the
King to
London,
then forth they brought they K.mg alone,
towards London with great speed,
vsing their perswasions full ffalselye 4
36 not to Mislike that deede.
and lodge
him in the
Bishop's
Palace.
Glo'ster
names
himself
Protector,
& when to London that they came,
ffor him they had prepared
the Bishopps pallace ffor the nonet,
40 but saflye vnder guard.
& then duke RiCHartZ takes vpon him
the keeping of the King,
naming himselfe Jjord protectore,
44 his wished ends to bringe ;
and the
Cardinal
48
desiring 5 how then 6 in his mind
to gett the other brothers too,
the w7«ch the Cardinall vndertooke
ffull Cuningly to doo.
in liko wise. — P.
They then and there. — P.
in.— P.
4 their false persuasions. — P.
5 Devizing. — P.
contriving, Mien how. — P.
MURTHERING OF EDWARD THE FOURTH HIS SONNES.
165
52
& then the Cardinall in great Last
vnto the Queene doth come ;
vsing his perswasions ffull fl'alselye,
then he gott her other sonne.
persuades
the Queen to
give up ber
other son.
then they hoth in ffull great hast
vnto the tower were sent,
where they liued but short space,
56 ffor death did them prevent.
G-lo'slerputs
them both in
the Tower,
then Duke RiCHarc?, hauing ffound this meanes
to worke these 2 princes death,
procured one of Iames Tirrelt.s hired men '
60 ffull soone to stopp their breath :
and hires
two men,
lames Dighton & Miles fforrest both,
these 2 vile wicked men, 2
these 2 were made the instruments
64 to worke this murder then.
Dighton and
Forrest,
these princes being asleepe in bedd,
lyinge arnie in arme,
not thinking of their vile entents
68 nor thinking any harme,
who, when
the princes
are asleep in
bed,
these villaincs, in the ffetherbedd
did wrapp them up in hast,
& with the clothes soe smothered them
till liffe and breath was past.
smother
I 111 •! II
with the
feather-bed.
& then they both were buryed,
where no man yet! doth know.
but marke hew god, in his iudgment iust,
did liis l-i'jht reuengmenl showe !
But God
t nki'-;
vengeance
for this.
1 -jiie s^ James. — 1*.
these vilo it m I wicked men. — P.
166
MURTHERING OF EDWARD THE FOURTH HIS SONNES.
Buckingham
is beheaded.
Richard
for betwixt those Dukes within short space
such a discord there was bredd,
as Buckingham to please the Km*/
80 was fforcet to loose his head.
& then Richard in his Kinglye seate
no ease nor rest cold ffind,
the murthering of his nephews did
84 so sore molest his minde.
never sleeps,
is always in
fear of his
life,
and at last
Richmond
88
he neuer cold haue quiett sleepe,
his liffe itt stood in ffeare,
his hand was on his dagger straight,
that no man might come him neere.
but att the Last Erie Richmond came
with such a puissant band,
that this ffalse King [he] was inforced
92 in his defence to stande.
[page 418]
fifrhts him
at Uos worth,
and he is
Elain,
and set
naked and
mangled on
a horse.
96
then meeting him att Bosworth ffelld, 1
they fought with harts full faine;
yett ffor shedding of these princes blood,
god caused King Richyut? to be slaine.
& being dead, vpon a horsse
all naked he was borne,
his fflesh [all 2 ] cutt & mangled,
100 his haire all rent and torne.
Richmond is
crowned
Henry VII.,
is succeeded
by Henry
VIII.,
& then Erie Richmond worthelye,
ffor this his deede of ffame,
of England hee was crowned Kmg,
104 Henery the 7* by name,
of whom most royall lines did springe,
that ffamous King of might,
Henery the 8" 1 , our 3 noble deeds
108 our chronicles doc well recyte.
1 See Bosworth Feilde below. — F.
all cut.— P.
3 whose. — P.
MUIITIIEKING OF EDWARD THE FOURTH HIS SONNES.
167
112
when that hee dyed, liee left liis Land & crowne
to Edward his sweete sonne,
whose gracyous raigne all England may rue
his time soe soone is come.
he by
Ed war 1 VI.,
& then his Sister Marye came,
next princesse of this Laud ;
but in her time blind ignorance
116 against gods truth did stand,
he by Mary
120
w7i /eh caused many a mans blood,
to be shedd in ruefull case ;
then god did England once regard, 1
& turned all these stormes to grace.
(who killed
the
martyrs),
ffor then the other sister came,
Elizabeth our Late Queene,
& shoe released her peoples harts
124 ffrom greeffe & eirrou[r]s 2 cleane.
she by
Elizabeth,
our late
Queen,
& then the 3 mightye lames did come,
of king Henerj/s royall race ;
whose happy dayes our hord preserue,
128 grant him Long time & space !
ffinis.
and she by
.Tames I.,
whom God
preserve !
1 E island ouce more (mj<1 1 1 i • 1 regard.
- errours. — P.
3 MS. die [blollnlj the.— F.
168
€l)t : ;fali : of : prfitttD*:] 1
The transitoriness of the glory of this life was a thing that our
early writers were much impressed with, a theme on which they
often wrote.
a, ! man hab mtmde
bat of }>is lif \>er commit ende :
of erbe and axen z is ure kunde,
and in-to duste we schullib wende :
was the burden of many a sermon and song. As one of the
former preaches (Phil. Soc. Trans. 1858, Pt. ii. p. 2) to its non-
washing hearers of former days, why should men be proud or
expect to live ?
Man ! of H schuldres and of Jn side
}>ou mi3to hunti luse and flee !
of such a park i ne hold no pride ;
be dere nis naii3te bat bou mi3te sle.
What is the "gentil man " but a sack stuffed full of dirt and
dung that stinketh loathly and is black? When once the soul
is out of his body, a viler carrion is there none. And,
bei} man bo rich of lond and lede,
and holdib festis ofte and lome,
hit nis no doute he sal be dede,
to 3elde recning at be dome.
Worldly weal comes and goes, is but deceit, dirt, guile, and
vanity ; man's life is but a shadow ; now he is, and now he is not.
Death spares none. Beware then of " helle pine/'
Why, asks another, 3
Win is bis worlde biloucd bat fals is & veyn ?
Its power passes away like a brittle pot that is fresh and gay. It
1 N.B. This songshowM seem to have z ashes. — F.
been wrote soon after fko Death of 8 Hymns to the Virgin and Christ,
Henry 8. Vid. St. ult.— P. E. E. T. Soc, p. 86, 1867.— F.
THE FALL OF PRINCES. 169
is full of sin, false in its business, false in its pleasures : unstable
as water, it cannot excel :
It is rabir to bileoue the wageringe wijnde
ban \>e chaungeable world bat makij> men so blinde.
Solomon, Sampson, Absalom, Duke Jonatas, Caasar, the Eich
Man of the Gospels, Tullius, Aristotle :
Where ben beso worbi bat were hoere to-forn ?
Bobe kingis & bischopis? her power is al lorn.
Lydgate translated his Falles of Princes from Boccaccio to
point the same moral, and few Early English religious poems can
be found without it, " J?at worldli blis is but a ]nng of vanite."
(Hymns to Virgin, p. 81, 1. 85-6.) The writer of the present
poem preaches a like sermon, that life is short and none can
resist Death's mace. If all the heroes of the world could not do
so, how can we ? They have died, and we must all follow them as
fast as we may. But the name of his last hero sounds odd to
our ears, though it justifies the impression that Mr. Fronde says
the king made on his contemporaries : he was evidently to them
the " Solomon in all his glory " of his age :
if wisdom or manhood by any meanes cold
haue saned a mans liffe to endure for ever,
then King llenery the 8'. h soe noble and soe bold,
out of this wyde world he wold haue passed neuer.
Though the climax is to us an anti-climax, it is useful as a sign
of the times.
T
1HE : hyc god most gracyous, his l goodcnesse alone, God, after
thou hast 2 made vpon the earth, beast, bird and tree, bcalsts'birds,
Angells in heauen, & ministers to thy throne,
the sun & the moone, the Elcinrnl it skye. angels,
sun, :mtl
att Last thou made [man] of 3 noblest degree, moon,
niter thine owne likenesse, such was thy grace. made man.
Lawde wee him fcherffore, for happy wee bee ;
But heere wee beene sure to Hue but a space.
1 whose.— P. '-' Hath.— P. 3 madest man of.— P.
170
THE FALL OF P1UNCES.
But where
are Adam
and Eve ?
Dead. And
we can live
but a space.
Where are
David,
Samson,
Hercules,
and Duke
Joshua ?
Their glorj's
gone,
a id we don't
live here
long.
Where are
Alexander,
Nebuchad-
nezzar,
Augustus,
Hannibal ?
[page 419]
All dead, and
we must
follow them.
Where are
Hector,
Rowland,
and Oliver ?
Where is Adam our mrot progenitor,
of 1 bewtye & of coning, & 2 neuer had no peere ?
& Eue his companion, that most oryent ffigure ?
12 he "King, & shee Queene, ouer all this world in ffere ;
yet through their great ffalls soone changed we all our
cheer [e,]
that all their posterytye shold ffollow their trace ;
death hath them deuoured, this matter is clere ;
1G but 3 heere wee beene sure to hue but a space.
Where is "King David the doughtye, that Golyas oner-
came ?
or duke Iosua the gentle, of him what shold I tell ?
or Samson that ruled the Lyon like a lambe ?
20 or Hercules that quelled the porter of hell ?
where is duke Iosua that euer bare the bell ?
their pompe & their glory is nowe very basse. 4
lett this be a mirrour alwayes in our sight,
24 that heere we beene sure to Hue but a space.
Wliere is Alexander the mightye, that conquered this
world wide,
& gouerne att 5 one day as himselfe did luste ?
or Nabuchondozer, that prince proud of price 6 ?
28 or Augustus, with his power to them was full lust 7 ?
where is Haniball the hardy, threw all in the duste,
and brought all roome 8 into a sorry stay ?
All these be dead and gone, and after them wee must, 9
32 and wee must all ffollow as fast as wee may.
Where is Hector of Troy, that one of the 9 worthies was ?
& worthy sure he was soe for to bee ;
or Rowland & Oliuer, as itt came to passe, 10
.36 in number they were doughtye men all 3,
' for.— P.
8 that.— P.
1 base.
s govern' d it. — P.
'• full of pride. — P.
that. — P. ' that was with his power full (right)
just.— P.
s Rome. — P.
" go a ft or thorn we must. — P.
10 MS. paste.— F.
THE FALL OF PRINCES. 171
but yett with death they cold not agree
in this world to haue no Longer space,
death, all their e-lory from them he did ring, 1 Dead, as we
' ° J chilli soon
40 & wee must all follow them in a short space. be.
Where is Godfrey of Bullen, that Troian soe stout ? where are
. Godfrey,
or Mithydrates, where is hee r Mitiuidates,
or Iulyus Machabeus that went not about ?
44 or Guy of warwicke, as doughtye as hee ? Gny of
where is Huon 2 of Burdeaux, where is hee ? Huon of '
these cold not refuse death with his mace 3 ;
therfor marke my sayings all you that 4 heere bee, Dead, and we
48 for heere wee beene sure to liue but a space. here long.
Where is Iason the doughtye that woone the fleece of where arc
Jason,
gold,
or Acctollen 5 that was called the scorge of god, Attila>
or Phebus, the wisest man vpon the mould ? rhebus,
52 or Acchilles that was called the Troians rodd ? Achilles,
where is Kdnia Herod the herlott, was 6 worsse then and King
J Herod?
madcl, 7
for w/th his owne Kinsmen himselfe he did deface ?
Loe ! heere you may see, flbr all this noble 8 blood, We can live
here but a
50 that here we beene sure to liue but a space. space.
where is the Emperour that the bold clarke was Where ai
called (J ?
the Sarasins doe remember him, & shall doe for
eucr 10 ;
or Iulyus Caesar, with " head balde, Julius
go that brought Roome & the Romans to a sorry stay ? BBar '
1 wring did he. P. 7 wood. — P.
- Sir Huon.— I*. H hye.— P.
3 ? MS. mate, altered to mar.-. -F. " Was it Charlemagne (I. 77)? IK
' MS. thai vou. — F. encouraged learning. — T. Wright.
1 Antiochua.- P. lu aye.— P.
who was.— P. " with his.— P.
172
and Nero ?
Dead,
as we soon
shall be.
64
THE FALL OF PRINCES.
where is Nero- the cruell, that ruled soe many a day ?
these cold not refuse death with his mace ;
therfore marke my saying, all you that heere bee, 1
for wee beene sure to liue but a space.
Where are
Pyrrhus,
Dulcina,
Sir Volen,
Troylus,
Tarn bur-
lain ?
Remember
that we
must die.
Where is Pironius, 2 the proud enemy to Roome ?
or dulcina the terror, or Cicill the Kinge 3 ?
or Sir Yolen, was called the hardy Troian ?
68 or Troylus of Troy that loued well to springe ?
where is Tamberlaine that ouercame the Turke [in
fight],"
that all the world did bring in dread & in doubt of
his deuilish face ?
lett this be a mirrour allwayes in our sight,
72 that heere wee beene sure to liue but a space.
Where are
Arthur,
Tristram,
Gawaine,
Lancelot,
Charle-
magne 1
Dead too,
and we
cannot
live long.
Where is King Arthur the venturer, with his Knights
bold ? 5
or Sir Tristeram, that treasure of curtesy e ?
or Sir Gaw r aine the good, with, his helmett made of
gold ?
76 or Sir Lancelott dulake, a Knight of Chiualrye ?
where is King Charlemaine 6 of ffrance, from them
wold 7 neuer fflee ?
yett these cold not refuse death with his mace,
heere you may see, ffor all the hye degree,
80 that here [we 8 ] beene sure to liue but alitle 9 space.
1 hear may. — P. See Dr. Robson's
note below on leune, 1. 72 of Sir John
Butter. — F.
2 Pyrrhus. — P. I can't find Dulcina
and Volen. — F.
3 ? Robert of Sicily :
Yn Cysylle was a nobulle kynge,
Fayre and stronge, and some dele 3ynge . .
The kynge was calde kynge Roberd,
Never man in hys tyme wyste hymaferde.
HalliweU's Nuga Poetica, p. 49.
According to Froissart (translated) he
■• was a great astronomyre, and full of
great science"; and in 1529 a play,
" Kynge Eobart of Cicylye," was per-
formed at the High Cross at Chester, ib.
p. 71.— F.
4 in fight.— P.
5 The latter half of each of lines 73-7
is written in the MS. as the first half of
the line succeeding it. — F.
6 Only two strokes and the dot of the
i in the MS. for in. — F.
' Who would.— P. MS. is right.
Compare 1. 85 in the next stanza. — F.
8 wee.— P. D short.— P.
THE FALL OF FRINCES.
173
Where is ~King Richard!, was called Cwer de Lyon ?
or Saladine the good Sarazen, where is hee ?
or Edward the 3? that wan Gasconie & Gaines ' ?
84 or King Henery the 5 t . h , a prince of Chiuahye ?
where is duke Charles of Burgundye, froni them did
neuer flee ?
yett these cold not refuse death w/'th his mace ;
wherfor marke my saying, all you that here bee,
88 that here wee beene sure to Hue but a space.
Where are
Cour-de-
Lion,
Saladin,
Edward III.,
Henry V.,
Duke
Charles?
All dead.
Take heed,
then,
we shall soon
die too.
ffor if wisdome or manhood by any meanes cold
haue saued a mans liffe to endure for euer,
then King Henery the 8' h soe noble and soe bold,
92 out of this wyde world he wold haue 2 passed neuer.
but death, where he comes, all things doth disseuer ;
where- euer he aproches, he will take place,
good JjovcI ! bring vs to thy blisse, there to remaine
for euer ;
96 ffor heere we be sure to Hue but a space.
ffinis.
If manhood
could have
saved a man,
Henry VIII.
would not
have died.
But death
takes all.
God, bring us
to thy bliss !
Here we can
live not
long.
1 Guisnes. Gasconie may be Gascoine. — F.
2 Oue stroke only for u in the MS. — F.
174
Cftr mitt brotone mapti l
Tins is but a torn and tattered copy of one of the most exquisite
pieces of late Mediaeval poetry.
The oldest copy extant is that inserted by Arnold in his
Chronicle, the first edition of which appeared at Antwerp in
1502. The poem was even then, we may infer, considered old
and precious for its antiquity.
See General Introduction to Vol. II. Part I. and Introduction
to A Jigge; also Hazlitt's Early Popular Poetry, ii. 271.
l
Men com . 2 RlGHT & noe wronge, these men amonge, [pi gc420]
plam thllt ' as [on] women doe Complaiue,
affirming this, what a thing itt is
4 of a labour spent in vaine
[To love them well ; for never a dele a
They love a man agayne ;]
win towm y for lctt a man doe what he can
a woman's g ^^ ffayor tQ obtaine?
1 Prior's Poems, Vol. I. p. 160. This Copy, and several of them transpos'd.
is a very imperfect and mutilated Copy. —P. The copy below is from Richard
That printed by Prior is very correct. Hill's MS., ab. 1500-30 a.d.— F.
There are 40 or 50 lines left out of this
THE NUTBROWN MAYBE.
[From the Balliol MS. 354, marked Arch. P. 1. 6.]
1 for late a maw do what he can,
2 Be it right, or wronge, Thes [leaf -'106] ther favowre to attayn,
men a-monge yet, yf a newe to them pursue,
on wymen do cowplayn ; ther ferste trew lover than
affermyng this, how that it is labowreth for now-ght ; for from her
a labowiv spent in vayn thowght
to lovo them wellc ; for neuer a dele a i 1( , j s a banysshed man.
they love a man a-gayn :
THE NUTT BROWNE MAY1).
175
& if a new to them persue,
the ffirst true louer then
he labours for nought, — fur from his thought, —
12 for he is a banished man.
when a new
lover comes
ilic old '
is turned off.
1 And I say not nay, — but as you said,
itt is both written and sayd, —
but womens ffaith, who soe sayth,
16 [is] right vtterly decayde ;
yett neuertheles, right good wittnesse
in this cause may be Layd :
that they 2 Loue true, & doe continue,
20 reccords the nutt-browne 3 maide :
ifor when her loue came her to proue,
he come to make his moane ; a
b he sayd, " alas ! thus stands the case,
24 I am a banished maun.
But though
some say
that
■wo'T.en's
faith is
decayed,
yet the
Nut-brown
Maid's love
continued
true.
Her lover
came to
prove her ;
said : "I am
a banished
man.
1 I say not nay, but that alle day
it is both wreten & said
that woman's feyth, Is, as who seyth,
alle vtturly decayde ;
But neuer*7«elesse, Right good witnes
In this ease myght be layde,
that they love trew, & contenewe,
Recorde the Nutbrown mayde,
which, whan her love cam her to prove,
to her to make his mone,"
wolde not departe ; for in her hart
she loved but hym alone.
Than betwen us let us disevsse
what was alle the maner
Bel wen them two : we wille also
telle alle the payn in fore
that she was in. Now I begyn,
s.i that ye me answerc;
wherfor, alb' ye that present be,
I pr«y you, geve an ere.
I am the knyght ; I com by nyght,
as secrete as I can ;
b saying, " alas ! thus stondith the eaas,
I am a banysshed man."
PTJELLA.*
And I yowr wille for to fulfille
In this wille not Refuse ;
trustyng to shew, In wordis fewe
that men have an ylle use
(To ther own shame) wymon to blame,
and cavselesse them accuse :
therfor to you I answere now,
alle wymen to excuse, —
Myn own hart derc, v,hh you what
chere ?
I p> Y( y y° u > ^Ue me a-- non ;
ffor, in my mynd, of alle mankynd
I love but you alon.
- MS. they that.— F.
3 MS. browme. — F.
* Tuella anil Squyre arc at the right sides of the MS.— F.
176
THE NUTT BROWNE MAYD.
I've done a
deed for
which I
must die,
or flee
like an
outlaw
to the woods.
I'm a
banished
man.''
1 " ffor itt standeth soe that a deede is doe
wherby great liarrne may growe ;
my destynye is ffor to dye
28 a sliameffull death, I trowe,
or else ffor to ffiee ; the one must bee.
none other reed I know
but to withdraw my-selfe Like an outlawe,
32 & betake me to my bowe.
& therfore, adew, my owne hart trew,
they best way that I can
is that I to the greenwood goe,
36 my selfe a banished man."
The Maid
laments the
shortness of
her bliss.
But she'll
not part
from her
love.
2 " Alas ! " shee said, " what is all this worlds blisse ?
itt changeth as doth the Moone.
the summers day in the Lusty may
40 is darke before the noone.
I heare you say ffarwell. nay ! nay !
wee will not depart soe soone.
but why say you soe, or whither will you goe ?
44 alas ! what haue you done ?
SQUYEE.
1 It stondith so ; a dede is* doo
wherof gret harme shalle grow :
My destynye ys for to dye
A shamfullc deth, I trow ;
Or elk's to flee : the on mvste be.
Non other way I know,
But to wrtMraw as an owtlawe [leaf 211]
And take me to my bow.
wherfor, a-dewe, Myn own hart trew!
Non other rede I can :
ffor I mvste to The gren-wode go,
alon, a banysshed man.
PUELLA.
2 lorde ! what is this worlds blis,
that changith as the mone?
the somers day In lusty may
Is darke beffore the none.
I here you say, ffarewelle : nay, nay !
we departe not so sone.
why say ye so ? whether wille ye go ?
alas ! what hauo ye done ?
alle my welfare To sorow & care
shuld chauwge, yf ye were gon ;
ffor, in my mynde, of alle mankynd
I love but you alon.
* MS. it.— F.
THE NUTT BROWNE MAYD.
177
for all my welfare into sorrow & care
wold come if that you were gone ;
for in my mind, of all mankind
48 I loue but you alone."
She loves but
him alone.
1 " I can but beleeue this wold you greeue,
& somewbatt you soe straine ; a
Her lover
tellu her
SQUYKE.
1 1 can bcleve, i tshaJle you greve,
and sumwhat you dystreyne ; *
but, afterward, yo«r paynes hardo
wit/'in a day or twayn
shalle sone aslake ; & ye shalle take
Conforte to you a-gayn.
why shuld you owght? for, to
thowght,
yowr labowrc were in Tayn.
and thus I doo ; and pray you to,
as hartely as I can ;
ffor I mvste to the gren-wode go,
alon, a banysshed man.
8
PI* ELLA.
Now, sith that ye haue shewed to me
the secrete of yo?<r mynde,
I shalle be playn to you a-gayn,
lyke as yo shalle me fynde.
sith it is so, that ye willc go,
I will^' not bide behynde,
slialb- it ncuer be said, the nvtbrown
mayd
was to her< Lot i vnkynde.
make miii Redy, for so am I,
aHe-thowgh it were anon ;
ffor, in [my | mynd, of alle mankynd
1 loue but you a-lon.
9
SQTTVl'K.
Yet I ymi Rede to take tro. ■. I hede
what men will' thynke & say :
.f oldc. hit shalh 1 <■ told,
t hat j i li.' i-iiii a-way,
your wanten wille tor to fulfills,
in grenwode you t < > play ;
ami ihn\ ye myght for your d< Lite
No lengar make delay,
rather than yo shuld thus for mo
be called a mysse woman,
vol. in. N
yet wold I to The grenwode go,
alon, a banysshed man.
10
PUELLA. [leaf 211 b]
Thowgh it be songe of oldo & yonge,
that I shuld be to blame,
take Thers be the charge, That speke so large
In hurtyng of my name :
ffor I willc prove, That feythfulle love
hit is deuyoyed of shame ;
In yowr distresse and hevynesse,
To parte wit A you, the same :
to shewe alle tho that do not so,
trew lovers ar they non ;
ffor, in my mynd, of alle mankynd
I love but you alon.
ll
SQUYRE.
I cownsaille you, Remembre how,
hit is no maydyns lawe,
No-thyng to dowte, but to renne owt
to wodo with an owtlawe.
ffor ye mvste thcr, In your hond here
a bowe Eedy to drawe,
&, as a theff, thus mvst ye levc,
Ever In drede & awe ;
wherby to you Grit harm myght grow :
yet hade I lover than,
that I | had] to The grenwod go,
alon, a banysshed man.
p.'
PIKI.LA.
I say not nay, but as ye say,
3 t is no maydyns lore ;
but love may make Mo to for-sakc,
as I haue savd beffore,
i- ci no fote, To hunte & shote
to get us mete in store ;
fior so that 1 yo/n- company
may haue, I askc no more :
178
Til", NUTT BKOWNE MAYD.
of the hard-
ships she'd
have to
undergo
with him,
and sa\'s
he'll go alone
to the
greenwood.
She answers
that as she's
shared his
joy, she'll
share his
woe.
a the thorny e wayes, the deepe valleys,
52 the liaile, ffrost, snow, & raine ;
ffor dry & weete, ffor cold & heate,
wee must Lye on the plaine ;
no other house [be] vs aboue,
56 but a bush or a brake twaine.
my hart sweet, this ill dyett,
I know itt will make thee to looke wan ;
therfore will I to the greenwoode goe,
CO my selfe, a banished man."
6
1 Shee sayes, " with you I haue been partener,
with you in Ioy' and blisse ;
I will take alsoe part of yowr woe,
64 endure, as reason itt is ;
ffrom which to parte, it makyth myharte
as colde as any ston ;
for, in my mynde, of allc mawkyud
I love but you alone.
13
SQUYBE.
ffor an owtlawe This is the lawe,
that men hym take and bynde,
witAowt pite, hangid to be,
& waver ■with the wynde.
yf I had nede, (as God for-bede !)
what socowrs cowld ye fynde ?
fforsoth, I trow, ye and your bowe
ffor fere wold draw behynde.
and no mervayle : ffor littille avayle
were in yo?«r cownsellc than :
wherfor I wille to the grenwod go,
alon, a banysshed man.
14
PCELLA.
Right wellc know ye, that wymen bo
but feble for to fight;
No womawhede it is in-dede
to be bolde as a knyght :
yet, in suche fere yf that ye were
with ennemyes day or nyght,
I wold witAstond, with bow in honde,
To belpeyou with my myght, [leaf 212]
and you to save ; as wymen hare
from ilctli | men] many one:
for, in my mynd, of allc mawkynd
I love but you alon.
15
[SQUYRE.]
Yet take good hede ; for curr I dredo
that ye cowld not sustcyn
" the thorny wayes, the depe valeyes,
the snowe, the froste, the Rayn,
the colde, the hete : for drye & wete
we mvste logge on the playn ;
&, vs above, none other Roffe
but a brake, bushe, or twayn :
which sone shuld greve you, I beleve ;
& ye wold gladly than
that I had to the grenwode goo,
a-lon, a banysshed man.
16
PUEIXA.
1 Sith I haue here ben partynere
with you yoye & blisse,
I mvste also parte of yowr woo
Endure, as Reason is :
yet am 1 sure of on pleasure;
&, shortly, it is this :
lh,i\, wliri' ye be, mo semeth, parde,
I cowld not fare a-mysse.
withowt more speche 1 you beseche
that we were shortly gon ;
For, in my mynd, of allc mankynd
I love but you alon.
THE NUTT BROWNE MAYD.
179
but I sliold be sure of one pleasure,
that is shortlye this,
wheresoeuer you be, that I you see,
68 I cold not flare amisse.
from home to depart will make my hart
as cold as any stone ;
ffbr in my mind, of all mankind
72 I loue but you alone."
At any rate
she shall
see him,
ami she loves
him alone.
we shall have
no meat,
no sheets.
1 " But you must consider, sweet bart, when you " But think >
come thither
and haue List to dine,
there is no meate that wee can gett,
76 neither ale, beere, nor wine,
nor sheetes cleane to lye betweene,
made neither of threed nor twinn, [pagc42i]
Nor noe other house but leaues & brouse,
80 to couer yo?<r head and mine. 2
my hart sweet, this ill dyett,
I know will make thee to Looke wan ;
therfore will I to the greenwood goe
84 my selfe, a banished man."
It'll make
you wan.
I'll go to the
woods by
myself."
8
3 " But among wild deere," shee said, " such an "oh. you'll
shoot deer
archer for us ;
as men say that you bee,
[SQTJYRE.]
' Iff ye go thyder, ye mvsl consider,
whan ye have luste to dyne,
i 1m- i- shall* no mete be for to gete,
Nether bere, ale, ne wyne ;
nc Bhetes clen, to lay betwen,
Made of threde and twyne ;
non other bows, but Levis ^v bowes,
tn ( lover yowr hede & myne ;
loo in\ ii hart Bwete, this ill' dyetl
sliuhl make you pah and wan ;
wherfor I wille to tho grenwod go,
a-lon, a banysshed man.
2 nine in MS.— F.
18
[PTJEIXA.]
'■' Anioii^re tliv wihle ilere, .suehc an archer?,
as men say t/«/i ye be,
may nut lay \\r of good vytaylk*,
wher is si i gret plente :
ix w&ter clere of the Rirere
shallr lie fullc swete to me ;
180
THE NUTT BROWNE MAYD.
I'll drink
water
and provide
a bed,
for I love
but you
alone.*'
you sliold not ffaile ffor good vittaile
88 where is such great plentye ;
the water cleere within the riuer
shold be full sweete to me ;
I cold endure well, I am sure, a
92 in health as you may see ;
& a bedd or 2, before I goe,
I will prouide anon ;
ffor in my minde, 1 aboue all mankind
9G I loue but you alone."
"Ah, but
there's worse
to do.
You must
cut your
hair,
shorten your
frock,
and start
with me
before
daylight,
for I'm a
banished
man."
2 " Nay Loue, thore you must doe more :
If you will goe w/th mee,
you must shorten yo?tr haire aboue yowr eare,
100 & yo?<r kirtle 3 aboue your knee,
ffor to Av/thstand, with bow in hand,
your enemyes, if neede bee ;
ffor this same night, before it be day-light,
104 to the woods that I will mee ;
& if you will all this ffulfill,
doe itt as shortlye as you can,
or else I must to the greenwood goe
108 my selfe, a banished man."
with which in helo* I shalle Eight welle a
Endure, as ye shalle see ;
and, or we go, a bedde or two
I can p?'ovide anon ;
ffor, in my mynde, of alle mawkynd
I love but you alone.
1 ninde in MS.— F.
19
SQTJYRE. [leaf 2126]
2 Loo yet, boffore, ye mvst do more,
yf ye wille goo -with me :
as, cute yo?/r here vp by yo«r ere,
your kyrtyll by yowr knee ;
with bow in honde, for to w/t//stonde
yo?a* enymyes, yf nede be :
& this same nyght, beffore day-light,
to wode-warde wille I flee,
yff that ye wille alle this fulfille,
do it as shortly as ye can ;
Els wille I to the grenwode go,
alone, a banysshed man.
3 Kyrtle is not upper petticoat, but our
modern gown, a waist and petticoat. A
kyrtle and mantle completed a woman's
dress. Crit. Ecv. Jan. 1795, p. 49. —
F.
* Health.— F.
TUB NUT! BRJWNE MA.YD.
181
10
1 " Euea now," shee saies, "He doe more ffor you
then belongs to woman-hood.' 2 ;
He shorten my haire, a bow to beare,
112 to shoote in time of neede.
my owne deare mother ! aboue all other
of you I haue much dread ;
but yett, adew ! I must insue ;
116 a such ffortune does me lead,
therefore make you ready now
as ffast as euer you can ; b
ffor in my mind, of all mankind
120 I loue but you alone."
" I'll go
with yoa at
once.
Dear mother,
adieu !
My love,
make ready !
I love but
you alone."
11
3 " Nde, not soe, you shall not goe !
ffor He tell you now as why :
your habitt 4 itt is to be light,
124 my loue, I will espye ;
for likwise as you say to me,
Likewise you shall ffmd, c
itt is told of old, ' soone hott, soone cold,
1 28 and soe is a woman ; '
therfore will I to the greenwood goe
my selfe, a banished man."
"No, you
shall not go.
Women
change soon.
I'll go to the
woods
alone."
20
PTJELLA.
1 1 shalle as now do more for you
than longith to womanhede;
to shorte myn here, a bowe to bere,
to shote in tyme of node.
i) my Bwete moder, beffore alle oder
for you I have moste drede :
but now, adewe! 1 mvsl ensue,
a wher fortune doth me 1
all* this make ye: Now Lai va flee ;
the day corometb fast ypon ; b
flbr, in my mynd, of alle mankynde
1 love bul you a-lon.
'-' kced wanted, to rhyme with m
— Dyce.
21
SQUYBK.
'Nay, nay, not so ; ye shalle not go,
& I Eshallfl telle you whye,
yowr appel ite is to be light
of love, 1 well'' espye :
for, Like as ye haue said to me,
In likewyse hardely c
ye wolde answers who-so-euer it were,
In way of Companye.
It is said of olde, Soil whof, sono colde ;
i\: so is a womare.
ffor I mvste to the grenwode goo,
alone, a banysshed man.
* appetite. — P.
182
THE NUTT BROWNE MAYD.
" You shall
have no
cause to say
that of me.
Haven't I, a
baron's
daughter,
loved you,
a poor
squire ?
And I'll die
with you,
I love but
you alone."
12
" Giff yon take heed, you doe not need
132 soe ffarr to speake by mee ;
ffor I liaue prayed, & long I haue sayd,
before I loued pardye ;
& [though] that you [know] of anceytrye
136 a Barrons daughter I bee,
& you haue proued how [I] haue loued b
a squier 2 of a Low degree,
& shall doe, whatsoeuer doth beffall,
140 to die wi'th him anon ;
& in my mind, of all mankind
I loue but you alone."
'• What! I,
an outlaw,
mate with a
baron's
daughter !
God forbid !
You'll
reproach me
with having
betrayed
you.
Let me go
alone."
13
3 " A Barrons child to be beguiled !
144 that were a cursed deede.
& to become fFellow with an outlaw !
alimightye god fforbidd !
itt were better the pore Squier
148 himselfe to the fforrest yeede,
then you shold say another day,
' by my accursed deede
you were betraid.' therefore, good maide,
152 the best way that I can,
is, lett me vnto the fforrest goe
my selfe, a banished man."
22
PUELLA.
1 yf yc take hede, it is no necle
such worch's to say to me ;
ffor ofte ye prayd, and long assayed,
Or I you loved, parde :
& thowgh that I of avncetrye a
a barons dowghter be,
yet haue ye proved how I ye loved, b
a squyre of lowe degre ;
and ever shalle, what -so befalle;
in dye therefor a-non ;
ffor, in my mynd, of alle marakynd
I love but you a-lon.
1 The MS. has four strokes for ui.—F.
23
[squyre.]
3 A barons child to be begiled !
It were a cursed dede !
To be felowe with an owtlarwe !
almyghty god forbede !
yet better were, the poro squyer
alon to foroste yede,
than ye shuld say aa-other day,
that, by my cursed Eede,
ye were betrayde : Wherefor, good mayd,
the best Eede that I can, [leaf 218]
ys, that I to the grenwod go,
alon, a banysshed man.
THE NUTT BROWNE MAYD.
183
14
" Let this out-ffall, I neuer shall
156 of that thing you vpbraid ;
but if you goe & leaue me soe,
then I am quite betraid.
Remember how that itt is, a
160 you are not as you said :
you are vnkind to leaue behind
your loue, the nutt-browne maid,
trust me, trulye I must dye
164 as soone as you are gone ;
for in my mind, of all mankind
I loue but you alone."
" Whatever
happens,
I'll never
upbraid you,
except you
leave me.
[page 422]
I am your
love, and
must die if
you go.
1 love but
you alone.'
15
2 " Why, but if 3-ou went, you wold repent;
168 for in the fforrest now
I haue prouided me of a maid
whom I loue better then you ;
& ffairer then euer you Avere,
172 I dare this well auowe.
betw[i]xt you both I shold be wroth b
w/'th eche other, as I trowe ;
itt is my ease to Hue [in] peace ;
170 soe will I if I cann ;
ffor I will to the greenwood goe
my selfe, a banished man."
" But you'd
repent if you
did come ;
for I've got
the<'e a
prettier
maid, whom
I love better
than you:
I'll go to the
woods
alone."
24
I PI ELLA.]
What-ever befalle, I neuer Bhalle
of this thyng you o"wt-brayde;
Bui j f ye go, & Leve mi
tb;i-/ haue ye me betrayde.
Remembn you welle, hois tha\ ye dele
for, yf ye be as ye said,
ye were vnkynd, to leve me behynd,
yoitr love, the Nutbrown mayde.
Tru te I me | truly, tha\ 1 shall* dye
sonc after ye be pun ;
ffor, in nw invinl. of all mankynd
I love bul you alon.
25
SQUYRE.
- If that you went, ye shuld Repent ;
for in the foreste uowe
I have purveyde me of a mayde,
whom I love more than you ;
an-olher mure fayre, thaw euer ye were,
I dare ii welle avowe ;
and of you both, Eche willche wroth"
With other, as 1 troWO.
It were myn eas to leve in peas ;
so will' I, yf I can ;
wherefor I wills to the grenwod goo,
alon, a banysshed man.
184
THE NUTT BIIOWJNE MAYD.
" Never
mind,
though you
have a
paramour,
I still am
yours.
I'll be soft
and kind to
her,
and be your
second love,
when you
want one.
I love vou
alone."
1G
1 " Why, tlio in the wood I vnderstood
180 that you had a paramoure,
yett all that right nought reruoues my thought,
for still I will be yours,
shee shold me fund both soft & kind,
184 & curteous euery houre ;
gladd jour will for to ffulfill ; a
comand me to my power.
& if you haue a 100 more,
188 of them I wold be one ;
for in my mind, of all mankind
I loue but you alone."
" Dear, true
love !
Be glad,
believe not
what I have
said!
I am Lord
Westmore-
land's son,
and not
17
2 " My owne deere loue ! I see and proue
192 that you be kind and true !
in maid & wiffe, in all my liffe
the best that euer I knew !
Be merry & glad, be no more sa[d],
196 the case is altered now ;
b be not dismaid [at] what I haue said
to you since I begann.
thus you haue woone the Erie of Westmoreland sone, c
200 & not a banished man."
26
[mayd.]
1 Thowgh in the wode 1 vndcrstode
ye had a paraniowre,
alle this may nowght remove my thowgh t,
hut that I wille he yo«r :
& she shade me fynd softe and kynd,
& Ourteys euery owre ;
Glad to fulfills alle that she wille,"
Comaund mo to my powere :
ffor had ye, loo ! an hundreth mo,
yel wnkle I be that on ;
ffor, in my mynd, of alle marakynd
I love but you a-lon.
27
[SQUYRE.]
2 Myn own dere love ! I so thee prove
thut ye he kynde & trewe ;
of mayde & wyf, In alle my lyff,
the best that ever I knew.
Be mery and glade ; be no more sade ;
The case is chawnged newe ;
for it were Kcwth, that for your trcwth, b
that ye shuld have cawse to Rewe,
be not dysmayde, what-so-euer I aaid
to you, whan I be-gan ;
I wille not to the grenwodo go ; c
I am no banysshed man.
THE 1SUTT BKOWNE MAYD.
185
18
1 " These ty dings to me are gladder," slice saies,
" then tho I were a Queene,
If I were sure itt wold endure ;
204 but itt is often seene
men will break promise [tho] the speake
words vpon the plaine.
you shape some wyle, me to beguile,
208 & steale ffrom me, I weene ;
then were the case worsse then euer itt was,
& I were woe-begon ;
for in my mind, of all mankinde
212 I loue but you alone."
19
2 " You shall not neede soe fiar to dreed,
ffor I will not disparishe 3
[you, (God defend !) sith you descend
216 of so gret a linage ;]
for Westmoreland, as I vnderstand,
itt is my owne heritage ;
I will thee bring in With a ringe ;
220 in way of Marryage
I will you take, and Ladye make,
as shortly e as euer I cann.
a banished
man."
"I'm gladder
than if I
were Queen.
But are not
you beguil-
ing me ?
If you leave
me
I am lost ;
for I love
but you
alone."
" No, truly,
Westmore-
land is mine.
I'll wed you
as soon as I
can.
28
MAYD. [leaf 2186]
1 Thes tydyingis be more gladder to me,
than tn be made a quene,
yf I were sure they shuld endure:
but it. is often seen,
whew men will'' breke promyso, thoy
Bpeke
the wordw on the splene.*
ye shape Bom wyle me to begile,
& stele from me, 1 wene:
than were the caas wors thaw it was,
iV 1 more woo-be-gon :
ffor, In my mynd, of alL marakynd
1 love but you alon.
29
SQT'YRE.
- Ye shallr- not mile further to drede ;
I willff not disparage f
you, (god defendo!) Sith ye descende
of so grel a lynage.
Now vuderstond; to Westmorelond,
which is niyn herytage,
1 wille you bryng; oc wiih a rynge
by way of maryage
I wille you take, & lady make,
;i^ sin irt ly as I can :
Than baue ye wonne an erles sonne,
ec not a banysshed man.
• i in a Midden.— B. licll.
t disparage. Arnoldo. — F.
186
THE NUTT BROWNE MAYD.
I'm not a
banisbed
man."
thus haue you woone the Erie of westmorelands
sonne, 1
224 and not a banished man."
So yon fee
women are
true.
Let not men
reprove
them.
Men want
their love ;
but I shall
love God
alone.
20
2 Heere you may see that women bee
of loue meeke, kind, and stable,
lett neuer men reproue them then,
228 nor call them varyable, a
but rather pray to god that they
to men may be comfortable,
that haue proued such as they loucd,
232 iff they be charitable.
but men wold that women shold
be kind to them eche one,
yett I had rather, god to obay,
236 & serue but him alone. 3
ffinis.
1 sonme in MS.— F.
30
[author.]
2 Here may ye see, that wome» be
In lore, meke, kynd, & stable ;
latt never ma» Reprove them than,
yf they be Charytable,"
but Rather pray god that we may
to them be confortable;
God siiMtyme provith, such as he lovith,
yf they be * charytable.
for sith mew wold that womc« shuld
be meke to them echoue ;
moche more awght they to god obey,
and seme but hym alon.
Explicit, quod Richard Hillc.
here endith the nutbrown mayd.
This last stanza is not in Prior's
Edition.— P.
3 From the concluding Words of this
last stanza it should seem that the Aut lior
wus a woman. — P.
* MS. be be.-F.
187
€\)t : rode of (Englanne : l
[page 423]
Thomas. Come hither, fiddler ;
What ballads are you seen in best ? Be short, Sir.
Fiddler, Under your mastership's correction, I can sing
" The Duke of Norfolk," or " The merry ballad
Of Diverus and Lazarus," " The Rose of England "
" In Crete when Dedimus first began,"
" Jonas his Crying-out against Coventry."
Thorn. Excellent !
Rare matters all !
Fid. "Maudlin the Merchant's Daughter,"
" The Devil and ye Dainty Dames."
Thorn. Rare still!
Fid. " The landing of the Spaniards at Bow,
With the bloody battle of Mile End."
Thorn. All excellent !
Monsieur Thomas, act iii. sc. 3.
Tins is one of the many pieces that compose the Bosworth Field
and Stanley cycle. It relates in an allegorical manner how
the Earl of Richmond returned to claim his right, and how he
claimed it. There is some little confusion in this as in most
other allegories ; for indeed, to speak the language of parables
coherently and with consistence is a matter of no ordinary diffi-
culty. Nor is the allegorical treatment always maintained ; the
Rose suddenly becomes Earl Richmond. The piece is charac-
terised by a certain vigour and earnestness. The writer gives
himself up to his subject ; he feels that that is great and grand.
No doubt he was some Lancashire or Cheshire man, a vehement
admirer of the Stanleys. Percy says that the song was written
in "Henry 8" |, s lifetime." From the last stanzas it would
' An allegorical i the Landing bury, written in Henry 8".'' s lifetime.
& Victory of King llenry 7'.". with the KB. This m>h- is quoted in Beaum".'
brave Conduct of the BaiUff of Shwsws- Mons. Tho*. p. 397. — 1*.
188 THE KO.SE OF ENGLANDE.
seem to have been written earlier — we should suspect before
the execution of Sir William Stanley in 1495. But the present
copy is, we may be sure, much modernised.
Vv. 57-90. — This incident is told, with additions, in " Dr.
Taylor's MS." quoted apud Phillips' History and Antiquity of
Shrewsbury.
Thys yeare [runs the MS.] in the monthe of August 1485, Henry
Earle of Rychemoonde came out of Bryttane towards England wyth a
small companye & landyd at Mylford Haven in Wales nygh Pembrooke
the 7th daye of August, having help Inoughe in England & so niarcbyng
forward being stayed at no place untyll he came to the towne of
Shrosberie, where the gates were shutt egainst by him, & the
pullys let downe : so the Earle's messengers came to the gate to say
the Welsh gate, commandynge them to open the gates to theyre right
Kynge, and Maister Myttoon made answere being head bayley, & a
stoute royste gentilman sayinge that he knew no kynge, but only Kynge
Richard, whose lyfFetenants he & hys fellows were ; & before he
should enter there, he should goe oner hys belly : meaninge thereby
that he would be slayne to the grounde, and so to roon over hym
before he cntird, and that he protestyd vehemently e uppon the Ofcke
he had tacken.
So the sayd Erie returnyd wyth hys companye backe agayne to a
vylledge callyd Forton, 3 Myles and a halfe from Shrosberie, where
he lay that night, & in the mornynge followynge there came Em-
bassadors to speake with the Baylyff, requesting to passe quyetlye,
and that the Erie theyre master dyd not meane to hurt the towne
nor none therein, but to go to trye hys right, & that he promysed
further that he would save his othe & hym & hys fellows harmless ;
uppon thys they entered, and the sayd Mytton laye alonge the
grounde, & hys belly uppwardes, & soe the sayd Erl stepped over him
& saved hys othe ; and so passing forthe & marching forwarde he
came to Bosworth, whar the Battel was fought betwyxt hym & Kynge
Richard, in which Kynge Richard was slayne.
The difficulty in which the poor mayor found himself placed
was of course of no rare occurrence in a period when the occu-
pancy of the throne was perpetually disturbed. It was of so
common occurrence, that a statute was passed in the eleventh
THE ROSE OF ENfil.ANDE.
189
year of Henry the Seventh's reign declaring that " subjects are
bounden to serve their prince and sovereign lord for the time
being in his wars for the defence of him and his land against
every rebellion, power and might reared against him," and
proceeding to enact that no person for the same " true service of
allegiance " shall be " convict or attaint of high treason nor of
other offences for that cause." The answer which the distressed
official here makes is pretty much the same with that made by
Herod under somewhat similar circumstances — made by him to
Octavius after the fall of Antony, whose firm friend the Idumsean
prince had been. (See Jos. Ant. xv. vi. 6 ; Bell. Jud. I. xx. 1.)
Vv. 107, 108. — Compare in Theocritus' account of the combat
between Amycus and Pollux (ed. Ahrens):
ei/6a ttoAvs ffcpifft fx6\6os iira^oixivoLOiv irvx^T},
birn&Ttpos Kara vwja Ad/3cu (J>dos 7/eAioio •
Utpiri fxtya 5' avSpa irapijAvdes, & TloAvSevKes,
f3d\A€TO 8' aKTivftrfftv aivav 'A/j.vkoio irpoaaiirov.
THROUGHOUT : a garden greene & gay,
a seernlye sight itt was to see
how fflowers did flourish fresh and gay,
4 & hirds doe sing Melodiouslye
In a gay-
garden,
grew gay
flowers.
in the midst of a garden there sprange ' a tree
which tree was of a mickle price,
& then' \ ppon sprang the rose soe redd,
8 the goodlyest that euer sprange on rise. 2
and in the
midsl was
a rose sored,
(Edward V.)
this rose was ffaire, ffresh to behold,
springing with many a royall Lance;
a crowned King, vv/th ;i crowne of gold
12 oner England, IreLand, and of ffrance.
the King of
England,
Ireland,
and France.
this garden sprang. — P.
2 bough. — F.
190
THE ROSE OF ENGLANDE.
A Boar
(Richard
III.)
came in and
trampled
it down,
then came in a beast men call a bore, 1
& lie rooted tins garden vpp and downe, 2
by the seede of the rose he sett noe store,
10 but afterwards itt wore the crowne.
and buried
its branches.
hee tooke the branches of this rose away, 3
and all in sunder did them teare ;
& he buryed them vnder a clodd of clay,
20 swore they shold neue> - 4 bloome nor beare.
But an Eagle
(Lord
Derby)
bore the
branch
to its nest at
Latham.
then came in an Egle gleaming gay,
of all ffaire birds well worth the best ;
he took the branche of the rose away,
24 & bore itt to Latham 5 to his nest.
but now is this rose out of England exiled,
this certaine truth I will not Laine G ;
but if itt please you to sitt a while,
28 lie tell you how the rose came in againe.
And the Rose
(Henry
TIL)
came in
agrain at
Milford,
att Milford hauen he entered in 7 ;
to claime his right, was his delight ;
he brought the blew bore in with him,
32 to encounter with the bore soe white. 8
1 Cf. the stanza quoted in Mrs. Mark-
ham :
" The Cat, the Eat, and Lovell the dog
Buled all England under the Hog."
This poem, -written by Win. Col-
lingborne, is quoted in Larwood's His-
tory of Signboards, p. 116, where it says
Richard III.'s cognisance was a boar,
passant, argent. Blue Boar = Earl of
Oxford. See Hist. Signb., p. 116. —
Skeat. The Earls of Oxford and Pcm-
broke were two of the chief commanders
in Henry VII. 's army. The deeds of the
latter (Jasper Tudor, Ear] of Pembroke,
afterwards Duke of Bedford), and cf the
famous Sir Win. Brandon, the Standard
Bearer, do not appear to be commemo-
rated in this poem. — G. E. Adams.
2 And there he rooted up and down.
—P.
3 clean away. — P.
4 and .... ne'er. — P.
5 See " Bosworth ffeilde," 1. 347.— F.
6 conceal. — P.
7 See " Scotish ffeikle," 1. 8, vol. i.
p. 212 ; "Bosworth ffeilde," 1. 60, below ;
" Ladye Bessiye," below, 1. 809.— F.
8 The blue boar was borne by the
Earl of Oxford, who is named in line 71.
Richard III.'s cognisance was a boar
passant, argent. — Skeat.
THE ROSE OF ENGLANDE.
191
36
the[n] ! a messenger the rose did send
to the Egles nest, & bidd him hye ;
" to my gather 2 the old Egle I doe [me] comend, 3
his aide. and helpe I craue 4 speedylye."
and sent to
ask
the old
Eagle to
help him
saies, " I desire my father att my 5 cominge
of men and 6 mony att my need,
& alsoe my mother of her deer blessing,
40 then better then I hope to speede."
with men
and money.
& when the messenger came before 7 thold Egle,
he kneeled him downe vpon his knee,
saith, " well greeteth you my Lo«Z the rose,
44 he hath sent you greetings here by me.
The Itose's
messenger
tells the old
Eagle.
" safe ffrom the seas Christ hath him 8 sent,
now he is entered England within."
" let vs thanke god," the old Egle did say,
48 " he shall be the mower of all his kine !
He thanks
God,
" wend away, messenger, with might and maine ;
itts hard to know who a man may trust ; —
I hope the rose shall fflourish againe,
& haue all things att Ids owne lust."
and wishes
the Rose God
speed.
56
then S/'r Rice ap Thomas drawes wales with him :
u worthy sight ilt was to see,
bow the welchmen rose wholy with him,
& Bhogged 9 him to Shvewsburye.
1 tho, or Hun.— P.
- Bend up- tho lone of tho Lo/yZ
Stanley!
lie marryed my mother, a Lady
bright.
Bosworthffeilde, 1. 69-60, below.— F.
3 we commend. I'.
The Welsh-
men caxrj
the llote
to
Shrewsbury,
1 Iiis aid I must crave.— P.
5 I desire of my Father at my. — P.
8 Botl in &.-P.
7 there.— P.
Apparently altered from "mim" in
31 S. P.
9 moved. See vol. i. p. 218, note *. —
F.
192
THE ROSE OF ENGLANDE.
where
Master
Mitton is
bailiff.
GO
Att that time was baylye in ' Shrewsburye
one Master Mitton 2 in the towne.
the gates were strong, & he mad them ffast,
& the portcullis he lett downe ;
Mitton
declares no
one shall
enter,
& throug a garrett of the walls,
ouer severne these words said hee,
" att these gates no man enter shall."
64 but he kept him out a night & a day. 3
but on
getting
orders
from Sir
William
Stanley,
lets in the
Red Rose,
who stops
Lord Oxford
killing him.
these words Mitton did 4 Erie Richmond tell ;
I am sure the Chronicles of this will not Lye ;
but when le^res came 5 from S/r William Stanley of
the holt castle,
68 then the gates were opened presentlye.
then entred this towne the noble Lord
the Erie Richmond, the 6 rose soe redd,
the Erie of Oxford with a sword
72 wold haue smitt of the bailiffes head.
" but hold jouv hand," saies Erie Richmond,
" ffor his loue that dyed vpon a tree !
ffor if wee begin to head 7 so soone, [page 424]
76 in England wee shall beare no degree."
Richmond
asks Mitton
why he
opposed
him?
" Because
Richard is
my king."
" what offence haue I made thee, " sayd Erie
Richmonde,
"that thou Kept me out of my towne? "
" I know no King," sayd Mitton then,
80 " but Richard now that weares the crowne."
1 of.— P.
2 Maister Mitton. — P.
3 be kept out by night or clay. — P.
The man misses the whole point of the
story: the Mayor said, 1 have sworn that
no one shall enter this town except over
mil /.in///; on which Henry proposed that
he should lie down and let him step over
him ; which ho did. — Skeat.
4 lie did.— P.
5 cane in MS. — F.
u that.— P.
7 A.-S. hcafdian, to behead. — F.
THE ROSE OF ENGLAND!'..
193
84
" why, what wilt thou say,*' said Erie Richmonde,
" when I haue put King Richard dowue ?"
" why, then He be as time to you, my Lord,
after the time that I am sworne."
" But when
I put
Richard
down V"
"Why then
I'll bo true
to you."
" were itt not great pitty," sayd l Erie Richmond,
" that such a man as this shold dye ? "
such Loyall service by him done,
88 the cronickles of this will not Lye. 2
" thou shalt not be harmed in any case."
he p«rdone[d] him presentlye.
they stayd not past a night & a day, 3
92 but towards newpoit 4 did they hye.
So Mitton
is pardoned.
96
but 5 [at] Attherston these .Lords did meete ;
a worthy sight itt was to see,
how Erie Richmond tooke his hatt in his hand,
Cheshire and
Lancashire
& said, " Cheshire & Lancashire, welcome to me." p""*
. ' the Rose.
but now is a bird 6 of the Egle taken 7 ;
ffrom the white bore he cannot fflee.
therfore the old Egle 8 makes great moane,
loo & prayes to god most certainly :
but the
young Eagle
is taken,
and the old
one prays
(lod
" stedfast god, verament," he did say —
" 3 persons in one god in Trinytyc !
saue my sonnc, the young Kgle, this day
104 ffrom all liaise craft & trechcrye ! "
to save his
son.
1 t ho, or Richmond said. —P.
- will tl.it Live. P.
: ' In the wyle cop, Shrewsbury, is an
old house, lately a tinman's shop (and,
perhaps, it is so still) where either
Henry VII. or Richard III. is said to
have lodged not Long before the battle of
Bos worth. Skeat.
1 Newport in Shropshire. — P.
'• Wu. \i, or perhaps about. I'.
Lord Strange, the eldest son of Lord
Stanley. G-. E. A.
; tane. P.
8 Lord Stanley, afterwards made Earl
of Derby, (i. E. A.
VOL. III.
194
THE ROSE OF ENGLANDE.
The blue
Boar (Lord
Oxford)
leads the
van ;
10S
tlien the blew bore 1 the vanward had :
he was both wany and wise of Avitt ;
the right hand of them he tooke,
the sunn & wind of them to gett.
the Eagle,
Talbot,
Unicorn,
then the Egle ffollowed fast vpon his pray ;
w/th 2 sore dints he did them smyte.
the Talbott 3 he bitt wonderous sore,
1 1 -2 soe well the vnicorne 4 did him quite.
Hart's head,
ivhite-and-
red -jackets,
fight,
& then came in the harts head 5 ;
a worthy sight itt was to see,
they Iaeketts that were of white & redd,
116 how they Laid about them lustilye.
and win the
day.
The white
Boar
(Richard
III.) is slain.
120
but now is the ffeirce ffeeld fought en & ended,
& the white bore there Lyeth slaine ;
& the young. Egle is presented,
& come to 6 his nest againe.
The garden
flourishes.
but now this garden fflourishes ffreshly & gay,
w/th {fragrant mowers comely of hew;
& gardners itt doth maintaine ;
124 I hope they will proue lust & true.
Our King is
the Rose.
God love
him !
our King, he is the rose soe redd,
that now does fflourish ffresh and gay,
Confound his ffoes, LortZ, wee beseeche,
128 & loue his grace both night & day !
ffinis.
1 The badge of John, Earl of Oxford.
— G. E. Adams.
2 And with.— P.
3 The Talbot was the badge of the
family of Talbot. Karls of Shrewsbury.
The person referred to is doubtless Sir
Gilbert Talbot of Grafton (uncle of the
4th Earl, then a minor), who commanded
the right wing of Henry's army. — G.E.A.
4 The unicorn's head was the crest of
Sir John Savage of Sock Savage, CO.
Chester, one of Henry's principal com-
manders at Bosworth. — G. E. A.
5 Probably alluding to those in the
ainis of Sir Win. Stanley (the brother to
Lord Stanley), who had the rearguard. —
G. E. A.
6 unto.— P.
19)
€in pott man & tin Hinge:
Tins is a Kent version of the ballad which Martin Parker issued
as a Northumberland one in 1640, with the title " The King and
a poore Northerne Man. Shewing how a poore Northumber-
land man, a tenant to the King, being wronged by a Lawyer
(his neighbour), went to the King himself to make knowne his
grievances. Full of simple mirth and merry plaine jests." The
Percy Society reprinted this in 1841, Mr. Collier editing; and
Mr. Hazlitt reprinted it in 1866 in his Early Popular Poetry,
vol. iv. p. 290. The Folio ballad differs from Parker's, not only
in place, but in some of the incidents, and much in the wording.
Its existence (coupled with that of the King & Northern Man,
printed by W. 0[nley] noticed by Mr. Collier,) confirms the sug-
gestion of that editor, which Mr. Hazlitt states thus : " The strict
claim of Martin Parker to the original authorship of this produc-
tioD maybe open to question. Perhaps he merely modernized
what he found already in print, but too antique to please the
delicate palates of the customers for such articles in his day, and
upon the strength <>f this attached his initials, which, as will be
seen, occur at the conclusion of the tract." The second edition
of it was in 1673, black letter, eleven leaves; and there is a copy
of it in the British Museum. (Hazlitt.)
Lawyers have always been reckoned poor men's foes. And the
reason is not far to seek. As a gamekeeper said to a solicitor I
know, who had grumbled at the dogs out shooting, and then got
regularly hooked up by some brambles, " We call them 'ere
lawyers down here, we do. When they once gets hold of 'ee,
they don't let 'ee go without takin' a bit out of 'ee." The
o -i
196 THE PORE MAN AND THE KINGE.
profession lias not the credit of working at law for nothing,
whatever it may do at Early English, &c. &c. Langland says
in his Vision (p. 5, 1. 849, Vernon Text, ed. Skeat) :
bcr houeJ> an Hundret ■ in Houues of selk,
Seriauns hit semeb ■ to semen atte Barre;
Pleden for pons ■ and pouHcles be lawe,
Not for lone of vr lord • vn-loseb heore lippes ones.
bow mihtest beter metew be Myst ■ on Maluerne hulles,
ben geten a Mom of heore Moub ■ til moneyo weore scheweil.
The rehels under Wat Tyler " killed such judges and lawyers
as fell into their hands" (Macfarlane, iv. 183); and the Scotch
proverbs — " Law licks up a','' " Nae plea is the best plea," " Law's
costly; tak a pint and gree," &c. (Hislop, p. 308) — bear witness
to the general modern feeling on the subject.
The punishment of a rapacious lawyer has always been a
popular theme, and the present ballad tells how a poor man who
dwelled in Kent paid out the lawyer who tried to fleece him.
He went to his king — the popular remedy for men alone, as
ballads and stories show; the popular remedy for crowds, as Wat
Tyler's rebellion shows — and begged to be let off the forfeiture
of his lease that his felling five of his landlord's, the king's, ash
trees to build his house with had worked, and of which forfeiture
the lawyer wanted to take advantage. Needless to say that the
king forgives his Kentish man, — a worthy descendant of those
who stood up against William the Conqueror for their lights, — -
and, to punish the lawyer in a way that all may understand, bids
the poor man,
untill hee haue paid thee a 100'A
thoust tye him to a tree that hee cannott .start.
This the poor man threatens to do ; but the lawyer pays down his
money, and the ballad concludes :
God send all Lawyers thus well served !
then may pore ffarmers liuo in rest.
The poem also gives rise to another set of scenes like those we
THE TORE MAN AND THE KINGE. 197
have seen in the Kinge and Miller and John de Reeve, on the
countryman's coming- to court. To those who "coude their
curtesye," and were full of the fhmkeyish respect of persons that
characterises courtiers, it must have heen a joke to see a proud
porter rapped on the crown hy the country clown, a nobleman
offered fourpence for an introduction to the king, and the dread
incarnation of majesty himself told that he was a very poor-
looking fellow for a sovereign, and his grand feast only —
. twatling dishes soe small :
zounds ! a blacke pudding is better then all !
(vol. i. p. 156.)
On the general subject Mr. Hales's Introduction to the King
and Miller, vol. i. pp. 147—8, should be consulted. — F.
ITT : was a pore man, he dwelled in Kent, a poor man
holds laud of
he payd our King 5 ■ of rent ; the King.
& there is a lawyer dwelt him by, A lawyer
c« yc lio li*m
4 a itault in his [lease, 1 ] god wott ! he hath ffound, forfeited his
Igjisg bv
" & all was for flailing of 5 ashe trees cutting five
to build me a house of my owue good ground.
ash trees.
" I bidd him lett me & my ground alone 2 ; He offers the
t • ip •-» i -it lawyer 40*.
8 to cease Ins selie, it no was wulinge,
& pike no vantages out of his :! lease;
& hee seemed a good ffellow, I wold giue him -l^ 4 " Jjg*
[" 40° nor 401 1
12 wold not agree this lawer and mee,
without I wold giue him of my farme -ground, The lawyer
demands
& stand to his good Curtesye. 5 ] someofhis
1 lease.— P. Sec line 9.— F. » my.— F.
-' MS. alomo, him is fom with thee ' Read 40 shilliuge. — Skeat.
dotted. — i*'. i These are lines 147- <5() below. — F,
198
THE PORE MAN AND THE KINGE.
He then
offers
5 marks ;
" lie l said, " nay, by his fay, that hee wold not doe,
16 ffor wiffe and children wold make madd warke,
but & he wold lett him and his ground alone,
he seemed a good ffellow, he wold giue him 5 marke." 2
but the
lawyer
refuses that
too.
So the poor
man resolves
to go to the
King.
" he said, " nay by his flay, that wold he not doe,
20 ffor 5 good ash trees that he fi'ell."
" then He doe as neighbors haue put me in head,
He make a submission to the King my-selfe."
by [that] he had gone a dayes iourney,
24 one of his neighbors he did spye,
" Neibor ! how ffar haue I to our King ? [page 425]
I am going towards him as ffast as I can hye."
" alas ! to-day," said his neighbour,
28 itts ffor you I make all this mone.
you may talke of that time enoughe
by that tenn daies Iourney you haue gone."
He gets to
London,
oversleeps
himself,
but when he came to London street,
32 for an host house he did call.
he Lay soe longe othe tother morninge a-sleepe,
that the court was remoued to winsor hall.
and is told
he must go
on to
Windsor ;
" arrise, my guest, you haue great neede ;
36 you haue Lyen too long euen by a great while ;
the court is Remoued to winsor this morning ;
hee is ffurther to seeke by 20 mile.
" alacke to-day ! " qtioth. the poore man,
40 " I thinke your King att me gott witt ;
had he knowen of my cominge,
I thinke he wold haue tarryed yett."
1 The poor man speaks of himsolf in miscopied for the /of lino 154. — F.
the third person ; or else lie and hee are 2 MS. narke. — F.
THE TUUE MAN AND THli KINGE.
199
" lie ffoled not for you," then said his host,
44 " but hye you to Windsor as fast as you may ;
& all your costs & jouv charges,
haue you no doubt but the Kmg will pay.'"
the King
will pay hi. 5
expenses.
he hath gotten a gray russett gowne on his backe,
48 & a hood well buckeled vnder his chin,
& a longe stafFe vpon his necke,
& he is to Windsor to our Kingc.
soe when hee came to windsor hall,
52 the gates were shutt as he there stood ;
he knocket and poled with, a great Long stafFe :
the porter had thought hee had beene woode.
So he goes to
Windsor
Hall,
knocks at
the gates,
he knocket againe with might & maine,
56 sais, " hey hoe ! is our K.mg within ? "
with that he proffered a great reward,
a single penny, to lett him come in.
" I thanke you, Sir," quoth, the porter then,
60 " the reward is soe great I cannott say nay ;
there is a noble-man standing by,
hirst He goe heare what hee will say."
the nobleman then came to the gates,
64 & asked him what his busines might bee :
"nay, soft," quoth the ffellow, " I tell thee not yett,
before I doe the K///y himselfe sec ;
itt Avas told me ere I came ffrom home,
68 that gentlemens hounds eaten arrands by the way,
& pore curr doggs may eatc mine ' ;
therfore I meane my owne arrands 2 to say."
"but & thou come in," saies the Porter then,
72 " thy bumble staffc behind wee must stay."
and offers
the porter a
penny to let
hiin in.
The porter
fetches a
nobleman,
who asks
the man
what his
business is.
"I'll tell the
Kingnn Belf.
Messengers
often
swallow
their
errands."
" Leave your
staff, then."
1 MS. nine.— F.
2 MS. arrand, with a tag to the d. — F.
200
THE POKE MAN AND THE K.INGE.
"No, I
shan't ;
the court
bankrupts
may rob
me."
The poor
man is led
to a noble-
man,
whom he
first takes
for the King,
and then
offers -id. to
biing him to
the King.
The noble-
man says
he'll ask the
King ;
does so ;
" beshrow the, Lyar," then said the pore man,
" then may thou terme me a foole, or a worsse ;
I know not what bankrouts bee about our 'King,
76 for lacke of mony wold take my pursse."
" hold him backe," then said the noble-man,
" & more of his speech wee will haue soone ;
He see how hee can answer the matter
80 as soone as the match att bowles is done."
the porter tooke the pore man by the hand,
& ledd him before the noble-man :
he kneeled downe vpon his knees,
84 & these words to him sayd then :
" & you be Sir 'King,'''' then said the pore man,
" you are the goodly est ffellow that euer I see ;
you haue soe many I[i]ngles Iangles about yee,
88 I neuer see man weare but yee."
" I am not the King" the Nobleman said,
" although I weare now a proud cote."
" & you be not King, & youle bring me to him,
ffor youv reward He giue you a groat."
92
96
100
" I thanke you, Sir," saith the Noble-man,
" jour reward is soe great, I cannott say nay ;
He hirst goe know our Km^s pleasure ;
till I come againe, be sure that you stay."
" here is such a staring," said the pore man,
" I thinke the King is better heere then in our
country e ;
I cold haue gone to ffarmost nooke in the house,
Neither Ladd nor man to haue troubled mee." [ pag e 4-2G]
the noble-man went before our Kinge,
soe well hee knew his curtesye,
" there is one of the rankest clownes att yo«r gates
104 that euer Englishman did see.
THE TOllE MAN AND THE KINGE.
201
" he calles them knaues your hignes keepe,
with-all hee calls them somewhatt worsse,
he dare uot come in w/thout a longe stafFe,
108 hees ffeard lest some bankrout shold pike his pursse.
" lett him come in," then said our King,
" lett him come in, and his staffe too ;
weele see how he can answer eueiy matter
112 now the match att bowles is done. 1 "
the Noble-man tooke the pore man by the hand,
& led him through chambers and gallery es hye :
" what does our K.mg with soe many empty houses,
116 & garres them not ffilled with corne and hay ? "
& as they went through one alley,
the nobleman soone the "King did spye ;
" yond is the King," the noble-man sayd,
120 " looke thee, good Bellow, yond hee goes by ! "
"belike hee is some vnthrifft," said the pore man,
" & he hath made some of his clothes away."
" now hold thy tounge," said the Nobleman,
124 " & take good heed what thou dost say."
the weather itt was exceeding hott,
& our JLmg hath Laid some of his clothes away ;
and the
King
answers " let
him come
in."
The pooi-
man
ask? why
the King
doesn't
fill his
empty
rooms with
corn and
hay,
and on being
shown
the King,
won't
believe it is
he,
& when the noble-man came before our K.huj,
128 soe well hee knew his curtesie,
the pore man ffollowed after him,
gaue a nodd with his head, & a becke w/tli his
knee :
"& if you be the king," then said the pore man,
152 " as I can hardly thinke you bee,
this goodly ffellow that brought mu hither,
seemes liker to be a "King then yee."
and tells
him the
nobleman
Looks mors
like a king
than he
doi .
Joo. — Dyce.
202
TJIE PORE MAN AND THE KINUE.
But the
King saj s lie
is king,
and the poor
man tells
him how
the lawyer,
because he
has cut
down 5 ash
trees,
wants to
make him
forfeit his
lease,
" I am tlie K.mg, & the 'King indeede ;
136 lett me thy matter vnderstand."
then the pore man ffell downe on his knees :
" I am jour tennant on jour owne good Land,
" & there is a Lawyer dwells me by,
140 a ffault in my lease, god wott, hee hath found,
& all is for ffelling of 5 ashe trees
to build me a house in my owne good ground.
" I bade him lett me & my ground alone,
1 44 & cease himselfe, if that hee was willing,
& pike no vantage out of my Lease ;
he seemed a good ffellow, I wold giue him 40 1 ? -
" 40* nor 401'
148 wold not agree this lawer and mee, 1
unless he'll without I wold giue him of my farme ground,
some of his & stand to his good curtesye.
land.
" I said, ' nay, by fay, that wold I not doe ;
152 ffor wiffe & children wold make madd warke ;
& hee wold lett me & my ground alone,
he seemed a good ffellow, I wold giue him 5 marke.' '
"Have yon
your lease V '
says the
King.
" Here it is
if you can
read it."
" What if I
can't ? "
" My boy of
13 can."
" but hast thou thy Lease eene thee vppon,
156 or canst thou shew to mee thy deede ? '
he pulled itt fforth of his bosome,
& saies, " heere my Leege, if you cann reeade."
" what if I cannott ? " then sayes our King,
160 " good ffellow, to mee what hast thou to say ? "
" I haue a boy att home, but 13 yeere old,
will reede itt as ffale gast as young by the way.'
Lines 1 17 and 118 arc written as ono in the MS. — F.
THE POKE MAN AND THE KINGE.
203
" I can neuer gett these knotts Loose," then said our
■JLing ;
164 hee gaue itt a gentleman stood liim hard by.
" thats a proud horsse," then said the pore man,
" that will not carry his owne prouentye ;
" & yee paid me 5* rent as I doe yee,
168 I wold not be to proud to loose a knott ;
but giuet me againe, & He loose itt for ye,
soe that in my rent youle bate mee a groate."
an l old man tooke this Lease in his hande,
172 & the "Kings maiesty stoode soe,
" He warrant thee, pore man, & thy ground,
if 2 thou had ffallen 5 ashes more. 3 "
" Alas to-day ! " then said the pore man,
176 " now hold jour tonge, 4 & trouble not mee ;
hee that troubles me this day with, this matter,
Cares neither for jour warrantts, you, nor mee."
" He make thee attachment, ffoole," hee sayes, [page 427]
180 " that all that sees itt shall take thy port,
vntill hee haue paid thee a 100 h
thoust tye him to a tree that hee cannott start."
" I thanke you, Sir," said the poreman then :
184 " about this Matter, sith you haue beene willingc,
& seemed to doe the best you canri,
with all my heart He giue you a shillinge."
" a plaugc on thy knaues hart ! " then said our Kmg,
188 " this mony on my skin 5 Lyes soe cold."
he fflang itt into the Kings Bossome,
because in his hand he wold itt not hold.
" I can't
read it,"
says the
Kiug.
" More
shamo to
you," says
the poor
man ;
" I'll read it
for you if
you'll let me
off Ad. rent !"
The King
tell? him
he'll war-
rant him his
ground.
"Warrant!
the lawyer
don't care
for you or
your war-
rants."
" Well
then," says
the King,
"tie the
lawyer up to
a tree till he
pays you
100/."
"Thank
you, that'll
do,
and I'll give
you 1»."
which he
throws into
the King's
bosom.
1 the— F.
- i.e. even if.—
3 moe. — Dyce.
Skc;tt.
* Another letter blotched with e follow;
in the MS.— F.
* MS. skim.— F.
204
The King
gives him
100/.
THE PORE MAN AND THE KINGE.
the K.mg called his tresurer,
192 saies " count nie downe a 100 1 ' —
since lie hath, spent mony by the way, —
to bring him home to his owne good ground."
when the 100'/ was counted,
196 to receiue itt the pore man was willing :
"if I had thought you had had soe much siluer &
gold,
you shold not haue had my good shilling."
When the
poor man
comes
home,
the lawyer
asks him
where he
has been.
the Lawyer came to welcome him
200 when hee came home vppon a Sunday :
" where haue you beene, Neihbor ? " hee sayes,
" methinkes you haue beene long away."
'• To the
King,
" I haue beene att the ~King" the poore man said.
204 " & what the deuill didest thou doe there ?
cold not our neihbors haue agreede vs,
but thou must goe soe ffarr ffrom heere ? '
" there cold no neighbors haue agreed thee & me,
who's told 208 nor halfe soe well haue pleased my hart ;
up e tniyou° U vntill thou haue payd mee a 100 U ,
l'oo/. 1 " 6 He tye thee to a tree, thou cannott start."
The lawyer
pays the
money.
when the 100" was counted,
212 to receiue itt the poreman was most willing ;
& for the paines in the Law hee had taken,
hee wold not giue him againe one shilling."
May God
serve all
lawyers so,
and let us
live in
peace
god send all Lawyers thus well serued !
216 then ' may pore ffarmers Hue in rest. 2
god blesse & sane our noble Kinge,
& send vs all to Hue in peace !
flinis.
MS. them.— F.
ease.-
-Dycc.
205
Mx : loinx Sutler *
In a u Booke of Survey of the Baronye of Warintori in the
countie of Lancaster, Parcell of the possessions of the Eight
Honorable Bobert Erie of Leicester, baron of Denbigh," as taken
ou the 19th of April in the twenty-ninth year of "our Soverein
Queen Ladye Elizabeth. " (1587) we find the following description
of Bewsey Hall :
The Mannerhowse of Bewsey is situate on the west side of the
Town and Lordship of Warrington, and is a mile distant from
Warrington Town, and is the South East side of Bewsey Park. The
house is environed with a fair mote, over which is a strong draw-
bridge. The house is large, but the one half of it being of very old
building, is gone to decay, that is to say, the Hall, the Old Buttery,
the Pantry, Cellars, Kitchen, Dayhouse and Brewhouse, which can
not be sufficiently repaired again without the charge of 100/. The
other half is of new building and not decayed, being one great cham-
ber, four other chambers or buildings, a kitchen, a buttery, and also
three chambers and a parlour of the old building are in good repair.
There is also an old chapel, but much decayed. The seat of the
manorhouse with the garden and all the rest of the grounds within
the mote containeth 3 roods 20 perches. . . .
The park is three measured miles about ; almost the one half of
it is full of little tall oaks, but not underwood. It is indifferent well
paled about. There is in it little above six score deer of all sorts; the
soil of the park is very barren.
The park and demesne lands together contained 304 acres
large measure = 644 statute.
The family of Botyller, Boteler, and many other variations of
spelling, becoming Butler in the reign of Henry VII"., was seated
at Warrington in the time of Henry III. A William Butler
was then in ward to Earl Ferrars, and sometime about 12B)
206 SIK IOHN BUTLER.
bought the manor of Burton wood from Eobert de Ferrariis. 1
Here be built Bewsey Hall, and thereafter took the style of
Butler of Bewsey instead of Butler of Warrington.
It is not intended to go into the family history of the Butlers*
As lords of various manors held in cajpite, they had to lead their
retainers in the Welsh and Scotch wars ; and Froissart has a
characteristic narrative of the rescue of John Butler of Bewsey
by Sir Walter Manny in the French campaign in 1342. 2 This
seems to have been the prosperous time of the family. A priory
of Hermit Friars of St. Angustin in Warrington was probably
founded by them towards the close of the thirteenth century.
The chancel of the parish church dates about 1360. Sir John
Butler rebuilt Warrington Bridge, which had been washed away
by floods, 1364. Pie seems also to have founded the Butler
Chantry in the church. 3 His grandson, another Sir John, died
about 1432, leaving a son a year old, and a widow Isabella,
whose petition to Parliament may be seen in the Kotuli Parlia-
mentorum. 4
Seven years after her husband's death she was forcibly carried
away from Bewsey Hall by one William Poole, gent, of Liverpool,
" in her kirtle and smok " to Birkenhead — another petition says
the wild parts of Wales — and there compelled to enter into a
forced marriage. What the end of it was we are not told, but
her son John grew up and married, first Anne Savile, and secondly
Margaret Stanley, sister of the first Lord Stanley, and widow of
Sir Thomas Troutbeck. Here we come into much entanglement.
Some accounts make Lady Margaret the wife of Troutbeck after
her marriage with Lord Grey. Sir John Butler had two sons
— William by Anne Savile, and Thomas by Margaret Stanley.
William died about the time of his coming of age, and Thomas
finally succeeded as heir in the year 1482. Sir John died in
1462, and he seems to have been the hero of the ballad, of the
1 Gent. Mag. Dec. L863, p, 755. 3 Lancashire Chantries. (CTieth. Sec),
Froissart, vol. ii. p. 9, cap. 86. p. 67. 4 Rot. Pari. iv. 497-8.
2
SIR IOII.N BUTLER. 207
traditions of the neighbourhood, and of the narrative of Dods-
worth.
The Old Church, as it is al\va} 7 s called by the inhabitants, the
High Church of Warrington as named in the ancient charters,
seems even then to have lost the name of the saint to whom it
was dedicated — St. Elphin — in Domesday Book. It has been re-
built within the last few years, and consisted then (1860) of a nave,
north and south transepts (private chapels), chancel and central
tower. The chancel and tower arches were good decorated work
of about 1360. The north transept was the chapel connected
with Bewsey Hall, and had the name of the owners — the Athertons.
In the sixteenth century it was the Butler Chapel or Chantry.
It contained in the centre a magnificent altar tomb, apparently of
the time of Edward IV., which still exists. 1 The lord and lady
are recumbent, life-size, he in armour, and the sides of the tomb
are ornamented with statuettes in relief of various saints, but
there is no inscription, nor any appearance of there ever having
been one. In an arch in the north wall of the chapel was a
monument, in black marble, of a recumbent female ; and to the
east of this, in the position usually ascribed to the founder, was a
cinquefoiled arch which held a stone coffin, the contents of which
had disappeared before the chapel was pulled down. This chapel,
except the cinquefoiled arch, was of late perpendicular work, and
most likely built by the widow of Sir Thomas Butler 1520-30.
The name of the Butlers had vanished from their resting place,
but the memory of the lord and lady and their unfortunate end
was handed down from generation to generation in connection
with this monument, no doubt receiving additions or suffering
mutilation according to circumstances.
The tale, as generally told, was that certain of the lord's
enemies bribed his steward, and that the faithless servant placed
1 The whole of the chapel has been preserved: the only part of the old pile
pulled down, but the tombs have been Left is the chancel.
208 SIR IOIIN BUTLER.
a light at a window over the hall door, to give notice to the
assassins, who crossed the mote and found the door open. They
made their way to the lord's chamber, and were met and opposed
l>y a negro servant, who fell in defence of his master, whose
murder soon followed. The heir, a baby, was carried by the
nurse in her apron, covered with chips, out of the house, under
the pretence that she was going to light a fire. Two large dark
patches on the oaken floors, one in a narrow passage leading to
the lord's room, the other within the room, near the door, were
left as evidence to all following time, and it was said that every
room on that floor, the second, was more or less stained with
blood.
A new servant had always to get accustomed to the visits of
an apparition, a rattling of chains along the narrow lobby, and
three raps at the bedroom door at midnight, till use made the
tiling pass as a matter of course. The traitor steward was pro-
mised great exaltation, and they hanged him on an oak as they
came awa} 7 through the park. A tree pointed out as the in-
felix arbor was cut down some forty years ago. 1
Such was the tale sixty years ago. It had, perhaps, been
modified by being introduced as an episode in a poem published
with Dodsworth's account in 1796, the first effort of the author
of the interminable epic Alfred — Mr. John Fitchett. Pennant,
who travelled after the middle of last centuiy, heard that both
the lord and lady were slain ; and a century before that, Roger
Dodsworth had taken the pains to put in writing what he had
heard, and his narrative is still in the Bodleian Library.
Dodsworth's account is as follows: — When King Henry VII.
came to Latham, the Earl of Derby sent to Sir John Butler, who
was his brother-in-law, to desire him to wear his cloth for a
1 This tree was certainly not so old as made its appearance when trouble or
the time of Elizabeth. As an attendant change was impending; it is said to
spirit (on the domain however, more than have been seen within the present cen-
its lords) was a white rabbit, which tury.
SIR JOHN BUTLER. 209
time — a request which the Lady Butler answered with great
disdain. This gave rise to great malice on the part of the Earl,
which was increased hy various other matters, till, with the
assistance of Sir Piers Legh and William Savage, they corrupted
his servants and murdered him in his bed. His lady, who was
in Iiondon, dreamed that night that Bewsey Hall swam with blood.
She indicted twenty men for the murder; but after marrying
Lord Gfrey, he made her suit void. Upon which she left him
and came back into Lancashire, and said, ' If my lord will not
help me, that I may have my will of mine enemies, yet my body
shall be buried by him,' and caused a tomb of alabaster to be
made, where she lyeth upon the right hand of her husband Sir
John Butler. The faithful servant was the chamberlain named
Holcroft, and the traitor was his brother ; the porter at the hall,
whom the assassins hanged in the park.
Dodsworth's tale, no doubt, represents the tradition as it
existed in the middle of the seventeenth century, but it is alto-
gether at variance with facts. During the whole of the reign of
Henry VII. the lord of Bewsey was Sir Thomas Butler, who suc-
ceeded (as already stated) to the estate in 1482, and died in 1522.
He certainly went quietly to his rest, after providing amply for the
foundation of a grammar school in Warrington. His father, Sir
John, according to the Inquisitio Post Mortem still extant in
the Bodleian Library, died in 1463, leaving besides Thomas,
who succeeded, a brother William, ten or twelve years older.
They were wards to the king, and the younger one is said to
have been of the Stanley blood ; in fact, there are documents
still in existence showing the interest Lord Stanley and his son
Lord Strange took in the latter just before the battle of Bosworth
Field. 1 But not a tittle of evidence has turned up to show that
there was any murder at all. The record of the outrage on the
previous Lady Butler is given in the Kotuu Parliame.ntoru.u,
1 Unit. Mag. Sqt. 1: 03.
VOL. III. I'
210 SIR IOHN BUTLER.
but every thing connected with the murder of the last Sir John
seems to have vanished like Macbeth's witches. There had
certainly been bad blood between the Leghs and Butlers for
some generations, which continued for two or three generations
after ; and this Sir Piers Legh of the tale is said to have been
compelled to build a church at Dishley, near Lyme, to expiate
the sruilt he had incurred in the bloodshed. His monumental
brass, where he is represented as wearing a priest's robes over
his armour, is still to be seen in Win wick Church ; and as he died
in 1-527, aged 65, he could only have been an infant at the date
of Butler's death. It seems out of the question to connect Lord
Stanley, Butler's brother-in-law, with it ; and nothing is known
about William Savage. As to the blood-marks, that portion of
Bewsey Hall is not older than the sixteenth century, and was most
likely the part described in the " Surveye " as having been then
newly built, so that we meet only with phantom evidence, which
we can neither grasp nor realise.
Whether the Lord Grey was of Codnor, of Groby, or de
Ferrariis is uncertain; and it is doubtful whether Lady Margaret
Butler was the widow of Troutbeck when she married Sir John,
or whether, as another account states, she married Troutbeck for
her third husband.
We believe no other copy of this ballad is known. It is in a
fragmentary state, and no doubt a good deal of it is wanting ; the
language too has been modernised ; but the peculiar account of
Lady Butler's absence from home, and " her good brother John,"
clearly the first Stanley of Alderley, would lead to the supposition
that it was written soon after the murder, by one who was ac-
quainted with the family, and before L.ord Stanley was made
Earl of Derby. The introduction of Ellen Butler as Sir John's
daughter, may have been a mistake, or put, euphonioi gratia,
for the real name Alice, who would have been fourteen or fifteen
at the time. Sir John is represented as nephew to Stanley,
which must have been incorrect ; it may, however, be from the
SIR IOHX BUTLER.
211
ballad-maker's confusion of ideas, as Lady Butler afterwards calls
Stanley her brother.
The end of the Butlers was sad enough, but we have no space
for it here. Descendants in the female line are still in existence,
and a keen genealogist might trace them to our own time ; but
their place knows them no more, the very name is forgotten, and
when the fine altar tomb was opened some years ago, a very few
mouldering bones and the fragment of a heavy two-handed
sword were all that it contained.
The knight was dust,
His good sword rust,
His soul is with the saints we trust.
(J. ROBSON.)
1)LTT word is come to warrington,
& Busye hall is laid about ;
S/r Iohn Butler and his merry men
4 stand in ffull great donbt.
Busye Hall
is sur-
rounded,
and Sir J.
Butler in
danger.
when they came to Busye hall
itt was the merke ! midnight,
and all the bridges were vp draw en,
and neuer a candle Light.
At midnight
his takers
come :
12
there they made them one good boate,
all of one good Bull skinn ;
WiUlniii Sauage was one of the ffirst
that euer came itt within.
on a bull-
skin boat
hoe sayled ore his merrymen
by 2 and 2 together,
& said itt was as good a bote
16 as ere was made of lether.
cross over
the moat.
1 merke, dark; MS. may be merle. — F.
p2
212
SIR IOHN BUTLER.
Ellen Butler
rouses her
father.
His uncle
Stanley is
there.
20
" waken you, waken you, deare ffather !
god waken you within !
for lieere is jour vnckle standlye
come your kail w/tkin."
No money
will save
him.
" if that be true, Ellen Butler,
tkese tydings you tell mee,
a 100 V in good redd gold
24 tkis nigkt will not borrow mee."
Ellen comes
down to the
hall.
then ! came downe Ellen Butler
& into ker ffatkers kail,
& tken came downe Ellen Butler,
28 & skee was laced in pall.
" Where is
your
father? "
" Gone to
London,
I swear."
" wkere is thy ffather, Ellen Butler ?
haue done, and tell itt mee."
" my ffather is now to London ridden,
32 as Christ shall haue paH of mee."
" No, he is
not;
we must
have him."
" Now nay, Now nay, Ellen Butler,
ffor soe itt must not bee ;
ffor ere I goe fforth of this hall,
36 yowr ffather I must see."
[page 428]
They search, the sought that ball then vp and downe 2
theras Iohn Butler Lay 2 ;
the sought that hall then vp and downe
40 theras Iohn Butler Lay ;
find him,
44
ffaire him ffall, litle Holcrofft !
soe Merrilyc he kept tke dore,
till that kis kead ffrom his skoulders
came tumbling downe tke ffloore.
1 MS. them.— F. in the MS., but they are marked with a.
2 These two lines only of the four are bracket and bis. — F.
SIR IOHN BUTLER.
213
" yeeld thee, yeelde thee, Iohn Butler !
yeelde thee now to mee ! "
" I will yeelde me to rny vnckle Stanlye,
48 & neere to fFalse Peeter Lee."
and summon
him to yield.
" a preist, a preist," saies Ellen Butler,
" to housle and to shriue !
a preist, a preist," sais Ellen Butler,
5:* " while that my father is a man aliue ! "
"A priest to
shrive my
father," says
Ellen.
then bespake him will/Vim Sauage, —
a shames death may hee dye ! —
sayes, " he shall haue no other preist
56 but my bright sword and mee."
" No priest
but my
sword," says
Savage.
the Ladye Butler is to London rydden,
shee had better haue beene att home,
shee might haue beggd her owne marryed LorcZ
60 att her good Brother Iohn.
Lady Butler
is in
London.
& as shee lay in leeue London,
& as shee lay in her bedd,
shee dreamed her owne marryed LorcZ
64 was swiminnge in blood soe red.
She dreams
that her
lord swims
in blood,
shee called vp her merry men all
long ere itt was day,
saies, " wee must ryde to Busye hall
68 w/th all speed that wee may."
calls up her
men
and rides
homeward.
shee mett w/th 3 Kendall men
were ryding by the way :
" tydings, tydings, Kendall men,
72 I pray you tell itt mee ! "
She moot s
Kendal men,
and asks
tidings.
214
SIR IOIIN BUTLER.
" John
Butler is
slain."
She turns
back to
London,
and prays
the King
to kill her
lord's three
slayers.
" What ! 3
for 1 ?
No. Do you
niarrv Lord
Gray."
" heauy tydings, deare Madam !
ffrom you wee will not Learie, 1
tlie worthyest K.niyht in merry England,
76 Iohn Butler, Lord ! liee is slaine ! ' :
" ffarewell, ffarwell, Iolm Butler !
ffor tliee I must neuer see.
fFarewell, ffarwell, Busiye hall !
SO for thee I will neuer come nye."
Now Ladye Butler is to London againe,
in all the speed might bee ;
& when shee came before her prince,
84 shee kneeled low downe on her knee :
" a boone, a boone, my Leege ! " shee sayes,
" ffor gods lone grant itt mee ! "
" what is thy boone, Lady Butler 2 ?
88 or what wold thou haue of mee 2 ? "
" what is thy boone, Lady Butler?
or what wold thou haue of mee ?
" that ffalse Peeres of Lee, & my brother Stanley,
02 & william Sauage, and all, may dye."
" come you hither, Lady Butler,
come you ower this stone ;
wold you haue 3 men ffor to dye,
9G all ffor the losse off one ?
" come you hither, Lady Butler,
with all the speed you may ;
if thou wilt come to London, LacZ// Butler,
100 thou shalt goe home Lady Gray."
ffinis.
1 O. N. leina, to conceal. — F. Leone How far south it extends I don't know,
is a Cheshire pronunciation for layne, con- but about Frodsham it is very peculiar,
ceal. This provincialism occurs in tho — Dr. Robson.
previous stanza, where way rhymes to vice, 2 These two lines are bracketed, and
and elsewhere in the ballad (1. 83-8). marked Us in the MS. — F.
215
mm i £>trtoart & M)in
We know of no other copy of this capital ballad.
The scene is in North Britain. The subject is the winning of
the Earl of Mar's daughter by William Stuart of Adlatts Park
(wherever that may be) — the winning, but not the wooing. The
wooing is done by his brother John. It requires much tact and
dexterity, and in this respect, though not in age, John has the
advantage-
William he is the elder brother,
But John he is the wiser man.
William generally takes to his bed — -
— into care-bed leaps he (see w. 9, 188)
when his passion runs high, or any scheme for crowning it with
its object's possession fails. John sets forth to "propose" and
" arrange" in his behalf. This giving of wit and importance to
the younger brother is perhaps a Norse element. Such a com-
pensation for the disadvantages of juniority, so to speak, is very
commonly made in the Norse tales, (see e.g. Dasent's Popular
Tales from the Norse).
The incidental pictures and allusions to manners and customs
are highly interesting; as to the kiss of courtesy (v. 139), to
football matches (v. 105), to the beating of daughters (v. 171),
to the Dole day (v. 262), the Beggar's dress and equipment
(v. 241 etseq., vv. 312, 313).
Football matches had not unfrequently, as here, a second
object — not often, perhaps, so pacific a one as here. "The war-
like convocations [of the borderers]," says Scott, "were frequently
disguised under pretence of meetings for the purpose of spoil.
216
WILL STEWART AND IOHN.
The game of football in particular, which was anciently and
still continues to be a favourite border sport, was the means of
collecting together large bodies of moss-troopers previous to any-
military exploit. When Sir Robert Carey was warden of the
East Marches, the knowledge that there was a great match at
football at Kelso, to be frequented by the principal Scotch
riders, was sufficient to excite his vigilance and his apprehension.
Previous also to the murder of Sir John Carmichael, it appeared
at the trial of the perpetrators that they had assisted at a grand
football meeting where the crime was concerted."
Alas! my
love won't
love me I
I sing of
Will Slew-art
and John.
Will takes
to his bed
for love of
the Earl of
[page 429]
Mar*s
daughter.
John asks
him what ho
mourns for ;
Void
or a girl ?
ADLATTS : parke is wyde and broad,
& grasse growes greene in our countrye ;
eche man can gett the lone of his Ladye,
4 but alas, I can gett none of mine !
itts by 2 men I sing my song,
their names is william Stewart and Iohn :
wilKom he is the Elder brother,
8 but Iohn hee is the wiser man. 1
but willmm he is in carebed Layd,
& for the lone of a ffaire Ladye ;
If he haue not the loue of the Erie of Mars daughter,
12 in ffaith ffor loue that he must dye.
then Iohn was sorry ffor his brother,
to see him lye and languish soe :
" what doe you mourne for, brother ? " he saies,
1G "I pray you tell to me jour woe.
" doe [you 2 ] mourne for gold, brother ? " he saies,
" or doe you mourne ffor ffee ?
or doc von mourne for a like-sonic Ladye
20 you ncuor saw her with your eye?"
num. F
you.
WILL STEWART AND IOHX.
217
24
"I doe not mourne for gold," lie saies,
" nor I doe not mourne for any ffee ;
but I doe mourne for a likesome Ladye,
I neere blinke on her w/th mine eye."
"A beautiful
lady." .
" but ■when haruest is gotten, my decre brother,-
all this is true that I tell thee, —
gentlemen, they loue hunting well,
28 & giue wight men their cloth & ffee ;
" Well, after
harvest,
when allow-
ances are
given out,
" then He goe a wooing ffor thy sake
in all the speed that 1 can gone,
& for to see this Likesome Ladye,
32 & hope to send thee good tydings home."
I'll go
wooing for
you, Will,
and hope to
send you
good news."
Iohn Stewart is gone a wooing for his brother
soe ffarr into ffaire Scottland,
& left his brother in mikle ffeare
3C vntill he heard the good tydand. 1
So John
goes
& when he came to the Erie of Mars his house,
soe well he could his curtesye,
& when he came before the Erie,
40 he kneeled Low downe vpon his knee.
" rise vp, rise vp, Iohn Steward !
rise vp, now, I doe bidd thee ;
how doth thy ffather, Iohn Stewart,
44 & all the Lords in his country e ? "
to the Earl
of Mar,
kneels down
to him.
" & itt please you, my Jjord, my ffather is dead,
my brother & I cannott agree,
my brother & I am ffallen att discoid,
48 & I am come to craue a service of thee."
and says,
" M> father's
dead; my
brother and
1 can't
agree ; take
me into your
service."
i.e. tidings. — P.
~ '
' '■ -■!•
I- •-.,•• .-f-
. .^_ -r _ - — " _a~
- : - , _j*
Till 5
II ■£
— _. _
:
: . _
:^v- '. Doe *r —
- _ .. .
i v~ ~~r - .
i
:
■ : "
.„.--
_ - : - '
-. - - -. -- - m
WILL STEWART AND IOHN.
219
•• lie is a Lord now borne by birth,
& an Erie ati'ter his fl'ather doth dye ;
his haire is yellow, his eyes beene gray ;
80 all this is true that I tell yee.
"he is ffine in the middle, & small in the wast,
& pleasant in a womans eye ;
it more nor this, he dyes for your Louo,
84 Therfore, Lady, show some pittye." [page430]
that hia
r, an
Earl,
yellow-
iiaircd,
grey-eyed,
small-
vaisted.
is dying for
her love.
" If this be soe," then saies the Lady,
" If this be true that thou tells mee,
by my ffaith then, Iohn Stewart,
88 I can loue him hartilye.
" bidd him meete me att S' Patr[i]ekes Church
on Sunday after S' Andrews day ;
the fflower of Scottland will be there,
& then begins our summers play.
" & bidd him briug w<'th him a 100 gunners,
& rawnke l ryders lctt them bee,
it lett fchem bee of the rankest ryders
or, that be to he Sound in that country
She say
she can love
him,
and he is to
meet her
at their
Summer
Games,
with H I
gunners,
" they 3 best & worst, & all in Like,
bidd him cloth them in one Liuerye ;
& ffbr his men, green (j is the 1"
100 &. greene now lctt their liueryes bee;
clad iill in
green,
132 [of ' Line
from 527, I. 298 of
rolume] where it is ranke ryders.
. ] >
, and in the plural n
, rink up & down ; di
eirenmire, from Belg. nncken, flectere.
] Pag. I .'5 7, L 15 : The fiut< mennis
. 'I he I.' men.
L38. 18, 32, I end, The
end of the Com-,'. So Pag. 193. 52,
Solisque viae is rendered The Sonnys
renke, M. 6. 796. So Mn. 7. 802,
queril ih r. lekia hie renk, Nil. rank
nder is still us, ■ I in Leicestershire, &
Hignifii - .i I.' en eager rider, one thai dol b
pare horse-flesh. P.
to be made over an rl,
],. ill of which is left. — F.
1 the. P.
220
WILL STEWART AND IOHN.
himself in
scarlet,
104
" & clothe hiinselfe in scarlett redd,
thai is soe seemlye ffor to see ;
ffor scarlett is a ffaire Coulonr,
& pleasant allwayes in a womans eye.
and then
win
most of the
Iti games.
" he must play sixteene games att ball
against the men of this countrye,
& if he winn the greater part
108 then I shall [Love] l him more tenderlye."
John writes
all this to
his brother
Will.
Will leaps
out of bed,
what the Lady said, Iohn Stewart writt,
& to Argyle Castle sent it hee ;
& 2 [when] Willie steward saw the letter,
112 fforth of care-bed then Lope hee.
musters his
223 men,
hee mustered together his merry men all,
hee mustered them soe louelilye,
hee thought hee had had scarson halfe a ] GO'. 1
116 then had hee 11 score and three.
chooses the
100 best,
clothes them
in green,
he chose fforth a 100 of the best
that were to be ffound in that countrye,
he cladd them all in one Coulour,
120 & greene I- wis their liueryes bee.
himself in
scarlet,
he cladd himselfe in scarlett redd,
that is soe seemelye ffor to see ;-
ffor scarlett is a ffaire coulor,
124 & seemlye in a womans eye ; —
and goes to
St. Patrick's
Church.
& then towards Patrioke Church he went
with all his men in braue array,
to gett a sight, if he might,
128 & speake with his Lady gay.
1 Love is written in the MS. by a later
liaiul between then and /. -F.
2 When.— P.
"WILL STEWART AND IOILN.
221
when they came to Patrickes churche,
shee kneeled downe by her mother trulye :
" Mother, if itt please you to giue me leane,
132 the Stewarts horsse ffaine wold I see."
" He giue you leaue, my deere daughter,
& I and my maide will goe wt'th yee : "
the Lady had rather haue gone her selfe,
136 then haue had her mothers companye.
His Lady
asks
her mother
to let her go
and see
the Stewarts.
when they came before Willie Steward,
soe well hee cold his curtesye,
" I wold kisse your daughter, Ladye," he said,
140 " & if yottr will that soe itt bee."
the Ladyes mother was content
to doe a straunger that curtesye ;
& when willie had gotten a kisse,
144
I- wis shee might haue teemed him 3. 1
When they
pee Will,
he asks for a
kiss from the
daughter.
She agrees,
and Will
takes it.
16 games were plaid that day there, —
this is the truth as I doe say, —
willie stewart & his merry men,
148 the carryed 12 of them away.
& when they games that they were done,
& all they ffolkes away were gone
but the Erie of Marrs & William Stewart,
152 & the Erie wold needs haue Wilh'am home.
lie plays 16
games,
and wins 12
of them.
The Earl of
Mar asks
him home.
& when they came vnto the Erles howse,
they walked to a garden greenc ;
ffor to confferr of their bussines,
156 into the garden they be gone. 2
1 deemed it 3.— P. given him 3: row or team: teamian, to produce, pro-
teem, to pour out ; to unload a cart; to pagate. Bosworth. — F.
cause, contrive. Halliwell. A..-S.te&m, a I weene [added by] — P.
issue, offspring, anything following in ;i
222
WILL STEWART AND IOHN.
[page 431]
Will asks
him for his
daughter.
"God
forbid,"
says the
Earl;
"I'd sooner
hang you
or burn
you.
Go to your
room, girl,
in the
devil's name,
or I'll beat
you."
Will says
he'd better
not,
160
" I loue jour daughter, " saies william stewart,
" but I cannott tell whether she loueth mee."
" Marry, god defend," saies the Erie of March,
" that euer soe that itt shold bee !
" I had rather a gallowes there was made,
& hange thee ffor my daughters sake ;
I had rather a ffyer were made att a stake,
1 64 & burne thee ffor my daughters sake !
" to chamber, to chamber, gay Ladye," he saies,
" in the deuills name now I bidd thee !
& thou gett thee not to the Chamber soone
168 He beate thee before the Stewarts eye."
& then bespake wilh'am stewart,
. these were the words said hee,
" if thou beate thy daughter for my sake,
172 thoust beate a 1001 men and mee. 1 '
and John
rebukes him
for his
discourtesy.
176
then bespake Iohn stewart, —
Jjord ! an angry man was hee, —
" O Churl e, if thou wouldest not haue macht with
my brother,
thou might 2 haue answerd him curteouslye."
The Earl
threatens
John with
loss of
180
service.
" Hang your
service,"
says John ;
"I hold to
my brother."
184
l
MS. nee
" hold thy peace, Iohn Stewart,
& chamber thy words now, I bidd thee ;
if thou chamber not thy words soone,
thoust loose a good service ; soe shalt thou doc me."
"Marry! hang them that cares," saies Iohn Stewart,
"either ffor thy service or ffor thee !
services can I haue enoughc,
but brethren wee must cucr bee."
— F. 2 Two strokes for the i in the MS. -F.
WILL STEWART AND IOIIN.
223
188
■wVliam Stewart & his brother Iohn,
to Argyle Castle gon they bee ;
& when willye came to Argyle Castle,
into carebedd then lope hee.
Tlie brothers
go back to
Argvle
Castle,
and Will
takes to his
bed again.
A Parlaiment att Edenborrow was made,
the King & his Nobles all mett there ;
the sent ffor wilKeww stewart & Iohn,
192 to come amongst l the other peeres.
A parlia-
ment
is held at
Edin-
burgh.
Will and
John go,
their clothing was of scarlett redd,
that was soe seemelye ffor to see ;
blacke hatts, white ffeathers plewed 2 with gold,
196 & sett all on their heads trnlye.
gaily clad.
their stockings were of twisted silke,
with garters ffringed about with gold,
their shoes were of the Cordevine, 3
200 & all was comelye to behold.
& when they came to Edenborrowe,
they called ffor Iohn Steward & Willie :
I answer in A 4 Lorc?s roome," saies will Stewart,
204 " but an Erie I hope to bee."
Will is
called, and
answers as
a Lord.
208
" come downe, come downe," saies the Lort? of Mars, The Earl of
" I knew not what was thy degree."
Mai says ho
didn't know
his rank
" churle, if I might not haue macht with, thy before.
daughter,
itt had not beene long of my degree.
1 The MS. has four strokes for the m.
— F.
2 Perhaps pleitcd, ph'tcd, i.e. plaited
or plated. — P. Fr. plier, to plait, plie,
bend, tunic, wrie. Cotgrave. — F.
' Cordovine, i.e. Cordwane, Spanish,
or Cordovan Leather, from Cordova, in
Spain. Johns. — P.
* MS. L.— F.
224
WILL STEWART AND IOHN.
Will answers
that he's the
King's
nephew, and
fit to match
with the
Earl's
daughter.
" my ffather, liee is the Kwig his brother,
& then the K.ing is vnckle to me ;
Churle, if I might not haue macht with, thy
daughter,
212 itt had not beene long of my degree."
The King
says he'll
216
" hold jour peace," then sayd the ~Kmg,
" Cozen william, I doe bidd thee ;
infaith, Cozen wilh'am, he loues you the worsse
because you are a-kinn to mee.
make Will
an Earl,
John a Lord,
"He make thee an Erie with a siluer wan.de,
& adde more honors still to thee ;
thy brother Ihon shall be a Lord
220 of the best att home in his countrye.
and their
brother
Christopher
a Knight.
" thy brother Kester l shalbe a 'Knight,
lands & liuings I will him giue,
& still hee shall Hue in Court with mee,
224 & He maintaine him whilest he doth Hue."
& when the parlaiment was done,
& all the ffolkes away w T ere gone,
willye stewart & Iohn his brother,
228 to Argyle Castle they be gone.
Will and
John go
home,
and Will
falls love-
sick again.
but when they came to Argyle Castle
That was soe flfarr in that Countrye, 2
he thought soe much then of his lone,
232 that into carebedd then lope hee.
[page iS-2]
John
promises to
go wooing
once more
for him,
Iohn Stewart did see his brother soe ill :
Jjord ! in his heart that hee was woe ;
" I will goe wooing for thy sake
23G againe yonder gay Ladye to.
1 cp. Kester Norton, vol. ii. p. 212,
1. 61.— F.
2 Perhaps West Country, but it is
North Country below. — P.
WILL STEWAltT AND IOHN.
225
240
" lie cloth my sclfe in strange array,
in a beggars liabbitt I will goe,
that when I come before the Erie of March
my clothing strange he shall not knowe."
clad as a
beggar,
Iohn hee gott on a clouted cloake,
soe meete 1 & low then by his knee,
with 4 garters vpon one Legg,
244 2 aboue, & towe below trulye.
with four
garters on
one leg.
" but if thou be a beggar, brother,
thou art a beggar that is vnknowne ;
ffor thou art one of the stoutest beggars
248 that euer I saw since I was borne.
Will
" heere, geeue 2 the Lady this gay gold ringe,
a token to her that well is knowne ;
& if shee but aduise itt well,
252 sheele know some time itt was her owne."
gives him]
a gold ring
to show to
his lady luve.
" stay, by my ffaith, I goe not yett,"
Iohn steward he can replye ;
" lie haue my bottle null of beere,
256 the best that is in thy buttery e ;
"lie haue my sachell ffilld full of meate,
I am sure, brother, will doe noe harme ;
ffor, before I come to the Erie of Marrs his house,
260 my Lipps, I am sure, they wilbe warme."
& when he came to the Erie of Marrs house,
by chance itt was of the dole day ;
but Iohn cold ffind no place to stand
264 vntill he came to the Ladye gaye.
John fills his
bottle with
beer, *
his satchel
with meat,
and foes to
the Uarl of
Mar's on
Distribution
Day.
John gets
near the
lady,
1 A.-S. 'micle and mate' greal and Gloss, to Piers Plowman's Crede. — F.
small: Guthlao, 1. 24, ed. (in in. Skeat's - here give. — P.
Mil,. III. Q
226
WILL STEWART AND IOHN.
268
but many a beggar be tbrew downe,
and made tbem all with weeping say,
"he is the devill, bee is no beggar,
that is come fforth of some strange countrye ! "
and after the
doles are
given,
& now the dole that itt is delte,
& all the beggars be gon away
sauing Iohn Stewart, that seemed a beggar,
272 & the Ladye that was soe gay.
tells her
who he is.
" Lady," sais Iohn, " I am no beggar,
as by my clothes you may thinke that I bee ;
I am yo?(r servant, Iohn stewart,
276 & I am sent a messenger to thee."
She asks " but if thou be Iohn stewart,
as I doe thinke that thou bee,
avayle 1 thy capp, avayle thy hoode,
280 & I will stand & speake to thee.
how Will is.
"Ill, through
you."
She weeps,
and says
she'll meet
Will at
Martirjgs-
dale In three
days.
" how doth thy brother, Iohn stewart,
& all the Lords in his countrye ? "
" ffye vpon thee, wicked woman !
284 my brother he doth the worsse ffor thee."
With that the teares stood in her eyes ;
. lord ! shee wept soe tenderlye ;
sais, " ligg the blame vnto my ffather ;
lays the
blame on her 288 I pray you, Iohn steward, Lay itt not to mee
father,
"contend me to my owne true loue
that liues soe farr in the North countrye,
& bidd him meete me att Martingsdale
292 ffullye w[i]thin these dayes 3.
' pull down, from Fr. a vat. — F.
WILL STEWART AND IOIIN.
227
296
" hang tliem," sais the Lady gay,
" that letts their 1 ffather witting bee !
lie proue a Ladye ffull of loue,
& be there by the sunn be a quarter highe.
" & bidd hini bring with him a 100? gunners, 2
& ranke riders lett them bee,
lett them be of the rankest ryders 3
300 that be to be ffound in that Countrye.
" Let him
bring 100
gunners
with him,
" the best & worse, & all in like,
bidd him clothe them in one liuerye ;
& for his men, greene is the best,
304 And greene now lett their Lyueryes bee ; fpage 433]
clad all in
green,
" & cloth himselfe in Scarlett Redd,
that is soe seemelye for to see ;
for scarlett is a ffaire Coulor,
308 & pleasant in a womans eye."
while he's in
scarlet."
what they Lady sayd, Iohn steward writt,
to Argyle Castle sent itt hee ;
his bagg & his dish, & showing borne,
312 vnto 3 beggars he gaue them all 3.
John sends
this message
to Will.
& when willie stewart saw the Letter,
fforth of carebed then Lope hee ;
he thought himselfe as lustye & sound
316 as any man in that countrye.
he mustered together his menymen all,
he mustered them soe louinglye ;
he thought he had had scarce halfe a 100,i,"
320 then had hee 11 score and three.
Will jumps
out of bed,
musters his
l".':; men,
1 my. — F. ili'' other for the s of this word in the
- »/'in place of nn in the MS.— F. MS.— F.
3 Two or three Letters appear one over
ft 2
22*
WILL STEWART AND IOHN.
chooses the
100 best,
and posts to
Martings-
dale.
There his
love
meets him,
324
lie chose fforth a 100 d of the best
that were to be found in that companye,
& presentlye they tooke their horsse,
& to martingsdale posted hee.
& when he came to Martingsdale,
he found his loue staying there trulye,
for shee was a Lady true of loue,
328 & was there by sunn was a qwarter highe.
kisses him
and John,
shee kisst wilKam stewart & his brother Iohn,
soe did shee part of his merry men :
" if the Churle, thy ffather, hee were here,
332 he shold not haue thee backe againe."
marries him,
goes home
with him,
they sent ffor preist, they sent ffor Clarke,
& they were marryed there with speede ;
William tooke the Lady home * with him,
336 & they liued together long time indeed.
and is soon
great with
child.
John goes
to the Earl
of Mar.
& in 12 monthe soe they wrought,
the Lady shee was great with childe;
the sent Iohn stewart to the Erie off Marre
340 to come & chr[i]sten the barne soe milde.
The Earl
hopes Will
has married
his
daughter.
"And if this be soe," sayes the Erie of Marre,
" Iohn stewart, as thou tells mee ;
I hope in god you haue marryed my daughter,
344 & put her bodye to honestye."
No, he
hasn't, says
John,
and he'll send
her home to
you.
348
" Nay, by my ffaith," then saies Iohn stewart,
" ffor euer alas that shall not bee ;
ffor now wee haue put her body to shame,
thoust haue her againe hame to thee."
// instead of m in the MS. — F.
WILL STEWA15T AND IOIIN.
229
352
" I had rather make thee Erie of Marre,
& marry my daughter vnto thee ;
for by my ffaith," sais the Erie of Man-,
"her marryage is marrd in our countrye."
" I'd rattier
you marry
her then,
and I'll
make you
Earl o'f
Mar."
"if this be soe," then sais Iohn stewart,
" a marryage soone that thou shalt see ;
ffor my brother william, my ffathers heyre,
356 shall marry thy daughter before thine eye."
"No, Will
'11 marry
her."
they sent ffor preist, the sent ffor Clarke,
& marryed there they were with speed ;
& william stewart is Erie of Marr,
360 & his ffather-in-Law dwells with him indeed.
So Will does,
and is Earl
of Mar.
ffinis.
230
^oto tlK Springe fe romr
This ballad is in the Koxburghe Collection, vol. i. p. 200, entitled
"A Lover's desire for his best beloved ; or, Come away, come away,
and do not stay. To an excellent new Court tune.'''' Having
been printed by the assigns of Thomas Symcocke, the Koxburghe
copy of the ballad must be of the reign of James I., says
Mr. Chappell, who prints the tune of it on pages 464-5 of his
Popular Music, vol. ii. "The rhythm of the first part of the
tune is peculiar, from its alternate phrases of two and three bars,
but still not unsatisfactory to the ear." The date assigned to the
ballad by Mr. Chappell, he confirms by the fact that Christinas' 8
Lamentation — a piece like in character to our In olde times
•paste — is to be sung to the tune of Now the Spring is come,
and was itself written during the latter part of the reign of
Elizabeth, or that of James I., as the } T ellow starch then in
vogue is mentioned in it.
It needs almost an effort now to realise how great the change
must have been from the winter of Early and Middle England —
with their ill-built and chimneyless houses, their scarcity of fuel
and seldom-changed food, their wretched roads, — to the glad
light green of spring, its sun, its song of birds, and all its
heavenly brightness. The impression which the spring made
on Chaucer is seen often in his works, and was, I believe, a
deeper one than the season has made on any subsequent poet.
But still to all poets and men the time has been, and is, one of
joy ; to all lovers one specially of love. Nature's current then
sets that way : why should not her loveliest work go with it ?
"Fairest faire, then turn to thy love ! " sings our song-writer.
"Who of us does not hope that she did ? — F.
NOW THE SrRINGE IS COME.
231
now spring s
come, turn
to thy love !
JN O W" the spring is come, turne to thy loue, to thy loue, Dearest
to thy loue, to thy loue, without delay !
where the mowers spring, & birds doe singe
their sweete tunes : jj : Jf : doe not stay !
where I shall mil thy lapp w/th mowers,
& couer thee wrth shady bowers.
Come away, Come awaye, Come away !
Come away, & doe not stay !
12
Shall I languish still for 1 thy loue,
still ffor thy loue : jj : }f : w/thout releffe ?
shall my ffaith soe well aproued
now dispayre : j : fl : with my greeffe ?
where shall vertue then be ffound
but where bewtye doth abound ? Come away ! &c.
[page 434] Let me not
languish.
Leave ine
not to
despair !
mora heere hath made a bedd ffor my loue,
1 6 ffor my loue : ft : }{ : of roses redd.
Phebus beames to stay are bent,
ffor to yeeld : jf : ff : my loue content,
& the pleasant Eglantine
20 m[i]xt 2 with a 1000 mowers fine. Come away ! &c.
Here is a bed
for thee
of roses
and
eglantine.
24
Hearke ! the Nightingale 3 doth singe
ffor my loue : &c : the woods doe ringe.
Pan, to please my loue, allwayes
pipethe there : &c : his round* ■ Lives.
& the pleasant rushye brookes,
& euery mower, for my loue lookes. Come away ! &c.
The nightin-
gale sings for
tin e.
Bewtyes Queen with all her traine
28 * doth attend : &c : my loue vpon the plaine ;
Venus waits
for thee,
1 Shall I si ill Langwtsh for.— P,
- mixt. — P.
3 Mightingale in the .MS.
1 attends. — P.
232
NOW THE SrillNGE IS COME.
the Muses
play for thee;
32
trippinge Satyres clancinge moue
delight : &c : my bewtyous loue
the muses nine, with mnsicke sweete
doe all attend, my loue to meete. Come away ! &c.
then turn to
thy love !
ffairest ffaire ! then turne to thy loue,
to thy loue : &c : that looues thee best !
lett sweete pittye moue ! grant loue for loue
36 like the doue : &c : let our loue for euer rest !
crowne my desires we'th a 1000'? ioyes !
Come away! thy loue reuiues, thy hate destroyes. Come away! &c.
ffin[is].
233
£o$iuortI) ffriltrc* 1
Tins is one of many pieces celebrating that great event which
gave the land rest from its generation-long succession wars.
The following version of the song was produced, as the last
line shows, in the reign of James I. Bat the original compo-
sition may well belong to an earlier period. There is a certain
air of greater antiquity about many passages of it. Alliterative
•verses abound, as vv. 47, 48, 55, 147, 148, 175, 176, 199, 211,
212, 214, 218, &c. &c.
The passage relating the narrow escape from execution of
Lord Strange occurs also in Lady Bessy. Perhaps the earliest
account of that peril is given by the continuer of the Croyland
Chronicle in the following words
Denique crescentibus indies rnmoribus
quod Regis rebeiles adventum suum in
Angliam maturant & accelerant; Rex
a hi em dubius in quo portu applicare in-
tending, id enim per nullos exploratores
sibi certitudinaliter afferri potuit; se
transfert versus Aquilonem, parum ante
fi'stum I'i nhcisfcs; relicto domino de
Lovell Camerario suo prope Suthamp-
toniam, ul classem suam ibi diligenter
instruat, ut omnes porlus illanim par-
tium fida observet custodia, ut ipsos
hostes si inibi applicare curarent, coadu-
natis viribus omnium circum ineolen-
tium, debellare non pr:etermitterct.
Perditis illic sub hac non necessaria
politia victualibus & pecuniis ***...
quo Rex tot expensas faceretur, unde
non falleret sequivocationem vocabuli
portus illius, qui a multis pro eonim
descensu describebatnr. Aiunt aliqui
esse portum in partibus Suthamptonice
ap])i'liatum Mi'/ordiam, sicut est in
Wallia. Et quia nonnulli quasi essent
prophetieo spiritu praditi, praedixerunt
homines istus in portu de MUford appul-
suros, consueveruntque prophetise liu-
jusmodj non in fatnosiori sed in alio
ssepissime ejusdem noniinis loco suam
sortiri effectum: Praeterea visus est Rex
tot propugnacula in ilia Australi parte
Regni hoc tempore constituisse. Sed
1 written in ///e Time ul' .lame,- ]*:', see
lasl Line. Either the Author of this &
of the Sung in Page 464 [of the MS.
Ladyc Bessiye, p. 321 below] is the same,
or one of them has copied almost ver-
batim fro/« ihe other. Sec Page 441
ec s.<|" s Tlna-e is a sung of latter date
on this Subject in the, printed Collection
12".'" Vol. ;) ; ! p. 47, N. G.— P.
234
BOSWOItTII FEILDE.
frustra. Illi enim primo die Augusti in
nominatissimo illo portu Milford juxta
Pembrochiam prospero statu, nulla in-
vcnta resistentia, applicuerunt.
Gavisus estRex,audito eorum adventu,
seu saltern gaudere dissimulavit, scribens
ubique, jam sibi diem venisse desidera-
tum, quo de tam exili comitiva facile
triumphaturus, s\ibjectos a modo indubi-
tatse pacis benefieiis recomfortet. Interea
mandata terribilia multiplicibus literis
ad omnes Regni comitatus dirigit, ne
ulli hominum, eorum saltern quotquot ad
aliquas in Eegno hsereditates nati sunt,
bellnm futurum detractent, cum ea in-
terminatione, quod quicunque post ob-
tentam victoriam inveniretur in aliqua
parte Regni, ei in campo prsesentialiter
non abstitisse, nihil aliud speraturi sunt,
quam bona omnia, possessiones, & vitam
amittere.
Parum ante istorum hominum appul-
sum, Thomas de Stanley, senescallus hos-
pitii Regis, accepta licentia, ut in patriam
suam Lancastrian, domum & familiam
suam, unde diu aberat visnrus, transiret,
non aliter ullam ibi moram trahere per-
mittebatur, nisi filium suum primogeni-
tum, Georgimn dominum Lcstrangc, Not-
ingkamiam ad Regem loco suo transmit-
teret; quod & fecit. Deinde hominibus
istis, ut pra;fertur, apud Milfordiam
Walliee appulsis, facientibusque iter
suum per aspera & indirecta partium
Borealium illius Provincial ;ubiJri/fcZ»»fs
Stanley frater ejusdem Domini Senescalli,
utpote Camerarius de Northwales, singu-
lariter praesidebat : niisit Rex ad dictum
dominum de Stanley, ut omni postposita
mora, sese Regis conspectui apud Koting-
hamiam pra-sentaret. Timuit enim Rex
id quod accidit, ne mater dicti Comitis
Richmund'ue, quam dictus domiuus de
Stanley habuit in uxorem, maritum ad
partes filii tuendas induceret. Ille autem
mirabili .... pestem sudatorium
qua laborabat allegans, venire non potuit.
Filius autem ejus qui clanculum a Rego
discessum paraverat, discoopertus ab
insidiis capitur, conjurationem suam &
patrui sui WUUel/mi Stanley supradicti,
simul & Johannis Savage Militutn, ad
partes Comitis Richmundies defensandas,
a peril, misericordiam postulat, promittit-
que patreni suum cum omni potent ia in
Regis auxilium quam citissime adventu-
ruin. Et super hoc, periculum in quo
erat, simul cum desiderio hujusmodi
praestandi auxilii, literis suis patri do-
nunciat.
Interim dictis duobus aliis Militibus
pro proditoribus Regis apud Coventriam
& alibi publice denunciatis, festinanti-
busque inimicis, ac dirigentibus vias
suas die ac nocte recte in faciem Kegis :
opus erat omnem exercitum, licet non-
dum integro congregatum, a Notinghamia
dimittere, venireque ad Leicest riant.
Ibique compertus est numerus hominum
pugnatorum ex parte Regis major quam
antea visus est unquam in Anglia pro
una parte. Die autem Dominico ante
festum Bartholomew Apostoli, Rex max-
ima pompa diadema portans in capite,
cum Duce Norfolchia? Johanne de Howard,
ac Henrico Percy Comite Northnrnbrice,
ceterisque magnificis Dominis, Militibus,
& armigeris, populariumque multitudine
infinita, opidum Leicestrense egressus,
satis per intercursores edoctus, ubi hostes
sequenii nocte de verisimili manere role-
bant, ad octo miliaria ab eo opido dis-
tantia, juxta Abbathiam de MirivaU.
castra metatus est.
Majores autem exercitus adversantis
hi erant: imprimis Henricus Comes do
Richmond, quem illi suum Regem Hen-
ricum septimum appellabant ; Johannes
Vere Comes Oxoniee, Johannes Wellys
dominus de Wellys, avunculus Regis
Henrici septimi, Thomas dominus de
Stanley & Willielmus frater ejus, Ed-
wardus Widevyll frater Elizabeth Reginse,
valentissimus miles, Johannes Cheyne,
Johannes Savage, Robertus Willoughby,
Willielmus Berkeley, Jacobus Blunt,
Thomas Arundell, Richardus Egecombe,
Edwardus Ponyngs, Richardus Gilford,
& alii plures, tam ante hanc turbat ion-
em, quam in isto ingressu belli, militari
online insigniti. De Ecclesiasticis vero
affuerant consiliarii, qui simile exilium
perpessi sunt, venei^abilis Pater Petrua
Episcopus Exoniensis, flos militia? patriae
sua?, Magister Robertas Moreton Cleriru.s
Rotulorum Cancellaria?, Crystoferus Urs-
wyJc, & Johannes Fox, quorum alter Elee-
mosynarii alter Secretarii offieiutn postea
consccutus est, cum aliis multis.
Mane die I/wrus, illucescente aurora,
cum nou essent Capellani de parte Regis
Richardi parati ad celebrandum, neque
ji ntaculum ullum paratum, quod Regis
tabescentem animum refocillaret ; illeque,
BOSWOItTII FEILDE.
235
ut asseritur, ea nocte terrenda sorania
quasi multitudine daemonum circunlatus
esset, viderat, sicut de mane testatus
est ; faciem uti semper attenuatam, time
magis discoloratam & mortiferam prae
se tulit, affirmans quod hujus hodierni
belli exitus, utrivis parti victoria con-
cessa fuerit, Eegnum Angl'ue penitus
distruet : & expressit ruenteni suam
earn fore, ut si ille victor evadit, omnes
fautores adversae partis confundat : idque
ipsum idem praedicebat, adversarium
suum super benevolos suae partis execu-
turum, si victoria illi succedat. Deiiique
ingre[die]utibus moderato passu Principe
& militibus partis adversae super exer-
citum Regis ; mandavit ille ut praedictus
dominus L strange illico decapitaretur.
Illi autem quibus hoc officium datum
est, videntes ancipitem rem nimis, ma-
jorisque ponderis quam uuius hominis
extermiuium in manibus esse, differentes
crudele Regis mandatum exequi dimi-
serunt hominem suo arbitrio, & ad in-
teriora belli reversi sunt.
Iuita igitur acerrima pugna inter am-
bas partes, Comes Richmundue eum mili-
tibus suis directe super Regem Richard-
um processit : Comes autem Oxonice,
major post eum in tota ipsa societate,
valentissimus miles, in cam alani ubi
Dux Norfolchia eonstitutus erat, magno
tain Gallicorum quam Anglicorum conii-
tatu stipatus tetendit. Iu eo vero loco
ubi Comes NorthumbricB cum satis decenti
ingentique militia stabat, nihil adversi
neque datis neque susceptis belli ictibus
cernebatur. Ad postremum, gloriosa
Dicto [sic] Comiti Richmundue, jam soli
Regi victoria, una cum pretiosissima Co-
rona quam Rex Richardus ante gestavit
in capito, ccelitus data est. Nun inter
pugnaudum, & non in fuga, dictus Iwx
Richardus multis letalibus vulneribua
ictus, quasi Princeps animosus & auden-
tissimus in campo occubuit. Deinde
ptaefato Duco Norfolchue, Richardo Ral-
clyff Milite, Roberto Brakenbury Milite,
Constabulario Turris Londoniarum Jo-
hanncm [sic] Kendall Secretario, Roberto
Percy Milite, Controrotulatore hospitii
Regii, ac Waltero Beveercux Domino de
Ferreis, & multis, maximo Borealibus,
in quibus Rex Richardus adeo confitebat,
[sic] ante ullas consertas manus fugam
ineuntibus : nullae partes dignae sive habi-
les remanserunt, in quas gloriosus victor
Hcnricus Septimus alicujus pugnae ex-
perientiam denuo renovaret. Pace igitur
ex hoc bello uni verso Regno concessit,
inventa [sic] inter alios mortuos corpore
dicto Richardi Regis, . . . Multasque
alias contumelias illatas, ipsoque non
satis humaniter propter funem in collum
adjectum usque ad Leicestriam deportato ;
novus Rex Corona tarn insigniter con-
quaesita decoratus Leicestriam vadit.
Dumque haec ita se haberent, multi
nobiles atque alii in captivitatem redacti
sunt. Atque in primis Hcnricus Comes
NorthumbricB, Thomas de Howard Comes
Surrei, primo genitus dicti defuncti Ducis
Norfolchice: captus est etiam Willvdmus
Catesby, qui inter omnes consiliarios
defuncti jam Regis praeminebat ; cujus
caput apud Leicestriam pro xiltima re-
muneratione tam excellentis officii sui
abscisum est. Duo autem valecti par-
tium occiduarum Regni, pater & filius
sub Brecher vocabulo appellat i , qui post
finitum praelium ad victorum manus de-
venerant, laqueo suspensi sunt. Et cum
neque auditum, neque lectioni aut me-
moriae commendatum est, aliquos alios
post recessum a bello, similibus suppli-
ciis deputatos ; sed Principem hunc no-
vum in omnes suam clementiam impart-
isse ; ccepit laudari ab omnibus, tanquam
Angelas do ccelo missus, per quern Deus
dignaretur visitare plebt-m suam, & libe-
rare earn do malis quibus hactenus af-
flicta est supra modum. — Historia Croy-
landensis Continuatio; Gale, Rerum An-
glicarum Scriptores, torn. i. p. o72-575.
vJOD : that shopc both sea and Land,
& ffoi* all ci'caturcs dyed out tree,
sauu & kocpe the realme of England
4 to liuo in pcaco & tranquillity e !
May Christ
keep
England in
peace !
236
BOSWORTH FEILDE.
We have
cause
to welcome
Henry VII.
Whothought
England
would have
changed
so soon ?
We know
that Henry
VI. was
martyred.
Let us thank
God for
Henry VII.
King
Edward
served Jesus.
St. George, to vs a slieild thou bee !
ffor we haue cause to pray, both old & younge,
wt'th a stedfast hart ffull devatlye,
8 & say, " welcome Henery, right- wise ' Kmg\ "
welcome right- wise K.ing, & Ioy royall,
he that is grounded with grace !
welcome the ffortune that hath befall,
12 w/«'ch hath beene seene in many a place !
who wend 2 that England as itt was,
soe suddenlye changed shold haue beene ?
therfore lett vs thanke god of his grac e,
16 & say " welcome Henery, right- wise King ! "
how had wee need to remember, & to our minds
call
how England is transported miraculouslye
to see the great Mischeefe that hath befall
20 sith the Martyrdome of the holy Kmg Henery !
how many lords haue beene deemed to dye,
young innocents that neuer did sinn !
therfore lett vs thanke god hartilye,
24 & say " welcome Henery, right- wise JLmg ! "
some time a E»j raigned in this land,
that was Edward of hye ffelicytyo;
he was dowted & dread, as I vnderstand,
28 through all the nations in Christentye ;
he serued Iesus ffull heartilye :
these examples may be taken by him
w/t/ch hath prt'uailed him 3 with royaltyc
32 to weare the crowne & be our King.
' rightwise, i.e. righteous. — P. A.-S.
rihlrjs. —I 1 '.
- wen'd, ween'd. — P.
3 ? him superfluous, see 1. 39. — F,
BOSWORTII FEILDE.
237
for with tounge I haue heard it told,
when Henery was in a ffar cuntrye,
that 3 times he was bought & sold
36 throughe the might of gold & ffee.
Henry VII.
he serued Iesus ffull hartylye :
this example may be said by him
which, preuailed right royallye
40 to weare the crowne and be our YL'uuj
[page 435] did so too.
they banished him ouer the mood, He was
J banished
ouer the mood & streames gray ;
yett his right in England was good,
44 as herafter know you may.
there was hee banished ouer the ffloode,
& into a strange Land they can him x bring ;
that time Raigned Richard with royaltye, w ^ n . 1T _
& J * ' Richard ill.
48 he ware the crowne & was our Kinge. was king.
that was well seene att streames stray;
att Milford hauen, when he did appeare
with all his Lords in royall array,
52 he said to them that with, him weare :
But he
landed
at Milford
Haven,
" into England I am entred heare,
my heritage is this Land within ;
they shall me boldly e bring & beare,
5G & loose my liffe, but He be King.
" Iesus that dyed on good ffryday,
& Marry mild thats Hull of might,
send me the loue of the LonZ Stanley !
60 he marryed my mother, a Lady bright ; 2
and claimed
his heritage,
to be king.
He prayed
for the
help of
Lord Stanley
1 MS. hin.— F.
2 Lord Stanley (afterwards Earl of
Derby) had marriod as his second wife
the Countess of Richmond, mother of
Henry VII. She was his wife as early
as 1173, if not earlier.- Gr. E. Adams.
238
BOSWORTII FEILDE.
64
" that is long sith I saw lier with sight ;
I trust in Iesu wee shall meete with winne, 1
& I shall maintaine her honor right
ouer all England when I am Kinge.
and his
brother Sir
William,
68
" had I the Lone of that Lord in rich array
that hath proned his manhood soe well att
need,
& his brother S;'r Wilh'am, the good Stanley ; —
a better Knight neuer vmstrode 2 steede !
that noble
knight.
72
" that hath beene seene in mickle dreed :
much was the worshipp that happened him ;
a more nobler Knight att neede
came neuer to maintaine Kinge."
But we'll
talk of
Richard III.
now leaue wee Heneet, this prince royall,
& talke of Richard in his dignitye,
of the great misfortune did him befall :
76 the causer of his owne death was hee.
Wicked
counsellors
ruined him.
wicked councell drew Richard neere,
of them that had the prince 3 in their guiding 4 ;
nor wicked councell doth mickle deere, 5
80 that bringeth downe both Emperour & King.
He con-
demned
to death
Lord
Stanley
who won
Berwick for
him
the hord Stanley bothe sterne & stout, —
he might be called mower of mowers, — man G
dye.
that was well seene without doubt
84 att Barwicke walls with towers hye ;
1 A.-S. win, pleasure. — F.
2 bestrode. — P. mi-, um-, means
' round.' — F.
3 Only half the n in the MS.— F.
4 Four strokes for ui in the MS. — F.
* A.-S. dor, dam, destruction, injury.
— F.
maun, i.e. must. — P.
BOSTVORTII FEILDE.
239
when all the Lords of England let itt bee,
that castle wigktlye can hee whin,
was there euer Lord in England, ffare or nere, 1
88 that did such iorney 2 to his Kinge ?
when no
other Lord
could.
then Richard bade a messenger to ffare
soe ffare 5 into the west countrye
to comfort his knights, sqniers lesse & more,
92 & to set good rule amongst his comintye.
then wicked councell drew Rich [ard] neere :
these were they 4 words they said to him,
"wee thinke yee worke vnwittylye
96 in England, & 5 yee will continue Kdng.
His bad
counsellors
" ffor why, the horcl Stanley is lent 6 in this Land,
the Lord Strange, & the Chamber laine 7 ; these 3
they may show vpon a day a band
100 such as may noe Lorde in Christentye.
told him
Lord Stanley
and others
were too
strong,
" lett some of them vnder jouv bondage bee,
if any worshipp you thinke to winn ;
or else short while continue shall yee
104 In England to he our Kinge."
he must put
them down.'
then they made out messengers with maine & might s <>
" ° messengers
soe ffarr into the west countrye ; ale sent
to the hord Stanley that noble Knight
1G8 they kneeled downe vpon their knee
to Lord
Stanley
1 far or nere, or perhaps neie. — P.
2 A clay's work. — Dyce. Cp. Fr.
Bonne louvwve fait qui air fol se delivre.
Pro. he docs an excellent day's work
that rids himselfe of a foole. Colgrave.
— 1<\
3 far.— P.
4 the.— P.
5 an, if. — F.
6 lend, to dwell, remain, tarry. —
Halliwell.— F.
7 John de Vero, Earl of Oxford, Lord
Chamberlain. — (x. E. A.
240
BOSWORTH FEILDE.
and bid him
come to the
King.
112
& said, " 'Richard that raignes with royaltye,
Emperour of England this day within,
hee longeth you sore, my Lord, to see ;
you must come & speake with our Kinge."
He sets off,
but falls
sick at Man-
chester,
then they Lord husked l him vpon a day
To ryde to King Richard with royaltye, [P a s e 436 1
& hee ffell sicke att Manchester hy the way :
116 as the will of god is, all things must hee.
and sends on
Lord
Strange
to know
Richard's
will.
the Lord strange then called [he] him nee ;
these were the words hee said to him :
" In goodlye hast now ryde must yee
120 to witt the will of Richard, our Kinge."
Lord
Strange
kneels to
Richard,
who
welcomes
him with
kind words
then this Lord bowned ? bini ffull right
to ryde to Kmo Richard hastilye.
when hee came before his souerraigine in sight,
124 he kneeled downe vpon his knee.
" welcome Lord strange, & kinsman nye ! "
these were the words he said to him :
" was ther eeuer any Baron in England of ancetrye 3
128
shold be soe welcome to his Kinge ? "
but fro ward,
heart,
alas that euer he cold soe say,
soe ffroward a hart as hee had vnder !
that was well seene after vpon a day ;
132 itt cast him & his crowne assunder,
& brought his body into bale & blunder,
these wicked words he cold begin ;
thus ffalshood endeth in shame & wonder,
136 whether itt be with Emperour or King.
1 Ltiskrd, i.e. dressed. — P.
'-' 1 i.-ui.i (1. i.e. ] )( jand.- I.
3 ancestry. — P.
liO.sWOKTH FEILDE.
241
of itt heere is no more to say,
but shortly e to ward comanded was liee.
new messengers were made w/thout delay
140 soe ffarr into the west country e
to the hord stnnley soe wise & witty e :
these were the words the sayd to him,
"you must raise those that vnder you bee,
14 4 & all the power that you may bringe ;
and caste
liim into
prison.
Other
messengers
come to
Lord
Stanley,
and say,
"Raise all
your men ;
for
148
" yonder cometh Richmond over the mood
w/th many allyants ' out of ffarr countrye,
bold men of bone and blood ;
the crowne of England chalengeth hee.
"you must raise those that vnder you bee,
& all the power that yee may bringe,
or else the hord strange you must neuer see,
152 which, is in danger of our Kmg."
Richmond is
coming
to claim the
crown ;
or you'll
never see
Lord
Strange
again."
156
In a studye this hord can stand, Lord Stanley
& said, " deere Iesus ! how may this bee? says,
I draw wittenes to him that shope 2 both sea &
land,
that I neuer delt wt'th noe trecherye.
" Richard is a man that hath no mercye ;
hee wold mee & mine into bondage bringe ;
therfore cleane against him will I bee,
160 of all England though hee bee King."
"Richard has
no mercy.
I am
against,
him."
164
then another messenger he did appearc
to wilh'rtm Stanley, that noble Kmght,
Richard"s
messenger
asks Sir
& saith, " 'Richard that weareth the crowne soe Stanley
cleare,
& in his Empire raigneth right,
i.e.
allyants, aliens. — P.
i.e. shaped. — P.
VuL. 111.
It
242
BOSWORTII FEILDE.
to help the
King.
"What!
when he
keeps
my nephew
in hold.
He shall
repent it
sore!
168
" willeth you to bring your power to helpe him to
flight;
ffor all his trust itt is you in."
then answered that gentle Knight,
" I haue great marueill of jour King ;
"he keepeth the [r ] e my nephew, my brothers hey re ; —
a truer knight is not in christentye ; —
that, Richard shall repent flull sore, 1
172 ffor any thing that I can see.
Let him arm
and fight,
and flee or
die.
By Mary and
Christ
I'll make
him
a meal !
" bidd him array him with royal tye
& all the power that hee may bringe ;
ffor hee shall either flight, or fflee,
176 or loose his liffe, if hee bee Kinge.
" I make mine avow to Marye, that may,
& to her sonne that dyed on tree,
I will make him such a breakefast vpon a day
180 as neuer made Knight any King in Cristentye !
Tell him
to fight and
flee or die ! "
184
" tell thou King Richard these words ffrom mee
ffor all the power that he may bringe,
in the ffeild he shall either flight, or fflee,
or loose his liffe or hee be Kinge."
The
messenger
tells Richard
how all the
country
rebel at Lord
then this messenger north hee went
to carry to King RichanZ with royalty e,
& saith, " in yonder country e I haue beenc sent,
188 soe greeued men are not in Christentye
Strange's
imprison-
ment.
He must
fight, or flee,
or die.
" ffor loue of the Lore? strange that in bale doth bee."
these were the words hee sayd to him :
" you must either flight or fflee,
192 or loose your liffe, if you bee Kinge."
1 sair (i.e. sore). — Dycc.
BOSWORTII FEILDE.
243
196
att that King- Richard smiled small,
& sware, " by Iesu ffull of might,
when they are assembled wtth their powers all,
I wold I had the great turke against me to flight,
Richard
swears that,
v» hoever
opposes,
Tpage 437]
" or Prester Iolm in his armor bright,
the Sowdan of Surrey 1 with them to bringe !
yett wrth manhood & with might
200 in England I shold continue Kmg.
he'll still
be king,
" I sweare by Iesu that dyed on a tree,
& by his mother that mayden blythe,
firom the towne of Lancaster to Shrewsburye,
204 'Knight nor squier He leaue none aliue.
he'll leave no
Lancashire
squire alive.
" I shall kindle their cares rifle,
& giue their Lands to my Knights keene ;
many a man shall repent the while
208 that euer they rose against their King.
" ffrom the holy-head to S' davids Land,
where now be towers & castles hye,
I shall make partes & plaine ffeilds to stand,
212 flrythes ffaire, & Sbrrests ffree.
and will lay
waste Wales,
" Ladyes, ' well-away ! ' shall crye ;
widdowes shall weepe, & their hands wringc ;
many a man shall repent that day
216 that euer they rose against their Kinge."
make
widows
weep,
and rebels
rue.
then he made out messengers with maine & might
throughout England ffarr & neerc, 2
to Duke, Erie, Barron, & Knight,
220 & to eucry man in his degree.
He sends
all over
England
for his
nobles,
1 Syria. — Robson,
- noc.
u 2
244
BOSWOIITII FEILDE.
and they
come to
serve their
King:
the Duke of
Norfolk,
the Earls of
Kent,
Shrewsbury,
Lincoln,
North-
umberland,
Westmore-
land :
Lords
Zouch,
Maltravers,
Arundel,
Wells,
Grey of
Codnor,
Bowes,
Audley,
Berkeley,
Ferrers of
Chartley,
Ferrers of
Groby,
Fitzhugh,
Bcrope of
Upsal,
Scro])e of
Bolton,
Daores,
you neuer heard tell of such a companye
att sowte, seege, 1 nor noe gatheringe :
part of their names heere shall yee
224 that came that day to serue their King.
thither came the duke of Norffolke vpon a clay,
& the Erie of Surrey that was his heyre ;
the Erie of Kent was not away,
228 the Erie of Shrewsbury breme 2 as beare.
the Erie of Lincolne 3 wold not spare,
the Erie of Northumberland ready bowne,
the Erie of Westmoreland great othes sware,
all they said Richard shold Keepe his crowne.
232
236
240
244
248
theres was my liord Zouch, sad att assay 4
my ~Lord Mattrevis, 5 a noble 'Knight ;
young Arrundell dight him vpon a day,
the ~Lord wells, both wise and wight ;
the Lore? Gray Cotner 6 in his armour bright,
the Lore? Bowes made him bowne,
the Lou? Audley was ffeirce to ffight,
& all said 'Richard shold keepe his crowne.
there was my Lore? Bartley, sterne on a steede,
the Lore? fferryes of chartlye, the Lore? fferryes of
Strobe,
the Lore? Bartley noble att neede,
chamberlaine of England that day was hee.
the Lore? ffittz Hugh, & his cozen nye,
the Lore? Scroope of vpsall, the Lore? scroope of
Bolton;
the Lore? Dacres raised all the North cuntrye ;
& all said Richard shold keepe his crowne.
1 assault, siege. — F.
'-' MS. brenne. I''.
' .MS. Lincolme. — F.
1 stedfasl in trial. — F.
5 Maltrevers. — P.
,; i.e. Lord Grey of Codnor. — P.
BOSWORTH FEILDE.
24.5
252
There was many nobles mustered to Sight :
the Lord Audley & the Lord Lumley,
the Lore? Gray-stocke ' in his armour bright,
he brought with him a noble companye,
he sware by Iesus that dyed on a tree,
' that his enemyes shold be beaten downe ;
he was not [in] England, ffarr nor neere,
256 that shold lett 2 Richard to weare his crowne.'
there was Sir Iohn Spencer, a noble Knight,
Sir Rapk hare-bottle 3 in rich array,
Sir william ward, alwayes that was wight,
200 Sir Archeobald, the good Rydley ;
Sir Nicholas Moberly was not away,
nor yett Sir Robert of Clotten,
alsoe Sir Oliuer, the hend horsley ;
264 all said Richard shold keepe his crowne.
Lumley,
Greystocke ;
Sirs J.
Spencer,
W. Ward,
N. Moberly,
R. Clutton,
O. Horsley,
there was Sir Henery Percy, 4 sterne on steede, h. Percy,
Sir Roger Bowmer in bis companye,
Sir RichartZ Manners, noble att neede, R- Manners,
268 Soe was Sir Henery the hend Hatteley ; [page 438]
Sir Robert Conway in companye,
Sir Raphe Smyth & Sir Roger Akerston,
& Sir William, his cozen nye ;
272 & all sayd Richard shold keepe his crowne.
There was a noble Knight, Sir Iohn the Gray,
& Sir Thomas of Mountgomerye ;
Sir Rodger Sanfort was not away ;
276 ffrom London came Sir Robert Brakenburye ;
R. Conway,
W. Aker-
ston,
Jn. Gray,
R. Sanfort,
1 Ralph, Lord Greystock, who died in
1487, without male issue, when the
barony became united with thatof Dacre.
— G. E. Adams.
2 hinder. — Itobson.
3 Ilarbottle.— P.
4 S/r Henry Percy. — P.
246
II. Bowdrye,
R. Robbye,
M. Con-
stable,
W. Conyers,
M. Wardley,
R. Rosse,
R. Sturley,
G. Clyfton,
T. North,
H. Stafford,
R. Ryder,
J. Hunting-
ton.
R. Swayley,
W. Staple-
ton.
BOSWORTII FEILDE.
280
S/r Henery Bowdrye was not away,
nor yett S/r 'Richard the good Chorlton ;
S/r Raphe Robbye made him yare ;
all said RichanZ wold keepe his crowne.
there was S/r Marmaduke Constable, a noble ~K.>iiyht,
of K.ing Richards councell hee was nye ;
S/r william Conyous, 1 allwayes that was wight,
284 S/r Robert Thribald w/th his meanye ;
soe was S/r Martine of the wardley,
& S/r Richard the good Hortton,
& S/r Richard Rosse sware smartly e
288 that Kmg RicharcZ shold keepe his crowne.
There was S/r Robert, the sterne Sturley ;
S/r Iohn of Melton, thither Came hee,
Sir Caruis Clyfton 2 in rich array,
292 S/r Henery Perpoint in his degree,
Sir Thomas North w/th royaltye,
& alsoe S/r Iohn of Babington,
S/r Humphrey Stafford sware certainelye
296 that ~ELmg Richard shold keepe his crowne.
there was S/r Robert Ryder, a man of might,
S/r Robert Vtridge in his dignity e ;
S/r Iohn Huntington was ffeirce to ffight,
300 soe was S/r Iohn willmarley.
S/r Robert Swayley with royalltye,
& alsoe S/r Bryan of stableton, 3
& S/r william his cozen nye,
304 & all said Richard shold keepe his crowne.
1 Conyers. — P.
2 SirG-ervase Clyfton.— P.
Sir Bryan Stapleton. — P.
308
BOSWORTII FEILDE.
Tliere was Sir Richard Ratcliffe, a noble "Knight,
of King Richards councell was kee ;
S/r William his brother was ffeirce to flight,
& S/r Thomas, they were brethren 3.
247
R. Ratcliffe,
W. Ratcliffe,
& S/r Richard the Mallinere,
& S/r Iohn the good Hortton,
& S/r Thomas the good Mallynere,
312 & all said Rich[ard] shold keepe his crowne.
There was S/r Raphe Dacres out of the North,
& S/r Christopher the Moresby e l ;
S/r William Musgreaue was stiffe to stand,
316 soe was S/r Alexander ffawne in his dignity e.
R. Mal-
linere,
T. Mally-
nere,
R. Dacres,
W. Mns-
grave,
S/r George Murkenffeild behind wold not bee,
nor yett S^'r Thomas the doughtye Broughton ;
S/r Christopher Owen made him readye,
320 & all sayd Rich[ard] shold weare his crowne.
there was S/r william Tempest out of the vale,
& S/r Richard his cozen nye ;
S/r Raph Ashton, hee made not ffaile,
324 S/r Thomas Maclefeild 2 in Companye.
S/r Richard ward behind wold not bee,
nor yett S/r Robert of Middleton ;
S/r Iohn Coleburne sware certainelye
328 that King Richard shold keepe his crowne.
there was S/r Iohn Neuill 3 of bloud soe hye,
S/r Iohn Hurlstean 4 in rich arraye,
S/r Rodger Heme behind wold not bee,
332 S/r lames Harrington, sad att assay,
G-. Murken-
ffield,
C. Owen,
W. Tempest,
R. Ashton,
R. Ward,
J. Cole-
burne,
J. Neville,
R. Heme,
J. Harring-
ton,
1 perhaps Thoivshy.- -P. Perhaps
not. — Adams.
* Sir Thomas MacHesfield — P.
8 Neville.— P.
4 ? MS. Hurfslean.-
2 ! 8
BOSWORTII FEII.DE.
R. Harring-
ton.
All swear
Richard
shall reign.
2 shires
alone
fight for
Henry.
Lord
Stanley-
leaves
Latham
Castle
and marches
towards
Newcastle.
Sir Win.
Stanley
marches to
Nantwich,
with the
flower of
Cheshire ;
Sir Robert his brother was not away,
nor yett Sir Thomas of Pilkinton ;
& all these, great othes sware they
336 that ILhuj Richard shold keepe his crowne.
had wee not need to Iesu to pray,
that made the world, the day & night,
to keepe vs out of bale and woe ?
340 2 shires against all England to ffight,
& maintaine Henert that came ffor his right,
& in the realme of England was ready bowne !
ffreinds, & yee will hearken me right, [page 4;w]
344 I shall tell you how Henery gott his crowne.
the hord Stanley sterne and stout,
that euer hath beene wise and wittye,
ffrom Latham Castle w/thouten doubt
348 vppon a munday bowned hee
with ~Knights & squiers in companye.
they had their banners in the sunn glitteringe ;
they were as ffeirce as ffawcon to fflye,
352 to maintaine Henery that was their Kmg.
then this Lo;yZ bowned him vpon a day
with noble men in companye ;
towards Newcastle vnder Line he tooke the way,
356 & told his men both gold and ffee.
Sir william Stanley wise and wight,
ffrom the castle of Holt with holts hye
to the Nantwich hee rydeth straight,
360 & tooke his men wages of gold and ffee.
all the north wales ffor the most pcwtye,
the mower of Cheshire, with, him hee did bringe ;
better men were not [in] christentye
364 that euer came to maintaine their ~Kimj.
ROSWORTII FEII.DK.
2 19
Erly vpon Twesday att Morne
Sir william Stanley, that Noble Knight,
remoued ffroni Xantwiche to the towne of stone,-
368 by tben was Henery come to Stafford straight, -
thence to
Stone,
be Longed sore to see him in sight,
& straight to Stafford towne is gone, 1
& kneeled downe anon-right,
372 & by the hand he hatb him tane :
from whence
he goes to
meet Henry,
37G
bee said, " I am ffull glad of thee ; "
& these were the words he said to him :
" through the helpe of my Lord thy ffather, 2 & thee,
I trust in England to continue Kinge."
who is full
glad of him.
then he bent that noble prince by the hand,
& said, " welcome my souerraigne King Henery
chalenge thy Herytage & thy Land,
380 that thine owne is, & thine shall bee.
He exhorts
Henry
to claim his
crown,
" be Eger to ffight, & lothe to fflee !
let manhood be bredd thy brest within !
& remember another day who doth ffor thee,
384 of all England when thou art Kinge."
be eager to
fight,
and, when
he wins,
to remember
his friends.
after, there was noe more to say,
but leaue of the prince he hath taken, 3
& came againe by light of the day
388 to the litle prettye towne of stone.
Then Sir
William
returns
to Stone.
Early vpon Saturday att morne,
to Lichffeild they remoue, both old & younge. 4
att woosley bridge them beforne,
392 there had they a sight of our Kinge.
On Saturday
he marches
to Lichfield
' gane {i.e. gone). — Dyce.
2 This should bo "brother": Thomas,
Lord Stanley, the father of Sir William,
and thothon (1485) Lord Stanley, having
die d in 1-158. — Adams.
a tane.— P.
yinge, — Dyce.
250
uoswoimr feilde.
with a
goodly
company,
and rides
through the
town.
Then he
hears
that Lord
Stanley
is about to
fight
Richard.
& to Lichefeild they ridden right,
with answerable army came royallye :
to nomber the companye that was with the HsJrright,
390 itt was a goodlye sight to see.
guns in Lichefeild they cracken on hye
to cheere the county e both more & min,
& glad was all the Chiualrye
400 that was on heneryes parte, our Kinge.
throughout Lichefeild rydeth the Knight,
on the other side there tarryed hee ;
a messenger came to him straight,
404 & kneeled downe vpon his knee,
& saith, " the hord Stanley is his enemy nye,
that are but a litle way ffrom him ;
they will flight within these houres 3
408 with Richard that is Eno-lands Kin°;e."
He passes
on to
Hattersey
and joins
Lord
Stanley.
On Sunday
they set
their battle
in array,
waiting
Ricbnxd'a
attack.
" that wold I not," the Knight can say,
" ffor all the gold in Christen tye ! "
towards Tamworth he tooke the way,
412 & came to Hattersey, & neighed nye
where the Jjord Stanley in a dale cold bee,
with trumpetts & tabours tempered with him :
itt was a comelye sight to see
416 as euer was to maintaine Kinge. [page440]
All that night there tarryed they,
& vpon the smiday gods service did see.
toward the ffeild they did them array ;
420 the vawward the hord Stanley tooke hee,
Sir "William Stanley the rerward wold bee,
& his sonne S/r Edward with a winge.
the did remaine in their array
424 to waite the coming of Richard King.
BOSWORTH FEILDE
251
thea they Looked to a fforrest syde,
they hard trampetts & tabours tempered on hye :
they thought King Richard had comen there,
428 & itt was the Noble prince, King Henerye.
ouer a riuer then rydeth hee ;
he brake the ray, & rode to him :
itt was a comelye sight to see
432 the meeting of our hord & Kinge. —
But Henry
first comes,
(comely it
was to see
the meeting)
then in their host there did flail affray
. a litle time before the night ; —
you neuer saw men soe soone in their array
436 with ffell weapons ffeirce ffor to flight. —
vpon a keene courser that was Avigkt,
other Lords with, him hee cold bringe ;
thus in array came ryding straight,
440 Henery of England, our noble Kinge.
he lowted low & tooke his hatt in his hand,
& thanked the states * and cominaltye :
" to quitt 2 you all I vnder stand ;
444 I trust in Iesu that day to see."
many a cry in the host that night did bee ;
& anon the Larke began to singe ;
truth of the battell heere shall yee,
448 that euer was betweene "King and King.
on a swift
courser,
our noble
king.
He thanked
the lords
and com-
mons,
and said he
hoped to re-
quite them.
Next
morning,
King Henery desired the vaward right
of the Lord Stanley that was bi
& hee hath granted him in sight,
he asked to
lead the
of the LorcZ Stanley that was both wise & wittye; van.
452 & saith " but small is your companyc"
1 nobles. — F.
2 quite, i.e. requite. — P.
2,32
r.OSWORTII FEILDE.
Lord
Stanley gave
it hin i,
with 4 good
knights,
450
4 of the Noble Knights then called hee ;
their names to you then shall I minge ;
he hade array them with their chiualrye,
& goe to the vaward with our Kinge:
Tunstaii, Sir Robert Tunsall, a Noble Knight,
& come of royall anceytree ;
Savage, Sir Iohn Savage, wise & wight,
Perschaii, 460 Sir Hugh Persall ; there was 3 :
Humphrey
Stanley.
464
Sir Humphrey Stanley the 4* did bee,
that proued noble in euerye thinge ;
they did assay them w/th their chiualrye,
& went to the vaward with our kinge.
Lord
Stanley
has two
battalions.
the LorcZ Stanley both sterne and stout,
2 battells that day had hee
of hardy e men, withouten doubt
468 better were not in christentye.
Sir Wm.
Stanley
has the
rearguard.
Sir william, wise and worthye,
was hindmust att the outsettinge ;
men said that day that dyd him see,
472 hee came betime 3 vnto our King.
He sees
Richard's
host :
five miles
of men,
then he remoued vnto a mountaine full hye,
& looked into a dale null dread ;
5 miles compasse, no ground they see,
476 ffor armed men & trapped steeds.
in four
battalions,
theyr armor glittered as any gleed 2 ;
in 4 strong battells they cold fforth bring ;
they seemed noble men att need
480 as euer came to maintaine [a] King.
1 MS. betine.— F.
2 burning coal.
-Dyco.
BOSWOKTII FEILDE.
253
484
the duke of Norfolk e ' avanted 2 his banner 3 bright, Norfolk in
soe did the younge Erie of Shrewsbury^,
to the sun & wind right speedylye dight,
soe did Oxfford, that Erie, in companye.
to tell the array itt were hard ffor me,
& they Noble power that they did bring.
And of the ordinance 4 heere shall yee,
488 Unit had that day Richard our Kinge.
[page 441] Their
artillery
was,
they had 7 scores Sarpendines 5 without dout,
that were locked & Chained vppon a row,
as many bombards" that were stout;
492 like blasts of thunder they did blow.
llo ser-
pentines,
140
bombards,
10000 Morespikes 7 with-all,
& harquebusyers, throwlye can the thringe 8
to make many a noble man to ffall
496 that was on Henerys part, our kinge.
10.000
morris-pikes
and harqne-
busiers.
500
9 YLlng Richard looked on the mountaines hye,
Richard sees
LoitI
& sayd, "I see the banner of the liord Stanley." Stanley's
he said, " ffeitch hither the LorcZ Strange to mee,
ffor doubtlesse hee shall dye this day ;
banner,
" I make mine avow to Marye, that may,
that all the gold this Land within
shall not saue his liffe this day,
504 in England iff I be Kinge ! "
and swears
Lord
St range
shall die.
1 Norfolk was on the side of Richard.
Shrewsbury, a minor, probably with his
undo .Sir Gilbert Talbot, was on the side
of Henry. Oxford was a chief com-
mander of Henry's side. Adams.
2 availed, or perhaps avanced. — P.
advanced, raised. — Dyce.
3 MS. bamcr.— F.
1 Fr. Artilleric, f., Artillerio, Ordnance.
Cotgrave. — F.
5 a kind of cannon. Ealliwell, Fr.
Serpentine, the Artillorie called a Ser-
pentine or Basiliskoe. Cotgrave. — F.
6 See Florio, ed. 1611, pp. 100, 112,
127. Halliwell. Fr. Bombarde. A Bum-
bard, or nmrthering peece. Cotgrave.
F.
'■ a Large pike. Halliwell. — F.
8 A.-S. \>ringan =to rush. — F.
Vide Pag. 478. St. 236, & sequent'
[The 6* Part of Ladye Bessiye, below.]
254
BOSWORTII FEILDE.
Strange is
brought out ;
he calls
508
then they brought the hord Strange into his sight ;
he said, " ffor thy death make thee readye."
then answered that noble Knight,
& said, " I crye god & the world mercy e !
Christ to
witness
that he never
was a
traitor.
" & Iesns, I draw wittnesse to thee
that all the world ffrom woe did winn,
since the time that I borne did bee,
512 was I neuer traitor to my Kinge."
He sends a
message
to his
gentlemen
and yeomen,
a gentleman then called bee, —
men said Latham was his name, —
" & euer thon come into my country e,
516 greete well my gentlemen eche one;
" my yeomen Large of blood and bone,
sometimes we had mirth att our meetinge ;
they had a Master, & now they haue none,
520 ffor heere I must be martyred w/th the Kinge."
a ring to his
Lady,
there he tooke a ring of his ffingar right,
& to that squier raught itt hee,
& said, "beare this to my Lady bright,
524 for shee may thinke itt longe or shee may l see ;
and hopes
that
they all may
meet in
heaven.
" yett att doomes day meete shall wee, —
I trust in Iesu that all this world shall winn —
In the celestyall heauen vpon bye
528 in presence of a Noble YLing.
If Henry
loses,
his son is to
lie taken
abroad ;
" & the ffeild be lost vpon our partye, —
as I trust in god itt shall not bee, —
take my eldest sonne that is my heyre,
532 & fflee into some ffarr countrye.
me. — F.
BOSWORTH FEILDE.
255
53G
" yett the child a man may bee, —
hee is comen of a Lo/t?s kinn, —
another day to reuenge mee
of Richard of England, if he be K.ing."
and when
he's a man,
he is to
revenge him
on Richard.
then to King Richard there came a Knight,
saith, "I hold noe time about this to be.
see yee not the vawards begining to flight ?
540 when yee haue the flather, the vnckle, all 3,
Richard
hears
that the vans
are lighting,
544
" looke what death you will haue them to dye ;
att jour will you may them deeme."
through these ffbrtunate words eskaped hee
out of the danger of Richard the Kinsre.
waits to
take
the Stanleys;
and Strange
escapes
death.
then the partyes countred J together egerlye.
when the vawards began to flight,
K.mg Henery flbught soe manflullye,
548 soe did Oxford, that Erie soe wight ;
Henry lights
manfully,
S/r Iohn Sauage, that hardy K.night,
deathes dints he delt that day
w/th many a white hood in fight,
552 that sad men were att assay.
and so do
Savage,
S/r Gilbert Talbott was not away,
but stoutly stirred him in that flight ;
w/th noble men att assay
556 he caused his enemyes lowe to light.
Talbot,
S/r Hugh Persall, w/th shcild & speare
ffull doughtylye that day did hee ;
he bare him doughtye in this w;ur,
560 as a man of great degree.
and rearsall.
' i.e. cncouuti'ml. — 1 J .
256
BOSWOKTH FEILDE.
Richard has
40,00:3 men.
Kmg Hichm-d did in liis army stand,
he was n[u]mbred to 40000 and 3
of hardy men of hart and hand,
564 that vnder his banner there did bee.
Sir William
Stanley
attacks him.
Arrows fly,
guns shoot:
Richard's
men begin to
fail.
Henry's
archers
take to their
swordB,
Sir William Stanley wise & worthie [rage 442]
remembred the brea[k]ffast * he hett to him ;
downe att a backe then cometh hee,
568 & shortlye sett vpon the Kinge.
then they conntred together sad & sore ;
archers they lett sharpe arrowes fflce,
they shott guns 2 both ffell & ffarr,
572 bowes of vewe 3 bended did bee,
springalls 4 spedd them speedylye,
harquebusiers pelletts throughly did thringe ;
soe many a banner began to swee 5
576 that was on Richards partye, their King.
then our archers lett their shooting bee,
with ioyned weapons were growden 6 ifull right,
brands rang on basenetts hye,
580
battell-axes ffast on hehnes did light.
and his men
fight
mightily.
A knight
advises
Richard to
flee.
there dyed many a doughtye Knight,
there vnder ffoot can the thringe ;
thus they nought With maine & might
584 that was on Heneryes part, our King.
then to King Richard there came a Knight, 7
& said, " I hold itt time ffor to fflec ;
ffor yonder Stanleys dints they be soe wight,
588 against them no man may dree.
1 See lino 179, page 242.— F. 5 swee, qu. perhaps ilec.— P. sway
2 31 S. gums.— F. 3 yewe.— P. (& fall).— F.
* Springal, an ancient military engine 6 ? grownden. — F.
for casting stones and arrows. Halliwell. 7 Vide Pag. 479, St. 255 [of MS., last
— p. part of Ladyc Bessiye\, et sequentes. — P.
BOSWORTII FEILDE.
592
" heere is thy horsse att thy hand readye ;
another clay thou may thy worahipp win,
& ffor to raigne with, royaltye,
to weare the crowne, and be our K.mg."
he said, " giue me my battell axe in my hand
sett the crowne of England on my head
ffor by him that shope both sea and Land,
But Richard
calls for his
sett the crowne of England on my head soe hyc ! battle-axe
anil crown :
he will die a
King,
596 ~King of England this day I will dye !
600
" one ffoote will I neuer fflee
whilest the breath is my brest within ! "
as he said, soe did itt bee ;
if hee lost his liffe, if he were King.
and never
flee.
about his standard can the light,
the crowne of gold the hewed him ffroe,
with dilffull dints his death the dight,
604 the Duke of Norffolke that day the slowc.
Richard
is slain :
Norfolk too,
the LorcZ fferrers & many other moe, Lord
u Ferrers,
boldlyo on bere they can them bringe ;
many a noble Knight in his hart was thro we,
608 that lost his liffe with Rickai'd the 'King.
there was slaine Sir Richard Ratcliffe, a noble sir Richard
. Ratcliffe,
JLnight,
of JLmg Richards councell was ffull nyc ;
Sir william Conyas, 1 allwayes that was wight,
612 & Si'r Robert of Brakenburye.
a Knight there dyed thai was fful] doughtyc,
that was Sir Richard the good Chorlton ;
that day there dyed hoc
6J6 With Richard of England Hint ware the crowne.
Sir William
Conyers,
and Sir
Richard
Chorlton.
VOL. III.
1 Conyers. — P.
258
BOSWORTII FEILDE.
Sir William
Brandon,
Henry's
standard-
bearer,
was killed,
amongst all other Knights, remember
which, were hardy, & therto wight :
Sir william Brandon was one of those,
620 King Heueryes Standard he kept on height,
& vanted itt with manhood & might
vntill with dints hee was dr[i]uen downe,
& dyed like an ancyent Knight,
624 with Henery of England that ware the crowne.
and also
Sir P.
Triball,
Richard's
standard-
bearer.
S/r Perciuall Thriball, the other hight,
& noble Knight, & in his hart was true ;
King Richards standard hee kept vpright
628 vntill both his leggs were hewen him froe
to the ground he wold neuer lett itt goe,
whilest the breath his brest was within ;
yett men pray ffor the Knights 2
632 that euer was soe true to their King.
Henry is
proclaimed
King,
and Lord
Stanley
then they moued to a mountaine on height,
with a lowde voice they cryed king Hene.jv ;
the crowne of gold that was bright,
636 to the JjovcI Stanley deliuered itt bee.
hands the
crown of
England to
him.
640
anon to King Henert deliuered itt hee,
the crowne that was soe deliuered to him,
& said, " methinke ye are best worthye
to weare the crowne and be our King."
They ride to
Leicester,
Then they rode to Leister that night [page \v.\
with our noble prince King Henerye ;
they brought King Richard thither with might
644 as naked as he borne might bee,
BOSWORTH FEILUE.
259
648
& iu Newarke ' Laid was liee,
tJ/at many a one might looke on him.
thus {fortunes raignes most maruelouslyo
both w/th Emperour & with king.
and lay
Richard's
body in
Newark.
now this doubtfull day is brought to an end,
Iesu now on their soules haue mercye !
& hee [that] dyed this world to amend,
652 saue Stanleys blood, where-soeuer they bee,
to remaine as LonZs with royaltye
when truth & conscyence shall spread & spring,
& that they bee of councell nye
656 to lames 2 of England that is our King !
ffinis.
Jesn have
mercy on
their souls,
and save
Stanley's
blood
as Lords
wherever
truth shall
spread !
1 A place in Leicester so called. — P.
2 This Poem was certainly written
before the time of King James, but some
transcriber applied the Prayer to the
reigning Prince. — P.
S 2
260
This song is to be found among " The Ayres that ivere sung and
played at Brougham Castle in Westmerland, in the King's
Entertainment, given by the Right Honourable the Earl of
Cumberland and his Right noble Sonne the Lord Clifford.
Composed by Mr. Ofeorge Mason and Mr. John Earsden. Printed
by Thomas Snodham, 1618." They were reprinted by John
Stafford Smith in Musica Antiqua ; and in the preface to that
work he says: "The last verse of the famous ballad Dido
Queen was, on this occasion, added to the more ancient song.
The Editor has in his possession an older copy without it." The
verse here referred to begins " Dido wept."
D'Urfey reprinted the song, with this third verse, in Pills to
purge Melancholy, vol. vi. p. 192, but to another tune. The old
song was very popular, as may be proved by the following
quotations:
You ale-knights ! you that devour the marrow of the malt, and drink
whole ale-tubs into consumptions ! that sing Queen Dido over a cup,
and tell strange news over an ale-pot ! you shall be awarded with
this punishment, that the rot shall infect your purses, and eat out
the bottom before you are aware. {Tlte Penniless Parliament of
Threadbare Poets, 1608.)
This allusion to the song is ten years earlier than the date of the
printed copy of the " Entertainement." Again, in Fletcher's The
Captain, Act iii. Scene 3, Frank says :
These are your eyes —
Where wero they, Clora, when you fell in love
With the old footman for singing Queen Dido ?
In Charles II. 's reign, Sir Robert Howard (speaking of bim-
1 In praise of Inconstancy. — P.
ACENEAS AND DIDO.
261
self) said: "In my younger time I have been delighted with
a ballad for its sake; and 'twas 10 to 1 but my muse and I had
so set up first: nay, I had almost thought that Queen Dido, sung
that way, was some ornament to the pen of Virgil." (Poems and
Essays, 8vo, 1673.)
"The most excellent History of The Duchess of Suffolk's
Calamity," printed in 1607, was sung to the tune of Queen Dido.
Several more are quoted in Popular Music of the Olden Turn 1 ,
vol. i. pp. 371-2.— W.C.
-DlDO : was a Carthage Queene,
& loued a Troian "Knight,
[that] wandering, 1 many a coste had seene,
& many a bloody flight.
as they on hunting [rode, 2 ] a shower
droue them in a loiiing hower,
downe to a darkesome Caue,
wheras ^Eneas wi'th his charmes
locket Queene didon in his amies,
& had what hee wold craue.
Dido loved
iEneas,
and in a cavo
he locked her
in his arniK,
Dido Hymens rites fforgett, 3
12 her lone was winged with Last;
her honor shee regarded not,
but in her brcst him placet,
but when their loues were new begun,
IC Ioue sent downe his winged sonne
to fiViuhl Aeneas sleep 6,
who bade him by the breake of day
firom Quet tie <li<lo steale away,
20 which made her wayie and weepc.
But Jove
ordered him
Rway,
1 BIS. wondering. — F. who wand? — P.
- went.- J', code, in the other copy. — W.C.
forgot.— P.
262
ACENEAS AND DIDO.
and Dido
wept.
iEneas did
no wrong, as
he was
forced to go.
Learn lords,
then,
to be
faithless,
and get new
loves.
dido wept, but what of this ?
the gods wold haue itt soe ;
Aeneas nothing did amisse,
24 ffor he was fforcte to goe.
Learne, Lordings, Learne *, no ffaith to keepe
with jour loues, but lett them weepe;
itts ffolly to be true ;
28 And lett this story serue yowr turne,
& lett 20 didoes burne,
soe you gett dalye 2 new.
ffinis.
1 then in the other copy. — W. C.
daily.— P.
[_" As it beffell on a Day ," printed «'»Lo, & Hum. Songs, p. 82, follows
here in the MS. p>. 444.]
20'3
€ln £>qtunV
This is a much abridged and somewhat mutilated version of the
charming and most popular old romance, The Squyr of Loive
Degre, 2 reprinted by Kitson from Copland's edition, in his Ancient
English Metrical Romances ; reprinted again more accurately
by Mr. Hazlitt in his Early Popular Poetry ; liberally quoted
from by Warton in his History of Englisli Poetry. The " Squyr
of Lowe Degree," as Mr. Hazlitt (ii. 22) points out, " was licensed
to John Kyng on the 10th of June, 1560, with several other
articles ; but no impression by King has hitherto come to light."
The following may possibly be a copy of King's edition.
With one part of the story — the tender care with which the
supposed remains of her lover are preserved by the king's daugh-
ter — the reader will not fail to compare Keats' Isabella or the
Pot of Basil.
IT : was a squier of England borne,
he wrought a fforffett against the crowne,
An English
Squire
offended his
against the crowne & against the ffee : King >
4 in England tarry no longer durst hee,
ffor hee was vexed beyond the ffome 3 and hacl t0
into the Kmga Land of Hungary©. Hungary.
he was no sooner beyond the ffome,
8 but into a service he was done ; There he
took service
1 A poor imperfect Old Ballad. Of Degree about as much as that of Sir
very moderate excellence: yet curious. Lambwell in pag. 60 [of MS., vol. i.
This is a mutilated i 1 1 correct copy of the p. 1 12 of print] does from that of Sir
ancient Romance intitled The Squire of Launfal, & probably for the same Rea-
l.mr l)<<jrcr. (So 1 one. th6t, bul upon son — vid. SU|ir;i, p. 60. — P.
comparing them 1 find them very diffe- '-' Or Vndo yowr doore : 1132 lines. — F.
rent.) Tin's Beems to differ from the 3 Sea, 411.— P.
printed Koinan f the Sijuier of Low
264
THE SQUIEB.
with
the King's
daughter,
and waited
on her
till he won
her love.
When he
was sad,
he went to
his garden
of maples
and hazles,
where the
martin and
thrush sang.
There he
lamented
his want of
money
and birth
that he
might win
his Lady.
She heard
him.
and asked
him
whom he
was
suck a service he cold him gett,
he serried the Kings daughter in her seate ;
such a service he was put in,
12 he serued the K.ings daughter wz'th hread & wine ;
he serued this Lady att table and Chesse
till hee had woone her loue to his. 1
he was made vsher of the hall,
16 the setter of the hords both great & small. 2
the Squier was soe curterous & kind, 3
Euery man loued him & was his ffreind.
& alwaies when the Squier was woe,
20 into his arbour he wold goe ;
the maple trees were ffaire & round,
the ffilbert hangs downe to the ground,
the lay iangles them amonge,
24 the marttin song many a ffaire songe,
the sparrow spread vpon her spray,
the throstle song both night and day,
the swallow swooped too and ffroe :
28 the squires hart was neuer soe woe,
he Leaned his backe vntill a thorne,
& said, " alacke that euer I was borne !
that I had gold, soe had I ffee,
32 marry I might yond ffaire Ladye.
O that I were borne of soe hye a kin,
the Ladyes loue that T might win ! "
the Lady lay in her chamber hind,
36 & heard the Squier still mourning ;
shee pulled fforth a pin of Iuorye,
like the sun itt shone by and by ;
shoe opened the Casement of a glasse,
40 shee saw the squier well where hee was,
" Squier," shee sayes, " ffor whose sake
is that mourning that thou dost make ? "
1 Compare Thomas of Pott e, p. 136 above. — F.
- See Russell's Boke of Nurture, I. 1001.— F.
bond, i. o. geutle. — P.
THE SQUIER.
265
" Ladye," lie sayes, " as I doe see, [page 445]
44 of my mourninge I dare not tell yee,
ffor you wold coraplaine vnto our King,
& hinder me of my Liuinge."
" Squier," shee sais, " as I doe thriue,
48 neuer while I am woman aliue ! "
" Squier," shee sais, " if you will my loue haue,
another ffashion you must itt craue,
ffor you must to the ffeild, & flight,
52 & dresse you like & other wise Knight l ;
& euer the ffbrmost I hold you ffirst,
& euer my ffather hold you next,
& hee will take such flavor to yee,
56 soone marry ed together wee shalbee."
"Lady," he saies, " that is soone said :
how shold a man to the ffeild, was neuer arraid ?
Lady," he said, " itt were great shame
60 a naked man shold ryde ffrom home."
" thou shalt haue gold, thou shalt haue flee,
strenght of men & royaltye."
shee went to a Chest of Iuorye,
64 & ffeitcht out a lOO'l and 3 :
" Squier," shee saies, " put this in good Lore ;
when this is done, come ffeitch thee more."
shee had no sooner these words all said,
68 but men about her chamber her ffather had Laid :
" open yo?<r doore, my Lady alone,
heere is twenty, I am but one."
" I will neuer my dore vndoe
72 ffor noe man that comes me to,
nor I will neuer my dore vnsteake 2
vntill I heare my ffather speake."
then they tooke the Squier alone,
76 & put him into a chamber of ffrom 3 ;
mourning
after,
anil told him
that if he
would have
her love,
he must
fight and
dress
like a
knight,
and then
they could be
married.
" But I have
no armour."
The Lady
gives
him 103^.
and promises
him more.
The King's
men
•who have
lain in wait,
take the
Squire, put
him in
prison,
1 Another-guesse Knight ; qu. — P.
2 i.e. unfasten, open. — P.
3 her from, qu. — P.
ffrano, 1. 153.— P.
? frame: cp,
266
THE SQUIER.
set a corpse
at her
chamber
door,
and mangle
his face.
The Lady
gets up,
opens her
door, and the
corpse falls
on the floor.
She thinks
her Squire is
dead.
She says she
will bury his
bowels,
embalm his
body,
and keep it
at her bed's
head
till it can be
kept no
longer :
then she'll
bury it, and
say her daily
prayers on
it.
Also she'll
wear
nothing but
black.
& to the gallow tree they be gone,
& ffeitched dowtie a hanged man.
the Leaned him to her chamber dore,
80 the dead might ffall vpon the ffloore ;
they mangled him soe in the face,
they Lady might not know who he was.
shee harde the swords ding & crye ;
84 the Lady rose vpp by and by
naked as euer shee was borne,
saning a mantle her beforne ;
shee opened the chamber dore,
88 the dead man ffell vpon the more.
" alacke," shee saith, " & woe is aye !
something to Long that I haue Lay.
alacke," shee sais, " that eue?- 1 was borne !
92 Sqnier, now thy liffe dayes are fforlome !
I will take thy ffingars & thy max, 1
I will throwe them well in virgins wax ;
I will thy bowells out drawe,
96 & bury them in christyan graue ;
I will wrapp thee in a wrapp 2 of lead,
& reare thee att my beds head.
Squier," shee sayes, " in powder thoust Lye ;
100 longer kept thou cannott bee ;
I will chest thee in a chest of stree,
& spice thee well with spicerye,
& bury thee vnder a marble stone,
104 & euery day say my praiers thee vpon,
& euery day, whiles I am woman aliuc,
for thy sake gett masses ffiue.
through the praying 3 of our Lady alone,
108 saued may be the soule of the hanged man.
Squier," shee sais, " now ffor thy sake
I will neuer weare no clothing but blacke.
1 A..S.feax, hair of the head.
3 Wrapper. — P.
Only half the n in the MS.— F,
THE SQUIER.
267
Squier," sliee sais, "He neuer looke att other thing,
112 nor neuer weare mantle nor ringe."
her ffather stood vnder an easing ' bore,
& heard his daughter mourning euer more ;
" daughter," he sais, " ffor whose sake
lie is that sorrow that still thou makes ? "
"ffather," shee sais, " as I doe see,
itt is ffor no man in Christen tye.
ffather," shee sayes, "as I doe thriue, [page44G]
120 itt is ffor noe man this day aliue ;
ffor yesterday I lost my kniffe ;
much rather had I haue lost my liffc ! "
" my daughter," he sayes, " if itt be but a blade,
124 I can gett another as good made."
"ffather," shee sais, "there is neuer a smith but one
that [can] smith you 2 such a one."
"daughter," hee sais, "to-morrow I will a hunting
ffare,
128 & thou shalt ryde vppon thy chaire,
& thou shalt stand in such a place
& see 30 harts come all in a chase."
"ffather," shee sayes, "godamercy,
132 but all this will not comfort mee."
" daughter," he sais, " thou shalt sitt att thy meate,
& see the flashes in the ffloud leape."
" ffather," shee sais, " godamercy,
136 but all this will not comfort mee."
" thy sheetes they shall be of they Lawne,
.thy blanketts of the ffine ffustyan."
" ffathe[r,] " shee sais, &c.\
140 " & to thy bed I will thee bring,
many torchcrs ffaire burninge."
" fiather," slice sais, &c.
Her father
asks whom
she's sorrow-
ing for.
"No man
alive.
I've lost my
knife."
" I'll get
another
blade for
you.
Come and
see me hunt
to-morrow."
"That won't
comfort
me."
" I'll give
you some
Lawn
sheets and
fustian
blankets,
1 Easing, i. e. Eves of n house. — P.
? Building with eaves. Bor, liore, a
place used for shelter, es] ially by
smaller animals. Sir Tristrem, Easin-
f/ang, a course of sheaves projecting a
little at the easin, to keep the rain from
getting in. Jamieson. — F.
1 thai can smithe you, &c. — P.
268
THE SQUIER.
minstrels
shall play to
you, and
pepper and
cloves
burn for
you.
Why are
you so
pale?
I have your
lover I "
He brings
the Squire to
her;
she swoons,
but recovers
when kissed.
She marries
the Squire.
Kings come
to her
wedding.
The feast
lasts 34 days,
and the
lovers live
over 30
years.
144
148
152
156
160
164
168
" If thou cannott sleepe, nor rest take,
thou shalt haue Minstrells with thee to wake. 1 "
" gather," shee sais, &c.
" peper & Cloues shall be hurninge,
that thou maist ffeele the sweet smellinge."
" ffather," shee sais, &c.
" daughter, thou had wont to haue beene both white
& red ;
now thou art as pale as beaten leade.
I haue him in my keeping
that is both thy loue & likinge."
he went to a Chamber of ffrane,
& ffeitcht fforth the Squier, a whales bone. 2
when shee looked the Squier vpon,
in a dead swoonc shee ffell anon,
throug 3 kissing of that worthye wight,
vprisse that Lady bright.
" ffather," shee sayes, " how might you for sinn
haue kept vs 2 louers in twin ? "
"daughter," he said, " I did ffor no other thinge
but thought to haue marryed thee to a King."
to her Marriage came Kings out of Spaine,
& Kings out of Almaigne,
& Kings out of Normandye,
att this Ladyes wedding ffor to bee.
a long month and dayes 3,
soe long lasted this Mangerye. 4
30 winters and some deale moe,
soe longe liued these Louers too.
Amis.
1 A.-S. wcBCcan, to watch. — F.
2 as white as ivory. — F.
3 ffor is marked out for throug. — F.
4 Mangeryo, i. e. eating, feasting. — P.
[" Blame not a Woman" printed in Lo. & Hum. Songs, p. 84, follows
hero in the MS. p. 446.]
269
(P^Oblf ffrStUS: l [page 447]
This piece is, as Percy mentions, "printed in a Collection of
Songs called the Rump, p. 237, a. d. 1662." (It is not in the 1660
edition of the said collection.) It is reprinted in the two-volumed
edition that appeared in 1731. " It was written," says Percy,
" about the beginning of the seventeenth century by the witty
bishop Corbet, and is printed from the 3rd edition of his poems
12mo. 1672, compared with a more ancient copy in the editor's
folio MS."
V. 9. " Coming to Court after he [Sir Walter Mildmay,
"formerly a serious student in and benefactor to Christ's College,"]
had founded his college [Emmanuel College,]" says Fuller in his
History of the University of Cambridge, " the queen told him
' Sir Walter, I hear you have erected a Puritan foundation.'
' No, madam,' saith he, ' far be it from me to countenance any
thing contrary to your established laws; but I have set an acorn,
which, when it becomes an oak, God alone knows what will be
the fruit thereof.' ' John Gifford, Ezekiel Culverwell, Jeremiah
Burroughs, Stephen Marshall, Thomas Shephard, Nathaniel
Ward, Samuel Crooke, John Cotton, Thomas Hooker, John
Yates, John Stoughton, all well-known Puritan divines, were
members of Mildmay's College.
V. 47. Richard Greenham was born circ. 1531, educated at
and elected fellow of Pembroke Hall, Cambridge, " became pastor
to the congregation at Drayton, near Cambridge," "took such
uncommon pains," says Brook in his Lives of the Puritans, "and
1 Printed in a Collection of son^s N. B. Thf Various Readings below are
culled the Rump, p. 237, a.d. 1GG2. from the printed Copy. — P.
270 O NOBLE FESTUS.
was so remarkably ardent in bis preaching, that at the conclusion
of the service his perspiration was so great that his shirt was
usually as wet as if it had been drenched in water ; " " was a most
exact and conscientious nonconformist, choosing on all occasions
to suffer rather than sacrifice a good conscience; " " died a most
comfortable and happy death in the year 1591." With regard
to the " cure " the reading of his writings is said in the following
piece to have effected, we quote once more from Brook : " In
addition to his public ministerial labours, he had a remarkable
talent for comforting afflicted consciences ; and in this depart-
ment the Lord greatly blessed his endeavours. Having himself
waded through the deep waters, and laboured under many painful
conflicts, he was eminently qualified for relieving others. The
fame of his usefulness in resolving the doubts of inquiring souls
having spread through the country, multitudes from all quarters
flocked to him as to a wise physician, and by the blessing of Grod
obtained the desired comfort. Numerous persons, who to his
own knowledge had laboured under the most racking terrors of
conscience, were restored to joy and peace in believing. When
any complained of blasphemous thoughts, his advice was " do not
fear them, but abhor them." Amongst his treatises (see his
Works, fol. 1612) are " A sweet comfort for afflicted conscience,"
ei A short direction for the comfort of afflicted consciences,"
" Rules for an afflicted minde concerning several temptations," &c.
V. 49. William Perkins (1558-1602), too, was of Cambridge,
a fellow of Christ's College, and afterwards preacher at St.
Andrew's Church. He was both a Boanerges and a Barnabas,
according to Brook. " Mr. Perkins' sermons were all laiv and all
gospel . . . He used to apply the terrors of the law so directly
to the consciences of his hearers, that their hearts would often
sink under the convictions ; and he used to pronounce the word
da in a with so peculiar an emphasis that it left a doleful echo in
their ears a long time after." " As for his books," says Fuller in
O NOBLE FESTUS. 271
a highly eulogistic sketch of his life in his Abel Redivivus, " it
is a miracle almost to conceive how thick they lye and yet how
far they overspread all over Christendome." . . .
Of all the "Worthies in this learned role,
Our English Perkins may, without eontrole,
Challenge a crowne of Bayes to deck his head,
And second unto none be numbered,
For's learning, wit and worthy parts divine,
Wherein his Fame resplendantly did shine
Abroad and eke at home ; for 's Preaching rare
And learned writings, almost past compare ;
Which were so high esteem'd, that some of them
Translated were (as a most precious jem)
Into the Latine, French, Dutch, Spanish tongue,
And rarely valued both of old and young.
And (which was very rare) Them all did write
With his left hand, his right being uselesse quite ;
Borne in the first, dying in the last year
Of Queen Eliza, a Princesse without peer.
T. Fuller's Abel Redivivus (1651) p. 440.
His works were printed again and again — in 1608-10, 1612,
1616, 1621, 1626, 1635. The reference in the following piece is,
no doubt, to his " Golden chaine or the description of Theologie,
containing the order of the causes of Salvation and Damnation,
according to God's Word, a view whereof is to be seen in the
Table annexed." See vol. i. of the 1612 edition of his works.
This table, a side-note on it informs us, " may be in stead of an
Ocular Catechism e to them which cannot read ; for by the
pointing of the finger they may sensihly perceive the chiefe
points of religion and the order of them." The reader is in-
structed that " the white line sheweth the order of the causes of
salvation from the first to the last. The blacke line sheweth the
order of the causes of damnation." Some of these latter causes
are " the decree of Eeprobation," " A calling not effectual," " No
calling," " Ignorance and vauitie of mind," " the hardening of the
heart," "a reprobate sense," " Gm.-dines in sinne," "Fulnes of
sinne." A bold analysis of perdition this — an audacious piece of
272
O NOBLE FESTUS.
theological presumption. The black line has a fearful look, as
of some dark deadly flood moving across the page. No wonder
Those crooked veins
Long stuck in my brains
That I feared my reprobation.
Am I mad
because I
hope to put
down the
Pope?
I wastraincd
in
Emmanuel's
house.
I was bound
like a
madman,
and lashed.
AM : I mad, noble ffestus,
when zeale & godlye knowledge
put me in hope to deale with the Pope
4 as well as the best in the Colledge ?
Boldlye I preacht " war 1 & cross war a surplus,
miters, copes, & rochetts !
come heare me pray 9 times a day,
8 & mil yozo* head with crochetts."
In the house of pure Emanuell 2
I had my educatyon,
till my ffreinds did surmise I dazled my eyes
12 with the light of reuelation.
Boldlye I preacht &c.
The bound me like [a] 3 bedlam,
& lash[t] 4 my 4 poore quarters,
while this does endure, 5 ffaith makes me sure
16 to be one of ffox his Martyres.
Boldlye I preacht &c.
These iniuryes I sufferd
with Antich[r]ists perswasion.
lett loose my chaine ! neither Roome nor Spaine
20 can withstand my strong inuasyon.
Boldlye I preacht &c.
1 hate a Cross, hate, &c, or ware a
Cross &c. i.o. beware, &c. — P.
2 Emanuel College, Cambridge, was
originally a seminary of Puritans. —
W. C.
s a.— P. 4 t.— P. 5 thus I indurc.— P.
O NOBLE FESTUS.
273
24
I assailed the seauen-hild Cittye
where I mett the great redd dragon ;
I kept him alooffe with the armor l prooffe
thoughe now I haue neuer a ragg on.
Boldlye I preacht &c.
At Tiomn I
fought the
red dragon,
28
with a ffiery sword and Targett,
twice ffought I with this monster ;
but the sonnes of pryde my zeale doe derydc,
& all my deeds misconster.
Boldly I preacht &c.
with a sword
and target.
I vnhorsct the hore of Babell
with the Launce of Inspiration ;
I made her stinke, & spill the 2 drinke
32 in the Cupp of abbominatyon.
Boldlye I preacht &c.
I unbnrsed
the whore of
Babylon.
3 ffrom the beast with 10 homes, Lord blesse vs,
I haue plucket of 3 allreadye ;
if theyle Lett me alone, lie leaue him none ;
but they say I am to headye.
Boldlye I preacht &c.
I pulled out
three of the
beast's ten
horns.
•JO
I saw 2 in the visyon,
with a fflying booke betweene them.
I haue beenc in dispaire 5 times in a ycere,
& beene cured by reading Greenham. 4
Boldlye I preacht &c.
I've l>een
rescued
from despair
by
Greenham.
i [insert] of.— P.
2 her. I'.
3 This Stauza is not in tin- printed
Copy.-l'.
* The Works of Richard Greenl,
Minister and Preacker of the Word of
VOL. ni
God. Lond. 1599, 4to. Greenham was
a puritan ilivino of considenible talents
and popularity. His works consist of
sermons, treatises, and a commentary on
Psalm cxix. Lowndes. — F.
274
Perkins has
made me fear
my dam-
nation.
44
O NOBLE FESTUS.
I haue read in l Perkins table 2
the blacke Line of damnatyon ;
these crooked vaines long stucke 3 in my braincs,
that I ffeared my reprobacibn.
Boldlye I preacht &c.
48
In the holy tounge of Cannan
I placed my Cheefest tresure,
till I hurt my ffoot with an hebrew rootc
that I bled beyond all measure.
Boldlye I preacht &c.
I've told the
Archbishop
that
he favoured
superstition.
I was 4 before the Archbisboppe
& all the hye Comissyon ;
I gaue him no grace, but told him to his fface
that he ffauoured superstition.
Boldlye I preacht &c. ffillis.
1 observed in. — P.
2 Perkins, William, The Works.
Loncl., 1608-10, fol., 3 vols. A Re-
formed Catholike, or a Declaration of De-
clarations. Camb., 1567. A Reforma-
tion of a Catholike deformed. 1604, 4to.,
and a Second Part of the Reformation,
etc. 1607. Discourse of the Damned
Art of Witchcraft. Camb. 1610. The
works of this Puritan are distinguished
for their piety, learning, extensive km >w-
ledge of the Scriptures, and strong Cal-
vinistic argumentation. Lowndes. — F.
3 so stuck. — P.
4 appear'd. — P.
[•" Watt, ivhere art tho?" printed in Lo. & Hum. Songs, p. 121,
follows here in the MS. p. 447-8.]
275
Carle off Carlfle 1 :
Tins poem was printed from the Folio by Sir F. Madden in
the Appendix to his Syr Gaivayne for the Bannatyne Club,
pp. 256-74. Some of his readings of the MS. differ from mine;
and though, if I can trust my eyes, the MS. does not make all the
mistakes that Sir F. Madden attributes to it, I have thought it
only due to his well-established reputation and great experience
in reading MSS., as well as to our readers, who will probably
trust him rather than me, to put his readings in the notes. The
poem is, as he says, a modernised copy of the Syre Gawene and
the Carle of Carelyle in the Porkington MS. No. 10, " written in
the reign of Edward IV V " printed by him (Sir F. Madden) in
the Appendix to his Syr Gaivayne, pp. 187-206. Though Mrs.
Ormsby Gore has kindly lent me this Porkington MS., I have
not collated the Folio with it, as its Syre Gaivene will be printed
by Mr. Richard Morris for the Early English Text Society next
year, and will there be easily accessible to all readers. The
alterations are great in words, small in incidents, and the earlier
poem is the better one. Sir F. Madden looks on the occurrence
of the present poem and The Grene Knight (vol. ii. p. 58) in our
Folio as settling the " question of the genuineness and antiquity
of the romance-poems (as distinguished from the longer and
better-known romances) in this celebrated MS." — that is, that
tin- Folio poems are not abstracts made of the old romances in the
seventeenth century, but retellings or adaptations of abstracts
made in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. " The original
of this story must be sought for in the literature of the Continent,
and we find it in the beautiful fabliau of Le Chevalier a I'Epee,
printed in Meon's Recueil, tome i. p. 127, 8vo, 1823, and pre-
viously analysed by Le Grand."
' A curiou if the -M.n i iage of Sir Gawi one of King Arthur's Knights.— P,
T 2
276
CARLE OFF CARLILE.
Like the other Gawaine stories iu the Folio, this one takes us
into weirdland, the region where necromancers have been at work,
where Kelts loved specially to range. And, as in The Turke and
Goivin and The Marriage of Sir Gawaine, the counter charm
which undoes the fiendly work is Gawaine's courtesy. Though
he was not held worthy of the highest honours in Arthur-stor} 7 ,
though he kept not the state of the virgin three who alone
achieved the Quest of the Holy Graal 1 — Galahad, Percival, Bors,
— yet the sweetness of his spirit, his never-failing gentleness to
poor as well as rich, to frightful dames as well as beauties, made
him the favourite of most 2 of the Arthur-writers, and they sang
his praises and his prowess, blessed him with the loveliest wives
— the second appears here — and, with Israelitish unction, added
many concubines. In contrast with him, here, is not only crabbed
Kay, but also the Christian Bishop who has sunk the humility of
his religion in the pride of his office, has forgotten that
It ffitteth a clarke to be curteous and ffree,
and gets accordingly a rap on his crown that sends him down.
But Gawaine does not fail: what courtesy requires, that he does,
all that his host asks ; and so, escapes himself, and rescues
his friends, from the fate that had befallen 1500 men before who
" coude not their curtasye," — death at the hand and mouths of
the Carle and his Four Whelps. As of the Turke (vol. i. p. 101,
1. 288) so of the Carle, Gawaine strikes off the head; the bale
that Necromancy had wrought is turned to bliss, the loathsome
giant becomes again a man, and Gawaine weds the lady gay.
What is not possible to those sweet souls who sun their world, at
1 " Gauwains, Gauwain! mult a lone
tans que tu fus chiualers, ct onques
puis ne seruis ton crcatour, so pen nun:
tu ies mais si vieus arbres qu'il n'aen toi
no fuello no fruit, oar tu penses quo nos-
tra sires en eust la moule ot l'escorche,
puis quo li anemis on a eu la flour et le
fruit." Naseiens to Gawain, Queste,
p. 144. Again: " et quant il vous vit, si
s'en ala, car uous auies le lieu ordi do
uotre peehie, et quant il s'on ala il vous
dist, ' chiualer plain do poure foi et de
poure creancho, chos iij. choses vous
faillent: carite, abstinenche, et uerites,
el pour die n'en poos auenir as auen-
turos del saint graal.'" Queste, p. 133,
od. F. J. F. for Roxb. Club, 1864.— F.
2 Others consistently run him down.
CABLE OFF CAItLILE. 277
whose presence words of wrath and thoughts of evil cease, the
remembrance even of whose smile wins us from bitterness and
gloom ? — F. ^
LlSTEN : to me a litle stond,
yee shall heare of one that was sober & sound :
lue was meeke as maid in bower,
4 stifle & strong in euery stoure ;
certes without en Sable
he was one of the round table;
the Knights name was Sir Gawaine,
8 that much worshipp wan in Brittaine.
the He of Brittaine called is
both England & Scottland I-wis ;
wales is an angle to that He,
12 where King Arthur soiorned a while l ;
with, him 24 Knights told,
besids Barrons & dukes bold.
the King to his Bishopp gan say,
16 " wee will have a Masse to-day, [page 449]
Bishopp Bodwim 2 shall itt done :
after, to the flairest 3 wee will gone,
ffor now itts grass time of the yecrc,
20 Barrons bold shall breake the deere.
ffaine theroff was Sir Marrockc, 4
soe was S/r Kay, the Knight stout ;
I'll tell you
about
Sir Gawaine.
Arthur
slaved a
while in
Wales,
and one day
said he'd
hear Mass,
and then go
hunting.
Mwrrock
was glad.
Kay too,
1 At Cardyfe soiorned !"• kyngo a
whylle. Porkington MS.— F.
-' that Bishop S/r Bodwine. Twrke \
Gowin, 1. 154, vol. i. p. 96. ^ On this
Bodwin or Bawdewyn in The Grene
Knytf, Sir V. Madden says that he
"occurs nowhere in the early French
metrical and prose romances; and his
name seems to have been substituted
by the English or Scctish poets in the
14th century, for thai of Bishop Brice
or Dubricius. There was an Archbishop
of Canterbury named Baldwin, who bold
the See from 1 184 to 1191, from whom
the name may have been taken. Syr
Gawaync, p. 312. — F.
:l forrest. — Pork.
1 Mewreke. — Pork. Marrake In The
Awntyra of Artkure, 1. 641. He" appears
to las the same as ' Sir Marrok, the good
knyghte, thai was bitrayed with his wyf,
for she made him seuen yerea werwolf,'
in Malory's Morte <f Arthur, vol. ii.
p, 385; and on a similar story is founded
the Lai de Bisclaveret of Marie, ed.
Roquefort, tome i. p. 179." — Madden's
Syr Gawyane, p. :>:>.">. Marrocke is also
the name of the gianl in Eglamore, vol. ii.
p, 349, 1. 239, and of lie false steward in
Sir Triamore, vol. ii. p. S2, 1. 51. — K.
278
CARLE OFF CARLILE.
and
Lancelot,
Percival,
Ewaine,
Lott, the
Green
Knight,
Gawaine,
Mordred,
Lybius
Disconyus,
and Iro
side.
flaine was Sir Lancelott Dulake,
24 soe was Sir Perciuall, 1 I vndertake ;
ffaine was Sir Ewaine 2
& Sir Lott of Lotliaine, 3
soe was the Knight of armes greene, 4
28 & alsoe Sir Gawaine the sheene.
Sir Gawaine was steward in Arthurs hall,
hee was the curteous Knight amongst them all/
"King Arthur & his Cozen Mordred, 6
32 & other Knights w/thouten Lett,
Sir Lybius Disconyus 7 was there
with proud archers lesse & more,
Blanch ffaire 8 & Sir Ironside, 9
36 & many Knights that day can ryde.
1 The nephew of king Pescheor, [or
king Pelles, the Eich Fisher,] guardian of
the Sangreal, whose adventures occupy
a quarto volume, printed in 1530.
Madden's Syr Gawayne, p. 345. See
Mr. Halliwell's edition of the verse ab-
stract of the French romance in The
Thornton Romances. — F.
2 See Caxton's Maleore, vol. i. p. 231.
— F.
3 See Caxton's Maleore, vol. i. p. 55, &c.
— F. He was the father of Gawayne,
and king of Lothian and Orkney.
Geoffr. Monm., lib. ix. cap. 9. Madden,
p. 346. He is the celebrated Ywain or
Owain sometimes surnamed Le Grand,
son of Urien, king of Moray, according to
Geoffrey, or of Bheged, according to
the Welsh authorities. His exploits
were celebrated in French verse by
Chrestien de Troyes, and thence trans-
lated into the German, Icelandic, Welsh,
and English languages ; for which con-
sult Benecke's edition of Iwein der Ritcr
mit dim Leu-en, 8vo, Berlin, 1827; Von
der Hagen's Grundriss znr Geschichte
dir Drvixchai T'ocsie, 8vo, Berlin, 1812,
p. 118; Ritson's Metrical Romances,
vol. i., and Notes, vol. iii., 8vo, If 02;
and Lady C. Guest's Mahinogion, part i.,
8vo, 1838. lie must not be confounded
(as Ritson has done him) with Ywain
TAvoxdtre, a base son of Urien by his
seneschal's wife, who was killed by
Gawayne without knowing him, Roman
de Lancelot, iii. f. cxvii. There are
also others of the same name mentioned
in the Roman de Merlin, i., f. ccviii b ,
and in the Roman d' lure ct cVEithh .
Cf. Arthour and Merlin, p. 306, 4to,
1838. Madden, p. 312-13.— F.
4 Ironside's son, see 1. 37-40. I know
nothing [of him] as one of Arthur's
knights. Madden, p. 346.— F.
5 most courteous Knight of all. — P.
6 Arthur's son by his sister, King
Lot's wife. — F.
7 Gawaine's bastard. See vol. ii.
p. 416, 1. 8; p. 418, 1. 80.— F.
8 Blancheles. Porkn. MS. " But as no
knight of that name occurs, in all proba-
bility we should read Brandelys," says
Sir F. Madden, who gives an abstract of
the French Eomance about him at p. 349
of Syr Gawayne. See Caxton's Maleore,
vol i. p. 230," 'syre Braundyles.'— F.
'•' Syre Ironsyde (hat was called the
noble kny3te of the reed laundes, that
Syre Gareth [brother of Gawayne]
wonne for the loue of dame Lyones.
Maleore, vol. ii. p. 384. The narrative
of the combat may bo read in vol. i.
p. 211. Madden's Syr Gawayne, x\. 347.
— F.
CABLE OFF CAKLILE.
279
& Ironside, as I weeue,
gate l the Knight of armour greene —
certes as I vnderstand —
40 of a ffaire Lady of Haunch Land. 2
hee cold more of honor in warr
then all the Knights that w/th Arthur weave :
buvning dragons he slew in Land,
44 & wilde beasts, as I vnderstand ;
wilde beares he slew that stond ;
a hardy er Knight was neuer Sound ;
he was called in his dayes
48 one of Kmg Arthurs ffellowes.
why was hee called Ironsyde ?
ffor, euer armed wold he ryde ;
hee wold allwais arms beare,
52 ffor Gyants & hee were euer att warr.
dapple coulour 3 was his steede,
his armour and his other weede,
Azure of gold he bare,
56 w/th a Griffon lesse or more,
& a difference of a Molatt 4
he bare in his crest Allgate. 5
where- soeuer he went, East nor west,
60 he neuer fforsooke man nor beast.
beagles, keenely away the ran,
the King ffollowed afffcer w/th many a man.
they 6 gray hounds out of the Leashe,
f.4 they drew downe the deere of grasse. 7
Sine 8 tents in the ffcild were sett,
a merry sort there were mett
who was
better than
any of
Arthur's
knights, an
got his
name
because he
went always
armed,
to fight
giants.
Beagles ran,
greyhounds
pulled down
the deer,
1 i. c. begat. — P.
2 The Seigneur de la Blaunche londe
i- noticed as one of Arthur's knights, in
the Roman de Perceval, f. lxxi. Cf. f.
clxxi ''. See in regard to this ti rritory a
net.- of M. Michel on Tristan, vol. ii.
]>. i;:i. Madden's Syr Gawayne, p. 848.
I'.
3 Dapple colour'd. — P. Tho steed's
name was Fahele-honde. Madden's Syr
Gawayne, p. 189, 1. 79. — F.
4 i. e. a mullet. — P.
1 The second / is over the g in the MS.
— F.
• the.- P.
R or ffiue. — F.
greace.
P. fat.— F.
280
CARLE OFF CARLILE.
and by noon
100 harts
were killed.
But
Gawaine,
Kay, and
Bishop
Bod win,
lose their
way in
following a
red deer.
G awaine
proposes to
dismount,
and stay all
night in the
forest.
Kay says
he'll lodge
in some-
body's
house.
No one
dare stop
him.
The Bishop
says,
The Carle of
Carlisle will :
of comely knights of kind,
68 vppon the bent there can they lead, 1
& by noone of the same day
a 100*? harts on the ground the 2 Lay.
then Sir Gawaine & Sir Kay,
72 & Bishopp Bodwin, as'I heard say,
after a redd deere 3 the rode
into a fforrest wyde & brode.
a thicke mist ffell them among,
70 that caused 4 them all to goe wronge :
great moane made then Sir Kay
that they shold loose the hart that day ;
that red hart wold not dwell.
80 hearken what aduentures them beffell :
ffull sore the were adread
ere the any Lodginge had ;
then spake Sir Gawaine,
84 " this Labour wee haue had in vaine ;
this red hart is out of sight,
wee meete with him no more this night.
I reede wee of our horsses do light,
88 & lodge wee heere all this night ;
Truly itt is best, as thinketh mee,
to Lodge low vnder this tree."
" nay," said Kay, " goe wee hence anon,
92 ffor I will lodge whersoere 5 I come ;
for there dare no man warne me, 6
of whatt estate soeuer hee bee."
" yes," said the Bishopp, " that wott I well ;
9G here dwelleth a Carle in a Castele,
the Carle of Carlile is his name,
I know itt well by St. lame ;
[page 450]
1 lend. — Madden.
2 delend.— P.
3 rayne-dere, and reyne-dciv, 1. 79. —
Pork.
* Only half the u in the MS.— F.
caised. — Madden.
5 wherforre, Madden's text : wIktso-
over ?, his note. — V.
(i wern hit me. — Pork.
CARLE OFF CARLILE.
281
was there neuer man yett soe bold
100 that durst lodge within his hold ;
but, & if hee scape : with his liffe away,
hee ruleth him well, I you say." 2
then said Kay, " all in ff'ere, 3
104 to goe thither is my desire ;
ffor & the Carle be neuer soe bolde,
I thinke to lodge within his hold.
ffor if he iangle & make itt 4 stout,
108 I shall beate the Carle all about,
& I shall make his bigging bare,
& doe to him mickle Care ;
& I shall beate [him,] as I thinke,
112 till he both sweate and stinke."
then said the Bishopp, " so mote I flare,
att his bidding I wilbe yare."
Gawaine said " lett be thy bostlye flare, 5
1 1 G ffor thou dost euer waken care.
if thou scape 6 with thy liffe away,
thou ruleth thee well, I dare say."
then said Kay, " that pleaseth mee ;
120 thither Let vs ryde all three.
such as hee bakes, such shall hee brew ;
such as hee shapes, such shall hee sew ;
such as he breweth, such shall he 7 drinke."
124 " t/mt is contrary," said Gawaine, " as I thinke
but if any ffaire speeche will he gaine,
wee shall make him Lord w/tliin his owne 8 ;
if noe ffaire speech will auayle,
128 then to karp on Kay wee will not ffaile."
he never
lets any
man lodge
with him.
" If he
refuses me,
I'll beat
him till he
stinks," says
Kay.
Gawaine
tells Kay
not to brag ;
they'll try
fair speech
first ;
if that's no
good,
Kay may
scold.
1 stave Madden.
2 It sehall be bette, as I harde say,
And jefe be go wit Lyfe away. —
Porkington .MS.
3 i.e. together. Perhaps all on fire.
—P.
1 him.- 1'.
6 Compare rol. i. p. 91, 1. 25 30.
Kay was the braggart of Arthur's court.
— F.
'• Madden reads the MS. stape, and
corrects it to scape. — F.
7 him ?. — Madden.
" aine (in pencil). — P. Pork, lias the
talk 1. 104-30 somewhat differently.—
282
CARLE OFF CARLILE.
They ride to
the Earl's
gate.
Oawaine
knocks,
and tells the
Porter
that they
are tired out
with hunt-
ing,
and ask his
lord for a
night's
lodging.
Kay
threatens
the Porter,
but he
answers
boldly.
Oawaine
asks him
courteously,
and the
Porter
gives his
then said the Bishopp, " tliai senteth * mee ;
thither lett vs rjde all three."
when they came to the carles gate,
J 32 a hammer they Sound hanging theratt :
Gawaine hent the hammer in his hand,
& curteouslye on the gates dange.
fforth came the Porter with still ffare,
13G saying, " who is soe bold to.knocke there ? ''
Gawaine answered him curteouslye
" man," hee said, " that is I. 2
wee be 2 ~K.nigh\& of Arthurs inn,
140 & a Bishopp, no moe to min 3 ;
wee haue rydden all day in the fforrest still
till horsse & man beene like to spill ;
ffor Arthurs sake, that is our Kinge,
144 wee desire my LortZ of a nights Loclginge,
& harbarrow 4 till the day att Morne,
///at wee may scape 5 away without scorne."
6 Then spake the crabbed 'Knight Sir Kay :
148 " Porter, our errand I reede the say, 7
or else the Castle gate wee shall breake,
& the Keyes thereof to Arthur take."
the Porter sayd with words throe, 8
152 " theres no man aliue that dares doe soe !
of 9 a 100 d such as tbou his death had sworne,
yett he wold ryde on hunting to morne. 10 "
then answered Gawain that was curteous aye,
156 "Porter, our errand I pray thee say."
"yes," said the Porter, "w/'thouten ffayle
I shall say jour errand ffull well."
1 Madden reads loitcth. — F.
2 " It am I" is the earlier phrase.- — F.
8 min, ming, i. e. mention, vide v. 162.
—P.
* Madden reads harhorrow. — F.
5 Madden again reads stcrpe, and
corrects to scape.- — F.
Pork, puts in the Porter's answer.
warning them that his lord " can no
cortessye," and that they will not escape
without a "wellony." — F.
7 thou say or thee (to) say. — P.
8 tho, i.e. then. — P. A.S. t*r&, bold. —
F.
fl If.— P.
ln to-morrow. — T.
CARLE OFF CAKLILE.
283
as socme as the Porter the Carle see,
1 00 hee kneeled clowne vpon his knee :
"Yonder beene 2 Knights of Arthurs in, 1 [ pa ge45i]
& a Bishopp, no more to myn ;
they haue roden all day in the fforrest still,
1G4 that horsse [&] man 2 is like to spill ;
they desire you ffor Arthirs sake, their Kmg,
to grant them one nights Lodginge,
& herberrow till the day att Morne
1G8 that they may scape 3 away w/thout scorne."
"noe thing greeues 4 me," sayd the Carle w/thout
doubt,
" but that they 5 'Knights stand soe long w/thout."
with, that they 6 Porter opened the gates wyde,
172 & the Knights rode in that tyde.
their steeds into the stable are tane,
the Knights into the hall are gone 7 :
heere the Carle sate in his chaire on hye,
176 with his legg cast ouer the other knee ;
his mouth was wyde, & his beard was gray,
his lockes on his shoulders lay ;
betweene his browes, certaine
180 itt was large there a spann,
with 2 great eyen brening as ffyer.
Lord ! hee was a Lodlye syer 8 !
ouer his sholders he bare 9 a bread
1 84 3 taylors yards, as clarkes doe reade ;
his ffingars were like to teddar stakes, 10
& his hands like breads that wiues may bake ;
message to
t lit- Carle.
The Carle
regrets that
they have
been kept so
long wait-
ing.
Gawaine &c.
ride in,
go to the
hall, and
see the
Carle,
a loathly
man,
with fingers
like stakes
and hands
like leaves.
1 inne. — P.
'-' linr.se & man. — P.
1 .Madden again reads etape, and
corrects to scape. — F.
1 Half the u left nut in the .Ms. F.
5 the.— P.
" the.— P.
7 #ane. — P.
8 a lodlye sire, i. c. filthy, p. 387.— P.
9 bore.— Madden.
10 The stakes by wAich the hair lines
are faeten'd to tin- ground that are tied
to the horses' feet when they graze in
open fields.— P. Madden reads tedder.
V.
284
CARLE OFF CARLILE.
Gawaine
salutes him
courteously,
and the
Carle
welcomes
them for
Arthur's
sake, though
Arthur and
he have long
been foes.
They go to
the tables,
and see 4
■whelps,
a bear,
a boar,
a bull,
and a lion.
50 Cubitts l he was in height ;
1S8 Lo?-cZ, he was a Lothesome wight !
when Sir Gawaine that carle see,
he halched 2 him ffull curteouslye,
& saith, " carle of Carlile, 3 god saue thee
192 as thou sitteth in thy prosperitye ! "
the carle said, " as christ 4 me saue, 5
yee shall be welcome ffor Arthurs sake.
6 yet is itt not my -pari to doe soe,
196 ffor Arthur hath beene euer my ffoe ;
he hath beaten my 'Knights, & done them bale,
7 & send them wounded to my owne hall,
yett the truth to tell I will not Leane, 8
200 I haue quitt him the same againe."
" that is a kind of a knaue 9 ," said Kay, " w/tliout
Leasing,
soe to reuile a Noble King."
Gawaine heard, & made answere,
204 " Kay, thou sayst more then meete weere."
with that they went ffurther into the hall,
where bords were spredd, & couered with pall ;
& 4 welpes of great Ire
208 they ffound Lying by the ffire.
there was a beare that did rome, 10
& a bore that did whett his tushes 1 1 ffome,
alsoe a bull that did rore,
212 & a Lyon that did both gape & rore ;
the Lyon did both gape and gren.
" O peace, whelpes ! " said the carle then :
1 ix. taylloris 3erdis. — Pork.
' l i.e. saluted. — P. Mndden reads the
MS. hat tied, and corrects it to halsed.
Halche is O. N. heilsa, Dan. hilsa, to
salute, to cry hail to. Wedgwood. — P.
3 " CaUile, MS.," says Madden.— P.
4 Madden reads cheif, and puts " Crist ? "
in his note. — F.
5 perhaps take. — P.
6 y* et in MS.— F.
7 sent.— P.
8 vid. p. 367, St. 45 [of MS.].— P.
See Dr. Eohson's note in Sir John Buthr
above. Madden says " leave, MS." — F.
8 A c follows in the MS.— F.
lu Cp. tho here to ramy. Pork. — F.
I! tusks.— Madden.— F.
CAKLE OFF CARLILE.
285
fibr that word that they carle ' did speake,
21G the 4 whelpes vnder they bord 2 did creepe.
downe came a Lady ffaire & ffree,
& sett her on the carles knee ;
one whiles shee harped, another whiles song,
220 both of Paramours & louinge amonge.
" well were that man," said Gawaine, " that ere were
borne,
that might Lye with that Lady till day att morne."
" that wei-e great shame," said the carle ffree,
224 " that thou sholdest doe me such villanye." 3
" Sir," said Gawaine, "I sayd nought."
" no, man," said the carle ; " more thou thought."
Then start Kay to the fflore,
228 & said hee wold see how his palfrey ffore. 4
both corne & hay he ffound Lyand,
& the carles palfrey by his steed did stand.
Kay tooke the carles palfrey by the necke,
232 & soone hee thrust him out att the hecke 5 :
thus Kay put the carles Able out,
& on his backe he sett a clout.
then the carle himselfe hee stood there by,
236 and sayd, "this buffett, man, thou shalt abuy. G "
The carle raught Kay such a rapp [page 452]
that backward he ffell fflatt ;
had itt not beene fibr a ffeald 7 of sfraw.
240 Kayes backe had gone in 2. 8
then said Kay, " & thow were Without thy hold,
Man ! this buffett shold be deerc sold."
" what," sayd the carle, " dost thou menace me ?
A Eair lady
seats herself
on the
Carle"s knee,
and
Gawaine
says her
bedfellow
will be a
happy man.
The Carle
reproves
him.
Kay goes to
the stable,
finds the
Carle's
palfrey next
to his,
turns it out,
and gives it
a clout.
The Carle
knocks Kay
down.
Kay
threatens
him,
and he bells
Kay
» the Carle.— P.
2 the hnnl. 1'.
8 Pork, substitutes a Bcene of the
knights drinking, for this one of the
lady; bul describes the Carle's wife al
gupper-time, p. L97 of Madden's Syr
Gawayne. V.
P.
* i. o. fared, prat, inusitat. — P.
5 i.e. Cratch, verb. Scot. Dr. Craing',
-P.
'• abye> — P. Madden reads aby. — F.
7 i.e. a truss of straw, l>r. Graing r .—
twa.— P.
286
CARLE OFF CARLILE.
that if he
says any
more
he'll get
more
knocks.
Then the
Bishop goes
to look at
his palfrey.
He finds the
Carle's
there,
and turns it
out
with a cut,
to go to the
devil.
The Carle
knocks the
Bishop over,
he cares
nothing for
mitre or
ring.
Then
Gfawaine
244 I swere by all soules sicerlye ' !
Man ! I swere ffurtlier thore, 2
if I heere any malice more, 3
ffor this one word that thou hast spoken
248 itt is but ernest thou hast gotten."
then went Kay into the hall,
& the Bishopp to him can call,
saith : Brother Kay, where you haue beene ? ' :
252 " to Looke my palffrey, as I weene. 4 "
then said the Bishopp, " itt ffalleth me
that my palfrey I must see."
both corne & hay he ffound Lyand,
256 & the carles palffrey, as I vnderstand.
the Bishopp tooke the carles horsse by the necke,
& soone hee thrust him out att the hecke ;
thus he turned the carles ffole out,
260 & on his backe he sett a clout ;
sais, " wend forth, ffole, in the devills way !
who made thee soe bold w?'th my palfrey ? ' ;
the carle himselfe he stood there by :
264 " man ! this buffett thou shalt abuy. 5 "
he hitt the Bishopp vpon the crowne,
that his miter & he ffell downe.
"Mercy ! " said the Bishopp, " I am a clarke !
268 somewhatt I can of chr[i]sts werke."
he saith, " by the Clergye I sett nothing,
nor yett by thy Miter nor by thy ringe.
It fhtteth a clarke to be curteous & ffree,
272 by the conning 6 of his clergy."
w/th that the Bishopp went into the hall,
& Sir Gawaine to him can call,
1 Madden reads sikcrlyc. - F.
2 tlio.— P.
3 moe. — P.
4 als I weon, i.e. I also thinke, in-
tend. iScd vie/, infya 276.— P. As is
thus, like. — F.
5 aliay, MS. says Madden. — F.
8 MS. coming. — F. cunning or con-
nine.— -P.
CAKLE OFF CAHLILE.
287
saitb, " brother Bishopp where haue you beene ? '
276 "to looke my palfrey, as I weene."
then sayd Sir Gawaine, " itt ffalleth mec
that my palfreye I must needs see."
corne & hay he ffound enoughe Lyand,
2«0 & the carles ffole by his did stand.
the carles ffole had beene fforth in the raine ;
therof Sir Gawaine was not ffaine ;
hee tooke his mantle that was of greene,
284 & couered the ffole, as I weene ;
sayth, " stand vp, ffole, & eate thy meate ;
thy Master payeth ffor all that wee heere gett."
they carle 1 himselfe stood thereby,
288 & thanked him of his curtesye ;
they carle 2 tooke Gawaine by the hand,
& both together in they hall they wend.
the carles called ffor a bowle of wine,
292 & soone they settled them to dine ;
70 bowles 3 in that bowle were, —
he was not weake that did itt beare, —
then they 4 carle sett itt to his Chin,
290 & said, " to you I will begin ! "
15 gallons he dranke that tyde,
& raught to his men on euery side.
then tliey 5 caile said to them anon,
300 " Sirrs, to supper gett you gone ! "
Gawaine answered the carle then,
" Sir, ait jour bidding we will be ben. 1 ' "
" if you be bayne att my bidding,
304 you honor me without Leasinge."
they washed all, & went to meate,
& dranke the wine that was soe sweete.
goes to sec
his palfrey.
He finds
the Carle's
foal by it,
■wet with
rain.
Gawaine
covers the
foal with his
mantle
and tells it
to eat away.
The Carle
thanks
Gawaine,
takes him in,
calls for a
howl of
wine,
and drinks
1 5 gallons
at one
draught.
Then tliey
nil have
supper.
' The Carle. P.
- The Carle. P.
3 gallon,? Madden. Ordinary bowls. 1'.
4 the— P.
'■> the.— P.
" baine. — P.
288
CARLE OFF CA.KLILE.
After it, the
Carle tells
Gawaine to
take a spear
and to mark
him in his
face.
Gawaine
takes the
spear,
charges at
the Carlo
(who dodges
his head,)
runs the
spear
into the wall,
and breaks it
off.
Then the
Carle
takes
Gawaine to
his wife's
bed,
the carle said to Gawaine anon,
308 " a long speare see thou take in thy hand, 1
att the buttrye dore take thou thy race,
& marke me well in middest the face.
" a ! " thought 2 Sir Kay, " that that were I !
312 then his buffett he shold deere abuy. 3 "
" well," quoth, the carle, " when thou wilt, thou may, 4
when thou wilt thy strength assay." —
"well Sir," said Kay, " I said nought."
316 "Noe," said the carle, "but more thou [pagei-v;]
thought."
then Gawaine was ffull glad of that,
& a long spere in his hand he gatt ;
att the buttery dore 5 he tooke his race,
320 & marked the carle in the middst the fface.
the carle saw Sir Gawaine come in ire,
& cast his head vnder his speare,
Gawaine raught the wall such a rapp,
324 the flyer fnew out, & the speare brake ;
he stroke a ffbote into the wall of stone,
a bolder Barron was there neuer none.
" soft," said the carle, " thow was to radd.° "
328 " I did but, Sir, as you me bade."
" if thou had hitt me as thou had nient,
thou had raught me a ffell dint. 7 "
they carle tooke Gawaine by the hand,
332 & both into a Chamber they wend ;
a ffull ffaire bed there was spred,
the carles wiffe therin was laid :
1 hond.— P.
2 Ah! thought.— P.
3 MS. aluy. Madden reads a
F. abuy or abyo. — P.
4 thou thou (yee) may. — P.
5 Madden reads the MS. doe.—
8 furious, 0. Fr. roide. — Skeat.
rough, fierce, violent. — Cotgrave
hrced, swift, quick, rush. — F.
buy.-
F.
Boide,
A.S.
7 Pork. MS. puts Oawaino's supper after
this, and brings the Carle's daughter in
to harp and sing to them. She is prettily
described, has (he gold-wire hair so much
admired in early times, and
Owyrc alle be halle ganwe sche leme
As hit were a sonwe-beme.
Madden's Syr Gaivay?ie, p. 199. — F.
CARLE OFF CARLILE.
281)
the carles said, "Gawaiue, of curtesye
336 gett into tins bedd with this ffaire Ladye.
kisse thon her 3-° before mine eye ;
looke thou doe no other villanye."
the carle opened the sheetes wyde ;
340 Gawaine gott in by the Laydes syde ;
Gawaine oner her ' put his arme ;
with that his fflesh began to warme :
Gawaine had thought to haue made in ffare, 2
3U " hold," quoth the carle, " man, stopp there 3 !
itt were great shame," quoth they carle, "for mc
that thou sholdest doe me such villanye ;
but arise vp, Gawaine, & goe with me,
348 I shall bring thee to a ffairer Lady then euer was
shee."
they 4 carle tooke Gawaine by the hand ; 5
both into another Chamber they wend ;
a ffaire bedd there found they spred,
352 and the Carles daughter therin Laid :
saith, " Gawaine, now for thy curtesye
gett thee to bedd to this ffaire Lady."
the carle opened the sheetes wyde,
356 Sir Gawaine gott in by the Ladyes side.
GaAvaine put his arme ouer that sweet thing ;
" sleepe, daughter," sais the carle, " on my blessing."
they carle turned his backe & went his way,
360 & lockt the dore with a silucr Kaye.
mi the other morning 6 when the carles rose,
vnto his daughters chamber he goes :
" rise vp, Sir Gawaine, & goe with nice,
364 a maruelous sight I shall letl fchee sec."
they carle tooke him by the hand,
& both into another chamber they wend,
and bids him
get in and
kiss her,
but do
nothing
more.
Gawaine
does so,
and thinks
to do more,
but the
Carle stops
liim,
and takes
liim to his
daughtei 's
bed, and
tells him
to get into it.
Gawaine
does so,
and the
Carle goes
away,
locking the
door.
Next
morning
he culls
Gawaine,
1 he. Maddi
■ iv. ( . q. Pencil note.
■ Ms. thee. F.
' the.— P.
5 Pork. M.S. makes tho Carle send his
daughter to Gawaine, ib, p. 201.— V.
" 111 I lie llrxt ni. — P.
Vol,. Ill
290
CARLE OFF CARLILE.
and shows
him
bloody shirts
and 1500
dead men's
bones,
slain by him,
the Carle.
Gawaine
wants to
take leave,
but the Carle
makes him
stop to
dinner.
After it
he shows
Gawaine
a sword,
and begs
him to cut
his (the
Curie's) head
oil'.
G awaine
refuses,
whereupon
the Parle
says he'll
cut his head
off if he
don't do it.
Bo 1 1 awaine
cuts the
Carle's
head off,
and he
& there tliey found many * a bloody serke
3G8 which, were wrought with curyous werke :
1500 dead mens bones 2
they found vpon a rooke 3 att once.
"alaeke!" qnoth Sir Gawaine, " what haue becnc
here ? "
372 saith, " I & my welpes haue slaine all there."
then Sir Gawaine curteous and kind, 4
he tooke his leaue away to wend,
& thanked they carle & the Ladyes there,
37G right as they worthy were.
"nay," said the carle, "wee will first dine,
& then thou shalt goe with, blessing mine. 5 "
after dinner, the sooth to say,
380 the carle tooke Gawaine to a Chamber gay
where were hanginge swords towe 6 ;
the Carle soone tooke one of tho,
& sayd to the ~K.nhjht then,
384 " Gawaine, as thou art a man,
take this sword & stryke of my head."
" Nay," said Gawaine, " I bad rather be dead ;
ffor I had rather suffer pine & woe
388 or euer I wold that deede doe."
the carle sayd to Sir Gawaine,
" looke thou doe as I thee sainc,
& therof be not adread ;
392 but shortly smite of my head,
ffor if thou wilt not doe itt tyte,
ffor-ssooth thy head I will of smyte."
To the carle said Sir Gawaine, ft"* 6 ''I
396 " Sir, jour bidding shall be done : "
he stroke the head the body ffroe,
& be stood vp a man thoe
1 One stroke too few in tho MS. — F.
'-' a bones, MS. —Madden. I think the
a i • meant to be blotched out. — F.
' i. e. a ruck, a heap, — P.
1 hend, q. — Pencil note.
■"• Only half the m in the MS. Madden
reads mine too. — F.
c rowe. — Madden.
CARLE OFF CAKLILE.
2U1
of the height of Sir Gawaine,
400 the certaine soothe w/thouten Laine.
the carle sayd, " Gawaine, god blese thee,
ffor thou hast deliuered mee !
ffrom all ffalse witchcrafft 1
404 I am deliuerd 2 att the Last;
by Nigromance thus was I shapen
till a Kmghi of the round table 3
had with a sword smitten 4 of my head,
408 if he had grace to doe that deede.
itt is 40 winters agoe
since I was transformed soe ;
since then, none Lodged within this wooun, 5
4 1 2 but I & my whelpes driuen them downe ;
& but if hee did my bidding soone,
I killed him & drew him downe,
euery one but only thee.
4 1 8 Christ grant thee of his mercy c !
he ilt at the world made, reward thee this !
ffor all my bale thou hast turned to blisse.
now will I leaue that Lawe ;
4 20 there shall no man ffor me 6 be slawe,
& I purpose ffor their sake
a chantrey in this place to make,
& 5 preists to sing ffor aye
4 24 vntill itt be doomes day.
& Gawaine, for the louc of thee
euery one shall bee welcome to me."
Sir Gawaine & the young Lady clere,
428 the Bishopp weded 7 them in ffere;
stands up a
proper man,
and thanks
Gawaine
for deliver-
ing him
from the
witchcraft
thai 10 years
ago trans-
formed him,
so to he till
••i Kniulil oJ
the Bonnd
Table should
cut his head
off.
"Christ
reward you !
Henceforth
I'll kill no
one;
but every-
body shall
be welcome
tn me.
The Bishop
marries
(law aineand
1 ? witchcraffts caBt. Ca is the regu-
lar word for a magical contrivance, and
the line is too shorl as ii stands.
Skeat.
Vfaddi ii omil a the d. F.
' 1 would read :
by Nigromance I bus was I bound,
till a Knight of the table round. — Skeat.
* MS. shitten. — F.
' ftaddi a reads worn, and notes
" ? -F.
■ i. e. thro' me.— P.
1 wedded, — iMadilon.
21)2
CARLE OFF CAItLILL;.
the Carle's
daughter.
The Carle
gives K;i\ a
blood -red
steed,
and
Gawaine's
lady a white
palfrey.
Then he bids
Gawaine
go to Arthur
and ask him
to dine with
him next
day.
Gawaine
goes singing
with his
lady,
and tells
Arthur
his
adventures.
Kay gives
Arthur
the Carle's
invitation.
Arthur and
his company
ride off,
the carle gaue liim * for his wedding
a staffe, miter, 2 & a ringe.
he gaue Sir Kay, that angry Knight,
432 a blood red steede, & a wight.
he gane his daughter, the sooth to say,
an ambling white palfrey,
the ffairest hee was on the mold ;
436 her palfrey Avas charged with gold ;
shee was soe gorgeous & soe gay,
no man cold tell her array.
the carle commanded Sir Gawaine to wend 3
440 & " say vnto Arthur our King,
& pray him that hee wold —
ffor his loue that Iudas sold,
& for his sake that in Bethelem was borne, —
444 that hee wold dine with him to morne."
Sir Gawaine sayd the carle vnto,
" fforssooth I shall yowr message doe."
then they rode singing by the way
448 with the Ladye that was gay ;
they were as glad of that Lady bright
as euer was ffowle of the day-Lyght.
they told King Arthur where they had beene,
452 & what aduentures they had seene.
" I thanke god," sayd the King, " cozen Kay,
that thou didst on hue 4 part away."
" Marry," sayd S/r Kay againe,
r)6 " of my liffe 5 I may be ffaine.
ffor his loue that was in Bethlem borne,
you must dine w/th the carle to-morne."
in the dawning of the day the rode 6 ;
-.GO a mcrryer meeting was neuer made.
' Sc. the bishop.— P.
- a staff, a miter, &c. — I'.
:i wend rimes also willi bringe, 1. IDS.
Skeat.
'i.e. alive. — P. part = depart- Skeat.
5 Lifte, MS., says Madden.— F.
G rade. qu.— P.
CARLE OFF CARLILE.
293
when they together were mett,
itt was a good thing, I you hett ;
the trumpetts plaid att the gate,
464 with trumpetts l of siluer theratt 2 ;
there [was] all manner of Minstrclsye,
harpe, Gyttorne, 3 and sowtrye.
into the hall the King was ffett, 4
468 & royallye in seat was sett.
by then the dinner was readye dight,
tables were couered 5 all on height ;
then to wash they wold not blinn,
472 & the ffeast they can beginn.
there they were mached arright,
euery Lady against a Knight ;
And Minstrells sate in windowes ffaire, [page 455]
476 & playd on their instruments cleere ;
" Minstrells ffor worshipp att euery messe
ffull Lowd they cry Largnesse 6 ! "
the carle bade the Kmg " doe gladlye,
480 ffor heere yee gett great curtesye."
the King said " by Saint Michaell
this dinner Liketh me ffull well."
he dubd the carle a Knight anon,
484 he gaue him the county of carlile soone,
& made him Erie of all that Land, 7
& after, "Knight of the tabic round.
the Kmg said, " Knight, I tell thee,
488 carlile 8 shall thy name bee."
when the dinner was all done,
euery Knight tookc his lcauc soone,
are received
at the
Carle's
with pound
of trumpet,
harp,
gittern, and
psaltery ;
tables are
laid,
and the feast
begins,
minstrels
playing the
while.
Arthur likes
his dinner,
knights the
Carle, gives
him Carlisle,
makes him
an Earl, and
a Knight of
the Hound
Tabic, and
christens
him Carlisle.
After dinner
the guests
1 trunnpetts MS.— F.
- therott, .Ms., aaya Maddi n. — F.
:| gyttorne, MS., Bays Madden. — F.
' has fell, MS.. B aya Madden.— F.
• covered. — P. Pork, has a better de-
scription of the room and dinner, L 603
24. -F.
6 Largesse. — P.
' Loud.— P.
s No kni^lil of this name occurs in
the French romances of the Hound Table,
nor in the Morte d? Arthur e of Malory
Madden'a Syr G., p. 348.— F.
294
CAKLE OFF CARLILE.
go home.
May God
bring our
souls to
heaven 1
Amen !
to wend forward soberlye
492 home into their owne countrye. 1
he that made vs all with his hand,
both the sea and the Land,
errant vs all ffor his sake
496 this ffalse world to fforsake,
& out of this world when wee shall wend,
to heanens blisse our soules bringc !
god grant vs grace itt may soe bee !
500 Amen, say all, ffor Charitye !
ffinis.
1 The Porkington MS. makes the
Carle (according to his promise, 1. 422-3
above), found " A ryche Abbey . . in the
towne of mery Carleyle . . for the men
bat he had slayno." — F.
[" Off all the Seaes" printed in Lo. & Hum. Songs, p. 85, folloios here
in the MS. p. 455.]
295
?X>cro : vSr : iLrantrrr : l
Quid juvenis, magnum cui versat in ossibus ignem
Durus amor? Nempe abruptis turbata procellis
Nocte natat caeca serus freta ; quern super ingens
Porta tonat cceli et scopulis illisa reclaniant
iEquora; nee miseri possunt revocarc parent' S,
Nee moritura super crudeli funere virgo.
Virg. Georg. iii. 258-G3.
This subject has been a favourite one with both ancient and
modern writers. The eighteenth and nineteenth of Ovid's
Heroides deal with it. A famous poem was written on it by
Musseus :
elirh, flea, Kpvtyiuv inifxaprupa. Xvxvov ipuroiv,
kclI vvx^v TrAcoTijpa 9a\acr(TOTr6pajv u/xevaiW,
Kal yd/j.oi' dx^v6ei/T<z rbv ovk 18ev &(p6iTos 'Has,
Kal 2,7](TTby Ktx\ " AfivSoi' liirrj ydfios 6Wvxos"Hpovs.
When he lived is unknown ; perhaps not before the fifth cen-
tury of our era. His poem, discovered in the thirteenth century,
became passing popular. It was translated again and again,
into English by Chapman (the dead shepherd's saw occurs in
. this translation :
"Who ever loved that loved not at first sight ? "),
Stapylton, Stirling, and many others; into German by Stolberg,
Passow &c. ; into French by Marot; into Italian by Bernardo
Tasso, Bettoni &c. (see Smith's Biog. Diet &c.) The story it
told was retold in other shapes, and amongst them in the shape
of a ballad as here.
This version is, as the Bishop remarks, " tollerably regular."
It cannot indeed lay claim to any plenary inspiration ; it is
1 A Poem tollerablj [so) regular, I'.
296
HERO AND LEANDER.
evidently the production of a sort of poetical shopkeeper who
could serve his customers with whatever amount of verses they
wanted, well measured and carefully weighed, on any subject —
of one who executed poetical orders.
References to the touching story lie thick in literature, from
the mention of " The Amours of Hero and Leander," in the Com-
plaint of Scotland, to Bosalind's mocking revision of it in As
You Like It : " Leander, he would have lived many a fair year,
though Hero had turn'd nun, if it had not been for a hot mid-
summer night ; for, good youth, he went but forth to wash him in
the Hellespont, and being taken with the cramp, was drowned ; and
the foolish coroners of that age found it was ' Hero of Sestos.' '
In recent times Hood and Turner have, each in his own way,
illumined and glorified the old tragedy.
Once wore
two lovers,
whose story
I'll tell you.
10W : ffamous louers once there was,
whome fame hath quite fforgott,
who liuecl long most constantlye
without all emiious blott.
shee was most ffaire, & hee most true,
•which, caused, that that did ensue : ffa : la : la
whose story I doe meane to write,
and title itt trueloues delight : f a : la : la :
Leander and
Hero.
The Helles-
pont
separated
them.
Leander was this young mans name, [page 45C]
right noble by discent,
& hero, shee, whose bewtyes rare
12 might R'iue Loue great content,
hee att Abydos kept his court,
shee att cestos liued in sport, fa : la : la.
a riuer great did part these twainc, —
16 w/(i'ch caused them oft, poore soules, complaine
fa : la : la : —
HERO AND LEAN DEI!.
297
Eucn Hellespont, whose current strcame
like lightning swift did glyde ;
accursed riuer thai 2 harts
20 soe ffaithfull must l devyde !
And more, w///'ch did augment their woe,
the parents were eche others ffoe, fa : la : la :
soe that no shipp durst him conuay
24 vnto the place where his Hero Lay, ffa : la : la :
Long time these louers did complaine
the Misse of their desires,
not knowing how the 2 might obtaine
28 the thing they did require.
though hee were parted w/th rough seas,
no watters cold loues fflame appease, fa : la : la :
Leander ventured for to swim
32 to Hero, who well welcomed him, fa : la : la :
Euen in the midst of darkesome 3 night
when all things silent were,
wold young Leander take his might
3G throug[h] Hellespont soe cleere ;
wher att 4 the shore Hero wold bee
to welcome him most Louinglye, fa : la ■
& soe Leander wold conuay
40 vnto the Chamber where slice Lay, fa: la :
Thus many dayes the did enioye
the fruite of their delight,
for he oft to his Hero came,
44 & backe againc same night ;
And shce for to encourage him
through Hellespont more boldlyc swim, 5 fa : la :
In her tap G tower a lampc did place,
48 wherby he might behold her llace, fa : la :
and their
parents were
enemies.
For a long
time the
lovers conld
not meet.
At last,
Leander
swam
at night
across the
Hellespont,
and Hero
took him
to her room.
To help him
swim,
she used to
pui a lamp
in her tower,
' MS. nuns!. —F.
- they. 1'.
3 Ms. darkesone. — F
' MS. wheratt.— F.
■' ? MS. siarin.— F.
" high : taper, qu.—
P. tap.— F.
298
IIEKO AND LEANDER.
and sit by it,
praying for
her love.
And by this lampe wold Hero sitt,
still pray[i]ng for her loue,
that tlie rough watters vnto him
52 might not offensiue proue :
" be mild," quoth shee, " while he doth swim,
& that I haue well welcomed him, fa : [la :]
& then euer rage & rore amaine,
5f> that he may neuer goe hence againe, fa : la :
Winter
came with
its storms,
but these did
not stop
Leander.
Now boisterous winter hasted on,
when winds & watters rage ;
yett cold itt not the Lustffull hart
GO of this younge youth as wage ;
though winds & watters raged soe,
no shipp durst venter for to goe : fa : [la :]
Leander wold goe see his loue,
64 his manly armes in ffloods to proue fa : la :
He leapt into
the Helles-
pont,
but could
not reach
land, his
lover's lamp
was out.
Then leapt hee into Hellespont,
desirous for to goe
vnto the place of his delight,
CS w7«'ch hee affected soe ;
but winds & waues did him withstand
soe that he cold attaine no Land, fa : la
ffor his loues lampe [he] looked about ;
72 ffaire Hero slept, & itt was out. fa : la :
la
la:
His body
was ca I
ashore.
Then all in vaine Leander strouc
till armes cold doe no more ;
for naked, he, depriued of liffe,
70 was cast vpon the shore.
O had the Lampe still stayed in,
Leander liueles had not beene : f a : la : la :
which, being gone, he knew no ground,
80 because thick darknesse did abound, fa : la la :
IIEKO AND LEANDEli.
299
Hero awoke
and found
her lamp
out.
When Hero ffaire awaket firom sleepe, [page 457]
& saw her lampe was gone,
her sences all bemimed were,
84 & shee like to a stone.
! ffrom her eyes, then perles more Clecre, f a : la : she wept,
proceeded many a dolefull teare,
perswadingf ' that the angry flood fearing
1 ° ° J Leander's
88 had drunke Leanders guiltlesse hloode, fa : la : fate.
Then to the topp of highest tower
faire hero did ascend,
to see how the winds did with the waues
92 for mastership contend,
& on the sand shee did espye
a naked bodye liuelesse lye, fa : la :
& lookeing more vpont, shee knew
96 itt was Leanders bloudlye hew. f a : la :
She paw his
corpse on the
sand.
Then did shee teare her golden hairc,
& in her greeue thus sayd,
" accursed riuer ! that art still
100 a foe to euery maide
since Hellen ffaire in thee was drowned,
named Hellespont, that euer ffround, fa : la -.
& now to see what thou canst doe,
104 thou hast made me a mourner too ! fa : la : la :
She tore her
hair,
cursed the
Hellespont,
" But though thou didst attach my louc,
& tookest him ff'or thy owne,
that hec was only es 2 Heroes decre,
108 hencforth itt shall bo knowne."
then ffrom the tower faire Hero Sell,
■whose woefull death I sigho to tell, fa : La
and on his body there did dye
:i2 that loued her most tenderlye, fa : la:
and fell
from her
tower,
<>n Leander's
body, and
died.
1 perswaded. — Skeat.
? for mill/ his, or only* withoul the s. V.
300 HERO AND LEANDER.
Thus endeth both they 1 liffe & louo
in prime 2 of their young yeeres,
since whose untimely ffuneralls
lie no such true loue appeares.
vntill more constant loue arise,
their names I will imupetelasze, 3 £ a : la :
May true
lovers now & heauen fffrantl such as haue 4 true ffriends,
have better LO J '
ends! 12 o as ffaithffull harts, but better ends ! fllnis.
1 their.— P.
3 qu. MS.— F
' * grant such. — P.
2 MS. pine.— F.
himpettelaze, corruptly written for immortalize. — P.
3
301
CtTs&ud: 1
Boccaccio, Chaucer, and Shakespeare have all taken in hand
the story of Troilus and Cressida — an episode of the Trojan war
not mentioned by Homer or any other extant ancient writer, but
first narrated by Guido de Colonna in the thirteenth century.
" In the royal [now imperial] library of Paris," says Warton,
"it occurs often as an ancient French romance. 'Cod. 7546,
Roman de Troilus;'' 'Cod. 7564, Roman de Troilus et de
Briseida ou Oreseida.'' ' Chaucer, as is well known, in his nar-
rative refers to " myn auctor Lollius : " but who this Lollius
was is a question of much difficulty. Manifestly, the tale was
extremely popular, and found its way into many different lan-
guages and forms.
Warton notices in the Eegister of the Stationers' Company
" A ballet intituled the History of Troilus ivhose troth 2 had well
been tryed" licensed to Purfoote in 1565, and again in 1581, 3
and ia 1608.
The following piece gives a summary of the old tale, with the
moral of it.
CRESSUS : was the ffairest of Troye, Troilus
wliom Troylus did louc !
the Knight was kind, & slice was coy, coukinot
4 no words nor worthies 4 cold moue, tm
iii- Pandarna
(ill Prndaurus ° soe playd Ins part heipedhim.
that the Knight obtained her hart,
1 Ii bM be Cresside, see Chancer cK: Collier. Beg. Sta. Comp. vol. i.p. 121. — F.
Shakespear.— P. 3 Collier, vol. ii. p. 1 16. — F.
- Warton'a correction of "thn ' worth. — P. 5 Pandarne. — P.
302
CKESSUS.
the Ladyes rose destroyes :
[They] held sweet warr a winters night
till the enuyous day gaue light ;
w7«'ch darkness ' loners ioyes.
When tlie
Trojans lost,
Cressid
loved
Diomede.
Cresses 2 lone lones mother 3 crost,
12 fforetold her in a dreame
how Grecyans 4 won, how Troians Lost.
fFalse lone ffleetes with the streame :
Shee sweete ffaces, vallyant flights,
1 G who pnt downe the Troian knights,
downe might their Ladyes put.
dioned 5 thought her noe mayd,
yctt lones debt was richely paid,
20 the seas the poorest cutt.
So lasses,
learn
that one love
cloys ;
change it
then,
like your
clothes,
and take the
best.
Lasses, learne some witt by this !
though Ladyes truth proffesse,
no signe remaines of vnseen kisse
24 vnlesse a ffoole conffesse,
what pleased to-day, to-morrow cloyes;
Ioy growes dull that still enioyes ;
change loue, for loues sweet sake.
28 now hopes pleased 6 with pleasure strange ;
then chang lone, with garments change,
& still the better take.
ffinis.
1 darkens. — P.
2 Cresside's. — P.
: < Love's-mother. — P.
4 Grecians. — P.
5 Diomede. — P.
^ new hopes please.— Skeat.
303
This song is in Westminster Droller*!, Part II. 1672, p. 64, under
the title of "The hunting of the Gods." After two long
searches through the Museum Catalogues, only Part I. of that
Avork, dated 1671, could be found. Eecourse was therefore had
to Mr. Lilly, of New Street, Covent Garden, to whose kind help
so many editors and writers have been indebted, and he at once
produced from his stores a copy of Part II., and allowed
Mr. F urn i vail to collate the Folio proof with it. We thank
him for his courtesy, and wish his example was followed by all
ii ul ile and gentle owners of rare books and MSS. in England.
But, alas, among the fair flock of collectors is more than one
black sheep.
This piece, as Percy notes, occurs also in the Collection of
Old Ballads, and is there, too, entitled "The Hunting of the
Gods." The copy is much freer from gross blunders than that
of the Folio, but is not altogether satisfactory ; e. g. it loses the
rime to Olympical, reads course for courser.
An elaborate collation of the Old Ballads copy with the Folio
one, which differs much from it, had been made for us by
Mr. Brock before we found Out Mr. Billy; but this has now been
put aside in favour of the collation with the earlier Droller;/
copy. In the O.B. copy which Mr. Brock used, the order of the
stanzas differs from that of the Folio and Westminster Droller;/;
the firsl four and the last coincide, bul the others vary thus: —
In the print* I tion of old Ballade L2 v., I. 3, pag. 198, N. 36.— P.
304 SONGS OF SIIErARDES.
Stanza 5 of MS. and W.D. is stanza 9 of O.B.
>> " JJ 11 O )J
U ' )> J> " )t
)> " JJ J) " ,,
11 " JJ 11 * J)
The gods, ennuyes, tired of lying beside their nectar, sick of
their " securum aevum," envious of the sports of men, resolve on
a sort of divine " meet." They have a day with the harriers.
The shepherds wonder what this strange venery means.
The piece illustrates the passionate attachment with which
hare-hunting was regarded in the old pre-foxchasing days. 1 It
was an attachment of long standing. In the Squire of Loin
Degree, when the king's daughter of Hungary in her forlornness
cries out on this world's vanity, and bids adieu to all that was
held most precious, she concludes :
Farewell hawkes and farewell houndo ;
Farewell markes and many a pounde ;
Farewell huntynge at the hare ;
Farewell harte and hynde for evcrmaro.
There are other copies, as Mr. Chappell points out, in Wit and
Drollery (1682), Pills to purge Melancholy (1707), and Dryden's
Miscellany Poems.
are not
worthy
to tell
Songs of JjONGS : of shepards, 2 rasticall roundelaycs
shepherds
rTramed on 3 ffancyes, 2 whistled on reeds,
songs 4 to solace young Nimphes vpon holydayes,
4 are to 5 unworthy ffor wonderffull deeds.
Phebus Aeminius 6 or worthy Cylen[i]us, 7
his lofty Genius 8 may seem to declare
In verse better coyned, or verse 9 more refined,
!"'",' 1 } K , , 8 how states 10 diuined u once hunted 12 the hare.
Gods hunted
the hai - e.
1 Seepages 320-1 of Chappell's Popu- G Ingenious. — W.D. ingenious. — P.
far Music. — F. 7 winged Oylenius. — W.D. witty Cyl-
2 Westminster Drollery inserts 'and.' lenius. — P. K MS. cenius. — F.
—F. 3 Form'd uf.— W.D. 9 And voice. W.D. I0 stars.— P.
'Sum-. W.D. " devin'd.— W.D. divine. \V. Chap-
5 too.— W.D. too. P. pel). '•-" the hunting.— P.
SONGS OF SHEPARDES.
305
Starres inamoured with pastimes Olimpicall,
stares & planetts that bewtiffull showne,
wold noe longer that earthlye men only shall l
12 swim in pleasures, & tlicy but looke on.
Round about horned Lucina tlie'-' swarmed,
& her informed how minded they were,
Eche god & goddesse, to take humane bod) es,
t(> as Lords & Ladyes, to fibllow the hare.
The stars
and planets
told the
moon
that they
meant to
take
human form,
and hunt the
hare.
•20
24
chasl dyana aplauded the motyon,
with 3 pale p/ - oserpina sate in her place,
Lights 4 the welkin & gouemes the Ocean
whilest 5 shee conducted her nephews in chase,
& by her example 6 her flavour 7 to trample
the cold & ample 8 earth, leaueth the y ayre,
Neptune the watter, the wind 10 liber pater,
& Mars the slaughter, to fibllow the hare.
Diana,
Proserpine,
Neptune,
and Mars
join in the
hunt,
Light young u Cupid, horsset 12 vpon Pegasus, with Cupid,
borrowed of Muses with Kisses and prayers ;
strong Alcydes vpon cloudye Caucasus Alcides,
2S mounts a Centaure that proudlye him beares ;
Postylyou of the skye, light heeld 13 Mercurye, Mercury,
makes u his courser ffly as fflight as the l5 ayre ;
yellow Appollo the Kenell doth ffbllow, Apollo,
32 with Uj whoope and hallow after the hare.
Hymen vshcrs the Ladyes ; Astrea
the 17 iust tooke hands with Minerua the bold,
Astn a,
Minerva,
1 should.— P.
- they.- W.I), they.— P.
: ' And. W'.h. And.— P.
• Which Lights.— P.
■ while. W.D.
• Mini, qu.— 1'.
■ Father. W.D.
» Tli.' Earth old & ample.— P.
leave. W.l>. leave t!
A I 'I.. III.
. :■
'" Wine. W.D. wine.— P.
" god. W.I).
'- was hors'd.— W.D.
13 footed.— P.
11 maketh: Conj.— P.
i» fly Bleel us 'the.— W.D.
the. P.
'" and. W.D.
flee!
that, uu.— P.
\
306
SONGS OF SKErAEDES.
CereS) Cores the browne with the l bright Cyther[e]a, 2
Thetis, 36 Thetis 3 the wanton, Bellona the old, 4
Aurora, shame-ffast 5 Aurora, with suttle Pandora,
Maya, & May 6 with fflora did company 7 beare ;
Juno, Inno 8 was stated too hye to be mated,
40 but, 9 10 shee hated not hunting the hare.
Narcissus,
Somniis,
Mulciber,
Pan.
iEolus,
Momus.
drowned Narssissus ffrom his Metamorphisis
raised with ll Eccho, new manhoode did take ;
snoring Somnus vpstarted in cinaris, 12
4 4 that this l3 1000 d yeeres 14 was not awake,
to see clubflboted old Mulciber booted,
& Pan promoted on Aeolus 15 mare ;
proud iEolous 16 pouted, proud 17 Aeolus 18 shouted
4S & Momus fflowted, but ffollowed the hare.
The hounds
give tongue,
the hunters
sound their
horns.
We
shepherds
told our
fancies about
the hunt:
deepe Melampus & cuning Ignobytes, 19
Nappy, 20 & tigre, & harpye, the s[k]yes 21
rends with 22 roiling, whilest hunter like 23 Hercules
52 sounds they 24 plentiffull home to their cryes.
25 [Till with varieties To solace their Pieties
The wary Deities Repos'd them where]
wee shepards weare seated, the whilest 26 wee repeated
56 what wee conceited of their hunting the hare.
' W.D. omits the.— F.
2 Cytherea.— P.
With Thetis.— W.D.
doth hold. Sic legcrim. — P.
Shamefac't. — W.D.
Maya.— P. May.— W.D.
MS. campany. — F.
8 But Juno.— P. 9 Altho'.— P.
10 yet.— W.D.
" Rowzed by.— P. Eais'd by.— W.D.
I; Cimmeris. — P. Cineris. — WD.
13 The which.— P.
14 thousand year. — W.D.
15 Chirons.— W.I).
,fi Pallas.- -P. Faunus.- W.D.
" and.- W.D.
,s and ZEolus. — P.
•P. Ichnobates
-W.D.
19 fortunate Lrelaps.-
— W.D.
20 Jowler. — P. Nape.-
21 Harper, the skies. — P.
22 Rent with.— W.D.
23 huntsman-like.— W.D.
24 Winds the.— W.D.
25 Percy inserts here from OldBaUads:
Till with varieties
To solaco their deities,
Their weary Pieties
refreshed were.
W.D. lias the variations of the text
above, and the two lines are printed as
four. — F.
20 And 1 here.— W.D. Line 55 is
written as two lines in the MS; — F.
SONGS OF SHEPARDES. 307
yooung Amyntas supposed the gods came to breathe, Amyntas
told his,
after some battell, 1 themselues on the ground ;
Thirsis thought theystarres* came to dwell herebcneath, Thyrsi- hie,
60 & that herafter they 3 world wold goe round ;
Corydon aged, with Phillis engaged,
was much inraged with iealous dispayre,
but fFeare 4 rewarded, 5 & he was perswaded,
64 when I thus aplauded their hunting the hare :
and I told
mine.
" starres 6 but shadowes where, 7 states 8 were but sorrow, " stars arc
shadows.
Hint J noe 10 motyon, nor that no delight ll ; '_'.»isno
m delight;
Ioyes are Iouyall, delight is the Marrow
6S of liffe, & action the apple 12 of light l3 ;
pleasure d[e]pends vpon no other ends,' 4
but 15 ffreely lends to eche vertue a share;
only is mesure ,G the Iewell of treasure 17 ; the treasure
. , of pleasure
72 of pleasure the treasure is l8 hunting the hare." is hunting
the hare."
fibwre 19 broad bowles to the Olimpicall rector
///at 20 Troy borne 9l Egle does bring 22 on his knee !
lone to Pheobus Carrouses in nector,
And he to Hermes, & Hermes to mee, linage 4.wj
wliere-w/th infused, I pipet 23 & I mused
It has
Here's
health to all
who lovo
in verse ,4 vnused, this sport 25 to declare. inspired m«
x to write
O K that the rouse of Ioue, round as his spheero may **j^
moue,
8 l hclth to all Unit loue hunting the hare ! tbTiSL
(fin is.
' battels.- -W.D. - the stars.— W.D. " ; As measures.— W.D.
3 tlio.— W.I). * fury was faded.— P. ' 7 pleasures. — W.D.
• s fury vaded.— W.D, Alone is pleasure
e Starr's.— W.D. The measure of treasure.— P
7 were, W.D. were: Joys. — P. I8 treasures of. W 1)
'state. W.D. » Had they.— W.D. '•'Tin W.D. M His — W D
,n they without— P. 2 ' Boy presents.— P.
" these wanting DelayAt.— P. M he brings WD
- axle. W.D. '• axle of might, I'. -M p ,,mI. W.D. "s'soncs— WD
'* friends. W.D. ,4 Andyet W.D. » their sports.— P. 2 * And,— W.d!
[The following pieces, printed in Lo. and Hum. Songs, pp 87-101
followhen in the MS. (pp. 1-59-63): "Loners hea^ke alarum," " I
frevnde of mine; 1 "O nay, nay, not i/ett;' " / cannot bee contented "
- J.Jhnu.r/,,,,,,;' - The Sea-crabb," "Last night I thought"'}
.x 2
308
€i)t iaumian ^fiore* 1
" Mr. Thorpe, the enterprising bookseller of Bedford Street,"
■says Mr. Collier in a note in his History of Dramatic Poetry , " is
in possession of a MS. full of songs and poems, in the handwriting
of a person of the name of Kichard Jackson, all copied prior to
the year 1631, and including man}?- unpublished pieces by a
variety of celebrated poets. One of the most curious is a song
in five seven-line stanzas thus headed : ' Shakespeare's Rime
which he made at the Mytre in Fleete Streete.' It begins, ' From
the rich Lavinian Shore,' and some few of the lines were pub-
lished by Plaj^ford and set as a catch."
Mr. Thorns (see Anecdotes and Traditions, printed for the
Camden Society) and Dr. Eimbault (in an article in Notes and
Queries, May 13, 1854) apparently accept this heading as a
sufficient proof that the piece is verily written by Shakespeare.
We certainly cannot so accept it.
Dr. Rimbault gives an interesting version from a MS. collection
of songs formerly in possession of J. S. Smith, editor of Musica
Antiqua.
From the fair Lauinian shore
I your markets come to store,
Marvel not I thus far dwell
And hither bring my wares to sell,
Such is the sacred hunger of gold.
Then come to my pack
While I cry
What d' yo lack ?
What d' ye buy ?
For here it is to be sold.
1 One stanza of tliis is in Wilson's Cheerefull Ayres (1600) p. 3.— F.
THE L.U'IMAN SHORE. 309
I have beauty, honour, grace,
Virtue, favour, time, and space,
Ana what else thon wouldst request,
E'en the thing thou likcst best.
First, let mo have but a touch of thy gold.
Then come too, lad,
Thou shalt have
What thy lust never gave.
For here it is to bo sold.
Though thy gentry bo but young,
As the flower that this day sprung,
And thy father thee beforo
Never arms nor scutcheon bore.
first let me have but a catch of thy gold.
Then though thou be an ass,
By this light
Thou shalt pass
For a knight.
For here it is to be sold.
Thou whoso obscure birth so bast-
Ranks among the ignoble race,
And desireth that thy name
Unto honour should obtain.
First, etc.
Madam, come, see what you lack,
Here's complexion in my pack,
White and red you may have in this place,
To hide an old ill-wrinkled face.
First, let me have but a catch of thy gold,
Then thou shalt seem
Like a wench of fifteen,
Although you bo three-score and ten years old.
Other less perfect copies are, he points out, to he found in
Playford's Select Ayres and Dialogues (1659), Dr. Wilson's
Cheerefull Ayres and Ballads (1660), in Playford's Catch that
Catch Can (1667). The first stanza is given as "set" by Dr.
V>ilson in Playford's Musical Companion (1673).
A remarkable writer in the Athenamm, quoted by Dr. Kim-
bault, says the " rime is a merely clumsy adaptation from Ben's
interesting epigram ' Inviting a Friend to Supper.' ' This
gentleman had certainly not read both poems.
310 THE LAUINIAN SHORE.
The speaker in the piece is a sort of superior hawker. His
stock consists not of such material blessings as Autolycus vended
at the sheep-shearing in the Winter's Tale — lawn, and gloves,
and bracelets, and pins — or as were proffered to the London
Lackpenny strolling through the Chepe and Canwyke Street,
but of far subtler wares. He sells Success in Love, Bank, Repu-
tation, Health-restoratives. There is nothing in the world that
he does not sell, except Wit and Honesty. These cannot be
bought and sold. Otherwise he is an universal outfitter. The
satire in the third and fourth stanzas is directed, no doubt, at
the venality of the court of James I. and especially at the selling
of knighthood countenanced and practised by that disreputable
monarch. But as was the court so was the country. Dives was
successful everywhere. He could never bear a bad character ;
he could never be " refused " as a lover ; he was always a gentle-
man born. Riches made the man. An ever-old, an ever-new
subject for the satirist. The worship of Plutus never ceases.
His temple is never uncroAvded.
Vineant divitise, sacro ne cedat honori,
Nuper in banc urbem pedibus qui venerat albis;
Quandoquidem inter nos sanctissima divitiarum
Majestas, etsi funosta pecunia templo
Nonduin habitas, nullas niimmorura ereximus aras.
This famous chapman, himself urged on, as he confesses, by ' auri
sacra fames ' (v. 5), comes from far-away Italy — from Lavinia
littora (v. 1. Compare, in D'Urfey's Pills to purge Melancholy,
A gentlo breeze from the Larinian shore
Was gliding o'er the coast of Sicily.)
Did Italy already in the earlier years of the seventeenth cen-
tury bear that ill name that was affixed to it in the eighteenth
and is but now perhaps being removed from it? Was it even
then regarded as the cradle and nursery of impostors and
charlatans? And were these, its miserable offspring, already
overrunning other countries and England? Tin; " Grand us
THE L.YITINIAN SHORE. 311
esuriens " whom Juvenal described with such sarcasm, as ready
to turn his hand to anything and everything, to turn
Gramniaticus, rhetor, geometres, pictor, aliptes,
Augur, schoenobates, medicus, magus,
was but a type of what his own countryman became in later
times.
IIROM the rich ' Lauinian shore i come from
far
I yo»r markett 2 come to store.
muse not you I soe farr 3 dwell,
4 [&] hither 4 come my warres to sell ; 5 ^JJ my
Such is they 6 Sacred hunger of gold.
come 7 to my packe ! will you buy 8 what you 9 Buy what
you lack!
lacke : 10
what you lacke, 11
heare shall you haue ,2 to be sold.
8 you whose flfortune young denyes l3 You unsuc-
ii i ii cessful
grace m your belouecl l4 eyes ; lovers,
thou thy loues, vowes, or deserts 15
nought preuaile in womans harts ;
\-2 soe be your palmes anointed w/th gold 1G bring me
come to me then ! when, gentlemen, will you buy ? !7
loue, loue, is heere to be sold. * nA vn sell
you love.
you, whose birth obscure & base You base-
born men
16 rankes you w/th ignoble 18 race ;
1 faire. — Wilson's Ayres. " what d'ye buy. — W.A.
- Markets.— W.A. u for here it is. —W.A.
1 though so farr I. — W.A. " you, whom Fortune's Wrong denies.
1 and hither.-P. —P.
5 and my wares come here to sell. H beloved's. — P.
-W.A. '* For all your loves, vows, &c. — P.
1 the.— P. u Unless their palms be (I w d . read).
" then come. — W.A. — P.
* while I cry. — W.A. " "Come to me then,
'' d'ye. W.A. will you buy Gent".
"' What yon Lacke is here to be sold. " Gen.'love &c— P.
J' lb of ignoble.— P.
312
THE LAUIMAN SHORE.
who are
ambitious.
bring me
fold,
and I'll sell
you a place.
Yon
parvenus
whose
lathers had
no arms,
bring me
gold,
and I'll sell
you
heraldry.
Yon
defamed,
deficient in
body or
mind,
bring me
gold, and
I'll sell you
fame and
perfection.
hope, ambityon, hyer strines
ffor jour selues & ffor your wiues ;
well then, supply thy deflects with thy gold ;
'JO come for thy race, care not thou for a place, for a
place,
for a place is heare to he sold.
Though thy gentry be as younge
as the fflower that this day spronge,
24 though thy ffather thee before
neuer sheild nor scuchyon bore :
canst ffind in thy [heart] ' for to part w/th thy
gold ?
come to me, lad, thou shalt haue what thy dad
neuer had :
heeres Heraldrye to be sold.
28
32
Hath blind ffortune hurt thy ffame,
or vnkind nature hurt thy fframe ?
hart, 2 nor mind, nor body, partes,
strong 3 proportion, or deserts?
well then supply thy defects w/th thy gold ;
come tome then ! buy thy fame ; come 4 again e !
buy thy frame ;
ffor both are heare to be sold.
But you
dullards,
and scorn ers,
whatever
gold you
bring,
I can sell
yon mil In r
wit nor
lmiK sty.
36 But dull chapemen, they dispise
my rich ffairings to be wise ;
they whose humors 5 still doth 6 scorne
truth, 7 and trickes & toyes adorne ;
40 If you doe come w/th Millyons of gold,
Seekc ffurther yet in my stall ;
there is witt none att all,
nor honesty, to be sold.
ffinis.
' in thy heart— P.
2 Hast.— P.
a strength.— P.
4 MS. cono. — F. come.— P.
6 MS. liunors.— F.
8 do. — P. 7 those whom. — P.
313
Come mg foatntp tojrcgsu 1
[page 4G4]
Tins piece praises the joys of a gypsy's life. It prefers tents to
homesteads, picking and stealing to honest labour, complete
looseness to any sort of restraint.
The word " doxy " Nares defines to mean " a mistress."
" Coles has it a 'doxy meritrix ' . . . For the use of it among the
beggars, see Beaumont and Fletcher in the Beggar's Bush, Act
ii. 1." "Dill" is much the same as dilling, which is probably,
as Nares suggests, much the same as darling. " Minshew
explains it a 'wanton, but there is nothing in its origin to convey
that meaning, even if with him we derived it from diligo . . .
To make up a match with my eldest daughter, my wife's
dilling, whom she longs to call madam.' Eastw. Hoe. 0. PI. iv.
20G."
IjOME : my dainty doxeys, my dills, my dcares !
we haue neither house nor land,
yet neuer want good cheere ;
4 wee take no care far candle, rents ;
wee sleepe, we snort, we snore, in tents.
Then rouse In-time, & steak- our dinners;
our store is neuer taken w/thout pig'g or bacon,
8 & thats good meate ffor sinners.
Att wakes & ffaii-es we cozen
poore cuntry folkes by the dozen ;
if one haue money, he disbursses,
12 while some tell fortune, some 2 picke pursses.
Come my
dears !
Tho' we've
no houses
we live in
tents.
(!o and steal
our dinners !
Cheat tho
countryfolk
at fairs.
A Gypsy's Song.— P.
MS. sone.— F.
314
COME MY DAINTY BOXEYS.
For practice,
steal boots,
smocks, or
anything!
rather then Hue out of vse,
steale hose or garters, bootes or shooes,
boots, guilded spurres w/th ingling l rowells,
l 6 shirts or smockes, napkins or towells.
Come and
live with us,
all who love
their ease !
Gipsies get
drunk when
they please,
come Hue w/th vs, come Hue with vs,
all you that loue yowr eases!
he thats a Gipsey, may be drunke & tipscy
20 att what houre he pleases !
laugh,
and steal.
wee laugh, wee quaffe, wee rorc, we shuffle,
wee iilch, wee steale, wee drab, wee sckuffle !
ffinis.
perhaps jingling- — P-
315
Co : (^vffortif :
This song is said to have been composed by some contemporary
Cambridge wit on the occasion of James I.'s visit to Oxford in
1605. No doubt the whole affair — the speechifying, the play-
acting, the " qua>stiones " — was absurd enough ; and the keen
eyes of certain members of the sister university who were present
observed and recognised abroad absurdities which might have
passed unnoticed if perpetrated at home. Indeed, the spectacle
of the universities scraping and bowing before a royal visitation —
a spectacle they presented at every possible opportunity — is highly
ludicrous. They poured forth Latin verses to a prodigious extent :
The hall was hung with verses thick,
A goodly sight to see,
For every one was willed to make
Verses in his degree.
To their trade some had made
Verses called Asclepiad.
Here might you find, of every kind,
Verses fitting to your mind ;
Here a Hexameter, there a Pentameter,
Sapphics and Scazons too.
They overflowed with Latin orations. In a word, their book-
wormships exhausted all the powers of hyperbole and adulation.
A full and very amusing account of the visit to Oxford here
referred to, is quoted by Nichols in his Progresses of James I.
(i. 530-59) from Harl. MS. 7044, fol. 201. • This, as is stated
by a note in the MS. in the handwriting of Baker, to whom the
MS. once belonged, was written by one Stringer, a bedell at
Cambridge in 1589, and subsequently a holder of other important
university posts. It fully illustrates the following squib: e.g.
316 TO OXFFORDE.
as to v. 9 : "they presented to his Majesty," he says, " a Greek
Testament in Folio washed and ruled, and two pair of Oxford
gloves with a deep fringe of gold, the turneovers being wrought
with pearle. They cost, as I was informed, 61. a pair," &c.
Anthony a Wood in his Annals, under 1614, speaking of the
King's visit to Cambridge in that year, says (apud Nichols 1. c.
note): "It must be now noted that when King James was en-
tertained at Oxford in 1605, divers Cambridge scholars went
thither out of novelty to see and hear ; yet, if anything had
been done amiss, they were resolved to represent it to the worst
advantage. Some therefore that pretended to be wits made
copies of verses on that solemnity, among which I have met with
one that runs thus :
To Oxenford the King is gone
With all his mighty Peers,
That hath in grace maintained us
These four or five long years.
Such a king as he hath been
As the like was never seen.
Knights did ride by his side
Evermore to be his guide:
A thousand knights, and forty thousand knights,
Knights of forty pound a year.
Some have said that it was made by one — Lake, but how true
I know not."
The piece, then, was composed for the benefit of the Com-
bination Kooms of Cambridge, or what equivalent institutions
there were in the beginning of the seventeenth century, and, we
may be sure, was received with much laughter there by the Dons
of the Stuart times.
The King's 10 : Oxford the King is gone
pone to
Oxford w/th all his pompous Q-race,
to see the .
sigbta. to vew the sights & see the learning
4 of tli at ffamous place,
TO OXFFOKDE.
317
where dowries of the towne —
clothed in their scarlett gownes —
gaue the Kmg such a thing
as passes all imageninge ;
a paire of gloues, to testifye their loues
which, to the "King they bore.
And tlie
clowns have
given him
a pair o£
gloves:
They gaue him a payre of gloues
12 of stiffe & strong staggs lether ;
I say, a payre of hunting gloues
to keepe out wind and wheather.
Some relate they gaue him plate,
l <; & a purse stufft full with gold :
" sure," said I, " thats a lye ! "
as soone as ere I heard itt told.
ffor why shold they giue their gold away
20 to him that hath enough of his owne ?
yes,
hunting
gloves ;
not plate
and money,
as some say.
Next to christs- church was he brought,
a place of Mickle ffame,
where the warden him receiued, —
24 I haue forgo tt his name. —
heere they all went to the hall,
tag & rag, great and small :
the bells did ring, the boyes did singe,
28 & all did crye, " god saue the Kinge !
& grant him grace to run a race
with pleasure in Royston downes ! "
At Christ-
church
they took
him to the
hall,
The ball was honge with verses tliieke,
:]-2 a goodlye sight to see,
ffor euery one was willed l<> make
\ erses in his degree.
to their t rade some had made
36 verses called ascelpiade.
which u .i
hung all
over with
verses
318 TO OXFFORDE.
of all kinds, lierc might yon find, of euerye Kind,
verses flitting to jour mincle :
hexameters, here an examiter, 1 there a pentamiter,
40 sapliickes, 2 & seasens 3 too. 1 1 1 ills.
sapphics,
&c.
1 hexamet/. — P. (the well-known verses, eallod also chol-
2 Sapphickes. — P. (amies). — Dyce.
J Beyond all doubt an error for seasons
319
itatipc : Besfcfpe* 1
Inerat ibi ab unguiculis Doi timor ot servitium admirabile ; in parentes vero
mira observantia ; erga fratres et sorores amor ferme incredibilis ; in pauperis
Christ ique ministros reverenda ac singularis affectio. — Bernard Andreas.
Two copies of this song are preserved elsewhere, one in a MS.
of the time of Charles II. in the possession of Mr. Bateman,
the other in MS. Harl. 367, transcribed apparently, says
Mr. Halliwell, about the year 1600. These two copies differ
considerably. They have both been printed: the former three
times, viz., by Mr. Thomas Heywood in 1829, by Mr. Halliwell
for the Percy Society, and by Mr. Jewitt in his Ballads and
Songs of Derbyshire ; the latter by Mr. Halliwell along with the
other. The following copy differs but slightly from this latter
one from the Harl. MS. It is perhaps a little later than it, as it
speaks of ' our comely King,' probably James the First, in v. 3,
where the Harleian version reads ' Queen,' probably Queen
Elizabeth. Certainly neither copy in its present shape is as old
as the events it describes. Both are less modernised than the
copy in Mr. Bateman's MS.
But we see no reason to doubt that the main ground-work of
the poem was laid early in the sixteenth century, or still earlier,
1 In 0" Parts. Containing a long Ac- whereas our copy in the Folio dates from
ooun\ of the bringing in of Henry 7". 1 and a King's reign no doubt James l.'s, —
all the sti ps previous to it, down to the saue & keepe our comelye Kinge.
battli ofBosworth. — P. (To prevent the repetition of an objec-
Thie is a later copy of the Ladye tion already made, I add that the epithel
Bessie in .Ms. Harl. 367, fol. st>, printed ' comelye ' was probably applied to Jame
by .Mr. Balliwell for the Percy Society because it was in the text, having been
in l s 1 7 . .- 1 1 p. 43-79of 77«j most pleasant used for Elizabeth.)
Song of /."d// Bessy. Tie' Harleian Cp.forst. 118, p. 184, TheHarleian
copy i> doubtless of Elizabeth's reign, copy is not divided into parts. The col-
all. 1600 Mr. Halliwell says -as in its lation of it here is from Mr Halliwell's
1 lino, and its last lit' 1 1"K one, it has t-xt. F.
save and kepe our <■■ imb e q h ene,
320 LADYE BESSIYE.
by one who himself took part, as he professes, in the exciting
transactions that are narrated — by Humphrey Brereton, the active
and zealous agent, the ' true esquire,' of the Lady Bessy. As to
the date of the composition of the poem, there is a great look of
authenticity about the work; there is an annalistic air. The
account given of the conferences between the Princess and
Lord Stanley (styled, proleptically, the Earl of Derby), of the
messenger's journeys into the northern counties and across the
sea, is singularly minute and graphic; and these merits can
scarcely be ascribed to the brilliant imagination of the writer.
There are no signs apparent of any great talent of that kind.
The style is that of a man who can relate soberly and steadily
what he has seen, not of one fertile in conjuring up ideal
pictures. It is matter of fact, autoptic throughout.
We have, unhappily, no means of applying the touchstone of
history to the circumstances narrated by the ballad. There is
extant no other information as to the movements of Elizabeth
of York, between Christmas 1484 and the 21st of the following
August, when the battle of Bosworth was fought. We find that
at the time of that battle she was living at Sheriff Hutton Castle
in Yorkshire, " with no companion," says Miss Strickland (see
that lady's Lives of the Queens of England), " but its young and
imbecile owner, her cousin Warwick." The ballad speaks of her
as present at Leicester, when the dishonoured body of her uncle
was carried from the field of his fall into that town. But this
collision between the ballad and facts cannot be allowed to
impugn the validity of the whole account furnished by the
ballad. The bringing the lately oppressed lady to the sight of
her fallen oppressor, formed a " position " too tempting to be;
rejected. Facts might pardonably be strained a little to com-
pass such an effective meeting ; and the furious spirit of a
partisan might put into the mouth of a most gentle lady cruel
words derisive other fallen enemy.
LADYE BESSIYE. 321
They carried him naked unto Leicester,
And buckled his hair under his chin.
Bessie met him with a merry cheer ;
These were the words she said to him :
"How likest thou the slaying of my brethren twain?"
She spake these words to him alone.
" Now are we wroken upon thee here !
Welcome, gentle uncle, home ! "
As to the authorship, we may easily believe that the writer
was Humphrey Brereton. Probably no one but Brereton would
have described so carefully Brereton's movements, the main
interests of the piece centring around the Earl of Richmond, and
the lady Elizabeth. This author knows well and describes every
passage of them.
This ballad then may be set down as of some considerable
historical value for the picture of old times that it gives.
[Part L]
[How the Princess Elizabeth persuades Lord Derby to help her and her
lover Richmond.]
vlOD : that is most of might, God save
& borne was of a maiden ffree,
saue & keepe our comelye Kinge ! the King
4 & all 2 the pore cominaltye ! Commons!
for wheras King Richard, I vnd[e]rstand, in Richard
III.'s time
bad not raigned yeeres three,
But the best duke in all the Land [page 4cs]
8 he caused to be headed 3 att Salsburyc.
that time the Stanleys \v/thout doubt tnc Stanleys
were dread oner England ffarr & neere, 4 greatest
next Km^ Richard, thai was sue stout, England;
12 of any hord in England Ere. 6
1 queene. — Karl. ' A..-S. ke&fdian, to head, behead. — F.
2 also.— llarl. 4 me.— Had. 5 froe.— Harl.
VOL. II r. V
322
LADYE BESSIYE.
and when
Lady Bessyo
16
there was a Lady faire on mold,
the name of her was litle Bessye ;
shee was young, shee was not old,
but of the age l of one and twentyc ;
was staying
in London
with Lord
Derby,
shee cold write, & shee cold reede,
well shee cold worke by prophesyc ;
shee soiorrned in the Cittye of London
20 that time w^th the Erie of Darby e.
she com-
plained to
him against
her nncle,
King
Richard :
"Hedrowned
my brothers
vpon a time, as I you tell,
there was noe more but the Erie & shee ;
shee made complaint of 2 Richard the King,
24 that was her vnckle of blood soe nye :
" helpe, ffather Stanley, I doe you pray !
for of King Richard wroken I wold 3 bee.
he did my brethren to the death on a day
28 in their bedd where they did lye ;
in a pipe of
wine,
and wanted
to put away
his Queen
and lie with
me.
You too may
meet with
Bucking-
ham's fate.
" he drowned them both in a pipe of wine ;
itt was dole to heare and see !
& he wold haue put away his Queene
32 for to haue lyen by my bodye !
" helpe that he were put away,
for the royall blood destroyed wilbee 4 !
Bckingam, that duke of England,
36 was as great with King Richard as now are yee.
" the crowne of England there tooke hee, —
forsooth, LorcZ, this is no lye, —
& crowned King Richard of England free,
40 that after beheaded him att Salsburye.
1 yeares. — Hurl.
one
-Hurl.
» will L— Harl.
1 destroy will hee. — Harl.
LADYE BESSIYE.
o23
" helpe, father Stanley, I you pray !
for on that traitor wrokeri wold I bee ; *
& helpe Erie Richmond, that Prince soe ' gay,
41 that is exiled ouer the sea !
" for & he were K/»^/, I shold be Queene ;
I doe him loue, & neuer him see.
thinkc on Edward, my father, that late was Kimj,
vpon his deathe-bed where he did lye :
43
52
" of a litle child he put me to thee,
for to gouerne and to guide 2 ;
into yo»r keeping hee put mee,
& left me a booke of prophecye 3 ; —
Help, too,
Richmond,
who is
exiled.
I love him.
Think how
my father,
King
Edward, on
his death-
bed, left me
to your care,
" I haue itt in keeping in this citye ;—
he knew that yee might make me a Queene,
father, if thy will itt be ;
56 for Richa re? is no righteous Kinge,
" nor vpon no woman borne was hee ;
the royall blood of all this land,
RichftrcZ my vnkle will destroye
no as he did the Duke of Buckingham,
"Who 4 was as great with. ~K.mg Richard as now are yee.
for when he was duke of Gloster,
he slew good King Hencrye
C4 in the Tower of London as he lay there.
as he knew
that you
could make
me Queen.
Richard will
destroy all
the royal
blood.
He slew
King Henry
in the
Tower.
1 Ilarl. omits soe. — F.
2 For gye = guide. — Dyci ,
8 See "The most pleasant Song of
Lady Bessy," edited from Mr. Batenian's
MS. by Mr. Halliwell for the Percy So-
ciety, p. 4. King Edward speak-, to his
little Bessy set in a window :
'• Here is a book of \'" aeon ; keep it well-
As yon will have the Love of me ;
Neii her to any creature do it tell,
Nor let no liveing lord it see.
Except it be to the Lord Stanley,
The which I love full heartiley:
All the matter to him show you may,
For he and his thy help must be;
As soon as the truth to him is shown,
Into your words he will agree ;
For their shall never son of my body
be gotten
That shall be crowned after mo,
But you shall lie (juecn and wear the
crown,
Soilothcxpresselhe prophecye." — F.
' which. — Ilarl.
y 2
324
LADYE BESSIYE.
Stanley,
your brother
Sir William
can bring
.000 men,
your son
George
1000 men,
your son
Edward
300 men,
your nephew
Sir J.
Savage
1500 men,
" S/r willtam Stanley, thy brother deere
in the hol[t]e ' where he doth lye,
he may make 500 fightinge men 2
G8 by the marry age of his faire Ladye. 3
"yo?tr sonne George, the Lore? Strange,
in Latham where he doth lye,
he may make a ] 000 4 flighting men in fibre,
72 & giue them wages for monthes three.
"Edward Stanley that is thy sonne, 5
300 men may bring to thee,
thy sonne lames, that young preist,
76 warden of Manchester was made lately c.
" S/r Iohn Sanage, thy sisters sonne, —
he is thy sisters sonne of blood soe nye —
hee may make 1500 fighting men,
80 & all his men white hoods to 6 giue ;
SirG.
Talbott
1000 men (?)
yourself
1000 men
You and
yours can
bring
Richmond
back,
and then
he'll be
King, and T
Queen."
" he giueth the pikes " on his banner bright ;
vpon a feild backed was neuer 8 hee. ^^ a m >l
S/r Gilbert Talbott, a man of might,
84 in Sheffeild castle where he doth lye,
" Hele make a 1000'! men 9 of might,
& giue them wages Sbr monthes three.
& thy selfe a 1000 Eagle ffitt 10 to flight,
85 that is a goodlye sight to see ;
" for thou & thine withouten pine
may Bring Richemond ouer the sea ;
for & he were King, I should be Qncene ;
92 flather Stanley, remember bee ! "
1 holte. — Harl. holto, vid. St. 50, &c,
passim. — P.
2 ten thowsand fighting men in fere.
—Hurl.
3 Harl. transposes lines 68 and 72. — F.
1 make fyve thowsand. — Harl.
5 camo, qu. — P. sonne.— Harl.
u doc, — Harl.
7 pickes. — Earl.
8 neuer backed was. — Harl.
8 He may make ten thowsand. — Harl.
10 ten thowsand eigle feete. Harl.
The Stanley badge was an eagle's lout.
See rol. i. p. 223, note l4 . — F.
LADYE BESSIYE.
325
then answered the Earle againe ;
these were the words he sayd to BESSTE :
" & King Richard doe know this thing, 1
96 wee were vndone, both thou and I ;
" In a ffire you 2 must brenn,
my liffe & my lands are 3 lost from mee ;
therfore these words be in vaine :
loo leaue & doe away, good Bessye ! "
" ffather Stanley ! is there no grace ?
noe Queene of England that I mast bee ?
then Bessye stoode studying 4 in that place
1 04 with teares trickling ffrom her eyen :
" Now I know I must neuer be Queene !
all this, man, is longe of 5 thee !
but thinke on the dreadffull day
108 when the great doame itt shalbe,
" when righteousnesse on the rainbowe shall sitt,
& deeme G he shall both thee and mee,
& all nalshood away shall mitt
1 1 2 when all truth shall by him bee !
" I care not whether I hange or drowne,
soe that my soule saued may bee ;
make good answer as thou may,
116 ffor all this, man, is longc of 7 thee."
with that shee tooke her head grace 8 downe,
& threw itt downe 9 vpon the ground,
both 10 pearles & many a precyous stone
120 that were better then a 1000 u pound.
Lord I >crl<\
answers,
that if
Richard
knew of this
he'd bum
Iict, and
kill him.
She must
begone.
" Is there no
grace ?
Am I never
to be
Queen ?
Stanley !
Think on
the day of
doom,
when Christ
shall judge
you.
Care not for
death,
bo thai you
can answer
God ! "
r.essye
dashes her
head-jewels
on the
ground,
1 then.— Hail. 2 thou.— Harl.
3 land is. — Harl.
4 Btyding. — Harl.
6 on. Harl.
,; Ami all denie. Harl.
7 on.— Harl. Cp. Cotgrave's "A toy
n'apa8 tenu. Thouwerl do hinderance . .
it was nut long of theo. — F.
8 perhaps geare.— P. gere.— Harl.
Yet "grace" may have been intended, as
in the description ofapeasanl :
" Her liun grace was of wended straw.
— W.C.
did it throve. — Harl.
10 with.— Harl.
11 ihrii fowertye. Marl.
326
LADTE BESSIYE.
tears her
hair,
124
her ffaxe l that was as white as silko,
shortly downe shee did itt rent ;
with her hands as white as any milke,
her ffaire ffaxe thns hath shee 2 spilt 3 ;
wrings her
hands,
laments,
and bids
Lord Derby
farewell.
her hands together can shee wringe,
& with teares shee wipes her eye ;
" welladay, Bessye ! " can shee sing,
128 & parted with the Erie of darbye.
He turns
pale,
" ffare-well, man ! now am I gone !
itt shall be long ere thou me see ! "
the Erie stood still as any stone,
132 & all Marked 4 was his blee.
weeps,
says " Stay,
Bessie !
Here
when he heard Bessye make such mone,
the teares fell downe from his eye,
" abycle, Bessye ! wee -part not soe soonc !
136 heere is none now 5 but thee and I ;
I fear
overhearers,
" ffeild hath eyen, & wood hath eares,
you cannott tell wdio standeth vs by ;
but wend forth, Bessye, to thy Bower,
140 & looke you doe as I bidd yee 6 :
but at 9
to-night,
I'll be in
yonr bower
" put away thy maydens bright,
that noe person doth vs see 7 ;
for att nine of the clocke within this night,
144 in thy bower will I be with thee ;
1 faxe, hair, A.-S./<?f(.r, idem. — P.
2 he.— Harl.
3 ? splent (cf. splinter). — Dyee.
4 blencked. Earl, blanked — his blee,
ride infra, Page 470 [of MS. 1.41 2 here]:
i.e. his Complexion turned pale. — P.
5 I wene here is noe moe. — Harl.
11 the.— Harl.
7 there with us bee. — Harl.
LADYE BESSIYE.
327
148
" then of this matter wee will talke l more,
when there is no moe but you 2 and I ;
A charcole [fire] 3 att my desire,
that no smoke come in our eye ; 4
anil talk
more with
you.
Have a
charcoal fire
that won't
smoke,
" Peeces 5 of wine many a one,
& diuers spices be therbye,
pen, Inke, paper, looke thou want none,
152 but haue all things ffull readye."
and pen, ink
and paper
all ready."
Bessye made her busines, & forth is gone,
& tooke her leaue att the Erie of Darbye,
& put away her maydens anon,
15G no man nor mayd 6 was therby ;
She goes
home,
sends away
her maids,
A charcole fire was ready bowne, —
there cane no smoke within his eye,
peeces of wine many a one,
1 60 & diuers spices lay 7 therby,
gets ready
a charcoal
fire,
wine
and spices,
Pen, Inke, & paper, shee 8 wanted none,
& 9 hadd all things there ffull readye,
& sett her selfe vpon a stone
164 without 10 any companye.
[page 407] pen and
paper,
shee tooke a booke in her hande,
& ! 1 did read of prophecye,
how shee shold bee Queene of 12 England,
168 but many a guiltelesse man first must dye ;
and reads
her book of
prophecy,
1 carpc. — Harl.
2 thou. — Harl.
3 fire, vide infra. — P.
* With no chimney in the room, tho
wood smoke would make their eyea
smart. See Pref. to Babees Book, p. lxiv.
1, 306 below, and 1. 159; also Babccs
Book, p. 325, 1. 792.— F.
" mayden was there nye. — Harl.
7 dyvers spices did lye. — Harl.
8 there.— Harl.
shee.— Harl.
10 withouten.— Harl.
cups. See ' a pcece of wine,' p. 333, " and there.— Harl.
in.
-Hi
328
LADYE BESSIYE.
till Lord
Derby conies
at 9 at
night.
172
& as shee read ffurtlier, 1 shee wept.
with 2 that came the Erie of Darbye ;
att nine of the clocke att 3 night
to bessyes bower Cometh hee.
She bar? her
door,
shee barred the dore aboue and vnder,
that no man shold come them nye 4 ;
shee sett him on [a] seate [soe] 8 rich,
176 & on another shee sett her by ;
and gives
him wine
and spice.
It works,
shee gaue him wine, shee gaue him spice,
sais, G "blend in, ffather, & drinke to me."
the fire was hott, the spice itt bote,
180 the wine itt wrought 7 wonderSullye.
and he
promises
her what-
ever she
asks.
She wants
only her
Richmond.
then kind 8 in heat, god wott,
then weeped the noble 9 Erie of Darbye :
" aske now, Bessye then, 10 what thou wilt,
184 & thy boone granted itt n shalbce."
" Nothing," said Bessye, " I wold haue,
neither of gold nor yett of flee,
but flaire Erie Richmond, soe god me saue,
188 that hath lyen soe long beyond the sea."
Lord Derby
says he'd
grant her
request if he
hud a clerk
he could
trust to
write for
him.
" Alas, Bessye! that 12 noble Lord
& thy boone, ffbrsooth, grant wold I thee ;
but there is no clarke that I dare 13 trust
192 this night to write flbr thee and mee,
1 faster. — Hail.
2 And with. — Harl.
3 within the. — Harl.
4 nee. — Harl.
5 a seate soe. — Harl,
6 Said.— Harl.
1 wronehte. — Harl.
8 full kynde.— Harl.
8 waxed the oulde.— Harl.
10 Harl. omits then. — F.
11 And nowe thy boune grauntcd.-
Ilarl.
''- said that.— P. said that.— Harl.
13 doe.— Harl.
LADYE BESSIYE.
329
9G
" because our matter is soe hye,
lest any man wold vs bewray."
Besste said, " ffather, itt shall not neede ;
I am a clarke ffull good, I say."
Bessye says
she'll be
clerk,
sbee drew a paper vpon her knee,
pen and Inke shee had full readye,
hands white & ffingars long ;
200 shee dressed her to write ' speedylye.
and gets her
paper, &c.
ready.
" ffather Stanley, now let me see,
ffor euery word write shall I."
" Besste, make a letter to the Holt
204 there 2 my brother Sir William doth Lye ;
" bidd him bring 7 sad yeomen,
all in greene clothes lett them bee,
& change his Inn in euery towne
208 where before hee was wont to Lye ;
Lord Derby
dictates a
letter to Sir
William
Stanley,
telling him
to come to
him
" & lett his fface be towards the benche, 3
lest any man shold him espye ;
& by the 3 d . day of May
212 that he come and speake with mee.
by May 3.
" Conrmend me to my Sonne Geoi'ge,
the hord strange, where he doth lye,
& bidd him bring 7 sadd yeomen ;
21G all in greene clothes lett them bee,
He dictates
another
letter to his
son George,
bidding him
also come
" & lett himselfe be in the same suite,
& change 4 his Inn in euery towne,
& lett his backe be ffroe the benche,
220 Lest any man shold him knowne ;
1 wryte full.— Harl.
2 whereas.— Harl,
3 ? meaning. — F.
* ehaiimnii<r. — Harl.
330
by May 3.
Another to
his son
Edward,
bidding him
to come by
LADYE BESSIYE.
May 3.
Another to
Sir J.
Savage and
Sir G.
Talbot,
bidding
them to
come by
May 3.
Lord Derby
seals the
letters,
but then he
has no
messenger
that he can
trust.
224
"& by the 31 day of May
bidd him come & speake with mee.
Commend me to Edward my sonne,
the warden l & hee togetherr bee,
"& bidd them bring 7 sadd yeomen,
& all in greene lett them bee,
changing their Inn in euery towne
228 where before 2 they were wont to Lye ;
" lett their backes be ffrom the bench,
lest any man shold them see ;
& by the 3? day of May
232 bidd them come & speake with mee.
Comend me to Sir Iohn Sanage
& Sir Gilbert Talbott in the north cnntrye,
& [let] either of them [bring] 3 7 sad yeomen,
236 and all in greene lett them bee,
" Changing their Inn in euery towne [page4SG]
before where they were wont to bee ;
6 by the 3 d . day of May
240 lett 4 them come & speake with me."
Bessye writeth, the Lord he sealeth ;
" ffather Stanley, what will yee more ? "
" alas ! " sayd that royall Lord,
244 " all our worke is 5 fforlore !
" ffor there is noe messenger that 6 wee may trust
to bring the tydings to the north cuntrye,
7 lest any man shold vs betraye,
248 7 because our matter is soe hye."
1 See line 76 above. — F.
2 Before where. — Harl.
3 bjd them bryngo eyther of them.
-Harl.
1 byd.— Harl. 5 yt is.— Harl.
6 whom. — Harl.
7 The Folio transposes these two lines.
Harl. has them as lure printed. — F.
LADYE BESSITE. 331
" Humphrey Bretton, 1 " said litle Bessye, Bessye says
Humphrey
he hath beene true to my father & mee, Bretton
will take
hee shall haue the writting 2 in hand, the letters.
252 & bring them into the North cuntrye.
" goe to thy becld, ffather, & sleepe,
& I shall worke 3 ffor thee & mee,
to-Morrow by rising of the sunn
256 Humphrey Bretton shall be -vn'th thee."
shee brought the Lo rcl to 4 his bedd, she takes
all that night where he shold Lye ; to bed,"
& Bessye worketh 5 all the night ;
260 there came no sleepe in her eye.
[Part II.] G
[How Humphrey Bretton, for the Princess Elizabeth's sake, carries the Letters
of Lord Derby to his Adherents.]
In the morninge when the day can spring, and at day-
spring
vp riseth Bessye in that stower,
to Humphrey Bretton £one is shee 7 ; g° es *°
1 J ° Humphrey
264 but when shee came to Humphreys bower,
w/th a small voice called shee. and calls
him.
Humphrey answered that Lady bright,
& saith, "lady, who are yee He asks who
268 that calleth on me ere 8 itt be light ? "
" I am Kmg Edwards daughter, « King
Edward's
the countesse cleere, young Bessye : daughter,
Lady Cleere,
m all the hast thou 9 can, come to
i ■ i i T-i i p -r\ i )> Lord Derby."
272 thou must come speake with the Lrle of Darbye.
1 Breerton. — Harl. & so throughout. 5 waketh.— Harl.
2 writynges.— Harl. 6 The 2 d P'« Query.— P.
3 wake. Harl. 7 alleys. — Harl.
1 unto.— Harl. 8 y or- Harl. '■> that thou.— Harl.
332
LADYE BESSIYE.
Humphrey
goes with
her
to Lord
Derby,
who gives
him the 6
letters.
Bessye
promises to
reward him
when she's
Queen,
and tells
him to avoid
bad
company,
Humphrey cast vpon [him] * a gowne,
a paire of slippers on 2 his ffeete.
for[th] of [his] Chamber 3 then he came,
276 & went 4 with, that Lady sweet.
shee brought him to the bed side
where they Jjord lay in bed to sleepe.
when they 5 Erie did Humphrey see,
280 full tenderlye can hee 6 weepe,
& said, "my loue, my trust, my liffe, my Land,
all this, Humphrey, doth Lye in thee !
thou may make, & thou may marr,
284 thou may vndoe Bessye & mee !
" take sixe letters in thy hand, 7
& bring them into the north countrye ;
they be written on they 8 backside,
288 where they letterrs deliuered shold 9 bee."
he receiued the letterrs sixe ;
into the west wend l0 wold hee.
then meeteth him that Ladye bright,
292 she said, "abide, Humphray, & speake with mee.
" a poore reward I shall thee giue,
itt shall be but pounds three ;
if I be Queene, & may Hue,
296 better rewarded shaft thou bee.
" A litle witt god hath sent mee :
when thou rydest into the west,
I pray thee take no companye
300 but such as shall be of the best,
1 him.- — Hail.
2 upon. — Harl.
3 forth of his Chamh r — P. forthe of
his chamber. — Harl.
4 went forthe. — liar].
5 the.— Harl.
6 then can. — Harl.
7 MS. hamd.— F. thyno hande.
Harl.
" the.— Harl.
9 levered shall.— HarL
10 wjnde. - Harl.
LADYE BESSIYE.
333
304
" sitt not too long drinking thy ' wine,
lest in heat 2 thou be too merrrye ;
such words you 3 may cast out then,
to-morrow 4 fforthought 5 itt 6 may bee.'
and not sit
too long
over his
wine.
Humphray of 7 Bessye recekied noble[s] nine 8 ;
With a peece of wine shee cold him assay ;
hee tooke leaue of that Ladye sheene,
308 & straight to the holt he took h[i]s 9 way.
She gives
him nine
nobles,
and a cup of
wine,
and he rides
oft" to
when Sir william Stanley did him see,
he said to him with words free,
" Humphrey Brettom, what maketh thee 10 hccre,
312 that hither dost ryde soe hastily e ?
Sir w.
Stanley,
" How [fareth] n that Lore?, my brother dcare, who asks
That lately was made the Erie of darby, [page4(>9] Lord Derb y.
is he dead without letting,
316 or with ~K!ng Richard his counsell 12 is hee?
" Or he be suspected without 13 lett,
or taken into the tower so hye,
London gates shall tremble & quake
320 but my brother borrowed shall bee !
If he is put
in the Tower,
London
gates
shall tremble
for it.
" tell me, Humphrey, w/thouten lett,
that rydest hither H soe hastilye."
"breake that letter," 15 said Humphrey then ;
324 "behold then, and you shall see." 1G
Humphrey
hands him
the Earl's
letter.
1 the— Hiirl.
2 harte.— Harl.
3 thou.— Hurl.
* the other morrowe. — Harl.
8 for thought. — P. repented of.— F.
6 Harl. omits itt. — F.
' at.— Harl.
8 rec"? nobles nine. — P. nowbles. —
Harl.
the.— Ilarl.
thou. — Harl.
fareth.— Harl. How doth that.— P.
what eensayte. — Harl.
withouten.-- Harl.
11 hither rydeth.- -Harl.
'' lu-eake letter. Harl.
18 Behoulde, sir, and yee may see. —
Ilarl.
10
u
12
13
334
LA.DYE BESSIYE.
Sir William
bites his
stick,
gives
Humphrey
100*.,
when the Knight Looked the Letter l on,
he stood still in a studdiinge :
answer to Humphrey gaue he none,
328 but still hee gnew 2 on his staffe end.
he plucket the letter in peeces three,
into the water he cold itt fflinge 3 :
"hane heere, Humphrey," said the Knight,
332 " I will eriue thee a 100 shillinge :
tells him to
go to sleep,
and he'll lend
him a fresh
horse.
Humphrey
rests two
hours,
rides to
Latham ,
and reaches
it at nine.
The porter
" thou shalt not tarry heere all night,
straight to Latham ryd shall yee."
" alas," sais Humphrey, " I may not ryde,
336 my liorsse is tyred, as ye may see ;
" I came ffrom London in this tyde,
there came no sleepe within mine eye."
" Lay thee downe, Humphrey," he said, " & sleepe
340 well the space of houres three ;
" a ffresh horsse I thee behett,
shall bring [thee] through the north countrye."
4 Humphray slept but bowers 2,
344 but on his Iourney well thought hee ;
a ffresh horsse was brought to him
to bring him through the west countrye.
he tooke his leaue at the "Knight,
348 & straight to Latham rydeth bee,
& att 9 of Clocke in 5 the night,
att Latham gates 6 knocketh hee.
the Porter ariseth 7 anon-right,
352 & answerd 8 Humphray With words ffrcc,
1 the latter looked. — Harl.
2 gnevc. — Harl. gnawed. — F.
3 slynge. — Harl.
1 The Folio wrongly transposes lines
343 <& 347, 344 & 348. Harl. has them
right, as printed here. — F.
4 At nyno of the clocke within. — Harl.
6 yates. — Harl.
7 ryseth. — Harl.
8 answereth. — Harl.
LADYE BESSIYE.
335
356
" In good ffaith, itt is to Late
to call on me this time of the night."
" I pray the, porter, open the gate,
& lett me in anon-right ;
" with the hord strange I must speake,
from his ffather, the Erie of Darbye."
the porter opened vp the gates,
360 & in came his horsse and hee.
lets him in,
the best wine that was therin,
to Humphrey Bretton fforth brought hee,
w/th torches burning in that tyde,
364 & other lights that he might see,
& brought him to ' the bed syde
wheras the hord strange Lay.
the hord he mused in that tyde,
368 & sayd, " Humphrey, what hast thou to say ?
and takes
him to Lord
Strange in
bed.
" how ffareth my ffather, that noble hord ?
in all England he hath no peere. 2 "
Humphrey tooke a letter in his hand,
372 & said, " behold & yee may see. 3 "
Humphrey
gives him
his letter,
376
when they hord strange looked the letter vpon,
the teares trickled downe his eye ;
he sayd, " wee must vnder a cloude, 4
for wee may 5 neuer trusted bee ;
wee may sigh 6 & make great moanc ;
this world is not as itt slioldbee.
' downc iin to. — Harl.
- no pcere hath ho (to rhyme with
■hat follows). — Dyce.
s here. — Karl.
* clodde.
s music.
1 siko —
—Harl.
—Harl.
Harl.
336
LADYE BESSIYE.
and he
promises
to keep his
appoint-
ment.
" comend nie to my father dcere,
380 his daylye blessing he wold l giue rne
for & I Hue another yeere,
this appontment keepe will I."
Humphrey
rides on
to Man-
chester,
sees Sir
Edward
Stanley and
his brother,
he receined gold of my hord Strange,
384 & straight to Manchester rydeth hee ;
And when hee came to Manchester,
Itt was prime of the day ; [ pag e 470
he was ware of the warden & Edward Stanley,
388 together their Mattins ffor to say.
then 2 one brother said to the other,
"behold, brother, & yon may see,
heere cometh Humphrey Bretton,
392 some hastye ty dings 3 bringheth hee."
and gives
them their
letters.
They rejoice.
he betooke them either a letter, 4
& bidd them looke & behold ;
& read they did these letterrs readylye, 5
39G & vp they lope, & laught aloude,
Buckingham
shall be
revenged,
And saith, 6 " ffaire nail our ffather that noble Lord
to stirre and rise beginneth hee ;
Buckingham^ blood shall be roken, 7
400 that was beheaded 8 att Salsburye.
and Bessy's
love brought
over ihe sea.
404
" ffaire ffall the Countesse, the Kings daughter,
that good 9 Counccll giue cold shoe ;
wee trust in god fFull 10 of might
to bring her Lord ouer the sea !
1 wolde. — Hiirl.
3 thythandes. — Hurl.
2 The— Ilarl.
4 He tooke eyther
handes. — Ilarl.
5 radlye. — Harl.
a letter in their
B said.— Harl.
7 wroken. — Harl.
8 headed.— Harl.
s such. — Harl.
10 soo full.— Harl.
revenged. — F.
LADYE BESSIYE.
337
" Laue lieere, Humphray, of cither 40 s ;
better rewarded shall tliou bee."
lie tooke the gold att their hand ;
408 to 1 Sir Iohn Sauage rydeth hee,
& hee tooke him a letter in 2 hand,
bade 3 him "behold, read, and see."
& 4 when the Knight the Letter hadd,
412 all blanked* was his blee :
" women s witt is wonder to heare !
my vnckle is turned by yoitr 6 Bessye !
& wether itt turne to weale or woe, 7
416 att my vnckles biddinge will I bee. 8
" hane heere, Humphrey, 40 s . :
better rewarded may thou bee !
to Sheffield Castle Looke thou ryde
420 in all the hast that may bee."
fforth then rydeth that gentle K.night;
Sir Gilbert Talbott ffindeth 9 hee ;
hee tooke him a letter in his hand,
424 & bidd him, " reade & yee may 10 see."
when Sir Gilbert Talbott the \ettre looked on,
a loude laughter laughed hee :
" ffaire ffall that Lord of hye * l renown e !
428 to rise and stirr 12 beginneth hee !
"ffaire ffall Bessye, //<<tt Countesse cleere,
that such councell giueth trulye !
Comend mc to my nephew deare,
432 the young Erie of Shrewsbyrye,
Humphrey
goes then to
Sir John
Savage,
and he
swears to
hack
his uncle.
Sir Gilbert
Talbot's
letter is not
delivered,
and he vows
VOL.
and to. — Harl.
■ wayh — Harl.
in his. — Harl.
H I will.— Harl.
ami bail. — Harl.
'•' then fyndeth. -Harl
Harl. has no $. — F.
111 be mighte.— Harl.
then all blencked. — Harl,
n richo.— Harl.
you.— Harl.
in.
'-' si irre and ryse nowe,
z
Harl.
338
LADYE KESS1YE.
that he'll
set Lord
Strange free,
436
" bidd him neuer dread for no death,
In London Towre if hee bee ;
I shall make London tremble & qnake
but my nephew borrowed shalbee !
bring
Richmond
to England,
44'»
" Comend me to that Conntesse cleere,
K.ing Edwards daughter, young Bessye ;
tell her, I trust in god that hath no peerc
to bring her loue ouer the sea.
" Comend me to that hord without * dread
that latelye was made Erie 2 of darbye ;
& 3 euery haire of my head
444 for a man counted might bee,
and live and
die with
Lord Derby.
Humphrey
rides back to
London,
and finds
Lord Derby
with King
Richard.
" wtth that Lord withouten dread,
with him will I Hue and dye !
haue heere, Humphray, pounds three ;
448 better rewarded may thou bee !
" Straight to London looke thou ryde
in all the hast that may bee ;
Comend mee to the Kmjs daughter, 4 young Bessye,
452 King Edwards daughter forssooth is shee,
" In all this Land shee hath no peere."
he 5 taketh his leaue att the K.night,
& straight to London rydeth hee.
456
& when he came to London right
fi Itt was but a litle before eueni[n]ge,
there was he ware, walking in a garden greene,
[of] both the Erie & Richard our Kinge.
460 when the Erie had Humphrey see[ne, 7 ] [page«l]
1 withouten. — Harl.
2 the Earle.— Harl.
3 and.— Harl.
4 to the Cowntas. — Harl.
fl thus he.— Harl.
8 The 3 1 . 1 Parte. Query.-
7 seen. — P.
LA DYE BESSIYE.
339
he gaue him a priuye twinke ' with his eye. Derby
T7- • a? winks
then Humphrey came hefore the King soe ff ree, at him,
& downe he ffalleth vpon his knee.
464 " welcome, Humphray ! " said the Erie of Darbye :
'■' where hast thou beene, Humphray ? " said the Erie, and asks
? , where lie has
" ffor I haue mist thee weekes three. been.
" I haue beene in the west, my Lo/v/,
468 where I was borne and bredd trulye,
" ffor to sport me & to play
amonge my ffreinds ffarr & nye."
" tell me, Humphrey," said the Erie,
472 "how ffareth all 2 that Countryc ?
3 tell me, Humphray, I thee pray,
how ffareth King Richards Comunaltye ? "
" of all Country es, I dare well say,
476 they beene the mower 4 of archerye,
ffor they will be trusty with their bowes,
for 5 they will flight & neuer fllee."
when King 'Richard heard Humphray soe say,
480 in his hart hee was ffull merrye ;
hee 6 with his Cappe that was soe deerc
thanked him 7 ffull curteouslye,
& said, " ffather Stanley, thou art to mee neere, 8
484 you arecheeffe of jour Comynaltye,
" lialfe of England slialbe thine,
& equally devided bet n eene thee & mec ;
I am thine, & thou art mine,
4S8 & for 9 2 ffellowes will wee bee.
"Amusing
mysel f
among my
friends."
" How are
King
Richard's
commons
there ? "
"They are
the flower
of archery,
will fight,
and never
flee."
Richard
is glad,
and promises
Lord Derby
hall'
England,
1 twyncke.— Harl the base of (with
k/c.—F.
■ all in.— liar!.
3 The Folio wrongly puts lines 473— t
after line 178. Their position is alti n •!
here on tlio authority of the Earleian
MS.— F.
4 cheefe.— Harl,
8 And —Harl.
" Harl. transfers hi' lo the next line.
— F.
7 thai lorde. -H.
8 leere : for neere t with half the w left
out.— F. " soe.— Harl.
z2
340
LADYE BESyiYE.
for no one is
like him.
49-1
" I sweare by Marry, maid * mild,
I know none such vnder the skye !
whilest I am 2 K.ing & weare the Crowne,
I will be cheeffe of the poore 3 Comynaltye.
And he,
Richard, will
never tax
the com-
mons,
" tax nay mise 4 I will make none,
in noe Cuntry ffarr nor neare 5 ;
ffor if by their goods I shold plucke them downe,
496 for me they will ffaight 6 ffull ffaintcouslye.
who are his
dearest
treasures.
" There is no riches to me soe rich
aa is the pore Comynaltye." 7
when they had ended all their speeche,
500 they tooke their leaue ffull gladlye,
The King
leaves them,
and they go
to Bessye's
bower.
& to his Bower the King is gone.
then the Erie and 8 Humphrey Bretton,
to Bessyes bower they 9 went anon,
504 & ffound Bessye there alone.
She kisses
Humphrey,
when Bessye did see Humphrey anon,
anon 10 shee kissed him times three,
saith, " Humphray Bretton, welcome home !
508 how hast thou spedd in the west Cuntrye ? "
and prays
him to
tell her his
tidings,
Into a parler they went anon,
there was no more but hee & shee :
" Humphray, tell mee or hence I n gone,
512 some tydings 12 out of the west Countrye !
1 mayden. — Harl. 2 be. — Harl.
3 Harl. has no poore. — F.
'' Taske ne myse. — Harl. Tax ne
levies qu. — P. For mise, expence, dis-
bursement, money layed out, or the
laying out of money. Cotgrave. — F.
6 nye. — Dyce.
6 fight, qu. — P. woulde fyghte. —
Harl.
7 These sentiments may show who the
Ballad-writer's audience were, and thai he
looked to please them rather than engage
their sympathy on Richmond's side.
Had his words represented the King's
real feolings, no doubt Richard would
have kept his crown. — F.
8 MS. of.— F. and.— P. and.- Harl.
there has been altered into they in
the MS.— F.
10 Harl. omits Anon. — F.
11 I hence. — Sari.
'- tythandee.— Harl.
LADYE BESSIYE.
341
" If I sliold send ffor yonder Prince
to come oner ffor the Loue of mee,
and murthered amongst ! his ffoes to bee,
5 1 6 alas, that were ffull great pittye !
" fforsooth, that sight I wold not see
for all the gold in Christentye !
tell me, Humphray, I thee pray,
520 how Last thou done in the west countrye."
vnto Bessye anon he told
how hee had sped in the west countrye,
what was the answers of them hee 2 had,
524 & what rewards hee had trulye :
" By the third day of May, Bessye," he saycl,
" In London there will they bee;
thou shalt in England be a Queene,
525 or else doubtlesse they will dye."
so that she
may not
mislead her
lover.
Humphrey
tells hef England.
His crown
is hewed off
him,
and his
helmet
dashed into
his head,
and he is
carried to
Leicester.
Bessye
'' I pray yon, my mcr, be not away, [page 479]
1032 ffor like a man ffree ! will I dye !
flbr I had leuer dye this day,
the[n] - with the Stanleys taken bee ! "
a Knight to King Richard can say, 3
1036 good 4 Sir william of harrington,
he saith, " wee are like all heere
to the death soone to be done ; —
" there may no man their strokes abyde,
1040 the Stanleys dints they beene soe stronge ; —
yee may come in another time ;
therfore methinke yee tarry too longe ;
" jour horsse is ready att your hand,
1044 another day yon may yowr 5 worshipp win,
22 & to raigne with royaltye,
& weare jour 6 crowne & be onr King,"
" gine 7 me my battell axe in my hand,
1045 & sett my crowne on 8 my head so hye !
ffor by him that made both sunn & moone,
King of England this day I will 9 dye ! "
besides l0 . his head the hewed the crowne,
1052 & dange on him as they were wood ;
the stroke his Basnett to his head
vntili his braines came out w/th blood.
the carry ed him naked vnto n Leicester,
1056 & bnckeled his haire vnder his chin.
Bessye mett him with 12 merry cheere ;
these were they words shee sayd to him :
1 here. — Harl.
2 then.— Harl.
s Vid. Pag. 442, St. 74 & sequentes
[of MS.; p. 256, 1. 585 here].— P.
4 yt was gude. — Harl.
5 yeo maye. — Harl. 8 tho. — Harl.
7 He said, give. — Harl.
8 Sett the crowne of England upon.
—Harl.
9 will I.— Harl.
10 Besyde.— Harl.
" into. — Harl. 12 with a. — Harl.
LADYE BE^SIYE.
363
" how likest thou they slaying of my brethren
twaine ? " '
1060 shee spake these words to him alowde 2 :
" now are wee wroken vppon thee heere !
welcome, gentle vnckle, home ! "
taunts his
corpse,
welcomes
Lord Derby.
great solace itt was to see,
1064 I tell you, masters, w/thout lett,
when they red rose of Mickle price
& our Bessye 3 were mett.
The Red
Rose and
White meet,
a Bishopp them marryed w/th a ringe,
1068 they 4 2 bloods of hye renowne.
Bessye sayd, "now may wee sing,
wee tow bloods are made all one."
and are
married.
the Erie of Darbye he was there,
1072 & Sir william Stanley a man of might ;
vpon their heads they sett the crowne
in presence of many a worthy wight.
Lord Derby
and Sir
William
Stanley
crown them.
then came hee 5 ruder a cloud,
1076 that sometime in England was fifull high 6 ;
the hart began to cast his head ;
after, noe man might itt see.
but god that is both bright & sheene,
1080 & borne was of [a 7 ] mayden ffree,
saue & keepe our comelye King 8
& 9 the poore cominaltye !
ffinis.
God save
our King
and tic
Commons !
1 the sleaying of my brethren dere. —
HarL
2 alon. Earl.
3 yonge Bessie togeder. — Karl.
4 the. Earl.
'■> Sir William Stanley. Seel,812.— F.
8 MS. hight. Read high, pronounced
lice. — Dyce.
7 a.— Ilarl.
s queene. — Earl.
9 and also. — Harl.
364
Sire foomen ffatre* 1
" A very imperfect copy of this song," notes Percy, " is in
Pepys' Merriments, vol. ii. p. 330."
It is a handful of woman-abusing commonplaces, true enough
perhaps of such specimens of the sex as the writer of them was
likely to see or appreciate.
Women are
fair, and
sweet to
those that
love them ;
ARE women ffaire ? " I ! wonderous ffaire to see too.
"are women sweete ? " yea, passing [sweete 2 ] they
be too ;
most ffaire & sweete to them that only loue them ;
chast & discreet to all sane those that prone them.
not wise,
" Are women wise ? " not wise ; but they be wittye.
" are women wittye ? " yea, the more the pittye ;
they are soe wittye, & in witt soe whylye, 3
but so witty,
they beguile
you; 8 that be you neare soe wise, they will beguile ye
not fools,
but fond,
and never
stable ;
not devils,
but very
like them ;
needful
evils.
" are women ffooles ? " not ffooles, but ffondlings
many.
" can women ffound 4 be ffathfull vnto any ? "
when snow-white swans doe turne to colour sable,
12 then women ffond 5 will both be ffirme & stable.
" Are women Saints ? " no saints, nor yett no diuells.
" are women good ? " not good, but needfull euills ;
soe Angell-like, that diuells I doe not doubt them ;
16 soe needffull euills, that ffew can Hue wt'th-out them.
1 a satire on Womon. A very im-
perfect Copy of this Song is in Pepys
Merrini'.', vol. 2, p. 330.— P.
2 sweet. — P.
3 wilye. — P.
4 Three strokes only for un in the MS.
-F
5 found
-F.
ARE WOMEN FAIRE. 365
"Arc women proud?" I! passing proud, & praise l Proudthey
them.
" are women kind?" I! wonderous kind, & 2 please and kind
when they
them, lik0 10 be i
or soe imperyous, 3 no man can endure tliem,
20 or soe kind-karted, any may procure tkem. ffinis. often too
kind.
1 praisinge was first written in the hand. — F. 2 an't, if it. — F.
MS., hut the inge has heen crossed out, 3 MSv imperious. — F.
and an c written above it by a later
[" I Dreamed my Loue" printed in Lo. & Hum. Songs, p. 102,
follows here in the MS. page 480.]
366
(3 : Catrilm* 1
The author of The Treaty se of Fysshynge ivyth an Angle,
printed by Wynkyn de Worde in his edition of the Book of
St. Alban's in 1496, sets himself to " dyscryue foure good dis-
port es and honest games, that is to wyte, huntynge, hawkynge,
fyshynge and foulynge," in order to find out the best ; which is the
most fit mean and cause to " enduce man into a mery spyryte,"
that brings a man " fayr aege and longe life;" for "Salamon
in his parablys sayth that a good spyryte makyth a flourynge
aege, that is, a fayre aege and a longe." Our Fisher with an
Angle proceeds with the description of the four sports as
follows :
. . huntynge, as to myn entent, is to laboryous, for the hunter must
alwaye renne and folowe his houndes : traueyllynge and swetynge full
sore. He blowyth till his lyppes blyster. And whan he wenyth it
be an hare, full oft it is an hegge hogge. Thus he chasyth, and wote
not what. He comyth home at euyn, rayn-beten, pryckyd, and his
clothes torne, wete-shode, all myry, Some hounde lost, some surbat. 2
Suche greues and many other hapyth vnto the hunter, whyche, for
dyspleysaunce of them y l loue it, I dare not reporte. Thus truly me
semy th that this is not the beste dysporte and game of the sayd foure.
The dysporte and game of hawkynge is laboryous and noyouse also,
as me semyth. For often the fawkener leseth his hawkes as the
hunter his houndes. Thenne is his game and his dysporte goon. Full
often cryeth he and whystelyth tyll that he be ryght euyll a-thurste.
His hawke taketh a bowe, and lyste not ones on hym rewarde. 3 whan
he wold haue her for to flee : thenne woll she bathe, with mys-
fedynge she shall haue the Fronse 4 : the Rye : the Cray : and many
1 A Curious Old Song in praise of mouth. See " Medicyne for the Frounce"
Falconry. — P. in ReliquicB Antigua, i. 294, 297. The
2 . . surboted or riven of their skin. Rye is a sore in the nostrils, ib. i. 294;
Topsell, p. 689, in Halliwell. — F. the Cray a disease of the ' fondement,'
:l look. H). i. 295. (The Booke of Hawky rig, after
4 The Fronse is a sore in a hawk's Prince Edwarde, Kyng of Englande.) — F.
A CAUILERE. 3G7
other syknesses that brynge them to the Sowse. 1 Thus by prouff this
is not the beste dysporte and game of the sayd foure. The dysporte
and game of fowlynge me semyth moost symple. For in the wynter
season the fowler spedyth not but in the moost hardest and coldest
weder : whyche is greuous. For whan he wolde goo to his gynnes
he maye not for colde. Many a gynne and many a snare he makyth.
Yet soryly dooth he fare. At morn tycle in the dewe he is weete
shode unto his taylle. Many other suche I cowde tell : but drede of
magre 2 makith me for to leue. Thus me semyth that kuntynge and
hawkynge and also fowlynge ben so laborous and greuous that none
of theym maye perfourme nor bi very meane that enduce a man to a
mery spyryte : whyche is cause of his long lyfe acordynge unto y e
sa}'d parable of Salamon : % Dowteles then»e folowyth it that it must
necles be the dysporte of fysshynge with an angle. For all other
manere of fysshyng is also laborous and greuous: often makynge
folkes full wete and colde, whyche many tymes hath be seen cause of
grete Infirmytees. But the angler maye haue no colde, nor no dysease
nor angre, but yf he be causer hymself. For he maye not lese at the
moost but a lyne or an hoke : of whyche he may haue store plentee
of his owne makynge, as this symple treatyse shall teche hym. So
thenne his losse is not greuous. and other greyffes may he not haue,
sauynge but yf ony fisshe breke away after that he is take on the hoke,
or elles that he catche nought : whyche ben not greuous. For yf he
fayllc of one he maye not faylle of a nother, yf he dooth as this
treatyse techy th, but yf there be nought in the water. And yet atte
the leestlie hath his holsom walke, and mery at his ease, a swete ayre
of the swete sauoure of the meede floures : that makyth hym hungry.
He hereth the melodyous armony of fowles. He seeth the yonge
Bwannes: heerons: duckes : cotes, and many other foules wyth theyr
brodes ; whyche me semyth better than alle the noyse of houndys : the
blastes of hornys and the scrye of foulis that hunters, fawkeners, and
foulers can make. And yf the angler take fysshe : surely thenne is
there noo man mericr than he is in his spyryte. ^[ Also who soo woll
vse the game of anglynge : he must ryse erl y, whiche thyng is prouffj ( -
able to man in tliis wyse, That is to wytc : moost to the hcele of his
soule. For it shall cause hym to be holy, and to the heele of his
body, For it shall cause him to be hole. Also to the encrease of his
1 ? dcatli. ' Dead as a fowl at souse,' 278). ' To leape or seaze greedily upon,
i. e . a t the stroke of another bird de- to sou i doune as a hauke.' Florio,p.48,
scending violently ou it. So explained ed. 1611. Balliwelh— F.
Ly Mr. Dyce {Beaumont $ Fletcher, vii. a Fr. mafgri, illwill.— F.
368 A CAUILERE.
goodys. For it shall make hym ryche. As the olde englysshe pro-
uerbe sayth in this wyse. ^[ who soo woll ryse erly shall be holy
helthy and zely. 1 ^[ Thus have I prouyd in myn entent that the
dysporte and game of anglynge is the very meane and cause that
enducith a man in to a mery spyryte : Whyche, after the sayde parable
of Salomon and the sayd doctryne of phisyk, makyth a flourynge aege
and a longe. And therefore to al you that ben vertuous : gentyll :
and free borne, I wryte and make this symple treatyse folowynge :
by whyche ye may haue the full crafte of anglynge to dysport you at
your luste : to the entent that your aege maye the more floure and
the more lenger to endure.
Now this is all very well for a quiet man with no devil in him ;
but Crecy and Agincourt were not fought and won by men of
this type ; Nelson and Napier could hardly have been content to
be fools at one end of a rod, with worms at the other. Nor
could our Cauileere have accepted the reason of " Perkyn ]'e
plou mon " why knights should hawk :
fecche J>e hom Faueuns ■ \>e Foules to quelle,
For pei comen in-to my croft • And Croppen my Whete.
(William's Vision of Piers Plowman, Pass. vn. p. 76, 1. 34-5, eel. Skeat.)
There are many men whom, more or less, Tennyson's " Sailor-
boy " represents, even in their sports :
My mother clings about my neck,
My sisters clamour " stay for shame. ! "
My father raves of death and wreck :
They are all to blame ; they are all to blame.
God help me ! Save I take my part
Of danger on the roaring sea,
A devil rises in my heart,
Far worse than any death to me.
The electric force within them must out ; the excitement that
the chance of danger in the chase gives is necessary for them, is
the condition of health for body and mind, which if cooped up in
city and court would both become diseased ; the devil would rise.
But the sportsman cares not to look at this negative side of the
1 A.-Sax. sdliff, happy, lucky, blessod, prosperous. Bosworth. — F.
A CAUILERE. 369
question: be knows that he loves his sport; its toils are his plea-
sures, its danger his business to beat ; his horse, his dog — in old
time, his hawk — is his friend. What matters the chance of a fall,
when you feel } 7 our horse going under you, and hear the hoofs of
the field about you? Sit close, and take your chance, whatever
it be.
Our ballad is by a man of the right breed. It has the true
lilt in it; carries us back to bright old days, and makes us wish
that all our workers could have something more of healthy out-
door life. Of the poem itself we know no other copy. — F.
oOME : in their traine, & some in their game, some delight
in gain,
doe sett their whole delight ; others
in adorning
they[r] time * some doe passe with a comb & a glasse, themselves,
4 to be loned in their mistresse sight ;
Some loue the chace, & some loue the race others in
hunting the
of the hare & of the ffearffull deere ; hare ;
but the brauest delight is the ffawcon in her ffligh[t], but the
falcon's
8 when shee stoopes with a camleere. flight beats
all.
ffor shee will moue iust like a doue ;
when once her game shee doth ffind,
shee clipps itt amaine, shee strikes itt a plane, she flies at
her game
12 but seemes 2 to outstripp the wind. like the
wind ;
shee fflyeth att once her marke Iumpe 3 vpon, she soara
& mounteth the we[l]kin 4 cleere ;
then right shee stoopes, when the ffalkner hcc whoopes,
16 triumphing in her cauileere.
1 their time. — P. And bring him iumpc, when lie may
- MS. seenes. — F. Cassio find
3 He sel her on my selfe, a while, to Soliciting his wife. — Othello, Actus Se-
draw the Moor apart . cundus, Sccna Secunda. — F.
1 welkin. — P.
vol. in. n B
370
A CAUILERE.
and makes
the clouds
her quarry.
She stoops,
In a moments space sliee will better place l
as though shee did disdaine to carrye 2 ;
the earth is soe 3 neere, shee mounteth the sphere,
20 & maketh the clouds her quarrey, 4
till the ffawkner quite now hath Lost her sight,
& her bells no longer can heare ;
then listening 5 to a starr, he espyes her affarr,
24 come stooping with a cauileere.
and her
master
rushes
through
thorn and
wood to
meet her
with a
ringing
cheer.
Then comes he in, through thicke, through thin,
as nothing can his passage stay ;
his paines doth him please, his pleasure doth him ease,
28 through studds, 6 through woods, is his way.
he fforceth not 7 to sweat, though breathles with heat,
but with a resounding Cheare
he reacheth fforth his throte, & whoopeth fforth his
note,
32 triumphing in her cauileere.
He's free
from care,
and sleeps
at his ease.
His falcon's
bells are
his chimes.
He is ffree ffrom court & Cittyes resort,
& thus his houres doth imploye ;
the brooke & the ffeild him pleasure doth yccld ;
36 theres nothing interrupts his ioye.
his paines doth him please when he sleepeth att case ;
but this ffawcon, when day doth appeare,
her bells are his Chimes when he riseth betimes
40 triumphing in her Cauileere.
ffinis.
1 pace, or her place. — P.
2 tarry. — P.
8 too.— P.
4 ? MS. qurwey.— F.
6 lessen 8 , or less'} query. — P.
6 Lin. 4. perhaps stubbs, i. e. short
stumps of cut underwood, tho' studds
signify Posts. See Pag. 407, St. 7 [of
MS.]— P.
7 doesn't mind : cp. ' no force,' it's no
matter, of no consequonce. — F.
371
This hero of this strange piece is obviously James I. The earlier
verses are, no doubt, prophecies founded on fact — prophecies
after the event — as indeed is not unfrequently the case with
prophecies, they being but chapters of history with the tenses
altered and the language darkened. After verse sixteen our
author either turns satirical, or perchance indulges in a wild
dream born of his ardent Protestantism and his study of the
book of Joel. We prefer the latter supposition, and conjecture
that the poem was written about the time of the beginning of the
Thirty Years" War. The writer sympathised with the cause of the
Elector Palatine. The general excitement in this country in the
Winter King's behalf was unbounded. " The Protestants of Eng-
land," says Mr. Knight, " were roused to an enthusiasm which had
been repressed for years. Volunteers were ready to go forth full
of zeal for the support of the Elector. James was professing an
ardent desire to Protestant deputies to assist his son-in-law, and
at the same time vowing to the Spanish ambassador that the
alliance with his Catholic master, which was to be cemented by
the marriage of Prince Charles to the Infanta, was the great
desire of his heart. At length the Catholic powers entered the
Palatinate ; and the cry to arm was so loud amongst the English
and Scotch that James reluctantly marshalled a force of four
thousand volunteers, not to support his son-in-law upon the
throne of Bohemia, but to assist in defending his hereditary
dominions." At this crisis, we should suggest, the following piece
was composed. The Prophet, rejoicing that the darling wish
and hope of his Protestant heart is about to be realised, recognises
in the King who has sent forth the expedition him who, after grand
n B 2
372
A TROrECYE.
successes achieved in the Occident, is to fight that great final
battle in the valley of Jehoshaphat.
The news that reached England towards the end of the year
1620 must have sadly disappointed the poor visionary. This
once hopeful monarch proved hut a traitor to the Good Cause.
Perhaps he was the one who was to be vanquished — not to
vanquish — at Armageddon.
A prince
from the
North shall
come,
called J. S.,
find good
fortune,
and couch as
a lion.
He calls a
parliament,
and at once
breaks it up.
Then,
roused by
foreign foes,
he draws his
sword
and punishes
them,
12
16
20
A. : Prince out of the north shall come,
King borne, named babe ; his brest vpon,
a Lyon rampant strong to see,
and IIS 1 Icclippedd hee :
borne in a country rude & stony e, 2
yett hee couragyous, wise, & holy ;
att best of strenght, his ffortunes best
he shall receiue, & therin rest,
coach as a Lyon in the den,
& lye in peace soe long till men
shall wonder, & all christendome
thinke the time long, both all and some.
Att Last he calls a Parlaiment,
& breakes itt straight in discontent ; 3
& shortly then shall roused bee
by enemyes beyond the sea.
but when in wrath he drawes his sword, 4
woe that the sleeping Lyon stured !
ffor ere he sheath the same againe,
he puts his foes to mickle paine.
[page 481]
1 James Stuart. The I before J. S. may
bo a c : the two letters are often exactly
alike.— F.
2 Scotland.— F.
3 James's second Parliament, which
met April 5, 1614, and was dismissed
angrily, without passing a single act,
because it declined to grant supplies till
the illegal impositions and other griev-
ances were redressed. — F.
4 ? referring to the 4000 volunteers
whom he sent to defend the Palatinate
in 1620.— F.
A PROPECYE.
373
& vallyant actes he shall then doe,
great Alexanders ffame cmtgoe :
he passeth seas, & ffame doth winn,
24 & many princes ioyne with him,
& chuse him ffbr their gouemor,
& crowne him westerne Emperour ; l
after a while he shal he-girt
28 that cittye ancyent and great
-which, vpon 7 hills scituate,
till hee her all haue ruinate,
then shall a ffbe ffrom east appeare,
32 the brinkes of one great riuer neere ;
this Lyon rampant him shall meete ;
& iff on this side hee shall flight,
the day is Lost : but hee shall crosse
36 this riuer great, & being past,
shall in the strenght of his great god,
into his ffbes discouraging rode,
causing him thence take his fflight,
40 of Easterne 'Kings succour to seekee ;
during which time he is in owne 2
of East & west crowned Emperowne.
then shall the ffbe in ffury burne,
44 & ffrom the East in hast return e —
with aid of KmgB & princes great —
to the valley of Iehosaphatt :
then shall hee meete the Lyon stronge,
48 who in a battell ffeirce & longe
si mil ffbyle his ffbe. then cruell death
shall take away his aged breath. {finis.
outdoing
Alexander's
fame,
and being
crowned
Western
Emperor.
Then he
shal] besiege
Rome,
meet his
eastern foe,
and rout
him.
But the
foe shall
return,
reinforced,
and be
routed
again, in the
valley of
Jehosha-
phat.
Then the
Emperor
shall die.
1 James I. was proclaimed by the new
title of " King of Great Britain, France,
and Ireland," on Oct. 24, 1604 ; but on
his medals lie assumed the title of
Im/perator, — F.
- ? one.— F.
374
This ballad occurs in the Roxburghe Collection (reprinted in
Collier's Book of Roxburghe Ballads, p. 104, and from it in
Professor Child's English and Scottish Ballads), and in the
Collection of Old Ballads.
" This narrative-ballad," says Mr. Collier, " which is full of
graceful but unadorned simplicity, is mentioned in Fletcher's
Monsieur Thomas (Act III. sc. 3), [see Introduction to the Rose
of Englande~\ by the name of Maudlin the Merchant's Daughter.
Two early editions of it are known ; one, without printer's name
(clearly much older than the other), is that which we have used ;
we may conclude that it was written considerably before James I.
came to the throne. It was last reprinted in 1738, but in that
impression it was much modernised and corrupted."
Maudlin, a
Bristol
merchant's
daughter,
is loved by i
neighbour-
youth,
but her
friends
[The first Fitt.]
JjEHOLD : the touchstone of true lone,
Maudlin, the Merchants daughter of Bristow 2 towne,
whose ffirme affection nought 3 cold moue !
this 4 ffauor beares the louely browne.
a gallant youth was dwelling by,
which long time 5 had borne this Lady great good
will ;
shee loued him most ffaithffully,
but all her ffreinds withstoode itt still.
1 In the printed Collection of Old
Ballads, l'2 m °, vol. 3, p. 201. N. 37.— P.
In two Fitts;— P.
2 Bristol.— O.B.
4 Her.— O.B.
5 O.li. omit s time. — F
3 nothing. —O.B.
MADDLINE.
375
the young man now perceiuing well
lie cold not gett nor winn ] the fauor of her ffreinds,
the fforce of sorrow to expell,
12 to 2 vew strange countryes hee intends ;
& now to take his last. Harwell
of his true loue & 3 constant Maudlin,
w/th sweet musicke, 4 that did excell,
1 6 he playes vnder her windowe then :
" farwell," quoth he, "my owne true Loue !
" ffarwell," quoth he, " the cheeffest tres[ure of my
Heart] 5
Tliroughe ffortunes 6 spite, that ffalse did proue, [page 482]
20 I am inforcet ffrom thee to parte
into the Land of Italye 7 ;
there will I waite & weary out my dayes 8 in woe.
seing my true loue is kept ffrom mee,
24 I hold my liffe a mortall ffoe.
therfore, ffaire Bristow towne, now adew ! 9
for Padua shalbe my habitation now
although my loue doth Lodge 10 in thee,
28 to welcome [whom] u alone my heart I vow."
with trickling 12 teares this did hee singe ;
with 13 sighes & sobbs discendinge from his hart full
sor[e],
he said, when hee his hands did wringe,
32 " ffarwell, sweet loue, ffor euer-more ! "
ffaire Maud line from a window hye
beholding u her true loue with Musicke where he
sto[ode],
oppose the
match.
So he
resolves to
go and see
strange
countries,
and
serenades his
love before
going.
In Italy
he'll spend
his days in
woe,
and forsake
Bristol
for Padua.
He sighs and
sobs
and wrings
his hands,
and bids his
love fare-
well.
1 vnm in the MS. O.B. omits nor
winn. — F.
* And.— OJB.
3 his fair and.— O.B.
* Musick sweet. — O.I!.
5 MS. pared away: the., heart read
by tin- help of, or supplii d from < >ld
Ballads, which ninils OUOth he. — F.
8 ? MS. pared away.— F.
7 fair Italy.— O.B.
8 Life.— O.B.
9 Fair Bristol Town therefore adieu,
-O.B.
10 rest.— O.B.
11 whom.— O.B.
w tickling.— O.B.
13 O.B. omits with.— F.
11 See— O.B.
376
MAUDLINE.
She dares not
answer him,
but weeps
all night,
but not a word shee durst l replye,
36 Searing her parents angry inoode.
in teares sliee spends this 2 woefull night,
wishing her 3 (though naked) with her ffaithfull
ffrein[d].
shee blames her ffriends & ffortunes spight
40 that wrought their 4 Loue such Luckless end;
& in her hart shee made a vowe,
cleane to fforsake her country & her kinsfolkes 5 all,
& ffor to ffollow her true loue
44 to bide what 6 chance that might beffall.
the night is gone & the day is come,
& in the morning verry early shee did rise ;
shee getts her downe to the 7 Lower roome,
48 where sundry seamen shee espyes,
A gallant blaster amongst them all, —
the master of a gallant 8 shipp was hee, —
w r h !ch there stood 9 waiting in the hall
52 to speake with her ffather, if itt might bee.
shee kindly takes him by the hand ;
"good Sir," she said, 10 "wold yee speake with any
heere ? "
qiioth. hee, " ffaire mayd, therfore I n stand."
him into 56 " then, gentle Sir, I pray you come 12 neere
a parlour, Into a pleasant parlour by."
with 13 hand in hand shee brings the seaman all alone ;
sighing to him most pyteouslye,
6'.) shee thus to him did make her moane ;
and vows
she'll give
up her
family
and follow
her love.
She gets up
and finds a
master
seaman
waiting to
see her
father.
She takes
1 did.— O.B.
2 spent that.— O.B.
3 herself.— O.B. The ' naked ' alludes
to the early custom of sleeping naked,
occasionally mentioned in romances. The
authority of early illuminated MSS. is
also cited for it; but as kings and queens
in bed are almost always drawn with
their crowns on, and lying fiat on their
backs, one does not feel compelled to
accept the illuminators' authority for the
nakedness any more than the crowns.
— F. 4 her.— O.B.
4 ? MS. kinffolkes.— F. To forsake
her Country and Kindred. — O.B.
6 abide all.— O.B. 7 into a.— O.B.
8 a great and goodly. — O.B.
B Who there was.— O.B.
said she. — O.B.
and therefore I do. — O.B.
I pray draw. — O.B.
( I.B. omits with. — F.
10
u
12
MAUDLINE.
3*"7
shee falls vpon her tender l knee,
"good Str," shee said, "now pitty yee a womans
case,
& proue a ffaithffull freind to mee,
64 that I to you my greeffe may show ! "
" sith you repose yo«r trust," hee sayd,
" to me that am vnknowne, 3 & eke a stranger heere,
be you assured, proper 4 maid,
68 most fiaithfull still I will appeare."
" I haue a brother," then q?toth shee,
" whom as my liffe I 6 ffauor tenderlye.
In Padua, alas ! is hee ;
72 ff'ull sicke, god wott, & like to dye ;
& 6 ffaine I wold my brother see,
but that my father will not yeeld to let me goe.
therfore, good S/r, bee good 7 to mee,
76 & vnto me this ffauor show.
some shippboyes garments bring to me,
that I disguised may goe away ffrom hence 8 vn-
knowne,
& vnto sea He goe with thee
80 if thus much ffreindshipp may 9 be showne."
" ffaire mayd," quoth hee, " take heere my hand ;
I will ffultill eche thing that you now doe 10 desire,
& sett n you saffe in that same Land,
84 & in that place where 12 you require ! "
slice gaue him 13 then a tender kisse,
& saith, "yoitr servant, gallant Master, will I bee, 14
& proue jour ffaith-full ffreind ffor this.
88 sweet ~Mn.<tcr, iforgett 15 not mee ! "
falls on her
knees to
him,
prays him
to hear her
troubles,
and then
tells him
that her
brother is
dying in
Padua,
and her
father won't
let her go to
him.
" Bring
me some
shipboy's
clot hes,
and let mc
go with
you."
The seaman
promises to
do all she
wants.
She kisses
him and says
she'll be his
friend.
1 l.rlldcd.— O.B.
2 (said she) pity a Woman's Woe. —
O.B.
3 In Mir unknown. — O.B.
* mOSl 1 ii-;iut i-ous. - -O.B.
5 I love and.— O.B.
8 Full.— O.I I. 7 kind.— O.B.
8 O.IJ. umiis away from, hence. F,
9 Favour might. — O.B.
10 O.B. omits now doc. — F.
" -tc— O.B.
12 the Place that.— O.B.
1:1 to him.— O.B.
14 said, Your Servant, Master, I will
bo.— O.B.
'' (hen forgot.— O.B.
378
MADELINE.
He brings
her the boy's
clothes.
She puts
them on,
and goes
with him
before her
father.
[page 4S3]
Her mother
comes in,
saying their
daughter is
gone.
"That vile
wretch has
enticed her :
we shall find
him in |04
Padua."
" This youth
is going
there."
The mother,
not knowing
her
daughter,
gives her 20
crowns to
tend home
news of
herself,
this done, as they had both decreede, 1
soone after, earlye before the 2 breake of day,
he brings her garments then with speed,
92 wkerin shee doth her-selfe 3 array.
& ere her ffather did arise,
shee meetes her Master walkeing 4 in the hall ;
shee did attend on him likwise
96 euen vntill 5 her ffather did him call.
bnt ere 6 the Marchant made an end
Of all the matter to the Master he cold saye, 7
his wiffe came weeping in with speed,
100 saying, " onr daughter is gone away ! "
the marchant, much 8 amazed in minde,
" yonder vile wretch inticed away my child 9 ! ' :
but well I 10 wott I shall him ffind
att Padua or in Italy e." n
with that bespake the Master braue :
" worshippffull Master, 12 thither goes this pretty
youth, 13
& any thing that you wold haue, 14
108 he will perfforme itt, 15 & write the truth."
" sweete youth," qwoth shee, 16 " if itt be soe,
beare me a lettre to the English Marchants 17 there,
& gold on thee I will bestowe ;
112 my daughters welfare I doe ffeare."
her mother takes 18 her by the hand :
"faire youth," quoth, shee, " if 19 thou dost my
daughter see,
leitt me therof soone 20 vnderstand,
116 & there is 20 crownes ffor thee."
1 agreed. — O.B.
2 after that by.— O.B.
3 Therein herself she did.— O.B.
4 as he walked. — O.B.
5 Until— O.B.
6 But here.— O.B.
7 Of those his weighty Matters
that Day.— O.B.
H then.- O.B.
9 intie'd my Child away. — O.B.
all
10 I well.— O.B.
" In Italy at Taclna.— O.B.
12 Merchant.— O.B.
13 this Youth.— O.B.
11 crave. — O.B."
,5 perform. — O.B.
10 he.— O.B.
17 the English.— O.B.
19 Youth," if e'er.— O.B
'-'" soon therrof. — O.B.
18 took.— O.B.
MAUDLINE. 379
thus, through the daughters strange disguise,
the mother knew not when shee spake vnto her
child ;
& l after her master straight shee hyes, and Maudlin
1120 taking her leaue with countenance my Id.
thus to the sea ffaire 2 Maudlin is gone goes to sea
with her
With her gentle master, god send them a merry master.
wind !
where 3 wee a while must leaue them alone, 4
124 till you the second fitt 5 doe ffind.
[The Second Fitt.]
" welcome, sweet Maudlin, ffrom the sea Maudlin and
her master
where bitter stormes & tempests doe rise 6 ! land in
J the pleasant bankes of Italye
128 [_ wee 7 may behold with morttall eyes."
thankes, gentle master" then quoth 8 shee, She thanks
" 9 a ffaithffull ffreind in all sorrowes hast thou 10 kindness,
beene !
if ffortune once doe smile on mee,
132 my thankffull hart shall then u be seene.
blest be the hand that ffeeds my loue,
blest be the place wheras his person 12 doth abydc !
nor 13 try all will I sticke to proue and says
J r she'll
13G wherby my good will I4 may be tryde.
now will I walke with ioyffull hart walk about
. till she finds
to vew the towne wheras my darling 1o doth reniame,
& seeke him out in euery part
140 vntill I doc his sight attaine." ,6 her love.
*e>*
1 Then. — O.B. * There is a tag like an s at the end of
2 sweet. — 0.15. this word. — F.
3 ? ISIS. when. The n (or n) is ,0 in Sorrow thou hast. — O.B.
blotted out in the MS.— F. Where.— " My gratitude shall soon. — O.B.
O.B. '-' wherein he.— O.B.
* all alone.— 0.1 1. " No.— O.B.
5 Part.— O.B. " line Love.— O.B.
8 arise. — O.I!. '* wherein lie. — O.B.
7 You.— 0.15. 8 saiJ.— O.B. '■ Until his Sight I do obtain.— O.B.
380
MAUDLINE.
The Master
says he'll
see her safe
to Padua.
At last she
arrives
there,
and finds
her lover
condemned
to death
unless he'll
turn Tapist.
Maudlin
wails,
walks under
the prison
walls,
and hears
her lover
bid farewell
to England,
friends,
and love.
144
148
152
156
160
164
iC & I," quoth hee, "will not fforsako
Sweete Maudlin in her sorrowes vp & downe ;
in wealth & woe, thy part He take,
& bring thee saffe to Padua towne."
& after many weary stepps
In Padua the arriued saffely l att the Last :
for verry ioy her harte itt leapes,
shee tkinkes not on her perills 2 past,
condemned hee was to dye, alas,
except he wold ffrom his religion turne ;
but rather then hee wold goe to 3 masse,
in ffiery fflames he vowed to burne.
now doth Maudlin weepe and waile,
her ioy changed to weeping, 4 sorrow, greeffe &
care ;
but nothing can 5 her plaints preuaile,
ffor death alone must be his share,
shee walked vnder the prison walls
where her true loue doth lye & languish 6 in distresse ;
most 7 woefi'ullye for ffood hee calls
when hangar did his hart oppresse ;
he sighes, & sobbs, & makes great moane ;
" farwell," he said, " sweete England, now 8 for eu-
ermore
168
& all my ffreinds that haue me knowne
In Bristow towne with health 9 and store !
but most of all, ffarwell," qwoth hee,
" my owne true loue, 10 sweet M.&udUn, whom I left
behind !
for neuer more I shall see thee. 11
woe to thy ffather Most vnkind !
O.B. omits saffely. — F.
Sorrows. — O.B.
would to.— O.B.
O.B. omits weeping. — F.
For nothing could. — O.B.
Love did languish. O.B.
7 Then.— O.B.
s Farewel, Sweet-heart, he cry'd.
O.B
9 Wealth.— O.B.
10 O.B. omits true lone. — F.
" thou wilt me see. — O.B.
MAUDLINE. 381
how well were I if tliou were ' here,
with thy ffaire hands to close vp both these 2 wretched
eyes !
my torments easyc wold appeare ;
172 My soule with ioy shall 3 scale the skyes." [page 484]
when Maiv7/m hard her louers moane, Maudlin
sorrows,
her eyes wtth teares, her hart with sorrow, feild. 4
to speake w/th him noe meanes was knowne, 5 s^akTTer
176 such greeuous doome on him did passe. 6 lover -
then cast shee of 7 her Ladds attyre ; She dresses
a maydens weede vpon her backe shee 8 seemlye sett ; girl,
. takes service
to 9 the iudges house shee did enquire, in the
judge's
180 & there shee did a service gett. house,
shee did her duty there soe well,
& eke soe prudently shee did lier-selfe 10 behaue,
wt'th her in Loue her Master ffell, ? nd ho fa } l f
' m love with
184 his servants ffavor he doth craue : ber >
" Mandlm" quoth, hee, " my harts delight,
to whome my hart in affectyon is tyed, 11
breed not my death through thy despite !
188 a ffaithffull ffreind I wilbe 12 tryed ;
grant me thy loue, ffaire mayd," quoth hee,
" & att mv hands 13 desire what thoTul canst dTel- and promises
J L J L J her wha(; .
Tlise 14 ever she asks
him.
& I will grant itt vnto thee,
192 wherby tliy creditt may arrise."
" I haue [a] 15 brother, Sir," shee sayd, she asks for
" ffor his religion is now lfa condempncd to dye ; her brother,
• 1 IT T • 1 '" I""'*"" 1 lllV
in Lothesome prison is he 17 Laid, his belief.
196 opprest with care 18 and misery.
1 I were if thou wert. — O.B. In so well herself she did. — O.B.
2 close my. — O.I5. " my Soul is so inclin'd. — 0.13.
3 would.— O.B. ' 2 thou shall inc.— O.B.
4 Heart Boon filled was.— 0.1!. » And then.— O.B.
5 found.— 0.15. " ? MS. .liaise.— F.
6 did on him pass. — O.B. 13 The a is written abovo tho line in a
7 she put off.— O.B. later hand.— F.
8 Her Maiden-weeds upon her. — O.B. '" O.B. omits now. — F.
At.— O.B. I7 he is.— O.B. Is Grief.— O.B.
382
MAUDLINE.
" He must
recant or
die ! "
" Then let
an English
friar I
know be
sent to
him."
The judge
agrees.
Maudlin
dresses up
the seaman
as a friar,
and sends
him with a
letter to her
lover.
Her lover
charges her
to leave
Italy, as
death awaits
her there.
200
2-4
208
212
216
220
grant you * my brothers [life]," 2 slice sayd,
" to you my liffe 3 & liking I will giue."
" that may not be," qwoth bee, " faire mayd ;
" except lie turne, he cannott hue."
" an English ffryer there is," shee said,
" of learning great, & of a passing pure 4 liffe ;
lett him to my brother be sent,
& hee will soone ffinish 5 the striffe."
her ~M.aster granting 6 her request,
the Marriner in ffryers weed 7 shee did array,
& to her loue that lay distrest
shee doth a letter straight 8 conuay.
when he had read those gentle lines,
his heauy hart was rauished with 9 ioye ;
where now shee was, 10 ffull well hee knew.
the ffryer Likewise was not coye,
but did declare to him att large
the enterprise his loue had taken in hand,
the young man did the ffryer charge
his loue shold straight depart the Land ;
" here is no place for her," hee sayd,
" but death & danger of her harmless ll liffe ;
& testing death, 12 I was betray d,
but 13 ffearfull fiiames must end our striffe,
for ere I will my faith deny,
& sweare to u ffollow my selfe damned Anti-
christ,
Lfi
224
I will 16 yeeld my body for to dye,
& 17 Hue in heauen with the hyest."
1 me.— O.B.
2 Life.— O.B.
3 And now to you my Love. — O.B.
* passing pure of. — O.B.
6 finish soon. — O.B.
6 granted. — O.B.
7 Weeds.— O.B.
8 did a Letter soon. — O.B.
9 His Heart was ravish'd with plea-
sant. — O.B.
is.
-O.B.
11 But woful Death and Danger of her.
—O.B.
'- Professing Truth.— O.B.
» And.— O.B.
» MS. to to.— F.
15 And swear myself to follow damned
Atheist.— O.B.
>• I'll.— O.B.
17 To.— O.B.
MAUDLINE. 383
"O Sir," the gentle ffryer sayd, Tiio seaman
■ urges him
" for jour sweet lone reccant, & sane yowr wicked to recant.
liffe." »
" a woefFnll match," qwoth hee, " is made, IIe refuses.
228 where clir[i]st is left to win 2 a wifi'e."
when shee had wrought 3 all meanes shee might
to saue her ffreind, & that shee saw itt 4 wold not bee,
then of the iudge shee claimed her right Then
232 to [dye] 5 the death as well as hee. resolves to
. fi .. die with
when no perswassyon wold b pj-euaile, him,
nor change her mind in any thing that shee had 7
sayd,
shee was wtth him condemned to dye,
236 and for them both one Fire was made, 8 and both
& •> arme m arme most loynullye stake with
these louers twaine vnto the flyer they 10 did goe.
the marriner most ffaith-flullye
240 was likwise n partner of their woe :
but when the Indges vnderstood But the
the flaith-flull ffreindshipp that 12 did in them re-
maine,
they saned their lines, & afterward pardon them
and send
244 to England sent them home 13 againe. them home
rt ° to England.
Now was their sorroAv turned to Ioy,
And ffaithffull louers had now 14 their harts desire ; [page 485]
their paines soe well they did imploy,
248 god lfi granted that they did require ;
& when they were 16 to England come, They get
& in merry Bristowe arriued att the Last, Bristol.
1 Consent thereto, and end the strife, was made. — O.B.
—O.B. ■ Yea.— O.B.
2 gain.— O.II. ,0 O.B. omits thcy.—F.
3 oe'd.— O.B. " Two strokes for the first i.—F.
« To save his Lifo yet all.— O.B. « O.B. omits that.—?,
5 dye.— O.B. l3 back.— O.B.
8 could.— O.B. " have.— O.B.
7 thing she.— O.B. " The d has a tag to it.— F.
s MS. roiii(hnined to dye. one Fire " did.— O.B.
384
MAUDLINE.
find
Maudlin's
father dead,
her mother
joyful to see
her,
and they
are married
at once,
the seaman
giving her
away.
great Ioy there was to all & some
252 that heard the clanger they had past.
her ffather, hee was dead, god wott,
& eke her mother was ioyfull of ' her sight ;
their wishes shee denyed not,
256 but weded them with harts delight.
her gentle "Master shee 2 desired
to be her ffather, & att Church to giue her then.
itt was ffulmlled as shee required,
260 vnto 3 the ioy of all good men. ffinis.
1 at.— O.B.
2 he.— O.B.
3 To.— O.B.
38o
Come prettg toantmn
A lover praying for pity, would fain know the reason of his idol's
indifference. If she will not look at him, yet will she hear him ?
If she will not hear him, will she look at him and his tears?
The poor fellow is in a weak condition : and his verses are
such as might be expected.
t'OME : pretty wanton, tell me why
thou canst not loue as well as I ?
sett thee downne, sett thee downe, sett thee downe,
and thou shaft see
4 why thus vnkind thou art to me.
My dearest sweet, be not soe Coy,
for thou alone art all my Ioy.
sett thee downe &c.
8 that itt is hye time to pittye mee.
O gentle loue ! be not yett gone ;
leaue me not heere distrest alone !
sett thee downe &c.
12 that I delight in none but thee.
Lett me not crye to thee in vaine !
Looke but vpon me once againe !
if a looke, if a looke, if a looke thou wilt not lend,
1G lett but thy gentle eares attend.
If thou doe stopp those gentle eares,
Looke but vpon these cruell teares
w/u'ch doe fForce me still to crye
20 ' pittye me, sweet, or else I dye ! ' ffillis.
vol. in. C C
Tell me why
yon won't
love me.
You alone
are my joy.
Go not yet ;
look on me
once more I
Pity me, or
I die.
3&6
fttt te a ffoollt: 1
This piece, as Mr. Furnivall notes, was printed in the first edi-
tion of the Reliques with the title of " The Aspiring Shepherd."
(Cf. « The Steadfast Shepherd,' 1 « The Shepherd's Eesolntion,"
&c.)
The lover here holds his head up. He is not for everybody.
He must have some rarer beauty for his affection, not of the
common sort or such as will smile upon anybody.
Shall I love
one who's
loved by the
herd?
No.
ilEE : is a ffoole that baselye dallyes
where eche peasant mates with him.
shall I haunt the thronged valleys,
hauinge noble hills to climbe ?
no ! no ! those clownes be scared with ffrownes
shall neuer my affectyon 2 gayne !
& such as you, ffond fiboles, adew,
that 3 seeke to captiue me in vaine !
Give me one
whom
buzzards
daren't gaze
at,
who needs
effort to win.
I doe scorne to vow a dutye
where eche lustfull Ladd may woe.
giue me those whose seemlye 4 bewtye,
12 bussards dare not gazt 5 vnto.
shee itt is affords my blisse
ffor whome I will remise no payne ;
& such as you, fond fooles, adew,
16 that seeke to captiue me in vaine !
ffillis.
1 Printed in the Beliques, iii. 253,
( 1st ed.), with the title of " The Aspiring
Shepherd."— F.
2 esteeme. — Bel.
* sun-like. — liel.
* gaze. — P.
' Ye.— Bel.
387
£u!Ia : lulla:
A lover here, parting from the object of his affections, would lull
to sleep all doubts of his truth and constancy. He is going
away ; but let her put a cairn unruffled faith in him. The
verses are but commonplace.
15 Y : constraint if I depart, —
sing lullabee, —
I leaue w/th [thee] behind, my constant hart,
placed with, thine, there lett itt rest
till itt by death be disposest,
sing lulla lullabee ! lone, Hue loyall till I dye.
If forced to
go,
I leave my
heart with
thee.
12
doe not any wayes distrust —
sing lullabye —
that I shall proue inconstant or vniust. 1
though banishment a while I try,
yett shall affectyon neuer dye.
[sing lulla &c. (a line pared away here)']
Never doubt
my
constancy.
16
If by absence I be fforcet —
sing lullabee —
a litle while to be deuorcet
fFrom thee whose brest can testify e
where my subiccts hart doth Tye,
Lulla &c.
[page 480]
While
absent from
thee
1 One stroke too many in tho MS. — F.
c c 2
388 LULLA LULLA.
I crave only constancye is all I crane —
constancy 20 sing lullabee ; —
performed by thee, my wisli I haue ;
If I to tliee vnconstant proue,
lett death my liffe ffrom earth remoue.
24 Lulla &c.
ffinis.
389
3 %omt off Xate : !
Here a lover asserts and proclaims his independence. He has
loved, and been rejected ; and here he makes np his mind to
bear his rejection well. He gives the lady up. Let who will,
win her ; he will not.
A LOITER of late was I, I was lately
r\ * n * 0Ve
ffor Cupid wold liaue ltt soe,
the boy that hath neuer an eye,
4 as euery man doth know.
I sighed, and sobbed, and cryed alas
ffor her that laught & called me asse, 2 & called me with a girl,
and she
assee, called me an
ass.
& called me asse .*. for her that &c. 2
8 Then knew not I what to doe
when I see itt was 3 vaine
a lady soe coy to wooe,
& 4 gaue me the asse soe plaine.
12 yett would ["II her asse that I should bee, 5 if she'd have
J L J ' had me, I'd
soe shee would helpe & bcare w/th nice, c '& beare &c. likl ' lo have
x ' been her ass.
soe shee &c. 6
And I were as faine 7 as shee, if we could
have
16 & shee were as kind 8 as I, changed
places,
what payre cold haue madrel 9 as wee I'd have
1 J L J loved her.
1 Printed in the Ihliqucs, iii. 176 5 Yet would I her asse freely o boe
(lsted.).- V. h'rl.
*-* Omitted in Bel— F. 6 -" Omitted in Bel.—F.
'■' saw it. was all in. — Bel. ' An' I were as 1'aiiv. — Eel.
* Who.— Bel. » Or shee wero as fond.— Bel.
9 made. — P.
390 A LOUER OFF LATE.
soe prettye a sumpathye ?
I was as kind ' as sliee was ffaire,
20 but for all this wee cold not paire ; 2 we cold &c.
wee cold not paire bat ffor all &c. 2
But as she Paire w^th ber that will, ffor mee !
won't have <n 'i t hi
me, with her 1 will neuer paire
24 that cuningly can be coy,
for being a litle fi'aire.
why, let her the Asse lie leaue to ber disdane,
scorn away. T -. n .„ in p
I'm myself & now 1 am, ray selfe agame, d my selle &c.
28 & now I am my selfe againe. 3 ffinis.
1 fond.— Rel. 8 ~ 2 Omitted in Eel— F. 3 ~ 3 Omitted in Rel.—F.
["Panders come away" printed in Lo. & Hum. Songs, p. 104, follotvs
here in the MS. p. 486-7.]
391
6rtat or f) rotrtif*
Here again a lover protests his independence. He will not be
derided by anybody, however great she may be. He will act
like a rational being.
Man by reason should be guided.
But is he ? Our dislikes are proverbially inscrutable — are not the
work of conscious reason. We cannot say why we do not like
" Dr. Fell" or Sabidius ; but we do not like them. Perhaps our
likes are not always more intelligible. Can we always say why
we like Sabidius ? Pallas Athene and Aphrodite were never
close friends.
vjREAT or proud, if shee deryde mee,
lett her goe ! I will l not dispaire !
ere to-morrow He prouide mee
one as great, 2 lesse proud, more ffaire.
he that seeks loue to constraine,
shall haue but Labor ffor his paine.
If my love
sneers at me,
I'll get a
fresh one
to-morrow.
12
And yett strongly will I proue her
whome I meane to haue indeede.
if shee constant proue, He loue her ;
& if ffalse, lie not proceede.
ought from mee, that may constraine 3
my mind & reason to be twainc !
But before
taking her,
I'll prove
her.
1 Read lie-
2 good. — P.
-Dyce.
' Away from me! what may constrain.
Query. — P. Ought = out, interj. — R
392
GREAT OR RROUDE.
No one
should stand
disdain.
Any pirl
can be
matched by
some o.her.
16
Man by reason shold be guided,
& uot loue where hees disdaind ;
If that once he be deryded,
others loue may be obiained.
hold yon not one mayd soe rare ;
theres none that hues without compare.
ffmis.
[Two verses of " A Dainty Duclce" printed in Lo. & Hum. Songs,
p. 108, follow here; and the next leaf of the MS., containing the
beginning of" The Spanish Lady" has been torn out.~\
393
Pkof. Child, in his English and Scottish Ballads, prints his copy
of this ballad " from the Garland of Good Will, as reprinted by
the Percy Society, xxx. 125. Other copies, slightly different, in
A Collection of Old Ballads, ii. 191, and in Percy's Reliques, ii.
246."
" Percy conjectures," Prof. Child adds, "that this ballad took
its rise from one of those descents made on the Spanish coast
in the time of Queen Elizabeth. The weight of tradition is
decidedly, perhaps entirely, in favour of the hero's having been
one of Essex's comrades in the Cadiz expedition, but which of
his gallant captains achieved the double conquest of the Spanish
Lady is by no means so satisfactorily determined. Among the
candidates put forth are, Sir Kichard Levison of Trentham,
Staffordshire, Sir John Popham of Littlecot, Wilts, Sir Urias
Legh of Adlington, Cheshire, and Sir John Bolle of Thorpe Hall,
Lincolnshire. The right of the last to this distinction has been
recently warmly contended for, and, as is usual in similar cases,
strong circumstantial evidence is urged in his favour. The
reader will judge for himself of its probable authenticity.
" ' On Sir John Bolle's departure from Cadiz,' it is said, ' the
Spanish Lady sent as presents to his wife a profusion of jewels
and other valuables, among which was her portrait, drawn in
green, plate, money, and other treasure.' Some of these arti-
cles 2 are maintained to be still in possession of the famity, and
also a portrait of Sir John, drawn in 1 596, at the age of thirty-six,
in which he wears the gold chain given him by his enamoured
prisoner. 3 See the Times newspaper of April 30 and May 1,
1846 (the latter article cited in Notes and Queries, ix. 573), and
1 Percy heads this "Fragment of the of his descendant, Captain Birch. Illing-
Spanish Lady." — F. In the printed Col- worth's Toj>u</rap//ical account of Scamp-
led ion of Old Ballads 12"!° Vol. 2. pag. ton, with anecdotes of the family of Bolles,
192. P. That portrait is now in the possession of
2 Tho necklace is still extant in tho Captain Birch's successor, Thomas Iios-
possession of a member of my family, vile liosvile, lvsip, of Ravensfield Park,
and in the house whence I write (Cold- Yorkshire, my brother, and may be seen
rey, Hants). Charles Lee, in The Times, by any one. Charles Lee, ///. supra. Dr.
May 1, 1846. — F. Rimbault has reprinted Mr. Lee's letter
8 The portrait is still in the possession in his Musical Illustrations, p. 23-4. — F.
394 THE SPANISH LADIES LOVE.
the Quarterly Review, Sept. 1846, Art. iii. The literary merits
of the hall ad are also considered in the Edinburgh Review of
April, 1846.
" Shenstone has essayed, in his Moral Tale of Love andlionour,
to bring out ' the Spanish Lady e and her Knight in less grovelling
accents than the simple guise of ancient record ; ' while Words-
worth, in a more reverential spirit, has taken this noble old
romance as the model of his Armenian Lady's Love.'''' (Child.)
Dr. Rimbault has printed the tune of this ballad at p. 72 of
his Musical Illustrations. He says, " the tune . . is preserved
in the Skene MS. ; in ' The Quaker's Opera, Performed at Lee
and Harper's Booth in Bartholomew Fair, 1728;' and in * The
Jovial Crew, 1731.' Our copy is taken from the ballad operas,
and altered from three-four time to common time, upon the
authority of the Skene MS." Mr. Chappell also prints the tune
at p. 187 of his Popular Music, and notes early quotations of
the ballad in Cupid's Whirligig, 1616 ; Brome's Northern
Lasse, 1632, &c, and a parody of it in Eowley's A Match at
Midnight, 1633.
In order to complete the story of the ballad, we add here the
portion of it in Roxburghe Ballads, vol. ii. p. 406, collated with
the Collection of Old Ballads, vol. ii. second edition, 1726, p. 191,
which corresponds to the part torn out of the Folio MS. — F.
The Spanish Lady's Love.
Will you hear a Spanish Lady,
how she woo'd an English Man ;
Garments gay as rich may be,
bedeckt ' with jewels, had she on ;
Of a comely countenance
and grace was she ;
Both by birth and Parentage
of high degree.
As his prisoner there he kept her,
in Ids hands her life did lye ;
Cupid's Bands did tye them faster,
by the liking of an Eye:
Deck'd.— O.B.
THE SPANISH LADIES LOVE. 395
In his courteous company
•was all her joy :
To favour him in any thing
she was not coy.
But at last there came commandment
for to set all ladies free,
With their jewels still adorned :
none to do them injury ;
then, said this Lady gay, 1
full woe is me,
let me still sustain this kind
Captivity.
Gallant captain, take some pitty
on a woman in distress,
Leave me not within this City,
for to dye in heaviness :
Thou hast set this present day
my body free,
But my heart in prison still
remaine 2 with thee.
How should'st thou, fair Lady, love me,
whom thou know'st thy Country hate, 5
Thy fair words make * me suspect thee :
Serpents lye where flowers grow.
All the harm I think on thee,
most courteous Knight,
God grant upon my Head the same
may fully light s ;
Blessed bo the time and season
that thou 6 came on Spanish ground ;
If our ffoes you may 7 be termed,
gentle ffoes wee haue you ffound ; You've won
° " my city anil
With our cittye 8 vou liaue woon our harts echo one ; heart too.
•' J Take back
4 then to your Country beare away that 9 is yoitr owne." with y° u
1 most mild.— O.B. " you.— O.B.
2 Remains. — O.B. ' If you may our Foes. — Rox. and 0.15.
8 Country's Foe.— O.B. 8 City.— O.B.
4 speech makes.— O.B. " what.— O.B.
5 light.— O.B.
396
THE SPANISH LADIES LOVE.
" Nay, Lady,
stay in
Spain,
you'll find
plenty of
lovers
there."
" Hest you still, most gallant Ladye !
rest you still, & weepe noe more !
of ffaire Louers there is 1 plenty ;
Spaine dotli yeelde a 2 wonderous store."
" Spanyards ffraught -with ielousye wee often 3 ffind,
but Englishmen through all the world are counted
Kind.
No. I
love you
alone ;
let me serve
you night
and day.
" Leaue me not vnto a Spanyard,
12 you alone inioy 4 my hart ;
I am louely, young, and tender ;
lone likwise is 5 my desert.
still to serue 6 thee day & night, my mind is prest ;
16 the wiffe of euery Englishman is counted blest."
"Asa
soldier I
can't take
you."
Then I'll be
your page.
20
" Itt wold be a shame, ffaire Ladye,
ffor to beare a woman hence ;
English souldiers neuer carry
any such without offence."
" I will quicklye change my selfe, if itt be soe,
& like a page He ffollow thee whersoere 7 Thou goe."
•' I've no
money to
keep you
with."
My jewels
and money
are yours.
" I haue neither gold nor siluer
24 to maintaine thee in this case,
& to trauell is great charges,
as you know, in euery place."
" My chaines and Ie wells euery one shalbe thy owne,
28 & eke 500" 8 in gold that Lyes vnknowne."
" The sea is
full of
danger."
On the seas are many dangers ;
many stormes doe there arrise,
you have. — O.B.
2 you.— O.B.
3 oft do.— O.B.
1 Th
; uo. — y>.a.
iou alone enjoy'st. — O.B.
5 is likewise. — O.B.
8 save.— O.B.
7 Where-e'er— O.B.
8 Ten thousand Pounds. -
O.U.
THE SFANLSII LADIES LOVE.
397
which wilbe to Ladyes dreadffull,
32 & fforce teares ffrom watterye eyes."
" well in worth I will endare extremhye, 1
for I cold find my 2 hart to lose my liffe for thee."
" curteous Ladye, leaue this ffancye. 3
36 here comes all that bieakes 4 the striffe :
I in England haue already
a sweet woman to my wiffe.
I will not ffalsifye my vow for gold nor gaine,
40 nor yett ffor all the ffairest dames that Hue in Spaine."
" how happy is that woman
that enioyes soe true a ffreind !
many dayes of ioy god send you ! 5
44 of my suite He 6 make an end.
vpon 7 my knees I pardon craue for this 8 offence
■which, loue & true affectyon did ffirst commence.
" comend me to thy Louely ladye ;
48 beare to her a 9 Chaine of gold
& 10 these braceletts ffor a token,
greeuing that I was soe bold.
all my ie wells in Like sort take Jl with, thee ;
52 these 12 are flitting ffor thy wiffe, & 13 not ffor mee.
" I will spend my dayes in prayer ;
loue & all her H Lawes deffye ;
in a nunery will I ,s shrowd me,
50 ffar ffrom other 16 companye ;
but ere my prayers haue an end, be sure of this,
to pray ffor thee & ffor thy Loue I will nott misse.
I would lose
my life for
you.
" Cease your
offers, Lady,
I have a
wife in
England,
and will be
true to her."
Happy
she !
I end my
suit.
Give your
lady my
chain
and jewels.
I will seek
refuge in
a nunnery,
and pray for
you and
your love.
1 Well in Troth I shall endure Ex-
treamly. — O.B.
! in.— O.B.
a Folly.— O.B.
1 breeds.— O.B.
5 Many happy Days God lend her. —
O.B.
6 I.— O.B.
On.— O.B.
my.— O.B.
I I MS.— O.B.
Wiih.— O.B.
Take thou.— O.B.
For they.— O.B.
Hut.— O.B.
1 will.— O.B.
" his.— O.B.
16 any.— O.B.
398 THE SPANISH LADIES LOVE.
" Thus Harwell, most gallant captaine,
60 & Harwell * my harts content !
count not Spanish Ladyes wanton
though to thee my loue 2 was bent.
aii joy to Ioy & true prosperity e be still 3 with thee ! "
64 "the Like ffall euer to 4 thy share, most ffaire Ladye ! "
1 Farewel too.— O.B. 3 Kemain.— O.B.
2 Mind.— O.B. 4 fall unto.— O.B.
you
399
&\ flntu'cto Bartton : '
This ballad is on an event of considerable historical importance,
on one, if not the first, of the causes tbat led to the war between
James IV. of Scotland and Henry VIII. of England, and which
ended in the death of James at Flodden Field. Henry's motive
in desiring to have Andrew Barton and his ships captured cannot
be put down to the cause to which the prejudiced John Lesley,
Bishop of Ross, attributes his interference in the Low Countries
(Historie of Scotland, a.d. 1436-1561, Bannatyne Club, 1830,
p. 83).
"Here is to be considered and weile noted, the first motione
of the gryit trubles quhilk eftiruart did fall betuix the tuo
princis of Scotland and Yngland, quhilk happinit principale
becaus King Henry the aucht of Yngland, being ane young man
left be his fader with greit welth and riches, wes varray desierous
to haif weiris quhairin he mycht exerce his youthhed, thinking
thairby to [dilate] his dominions."
Henry's order to take Barton can only have sprung from the
injuries which his subjects received from that sailor ; and there
can be little doubt that in those early years after 1500, a privateer,
as Barton was, took whatever the Lord put in his way, whether
neutral's or foe's, and pocketed the proceeds without qualms of
conscience. He would perform the service his sovereign sent
him on, and then take care of himself.
Andrew Barton and his brother Robert were evidently James
IV.'s right hand at sea; and Andrew's character may be judged
of by the way in which he took revenge on the Dutch for their
piratical doings against the Scotch. Lesley tells us that " ane
greit and costly ship, quhilk had bene apon the Kingis expensis,
was compleit" in 1506, 2 and after a preliminary sail in her by
the King —
1 In the printed Collection of Old ing ; yet a few stanzas may l)o better
Ballads 1727, Vol. I. p. 159, N. xx. given from the other.— P.
Very different from the printed ballad: - James was a great shipbuilder : Bee
but containing some things there want- Mr. Gairdner's Preface to his Letters and
400 SIR ANDREW BARTTON.
" wes schortlie thaireftir send furth agane to the seas with
sundre vailyeant gentill men into her aganis the Holanderis,
quha had takinand spollyeit divers Scotis ships, and crewallyhad
murdrest and cassin ourburd the merchauntis and passingeris
being thairintill ; bot for revenge of the samyn, Andro Bartone
did tak mony shipps of that countrey, and fillit certane pipis with
the heidis of the Holandaris, and send unto the King in Scotland,
for dew punishement and revenge of thair crueltie. — Lesley,^. 74.
After this, Barton kept at sea and greatly pestered, if he did
not plunder, the English. What followed is told in different
waj 7 s by the English and Scotch. For the former we will take
Percy's quotation from Guthrie's Peerage ; for the latter, Lesley's
account. And first, says Guthrie :
" The transaction that did the greatest honour to the Earl of
Surrey and his family at this time (a.d. 1511) was their behaviour
in the case of Barton, a Scotch sea-officer. This gentleman's
father having suffered by sea from the Portuguese, he had
obtained letters of marque for his two sons to make reprisals
upon the subjects of Portugal. It is extremely probable that
the court of Scotland granted these letters with no very honest
intention. The council-board of England, at which the Earl of
Surrey held the chief place, was daily pestered with complaints
from the sailors and merchants that Barton, who was called Sir
Andrew Barton, under pretence of searching for Portuguese
goods, interrupted the English navigation. Henry's situation at
that time rendered him backward from breaking with Scotland,
so that their complaints were but coldly received. The Earl of
Surrey, however, could not smother his indignation, but gallantly
declared at the council-board, that while he had an estate that
could furnish out a ship, or a son that was capable of command-
ing one, the narrow seas should not be infested.
" Sir Andrew Barton, who commanded the two Scotch ships,
had the reputation of being one of the ablest sea-officers of his
time. By his depredations he had amassed great wealth, and
his ships were very richly laden. Henry, notwithstanding his
situation, could not refuse the generous offer made by the Earl
of Surrey. Two ships were immediately fitted out, and put to
sea with letters of marque, under his two sons, Sir Thomas and
Papers illustrative of the Reigns of Notices of the Bartons also occur in these
Richard 111. and Henry VII., vol. ii. volumes.
SIR ANDREW BAJRTTON. 401
Sir Edward Howard. After encountering a great deal of foul
weather, Sir Thomas came up with the Lion, which was com-
manded by Sir Andrew Barton in person ; and Sir Edward came
up with the Union, Barton's other ship (called by Hall, The
Bark of Scotland). The engagement which ensued was ex-
tremely obstinate on both sides ; but at last the fortune of the
Howards prevailed. Sir Andrew was killed, fighting bravely, and
encouraging his men with his whistle to hold out to the last; and
the two Scotch ships, with their crews, were carried into the River
Thames (Aug. 2,1511).
Now hear Lesley :
"In the moneth of Junij, Andro Bartone, being one the sey
in weirfair contrar the Portingallis, aganis quhome he had ane
lettre of mark, Sir Edmond Haward, Lord Admirall of Ingland,
and Lord Thomas Haward, sone and air to the Erie of Surry,
past furth at the King of Inglandis command, with certane of his
best schippis ; and the said Andro being in his vayage say ling
towart Scotland, haveand onelie bot one schipe and ane barke,
thay sett apoun at the Downis, and at the first entre did make
signe unto thame that thair wes friendship standing betuix the
tua realmes, and thairfoir thocht thame to be freindis ; quhair-
with thay, na thing movit, did cruelly invaid, and he manful lie
and currageouslye defendit, quhair thair wes mony slane, and
Andro himself sair woundit that he diet shortlye ; and his schip
callit the Lyoun, and the bark callit Jennypirroyne, quhilkis with
the Scottis men that wes levand wer hed to Loudoun, and keipit
thair as presonaris in the bischop of York hous, and eftir wes
send hame in Scotland. Quhen that the knalege herof come to
the King, he send incontynent ane harald to the Kinge of Yng-
land with lettres requiring dress for the slauchter of Andro
Bartane, with the schippis to be randerit agane, utherwayis it
mycht be ane occasioun to break the leage and peace contractit
betuix thame. 1 To the quhilk it wes ansuerit be the King of
Ingland, that the slauchter being ane pirat, as he allegit, suld
be na break to the peace; yit nochttheles he suld caus com-
missionaris meit upoun the bordouris, qfihair thay suld treat
upoun that and all uther enormities betuix the tua realmes." —
Historie of Scotland, p. 82-83.
Accordingly, says Lesley, p. 87, in A.D. 1513
1 See the remonstrance shortly ab- entries as to James's repeated complaints
stracted, and referred to, in Prof. Brewer's to the King of Denmark about Barton's
Calendar, temp. Henry VIII. ; also the slaughter, &c. — F.
VOL. III. D D
402 SIR ANDREW BARTTON.
"The commissioners of baith the realmes, as wes appointit
be Doctor West, meit on the bordouris in the moneth of Junij,
quhair the wrahgs done unto Scotland mony wayis, speciallie of
the slauchter of Andro Bartone and takin of his schippis, ware
confessit. . . . bot the commissioneris of Ingland wuld not con-
sent to mak ony redress or restitucione"
till they thought that Henry would be clear of his French
war. But James, unwilling to lose such a favourable chance of
attacking England, — empty of troops, as he thought, the King
and his generals away in France, — sent a herald to Henry in his
camp at Turenne, alleging, among other things, the
" slauchter of Andro Bartane by your awine command, quha
thane haid nocht offendit to yow nor your leigeis, unredressed,
and breking of the amitie in that behailf by your deid ; and
withholding of oure schippis and artillarie to your use." (Lesley,
p. 89),
and, notwithstanding Henry's answer, declared to him war. This
did not trouble Henry much, for he knew that the Howard who
(with his father) had taken Barton, could deal with Barton's
master too. What Lord Thomas himself thought of the matter
may be seen from his message to James : that as high-admiral, and'
one who had helped to take Barton, he was ready to justify the
death of that pirate, for which purpose he would lead the van,
and there his enemies would find him, expecting as little mercy
as he meant to grant. ' No quarter ' -was the word. What fol-
lowed has already been told by Mr. Hales in prose (vol. i. p. 203-9),
and in verse by our Scotish Feilde, i. 212, and Flodden Feilde,
i. 334. Lancashire and Cheshire did the deed, and Scotland's
pride lay low. Andrew Barton's master followed his man.
As to the details mentioned in our ballad, we can only repeat
Percy's words :
" I take many of the little circumstances of the story to be
real, because I find one of the most unlikely to be not very re-
mote from the truth. In Pt. 2, v. 156, it is said that England
had before ' but two ships of war.' Now the great Harry had
been built but seven years before, viz. in 1504 : which ' was,
SIR ANDREW BARTTON. 403
properly speaking, the first ship in the English navy. Before
this period, when the prince wanted a fleet, he had no other
expedient but luring ships from the merchants.' Hume."
The present ballad was printed by Percy in bis Eeliques,
vol. ii. p. 180, with some deficiencies (as be calls them), supplied
from a black-letter copy, in the Pepys collection, of the " vulgar
ballad, which is evidently modernised and abridged from " that
in the Folio. Prof. Child printed Percy's version in his English
and Scottish Ballads, vol. vii. p. 57; and at p. 201 he also
printed the said "vulgar ballad : " A True Relation of the Life
and Death of Sir Andreiv Barton, a Pirate and Rover on the
Seas. The Professor says :
"This copy of Sir Andrew Barton is to be found in Old
Ballads (1723) vol. i. 159, Eitson's Ancient Songs ii. 204,
Moore's Pictorial Book of Ancient Ballad Poetry, p. 256, and
Early Naval Ballads of England, Percy Society, vol. ii. p. 4,
with only exceedingly trifling variations. We have followed the
last, where the ballad is given from a black-letter copy in the
British Museum, ' printed by and for W. 0., and sold by the
booksellers.' "— F.
[Part L]
AS : itt beffell in M[i]dsumer time
when burds singe sweetlye on euery tree,
our noble King, "Kmq Henery the 8"' 1 To Henry
vm.
4 ouer the riuer of Thames past hee.
1 For the. above three simple and natu- Scot. Ballads, vii. 56). The remaining
ral lines, Percy actually substituted in four lines of Percy's first stanza, given
his Eeliques the four following, from the- without any of his inverted commas to
printed copy in the Pepys collection: mark them asaltered from his MS., are:
When Flora with her fragrant flowers King Eenrye rode to take the ayre,
Bedeckt the earth so trim and gaye, Over the river of Thames past hee ;
And Neptune with his daintye showers "When eighty merchants of London came,
Came to present the monthe of Maye. And downo they knelt upon their
Well did Prof. Child say in his Intro- ln, '°-
duction to this Ballad, "We would fain After this, it may be well to carry the
believe that nothing except a defect in collation right through, though it in-
the manuscript could have reconciled the solves waste of time, loss of money, and
Bishop to adopting the four lines with vexation of spirit, — F.
which the ballad now begins'" {Engl, and
I) D 2
404
SIR ANDREW BARTTON.
out riding,
came 80
London
merchants,
and com-
plain that
they daren't
sail on the
sea
for fear of a
pirate who
robs them,
a proud
Scot.
hee was no sooner ouer the rruer,
downe in a fforrest to take the ay re,
but 80 merchants of London cittye
8 came kneeling before Kmg Henery there :
" yee are welcome, rich merchants,
[Good saylors, welcome unto me 1 ! "]
they swore 2 by the rood the were saylers good, [page 491 ]
12 but rich merchants they cold not bee ;
" to ffrance nor fflanders dare 3 we nott passe,
nor Burdeaux 4 voyage wee dare not ffare, 5
& all ffor a ffalse robber G that lyes on the seas,
16 & robb 7 vs of our merchants ware."
King Henery was stout, & he turned him about, 8
& swore by the Lord that was mickle of might,
" I thought he had not beene in the world throughout, 9
20 that durst haue wrought 10 England such vnright."
but euer they u sighed, and said — alas ! —
vnto 12 Kmg Harry this answere 13 againe u
" he is a proud Scott that will 15 robb vs all 16
24 if wee were 20 shipps 17 and hee but one. 18 "
Henry asks
his Lords,
" who'll
fetch that
traitor to
me?"
The King looket ouer his left shoulder,
amongst his Lords & Barrons soe ffree 19
" haue I neuer LorcZ 20 in all my realme
23 will ffeitch yond traitor vnto mee ? "
1 From the Ediques. The MS. is pared
away, and the tops of letters left don't
suit either of Percy's lines. — F. For
sailors good are welcome to me. — P.
2 MS. pared away, but read by Pore v.
— F.
3 dare we pass. — P. and Bel.
4 & to Bourdeaux. — P.
5 dare we fare. — P. and Ed.
6 a rover.— licl.
1 saddedbyP.— F. Who robbs.— Bel.
8 frownd, and turned him rormde. —
Ei I.
Ed. omits throughout. — F.
'" us. — r.
11 The merchants. — Eel.
12 And to.— P.
13 thus answered. — P.
14 And thus they did theire answer
frame. — Eel.
15 would— P.
16 that robbes on the seas. — Eel.
17 Were we '20 ships.— P.
18 AndSirAndrewo IJarton ishis name.
—Eel.
19 And an angryc lookc then looked
hee.— Bel.
20 a Lord.— P.
SIR ANDREW BARTTON.
405
32
"yes, fltat dare I ! " sayes my ~Lord Chareles Howard, 1 «i," says
neere to the King wheras 2 liee did stand 3 ; Howard,
" If that jour gro.ce will 4 giue me leaue,
my selfe wilbe the only man."
" 5 thou shalt haue GOO 6 men," saith our King,
" & chuse them out of my rcalme see flfree ;
besids Marriners and boyes, 7
.% to guide 8 the great shipp on the sea."
" He goe speake with S/r Andrew," sais Charles, my
~Lord Haward ;
" vpon the sea, if hee be there,
I will bring him & his shipp to shore,
40 or before my prince I will neuer come neere. 9 "
" I'll bring
you Sir An-
drew Barton
and his
ship."
the ffirst of all my Jjord did call, 10
a noble gunner hee was one 1 1 ;
this man was 60 12 yeeres and ten,
44 & Peeter l3 Simon was his name.
" Peeter," sais hee. " I must sayle to the sea
to seeke out an enemy e ; god be ray speed ! 14 "
before all others I haue chosen thee ;
48 of a 100^ guners thoust be my head. 15 "
Lord
Howard
chooses an
old gunner,
Peter Simon ,
1 lord Howard sayes. — Rel.
- whcl'c. — P.
3 Yea, that dare I with heart and
hand. — Rel.
4 it phase your Grace to. — P.C., P.,
and Rt I.
5 This stanza Percy alters to :
Thou art butyong; the king replyed :
Yond Scott hath uumbred manye a
yeare,
" Trust me, my liege, lie make him quail,
Or before my prince I will never
appeare."
Then bowemcn and gunners thou shalt
have,
And el i use them over ii iy realme so free ;
Besides good mariners, and shipp-boyes,
To guide the great shipp on the sea,
-PC, P.
— Rel. ii. 181.
6 a hundred.— P.O., P.
7 good sailors and ship boys.
8 a, aJ. ed. — P.
9 appear. — P.
10 The first man, that Lord Howard
chose. — Ei I.
11 the ablesl gunner in all the Realm.
— P.O., P. Was the ablest gunner in
all the rea'me. — /<'< /.
n three-score. — P.
threescore; — Rel.
" Good Peter. Bel.
" Peter, sayd he, I must to the sea,
To bring home a traytor live or dead.
- A',/.
15 to be the Head.— P. to he head.—
Eel.
Though ho
was
406
SIR ANDREW BARTTON.
who can
shoot close
to his mark.
Then he
chooses a
noble
bowman,
William
Horsley,
who can hit
within a
shilling's
breadth ;
and to sea
he goes.
He soon
meets
a ship,
" my Lorrf," sais hee, "if you ' baue chosen moo
of a 100'! gunners to be the bead,
bange me att 2 jour maine-mast tree
52 if I misse my marke past 3 pence bread.'' "
Tbe next of all my LorcZ be did call, 4
a noble bowman bee was one s ;
In yorekesbire was tbis c gentleman borne,
5G & william Horsley was bis name.
" Horsley," sayes 7 bee, " I must sayle to tbe sea 8
to seeke out an enemye ; god be my speede 9 J
before all otbers I baue cbosen tbee ;
CO of a 100 bowemen thoust be my bead. 10 "
" My Jjord," sais bee, " if you u baue chosen mee
of a 100'! bowemen to be they head, 12
hang me att yo«r mainemast tree 13
G4 if I misse my marke past 12*! 14 bread."
with pikes, and gunnes, & bowemen bold,
this 15 Noble Howard is gone to the sea
on the day before Midsummer euen, 16
68 & out att 17 Thames mouth sayled they. 18
Tbey had not sayled dayes 3 19
vpon their Iourney 20 they 2l tooke in hand,
but tbere they 22 mett with a Noble shipp,
72 & stoutely made itt both stay 23 & stand.
1 If you, my lord.— Bel.
2 Then hang me up on. — Bel.
3 i.e. breadth. — P. marke one shilling
bread'th. — Bel.
4 My lord then chose a boweman rare.
— Bel.
5 A bowman who had gained fame. —
P. Whose activo hands had gained fame !
From the pr. copy. — Bel.
6 he was a. — Ei /.
7 A letter blotted out before the a in
the MS.— F. sayd.— Bel.
s musl with speede. — Eel.
9 Go seeke a traytor on the sea. — Bel.
'" And now of a hundred bowemen
brave
To be the head I have chosen thee.
Eel. to be the head.- P.
11 If you, quoth hee. — Bel.
12 to be head. — Bel.
13 On your maine-mast He hanged bee.
— Bel.
11 A shilling. — P. If I miss twelve-
score one penny bread'th. — Bel.
15 The.— Bel.
1G With a valyant heart and a pleasant
eheare. — Bel.
17 Out at.— Bel,
18 he.— Bel.
19 and days he scant had sayled three.
— Bel.
20 the Voyage.— P. and Bel.
21 he.— Bel.
22 he.— Bel.
23 itt stay.— Bel.
*IR ANDREW BARTTON.
407
owner
who he is.
"thou must tell me thy name," sais Charles, my 1 and asks its
Lord Ha ward,
" or who thou art, or ffrom whence thou came, 2
yea, & 3 where th}^ dwelling is,
76 to whom & where thy shipp does belong. 4 "
" My name," sayes hee, " is Henert Hunt, 3
with a pure G hart & a penitent mind ;
I and my shipp they doe 7 belong
80 vnto the New castle 8 that stands vpon tine."
" Henry
Hunt,
of New-
castle,
" Now thou must tell me, 9 Harry Hunt, [page 492]
as thou hast say led by day & 10 by night,
hast thou not heard of a stout robber l ! ?
84 men calls 12 him S«'r Andrew Bartton, 'Knight"
but 13 euer he sighed, & sayd, " alas !
14 null well, my 15 Lor;/, I know that wight !
he robd me of my merchants ware,
88 & I was his prisoner but yesternight.
and Andrew
Barton
" as I was say ling vppon the sea,
& 1G Burdeaux voyage as I did 17 ffare,
he Clasped me to his Archborde 18
92 & robd me of all my merchants w r are ;
robbed me
last night."
1 MS. ny.— F.
2 come. — P.
3 and shewo me. — Bel.
* Wherto thy Ship belongs & whom,
— P. And whither bound, and whence
thou came. — Bel.
5 is Henrye Hunt, quoth hee. — Eel.
poor, heavy. — P. heavye . . carefull.
—lid.
7 do both. — P. and Eel.
To the Newcastle. — Eel.
Hast thou not heard, now. — Bel.
or. — P. and Bel.
Of a Scottish rover on the seas. —
8
9
10
11
Eel
'- call.- Eel.
13 Than.— Bel
1 ' With a grieved mind, and well away !
But over-well 1 knowe that wight,
I w;is his prisoner Yesterday.— Eel.
15 MS. ny.— F. '
1B A.— Bel.
17 voyage for to. Ii> I.
18 ship, or side of a ship: sec I. 278,
" oner the hatch-bord casl into the sea."
A.-S. earc-bord, Ark's-board, the ark.
Bosworth.
"b;et earoe-b6rd heold heofona frea,"
t lie Lord of Heaven held the ark.
Cad-mon, p. 84,1. 26. ed. Thorpe. See
also Genesis \ Exodus, 1. 576:
Sexr hundred ger noe Mas hold
Quau he dede him in <5c arche-wold,
and Mr. Morris's note, p. 123.— F.
40:s
SIB ANDREW BARTTON.
90
& I am a man both poore * & bare, 2
& euery man will bane bis owne 3 of me,
& I am bound towards London to ffare, 4
to complaine to my Prince Henekye. 5 "
Lord
Howard says,
'• Show me
Barton,
and I'll give
you Is. for
every penny
you've lost."
Hunt tries
to di-suade
him from
fighting
Barton,
" that sball not need," sais my Lo/y? Hawaed fi ;
if thou canst lett me this robber 1 see,
ffor euery peny be batb taken 8 tbee ffroe,
100 tbou sbalt be rewarded a shilling," qwoth hee. 9
" Now god fibre-fend," saies Henery Hunt, 10
" my Lore?, you shold worke u soe fiarr amisse !
god keepe you out of that Traitors hands !
104 for you wott ffull litle 12 what a man liee is.
" hee is brasse within, & steele without,
& beanes hee beares in 13 his Topcastle 14 stronge ;
15 his shipp hath ordinance cleane round about ;
108 besids, my Lorc7, hee is verry well mand ;
he hath a pinnace is 16 deerlye dight,
Saint Andrews crosse, that 17 is his guide ;
his pinnace beares 18 9 score men & more, 19
and 30 guns. ]io besids 15 20 cannons on euery side. 21
who has a
well-man-
ned pinnace
1 There is a tag at the end like an s in
the MS.— F.
2 And mickle debts, God wot, I owe.
— Bel
3 his own.— P., PC, and Eel.
4 And I am nowe to London bounde.
— Bel.
5 Of our gracious King to beg a boon.
—P., P.C., and Bel.
6 Yon shall not need, lord Howard
sayes. — Bel.
7 Lett me but once that robber. — Bel.
8 penny tune. — Bel.
9 It shall be doubled shillings three.
— Bel.
111 the merchan1 sayes. — Bel.
11 That you shold seek.— Bel.
12 little you wot. P. Pull litle ye
wott. — Bel.
13 beams. — P. Withbeames on.- — Bel.
The MS. has beanes or beaues again in
1. 116, 208, 220.— F.
11 Top-castles. Ledgings surrounding
the mast-head. Halliwell. — F.
15 And thirtye pieces of ordinance
He carries on each
li, I.
side alonge. —
With 18 pieces of ordinance
He carries on each side along.
Copy.— P.
16 And ho hath a pinnace. — Bel.
17 Ml.— Bel.
18 beareth.— P. and Bel.
19 Bel. omits \ moc. — F.
20 And fifteen.— P. and Bel.
21 on each side. — P. and Bel.
Pr.
SIR ANDREW BARTTON.
409
"if you were 20 ' shippes, & he but one,
either in cliarke-bord 2 or in hall, 3
he wold ouercome you 4 eucrye one,
116 & if 5 his beanes they doe downe flail."
" this is cold comfort," sais my Lord Haward, 6
" to wellcome a stranger thus to 7 the sea ;
He 8 bring him & his shipp to shore,
120 or else iuto 9 Scottland hee shall carrye mee."
Howard
says
he'll beat
Barton,
or Barton
shall him.
" then you must gett a noble gunner, my Lore?,
tli i it can sett well w/th his eye
& smke his pinnace into l0 the sea,
124 & soone then ouercome will hee bee. 11
& when that you haue done this, 12
if you chance Sir Andrew for to bord, 13
lett no man to his Topcastle goe ;
128 & I will giue you a glasse, my Lord, 14
Hunt advises
him first to
sink
Barton's
pinnace,
and then
board him,
avoiding the
topcastle.
" & then you need to fferae 15 no Scott,
whether you sayle by day or by night ;
& to-morrow by 7 of the clocke, By i next
J day he shall
132 you shall meete w/th S/r Andrew Bartton, Kniqht. Illl ' fit
J J Barton,
And seven pieces of ordinance,
I pray your honour lend to mee,
On each side of my shipp along,
And I will lead you on the sea.
A glasse I'll sett, that may be scene,
Whether you sayle by day or night ;
And to-morrowe, I sweare, by nine of the
clocke.
You shall see Sir Androwe Barton
knight,
1 Were you 20.— P. and Bel.
2 ? same as archebord, 1. 91. — F.
3 I sweare by kirke, and bower, and
hall.— Bel.
4 orecomc them. — Bel.
5 If once. — ff< '.
6 Bel. omits Howard. — F.
7 stranger on. — Bi I.
8 Yett He.— Bel.
9 Or to.— Bel.
10 in.— Bel.
11 he'll bo. — P. Or else he ne'er ore-
come will be. — Bel.
12 thing [added by P.]
13 And if you chance his shipp to horde,
This counsel 1 must give withall.
— Bel.
11 To strive to let his beames downe
fall. — Eel. Percy's next two stanzas,
altered seemingly from the printed copy,
take in the next three stanzas of the
Folio :
The Second Pakt.
The merchant sett my lorde a glasse
Soe well apparent in his sight,
And on the morrowo, byninoof the clocke,
He shewd him Sir Androwe Barton
knight.
His hatchhorde it was ' gilt ' with gold,
Sue deei-lv dighl it daz/.led the ee,
Nbwe by my faith, lord Howarde says,
This is a gallant sight to see.
Ret. iL 185-6. ,5 feare.— F.
410
SIR ANDREW BARTTON.
but he must
lend Hunt
six guns.
Lord
Howard
I was his prisoner but yester night,
& he hath taken mee sworne l ; " quoth, hee,
" I trust my L[ord] god will me fforgiue
136 & if that oath then 2 broken bee.
"you must lend me sixe peeces, my Lon7," quoth hee,
" into my shipp to sayle the sea,
& to-morrow by 9 of the clocke
jour honoztr againe then will I see. 3 "
And the hache-bord where S*r Andrew Lay,
is bached with gold deerlye dight :
"now by my ffaith," sais Charles, my Lore? Ha ward,
" then yonder Scott is a worthy e wight !
140
144
orders his
flags to be
taken in,
ami a white
wand put
out.
They sail by
Barton,
taking no
notice of
him.
which
enrages
Barton,
2'! parte <
[Part II]
f " u Take ha yowr ancyents & yo?tr standards, 4
yea that no man shall 5 them see,
& put me fforth a white willow wand,
148 (__ as Merchants vse to 6 sayle the sea."
But they stirred neither top nor mast,
but Sir Andrew they passed by. 7
" whatt English are yonder," said Sir Andrew, 8
152 " that can so litle curtesye ?
9 " I haue beene Admirall ouer the sea
more then these yeeres three ;
there is neuer an English dog, nor Portingall,
156 can passe this way w/thout leaue of mee.
1 made me swear. — P.
2 now. — P.
3 Again your hon^ I will see. — P.
4 ancyents, standards eke. — Rel.
5 [insert] now. — P. So close that no
man may. — Rel.
6 that.— Rel.
7 Stoutly they past Sir Andrew by.
— Rel.
8 he sayd. — Rel.
9 Now by the roode, three yeares and
more
I have been admirall over the seft ;
And never an English nor Portingall
Without my leave can passe this
way.
Then called he forth his stout pin-
nace ;
" Fetch back yond pedlars nowe
to nice ;
I swearc by the masse, yon English
churles
Shall all hang at my maine-mast
tree."— Rel. ii. 186.
SIR ANDREW BARTTON.
411
But now yonder pedlers, they are past,
which, is no litle greffe to me : [page 493]
ffeick them backe," saves S/r Andrew Bartton, andhede-
J Clares he'll
160 "they shall all hang att my maine-mast tree." hang them,
and sends
out his
pinnace to
take them.
with that they pinnace itt shott of,
that my horcl Harvard might itt well ken, 1
itt strokes downe my Lords fforemast, 2
164 & killed 14 of my Lore? his 3 men.
"come hither, Simon ! " sayes my hord Haward, 4
" looke that thy words be true thou sayd 5 ;
He hang thee att my maine-mast tree 6
168 if thou misse thy marke past 12"? bread. 7 "
Simon was old, but his hart itt 8 was bold,
hee tooke downe a peece, & layd itt ffull lowe 9 ;
he put in chaine yeards 9, 10
172 besids 1] other great shott lesse and more. 12
w/th that hee lett his gun shott goe l3 ;
soe well hee settled itt wz'th his eye, 14
the ffirst sight that Sir Andrew sawe,
176 hee see 15 his pinnace sunke 16 in the sea.
when 17 hee saw his pinace sunke,
Lord ! in his hart hee was not well ' 8 :
" cutt l9 my ropes ! itt is time to be gon ! to fetch
180 He goe ffeitch 20 yond 21 pedlers backe my selfe 22 ! " Howard
himself.
But old
Simon
aims low,
and with his
chain shot
sinks the
pinnace.
1 well it ken.— P. Full well Lord
Howard might it ken. — Eel.
2 For it strake downe his fore-mast
tree. — Bel.
3 of his. — B( I.
4 Bel. omits Howard. F.
5 word doe stand in stead. — Bt I.
8 For at my maine-mast thou shalt
hang. — jR< I.
7 twelve score one penny bread. —
P.C., P. one shilling bread'th. — Bel.
8 Bel. omits itt.— F.
9 His ordinance be laid right lowe.
— Bel. 'Aim low' is the regular rule.
— F.
10 full 9 yards long.— P. and fid.
11 witb.— Bel.
12 moe. — P. and Bel.
13 And he lett goe his great gunnes
shott. —Bel.
ee.-
-Bel.
15 saw. — P. He sawe. — Bel.
16 MS. sumke.— F. sunke i'.—Bd.
17 and when. — Bel.
18 Lord, how his heart with rage did
swell. — Bel.
19 Nowe cntt.— Bel.
20 Ho fetch.— Bd.
21 MS. yomd.— F.
22 mysel. — P. and Bel.
412
SIR ANDREW BARTTON.
Old Simon's
son
puts in
another
shot, and
kills 60 of
Barton's
men.
Hunt
attacks
Barton too,
and kills SO
more men.
Barton
laments,
when my Jjorcl Haward 5 saw Sir Andrew loose,
lord ! in his hart that hee 2 was ffaine :
" strike on jotiv drummes, spread out jour ancyents ! 3
184 sound out jour trumpetts 4 ! sound out amaine ! "
" flight on, my men ! " sais Sir Andrew Bartton 5 ;
"weate, howsoeuer this geere will sway,
itt is my Lorci Adm[i]rall of England
is come to seeke mee on the sea."
6 Simon had a sonne, with shott of a gunn, —
well Sir Andrew might itt Ken, —
he shott itt in att a priuye place,
& killed GO more of Sir Andrews men. 6
188
192
lOG
200
7 Harry Hunt came in att the other syde,
& att Sir Andrew hee shott then,
he droue downe his fformost tree,
& killed 80 8 more of Sir Andirwes men.
" I haue done a good turne," sayes Harry Hunt,
" Sir Andrew is not our Kmgs ffreind ;
he hoped to haue vndone me yesternight,
hut I hope I haue quitt him well in the end."
" Euer alas ! " sayd Sir Andrew Barton, 9
" what shold a man either 10 thinke or say ?
yonder ffalse theeffe is my strongest Enemye,
204 who was my prisoner hut yesterday.
1 Bel. omits Howard.- — P.
2 how he. — P. Within his heart.
— Bel.
3 your Ancients spread. — P.
Is'owe spread your ancyents, strike up
drummes. — Bel.
4 Sound all your trumpetts. — Bel.
5 Sir Andrew says. — P. and Bel.
c ~ a Simon had a sonne, who shott right
well,
That did Sir Andrewe mickle scare ;
In att hie decke he gave a shott,
Killed threescore of his men of
warre.
Bel. ii. 188, (altered from printed copy.
-F.)
' Of the next stanza and a half Percy
makes one, taking two lines from tho
Polio, and the rest (altered) from the
printed copy :
Then Henrye Hunt with rigour hott
Came bravely on the other side,
Soone he drove downe his fore-mast tree,
And killed fourscore men beside.
Nowe, out alas ! Sir Andrew cryed,
What may a man now thinke, or say?
Yonder merchant theefe, that pierceth
mee,
He was my prisoner yestenhiy.
8 fifty. — P.C., P. fourscore men be-
side. Eel.
» S? And™ sayd.— P. "' now.— P.
SIR ANDREW BARTTOX.
413
come hither to me, thou Gourden • good,
& be thou 2 readye att my call,
& I will giue thee 300'i 3
208 if tbou wilt lett my bcanes * downe ffall."
5 with that hee swarned 6 the maine-mast tree,
soe did he itt 7 with might and maine :
Horselet 8 with a bearing 9 arrow
212 stroke the Gourden 10 through the braine,
And he ffell into u the baches ag-aine,
& sore of this wound that he l2 did bleed,
then word went throug Sir Andrews men,
216 that they Gourden l3 hee was dead.
and offers
( rordon
: /. to
climb the
mast and let
the beams
fall.
He climbs
up,
but Ilorseley
shoots liim
t brough the
brain.
" come hither to me, Iames Hambliton, 14 —
thou art my sisters sonne, I haue no more, 1- '
I will giue [thee] 600l ! 16
220 if thou will lett my beanes downe ffall. 17 "
with that hee swarned the maine-mast tree,
soe did hee itt with might and maine l8 :
Horseley with an-other 19 broad Arrow
224 strake the yeaman 20 through the braine,
Barton then
(..Vers his
nephew 600?.
to climb up.
He climbs,
but Horseley
shoots him
dead.
1 Gordon. — P. and Bel.
- That aye wist.— Bel.
3 I will give thee three hundred
markes. — A 1 '/.
1 1 nains. — P.
6 For the next four lines, Percy,
without notice, takes (and alters) the
printed copy :
Lord Howard hee then calld in haste,
" Horseley Bee thou be true in stead ;
For thou shalt at the maine-mast hang,
If thou misse twelvescore one penny
bread'th.— 7»V/. li. 188.
8 swarmed, i.e. climbed, a word still
used in Shropshire [Pall over England.
— F.] in this sense.— P. Then Gordon
swarvd. Eel. MS. may be swarued. — F.
7 He Bwarved it.— Eel.
8 Put Horseley. Bel.
8 See Adam Bell $c, p. 98, 1. 601. The
In i vrmcjv irrow was a broad one, 1.223 below.
I suspect the word means only well-
feathered for far shooting, like a 'good
carrying cartridge.' — F.
10 Gordon.— P. and Bel.
11 downe to. — Bel.
12 sore his deadlye wounde. — Bt I.
13 Gordon. — P. How that the Gordon.
— Bel.
11 Hamilton.— P. Hambilton.— Bel.
15 mo. — P. my only sisters sonne. —
Eel.
u thee six hundred pounds. — P.
17 wilt to my Top-castlo go. Printed
Copy.-P.
If thou wilt let my beames downe fall,
Six hundred nobles thou hast wonne.
—Bel.
18 He swarved it with nimble art. — ■
Eel.
1! ' Bui Horseley with a. h'<l.
-" yeoman. — P. Pierced the Hambil-
ton thorough tlic heart. — Bel.
414
SIR ANDREW BARTTON.
Burton
calls lor his
armour ;
he'll
climb to the
topcastle
himself.
He puts on
his armour.
Horseley
228
232
236
240
241
1 Unit 2 hee ffell clowne to the liaches againe 3 :
sore of his wound that 4 hee did bleed.
itt is verry true, as the welchman sayd,
couetousness getts no gaine. 5
but when hee saw his sisters sonne c slaine,
Jjord ! in his heart hee was not well.
" goe ffeitch me downe 7 my armour of proue, 8
ffor I will to the topcastle my-selfe. 9
" goe 10 ifeitch me downe my armour of prooife, [page 494]
for itt is guilded n with gold soe cleere.
god be w/th my brother, Iohn of Bartton !
amongst 12 the Portingalls hee did itt weare. 13 "
but when hee had his 14 armour of prooffe,
15 & on his body hee had itt on,
euery man that looked att him
sayd, " gunn nor arrow hee neede feare none ! "
" come hither, Horsley ! " sayes my ~Lord Hawaud, 16
" & looke 17 jour shaft that itt goe right ;
shoot a good shoote in the time 18 of need,
& ffor thy shooting ia thoust be made a Knight."
" He doe my best," sayes 20 Horslay then,
" yottr honor shall see beffore I goe 21 ;
1 For the next six lines the Beliques
have :
And downe he fell upon the deck,
That with his blood did stroame
amaine:
Then every Scott cryed, "Well-away !
Alas a comelye youth is slaine !
All woe-begone was Sir Andrew then,
With griefe and rage his heart did
swell. — F.
2 And.— P.
3 MS. agaime.— F. 4 then.— P.
5 Covetousness brings nothing home.
Ray: ed. Holm, p. 81.— F.
6 nephew. — P.
' forth.— Bel. s proof.— P. and Bel.
'■' top-mast myscl. — P. topcastle my-
sel.- // I.
,0 MS. pared away.— F.
11 gilt.— P. That gilded is.— Bel.
12 Against. — Bel.
13 ware. — P. hee it ware. — Bel.
1 ' on this.— Bel.
15 Percy has a bit of his own for the
next three lines :
He was a gallant sight to see.
Ah! nere didst thou meet with living
wight,
My deere brother, could cope with
thee.— Bel. ii. 190.
10 my lord.- — Bel.
17 looke to.- — Bel.
18 in time. — Bel.
10 it. — P. it thou shalt.— Bel.
'-'" quoth.- Bel.
-' sec, with might and maine. — Bel.
SIR ANDREW BABTTON.
415
if I shold be hanged att your mainemast, l
248 I haue in my shipp but arrowes tow. 2 "
3 but att Sir Andrew bee sbott then ;
hee made sure 4 to hitt his marke ;
vnder the spole 5 of his right arme
hee smote S*'r Andrew quite throw the hart,
yett ffrom the tree hee wold not start,
but hee clinged to itt w/th might & maine.
vnder the coller then of his Iacke, 6
he stroke Sir Andrew thorrow the braine.
252
256
260
264
" flight on my men," sayes Sir Andrew Bartton, 7
" I am 8 hurt, but I am 9 not slaine ;
He lay mee 10 downe & bleed a- while,
& then He rise & flight againe. 11
flight on my men," sayes Sir Andrew Bartton, 1 ' 2
" these English doggs they bite soe lowe ; l3
14 flight on ffbr Scottland & Saint Andrew
till l5 you heare my whistle blowe ! "
but when the cold not heare his whistle blow,
sayes Harry Hunt, " He lay nry head
you may bord yonder noble shipp, my Lore?,
268 for I know Sir Andrew hee is dead." 16
lias only two
arrows left :
with one lie
si loots
Dart on
through the
heart,
ami with the
other,
through the
brain.
Barton tells
his men
to fight on
till
they hear his
whistle.
No whistle
sounds.
1 But if I were hanged at your maiue-
mast tree. — Eel.
2 I have now left but arrowes twaino.
— Bel.
3 For this stanza Percy lias the follow-
ing, altered from the printed copy:
Sir Andrew he did swarve the tree,
With right good will he swaryed then:
rp"i> his breast did Horseley hilt.
But the arrow hounded hack agen.
Then Horselye spyed a privye place
With a perfect eye in a seerctle part;
Under the spole of his right arme
He smote Sir Andrew to the heart.
1 right [sure].— P.
5 Fr. espaule, a shoulder. — Cotgrave.
,; leather tunic oyer the armour. See
Fairholt, on Jacket. — F.
says.— P. Sir And
7 Sir And": says.— r. oir Andrew
sayes. — Bel.
s a little I'm hurt.— Pr. Copy, P., and
Bel.
» hut yett.— Bd. >° hut lye.— AW.
11 Only half the n in the .MS. V.
'- S«'r And? says. — P. Sir Andrew
sayes. — Bel.
'•* ami never flinche before the foe. — Bel.
1 ' Hut stand fast by St.Andrew's Cross.
—P. Copy, P., and Bel. with And for
But.—F. '•'■ Until.— P.
,a Tli.\ never heard his whistle blow,
Which made their hearts waxo
sore adread :
Then Horseley sayd, Aboard, my lord,
For "ell 1 wott Sir Andrew's dead.
B I. (altered from printed copy). — P.
416
SIR ANDREW BARTTOX.
Howard and
Hunt
board
Barton's
ship.
11-1
with that they horded this ' noble sliijip,
soe did they itt 2 with might & maine ;
the Sound 18 score Scotts aliue, 3
besids the rest were maimed & 4 slaine.
Howard cuts
off Barton's
head,
has his
body thrown
overboard,
My Lore 7 - 5 Haward tooke a sword in his hand,
& smote 7 of 8 Sir Andrews head,
the Scotts stood by, did weepe & mourne,
276 but neuer a word durst speake or say. 9
he caused his body to be taken downe, 10
& ouer the hatch-bord cast 1 * into the sea,
& about his middle 300 crownes :
280 " wheresoeuer thou lands, itt 12 will bury thee."
and sails to
England,
13 with his head they sayled into England againe
with right good will, & fforce & meanye, 14
1 they boarded then [his]. — P. and
Ed.
2 They boarded it.— Bel.
3 Eighteen score Scotts alive they
found. — Ed.
4 The rest were either maimd or. — Bel.
s Lord.— Eel. " in hand.— Bel.
7 [insert] ther.— P.
8 And off he smote. — Ed.
9 they spake or said. — P.
I must ha' left England many a daye,
If thou wert alive as thou art dead. —
Eel. (from printed copy, altered.) — F.
10 to be" cast.— Eel.
11 Bel. omits $ and cast. — P.
12 "Wherever thou land this. — Bel.
13 For the next four stanzas, Percy has
these four from his own head, the printed
copy, and the folio :
Thus from the warres lord Howard came,
And backe he sayled on the maine,
With mickle joy and triumphing
Into Thames mouth he came againe.
Lord Howard then a letter wrote,
And sealed it with seale and ring:
"Such a noble prize have I brought to
your grace,
As never did subject to a king.
Sir Andrewes shipp T bring with nice;
A braver shipp was never none :
Nowe hath your grace two shipps of
warre,
Before in England was but one."
King Henryes grace with royall dice r< .
Welcomed the noble Howard home,
And where, said he, is this rover stout :
That I myselfe may give the doome ?
"The rover, he is safe, my leige,
Full many a fadom in the sea ; [Percy]
If he were alive, as he js dead,
I must ha' left England many a day :
And your grace may thank four men i'
the ship
For the victory wee have wonne,
These are William Horseley, Henry
Hunt,
And Peter Simon, and his somie."
To Henry- Hunt, the king then sayd,
In lieu of what was from thee tone,
A noble a day thou shalt have,
With Sir Andrewes jewels and his
chayne."
And Horseley thou shalt be a knight,
And lands and livings shalt have
store ;
Howard shall be earl Surrye hight,
As Howards erst have bcene before.
—Bel. ii. 192-3.
" main. — P.
SIR ANDREW BARTTON. 417
& the day beffore Newyeeres euen which he
reaches on
284 & into Thames mouth againe they came. December
My "Lord Haward wrote to Kim/ 1 1 i.nkuyks grace, Lord
J v ° Howard
with all the newes hee cold him bring : writes to
Henry \ ill.
"such a newyeeres gifft I haue 2 brought to yom- that he has a
•> ° ° •> grand new-
g r [ aCe l>_ CftF
288 as neuer did subiect to any 3 King.
" ffor Merchandyes & Manhood,
the like is nott to be Sound ;
the sight of these wold doe you good,
292 ffor you haue not the Like in jouy English ground."
but when hee heard tell that they were come, Henry is
17 delighted to
full royally bee welcomed them home : £ nd th ? fc its
J u Barton s
S/r Andrews shipp was the Things Newyeeres guifft ; shi P>
296 a brauer shipp you neuer saw none.
Now hath our King Sir Andrews shipp ail over
9 L L pearls.
besett with pearles and precyous stones : The King
has now two
Now hath England 2 shipps of warr, shi P s of war -
300 2 shipps of warr, before but one.
" who holpe to this ? " sayes King Henerte,
" that I may reward him ffor his painc. 4 "
" Harry Hunt & Peeter Simon, He gives
' Hunt
304 WlLLIAM HorSELEAT, & I THE SAME." Barton's
" Harry Hunt shall haue his whistle & chaine, [page4o;>] jewels &c.
& all his Iewells, whatsoeuer they bee,
& other rich giffts that I will not name,
308 for his good service he hath done 5 mee.
Ho R SLAY, right thoust be a Kninht ; makes
' ° •' Horselcy a
Lands & liuinjjs thou shalt haue store. knight
° I Inward
Howard shalbe Erie of Nottingham, £"'"'. ot "
° ' Notting-
312 & soe was neuer Haward before. ham '
1 they came again.— P. * MS. p;iime. — F.
2 a noble prize have I. — Eel. * [insert] to. — P.
8 a,.— Eel.
VOL. III. E E
418
SIR ANDREW BARTTON.
and frivcs
Simon ami
His son
500?.
The Queen
O 's
to see
Barton's
face.
The King
wishes he
were
alive again,
and sendg
his men
back to
Scotland.
" Now Peeter Simon, thou art old,
I will maintains thee & thy sonne,
thou shalt haue 500 1 .' all in gold
316 ffor the good service that thou hast done. 1 "
then "King Henerye shiffted his roome ;
in came the Queene & ladyes bright ;
other arrands they had none
320 but to see Sir Andrew Bartton, Knight.
but when they see his deadly fface,
his eyes were 2 hollow in his head,
" I wold giue a 100 1 .'," sais King Henerte,
324 " the 3 man were aliue as hee is dead !
yett ffor the manfull part that hee hath playd 4
both heere & 5 beyond the sea 6
his men shall haue halfe a crowne 7 a day
328 to bring them to my brother King Iamye. 8 "
flinis.
1 And the men shall have five hundred
markes
For the good service they have done. —
Eel. ; which has for the next four lines :
Then in came the queene with ladyes
fair
To see Sir Andrewe Barton knight :
They weend that hee were brought on
shore,
And thought to have seen a gallant
sight.
2 soe. — Eel.
3 This.— Eel.
4 part he playd. — Eel.
5 [insert] eke. — P.
6 Which fought soe well with heart
and hand. — Bel.
7 twelvepence. — Eel.
8 Till they come to my brother king's
high land. — Eel. Oh, this restless itch
of alteration ! — F.
419
tt p ITY the sorrows of a lover " is the gist of this piece. The
swain protests that he is scorched with the flame of love, and
must be altogether consumed by it, if his lady will not put forth
a hand and pluck him like a brand from the burning. His only
claim to such a service is that he loves her. He hopes she may
be induced to reflect his love.
Fire warms to life ; it also burns to death ; as the simple
savage found, who was consumed by the flames in which he had
taken pleasure. And so it is with love.
12
10
LIKE : to the sillye Siluan
burnt by the ffire he liked,
I scor[c]hed am With cupidds ffyery fflamc,
wherin I became l delighted,
grant then, o grant, my desire to allay,
lest that I ruined bee ;
& godd[e]sse like, saue mee !
[By] Loue 2 my liffe I maintaine ;
death by hatred I gaine :
you 3 the Murthresse, if slaine I bee.
Then hand in hand lett pittye
w/th bewtyc March intwined 4 ;
harmonious paire, if soc linked they were,
how delightffuU in thee combined!
ilii i rest of all that the sun doth survay,
lett gracyousncsse take place ;
1 MS. bccanc. — F.
- By your Love, — P.
3 you are. — P.
1 entwined. — P,
Tm scorched
with Cupid's
flame !
Then, love,
l.i-i Pity join
with thy
Beauty.
E B 2
420
THE SILLYE SILUAN.
Be not too
coy:
pity me !
20
O be not to coye * !
Thou art an Angell, if a ffreind ;
if an enemy e, a ffeend.
then to pittye condiscend, I pray !
Love your
lover again.
Grant me
love's
rights,
now the time
is so fit.
ffaine wold I that my desires
on her might haue refflectyon.
Loue loued againe ; itt is my only 2 aime
24 to be answered with true aflectyon.
Loue is attended with many a plesure
to thee vnknowene as yett.
mee 3 to those 4 Ioyes admitte !
28 crowne me with those loues rights,
with those precyous delights,
whiles the time that vs invites if itts ffitte. 5
ffillis.
1 too coye. — P.
- it is my only. — P.
3 MS. meete.— F.
4 nice then to those. — P.
5 that invites us is so fit. — P.
421
patient <BximU ; x
This is a later version of the story which seems to have been
first told in English by Chaucer, who derived it from Boccaccio,
who derived it perhaps from Petrarch, who derived it from
some floating tradition. There were current in the Middle
Ages numberless tales and songs abusive of women. This sorry
literature sprung probably from the monks, who, whatever their
practice may have been, were ready enough to clamour that
women's society was by all means to be avoided and detested —
that women were everything bad and abominable. One would
think that Eve had tempted the serpent, not the serpent Eve.
Had there arisen no authors of broader and truer experiences
than these cloistered libellers, the very acrimony of their slanders
would have sufficed to excite a literature reactionary and pro-
testing. Certainly such a literature grew and flourished. Women
found their advocates. In the fields of poetry as well as of
tournament and war they found their knights, who did battle
bravely for them. Men rose up and called them blessed, and
put ignorant scandal- mongers to shame. The Nut Broivn Maid
was written especially to gainsay those who accused them of
perpetual inconstancy; Patient Grissell to rebuke those who pro-
nounced them ever shrews. Griselda is essentially a reactionary
story ; else, the patience of the heroine is too extreme to be toler-
ated, she is tame to excess, she is characterless. If we remember
how incessantly the shrewishness of women, their obstinacy, their
furiousness were asserted and proclaimed, then we shall under-
stand why Griselda's patience is represented as so extreme and
1 In tin- printed Collection of Old V>. — F. vid. Boceaco Chaucer {pencil
Ballads, 1727, Vol 3. p. 252.— P. "To note).
ilic tune of The Bride's Good-morrow $c."
422 PATIENT GRISSELL.
invincible, why the roughest, cruellest, shamefullest wrongs cannot
ruffle it. The story does not contemplate the virtue it celebrates
in reference to other virtues. It does not concern itself with these ;
in its devotion to its one object, it may even outrage some of
these. Its aim and purpose is to picture patience in a woman.
This picture it paints surely with surpassing success. Is there
any more moving picture of meekness in any secular literature ?
(xriselda bears the grievous burdens laid upon her shoulders with
a quiet unmurmuring spirit. No angry cries, no burning re-
proaches escape from the lips of this most gentle lady. And yet,
if ever any tongue might grow shrewish and curst, assuredly hers
might grow so. But in meekness she possesses her soul. Bereft
of her children, cast off by her husband, the tenderest fibres of
her soul thus rudely torn and broken, she cannot but weep some-
what. " The tears stood in her eyes." But
Sho nothing answered, no words of discontent
Did from her lips arise.
And when ready to " part away,"
" God send long life unto my lord," quoth she.
" Let no offence be found in this,
To give my lord a parting kiss."
The following version of the story is found elsewhere — in an
old chap-book, dated 1619, from which it has been reprinted by
the Percy Society in Deloney's Garland of Good Will, and in
the Collection of Old Ballads, 1727.
" Two plays upon the subject," observes Professor Child in the
Introduction to his copy of Patient Grissel, " are known to have
been written, one of which (by Dekker, Chettle, and Haughton)
has been printed by the Shakespeare Society, while the other, an
older production of the close of Henry VIII.'s reign, is lost.
About the middle of the sixteenth century (1565) a Song of
Patient Grissell is entered in the Stationers' Eegisters, and a
prose history the same year." License is given to " Owyn
Rogers" "for pryntinge of a ballett intituled the sounge of
pacyente Gressell unto hyr make."
PATIENT GRISSELL. 423
The poem given by Percy in the Meliques, called The Patient
Countess, an extract from Warner's Albion's England, represents
rather tact and management than patience in the wife of an
unfaithful (not a tempting and assaying) husband. " The sub-
ject of this tale," says the Bishop, " is taken from that enter-
taining colloquy of Erasmus intitled Uxor /ms/jb-^Lya/xos sive
Conjugium ; which has been agreeably modernized by the late
Mr. Spence in his little Miscellaneous Publication intitled
1 Moralities &c. by Sir Harry Beaumont, 1753, 8vo. pag. 42.' '
" Jam si molestum non erat," says Eulalia, one of the interlocu-
tors in that dialogue, " referam tibi quiddam de marito commo-
ditate uxoris correcto ; quod nuper accidit in hac ipsa civitate."
"Nihil est quod agam," rejoins Xantippe, whose name indicates
her views as to how husbands should be dealt with, " et perquam
grata mihi est tua confabulatio." " Est vir quidam," proceeds
her more discreet friend, and relates the tale versified by
Warner. Xantippe does not appreciate the forbearance shown
by the wronged lady of the story. " matronam nimium
bonam ! Ego citius pro lecto substravissem illi fasciculum urti-
carum ac tribulorum." The Patient Countess then is other than
our Grisekla.
Griselda became a proverb of patience. Scarcely has the
patience of Job been more widely heard of than hers. Butler
(Hudibras, part i. cant, ii.) speaks of
"Words far bitterer than wormwood,
That would in Job or Grizel stir mood.
A : noble Marquesse, as hee did ryde on l huntingc a Marquis
, , ! rr> ii out bunting
hard by a norrest syde,
a proper maid, 2 as slice did sitt a spinninge,
4 his gentle eye espyde. spiesa
<=> j l j lovely maid,
i ;i . — or,. - fair and comely Maiden. — O.B.
424
PATIENT GRISSELL.
singing.
His heart is
on fire,
and he
accosts the
maiden.
12
Most ffaire & louely, & of comely ' grace, was sliee,
although in simple attire ;
shee sung ffull sweet 2 with pleasant voice melodyous-
lyee,
w7w'ch sett the Lords hart on ffire.
the more he looket, the more hee might ;
bewtye bred 3 his harts delight ;
& to this dainty 4 damsell then [hee went.] 5
" God speed," quoth, hee, " thou ffamous Slower, [p. 49C]
ffaire Mistress of this homely bower
where louee & vertue liues G with sweet content ! "
She
welcomes
him
modestly.
The Marquis
asks her
name ; he
means to
marry her.
" Grissell
is my name.
I'm quite
unfit for
you."
He urges his
suit;
with comely Iesture & modest ffine 7 behauiour
16 shee bade 8 him welcome ; then
shee entertaind him in ffaithffull ffrendly man[ner]
& all his gentlemen,
the Noble Marquesse in his hart felt such a fflame,
20 which sett his sences att striffe ;
quoth, hee, " ffaire mayd, 9 show me soone what is thine 10
[name ;]
I meane to make thee my wiffe."
" Grissell is my name," quoth shee,
24 " ffarr vnftitt ffor jour degree :
a silly may den, & of parents poore."
" nay, Grissell ! thou art rich," he sayd ;
" a virtiuos, ffaire, & comely e mayde !
28 grant me thy loue, & I will aske no more."
she consents,
they marry,
she is clad
in silk
velvet,
Att Lenght shee Consented, & being both contented,
they marryed were with speed,
her country russett was changed to silke & veluett,
32 as to her state agreed ;
1 a comely. — O.B.
2 most, sweetly. — O.B.
3 was.— O.B.
1 o.H. omits dainty. — F.
5 Strait the Noble went.— O.B.
6 Dwells.— O.B.
7 O.B. omits ffine.— F.
8 bids.— O.B.
9 Maiden.— F.
"' thy name— P. & O.B.
PATIENT GRISSELL.
425
3G
40
44
48
52
5G
60
& -when that sliee was trimly tyred in the same,
her bewtye shined most bright,
ffarr stainninge euery other braue & comelye l dam[e]
that did appeare in her sight. 2
many ennyed her therfore,
because shee was of parents poore,
& twixt her Lord & shee great striffe did raise,
some said this, & some said that,
& some did call her beggars bratt,
& to her Lord they wold her offt dispraise :
" noble Marquesse " (quoth they) "why doe you 3
wrong vs,
thus baselye ffor to wedd,
that 4 might haue gotten an honourable 5 Ladye
into jouv princely bed ?
who will not now joicr noble issue still 6 deryde,
w/w'ch heerafter shall 7 be borne,
that are of blood soe base on 8 the Mothers syde,
the w7wch will bring them in scorne.
put her therfore quite away ;
take 9 to you a Ladye gay,
whcrby jour Linage may renowned bee : "
thus euery day the seemed to 10 prate
that malliced n Grissells good estate,
who tooke all this most mild & patyentlye. 12
and looks
lovelier than
anyone else.
People envy
her,
call her
beggar's
brat,
and
reproach the
Marquis
with having
married a
base-born
girl;
his children
will be
scorned.
He should
put her
away ,
and marry a
Lady.
Grissell
takes it all
patiently.
when 13 the Marquesse see 14 that 15 they were bent thus The Marquis
against his ffaithffull 16 wiffe,
who 17 most dearlye, tenderlye, & entirlye,
loves her
as his life,
he loued 18 as his line ;
1 Fair and Princely. — O.B.
2 O.B. omits this lino.— 1'\
3 didst thou.— O.B.
4 Who.— O.B.
5 horn™ in the MS.— F.
6 now. — O.B.
7 shall hereafter.— O.B.
B base Bom by. — O.B.
'■> And take.— < ).l !.
but thinks
to prove her,
10 they did.— O.B. " cnvy'd.— O.B.
12 Who all this while- Took it most
patiently. — O.B.
13 When that.— O.B.
11 Did soe.— O.B.
15 O.B. omits that.—F.
Ui lawful.— 0.]}.
17 Whom he.- -0.3.
18 Beloved.— O.B.
426
PATIENT GRISSELL.
and seeins
cruel,
that men
may pity
her.
She gives
birth to
twins,
a boy and
girl.
A grand
christening
feast
is held for
six weeks,
and then
the Marquis
sends a
messenger to
fetch the
twins
to be
murdered.
Grissell
weeps,
but says her
lord must be
obeyed. g 4
[page 497]
She kisses
her babes,
Minding ' in secrett for to prone 2 her patyent hart,
therby her ffoes 3 to disgrace,
thinking to play 4 a hard discurteons part
64 that men might pittye her case ; —
great with child this 5 Ladye was ;
& att lenght 6 itt came to passe,
2 goodlye children att one birth shee had,
68 a sonne & daughter god had sent,
w 7 Mch did their ffather 7 well content,
& w7wch did make their mothers 8 hart full glad.
Great Ioy & 9 ffeasting was att the 10 childrens christ-
enin[g,]
72 & princely triumph made.
6 weekes together all nobles that came thither
were entertained, and stayd.
& when that all these plasant sporttings n quite were 12
done,
76 the Marquesse a Messenger sent
ffor his young daughter & his pretty smiling so[ne,]
declaring his ffull entent,
how that they 13 babes must murdered bee, —
80 for soe the Marquess did decree :
" come,lett mehaue thy 14 children," then hee say[d].
with that, ffaire Grissell wept ffull sore,
shee wrong her hands, & sayd no more :
"My 15 gracyous Lord must haue his will obayd."
Shee tooke the babyes 16 ffrom 17 the nursing Ladyes
betweene her tender armes ;
shee often wishes with many sorrowffull kisses
88 that shee might helpe 18 their harmes :
1 Meaning. — O.B.
3 his Foes for. — O.B.
4 shew her. — O.B.
5 the.— O.B.
6 at the last.— O.B.
■ Mother.— O.B.
s Father's— O.B.
try.-O.B.
Royal. 0.15.
10 these.— O.B.
11 the pleasant Sporting.— O.B.
was.— O.B. " How the.— O.B.
The.— O.B.
But my.— O.B.
the Babes.— O.B.
Even from.— O.B. IK ease.- O.B.
PATIENT GRISSELL.
427
" ffarwell, ffarwell 1000 times, my children deere !
neere l shall I see you againe !
tis long of me, yowr sad and wofull mother heere,
92 for whose sake you 2 must be slaine.
had I beene borne of royall race,
you might haue liued in happy case,
but you must dye for my vnvvorthynesse !
96 come, messenger of death," sayd 3 shee,
" take my despised 4 babes ffrom mee, 5
& to their ffather my complaints expresse ! "
Hee tooke the children ; vnto 6 his Noble "Master
100 he brought 7 them both 8 with speed,
who 9 secrett sent them vnto a noble Ladye
to bee brought vp indeed,
then to ffaire Grissell with a heauy hart hee goes
104 where shee sate myldlye alone. 10
a pleasant gesture & a louelye looke shee showes,
as if greeffe u shee had neuer 12 knone.
quoth, hee, " my children now are slaine :
108 what thinkes ffaire Grissell of the same ?
sweet Grissell, now declare thy mind to mee."
" sith you, my Lord, are pleased with itt,
poore Grissell thinkes the actyon 13 fitt.
112 both I and mine att your comand wilbee."
bids them
farewell,
tells them
they're to
die
because she's
of low blood,
and bids the
messenger
repeat her
plaints to
her husband.
He takes
them
to the
Marquis,
who sends
them to a
lady to be
brought up,
and then he
goes
to Grissell
(who
receives him
pleasantly),
says the
children are
slain ;
what does
she think of
it?
"If it
pleases you,
I think it
right."
"My Nobles 14 murmure, ffaire Girssell, at thy honour, Tfaenhetella
_ her that, to
& 1 noe loy Lan naue please his
. nobles, she's
till thou be banisht both ffrom my court & presence, to be sent
,. . ,, away
116 as they vniustly craue.
1 Never.— O.B.
H thence.— O.B.
2 both.— O.B.
8 Who in.- O.B.
3 auoth. — O.B.
* liarest — O.B.
10 all alone.— O.B.
11 no Grief.— O.B.
5 to thee.— O.B.
12 O.B. omits neuer. — F.
u And to. O.B.
'• 1 this.— O.B.
7 bore.— O.B.
11 Ono stroke too few in tho MS,
428
PATIENT GRISSELL.
in her plain
grey frock,
and be his
wife no
more.
thou must be stript out of thy l garments all,
& as thou earnest vnto 2 mee,
in homely gray, instead of bisse 3 & purest pall,
120 now all thy clothing must bee.
My Lady thou shalt 4 be no more,
nor I thy Lore?, which, greeues me sore.
the poorest liffe must now content thy mind ;
124 a groate to thee I may 5 not giue
to maintaine thee 6 while I liue 7 :
against my Grissell such great ffoes I ffind."
The tears
come to
her eyes,
but she says
nothing,
takes off her
velvet gown,
puts on her
russet one,
kisses her
husband,
When gentle Grissell had hard this 8 wofull tydings,
128 the teares stood in her eyes.
she nothing 9 answered, no words of disconte[nt]-
ment 10
did ffrom her lipps arrise ;
her veluett gowne most pitteouslye shee slipped of, 11
132 her kirtle of silke with the same.
her russett gowne was browght againe with many a
scoffe :
to bere 12 them all, 13 her selfe shee did fframe.
when shee was drest in this array,
136 and readye was 14 to part 15 away,
" god send long liue vnto my Lo rd ! " q«oth shee,
" Let no Offence be ffound in this,
to giue my Lord a parting kisse."
140 with wattered 16 eyes, " ffarwell, my deare ! " quoth
hee. 17
1 Of thy brave.— O.B.
9 Nothing she.— O.B.
2 to.— O.B.
10 Discontent.— O.B.
3 Byssus, Lat. — Pencil note.
Silk. —
11 patiently she stripped off.-
-O.B,
O.B.
■- hear.— O.B.
4 must.— O.B.
13 O.B. omits.— F.
8 dare.— O.B.
14 for.— O.B.
6 Theo to maintain. — O.B.
15 pass.— O.B.
7 I do live.— O.B.
10 watry. — O.B.
8 Did hear these.— O.B.
17 said she.— O.B.
PATIENT GRISSELL.
429
ffrom statelye l pallace, vnto her ffathcrs cottage
poore Grissell now 2 is gone,
ffull 15 winters slice liued there contented ;
144 no wrong shee thought vpon ;
& att that 3 time through all the Land the Speeches
went,
the Marquesse shold marryed bee
vnto a Ladye great 4 of hye discent ;
148 & to the same all partyes did 5 agree,
the Marquesse sent ffor Grissell ffaire
the bryds bedchamber to prepare,
that nothing therin shold 6 bee ffound awrye.
152 the bryde was wi'the her brother come,
which was great Ioy to all & some :
& 7 Grissell tooke all this most patyeutlye.
And in the Morning when that 8 they shold be weded,
15 6 her patyence now 9 was tryde :
Gr[i]ssell was chargd, her-selfe in princely 10 ntannowr
ffor to attyre the bryde.
and goes to
her father's
cottage.
There she
stays 15
years,
and is then
sent for
to prepare
the
Marquis's
new wife's
room,
[page 498]
and dress her
for her
wedding.
most willingly shee gaue consent vnto n the sam[e :]
160 the bryde in her ,2 brauery was drest,
& prcsentlye the noble Marquesse thither came
with all his hords att his request :
" Grissell, I wold 13 aske of thee
164 if thou wold to this match ,4 agree ;
methinkes thy lookes are waxen 16 wonderous coy."
with that they all began to smile,
& Grissell shee replyes 16 the while,
168 " god send Lord Marquesse many yceres of Ioy ! "
Grissell
dresses the
bride ;
and then the
Marquis
asks her if
she agrees to
the match.
She wishes
him many
happy years.
1 Princely.— O.K.
2 she O.B.
3 this.— O.B.
* Noblo Lady.— O.B.
•• O.B. on, its did.— F.
,; Blight.— O.B.
7 But.— O.B.
8 as.— O.B.
" there.— O.B.
10 friendly.— O.B.
ii to do.— O.B.
12 O.B. omits her.—F.
11 will.— O.B.
" If to this Match thou wilt.
15 waxed.— O.B.
,u reply'd.— O.B.
O.B.
430
PATIENT GKISSELL.
The Marquis
steps to her
.inrt says,
"You are
my only
bride :
these are
your
children.
You who
envied her,
blush for
shame !
Fame shall
evermore
praise
Patient
Grissell.'*
The Marquesse was moued to see his best beloucd
thus patyent in distresse ;
he stept vnto her, & by the hand he tooke her ;
172 these words he did expresse :
" thou art the 1 bryde, & all the brydes I meane to
haue !
these 2 thine owne children bee ! " —
the youthfull [Lady] 2 on her knees did blessing craue ;
176 her brother as willing 3 as shee ; —
" & you that enuye her estate
whom I haue made my louing 4 mate,
Now blush ffor shame, & honour vertuous liffe !
180 the chronicles of Lasting flame
shall euermore extoll the name
of patyent Grissell, my most patyent 5 wiffe ! ' :
fT[inis.]
1 my.— O.B.
2 youthful Lady.-
3 well.— O.B.
-O.B.
4 chosen. — O.B.
5 constant. — O.B.
431
This piece was manifestly written by a professional hand.
Dolorous and tragic incidents which now form the subjects of
newspaper paragraphs were in old pre-public-press day reported,
with such graceful varieties of narrative as might seem expedient,
by vagrant versifiers. The ballad-writer of James I.'s time per-
formed the functions of the penny-a-liner of our day. Some
such grievous duel as that described in the following piece may
probably enough have been fought not far from the Tweed early
in the seventeenth century, and this be the ryming news-monger's
account of it. There is a certain reality about the narration,
which cannot be attributed to the art of the narrator. It is
evidently an event that actually transpired which he celebrates.
His artistic merit is sufficiently indicated by the morals he
appends to his story. He belongs to the Ovtos Xttttos school.
IN : Barwicke Low, 1 as late beffell,
At Berwick
a great mishap happened tlierin a sad mishap
wold peaine 2 a stonye hart to tell :
4 the great discourse that did begin
Betwixt 2 youthes of gentle blood. between two
,t in • n t well-born
as they were walking all alone, youths,
they wrought their wills as they thought good,
8 w7//ch made their ffreinds to waile & mono.
The one hight Scroope, as I heard tell, Scroope
, _ , .. and Browne.
the other browne, as 1 hard say :
betwixt these 2 itt soe beffell,
12 that hand to hand the made affray.
1 ? Berwick Low, ;i hill near Berwick. — II. * Qu. MS. — F.
432
SCROOPE AND BROWNE.
Scroope
taunted
Browne
with not
daring to
fight him.
Saitli Scroope to Browne, " what dost tliou meane
to come all naked l thus to mee ?
itt meaneth sure, by thy combing,
1G thou wilt not flight, but rather fflee."
Browne
retorted ;
Quoth Browne, " my weapons are att hand,
as to thy paine shall soone bee seene ;
ffor while that I may goe or stand,
20 one ffoote to ffly I doe not meane."
they drew
their
swords,
and fought
They drew ffbrth their swords anon,
they Sought together manffullye,
they 2 bright blades in the sun shone, —
24 Lord, itt was great Ioy to see ! —
manfully,
till Scroope
hit Browne
a cruel cut
in the leg,
and called
on him to
yield.
Browne
would not ;
they fought
again ;
and Browne
killed
Scroope.
They Laid on strokes that were soe strong,
they ffbught together manffullye.
att Lenght Scroope [pressed] 3 vnto Browne,
28 [&] with his sword ffull Egarlye
Hee hitt Browne on the legg, god wott,
hee cutt him vaines 2 or 3 ;
a man might haue seene where that stroke bo[tc ;]
32 LonZ, itt pearced him cruelly !
They tooke their breath, & still they stoode :
Qwoth Scroope, "thou Browne, yeelde thee to mee ! "
[on] which, Browne waxing neere hand wood,
36 together ffearfullye they cold fflee.
They Lady came runinge apace :
Browne cast vp his head & did her see ;
with that hee cut Scroope in the fface ;
40 [the sword to the brain went through Lis ce. 4 ]
1 naked = unarmed. So mid us in
" In maximo nietu nudum et c?ccum
corpus ad liostcs vortere." — Sail. Jut/. L07
and elsewhere) and yv/j.vbs in Horn. //.
xvi., 81 o, ou5' wreueii/e*' ndrpjuAov yvjj.v6i>
wep i6vr' tv STji'jTTjTi, and elsewhere. — II.
- their.— P.
3 pressed.- — Pyee.
4 A line of the MS. is pared away. — F.
Alas ! it was the more pittye. — P.
SCROOrE AND BROWNE.
433
44
" Out & alas ! " quoth this gay Ladye, [page 499] Browne's
" Browne ! why wouldest thou doe this dcede ? reproaches
J him.
I loued him better then I loued thee ! " She loved
Scroope best.
sliee kist his wounds as they did bleede.
" Ladye," quoth Browne, " my owne thou art !
our trothes together plighted they bee ;
ffor shame lett this deede neuer be knowne,
48 nor neuer show extremitye."
Browne says
she has
plighted her
troth to him.
" As ffor our trothes plighting," shee saith,
" is not the thing that grecueth mee ;
but ffor his sake thai heerc is dead,
52 taken soone that thou shalt bee."
"I care not
for that :
you shall be
taken up for
Scroope's
sake."
" O No, No, No, Ladye ! " he sayes,
" if that thou wilt thy troth deniye,
yett ffor his sake that heere Lyes l dead,
56 taken will I neuer bee."
Hee tooke the sword then by the blade,
the heauye hilt on ground did Lye ;
quite through his body a wound hee made,
60 & there hee dye[d] beffore her eye.
"If you deny
your troth,
I'll not be
taken,"
says Browne,
then runs
himself
through the
body,
and dies.
The ffattall end of Scroope & Browne,
of bothe their ffreinds Lamented was ;
& eke the crye through Barwicke towne
64 was " wellaway, & out alas ! "
But of this Ladye, marke the end,
that causer was of deadlye fiiyde :
a Bwoning trance god did her sen. I
68 that sliee Hell dead vpon the ground.
The Lady
falls (low a
dead too
Ms. Lyed.— F.
vol. nr.
!• i'
434
SCROOrE AND BROWNE.
Ladies,
learn to keep
secrets !
72
You Ladyes all that keere my song,
& maidens all of Ecke degree,
see yee neuer speake word with jour tounge,
but keepe itt till the day you dye.
Young men ;
seek for a
true love :
it*8 a rare
bird.
76
And young men all that keere my song,
to seeke true loue doe you not spare ;
tkougk Piramus be eft ' to find,
yett Thisbye is a bird most rare. ffinis.
1 eath. — P. eft, quick, ready : Shakspere, in Halliwell. — F.
['•' Now ffye on Dreames" printed in Lo. & Hum. Songs, p. 109,
follows here in the MS. p. 499.]
435
2u'n£f ftumfcrr : l iw i
Geoffrey of Monmouth tells us 2 that after the Trojan war,
iEneas, flying with his son Ascanius from the destruction of
Troy, sailed to Italy. There Ascanius begat a son named
Sylvius, and he begat Brutus, who at the age of fifteen acci-
dentally killed his father out hunting. Driven from Italy for so
heinous a deed, Brutus landed in Greece, headed the oppressed
Trojans there, took their adversary Pandrasus prisoner, married
his daughter, and then sailed to the shores of the Tyrrhenian
Sea, where he found other descendants of Trojans, under the
command of Corineus. Having together conquered the king
of Aquitaine, Brutus and Corineus sailed to the island called
Albion, then inhabited by none but a few giants, and divided it.
Corineus chose Cornwall (probably called after him) because in it
there were more giants than elsewhere, and it was a diversion to
him to encounter them. Among others he slew the bi^crest and
most detestable monster Goemagot. Brutus took the rest of the
island, christened the whole of it Britain, after his own name, and
built on the Thames the city of New Troy, afterwards called
Kaer Lud and then London. After Brutus's death his three sons
shared his kingdom — Locrin, the eldest, taking the middle of the
island called Loegria, of which we hear so often in the Arthur
romances ; Kamber, the second son, taking Kambria, or Wales ;
and Albanact, the youngest, taking Albania, or Scotland. Locrin
1 A Late version of the story told >>y lection of Old Ballads 1726, Vol. 2. p. 5.
Geoffrey of Monmouth and his Welsh N.L — P.
translators, by Wace (i. (>."> 71), Laya- - Book i, Chapters iii-xviii, Book ii,
mon (i.'.u L06), Etoberl of Gloucester Chapters i-\ , A. Thompson's translation
(i. 23-7), Robert of Brunne (Inner Temple revised by Giles (Bonn, 1848) p. ( J1
MS. fol. 13) &c— F. In the printed Col- 109.— JF.
r f 2
436 KINGE HUMBER.
was betrothed to Guendoloena, the daughter of Corineus. Then
Humber, king of the Huns, invaded Albania, and slew Albanact.
Locrin and Karaber routed Humber near the river which now bears
his name, and in which he was drowned. In one of Humber's
ships Locrin found the lovely Estrildis, of beauty " hardly to be
matched. No ivory or new-fallen snow, no lily could exceed the
whiteness of her skin." For love of her, Locrin would have
broken his troth to Corineus's daughter, but the giant-slayer
shook his battle-axe at him, and he thereupon married Guendolgena.
But he kept Estrildis in "apartments underground," and begat
on her a most beautiful daughter who was named Sabren. In
process of time Corineus died, Locrin divorced Guendoloena, and
advanced Estrildis to be queen. But " twenty thousand Cornish
men would know the reason why," as a modern ballad sings of
another event. They met Locrin near the river Sture ; he was
killed by the shot of an arrow ; and Guendolsena became queen.
She had Estrildis and her daughter Sabren thrown into the river
now called Severn after that daughter; Guendolaena hoping thus
to perpetuate Locrin's infamy by his fair girl's name.
Of Geoffrey's story told above, our ballad retells, with varia-
tions, the part after Humber's invasion. Sir F. Madden shows in
his note in Layamon iii. 313 (p. 440, note l here) how by Geoffrey's
misreading the name of Estrildis' daughter as Sabren, instead of
Avren, he has transferred the legend of the Avon's christening to
the Severn's, so that we have the names of two rivers accounted for
by the process so familiar to comparative mythologists, of the
invention of stories about men and women to account for existing
names of streams and hills, countries and towns. But surely this
linking of natural objects with the stories and fates of human
beings is again to the imagination, the life, of man. A light is on
Greece and Judsea, on Norse-land and England too, when the sun
is down, and no moon or star can be seen. A glory of legend and
history rests for ever on the spots where the deeds they tell of
KINGE HUMBER.
437
were done, the sufferings they sing were suffered. And though we
now can people the Severn's course with the wondrous vegetation,
the coral-reef islands and fishful lagoons of the carboniferous
system, with the gigantic saurians of the trias, and the earliest
creations of mammal being, yet how did the river acquire to many
of us a new life when we read —
The Danube to the Severn gave
The darken'd heart that beat no more, (In Memoriam, xix.)
when we learnt that Tennyson's friend lay on Severn's hank,
and that there from his ashes might be made
The violet of his native land. (ib. xviii.)
Though Geoffrey's stories be not true, let us not forget that we
owe him a debt of gratitude for them.
12
1C
VV HEjS" Humber in his wrathe-ffull rage
'King Albanack in ffeild had slaine,
those bloody broyles ffor to asswage,
King Locrin then applyed his paine,
& with an host of Brittaines stout
att Lenght hee Sound King Humber out.
Att vantage great he mett him then,
& with his hoast besett him soe
that hee destroyed his warlike men,
& HnMBEBS power did ouerthrowe ;
& Himber, which ffor ffeare did fhye,
leapt into a riuer desperattlye.
And be[i]ng drowned in the dcepe,
& left a Ladye there a-liue,
& l sadlye did lament and weepe
for ffeare they shold her liffe depriue ;
but by her fface that was soe ffaire
the Kinij was caught in cupidds snare.
After
Humber had
slain
Albanack,
Locrin
attacked
and routed
his army,
and Humber
drowned
himself.
Locrin fell
in love with
a lluiuii.-h
lady,
Estrilde,
and secretly
1 who.— F.
438
K1NGE HUMBER.
(to the
sorrow of his
Queen
Guendoline,
by whom he
hat! a son)
begat a
daughter on
Estrilde.
Hum her
then put
away
Guendoline,
(who took
refuge in
Cornwall),
and crowned
Estrilde his
wife.
Hec tooke the Ladye to his louo,
20 & secrettlye l did keepe her still ;
soe that they Queene did quicklye proue
the "King did beare her small good 2 will ;
although in wedlocke late begun,
24 hee had by her a gallant sonne.
Queene Guendoline was greeued in m[i]nde
to see the King was altered soe ;
att leng'ht the cause shee chanct to ffind,
28 which, brought her to much bitter woe.
ffor Estrilde was his ioy, god wott,
by whom a daughter hee begott. 3
The duke of cornewall being dead,
32 the ffather of that gallant queene 4 ;
the King by lust being ouer-ledd,
his lawfFull wiffe hee cast of cleane,
who with her deare and tender sonne
36 for succour did to cornewall turne.
Then Locrine crowned Estrild bright,
& made of her his lawfull wiffe ;
with her ■which was his harts delight,
40 he thought to lead a pleasant liffe.
thus Guendoline, as once 5 fforlorne,
was of her husband held in scorne.
1 Wace puts her into a deep cellar,
and keeps her there seven years :
Par nn, son hon familier,
Fist a Londre faire un celier,
Desos terre parfondement ;
La fu Estril Lien longement :
Set ans la tint issi Loerin
Ccleement el sosterin. — Brut, i. 68-9.
'■ There is a tag at the end in the MS.
an s. — F.
Taut i ala et conversa
Qu' Eslril une fille enfanta.
Abren ot nom, mult par fu clere
El plus bile qu' Estril sa mere
Qui in ill t fu heir el avcnant.
Wace, Romans </< Brut, i. <>'.». 1. 1 135—9.
like
3
(ed. le Eoux de Lincy, Paris, 1836).
We have been already assured, at p. 66,
that Estril's match could not then be
found :
mult par fu bele;
Ne peust, ou nol liu trover
Plus bele de li, ne sa per.
4 He was Corineus, the Trojan chief,
who slew the king of tho giants, Gog-
gamog, that was, men say, about four ami
twenty feet long. E. Glo'ster, i. 22. It
should be remembered of England, thai
in those days "in this island were
giants ; no other people dwelt (lure"
(Wacc,\. 51).— F.
5 one, Al. Ed.— P.
KINGE HUMBEK.
4:5!)
But when the cornish men did know
44 the great abuse ' shee did endure,
with her a number great did goe,
w7«'ch shee by prayers did procure.
in battell 2 then they marcht alonge
48 for to redresse this greeuous wronge,
The Cornish
men resolve
to avenge
Gwendoline.
52
And neere a riuer called store 3 They attack
Locrin,
the Kmg with all his host shee mett,
where both the armyes fought full sore,
[but then the qu]eene the feild did gett ; defeat him >
yett ere they did the conquest ga[i]ne, [page 50i]
the ~King was with an arrow slaine. and km him.
Then Guendoline did take in hand —
5G vntill her sonne was come to age —
the gouer[n]ment of all the Land ;
& that great ffury to as wage,
shee did command he[r] 4 souldiers wild
60 to drowne both Estrill & her child.
Guendoline
orders
Estrilde and
her girl to
be drowned.
G4
Incontinent then did they bringe
ffaire Estrild to the riuers syde,
& Sabrine, daughter to a Kinge,
whom Guendoline cold not abyde ;
who, being bound together ffast,
into the riuer they were cast.
Estrilde and
her daughter
Sabrine
are cast into
the river,
1 A stroke between the s and c in the
MS.— F. abuse— P.
2 column, military formation. — F.
3 La3;imon's account (ed. Madden, i.
104-5) is:
MS. Cott. Calig. A. ix.
& heo to gadero comera '.
vppen ane watere.
bat watere oatte Stoure!
bat t'cilit was swiSe Btwrne,
inne Dorsete f
Lorrin dealS kolede.
MS. Cott. Otho, C. viii.
and hii to gadere comen i
vppen one watere.
Jj;it hatte Steure '.
bat fdit was swibe sturne.
inc Dorsete!
Locrin deab bolcde.
her al. id.— P.
440
KINGE HUMBER.
which has
since been
called
Severn ,
because
Sabrine
was drowned
there.
And euer since that riming streame
68 wherin these Ladyes drowned were,
is called Seuerne tliroughe the realme,
because that Sabrine dyed there. 1
thus 2 they that did to lewdnesse bend,
72 were brought vnto a wofull end. limiS.
1 La3amon (cd. Madden i. 105) says:
ba hehte heo [Gvendolcine] ane heste . .
bat me sculde bat ilke water f
ber Abren was adrunken.
elepien hit Auren !
for baune mseidene Abren.
& for Locrines lufe '.
be wes hire kine louerd.
bo het 3eo one heste.
bat me solde bat ilk water '.
bar Abren was a-dronke.
cleopie hit Auren !
for fan maide Abrew.
Ou this passage Sir F. Madden remarks,
iii. 313:
" La3amon has here strictly adhered to
the text of Wace, as we find it in the
Cotton MS.
Puis fut l'ewe u ele fut jetee,
Del nom Abren Avren apelee ;
Avren, ke de Abren son nom prent,
A Criste-cherche en mer descent. — f. 28*
" It is very evident that by Auren or
Avren the river Avon is intended, which,
after being joined by the Stour, falls into
the sea at Christchurch. So far all is
intelligible enough; but in the printed
text of Wace, for Criste-cherche is absurdly
read Circecestre, which the editor at once
declares to be Cirencester in Gloucester-
shire, and interprets Avren to be the
Severn. The latter error, however, is of
ancient date, and is found in the text of
Geoffrey, who writes, ' Jubet enim Es-
trildem et filiam ejus Sabren prrccipitari
in fluvium qui nunc Sahria dicitur.
Unde contigit quod usque in hunc diem
appellatum est flumen Britannica lingua
Sabren [Havreri], quod per corruption em
nominis alia lingua Sabrina vocatur,' lib.
ii. c. 5. He is followed in this by the
Welsh translations, by the anonymous
author of the metrical Anglo-Norman
Brut, in MS. Keg. 13 A. xxi. f. 45? c, 1,
by Robert of Gloucester, vol. i. p. 27, and
by Robert of Brunne : —
Scho did take faire Estrilde,
& Sabren, th' was hir childe,
& did tham in a water cast,
The name for tham is rotefast.
Seuerne it hate for the child Sabren,
For th 1 childe the name we ken.
/. 13»c. 1."
Ebren is the name of one of the
daughters of Ebroc. (Wace i. 76, 1.
1596).— F.
2 MS. this.— F.
441
Copies of this ballad occur in Thomas Deloney's Garland of
Good Will (reprinted by the Percy Society), in the Collection of
Old Ballads, in the Roxburghe Collection, in the Bagford, in the
Reliques (from the Editor's ancient folio MS. collated with
another in black-letter in the Pepys Collection intitled " An
excellent Ballad of a prince of England's courtship to the King
of France's daughter &c. To the tune of Crimson Velvet,") in
Eitson's Ancient Songs, in Child's English and Scotch Ballads
from the Percy Society reprint of the Garland of Good Will.
The story of this ballad (says Percy in his introduction to his
" repaired " copy) seems to be taken from an incident in the domestic
history of Charles the Bald King of France. His daughter Judith was
betrothed to Ethelwulf King of England : but before the marriage was
consummated, Ethelwulf died, and she returned to France ; whence
she was carried off by Baldwyn, Forester of Flanders ; who after many
crosses and difficulties, at length obtained the King's consent to their
marriage, and was made Earl of Flanders. This happened about
A.D. 863. See Rapin, Henault, and the French historians.
This may be the historical basis of the ballad. A strange
edifice is built upon it.
Judith was formally married to Ethelwulf, with her fathr's
full consent.
In his return [Ethelwulf s return from his second visit to Rome]
(says Lingard), he again visited the French monarch, and after a
1 In ihd printed Collection of Old Prince was disasferonly slain, and the
Ballads 1727. Vol. i. p. 182. No. xxiii. aforesaid Princess was afterwards mar-
— P. There the long lines of our copy ried to a Forrester." To the tune of
are printed in two, and the Dallaii is Crimson Velvet, The Clarendon corn-
entitled "An Kxcelli-nt liallad of a mas in our text are for the heavy
Prince of England! s Courtship to the commas of the MS., meant for metrical
King of Frances Daughter, and how the points or Lars. — F.
442 IN THE DAYES OF OLDE.
courtship of three months was married to his daughter Judith, who
probably had not reached her twelfth year. The ceremony was
performed by Hincmar, Archbishop of Reims. At the conclusion
the princess was crowned and seated on a throne by the side of her
husband, a distinction which she afterwards claimed, to the great
displeasure of the West Saxons.
And on his return homewards (say some texts of the Saxon
Chronicle) he took to [wife] the daughter of Charles King of the
French, whose name was Judith, and he came home safe. And then
in about two years he died, and his body lies at Winchester.
(Stevenson's Church Historians of England.)
After this period [his second visit to Rome] (says Asser), he
returned to his own country, bringing with him as a bride Juditha,
daughter of Charles the King of the Franks. . . . He also commanded
Judith, the daughter of King Charles, whom he had received from
her father, to sit by his side on the royal throne ; and this was done
without any hostility or objection from his nobles even to the end
of his life, in defiance of the perverse custom of that nation. . . .
King iEtbulwulf, then, lived two years after his return from Rome,
during which, among many other useful pursuits of the present life,
in the prospect of his going the way of all flesh, that his sons might
not engage in unseendy disputes after their father's death, he com-
manded a will, or rather a letter of instructions, to be written, &c. &c.
After the demise of Ethelwulf, the young widow was married
by Ethelbert the son, who immediately succeeded him on the
throne.
This incestuous connection (says Lingard) scandalised the people
of Wessex ; their disapprobation was publicly and loudly expressed ;
and the King, overawed by the remonstrances of the Bishop of
Winchester, consented to a separation. . . .
Judith, unwilling to remain in a countiy which had witnessed her
disgrace, sold her lands, the dower she had received from Ethelwulf,
and returned to the court of her father. Charles, who dared not
trust the discretion of his daughter, ordered her to be confined within
the walls of Senlis, but to be treated at the same time with the
respect due to a queen. The cunning of Judith was, however, more
than a match for the vigilance of her guards. By the connivance of
her brother she eloped in disguise with Baldwin, great forester of
France, and the fugitives were soon beyond the reach of royal resent-
IN THE DATES OF OLDE. 443
ment. The King prevailed on his bishops to excommunicate Baldwin
for having forcibly cai-ried off a widow, but the Pope disapproved of
the sentence, and at his entreaty Charles gave a reluctant consent to
their marriage, though neither he nor Archbishop Hincmar could be
induced to assist at the ceremony. They lived in great magnificence
in Flanders, the earldom of which was bestowed on them by the King ;
and from their union descended Matilda, the wife of William the
Conqueror, who gave to England a long race of sovereigns.
See Palgrave's History of Normandy.
The first part of the poem then — that containing the dismal
end of the English prince — is purely fictitious. The marriage
brought about in the latter part, and the reconciliation at last
effected between the French King and his daughter, are historical
facts.
The metre is notable. The piece was sung, as we have seen,
to the tune of Crimson Velvet. Could it have given the name
originally to that time ? The Queen is described in v. iii, when
she is awaiting the coming of the King her father, as " richly clad
in fair crimson velvet." This tune, says Mr. Collier, in his Rox-
burghe Ballads, was " highly popular in the reigns of Elizabeth
and her successor." "Amongst the ballads that were sung to it,"
adds Mr. Chappell in his Popular Music, "is 'The lamentable
complaint of Queen Mary, for the unkind departure of King
Philip, in whose absence she fell sick and died' — and 'Constance
of Cleveland.'"
IN : the dayes of old, when faire ffrance did flourish, in days of
storyes plaine haue ' told, louers felt annoye.
the "King a daughter had, bewtyous, bright, & a French
King bad a
louelye, 2 lovely
daughter,
4 which made her ffathcr glad, shee was his onlye
ioye.
1 plainly. — O.B. 2 fair and comely. — O.B.
444
IN THE DAYES OF OLDE.
whom an
English
Prince
wooed
and won.
This made
her father
angry,
A prince of 1 England came, whose deeds did merit
fame ;
lie woed he[r] long, & loe, att last,
looke 2 what he did requ[i]re, shee granted his de-
sire ;
8 their harts in one were linked ffast:
which, when her ffather proued, luord ! how he was
moued
& tormented in his minde !
he sought pro 3 to preuent them, and to discontent
them,
12 fortune crossed louers kind.
and lie
forbade
their
meeting.
The Lady
packed up
her jewels,
and went,
poorly
dressed,
to meet her
lover
in a forest.
But while he
was waiting
outlaws
robbed and
stabbed him
mortally.
When these princes twaine, were thus debarred of 4
plesure
through the Kings disdaine, which, their ioyes w/th-
stoode,
the It&clye gott 5 vp close, her iewells & her treasure.
10 hauing no remorse of state or royall bloode,
in homelye poore array shee went ffroni court away
to meete her ioy 6 & harts delight,
who in a fforrest great, had taken vp his seate
20 to wayt her cominge in the night.
but see 7 what sudden danger, to this princly stranger
chanced, as he sate 8 alone :
by outlawes bee was robbed, & with ponyards 9
stabbedd,
24 vttering many a dying grone.
The Prin-
cess, uncon-
scious,
The princesse armed by him, and by true desire,
wandring all the night w/thout dreat 10 att all,
still vnknowne shee past, in her strange attyre
23 coming att the last, in the n Ecohes call,
1 from— O.B.
« Look.— 0.13.
3 for.— O.B.
' barr'd of.— O.B.
5 lock'd.— O.B.
8 Love.— O.B.
' lo.— O.B.
B Set,— O.B.
■' a Poniard.— O.B.
'" Dread. 0.1S.
11 Within.— O B.
IN THE DAYES OF OLDE.
445
thanks the
woods for
harbouring
her love,
"you ffaire woods," quoth, slice, "honored may you
bee !
harbouring my harts delight,
vrhich doth compasse l heere, my ioy & onlye deere,
32 my trustye ffreind & comelye KniijJtt.
sweete, I come vnto thee, sweete, I come to woo thee, and promises
that thou maist not angrye bee.
for my long delaying, & thy - curteous staying, to make him
amends for
36 amends ffor all He make to thee 3 ! " his waiting.
Passing thus alone through the silent forrest,
many greeuous grones, 4 sounded in her eares, 5
Avbere shee heard a man to lament the sorest
40 that was euer seene, 6 floret by deadlye teares 7 :
" flarwell my deere," qiioth hee, " whom I must 8
neuer 9 see !
ffbr why, my liffe is att an end !
through villanes crueltye, lo 10 ! heere for thee I dye u !
44 to show I am a ffaith[f]ull ffreind,
there 12 I lye a 13 bleeding, while my thoughts are
feedinge
on thy u rarest bewtye ffound.
hard hap that may bee, litle knowes my Ladye
48 my harts blood Lyes on the ground ! "
Then she
hears
groans,
a lover
lamenting,
bidding
farewell
to his
beautiful
love,
W/th that he "-aue a p-rone, w7;/ch 15 did burst in sunder 16 [page 502]
O o » and then
all the tender strings of his bleedinge l7 hart. dying,
shee, which 18 knew bis voice, att his tale did wonder : she knows
52 all her former ioy, 19 did to greeffe conuert. v,',i ce ,
1 encompass. — O.B.
1 One stroke too many to the y —
3 make thee. — O.B.
1 Many a. grievous Groan. — O.B.
« Ear.— o.B.
6 Chance that over came. — O.B.
' Strife.— O.B.
8 shall.— 0.1 !.
;l ISIS, meuer. — F.
10 MS. to.— F.
11 For thy sweet sake I dye,
Through Villians Cruelty.
'■-' Here. -O.B.
,3 O.B. omits «.— F.
" the.— O.B.
15 that.— O.B.
Ui break asunder. — O.B.
17 gentle.— O.B.
Is who. O.B.
10 Joys.— O.B.
-O.B.
446
IN THE DAYES OF OLDE.
runs to him,
and finds
him dead.
She cries
and exclaims,
Would God
I had died
for thee !
She kisses
him,
wipes the
blood from
him with
her golden
hair, and
prays him
for one word
of comfort.
Alas! in
vain.
She mourns
till the day
comes,
and then
resolves
not to
return to
court,
but to seek
service
somewhere.
straight shee ran to see, who this man shol[d] ' be
that soe like her lone did speake,
& found, when as shee came, her lonely LortZ lay
slaine,
56 all 2 smeared in blood wh ich liffe did breake.
when this deed shee spyed, 3 Lore?, how sore shee
cryed !
her sorrow cannott 4 counted bee.
her eyes like fountaines runinge, while shee cryed out,
" my darli[ng !] 5
60 wold god that I had dyed for thee ! "
His pale lipps, alas, 20 times shee kissed,
& his fface did washe, w/th her trickling 6 teares,
euery bleeding wound, her faire eyes 7 bedewed,
64 wipinge of the blood, with her golden haires.
"speake, faire 8 loue ! " quoth, shee, "speake, faire 9
prince, to me !
one sweete word of comfort giue !
lifet vp thy fayre eyes, listen to my cryes !
68 thinke in what great greeffe I liue ! "
all in vaine shee sewed, all in vaine shee vewed, 10
the princesse Xl liffe was dead l2 and gone,
there stood shee still mourning, vntill l3 the sunns l4
approching, 15
72 & bright day was coming on.
" In this great 16 distresse," quoth, this royall Ladye,
" who can now expre[s], what will become of mc ?
to my ffathers court will I neuer 17 wander,
76 but some service seeke where I may placed bee."
1 might.— O.B.
2 0.13. omits All— F.
s Which when that she espyed. — O.B.
4 could not.— O.B.
s Query the MS. The a or ar is
blotched, and the g and half the n pared
away. — F.
" brinish.— O.B. ■ face.— O.B.
8 my.— O.B.
10 wooed.— O.B.
11 Prince's.— O.B.
12 iled.— O.B.
13 Till.— O.B.
" sums in the MS.— F.
15 returning;. — P.
17 Never will I.— O.B.
" dear.— O.B.
16 sad.— O.B.
IN THE DAYES OF OLDE. 447
& l thus shee made her mone, weeping all alone, »
all in dread 2 and deadlye ffeare.
A fforrester all in greene, most comely to be seene, a forester
80 ranging the woods, 3 did ffind her there,
round besett with sorrow, " maid, 4 " cjnoth [he, 5 ] " god accosts her.
morrowe !
what hard hap hath brought you heere ? "
" harder happ did neuer, chance vnto 6 maiden euer. Sheteiis
rx _ ' him
84 heere lyes slaine my brother deere ! h «" brother
^ * lies slain,
" where might I be placed, gentle forster, tell mee, and asks
m him
where shall 7 I procure a service in my neede '? where she
A •* can get
paines I will 8 not spare, but will doe my dutye ; tak,n int °
SGI \ lCt •
88 ease mee of my care, helpe my extreme neede ! "
the fforrester all amazed, att 9 her bewtye gazed The forester
till his hart was sett on ffire : Mis ™ i°ve
with her,
" if, ffaire mayd," quoth hee, " you will goe with mee,
92 you shall haue your harts desire."
he brought her to his mother, & aboue all other takes her
to his
he sett fforth this maydens praise. mother,
long; was his hart inflamed, att last 10 her loue he gains her
° ' love,
gained :
90 thus did fortune u his glory raise;
Thus vnknowen he macht, with a 12 Kmos ffaire .and so
marries a
children 7 shee 13 had ere shee told the same." she bears
II 1 111 seven
but when he vnderstood, shee was a royall princesse,
100 by this meanes att last, hee shewed forth her i;
fame :
children,
and i lien
tells him
who she is.
Whilst.— O.B. ■ On.— O.B.
In this deep.— O.B. I0 length.— O.B.
wood.— O.B. " So Fortune did.— O.B.
Fair Maid.— O.B. ,2 the.— O.B.
quoth he.— P. & O.B. ''< he.— O.B.
to. — O.B. " to him was known. — O.B.
might.— O.B. ,3 ? MS. ther with the t blotched out.
will I.— O.B. — F. her.— O.B.
448
IN THE DAYES OF OLDE.
He dfesses
his children
in cloth of
gold on the
left side,
wool on tho
right.
The King
of France
comes
to the forest
to hnnt,
he clothed his children then, not like to other men,
in p«rtye conlors strange to see ;
the left l side, cloth of gold ; the right 2 side, now 3
behold,
104 of wollen cloth still fframed hee.
men heratt 4 did wonder, golden fame did thunder 5
this strange deede in euery place.
the Km<7 of ffrance came thither, being pleasan[t] 6
whether,
108 in the 7 woods the harts 8 to chase.
and the
children
are placed in
his way,
with the
mother in
velvet,
the father in
grey.
The King
asks him
how he dares
dress his
wife and
children so.
" Because
their mother
is a prin-
cess,"
The children then 9 did stand, as their father 10 willed,
where the royall K.ing must of force come by,
their mother richly clad, in faire crimson u veluett,
112 their ffather all in gray, comelye 12 to the eye.
then the l3 famous Ki«f/, noting euery thinge,
did aske "how hee durst be soe bold
to let his wiffe to weare, & decke his children the[re,]
116 in costly robes of cloth, of 14 gold."
the fforrester replyed, 15 & the cause descryed ;
to 16 the King thus did hee 17 say :
" well may they by their mother, weare rich gold 18
w<'th other,
120 being by birth a princesse 19 gay."
The King
The Kvng vpon these words, more needfully beheld
them,
till a crimson blush his conceipt did crosse :
» Eight— O.B.
11 MS. crinson. — F.
2 Left.— O.B.
12 Most comely.— O.B.
3 to.— O.B.
13 When this.— O.B.
* thereat— O.B.
11 of Pearl and.— O.B.
6 MS. thinder.— F.
15 boldly reply'd.— O.B.
6 The t is put on by a later hand.
-F.
18 And to.— O.B.
7 these.— O.B.
17 he thus did.— O.B.
h Eart. O.B.
18 Cloaths.— O.B.
:i there.— O.B.
18 Only half the n in the MS.
1,1 Motlior.— O.B.
-F.
IN TIIE DATES OF OLDE.
449
" the more," q?<oth liee, " I looke [ on thy wiffe &
Children,
124 [The more I call to mind the Daughter whom I
lost."] 2
"I am that child," q?«oth shee, falling on her knee ;
" pardon mee, my soueraine leege ! "
the Kmg perceitdng this, did his daughter 3 kisse,
128 & 4 ioyfull teares did stopp his speech.
with his traine he turned, & with them 5 soioumed ;
straight hee dubd her husband knight,
then 6 made him Erie of fflanders, one of his cheefe
com?nanders :
132 thus was his sorrow 7 put to might. ffillis.
says the
mother
must be
his lost
daughter.
[page 503]
She owns
that she is.
He kisses
her,
knights
her husband,
and makes
him Earl of
Flanders.
1 I look, quoth he— O.B.
2 O.B. The line was pared off the
folio by the binder. — F.
3 His Daughter dear did.
-O.B.
* 'Till.— O.B.
s her.— O.B.
6 He.— O.B.
7 were their Sorrows.-
-O.B.
VM|,. III.
G Q
450
Amintas is here chicled for his inconstancy by the unhappy
victim of it, who, having said her say and moaned her moan,
dies. The piece is but commonplace. The allusion to the
name-cutting on the trees will remind the reader of Orlando's
habit, so distasteful to Jacques. Both in the stanza that contains
it and in the preceding one the poet closely imitates the pretty
lines Ovid puts in poor forlorn OZnone's mouth, or rather assigns
to her pen, in his Fifth Heroid :
Incisas servant a te mea nomina fagi,
Et legor (Enone falce notata tua ;
Et quantum trunci, tantum mea nomina crescunt.
Crescite et in titulos surgite recta meos.
Populus est, memini, fluviali consita ripa,
Est in qua nostri litera scripta memor.
Popule, vive precor, quae consita margine ripse
Hoc in rugoso cortice carmen habes :
Quum Paris (Enone poterit spiraro relicta,
Ad fontem Xanthi versa recurret aqua.'
Xanthe, retro propera, versseque recurrite lymphse,
Sustinet (Enonen deseruisse Paris.
One hot day,
Amintas
drove bis
flocks to
water,
and heard
AMINTAS, on a summers day
to shunn Apolloes beames,
went drilling of his fflockes away
to tast some cooling streames.
and through a fforrest as hee went,
neere to a rhier side,
a voice w7i/ch from a groue was sent,
invited him to abyde :
An old Song not inelegant or unpoetical. — P.
AMINTAS.
4.31
A voice well seeming l to bewraye
a discontented mind,
ffor offtentinies I hard liim 2 say,
12 10000 times, " vnkinde ! "
the remnant 3 of this ragged mone
wold not escape my eare
till euery sigh brought fforth a grone,
1G & euery sobb a teare.
But leauing her vnto her-selfe ; —
in sorrowes, sighes, & mone,
I heard a deadly discontent :
20 these 2 brake fforth att one :
" Amintas ! is my loue to thee
of such 4 small account,
that thou disdainest to looke on mee,
24 & loue as thou was wont ?
" How often 5 didest thou protest to me,
' the heauens shold turne to naught,
the sunn shold ffirst obscured bee,
28 ere thou wold change thy thought ! '
but heauens, be you dissolued quite !
sunn, show thy fface no more !
ffor my Amintas, hee is lost,
32 a ! woe 6 is me therffore !
" How oft didst thou ingraue our names,
neere to the rocke of 7 Bay ?
still wishing that our Loue shold haue
36 no worse successe then they.
but they in groues still 1 nippy proue,
& fflourish doc the still,
■whiles I [in 8 ] sorrow doe remaine,
40 still wanting of my will.
complain-
ing,
Oh unkind !
A girl
broke forth
" Amintas!
Why dost
thou disdain
me?
Alas!
Amintas is
lost to me.
I live in
sorrow, and
want my
love.
1 MS. seemimg. — F.
* it.— P.
3 MS. rennant. — F.
' [insert] a. — P.
* oft did'st, as in line 33. — Dyeo.
« All! woe.— P.
7 r>n P.
on.
in.-
-P.
i: Q 2
452
False man,
tlion hast
broken thy
promise,
and left me
alone
to end my
days in
woe."
AMINTAS.
" ffalse, forsworne, & ffathelesse man!
disloyall in thy loue !
thou hast fforgott thy promises,
44 and dost vnconstant proue.
& thou hast [left '] me all alone
in this woefull distresse,
to end my dayes in heauinesse,
48 -which well thou might redresse."
She breathed
her last,
and died for
love.
And then shee sate vpon the ground,
her sorrowes to deplore ;
but after this was neuer seene
52 to sigh nor sobb noe more.
And thus in loue as shee did Hue,
soe ffbr loue shee did dye 2 ;
a ffairer creature neuer man
56 beheld with morttall eye.
ffinis.
1 left.— P.
Shee for her love did.— P.
453
ntitfttge ot Calrs, 1
This ballad, of which another copy is preserved in Deloney's
Garland of Good Will, reprinted by the Percy Society, celebrates
what Macaulay has declared to be " the most brilliant military
exploit that was achieved on the Continent by English arms during
the long interval which elapsed between the battle of Agincourt
and that of Blenheim " (Essay on Lord Bacon). It was undoubtedly
written at the time, as the details are extremely accurate. It
may have been written, as Percy suggests in his Introduction to
his " corrected " Folio version in the Reliques, by some person
concerned in the expedition. Certainly it is eminently authentic.
The vauntings and threatenings of the Spaniards (they were
meditating a second Armada about the year 1596) — the setting
forth from Plymouth under Howard of Effingham (the Lord
Admiral) and the brave impetuous Earl of Essex, as commanders-
in-chief (amongst the other officers were the Lord Thomas Howard,
Sir Walter Raleigh, Sir Francis Vere, Sir Greorge Carew, Sir
Coniers Clifford) — the capturing or burning of the ships beneath
Cadiz — the landing of the soldiery and surrender of the town —
the enormous booty seized — the generous protection by the Earl
of the women and children — the advance to the market-place —
are all historical facts ; of which there are, as Lingard points
out, several accounts by Birch, Camden, Stowe, Strype, Raleigh.
" Never before," says Lingard, " had the Spanish monarch received
so severe a blow. He lost thirteen men of Avar and immense magazines
of provisions and naval stores ; the defences of Cadiz, the strongest
fortress in his dominions, had been razed to the ground ; and the
1 An excellent old ballad: on the Under the Lord Admiral Howard, &
"Winning of Cadiz— on June 2l" 1 1596: Earl of Essex, General. — P.
454
WININGE OF CALES.
secret of his weakness at home had been revealed to the world, at the
same time that the power of England had been raised in the eyes of the
European nations. Even those who wished well to Spain, allotted the
praise of moderation and humanity to the English commanders, who
had suffered no blood to be wantonly spilt, no woman to be defiled,
but had sent under an escort the nuns and females to the port of
St. Mary, and had allowed them to carry away their jewels and
wearing apparel."
"The town of Cales," says Raleigh (a/pud Cayley, i. 272) " was very
rich in merchandise, in plate, and money; many rich prisoners given
to the land commanders, so as that sort are very rich. Some had
prisoners for 16,000 ducats, some for 20,000, some for 10,000, and
beside great houses of merchandise."
[page 504]
The proud
Spaniards
boasted
they'd
conquer us.
.LONG : the proud Spamyareds had van-ted to
quer vs,
threatning l our Country with, flyer & sorde,
often preparing their nauy most sumptuos,
with as great plenty as spaine cold afforde :
duba-dub, dub-a-dub ! thus strikes their drummes.
tanta-ra, ra-ra ! the Englishmen comes !
con-
But Howard
and Essex
To the seas presentlye went our Lord Admirall,
with knights 2 couragyous, & captaines ffull good ;
The Erie of Essex, a prosperous generall,
with him prepared to passe the salt ftloode.
dub a dub &c.
set sail from
Plymouth,
12 Att plimmouth speedilye, tooke they shipp valliantly
brauer shipps neuer weere seene vnder sayle,
With their flay re colours spread, & streamers ore their
hea[d].
now, bragging spanyards, take heede of yo?<r taylc !
16 dub &c.
Ono stroke too few in the MS. — F.
2 Knights.— P.
AYININGE OF CALES. 455
Vnto calcs ' cuninglye came wee most speedylye, and
anchored at
where the "Kings nauye securely did ryde ; Cadiz.
being vpon their backes, pearcing their butts of
sackes,
20 ere any spanyards our coming descryde. dub : &c.
Great was the crying, runing & rydinge, The
Spaniards
which, att that season was made in that place ; hurried to
and fro,
the beacons were ffyered, as need then required ; and lighted
24 to hyde then* great treasure they had litle space. beacons.
There you miedit see then- shipps, how they were fibred we fired
J ° iL ' J their ships,
ffast,
& how their men drowned themselues in the sea : drowned
7 their men,
there might they here them crye, wayle & weepe
piteouslye,
28 when they saw no shifft to scape thence away.
The great Saint Phillipp, the pryde of the Spanyards, sank their
was burnt to the bottom, & sunke in the sea.
but the Saint Andrew & eke the Somt Mathew, and took
their St.
32 wee tooke in flight manfullye, & brought them Andrew.
away.
The Erie of Essex most vallyant and hardy, Essex
w/th horsemen & ffbotmen marched toward the marched
with our
towne. army to the
Ihc spanyards which, saw them, were greatly affrighted,
36 did fliye ffor their sauegard, & durst not come
dow[ne.]
"Now," quoth the Noble Erie, "courage, my soul-
diers all !
flight and be vallyant ! they 2 spoylc you shall liaue,
& [be 3 ] well rewarded from they 4 great to the Bmall ;
40 but looke that women & Children you saue."
' So they called Cadiz in Queen 2 the. — P. 3 be. P.
Elizabeth's Time— P. * the.— P.
456
WININGE OF CALES.
The
Spaniards
surrendered,
we put our
colours on
their walls,
44
The spanyards att that sight though [t] in vaine twas
to fight,
hunge vpp fflaggs of truce, 1 yeelded the towne.
wee marcht in presentlye, decking the walls on hye
with, our English coulours, -which, purchast renowne.
plundered
their houses,
48
Entring the houses then of the most richest men,
ffor gold & treasure wee serched eche day :
in some places wee did ffind pyes bakeing in the
oue[n],
meate att the Aire rosting, & ffolkes filed away.
and took
their fair
satins and
velvets.
52
fiull of rich merchandize euery shop wee did see,
damaskes, & sattins, & veluetts, fiull ffaire,
which souldiers mesured out by the lenght of their
swo[rds.]
of all comodytyes eche one had a share.
And when
our
prisoners
Thus cales was taken, & our braue generall
marcht to the markett-place where hee did stand ;
there many prisoners of good account were tooke,
56 many craued mercy, & mercy they found. 2
wouldn't
pay their
ransom,
we burnt
their town
and marcht
away.
GO
When our braue general! saw they delayed time,
& wold not ransome their towne, as they said;
with their faire wainescotts, their presses & bedstecds,
their ioyned stooles & tables, a ffire were made.
& when the towne burned all in a fiiame,
with ta-ra, tan-ta-ra, away wee came ! ffinis.
[insert] &.— P.
2 fami'd, Rhythmi gratia,— P.
457
e&foarti t&e tbirtu 1
Copies of this ballad occur in the Garland of Good Will, the Col-
lection of Old Ballads. In Halliwell's Descriptive Notices of
Popular English Histories, Percy Soc. 1848, No. 63 is " The
Story of King Edward III. and the Countess of Salisbury,
12 mo. Whitehaven, n. d. This is a small prose history; and there
is one, if not more [than one,] early play on the same subject. A
ballad . . is printed in Evans' Old Ballads, ed. 1810, ii. 301."
This ballad tells how Edward the Third became enamoured of
the Countess of Salisbury, and how the brave lady most excellently
converted him to a better mind.
Chapter lxxvii. of Berners' Cronycle of Froissart narrates
" how the kyng of England was in amours with the Countess of
Salisbury." She receives the king at Wark Castle, and by her
exceeding beauty and grace strikes him "to the hert with a
sparcle of fyne love." He falls into a " gret study." Presently
she " came to the kyng with a mery chere."
She came to the kyng with a mery chere, who was in a gret study,
(and she sayd) dere syr, why do ye study so for, your grace nat
dyspleased, it aparteyneth nat to you so to do : rather ye shulde
make good chere and be ioyfull, seyng ye haue chased away your
enmies, who durst nat abyde you : let other men study for the
remynant ; than the kyng sayd, a, dere lady, knowe for trouthe, that
Byth I entred into the castell, ther is a study co?/ie to my mynde, so
thai I can nat chuse but to muse, nor I can nat tell what shall fall
therof, put it out of my herte I can nat : a sir, quoth the lady, ye
ought aJwayes to make good chere, to confort therwith your peple :
god hath ayded you so in your besynes, and hath gyuen you so great
graces, that ye be the nioste douted and honoured prince in all
christendome, ami if the kyng of scottes haue done you any dyspyte
1 In the printed Collection of old Ballads 172G, Vol. 2, p. 68, N. xi.— P.
458 EDWARD THE THIRD.
or damage, ye may well amende it whan it shall please yon, as ye
hane done dyuerse tymes or this ; sir, leave your musyng and come
into the hall, if it please you, your dyner is all redy ; a, fayre lady,
quoth the kyng : other thynges lyeth at my hert that ye knowe nat"
of : but surely the swete behauyng, the perfyt wysedom, the good
grace, noblenes, and exellent beauty, that I se in you, hath so sore
surprised my hert, that I can nat but loue you, and without your loue
I am but deed : than the lady sayde, a, ryght noble prince, for
goddessake mocke nor tempt me nat : I can nat byleue that it is true
that ye say, nor that so noble a prince as ye be, wold thynke to
dyshonour me, and my lorde, my husbande, who is so valyant a
knight, and hath done your grace so gode seruyce, and as yet
lyethe in prison for your qnarell ; certenly sir, ye shulde in this case
haue but a small prayse, and nothyng the better therby : I had neuer
as yet such a thought in my hert, nor I trust in god neuer shall haue,
for no man lyueng ; if I had any suche intencyon, your grace ought
nat all onely to blame me, but also to punysshe my body, ye and by
true iustice to be disnienibred : therwith the lady departed fro the
kyng, and went into the hall to hast the dyner, than she returned
agayne to the kyng, and broght some of his knyghtes with her, and
sayd, sir, yf it please you to come into the hall, your knightes abideth
for you to wasshe, ye haue ben to long fastyng. Then the kyng went
into the hall and wassht, and sat down amonge his lordes, and the lady
also ; the kyng ete but lytell, he sat sty 11 musyng, and as he durst,
he cast his eyen vpon the lady : of his sadnesse his knyghtes had
maruell, for he was nat acustomed so to be ; some thought it was
bycause the scottes were scaped fro hym. All that day the kyng
taryed ther, and wyst nat what to do : somtjme he ymagined that
honour and trouth defended him to set his hert in such a case, to
dyshonour such a lady, and so true a knyght as her husband was,
who had alwayes well and truely serued hym. On thother part, loue
so constrayned hym, that the power therof surmounted honour and
trouth : thus the kyng debated in hymself all that day, and all that
night ; in the mornyng he arose and dysloged all his boost, and
drewe after the scottes, to chase them out of his realme. Than he
toke leaue of the lady, sayeng, my dere lady, to god I commende you
tyll I returne agayne, requiryng you to aduyse you otherwyse than
ye haue sayd to me : noble prince, quoth the lady, god the father
glorious be your conduct, and put you out of all vylayne thoughtes :
sir, I am, and euer shal be redy to do your grace seruyce to your
honour and to myne ; therwith the kyng departed all abasshed.
EDWARD THE THIRD.
459
Not long afterwards, when the king held his Round Table at
Windsor, his passion was still fervent. Probably this passion
thus entertained by the king about the time when he instituted
the Order of the Garter suggested to the popular mind the
traditional story which professes to explain the name and the
motto of the Order. The earliest occurrence of that story is,
perhaps, in the Anglica Historia of Polydore Vergil ; but he
omits the name of the countess. The tale soon won general
acceptance. There is no historical evidence for it whatever. It
is but a specimen of what may be called vulgar etymology.
The " sleight of fine advice," by which the countess in the
following ballad saves her own and the king's honour, is admira-
bly told.
WHEN : as Edward the 3'- 1 did line, that vallyant
~King,
david of Scottland to rebell did then begin ;
the towne of Barwicke suddenlye fFrom vs he woone,
& burnt Newcastle to the ground : thus strife begun,
to Rose-bury l castle marchet he then,
& by the force of warlicke men
beseiged therin a gallant ffaire Ladye
while that her husband was in ffrance,
his countryes honor to advance,
[The Noble and Famous Earl of Salisbury.] 2
In Edward
III.'s time,
David II. of
Scotland
took
Berwick,
burnt New-
castle,
and besieged
Lady
Salisbury in
Rosebury
Castle.
Braue Sir william Montague rode then in post, 3 [page 5051
12 who declared vnto the K/»^y the Scottishmeushoast; brought to
who like a Lyon in a rage did straight- way prepare and ho' '
ffor to deliuer that wocfull 4 Lady from wofull care, marohnorth,
but when the Scottishmen did heare say on wh \ r]l
10 "Edward our king was comen 5 that day, raise the
1 Roxbury — O.B.
2 0.15. The Line is pared away in the
MS.— F.
3 haste.— O.B.
' fair.— O.B.
come.
O.B.
460
EDWARD THE THIRD.
siege ami
run away,
so that the
Lady
alone meets
Edward.
ITe falls in
love with
her.
She thanks
him for
frightening
her foes.
the raised tlieir seege, & ran away with speede, 1
soe that when he did thither come
with warlike trumpett, ffiffe, & drum,
20 none but a gallant Lady did him meete 2 ;
who 3 when hee did with greedy eyes behold & see,
her peereles bewtye straight 4 inthralld 5 his mai-
estye ;
& euer the longer that he looked, the more hee might,
24 for in her only bewty was his harts delight.
& humbly then vpon her knee
shee thankett his royall maiestye
that he had driuen danger from her gate.
28 " Lady," quoth, he, " stand vp in peace,
although my warr doe now increase."
" Lore?, keepe," quoth, shee, " all hurt ffrom jour
estate 6 ! "
Edward is
sad for love
of the
Countess,
and tells
her he has
been
wronged.
She says,
" Tell me
how,
and I'll
right it."
" Swear
that," says
Edward.
Now is the Kmg ffull sad in soule ; & wott you 7
why;
32 all 8 for the loue of the faire countesse 9 Salsbury.
shee, litle knowing his cause of greefe, did come to see
wherefore his highnesse sate alone soe heauilye :
''I haue bcene wronged, faire dame," q«oth hee,
36 " since I came hither vnto thee."
" no, god forbid, my souerainge ! " shee sayd 10 ;
" if I were worthy for to know
the cause & ground of this jour woe,
40 itt n shold be helpet if itt did Lye in mee. 12 "
" Sweare to performe to me thy words, thou Lady
gay;
to thee the sorrow of my hart I will bewray. 13 "
1 Fear.— O.B.
8 met he there. —
3 whom. — O.B.
1 <li,l. — O.B.
• i nthrall.— O.B.
,; State.— O.B.
O.B.
7 wots not. — O.B.
8 And.— O.B.
9 Countess Of.— O.B.
10 said she.— O.B.
11 You.— O.B.
12 thy Word to me.— O.B.
13 betray.— O.B.
EDWARD THE TIIIRD. 461
" I sweare by all the Sormts in heauen I will," qwoth she swears,
shee,
44 " & lett my Lord liaue no mistrust at all in me."
" Then take thy selfe asyde," he sayd ; and the
quoth hee, 1 "thy bewtye hath betray d "Youharo
& wounded 2 a \ing w/th thy bright shining eye ; me ;
48 if thou doe then some mercy show, , snow me
thou shalt expell a princes woe ; mercy, or
soe shall I liue, or else in sorrow dye." I shall die."
"you haue you[r] wish, my souemne Lore?, effect-
ual lye :
52 take all the loue 3 that I may 4 giue yo?tr maiestye." "igiye
J & J J you all the
" but in 5 thy bewtye all my woes 6 haue their abode." love l ma x"
" take then 7 my bewtye from my face, my gracyous
LorfZ."
" didst thou not sweare to grant my will ? " " But .grant
° J my will,
56 " all 8 that I may, I will fulfill."
" then 9 for my loue let thy 10 true loue be scene." love me,"
says the
" my Lore?, yo«r speech I might reproue ; King,
you cannott giue to me yo?tr loue,
60 ffor that alone u belongs vnto yo«r queene :
" But I suppose yowr grace did this onlye to trye « You are
whether a wanton tale might tempt Dame SALSB?m/e; tempt me,"
Nor 12 ffrom yo?(r selfe therfore, my leege, my stepps Salisbury.
" I go from
doe stray, your tempt-
i i t ' n 2 talk."
64 but from yo«r tempting wanton 13 tale I goe my way."
" O turne againe, thou 14 Lady bright !
come vnto me, my hartcs delight !
1 For why.— O.B. 8 O.B. omits all.— F.
2 Wounding.— O.B. ° All then.— O.B.
3 Leave.— O.B. '" my.— O.B.
4 can. — O.B. " O.B. omits alone. — F.
5 on.— O.B. '- Not.— O.B.
6 Joys. — O.B. ' 3 wanton tempting. — O.B.
7 thou.— O.B. " my.— O.B.
462
EDWARD THE THIRD.
Lord
Warwick,
the
Countess's
father,
asks Edward
why he is
grieved.
" I adore
your
daughter."
" I'll per-
suade her to
yield to
you."
Warwick
meets his
daughter,
tells her the
King is
[page 506]
dying for
her love,
and urges
her to grant
it.
gone is the comfort of my pensiue hart.
68 heere comes the Erie of warwicke, hee
the father of this faire Ladye ;
my mind to him I meane for to impart."
" why is my ~hord & soueraine l soe greened in mind ? "
72 " becanse that I hane lost the thing I cannott find."
" what thing is that, my gracyons LorcZ, that 2 you
haue lost ? "
" itt is my heart, w7ii'ch. is neare dead twixt 3 ffire &
frost."
" enrst be the 4 ffire, & ffrost too,
76 that canseth s this jour hynesse woe ! "
" O warwicke ! thou dost wrong me wonderous 6 sore.
It is thy daughter, Noble Erie ;
that heauen-bright lampe, that peereles pearle,
80 -which kills my hart ; yett I doe 7 her adore."
" If that be all, my gracyous [Lord,] 8 that workes
jour greefe,
I will perswade the scornefull dame to yeelde releefe.
neuer shall shee my daughter be if slice refuse ;
84 the loue & ffauor of a king may her excuse."
thus why lye 9 warwicke went his way, 10
& quite contrary he did say
when as hee did the bewtyous countesse meete :
88 "well mett, my daugheter deere, 11 " quoth hee,
" a message I must doe to thee :
our royall 'King most kindlye [doth thee greete ; ]
The Kmg will dye vnlesse to him thou grant 12 thy
loue."
92 "to loue the King, my husbands loue I shall 13 remoue."
1 Sovereign King. — O.B.
2 Which.— O.B.
8 Betwixt.— O.B.
' that,— O.B.
5 caused. — O.B.
s King.— O.B.
very.
-O.B.
» do I.— O.B.
wise. — O.B.
10 away.— O.B.
11 then.— O.B.
12 less thou to him Do grant. — O.B.
13 must.— O.B.
EDWARD THE THIRD. 463
" It is right chary tye to loue, my daughter deere."
"but not l true loue, soe 2 chary table to 3 appearc."
" his greatnesse may beare out the blame. 4 " she refuses :
96 " but his kingdome cannott buy out the shame. 5 "
" he craues thy loue that may bereaue thy liffe ;
itt is my duty to urge thee this 6 ! " she win be
" but not my 7 honestye to yeeld, I- wis ; true to her
husband.
100 I meane to dye a true vnspotted wiffe."
" Now hast thou spoken, my daughter deere, as I Warwick
approves her
wold hatl[e] ; answer:
chastity beares a golden name vnto her 8 graue ;
& when vnto 9 thy wedded hord thouproues vntrue,
104 then lett my bitter cursses still thy soule pursue. would curse
J J x her if she
then w*'th a smiling cheere goe thou, were untrue.
as right & reason doth allowe,
yett show the ~King thou bearest no strumpetts she must
show the
minde." King she's
no strumpet.
108 "I goe, deere ffather, with 10 a trice ;
& with 1 1 a sleight of nine deuice she says
° shell
He cause the Kmq 12 conffesse that I am kind. 13 " bring him
J round.
" Heere comes the Lady of my liffe ! " the Kmg did
say.
112 "my ffather bidds me, soueraigne Lore?, yo«r will
obay,
and I consent if you will grant one boone to mec." 1!"^"*
" I grant itt thee, my Lady ffaire, what-ere itt bee ! " ^5d fa^him
" my husband is aliue, you know ; her kill her
116 ffirst lett mec kill him ere I goe,
lni-liaml.
i no.— O.B. 2 O.B. omits soe.— F. 8 the.— O.B.
3 For to.— O.B. " to. O.B.
1 Shame. O.B. "' in.— O.B.
■ Blame.— O.B. " by.— O.B.
" move this. O.B. '-' King to. aB.
i thy. — O.B. '• confess I'm not unkind. O.B.
464
EDWARD THE THIRD.
" But he is
in France."
" No, in my
breast:"
120
& att your commande ffor euer will I bee ' ! '
" thy husband now in ffrance doth rest."
" noe, noe ! hee lyes within my brest ;
& being soe nye, 2 hee will my ffalshoode see.
and she tries
to stab
herself.
The King
says she
shan't do it.
" Then I'll
not lie with
you."
" No, live on
in honour
with your
Lord!
I'll trouble
you no
more."
with, that shee started ffrom the King, & tooke her
kniffe,
& desperattly shee thought to rydd her selfe of liffe.
the King vpstarted 3 ffrom his chayre her hand to
stay:
124 " noble King, you haue broke your word with me
this day."
" thou shalt not doe this deed," quoth hee.
" then will I neuer 4 lye with thee."
" now Hue thou 5 still, & lett me beare the blame ;
128 Hue thou 6 in honour & in 6 high estate
with thy true LorcZ & wedded mate !
I will neuer 7 attempt this suite againe." ffinis.
1 I will ever be. — O.B.
2 MS. mye.— F.
3 he started.— O.B.
4 never will I. — O.B.
5 No ; then live.— O.B.
6 O.B. omits thou and in.
7 never will. — O.B.
465
Ste ytt cam* tvom t\)t Jjolpe
This piece occurs also in the Garland of Good Will, reprinted
by the Percy Society ; from which reprint Prof. Child draws the
version he gives in his collection. The copy given in the Reliques
was communicated to the editor by the late Mr. Shenstone, as
corrected by him from an ancient copy, and supplied with a con-
cluding stanza. Shenstone's edition differs not materially from
the following one from the Folio except in this said concluding
stanza, which is this :
But true love is a lasting fire
Which viewless vestals tend,
That burnes for ever in the soule
And knowes nor change nor end.
A note considerately instructs the reader that by " viewless
vestals" is meant "angels"! What a shocking discord the phrase
makes ! It has about the same effect as if you should add to the
costume of a gentleman of Queen Elizabeth's time one of Lincoln
and Bennett's newest and silkiest hats !
A lover growing or grown old, it would seem, has been left in
the lurch by the object of his affections. As all the world
thronged to Walsingham, the lover supposes that she too must
have gone that way ; and meeting a pilgrim returning from that
English Holy Land, asks him if he has seen anything of her run-
away ladyship. The lover, having described how his true and
untrue love may be known from many another one, learns that
she has been met making for Walsingham ; and then, asked why
she has deserted him, explains that, though she once loved him,
she has lost her love now he waxes old, and generally, that a
VOL. III. n n
466 AS TEE CAME FROM THE HOLYE.
woman's love is ever capricious and veering ; whereas the
genuine passion
is a durable fire
In the mind ever burning,
Ever sick, never dead, never cold,
From itself never turning.
The Pilgrimage to Walsingham, says Percy, "suggested the
plan of many popular pieces. In the Pepys collection, vol. i.
p. 226, is a kind of Interlude in the old ballad style, of which the
first stanza alone is worth reprinting :
As I went to Walsingham,
To the shrine with speede,
Met I with a jolly palmer
In a pilgrimes weede.
"Now God you save, you jolly palmer!"
"Welcome, lady gay,
Oft have I sued to thee for love."
" Oft have I said you nay."
" The pilgrimages undertaken on pretence of religion were
often productive of affairs of gallantry, and led the votaries to no
other shrine than that of Venus.
" The following ballad was once very popular ; it is quoted in
Fletcher's 1 Knight of the Burning Pestle, Act II. sc. ult.; and in
another old play called Hans Beer-pot, his Invisible Comedy, &c.
Act I. 4to. 1618."
Of the tune of Walsingham, Mr. Chappell observes : " This
tune is in Queen Elizabeth's and Lady Neville's Virginal Books
(with thirty variations by Dr. John Bull), in Anthony Holborne's
Cittham Schools, 1597, in Barley's New Book of Tablature, 1596,
&c. It is called 'Walsingham,' 'Here with you to Walsingham,'
and 'As I went to Walsingham.' It belongs, in all probability, to
an earlier reign, as the Priory of Walsingham in Norfolk, which
was founded during the episcopate of William Bishop of Norwich
(1146 to 1174), was dissolved in 1538. Pilgrimages to this once
1 It is by no means certain that position of The Knight of the Burning
Beaumont bad not a share in the com- Pestle. — Dyce.
AS YEE CAME FROM THE HOLYE. 467
famous shrine commenced in or before the reign of Henry III.,
who was there in 1241; Edward I. was at Walsingham in 1280,
and again in 1296, and Edward II. in 1315. The author of the
Vision of Piers Ploughman says,
Heremytes on a hepe with hooked staves
Wenten to Walsingham, and her (their) wenches after.
" Henry VII. having kept his Christmas of 1436-7 at Norwich,
from thence went in manner of pilgrimage to Walsingham, where
lie visited Our Lady's Church, famous for miracles; and made
his prayers and vows for help and deliverance; and in the fol-
lowing summer, after the battle of Stoke, he sent his banner to
be offered to our Lady of Walsingham, where before he made
his vows.
" In The Weakest goes to the Wall, 1600, the scene being laid in
Burgundy, the following lines are given:
King Richard's gone to Walsingham, to the Holy Land,
To kill Turk and Saracen, that the truth do withstand,
Christ his cross be his good speed, Christ his foes to quell
Send him help in time of need, and to come home well.
"In Nashe's 'Have with you to Saffron-Walden,' 1596, sign.
L, ' As I went to Walsingham ' is quoted, which is the first line
of the ballad in the Pepysian collection, vol. i. p. 226.
" One of the Psalmes and Songs of Sion, turned into the
language and set to the tunes of a strange land, 1642, is to the
tune of Walsingham; and Osborne, in his Traditional Memoirs
in the reigns of Elizabeth and James, 1653, speaking of the
Earl of Salisbury, says :
Many a hornpipe he tuned to his Thillis,
Ami sweetly sung Walsingham to 's Amaryllis.
"In Don Quixote, translated by J. Phillips, 1688, p. 273, he
says : 'An infinite number of little birds, with painted wings of
various colours hopping from branch to branch, all naturally
sinking 'Walsingham ' and whistling 'John come kiss me now.'"
Perhaps the most interesting picture of this once popular resort
H n 2
4G8 AS YEE CAME FROM THE JIOLYE.
of the people of all nations is drawn by Erasmus in his colloquy
between Menedemus and Ogygius, entitled Peregrinatio Reli-
gionis ergo. Ogygius, it seems, had been missing for sometime,
fur some six months, and had been given out for dead. But at
last, to the surprise of his friend and neighbour Menedemus, he
turns up and accounts for his eclipse. " Visi," he says, " divuni
Jacobum Compostellanum, et hinc reversus Virginem Paratha-
lassiam apud Anglos percelebrem ; quin potius hanc revisi, nam
ante annos tres inviseram." "Animi gratia ut arbitror," suggests
Menedemus. "Imo religionis causa," rejoins the other. "De
Jacobo frequenter audivi," presently says the stay-at-home; "sed
obsecro te describe milii legnum istius Parathalassiae." And then
follows a long gossiping account of the buildings, the relics, the
traditions, the miracles appertaining to the famous spot ; which, for
the curious details it furnishes, and the dry humour with which
these are accepted by the less enthusiastic Menedemus, is well
worth reading. The pilgrim sees " Sacellum prodigiis plenum."
'• Eo me confero," he says. " Excipit alius mystagogus. Illic
oravimus paulisper. Mox exhibetur nobis articulus humani digiti,
e tribus maximi ; exosculor: deinde rogo cujus sint reliquiae.
Ait, Sancti Petri. Nam Apostoli, inquam ? Aiebat. Deinde
contemplans magnitudinem articuli, qui gigantis videri potuerit :
Oportuit, inquam, Petrum fuisse virum praegrandi corpore. Ad
hanc vocem e comitibus quidam in cachinnum solutus est ; id
certe moleste tuli. Nam si is siluisset, aedituus nos nihil celasset
reliquorum. Eum tamen utcunque placavimus, datis aliquot
drachmis. Ante aediculam erat tectum, quod aiebat hiberno tem-
pore, cum nix obtexisset omnia, eo subito fuisse delatum e longi-
quo. Sub eo tecto putei duo ad summum pleni ; fontis venam
aiunt esse, sacram divae Virgini ; liquor est mire frigidus, efficax
medicando capitis stomachique doloribus.
"Me. Si frigida medetur doloribus capitis et stomachi, posthac
et oleum extinguet incendium.
AS YEE CAME FROM THE HOLYE. 469
" Og. Miraculum audis, 6 bone : alioqui quid esset miraculi, si
frigida sedaret sitim ?
" Me. Et ista sane est una pars fabulse.
" Og. Affirmabant, eum fontem derepente prosiliasse e terra
jussu Sanctissimae Virginia. Ego cuncta diligenter circumspiciens
rogabam quot essent anni quod ea domuncula fuisset eo depor-
tata; dixit aliquot secula. Alioqui parietes, inquam, non pra3 se
ferunt aliquid vetustatis. Non repugnabat. Ne columna? quidem
ha? ligneoe : non negabat esse nuper positas et res ipsa loquebatur.
Deinde hsec, inquam, tecti culraea arundineaque materia videtur
esse recentior. Assentiebatur. Ac ne trabes quidem hoe, inquam,
transversa^ nee ipsa tigna qua? culmos sustinent videntur ante
multos annos posita. Annuebat. Atqui cum jam nulla casse
pars superesset : Unde igitur constat, inquam, banc esse casulam
illam e longinquo delatam?
" Me. Obsecro quomodo sese ab hoc nodo expediebat aedituus ?
" Og. Scilicet incunctanter ille ostendit nobis pervetustam ursi
pellem, tignis affixam, ac propemodum irrisit nostram tarditatem,
qui ad tam manifestum argumentum non haberemus oculos.
Itaque persuasi, et tarditatis culpam deprecati, vertimus nos ad
cceleste lac Beatae Virginis."
"Among other superstitions belonging to the place," says a
writer in Chambers's Booh of Days, " was one that the Milky
AVay pointed directly to the home of tbe Virgin, in order to
guide pilgrims on their road; hence it is called the Walsingham
Way, which had its counterpart on earth in the broad way which
led through Norfolk : at every town that it passed through, a cross
was erected pointing out the path to the holy spot ; some of these
elegant structures still remain."
The place was in wonderful repute. To it Catherine of Arra-
gon, dying, entrusted her soul ; and so her sometime husband,
when his hour came. In the second volume of the Reliques,
Percy gives "a few extracts from the household book of Henry
470 AS YEE CAME FROM THE HOLYE.
Algernon Percy, fifth Earl of Northumberland, to shew what
constant tribute was paid to our Lady of Walsingham :— Item.
My lorde usith yerly to send afor Michaelmas for his Lordschip's
Offerynge to our Lady of Walsyngeham, iiijd." The Paston letters
abound in allusions to pilgrimages made to this shrine, pilgri-
mages made by the Duke of Norfolk in 1459, by Edward IV. and
his queen in 1469, by the Duchess of Norfolk in 1471, by the
Duke of Buckingham in 1478 (five years before his beheading).
This stream of pilgrims stayed its flowing at last. In August,
1538, the priory was dissolved. The gorgeous image of Our
Lady was carried away to Chelsea, and there burnt before the
commissioners. The people of Norfolk murmured, and wailed,
and rebelled. Their idol was thrown down and burnt with fire ;
and their hopes of gain were gone. Not only was their religion
affronted, but their purse was spoiled. No wonder if they beat
their breasts, and rove their hair, and threw dust and ashes over
their heads and in their enemies' faces !
In the Bodleian Library is preserved the following poem :
In the wrackes of Walsingam
Whom should I chuse
But the Queene of Walsingam,
to be guide to my muse ?
Then thou Prince of Walsingam ,
graunt me to frame
Bitter plaintes to rewe thy wronge,
bitter wo for thy name.
Bitter was it, oh ! to see
The seely sheepe
Murdred by the raueninge wolues
While the sheephardcs did sleep !
Bitter was it, oh ! to vewe
the sacred vyne,
Whiles the gardiners plaied all close.
rooted vp 1 y the swine.
Bitter, bitter, oh! to behould
the grasse to growe
Where the walles of Walsingam
so statly did sheue.
AS YEE CAME FROM THE UOLYE. 471
Such were the workes of Walsingam
while shee did stand !
Such are the wrackes as now do shewe
of that holy land !
Levell, Levell with the ground
the towres doe lye,
[Fol. 266] "Which with their golden glitteringe tops
pearsed once to the skye !
Wher weare gates, no gates ar nowe ;
the waies vnknowen
Wher the presse of peares did passe,
while her fame far was blowen.
Oules do scrike wher the sweetest himnes
lately weer songe ;
Toades and serpentes hold ther dennes
wher the Palmers did thronge.
Weepe, weepe, o Walsingam !
whose dayes are nightes,
Blessinge turned to blasphemies,
holy deedes to dispites !
Sinne is wher our Ladie sate,
heauen turned is to hell !
Sathan sittes wher our Lord did swaye
Walaingham, oh ! farewell !
finis.
' Earl of Arundel MS. ' among Bawlinson MSS.
"AS : yee came ffrom the holy Land
of walsingham,
mett you not wt'th my true loue Did you not
i i.i o ■>■> meet m y
4 by the way as you came r love, as you
pn nig *)
" how shold I know your true loue, 1
that haue mett many a one
as I came ffrom the holy Land,
8 that haue come, that haue gone ? "
" Shee is neither white nor browne, she is fair as
i . .in ,r. • the heavens,
but as the heauens naire ;
there is none hathe their 2 fforme dmine
12 on the earth or the ayre."
1 The MS. makes the verses of 8 lines. — F. 2 her, Qu— P.
472
AS TEE CAME FROM THE IIOLYE.
but has left
me here all
alone,
because I
am old.
Love is
never fast,
but fickle,
lost with a
toy.
"No, true
Love burns
ever, turns
never.''
" such, a one did I meete, good S/r,
with, an angellike fface,
who like a nimph, like a queene, did appeare
16 in her gate, in her grace."
" Shee hath left me heere alone,
all alone as vnknowne,
who sometime loned me as her liffe
20 & called me her owne."
" what is the cause shee hath left thee alone,
& a new way doth take,
that sometime did loue thee as her selfe,
24 & her ioy did thee make ? "
" I haue loued her all my youth,
but now am old, as you see.
loue liketh not the ffalling ffruite
28 nor the whithered tree ;
for loue is like a carlesse child,
& fforgetts promise past :
he is blind, he is deaffe when he list,
32 & infaith neuer ffast ;
" his desire is ffickle, ffond,
& a trusties ioye ;
he is won with, a world of dispayre,
36 & lost with a toye.
such is the [fate of all man] ' kind,
Or the word loue abused, [page ;;07]
vnder which many childish desires
40 & conceipts are excused."
" But loue is a durabler ffyer
in the mind euer Burninge,
euer sicke, neuer dead, neuer cold,
44 ffrom itt selfe neuer turninge." iimis.
1 MS. pared and broken away. — F. ? read [way of woman]. — Skeat.
473
%t offrirud : x
A copy of this piece is to be found in the Collection of Old
Ballads, 1726.
The story told in it is that made so well known to us of to-day
by Tennyson's exquisite poem of Godiva.
Few chronicles which deal with the time of Edward the
Confessor omit to mention Leofric, Earl of Chester, and after-
wards of Mercia, and his wife Grodiva. The UEstoire de Seint
jEdivard le Rei; Ailred's Vita Regis Edwardi Confessoris ;
Ingulph's (?) Historia Croylandensis (she was "tunc fceminarum
pulcherrima sic corde sanctissima "), the Mailros Chronicles,
Hoveden's Annates (he says, " dei cultrix et sanctge Maria? semper
virginis amatrix devota nobilis comitissa Grodiva"), all mention
her with enthusiasm as a charitable and most pious lady. The
earliest account of her famous ride through Coventry which is
quoted by Dugdale (see his History of Warwickshire), is given
by Brompton, who "flourished" about the close of the twelfth
century :
De dicta quoque Godiva Comitissa quas ecclesiam de Stowe sub
promontorio Lincoln ire, et multas alias construxerat, legitur, quod
dura ipsa Goventreiam a gravi servitute et importabili tolneto liber-
are affectasset, Leofricum Comiteiu virum suum sollicitavit, ut sanctaa
Trinitatis Deique genitricis Maria) intuitu, villain a praedicta solveret
servitute. Prohibuit Comes ne de cetero rem sibi dampnosam inauiter
postularet. Ilia nichiloitiinus virum indesinenter de petitione praa-
raissa exaspcrans, tale responsum ab eo demum extorsit. Ascende,
inquit, oquum tuum, et nuda a villai initio usque ad finera populo
congregato equites, et sic postalata cum redieris impetrabis. Tunc
Godiva Deo dilecta equum nuda asccndrns, ac capitis criues et tricas
dissolvens, totum corpus prater crura inde velavit. Itinere corapleto
a, nomine visa ad virum iraudcns est re versa, undo Leofricus Coven-
treiam a servitute et malis custumis et exactionibus liberavit, et cartam
1 In the printed Collection of Old Ballads 1726. Vol. 2. p. 84. X.v. P.
474 LEOFFRICUS.
suam inde confectain sigilli sui munimine roboravit, de quo adbuc
isti pauperes mercatores ad villam accedentes plenarie sunt experti.
Matthew of Westminster, some hundred years after the Abbot
of Joreval, gives the following version :
Ha?c aut'em comitissa religiose villam Conventrensem a gravi servi-
tute ac turpi liberare affectans, saspius comitem virum suum magnis
precibus rogavit, ut sanctae Trinitatis, sanctseque genetricis Dei
intuitu, villain a prasdicta absolveret servitute. Cumque conies illam
increparet, quod rem sibi damnosam inaniter postularet, probibuit
constanter, ne ipsum super bac re de cetero conveniret. Ilia contrario,
pertinacia muliebri ducta, virum indesinenter de petitione praemissa
exasperans, tale responsum extorsit ab eo. Ascende (inquit) equum
tuum nuda, et transi per mercatum villae, ab initio usque ad finem,
populo congregato, et cum redieris, quod postulas, impetrabis. Cui
comitissa respondens, ait : Et si hoc facere voluero, Hcentiam mihi
dabis ? Ad quam comes, Dabo, inquit. Tunc Godyva comitissa,
Deo dilecta, die quadam, ut praadictum est, nuda equum ascendens,
crines capitis et tricas dissolvens, corpus suum totum, praeter crura
candidissima, inde velavit, et itinere completo, a nemine visa, ad
virum gaudens, hoc pro miraculo habitum, reversa est. Comes vero
Leofricus, Conventrensem a prsefata servitute liberans civitatem,
chartam suam inde factum sigilli sui munimine roboravit.
&
Higden, some half century afterwards, says briefly :
Ad jugem quoque instantiam uxoris sua? urbem suam Coventrensem
ab omni tolneto praaterquam de equis liberam fecit ; ad quod impe-
trandum uxor ejus Comitissa Godyva quodam mane per medium
urbis nuda sed comis tecta equitavit.
Knighton adopts Higden's account word for word.
Bower, the continuer of Fordun's Scotichronicon, in the first
half of the following, the fifteenth century, tells the story of
Matilda, wife of Henry II. ; for which act he is severely
reproved by his and Fordun's editor, Hearne (1722). The only
other noticeable variation in his account is, we think, particularly
coarse. He says the poor lady performed her ride "rege et
populo spectantibus."
LEOFFRICUS.
475
111 our own age the story has been gracefully and refined ly told
by Leigh Hunt, and in an incomparable manner by Tennyson.
There is then, extant, no narrative of the gentle Godiva's most
generous feat till upwards of two centuries after its alleged
performance.
We find, indeed, in the reign of Henry I. that the good
Queen Maude, " that's right well loved England through "
( Hardy ng), who did so many good services for the people, and
taught her Norman husband a milder policy than his own nature
prompted, received the sobriquet of Godiva. She, too, loved
the people well, and so was called after the Saxon countess who
had so signally testified her affection for them. This is the
earliest reference to the story.
LeOFFRICUS the l noble Erie
of Chester, as I read,
did ffor the cittye of couentrye
4 many a noble deede ;
great priuiledges for the towne
this noble-man did gett,
of all things did make itt soe,
8 that they tole ffree did sitt,
sane onlye that for horsses still
they did some custome paie,
which, was great charges to the towne
12 ffull long & many a day.
wherfore. his wifFe, Godiua 2 ffaire,
did of the Erie request
that therfore 3 he wold make itt ffree
16 as well as all the rest.
Leoffricus
Earl of
Chester
made the
city of
Coventry
toll-free,
except a
horse -tax.
This his wife
Godiva
asked him
to take off ;
1 that. — O.B. The first two linos are written as one in the MS. — F
2 Godina.— O.B. 8 thereof.— O.B.
476
LEOFFRICUS.
and finding
him one day
in a good
humour,
entreated
him to
remit the
tax.
"What'll
you do
if I will ? '
& when the Lady long l had sued,
her purpose to obtaine,
att last her noble Ijord 2 shee tooke
20 within 3 a pleasant vaine,
& vnto him w<'th smiling cheere
shee did fforthwith proceede,
in treating greatly that hee wold
24 performe that godlye 4 deede.
" you moue me much, ffaire dame," 5 quoth, hee,
" jour suite I ffaine wold shunn ;
but what wold 6 you performe & doe,
28 to haue the 7 matter done ? "
" Anything
in reason,"
she says.
"Wen if
you'll do
what I
ask you.
I'll take off
the tax."
" I'll do it,"
she says.
"Then strip,
and ride
naked
through the
town."
"why, any thing, my LojtZ," q?wth shee,
"you will wrth reason craue,
I will performe itt with good will
32 if I my wish may 8 haue."
" if thou wilt grant one 9 thing," he said,
" w7ii'ch I shall now require ;
soe 10 soone as itt is ffinished,
36 thou shalt haue thy desire."
"command what you thinke good, my Jjord ;
I will ther-to agree
on that condityon, that this u towne
40 in all things l2 may bee ffree."
" if thou wilt stripp thy clothes 13 off,
& heere wilt 14 lay them downe,
& att noone-daye 15 on horsbacke ryde,
44 starke naked through the towne,
1 So when that she long Time. — O.B.
2 Her Noble Lord at length.— O.B.
3 When in.— O.B.
4 goodly.— O.B. 5 my Fair.— O.B.
will— O.B. 7 this.— O.B.
might.— O.B.
9 the.— O.B. 10 as.— O.B.
11 the.— O.B. ,2 For ever.— O.B.
13 but thy Cloaths.— O.B.
" by me.'— O.B.
15 The MS. has a tag like s to the
e. — F. Noon-day. — O.B.
LEOFFRICUS.
477
" they slialbe free for euermore.
if thou wilt not doe soe,
more lyberty then now they haue
48 I neuer will bestowe."
the Lady att this strange demand
was much abashet in minde ;
& yett tfor to fulfill this thing
52 shee neuer a whitt repinde.
The
Countess
is taken
aback,
but does not
hesitate,
wherfore to all the ' officers
of all the towne 2 shee sent,
that they, perceiuing her good will,
56 which for their 3 weale was bent,
and tells the
town-
officials
that on the day that shee shold ryde,
all persons through the towne
shold keepe their houses, & shutt their dore, 4
60 & clap their windowes downe,
soe that no creature, younge nor 5 old, 6
shold in the streete 7 bee seene
till shee had ridden [all about] 8
64 Through all the Cittye cleane. [page 508]
to order that
when she
rides
through,
all houses,
doors, and
windows
shall be
shut,
so that no
one may see
her.
as
And when the day of ryding came,
no person did her see,
sauing her lord . after which time
the towne was euer ffree. ffinis.
She rides.
None see her.
The town is
freed.
' unto all.— 0.13.
a Of Coventry.— O.B.
■ the. — O.B.
4 and Doors. — O.B.
s or.— O.B.
6 There is a tag at the end like an s
in the MS.— F.
7 Streets.— O.B.
8 all about, Throughout.— O.B.
[".1 Mayden-heade " and " Tom Longe," printed vn Lo. & Hum.
Songs, p. 111-13, follow here in the MS. p. 508.]
478
frouto h)])tvt tin ^pencCersJ] 1
This ballad first occurs in the Garland of Good Will.
A more complete copy than that of the Folio is to be found in
the Collection of Old Ballads, so often referred to in our Intro-
ductions ; but it too is miserably mutilated.
It is evidently the work of a later writer, of one who wrote
generations after the memory of Queen Isabella's profligacy in
the subsequent years of her life was keenly remembered. Its
sympathy with the Queen's side is vehement; and may possibly
have sprung from the fact that a Queen was sitting on the throne
when it was written.
It would seem not to have been founded on current traditions ;
but to be the result of some historical research. The details
are, for the most part, accurate to a degree most unusual in
ballad-poetry. In other respects it can boast no great superiority
over other historical ballads — a department of literature by no
means pre-eminent for its poetic worth. It tells its tale in a
business-like way.
It tells it, as we have said, with surprising accuracy ; but there
is when it errs. The Queen departed for France nominally on a
diplomatic mission — to smooth down certain differences with
regard to Gascony which were dividing her brother Charles IV.
of France and her husband ; she did not make her escape from
the country with the aid of any such pretext as that preferred in
the text. The letters written by the deserted Edward both to
her and to his son who was with her, urging their return, are
still extant (see Foedera). The Pope persuaded Charles to
dismiss his sister from his court. Then she found refuge at the
1 In the printed Collection of old Ballads 1726. Vol. 2. p. 59. N? x. 1\
TROUDE "WHERE THE SPENCERS. 479
court of William Count of Hainault, to whose daughter Philippa
the Prince her son was there betrothed. This Count placed at
her service a force of 2,000 men under the command of John of
Hainault (see vv. 40-62).
On September 24, 1326, those whose return Edward II. had so
earnestly urged, landed at Orwell in Suffolk, armed. The nobles,
who some five years before had been overthrown with Lancaster,
now flocked from their hiding-places and their places of exile to
support this frightful insurrection of wife and son. The King's
brothers, his cousins, and many bishops, hastened to support it.
London murdered the King's lieutenant, and supported it. The
elder Despenser was seized at Bristol, the burghers there turning
against him, and there executed as a traitor. His son was seized
in Wales, carried to Hereford, and executed as a traitor there.
The Earl of Arundel and others were beheaded. (See Knio-ht's
Popular History of England.)
The ballad alludes but briefly to the end of the tragedy :
Then was King deposed of his Crown ;
From rule and princely dignity the
Lords did cast him down.
Written in admiration of Isabella, it, naturally enough, shrinks
from any allusion to the atrocities perpetrated in Berkeley Castle
— to the " shrieks of death" that ran^ through its roof —
Shrieks of an agonizing King!
1 ROUD : -were the Spencers, & of condityons l ill ; The
all England & the King they ruled «,'n'7u' S iii-
n • a ji "ii conditioned
nkwi.se * att their will ; lot,
1 Condition, in Old Ballads, 3 r .'' ed., all England & the King they ruled
ii. 62.— F. likwise att their will ;
2 likewise They ruled. — O.B. Each & many Lords
couple of lines 2 and 3, 5 and 6, 19 and & nobles of this Land
20, is written as one in the MS. — F. thron-h their occasion lost their liu- s.
The true arrangemenl is: & none durst them withstand.
Proud were the Spencers, The firsl Hue very short; only two ac-
& of condityons ill ; cents at most; the second, third, and
fourth lines with three accents. Skeat.
480
PBOUDE WHERE THE SrENCERS.
and the
cause of
many nobles'
deaths.
They raised
strife
between
King
Edward and
his Queen,
so that she
was forced
4 & many Lords & nobles of this ' Land
through their occassion 2 lost their Hues,
and none durst them [withstand.] 3
& att the last they did increase great 4 greeffe
8 betweene the [King and Isabel] 5
his queene and ffaithfull wiffe, [page 509]
soe that her liffe shee dreaded wonderous sore,
& cast with [in] 6 heer present thoughts
12 some present helpe therfore.
to escape
into France.
The French
King, her
brother,
received her
well,
gave her
leave to
raise men,
and
promised her
money.
then shee requested, 7 with countenance graue &
sage,
that shee to Tnomas Beccetts tombe
might goe on pilgramage.
16 then being ioyfull to haue that 8 happy chance,
her sonne & shee tooke shipp with speede,
& sayled into ffrance ;
& royally shee was receiued then
20 by the King & all the rest
of the peeres & noblemen ;
and vnto him att lenght 9 shee did expresse
the cause of her arriuall there,
24 her greeffe 10 & heauinesse.
when as her brother her greefe did vnderstand,
he gaue her leaue to gather men
out of J ' his ffamous land,
28 & made his I2 promise to aide her euermore
as offt as shee shold stand in Neede 13
of gold & siluer store.
1 the.— O.B.
2 Occasions. — O.B.
3 did them withstand. — O.B.
* much.— 0.15.
5 MS. pared away. Supplied from
Old Ballads. -F.
6 within. — O.B. ' requests. — O.B.
8 the.— O.B.
■ last,— O.B.
10 care.— O.B.
" Throughout.— O.B.
'- a.— O.B.
13 ]Sf written over st in the MS.
need.— O.B.
TROUDE WHERE THE SPENCERS.
481
but when indeed lie shold performe l the same,
32 lie was as ffarr ffrom doing itt
as when shee thither came,
& did proclaime, 2 while matters yett were greene, 3
that none on paine of death shold goe
36 to aide the English queene.
But lie
afterwards
broke
his word,
and refused
to let
men enlist
for her.
40
this alteration did greatly greene the Queene,
that downe along her comely fface
they 4 hitter teares were seene.
when shee pevciued her ffrcinds forsooke her soe,
shoe knew not, ffor her saftey,
which way to turne or goe;
This grieved
lier greatly,
but through good happ, att last shee thenn decreede and she took
44 to Seeke in ffruitfull GeRMANYE Germany,
some succour in 5 this neede ;
And to Sir Iohn Henault 6 then went shee,
who entertained this wofull queene
48 with great solempnitye ;
where Sir
John
Henault
& with great sorrow to him shee then complained
of all the greefe 7 & iniuryes
which shee of late sustained,
52 soe that with weeping shee dimnd her princly
sight,
the sunn 8 tberof did greatly greefe
that noble curteous knight,
who made an othe he wold her champyon bee,
56 & in her quarrell spend his bloode,
from wrong to sett her ffree ;
swore i" be
her
champion,
and fight lor
her,
' she did require. — O.B.
2 MS. proclaine. — P.
3 whilst matters were so. — O.B.
* The.— O.B.
5 to.— O.B.
VOL. 111.
u Haioault— O.B.
7 her Griefs.— O.B.
8 MS. sunn or smm : ? for eumm, or
E. E. sm'Hc, sin.— F. sunne not to bo
thought of. — Dyce. cause. — O.B.
1 I
482
PROUDE WHERE THE SPENCERS.
with all his
friends.
"& all my freinds with whom I may pnuailc,
shall helpe for to aduance your state,
60 whose truth no time shall faile."
He proves
faithful ;
sails with
many lords,
and lands
with her at
Harwich.
64
And in this promise, most faithfull he was found,
& many Lorcfe of great account
was in this voyage bound.
soe setting fforward With a goodlye traine,
att lenght through gods especiall grace
into England they came.
Many
English
lords join
her.
Att Harwich then when they were come a-shore, 1
68 of English LorcZs & Barrons bold
there came to her great store,
which did reioce the queenes afflicted hart,
that English nobles 2 in such sort
72 did come 3 to take her part.
Kdward II.
hears of this,
and fliss,
when as King Edward herof did vnders'iand,
how that the queene with such a power
was entered on his Land,
& how his nobles were gone to take her part,
he ffled from London presentlye ;
then 4 with a heauye hart,
with the
Spencers,
to Bristol,
leaving the
Bishop of
Kxeter in
London,
And Av/th the Spencers, did vnto Bristowe 5 goe,
80 [To fortify that gallant town,] 6
Greatt cost he did best[owe ;] [page 510]
leauing behind, to gouerne London towne, 7
[The stout Bishop of Exeter,
84 Whose Pride was soon pull'd down.
1 were ashore. — O.B.
2 Lords.— O.B.
: < Came for.— O.B.
4 Even.— O.B.
•'■ Unto Bristol did.— O.B.
6 MS. pared away. Lino supplied
from O.B.— F.
7 (N.B. There are upwards of 22
stanzas wanting: which are all in the
Printed Copy.) — P. and are here printed,
with the leads out, from the 2nd edition
of Old Ballads, 1726, vol. ii. p. 62.
About half a page in the MS. is left
blank.— P.
TKOUDE WHEHE THE SPENCEI5S.
483
88
[The Mayor of London, with Citizens great Store,
The Bishop and the Spencers both
In Heart they did abhor ;
Therefore they took him without Fear or Dread,
And at the Standard in Gheapside
They soon smote off his Head.
where the
citizens
soon
cut his
head ofl',
[Unto the Queen this Message then they sent,
92 The City of London was
At her Commandement :
"Wherefore the Queen, with all her Company,
Did strait to Bristol march amain,
96 Wherein the King did lie :
and tell
l>:liirl!:l till'
city is hers.
She inarches
to Bristol,
[Then she besieg'd the City round about, besieges it,
Threatning sharp and cruel Death,
To those that were so stout ;
ICO Wherefore the Townsmen, their Children, and their and it is
Wives, p* ded '"'
to licr
Did yield the City to the Queen
For Safe-guard of their Lives :
104
108
[Where was took, the Story plain doth tell,
Sir Hugh Spencer, and with him
The Earl of Arundel.
This Judgment just the Nobles did set down,
They should be drawn and hanged both,
In Sioht of Bristol Town.
Sir H.
Spencer
and Lord
Arundel are
taken ,
112
[Then was King Edward in the Castle there,
And Hugh Spencer still with him,
In Dread and deadly Fear ;
And being prcpar'd from thence to Sail away,
The Winds were found contrary,
Tiny were enforced to stay :
the King
and Spencer
11G
120
[But at last Sir John Beaumont, Knight,
Did brine; his sailing Ship to Shore,
And so did stay their Flight :
Ami so these Men were taken speedily,
And brought as Prisoners to. the Queen,
Which did in l'.rislnl lie.
being
caughl
they were
ing by
ship.
[The Queen, byCounsel of the Lordsand Barons bo]
To Barkley sent the King,
There to be kept in hold :
i i •_'
The Queen
Imprisons
the Kins.'
484
RROUDE "WHERE THE SRENCEKS.
and has
Spencer
carried from
town to
town on a
jade's back,
124 And young Hugh Spencer, that did much 111 procure,
Was to the Marshal of the Host
Sent unto keeping sure.
128
132
[And then the Queen to Hereford took her way,
With all her warlike Company,
Wliieh late in Bristol lay :
And here behold how Spencer was
From Town to Town, even as the Queen
To Hereford did pass ;
[Upon a Jade, which they by chance had found,
Young Spencer mounted was,
With Legs and Hands fast bound :
136 A Writing- Paper along as he did go,
Upon his Head he had to wear,
Which did his Treason show :
men playing
before him.
Then at
Hereford
Spencer is
hanged and
quartered,
[And to deride this Tray tor lewd and ill,
140 Certain Men with Reeden-Pipes
Did blow before him still.
Thus was he led along in every Place,
While many People did rejoice
144 To see his strange Disgrace.
[When unto Hereford out Noble Queen was come,
She did assemble all the Lords
And Knights, both all and some ;
148 And in their Presence young Spencer Judgment had,
To be both hang'd and quartered,
His Treasons were so bad.
King
Edward is
deposed,
and ids son
crowned
King.
152
156
[Then was the King deposed of his Crown ;
From Rule, and princely Dignity,
The Lords did cast him down :
And in his Life, his Son both wise and sage,
Was crowned King of fair England,
At Fifteen Years of Age.] flinfis.l
485
Hinge dBftgar* 1
This rhyming version of a good old Saxon tale occurs in the
Garland of Good Will, " to the tune of Labandulishot," in the
Collection of Old Ballads, in Evans's Old Ballads.
The authority followed by the writer of it is William of Mal-
mesbury.
There was in his time (says that chronicler) one A th el wold, a
nobleman of celebrity, and one of his confidants ; him the king had
commissioned to visit Elfrida, daughter of Orgar, Duke of Devon-
shire (whose charms had so fascinated the eyes of some persons that
they commended her to the king), and to offer her marriage if her
beauty were really equal to report.
Hastening on his embassy, and findiug everything consonant to
general estimation, he concealed his mission from her parents, and
procured the damsel for himself. Returning to the king, he told a
tale that made for his own purpose, that she was a girl of vulgar and
commonplace appearance, and by no means worthy of such a tran-
scendent dignity. When Edgar's heart was disengaged from this
affair, and employed on other amours, some tattlers acquainted him
how completely Athelwold had duped him by his artifices. Driving
out mu; nail with another, that is, returning him deceit for deceit, he
showed the earl a fair countenance, and, as in a sportive manner,
appointed a day when he would visit this far- famed lady. Terrified
almost to death with this dreadful pleasantry, he hastened before to
hia wife, entreating that she would administer to his safety by attir-
ino- herself as unbecomingly as possible; then first disclosing the
intention of such a proceeding. Bat what did not this woman dare ?
She Avas hardy enough to deceive the confidence of her miserable
lover, her first husband, to adorn herself at the mirror, and omit
nothing that could stimulate the desire of a young and powerful man.
Nor did events happen contrary to her design ; for he fell so desperately
in love with her the moment he saw her, that, dissembling his ni-
di 'nation, he sent for the earl into a wood at Warewclle, under
1 In the printed Collect ion 1726, Vol. 2, p. 25, N. iv.— P.
486 KINGE EDGAE.
pretence of hunting, .and ran him through with a javelin. When the
illegitimate son of the murdered nobleman approached with his ac-
customed familiarity, and was asked by the king how he liked that
kind of sport, he is reported to have said, " Well, my sovereign liege,
I ought not to be displeased with that which gives you pleasure,"
with which answer he so assuaged the mind of the reigning monarch,
that for the remainder of his life he held no one in greater estimation
than this young man ; mitigating the tyrannical deed against the
father by royal solicitude for the son. In expiation of this crime, a
monastery, which was built on the spot by Elfrida, is inhabited by
a large congregation of nuns.- — Stevenson's Church Historians of
England.
Another account is given by Brompton. He narrates how
A th el wold, after securing, by his deception, the hand of Alfrida,
as he calls her, persuaded the king to stand godfather to their
first-born son, " de sacro forte levare," in order that — a spiritual
affinity (" spiritualis cognatio") contracted thus between his wife
and Edgar — he might be secure from his majesty's amorousness.
But the king made but little of this restraining tie. He speedily
put A th el wold out of the way, sending him to oppose the Danes
in the North, and perhaps getting him killed on his way to his
post — at all events he was killed on the way — and took Alfrida
to his arms. In vain Dunstan, who seems to have been extremely
free of the palace, entering the royal chamber the morning after
the espousals, asked the king, "qusenam ilia esset quae secum in
lecto jacebat," and chafed at the answer " regina." Edgar married
Alfrida.
The story is told in the following biillad with some skill, but
in a somewhat prosy manner.
The form adopted is the favourite one of the old romances
(revived by Scott in the Lay of the Last Minstrel); and the
besetting blemish of the piece— prolixity — is also an imitation of
the old romances.
The sympathy of the account is all on the king's side.
Thus he which did the king doceive
Did l>v deceit this death receive,
KINGE EDGAR.
487
says the loyal poet, after describing Athel wold's assassination •
"Be true and faithful to your friend" is the moral. And when
that friend is a king, why, expect the extremest penalties, if you
are false.
12
16
20
WHEN as King Edgar did gouerne this land, 1
& in the strenght of his yeeres did 2 stand,
such praise was spread of a gallant dame
w7u'ch did through England carry great fame,
& shee a Ladaye of noble 3 degree,
the Erie of deuonshires daughter was shee.
the ~K-ing, which had latetly 4 buryed the queene,
& a long 5 time a wydower had 6 beene,
hearing the praise of this 7 gallant maid,
vpon her bewtye his loue hee laid ;
& in his sighes 8 he wold often say,
" I will goe 9 send for that Lady gay ;
yea, I will send for that l0 Lady bright
wAi'cli is my treasure and delight,
whose bewty, like to Phebus beames,
did n glister 12 through all Christen realmes."
11 icii to himselfe he wold replye,
suing, " how fond a prince ,3 am I,
to cast my loue soe base and Lowe,
& on 14 a girle I doe not know !
Kmg Edgar will his fancy frame
to loue 15 some peereles princely dame,
The widowed
King Edgar
hears of a
gallant
dame,
the Earl of
Devonshire's
daughter,
and sets his
love on her.
He often
savs that
he'll
send and
fetch her,
but then
thinks how
stupid he is
to Call in
love with a
low-burn
girl he has
never Been.
He'll find and
love some
Princess,
1 O.B. adds :
Adown, adown, down, down down:
and after lino 2,
Call hi ni down a. — F.
2 he did.— O.B.
3 high.— O.B.
* who lately had. O.B.
5 not a lung. Printed C- P.
long.— O.B.
« O.B. omits had. I'.
not
' this Praise of a.— O.B.
8 mind. Printed C— P.
9 O.B. omits goe.—Y.
10 this.— O.B.
11 doth. Pr"? Copy.— P.
12 Doth glitter.— O.B.
13 The IMS. has only one stroke, for the
w.— F.
h Upon.— O.B.
,: ' have. (>.15.
488
KINGE EDGAR.
with a good
dowry,
who is more
beautiful
thanBstri]d.
Then he
thinks
again, how
wrong it is
to abuso his
love
Estrild,
who is more
lovely than
Helen.
So he decides
on Estrild,
and sends off
a knight,
Ethel wold,
to her
father's,
to look at
her,
and if lie
finds her
beautiful,
then he's to
propose to
her, for
Edgar.
the daughter of some l royall King,
24 that may a worthy' 2 dowry bringe, 3
whose macheles bewty brought in place
may Estrilds coulor cleane disgrace,
but senceless man, what doe I meane,
28 vpon a broken reede to leane ?
& what fond fury doth 4 me moue
thus to abuse my deerest loue,
whose visage, gracet with heaucnlye hue,
32 doth Hellens honor quite subdue ?
the glory of her bewtyous pride
[Sweet Estrild's Favour doth deride] 5
Then pardon m[y unsejemely speech, 6
36 deere loue & lady, I beseech !
& 7 I my thoughts hencforth will 8 frame
to spread the honore of thy name."
then vnto him he called a knight
40 which, was most trusty in his sight,
& vnto him thus did he 9 say :
" to Erie Orgarus l0 goe thy way,
& n aske for Estrilds 12 comely dame,
44 whose b[e]wty is soe for by 13 fame ;
& if thou 14 find her comlye grace
as fame hath 15 spread in euery place,
then tell her father shee shalbe
48 my crowned epicene, if shee agree."
[page 511]
1 a.— O.B.
« dainty. — O.B.
3 Betere were a ryche mon
For to spouse a god womon
Thath hue be sum del pore,
Then to brynge into his hous
a proud quone ant daungerous,
That is sum del Lore.
"Moni mon for londe wyvefh to
shonde."
Quoth Hendyng.
Reliquiee Antiques i. 115. — F.
" or what did, IV. 1 C— P. & O.B.
b O.B. MS. pared away, V. sweet
Estrild's favour doth deride. — P. For
the original Est rib
sec p. 4G6-7 above.
6 Then pardon my unseemly speech,
Printed Copy. — P.
7 For.— O.B.
8 will henceforth. — O.B.
9 he did.— O.B.
10 Orgator, Printed Copy.— P.
" Where.— O.B.
12 Estrild. O.B.
1:1 went so far for. — O.I>.
YOU.
did.-
O.B.
O.B;
KINGE EDGAR.
489
the knight in message did proceede,
& into deuonshire went ' with speede ;
but when lie saw that 2 Ladye bright,
52 lie was soc rauisht att her sight,
lli'ti nothing cold his passyon moue
except he might obtaine her loue.
& 3 day & night there while 4 he stayde,
56 he courted still that 5 peereles mayd ;
& in his suite hee showed such skill,
//mi att the lenght woon 6 her good will,
fforgetting quite the duty tho
60 w/<<ch hee vnto the kinge did owe.
then coming home vnto his grace,
he told him with dissembling face
that those reporters were to blame
64 that soe aduanced that 7 maidens name ;
" for I assure ycrar grace," quoth. 8 hee,
" shee is as other women bee ;
her bewtye of such great report,
68 no better then they 9 common sort,
& far vnmeet in euery thing
to mach w/th such a noble Kinge.
but though her face be nothing ffaire,
72 yett sith shee is her ffathers heyre,
perhapps some LorcZ of hye degree
wold verry glad 10 her husband bee ;
& u if jour grace wold giue consent,
76 I cold 12 my selfe be well content
the damsell for my wife to take,
for her great Lands & liuings sake."
the Kmg, whom thus he did deceiue,
80
incontinent did giue him leaue ;
The knight
and is so
r:i\ i-hed
with Estrild,
that ho
courts her
for himself.
and wins her
heart.
Then lie
goes hack to
Edgar, and
tells him
that Estrild
is nothing
particular,
one of the
common
sort,
quite unfit
for a King ;
hut as
she'll have
her father's
lands,
lie, Ethel-
w old, \\ ould
like to
have her
himself, for
her lands.
Edgar
consents.
1 O.B. omits vcnt.—F.
2 the.- O.K.
■■> For. O.B.
4 while there -O.B.
5 this.— O.B. ° he gain'd.
o.l',
tl.-.— O.B.
said. O.B.
the. O.B.
fain.— O.B.
Then. O.IJ.
'- would. - O.B.
490
KINGE EDGAR
The knight
marries
Estrild,
and is made
an Earl.
Then the
report of
her beauty
reaches
Edgar,
who sees
how he's
Ik ■en
cheated out
of his love,
but puts a
good face on
it.
One day
though
he asks
Ethelwold
how he'd
receive him
if he paid him
a visit.
Ethelwold,
sad at heart,
pays,
" You'd be
most
welcome."
Before the
King comes,
for on that poynt he did not stand,
for why, he had no l need of land,
then being glad, he went his way, 2
84 & weded straight that 3 Lady gay;
the ffairest creature bearing liffe,
had this ffalse knight to 4 his AviiFe ;
& by that mach of high degree,
88 an Erie soone after that was hee.
ere hee long time bad marry ed beene,
many 5 bad her bewtye seene ;
her praise was spread both farr & neere,
92 soe that they King G therof did heare,
who then in hart did plainly proue
he Avas betrayed of his loue.
though therof 7 he was vexed sore,
96 yett seemed he not to greeue therfore,
but kept his countenance good & kind,
as though hee bore no grudg in minde. '
but on a day itt came to passe
loo Avhen as the King full merry was,
to Ethelavold in sport hee said
" I muse Avhat cheere there shold be made
if to thy house I wold 8 resort
104 a night or 2 for princely sport."
heratt the Erie sheAved contenance glad, 9
though in his hart he was [full sad ;] 10
And said, 11 " yonr grace s[hall welcome be] 12 [page 512]
108 if soe yo?tr grace Avill honor mee."
when 13 as the day apointed was,
before the Kmg shold 14 thither passe,
1 not.— O.B.
2 away. — O.B.
3 this.— O.B.
4 unto.— O.B.
5 That many.— O.B.
The Hint; again.
: therefore.- OB.
* should.— O.B.
9 One stroke too many in the MS.
'» full sad.— O.B.
11 Saying.— O.B.
''- shall welcome ho. — O.B.
13 Then.— O.B.
" did.
KINGE EDGAR.
4«J1
the Eric before-hand did prepare
112 the Kings l coming to declare,
& with a countenance passing grim
he called his Lady vnto him,
saing with sad & heauye cheere :
116 "I pray you, when the King comes heere,
sweet Lady, as you tender mee,
lett your attire but homelye bee ;
& washe not thou thy Angells face,
120 but doe 2 thy bewtye quite 3 disgrace ;
therto thy gesture soe apply,
itt may seeme lothsome to his 4 eye ;
for if the 'King shold heere 5 behold
124 thy gloiroous bewtye soe extold,
then shold 6 my liffe soone shortened bee
ffor my desartt 7 & trecherye.
when to thy ffather ffirst I came,
128 though I did not declare the same,
yett was I put in trust to bring
the ioyfull tydings of the Kinge,
who for thy glouryous bewtye seene,
132 did thinke of thee to make his queenc.
but when I had thy person found,
thy bewty gaue me such a wound,
no rest nor comfort cold I take
130 till your* sweet loue my greffe did slake ;
& thus, 9 though duty charged me
most ffaithfull to my LonZ to bee,
yett loue vpon the other side
140 bade 10 for my selfe I shold prouide.
then for my sute & service knowne, 11
att lentligt I woon you for my owne ;
Ethclwold
prays his
wife,
when Edgar
does come,
to dress
badly,
not wash
her face,
and behave
disgust-
ingly ;
for if the
King
sees her
beaut v,
he'll kill her
husband.
Ethelwold
then tells
his wife of
his
treachery
to Edgar:
how, sent to
woo her
for the King,
he fell in
love with
her himself,
and wooed
and won her.
1 King his.
2 so.— O.B.
3 clean.— O.B.
1 t lie.— O.B.
5 there.— O.B.
• shall.— O.B.
Deserts.— O.B.
you.— O.B.
that.— O.B.
Bid.— O.B.
shown. — O.B.
492
KINGE EDGAR.
But for their
wedlock's
sake
he prays her
to disguise
herself.
She answers
smilingly ;
but, as it
would be a
shame to
mar UocTs
work,
she dresses
herself out
as bravely as
possible,
and does all
she can to
please the
King.
He falls
madly in
love with
her;
she gives
him ten
sweet looks
for one ;
and next
hunting-day
he kills her
husband,
& for jour loue & 1 wedlocke spent,
144 jour choice you need no whitt repent.
& sith 2 my greefYe I haue exprest,
sweet Lady, grant nie my request."
good words shee gaue w/tli smiling clieere
148 musing att 3 that which, shee did heeare ;
& casting many things in mind,
great fault herwith 4 shee seemed to find ;
& 5 in her-selfe shee thought itt shame
152 to make that ffoule which god did frame,
most costly robes & 6 rich, therfore,
in brauest sort that day shee wore,
& did all things 7 that ere shee might
156 to sett her bewtye forth to sight,
& her best skill in euery thing
shee shewed, to entertaine the K*mjr,
wherby 8 the 'King soe snared was,
1G0 that reason quite ffrom him did passe ;
his hart by her was sett on ffire,
he had to her a great desire ;
& for the lookes he gaue her then,
lfi4 for euery looke shee gaue him ten ;
wherfor the King perceiued plaine
his loue & lookes were not in vaine.
vpon a time 9 itt chanced soe,
1C8 the 'King hee wold a hunting goe,
& into HoRSWOOD did he ryde, 10
the Ei-le on horssbake by his side.
& there u the story telleth plaine,
172 that with a shaft the Erie was slaine.
& when that 12 hee had lost his liffe,
he 13 tooke the Lady to his H wiffe ;
1 my Love in. — O.B.
- Then since.— O.B.
3 of.— O.B. 4
5 llul. —O.B.
7 Doing all.— O.B.
8 Wherefore.— O.B.
therewith.— O.B.
6 full.— O.B.
9 MS. tino.— F.
10 And as they through a Wood did
ride.— O.B.
11 For so.— O.B.
'- So that when.— O.B.
I:! King Edgar. — F.
11 unto.— O.B.
KINGE EDGAR.
493
he marryed her, all shame ' to shunn,
17G by whom he had begott 2 a sonne.
thus hee Av/u'eh 3 did the ~Kmg deceiuc,
did by desart this 4 death receiue.
then, to conclude & make an ende,
180 be true & ffaithffull to jour 5 flreind !
ffinis.
marries her,
and liogots a
son mi her.
So the
deceiver
lost, 1 1 i .— lilt'.
Moral :
Be true to
your friend.
1 Who marry 'd her, all Harm. — O.B.
2 did beget.— O.B.
3 that.
4 his.-
-O.B.
-O.B.
thy.— O.B.
494
We know cf no other copy of this ballad.
A wealthy merchant — a burgess of four towns, one of them
Edinburgh — makes love to the sweetheart of Christopher White,
during Christopher's banishment. She hesitates ; she has found
Christopher White good company; she warns the man of business
that, if she is false to her old love, she cannot be true to him.
But he still urges his suit, and at last —
The Lady she took ' his ' gold in her hand,
The tears they fell fast from her eyes ;
Says, ' Silver & gold makes my heart to turn,
And makes me leave good company.'
The honey-moon, and two or three other moons over, "the
merchants are ordered to sea" to serve against Spain (see vv. 40,
68). Such an employment of mercantile-navy was not unfrequent
in the later middle ages, and if discontinued, may not have been
forgotten at the time this ballad was written (see Pictures of En-
glish Life, Chaucer, p. 233). Or possibly " that all the merchants
must to the sea " may mean only that the convoy was ready to
accompany them, and they must at once put themselves under its
protection. In any case, whether by his own business, or that of
the State, the merchant was called away from his bride. When
he returns, he finds her gone off to England with the companion-
able Christopher (who has managed to get pardoned) and his own
spoons and plate and silver and gold. The excellent man
protests he cares nothing for the missing goods and chattels ; but
for his " likesome lady " he mourns ; yet confesses ingenuously
that she warned him when he wooed her, that —
If he were false to Christopher White,
She would never be true to me.
CHRISTOPHER WHITE.
And so aptly follows the moral :
All young women, a warning take,
A warning, look, you take by me ;
Look that you love your old loves Lest,
For in faith they are best company.
495
AS I walked fforth one morni[n]gc [page 513]
by one place that pleased mee,
wlierin I heard a wandering wight,
sais, " Christopher white is good eompanye."
I drew me neere, & very neere,
till I was as neere as neere cold bee ;
loth I was her councell to discreeme, 1
because I wanted companye.
I overheard
a girl
mourning
for Christo-
pher White.
I drew close
to her,
" Say on, say on, thou Avell faire mayd,
why makest thou 2 moane soe heauilye ? "
sais, " all is ffor one wandering wight,
12 is banished fforth of his owne countrye."
" I am the burgesse of Edenburrow,
soe am I more of townes 3,
I haue money & gold great store,
16 come, sweet wench, & ligg thy loue on mee."
the merchant pulled forth a bagg of gold
which, had hundreds 2 or three,
sais, " euery day throughout the weeke
20 He count 3 as much downe on thy knee."
" Merchant, take thy gold againe,
a good liuing twill purchase thee ;
if I be ffalse to Christopher white,
24 Merchant, I cannott be true to thee."
and she said
that White
was
banished.
An Edin-
burgh
burgess tells
her he lias
plent] of
in y ; will
she love
him? He
offers her
gold,
and 20 '/. or
30(M. a week.
She answers
that If she" i
false to
White,
she can't bo
true to him.
1 ? discrceuc. — F.
- MS. thorn.— F.
3 MS. comt.— F.
496
CIIIUSTOrilEK WHITE.
He tells her
what wealth
he has,
23
sais, " I haue halls, soe haue I bowers,"
sais, " I liaue sliipps sayling on the sea ;
I ame tlie burgess of Eclenburrowe ;
come, sweete wench, ligge thy louc on mcc.
and offers to
marry her
next day.
" Come on, come, thou well faire mayde !
of our matters lett vs goe throughe,
for to-morrowe lie marry thee,
32 & thy dwelling shalbe in Edenburrough."
The girl
takes his
money,
and agrees
to have him.
The Lady shee tooke this gold in her hand,
the teares the ffell ffast ffrom her eyes l ;
sais, " siluer & gold makes my hart to turne,
36 & makes me leaue good company e."
But soon
after their
marriage,
all the
merchants
have to go
to sea.
On this, the
wife sends a
love letter,
and 100/., to
Christopher,
They had not beene marryed
not ouer monthes 2 or 3,
but tydings came to Edenburrowe
40 tJiut all the merchants must to the sea.
Then as this Lady sate in a deske,
shee made a loue letter ffull round ;
she mad a lettre to Christopher white,
44 & in itt shee put a 100!'
She lind the letter with, gold soe red,
& mony good store in itt was found,
shee sent itt to Christopher white
48 that was soe ffar in the Scotts ground.
and bids him
cui:icj to her.
Shee bade him then ffrankely spend,
& looke that hee shold merry bee,
& bid him come to Edenburrowe
now all the merchants be to the sea.
1 eye.-P.
CHRISTOPHER WHITE.
497
56
But Christopher came to leeue London,
& there he kneeled lowly downe,
& there hee begd his pardon then,
of our noble King that ware the crownc.
He goes
first to
London,
and gets the
King's
pardon.
But when he came to his true loues house,
which was made both of lime and stone,
shee tooke him by the lilly white hand,
60 sais, " true loue, you l are welcome home !
Then he
comes to his
old love.
" welcome, my honey ! welcome, my ioy !
welcome, my true loue, home to mee !
ffor thou art hee that will leng[t]hen my dayes,
64 & I know thou art good companye.
She
welcomes
him,
" Christopher, I am a merchants wiffe ;
Christopher, the more shall be jour gaine ;
siluer & gold you shall haue enough,
68 of the merchants gold that is in Spaine."
" But if you be a Merchants wiffe,
something to much you are to blame ;
I will thee reade a loue letter 2
72 shall stu[r]e thy stumpes, thou noble dame."
promises
him as much
gold as
he wants,
76
" Althoug I be a marchants wiffe,
shall
• & g
into England He goe w/th the."
' mine
[page 514]
and declnre^
that she'll
elope with
him.
They packet vp both siluer & p[late,]
siluer & gold soe great plenty e ;
& they be gon into litle England,
80 & the marchant must them neuer see.
So they pack
up all the
merchant's
money,
and are off to
England.
1 MS. yo' — F. of p. 513; and the writing has perished,
'-' MS. lerW. I*'. ana pari of the paper is broken away at
3 The MS. is pared away at the bottom the top of p. 514. — F.
VOL. III.
K' K
498
CHRISTOPHER WHITE.
When the
merchant
comes back
from sea, his
neighbours
tell him
how his wife
84
And when the merchants they came home,
their wines to eche other can say,
"heere hath beene good Christopher white,
& he hath tane thy wiffe away ;
has run
away with
White.
" They hane packett vp spoone & plate,
silner & gold great plenty,
& they be gon into litle England,
& them againe thow mnst neuer see."
"Well.''
says the
merchant,
'• I don't
grieve for
my gold,
though I do
for my wife :
" I care nott ffor my silner & gold,
nor for my plate soe great plentye,
bnt I mourn e for that like-some Ladye
92 thai Christopher white hath tane ffrom mee.
but she gave
me fair
notice, so I
mustn't
grumble."
" Bnt one thing I must needs confesse,
this lady shee did say to me,
1 if shee were ffalse to Christopher white,
96 shee cold nener be true to mee.' '
Moral:
Young
women,
love your old
loves best !
100
All young [wo] men, a warning take !
a warning, looke, you take by mee !
looke that you loue yo?(r old loues best,
for infaith they are best companye.
ffinis.
499
2 " A ballett intituled * The Wanderynge Prince ' was entered on
the Registers of the Stationers' Company in 1564-5; This was,
no doubt, the 'Proper new ballad, intituled The Wandering
Prince of Troy : to the tune of Queen Dido,' of which there are
two copies in the Pepys Collection (i. 84 and 548). Of these
copies, the first, being printed by John Wright, is probably not
of earlier date than 1620 ; and the second, by Clarke, Thackeray,
and Passinger, after 1660. The ballad has been reprinted in
Percy's Reliques of Ancient Poetry, iii. 192, a. d. 1765 ; and in
Ritson's Ancient Songs, ii. 141, 1829. Its extensive popularity
will be best shown by the following quotations :
You ale-knights, you that devour the marrow of the malt, and
drink whole ale-tubs into consumptions ; that sing Queen Dido over
a cup, and tell strange news over an ale-pot . . . you shall be awarded
with this punishment, that the rot shall infect your purses, and eat
out the bottom before you are aware. — The Penniless Parliament of
Threadbare Poets, 1608. (Percy Soc. reprint, p. 44.)
Frank. — These are your eyes !
Where were they, Clora, when you fell in love
With the old footman for singing Queen Dido ?
Fletcher's The Captain, Act iii. Sc. 3.
" Fletcher again mentions it in Act i. Sc. 2 of Bonduca, where
Petillius says of Junius that he is ' in love, indeed in love, most
1 This Song is in Print, and commonly nut in the first three editions.
Intitled "iEneas the Wandering Prince - From Chappell's Popular Music, i.
of Troy."— P. Printed in t ho fourth 370-1. The quotations have been already
edition of the Beliques, vol. iii. p. 210; given by him, p. 260-1. — F.
K K 2
500 QDEENE DIDO.
lamentably loving, — to the tune of Queen Dido.' At a later
date, Sir Robert Howard (speaking of himself ) says :
In my younger time I have been delighted with a ballad for its
sake ; and 'twas ten to one but nry muse and I had so set up first :
nay, I had almost thought that Queen Dido, sung that way, was
some ornament to the pen of Virgil. I was then a trifler with the
lute and fiddle, and perhaps, being musical, might have been willing
that words should have their tones, unisons, concords, and diapasons,
in order to a poetical gamuth. — Poems and Essays, 8vo, 1673.
"A great number of ballads were sung to the tune, either
under the name of Queen Dido or of Troy Town."
Percy gives it in the Reliques from the Folio, " collated with
two different printed copies both in black-letter, in the Pepys
Collection."
This ballad tells, with some trifling variations, the story of
^Eneas' visit to Carthage, and Dido's passion and unhappy end.
Pity for his sufferings as he recounted them quickly grew into
love, and "this silly woman never slept," and she "rolled on her
careful bed," and sighed and sobbed, and drove her knife home
to her heart. Thus far the- ballad follows the famous Roman
epic ; afterwards it narrates circumstances uncommemorated by
Virgil. Dido's sister writes to iEneas (the Wandering Prince's
address at this time was " an isle in Grsecia " ) to inform him of
the poor lady's decease, and how with her last breath she prayed
for his prosperity. The perusal of the letter much distresses him.
Just as he has completed it, appears before him Queen Dido's
ghost, grim and pale, reproachful, portentous. It bids him
prepare his flitting soul to wander with her through the air.
The miserable deserter prays for mercy ; he would fain live, he
says, to make amends to some of her most dearest friends— offers
" damages," in fact ; but, when he sees her inflexible, he makes
a virtue of necessity, and professes himself content to die. His
hour comes at once.
QUEENE DIDO. 501
And thus as one being in a trance,
A multitude of ugly fiends
About this woeful prince did dance;
He had no help of any friends.
His body then they took away,
And no man knew his dying day.
So that even an inquest could not be held over him.
In the JSneid the hero does indeed see the ghost of the
Carthaginian Queen ; but it is because he goes to its habitation,
not that it comes to his. When in the sixth book he descends
into hell, he sees the hapless Phoenician in the region or quarter
of those
Qui sibi letuui
Insontes peperere manu, lucemque perosi
Projecere animas.
He sees her, and with tears would explain his departure from
her arms. He left her, he urges, against his own will, by divine
compulsion, and entreats her to stay and converse with him.
But she answers him never a word.
Talibus iEneas ardentem et torva tuentem
Lenibat dictis animam, lacrimasque ciebat.
Ilia solo fixos oculos aversa tenebat ;
Nee magis incepto vultum sermone movetur,
Quam si dura silex aut stet Marpesia cautes.
Tandem corripuit sese, atque inimica refugit
In nemus umbriferum ; confux ubi pristinus illi
Respondet euris, sequatque Sichseus amorem.
Nee minus iEneas, casu percussus iniquo,
Prosequitur lacrimans longe, et miscratur euntem.
Ovid in the third book of his Fasti describes an apparition of
Dido, but it is revealed, not to iEneas, but to Dido's sister Anna,
who is at the time the welcome guest of zEneas in Italy, to warn
her of Lavinia's jealousy.
Nox eral ; ante torum visa est adstare sororis
Squalenti Dido sanguinolenta coma,
Et ' Euge ne dubita, mcestum fuge,' dicere, 'tectum.'
The door creaked opportunely ; and Anna, alarmed, escaped
through the window, and finally threw herself into the river
Numicius.
502
QUEENE DIDO.
After the
Trojan war,
iEueas
lands at
Carthage,
I)ido makes
him a sump-
tuous feast,
and at it
asks him to
tell her the
story of his
hard
fortune.
This he does,
fo sweetly
and patheti-
cally that all
weep,
and at last
1 liilo is
obliged
to ;isk him
to stop.
VV HEN * Troy towne for ten yeeres warr
withstood the greekes in man full wise,
yett did their foes encrease soe ffast,
4 that to resist none 2 cold suffise ;
wast ly 3 those wall[s] 4 that were soe good,
& corne now growes where Troy towne stoode.
jEneas, wanclring prince of Troy,
8 when he ffor land long time had sought,
att last arriued 5 with great ioy,
to mighty carthage walls was brought,
where dido queene with s[u]mptuous feast
12 did entertaine that wandering guest.
And as in hall att meate the sate,
the queene, desirous newes to heare
of thy vnhappy 10 yeeres warr,
16 " declare to me, thou troian deere,
thy 6 heauy hap, & chance soe bad,
that thou, poore wandering prince, hast had."
And then anon this comelye "knight,
20 w/th words demure, as he cold well,
of his vnhappy ten yeeres warr
soe true a tall 7 begun to tell,
with words sooe sweete & sighes soe deepe,
24 that oft he made them all to weepe ;
And then a 1000 sighes he ffeiht, 8
& euery sigh brought teares amaine,
that where he sate, the place was wett
28 as though he had scene those warrs againe ;
soe that the Queene w?'th ruth therfore
said, " worthy prince, enough ! no more ! "
1 Although or albeit.
after when by P. — F.
-P. now added
2 nought. — P.
3 MS. wastly.
4 walls.
6 The.-
-P.
-F. waste lie,
5 Arriuing. — P.
-P. 7 tale.— P.
8 fet. olim pro fetch t. vid. Bible.
2 Sam. 9. 5. item 1 K? s 9. 28, &c— P.
QUEENE DIDO.
And then the darkesome night drew on,
32 & twinkling starres on skye was * spread, 2
& 3 he his dolefull tale had told,
euery 4 one were layd in bedd,
where they full sweetly tooke their rest,
3G saue only didos boyling brest.
This sillye woman neue>' slept,
but in her chamber all alone,
as one vnhappye, alwayes wept.
vnto the walls shee made her moane
that she shold still desire in vaine
the thing that shee cold not obtaine.
46
44
48
52
503
At night
all take
sweet rest,
save Dido,
who cannot
sleep,
but always
weeps and
moans,
desiring
./Eneas.
And thus in greeffe shee spent the night
[Till twinkling starres] 5 in skye were ffledd, in the
morning
TAnd now bright Phebus mornlino; beames [page 515] she hears
[Amidst they] clouds appeared redd.
[Then tidings] came to her anon
[How that the] Teoian shipps we[r]e gone. 7
that the
Trojan ships
are gone.
8 And then the queene with bloody kniffe
did armee, her hart as hard as stone ;
y*ett something loth to loose her liffe,
in wofull wise shee made her mone ;
then rowling on her carfull 9 bed,
with sighes & sobbs these words slice sayd :
She seizes
a knife :
but before
killing
herself,
1 were. — P.
2 the skye bespread. — P.
3 when. — P. ' then every. — P.
5 Pared away in the MS. The brack-
eted parts of the next four lines are
torn away.— P.
6 Till twinkling starres in the sky
were ffled. — P.
7 And now bright Phebus morning
beames
Amidfl the clouds appeared red,
Then tidings ca me to her anon
How thai the Trojan Shipps were
gone Qu, P
8 And then the Queen with bloody
knife
Did arm her heart &c.
Yet something &c.
In woful w r iso &c.
Then i<>\\ Ling on &e.
With Bighfl &c— P.
care-full, as in Piers Plowman's
Crah :
And al they songen o songc
Tint sorwe was to heron ;
They crieden alle o cry,
A kareful m^te. — F.
504
QUEENE DIDO.
she laments
her sad fate.
" O wretched dido queene ! " shee said, 1
56 "I see thy end approcheth neere,
fFor hee is gone away ffrom thee
whom thou didst loue & hold soe dere.
what, is he gone, & passed by ?
60 hart, prepare thy selfe to dye !
Then she
calls on
Death,
and stabs
herself.
Her funeral
is costly,
and her
sisters and
subjects
bewail her.
Her sister
writes
JEneas
a letter,
" Though reason sais thou shouldest fforbeare,
to 2 stay thy hand ffrom bloudy stroke,
yett ffancy sais thou shalt not ffeare 3
64 who ffettereth thee in cupids yoke.
come death ! " q-uoth shee, " resolue my smart ! "
& with those words shee peerced her hart.
when death had peercet the tender hart
68 of Dido, Carthiginian Queene,
& bloudy kniffe had ended 4 the same, 5
w/u'ch shee sustaind in mournfull teene,
^Eneas being shipt & gone,
72 whose fflatery caused all her mone.
Her ffunerall most costly made,
& all things ffinisht mournefullye,
her body ffine in mold was laid,
76 where itt consumed speedilye :
her sisters teares her tora.be bestrewde,
he[r] 6 subiects greeffe their kindnesse shewed.
Then was ^neas in an He
80 in grecya, where he stayd long space,
wheras her sister in short while
writt to him in 7 his vile disgrace ;
In speeches bitter to his mind
84 shee told him plaine, he was vnkind :
1 said slice. — P. •
* And.— P.
3 bids thee not to iVar.
-P.
4 did [end].— P.
5 smart. — P.
B Her.— P.
7 to.— P.
gUEENE DIDO.
505
88
"ffalse liarted wretch," quoth shee, " thou art !
& traitorously thou hast hetraid
vnto thy lure a gentle hart
w/«'ch vnto thee much welcome made,
my sister deere, & carthage Ioy,
whose fiblly hred her deere annoy.
calling him
a false-
hearted
wretch ,
" Yett on her deathbed when shee lay,
92 shee prayd for thy prosperitye,
beseeching god that euery day
might breed thy great flelicitye.
thus by thy meanes I lost a ffreind :
96 heauens send thee such an v[n]timely * end ! "
saying that
Dido prayed
for his
welfare,
but her
sister wishes
him an un-
timely end.
100
When he these lines, ffull ffraught with, gall,
perused had, and wayed them right,
his Losty 2 courage then did ffall ;
& straight appeared in his sight
Queene didoes Ghost, both grim & pale,
which made this vallyant souldier for to quaile.
./Eneas, on
reading this,
is cast down ;
and Dido's
ghost
appears,
"iEneas," quoth this gastly ghost,
104 " my whole delight when I did liue !
thee of all men I loued most,
my ffancy & my will did giue ;
ffor Entertainment I the gaue ;
108 vnthankefully thou didst me grauc ;
reproaches
1 ii in for his
ingratitude,
112
" Therfore prepare thy fflitting soule
to wander wtth me in the aire,
where deadly greefle shall make itt howle
because on me thou tookest no care.
delay not time, thy glasse is run,
thy date is past, & death is come 3 ! "
and
summons
his soul to
fly howling
about the
air u ith her.
11 is death is
at hand.
1 untimely. — P.
8 ? Lustv or Lot'tv.
thy life is done. — Child's Ballad*.
506
QDEENE DIDO.
JEneas prays
for a respite,
" stay a while, thou [lovely sprite !] l
116 be not soe hasty to conuay
my soule into eternall night,
where itt shall neere behold bright day !
O doe not ffrowne ! thy angry looke
120 hath made my breath my liffe fforsooke.
[page 51G]
but all in
vain ;
124
" But woe is me ! all is in vaine,
& booteles is my dismall crye !
time will not be recalled againe,
nor thou surcease before I dye.
lett me liue, & make amends
to some of thy most deerest ffreinds !
and seeing
she ia
obdurate,
he is content
to die.
" But seeing thou obdurate art,
128 & will no pittye to me show
because ffrom thee I did depart,
& lefft vnpaid what I did owe,
I must content my selfe to take
132 what Lott to me thou wilt partake. 2 "
Ugly fiends
dance
around him,
and carry off
his body.
136
And thus, as one being in a trance,
a multitude of vglye ffeinds
about this woffull prince did dance : —
he had no helpe of any ffreinds ; —
his body then they tooke away,
& no man knew his dying day. ffillis.
1 stay a while thou gentle sprite,
Be not so hasty to conuay.
Query. — P.
MS. pared away. — F. lovely sprite. —
Child.
2 to admit, to share : to extend parti-
cipation. " So Spencer." see Johns" — P.
507
A cory of this ballad occurs in the Garland of Good Will,
(reprinted by the Percy Society) to the tune of " Flying Fame " —
a tune to which, says Mr. Chappell in his Popular Music, " A
large number of ballads have been written," one in Collection of
Old Ballads, and one in Evans's Old Ballads.
The ballad celebrates the friendship of the two heroes whose
name it bears. These stuck closer to one another than brothers.
Such fast friendships between two knights were favourite subjects
with the old romance-writers. 2 Every true knight could boast not
only of a lady love, but of a " brother sworn." And perhaps the
writer of the following ballad does but echo some older poem.
The generous eagerness of Alphonso to die for his friend, when
overwhelming circumstantial evidence was condemning that
friend to death, will remind the reader of the well-known old story
Damon and Phintias, told by Cicero in his Be Officiis (III. 10),
and by others elsewhere.
IN Stately Roome sometime did dwell A Roman
a man of worthy 3 flame, gentleman
who had a soime of ffeaturcs rare, 4 had a son,
4 Alphonso called by 5 name. Alphonso,
when hee was growne & come to age,
his ffather thought itt best
to send his sonnes 6 to Athens ffaire, whom ho
8 where wisdomes Schoole did rest. Athens
1 In the printed Collection of Old Bal- 3 Noble.— O.B.
lads, L726, Vol. 2, p. 145.— P. 4 seemly Shape.— O.S.
- See Eger and Grime, vol. i. p. 355, 4 was his. o.B.
1. 46, and 'note 8 . ' ; Son.— O.B.
508
ALFFONSO AND GANSELO.
to learn
letters,
where a
knight
took charge
of him
whose son,
Ganselo,
was so like
Alphonso
that they
were only
known apart
by their
names.
The youths
love one
another.
Ganselo
loves
a beautiful
lady,
He sent him vnto Athens towne, 1
good letters for to learne ;
a place to boord him with delight
12 his ffreinds did well discern e ;
a noble 'knight of Athens towne
of him did take the charge,
who had a sonne Ganselo cald,
1C iust of his pitch and age.
In stature & in person both,
in ffauor, speech, and fiface,
in quality & condityon eke, 2
the greed in euery case 3 ;
soe like they were in all respects,
the one vnto the other,
they were not knowne, but by their names,
of ffather nor 4 of mother.
20
24
28
32
And as in ffauor they were found
alike in all respects,
euen soe they did most deerly loue,
as proued by good effects.
Ganselo loued a Lady faire
which did in Athens dwell,
who was in bewtye peereles found,
soe ffarr shee did excell.
takes a fancy
to visit her,
and asks
Alphonso to
go with him.
vpon a time itt chanced soe,
as ffancy did him moue,
that hee wold visitt for delight
36 his Lady and his loue ;
& to his true and ffaithfull ffreind
he did declare the same,
asking of him if hee wold see
40 that ffaire & comely dame.
1 And when he was to Athens come.
-O.K.
2 Conditions. — O.B.
8 Place.— O.B.
or.
-O.B.
ALFEONSO AND GANSELO.
509
Alphonso did tlierto agree,
& with Ganselo went
to see the Lady whom l hee loued,
4-1 which bred his discontent :
ffor when he cast his christall eyes
vpon her angells 2 hue,
the bewty of that Lady bright
48 [Did strait] 3 his hart subdue.
Alphonso
goes,
and falls in
love with
the lady,
[His gentle Heart so wounded 4 ] was
with that ffaire L[ady's 4 ] face
that affterward hee daylye lined
52 in sad & woefull case ;
& of his greeffe he knew not how
therof 5 to make an end,
ffor that hee knew the Ladyes loue
56 was yeelded to his ffreind.
[page 517]
and becomes
very sad,
as he knows
she's his
friend's
sweetheart.
Thus being sore perplext in mind,
vpon his bed hee lay
like one which. 6 death & deepe dispaire
60 had almost worne away.
his ffreind Ganselo, that did see
his greeffe and great distresse,
ait lcnght requested ffor to know
64 his cause of lieauinesse.
He takes to
his bed,
as one like
to die.
Ganselo
asks the
cause,
with much adoc att lenghl be told
the truth vnto his ffreind,
who 'lid release" his inward woe
68 with comfort 8 in the end :
anil on
hearing it ,
1 which. O.B.
- /Lngel O.B.
3 O.B. .MS. pared away.— F.
* O.B.
'• Therefore.— O.B.
,; whom. -O.B.
7 relieve. O.B.
8 to. 0.15.
510
ALFFONSO AND GANSELO.
at onco gives
his love up
to his friend,
"take courage then, deere freind ! " quoth, bee ;
" though shee through loue be mine,
my right I will resigne to thee,
the Lady shalbe thine.
tells him to
put on his
(iianselo's)
clothes,
and marry
the lady.
" You know our ffauors ' are alike,
our speech alike 2 likwise ;
this day in mine apparrell then 3
76 you shall your selfe disguise,
& unto church then shall } t ou goe
directly in my stead ;
soe 4 though my ffreinds suppose tis I,
80 you shall the Lady wedd."
Next day
Alphonso
does marry
her,
and is taken
to her bed.
Alphonso was ffull 5 well apayd ;
& as they had decreed,
he went next G day, & weded plaine
84 the ladye there indeed.
But when the nuptyall feast was done,
& Phebus light 7 was filed,
the Lady for Ganselo tooke
88 Alfonso 8 to her bed.
But in the
morning
Alphonso is
summoned
to Eome.
the
deception is
found out,
That night they spent in pleasing sort, 9
& when the day was come,
a post fibr ffaire Alfonso came
92 to fleitch him home to Roome.
then was the matter plainly proued,
Alfonso weded was,
& [not 10 ] Ganselo, to that dame ;
96 which, brought great woe, alas !
1 Favour.— O.B.
- also.— O.B.
3 O.B. omits th a.
4 Lo— O.B.
a so.— O.B.
« that.— O.B.
7 quite.— O.B.
8 Part of a letter, or an r, follows o in
the MS. 1'. Alphonso.— O.B.
» pleasant Sport.— O.B. 10 O.B.
ALFFONSO AND (;ANSELO.
511
Alfonso being gone to Roome
w/th this his lady gay,
Ganselos ffreinds & kinred all
100 in such a rage did staye
that they depriued [him •] of his welth
his lands 2 & rich attire,
& banisht him their country eke 3
104 in rage & wrathefull Ire.
ami
Ganselo's
friends,
enraged,
seize his
property,
and
bauish him.
w/th sad & pensiue thought, 4 alas !
Ganselo wanderd then,
who was constrained through want to begg He is forced
108 releeffe of many men.
In this distresse oft wold he say
" to Roome I mean to goe,
to seeke Alfonso, my deere fi'reind,
112 who will releeue my woe."
To Roome when pore Ganselo came,
& found Alfonsoes place,
w/«ch was soe ffamous, huge, & faire,
116 himselfe in such poore case,
he was ashamed to shew himselfe
in that his poore array,
saying, " Alfonso knowes me well
i20 if he shold 5 come this way ; "
goes to
Rome,
and finds
Alphonso's
place so
grand that
hedai-en't
go there.
"wherfore 6 he staid within the street.
Alfonso then came by,
but heeded mm 7 Ganselo pore,
124 his ffreind l/mi stood soe nye ;
So he s'ups
outside.
Alphonso
I'nws by,
taking no
notice of
him.
1 O.B.
- Land. O.B.
-■> quite. O.B.
1 Thoughts.— 0.13.
« would.— O.B.
' Therefore.— O.B.
6 not,— O.J5.
512
ALFFONSO AND GANSELO.
This grieves
Ganselo, so
128
which greened Ganselo to the hart
qttoth hee, " and is itt soe ?
doth proud Alfonso now disclaine
his freind in need l to know ? "
that he
draws his
knife to stab
himself ;
but, while
weeping,
falls asleep.
In desperatt s[ort away he went] 2
into a barne hard by,
& presently he drew his k[niffe,]
132 thinking therby to dye ;
& bitterlye in sorrow there
he did lament & weepe ;
& being owerwayd with greeffe,
136 he ffell full 3 fast asleepe.
[page 518]
A murderer
takes up the
knife,
thrusts it
into a man
he has
killed,
while soundly there he sweetly slept,
came in a murthering theeffe,
w7wch 4 saw a naked kniffe lye by
140 this man soe ffull of greeffe.
the kniffe soe bright he tooke vp straight,
& went away amain e,
& thrust itt in a murthered man
144 which hee beffore had slaine ;
and then
puts it, all
bloody, into
(ianselo's
hand.
Ganselo is
found with
the knife,
And affterward 5 hee went with speede,
& put this bloody kniffe
into his hand, that sleeping lay,
148 to saue himselfe ffrom striffe.
which done, in hast away 6 he ran ;
& when that serch was made,
Ganselo with his bloody kniffe
152 was ffor the murther stayde,
1 indeed.—
- O.B.
3 there fell
O.B.
-O.B.
* And.— O.B.
6 afterwards.— O.B.
8 away in haste. — O.B.
ALFFONSO AND GANSELO.
513
And brought befor the Magistrates, 1
who did confesse most plaine
that hee indeed w«'th that same kniffe
156 the murthered man had slaine. 2
Alfonso sitting there as 3 iudge,
& knowing Ganselos fface,
to saue his ffreind, did say himselfe
160 was guilty in that case.
and tried
for the
murder,
lie confesses
that he
committed
it.
Alphonso is
the judge ;
and to save
Ganselo,
" None," quoth Alfonso, "killed the man,
my lords, 4 but only I ;
& therfore sett this poore man ffree,
164 & lett me iustly dye."
thus while for death these ffaith-ffull freinds 5
in striuing did proceed,
the man before the senate came
168 which 6 did the ffacte indeed,
vows that
he killed
the man.
Just then
the real
murderer,
Who being moued with remorse
their ffaith-ffull 7 harts to see,
did proue 8 before the judges plaine
172 none did the deed 9 but hee.
thus when the truth was plainly told,
of all sids ioy was seene ;
Alfonso did imbrace his freind
176 which had soe wofull beenc.
struck with
remorse,
proves
his own
guilt.
Alphonso
embraces
Ganselo,
In rich array he clothed him,
as fitted his degree,
& helpt him to his lands againe
180 & fibrmer dignitye.
and helps
him to his
old lauds, .Sec.
1 Magistrate.— O.B.
2 flain.— O.B.
3 with the.— O.B.
* Lord.— O.B.
5 One strokes too few in the MS. — F.
VOL. III. I> I'
8 That.— O.B.
7 friendly.— O.B.
8 say.— O.B.
9 Fact.— O.B.
514 ALFFONSO AND GANSELO.
And the the murtherrer lie ! ffor telling truth
pardoned. was pardoned 2 att that time,
wlio afterward lamented much
184 this 3 foule & greiuous crime. IliniS.
1 O.B. omits he— F. 2 Had pardon.— O.B. s His.— O.B.
\_" All in a greene Meadowe," printed » Lo. & Hum. Songs, p. 114,
follows here in the MS. p. 518-19.]
515
23fllotoe t 1
This exquisite song is given in the Reliqu.es from the Folio,
" corrected by 2 another [copy] in Allan Ramsay's Miscellany"
and of course touched up by Percy himself without notice,
Scottified throughout. There are many versions of the song ;
and of them we may particularise seven, in order of date as
printed, or copied into manuscripts. On several of these versions
Mr. Chappell remarks below :
1. In Brome's comedy of The Northern Lass, or the Nest of
Fools, printed in 1632, acted somewhat earlier, 3 occurs a version
of two stanzas found neither in our Folio nor Ramsay's Tea-
table Miscellany. They are no doubt an imitation of one of the
M.S. versions now printed, and which have an earlier cast than
Brome's lines.
Peace, wayward barne ! Oh ! cease thy moan !
Thy farre more wayward daddy's gone,
And never will recalled be,
By cryes of either thee or me :
For should wee cry
Untill we dye,
Wee could not scant his cruelty.
Ballow, hallow, &c.
He needs might in himselfe foresee
What thou successively mightst be ;
1 This Song is in Allan Kamsays 2 "compared with" 2nd and 3rd edi-
Collection eall'd the Tea-table Miscel- tions of the Beliques; "corrected by"
lany, printed at Glasgow, 1753, in 4 '4th ed. : no notice of any comparison or
Parts. It is there eall'd Lady Anno correction in the 1st ed. — 3?.
Bothwell's lament. — And consists of 13 3 Robert Chambers, in a note to his
Stanzas. Of wAich only the 11' 2? 3"? Scottish Ballads (ed. 1829, p. lis), Bays
& 7'. h are t ho same with this:- In the that it is to be found in The Northern
printed copy: the 2"? & 3?, are put Lass, or the Nest of Fools, 1606. W.C
;;•' cV 2'. 1 & t'li.- 7'. 1 ' comes in -l"', the in- r a. misprinl for L706, the date of the
termediate being omitted: after which reprint of Uroinc's play; we cannot find
follow 8 other. The last St. of this is any notice of a book or play of this
something different from the Printed, P. name in 1G06. — F.
L 1. 2
516
BALOWE.
And could hee thon (though mo forcgoe)
His infant leave, ere hee did know
How like the dad
Would bee the lad,
In time to make fond maydens glad ?
Ballow, ballow, &c.
2. Our Folio version, out of the first stanza of which a
couplet has disappeared.
3, 4. In John Gamble's book, 1649 a.d., a musical MS.
belonging to Dr. Eimbault, is the copy of Balowe given in the
left-hand column below, 1 which Dr. Eimbault has allowed us to
transcribe. By its side, on the right, we put the copy from
Elizabeth Kogers's Virginal Booh, the Additional MS. 10,337,
a.d. 1658, to which Mr. Chappell has called our attention.
[John Gamble's MS. Book, 1649 a.d.]
l
Ballowe, my babe, lye still and sleepe,
it grieves me sore to see thee weepe !
when thou art merry, I am glad ;
thy weepinge makes my hart full sad.
ballowe, my boy, thy mothers ioy,
thy father breedes thee much anoy ;
ballow, ballow, ballow, ballow.
balow my babe, ly still a while ;
and when thow wakest, sweetly smile ;
butt doe nott smille as ffather did,
to cozen maidens, god fforbid !
butt now I ffear that thou willt leer
thy ffathers fflattringe hartt to bear,
balow &c.
[Addit. MS. 10,337, p. 6 from the end.]
l
Baloo my boy lye still and sleepe, 2
itt grieues me sore to see the weepe :
Wouldst thou bee quiet ist 3 be as glade,
Thy morninge, makes my sorrow sad :
Lie still my boy, thy mothers Joy,
Thy father Coulde mee great a-noy :
La loo, Ba loo, la loo, la loo, la loo,
la loo, la loo,
Baloo, baloo, Baloo, baloo; Baloo
Baloo.
When he began to court my loue,
and with his sugard words did moue
His flattering face and feigned cheare,
To mee that tyme did not appearc,
1 Pinkerton prints a version in his Select
Scotish Ballads, 1 783,vol. i. p. 86, and says :
"In a 4to MS. in the Editor's posses-
sion, containing a collection of poems by
different hands from the reign of Queen
Elizabeth to the middle of the last cen-
tury, when it was apparently written
(pp. 132) there are two Balowes as they
are styled, the first The Balow Allan, tho
socond Palmer's Balow ; this last, is that
commonly called Lady Bothwell's Lament,
and the three first stanzas in this edition
are taken from it, as is the last from Allan's
Balow. They are injudiciously mingled
in Ramsay's edition, and several stanzas
of his own added ; a liberty ho used much
too often in printing Scotish poems."
Pinkerton'sMS. (temp. Car. 1. 162. r v-49)
is now in the possession of Mr. David
Laing, and he has kindly compared it
for us with Pinkerton's text. The latter
he declares to be " utterly worthless. In
the MS. the ballad Palmers Balow con-
sists of six stanzas nearly verbatim with
the text vim havo ,<_'i \ m from Gamble's
MS., 1649."
2 Stops, hyphens, &c, all in the MS.
— F.
3 I should.— F.
BALOWE.
517
{John Gamble's MS. Boole, 16-19 a.d.]
•when hee beegan to court my loue,
with sugred words hee did mee move,
his faineinge 1 ffaee & fflattringe leares
thatt unto me in time apeares;
butt now I see that crewelty
cares neitther ffor my bal ie nor mee,
balow &c.
I cannott chose, butt euer will
bee Loyal] to thy ffather still ;
his cuninge hath parlur'd- my hartt,
thatt I can noe waies ffram him partt ;
in well or woe, wher-eare hee goe,
my hartt shall nere departt him fro.
balow.
ffarewell! ffarewell the ffalsestt youth
thai euer kistt a womans mouth !
lett neuer maide ere after mee
once trust unto thy ereuelty !
ffor crewell thou, iff once shee bow,
wiltt her abuse, thou earstt nott how.
balow &e.
[Addit. MS. 10,337, p. 6 from the end.]
But now I see, that Cruell hee
Cares nether for my boy, nor mee,
Baloo lialoo.
But thou my darlinge sleepe a while,
and when thou wakest sweetlye smile,
yet smile not as thy father did
ozen 3
To Cusen mads, nay god for-bid
re 3
But yett i feare that thou willt heare
Thy fathers face and hart still beare
Baloo //: //: //:
Now by my greifs I vow and sweare
the and all others to forbeare
I'le neuer kisse nor Cull nor Clapp
But lull my youngling in my lapp,
Cease hart to nioane, leaue of to groane,
and sleepe securelye hart a-lone.
Baloo //: //: //:
Now by my greifs I uow & sware,
thee and all others to fforbeare;
ile neither kiss, nor cull, nor clapp,
butt lull my youuglinge in my lapp.
bee still my hartt, leaue off to moane,
and sleep secuerly all alone.
balow &c.
5. Watson's copy in his Comic and Serious Scots Poems,
Pt. iii. 1711, p. 79. It is called " Lady Anne Bothwell's Balow,"
and contains 13 stanzas.
6. Allan Ramsay's copy in his Tea-Table Miscellany, 1724.
This is called " Lady Anne Bothwell's Lament.'''' It is Watson's
version with emendations, and some stanzas transposed. Like
Watson's, it consists of 13 stanzas; the Folio of 7. There are,
as Percy notes, only 4 stanzas common to both copies ; stanzas
1, 2, 3, and 7 of the Folio version occur with but slight varia-
tions in the other one.
1 ? MS. fameingc.— F. - ? for purloin'd.— F. 8 So in MS.— F.
518 BALOWE.
7. The version in Evans's Old Ballads, 1810. 'The new
Balow.'
The ordinary account of the original personages of this ballad
is that given by Prof. Child in the fourth volume of his English
and Scottish Ballads.
The unhappy lady (he says) into whose mouth some unknown
poet has put this lament, is now ascertained to have been Anne,
daughter to Both well, Bishop of Orkney. Her faithless lover was
her cousin, Alexander Erskine, son to the Earl of Mar. Lady Anne is
said to have possessed great beauty, and Sir Alexander was reputed
the handsomest man of his age. He was first a colonel in the
French army, but afterwards engaged in the service of the Cove-
nanters, and came to his death by being blown up, with many other
persons of rank, in Douglass Castle, on Aug. 30, 1640. The events
which occasioned the ballad seem to have taken place early in
the seventeenth century. Of the fate of the lady subsequent to this
period nothing is known. See Chambers, Scottish Ballads, p. 105,
and The Scots Musical Museum (1853), iv. 203 ....
But on this statement Mr. Chappell has been good enough to
draw up, at some trouble, the following :
" Baloo is a sixteenth-century ballad, not a seventeenth. It
is alluded to by several of our early dramatists, and the tune is
to be found in an early Elizabethan MS. known as William
Ballet's Lute Book, x as well as in Morley's Consort Lessons,
printed in 1599. The words (see above) and tune are together
in John Gamble's Music Booh, a MS. in the possession of Dr.
Kimbault, (date 1649,) and in Elizabeth Bogers's Virginal Book,
in the library of the British Museum (Addit. MS. 10,337).
The last is dated 1658, but the copy may have been taken some
few years after. Baloo was so popular a subject that it was
printed as a street ballad, with additional stanzas, just as 'My
lodging it is on the cold ground ' and other popular songs were
1 Tliis highly interesting MS. -which is 'Queen Maries Dump' (in whose reign
in tin' library of Trinity College, Dublin, it was probably commenced) stands first
(D. I. 21) contains a large number of the in the book. Chappell's Popular Music,
popular tunes of the sixteenth century. . i. 86, note h . — F.
BALOWE. 519
lengthened for the same purpose. It has been reprinted in that
form by Evans, in his Old Ballads, Historical and Narrative,
edit. 1810, vol. i. p. 259. The title is 'The new Balow ; or,
A Wenches Lamentation for the loss of her Sweetheart : he
having left her a babe to play with, being the fruits of her folly.'
The particular honour of having been the ' wench ' in question
was first claimed for ' Lady Anne Bothwel ' in Part iii. of Comic
and Serious Scots Poems, published by Watson in Edinburgh in
1713. Since that date Scotch antiquaries have been very busy in
searching into the scandalous history of the Bothwell family, to find
out which of the Lady Annes might have been halla-balooing.
" May we not release the whole race from this imputation ?
The sole authority for the charge is Watson's Collection ! — the
same book that ascribes to the unfortunate Montrose the song of
' My dear and only love, take heed,'' and tacks it as a second
part to his ' My dear and only love, I pray.' Shade of
Montrose ! how must you be ashamed of your over-zealous
advocate! Let us examine whether the spirit of 'Lady Anne
Bothwel ' has more reason to be grateful. Among the stanzas
ascribed to her by Watson, are the two following, which are not
to be found in any English copy :
I take my fate from best to worse
That I must needs now be a nurse,
And lull my young son in my lap.
From me, sweet orphan, take the pap :
Balow, my boy, thy mother mild
Shall sing, as from all bliss exil'd.
In the second Ave find the inducement supposed to have been
offered by Lady Anne's lover :
I was too credulous at the firs!
To grant thee that a maiden durst,
And in thy bravery thou didst vaunt
That I no maintenance should want: [!]
Thou swear thou lovV. thj mind is moved,
Which sinco no otherwise has proved.
" Comment is unnecessary. Can any one believe that such
520 BALOWE.
lines were written by or for any lady of rank ? l Yet they were
copied as Lady Anne's by Allan Ramsay, and polished in his
usual style. They have been polished and repolished by subse-
quent editors, but to little avail, for they remain great blots
upon a good English ballad. 2 There is not a Scotch word, nor
even one peculiar to the north of England, in the whole of
Watson's version.
"The remainder of Eamsay's copy will be found in the English
ballad reprinted by Evans. Omit stanzas 5 and 7 of Ramsay
(which are given above) and compare with Evans in the fol-
lowing reversed order : — Verse 2, 9, 3, 15, 10, 1, 14, 5, 6, 7 and 8.
" The acumen of Scotch antiquaries has rarely been exercised
against claims that have been once put forth for Scotland. Such
matters are left for us lazy Southrons to find out."
The sad lady and her lover are thus still to seek.
Excepting the two stanzas added in Watson's copy, the
piece is, we think, singularly beautiful — the work of no com-
mon poet, whoever he was. It is marked by a most touching-
simplicity and truthfulness. The poor forlorn woman speaks
from the abundance of a full heart. The words she utters fall as
naturally as her tears. Her spirit is of the gentlest and tenderest
and she makes her plaint most gently and tenderly. She can-
not bring herself to speak bitterly of him who has betrayed and
left her. She regards him still with an ineradicable fondness :
1 The verse is accordingly altered in Lament is composed out of that -which
E. Chambers's Scottish Ballads, 1829, appeared in Watson's Collection, with
p. 135, to some stanzas and various readings from
I was too credulous at the first, a ™™* f together different, which was
To yield thee all a maiden durst. P llbl ' s f d ^ £• Per< f ~ V : „ , .
Thou swore for ever true to prove, . * °^ portions of the ballad have
By faith unchanged, unchanged thy love ; 5een * re f ed m ^tfTJl ^ Evan to
But, quick as thought, the change is late Professor W. E. Ay oun, no content
•wrought Wltn sucl1 cnan S es 11S ° S m for 1
Thy love's' no more, thy promise noucht wis1 ?'" / to *£» !* ™ re ? c ° teh ) must
-61 1 v i-ii j 1 , needs chancre " With fairest tonqucs are
Balow, my boy, lie still and sleep! uwubuiuiw ,ir, ),.»., .
Tf „,.; „, o ™« 1,;,. t„ ^ t i,„ ™, L falsest mines," into " With fairest hearts
it grieves me sair to see tnee weip. „ , . ' „ ... ~
. are falsest minds. — W.C.
Chambers says that his " copy of the
BALOWE. 521
I cannot choose but ever will
Be loving to thy father still.
■Where'er he goes, where'er he ride,
My love with him doth still abide.
In weal or woo, where'er he go,
My heart shall ne'er depart him fro.
What a moving lealty of soul ! What a passing constant loving-
ness ! '
May we do ourselves the pleasure of quoting here an old
Greek song, of which " Balow " much reminds us — the Lament of
Danae, written by Simonides ? The circumstances are indeed
different. Danae has been sent out to sea in a boat by her
father with only her child with her. (Compare Chaucer's Man
of Law's Tale.) This aggravation of her sufferings is wanting to
the deserted lady in Baloive. The father is in one case a god ; in
the other a mortal. But each woman's one care and comfort is
her child. Each bids her darling sleep as she herself weeps and
watches tenderly over its slumbers. Of each the characteristic is
a sweet patience, a touching meekness of nature.
'6re \apvaxi [5'] if SaiSoAea ave/xos re ynv
KivrjQelffa re Ai/Ava
Sei'/ua-rt 'r/ptirev, ovk aSiai/roiffi vapeicus
d/j.(pi re Xlepcrei fiaAAe (piKav X € V a
elW re - Si TiKos, olov ix 03 "tbvov '
ffv 5' avroos yaXadyvcS
CTrjOei ■ KV&ffaeis ev arepTre?
5w/j.an x a ^ Ke0 "y^l J - ( PV vvKTiKap-Trel
Kvapew re 5v6(pcp radeis.
AuaXeav 5' unep6e redv
K6fxav f$a6e7av irapiovTOS
Kv/xaTOS oiiK aAeyeis,
ou5' dvefiov <p66yyaiv,
Keiixevos ev iropcpvpea x^cd'Si, TTp6<TuiTov KaXov.
el 5e toi Seifbv r6 ye Setvbv i)v,
Kal Kev fycov $>i)pi.aT<iiv Keirrbv uTretxes ovas'
1 Mr. Kobert Chambers's opinion, if it by no means agreeable to reflect upon.
be entitled to the name, maybe compared: Ee, however, afterwards saw reason to
" The editor a1 first thought of excluding change his resolution, in the fine moral
the ballad altogether from his collection, strain which pervades I lie unfortunate
us, although tin' poetry is exquisitely lady's lamentations." — F.
beautiful, the subject is one which it is 2 Al. t' i]Topt, al. tfOei, al. fieiSti.
522
BALOWE.
k4\o/j.' f'vSe Ppecpos,
eu5era> Se tcovtos,
euSeTW 6,/J.eTpov k<xk6v '
/j.€Tafi,ivALa 5e tis cpavtir),
ZeC irdrep, e/c cre'o.
o ti 5e 6a.pcra.Aeov «7ros ei/x°M a '
TeKvScpi S'iKav, criiyyvuOl /not.
Ed. Schncidcwin.
Baby, sleep !
Your father
has wronged
me.
When he
courted me,
I did not see
his falseness,
but now I do.
12
JjALOW my babe, lye still & sleepe !
itt greeues me sore to see tbee weepe.
balowe my boy, tby mothers ioy,
thy flatter breeds me great anoy.
balow, la-low, la-la-la, ra-row, fa-la, la-la,
la-la, la-la-la, la-low !
When lie began to court my lone,
& with his sugred words me moue,
his flaynings false & fflattering cheere
to me that time did not appeare ;
but now I see most cruellye
he cares neither for my babe nor mee.
Balow &c.
Darling,
don't smile
like your
father did.
Lye still my darling, sleepe awhile,
& when thou wakest thoule sweetly smile
16 but smile not as thy father did,
to cozen maids : nay, god forbid !
but yett I ffeare thou wilt goe neere,
thy fathers hart & fface to beare.
20 Ballow &c.
But I cannot
help loving
him still.
I cannott chuse, but euer will
be louing to thy father still ;
where-ere he goes, where-ere he ryds,
24 my loue wrth him doth still abyde ;
in weale or woe, where-ere he goe,
my hart shall neere depart him ffroe.
Ballow &c.
BALOWE.
523
28 But doe not, doe not, pretty mine,
to ffaynings false thy hart incline,
be loyall to thy louer true,
& neuer change her ffor a new.
32 if good or faire, of her haue care,
ffor womens baninge is wonderous sare.
Ballow &c.
Only, pretty
iinr,
be true to
your love ;
never
change.
Bearne, by thy face I will be ware ;
36 like Sirens words Be not come neere ' ;
my babe & I together will Hue ;
heele comfort me when cares doe greeue ;
my babe & I right soft will lye,
40 & neere respect 2 mans crueltye.
Ballow &c.
Live and
comfort me.
44
48
ffarwell, ffarwell, the falsest youth
that euer kist a womans mouth !
I wish all maids be warned by mee,
neere to trust mans curtesye ;
for if wee doe but chance to bowe,
theyle vse vs then, they care not how.
Ballow &c.
ffinis.
May all
maids take
warning by
me, never to
trust a man.
* Eairne, sin thy cruel father is gane,
Thy winsome smiles maun eise my
paino. Percy in Eeliques. — F.
3 quite forgeit. Percy in Eeliques. — F.
[" Old Simon the Kmge" printed in Lo. & Hum. Songs, jp. 124,
follows here in the MS. p. 519-20.]
524
Gentle Ueartisman*
This poem is printed in the Reliques "from a copy in the
Editor's folio MS., which had greatly suffered by the hand of
time ; but vestiges of the lines remaining, some conjectural
supplements have been attempted, which, for greater exactness,
are in this one ballad distinguished by italics." We are not quite
sure that the hand of time was always more to be dreaded than
the hand of the Bishop.
A lady who has killed her lover with her caprice and boldness,
determines to get her to some secret place and fast and pray till
she dies. The picture of the forlorn figure — young of years, fair
of face, weak (that is, youthful, immature) of wits, green of
thoughts— begging her way to Walsingham, remorseful, hopeless,
is prettily drawn. Goldsmith has borrowed from her speech in
the ballad recited by Mr. Burchell in the Vicar of Wakefield.
The Stranger, standing " confess'd a maid in all her charms,"
tells how she had trifled with the affections of her Edwin :
The dew, the blossom on the tree,
With charms inconstant shine;
Their charms were his, but woe to me,
Their constancy was mine.
For still I try'd each fickle art,
Importunate and vain :
And while his passion touch'd my heart,
I triumph'd in his pain.
Till quite dejected with my scorn,
He left me to my pride ;
And sought a solitude forlorn
In secret, where he died.
But mine the sorrow, mine the fault,
And well my life shall pay ;
I'll seek the solitude ho sought,
And stretch me whero he lay.
GENTLE HEARDSMAN. 525
And there forlorn, despairing, hid,
I'll lay me down and die :
'Twas so for me that Edwin did,
And so for him will I.
There the likeness ends. The eighteenth century poet could
not hear to let the poor thing pass away from the scene still
dejected and unhoping. The sentimental bosom of his time
could not abide such dismal endings. The poet in this case, as
his contemporaries in many another, gives it relief and comfort
at the expense of probability :
" Forbid it, Heaven ! " the Hermit cry'd,
And clasp' d her to his breast:
The wond'ring fair one turned to chide —
'Twas Edwin's self that press'd.
"Turn, Angelina, ever dear,
My cbarmer, turn to see,
Thy own, thy long-lost Edwin hero,
Restored to love and thee.
" Thus let me hold thee to my heart,
And every care resign :
And shall we never, never part,
My life — my all that's mine?
" No, never from this hour to part,
We'll live and love so true :
The sigh that rends thy constant heart,
Shall break thy Edwin's too."
Contrast this gushing finale with the concluding stanzas of the
older ballad, in their quietness and intensity at the same time:
Now, gentle herdsman, ask no more,
But keepe my secretts, I thee pray.
Unto the towne ofWalsingham
Show me the right and readye way.
Now goo thy wayes, and goe before,
For ho must euer puide thee still :
Turne downe that dale, the right hand path,
And soe jfairo Pilgrim flare the well.
And the contrite pilgrim moves sadly away towards her
appointed goal.
526
GENTLE HEARDSMAN.
" Tell mo
the way to
Walfiing-
hain."
GENTLE : hcardsman, tell to me —
of curtesy I thee pray, —
vnto the towne of walsingkam
4 which is the right and ready way.'
"It's bad,
and hard for
you to find."
" vnto the towne of walsingam
the way is hard ffor to be gon,
& verry crooked are those pathes
8 ffor you. to ffmd out all alone."
" Not bad
enough for
me,
" weere the miles doubled 3 ,se ,
& the way neuer soe ill,
itt were not enough for mine offence,
12 itt is soe greuious and soe ill."
" Thy yeeares are young, thy face is ffaire,
thy witts are weake, thy thoughts are greene ;
time bath not giuen thee leaue as yett
16 for to committ soe great a sinne. 1 "
and so you'd
say if you
knew my
sin.
" Yes, heardsman, Yes, soe woldest thou say
if thou knewest soe much as I ;
my witts, & thoughts, & all the rest,
20 haue well deserued for to dye.
I am a
woman,
"I am not what I seeme to bee ;
my clothes & sexe doe differ ffarr ;
I am a woman, woe is me !
24 [A prey] 2 to greeffe & irksome care,
i MS. sime. — F. song for the Press, part of the Leaf has
2 MS. torn away here and in the boon wornc away. It was once exact I y
following lines. — F. as I have represented it in my Book.
N.B. Sinco I first transcribed this — P.
GENTLE HEARDSMAN.
527
28
" [ J For my] belouecl & well beloued
[My wayward cruelty could kill :
[And though my teares will nought avail, [page 521]
[Most dearely I bewail him still.
and was
loved
8 " [He was the flower of noble w]ights ;
[None ever more sincere colde] bee ;
[Of comelye mien and shape he] was,
32 [And tenderlye he lov]ed mee.
" [When thus I saw he loved m]e well,
[I grewe so proude his paine t]o see,
[That I, who did not kn]ow my-selfe,
36 [Thought scorne of such a youth] as bee, 2
by a noble
youth,
whom I
tormented
and scorned.
" And grew soe coy, & nice to please,
as womens lookes are often soe ;
he might not kisse, nor hand fforsooth,
40 vnless I willed him soe to doe.
" Thus being wearyed with delayes
to see I pittyed not his greeffe,
he gott him to a secrett place,
44 & there hee dyed without releeffe.
I wearied
him out,
and he killed
himself.
" And for his sake these weeds I weare,
to sacriffice my tender age,
& euery day He begg my bread
48 to vndergoe this pilgrimage.
For his sake
I go this
pilgrimage,
1 This and tho following pieces in
brackets were supplied by Percy, in the
U'liqucs i. 73-4.— F.
2-2 Note by Percy on a separate slip,
with an irregular line (but no dots)
marking the broken edgo of the leaf:
still
oble wi!_ r lits
. ere . . bee
. e hee was
e loved mco
ned me well
. me to see
know myselfo
as hee
and grew so coy & nice to please
N.B. This shows the state of tho Leaf
as it was at first, beforo part of it. was
worn away— i.e. when I first got the
Book.— P.
528 GENTLE HEARDSMAN.
" Thus euery day I ffast & pray,
& euer will doe till I dye,
and desire to & gett me to some secrett place ;
die as he did. n . „
52 nor soe did nee, & soe will 1.
Tell me the " Now, gentle heardsman, aske no more,
WaLing- but keepe my secretts, I thee pray;
vnto the towne of walsingam
56 show me the right & readye way."
" Now goe thy wayes, & god before, 1
" God go for he must euer guide thee still :
with you!
turne downe that dale, the right hand path,
Turn to the 60 & soe; ff a [ re piig[ r ]i m> ff'are thee well ! ffinis.
Farewell ! "
1 See the Glossary for a reference to Mr. Dyce's note on this phrase. — F.
[" Thomas you cannott" printed in Lo. & Hum. Songs, p. 116, follows
here in the MS. p. 521. Part of it is on a fragment apart from the
MS., being p. 522. Then follow Percy's "A List of the Ballads Sf
other Pieces in this Booh. Dec. 20'.* 1757" on the two fly -leaves, as
printed (with additions) in my " Proposal" for the publication of
the MS., and the following P.S. and N.B.s at the end of the List:
P.S. — Properly 191 Pieces or Fragments. See the Additions inserted after N<? 5,
N? 9, and N? 12, and N? 162, which had not been discover'd when the above List
was first made in 1757, or 8. (Percy.)
1 N.B. — I have, since this P.S. was written, found another Fragment in^Pnge 55,
which makes the Number 192. Perhaps more Fragments may be yet discovered
distinct from the rest. Yes; 3 more on the Subject of Ilobin Hood in Pages 7,
13, 20. In all 195. (Percy.)
2 N.B. — I have drawn a Eed Line under such Ballads as I have seen in print.
The vols, refer to the printed Collection of Old Ballads, 12mo. 3 vols. 2 A Black
Line under such as I printed in my Eeliques of And Poetry, 3 vols. (Percy.)
Lastly, inside- the bach cover of the MS. is Percy's "An Alphabetical
List" of the Poems, referring by the numbers 1, 2, Sfc. to the former
Contents-List. The following fragments from the end of the MS.,
and, one complete poem in a different hand, are pinned on a separate
piece of paper. — F.]
1 This paragraph is written length- of the Contents-List. — F.
wise up the inner edge of the last page 2-2 This paragraph is in red ink. — F.
529
12
16
1 $ am . . .
Jo AY : what is a wom[ans hart]
that calmes &
is itt light ho
& or is itt
out alas out
my mother h
lay I [h]ome
. what is a womans hart ?
. has all, yett all has part ;
[r]ound or square, or soft or hard,
itt in the fforging marde
[out ala]s &c
[Tell me, my] loue & are all women true ?
[Some ar]e no doubt, but they are very ffew.
[Most think that if their] ffaith & loue last long,
[Then must t]hey doe all others wronge.
[out alas &c]
[Why do] I loue ? what are those ffemale sexe
[that] doth mankind soe much pt^-plex ?
is itt wider, Hire, earth, or aire,
20 that makes these creatures seeme soe rare ? ffinjg
1 This follows " Thomas you cannot," on a fragment of p. 522 of tho MS. F.
VOL. III. M U
530
Corftfmt
[On p. 522 of the MS.]
]y shepard swaine
vpon the storadyan plainc
ent to keepe his fflockes of sheepe
hts he did obtaine
his eye he did espye
wlyous traine to passe
[a]fter a deere which ffollowed neere
8 which, they had hard in chase.
after them came amaine a faire mayd,
which did moue corydon through the sun for to
run,
thinking to haue stayd her : but he framed l her
] 2 & still prayd her, but dismaid her,
& shee thought his sight to shunn.
Ere they ended had their race, they came vnto a
place
where Pann did sitt his ffitt in a garland made of
bayes ;
16 but when the godds perceiued the maid,
the tooke her ffor diana ;
both ffor bewty & attire the like was neuer any ;
which did moue him to loue her to follow,
20 att which sight, in a ffright backe againe rann the
swai[n,]
where his fflockes were grazing, Pann sate praising,
but still gazing and amazing,
ffearffull to behold the mayd.
1 frayed, qu. P. frained= asked. — F.
CORIDON. 531
24 ffrom his fface sliee fled w/th feare lest the godds
shold find hei* th[ere]
with ffootmanshipp shee him out steppe, till shee
came to riuer cleer[e] . . .
but when shee see shee cold [n]ot fflee
nor cold no ffurther sc[ape] .
28 hut that shee [might]
to ...■••
M N 2
532
Owcye] off ftmme*
[On pago 523 of the MS.]
This is a fragment of a late copy of the old poem on Henry V.'s
famous siege of Rouen, which was begun on July 30, 1418, and
ended, after a most gallant defence, by Henry's triumphal entry
into the city on January 16, 1419. The poem professes to
be, and no doubt is, by an eyewitness, 1. 21-3. 1 The first part
of it was first printed by the Rev. J. J. Conybeare in vol. xxi.
of the Archceologia, p. 48-78, from an incomplete MS., Bodley
124 (where Mr. Gr. Parker says he cannot now find it), and the
second part was afterwards printed (with a portion of the first
part, that is, from 1. 636) by Sir F. Madden in Archceol. vol. xxii.
p. 361-84, from a complete MS., Harl. 2256, the prose chronicle
of The Brute, collated with a rather older but less accurate
MS., Harl. 753. Other MSS. are Bodley 3562 (formerly E.
Musseo 124), and Lord Leicester's MS. 670 at Holkham {Madden,
p. 351). The fragments of our Folio are here completed from
a late MS., Egerton 1995, bought at Lord Charlemont's sale in
August, 1865, " supposed to be in the hand of Gregory Skinner,
Lord Mayor of London in 1451." 2 The poem, says Mr. Hazlitt
in a note, " must have been written about two years after the
battle, as the author speaks throughout of Thomas Earl of Dorset
as Duke of Exeter, to which dignity he did not attain till
4 Henry V." But as the 4 Henry V. was March 21, 1416, to
1 It will be admitted, I believe, by all F. Madden in ArchcBol. xxii. 353. — F.
who will take the trouble to compare the 2 Sotheby's Catalogue, referred to by
various contemporary narratives of the Mr. Hazlitt, Early Pap. Poetry, ii. 92.
siege of Rouen, that in point of simpli- The reader will percoivo that the Char-
city, clearness, and minuteness of detail, lemont or Egerton MS. is not unique,
there is qo existing document which can as Mr. Hazlitt supposed it was. — F.
compare with the poem before us. Sir
SEEGE OFF ROUNE. 533
March 20, 1417, it is clear that Mr. Hazlitt was induced to
attribute the date of Rouen to Agincourt by his prior erroneous
statement that the Charlemont or Egerton MS. exhibited a
different narrative of the same event which is commemorated in
the ballad he reprints of "ye batayll of Egyngecourte & the
grete sege of Rone by kynge Henry of Mon-mouthe " ; for the
writer of that ballad wisely says,
. . in this boke I cannot comprehends
The greatest batayll of all, called y e sege of Kone;
For that sege lasted .iij. yere and more;
And there a rat was at .xl. pens,'
For in the Cytye the people hongered sore ;
Women and chyldren for faute of mete were lore,
And some for payne hare hones were gnawynge,
That at her hrestes had .ii. chyldren soukynge.
Of the sege of Rone it to wryte were pytye,
It is a thing so lamentable . .
E. Pop. Tudry, ii. 107- 8.
As the poem is printed from the best MSS. in the Archcvologia,
as above-said, and as the Early English Text Society have a new
edition of it in their list, I have not thought it worth while to
complete the Folio late copy by printing all the long late Egerton
MS. here.— F.
[IjOd that dyde a-pon A tre 2 ]
[And bonghte vs with hys blode so]c ffree,
[To hys blys tham] bringe
4 [That lysteiiytke vnto my] talkinge !
[Oft vn tymys we] talke of diuercs trauells, 3
[Of saute, Sege, and of grete ba]ttells 4
1 And flesche, save horseflesche, haddo For fourty pens they solde a ratte,
they none : And for two nobels they solde a catte :
T)n'\ ete also bothe >h >^i."^ and cattcs, And for sa pens they Bolde a mowse,
And also bothe myse and rattes, Hull few was Lefte in any howse.
And also an hors quarter Lene o1 ber fat, Bodley MS. 124, in Archaol. xxi. 63.
And a hundreds Bchyllynges hyl was - From Egerton MS. 1995, fol. 87.—
worth at ; F.
And also a iiors hede at halfe a pownde, J of trauayle. — Eg. MS.
And a dogge for ten scbylynge of mony 4 batayle. — Eg. .Ms.
sound i- :
534 SEEGE OFF EOUEN.
[Bothe in Romans and in rym]e,
8 [What hathe ben done be-fore thys tyme ;
[But y wylle telle you nowe pre]sent —
[Vnto my tale yf ye] take tent 1 —
[Howe the v. Harry oure leg]e,
12 [With hys ryalte he sette a sege
[By-fore Rone, that ryehe Cytt]e,
[And endycl hyt at hys o]wne to bee 2 ;
[A more solempne sege was n]euer sett ;
16 [Syn Ierusalem and Troy] were gett, 3
[So moche folke was neuyr] seene 4
[One kynge with soo many vndyr heuyne :
[Lystenythe vnto me A lytylle space,
20 [And I shalle telle you howe hyt was ;
[And the better telle I may,]
ff[or at that sege w^t7i the kyng I lay,]
& [there to I toke a-vyse]
24 [Lyke as my wyt wolde suffyce,
[Whenne Pountlarge with sege was wounne
[And ouyr sayne, then enter was be-gu?me.]
the duke of [Exceter, that hende,]
28 to Rowne the king [yn sothe hym sende,] 5
& Herrotts with him, to that Citye
to looke if itt wold yeeleden bee, 6
& alsoe ioy to looken the 7 ground
32 all 8 about the Cittye round,
& how they might best lay a seege ;
but they wold not obey their leege.
when the duke of great renowne
36 was come before that royall towne,
he display d his banners great plen[tye,] 9
& herotts into the cittye sent hee,
1 wylle tent.— Eg. MS. 6 yf that they yoldyn wolde be.— Eg.
* (.wne volunte.— Eg. MS. MS.
3 was gotte. — Eg. MS. ' alle soo for to se that. — Eg. MS.
■' sene.- Eg. MS. 8 That was.— Eg. MS.
5 To Kone yn sothe oure kyng hym 9 baners on A bent. — Eg. MS.
sende. — Eg. MS.
SEEGE OFF ROUNE. 535
to warne thein on paine of death
40 ' that they our king sliold not green[e,]
nor [be] w/th-standing of his might,
hut deliuer this cittye soone in his sight.
& soe hee told them mthouten bad,
44 he wold no fFurther till hee that hadd ;
ffor ere hee went ffarr ffrom this place,
hee wold itt winne by gods grace.'
but that they ffrenchmen make no answer,
48 but bade them on their wayes to fFare,
& made assignment w/th their hand
that he shold there no longer stand,
& shotten out ordinance with great en[vye,]
52 & maden ware dispitteouslye.
then came fforth Knights keene
on horsbace with armour sheene,
& there mustered the Duke againe.
56 on both partyes many were slaine,
& this was done without delay ;
to pont large the duke tooke the way,
& told the Knight of that cittye
60 how itt stoode, & in what degree.
to my talking & 1 you will take heede,
I shall tell you of accursed deede,
& how sinfully 2 the ffrenchmen did thore 3
64 or our king came them before,
ffor all the suburbs of that ffaire towne,
both kirkes & houses, droue them downe,
& att port Hillary the hcnd,
08 a parish church they all to-rend ;
of St. Hillary was the same
that after the port bare the name ;
and att the same port 4 downe the drew
72 a church that was of S- Ani>i;i-;\v,
1 for an, if. — F. 3 Nota de malicia eorvm, says the
2 MS. sufully; and it transposes lines Egerton MS.— F.
62 and 63.— F. • At porte Causses.- Eg. MS.
556
GLOSSARY.
GEY
gryse, ii. 448/902, grey fur ?
(j lasts, i. 232/402, Scotch, guest, ghaist,
English, ghost. — Brockie
guilt, i. 172/168,170, gilt
gurde, i. 21 6/93 ; Sc. gird, to move with
expedition and force. — Jamieson
gurding, i. 228/323, letting fly, shooting
gynnc, i.480/1854, engine; 'i.491/2223,
wile, device
gysarmes, ii. 457/1166, " guisarme, a
lance with a hook at the side." —
Planche
habergion, i. 358/1 28; i. 364/309, dim. of
hauberk, the little throat-guard. —
Planchi, i.110
hallow, i. 150/173, A.-S. halig, holy
hatch, i.l 10/65 ; iii.284/190, salute, O.N.
heilsa, say " hail" to. hughe, or greete,
je salue. I halse one, I take hym
ahoute the necke, Jaccole. — Palsgrave,
p. 577
7wW«Z,i.217/98;i.301/27;i.306/146-7;
372/581, saluted
haled, ii.13/180, drew
handfasted, i.394/1274, betrothed
hansdl, ii. 192/37, greeting, gift
happen, i. 359/146, fall, strike
harbarrowes, ii. 71/342, lodges
harbor, ii. 560/78 ; 581/573, lodging,
entertainment
harborrowe, ii. 69/294, 300, lodging
harke, ii.482/1851, hearken to
harllot, i. 152/260, scamp, worthless fel-
low
harlotts, i.445/726,737, loose fellows,
scamps
harold, i.304/106, herald
harrowed, ii. 349/241, broke open and
despoiled
harrowes, ii. 73/414, breaks open and
despoils
hart, tooke his owne to him, i. 163/606,
took courage
harvenger, i.38/5, harbinger, courier,
" one sent on to prepare harbourage
or lodgment for his employer." — Wedg-
wood
hattell, i. 224/237, nobleman
hawt . ii. 579/530, hay, a winding country
dance, a reel. It was also a winding
in-and-out figure in a round country
dance.— Chappell
hawere, i.l 19/150, Fr. avoir, possessions
hawtinge, i.92/56, baiting?
HYN
he, i.477/1 757, they
head, give one's horse his, i.358/124
head, iii. 192/ 75, A.-S. heafdian, to be-
head
headed, iii. 321/8, beheaded
heare, iii.63/158, hair
heate, ii. 305/18, a promise
heathennest, i. 63/56 ; heathinncsse, ii.l 84
/125 ; heathynesse, i.498/3, heathen-
dom
hecke, iii. 285/232, the lower half of a
stable door
hee, i.92/56 ; 147/102, high
heede, iii.24/134, perhaps keep. — P.
heese, iii. 139/63, he will be, or must be
heire, i.97/179, higher
hend, ii.345/120, bid
hend, i.l 52 244, gentle
hendlye, i.427/147, gently
Ae/^, i.l 00/263, seized; i.28/29,35,caught,
took
herrott, i.230/353, herald
hctt, iii.355/877, promise; i.443/666,
671, promised
highinge, ii. 110/876, haste
hu/kt, i. 439/ 558, was named
kind, i.l 59/463 ; i.l 62/577, hend, gentle
his, i. 387/1042, i.390/1153, ii.375/921, is
hoe, ii.489/2058, hold, stop
hoqlin, ii. 360/529, dear little hog
hold, iii.25/161, to its . . .hold, i.e. held.
—P.
hollen, i.l 09/55, A.-S. holen, holly
holte, iii. 58/55, a wood, a rough place.
Holt (Sax.) a small Wood, or Grove ;
whence the Street call'd Holborn in
London had its Name. — Phillips (by
Kersey). Fr. Touchedebois. Ahoult;
a little thicke groue or tuft of high
trees, especially such a one as is neere
a house, and serues to beautifie it, or
as a marke for it. — Cot grave
home, iii. 28/ 258, on whom
homly, i. 67/153, home, close, tight
Jinny, i. 151/203, love, sweetheart
hore, ii. 473/1585, mud, dirt
hose, i.67/153, cuddlo
houed, ii.383/1151, iii. 31/358, halted
houzle, sb. i. 57/88 ; houzle, vb. i.l 72/
178, to administer the Sacrament:
A.-S. huselian
hurt, i.67/153, heart
hyde, i.362/263, a lady's skin
hynd, iii. 61/107; hynde,iu.70l 340, hend,
gentle
hyndes, iii.68/279, servants
GLOSSARY.
557
IAC
iacke, iii. 415/255, leather tunic over
the armour
ierffaucon, ii. 451/977, gerfalcon
iest, ii.549/632, story
ietted, i. 42/71, marched showily
letters, ii. 568/275, strutters
if, iii.203/174, even if
ilke, i. 56/52, same (time) ; i.73/278
time
Imupetelasze, iii.300/118, qu. MS.— F.
himpettelaze, corruptly written for
immortalize. — P.
incontinent, i. 286/384, forthwith
inde, ii. 455/1105, Fr. inde, m. Indico;
light Blue, Blunket, Azure
inestimable, i.288/461, not to be esti-
mated or valued
ingling, iii. 314/15, perhaps jingling
inkolder, i. 283/ 78, innkeeper
in tic, ii. 563/1 36, house
insamc, ii. 434/501, together: A.-S. sam,
together
intertalked, ii.35/2
iollye, ii.295/130, pleasure
ioi/inge, i. 230/352, joining
irke, i. 177/54, angry, A.-S. yr
irke, i.361/232, dread
is, ii.423/188, are
is, i. 155/341, his
is (for the possessive 's) i. 161/548
isliucles, i. 290/513, issueless
ishulesc, i. 274/31 ; i. 290/496, issueless
Id, iii.45/780, I'll, I shall
ist, ii.218/2 ; 219/30; 223/145, I'll
it and itt, as genitives, for its, ii. 248/34
ii.251/131
Iudaslye, ii. 258/96, Judasly, traitorously
iumpe, iii.369/13, lust due, right,
even, jumpc, levell, straight. — Cot-
grave. See Othello, A. ii. s. 2.
luster, ii. 292/62, jouster
I-wis, i. 19/10; 333/343, &c. : every I
is hyphened to its wis wherever this
word is printed, undor the belief that
it stands for the A.-S. adverb gewis
certainly ; but in the passage where it
is used with as, " as I wis," ii.583
/627, the words are of course separate,
a pronoun and verb
i-wis, i. 146/59, A.-S. gewis, certainly.
I in! see " as I wis " i'i.583/627
iwitt, i. 453/981, A.-S. gewita/i, under-
stand
ia ke, iii. 115/255, leather tunic over the
armour
KYT
jack, i. 31 1/296, a sleeveless tunic
jig, ii.334
jolly, ii 422/155, merry
jorney, iii. 239/88, a day's work
jousts and tournaments, i.85/9, note '
jury, i. 196/ 39 7
kayred, ii.62/117, passed over
kecre, iii. 74/436, turn
keered, i. 229/333, turned ; A.-S. cerran
kell, ii.67/255; 502/12; 503/44, a net
for a lady's hair, for Bredbeddle's
wife
kempe, ii. 606/21 9, kemperye man, ii.
605/215, magician ?
kempes, ii. 527/5, warriors
kempys, i.90/6, A.-S. kempa, cempa, a
soldier, warrior
ken, iii.62/131, to inform. See Witt,
1. 120
kend, ii.457/1152, taught, showed
kere, i. 229/347, return
kered, i.222/192; iii.61/118, turned
ketherinckes, i.219/131,135 ; 230/351,
Cateranes, Katheranes, Highland rob-
bers ; Gael, and Ir. caetharnach, a
soldier. — Jamieson. Highland or Irish
soldiers. Gaelic, cath-fheara, fight-
ing-men, warriors, Scotch caterans,
kerne. — Brockie
kin, ii.233/143, relation
kindle care, ii.539/360
kirtlc, iii. 180/100. Kyrtle is not upper
petticoat, but our modern gown, a
waist and petticoat. A kyrtle ami
mantle completed a woman's dress.
—Crit. Rev. Jan. 1795, p. 49
kissed, i 449/857, the whore's euphuism
for having connection with her, cur-
rent in London as well as in the
North. — Atkinson.
kithe, ii.233/143, acquaintance
Jdthe, iii. 74/436, A.-S. cy&, a region;
ci/&&e, a homo, native country
kithen, iii. 73/392
knauc, i. 438/511, male
kiKiur, iii. 23 97, a hoy, a male child;
ii.547/573, page, lad
kiimtlnlge, i. 163/585, acknowledge, eOn-
fl'KH
kut. iii. 130/77
kgrrth, iii. 66/230, A.-S. eyrnin, to turn
kijthv, iii.58j 17. region, A.-S. cy6
538 SEEGE OFF KOUNE.
[At the northe syde by-t]weene,
124 [There was loggyd Excetyr ]>e ke]ne,
[And at the Porte Denys] he lay,
[Where freynysche men yssuyjn out onery day.
[He bet hem in at euery schjamffull brunnt, 1 £l" g 1 ? 3E&
128 [And wanne worschyppe] as hee was woont
[Of alle pryncys manhode to] report,
[Set hym for on of] the best sort.
[Bytwyne hym and Claren]ce then,
132 [Erie Marchalle, a man-]full man,
[Loggyd hym next the castell]e gate,
[And kepythe hyt bothe erly] and late.
[And forthe in the same] way,
13G [The lorde Haryngton] here he lay.
[Talbot, from deumfrount] when he come,
[He loggyd hym next] that 2 groome.
[The Erie of Yrmounde] then lay hee
140 [Next Clarence with a grete meanye,
[And Cornewale, that comely knyghte,
[He lay with Clarence bothe day and] night, 3
[And many knyghtys in a froun]t
144 [Tbatnowecomenot]in 4 [mymyndetocounte](;i, 202
Ek.ms"]
. nze
[Gap : 50 lines in Bodley MS. 124, Archceol. xxi. 55-G.]
5 - w en . w . . [ P , r )2C of Fo]io MS>
148 & he gran[te]d them comp[assyon, 6 ]
1. 267 Eg. MS.]
1 at euery broimte. — Eg. MS. And grantede hyt in compocyssyonc,
2 ? MS. thy. that gome, Eg. MS., And selydehyt nppe-on thyscondissione,
and adds two lines. — E. That in the water of Sayno wythouten
3 ? MS. might.— F. lette
4 ? MS. in t. — E. Owre sehyppis to passe forth wyth here
* But be-lyve comawndede owre Lege, frette.
For to go to Caudyheke and sette tlier a Bodley MS. 124, Archaql. xxi. 56.
sege. • 6 That lie that dede wolde doo
And whon ho come the towne before, lb' grauntyd hem in compassyon.
They bygan to trete wythout eny more; —Eg. MS. 1. 266, 267.
And as Rone dyde, so lliay wolde dime,
SEEGE OFF KOUNE. 539
soe that then without lett
our shipps might passe w/th our [frettc]
then passed our shipps forth in [fere,]
152 & cast their Anchor Rowne fu[lle nere,]
as thicke in soj^ne as they neu[er did stonde ;] '
then were the beseeged by watte [r and by londe.]
& when that warwicke that end [hadde made,]
15G then to the king againe hee ro[de,]
betwixt St. Katherins & the [kynge]
there he ordered his lodgin[g. 2 ]
well entred the Abbey w[as,]
160 & soone yeelded, by gods gr[ace ;]
& after within a litle space 3
he lodged att the port M[artynvace, 4 ] [l. 280 Eg. ms.]
there as spitefull warr[e there was.]
164 euer they came forth o[wte in ]>at place,]
but then be dreuethe [hem yn a-gayne]
manfully with migh[te and mayne ; 5 ]
& Salsbury was fain 6 [to ryde,] [i. 283 Eg. ms.]
168 & yett hee turned 7 [and dyd a-byde,
[By Huntyngdon there leude]
till the seege wa[s at an ende,]
& the Gloster, that [gracyus home,] 8
172 from the [sege of Chirboroughe when he [L 28SEg. ms.]
come]
[Gap: of about 70 lines m the Egerton MS., of 55 in the
BodleyJ]
1 in sayn as they myghte stonde. — Eg. Mocho worschyppe there-fore to liym
MS. was,
2 lie loggyd hym and was byggyngc. And soo hathe ben in euery place.— F.
— Eg. MS. 6 Saulysbury that was svnyde. — Eg.
8 whyle.— Eg. MS. MS.
■' Martynvyle.— Eg. MS. 7 Yei be returnyde.— Eg. MS.
3 Lines 163-166 occur two pages back " So in Kg. M.S., but read gome as in
in the Egerton MS, For them here, Eg. liodley, \'l\,
has : And then Glowsetre that worthy gome.
— F.
540
SEEGE OFF EOUNE.
. warryottr aglit ' [p . 5 . 27 of MS-]
Knight
t noble Knight
176. . . .he was full right
[Mon senoure PJewnes, this 2 was hee, p. 353 Eg. MS].
[Captayne of the p]ort of St. Hillarye ;
[The Bastard of Teyn]osa, 3 a warryour wight.
180. . . tive of much might,
[And of alle the] men 4 that were without
[Of alle the Cytte ro]und about ;
[And euery on of the]se Captaines had
184 [V. M 1 men and moo in l]ade ;
[And they nomberyd] were within, 5
[Whenn oure sege] did begin,
[To .iij. CCC. M 1 an]d ten,
188 [Of wymmen, chyldryn,] and men ;
[Of pepylle hyt was a grjeat rowte,
[A kynge to lay a se]ge about. 7
[And there-to they were fulle] hardy indeede 8
192 [Bothe in foote and eke in] steede [i. 372 Eg. Ms.]
er^ men 9
. did know
1 Mon senyour Antonye A werryour
wyghtr, [L347]
He was leuetenaunt to that knyghte
Herre Ehanfewe was captayne
Of the porte de pount cle sayne : [350]
Iohfln Mawtrevers that man,
Of the porte of castelle was captayne.
—Eg. MS.
And Mowne-Syr Antony, a werryour
wy3te,
He was levetenawnte under that kny3te.
And Hery Camfewe, he was captayne
Of the Porte de Pownte of Sayne.
And Johan de Matreways, that nobylle
man,
Of the Porte of the Castelle he was
captan.
Bodley MS. 124, in Archsol. xxi. 59.
2 Pennewys thenne. — 1\^. MS.
3 Tlic Bastarde of Teyne in that
wliylo [1. :;:,:,]
Was captayne of porte Martynvyle
And gaunt Iaket or Iakys of werrys
wyse
He was captayne and alle so tli6
pryce. — Eg. MS.
4 skarmoschys.— Eg. MS.
5 And whenn they wolde rayse alle the
comynalte
Many a thousande myghtfi they be ;
Men nomberyd them w/tA-yn. — Eg.
MS.
6 a proude store. — Eg. MS.
7 a sege be-fore. — Eg. MS.
8 MS. ded indeede.— F. hardy in dede.
—Eg. MS.
9 And als prowde men as euyr I save,
And poyntys of warre many one dyd
shewe.
Whenn they yssuyd owt, mosto co-
in ynly
They come not owte in one party ;
At ij. gatys, or iij. or alle, [l. 877]
Sodynly they dyd owte falle. — Eg.
SEEUE OFF KOUNE.
541
to come out
e port
MS. Thero are 33 pages more in the
Egerton MS.
Men nombrod of hem that were withinne,
Ffurste when owiv Sejjc <ran to heginne,
Unto four hundred thewsande and ten,
Off wymmen, off chyldren, and also off
men :
Off peple that was prowde store,
A kynge to lay a Sege tofore.
And therto they war fulle hardy in dede,
Bothe on fote, and also on stede,
And the prowdest men that ever y
k n ewe,
And mony poyntcs of werre they wolde
shewe.
Eut when they wolde come owte comenly,
They camo nott owte alle on a party,
Nether at two gates, nor at thre, but at
alle
Sodaynly they wolde out falle:
Eodley MS. 124, in Archaol. xxi. p. 59-60.
There are above 18 pages more in
vol. xxi., in all 946 lines ; the rest, up to
1. 1312, arc (with the prior lines from
1. G86) in Archcsol. xxi. p. 371-3S4.— F.
542
[g>tul) a £ober am E : ]
Tins song declares that the speaker is a lover of such a temper
that he varies, to use a mathematical phrase, directly as his
mistress ; whereas lovers, for the most part, vary inversely as
their idols. If she smiles on him, he is delighted ; if she refuses
him, he ejects her from his thoughts. He is no woman's slave.
Of lovers, as of the Jews, it may be said that sufferance is the
badge of all their tribe. This gentleman tears off and throws
away his badge. Should Cupid and Venus trouble him, —
Mandaret laqueum medmmque ostenderet unguem.
Mars, Bacchus, Apollo, are far superior divinities, to his thinking.
We have seen no other copy of this song.
I shan't die
for a girl's
refusal.
If once my
mistress is
unkind,
I forget her.
uUCH a Lover am I :
'Tis too late to deny
That for a refusall I never can dye ; 2
Yet my Temper is such,
And that's very mnch,
My Passion Re-Kindles at every Touch ;
But if once I doe find
My Mistress vnkind,
Why then her past favours are quite out of mind.
I don't cry
and bother
myself.
My Courage Il'e Keepe, 3
'Tis Childish to weepe ;
12 I'le not be disordered, awake nor a-sleepe ;
1 This song is written in a different and the M.S. — F.
later hand. It has initial apostrophes, * Lino 3 is written as two in the MS.
and some commas. Though it is with — F.
the fragments, it was never part of 3 ? MS. ILeepo. — F.
SUCH A LOVER AM I. 543
ffor if like a fond Swaine If J did P ine >
I should pine & complaine,
Slie'l scornfully Trivmph, & laugh at my paync, *£%***
1 G Or if I shold crave cowards
In Revenge the Cold Grave : for *
Ho that Dyes for a woman, can nere be that brave. [&«*.] '
Hang Cupid and Venus ! nere menc/on them Cupid!
more !
20 Such pitifull Powers I scorne to adore !
Since I bv Kind Nature my Libertye have, if I'm free,
^ j j -why should
'Twere base that such Bug-bares should make me l ma ^f
o myself
their slaves : ^ove' %
slave t
I manfully acknowledge my selfe farr above that ab ° V °
24 That childish Idoletry, miscalled Love. nonsense.
Mars, Baccus, Apollo, are much more divine, Bacchus
Theire Biusinesse farr Nobler, much brisker their Venus!
wine.
A wedded Condicibn contributes noe ease ;
28 Wife, Children, and Servants, disorder their
peace.
When heartye ffreinds fayl, my true Comforts of i^f 11 ,"^.,
Tj{f e then I'll turn
' desperate
I then may turne desperate, & thinke of a Wife. and marr ^'-
544
2ippent>iji\
I. LEOFFKICUS.
\Bodl. MS. 240, p. 359, col. 1, by John of Teynemouth.]
Item de euentibus illiws tewiporis cap.
99.
l Haraldw« et tostiws filij godwini dum
apwd Windesoram vimiwi regi propin-
assent . capillis et ma»ib;<s mutuo co«fii-
gebawt . quorum infortunium ventuniM
static prophetauit rex edwardns . Ha-
raldHs comes uoleras visere fratrem
ifuum et nepote??t qui apud -Williehmcm
ducem normaHiiie obsides evant tem-
pestate actws delates est pontunimra.
Quern consul terre tradidit duci Williel-
mo . Harakb?s -Mitcqxam euadere posset .
iurauit duci quod filiam e'uis duceret . et
Angliamad op«s ems smiaret . 3 Mortuo
Henrico .2. iwipcratore . successit Henri-
es 3 U " qui regnauit awnis 50 . Stepbanus
.9. abbas de monte cassino . sedit post vic-
tore?M me«sib?<s .8. Benedicts .10. sedit
pupa mewsibMS .9. qui violewter intrusus
postmodwrecessit . 4 Circa bee tempera go-
diua comitissa, coue»tr/am a groui srrui-
tute liberare affectaws, leofricum comite;«
assiduis precibws sollicitauit ut sancte
trinitatis dei quod gewitricis intuitu vil-
lain apred/c<a seruitute absoluerct . Pro-
Inbuit comes ne de cetfro rem sibidawp-
nosam inaniter postularet . Ilia nutem
ylvum indesinenter de petickrae pranissa
exasperans . tale ransuwi extorsit ab eo
" Ascende," iwqwit, " equum tmvn nuda a
ville inic/o usque ad fine???, pop?do con-
gregate- . et earn redieris postulara im-
petrabis ." Genere godiua deo dilecta .
equum ascendens nuda crines capitis et
tncas dissoluews . corpws totum pretcr
crura inde velauit . Itinere eo?«pleto . A
nemine visa ad viru;w gaudens reuersa est .
LeofricMs uero couentrirtra a s«-uitute li-
berauit . cartas suam inde faeta;« sigilli
muuimiwe roborauit . et cito post obijt .
et apud couentrifflW, in monasterio quod
ipse const ruxerat, sepult?<s est . 5 Vbi et
brachium sancti Augustini doctoris ha-
betur, arge?;tea tecba inclusum . q«od
egelnoth?(s Axchiejyiscopus rediens a roma
apud papiara vrbem aliquando emit .100.
talentis argenti . Hie leofric?(S reparauit
et ditauit mowastma leonense hixta
Hereford^. 6 Weneloccnse et i« Lege-
cestria sancte Werburge . sanctiqite iohan-
nis . Wigornense quoque et euisham-
[ense] In Alamannia seotorora monas-
t-rium combustum est . qwod quidem
incendiura . quida?« monachus paternws
nomine diuan^'pralixerat 7 .Hie propter
propositus reclusionis exire nolens . se
comburi passus est.
II. NUT-BROWN MAYD.
Compare with this the Carol on the Virgin Mary, No. VIII. in
the Sloane MS. 2593, leaf 5, printed by Mr. Wright in his
Songs and Carols for the Warton Club, 1861, p. 11.
L620. 1056. 14.
infra cod. libro. c. 110.
1621. L057. 15.
Florea histor/a.
5 owmbrachinmamcKAugJtrtini magni doctoris.
■ note ilc Leomenstria iuxta Herefordiam.
' 1<J. 1058. l(i:j-2.
NUT-BROWN MAYD. 545
Wommew be bob' good and trewo,
Wytnesse of maryc.
Of hondes and body and face arn clene,
Wommew mown now bet<r bene,
In euery place it is sene,
Wytnesse of marie.
It is knowyw, and cuere was,
\>cr a wommaw is in plus,
Wommaw is b° welle of gras,
Wytnesse [of Marie.]
)>ey louyw mew with herte trewe,
Ho wyl not chaungyw for now newe ; -
Wommew ben of wordys ffewe,
Wytnesse [of Marie.]
Wommew ben trewe wit/j-out lesyng,
Wommew be trewe in alle bing,
And out of care |>ey mown vs bryng,
Wy r tnesse of marie.
There are several satirical songs against women in Mr. T.
Wright's Carols and Songs for the Percy Society, 1847, in his
Ballads temp. Philip and Mary from a MS. at Oxford, for
the Koxbnrghe Club, and in vol. iv. of Mr. Hazlitt's Remains
of the Early Popular Poetry of England. Mr. Hazlitt notices
songs in praise of women. There is one in Reliq. Antiq. vol. i.
p. 275 ; and as Eoberd of Brunne says,
. . no byng ys to man so dere
As wo»«manys loue yn gode manere.
A gode womman ys mawnys blys
bere here loue v$$t and stodfast ys :
J>ere ys no solas vndyr heuene
Of alle bat a man may neuene,
Jmt shuld a man so moche glew
As a gode womman \>at loueth trew.
Ne derer ys none yn Goddys hurdo
J>an a chaste wo/wmau w//|> Louely wrde.
Handling Bynne, p. 62, 1. 1901-13.
VOL. III. N N
546
INDEX.
A Cauilere
A Louer off Late
A Prop[h]ecye ....
Adam Bell, Clime of the dough, \
and "William of Cloudeslee J
JEneas and Dido
Alffonso and Ganselo .
Amintas .....
Are Women faire
As yee came from the Holye
Land .....
Balowe
Bosworth Feilde .
Carle off Carlile .
Christopher White
Come, my dainty Doxeys
Come, pretty Wanton .
Coridon
Cressus
Darkesome Cell
Death and Liffe
Edward the Third
Gentle Heardsman
Great or Proude .
Hee is a Foole .
Hero and Leander
I am
In olde Times paste ,
In the Dayes of Olde
Kinge Edgar
Kinge Humber
Ladyo Bessiye .
Leoffricua (or Godiva)
PAGE
366
389
371
76
260
507
450
364
465
515
233
275
494
313
385
530
301
Lulla, Lulla!
TAGE
387
123
49
457
524
391
386
295
529
119
441
485
435
319
473
Marke More Foole
Maudline .....
Murthering of Edward the Fourth
his Sonnes ....
Now the Springe is come
O Noble Festus .
Patient Grissell .
Proude where the Spencers
Queene Dido
127
374
162
230
Scroope and Browne
Seege off Boune .
Sir Andrew Bartton
Sir Cawline
Sir Degree .
Sir John Butler .
Songs of Shepardes
Such a Louer am I
. 269
. 421
. 478
499
431
5:12
399
1
16
205
303
542
The Drowning of Henery the I
his Children .
The Fall of Princes .
The Lauinian Shore .
The Nutt-browne Maid
The Pore Man & the Kinge
The Rose of Englande
The Spanish Ladies Love
The Squier .
Thomas of Potte
To Oxfforde
Will Stewart and John
William the Conquerour
Wininge of Cales
Younge Cloudeslee
156
168
308
174
195
187
393
263
135
315
215
453
102
547
GLOSSARY.
Almost all the words are explained in the notes where they first occur. The
meanings are therefore put shortly here. G'-m rally, only one reference is given.
The French words are from Cotguave, except where another authority is named.
ABO
abone, i. 364/307, above, outside
abotts <m you ! ii. loo/ 186
acenmpackement, i. 430/249, a compact
acton, i.358/127; i.359/173, a wadded
or quilted tunic worn under the hau-
berk. — Blanche, i.108
aduanting, i. 105,342, boasting
afterclap, ii.399/184 ; afterclappe, i.435
/429
againe, i. 93/85, gain, get to
agoe, iii.26/215 ; 46/819, goue
agazed, iii. 154/70, agast
agramed, ii. 489/2036, angered
agrise, i. 469/1515, frighten, terrify
a-know, i. 450/901, acknowledge, confess
all in ffere, iii. 281/103, together. Per-
haps all i'ii fire. — P.
alle, i. 362/247, ale
allyanee, ii.58/7, alions
ally ants, iii. 241/146, aliens. — P. Alliant
or ally, one that is in league, or of
kindred with one. — Blount, 1656
nl in r, i. 1 -43, purse, money-bag
alyant, i. 215/61, alien
ancetryc, iii.240/127, ancestry
ancyent, i. 303/77, ensign, flag
aneyents, ii.480/1789, heroes of old
and, iii.63/171, an
$, i. 367/405; ii.44/1, an
and, i.96/159, if
# . . #, i. 369/463, if . . and
$, i.450/899, that, who
-null, imp. part., i.26/5
ane, i. 101/305, one
anonwright, i. 152/241, at once
(ijnu/il, ii. 559/49, pleased
apligkt, i. 428/187 ; 472/1602, at once
a ply, i. 153/287, bend, yield
appay, ii. 508, 271. own estimation?
applyed, i.191/263, bent to, performed
N N
ASS
apud, ii.265, in
archboarde, iii. 407/91, ship, or side of a
ship
arkward, i.386/1029; 387/1055, ? awk-
ward, ugly
armin, ii.476/1678, ermine
arming, i.517/18
array, ii. 570/305, armour
arsoone, ii.434/516, saddle
arsowne, ii.429/363, Fr. argon, saddle-
bow
as, iii.286/252, thus, like
aslake, i. 152/247, slacken, stop. A.-Sax.
aslacian, to slacken, loosen
assignment, iii. 535/49, signs
assise, ii. 439/651, measure, manner, way
assoyled, iii. 101/674. assail, to acquit,
cleer, or pardon : to absolve. — Bul-
lokar's Diet,
a-steere, i. 357/1 12, astir, on the qui vios
astyte, i.l08jl93, at once, quickly
astyte, or tytc, ii, 430/379, quickly
att, i.391/1173, from
att device, i. 158/435, elegantly, splendidly
aitilil, i. 228/318, prepared, made ready
attUde, i. 221/180; 228/318, made ready
attilde, i. 385/992, dealt, struck
auant, i. 150/192, boast. Fr. avanter
iirinil, iii. 71/366, boast. "I avaunte or
1). >sl en iy self," je me vatlte. — I'i//s,/rii US
avanted, iii. 253/481, advanced, raised
avanting, i. 160/506, boasting
avayle, iii. 226 ,279, pull down, from Fr.
a vol.
avoyde, 1 go oul of a place, 1 avoyde out
of ii. Je vuide. — Palsgrave
awise, i. 233/410 ? miawritten for "a
noise."
awondred, i. 466/1112, astonished
axsy, i.143, ask, A. -.Sax. acsian
2
548
GLOSSARY.
BAC
bacheeleere, iii.6/61, knight
hachdours, iii. 59/78, knights
badgers, ii. 205/31, corn-dealers
baue, i. 161/534, bale, sorrow
baine, i.94/108, ready
bale, Prov. : when bale is att hyest,
boote is at next, i. 171/133
ball, ii. 229/43, bale; iii.57/21, sorrow,
misery
ban, i.96/158, curse
band, i. 81/26, bond, agreement
bandog, i.30/58
bandshipp,\\. 564/177> Pbondship^llen-
age, or fellowship. Sc. band, bond,
obligation. — Jamieson.
bane, iii. 21/53, perhaps lane. — P.
banety, iii. 66/247, kindly
bann, i. 55/31, curse
barathron, iii. 76/406, the Latin bara-
thrum, an abyss, used to signify hell.
— Dyce
barme, ii. 438/629, bosom
In trues, iii. 59/81, children, human crea-
tures. — P.
barrison, ii. 580/ 561, for warrison, gift,
reward
harronrye, i. 158/442, collection, or jury,
of barons
harronrye, i. 277/1 18, baronry
basenett, ii.435/545, iii. 45/788, a light
helmet, like a scull cap. Fr. bassinet . . .
the scull, sleight helmet or headpiece,
worne in olde time, by the French men
of armes. — Cot grave, 1611
bashed, i. 225/252, abashed
battdl, iii. 439/47. Column, military
formation
baylye, ii.367/717, district
baysance, i. 159/476, obeisance, bow,
salutation *
beads, gold, for prayers, i. 365/331
beanes, iii. 41 3/208, beams. — P.
bearing (arrow), iii.98/601 ; 413/211,
? well-feathered for far-shooting, like
a " good carrying cartridge."
bearne, iii. 56/14 ; 73/407, child human
creature, man, &c.
be decne, ii.224, Dutch, bij dicn, forth-
wit h
bedonc, ii. 305/8, done over, ornamented
beene, ii. 583/625, baine, ready
beeten, i. 227/304, lighted
began, i. 448/843, grow, swell
begin the dais, ii.379/1028, take the first
place at it :
BID
Qwene Margaret began the deyse;
Kyng Ardus, wyth-owtyn lees,
Be hur was he sett.
Syr Tryamourc, ed. Hal li well, Percy
Soc. 1846, p. 55, 1. 1636-8
Two kyngys the deyse began,
Syr Egyllamoure and Crystyabelle
than
Sir Eglanwur, p. 173, 1. 1259-60
began, i. 115/595, gone over, done over,
dressed
began, i.394/1279, covered, ornamented
with
behappned, i. 356/73, happened to
behcard, i.236/23,31. heard, i.309/229
behoues, iii. 25/165, is of use to
beleeue, ii.7 1/355, be leal, loyal, true
Mw, i. 21/48, suddenly ; 223/212 quickly
belyeth, i.458/1177, belies, tells lies,
against
benhow, i. 36/21, 54/20, bend bow, bow
that will bend
benche, iii. 329/209, ?
benefize, ii. 573/367, benefice
bent, iii. 59/63, bent, where rushes grow,
the field, bent, ii.341/20, dwelling ?
berayc, iii. 24/ 138, bewray
bere, i.383/924, noise, cp. bray, iii. 62/ 1 44
beronen, i. 213/31 ; iii.63/172, run over
with, covered
beseeke, i. 163/596, Northern form of
beseech, i. 162/554
besene, well bysene, Men accoustr'e. —
Palsgrave, p. 844, col. 1.
besett, i. 445/ 745, charged, exhorted
besids, i.379/802, from off
bespake, i. 175/11, spoke to
besprent, ii. 184/5, besprinkled
bethought, were, i.460/1226; i.463/1317,
thought
bethought, was, i. 486/2056, had planned
betide, " Baillez luy belle, GPbodly betide
him ; some bodie spit in his mouth,
for now he hath it sure. — Cotgrave
hctrainc, i.459/1185, betrayed
bet/, i. 36 1/238, remedied, relieved
bett, ii.485/1928, beat, perfect
bett, iii.36/490, better, larger
bett, i. 168/ 53, lighted, A.-Sax. bctan, to
Light a fire
bettell, ii. 574/408, toll of, betray
btwept, ii.373/858, lamented, wept for
bickered, i. 213/27, foughi. Welsh Hera,
to fight
biddon, i.356/79, stayed ; 368/455; no
/580, remained
GLOSSARY.
549
BIG
bigged, iii.72/383, built
bigglye, iii. 72/390, mightily
bued, ii.306/34, drew near
iilhi, in nls, ii. 330/66, ornaments ?
bine, iii. 67/254, ? for pyne (seo byne) ; or
trick, slaughter
birth, iii. 66/231, hulk, burthen
birtled, ii.310/173, cut up
bisse, iii.428/119, white silk; bissus,
qwite silko. Gloss, in Bdiq. Ant.
i.7, col. 1. " Pure white sylke, soye
bissine." — Palsgrave, bissines, silken
words. — Cotgrave
hitter, iii. 28/255, A.-S. bitcl, beetle
blacke, ii. 403/54, ? blacking
hlanehmere, iii. 41/652, ? a kind of fur
blanks, ii. 164/12, a half-sous, half-penny
blanked, i. 228/328, pierced point blank
Marked, iii.326/132 ; 337/412, blanked ;
blank, pale and won, that is, out of
countenance. — Phillips
blaundemere, ii. 420/129, a kind of fur
bled, i. 362/246, bled dry, bloodless
blee, ii. 306/50, colour, hue
blee, iii. 59/65, complexion ; S. bleoh, color
blenched, iii. 57/32, shrunk, started, leaned
towards
blend, i.236/ 30; 134/18, mixed
bleeue, i. 162/555, believe
Minn, iii.67 254; blinne, i.175/7; 218
/10, A.-S. blinnan, to cease
blood-irons, i. 56/53, 59, lancets
blushe, iii.72/388,
blushed on, ii. 72/382, blushed at
Mythe, iii.38/551, A.-S. hli&e, glad
board, ii. 298/69, lodge and feed
bole, iii. 57/32, (country word) the main
Body, or Stock of a Tree— -Phillips
bombard, iii. 253/491. Fr. Bomharde. A
Bumbard, or murthering peece. — Cot-
grave
bondsman, ii.557, note. See Essay on
Bondman in vol. ii.
bone, i. 381/881, village, Flemish bonne,
Sw. boning, Du. mooning, Germ, woh-
nen. From the same root as waine. —
Brockic. ? like bane, i. 377/749, A.-S.
bana, hona, 1. a wound-maker, a killer,
manslayer; 2. destruction. — Bosworth
bookes-man, i. 237/39,43; cp. kookes-
man, 1. 55
book-othe, i. 232/395, book-oath
/mulish, iii. 58/58, perhaps tumid, swel-
ling, rounded
boome, i. 66/ 122, 1 suspect" Lodlyboome"
BBB
is an error of the copyist for "lodly
loone." — Brockie. Log?, dwarf
boote, i.47/6, compensation, A.-S. hut
bord, i.93/83, table
bord, ii. 372/837, side
bore, i. 213/27, boar, Richard II.'s badge
bore, i.452/967, ? lore, lost
borrowe, i. 472/1612, surety
In u- rowed, ii. 532/ 161, rescued
bote, i.474/1661, bit
bourd, i. 379/811, jest
bourde, ii. 557/10, merry tale
limited, i. 374/651, bolted, sprang
bowles, i.98/220, knobs
bowles, iii, 287/293, bowls of wine
bowne, i. 218/113, prepare, address; ii.
298/57, dress; i.384/948, prepared;
iii. 65/21 6, ready, prepared
bowned, i. 396/1325, made ready
bowneth, i, 219/145, goes, journeys
bowsing, ii, 54/61, tree-drinking
bradd, i. 221/176, moved quickly, flew
bradd, iii. 63/1 75, to draw, to pull
bradde, i. 453/989, broadened, spread
bradden, i.228/312, flew
braggatt, ii. 563/141, honey and ale fer-
mented. See a recipe from the Haven
of Health in Nares
braid, ii.381/1090, dropt, fell; ii.65/
188, leapt
brake, ii. 119/1112, cut up
brake of fear ne, i. 27/11, in bracken or
fern
brasyd, i. 115/655, embraced
brairders, iii. 59/63, embroideries
bray, i. 97/192, move quickly
brayd, i. 222/191, attack
brayd, iii. 360/1002, ? flourished about,
brayd, i. 495/2349, instant, (on a) sud-
den
brayde, att a, iii. 90/366, suddenly
bread, ii. 105/740, breadth
bread e, ii.533/187, pulled
breaden, ii, 329/35, braided?
break, ii. 358/486, cut up ; see brake
bred, i. 213/24, spread out
bredd, i. 229/ 332, attack
bri me, i. 92/36 ; iii.57/34, fierce
hrei U////I . iii. 7 1 36 I, fiercely . furiously
brest, speares in, ii. 240/63 ? not for rest
but up to the breast ; so in Maleore's
DIort Darthur
tin tin ■■/-, ii.'Joii .">('>. brethren
hr, uelye, iii. 68/283, bremely, — P. ? brief-
ly.-F.
550
GLOSSARY.
BRE
brewicc, ii.574/389, broth, pottage
bringer-up, i.332/332
broche, iii. 60/94, an ornament, jewel,
clasp. — P.
brodinge, iii.C/63, brode, to prick. G.D.
—P. ? breadthe : cp. 1. 76.— F.
broked, i.356/82, rejected, lost?
brooke, ii. 388/1279, enjoy, possess
brooke, iii. 13/167, broke, i.e. enjoy. —
P.
brotherlinge, i. 426/1 34, nincompoop:
britheling, worthless, a rascal. Cp.
0. Eng. brothel. — H. Coleridge
bruche, i. 184/58, brooch
brushed, i.388/1075, spouted. Cp. the
complaint water-brush, a vomiting of
watery fluid
bryar, iii.26/188. Pronounced brere:
see Levins, col. 209, 1. 15
bryke, i. 232/401, ravine, fissure, breach
or break in the surface, Dan. brak :
or, unploughed land, Du. braak.
— Brockie
buchett, iii. 345/634, budget
buff, i.517/14, a leather coat
bufe, i.83/76, ? for buske, arm
budded, i. 27/11. beilded, sheltered : Old
Norse bceli, place of shelter or refuge
burgen, iii. 59/ 71, burgeon, the same as
bud
burne, i.91/12, man
burnet, ii. 569/284. Fr. brunette, fine
blacke cloth, whence, Aussi Men sont
amourettes soubs bureau que sous
brunettes: Prov. Loxie playes his
pranks as well in Cotes as Courts. —
Cot grave
busk, 1.91/9 ; iii. 47/843, to prepare, dress ;
a simple adoption of the deponent form
of the Icelandic verb bua ; at buast for
at buasc contracted from at bua si;/, to
make oneself ready, dress oneself. —
Wedgwood
busked, iii. 97/575. Scot, buskit, dress'd,
decked
busied, ii.122/1202, hurtled, buslery, a
tumult. — Halliwell
hit if, iii.67/254, unless. — P.
butt', ii.232, note 8
by, iii. 3/5, of; iii. 27/242, about, con-
cerning
by, shold by, should go by, hold to, i.
157/405
bydeene, i. 472/1 614, at once, forthwith
bye, iii.56/16, abye, A.-S. abicgan.
bygan the dese, i. 115/602, took the
CHA
highest place at the table. See began
byne, ii. 86/160, pyne, punishment
cainell bone, i.387/1041, tho clavicle or
neckbone. See cannellc-boon in Babces
Book Index
caltrappys, iii. 537/113, Pr. chaussetrape:
f. A Caltrop or iron engine of warre,
made with foure pricks or sharp points,
whereof one, howsoeiier it is cast, euer
stands vpward. — Cotgrave
can, i.455/1049, knowest; ii.429/353,
know. " I can skyll of a crafte or
science. Je ine congnois. . Thou cannest
skyll of cranes dyrte, thy father was
a poulter." — Palsgrave, p. 475, col. 1
candle, i. 248/4, ? caudle
cankred, i.48/33, ill-tempered
cantell, ii. 430/388, corner, piece
capull, i.214/33; ii.562/130; 567/234,
W. keffyl, a horse
carded, i. 125/9, played at cards
carfull, iii.503/53, care-full
carle, ii. 559/47. churl, peasant
carles, ii. 576/452, churl's
Carlist, i. 117/183,?
carpe, i.212/5, tell
carped, i.216/83, uttered; iii. 66/231,
complained
earned, iii. 71/347, pierced
cast, i.369/491, device, trick
causyc, ii. 428/320, causeway . Fr. chaussee,
a woman that wears breeches, also, the
causey, banke or damme of a pond or
of a riuer
cease, iii. 36/494, seize, give possession
cercott, ii. 421/138, surcoat
certer, ii. 428/335, certes
chaffe, iii. 103/42, ? for clmffc, a term of
reproach
chaffing, i. 56/55, heating
chalengeth, iii.132/123, Fr. chalcngcr, to
claime, challenge
chalishing.\.389l 1 1 1 6, bother, fuss. " Sir
Gray-Steeles desired that there should
be ' noe chalishing' fur his death, that
is, no procession of priests at his fune-
ral, no religious rites. Chalice, the
communion cup. He did not want to
be chaliced." — Brockir
champaind, i. 158/458, ? ornamented in
some way
chandlers, ii. 70/311 ; chandlours, ii.567
/248, candlesticks
chape, ii. 582/606. " I chape a Bworde, or
dagger. I put a chape on the sluthe.
GLOSSARY.
551
CHA
' Je mets la bouterolle.' What shall
I gyve the to chape my dagger." —
Palsgrave
ckarke-bord, iii.409; 114,? same as arche-
bord, 1. 91
cheape, ii.539/369 ; chcepe, i.179/102,
A. -Sax. ceap, a bargain
chccre, i. 446/768, state, condition
cheeue, ii. 563/ 152, thrive
chest of tree, ii. 461/1263, chestnut tree ?
chiualrye, i. 494/2314, chiualrous, mag-
nificent, fighting
choppes, ii. 570/314, blows?
christall, iii.75/446, kyrtle. ? petticoat
Christendoms, i. 452/962 ; ii. 369^753,
christening
Christentie, i.45/139, Christendom
chime, ii. 537/314, chin
churle, Hi. 33, 402, a slave, a vassal. — P.
clemmed, i. 225/258, starved: clem or
clam, the latter is in Staffordshire
the more common, the former con-
sidered the more correct. C'lam'd
is very hungry ; Starved, very cold ;
the two are never confounded, and
starve is never used in connection
with hunger. — E. Viles
clergye, i.365/350 ; ii.488/2020, learning
cliitt or clutt, i. 15/18, clouted: see i.48
/12
clippeth, i. 153/272, A.-Sax. clypian, to
rail
close, i. 225/249, clewes, valleys
clothes, ii. 134/ 1568, tablecloths
clouted, iii. 225/241, patched
clowes, i.232/391, clefts in the sides of
hills
eoate-armor, ii. 192/50, tabard
cockebotte, iii. 160/99, kockebotte for a
shyppe, cocquet. — Palsgrave. Nassel-
lette : f. A small skiffe, scull, or eoeke-
boat. Nasselle : f. A skiffe, wherrie,
or cock-boat. — Cot grave
cockward, i. 65/94, 106, cuckold
coice, iii.97/564. Qu. chose. — P.
cold, i.70/198 ; 457/1125, knew
cold, i. 11 1/89; 385/980, did
colled, ii. 493/2151, ciirled
colour, iii. 60/89. Qu. collar
combrance, i. 448/825, encumbrance, ill-
doing, stratagem
comen, i. 220/150, coming
comment, i.29/47, read comment, convent,
lot
comunye, i.66/ 125, communing, consult-
ation
GUM
confounde, ii. 386/1213, perish
contrition, ii. 547/585, lamentation
cooasten, i. 224/235, marched
coparsonarye, i. 275/64, coparceny
cojppe, i. 28/20, head
cori/iiiant, i. 185/91, of Cordovan leather
coste, ii. 558/38, province?
couer, ii. 543/467, recover
couett, ii. 67/235, courtt ?
countenance, grimace, " Wrinkeled as
ones face is by makyng of a coun-
tenanoe, m. et f. J 'ronce.— Pal 'sg rare,
p. 330, col. 2
downier, vb. i. 358/144, encounter, fight
counter, sb. i. 382/895, attack
countred, iii. 255/545, encountered
course, corpes, i. 462/1295, 1297, corpse
course of warr, a, ii. 292/49, tilt, joust
courtnoUs, ii. 151/80, courtiers
couthe, i. 433/339, known
cowle-tree, ii.440/680, cowlstaff, a big
pole. Fr. tine, a Colestaffe or Stang ;
a big staffe whereon a burthen is
carried betweene two on their should-
ers. — Cotgrave
cowthe, ii.557/14, knew
coye, i. 233/414, man
coyfe, ii.430/394, hood of mail
coyle, ii.52/2, fuss. Fr. carymari, cary-
mara. Fained words expressing a
great coyle, stirre, hurlyburly, or the
confused muttering of a rude coni-
panie. — Cotgrave
coyse, ii. 53/29, ? coyle, fuss, or Fr. cause,
chat, and thence carouse
crcame, iii.74/438, chrism, sacred oil
creepers, ii. 151/68, lice
crickc, ii.323/12, louse
crinkle, ii.308/114
cristinty, i. 41/48, Christendom
crochc, i.514/155, crouch
crowclr, ii. 422/ 149, a kind of fiddle
crownuckles, ii.451/983, note; spear-
heads
crownall, ii. 451/993, coronel ; see note ',
p. 451
crownalls, ii.477/1712, spearheads
cropc, i. 360/1 88, crept
crowt, ii.308/114, curl up
cryance, iii. 7/82 ; MS. cryamcc, fear ;
Old Fr. criente, crainte
cth for teh, i. 23/73; ii. 139/76, macth, i.
228/316
eucholJ, ii. 310/150,161, cuckold
cumber, i. 197/416, distress, torture
552
GLOSSARY.
CUR
DRA
cursing, i. 435/415, state of excommuni-
cation, heathenness
cut-tailed clog, i.20/17, note 2
Whistle's Cut-tayle from his play,
And along with them he goes.
1627. — Brat/ton's Shepheards Sirena.
cuffed, i.27/10; i.29/44, short-frocked,
generally curtail. Fr. Boussin : A Cur-
tall or strong German horse. — Cot.
dain, i.366/371, ? corner, or hole, spying-
place
dained, iii. 66/226, ordained, bade. — 8k.
The context wants the meaning — was
told to.— F.
dale, ii. 76/482, share
dange, i.359/166, dashed, struck
if miger, ii. 566/ 207, endanger
(lunger, i.472/1611, power
(/((;/^r,i.471/1598, difficulties, hesitation
daredst, iii.74/419
darr, ii. 73/395, hurt
dayntye, iii.68/281, delight
dead, i.100/258, death. Mr. Peacock
says, a Lincolnshire woman told him
that she " would rather he nibbled to
dead with ducks, than live with Miss
— ; she is always a nattering." — Mirk,
P- 73
(haiie, i.444/693, injury ?
chared, iii. 69/31 2, destroyed, injvired
ill nrfe, i.213/25 ; fierce, ' great, bold, O.N.
d'iarfr, Sw. tf/er/',strong,bold.' — Morns
dearne, i.464/1356, A.-S. dearn, secret
drrke, ii.403/58, pack of cards
deede, iii.134/184, death
deene, ii. 559/48, e'en, evening
dr.ee, i.364/320; iii.238/79, A.-S. dar,
clam, destruction, injury
deere, i.481/1879, injure
degree, i.369/478; ii.103/674, the pas,
place of honour
delay, ii. 382/1107, an appearance: Fr.
delay, in Law, a day given for appear-
ance, or for the bringing in or amend-
ing of a plea. — Cot grave
delfe, i.445/732, delven, buried
delicates, ii.285/145, delicacies
1 1 liuerlye, i. 358/ 13 5, nimbly
demeaning, ii. 442/727, walk or ride ; Fr.
demener, to stirre much, mooue to and
fro, remone often
derfe, i.228/329, fierce ; i.213/32. hard ;
iii. 7(1/325. cruel
descase, ii. 561/106, harm
device, at, i. 159/485, elegantly; ii.240
/125, neatly, correctly
deske, i.427/148, dais
desoures, ii.451/989, disours, tellers
desse, iii. 40/629, dais, the upper part of
the Hall, where the high table stood.
—P.
dijformyd, i. 117/700, misshapen, put out
of shape
(light, i. 466/1434, make ready
(light, iii.44/736, deck'd, dressed
(light, i. 355/54, conditioned
dight, ii. 543/468, used up
dild, iii.107/122, yield it, requite
clilffull, iii.257/603, doleful
dill, iii.4/22, grief, A.-S. deol, deceit,
trouble ?
ding, ii.361/537, batter
dinge, i. 236/22, beat, knock
dint, ii.423/183, 192, charge, thrust
dint, iii. 34/436, dent, impression, mark.
— P. Dint, an impression or mark. —
Phillips (by Kersey) ; and so Shak-
speare :
His tenderer cheek receives her soft
hand's print,
As apt as new-fall'n snow takes any
dint.
Venus and Adonis, 1. 53-4. — E.V.
discreeme, iii. 495/7, ? discreeue
discreeue, iii.4/19, describe, discover
dish-meate, ii. 576/463, sweets ; ' beire
dischmetes ar dressid with hony not
claryfied.' — Kussell in Babces Book,
150/514
dispence, i.286/392, dispensation
distance, ii, 115/996, dispute, difference
distayned, i. 357/89, worsted, vanquished
distcre, ii.456/1107, destrier, war-horse
dhworship, i. 156/392
doe, i.449/877, put
doe away ! ii. 569/297, go along with you !
dole, i. 428/181, sorrow, misfortune
donge, ii. 361/531, battered
donge, ii.384/1172, dashed, charged
clop, iii. 103/21 ; dope, i.e. do open. — P.
doubt, i.48/14 ; iii. 74/439, fear
doubtfull, iii. 259/649, fearful, dreadful
doug'ht, ii.332/122, enjoyed
doughtilye, iii. 75/447, valiantly, reso-
lutely, undauntedly
dovne, iii. 25/183, perhaps done. — P.
doxic, Fr. Gueuse : f. A woman begger,
a she rogue, a great lazie and hmzie
queane ; a Boxie or Mort. — Cotgrave
drayned, i. 221/1 74, dawned
GLOSSABY.
553
DEE
dreadfullye, i. 470/1563, in great dread
dree, iii. 73, :; ( .)7, rndure, hold out, A.-S.
dreogan, Goth, driugan, to serve as a
soldier, fight, to hold out in fighting.
dright, iii. 57/38, great, noble, fine, A.-S.
driht
drouffhten, i.214,35, A.-S. drihten, tho
Lord, God
drouyers, ii.8/32, drivers of the deer
druryes, iii.(i()/87, lovelinesses, graces
drye, iii. 67/263; dry,drieii,o[ld]w[or(l'\,
suffer, Coles's Eug. Diet. 1677.— V.
dunge, iii.65/211, dang
dungen, i.213,32, beaten, Scotch ding,
to beat, Isl. daengia. — Jamieson
dimisk, iii. 133. 160. ?dunny, deaf, stupid
dunned, i.228/329, resounded
a/sing, iii. 267/1 13. See note
ca.iinend, i. 361/222, 230, attention, doc-
toring
easments, i. 362/260, attentions, care
eft, iii. 434/75, quick, ready
eke, for ' epe,' bold, i.226/282
elke, i.226/282, ilke, same
eMres,ii. 577/468, wild swans, or? omelettes
ernes, ii. 43 1/434, uncle's, A.-S. eain, uncle
en/ante, i.443/669, get with child by
enginy, ii. 29/36, scheming
epe, i.223/220 ; 229/340; 231/371, bold
error, ii .423/ 196, running, haste ; or
anger ?
-es, 2nd pers. sing. ' slayes thou' i. 20/21 ;
see gables
ethe, i.396/1352, easy
euereche, i. 486/2070, every
eues, ii.437/601, eaves, overarching trees
euyes, ii. 75/450, ivies
examiter, iii. 31 8/39, hexameter
cze[n], i.28/39, hose?
faikine, i.43/90
faine, iii. 79/69, glad
faire, iii. 75/450, fair thing
'fulling, iii. 197/5. This transitive sense
of the verb to fall is common in Staf-
fordshire, where people always speak
of falling a tree instead of felling it.
— V.
fame, ii. 80/12, evil report, disrepute
famed, ii. 100/570, defamed
fane, ii. 383/1 137. vane, weathercock
farden, iii. 63/165, i.e. fared, passed,
went, were. —P.
FFO
fare, ii.355/402, went
fare, i.472/1608, doing, business, object
farr, i.232/404, ? fare, go
farren, i.391/1165, fared
fate, f ute, i. 30/51, whistle
faugh, i.228/315, fallow ground. Scotch,
fauch, " Tenants' fauch gars lairds
lauch." — Brockie
fay, i.94/92, faith, Fr./oi
fayrye, ii.472/1540, enchantment
fcare, i. 158/454; 178/72, company
feared, i.378/756, frightened
felly, i.325/123, savagely
fend, i.21/32, ward off; ii.61/78, defend
fended, i.365/346, guarded, fought
fettle, i. 221/163, in constant use in Staf-
fordshire, ' to prepare or get ready.' — -
E.V.
fere, i. 355/41, mate, lover
ferlc, i. 233/41 3, wonderful; or ferse,
fierce
fet, i.149/166, fetch
fett, ii.328/19, fetch
fettled, i.221/183, set to work quickly
fettled, i.231/388, prepared
fcttlen, i.227/304, get ready
few, i.213/17, ? for fele, many
ffaine, iii.31/340, glad
ffaley, ii.588/766, ? ferley, wonderful
ffarc, ii. 547/583, going-on, grief
ffarley, ii. 229/36, wondrous
ffarrand, ii. 572/353, 358, looking
ffaxe, iii.326/121, faxe, hair. A.-S.
feax
ffayre, iii. 59/64, i.e. fair thing, fair crea-
ture, see 1. 450. — P.
jl) ah!, iii.285/239, a truss of straw.— P.
feareth, iii.68/282, frighten
ffeate, ii. 545/ 533, natty, handy
ffeere, in, iii. 44/ 763, together
ffeiht, iii.502/25, fet, fetched
ffeley, ii. 451/994, savago?
felted, ii. 435/548, feeled, felt
ffere, iii. 77/20, companion
ffetteled, ii. 230/60, made ready
fflax, iii, 266/93. A.-S. feax, hair of
tho head
ffleeringe, iii.73/412, ? hYinge
fflome, ii. 125, 251, river
Jlloutc.i, ii.577, 168, elieesecakea
flourished, ii.485/1913, ornamented
ffome, iii. 263/5, sea, qu. — P.
food, ii.385/1195, lady, dame
ffoode, i. 456/1 084, imp, child
ffootmanshipp, iii. 531/25, running, speed
for, iii.291/420, through
554
GLOSSARY.
FFO
jjorbott, iii.113/313, see Vol. I. p. 18,
note. " I fende to Goddes forbode it
shuldo be so : a Dicu ne playsc
qx'aynsi il aduicngne." — Pcdsgravc,
p. 548, col. 1
ffnrceth not, iii. 370/29, doesn't mind
fore, iii. 285/228, fared
for/arc, ii.459/1200, destroy
'for! ore, iii. 45/ 790, lost
forthinketh, iii.96/548, repents. "I
repente me, I forthynke me. Je me
repens. — Palsgrave, p. 686, col. 2
ForthinJc, o[ld], to be griered in mind.—
Coles sEng. Diet. 1677
fforthought, i'ii.333/304, repented of
forward, agreement, ii. 461/ 1271
ffounded, ii.544/493, tried
ffraihe, iii 61/130, to ask or desire. —
Phillips
frail kish, ii.590/826, ? liberal, OT French
ffrcake, iii.62/157, freke, homo, a human
creature. — Lye
ffreane, ii.534/224, ask
ffrecledge, ii.564/176, condition?; but
frcelage, an heritable property as dis-
tinguished from a farm. — Jamieson
ffreelye, ii. 385/1195, A.-S. frcolic, noble,
lordly
from, iii. 265/76, ? frame: cp. ffrane,
1. 153
froterye, ii.577/468, fritters
ffrowtc, ii. 588/771, hit, punch
filul, i.441/594. defiled
filing*, ii. 276/118, 124, defiling, dirtying
flaugh, i.71/227, flew
fleame, i.472/1624, A.-S. flyman, banish
flcamed, i.435/426 ; ii.133/1526, ban-
ished
florenees, i.393/1232; 396/1350; ii.89/
238, florins
flytc, ii. 322/9 ; 324/41, 57, scold, quarrel
fooder, i. 172/160, German fuder, a wine-
tun. 1. 162, "God will send to us
auger " = God will enable me to tap
you, draw your life blood. — Blackley.
Ein fudcr oder stuckfass rheinischen
weins, so sechs ohm oder swey hundert
mid vierzig stubchen halt, a tun of
Rhenish wine ; a great fat containing
two buts or 240 gallons. — Ludvig
fooder, L2 16/94, A.-S. fo%cr, a mass,
load
force, i. 100/266, matter, consequence
force, i. 288/455; need, necessity
fordoe, i. 157/408, destroy
fore/end, i. 100/277, forbid
GAR
forefendant, i. 150/191, forfend, forbid
fore/ore, i. 9 1/33, vanquish?
forfowhte, iii. , ? see notes, tired out
with fighting
Thus lasted longe that ilke Melle
be-twene hym and Me full Sekerle,
tyl that I was so forfowhte
that non lengere stonden I Mowhte.
Seynt Graal, ii. 208, 1. 765
forlainc, i.464/1369, lain by, violated
forlaine, ii.86/168, lain with, adultered
with
forlore, i. 150/194, entirely lost
formen, i.213/30; i.220/167 ; 369/492,
foemen
forshapen, i. 117/752, misshapen
forth of, i.356/80, from
forth-wise, i.444/714, forthwith
forward, i. 229/335, ? advance, attack ;
or, as in note 6
forwarder, i.l 14/536, agreements ; A.-S.
forewcard, an agreement
forward, ii. 192/43, foreguard, advance-
guard
fosters, ii.116/1037; ii. 117/1058, for-
esters
fowlc, i.223/231, bird
fox, ii.54/43, make drunk
'fraye, that, i. 365/341, at that seizure
frcake, i. 214/50, warrior
frencd, ii. 385/1201, framed, asked _
fronse, iii.366/last line, a sore in a
hawk's mouth
frythes, i. 357/105, fords, passages, Germ.
furth, furt ; Scan, fiird; Swed. fiirj.
■ — Brockie. cp. ryding ^>/«<t.s. i.383/
937. Vadum a forthe, Bel. Ant. i.9,
col. 1.
fwbrished, i. 391/1 192, sorely bruised
furley, ii. 68/280, wonder
'furlcy, i. 384/974 ; ii.68/275, wondrous
fute, i. 30/51, whistle, cp. Cleveland,
whewt, whewtle, to whistle ; to pipe as
a bird does. — Atkinson
filling, i. 30/54, whistling
fylc,\. 445/727, defile
gables, i.454/1027, gabbiest, talkcst stuff
and nonsense
gainest, iii. 65/208, gain, clever, handy,
ready, dextrous. — Johnson
gallyard, ii. 579/530, a lively dance
garr, i.91/23 ; ii.564/173, make, cause
garrison, i.484/1998, reinforcement ?
garsownc, ii.474/1607, boy, youth
GLOSSARY.
555
GAT
gate, ii.206/58, ford
gate, iii. 279/38, begat
gates, ii.229 10, ways, paths
guide, ii. 306/41, gules, red
gauelocke, i.489/2138, staff, an iron
crowbar or mace. Gothic gafiack,
■weapon, club. — Brock ie
gay nest, iii. 73/412, quickest
gengells, ii.288/213, gentle folk
gent, i, 160/500, gentle, gracious
'gentles, ii. 573/382,38.5, gentlefolk's
gentrise, ii. 559/65, gentlemanlike be-
haviour
gentryes, i. 159/461, gentrise, grace
g /testing, i. 64/ 66,68, lodging, entertain-
ment
giffe, i.169/85, if
gilt, i. 450/907, sinned : A.-S. gyltan, to
make or prove guilty
gin no, i.239/88, trick
girthers, i. 385/995, girding leathers,
straps
give, i.519/81, if
gladedd, i.357/111, became glad, re-
joiced
glased, ii. 538/326, glanced, struck
glashet, ii, 333/1 37, glanced, sprang
glaue, i. 57/75, sword
gleads, ii. 568/264, kites
gleed, i. 65/113; iii.252/477, live coal
glented, iii. 72/384, glanced
glenten, i. 215/71, went quickly
glode, iii.57/28, glided
glaring, i. 217/103, shining
gnew, iii. 334/328, gnawed
godly, i.215/55, goodly, well
godsmen, ii. 543/484, almsmen
gods-penny, i. 176/20, 179/105, earnest-
money
gogled, i. 16/26, waggled; iii.C-2/1 47, jog-
gled, wagged, shook
gold ehaines, i.509/13, servants who
wore gold chains
gone, ii. 373/859, dead
good, i. 251/82, truly
gorgere, ii.478/1726, throat-armour
graine, ii. 323/29, crimson
graime, i. 75/12, fork of a tree. See Mr.
Peacock's note, i., see Notes
graines, ii. 570/319, prongs
gramarye, ii.604/144, 164; 607 265,
magic
graine, i. 441/61 4, get angry
grume, ii. 72/386, vexation, ii. 4 18/893,
torture
GET.
granado, ii. 41/16, fire grenades into ;
granado* sb, 1. 20
grange house, i. 338/482
grantesse, ii. 346/163, agreement, phdgo?
grasse, iii. 279/64, fat
graunt, i. 114/531, agreement
greathes, i.215/55, makes ready
greaue, ii.91/311 ; 440/661, grove
gree, i. 380/833; ii.346/154; first place,
prize
grecce, iii.92/421. Er. graisse, fat
greete, i. 58/100, grit; i.357/109, grave]
green (applied to a man's face), i. 356/69
grett, iii. 343/579. greeted
griffon, ii.370/776 ; 371/800,805; see
gripe
grill, ii.487/1995, fierce
grinds, ii. 336/25, polish
gripe, i. 148/1 05, ypwp, gryps, a griffin.
A gryphe hyghte Griphes, and is ac-
counted amonge volatiles, Deutero-
nomi, xiiii. And there the Gloso
saythe, that the grype is foure
fotedtle, and lyke to the egle in heed
and in wynges. And is lyke to the
lyon in the other parte of the body,
and dwelleth in those hylles that
ben called Hyperborei, and ben
mooste enemyes to horses and men,
& greueth them moste, and layeth
in his neste a stone that hyght Sma-
ragdus agaynste venemous beastes of
the mountayne. — Trevisa's Bart In d-
omeeus, bk. xii, ch. xix, leaf 171, col.
2, ed. 1535. See Mr. Euskin's con-
trast of the ancient and modern
sculptured griffin in his Modi rn
Painters, iii. 106
grise, ii. 439/648, horrible
grislye, i. 167/1468; 469/1505,1510,
1513, A.-S. grislic, horrible, dreadful
grisse, i. 391/1 179, A.-S. agrysan, fear,
gryre, horror, terror
griste, ii. 5 10/389, ? power, A.-S. grist,
grinding
griih, i. 230/266, protection
groomes, i. 93/85, men; ai. 26/204,
60/84
growden, iii. 256/578, ? fighting
grounding, i. 57/75, ground, sharpened
grume, iii. 65/225. ? Jbregrim, i.e. very
grim ; A.-S. grim, fury, rage;
grymetan, to rage
grype, i. 169/73; iii. 63/173, griffin, see
gripe
556
GLOSSARY.
GEY
gryse, ii. 448/902, grey fur?
guests, i. 232/402, Scotch, guest, ghaist,
English, ghost. — Brockie
guilt, i.l 72/1 68, 170, gilt
gurde, i. 21 6/93 ; Sc. gird, to move with
expedition and force. — Jamicson
guarding, i.228/323, letting fly, shooting
gynne, i.480/1854, engine; i.491/2223,
wile, device
gysctrmes, ii. 457/1166, " gui sarnie, a
lance with a hook at the side." —
Planche
hahergion, i.358/128; i. 364/309, dim. of
hauberk, the little throat-guard. —
PlancU, i.l 10
hallow, i. 150/173, A.-S. haliq, holy
halch, i. 110/65; iii.284/190, salute, O.N.
heilsa, say " hail" to. haylse, or greete,
je saluc. I halse one, I take hym
aboute the necke, Jaccole. — Palsgrave,
p. 577
halehcd,\.2l7l9$; i. 301/27 ;i.306/146-7;
372/581, saluted
haled, ii.13/180, drew
handfasted, i.394/1274, betrothed
hansell, ii. 192/37, greeting, gift
happen, i. 359/146, fall, strike
harbarrowes, ii. 7 1/342, lodges
harbor, ii. 560/78 ; 581/573, lodging,
entertainment
harborrowe, ii. 69/294, 300, lodging
harke, ii.482/1851, hearken to
harllot, i.l 52/260, scamp, worthless fel-
low
harlotts, i. 445/726,737, loose fellows,
scamps
harold, i.304/106, herald
harrowed, ii. 349/241, broke open and
despoiled
harrowes, ii.73/414, breaks open and
despoils
hart, tooke his owne to him, i.163/606,
took courage
harvenger, i.38/5, harbinger, courier,
" one sent on to prepare harbourage
or lodgment for his employer." — Wedg-
wood
hattell, i. 224/237, nobleman
hawe, ii. 579/530, hay, a winding country
dance, a reel. It was also a winding
in-and-out figure in a round country
dance. — Chappell
hawere, i.l 49/ 150, Fr. avoir, possessions
hawtinge, i. 92/56, halting?
HTN
he, i.477/1757, they
head, give ones horse his, i. 358/ 124
head, iii.192/75, A.-S. hcafdian, to be-
head
headed, iii.321/8, beheaded
heare, iii.63/158, hair
heate, ii. 305/18, a promise
heathennest, i. 63/56 ; heathinnesse, ii.l 84
/125 ; heathy nesse, i. 498/3, heathen-
dom
hecke, iii. 285/232, the lower half of a
stable door
hee, i.92/56 ; 147/102, high
heede, iii.24/134, perhaps keep. — P.
hecse, iii. 139/63, he will be, or must be
heire, i.97/179, higher
hend, ii.345/120, bid
hend, i.l 52 244, gentle
hendlye, i.427/147, gently
/^m;', i.l 00/263, seized; i.28/29,35,caught,
took
hcrrott, i. 230/353, herald
hett, iii.355/877, promise; i.443/666,
671, promised
highinge, ii.l 10/876, haste
hu/ht, i. 439/558, was named
hind, i.159/463 ; i.162/577, hend, gentle
his, i. 387/1042, i.390/1153, ii.375/921, is
hoe, ii.489/2058, hold, stop
hoglin, ii. 360/529, dear little hog
hold, iii.25/161, to its . . .hold, i.e. held.
—P.
hollen, i.109/55, A.-S. holen, holly
holte, iii. 58/55, a wood, a rough place.
Holt (Sax.) a small Wood, or Grove ;
whence the Street call'd Holborn in
London had its Name.- — Phillips (by
Kersey). Fr. Touchedebois. Ahoult;
a little thicke groue or tuft of high
trees, especially such a one asisneere
a house, and serues to beautifie it, or
as a marke for it. — Cotgrave
home, iii. 28/258, on whom
homly, i.67/153, home, close, tight
hony, i. 151/203, love, sweetheart
hore, ii. 473/1585, mud, dirt
hose, i.67/153, cuddle
honed, ii. 383/1 151, iii. 31/358, halted
houzle, sb. i. 57/88; honzlc, vb. i.l 72/
178, to administer the Sacrament:
A.-S. huseliem
hurt, i.67/153, heart
hyde, i.362/263, a lady's skin
h'ynd, iii. 61/107; AyWr, iii.70/3 10,hrnd,
gentle
hyndes, iii. 68/279, servants
GLOSSARY.
557
IAC
iacke, iii. 415/255, leather tunic over
the armour
ierffaucon, ii. 451/977, gerfalcon
test, ii.549/632, story
ietted, i. 42/71, marched showily
letters, ii. 568/275, strutters
if, iii.203/174, even if
Wee, i. 56/52, same (time); i.73/278
time
Imwpetelasze, iii.300/118, qu. MS.— F.
himpettelaze, corruptly written for
immortalize. — P.
incontinent, i. 286/384, forthwith
inde, ii.455/1105, Fr. inde, m. Indico;
light Blue, Blunket, Azure
inestimable, i. 288/461, not to be esti-
mated or valued
inglinff, iii.314/15, perhaps jingling
inholder, i. 283/78, innkeeper
inne, ii. 563/1 36, house
insame, ii. 434/501, together: A.-S. sain,
together
inter talked, ii.35/2
iolhje, ii.295/130, pleasure
ioyinge, i. 230/352, joining
irke, i. 177/54, angry, A.-S. yr
irke, i.361/232, dread
is, ii.423/188, are
is, i. 155/ 341, his
is (for the possessive 's) i. 161/548
ishueles, i. 290/513, issueless
ishulese, i. 274/31 ; i. 290/496, issueless
Isl, iii. 45/780, I'll, I shall
ist, ii.218/2 ; 219/30; 223/145, I'll
it and lit, as genitives, for its, ii. 248/34
ii. 251/131
■IudasVye, ii. 258/96, Judasly, traitorously
iitmpe, iii. 369/1 3, lust due, right,
even, jvmpe, levell, straight. — Cot-
grave. See Othello, A. ii. s. 2.
iuster, ii. 292/62, jouster
I-wis, i. 19/10; 333/343, &c. : every /
is hyphened to its wis •wherever this
word is printed, undor the belief that
it stands for the A.-S. adverb gewis
certainly ; but in tho passage where it
is used with as, " as I wis," ii.583
/627, the words are of course separate,
a pronoun and verb
i-wis, i. 146/59, A.-S. gewis, certainly.
But see " as I wis " ii.583/627
iwitt, i. 453/981, A.-S. gewilan, under-
stand
iacke, iii. 415/255, leather tunic over tho
armour
KYT
jack, i. 31 1/296, a sleeveless tunic
jig, ii.334
jolly, ii 422/155, merry
jorncy, iii.239/88, a day's work
jousts and tournaments, i.85/9, oote '
jury, i.196/397
kayred, ii.62/117, passed over
keere, iii. 74/4 36, turn
keered, i. 229/333, turned ; A.-S. cerran
/oil. ii.67/255; 502/12; 503/44, a net
for a lady's hair, for Bredbeddle's
wife
kempe, ii. 606/219, kemperye man, ii.
605/215, magician?
kempes, ii. 527/5, warriors
kempys, i.90/6, A.-S. kempa, cempa, a
soldier, warrior
ken, iii.62/131, to inform. See Witt,
1. 120
kend, ii.457/1152, taught, showed
kere, i. 229/347, return
kered, i.222/192; iii.61/118, turned
kcthcrinckes, i.219/131,135 ; 230/351,
Cateranes, Katheranes, Highland rob-
bers ; Gael, and Ir. caetharnach, a
soldier. — Jamieson. Highland or Irish
soldiers. Gaelic, cath-fficara, fight-
ing-men, warriors, Scotch caterans,
kerne. — Brockie
kin, ii. 233/143, relation
kindle care, ii. 539/360
kirtle, iii. 180/ 100. Kyrtle is not upper
petticoat, but our modern gown, a
waist and petticoat. A kyrtle and
mantle completed a woman's dress.
— Grit. Rev. Jan. 1795, p. 49
kissed, i 449/857, the whore's euphuism
for having connection with her, cur-
rent in London as well as in the
North. — Atkinson.
kithe, ii. 233/143, acquaintance
kit fie, iii. 74/436, A.-S. cy%, a region;
ewfcfcc, a home, native country
kithen, iii. 73/392
knaue, i.438/511. male
knaue, iii. 23/97, a boy, a male child;
ii. 547/573, page, lad
kniiidedgc, i. 163/585, acknowledge, con-
kut, iii. 130/77
kyreth, iii. 66/ 230, A.-S. cyrran, to turn
fcythe, iii. 58/47, region, A.-S. cyS
558
GLOSSARY.
LAB
labordd, ii. 69/301, worked, travailed
labored, ii. 85/134, toiled through, per-
formed
labored, i.307/185, sailed
lack, iii.69/303 ; lacheth, iii.69/298, A.-S.
Iteccan, gelceccan, to take, catch, seize
laine, iii. 190/26, conceal
laine, ii. 75/469, concealment
laine, i.452/970, lay ?
lake, i.300/7, fight
hike, iii. 69/302, play, sport. To lake,
to play. — Ray's North Country Words,
1674
lake, i, 363/281, fine linen. Laecken is
said to he Flemish for a kind of fine
linen used for shirts, bleached very
■white, perhaps milk-white. The Ger-
man lei-laken, Dan. leic-lagen (leie =
bed), Swedish biidd-lakan = bed-
sheet. Dutch and German laken,
cloth in general. — Brockic
lambes woole, ii. 152/105, a drink of ale
and roast apples
land, ii. 226/21 4, lord, like state, noble
lanke, i.226/269, ? lean, thin, poor (is
their praise)
largnesse, iii.293/478, largesse
lase, i. 451/934, lies
latcn ; Cornish dial, lateen, tin, iron
tinned over :
" Well then, down a great shaft goes
the man in lateen"
the ghost of Hamlet's father in ar-
mour. — Spec, of Cornish Dialect, p. 18
lathe, ii.593/896,'barn ; not A.-S. L<8%,
Lathe, district or division peculiar to
Kent
lauding, ii. 593/895, praise
lauerac/ce, i.383/922, lark
lauge, ii.532/155, laugh
/(iiinchc,V\A27j3ll, lance, thrust; ii.430/
386, rush
laundercr, ii. 450/965, washerwoman ;
Fr. lavandicre, a launderesse or wash-
ing woman
laus, ii.37/5,6, ?
lawnde, iii. 92/419, a clear space in a
forest. — F. Lawne, a plain, untilled
ground. — Bidlokars Diet. 1656. Not
far from here — just on the border of
Shropshire in fact, is a considerable
tract of waste land. It is very rugged
and unoven, with pits or pools here
and there, some containing water.
It is studded with gorse bushes and
other prickly shrubs : a more unlcvel
LEE
place you could scarcely find, yet this
tract is called Oaken Lawn. Oaken
is the name of a village not far off. The
old dictionaries define laund "a piece
of ground that never was tilled," some
add (in a forest). I was much sur-
prised, when I first saw the place and
heard its name — nothing more un-
lawnlike in appearance could be con-
ceived. — VUes
lay, iii.9/115, law
layeth, iii. 66/228, loathsome, deadly
layinc, ii. 436, 575, concealment, reserva-
tion
layke, i. 231/380, A.-S. lac, play, sport
layne, i. 493/ 2282, concealment
lazar, laser, i. 167/1 1,13, leper
layned, ii.277/139, leaned
lead, i.197/412; leade, i.99/239.255,
cauldron, copper ; Gaelic luchd, a
pot, kettle. — Morris
lead, ii.375/921 ; leade, i.359/162 ; 388/
1069, leaved, left
lead, ii. 528/47, carry as a load
lead, ii. 585/671, swear
leadand, i.393/1253; i.397/1362,1372,
leading
leaetcnant, i. 319/27, lieutenant
leake, iii. 67/249, A.-S. lac, play, sport
leanie, ii.546/546; Iconics, i.228/309,
A.-S. leoma, ray of light, beam, flame
leane, iii. 214/74, Old Norse leina, to
conceal. Leane is a Cheshire pro-
nunciation for layne, conceal. — Dr.
Robson
leaving, i. 182/5, A.-S. Mr, lar, lore,
learning ; lieran, to teach
lease, ii.504/69, ? leash, thong, cord.
Bowe, arrowes, sworde, bukler, home,
leishe, gloues, stringe, and thy bracer.
('Gere' that ' a Gentylmans Servant ' is
not to forget. Fitzherbcrfs Husbandry,
1767, p. 87)
leasinge, i. 439/547, iii. 96/528, lying,
lies
leaih, ii.297/10, soft, supple
lee, i. 92/47, ? lea, meadow
leeches, i. 36 1/224, doctors
leeching, iii. 5/38, from the French aUeger,
(o ass-wage, mitigate, allay, solace
leed, i. 318/10; 319/26; iii.69/315 ;
leede, i. 215/58, A.-S. leod, a man
leefe, iii. 95/5 1 4 ; Fr. ( Iter : m. Deare, leefe,
well-beloved
leete, i. 149/140, let go, lose
lecue, i.370/514, dear
GLOSSARY.
559
i.r.i;
let ve, i. 56/58, believe
leggs, ii.154/158, curtseys, bows
lemman, i. 152/23.) ; ii. 299/88, love,
sweetheart; i. 444/713, mistress, con-
cubine
lene, i.305/120, 134, conceal; Old Norse
leyna, to hide
lenge, i. 361/221, linger, delay
lenging, i.369/463, ? delaying, wanting,
refused
lent, ii.388/1268, ? landed, or remained
lent, iii.64/188; 239/97, short for
lenged ; thus were lcnt = aho<\e, dwelt ;
lend, to dwell, remain, tarry. — Halli-
well
lerd, ii.424/211, learnt; A.-S. l&ran, to
teach, instruct
lere, iii.63/1 70, countenance, complexion
lesse, i. 439/o58, lies
left, ii.377/984; iii.245/256, hinder. I
let, I forbyd, or stoppe one to do a
thinge. Je cohibe. — Palsgrave
lett, i.359/151, leave; i.365/334, left
letted, i. 158/446, hindered
letter, i. 94/95, liefer, rather
Udder, iii.67/249, A.-S. ly&re, lySer, bad,
wicked
liggand, i.365/334, lying
tight, i.171/150, alighted
lightfuote, ii. 151/85; 152/89; 156/208,
venison
lighted, ii. 283/95, alighted, dismounted
light att a lott, i.219/139, determined by
lot
light woman, L443/6G0 ; 444/722, prosti-
tute
lightt, ii. 60/54, for lythe, joint
tin, i. 55/40, cease, A.-S. linnan. If
Wantonis knew this, she will nener
tin scorning. — Wit and Wisdome, p.
30, 1. 30
I'm nor light, i.373 597, limb and lith
(joint, and then body ?) I'm nor light =
lung nor light. Lungs an' lichts are
a common term in Scotland for what
butchers call the pluck, the other
intestines being comprehended under
gut and ga'. But the true reading
here appears to have been limb nor
lith. — Brockie
tind, ii.455/1099, lime-trees; Fr. Til:
m. The Line, Linden or Teylet tree.
— Cotgrave
line, i. 362/251, linen, petticoat
line, ii. 580/555, linen
LOS
list, i.38/1, A.-S. Mystan; lithe. led.
hlyta, to listen
list, iii.57/37, ? for lift, left, left alone
list, i. 149/ 164, desired ; A.-S. lystan, to
desire, covet, list
lite, i.212/9, few
lith, i.479, ym and lith, a common ex-
pression in Scotland, in speaking of
full-length statues or portraits, —
" Of gude free-stane, in limb an' lith.'
It is literally limb and joint = bono
and sinew. From lith come the Eng-
lish words lithe, lither, &c. The root
signifies smooth, supple. — Brockie
lithe, ii. 373/872, A.-S. Hie, mild, gentle
lithe, iii. 77/17, attend, hearken, listen
lither, i. 249/33, 250/47, wicked
liner, i. 17/46, and note 1 , nimble. Quyeko
or delyver of ones lymmes, agil,
delittre. — Palsgrave. I foote a daunco
or morisque, I shewe myselfe to be
delyver of my lymmes in daunsyng. —
Ibid. p. 553, col. 2
liueranoe, ii. 219/31, pay
liuer lies, ii.532/170, nimbleness
liverr, i. 432/306, wages, pay, Fr. tivrSe
liuerye, ii. 545/536, allowance of food
liueryes, ii.580/552, allowances of meat
and drink for the night
Hues, iii.9/115, leeves, i.e. believes
linings, i. 370/508, properties
liuor, ii.219/36; 220/53, deliver
lode, on, ii. 11/123, heavily
lodlu. i.66/122; lodlyc, iii.63/162; 283/
182, loathly
lodlyest, i. 154/324, most loathly or ugly
lome, i. 168/47, man, object
longe of, iii.325/116, cp. Cotgrave's "A
toy n'a pas tenu. Thou wert no hind-
erance . . it was not long of I liee."
longed, i.226/280, iii. 73/39 1," belonged
longed, i.144. Wo talk in Cleveland
thus: not only "a dog belonging his
master," but his master " blunging,
'longing his dog." " And with him the
dog belonging him" would be everyday
Cleveland. I believe there is also a
form leng, tarry, stay. — A.
longed, iii.58/60 62/136, abode, dwelt;
A.-S. lengian.
loofe, i.229/336, A.-S. /<</', praise
lope, i.17/43, 1 1. Leapt
losse, i.226/269; iii. 69/305 ; ii. 85/132,
443/719, Jos, praise, l'amo ; ii.416/23,
reputation
560
GLOSSARY.
LOS
losty, iii.505/99, ? lusty or lofty
lote, i. 471/1567. lighted, alighted
lothclich, iii. 69/303, loathsome
louge, ii. 374/883; lough, ii.384/1163;
lought, i.190/215, laughed
lout, 1.95/142, blow
loved with, for loved by, i. 153/ 2 65
low, i.78/70, hill
lowde and still, ii.l 14/990
lowe, ii.235/186, hill
lowte, i. 102/31 6, A.-S. hlutan, to bow ;
ii.75/456, stoop; lowted, ii.460/1243,
iii. 59/70. A capo chino, with head
bending, that is, reverently stooping
or touting. — Florio, p. 4
lowte, i. 375/672, abuse, blackguard
lowtest, i.l 62/562, most humble
lucett, ii.402/38, ?
lumpryd, i.l 14/555, lolling
lurden, iii. 85/ 242. Lourdant : m. A sot,
dunce, dullard, grotnoll, jobernoll,
blockhead ; a lowt, lob, lusk, boore,
clown, churle, clusterfist ; a proud,
ignorant, and unmannerly swaine. —
Cot grave
Iycd,\.l51l217, lay
Iyer, ii.448/903, shoulders, body; A.-S.
lira, the flesh, muscles
lynde, iii.90/376. Lynde, tre. Ttlia.
prompt, parv. — Tilia, a tree bearing
fruit as great as a bean, round, and
in which are seeds like to anise seeds.
Some call it linden or teil-tree. —
Goiddmaris Diet. 1664
lyne, a, ii.228/6 ; of Lyne, ii.231/88, of
the line or linden tree
lyre, ii.493/2151, 568/255, body
lytc, i.434/385, little
lythe, listen to, ii. 527/3
lythe, i.480/1860, A.-S. W5, a limb,
joint
magre, iii. 367/9, Fr. malgre, illwill
maidenhead, ii. 343/74, maiden state
mailes. i.386/1009, plates of mail
maisterye, ii.382/1104, being the best
j ouster
make, ii. 274/74, 82, mate, match, love
makeles, i.2 14/46, matchless ; A.-S. maca,
a mate
maMesse, i. 227/292, matchless
'iiuiiiimetts, ii. 466/1 383, images of idols
man, iii. 144/21 3; 238/82, maun, i.e. must
margarett, ii. 449/941, pearl
mangerye, iii. 268/168, eating, feasting
MIS
manhood, i. 450/883, a man ; i.457/1121,
reputation
manner, ii 
