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Full text of "Choyce drollery: songs and sonnets. Being a collection of divers excellent pieces of poetry, of several eminent authors. Now first reprinted from the ed. of 1656, to which are added the extra songs of Merry drollery, 1661, and an Antidote against melancholy, 1661. Edited with special introd"

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Choyce  Drollery. 


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I 


JWEi,w>jUj,i!;r 


Choyce 

DROLLERY 

SONGS  &  SONNETS. 

BEING 

A  Colle6lion  of  Divers  Excellent 
Pieces  of  Poetry, 

OF  SEVER/VL  EMINENT  AUTHORS. 


Nonv  First  Reprinted  from  the  Edition  of  16^6. 


TO  WHICH  ARE  ADDED  THE  EXTRA  SONGS  OF 

MERRY  DROLLERY,  1661, 

AND    AN 

ANTIDOTE  AGAINST  MELANCHOLY,  1661 : 

EDITED, 

With  Special  Introductions,  and  Appendices  of  Notes, 
Illustrations,  Emendations  of  Text,  isfc. 

By  Jt^WooDFALL  Ebsworth,  M.A.,  Cantab. 


BOSTON,  LINCOLNSHIRE: 
Printed  by  Robert  Roberts,  Strait  Bar-Gate. 

'M,DCCCLXXVI.  q^ 


Eslo 


TO  THOSE 

STUDENTS  OF  ART, 

AMONG    WHOM    HE    FOUND 

JFn'enlijS^ip  and  (tntf^n^imm, 

BEFORE    HE    L£FT   THEM, 

Winners  of  Unsullied  Fame, 

AND    SOUGHT    IN    A    QUIET    NOOK 

Content,  instead  of  Renown  : 

THESE 

«  DROLLERIES  OF  THE  RESTORATION" 

ARE   BY  THE   EDITOR 

DEDICATED. 


vu. 


CONTENTS. 


DEDICATION 
PRELUDE     . 


INTRODUCTION   TO    "CHOICE    DROLLERY,  1656  " 

§  I.    HOW   CHOICE   DROLLERY   WAS   INHIBITED 

2.  THE   TWO    COURTS   IN    1656       . 

3.  SONGS   OF  LOVE   AND   WAR 

4.  CONCLUSION  :    THE   PASTORALS 


IX 

xi 

xi 
.    xix 

.XXVI 

xxxiii 


ORIGINAL    "ADDRESS    TO    THE    READER,"    1856 

"  CHOYCE   DROLLERY,"  1656 I 

TABLE    OF   FIRST   LINES    TO   DITTO      .  .  .  .101 


INTRODUCTION     TO     "ANTIDOTE     AGAINST      MELAN 
CHOLY,"    1661  .  . 

§  I.    REPRINT   OF   "antidote" 

2.    INGREDIENTS    OF   "AN  ANTIDOTE" 


ORIGINAL   ADDRESS   "TO   THE    READER,"    1661 

„  CONTENTS  (enlarged)       . 

'"ANTIDOTE   AGAINST   MELANCHOLY,"    1661 


105 
108 

III 

112 

"3 


VIU. 


EDITORIAL  POSTSCRIPT  TO  DITTO:  §  1.  ON  THE 
"author"  of  the  ANTIDOTE.  2.  ARTHUR 
O'   BRADLEY l6l 

"WESTMINSTER  DROLLERIES,"   EDITION    1674  : 

EXTRA  SONGS. 1 77 


MERRY   DROLLERY,"    1661 : 

PART    I.    EXTRA  SONGS 
„       2.   DITTO    . 


195 

233 


APPENDIX      OF     NOTES,     &C.,     ARRANGED      IN      FOUR 
PARTS : 


1.  "CHOICE   DROLLERY"    . 

2.  "ANTIDOTE   AGAINST   MELANCHOLY" 

3.  "WESTMINSTER  DROLLERY,"    167I-4 

4.  §  I.    "MERRY   DROLLERY,"    1661    . 

2.  ADDITIONAL   NOTES   TO   "  M.  D.,' 

3.  SESSIONS   OF  POETS 

4.  TABLES    OF   FIRST  LINES 


670 


305 

333 
345 
371 
40s 
411 

423 


IX. 


PRELUDE. 

Not  dim  and  shadowy,  like  a  world  of  dreams. 
We  summon  back  the  past  Cromwellian  time. 
Raised  from  the  dead  by  invocative  rhyme. 

Albeit  this  no  Booke  of  Magick  seems  : 

Now, — while  few  questions  of  the  fleeting  hour 
Cease  to  perplex,  or  task  th'  unwilling  mind, — 
Lest  party-strife  our  better- Reason  blind 

To  the  dread  evils  waiting  still  on  Power. 

We  see  Old  England  torn  by  civil  wars, 
Oppress'd  by  gloomy  zealots — men  whose  chain 
More  galled  because  of  Regicidal  stain. 

Hiding  from  view  all  honourable  scars  : 

We  see  how  those  who  raved  for  Liberty, 
Claiming  the  Law's  protection  'gainst  the  King, 
Trampled  themselves  on  Law,  and  strove  to  bring 

On  their  own  nation  tenfold  Slavery. 

So  that  with  iron  hand,  with  eagle  eye. 
Stout  Oliver  Protector  scarce  could  keep 
The  troubled  land  in  awe ;  while  mutterings  deep 

Threatened  to  swell  the  later  rallying  cry. 

Well  had  he  probed  the  hollow  friends  who  stood 
Distrustful  of  him,  though  their  tongues  spoke  praise 
Well  read  their  fears,  that  interposed  delays 

To  rob  him  of  his  meed  for  toil  and  blood. 


A  few  brief  years  of  such  uneasy  strife. 
While  foreign  shores  and  ocean  own  his  sway ; 
Then  fades  the  lonely  Conqueror  away, 

Amid  success,  weary  betimes  of  life. 

So  passing,  kingly  in  his  soul,  uncrown'd. 
With  dark  forebodings  of  th'  approaching  storm. 
He  leaves  the  spoil  at  mercy  of  the  swarm 

Of  beasts  unclean  and  vultures  gathering  round. 

For  soon  from  grasp  of  Richard  Cromwell  slips 
Semblance  of  power  he  ne'er  had  strength  to  hold  ; 
And  wolves  each  other  tear,  who  tore  the  fold. 

While  lurid  twilight  mocks  the  State's  eclipse. 

Then,  from  divided  counsels,  bitter  snarls. 
Deceit  and  broken  fealty,  selfish  aim — 
Where  promptitude  and  courage  win  the  game, — 

Self-scattered   fall   they ;    and   up    mounts 
KING  CHARLES. 

June  1st,  1876.  J.  W.  E. 


w 


XI. 


EDITORIAL 


INTRODUCTION 


TO 


I 


CHOICE 


D  RO  LLE  RY 

1656. 


Charles. — "  They  say  he  is  already  in  the  forest  of  Arden,  and 
a  many  merry  men  with  him ;  and  there  they  live  like  the  old 
Robin  Hood  of  England.  They  say  many  young  gentlemen  flock 
to  him  every  day,  and  fleet  the  time  carelessly,  as  they  did  in  the 
golden  world."  CAs  You  Like  It,  Act  i.  sc.  i.) 

CHOYCE  BjROLLEI^ Y  iTHmBiTEj). 

E  may  be  sure  the  memory 
of  many  a  Cavalier  went 
back  to  that  sweetest  of 
all  Pastorals,  Shakespeare's 
Cbmedy  of  "As  You  Like 
It,"  while  he  clutched  to 
his  breast  the  precious  little 
volume  of  Choyce  Drollery, 
Songs  and  Sonnets,  which 
was  newly  published  in  the  year  1656.  He  sought 
a  covert  amid  the  yellowing  fronds  of  fern,  in  some 
old  park  that  had  not  yet  been  wholly  confiscated 
by  the  usurping  Commonwealth;  where,  under  the 
broad    shadow  of  a   beech-tree,  with    the   squirrel 


Xll.  INTRODUCTION. 

watching  him  curiously  from  above,  and  timid 
fawns  sniffing  at  him  suspiciously  a  few  yards  distant, 
he  might  again  yield  himself  to  the  enjoyment  of 
reading  "  heroick  Drayton's  "  Dowsabell,  the  love-tale 
beginning  with  the  magic  words  "  Farre  in  the  Forest 
of  Arden  " — an  invocative  name  which  summoned  to 
his  view  the  Rosalind  whose  praise  was  carved  on 
many  a  tree.  He  also,  be  it  remembered,  had  "a 
banished  Lord;"  even  then  remote  from  his  native 
Court,  associating  with  "co-mates  and  brothers  in 
exile  " — somewhat  different  in  mood  from  Amiens  or 
the  melancholy  Jacques ;  and,  alas  !  not  devoid  of 
feminine  companions.  Enough  resemblance  was  in 
the  situation  for  a  fanciful  enthusiasm  to  lend  en- 
chantment to  the  name  of  Arden  (p.  73),  and  recall 
scenes  of  shepherd-life  with  Celia,  the  songs  that 
echoed  "Under  the  greenwood-tree;"  without  need- 
ing the  additional  spell  of  seeing  "  Ingenious  Shake- 
speare "  mentioned  among  "  the  Time-Poets  "  on  the 
fifth  page  of  Choyce  Drollery. 

Not  easily  was  the  book  obtained ;  every  copy  at 
that  time  being  hunted  after,  and  destroyed  when 
found,  by  ruthless  minions  of  the  Commonwealth. 
A  Parliamentary  injunction  had  been  passed  against 
it.  Commands  were  given  for  it  to  be  burnt  by  the 
hangman.  Few  copies  escaped,  when  spies  and  in- 
formers were  numerous,  and  fines  were  levied  upon 


I 


INTRODUCTION.  XUl. 

those  who  had  secreted  it.  Greedy  eyes,  active  fin- 
gers, were  after  the  Choyce  Drollery.  Any  fortunate 
possessor,  even  in  those  early  days,  knew  well  that  he 
grasped  a  treasure  which  few  persons  save  himself 
could  boast.  Therefore  it  is  not  strange,  two  hundred 
and  twenty  years  having  rolled  away  since  then,  that 
the  book  has  grown  to  be  among  the  rarest  of  the 
Drolleries.  Probably  not  six  perfect  copies  remain  in 
the  world.  The  British  Museum  holds  not  one.  We 
congratulate  ourselves  on  restoring  it  now  to  students, 
for  many  parts  of  it  possess  historical  value,  besides 
poetic  grace ;  and  the  whole  work  forms  an  interesting 
relic  of  those  troubled  times. 

UnHke  our  other  Drolleries,  reproduced  verbatim  et 
literatim  in  this  series,  we  here  find  little  describing 
the  last  days  of  Cromwell  and  the  Commonwealth; 
except  one  graphic  picture  of  a  despoiled  West- 
Countryman  (p.  57),  complaining  against  both 
Roundheads  and  "  Cabbaleroes."  The  poems  were 
not  only  composed  before  hopes  revived  of  speedy 
Restoration  for  the  fugitive  from  Worcester-fight  and 
Boscobel ;  they  were,  in  great  part,  written  before  the 
Civil  Wars  began.  Few  of  them,  perhaps,  were  pre- 
viously in  print  (the  title-page  asserts  that  none  had 
been  so,  but  we  know  this  to  be  false).  Publishers 
made  such  statements  audaciously,  then  as  now,  and 
forced  truth  to  limp  behind  them  without  chance  of 


XIV.  INTRODUCTION. 

overtaking.  By  far  the  greater  number  belonged  to 
an  early  date  in  the  reign  of  the  murdered  King, 
chiefly  about  the  year  1637 ;  two,  at  the  least,  were 
written  in  the  time  of  James  I.  (viz.,  p.  40,  a  con- 
temporary poem  on  the  Gunpowder  Plot  of  1605 ; 
and,  p.  10,  the  Ballad  on  King  James  I.),  if  not 
also  the  still  earlier  one,  on  the  Defeat  of  the  Scots  at 
Muscleborough  Field;  which  is  probably  corrupted 
from  an  original  so  remote  as  the  reign  of  Edward  VI. 
"  Dowsabell "  was  certainly  among  the  Pastorals  of 
1593,  and  "Down  lay  the  Shepherd's  swain"  (p.  65) 
bears  token  of  belonging  to  an  age  when  the  Virgin 
Queen  held  sway.  These  facts  guide  to  an  under- 
standing of  the  charm  held  by  Choyce  Drollery  for 
adherents  of  the  Monarchy ;  and  of  its  obnoxiousness 
in  the  sight  of  the  Parliament  that  had  slain  their 
King.  It  was  not  because  of  any  exceptional  im- 
morality in  this  Choyce  Drollery  that  it  became  de- 
nounced ;  although  such  might  be  declared  in  pro- 
clamations. Other  books  of  the  same  year  offended 
worse  against  morals :  for  example,  the  earliest 
edition  known  to  us  of  Wit  and  Drollery,  with  the 
extremely  "  free "  facetia  of  Sportive  Wit,  or  Lusty 
Drollery  (both  works  issued  in  1656),  held  infinitely 
more  to  shock  proprieties  and  call  for  repression. 
The  Musarum  DelicicB  of  Sir  J[ohn]  M[ennis]  and 
Dr.  J[ames  S[mith],  in  the  same  year,  1656,  cannot 


INTRODUCTION.  XV. 

be  held  blameless.  Yet  the  hatred  shewn  towards 
Choyce  Drollery  far  exceeded  all  the  rancour  against 
these  bolder  sinners,  or  the  previous  year's  delightful 
miscellany  of  merriment  and  true  poetry,  the  Wifs 
Interpreter  of  industrious  J[ohn]  C[otgrave]3  to 
whom,  despite  multitudinous  typographical  errors,  we 
owe  thanks,  both  for  WiVs  Interpreter  and  for  the 
wilderness  of  dramatic  beauties,  his  Wifs  Treasury: 
bearing  the  same  date  of  1655, 

It  was  not  because  of  sins  against  taste  and  public 
or  private  morals,  (although,  we  admit,  it  has  some  few 
of  these,  sufficient  to  afford  a  pretext  for  persecutors, 
who  would  have  been  equally  bitter  had  it  possessed 
virginal  purity :)  but  in  consequence  of  other  and  more 
dangerous  ingredients,  that  Choyce  Drollery  aroused 
such  a  storm.  Not  disgust,  but  fear  of  its  influence 
in  reviving  layalty,  prompted  the  order  of  its  extermi- 
nation. Readers  at  this  later  day,  might  easily  fail  to 
notice  all  that  stirred  the  loyal  sentiments  of  chivalric 
devotion,  and  consequently  made  the  fierce  Fifth- 
Monarchy  men  hate  the  small  volume  worse  than  the 
Apocrypha  or  Ikon  Basilike.  Herein  was  to  be  found  the 
clever  "  Jack  of  Lent's  "  account  of  loyal  preparations 
made  in  London  to  receive  the  newly-wedded  Queen, 
Henrietta  Maria,  when  she  came  from  France,  in 
1625,  escorted  by  the  Duke  of  Buckingham,  who 
compromised  her  sister  by  his  rash  attentions  :  Buck- 


XVI.  INTRODUCTION. 

ingham,  whom  King  Charles  loved  so  well  that  the 
favouritism  shook  his  throne,  even  after  Felton's 
dagger  in  1628  had  rid  the  land  of  the  despotic  cour- 
tier. Here,  also,  a  more  grievous  offence  to  the 
Regicides,  was  still  recorded  in  austere  grandeur  of 
verse,  from  no  common  hireling  pen,  but  of  some 
scholar  like  unto  Henry  King,  of  Chichester,  the  loyal 
"  New- Year's  Wish "  (p.  48)  presented  to  King 
Charles  at  the  beginning  of  1638,  when  the  North 
was  already  in  rebellion :  wherein  men  read,  what  at 
that  time  had  not  been  deemed  profanity  or  blas- 
phemy, the  praise  and  faithful  service  of  some  hearts 
who  held  their  monarch  only  second  to  their  Saviour. 
Referring  to  their  hope  that  the  personal  approach  of 
the  King  might  cure  the  evils  of  the  disturbed  realm, 
it  is  written : — 

**  You,  like  our  sacred  and  indulgent  Lord, 
When  the  too-stout  Apostle  drew  his  sword. 
When  he  mistooke  some  secrets  of  the  cause. 
And  in  his  furious  zeale  disdained  the  Lawes, 
Forgetting  true  Religion  doth  lye 
On  prayers,  not  swords  against  authority : 
You,  like  our  substitute  of  horrid  fate. 
That  are  next  Him  we  most  should  imitate. 
Shall  like  to  Him  rebuke  with  wiser  breath. 
Such  furious  zeale,  but  not  reveng'd  with  death. 
Like  him,  the  wound  that's  giv'n  you  strait  shall  heal 
Then  calm  by  precept  such  mistaking  zeal." 


INTRODUCTION.  XVll. 

Here  was  a  sincere,  unflinching  recognition  of  Divine 
Right,  such  as  the  faction  in  power  could  not  possibly 
abide.  Even  the  culpable  weakness  and  ingratitude 
of  Charles,  in  abandoning  Strafford,  Laud,  and  other 
champions  to  their  unscrupulous  destroyers,  had  not 
made  true-hearted  Cavaliers  falter  in  their  faith  to 
him.     As  the  best  of  moralists  declares  : — 

"  Love  is  not  love 
Which  alters  when  it  alteration  finds, 
Or  bends  with  the  remover  to  remove." 

These  loyal  sentiments  being  embodied  in  print 
within  our  Choyce  Drollery,  suitable  to  sustain  the 
fealty  of  the  defeated  Cavaliers  to  the  successor  of  the 
"  Royal  Martyr,"  it  was  evident  that  the  Restoration 
must  be  merely  a  question  of  time.  "  If  it  be  now, 
'tis  not  to  come ;  if  it  be  not  to  come,  it  will  be  now ; 
if  it  be  not  now,  yet  it  will  come:  the  readiness  is  all !" 

To  more  than  one  of  those  who  had  sat  in  the  ill- 
constituted  and  miscalled  High  Court  of  Justice, 
during  the  closing  days  of  1648-9,  there  must  have 
been,  ever  and  anon,  as  the  years  rolled  by,  a  shud- 
dering recollection  of  the  words  written  anew  upon 
the  wall  in  characters  of  living  fire.  They  had  shown 
themselves  familiar,  in  one  sense  much  too  familiar, 
with  the  phraseology  but  not  the  teaching  of  Scripture. 
To  them  the  Mene,  Mene,  Tekel  Upharsin  needed  no 

b 


XVIU.  INTRODUCTION. 

Daniel  come  to  judgment  for  interpretation.  The 
Banquet  was  not  yet  over;  the  subjugated  people,  whom 
they  had  seduced  from  their  allegiance  by  a  dream  of 
winning  freedom  from  exactions,  were  still  sullenly 
submissive ;  the  desecrated  cups  and  challices  of  the 
Church  they  had  despoiled,  believing  it  overthrown 
for  ever,  had  been,  in  many  cases,  melted  down  for 
plunder, — in  others,  sold  as  common  merchandize  : 
and  yet  no  thunder  heard.  But,  however  defiantly 
they  might  bear  themselves,  however  resolute  to  crush 
down  every  attempt  at  revolt  against  their  own  au- 
thority, the  men  in  power  could  not  disguise  from 
one  another  that  there  were  heavings  of  the  earth  on 
which  they  trod,  coming  from  no  reverberations  of 
their  footsteps,  but  telling  of  hoUowness  and  insecurity 
below.  They  were  already  suspicious  among  them- 
selves, no  longer  hiding  personal  spites  and  jealousies, 
the  separate  ambition  of  uncongenial  factions,  which 
had  only  united  for  a  season  against  the  monarchy 
and  hierarchy,  but  now  began  to  fall  asunder,  mutually 
envenomed  and  intolerant  Presb)rterian,  Indepen- 
dent, and  Nondescript-Enthusiast,  while  combined 
together  of  late,  had  been  acknowledged  as  a  power 
invincible,  a  Three-fold  Cord  that  bound  the  helpless 
Victim  to  an  already  bloody  altar.  The  strands  of  it 
were  now  unwinding,  and  there  scarcely  needed  much 
prophetic  wisdom  to  discern  that  one  by  one  they 
could  soon  be  broken. 


INTRODUCTION.  TOX. 

To  US,  from  these  considerations,  there  is  intense 
attraction  in  the  Choyce  Drollery,  since  it  so  narrowly 
escaped  from  flames  to  which  it  had  been  judicially 
condemned. 

§  2. — The  Two  Courts,  in  1656. 

At  this  date  many  a  banished  or  self-exiled  Royalist, 
dwelling  in  the  Low  Countries,  but  whose  heart  re- 
mained in  England,  drew  a  melancholy  contrast  be- 
tween the  remembered  past  of  Whitehall  and  the 
gloomy  present.  With  honest  Touchstone,  he  could 
say,  "  Now  am  I  in  Arden  !  the  more  fool  I.  When  I 
was  at  home  I  was  in  a  better  place ;  but  travellers 
must  be  content." 

Meanwhile,  in  the  beloved  Warwickshire  glades, 
herds  of  swine  were  routing  noisily  for  acorns,  dropped 
amid  withered  leaves  under  branches  of  the  Royal 
Oaks.  They  were  watched  by  boys,  whose  chins 
would  not  be  past  the  first  callow  down  of  promissory 
beards  when  Restoration-day  should  come  with  shouts 
of  welcome  throughout  the  land. 

In  1656  our  Charles  Stuart  was  at  Bruges,  now 
and  then  making  a  visit  to  Cologne,  often  getting  into 
difficulties  through  the  misconduct  of  his  unruly  fol- 
lowers, and  already  quite  enslaved  by  Dalilahs,  syrens 
against  whom  his  own  shrewd  sense  was  powerless  to 
defend  him.     For  amusement  he  read  his  favourite 


XX.  INTRODUCTION. 

French  or  Italian  authors,  not  seldom  took  long  walks, 
and  indulged  himself  in  field  sports  : 

"A  merry  monarch,  scandalous  and  poor." 

For  he  was  only  scantily  supplied  with  money,  which 
chiefly  came  from  France,  but  if  he  had  possessed  the 
purse  of  Fortunatus  it  could  barely  have  sufficed  to 
meet  demands  from  those  who  lived  upon  him.  A 
year  before,  the  Lady  Byron  had  been  spoken  of  as 
being  his  seventeenth  Mistress  abroad,  and  there  was 
no  deficiency  of  candidates  for  any  vacant  place  within 
his  heart.  Sooth  to  say,  the  place  was  never  vacant, 
for  it  yielded  at  all  times  unlimited  accommodation 
to  every  beauty.  Music  and  dances  absorbed  much 
of  his  attention.  So  long  as  the  faces  around  him 
showed  signs  of  happiness,  he  did  not  seriously  afflict 
himself  because  he  was  in  exile,  and  a  little  out  at 
elbows. 

Such  was  the  "  Banished  Duke "  in  his  Belgian 
Court;  poor  substitute  for  the  Forest  of  Ardennes, 
not  far  distant.  By  all  accounts,  he  felt  "  the  penalty 
of  Adam,  the  season's  difference,"  and  in  no  way 
relished  the  discomfort.     He  did  not  smile  and  say, 

"  This  is  no  flattery  :  these  are  counsellors 
That  feelingly  persuade  me  what  I  am." 

For,  in  truth,  he  much  preferred  avoiding  such  coun- 


I 


INTRODUCTION.  XXL 


sel,  and  relished  flattery  too  well  to  part  with  it  on 
cheap  terms.  He  never  considered  the  "rural  life 
more  sweet  than  that  of  painted  pomp,"  and,  if  all 
tales  of  Cromwell's  machinations  be  held  true,  Charles 
by  no  means  found  the  home  of  exile  "more  free 
from  peril  than  the  envious  court."  On  the  other 
hand,  his  own  proclamation,  dated  3rd  May,  1654, 
offering  an  annuity  of  five  hundred  pounds,  a 
Colonelcy  and  Knighthood,  to  any  person  who  should 
destroy  the  Usurper  ( "a  certain  mechanic  fellow,  by 
name  Oliver  Cromwell !"),  took  from  him  all  moral 
right  of  complaint  against  reprisals :  unless,  as  we 
half-believe,  this  proclamation  were  one  of  the  many 
forgeries.  As  to  any  sweetness  in  "the  uses  of 
Adversity,"  Charles  might  have  pleaded,  with  a  laugh, 
that  he  had  known  sufficient  of  them  already  to  be 
cloyed  with  it. 

The  men  around  him  were  of  similar  opinion.  A 
few,  indeed,  like  Cowley  and  Crashaw,  were  loyal 
hearts,  whose  devotion  was  best  shown  in  times  of 
difficulty.  Not  many  proved  of  such  sound  metal, 
but  there  lived  some  "  faithful  found  among  the  faith- 
less"; and        ^  ■» 

"  He  that  can  endure 
To  follow  with  allegiance  a  fallen  lord. 
Does  conquer  him  that  did  his  master  conquer. 
And  earns  a  place  in  the  story." 


XXU.  INTRODUCTION. 

The  Ladies  of  the  party  scarcely  cared  for  anything 
beyond  self-adornment,  rivalry,  languid  day-dreams  of 
future  greatness,  and  the  encouragement  of  gallantry. 
There  was  not  one  among  them  who  for  a  moment 
can  bear  comparison  with  the  Protector's  daughter, 
Elizabeth  Claypole — perhaps  the  loveliest  female 
character  of  all  recorded  in  those  years.  Everything 
concerning  her  speaks  in  praise.  She  was  the  good 
angel  of  the  house.  Her  father  loved  her,  with  some- 
thing approaching  reverence,  and  feared  to  forfeit 
her  conscientious  approval  more  than  the  support  of 
his  companions  in  arms.  In  worship  she  shrank  from 
the  profane  familiarity  of  the  Sectaries,  and  devotedly 
held  by  the  Church  of  England.  She  is  recorded 
to  have  always  used  her  powerful  influence  in  behalf 
of  the  defeated  Cavaliers,  to  obtain  mercy  and  for- 
bearance. Her  name  was  whispered,  with  blessing 
implored  upon  it,  in  the  prayers  of  many  whom  she 
alone  had  saved  from  death.*  No  personal  ambition, 
no  foolish  pride  and  ostentation  marked  her  short 
career.  The  searching  glare  of  Court  publicity  could 
betray  no  flaw  in  her  conduct  or  disposition ;  for  the 

*  Elizabeth  Cromwell. — A  contemporary  writes,  "  How 
many  of  the  Royalist  prisoners  got  she  not  freed  ?  How  many 
did  she  not  save  from  death  whom  the  Laws  had  condemned  ? 
How  many  persecuted  Christians  hath  she  not  snatched  out  of  the 
hands  of  the  tormentors ;  quite  contrary  unto  that  [daughter  of] 
Herodias  who  could  do  anything  with  her  [step]  father?     She 


INTRODUCTION.  XXlll. 

heart  was  sound  within,  her  religion  was  devoid  of  all 
hypocrisy.  Her  Christian  purity  was  too  clearly  stain- 
less for  detraction  to  dare  raise  one  murmur.  She  is 
said  to  have  warmly  pleaded  in  behalf  of  Doctor 
Hewit,  who  died  upon  the  scaffold  with  his  Royalist 
companion,  Sir  Harry  Slingsby,  the  8th  of  June,  1658 
(although  she  rejoiced  in  the  defeat  of  their  plot,  as 
her  extant  letter  proves).  Cromwell  resisted  her 
soHcitations,  urged  to  obduracy  by  his  more  ruthless 
Ironsides,  who  called  for  terror  to  be  stricken  into 
the  minds  of  all  reactionists  by  wholesale  slaughter  of 
conspirators.  Soon  after  this  she  faded.  It  was 
currently  reported  and  believed  that  on  her  death-bed, 
amid  the  agonies  and  fever-fits,  she  bemoaned  the 
blood  that  had  been  shed,  and  spoke  reproaches  to 

imployed  her  Prayers  even  with  Tears  to  spare  such  men  whose 
ill  fortune  had  designed  them  to  suffer,"  &c.  (S.  Carrington's 
History  of  the  Life  and  Death  of  His  most  Serene  Highness 
OLIVER,  Late  Lord  Protector.     1659.     p.  264.) 

Elizabeth  Cromwell,  here  contrasted  with  Salome,  more  re- 
sembled the  Celia  of  As  you  Like  It,  in  that  she,  through  prizing 
truth  and  justice,  showed  loving  care  of  those  whom  her  father 
treated  as  enemies. 

By  the  way,  our  initial-letter  W.  on  opening  page  1 1  (repre- 
senting Salome  receiving  from  the  %Tr€KOv\aTUip,  sent  by  Herod, 
the  head  of  S.  John  the  Baptist) — is  copied  from  the  Address  to 
the  Reader  prefixed  to  Part  II.  of  Merry  Drollery,  1661.  Fide 
postea,  p.  232. 

Our  initial  letters  in  M.D.,  C,  pp.  3,  5,  are  in  fac  simile  of  the 
original. 


XXIV.  INTRODUCTION. 

the  father  whom  she  loved,  so  that  his  conscience 
smote  him,  and  the  remembrance  stayed  with  him  for 
ever.*  She  was  only  twenty-nine  when  at  Hampton 
Court  she  died,  on  the  6th  of  August,  1658.  Less 
than  a  month  afterwards  stout  Oliver's  heart  broke. 
Something  had  gone  from  him,  which  no  amount  of 
power  and  authority  could  counter-balance.  He  was 
not  a  man  to  breathe  his  deeper  sorrows  into  the  ear 
of  those  political  adventurers  or  sanctified  enthusiasts 
whose  glib  tongues  could  rattle  off  the  words  of  con- 

*  Cromwell  "  seemed  much  afflicted  at  the  death  of  his  Friend 
the  Earl  of  Warwick;  with  whom  he  had  a  fast  friendship,  though 
neither  their  humours,  nor  their  natures,  were  like.  And  the  Heir 
of  that  House,  who  had  married  his  youngest  Daughter  [Frances] , 
died  about  the  same  time  [or,  rather,  two  months  earlier]  ;  so 
that  all  his  relation  to,  or  confidence  in  that  Family  was  at  an  end ; 
the  other  branches  of  it  abhorring  his  Alliance.  His  domestick 
delights  were  lessened  every  day ;  he  plainly  discovered  that  his 
son  [in-law,  who  had  married  Mary  Cromwell,]  Falconbridge's 
heart  was  set  upon  an  Interest  destructive  to  his,  and  grew  to  hate 
him  perfectly.  But  that  which  chiefly  broke  his  Peace  was  the  death 
of  his  datighter  [Elizaheth]  Clay  pole;  who  had  been  always  his 
greatest  joy,  and  who,  in  her  sickness,  which  was  of  a  nature  the 
Physicians  knew  not  how  to  deal  with,  had  several  Conferences 
with  him,  which  exceedingly  perplexed  him.  Though  no  body 
was  near  enough  to  hear  the  particulars,  yet  her  often  mentioning, 
in  the  pains  she  endured,  the  blood  her  Father  had  spilt,  made 
people  conclude,  that  she  had  presented  his  worst  Actions  to  his 
consideration.  And  though  he  never  made  the  least  show  of 
remorse  for  any  of  those  Actions,  it  is  very  certain,  that  either  what 
she  said,  or  her  death,  affected  him  wonderfully."  (Clarendon's 
Hist,  qfthe  Rebellion.    Book  xv.,  p.  647,  edit.  1720.) 


INTRODUCTION.  XXV. 

solation.  While  she  was  slowly  dying  he  had  still 
tried  to  grapple  with  his  serious  duties,  as  though 
undisturbed.  Her  prayers  and  her  remonstrances  had 
been  powerless  of  late  to  make  him  swerve.  But 
now,  when  she  was  gone,  the  hollow  mockery  of  what 
power  remained  stood  revealed  to  him  plainly ;  and 
the  Rest  that  was  so  near  is  not  unlikely  to  have  been 
the  boon  he  most  desired.  It  came  to  him  upon  his 
fatal  day,  his  anniversary  of  still  recurring  success  and 
happy  fortune ;  came,  as  is  well  known,  on  September 
3rd,  1658.  The  Destinies  had  nothing  better  left  to 
give  him,  so  they  brought  him  death.  What  could  be 
more  welcome?  Very  few  of  these  who  reach  the 
summit  of  ambition,  as  of  those  other  who  most 
lamentably  failed,  and  became  bankrupt  of  every 
hope,  can  feel  much  sadness  when  the  messenger  is 
seen  who  comes  to  lead  them  hence, — from  a  world 
wherein  the  jugglers'  tricks  have  all  grown  wearisome, 
and  where  the  tawdry  pomp  or  glare  cannot  disguise 
the  sadness  of  Life's  masquerade. 

"  Naught's  had — all's  spent. 
When  our  desire  is  got  without  .content : 
'Tis  safer  to  be  that  which  we  destroy. 
Than  by  destruction  dwell  in  doubtful  joy." 


xxvi.  introduction. 

§  3. — Songs  of  Love  and  War. 

It  was  still  1656,  of  which  we  write  (the  year  of 
Choyce  Drollery  and  Parnassus  Biceps,  of  Wit  and 
Drollery  and  of  Sportive  Wit);  not  1658:  but 
shadows  of  the  coming  end  were  to  be  seen.  Already 
it  was  evident  that  Cromwell  sate  not  firmly  on  the 
throne,  uncrowned,  indeed,  but  holding  power  of 
sovereignty.  His  health  was  no  longer  what  it  had 
been  of  old.  The  iron  constitution  was  breaking  up. 
Yet  was  he  only  nine  months  older  than  the  century. 
In  September  his  new  Parliament  met ;  if  it  can  be 
called  a  Parliament  in  any  sense,  restricted  and  co- 
erced alike  from  a  free  choice  and  from  free  speech, 
pledged  beforehand  to  be  servile  to  him,  and  holding 
a  brief  tenure  of  mock  authority  under  his  favour. 
They  might  declare  his  person  sacred,  and  prohibit 
mention  of  Charles  Stuart,  whose  regal  title  they 
denounced.  But  few  cared  what  was  said  or  done  by 
such  a  knot  of  praters.  More  important  was  the 
renewed  quarrel  with  Spain ;  and  all  parties  rejoiced 
when  gallant  Blake  and  Montague  fell  in  with  eight 
Spanish  ships  off  Cadiz,  captured  two  of  them  and 
stranded  others.  There  had  been  no  love  for  that 
rival  fleet  since  the  Invincible  Armada  made  its  boast 
in  1588 ;  but  what  had  happened  in  "  Bloody  Mary's" 
reign,  after  her  union  with  Philip,  and  the  later  cruel- 
ties wrought  under  Alva  against  the  patriots  of  the 


INTRODUCTION.  XXVll. 

Netherlands,  increased  the  national  hatred.  We  see 
one  trace  of  this  renewed  desire  for  naval  warfare  in 
the  appearance  of  the  Armada  Ballad,  "  In  eighty- 
eight  ere  I  was  born,"  on  page  38  of  our  Choyce 
Drollery :  the  earliest  copy  of  it  we  have  met  in  print 
Some  supposed  connection  of  Spanish  priestcraft 
with  the  Gunpowder  Plot  of  1605  (Guido  Faux  and 
several  of  the  Jesuits  being  so  accredited  from  the 
Low  Country  wars),  may  have  caused  the  early  poem 
on  this  subject  to  be  placed  immediately  following. 

But  the  chief  interest  of  the  book,  for  its  admirers, 
lay  not  in  temporary  allusions  to  the  current  politics 
and  gossip.  Furnishing  these  were  numerous  pam- 
phlets, more  or  less  venomous,  circulating  stealthily, 
despite  all  watchfulness  and  penalties.  Next  year, 
1657,  "Killing  no  Murder"  would  come  down,  as  if 
showered  from  the  skies;  but  although  hundreds 
wished  that  somebody  else  might  act  on  the  sug- 
gestions, already  urged  before  this  seditious  tract 
appeared,  not  one  volunteer  felt  called  upon  to  im- 
molate himself  to  certain  death  on  the  instant  by 
standing  forward  as  the  required  assassin.  Cautious 
thinkers  held  it  better  to  bide  their  time,  and  await 
the  natural  progress  of  events,  allowing  all  the  enemies 
of  Charles  and  Monarchy  to  quarrel  and  consume 
each  other.  Probably  the  bulk  of  country  farmers 
and  their  labourers  cared  not  one  jot  how  things  fell 


XXVIU.  INTRODUCTION. 

out,  SO  long  as  they  were  left  without  exorbitant 
oppression ;  always  excepting  those  who  dwelt  where 
recently  the  hoof  of  war-horse  trod,  and  whose  fields 
and  villages  bore  still  the  trace  of  havoc.  Otherwise, 
the  interference  with  the  Maypole  dance,  and  such 
innocent  rural  sports,  by  the  grim  enemies  to  social 
revelry,  was  felt  to  be  a  heavier  sorrow  than  the 
slaughter  of  their  King.*  So  long  as  wares  were  sold, 
and  profits  gained,  Town-traders  held  few  sentiments 
of  favour  towards  either  camp.  It  was  (owing  to  the 
parsimony  of  Parliament,  and  his  continual  need  of 
suppHes  to  be  obtained  without  their  sanction,)  the 
frequency  of  his  exactions,  the  ship-money,  the  forced 
loans,  and  the  uncertainty  of  ever  gaining  a  repay- 
ment, which  had  turned  many  hearts  against  King 
Charles  I.,  in  his  long  years  of  difficulty,  before 
shouts  arose  of  "Privilege."  But  for  the  cost  of 
wasteful  revels  at  Court,  with  gifts  to  favourites,  the 
expense  of  foreign  or  domestic  wars,  there  would 
have  been  no  popular  complaint  against  tyranny. 
Citizens  care  little  about  questions  of  Divine  Right 
and  Supremacy,  pro  or  con,  so  long  as  they  are  left 

*  John  Cleveland  wrote  a  satirical  address  to  Mr.  Hammond, 
the  Puritan  preacher  of  Beudley,  who  had  exerted  himself  "  for  the 
Pulling  down  of  the  Maypole."  It  begins,  in  mock  praise,  VThe 
mighty  zeal  which  thou  hast  put  on,"  &c. ;  and  is  printed  in 
Parnassus  Biceps,  1656,  p.  18  ;  and  among  "J.  Cleveland  Revived: 
Poems,"  1662,  p.  96. 


INTRODUCTION.  XXIX. 

unfettered  from  growing  rich,  and  are  not  called  on 
to  disgorge  the  wealth  they  swallowed  ravenously, 
perhaps  also  dishonestly.  Some  remembrance  of  this 
fact  possessed  the  Cavaliers,  even  before  George 
Monk  came  to  burst  the  city  gates  and  chains.  The 
Restoration  confirmed  the  same  opinion,  and  the 
later  comedies  spoke  manifold  contempt  against  time- 
serving traders ;  who  cheated  gallant  men  of  money 
and  land,  but  in  requital  were  treated  like  Acteon. 

Although,  in  1656,  disquiet  was  general,  amid 
contemporary  records  we  may  seek  far  before  we 
meet  a  franker  and  more  manly  statement  of  the 
honest  Englishman's  opinion,  despising  every  phase 
of  trickery  in  word,  deed,  or  visage,  than  the  poem 
found  in  Choyce  Drollery,  p.  85, — "  The  Doctor's 
Touchstone."  There  were,  doubtless,  many  whose 
creed  it  stated  rightly.  A  nation  that  could  feel  thus, 
would  not  long  delay  to  pluck  the  mask  from  sancti- 
monious hypocrites,  and  drag  "  The  Gang  "  from  out 
their  saddle. 

Here,  too,  are  the  love-songs  of  a  race  of  Poets 
who  had  known  the  glories  of  Whitehall  before  its 
desecration.  Here  are  the  courtly  praises  of  such 
beauties  as  the  Lady  Elizabeth  Dormer,  ist  Countess 
of  Carnarvon,  who,  while  she  held  her  infant  in  her 
arms,  in  1642,  was  no  less  fascinating  than  she  had 
been  in  her  virgin  bfoom.     The  airy  trifling,  dallying 


XXX.  INTRODUCTION. 

with  conceits  in  verse,  that  spoke  of  a  refinement  and 
graceful  idlesse  more  than  passionate  warmth,  gave  us 
these  relics  of  such  men  as  Thomas  Carew,  who  died 
in  1638,  before  the  Court  dissolved  into  a  Camp. 
Some  of  them  recal  the  strains  of  dramatists,  whose 
only  actresses  had  been  Ladies  of  high  birth,  con- 
descending to  adorn  the  Masques  in  palaces,  winning 
applause  from  royal  hands  and  voices.  These,  more- 
over, were  "  Songs  and  Sonnets  "  which  the  best  mu- 
sicians had  laboured  skilfully  to  clothe  anew  with 
melody :  Poems  already  breathing  their  own  music, 
as  they  do  still,  when  lutes  and  virginals  are  broken, 
and  the  composer's  score  has  long  been  turned  into 
gun-wadding. 

What  sweetness  and  true  pathos  are  found  among 
them,  readers  can  study  once  more.  The  opening 
poem,  by  Davenant,  is  especially  beautiful,  where  a 
Lover  comforts  himself  with  a  thought  of  dying  in 
his  Lady's  presence,  and  being  mourned  thereafter  by 
her,  so  that  she  shall  deck  his  grave  with  tears,  and, 
loving  it,  must  come  and  join  him  there  : — 

*'  Yet  we  hereafter  shall  be  found 
By  Destiny's  right  placing. 
Making,  like  Flowers,  Love  under  ground. 
Whose  roots  are  still  embracing."* 

*  Here  the  thought  is  enveloped  amid  tender  fancies.  Compare 
the  more  passionate  and  solemn  earnestness  of  the  loyal  church- 


I 


INTRODUCTION.  XXXI. 

Seeing,  alongside  of  these  tender  pleadings  from  the 
worshipper  of  Beauty,  some  few  pieces  where  the 
taint  of  foulness  now  awakens  our  disgust,  we  might 
feel  wonder  at  the  contrast  in  the  same  volume,  and 
the  taste  of  the  original  collector,  were  not  such  feel- 
ing of  wonder  long  ago  exhausted.  Queen  Elizabeth 
sate  out  the  performance  of  Lov^s  Labour's  Lost 
(if  tradition  is  to  be  believed),  and  was  not  shocked 
at  some  free  expressions  in  that  otherwise  delightful 
play ; — words  and  inuendoes,  let  us  own,  which  were 
a  little  unsuited  to  a  Virgin  Queen.  Again,  if  another 
tradition  be  trustworthy,  she  herself  commissioned  the 
comedy  of  Merry  Wives  of  Windsor  to  be  written 
and  acted,  in  order  that  she  might  see  Falstaffe  in 

man,  Henry  King,  Bishop  of  Chichester,  in  his  poem  of  The 
Exequy,  addressed  "  To  his  never-to-be-forgotten  Friend,"  wherein 
he  says : — 

'*  Sleep  on,  my  Love,  in  thy  cold  bed, 

Never  to  be  disquieted  1 

My  last  good-night !     Thou  wilt  not  wake, 

Till  I  thy  fate  shall  overtake ; 

Till  age,  or  grief,  or  sickness,  must 

Marry  my  body  to  that  dust 

It  so  much  loves  ;  and  fill  the  room 

My  heart  keeps  empty  in  thy  Tomb. 

Stay  for  me  there  ;  I  will  notfaile 

To  meet  thee  in  that  hollow  Vale. 

And  think  not  much  of  my  delay ; 

I  am  already  on  the  way. 

And  follow  thee  with  all  the  speed 

Desire  can  make,  or  sorrows  breed,"  &c. 


XXXU.  INTRODUCTION. 

love :  but  after  that  Eastcheap  Boar's-Head  Tavern 
scene,  with  rollicking  Doll  Tear-sheet,  in  the  Second 
Part  of  Henry  IK,  surely  her  sedate  Majesty  might 
have  been  prepared  to  look  for  something  very  dif- 
ferent from  the  proprieties  of  "  Religious  Courtship  " 
or  the  refinements  of  Platonic  affection  in  the  Knight, 
who,  having  "  more  flesh  than  other  men,"  pleads  this 
as  an  excuse  for  his  also  having  more  frailty. 

Suppose  we  own  at  once,  that  there  is  a  great  deal 
of  falsehood  and  mock-modesty  in  the  talk  which  ever 
anon  meets  us,  the  Puritanical  squeamishness  of  each 
extremely  moral  (undetected)  Tartuffe,  acting  as 
Aristarchus ;  who  cannot,  one  might  think,  be  quite 
ignorant  of  what  is  current  in  the  newspaper-literature 
of  our  own  time.*  The  fact  is  this,  people  now-a- 
days  keep  their  dishes  of  spiced  meat  and  their  Bar- 
mecide show-fasts  separate.  They  sip  the  limpid 
spring  before  company,  and  keep  hidden  behind  a 

*  For  special  reasons,  the  Editor  felt  it  nearly  impossible  to 
avoid  the  omission  of  a  few  letters  in  one  of  the  most  objectionable 
of  these  pieces,  the  twelfth  in  order,  of  Choyce  Drollery.  He  men- 
tions this  at  once,  because  he  holds  to  his  confirmed  opinion 
that  in  Reprints  of  scarce  and  valuable  historical  memorials  no 
tampering  with  the  original  is  permissible.  (But  see  Appendix, 
Part  IV.  and  pp.  230,  288.)  He  incurs  blame  from  judicious  anti- 
quaries by  even  this  small  and  acknowledged  violation  of  exacti- 
tude. Probably,  he  might  have  given  pleasure  to  the  general 
public  if  he  had  omitted  much  more,  not  thirty  letters  only,  but 
entire  poems  or  songs;  as  the  books  deserved  in  punishment. 


INTRODUCTION.  XXxiii. 

curtain  the  forbidden  wine  of  Xeres,  quietly  iced,  for 
private  drinking.  Our  ancestors  took  a  taste  of  both 
together,  and  without  blushing.  Their  cup  of  nectar 
had  some  "allaying  Tyber"  to  abate  "the  thirst  com- 
plaint." They  did  not  label  their  books  "  Moral  and 
Theological,  for  the  public  Ken,"  or  "  Vice,  sub  rosa, 
for  our  locked-cabinet !"  Parlous  (Vauires  choses. 
Messieurs ,  sHl  vous  plclit. 

§  4. — On  the  Pastorals. 

There  were  good  reasons  for  Court  and  country 
being  associated  ideas,  if  only  in  contrast.  Thus 
Touchstone  states,  when  drolling  with  Colin,  as  to  a 
Pastoral  employment : — "  Truly,  shepherd  in  respect 
of  itself  it  is  a  good  Hfe ;  but  in  respect  it  is  not  in  the 
Comt,  it  is  tedious."  The  large  proportion  of  pas- 
toral songs  and  poems  in  Choyce  Drollery  is  one  other 
noticeable  characteristic.  Even  as  Utopian  schemes, 
with  dreams  of  an  unrealized  Republic  where  laws  may 
be  equally  administered,  and  cultivation  given  to  all 
highest  arts  or  sciences,  are  found  to  be  most  popular 
in  times  of  discontent  and  tyranny,  when  no  en- 

But  he  leaves  others  to  produce  expurgated  editions,  suitable  for 
unlearned  triflers.  Any  reader  can  here  erase  from  the  Reprint 
what  offends  his  individual  taste  (as  we  know  that  Ann,  Countess 
of  Strafford,  cut  out  the  poem  of  "Woman"  from  our  copy  of 
Dryden's  Miscellany  Poems,  Pt.  6,  1709).  No  Editor  has  any, 
business  to  thus  mutilate  every  printed  copy. 


XXXIV.  INTRODUCTION. 

couragement  for  hope  appears  in  what  the  acting 
government  is  doing ;  even  so,  amid  luxurious  times, 
with  artificial  tastes  predominant,  there  is  always  a 
tendency  to  dream  of  pastoral  simplicity,  and  to  sing 
or  paint  the  joys  of  rural  life.  In  the  voluptuous 
languor  of  Miladi's  own  boudoir,  amid  scented  fumes 
of  pastiles  and  flowers,  hung  round  with  curtains* 
brought  from  Eastern  palaces,  Watteau,  Greuze, 
Boucher,  and  Bachelier  were  employed  to  paint 
delicious  panels  of  bare-feeted  shepherdesses,  herding 
their  flocks  with  ribbon-knotted  crooks  and  bursting 
bodices ;  while  goatherd-swains,  in  satin  breeches  and 
rosetted  pumps,  languish  at  their  side,  and  tell  of 
tender  passion  through  a  rustic  pipe.  The  contrast 
of  a  wimpling  brook,  birds  twittering  on  the  spray, 
and  daintiest  hint  of  hay-forks  or  of  reaping-hooks, 
enhanced  with  piquancy,  no  doubt,  the  every-day 
delights  of  fashionable  wantonness.  And  as  it  was 
in  sucli  later  times  with  courtiers  of  La  belle  France 
surrounding  Louis  XV.,  so  in  the  reign  of  either 
Charles  of  England — the  Revolution  Furies  crept 
nearer  unperceived. 

Recurrence  to  Pastorals  in  Choyee  Drollery  is  simply 
in  accordance  with  a  natural  tendency  of  baffled  Cava- 
liers, to  look  back  again  to  all  that  had  distinguished 
the  earlier  days  of  their  dead  monarch,  before  Puri- 
tanism had  become  rampant    Even  Milton,  in  his 


INTRODUCTION.  XXXV. 

youthful  "Lycidas,"  1637,  showed  love  for  such 
Idyllic  transformation  of  actual  life  into  a  Pastoral 
Eclogue.  (A  bitter  spring  of  hatred  against  the 
Church  was  even  then  allowed  to  pollute  the  clear 
rill  of  Helicon :  in  him  thereafter  that  Marah  never 
turned  to  sweetness.)  Some  of  these  Pastorals  re- 
main undiscovered  elsewhere.  But  there  can  be  no 
mistaking  the  impression  left  upon  them  by  the 
opening  years  of  the  seventeenth,  if  not  more  truly 
the  close  of  the  sixteenth,  century.  Dull,  plodding 
critics  have  sneered  at  Pastorals,  and  wielded  their 
sledge-hammers  against  the  Dresden-china  Shepherd- 
esses, as  though  they  struck  down  Dagon  from  his 
pedestal.  What  then  ?  Are  we  forbidden  to  enjoy, 
because  their  taste  is  not  consulted  ? 

"  Fools  from  their  folly  'tis  hopeless  to  stay ! 
Mules  will  be  mules,  by  the  law  of  their  mulishness ; 
Then  be  advised,  and  leave  fools  to  their  foolishness. 

What  from  an  ass  can  be  got  but  a  bray  ?" 

Always  will  there  be  some  smiling  virtuosi,  here  or 
elsewhere,  who  can  prize  the  unreal  toys,  and  thank 
us  for  retrieving  from  dusty  oblivion  a  few  more  of 
these  early  Pastorals.  When  too  discordantly  the 
factions  jar  around  us,  and  denounce  every  one  of 
moderate  opinions  or  quiet  habits,  because  he  is  un- 
willing to  become  enslaved  as  a  partisan,  and  fight 
under  the  banner  that  he  deems  disgraced  by  false- 


XXXVL  INTRODUCTION. 

hood  and  intolerance,  despite  its  ostentatious  blazon 
of  "  Liberation "  or  "  Equality,"  it  is  not  easy,  even 
for  such  as  "  the  melancholy  Cowley,"  to  escape  into 
his  solitude  without  a  slanderous  mockery  from  those 
who  hunger  for  division  of  the  spoil.  Recluse  phi- 
losophers of  science  or  of  literature,  men  like  Sir 
Thomas  Browne,  pursue  their  labour  unremittingly, 
and  keep  apart  from  politics  j  but  even  for  this  ab- 
stinence harsh  measure  is  dealt  to  them  by  contem- 
poraries and  posterity  whom  they  labour  to  enrich. 
It  is  well,  no  doubt,  that  we  should  be  convinced 
as  to  which  side  the  truth  is  on,  and  fight  for  that 
unto  the  death.  Woe  to  the  recreant  who  shrinks 
from  hazarding  everything  in  life,  and  life  itself,  de- 
fending what  he  holds  to  be  the  Right.  Yet  there 
are  times  when,  as  in  1656,  the  fight  has  gone  against 
our  cause,  and  no  further  gain  seems  promised  by 
waging  single-handedly  a  warfare  against  the  tri- 
umphant multitude.  Patience,  my  child,  and  wait 
the  inevitable  turn  of  the  already  quivering  balance ! 
— such  is  Wisdom's  counsel.  Butler  knew  the  truth 
of  Cavalier  loyalty : — 

"  For  though  out-numbered,  overthrown. 
And  by  the  fate  of  war  run  down. 
Their  Duty  never  was  defeated, 
Nor  from  their  oaths  and  faith  retreated  : 
For  Loyalty  is  still  the  same 
Whether  it  lose  or  win  the  game ; 


INTRODUCTION.  XXXVll. 

True  as  the  dial  to  the  sun. 
Although  it  be  not  shone  upon." 

Some  partizans  may  find  a  paltry  pleasure  in  dealing 
stealthy  stabs,  or  buffoons'  sarcasms,  against  the  foes 
they  could  not  fairly  conquer.  Some  hold  a  silent 
dignified  reserve,  and  give  no  sign  of  what  they  hope 
or  fear.  But  for  another,  and  large  class,  there  will 
be  solace  in  the  dreams  of  earlier  days,  such  as  the 
Poets  loved  to  sing  about  a  Golden  Pastoral  Age. 
Those  who  best  learnt  to  tell  its  beauty  were  men 
unto  whom  Fortune  seldom  ofiered  gifts,  as  though  it 
were  she  envied  them  for  having  better  treasure  in 
their  birthright  of  imagination.  The  dull,  harsh,  and 
uncongenial  time  intensified  their  visions :  even  as 
Hogarth's  "  Distressed  Poet " — amid  the  squalour  of 
his  garret,  with  his  gentle  uncomplaining  wife  dunned 
for  a  milk-score — revels  in  description  of  Potosi's 
mines,  and,  while  he  writes  in  poverty,  can  feign  him- 
self possessor  of  uncounted  riches.  Such  power  of 
self-forgetfulness  was  grasped  by  the  "Time-Poets," 
of  whom  our  little  book  keeps  memorable  record. 

So  be  it.  Cavaliers  of  1656.  Though  Oliver's 
troopers  and  a  hated  Parliament  are  still  in  the 
ascendant,  let  your  thoughts  find  repose  awhile,  your 
hopes  regain  bright  colouring,  remembering  the 
plaints  of  one  despairing  shepherd,  from  whom  his 
Chloris  fled ;  or  of  that  other,  "  sober  and  demure," 


XXXVlll.  INTRODUCTION. 

whose  mistress  had  herself  to  blame,  through  freedoms 
being  bome  too  far.  We,  also,  love  to  seek  a  refuge 
from  the  exorbitant  demands  of  myriad-handed  in- 
terference with  Church  and  State ;  so  we  come  back 
to  you,  as  you  sit  awhile  in  peace  under  the  aged 
trees,  remote  from  revellers  and  spies,  "  Farre  in  the 
Forest  of  Arden " — O  take  us  thither  ! — ^reading  of 
happy  lovers  in  the  pages  of  Choyce  Drollery.  Since 
their  latest  words  are  of  our  favourite  Fletcher,  let  our 
invocation  also  be  from  him,  in  his  own  melodious 
verse : — 

"  How  sweet  these  solitary  places  are  !  how  wantonly 
The  wind  blows  through  the  leaves,  and  courts  and 

plays  with  'em ! 
Will  you  sit  down,  and  sleep  ?    The  heat  invites  you. 
Hark,  how  yon  purling  stream  dances  and  murmurs ; 
The  birds  sing  softly  too.    Pray  take  your  rest.  Sir." 

J.  W.  E. 

September  2nd,  1875. 


I 


Choyce  Drollery  : 

Songs  &  Sonnets. 


Choyce 

DROLLERY: 

SONGS  &  SONNETS. 

BEING 

A  Collection  of  divers  excel- 
lent pieces  of  Poetry, 

OF 

Severall  eminent  Authors. 

Never  before  printed. 


LONDON, 

Printed  by  J.  G.  for  Robert  Pollard,  at  the 
Ben.  Johnson's  head  behind  the  Ex- 
change, and  J^ohn  Sweeting,  at  the 
Angel  in  Popes-Head  Alley. 
1656. 


I 


To  the  READER. 


Courteous  Reader, 

\Hy  grateful  reception 
of  our  first  Collection 
hath  induced  us  to  a 
second  essay  of  the  same  nature; 
which,  as  we  are  confident,  it  is 
not  inferioure  to  the  former  in 
worth,  so  we  assure  our  selves, 
upon  thy  already  experi7nented 
Candor,  that  it  shall  at  least  e- 
quall  it  in  its  fortunate  accepta- 
tion. We  serve  up  these  Deli- 
A  2  cates 


[To  the  Reader  :  1656.] 

cates  by  frugall  Messes,  as  ai- 
ming at  thy  Satisfaction,  not 
Saciety.  But  our  designe  being 
more  upon  thy  judgement,  than 
patience,  more  to  delight  thee, 
than  to  detain  thee  in  theportah 
of  a  tedious,  and  seldome-reaa 
Epistle ;  we  draw  this  displea- 
sing Curtain,  that  intercepts  thy 
(by  this  time)  gravid,  and  al 
most  teeming  fancy,  and  sub 
scribe, 

R.P. 


Choice 

DROLLERY: 

SONGS 

AND 

Sonnets. 


The  broken  Heart. 
I. 

DEare  Love  let  me  this  evening  dye, 
Oh  smile  not  to  prevent  it, 
But  use  this  opportunity, 
Or  we  shall  both  repent  it : 
Frown  quickly  then,  and  break  my  heart, 
That  so  my  way  of  dying 
May,  though  my  life  were  full  of  smart, 
Be  worth  the  worlds  envying. 

B  Some 


Choice  Drollery , 


Some  striving  knowledge  to  refine, 
Consume  themselves  with  thinking, 
And  some  who  friendship  seale  in  wine 
Are  kindly  kill'd  with  drinking : 
And  some  are  rackt  on  th'  Indian  coast, 
Thither  by  gain  invited, 
Some  are  in  smoke  of  battailes  lost, 
WTiom  Drummes  not  Lutes  delighted. 

3- 

Alas  how  poorely  these  depart. 
Their  graves  still  unattended, 
Who  dies  not  of  a  broken  heart. 
Is  not  in  death  commended. 
His  memory  is  ever  sweet. 
All  praise  and  pity  moving, 
Who  kindly  at  his  Mistresse  feet 
Doth  dye  with  over-loving. 

4- 
And  now  thou  frown'st,  and  now  I  dye. 
My  corps  by  Lovers  foUow'd, 
Which  streight  shall  by  dead  lovers  lye. 
For  that  ground's  onely  hoUow'd  :     [hallow'd] 
If  Priest  take't  ill  I  have  a  grave, 
My  death  not  well  approving. 
The  Poets  my  estate  shall  have 
To  teach  them  th'  art  of  loving. 

And 


Songs  and  Sonnets.  3 

5- 
And  now  let  Lovers  ring  their  bells, 
For  thy  poore  youth  departed ; 
Which  every  Lover  els  excels. 
That  is  not  broken  hearted. 
My  grave  with  flowers  let  virgins  strow, 
For  if  thy  teares  fall  neare  them, 
The/l  so  excell  in  scent  and  shew. 
Thy  selfe  wilt  shortly  weare  them. 

6. 
Such  Flowers  how  much  will  Flora  prise, 
That's  on  a  Lover  growing. 
And  watred  with  his  Mistris  eyes, 
With  pity  overflowing  ? 

A  grave  so  deckt,  well,  though  thou  art  [?  will] 
Yet  fearfuU  to  come  nigh  me, 
Provoke  thee  straight  to  break  thy  heart. 
And  lie  down  boldly  by  me. 

7. 
Then  every  where  shall  all  bells  ring, 
Whilst  all  to  blacknesse  turning. 
All  torches  bum,  and  all  quires  sing, 
As  Nature's  self  were  mourning. 
Yet  we  hereafter  shall  be  found 
By  Destiny's  right  placing. 
Making  like  Flowers,  Love  under  ground. 
Whose  Roots  are  still  embracing. 

B  2  Of 


Choice  Drollery, 

A    A    A    A    A    A    A    A    A    A    A    A    A    A    A    A    A    A    A    A    A 

Of  a  Woman  that  died  for  love  of  a  Man. 

NOr  Love  nor  Fate  dare  I  accuse, 
Because  my  Love  did  me  refuse  : 
But  oh  !  mine  own  unworthinesse, 
That  durst  presume  so  mickle  blisse ; 
Too  mickle  'twere  for  me  to  love 
A  thing  so  like  the  God  above, 
An  Angels  face,  a  Saint-like  voice, 
Were  too  divine  for  humane  choyce. 

Oh  had  I  wisely  given  my  heart. 
For  to  have  lov'd  him,  but  in  part. 
Save  onely  to  have  lov'd  his  face 
For  any  one  peculiar  grace, 
A  foot,  or  leg,  or  lip,  or  eye, 
I  might  have  liv'd,  where  now  I  dye. 
But  I  that  striv'd  all  these  to  chuse, 
Am  now  condemned  all  to  lose. 

You  rurall  Gods  that  guard  the  plams, 

And  chast'neth  unjust  disdains  ; 

Oh  do  not  censure  him  him  for  this. 

It  was  my  error,  and  not  his. 

This  onely  boon  of  thee  I  crave, 

To  fix  these  lines  upon  my  grave, 

With  Icarus  I  soare[d]  too  high, 

For  which  (alas)  I  fall  and  dye. 

On 


Songs  and  Sonnets. 


On  the 
TIME-POETS. 

ONe  night  the  great  Apollo  pleas'd  with  Ben, 
Made  the  odde  number  of  the  Muses  ten ; 
The  fluent  Fletcher,  Beaumont  rich  in  sense, 
In  Complement  and  Courtships  quintessence  ; 
Ingenious  Shakespeare,  Massinger  that  knowes 
The  strength  of  Plot  to  write  in  verse  and  prose  : 
Whose  easie  Pegassus  will  amble  ore 
Some  threescore  miles  of  Fancy  in  an  houre  •, 
Cloud-grapling  Chapman,  whose  Aerial  minde 
Soares  at  Philosophy,  and  strikes  it  blinde ; 
Danbourn  \JDabourn\  I  had  forgot,  and  let  it  be, 
He  d/d  Amphibion  by  the  Ministry ; 
Silvester,  Bartas,  whose  translatique  part 
Twinn'd,  or  was  elder  to  our  Laureat : 
Divine  composing  Quarks,  whose  lines  aspire 
The  April  of  all  Poesy  in  May,      \Tho.  May.] 

Who 


6  Choice  Drollery^ 

Who  makes  our  English  speak  Pharsalia; 

Sands  metamorphos'd  so  into  another  \Sandys\ 

We  know  not  Sands  and  Ovid  from  each  other ; 

He  that  so  well  on  Scotus  play'd  the  Man, 

The  famous  JDiggs,  or  Leonard  Claudian; 

The  pithy  Daniel,  whose  salt  lines  afford 

A  weighty  sentence  in  each  little  word ; 

Heroick  Draiion,  Withers,  smart  in  Rime, 

The  very  Poet-Beadles  of  the  Time  : 

Panns  pastoral  Brown,  whose  infant  Muse  did  squeak 

At  eighteen  yeares,  better  than  others  speak  : 

Shirley  the  morning-child,  the  Muses  bred, 

And  sent  him  born  with  bayes  upon  his  head  : 

Deep  in  a  dump  lohn  Ford  alone  was  got 

With  folded  armes  and  melanchoUy  hat ; 

The  squibbing  Middleton,  and  Haywood  sage, 

Th'  Apologetick  Atlas  of  the  Stage  j 

Well  of  the  Golden  age  he  could  intreat, 

But  little  of  the  Mettal  he  could  get ; 

Three-score  sweet  Babes  he  fashion'd  from  the  lump, 

For  he  was  Christ'ned  in  Parnassus  pump ; 

The  Muses  Gossip  to  AurorcHs  bed, 

And  ever  since  that  time  his  face  was  red. 

Thus  through  the  horrour  of  infemall  deeps. 

With  equal  pace  each  of  them  softly  creeps. 

And  being  dark  they  had  Alectors  torch,       \AUct6's\ 

And  that  made  Churchyard  follow  from  his  Porch, 

Poor,  ragged,  torn,  &  tackt,  alack,  alack 

You'd  think  his  clothes  were  pinn'd  upon  his  back. 


Songs  and  Sonnets.  7 

The  whole  frame  hung  with  pins,  to  mend  which 

clothes, 
In  mirth  they  sent  him  to  old  Father  Prose ; 
Of  these  sad  Poets  this  way  ran  the  stream. 
And  Decker  followed  after  in  a  dream ; 
Rounce,  Robbie,  Hobble,  he  that  writ  so  high  big  [;] 
Basse  for  a  Ballad,  yohn  Shank  for  a  Jig :  \iVm.  Basse.] 
Sent  by  Ben  Jonson,  as  some  Authors  say, 
Broom  went  before  and  kindly  swept  the  way  : 
Old  Chaucer  welcomes  them  unto  the  Green, 
And  Spencer  brings  them  to  the  fairy  Queen ; 
The  finger  they  present,  and  she  in  grace 
Transform'd  it  to  a  May-pole,  'bout  which  trace 
Her  skipping  servants,  that  do  nightly  sing. 
And  dance  about  the  same  a  Fayrie  Ring. 


B4  The 


3  Choice  Drollery y 

^#    w    O    w    w    w    w    w    w    w    w    w    O    O     w    w    O    O    &    w    O    ^p 

«^>^V^S<^V^  >^  <^  1^  1^  V^  Vl^  V^  V^  t^  l)^  «^  V^  k^  1^  V^  V^ '^ 

77z^  Vow-breaker. 

WHen  first  the  Magick  of  thine  eye 
Usurpt  upon  my  liberty, 
Triumphing  in  my  hearts  spoyle,  thou 
Didst  lock  up  thine  in  such  a  vow : 
When  I  prove  false,  may  the  bright  day 
Be  govern'd  by  the  Moones  pale  ray, 
(As  I  too  well  remember)  this 
Thou  saidst,  and  seald'st  it  with  a  kisse. 

Oh  heavens  !  and  could  so  soon  that  tye 

Relent  in  sad  apostacy  ? 

Could  all  thy  Oaths  and  mortgag'd  trust, 

Banish  like  Letters  form'd  in  dust,  P  vanish] 

Which  the  next  wind  scatters  ?  take  heed, 

Take  heed  Revolter ;  know  this  deed 

Hath  wrong'd  the  world,  which  will  fare  worse 

By  thy  example,  than  thy  curse. 

Hide  that  false  brow  in  mists ;  thy  shame 

Ne're  see  light  more,  but  the  dimme  flame 

Of  Funerall-lamps ;  thus  sit  and  moane. 

And  learn  to  keep  thy  guilt  at  home ; 

Give  it  no  vent,  for  if  agen 

Thy  love  or  vowes  betray  more  men. 

At  length  I  feare  thy  perjur'd  breath 

Will  blow  out  day,  and  waken  death. 

The 


Songs  and  Sonnets. 


^ggg,,, 


The  Sympathie. 

IF  at  this  time  I  am  derided, 
And  you  please  to  laugh  at  me, 
Know  I  am  not  unprovided 
Every  way  to  answer  thee, 
Love,  or  hate,  what  ere  it  be. 

Never  Twiims  so  nearly  met 
As  thou  and  I  in  our  affection, 

When  thou  weepst  my  eyes  are  wet. 
That  thou  lik'st  is  my  election, 
I  am  in  the  same  subjection. 

In  one  center  we  are  both, 

Both  our  lives  the  same  way  tending. 

Do  thou  refuse,  and  I  shall  loath, 
As  thy  eyes,  so  mine  are  bending, 
Either  storm  or  calm  portending. 

I  am  carelesse  if  despised, 
For  I  can  contemn  again ; 

How  can  I  be  then  surprised. 
Or  with  sorrow,  or  with  pain. 
When  I  can  both  love  &  disdain  ? 


The 


10  Choice  Drollery, 


The  Red  Head  and  the  White. 

I. 

COme  my  White  head,  let  our  Muses 
Vent  no  spleen  against  abuses, 
Nor  scofFe  at  monstrous  signes  i'  th'  nose, 
Signes  in  the  Teeth,  or  in  the  Toes, 
Nor  what  now  delights  us  most, 
The  sign  of  signes  upon  the  post 
For  other  matter  we  are  sped. 
And  our  signe  shall  be  i'  th'  head. 

2.         [White  Head's  Answer.] 
Oh  !   WiU:  Rufus,  who  would  passe, 
Unlesse  he  were  a  captious  Asse ; 
The  Head  of  all  the  parts  is  best, 
And  hath  more  senses  then  the  rest 
This  subject  then  in  our  defence 
Will  clear  our  Poem  of  non-sense. 

Besides,  you  know,  what  ere  we  read. 

We  use  to  bring  it  to  a  head. 

Why 


Songs  and  Sonnets.  1 1 

Why  there's  no  other  part  we  can 
Stile  Monarch  o're  this  Isle  of  man : 
'Tis  that  that  weareth  Nature's  crown, 
'Tis  this  doth  smile,  'tis  this  doth  frown, 
O  what  a  prize  and  triumph  'twere, 
To  make  this  King  our  Subject  here  : 
BeUev't,  tis  true  what  we  have  sed, 
In  this  we  hit  the  naile  o'  th'  head. 

2.  [W.H.'s  Answer.] 

Your  nails  upon  my  head  Sir,  Why? 
How  do  you  thus  to  villifie 
The  King  of  Parts,  'mongst  all  the  rest, 
Or  if  no  king,  methinks  at  least, 
To  mine  you  should  give  no  offence. 
That  weares  the  badge  of  Innocence ; 

Those  blowes  would  far  more  justly  light 
On  thy  red  scull,  for  mine  is  white. 

I. 
Come  on  5rfaith,  that  was  well  sed, 
A  pretty  boy,  hold  up  thy  head, 
Or  hang  it  down,  and  blush  apace. 
And  make  it  like  mines  native  grace. 
There's  ne're  a  Bung-hole  in  the  town 
But  in  the  working  puts  thine  down, 
A  byle  that's  drawing  to  a  head 
Looks  white  like  thine,  but  mine  is  red. 

Poore 


10  [i2]  Choice  Drollery, 

2.  [W.  H.'s  Answer.] 

Poore  foole,  'twas  shame  did  first  invent 
The  colour  of  thy  Ornament, 
And  therefore  thou  art  much  too  blame 
To  boast  of  that  which  is  thy  shame  ; 
The  Roman  Prince  that  Poppeys  topt, 
Did  shew  such  Red  heads  should  be  cropt : 
And  still  the  Turks  for  poyson  smite 
Such  Ruddy  skulls,  but  mine  is  white. 

I. 

The  Indians  paint  their  Devils  so. 

And  'tis  a  hated  mark  we  know, 

For  never  any  aim  aright 

That  do  not  strive  to  hit  the  white : 

The  Eagle  threw  her  shell-fish  down, 

To  crack  in  pieces  such  a  crown  : 
Alas,  a  stinking  onions  head 
Is  white  like  thine,  but  mine  is  red. 

2.  [White's]     ' 

Red  like  to  a  blood-shot  eye, 

Provoking  all  that  see  't  to  cry : 

For  shame  nere  vaunt  thy  colours  thus 

Since  'tis  an  eye-sore  unto  us ; 

Those  locks  I'd  swear,  did  I  not  know't, 

Were  threds  of  some  red  petticoat ; 
No  Bedlams  oaker'd  armes  afright 
So  much  as  thine,  but  mine  is  white. 

Now 


Songs  and  Sonnets.  13 

I. 

Now  if  thou'lt  blaze  thy  armes  He  shew't, 

My  head  doth  love  no  petticoat, 

My  face  on  one  side  is  as  faire 

As  on  the  other  is  my  haire, 

So  that  I  bear  by  Herauld's  rules, 

Party  per  pale  Argent  and  Gules. 

Then  laugh  not  'cause  my  hair  is  red, 
He  swear  that  mine's  a  noble  head. 

I.        [2.  White  Head's  Reply.] 
The  Scutcheon  of  my  field  doth  beare 
One  onely  field,  and  that  is  rare. 
For  then  me  thinks  that  thine  should  yeild, 
Since  mine  long  since  hath  won  the  field ; 
Besides,  all  the  notes  that  be, 
White  is  the  note  of  Chastity, 

So  that  without  all  feare  or  dread, 
lie  swear  that  mine's  a  maidenhead. 

I. 

There's  no  Camelion  red  like  me, 

Nor  white,  perhaps,  thou'lt  say,  like  thee  ; 

Why  then  that  mine  is  farre  above 

Thy  haire,  by  statute  I  can  prove  ; 

What  ever  there  doth  seem  divine 

Is  added  to  a  Rubrick  line. 

Which  whosoever  hath  but  read, 
Will  grant  that  mine's  a  lawful  head. 

Yet 


14  Choice  Drollery, 

2.  [White  Head,] 

Yet  adde  what  thou  maist,  which  by  yeares, 
Crosses,  troubles,  cares  and  feares, ; 
For  that  kind  nature  gave  to  me 
In  youth  a  white  head,  as  you  see, 
At  which,  though  age  it  selfe  repine. 
It  ne're  shall  change  a  haire  of  mine ; 

And  all  shall  say  when  I  am  am  dead, 

I  onely  had  a  constant  head. 

I. 

Yes  faith,  in  that  He  condescend, 
That  our  dissention  here  may  end. 
Though  heads  be  alwaies  by  the  eares, 
Yet  ours  shall  be  more  noble  peeres  : 
For  I  avouch  since  I  began. 
Under  a  colour  all  was  done. 

Then  let  us  mix  the  White  and  Red, 
And  both  shall  make  a  beauteous  head. 

I. 

We  mind  our  heads  man  all  this  time[,] 

And  beat  them  both  about  this  rime  ,• 

And  I  confesse  what  gave  offence 

Was  but  a  haires  difference. 

And  that  went  too  as  I  dare  sweare 

In  both  of  us  against  the  haire ; 

Then  joyntly  now  for  what  is  said 
Lets  crave  a  pardon  from  our  head. 

Son- 


SoTtgs  and  Sonnets. 


15 


'^mm¥M^M^^^^WM^WmWM> 


,f 


SONNET. 

SHall  I  think  because  some  clouds 
The  beauty  of  my  Mistris  shrouds, 
To  look  after  another  Star  ? 
Those  to  Cynthia  servants  are; 
May  the  stars  when  I  doe  sue, 
In  their  anger  shoot  me  through ; 
Shall  I  shrink  at  stormes  of  rain. 
Or  be  driven  back  again. 
Or  ignoble  like  a  worm, 
Be  a  slave  unto  a  storm  ? 
Pity  he  should  ever  tast 
The  Spring  that  feareth  Winters  blast ; 
Fortune  and  Malice  then  combine, 
Spight  of  either  I  am  thine ; 
And  to  be  sure  keep  thou  my  heart, 
And  let  them  wound  my  worser  part, 
Which  could  they  kill,  yet  should  I  bee 
Alive  again,  when  pleaseth  thee. 


On 


i6 


Choice  Drollery^ 


On  the  Flower-de-luce  in 
Oxford. 

A  Stranger  coming  to  the  town, 
Went  to  the  Flower-de-luce, 
A  place  that  seera'd  in  outward  shew 
For  honest  men  to  use ; 

And  finding  all  things  common  there, 

That  tended  to  delight, 
By  chance  upon  the  French  disease 

It  was  his  hap  to  light. 

And  lest  that  other  men  should  fare 

As  he  had  done  before, 
As  he  went  forth  he  wrote  this  down 

Upon  the  utmost  doore. 

All  you  that  hither  chance  to  come, 

Mark  well  ere  you  be  in. 
The  Frenchmens  arms  are  signs  without 

Of  Frenchmens  harms  within. 


IALD0BRANDIN0;\  Jack 


SoJtgs  and  Son7icts.  17 


ALDOBRANDINO,  a  fat  Cardinal. 

NEver  was  humane  soule  so  overgrown, 
With  an  unreasonable  Cargazon 
Of  flesh ,  as  Aldobrandine,  whom  to  pack, 
No  girdle  serv'd  lesse  than  the  zodiack  : 
So  thick  a  Giant,  that  he  now  was  come 
To  be  accounted  an  eighth  hill  in  Rome, 
And  as  the  leam'd  Tostatus  kept  his  age. 
Writing  for  every  day  he  liv'd  a  page  ; 
So  he  no  lesse  voluminous  then  that 
Added  each  day  a  leaf,  but  ^twas  of  fat. 

The  choicest  beauty  that  had  been  devis'd 
By  Nature,  was  by  her  parents  sacrific'd 
Up  to  this  Monster,  upon  whom  to  try, 
If  as  increase,  he  could,  too,  multiply. 

Oh  how  I  tremble  lest  the  tender  maid 
Should  dye  like  a  young  infant  over-laid  ! 
For  when  this  Chaos  would  pretend  to  move 
And  arch  his  back  for  the  strong  act  of  Love, 
He  fals  as  soon  ©rethrown  with  his  own  weight, 
And  with  his  mines  doth  the  Princesse  fright. 
She  lovely  Martyr)  there  lyes  stew'd  and  prest, 
Like  flesh  under  the  tarr'd  saddle  drest, 
And  seemes  to  those  that  look  on  them  in  bed, 
Larded  with  him,  rather  than  married. 

c  Oft 


1 8  Choice  Drollery , 

Oft  did  he  cry,  but  still  in  vain  [,]  to  force 

His  fatnesse  [,]  powerfuUer  then  a  divorce  : 

No  herbs,  no  raidwives  profit  here,  nor  can 

Of  his  great  belly  free  the  teeming  man. 

What  though  he  drink  the  vinegars  most  fine, 

They  do  not  wast  his  fleshy  Apennine ; 

His  paunch  like  some  huge  Istmos  runs  between 

The  amarous  Seas,  and  lets  them  not  be  seen  ; 

Yet  a  new  Dedalus  invented  how 

This  Bull  with  his  Pasiphae  might  plow. 

Have  you  those  artificial  torments  known, 

With  which  long  sunken  Galeos  are  thrown 

Again  on  Sea,  or  the  dead  Galia 

Was  rais'd  that  once  behinde  St.  Peters  lay  : 

By  the  same  rules  he  this  same  engine  made, 

With  silken  cords  in  nimble  pulUes  laid  ; 

And  when  his  Genius  prompteth  his  slow  part 

To  works  of  Nature,  which  he  helps  with  Art  : 

First  he  intangles  in  those  woven  bands, 

His  groveling  weight,  and  ready  to  commands, 

The  sworn  Prinadas  of  his  bed,  the  Aids 

Of  Loves  Camp,  necessary  Chambermaids  ; 

Each  runs  to  her  known  tackling,  hasts  to  hoyse, 

And  in  just  distance  of  the  urging  voyce. 

Exhorts  the  labour  till  he  smiling  rise 

To  the  beds  roof,  and  wonders  how  he  flies. 

Thence  as  the  eager  Falcon  having  spy'd 

Fowl  at  the  brook,  or  by  the  Rivers  side, 

Hangs  in  the  middle  Region  of  the  aire. 

So  hovers  he,  and  plains  above  his  faire  : 

Blest 


I 


Songs  and  Somiets.  19 

Blest  Icarus  first  melted  at  those  beames, 
That  he  might  after  fall  into  those  streames, 
And  there  allaying  his  delicious  flame, 
In  that  sweet  Ocean  propogate  his  name. 

Unable  longer  to  delay,  he  calls 
To  be  let  down,  and  in  short  measure  falls 
Toward  his  Mistresse,  that  without  her  smock 
Lies  naked  as  Andromeda  at  the  Rock, 
And  through  the  Skies  see  her  wing'd  Perseus  strike 
Though  for  his  bulk,  more  that  sea-monster  like. 
Mean  time  the  Nurse,  who  as  the  most  discreet. 
Stood  governing  the  motions  at  the  feet, 
And  ballanc'd  his  descent,  lest  that  amisse 
He  fell  too  fast,  or  that  way  more  than  this ; 
Steeres  the  Prow  of  the  pensile  Gallease, 
Right  on  Loves  Harbour  the  Nymph  lets  him  pass 
Over  the  Chains,  &  'tween  the  double  Fort 
Of  her  incastled  knees,  which  guard  the  Port. 

The  Burs  as  she  had  learnt  still  diligent, 
Now  girt  him  backwards,  now  him  forwards  bent ; 
Like  those  that  levell'd  in  tough  Cordage,  teach 
The  mural  Ram,  and  guide  it  to  the  Breach. 


c  2  Ja^k 


20  Choice  Drollery, 


Jack  of  Lent's  Ballat. 

[On  the  welcoming  of  Queen  Henrietta  Maria,  1625]. 

I. 

List  you  Nobles,  and  attend, 
For  here's  a  Ballat  newly  penn'd 
I  took  it  up  in  Kent, 
If  any  ask  who  made  the  same, 
To  him  I  say  the  authors  name 

Is  honest  Jack  of  Lent. 

2. 

But  ere  I  farther  passe  along, 

Or  let  you  know  more  of  my  Song, 

I  wish  the  doores  were  lockt, 
For  if  there  be  so  base  a  Groom, 
As  one  informes  me  in  this  room, 

The  Fidlers  may  be  knockt. 

3- 
Tis  true,  he  had,  I  dare  protest, 
No  kind  of  malice  in  his  brest. 

But  Knaves  are  dangerous  things ; 
And  they  of  late  are  grown  so  bold. 
They  dare  appeare  in  cloth  of  Gold, 

Even  in  the  roomes  of  Kings. 

But 


Songs  and  Sonnets.  21 

4- 
But  hit  or  misse  I  will  declare 
The  speeches  at  London  and  elsewhere, 

Concerning  this  design, 
Amongst  the  Drunkards  it  is  said. 
They  hope  her  dowry  shall  be  paid 

In  nought  but  Clarret  wine. 

5. 
The  Country  Clowns  when  they  repaire 
Either  to  Market  or  to  Faire, 

No  sooner  get  their  pots, 
But  straight  they  swear  the  time  is  come 
That  England  must  be  over-run 

Betwixt  the  French  and  Scots. 
6. 
The  Puritans  that  never  fayle 
'Gainst  Kings  and  Magistrates  to  rayle. 

With  impudence  aver. 
That  verily,  and  in  good  sooth, 
Some  Antichrist,  or  pretty  youth, 

Shall  doubtiesse  get  of  her. 

7. 
A  holy  Sister  having  hemm'd 
And  blown  her  nose,  will  say  she  dream'd, 

Or  else  a  Spirit  told  her, 
That  they  and  all  these  holy  seed. 
To  Amsterdam  must  go  to  breed, 

Ere  they  were  twelve  months  older. 
c  3  And 


22  Choice  Drollery, 

8. 
And  might  but  yack  Alent  advise, 
Those  dreams  of  theirs  should  not  prove  lies, 

For  as  he  greatly  feares, 
They  will  be  prating  night  and  day, 
Till  verily,  by  yea,  and  nay, 

They  set's  together  by  th'  ears. 

9- 

The  Romish  Gatholiques  proclaim, 
That  Gundemore,  though  he  be  lame. 

Yet  can  he  do  some  tricks ; 
At  Paris,  he  the  King  shall  show 
A  pre-contract  made,  as  I  know. 

Five  hundred  twenty  six. 

10. 

But  sure  the  State  of  France  is  wise. 

And  knowes  that  Spain  vents  naught  but  lies. 

For  such  is  their  Religion ; 
The  Jesuits  can  with  ease  disgorge 
From  that  their  damn'd  and  hellish  forge, 

Foule  falshood  by  the  Legion. 
II. 
But  be  it  so,  we  will  admit, 
The  State  of  Spain  hath  no  more  wit. 

Then  to  invent  such  tales. 
Yet  as  great  Alexander  drew. 
And  cut  the  Gorgon  Knot  in  two. 

So  shall  the  Prince  of  Wales. 

The 


Songs  and  Sonnets.  23 

12. 

The  reverend  Bishops  whisper  too, 
That  now  they  shall  have  much  adoe 

With  Friers  and  with  Monks, 
And  eke  their  wives  do  greatly  feare 
Those  bald  pate  knaves  will  mak't  appeare 

They  are  Canonical  punks. 

At  Cambridge  and  at  Oxford  eke, 
They  of  this  match  like  SchoUers  speak 

By  figures  and  by  tropes, 
But  as  for  the  Supremacy, 
The  Body  may  King  y^ames^s  be, 

But  sure  the  Head's  the  Pop^s. 
14. 
A  Puritan  stept  up  and  cries, 
That  he  the  major  part  denies, 

And  though  he  Logick  scorns, 
Yet  he  by  revelation  knows 
The  Pope  no  part  o'  th'  head-piece  ows 

Except  it  be  the  horns. 

15- 
The  learned  in  Astrologie, 
That  wander  up  and  down  the  sky, 

And  their  discourse  with  stars,  [there] 
Foresee  that  some  of  this  brave  rout 
That  now  goes  faire  and  soundly  out, 

Shall  back  return  with  scars. 

c  4  Profess- 


24  Choice  Drollery, 

1 6. 
Professors  of  Astronomy, 
That  all  the  world  knows,  dare  not  lie 

With  the  Mathematicians, 
Prognosticate  this  Somer  shall 
Bring  with  the  pox  the  Devil  and  all. 

To  Surgeons  and  Physitians. 

17- 
The  Civil  Lawyer  laughs  in's  sleeve. 
For  he  doth  verily  believe 

That  after  all  these  sports. 
The  Cit[i]zens  will  horn  and  grow. 
And  their  ill-gotten  goods  will  throw 

About  their  bawdy  Courts. 
i8. 
And  those  that  do  Apollo  court. 
And  with  the  wanton  Muses  sport. 

Believe  the  time  is  come. 
That  Gallants  will  themselves  addresse 
To  Masques  &  Playes,  &  Wantonnesse, 

More  than  to  fife  and  drum. 

19- 
Such  as  in  musique  spend  their  dayes, 
And  study  Songs  and  Roundelayes, 

Begin  to  cleare  their  throats. 
For  by  some  signes  they  do  presage, 
That  this  will  prove  a  fidling  age 

Fit  for  men  of  their  coats. 

But 


Songs  and  Sonnei[s].  25 

20. 
But  leaving  Colleges  and  Schools, 
To  all  those  Clerks  and  learned  Fools, 

Lets  through  the  city  range, 
For  there  are  Sconces  made  of  Horn, 
Foresee  things  long  ere  they  be  bom. 

Which  you'l  perhaps  think  strange. 
21. 
The  Major  and  Aldermen  being  met,      [Mayor] 
And  at  a  Custard  closely  set 

Each  in  their  rank  and  order, 
The  Major  a  question  doth  propound, 
And  that  unanswer'd  must  go  round. 

Till  it  comes  to  th'  Recorder. 
22. 
For  he's  the  Citys  Oracle, 
And  which  you'l  think  a  Miracle, 

He  hath  their  brains  in  keeping, 
For  when  a  Cause  should  be  decreed, 
He  cries  the  bench  are  all  agreed. 

When  most  of  them  are  sleeping. 

23- 
A  Sheriff  at  lower  end  o'  th'  board 
Cries  Masters  all  hear  me  a  word, 
A  bolt  He  onely  shoot. 
We  shall  have  Executions  store 
Against  some  gallants  now  gone  o're, 

Wherefore  good  brethren  look  to't. 

The 


26  Choice  Drollery, 

24. 
The  rascall  Sergeants  fleering  stand, 
Wishing  their  Charter  reacht  the  Strand, 

That  they  might  there  intrude  j 
But  since  they  are  not  yet  content, 
I  wish  that  it  to  Tyburn  went, 

So  they  might  there  conclude. 

25- 
An  Alderman  both  grave  and  wise 
Cries  brethren  all  let  me  advise. 

Whilst  wit  is  to  be  had. 
That  like  good  husbands  we  provide 
Some  speeches  for  the  Lady  bride, 

Before  all  men  go  mad. 
26. 
For  by  my  faith  if  we  may  guesse 
Of  greater  mischiefs  by  the  lesse, 

I  pray  let  this  suffice, 
If  we  but  on  men's  backs  do  look, 
And  look  into  each  tradesmans  book 

You'l  swear  few  men  are  wise. 
27. 
Some  thred-bare  Poet  we  will  presse, 
And  for  that  day  we  will  him  dresse, 

At  least  in  beaten  Sattin, 
And  he  shall  tell  her  from  this  bench. 
That  though  we  understand  no  French, 

At  Pauls  she  may  hear  Lattin. 


But 


I 


Songs  and  Sonnets.  27 

28. 
But  on  this  point  they  all  demurre, 
And  each  takes  counsell  of  his  furre 

That  smells  of  Fox  and  Cony, 
At  last  a  Mayor  in  high  disdain, 
Swears  he  much  scorns  that  in  his  reign 

Wit  should  be  bought  for  mony. 
29. 
For  by  this  Sack  I  mean  to  drink, 
I  would  not  have  my  Soveraign  think 

for  twenty  thousand  Crownes, 
That  I  his  Lord  Lieutenant  here, 
And  you  my  brethren  should  appear 

Such  errant  witlesse  Clownes. 

3°- 
No,  no,  I  have  it  in  my  head. 
Devises  that  shall  strike  it  dead, 

And  make  proud  Paris  say 
That  little  London  hath  a  Mayor 
Can  entertain  their  Lady  faire. 

As  well  as  ere  did  they. 

31- 

S.  Georges  Church  shall  be  the  place 

Where  first  I  mean  to  meet  her  grace, 

And  there  St.  George  shall  be 

Mounted  upon  a  dapple  gray, 

And  gaping  wide  shall  seem  to  say, 

Welcome  St.  Dennis  to  me, 

From 


28  Choice  Drollery, 

32. 
From  thence  in  order  two  by  two 
As  we  to  Pauls  are  us'd  to  goe, 

To  th'  Bridge  we  will  convey  her, 
And  there  upon  the  top  o'  th'  gate, 
Where  now  stands  many  a  Rascal's  pate, 

I  mean  to  place  a  player. 

33- 
And  to  the  Princess  he  shall  cry, 
May't  please  your  Grace,  cast  up  your  eye 

And  see  these  heads  of  Traytors ; 
Thus  will  the  city  serve  all  those 
That  to  your  Highnesse  shall  prove  foes, 

For  they  to  Knaves  are  haters. 

34. 
Down  Fishstreet  hill  a  Whale  shall  shoot. 
And  meet  her  at  the  Bridges  foot. 

And  forth  of  his  mouth  so  wide  a 
Shall  yonas  peep,  and  say,  for  fish. 
As  good  as  your  sweet-heart  can  wish, 

You  shall  have  hence  each  Friday. 

35- 
At  Grace-church  comer  there  shall  stand 
A  troop  of  Graces  hand  in  hand. 

And  they  to  her  shall  say, 
Your  Grace  of  France  is  welcome  hither, 
'Tis  merry  when  Graces  meet  together, 

I  pray  keep  on  your  way. 

At 


Songs  and  Sonnets.  29 

36. 
At  the  Exchange  shall  placed  be, 
In  ugly  shapes  those  sisters  three 

That  give  to  each  their  fate, 
And  Spaing s  Infanta  shall  stand  by 
Wringing  their  hands,  and  thus  shall  cry, 

I  do  repent  too  late. 

37- 
There  we  a  paire  of  gloves  will  give. 
And  pray  her  Highnesse  long  may  live 

On  her  white  hands  to  wear  them  ; 
And  though  they  have  a  Spanish  scent. 
The  givers  have  no  ill  intent, 

Wherefore  she  need  not  feare  them. 
38. 
Nor  shall  the  Conduits  now  run  Claret, 
Perhaps  the  Frenchman  cares  not  for  it, 

They  have  at  home  so  much, 
No,  I  will  make  the  boy  to  pisse 
No  worse  then  purest  Hypocris, 

Her  Grace  ne're  tasted  such. 

39- 
About  the  Standard  I  think  fit 
Your  wives,  my  brethren,  all  should  sit, 
And  eke  our  Lady  Mayris, 
Who  shall  present  a  cup  of  gold. 
And  say  if  we  might  be  bold, 

We'l  drink  to  all  in  Paris. 

In 


30  Choice  Drollery, 

40. 
In  Pauls  Church-yard  we  breath  may  take. 
For  they  such  huge  long  speeches  make, 

Would  tire  any  horse ; 
But  there  I'le  put  her  grace  in  minde, 
To  cast  her  Princely  head  behind 

And  view  S.  Paul's  Crosse. 
41. 
Our  Sergeants  they  shall  go  their  way, 
And  for  us  at  the  Devil  stay, 

I  mean  at  Temple-barre, 
And  there  of  her  we  leave  will  take, 
And  say  'twas  for  King  Charls  his  sake 

We  went  with  her  so  farre. 
42. 
But  fearing  I  have  tir'd  the  eares, 
Both  of  the  Duke  and  all  these  Peeres, 

He  be  no  more  uncivill, 
He  leave  the  Mayor  with  both  the  Sheriffs, 
With  Sergeants,  hanging  at  their  sleeves, 

For  this  time  at  the  Devill. 


A     SONG. 

A  Story  strange  I  will  you  tell, 
But  not  so  strange  as  true, 
Of  a  woman  that  danc'd  upon  the  ropes, 
And  so  did  her  husband  too. 
With  a  dildo,  dildo,  dildo, 
With  a  dildo,  dildo,  dee, 
Some  say  ^twas  a  man,  hit  it  was  a  woman 
As  plain  report  may  see. 

She  first  climb'd  up  the  Ladder 
For  to  deceive  men's  hopes, 
And  with  a  long  thing  in  her  hand 
She  tickled  it  on  the  ropes. 
With  a  dildo,  dildo,  dildo. 
With  a  dildo,  dildo,  dee, 
And  to  her  came  Knights  and  Gentlemen 
Of  low  and  high  degree. 


She  jerk'd  them  backward  and  fore  ward 
With  a  long  thing  in  her  hand, 

And  all  the  people  that  were  in  the  yard, 
She  made  them  for  to  stand. 
With  a  dildo,  &c. 


They 


32  Choice  Drollery, 

They  cast  up  fleering  eyes 

All  under-neath  her  cloaths, 
But  they  could  see  no  thing, 

For  she  wore  linnen  hose. 
With  a  dildo,  &c. 

The  Cuckold  her  husband  caper'd 
When  his  head  in  the  sack  was  in, 

But  grant  that  we  may  never  fall 
When  we  dance  in  the  sack  of  sin. 
With  a  dildo,  &c. 

And  as  they  ever  danc't 

In  faire  or  rainy  weather, 
I  wish  they  may  be  hang'd  i'  th'  rope  of  Love, 

And  so  be  cut  down  together. 
With  a  dildo,  &c. 


Upon 


Songs  and  Sonnets. 


33 


Upon  a  House  of  Office  over  a 

River,  set  on  fire  by  a 
coale of  TOBACCO. 

OH  fire,  fire,  fire,  where ? 
The  usefull  house  o're  Water  cleare, 
The  most  convenient  in  a  shire, 
Which  no  body  can  deny, 

The  house  of  Office  that  old  true  blue 
Sir-reverence  so  many  knew  [,] 
You  now  may  see  tum'd  fine  new.     [?  fire] 
Which  no  body,  &c. 

And  to  oiu-  great  astonishment 
Though  burnt,  yet  stands  to  represent 
Both  mourner  and  the  monument, 
Which  no  body,  &c. 

Ben  J^ohnson^s  Vulcan  would  doe  well. 
Or  the  merry  Blades  who  knacks  did  tell. 
At  firing  London  Bridge  befell. 
Which  no  body,  &c. 

D  They 


34  Choice  Drollery ^ 

They'l  say  if  I  of  thee  should  chant, 
The  matter  smells,  now  out  upon't ; 
But  they  shall  have  a  fit  of  fie  on't. 
Which  no  body,  &c. 

And  why  not  say  a  word  or  two 
Of  she  that's  just  ?  witness  all  who 
Have  ever  been  at  thy  Ho  go,*         *ifaut  ^oust. 
Which  no  body,  &c. 

Earth,  Aire,  and  Water,  she  could  not 
Affront,  till  chollerick  fire  got 
Predominant,  then  thou  grew'st  hot. 
Which  no  body,  &c. 

The  present  cause  of  all  our  wo. 
But  from  Tobacco  ashes,  oh  ! 

'Twas  s n  luck  to  perish  so. 

Which  no  body,  &c 

'Tis  fatall  to  be  built  on  lakes. 
As  Sodom's  fall  example  makes ; 
But  pity  to  the  innocent  jakes, 
Which  no  body,  &c 

Whose  genius  if  I  hit  aright. 
May  be  conceived  Hermophrodite, 
To  both  sex  common  when  they  sh . . . 
Which  no  body,  &c. 

Of 


Sofigs  and  Sonnets.  35 

Of  severall  uses  it  hath  store, 
As  Midwifes  some  do  it  implore, 
But  the  issue  comes  at  Postern  door  : 
Which  no  body^  &c. 

Retired  mortalls  out  of  feare, 
Privily,  even  to  a  haire, 
Did  often  do  their  business  there, 
Which  no  body,  &c. 

For  mens  and  womens  secrets  fit 
No  tale-teller,  though  privy  to  it, 
And  yet  they  went  to't  without  feare  or  wit, 
Which  no  body,  &c 

A  Privy  Chamber  or  prison'd  roome, 
And  all  that  ever  therein  come 
Uncover  must,  or  bide  the  doome, 
Which  no  body,  &c. 

A  Cabinet  for  richest  geare 
The  choicest  of  the  Ladys  ware. 
And  pretious  stones  full  many  there. 
Which  no  body,  &c. 

And  where  in  State  sits  noble  duck, 
Many  esteem  that  use  of  nock. 
The  highest  pleasure  next  to  oc  - 
Which  no  body,  &c. 

D  2  And 


36 '  Choice  Drollery, 

And  yet  the  hose  there  down  did  goe, 
The  yielding  smock  came  up  also, 
But  still  no  Bawdy  house  I  trow, 
Which  no  body,  &c. 

There  nicest  maid  with  naked  r  . . . , 
When  straining  hard  had  made  her  mump. 

Did  sit  at  ease  and  heare  it  p 

Which  no  body,  &c. 

Like  the  Dutch  Skipper  now  may  skit, 
When  in  his  sleeve  he  did  do  it. 
She  may  skit  free,  but  now  plimp  niet, 
Which  no  body,  &c. 

Those  female  folk  that  there  did  haunt, 
To  make  their  filled  bellies  gaunt. 
And  with  that  same  the  brook  did  launt, 
Which  no  body,  &c. 

Are  driven  now  to  do't  on  grasse, 
And  make  a  sallet  for  their  A .  .  . 
The  world  is  come  to  a  sweet  passe,    • 
Which  no  body,  &c. 

Now  farewell  friend  we  held  so  deare, 
Although  thou  help'st  away  with  our  cheare, 
An  open  house-keeper  all  the  yeare, 
Which  no  body,  &c. 

The 


Songs  and  Sonnets.  yj 

The  Phoenix  in  her  perfumed  flame, 
Was  so  consum'd,  and  thou  the  same, 
But  the  Aromaticks  were  to  blame. 
Which  no  body,  &c. 

That  Phoenix  is  but  one  thing  twice, 
Thy  Patron  nobler  then  may  rise. 
For  who  can  tell  what  he'l  devise  ? 
Which  no  body,  &c. 

Diana! s  Temple  was  not  free, 
Nor  that  world  Rome,  her  Majesty 
Smelt  of  the  smoke,  as  well  as  thee, 
Which  no  body,  &c. 

And  learned  Clerks  whom  we  admire. 
Do  say  the  world  shall  so  expire. 
Then  when  you  sh  .  .  remember  fire. 
Which  no  body,  &c. 

Beware  of  fire  when  you  scumber. 
Though  to  sh . ,  fire  were  a  wonder. 
Yet  lightning  oft  succeeds  the  thunder, 
Which  no  body,  &c. 

We  must  submit  to  what  fate  sends, 
*Tis  wholsome  counsel  to  our  friends. 
Take  heed  of  smoking  at  both  ends, 
Which  no  body  can  deny. 

Upon 
D3 


38  Choice  Drollery^ 

Upon  the  Spanish  Invasion 
in  Eighty  eight, 

I. 

IN  Eighty  eight,  ere  I  was  bom, 
As  I  do  well  remember  a, 
In  August  was  a  Fleet  prepar'd 
The  month  before  September  a. 

2. 

Lisbone,  Cales  and  Portugall      \CaUs,  i.e.  Cadiz.] 

Toledo  and  Grenada  ; 

They  all  did  meet,  &  made  a  Fleet, 

And  call'd  it  their  Armada. 

3- 
There  dwelt  a  little  man  in  Spain 
That  shot  well  in  a  gun  a ; 
Don  Pedro  hight,  as  black  a  wight 
As  the  Knight  of  the  Sun  a. 

4- 
King  Philip  made  him  Admirall, 
And  charg'd  him  not  to  stay  a, 
But  to  destroy  both  man  and  boy, 
And  then  to  come  his  way  a. 

He 


Songs  and  Somiets.  39 

S- 
He  had  thirty  thousand  of  his  own, 
But  to  do  us  more  harm  a, 
He  charg'd  him  not  to  fight  alone, 
But  to  joyn  with  the  Prince  oi  Parma. 

6. 

They  say  they  brought  provision  much 
As  Biskets,  Beans  and  Bacon, 
Besides,  two  ships  were  laden  with  whips, 
But  I  think  they  were  mistaken. 

7. 
When  they  had  sailed  all  along. 
And  anchored  before  Dover, 
The  English  men  did  board  them  then. 
And  heav'd  the  Rascalls  over. 

8. 
The  queen  she  was  at  Tilbury, 
What  could  you  more  desire  a  ? 
For  whose  sweet  sake  Sir  Francis  Drake 
Did  set  the  ships  on  fire  a. 

9- 

Then  let  them  neither  brag  nor  boast. 
For  if  they  come  again  a, 
Let  them  take  heed  they  do  not  speed 
As  they  did  they  know  when  a. 


Upon 


D  4 


40  Choice  Drollery, 

Upon  the  Gun-powder  Plot, 
I. 

ANd  will  this  wicked  world  never  prove  good  ? 
Will  Priests  and  Catholiques  never  prove  true  ? 
Shall  Catesby,  Piercy  and  Rookwood 
Make  all  this  famous  Land  to  rue  i 
With  putting  us  in  such  a  feare, 

With  huffing  and  snuffing  and  guni-powder, 
With  a  Ohone  hononoreera  tarrareera,  tarrareero 

(hone. 

2. 

'Gainst  the  fifth  of  November,  Tuesday  by  name, 
Peircy  and  Catesby  a  Plot  did  frame, 
Anno  one  thousand  six  hundred  and  five, 
In  which  long  time  no  man  alive 
Did  ever  know,  or  heare  the  like. 
Which  to  declare  my  heart  growes  sike. 
With  a  O  hone,  &c. 

Under  the  ParUament-house  men  say 
Great  store  of  Powder  they  did  lay. 
Thirty  six  barrels,  as  is  reported, 
With  many  faggots  ill  consorted. 
With  barres  of  iron  upon  them  all, 
To  bring  us  to  a  deadly  fall 
With  a  O  hone,  &c. 

And 


Songs  and  Sonnets.  41 

4- 
And  then  came  forth  Sir  Thomas  Knyvet, 
You  filthy  Rogue  come  out  o'  th'  doore, 
Or  else  I  sweare  by  Gods  trivet 
He  lay  thee  flatlong  on  the  floore, 
For  putting  us  all  in  such  a  feare, 
With  huffing  and  sniffing,  &c. 

5- 
Then  Faux  out  of  the  vault  was  taken 

And  carried  before  Sir  Francis  Bacon, 

And  was  examined  of  the  Act, 

And  strongly  did  confesse  the  Fact, 

And  swore  he  would  put  us  in  such  a  feare. 

With  huffing,  &c. 
6. 
Now  see  it  is  a  miraculous  thing. 
To  see  how  God  hath  preserv'd  our  King, 
The  Queen,  the  Prince,  and  his  Sister  dear. 
And  all  the  Lords,  and  every  Peere, 
And  all  the  Land,  and  every  shire, 

Fro7n  huffing,  &c. 

7- 
Now  God  preserve  the  Council  wise, 
That  first  found  out  this  enterprise ; 
Not  they,  but  my  Lord  Monteagle, 
His  Lady  and  her  httle  Beagle, 
His  Ape,  his  Ass,  and  his  great  Beare, 

From  huffing,  and  snuffing,  and  gunni-powder. 

Other 


42  •  Choice  Drollery, 

[8.] 
Other  newes  I  heard  moreover, 
If  all  was  true  that's  told  to  me, 
Three  Spanish  ships  landed  at  Dover, 
Where  they  made  great  melody, 
But  the  Hollanders  drove  them  here  and  there, 
With  huffing,  &c. 


A    CATCH. 

DRink  boyes,  drink  boyes,  drink  and  doe 
not  spare, 
Troule  away  the  bowl,  and  take  no  care. 
So  that  we  have  meat  and  drink,  and  money 

and  clothes 
What  care  we,  what  care  we  how  the  world 
goes. 


So?igs  and  Sonnets. 


43 


wMm^wmW'^W'^Wm^Wt^wmm 


iW^'^rm^^^^^^^^rm^m^m 


A  pitiful  Lamentation. 

MY  Mother  hath  sold  away  her  Cock 
And  all  her  brood  of  Chickins, 
And  hath  bought  her  a  new  canvasse  smock 
And  righted  up  the  Kitchin. 
And  has  brought  me  a  Lockeram  bond 
With  a  v'lopping  paire  of  breeches, 
Thinking  that  yone  would  have  lov'd  me  alone, 
But  she  hath  serv'd  me  such  yfiches. 
Ise  take  a  rope  and  drowne  my  selfe, 
Ere  1st  indure  these  losses : 
Ise  take  a  hatchet  and  hang  my  selfe 
Ere  1st  indure  these  crosses. 
Or  else  He  go  to  some  beacon  high, 
Made  of  some  good  dry'd  furzon  [,] 
And  there  He  seeme  in  love  to  fiy 
Sing  hoodie  a  doodle  Cuddon. 


44 


Choice  Drollery^ 


A    Woman  with  Child  that  de- 
sired a  Son,  which  might 
prove  a  Preacher. 

A  Maiden  of  the  pure  Society, 
Pray'd  with  a  passing  piety 
That  since  a  learned  man  had  o're-reacht  her, 
The  child  she  went  withall  should  prove  [a] 

Preacher. 
The  time  being  come,  and  all  the  dangers  past, 
The  Goodwife  askt  the  Midwife 
What  God  had  sent  at  last. 
Who  answered  her  half  in  a  laughter, 
Quoth  she  the  Son  is  prov'd  a  Daughter. 
But  be  content,  if  God  doth  blesse  the  Baby, 
She  has  a  Pulpit  where  a  Preacher  may  be. 


The 


Songs  and  Sonnets.  45 

The  Maid  of  Tottenham. 
I. 

AS  I  went  to  Totnam 
Upon  a  Market-day, 
There  met  1  with  a  faire  maid 
Cloathed  all  in  gray, 
Her  journey  was  to  London 
With  Buttermilk  and  Whay, 

To  fall  down,  down,  derry  down, 
down,  down,  derry  down, 
derry,  derry  dina. 
2. 
God  speed  faire  maid,  quoth  one. 
You  are  well  over-took ; 
With  that  she  cast  her  head  aside, 
And  gave  to  him  a  look. 
She  was  as  full  of  Leachery 
As  letters  in  a  book. 

To  fall  down,  &c. 

3- 

And  as  they  walk'd  together, 

Even  side  by  side, 

The  young  man  was  aware 

That  her  garter  was  unty'd, 

For  feare  that  she  should  lose  it. 

Aha,  alack  he  erf  6, 

Oh  your  garter  that  hangs  down  ! 

Down,  down,  derry  down,  &c. 

Quoth 


46  Choice  Drollery, 

4- 
Quoth  she  [,]  I  do  intreat  you 
For  to  take  the  pain 
To  do  so  much  for  me, 
As  to  tye  it  up  again. 
That  will  I  do  sweet-heart,  quoth  he. 
When  I  come  on  yonder  plain. 

With  a  down,  down,  derry  down,  &c. 

5. 
And  when  they  came  upon  the  plain 
Upon  a  pleasant  green, 
The  fair  maid  spread  her  1.. .  s  abroad, 
The  young  man  fell  between, 
Such  tying  of  a  Garter 
I  think  was  never  seen. 
To  fall  down,  &c. 

6. 

When  they  had  done  their  businesse, 

And  quickly  done  the  deed, 

He  gave  her  kisses  plenty, 

Aed  took  her  up  with  speed. 

But  what  they  did  I  know  not. 

But  they  were  both  agreed 

To  fall  down  together,  down 
Down,  down,  derry  down, 
Down,  down,  derry  dina. 

She 


Songs  and  Sonnets.  47 

7- 
She  made  to  him  low  curtsies 
And  thankt  him  for  his  paine, 
The  young  man  is  to  High-gate  gone  [,] 
The  maid  to  London  came 
To  sell  off  her  commodity 
She  thought  it  for  no  shame. 
To  fall  downe,  &c. 

8. 
When  she  had  done  her  market, 
And  all  her  money  told 
To  think  upon  the  matter 
It  made  her  heart  full  cold  [:] 
But  that  which  will  away,  quoth  she, 
Is  very  hard  to  hold. 

To  fall  down,  &c. 

9- 
This  tying  of  the  Garter 
Cost  her  her  Maidenhead, 
Quoth  she  it  is  no  matter, 
It  stood  me  in  small  stead. 
But  often  times  it  troubled  me 
As  I  lay  in  my  bed. 

To  fall  down,  Sac. 


To 


48 


Choice  Drollery, 


To  the  King  on  New-yeares 
day,  16^8. 

THis  day  inlarges  every  narrow  mind, 
Makes  the  Poor  bounteous,  and  the  Miser 
kind ; 
Poets  that  have  not  wealth  in  wisht  excesse, 
I  hope  may  give  Uke  Priests,  which  is  to  blesse. 
And  sure  in  elder  times  the  Poets  were 
Those  Priests  that  told  men  how  to  hope  and  feare, 
Though  they  most  sensually  did  write  and  live. 
Yet  taught  those  blessings,  which  the  Gods  did  give, 
But  you  (my  King)  have  purify'd  our  flame. 
Made  wit  our  virtue  which  was  once  our  shame ; 
For  by  your  own  quick  fires  you  made  ours  last, 
Reform'd  our  numbers  till  our  songs  grew  chast. 
Farre  more  thou  fam'd  Augustus  ere  could  doe 
With's  wisdome,  ( though  it  long  continued  too  ) 
You  have  perform'd  even  in  your  Moon  of  age  ; 
Refin'd  to  Lectures,  Playes,  to  Schooles  a  stage. 
Such  vertue  got  [,]  why  is  your  Poet  lesse 
A  Priest  then  his  who  had  a  power  to  blesse  ? 

So 


Songs  and  Sonnets.  49 

So  hopeful!  is  my  rage  that  I  begin 

To  shew  that  feare  which  strives  to  keep  it  in  : 

And  what  was  meant  a  blessing  soars  so  high 

That  it  is  now  become  a  Prophesie. 

Your  selfe  (our  Plannet  which  renewes  our  year) 

Shall  so  inlighten  all,  and  every  where, 

That  through  the  Mists  of  error  men  shall  spy 

In  the  dark  North  the  way  to  Loyalty ; 

Whilst  with  your  intellectuall  beames,  you  show 

The  knowing  what  they  are  that  seeme  to  know. 

You  like  our  Sacred  and  indulgent  Lord, 

When  the  too -stout  Apostle  drew  his  sword, 

When  he  mistooke  some  secrets  of  the  cause. 

And  in  his  furious  zeale  disdain'd  the  Lawes, 

Forgetting  true  Religion  doth  lye 

On  prayers,  not  swords' against  authority. 

You  like  our  substitute  of  horrid  fate 

That  are  next  him  we  most  should  imitate, 

Shall  like  to  him  rebuke  with  wiser  breath. 

Such  furious  zeale,  but  not  reveng'd  with  death. 

Like  him  the  wound  that's  giv'n  you  strait  shall  heal. 

Then  calm  by  precept  such  mistaking  zeal. 

In  praise  of  a  deformed  woman. 
I. 

I    Love  thee  for  thy  curled  haire. 
As  red  as  any  Fox, 
Our  forefathers  did  still  commend 

The  lovely  golden  locks. 
Venus  her  self  might  comelier  be, 
Yet  hath  no  such  variety. 

E  I 


50  Choice  Drollery, 


I  love  thee  for  thy  squinting  eyes, 

It  breeds  no  jealousie, 
For  when  thou  do'st  on  others  look, 

Methinks  thou  look'st  on  me, 
Venus  her  self,  &c. 

3- 
I  love  thee  for  thy  copper  nose. 
Thy  fortune's  ne're  the  worse, 
It  shews  the  mettal  in  thy  face 
Thou  should'st  have  in  thy  purse, 
Venus  her  self,  &c. 

4- 
I  love  thee  for  thy  Chessenut  skin, 

Thy  inside's  white  to  me. 
That  colour  should  be  most  approv'd. 
That  will  least  changed  be. 
Venus  her  self,  &c. 

5- 
I  love  thee  for  thy  splay  mouth, 

For  on  that  amarous  close 
There's  room  on  either  side  to  kisse, 
And  ne're  offend  the  nose. 
Venus  her  self,  &c. 

6. 
I  love  thee  for  thy  rotten  gummes, 

In  good  time  it  may  hap. 
When  other  wives  are  costly  fed. 
He  keep  thy  chaps  on  pap. 
Venus  her  self,  &c. 


Songs  and  Sonnets.  5 1 

7- 
I  love  thee  for  thy  blobber  lips, 

'Tis  good  thrift  I  suppose, 
They're  dripping-pans  unto  thy  eyes, 
And  save-alls  to  thy  nose. 
Venus  her  self,  &c. 

8. 
I  love  thee  for  thy  huncht  back, 

'Tis  bow'd  although  not  broken, 
For  I  beUeve  the  Gods  did  send 
Me  to  Thee  for  a  Token. 
Venus  her  self,  &c. 

9- 

I  love  thee  for  thy  pudding  wast, 

If  a  Taylor  thou  do'st  lack, 
Thou  need'st  not  send  to  France  for  one, 

He  fit  thee  with  a  sack. 
Venus  her  self,  &c. 

10. 

I  love  thee  for  thy  lusty  thighes 

For  tressels  thou  maist  boast, 

3weet-heart  thou  hast  a  water-mill, 

And  these  are  the  mill-posts. 

Venus  her  self,  &c. 

1 1 1.]  10. 
I  love  thee  for  thy  splay  feet, 

They're  fooles  that  thee  deride, 

Women  are  alwaies  most  esteem'd, 

When  their  feet  are  most  wide. 

Venus  her  self  may  comelier  be,  &c. 

JE  2  On 


52  Choice  Drollery. 

On  a  TINKER. 

HE  that  a  Tinker,  a  Tinker,  a  Tinker  will  be, 
Let  him  leave  other  Loves,  and  come  fol- 
low me. 
Though  he  travells  all  the  day, 
Yet  he  comes  home  still  at  night, 
And  dallies,  dallies  with  his  Doxie, 
And  dreames  of  delight. 
His  pot  and  his  tost  in  the  morning  he  takes, 
And  all  the  day  long  good  musick  he  makes  ; 
He  wanders  up  and  down  to  Wakes  &  to  Fairs, 
He  casts  his  cap,  and  casts  his  cap  at  the  Court 

and  its  cares ; 
And  when  to  the  town  the  Tinker  doth  come, 
Oh,  how  the  wanton  wenches  run. 
Some  bring  him  basons,  and  some  bring  him  bowles. 
All  maids  desire  him  to  stop  up  their  holes. 
Prinkum  Prankum  is  a  fine  dance,  strong  Ale  is 

good  in  the  winter, 
And  he  that  thrumms  a  wench  upon  a  brass  pot. 
The  child  may  prove  a  Tinker. 
With  tink  goes  the  hammer,  the  skellit  and  the 

scummer, 
Come  bring  me  thy  copper  kettle. 
For  the  Tinker,  the  Tinker,  the  merry  meny  Tinker 
Oh,  he's  the  man  of  mettle. 

Upon 


i 


Songs  and  Sonnets. 


53 


Upon  his  Mistriss  black 
Eye-browes. 

Hide,  oh  hide  those  lovely  Browes, 
Cupid  takes  them  for  his  bowes, 
And  from  thence  with  winged  dart 
He  lies  pelting  at  my  heart, 
Nay,  unheard-of  wounds  doth  give, 
Wounded  in  the  heart  I  live  ; 
From  their  colour  I  descry. 
Loves  bowes  are  made  of  Ebony ; 
Or  their  Sable  seemes  to  say 
They  mourn  for  those  their  glances  slay ; 
Or  their  blacknesse  doth  arise 
From  the  Sun-beams  of  your  eyes, 
Where  Apollo  seemes  to  sit. 
As  he's  God  of  Day  and  Wit ; 
Your  piercing  Rayes,  so  bright,  and  cleare, 
Shewes  his  beamy  Chariots  there. 
Then  the  black  upon  your  brow, 
Sayest  wisdomes  sable  hue,  [  ?  sagest  ] 

Tells  to  every  obvious  eye, 
There's  his  other  Deity. 
This  too  shewes  him  deeply  wise. 
To  dwell  there  he  left  the  skies  ; 

E  3  So 


I 


54  Choice  Drollery, 

So  pure  a  black  could  Phoebus  burn, 
He  himself  would  Negro  turn, 
And  for  such  a  dresse  would  slight 
His  gorgeous  attire  of  light ; 
Eclipses  he  would  count  a  blisse, 
Were  there  such  a  black  as  this  : 
Were  Night's  dusky  mantle  made 
Of  so  glorious  a  shade, 
The  ruffling  day  she  would  out-vie 
In  costly  dresse,  and  gallantry  : 
Were  Hell's  darknesse  such  a  black, 
For  it  the  Saints  would  Heaven  forsake  ; 
So  pure  a  black,  that  white  from  hence 
Loses  its  name  of  innocence  ; 
And  the  most  spotlesse  Ivory  is 
A  very  stain  and  blot  to  this : 
So  pure  a  black,  that  hence  I  guesse, 
Black  first  became  a  holy  dresse. 
The  Gods  foreseeing  this,  did  make 
Their  Priests  array  themselves  in  Black. 


lo 


To  my  Lady  of  Carnarvon, 
y^anuary  i. 

IDol  of  our  Sex  !  Envy  of  thine  own  ! 
Whom  not  t'  have  seen,  is  never  to  have  known, 
What  eyes  are  good  for-;  to  have  seen,  not  lov'd, 
Is  to  be  more,  or  lesse  then  man,  unmov'd  ; 
Deigne  to  accept,  what  I  i'  th'  name  of  all 
Thy  Servants  pay  to  this  dayes  Festival, 
Thanks  for  the  old  yeare,  prayers  for  the  new, 
So  may  thy  many  dayes  to  come  seeme  few, 
So  may  fresh  springs  in  thy  blew  rivolets  flow, 
To  make  thy  roses,  and  thy  lillies  grow. 
So  may  all  dressings  still  become  thy  face. 
As  if  they  grew  there,  or  stole  thence  their  grace. 
So  may  thy  bright  eyes  comfort  with  their  rayes 
Th'  humble,  and  dazle  those  that  boldly  gaze  : 
So  may  thy  sprightly  motion,  beauties  best  part, 
Shew  there  is  stock  enough  of  life  at  heart. 
So  may  thy  warm  snow  never  grow  more  cold, 
So  may  they  live  to  be,  but  not  seem  old. 
So  may  thy  Lord  pay  all,  yet  rest  thy  debtor. 

And  love  no  other,  till  he  sees  a  better  : 

E  4  So 


56  Choice  Drollery, 

So  may  the  new  year  crown  the  old  yeares  joy, 

By  giving  us  a  Girle  unto  our  Boy ; 

I'  th'  one  th^  Fathers  wit,  and  in  the  other 

Let  us  admire  the  beauty  of  the  Mother, 

That  so  we  may  their  severall  pictures  see, 

Which  now  in  one  fair  Medall  joyned  be  : 

Till  then  grow  thus  together,  and  howe're 

You  grow  old  in  your  selves,  grow  stil  young  here  ; 

And  let  him,  though  he  may  resemble  either, 

Seem  to  be  both  in  one,  and  singly  neither. 

Let  Ladies  wagers  lay,  whose  chin  is  this, 

Whose  forehead  that,  whose  lip,  whose  eye,  then  kiss 

Away  the  difference,  whilst  he  smiling  lies. 

To  see  his  own  shape  dance  in  both  your  eyes. 

Sweet  Babe  !  my  prayer  shall  end  with  thee, 

(  Oh  may  it  prove  a  Prophecy  !) 

May  all  the  channels  in  thy  veynes 

Expresse  the  severall  noble  straines. 

From  whence  they  flow ;  sweet  Sydney's  wit. 

But  not  the  sad,  sweet  fate  of  it ; 

The  last  great  Pembroke's  learning,  sage 

Burleigh's  both  wisdome  and  his  age  ; 

Thy  Grandsires  honest  heart  expresse 

The  Veres  untainted  noblenesse. 

To  these  ( if  any  thing  there  lacks  ) 

Adde  Dormer  too,  and  Molenax. 

Lastly,  if  for  thee  I  can  woo 

Gods,  and  thy  Godfathers  grace  too. 

Together  with  thy  Fathers  Thrift : 

Be  thou  thy  Mothers  New-years  gift. 

The 


Songs  and  Sonnets. 


57 


The  Western  Husband-man  s 
Complaint  in  the  late  Wars. 

UDs  bodykins  !  Chill  work  no  more  : 
Dost  think  chill  labour  to  be  poor  ? 
No  ich  have  more  a  do  : 
If  of  the  world  this  be  the  trade, 
That  ich  must  break  zo  knaves  be  made, 

Ich  will  a  blundering  too.       [plundering] 

Chill  zel  my  cart  and  eke  my  plow, 
And  get  a  zword  if  ich  know  how, 

For  ich  mean  to  be  right : 
Chill  learn  to  zwear,  and  drink,  and  roar, 
And  (Gallant  leek)  chill  keep  a  whore,        [like] 

No  matter  who  can  vight. 


God  bless  us  !  What  a  world  is  here, 
It  can  ne're  last  another  year, 

Vor  ich  can't  be  able  to  zoe  : 
Dost  think  that  ever  chad  the  art, 
To  plow  the  ground  up  with  my  cart, 

My  beasts  be  all  a  go. 


But 


58  Choice  Drollery y 

But  vurst  a  Warrant  ich  will  get 
From  Master  Captaine,  that  a  vet 

Chill  make  a  shrewd  a  do  : 
Vor  then  chave  power  in  any  place, 
To  steal  a  Horse  without  disgrace, 

And  beat  the  owner  too. 

Ich  had  zix  oxen  tother  day, 

And  them  the  Roundheads  vetcht  away, 

A  mischiefe  be  their  speed  : 
And  chad  zix  horses  left  me  whole, 
And  them  the  Cabbaleroes  stole : 

Chee  voor  men  be  agreed. 

Here  ich  doe  labour,  toyl  and  zweat. 
And  dure  the  cold,  with  dry  and  heat. 

And  what  dost  think  ich  get  ? 
Vaith  just  my  labour  vor  my  pains. 
The  garrisons  have  all  the  gains, 

Vor  thither  all's  avet. 

There  goes  my  come  and  beanes,  and  pease, 
Ich  doe  not  dare  them  to  displease. 

They  doe  zo  zwear  and  vapour  : 
When  to  the  Govemour  ich  doe  come. 
And  pray  him  to  discharge  my  zum, 

Chave  nothing  but  a  paper. 

Uds 


So7igs  and  Sonnets.  59 

U'ds  nigs  dost  think  that  paper  will 
Keep  warme  my  back  and  belly  fill  ? 

No,  no,  goe  vange  thy  note : 
If  that  another  year  my  yield 
No  profit  doe  unto  me  yield, 

Ich  may  goe  cut  my  throat. 

When  any  money  chove  in  store, 

Then  straight  a  warrant  comes  therefore. 

Or  ich  must  blundred  be  : 
And  when  chave  shuffled  out  one  pay, 
Then  comes  another  without  delay. 

Was  ever  the  leek  azee  ?  Dike] 

If  all  this  be  not  grief  enow, 
They  have  a  thing  cald  quarter  too,     • 
O'ts  a  vengeance  waster : 

A  pox  upon't  they  call  it  vree,      ["free  quarters"] 

Cham  zure  they  make  us  zlaves  to  be, 
And  every  rogue  our  master. 


The 


6o 


Choice  Drollery, 


The  High-way  man^s  Song. 

I   Keep  my  Horse,  I  keep  my  Whore, 
I  take  no  Rents,  yet  am  not  poore, 
I  traverse  all  the  land  about, 
And  yet  was  bom  to  never  a  foot ; 
With  Partridge  plump,  and  Woodcock  fine, 
I  do  at  mid-night  often  dine  \ 
And  if  my  whore  be  not  in  case, 
My  Hostess  daughter  has  her  place. 
The  maids  sit  up,  and  watch  their  turnes, 
If  I  stay  long  the  Tapster  mourns ; 
The  Cook-maid  has  no  mind  to  sin, 
Though  tempted  by  the  Chamberlin ; 
But  when  I  knock,  O  how  they  bustle ; 
The  hostler  yawns,  the  geldings  justle ; 
If  maid  be  sleep,  oh  how  they  curse  her  ! 
And  all  this  comes  of,  Deliver  your  purse  sir. 


Against 


Songs  and  Sonnets. 


6i 


Against  Fruition,  &c. 

THere  is  not  half  so  warme  a  fire 
In  the  Fruition,  as  Desire. 
When  I  have  got  the  fruit  of  pain, 
Possession  makes  me  poore  again, 
Expected  formes  and  shapes  unknown, 
Whet  and  make  sharp  tentation ; 
Sense  is  too  niggardly  for  Bliss, 
And  payes  me  dully  with  what  is  ; 
But  fancy's  liberall,  and  gives  all 
That  can  within  her  vastnesse  fall ; 
Vaile  therefore  still,  while  I  divine 
The  Treasure  of  this  hidden  Mine, 
And  make  Imagination  tell 
What  wonders  doth  in  Beauty  dwell. 


Upon 


62 


Choice  Drollery, 


Upon  Mr.  Fullers  Booke, 
called  Pisgah-sight. 

Fuller  of  wish,  than  hope,  methinks  it  is, 
For  me  to  expect  a  fuller  work  than  this, 
Fuller  of  matter,  fuller  of  rich  sense, 
Fuller  of  Art[,]  fuller  of  Eloquence  ; 
Yet  dare  I  not  be  bold,  to  intitle  this 
The  fullest  work  ;  the  Author  fuller  is. 
Who,  though  he  empty  not  himself,  can  fill 
Another  fuller,  yet  continue  still 
Fuller  himself,  and  so  the  Reader  be 
Alwayes  in  hope  a  fuller  work  to  see. 


\ 


On 


Sojigs  and  Sonnets.  63 


On  a  Sheepherd  that  died 

for  Love. 
I. 

CLoris,  now  thou  art  fled  away, 
AmintcHs  Sheep  are  gone  astray, 
And  all  the  joyes  he  took  to  see 
His  pretty  Lambs  run  after  thee. 

Sheets  gone,  shee's  gone,  and  he  always 
Sings  nothing  now  but  welladay. 

2. 
His  Oaten  pipe  that  in  thy  praise. 
Was  wont  to  play  such  roundelayes, 
Is  thrown  away,  and  not  a  Swaine 
Dares  pipe  or  sing  within  this  Plaine. 
^Tis  death  for  any  nmv  to  say 
One  word  to  him,  but  welladay. 

3- 
The  May-pole  where  thy  little  feet 
So  roundly  did  in  measure  meet, 
Is  broken  down,  and  no  content 
Came  near  Amintas  since  you  went. 
All  that  ere  I  heard  him  say, 
Was  Cloris,  Cloris,  welladay. 


Upon 


^4  Choice  Drollery, 

4- 
Upon  those  banks  you  us'd  to  tread, 
He  ever  since  hath  laid  his  head, 
And  whisper'd  there  such  pining  wo, 
That  not  one  blade  of  grasse  will  grow. 
Oh  Cloris,  Cloris,  come  away, 
And  hear  Aminta's  welladay. 

5- 
The  embroyder'd  scrip  he  us'd  to  weare 
Neglected  hangs,  so  does  his  haire. 
His  Crook  is  broke,  Dog  pining  lyes. 
And  he  himself  nought  doth  but  cryes, 

Oh  Cloris,  Cloris,  come  away, 

And  hear,  &c. 

6. 
His  gray  coat,  and  his  slops  of  green, 
When  worn  by  him,  were  comely  seen. 
His  tar-box  too  is  thrown  away, 
There's  no  dehght  neer  him  must  stay, 
But  a'ies,  oh  Cloris  come  away, 
Aminta's  dying,  welladay. 


[The] 


Sofigs  and  Sonnets.  65 


#j##«^l#^tw#^^l^»#l#^ 


^^«{g5*«9»^*9''!§!»^'$»'$*'$»  :'$*^'^^^'9»^^'9''55i*^ 


The  Shepheards  lamentation 
for  the  losse  of  his  Love. 


DOwn  lay  the  Shepheards  Swain, 
So  sober  and  demure, 
Wishing  for  his  wench  again, 
So  bonny  and  so  pure. 
With  his  head  on  hillock  low, 
And  his  armes  on  kembow ; 
And  all  for  the  losse  of  her  Hy  nonny  nonny  no. 

2. 

His  teares  fell  as  thin, 

As  water  from  a  Still, 
His  haire  upon  his  chin, 

Grew  like  tyme  upon  a  hill : 
His  cherry  cheeks  were  pale  as  snow, 
Testif)dng  his  mickle  woe ;  (no. 

And  all  was  for  the  loss  of  her  hy  nonny  nonny 

Sweet 


66  Choice  Drollery, 

3- 

Sweet  she  was,  as  fond  of  love, 

As  ever  fettred  Swaine  ; 
Never  such  a  bonny  one 
Shall  I  enjoy  again. 
Set  ten  thousand  on  a  row, 
He  forbid  that  any  show 
Ever  the  like  of  her,  hy  nonny  nonny  no. 

4- 
Fac'd  she  was  of  Filbard  hew, 

And  bosom'd  like  a  Swanne  : 
Back't  she  was  of  bended  yew, 
And  wasted  by  a  span. 
Haire  she  had  as  black  as  Crow, 
From  the  head  unto  the  toe, 
Down  down,  all  over,  hy  nonny  nonny  no. 

With  her  Mantle  tuck't  up  high, 

She  foddered  her  Flocke, 
So  buckesome  and  alluringly. 

Her  knee  upheld  her  smock  \ 
So  nimbly  did  she  use  to  goe. 
So  smooth  she  danc'd  on  tip-toe. 
That  all  men  were  fond  of  her,  hy  nonny 
nonny  no. 

She 


Songs  and  Sonnets.  6y 

6. 
She  simpred  like  a  Holy-day, 

And  smiled  like  a  Spring, 

She  pratled  like  a  Popinjay, 

And  like  a  Swallow  sing. 

She  tript  it  like  a  barren  Doe, 

And  strutted  like  a  Gar-crowe  : 

Which  made  me  so  fond  of  her,  hy,  &c. 

7- 
To  trip  it  on  the  merry  Down, 
To  dance  the  lively  Hay, 
To  wrastle  for  a  green  Gown, 
In  heat  of  all  the  day. 
Never  would  she  say  me  no. 
Yet  me  thought  she  had  though 
Never  enough  of  her,  hy,  &c. 

8. 

But  gone  she  is  [,]  the  blithest  Lasse 

That  ever  trod  on  Plain. 
What  ever  hath  betided  her, 

Blame  not  the  Shepheard  Swain. 
For  why,  she  was  her  own  foe, 
And  gave  her  selfe  the  overthrowe, 
By  being  too  franke  of  her  hy  nonny  nonny 
no. 

A 

F  2 


68 


Choice  Drollery, 


A    Ballad  on  Queen   Elizabeth  ; 
to  the  tune  of  Sallengers  round. 

I    Tell  you  all  both  great  and  small, 
And  I  tell  you  it  truely, 
That  we  have  a  very  great  cause, 

Both  to  lament  and  crie, 
Oh  fie,  oh  fie,  oh  fie,  oh  fie, 

Oh  fie  on  cruell  death  ; 
For  he  hath  taken  away  from  us 
Our  Queen  Elizabeth. 

He  might  have  taken  other  folk. 

That  better  might  have  been  mist, 
And  let  our  gratious  Queen  alone, 

That  lov'd  not  a  Popish  Priest. 
She  rul'd  this  Land  alone  of  her  self. 

And  was  beholding  to  no  man. 
She  bare  the  waight  of  all  affaires, 

And  yet  she  was  but  a  woman. 

A  woman  said  I  ?  nay  that  is  more 

Nor  any  man  can  tell. 
So  chaste  she  was,  so  pure  she  was, 

That  no  man  knew  it  well. 


\ 


For 


Songs  and  Sonnets.  69 

For  whilst  that  she  liv'd  till  cruel  death 

Exposed  her  to  all. 
Wherefore  I  say  lament,  lament, 

Lament  both  great  and  small. 

She  never  did  any  wicked  thing, 

Might  make  her  conscience  prick  her, 
And  scom'd  for  to  submit  her  self  to  him 

That  calls  himself  Christ's  Vicker  : 
But  rather  chose  couragiously 

To  fight  under  Christ's  Banner, 
Gainst  Turk  and  Pope,  I  and  King  of  Spain, 

And  all  that  durst  withstand  her. 

She  was  as  Chaste  and  Beautiful!, 

And  Faire  as  ere  was  any ; 
And  had  from  forain  Countreys  sent 

Her  Suters  very  many. 
Though  Mounsieur  came  himself  from  France, 

A  purpose  for  to  woe  her. 
Yet  still  she  liv'd  and  d/d  a  Maid, 

Doe  what  they  could  unto  her. 

And  if  that  I  had  Argus  eyes. 

They  were  too  few  to  weep. 
For  our  sweet  Queen  Elizabeth, 

Who  now  doth  lye  asleep  : 
Asleep  I  say  she  now  doth  lye, 

Untill  the  day  of  Doome  : 
But  then  shall  awake  unto  the  disgrace 

Of  the  proud  Pope  of  Rome. 


70  Choice  Drollery, 


A  Ballad  on  King  James  ;    lo  Ihe  tune  of 
When  Arthur  yfn'/  in  Court  began. 

WHen  yanies  in  Scotland  first  began, 
And  there  was  crowned  King, 
He  was  not  much  more  than  a  span, 
All  in  his  clouts  swadling. 

But  when  he  waxed  into  yeares, 

And  grew  to  be  somewhat  tall, 
And  told  his  Lords,  a  Parliament 

He  purposed  to  call. 

That's  over-much  [,]  quoth  Douglas  though. 

For  thee  to  doe  [,]  I  feare. 
For  I  am  Lord  Protector  yet, 

And  will  be  one  halfe  yeare. 

It  pleaseth  me  well,  quoth  the  King, 

What  thou  hast  said  to  me. 
But  since  thou  standest  on  such  tearmes. 

He  prove  as  strict  to  thee. 

And  well  he  rul'd  and  well  he  curb'd 

Both  Douglas  and  the  rest ; 
Till  Heaven  with  better  Fortune  and  Power, 

Had  him  to  England  blest. 

Then 


Songs  and  Sonnets.  '  71 

Then  into  England  straight  he  came 

As  fast  as  he  was  able, 
Where  he  made  many  a  Carpet  Knight, 

Though  none  of  the  Round  Table. 

And  when  he  entered  Barwicke  Town, 

Where  all  in  peace  he  found  : 
But  when  that  roaring  Megge  went  ofi, 

His  Grace  was  like  to  swound. 

Then  up  to  London  straight  he  came, 

Where  he  made  no  long  stay. 
But  soon  returned  back  again, 

To  meet  his  Queen  by  th'  way. 

And  when  they  met,  such  tilting  was, 

The  like  was  never  seen ; 
The  Lords  at  each  others  did  run. 

And  neer  a  tilt  between. 

Their  Horses  backs  were  under  them. 

And  that  was  no  great  wonder, 
The  wonder  was  to  see  them  run. 

And  break  no  Staves  in  sunder. 

They  ran  full  swift  and  coucht  their  Speares, 
O  ho  quoth  the  Ladies  then. 

They 

F4 


72  Choice  Drollery, 

They  run  for  shew,  quoth  the  people  though, 
And  not  to  hurt  the  men. 

They  smote  full  hard  at  Barriers  too, 
You  might  have  heard  the  sound, 

As  far  as  any  man  can  goe. 
When  both  his  legges  are  bound. 


Upon  the  death  of  a  Chandler. 

THe  Chandler  grew  neer  his  end, 
Pale  Death  would  not  stand  his  friend ; 
But  tooke  it  in  foul  snuff, 
As  having  tarryed  long  enough  : 
Yet  left  this  not  to  be  forgotten. 
Death  and  the  Chandler  could  not  Cotton. 

Farre 


Songs  and  Sonnets.  73 


FArre  in  the  Forrest  oiArden, 
There  dwelt  a  Knight  hight  Cassimen, 
As  bold  as  Isenbras : 
Fell  he  was  and  eager  bent 
In  battaile  and  in  Tumament, 
As  was  the  good  Sr.  Topas. 

2. 
He  had  (as  Antique  stories  tell) 
A  daughter  cleped  DowsabeU, 

A  Maiden  faire  and  free, 
Who,  cause  she  was  her  fathers  heire, 
Full  well  she  was  y-tought  the  leire 

Of  mickle  courtesie. 

3- 
The  Silke  well  could  she  twist  and  twine, 
And  make  the  fine  Marchpine, 
And  with  the  needle  work. 
And  she  could  help  the  Priest  to  say 
His  Mattins  on  a  Holy-day, 
And  sing  a  Psalme  in  Kirk. 

Her 


74  Choice  Drollery, 

4- 

Her  Frocke  was  of  the  frolique  Green, 
(Mought  well  become  a  Mayden  Queen) 

Which  seemely  was  to  see  : 
Her  Hood  to  it  was  neat  and  fine, 
In  colour  like  the  Columbine, 

y-wrought  full  featuously. 

5- 
This  Maiden  in  a  mome  betime, 
Went  forth  when  May  was  in  her  prime, 

To  get  sweet  Scettuall, 
The  Honysuckle,  the  Horelock, 
The  Lilly,  and  the  Ladies-Smock, 

To  dight  her  summer  Hall. 

6. 

And  as  she  romed  here,  and  there, 
Y-picking  of  the  bloomed  brier, 

She  chanced  to  espie 
A  Shepheard  sitting  on  a  bank, 
Like  Chanticleere — ^he  crowed  crank, 

And  piped  with  merry  glee. 

7- 

He  leerd  his  Sheep  as  he  him  list, 
When  he  would  whistle  in  his  fist. 
To  feed  about  him  round. 


Whilst 


Songs  and  Sonnets,  75 

Whilst  he  full  many  a  Caroll  sung, 
That  all  the  fields,  and  meadowes  rung. 
And  made  the  woods  resound. 

8. 

In  favour  this  same  Shepheard  Swaine 
Was  like  the  Bedlam  Tamerlaine, 

That  kept  proud  Kings  in  awe. 
But  meek  he  was  as  meek  mought  be, 
Yea  like  the  gentle  Abell,  he 

Whom  his  lewd  brother  slew. 

9- 

This  Shepheard  ware  a  freeze-gray  Cloake, 
The  which  was  of  the  finest  locke, 

That  could  be  cut  with  Sheere  : 
His  Aule  and  Lingell  in  a  Thong, 
His  Tar-box  by  a  broad  belt  hung, 

His  Cap  of  Minivere. 
10. 

His  Mittens  were  of  Bausons  skin, 
His  Cockers  were  of  Cordowin, 

His  Breech  of  country  blew : 
All  curie,  and  crisped  were  his  Locks, 
His  brow  more  white  then  Albion  Rocks  : 

So  like  a  Lover  true. 

And 


y6  Choice  Drollery, 


And  piping  he  did  spend  the  day, 
As  merry  as  a  Popinjay, 

Which  lik'd  faire  Dowsabell, 
That  wod  she  ought,  or  wod  she  nought, 
The  Shepheard  would  not  from  her  thought, 

In  love  she  longing  fell : 

12. 

With  that  she  tucked  up  her  Frock, 
(White  as  the  Lilly  was  her  Smock,) 

And  drew  the  Shepheard  nigh. 
But  then  the  Shepheard  pip'd  a  good, 
That  all  his  Sheep  forsook  their  food. 

To  heare  his  melody. 

13- 

Thy  Sheep  (quoth  she)  cannot  be  lean. 
That  have  so  faire  a  Shepheard  Swain, 

That  can  his  Pipe  so  well : 
I  but  (quoth  he)  the  Shepheard  may, 
If  Piping  thus  he  pine  away. 

For  love  of  Dowsabell. 

14. 

Of  love  (fond  boy)  take  thou  no  keep, 

Look  well  (quoth  she)  unto  thy  Sheep ; 

Lest  they  should  chance  to  stray. 

So 


Songs  afid  Sonnets.  yy 

So  had  I  done  (quoth  he)  full  well, 
Had  I  not  seen  faire  Dowsabell, 
Come  forth  to  gather  May. 

15- 
I  cannot  stay  (quoth  she)  till  night, 
And  leave  my  Summer  Hall  undight, 

And  all  for  love  of  men. 
Yet  are  you,  quoth  he,  too  unkind. 
If  in  your  heart  you  cannot  find, 

To  love  us  now  and  then. 

i6. 

And  I  will  be  to  thee  as  kind, 
As  Collin  was  to  Rosalinde, 

Of  courtesie  the  flower. 
And  I  will  be  as  true  (quoth  she) 
As  ever  Lover  yet  mought  be, 

Unto  her  Paramour. 

17- 
With  that  the  Maiden  bent  her  knee, 
Down  by  the  Shepheard  kneeled  she, 

And  sweetly  she  him  kist. 
But  then  the  Shepheard  whoop'd  for  joy, 
(Quoth  he)  was  never  Shepheards  boy, 
That  ever  was  so  blist. 

Upon 


yS  Choice  Drollery, 


% 


Upon  the  Scots  being  beaten 
at  Muscleborough  field. 

ON  the  twelfth  day  of  December^ 
In  the  fourth  year  of  King  Edwards  reign[,] 
Two  mighty  Hosts  (as  I  remember) 

At  Muscleborough  did  pitch  on  a  Plain. 
For  a  down,  down,  derry  deny  down,  Hey  down  a, 
Down,  down,  down  a  down  derry. 

All  night  our  English  men  they  lodged  there, 
So  did  the  Scots  both  stout  and  stubborn. 

But  well-away  was  all  their  cheere, 

For  we  have  served  them  in  their  own  turn. 
For  a  downe,  &c.j 

All  night  they  carded  for  our  English  mens  Coats, 
(They  fished  before  their  Nets  were  spun) 

A 


Songs  and  Sonnets.  79 

A  white  for  Six-pence,  a  red  for  two  Groats ; 

Wisdome  would  have  stayd  till  they  had  been  won. 
For  a  down,  &c. 

On  the  tewelfth  day  all  in  the  mom, 
They  made  a  fere  as  if  they  would  fight ; 

But  many  a  proud  Scot  that  day  was  down  bom, 
And  many  a  rank  Coward  was  put  to  his  flight. 
For  a  down,  &c. 

And  the  Lord  Huntley,  we  hadden  him  there, 
With  him  he  brought  ten  thousand  men  : 

But  God  be  thanked,  we  gave  him  such  a  Banquet, 
He  carryed  but  few  of  them  home  agen. 
For  a  down,  &c. 

For  when  he  heard  our  great  Guns  crack, 

Then  did  his  heart  fall  untill  his  hose, 
He  threw  down  his  Weapons,  he  turned  his  back, 

He  ran  so  fast  that  he  fell  on  his  nose. 
For  a  down,  &c. 

We  beat  them  back  till  Edenbrough, 
( There's  men  alive  can  witnesse  this  ) 

But 


L 


8o  Choice  Drollery,  m 

But  when  we  lookt  our  English  men  through, 
Two  hundred  good  fellowes  we  did  not  misse. 
For  a  down,  &c. 

Now  God  preserve  Edward  our  King, 

With  his  two  Nuncles  and  Nobles  all, 
And  send  us  Heaven  at  our  ending : 

For  we  have  given  Scots  a  lusty  fall. 
For  a  down,  down,  deny  deny  down.  Hey, 
Down  a  down  down,  down  a  down  deny. 


Lipps  and  Eyes. 

IN  Celia  a  question  did  arise, 
Which  were  more  beautifuU  her  Lippes  or  Eyes. 
We,  said  the  Eyes,  send  forth  those  pointed  darts. 
Which  pierce  the  hardest  Adamantine  hearts. 
From  us,  (reply'd  the  Lipps)  proceed  the  blisses 
Which  Lovers  reape  by  kind  words  and  sweet  kisses. 
Then  wept  the  Eyes,  and  from  their  Springs  did  powre 
Of  liquid  Orientall  Pearle  a  showre  : 
Whereat  the  Lippes  mov'd  with  delight  and  pleasure, 
Through  a  sweet  smile  unlockt  their  pearly  Treasure  : 
And  bad  Love  judge,  whether  did  adde  more  grace. 
Weeping  or  smiling  Pearles  in  Celids  face. 

On 


Songs  and  Sonnets. 


8i 


##^###«i^##»##;#c^iw#^ 


^^^^^^mv^^^^^m^ 


On  black  Eyes. 

BLack  Eyes ;  in  your  daxk  Orbs  do  lye, 
My  ill  or  happy  destiny, 
If  with  cleer  looks  you  me  behold. 
You  give  me  Mines  and  Mounts  of  Gold ; 
If  you  dart  forth  disdainful!  rayes. 
To  your  own  dy,  you  turn  my  dayes. 

Black  Eyes,  in  your  dark  Orbes  by  changes  dwell. 
My  bane  or  blisse,  my  Paradise  or  Hell. 

That  Lamp  which  all  the  Starres  doth  blind, 
Yeelds  to  your  lustre  in  some  kind, 
Though  you  do  weare,  to  make  you  bright, 
No  other  dresse  but  that  of  night : 
He  glitters  only  in  the  day. 
You  in  the  dark  your  Beames  display. 
Black  Eyes,  &c. 

The  cunning  Theif  that  lurkes  for  prize, 
At  some  dark  comer  watching  lyes  ; 
.So  that  heart-robbing  God  doth  stand 

I  In  the  dark  Lobbies,  shaft  in  hand. 


To 


82  Choice  Drollery, 

To  rifle  me  of  what  I  hold 
More  pretious  farre  then  Indian  Gold. 
Black  Eyes,  &c. 

Oh  powerful  Negromantick  Eyes, 
Who  in  your  circles  strictly  pries, 
Will  find  that  Cupid  with  his  dart, 
In  you  doth  practice  the  blacke  Art : 
And  by  th'  Inchantment  I'me  possest, 
Tryes  his  conclusion  in  my  brest. 
Black  Eyes,  &c. 

Look  on  me  though  in  frowning  wise. 

Some  kind  of  frowns  become  black  eyes. 

As  pointed  Diamonds  being  set, 

Cast  greater  lustre  out  of  Jet. 

Those  pieces  we  esteem  most  rare. 

Which  in  night  shadowes  postur'd  are. 

Darknesse  in  Churches  congregates  the  sight, 

Devotion  strayes  in  glaring  light. 

Black  Eyes,  in  your  dark  Orbs  by  changes  dwell. 
My  bane,  or  blisse,  my  Paradise  or  Hell. 


CRV- 


Songs  and  Sonnets.  83 


CRVELTY. 

WE  read  of  Kings,  and  Gods  that  kindly  took 
A  Pitcher  fiU'd  with  Water  from  the  Brook. 
But  I  have  dayly  tendred  without  thanks, 
Rivers  of  tears  that  overflow  their  banks. 
A  slaughtred  Bull  will  appease  angry  Jove, 
A  Horse  the  Sun,  a  Lamb  the  God  of  Love. 
But  she  disdains  the  spotlesse  sacrifice 
Of  a  pure  heart  that  at  her  Altar  lyes  : 
Vesta  [i]'s  not  displeas'd  if  her  chaste  Urn 
Doe  with  repaired  fiiell  ever  bum ; 
But  my  Saint  frowns,  though  to  her  honoured  name 
I  consecrate  a  never  dying  flame  : 
Th'  Assyrian  King  did  none  i  th'  furnace  throw, 
But  those  that  to  his  Image  did  not  bow : 
With  bended  knees  I  dayly  worship  her. 
Yet  she  consumes  her  own  Idolater. 
Of  such  a  Goddesse  no  times  leave  record, 
That  burnt  the  Temple  where  she  was  ador'd. 


G  2 


84 


Choice  Drollery, 


A  Sonnet. 

WHat  ill  luck  had  I,  silly  Maid  that  I  am, 
To  be  ty'd  to  a  lasting  vow ; 
Or  ere  to  be  laid  by  the  side  of  a  man, 

That  woo'd,  and  cannot  tell  how ; 
Down  didle  down,  down  didle  me. 
Oh  that  I  had  a  Clown  that  he  might  down  diddle 

me, 
With  a  courage  to  take  mine  down. 

What  punishment  is  that  man  worthy  to  have, 

That  thus  will  presume  to  wedde, 
He  deserves  to  be  layd  alive  in  his  grave, 

That  woo'd  and  cannot  in  bed ; 
Down  didle  down  [,]  down  didle  me.  (me, 

Oh  that  I  had  a  Lad  that  he  might  down  didle 

For  I  feare  I  shall  run  mad. 


The 


I 


Songs  and  Sonnets.  85 

^m    ^V    ^9    ^m    ^#    ^m    ^m    ^m    ^v    ^#     ^3     ^tf     ^v     ^v     ^v    ^tf     ^v    ^v    ^b     ^#    ^m    ^# 

v^  1^  v^  «^  v^  v^  y^  "O '^  v^  v^  ^^  'O  "O  '^  v^  v^  v^v^  vi^'^  ic^ 

The  Doctors  Touchstone. 

I  Never  did  hold,  all  that  glisters  is  Gold, 
Unless  by  the  Touch  it  be  try'd  \ 
Nor  ever  could  find,  that  it  was  a  true  signe, 

To  judge  a  man  by  the  outside. 
A  poor  flash  of  wit,  for  a  time  may  be  fit 

To  wrangle  a  question  in  Schools. 
Good  dressing,  fine  cloathes,  with  other  fine  shews, 
May  serve  to  make  painted  fools. 

That  man  will  beguile,  in  your  face  that  will  smile, 

And  court  you  with  Cap  and  with  knee  : 
And  while  you're  in  health,  or  swimming  in  wealth. 

Will  vow  that  your  Servant  hee'l  be. 
That  man  He  commend,  and  would  have  to  my  friend 

If  I  could  tell  where  to  choose  him. 
That  wil  help  me  at  need,  and  stand  me  in  stead, 

When  I  have  occasion  to  use  him. 

I  doe  not  him  fear,  that  wil  swagger  &  sweare. 

And  draw  upon  every  cross  word, 
And  forthwith  again  if  you  be  rough  &  plain, 

Be  contented  to  put  up  his  sword. 

G  3  Him 


86  CJioice  Drollery, 

Him  valiant  I  deem,  that  patient  can  seem, 

And  fights  not  in  every  place. 
But  on  good  occasion,  without  seeking  evasion  [,] 

Durst  look  his  proud  Foe  in  the  face. 

That  Physician  shal  pass  that  is  all  for  his  glass 

And  no  other  sign  can  scan. 
Who  to  practice  did  hop,  from  'Apothecaries'  shop, 

Or  some  old  Physitians  man. 
He  Physick  shal  give  to  me  whilst  I  live, 

That  hath  more  strings  to  his  Bow, 
Experience  and  learning,  with  due  deserving. 

And  will  talk  on  no  more  then  he  know. 

That  Lawyer  I  hate,  that  wil  wrangle  &  prate, 

In  a  matter  not  worth  the  hearing: 
And  if  fees  do  not  come,  can  be  silent  &  dumb. 

Though  the  cause  deserves  but  the  clearing. 
That  Lawyers  for  me,  that's  not  all  for  his  fee. 

But  will  do  his  utmost  endeavour 
To  stand  for  the  right,  and  tug  against  might, 

And  lift  the  truth  as  with  a  Leaver. 

The  Shark  I  do  scorn,  that's  only  well  bom. 

And  brags  of  his  antient  house, 
Yet  his  birth  cannot  fit,  with  money  nor  wit, 

But  feeds  on  his  friends  like  a  Louse, 
That  man  I  more  prize,  that  by  vertue  doth  rise 

Unto  some  worthy  degree, 

That 


Songs  and  Sonnets.  87 

That  by  breeding  hath  got,  what  by  birth  he  had  not, 
A  carriage  that's  noble  and  free. 

I  care  not  for  him,  that  in  riches  doth  swimme, 

And  flants  it  in  every  fashion, 
That  brags  of  his  Grounds  and  prates  of  his  Hounds, 

And  his  businesse  is  all  recreation. 
For  him  I  will  stand,  that  hath  wit  with  his  Land, 

And  will  sweat  for  his  Countreys  good, 
That  will  stick  to  the  Lawes,  and  in  a  good  cause 

Will  adventure  to  spend  his  heart-blood. 

That  man  I  despise,  that  thinks  himself  wise. 

Because  he  can  talk  at  Table, 
And  at  a  rich  feast  break  forth  a  poor  jest, 

To  the  laughter  of  others  more  able. 
No,  he  hath  more  wit,  that  silent  can  sit, 

Yet  knowes  well  enough  how  to  do  it, 
That  speaks  with  reason,  &  laughs  in  due  seaso[n,] 

And  when  he  is  mov'd  unto  it. 

I  care  not  a  fly,  for  a  house  that's  built  high. 

And  yeelds  not  a  cup  of  good  beer. 
Where  scraps  you  may  find,  while  Venison's  in  kind 

For  a  week  or  two  in  a  yeare. 
He  a  better  house  keeps,  that  every  night  sleeps 

Under  a  Covert  of  thatch, 
Where's  good  Beef  from  the  Stall,  and  a  fire  in  the  Hall, 

Where  you  need  not  to  scramble  nor  snatch. 

G  4  Then 


88  Choice  Drollery, 

Then  lend  me  your  Touch,  for  dissembUng  there's 

He  try  them  before  I  do  trust.  (much, 

For  a  base  needy  Slave,  in  shew  may  be  brave, 

And  a  sliding  Companion  seem  just. 
The  man  that's  down  right,  in  heart  &  in  sight, 

Whose  life  and  whose  looks  doth  agree. 
That  speaks  what  he  thinks,  and  sleeps  when  he  winks, 

O  that's  the  companion  for  me. 


A  copy  of  Verses  of  a  mon\e\y 
Marriage. 

I. 

NO  Gypsie  nor  no  Blackamore, 
No  Bloomesbery,  nor  Tumbald  whore, 
Can  halfe  so  black,  so  foule  appeare. 
As  she  I  chose  to  be  my  Deare. 
She's  wrinkled,  old,  she's  dry,  she's  tough, 
Yet  money  makes  her  faire  enough. 

2. 

Nature's  hand  shaking  did  dispose, 
Her  cheeks  faire  red  unto  her  nose, 
Which  shined  like  that  wanton  light, 
Misguideth  wanderers  in  the  night. 
Yet  for  all  this  I  do  not  care. 
Though  she  be  foul,  her  money's  faire. 

Her 


Songs  afid  Somtets.  89 

3- 
Her  tangled  Locks  do  show  to  sight, 
Like  Horses  manes,  whom  haggs  affright. 
Her  Bosome  through  her  vaile  of  Lawne, 
Shews  more  like  Pork,  her  Neck  like  Brawn. 
Yet  for  all  this  I  do  not  care. 
Though  she  be  foul,  her  money's  faire. 

4- 

Her  teeth,  to  boast  the  Barbers  fame. 

Hang  all  up  in  his  wooden  frame. 

Her  lips  are  hairy,  like  the  skin 

Upon  her  browes,  as  lank  as  thin. 

Yet  for  all  this  I  do  not  care. 
Though  she  be  foul,  her  money's  faire. 

5- 
Those  that  her  company  do  keep, 
Are  rough  hoarse  coughs,  to  break  my  sleep. 
The  Palsie,  Gout,  and  Plurisie, 
And  Issue  in  her  legge  and  thigh. 

Yet  me  it  grieves  not,  who  am  sure 

That  Gold  can  all  diseases  cure. 
6. 
Then  young  men  do  not  jeere  my  lot, 
That  beauty  left,  and  money  got : 
For  I  have  all  things  having  Gold, 
And  beauty  too,  since  beautie's  sold. 

For  Gold  by  day  shall  please  my  sight, 

When  all  her  faults  lye  hid  at  night. 

The   ■ 


90  Choice  Drollery, 


The  baseness  of  Whores. 

TRust  no  more,  a  wanton  Whore, 
If  thou  lov'st  health  and  freedom, 
They  are  so  base  in  every  place, 

It's  pity  that  bread  should  feed  'um. 
All  their  sence  is  impudence, 

Which  some  call  good  conditions. 
Stink  they  do,  above  ground  too, 
Of  Chirurgions  and  Physitians, 

If  you  are  nice,  they  have  their  spice. 

On  which  they'le  chew  to  flout  you. 
And  if  you  not  discern  the  plot,  « 

You  have  no  Nose  about  you. 
Furthermore,  they  have  in-  store, 

For  which  I  deadly  hate  'um, 
Perfum'd  geare,  to  stuffe  each  eare. 

And  for  their  cheeks  Pomatum. 

Liquorish  Sluts,  they  feast  their  guts, 

At  Chuffs  cost,  like  Princes, 
Amber  Plumes,  and  Mackarumes, 

And  costly  candy'd  Quinces. 
Potato  plump,  supports  the  Rump, 

Eringo  strengthens  Nature, 
Viper  Wine,  so  heats  the  chine, 

They'le  gender  with  a  Satyr.  Names 


Songs  and  Sonnets.  91 

Names  they  own  were  never  known 

Throughout  their  generation. 
Noblemen  are  kind  to  them, 

At  least  by  approbation  : 
Many  dote  on  one  gay  Coat, 

But  mark  what  there  is  stampt  on  't, 
A  stone  Horse  wild,  with  toole  defil'd, 

Two  Goats,  a  Lyon  rampant. 

Truth  to  say.  Paint  and  Array, 

Makes  them  so  highly  prized. 
Yet  not  one  well,  often  can  tell, 

If  ever  they  were  baptized. 
And  if  not,  then  tis  a  blot 

Past  cure  of  Spunge  or  Laver : 
And  we  may  sans  question  say 

The  Divel  was  their  God-father. 

Now  to  leave  them,  he  receive  them. 

Whom  they  most  confide  in. 
Whom  that  is,  aske  Tib  or  Sis, 

Or  any  whom  next  you  ride  in. 
If  in  sooth,  she  speaks  the  truth, 

She  sayes  excuse  I  pray  you, 
The  beast  you  ride,  where  I  confide, 

Will  in  due  time  convey  you. 


92 


Choice  Drollery, 


A  Lover  disclosing  his  love  to 
his  Mistris. 

LEt  not  sweet  St.  let  not  these  eyes  offend  you, 
Nor  yet  the  message,  that  these  lines  impart. 
The  message  my  unfeined  love  doth  send  you, 
Love  that  your  self  hath  planted  in  my  heart. 

For  being  charm'd  by  the  bewitching  art 

Of  those  inveigling  graces  that  attend  you : 

Love's  holy  fire  kindled  hath  in  part 

These  never-dying  flames,  my  breast  doth  send  you. 

Now  if  my  lines  offend,  let  love  be  blam'd. 
And  if  my  love  displease,  accuse  my  eyes, 
And  if  mine  eyes  sin,  their  sins  cause  only  lyes 
On  your  bright  eyes,  that  hath  my  heart  inflam'd. 

Since  eyes  [,]  love,  lines  erre,  then  by  your  direction, 
Excuse  my  eyes,  my  lines,  and  my  affection. 


TJie 


Songs  and  Sonnets. 


93 


The  contented  Prisoner  his 
praise  of  Sack. 

HOw  happ/s  that  Prisoner 
That  conquers  his  fates, 
With  silence,  and  ne're 

On  bad  fortune  complaines, 
But  carelessely  playes 

With  his  Keyes  on  the  Grates, 
And  makes  a  sweet  consort 

With  them  and  his  chayns. 
He  drowns  care  with  Sack, 

When  his  thoughts  are  opprest, 
And  makes  his  heart  float, 

Like  a  Cork  in  his  Breast. 


The 


94  Choice  Drollery, 

The  Chorus. 

Then, 
Since  we  axe  all  slaves, 

That  Islanders  be, 
And  our  Land's  a  large  prison, 

Inclos'd  with  the  Sea  : 

Wee'l  drink  up  the  Ocean, 
To  set  our  selves  free. 

For  man  is  the  Worid's  Epitome. 

Let  Pirates  weare  Purple, 

Deep  dy'd  in  the  blood 
Of  those  they  have  slain, 

The  scepter  to  sway. 
If  our  conscience  be  cleere, 

And  our  title  be  good. 
With  the  rags  we  have  on  us, 

We  are  richer  then  they. 
We  drink  down  at  night, 

What  we  beg  or  can  borrow, 
And  sleep  without  plotting 

For  more  the  next  morrow. 

Since  we,  &c. 


Let  the  Usurer  watch  \ 

Ore  his  bags  and  his  house. 

To 


Softgs  and  Sonnets.  95 

To  keep  that  from  Robbers, 

He  hath  rackt  from  his  debtors, 
Each  midnight  cries  Theeves, 

At  the  noyse  of  a  mouse. 
Then  see  that  his  Trunks 

Be  fast  bound  in  their  Fetters. 
When  once  he's  grown  rich  enough 

For  a  State  plot, 
Buff  in  an  hower  plunders 

What  threescore  years  got. 

Since  we,  &c. 

Come  Drawer  fill  each  man 

A  peck  of  Canary 
This  Brimmer  shall  bid 

All  our  senses  good-night. 
When  old  Aristotle 

Was  frolick  and  merry, 
By  the  juice  of  the  Grape, 

He  tum'd  Stagarite. 
Copernicus  once 

In  a  drunken  fit  found. 
By  the  coruse  [course]  of  his  brains. 

That  the  world  tum'd  round. 

Since  we,  &c. 

'Tis 


g6  Choice  Drollery, 

Tis  Sack  makes  our  faces 

Like  Comets  to  shine, 
And  gives  beauty  beyond 

The  Complexion  mask, 
Diogenes  fell  so 

In  love  with  this  Wine, 
That  when  'twas  all  out, 

He  dwelt  in  the  Cask. 
He  liv'd  by  the  s[c]ent 

Of  his  Wainscoated  Room  ; 
And  dying  desir'd 

The  Tub  for  his  Tombe.  ^ 

Since  we,  &c. 


I0f\ 


Songs  and  Sonnets. 


Of  DESIRE. 

Fire,  Fire  ! 
O  how  I  bum  in  my  desire. 
For  all  the  teares  that  I  can  strain 
Out  of  my  empty  love-sick  brain, 
Cannot  asswage  my  scorching  pain. 
Come  Humber,  Trent,  and  silver  Thames, 
The  dread  Ocean  haste  with  all  thy  streames, 
And  if  thou  can'st  not  quench  my  fire, 
Then  dro\vn  both  me  and  my  Desire. 

Fire,  Fire  !' 
Oh  there's  no  hell  to  my  desire. 
See  how  the  Rivers  backward  lye, 
The  Ocean  doth  his  tide  deny, 
For  fear  my  flames  should  drink  them  drye. 
.  Come  heav'nly  showers,  come  pouring  down, 
You  all  that  once  the  world  did  drown. 
You  then  sav'd  some,  and  now  save  all. 
Which  else  would  bum,  and  with  me  fall. 

Upon 

H 


98  Choice  Drollery, 


Upon  kinde  and  true  Love. 

*''  I  ^Is  not  how  witty,  nor  how  free, 

A        Nor  yet  how  beautiful!  she  be, 
But  how  much  kinde  and  true  to  me. 
Freedome  and  Wit  none  can  ccmfine, 
And  Beauty  like  the  Sun  doth  shine. 
But  kinde  and  true  are  onely  mine. 

Let  others  with  attention  sit, 
To  listen,  and  admire  her  wit. 
That  is  a  rock  where  He  not  split 
Let  others  dote  upon  her  eyes, 
And  bum  their  hearts  for  sacrifice. 
Beauty's  a  calm  where  danger  lyes. 

But  Kinde  and  True  have  been  long  try'd, 

And  harbour  where  we  may  confide,  [?  An] 

And  safely  there  at  anchor  ride. 

From  change  of  winds  there  we  are  free. 

And  need  not  fear  Storme's  t)n-annie. 

Nor  Pirat,  though  a  Prince  he  be. 

Upon 


Songs  and  Sonnets.  99 

Upon  his  Constant  Mistresse. 

SHe's  not  the  fairest  of  her  name, 
But  yet  she  conquers  more  than  all  tRe  race, 
For  she  hath  other  motives  to  inflame, 

Besides  a  lovely  face. 
There's  Wit  and  Constancy  (the  Eye. 

And  Charms,  that  strike  the  soule  more  than 
'Tis  no  easie  lover  knowes  how  to  discover 
Such  Divinity. 

And  yet  she  is  an  easie  book, 

Written  in  plain  language  for  the  meaner  wit, 
A  stately  garb,  and  [yet]  a  gracious  look, 

With  all  things  justly  fit 
But  age  will  undermine 
This  glorious  outside,  that  appeares  so  fine, 

When  the  common  Lover 
Shrinks  and  gives  her  over, 
Then  she's  onely  mine. 

To  the  Platonick  that  applies 

His  clear  addresses  onely  to  the  mind ; 
The  body  but  a  Temple  signifies. 

Wherein  the  Saints  inshrin'd, 
To  him  it  is  all  one. 

Whether  the  walls  be  marble,  or  rough  stone  ; 
Nay,  in  holy  places,  which  old  time  defaces, 

More  devotion's  shown. 

The 
LH2l 


lOO  Choice  Drollery,  &c. 

The  Ghost-Song. 

>''  I  ^Is  late  and  cold,  stir  up  the  fire, 

X       Sit  close,  and  draw  the  table  nigher, 
Be  merry,  and  drink  wine  that's  old, 
A  hearty  medicine  'gainst  the  cold ; 
Your  bed['s]  of  wanton  down  the  best. 
Where  you  may  tumble  to  your  rest : 
I  could  well  wish  you  wenches  too. 
But  I  am  dead,  and  cannot  do. 
Call  for  the  best,  the  house  will  ring. 
Sack,  White  and  Claret,  let  them  bring. 
And  drink  apace,  whilst  breath  you  have, 
You'l  find  but  cold  drinking  in  the  grave ; 
Partridge,  Plover  for  your  dinner. 
And  a  Capon  for  the  sinner. 
You  shall  finde  ready  when  you  are  up. 
And  your  horse  shall  have  his  sup. 
Welcome,  welcome,  shall  flie  round. 
And  I  shall  smile,  though  under  ground. 

You  that  delight  in  Trulls  and  Minions, 
Come  buy  my  four  ropes  of  St.  Omers  Onions. 

FINIS. 

Table 


lOI 


O     O     w     w     O     «     O     W     O     w     w     6     w     O     w     w     O     w     w     w     w     O 

*o  *^  ^  *^  ^  ^  '<^  ^  ^  ^  ^  ^  ^  ^^J  ^  *<^^  "^  ^  '^  '^^  *^  ^ 

Table  of  First  Lines 

To  the  Songs  and  Poems  in 

Choice  Drollery,  1656. 


(Now   FIRST   ADDED.) 

A   Maiden  of  the  Pure  Society 

'^     A  story  strange  I  will  you  tell 

A  Stranger  coming  to  the  town     

And  will  this  wicked  world  never  prove  good  ? 

As  I  went  to  Totnam 

Blacke  eyes,  in  your  dark  orbs  do  lye    ... 

Cloris,  now  thou  art  fled  away     

Come,  my  White-head,  let  our  Muses  . . . 
Deare  Love,  let  me  this  evening  dye 

Down  lay  the  Shepheards  Swain 

Drink  boyes,  drink  boyes,  drink  and  doe  not  spare 

Farre  in  the  Forrest  of  Arden       

Fire !  Fire  I  O,  how  I  burn        

Fuller  of  wish,  than  hope,  tnethinks  it  is 
He  that  a  Tinker,  a  Tinker,  a  Tinker  will  be 

Hide,  oh  hide  those  lovely  Browes 

How  happy s  that  Prisoner  that  conquers,  ^c 

I  keeep  my  horse,  I  keep  my  W    

/  love  thee  for  thy  curled  hair       

/  never  did  hold,  all  that  glisters  is  gold 
I  tell  you  all,  both  great  and  small 


page. 
44 

31 
16 

40 

45 
81 

63 
10 

I 

65 

42 

73 
97 
62 

52 
53 
93 
60 

49 

85 

68 

Idol 


I02 


TABLE  OF  FIRST  LINES. 


Idol  of  our  sex  !  Envy  of  thine  own  ! 55 

If  at  this  time  I  am  derided 9 

In  Celia  a  question  did  arise 80 

In  Eighty-eight,  ere  I  was  born    38 

Let  not,  sweet  saint,  let  not  these  eyes  offend  you  ...  92 

List,  you  Nobles,  and  attend 20 

My  Mother  hath  sold  away  her  Cock 43 

"Never  was  humane  soule  so  overgrown 17 

No  Gysie  nor  no  Blackamore 88 

Nor  Love,  nor  Fate  dare  I  accuse 4 

Oh  fire,  fire,  fire,  where  1      33 

On  the  twelfth  day  of  December 78 

One  night  the  great  Apollo,  pleas' d  with  Ben      ...  5 

Shall  I  think,  because  some  clouds 15 

She^ s  not  the  fairest  of  her  name 99 

The  Chandler  grew  neer  his  end 72 

There  is  not  halfe  so  warme  afire        61 

This  day  inlarges  every  narrow  mind 48 

'  Tis  late  and  cold,  stir  up  the  fire 1 00 

^Tis  not  ho7v  witty,  nor  how  free 98 

Trust  no  more  a  wanton  Wh 90 

Uds  bodykins.  Chill  work  no  more       57 

We  read  of  Kings,  and  Gods  that  kindly  took     ...  83 

What  ill  luck  had  I,  silly  maid  that  I  am 84 

When  first  the  magick  of  thine  eye 8 

When  ]2ixats,  in  Scotland  first  began     70 


AN 


AN 

ANTIDOTE 

AGAINST 

MELANCHOLY: 

Made  up  in  PILLS. 

Compounded    of     Witty   Ballads,    Jovial 
Songs,  and  Merry  Catches. 


These  witty  Poems  though  some  time  [they] 

may  seem  to  halt  on  crutches. 
Yet  they  I  all  merrily  please  you  for  your 

Charge,  which  not  mtuh  is. 


Printed  by  Mer.  Melancholicus,  to  be  sold  in  London 

and  Westminster,  1661. 
[Aprill,  18.] 


105 

O  A   A  A   A   A   A   A   A   A   A   A   A   A   A   A   A   &  &  &  A  A 

<^  ^0  v^  v^  v^  >0  iQ  v^»^s^v^'c^vi^'<^v^>^>^v^v^'<^'^v^ 

EDITORIAL 

INTRODUCTION 

TO   THE 

ANTIDOTE  AGAINST  MELANCHOLY, 
1661. 

Adalmar. — "  An  Antidote  1 

Restore  him  whom  thy  poisons  have  laid  low."  .... 
Ishrand. — "  A  very  good  and  thirsty  melody; 

What  say  you  to  it,  my  Court  Poet  ? 
Wolfram. — "  Good  melody  !   When  I  am  sick  o'  mornings, 

With  a  horn-spoon  tinkling  my  porridge  pot, 

'Tis  a  brave  ballad." 

(T.  L.  Beddoes:  Death's  Jest  Book,  Acts  iv.  &  v.J 


§  I.  Reprint  of  an  Antidote. 

WWWWWAVING  found  that  sixty-five  of  our 
W  -_-  -_-  ^  previous  pages,  in  the  second  volume 
^  I — I  ^  °^  ^^^  Drolleries  Reprint,  were  filled 
^  ^  "^^^^  songs  and  poems  that  also  appear 

^^^^^  in  the  Antidote  against  Melancholy, 
166 1 ;  and  that  all  the  remaining  songs  and  poems  of  the 
Antidote  (several  being  only  obtainable  therein)  exceed 
not  the  compass  of  three  additional  sheets,  or  forty-eight 
pages,  the  Editor  determined  to  include  this  valuable 

book 


I06  INTRODUCTION  TO 

book.  Thus  in  our  three  volumes  are  given  four 
entire  works,  to  exemplify  this  particular  class  of 
literature,  the  Cavalier  Drolleries  of  the  Restoration.* 
To  that  portion  of  our  present  Appendix  which  is 
devoted  to  Notes  to  the  Antidote  against  Melancholy, 
1 66 1,  we  refer  the  reader  for  the  admirable  brief  In- 
troduction written  by  John  Payne  Collier,  Esq.  ;  to 
whose  handsome  Reprint  of  the  work  we  owe  our  first 
acquaintance  with  its  pages.  His  knowledge  of  our 
old  literature  extends  over  nearly  a  century  ;  his  op- 
portunities for  inspecting  private  and  public  libraries 
have  been  peculiarly  great ;  and  he  has  always  been 
most  generous  in  communicating  his  knowledge  to 
other  students,  showing  throughout  a  freedom  from 
jealousy  and  exclusiveness  reminding  us  of  the  genial 
Sir  Walter  Scott  He  states  : — "  We  have  never  seen 
a  copy  of  an  *  Antidote  against  Melancholy '  that  was 
not  either  imperfect,  or  in  some  places  illegible  from 
dirt  and  rough  usage,  excepting  the  one  we  have  em- 
ployed: our  single  exemplar  is  as  fresh  as  on  the  day 
it  was  issued  from  the  press.  There  is  an  excellent 
and  highly  finished  engraving  on  the  title-page,  of 
gentlemen  and  boors  carousing ;  but  as  the  repetition 


*  Prefixed  to  "  The  Ex-Ale-tation  of  Ale"  is  given  a  Table  of 
Contents  (on  page  112),  enlarged  from  the  one  in  the  original 
"  Antidote  against  Melancholy,  made  up  in  Pills,  1661,  by  refer- 
ences to  such  pages  of  "  Merry  Drollery,  Compleat,  1670,  1691, 
as  bear  songs  or  poems  in  common  with  the  "  Antidote." 

of 


ANTIDOTE  AGAINST  MELANCHOLY.       Z.O^ 

of  it  for  our  purpose  would  cost  more  than  double 
every  other  expense  attending  our  reprint,  we  have 
necessarily  omitted  it.  The  same  plate  was  after- 
wards used  for  one  of  Brathwayte's  pieces ;  and  we 
have  seen  a  much  worn  impression  of  it  on  a  Drollery 
near  the  end  of  the  seventeenth  century.  It  does  not 
at  all  add  to  our  knowledge  of  the  subject  of  our 
reprint.     J.  P.  C." 

Nevertheless,  the  copper-plate  illustration  is  so 
good,  and  connects  so  well  with  the  Bacchanalian  and 
sportive  character  of  the  "  Antidote  against  Melan- 
choly^^ and  other  Drolleries,  that  the  present  Editor 
not  unwillingly  takes  up  the  graver  to  reproduce  this 
frontispiece  for  the  adornment  of  the  volume  and  the 
service  of  subscribers.  Our  own  Reprint  and  our 
engraving  are  made  from  the  perfect  specimen  con- 
tained in  the  Thomason  Collection,  and  dated  1661 
(with  "  Aprill  18"  in  MS. ;  see  p.  161).  We  make  a  rule 
always  to  go  to  the  fountain-head  for  our  draughts, 
howsoever  long  and  steep  may  be  the  ascent.  Flowers 
and  rare  fossils  reward  us  as  we  clamber  up,  and  in 
good  time  other  students  learn  to  trust  us,  as  being 
pains-taking  and  conscientiously  exact.  The  first 
duty  of  one  who  aspires  to  be  honoured  as  the  Editor 
of  early  literature  is  to  faithfully  reproduce  his  text, 
unmutilated  and  undisguised.  To  amend  it,  and 
elucidate  it,  so  far  as  lies  in  his  power,  can  be  done 

befitingly 


I08  INTRODUCTION   TO 

befitingly  in  his  notes  and  comments,  while  he  gives 
his  readers  a  representation  of  the  original,  so  nearly 
va.  facsimile  as  is  compatible  with  additional  beauty  of 
typography.  Throughout  our  labours  we  have  held 
this  principle  steadily  in  view;  and,  whatever  nobler 
work  we  may  hereafter  attempt,  the  same  determi- 
nation must  guide  us.  There  may  be  debate  as  to 
our  wisdom  in  reproducing  some  questionable  facetice, 
but  there  shall  be  none  regarding  our  fidelity  to  the 
original  text. 

§  II.  Ingredients  of  an  "Antidote." 
A  pleasant  book  it  appeared  to  Cavaliers  and  all 
who  were  not  quite  strait-laced.  It  is  almost  unob- 
jectionable, except  for  a  few  ugly  words,  and  bears 
comparison  honourably  with  ^^  Merry  Drollery  ^^  or 
"  Wit  and  Drollery"  both  of  the  same  date,  1661. 
Unlike  the  former,  it  is  almost  uninfected  with  political 
rancour  or  impurity.  It  is  a  jovial  book,  that  roysters 
and  revellers  loved  to  sing  their  Catches  from ;  nay, 
if  some  laughing  nymphs  did  not  drop  their  eyes 
over  its  pages  we  are  no  conjurors.  A  vulgar  phrase 
or  two  did  not  frighten  them.  Lucy  Hutchinson  her- 
self, the  Colonel's  Puritan  wife,  fires  many  a  volley  of 
coarse  epithets  without  blushing;  and,  indeed,  the 
Saintly  Crew  occasionally  indulged  in  foul  language  as 
freely  as  the  Malignants,  though  it  was  condoned  as 

being  theologic  zeal  and  controversial  phraseology. 

In 


ANTIDOTE    AGAINST  MELANCHOLY.       IO9 

In  "  The  Ex-Ale-tation  of  Ale "  we  forgive  the 
verbosity,  for  the  sake  of  one  verse  on  the  noted 
Ballad-writer  (see  note  in  Appendix) : — 

"  For  ballads   Elderton  never  had  peer  ; 

How  went  his  wit  in  them,  with  how  merry  a  gale. 
And  with  all  the  sails  up,  had  he  been  at  the  Cup, 
And  washed  his  beard  with  a  pot  of  good  ale." 

We  find  the  character  of  the  songs  to  be  eminently 
festive :  almost  every  one  could  be  chanted  over  a 
cup  of  burnt  Sack,  and  there  was  not  entire  forget- 
fulness  of  eating :  witness  "  The  Cold  Chyne,"  on  page 
55  (our  p.  148).  The  Love-making  is  seldom  visible. 
Such  glimpses  as  we  gain  of  Puritans  (Bishop  Corbet's 
Hot-headed  Zealot,  Cleveland's  "  Rotundos  rot,")  are 
only  suggestive  of  playful  ridicule.  The  Sectaries, 
being  no  longer  dangerous,  are  here  laughed  at,  not 
calumniated.  The  odd  jumble  of  nations  brought  to- 
gether in  those  disturbed  times  is  seen  in  the  crowd  of 
lovers  around  the  "  blith  Lass  of  Falkland  town"  (p. 
133)  who  is  constant  in  her  love  of  a  Scottish  blue 
bonnet : — ^^  If  ever  I  have  a  man,  blew- Cap  for  me  /" 
But,  sitting  at  ease  once  more,  not  hunted  into  bye- 
ways  or  exile,  and  with  enough  of  ready  cash  to 
wipe  off  tavern  scores,  or  pay  for  braver  garments 
than  were  lately  flapping  in  the  wind,  the  Cavaliers 
recall  the  exploits  of  their  patron-saint,  "  St.  George 
for  England,"  the  gay  wedding  of  Lord  Broghill,  as 

described 


no  INTRODUCTION,   ETC. 

described  by  Sir  John  Suckling  in  1641,  the  still 
noisier  marriage  of  Arthur  o'  Bradley,  or  that  imagi- 
nary banquet  afforded  to  the  Devil,  by  Ben  Jonson's 
Cook  Lorrell,  in  the  Peak  of  Derbyshire.  Early 
contrasts,  drawn  by  their  own  grandsires,  between  the 
Old  Courtier  of  Queen  Elizabeth  and  the  New  Cour- 
tier of  King  James,  are  welcomed  to  remembrance. 
They  forgive  "  Old  Noll,"  while  ridiculing  his  image 
as  "  The  Brewer,"  and  they  repeat  the  earlier  Ulysses 
song  of  the  "  Blacksmith,"  by  Dr.  James  Smith,  if  only 
for  its  chorus,  "Which  no  body  can  deny."  The 
grave  solemnity  wherewith  Dr.  Wilde's  "  Combat  of 
Cocks"  was  told ;  the  light-hearted  buffoonery  of 
"  Sir  Eglamore's  Fight  with  the  Dragon ;"  the  splut- 
tering grimaces  of  Ben  Jonson's  "  Welchman's  praise 
of  Wales ;"  and  the  sustained  humour  as  well  as  en- 
thusiasm of  Dr.  Henry  Edwards's  "  On  the  Vertue  of 
Sack"  C'  Fetch  me  Ben  Jonson's  scull,"  &c.),  are  all 
crowned  by  the  musical  outburst  of  "  The  Green 
Gown  :"— 

"  Pan  leave  piping,  the  Gods  have  done  feasting. 
There's  never  a  goddess  a  hunting  to-day,"  &c. 

(see  Appendix  to  Westminster  Drollery,  p.  liv.)     Our 
readers  may  thus  additionally  enjoy  a  full-flavoured 
bumper  of  the  "  Antidote  against  Melancholy." 
August,  1875.  J.  W.  E. 

To 


To  the  Reader.  '" 

T  Here's  no  Purge  'gainst  Melancholly, 
But  with  Bacchus  to  be  jolly  : 
All  else  are  but  Dreggs  of  Folly. 

Paracelsus  wanted  skill 

When  he  sought  to  cure  that  111 : 

No  Pectorals  like  the  Poets  quill. 

Here  are  Pills  of  every  sort, 
For  the  Country,  City,  Court, 
Compounded  and  made  up  of  sport. 

If  'gainst  Sleep  and  Fumes  impure, 
Thou,  thy  Senses  would'st  secure ; 
Take  this.  Coffee's  not  half  so  sure. 

Want'st  thou  Stomack  to  thy  Meat, 
And  would'st  fain  restore  the  heat. 
This  does  it  more  than  Choccolet. 

Cures  the  Spleen^^  Revives  the  blood  [,] 
Puts  thee  in  a  Merry  Mood  : 
Who  can  deny  such  Physick  good  ? 

Nothing  like  to  Harmeles  Mirth, 
'Tis  a  Cordiall  On  earth 
That  gives  Society  a  Birth. 

Then  be  wise,  and  buy,  not  borrow, 
Keep  an  Ounce  still  for  to  Morrow, 
Better  than  z.  pound  of  Sorrow. 

N.  D. 


112   Ballads,  Songs,  and  Catches  in  this  Book. 


Original:  Our 
page,  vols,  page 

1.  The  Exaltation  of  a  Pot  of  Good  Ale,       .     i  iii,  113 

2.  The  Song  of  Coo^-Laifr^/,  by  Ben  Johnson  g  ii.  214 

3.  The  Ballad  of   The  Blacksmith,       .         .11  ..  225 

4.  TheBaWadoHheOldCourtierand the Neiv  14.  iii.  125 

5.  The  Ballad  of  the  Wedding  of  Arthur  of 

Bradley,    .         .         .         .         .         .  16  ii.  312 

6.  The  Ballad  of  the  Green  Go-ivn,       .         .  20  i.Ap.54 

7.  The  Ballad  of  the  Gelding  of  the  Devil,  .  21  ii.  200 

8.  The  Ballad  of  Sir  Eglaniore,  .         .         .  25  ..  257 

9.  The  Ballad  of  St.  George  for  England,    .  26  iii.   129 

10.  The  Ballad  of  Bleiv  Cap  for  me,      .         ,29  ..133 

11.  The  Ballad  of  the  6'^T'^r^/  Caps,      .         .  31  ..  135 

12.  The  Ballad  of  the  Noses,           .         .         .33  ii.  143 

13.  The  Song  of  the  Hot-headed  Zealot,         .  35  ..  234 

14.  The  Song  of  the  Schismatick  Rotundos,   .  37  iii.   139 

15.  A  Glee  in  praise  of  Wine  ^Let  souldiers"],  39  ii.  218 

16.  Sir  John  Sucklin's  Ballad  of  the  Ld.  L. 

Wedding.           .         .         .         .         ,  40  ,.   loi 

17.  The  Combat  of  Cocks,      .         .         .         .  44  ..  242 

18.  The    Welchman's  prayse  of  Wales,  .         .  47  iii.   141 

19.  Ihe.  Ca-valeer^s  Complaint  [and  Anszuer^  49  ii.     52 

20.  Three  several    Songs  in  praise  of  Sack 

[:  Old  Poets  Hipocrin,  &c.         .         .  52  iii.   143 

Hang  the  Presbyter's  Gill,.  .         .53  ..144 

^  Tis  Wine  that  inspires,           .         .54  ••   145 
A  Glee  to  the  Vicar,          ....      W.D.Int. 

On  a  Cold  Chyne  of  Beef,         ,         .         .55  iii.  146 

A  Song  of  Cupid  Scorned,        .         .         .  56  ..  147 

21.  On  the  Vertue  of  Sack,  by  Dr.  Hen.  Ed- 

wards       .         .         .         .         .         .  57  ii.  293 

22.  The  Medly  of  Nations,  to  several  tunes,  .  59  ..  127 

23.  The  Ballad  of  the  Brewer,       .         .         .  62  ..  221 

24.  A   Collection    of    40    [34]    more  Merry 

Catches  and  Songs.         .         .  65-76  iii.  149 

[Of  these  34,  ten  are  given  in  Merry 
Drollery,  Complete,  on  pages  296,  304, 
308,  232,  337,  300,  280,  318,  348,  and  341. 

The  others  are  added  in  this  volume        .  iii.     52 


113 

^ills  to  i&urge  jSpelantl)oUj». 

The  Ex-Ale-tation  of  ALE.         [p-  i-] 

Not  drunken,  nor  sober,  but  neighbour  to  both, 
I  met  with  a  friend  in  Ales-bury  Vale  ; 
He  saw  by  my  Face,  that  I  was  in  the  Case 
To  speak  no  great  harm  of  a  Pot  of  good  Ale. 

Then  did  he  me  greet,  and  said,  since  we  meet 
(And  he  put  me  in  mind  of  the  name  of  the  Dale) 

For  Ales-burys  sake  some  pains  I  would  take, 
And  not  bury  the  praise  of  a  Pot  of  good  Ale. 

The  more  to  procure  me,  then  he  did  adjure  me 
If  the  Ale  I  drank  last  were  nappy  and  stale. 

To  do  it  its  right,  and  stir  up  my  sprite. 
And  fall  to  commend  z.pot  [of  good  ale].       {pasdm.l 

Quoth  I,  To  commend  it  I  dare  not  begin. 
Lest  therein  my  Credit  might  happen  to  fail ; 

For,  many  men  now  do  count  it  a  sin, 
But  once  to  look  toward  2ipot  of  good  ale. 

Yet  I  care  not  a  pin.  For  I  see  no  such  sin. 
Nor  any  thing  else  my  courage  to  quail : 

For,  this  we  do  find,  that  take  it  in  kind, 
Much  vertue  there  is  in  a/^/  of  good  ale. 

And 


114  Antidote  against  Melancholy, 

And  I  mean  not  to  taste,  though  thereby  much  grac't, 
Nor  the  Merry-go-down  without  pull  or  hale, 

Perfuming  the  throat,  when  the  stomack's  afloat, 
With  the  Fragrant  sweet  scent  oidipot  of  good  ale. 

Nor  yet  the  delight  that  comes  to  the  Sight 
To  see  how  it  flowers  and  mantles  in  graile. 

As  green  as  a  Leeke,  with  a  smile  in  the  cheek, 
The  true  Orient  colour  of  z.pot  of  good  ale. 

But  I  mean  the  Mind,  and  the  good  it  doth  find. 
Not  onely  the  Body  so  feeble  and  fraile ; 

For,  Body  and  Soul  may  blesse  the  black  bowle, 
Since  both  are  beholden  to  a  Pot  of  good  ale. 

For,  when  heavinesse  the  mind  doth  oppresse, 
And  sorrow  and  grief  the  heart  do  assaile. 

No  remedy  quicker  than  to  take  ofi"  your  Liquor, 
And  to  wash  away  cares  with  2>.pot  of  good  ale. 

The  Widow  that  buried  her  Husband  of  late. 
Will  soon  have  forgotten  to  weep  and  to  waile, 

And  think  every  day  twain,  till  she  marry  again, 
If  she  read  the  contents  of  ^pot  of  good  ale. 

It  is  like  a  belly-blast  to  a  cold  heart, 

And  warms  and  engenders  the  spirits  vitale  : 

To  keep  them  from  domage  all  sp'rits  owe  their  hom- 
To  the  Sp'rite  of  the  buttery,  z.pot  of  good  ale.      [age 

And 


i 


Made  up  into  Pills.     1661.  115 

And  down  to  the  legs  the  vertue  doth  go, 
And  to  a  bad  Foot-man  is  as  good  as  a  saile : 

When  it  fill  the  Veins,  and  makes  light  the  Brains, 
No  Lackey  so  nimble  as  z.pot  of- good  ale. 

The  naked  complains  not  for  want  of  a  coat. 
Nor  on  the  cold  weather  will  once  turn  his  taile ; 

All  the  way  as  he  goes,  he  cuts  the  wind  with  his  Nose, 
If  he  be  but  well  wrapt  in  z.pot  of  good  ale. 

The  hungry  man  takes  no  thought  for  his  meat, 
Though  his  stomack  would  brook  a  ten-penny  naile; 

He  quite  forgets  hunger,  thinks  on  it  no  longer, 
If  he  touch  but  the  sparks  oi  a.pot  of  good  ale. 

The  Foor  man  will  praise  it,  so  hath  he  good  cause, 
That  all  the  year  eats  neither  Partridge  nor  Quaile, 

But  sets  up  his  rest,  and  makes  up  his  Feast, 

With  a  crust  of  brown  bread,  and  z.pot  of  good  ale. 

The  Shepherd,  the  Sower,  the  Thresher,  the  Mower, 
The  one  with  his  Scythe,  the  other  with  his  Flaile, 

Take  them  out  by  the  poll,  on  the  peril  of  my  soil. 
All  will  hold  up  their  hands  to  a  pot  of  good  ale. 

The  Black-Smith,  whose  bellows  all  Summer  do  blow, 
With  the  fire  in  his  Face  still,  without  e're  a  vaile, 

Though  his  throat  be  full  dry,  he  will  tell  you  no  lye, 
But  where  you  may  be  sure  of  d^pot  of  good  ale. 

Who 

H  2 


1 1 6  Antidote  against  Melancholy, 

Who  ever  denies  it,  the  Pris'ners  will  prayse  it, 
That  beg  at  [the]  Grate,  and  lye  in  the  Goale, 

For,  even  in  \\\€\x  fetters  they  thinke  themselves  better. 
May  they  get  but  a  two-penny  black /^/  of  Ale. 

The  begger,  whose  portion  is  alwayes  his  prayers, 
Not  having  a  tatter  to  hang  on  his  taile, 

Is  rich  in  his  rags,  as  the  churle  in  his  bags. 

If  he  once  but  shakes  hands  with  a  pot  of  good  ale. 

It  drives  his  poverty  clean  out  of  mind, 

Forgetting  his  brown  bread,  his  wallet,  and  maile ; 

He  walks  in  the  house  like  a  sixfooted  Louse, 
If  he  once  be  inricht  with  z.pot  of  good  ale. 

And  he  that  doth  dig  in  the  ditches  all  day, 
And  wearies  himself  quite  at  the  plough-taile. 

Will  speak  no  less  things  than  of  Queens  and  of  Kings, 
If  he  touch  but  the  top  of  d^pot  of  good  ale. 

Tis  like  a  Whetstone  to  a  blunt  wit, 

And  makes  a  supply  where  Nature  doth  fail : 

The  dullest  wit  soon  will  look  quite  through  the  Moon, 
If  his  temples  be  wet  with  z.pot  of  good  ale. 

Then  Dick  to  his  Dearling,  full  boldly  dares  speak. 
Though  before  (silly  Fellow)  his  courage  did  quaile, 

He  gives  her  the  smoiich,  with  his  hand  on  his  pouch. 
If  he  meet  by  the  way  with  2^  pot  of  good  ale. 

And 


Made  up  into  Pills.     1661.  117 

And  it  makes  the  Carter  a  Courtier  straight-way ; 

With  Rhetorical  termes  he  will  tell  his  tale ; 
With  courtesies  great  store,  and  his  Cap  up  before, 

Being  school'd  but  a  little  with  a  pot  of  good  ale. 

The  Old  man,  whose  tongue  wags  faster  than  his  teeth, 
(For  old  age  by  Nature  doth  drivel  and  drale) 

Will  frig  and  will  fling,  like  a  Dog  in  a  string, 
If  he  warm  his  cold  blood  with  a  pot  of  good  ale. 

And  the  good  Old  Clarke,  whose  sight  waxeth  dark, 
And  ever  he  thinks  the  Print  is  to[o]  small, 

He  will  see  every  Letter,  and  say  Service  better, 
If  he  glaze  but  his  eyes  with  a  pot  of  good  ale. 

The  cheekes  and  Xkv&jawes  to  commend  it  have  cause; 

For  where  they  were  late  but  even  wan  and  pale, 
They  will  get  them  a  colour,  no  crimson  is  fuller. 

By  the  true  die  and  tincture  oisipot  of  good  cUe. 

Mark  her  Enemies,  though  they  think  themselves  wise, 
How  meager  they  look,  with  how  low  a  waile. 

How  their  cheeks  do  fall,  without  sp'rits  at  all. 
That  alien  their  minds  from  z-pot  of  good  ale. 

And  now  that  the  grains  do  work  in  my  brains, 

Me  thinks  I  were  able  to  give  by  retaile 
Commodities  store,  a  dozen  and  more, 

That  flow  to  Mankind  from  d^pot  of  good  ale. 

The 
H3 


^vttJi    C^fi^U/ii\o 


1 18  Antidote  against  Melancholy, 

The  Muses  would  muse  any  should  it  misuse  : 

For  it  makes  them  to  sing  like  a  Nightingale, 

With  a  lofty  trim  note,  having  washed  their  throat 

With  the  Caballine  Spring  of  z.pot  of  good  ale. 

~{'?~Cas>iail«ir] 

And  the  Musician  of  any  condition, 

It  will  make  him  reach  to  the  top  of  his  Scale : 

It  will  clear  his  pipes,  and  moisten  his  lights, 
If  he  drink  alternatim  z.pot  of  good  ale. 

The  Poet  Divine,  that  cannot  reach  Wine, 

Because  that  his  money  doth  many  times  faile, 

Will  hit  on  the  vein  to  make  a  good  strain, 
If  he  be  but  inspir'd  with  2ipot  of  good  ale. 

For  ballads  Elderton  never  had  Peer ; 

How  went  his  wit  in  them,  with  how  merry  a  Gale, 
And  with  all  the  Sails  up,  had  he  been  at  the  Cup, 

And  washed  his  beard  with  ?ipot  of  good  ale. 

And  the  power  of  it  showes,  no  whit  less  in  Prose, 
It  will  file  one's  Phrase,  and  set  forth  his  Tale : 

Fill  him  but  a  Bowie,  it  will  make  his  Tongue  troul, 
Vox  flowing  speech  flows  from  2i  pot  of  good  ale. 

And  Master  Philosopher,  if  he  drink  his  part, 
Will  not  trifle  his  time  in  the  huske  or  the  shale. 

But  go  to  the  kernell  by  the  depth  of  his  Art, 
To  be  found  in  the  bottom  oiz.pot  of  good  ale. 

Give 


Made  up  into  Pills.     1661.  119 

Give  a  Scholar  of  Oxford  a  pot  of  Sixteen, 

And  put  him  to  prove  that  an  Ape  hath  no  taile^ 

And  sixteen  times  better  his  wit  will  be  seen, 
If  you  fetch  him  from  Botley  z.pot  of  good  ale. 

Thus  it  helps  Speech  and  Wit :  and  it  hurts  not  a  whit, 
But  rather  doth  further  the  Virtues  Morale; 

Then  think  it  not  much  if  a  little  I  touch 
The  good  moral  parts  of  z.pot  of  good  ale. 

To  the  Church  and  Religion  it  is  a  good  Friend, 
Or  else  our  Fore-Fathers  their  wisedome  did  faile, 

That  at  every  mile,  next  to  the  Church  stile, 
Set  a  consecrate  house  to  a  pot  of  good  ale. 

But  now,  as  they  say,  Beer  bears  it  away  j 
The  more  is  the  pity,  if  right  might  prevaile : 

For,  with  this  same  Beer,  came  up  Heresie  here, 
The  old  Catholicke  drink  is  z.pot  of  good  ale. 

The  Churches  much  ow[e],  as  we  all  do  know, 
For  when  they  be  drooping  and  ready  to  fall, 

By  a  Whitson  or  Church-ale,  up  again  they  shall  go. 
And  owe  their  repairing  to  z.pot  of  good  ale. 

Truth  will  do  it  right,  it  brings  Truth  to  hght, 
And  many  bad  matters  it  helps  to  reveal : 

For,  they  that  will  drink,  will  speak  what  they  think  : 
Tom  tell-troth  lies  hid  in  a/^/  of  good  ale. 

It 

H4 


120  Antidote  against  Melancholy, 

It  is  justices  Friend,  she  will  it  commend, 
For  all  is  here  served  by  measure  and  tale; 

Now,  true-tale  and  good  measure  are  justices  treasure, 
And  much  to  the  praise  of  z.pot  of  good  ale. 

And  next  I  alledge,  it  is  Fortitudes  edge[,] 

For  a  very  Cow-heard,  that  shrinks  like  a  Snaile, 

Will  swear  and  will  swagger,  and  out  goes  his  Dagger, 
If  he  be  but  arm'd  with  ^.pot  of  good  ale. 

Yea,  ALE  hath  her  Knights  and  Squires  of  Degree, 
That  never  wore  Corslet,  nor  yet  shirts  of  Maile, 

But  have  fought  their  fights  all,twixt  the  pot  and  the  wall, 
When  once  they  were  dub'd  with  a  pot  of  good  ale. 

And  sure  it  will  make  a  man  suddenly  wise, 
Er'e-while  was  scarce  able  to  tell  a  right  tale : 

It  will  open  his  jaw,  he  will  tell  you  the  Law, 
As  make  a  right  Bencher  oia.pot  of  good  ale. 

Or  he  that  will  make  a  bargain  to  gain. 
In  buying  or  setting  his  goods  forth  to  sale, 

Must  not  plod  in  the  mire,  but  sit  by  the  fire. 
And  seale  up  his  Match  with  a  pot  of  good  ale. 

But  for  Soberness,  needs  must  I  confess, 
The  matter  goes  hard ;  and  few  do  prevaile 

Not  to  go  too  deep,  but  temper  to  keep, 
Such  is  the  Attractive  of  z.pot  of  good  ale. 

But 


Made  up  into  Pills.     1661.  121 

But  here's  an  amends,  which  will  make  all  Friends, 
And  ever  doth  tend  to  the  best  availe  : 

If  you  take  it  too  deep,  it  will  make  you  but  sleep ; 
So  comes  no  great  harm  of  dipot  of  good  ale. 

If  (reeling)  they  happen  to  fall  to  the  ground, 

The  fall  is  not  great,  they  may  hold  by  the  Raile  : 

If  into  the  water,  they  cannot  be  drown'd. 
For  that  gift  is  given  to  2upot  of  good  ale. 

If  drinking  about  they  chance  to  fall  out, 

Fear  not  that  Alarm,  though  flesh  be  but  fraile ; 

It  will  prove  but  some  blowes,  or  at  most  a  bloody  nose, 
And  Friends  again  straight  with  a  pot  of  good  ale. 

And  Physic  will  favour  ale,  as  it  is  bound, 
And  be  against  Beere  both  tooth  and  naile  ; 

They  send  up  and  down,  all  over  the  town 
To  get  for  their  Patients  2i.pot  of  good  ale. 

Their  Ale-berries,  cawdles,  and  Possets  each  one. 
And  Syllabubs  made  at  the  Milking-pale, 

Although  they  be  many,  Beere  comes  not  in  any, 
But  all  are  composed  with  dipot  of  good  ale. 

And  in  very  deed  the  Hop's  but  a  Weed, 

Brought  o're  against  Law,  and  here  set  to  sale  : 

Would  the  Law  were  renew'd,  and  no  more  Beer  brew'd, 
But  all  men  betake  them  to  a  Pot  of  good  ale. 

The 


122  A  ntidote  against  Melancholy, 

The  Law  that  will  take  it  under  his  wing, 
For,  at  every  Law-day,  or  Moot  of  the  hale. 

One  is  sworn  to  serve  our  Soveraigne  the  King, 
In  the  ancient  Office  of  a  Conner  of  ale. 

There's  never  a  Lord  of  Manner  or  of  a  Town, 
By  strand  or  by  land,  by  hill  or  by  dale, 

But  thinks  it  a  Franchise,  and  a  Flower  of  the  Crown, 
To  hold  the  Assize  of  2,  pot  of  good  ale. 

And  though  there  lie  Writs  from  the  Courts  Paramount, 
To  stay  the  proceedings  of  Courts  Paravaile ; 

Law  favours  it  so,  you  may  come,  you  may  go. 
There  lies  no  Prohibition  to  z.pot  of  good  ale. 

They  talk  much  of  State,  both  early  and  late, 

But  if  Gascoign  and  Spain  their  Wine  should  but  faile. 

No  remedy  then,  with  us  Englishmen, 

But  the  State  it  must  stand  by  z.pot  of  good  ale. 

And  they  that  sit  by  it  are  good  men  and  quiet, 
No  dangerous  Plotters  in  the  Common-weale 

Of  Treason  and  Murder :  For  they  never  go  further 
Than  to  call  for,  and  pay  for  a/^/  of  good  ale. 

To  the  praise  of  Gambrivius  that  good  Brittish  King 
That  devis'd  for  his  Nation  (by  the  Welshmen's  tale) 

Seventeen  hundred  years  before  Christ  did  spring, 
The  happy  invention  of  2ipot  of  good  ale. 

The 


Made  up  into  Pills.     1661.  123 

The  North  they  will  praise  it,  and  praise  with  passion, 
Where  every  River  gives  name  to  a  Dale : 

There  men  are  yet  living  that  are  of  th'  old  fashion, 
No  Nectar  they  know  but  a/^?/  of  good  ale. 

The  PiCTs  and  the  Scots  for  ale  were  at  lots, 
So  high  was  the  skill,  and  so  kept  under  seale ; 

The  PiCTS  were  undone,  slain  each  mothers  son. 
For  not  teaching  the  Scots  to  make  Hether  Eale. 

But  hither  or  thither,  it  skils  not  much  whether : 
For  Drink  must  be  had,  men  live  not  by  Keale, 

Not  by  Havor-bannocks  nor  by  Havor-jannocks, 
The  thing  the  Scots  live  on  is  21.  pot  of  good  ale. 

Now,  if  ye  will  say  it,  I  will  not  denay  it. 
That  many  a  man  it  brings  to  his  bale : 

Yet  what  fairer  end  can  one  wish  to  his  Friend, 
Than  to  dye  by  the  part  of  z.pot  of  good  ale. 

Yet  let  not  the  innocent  bear  any  blame, 

It  is  their  own  doings  to  break  o're  the  pale : 

.  And  neither  the  Malt,  nor  the  good  wife  in  fault, 
If  any  be  potted  with  z-pot  of  good  ale. 

They  tell  whom  it  kills,  but  say  not  a  word. 
How  many  a  man  liveth  both  sound  and  hale. 

Though  he  drink  no  Beer  any  day  in  the  year, 
By  the  Radical  humour  of  z.pot  of  good  ale. 

But 


124  Antidote  against  Melancholy, 

But  to  speak  of  Killing,  that  am  I  not  willing, 
For  that  in  a  manner  were  but  to  raile  : 

But  Beer  hath  its  name,  'cause  it  brings  to  the  Biere, 
Therefore  well-fare,  say  I,  to  a  pot  of  good  ale. 

Too  many  (I  wis)  with  their  deaths  proved  this, 
And,  therefore  (if  ancient  Records  do  not  faile). 

He  that  first  brew'd  the  Hop  was  rewarded  with  a  rope. 
And  found  his  Beer  far  more  bitter  than  Ale. 

O  Ale  [!]  ab  alendo,  the  Liquor  of  Life, 
That  I  had  but  a  mouth  as  big  as  a  Whale f 

For  mine  is  too  little  to  touch  the  least  tittle 
That  belongs  to  the  praise  of  a,  pot  of  good  ale. 

Thus  (I  trow)  some  Vertues  I  have  mark'd  you  out. 
And  never  a  Vice  in  all  this  long  traile. 

But  that  after  the  Pot  there  cometh  the  Shot, 
And  that's  th'  onely  blot  oiz.pot  of  good  ale. — 

With  that  my  Friend  said,  that  blot  will  I  bear, 
You  have  done  very  well,  it  is  time  to  strike  saile, 

Wee'l  have  six  pots  more,  though  I  dye  on  the  score, 
To  make  all  this  good  of  a  Pot  of  good  ALE. 


[Followed  by  Ben  Jonson's  Cook  Lorrel,  and  by  The  Black- 
smith: for  which  see  Merry  Drollery,  Complete,  pp.  214-17, 
225-30.] 

An 


Made  up  into  Pills.     1 66 1 .  125 

An  Old  Song  of  an  Old  Courtier    [p.  14.] 
and  a  New. 

With  an  Old  Song  made  by  an  Old  Ancient  pate, 
Of  an  Old  worshipful  Gentleman  who  had  a 
great  Estate; 
Who  kept  an  old  house  at  a  bountiful  rate, 

And  an  old  Porter  to  relieve  the  Poore  at  his  Gate, 
Like  an  old  Courtier  of  the  Queens. 

With  and  old  Lady  whose  anger  and  [?  one]  good  word 
asswages, 
Who  every  quarter  payes  her  old  Servants  their  wages. 
Who  never  knew  what  belongs  to  Coachmen,  Footmen, 
&  Pages, 
But  kept  twenty  thrifty  old  Fellows,  with  blew-coats 
and  badges, 

Like  an  old  Courtier  of  the  Queens. 

With  an  old  Study  fill'd  full  of  Learned  books. 

With  an  old  Reverent  Parson,  you  may  judge  him 

by  his  looks, 

With  an  old  Buttery  hatch  worn  quite  off  the  old  hooks. 

And  an  old  Kitching,  which  maintains  half  a  dozen 
old  cooks ; 

Like  an  old  Courtier  of  the  Queens. 

With  an  old  Hall  hung  round  about  with  Guns,  Pikes, 
and  Bowes, 

With 


126  Antidote  against  Melancholy, 

With  old  swords  &  bucklers,  which  hath  born[e] 
many  shrew'd  blows,  (hose, 

And  an  old  Frysadoe  coat  to  cover  his  Worships  trunk 
And  a  cup  of  old  Sherry  to  comfort  his  Copper  Nose  ; 
Like  an  old  Courtier  of  the  Queens. 

With  an  old  Fashion,  when  Christmas  is  come. 

To  call  in  his  Neighbours  with  Bag-pipe  and  Drum, 
And  good  chear  enough  to  furnish  every  old  Room, 
And  old  liquor  able  to  make  a  cat  speak,  and  a  wise 
man  dumb ; 

like  an  Old  \Courtier  of  the  Queens !\ 

With  an  old  Hunts-man,  a  Falkoner,  and  a  Kennel  of 
Hounds ; 
Which  never  Hunted,  nor  Hawked  but  in  his  own 
Grounds ; 
Who  like  an  old  wise  man  kept  himself  within  his 
own  bounds, 
And  when  he  died  gave  every  child  a  thousand  old 
pounds ; 

like  an  Old  \Courtier  of  the  Queens.^ 

But  to  his  eldest  Son  his  house  and  land  he  assign'd. 
Charging  him  in  his  Will  to  keep  the  same  bountiful 
mind, 
To  be  good  to  his  Servants,  and  to  his  Neighbours  kind. 
But  in  th'  ensuing  Ditty  you  shall  hear  how  he  was 
enclin'd ; 

like  a  young  Courtier  of  the  Kings. 

[Part 


Made  up  into.  Pills.     1661.  127 

[Part  Second.] 

Like  a  young  Gallant  newly  come  to  his  Land, 

That  keeps  a  brace  of  Creatures  at's  own  command, 
And  takes  up  a  thousand  pounds  upon's  own  Band, 
And  lieth  drunk  in  a  new  Tavern,  till  he  can  neither 
go  nor  stand  \ 

like  a  young  \Courtier  of  the  Kings\ 

With  a  neat  Lady  that  is  fresh  and  fair. 

Who  never  knew  what  belong'd   to  good   house- 
keeping or  care. 
But  buyes  several  Fans  to  play  with  the  wanton  ayre, 
And  seventeen  or  eighteen   dressings   of  other 
womens  haire ; 

like  a  young  \Courtier  of  the  Kings]. 

With  a  new  Hall  built  where  the  old  one  stood, 

Wherein  is  burned  neither  coale  nor  wood. 
And  a  new  Shuffel-board-table  where  never  meat  stood, 
Hung  Roimd  with  Pictures,  which  doth  the  poor  httle 
good- 

like  a  young  \Courtier  of  the  Kings\ 

With  a  new  study  stuff't  full  of  Pamphlets  and  playes. 
With  a  new  Chaplin,  that  swears  faster  then  he  prayes. 
With  a  new  Buttery  hatch  that  opens  once  in  four  or 
five  dayes. 

With 


128  Antidote  against  Melancholy^ 

With  a  new  French-Cook  to  make  Kickshawes  and 
Tayes ; 

like  a  young  Courtier  of  the  Kings. 

With  a  new  Fashion,  when  Christmasse  is  come, 

With  a  journey  up  to  London  we  must  be  gone, 
And  leave  no  body  at  home  but  our  new  Vortex  John, 
Who  reUeves  the  poor  with  a  thump  on  the  back 
with  a  stone; 

Like  a  young  [  Courtier  of  the  Kings]. 

With  a  Gentleman- Vsher  whose  carriage  is  compleat, 

With  a  Footman,  a  Coachman,  a  Page  to  carry  meat. 
With  a  waiting  Gentlewoman,  whose  dressing  is  very 
neat. 
Who  when  the  master  hath  dyn'd  gives  the  servants 
litle  meat ; 

Like  a  young  \Courtier  of  the  Kings\ 

With  a  new  honour  bought  with  his  Fathers  Old  Gold, 
That  many  of  his  Fathers  Old  Manors  hath  sold. 

And  this  is  the  occasion  that  most  men  do  hold. 

That  good  Hous[e]-keeping  is  now-a-dayes  grown  so 

cold; 

Like  a  young  Courtier  of  the  Kings. 


[Here 


Made  up  into  Pills.     1661.  129 

[Here  follow,  Arthur  of  Bradley  (see  Merry  Drollery,  Compleal, 
p.  312);  The  Green  Gown:  "Pan  leave  piping,"  (see  ^ei<m. 
Droll.,  Appendix,  p.  54)  ;  Gelding  of  the  Devil :  "  Now  listen  a 
while,  and  I  will  you  tell"  (see  Merry  D.,  C,  p.  200) ;  Sir  Egle 
More  (ibid,  p.  257)  ;  and  St.  George  for  England  {ibid,  p.  309). 
But,  as  the  variations  are  great,  in  the  last  of  these,  it  is  here 
given  from  the  Antidote  ag.  Mel.,  p.  26.] 


The  Ballad  of  St.  George  for  England,    [p.  26.] 

WHy  should  we  boast  oi  Arthur  and  his  Knights  ? 
Know[ing]  how  many  men  have  perform'd 
fights ; 
Or  why  should  we  speak  of  Sir  Lancelot  du  Lake, 
Or  Sir  Trestram  du  Leon,  that  fought  for  the  Lady's  sake ; 
Read  old  storyes,  and  there  you'l  see 
How  St.  George,  St.  George,  did  make  the  Dragon  flee : 
St.  George  he  was  for  England,  St.   Dents  was  for 
Sing  Ifony  soitt  qui  Mai y  pense.        {France, 

To  speak  of  the  Monarchy,  it  were  two  Long  to  tell ; 
And  likewise  of  the  Romans,  how  far  they  did  excel, 
Hannibal  and  Scipio,  they  many  a  field  did  fight ; 
Orlando  Furioso  he  was  a  valiant  ELnight ; 
Romulus  and  Rhemus  were  those  that  Rome  did  build, 
But  St.  George,  St  George,  the  Dragon  he  hath  kill'd ; 
St.  George  he  was,  &'c. 

yephtha  and  Gidion  they  led  their  men  to  fight 
The  Gibeonites  and  Amonites,  they  put  them  all   to 
flight  J  Hercul'es 


130  Antidote  against  Melancholy ^ 

Hercul'es  Labour  was  in  the  Vale  of  Brass, 

And  Sampson  slew  a  thousand  with  the  Jaw-bone  of   ' 

an  Asse, 
And  when  he  was  blind  pull'd  the  Temple  to  the  ground : 
But  St.  George,  St.  George,  the  Dragon  did  confound. 

St.  George  he  was,  ^'c.  , 

1 

Valentine  and  Orson  they  came  of  Pipins  blood, 
Alphred  zxidi  Aldrecus  they  were  brave  Knights  and  good, 
The  four  sons  of  Amnon  that  fought  with  Charlemaine, 
Sir  Hugh  de  Burdeaux  and  Godfray  of  Bolaigne, 
These  were  all  French  Knights  the  Pagans  did  Convert, 
But  St.  George,  St.  George,  pull'd  forth  the  Dragon's 
St.  George  he  was,  ^c.  (heart : 

Henry  the  fifth  he  Conquered  all  Fratice, 
He  quartered  their  Armes,  his  Honour  to  advance, 
He  razed  their  Walls,  and  pull'd  their  Cities  down, 
And  garnished  his  Head  with  a  double  treble  Crown  ; 
He  thumbed  the  French,  and  after  home  he  came  ! 
But  St.  George,  St  George,  he  made  the  Dragon  tame  : 
St.  George  he  was,  dr'c. 

St.  David  you  know,  loves  Leeks  and  tosted  Cheese, 
And  J^ason  was  the  Man,  brought  home  the    Golden 
St.  Patrick  you  know  he  was  St.  Georges  Boy,    (Fleece; 
Seven  years  he  kept  his  Horse,  and  then  stole  him  away, 
For  which  Knavish  act,  a  slave  he  doth  remain ; 

But 


Made  up  into  Pills.     1 66 1 .  131 

But  St.  Geor^,  St.  George,  he  hath  the  Dragon  slain  : 
■»,        St.  George  he  was,  &c. 

Tamberline,  the  Emperour,  in  Iron  Cage  did  Crown, 
With  his  bloody  Flag's  display'd  before  the  Town ; 
ScanderbagvciTigasirnvcioviS  Mahomets  Bashaw  did  dread, 
Whose  Victorious  Bones  were  worn  when  he  was  dead; 
His  Bedla-begs,  his  Com  like  drags,  George  Castriot 

was  he  call'd, 
But  St.  George,  St.  George,  the  Dragon  he  hath  maul'd: 

St.  George  he  was  for  England,  St.  Denis  was  for 
Sing  Hony  soit  qui  mal y  pense.  {France, 

Ottoman,  the  Tartar,  Cham  of  Persids  race, 

The  great  Mogul,  with  his  Chests  so  full  of  all  his  Cloves 

and  Mace, 
The  Grecian  youth  Bucephalus  he  manly  did  bestride, 
But  those  with  all  their  Worthies  Nine,  St  George  did 

them  deride, 
Gustavus  Adolphus  was  Swedelands  Warlike  King, 
But  St.  George,  St.  George,  puU'd  forth  the  Dragon's 

sting. 

St  George  he  was  for  England,  St.  Dennis  was  for 
Sing  Hony  soit  qui  mal  y  pense.  (France, 

Pendragon  and  Cadwallader  oi British  blood  doe  boast, 
Though  John  of  Gant  his  foes  did  daunt,  St.  George 
shal  rule  the  roast ; 

K  2  Agamemnon 


132  A  ntidote  against  Melancholy, 

Agamemnon  and  Cleomedon  and  Macedon  did  feats, 
But,  compared  to  our  Champion,  they  were  but  merely 

cheats; 
Brave  Malta  Knights  in  Turkish  fights,  their  brandisht 

swords  out-drew. 
But  St.  George  met  the  Dragon,  and  ran  him  through 

and  through: 

St  George  he  was,  &c. 

Bidea,  the  Amazon,  Photius  "overthrew. 

As  fierce  as  either  Vandal,  Goth,  Saracen,  or  yew ; 

The  potent  Holophernes,  as  he  lay  in  his  bed, 

In  came  wise  Judith  and  subtly  stool[e]  his  head  ; 

Brave  Cyclops  stout,  with  Jove  he  fought.  Although  he 

showr'd  down  Thunder ; 
But  St.  George  kill'd  the  Dragon,  and  was  not  that  a 

wonder : 

St.  George  he  was,  &c. 

Mark    Anthony,   He  warrant  you  Plaid  feats  with 

Egypts  Queen, 
Sir  Egla  More  that  valiant  Knight,  the  like  was  never 

seen, 
Grim  Gorgons  might,  was  known  in  fight,  old  Bevis 

most  men  frighted, 
The  Myrmidons  &  Presbyter  John,  why  were  not 

those  men  knighted  ? 

Brave 


I 


Made  up  into  Pills.     1661.  133 


Brave  Spinola  took  in  Breda,  Nasaw  did  it  recover, 
But  St.  George,  St.  George,  he  tum'd  the  Dragon  over 
and  over : 

St.  George  he  was  for  England,  St.  Denis  was  for 
Sing,  Hony  soil  qui  mal y  pense.  (France, 


r 


A  Ballad  call'd  Blew  Cap  for  me. 

COme  hither  thou  merriest  of  all  the  Nine,    [p.  29] 
Come,  sit  you  down  by  me,  and  let  us  be  jolly ; 
And  with  a  full  Cup  of  Apollds  wine, 

Wee'l  dare  our  Enemy  mad  MelanchoUy ; 
And  when  we  have  done,  wee'l  between  us  devise 
A  pleasant  new  Dity  by  Art  to  comprise : 

And  of  this  new  Dity  the  matter  shall  be, 
If  ever  I  have  a  man,  blew  cap  for  me. 

There  dwells  a  blith  Lass  in  Falkland  Town 
And  she  hath  Suitors  I  know  not  how  many, 

And  her  resolution  she  had  set  down 
That  she'l  have  a  Blew  Cap,  if  ever  she  have  any. 
An  Englishman  when  our  geod  Knight  was  there, 
Came  often  unto  her,  and  loved  her  dear, 

Yet  still  she  replyed,  Geod  Sir,  La  be. 
If  ever  I  have  a  man,  blew  cap  for  me. 

A 

K   3 


134  Antidote  against  Melancholy, 

A  Welchman  that  had  a  long  Sword  by  his  side, 
Red  Doublet,  red  Breech,  and  red  Coat,  and  red 

Was  made  a  great  shew  of  a  great  deal  of  pride,  (Peard, 
Was  tell  her  strange  tales  te  like  never  heard  ; 

Was  recon  her  pedegree  long  pefore  Prute]J\ 

No  body  was  near  that  could  her  Confute ; 
But  still  she  reply'd,  Geod  Sir  la  be, 

If  ever  I  have  a  man,  blew  Cap  for  me. 

A  Frenchman  that  largely  was  booted  and  spurr'd, 
Long  Lock  with  a  ribbon,  long  points  and  long 
preeshes. 

Was  ready  to  kisse  her  at  every  word. 

And  for  the  other  exercises  his  fingers  itches  \ 

You  be  prety  wench  a  Metrel,  par  ma  Fay, 

Dear  me  do  love  you,  be  not  so  coy ; 
Yet  still  replyed,  Geod  Sir,  la  be  ; 

If  ever  I  have  a  man,  blew  Cap  for  me. 

An  Irishman,  with  a  long  skeen  in  his  Hose, 
Did  think  to  obtain  her,  it  was  no  great  matter, 

Up  stairs  to  the  chamber  so  lightly  he  goes. 
That  she  never  heard  him  until  he  came  at  her, 

Quoth  he,  I  do  love  thee,  by  Fait  and  by  Trot, 

And  if  thou  wilt  know  it,  experience  shall  sho't. 
Yet  still  she  reply'd,  Geod  sir,  la  be. 

If  ever  I  have  a  man,  blew  Cap  for  me. 

A 


Made  up  into  Pills.     1661.  135 

A  Ndherland  Mariner  came  there  by  chance, 
Whose  cheekes  did  resemble  two  rosting  pome- 
watters, 

And  to  this  BUth  lasse  this  sute  did  advance; 

Experience  had  taught  him  to  cog,  He,  and  flatter ; 

Quoth  he,  I  will  make  thee  sole  Lady  of  the  sea, 

Both  Spanyard  and  English  man  shall  thee  obey : 
Yet  still  she  replyed,  [Geod  sir,  La  be. 

If  ever  I  have  a  man,  blew  cap  for  ■me\. 

At  last  came  a  Scotchman  with  a  blew  Cap, 

And  that  was  the  man  for  whom  she  had  tarryed, 

To  get  this  Blyth  lass  it  was  his  Giud  hap, 

They  gan  to  Kirk   and  were  presently  married ; 

She  car'd  not  whether  he  were  Lord  or  Leard, 

She  call'd  him  sick  a  like  name  as  I  ne'r  heard, 
To  get  him  from  aw  she  did  well  agree, 

And  still  she  cryed,  blew  Cap  thou  art  welcome  to  mee. 


The  Ballad  of  the  Caps.     [p.  30.] 

THe  Wit  hath  long  beholding  been 
Unto  the  Cap  to  keep  it  in ; 
But  now  the  wits  fly  out  amain. 
In  prayse  to  quit  the  Cap  again  \ 

The 

K4 


136  Antidote  against  Melancholy^ 

The  Cap  that  keeps  the  highest  part 
Obtains  the  place  by  due  desert  : 

For  any  Cap,  &'c.  \what  ere  it  bee, 
Is  still  the  signe  of  some  degree.^ 

The  Monmouth  Cap,  the  Saylors  thrumbe, 
And  that  wherein  the  Tradesmen  come, 

The  Physick  Cap,  the  Cap  Divine, 

And  that  which  Crownes  the  Muses  nine, 

The  Cap  that  fooles  do  Countenance, 
The  goodly  Cap  of  Maintenance. 
For  any  Cap,  6^^. 

The  sickly  Cap  both  plain  and  wrought, 
The  Fudling  cap,  how  ever  bought, 

The  worsted,  Furr'd,  the  Velvet,  Sattin, 
For  which  so  many  pates  learn  Latin ; 

The  Cruel  cap,  the  Fustian  Pate, 

The  Perewig,  a  Cap  of  late  : 

For  any  Cap,  d^c. 

The  Souldiers  that  the  Monmoth  wear, 
On  Castles  tops  their  Ensigns  rear ; 
The  Sea-man  with  his  Thrumb  doth  stand 

On  higher  parts  then  all  the  Land  ; 
The  Tradesmans  Cap  aloft  is  bom. 
By  vantage  of  a  stately  horn. 
For  any  Cap,  &>€. 

The 


Made  up  into  Pills.     1661.  137 

The  Physick  Cap  to  dust  can  bring 
Without  controul  the  greatest  King : 

The  Lawyers  Cap  hath  Heavenly  might 
To  make  a  crooked  action  straight ; 

And  if  you'l  line  him  in  the  fist, 
The  Cause  hee'l  warrant  as  he  list. 
For  any  Cap,  d^c. 

Both  East  and  West,  and  North  and  South, 
Where  ere  the  Gospel  hath  a  mouth 

The  Cap  Divine  doth  thither  look : 
Tis  Square  like  Scholars  and  their  Books : 

The  rest  are  Round,  but  this  is  Square 
To  shew  their  Wits  more  stable  are  : 
For  any  Cap,  6r'c. 

The  Jester  he  a  Cap  doth  wear. 

Which  makes  him  Fellow  for  a  Peer, 

And  'tis  no  slender  piece  of  Wit 
To  act  the  Fool,  where  great  Men  sit, 

But  O,  the  Cap  of  London  Town ! 
I  wis,  'tis  like  a  goodly  Crown. 
For  any  Cap,  6^r. 

The  sickly  Cap  [,]  though  wrought  with  silk. 

Is  like  repentance,  white  as  milk ; 
When  Caps  drop  off  at  health  apace, 

The  Cap  doth  then  your  head  uncase, 

The 


138  Antidote  against  Melancholy, 

The  sick  mans  Cap  (if  wrought  can  tell) 
Though  he  be  sick,  his  cap  is  well. 
For  any  Cap,  &'e. 

The  fudling  Cap  by  Bacchus  Might, 
Turns  night  to  day,  and  day  to  night ; 

We  know  it  makes  proud  heads  to  bend, 
The  Lowly  feet  for  to  Ascend  : 

It  makes  men  richer  then  before. 
By  seeing  doubly  all  their  score. 
For  any  Cap,  ^-c. 

The  furr'd  and  quilted  Cap  of  age 
Can  make  a  mouldy  proverb  sage, 

The  Satin  and  the  Velvet  hive 
Into  a  Bishoprick  may  thrive, 

The  Triple  Cap  may  raise  some  hope. 
If  fortune  serve,  to  be  a  Pope ; 
For  any  Cap,  ^^c. 

The  Perewig,  O,  this  declares 

The  rise  of  flesh,  though  fall  of  haires. 
And  none  but  Grandsiers  can  proceed 

So  far  in  sin,  till  they  this  need. 
Before  the  King  who  covered  are. 
And  only  to  themselves  stand  bare. 
For  any  Cap,  what  ere  it  bee. 
Is  still  the  signe  of  some  degree. 


[Next 


Made  up  into  Pills.     1661.  139 

pS'ext  follow  A  Ballad  of  the  Nose  (see  Merry  Drollery,  Corn- 
pleat,  p,  143),  and  A  Song  of  the  Hot-headed  Zealot :  to  the  tune 
of  "Tom  a  Bedlam"  (Dr.  Richard  Corbet's,  Ibid,  p.  234),] 


A  Song  On  the  Schismatick  Rotundos.     [p.  37.] 

ONce  I  a  curious  Eye  did  fix, 
To  observe  the  tricks 
Of  the  schismatics  of  the  Times, 
To  find  out  which  of  them 

Was  the  merriest  Theme, 
And  best  would  befit  my  Rimes. 
Arminius  I  found  solid, 

Socinians  were  not  stolid. 
Much  Learning  for  Papists  did  stickle. 

But  ah,  ah,  ha,  ha,  ha,  ha,  Rotundos  rot, 
Ah,  ha,  ha,  ha,  ha,  Rotundos  rot, 
^Tis  you  that  my  spleen  doth  tickle. 

And  first  to  tell  must  not  be  forgot, 

How  I  once  did  trot 
With  a  great  Zealot  to  a  Lecture, 
Where  I  a  Tub  did  view, 

Hung  with  apron  blew  : 
'Twas  the  Preachers,  as  I  conjecture. 
His  life  and  his  Doctrine  too 
Were  of  no  other  hue, 
Though  he  spake  in  a  tone  most  mickle ; 

But  ah,  ha,  ha,  ha,  ^c.  He 


140  Antidote  against  Melancholy. 

He  taught  amongst  other  prety  things 

That  the  Book  of  Kings 
Small  benefit  brings  to  the  godly, 

Beside  he  had  some  grudges 

At  the  Book  of  fudges, 
And  talkt  of  Leviticus  odly. 
Wisedome  most  of  all 

He  declares  Apocryphal, 
Beat  Bell  and  the  Dragon  like  Michel : 
But,  ah,  ah,  ha,  ha,  ha,  ha,  ofc. 

Gainst  Humaine  Learning  next  he  enveyes 

and  most  boldly  say's, 
'Tis  that  which  destroyes  Inspiration  : 

Let  superstitious  sence 

And  wit  be  banished  hence. 
With  Popish  Predomination : 
Cut  Bishops  down  in  hast, 

And  Cathedrals  as  fast 
As  com  that's  fit  for  the  sickle  : 

But  ah,  ah,  ha,  ha,  ha,  ha,  Rotundos,  rot, 
ah,  ha,  ha,  ha,  ha,  ha  Rotundos  rot, 

Tis  you  that  my  spleen  doth  tickle. 


[The  three  next  in  the  Antidote,  respectively  by  Aurelian  Towns- 
hend  (?),  Sir  John  Suckling,  and  "  by  T.  R."  (or  Dr.  Thomas 
Wild  ?),  are  to  be  found  also  in  our  Merry  Drollery,  Compleat, 
pp.  218,  loi,  and  242.     See  Appendix  Notes.] 

The 


Made  up  into  Pills.     1661.  141 

The  Welshmans  Song,  in  praise  of 

Wales.  [p.  47.] 

I'S  not  come  here  to  tauke  of  Prut, 
From  whence  the  Welse  dos  take  hur  root ; 
Nor  tell  long  Pedegree  of  Prince  Camber, 
Whose  linage  would  fill  full  a  Chamber, 
Nor  sing  the  deeds  of  ould  Saint  Davie, 
The  Ursip  of  which  would  fill  a  Navie, 
But  hark  me  now  for  a  liddell  tales 
Sail  make  a  great  deal  to  the  creddit  of  Wales  : 
For  her  will  tudge  your  eares, 
With  the  praise  of  hur  thirteen  Seers, 
And  make  you  as  clad  and  merry, 
As  fourteen  pot  of  Perry. 

'Tis  true,  was  wear  him  Sherkin  freize. 

But  what  is  that?  we  have  store  of  seize,  [t.e.  cheese,] 

And  Got  is  plenty  of  Goats  milk 

That[,]  sell  him  well[,]  will  buy  him  silk 

Inough,  to  make  him  fine  to  quarrell 

At  Herford  Sizes  in  new  apparrell ; 

And  get  him  as  much  green  Melmet  perhap. 

Sail  give  it  a  face  to  his  Monmouth  Cap. 

But  then  the  ore  of  Lemster; 

Py  Cot  is  uver  a  Sempster ; 

That  when  he  is  spun,  or  did[,] 

Yet  match  him  with  hir  thrid. 

AuU 


142  Antidote  against  Melancholy. 

Aull  this  the  backs  now,  let  us  tell  yee, 

Of  some  provision  for  the  belly  : 

As  Kid  and  Goat,  and  great  Goats  Mother, 

And  Runt  and  Cow,  and  good  Cows  uther. 

And  once  but  tast  on  the  Welse  Mutton, 

Your  Englis  Seeps  not  worth  a  button. 

And  then  for  your  Fisse,  shall  choose  it  your  disse, 

Look  but  about,  and  there  is  a  Trout, 

A  Salmon,  Cot,  or  Chevin, 

Will  feed  you  six  or  seven, 

As  taull  man  as  ever  swagger 

With  Welse  Club,  and  long  dagger. 

But  all  this  while,  was  never  think 
A  word  in  praise  of  our  Welse  drink : 
And  yet  for  aull  that,  is  a  Cup  of  Bragat, 
Aull  England  Seer  may  cast  his  Cap  at. 
And  what  say  you  to  Ale  of  Webly  [?], 
Toudge  him  as  well,  you'll  praise  him  trebly. 
As  well  as  Metheglin,  or  Syder,  or  Meath, 
Sail  sake  it  your  dagger  quite  out  o'  th  seath. 

And  Oat-Cake  of  Guarthenion, 

With  a  goodly  Leek  or  Onion, 

To  give  as  sweet  a  rellis 

As  e'r  did  Harper  Ellis. 

And  yet  is  nothing  now  all  this, 

If  our  Musicks  we  do  misse ;  Both 


Made  up  into  Pills.     1661.  143 

Both  Harps,  and  Pipes  too ;  and  the  Crowd 

Must  auU  come  in,  and  tauk  aloud, 

As  lowd  as  Bangu,  Davies  Bell, 

Of  which  is  no  doubt  you  have  hear  tell  : 

As  well  as  our  lowder  Wrexam  Organ, 

And  rumbling  Rocks  in  the  Seer  of  Glamorgan; 

Where  look  but  in  the  ground  there, 

And  you  sail  see  a  sound  there  : 

That  put  her  all  to  gedder. 

Is  sweet  as  measure  pedder. 


[Followed,  in  An  Antidote,  by  the  excellent  poems,  The  Caval- 
r's  Complaint;  to  the  tune  of  (Suckling's)  I'le  tell  thee,  Dick, 
&c.,  with  The  Answer.     For  these,  see  Merry  Drollery,  Com- 
pleat,  pp.  52-56,  and  367.]; 


On  a  Pint  of  Sack.  [p.  52.] 

OLd  poets  Hipocrin  admire. 
And  pray  to  water  to  inspire 
Their  wit  and  Muse  with  heavenly  fire ; 
Had  they  this  Heav'nly  Fountain  seen, 
Sack  both  their  Well  and  Muse  had  been, 
And  this  Pint-pot  their  Hipocrin, 

Had  they  truly  discovered  it 

They  had  like  me  thought  it  unfit 

To  pray  to  water  for  their  wit. 

And 


144  Antidote  against  Melancholy, 

And  had  adored  Sack  as  divine, 
And  made  a  Poet  God  of  Wine, 
And  this  pint-pot  had  been  a  shrine. 

Sack  unto  them  had  been  in  stead 
Of  Nectar,  and  their  heav'nly  bread, 
And  ev'ry  boy  a  Ganimed  ; 
Or  had  they  made  a  God  of  it, 
Or  stil'd  it  patron  of  their  wit, 
This  pot  had  been  a  temple  fit. 

Well  then  Companions  is't  not  fit. 
Since  to  this  Jemme  we  ow[e]  our  wit, 
That  we  should  praise  the  Cabonet, 
And  drink  a  health  to  this  divine, 
And  bounteous  pallace  of  our  wine  [?] 
Die  he  with  thirst  that  doth  repine  ! 


A  Song  in  Praise  of  Sack.     [p.  53.] 

HAng  the  Presbyters  Gill,  bring  a  pint  of  Sack, 
More  Orthodox  of  the  two,  ( Will, 

Though  a  slender  dispute,  will  strike  the  Elf  mute, 
Here's  one  of  the  honester  Crew. 

Ii 


Made  up  into  Pills.     1661.  145 

In  a  pint  there's  small  heart,  Sirrah,  bring  a  Quart ; 

There  is  substance  and  vigour  met, 
'Twill  hold  us  in  play,  some  part  of  the  day, 

But  wee'l  sink  him  before  Sun-set : 

The  daring  old  Pottle,  does  now  bid  us  battle, 
Let  us  try  what  our  strength  can  do ; 

Keep  your  ranks  and  your  files,  and  for  all  his  wiles, 
Wee'l  tumble  him  down  stayrs  too. 

Then  summon  a  Gallon,  a  stout  Foe  and  a  tall  one. 

And  likely  to  hold  us  to't ; 
Keep  but  Coyn  in  your  purse,  the  word  is  Disburse, 

He  warrant  he'le  sleep  at  your  foot 

Let's  drain  the  whole  Celler,  Pipes,  Buts,  and  the 
,      If  the  Wine  floats  not  the  faster ;  (Dweller, 

Will,  when  thou  dost  slack  us,  by  warrant  from  Bacchus, 
We  will  cane  thy  tun-belli'd  Master. 

In  the  praise  of  WINE.         [p.  54.] 

"T'^Is  Wine  that  inspires, 

X      And  quencheth  Loves  fires. 

Teaches  fools  how  to  rule  a  S[t]ate  : 
Mayds  ne're  did  approve  it 

Because  those  that  doe  love  it. 
Despise  and  laugh  at  their  hate. 

The 


146  Antidote  against  Melancholy, 

The  drinkers  of  beer 

Did  ne're  yet  appear 
In  matters  of  any  waight ; 

'Tis  he  whose  designe 
Is  quickn'd  by  wine 

That  raises  things  to  their  height. 

We  then  should  it  prize 

For  never  black  eyes 
Made  wounds  which  this  could  not  heale, 

Who  then  doth  refuse, 
To  drink  of  this  Juice 

Is  a  foe  to  the  Comon  weale. 


[Followed  by  A  Glee  to  the  Vicar,  beginning,  "  Let  the  bells 
ring,  and  the  boys  sing :"  for  which  see  the  Introduction  to  our 
edition  of  Westminster  Drollery,  pp.  xxxvii-viii.] 


On  a  Cold  Chyne  of  BEEF.      [p.  55.] 

BRing  out  the  Qld  Chyne,  the  Cold  Chyne  to  me, 
And  how  He  charge  him  come  and  see. 
Brawn  tusked,  Brawn  well  sowst  and  fine, 
With  a  precious  cup  of  Muscadine  : 

Chorus. 
How  shall  I  sing,  how  shall  I  look, 
In  hfmour  of  the  Master-  Cook  ? 

The 


Made  up  into  Pills.     1661.  147 

The  Pig  shall  turn  round  and  answer  me, 
Canst  thou  spare  me  a  shoulder  [?],  a  wy,  a  wy. 
The  Duck,  Goose  and  Capon,  good  fellows  all  three 
Shall  dance  thee  an  antick[,]  so  shall  the  turkey ; 
But  O  !  the  cold  Chyne,  the  cold  Chyne  for  me : 

Chorus. 
How  shall  I  sing,  how  shall  I  look, 
In  honour  of  the  Master- Cook  ? 

With  brewis  He  noynt  thee  from  head  to  th'  heel, 
Shal  make  thee  run  nimbler  theii  the  new  oyld  wheel  [;] 
With  Pye-crust  wee'l  make  thee 
The  eighth  wise  man  to  be ; 

But  O  !  the  cold  Chyne,  the  cold  Chyne  for  me  : 

Chorus. 
How  shall  I  sing,  how  shall  I  look, 
In  honour  of  the  Master-Cook  ? 


A  Song  of  Cupid  Scorned.  [p.  56] 

IN  love  [?]  away,  you  do  me  wrong, 
I  hope  I  ha'  not  liv'd  so  long 
Free  from  the  Treachery  of  your  eyes. 
Now  to  be  caught  and  made  a  prize, 


No, 


L  2 


b 


148  Antidote  against  Melancholy, 

No,  Lady,  'tis  not  all  your  art, 

Can  make  me  and  my  freedome  part. 

Chorus. 
Come,  Jill's  a  cup  of  sherry,  and  let  us  be  merry, 
There  shall  nought  but  pure  wine 
Make  us  love-sick  orpine, 
We^l  hug  the  cup  and  kisse  it,  we' I  sigh  when  ere 
we  misse  it; 
For  tis  that,  that  makes  us  jolly. 
And  sing  hy  trololey  lolly. 

In  love,  'tis  true,  with  Spanish  wine, 

Or  the  French  juice  Incarnadine; 

But  truly  not  with  your  sweet  Face, 

This  dimple,  or  that  hidden  grace, 

Ther's  far  more  sweetnesse  in  pure  Wine, 
Then  in  those  Lips  or  Eyes  of  thine. 

Chorus  (Come,  fill's  a  cup  of  sherry,  ^c. 

Your  god[,]  you  say,  can  shoot  so  right, 
Hee'l  wound  a  heart  ith  darkest  night  : 
Pray  let  him  throw  away  a  dart, 
And  try  if  he  can  hit  my  heart. 

No  Cupid,  if  I  shall  be  thine, 

Turn  GanimedzxA  fill  us  Wine. 

Chorus  (Come,  fill's  a  cup  of  sherry,  &'c. 

[The 


Made  up  into  Pills.     1 66 1 . 


149 


[The  three  next  are  common  to  the  Antidote  and  Merry  Drol- 
lery, Compleat,  with  a  few  verbal  differences :  On  the  Vertue  of 
Sack,  by  Dr.  Henry  Edwards ;  The  Medley  of  the  Nations ;  and 
The  Brewer,  A  Ballad  made  in  the  Year  1657,  To  the  Tune  of 
The  Blacksmith.  For  them,  see  M.  D.,  C,  pp.  293,  127,  221. 
These  three  poems  are  followed  by  "A  Collection  of  Merry 
Catches,"  thirty-four  in  number,  of  which  only  ten  are  found  in 
Merry  Drollery,  Compleat,  (viz.,  3.  "Now  that  the  Spring  ;"  5. 
"Call  Georg-e  again;"  9.  "She  that  will  eat;"  13.  "The  Wise- 
men  were  but  Seven ;"  14.  "  Shew  a  room!"  15.  "Ol  the  wily 
wily  Fox ;"  17.  "Now  I  am  married;"  19.  "There  was  three 
Cooks  in  Colebrook  ;"  22.  "If  any  so  wise  is  ;"  and  29.  "What 
fortune  had  I,")  on  pp.  296,  304,  308,  232,  337,  300,  280,  318, 
348,  and  341,  respectively.  See  notes  on  them,  also,  in  Appendix 
to  M.  D.,  C.  One  other,  first  in  the  Antidote,  had  appeared 
earlier  in  Choice  Drollery, p.  52 :  "He  that  a  Tinker,"  &c., q.v.'l 


Y 


A    C  A  T  C  H .  [p.  65.] 

'Ou  merry  Poets[,]  old  Boyes 
Of  Aganippes  Well, 
Full  many  tales  have  told  boyes 

Whose  liquor  doth  excell, 
And  how  that  place  was  haunted 

By  those  that  love  good  wine ; 
Who  tipled  there,  and  chaunted 

Among  the  Muses  nine  : 
Where  still  they  cry'd  [,]  drink  clear,  boyes, 

And  you  shall  quickly  know  it. 
That  'tis  not  lowzy  Beer,  boyes, 

But  wine,  that  makes  a  Poet. 

L3 


1 50  Antidote  against  Melanchoiy, 

A     CATCH.  [p.  66.] 

4.   "]\  yr  Ong'st  all  the  precious  Juices 
1  Vx    Afforded  for  our  uses, 
Ther's  none  to  be  compar'd  with  Sack  : 
For  the  body  or  the  mind, 
No  such  Physick  you  shall  find, 
Therefore  boy  see  we  do  not  lack. 

Would'st  thou  hit  a  lofty  strain. 
With  this  Liquor  warm  thy  brain, 

And  thou  Swain  shalt  sing  as  sweet  as  Sidney; 
Or  would'st  thou  laugh  and  be  fat, 
Ther's  not  any  like  to  that 

To  make.  Jack  Sprat  a  man  of  kidney. 

[It]  Is  the  soul  of  mirth 

To  poor  Mortals  upon  Earth ; 

It  would  make  a  coward  bold  as  Hector, 
Nay  I  wager  durst  a  Peece, 
That  those  merry  Gods  of  Greece 

Drank  old  Sack  and  Nector. 


A    CATCH.  [p.  67.] 

COme,  come  away  to  the  Tavern  I  say, 
For  now  at  home  'tis  washing  day : 
Leave  your  prittle  prattle,  and  fill  us  a  pottle  [;] 
You  are  not  so  wise  as  Aristotle  : 
Drawer  come  away,  let's  make  it  Holy  day. 
Anon,  Anon,  Anon,  Sir :  what  is't  you  say  [?] 


Made  up  into  Pills.     1661. 


151 


A     CATCH. 

THere  was  an  old  man  at  Walton  cross,  [Waltham] 
Who  merrily  sung  when  he  liv'd  by  the  loss; 
Hey  tro-ly  loly  lo. 
He  never  was  heard  to  sigh  a  hey  ho, 
But  he  sent  it  out  with  Hey  troly  loly  lo. 
He  chear'd  up  his  heart, 
When  his  goods  went  to  wrack[,] 
With  a  hem,  boy.  Hem  ! 
And  a  cup  of  old  Sack ; 
Sing,  hey  troly  loly  lo. 

A    CATCH. 

8.  /''^Ome,  let  us  cast  Dice  who  shall  drink, 

V '  Mine  is  twelve,  and  his  sice  sink, 

Six  and  Fo7vr  is  thine,  and  he  threw  nine. 
Come  away.  Sink  tray  ;  Size  ace,  fair  play  ; 
Quater-duce  is  your  throw  Sir ;  |p.  68.] 

Quater-ace,  they  run  low,  sir  : 
7\uo  Dewces,  I  see  ;  Dewce  ace  is  but  three : 
Oh  !  where  is  the  Wine  ?  Come,  fill  up  his  glasse, 
For  here  is  the  man  has  thrown  Ams-ace. 


10. 


A     CATCH. 

(wife, 

NEver  let  a  man  take  heavily  the  clamor  of  his 
But  be  rul'd  by  me,  and  lead  a  merry  life ; 
Let  her  have  her  will  in  every  thing, 
If  she  scolds,  then  laugh  and  sing. 

Hey  derry,  derry,  ding.  A 


152  Antidote  against  Melaticholy, 

A    CATCH. 
II.  T     Et's  cast  away  care,  and  merrily  sing, 

J J  There  is  a  time  for  every  thing ; 

He  that  playes  at  work,  and  works  at  his  play, 
Neither  keeps  working,  nor  yet  Holy  day  : 
Set  business  aside,  and  let  us  be  merry. 
And  drown  our  dull  thoughts  in  Canary  and  Sherry. 


A    CATCH. 
1 2.  T  T  Ang  sorrow,  and  cast  away  care, 
xl    And  let  us  drink  up  our  Sack  : 
They  say  'tis  good  to  cherish  the  blood. 

And  for  to  strengthen  the  back  : 
Tis  Wine  that  makes  the  thoughts  aspire, 

And  fills  the  body  with  heat ; 
Besides  'tis  good,  if  well  understood      [p.  69,] 
To  fit  a  man  for  the  feat; 
Then  call,  and  drink  up  all. 

The  drawer  is  ready  to  Jill: 
Pox  take  care,  what  need  we  to  spare, 
My  Father  has  made  his  will. 


A   C  A  T  C  H .  [p.  70.] 

16.   1\  /r  Y  lady  and  her  Maid,  upon  a  merry  pin, 
iVX     They  made  a  match  at  F  .  .  ting,  who 
should  the  wager  win.  (upright ; 

Jone  lights  three  candles  then,  and  sets  them  bolt 

With 


Made  up  into  Pills.     1 66 1 ,  153 

With  the  first  f .  ,  .  she  blew  them  out, 
With  the  next  she  gave  them  light : 
In  comes  my  Lady  then,  with  all  her  might  and  main, 
And  blew  them  out,  and  in  and  out,  and  out  and 
in  again. 


"A 


A    CATCH. 

N  old  house  end,  an  old  house  end. 
And  many  a  good  fellow  wants  mon[e]y  to 
If  thou  wilt  borrow  (spend. 

Come  hither  to  morrow 
I  dare  not  part  so  soon  with  my  friend[.] 
But  let  us  be  merry,  and  drink  of  our  sherry. 
But  to  part  with  my  mon[e]y  I  do  not  intend[.] 
Then  a  t .  .  d  in  thy  teeth,  and  an  old  house  end. 


A    CATCH.  [p.  7I-] 

20.  "\  ^  rilt  thou  lend  me  thy  Mare  to  ride  a  mile 

V  V     No;  she's  lame  going  over  a  stile. 
But  if  thou  wilt  her  to  me  spare 
Thou  shalt  have  mony  for  thy  mare  : 
Oh  say  yoii  so,  say  you  so, 
Mon[e]y  will  make  my  mare  to  go. 

THE     ANSWER. 

21.  "\ /"Our  mare  is  lame ;  she  halts  downe  right, 

X    Then  shall  we  not  get  to  London  to  night  : 

You 


1 54  Antidote  against  Melancholy, 

You  cry'd  ho,  ho,  mon[e]y  made  her  go, 
But  now  I  well  perceive  it  is  not  so[.] 
You  must  spur  her  up,  and  put  her  to't 
Though  mon[e]y  will  not  make  her  goe,  your  spurj 
will  do't. 


.y''      A     CATCH  [p-  72. 

23.  /"^  Ood  Symon,  how  comes  it  your  Nose  looks 
Vj"         so  red. 

And  your  cheeks  and  lips  look  so  pale  ? 
Sure  the  heat  of  the  tost  your  Nose  did  so  rost. 

When  they  were  both  sous't  in  Ale. 
It  showes  like  the  Spire  of  Fauis  steeple  on  fire. 
Each  Ruby  darts  forth  (such  lightning)  Flashes, 
While  your  face  looks  as  dead,  as  if  it  were  Lead 

And  cover'd  all  over  with  ashes. 
Now  to  heighten  his  colour,  yet  fill  his  pot  fuUe: 

And  nick  it  not  so  with  froth, 
Gra-mercy,mine  Host !  it  shall  save  the[e]  aToast 

Sup  Simon,  for  here  is  good  broth. 


A    CATCH. 

24.  A  ^  rilt  thou  be  Fatt,  He  tell  thee  how, 

V  V       Thou  shalt  quickly  do  the  Feat ; 

And  that  so  plump  a  thing  as  thou 

Was  never  yet  made  up  of  meat : 

Drink  off  thy  Sack,  twas  onely  that 

Made  Bacchus  and  J^ack  Falstafe,  Fatt. 

Now, 


I 


Made  tip  into  Pills.     1661.  155 

Now,  every  Fat  man  I  advise, 

That  scarce  can  peep  out  of  his  eyes, 

Which  being  set,  can  hardly  rise;  [p.  73.] 

Drink  off  his  Sack,  and  freely  quaff: 

'Twil  make  him  lean,  but  me  [to]  laugh 

To  tell  him  how 'tis  on  a  staff. 


*  A    CATCH. 

25.  /'^F  all  the  Birds  that  ever  I  see, 

V^     The  Owle  is  the  fairest  in  her  degree ; 
For  all  the  day  long  she  sits  in  a  tree. 
And  when  the  night  comes,  away  flies  she ; 

To  whit,  to  whow,  to  whom  drink['st]  thou. 
Sir  Knave  to  thou  ; 

This  song  is  well  sung,  I  make  you  a  vow,  [p.  73] 
And  he  is  a  knave  that  drinketh  now ;  (red  Nose  ? 
Nose,  Nose,  Nose,  and  who  gave  thee  that  jolly 
[Cinnamon  and  gin-ger,]  (red  ,Nose. 

Nutmegs  and  Cloves,  and  that  gave  thee  thy  jolly 


A    CATCH. 
26.  ''  I  ^  His  Ale,  my  bonny  Lads,  is  as  brown  as  a  berry, 
X      Then  let  us  be  merry  here  an  houre, 
And  drink  it  ere  its  sowre 
Here's  to  the[e],  lad, 
Come  to  me,  lad; 

Let  it  come  Boy,  To  my  Thumb  boy. 
Drink  it  off  Sir ;  'tis  enough  Sir  ; 
Fill  mine  Host,  Tonis  Pot  and  Toast.  A 


156  Antidote  agdinst  Melancholy, 

A    CATCH. 

27.  "\  Tl  THat !  are  we  met  ?    come,  let's  see 

V  V       If  here's  enough  to  sing  this  Glee. 

Look  about,  count  your  number, 

Singing  will  keep  us  from  crazy  slumber ; 

1,2,  and  3,  so  many  there  be  that  can  sing, 

The  rest  for  wine  may  ring  : 

Here  is  Tom  Jack  and  Harry; 

Sing  away  and  doe  not  tarry, 
Merrily  now  let's  sing,  carouse,  and  tiple, 
Here's  Bristow  milk,  come  suck  this  niple. 
There's  a  fault  sir,  never  halt  Sir,  before  a  criple. 


J, 


A    CATCH. 

28.   "f  Og  on,  jog  on  the  Foot  path-way. 
And  merrily  hen't  the  stile-a ; 
Your  merry  heart  go'es  all  the  day. 

Your  sad  tires  in  a  mile-a. 
Your  paltry  mony  bags  of  Gold, 

What  need  have  we  to  stare-for, 
When  little  or  nothing  soon  is  told. 
And  we  have  the  less  to  care-for  ? 
Cast  care  away,  let  sorrow  cease,        [p.  74.] 

A  Figg  for  MelanchoUy ; 
Let's  laugh  and  sing,  or  if  you  please, 
We'l  frolick  with  sweet  Dolly. 

A 


Made  up  into  Pills.     1661.  157 

A    SONG. 

Translated  out  of  Greek. 
'30.     'nr^He  parcht  Earth  drinks  the  Rain, 
X        Trees  drink  it  up  again  ; 
The  Sea  the  Ayre  doth  quaff, 
Sol  drinks  the  Ocean  off ; 
And  when  that  Health  is  done, 
Pale  Cinthia  drinks  the  sun  : 
Why,  then,  d'ye  stem  my  drinking  Tyde, 
Striving  to  make  me  sad,  I  will,  I  will  be  mad. 


A    CATCH.  [p.  75-] 

31.    I  "^Ly,  Boy,  Fly,  Boy,  to  the  Cellars  bottom  : 
X^    View  well  your  Quills  and  Bung,  Sir. 
Draw  Wine  to  preserve  the  Lungs  Sir  j 
Not  rascally  Wine  to  Rot  u'm. 
If  the  Quill  runs  foul. 
Be  a  trusty  soul,  and  cane  it ; 
For  the  Health  is  such 
An  ill  drop  will  much  profane  it. 


UPON    A    WELCHMAN. 
32.    A     Man  of  Wales,  a  litle  before  Easter 

Jr\,  Ran  on  his  Hostes  score  for  Cheese  a  teaster : 
His  Hostes  chalkt  it  up  behind  the  doore,  (score  : 
And  said,  For  Cheese  (good  Sir)  Come  pay  the 
Cod's  Plutemails  (quoth  he)  what  meaneth  these  ? 
What  dost  thou  think  her  knows  not  Chalk  from 

(Cheese  ? 


158  Antidote  against  Melancholy, 

A    SONG. 


33.    T~\Rink,  drink,  all  you  that  think 

I  J     To  cure  your  souls  of  sadnesse  ; 
Take  up  your  Sack,  'tis  all  you  lack, 
All  worldly  care  is  madness. 
Let  Lawyers  plead,  and  SchoUars  read, 
And  Sectaries  still  conjecture, 

Yet  we  can  be  as  merry  as  they, 
With  a  Cup  of  Apollo's  nectar. 

Let  gluttons  feed,  and  souldiers  bleed. 

And  fight  for  reputation. 

Physicians  be  fools  to  fill  up  close  stools, 

And  cure  men  by  purgation  : 

Yet  we  have  a  way  far  better  than  they. 

Which  Galen  could  never  conjecture. 

To  cure  the  head,  nay  quicken  the  dead, 
With  a  cup  of  Apollo's  Nectar. 

We  do  forget  we  are  in  debt 

When  we  with  liquor  are  warmed ; 

We  dare  out-face  the  Sergeant's  Mace,      [p.  76.] 

And  Martiall  Troops  though  armed. 

The  Swedish  King  much  honour  did  win. 

And  valiant  was  as  Hector; 

Yet  we  can  be  as  valiant  as  he, 
With  a  cup  of  Apollo's  Nectar. 

Let 


Made  up  into  Pills.     1661.  159 

Let  the  worlds  slave  his  comfort  have, 

And  hug  his  hoards  of  treasure, 

Till  he  and  his  wish  meet  both  in  a  dish, 

So  dies  a  miser  in  pleasure. 

'Tis  not  a  fat  farm  our  wishes  can  charm, 

We  scorn  this  greedy  conjecture ;         (commend 

Tis  a  health  to  our  friend,  to  whom  we 
This  cup  of  Apollo's  Nectar. 

The  Pipe  and  the  Pot,  are  our  common  shot, 

Wherewith  we  keep  a  quarter  ; 

Enough  for  to  choak  with  fire  and  smoak 

The  Great  Turk  and  the  Tartar. 

Our  faces  red,  our  ensignes  spread, 

Apollo  is  our  Protector : 

To  rear  up  the  Scout,  to  run  in  and  out. 
And  drink  up  this  cup  of  Nectar. 


A    CATCH. 

34.  \  ^  7"  Elcome,  welcome  again  to  thy  wits, 
V  V  This  is  a  Holy  day  : 

I'le  have  no  plots  nor  melancholly  fits. 
But  merrily  passe  the  time  away  : 
They  are  mad  that  are  sad ; 
Be  rai'd,  by  me, 
And  none  shall  be  so  merry  as  we ; 

The 


i6o  Antidote  against  Melancholy y 

The  Kitchin  shall  catch  cold  no  more, 
And  we'l  have  no  key  to  the  Buttery  dore, 
The  fidlers  shall  sing, 
And  the  house  shall  ring, 
And  the  world  shall  see 
What  a  merry  couple, 
Merry  couple. 
We  will  be. 


FINIS. 


Songs 


\ 


i6i 

;^  v-^i  vs^  ^  v5  »^  v^  v:^  v^  ^  v^  ^^  v^  v^  ^  ^  ^  v^  v^  v^  v^  ^ 

EDITORIAL  POSTSCRIPT  : 

I. ON    THE    "author"   OF 

AJ\r  ANTIDOTE  AGAINST  MELANCHOLY, 
1661. 


THANKS  be  to  the  worthy  bookseller,  George 
Thomason,*  for  prudence  in  laying  aside  the  "  tall 
copy  "  of  this  amusing  book,  from  which  we  make  our 
transcript  of  text  and  engraving.  Probably  it  did  not 
exceed  two  shillings,  in  price  ;  (at  least,  we  have  seen 

*  George  Thomason.  It  was  in  1640  that  this  bookseller  com- 
menced systematically  to  preserve  a  copy  of  every  pamphlet, 
broadside,  and  printed  book  connected  with  the  political  distur- 
bances. Until  after  the  Restoration  in  1660,  he  continued  his 
valuable  collection,  so  far  as  possible  without  omission,  but  not 
without  danger  and  interruption.  In  his  will  he  speaks  of  it  as 
"  not  to  be  paralleled,"  and  it  was  intact  at  Oxford  when  he  died 
in  1666.  Charles  II.  had  too  many  feminine  claimants  on  his 
money  and  time  to  allow  him  to  purchase  the  invaluable  series 
of  printed  documents,  as  it  had  been  desired  that  he  should  do. 
The  sum  of  ^4,000  was  refused  for  this  collection  of  30,000 
pamphlets,  bound  in  2,000  volumes ;  but,  after  several  changes 
of  ownership,  they  were  ultimately  purchased  by  King  George 
the  Third,  for  only  three  or  four  hundred  pounds,  and  were  pre- 
sented by  him  to  the  nation.  They  are  in  the  British  Museum, 
known  as  the  King's  Pamphlets,  and  the  Antidote  against  Melan- 
choly is  among  the  small  quartos.  See  Isaac  D'Israeli's  Ameni- 
ties of  Literature,  for  an  interesting  account  of  the  difficulties 
and  perils  attending  their  collection  :  article  Pamphlets,  pp.  685- 
691.  edition  1868. 


I 


1 62  On  the  Author  of 

that  Anthony  k  Wood's  uncropt  copy  of  ^^ Merry  Drol- 
lery^'' 1 66 1,    is  marked  in  contemporary  manuscript 
at  "  IS.  3d.,"  each  part).     The  title  says  : — 
These  ivitty  Poems,  though  sometime  \they'\ 

may  seem  to  halt  on  crutches. 
Yet  they' I  all  merrily  please  you 

for  your  charge,  ivhich  not  much  is. 

Who  was  the  "N.  D."  to  whose  hght  labours  we  are 
indebted  for  the  compounding  of  these  "  Witty  Ballads, 
jovial  Songs,  and  merry  Catches  "  in  Pills  warranted  to 
cure  the  ills  of  Melancholy,  had  not  hitherto  been 
ascertained* ;  or  whether  he  wrote  anything  beside  the 
above  couplet,  and  the  humorous  address  To  the 
Reader,  beginning, 

There's  no  Purge  'gainst  Melancholy, 

But  ivith  Bacchus  to  be  jolly  : 

All  else  are  but  dreggs  of  Folly,  i^c.  (p.  iii.) 

*  J.  P.  Collier,  in  his  invaluable  "  Bibliographical  and  Critical 
Account  of  the  Rarest  Books  in  the  English  Language,"  1865,  ac- 
knowledges, in  reference  to  "  An  Antidote  against  Melancholy,^' 
that  "  We  are  without  information  by  whom  this  collection  of 
Poems,  Ballads,  Songs,  and  Catches  was  made  ;  but  Thomas 
Durfey,  about  sixty  years  afterwards,  imitated  the  title,  when  he 
called  his  six  volumes  '  fVit  and  Mirth,  or  Pills  to  Purge  Melan- 
choly,'' 8vo.,  1 719 — 20.'  CBibliog.  &  Crit.  Account,  vol.  i.  p.  26.) 
Again,  "  If  N.  D.,  whose  initials  are  at  the  end  of  the  rhyming 
address  '  to  the  Reader,'  were  the  person  who  made  the  selection, 
we  are  without  any  other  clue  to  his  name.  There  is  no  ground 
for  imputing  it  to  Thomas  Jordan,  excepting  that  he  was  accus- 
tomed to  deal  in  productions  of  this  class  ;  but  the  songs  and 
ballads  he  printed  were  usually  of  his  own  composition,  and  not 
the  works  of  anterior  versifyers."     {Ibid,  i.  27.) 


An  Atitidote  against  Melancholy,  1661.    163 

As  we  suspected  ( flowing  though  his  verse  might  be ) , 
he  was  more  of  bookseller  than  ballad-maker.  His 
injunctions  for  us  to  "  be  wise  and  buy,  not  borraw," 
had  a  terribly  tradesman-like  sound.  Yet  he  was  right. 
Book-borrowing  is  an  evil  practice  ;  and  book-lending 
is  not  much  better.  Woeful  chasms,  in  what  should  be 
the  serried  ranks  of  our  Library  companions,  remind 
us  pathetically,  in  too  many  cases  {book-cases,  es- 
pecially,) of  some  Coleridge-like  "lifter"  of  Lambs, 
who  made  a  raid  upon  our  borders,  and  carried  off 
plunder,  sometimes  an  unique  quarto,  on  other  days 
an  irrecoverable  duodecimo  :  With  Schiller,  we  bewail 
the  departed, — 

"  The  beautiful  is  "vanished,  and  returns  not." 

The  title  of  "  Pills  to  Purge  Melancholy"  was  by 
Playford  and  Tom  D'Urfey  afterwards  employed,  and 
kept  alive  before  the  public,  in  many  a  volume  from 
before  1684  until  1720,  if  not  later.  Whether  "  N. 
D."  himself  were  the  "  Mer[cury]  Melancholicus  " 
whose  name  appears  as  printer,  for  the  book  to  be 
**  sold  in  London  and  Westminster,"  is  to  us  not  doubt- 
ful     By  April  18,  1661,*  Thomason  had  secured  his 

*  It  was  a  week  of  supreme  rejoicing  and  froUic,  being  five 
lys  before  the  Coronation  of  Charles  II.  in  Westminster  Abbey, 
Ipril  23rd.  On  the  19th  were  the  ceremonies  of  the  Knights  of 
le  Bath,  at  the  Painted  Chamber,  and  in  the  Chapel  at  White- 
hall. On  the  22nd,  Charles  went  from  the  Tower  to  Whitehall, 
irough  well-built  triumphal  arches,  and  amid  enthusiasm. 

M  2 


164  On  the  Author  of 

copy,  and  there  need  be  no  question  that  it  was  for 
sport,  and  not  through  any  fear  of  rigid  censorship  or 
mahcious  pettifogging  interference  by  the  law,  that, 
instead  of  printer's  name,  this  pseudonym  or  nick- 
name was  adopted. 

We  beUeve  that  the  mystery  shrouding  the  per- 
sonaUty  of  "  N.  D."  can  be  dispelled.  The  discovery 
helps  us  in  more  ways  than  one,  and  connects  the 
Aiitidote  against  Melancholy,  of  166 1,  in  an  intelligible 
and  legitimate  manner,  with  much  jocular  literature  of 
later  date.  To  us  it  seems  clear  that  N.  D.  was  no 
other  than  [He]n[ry]  [PlayforJd.  The  triplets  ad- 
dressed in  1 66 1  To  the  Reader,  beginning  "There's 
no  purge  'gainst  Melancholy,"  are  repeated  at  com- 
mencement of  the  1684  edition  of  "  Wit  and  Mirth  ; 
or,  an  Antidote  to  Melancholy  "  (the  third  edition  of 
Pills  to  Purge  Melancholy ")  where  they  are  entitled 
"  The  Stationer  to  the  Reader,"  and  signed,  not 
"  N.  D.,"  but  "  H.  P.;"  for  Henry  Playford,  whose 
name  appears  in  full  as  publisher  "  near  the  Temple 
Church."  Thus,  the  repetition  or  alteration  of  the 
original  title,  "  An  Antidote  against  Melancholy,  made 
up  in  Pills"  or,  as  the  head-line  puts  it,  "Pills  to 
Purge  Melancholy,"  was,  in  all  probability,  a  perfectly 
business-like  reproduction  of  what  Playford  had  him- 
self originated.  What  relation  Henry  Playford  was 
to   John  Playford,  the   publisher  of  ^^  Select  Ayres," 


An  Antidote  against  Melancholy,  1661.     165 

"  Choice  Ayres"  1652,  &c.,  we  are  not  yet  certain. 
Thirteen  of  the  longest  and  most  important  poems 
from  the  1661  Antidote*  re-appear  in  that  of  1684, 
beside  four  of  the  Catches.  Indeed,  the  transmission 
of  many  of  these  Lyrics  (by  the  editions  of  1699, 
1700,  1706,  1707)  to  the  six  volume  edition,  super- 
intended by  Tom  D'Urfey  in  1719-20,  is  unbroken; 
though  we  have  still  to  find  the  edition  published 
between  1661  and  1684. 

But  even  the  1661  Antidote  is  not  entitled  to  bear 
the  credit  of  originating  the  phrase  :  Pills  to  purge 
Melancholy.  So  far  as  we  know,  by  personal  search, 
this  belongs  to  Robert  Hayman,  thirty  years  earlier. 
Among  his  Quodlibets,  1628,  on  p.  74,  we  find  the 
following  epigram  : — 

"  To  one  of  the  elders  of  the  Sanctified  Parlour  of 
Amsterdam. 
Though  thou  maist  call  my  merriments,  my  folly. 
They  are  my  Pills  to  purge  my  melancholy  ; 
They  ivould purge  thine  too,  ivert  thou  not  foole-holy ." 

*  These  are  the  Blacksmith,  the  Brewer,  Suckling's  Parley  be- 
tween two  West  Countrymen  concerning  a  Wedding,  St.  George 
and  the  Dragon,  the  Gelding  of  the  Devil,  the  Old  and  Young 
Courtier,  the  Welchman's  Praise  of  Wales,  Ben  Jonson's  Cook 
Lorrel,  "  Fetch  me  Ben  Jonson's  scull,"  a  Combat  of  Cocks, 
"  Am  I  mad,  O  noble  Festus  ?  "  "  Old  Poets  Hypocrin  admire," 
and  "  'Tis  Wine  that  inspires."  The  Catches  are  "  Drink,  drink, 
all  you  that  think ;"  "  If  any  so  wise  is,"  "  What  are  we  met  ?  " 
and  "  The  thirsty  earth  drinks  up  the  rain." 

M  3 


1 66 

W     W     W     W     w     O     w     O     O     O     w     O     w     O     w     w     w     w     O     O     w     w 

VS^  V^  V^  »Ci  ^  v:^  *<^  V^  \C7i  V^  *C^  ^  ^C7i  vc^i  V^  ^^  V^  ^  ^^  V2^  »C:^  VC?^ 

EDITORIAL  POSTSCRIPT  : 


2.— ARTHUR  0'  BRADLEY. 

CMerry  Drollery,  Compleat,  p.  312, 395;  Antidote  ag.  Mel.,  p.  16.^ 


"  Before  we  came  in  we  heard  a  great  shouting, 

And  all  that  were  in  it  look'd  madly  ; 
But  some  were  on  Bull-back,  some  dancing  a  morris, 
And  some  singing  Arthur-a-Bradley." 
— (Robin  Hood's  Birth,  &c.     Printed  by  Wm.  Onlen, 
about  1650.     In  Roxburghe  Collection  of  Black-Letter  Bal- 
lads, i.,  360.) 


SO  long  ago  as  the  Editor  can  remember,  the 
words  and  music  of  "  Arthur  o'  Bradley's  Wed- 
ding "  rang  pleasantly  in  his  ears.  The  jovial  rollick- 
ing strain  prepared  him  to  feel  interest  in  the  bridal 
attire  of  Shakespeare's  Petruchio;  who,  not  improbably, 
when  about  to  be  married  unto  "  Kate  the  Curst," 
borrowed  the  details  of  costume  and  demeanour  from 
this  popular  hero  of  song.  Or  vi'^e  versa.  To  this 
day,  the  lilt  of  the  tune  holds  a  fascination,  and  we 
sometimes  behold,  under  favourable  planetary  aspects, 
the  long  procession  of  dancing  couples  who  have, 
during  three  centuries,  footed  the  grass,  the  rushes,  or 
chalked  floor,  to  that  jig-melody,  accompanied  by  the 


Arthur  d  Bradley.  167 

bagpipes  or  fiddle  of  some  rustic  Crowdero,  Can  it 
be  possible?  Yes,  the  line  is  headed  by  the  vener- 
able Queen  Elizabeth,  holding  up  her  fardingale  with 
tips  of  taper  fingers,  and  looking  pretematurally  grim, 
to  show  that  dancing  is  a  serious  undertaking  for  a 
virgin  sovereign  (especially  when  the  Spanish  Ambas- 
sador watches  her,  with  comments  of  wonder  that  the 
Head  of  the  Church  can  dance  at  all).  Yet  is  there  a 
sly  under-glance  that  tells  of  fun,  to  those  who  are  her 
Majesty's  familiars.  Her  "  Cousin  James  "  is  not  the 
neatest  figure  as  a  partner  (which  accounts  for  her 
having  chosen  Leicester  instead,  let  alone  chronology) ; 
but  we  see  him,  close  behind,  with  Anne  of  Den- 
mark, twirling  his  crooked  little  legs  about  in  obedi- 
ence to  the  music,  until  his  round  hose  swell  like 
hemispheres  on  school-maps.  "  Baby  Charles  and 
Steenie,"  half  mockingly,  follow  after  with  the  Infanta. 
We  did  once  catch  a  glimpse  of  handsome  Carr  and 
his  wicked  paramour,  Frances  Howard,  trying  to  join 
the  Terpsichorean  revellers;  but,  beautiful  as  they 
both  were,  it  was  felt  necessary  to  exclude  them,  "for 
the  honour  of  Arthur  o'  Bradley,"  since  they  possessed 
none  of  their  own.  What  a  gallant  assemblage  of 
poets  and  dramatists  covered  the  buckle  and  snapped 
their  fingers  gleefully  to  the  merry  notes  I  Foremost 
among  them  was  rare  Ben  Jonson  (unable  to  resist 
clothing  Adam  Overdo  in  Arthur's  own  mantle)  \  and 
M  4 


1 68  Arthur  d  Bradley. 

honest  Thomas  Dekker  "followed  after  in  a  dream" 
(as  had  been  memorably  printed  on  our  seventh  page 
of  Choyce  Drollery),  thinking  of  Bellafront's  repen- 
tance, and  her  quotation  of  the  well-known  burden, 
"O  brave  Arthur  o'  Bradley,  then  ! "  A  score  of  poets 
are  junketting  with  merry  milkmaids  and  Wives  of 
Windsor.  Richard  Brathwaite  (the  creator  of  Drunken 
Barnaby)  is  not  absent  from  among  them ;  although 
he  sees,  outside  the  circle  that  for  a  moment  has 
formed  around  a  Maypole,  an  angry  crowd  of  schis- 
matic Puritans,  who  are  scowling  at  them  with  malig- 
nant eyes,  and  denunciations  misquoted  from  Scrip- 
ture. Many  a  fair  Precisian,  nevertheless,  yields  to 
the  honeyed  pleading  of  a  be-love-locked  Cavalier,  and 
the  irresistible  charms  of  "Arthur  o'  Bradley,  ho  !" 
showing  the  prettiest  pair  of  ankles,  and  the  most  de- 
lightful mixture  of  bashfulness  and  enjoyment ;  until 
the  Roundhead  Buff-coats  prove  too  numerous,  and 
whisk  her  off  to  a  conventicle,  where,  the  sexes  sitting 
widely  apart,  for  aught  we  know,  the  crop-eared  rout 
sing  unpoetic  versions  of  the  Psalmist  to  the  tune  of 
Arthur  o'  Bradley,  "godlified"  and  eke  expurgated. 

Cromwell,  we  know,  loved  music,  withal,  and  it  is 
not  unlikely  that  those  two  ladies  are  his  daughters, 
whom  we  behold  dancing  somewhat  stifly  in  John 
Kingston's  music-chamber  ;  Mrs.  Claypole  and  her 
sister,  Mrs  Rich  :    there  are  L'Estrange,  who  fiddles 


Arthur  o>  Bradley.  169 

to  them,  and  Old  Noll,  smiling  pleasantly,  though  the 
tune  be  Arthur  o'  Bradley.  Our  Second  Charles  (not 
yet  "Restored")  is  also  dancing  to  it,  at  the  Hague 
(as  we  see  in  Janssen's  Windsor  picture),  with  the 
Princess  Palatine  Elizabeth,  and  such  a  bevy  of  bright 
faces  round  them,  that  we  lose  our  heart  entirely. 
Can  we  not  see  him  again — crowned  now,  and  self- 
acknowledged  as  "Old  Rowley" — at  one  of  the  many 
balls  in  Whitehall  recorded  by  Samuel  Pepys,*  enter- 

*  Ball  at  Court. — "31st.  [December,  1662.]  Mr.  Povy  and  I 
to  White  Hall;  he  taking  me  thither  on  purpose  to  carry  me  into 
the  ball  this  night  before  the  King.  He  brought  me  first  to  the 
Duke  [of  York]  's  chamber,  where  1  saw  him  and  the  Duchesse  at 
supper ;  and  thence  into  the  room  where  the  ball  was  to  be ; 
crammed  with  fine  ladies,  the  greatest  of  the  Court.  By  and  by, 
comes  the  King  and  Queene,  the  Duke  and  Duchesse,  and  all  the 
great  ones  ;  and  after  seating  themselves,  the  King  takes  out  the 
Duchesse  of  York  ;  and  the  Duke,  the  Duchesse  of  Buckingham  ; 
the  Duke  of  Monmouth,  my  Lady  Castlemaine;  and  so  other  lords 
other  ladies  :  and  they  danced  the  Brantle  [/  Braule] .  After  that 
the  King  led  a  lady  a  single  Coranto ;  and  then  the  rest  of  the 
lords,  one  after  another,  other  ladies  :  very  noble  it  was,  and  great 
pleasure  to  see.  Then  to  country  dances  ;  the  King  leading  the 
first,  which  he  called  for,  which  was,  says  he,  '  Cuckolds  all 
awry  [a-row],'  the  old  dance  of  England.  Of  the  ladies  that 
danced,  the  Duke  of  Monmouth's  mistress,  and  my  Lady  Castle- 
maine, and  a  daughter  of  Sir  Harry  de  Vicke's,  were  the  best. 
The  manner  was,  when  the  King  dances,  all  the  ladies  in  the 
room,  and  the  Queene  herself,  stand  up :  and  indeed  he  dances 
rarely,  and  much  better  than  the  Duke  of  York.  Having  staid 
here  as  long  as  I  thought  fit,  to  my  infinite  content,  it  being  the 
greatest  pleasure  I  could  wish  now  to  see  at  Court,  I  went  home, 
leaving  them  dancing." — CDiary  of  Samuel  Pepys,  Esq.,  F.R.S., 
Secretary  to  the  Admiralty,  &c.) 


170  Arthur  d  Bradley. 

ing  gaily  into  all  the  mirth  with  that  grave,  swarthy 
face  of  his;  not  noticing  the  pouts  of  Catherine,  who 
sits  neglected  while  The  Castlemaine  laughs  loudly, 
the  fair  Stewart  simpers,  and  the  little  spaniels  bark 
or  caper  through  the  palace,  snapping  at  the  dancers' 
heels  ?  Be  sure  that  pretty  Nelly  and  saucy  Knipj) 
were  also  well  acquainted  with  the  music  of  "rare 
Arthur  o'  Bradley,"  as  indeed  were  thousands  of  the 
play-goers  to  whom  the  former  once  sold  oranges. 

And  lower  ranks  delighted  in  it.  Pierce,  the  Bag- 
piper, is  himself  the  central  figure,  when  we  look 
again,  "  with  cheeks  as  big  as  a  mitre,"  such  time  as 
that  table-full  of  Restoration  revellers  (whom  we  catch 
sight  of  in  our  frontispiece  to  the  Antidote,  1661)  are 
beginning  to  shake  a  toe  in  honour  of  the  music. 

So  it  continues  for  two  centuries  more,  with  all 
varieties  of  costume  and  feature.  Certain  are  we  that 
plump  Sir  Richard  Steele  whistled  the  tune,  and  Dean 
Swift  gave  the  Dublin  ballad-singer  a  couple  of  thir- 
teens  for  singing  it.  Dr.  Johnson  grunted  an  accom- 
paniment whenever  he  heard  the  melody,  and  James 
Boswell  insisted  on  dancing  to  it,  though  a  little 
"  overtaken,"  and  got  his  sword  entangled  betwixt  his 
legs,  which  cost  him  a  fall  and  a  plastered  head-piece, 
by  no  means  for  the  only  time  on  record.  It  is  re- 
ported that  good  old  George  the  Third  was  seen  en- 
deavouring to  persuade  Queen  Charlotte  to  accom- 


Art/mr  o'  Bradley.  171 

pany  him  on  the  Spinnet,  while  he  set  their  numerous 
olive-branches  jigging  it  delightedly  "for  the  honour  of 
Arthur  d  Bradley."  But  whenever  Dr.  John  Wolcot 
was  reported  to  be  prowling  near  at  hand,  with  Peter 
Pindaresque  eyes,  the  motion  ceased.  Well  was  it 
loved  by  honest  Joseph  Ritson,  'impiger,  iraamdus 
inexorabilis,  acer — better  than  vegetable  diet  and 
eccentric  spelling,  or  the  flagellation  of  inexact  anti- 
quarian Bishops.  We  ourselves  may  have  beheld 
him  in  high  glee  perusing  the  black-letter  ballad,  and 
rectifying  its  corrupt  text  by  the  Afitidote  against 
Melatuholfs.  How  lustily  he  skipped,  shouting  mean- 
while the  burden  of  "brave  Arthur  d  Bradley!"  so 
that  unconsciously  he  joined  the  ten-mile  train  of 
dancers.  They  are  still  winding  around  us,  some  in 
a  Nineteenth-Century  garb  (a  little  tattered,  but  it 
adds  to  the  picturesqueness),  blithe  Hop-pickers  of 
West-Bridge  Deanery.  There  are  a  few  New  Zea- 
landers,  we  understand,  waiting  to  join  the  throng, 
(including  Macaula/s  own  particular  circumnavigating 
meditator,  yet  unborn) ;  so  that  as  long  as  the  world 
wags  no  welcome  may  be  lacking  to  the  mirth  and 
melody,  jigging  and  joustling, 

"  For  the  honour  o/"  Arthur  o'  Bradley, 
O  rare  Arthur  6*  Bradley, 
O  bra've  Arthur  o'  Bradley, 
Arthur  0'  Bradley.  0  !  " 


172  Arthur  d  Bradley. 

Having  relieved  our  feelings,  for  once,  we  resume  the 
sober  duties  of  Annotation  in  a  chastened  spirit  : — 

In  Merry  Drollery  Compleat,  Reprint  (Appendix,  p. 
401),  we  gave  the  full  quotation  from  a  Sixteenth  Century 
Interlude,  The  Contract  of  Marriage  betiveen  Wit  ayid 
Wisdom,  the  point  being  this  : — 

"  For  the  honour  of  Artrebradley, 
This  age  ivould  make  me  svuear  madly  !  " 

Arthur  o'  Bradley  is  mentioned  by  Thomas  Dekker, 
near  the  end  of  the  first  part  of  his  Honest  Whore,  1604; 
when  Bellafront,  assuming  to  be  mad,  hears  that  Mattheo 
is  to  marry  her,  she  exclaims — 

"  Shall  he  ?  O  hra-ve  Arthur  0/ Bradley,  then  ?" 

In  Ben  Jonson's  Bartholomeiv  Fair,  1614,  (which  covers 
the  Puritans  with  ridicule,  for  the  delight  of  James  1st.), 
Act  ii.  Scene  i,  when  Adam  Overdo,  the  Sectary,  is  dis- 
guised in  a  "garded  coat"  as  Arthur  o' Bradley,  to 
gesticulate  outside  a  booth.  Mooncalf  salutes  him  thus  : — 
"  O  Lord !  do  you  not  know  him.  Mistress  ?  'tis  mad 
Arthur  of  Bradley  that  makes  the  orations. —  Brave 
master,  old  Arthur  of  Bradley,  how  do  you  do?  Wel- 
come to  the  Fair  !  When  shall  we  hear  you  again,  to 
handle  your  matters,  ivith your  back  against  a  booth,  ha?" 

In  Richard  Brathwaite's  Strappado  for  the  Diuell,  1615, 
p.  225  (in  a  long  poem,  containing  notices  of  Wakefield, 
Bradford,  and  Kendall,  addressed  "  to  all  true-bred  Nor- 
therne  Sparks,  of  the  generous  Society  of  the  Cottoneers," 
&c.)  is  the  following  reference  to  this  tune,  and  to  other 
two,  viz.  "Wilson's  Delight,"  and  Mai  Dixpn's  Round:" 

"  So  each  (through  peace  of  conscience')  rapt  ivith  pleasure 
Shall  ioifully  begin  to  dance  his  measure. 
One  footing  a^iuely  Wilson's  delight, .... 


Arthur  o'  Bradley.  173 

The  fourth  is  chanting  of  his  Notes  so  gladly. 
Keeping  the  tune  for  th'  honour  of  Arthnv a.  Bradly  ; 
The  5[th]  so  pranke  he  scarce  can  stand  on  ground. 
Asking  ivhd'le  sing  ivith  him  Mai  Dixon's  round." 

(By  the  way:  The  same  author,  Richard  Brathwaite,  in 
his  amusing  Shepherds  Tales,  1621,  p.  211,  mentions  as 
other  Dance-tunes, 

Roundelayes,  ||         \r'\^-hayes. 

Cogs  and  rongs  and  Peggie  Ramsie, 
Spaniletto         \\  The  Venetto, 

John  come  kisse  me,  Wilson's  Fancie.) 

Again,  Thomas  Gayton  writes  concerning  the  hero  : — 
"  'Tis  not  alwaies  sure  that  'tis  merry  in  hall  ivhen  beards 
Wag  all,  for  these  men's  beards  wagg'd  as  fast  as  they 
could  tag  'em,  but  mov'd  no  mirth  at  all :  They  were 
verifying  that  song  of — 

Heigh,  brave  Arthur  0'  Bradley, 
A  beard  ivithout  hair  looks  madly." 

(  Festii/ous  Notes  on  Don  Quixot,  1654,  p.  141.) 

On  pp.  540,  604,  of  William  Chappell's  excellent  work. 
The  Popular  Music  of  the  Olden  Time,  are  given  two 
tunes,  one  for  the  Antidote  version,  and  the  other  for 
the  modern,  as  sung  by  Taylor,  "  Come  neighbours,  and 
listen  a  while."  He  quotes  the  two  lines  from  Gayton, 
and  also  this  from  Wm.  Wycherley's  Gentleman  Dancing 
Master,  1673,  Act  i,  Sc.  2,  where  Gerrard  says  : — 
"Sing  him  'Arthur  of  Bradley,'  or  */  am  the  Duke  of 
Norfolk.'" 

It  is  quite  evident,  from  such  passages,  that  during  a 
long  time  a  proverbial  and  popular  character  attached  to 
this  noisy  personage :  such  has  not  yet  passed  away.  The 
earliest  complete  imprint  of  "  Arthur  o'  Bradley  "  as  a 
Song,  (from  a  printed  original,  of  1656,  beginning  "All 


174  Arthur  d  Bradley. 

you  that  desire  to  merry  be")  in  our  present  Appendix, 
Part  iv.  Quite  distinct  from  this  hitherto  unnoticed  ex- 
amplar,  not  already  reprinted,  is  "Sazv  you  not  Pierce, 
the  piper,"  &c.,  the  ballad  reproduced  by  us,  from 
Merry  Drollery,  i66l.  Part  2nd.,  p.  124,  (and  ditto, 
Compleat  1670,  1691,  p.  312);  which  agrees  with  the 
Antidote  against  Melancholy,  same  date,  1661,  p.  16. 
More  than  a  Century  later,  an  inferior  rendering  was  com- 
mon, printed  on  broadsheets.  It  was  mentioned,  in  1 797, 
by  Joseph  Ritson,  as  being  a  "much  more  modern  ballad 
[than  the  Antidote  version]  upon  this  popular  subject,  in 
the  same  measure  intitled  Arthur  o'  Bradley,  and  begin- 
ning 'All  in  the  merry  month  of  May.'  "  (Robin  Hood, 
1797,  ii.  211.)  Of  this  we  already  gave  two  verses,  (in 
Appendix  to  M.  Drollery  C,  p.  400),  but  as  we  believe 
the  ballad  has  not  been  reprinted  in  this  century,  we  may 
give  all  that  is  extant,  from  the  only  copy  within  reach, 
of  Arthur  o'  Bradley  : — 

"  All  in  the  merry  month  of  May, 

The  maids  [  they  ivill  be  gay. 

For  ]  a  May-pole  they  ivill  have,  &c. 

(See  the  present  Appendix,  Part  iv.) 
In  this,  doubtless,  we  detect  two  versions,  garbed  to- 
gether. What  is  now  the  final  verse  is  merely  a  variation 
of  the  sixth  :  probably  the  broadsheet-printer  could  not 
meet  with  a  genuine  eighth  verse.  Robert  Bell  denounced 
the  whole  as  "a  miserable  composition"  ( even  as  he  had 
declared  against  the  amatory  Lyrics  of  Charles  the 
Second's  time  ):  but  then,  he  might  have  added,  with 
Goldsmith,  "  My  Bear  dances  to  none  but  the  werry 
genteelest  of  tunes." 

Far  superior  to  this  was    the    "Arthur    o'    Bradley's 
Wedding  : 

"  Come,  neighbours,  and  listen  aivhile. 
If  ever  you  nvished  to  smile,"  &c.. 


I 


Arthur  d  Bradley.  175 


which  was  sung  by  .  .  .  Taylor,  a  comic  actor,  about  the 
beginning  of  this  century.  It  is  not  improbable  that  he 
wrote  or  adapted  it,  availing  himself  of  such  traditional 
scraps  as  he  could  meet  with.  Two  copies  of  it,  duplicate, 
on  broadsheets,  are  in  the  Douce  Collection  at  Oxford, 
vol.  iv.  pp.  18,  19.  A  copy,  also,  in  J.  H.  Dixon's  Bds.  and 
Sgs.  of  the  Peasantry,  Percy  Soc,  1845,  vol.  xvii.  (and  in 
R.  B.'s  Annotated  Ed.  B.  P.,  p.  138.) 

There  is  still  another  "Arthur  o'  Bradley,"  but  not 
much  can,  or  need,  be  said  in  its  favour;  except  that  it 
contains  only  three  verses.  Yet  even  these  are  more 
than  two  which  can  be  spared.  Its  only  tolerable  lines 
are  borrowed  from  the  Roxburghe  Ballad.  It  is  the  nadir 
of  Bradleyism,  and  has  not  even  a  title,  beyond  the  burden 
"  O  rare  Arthur  0'  Bradley,  0 !"  Let  us,  briefly,  be  in 
at  the  death  :  although  Arthur  makes  not  a  Swan-like 
end,  with  the  help  of  his  Catnach  poet.     It  begins  thus  : 

'  Tivas  in  the  siveet  month  of  May,  I  ivalked  out  to  take 

the  air. 
My  Father  he  died  one  day,  and  he  left  me  his  son  and  heir  ; 
He  left  me  a  good  ivarm   house,   that   ivanted  only    a 

thatch, 
A  strong  oak  door  to  my  chamber,  that  only   ivanted  a 

latch  ; 
He  left  me  a  rare  old  co-zv,  I  ivish  he'd  have  left  me  a  sozv, 
A  cock  that  in  fighting  ivas  shy,  and  a  horse  ivith  a  sharp 

ivall  eye,  (Sfc. 

{Universal  Songster,  1826,  i.  368.) 

Even  Ophelia  could  not  ask,  after  Arthur  sinking  so  low, 
"And  will  he  not  come  again  ?" 

September,  1875.  J.  W.  E. 


176 


' 


[So  far  as  possible,  to  give  completeness  to  our  Reprint  of  West- 
minster Drollery  of  1671-2,  and  Merry  Drollery,  Compleat,  1670- 
169 1,  we  now  add  the  Extra  Songs  belonging  to  the  former  work, 
edition  1674;  and  to  the  latter,  in  its  earlier  edition,  1661 :  with 
their  respective  title-pages.] 


Westminster 


Wejlmiiijler-Drollery. 

Or,  A  Choice 

COLLECTION 

of  the  Newest 

SONGS  &  POEMS 

BOTH   AT 

Cou)rt  antr  Cheaters;. 

BY 

A  Person  of  Quality. 


The  third  Edition,  with  many  more 
Additions. 


LONDON, 

Printed  for  //•  Broym,  at  the  Gun  in  St.  PauVs 

Church  Yard,  near  the  West  End. 

MDCLXXIV. 


179 


ADDITIONAL     SONGS 

FROM   THE 

Westminster-Drollery: 

Edition   1674. 


A  Song. 


[p.  III.] 


SO  wretched  are  the  sick  of  Love, 
No  Herb  has  vertue  to  remove 
The  growing  ill : 
But  still, 
The  more  we  Remedies  oppose 
The  Feaver  more  malignant  grows. 

Doubts  do  but  add  unto  desire. 
Like  Oyl  that's  thrown  upon  the  fire. 
Which  serves  to  make  the  flame  aspire ; 
And  not  t'  extinguish  it : 
Love  has  its  trembhng,  and  its  burning  fit, 
N  2 


2. 


r 


i8o  Additional  Songs,  from  the 

2.  Fruition  which  the  sick  propose  [p.  H2.] 
To  end,  and  recompence  their  woes, 

But  turns  them  o're 
To  more. 
And  curing  one,  does  but  prepare 
A  new,  perhaps  a  greater  care. 

Enjoyment  even  in  the  chaste. 
Pleases,  not  satisfies  the  taste, 
And  licens'd  Love  the  worst  can  fast. 
Such  is  the  Lovers  state, 
Pining  and  pleas'd,  alike  unfortunate. 

3.  Sabina  and  Camilla  share 
An  equal  interest  in  care, 

Fear  hath  each  brest 
Possest. 
In  different  Fortunes,  one  pure  flame 
Makes  their  unhappiness  the  same. 

Love  begets  fear,  fear  grief  creates. 
Passion  still  passion  animates, 
Love  will  be  love  in  all  estates  : 
His  power  still  is  one 
Whether  in  hope  or  in  possession. 


Westminster-Drollery,  16^4 


i«i 


A  Song. 


[p-  113-] 


I.  '^  I  ^O  Arms  !  to  Arms  !  the  Heroes  cry, 
A      A  glorious  Death,  or  Victory. 
Beauty  and  Love,  although  combin'd, 

And  each  so  powerful  alone, 
Cannot  prevail  against  a  mind 

Bound  up  in  resolution. 
Tears  their  weak  influence  vainly  prove. 
Nothing  the  daring  breast  can  move 
Honour  is  blind,  and  deaf,  ev'n  deaf  to  Love. 

2.  The  Field  !  the  Field  !  where  Valour  bleeds,     * 
Spum'd  into  dust  by  barbed  steeds, 

Instead  of  wanton  Beds  of  Down 

Is  now  the  Scene  where  they  must  try. 
To  overthrow,  or  be  o'rethrown  ; 

Bravely  to  overcome,  or  dye. 
Honour  in  her  interest  sits  above 
What  Beauty,  Prayers,  or  tears  can  move  : 
Were  there  no  Honour,  there  would  be  no  Love. 


N  3 


1 82  Additional  Songs,  from  the 


[p.  114.]  A  Song. 

1.  1")  Eauty  that  it  self  can  kill, 

JD  Through  the  finest  tempefd  steel, 
Can  those  wounds  she  makes  endure, 

And  insult  it  o're  the  brave, 
Since  she  knows  a  certain  cure, 
When  she  is  dispos'd  to  save  : 
But  when  a  Lover  bleeding  lies. 

Wounded  by  other  Arms, 
And  that  she  sees  those  harms, 
For  which  she  knows  no  remedies ; 
Then  Beauty  Sorrows  livery  wears. 
And  whilst  she  melts  away  in  tears, 
Drooping  in  Sorrow  shews 
Like  Roses  overcharg'd  with  morning  dews. 

2.  Nor  do  women,  though  they  wear 
The  most  tender  character. 

Suffer  in  this  case  alone : 

Hearts  enclos'd  with  Iron  Walls, 

In  humanity  must  groan 

When  a  noble  Hero  falls. 

Pitiless 


Westminster-Drollery,  1674  183 

Pitiless  courage  would  not  be  [p-  "S-] 

An  honour,  but  a  shame  ; 
Nor  bear  the  noble  name 
Of  valour,  but  barbarity ; 
The  generous  even  in  success 
Lament  their  enemies  distress  : 
And  scorn  it  should  appear 
Who  are  the  Conquer'd,  with  the  Conqueror. 


A  Song. 

I.  'T^He  young,  the  fair,  the  chaste,  the  good, 
A  The  sweet  Camilla,  in  a  flood 
Of  her  own  Crimson  lies 
A  bloody,  bloody  sacrifice 
To  Death  and  man's  inhumane  cruelties. 
Weep  Virgins  till  your  sorrow  swells 
In  tears  above  the  Ivory  Cells 

That  guard  those  Globes  of  light ; 
Drown,  drown  those  beauties  of  your  eyes. 
Beauty  should  mourn,  when  beauty  dies ; 
And  make  a  general  night. 
To  pay  her  innocence  its  Funeral  rite. 

N  4  2.  Death 


184  Additional  Songs,  from  the 

2^ -Death  since  his  Empire  first  begun,  [p.  116.] 

So  foul  a  conquest  never  won, 

Nor  yet  so  fair  a  prize  : 
And  had  he  had  a  heart,  or  eyes, 
Her  beauties  would  have  charm'd  his  cruelties. 
Even  Savage  Beasts  will  Beauty  spare, 
Chaft  Lions  fawn  upon  the  fair ;    [Fierce  lions] 

Nor  dare  offend  the  chaste  : 
But  vitious  man,  that  sees  and  knows 
The  mischiefs  his  wild  fury  do^s, 
Humours  his  passions  haste. 
To  prove  ungovem'd  man  the  greatest  beast. 


A  Song. 

I.    T  T  Ow  frailty  makes  us  to  our  wrong 

A  J.  Fear,  and  be  loth  to  dye, 
When  Life  is  only  dying  long 

And  Death  the  remedy  ! 

We  shun  eternity, 
A  nd  still  would  gravel  her  beneath,         [ScU.,  grovel] 

Though  still  in  woe  and  strife, 
When  Life's  the  path  that  leads  to  Death, 

And  Death  the  door  to  Life. 

2.  The 


Westminster-Drollery,  1674.  185 

2.  The  Fear  of  Death  is  the  disease  [p.  117.] 

Makes  the  poor  patient  smart  \ 
Vain  apprehensions  often  freeze 

The  vitals  in  the  heart, 

Without  the  dreaded  Dart. 
When  fury  rides  on  pointed  steel 

Death's  fear  the  heart  doth  seize, 
Whilst  in  that  very  fear  we  feel 

A  greater  sting  than  his. 

3.  But  chaste  Camilla! s  vertuous  fear 

Was  of  a  noble  kind, 
Not  of  her  end  approaching  near 

But  to  be  left  behind, 

From  her  dear  Love  disjoyn'd ; 
When  Death  in  courtesie  decreed, 

To  make  the  fair  his  prize, 
And  by  one  cruelty  her  freed 

From  humane  cruelties. 


I 


CHORUS 


hus  heav'n  does  his  will  disguise, 
To  scourge  our  curiosities. 
When  too  inquisitive  we  grow 
Of  what  we  are  forbid  to  know. 


Fond 


1 86  Additional  Songs,  from  the 

Fond  humane  nature  that  will  try  [p.  1 18.] 

To  sound  th'  Abiss  of  Destiny  ! 

Alas  !  what  profit  can  arise 

From  those  forbidden  scrutinies, 

When  Oracles  what  they  foretel 

In  such  Enigma's  still  conceal, 

That  self  indulging  man  still  makes 

Of  deepest  truths  most  sad  mistakes  ! 

Or  could  our  frailty  comprehend 

The  reach  those  riddles  do  intend  : 

What  boots  it  us  when  we  have  done, 

To  foresee  ills  we  cannot  shun  ? 

But  'tis  in  man  a  vain  pretence. 

To  know  or  prophesie  events. 

Which  only  execute,  and  move, 

By  a  dependence  from  above. 

'Tis  all  imposture  to  deceive 

The  foolish  and  inquisitive. 

Since  none  foresee  what  shall  befal. 

But  providence  that  governs  all. 

Reason  wherewith  kind  Heav'n  has  blest 

His  creature  man  above  the  rest, 

Will  teach  humanity  tq  know 

All  that  it  should  aspire  unto ; 

And  whatsoever  fool  relies 

On  false  deceiving  prophesies, 

Striving  by  conduct  to  evade 

The  harms  they  threaten,  or  perswade,  Too 


Westminster-Drollery,  1674.  187 

Too  frequently  himself  does  run  [  p.  1 19.] 

Into  the  danger  he  would  shun, 

And  pulls  upon  himself  the  woe 

Fate  meant  he  should  much  later  know. 

By  such  delusions  vertue  strays 

Out  of  those  honourable  ways 

That  lead  unto  that  glorious  end, 

To  which  the  noble  ever  bend. 

Whereas  if  vertue  were  the  guide, 

Mens  minds  would  then  be  fortified 

With  constancy,  that  would  declare 

Against  supineness,  and  despair. 

We  should  events  with  patience  wait, 

And  not  despise,  nor  fear  our  Fate. 


u^/cir- 


1 88  Additional  Songs,  from  the 

[P.  120.] 

IV I CKHAM   Wakened, 

OR 

The  Quakers  Madrigall  In  Rime 
Dogrell. 

THe  Quaker  and  his  Brats, 
Are  bom  with  their  Hats, 

Which  a  point  with  two  Taggs, 

T/s  fast  to  their  Craggs, 

Nor  King  nor  Kesar, 

To  such  Knaves  as  these  are, 
Do  signifie  more  than  a  Tinker. 

His  rudeness  and  pride 

So  puffs  up  his  hide 
That  He's  drunk  though  he  be  no  drinker. 

Ctwrus. 

Now  since  Mayor  and  yustice 

Are  assured  that  thus  'tis 
To  abate  their  encrease  and  redundance 

Let  us  send  them  to  W I  C  KHA  M 

For  there's  one  will  kick  'um 
Into  much  better  manners  by  abundance. 

Once 


i 


Westminster-Drollery.  1674.  189 

Once  the  Clown  at  his  entry 

Kist  his  goUs  to  the  Gentry : 

When  the  Lady  took  upon  her, 

'Twas  God  save  your  Honor  : 

But  now  Lord  and  Pesant, 

Do  make  but  one  messe  on't 
Then  farewel  distinction  'twixt  Plowman  and  Knight. 

If  the  world  be  thus  tost 

The  old  Proverb  is  crost, 
For  Joan's  as  good  as  my  Lady  in  th'  Light. 

Chorus. 
Now  since  Mayor  and  'justice,  ds^c. 

'Tis  the  Gentry  that  Lulls  'um 

While  the  Quaker  beguUs  'um  : 

They  dandle  'um  in  their  Lapps, 

Who  should  strike  of[f]  their  Capps  ; 

And  make  'um  stand  bare 

Both  to  Justice  and  Mayor, 
Till  when  'twill  nere  be  faire  weather ; 

For  now  the  proud  Devel 

Hath  brought  forth  this  Level 
None  Knows  who  and  who  is  together. 

Now  since  Mayor  and  J^ustice,  dfc. 

Now 


190  Additional  Sojigs,  from  the 

Now  silence  and  listen  [p.  122.] 

Thou  shalt  hear  how  they  Christen  : 

Mother  Midnight  comes  out 

With  the  Babe  in  a  Clout, 

Tis  Rachell  you  must  know  tis. 

Good  friends  all  take  notice, 
Tis  a  name  from  the  Scripture  arising. 

And  thus  the  dry  dipper 

(Twere  a  good  deed  to  whip  her) 
Makes  a  Christning  without  a  Baptizing. 

Now  since  Mayor  and  Justice^  6fc. 

Their  wedlocks  are  many, 

But  Marriages  not  any, 

For  they  and  their  dull  Sows, 

Like  the  Bulls  and  the  mull  Cows, 
Do  couple  in  brutify'd  fashion  : 

But  still  the  Official, 

Declares  that  it  is  all 
Matrimoniall  Fornication. 

Now  since  Mayor  and  J^ustice,  &^c. 

Their  Lands  and  their  Houses 
Wont  fall  to  their  Spouses  : 
They  cannot  appoint  her 
One  Turff  for  a  Joynter. 

His 


Westminster-Drollery,  1674.  191 

His  son  and  his  daughter,  [p- 123-] 

Will  repent  it  hereafter ; 
T  when  the  Estate  is  divided ; 

For  the  Parents  demerit 

Some  Kinsman  will  inherit ; 
y  then  let  them  marry  as  I  did. 

.  But  since  Mayor  and  J^usiice,  dj^c. 

Now  since  these  mad  Nations 

Do  cheat  their  relations, 

Pray  what  better  hap  then 

Can  we  that  are  Chap  men. 

Expect  from  their  Canting, 

The  sighing  and  panting  ? 
Ve  are  they  use  the  house  with  a  steeple. 

And  then  they  may  Cozen 

All  us  by  the  Dozen ; 
For  Israel  may  spoyle  Pharaohs  people. 

Now  since  Mayor  and  Justice,  &'c. 

The  Quaker  who  before 
Did  rant  and  did  roare ; 
Great  thrift  will  now  tell  yee  on. 
But  it  tends  to  Rebellion  : 
For  his  tipling  being  don, 
He  hath  bought  him  a  gun 

Which 


192  Westminster-Drollery,  1674, 

Which  hee  saves  from  his  former  vain  spending. 

O  be  drunk  agen  Quaker,  [p.  1 24.] 

Take  thy  Canniken  and  shake  her, 
For  thou  art  the  worse  for  the  mending. 

Now  since  Mayor  and  Justice,  ^c. 

Then  looke  we  about, 

And  give  them  a  Rout, 

Before  they  Encumber 

The  Land  with  their  number : 

There  can  be  no  peace  in 

These  Vermins  encreasing ; 
For  tis  plaine  to  all  prudent  beholders. 

That  while  we  neglect. 

They  do  but  expect 
A  new  head  to  their  old  mans  Shoulders. 

Now  since  Mayor  and  Justice 

Are  assured  that  thus  'tis  : 
To  abate  their  encrease  and  redundance 

Let  us  send  them  \jo   WICKHAM 

For  therms  one  will  Kick  'um 
Into  much  better  manners  by  abundance. 

[Here  ends  the  1674  edition;  for  account  of  which,  and  the 
1 66 1  Merry  Drollery,  see  our  present  Appendix,  Parts  Third 
and  Fourth.] 

MERRY 


>l 


MERRY 

ROLLERY, 

OR, 

A   COLLECTION 

A  Jovial  Poems, 
Of  /  Merry  Songs, 
(  Witty  Drolleries. 

Intermixed  with  Pleasant 
Catches. 

The  First  Part. 

Collected  by 
M^.N,     C.B.    R.S.    y.G. 

Lovers  of  Wit 

[is.  3d.] 

LONDON, 

Printed  by  J.    W.  for  P.  H.  and  are  to 

be  Sold  at  the  New  Exchange,  Westminster- 

Hall,  Fleet  Street,  and  Pauls 

Church-Yard.   [May 

1661.] 

o 


195 


EXTRA   SONGS   &   POEMS, 


IN 


Merry   Drollery,    1661  : 

I      (Omitted from  the  Editions  of  idyo,  i6gi,  when 
'  New  Songs  were  substituted  for  them,) 

I.— IN  PART  FIRST 


A   Puritan. 

A  Puritan  of  late, 
And  eke  a  holy  Sister, 
A  Catechizing  sate, 
And  fain  he  would  have  kist  her 
For  his  Mate. 

But  she  a  Babe  of  grace, 
A  Child  of  reformation. 
Thought  kissing  a  disgrace, 
A  Limbe  of  prophanation 
In  that  place. 

o  2 


[fol.  2.] 


He 


196  Merry  Drollerie,  1661. 

He  swore  by  yea  and  nay  [fol.  2b.] 

He  would  have  no  denial, 
The  Spirit  would  it  so, 
She  should  endure  a  tryal 
Ere  she  go. 

Why  swear  you  so,  quoth  she  ? 
Indeed,  my  holy  Brother, 
You  might  have  forsworn  be 
Had  it  been  to  another  [,] 
Not  to  me. 

He  laid  her  on  the  ground, 

His  Spirits  fell  a  ferking. 

Her  Zeal  was  in  a  sound,  [i.e.  swoon,] 

He  edified  her  Merkin 

Upside  down. 

And  when  their  leave  they  took, 
And  parted  were  asunder. 
My  Muse  did  then  awake, 
And  I  turn'd  Ballad-monger 
For  their  sake. 


Loves 


Merry  Dr oiler ie,  1661.  197 

Loves   Dream.  [page  11.] 

I    Dreamt  my  Love  lay  in  her  bed, 
It  was  my  chance  to  take  her, 
Her  arms  and  leggs  abroad  were  spread, 
She  slept,  I  durst  not  wake  her ; 
O  pitty  it  were,  that  one  so  rare 
Should  crown  her  head  with  willow  : 
The  Tresses  of  her  golden  hair 
Did  crown  her  lovely  Pillow.  \p.i.  lect.,  Did  kisse] 

Me  thought  her  belly  was  a  hill 
,  Much  like  a  mount  of  pleasure, 
[At  foot  thereof  there  springs  a  well, 
[The  depth  no  man  can  measure ; 
pAbout  tPie  pleasant  Mountain  head 
There  grows  a  lofty  thicket, 
Whither  two  beagles  travelled 
To  rouze  a  lively  Pricket. 

They  hunted  him  with  chearful  cry 
About  that  pleasant  Mountain, 
Till  he  with  heat  was  forc'd  to  fly 
And  slip  into  that  Fountain  ; 
The  Dogs  they  foUow'd  to  the  brink, 
And  there  at  him  they  baited :  , 

They  plunged  about  and  would  not  sink,  [p.  12.] 

His  coming  out  they  waited.  Then 

o  3 


198  Merry  Drollerie,  i66r. 

Then  forth  he  came  as  one  half  lame, 

All  very  faint  and  tired, 

Betwixt  her  legs  he  hung  his  head, 

As  heavy  heart  desired ; 

My  dogs  then  being  refresht  again, 

And  she  of  sleep  bereaved. 

She  dreamt  she  had  me  in  her  arms, 

And  she  was  not  deceived. 


The  good  Old  Cause. 

NOw  Lamberfs  sunk,  and  valiant  M- —        [Mon/t] 
Does  ape  his  General  Cromwel, 
And  Arthur's  Court,  cause  time  is  short, 

Does  rage  like  devils  from  hell ; 
Let's  mark  the  fate  and  course  of  State, 

Who  rises  when  t'other  is  sinking. 
And  believe  when  this  is  past 
'Twill  be  our  turn  at  last 
To  bring  the  Good  Old  Cause  by  drinking. 

First,  red  nos'd  Nol  he  swallowed  all, 

His  colour  shew'd  he  lov'd  it : 
But  Dick  his  Son,  as  he  were  none, 

Gav't  off,  and  hath  reprov'd  it ; 

But 


Merry  Drollerie,  1661.  199 

But  that  his  foes  made  bridge  of  s  nose, 
And  cry'd  him  down  for  a  Protector, 

Proving  him  to  be  a  fool  that  would  undertake  to  rule 
And  not  drink  and  fight  like  Hector. 

The  Grecian  lad  he  drank  like  mad,  [p.  13.] 

Minding  no  work  above  it ; 
And  Sans  question  kill'd  Ephestion 

Because  he'd  not  approve  it ; 
He  got  command  where  God  had  land. 

And  like  a  Maudlin  Yonker, 
When  he  tippled  all  and  wept,  he  laid  him  down  to 

Having  no  more  Worlds  to  conquer.       (sleep, 

Rump-Parliament  would  needs  invent 

An  Oath  of  abjuration,  (fashion  : 

But  Obedience  and  Allegiance  are  now  come  into 

Then  here's  a  boul  with  heart  and  soul 
To  Charles,  and  let  all  say  Amen  to  't ; 

Though  they  brought  the  Father  down 
From  a  triple  Kingdom  Crown, 

We'll  drink  the  Son  up  again  to  't. 


04 


200  Merry  Drollerie,  1661. 

A   Song.  [p.  I4-] 

Riding  to  London,  on  Dunstable  way 
I  met  with  a  Maid  on  Midsummer  day, 
Her  Eyes  they  did  sparkle  like  Stars  in  the  sky, 
Her  face  it  was  fair,  and  her  forehead  was  high  : 
The  more  I  came  to  her,  the  more  I  did  view  her, 
The  better  I  lik'd  her  pretty  sweet  face,  [p.  15.] 

I  could  not  forbear  her,  but  still  I  drew  near  her. 
And  then  I  began  to  tell  her  my  case  : 

Whither  walk'st  thou,  my  pretty  sweet  soul  ? 
She  modestly  answer'd  to  Hockley-ViK-hole. 
I  ask'd  her  her  business  ;  she  had  a  red  cheek, 
She  told  me,  she  went  a  poor  service  to  seek  ; 
I  said,  it  was  pitty  she  should  leave  the  City, 
And  settle  her  self  in  a  Country  Town  \ 
She  said  it  was  certain  it  was  her  hard  fortune 
To  go  up  a  maiden,  and  so  to  come  down. 

With  that  I  alighted,  and  to  her  I  stept, 

I  took  her  by  th'  hand,  and  this  pretty  maid  wept ; 

Sweet  [,]  weep  not,  quoth  I :  I  kist  her  soft  lip ; 

I  wrung  her  by  th'  hand,  and  my  finger  she  nipt ; 

So  long  there  I  woo'd  her,  such  reasons  I  shew'd  her, 

That  she  my  speeches  could  not  controul. 

But  cursied  finely,  and  got  up  behind  me. 

And  back  she  rode  with  me  to  Hockley-i'-ih'-hole. 

When 


Merry  Drollerie,  1661.  201 


When  I  came  to  Hockley  at  the  sign  of  the  Cock, 

By  [aJUghting  I  chanced  to  see  her  white  smock, 

It  lay  so  alluring  upon  her  round  knee, 

I  call'd  for  a  Chamber  immediately ; 

I  hugg'd  her,  I  tugg'd  her,  I  kist  her,  I  smugg'd  her, 

And  gently  I  laid  her  down  on  a  bed. 

With  nodding  and  pinking,  with  sighing  &  winking, 

She  told  me  a  tale  of  her  Maidenhead. 

While  she  to  me  this  story  did  tell, 
I  could  not  forbear,  but  on  her  I  fell ; 
I  tasted  the  pleasure  of  sweetest  delight,  [p.  16.] 

We  took  up  our  lodgifig,  and  lay  there  all  night ; 
With  soft  arms  she  roul'd  me,  and  oft  times  told  me, 
She  loved  me  deerly,  even  as  her  own  soul : 
But  on  the  next  morrow  we  parted  with  sorrow. 
And  so  I  lay  with  her  at  Hockley-VtK-hole. 


Maidens  delight.  [p-  27.] 

A  Young  man  of  late,  that  lackt  a  mate, 
And  courting  came  unto  her. 
With  Cap,  and  Kiss,  and  sweet  Mistris, 
But  little  could  he  do  her ; 

Quoth 


202  Merry  Dr oiler ie,  1661. 

Quoth  she,  my  friend,  let  kissing  end, 
Where  with  you  do  me  smother. 
And  run  at  Ring  with  t'other  thing : 

A  little  o'  th  t'on  with  t'other. 

Too  much  of  ought  is  good  for  nought, 
Then  leave  this  idle  kissing  ; 
Your  barren  suit  will  yield  no  fruit 
If  the  other  thing  be  missing  : 
As  much  as  this  a  man  may  kiss 
His  sister  or  his  mother ; 
He  that  will  speed  must  give  with  need 
A  little  o'  th'  t'on  with  t'other. 

Who  bids  a  Guest  unto  a  feast, 

To  sit  by  divers  dishes, 

They  please  their  mind  untill  they  find 

Change,  please  each  Creatures  wishes  ; 

With  beak  and  bill  I  have  my  fill, 

With  measure  running  over ; 

The  Lovers  dish  now  do  I  wish, 

A  little  o'  th'  t'on  with  t'other. 

To  gull  me  thus,  like  Tantalus, 

To  make  me  pine  with  plenty, 

With  shadows  store,  and  nothing  more,  [p-  28.] 

Your  substance  is  so  dainty ; 


Merry  Drollcrie,  1661.  203 

A  fruitless  tree  is  like  to  thee, 
Being  but  a  kissing  lover, 
With  leaves  joyn  fruit,  or  else  be  mute  ; 
A  little  o'  th'  t'on  with  t'other. 

Sharp  joyn'd  with  flat,  no  mirth  to  that ; 
A  low  note  and  a  higher, 
Where  Mean  and  Base  keeps  time  and  place, 
Such  musick  maids  desire  : 
All  of  one  string  doth  loathing  bring. 
Change,  is  true  Musicks  Mother, 
Then  leave  my  face,  and  sound  the  base, 
A  little  o'  th'  t'on  with  t'other. 

The  golden  mine  lies  just  between         [?  golden  mean] 
The  high  way  and  the  lower  ; 
He  that  wants  wit  that  way  to  hit 
Alas  [!]  hath  little  power; 
You'l  miss  the  clout  if  that  you  shoot 
Much  higher,  or  much  lower : 
Shoot  just  between,  your  arrows  keen, 
A  little  o'  th'  t'on  with  t'other. 

No  smoake  desire  without  a  fire, 
No  wax  without  a  Writing  : 
If  right  you  deal  give  Deeds  to  Seal, 
And  straight  fall  to  inditing ; 

Thus 


204  Merry  Drollerie,  1661. 

Thus  do  I  take  these  Hnes  I  make, 

As  to  a  faithful  Lover, 

In  order  he'll  first  write,  then  seal, 

A  little  o'  th'  t'on  with  t'other. 

Thus  while  she  staid  the  young  man  plaid  [p.  29.] 

Not  high,  but  low  defending  ;  [  ?  descending  ;  ] 

Each  stroak  he  strook  so  well  she  took, 
She  swore  it  was  past  mending ; 
Let  swaggering  boys  that  think  by  toyes 
Their  Lovers  to  fetch  over, 
Lip-labour  save,  for  the  maids  must  have 
A  little  o'  th'  t'on  with  t'other. 


A   Song.  [p-  32-] 

A  Young  man  walking  all  alone 
Abroad  to  take  the  air, 
It  was  his  chance  to  meet  a  maid 
Of  beauty  passing  fair  : 
Desiring  her  of  curtesie 
Down  by  him  for  to  sit ; 
She  answered  him  most  modestly, 
O  nay,  O  nay  not  yet. 

Forty 


I 


Merry  Drollerie,  1661.  205 


Forty  Crowns  I  will  give  thee, 
Sweet  heart,  in  good  red  Gold, 
If  that  thy  favour  I  may  win 
With  thee  for  to  be  bold  : 
She  answered  him  with  modesty. 
And  with  a  fervent  wit, 
Think'st  thou  I'll  stain  my  honesty  ? 
O  nay,  O  nay  not  yet. 

Gold  and  silver  is  but  dross,  [p.  33.] 

And  worldly  vanity ; 
There's  nothing  I  esteem  so  much 
As  my  Virginity  5 

What  do  you  think  I  am  so  loose,  [«'•  lect.,  mad] 

And  of  so  little  wit, 
As  for  to  lose  my  maidenhead  ? 
O  nay,  O  nay  not  yet. 

Although  our  Sex  be  counted  base, 
And  easie  to  be  won. 
You  see  that  I  can  find  a  check 
Dame  Natures  Games  to  shun ; 
Except  it  be  in  modesty. 
That  may  become  me  fit, 
Think'st  I  am  weary  of  my  honesty  ? 
O  nay,  O  nay  not  yet. 

The 


2o6  Merry  Drollerie,  i66i. 

The  young  man  stood  in  such  a  dump^ 

Not  giving  no  more  words,. 

He  gave  her  that  in  quietness 

Which  love  to  maids  affords : 

The  maid  was  ta'n  as  in  a  trance, 

And  such  a  sudden  fit, 

As  she  had  almost  quite  forgot 

Her  nay,  O  nay  not  yet. 

The  way  to  win  a  womans  love 
Is  only  to  be  brief, 
And  give  her  that  in  quietness 
Will  ease  her  of  her  grief : 
For  kindness  they  will  not  refuse 
When  young  men  proffer  it. 
Although  their  common  speeches  be 
O  nay,  O  nay  not  yet 


Admiral  Deans  Funeral.  [p-  56.] 

I. 

Nick  Culpepper,  and  William  Lilly, 
Though  you  were  pleas'd  to  say  they  were  silly, 
Yet  something  these  prophesi'd  true,  I  tell  you,    [?  ye,] 
Which  no  body  can  deny. 


Merry  Drollerie,  1661.  207 


2. 

In  the  month  of  May^  I  tell  you  truly. 
Which  neither  was  in  yune  nor  J^uly, 
The  Dutch  began  to  be  unruly, 

Which  no  body  can  deny. 

i 

Betwixt  our  England  and  their  Holland j 
Which  neither  was  in  France  nor  Poland, 
But  on  the  Sea,  where  there  was  no  Land, 
Which  no  body  can  deny. 

4- 
They  joyn'd  the  Dutch,  and  the  English  Fleet, 
[In]  Our  Authors  opinion  then  they  did  meet. 
Some  saw't  that  never  more  shall  see't. 
Which  no  body  can  deny. 

5- 

There  were  many  mens  hearts  as  heavy  as  lead,   [p-57-] 
Yet  would  not  believe  Dick  Dean  to  be  dead. 
Till  they  saw  his  Body  take  leave  of  his  head. 
Which  no  body  can  deny. 

6. 
Then  after  the  sad  departure  of  him. 
There  was  many  a  man  lost  a  Leg  or  a  Lim, 
And  many  were  drown'd  'cause  they  could  not  swim. 
Which  no  body  can  deny.  One 


2o8  Merry  Drollerie,  1661. 

7. 
One  cries,  lend  me  thy  hand  [,]  good  friend, 
Although  he  knew  it  was  to  no  end, 
I  think,  quoth  he,  I  am  going  to  the  Fiend, 
Which  no  body  can  deny. 

8. 

Some,  'twas  reported,  were  kill'd  with  a  Gun, 
And  some  stood  that  knew  not  whether  to  run, 
There  was  old  taking  leave  of  Father  and  Son, 
Which  no  body  can  deny, 

9- 

There's  a  rumour  also,  if  we  may  believe. 

We  have  many  gay  Widdows  now  given  to  grieve, 

'Cause  unmannerly  Husbands  ne'er  came  to  take 

Which  no  body  can  deny.  (leave, 

10. 

The  Ditty  is  sad  of  our  Deane  to  sing ; 
To  say  truth,  it  was  a  pittiful  thing 
To  take  off  his  head  and  not  leave  him  a  ring. 
Which  no  body  can  deny. 

II. 
From  Greenwich  toward  the  Bear  at  Bridge  foot 
He  was  wafted  with  wind  that  had  water  to't, 
But  I  think  they  brought  the  devil  to  boot, 

Which  no  body  can  deny.  The 


f 


Merry  Drollerie,  1661,  209 

12. 

The  heads  on  London  Bridge  upon  Poles,  [p.  58.] 

That  once  had  bodies,  and  honester  soules 
Than  hath  the  Master  of  the  Roules, 
Which  no  body  can  deny, 

13- 

They  grieved  for  this  great  man  of  command. 
Yet  would  not  his  head  amongst  theirs  should  stand  ; 
He  d/d  on  the  Water,  and  they  on  the  Land, 
Which  no  body  can  deny. 

14. 
I  cannot  say,  they  look'd  wisely  upon  him. 
Because  people  cursed  that  parcel  was  on  him ; 
He  has  fed  fish  and  worms,  if  they  do  not  wrong  him. 
Which  no  body  can  deny. 

15- 

The  Old  Swan,  as  he  passed  by. 
Said,  she  would  sing  him  a  dirge,  and  lye  down  &  die  : 
Wilt  thou  sing  to  a  bit  of  a  body,  quoth  I  ? 
Which  no  body  can  deny. 

16. 

The  Globe  on  the  bank,  I  mean,  on  the  Ferry, 
Where  Gentle  and  simple  might  come  &  be  merry. 
Admired  at  the  change  from  a  Ship  to  a  Wherry, 

Which  no  body  can  deny.  1 7. 

p 


2IO  Merry  Drollerie,  i66i. 

17- 
Tom  Godfreys  Bears  began  for  to  roare, 
Hearing  such  moans  one  side  of  the  shore^ 
They  knew  they  should  never  see  Dean  any  more, 
Which  no  body  can  deny. 

1 8. 
Queenhithe,  Pan/s-Whsaf,  and  the  Fryers  ako. 
Where  now  the  Players  have  little  to  do, 
Let  him  pass  without  any  tokens  of  woe^ 
Which  no  body  can  deny. 

[p-  59-1 

ig.  (names. 

Quoth  th'  Students  o'th'  Temple,  I  know  not  their 

Looking  out  of  their  Chambers  into  the  Thames, 

The  Barge  fits  him  better  than  did  the  great  /ames. 

Which  no  body  can  deny. 

20. 

£ssex  House,  late  called  Cuckold's  Hall, 
The  Folk  in  the  Garden  staring  over  the  wall. 
Said,  they  knew  that  once  Pride  would  have  a  fall. 
Which  no  body  can  deny. 

21. 

At  Strand  Gate,  a  little  farther  then. 

Were  mighty  Guns  numbred  to  sixty  and  ten, 

Which  neither  hurt  Children,  Women,  nor  Men, 

Which  no  body  can  deny.  22. 


Merry,  Drollerie  1661.  211 

22. 
They  were  shot  over  times  one,  two,  three,  or  four, 
'Tis  thought  one  might  'heard  th'  bounce  to  th'  Tower, 
Folk  report,  the  din  made  the  Buttermilk  sower. 
Which  no  body  can  deny. 

23- 
Had  old  Goodman  Letithal  or  Allen  but  heard  'um. 
The  noise  worse  than  Olivers  voice  would  'fear'd  'um, 
And  out  of  their  small  wits  would  have  scar'd  'um. 
Which  no  body  can  deny. 

24. 
Sommerset  House,  where  once  did  the  Queen  lye. 
And  afterwards  Ireton  in  black,  and  not  green,  by. 
The  Canon  clattered  the  Windows  really, 
Which  no  body  can  deny. 

25- 
The  Savoys  mortified  spittled  Crew, 
If  I  lye,  as  Falstaffe  saies,  I  am  a  Jew,  (spew. 

Gave  the  Hearse  such  a  look  it  would  make  a  man 
Which  no  body  can  deny. 

26. 

The  House  of  S that  Fool  and  Knave,    [p-  60.] 

Had  so  much  wit  left  lamentation  to  save 
From  accompanying  a  traytorly  Rogue  to  his  grave, 
Which  no  body  can  deny.  27. 

p  2 


212  Merry  Drollerie,   1661. 

27. 
The  Exchange,  and  the  mines  of  Durham  House  eke, 
Wish'd  such  sights  might  be  seen  each  day  i'  th'  week, 
A  Generals  Carkass  without  a  Cheek, 
Which  no  body  can  deny. 

28. 
The  House  that  lately  Great  Buckinghams  was, 
Which  now  Sir  Thomas  Fairfax  has, 
Wish'd  it  might  be  Sir  Thomases  fate  so  to  pass, 
Which  no  body  can  deny. 

29. 
Howards  House,  Suffolks  great  Duke  of  Yore, 
Sent  him  one  single  sad  wish,  and  no  more, 
He  might  flote  by  Whitehall  in  purple  gore, 
Which  no  body  can  deny. 

30- 
Something  I  should  of  Whitehall  say. 
But  the  Story  is  so  sad,  and  so  bad,  by  my  fay, 
That  it  turns  my  wits  another  way. 
Which  no  body  can  deny. 

31- 

To  Westminster,  to  the  Bridge  of  the  Kings, 
The  water  the  Barge,  and  the  Barge-men  [,]  brings 
The  small  remain  of  the  worst  of  things, 

Which  no  body  can  deny.  32, 


MerryDrollerie,  1661.  213 

32. 
They  interr'd  him  in  triumph,  like  Lewis  the  eleven, 
In  the  famous  Chappel  of  Henry  the  seven, 
But  his  soul  is  scarce  gone  the  right  way  to  heaven, 
Which  no  body  can  deny. 


A   merrie  Journey  to  France.  [p-  64.] 

I    Went  from  England  into  France, 
Not  for  to  learn  to  sing  nor  dance, 
To  ride,  nor  yet  to  fence, 
But  for  to  see  strange  sights,  as  those 
That  have  retum'd  without  a  nose 

They  carried  away  from  hence. 

As  I  to  Paris  rode  along. 
Like  to  John  Dory  in  the  Song, 

Upon  a  holy  Tyde, 
Where  I  an  ambling  Nag  did  get, 
I  hope  he  is  not  paid  for  yet, 

I  spurfd  him  on  each  side. 

First,  to  Saint  Dennis  then  I  came, 
To  see  the  sights  at  Nostredame, 

The  man  that  shews  them  snaffles  : 
That  who  so  list,  may  there  believe 
To  see  the  Virgin  Maries  Sleeve, 

And  eke  her  odd  Pantafles,  [?  old] 

p  3  The 


214  Merry  Drollerie,  1661. 

The  breast-milk,  and  the  very  Gown 
That  she  did  wear  in  Bethlehem  Town, 

When  in  the  Bam  she  lay  : 
But  men  may  think  that  is  a  Fable,  [?•  65] 

For  such  good  cloaths  ne'er  came  in  Stable 

Upon  a  lock  of  hay. 

No  Carpenter  can  by  his  trade 
Have  so  much  Coin  as  to  have  made 

A  gown  of  such  rich  Stuff : 
But  the  poor  fools  must,  for  their  credit, 
Believe,  and  swear  old  Joseph  did  it, 

'Cause  he  received  enough,    [a^  l^cu,  deserv'd] 

There  is  the  Lanthom  which  the  Jews, 
When  Judas  led  them  forth,  did  use, 

It  weighs  my  weight  down-right ; 
And  then  you  must  suppose  and  think 
The  Jews  therein  did  put  a  Link, 

And  then  't  was  wondrous  bright.        [?  light] 

There  is  one  Saint  has  lost  his  nose, 
Another  his  head,  but  not  his  toes. 

An  elbow,  and  a  thumb  ; 
When  we  had  seen  those  holy  rags. 
We  went  to  the  Inne  and  took  our  Nags, 

And  so  away  we  come. 

We 


Merry  Drollerie,   1661.  215 

We  came  to  Paris^  on  the  Sdne^ 
'Tis  wondrous  fair,  but  little  clean, 

'Tis  Buropis  greatest  Town : 
How  strong  it  is  I  need  not  tell  it, 
For  every  one  may  easily  smell  it 

As  they  ride  up  and  down. 

There's  many  rare  sights  for  to  see, 
The  Palace,  the  great  Gallery, 

Place-Royal  doth  excel! ; 
The  Newbridge,  and  the  Statute  stairs,  [p-  66.3 

At  Rotterdam,  Saint  Christophers,  [?  Nt^tre  Dame\ 

The  Steeple  bears  the  BelL 

For  Arts,  the  University, 

And  for  old  Cloaths,  the  Frippery, 

The  Queen  the  same  did  build ; 
Saint  Inn0cent\/],  whose  earth  devours 
Dead  Corps  in  four  and  twenty  hours, 

And  there  the  King  was  kill'd. 

The  Basttle,  and  Saint  Dennis  street. 
The  Chastelet,  like   London  Fleet ; 

The  Arsenal  is  no  toy  \ 
But  if  you  will  see  the  pretty  thing, 
Oh  go  to  Court  and  see  the  King, 

Oh  he  is  a  hopeful  boy. 


He 


P4 


2i6  Merry  Drolleriey  1661. 

He  is  of  all  [his]  Dukes  and  Peers 
Reverenc'd  for  wit  as  well  as  years ; 

Nor  must  you  think  it  much 
That  he  with  little  switches  play, 
And  can  make  fine  dirt-pies  of  Clay, 

O  never  King  made  such. 

Birds  round  about  his  Chamber  stands. 
The  which  he  feeds  with  his  own  hands, 

'Tis  his  humility : 
And  if  they  want  [for]  any  thing, 
They  may  but  whistle  to  their  King 

And  he  comes  presently. 

A  bird  that  can  but  catch  a  Fly, 

Or  prate  to  please  his  Majesty,      \ai.  led.,  doth  please] 

It's  known  to  every  one  ; 
The  Duke  De  Guise  gave  him  a  Parrot,  [p-  67] 

And  he  had  twenty  Cannons  for  it 

For  his  great  Gallion. 

O  that  it  e'er  might  be  my  hap 
To  catch  the  bird  that  in  the  Map 

They  call  the  Indian  Chuck, 
I'd  give  it  him,  and  hope  to  be 
As  great  and  wise  a  man  as  he. 

Or  else  I  had  ill  luck. 

Besides 


II 


Merry  Drollerie,  1661.  217 


Besides,  he  hath  a  pretty  firk, 
Taught  him  by  Nature,  for  to  work 

In  Iron  with  much  ease  : 
And  then  uuto  the  Forge  he  goes, 
There  he  knocks,  and  there  he  blows, 

And  makes  both  locks  and  Keys. 

Which  puts  a  doubt  in  every  one 
Whether  he  be  Mars  or  Vulcans  Son, 

For  few  believe  his  Mother  : 
For  his  Incestuous  House  could  not 
Have  any  Children,  unless  got 

By  Uncle,  or  by  Brother. 

Now  for  these  virtues  needs  he  must 
Intituled  be  Lewis  the  Just, 

Heneries  Great  Heir ; 
Where  to  his  Stile  we  add  more  words, 
Better  to  call  him  King  of  Birds 

Than  of  the  Great  Navar. 

His  Queen,  she  is  a  little  Wench, 

Was  bom  in  Spain,  speaks  little  French, 

Ne'er  hke  to  be  a  Mother : 
But  let  them  all  say  what  they  will,  [p.  68  ] 

I  do  beleeve,  and  shall  do  still. 

As  soon  the  one  as  t'other. 

Then 


2i8  Merry  Drollerie,  1661. 

Then  why  should  Lewis  be  so  just, 

Contented  be  to  take  his  lust  P  he] 

With  his  lascivious  Mate, 
Or  suffer  this  his  little  Queen, 
From  all  her  Sex  that  e'er  had  been. 

Thus  to  degenerate  ? 

'Twere  charity  to  have  it  known, 
Love  other  Children  as  his  own 

To  him  it  were  no  shame  : 
For  why  should  he  near  greater  be 
Than  was  his  Father  Henery, 

Who,  some  say,  did  the  same  ? 


Englands  Woe.  [p-  85.] 

I    Mean  to  speak  of  Englands  sad  fate, 
To  help  in  mean  time  the  King,  and  his  Mate, 
That's  ruled  by  an  Antipodian  State, 
Which  no  body  can  deny. 

But  had  these  seditious  times  been  when 
We  had  the  life  of  wise  Poet  Ben, 
Parsons  had  never  been  Parliament  men, 
Which  no  body  can  deny. 

Had 


Merry  Drollerie,  1661.  219 

Had  Statesmen  read  the  Bible  throughout, 
And  not  gone  by  the  Bible  so  round  about, 
They  would  have  ruled  themselves  without  doubt. 
Which  no  body  can  deny. 

But  Puritans  now  bear  all  the  sway. 
They'll  have  no  Bishops  as  most  men  say, 
But  God  send  them  better  another  day. 
Which  no  body  can  deny. 

Zealous  Pryn  has  threatned  a  great  downfall. 
To  cut  off  long  locks  that  is  bushy  and  small, 
But  I  hope  he  will  not  take  ears  and  all. 
Which  no  body  can  deny. 

Prin,  [and]  Burton,  saies  women  that's  leud  and  loose, 
Shall  wear  no  stallion  locks  for  a  bush ,  [Italian . . .  abuse] 
They'll  only  have  private  boyes  for  their  use,  [«'  lect. ,K.eyes] 
Which  no  body  can  deny. 

They'll  not  allow  what  pride  it  brings,  [p-  86.] 

Nor  favours  in  hats,  nor  no  such  things, 
They'l  convert  all  ribbands  to  Bible  strings. 
Which  no  body  can  deny. 

God  bless  our  King  and  Parliament, 

And  send  he  may  make  such  K repent     [Knaves] 

That  breed  our  Land  such  discontent, 

Which  no  body  can  deny.  And 


220  Merry  D r oiler ie,  1661. 

And  bless  our  Queen  and  Prince  also, 
And  all  true  Subjects  both  high  and  low, 
The  brownings  can  pray  for  themselves  you  know. 
Which  no  body  can  deny. 


Ladies  Delight.  [p.  88.] 

HAng  Chastity  [!]  it  is  for  the  milking  pail. 
Ladies  ought  to  be  more  valiant : 
Not  to  be  confin'd  in  body  and  mind 

Is  the  temper  of  a  right  she  Gallant ; 
Hither  all  you  Amazons  that  are  true 

To  this  famous  Dildoe  profession, 
She  is  no  bonny  Lass  that  fears  to  transgress 
The  Act  against  Fornication. 

The  Country  Dame,  that  loves  the  old  sport, 

Or  delights  in  a  new  invention. 
May  be  fitted  here,  if  they  please  to  repair 

To  this  high  ranting  Convention ; 
If  you  are  weary  of  your  Coyn, 

Or  of  your  Chastity, 
Here  is  costly  toyes,  or  hot-metled  boyes. 

That  will  ease  you  presently. 

Both 


Merry  Drollerie,  1661.  221 

Both  curious  heads  and  wanton  tailes 

May  here  have  satisfaction  ; 
Here  is  all  kind  of  ware,  that  useful  are 

For  pride  or  provocation  ; 
Here's  Drugs  to  paint,  or  Powder  to  perfume, 

Or  Ribbon  of  the  best  fashion  ; 
Here's  dainty  meat  will  fit  you  for  the  feat 

Beyond  all  expectation. 

Here's  curious  patches  to  set  out  your  faces,       [p-  89.] 

And  make  you  resemble  the  sky ; 
Or  here's  looking-glasses  to  shew  the  poor  Asses, 

Your  Husbands,  their  destiny ; 
Here's  bawbles  too  to  play  withall. 

And  some  to  stand  in  stead  ; 
This  place  doth  afford  both  for  your  brow, 

And  stallions  for  your  head. 

Old  Ladies  here  may  be  reliev'd, 

If  Ushers  they  do  lack, 
Or  if  they'll  not  discharge  their  husbands  at  large, 

But  grow  foundred  in  the  back ; 
Green  visag'd  Damsels,  that  are  sick 

Of  a  troubled  Maidenhead, 
May  here,  if  they  please,  be  cur'd  of  the  disease 

And  their  green  colours  turn'd  to  red. 


The 


222  Merry  Drollerie,  1661. 


The  Tyrannical  Wife.  [p-  95-] 

IT  was  a  man,  and  a  jolly  old  man, 
Come  love  me  whereas  I  lay, 
And  he  would  marry  a  fair  young  wife 
The  clean  contrary  way. 

He  woo'd  her  for  to  wed,  to  wed. 

Come  love  me  whereas  I  lay. 
And  even  she  kickt  him  out  of  the  bed 

The  clean  contrary  way. 

Then  for  her  dinner  she  looked  due, 

Come  lave  me  whereas  I  lay, 
Or  else  would  make  her  husband  rue 

The  clean  contrary  way. 

She  made  him  wash  both  dish  and  spoon, 

Come  love  me  whereas  I  lay, 
He  had  better  a  gone  on  his  head  to  Rome 

The  clean  contrary  way. 

She  proved  a  gallant  huswife  soon, 

Come  love  me  whereas  1  lay. 
She  was  every  morning  up  by  noon 

The  clean  contrary  way. 

She 


Merry  Drollerie,  1661.  225 

She  made  him  go  to  wash  and  wring,  [?•  96-] 

Come  love  me  whereas  I  lay, 
And  every  day  to  dance  and  sing 

The  clean  contrary  way. 

She»made  him  do  a  worse  thing  than  this, 

Come  love  me  whereas  I  lay, 
To  father  a  child  was  none  of  his, 

The  clean  contrary  way. 

Hard  by  a  bush,  and  under  a  brier. 

Come  love  me  whereas  I  lay, 
I  saw  a  holy  Nun  lye  under  a  Frier 

The  clean  contrary  way. 

To  end  my  Song  I  think  it  long, 

Come  love  me  whereas  I  lay, 
Come  give  me  some  drink  and  I'll  be  gone 

The  clean  contrary  way. 


The  Tinker.  [l>- 134.] 

[  Some  of  these  verses  are  evidently  misplaced :    We  keep  them 
unchanged,  but  add  side-notes  to  rectify.] 

THere  was  a  Lady  in  this  Land 
That  lov'd  a  Gentleman, 
And  could  not  have  him  secretly. 

As  she  would  now  and  then,.  Till 


224  Merry  Dr oiler ie,  1661. 

Till  she  devis'd  to  dress  him  like 

A  Tinker  in  Vocation  : 
And  thus,  disguis'd,  she  bid  him  say, 

He  came  to  clout  her  Cauldron. 

His  face  full  fair  she  smother's  black  [2.] 

That  he  might  not  be  known, 
A  leather  Jerkin  on  his  back,  [p.  135.] 

His  breeches  rent  and  torn  ; 
With  speed  he  passed  to  the  place, 

To  knock  he  did  not  spare  : 
Who's  that,  quoth  the  lady  ['s  Porter]  then, 

That  raps  so  rashly  there. 

I  am  a  Tinker,  then  quoth  he,  [3.] 

That  worketh  for  my  Fee, 
If  you  have  Vessels  for  to  mend. 

Then  bring  them  unto  me  : 
For  I  have  brass  within  my  bag, 

And  target  in  my  Apron, 
And  with  my  skill  I  can  well  clout, 

And  mend  a  broken  Cauldron. 

Quoth  she,  our  Cauldron  hath  most  need,      [?  verse  7.] 

At  it  we  will  begin, 
For  it  will  hold  you  half  an  hour 

To  trim  it  out  and  in  : 

But 


Merry  Drollerie,  1661.  225 

But  first  give  me  a  glass  of  drink, 

The  best  that  we  do  use, 
For  why  [,]  it  is  a  Tinkers  guise 

No  good  drink  to  refuse. 

Then  to  the  Brew-house  hyed  they  fast,  [?  verse  8.] 

This  broken  piece  to  mend, 
He  said  he  would  no  company, 

His  Craft  should  not  be  kend, 
But  only  to  your  self,  he  said, 

That  must  pay  me  my  Fee  : 
I  am  no  common  Tinker, 

But  work  most  curiously. 

And  I  also  have  made  a  Vow,  [  ?  verse  9.  p.  136.] 

I'll  keep  it  if  I  may, 
There  shall  no  mankind  see  my  work. 

That  I  may  stop  or  stay  : 
Then  barred  he  the  Brew-house  door, 

The  place  was  very  dark. 
He  cast  his  Budget  from  his  back. 

And  frankly  fell  to  work. 

And  whilst  he  play'd  and  made  her  sport,     [?  verse  10.] 

Their  craft  the  more  to  hide. 
She  with  his  hammer  stroke  full  hard 

Against  the  Cauldron  side  : 

Which 


226  Merry  Drollerie,  1661. 

Which  made  them  all  to  think,  and  say, 

The  Tinker  wrought  apace. 
And  so  be  sure  he  did  indeed, 

But  in  another  place. 

The  Porter  went  into  the  house,  [?  verse  4.] 

Where  Servants  us'd  to  dine, 
Telling  his  Lady,  at  the  Gate 

There  staid  a  Tinker  fine  : 
Quoth  he,  much  Brass  he  wears  about, 

And  Target  in  his  Apron, 
Saying,  that  he  hath  perfect  skill 

To  mend  your  broken  Cauldron. 

Quoth  she,  of  him  we  have  great  need,  [?  verse  5.] 

Go  Porter,  let  him  in. 
If  he  be  cunning  in  his  Craft 

He  shall  much  money  win  : 
But  wisely  wist  she  who  he  was, 

Though  nothing  she  did  say. 
For  in  that  sort  she  pointed  him 

To  come  that  very  day. 

When  he  before  the  Lady  came,  [?  verse  6.  p.  137.] 

Disguised  stood  he  there. 
He  blinked  blithly,  and  did  say, 

God  save  you  Mistris  fair ; 

Thou'rt 


\ 


Merry  Drolleries  1661,  227 

Thou'rt  welcome,  Tinker,  unto  me, 

Thou  seem'st  a  man  of  skill, 
All  broken  Vessels  for  to  mend, 

Though  they  be  ne'er  so  ill ; 
I  am  the  best  man  of  my  Trade, 

Quoth  he,  in  all  this  Town, 
For  any  Kettle,  Pot,  or  Pan, 

Or  clouting  of  a  Cauldron. 

Quoth  he,  fair  Lady,  unto  her,  [verse  u.] 

My  business  I  have  ended. 
Go  quickly  now,  and  tell  your  Lord 

The  Cauldron  I  have  mended : 
As  for  the  Price,  that  I  refer 

Whatsoever  he  do  say, 
Then  come  again  with  diligence, 

I  would  I  were  away. 

The  Lady  went  unto  her  Lord,  [12.] 

Where  he  walkt  up  and  down, 
Sir,  I  have  with  the  Tinker  been, 

The  best  in  all  the  Town  : 
His  work  he  doth  exceeding  well, 

Though  he  be  wondrous  dear, 
He  asks  no  less  than  half  a  Mark 

For  that  he  hath  done  here. 


Quoth 


Q2 


228  Merry  Drollerie,  1661. 

Quoth  he,  that  Target  is  full  dear,  [13] 

I  swear  by  Gods  good  Mother  : 
Quoth  she,  my  Lord,  I  dare  protest, 

'Tis  worth  five  hundred  other  ; 
He  strook  it  in  the  special  place,  [p.  138.] 

Where  greatest  need  was  found, 
Spending  his  brass  and  target  both. 

To  make  it  safe  and  sound. 

Before  all  Tinkers  in  the  Land, 

That  travels  up  and  down. 
Ere  they  should  earn  a  Groat  of  mine, 

This  man  should  earn  a  Crown : 
Or  were  you  of  his  Craft  so  good, 

And  none  but  I  it  kend. 
Then  would  it  save  me  many  a  Mark, 

Which  I  am  fain  to  spend. 

The  Lady  to  her  Coffer  went. 

And  took  a  hundred  Mark,  m 

And  gave  the  Tinker  for  his  pains. 

That  did  so  well  his  work ; 
Tinker,  said  she,  take  here  thy  fee, 

Sith  here  you'll  not  remain. 
But  I  must  have  my  Cauldron  now 

Once  scoured  o'er  again. 

Then 


Merry  Drollerie,  1661.  229 

Then  to  the  former  work  they  went, 

No  man  could  them  deny ; 
The  Lady  said,  good  Tinker  call 

The  next  time  thou  com'st  by  : 
For  why  [,]  thou  dost  thy  work  so  well. 

And  with  so  good  invention. 
If  still  thou  hold  thy  hand  alike, 

Take  here  a  yearly  Pension. 

And  ev'ry  quarter  of  the  year 

Our  Cauldron  thou  shalt  view ; 
Nay,  by  my  faith,  her  Lord  gan  say,  [p-  i39'] 

I'd  rather  buy  a  new  ; 
Then  did  the  Tinker  take  his  leave 

Both  of  the  Lord  and  Lady, 
And  said,  such  work  as  I  can  do. 

To  you  I  will  be  ready. 
From  all  such  Tinkers  of  the  trade 

God  keep  my  Wife,  I  pray. 
That  comes  to  clout  her  Cauldron  so, 

I'll  swinge  him  if  I  may. 


[  A  song  follows,  beginning  "  There  were  three  birds  that  built 
very  low."  With  other  four,  commencing  respectively  on  pp.  146, 
153,  161,  and  168,  it  is  degraded  from  position  here;  for  sub- 
stantial reasons ;  and  (with  a  few  others,  afterwards  to  be  specified,) 
given  separately.  Nothing  but  the  absolute  necessity  of  making 
this  a  genuine  Antiquarian  Reprint,  worthy  of  the  confidence  of 
all  mature  students  of  our  Early  Literature,  compels  the  Editor  to 

admit 

Q3 


230  Merry  Drollerie,  1661. 

admit  such  prarient  and  imbecile  pieces  at  all.  They  are  tokens 
of  a  debased  taste  that  would  be  inconceivable,  did  we  not  re- 
member that,  not  more  than  twenty  years  ago,  crowds  of  MP.s, 
Lawyers,  and  Baronets  listened  with  applause,  and  encored  tu- 
multuously,  songs  far  more  objectionable  than  these  (if  possible) 
in  London  Music  Halls,  and  Supper  Rooms.  Those  who  recol- 
lect what  R  .  .  s  sang  (such  as  "  The  Lock  of  Hair,"  "  My  name 

it  is  Sam  Hall,  Chimbley  Sweep,"  &c.),  and  what "  Judge  N " 

said  at  his  Jury  Court,  need  not  be  astonished  at  anything  which 
was  sung  or  written  in  the  days  of  the  Commonwealth  and  at  the 
Restoration.  A  fewwords  we  suppress  into  dots  m  Supplement,Sic.'] 


The  Maid  a  bathing.  [p.  148-] 

UPon  a  Summers  day, 
'Bout  middle  of  the  mom, 
I  spy'd  a  Lass  that  lay 

Stark  nak'd  as  she  was  bom ; 
'Twas  by  a  mnning  Pool, 

Within  a  meddow  green, 
And  there  she  lay  to  cool, 

Not  thinking  to  be  seen. 

Then  did  she  by  degrees 

Wash  every  part  in  rank. 
Her  Arms,  her  breasts,  her  thighs. 

Her  Belly,  and  her  Flank  j 
Her  legs  she  opened  wide. 

My  eyes  I  let  down  steal, 
Untill  that  I  espy'd 

Dame  natures  privy  Seal.  I 


Merry  Dr oiler ie,  1661.  231 

I  stript  me  to  the  skin, 

And  boldly  stept  unto  her, 
Thinking  her  love  to  win, 

I  thus  began  to  wooe  her  : 
Sweet  heart  be  not  so  coy. 

Time's  sweet  in  pleasure  spent, 
She  frown'd,  and  cr/d,  away, 

Yet,  smiling,  gave  consent. 

Then  blushing,  down  she  slid,  [p-  149] 

Seeming  to  be  amazed. 
But  heaving  up  her  head. 

Again  she  on  me  gazed ; 
I  seeing  that,  lay  down. 

And  boldly  'gan  to  kiss, 
And  she  did  smile,  and  frown, 

And  so  fell  to  our  bliss. 

Then  lay  she  on  the  ground 

As  though  she  had  been  sped, 
As  women  in  a  swoon. 

Yield  up,  and  yet  not  dead : 
So  did  this  lively  maid. 

When  hot  bloud  fill'd  her  vein, 
And  coming  to  her  self  she  said, 

I  thank  you  for  your  pain. 


[Part 


Q4 


232  Merry  Drollerie,  1661. 

[Part  First,  1 66 1,  ends  on  pages  171-175,  with  The  new  Med- 
ley of  the  Country  man,  Citizen,  and  Souldier  (which  in  the  1670 
and  1691  editions  are  on  pp.  182-187).  The  1661  edition  of 
Second  Part  has  a  complete  title-page  of  its  own,  in  black  and 
red,  exactly  agreeing  with  its  own  First  Part,  except  that  the 
words  are  prefixed  "The  ||  Second  Part  ||  of."  A  contemporary 
MS.  note  in  Ant.  a  Wood's  copy,  says,  of  each  part,  "  is.  3d."  as 
the  original  price.  There  is  also,  in  the  1661  edition  (and  in  that 
only),  another  address,  here,  which  runs  as  follows : — 

"  To  the  Reader : 

"Courteous  Reader, 

"  T  ^  TE  do  here  present  thee  with  the 
V  V  Second  part  of  Merry  Drollery, 
not  doubting  but  it  will  find  good  Reception 
with  the  more  Ingenious  ;  The  deficiency  of 
this  shall  be  supplied  in  a  third,  when  time 
shall  serve :    In  the  mean  time 

Farewel." 

The  Third  Part,  mentioned  above,  never  appeared. 

The  woodcut  Initial  W  represents  Salome,  the  daughter  of  Hero- 
dias,  receiving  from  the  Roman-like  Stratiotes  the  head  of  John  the 
Baptist  (whose  body  lies  at  their  feet),  she  holding  her  charger. 
The  Editor  hopes  to  engrave  it  for  the  Introduction  to  this  present 
volume. 

The  pagination  commences  afresh  in  the  1661  Second  Part; 
but  continues  in  the  1670,  and  the  1691  editions.] 

Merry 


233 


Merry  Drollery,    1661 

Extra  Songs  in  Part  Second. 
(Omitted  in  1670  and  1691  Editions.) 


The  Force  of  Opportunity.    [Part  2nd,,  p.  21.] 

YOu  gods  that  rule  upon  the  Plains, 
Where  nothing  but  delight  remains ; 
You  Nymphs  that  haunt  the  Fairy  Bowers, 
Exceeding  Nora  with  her  flowers  ; 
The  fairest  woman  that  earth  can  have 
Sometimes  forbidden  fruit  will  crave. 

For  any  woman,  whatsoe'r  she  be, 
Will  yield  to  Opportunity. 

Your  Courtly  Ladies  that  attends. 
May  sometimes  dally  with  their  friends ; 
And  she  that  marries  with  a  Knight 
May  let  his  Lodging  for  a  night  \ 
And  she  that's  only  Worshipful 
Perhaps  another  friend  may  gull : 
For  any  woman,  6^^. 

The 


234  Merry  Drollerie,  1661. 

The  Chamber-maid  that's  newly  married 
Perhaps  another  man  hath  carried ; 
Your  City  Wives  will  not  be  alone, 
Although  their  husbands  be  from  home  ; 
The  fairest  maid  in  all  the  town 
For  green  will  change  a  russet  Gown ; 
For  any  woman,  &=c. 

And  she  that  loves  a  Zealous  brother, 
May  change  her  Pulpit  for  another ; 
Physitians  study  for  their  skill,  [p-  22.] 

Whiles  wives  their  Urinals  do  fill ; 
The  Lawyers  wife  may  take  her  pride 
Whilst  he  their  Causes  doth  decide  ; 
For  every  woman,  &>€. 

The  Country  maid,  that  milks  the  Cow, 
And  takes  great  pains  to  work  and  do, 
I'th'  fields  may  meet  her  friend  or  brother, 
And  save  her  soul  to  get  another  ; 
And  she  that  to  the  Market[']s  gone 
May  horn  her  man  ere  she  come  home  ; 
For  any  woman,  6^^. 

You  Goddesses  and  Nymphs  so  bright. 

The  greater  Star,  the  lesser  light ; 

To  Lords,  as  well  as  mean  estates, 

Belongeth  husbands  horned  baites,      [?  pates.]  Then 


Merty  Drollerie,  1661.     Second  Part.    235 

Then  give  your  Ladies  leave  to  prove 
The  things  the  which  your  selves  do  love ; 

For  any  woman,  what  ere  she  be, 

Will  yield  to  Opportunity. 


y  Lusty  Tobacco.  [  p-  22.] 

YOu  that  in  love  do  mean  to  sport, 
Tobacco,  Tobacco, 
First  take  a  wench  of  a  meaner  sort. 

Tobacco,  Tobacco, 
But  let  her  have  a  comely  grace. 
Like  one  that  came  from  Venus  race. 
Then  take  occasion,  time,  and  place, 
To  give  her  some  Tobacco. 

You gamesters  must  be  bound,  [p.  23.] 

Tobacco,  Tobacco, 
Their  bullets  must  be  plump  and  round, 

Tobacco,  Tobacco, 
Your  Stopper  must  be  stiff  and  strong. 
Your  Pipe  it  must  be  large  and  long. 
Or  else  she'll  say  you  do  her  wrong, 

She'll  scorn  your  weak  Tobacco. 

And  if  that  you  do  please  her  well, 

Tobacco,  Tobacco,  All 


236  Merry  Drollerie,  1661. 

All  others  then  she  will  expell, 

Tobacco,  Tobacco. 
She  will  be  ready  at  your  call 
To  take  Tobacco,  Pipe,  and  all. 
So  willing  she  will  be  to  fall 

To  take  your  strong  Tobacco. 

And  when  you  have  her  favour  won, 

Tobacco,  Tobacco, 
You  must  hold  out  as  you  begun, 

Tobacco,  Tobacco, 
Or  else  she'll  quickly  change  her  mind, 
And  seek  some  other  Friend  to  find, 
That  better  may  content  her  mind 

In  giving  her  Tobacco. 

And  if  you  do  not  do  her  right, 

Tobacco,  Tobacco, 
She'll  take  a  course  to  bum  your  Pipe, 

Tobacco,  Tobacco, 
And  if  you  ask  what  she  doth  mean. 
She'll  say  she  doth't  to  make  it  clean. 
Then  take  you  heed  of  such  a  Quean 

For  spoyling  your  Tobacco, 

As  I  my  self  dare  boldly  speak,  [p-  24-] 

Tobacco,  Tobacco, 


Merry  Drolkrie,  1661.     Second  Part.     237 

Which  makes  my  very  heart  to  break, 

Tobacco,  Tobacco, 
For  she  that  I  take  for  my  friend. 
Hath  my  Tobacco  quite  consum'd, 
She  hath  spoil'd  my  Pipe,  and  there's  an  end 

Of  all  my  good  Tobacco. 


On  the  Goldsmiths-Committee.         [p  29-] 

COme  Drawer,  some  wine. 
Or  we'll  pull  down  the  Sign, 
For  we  are  all  jovial  Compounders  : 
We'll  make  the  house  ring, 
With  healths  to  the  KING, 

And  confusion  light  on  his  Confounders. 

Since  Goldsmiths  Committee 
Affords  us  no  pitty, 

Our  sorrows  in  wine  we  will  steep  'um, 
They  force  us  to  take 
Two  Oaths,  but  we'll  make 

A  third,  that  we  ne'r  mean  to  keep  'um. 

And  next,  who  e'r  sees, 
We  drink  on  our  knees, 

To  the  King,  may  he  thirst  that  repines. 

A 


238  Merry  Drollerie,  1661. 

A  fig  for  those  traitors 
That  look  to  our  waters, 

They  have  nothing  to  do  with  our  wines. 

And  next  here's  a  Cup 
To  the  Queen,  fill  it  up. 

Were  it  poyson,  we  would  make  an  end  o'nt : 
May  Charles  and  She  meet, 
And  tread  under  feet 

Both  Presbyter  and  Independent. 

To  the  Prince,  and  all  others. 
His  Sisters  and  Brothers, 

As  low  in  condition  as  high  bom. 
We'll  drink  this,  and  pray,  [p  -30.] 

That  shortly  they  may, 

See  all  them  that  wrongs  them  at  Tyburn. 

And  next  here's  three  bowls  J 

To  all  gallant  souls, 

That  for  the  King  did,  and  will  venter, 
May  they  flourish  when  those 
That  are  his,  and  their  foes 

Are  hang'd  and  ram'd  down  to  the  Center, 

And  next  let  a  Glass 
To  our  undoers  pass, 

Attended  with  two  or  three  curses  :        May 


Merry  Drollerie,  1661,  Second  Part.      239 

May  plagues  sent  from  hell 
Stuff  their  bodies  as  well, 

As  the  Cavaliers  Coyn  doth  their  purses. 

May  the  Cannibals  of  Pym 
Eat  them  up  limb  by  limb, 

Or  a  hot  Fever  scorch  'um  to  embers, 
Pox  keep  'urn  in  bed 
Untill  they  are  dead, 

And  repent  for  the  loss  of  their  Members. 

And  may  they  be  found 
In  all  to  abound, 

Both  with  heaven  and  the  countries  anger, 
May  they  never  want  Fractions, 
Doubts,  Fears,  and  Distractions, 

Till  the  Gallow-tree  choaks  them  from  danger. 


Insatiate  Desire.  [p-  31-] 

OThat  I  could  by  any  Chymick  Art 
To  sperme,  convert  my  spirit  and  my  heart, 
That  at  one  thrust  I  might  my  soul  translate. 
And  in  her  w  ...  my  self  degenerate. 
There  steep'd  in  lust  nine  months  I  would  remain. 
Then  boldly my  passage  back  again. 

The 


240  Merry  Drollerie,  1661. 

The  Horn  exalted.  (p.  32-) 

Listen  Lordings  to  my  Story, 
I  will  sing  of  Cuckolds  glory, 
And  thereat  let  none  be  vext, 
None  doth  know  whose  turn  is  next ; 
And  seeing  it  is  in  most  mens  scorn, 
'Tis  Charity  to  advance  the  Horn. 

Diana  was  a  Virgin  pure. 

Amongst  the  rest  chaste  and  demure  ; 

Yet  you  know  well,  I  am  sure. 

What  Acieon  did  endure, 

If  men  have  Horns  for  [such]  as  she,  [p-  33-1 

I  pray  thee  tell  me  what  are  we  ? 

Let  thy  friend  enjoy  his  rest, 

What  though  he  wear  Acteons  creast  ? 

Malice  nor  Venome  at  him  spit, 

He  wears  but  what  the  gods  thinks  fit ; 

Confess  he  is  by  times  Recorder 

Knight  of  great  Diana! s  Order. 

Luna  was  no  venial  sinner, 

Yet  she  hath  a  man  within  her. 

And  to  cut  off  Cuckolds  scorns, 

She  decks  her  head  with  Silver  horns 

And  if  the  moon  in  heaven  [']s  thus  drest, 

The  men  on  earth  like  it  are  blest.  A 


Merry  Droilerie,  1661.  241 

\A  Droll  of  a  Louse  (p.  33),  seven  verses  of  seven  lines  each, 
beginning  "  Discoveries  of  late  have  been  made  by  adventures,"  is 
reserved.     Fide  ante  p.  213.] 


A  Letany.  [p-38-] 

FRom  Essex  Anabaptist  Laws, 
And  from  Norfolk  Plough-tail  Laws,  [?  taws] 
From  Abigails  pure  tender  Zeal, 
Whiter  than  a  Brownists  veal. 
From  a  Serjeants  Temple  pickle. 
And  the  Brethrens  Conventicle, 
From  roguish  meetings,  or  Cutpurse  hall, 
And  New-England,  worst  of  all, 

Libera  nos  Domine.  -i 

I 

From  the  cry  of  Ludgate  debters,  [p-  39-] 

And  the  noise  of  Prisoners  Fetters, 
From  groans  of  them  that  have  the  Pox, 
And  coyl  of  Beggars  in  the  Stocks, 
From  roar  o'  th'  Bridge,  and  Bedlam  prate. 
And  with  Wives  met  at  Billingsgate, 
From  scritch-owles,  and  dogs  night-howling, 
From  Sailers  cry  at  their  main  bowling. 
Libera  nos  domine. 

From  Frank  Wilsons  trick  of  moppijig, 

And  her  ulcered  h  .  .  .  with  popping.  From 

R 


242  Merry  D  roller ie,  1661. 

From  Knights  o'  th'  post,  and  from  decoys, 
From  Whores,  Bawds,  and  roaring  Boys, 
From  a  Bulker  in  the  dark, 
And  Hannah  with  St.  Tantlins  Clark, 
From  Biskets  Bawds  have  rubb'd  their  gums, 
And  from  purging-Comfit  plums, 
Libera  nos  Domine. 

From  Sue  Prats  Son,  the  fair  and  witty, 
The  Lord  of  Portsmouth,  sweet  and  pretty. 
From  her  that  creeps  up  Holbourne  hill, 
And  Moll  that  cries,  God-dam-me  still, 
From  backwards-ringing  of  the  Bells, 
From  both  the  Counters  and  Bridewells, 
From  blind  Robbin  and  his  Bess, 
And  from  a  Purse  that's  penniless, 
Libera  nos  Domine. 

From  gold-finders,  and  night-weddings, 
From  Womens  eyes  false  liquid  sheddings, 
From  Rocks,  Sands,  and  Cannon-shot, 
And  from  a  stinking  Chamber-pot, 
From  a  hundred  years  old  sinner,  [p-  4°-] 

And  Duke  Humphreys  hungry  dinner, 
From  stinking  breath  of  an  old  Aunt  [,] 
From  Parritors  and  Pursevants  [,] 
Libera  nos  Domine. 

From 


Merry  Drollerie,  1661.  243 

From  a  Dutchmans  snick  and  sneeing, 
From  a  nasty  Irish  being  [,] 
From  a  Welchmans  lofty  bragging, 
And  a  Monsieur  loves  not  drabbing, 

From  begging  Scotchmen  and  their  pride, 
From  striving  'gainst  both  wind  and  tide. 
From  too  much  strong  Wine  and  Beer, 
Enforcing  us  to  domineer. 
Libera  nos  Domine. 


[Following  the  above  comes  a  group  of  more  than  usually  ob- 
jectionable Songs,  viz.,  yohn  and  Joan,  beginning  "  If  you  will 
give  ear  (p.  46) ;  "  Full  forty  times  over  I  have  strived  to  win," 
same  title  (p.  61) ;  The  Answer  to  it,  "  He  is  a  fond  Lover  that 
doateth  on  scorn"  (p.  62)  ;  Love's  Tenement,  "  If  any  one  do 
want  a  house"  (p.  64)  ;  and  A  New  Year's  Gift,  "  Fair  Lady,  for 
your  New  Year's  Gift"  (p.  81).  These  are  all  reserved  for  the 
Chamber  of  Horrors.     Vide  ante,  p.  213]. 


New  England  described.  [p.  103.] 

AMong  the  purifidifcn  Sect, 
I  mean  the  counterfeit  Elect : 
Zealous  bankrupts,  Punks  devout, 
Preachers  suspended,  rabble  rout, 
Let  them  sell  all,  and  out  of  hand 
Prepare  to  go  to  New  England, 

To  build  new  Babel  strong  and  sure. 
Now  call'd  a  Church  unspotted  pure. 

There 

R   2 


244  Merry  Drollerie,  1661. 

There  Milk  from  Springs,  like  Rivers,  flows, 

And  Honey  upon  hawthorn  grows  ; 

Hemp,  Wool,  and  Flax,  there  grows  on  trees, 

The  mould  is  fat,  it  cuts  like  cheese ; 

All  fruits  and  herbs  spring  in  the  fields. 

Tobacco  it  good  plenty  yields  ; 

And  there  shall  be  a  Church  most  pure, 
Where  you  may  find  salvation  sure. 

There's  Venison  of  all  sorts  great  store, 
Both  Stag,  and  buck,  wild  Goat,  and  Boar, 
And  all  so  tame,  that  you  with  ease 
May  take  your  fill,  eat  what  you  please ; 
There's  Beavers  plenty,  yea,  so  many, 
That  you  may  buy  two  skins  a  penny. 
Above  all  this,  a  Church  most  pure, 
Where  to  be  saved  you  may  be  sure. 

There's  flight  of  Fowl  do  cloud  the  skie. 
Great  Turkies  of  threescore  pound  weight. 
As  big  as  as  Estriges,  there  Geese,  [p-  104.] 

With  thanks,  are  sold  for  pence  a  piece  ; 
Of  Duck  and  Mallard,  Widgeon,  Teale, 
Twenty  for  two-pence  make  a  meale  ; 
Yea,  and  a  Church  unspotted  pure. 
Within  whose  bosome  all  are  sure. 


Loe,  there  in  shoals  all  sorts  of  fish, 
Of  the  salt  seas,  and  water  fresh  : 


Ling, 


Merry  Drollerie,  1661.  245 

Ling,  Cod,  Poor-John,  and  Haberdine, 

Are  taken  with  the  Rod  and  Line ; 

A  painful  fisher  on  the  shore 

May  take  at  least  twenty  an  houre ; 

Besides  all  this  a  Church  most  pure, 
Where  you  may  live  and  dye  secure. 

There  twice  a  year  all  sorts  of  Grain 

Doth  down  firom  heaven,  like  hailstones,  rain  ; 

You  ne'r  shall  need  to  sow  nor  plough, 

There's  plenty  of  all  things  enough  : 

Wine  sweet  and  wholsome  drops  from  trees, 

As  clear  as  chrystal,  without  lees ; 

Yea,  and  a  Church  unspotted,  pure, 

From  dregs  of  Papistry  secure. 

No  Feasts  nor  festival  set  daies 
Are  here  observed,  the  Lord  be  prais'd. 
Though  not  in  Churches  rich  and  strong. 
Yet  where  no  Mass  was  ever  Sung, 
The  Bulls  of  Bashan  ne'r  met  there  [;] 
Surplice  and  Cope  durst  not  appear ; 
Old  Orders  all  they  will  abjure, 
This  Church  hath  all  things  new  and  pure. 

No  discipline  shall  there  be  used,  [p- 105,] 

The  Law  of  Nature  they  have  chused  [j] 

All 

R  3 


246  Merry  Drollerie,  1661. 

All  that  the  spirit  seems  to  move 
Each  man  may  choose  and  so  approve, 
There's  Government  without  command, 
There's  unity  without  a  band ; 

A  Synagogue  unspotted  pure,    • 
Where  lust  and  pleasure  dwells  secure. 

Loe  in  this  Church  all  shall  be  free 
To  Enjoy  their  Christian  liberty ; 
All  things  made  common,  void  of  strife. 
Each  man  may  take  anothers  wife. 
And  keep  a  hundred  maids,  if  need. 
To  multiply,  increase,  and  breed. 

Then  is  not  this  Foundation  sure. 
To  build  a  Church  unspotted,  pure  ? 

The  native  People,  though  yet  wild. 

Are  altogether  kind  and  mild, 

And  apt  already,  by  report. 

To  live  in  this  religious  sort ; 

Soon  to  conversion  they'l  be  brought 

When  Warrens  Mariery  have  wrought, 
Who  being  sanctified  and  pure. 
May  by  the  Spirit  them  alure. 

Let  Amsterdam  send  forth  her  Brats, 
Her  Fugitives  and  Runnagates  : 


Let 


Merry  Drollerie,  1661.  247 

Let  Bedlam,  Newgate,  and  the  Clink 

Disgorge  themselves  into  this  sink ; 

Let  Bridewell  and  the  stews  be  kept, 

And  all  sent  thither  to  be  swept ; 

So  may  our  Church  be  cleans'd  and  pure, 
Keep  both  it  self  and  state  secure. 

The  insatiate  Lover.  [p.  106] 

COme  hither  my  own  sweet  duck, 
And  sit  upon  my  knee, 
That  thou  and  I  may  truck 

For  thy  Commodity, 
If  thou  wilt  be  my  honey. 

Then  I  will  be  thine  own. 
Thou  shalt  not  want  for  money 

If  thou  wilt  make  it  known ; 
With  hey  ho  my  honey. 

My  heart  shall  never  rue. 
For  I  have  been  spending  money 

And  amongst  the  jovial  Crew. 

I  prethee  leave  thy  scorning, 

Which  our  true  love  beguiles. 
Thy  eyes  are  bright  as  morning. 

The  Sun  shines  in  thy  smiles, 
Thy  gesture  is  so  prudent, 


Thy 


R  4 


248  Merry  Drollerie,  1661. 

Thy  language  is  so  free, 
That  he  is  the  best  Student 

Which  can  study  thee ; 
With  hey  ho,  &=€. 

The  Merchant  would  refuse 

His  Indies  and  his  Gold 
If  he  thy  love  might  chuse. 

And  have  thy  love  in  hold  : 
Thy  beauty  yields  more  pleasure 

Than  rich  men  keep  in  store. 
And  he  that  hath  such  treasure  [p.  107.] 

Never  can  be  poor ; 
With  hey  ho,  ^c. 

The  Lawyer  would  forsake 

His  wit  and  pleading  strong  : 
The  Ruler  and  Judge  would  take 

Thy  part  wer't  right  or  wrong ; 
Should  men  thy  beauty  see 

Amongst  the  learned  throngs, 
Thy  very  eyes  would  be 

Too  hard  for  all  their  tongues ; 
With  hey  ho,  ^'c. 


Thy  kisses  to  thy  friend 

The  Surgeons  skill  out-strips. 


For 


Merry  Drollerie,  1661.  249 

For  nothing  can  transcend 

The  balsome  of  thy  Lips, 
There  is  such  vital  power 

Contained  in  thy  breath, 
That  at  the  latter  hour 

'T would  raise  a  man  from  death  ; 
With  hey,  ho,  6-r. 

Astronomers  would  not 

Lye  gazing  in  the  skies 
Had  they  thy  beauty  got. 

No  Stars  shine  like  thine  eyes  : 
For  he  that  may  importune 

Thy  love  to  an  embrace, 
Can  read  no  better  fortune 

Then  what  is  in  thy  face. 
With  hey  ho,  &'c. 

The  Souldier  would  throw  down  [p-  108.] 

His  Pistols  and  Carbine, 
And  freely  would  be  bound 

To  wear  no  arms  but  thine  : 
If  thou  wert  but  engaged 

To  meet  him  in  the  field, 
Though  never  so  much  inraged 

Thou  couldest  make  him  yield, 
With  hey  ho,  c^c. 

The 


250  Merry  Drollerie,  1661, 

The  seamen  would  reject  [Seaman] 

To  sayl  upon  the  Sea, 
And  his  good  ship  neglect 

To  be  aboard  of  thee  : 
When  thou  liest  on  thy  pillows 

He  surely  could  not  fail 
To  make  thy  brest  his  billows, 

And  to  hoyst  up  sayl ; 
With  hey  ho,  d>c. 

The  greatest  Kings  alive 

Would  wish  thou  wert  their  own, 
And  every  one  would  strive 

To  make  thy  Lap  their  Throne, 
For  thou  hast  all  the  merit 

That  love  and  liking  brings ; 
Besides  a  noble  spirit. 

Which  may  conquer  Kings ; 
With  hey  ho,  &>€. 

Were  Rosamond  on  earth 

I  surely  would  abhor  her, 
Though  ne'r  so  great  by  birth 

I  should  not  change  thee  for  her ; 
Though  Kings  and  Queens  are  gallant,      [p-  109.] 

And  bear  a  royal  sway. 

The 


Merry  DrolleriCy  i66i.  251 

The  poor  man  hath  his  Talent, 

And  loves  as  well  as  they, 
With  hey  ho,  &'c. 

Then  prethee  come  and  kiss  me, 

And  say  thou  art  mine  own, 
I  vow  I  would  not  miss  thee 

Not  for  a  Princes  Throne ; 
Let  love  and  I  perswade  thee 

My  gentle  suit  to  hear  : 
If  thou  wilt  be  my  Lady, 

Then  I  will  be  thy  dear  -, 
With  hey  ho,  &'C. 

I  never  will  deceive  thee, 

But  ever  will  be  true, 
Till  death  I  shall  not  leave  thee, 

Or  change  thee  for  a  new ; 
We'll  live  as  mild  as  may  be. 

If  thou  wilt  but  agree, 
And  get  a  pretty  baby 

With  a  face  like  thee. 
With  hey  ho,  &'c. 

Let  these  perswasions  move  thee 

Kindly  to  comply. 
There's  no  man  that  can  love  thee 

With  so  much  zeal  as  I; 

Do 


252  Merry  Drollerie,  1661. 

Do  thou  but  yield  me  pleasure, 

And  take  from  me  this  pain, 
I'll  give  thee  all  the  Treasure 

Horse  and  man  can  gain ; 
With  hey  ho,  6^f. 

I'll  fight  in  forty  duels  [p.  1 10.] 

To  obtain  thy  grace, 
I'll  give  thee  precious  jewels 

Shall  adorn  thy  face ; 
E'r  thou  for  want  of  money 

Be  to  destruction  hurl'd. 
For  to  support  my  honey 

I'll  plunder  all  the  world  ; 
With  hey  ho,  6-r. 

That  smile  doth  show  consenting, 

Then  prethee  let's  be  gone, 
There  shall  be  no  repenting 

When  the  deed  is  done ; 
My  bloud  and  my  affection, 

My  spirits  strongly  move. 
Then  let  us  for  this  action 

Fly  to  yonder  grove. 
With  hey  ho,  &"€. 


Let  us  lye  down  by  those  bushes 
That  are  grown  so  high. 


Where 


Merry  Drolkrie,  1661.  253 

Where  I  will  hide  thy  blushes  ; 

Here's  no  standers  by 
This  seventh  day  of  July, 

Upon  this  bank  we'll  lye, 
Would  all  were,  that  love  truly, 

As  close  as  thou  and  I  ; 
With  hey  ho  [,]  my  honey, 

My  heart  shall  never  rue, 
For  I  have  been  spending  money 

Amongst  the  jovial  Crew. 

[Followed,  in  1661  edition  by  "  Now  that  the  Spring,"  &c.,  and 
the  three  other  pieces  which  are  to  be  found  in  succession,  already 
printed  in  our  Merry  Drollery,  Compleat  of  1670,  1691,  pp.  296 — 
301  :  The  last  of  these  being  the  Song,  "  She  lay  all  naked  in  her 
bed."  This  begins  on  p.  115,  of  Part  2nd,  1661 ;  p.  300,  1691. 
In  the  former  edition  it  is  followed  by  "The  Answer,"  beginning 
"She  lay  up  to,"  &c.,  which,  like  other  extremely  objectionable 
pieces,  is  kept  apart.  Next  follow,  in  1661  edition.  The  Louse,  and 
the  Concealment.] 

T^  Louse.  [p.    149.] 

IF  that  you  will  hear  of  a  Ditty 
That's  framed  by  a  six-footed  Creature, 
She  lives  both  in  Town  and  in  City, 
She  is  very  loving  by  nature  ; 
She'l  offer  her  service  to  any, 
She'l  stick  close  but  she'l  prevail. 
She's  entertained  by  too  many 

Till  death,  she  no  man  will  fail. 

jFenner 


254  Merry  Drollerie,  1661. 

Fenner  once  in  a  Play  did  describe  her, 

How  she  had  her  beginning  first, 

How  she  sprung  from  the  loyns  of  great  Pharaoh, 

And  how  by  a  King  she  was  nurs'd  : 

How  she  fell  on  the  Carkass  of  Herod, 

A  companion  for  any  brave  fighter, 

And  there's  no  fault  to  be  found  with  her, 

But  that  she's  a  devillish  backbiter. 

With  Souldiers  she's  often  comraded 

And  often  does  them  much  good, 

She'l  save  them  the  charge  of  a  Surgeon 

In  sickness  for  letting  them  blood ; 

Corruption  she  draws  like  a  horse-leech,       [p-  150] 

Growing  she'll  prove  a  great  breeder, 

At  night  she  will  creep  in  her  cottage, 

By  day  she's  a  damnable  feeder. 

She'l  venture  as  much  in  a  battel 
As  any  Commander  may  go. 
But  then  she'l  play  Jack  on  both  sides, 
She  cares  not  a  fart  for  her  Foe  : 
She  knows  that  alwaies  she's  shot-free, 
To  kill  her  no  sword  will  prevaile, 
But  if  she's  taken  prisoner, 
She's  prest  to  death  by  the  naile. 

She 


Merry  Dr oiler ie,  1661.  255 

She  doth  not  esteem  of  your  rich  men, 
But  alwaies  sticks  close  to  the  poor  ; 
Nor  she  cares  not  for  your  clean  shifters. 
Nor  for  such  as  brave  cloaths  wear  \ 
She  loves  all  such  as  are  non-suited, 
Or  any  brave  fellow  that  lacks  ; 
She's  as  true  a  friend  to  poor  Souldiers, 
As  the  shirt  that  sticks  close  to  their  backs. 

She  cannot  abide  your  clean  Laundress, 
Nor  those  that  do  set  her  on  work. 
Her  delight  is  all  in  foul  linnen, 
Where  in  narraw  seams  she  may  lurk : 
From  her  and  her  breed  God  defend  me, 
For  I  have  had  their  company  store, 
Pray  take  her  among  you  [,]  Gentry, 
Let  her  trouble  poor  souldiers  no  more. 


[As  already  mentioned,  this  is  followed,  in  the  1661  Part  Second, 
page  151,  by  The  Concealment,  beginning  "  I  loved  a  maid,  she 
loved  not  me,''  which  is  the  last  of  the  songs  or  poems  peculiar  to 
that  edition.  See  the  end  of  our  Supplement :  so  paged  that  it  may 
be  either  omitted  or  included,  leaving  no  hiatus.  We  add,  after 
the  Supplement,  the  title-page  of  the  1670  edition  of  Merry  Drol- 
lery, Compleat ;  when  reissued  in  1691,  the  same  sheets  held  the 
fresh  title-page  prefixed,  such  as  we  gave  in  second  Volume. 
Readers  now  possess  the  entire  work,  all  three  editions,  compre- 
hended in  our  Reprint :  which  is  the  Fourth  Edition,  but  the  first 
Annotated.     J.  W.  E.] 


Appendix. 


\ 


^L    ^^    ^^    ^^    ^^    ^^    ^^    ^^    ^^    ^^    ^^    ^^    ^K    ^^    ^K    ^K    ^h    ^K    ^k    ^k    ^k    ^L, 

APPENDIX. 


Notes,  Illustrations,    Various  Readings,  and 

Emetidations  of  Text. 

(now  first  added.) 


Arranged  in  Four  Parts  : — 
I. — Choyce  Drollery,  1656. 
2. — Antidote  against  Melancholy,  1661. 
3. —  Westminster-Drollery,  1674. 
4. — Merry  Drollery,  1661 ;  and  Additional  Notes 
to  1670-1691  editions:  with  Index. 

READERS,  who  have  accompanied  the  Editor 
both  in  text  and  comment  throughout  these 
three  volumes  of  Reprints  from  the  Drolleries  of  the 
Restoration,  can  scarcely  have  failed  to  see  that  he  has 
desired  to  present  the  work  for  their  study  with  such 
advantages  as  lay  within  his  reach.  Certainly,  he 
never  could  have  desired  to  assist  in  bringing  these 
rare  volumes  into  the  hands  of  a  fresh  generation,  if 
he  believed  not  that  their  few  faults  were  far  out- 
weighed by  their  merits  ;  and  that  much  may  be  learnt 
from  both  of  these.  Every  antiquary  is  well  aware 
that  during  the  troubled  days  of  the  Civil  War,  and 
for  the  remaining  years  of  the  seventeenth  century, 
s  2 


26o  Appendix. 

books  were  printed  with  such  an  abundance  of  typo- 
graphical errors  that  a  pure  text  of  any  author  cannot 
easily  be  recovered.  In  the  case  of  all  unlicensed 
publications,  such  as  anonymous  pamphlets,  face- 
tics,  broad-sheet  Ballads,  and  the  more  portable  Drol- 
leries, these  imperfections  were  innumerable.  Dropt 
lines  and  omitted  verses,  corrupt  readings  and  perver- 
sions of  meaning,  sometimes  amounting  to  a  total  de- 
struction of  intelligibility,  might  drive  an  Editor  to 
despair. 

In  regard  to  the  Z>r^//<fnkf-literature,  especially,  if 
we  remember,  as  we  ought  to  do,  the  difficulties  and 
dangers  attendant  on  the  printing  of  these  political 
squibs  and  pasquinades,  we  shall  be  less  inclined  to 
rail  at  the  original  collector,  or  "  author,"  and  printers. 
If  we  ourselves,  as  Editor,  do  our  best  to  examine 
such  other  printed  books  and  manuscripts  of  the  time, 
as  may  assist  in  restoring  what  for  awhile  was  cor- 
rupted or  lost  from  the  text  (keeping  these  corrections 
and  additions  clearly  distinguished,  within  square  brack- 
ets, or  in  Appendix  Notes  to  each  successive  volume), 
we  shall  find  ourselves  more  usefully  employed  than  in 
flinging  stones  at  the  Cavaliers  of  the  Restoration,  be- 
cause they  left  behind  them  many  a  doubtful  reading 
or  an  empty  flaggon. 

We  have  given  back,  to  all  who  desire  to  study  these 
invaluable  records  of  a  memorable  time,  four  complete 


Choyce  Drollery,  1656.  261 

unmutilated  works  (except  twenty-seven  necessarily 
dotted  words) :  and  we  could  gladly  have  furnished 
additional  information  regarding  each  and  all  of  these, 
if  further  delay  or  increased  bulk  had  not  been  equally 
inexpedient. 

I. — In  Choyce  Drollery,  1656,  are  seen  such  fugitive 
pieces  of  poetry  as  belong  chiefly  to  the  reign  of 
Charles  1st.,  and  to  the  eight  years  after  he  had  been 
judicially  murdered. 

2. — In  Merry  Drollery,  1661,  and  in  the  Antidote 
against  Melancholy  of  the  same  date,  we  receive  an 
abundant  supply  of  such  Cavalier  songs,  ballads,  lam- 
poons or  pasquinades,  social  and  political,  as  may 
serve  to  bring  before  us  a  clear  knowledge  of  what  was 
being  thought,  said,  and  done  during  the  first  year  of 
the  Restoration;  and,  indeed,  a  reflection  of  much  that 
had  gone  recently  before,  as  a  preparation  for  it. 

3. — In  such  additional  matter  as  came  to  view  in 
the  Merry  Drollery,  Compleat,  of  1670  (N.B.,  precisely 
the  same  work  as  what  we  have  reprinted,  from  the 
1 69 1  edition,  in  our  second  volume) ;  and  still  more 
in  the  delightful  Westminster-Drolleries  ofi67i,  1672, 
and  1674,  we  enjoy  the  humours  of  the  Cavaliers  at  a 
later  date  :  Songs  from  theatres  as  well  as  those  in 
favour  at  Court,  and  more  than  a  few  choice  pastorals 
and  ditties  of  much  earlier  date,  lend  variety  to  the 
collection. 

S3 


262  Appendix. 

We  could  easily  have  added  another  volume ;  but 
enough  has  surely  been  done  in  this  series  to  show 
how  rich  are  the  materials.  Let  us  increase  the  value 
of  all,  before  entering  in  detail  on  our  third  series 
of  Appendix  Notes,  by  giving  entirely  the  deeply-inter- 
esting Address  to  the  Reader,  written  and  published 
in  1656  (exactly  contemporary  with  our  Choyce  Drol- 
lery), by  Abraham  Wright,  for  his  rare  collection  of 
University  Poems,  known  as  '■'■.Parnassus  Biceps." 

It  is  "An  Epistle  in  the  behalfe  of  those  now  doubly- 
secluded  and  sequestered  Members,  by  one  who  himselfe 
is  none." 

"To  the  Ingenuous  [Sheet  sig.  A  2.] 


READER. 


SIR, 


,  Hese  leaves  present  you  with  some  few 
drops  of  that  Ocean  of  Wit,  which  flowed 
from  those  two  brests  of  this  Nation,  the 
Universities  J  and  doth  now  (the  sluces 
being  puld  up)  overflow  the  whole  Land  : 
or  rather  Hke  those  Springs  of  Paradice, 
doth  water  and  enrich  the  whole  world ;  whilst  the  Foun- 
tains themselues  are  dryed  up,  and  that  Twin-Paradise 
become  desart.  For  then  were  these  Verses  Composed, 
when  Oxford  and  Camebridge  were  Universities,  and  a 
Colledge  [A  2,  reverso"]  more  learned  then  a  Town-Hall, 
when  the  Buttery  and  Kitchin  could  speak  Latine, 
though  not  Preach;  and  the  very  irrational  Turnspits 
had  so  much  knowing  modesty,  as  not  to  dare  to  come 
into  a  Chappel,  or  to  mount  any  Pulpits  but  their  own. 
Then  were  these  Poems  writ,  when  peace  and  plenty  were 
the  best  Patriots  and  Msecenasses  to  great  Wits ;  when 
we  could  sit  and  make  Verses  under  our  own  Figtrees, 
.and  be  inspired  from  the  juice  of  our  own  Vines:    then. 


Choyce  Drollery,  1656.  263 

when  it  was  held  no  sin  for  the  same  man  to  be  both  a 
Poet,  and  a  Prophet ;  and  to  draw  predictions  no  lesse 
from  his  Verse  then  his  Text.  Thus  you  shall  meet  here 
St.  Pauls  Rapture  in  a  Poem,  and  the  fancy  as  high  and 
as  clear  as  the  third  Heaven,  into  which  [A.  3]  that 
Apostle  was  caught  up  :  and  this  not  onely  in  the  ravish- 
ing expressions  and  extasies  of  amorous  Composures  and 
Love  Songs ;  but  in  the  more  grave  Dorick  strains  of 
sollid  Divinity  :  Anthems  that  might  have  become  Davids 
Harpe,  and  Asaphs  Quire,  to  be  sung,  as  they  were  made, 
with  the  Spirit  of  that  chief  Musitian.  Againe,  In  this 
small  Glasse  you  may  behold  your  owne  face,  fit  your  own 
humors,  however  wound  up  and  tuned  j  whether  to  the 
sad  note,  and  melancholy  look  of  a  disconsolate  Elegy,  or 
those  more  sprightly  jovial  Aires  of  an  Epithalamium,  or 
Epinichion.  Further,  would  you  see  a  Mistresse  of  any 
age,  or  face,  in  her  created,  or  uncreated  complexion  : 
this  mirrour  presents  you  with  more  shapes  then  a  Con- 
jurers ['r'<?r5o]  Glasse,  or  a  Limner's  Pencil.  It  will  also 
teach  you  how  to  court  that  Mistresse,  when  her  very 
washings  and  pargettings  cannot  flatter  her ;  how  to  raise 
a  beauty  out  of  wrinkles  fourscore  years  old,  and  to  fall 
in  love  even  with  deformity  and  uglinesse.  From  your 
Mistresse  it  brings  you  to  your  God ;  and  (as  it  were 
some  new  Master  of  the  Ceremonies)  instructs  you  how 
to  woe,  and  court  him  likewise ;  but  with  approaches  and 
distances,  with  gestures  and  expressions  suitable  to  a 
Diety  [Deity] ;  addresses  clothed  with  such  a  sacred 
filial  horror  and  reverence,  as  may  invite  and  embolden 
the  most  despairing  condition  of  the  saddest  gloomy  Sin- 
ner ;  and  withall  dash  out  of  countenance  the  greatest 
confidence  of  the  most  glorious  Saint :  and  not  with  that 
blasphemous  familiarity  [A,4]  of  our  new  enlightened  and 
inspired  men,  who  are  as  bold  with  the  Majesty  and  glory 
of  that  Light  that  is  unapproachable,  as  with  their  own 
ignes  fatui :  and  account  of  the  third  Person  in  the 
blessed  Trinity  for  no  more  then  their  Fellow-Ghost; 
thinking  him  as  much  bound  to  them  for  their  vertiginous 
blasts  and  whi[r]le-winds,  as  they  to  him  for  his  own 
most  holy  Spirit.     Your  Authors  then  of  these  few  sheets 

S4 


264  Appendix. 

are  Priests,  as  well  as  Poets ;  who  can  teach  you  to  pray 
in  verse,  and  (if  there  were  not  already  too  much  phan- 
tasticknes  in  that  Trade)  to  Preach  likewise  :  while  they 
turn  Scripture-chapters  into  Odes,  and  both  the  Testa- 
ments into  one  book  of  Psalmes  :  making  Parnassus  as 
sacred  as  Mount  Olmet,  and  the  nine  Muses  no  lesse  re- 
ligious then  a  Cloyster  of  Nuns,  \jverso.']  But  yet  for  all 
this  I  would  not  have  thee,  Courteous  Reader,  pass  thy 
censure  upon  those  two  Fountains  of  Religion  and  Learn- 
ing, the  Uni'versities,  from  these  few  small  drops  of  wit, 
as  hardly  as  some  have  done  upon  the  late  Assemblies 
three-half-penny  Catechisme  :  as  if  all  their  publick  and 
private  Libraries,  all  their  morning  and  evening  watch- 
ings,  all  those  pangs  and  throwes  of  their  Studies,  were 
now  at  length  delivered  but  of  a  Verse,  and  brought  to 
bed  onely  of  five  feet,  and  a  Conceit.  For  although  the 
judicious  modesty  of  these  men  dares  not  look  the  world 
in  the  face  with  any  of  Theorau  Johns  Revelations,  or 
those  glaring  New-lights  that  have  muffled  the  Times  and 
Nation  with  a  greater  confusion  and  darknes,  then  ever 
benighted  [A  5]  the  world  since  the  first  Chaos  :  yet 
would  they  please  but  to  instruct  this  ignorant  Age  with 
those  exact  elaborate  Pieces,  which  might  reform  Philo- 
sophy without  a  Civil  War,  and  new  modell  even  Divinity 
its  selfe  without  the  ruine  of  either  Church,  or  State ; 
probably  that  most  prudent  and  learned  Order  of  the 
Church  of  Rome,  the  Jesuite,  should  not  boast  more 
soUid,  though  more  numerous  Volum[e]s  in  this  kind. 
And  of  this  truth  that  Order  was  very  sensible,  when  it 
felt  the  rational  Divinity  of  one  single  Chillingnvorth  to 
be  an  unanswerable  twelve-years-task  for  all  their  Eng- 
lish Colledges  in  Chrisendome.  And  therefore  that 
Society  did  like  its  selfe,  when  it  sent  us  over  a  War  in- 
stead of  an  Answer,  and  proved  us  Hereticks  by  the 
Sword  :  which  \yerso'\  in  the  first  place  was  to  Rout  the 
Uni'versities,  and  to  teach  our  two  Fountains  of  Learning 
better  manners,  then  for  ever  heareafter  to  bubble  and 
swell  against  the  Apostolick  Sea.  And  yet  I  know  not 
whether  the  depth  of  their  Politicks  might  not  have  ad- 
vised to  have  kept  those   Fountains  within   their  own 


Choyce  Drollery,  1656.  265 

banks,  and  there  to  have  dammd  them  and  choakd  them 
up  with  the  mud  of  the  Times,  rather  then  to  have  let 
those  Protestant  Streams  run,  which  perchance  may  effect 
that  now  by  the  spreading  Riverets,  which  they  could 
never  have  done  through  the  inclosed  Spring  :  as  it  had 
been  a  deeper  State-piece  and  Reach  in  that  Sanedrim, 
the  great  Councell  of  the  Jewish  Nation,  to  have  confined 
the  Apostles  to  Jerusalem,  and  there  to  have  muzzeld 
them  [A  6]  with  Oaths,  and  Orders ;  rather  then  by  a 
fruitful  Persecution  to  scatter  a  few  Gospel  Seeds,  that 
would  spring  up  the  Religion  of  the  whole  world  :  which 
had  it  been  Coopd  within  the  walls  of  that  City,  might  (for 
all  they  knew)  in  few  years  have  expired  and  given  up 
the  ghost  upon  the  same  Golgotha  with  its  Master.  And 
as  then  every  Pair  of  Fishermen  made  a  Church  and 
caught  the  sixt  part  of  the  world  in  their  Nets  ;  so  now 
every  Pair  of  Ce[o] Hedge-fellows  make  as  many  several 
Universityes ;  which  are  truly  so  call'd,  in  that  they  are 
Catholick,  and  spread  over  the  face  of  the  whole  earth  ; 
which  stand  amazed,  to  see  not  onely  Religion,  but 
Learning  also  to  come  from  beyond  the  Alpes  ;  and  that 
a  poor  despised  Canton  and  nook  of  the  world  should 
contain  as  much  of  each  {yerso"]  as  all  the  other  Parts  be- 
sides. But  then,  as  when  our  single  Jesus  was  made  an 
universall  Saviour,  and  his  particular  Gospel  the  Catho- 
lick Religion ;  though  that  Jesus  and  this  Gospel  did 
both  take  their  rise  from  the  holy  City  ;  yet  now  no  City 
is  more  unholy  and  infidel  then  that ;  insomuch  that  there 
is  at  this  day  scarce  any  thing  to  be  heard  of  a  Christ  at 
yerusalem,  more  then  that  such  a  one  was  sometimes 
there,  nor  any  thing  to  be  seen  of  his  Gospel,  more 
then  a  Sepulcher  :  just  so  it  is  here  with  us ;  where 
though  both  Religion  and  Learning  do  owe  their 
growth,  as  well  as  birth,  to  those  Nurseryes  of 
both,  the  Universityes ;  yet,  since  the  Siens  of  those 
Nurseryes  have  been  transplanted,  there's  little  remaines 
in  them  now  (if  they  are  not  belyed)  either  of  the  old  [A  7] 
Religion  and  Divinity,  more  then  its  empty  Chair  &  Pul- 
pit, or  of  the  antient  Learning  &  Arts,  except  bare 
Schools,  and  their  gilded  Superscriptions  :  so  far  have  we 


266  Appendix. 

beggard  our  selves  to  enrich  the  whole  world.  And  thus. 
Ingenuous  Sir,  have  I  given  you  the  State  and  Condition 
of  this  Poetick  Miscellany,  as  also  of  the  Authors  ;  it  being 
no  more  then  some  few  slips  of  the  best  Florists  made  up 
into  a  slender  Garland,  to  crown  them  in  their  Pilgrimage, 
and  refresh  thee  in  thine  :  if  yet  their  very  Pilgrimage  be 
not  its  selfe  a  Crown  equall  to  that  of  Confessors,  and 
their  Academicall  Dissolution  a  Resurrection  to  the  great- 
est temporall  glory  :  when  they  shall  be  approved  of  by 
men  and  Angels  for  a  chosen  Generation,  a  Royal  Priest- 
hood, a  peculiar  People.  In  the  interim  let  this  [t'^rso] 
comfort  be  held  out  to  you,  our  secluded  Uni'versity  mem- 
bers, by  him  that  is  none  ;  (and  therefore  what  hath  been 
here  spoken  must  not  be  interpreted  as  out  of  passion  to 
my  self,  but  meer  zeal  to  my  Mother)  that  according  to 
the  generally  received  Principles  and  Axioms  of  Policy, 
and  the  soundest  Judgment  of  the  most  prudential  States- 
men upon  those  Principles,  the  date  of  your  sad  Ostra- 
cisme  is  expiring,  and  at  an  end  ;  but  yet  such  an  end,  as 
some  of  you  will  not  embrace  when  it  shall  be  offered ; 
but  will  chuse  rather  to  continue  Peripateticks  through  the 
whole  world,  then  to  return,  and  be  so  in  your  own  Col- 
ledges.  For  as  that  great  Councell  of  Trent  had  a  Form 
and  Conclusion  altogether  contrary  to  the  expectation  and 
desires  of  them  that  procured  it ;  so  our  great  Councels  of 
England  [A  8]  (our  late  Parliament)  will  have  such  a  re- 
sult, and  Catastrophe,  as  shall  no  ways  answer  the  Fasts 
and  Prayers,  the  Humiliations,  and  Thanksgivings  of 
their  Plotters  and  Contrivers  :  such  a  result  I  say,  that 
will  strike  a  palsie  through  Mr.  Pirns  ashes,  make  his  cold 
Marble  sweat ;  and  put  all  those  several  Partyes,  and 
Actors,  that  have  as  yet  appeard  upon  our  tragical  bloudy 
Stage,  to  an  amazed  stand  and  gaze:  when  they  shall 
confess  themselves  (but  too  late)  to  be  those  improvident 
axes  and  hammers  in  the  hand  of  a  subtle  Workman  j 
whereby  he  was  enabled  to  beat  down,  and  square  out 
our  Church  and  State  into  a  Conformity  with  his  own. 
And  then  it  will  appeare  that  the  great  Worke,  and  the 
holy  Cause,  and  the  naked  Arme,  so  much  talked  of  for 
\yerso']  these  fifteen  years,  were  but  the  work,  and  the 


Choyce  Drollery,  1656.  267 

luse,  and  the  arme  of  that  Hand,  which  hath  all  this 
^hile  reached  us  over  the  Alpes;  dividing,  and  composing, 
inding  us  up,  and  letting  us  down,  untill  our  very  dis- 
)rds  have  set  and  tuned  us  to  such   notes,  both  in  our 
Ecclesiastical,  and  Civill  Government ;    as  may  soonest 
conduce  to  that  most  necessary  Catholick  Unison  and 
Harmony,  which  is  an  essential  part  of  Christs   Church 
here  upon  Earth,  and  the  very  Church  its  selfe  in  Heaven, 
And  thus  far.  Ingenuous  Reader,  suffer  him  to  be  a  Poet 
in  his  Prediction,  though  not  in  his   Verse ;    who  desires 
to  be  known  so  far  to  thee,  as  that  he  is  a  friend  to  perse- 
cuted Truth  and  Peace ;  and  thy  most  affectionate  Chris- 
tian Servant, 

Ah  Wright:' 

( From  Parnassus  Biceps :  or,  Se'verall  Choice  Pieces  of 
Poetry,  composed  by  the  best  Wits  that  nvere  in  both  the 
Universities  before  their  Dissolution.  London  :  Printed 
for  George  E-versden  at  the  Signe  of  the  Maidenhead  in 
St.  Pauls  Church-yard,  1656.) 


I.— CHOYCE  DROLLERY,  1656. 

Note,  on  The  Address  to  the  Reader,  &c. 

The  subscribed  initials,  "  R,  P."  are  those  of  Robert 
Pollard;  whose  name  appears  on  the  title-page  (which  we 
reproduce),  preceding  his  address.  Excepting  that  he 
was  a  bookseller,  dwelling  and  trading  at  the  "  Ben  Jon- 
son's  Head,  behind  the  Exchange,"  in  business-con- 
nection with  John  Sweeting,  of  the  Angel,  in  Pope's 
Head  Alley,  in  1656  ;  and  that  he  had  previously  issued 
a  somewhat  similar  Collection  of  Poems  to  the  Choyce 
Drollery  (successful,  but  not  yet  identified),  we  know 
nothing  more  of  Robert  Pollard.  The  books  of  that  date, 
and  of  that  special  class,  are  extremely  rare,  and  the  few 
existing  copies  are  so  difficult  of  access  (for  themost  part 
in  private  possession,  almost  totally  inaccessible  except  to 
those  who  know  not  how  to  use  them),  that  information 
can  only  be  acquired  piecemeal  and  laboriously.      Five 


268  Appendix. 

years  hence,  if  the  Editor  be  still  alive,  he  may  be  able  to 
tell  much  more  concerning  the  authors  and  the  compilers 
of  the  Restoration  Drolleries. 

We  are  told  that  there  is  an  extra  leaf  to  Choyce  Drol- 
lery, "  only  found  in  a  few  copies,  containing  ten  lines  of 
verse,  beginning  Fame's  ivindy  trump,  &c.  This  leaf 
occurs  in  one  or  two  extant  copies  of  England's  Par- 
nassus, 1600.  Many  of  the  pieces  found  here  are 
much  older  than  the  date  of  the  book  [viz.,  1656].  It 
contains  notices  of  many  of  our  early  poets,  and,  unlike 
some  of  its  successors,  is  of  intrinsic  value.  Only  two  or 
three  copies  have  occurred."  (W.  C.  H.'s  Handb.  Pop. 
Lit.  G.  B.,  1867,  p.  168.J  "Cromwell's  Government  or- 
dered this  book  to  be  burned."  (Ibid.)  On  this  last  item 
see  our  Introduction,  section  first.  J.  P.  Collier,  who 
prepared  the  Catalogue  of  Richard  Heber's  Collection, 
Bibliotheca  Heberiana,  Pt.  iv.,  1834  (a  rich  storehouse  for 
bibliographical  students,  but  not  often  gratefully  acknow- 
ledged by  them),  thus  writes  of  Choyce  Drollery  : — "This 
is  one  of  the  most  intrinsically  valuable  of  the  Drolleries, 
if  only  for  the  sake  of  the  very  interesting  poem  in  which 
characters  are  given  of  all  the  following  Poets  :  Shake- 
speare, Jonson,  Beaumont  and  Fletcher,  Massinger,  Chap- 
man, Daborne,  Sylvester,  Quarles,  May,  Sands,  Digges, 
Daniel,  Drayton,  Withers,  Brown,  Shirley,  Ford,  Mid- 
dleton,  Heywood,  Churchyard,  Dekker,  Brome,  Chaucer, 
Spencer,  Basse,  and  finally  John  Shank,  the  Actor,  who 
is  said  to  have  been  famous  for  a  jig.  Other  pieces  are 
much  older,  and  are  here  reprinted  from  previous  col- 
lections" [mostly  lost].     P.  90. 

It  is  also  known  to  J.  O.  Halliwell-Phillips;  (but,  truly, 
what  is  not  known  to  him  ?)  See  Shakespeare  Society's 
Papers,  m.  172,  1847. 

In  our  copy  of  England's  Parnassus  (unindexed,  save 
subjects),  1600,  we  sought  to  find  "Fame's  ivindy 
trump."  [We  hear  that  the  leaf  was  in  E.  P.  at  Tite's 
sale,  1874.] 

As  we  have  never  seen  a  copy  of  Choyce  Drollery  con- 
taining the  passage  of  "ten  lines,"  described  as  beginning 
."  Fame's  Windy  Trump,"  we  cannot  be  quite  certain  of 


Choyce  Drollery,  1656.  269 

the  following',  from  England's  Parnassus,  1600,  being  the 
one  in  question,  but  believe  that  it  is  so.  Perhaps  it  ran, 
"Fame's  Windy  Trump,  ivhatever  sound  out-Jiies,"  &c. 
There  are  twenty-seven  lines  in  all.  We  distinguish  the 
probable  portion  of  "  ten  lines  "  by  enclosing  the  other 
two  parts  in  brackets  : — 

FAME. 

[  A    Monster  srwifter  none  is  under  sunne  ; 
•*^  Encreasing,  as  in  ivaters  ive  descrie 
The  circles  small,  of  nothing  that  begun. 
Which,  at  the  length,  unto  such  breadth  do  come. 
That  of  a  drop,  ivhich  from  the  skies  doth  fall. 
The  circles  spread,  and  hide  the  ivaters  all : 
So  Fame,  inflight  encreasing  more  and  more  ; 
For,  at  the  first,  she  is  not  scarcely  knoivne. 
But  by  and  by  she  fleets  from  shore  to  shore. 
To  clouds  from  th'  earth  her  stature  straight  is  groivne. 
There  ivhatsoever  by  her  trumpe  is  bloivne,^ 

The  sound,  that  both  by  sea  and  land  out-flies. 

Rebounds  againe,  and  verberates  the  skies. 

They  say,  the  earth  that  first  the  giants  bred. 

For  anger  that  the  gods  did  them  dispatch. 

Brought  forth  this  sister  of  those  monsters  dead. 

Full  light  offoote,  sivift  ivings  the  ivinds  to  catch : 

Such  monsters  erst  did  nature  nei>er  hatch. 

As  many  plumes  she  hath  from  top  to  toe. 

So  many  eyes  them  undemvatch  or  moe : 

And  tongues  do  speake :  so  many  eares  do  harke. 

\By  night  ^tiveene  heaven  shefiies  and  earthly  shade. 
And,  shreaking,  takes  no  quiet  sleepe  by  darke : 
On  houses  roofes,  on  tozuers,  as  keeper  made. 
She  sits  by  day,  and  cities  threates  t'  invade  ; 
And  as  she  tells  ivhat  things  she  sees  by  -vieiv. 
She  rather  shelves  that's  fained  false,  then  true.^ 

[Legend  of  Albanact.]     I.  H.,  Mirror  of  Ma  gist. 

Page  I .     Deare  Love,  let  me  this  evening  dye. 

This  beautiful  little  love-poem  re-appears,  as  Song  77, 
in   Windsor  Drollery,  1672,  p.  63.     (There  had  been  a 


2/0  Appendix. 

previous  edition  of  that  work,  in  1671,  which  we  have 
examined  :  it  is  not  noted  by  bibliographers,  and  is  quite 
distinct.)  A  few  variations  occur.  Verse  2.  aveivrack'd: 
3.  In  lozie'xs  not  commended;  only  sweet.  All  praise,  no 
pity ;  who  fondly ;  4.  Shall  shortly  by  dead  Lovers 
lie ;  halloiv'd ;  5.  He  which  all  others  els  excels,  That 
are ;  6.  Will,  though  thou ;  7.  the  Bells  shall  ring ; 
While  all  to  black  is;  (last  line  but  two  in  parenthesis;) 
Making,  like  Flowers,  &c. 

Page  4.     Nor  Love  nor  Fate  dare  I  accuse. 

By  Richard  Brome,  in  his  "  Northerne  Lasse,"  1632, 
Act  ii.,  sc.  6.  It  is  also  given  in  Westminster-Drollery, 
167 1,  i.  83  (the  only  song  in  common).  But  compare 
with  it  the  less  musical  and  tender,  "  Nor  Love,  nor  Fate 
can  I  accuse  of  hate,"  in  same  vol.  ii.  90,  with  Appendix 
Note  thereunto,  p.  Ixiii. 

Page  5.      One  night  the  great  Apollo,  pleased  ivith  Ben. 

This  remarkable  and  little-known  account  of  "  The 
Time-Poets"  is  doubly  interesting,  as  being  a  contem- 
porary document,  full  of  life-like  portraiture  of  men 
whom  no  lapse  of  years  can  banish  from  us ;  welcome 
friends,  whom  we  grow  increasingly  desirous  of  be- 
holding intimately.  Glad  are  we  to  give  it  back  thus  to 
the  world ;  our  chief  gem,  in  its  rough  Drollery-setting  : 
lifted  once  more  into  the  light  of  day,  from  out  the  cob- 
webbed  nooks  where  it  so  long-time  had  lain  hidden. 
Our  joy  would  have  been  greater,  could  we  have  re- 
stored authoritatively  the  lost  sixteenth-line,  by  any 
genuine  discovery  among  early  manuscripts;  or  told 
something  conclusive  about  the  author  of  the  poem,  who 
has  laid  us  under  obligation  for  these  vivid  portraits  of 
John  Ford,  Thomas  Heywood,  poor  old  Thomas  Church- 
yard, and  Ben's  courageous  foeman,  worthy  of  his  steel, 
that  Thomas  Dekker  who  "  followed  after  in  a  dream." 

In  deep  humility  we  must  confess  that  nothing  is  yet 
learnt  as  to  the  authorship.      Here,  in  the  year  1656, 


Choyce  Drollery,  1656.  271 

almost  at  fore-front  of  Choyce  Drollery,  the  very  strength 
of  its  van  -  guard,  appeared  the  memorable  poem. 
Whether  it  were  then  and  there  for  the  first  time  in  print, 
or  borrowed  from  some  still  more  rare  and  now-lost 
volume,  none  of  us  can  prove.  Even  at  this  hour,  a  pos- 
sibility remains  that  our  resuscitation  of  Choyce  Drollery 
may  help  to  bring  the  unearthing  of  explanatory  facts 
from  zealous  students.  We  scarcely  dare  to  cherish  hope 
of  this.  Certainly  we  may  not  trust  to  it.  For  Gerard 
Langbaine  knew  the  poem  well,  and  quoted  oft  and 
largely  from  it  in  his  1691  Account  of  the  English  Dra~ 
matick  Poets.  But  he  met  with  it  nowhere  save  in  Choyce 
Drollery,  and  writes  of  it  continually  in  language  that 
proves  how  ignorant  he  was  of  whom  we  are  to  deem  the 
author.  Yet  he  wrote  within  five-and-thirty  years  be- 
hind the  date  of  its  appearance  ;  and  might  easily  have 
learnt,  from  men  still  far  from  aged,  who  had  read  the 
Drollery  on  its  first  publication,  whatever  they  could  tell 
of  "  The  Time- Poets  :"  if,  indeed,  they  could  tell  any- 
thing. Five  years  earlier,  William  Winstanley  had 
fiven  forth  his  Lives  of  the  most  famous  English  Poets,  in 
une,  1686;  but  he  quotes  not  from  it,  and  leaves  us 
without  an  Open  Sesame.  Even  Oldys  could  not  tell ;  or 
Thomas  Hearne,  who  often  had  remembered  whatever 
Time  forgot. 

As  to  the  date  :  we  believe  it  was  certainly  written  be- 
tween 1620  (inclusive)  and  16365  nearer  the  former  year. 
We  reconcile  ourselves  for  the  failure,  by  turning  to 
such  other  and  similar  poetic  groupings  as  survive.  We 
listen  unto  Richard  Barnfield,  when  he  sings  sweetly  his 
"Remembrance  of  some  English  Poets,"  in  1598.  We 
cling  delightedly  to  the  words  of  our  noble  Michael  Dray- 
ton— whose  descriptive  map  of  native  England,  Poly' 
olbion,  glitters  with  varie-coloured  light,  as  though  it 
were  a  mediaeval  missal ;  to  whom,  enditing  his  Epistle 
to  friend  Henry  Reynolds — "A  Censure  of  the  Poets" — 
the  Muses  brought  each  bard  by  turn,-  so  that  the  picture 
might  be  faithful  :  even  as  William  Blake,  idealist  and 
spiritual  Seer,  believed  of  spirit-likenesses  in  his  own  ex- 
perience.     And,  not  without  deep  feeling  (marvelling. 


272  Appendix. 

meanwhile,  that  still  the  task  of  printing  them  with  Edi- 
torial care  is  unattempted),  we  peruse  the  folio  manu- 
scripts of  that  fair-haired  minstrel  of  the  Cavaliers,  George 
Daniel  of  Beswick,  while  he  also,  in  his  "  Vindication  of 
Poesie,"  sings  in  praise  of  those  whose  earlier  lays  are 
echoing  now  and  always  "  through  the  corridors  of 
Time  :"— 

Truth  speaks  of  old,  the  poiver  of  Poesie  ; 

Amphion,  Orpheus,  stones  and  trees  could  move  ; 

Men,  first  by  -verse,  ivere  taught  Ci'vilitie  ; 

'  Tis  knoivn  and  granted ;  yet  -would  it  behove 

Mee,  vuith  the  Ancient  Singers,  here  to  cronxme 
Some  later  Quills,  some  Makers  of  our  onvne. 

Nor  should  we  fail  to  thank  the  younger  Evelyn,  for 
such  graphic  sketches  as  he  gives  of  Restoration- Dra- 
matists, of  Cowley,  Dryden,  Wycherley,  "Sedley  and 
easy  Etherege ;"  a  new  world  of  wits,  all  of  whose  works 
we  prize,  without  neglecting  for  their  sakes  the  older 
Masters  who  "so  did  take  Eliza,  and  our  James." 

Something  that  we  could  gladly  say,  will  come  in  be- 
fittingly  on  after-pages  of  this  volume,  in  the  "  Addi- 
tional Note  on  Sir  John  Suckling's  '  Sessions  of  the 
Poets,'  "  as  printed  in  our  Merry  Drollery,  Compleat, 
page  72. 


Are  we  stumbling  at  the  threshold,  absit  omen  !  even 
amid  our  delight  in  perusing  "  the  Time- Poets,"  when  we 
wonder  at  the  precise  meaning  of  the  statement  in  our 
opening  couplet  ? 

One  night  the  great  Apollo,  pleas' d  ivith  Ben, 
Made  the  odd  number  of  the  Muses  ten. 

By  whom  additional  ?  Who  is  the  lady,  thus  elevated  ? 
We  see  only  one  solution  :  namely,  that  furnished  by  the 
conclusion .  of  the  poem.  It  was  the  Faerie  Queene  her- 
self whom  the  God  lifted  thus,  in  honour  of  her  English 
Poets,  to  rank  as  the  Tenth  Muse,  an  equal  with  Urania, 
Clio,   Euterpe,  and    their    sisterhood.     Yet    something 


Choyce  Drollery,  1656.  273 

seems  wanting,  next  to  it ;  for  we  never  reach  a  full-stop 
until  the  end  of  the  39th  (or  query,  the  40th)  line ;  and  all 
the  confluent  nominatives  lack  a  common  verbal-action. 
Our  mind,  it  is  true,  accepts  intelligibly  the  onward  rush 
of  each  and  all  (but  later,  "  with  equal  pace  each  of  them 
softly  creeps").  It  may  be  only  grammatical  pedantry 
which  craves  some  such  phrase,  absent  from  the  text,  as — 

[  While  throng" d  around  his  comrades  and  his  peers. 
To  list  the  ^sounding  Music  of  the  Spheres  :] 

But,  since  a  momentary  rashness  prompts  us  here  to 
dare  so  much,  as  to  imagine  the  hiatus  filled,  let  us  sup- 
pose that  the  lost  sixteenth-line  ran  someway  thus  (each 
reader  being  free  to  try  experiments  himself,  with  chance 
of  more  success) : — 

Dfvine-composing  Quarles,  ivhose  lines  aspire 

[And  glo%v,  as  doth  ivith  like  etherial  fire^  i6th. 

The  April  of  all  Poesy  in  May, 

Who  makes  our  English  speak  Pharsalia ; 

[It  is  with  some  timidity  we  let  this  stand  :  but,  as  the 
[text  is  left  intact,  our  friends  will  pardon  us  ;  and  foes  we 
[never  quail  to  meet.  As  to  Ben  Jonson,  see  our  "  Ses- 
Isions,"  in  Part  iv.  Of  Beaumont  and  Fletcher,  we 
[write  in  the  note  orr  final  page  of  Choyce  Drollery,  p.  100. 
'Of  "Ingenious  Shakespeare  "  we  need  say  no  more  than 

give  the  lines  of   Richard   Barnfield  in  his  honour,  from 

the  Poems  in  diuers  humors,  1598  : — 

A  Remembrance  of  some  English  Poets. 

Liue  Spenser  euer,  in  thy  Fairy  Queene  ; 
Whose  like  (for  deepe  Conceit)  nvas  neuer  seene. 
Cronvnd  mayst  thou  bee,  "vnto  thy  more  renoixme, 
(As  King  of  Poets)  ivith  a  Laivrell  Croiune. 

And  Daniell,  praised  for  thy  szveet-chast  Verse  : 
Whose  Fame  is  gra-v'd  in  Rosamonds  blacke  Herse. 
Still  mayst  thou  liue  :  and  still  be  honored, 
For  that  rare  Worke,  The  White  Rose  and  the  Red. 


274  Appendix. 

And  Drayton,  ivhose  ivel-ivritten  Tragedies 
And  s%ucet  Epistles,  soare  thy  fame  to  skies. 
Thy  learned  Name,  is  csquall  ivith  the  rest  : 
Whose  stately  Numbers  are  so  ivell  addrest. 

And  Shakespeare  thou,  tuhose  hony-floruing  Vaine, 
(Pleasing  the  World)  thy  Praises  doth  obtaine. 
Whose  Venus,  and  ivhose  Lucrece  (siveete  and  chaste) 
Thy  Name  in  fames  immortall  Booke  hath  plac't. 
Liue  euer you,  at  least  in  Fame  Hue  euer  : 
Well  m.ay  the  Bodye  dye,  but  Fame  dies  neuer. 

The  praise  of  Massinger  will  not  seem  overstrained  ;  al- 
though he  never  affects  us  with  the  sense  of  supreme 
genius,  as  does  Marlowe.  The  recognition  of  George 
Chapman's  grandeur,  and  the  power  with  which  this  re- 
cognition is  expressed,  show  how  tame  is  the  influence  of 
Massinger  in  comparison.  There  need  be  little  question 
that  it  was  to  Dekker's  mind  and  pen  we  owe  the  nobler 
portion  of  the  Virgin  Martyr.  Massinger,  when  along- 
side of  Marlow,  Webster,  and  Dekker,  is  like  Euripides 
contrasted  with  yEschylus  and  Sophocles.  We  think  of 
him  as  a  Playwright,  and  successful ;  but  these  others 
were  Poets  of  Apollo's  own  body-guard.    Drayton  sings  : 

Next  Marlow,  bathed  in  the  Thespian  springs. 
Had  in  him  those  brave  translunary  things 
That  the  first  poets  had,  his  raptures  -were 
All  air  and  fire,  ivhich  made  his  verses  clear  ; 
For  that  fine  madness  still  he  did  retain. 
Which  rightly  should  possess  a  poefs  brain. 

Robert  Daborne  is  chiefly  interesting  to  us  from  his 
connection  in  misfortunes  and  dramatic  labours  with  Mas- 
singer and  Nat  Field  ;  and  as  joining  them  in  the  suppli- 
cation for  advance  of  money  from  Philip  Henslow,  while 
they  lay  in  prison.  The  reference  to  Daborne's  clerical, 
as  well  as  to  his  dramatic  vocation,  and  to  his  having  died 
(in  Ireland,  we  believe,  leaving  behind  him  sermons,) 
"  Amphibion  by  the  Ministry,"  confirms  the  general 
belief.  . 


Choyce  Drollery,  1656.  275 

Jo  :  Sylvester's  translation  of  Du  Bartas,  1621  ; 
Thomas  May's  of  Lucan's  Pharsalia,  George  Sandys' 
of  Ovid's  Metamorphoses,  need  little  comment  here ; 
some  being  referred  to,  near  the  end  of  our  volume. 

Dudley  Digges  (1612-43),  born  at  Chilham  Castle, 
near  Canterbury  (now  the  seat  of  Charles  S.  Hardy,  Esq.); 
son  of  Sir  Dudley  Digges,  Master  of  the  Rolls,  wrote  a 
reverent  Elegy  for  Jonsonus  Virbius,  1638.  L[eonard] 
Digges  had,  fifteen  years  earlier,  written  the  memorial 
lines  beginning  "  Shake-speare,  at  length  thy  pious  fel- 
lows give  II  The  World  thy  Workes :"  which  appear  at 
beginning  of  the  first  folio  Shakespeare,  1623. 

To  Samuel  Daniel's  high  merits  we  have  only  lately 
awakened  :  his  "  Complaint  of  Rosamond  "  has  a  sus- 
tained dignity  and  pathos  that  deserve  all  Barnfield's 
praise ;  the  "  Sonnets  to  Delia  "  are  graceful  and  impres- 
sive in  their  purity ;  his  "  Civil  Wars"  may  seem  heavy, 
but  the  fault  lies  in  ourselves,  if  unsteady  readers,  not  the 
poet :  thus  we  suspect,  when  we  remember  the  true  poetic 
fervour  of  his  Pastoral, 

0  happy  Golden  Age  ! 

and  his  Description  of  Beauty,  from  Marino. 

Of  "  Heroick  Drayton  "  we  write  more  hereafter  : 
He  grows  dearer  to  us  with  every  year.  His  "  Dowsa- 
bell  "  is  on  p.  73.  Was  his  being  coupled  as  a  "  Poet- 
Beadle,"  in  allusion  to  his  numerous  verse-epistles,  show- 
ing an  acquaintance  with  all  the  worthies  of  his  day, 
even  as  his  Polyolbion  gives  a  roll-call  of  the  men,  and  a 
gazetteer  of  the  England  they  made  illustrious  ?  For,  as 
shown  in  the  Apophthegnimes  of  Erasmus,  1564,  Booke 
2nd,  (p.  296  of  the  Boston  Reprint,)  it  is  "  the  proper 
office  and  dutie  of  soche  biddelles  (who  were  called  in 
latin  Nomenclators)  to  have  perfecte  knowlege  and  re- 
membrance of  the  names,  of  the  surnames,  and  of  the 
titles  of  dignitees  of  all  persones,  to  the  ende  that  thei 
male  helpe  the  remembraunce  of  their  maisters  in  the 
same  when  neede  is."  To  our  day  the  office  of  an 
Esquire  Beddell  is  esteemed  in  Cambridge  University. 
But,  we  imagine,  George  Wither  is  styled  a  "  Poets 
Beadle"  with  a  very  different  significance.     It  was  the 

T  2 


2/6  Appeftdix. 

Bridewell- Beadles'  whip  which  he  wielded  vigorously, 
in  flagellation  of  offenders,  that  may  have  earned  him  the 
title.  See  his  "Abuses  Stript  and  Whipt"  1613,  and  turn  to 
the  rough  wood-cut  of  cart's-tail  punishment  shown  in 
the  frontispiece  to  A  Caueat  or  Warening  for  Common 
Cursetors,  -vulgarly  called  Vagahones,  set  forth  by  Thomas 
Harman,  Esquier  for  the  utilitie  and  profit  of  his  na- 
turall  country,  &c.,  1566,  and  later  (Reprinted  by  E.  E. 
Text  Soc,  and  in  0.  B.  Coll.  Misc.,  i.  No.  4,  1871). 

George  Wither  was  his  own  worst  foe,  when  he  de- 
scended to  satiric  invective  and  pious  verbiage.  True 
poet  was  he ;  as  his  description  of  the  Muse  in  her 
visit  to  him  while  imprisoned  in  the  Marshalsea,  with  al- 
most the  whole  of  his  "  Shepherd's  Hunting  "  and  "Mis- 
tress of  Phil'arete,"  prove  incontestibly.  He  is  to  be 
loved  and  pitied  :  although  perversely  he  will  argue  as  a 
schismatick,  always  wrong-headed  and  in  trouble,  which- 
ever party  reigns,  To  him,  in  his  sectarian  zeal  or  ser- 
monizing platitudes— all  for  our  good,  alas  ! — we  can  but 
answer  with  the  melancholy  Jacques  :  "  I  do  not  desire 
you  to  please  me.     I  do  desire  you  to  sing  .'" 

"  Pan's  Pastoral  Brorun  "  is,  of  course,  Wm.  Browne, 
author  of  "Britannia's  Pastorals."  Like  James  Shirley, 
last  in  the  group  of  early  Dramatists,  his  precocious 
genius  is  remembered  in  the  text.  Regretting  that  no 
painted  or  sculptured  portrait  of  John  Forde  survives, 
we  are  thankful  for  this  striking  picture  of  him  in  his 
sombre  meditation.  We  could  part,  willingly,  with  half 
of  our  dramatic  possessions  since  the  nineteenth  century 
began,  to  recover  one  of  the  lost  plays  by  Ford.  No 
writer  holds  us  more  entirely  captive  to  the  tenderness  of 
sorrow  ;  no  one's  hand  more  lightly,  yet  more  powerfully, 
stirs  the  affections,  while  admitting  the  sadness,  than  he 
who  gave  us  "  The  Broken  Heart,"  and  "  'Tis  pity  she's 
a  whore." 

Not  unhappily  chosen  is  the  epithet  "  The  Squibbing 
MiDDLETON,"  for  he  almost  always  fails  to  impress  us 
fully  by  his  great  powers.  He  warms  not,  he  enlightens 
not,  with  steady  glow,  but  gives  us  fireworks  instead  of 
stars  or  altar-burnings.     We  except  from  this  rebuke  his 


Choyce  Drollery,  1656.  277 

"  Faire  Quarrel,"  1622,  which  shows  a  much  firmer 
grasp  and  purpose,  fascinating  us  the  while  we  read. 
Perhaps,  with  added  knowledge  of  him  will  come  higher 
esteem. 

Of  Thomas  Heywood  the  portrait  is  complete,  every 
word  developing  a  feature  :  his  fertility,  his  choice  of  sub- 
jects, and  rubicund  appearance. 

Nor  is  the  humourous  sadness,  of  the  figure  shewn  by 
the  aged  Thomas  Churchyard,  less  touching  be- 
cause it  is  dashed  in  with  burlesque.  "  Poverty  and 
Poetry  his  Tomb  doth  enclose"  (Camdcri's  Remains).  His 
writings  extend  from  the  time  of  Edward  VI.  to  early  in 
the  reign  of  James  I.  (he  died  in  1604) ;  some  of  the 
poems  m  Tottel's  Miscellany,  1557,  were  claimed  by  him, 
but  are  not  identified,  and  J.  P.  Collier  thought  him  not 
unlikely  to  have  partly  edited  the  work.  His  "Tragedie 
of  Shore's  Wife,"  (best  edit.  l698),in  the  Mirror  for  Ma- 
gistrates, surpasses  most  of  his  other  poems  ;  yet  are  there 
biographical  details  in  Churchyard's  Chips,  1575,  that  re- 
ward our  perusal.  Gascoigne  and  several  other  poets 
added  Tarn  Marti  quam  Mercurio  after  their  names ;  but 
Churchyard  could  boast  thus  with  more  truth  as  a  Soldier. 
He  says  : — 

Full  thirty  yeers,  both  Court  and  Warres  I  tryed. 
And  still  I  sought  acquaintaunce  ivith  the  best. 
And  semjed  the  Staet,  and  did  such  hap  abyed 
As  might  befall,  and  Fortune  sent  the  rest  : 
When  drom  did  sound,  a  souldier  ivas  I  prest. 

To  sea  or  lande,  as  Princes  quarrell  stoed,  ' 

And  for  the  saem,  full  oft  I  lost  my  blood. 

But,  throughout,  misfortune  dogged  him  : — 

...  7(9  ser-ve  my  torn  [i.e.,  turn]  in  service  of  the  Queen : 
But  God  he  knoes,  my  gayn  ivas  small,  Itveen, 
For  though  1  did  my  credit  still  encreace, 
I  got  no  ivelth,  by  ivarres,  ne  yet  by  peace. 

(C.'s  Chips  :  A  Tragicall  Discourse  of  the 
unhappy  man's  Life  ;  verses  9,  26.) 

Of  Thomas  Dekker,  or  Decker  (about    1575-1638), 
"A  priest  in  Apollo's  Temple,  many yeares,"  with  his  "  Old 


2/8  Appendix. 

Fortunatus,"  both  parts  of  his  "  Honest  Whore,"  his 
"  Satiromastix,"  and  "  Gull's  Hornbook,"  &c., — which 
take  us  back  to  all  the  mirth  and  squabbling  of  the  day — 
we  need  add  no  word  but  praise.  We  believe  that  a 
valuable  clue  is  afforded  by  the  allusion  in  our  text  to  the 
pamphlet  "  Dekker  his  Dreame,"  1620,  (reprinted  by  J. 
O.  Halliwell,  i860.)  We  may  be  certain  that  "The 
Time-Poets"  was  not  written  earlier  than  1620,  or  any 
later  than  1636  (or  probably  than  1632),  and  before 
Jonson's  death. 

Page   7.  "  Rounce,  Robbie,  Hobble,  he  that  nvrit  so  big" 

In  this  50th  line  the  word  "high  "  is  evidently  redundant 
(probably  an  error  in  printer's  MS.,  not  erased  when  the 
true  word  "  big  "  was  added)  :  we  retain  it,  of  course, 
though  in  smaller  type ;  as  in  similar  cases  of  excess. 
But  who  was  "  Rounce,  Robbie,  Hobble  ?"  Most  certainly 
it  was  no  other  than  Richard  Stanyhurst  (1547-1618), 
whose  varied  adventures,  erudition,  and  eccentricities  of 
verse  combined  to  make  him  memorable.  His  Hexameter 
translation  of  the  Mneis  Books  i-iv,  appeared  in  1583 ; 
not  followed  by  any  more  during  the  thirty-five  years 
succeeding.  Gabriel  Harvey  praised  him,  in  his  Foure 
Letters,"  Sec,  although  Thomas  Nashe,  in  1592,  declares 
that  "  Master  Stanyhurst  ( though  otherwise  learned ) 
trod  a  foule,  lumbring,  boystrous,  wallowing  measure  in 
his  translation  of  Virgil.  He  had  never  been  praised  by 
Gabriel  [Harvey]  for  his  labour,  if  therein  he  had  not 
been  so  famously  absurd."  (Strange  Netues.)  This 
Mneid  had  a  limited  reprint  in  1839.  Warton  in  Hist. 
Eng.  Poetry  gives  examples  (misnaming  him  Robert, 
but  Camden  says  "Eruditissimus  tile  nobilis  Richardus 
Stanihurstus."  In  his  preface  to  Greene's  Arcadia,  Nash 
quotes  Stanyhurst's  description  of  a  Tempest : — 

Then  did  he  make  heauens  "vault  to  rebound 
With  rounce  rohble  bobble,  [N.B.] 

Of  ruffe  raffe  roaring. 

With  thicke  thivacke  thurly  bouncing  : 

and  indicates  his  opinion  of  the  poet,  "  as  of  some  thra- 


Choyce  Drollery,  1656.  279 

sonical  huffe-snuffe,"  indulging  in  "  that  quarrelling  kind 
of  verse."  One  more  specimen,  to  justify  our  text,  re- 
garding "  he  that  writ  so  big  :"  in  the  address  to  the 
winds,  Mn..  Bk.  i.,  Neptune  thus  rails  : — 

Dare  ye,  lo,  curst  baretours,  in  this  my  Seignorie  regal. 
Too  raise  such  racks  iacks  on  seas  and  danger  unorder' d  ? 

The  recent  death  of  Stanyhurst,  161 8,  strengthens  our 
belief  that  the  Time-Poets  was  not  later  than  1620-32. 

To  William  Basse  we  owe  the  beautiful  epitaph  on 
Shakespeare,  printed  in  1633,  "  Renoivned  Spencer,  lye  a 
thought  more  nigh  To  learned  Chaucer,  etc,  and  at  least 
two  songs  (beside  "Great  Brittaine's  Sunnes-set,  1613), 
viz.,  the  Hunter  in  his  Career,  beginning  "  Long  ere  the 
Morn,"  and  one  of  the  best  Tom  o'  Bedlam's  ;  probably, 
"  Forth  from   my  sad  and  darksome  cell." 

The  name  of  John  Shanke,  here  suggestively  famous 
"for  a  jigg,"  occurs  in  divers  lists  of  players  (see  J.  P. 
C.'s  Annals  of  the  Stage,  passim.),  he  having  been  one  of 
Prince  Henry's  Company  in  1603.  That  he  was  also  a 
singer,  we  have  this  verse  in  proof,  written  in  the  reign  of 
James  I.  {Bibliog.  Ace.  \.  163) ; — 

That's  the  fat  foole  of  the  Curtin, 

And  the  lean  fool  of  the  Bull : 
Since  Shanke  did  leave  to  sing  his  rimes 

He  is  counted  but  a  gull. 
The  Players  on  the  Banckeside, 

The  round  Globe  and  the  Swan^ 
Will  teach  you  idle  tricks  of  lo-ve. 

But  the  Bull  ivill  play  the  man.. 
(W.  Turner's  Common  Cries  of  London  Totvn,  1662.J 

"  Broom"  is  Richard  Brome  (died  1652),  whose  racy 
comedies  have  been,  like  Dekker's,  lately  reprinted.  The 
insinuation  that  Ben  Jonson  had  "  sent  him  before  to 
sweep  the  way,"  alludes,  no  doubt,  to  the  fact  of  Brome 
having  earlier  been  Jonson's  servant,  and  learning  from 
his  personal  discourse  much  of  dramatic  art.  Neither 
was  it  meant  nor  accepted  as  an  insult,  when,  (printed 
i632,)Jonson  wrote  ("according  to  Ben's  own  nature  and 


28o  Appendix. 

custom,  magisterial  enough,"  as  their  true  friend  Alex- 
ander Brome  admits), 

I  had  you  for  a  Ser-vant  once,  Dick  Brome; 

And  you  performed  a  Ser-vani*  s  faithful  parts  : 

Noiv,you  are  got  into  a  nearer  room 

Q/' Fellowship,  professing  my  old  Arts. 

And  you  do  doe  them  ivell,  ivith  good  applause, 

Which  you  ha-ve  justly  gained  from  the  Stage,  &c. 

It  is  amusing  to  mark  the  survival  of  the  old  joke  in 
our  text,  about  sweeping  (it  came  often  enough,  in  Figaro 
in  London,  &c.,  at  the  time  of  the  1832  Reform  Bill,  as  to 
Henry  Brougham  and  Vaux) ;  when  we  see  it  repeated, 
almost  literally,  in  reference  to  Alexander  Pope's  fellow- 
labourer  on  the  Odyssey  translation,  the  Rev.  William 
Broome,  of  our  St.  John's  College,  Cambridge  : — 

Pope  came  off  clean  ivith  Homer,  but  they  say, 
Broome  ivent  before,  and  kindly  sivept  the  ivay. 

Leaving  a  few  words  on  the  matchless  Ben  himself  for 
the  "Sessions  of  the  Poets"  Additional  Note,  we  end 
this  commentary  on  our  book's  chief  poem  with  a  few  more 
stanzas  from  the  Beswick  Manuscript,  bj  George  Daniel, 
(written  in  great  part  before,  part  after,  1647,)  in  honour 
of  Ben  Jonson,  but  preceded  by  others  relating  to  Sir 
Philip  Sidney,  Spenser,  Daniel,  Drayton,  Shakespeare, 
Beaumont,  and  Donne  : — 

/  am  not  bound  to  honour  antique  names,  [8th  verse] 

Nor  am  I  led  by  other  men  to  chuse 

Any  thing  ivorthy,  ivhich  my  judgment  blames; 

Heare  better  straines,  though  by  a  later  Muse  ; 
The  siveet  Arcadian  singer  first  did  raise 
Our  Language  current,  and  deser'v'd  his  Bales. 

That  Lord  of  Penhurst,  Penhurst  ivhose  sad  ivalls 
Yet  mourne  their  master,  in  the  Belgicke^r^ 
Untimely  lost  ;  to  ivhose  dear  funer alls 
The  Medwaie  doth  its  constant  tribute  paye  ; 
But  glorious  Penhurst,  Medwaies  ivaters  once 
With  Mincius  shall,  and  Mergeline  advance  ; 


Choyce  Drollery,  \6^6.  281 

The  Shepherds  Boy ;  best  kncnven  by  that  name 

Colin  :  upon  his  homely  Oaten  Reea. 

With  Roman  Tityrus  may  share  in  ffame  ; 

But  ivhen  a  higher  path  hee  strains  to  tread. 
This  is  my  ivonder :  for  ivho yet  has  seene 
Soe  cleare  a  Poeme  as  his  Faierie  Queene  ? 

The  siveetest  Swan  of  Avon  ;  to  the  f aire 

And  cruel  Delia,  passionatelie  sings  : 

Other  mens  "weaknesses  and  follies  are 

Honour  and  Wit  in  him  :  each  Accent  brings 
A  sprig  to  cro%vne  him  Poet :  and  contri-ve 
A  Monument,  in  his  aiune  ivorke  to  live. 

Draiton  is  srueet  and  smooth  :  though  not  exact. 
Perhaps  to  stricter  Eyes  ;  yet  he  shall  li-ve 
Beyond  their  Malice  -•  to  the  Scene  and  Act, 
Read  Comicke  Shakespeare ;  or  if  you  ivould  give 
Praise  to  a  just  Desert,  cro%uning  the  Stage, 
See  Beaumont,  once  the  honour  of  his  Age. 

The  reverent  Donne ;     ivhose  quill  God  purely  fl'd, 
Liveth  to  his  Character :  so  though  he  claim' a 
A  greater  glory,  may  not  be  exil'd 
This  Commonivealth,  &c. 

Here  pause  a  Utiles  for  I  ivould  not  cloy  [verse  15] 

The  curious  Eare,  ivith  recitations  : 
And  meerily  looke  at  names  ;  attend  -with  joy. 
Unto  an  English  Quill,  ivho  rivall'd  once 
Rome,  not  to  make  her  blush  ;  and  knoivne  of  late 
Unenvied  ('cause  unequall'd)  Laureate. 

This,  this  ivas  JoNSON;  ivho  in  his  oixm  name 

Carries  his  praise  ;  and  may  he  shine  alone  ; 

I  am  not  tyed  to  any  gener all  ffame. 

Nor  fixed  by  the  Approbation 

Of  great  ones :  But  I  speake  ivithout  pretence 
Hee  ivas  of  English  Dramatiskes,  the  Prince. 

Page  ID.     Come,  my  White-head,  let  our  Muses. 

This  was  written  by  Sir  Simeon  Steward,  or  Stewart. 
The  numbers  i  and  2  of  our  text  are  twice  incorrect  in 


282  Appendix. 

original,  viz.  the  loth  and  14th  verses,  each  assigned  to 

I  (Red-head),  whereas  they  certainly  belong  to  2  (White- 
head). From  third  verse  the  figure  "  i  "  has  unfortu- 
nately dropt  in  printing.  By  aid  of  Addit.  MS.  No.  1 1, 
811,  p.  36,  we  are  enabled  to  correct  a  few  other  errors, 
some  being  gross  corruptions  of  sense ;  although,  as  a 
general  rule,  regarding  poems  that  had  appeared  in 
print,  the  private  MS.  versions  abound  with  blunders  of 
the  transcriber,  additional  to  those  of  the  original  printer. 
It  is,  in  the  MS.,  entitled  "A  Dialogue  between  Pyrro- 
trichus  and  Leucothrix"  the  latter  taking  verses  2,  4,  6, 
8,  10,  12,  and  the  final  verse,  14  (marked  Leuc).  His 
earliest  verse  reads,  in  the  MS.,  "And  higher,  Rufus,  who 
would  pass;  were  some ;  3rd.  v.  'TisMwthat;  6th.  The 
Roman  King  ivho  ;  be  lopt :  Ruddy  pates  ;  8th  v.  Red 
like  unto  ;  colour;  9th.  iV^  if ;  doth  ^^^r^  no  ;  side  looks 
as  fair;  other  doth  my;  bear  7ny  [?]  ;  loth.  Therefore, 
methinks  ;  Besides,  o/"  all  the;  12th.  N.B. — Yet  ivhat 
thy  head  must  buy  ivith  yeares.  Crosses  ;  That  hath  na- 
ture ^ii/'7z  y  13th,  be  t-ivo  friendly  peeres;  let  us  joyn  ; 
make  <?«f  beauteous  ;  14th,  [Leucothrix.']  We  Joyn'd  our 
heads  ;  beat  them  to  heart  [i.e.  to  boot]  ;  W2&  just  but ; 
of  our  head.  In  the  Reresby  Memoirs,  we  believe,  is 
mention  of  an  ancestress,  who,  about  1619,  married  this 
(?)  "  Sir  Simeon  Steward." 

Page  15.     A  Stranger  coming  to  the  town. 

In  Wm.  Hickes  his  Oxford  Drollery,  1671,  in  Part  3rd, 
("Poems  made  at  Oxford,  long  since"),  p.  157,  this  Epi- 
gram appears,  with  variations.  The  second  verse  reads  : 
But  being  there  a  little  ivhile,  \\  He  met  -with  one  so  right 

II  That  upon  the  French  Disease  jj  It  ivas  his  chance  to 
light.  The  final  couplet  is  : — The  French-man's  Arms  are 
the  sign  ivithout,  ||  But  the  French-man's  harms  are 
•within. 

Throughout  the  first  half  of  the  Seventeenth  century 
the  abundance  of  Epigrams  produced  is  enormous;  whole 
volumes  of  them,  divided  into  Books,  like  J,  Heywood's, 
being  issued  by  poets  of  whom  nothing  else  is   known. 


i 


Choyce  Drollery,  1656.  283 

except  the  name,  unless  Anthony  a  Wood  has  fortunately 
preserved  some  record.  These  have  not  been  system- 
atically examined,  as  they  deserve  to  be.  Amid  much 
rubbish  good  things  lie  hid.  Perhaps  the  Editor  may 
have  more  to  say  on  them  hereafter.  Meanwhile,  take 
this,  by  Robert  Hayman,  as  alike  a  specimen  and  a  sum- 
mary : — 

To  the  Reader  : 

O  Ermons  and  Epigrams  have  a  like  end, 
»^  To  improve,  to  reprove,  and  to  amend  : 
Some  passe  without  this  vse,  'cause  they  are  witty; 
And  so  doe  many  Sermons,  more's  the  pitty. 

{Quodlibcts,  1628,  Book  iv.,  p.  59.) 

Page  20.     List,  your  Nobles,  and  attend. 

This  was  (perhaps,  by  John  Eliot,)  certainly  written 
in  anticipatory  celebration  of  the  event  described,  the  Re- 
ception of  Queen  Henrietta  Maria  by  the  citizens  of  Lon- 
don, 1625.  The  full  title  is  this  : — "The  Author  intend- 
ing to  write  upon  the  Duke  of  Buckingham,  when  he 
went  to  fetch  the  Queen,  prepared  a  new  Ballad  for  the 
Fidlers,  as  might  hold  them  to  sing  between  Dover  and 
Callice"  It  is  thus  the  poem  reappears,  with  some  vari- 
ations (beginning  "  Noiv  list, you  Lordlings,  and attend,\\ 
Unto  a  Ballad  nerwly  penned,"  &c.,)  among  the  Choyce 
Poems,  being  Songs,  Sonnets,  Satyrs,  and  Elegies.  By  the 
Wits  of  both  Universities,  London,"  &c.,  1661,  p.  83. 
This  was  merely  the  earlier  edition  (of  June,  1658),  re- 
issued with  an  irregular  extra  sheet  at  beginning.  The 
original  title-page  (two  issued  in  1658)  was  "Poems  or 
Epigrams,  Satyrs,  Elegies,  Songs  and  Sonnets,  upon  se'u~ 
eral  persons  and  occasions.  By  no  body  must  know 
whom,  to  be  had  every  body  knows  where,  and  for  any 
body  knows  what.  [MS.  The  Author  John  Eliot.] 
London,  Printed  for  Henry  Brome,  at  the  Gun  in  Ivie 
Lane,  1658."  It  is  mentioned  that  "  These  poems  were 
given  me  neer  sixteen  years  since  [therefore  about  1642] 
by  a  Friend  of  the  Authors,  with  a  desire  they  might  be 


284  Appendix. 

printed,  but  I  conceived  the  Age  then  too  squeemish  to 
endure  the  freedom  which  the  Author  useth,  and  therefore 
I  have  hitherto  smothered  them,  but  being  desirous  they 
should  not  perish,  and  the  world  be  deprived  of  so  much 
clean  Wit  and  Fancy,  I  have  adventured  to  expose  them 
to  thy  view ;  .  .  .  The  Author  writes  not  pedantically, 
but  like  a  gentleman ;  and  if  thou  art  a  gentleman  of  thy 
own  making  thou  wilt  not  mislike  it." 

Verse  8th.  Gondomar  was  the  Spanish  Ambassador  at 
the  Court  of  James  I.,  to  whom,  with  his  "  one  word  "  of 
"  Pyrates,  Pyrates,  Pyrates,"  we  in  great  part  owe  the 
slaughter  of  Raleigh.  Of  course,  the  date  '526,  four  lines 
lower,  is  a  blunder.  The  rash  visit  to  Madrid  was  in 
March,  1623. 

Title,  and  verse  8th.  A  Jack-a-Lent  was  a  stuffed  pup- 
pet, set  up  to  be  thrown  at,  during  Lent.  Perhaps  it 
was  a  substitute  for  a  live  Cock ;  or  else  the  Cock-throw- 
ing may  have  been  a  later  "  improvement :"  See  Hone's 
E'very  Day  Book,  for  an  illustrated  account,  i.  249.  Trace 
of  the  habit  survives  in  our  modern  "  Old  Aunt  Sally," 
by  which  yokels  lose  money  at  Races  (although  Dorset 
Rectors  try  to  abolish  Country  Fairs,  while  encouragment 
is  given  to  gambling  at  Chapel  Bazaars  with  raffles  for 
pious  purposes).  In  the  Merry  Wives  of  Windsor,  Act 
iii.  sc.  3,  Mrs.  Page  says  to  the  boy,  "You  little  Jack-a- 
Lent,  have  you  been  true  to  us  ?"  Quarles  alludes  to  the 
practice  : — 

H01V  like  a  Jack-a-Lent 

He  stands,  for  boys  to  spend  their  Shrove-tide  throivs. 

Or  like  a  puppet  made  to  frighten  croavs. 

(J.  O.  Halliwell's  M.  W.  of  W.,  Tallis  ed.,  p.  127.) 

John  Taylor  (the  Water-Poet)  wrote  a  whim-wham 
entitled  "  y<ick  a  Lent  -.  his  Beginning  and  Entertain- 
ment" about  1619,  printed  1630 ;  as  "of  the  Jack  of 
Jacks,  great  Jack  a  Lent."  And  Cleveland  devoted  thus 
a  Cavalier's  worn  suit  :  "Thou  shalt  make  Jaek-a-Lents 
and  Babies  first."     {Poems,  1662,  p.  56.) 

Martin  Llewellyn's  Song  on  Cock-throwing  begins 
"  Cock  a  doodle  doe,  'tis  the  bravest  game  j"  in  his  Men- 
Miracles,  &c.,  1646,  p.  61. 


Choyce  Drollery,  1656.  285 

Page  31.     A  Story  strange  I  iv'tll you  tell. 

As  to  the  burden  (since  some  folks  are  inquisitive  about 
the  etymology  of  Down  derry  down,  or  Ran-dan,  &c.), 
we  may  note  that  in  a  queer  book.  The  Loves  of  Hero 
and  Leander,  1651,  p.  3,  is  a  six-line  verse  ending  thus  : 

Oh,  Hero,  Hero,  pitty  me. 
With  a  dildo,  dildo,  dildo  dee." 

By  which  we  may  guess  that  the  Rope-dancer's  Song,  in 
our  text,  was  probably  written  about,  or  even  before,  165 1. 
Some  among  us  (the  Editor  for  one)  saw  Madame  Sacchi 
in  1855  mount  the  rope,  although  she  was  seventy  years 
old,  as  nimbly  as  when  the  first  Napoleon  had  been  her 
chief  spectator.  During  the  Commonwealth,  rope-dan- 
cing and  tumbling  were  tolerated  at  the  Red-Bull 
Theatre,  while  plays  were  prohibited.  See  (Note  to  p. 
210)  our  Introduction  to  Westminster  Drollery,  pp.  xv.- 
XX,  and  the  Frontispiece  reproduced  from  Kirkman's 
"  Wits,"  1673,  representing  sundry  characters  from  dif- 
ferent "  Drolls,"  grouped  together,  viz. :  Falstaff  and 
Dame  Quickly,  from  "the  Bouncing  Knight;"  the 
French  Dancing-Master,  from  the  Duke  of  Newcastle's 
"  Variety,"  Clause,  from  Beaumont  and  Fletcher's  "  Beg- 
gar's Bush,"  Tom  Greene  as  Bubble  the  Clown  uttering 
"  Tu  Quoque"  from  John  Cooke's  "City  Gallant"  (peeping 
through  the  chief-entrance,  reserved  for  dignitaries)  ; 
also  Simpleton  the  Smith,  and  the  Changeling,  from  two 
of  Robert  Cox's  favourite  Drolls.  We  add  now,  illus- 
trative of  practical  suppression  under  the  Commonwealth, 
a  contemporary  record  : — 

A  Song. 

I. 
The  fourteenth  o/*  September 
/  "very  ivell  remember. 

When  people  had  eaten  and  fed  ivell. 
Many  men,  they  say. 
Would  needs  go  see  a  Play, 

But  they  sazu  a  great  rout  at  the  red  Bull. 


286  Appendix. 

2. 

The  Soldiers  they  came, 
(The  blind  and  the  lame) 

To  "visit  and  undo  the  Players  j 
And  "women  ivithout  Goivns, 
They  said  they  ivould  have  Croivns  ; 

But  they  ivere  no  good  Soothsayers. 

3- 
Then  Jo  :  Wright  they  met, 
Yet  nothing  could  get. 

And  Tom  Jay  i'  th^  same  condition : 
The  fire  m,en  they 
Would  ha*  made  *em  a  prey. 

But  they  scorn' d  to  make  a  petition. 

4.  [P-  89-] 

The  Minstrills  they 
Had  the  hap  that  day, 

(Well  fare  a  "very  good  token) 
To  keep  {from  the  chase) 
The  fiddle  and  the  case. 

For  the  instruments  scaped  unbroken. 

5- 
The  poor  and  the  rich. 
The  ivh  .  .  .  and  the  h  .  .  .  ., 

Were  every  one  at  a  losse. 
But  the  Players  nvere  all 
Turned  (as  "weakest)  to  the  'wall. 

And  'tis  thought  had  the  greatest  losse.    [/  cross.'] 
(Wit's  Merriment,  or  Lusty  Drollery,  1656,  p.  88.) 

One  such  raid  on  the  poor  actors  (and  probably  at  this 
very  theatre,  the  Red  Bull,  St.  John's  Street,  Clerk- 
enwell)  is  recorded,  as  of  20th  December,  1649: — "  Some 
Stage-players  in  St.  John's-Street  were  apprehended  by 
troopers,  their  clothes  taken  away,  and  themselves  carried 
to  prison"  (Whitelocke's  Memorials,  435,  edit.  1733,  cited 
by  J.  P.  C,  Annals,  ii.  118).  It  was  a  serious  business, 
as  we  see  from  the  Ordinance  of  11  Feb.,  1647-8;  the 
demolishing  of  seats  and  boxes,  the  actors  "  to  be  appre- 


Choyce  Drollery,  1656.  287 

hended  and  openly  and  publicly  whipt  in  some  market 
town  ...  to  enter  into  recognizances  with  two  sufficient 
sureties,  never  to  act  or  play  any  Play  qr  Interlude  any 
more,"  &c. 

As  for  the  Light-skirts,  so  elegantly  referred  to  in  the 
Song  now  reprinted  (as  far  as  we  are  aware,  for  the  first 
time),  they  were  certainly  not  actresses,  but  courtezans 
frequenting  the  place  to  ensnare  visitors.  Although 
English  women  did  not  publicly  perform  until  after  the 
Restoration,  except  on  one  occasion  (of  course,  at  Court 
Masques  and  private  mansions,  the  Queen  herself  and 
her  ladies  had  impersonated  characters),  yet  so  early  as 
8th  November,  1629,  some  French  professional  actresses 
vainly  attempted  to  get  a  hearing  at  Blackfriars  Theatre, 
and  a  fortnight  later  at  the  Red  Bull  itself,  as  three 
weeks  afterwards  at  the  Fortune.  Evidently,  they  were 
unsuccessful  throughout.  We  hear  a  good  deal  about 
the  far-more  objectionable  "  Ladies  of  Pleasure,"  who 
beset  all  places  of  amusement.  Thomas  Cranley,  ad- 
dressing one  such,  in  his  Amanda,  1635,  describes  her 
several  alluring  disguises  and  habits  : — 

The  places  thou  dost  usually  frequent 

Is  to  some  playhouse  in  an  afternoon. 

And  for  no  other  meaning  and  intent 

But  to  get  company  to  sup  ivith  soon  ; 

More  changeable  and  iva-vering  than  the  moon. 
And  ivith  thy  ivanton  looks  attracting  to  thee 
The  amorous  spectators  for  to  ivoo  thee. 

Thither  thou  com'st  in  several  forms  and  shapes 

To  make  thee  still  a  stranger  to  the  place. 

And  train  neiv  lovers,  like  young  birds,  to  scrapes. 

And  by  thy  habit  so  to  change  thy  face  ; 

At  this  time  plain,  to-morroiv  all  in  lace  : 

N01V  in  the  richest  colours  to  be  had  ; 

The  next  day  all  in  mourning,  black  and  sad.  &c. 

Page  33 .     Oh  fire,  fire,  fire,  ivhere  ? 

Despite  our  repugnance  to  mutilate  a  text  (see  Introduc- 
tion to  Westminster  Drollery,  p.  6 ;  ditto  to  Merry  Drol- 


288  Appendix. 

lery  Compleat,  pp.  2^,  ^g,  4.0 ;  and  that  to  our  present 
volume,  foot-note  in  section  third),  a  few  letters  have  been 
necessarily  suppressed  in  this  piece  of  coarse  humour. 
Verse  fourth,  on  p.  33,  refers  to  Ben  Jonson's  loss  of 
valuable  manuscripts  by  fire,  and  his  consequent  "  Exe- 
cration upon  Vulcan,"  before  June,  1629 ;  an  event 
deeply  to  be  regretted  :  also  to  the  whimsical  account  of 
the  fire  on  London  Bridge  (see  Merrv  Drollery,  Compleat, 
pp.  87,  369,  and  Additional  Note  in  present  volume,  tra- 
cing the  poem  to  1651,  and  the  event  to  1633). 

An  amusing  poem  was  written,  by  Thomas  Randolph, 
on  the  destruction  of  the  Mitre  Tavern  at  Cambridge, 
about  1630 ;  it  begins,  "  Lament,  lament,  you  scholars 
all."     (See  A  Creiv  of  kind  London  Gossips,  1663,  p.  72). 

Page  38.     In  Eighty  Eight,  ere  I  ivas  bom. 

Also  given  later,  in  Merry  Drollery,  1661,  p.  77,  and 
Ditto,  Compleat,  p.  82  and  369.  Compare  the  Harleian 
MS.  version.  No.  791,  fol.  59,  given  in  our  Appendix  to 
Westminster  Drollery,  p.  38,  with  note.  The  romance  of 
'•the  Knight  of  the  Sun  is  mentioned  by  Sir  Tho.  Over- 
bury  in  his  Characters,  as  fascinating  a  Chambermaid, 
and  tempting  her  to  turn  lady-errant.  "  The  book  is  bet- 
ter known  under  the  title  of  The  Mirror  of  Princely  Deedes 
and  Knighthood,  wherein  is  shewed  the  worthinesse  of 
The  Knight  of  the  Sunne,  &c.  It  consists  of  nine  parts, 
which  appear  to  have  been  published  at  intervals  between 
1585,  and  1601."     (Lucasta,  &c.,  edit.  1864,  p.  13.) 

Page  40.     And  •will  this  Wicked  World,  &c. 

We  never  met  this  elsewhere  :  it  was  probably  written 
either  in  1605,  or  almost  immediately  afterwards.  Among 
Robert  Hayman's  Quodlibets,  1628,  in  Book  Second,  No. 
49,  is  an  Epigram  (p.  27) : — 

Of  the  Gunpowder  Holly-day,  the  5th 
of  November. 

The  Powder-Traytors,  Guy  Vaux,  and  his  mates. 
Who  by  a  Hellish  plot  sought  Saints  estates, 


Choyce  Drollery^  1656.  289 

Haue  in  our  Kalendar  imto  their  shame, 
A  ioyful  Holy-day  cald  by  their  Name. 

Jeremiah  Wells  has  among  his  Poems  on  Several  Occa- 
sions, 1667,  one,  at  p.  9,  "On  Gunpowder  Treason,"  be- 
ginning "Hence  dull  pretenders  unto  njillany"  which 
solemnly  conjures  up  a  picture  of  what  might  have 
ensued  if  (what  even  Baillie  Nicol  Jarvie  would  call)  the 
"awfu'  bleeze"  had  taken  place.  [The  same  rare  vol- 
ume is  interesting,  as  containing  a  Poem  on  the  Rebuild- 
ing of  London,  after  the  fire  of  1666,  p.  112,  beginning 
"What  a  Devouring  Fire  but  t'other  day  !"] 

With  Charles  Lamb,  we  have  always  regretted  the 
failure  of  the  Gunpowder  Plot.  It  would  have  been  a 
magnificent  event,  fully  equal  to  Firmillian's  blowing  up 
the  Cathedral  of  St.  Nicholas,  at  Badajoz;  and  the  loss 
of  life  to  all  the  Parliament  Members  would  have  been 
a  cheap  price,  if  paid,  for  such  a  remembrance.  The 
worst  of  all  is,  that,  having  been  attempted,  there  is  no 
likelihood  of  any  subsequent  repetition  meeting  with 
better  success.  Hinc  illce  lachrymce !  Faux,  Vaux,  or 
Fawkes  must  have  been  a  noble,  though  slightly  mis- 
piiided,  enthusiast;  for  he  had  intended  to  perish,  like 
Samson,  with  his  victims.  All  good  Protestants  now  ad- 
mire the  Nazarite,  although  they  bon-fire-raise  poor 
Guido.  But  then  he  failed  in  his  work,  while  the  other 
slayer  of  Philistines  attained  success  :  which  perhaps  ac- 
counts for  the  different  apotheosis.  As  Lady  Macbeth 
puts  it :  "  The  attempt,  and  not  the  deed,  confounds  us  I" 

Page  44.     A  Maiden  of  the  Pure  Society.. 

A  version  of  this  epigram  is  among  the  MSS.  at  end  of  a 
volume  of  "  Various  Poems,"  in  the  British  Museum  : 
Press-mark,  Case  39.  a.  These  have  been  printed  by 
Fred.  J.  Furnival,  Esq.,  for  the  Ballad  Society,  as  "Love 
Poems  and  Humorous  Ones,"  1874.  "A  Puritane  with 
one  of  hir  societie,"  is  No.  26,  p.  22. 

Page  52.     He  that  a  Tinker,  &c. 
This  re-appears  in  the  Antidote  against  Melancholy,  1661 
p.  65;  and,  with  music,  in  the  17 19  Pills  top.  Mel. ,iu.  $2 

U 


290  Appejidix. 

Page  55.     Idol  of  our  Sex  I  &c. 

This  Lady  Carnarvon  was  the  wife  of  Robert  Dormer, 
second  Baron  Dormer,  created  Vise.  Ascott,  or  Herld, 
and  Earl  of  Carnarvon,  2d  Aug.,  1628.  Obiit  1643.  He 
fell  at  the  Battle  of  Newbury,  20th  Sept.  (See  Claren- 
don's History  of  the  Rebellion,  Book  vii.  p.  350,  edit.  1720, 
where  his  merits  are  recognized.)  Her  name  was  Anna- 
Sophia,  daughter  of  Philip,  Earl  of  Pembroke.  The  child 
mentioned  in  the  poem  was  their  son,  Charles  Dormer, 
who  died  in  1709,  when  the  Viscounty  and  Earldom  be- 
came extinct.  The  poem  was  written  at  his  birth,  on 
January  ist. 

Page  57.     Uds  body  kins  I  Chill  ivork  no  more. 

We  find  this,  a  year  earlier,  (an  inferior  version,  lacking 
third  verse,  but  longer,)  as  Cockbodykins,  chill,  &c.,  in 
Wifs  Interpreter,  p.  143,  1655;  and  p.  247,  1671.  It  is  a 
valuable,  because  trustworthy  and  graphic,  record  of  the 
troubles  falling  upon  those  who  tried  to  labour  on,  despite 
the  stir  of  civil  war.  4th  verse,  "  that  a  vet,"  seems  cor- 
ruption of  that  is  fetched  j  horses  in  a  hole  (W.  Int.)  ; 
vange  thy  note,  is  take  thy  note.  (do).     Prob.  date,  1647. 

The  Second  Part. 

THen  straight  came  ruffling  to  my  dore. 
Some  dozens  of  these  rogues,  or  more  ; 
So  zausie  they  be  groivn. 
Facksl^fl  if  they  come,  doivn  they  sit, 
They^l  never  ask  me  lea-ve  one  ivhit. 

They' I  take  all  for  their  ouun. 

Then  ich  provision  straight  must  make. 
And  from  my  Chymney  needs  must  take. 

And  •vlitch  both  pure  and  good,     [a  flitch] 
Oh  I  'tvuould  melt  a  Christians  heart  to  see. 
That  such  good  Bacon  spoil' d  should  be, 

'  Tivas  as  red  as  any  blood. 

But  in  it  ivould,  "whether  chud  or  not. 
Together  ivith  Beans  into  the  pot. 
As  siveet  as  any  viggs. 


Ckoyce  Drollery,  i6^6.  291 

And  ivhen  chave  done  all  that  I  am  able, 
They^l  slat  it  doivn  all  under  table. 
And  zivear  they  be  no  Pigs. 

Then  Ize  did  intreat  their  ivorships  to  be  quiet. 
And  ich  'would  stri-ve  to  mend  their  diet. 

And  they  shall  have  finer  feeding. 
They  zivear  goddam  thee  for  a  boor. 
Wee' I  gick  thee  raskal  out  a  door. 

And  teach  thee  better  breeding. 

Then  on  the  fire  they  \do'\  put  on 
A  piece  of  beef,  or  else  good  mutton. 

No,  no,  this  is  no  meat. 
Forsooth  they  must  have  finer  food, 
A  good  vat  hen  ivith  all  her  brood  ; 

And  then  perhaps  they* I  eat. 

But  of  late  ich  had  a  creiv  together. 

They  ivere  meer  devils,  ich  ask'd  them  lohether 

That  they  ivere  not  of  our  nation. 
Good  Lord  defend  us  from  all  zuch, 
They  zaid  they  ivere  ivild  Irish,  or  else  Dutch, 

They  ivere  of  the  Devils  generation. 

And  ivhen  these  raskals  ivent  aivay. 
What  e're  you  thing  they  did  me  repay 

Ich  ivill  not  you  deceive. 
Facks\J\just  as  folks  go  to  a  vaire. 
They  vaidled  up  my  goods  and  ivare. 

And  so  they  took  their  leave. 

O  ivhat  a  clutter  they  did  -make 
Our  house  for  Babel  they  did  take. 

We  could  not  understand  a  jot. 
Yet  they  did  knoiv  ivhat  did  belong 
To  drink  and  zivear  in  our  oivn  tongue. 

Such  language  they  had  a  got. 

Nor  home  ich  any  zafe  aboad. 
If  that  Ise  chance  to  go  abroad. 

These  rogues  ivill  come  to  spy  me  ; 

U  2 


292  Appendix. 

Then  zurrah,  zurrah,  quoth  they,  tarry. 
We  kncnv  false  letters  you  do  carry. 
And  so  they  come  to  try  me. 

For  as  sivift  as  any  lightning  goes 
Straight  all  their  hand  into  my  hose. 

There  out  they  pull  my  purse. 
O  zurrah,  zurrah,  this  is  it. 
Your  Letters  are  in  sil-ver  ivrit ; 

You  may  go  take  your  course. 

A  Trouper  f  other  day  did  greet  me, 
[.....  Lost  line.] 

But  could  you  guesse  the  reason. 
Thou  art,  quoth  he,  a  rebel.  Knave, 
And  zo  thou  dost  thy  zelf  behave. 

For  thou  doest  ivhistle  treason. 

Nor  "was  this  raskal  much  to  blame. 
For  all  his  mates  zivore  just  the  zame. 

That  ich  ivasfain  to  do. 
Ich  humble  pardon  of  him  sought. 
And  gave  him  money  for  my  fault. 

And  glad  I  could  scape  so  too. 

(Wits  Interpreter,  250,  167 1  ed.) 

This  is,  veritably,  a  "document  in  madness"  of  such 
civil  wars  and  military  licence.  It  reads  like  the  genuine 
narratives  of  Prussian  brutality  and  outrage  during  the 
occupation  of  Alsace  and  Lorraine  :  which  is  hereafter  to 
be  bitterly  avenged. 

Page  60.     /  keep  my  horse,  I  keep,  &c. 

This  lively  ditty  is  sung  by  Latrocinio  in  the  comedy  of 
"The  Widow,"  A61  iii.  sc.  i,  produced  about  1616,  and 
written  by  John  Fletcher,  Ben  Jonson,  and  Thomas 
Middleton.  The  song  bears  trace  of  Fletcher's  hand 
(more,  we  believe,  than  of  Jonson's).  It  has  a  rollicking 
freedom  that  made  it  a  favourite.  We  meet  it  in  Wit^s 
Interpreter,  1655,  p.  69;  167 1,  p.  175;  and  elsewhere. 
See  Dyce's  Middleton,  iii.  383,  and  Dodsley's  Old  Plays, 
1744,  vi.  34- 


I 


Choyce  Drollery,  1656.  293 

Page  61.     There  is  not  halfe  so  ivarm  afire. 

This  re-appears,  with  variations  and  twelve  additional 
lines  (inferior),  in  Westminster-Drollery,  1671,  i.  102; 
where  is  the  corrupt  text  "and  daily  pays  us  ivith  ivhat 
is."     Our  present  text  gives  us  the  true  word,  "dully." 


Page  62.     Fuller  oftvish,  than  hope,  &c. 

Fuller's  book,  "A  Pisgah  sight  of  Palestine,"  was  pub- 
lished about  1649.  The  epitaph  "  Here  lies  Fuller's 
earth,"  is  well  known.     He  died  in  1661. 

Page  63.     Cloris,  no'w  \hou  art  fled  aivay. 

The  author  of  this  song  was  Dr.  Henry  Hughes. 
Henry  Lawes  gives  the  music  to  it,  in  his  "Ayres,"  1669, 
Bk.  iii.  p.  10.  It  is  also  in  J.  P.'s  Sportive  Wit,  1656,  p. 
IS  ;  the  Loyal  Garland  (Percy  Soc.  Reprint  of  1686  edit. 
xxix.  67);  Pills  to  p.  Mel.,  1719,  iii.  331.  Sometimes 
attributed  to  Sir  R[obert]  A[ytoun]. 

In  Sportiiie  Wit  there  are  variations  as  well  as  an 
Answer,  which  we  here  give.  The  different  title  seems 
consequent  on  the  Answer  presupposing  that  Amintas  has 
not  died,  merely  disappeared.  It  is  "  A  Shepherd  fallen 
in  Love  :  A  Pastoral."  The  readings  are  :  Lambkins 
follo'w  ;  They're  gone,  they're  ;  T)og  hozvling  lyes.  While 
he  laments  ivith  ivoful  cryes  ;  Oh  Cloris,  Cloris,  I  decay. 
And  forced  am  to  cry  ivell,  isfc.  Sixth  verse  there 
omitted.     It  has,  however,  on  p.  16  : — 

The  Ansiver. 

[1656.] 

CLoris,  since  thou  art  gone  astray, 
Amyntas  Shepherd' s  fled  aivay  ; 
And  all  the  joys  he  ivont  to  spye 
I'  th'  pretty  babies  of  thine  eye. 
Are  gone  ;  and  she  hath  none  to  say 
But  uuho  can  help  ivhat  will  away,  will  away  ? 

U3 


294  Appendix. 

The  Green  on  ivhich  it  ivas  her  [  ?  his\  chance 

To  hwve  her  hand  first  in  a  dance. 

Among  the  merry  Maiden-crue, 

Now  making  her  nought  but  sigh  and  rue 

The  time  she  ere  had  cause  to  say  [p.  17.] 

Ah,  tuho  can  help  ivhat  will  away,  will  away  ? 

The  Lccwn  ivith  ivhich  she'ivont  to  deck 

And  circle  in  her  "whiter  neck  ; 

Her  Apron  lies  behinde  the  door  ; 

The  strings  ivon't  reach  noiv  as  before : 

Which  makes  her  oft  cry  well-a-day : 

But  ivho  can  help  ivhat  will  away  ? 

He  often  sivore  that  he  ivould  leave  me. 
Ere  of  my  heart  he  could  bereaue  me : 
But  ivhen  the  Signe  ivas  in  the  tail. 
He  kneiv  poor  Maiden-flesh  ivas  frail  ; 
And  laughs  noiv  I  have  nought  to  say. 
But  ivho  can  help  ivhat  will  away. 

But  let  the  blame  upon  me  lie, 

I  had  no  heart  him  to  denie  : 

Had  I  another  Maidenhead, 

Vd  lose  it  ere  1  ivent  to  bed  : 

For  ivhat  can  all  the  ivorld  more  say. 

Than  ivho  can  help  ivhat  will  away  ? 

(Sportive  Wit ;  or.  The  Muses^  Merriment.) 

Page  68.     /  tell  you  all,  both  great  and  small. 

Also  in  Captain  William  Hickes'  London  Drollery,  1673, 
p.  179,  where  it  is  entitled  "Queen  Elizabeth's  Song." 
The  dance  tune  Sallanger's  (or  more  commonly  Sellen- 
ger's)  Round  is  given  in  Chappell's  Pop.  Music,  O.  T.,  p. 
69.  The  name  is  corrupted  from  St.  Leger's  Round; 
as  in  Yorkshire  the  Doncaster  race  is  called  the  Sillinger, 
or  Sellenger,  to  this  day. 

Page  70.      When  James  in  Scotland ^r*^  began. 
Not  yet  found  elsewhere,  in  MS.  or  print.     The  sixth 


Choyce  Drollery,  1656.  295 

verse  refers  to  King  James  the  First  making  so  many 
Knights,  on  insufficient  ground,  that  he  incurred  ridicule. 
Allusions  are  not  infrequent  in  dramas  and  ballads.  Here 
is  the  most  noteworthy  of  the  latter.  It  is  in  Additional 
MS.  No.  5,832,  fol.  205,  British  Museum. 

Verses  upon  the  order  for  making  Knights  of  such  per- 
sons who  had  £i\£>  per  annum  in  King  James  I.'s  time. 

COme  all  you  farmers  out  of  the  country. 
Carters,  plouumen,  hedgers  and  all, 
Tom,  Dick  and  Will,  Ralph,  Roger  and  Humfrey, 

Leave  off  your  gestures  rusticalL 
Bidd  all  your  home-sponne  russetts  adue. 
And  sute your  selves  in  fashions  nevu  ; 
Honour  invites  you  to  delights  • 
Come  all  to  Court  and  be  made  Knights. 


He  that  hath  fortie  pounds  per  annum 

Shalbe  promoted  from  the  ploive : 
His  ivife  shall  take  the  ivall  of  her  gr annum. 

Honour  is  sould  soe  dog-cheap  noiu. 
Though  thoiv  hast  neither  good  birth  nor  breeding. 
If  thou  hast  money',  thovu  art  sure  of  speeding. 

3' 
Knighthood  in  old  time  ivas  counted  an  honour. 

Which  the  best  spiritts  did  not  disdayne: 
But  no%u  it  is  us'd  in  so  base  a  manner. 

That  it's  noe  creditt,  but  rather  a  staine : 
Tush,  it's  noe  matter  ivhat  people  doe  say. 
The  name  of  a  Knight  a  ivhole  village  ivill  szvay, 

A-- 
Shepheards,  leave  singing  your  pastorall  sonnetts, 

And  to  learne  complements  shetu  your  endeavours  -. 
Cast  of[^f]  for  ever  your  tzuo  shillinge  bonnetts. 

Cover  your  coxcombs  ivith  three  pound  beavers. 
Sell  carte  and  tarrboxe  nevu  coaches  to  buy. 

Then,  "Good  your  Worship''  the  vulgar  ivill  cry. 

U4 


I 


296  Appendix. 

5' 

And  thu&  unto  ivorshipp  being  advanced, 

Keepe  all  your  tenants  in  aive  ivith  your  frotvnes  ;    '\ 
And  let  your  rents  be  yearly  inhaunced. 

To  buy  your  neiv-moulded  maddams  ndv  goivns. 
Joan,  Sisse,  and  Nell  shalbe  all  ladified. 
Instead  of  hay -carts,  in  coaches  shall  rydc 

6. 

Whatever  you  doe,  have  a  care  of  expenses^ 

In  hospitality  doe  not  exceed : 
Greatnes  of  folloivers  belongeth  to  princes  : 

A  Coachman  and  footmen  are  all  that  you  need: 
And  still  observe  this,  let  your  servants  meate  lacke. 

To  keep  brave  apparel  upon  your  ivives  backe. 

[Additional  stanza  from  Mr.  Hunter's  MS.]  | 

7- 
Novu  to  conclude,  and  shutt  up  my  sonnetf. 

Leave  of  the  Cart-ivhip,  hedge-bill  andflaile. 
This  is  my  counsell,  think  ivell  upon  it. 

Knighthood  and  honour  are  novo  put  to  saile. 
Then  make  haste  quickly,  and  lett  out  your  farmes^ 
And  take  my  advice  in  blazing  your  armes. 
Honor  invites,  iSfc. 

(Shakespeare  Soc,  1846,  pp.  145-6,  J.  O.  Halliwell's 
Commentary  on  Merry  Wives  of  Windsor,  Act.  ii.  sc.  i, 
"  These  Knights  will  hack."  Also  his  notes  in  Tallis's 
edit.,  of  the  same,  n.  d.,  pp.  122-3.  William  Chappell,  in 
Pop.  Music  O.  T.,  p.  327,  gives  the  tune.) 


Page  72.      The  Chandler  drevu  near  his  end. 

Another  tolerable  Epigram  on  a  Chandler  meets  us,  be- 
ginning "  How  might  his  days  end  that  made  weeks 
[wicks]  ?"  among  the  Epitaphs  of  Wits  Recreations, 
1640-5  (Reprint,  p.  271). 


Choyce  Drollery,  1656.  297 

Page  73.     Farre  in  the  Forrest  of  Arden. 

This  is  one  of  Michael  Drayton's  Pastorals,  printed 
in  1593,  in  the  Third  Eclogue,  and  entitled  Dcwsabell. 
See  Percy's  Reliques,  vol.  i.  bk.  3,  No.  8,  2nd  edit.  1767, 
for  remarks  on  variations,  amounting  to  a  remodelling,  of 
this  charming  poem.  We  are  glad  to  know  that  Mr. 
James  Russell  Smith  is  preparing  a  new  edition  of 
Michael  Drayton's  voluminous  works,  to  be  included  in 
the  Library  of  Old  Authors.  Drayton  suppressed  his 
couplet  poem  of  "  Endimion  and  Phoebe  :"  Ideas  Latm-vs. 
It  has  no  date,  but  was  cited  by  Lodge  in  1595,  and  has 
been  reprinted  by  J.  P.  Collier;  one  of  his  handsome  and 
carefully  printed  quartos,  a  welcome  boon. 

Page  78.     On  the  tivelfth  day  of  Yyecemhev. 

This  ballad,  a  very  early  example  of  the  Doivn  dorun 
derry  burden,  is  not  yet  found  elsewhere  It  refers  to  the 
expedition  against  Scotland  (then  in  alliance  with  Henry 
II.  of  France)  made  by  the  Protector,  Edward,  Duke  of 
Somerset,  in  1547,  the  first  (not  "fourth  ")  year  of  Ed- 
ward VIth*s  reign.  The  battle  was  fought  on  the  "Black 
Saturday,  as  it  was  long  remembered,  the  tenth  day  of 
September  (not  of  "  December,"  as  the  ballad  mis-states 
it  to  have  been).  Terrible  and  remorseless  was  the 
slaughter  of  the  ill-armed  Scots,  after  they  had  impru- 
dently abandoned  their  excellent  hilly  position,  by  the 
well-appointed  English  horsemen.  The  prisoners  taken 
amounted  to  about  fifteen  hundred  ("we  found  above 
twenty  of  their  villains  to  one  of  their  gentlemen,"  says 
Patten),  among  whom  was  the  Earl  of  Huntley,  Lord 
Chancellor  of  Scotland,  who  on  the  previous  day  had 
sent  a  personal  challenge  to  Somerset,  asking  to  decide 
the  contest  by  single  combat :  an  offer  which  was  not 
unreasonably  declined,  the  Protector  declaring  that  he 
desired  no  peace  but  such  as  he  might  win  by  his  sword. 
"And  thou,  trumpet,"  he  told  Huntley's  herald,  "  say  to 
thy  master,  he  seemeth  to  lack  wit  to  make  this  challenge 
to  me,  being  of  such  estate  by  the  sufferance  of  God  as  to 
have  so  weighty  a  charge  of  so  precious  a  jewel,  the  gov- 


298  Appendix. 

ernment  of  a  King's  person,  and  then  the  protection  of 
all  his  realms."  We  learn  that  the  Scots  slain  were  ten- 
fold the  number  of  the  prisoners  taken.  This  battle  of 
"  Muskleburgh  Field  "  (nearly  the  same  locality  as  the 
battle  of  Prestonpans,  wherein  Prince  Charles  Edward  in 
1745  defeated  Colonel  Gardiner  and  his  English  troops), 
known  also  as  of  Fawside  Brae,  or  of  Pinkie,  is  described 
with  unusual  precision  by  an  eye-witness :  See  The  Ex- 
pedition into  Scotland  of  the  most  luorthily -fortunate  Prince 
Edivard  Duke  of  Somerset,  uncle  to  our  most  noble 
Sovereign  Lord  the  King's  Majesty  Edward  the  VI.,  &c., 
made  in  the  first  year  of  his  Majesty's  most  prosperous 
reign,  and  set  out  by  way  of  Diary,  by  W.  Patten,  Lon- 
doner. First  published  in  1548,  this  was  reprinted  in 
Dalyell's  Fragments  of  Scottish  History,  Edinburgh,  1798. 
This  old  ballad  is  not  included  by  Dalyell,  who  probably 
knew  not  of  its  existence. 

Page  So,     In  Ce\xa.\^ s  face"]  a  question  did  arise. 

By  Thomas  Carew,  written  before  1638.  In  Addit. 
MSS.  No.  11,811,  fol.  10;  No.  22,118,  fol.  43;  also  in 
Wits  Recreations  {Repr.,  p.  19);  Roxb,  Libr.  Carew,  p. 
6,  &c. 

Page  81.     Blacke  Eyes,  in  your  dark  Orbs  doe  lye. 

By  James  Howell,  Historiographer  to  Charles  II., 
and  author  of  the  celebrated  Epistolce  Ho-Eliants,  1645, 
1647,  1650,  and  1655.  He  died  in  November,  1666 ; 
according  to  Anthony  a  Wood,  (whose  account  of  him  in 
the  Athene  Oxonienses,  iii.  744,  edit.  18 17,  is  given  by 
Edward  Arber  in  his  excellent  English  Reprints,  vol.  viii, 
1869,  with  a  welcome  promise  of  editing  the  said  Epis- 
tolce).  This  poem  of  "  Black  eyes,"  &c.,  occurs  among 
Howell's  poems  collected  by  Sergeant- Major  Peter 
Fisher,  p.  68,  1663  ;  again  re-issued  (the  same  sheets)  as 
"Mr.  Hoivell's  Poems  upon  divers  Emergent  Occasions ; 
Printed  by  James  Cottrel,  and  dated  1664.  It  is  also 
found  in  C.  F.'s  Wit  at  a  Venture ;  or,  Clio's  Pri-vy  Gar- 
den, containing  Songs  and  Poems  on  Several  Occasions, 


Choyce  Drollery,  1656.  299 

Never  before  in  Print"  (which  statement  is  incorrect, 
as  usual).  Our  text  is  the  earliest  we  know  in  type.  The 
only  variations,  in  H(nveU's  Poems,  are  :  ist  line,  doth 
lie ;  4th  verse.  And  by  those  spells  I  am  possest. 

Page  83.      We  read  of  Kings,  and  Gods,  &'c. 

This  is  another  of  the  charming  poems  by  Thomas 
Carew,  always  a  favourite  with  his  own  generation  (few 
MS.  or  printed  Collections  being  without  many  of  them), 
and  deserving  of  far  more  affectionate  perusal  in  our  own 
time  than  he  generally  meets.  It  is  in  Addit.  MS.  No. 
II,  811,  fol.  6b.,  entitled  there  "His  Love  Neglected." 
Elsewhere,  as  "  A  Cruel  Mistress." 

Page  84.      What  ill  luck  had  I,  Silly  Maid,  &c. 

Although  closely  resembling  the  Catch  "What  Fortune 
had  I,  poor  Maid  as  I  am,"  0/1661  Antidote  ag.  Melan- 
choly, p,  74,  and  Merry  Drollery  ii.  152  (equal  to  p.  341  of 
editions  1670  and  1691),  this  song  is  virtually  distinct, 
and  probably  was  the  earlier  version  in  date.  One  has 
been  evidently  borrowed  or  adapted  from  the  other. 

Page  85.     /  nenjer  did  hold  all  that  glisters,  &c. 

This  vigorous  expression  of  opinion  from  a  robust  nature, 
uncorrupted  amid  a  conventionalized,  treacherous,  and 
selfishly-cruel  community,  is  a  valuable  record  of  the  true 
Cavalier  "all  of  the  olden  time."  We  have  never  met  it 
elsewhere.  He  has  no  half-likings,  no  undefined  sus- 
picions, and  admits  of  no  paltering  with  the  truth,  or 
shirking  of  one's  duty.  As  we  read  we  behold  the  honest 
man  before  us,  and  remember  that  it  was  such  as  he  who 
made  our  England  what  she  is  : — 

Pride  in  their  port,  defiance  in  their  eye, 
I  see  the  Lords  of  human  kind  pass  by. 

The  contemplation  of  such  brave  spirits  may  help  to  nerve 
fresh  readers  to  emulate  their  virtues,  despite  the  sickly 


I 


3CX)  '  Appendix. 

fancies  or  grovelling  politics  and  social  theories  of  degen- 
erate days.  The  singer  may  be  somewhat  overbearing 
in  announcement  of  his  preferences  : 

Just  this 

Or  that  in  you  disgusts  me  ;  here  you  miss. 
Or  there  exceed  the  mark, — 

But,  if  he  errs  at  all,  it  is  on  the  safe  side. 

Page  88.     No  Gypsie  nor  no  Blackamore. 

Composers  and  arrangers  of  such  collections  as  this  Drol- 
lery seem  to  have  often  chosen  pieces  simply  for  contrast. 
Thus,  after  the  manly  directness  of  "  The  Doctor's  Touch- 
stone," we  find  the  vilely  mercenary  husband  here  ex- 
hibited, and  followed  by  the  truthful  description  (justifi- 
able, although  coarsely  outspoken)  of  "  The  baseness  of 
Whores."      Such  were  they  of  old  :    such  are  they  ever. 

Page  92.     Let  not  Siveet  Saint,  &c. 

Like  the  three  preceding  poems,  not  yet  found  elsewhere, 
but  worthy  of  preservation. 

Page  93.     H01V  happy^s  that  Prisoner. 

Written  "by  a  Person  of  Quality  :"  whom  we  suspect  to 
have  been  Sir  Francis  Wortley,  but  without  evidence 
to  substantiate  the  guess.  This  is  the  earliest  appear- 
ance in  print,  known  to  us,  of  this  characteristic  outburst 
of  Cavalier  vivacity,  which  re-appears  as  the  Musician's 
Song,  in  "Cromivell's  Conspiracy,"  1660,  Act  iii.  sc.  2; 
and  Merry  Drollery,  1661,  p.  loi.  (See  also  M.  D.  C, 
pp.  107,  373).  As  to  the  introduction  of  the  several 
ancient  philosophers  (referred  to  in  former  Appendix,  p. 
373),  compare  the  delightful  Chanson  a  Boire, 

Je  cherche  en  vin  la  "verite, 

Si  le  'vin  n'aide  a  ma  foiblesse, 
Toute  la  docte  antiquite 

Dans  le  vin  puisa  la  sagesse. 


Choyce  Drolkiy,  i6$6.  301 

Oui  c'est  par  le  bon  "vin  que  le  bon  sens  eclate, 
yen  atteste  Hypocrate, 

Bui  dit  qu'il  fait  a  chaque  mois 
u  moins  s'enivrer  une  fois,  ^c. 

(The  other  twelve  verses  are  given  complete  in  "Brallag- 
han  :  or,  the  Deipnosophists,"  1845,  pp.  198-203,  with  a 
clever  verse-translation,  by  the  foremost  of  linguistic 
scholars  now  alive — the  friend  of  Talfourd  and  of  Dr.  W. 
Maginn — at  whom  many  nowadays  presume  to  scoff,  and 
whom  Benchers  defame  and  banish  themselves  from.) 

Page  97.     Fire  !  Fire  !  O  hcnv  I  burn,  (Sfc. 

Also  in  Windsor  Drollery,  1672,  p.  126,  as  "  Fire  !  Fire  ! 
lo  here  I  burn  in  my  desire,"  &c.  And  in  Henry  Bold's 
Latine  Songs,  1685,  p.  139,  where  it  is  inserted,  to  be 
alongside  of  this  parody  on  it  by  him,  song  xlvii.,  or  a 

MOCK. 

I. 

Fire,  Fire, 
Is  there  no  help  for  thy  desire  ? 
Are  tears  all  spent  ?  Is  Humber  lonj  ? 
Doth  Trent  stand  still?  Do/A  Thames  notfloiv? 
Though  all  these  can't  thy  Fea'ver  cure. 
Yet  Tyburn  is  a  Cooler  lure. 
And  since  thou  can'st  not  quench  thy  Fire, 
Go  hang  thy  self,  and  thy  desire  ! 

2. 

Fire,  f re. 
Here's  one  \stiir\  left  for  thy  desire. 
Since  that  the  Rainboru  in  the  skye. 
Is  bent  a  deluge  to  deny. 
As  loth  for  thee  a  God  should  Lye. 

Let  gentle  Rope  come  dangling  doivn. 
One  born  to  hang  shall  never  droivn. 
And  since  thou  can'st  not  quench  the  Fire, 
Go  hang  thy  self,  and  thy  desire  ! 

{Latine  Songs,  1685,  p.  140.) 


302  Appendix. 

Page  98.     '7V5  not  hoiv  ivitiy,  nor  horujree. 

A  year  earlier,  this  had  appeared  in  Wit's  Interpreter, 
165s,  p.  4  (1671,  p.  108),  entitled  "What  is  most  to  be 
liked  in  a  Mistress."  Robt.  Jamieson  quotes  it,  from 
Choyce  Drollery,  in  his  Pop.  Bds.,  1806,  ii.  309.  We  be- 
lieve it  to  be  by  the  same  author  as  the  poem  next  follow- 
ing, and  regret  that  they  remain  anonymous.  Both  are 
of  a  stately  beauty,  and  recall  to  us  those  Cavalier  Ladies 
with  whose  portraits  Vandyck  adorned  many  family 
mansions. 

Page  99.     She's  not  the  fairest  of  her  name. 

One  clue,  that  may  hereafter  gxiide  us  to  the  authorship, 
we  know  the  lady's  name.  It  was  Freeman.  This  poem 
also  had  appeared  a  year  earlier,  at  least,  in  Wifs  Inter- 
preter, 1655,  p.  55  ( ;  1671  ed.,  p.  161).  Also  in  Wit  and 
Drollery,  1661,  p.  162;  in  Oxford  Drollery,  part  ii.  1671, 
p.  87;  and  in  Loyal  Garland,  1686,  as  "The  Platonick 
Lover"  (reprinted  by  Percy  Soc,  xxix.  64).  There 
should  be  a  comma  in  fifth  line,  after  the  word  Constancy. 
Various  readings; — Verse  2,  meanest  wit;  Sind yet  a;  3, 
His  dear  addresses ;  walls  be  brick  or  stone. 

Page  100.     'Tis  late  and  cold,  stir  up  the  f  re. 

This  Song,  by  John  Fletcher,  in  his  Lo'ver's  Progress, 
Act  iii.  sc.  I.,  before  1625.  The  music  is  found  in  Addi- 
tional MS.  No.  11,608  (written  about  1656),  fol.  20; 
there  called  "  Myne  Ost's  Song,  sung  in  ye  Mad  Lo-ver 
[wrong :  a  different  play],  set  by  Robt.  Johnson."  It 
re-appears  in  Wit  and  Drollery  1661,  p.  212;  in  the 
Academy  of  Complements,  1670,  p.  175,  &c.  It  is  the 
Song  of  the  Dead  Host,  whose  return  to  wait  upon  his 
guests  and  ask  their  aid  to  have  his  body  laid  in  conse- 
crated ground,  is  so  humorously  described.  His  fore- 
warnings  of  death  to  Cleander  are,  to  our  mind,  of  thrilling 
interest.  These  scenes  were  Sir  Walter  Scott's  favour- 
ites ;  but  Leigh  Hunt,  perversely,  could  see  no  merit  in 
them.     We  believe  that  the  tinge  of  sepulchral  dullness 


Choyce  Drollery,  1656.  303 

in  Mine  Host  enhances  the  vividness  of  the  incidents, 
like  the  taciturnity  of  Don  Guzman's  stony  statue  in 
Shadwell's  "  Libertine." 

Thus  the  hundred-paged  volume  of  Choyce  Drollery, 
1656, — "  Delicates  served  up  by  frugall  Messes,  as  aiming 
at  thy  satisfaction  not  saciety,"^ — comes  to  an  end,  with 
Beaumont  and  Fletcher.  On  them  remembrance  loves 
to  rest,  as  the  fitting  representatives  of  that  class  of 
courtly  gentlemen,  poets,  wits,  and  scholars,  who  were,  to 
a  great  extent,  even  then,  fading  away  from  English 
society.  To  them  had  been  visible  no  phase  of  the  Re- 
bellion, and  they  probably  never  conceived  that  it  was 
near.  Beaumont,  with  his  statelier  reserve,  and  his  ten- 
dency to  quiet  musing,  fostered  "under  the  shade  of 
melancholy  boughs "  at  Grace-Dieu,  had  early  passed 
away,  honoured  and  lamented ;  a  month  before  his  friend 
Shakespeare  went  to  rest  :  Shakespeare,  who,  having 
known  half  a  century  of  busy  life,  felt  contented,  doubt- 
less, to  fulfil  the  wish  that  he  had  long  before  expressed, 
himself,  almost  prophetically : — 

"  Let  me  not  live," — 
Thus  his  good  melancholy  oft  began,  .... 
"After  my  flame  lacks  oil,  to  be  the  snuff 
Of  younger  spirits,  ivhose  apprehensive  senses 
All  but  ne'iv  things  disdain  ;  ivhose  judgments  are 
Mere  fathers  of  their  garments  ;  ivhose  constancies 
Expire  before  their  fashions :" — this  he  ivished. 

Fletcher  survived  nine  years,  and  battled  on  with  some- 
what of  spasmodic  action  ;  at  once  widowed  and  orphaned 
by  the  death  of  his  close  friend  and  work-fellow ;  winning 
fresh  triumphs,  it  is  true,  and  leaving  many  a  trace  of  his 
bright  genius  like  a  gleam  of  heaven's  own  light  across 
the  sadness  and  corruption  of  an  imaginary  world,  that 
was  not  at  all  unreal  in  heroism  or  in  wickedness.  He 
also  passed  away  while  young;  a  few  months  later  than  the 
time  when  Charles  the  First  came  to  the  throne,  suddenly 
elevated  by  the  death  of  his  father  James,  bringing 
abruptly  to  a  consummation   that   marriage   with    the 


304  Appendix. 

Ffench  Princess  which  did  so  much  to  lead  him  and  his 
country  into  ruin.  The  year  1625  was  the  separating 
date  between  the  autumnal  ripeness  and  the  chill  of  fruit- 
less winter,  A  sunny  glow  remains  on  Fletcher  to  the 
last.  With  him  it  fades,  and  the  world  that  he  had 
known  is  changed. 


[End  of  Notes  to  Choyce  Drollery.} 


APPENDIX 


305 
APPENDIX.     Part  2. 


[        ANTIDOTE  AGAINST   MELANCHOLY.     1661. 

Gi-atiano. — "  Why  should  a  man,  whose  blood  is  warm  within, 
Sleep  when  he  wakes,  and  creep  into  the  jaundice 
By  being  peevish  ?  I  tell  thee  what,  Antonio, — 
I  love  thee,  and  it  is  my  love  that  speaks ; — 
There  are  a  sort  of  men,  whose  visages 
Do  cream  and  mantle  like  a  standing  pond, 
And  do  a  wilful  stillness  entertain. 
With  purpose  to  be  dress'd  in  an  opinion 
Of  wisdom,  gravity,  profound  conceit ; 
As  who  should  say,  '  I  am  Sir  Oracle, 
And,  when  I  ope  my  lips,  let  no  dog  bark !'  " 

{Merchant  of  Venice,  Act  i.  sc.  i.) 

WE  have  already,  in  a  brief  Introduction,  (pp. 
105-110),  explained  our  reason  for  adding 
all  that  was  necessary  to  complete  this  work ;  a  large 
portion  having  been  anticipated  in  Merry  Drollery  of 
the  same  year,  1661.  In  the  Postscript  (pp.  161-165), 
we  endeavoured  to  trace  the  authorship  of  the  entire 
collection ;  leaving  to  these  following  notes,  and  those 
attached  to  M.  Drollery,  Compleat,  the  search  for  sep- 
arate poems  or  songs.  Also,  on  pp.  166-175,  we 
traced  the  history  of  "  Arthur  o'  Bradley,"  delaying 
the  important  song  of  his  Wedding  (from  an  original 
of  the  date  1656),  unto  Part  IV.  of  our  Appendix, 

X 


306  Appendix. 

To  no  other  living  writer  are  we  lovers  of  old  litera- 
ture more  deeply  indebted  than  to  the  veteran  John 
Payne  Collier,  who  is  now  far  advanced  in  his  eighty- 
seventh  year,  and  whose  intellect  and  industry  remain 
vigorously  employed  at  this  great  age  :  one  proof  of  the 
fact  being  his  new  edition  of  Shakespeare  (each  play  in 
a  separate  quarto,  issued  to  private  subscribers),  begun 
in  January,  1875,  and  already  the  Comedies  are  finished, 
in  the  third  volume.  Among  his  numerous  choice  re- 
prints of  rare  originals,  his  series  of  the  more  than 
"Se^en  Early  Poetical  Miscellanies"  was  a  work  of  great- 
est value.  To  these,  with  his  new  "Shakespeare,"  the 
interesting  "Old  Man's  Diary  "  his  "Bibliographical  and 
Critical  Account  of  the  Rarest  Books  in  the  English  Lan- 
guage," his  "Annals  of  the  Stage,"  "The  Poetical  Decam- 
eron," his  charming  "Book  oj  Roxburghe  Ballads,** 
1847,  his  "Broadside  Black-Letter-Ballads,"  1868,  and 
other  labours,  no  less  than  to  his  warmth  of  heart  and 
friendly  encouragement  by  letters,  the  present  Editor 
owes  many  happy  hours,  and  for  them  makes  grateful 
acknowledgment. 

About  the  year  1870,  J.  P.  Collier  issued  to  private 
subscribers  his  very  limited  and  elegant  Reprint,  in  quarto, 
of  "An  Antidote  against  Melancholy,"  1661.  This  is 
already  nearly  as  unattainable  as  the  original. 

J.  P.  Collier  gave  no  notes  to  his  Reprint  of  the 
"Antidote,"  but, in  the  brief  Introduction  thereunto,  he 
mentioned  that : — "  This  poetical  tract  has  been  selected 
for  our  reprint  on  account  of  its  rarity,  the  excellence  of 
the  greater  part  of  its  contents,  the  high  antiquity  of  some 
of  them,  and  from  the  fact  that  many  of  the  ballads  and 
humorous  pieces  of  versification  are  either  not  met  with 
elsewhere,  or  have  been  strangely  corrupted  in  repetition 
through  the  press.  Two  or  three  of  them  are  used  by 
Shakespeare,  and  the  word  '  incarnadine '  [see  our  p.  148] 
is  only  found  in  *  Macbeth '  (A.  ii.,  sc.  2),  in  Carew's 
poems,  and  in  this  tract :  here  we  have  it  as  the  name  of 
a  red  wine ;  and  nobody  hitherto  has  noticed  it  in  that 
sense. 

"When  Ritson  published  his  'Robin  Hood'  in  1795, 
he  relied  chiefly  upon  the  text  of  the  famous  ballad  of 


I 


Antidote  against  Melancholy.     1661.     307 

'Arthur  o'  Bradley,'  as  he  discovered  it  in  the  miscellany 
before  us  [See  our  Merry  Drollery,  Compleat,  pp.  312, 
399;  also,  in  present  volume,  p.  166,  and  Additional  Note] ; 
but,  learned  in  such  matters  as  he  undoubtedly  was,  he 
was  not  aware  of  the  very  early  period  at  which  'Arthur 
o'  Bradley'  was  so  popular  as  to  be  quoted  in  one  of  our 
Old  Moralities,  which  may  have  been  in  existence  in  the 
reigns  of  Henry  VI.  or  Henry  VII.,  which  was  acted  while 
Henry  VIII.  or  Edward  VI.  were  on  the  throne,  and 
which  is  contained  in  a  manuscript  bearing  the  date  of 

^579- 

"The  few  known  copies  of  'An  Antidote  against  Melan- 
choly' are  dated  1661,  the  year  after  the  Restoration, 
when  lawless  licence  was  allowed  both  to  the  press  and  in 
social  intercourse  ;  and,  if  we  permitted  ourselves  to  mu- 
tilate our  originals,  we  might  not  have  reproduced  such 
coarseness ;  but  still  no  words  will  be  found  which,  even 
a  century  afterwards,  were  not  sometimes  used  in  private 
conversation,  and  which  did  not  even  make  their  appear- 
ance at  full  length  in  print.  Mere  words  may  be  said  to 
be  comparatively  harmless ;  but  when,  as  in  the  time  of 
Charles  II,  they  were  employed  as  incentives  to  vice  and 
laxity  of  manners,  they  become  dangerous.  The  repeti- 
tion of  them  in  our  day,  in  a  small  number  of  reprints, 
can  hardly  be  offensive  to  decorum,  and  unquestionably 
cannot  be  injurious  to  public  morals.  We  always  address 
ourselves  to  the  students  of  our  language  and  habits  of 
life." 


Page  113  (original,  p.  i).     Not  drunken,  nor  sober,  i^c, 

Joseph  Ritson  gave  this  Bacchanalian  chant  in  the 
second  volume  of  his  "English  Songs,"  p.  58,  1783. 
Forty-six  verses,  out  of  the  seventy,  had  been  repeated  in 
the  "  Collection  of  Old  Ballads,"  1723-25,  (which  Ambrose 
Philips  and  David  Mallet  may  have  edited,)  "The  Ex-Ale- 
tation  of  Ale"  is  in  vol.  iii.  p.  166.  Part,  if  not  all,  must 
have  been  in  existence  fully  ten  years  before  it  appeared 
in  the  "  Antidote,"  as  we  find  "  O  Ale  ab  alendo,  thou 
Liquor  of  life  1 "  with  music  by  John  Hilton,  in  his  "Catch 

X  2 


3o8  Appendix. 

that  Catch  Can,"  p.  5,  1652.  It  is  also  in  Wit''s  Merri- 
ment;  or.  Lusty  Drollery,  1656,  p.  1 18;  eight  verses  only. 
These  are  :  i.  Not  drunken;  2.  But  yet  to  commend  it; 
3.  But  yet,  by  your  leave;  4.  It  makes  a  man  merry;  5. 
The  old  wife  whose  teeth  ;  6.  The  Ploughman,  the  La- 
b'rer ;  7.  The  man  that  hath  a  black  blous  to  his  wife ;  8. 
With  that  my  friend  said,  &c.  Still  earlier,  the  poem  had 
appeared,  imperfectly,  in  a  four-paged  quarto  pamphlet, 
dated  1642  (along  with  The  Battle  fought  between  the 
Norfolk  Cock  and  the  Wisbeach  Cock,"  see  M.  D.  C,  p. 
242)  as  by  Thomas  Randall,  i.e.  Randolph.  Accord- 
ingly, it  has  been  included  (34  verses  only)  in  the  1875 
edition  of  his  Works,  p.  662.  We  personally  attach  no 
weight  to  the  pamphlet's  ascription  of  it  to  Randolph, 
(who  died  in  March,  1634-5).  ^t  is  far  more  likely  to  have 
been  the  work  of  Samuel  Rowlands,  in  whose  Cretv  of 
Kind  London  Gossips,  1663,  we  meet  it,  p.  129-141,  and 
whose  style  it  more  closely  resembles.  Some  poems  duly 
assigned  to  Randolph  are  in  the  same  volume,  but  the 
"  Exaltation  of  Ale  "  is  not  thus  distinguished.  There 
are  seventy-two  verses  given,  and  the  motto  is  Tenipus 
edax  rerum,  is^c.  We  have  not  been  able  to  consult  an 
earlier  edition  of  S.  Rowland's  "Crew,"  &c.,  about  1650. 
So  long  afterwards  as  1788,  we  find  an  abbreviated 
copy  of  the  song,  six  verses,  in  Lackington's  "  British 
Songster,"  p.  202,  entitled  "A  Tankard  of  Ale."  The 
first  verse  runs  thus : — 

"Not  drunk,  nor  yet  sober,  but  brother  to  both, 
I  met  ivith  a  man  upon  Aylesbury  Vale, 

I  saiv  in  his  face  that  he  ivas  in  good  case 
To  go  and  take  part  of  a  tankard  of  ale. ^^ 

Omitting  all  sequence  of  narrative,  the  other  verses  are 
adapted  from  the  Antidote's  21st,  19th,  loth,  26th,  and 
50th  ;  concerning  the  hedger,  beggar,  widow,  clerk,  and 
amicable  conclusion  over  a  tankard  of  ale.  In  a  Coni'i'vial 
Songster,  of  1807,  by  Tegg,  London,  these  six  are  given 
with  addition  of  another  as  fifth  : — 

The  old  parish  Vicar,  ivhen  he's  in  his  liquor. 
Will  merrily  at  his  parishioners  rail, 


I 


Antidote  against  Melancholy.     1661.     309 

"  Come,  pay  all  your  tithes,  or  Vll  kiss  all  your  ivi-ves,"" 
When  once  he  shakes  hands  ivith  a  tankard  of  ale. 

It  had  appeared  in  a  Chap-book  (circa  1794,  according 
to  Wm.  Logan;  see  his  amusing  "Pedlar's  Pack,"  pp. 
224-6),  with  other  five  verses  inserted  before  the  Finale. 
We  give  them  to  complete  the  tale  : — 

There's  the  blacksmith  by  trade,  a  jolly  brisk  blade. 
Cries,  "Fill  up  the  bumper,  dear  host,  from  the  pail ;" 

So  cheerful  he'll  sing,  and  make  the  house  ring. 
When  once  he  shakes  hands  ivith  a  tankard  of  ale. 
Laru  la  re,  laru,  iSfc.     So  cheerful,  i^c. 

There's  the  tinker, ye  ken,  cries  "old  kettles  to  mend," 
With  his  budget  and  hammer  to  drii>e  in  the  nail : 

Will  spend  a  ivhole  croivn,  at  one  sitting  doivn. 
When  once  he  shakes  hands  ivith  a  tankard  of  ale. 
Laru,  iSfc. 

There's  the  mason,  brave  John,  the  carver  of  stone. 
The  Master's  grand  secret  he'll  never  reveal : 

Yet  hoiv  merry  is  he  ivith  his  lass  on  his  knee. 

When  once  he  shakes  hands  ivith  a  tankard  of  ale. 
Laru,  &c. 

You  maids  ivhofeel  shame,  pray  me  do  not  blame, 

■  Though  your  private  ongoings  in  public  I  tell : 
Young  Bridget  and  Nell  to  kiss  ivill  not  fail 

When  once  they  shake  hands  ivith  a  tankard  of  ale. 
Laru,  Sfc. 

There's  some  jolly  ivives,  love  drink  as  their  lives. 
Dear  neighbours  but  mind  the  sad  thread  of  my  tale  ; 

Their  husbands  they'll  scorn,  as  sure's  they  ivere  born. 
If  once  they  shake  hands  ivith  a  tankard  of  ale. 
Laru,  iSfc. 

From  ivrangling  or  jangling,  and  ev'ry  such  strife. 
Or  anything  else  that  may  happen  to  fall ; 

From  ivords  come  to  bloivs,  and  sharp  bloody  nose. 
But  friends  again  over  a  tankard  of  ale. 
Laru,  iSfc. 

X3 


310  Appendix. 

Notice  the  characteristic  mention  of  William  Elderton, 
the  Ballad- writer  (who  died  before  1592),  in  the  thirty- 
third  verse  (our  p.  119)  : — 

For  ballads  Elderton  never  had  peer  ; 

Hotv  ivent  his  ivit  in  them,  ivith  hozv  merry  a  gale. 
And  ivith  all  the  sails  up,  had  he  been  at  the  cup. 

And  ivashed  his  beard  ivith  a  pot  of  good  ale. 

William  Elderton's  "  New  Yorkshire  Song,  intituled 
Yorke,  Yorke,  for  my  Monte,"  (entered  at  Stationers' 
Hall,  16  November,  1582,  and  afterwards  "Imprinted  at 
London  by  Richard  lones;  dwelling  neere  Holbourne 
Bridge  :  1584),"  has  the  place  of  honour  in  the  Rox- 
burghe  Collection,  being  the  first  ballad  in  the  first 
volume.  It  consequently  takes  the  lead  in  the  valuable 
"  Roxburghe  Bds."  of  the  Ballad  Society,  1869,  so  ably 
edited  by  William  Chappell,  Esq.,  F.S.A.  It  also  formed 
the  commencement  of  Ritson's  Yorkshire  Garland :  York, 
1788.  It  is  believed  that  Elderton  wrote  the  "excellent 
Ballad  intituled  The  Constancy  of  Susanna"  (Roxb. 
Coll.,  i,  60;  Bagford,  ii.  6;  Pepys,  i.  33,  496).  A  list  of 
others  was  first  given  by  Ritson ;  since,  by  W.  C.  Haz- 
litt,  in  his  Handbook,  p.  177.  Elderton's  "  Lenton  Stuff 
ys  come  to  the  town"  was  reprinted  by  J.  O.  Halliwell, 
for  the  Shakespeare  Society,  in  1846  (p.  105).  He  gives 
Drayton's  allusion  to  Elderton  in  Notes  to  Mr.  Hy. 
Huth's  "79  Black-Letter  Ballads,"  1870,  274  (the  "Praise 
of  my  Ladie  Marquess,"  by  W.  E.,  being  on  pp.  14-16). 
Elderton  had  been  an  actor  in  1552 ;  his  earliest  dated 
ballad  is  of  1559,  and  he  had  ceased  to  live  by  1592. 
Camden  gives  an  epitaph,  which  corroborates  our  text,  in 
regard  to  the  "thirst  complaint"  of  the  balladist: — 

Hie  situs  est  sitiens,  atque  ebrius  Eldertonus — 
Quid  dico — Hie  situs  est  ?  hie  potius  sitis  est. 

Thus  freely  rendered  by  Oldys  : — 

Dead  drunk  here  Elderton  doth  lie  ; 
Dead  as  he  is,  he  still  is  dry  ; 
So  of  him  it  may  ivell  be  said. 
Here  he,  but  not  his  thirst,  is  laid. 


Antidote  against  Melancholy.     1661.     311 

A  MS.,  time  of  James  I.,  possessed  by  J.  P.  Collier, 
mentions,  in  further  confirmation  : 

Will  Elderton's  red  nose  is  famous  everywhere. 

And  many  a  ballet  shoixjs  it  cost  him  very  dear  : 

In  ale,  and  toast,  and  spice,  he  spent  good  store  of  coin. 

You  need  not  ask  him  tivice  to  take  a  cup  ofivine. 

But  though  his  nose  -was  red,  his  hand  ivas  very  luhite. 

In  ivork  it  never  sped,  nor  took  in  it  delight ; 

No  marvel  therefore  'tis,  that  ivhite  should  be  his  hand. 

That  ballets  "writ  a  score,  as  you  ivell  understand. 

(See  Wm.  Chappell's  Popular  Music  of  the  Olden  Time, 
pp.  107,  815;  and  J.  P.  Collier's  Extracts  from  Reg.  Stat. 
Qora:^,,  passim.  Indices,  art.  Elderton;  and  his  Bk.  of 
Roxb.  Bds.,  p.  139.) 

Page  125  (orig.  14).       With  an  old  Song,  made  by,  isfc. 

The  fashion  of  disparaging  the  present,  by  praising  the 
customs  and  people  of  days  that  have  passed  away,  is 
almost  as  old  as  the  Deluge,  if  not  older.  Homer  speaks 
of  the  degeneracy  in  his  time,  and  aged  Israel  had  long 
earlier  lamented  the  few  and  evil  days  to  which  his  own 
life  extended,  in  comparison  with  those  patriarchs  who 
had  gone  before  him.  Even  as  we  know  not  the  full  value 
of  the  Mistress  or  the  friend  whose  affection  had  been 
given  unto  us,  until  separated  from  them,  for  ever,  by 
estrangement  or  the  grave,  so  does  it  seem  to  be  with 
many  customs  and  things.  Robert  Browning  touchingly 
declares : — 

And  she  is  gone  :  siveet  human  love  is  gone  I 

'  Tis  only  ivhen  they  spring  to  heaven  that  angels 

Reveal  themselves  to  you  :  they  sit  all  day 

Beside  you,  and  lie  dozun  at  night  by  you 

Who  care  not  for  their  presence,  muse  or  sleep. 

And  all  at  once  they  leave  you,  and  you  knovu  them! 

Modified  in  succeeding  reigns,  the  ballad  of  "  The  Queen 
[Elizabeth]  's  Old  Courtier,  and  A  New  Courtier  of  the 
King   [James]"  has  already  known   two  hundred  and 

X4 


312  .  Appendix. 

fifty  years'  popularity.  The  earliest  printed  copy  was 
probably  issued  by  T.  Symcocke,  by  or  after  1626.  We 
find  it  in  several  books  about  the  time  of  the  Restoration, 
when  parodies  became  frequent.  It  is  in  Le  Prince 
d^ Amour,  1660,  p.  161  ;  Wit  and  Drollery,  1682  (not  in 
1656,  1661  edits.),  p.  278,  "With  an  old  Song,"  ^c  ;  Wit 
and  Mirth,  1684,  p.  43  ;  Dry  den's  Misc.  Poems  (ed.  17 16, 
IV.  108) ;  with  the  Music,  in  Pills,  iii.  271  ;  in  Philomel, 
130,  1744;  Percy's  Reliques,  ii.  Bk.  3,  No.  8,  1767;  Rit- 
son's  English  Sgs.,  ii.  140,  and  Chappell's  Pop.  Music,  p, 
300,  to  which  refer  for  a  good  introduction,  with  extract 
from  Pepys  Diary  of  i6th  June,  1668.  Accompanying  a 
Parody  by  T.  Howard,  Gent,  (beginning  similarly,  "An 
Old  Song  made  of  an  old  aged  pate"),  it  meets  us  in  the 
Roxburghe  Coll.,  iii.  72,  printed  for  F.  Coles  (1646-74). 

Among  other  parodies  may  be  mentioned  one  entitled 
"  An  Old  Souldier  of  the  Queen's  "  (in  Merry  Drollery, 
Compleat,  31,  and  in  Wit  and  Drollery,  248,  1661); 
another,  "The  New  Souldier"  (Wit  and  Drollery,  282, 
1682),  beginning  : — 

With  a  netv  Beard  but  lately  trimmed. 
With  a  neuu  love-lock  neatly  kemm'd. 
With  a  netv  favour  snatched  or  nimm'd. 
With  a  netu  doublet,  French-//^f  trimm'd  ; 
And  a  nciv  gate,  as  if  he  sivimm'd  ; 

Like  a  new  Souldier  of  the  King's, 
And  the  King's  new  Souldier. 

With  a  neu}  feather  in  his  Cap: 

With  netv  tvhite  bootes,  tvithout  a  strap  ;  &c. 

In  the  same  edition  of  Wit  and  Drollery,  p.  165,  is  yet 
another  parody,  headed  "Old  Souldiers,"  which  runs 
thus  (see  Westminster-Drollery ,  ii.  24,  1672,)  : — 

Of  Old  Souldiers  the  song  you  ivould  hear. 
And  tve  old  fiddlers  have  forgot  tvho  they  tuere. 

John  Cleveland  had  a  parody  on  the  Queen's  Courtier, 
about  1648,  entitled  The  Puritan,  beginning  "With  face 
and  fashion  to  be  known.  For  one  of  sure  election." 


Antidote  against  Melancholy.     1661.     313 

Another,  called  The  Tub-Preacher,  is  doubtfully  attributed 
to  Samuel  Butler,  and  begins  similarly,  "  With  face  and 
fashion  to  be  known  :  With  eyes  all  white,  and  many  a 
groan"  (in  his  Posthumous  Works,  p.  44,  3rd  edit.,  1730). 
The  political  parody,  entitled  "Saint  George  and  the 
Dragon,  anglice  Mercurius  Poeticus,'"  to  the  same  tune  of 
"The  Old  Courtier,"  is  in  the  Kings  Pamphlets,  XVI., 
and  has  been  reprinted  by  T.  Wright  for  the  Percy  Soc, 
iii.  205.  It  bears  Thomason's  date,  28  Feb.,  i659-[6o], 
and  is  on  the  overthrow  of  the  Rump,  by  General  Monk. 
It  begins  thus  : — 

Netvs  !    nerus  !    here's  the  occurrences  and  a  nezu 

Mercurius, 
A   dialogue  bet'ween    Haselrigg    the    baffled    and 
Arthur  the  furious  : 
With  Ireton's  readings  upon  legitimate  and  spurious, 

Proi/ing  that  a  Saint  may  be  the  Son  of  a    Wh , 

for  the  satisfaction  of  the  curious. 

From  a  Rump  insatiate  as  the  Sea, 
Libera  nos,  Domine,  i^c. 

Old  songs  have  rarely,  if  ever,  been  modernized  so  suc- 
cessfully as  "The  Queen's  Old  Courtier,"  of  which  "The 
Fine  Old  English  Gentleman  "  is  no  unworthy  represen- 
tative. Popular  though  it  was,  thirty  or  forty  years 
ago,  it  is  not  easily  met  with  now ;  thus  we  may  be  ex- 
cused for  adding  it  here  : — 

THE  FINE  OLD  ENGLISH  GENTLEMAN. 

T'LL  sing  you  a  good  old  song,  made  by  a  good  old  pate, 
J-      Of  a  fine  old  English  gentleman,  ivho  had  an  old 

estate. 
And  ivho  kept  up  his  old  mansion,  at  a  bountiful  old 
rate  : 
With  a  good  old  porter  to  relieve  the  old  poor  at  his  gate. 
Like  a  fine  old  English  gentleman,  all  of  the  olden  time. 

His  hall  so  old  ivas  hung  around  ivith  pikes,  and  guns, 

and  boivs. 
And  sivords,  and  good  old  bucklers,  that  had  stood 

against  old  foes  ; 


314  Appendix. 

'  Tivas  there  "his  -worship  "  held  his  state  in  doublet  and 

trunk  hose. 
And  quaff' d  his  cup  of  good  old  Sack,  to  ivarm  his  good 

old  nose  : 

Like  a  fine  old  English  gentleman,  &c. 

When  Winter's  cold  brought  frost  and  snoiv,  he  open'd 

house  to  all : 
And  though  three-score  and  ten  his  years,  he  Jeatly  led 

the  ball : 
Nor  ivasthe  houseless  ivanderer  e' er  drmen  from  his  hall. 
For,  ivhile  he  feasted  all  the  great,  he  ne'er  forgot  the 

small : 

Like  a  fine  old  English  gentleman,  (Sfc. 

But  time,  though  siveet,  is  strong  in  flight,  and  years 

roll  siviftly  by  : 
And  autum' s  falling  leaves  proclaim' d,  the  old  man — 

he  must  die  ! 
He  laid  him  doivn  right  tranquilly,  ga've  up  lif^s  latest 

sigh  ; 
While  a   heavy   stillness   reign'd  around,    and    tears 

dimm'd  every  eye. 

For  this  good  old  English  gentleman,  &c. 

Nozu  surely  this  is  better  far  than  all  the  new  parade 
Of  theatres  and  fancy  balls,  "At  Home"  and  masquer' 

ade  ; 
And  much  more  economical,  vuhen  all  the  bills  are  paid : 
Then  leave  your  nevD  vagaries  off,  and  take  up  the  old 

trade 

Of  a  fine  old  English  gentleman,  &c. 

A  series  of  eight  Essays,  each  illustrated  with  a  design 
by  R.  W.  Buss,  was  devoted  to  "The  Old  and  Young 
Courtier"  in  the  Penny  Magazine  of  the  Society  for 
Diffusion  of  Useful  Knowledge,  in  1842. 

Charles  Matthews  used  to  sing  (was  it  in  "Patter 
versus  Clatter"?)  an  amusing  version  of  "The  Fine 
Young  English  Gentleman,"  of  whom  it  was  reported  that. 


Antidote  against  Melancholy.     1661.     315 

He  kept  up  his  vagaries  at  a  most  astounding  rate, 
.  And  like'ivise  his  old  Landlady, — by  staying  out  so  late. 
Like  a  fine  young  English  gentleman,  one  of  the 
present  time,  isfc. 

T.  R.  Planche  wrote  a  parody  to  the  same  tune,  in  his 
"Golden  Fleece,"  on  the  "Fine  Young  Grecian  Gentle- 
man," lason,  as  described  by  his  deserted  wife  Medea :  it 
begins,  "I'll  tell  you  a  sad  tale  of  the  life  I've  been  led  of 
late."  In  Dinny  Blake's  "  Sprig  of  Shillelah,"  p.  3,  is 
found  "The  Rale  Ould  Irish  Gintleman,"  (5  verses)  be- 
ginning, "I'll  sing  you  a  dacent  song,  that  was  made  by 
a  Paddy's  pate,"  and  ending  thus  : — 

Each  Irish  boy  then  took  a  pride  to  prove  himself  a  man. 
To  serve  a  friend,  and  beat  a  foe  it  alnvays  ivas  the  plan 
Of  a  rale  ould  Irish   Gintleman,  the  boy  of  the 
olden  time. 

(Or,  as  Wm.  Hy.  Murray,  of  Edinburgh,  used  to  say,  in 
his  unequalled  "  Old  Country  Squire,"  "  A  smile  for  a 
friend,  a  frown  for  a  foe,  and  a  full  front  for  every  one!") 
At  the  beginning  of  the  Crimean  War  appearedf  another 
parody,  ridiculing  the  Emperor  Nicholas,  as  "  The  Fine 
Old  Russian  Gentleman  "  (it  is  in  Berger's  Red,  White, 
and  Blue,  467);  and  clever  Robert  B.  Brough,  in  one  of 
his  more  bitter  moods  against  "  The  Governing  Classes," 
misrepresented  the  "  Fine  Old  English  Gentleman " 
(Ibid,  p.  733),  as  splenetically  as  Charles  Dickens  did  in 
Bamaby  Rudge,  chapter  47. 

Page  20  (original).     Pan  leave  piping,  (Sfc. 

Given  already,  in  our  Appendix  to  the  Westminster  DroU 
lery,  p.  liv.,  with  note  of  tune  and  locality.  See  Addi- 
tional Note  in  Part  3  of  present  Appendix. 

Page  129  (orig.  26).    Why  should  ive  boast  o/*  Arthur,  ^c. 

There  are  so  many  differences  in  the  version  printed  in 
the  Antidote  agt.  Melancholy  from  that  already  given  in 
Merry  Drollery,  Compleat,  p.  309,  (cp.  Note,  p.  399),  that 
we  g^ve  the  former  uncurtailed. 


3i6  Appendix. 

Along  with  the  music  in  Pills  to  p.  Mel.,  iii.  Ii6,  1719, 
are  the  extra  verses  (also  in  Wit  and  Mirth,  1684,  p.  29?) 
agreeing  with  the  Antidote  ;  as  does  the  version  in  Old 
Bds.,  I.  24,  1723. 

Another  old  ballad,  in  the  last-named  collection,  p. 
153,  is  upon  "  King  Edward  and  Jane  Shore  ;  in  Imita- 
tion, and  to  the  Tune  of,  St.  George  and  the  Dragon." 
It  begins  (in  better  version) :  — 

Why  should  ive  boast  of  Lais  and  her  knights, 
Knonving  such  Champions  entrapt  by  Whorish  Lights  ? 
Or  tvhy  should  ive  speak  ^  Thais  curled  Locks, 
Or  Rhodope,  isfc. 

Roxb.  Coll.,  iii.  258,  printed  in  1671.  Also  in  Pills,  with 
music,  iv.  272.  The  authorship  of  it  is  ascribed  to 
Samuel  Butler,  in  the  volume  assuming  to  be  his 
"  Posthumous  Works"  (p.  iii.,  3rd  edition,  1730);  but 
this  ascription  is  of  no  weight  in  general. 

In  Edm.  Gayton's  Festivous  Notes  upon  Don  Quixot, 
1654,  p.  231,  we  read: — " 'Twas  very  proper  for  these 
Saints  to  alight  at  the  sign  of  St.  George,  who  slew  the 
Dragon  which  was  to  prey  upon  the  Virgin  :  The  truth 
of  which  story  hath  been  abus'd  by  his  own  country-men, 
who  almost  deny  all  the  particulars  of  it,  as  I  have  read 
in  a  scurrilous  Epigram,  very  much  impairing  the  credit 
and  Legend  of  St.  George  ;  As  foUoweth, 

THey  say  there  is  no  Dragon, 
Nor  no  Saint  George  His  said. 
Saint  George  and  Dragon  lost. 
Pray  Heaven  there  be  a  Maid  ! 

But  it  was  smartly  return'd  to,  in  this  manner, 

SAint  George  indeed  is  dead. 
And  the  fell  Dragon  slaine  ; 
The  Maid  li'v'd  so  and  dyed, — 
She'll  ne'r  do  so  againe." 

Somewhat  different  is  the  earlier  version,  in  Wit's  Recre- 
ations, 1640-45.  (Reprint,  p.  194,  which  see,  "  To  save 
a  maid,"  &c.)  The  Answer  to  it  is  probably  Gayton's 
own. 


I 


Afitidote  against  Melancholy.     i66i.     317 

Page  133  (orig.  29).     Come  hither,  thou  merriest,  i^c. 

Issued  as  a  popular  broadsheet,  printed  at  London 
for  Thomas  Lambert,  probably  during  the  lifetime  of 
Charles  L,  we  find  this  lively  ditty  of  "Blew  Cap  for 
Me !"  in  the  Roxburghe  Coll.,  i.  20,  and  in  the  Bd.  Soc. 
Reprint,  vol.  i.  pp.  74-9.  Mr.  Chappell  mentions  that  the 
tune  thus  named  "is  included  in  the  various  editions  of 
The  Dancing  Master  from  1650  to  1690 ;  and  says,  the 
reference  to  'when  our  good  king  was  in  Falkland  town,' 
[in  the  Antidote  it  reads  "our good  knight,"  line  13]  may 
supply  an  approximate  date  to  the  composition."  We 
believe  that  it  must  certainly  have  been  before  the  Scots 
sold  their  king  for  the  base  bribe  of  money  from  the  Par- 
liamentarians, in  1648,  when  "Blew  caps"  became  hate- 
ful to  all  true  Cavaliers.  The  visit  to  Falkland  was  in 
1633,  so  the  date  is  narrowed  in  compass.  From  the 
Black-letter  ballad  we  gain  a  few  corrections  :  drotune, 
for  dare,  in  4th  line;  long  locked,  26th  line;  for  further 
exercises,  28th  ;  Mistris  (so  we  should  read  Maitresse,  not 
a  metrel),  2g\.\\;  Pe gar  me  do  love  you  (not  "Dear"), 
30th;  s^^  replide.  The  First  Part  ends  with  the  Irish- 
man. The  Second  Part  begins  with  two  verses  not  in 
the  Antidote : — 

A  Dainty  spruce  Spanyard,  ivith  haire  black  asjett, 
long  cloak  ivith  round  cape,  a  long  Rapier  and  Pon- 
yard; 
Hee  told  her  if  that  she  could  Scotland  forget, 

he^dsheiv  her  the  Vines  as  they  groiv  in  the  Vineyard. 
"  If  thou  ivilt  abandon 
this  Country  so  cold, 
Vll  shoix)  thee  f aire  Spaine, 
and  much  Indian  gold." 
But  stil  she  replide,  "  Sir, 

I  pray  let  me  be  ; 

Gif  ever  I  have  a  man, 

Blew-cap  for  me." 

A  haughty  high  German  of  Hamborough  toivne, 
a  proper  tall  gallant,  ivith  mighty  mustachoes  ; 


3i8  Appendix. 

He  iveepes  if  the  Lasse  •upon  him  doe  but  fronvne, 
yet  he's  a  great  Fencer  that  conies  to  ore-match  vs. 
But  yet  all  his  fine  fencing 

Could  not  get  the  Lasse  : 
She  deny'd  him  so  oft, 

that  he  ivearyed  -was  : 
For  still  she  replide,  "  Sir, 

I  pray  let  me  be  ; 
Gif  ever  I  have  a  man, 

Blew-cap  for  me. 

In  the  Netherland  Mariner's  Speech  we  find  for  the  fifth 
line  of  verse,  "Isk  will  make  thee,"  said  he,  "sole  Lady," 
&c.     Another  verse  follows  it,  before  the  conclusion  : — 

These  sundry  Sutors,  of  seuerall  Lands,  [4] 

did  daily  solicit e  this  Lasse  for  her  fauour  ; 
And  euery  one  of  them  alike  understands 

thai  to  ivin  the  prize  they  in  "uaine  did  endeauour : 
For  she  had  resolued 

(as  I  before  said) 
To  haue  bonny  Blenv-cap, 

or  else  bee  a  maid. 
Vnto  all  her  suppliants 

still  replyde  she, 
"  Gif  ever  I  have  a  man, 
Blew-cap  for  me." 

At  last  came  a  Scottish-man  (ivith  a  bletu-cap), 

and  he  ivas  the  party  for  ivhom  she  had  tarry' d  ; 
To  get  this  blithe  bonny  Lasse  'tivas  his  gude  hap, — 
they  gang'd  to  the  Kirk,  isf  ivere  presently  marry' d. 
I  ken  not  iveele  "whether 

it  ivere  Lord  or  Leard ;  \_Laird\ 
They  caude  him  some  sike 
a  like  name  as  I  heard  2 
To  chuse  him.  from  au 

She  did  gladly  agree, — 
And  still  she  cride,  "  Blew-cap, 
th'art  welcome  to  mee." 


Antidote  against  Melancholy.     1661.     319 

The  song  is  also  reprinted  for  the  Percy  Society,  (Fair- 
holt's  Costume),  xxvii.  130,  as  well  as  in  Evans'  O.  Bds., 
iii.  245.  Compare  John  Cleavland's  "Square  Cap," — 
"  Come  hither,  Apollo's  bouncing  girl." 

Page  135  (orig.  30).      The  Wit  hath  long  beholden  been. 

In  Harleian  MS.  No.  6931,  where  it  is  signed  as  by  Dr. 
W.  Strode. 

The  tune  of  this  is  "The  Shaking  of  the  Sheets,"  ac- 
cording to  a  broadside  printed  for  John  Trundle  (1605-24, 
before  1628,  as  by  that  date  we  believe  his  widow's  name 
would  have  been  substituted).  We  find  it  reprinted  by  J. 
P.  Collier  in  his  Book  of  Roxburghe  Ballads,  p.  172,  1847, 
as  "The  Song  of  the  Caps."  In  an  introductory  note, 
we  gather  that  "This  spirited  and  humorous  song  seems 
to  have  been  founded,  in  some  of  its  points,  upon  the 
'  Pleasant  Dialogue  or  Disputation  between  the  Cap  and 
the  Head,'  which  prose  satire  went  through  two  editions, 
in  1564  and  1565  :  (see  the  Bridgewater  Catalogue,  p. 
46.)  It  is,  however,  more  modern,  and  certainly  cannot 
be  placed  earlier  than  the  end  of  the  reign  of  Elizabeth. 
It  may  be  suspected  that  it  underwent  some  changes,  to 
adapt  it  to  the  times,  when  it  was  afterwards  reprinted ; 
and  we  finally  meet  with  it,  but  in  a  rather  corrupted 
state,  in  a  work  published  in  1656,  called  'Sportive  Wit: 
the  Muses  Merriment,  a  new  Spring  of  Lusty  Drollery,' 
&c."  [p.  23.]  It  appears,  with  the  music,  in  Pills,  iv.  157  ; 
in  Percy  Society's  "Costume,"  1849,  115,  with  woodcuts 
of  several  of  the  caps  mentioned. 

In  Sporti-ve  Wit,  1656,  p.  23,  is  a  second  verse  (coming 
before  "The  Monmouth  Cap,"  &c.) :— 


I 


2. — The  Cap  doth  stand,  each  man  can  shcnv. 
Above  a  Cro%un,  but  Kings  beloiv  : 
The  Cap  is  nearer  heav'n  than  ive  ; 
A  greater  sign  of  Majestic  : 
When  off  the  Cap  ive  chance  to  take. 
Both  head  and  feet  obeysance  make  ; 
For  any  Cap,  &:c. 


320  ^  Appendix. 

In  our  3rd  verse,  it  reads  : — ever  brought.  The  quilted, 
Furr'd  ;  crcivel;  4th  verse,  line  6,  of  (some  say)  a  horn. 
5th  verse,  crooked  cause  aright ;  Which,  being  round  and 
endless,  knonvs  ||  To  make  as  endless  any  cause  [A  better 
version].  6t\\,  Jindes  a.  mout\\;  7th,  The  Motley  Man  a 
Cap ;  [for  Hnes  3,  4,  compare  Shakespeare,  as  to  it  taking 
a  wise  man  to  play  the  fool,]  like  the  Gyanfs  Crown.  8th, 
Sick-7wa«5  2  When  hats  in  Church  drop  off  apace.  This 
Cap  ne'er  leaves  the  head  uncus' d.  Though  he  be  ///  ; 
[two  next  verses  are  expanded  into  three,  in  Sp.  Wit!\ 
nth,  none  but  Graduats  [N.B.]  ;  none  covered  are;  But 
those  that  to;  go  bare.  This  Cap, 0/ or//  the  Caps  that  be. 
Is  no%v  ;  high  degree. 

Page  139  (orig.  37).     Once  I  a  curious  eye  did  fix. 

This  is  in  Thomas  Weaver's  Songs  and  Poems  of  Love 
and  Drollery,  p.  16,  1654.  Elsewhere  attributed  to  John 
Cleveland  (who  died  in  1658),  and  printed  among  his 
Poems  "y.  Clcai'land  Revived"  p.  106,  3rd  edit.  1662), 
as  "  The  Schismatick,"  with  a  trashy  fifth  verse  (not 
found  elsewhere) : — 

/  heard  of  one  did  touch. 

He  did  tell  as  much. 

Of  one  that  nvould  not  crouch 

At  Communion  ; 
Who  thrusting  up  his  hand 
Never  made  a  stand 

Till  he  came  ivhere  her  f had  union  ; 

She  ivithout  all  icrrour. 
Thought  it  no  errour. 
But  did  laugh  till  the  tears  doivn  did  trickle. 
Ha,  ha,  ha,  Rotundus,  Rotundus,  'tis  you  that  my  spleen 
doth  tickle. 

It  is  likewise  in  the  Rump  collection,  i.  223,  1662;  Loyal 
Sgs.,\.  131,  1731. 

Page  139  (orig.  47),  Vs  not  come  here  to  tauk  o/'Prut. 
By  Ben  Jonson.     This  is  the  song  of  the  Welshmen, 


Antidote  against  Melaficholy.     1661.     321 

Evan,  Howell,  and  Rheese,  alternately,  in  Praise  of  Wales, 
sung  in  an  Anti-Masque  "  For  the  Honour  of  Wales," 
performed  before  King  James  I.  on  Shrove  Tuesday, 
161 8- 19.  The  final  verse  is  omitted  from  the  Antidote 
against  Melancholy.     It  is  this  (sung  by  Rheese)  : — 

Au,  but  tuhat  say  yotu  should  it  shance  too. 
That  zve  should  leap  it  in  a  dance  too. 
And  make  it  you  as  great  a  pleasure. 
If  but  your  eyes  be  ncnv  at  leisure  ; 
As  in  your  ears  s'all  leave  a  laughter. 
To  last  upon  you  six  days  after  f 
Ha  I  ivell-a-go  to,  let  us  try  to  do. 
As  your  old  Britton,  things  to  be  ivrit  on. 

Chorus. — Come,  put  on  other  looks  no'w. 

And  lay  anvay  your  hooks  nouu  ; 
And  though  yet  yoiv  ha'  no  pump,  sirs. 
Let  'em.  hear  that  yoiv  can  jump,  sirs. 
Still,  still,  ive'll  toudge  your  ears. 
With  the  praise  of  her  thirteen  s'eeres. 

(See  Col.  F,  Cunningham's  "Mermaid"  Ben  Jonson,  iii. 
130-2,  for  Gifiord's  Notes.)  .With  a  quaint  old  woodcut 
of  a  strutting  Welshman,  in  cap  and  feather,  the  song  re- 
appears in  "Recreations  for  Ingenious  Head-pieces,  1645 
(Wits  Recreations,  Reprint,  p.  387). 

Page  143.     Old  Poets  Hipocrin  admire. 

This  is  attributed  to  Thomas  Randall,  or  Randolph 
(died  1634-5),  in  Wit  and  Mirth,  1684.  p.  loi  :  But  to  N. 
N.,  along  with  music  by  Hy.  Lawes,  in  his  Ayres,  Book 
ii.  p.  29,  1655.  It  is  also  in  Parnassus  Biceps,  1656,  p. 
158,  "All  Poets,"  &c.,  and  in  Sporti-ve  Wit,  p.  60. 

Page  144.     Hang  the  Presbyter's  Gill. 

With  music  in  Pills,  vi.  182;  tide,  "The  Presbyter's 
Gill :"  where  we  find  three  other  verses,  as  4th,  5th,  and 
7th  :— 

Y 


322  Appendix. 

4- 

The  stout-brested  Lombard,  His  brains  ne'er  incumbred. 

With  drinking  of  Gallons  three  ; 
Trycongius  luas  named.  And  by  C^sds  famed. 

Who  dubb'd  him  Knight  Cap-a-pee. 

5- 
If  then  Honour  be  in't.  Why  a  Pox  should  ive  stint 

Ourselves  of  the  fulness  it  bears  ? 
H'  has  less  Wit  than  an  Ape,  In  the  blood  of  a  Grape, 

Will  not  plunge  himself  d^er  Head  and  Ears. 

7- 
See  the  bold  Foe  appears.  May  he  fall  that  him  Fears, 

Keep  you  but  close  order,  and  then 
We  ivill  gi'ue  him  the  Rout,  Be  he  never  so  stout\f\ 

And  prepare  for  his  Rallying  agen. 

8  (Final). 
Let*s  drain  the  nvhole  Cellar,  isfc. 

The  accumulative  progression,  humourously  exaggerated, 
is  to  be  seen  employed  in  other  Drinking  Songs;  notably 
in  "  Here's  a  Health  to  the  Barley-Mow,  my  brave 
boys  !"  (still  heard  at  rural  festivals  in  East  Yorkshire, 
and  printed  in  J.  H.  Dixon's  Bds.  isf  Sgs.  of  the  Peasan- 
try, Bell's  annotated  edit.,  p.  159)  and  "  Bacchus  Over- 
come," beginning  "  My  Friend  and  I,  we  drank,"  &c. 
(in  Coll.  Old  Bds.,  iii.  145,  1725.) 

Page  145.     'Tis  Wine  that  inspires. 

With  music  by  Henry  Lawes,  in  his  Select  Ayres,  i.  32, 
1653,  entitled  "The  Excellency  of  Wine:"  the  author  was 
"Lord  Broughall  "  [query,  Broghill?]. 

(Page,  in  original,  55.)     Let  the  bells  ring. 

See  Introduction  to  our  Westminster- Drollery  Reprint, 
pp.  xxxvii-viii.     Although  not  printed  in  the  first  edition 


Antidote  against  Melancholy.     1661.     323 

of  his  "  Spanish  Curate,"  it  is  so  entirely  in  the  spirit  of 
John  Fletcher  that  we  need  not  hesitate  to  assign  it  to 
him  :  and  he  died  in  1625. 

Page  146.     Bring  out  the  \c\old  Chyne. 

With  music,  by  Dr.  John  Wilson,  in  John  Playford's 
Select  Ayres,  1659,  p.  86,  entitled  Glee  to  the  Cook.  A 
poem  attributed  to  Thomas  Flatman,  1655,  begins,  "A 
Chine  of  Beef,  God  save  us  all !" 

Page  147.     I7f  Love  ?  aivay  !  you  do  me  nvrong. 

Given,  with  music  by  Henry  Lawes,  in  his  Select  Ayres, 
Book  iii.  p.  5,  1669.  The  author  of  the  words  was  Dr. 
Henry  Hughes.  We  do  not  find  the  burden,  "  Come, 
fill's  a  Cup,"  along  with  the  music. 

(Page  65,  orig.)     He  that  a  Tinker,  a  Tinker  (sfc. 

See  Choyce  Drollery,  52,  and  note  on  p.  289. 

* 
Page  149,  line  8th,  Noiv  that  the  Spring,  &c. 

This  was  written  by  Wilxm.  Browne,  author  of  "Britan- 
nia's Pastorals,"  and  therefore  dates  before  1645.  See 
Additional  Note,  late  in  Part  IV.,  on  p.  20  of  M.  D.  C. 

Page  149.     You  Merry  Poets,  old  boys^ 

Given,  with  music  by  John  Hilton,  in  his  Catch  that  Catch 
Can,  1652,  p.  7.     Also  in  Walsh's  Catch-Club,  ii,  13,  No. 
24- 
Page  150.     Come,  come  atuay,  to  the  Tavern,  I  say. 

By  Sir  John  Suckling,  in  his  unfinished  tragedy  "The 
Sad  One,"  Act  iv.  sc.  4,  where  it  is  sung  by  Signior 
Multecarni  the  Poet,  and  two  of  the  actors  j  but  without 
the  final  couplet,  which  recalls  to  memory  Francis's  re- 
joinder in  Henry  IV.,  pt.  i.     Suckling  was  accustomed  to 

Y  2 


324  Appendix. 

introduce  Shakesperian  phrases  into  his  plays,  and  we 
believe  these  two  lines  are  genuine.  We  find  the  Catch, 
with  music  by  John  Hilton  in  that  composer's  Catch  that 
Catch  Can,  1652,  p,  15.  (Also  in  Playford's  Musical 
Companion,  1673,  p.  24.) 

Captain  William  Hicks  has  a  dialogue  of  Two  Parlia- 
mentary Troopers,  beginning  with  the  same  first  line,  in 
Oxford  Drollery,  i.  21,  1671.     Written  before  1659,  thus  : 

Come,  come  aivay,  to  the  Tavern,  I  say. 

Whilst  ive  have  time  and  leisure  for  to  think  ; 
I  find  our  State  lyes  tottering  of  late. 

And  that  e're  long  ive  sha'nU  have  time  to  drink. 
Then  here's  a  health  to  thee,  to  thee  and  me. 
To  me  and  thee,  to  thee  and  me,  &c. 

Page  151.     There  ivas  an  Old  Man  at  Walton  Cross. 

This  should  read  "  Waltham  Cross."  By  Richard 
Brome,  in  his  comedy  of  "The  Jovial  Crew,"  Act  ii., 
1641,  wherein  it  is  sung  by  Hearty,  as  "t'other  old  song 
for  that"  [the  uselessness  of  sighing  for  a  lass];  to  the 
tune  of  "Taunton  Dean,"  (see  Dodsley's  Old  Plays,  ist 
edit.,  1744,  vi.  333).  With  music  by  John  Hilton,  it  is 
given  in  J.  H.'s  Catch  that  Catch  Can,  1652,  p.  31.  It  is 
also  in  Walsh's  Catch  Club  (about  1705)  ii.  17,  No.  43. 

Page  151.     Come,  let  us  cast  dice,  ivho  shall  drink. 

In  J.  Hilton's  Catch  that  Catch  Can,  1652,  p.  55,  with 
music  by  William  La\yes;  and  in  John  Playford's  Mu' 
sical  Companion,  1673,  p.  24. 

Page  151.     Never  let  a  man  take  heavily,  iSfc. 

With  music  by  William  Lawes,  in  Hilton's  Catch  that 
Catch  Can,  1652,  p.  38. 

Page  152.     Let's  cast  aivay  care,  and  merrily  sing. 
With  music  by  William  Lawes,  in  Hilton's   Catch  that  1 


Antidote  against  Melancholy.     1661.     325 

Catch  Can,  1652,  p.  37.  Wm.  Chappell  gives  the  words 
of  four  lines,  omitting  fifth  and  sixth,  to  accompany  the 
music  of  Ben  Jonson's  "  Cock  Lorrell,"  in  Pop.  Mus.  of 
O.  T.,  161  (where  date  of  the  Antidote  is  accidentally 
misprinted  1651,  for  1661). 

Page  152.     Hang  sorroiv,  and  cast  atuay  care. 

With  music  by  William  Lawes,  in  Hilton's  Catch  that 
Catch  Can,  1652,  p.  39.  The  words  alone  in  Windsor 
Drollery,  140,  1672.  Richard  Climsall,  or  Climsell,  has  a 
long  ballad,  entitled  "Joy  and  Sorrow  Mixt  Together," 
which  begins, 

TTAng  Sorroiv  !  lei's  cast  atuay  care, 
■*■  -^    for  noiv  I  do  mean  to  be  merry  ; 
Wee'l  drink  some  good  Ale  and  strong  Beere, 

With  Sugar,  and  Clarret,  and  Sherry. 
NoTJu  He  have  a  ivife  of  mine  oivn  : 

I  shall  have  no  need  for  to  borroiv  ; 
I  -would  have  it  for  to  he  kno%un 

that  I  shall  be  married  to  morroiv. 
Here's  a  health  to  my  Bride  that  shall  be  ! 

come,  pledge  it,  you"coon  merry  blades ; 
The  day  I  much  long  for  to  see, 

we  will  be  as  merry  as  the  Maides. 

Poor  fellow !  he  soon  changes  his  tune,  after  marriage, 
although  singing  to  the  music  of  "  Such  a  Rogue  would 
behang'd," — better  known  as  "Old  Sir  Simon  the  King." 
Printed  by  John  Wright  the  younger  (1641-83),  it  sur- 
vives in  the  Roxburghe  Collection,  i.  172,  and  is  reprinted 
for  the  Bd.  Soc,  i.  515.  As  may  be  seen,  it  is  totally 
different  from  the  Catch  in  Hilton's  volume  and  the  Anti- 
dote ;  which  is  also  in  Oxford  Drollery,  Pt.  3,  p.  136, 
there  entitled  "  A  Cup  of  Sack  : — "  Hang  Sorroiv,  cast," 
&c. 

It  there  has  two  more  verses  : — 

2. 
Come  Ladd,  here's  a  health  to  thy  Love,  [p.  136.] 

Do  thou  drink  another  to  mine, 

Y3 


326  Appendix. 

Vie  never  be  strange,  for  if  thou  ivilt  change 

Pie  barter  my  Lady  for  thine  : 
She  is  as  free,  and  ivilling  to  be 

To  any  thing  I  command, 
I  -vozv  like  a  friend,  I  never  intend 

To  put  a  bad  thing  in  thy  hand : 
Then  be  as  frollick  and  free  [p.  137.] 

With  her  as  thou  ivoul'st  ivith  thine  oivn. 
But  let  her  not  lack  good  Claret  and  Sack, 

To  make  her  come  off  and  come  on. 

3 
Come  drink,  tve  cannot  ivant  Chink, 

Observe  hoiv  my  pockets  do  gingle. 
And  he  that  takes  his  Liquor  all  off 

I  here  do  adopt  him  mine  ningle  : 
Then  range  a  health  to  our  King, 

I  mean  the  King  ^October, 
For  Bacchus  is  he  that  ivill  not  agree 

A  man  should  go  to  bed  sober  : 
'  Tis  luine,  both  neat  and  fine. 

That  is  the  faces  adorning. 
No  Doctor  can  cure,  ivith  his  Physick  more  sure. 

Than  a  Cup  of  small  Beer  in  the  morning. 

This  shows  how  a  great  man's  gifts  are  undervalued. 
Christopher  Sly  was  truly  wise  (  yet  accounted  a  Sot  and 
even  a  Rogue,  though  "  the  Slys  are  no  rogues  :  look  in 
the  chronicles  !  We  came  in  with  Richard  Conqueror!") 
when,  with  all  the  wealth  and  luxury  of  the  Duke  at  com- 
mand, he  demanded  nothing  so  much  as  "  a  pot  o'  the 
smallest  ale."     He  had  good  need  of  it. 

Page  152.      My  Lady  and  her  Maid,  ilpon  a  merry  pin. 

This  meets  us  earlier,  in  Hilton's  Catch  that  Catch  Can, 
1651,  p.  64,  with  music  by  William  Ellis.  The  missing 
first  verse  reappears  (if,  indeed,  not  a  later  addition)  in 
Oxford  Drollery,  1674,  Part  iii.  p.  163,  as  "made  at 
Oxford  many  years  since  : — 


Antidote  against  MelancJioly.     1661,     327 

My  Lady  and  her  Maid 

Were  late  at  Course-a-Park  : 
The  "Wind  blenv  out  the  candle,  and 

She  ivent  to  bed  in  the  dark. 

My  Lady,  i^c.  [as  in  Antidote  ag.  Mel.'\ 

It  was  popular  before  December,  1659 ;  allusions  to  it  are 
in  the  Rump,  1662,  i.  369;  ii.  62,  97. 

Page  153.     An  old  house  end. 
Also  in  Windsor  Drollery,  1672,  p.  30. 

Same  p.  153.      Wilt  thou  lend  me  thy  Mare. 

With  music  by  Edmund  Nelham,  in  John  Hilton's  Catch 
that  Catch  can,  1652,  p.  78.  The  Answer,  here  beginning 
"  Your  Mare  is  lame,"  &c.,  we  have  not  met  elsewhere. 
The  Catch  itself  has  always  been  a  favourite.  In  a  world 
wherein,  amid  much  neighbourly  kindness,  there  is  more 
than  a  little  of  imposition,  the  sly  cynicism  of  the  verse 
could  not  fail  to  please.  Folks  do  not  object  to  doing  a 
good  turn,  but  dislike  being  deemed  silly  enough  to  have 
been  taken  at  a  disadvantage.  So  we  laugh  at  the  Catch, 
say  something  wise,  and  straightway  let  ourselves  do 
good-natured  things  again  with  a  clear  conscience. 

Page  154.     Good  Symon,  homj  comes  it,  iSc. 

With  music  by  William  Howes,  in  Hilton's  Catch  that 
Catch  can,  1652,  p.  84.  Also  in  Walsh's  Catch-Club,  ii. 
77.  We  are  told  that  the  Symon  here  addressed,  regard- 
ing his  Bardolphian  nose,  was  worthy  Symon  Wadloe, — 
"  Old  Sym,  the  King  of  Skinkers,"  or  Drawers.  Possibly 
some  jocular  allusion  to  the  same  reveller  animates  the 
choice  ditty  (for  which  see  the  Percy  Folio  MS.,  iv.  124, 
and  Pills,  iii.  143), 

Old  Sir  Simon  the  King  ! 

With  his  ale-dropt  hose. 

And  his  malmesy  nose. 
Sing  hey  ding,  ding  a  ding  ding. 

Y4 


328  Appendix. 

We  scarcely  believe  the  ascription  to  be  correct,  and  that 
"  Old  Symon  the  King "  originally  referred  to  Simon 
Wadloe,  who  kept  the  "  Devil  and  St.  Dunstan  "  Tavern, 
whereat  Ben  Jonson  and  his  comrades  held  their  meet- 
ings as  The  Apollo  Club  ;  for  which  the  Leges  Con-vi'vi- 
ales  were  written.  Seeing  that  Wadloe  died  in  1626,  or 
'27,  and  there  being  a  clear  trace  of  "  Old  Simon  the 
King"  in  1575,  in  Laneham's  Kenilivorth  Letter  {Kq- 
printed  for  Ballad  Society,  1871,  p.  cxxxi.),  the  song  ap- 
pears of  too  early  a  date  to  suit  the  theory.  Tant  pis 
pour  les  faits.  But  consult  Chappell's  Pop.  Mus.,  263-5, 
776-7. 

Same  p.  154.      Wilt  thou  befatt?  isfc. 

In  1865  (see  his  Bibliog.  Account,  i.  25),  J.  P.  Collier 
drew  attention  to  the  mention  of  Falstaff's  name  in  this 
Catch ;  also  to  the  other  Shakesperiana,  viz.,  the  complete 
song  of  "Jog  on,  jog  on  the  footpath  way,"  (p.  156),  and 
the  burden  of  "  Three  merry  boys,"  to  "  The  Wise-men 
were  but  Seven  "  {M.  D.  C,  p.  232),  which  is  connected 
with  Sir  Toby  Belch's  joviality  in  Tivelfth  Night,  Aft  ii.  3. 

Page  155.     Of  all  the  birds  that  ever  I  see. 

With  the  music,  in  Chappell's  Pop.  Mus.  O.  T.,  p.  75. 
This  favourite  of  our  own  day  dates  back  so  early,  at 
least,  as  1609,  when  it  appeared  in  (Thomas  Ravens- 
croft's  ?)  Deuteromelia  ;  or,  the  Second  Part  of  Musick's 
Melodic,  isfc,  p.  7.  We  therein  find  (what  has  dropped 
out,  to  the  damage  of  our  Antidote  version),  as  the  final 
couplet : — 

Sinamont  and  ginger,  nutmegs  and  cloves. 
And  that  gave  me  my  jolly  red  nose. 

Of  course,  it  was  the  spice  deserved  blame,  not  the  liquor 
(as  Sam  Weller  observed,  on  a  similar  occasion,  "  Some- 
how it  always  is  the  salmon ").  Those  who  remember 
(at  the  Johnson  in  Fleet  Street,  or  among  the  Harmonist 
Society  of  Edinburgh)  the  suggestive  lingering  over  the 
first  syllable  of  the  word  "  gin-ger,"  when  "  this  song  is 


i 


Antidote  against  Melancholy.     1661.     329 

well  sung,"  cannot  willingly  relinquish  the  half-line.  It 
is  a  genuine  relic,  for  it  also  occurs  in  Beaumont  and 
Fletcher's  Knight  of  the  Burning  Pestle,"  about  1613, 
Adt  i.  sc.  3 ;  where  chirping  Old  Merrythought,  "  who 
sings  with  never  a  penny  in  his  purse,"  gives  it  thus, 
while  "  singing  and  hoiting  "  [i.e.,  skipping]  : — 

Nose,  nose,  jolly  red  nose. 
And  ivho  ga-ve  thee  this  jolly  red  nose  ? 
Cinnamon  and  ginger,  nutmegs  and  cloves, 
And  they  gave  me  this  jolly  red  nose. 

And  we  know,  by  A  Booke  of  Merrie  Riddles,  1630,  and 
1631,  that  it  was  much  sung  : 

— then  Ale-Knights  should 
To  sing  this  song  not  be  so  bold. 
Nutmegs,  Ginger,  Cinamon  and  Cloves, 
They  gave  us  this  jolly  red  nose. 

Same  p.  155.     This  Ale,  my  bonny  lads,  fsfc. 
Like  Nos.  4,  21,  24,  31,  &c.,  not  yet  found  elsewhere. 

Page  156.      What  !  are  ive  met  f  Come.  isfc. 

With  music  by  Thomas  Holmes,  in  Hilton's  Catch  that 
Catch  can,  1652,  p.  46. 

Same  p.  156,     Jog  on,  jog  on  the  foot  path-ivay . 

The  four  earliest  lines  of  this  ditty  are  sung  by  Autolycus 
the  Pedlar,  and  "picker  up  of  unconsidered  trifles,"  in 
Shakespeare's  Winter's  Tale  (about  1610),  A61  iv.  sc. 
2.  Whether  the  latter  portion  of  the  song  was  also  by 
him  (nay,  more,  whether  he  acftually  wrote,  or  merely 
quoted  even  the  four  opening  lines),  cannot  be  determined. 
We  prefer  to  believe  that  from  his  hand  alone  came  the 
fragment,  at  least — this  lively  snatch  of  melody,  with 
good  philosophy,  such  as  the  Ascetics  reject,  to  their  own 
damage.  No  wrong  is  done  in  accepting  the  remainder 
of  the  song  as  genuine.     The  final  verse  is  orthodox. 


330  Appendix. 

according  to  the  Autolycusian  rule  of  faith.  It  is  in 
Windsor  Drollery,  p.  30;  and  our  Introduction  to  West- 
minster-Drollery, p.  XXXV. 

Page  157.     The  parcht  earth  drinks,  &c. 

Compare,  with  this  lame  paraphrase  of  Anacreon's  racy 
Ode,  the  more  poetic  version  by  Abraham  Cowley,  printed 
in  Merry  Drollery,  Compleat,  p.  22  (not  in  1661  ed.  merry 
D.)  Ail  of  Cowley's  Anacreontiques  are  graceful  and 
melodious.  He  and  Thomas  Stanley  fully  entered  into 
the  spirit  of  them,  arcades  ambo. 

Same,  p.  157.     A  Man  of  Wales,  &c. 

We  meet  this,  six  years  earlier,  in  Wits  Interpreter,  1655 
edit.,  p.  285  ;    167 1,  p.  290.     Our  text  is  the  superior. 

Page  158.     Drink,  drink,  all  you  that  think. 
Also  found  in  Wit  and  Mirth,  1684,  p.  113. 

Page  159.     Welcome,  ivelcome,  again  to  thy  ivits. 

By  James  Shirley,  (1590-1666)  in  his  comedy,  "  The 
Example,"  1637,  Act  v.  sc.  3,  where  it  is  the  Song  of  Sir 
Solitary  Plot  and  Lady  Plot.  Repeated  in  the  Academy 
of  Complements,  1670,  p.  209.  Until  after  that  date,  for 
nearly  a  century,  almost  all  the  best  songs  had  been 
written  for  stage  plays.  It  forms  an  appropriate  finale, 
from  the  last  Dramatist  of  the  old  school,  to  the  Restora- 
tion merriment,  the  Antidote  against  Melancholy,  ol  1661. 
In  one  of  the  later  "  Sessions  of  the  Poets  "  ("vide  postca 
Part  4,  §  2) — probably,  of  1664-5, — Shirley  is  referred  to, 
ungenerously.     He  was  then  aged  nearly  seventy  : — 

Old  Shirley  stood  up,  and  made  an  Excuse, 
Because  many  Men  before  him  had  got ; 

He  -voiv'd  he  had  sivitch'd  and  spur-gall' d  his  Muse, 
But  still  the  dull  Jade  kept  to  her  old  trot. 


Antidote  against  Melancholy.     1661.     331 

He  is  also  mentioned,  with  more  reverence  implied,  by 
George  Daniel  of  Beswick ;  and  we  may  well  conclude 
this  second  part  of  our  Appendix  with  the  final  verses 
from  the  Beswick  MS.  (1636-53);  insomuch  as  many 
Poets  are  therein  mentioned,  to  whom  we  return  in  Sec- 
tion Fourth  : — 

The  noble  Overburies  Quill  has  left  [verse  20] 

A  better  Wife  then  he  could  e-uer  find : 
I  ivill  not  search  too  deep,  lest  I  should  lift 
Dust  from  the  dead :  Strange  pozuer,  of  ivomankind. 
To  raise  and  ruine  :  for  all  he  ivill  claime. 
As  from  thai  sex ;  his  Birth,  his  Death,  his  Fame. 

But  I  spin  out  too  long :  let  me  draiv  up 
My  thred,  to  honour  names,  of  my  oivne  time 
Without  their  Eulogies,  for  it  may  stop 
With  Circumstantiall  Termes,  a  ivearie  Rhime : 
Suffice  it  if  I  name  'em  ;  that  for  me 
Shall  stand,  not  to  refuse  their  Eulogie. 

The  noble  Falkland,  Digbie,  Carew,  Maine, 
Beaumond,  Sands,  Randolph,.Allen,  Rutter,  May,* 
The  define  Herbert,  and  the  Fletchers  tivaine, 
Habinton,  Shirley,  Stapilton  ;  /  stay  [N.B.] 

Too  much  on  names  ;  yet  may  I  not  forget 
Davenant,  and  Suckling,  eminent  in  ivitt. 

Waller,  not  ivants,  the  glory  of  his  -verse  ; 
And  meets,  a  noble  praise  in  e-very  line  ; 
What  should  I  adde  in  honour  ?  to  reherse. 
Admired  Cleveland  t  by  a  -verse  of  mine? 

Or  gi-veye  glorious  Muse  o/'Denham  praise  ? 

Soe  -withering  Brambles  stand,  to  li-veing  Bayes. 

These  may  suffice:  not  only  to  advance 
Our  English  honour,  but  for  ever  cro-ivne 


*  [In  margin,  a  later-inserted  line  reads : 

"  Godolphin,  Cartwright,  Beaumont,  Montague."] 


332  Appendix. 

Poesie,  ^bove  the  reach  of  Ignorance  ; 

Our  dull  fooles  unnwv'd,  admire  their  ozvne 
Stupiditie  ;  and  all  beyond  their  sphere 
As  Madnes,  and  but  tingling  in  the  Eare. 

[Final  Verse.] 

Great  Flame  !  ivhose  rates  at  once  have  poiver  to  peirce 

The  frosted  skull  of  Ignorance,  and  close 

The  mouth  of  En-vie  :  if  I  bring  a  "verse 

Unapt  to  move  ;  my  admiration  floives 

With  humble  Lave  and  Zeale  in  the  intent 
To  a  cleare  Rapture,  from  the  Argument. 

(G.  D.'s  "A  Vindication  of  Poesie.") 


End  of  Notes  to  Antidote, 


I 


333 
APPENDIX.     Part  3. 


§  I. EXTRA   SONGS    IN   THE 

WESTMINSTER-DROLLERY,   1674. 

"  A  living  Drollery !"    (Shakespeare's  Tempest,  Act  iii.  sc.  3.) 

BEFORE  concluding  our  present  series,  The 
Drolleries  of  the  Restoration,  we  have  gladly 
given  in  this  volume  the  fourteen  pages  of  Extra  Songs 
contained  in  the  1674  edition  of  Westmmster-Drol- 
lery,  Part  ist.  Sometimes  reported  as  amounting  to 
"nearly  forty"  (but,  perhaps,  this  statement  referred 
to  the  Second  Part  inclusive),  it  is  satisfactory  to  have 
joined  these  six  to  their  predecessors  ;  especially  inso- 
much that  our  readers  do  not,  like  the  original  pur- 
chasers, have  to  pay  such  a  heavy  price  as  losing  an 
equal  number  of  pages  filled  with  far  superior  songs. 
For,  the  1671  Part  First  contained  exactly  124  pages, 
and  the  1674  edition  has  precisely  the  same  number, 
neither  more  nor  less.  The  omissions  are  not  imme- 
diately consecutive,  (as  are  the  additions,  which  are 
gathered  in  one  group  in  the  final  sheet,  pp.  111-124.) 
They  were  selected,  with  unwise  discrimination, 
throughout  the  volume.  Not  fourteen  pages  of  ob- 
jectionable and  relinquishableya^^//^/  but  ten  songs. 


334  Appendix. 

from  among  the  choicest  of  the  poems.     Our  own 

readers  are  in  better  case,  therefore  :  they  gain  the 

additions,  without  yielding  any  treasures  of  verse  in 

exchange. 

We  add  a  list  of  what  are  thus  relinquished  from  the 
1674  edition,  noting  the  pages  of  our  Westm.  D,  on  which 
they  are  to  be  found  : — 

P.     5.  Wm.  Wycherley's,  ^  Wife  I  do  hate  -       1671 

—  10.  Dryden's,  Phillis  Unkind  :    Wherever  I  am      do. 
— »  15.  Unknown,  O you  poiverful  gods,       -  -      ?  do. 

—  28.  T.  Shadwell's,  Thus  all  our  life  long,  -       1669 

—  30.  Dryden's,  Cellamina,  of  my  heart,    -  -       1671 

—  31.  Ditto,  Beneath  a  myrtle  shade,  -         -  -        do. 
— 116,  Ditto,  Ditto  (almost  duplicate),         -  -        do. 

—  47.  Ditto,  Make  ready,  fair  Lady,  -         -  .       1668 
.  Etherege's,  To  little  or  no  purpose,    -  -        do. 

—  91.  T.  Carew's,  O  my  dearest,  I  shall,  &c.,  bef.  1638 
• — 100.  Ditto,  or  Gary's,  Fare%uell,fair  Saint,  bef.  1652 

Thus  we  see  that  most  of  these  were  quite  new  when 
the  Westminster-Drollery  first  printed  them  (in  four  cases, 
at  least,  before  the  plays  had  appeared  as  books)  :  they 
were  rejected  three  years  later  for  fresh  novelties.  But 
the  removal  of  Carew's  tender  poems  was  a  worse  offence 
against  taste. 

Except  the  odd  Quakers'  Madrigall  of  "Wickham 
Wakened  "  (on  p.  120 ;  our  p.  188),  which  is  not  improb- 
ably by  Joe  Haynes,  we  believe  the  whole  of  the  other  five 
new  songs  of  1674  came  from  one  work.  We  are  unable 
at  once  to  state  the  name  and  author  of  the  drama  in 
which  they  occur.  The  five  are  given  (severely  mutilated, 
in  two  instances)  in  Wit  at  a  Venture ;  or,  Clio's  Prizy- 
Garden,  of  the  same  date,  1674.  Here,  also,  they  form  a 
group,  pp.  33-42 ;  with  a  few  others  that  probably  belong 
to  the  same  play,  viz.,  "  Too  weak  are  human  eyes  to 
pry ;"  "  Oh  that  I  ne'er  had  known  the  power  of  Love;" 
"  Must  I  be  silent  ?  no,  and  yet  forbear;"  "Cease,  wan- 
dering thought,  and  let  her  brain  "  (this  is  Shirley's,  in 


Westminster-Drollery,  1674.  335 

the  "  Triumph  of  Beauty,"  1645) ;  "  How  the  vain  world 
ambitiously  aspires  ;"  "  Heaven  guard  my  fair  Dorinda" 
and,  perhaps,  "  Rise,  golden  Fame,  and  give  thy  name  or 
birth."     Titles  are  added  to  most  of  these. 

Page  1 79.  So  nvretched  are  the  sick  of  Love,  is,  on  p. 
37  of  Wit  at  a  Venture,  entitled  Distempered  Love.  The 
third  verse  is  omitted. 

Page  181.  To  Arms!  To  Arms  I  &*<;.,  on  p.  39,  en- 
titled The  Souldier's  Song;  13th  line  reads  "Where  ive 
must  try." 

Page  182.  Beauty  that  it  self  can  kill,  on  p.  35; 
reading,  in  20th  line,  "  When  the  fame  and  virtue  falls  || 
Careless  courage,  &c. 

Page  183.  The  young,  the  fair,  ^c,  on  p.  33,  is  en- 
titled The  Murdered  Enemy  ;  reading  Clarissa  for  Ca- 
milla ;  and  giving  lines  17th  and  19th,  "  Her  beauties" 
and  "  Fierce  Lions,"  &c.  Line  23rd  is  "  And  not  to 
check  it  in  the  least." 


Page  184.     H01V  frailty  makes  us  to  our  ivrong. 

Called  A  Moral  Song  in  Wit  at  a  Venture,  p.  41,  which 
rightly  reads  "  grovel,"  not  "  gravel,"  in  line  6 ;  but 
omits  third  verse,  and  all  the  Chorus. 

Page  188.     The  Quaker  and  his  Brats. 

We  have  not  seen  this  elsewhere.  Attributed  to  "  the 
famous  actor,  Joseph  Haines,"  or  "Joe  Haynes," 

Who,  ivhile  alive,  in  playing  took  great  pains. 

Performing  all  his  acts  ivith  curious  art. 

Till  Death  appeared,  and  smote  him  ivith  his  dart. 

His  portrait,  as  when  riding  on  a  Jack-ass,  in  1697,  is 
extant.  He  died  4th  April,  1 701,  and  was  mourned  by 
the  Smithfield  muses. 


336 

^9     ^v     ^v     ^v     ^9     ^v     ^9     ^v     ^9     ^v     ^9     ^8     ^v     ^#     ^9     ^v     ^9     ^9     ^9     ^9     ^9     ^9 

^^  v^  v^  ^  v^  ^^  vt^  <^  v:?^  v:?^  ^  ^  v^  ^O  v^  ^O  ^^^  v^  ^  v^  v^ 

§  2— ADDITIONAL    NOTES 

To  the  1671-72  Editions  of 

WESTMINSTER-  DROLLERY. 

Page  81 .     Is  she  gone  ?    let  her  go. 

This  is  a  parody  or  mock  on  a  black-letter  ballad  in  the 
Roxburghe  Collection,  ii.  102,  entitled  "The  Deluded 
Lasses  Lamentation  :  or,  the  False  Youth's  Unkindness 
to  his  Beloved  Mistress."  Its  own  tune.  Printed  for  P. 
Brooksby,  J.  Deacon,  J.  Blare,  J.  Black.  In  four-line 
verses,  beginnmg  : — 

Is  she  gone  ?  let  her  go,  I  do  not  care. 
Though  she  has  a  dainty  thing,  I  had  my  share : 
She  has  more  land  than  I  by  one  ivhole  Acre, 
1  have  ploiued  in  her  field,  ivho  ivill  may  take  her. 

Part  I.,  p.  105.     Hicjacet,  John  Shorthose. 

The  music  to  this  is  in  Jn.  Playford's  Musical  Companion, 
1673,  p.  34  (as  also  to  "  Here  lyes  a  woman,"  &c.  See 
Appendix  to  Westm.  Droll.,  p.  Iviii). 

Part  I.,  p.  106.     There  is  not  half  so  ivarm,  (Sfc. 

See  Choyce  Drollery,  1656,  p.  61,  ante;  and  p.  293,  for 
note  correcting  "daily"  to  "dully"  in  ninth  line. 

Part  II.,  p.  74  (App.  p.  Iv.)     ^5  Moss  caught  his  Mare. 

Not  having  had  space  at  command,  when  giving  a  short 
Addit.  Note  on  p.  408  of  M.  D.  C,  we  now  add  a  nursery 
rhyme  (we  should  gladly  have  given  another,  which  men- 
tions catching  the  mare  "  Napping  up  a  tree  ").  Perhaps 
the  following  may  be  the  song  reported  as  being  sung  in 
South  Devon  : — 


Westminster-Drollery,  1674.  337 

TV /r  OSS  ivas  a  little  man,  and  a  little  mare  did  buy, 
•^'■*-      For  kicking  and  for  spraivling  none  her  could 

come  nigh  ; 
She  could  trot,  she  could  amble,  and  could  canter  here 

and  there. 
But  one  night  she  strayed  aivay — so  Moss  lost  his  Mare. 

Moss  got  up  next  morning  to  catch  her  fast  asleep. 
And  round  about  the  frosty  f  elds  so  nimbly  he  did  creep. 
Dead  in  a  ditch  he  found  her,  and  glad  to  f?id  her  there. 
So  ril  tell  you  by  and  bye,  ho%u  Moss  caught  his  mare. 

Rise  J  stupid,  rise  !  he  thus  to  her  did  say. 

Arise  you  beast, you  drouusy  beast,  get  up  -without  delay. 

For  I  must  ride  you  to  the  to-ivn,  so  don't  lie  sleeping 

there. 
He  put  the  halter  round  her  neck — so  Moss  caught  his 

mare. 

As  that  prematurely  wise  young  sceptic  Paul  Dombey 
declared,  when  a  modern-antique  Legend  was  proffered 
to  him,  "  I  don't  believe  that  story  !"  It  is  frightfully 
devoid  of  aerugo,  even  of  ceruca.  It  may  do  for  South 
Devon,  and  for  Aylesbury  farmers  over  their  "  beer  and 
bacca,"  but  not  for  us.  The  true  Mosse  found  his  gen- 
uine mare  veritably  "  napping  "  (not  dead),  up  a  real  tree. 
In  John  Taylor's  "A  Sivarme  of  Sectaries  and  Schis- 
matiq-ves"  1641,  his  motto  is  (concerning  Sam  Howe 
lecturing  from  a  tub). 

The  Cobler  preaches  and  his  Audience  are 
As  ivise  as  Mosse  nvas,  nvhen  he  caught  his  Mare, 

Part  II.,  page  89.     Cheer  up,  my  mates,  ^c. 

I  (See  Appendix  to  Westm.  Droll.,  p.  Ixii.)  The  author  of 
this  frollicsome  ditty  was  no  other  than  Abraham  Cow- 
ley (1618-67),  dear  to  all  who  know  his  choice  "  Essays 
fin  Prose  and  Verse,"  his  unlaboured  letters,  the  best  of  his 
rsmaller  poems,  or  the  story  of  his  stainless  life  and  gentle- 
Fness.  It  is  that  noble  thinker  and  poet,  Walter  Savage 
kLandor,  who  writes,  and  in  his  finest  mood  : — 


338  Appendix. 

Time  has  been 
When  Cowley  shone  near  Milton,  nay,  aho-ve  I 
An  age  roll'd  on  before  a  keener  sight 
Could  separate  and  see  them  far  apart. 

(Hellenics,  edit.  1859,  P-  258.) 

Yet  while  we  yield  unquestioningly  the  higher  rank  as 
Poet  to  John  Milton,  we  hold  the  generous  nature  of 
his  rival,  Cowley,  in  more  loving  regard.  He  was  not  of 
the  massive  build  in  mind,  or  stern  unflinching  resolution 
needed  for  such  times  as  those  wherein  his  lot  was  cast. 
When  the  weakest  goes  to  the  wall,  amid  universal  dis- 
turbance and  selfish  warring  for  supremacy,  his  was  not 
the  strong  arm  to  beat  back  encroachment.  Gentle, 
affectionate,  and  truthful,  exceptionally  pure  and  single- 
minded,  although  living  as  Queen  Henrietta's  secretary 
in  her  French  Court,  where  impurity  of  thought  and 
lightness  of  conduct  were  scarcely  visited  with  censure, 
the  uncongenial  scenes  and  company  around  him  help  to 
enhance  the  charm  of  his  mild  disposition.  Heartless 
wits  might  lampoon  him,  stealthy  foes  defame  him,  lest  he 
should  gain  one  favour  or  reward  that  they  were  hanker- 
ing after.  To  us  he  remains  the  lover  of  the  "  Old  Pa- 
trician trees,"  the  friend  of  Crashaw  and  of  Evelyn,  the 
writer  of  the  most  delightful  essays  and  familiar  letters  : 
alas !  too  few. 

The  "  Song  "  in  Westminster-Drollery ,  ii.  89,  set  by 
Pelham  Humphrey,  is  the  opening  verse  of  Cowley's 
"  Ode  :  Sitting  and  Drinking  in  the  Chair  made  out  of 
the  Reliques  of  Sir  Francis  Drake's  Ship."  [The  chair 
was  presented  to  the  University  Library,  Oxford.] 

'  Corrections  :  dull  men  are  those  ivho  tarry  ;  and  spy 
too.  Three  verses  follow.  Of  these  we  add  the  earliest, 
leaving  uncopied  the  others,  of  21  and  18  lines.  They 
are  to  be  found  on  p.  g  of  Cowley's  "  Verses  written  on 
Several  Occasions,"  folio  ed.,  1668.  The  idea  of  the 
shipwreck  "in  the  wide  Sea  of  Drink"  had  been  early 
welcomed  by  him,  and  treated  largely,  Feb.  1638-9,  in  his 
Naiffragium,  Joculare. 


Westminster-Drollery y  1674.  339 


What  do  I  mean  :    What  thoughts  do  me  misguide  ? 
As  ivell  upon  a  staff  may  Witches  ride 

Their  fancy'  d  Journies  in  the  Ayr, 
As  I  sail  round  the  Ocean  in  this  Chair  : 

'  Tis  true  ;  but  yet  this  Chair  ivhich  here  you  see. 
For  all  its  quiet  noiv  and  gra-vitie. 
Has  zuandred,  and  has  travaiVd  more 
Than  ever  Beast,  or  Fish,  or  Bird,  or  ever  Tree  before. 
In  every  Ayr,  and  every  Sea  't  has  been, 
'  T  has  compas'd  all  the  Earth,  and  all  the  Heavens 

't  has  seen. 
Let  not  the  Pope's  it  selfivith  this  compare. 
This  is  the  only  Universal  Chair. 

It  must  have  been  written  before  1661,  as  it  appears 
among  the  "  Choyce  Poems,  being  Songs,  Sonnets,  ^c, 
printed  for  Henry  Brome,  (who  ten  years  afterwards  pub- 
lished Westm.  Droll.)  at  the  Gun  in  I  vie  Lane,  in  that 
year.  It  is  in  the  additional  opening  sheet,  p.  13 ;  not 
found  in  the  1658  editions  of  Choyce  Poems. 

Westminster-Drollery  Appendix,  p.  liv.  "The  Green 
Goivn"  Pan,  leave  piping,  isfc. 

Under  the  title  "  The  Fetching  Home  of  May,"  we 
meet  an  early  ballad-form  copy  in  the  Roxburghe  Col- 
lection, i.  535,  printed  for  J.  Wright,  junior,  dwelling  at 
the  upper  end  of  the  Old  Bailey.  It  begins  "  Now  Pan 
leaves  piping,"  and  is  in  two  parts,  each  containing  five 
verses.  Three  of  these  are  not  represented  in  the  Anti- 
dote of  1661.  Wm.  Chappell,  the  safest  of  all  guides  in 
such  matters,  notes  that  "  the  publisher  [of  the  broadside] 
flourished  in  and  after  1635.  No  clue  remains  to  the 
authorship."     {Bd.  Soc.  reprint,  iii.  311,  1875.) 

As  in  the  case  of  the  companion-ditty,  "  Come,  Lasses 
and  Lads"  {Westm.  Droll.,  ii.  80),  we  may  feel  satisfied 
that  this  lively  song  was  written  before  the  year  1642. 
No  hint  of  the  Puritanic  suppression  of  Maypoles  can  be 
discerned   in   either  of  them.      Such    sports  were  soon 

Z  2 


340  Appendix. 

afterwards  prohibited,  and  if  ballads  celebrating  their 
past  delights  had  then  been  newly  written,  the  author 
must  have  yielded  to  the  temptation  to  gird  at  the  hypo- 
crites and  despots  who  desolated  each  village  green.  We 
cannot  regard  the  Roxburghe  Ballad  as  being  superior  to 
the  Antidote  version  :  But  they  mutually  help  one  another 
in  corrections.  We  note  the  chief  :  first  verse.  So  lively  it 
passes;  Good  lack,  what  paines;  2,  TAws  they  so  much ; 
3  (our  4),  Came  very  lazily.  It  is  after  the  five  verses 
that  differences  are  greatest.  Our  6th  verse  is  absent, 
and  our  7th  appears  as  the  8th;  with  new  6th,  7th, 
9th,  and  loth,  which  we  here  give,  but  print  them  to 
match  our  others  : 

THE  FETCHING  HOME  OF  MAY. 

(The  Second  Part.) 
6. 

J  His  Maying  so  pleased  ||  Most  of  the  fine  lasses. 
That  they  much  desired  to  fetch  in  May  flowers. 
For  to  strew  the  windows  and  such  like  places. 

Besides  they'l  have  May  bows,  fit  for  shady  bowers. 
But  most  of  all  they  goe  ||  To  find  where  Love  doth  growe. 
Each  young  man  knowes  'tis  so,  ||  Else  hee's  a  clowne  : 
F"or  'tis  an  old  saying,  ||  "There  is  great  joying. 
When  maids  go  a  Maying,"  ||  They' II  /la-ve  a  greene gozune^ 

7- 
Maidens  and  young  men  goe,  ||  As  'tis  an  order  old. 

For  to  drink  merrily  and  eat  spiced  cakes ; 
The  lads  and  the  lasses  their  customs  wil  hold. 

For  they  wil  goe  walk  i'  th'  fields,  like  loving  mates  : 
Em  calls  for  Mary,  \\  And  Ruth  calls  for  Sarah, 
Iddy  calls  for  Har\r\y  ||  To  man  them  along  : 
Martin  calls  Marcy,  ||  Dick  calls  for  Debary, 
Then  they  goe  lovingly  ||  All  in  a  throng. 

8.  ( Westm.  Droll.,  7.) 

The  bright  Apollo  ||  Was  all  the  while  peeping 
To  see  if  his  Daphne  had  bin  in  the  throng. 


Westminster-Drollery,  1624.  341 

And,  missing  her,  hastily  downward  was  creeping. 
For  \_Thetis'\  imagined  [he]  they  tarri'd  too  long. 
Then  all  the  troope  mourned  ||  And  homeward  returned, 
For  Cynthia  scorned  ||  To  smile  or  to  frowne  : 
Thus  did  they  gather  May  ||  All  the  long  summer's  day. 
And  went  at. night  away,  ||  With  a  green  goivne. 

9- 

Bright  Venus  still  glisters.  Out-shining  of  Luna  ; 

Saturne  was  present,  as  right  did  require  ; 
And  he  called  Jupiter  with  his  Queen  Juno, 

To  see  how  Dame  Venus  did  burn  in  desire  : 
Now  Jo-ve  sent  Mercury  \\  To  Vulcan  hastily. 
Because  he  should  descry  [decoy]  Dame  Venus  down  : 
Vulkan  came  running.  On  Mars  he  stood  frowning. 
Yet  for  all  his  cunning,  ||  Venus  had  a  greene  gcnvne. 


Cupid  shootes  arrowes  At  Venus  her  darlings. 

For  they  are  nearest  unto  him  by  kind  : 
Diana  he  hits  not,  nor  can  he  pierce  worldlings. 

For  they  have  strong  armour  his  darts  to  defend 
The  one  hath  chastity.  And  Cupid  doth  defie  ; 
The  others  cruelty  ||  makes  him  a  clowne  : 
But  leaving  this  1  see.  From  Cupid  few  are  free. 
And  ther's  much  courtesie  In  a  greene  goivne. 


We  have  a  firm  conviction  that  these  verses  (not  in- 
cluding "The  bright  Apollo")  were  unauthorized  addi- 
tions by  an  inferior  hand,  of  a  mere  ballad-monger.  We 
hold  by  the  Antidote. 


Part  II.,  100,  Appendix,  p.  Ixviii.      Here   is   the   old 
|ballad  mentioned,  from  our  own  black-letter  copy.    Com- 
>are  it  with  W.  D.: — 


Z3 


342  Appendix. 

The  Devonshire  Damsels' 
Frollick. 

Being  an  Account  of  nine  or  ten  fair  Maidens,  who  went 
one  Evening  lately,  to  wash  themselves  in  a  pleasant 
River,  where  they  were  discovered  by  several  Young 
Men  being  their  familiar  Acquaintances,  who  took  away 
their  Gowns  and  Petticoats,  with  their  Smocks  and  Wine 
and  good  Chear ;  leaving  them  a  while  in  a  most  melan- 
cholly  condition. 

To  a  pleasant  New  Play-house  Tune  [music  is  given]  : 
Or,  Where's  my  Shepherd  ? 

This  may  be  Printed,     R[obt].  P[ocock,  1685-8]. 

'npOm  and  William  ivith  Ned  and  Ben, 
-^     In  all  they  tuere  about  nine  or  ten  ; 
Near  a  trickling  Ri-ver  endea'vour  to  see 

a  most  delicate  sight  for  men  : 
Nine  young  maidens  they  knew  it  full  ivell, 
Sarah,  Susan,  nvith  bonny  Nell, 

and  all  those  others  ivhose  names  are  not  here, 

intended  to  ivash  in  a  Ri-ver  clear. 
Simon  ga-ve  out  the  report 

the  rest  resolving  to  see  the  sport  [,] 

The  Young  freely  repairing  declaring 

that  this  is  the  humours  o/"  Venus  Court    [,] 
In  a  Boiver  those  Gallants  remaine 

seeing  the  Maidens  trip  o're  the  plain     [.-] 
They  thought  no  Body  did  knoiv  their  intent 

as  merrily  over  the  Fields  they  ivent 

Nell  a  Bottle  of  Wine  did  bring 

nvith  many  a  delicate  dainty  thing     [,] 
Their  Fainting  Spirits  to  nourish  and  cherish 

ivhen  they  had  been  dabbling  in  the  Spring     [:] 
They  supposing  no  Creature  did  knoiv 

to  the  River  they  merrily  goe. 
When  they  came  thither  and  seeing  none  near      [,] 

Then  under  the  bushes  they  hid  their  chear. 


Westminster-Drollery,  1674. 


343 


Then  they  stripping  of  all  their  Cloaths 

their  Gozvns  their  Petticoats  Shooes  iSf  Hose 
Their  fine  ivhite  smickits  then  stripping  &"  skipping 

no  Body  seeing  them  they  suppose     [,] 
Sarah  enter' d  the  River  so  clear 

and  bid  them  folloiv  they  need  not  fear      [,] 
For  ivhy  the  Water  is  nvarm  they  replyed     [,] 

then  into  the  River  they  siveetly  glide. 

Finely  bathing  themselves  they  lay 

like  pretty  Fishes  they  sport  and  play     [,] 
Then  let's  be  merry\_,'\  said  Nancy,  I  fancy, 

it's  seldom  thai  any  one  ivalks  this  ivay     [.] 
Thus  those  Females  ivere  all  in  a  Quill 

and  folloiving  on  their  Pastime  still      [,] 
All  naked  in  a  most  dainty  trim 

those  Maidens  like  beautifull  Sivans  did  sivini. 

Whilst  they  folloTved  on  their  Game     [,] 

out  came  svueet  William  and  Tom  by  name. 
They  took  all  their  Clothing  and  left  nothing  \f  'em ;] 

Maids  ivas  they  not  Villainsand  much  to  blamelfl 
Liketvise  taking  their  Bottle  of  Wine     [,] 

ivith  all  their  delicate  Dainties  fine     [;] 
Thus  they  ivere  rifled  of  all  their  store, 

ivas  ever  poor  Maidens  so  serv'd  before. 

From  the  River  those  Maidens  fair 

Return' d  ivith  sorroiv  and  deep  despair     [;] 
When  they  seeing,  brooding\_,'\  concluding 

that  somebody  certainly  had  been  there     [,] 
With  all  their  Treasure  aivay  they  run     [,] 

Alas  [.']  said  Nelle[,]  ive  are  undone. 
Those  Villains  I  ivish  they  ivere  in  the  Stocks, 

that  took  our  Petticoats  Goivns  and  Smocks. 

Then  Siveet  Sarah  ivith  modest  Prue 

they  all  ivas  in  a  most  fearful  Hue  [,] 

Every  Maiden  replying  and  crying 

they  did  not  knovu  ivhat  in  the  ivorld  to  do  [.] 


Z4 


344  Appendix. 

But  ivhat  laughing  ivas  there  ivith  the  men 

in  bringing  their  Gotvns  and  Smocks  again  [,] 

The  Maidens  ivere  modest  &'  mighty  mute  [,] 

and  gave  them  fine  curtsies  arid  thanks  to  hoot. 

Printed  for  P.  Brooksby  at  the  Golden  Ball  in  Pye  Corner 
[1672-95.] 

Part  II.,  pp,  120,  123  (App.  p.  Ixxii.)  0  Love  if  e^er, 
fslc.  There  is  a  parody  or  "  Mock  "  to  this,  beginning 
"O  Mars,  if  e'er  thoult  ease  a  blade,"  and  entitled  "The 
Martial  Lad,'  in  Wm.  Hicks'  London  Drollery,  1673,  p, 
116. 


End  of  Notes  to  fVestminster-DroUery. 


345 
APPENDIX.     Part  4. 


§  I. — EXTRA   SONGS    IN   THE 

MERRY  DROLLERY,  1661. 

CNoi  repeated  in  the   1670  and  1691    Editions.) 

Fahtaff. — "  If  Sack  and  Sugar  be  a  fault,  Heaven   help  the 
wicked."  {Henry  IV.,  Pt.  i,  Act  ii.  Sc.  4.) 

COLLECTIONS  of  Songs,  depending  chiefly  on 
the  popularity  of  such  as  are  already  in  vogue, 
or  of  others  that  promise  fairly  to  please  the  reader, 
are  necessarily  of  all  books  the  most  liable  to  receive 
alterations  when  re-issued.  Thus  we  ourselves  possess 
half-a-dozen  editions  of  the  Roundelay,  and  also  of  the 
Bullfinch,  both  undated  eighteenth-century  songsters  ; 
each  copy  containing  a  dozen  or  more  of  Songs  not  to  be 
found  in  the  others.  Our  Merry  Drollery  is  a  case  in 
point.  As  already  mentioned,  there  is  absolutely  no 
difference  between  the  edition  of  1670  and  1691  of 
Merry  Drollery,  Compleat,  except  the  title-page.  It 
was  a  well-understood  trade  stratagem,  to  re-issue  the 
unsold  sheets,  those  of  1670,  with  a  freshly-dated  title- 
page,  as  in  1691;  so  to  catch  the  seekers  after  novelty 
by  their  most  tempting  lure.  Even  the  two  pages  of 
"  List  of  New  Books  "  (reprinted  conscientiously  by 
ourselves  in  M.  D.,  C,  pp.  358,  359)  are  identical  in 
both ! 


346  Appendix. 

We  take  credit  beforehand  for  the  readers'  satisfac- 
tion at  our  providing  such  a  Table  of  First  Lines,  as  we 
hereafter  give,  that  may  enable  him  easily  and  con- 
vincedly  to  understand  the  alterations  made  from  the 
1 66 1  edition  of  Merry  Drollery,  both  parts,  when  it 
was  re-issued  in  a  single  volume,  paged  consecutively, 
in  1670  and  1691.  It  is  more  difficult  to  understand 
why  the  changes  were  made,  than  thus  to  see  what 
they  were.  i.  It  could  not  have  been  from  modesty: 
although  some  objectionable  pieces  were  omitted, 
others,  quite  as  open  to  censure,  were  newly  admitted 
instead.  2.  Scarcely  could  it  have  been  that  as 
political  satires  they  were  out  of  date  (except  in  the 
case  of  the  Triumph  over  The  Gang — England's  Woe 
— and  Admiral  Dean's  Funeral:  our  pp.  198,218, 
206) ;  for  in  the  later  volume  are  found  other  songs 
on  events  contemporary  with  these,  which,  being 
rightly  considered  to  be  of  abiding  interest,  were  re- 
tained. 3.  It  was  not  that  the  songs  rejected  were 
too  common,  and  easily  attainable  ;  for  they  are  almost 
all  of  extreme  rarity,  and  now-a-days  not  procurable 
elsewhere.  4.  It  must  have  been  a  whim  that  ostra- 
cised them,  and  accepted  novelties  instead  !  At  any 
rate,  here  they  are  !  As  in  the  case  of  the  sheet  from 
Westminster-Drollery,  1674  (see  p.  177),  readers  pos- 
sess the  Extra  Songs  of  both  early  and  late  editions, 
along  with  all  that  are  common  to  both,  and  this  with- 
out confusion. 


Merry  Drollery,  1661.  347 

Almost  all  of  these  Merry  Drollery  Extra  Songs 
were  written  before  the  Restoration  ;  of  a  few  we  know 
the  precise  date,  as  of  1653,  1650,  1623,  &c.  These 
are  chiefly  on  political  events,  viz.  the  Funeral  of 
Admiral  Dean,  so  blithely  commented  on,  with  forget- 
fulness  of  the  man's  courage  and  skill  while  remem- 
bering him  only  as  an  associate  of  rebels  ;  the  story  of 
England's  Woe  (certainly  published  before  the  close 
of  1648),  with  scorn  against  the  cant  of  Prynne  and 
Burton ;  the  noisy,  insensate  revel  of  the  song  on  the 
Goldsmith's  Committee  (1647,  P-  237),  where  we  can 
see  in  the  singers  such  unruly  cavaliers  as  those  who 
brought  discredit  and  ruin ;  as  also  in  the  coarser 
"  Letany"  (on  our  page  241) ;  and  in  the  still  earlier 
description  of  New  England  (before  1643),  which 
forms  a  most  important  addition  to  the  already  rich 
material  gathered  from  these  contemporary  records, 
shewing  the  views  entertained  of  the  nonconforming 
and  irreconcileable  zealots  who  held  close  connection 
with  the  discontented  Dutchmen.  Although  carica- 
tured and  maliciously  derisive,  it  is  impossible  to 
doubt  that  we  have  here  a  group  of  portraits  suffi- 
ciently life-like  to  satisfy  those  who  beheld  the  origi- 
nals. As  to  the  miscellaneous  pieces,  the  Sham- 
Tinker,  who  comes  to  "  Clout  the  Cauldron,"  has 
genuine  mirth  to  redeem  the  naughtiness.  Dr.  Cor- 
bet's (?)  "  Merrie  Journey  into  France  "  is  crammed 
full  of  pleasantry,  and  while  giving  a  record  of  sights 


34^  Appendix. 

that  met  the  traveller,  enlivens  it  with  airy  gaiety 
that  makes  us  willing  companions.  This,  with  varia- 
tions, may  be  met  with  elsewhere  in  print ;  but  not  so 
the  delightfully  sportive  invitation  of  The  Insatiate 
Lover  to  his  Sweetheart,  "  Come  hither,  my  own 
Sweet  Duck  "  (p.  247).  To  us  it  appears  among  the 
best  of  these  thirty-five  additions  :  musical  and  fer- 
vent, without  coarseness,  the  song  of  an  ardent  lover, 
who  fears  nothing,  and  is  ripe  for  any  adventure  that 
war  may  offer.  One  of  Rupert's  reckless  Cavaliers 
may  have  sung  this  to  his  Mistress.  Of  course  it 
would  be  unfair  to  blame  him  for  not  being  awake  to 
the  higher  beauty  of  such  a  sentiment  as  Montrose 
felt  and  inspired  : — 

But  if  thou  wilt  prove  faithful,  then. 

And  constant  of  thy  word, 
I'll  make  thee  glorious  by  my  pen. 

And  famous  by  my  sword  : 
I'll  serve  thee  in  such  noble  ways 

Was  never  heard  before ; 
I'll  crown  and  deck  thee  all  with  bays. 

And  love  thee  more  and  more. 

Or,  as  Lovelace  nobly  sings  : — 

Tell  me  not,  sweet,  I  am  unkinde. 

That  from  the  nunnerie 
Of  thy  chaste  breast  and  quiet  minde 

To  warre  and  armes  I  file. 

True  :  a  new  Mistresse  now  I  chase. 

The  first  foe  in  the  field ; 
And  with  a  stronger  faith  embrace 

A  sword,  a  horse,  a  shield. 


Merry  Drollery,  1661.  349 

Yet  this  inconstancy  is  such 

As  you  too  shall  adore ; 
I  could  not  love  thee,  dear,  so  much, 

Lov'd  I  not  Honour  more. 


f 

y  Cest  magnifiquel  mats  ce  rCest  pas — L amour.  At 
least,  and  we  imply  no  more,  Lovelace  and  those  who 
act  on  such  high  principles,  find  their  Lux  Casta 
marrying  some  neighbouring  rival.  But  we  may  be 
sure  that  the  singer  of  our  Merry  Drollery  ditty  won 
his  Lass,  literally  in  a  canter. 

Part  I.,  p.  2  [our  p.  195.]  A  Puritan  of  late. 

Compare  John  Cleveland's  "  Zealous  Discourse  between 
the  Independent- Parson  and  Tabitha,"  "  Hail  Sister," 
&c.  {J.  C.  Re^i-ved,  1662,  p.  108) ;  and  also  the  superior 
piece  of  humour,  beginning,  "  I  came  unto  a  Puritan  to 
wooe,"  M.  D.,  C,  p.  77.  The  following  description  of 
the  earlier  sort  of  Precisian,  ridiculous  but  not  yet  dan- 
gerous, is  by  Richard  Brathwaite,  and  was  printed  in 
1615:— 

To  the  Precisian. 

Jl^Or  the  Precisian  that  dares  hardly  looke, 
■*•      (Because  th'  art  pure,  forsooth)  on  any  bookCy 
Save  Homilies,  and  such  as  tend  to  th'  good 
Of  thee  and  of  thy  zealous  brother-hood: 
Knoav  my  Time-noting  lines  ayme  not  at  theCy 
For  thou  art  too  too  curious  for  mee. 
I  ivill  not  taxe  that  man  thafs  ivont  to  slay 
"  His  Cat  for  killing  mise  on  th'  Sabbath  day:     ["] 
No  :  knonv  my  resolution  it  is  thus, 
Vde  rather  he  thy  foe  then  be  thy  pus : 
And  more  should  I  gaine  by't :  for  I  see. 
The  daily  fruits  of  thy  fraternity  : 
Yea,  I perceiue  ivhy  thou  my  booke  should  shun, 
"  Because  there's  many  fault es  th'  art  guiltie  on  :" 


\ 


350  *      Appendix. 

Therefore  ivith-draive,  by  me  thou  art  not  caWd, 
Yet  do  not  ivinch  (good  iade)  ivhen  thou  art  gall'd, 
I  to  the  better  sort  my  lines  display, 
I  pray  thee  then  keep'thou  thy  selfe  aivay. 

(^  Strappado  for  the  Diuell,  1615.) 

The  sixth  line  offers  another  illustration  of  what  has  been 
ably  demonstrated  by  J.  O.  Halliwell,  commenting  on 
the  "too-too  solid  flesh  "  of  Hamlet,  Act  i.  sc.  2,  in  Shake- 
speare Soc.  Papers,  i.  39-43,  1844. 

By  it  being  printed  within  double  quotational  commas, 
we  see  that  the  reference  to  a  Puritan  hanging  his  cat  on 
a  Monday,  for  having  profanely  caught  a  mouse  on  the 
Sabbath-Sunday,  was  already  an  old  and  familiar  joke 
in  1615.  James  Hogg  garbled  a  ballad  in  his  Jacobite 
Relics,  1 819,  i.  37,  as  "There  ivas  a  Cameronian  Cat, 
Was  hunting  for  a  prey,"  &c.,  but  we  have  a  printed  copy 
of  it,  dated  1749,  beginning  "A  Presbyterian  Cat  sat 
ivatching  of  her  prey."  Also,  in  a  poem  "  On  Lute- 
strings, Cat-eaten,"  we  read  : — 

Puss,  I  ivill  curse  thee,  maist  thou  divell 

With  some  dry  Hermit  in  a  Cel, 

Where  Rat  ne're  peep'd,  ivhere  Mouse  ne^er  fed. 

And  Flies  go  supperlesse  to  bed : 

Or  ivith  some  close  par'd  Brother,  ivhere 

Though  fast  each  Sabbath  in  the  year e. 

Or  else,  profane,  be  hang'd  on  Monday, 

For  butchering  a  Mouse  on  Sunday,  &c. 

{Musarum  Delicice,  16^6,  p.  53.) 

John  Taylor,  the  Water-Poet,  so  early  as  1620,  writes 
of  a  Brownist : — 

The  Spirit  still  directs  him  honv  to  pray. 
Nor  ivill  he  dress  his  meat  the  Sabbath  day. 
Which  doth  a  mighty  mystery  unfold  ; 
His  zeale  is  hot,  although  his  meat  be  cold. 
Suppose  his  Cat  on  Sunday  kill'd  a  rat. 
She  on  the  Monday  must  be  hanged  for  that. 

(J.  P.  C.'s  Bibl.  Ace,  ii.  418.) 


r 

■  Merry  Drollery,  i66i.  351 

Hr  Page  II  [our  197].     I  dreamt  my  Love,  iSfc. 

In  the  Percy  Folio  MS.  (about  1650)  p.  480 ;  E.  E.  T.  S., 
iv.  102,  with  a  few  variations,  one  of  which  we  have  noted 
in  margin  of  p.  181.  The  industrious  editors  of  the  printed 
text  of  the  Percy  Folio  MS.  were  not  aware  of  the  fact  that 
many  of  the  shorter  pieces  were  already  to  be  found  in 
print;  but  this  is  no  wonder.  They  are  not  easy  to  dis- 
cover (see  next  p.  352),  and  although  we  ourselves  note 
occasionally  "  not  found  elsewhere,"  it  is  with  the  remem- 
brance that  a  happy  "  find"  may  yet  reward  a  continuous 
search  hereafter.  We  do  not  despair  of  recovering  even 
the  lost  line  of  "  The  Time-Poets." 


Page  12  [our  198].     Noiv  Lambert's  sunk,  isfc. 

In  the  1662  edit,  of  the  Rump,  i.  330,  and  in  Loyal  Sgs., 
1731,  i.  219.  It  may  have  been  written  so  early  as  Jan. 
15th,  1659-60,  when  Col.  Lambert  had  submitted  to  the 
Parliament,  on  finding  the  troops  disinclined  to  support 
him  unanimously.     Another  ballad  made  this  inuendo  : — 


I 


John  Lambert  at  Oliver's  Chair  did  roare. 
And  thinks  it  but  reason  upon  this  score. 
That  Cromwell  had  sitten  in  his  before  ; 

Still  blessed  Reformation.       {Rump,  ii.  99.) 


Fairfax  had  returned  to  his  house,  and  to  Monk  were 
given  the  thanks  of  the  rescued  Parliament.  As  M.  de 
Bordeaux  writes  of  him  to  Card.  Mazarin,  at  this  exact 
date,  "  he  is  now  the  most  powerful  subject  in  the  whole 
nation.  Fleetwood,  Desborough,  and  all  the  others  of 
the  same  faction  are  entirely  out  of  employment"  (Guizot's 
Monk,  1 85 1,  p.  ^56).  Although  no  mention  or  definite 
allusion  seems  made  in  the  ballad  to  Monk's  attack  on 
the  London  defences,  Feb.  9th,  we  incline  to  think  this 
may  be  nearer  to  the  true  date  :  if  it  refers  to  the  oath  of 
abjuration,  of  Feb.  4th,  which  was  offered  to  Monk,  as 
on  March  ist.  "Arthur's  Court"  is  an  allusion  to  Sir 
Arthur  Haselrig,  "a  rapacious,  head-strong,  and  con- 
ceited agitator"  {Ibid,  p.  37).     Monk  had  not  publicly 


352  Appendix. 

declared  himself  for  the  King  until  May ;  but  he  was 
seen  to  be  opposed  to  the  Rump  by  nth  Feb.,  when  its 
effigies  were  enthusiastically  burnt.  Richard  Cromwell's 
abdication  had  been,  virtually,  April  22nd,  1659. 

Page  32  [204].  A  young  man  ivalking  all  alone. 

This  is  another  of  the  songs  contained  in  the  Percy  Folio 
MS.  (p.  460 ;  iv.  92  of  print) ;  wrongly  supposed  to  be 
otherwise  lost,  but  imperfect  there,  our  fourth  and  fifth 
verses  being  absent.  We  cannot  accept  "if  that  I  may 
thy  favour  haue,  thy  benvtye  to  behold,"  as  the  true  read- 
ing; while  we  find  "  If  that  thy  favour  I  may  ivin  With 
thee  for  to  be  bold :"  which  is  much  more  in  the  Lover's 
line  of  advance.  Yet  we  avail  ourselves  of  the  "  I  am  so 
mad "  in  3rd  verse,  because  it  rhymes  with  "  maiden- 
head," in  M.  D.,  though  not  suiting  with  the  "  honestye  " 
of  the  P.  F.  MS.     The  final  half-verse  is  different. 

Page  56  [206].      Nick  Culpepper  and  Wm.  Lilly. 

Also  in  1662  edition  of  the  Rump,  i.  308;  and  Loyal 
Songs,  1731,  i.  192.  The  event  referred  to  happened  in 
June,  1653,  the  engagement  between  the  English  and 
Dutch  fleets  commencing  on  the  2nd,  renewed  the  next 
day.  Six  of  the  Dutch  ships  were  sunk,  and  twelve  taken, 
with  thirteen  hundred  prisoners.  Blake,  Monk,  and  Dean 
were  the  English  commanders,  until  Dean  was  killed,  the 
first  day.  Monk  took  the  sole  command  on  the  next. 
Clarendon  gives  an  account  of  the  battle,  and  says : 
"Dean,  one  of  the  English  Admirals,  was  killed  by  a  can- 
non-shot from  the  Rear-Admiral  of  the  Dutch,"  before 
night  parted  them.  "  The  loss  of  the  English  was  greatest 
in  their  General  Dean.  There  was,  beside  him,  but  one 
Captain,  and  about  two  hundred  Common  Sea-men 
killed  :  the  number  of  the  wounded  was  greater ;  nor  did 
they  lose  one  Ship,  nor  were  they  so  disabled  but  that 
they  followed  with  the  whole  fleet  to  the  coast  of  Holland, 
whither  the  other  fled ;  and  being  got  into  the  Flie 
and  the  Texel,  the  English  for  some  time  blocked  them 


Merry  Drollery,  i66i.  353 

up  in  their  own  Harbors,  taking  all  such  Ships  as  came 
bound  for  those  parts.    {His.  Rcb.,  B.  iii  p.  487,  ed.  1720.) 

Verse  i.  Nicholas  Culpeper,  of  Spittle  Fields,  near 
London,  published  his  Ne%v  Method  of  Physick,  and 
Alchemy,  in  1654. 

As  to  William  Lilly,  "the  famous  astrologer  of  those 
times,  who  in  his  yearly  almanacks  foretold  victories  for 
the  Parliament  with  so  much  certainty  as  the  preachers 
did  in  their  sermons,"  consult  his  letter  written  to  Elias 
Ashmole,  and  the  notes  of  Dr.  Zachary  Gray  to  Butler's 
Hudibras,  Part  ii.  Canto  3.  "  He  lived  to  the  year  1681, 
being  then  near  eighty  years  of  age,  and  published  pre- 
dicting almanacks  to  his  death."  He  was  one  of  the  close 
committee  to  consult  about  the  King's  execution  (Echard). 
He  lost  much  of  his  repute  in  1652;  in  1655  he  was  in- 
dicted at  Hickes  Hall,  but  acquitted.  He  dwelt  at  Her- 
sham,  Walton-on-Thames,  and  elsewhere.  Henry  Coley 
followed  him  in  almanack-making,  and  John  Partridge 
next.  In  the  Honble.  Robt.  Howard's  Comedy,  "  The 
Committee,"  1665,  we  find  poor  Teague  has  been  con- 
sulting Lilly : — 

"/  ivill  get  a  good  Master,  if  any  good  Master  ivou'd 
Get  me ;  I  cannot  tell  ivhat  to  do  else,  by  my  soul,  that 
I  cannot :  for  I  hai'e  iibeni  and  gone  to  one  Lilly's  ; 
He  li-ves  at  that  house,  at  the  end  of  another  house. 
By  the  May-pole  house ;  and  tells  every  body  by  one 
Star,  and  t'other  Star,  ivhat  good  luck  they  shall  have. 
But  he  cou'd  not  tell  nothing  for  poor  Teg." 

{The  Committee,  Act  i.) 

Verse  12.  The  Master  of  the  Rolls.  This  was  Sir 
Dudley  Digges,  builder  of  Chilham  Castle,  near  Canter- 
bury, Kent,  who  had  in  1627  moved  the  impeachment  of 
the  Duke  of  Buckingham,  and  been  rewarded  with  this 
Mastership. 

Verse  18.  Alludes  to  the  rigorous  suppression  of  the 
Play-houses  {"vide  ante  p.  285,  for  a  descriptive  Song) ; 
and  as  we  see  from  verse  17,  the  Bear-garden,  like  Rope- 
dancers  and  Tumblers,  met  more  tolerance  than  actors 
(except  from  Colonel  Pride).     Not  heels  were  feared,  but 

A  A 


354  Appendix. 

heads  and  hands.  Bears,  moreover,  could  not  stir  up 
men  to  loyalty,  but  tragedy-speeches  might.  One  Joshua 
Gisling,  a  Roundhead,  kept  bears  at  Paris  Garden,  South- 
wark. 

23.  "Goodman  Lenthall"  "neither  wise  nor  witty," 
("that  creeps  to  the  house  by  a  backdoor,"  Rump,  ii. 
185,)  the  Speaker  of  the  Commons  from  1640  to  1653; 
Alderman  Allen,  the  dishonest  and  bankrupt  goldsmith, 
both  rebuked  by  Cromivell,  when  he  forcibly  expelled  the 
Rump.  (See  the  ballad  on  pp.  62-5  of  M.  D.,  C,  verses 
9  and  10,  telling  how  "Allen  the  coppersmith  was  in  great 
fear.  He  had  done  as  [i.e.  us]  much  hurt,"  &c. ;  also  2, 
15,  for  the  dumb-foundered  "Speaker  without  his  Mace.") 
This  Downfall  of  the  Rump  had  been  on  April  20th,  1653, 
not  quite  three  months  before  the  funeral  of  Dean.  Who- 
ever may  have  been  the  writer  of  this  spirited  ballad,  we 
believe,  wrote  the  other  one  also  :  judging  solely  by  in- 
ternal evidence. 

24.  Henry  Ireton,  who  married  Bridget  Cromwell  in 
January,  1646-7,  and  escaped  from  the  Royalists  after 
having  been  captured  at  Naseby,  proved  the  worst  foe  of 
Charles,  insatiably  demanding  his  death,  died  in  Ireland 
of  the  plague,  15th  November,  1651.  His  body  was 
brought  to  Bristol  in  December,  and  lay  in  state  at  Som- 
erset House.  Over  the  gate  hung  the  "  hatchment " 
with  "  Dulce  et  decorum  est  pro  patria  mori  " — which  one 
of  the  Cavaliers  delightedly  translated,  "  Good  it  is  for 
his  country  that  he  is  dead."  Like  Dean's,  two  years 
later,  Ireton's  body  was  buried  with  ostentatious  pomp  in 
Henry  VII. 's  Chapel,  (Feb.  6  or  7  ;)  to  be  ignominiously 
treated  at  Tyburn  after  the  Restoration.  The  choice  of 
so  royal  a  resting-place  brought  late  insult  on  many 
another  corpse.  His  widow  was  speedily  married  to 
Charles  Fleetwood,  before  June,  1652. 

In  verse  26,  we  cannot  with  absolute  certainty  fill  the 
blank.  Yet,  in  the  absence  of  disproof,  we  can  scarcely 
doubt  that  the  name  suppressed  was  neither  Sexby,  "an 
active  agitator,"  who,  in  1658,  employed  against  Crom- 
well "all  that  restless  industry  which  had  formerly  been 
exerted  in  his  favour"  (Hume's  Hist.  Engd.,  cap.  lxi.)j 


Merry  Drollery,  1661.  355 

nor  "  Doomsday  Sedgwick ;"  not  Sidney,  staunch  Re- 
publican, Algernon  Sidney,  whose  condemnation  was  in 
1687  secured  most  iniquitously,  and  whose  death  more 
disgracefully  stains  the  time  than  the  slaughter  of  Rus- 
sell, although  sentimentalism  chooses  the  latter,  on  ac- 
count of  his  wife.  Sidney  was  "but  a  young  member  " 
at  the  Dissolution  of  20th  April,  1653.  Probably  the 
word  was  Say,  the  notorious  "Say  and  Scale,"  "Crafty 
Say,"  of  whom  we  read  : — 

There's  half-ivitied  Will  Say  too, 
A  right  Fool  in  the  Play  too. 
That  ivould  make  a  perfect  Ass, 
If  he  could  learn  to  Bray  too. 

("Chips  of  the  Old  Block,"  1659;  Rump,  ii.  17.) 

Page  64  [213].     I ivent  from  England,  ^c. 

A  MS.  assertion  gives  the  date  of  this  "Cantilena  de 
Gallico  itinere  as  1623.  There  seems  to  us  no  good  rea- 
son for  doubting  that  the  author  was  Dr.  Richard 
Corbet  (1582-1635),  Bishop  of  Oxford,  afterwards  of 
Norwich.  It  is  signed  Rich.  Corbett  in  Harl.  MS.  No. 
6931,  fol.  32,  re'verso,  and  appears  among  his  printed 
poems,  3rd  edit.  1672,  p.  129.  In  Wit  and  Mirth,  1684, 
p.  76,  it  is  entitled  "  Dr.  Corbet's  Journey,"  &c.  But  it 
is  fair  to  mention  that  we  have  found  it  assigned  to  R. 
Goodwin,  by  the  epistolary  gossip  of  inaccurate  old 
Aubrey  (see  Col.  Franc.  Cunningham's  "Mermaid  edit." 
of  Ben  ^onson,  i.  Memoirs,  p.  Ivii.  first  note).  In  a  re- 
cent edition  of  Sir  John  Suckling's  Works,  1874,  it  is 
printed  as  if  by  him  ("There  is  little  doubt  that  it  is 
his"),  i.  102,  without  any  satisfactory  external  evidence 
being  adduced  in  favour  of  Suckling.  In  fact,  the  exter- 
nal evidence  goes  wholly  against  the  theory.  The  very 
MS.  Harl.  367,  which  is  used  as  authority,  is  both  imper- 
fect and  corrupt  throughout,  as  well  as  anonymous  {ex, 
gratiee,  misreading  the  Bastern,  for  Bastile),  and  the  date 
on  it,  1623,  will  not  suit  Suckling  at  all :  though  Sir  Hy. 
Ellis  is    guessed    ( by    his   supposed  handwriting,)    to 

A  A  2 


35^  Appendix. 

have  attributed  it  to  him.     Could  it  be  possible  that  he 
was  otherwise  unacquainted  with  the  poem  ? 

At  earlier  date  than  our  own  copy  we  find  it,  by 
Aug.  30th,  1656,  in  Musarum  Deliciee,  p.  17,  and  in 
Parnassus  Biceps,  also  1656,  p.  24.  From  this  (as  well 
as  Had.  MS.  367  )  we  gain  corrections  printed  as 
our  marginalia,  pp.  214-6  :  deser-u'd,  for  received ; 
statue  stairs.  At  Notre  Dame  j  prate,  doth  please, 
&c.  Harl.  MS.  367  reads  "The  Indian  Roc  [probably 
it  is  correct]  ;  and  "  As  great  and  wise  as  Luisue " 
[Luines,  who  died  1622].  Parnassus  Biceps  has  an  extra 
verse,  preceding  the  one  beginning  "  His  Queen,"  (and 
Harl.  367  has  it,  but  inferior)  : — 

The  people  don't  dislike  the  youth. 
Alleging  reasons.     For  in  truth 

Mothers  should  honoured  be. 
Yet  others  say,  he  loves  her  rather 
As  ivell  as  ere  she  loved  his  father. 

And  that's  notoriously. 

(A  similar  scandal  meets  us  in  other  early  French 
reigns  :  Diana  de  Poictiers  had  relations  with  Henry  II., 
as  well  as  with  his  father,  Francis  I.,  &c.)  Compare 
West.  Droll.,  i.  87,  and  its  Appendix,  pp.  xxv-vi. 

It  may  be  a  matter  of  personal  taste,  but  we  cannot 
recognize  the  genial  Bishop  in  the  "  R.  C,  Gent.,"  who 
wrote  "  The  Times  Whistle."  A  reperusal  of  the  E.  E. 
T.,  1 87 1,  almost  convinces  us  that  they  were  not  the  same 
person.     We  must  look  elsewhere  for  the  author. 

In  MS.,  on  fly  leaf,  prefixed  to  1672  edition  of  Dr. 
Corbet's  poems,  in  the  Brit.  Mus.  (press  mark,  238,  b. 
56),  we  read  : — 

/F  fioiving  ivit,  if  Verses  ivrote  ivith  ease. 
If  learning  void  of  pedantry  can  please. 
If  much  good  humour,  join'd  to  solid  sense. 
And  mirth  accompanied  by  Innocence, 
Can  give  a  Poet  a  just  right  to  fame. 
Then  Corbet  may  immortal  honour  claim. 
For  he  these  virtues  had,  (Sf  in  his  lines 
Poetick  and  Heroick  spirit  shines. 


Merry  Drollery,  1 66 1 .  357 

Tho^  bright  yet  solid,  pleasant  but  not  rude. 
With  %uit  and  ivisdom  equally  endued. 
Be  silent  Muse,  thy  praises  are  too  faint. 
Thou  tvani'st  a  poiver  this  prodigy  to  paint. 
At  once  a  Poet,  Prelate,  and  a  Saint. 

Signed,  John  Campbell. 


Page  85  [218].     /  mean  to  speak  0/ England's,  isfc. 

In  the  1662  Rump,  i.  39;  and  in  Loyal  Songs,  1731,  i.  12. 
It  is  also  in  Parnassus  Biceps  so  early  as  1656,  p.  159, 
.  where  we  obtain  a  few  peculiar  readings ;  even  in  the 
first  line,  which  has  "of  England's  fate;"  "  Prin  and 
Burton  ;"  "  i^ear  Italian  locks  for  their  abuse  (instead  of 
"Stallion  locks  for  a  bush");  They'll  only  have  private 
keyes  for  their  use,"  &c.  We  are  inclined  to  accept  these 
as  correct  readings,  although  our  text  (agreeing  with  the 
Rump)  holds  an  intelligible  meaning.  But  those  who 
have  inspected  the  curiosities  preserved  in  the  Hotel  de 
Cluny,  at  Paris,  can  scarcely  have  forgotten  "  the  Italian 
[pad-]  Locks  "  which  jealous  husbands  imposed  upon 
their  wives,  as  a  preservative  of  chastity,  whenever  they 
themselves  were  obliged  to  leave  their  fair  helpmates  at 
home ;  and  the  insinuation  that  Prynne  and  Burton  in- 
tended to  introduce  such  rigorous  precautions,  neverthe- 
less retaining  "  private  keyes  "  for  their  own  use,  has  a 
covert  satire  not  improbable  to  have  been  intentional. 
Still,  remembering  the  persistent  war  waged  by  these  in- 
tolerant Puritans  against  "  the  unloveliness  of  love-locks," 
there  are  sufficient  claims  for  the  text-reading  :  in  their 
denunciation  of  curled  ringlets  "as  Stallion  locks  "  hung 
out  "for  a  bush,"  or  sign  of  attraction,  such  as  then 
dangled  over  the  wine-shop  door  (and  may  still  be  seen 
throughout  Italy),  although  "good  wine  needs  no  bush  " 
to  advertise  it.  Instead  of  "  The  brownings,"  (i.e.  The 
Brozunists,  a  sect  that  arose  in  the  reign  of  Elizabeth, 
founded  by  Robt.  Browne),  in  final  verse,  Parnassus 
Biceps  reads  "The  Roundheads."  The  poem  was  evi- 
dently written  between  1632  and  1642. 

A  A  3 


358  Appendix. 

Strengthening  the  probability  of  "  Italian  locks  "  being 
the  correct  reading,  we  may  mention  in  one  of  the  Rump 
ballads,  dated  26  January,  1660-1,  we  find  "The  Honest 
Mens  Resolution  "  is  to  adopt  this  very  expedient : — 

"But  ivhat  shall  ive  do  ivith  our  Wives 
That  frisk  up  and  doivn  the  Tcivn,  .  .  . 

For  such  a  Bell-dam, 

Sayes  Sylas  and  Sam, 

Let's  ha-ve  an  Italian  Lock  ! 

{Rump  Coll.,  1662,  ii.  199.) 

Page  88  [220].     Hang  Chastity,  &c. 

Probably  refers  to  the  New  Exchange,  at  Durham  House 
^tables  (see  Additional  Note  to  page  134  of  M.  D.,  C). 
Certainly  written  before  1656.  Lines  15  and  32  lend 
some  countenance,  by  similarity,  to  the  received  version 
in  the  previous  song's  sixth  verse. 

Page  95  [222].     It  ivas  a  man,  and  a  jolly,  iSfc. 

With  some  trifling  variations,  this  re-appears  as  "The 
Old  Man  and  Young  Wife,  beginning  "There ivas  an  old 
man,  and  a  jolly  old  man,  come  lo-ve  me,''  &c.,  in  Wit  and 
Mirth,  1684,  p.  17.  The  tune  and  burden  of  "  The  Clean 
Contrary  Way  "  held  public  favour  for  many  years.  See 
Pop,  Mus.  O.  T.,  pp.  425,  426,  781.  In  the  1658  and  1661 
editions  of  Choyce  Poems  [by  John  Eliot,  and  others],  pp. 
81,  are  a  few  lines  of  verse  upon  "The  Fidler's  that  were 
committed  for  singing  a  song  called,  "The  Clean  Contrary 
Way  "  :— 

^T^He  Fidlers  must  be  ivhipt  the  people  say, 

■*■     Because  they  sung  the  clean  contrary  way ; 

Which  if  they  be,  a  Croivn  I  dare  to  lay 

They  then  ivill  sing  the  clean  contrary  way. 

And  he  that  did  these  merry  Knaves  betray. 

Wise  men  ivill  praise,  the  clean  contrary  way  : 

For  ivhipping  them  no  envy  can  allay,  [p.  82.] 

Unlesse  it  be  the  clean  contrary  way. 

Then  if  they  ivent  the  Peoples  tongues  to  stay. 
Doubtless  they  ivent  the  clean  contrary  way. 


Merry  Drollery^  1661.  359 

Page  134  [223].  There  ivas  a  Lady  in  this  Land. 
Re-appears  in  Wit  and  Drollery,  1682,  p.  291  (not  in  the 
1656  and  1661  editions),  as  "  The  Jovial  Tinker,"  but 
with  variations  throughout,  so  numerous  as  to  amount  to 
absolute  re-casting,  not  by  any  means  an  improvement : 
generally  the  contrary.  Here  are  the  second  and  follow- 
ing verses,  of  Wit  and  Drollery  version  : — 

Btit  she  ivrit  a  letter  to  him. 

And  scaled  it  ivith  her  hand. 
And  bid  him.  become  a  Tinker 

To  clout  both  pot  and  pan. 

And  luhen  he  had  the  Letter, 

Full  ivell  he  could  it  read : 
His  Brass  and  eke  his  Budget,  [p.  292.] 

He  streight  ivay  did  pro-vide. 

His  Hammer  and  his  Pincers 

And  ivell  they  did  agree 
With  a  long  Club  on  his  Back 

And  orderly  came  he. 

And  ivhen  he  came  to  the  Lady's  Gates 

He  knocked  most  lustily. 
Then  ivho  is  there  the  Porter  said. 

That  knock^st  thus  ruggedly? 

I  am  a  Jo-vial  Tinker,  (Sfc. 

The  words  of  a  later  Scottish  version  of  "  Clout  the  Caul- 
dron," beginning  *'  Hae  ye  ony  pots  or  pans.  Or  ony 
broken  Chandlers  ?"  (attributed  by  Allan  Cunningham  to 
one  Gordon)  retouched  by  Allan  Ramsay,  are  in  his  7m- 
Table  Miscellany,  1724,  Pt.  i.  (p.  96  of  17th  edit.,  1788.) 
Burns  mentions  a  tradition  that  the  song  "  was  composed 
on  one  of  the  Kenmure  family  in  the  Cavalier  time."  But 
the  disguised  wooer  of  the  later  version  is  repulsed  by  the 
lady.     Ours  is  undoubtedly  the  earlier. 

Page  148  [230].     Upon  a  Summer's  day. 

The  music  to  this  is  given  in  Chappell's  Pop.  Music  of 
Olden   Time  [1855],  p.  255,  from  the  Dancing  Master, 

A  A  4 


360  Appendix. 

1650-65,  and  Mustek's  Delight  on  the  Cithern,  1666,  where 
the  tune  bears  the  title  "  Upon  a  Summer's  day."  In 
Pepy's  Collectiom,  vol.  i.  are  two  other  songs  to  the  same 
tune. 

Page  153  [Suppl.  3].     Mine  o-wn  siveet  honey,  is'c. 

Evidently  a  parody,  or  "  Mock  "  of  "  Come  hither,  my 
own,"  &c.,  for  which,  and  note,  see  pp.  247,  367. 

Second  Part  oi  Merry  Drollery,  1661. 

Page  22  [235].      You  that  in  lo've,  iS^c. 

A  different  version  of  this  same  song,  only  half  its  length, 
in  four-line  stanzas,  had  appeared  in  J.  Cotgrave's  Wit's 
Interpreter,  1655.  p.  124.  It  is  also  in  the  1671  edition,  p. 
229;  and  in  Wit  and  Drollery,  1682  edit.,  287,  entitled 
"  The  Tobacconist."  We  prefer  the  briefer  version, 
although  bound  to  print  the  longer  one ;  bad  enough,  but 
not  nearly  so  gross  as  another  On  Tobacco,  in  Jo-vial 
Drollery,  1656,  beginning  "When  I  do  smoak  my  nose 
with  a  pipe  of  Tobacco." 

In  the  Collection  of  Songs  by  the  Wits  of  the  Age, 
appended  to  Le  Prince  d' Amour,  1660,  (but  on  broadsheet, 
1641)  we  find  the  following  far-superior  lyric  on 

TOBACCO. 

^T^O  feed  on  Flesh  is  Gluttony, 
J-     It  maketh  men  fat  like  sivine. 
But  is  not  he  a  frugal  Man 
That  on  a  leaf  can  dine  ! 

He  needs  no  linnen  for  to  foul. 

His  fingers  ends  to  ivipe. 
That  hath  his  Kitchin  in  a  Box, 

And  roast  meat  in  a  Pipe. 

The  cause  nvherefore  few  rich  mens  sons 

Pro've  disputants  in  Schools, 
Is  that  their  fathers  fed  on  flesh. 

And  they  begat  fat  fools. 


Merry  Drollery,  1661.  361 

This  fulsome  feeding  cloggs  the  brain, 

And  doth  the  stomack  cloak  : 
But  he's  a  brave  spark  that  can  dine 

With  one  light  dish  of  smoak. 

Audi  alterem  partem  !  Five  years  earlier  (May  28th, 
1655),  William  Winstanley  had  published  "A  Farewell  to 
Tobacco,"  beginning : — 

T^Aretvell  thou  Indian  smoake.  Barbarian  "vapour, 
■L      Enemy  unto  life,  foe  to  ivaste  paper, 
Thou  dost  diseases  in  thy  body  breed. 
And  like  a  Vultur  on  the  purse  doth  feed. 
Changing  stveet  breaths  into  a  stinking  loathing. 
And  ivith  3  pipes  turnes  tivo  pence  into  nothing ; 
Grim  Pluto ^r^^  in-vented  it,  I  think. 
To  poison  all  the  ivorld  ivith  hellish  stink,  (S'c. 

(18  lines  more.     The  Muses'  Cabinet,  1655,  p.  13.) 

The  three  pipes  for  two-pence  was  a  cheapening  of  To- 
bacco since  the  days,  not  a  century  before,  when  for  price 
it  was  weighed  equally  against  gold.  Our  early  friend 
Arthur  Tennyson  wrote  in  one  of  our  (extant)  Florentine 
sketch-books  the  following  impromptu  of  his  own  : — 

/Walk'd  by  myself  on  the  highest  of  hills. 
And  'twas  s%veet,  I  ivith  rapture  did  oivn  ; 
As  fish-like  I  opened  unto  it  my  gills 
And  gulp'd  it  in  ecstasy  doivn  ; 
To  feel  it  breathe  over  my  bacca-boiled  tongue. 
That  so  much  of  its  fragrance  did  need. 
And  brace  up  completely  a  system  unstrung 
For  months  ivith  this  Devil's  own  Weed. 

But  even  so  early  as  1639,  Thomas  Bancroft  had  printed, 
(written  thirteen  years  before)  in  his  First  Booke  of  Epi- 
grammes,  the  following, 

ON  TOBACCO  TAKING. 

n^He  Old  Germans,  that  their  Divinations  made 
J-     From.  Asses  heads  upon  hot  embers  laid, 
Saiv  they  but  noiv  ivhat  frequent  fumes  arise 
From  such  dull  heads,  ivhat  could  they  prophetize 


362  Appendix. 

But  speedy  firing  of  this  ivorldly  frame. 

That  seemes  to  stinke  for  fear  e  of  such  a  fame. 

{Tivo  Bookes  of  Epigrammes,  No.  183,  sign.  E  3.) 

We  need  merely  refer  to  other  Epigrams  On  Tobacco, 
as  "  Time's  great  consumer,  cause  of  idlenesse,"  and 
"  Nature's  Idea,"  &c.,  in  Wifs  Recreations,  1640-5,  be- 
cause they  are  accessible  in  the  recent  Reprint  (would 
that  it.  Wit  Restored  and  Musarum  Delicia;  had  been 
carefully  edited,  as  they  deserved  and  needed  to  be  ;  but 
even  the  literal  reprint  of  different  issues  jumbled  to- 
gether pell-mell  is  of  temporary  service )  :  see  vol.  ii.,  pp. 
45,  38;  and  96,  97,  139,  161,  227,  271.  Also  p.  430,  for 
the  "  Tryumph  of  Tobacco  over  Sack  and  Ale,"  attrib- 
uted to  F.  Beaumont,  (if  so,  then  before  1616)  telling 

Of  the  Gods  and  their  symposia  ; 
But  Tobacco  alone. 
Had  they  knoivn  it,  had  gone 

For  their  Nectar  and  Ambrosia  ; 

and  vol.  i.  p.  195,  on  "  A  Scholler  that  sold  his  Cussion" 
to  buy  tobacco.  It  is  but  an  imperfect  version  on  ii.  96, 
headed  "  A  Tobacconist  "  (eight  lines),  of  what  we  gave 
from  Le  Prince  d^ Amour :  it  begins  "All  dainty  meats  I 
doe  defie,  ||  Which  feed  men  fat  as  swine."  Answered 
by  No.  317,  "  On  the  Tobacconist,"  p.  97.  By  the  way: 
"  Verrinus  "  in  M.  D.,  C,  pp.  10,  364,  consult  History  of 
Signboards,  p.  354 — "  Puyk  -van  Ferinas  en  Virginia 
Tabac ;"  Englished,  "Tip-Top  Varinas,"  &c. 

Page  27  [237].     Come  Draiver,  some  Wine, 

Probably  written  by  Thomas  Weaver,  and  about 
1646-8.  It  is  in  his  collection  entitled  Lo-ve  and  Drollery, 
1654,  p.  13.  Also  in  the  1662  Rump,  i.  235;  and  the 
Loyal  Garland,  1686  (Percy  Soc.  Reprint,  xxix.  31  ). 
Compare  a  similar  Song  (probably  founded  on  this  one) 
by  Sir  Robt.  Howard,  in  his  Comedy,  "  The  Committee," 
Act  iv.,  "  Come,  Drawer,  some  Wine,  Let  it  sparkle  and 
shine," — or,  the  true  beginning,  "  Now  the  Veil  is  thrown 


Merry  Drollery,  1661.  363 

&c.     The  Committee  of  Sequestration  of  Estates 
slonging  to  the  Cavaliers  sat  at  Goldsmith's  Hall,  while 
'larles  was  imprisoned  at  Carisbrook,  in  1647.    A  ballad 
that  year,  entitled   Prattle  your  pleasure  under  the 
lose,"  has  this  verse  : — 

Under  the  rose  be  it  spoken,  there's  a  damned  Committee, 
Sits  in  hell  (Goldsmith's  Hall)  in  the  midst  of  the  City, 
Only  to  sequester  the  poor  Cwvaliers, — 
The  Devil  take  their  souls,  and  the  hangmen  their  ears. 

(As  Hamlet  says,  "  You  pray  not  well !  " — but  such  pro- 
vocation transfers  the  blame  to  those  who  caused  the 
anger.) 

Again,  in  another  Ballad,  "  I  thank  you  twice,"  dated 
21st  August,  same  year,  1647  • — 

The  gentry  are  sequestered  all : 
Our  ivi-ves  ive  find  at  Goldsmith's  Hall, 
For  there  they  meet  ivith  the  devil  and  all. 
Still,  Goda-mercy,  Parliament !" 

On  our  p.  239,  it  is  amusing  to  find  reference  to  "the 
Cannibals  of  Pym,"  remembering  how  Lilburn  and  others 
of  that  party  indulged  in  similar  accusations  of  cannibal- 
ism, with  specific  details  against  "  Bloody  Bones,  or 
Lunsford  "  {Hudibras,  Ft.  iii.  canto  2),  who  was  killed  in 
1644.  Thus,  "  From  Lunsford  eke  deliver  us,  ||  That 
eateth  up  children"  (Rump  i.  65) ;  and  Cleveland  writes, 
"  He  swore  he  saw,  when  Lunsford  fell,  ||  A  child's  arm 
in  his  pocket"  (J.  C.  Revived,  Poems,  1662,  p.  1 10). 


Page  32  [240].     Listen,  Lordings,  to  my  story. 

With  the  music,  this  reappears  in  Pills  to  p.  Mel.,  ijig, 
iv.  84,  entitled  "  The  Glory  of  all  Cuckolds."  Variations 
few,  and  unimportant  :  "  The  Man  in  Heaven's  "  being 
a  very  doubtful  reading.  In  the  Douce  Collection,  iv.  41, 
42,  are  two  broadsides,  A  New  Summons  to  Horn  Fair, 
beginning  "  You  horned  fumbling  Cuckolds,  In  City, 
court,  or  Town,"  and  (To  the  women)  "Come,  all  you 
merry  jades,  who  love  to  play  the  game,"  with  capital 


364  Appendix. 

wood-cuts:  Jn  Pitts,  printer,  Tliey  recal  Butler's  des- 
cription of  the  Skrimmington,  The  joke  was  much 
relished.  Thus,  in  Lusty  Drollery,  1656,  p.  106,  is  a 
Pastorall  Song,  beginning: — 

A  silly  poor  sheephcrd  ivas  folding  his  sheep. 
He  -walked  so  long  he  got  cold  in  his  feet. 
He  laid  on  his  coales  by  two  and  by  three. 
The  more  he  laid  on 
The  Cu-colder  ivas  he. 

Three  verses  more,  with  the  recurring  witticism  j  repeated 
finally  by  his  wife. 

Page  33  [Supp.  6].     Discourses  of  late,  isfc. 

Also,  earlier  in  Musarum  Delicice,  1656,  (Reprint,  p.  48) 
as  "  The  Louse's  Peregrinations,"  but  without  the  sixth 
verse.  Breda,  in  the  Netherlands,  was  beseiged  by 
Spinola  for  ten  months,  and  taken  in  1625.  Bergen,  in 
our  text,  is  a  corrupt  reading. 

Page  38  [241].     From  Kssex- Anabaptist  Laives. 

We  do  not  understand  whence  it  cometh  that  the  most 
bitter  non-conformity  and  un-Christian  crazes  of  enthu- 
siasm seem  always  to  have  thriven  in  Essex  and  the 
adjacent  Eastern  coast-counties,  so  far  as  Lincolnshire, 
but  the  fact  is  undeniable.  Whether  (before  draining  the 
fens,  see  "  The  Upland  people  are  full  of  thoughts,"  in 
A  Crezv  of  kind  London  Gossips,  1663,  p.  65)  this  pro- 
ceeded from  their  being  low-lying,  damp,  dreary,  and 
dismal,  with  agues  prevalent,  and  hypochondria  welcome 
as  an  amusement,  we  leave  others  to  determine.  Cabanis 
declared  that  Calvinism  is  a  product  of  the  small  intes- 
tines ;  and  persons  with  weak  circulation  and  slow  diges- 
tion are  seldom  orthodox,  but  incline  towards  fanaticism 
and  uncompromising  dissent.  Your  lean  Cassius  is  a 
pre-ordained  conspirator.  Plain  people,  whether  of 
features  or  dwelling-place,  think  too  much  of  themselves. 
Mountaineers  may  often  hold  superstitions,  but  of  the 
elemental  forces   and    higher    worship.      They   possess 


Merry  Drollery,  1661.  365 

moreover  a  patriotic  love  of  their  native  hills,  which 
makes  them  loth  to  quit,  and  eager  to  revisit  them,  with 
all  their  goiardian  powers  :  the  nostalgia  and  amor  fatr'ne 
are  strongest  in  Highlanders,  Switzers,  Spanish  muleteers, 
and  even  Welsh  milkmaids.  It  was  from  flat-coasted 
Essex  that  most  of  the  "  peevish  Puritans  "  emigrated  to 
Holland,  and  thence  to  America,  when  discontented  with 
every  thing  at  home. 

The  form  of  a  Le'tanty  or  Litany,  for  such  mock- 
petitions  as  those  in  our  text  (not  found  elsewhere),  and 
in  M.D.,C.,  p.  174,  continued  in  favour  from  the  uprise  of 
the  Independents  (simply  because  they  hated  Liturgies), 
for  more  than  a  century.  In  the  King's  Pamphlets,  in 
the  various  collections  of  Loyal  Songs,  Songs  on  affairs  of 
State,  the  Mughouse  Di-versions,  Pills  to  purge  State 
Melancholly,  Tory  Pills,  &c.,  we  possess  them  beyond 
counting,  a  few  being  attributed  to  Cleveland  and  to 
Butler.  One,  so  early  as  1600,  "  Good  Mercury,  defend 
us  !"  is  the  work  of  Ben  Johnson. 

Verse  i. — The  "  Brownist's  Veal  "  refers  to  Essex 
calves,  and  the  scandal  of  one  Green,  who  is  said  to  have 
been  a  Brownist.  4. — "From  her  that  creeps  up  Hol- 
bourne  hill :"  the  cart  journey  from  Newgate  to  the  "  tree 
with  three  corners"  at  Tyburn.  Sicitur  ad  astra.  When, 
Oct.  1654,  Cromwell  was  thrown  from  the  coach-box  in 
driving  through  Hyde  park,  a  ballad  on  "  The  Jolt  on 
Michaelmas  Day,  1654,"  took  care  to  point  the  moral : — 

Not  a  day  nor  an  hour 

^But  ivefelt  his  poiver. 
And  nonv  he  ivould  shotv  us  his  art : 
His  first  reproach 
Is  a  fall  from  a  coach. 
And  his  last  will  be  from  a  cart. 
{Rump  Coll.  i.  362.) 
us  also  in  M.D.,C.  p.  255  : 
Then  Oli-ver,  Oliz>er,  get  up  and  ride,  .... 
Till  thou  plod'st  along  to  the  Paddington  tree. 

5. — "  Duke  Humphrey's  hungry  dinner "  refers  to  the 
tomb  popularly  supposed  to   be  of   "the  good    Duke" 


366  Appendix. 

Humphrey  of  Gloucester  (murdered  1447),  but  probably 
of  Sir  John  Beauchamp  (Guy  of  Warwick's  son),  in  Paul's 
Walk,  where  loungers  whiled  away  the  dinner-hour  if 
lacking  money  for  an  Ordinary,  and  "dined  with  Duke 
Humphrey."  See  Dekker's  Gulls  Horn  Book,  1609. 
cap.  iv.     And  Robt.  Hayman  writes  : — 

Though  a  little  coin  thy  purseless  pockets  line. 
Yet  ivith  great  company  thou'rt  taken  up  ; 
For  often  ivith  Duke  Humfray  thou  dost  dine. 
And  often  ivith  Sir  Thomas  Gresham  sup. 

(R.  H.'s  Quodlibets,  1628.) 

"An  old  Aunt" — this  term  used  by  Autolycus,  had  tem- 
porary significance  apart  from  kinship,  implying  loose 
behaviour;  even  as  "nunkle"  or  uncle,  hails  a  mirthful 
companion.  In  Roxb.  Coll.,  i.  384,  by  L[aur.]  P[rice], 
printed  1641-83,"  is  a  description  of  three  Aunts,  "seldom 
cleanly,"  but  they  were  genuine  relations,  though  "  the 
best  of  all  the  three  "  seems  well  fitted  by  the  Letany 
description  :  which  may  refer  to  her. 

Page  46  [Supp.  p.  7].     If  you  ivill  give  ear. 

A  version  of  this,  slightly  differing,  is  given  with  the 
music  in  Pills  to  p.  Mel  I.,  iv.  191.  It  has  the  final  coup- 
let; which  we  borrow  and  add  in  square  brackets. 

Page  61  [Supp.  9].     Full  forty  times  over. 

Earlier  by  six  years,  but  without  the  Answer,  this  had 
appeared  in  Wit  and  Drollery,  1656,  p.  58;  1661,  p.  60. 
It  is  also,  as  "  written  at  Oxford,"  in  second  part  of  Ox- 
ford Drollery,  1671,  p.  97. 

Page  62  [Supp.  11].     He  is  a  fond  Lover,  &c. 

This,  and  the  preceding,  being  superior  to  the  other  re- 
served songs  might  have  been  retained  in  the  text  but  for 
the  need  to  fill  a  separate  sheet.  This  Answer  is  in 
Love  and  Mirth  (i.e.  Sportive  Wit)  1650,  p.  51. 


Merry  Drollery,  1661.  367 

Page  64  [Supp.  12].     If  any  one  do  ivant  a  House. 

firtually  the  same  (from  the  second  verse  onward)  as 
'•  A  Tenement  to  Let,"  beginning  "  I  have  a  Tenement," 
&c.,  in  Pills  to  p.  Mel.,  1720,  vi.  355;  and  The  Merry 
Musician  (n.  d.  but  about  1 7 16),  i.  43.     Music  in  both. 

Page  81  [Supp,  13].     Fair  Lady,  for  your  Nevu,  &c. 

Resembling  this  is  "Ladies,  here  I  do  present  you.  With  a 
dainty  dish  of  fruit,"  in  Wit  and  Drollery,  1656,  p.   I03. 

Page  103  [244].     Among  the  Purifdian  Sect. 

In  Harl.  MS.  No.  6057,  fol.  47.  There  it  is  entitied 
"  The  Puritans  of  New  England." 

Page  106  [248].  Come  hither,  my  otvn  snveet  Duck. 

We  come  delightedly,  as  a  relief,  upon  this  racy  and 
jovial  Love-song,  which  redeems  the  close  of  the  volume. 
It  has  the  gaiety  and  abandon  of  John  Fletcher's  and 
Richard  Brome's.  We  have  never  yet  met  it  elsewhere. 
It  was  probably  written  about  1642.  The  reserved  song 
in  Part  i.,  p.  153  (Supplement,  p.  3),  seems  to  be  a  vile 
parody  on  it,  in  the  coarse  fashion  of  those  persons  who 
disgraced  the  cause  of  the  Cavaliers.  The  rank  and  file 
were  often  base,  and  their  brutality  is  evidenced  in  the 
songs  which  we  have  been  obliged  to  degrade  to  the  Sup- 
plement. 

It  was  certainly  popular  before  1659,  fo""  we  find  it 
quoted  as  furnishing  the  tune  to  "  A  proper  new  ballad 
(25  verses)  on  the  Old  Parliament,"  beginning  "  Good 
Morrow,  my  neighbours  all,"  with  a  varying  burden  : — 

Hei  ho,  my  hony. 

My  heart  shall  never  rue. 
Four  and  tuuenty  noiv  for  your  Mony, 

And  yet  a  hard  penny  ivorth  too. 

{Rump,  1662  ii,  26.) 

The  music  is  in  Playford's  English  Dancing  Master,  1686. 


b 


368  Appendix. 

Page  116  [Supp.  14].      She  lay  up  to,  &c. 

Five  years  earlier,  in  Wit  and  Drollery,  1656,  p.  56; 
1661,  p.  58.  With  the  original,  in  M.  D.,  C,  p.  300, 
compare  the  similar  disappointment,  by  Cleveland,  "The 
Myrtle-Grove"  {Poems,  p.  160,  edit.  1661.) 

Page  149  [253].     If  that  you  nvill  hear,  (Sfc. 

This  is  the  same,  except  a  few  variations,  as  "  Will  you 
please  to  hear  a  new  ditty  ?"  in  our  Westminster-Drollery, 
1671,  i.  88;  Appendix  to  ditto,  pp.  xxxvi-vii  (compare 
the  coarser  verses,  p.  368  in  present  volume,  and  "  Upon 
the  biting  of  Fleas,"  in  Musarum  Delicite,  1656;  Reprint, 
p.  64.) 


[We  here  close  our  Notes  to  the  "  Extra  Songs  "  of  Merry 
Drollery,  1661.  But  we  have  still  some  Additional  Notes,  on 
what  is  common  to  the  editions  of  1661,  1670,  and  i6qi  (as 
promised  in  M.  D.,  C,  p.  363).] 


MERRY 


MERRY 

DROLLERY, 

Complete. 

OR, 

A    COLLECTION 

r  Jovial  POEMS, 
Of  ]  Merry  SONGS, 

(  Witty  DROLLERIES, 

Intermixed  with  Pleasant  Catches. 
The  Firft  Part. 

Colle6led  by 
IV. N.     C.B.     R.S.    J.G. 

LOVERS  of  WIT. 


LONDON, 

Printed  for  Simon  Miller,  at  the  Star,  at 
the  West  End  of  St.  Pauls,  \(i']Q. 

B  B 


r 


371 

ww0ww0w00wAw000w00ww09 

APPENDIX.     Part  4. 


I 


§  2. — ^ADDITIONAL    NOTES    TO   THE 

MERRY  DROLLERY,  COMPLEAT. 

(Common  to  all  editions,  1661,  '70,  '91,  and  1875.^ 

"  A  pretty  slight  Drollery." 

{Henry  ly.,  pt.  2.  Act  ii.  Sc.  1.) 

Title-page  to  1670  Edition. 

WE  here  give  the  title-page  of  the  1670  Edition 
of  Merry  Drollery,  Compleat,  Part  ist.  As 
mentioned  on  our  p.  231,  the  1670  edition  was  re- 
issued as  a  new  edition  in  1691,  but  with  no  alteration 
except  the  fresh  title-page,  with  its  date  and  statement 
of  William  Miller's  stock  in  trade. 

Of  the  four  "  Lovers  of  Wit,"  1661,  we  believe  we 
have  unearthed  one,  viz.  "  R.  S.,"  in  Ralph  Sleigh, 
who  wrote  a  song  beginning,  ^^  Cupid,  Cupid,  makes 
men  stupid ;  I'll  no  more  of  such  boys'  play  3"  (Sport- 
ive Wit,)  Jovial  Drollery,  1656,  p.  22. 


M.  D.,  C,  p.  II  [13].  Verse  6.  "Mahomet's 
pidgeon,"  that  was  taught  to  pick  seeds  from  out  his  ear, 
so  that  it  might  be  thought  to  whisper  to  him.  The  "  mad 
fellow  clad  alwaies  in  yellow,"  i.e.,  in  his  military  Buff- 
coat — "And  somewhat  his  nose  is  blew,  boys,"  certainly 

B  B  2 


372  Appendix. 

alludes  to  Oliver  Cromwell  :  His  being  "  King  and  no 
King,"  to  his  refusing  the  Crown  offered  by  the  notables 
whom  he  had  summoned  in  1657.  As  the  "  New  Peers," 
his  sons  Henry  and  Richard  among  them,  insulted  and 
contemned  by  the  later  and  mixed  Parliament  of  January 
20th,  1658,  were  "turned  out"  along  with  their  foes  the 
recalcitrant  Commons,  on  Feb.  4th,  we  have  the  date  of 
this  ballad  established  closely. 


Page  29,     Nonsense.      Noiu  Gentlemen,  if,  isfc. 

Two  other  "  Messes  of  Nonsense  "  may  be  found  in  Re- 
creations Jbr  Ingenious  Headpieces,  1645  (Reprint,  Wit's 
Recreations,  pp.  400,  401) ;  beginning  "When  Neptune's 
blasts,"  and  "  Like  to  the  tone  of  unspoke  speeches." 
The  latter  we  believe  to  have  been  written  by  Bishop 
Corbet.  In  Wit's  Merriment  (i.e.  Sporti-ve  Wit),  1656,  is 
the  following  :     A  FANCY:— 

TJZHen  Py  crust  first  began  to  reign, 
'>^     Cheese  parings  ivent  to  ivarre. 
Red  Herrings  lookt  both  blew  and  ivan, 

Green  leeks  and  Puddings  jarre. 
Blind  Hugh  ivent  out  to  see 

T1V0  Cripples  run  a  race. 
The  Ox  fought  -with  the  Humble  Bee, 

And  claiu'd  him  by  the  face. 


Page  36,  lines  21,  22.     "Honest  Dick:"  and  "L" 

These  lines  furnish  a  clue  to  the  date  of  this  ballad,  (and 
its  "  Answer  "  quickly  followed)  :  "  Honest  Dick  "  being 
Richard  Cromwell,  whose  Protectorate  lasted  only  eight 
months,  beginning  in  September,  1658.  "The  name 
with  an  L — "  refers  to  his  unscrupulous  rival  Lambert; 
with  his  spasmodic  attempts  at  supremacy,  urged  on  by 
his  own  ambition  and  that  of  his  wife  (accustomed  too 
long  to  rule  Oliver  himself,  during  a  close  intimacy,  not 
without  exciting  scandal,  while  she  insisted  on  displacing 
Lady  Dysart).     For  an  account  of  Lambert's  twentv-one 


|.  Merry  Drollery^  1670.  373 

years  of  captivity,  first  at  Guernsey  and  later  at  Ply- 
mouth, see  Choice  Notes  on  History ,  from  N.  and  Q.,  1858, 
pp.  155-163.  Lambert  played  a  selfish  game,  lost  it,  and 
needs  no  pity  for  having  had  to  pay  the  stakes.  But  for 
"  Honest  Dick,"  "Tumble  down  Dick,"  who  had  warmly 
pleaded  with  his  father  to  save  the  king's  life  in  the  fatal 
January  of  1649,  we  keep  a  hearty  liking.  Carlyle  stig- 
matizes him  as  "  poor,  idle,  trivial,"  &c.,  but  let  that  pass. 
Had  Richard  been  crafty  or  cruel,  like  those  who  removed 
him  from  power,  his  reign  might  have  been  prolonged. 
But  "  what  a  wounded  name "  he  would  have  then  left 
behind,  compared  with  his  now  stainless  character  :  and, 
in  any  case,  his  ultimate  fall  was  certain. 

Page  43,  line  i6th,  "Call  for  a  constable  blurt" 

An  allusion  to  Middleton's  Comedy,  "  Blurt,  Master 
Constable,"  1602, 

Page  62,  368.      Will  you  hear  a  strange  thing. 

The  important  event  here  described  took  place  April  20th, 
1653,  and  the  ballad  immediately  followed.  (Compare 
"Cheer  up,  kind  country  men,"  by  S.  S.,  "Rebellion 
hath  broken  up  house,"  and  "  This  Christmas  time,"  in 
the  Percy  Soc.  Pol.  Bds.,  iii.  126;  180  Loyal  Songs,  149, 
1694;  Rump,  ii.  52.)  At  this  date  the  strife  between  the 
fag-end  of  the  Rump  and  Oliver,  who  was  supported  by 
his  council  of  officers,  came  to  open  violence.  Fearing 
his  increased  power,  it  was  proposed  to  strengthen  the 
Parliamentarians  by  admitting  a  body  of  "  neutrals," 
Presbyterians,  to  act  in  direct  opposition  against  the 
army-leaders.  With  a  pretence  of  dissolving  themselves 
there  would  have  ensued  a  virtual  extension  of  rule. 
Anxious  and  lengthy  meetings  had  been  held  by  Crom- 
well's adherents  at  Whitehall,  one  notably  on  the  19th, 
and  continued  throughout  the  night.  Despite  a  promise, 
or  half  promise,  of  delay  made  to  him,  the  Rump  was 
meantime  hurrying  onward  the  objectionable  measure, 
clearly  with  intention  of  limiting  his  influence  :    among 

B  B3 


374  Appendix. 

the  leaders  being  Sir  Hy.  Vane,  Harry  Marten,  and  Al- 
gernon Sidney.  They  knew  it  to  be  a  struggle  for  life  or 
death.  From  the  beginning,  this  Long  Parliament  cher- 
ished the  mistaken  idea  that  they  were  everything  su- 
preme :  providence,  strength,  virtue,  and  wisdom,  etc., 
etc.  If  mere  empty  talk  could  be  all  this,  such  represen- 
tative wind-bags  might  deserve  some  credit.  Their  doom 
was  sealed ;  not  alone  for  their  incompetence,  but  also  for 
proved  malignity,  and  the  attempt  to  perpetuate  their  own 
mischief,  destroying  the  only  power  that  seemed  able  to 
bring  order  out  of  chaos. 

Cromwell  received  intelligence,  from  his  adherents 
within  the  house,  of  the  efforts  being  made  to  hurry  the 
measure  for  settling  the  new  representation,  and  then  to 
dissolve  for  re-election.  Major  Harrison  talked  against 
time  ;  until  Cromwell  could  arrive  after  breaking  up  the 
Whitehall  meeting.  Ingoldsby,  as  the  second  or  third 
messenger,  had  shown  to  him  the  urgent  need  of  action. 
Followed  by  Lambert  and  some  half-dozen  officers,  the 
General  took  with  him  a  party  of  soldiers,  reached  the 
house,  and  found  himself  not  too  soon.  Surrounding  the 
chamber,  and  guarding  the  doors,  the  troopers  remained 
outside.  Clad  in  plain  black,  unattended  and  resolute, 
Oliver  entered,  stood  looking  on  his  discomfitted  foes,  and 
then  sat  down,  speaking  to  no  one  except  "  dusky  tough 
St.  John,  whose  abstruse  fanaticisms,  crabbed  logics,  and 
dark  ambitions  issue  all,  as  was  natural,  in  decided  ava- 
rice "  (Carlyle's  Cromive II,  iii.  i68,  1671  edit).  Vane 
must  have  felt  the  peril,  but  held  on  unflinchingly,  im- 
ploring the  house  to  dispense  with  everything  that  might 
delay  the  measure,  such  as  engrossing.  The  Speaker 
had  risen  at  last  to  put  the  question,  before  the  General 
started  up,  uncovered,  and  began  his  address.  Some- 
thing of  stately  commendation  for  past  work  he  gave 
them.  Perhaps  at  first  his  words  were  uttered  solely  to 
obtain  a  momentary  pause,  the  whilst  he  gathered  up  his 
strength,  and  measured  all  the  chances,  before  he  broke 
with  them  for  ever.  Soon  the  tone  changed  into  that  of 
anger  and  contempt.  He  heaped  reproaches  on  them : 
Ludlow  says  :  "  He  spoke  with  so  much  passion  and  dis- 


Merry  Drollery^  1670.  375 

composure  of  mind,  as  if  he  had  been  distracted."  "Your 
time  is  come  !"  he  told  them  :  "The  Lord  has  done  with 
you.  He  has  chosen  other  instruments  for  the  carrying 
on  his  work,  that  are  more  worthy." 

Vane,  Marten,  and  Sir  Peter  Wentworth  tried  to  inter- 
rupt him,  but  it  was  almost  beyond  their  power.  Went- 
worth could  but  irritate  him  by  indignant  censure.  He 
crushed  his  hat  on,  sprang  from  his  place,  shouting  that 
he  would  put  an  end  to  their  prating,  and,  while  he  strode 
noisily  along  the  room,  railed  at  them  to  their  face,  not 
naming  them,  but  with  gestures  giving  point  to  his  in- 
vectives. He  told  them  to  begone  :  "  I  say  you  are  no 
Parliament !  I'll  put  an  end  to  your  sitting.  Begone  ! 
Give  way  to  honester  men."  A  stamp  of  his  foot  fol- 
lowed, as  a  signal;  the  door  flies  open,  "  five  or  six  files 
of  musqueteers  "  are  seen  with  weapons  ready.  Resist- 
ance (so  prompt,  with  less  provocation,  in  1642)  is  felt  to 
be  useless,  and,  except  mere  feminine  scolding,  none  is 
attempted.  Not  one  dares  to  struggle.  Afraid  of  vio- 
lence, their  swords  hang  idly  at  their  side.  As  they  pass 
out  in  turn,  they  meet  the  scathing  of  Oliver's  rebuke. 
His  control  of  himself  is  gone.  Their  crimes  are  not  for- 
gotten. He  denounces  Challoner  as  a  drunkard,  Went- 
worth for  his  adultery.  Alderman  Allen  for  his  embezzle- 
ment of  public  military  money,  and  Bulstrode  Whitelock 
of  injustice.  Harry  Marten  is  asked  whether  a  whore- 
master  is  fit  to  sit  and  govern.  Vane  is  unable  to  resist 
a  feeble  protest,  availing  nothing — "  This  is  not  honest : 
Yea !  it  is  against  morality  and  honesty."  In  the  ab- 
sence of  such  crimes  or  flagrant  sins  of  his  companions,  as 
his  own  frozen  nature  made  him  incapable  of  committing, 
there  are  remembered  against  him  his  interminable 
harangues,  his  hair-splitting,  his  self-sufficiency;  and  all 
that  early  deliberate  treachery  in  ransacking  his  father's 
papers,  which  he  employed  to  cause  the  death  of  Straf- 
ford. To  all  posterity  recorded,  came  the  ejaculation  of 
Cromwell :  "  Sir  Harry  Vane,  Sir  Harry  Vane — the 
Lord  deliver  me  from  Sir  Harry  Vane !"  And,  excepting 
a  few  dissentient  voices,  the  said  posterity  echoes  the 
words  approvingly.      The   "  bauble "   mace  had    been 

B  B  4 


37^  Appendix. 

borne  off  ignominiously,  the  documents  were  seized,  in- 
cluding that  of  the  unpassed  measure,  the  room  was 
cleared,  the  doors  were  locked,  and  all  was  over.  The 
Long  Parliament  thus  fell,  unlamented 

Pag^  66.     Vie  sing  you  a  Sonnet. 

Written  and  published  in  1659;  ^'^  we  see  by  the  refer- 
ences to  "Dick  {Oliver's  Heir)  that  pitiful  slow-thing. 
Who  was  once  invested  with  purple  clothing," — his  re- 
tirement being  in  April,  1659.  Bradshaw,  the  bitter 
Regicide  (whose  harsh  vindictiveness  to  Charles  I.  during 
the  trial  has  left  his  memory  exceptionally  hateful),  died 
22nd  November,  1659.  Hewson  the  Cobbler  was  one  of 
Oliver's  new  peers,  summoned  in  January,  1658. 

Pages  69,  368.     Be  not  thou  so  foolish  nice. 

The  music  to  this,  by  Dr.  John  Wilson,  is  in  his  Chearfull 
Ay  res,  1659-60,  p.  126. 

Pages  70,  369.     Aske  me  no  more. 

Gule  is  misprint  for  "  Goal,"  and  refers  to  the  Bishops 
who,  having  been  molested  and  hindered  from  attending 
to  vote  among  the  peers,  were,  on  30th  December,  1642, 
committed  to  the  Tower  for  publishing  their  protest  against 
Acts  passed  during  their  unwilling  absence.  Finch,  Lord 
Keeper ;  who,  to  save  his  life,  fled  beyond  sea,  and  did 
not  return  until  after  the  Restoration. 

Pages  72,  369.     A  Sessions  ivas  held,  (sfc. 

To  avoid  a  too-long  interruption,  our  Additional  Note  to 
the  "Sessions  of  the  Poets"  is  slightly  displaced  from 
here,  and  follows  later  as  Section  Third. 

Pages  87,  369.     Some  Christian  people  all,  isfc. 

We  have  traced  this  burlesque  narrative  of  the  Fire  on 
London  Bridge  ten  years  earlier  than  Merry  Drollery, 
1661,  p.  81.     It  appeared  (probably  for  the  first  time  in 


I 


Merry  Drollery,  1670.  377 


print)  on  April  28th,  1651,  at  the  end  of  a  volume  of  fa- 
cetice,  entitled  The  Lo-ves  of  Hero  and  Leander  {\r\  the  1677 
edition,  following  O'vid  de  Arte  Amandi,  it  is  on  p.  142) 
The  event  referred  to,  we  suspect,  was  a  destructive  fire 
which  broke  out  on  London  Bridge,  13th  Feb.  1632-3. 
It  is  thus  described  : — "  At  the  latter  end  of  the  year 
1632,  viz.,  on  the  13th  Feb.,  between  eleven  and  twelve 
at  night,  there  happened  in  the  house  of  one  Briggs,  a 
needle-maker,  near  St.  Magnus  Church,  at  the  north 
end  of  the  bridge,  by  the  carelessness  of  a  maid-servant, 
setting  a  tub  of  hot  sea-coal  ashes  under  a  pair  of  stairs, 
a  sad  and  lamentable  fire,  which  consumed  all  the  build- 
ings before  eight  of  the  clock  the  next  morning,  from  the 
north  end  of  the  bridge,  to  the  first  vacancy  on  both 
sides,  containing  forty-two  houses ;  ivater  being  then  'very 
scarce,  the  Thames  being  almost  frozen  over.  Beneath, 
in  the  vaults  and  cellars,  the  fire  remained  burning  and 
glowing  a  whole  week  after.  After  which  fire,  the  north 
end  of  the  bridge  lay  unbuilt  for  many  years  ;  only  deal 
boards  were  set  up  on  both  sides,  to  prevent  people's 
falling  into  the  Thames,  many  of  which  deals  were,  by 
high  winds,  blown  down,  which  made  it  very  dangerous 
in  the  nights,  although  there  were  lanthorns  and  candles 
hung  upon  all  the  cross-beams  that  held  the  pales  to- 
gether." (Tho.  Allen's  Hist,  and  Antiq.  of  London,  vol. 
ii.  p.  468, 1828.)  Details  and  list  of  houses  burnt  are  given 
(as  in  Gent.  Mag.  Nov.  1824),  from  the  MS.  Record 
of  the  Mercies  of  God;  or,  a  Than kfull  Remembrance, 
1618-163S  (since  printed),  kept  by  the  Puritan  Nehemiah 
Wallington,  citizen  and  turner,  of  London,  a  friend  of 
Prynn  and  Bastwick  He  gives  the  date  as  Monday,  nth 
February,  1633.  Our  ballad  mentions  the  river  being 
frozen  over,  and  "all  on  the  tenth  of  January;"  but  no- 
thing is  more  common  than  a  traditional  blunder  of  the 
month,  so  long  as  the  rhythm  is  kept.  (Compare  Choyce 
Drollery,  p.  78,  and  Appendix  p.  297). 

Another  Fire-ballad  (in  addition  to  the  coarse  squib  in 
present  vol.,  pp.  33-7,)  is  "Zeal  over-heated;"  telling  of 
a  fire  at  Oxford,  1642;  tune,  Chivey  Chace;  and  be- 
gfinning,  "  Attend,  you  brethren  every  one."     It  is  not 


378  Appendix. 

improbably  by  Thomas  Weaver,  being  in  his  Love  and 
Drollery,  1654,  p.  21. 

Page  92,  370.     Cast  your  caps  and  cares  aivay. 

Of  this  song,  from  Beaumont  and  Fletcher's  "  Beggar's 
Bush,"  bef.  1625,  the  music  set  by  Dr.  John  Wilson  is 
in  his  Cheerfull  Ayres,  1659-60,  p.  22. 

Pages  97,  371.     Come,  let  us  drink. 

"  Mahomet's  Pigeon,"  a  frequent  allusion :  compare 
M.  D.  C,  pp.  II,  192;  and  present  appendix,  p.  356. 

Pages  100,  108  (App.)  371.     Satires  on  Gondibert. 

See  Additional  Note  in  this  vol.  §  3,  post,  for  a  few 
words  on  D'Avenant.  Since  printing  M.  D.  C,  we  have 
been  enabled  (thanks  to  W.  F.  Fowle,  Esq.,  possessor  of 
to  consult  the  very  rare  Second  Satire,  1655,  mentioned 
on  p.  371.  It  is  entitled,  "The  Incomparable  Poem 
Gondibert  Vindicated  from  the  Wit-Combats  of  Four 
EsauiRES,  Clinias,  Dametas,  Sancho,  and  Jack  Pud- 
ding."    [With  this  three-fold  motto  : — ] 

XoTcei  Kttt  dot's  TO)  doiSo). 
Vatum  quoque  gratia  rara  est. 

Anglice, 
One  Wit-Brother  \\  Envies  another. 

Printed  in  the  year  1655."  It  begins  on  p.  3,  with  a 
poetical  address  to  Sir  Willm.  Davenant,  asking  pardon 
beforehand  in  case  his  "yet-unhurt  Reputation"  should 
suffer  more  through  the  champion  than  from  the  attack 
made  by  the  four  "  Cyclops,  or  Wit-Centaurs,"  two  of 
whom  he  unhesitatingly  names  as  "  Denham  and  Jack 
Donne,"  or  "Jack  Straw."  But  even  thus  early  we 
notice  the  sarcasm  against  D'Avenant  himself :  when  in 
reference  to  the  never-forgotten  "  flaws  "  in  his  face,  the 
Defender  writes  : — 

Will  shenv  thy  face  (be't  what  it  will). 
We' I  push  'um  yet  a  quill  for  quill. 


Merry  Drollery,  1670.  379 

he  third  poem,  p,  8,  again  to  the  Poet,  mocks  him  as 
ell  as  his  assailants'  lines  (our  M.  D.  C,  p.  108)  with 
enty  triplets  : — 

After  so  many  poorer  scraps 

Of  Playes  ivhich  nere  had  the  mishaps 

To  passe  the  stage  ivithout  their  claps,  ^c. 

Next  comes  a  poem  "  Upon  the  continuation  of  Gondi- 
bert,"  "  Ovid  to  Patmos  pris'ner  sent."  (Later,  we  ex- 
tract the  chief  lines  for  the  "Sessions"  Add.  Note.) 
He  is  told, 

Wash  thee  in  Avon,  if  thou  fiie, 

I  My  ivary  Davenant  so  high. 

Yet  Hypernaso  noiv you  shall 
Ore  fly  this  Goose  so  Capitall.  (p.  14.) 

After  five  others,  came  one  Upon  the  Author,  beginning, 
,  Daphne,  secure  of  the  buff, 

I  Prethee  laugh, 

I  Yet  at  these  four  and  their  riff  raff: 

I  Who  can  hold 

\'  When  so  bold  ? 

And  the  trim  ivit  of  Coopers  green  hill,  .  .  • 
Ending  thus  : — 

Denham,  thou'lt  be  shrenvdly  shent 

To  invent 
Such  Draivlery  for  merriment,  isfc.  .  .  . 
A  Draiving  Donne  out  of  the  mire. 

i        A  burlesque  of  Gondibert  on  same  p.  18,  as  "  Canto  the 
1        Second,  or  rather  Cento  the  first;"  begins   "All  in   the 
Land  of  Bembo  and  of  Bubb."      One    stanza   partly 
anticipates  Sam.  Butler  : —  ' 

The  Sun  ivas  sunk  into  the  ivatery  lap 

Of  her  commands  the  tuaves,  and  iveary  there. 

Of  his  long  journey,  took  a  pleasing  nap 
To  ease  his  each  daies  tra-vels  all  the  year. 

P.  23  gives  "  To  Daphne  on  his  incomparable  (and  by  the 
Critick  incomprehended)  Poem,   Gondibert"  this  conso- 


38o  Appendix. 

lation  :  "  Chear  up,  dear  friend,  a  Laureat  thou  must 
be,"  &c.  Hobbes  comes  in  for  notice,  on  p.  24,  and 
Denham  with  his  Cooper's  Hill  has  another  slap.  The 
final  poem,  on  p.  27,  is  "  Upon  the  Author's  writing  his 
name,  as  in  the  Title  of  his  Booke,  D'Avenant :" — 

I. 
"  Your  Wits  ha've  further  than  you  rode. 
You  needed  not  to  have  gone  abroad, 
D'avenant  from  Avon  conies. 
Rivers  are  still  the  Muses  Rooms. 
Dort,  knoivs  our  nam.e,  no  more  Durt  on't : 
An't  be  but  for  that  D'avenant. 

2. 
And  ivhen  such  people  are  restored 
(A  thing  belo'v'd  by  none  that  ivhor'd) 

My  noches  then  may  not  appeare. 

The  gift  of  healing  ivill  be  near.  {clozunsj 

Meane  ivhile  lie  seeke  some  Panax  (salve  of 
Shall  heal  the  ivanton  Issues  and  crackt  Croivns. 

I  ivill  conclnde,  Fareivell  Wit  Squirty  Fegos 

And  drolling  gasmen  Wal-Den-De-Donne-Dego. 
(Finis.)" 

Here,  finally,  are  Waller,  Denham,  [Bro]de[rick],  and 
Donne  clearly  indicated.  They  receive  harder  measure, 
on  the  whole,  than  D'avenant  himself;  so  that  the 
Second  Volume  of  Satires,  1655,  is  neither  by  the  author 
of  "  Gondibert,"  nor  by  those  who  penned  the  "  Certain 
Verses  "  of  1653.    Q.  E.  D. 

Pages  loi,  372.     /'//  tell  thee,  Dick,  ^c. 

As  already  mentioned,  the  popularity  of  Suckling's 
"Ballad  on  a  Wedding"  (probably  written  in  1642) 
caused  innumerable  imitations.  Some  of  these  we  have 
indicated.  In  Folly  in  Print,  1667,  is  another,  "  On  a 
Friend's  Wedding,"  to  the  same  tune,  beginning,  "  Now 
Tom,  if  Suckling  were  alive.  And  knew  who  Harry  were 
to  wive."  In  D'Urfey's  Pills  to  Purge  Melancholy, 
1699,  p.  81  :  ed.  1719,  iii,  65,  is  a  different  "  New  Ballad 


I 

^R  Merry  Drollery,  1670.  381 

^^^pon  a  Wedding "  [at  Lambeth],  with  the  music,  to 
same  tune  and  model,  beginning,  "  The  sleeping  Thames 
one  morn  I  cross'd.  By  two  contending  Charons  tost." 
Like  Cleveland's  poem,  as  an  imitation  it  possesses 
merit,  each  having  some  good  verses. 

Pages  III,  112.     The  Proctors  are  tnvo. 

Among  the  references  herein  to  Cambridge  Taverns  is 
jne  (3rd  verse)  to  the  Myter  :  part  of  which  fell  down 
gfore  1635,  and  was  celebrated  in  verse  by  that  "dar- 
ing of  the  Muses,"  Thomas  Randolph.  His  lines  be- 
gin "  Lament,  lament,  ye  scholars  all  !  "  He  mentions 
other  Taverns  and  the  Mitre-landlord,  Sam  : — 

Let  the  Rose  ivith  the  Falcon  moult. 

While  Sam  enjoys  his  ivishes  ; 
The  Dolphin,  too,  must  cast  her  croivn  : 

Wine  ivas  not  made  for  fishes. 

Pages  115,  374.     ^Tis  not  the  sil-ver,  (sfc. 

The  mention,  on  pp.  ii6,  of  "our  bold  Army"  turning 
out  the  "  black  Synod,"  refers  less  probably  to  Colonel 
"  Pride's  Purge  "  of  the  Presbyterians,  on  6th  December, 
1648,  than  to  the  events  of  April  20,  1653;  and  helps  to 
fix  the  date  to  the  same  year.  In  6th  verse  the  blanks 
are  to  be  thus  filled,  "  Arms  of  the  Rump  or  the  King  ;  " 
"C.  R.,  or  O.  P. ;"  the  joke  of  "the  breeches"  being  a 
supposed  misunderstanding  of  the  Commonwealth- Arms 
on  current  coin  (viz.,  the  joined  shields  of  England  and 
Ireland )  for  the  impression  made  by  Noll's  posteriors. 
Compare  "  Saw  you  the  States- Money,"  in  Rump  Coll., 
i.  289.     On  one  side  they  marked  "  God  with  us !  " 

"  Common-wealth  on  the  other,  by  ivhich  ive  may  guess 
God  and  the  States  tuere  not  both  of  a  side." 

Pages  121,  375.     Come,  let's  purge  our  brains. 

This  song  is  almost  certainly  by  Thomas  Jordan,  the 
City-Poet.      With  many  differences  he   reprints  it  later 


382  Appendix. 

in  his  London  in  Luster,  as  sung  at  the  Banquet  given 
lay  the  Drapers  Company,  October  29th,  1679;  where  it 
is  entitled  "  The  Coronation  of  Canary,"  and  thus  be- 
gins (in  place  of  our  first  verse) : — 

"V^^ink your  ivine  atvay, 

*-^     '  Tis  my  Lord  Mayor^s  day, 

Let  our  Cups  and  Cash  he  free. 
Beer  and  Ale  are  both  ||  But  the  sons  of  froth. 

Let  us  then  in  ivine  agree. 
To  taste  a  Quart  ||  Of  every  sort. 

The  thinner  and  the  thicker  ; 
That  spight  of  Chance  ||  We  may  advance. 

The  Nobler  and  the  Quicker. 

Who  shall  by  Vote  of  every  Throat 
Be  crovun'd  the  King  of  Liquor. 

2. 
Muscadel  Avant,  Bloody  Alicant, 

Shall  have  no  free  vote  of  mine  ; 
Claret  is  a  Prince,  And  he  did  long  since 

In  the  Royal  order  shine. 
His  face,  (sfc,  (as  in  M.  D.  C.  p.  112.) 

In  sixth  verse,  "  If  a  Cooper  nve  With  a  red  nose  see,"  re- 
fers to  Oliver  Cromwell ;  and  proves  it  to  have  been 
written  before  September,  1658. 

Pages  125,  315.     Lay  by,  isfc,  Laiv  lies  a-bleeding. 

The  date  of  this  ballad  seems  to  have  been  1656,  rather 
than  1658.  The  despotism  of  the  sword  here  so  power- 
fully described,  was  under  those  persons  who  are  on 
p.  254  of  M.  D.  C.  designated  "  Oliver's  myrmidons," 
meaning,  probably,  chiefly  the  major-generals  of  the 
military  districts,  into  which  the  country  was  divided 
after  Penruddock's  downfall  in  1655.  They  were  Des- 
borough,  Whalley,  Goffe,  Fleetwood,  "  downright " 
Skippon,  Kelsey,  Butler,  Worseley,  and  Berry ;  to  these 
ten  were  added  Barkstead.  Compare  Hallam's  account : 
— "  These  were  eleven  in  number,  men  bitterly  hostile  to 
the  royalist  party,  and  insolent  to  all  civil  authority. 


Merry  Drollery,  1670.  383 


They  were  employed  to  secure  the  payment  of  a  tax  of 
ten  per  cent.,  imposed  by  Cromwell's  arbitrary  will  on 
those  who  had  ever  sided  with  the  King  during  the  late 
wars,  where  their  estates  exceeded  ^i^ioo  per  annum. 
The  major-generals,  in  their  correspondence  printed 
among  Thurloe's  papers,  display  a  rapacity  and  oppres- 
sion greater  than  their  master's.  They  complain  that 
the  number  of  those  exempted  is  too  great ;  they  press 
for  harsher  measures ;  they  incline  to  the  unfavourable 
construction  in  every  doubtful  case;  they  dwell  on  the 
gfrowth  of  malignancy  and  the  general  disaffection.  It 
was  not  indeed  likely  to  be  mitigated  by  this  unparalleled 
tyranny.  All  illusion  was  now  gone  as  to  the  pretended 
benefits  of  the  civil  war.  It  had  ended  in  a  despotism, 
compared  to  which  all  the  illegal  practices  of  former 
kings,  all  that  had  cost  Charles  his  life  and  crown, 
appeared  as  dust  in  the  balance.  For  what  was  Ship- 
money,  a  general  burthen,  by  the  side  of  the  present 
decimation  of  a  single  class,  whose  offence  had  long  been 
expiated  by  a  composition  and  effaced  by  an  act  of 
indemnity  ?  or  were  the  excessive  punishments  of  the 
Star  Chamber  so  odious  as  the  capital  executions  in- 
flicted without  trial  by  peers,  whenever  it  suited  tl  . 
usurper  to  erect  his  high  court  of  justice  [by  which  Gerard 
and  Vowel  in  1654,  Slingsby  and  Dr.  Hewit  in  1658  fell]  ? 
A  sense  of  present  evils  not  only  excited  a  burning  desire 
to  live  again  under  the  ancient  monarchy,  but  obliterated, 
especially  in  the  new  generation,  that  had  no  distinct 
remembrance  of  them,  the  apprehension  of  its  former 
abuses."  (Constitutional  Hist.  England,  cap.  x.  vol.  ii. 
p.  252,  edit.  1872.)  This  from  a  writer  unprejudiced  and 
discriminating. 


Pages  131,  376.     /'//  tell  you  a  story. 

Tower  hill  and  Tyburn.  The  date  of  this  ferocious 
ballad  is  not  likely  to  have  been  long  before  the  execution 
of  the  regicides  Harrison,  Hacker,  Cook,  and  Hew 
Peters,  in  October,  i66o;  some  on  the  13th,  others  on 
the  i6th.     Probably,  shortly  before  the  trial  of   Harry 


384  Appendix. 

Marten,  on  the  10th  of  the  same  month.  The  second 
verse  indicates  a  considerable  lapse  of  time  since  Monk's 
arrival  and  the  downfall  of  the  Rump  (burnt  in  effigy, 
Febr.  11,  1659-60);  so  we  may  be  certain  that  it  was 
written  late,  about  September,  if  not  actually  at  begin- 
ning of  October. 

Sir  Robert  Tichbourne,  Commissioner  for  sale  of 
State-lands,  Alderman,  Regulator  of  Customs,  and  Lord 
Mayor  in  1658,  was  named  in  the  King's  Proclamation, 
6th  June,  1660,  as  one  of  those  who  had  fled,  and  who 
were  summoned  to  appear  within  fourteen  days,  on 
penalty  of  being  exempted  from  any  pardon.  His  name 
occurs  again,  among  the  exceptions  to  the  Act  of  Indem- 
nity ;  along  with  those  of  Thos.  Harrison,  Hy.  Marten, 
John  Hewson,  Jn.  Cook,  Hew  Peters,  Francis  Hacker, 
and  other  forty-five.  Nineteen  of  these  fify-one  surren- 
dered themselves  :  Tichbourne  and  Marten  among  them. 
None  of  them  were  executed  ;  although  Scoop  was,  who 
also  had  yielded.  The  trial  of  the  regicides  commenced 
on  9th  October,  at  Hick's  Hall,  Clerkenwell. 

Hugh  Peters  suffered,  along  with  John  Cook  (the 
Counsel  against  Charles  I.  )  "  that  read  the  King's 
charge,"  on  the  i6th  October,.  He  was  depressed  in 
spirits  at  the  last,  but  there  was  dignity  in  his  reply  to 
one  who  insulted  him  in  passing — "  Friend,  you  do  not 
well  to  trample  on  a  dying  man ;  "  and  his  sending  a 
token  to  his  daughter  awakens  pity.  Physically  he  had 
failed  in  courage,  and  no  wonder,  to  face  all  that  was 
arrayed  to  terrify  him  :  or  he  might  have  justified  antici- 
pations and  "made  a  pulpit  of  the  place."  His  last 
sermon  at  Newgate  is  said  to  have  been  "incoherent." 

Harry  Marten's  private  life  is  so  generally  declared 
to  have  been  licentious  (dozens  of  ballads  refering  to  his 
"  harem,"  "  Marten's  girl  that  was  neither  sweet  nor 
sound,"  "  Marten,  back  and  leave  your  wench,"  &c.), 
and  his  old  friend  Cromwell  when  become  a  foe  openly 
taxing  him  as  a  "  whoremaster,"  that  it  is  better  for  us 
to  think  of  him  with  reference  to  his  unswerving  faithful- 
ness in  Republican  opinions;  his  gay  spirit  (more  resem- 
bling the  reckless  indifference  of  Cavaliers  than  his  own 


Merry  Drollery,  1670.  385 

associates  can  have  esteemed  befitting)  ;  his  successful 
exertions  on  many  occasions  to  save  the  shedding  of 
blood ;  and  his  gallant  bearing  in  the  final  hours  of  trial. 
The  living  death  to  which  he  was  condemned,  of  his 
twenty  years  imprisonment  at  Chepstow  Castle,  has  been 
recorded  (mistakenly  as  thirty^  by  that  devoted  student 
Robert  Southey,  clarum  et  iienerabilem  nomen  !  in  a 
poem  which  can  never  pass  into  oblivion,  although  cleverly 
mocked  by  Canning  in  the  Anti-Jacobin,  Nov.  20, 1797  : — 

For  twenty  years  secluded  from  mankind 

Here  Marten  lingered.     Often  have  these  walls 

Echo'd  his  footsteps,  as  with  even  tread 

He  paced  around  his  prison ;  not  to  him 

Did  Nature's  fair  varieties  exist  : 

He  never  saw  the  sun's  delightful  beams 

Save  when  through  yon  high  bars  it  pour'd  a  sad 

And  broken  splendour.     Dost  thou  ask  his  crime? 

He  had  rebelled  against  his  King,  and  sat 

In  judgment  on  him  :  ^c. 

John  Forster  has  written  his  memoir,  and,  in  one  of  his 
best  moments,  Wallis  painted  him.  Here  are  his  own  last 
words,  sad  yet  firm,  the  old  humour  still  apparent,  if 
only  in  the  choice  of  verse,  it  being  the  anagram  of  his 
name  : — 

HERE,  or  elsewhere  (all's  one  to  you — to  me  !) 
Earth,  air,  or  water,  gripes  my  ghostless  dust. 
None  knowing  when  brave  fire  shall  set  it  free. 
Reader,  if  you  an  oft-tried  rule  will  trust. 
You'll  gladly  do  and  suffer  what  you  must. 

My  life  was  worn  with  serving  you  and  you. 
And  death  is  my  reward,  and  welcome  too  : 
Revenge  destroying  but  itself.     While  I 
To  birds  of  prey  leave  my  old  cage  and  fly. 
Examples  preach  to  th'  eye — care,  then,  mine  says. 
Not  how  you  end,  but  how  you  spend  your  days. 

(Athena:  Oxon'ienses,  iii.  1243.) 

As  to  Thomas  Harrison,  fifth-monarchy  enthusiast,  firm 
to  the  end  in  his  adversity,  he  who  had  been  ruthless  in 

c  c 


386  Appendix. 

prosperity,  we  have  already  briefly  referred  to  his  closing 
hours  in  our  Introduction  to  Merry  Drollery,  Compleat, 
p.  xxix. 

John  Hewson,  Cobbler  and  Colonel,  who  had  sat  in 
the  illegal  mockery  of  Judgment  on  King  Charles,  was 
for  the  after  years  ridiculed  by  ballad-singers  as  a  one- 
eyed  spoiler  of  good  leather.  He  escaped  the  doom  of 
Tyburn  by  flight  to  Amsterdam,  where  he  died  in  1662. 
In  default  of  his  person,  his  picture  was  hung  on  a  gib- 
bet in  Cheapside,  25th  January,  1660-61.  (See  Pepys' 
Diary  of  that  date.)  His  appearance  was  not  undignified. 
One  ballad  specially  devoted  to  him,  at  his  flight,  is  "  A 
Hymne  to  the  Gentle  Craft;  or,  Heivson's  Lamenta- 
tion : — 

T    ISTEN  a  while  to  what  I  shall  say 

-■— '     Of  a  blind  cobbler  that's  gone  astray 

Out  of  the  Parliament's  High-way, 

Good  people,  pity  the  blind ! 

[verse  17.] 
And  now  he  has  gone  to  the  Lord  knows  whether. 
He  and  this  winter  go  together. 
If  he  be  caught  he  will  lose  his  leather. 

Good  people,  pity  the  blind  ! 

(Rump,  Coll.  1662  edit.,  ii.  151-4.) 

Verse  14.  Dr.  John  Hewit  with  Sir  Harry  SI ingsby  had 
been  executed  for  conspiracy  against  Cromwell,  8th  June, 
1658.  The  Earl  of  Strafford's  death  was  May  12th,  1641 ; 
and  that  of  Laud,  January  loth,  1644. 

Verse  15.  Dun  was  the  name  of  the  Hangman  at  this 
time,  frequently  mentioned  in  the  Rump  ballads.  Jack 
Ketch  was  his  successor :  Gregory  had  been  Hangman 
in  1652. 

Pages  134,  376.     I'll  go  no  more  to  the  Old  Exchange. 

The  first  Royal  Exchange,  Sir  Thomas  Gresham's 
Bourse,  was  opened  by  Queen  Elizabeth,  January  23rd, 
1570,  and  destroyed  in  the  Great  Fire  of  1666.  The 
second  was  commenced  on  May  6th,  1667,  and  burnt  on 
January  loth,  1838.      The  present  building,  the  third. 


i 


Merry  Drollery,  1670. 


387 


was  opened  by  Queen  Viotcria  Oct.,  28th,  1844.  The 
"  Old  Exchange,  '  often  referred  to  in  ballads,  was 
Gresham's.  But  the  "  New  Exchange  "  was  one,  erected 
where  the  stables  of  Durham  House  in  the  Strand  had 
stood:  opened  April  nth,  1609,  and  removed  in  1737. 
King  James  I.  had  named  it  "Britain's  Bourse."  Built 
on  the  model  of  the  established  Royal  Exchange,  it  had 
"  cellars,  a  walk,  and  a  row  of  shops,  filled  with  milliners, 
seamstresses,  and  those  of  similar  occupations ;  and  was 
a  place  of  fashionable  resort.  What,  however,  was  in- 
tended to  rival  the  Royal  Exchange,  dwindled  into  frivolity 
and  ruin,  and  the  site  is  at  present  [  1829]  occupied  by  a 
range  of  handsome  houses  facing  the  Strand  "  (T.  Allen's 
Hisi.  and  Antiq.  of  London,  iv.  254).  In  the  ballad  it  is 
sung  of  as  "  Haberdashers'  Hall."  Cp.  Roxb.  Coll.,  ii., 
230. 


Pages  152,  378.     There  is  a  certain,  (9  c. 

This  is  an  imperfect  version  of  "  A  Woman's  Birth," 
merely  the  beginning,  four  stanzas.  The  whole  fifteen 
(eleven  following  ours)  are  reprinted  by  Wm.  Chappell, 
in  the  Ballad  Society's  Roxburghe  Bds.,  iii.  94,  1875,  from 
a  broadside  in  Roxb.  Coll.,  i.  466,  originally  printed  for 
Francis  Grove  [1620-55].  2nd  verse  reads: — Her  hus- 
band Hymen;  4th.  fVandring  eye;  insatiate.  The  gifts 
of  Juno,  Flora,  and  Diana  follow  ;  with  woman's  employ- 
ment of  them. 


Page  172.     Blind  Fortune,  if  thou,  i^c. 

We  find  this  in  MS.  Harleian,  No.  6396,  fol.  13.  Also 
two  printed  copies,  in  Parnassus  Biceps,  1656,  124;  and 
in  Sportive  Wit,  same  year,  p.  39.  We  gained  the  cor- 
rections, which  we  inserted  as  marginalia,  from  the  MS.; 
"  Ceres  in  hir  Garland "  having  been  corrupted  into 
"  Cealus  in  his."  "  Aglaura,"  Sir  John  Suckling's  play, 
(printed  originally  in  4to.  1639,  with  a  broad  margin  of 
blank,  on  which  the  wits  made  merry  with  epigrammes, 
"  By  this  wide  margent,"  &c.),  appeared  on  April  i8th, 

c  c  2 


388  Appendix. 

1638,  and  is  here  referred  to.  Probably  the  date  of  the 
poem  is  nearly  as  early.  On  p.  175  the  "  Pilgrimage  up 
Holborn  Hill "  refers  to  a  journey  from  Newgate  to 
Tyburn.     (See  p.  365). 

Pages  180,  379.     Heard  you  not  lately  of  a  man. 

The  Mad-Man's  Morrice;  written  by  Humfrey  Crouch  : 
For  the  second  part  of  the  broad-sheet  version  we  must 
refer  readers  to  vol.  ii.  page  153,  of  the  Ballad  Society's 
reprint  of  the  Roxburghe  Ballads  (now  happily  arrived  at 
completion  of  the  first  massive  folio  vol.  of  Major  Pear- 
son's original  pair ;  the  bulky  third  and  slim  fourth  vols. 
being  afterwards  added).  We  promised  to  give  it,  and 
gladly  would  have  done  so,  if  we  had  space  :  for  it  is  a 
trustworthy  picture  of  a  Bedlamite's  sufferings,  under  the 
harsh  treatment  of  former  days.     Date  about  1635-42. 

To  our  enumeration  of  mad  songs  ( Westm.  Droll.  App. 
p.  9)  we  may  add  Thomas  Jordan's  "  I  am  the  woefullest 
madman." 

M.  D.,  C,  p.  198,  lines  22,  23.      True  Hearts. 

"  I'll  drink  to  thee  a  brace  of  quarts  ||  Whose  Anagram 
is  called  True  Hearts."  The  Anagram  of  True  Hearts 
gives  us  "  Stuart  here  !  "  which,  like  drinking  "  to  the 
V^ng—over  the  ivater  !  "  in  later  days  by  the  Jacobites, 
would  be  well  understood  by  suspected  cavaliers. 

In  March  1659-60  appeared  the  anagram  "  Charles 
Stuart :  Arts  Chast  Rule.  Later :  Awld  fool,  Rob  the 
Jews'  Shop. 

Pages  255,  287.     When  I  do  travel  in  the  night. 

Like  "  How  happy  's  the  prisoner,"  Ibid.  p.  107,  we  trace 
this  so  early  as  1656.  It  is  in  Sporti-ve  Wit,  p.  12,  as 
"  When  I  go  to  revel  in  the  night,"  The  Drunkard's  Song. 

Pages  153  (and  Introduction,  ix).  The  best  of  Poets,  fsfc. 
The  Bow   Goose.     We  have  found  this,  (15  verses  of 


Merry  Drollery,  1670. 


389 


our  18,)  five  years  earlier,  in  Sporti've  Wit,  1656,  p.  35.  It 
there  begins,  "  The  best  of  Poets  write  of  Hogs,  And  of 
Ulysses  barking  Dogs ;  Others  of  Sparrows,  Flies,  and 
Hogs."  Our  text,  though  later,  seems  to  be  the  better, 
and  has  three  more  verses  :  "  Frogs,"  in  connection  with 
"  the  Best  of  Poets,"  referring  to  Homer  and  to  Batrach- 
oniyomachia  :  supposed  to  be  his,  and  translated  by 
George  Chapman,  about  1623  (of  whom  A.  C.  Swinburne 
has  recently  written  so  glowing  a  eulogium,  coupling  with 
it  the  noblest  praise  of  Marlowe). 

M.  D.,  C,  pp.  166,  376.      N01V,  thanks  to,  &c. 

Of  course,  the  words  displayed  by  dashes  are  Crcnvn, 
Bishop,  King.  To  this  same  tune  are  later  songs  (1659- 
60)  in  the  Rump,  ii.  193 — 200,  "  What  a  reprobate  crew 
is  here,"  &c.  Wilkins  prints  an  inferior  version  of  7th 
line  in  3rd  verse,  as  "  Take  Prynne  and  his  clubs,  or  Say 
and  his  tubs,"  referring  to  William,  Viscount  "  Say  and 
Seal."  Ours  reads  "  club,  or  Smec  and  his  tub,"  the 
allusion  being  to  Smectymnuus,  a,  name  compounded,  like 
the  word  Cabal  in  Charles  II. 's  time,  of  the  initials  of 
five  personal  names  :  Ste.  Marshall,  Edm.  Calamy, 
Thos.  Young,  Matth.  Newcomen,  and  Willm.  Spurstow; 
all  preachers,  who  united  in  a  book  against  Episcopacy 
and  the  Liturgy.  Milton,  in  1641  published  his  Animad- 
•versions  upon  the  Remonstrants  Defence  against  Smectym- 
nuus; and  in  1642,  An  Apology  for  Smectymnuus.  John 
Cleveland  devotes  a  poem  to  "  The  Club  Divines,"  be- 
ginning "Smectymnuus  !  the  Goblin  makes  me  start." 
(Poems,  p.  38,  1661  ;  also  in  the  Rump  Coll.,  i.  57.) 

Pages  200,  382.     A  Story  strange,  isfc. 

Correction  : — Instead  of  the  words  "  Choyce  Drollery, 
p.  31,"  in  first  line  of  note  (  M.  D.,  C,  p.  382),  read 
"  fo-vial  Drollery  (i.e..  Sportive  Wit),  p.  59."  The  same 
date,  viz.  1656. 

Pages  2  ID- 1 1,  384.     "To  Virginia  ^or  Planters." 

The  reference  here  is  to  the  proposed  expedition  of  dis- 

CC3 


390  Appendix. 

heartened  Cavaliers  (among  whom  was  Wm.  D'Avenant) 
from  France  and  England  to  the  Virginian  plantations. 
It  was  defeated  in  1650,  the  vessels  having  been  inter- 
cepted in  the  channel  by  the  Commonwealth's  fleet.  By 
the  way,  the  infamous  sale  into  slavery  of  the  royalist 
prisoners  during  the  war  in  previous  years  by  the  intole- 
rant Parliament,  deserves  the  sternest  reprobation. 

Page  226.     "Sea-coal  Lane" 

An  appropriate  dower,  as  Sea-coal  Lane  in  the  Old 
Bailey  bore  a  similar  evil  repute  to  Turnball  Street, 
Drury  Lane,  and  Kent  Street,  for  the  bona-roba  tribe  :  as 
"the  suburbs  "  always  did. 

Pages  232,  390.     Hinv  poor  is  his  spirit. 

Written  when  Oliver  rejected  the  title  of  King,  8th  May, 
1657.    (See  next  note,  on  p.  254,) 

Pages  254,  393.     Oliver,  Oliver,  take  up  thy  Crotun. 

After  Cromwell's  designating  the  Battle  of  Worcester, 
3rd  September,  1651,  his  "crowning  victory"  many  of 
his  more  uncompromising  Republicans  kept  a  stealthy 
eye  upon  him.  Our  ballad  evidently  refers  itself  to  the 
date  of  the  "  purified  "  Parliament's  "  Petition  and 
Advice,"  March  26,  1656,  when  Cromwell  hesitated  before 
accepting  or  declining  the  offered  title  of  King ;  thinking 
(mistakenly,  as  we  deem  probable)  that  his  position  would 
become  more  unsafe,  from  the  jealousy  and  prejudices  of 
the  army,  than  if  he  seemed  contented  with  the  name  of 
Protector  to  the  Commonwealth,  while  holding  the  actual 

?ower  of  sovereignty.  His  refusal  was  in  April,  1657. 
lallam  thinks  it  was  not  until  after  Worcester  fight  that 
"he  began  to  fix  his  thoughts,  if  not  on  the  dignity  of 
royalty,  yet  on  an  equivalent  right  of  command.  Two 
remarkable  conversations,  in  which  Whitelock  bore  a 
part,  seem  to  place  beyond  controversy  the  nature  of  his 
designs.      About   the  end  of   1651,  Whitelock  himself. 


Merry  Drollery,  1670. 


391 


St.  John,  Widdrington,  Lenthall,  Harrison,  Desborough, 
Fleetwood,  and  Whalley  met  Cromwell,  at  his  own 
request  to  consider  the  settlement  of  the  nation,"  &c. 
(Constit.  Hist.  England,  cap.  x.  p.  237,  edit.  1872.) 
"Twelve  months  after  this  time  in  a  more  confidential 
discourse  with  Whitelock  alone,  the  general  took  occasion 
to  complain  both  of  the  chief  officers  of  the  army  and  of 
the  parliament,"  &c.  {Ibid.  p.  238).  The  conference  not 
being  satisfactory  to  Cromwell,  on  each  occasion  ended 
abruptly  ;  and  Whitelock  ( if  we  may  trust  his  own 
account,  which  perhaps  is  asking  too  much  )  was  little 
consulted  afterwards.  When  they  had  conferred  the 
title  of  Lord  Protector,  the  right  of  appointing  his  suc- 
cessor was  added  on  22nd  May. 


Pages  255,  393.      When  I  do  travel,  iSfc. 

"  W.th  upsie  freeze  I  line  my  head,"  of  our  text,  is  in  the 
play  "  Cromwell's  Coronation  "  printed  "  With  tipsy 
frenae."  But  we  often  find  the  other  phrase ;  some- 
times, as  in  the  ballad  of  "  The  Good  Fellow's  Best  Be- 
lovec  "  (i.e.  strong  drink)  varied  thus,  "  With  good  ipse 
he,"  (about  1633).  See  Bd.  Soc.  Roxb.  Bds.  iii.  248, 
where  is  W.  Chappell's  note,  quoting  Nares  : — "  It  has 
be;n  said  that  op-zee,  in  Dutch,  means  '  over  sea,'  which 
cones  near  to  another  English  phrase  for  drunkenness, 
being  '  half-seas  over.'  But  op-zyn-fries  means,  '  in  the 
Ditch  fashion,'  or  a  la  mode  de  Frise,  which  perhaps  is 
the  best  interpretation  of  the  phrase."  In  Massinger  and 
Decker's  "Virgin  Martyr,"  1622,  Act  ii.  sc.  i,  we  find 
the  vile  Spungius  saying,  "  Bacchus,  the  God  of  brewed 
wine  and  sugar,  grand  patron  of  rob-pots,  upsie  freesie 
tipplers,  and  super-naculum  takers,"  &c.  Probably 
Badham's  conjecture  is  right,  and  in  Hamlet,  i.  4,  we 
should  read  not  "up-spring,"  but 

"  Keeps  ivassail,  and  the  s-waggering  upsy  freeze." 

(Cam.br.  Essays,  1656 ;  Cambr.  Shakesp.  viii.  30).  T. 
Caldecott  had  so  early  as  1620  (in  Spec.  ne%v  edit. 
Shakesp.  Hamlet)  anticipated  the  guess,  but  not  boldly. 

C  C  4 


392  Appendix. 

He  brings  forward  from  T.  Lodge's  Wit's  Miserie,  4to, 
1596,  p.  20,  "  Dance,  leap,  sing,  drink,  upsefrize."  And 
again  : — 

For  Upsefreeze  he  drunke  from  four  to  nine. 
So  as  each  sense  ivas  steeped  ivell  in  ivine  : 
Yet  still  he  kept  his  rouse,  till  he  in  fine 
Grexu  extreame  sicke  ivith  hugging  Bacchus  shrine. 

[The  Shrift.] 

A   new   Spring  shadowed  in  sundrie  pithie   Poems  by 
Musophilus,  4to.  1619,  signal.  1.  b.,  where  "  Upsefreese 
is  the  name  of  the  frier.     Like  "Wassael"  and  "  Trin- 
kael,"  the  phrase  i^psie-friese,  or  vrijster,  seems  to  have 
been  used  as  a  toast,  perhaps  for  "  To  your  sweetheirt." 


The  exact  date  of  this  ballad's  publication  was  31st  De- 
cember,   1659  :    in   Thomason   Collection,  Numero   Jfxii., 


Pages  259,  354.     If  none  be  offended. 

t  date  ( 
[659: 
folio,  Brit.  Mus. 

I 
Page  270.     Pray  ivhy  should  any,  i^c.         \ 

Probably  written  in  1659-60,  when  Monk  was  bricling 
the  Commons.  "  Cooks"  alludes  to  John  Cook,  tie 
Solicitor  for  the  Commonwealth,  who  at  the  trial  of 
Charles  1st.  exhibited  the  charge  of  high  treason.  After 
the  Restoration,  Cook  was  executed  along  with  Hufh 
Peters,  i6th  Oct.,  1660,  at  Charing  Cross. 

Pages  283  (line  22),  395.     /  have  the  finest  Nonperek 

"  Hyrens  "  (as  earlier  printed  in  fVit  and  Drollery,  1656, 
p.  26),  instead  of  "  Syrens "  of  our  text,  is  probably 
correct.  Ancient  Pistol  twice  asks  "  Have  we  not  Hirens 
here?"  (Henry  IV.,  Part  2nd,  Act  ii.  sc.  4).  George] 
Peele  had  a  play,  now  lost,  on  "  The  Turkish  Mahomet 
and  Hiren  the  fair  Greek  "  [1594  ?]  In  the  Spiritual 
Navigator,  1615,  we  learn,  is  a  passage,  "  There  be 
Syrens  in   the   sea  of  the  world.     Syrens?     Hirens,  as 


Merry  Drollery^  1670.  393 

they  are  now  called.  What  a  number  of  these  syrens, 
hirens,  cockatrices,  courteghians — in  plain  English,  har- 
lots— swimme  amongst  us  !  " 

Page  287.     Title,  "  Oxford  Jeasts." 

An  unfortunate  misprint  crept  in,  detected  too  late  :  for 
"Feasts"  read  properly  "  jf easts  "  the  old  fashioned 
initial  J  being  barred  across  like  F. 

Page  293,  line  11.     "  Heresie  in  hops." 

This  must  have  been  an  established  jest.  (Compare  In- 
trod.  to  M.  D.  C,  pp.  xxxi-ii.  and  T.  Randolph's  "  Fall 
of  the  Mitre  Tavern,"  Cambridge,  before  1635, 

T/ie  zealous  students  of  that  place- 
Change  of  religion  bear  : 
That  this  mischance  may  soon  bring  in  ||^  heresy  of  beer ." 

Page  295,  line  24.     "  A  hundred  horse." 

"  He  that  gave  the  King  a  hundred  horse,"  refers,  no 
doubt,  to  Sir  John  Suckling  and  his  loyal  service  in  1642. 
See  introduction  to  M.  D.,  C,  pp.  xix.  xx.  The  Answer 
to  "  I  tell  thee.  Jack,  thou  gavest  the  King,"  there  men- 
tioned, and  probably  referring  to  Sir  John  Mennis,  a 
carping  rival  although  a  Cavalier,  has  a  smack  of  Cleve- 
land about  it  (it  certainly  is  not  Suckling's)  : — 

Tell  thee,  fool,  ivho  ere  thou  be. 
That  made  this  fine  sing-song  of  me. 
Thou  art  a  riming  sot : 
These  "very  lines  do  thee  betray. 
This  barren  ivit  makes  all  men  say 
'  Tivas  some  rebellious  Scot. 

But  it's  no  ivonder  if  you  sing 
Such  songs  of  me,  ivho  am  no  King, 

When  ei)ery  blenv-cap  sivears 
Hee'l  not  obey  King  James  his  Barn, 
That  huggs  a  Bishop  under' s  Arme, 

And  hangs  them  in  his  ears. 


I 


\ 


394  Appendix. 

Had  I  been  of  your  Co-venant, 

You'd  call  me  th'  son  of  ]o\\n  (t/ Gaunt, 

And  give  me  i  great  renoivn  : 
But  no'iv  I  am.  John  \^f'\or  the  King, 
You  say  I  am  but  poor  Suckling, 

And  thus  you  cry  me  doixjn. 

Well,  ifs  no  matter  nvhat  you  say 
Of  me  or  mine  that  run  aivay  j 

I  hold  it  no  good  fashion 
A  Loyal  subjects  blood  to  spill,  ! 

When  ive  have  knaves  enough  to  kill 

By  force  of  Proclamation. 

Commend  me  unto  Lesley  stout. 
And  his  Pedlers  him  about. 

Tell  them  ivithout  remorse  [p,  151.] 

That  I  ivill  plunder  all  their  packs 
Which  they  have  got  ivith  their  stoln  knick  knacks. 

With  these  my  hundred  horse. 

This  holy  War,  this  zealous  firke  ■ 

Against  the  Bishops  and  the  Kirk  •  ■ 

Is  a  pretended  bravery  ; 
Religion,  all  the  -world  can  tell. 
Amongst  Highlanders  nere  did  divell. 

Its  but  to  cloak  your  knavery. 

Such  desperate  Gamesters  as  you  be, 
I  cannot  blame  for  tutoring  me. 

Since  all  you  have  is  down. 
And  every  Boor  forsakes  his  Ploiv, 
And  sivears  that  he' I  turn  Gamester  nonv 

To  venture  for  a  Crovun. 

(Le  Prince  d' Amour,  1660,  pp.  150,  151.) 


Pages  296,  398  (Cp.  this  vol.  p.  149,  line  8).     No%u  that 
the  Spring. 

This  is  by  Willm.  Browne,  author  of  "  Britannia's 
Pastorals."  The  date  is  probably  about  fifteen  years 
before  1645.      It  is  one  among  the  "  Odes,  Songs,  and 


Merry  Drollery,  1970.  395 

Sonnets  of  Wm.  Browne,"  in  the  Lansdowne  MS.  777, 
fol.  4  re-verso  and  5,  with  extra  verses  not  used  in  the 
Catch. 

A  Rounde.    [1st  verse  sung  by]  All. 

NChv  that  the  Spring  hathfiWd  our  -veynes 
With  kinde  and  actiue  fire. 
And  made  green  Liu"  ryes  for  the  playneSy 

and  euery  grove  a  Quire, 
Sing  ive  a  Song  of  merry  glee 
and  Bacchus  fill  tne  boivle  : 
I.   Then  heres  to  thee  :     2.  And  thou  to  mee 
and  euery  thirsty  soule. 

Nor  Care  nor  Sorrotv  ere  pay^d  debt 

nor  ne-ver  shall  doe  myne  ; 
I  haue  no  Cradle  goeing  yet, 

[?2.]  nor  I,  by  this  good  ivyne. 
No  ivyfe  at  home  to  send  for  me, 

noe  hoggs  are  in  my  grounde, 
Noe  suit  at  Laiv  to  pay  a  fee. 

Then  round,  old  Jockey,  round. 

All. 
Sheare  sheepe  that  haue  them,  cry  ive  still. 
But  see  that  noe  man  scape 
To  drink  of  the  Sherry 
That  makes  us  so  merry 
and  plumpe  as  the  lusty  Grape. 

(Lansdoixme  MS.,  No.  777.) 

**  Noe  hoggs  are  in  my  grounds  "  may  refer  to  the  Catch 
(if  it  be  equally  old)  : — 

WHose  three  Hogs  are  these,  and  ivhose  three  Hoggs 
are  these. 
They  are  John  Cook's,  /  knoiv  by  their  look,  for  I  found 

them  in  my  pease. 
Oh  !  pound  them  :  oh  pound  them  !  But  I  dare  not,  for  my 

life  ; 
For  if  1  should  pound  John  Cook's  Hoggs,  I  should  never 
kiss  John  Cook's  ivife,  (Sfc. 

(Catch  Club,  1705,  iii.  46.) 


39^  Appendix. 

Pages  293,  358.     Fetch  me  Ben  Jonson's  scull. 

In  1641  this  was  printed  separately  and  anonymously  as 
"A  Preparat'fve  to  Studie  ;  or,  the  Vertue  of  Sack,"  4to. 
Ben  Jonson  had  died  in  August,  1637.  Line  9  reads  : 
dull  Hyndc ;  21,  Genius-making;  28,  Welcome,  by; 
after  the  wood  "  scapes  "  these  additional  lines  : — 

/  ivould  not  lewue  thee.  Sack,  to  be  ivith  Jove, 

His  Nectar  is  butfaign'd,  but  I  doe  prcve 

Thy  more  essentiall  ivorth  :  J  am  (methinks),  (Sfc. 

Line  46,  instead  of  "long  since,"  reads  "of  late  "  (re- 
ferring to  whom  ?) ;  38,  tempt  a  Saint ;  w,  farther  bliss ; 
53,  against  \}[\y  foes  (N.B.);  'Y\\^.X.  ivould ;  and,  addi- 
tional, after  "  horse,"  in  line  56,  this  historical  allusion  to 
David  Lesley,  of  the  Scotch  rebellion  : — 

Fme  in  the  North  already,  Lasley's  dead. 
He  that  ivould  rise,  carry  the  King  his  head. 
And  tell  him  {if  he  aske,  ivho  kill'd  the  Scot) 
/  knock' t  his  Braines  out  ivith  a  pottle  pot. 
Out yc  Rebellious  vipers  ;    Vme  come  back 
From  them  againe,  because  there's  no  good  Sack, 
T'other  odd  cup,  isfc. 

By  this  we  are  guided  to  the  true  date  :  between  May, 
1639,  and  August,  1640. 

Pages  309,  399.      Why  should  ive  boast. 

Compare  pp.  129,  315,  of  present  volume,  for  the  Anti- 
dote version  and  note  upon  it.  Brief  references  must 
suffice  for  annotation  here.  See  Mallory's  "  Morte 
d' Arthur,"  the  French  Lancelot  du  Lac,  and  Sir  Tristram. 
Three  MSS.,  the  Auchinlech,  Cambridge  University, 
and  Caius  College,  preserve  the  romance  of  Sir  Bevis 
of  Hamptoun,  with  his  slaying  the  wild  boar ;  his  sword 
Morglay  is  often  mentioned,  like  Arthur's  Excalibur  : 
Ascapard,  the  thirty-feet-long  giant,  who  after  a  fierce 
battle  becomes  page  to  Sir  Bevis.  Caius  Coll.  MS.  and 
others  have  the  story  Richard  Coeur  de  Leon,  but  the 
street-ballad  served  equally  to  keep  alive  his  fame  among 


Merry  Drollery,  1670. 


397 


the  populace,  Coll.  Old  Bds.  iii,  17.  Wm.  Ellis  gives 
abstracts  of  romances  on  Arthur,  Guy  of  Warwick,  Sir 
Bevis,  Richard  Lion-heart,  Sir  Eglamour  of  Artoys,  Sir 
Isumbras,  the  Seven  Wise  Masters,  Charlemagne  and 
Roland,  &c.,  in  his  Spec.  Early  English  Metrical  Ro- 
mances;  of  which  J.  O.  Halliwell  writes,  in  1848: — 
"  Ellis  did  for  ancient  romance  what  Percy  had  pre- 
viously accomplished  for  early  poetry."  In  passing,  we 
must  not  neglect  to  express  the  debt  of  gratitude  due  to 
the  managers  of  the  E.  E.  Text  Soc,  for  giving  scholarly 
and  trustworty  prints  of  so  many  MSS.,  hitherto  almost 
beyond  reach.  For  Orlando  Inamorato  and  Orlando 
Furioso  we  must  go  to  Boiardo  and  Ariosto,  or  the  trans- 
lators. Sir  John  Harrington  and  W.  Stewart  Rose. 
Dunlop's  Hist,  of  Fiction  gives  a  slight  notice  of  some  of 
this  ballad's  heroes,  including  Huon  of  Bordeaux,  the 
French  Li-vre  de  J^ason,  Prince  of  the  Myrmidons,  the 
Vie  de  Hercule,  the  Cleopdtre,  &c.  Valentine  and  Orson 
is  said  to  have  been  written  in  the  reign  of  Charles  VIII., 
and  first  printed  at  Lyons  in  1495.  SS.  David,  James, 
and  Patrick,  with  the  rest  of  the  Seven  Champions,  like 
the  Four  Sons  of  Aymon,  are  of  easy  access.  Cp.  Warton. 


ARTHUR  O'BRADLEY. 

(Merry  Droll.,  Com.,  pp.  312,  395;  A?itidote  ag.  Mel.,  16). 

Here  is  the  five  years'  earlier  Song  of  "Arthur  o' 
Bradley,"  ("vide  ante,  pp.  166 — 175  )  never  before  reprin- 
ted, we  believe,  and  not  mentioned  by  J.  P.  Collier,  W. 
Chappell,  &c.,  when  they  referred  to  "  Saw  ye  not 
Pierce  the  Piper  "  of  Antidote  and  M.  D.,  C,  1661.  But 
ours  is  the  earliest-known  complete  version  [before 
1642  ?]  :  - 

A  SONG.  [p.  81.] 

A  LL  you  that  desire  to  merry  be, 
"^~^  Come  listen  unto  me. 
And  a  story  I  shall  tell. 
Which  of  a  Wedding  befell. 


398  Appendix. 

Between  Arthur  of  Bradley 
And  Winifred  of  Madly. 
As  Arthur  upon  a  day 
Met  Winifred  on  the  way. 
He  took  her  by  the  hand. 
Desiring  her  to  stand. 
Saying  I  must  to  thee  recite 
A  matter  of  [  great  ]  weight. 
Of  Love,  that  conquers  Kings, 
In  grieved  hearts  so  rings. 
And  if  thou  dost  love  thy  Mother, 
Love  him  that  can  love  no  other. 
Which  is  oh  brave  Arthur,  &c. 

For  in  the  month  of  May, 
Maidens  they  will  say, 

A  May-pole  we  must  have,      [/.  date  before  1642.] 
Your  helping  hand  we  crave. 
And  when  it  is  set  in  the  earth. 
The  maids  bring  Sullybubs  forth ;  [Syllabubs] 

Not  one  will  touch  a  sup, 
Till  I  begin  a  cup. 
For  I  am  the  end  of  all 
Of  them,  both  great  and  small. 
Then  tell  me  yea,  or  nay. 
For  I  can  no  longer  stay. 

With  oh  bra've  Arthur,  &c. 

Why  truly  Arthur  [,]  quoth  she. 
If  you  so  mmded  be. 
My  good  will  I  grant  to  you. 
Or  anything  I  can  do. 
One  thing  I  will  compell, 
So  ask  my  mothers  good  will. 
Then  from  thee  I  never  will  flye. 
Unto  the  day  I  do  dye. 
Then  homeward  they  went  with  speed. 
Where  the  mother  they  met  indeed. 
Well  met  fair  Dame,  quoth  Arthur, 
To  move  you  I  am  come  hither. 


1 


Merry  Drollery,  1680. 

For  I  am  come  to  crave. 
Your  daughter  for  to  have. 
For  I  mean  to  make  her  my  wife. 
And  to  live  with  her  all  my  life. 
With  oh  brave  Arthur,  &c. 

The  old  woman  shreek'd  and  cry'd. 
And  took  her  daughter  aside. 
How  now  daughter,  quoth  she. 
Are  you  so  forward  indeed. 
As  for  to  marry  he, 
Without  consent  of  me  ? 
Thou  never  saw'st  thirteen  year. 
Nor  art  not  able  I  fear. 
To  take  any  over-sight. 
To  rule  a  mans  house  aright : 
Why  truly  mother,  quoth  she. 
You  are  mistaken  in  me ; 
If  time  do  not  decrease, 
I  am  fifteen  yeares  at  least. 

With  oh  bra-ve  Arthur,  &c. 

Then  Arthur  to  them  did  walk. 
And  broke  them  of  their  talk, 
I  tell  you  Dame,  quoth  he, 
I  can  have  as  good  as  thee ; 
For  when  death  my  father  did  call. 
He  then  did  leave  me  all 
His  barrels  and  his  brooms. 
And  a  dozen  of  wo[o]den  spoones. 
Dishes  six  or  seven. 
Besides  an  old  spade,  even 
A  brasse  pot  and  whimble, 
A  pack-needle  and  thimble, 
A  pudding  prick  and  reele. 
And  my  mothers  own  sitting  wheele; 
And  also  there  fell  to  my  lot 
A  goodly  mustard  pot. 

With  O  hra-ve  Arthur,  &c. 

The  old  woman  made  a  reply. 
With  courteous  modesty. 


399 
[p.  83.] 


400  Appendix. 

If  needs  it  must  so  be. 
To  the  match  I  will  agree. 
For  [when]  death  doth  me  call, 
I  then  will  leave  her  all ; 
For  I  have  an  earthen  flaggon. 
Besides  a  three-quart  noggin. 
With  spickets  and  fossets  five. 
Besides  an  old  bee-hive  ; 
A  wooden  ladle  and  maile, 
And  a  goodly  old  clouting  paile ; 
Of  a  chaff  bed  I  am  well  sped. 
And  there  the  Bride  shall  be  wed. 
And  every  night  shall  wear 
A  bolster  stufft  with  haire, 
A  blanket  for  the  Bride, 
And  a  winding  sheet  beside. 
And  hemp,  if  he  will  it  break,  [p.  85.] 

New  curtaines  for  to  make. 
To  make  all  [well]  too,  I  have 
Stories  gay  and  brave. 
Of  all  the  world  so  fine. 
With  oh  brave  eyes  of  mine. 
With  oh  braiie  Arthur,  &c. 

When  Arthur  his  wench  obtained. 
And  all  his  suits  had  gained, 
A  joyfuU  man  was  he. 
As  any  that  you  could  see. 
Then  homeward  he  went  with  speed. 
Till  he  met  with  her  indeed. 
Two  neighbours  then  did  take 
To  bid  guests  for  his  sake ; 
For  dishes  and  all  such  ware. 
You  need  not  take  any  care. 
With  oh  brwue  Arthur,  &c. 

To  the  Church  they  went  apace. 
And  wisht  they  might  have  grace. 
After  the  Parson  to  say. 
And  not  stumble  by  the  way  ; 
For  that  was  all  their  doubt. 


Merry  Drollery,  1670.  401 

That  either  of  them  should  be  out. 
And  when  that  they  were  wed. 
And  each  of  them  well  sped, 
The  Bridegroom  home  he  ran, 
And  after  him  his  man,  [p.  86.] 

And  after  him  the  Bride, 
Full  joyfull  at  the  tyde. 
As  she  was  plac'd  betwixt 
Two  yeomen  of  the  Guests, 
And  he  was  neat  and  fine. 
For  he  thought  him  at  that  time 
Sufficient  in  every  thing. 
To  wait  upon  a  King. 
But  at  the  doore  he  did  not  miss 
To  give  her  a  smacking  kiss. 
With  oh  brave  Arthur,  &c. 

To  dinner  they  quickly  gat. 
The  Bride  betwixt  them  sat. 
The  Cook  to  the  Dresser  did  call. 
The  young  men  then  run  all. 
And  thought  great  dignity 
To  carry  up  Furmety. 
Then  came  leaping  Lenvis, 
And  he  call'd  hard  for  Brewis; 
Stay,  quoth  Davy  Rudding, 
Thou  go'st  too  fast  with  th'  pudding. 
Then  came  Sampson  Seal, 
And  he  carry'd  Mutton  and  Veal ; 
The  old  woman  scolds  full  fast. 
To  the  Cook  she  makes  great  hast. 
And  him  she  did  controul. 
And  swore  that  the  Porridge  was  cold. 
With  oh  brave,  &c. 

My  Masters  a  while  be  brief, 
Who  taketh  up  the  Beef  ? 

Then  came  William  Dickins,  [p  gyj 

And  carries  the  Snipes  &  Chickens. 
Bartholomevu  brought  up  the  Mustard, 
Caster  he  carry'd  the  Custard, 

D   D 


402  Appendix. 

In  comes  Roger  Boore, 
He  carry'd  up  Rabbets  before  : 
Quoth  Roger,  Tie  give  thee  a  Cake, 
If  thou  wilt  carry  the  Drake, 
[l]  Speak  not  more  nor  less. 
Nor  of  the  greatest  mess. 
Nor  how  the  Bride  did  carve. 
Nor  how  the  Groom  did  serve 
With  oh  brave  Arthur,  &c. 

But  when  that  they  had  din'd. 

Then  every  man  had  wine ; 

The  maids  they  stood  aloof. 

While  the  young  men  made  a  proof. 

Who  had  the  nimblest  heele. 

Or  who  could  dance  so  well, 

Tai  Hob  of  the  hill  fell  over,  [?oc'r] 

And  over  him  three  or  four. 

Up  he  got  at  last. 

And  forward  about  he  past ; 

At  Rcnvland  he  kicks  and  grirrs. 

And  he  [?  hit]    William  ore  the  shins  j 

He  takes  not  any  offence. 

But  flleeres  upon  his  wench  .^ 

The  Piper  he  play'd  [a]  Padding, 

And  they  ran  all  a  gadding. 

With  oh  bravo.  Arthur  [o'  Bradley},  &c. 

("  Wits  Merriment"  1656,  pp.  81-7.) 

The  (rften  mentioned  "  Arthur  o'  Bradley*s  Wedding,*' 
a  modern  version  attributed  to  Mr.  Taylor,  the  actor  and 
singer,  is  given,  not  only  in  Songs  and  Ballads  of  the 
Peasantry ,  &0:..,  (p.  139  of  R.  BelPs  Annot.  ed.),  collected 
by  J.  H.  Dixon ;  but  also  in  Berger's  Red,  White,  and 
Blue  Monster  Songbook,  p,  394,  where  the  music  arranged 
by  S.  Hale  is  stated  to  be  "  at  Walker's." 

Pages  326,  402..     Why  should  ive  not  laugh,? 
The  reference  to  " Goldsmith ^s  HaH"  (see  p.  363),  where 


Merry  Drollery ,  1670.  403 

a  Roundhead  Committee  sate  in  1647,  and  later,  for 
the  spoliation  of  Royalists'  estates,  levying  of  fines  and 
acceptance  of  "  Compounders  "  money,  dates  the  song. 

Pages  328,  402.     iVoTf  ive  are  met. 

If  we  are  to  reckon  the  **  twelve  years  together  by  the 
ears  "  from  January  4,  1641-2,  the  abortive  attempt  of 
Charles  I.  to  arrest  at  the  House  "the  Five  Members" 
(  Pym,  Hampden,  Haslerig,  Denzil  Holies,  and  Strode), 
we  may  guess  the  date  of  this  ballad  to  be  1653-4.  Verse 
14  mentions  Oliver  breaking  the  Long  Parliament  (20th 
April,  1653);  and  verses  15,  16  refer  to  the  Little,  or 
"  Barebones  Parliament"  July  4,  to  2nd  December,  1653, 
(when  power  was  resigned  into  the  hands  of  Cromwell). 
Shortly  after  this,  but  certainly  before  Sept.  3rd,  1654 
( when  the  next  Parliament,  more  impracticable  and 
persecuting,  met),  must  be  the  true  date  of  the  ballad. 
"  Robin  the  Fool  "  is  "Robin  Wisdom,"  Robert  Andrews. 
"Fair'*  is  Thomas  Lord  Fairfax  the  "Croysado-General." 
"Cowardly  W — "  is  probably  Philip,  Lord  Wharton,  a 
Puritan,  and  Derby-House  committee-man ;  of  inferior 
renown  to  Atkins  in  unsavoury  matters ;  but  whose  own 
regiment  ran  away  at  Edgehill  :  Wharton  then  took 
refuge  in  a  saw-pit.  President  Bradshaiv  died  22nd  Nov., 
1659.  Dr.  Isaac  Dorislaus,  Professor  of  History  at 
Cambridge,  and  of  Gresham  College,  apostatized  from 
Charles  1.,  and  was  sent  as  agent  by  the  Commons  to 
the  Hague,  where  he  was  in  June,  1649,  assassinated  by 
some  cavaliers,  falsely  reported  to  be  commissioned  by 
the  gallant  Montrose  (  see  the  ballad  "  What  though 
lamented,  curst,"  &c.,  in  King's  Pamphlets,  Brit.  Mus). 
"  Askevj"  is  "  one  Ascham  a  Scholar,  who  had  been 
concerned  in  drawing  up  the  King's  Tryal,  and  had 
written  a  book,"  &c.,  (Clarendon,  iii.  369,  1720).  This 
Anthony  Ascham,  sent  as  Envoy  to  Spain  from  the  Par- 
liament in  1649,  was  slain  at  Madrid  by  some  Irish  officers, 
(  Rapin:)  of  whom  only  one,  a  Protestant,  was  executed. 
See  Harl.  Misc.  vi.  236-47.  All  which  helped  to  cause 
the  war  with  Spain  in  1656. 

D  D  2 


404  Appendix. 

Harry  Marten's  evil  repute  as  to  women,  and  lawyer 
Oliver  St.  John's  building  his  house  with  stones  plun- 
dered from  Peterborough  Cathedral,  were  common  topics. 
"  The  women's  war,"  often  referred  to  as  the  "  bodkin 
and  thimble  army,"  of  1647,  was  so  called  because  the 
"Silly  women,"  influenced  by  those  who  "crept  into  their 
houses,"  gave  up  their  rings,  silver  bodkins,  spoons  and 
thimbles  for  support  of  Parliamentary  troops. 

Page  332,  line  2,  we  should  for  Oz^r  read  Only. 

Page  348,  line  10.     "  Old  Lilly." 

An  allusion  to  William  Lilly's  predictive  almanacks, 
shewing  that  this  Catch  was  not  much  earlier  in  date 
than  Hilton's  book,  1652.  Lilly  was  the  original  of 
Butler's  "Cunning  man,  hight  Sidrophel"  in  Hudi- 
bras.  Part  2nd,  Canto  3.      Compare  note,  p.  353. 

Page  361  (Appendix),  line  5.  For  misprint  alterem, 
read  alteram. 

Page  394  ( Appendix),  Neiv  England,  &c. 

References  should  be  added  to  the  Rump  Coll.,  1662,  i.  95, 
and  Loyal  Songs,  1731,  i.  92.  "Isaack,"  is  probably  Isaac 
Pennington.  Hampden  and  others  were  meditating  this 
journey  to  Netv  England,  until  stopped,  most  injudiciously, 
by  an  order  in  Council,  dated  April  6,  1638. 

We  here  give  our  additional  Note,  on  the  "  Sessions  of 
the  Poets,"  reserved  from  p.  376. 


405 

^v    ^v    ^v    ^v    ^b    ^v    ^«    ^*     ^v    ^3    ^v    ^#    ^v     ^#    ^v    ^9     ^9     ^v     ^9     ^b     ^v    ^v 

<c^  v^  v^  >^  s^  <^  v^  vy^  Vt^  v^  ^c^  <^  v^  ^  v^  ^  *<^  ^  v^  ^3^  v^  v^ 

§  3— SESSIONS  OF  POETS. 

We  believe  that  Sir  John  Suckling's  Poem,  sometimes 
called  "A  Sessions  of  Wit,"  was  written  in  1636-7; 
almost  certainly  before  the  death  of  Ben  Jonson  (6th 
August,  1637).  Among  its  predecessors  were  Richard 
Barnfield's  "  Remembrance  of  some  English  Poets," 
1598  (given  in  present  volume,  p.  273);  and  Michael 
Drayton's  "  Censure  of  the  Poets,"  being  a  Letter  in 
couplets,  addressed  to  his  friend  Henry  Reynolds;  and 
the  striking  lines,  "  On  the  Time-Poets,"  pp.  5 — 7  of 
Choyce  Drollery,  1656.  The  latter  we  have  seen  to  be 
anonymous ;  but  they  were  not  impossibly  by  that  very 
Henry  Reynolds,  friend  of  Drayton ;  although  of  this 
authorship  no  evidence  has  yet  arisen.  Of  George 
Daniel's  unprinted  "  Vindication  of  Poesie,"  1636-47, 
we  have  given  specimens  on  pp.  272,  280-1,  and  331-2. 
Later  than  Suckling  (who  died  in  1642),  another  author 
gave  in  print  "  The  Great  Assizes  Holden  in  Parnassus 
by  Apollo  and  his  Assessors :"  at  which  Sessions  are 
arraigned  Mercurius  Britannicus,  &c.,  Feb.  nth,  1644-5. 
This  has  been  attributed  to  George  Wither;  most  erro- 
neously, as  we  believe.  The  mis-appropriation  has 
arisen,  probably,  from  the  fact  of  Wither's  name  being 
earliest  on  the  roll  of  Jurymen  summoned  : 

"  Hee,  ivho  -was  called  first  in  all  the  List, 
George  Withers  hight,  entitled  Satyrist : 
Then  Gary,  May,  and  Davenant  ivere  called  forth, 
Renotvned  Poets  all,  and  men  ofnvorth, 
Ifivit  may  passe  for  ivorth  :  Then  Sylvester, 
Sands,  Drayton,  Beaumont,  Fletcher,  Massinger, 
Shakespeare,  and  Heywood,  Poets  good  andjree, 
Dramatick  zuriters  all,  but  the  first  three : 
These  ivere  empanell' d  all,  and  being  sivorne 
A  just  and  perfect  'verdict  to  return,"  iSfc,  (p.  9.) 

George  Wither  was  quite  capable  of  placing  himself 
first  on  the  list,  in  such  a  manner,  we  admit;  but  it  is 
incredible  to  us  that,  if  he  had  been  the  author,  he  could 

D  D  3 


4o6  Appendix. 

have  described  himself  so  insultingly  as  we  find  in  the 
following  lines,  and  elsewhere  : — 

"  he  did  protest 
That  Wither  "was  a  cruell  Satyrist ; 
And  guilty  of  the  same  offence  and  crime. 
Whereof  he  ivas  accused  at  this  time  : 
Therefore  for  him  hee  thought  it  fitter  farre. 
To  stand  as  a  Delinquent  at  the  barre. 
Then  to  bee  noru  empaneWd  in  a  Jury. 
George  Withers  then,  ivith  a  Poetick  fury. 
Began  to  bluster,  but  A.'poWo'sfroivne 
Made  him  forbeare,  and  lay  his  choler  dorune.^') 

{Ibid,  p.  II. 

Two  much  more  sparkling  and  interesting  "  Sessions  of 
Poets  "  afterwards  appeared,  to  the  tune  of  Ben  Jonson's 
"Cook  Laurel."     The  first  of  these  begins  : — 

Apollo,  concerned  to  see  the  Transgressions 

Our  paltry  Poets  do  daily  commit. 
Gave  orders  once  more  to  summon  a  Sessions, 

Se'verely  to  punish  th'  Abuses  of  Wit. 

Will  d'Avenant  ivould  fain  ha-ve  been  Stenvard  o'  the 
Court, 

To  have  fin' d  and  amerc'd  each  man  at  his  ivill  s 
But  Apollo,  it  seems,  had  heard  a  Report, 

That  his  choice  ofnevu  Plays  did  shovu  h'  had  no  skill. 

Besides,  some  Criticks  had  otu'd  him  a  spite. 
And  a  little  before  had  made  the  God  fret. 

By  letting  him  know  the  Laureat  did  ivrite 
That  damnable  Farce,  '  The  House  to  be  Let.' 

Intelligence  ivas  brought,  the  Court  being  set 
That  a  Play  Tripartite  ivas  very  near  made  : 

Where  malicious  Matt.  Clifford,  and  spirituall  Spratt, 
Were  join' d  ivith  their  Duke,  a  Peer  of  the  Trade,"  f^c. 

The  author  did  not  avow  himself.  It  must  have  been 
written,  we  hold,  in  1664-5.  The  second  is  variously 
attributed  to  John  Wilmot,  Earl  of  Rochester,  and  to 
George  Villiers,  Duke  of  Buckingham,  being  printed  in 
the  works  of  both.     It  begins  : — 


I 


Merry  Drollery,  1670.  407 

"  Since  the  Sons  of  the  Muses  grenv  numerous  aud  loud. 
For  th^  appeasing  so  factious  and  clamorous  a  croivd, 
Apollo  thought  ft  in  so  'weighty  a  cause, 
T'  establish  a  government,  leader,  and  laivs"  &c. 

Assembled  near  Parnassus,  Dryden,  Etherege,  Wycher- 
ley,  Shadwell,  Nat  Lee,  Settle,  Otway,  Crowne,  Mrs. 
Aphra  Behn,  Rawlms,  Tom  D'Urfey,  and  Betterton,  are 
in  the  other  verses  sketched  with  point  and  vivacity;  but 
in  malicious  satire.  It  was  probably  written  in  1677. 
Clever  as  are  these  two  later  "Sessions,"  they  do  not 
equal  Suckling's,  in  genial  spirit  and  unforced  cheerful- 
ness. 

We  need  not  here  linger  over  the  whimsical  Trial  of 
Tom  D'Urfey  and  Tom  Brown  (who  squabbled  between 
themselves,  by  the  bye ),  in  a  still  later  "  Sessions  of  the 
Poets  Holden  at  the  foot  of  Parnassus  Hill,  July  the  9th, 
1696  :  London,  printed  for  E.  Whitlock,  near  Stationers' 
Hall,  1696": — a  mirthful  squib,  which  does  not  lay  claim 
to  be  called  poetry.  Nor  need  we  do  more  than  mention 
"A  Trip  to  Parnassus:  or,  the  Judgment  of  Apollo  on 
Dramatic  Authors  and  Performers.  A  Poem.  London, 
1788" — which  deals  with  the  two  George  Colmans, 
Macklin,  Macnally,  Lewis,  &c.  Coming  to  our  own 
century,  it  is  enough  to  particularize  Leigh  Hunt's 
"Feast  of  the  Poets;"  printed  in  his  "Reflector," 
December,  181 1,  and  afterwards  much  altered,  generally 
with  improvement  (especially  in  the  exclusion  of  the 
spiteful  attack  on  Walter  Scott).  It  begins — "'Tother 
day  as  Apollo  sat  pitching  his  darts,"  (S^c.  In  1837  Leigh 
Hunt  wrote  another  such  versical  review,  viz.,  "  Blue- 
Stocking  Revels ;  or.  The  Feast  of  the  Violets."  This 
was  on  the  numerous  "poetesses,"  but  it  cannot  be 
deemed  successful.  Far  superior  to  it  is  the  clever  and 
interesting  "  Fable  for  Critics,"  since  written  by  James 
Russell  Lowell  in  America. 

Both  as  regards  its  own  merit,  and  as  being  the  parent 
of  many  others  ( none  of  which  has  surpassed,  or  even 
equalled  it).  Sir  John  Suckling's  "Sessions  of  Poets" 
must  always  remain  famous.  We  have  not  space  re- 
maining at  command  to  annotate  it  with  the  fulness  it 
deserves. 

D  D  4 


408 

^k    ^K    ^k    ^k    ^k    ^k    ^K    ^K    ^k    ^k    ^k    ^k    ^k    ^k    ^k    ^k    ^k    ^k    ^k    ^k    ^k    ^k 

ADDITIONS  AND  CORRECTIONS. 

The  type-ornaments  in  Choyce  Drollery  reprint  are 
merely  substitutes  for  the  ruder  originals,  and  are  not  in 
facsimile,  as  were  the  Initial  Letters  on  pages  5  and  7  of 
our  Merry  Drollery,  Compleat  reprint. 

Page  42,  line  6,  "  a  Lockeram  Band :  "  Lockram,  a 
cheap  sort  of  linen,  see  J.  O.  Halliwell's  valuable  Dic- 
tionary of  Archaic  and  Prcvincial  Words,  p.  525,  edit. 
1874.  To  this,  and  to  the  same  author's  1876  edition  of 
Archdeacon  Nares  Glossary,  we  refer  readers  for  other 
words. 

Page  73 — 77,  297,  Marchpine,  or  Marchpane,  biscuits 
often  made  in  fantastic  figures  of  birds  or  flowers,  of 
sweetened  almonds,  &c.  Scettuall,  or  Setiivall,  the 
Garden  Valerian.  Bausons,  i.e.  badgers.  Cockers; 
boots.  Verse  fifth  omitted  from  Choyce  Drollery,  runs  : — 
"  Her  features  all  as  fresh  above. 
As  is  the  grass  that  grows  by  Dove, 

And  lythe  as  lass  of  Kenl ; 
Her  skin  as  soft  as  Lemster  wool. 
As  white  as  snow  on  Peakish  Hull, 
Or  Swan  that  swims  in  Trent" 

A  few  typographical  errors  crept  into  sheet  G  (owing  t* 
an  accident  in  the  Editor's  final  collation  with  original ). 
P.  81,  line  2,  read  Blacke ;  line  20,  Shaft ;  p.  85,  line  3, 
Unlesse;  p.  86,  line  5,  Physitian;  line  17,  that  Lawyer's; 
p.  87,  line  9,  That  wil  stick  to  the  Laws ;  p.  88,  line  8, 
O  that's  a  companion;  p.  90,  first  line,  basenesse ;  line 
23,  nature;  p.  91,  line  13,  add  a  comma  after  the  word 
blot;  p.  94,  line  13,  Scepter;  p.  96,  line  10,  Of  this;  p. 
97,  line  15,  For  feare;  p.  99  line  6,  add  a  comma;  p, 
100,  line  13,  finde.     These  are  all  single-letter  misprints. 

Pag^  269,  line  14,  for  encreasing,  read  encreaseth  ;  and 
end  line  28  with  a  comma. 

L  H.  in  line  35,  are  the  initials  of  the  author,  "John 
Higins." 

Page  270,  line  9,  add  the  words — "  It  is  by  Sir  Wm. 
Davenant,  and  entitled  '  The  Dying  Lover.'  " 

Page  27s,  penultimate  line,  read  Poet-Beadle.  P.  277, 
1.  17,  for  1698  read  1598. 


Merry  Drollery,  1670.  409 

Page  281,  line  20,  for  liveth,  read  Imes  ;  cla'ime. 

Page  289,  after  line  35,  add — "  Page  45,  '  As  I  ivent  to 
Totnam.'  This  is  given  with  the  music,  in  Tom  D'Ur- 
fey's  Pills  to  purge  Melancholy,  p.  180,  of  1700  and 
1719  (vol.  iv.)  editions;  beginning  "As  I  came  from 
Tottingham.'  The  tune  is  named  '  Abroad  as  I  was 
walking.  Page  52,  He  that  a  Tinker ;  Music  by  Dr.  Jn. 
Wilson, 

Page  330,  after  line  10,  add — "  Fly,  boy,  fly :  Music  by 
Simon  Ives,  in  Playford's  Select  Ayres,  1659,  p,  90." 

The  date  of  "The  Zealous  Puritan,"  M.D.C.,  p.  95, 
was  1639.  "  He  that  intends,"  &c..  Ibid,  p.  342,  is  the 
Viiuperium  Uxoris,  by  John  Cleveland,  written  before 
1658  {Poems,  1661,  p.  169). 

"  Love  should  take  no  wrong,"  in  Westminster- 
Drollery,  i6ji,  i.  90,  dates  back  seventy  years,  to  1601 : 
with  music  by  Robert  Jones,  in  his  Second  Book  of 
Songs,  Song  5. 

Introduction  to  Merry  Drollery  (our  second  volume) 
p.  xxii,  lines  20,  21,  Since  writing  the  above,  we  have 
had  the  pleasure  of  reading  the  excellent  "  Memoir  of 
Barbara,  Duchess  of  Cleveland, "  and  the  "  Althorp 
Memoirs,"  by  G.  Steinman  Steinman,  Esq.,  F.  S.  A., 
(printed  for  Private  Circulation,  1871,  1869);  by  the 
former  work,  p.  22,  we  are  led  to  discredit  Mrs.  Jameson's 
assertion  that  the  night  of  May  29,  1660,  was  spent  by 
Charles  II.  in  the  house  of  Sir  Samuel  Morland  at  Vaux- 
hall.  "  This  knight  and  friend  of  the  King's  »/^  have 
had  a  residence  in  the  parish  of  Lambeth  before  the 
Restoration,  but  as  he  was  an  Under  Secretary  of  State 
at  the  time,  it  is  more  probable  that  he  lived  in  London ; 
and  as  he  did  not  obtain  from  the  Croivn  a  lease  of  Vaux- 
hall  mansion  and  grounds  until  April  19,  1675,  the 
foundations  of  a  very  improbable  story,  whoever  originated 
it,  are  considerably  shaken,"  Mr,  Steinman  inclines  to 
believe  the  real  place  of  meeting  was  Whitehall,  He 
has  given  a  list  of  Charles  II, 's  male  companions  in  the 
Court  at  Bruges,  with  short  biographies,  in  the  Archceo- 
logia,  XXXV.  pp.  335-349.  We  knew  not  of  this  list  when 
writing  our  Introduction  to  Choyce  Drollery. 


4IO 


The  Phoenix  (emblematical  of  the  Restoration)  is  adapted 
firom  Spenser's  Works,  i6i  i. 


411 


TABLE  OF  FIRST  LINES 
In  "  Merry  Drollery,"  1661, 1670,  1691 

(Ncnv  first  added.) 

[The  Songs  and  Poems  peculiar  to  the  first  edition, 
1661  (having  been  afterwards  omitted),  are  here  dis- 
tinguished by  being  printed  in  Roman  type.  They  are 
all  contained  in  the  present  -volume.  Those  that  were 
added,  in  the  later  editions  only,  have  no  number  attached 
to  them  in  our  first  column  of  pages,  viz.  for  1661.  The 
third  edition,  in  1691,  was  no  more  than  a  re-issue  of  the 
1670  edition,  with  a  fresh  title-page  to  disguise  it,  in  pre- 
tence of  novelty  (see  p.  345,  ante).  The  outside  column 
refers  to  our  Reprint  of  the  "  Drolleries ;"  but  where  the 
middle  column  is  blank,  as  shewing  the  song  was  not  re- 
peated in  1670  and  1691,  our  Reprint-page  belongs  to  the 
present  "volume.  The  "  Reserved  Pieces,"  given  only  in 
Supplement,  bear  the  letter  "  R  "  (for  the  extra  sheet, 
signed  R*).— Ed.] 

First  Lines.  [In  Editions]  1661 

A    Brewer  may  be  a  Burgess  ...  il 
"^^  A  fig  for  Care,  why  should  we 

A  Fox,  a  Fox,  up  gallants 

A  Maiden  of  late,  whose  name ... 
A  Pox  on  thejaylor,  and  on  his 

A  Puritan  of  late       

A  Session  was  held  the  other  day 

A  Story  strange  I  will  you  tell ...  ii. 

A  young  man  of  late 27  201 


1661 

1670 

1875 

70 

252 

252 

217 

2l^ 

29 

38 

38 

160 

170 

170 

289 

289 

2 

195 

68 

72 

72 

12 

200 

200 

412 


Table  of  First  Lines. 


A  young  man  thafs  in  love 
A  young  man  walking  all  alone 
A/ier  so  many  sad  mishaps 
After  the  pains  of  a  desperate  Lover 

Ah,  ah  J  come  see  whafs     

All  in  the  Land  of  Essex 

Am  L  mad,  O  noble  Festus  ? 

Amarillis  told  her  swain    

Among  the  Purifidian  sect 
Are  you  grown  so  melancholy  i  ... 
Ashe  me  no  more  why  there  appears 
T)ACCHUS  L  ayn,  come  from  . 

Be  merry  in  sorrow     

Be  not  thou  so  foolish  nice 

Blind  Fortune,  if  thou  want'st .. 
Bring  forth  your  Cunny-skins    .. 
But  since  it  was  lately  enacted  . . 
r^  all  for  the  Master,  oh,  this    .. 
^^   Call  George  again,  boy 
Calm  was  the  evening,  and  clear 
Calm  was  the  evening,  and  clear 
Cast  your  caps  and  cares  aside    . 
Come,  Drawer,  and  fill  us  about 
Come,  Drawer,  some  wine 
Come,  Drawer,  turn  about  the  b. 
Come,  Drawer,  come,  fill  us 

Come,  faith,  lefsfrolick     

Come,  hither,  my  own  sweet     . . 
Come,  Lmp  Royal,  come  away    . . 
Come,  Jack,  let's  drink  a  pot  of  Ale 
Come,  let  us  drink,  the  time  invites 


34 

42 

42 

32 

204 

112 

118 

118 

171 

171 

30 

40 

40 

48 

56 

56 

ii. 

50 

234 

234 

8 

10 

ii. 

103 

243 

ii. 

lOI 

286 

286 

62 

70 

70 

6i 

69 

69 

lb 

6 

8 

61 

69 

69 

163 

172 

172 

iL 

8 

196 

196 

ii. 

24 

212 

212 

9 

II 

ii. 

118 

304 

304 

220 

220 

292 

292 

87 

92 

92 

ii. 

80 

263 

263 

ii. 

29 

237 

ii. 

86 

268 

268 

ii. 

3 

190 

190 

ii. 

65 

246 

246 

ii. 

106 

247 

ii. 

45 

231 

231 

45 

52 

52 

93 

97 

97 

Table  of  First  Lines.  '    413 


Come,  let' s  purge  our  brains 
Come,  my  dainty  Doxies,  my  Dove  ii, 
Come,  my  Daphne,  come  away  . . . 
Come,  my  delicate,  bonny  sweet  . . . 
Cook  Laurel  would  needs  have  ... 
rNiscoveries  of  late  have  been 
*^  Doctors,  lay  by  your  irkesome 
T7air  Lady,  for  your  New  Year's 
Fetch  me  Ben  Johnson's  scull 
From  Essex  Anabaptist  Laws   . . . 
From  hunger  and  cold,  who  lives 
From  Mahomet  and  Paganisme 
From  the  fair  Lavinian  shore    ... 
From  what  you  calVt  Town 
Full  forty  times  over  I  have,  &c 
f~^  at  her  your  rosebuds  while     . . . 
^^   Go,  you  tame  Gallants, 
God  bless  my  good  Lord  Bishop.. . 
Good  Lord,  what  a  pass  is  this  . . . 

TT  ad  she  not  care  enough 

JLang  Chastity  I  it  is 

LTave  you  observed  the  Wench  . . . 
He  is  a  fond  Lover,  that  doateth 
He  tliat  a  happy  life  would  lead 
He  that  intends  to  take  a  wife  . . . 
Heard  you  not  lately  of  a  man  ... 
Heris  a  health  unto  his  Majesty 

Hey,  ho,  have  at  all ! 

Hold,  quaff  no  more    

How  happy  is  the  Prisoner 
How  poor  is  his  spirit        


114 

121 

121 

ii. 

44 

230 

230 

86 

91 

91 

23 

34 

34 

ii. 

26 

214 

214 

ii. 

ZZ 

Rf 

41 

48 

48 

ii. 

81 

R« 

293 

293 

ii. 

38 

241 

ii. 

9 

197 

197 

164 

174 

174 

291 

291 

191 

182 

182 

ii. 

61 

R* 

ii 

II 

199 

199 

ii. 

57 

242 

242 

166 

176 

176 

75 

79 

79 

211 

211 

88 

220 

ii. 

141 

33-2 

332 

ii. 

62 

r1 

ii 

147 

339 

339 

ii. 

153 

342 

342 

169 

180 

180 

212 

212 

168 

R« 

ii. 

19 

210 

210 

lOI 

107 

107 

ii. 

48 

232 

232 

414  Table  of  First  Lines. 


T  ama  bonny  Scot,  Sir     

/  am  a  Rogue,  and  a  stout  one 
I  came  unto  a  Puritan  to  woo    . . . 
I  doat,  I  doat,  but  am  a  sot 
I  dreamt  my  Love  lay  in  her  bed 

/  have  reason  to  fly  thee     

/  have  the  fairest  Non-perel 
I  loved  a  maid — she  loved  not  me  il 
I  marvel,  Dick,  that  having  been 
I  mean  to  speak  of  England's  . . . 
J  met  with  the  Divel  in  the  shape 
I  pray  thee,  Drunkard,  get  thee . . . 
I  tell  thee,  Kit,  where  I  have  been 
I  went  from  England  into  France 
If  any  one  do  want  a  House     ... 
If  any  so  wise  is,  that  Sack 
If  every  woman  were  served  in  her 
If  none  be  offended  with  the  scent 
If  that  you  will  hear  of  a  ditty  . . . 
If  thou  wilt  know  how  to  chuse  . . . 

If  you  will  give  ear    

I'll  go  no  more  to  the  Old  Exchange 
I'll  sing  you  a  sonnet,  that  n^er 
I'll  tell  thee,  Dick,  where  I  have 
I'll  tell  you  fi  story,  that  never  w.t. 
In  Eighty-eight,  e'er  I  was  born 
In  the  merry  mofith  of  May 
//  chanced  not  long  ago,  as  I  was 
It  was  a  man,  and  a  jolly  old  man 
T   adies,  I  do  here  present  you  ... 

Lay  by  your  pleading,  Law . , . 


119 

127 

127 

ii. 

16 

204 

204 

73 

77 

77 

ii. 

53 

237 

237 

II 

197 

ii. 

97 

281 

281 

ii. 

99 

283 

283 

il 

151 

RP 

46 

54 

54 

85 

218 

103 

109 

109 

ii. 

119 

306 

306 

317 

317 

64 

213 

ii. 

64 

Rm 

ii. 

157 

348 

348 

80 

85 

85 

ii. 

77 

259 

259 

ii. 

149 

253 

21 

32 

32 

ii. 

46 

Rg 

126 

134 

134 

(>(> 

66 

97 

lOI 

lOI 

123 

131 

131 

77 

82 

82 

99 

99 

ii. 

82 

264 

264 

95 

222 

ii. 

55 

240 

240 

118 

125 

125 

\ 


Table  of  First  Lines. 


Lay  by  your  pleading,  Love  lies  a 

Let  dogs  and  divels  die       

Let  Souldiers  fight  for  praise 

Let  the  Trumpet  sound       

Lefs  call,  and  drink  the  cellar  dry 
Listen,  lordings,  to  my  story 
TV /fine  own  sweet  honey  bird 
''■■'•  My  bretheren  all  attend 
My  Lodging  is  on  the  cold  ground 

My  Masters,  give  audience 

My  Mistris  is  a  shittle-cock 

My  Mistris  is  in  Mustek    

My  Mistris,  whom  in  heart 
"VT«_y,  out  upon  this  fooling 

Nay,  prithee,  doiitfly  me  . . 
N^er  trouble  thy  self  at  the  times 
Nick  Culpepper  diVid  William  Lilly 
No  man  Lov^s  fiery  passion 
No  sooner  were  the  doubtful  people 
Now,  gentlemen,  if  you  will  hear 
Now  L am  married.  Sir  John    ... 
Now,  L  confess,  L  am  in  love 
Now  Lambert^s  sunk,  and  gallant 
Now  thanks  to  the  Powers  below 
Now  that  the  Spring  has  filled  . . . 

Now  we  are  met  in  a  knot 

r\  that  I  could  by  any  Chymick 

^^  O  the  wily,  wily  Fox 

Of  all  the  Crafts  that  L  do  know 

Of  all  the  rare  juices 

Of  all  the  Recreations,  which     . . . 


II 


u.   4 

31 

ii.  31 

ii.  142 

130 

32 

153 

91 


u.  91 
51 

154 
107 

79 
25 


56 

I 

58 
18 
96 
I 
12 

156 
ii.  no 
ii.  138 
ii.  31 
ii.  114 
7 


415 

191  191 
41   41 

218  218. 

333  333 

138  138 

240 

95   95 

290  290 

275  275 

60   60 

163  163 

113  113 
84   84 

36   36 

219  219 
190 

187  187 

243  243 

29  29 

280  280 

5    7 

198 

166  166 

296  296 

328  328 

239 

300  300 

17   17 

178  178 

146  146 


I 


P' 

R' 


416  Table  of  First  Lines. 

Of  all  the  Sciences  beneath  the  Sun  ii,  129  319  319 

Of  all  the  Sports  the  world  doth      ii.  iii  296  296 

Of  all  the  Trades  that  ever  I  see     ii,    40  225  225 

Of  an  old  Souldier  of  the  Queen's          20  31  31 

Oliver,  Oliver,  take  up  thy  Crown  ii.    72  254  254 

Once  was  I  sad,  till  I  grew  to  be              2^  10  12 

iox  take  you,  Mistris,  Til  be  gone  ii.  I  iS  304  304 

Tray ,  why  should  any  man ., .  ii.    87  270  270 

iding  to  London,  in  Dunstable         14  200 

Room  for  a  Gamester ii.     10  197  197 

Room  for  the  best  Toets  heroick !            96  100  100 

^aw  you  not  Viexct  the  piper   ...  ii.  124  312  312 

^  She  lay  all  naked  in  her  bed...  ii.  115  300  300 

She  lay  up  to  the  navel  bare     ...  ii.  116  r° 

She  that  will  eat  her  breakfast  ...  ii.  120  308  308 

Shew  a  room,  shew  a  room ii.  145  337  337 

Sir  Eglamore,  that  valiant  knight  ii.     75  257  257 

Some  Christian  people  all  give  ear         81  87  87 

Some  wives  are  good,  and  some  ...  302  302 

Stay,  shut  the  gate  I    ...  ii.     18  207  207 

Sublimest  discretions  have  cluVd. ..  287  287 

*~r^ he  Aphorisms  of  (^2i\&[i.         ...  ii.    94  277  277 

The  best  of  Toets  write  of  F.         141  153  153 

The  LLunt  is  up,  the  LLunt  is  up            20  30  30 

The  Tractors  are  two,  and  no  more       105  iii  iii 

The  Spring  is  coming  on     40  47  47 

The  thirsty  Earth  drinks  up      ...  22  22 

The  ^ui^  in  linnen  wraps 13  25  25 

The  Wise  Men  were  but  seven   ...  232  232 

The  World' s  a  bubble,  and  the  life       104  no  no 

f  There  dwelt  a  Maid  in  the  C.  g.            37  46  46 


Table  of  First  Lines. 


417 


23 

26 

149 

146 


There  is  a  certain  idle  kind  of  cr.         140     152 

There  was  a  jovial  Tinker 17       27 

There  was  a  Lady  in  this  land...  134 
There  was  an  old  man  had  an  acre  44  52 
There  was  three  birds  that  built  139 
There  was  three  Cooks  in  C  ...  ii.  129  318 
Ther^ s  a  lusty  liquor  which  ...  132  140 
■  Theris  many  a  blinking  verse  ...  ii.  35  221 
Three  merry  Boys  came  out       ...     "  220 

Three  merry  Lads  met  at  the  Rose  143 

^Tis  not  the  Silver  nor  Gold      ...        109     115 

To  friend  and  to  foe    

Tobacco  that  is  withered  quite 
Tom  and  Will  were  Shepherd 
T  Tpon  a  certain  time 
^•^^   Upon  a  Summer's  day 
'WT<^k^  all  you  Dead,  what  ho  I 
'  '      Walking  abroad  in  the  m. 
We  Seamen  are  the  honest  boys  . . . 
What  an  Ass  is  he,  Waits,  ^c. ...  ii. 
What  Fortune  had  I,  poor  Maid    ii. 
What  is  that  you  call  a  Maid.  ...  ii. 
What  though  the  ill  times  do  run 
What  though  the  times  produce 
When  blind  god  Cupid,  all  in  an    ii.       2 
When  first  Maxdike.  was  made  .. .  4 

When  first  the  Scottish  war     ...  89 

When  L  a  Lady  do  intend  to  flatter  \\.  158  348 
When  L do  travel  in  the  night  ...  ii.  73  255 
When  L'se  came  first  to  London  ii.  133  323 
When  VhfXibviS  had  drest   ii.    69     250 


38 
16 


148 


151 

76       81 

152     162 

90     273 

152     341 
68     249 
116     124 
161 

188 
12 
93 


152 

27 
223 

52 

R» 
318 
140 
221 
220 
143 

23 

26 

149 

Rb 
230 

81 
162 

273 
341 

249 
124 

Rd 
188 
12 

93 
348 

255 
323 
250 


£  E 


4 1 8  Table  of  First  L  ines. 

When  the  chill  Chaxokoe  blows. 
White  bears  have  lately  come 
Why  should  a  man  care     ... 
Why  should  we  boast  <?/"  Arthur 
Why  should  we  not  laugh  ... 
Will  you  hear  a  strange  thing   . 
VTou  Gods,  that  rule  upon 

You  talk  of  New  England  . 
You  that  in  love  do  mean  to  sport  ii.    22  235 


155 

164 

164 

149 

159 

159 

ii. 

146 

337 

337 

ii. 

122 

309 

309 

ii. 

136 

326 

326 

S3 

62 

62 

ii. 

21 

233 

ii. 

84 

266 

266 

Firs 


419 


First  Lines  of  the  "Antidote"  Songs: 

Given  in  this  Volume  (and  not  in  M.  D.  C.J. 


[Present  Reprint,]  Page 

A  Man  0/ Wales,  a  little  before  Easter...         ...  157 

An  old  house  end     ...         ...         ...         ...  153 

Bring  out  the  \_c\old  Chyne          ...         ...         ...  146 

Come,  come  away  to  the  Tavern,  I  say 150 

Come  hither,  thou  merriest  of  all  the  Nine          ...  133 

Come,  let  us  cast  dice  who  shall  drink      ...         ...  151 

Drink,  drink,  all  you  that  think  ...         ...         ...  158 

^ly  boy,  fly  boy,  to  the  cellar's  bottom       ...         ...  157 

7ood  Symon,  how  comes  it           ...         ...         ...  154 

Yang  Sorrow,  and  cast  away  Care         ...         ...  152 

Yang  the  Freshyter's  Gill           144 

Ye  that  a  Tinker,  a  tinker  will  be           52 

n  love  f  away  I  you  do  me  wrong          ...         ...  147 

V  not  come  here  to  tauke  of  Prut ...         ...         ...  141 

\h  _fog  on,  jog  on  the  foot-path-way  ...         ...         ...  156 

Let's  cast  away  Care        152 

^ Mongst  all  the  pleasant  juices      ...         ...         ...  150 

fy  Lady  and  her  Maid 152 

^ever  let  a  man  take  heavily        ...         ...         ...  151 

'ot  drunken  nor  sober      ...         ...         ...         ...  113 

'Of  all  the  birds  that  ever  L see     155 

£  £2 


420 


Table  of  First  Lines. 


Old  Poets  Hypocrin  admire 
Once  I  a  curious  eye  did  fix 
Theparcht  earth  drinks  the  rain  ... 
The  wit  hath  long  beholden  been  . . . 
There  wets  an  old  man  at  Walton  Cross 
This  Ale,  my  bonny  lads  ... 
'Tis  Wine  that  inspires     ... 
Welcome,  welcome,  again  to  thy  wit 
What  are  we  met  ?  Come,  lefs  see 
Why  should  we  boast  of  Arthur    . . . 
Wilt  thou  be  fat  ?  Fie  tell  thee  how 
Wilt  thou  lend  me  thy  mare 
With  an  old  song  made  by  an  old  a.  p. 
You  merry  Foets,  old  boyes 
Your  mare  is  lame,  she  halts  outright 


421 


HERE  the  Editor  closes  his  willing  toil,  (after 
having  added  a  Table  of  First  Lines,  and  a 
Finale,)  and  offers  a  completed  work  to  the  friendly 
acceptance  of  Readers.  They  are  no  vague  abstrac- 
tions to  him,  but  a  crowd  of  well-distinguished  faces, 
many  among  them  being  renowned  scholars  and  genial 
critics.  To  approach  them  at  all  might  be  deemed 
temerity,  were  it  not  that  such  men  are  the  least  to  be 
feared  by  an  honest  worker.  On  the  other  hand,  it 
were  easy  for  ill-natured  persons  to  insinuate  accusa- 
tions against  any  one  who  meddles  with  Re-prints  of 
Facetice.  Blots  and  stains  are  upon  such  old  books, 
which  he  has  made  no  attempt  to  disguise  or  palliate. 
Let  them  bear  their  own  blame.  There  are  dullards 
and  bigots  in  the  world,  nevertheless,  who  decry  all 
antiquarian  and  historical  research.  A  defence  is  un- 
necessary :  "  Let  them  rave  !" 

Fanta  di  loro  il  mondo  esser  non  lassa, 
Misericordia  e  giustizia  gli  sdegna, 
Non  ragioniam  di  lor,  ma  guarda  e  fassa. 

He  thanks  those  who  heartily  welcomed  the  earlier 
Volumes,  and  trusts  that  no  unworthy  successor  is  to 

EE3 


\ 


422  Drolleries  of  the  Restoration. 

be  found  in  the  present  Conclusion,  which  holds  many 
rare  verses.  Hereafter  may  ensue  another  meeting. 
Our  olden  Dramatists  and  Poets  open  their  cellars, 
full  of  such  vintage  as  Dan  Phoebus  had  warmed. 
Leaving  these  ^^  Drolleries  of  the  Restoration  "  behind 
him,  as  a  Nest-Egg,  the  Editor  bids  his  Readers 
cheerfully 

FAREWELL! 


FINALE. 


423 


FINALE. 

*'  Laudator  temporis  acti "  cantat ; — 

I. 
/~*  LOSED  now  the  book,  untrimmed  the  lamp, 

Flung  wide  the  lattice-shutter ; 
The  night-breeze  strikes  in,  chill  and  damp. 

The  fir-trees  moan  and  mutter : 
Lo,  dawn  is  near !  pale  Student,  thou 

No  count  of  time  hast  reckon'd ; 
Go,  seek  a  rest  for  weary  brow 
From  dreams  of  Charles  the  Second. 

2. 

Sad  grows  the  world  :  those  hours  are  past 

When,  jovially  convivial. 
Choice  Spirits  met,  and  round  them  cast 

Such  glow  as  made  cares  trivial ; 
When  nights  prolonged  through  following  days 

Found  night  still  closing  o'er  us. 
While  Youth  and  Age  exchanged  their  lays. 

Or  intertwined  in  chorus. 

3. 
Our  gravest  Pundits  of  the  Bench, 

Most  reverend  Sirs  of  Pulpit, 
Smiled  at  the  praise  of  some  coy  wench. 

Or — if  too  warm — could  gulp  it. 


424  Drolleries  of  tJte  Restoration. 

Loyal  to  King,  faithful  to  Church, 

And  firm  to  Constitution, 
No  friend,  no  foe  they  left  in  lurch,  . 

Or  sneaked  to  Revolution. 

4- 
There,  many  a  sage  Physician  told 

Fresh  facts  of  healing  knowledge ; 
There,  the  dazed  Bookworm  could  grow  bold. 

And  speak  of  pranks  at  College  : 
There,  weary  Pamphleteers  forgot 

Faction,  debates,  and  readers. 
But  helped  to  drain  the  clinking-pot 

With  punning  Special-pleaders. 

5. 
How  oft  some  warrior,  famed  abroad 

For  valour  in  campaigning. 
Exchanged  the  thrust  with  foes  he  awed 

For  hob-a-nob  Champaigning ! 
While  some  Old  Salt,  an  Admiral 

And  Circumnavigator, 
Joined  in  the  revel  at  our  call. 

Nor  sheer'd-ofi  three  days  later. 

6. 
Who  lives  to  thrill  with  jest  and  song. 

Like  those  whose  memories  haunt  us  ? — 
Who  never  knew  a  night  too  long. 

Or  head-ache  that  could  daunt  us. 

£  £4 


Drolleries  of  the  Restoration.  42  5 

The  weaklings  of  a  later  day 

Win  neither  Mirth  nor  Thinking ; 
They  mix,  and  spoil,  both  work  and  play : 

They've  lost  the  art  of  Drinking ! 

7- 
For  me,  I  lonely  grow,  and  shy. 

No  one  seems  worth  my  courting; 
Though  girls  have  still  a  laughing  eye. 

And  tempt  to  May-day  sporting  : 
For  sillier  youth,  or  richer  Lord, 

Or  some  staid  prig,  and  colder, 
"  Neat-handed  Phillis  "  spreads  the  board. 

And  Chloe  bares  her  shoulder. 

8. 
In  days  gone  by,  light  grew  the  task. 

For  holidays  were  glorious ; 
It  was  the  talk  sublimed  the  flask. 

That  now  is  deemed  uproarious. 
We've  so  much  Methodistic  cant. 

Abstainers'  Total  drivel. 
And,  worse.  Utilitarian  rant — 

One  scarcely  can  keep  civil. 

9. 

Our  politics  are  insincere. 

For  Statesmen  cog  and  shuffle ; 
They  hit  not  from  the  shoulder  clear. 

But  dodge,  and  spar  with  muffle. 


426  Drolleries  of  the  Restoration. 

How  Bench  and  Bar  sink  steeped  in  mire. 

Avails  not  here  recording : 
While  Prelates  cannot  now  look  higher 

Than  to  mere  self-rewarding. 

lo. 
Friends  of  old  days,  'tis  well  you  died 

Before,  like  me,  you  sickened 
Amid  the  rottenness  and  pride 

That  in  this  world  have  quickened  : 
You  passed,  ere  yet  your  hopes  grew  dim. 

While  Love  and  Friendship  warmed  you  : 
I  look  but  to  th'  horizon's  rim. 

For  all  that  erst  had  charmed  you. 

II. 

Not  here,  amid  a  lower  crew, 

I  seek  to  fill  your  places ; 
For  men  no  more  have  hearts  as  true. 

Nor  maids, — though  fair  their  faces. 
My  thoughts  flit  back  to  earlier  days. 

Where  Pleasure's  finger  beckon'd. 
Cheered  with  the  Beauty,  Love,  and  Lays 

That  warmed  our  Charles  the  Second. 

J.  W.  E. 

Biblioth.  Ashmol.,  Cantium,  1876. 

[End  of  '•  The  '  Drolleries '  of  the  Restoration."] 


J 


Drollery  Reprints. 


. 


Uniform  with  ^*  Choice  Drollery^ 

Published  at  los.  6d.  to  Subscribers,  now  raised  to 

2IS ;  large  paper,  published  at  ;;£"i  is,  now 

raised  to  jQ  2  2S. 

A   RE-PRINT 

OF    THE 

Westminster  Drollery, 

1671,  1672. 


To  those  who  are  already  acquainted  with  the 
two  parts  of  the  Westminster  Drollery,  published 
in  1671  and  1672,  it  must  have  appeared  strange  that 
no  attempt  has  hitherto  been  made  to  bring  these  de- 
lightful volumes  within  reach  of  the  students  of  our 
early  literature.  The  originals  are  of  extreme  rarity, 
a  perfect  copy  seldom  being  attainable  at  any  public 
sale,  and  then  fetching  a  price  that  makes  a  book- 
hunter  almost  despair  of  its  acquisition.  So  great  a 
favourite  was  it  in  the  Cavalier  times,  that  most  copies 
have  been  literally  worn  to  pieces  in  the  hands  of  its 
many  admirers,  as  they  chanted  forth  a  merry  stave 
from  the  pages.  There  is  no  collection  of  songs  sur- 
passing it  in  the  language,  and  as  representative  of  the 
lyrics  of  the  first  twelve  years  after  the  Restoration 
it  is  unequalled :  by  far  the  greater  number  are  else- 
where unattainable. 

The  Westminster  Drolleries  are  reprinted  with 
the  utmost  fidelity,  page  for  page,  and  line  for  line, 
not  a  word  being  altered,  or  a  single  letter  departing 
from  the  original  spelling. 


DROLLERY    RE-PRINTS. 

NOW  READY. 

''Merry  Drollery,  Co7npletel 
1661,  1691. 


ERRY  Drollery,  Complete  is  not  only 
amusing,  but  as  an  historical  document  is 
of  great  value.  It  is  here  reproduced, 
with  the  utmost  exactitude,  for  students 
of  our  old  literature,  from  the  edition  of  1691.  The 
few  rectifications  of  a  corrupt  text  are  invariably  held 
within  square  brackets,  when  not  reserved  for  the 
Appendix  of  Notes,  Illustrations,  and  Emendations. 
Thirty-four  Songs,  additional,  that  appeared  only  in 
the  1 66 1  edition,  will  be  given  separately;  the  interme- 
diate edition  of  1670  being  also  collated.  A  special 
Introduction  has  been  prefixed,  drawing  attention  to 
the  political  events  of  the  time  referred  to,  and  some 
account  of  the  authors  of  the  Songs  in  this  Merry 
Drollery. 

The  work  is  quite  distinct  in  character  from  the 
Westminster  Drolleries,  1671-72,  but  forms  an  indis- 
pensable companion  to  that  ten-years-later  volume. 
Twenty-five  songs  and  poems,  that  had  not  appeared 
in  the  1661  edition,  were  added  to  the  after  editions 
of  Merry  Drollery ;  but  without  important  change 
to  the  book.  It  was  essentially  an  offspring  of  the 
Restoration,  the  year  1660-61,  and  it  thus  gives  us  a 
8;enuine  record   of  the   Cavaliers   in   their  festivity. 


DROLLERY   RE-PRINTS. 

Whatever  is  offensive,  therefore,  is  still  of  historical 
importance.  Even  the  bitterness  of  sarcasm  against 
the  Rump  Parliament,  under  whose  rule  so  many 
families  had  long  groaned  ;  the  personal  invective, 
and  unsparing  ridicule  of  leading  Republicans  and 
Puritans;  were  such  as  not  unnaturally  had  found 
favour  during  the  recent  Civil  War  and  Usurpation. 
The  preponderance  of  Songs  in  praise  of  Sack  and 
loose  revelry  is  not  without  significance.  A  few  pieces 
of  coarse  humour,  double  entendre,  and  breaches  of 
decorum  attest  the  fact  that  already  among  the  Cavaliers 
were  spread  immorality  and  licentiousness.  The  fault 
of  an  impaired  discipline  had  borne  evil  fruit,  beyond 
defeat  in  the  field  and  exile  from  positions  of  power. 
Mockery  and  impurity  had  been  welcomed  as  allies, 
during'  the  warfare  against  bigotry,  hypocrisy,  and 
selfish  ambition.  We  find,  it  is  true,  few  of  the 
sweeter  graces  of  poetry  in  Choice  Drollery  and  in 
Merry  Drollery  ;  but,  instead,  much  that  helps  us  to  a 
sounder  imderstanding  of  the  social,  military,  and 
political  life  of  those  disturbed  times  immediately 
preceding  the  Restoration. 

Of  the  more  than  two  hundred  pieces,  contained  in 
Merry  Drollery,  fully  a  third  are  elsewhere  unattain- 
able, and  the  rest  are  scarce.  Among  the  numerous 
attractions  we  may  mention  the  rare  Song  of  "  Love 
lies  a  bleeding"  (p.  191),  an  earnest  protest  against 
the  evils  of  the  day ;  the  revelations  of  intolerant 
military  violence,  such  as  The  Power  of  the  Sword 
(125),  Mardyke  (12),  Pym's  Anarchy  (70),  The  Scotch 
War  (93),  The  New  Medley  of  the  Country-man, 
Citizen,  and  Soldier  (182),  The  Rebel  Red-Coat  (190), 


DROLLERY   RE-PRINTS. 

and  "Cromwell's  Coronation"  (254), with  the  masterly 
description  of  Oliver's  Routing  the  Rump  (62).  Several 
Anti-Puritan  Songs  about  New  England  are  here,  and 
provincial   descriptions   of  London   (95,    275,  323). 
Rollicking  staves  meet  us,  as  from  the  Vagabond  (204), 
The  Tinker  of  Turvey  (27),  The  Jovial  Loyallist,  with 
the  Answer  to  it,  in  a  nobler  strain,  by  one  who  sees 
the  ruinous  vileness  of  debauchery  (pp.  207,  209);  and 
a  multitude  of  Bacchanalian  Catches.     The  two  songs 
on  the  Blacksmith  (225,  319),  and  both  of  those  on 
The  Brewer  (221,  252),  referring  to  Cromwell,  are 
here;  as  well  as  the  ferocious  exultation  over  the  Regi- 
cides in  a  dialogue  betwixt  Tower-hill  and  Tyburn 
(131),     More  than  a  few  of  the  spirited  Mad-songs 
were  favourites.     Nor  are  absent  such  ditties  as  tell 
of  gallantry,  though  few  are  of  refined  affection  and 
exalted  heroism.      The  absurd   impossibilities   of  a 
Medicine  for  the  Quartan  Ague  (277,  cf.  170),  the  sly 
humour  of  the  delightful  *'  How  to  woo  a  Zealous 
Lady"   (77),   the  stately  description  of  a  Cock-fight 
(242),  the  Praise  of  Chocolate  (48),  the  Power  of 
Money  (115),  and  the  innocent  merriment  of  rare 
Arthur  o'   Bradley's  Wedding  (312),  are  certain  to 
please.     Added,  are  some  of  the  choicest  poems  by 
Suckling,  Cartwright,  Ben  Jonson,  Alexander  Brome, 
Fletcher,   D'Avenant,   Dryden,   Bishop   Corbet,   and 
others.     "The  Cavalier's  Complaint,"  with  the  Answer 
to  it,  has  true  dramatic  force.     The  character  of  a 
Mistress  (60),  shows  one  of  the  seductive  Dalilahs  who 
were  ever  ready  to  betray.     The  lampoons  on  D'Av- 
enant's  "Gondibert"   (100,    118)  are  memorials  of 
unscrupulous  ridicule  from  malicious  wits.     "News, 


DROLLERY  RE-PRINTS. 

that's  No  News"  (159),  with  the  grave  buffoonery  of 
"The  Bow  Goose"  (153),  and  the  account  of  a  Fire 
on  London  Bridge  (87),  in  the  manner  of  pious  ballad- 
mongers  (the  original  of  our  modem  "Three  Children 
Sliding  on  the  Ice"),  are  enough  to  make  Heraclitus 
laugh.  Some  of  the  dialogues,  such  as  "  Resolved  not 
to  Part"  (113),  The  Bull's  Feather"  (i.e.  the  Horn,  p. 
264),  and  that  between  a  Hare  and  the  hounds  that 
are  chasing  him  (296),  lend  variety  to  the  volume  ; 
which  contains,  moreover,  some  whimsical  stories  in 
verse,  (one  being  "A  Merry  Song"  of  a  Husbandman 
whose  wife  gets  him  off  a  bad  bargain,  p.  1 7 :  compare 
p.  200),  told  in  a  manner  that  would  have  delighted 
Mat  Prior  in  later  days. 

It  is  printed  on  Ribbed  Toned  paper,  and  the  Impres- 
sion is  limited  to  400  copies,  fcap.  8vo.  los.  6d. ;  and  50 
copies  large  paper,  demy  8vo.  21s.  Subscribers'  names 
should  be  sent  at  once  to  the  Publisher, 

Robert  Roberts,  Boston,  Lincolnshire. 

Every  copy  is  numbered  and  sent  out  in  the  order 
of  Subscription. 

I^P°  This  series  of  Re-prints  from  the  rare  Drolleries 
is  now  completed  in  Three  Volumes  (of  which  the 
first  published  was  the  Westminster  Drollery):  that 
number  being  sufficient  to  afford  a  correct  picture 
of  the  times  preceding  and  following  the  Restoration 
1660,  without  repetition.  The  third  volume  con- 
tains "  Choice  Drollery ^^  1656,  and  all  of  the  ^'■Antidote 
against  Melancholy,^''  1661,  which  has  not  been  already 
included  in  the  two  previous  volumes  ;  with  separate 
Notes,  and  Illustrations  drawn  from  other  contempo- 
rary Drolleries. 


DROLLERY  RE-PRINTS. 

OPINIONS  OF  THE  PRESS,  &c. 

"Strafford  Lodge,  Oatlands  Park, 

Surrey,  Feb.  4,  1875. 
Dear  Sir, 

I  receiveH  the  "Westminster  Drolleries" 
yesterday  evening.  I  have  spent  nearly  the  whole  of  this 
day  in  reading  it.  I  can  but  give  unqualified  praise  to  the 
editor,  both  for  his  extensive  knowledge  and  for  his  admi- 
rable style.  The  printing  and  the  paper  do  great  credit 
to  your  press.  ...  I  enclose  a  post-office  order  to  pay 
for  my  copy. 

Yours  truly, 
Mr.  Robert  Roberts.  Wm,  Chappell." 


From  J.  0.  Halliivell,  Esqre. 

"No.  II,  Tregunter  Road,  West  Brompton, 
London,  S.  W., 
Dear  Sir,  25th  Feby..  1875. 

I  am  charmed  with  the  edition  of  the 
*' Westminster  Drollery."  One  half  of  the  reprints  of  the 
present  day  are  rendered  nearly  useless  to  exact  students 
either  by  alterations  or  omissions,  or  by  attempts  to  make 
eclectic  texts  out  of  more  than  one  edition.  By  all  means 
let  us  have  introductions  and  notes,  especially  when  as 
good  as  Mr.  Ebsworth's,  but  it  is  essential  for  objects  of 
reference  that  one  edition  only  of  the  old  text  be  accurately 
reproduced.  The  book  is  certainly  admirably  edited. 
Yours  truly. 
To  Mr.  R.  Roberts.  J.  O.  Phillipps." 


From  F.  J.  Furnivall,  Esq. 

"3,  St.  George's  Square,  Primrose  Hill,  London,  N.W., 

2nd  February,  1875. 
My  Dear  Sir, 

I  have  received  the  handsome  large  paper 
copy  of  your  "Westminster  Drolleries."  I  am  very  glad 
to  see  that  the  book  is  really  edited,  and  that  well,  by  a 
man  so  thoroughly  up  in  the  subject  as  Mr.  Ebsworth. 

Truly  yours, 

F.  J.  F." 


DROLLERY   RE-PRINTS. 

From  the  Editor  of  the  "Fuller's  Worthies  Library" 
"Wordsivorth^s  Prose  Works,"  isfc. 
"  Park  View,  Blackburn, 

Lancashire,  13th  July,  1875. 
Dear  Sir, 

I  got  the  "  Westminster  Drolleries  "  at 
once,  and  I  will  see  after  the  "  Merry  Drollery "  when 
published. 

Go  on  and  prosper.    Mr.  Ebsworth  is  a  splendid  fellow, 
evidently.  Yours, 

A.  B.  Grosart." 


J.  P.  Collier,  Esqre.,  has  also  written  warmly  com- 
mending the  work,  in  private  letters  to  the  Editor,  which 
he  holds  in  especial  honour. 


From  the  "Academy,"  July  lOth,  1 875. 

*'  It  would  be  a  curious  though  perhaps  an  unprofitable 
speculation,  how  far  the  '  Conservative  reaction '  has  been 
reflected  in  our  literature Reprints  are  an  impor- 
tant part  of  modern  literature,  and  in  them  there  is  a 
perceptible  relaxation  of  severity.  Their  interest  is  no 
longer  mainly  philological.  Of  late,  the  Restoration  has 
been  the  favourite  period  for  revival.  Its  dramatists  are 
marching  down  upon  us  from  Edinburgh,  and  the  invasion 
is  seconded  by  a  royalist  movement  in  Lincolnshire.  A 
Boston  publisher  has  begun  a  series  of  drolleries — in- 
tended, not  for  the  general  public,  but  for  those  students 
who  can  afford  to  pay  handsomely  for  their  predilection 
for  the  byways  of  letters. 

"  The  Introduction  is  delightful  reading,  with  quaint 
fancies  here  and  there,  as  in  the  'imagined  limbo  of  un- 
finished books.'  ....  There  is  truth  and  pathos  in  his 
excuses  for  the  royalist  versifiers  who  '  snatched  hastily, 
recklessly,  at  such  pleasures  as  came  within  their  reach, 
heedless  of  price  or  consequences.'  We  may  not  admit 
that  they  were  '  outcasts  without  degradation,'  but  we  can 
hardly  help  allowing  that  'there  is  a  manhood  visible  in 
their  failures,  a  generosity  in  their  profusion  and  unrest. 
They  are  not  stainless,  but  they  affect  no  concealment  of 
faults.     Our  heart  goes  to  the  losing  side,  even  when  the 


DROLLERY  RE-PRINTS. 

loss  has  been  in  great  part  deserved.'  ....  The  fact  is, 
that  in  his  contemplation  of  the  follies  and  vices  of  'that 
very  distant  time '  he  loses  all  apprehension  of  their 
grosser  elements,  and  retains  only  an  appreciation  of  their 
wit,  their  elegance,  and  their  vivacity.  Without  offence 
be  it  said,  in  Lancelot's  phrase,  *he  does  something 
smack,  something  grow  to;  he  has  a  kind  of  taste,' — and 
so  have  we  too,  as  we  read  him.  These  trite  and  ticklish 
themes  he  touches  with  so  charming  a  liberality  that  his 
generous  allowance  is  contagious.  We  feel  in  thoroughly 
honest  company,  and  are  ready  to  be  heartily  charitable 
along  with  him.  For  his  is  no  unworthy  tolerance  of  vice, 
still  less  any  desire  to  polish  its  hardness  into  such  facti- 
tious brilliancy  as  glistens  in  Grammont.  It  is  a  manly 
pity  for  human  weakness,  and  an  unwillingness  to  see, 
much  less  to  pry  into,  human  depravity.  '  It  would  have 
been  a  joy  for  us  to  know  that  these  songs  were  wholly 
speck  must  go  hungry  through  many  an  orchard,  even 
unobjectionable ;  but  he  who  waits  to  eat  of  fruit  without 
past  the  apples  of  the  Hesperides.'  ....  The  little  book 
IS  well  worth  the  attention  of  any  one  desirous  to  have  a 
bird's-eye  view  of  the  Restoration  *  Society.'  Its  scope  is 
far  wider  than  its  title  would  indicate.  The  *  Drolleries ' 
include  not  only  the  rollicking  rouse  of  the  staggering 
blades  who  '  love  their  humour  well,  boys,'  the  burlesque 
of  the  Olympian  revels  in  '  Hunting  the  Hare,'  the  wild 
vagary  of  Tom  of  Bedlam,  and  the  gibes  of  the  Benedicks 
of  that  day  against  the  holy  estate,  but  lays  of  a  delicate 
and  airy  beauty,  a  dirge  or  two  of  exquisite  pathos,  homely 
ditties  awaking  patriotic  memories  of  the  Armada  and  the 
Low  Country  wars,  and  'loyal  cantons'  sung  to  the 
praise  and  glory  of  King  Charles.  The  '  late  and  true 
story  of  a  furious  scold '  might  have  enriched  the  budget 
of  Autolycus,  and  Feste  would  have  found  here  a  store  of 
*  love-songs,'  and  a  few  '  songs  of  good  life.'  The  collec- 
tion is  of  course  highly  miscellaneous.  After  the  stately 
measure  may  come  a  jig  with  homely  'duck  and  nod,'  or 
even  a  dissonant  strain  from  the  *  riot  and  ill-managed 
merriment '  of  Comus, 

*  Midnight  shout,  and  revelry, 
Tipsy  dance,  and  jollity.'" 


DROLLERY   RE-PRINTS. 

From  the  "Bookseller  "  March,  1875, 

"  If  we  wish  to  read  the  history  of  public  opinion  we 
must  read  the  songs  of  the  times  :  and  those  who  help  us 
to  do  this  confer  a  real  favour.  Mr.  Thomas  Wrieht  has 
done  enormous  service  in  this  way  by  his  collections  of 
political  songs.  Mr.  Chappell  has  done  better  by  giving 
us  the  music  with  them;  but  much  remains  to  be  done. 
On  examining  the  volume  before  us,  we  are  surprised  to 
find  so  many  really  beautiful  pieces,  and  so  few  of  the 
coarse  and  vulgar.  Even  the  latter  will  compare  favour- 
ably with  the  songs  in  vogue  amongst  the  fast  men  in  the 
early  part  of  the  present  century. 

The  "  Westminster  Drolleries"  consist  of  two  collections 
of  poems  and  songs  sung  at  Court  and  theatres,  the  first 
published  in  1671,  and  the  second  in  1672.  Now  for  the 
first  time  reprinted.  The  editor,  Mr.  J.  Woodfall 
Ebsworth,  has  prefaced  the  volume  with  an  interesting 
introduction  .  .  .  and,  in  an  appendix  of  nearly  eighty 
pages  at  the  end,  has  collected  a  considerable  amount  of 
bibliographical  and  anecdotical  literature.  Altogether, 
•we  think  this  may  be  pronounced  the  best  edited  of  all  the 
reprints  of  old  literature,  which  are  now  pretty  numerous. 
A  word  of  commendation  must  also  be  given  to  Mr. 
Roberts,  of  Boston,  the  publisher  and  printer — the  volume 
is  a  credit  to  his  press,  and  could  have  been  produced  in 
its  all  but  perfect  condition  only  by  the  most  careful  atten- 
tion and  watchful  oversight." 


From  the  "  Aihemeum,"  April  loth,  1875. 

*'  Mr.  Ebsworth  has,  we  think,  made  out  a  fair  case  in 
his  Introduction  for  reprinting  the  volume  without  exci- 
sion. The  book  is  not  intended  "virginibus  puerisque,  but 
to  convey  to  grown  men  a  sufficient  idea  of  the  manners 
and  ideas  which  pervaded  all  classes  in  society  at  the 

time  of  the  reaction  from  the  Puritan  domination 

Mr.  Ebsworth's  Introduction  is  well  written.  He  speaks 
with  zest  of  the  pleasant  aspects  of  the  Restoration 
period,  and  has  some  words  of  praise  to  bestow  upon  the 
'Merry  Monarch'  himself.  .  .  .  Let  us  add  that  his  own 
"Prelude,"  "Entr'  Acta,"  and  "Finale"  are  fair  speci- 
mens of  versification." 

-) 


PN       Ebsworth,  Joseph  Woodfall 

6173        Choyce  drollery 

E36 


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