HANDBOLND
AT THE
EARLY ENGLISH POETRY,
BALLADS,
AND POPULAR LITERATURE
OF THE MIDDLE AGES.
EDITED FROM ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPTS
AND SCARCE PUBLICATIONS.
VOL. I.
h^'
LONDON-
PRINTED FOR THE PERCY SOClETV.
K\ T. IJICHAKDS. ST MARTIN'S LANK
(/•>
CONTENTS OF VOL. I.
OLD BALLADS FROM EARLY PRINTED COriES.
EDITED BY J. PAYNE COLLIEH, ESQ. F.S.A.
SONGS AND BALLADS RELATIVE TO THE LONDON
PRENTICES.
EDITED BV CHAKLEU M4CKAY, ESQ.
HISTORICAL SONGS OF IRELAND.
EDITED BY T. CBOFTON CBOKEB, ESQ.
PAIN AND SORROW OF EVIL MARRIAGE.
EDITED BY J. PATNE COLLIER, ESQ. F.S.A.
THE KING AND A POOR NORTHERN MAN.
EDITED BY J. PAYNE COLLIER, ESQ. F.S.A.
OLD BALLADS.
mn ^allatr^,
EARLY PRINTED COPIES
OF THE UTMOST RARITY.
^oto for tl)t first time coUcctfU.
EDITED BV
J. PAYNE COLLIER, ESQ. F.S.A.
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR THE PERCY SOCIETY,
BY C. RICHAKDS, ST. MARTIN'S LANE.
MDCCCX!..
COUNCIL
€l)t perrp ^onetp*
J. A. CAHUSAC, Esq. F.S.A.
WILLIAM CHAPPELL, Esq. F.S.A.
JOHN PAYNE COLLIER, Esq. F.S.A.
T. CROFTON CROKER, Esq. F.S.A.
REV. ALEXANDER DYCE.
RICHARD HALLIWELL, Esq. F.S.A.
JAMES ORCHARD HALLIWELL, Esq. F.R.S. Treasurer.
WILLIAM JERDAN, Esq. F.S.A.
SAMUEL LOVER, Esq.
CHARLES MAC KAY, Esq.
E. F. RIMBAULT, Esq. Secretary.
THOMAS WRIGHT, Esq. M.A. FS.A.
INTRODUCTION.
The following Ballads are reprinted from the
original broadsides, which were published at various
dates between the middle of the sixteenth and the
beginning of the seventeenth centuries. Nearly
all of them are from the only existing copies ;
and of the few which are not absolutely unique
not more than two or three impressions are
known.
It was thought that they would be a curious
and valuable addition to the published specimens
of our early popular literature, and therefore an
appropriate commencement to the labours of The
Percy Society.
The reader who has devoted attention to relics
of this description, will not be surprised to observe
among the contributors to the present vohune,
such popular ballad-writers as William Elderton,
Thomas Churchyard, and Thomas Deloney ; but
he will peruse with great interest the compo-
sitions of men like John Skelton, Richard Tarl-
ton, William Fulwood, and Thomas Preston,
now for the first time included among authors of
this class ; while the names of Stephen Peele,
Ralph Norris, and Robert Seall, will be new to
our most learned antiquaries.
The Ballads are reprinted precisely as they
stand in the old copies, (including the titles and
the imprints) with the exception of corrected
punctuation. Such illustrative matter as was
considered necessary, will be found to precede
each separate production.
CONTENTS.
PAGE
1 . Tlie Maner of the World now a dayes. By John Skelton . 1
2. Of Misrules contending with Gods Vt'orde by name,
And then of ones judgment that heard of the same.
By William Kethe . .2
3. A new Balade made by Nicholas Balthoi-p, which suffered in
Calys the xv dale of Marche M.D.L. . . .13
4. An Epitaph upon the death of Kyng Edward . . .17
5. A new mery Balad of a Maid that wold mary wyth a Servyng
Man. By Thomas Emiey . . . . .21
6. The Panges of Love and Lovers Fittes. By William Elderton 2.5
7. The cruel Assault of Gods Fort. By John Awdeley .
8. A new Balet entituled howe to wyve well. By Lewis Evans
9. A new Balade of the worthy senice of late doen by Maister
Strangwige in Fraunce, and of his Death. By W. Birch .
10. The Lamentation of Follie. By William Elderton
11. Against filthy writing and such like delighting. By Thomas
Brice . . . .49
12. A proper n^w Balade exjiressyng the fames
Concerning a Warning to all London Daraes.
By Stephen Pcele . . .62
28
/■)-
37
/■r
41
/:
45
/
J
/^7
A7°
■ ' /
■;
i<-<fL
13. A Supplication to Eldertonne for Leache's unlewdnes,
Desiring him to pardone liis manifest iinnidenes.
By William Fulwood .56
14. A Letter from Rome to declare to the Fope
John Felton his freend is hangd in a rope :
And farther, a right his Grace to informe
He dyed a Papist and seemd not to turne.
By Stephen Peele . . . . Ci
15. A Lamentation from Rome how the Pope doth bewavle
That Rebelles in England can not prevayle.
By Thomas Preston . .68
16. A Commendation of the adventerus Viage of the wurtln-
Captain M. Thomas Stately, esquyer, and others, towards
the land called Terra Florida. By Robert Seall . . 72
17. A very lamentable and wofull Discours of the fierce Finds
which lately flowed in Bedford shire, in Lincoln shire, and
in many other places, \\-ith the great losses of sheep and
other cattel, the 5 of October 1570. By Richard Tarlton . 7.S
18. A free Aibnonition without any fees,
To warne the Papistes to beware of three trees.
By G. B. . . . . 85
19. A Warning to London by the Fall of Antwerp. By Ralph
Norris . . . .89
20. A worthy mirroiir, wherin ye may maike
An excellent Discourse of a breeding Larie ;
By readyng wherof perceyve well ye may
AMiat trust is in freendes or on kinsfolks to stay.
By Arthui- Bour .92
21. A proper new Ballad, breefely declaring the Death and Exe-
cution of 14 most wicked Traitors, who suffered Death in
Ijncolnes Inne Fielde, neere London, the 20 and 21 of
September 1586. By Thomas Deloney .101
/^c5y
22. A Farewell, cauld Churcheyeards Rounde,
From the court to the cuntry ground.
By Thomas Churchyard . .107
23. A joyftil Song of the royall receiving of the Queenes most
excellent Majestic into her Highnesse campe at TOsburio, / -'.-lO
in Essex, on Thursday and Fryday the eight and ninth of
August 1-588. By T.J. . . .110
24. Liike Button's Lamentation, which he wTote the day '^efore
his Death, being condemned to be hanged at Yorke tliis
last Assises for his robberies and trespasses committed . 117
2o. A lamentable Dittie composed upon tlie Death of Robert Lord
Devereux, late Earle of Essex, who was beheaded in the ' -'
Tower of London upon Ash Wednesday in the morning . 123
SATIRICAL BALLAD ON THE TIMES.
Not only the initials at the end of the following ballad, " Finis
J. S.," but internal evidence, assign it to the humorous and
severe pen of the celebrated John Skelton. It is highly curious
and amusing as a picture of the times when it was written, but it
was not printed until after the death of the author, unless the copy
from which our transcript was made (in the Collection of the late
Mr. Heber) were itself a re-impression of some earlier edition.
W. Copland printed between 1548 and 1561, at least none of the
dated productions of his press are earlier or later ; it is fair to infer,
therefore, that the subsequent undated ballad appeared in the in-
terval. Several temporary allusions, and the ridicule of particular
fashions, may serve to ascertain pretty correctly the period when
it was composed. It will be observed that towards the close the
author changes his measure, and employs at last those short lines
which obtained from him the appellation of " Skeltonic verses,''
and does not even observe the form of stanza with which he had
commenced. The complaint, that there are "so few buyers of
books,'' came very naturally from one who was perhaps our first
author by profession. It should be mentioned, that in the
Register of the Abbey of Missenden (Sloane ^ISS. No. 747) is a
ballad in the same metre as the succeeding, and evidently only
a diflerent and briefsr versionofit. It has no author's name, nor
initials appended, and is in a hand-writing of the time of Henry
Vri. orVIIL It ends thus;
" God save our sovereign lord the kynge,
And all his ryall kepinge.
For so noble a prince reyniuge,
Sawe I never."
OLD BALLADS.
THE MAKER OF THE WORLD NOW A DAYES.
So many poynted caps,
Lased with double flaps,
And so gay felted hats,
Sawe I never.
So many good lessons,
So many good sermons.
And so few devocions,
Sawe I never.
So many gardes worne,
Jagged and al to torne,
And so many falsely forsworne,
Sawe I never.
So few good polycies
In townes and cytyes
For kepinge of blinde hostryes,
Sawe I never.
So many good warkes,
So few wel lerned clarkes,
And so few that goodnes markes,
Sawe I never :
Such pranked cotes and sieves,
So few yonge men that preves,
And such encrease of theves,
Sawe 1 nevei".
So many garded hose.
Such cornede shoes,
And so many envious foes,
Sawe I never :
OLD BALLADS.
So many questes sytte
With men of smale wit,
And so many falsely quitte,
Sawe I never.
So many gay swordes,
So many altered wordes,
And so few covered hordes,
Sawe I never :
So many empti purses,
So few good horses,
And so many curses,
Sawe I never.
Such bosters and braggers,
So newe fashyoned daggers,
And so many beggers,
Sawe I never :
So many propre knyves.
So well apparrelled wyves,
And so yll of theyr lyves.
Saw I never.
So many cockolde makers,
So many crakers.
And so many peace breakers,
Saw I never :
So much vayne clothing.
With cultyng and jagging.
And so much bragginge.
Saw I never. b 2
OLD BALLADS.
So many newes and knackes,
So many naughty packes,
And so many that mony lackes.
Saw I never :
So many maidens with child,
And wylfiilly begylde,
And so many places untildr,,
Sawe I never.
So many women blamed,
And rightuously defaimed,
And so lytle ashamed,
Sawe I never :
Widowes so sone wed
After their husbandes be deade,
Having such hast to bed,
Sawe I never.
So much strivinge
For goodes and for wivinge,
And so lytle thryvynge,
Sawe I never :
So many capacities.
Offices and pluralites,
And chaunging of dignities,
Sawe I never.
So many lawes to use
The truth to refuse,
Suche falshead to excuse,
Sawe I never :
OLD BALLADS.
Executers havinge the ware,
Taking so littel care
Howe the soule doth fare,
Sawe 1 never.
Amonge them that are riche
No frendshyp is to kepe tuche,
And such fayre glosing speche,
Sawe I never :
So many pore
In every bordoure.
And so small soccoure,
Saw I never.
So proude and so gaye,
So riche in araye,
And so skant of money,
Saw I never :
So many bowyers,
So many fletchers,
And so few good archers.
Saw I never.
So many chepers,
So fewe biers,
And so many borowers,
Sawe I never:
So many alle sellers.
In baudy holes and sellers,
Of yonge folkes yll counsellers,
Sawe I never.
OLD BALLADS.
So many pinkers,
So many thinkers,
And so many good ale drinkers,
Sawe I never :
So many wronges,
So few mery songes.
And so many yll tonges,
Sawe I never.
So many a vacabounde
Through al this londe,
And so many in pryson bonde,
I sawe never :
So many citacions,
So fewe oblacions,
And so many newe I'acions,
Sawe I never.
So many Heyng tales,
Pickers of purses and males.
And so many sales,
Saw I never:
So much preachiuge.
Speaking fayre and teaching,
And so ill belevinge,
Saw I never.
So much wrath and envy,
Covetous and glottony,
And so litle charitie,
Sawe I never :
OLD BALLADS.
So many carders,
Revelers and dicers,
And so many yl ticers,
Sawe I never.
So many lollers.
So few true tollers,
So many baudes and pollers,
Sawe I never :
Such treachery,
Simony and usury.
Poverty and lechery,
Saw I never.
So many avayles,
So many geales,
And so many fals baylies,
Sawe I never :
By fals and subtyll wayes
All England decayes,
For more envy and lyers
Sawe I never.
So new facioned jackes.
With brode flappes in the neckes,
And so gay new partlettes,
Sawe I never :
So many slutteshe cookes.
So new facioned tucking hookes,
And so few biers of bookes,
Saw I never.
OLD 15ALliADS.
Sometime we song of myrtli and play.
But now our joy is gone away,
For so many fal in decay,
Sawe I never :
Whither is the welth of England gon ?
The spiritual saith they have none,
And so many wrongfully undone,
Saw I never.
It is great pitie that every day
So many brybors go by the way,
And Eo many extorcioners in eche cuntrey,
Sawe I never.
To the lord I make my mone,
For thou maist healpe us everichone :
Alas, the people is so wo begone,
Worse was it never.
Amendment
Were convenient.
But it may not be ;
We have exiled veritie.
God is neither dead nor sicke,
He may amend al yet,
And trowe ye so in dede,
As ye beleve ye shal have mede.
After better I hope ever,
For worse was it never.
Finis. J. S.
Imprinted at London in Flete Strete at thesigne of the Rose
Garland by W. Copland.
«
OLD BALLADS.
MISRULE AND GOD'S WORD.
The last stanza of the following ballad carries it back to the reign
of Edward VL, when it most likely came from Singleton's press :
none of his dated performances are, however, earlier than 1553,
and he continued in the trade until 1592. The author, William
Keth, was a zealous preacher and reformer, and such of his works
as are known were intended to promote and confirm the change
in religion, beginning with his ballad called " Tye thy mare Tom
boye," which probably was only a " moralization" of an older tune.
He translated some of the Psalms, and was a friend to John Knox,
and added a version of the 94th Psalm to " the Appellation of
John Knox," L558. Ritson (Bibl. Poet. 262) quotes the title of
the ballad inserted below with an important error, in which he is
followed by Dr. Dibdin, who does not appear to have seen the
original. Hugh Singleton also printed " William Keth his
Seeing Glasse,'' which came out in the time of Queen Mary,
while the writer was in exile at Frankfort.
OF MISRULES CONTENDING WITH GODS WORDE BY NAME,
AND THEN OF ONES JUDGMENT THAT HEARD OF THE SAME.
I HEARE sale, that some saie, ther chaunsed of late
Betwene one mad misrule and godde's word great hate ;
The cause of there out fall (as some saye) is this :
By here saye I harde it, now marke what it is.
This misrule was moved and inadde in his mynde.
That goddes worde with great men such grace shuld
still finde,
Wherby as an outcaste he myght be rejecte :
Thys some say, and here saye to be the effectc.
10 OLD BALLADS.
But douting where all things wliyche some saye were
Sith some saye by here saye a lye spred be myght,
I sought, and hanle some saye they did it beholde,
By whose wordes of credit my doutes were resolved.
But now to my purpose agayne for to come,
This misrule through raadnes at last frynds had some,
Of whome he gat coraforte, as it maye well seme,
His boldnes well wayed, who would not so deme?
And beyng in favor at laste well was he,
That could unto mysrule from good order flee,
Who lost not ther labor, as some saye, for that.
But were well estemed, and had, I harde what.
That gods worde muche lothing could it not abyde,
But stepped fourth boldly and misrule defied,
Wyshing from misrule all men to I'efrayne,
As from a thing noysorae, to vile and to vayne.
But misrule, that hearyng, beganne for to starte,
Lyke one that were vexed, and that to the harte.
As it well aperethe by his subtil shyft,
Who so well can ponder the truth of his dryft.
He knew well he could not godde's worde well withstond.
To mete him as men do that fyght hand to hand.
But sought his fetch farder, by couler to crave,
And so under couler godde's worde to deprave.
OLD BALLADS. 11
But now, if in conscience speake frely I maye,
In mynde I digresse not from that whyche some saye:
If mysrule mayntayned be, and seke to ascend,
In this casse I doute muche, but marke well the ende.
What regyons to ruyn hath there not bene brought.
Where misrule was chosen, and good rule unsought ;
Weales publick full welthy to nought brought it hath.
For mysrule to myschiefe must nedes be the path.
What caused god's wrath all fleshe to distroye,
Save onely viii parsons with olde father Noye,
But for that this misrule god's worde did deface,
And moved that all men misrule shuld imbrace.
In Sodom and Gomor suche lyke stryife began
Betwene this madde mysrule and god's worde ; but than,
Could god longe abide it, when he in his fume
With sulphire and brimston mysrule dyd consume ?
His owne Jewish people, as ofte as they ranne
A maddying with mysrule, wyth plages God beganne ;
To lerne us that mysrule he alwayes did hate,
And yet (alas) se you how he plaith chek mate.
By misrule the subjectes be so far past grace,
Theyr heddes and (heir rulers they know not in place ;
But lyke to beastes brutall, with ungodly strife,
As rebelles resyst wyll with losse of their lyfe.
12 OM) T5ALLADS.
What law is so strayt made they feare not to breake ?
What threat can such tounges stoppe they feare not to
speake ?
What doctrine can dryve them to know wliat they be?
Wliat myschief may move them, that onely they se.
What nede mo examples then this our owne realme,
To teach us that mysrule hath bene so extreame,
In preasinge so proudly to noble welfare,
As some saye so boldly as it were Jack Hare.
And so under couler of spare and beware,
To taunt at god's preachers as muche as they dare,
Sayeng such passe not, by here saye to go.
And preach in ther pulpittes that thus some saye so.
Of some saye and here say this well tell I canne.
That here say and some say the truth now and than,
Of such as both some saye and here saye dysdayne,
Bycause that both here saye and some saye so playne.
But be it that some saye by here say a misse.
And saye not (through here say) the truth as it is.
Doth it therfoi'e folow for that thinge fourth brought.
That al thinges whyche some say therfore shuld be
nought ?
If it be unlawfull by here say to wade,
I mervell what PauU ment to use the same trade,
Who speaking by here say belyve did the same.
Which jiurgeth (as some saye) the rest from all blauic.
OLD BALLADS. 13
But god's worde of one thing hath cause to rejoysp,
For that this sharpe taunting is but niysrule's voyce,
Who beinge accepted, to muche thus I feare,
Of ryght shuld leave courtinge, and not remayne there.
But who shall stand douting, when our noble Kynge
Wyth his faythfull counsaill perceave shall the thinge,
But that they wyll shortly raysrule so represse,
That glad shal the good be to se suche redresse.
Finis. Quod Wyllyam Kethe.
Dominus mihi adjutor.
Imi)rynted at London in Temestrate by Heugh Syngeltoii
dwellynge overgaynst the Stiliardes.
BALTHORP'S BALLAD.
For what ot^ence Nicholas Balthorp "suffered in Calais" in 1550
is no where mentioned, and the subsequent ballad contains only an
obscure and general hint, where the writer thus accuses himself:
" Thou haste me caused to offende
In folowing muche thi fleshely wil ;
But, God willing, now I shal amend,
In token where of I do the kil," &c.
Which might lead us to suppose that he had committed suicide,
did not the title of the ballad seem to contradict it. Ritson conjec-
tures, no doubt rightly, that he was the same as Nycholas
Baltroppe, who wrote " a ballet of mode," licensed to John
Walley and the widow Toy in 1557 (Bibl. Poet. 124), of course
after the author's death. The last dated book by Walley is in
1558, and it seems likely that the ensuing broad-side came out
very soon after the event to which it refers.
14 OLD BALLADS.
A NEWE BALADE MADE BY NICHOLAS BaLTHORP WHICH
SUFFERED IN CaLYS THE XV DAIE OF MARCHE M.D.L.
When raging death with extreme paine
Most cruelly assaultes my herte,
And when my Heshe, although in vaine.
Doth feare the felinge of that smarte ;
For when the swerde wil stop mi brethe,
Then am I at the poynt of death.
I call to minde the goodnes greate
The father promised to us al,
Howe that his sonne for us should sweat
Water and bloud, and drinke the gal,
And should lose the life he hathe
To pacifie his father's wrathe.
And how we shuld by his sounes death
Knowe the father's mind and wil,
And to preserve us stil in faith
His commaundementes to fulfil ;
So that, before where we were slaine.
By his bloud we might live againe.
And where in thousand yeres ther were,
Before the comming of this childe,
Mani a man that came farre
OLD BALLADS. 15
For lacke of knowledge was begild ;
As Pharaoe's people, whiche did rebel
Againste Moses, deserving hel.
But when the child had shed his bloud,
He made us free wher we were bande ;
He after was to us so good
To put us in the promised lande,
And brought us from the lake so depe,
Wher he him selfe of us take kepe.
Then saide I streight unto my fleshe,
The vile carkas, why doest thou fret
That of this earthe art made so neshe,
And naught thou art but wormes meat ?
In the have I no delyght,
For al is vexed in sprite.
Thou haste me caused to ofFende
In folowing muche thi fleshely wil ;
But, God willing, now I shal amend,
In token where of I do the kil,
Because thou woldest not have him forgeve
Thi shameful fauts while thou might live.
Thou didest thi selfe so muche esteme
Thou madest thi spirite the to obeye ;
But thi rewarde is, as I deme,
Streight from the spirit now to decaie ;
And from the world thou shalt now turne.
And be a subjecte to the worme.
IG OLD BALLADS.
As for my spiiite, I trust, heslial
Amonge the auncient fathers slepe,
Readie when the Lord doth cal
His heaveiilie deitie for to kepe:
This is the chiefe grounde of my faithe.
And ther upon I take my death.
What availeth anie princely power,
Yf God agreeth not them tyl ?
For if the Lorde doth apointe the houre,
Thei can not worke against his wil ;
So that for me he doth prevente,
For to agre I do consente.
Beare record now, ye Christian al,
That seethe the ende of this mi life,
For helpe to none of you I cal,
But unto God for mercie rife ;
But this to you I calle and crye,
Witnes a christian do I die.
Forgeve me al in this worlde wide,
And praie for me whiles I do live :
For do [no] mans sake tarieth the tide,
Therfore I do you al forgeve.
In the Lordes handes I do commend
My spirite, and here I make an ende.
Finis. Qd. Nicholas Balthorpe.
Imprinted at loudon in Foster lane by Jhon Walcy.
OLD BALLADS. 17
EPITAPH UPON EDWARD VI. ^^-'-^
The following anonymous and undated production on the death
of Edward VI. was not printed until after the marriage of Philip
and Mary, in the second year of the reign of the latter, as the
king and queen are expressly prayed for in a sort of postscript.
Queen Mary only is mentioned in the body of the epitaph, and we
may probably infer that it was written soon after the burial of the
subject of it at Westminster, on the 10th of August, 1553. The
author, whoever he might be, very carefully avoids the topic
of religion, and adverts to the personal and chivalrous accomplish-
ments of the king, as well as to his known partiality for Greenwich,
vfhere he died.
AN EPITAPH UPON THE DEATH OF KYNG EDWARD.
Adewe pleasure.
Gone is our treasure,
Morning may be our mirth ;
For Edward our king,
That rose did spring.
Is vaded and lyeth in earth.
Therfore morne we may
Both night and day,
And in hart we may he full sad :
Sense Brute came in,
Or at any time sence,
The like treasure we never had.
But Death with his darte
Hath pearced the harte
Of that Prince most excellent. c
18 OLD BALLADS.
The child new borne
May lament and morne,
And for the death of him repent.
Gone is our joy,
Our sport and our play ;
Our comfort is turned to care :
To Englandes great cost
This Jewell we have lost,
That with all Christendom might compare.
Of so noble birth,
The godliest in earth,
Our true king and eyre by right ;
Edward by name,
Boi'ne of queene Jane,
And son to king Henry the eighth.
At the age of sixteene yeres.
As by Chronicles apperes.
In the seventh yere of his raigne,
God toke him away,
Our comfort and joy,
To Englands great dolour and payne.
In his tender age
So grave and so sage,
So well learned and wittie ;
And now that sweete flower
Hath builded his bower
In the earth, the more is the pitie.
OLD BALLADS. 19
The whose losse and laeke
Is to England a wracke,
All faythfull hartes may morne,
To see that svvete childe,
So meeke and so milde,
So soone subdued by wormes.
Out of Grenewiche lie is gone,
And lieth under a stone.
That loveth both house and parke.
Thou shalt see him no more,
That set by thee such store,
For death hath pearced his harte.
Gone is our king
That could run at the ringe,
And ofttimes ride on Blackheath.
Ye noble men of chevalry,
And ye men of artilerie.
May all lament his death.
That swete childe is deade,
And lapped in leade.
And in Westminster lyeth full colde :
All hartes may rewe,
That ever they him knew,
Or that swete childe did beholde.
Farewell, Diamonde deare,
Farewell, Christall cleare.
Farewell, the flower of chevalry I
20 OLD BALLADS.
The Lorde hath taken him,
And for his peoples sinne,
A just plage for our iniquitie.
But now, ye noble peeres,
Marke well your yeares,
For you do not know your day ;
And this you may be bolde,
Both yonge and olde,
Ye shall die and hence away.
And fur our royall kinge.
The noblest livinge.
No longer with us may tarie ;
But his soule we do commende
Unto the Lordes hande,
Who preserve our noble Queue Mary.
Longe with us to endure,
With mirth and pleasure,
To rule her realme aright,
And her enemies to withstande
By sea and by lande :
Lord preserve her both daye and nighte.
God save the Kinge and the Queene.
Imprinted at London in Holburne nere the Condite at the
signe of the Sarsins head by John Chailewood and John Tysdale.
OLD BALLADS. 21
THE SERVING-MAN HUSBAND.
This " new merry ballad" has no date; but though it bears the
name ofWaley, or Walley, as the printer of it, it seems to have
been licensed originally to him and the widow Toy, (Dibdin's
Typ. Ant. iii. p. 577,) about the first year of the reign of Elizabeth.
Dr. Dibdin gives the entry thus : — " A mayde that wolde mary
with a servynge man. Whan raging love," as if " whan raging
love" were the first words of it, whereas, that was either a separate
production, or the tune to which the ballad was sang. Thomas
Emley is not known as the writer of anything but the subsequent
ballad, and it is now for the first time re-printed, from a broadside.
In Ritson's "Ancient Songs," (n. 7, edit. 1829) is a song, called
*' The Praise of Serving-men ; " and at p. 145 of the same volume
is, " The Famous Flower of Serving-men ;" but the first is more
ancient, and the second more modern than the following.
A NEW MERY BALAD OF A MAID THAT WOLD MARY
WYTH A SERVYNG MAN.
NowE prudentlie to ponder proverbes of olde,
How that seldome or when commeth the better,
Wyth divers other tales as I have herd tolde.
That the nigher the bone, the flesh is much sweter ;
Thus a lover of late sente me his letter ;
Therfore let al my friendes saye what they can,
I wyl have to my husbande a serving man.
The sight of serving men doth my herte good
When I them beholde, and wot ye well why?
22 OLD BALLADS.
Bicause they be lustie and ful of yonge bloude,
Stronge and nymble, and very quicke of eye,
Clene, brave in apparel, and made properlye ;
Wherfore let father and mother saye what they can,
I wyl have to my husband a serving man.
My father and mother geveth me exhortacion,
That if ever their good wylles I wyl have,
To take a man of some good occupacion.
Or els some ryche farmoures sonne, substaunce to ^^
save. t'
Thus upon me dayly they do crave, f
But let them bothe saye what they can,
I wyl have to my husbande a serving man.
Servinge men that be gentle and wyce,
Can lacke no service, nor livyng at all,
Though one of an hundred suche be geven to vyce,
Shuld the residue of them be hated all ?
No, by saint Marie ; come of it what shall,
And let my friendes do and say what they can,
I wyl have to my husbande a serving man.
Servyng men honeste are greatly commended
Of Lordes and Ladies, and of gentelmen fyne ;
Though loutes with serving men be offended.
Yet wyl not I from their company declyne,
For I trust and hope one of them to be myne ;
Let my friends do and saye what they can,
I wyl have to my husband a servyng man.
OLD BALLADS. 23
Serving men ever be jocunde and mery,
Whether they have litle or muche in their purse,
And of good conipanie they are never wearie,
And a woman they love as a childe dothe the nurse ;
One serving man I knowe that loveth me no worse ;
Wherfore let all my friendes saye what they can,
I wyl have to my husbande a servinge man.
Serving men finelie can colly and kysse,
Serving men featlie can maidens imbrace,
Fewe suche serving men of their purpose can mysse,
Bicause of audacite, beautie or grace,
And in some of them all three taketh place ;
Wherfore let my friendes saye what they can,
I wyl have the swete, loving, kynde serving man.
Oh Lorde, how the herte in my bealie doth hoppe,
When I here that serving men be come to towne ;
Streight some resortes to my mistres shoppe,
There mei'elie talking, by me sitting downe ;
Of lovers fame they maye well weare the crowne ;
Wherfore let all the worlde saie what they can,
I wyl have to my husband a servinge man.
What yonge men eyther in towne or citie
With them in daliaunce maie compare ?
In entertainement they be excellent wittie,
God geve them longe lyfe and well to fare ;
Thoughe my chaunce be to live in carpe and care,
As my friendes saye, yet if that I can,
I wyl have to my husband a serving man.
24 OLD BALLADS.
Shulde I marie with a boye, a loute, or a slymme,
A dawcocke, an asse, a toyle or a jacke,
That wyll not let me go tricke nor trimme.
Nor yet he hym selfe, but lyke one in a sacke, [lacke ?
And that with al mirth and solace wyl grudge and find
I wyll no such dranes ; say my friendes what they can,
But 1 wyl marrie with the merie good serving man.
A man is manlie, and to a woman comfortable,
But a churle or a nygarde is to women greate wooe ;
A serving man, beinge grome or but page in the stable,
With meate to his maisters owne borde maye go.
When ten times his betters may not do so,
And manie times be thrieftie ; to prove this I can,
Wherfore shuld I not marie with a serving man ?
Some men growe ryche, although they do spend.
And some men waxe pore, thoughe they do spare ;
Then why may not a serving man to riches assend,
As well in their myrthe as some with their care ?
The world now a dales goth round and square,
Wherfore I wyl do the best that I can.
To have to my husbande a servynge man.
My mistres liveth a merye lyfe
As most women doth for her degree,
Although a serving man hath her to wyfe.
And whie may not I do so as well as she ?
No men on earth do better please me ;
Ryche or unriche, saye all what you can,
I wyll have to my husbande a servynge man.
OLD BALLADS.
25
And tyll that daj'e douteles be come and gone,
That I quickely be niaried to my true love,
My fleshe wyll pine awaye even to the bone,
Bicause my herte from hym wyll not remove.
Fare well, swete serving men, by God above ;
And for my sake all you that tipple pot or canne,
Drynke freely to the merie good serving man.
Finis. Quod Thomas Emley.
Imprinted at London in foster lane, by Jhon Waley.
THE PANGS AND FITS OF LOVE.
Herbert (as quoted in Dibdin's Typ. Ant., in. ."JSS) mentions
the license of a ballad to Ricliard Lant, under the title of "The
Pangs of Love," but until very recently it was not known to have
been published. It is precisely in the same measure, and with the
same burden, as a song in the interlude of " The Trial of Treasure,"
(Hist, of Dramatic Poetry, and the Stage, ii. 331) which was
printed in 1567, while what follows came from the press of Lant
in 1559, eleven years later than any dated performance by him
yet discovered. The initials, W. E., at the end, are doubtless
those of the celebrated William Elderton ; and making allowances
for misprints and clerical errors, (such as Priamus for Piramus, in
the fifth stanza, &c.) it is a very favourable specimen of his skill
as a poet.
THE PANGES OF LOVE AND LOVERS FITTES.
Was not good kyng Salamon
Ravished in sondry wyse,
With every livelie Paragon
That glistered before his eyes ?
j^
26 OLD BALLADS.
If this be true, as trewe it was,
Lady ! lady !
Why should not I serve you, alas,
My deare lady?
When Paris was enamoured
With Helena, dame bewties peare,
Whom Venus first him promised
To ventor on, and not to feare.
What sturdy stormes endured he
Lady ! lady !
To winne her love, or it would be,
My deare ladye.
Knowe ye not, how Troylus
Languished and lost his joye.
With fittes and fevers mervailous
For Cresseda that dwelt in Troye ;
Tyll pytie planted in her brest,
Ladie ! ladie !
To slepe with him, and graunt him rest,
My deare ladie.
I read sometime howe venterous
Leander was his love to please,
Who swomme the waters perillous
Of Abidon, those surginge sease,
To come to her where as she lay,
Ladie ! ladie !
Tyll he was drowned by the waye.
My deare ladie.
ot;d ballads.
What say you then to Priam us,
That promised his love to mete,
And founde by fortune merveilous
A bloudie clothe before his feete ?
For Tysbies sake hym selfe he slewe,
Ladie ! ladie !
To prove that he was a lover trewe,
My deare ladie.
When Hercules for Eronie
Murdered a monster fell,
He put him selfe in jeoperdie
Perillous, as the stories tell,
Reskewinge her upon the shore,
Ladie 1 ladie !
Which els by lot had died therfore,
My deare ladie.
Anaxeretes bewtifull.
When Iphis did beholde and see,
With sighes and sobbinges pitifuU,
That Paragon longe wooed he ;
And when he could not wynne her so,
Ladye ! ladye !
He went and honge him selfe for woe.
My deare ladye.
Besides these matters merveilous.
Good lady, yet I can tell the more;
The Gods have ben fidl amorous,
As Jupiter by learned lore,
27
28 OLD BALLADS.
Who changed his shape, as fame hath spred.
Lady ! ladye !
To come to Alcumenaes bed,
My deare ladye.
And if bewtie bred such blisfulnesse.
Enamouring both God and man,
Good lady, let no wilfuluesse,
Exuperate your bewtie, then,
To slaye the hertes, that yeld and crave,
Ladye ! ladye !
The graunt of your good wil to have.
My deare ladye.
Finis. Qd. W. E.
Imprinted at London in Smithfeld in the Parish of Saynt
Bartholomewes Hospitall by
Richard Lant.
An. Dni. M.D. lix. xxij. Mar.
THE ASSAULT OF GOD'S FORT.
This highly interesting ballad, which celebrates, under the form
of an allegory, many of the early Reformers and their enemies,
was no doubt written by John Awdeley, the printer, and his ini-
tials are at the end of it. He was the writer and printer of " an
Epitaph upon Mayster John Viron, Preacher,'' which was licensed
to him in 1562, as well as of a poem dated 30th April 1569,
beginning, " Remember death, and thou shalt never sinne,'' sub-
OLD BALLADS. 29
scribed, John Awd. The subject and treatment of what follows
fixes its date quite early in the reign of Elizabeth, perhaps in 1559
or 1560. Among other persons mentioned in it is John Avale,
perhaps related to Leraeke Avale who in 1509 wrote and published
" A Commemoration or Dirige of Bastarde Edmonde Boner,
alias Savage, usurped Bishoppe of London," of which an account
is given in the Bridgewater Catalogue, p. 14. John Avale, or
Availe, is introduced into it in company with Miles Huggarde.
THE CRUEL ASSAULT OF GODS FORT.
By Edward the sixt, of England kyng,
A fort was made gods truth to shield ;
In whose lyfe time, by good rulyng,
Both friend and foe to it dyd yelde.
But when, for synne of his owne flocke.
The Lord in wrath tooke him away.
Leaving the fort to his next stocke,
The enniies then sought out theyr pray.
Then blew up trumpets of Papists sounde
Souldiers to call, and wages gave :
Come who so would was armed rounde ;
None they refusde, but drest them brave.
The field was pitcht of Papists part,
With corned caps, tippets and gownes :
Theyr ordnaunce lay redy in cart
To beat the fort of Gods truth downe.
30 OLD BALLADS.
The generall Gardner, brave and stout,
And captain Boner marcht foorth amain.;
Bourne with standard cryed out
Al arme, al arme ! our shavlinges traine.
The auncient which that Bourne bare
Were fierce wolves teeth with blood besprent ;
Fire and fagot, whych did declare
Their ravenous hartes to Christians ment.
Then doctour Martin, as clarke of armye.
With doctour Story, the master gonner,
These two in office were as trusty
As Gardner, Bourne, or byshop Bonner.
A cry was made throughout the host,
With fire and hempe all to destroy.
Where ever they were in al the cost,
That dyd the Popes power seke to noye.
The fort thus sieged on every syde
With cry so fierce to kyll them all :
A sorte for feare durst not abide,
But from Gods fort to them dyd fall.
Then might ye heare the canons rore,
Which Bourne and Watson falsely shot :
Yelde I yeld I these cryde, from hereticks lore,
Or batter we shal both wall and fort.
OLD BALLADS. 31
No, no ! (quoth they within the fort)
We yelde us not Gods truth to stayne :
Though you destroy us in this sort,
God shal our fort wyth force maintayne.
Wyth that they all the fort wythin
Wyth sighes and sobs to God out cryde,
Thou Lord of hostes, way not our synne,
But ayde thy flocke so wo betyde.
For though with sinne we causde this day
That our good king thou shouldst thus take.
Yet, liord, with bitterness of soule we pray,
Strength us against this firye lake.
This done, they blowde a cheerful blast
Unto the souldiers in the fort.
Arme ye ! arme ye ! in all the hast,
Our enmies now to fort resort.
The auncient which was spred on wall.
Had a white lambe with red spots thicke.
And in gold letters were these wordes all.
Why do ye, Sauls, against me kicke ?
Forth came Rogers, Hooper and Sanders
Upon the walles the forte to fende ;
We yelde not (said they) to such destroyers,
But fight we will unto the ende.
32 OLD BALLADS.
To these Steven Gardner gave onset,
And layde on lode as wolfe on pray :
He tooke them prisoners with his false net,
And sent them to the fire straightway.
Then Story, the maister of the shot,
On Papists rampire brave and proude,
For spilling bloud he cared not,
Assault I assault ! he cryde aloude.
These were no sooner of the wall,
But up lept Rydley and Latymer,
To rescue God's fort so nere to fall.
And ded with force the foes encounter.
And bishop Cranmer, though with gyle
The enniies stole him from the fort,
Yet boldly fought with them a whyle,
And folowed his mates in lyke sort.
Then doctour Weston at these out shot
The pellets of Rome, and them did mayme,
So that away they passed not,
But were destroyed with fire and flame.
But Bradford then on the wall up lept,
And Philpot eke by him did stand;
Cardmaker and Taylour also up crept,
And these by truth dyd noy theyrband
OLD BALLADS. 33
Bishop Boner on these laide hand.
And to Smithfield sent them in hast ;
But to the death these did withstand.
And would not yeld to enmies blast.
Then blewe the Papists to assault,
And set a watch about the fort,
Of knights and yemen to finde some fault
To make them yelde after this sort.
And sworen men in every cost
They did compell to watch and spye ;
If any did resist their host,
They must present them for to dye.
The fort with enmies laid round about,
And al the captaines so cruelly slaine,
The soldiours therof with courage stout
Kept yet the walles with might and maine.
Now scale the walles, (quoth Boner then)
Behold, the captaines we have slaine:
Ransack the fort, destroy all men,
Both wemen and children, let none remaine.
Then scaling lathers were up rearde.
And John A vales on them with targe ;
His knees had crosses, because he fearde
The steps wold breake and hang him large.
34 OLD BALLADS.
Up came Beard, by Vales his man,
Armed al round as dronkardes use ;
His head was closde with good ale can,
And in his hand a taverners cruse.
But they in fort did with them play,
And cast them bribes which made them yelde :
They, striving who should have the pray,
Fought one with other in their owne fielde.
Yet battred was this fort full sore
With vehement shot on Papists part :
The walles they bet styl more and more,
But yet the fortmen would not start.
Then pushed the Papists with their pikes,
The hargabusses shot out amayne.
And dyms the ayre, and many sti'ikes
Of them that did the fort sustayne.
The holberts and the bowmen eke,
Came preasing toward the fort with spede :
These were the rakehels that did seke
To have mens goodes playde Cains dede.
There might you see the fort about
Great streames of bloode and bodies slayne ;
The handes of al the host throughout
With blood of Saints they did them staine.
()I;r) BALLAllS. 35
In this assault the infants out cryde,
And eke their motiiers as wydowes left,
To see theyr friendes before them dyde.
And al their goodes from them bereft.
Though thus the fort was almost gone
By cruel assault of enmies bolde,
Yet some within the fort alone
To God did crye, Lord keepe thy holde !
Then God did send his slave Death down
Into the Papists host among.
Which slew the chiefest in all the towne,
And greatest captaines in the throng.
By thys great stroke of mightie Jove
The vehement force of Papists fell,
And sent this fort (which is hys love)
A godly captaine to keepe it well.
Which when in fort she did appere,
A flag of truce spred in her hand.
Aloud she cried, Cease now your yre,
And yelde to me, right heyre of England.
Then scattred were the Papists host.
Their flags of fire to ground did fail.
Their flaming brandes, which oft they tost,
Were clene out quentch at our Quenes call.
D 2
36 OLD BALLADS.
Crye then was made to God on lij^'e
Of al the souldiours in the fort ;
Oh praise the Lorde for victorye,
In helping us after this sort !
Now yelde (they cried) our brethren dere,
Which have against Gods truth so stoode ;
Beholde our Quene doth profer here
To graunt ye peace to chaunge your moode.
Which, if her cleniencie you refuse,
And pleade not for your lives graunt,
The law of armes she must nedes use
On such as are to her repugnaunt.
Yelde, yelde, therefore : ye chiefe captaines,
Example geve to al your host,
Or els wyll God revenge with paines
The bloud of those whom ye have rost.
And all ye Christians of this England,
Your trumpets sound to Gods hie praise :
On Gods head set a bay garland.
For your triumphe of all these fraies.
Yeld now your lives after such sort
As God may not this fort so plage ;
Strength now your selves in this Gods fort,
That ye yelde no more to enmies rage.
OLD BALLADS. 37
So God will spare us our Quene long,
So God will make our land encrease ;
So God wyl builde our fort so strong,
That no eninies dare to it prease.
To this say al right Christen men,
God save our Quene ! Amen. Amen.
Tf\wc. Qd. J. A.
Imprinted at London by John Awdeley, dwelling by great
S. Bartelmewes beyonde Aldersgate.
HOW TO WIVE WELL.
The existence of this ballad has been long known, as it is men-
tioned by Herbert, Ritson, &c. ; but it has never been re-
printed, no authority mentioning where it was to be found. It is
preserved in the library of the Antiquarian Society, as well
as "the Second Poesye of Horace," by the same author, who also
translated the first Satire of Horace. Owen Rogers had a license
to print "A new yeres gyfte made by Lewes Evans," in 1561,
and to about that date may be assigned the following humorous
and satirical production. Lewis Evans calls himself " school-
master," but we are without any other particulars regarding him.
A NEW BALET ENTITULED HOWE TO WYVE WELL.
Wher wyving some mislike.
And women muche dysplease.
The women frowarde be,
And fewe men cane them please.
•^8 OLD BALLADS.
And thoughe the maried life
The wyse muste nedes comende.
Yet chifeste carke and care
Doth therin full depende.
For though thye lusting eyes
Thou fedeste with plaesant sighte,
And from thy hart do nothing kepe
Whiche maye gyve it delyght ;
And thoughe thou treasure have,
Reputed with the beste,
Yet yf thou have a frowarde wyf,
Then what prevaelith the reste ?
And syth unto a shrowe
None yll coniparde maye be,
Then make no hast, lest after wast,
But faythfuU loke she bee.
One Erupis philosopher
Doth tell us dangers sore.
Which be in seas, and eke one earth,
But none then women more :
For yf she frowarde be,
As moste doe growe from kynde,
That thee delights shall her displease,
Such is her frowarde mynde.
OLD BALLADS. 39
Thy woes dothe her rejoes,
Thy sorwes joeth her harte :
When fortune frowne, that then will cause
Her from thee to departe.
In thee delitghts she not,
Thy presence maketh her lowere ;
When thou gevest her thy homcom kis,
Her countenance then is sowre.
That whiche doth thee myslyke
To her it doeth contente ;
And things to go agenste thy will
Full frowarde is she bente.
The frutefulnes of her
Is scowlding daye and nyghte,
And when thou angerste her,
Then with thy bratts she fights.
Yf sickenes, sores, or paynes
Doe happe thee to oppresse.
She coursing spend the tedyous nyght,
Prayng deth it to redresse.
Then wyll she send thy slave
To helpe to holde thy hedde,
When that full carles she
Will (after meate) to bedde.
40 OLD BALLADS.
But when she heres thee deade,
She shifteth thee to grave ;
Thee bringes one byre to churche
Thy silye symplc slave.
And for she cane not weepe,
With clothe she hydes her face,
x\nd shakes her head as thoughe
She weepte forsuthe a pace.
The wanting of due tears,
That ought her eyes fall fro,
x\nd fained wringing of her hands
Shewe furth no inwarde wo.
No joye cane her but gladde,
All myrth she dothe pretende.
And wisheth straight that in thi stede
God wolde anothere sende.
Wher is ther suche a foe
In other kynde of lyf ?
No foe mai doutelesse be comparde
Unto the wicked wyf.
And though somes hape have bin
Full faythfull wyves to finde,
Yet let the bade styll bere the blanae,
That so growe out of kynd.
OLD BALLADS. 41
At this good wyves have no disden,
For them it doth comende ;
The vvorsere sort must be content,
[Tlherfore, you shrowsse, amende.
You maydens al, that wives do mind
Jn time to come to be,
Endever your selfe that eche of you
A faythfuU wyfe maye be.
Finis. Quod Lewys Evans.
Imprinted at London by Owen Rogers at the spread Egle
betwyxte both the Saynct Bartholomews.
SERVICES AND DEATH OF STRANGWIGE.
William Birch, the author of the subsequent ballad, on the life,
services, and death of Strangwige, also wrote " A Song betwene
the Quenes Majestic and England,'' ])rinted by William Pickering,
without date. Ritson only introduces Birch when speaking of
the productions of Elderton, upon one of which he composed a
puritanical parody. (Bibl. Poet. 196.) It appears that the hero
of what follows, after having led a most irregular and ungoverned
life, turned pirate, and being condemned and pardoned, vowed
afterwards to spend his life in the Queen's service ; and putting to
sea, attacked a French port, where he received his death- wound. He
seems to have been of " mean estate" and of "base birth," though
of " worshipful kin." Alexander Lacy, from whose press what
follows came, was a printer in the beginning of the reign of
Elizabeth, and bad a license to publish Birch's puritanical parody
above-mentioned, in 1562. The date of what follows was pro-
bably somewhat later, as Strangwige seems to have been engaged
in the hostilities against France which were carried on through
the summer of 1563.
42 OLD BALLADS.
A NEW BALADE OF THE WORTHY SERVICE OF LATE
DOEN BY MAISTER STRANGWIGE IN FRAUNCE,
AND OF HIS DEATH.
England hath lost a soldiour of late,
Who Strangwige was to name:
Although he was of meane estate,
His deedes deserved fame.
For as the jDlovvman plowes the ground,
And toyleth to til for come.
So Strangwige sought a deadlj' wound
For Brittaine, where he was borne.
In deede of birth he was borne bace.
Although of worshipful kyn :
In youth he sought to runne the race
Where he might prowes wyn.
In his yong yeares he walked wyde,
And wandred oft a stray :
For why blynd Cupid did him guyde,
To walke that wyldsome way.
Thus here and there, I wot not where,
He sounded where to ryde,
But happy haven he found no where,
Nor harbour for to abyde.
OLD BALLADS. 43
But when he had the course out run
Where pyrates prict the carde,
Twyse at the least he thought undone,
And looked for his rewarde.
For by legall lawes he was condemd,
Yet mercy bare the mace,
And in respect he wold amend,
He found a princes grace.
And in that state he vowed to God,
And to his righteous queene,
He wold nomore deserve such rod,
Nor at justice barre be scene.
He thus contented for a whyle,
And laughed fortune to scorne,
Tyl weeds did worke by subtil guyle
To overgrow the corne.
And then occasion served just
That martiall men must trudge :
He vaunced himselfe with valiaunt lust ;
To go he did not grudge.
And to the sea he sought a charge
Where he might take his chaunce.
And therewith spred his sayles at large
To seke a porte in Fraunce.
44 OLD BALLADS.
And passed by a warlyke towne
Where municion lay a land :
He spoyld and cut their chaynes a down,
And passed by strong hand.
Where as he caught a deadly wound,
Yet his courage never quayled.
But as he had ben safe and sound,
On his way forth he sayled.
And passed through even to that porte
Where he vowed to aryve ;
And still he did his men coumfort,
And courage did them geve.
Then Atropos did him assayle,
That al Adams kynd doth call ;
Against whose force may none prevayle.
But subject to him all.
This life (qd. he) which was me lent
From judgment seat, in perrill
I came with heart to that entent
To spende in my queenes quarell.
Therfore this debt here wil I pay,
This life which is not mine.
O Lord, receyve my spirit to joy.
That by Christes death is thine.
OLD BALLADS. 45
All subjects now loke and foresee,
That to trade the warres pretend :
OfFendours eke (if any there bee)
Make ye no worse an end.
Finis. W. Birch.
Imprinted at London by Alexander Lacy for William Owen and
are to be sold at the little shop at the north dore of Poules.
THE LAMENTATION OF FOLLY.
There is nothing about the ensuing production to enable us to
fix its date with any accuracy. It is of a serious and religious
cast, written when the author, William Eldertou, (whose initials
are at the end) was in a graver mood than at the time he pro-
duced his " jestes and mery toyes," which were licensed to Hugh
Singleton in 1561. We have therefore placed it later in the pre-
sent series of ballads, and John Allde, the printer of it, has no
dated work earlier than 1561. " The Lamentation of Folly" is
no where mentioned, and only a single copy has yet been dis-
covered. Elderton was dead when Tho. Nash wrote his " Strange
Newes," which bears the date of 1592. Vide Sign. D 4. Several
of the rarest of Elderton's pieces are printed in the last volume
of the Harleian Miscellany, Edit. Park.
THE LAMENTxiTION OF FOLLIE :
TO THE TUNE OF NEW ROGERO.
Alas, what meaneth man
With care and greedy paine
To wrest to win a worldly fame
Which is but vile and vaine?
46 OLD BALLADS.
As though he had no cause; to doubt
The drift of his desire,
Not pleased though he rule the route,
But still to covet higher
And wander after will,
Farre passing his degree,
Not so contented still,
But a king himselfe to be.
Subverting law and right.
Detecting triall true,
Wringing every wight,
That all the realme dooth rue.
Whose deed and ill desart,
Compact and false consent,
I thinke no Christen heart
Can choose but needs lament.
Alas, it seemed strange
Such thraldome in a realme
Which wealthie was to wast away
By will that was extreame.
Such vertue was profest,
Most famous frank and free.
Yet men transposed clean e,
More vile and worse to be.
And such as did pretend
To shew themselfe most holie,
Have swarved in the end.
And fawned after follie.
OLD BALLADS. 47
Whose wordes so disagree.
As waters come and go :
Their livings be contrary,
That should examples showe ;
And fawning after fame
Pursue their owne decay,
As though there were no God
To call their life away.
What surety is in man,
What truth or trust at all,
Which frameth what he can
To worke unworthy thrall ?
Oppression hath beene free,
The poore alas be spoyled,
Maides and wives be ravished,
The simple are beguiled.
Lawe is made a libertie.
And right is overthrowne ;
Faith is but a foolish thing.
Falsehood is alone.
Pride is counted clenlinesse,
And theft is but a slight,
Whoredome is but wantonnesse,
And waste is but delight.
Spoiling is but pleasure,
Riot is but youth,
Slaunder is a laughing game.
And lying counted trueth.
48 OLD BALLADS.
Mariage is but mockage.
The children counted base :
Thus right is wronged everj- way
In our accursed case.
Flatterie is the forte of fame,
And trueth is troden downe ;
The innocent do beare the blame.
The wicked winne renowne.
Thus Sathan hath prevailed long,
And we for want of grace
Have troden vertiie under foote,
And vice hath taken place.
But God that is most righteous
Hath seene our fatall fall,
And spred his mercie over us
To shield us from the thrall :
Whose mercy is so infinite
To such as were oppressed,
He hath restored them to right,
And hath their care redressed.
And though that our unworthinesse
Hath not deserved so ;
Now let us cease our wickednesse,
And graft where grace may grow.
And let us pray for our defence.
Our worthy queene elect,
That God may worke his will in her
Our thraldome to correct.
OLD BALLADS. 49
That God be chiefely served so,
As dooth to him belong ;
That right may have his course againe,
And vanquish wicked wrong ;
That we may live in feare and awe.
And truly so intend.
And have the justice of the lawe
Our causes to defend.
That truth may take his wonted place,
And faith be fast againe,
And then repent and call for grace
That wrought our care and paine ;
That God send us a short redresse
With wealth and great increase,
And to our Queene to reigne and rule
In honour, health and peace.
Finis. W. E.
Imprinted at London by Edward Allde.
AGAINST FILTHY WRITING.
Thomas Brice, the author of the following invective, was a
preacher, who died before 1570, in which year John Allde had a
license to print an epitaph upon him. Three years earlier, H.
Bynneman had a license to print " Songes and Sonnettes by Thos.
Bryce," (Ritson, Bibl. Poet. 144) but they were probably not like
the " Songs and Sonnets" of the Earl of Surrey, &c., but pious
poems, and in 1567 Hugh Singleton was authorized to publish
E
•50 OLD BALLADS.
" The Court of Venus moralized by Thos. Bryce." One work by
him has survived, viz. " A Register in meter, containing the
names and patient sufferings" of the martyrs in the time of Queen
Mary, which was twice printed, — in 1559, by John Kingston, and
again by the same printer without date. The subsequent effusion
should seem to have been part of a literary contest, for the author
refers to what he had formerly written against some unnamed
antagonists, and in the last line notices the challenges which he had
received. It is no where enumerated among the productions of
the press of John Allde, and appears to have been unknown to all
our literary antiquaries.
AGAINST FILTHY WRITING, AND SUCH LIKE
DELIGHTING.
What meane the rimes that run thus large in every
shop to sell,
With wanton sound and filthie sense? me thinke it
grees not well.
We are not Ethnickes, we forsoth, at least professe
not so ;
Why range we then to Ethnickes trade ? come back,
where wil ye go?
Tel me, is Christ or Cupide Lord ? doth God or Venus
reigne ?
And whose are wee? whom ought wee serve ? I aske
it; answere plaine :
If wanton Venus, then go forth ; if Cupide, keep your
trade ;
If God or Christ, come bak the best, or sure you will
be made.
OLD BALLADS. 51
Doth God, is he the Lord in deed, and should we
him obey ?
Then his commaundemeut ought to guide all that we
doo or say.
But shew me his conimaundement, then, thou filthy
writer thou ;
Let seet, I cease ; if not, geve place, or shamles shew
thee now.
We are no foes to musicke wee, a rais your man doth
take us,
So frendes to thinges corrupt and vile you all shall
never make us.
If you denie them such to bee, I stand to prove it I ;
If you confesse, (defend them not) why then do you
reply ?
But such they bee, I will mainteine, which yet you
bothe defend.
And judge them fooles that them mislike ; would God
you might amend !
But substance onely I regarde, let accidencis go :
Both you and wee, bee that wee bee, I therfore leave
it so.
And yet I wishe your tearmes in deed upon some
reason stayd ;
If mine be not, reprove them right. He l)lot that I have
sayd,
e2
52 OLD BALLADS.
And that I wrote, or now doo wrighte, against you as
may seeme,
What cause I had, and have, I yelde to modest men to
deeme.
I wishe you well, I doo protest, (as God will, I will so)
I cannot helpe as frend ye wot, nor will not hurt as fo ;
But for the vile corrupting rimes which you confesse
to wrighte,
My soule and hart abhorres their sence, as far from my
delight.
And those that use them for their glee, as you doo
vaunte ye will,
I tell you plainly what I think ; I judge them to bee ill.
This boasting late in part hath causd mee now to say
ray rainde.
Though chalenges of yours also in every place I finde.
Thomas Brice.
Imprinted at London by John Aide for Edniond Halley and are to
l)e solde iu Lumbard strete at the signe of the Egle.
A WARNING TO LONDON DAMES.
It may be matter of conjecture whether Stephen Peell, the author
of the following, and of another ballad in this collection, were
not father to the distinguished poet George Peele. The Rev.
Mr. Dyce was probably not acquainted with the existence of
any such writer as Stephen Peell : if he knew nothing of him.
OLD BALLADS. .)•')
we need not be surprised at the silence of all our other writers
upon old poets and poetry. It is impossible to assign a date to
this " Warning to all London Dames," but it may be given to an
early year in the reign of Elizabeth, and another production by
the same author (vide p. 65) clearly belongs to 1570. Stephen
Peell writes like a practised versifier, and in what follows there
are several pretty passages.
A PROPER NEW BALADE EXPRESSYNG THE FAMES
CONCERNING A WARNING TO ALL LONDON DAMES.
TO THE TUNE OF THE BLACKE ALMAINE.
You London dames whose passing fames
Through all the worlde is spread,
In to the skye ascendyng hye,
To every place is fled ;
For through each land and place,
For beauties kyndely grace,
You are renovvned over all,
You have the prayse and ever shall.
What wight on earth that can beholde
More dearer and fayrer dames then you ?
Therfore to extoll you I may be bolde,
Your faces and graces so gay to view.
For vertues lore, and other thinges more.
Of truth you do excell :
I may well gesse for comelynesse,
Of all you beare the bell.
As trim in your arraye
As be the flowres in Maye;
With roset hew so bravely dight,
As twinkling starres that sliyneth by uiglit.
54 OLD BALLADS.
For curtesj'e in everj^ parte.
Not many nor any resemble you can.
In lady natures comely arte,
So gravely and bravely to every man.
And oft when you goe, fayre dames, on a rowe
In to the feeldes so greene,
You sit and vevve the beautifuU hewe
Of flowres that there be scene ;
Which lady Flora hath
So garnyshed in each path.
With all the pleasures that may be
(Fayre dames) are there to pleasure ye ;
Tyl frost doth come and nip the top,
And lop them and crop them, not one to be scene
So when that death doth hap to your lot,
Consider and gather what beauty hath beene.
For as the flowre doth change in an houre
That was so fayre to see ;
Consyder and gather, (fayre dames) the wether
May change as well with yee,
And turne your joyes as soone
As frost the flowres hath doone.
So sudden death may change as well
Your beauties that now doth excell,
And turne your sweetes to bitter and sowre ;
When death with his breath comes stealing neare,
Such haps may hap to come in an houre,
Which ever or never vou little dyd fcare.
OLD BALLADS.
Wherfore I say, fayre dames so gay,
That death is busyest now
To catch you hence, where no defence
May make him once to bow.
Experience well doth try.
You see it with your eye,
How quickely some are taken hence,
Not youthfull years may make defence :
And strange diseases many are scene
Encreasyng and preasyng to vexe us each day ;
But sure the lyke hath ever beene,
May hove you and move you to God to pray.
And learne to know, as grasse doth grow
And withereth into haye.
Remember therfore, kepe vertue in store,
For so you shall decaye.
And pitie on the poore,
With some parte of your store :
Loke that your lampes may ready bee ;
The dreadfull day approacheth nye,
When Christ shal come to judge our deeds.
No fairnes nor clerenes can helpe you than
The eorne to seperate from the weeds,
Fayre dames when cometh the day of dome.
Now that I have sayd, let it be wayed.
It is no jesting toye ;
Not all your treasure can you pleasure,
It is but fadyng joye :
56 OLD BALLADS.
Therfore remember me
What I have sayd to yee.
And thus the Lorde preserve the Queeiie,
Long space with us to live and raigne :
As we are all bound incessantlie
To desyre with prayr both night and day,
God to preserve her majestie.
Amen, let all her good subjects say.
Finis. Quoth Steven Peell.
Imprinted at S. Katherins by Alexander Lacie for Henrye
Kyrkham, dwellyng at the middle North dore
of S. Paules church.
A SUPPLICATION TO ELDERTON.
It is not easy to give any explanation of the circumstances out
of which the subsequent ballad arose. Its curiosity and value
depend much upon its personal allusions. We gather from it that
Leach was a manufacturer of hose, with whom Elderton had had
some literary skirmish, or " flytiug," as our neighbours north of
the Tweed term it ; and William Fulwood, who was a writer as
early as 1562, (Ritson, Bibl. Poet. 213) seems to have interfered
"more to embroil the fray," bj' ironically taking part with the
less notorious combatant. In 1561 and 1562 John Allde had a
license to print " An Admonition to Elderton to leave the toyes by
hym begonne," but from the allusion made to Elderton's red nose
in the following effusion, it may be supposed that it was of some-
what later date. It was perhaps one of the " great many ballads"
which Dr. Dibdin informs us John Allde printed, the names of
none of which he furnishes.
OLD BALLADS. 57
A SUPPLICATION TO ELDEllTONNE FOR LEACHE's UNLEWDNES,
DESIRING HIM TO PARDONE HIS MANIFEST UNRUDENES.
Good gentle maister Eldertonne,
May I not you intreate,
To pardon Leache that lie hath donne,
And not with him to frete ?
For I confesse, and know the same,
It was for lack of lewdnes,
That he so blasde abrode your name ;
Therefore forgive his rudenes.
For you may see he is in deed
An unrude simple man ;
Therefore of him take you no heed,
Sithe nurture none he can.
A seely simple man hee is,
As prooff may well be made,
For no more wit he hath, ywis,
But to call a spade a spade.
Therefore, though that your filthy rymes
He filthy name to bee.
Accuse him not, I say, of crimes ;
You heare his qualitie.
It was, no doubt, unhomely done
To chalenge in such case
So fyne a felow as Eldertonne,
That hath so fayre a face.
58 OLD BALLADS.
But though your face be never so riche,
So precious or so gay,
Yet wil he scratche it if it itche,
The paines for to delay-
Wherefore you ought him thankes to geve
That worketh you such good,
And not to shake him by the sleeve,
To wreke your angry moode.
I may well, must, and mervel much
What might be your intent,
Seth that you prove your selfe one such
As truth cannot content.
You showe that Leache you doo contemne,
Even by the self same reed
Wherein you do your self condemne:
I wishe you wolde take heed.
You binde it up with othes inow.
In faith, in faith, say yee ;
But by such frutes a man may know
The goodness of the tree.
A shame it is that you should bring
The example of Christ, I say,
And eke forthwith the self-same thing
So sore to disobev.
OLD BALLADS. 59
For with the breach of charitie
You tloo him sharply charge,
And by and by outragiously
You raile on him at large.
Thus Sathan also for his turne
The scriptures can out-pike;
And as you well his lesson learne.
So are your deedes a like.
You[r] harte is vaine and bent to evill,
Your toung also is naught ;
How can it be then but the devill
Must rule both toung and thought?
But hereby men may easely spie
How you doo Leache abuse.
Seth that your quarrell for to trie,
By scripture you refuse.
Therefore you go about, I see.
The scripture set aparte,
Unto your toies and vanitie.
His penne for to convart.
And if indeed you could him cause
From scripture for to flie.
No doubt, forsoth, but clause by clause
Much braverv should Me see.
60 OLD BALLADS.
Then wolde you leke, then wohl you laffe.
As you doo make reporte ;
Then wold you answere every staffe,
And that in sugred sorte.
In sugred sorte ? nay, poisened then
I might it better call,
Although it sugred seemes to men
Which are in sinfuU thrall.
A worthy worke it is, doubtles,
And full of lerned skill,
Whereby appeareth your shameles
And wilful wicked will.
And where you write, that secretly
Your fault he should have tolde,
That might not be ; sith openly
Your selfe did it upholde.
And where as he ful skilfully
Takes scriptures for his staie,
You say in deed that wickedly
He useth them alwaie.
It is not streight way proved so,
When that you have it said.
Except you bring a profe thereto
Which cannot be denaid.
OLD BALLADS. 61
As if that I should say in deed
You were an honest man,
All wise men might me then deride,
Sith prove it not I can.
I wolde now wishe you should forget
His science to deface ;
For honestly a man may get
His living in that race.
Muche better then the witte to spend,
A parasite to play,
The bad to please, the good to offend.
And play the foole all day.
And him raethinkes you should not blame
That can well shape a hose ;
For he may likewise cut and frame
A case for your riche nose.
To make a hose is no suche shame
To Leache in his degree,
As is your nose a glorious fame
Upon your face to see.
It doth become you very ill
To talke so of your taile :
But you shal there your toung hold still.
As fitte for tounges that raile.
62 OLD BALLADS.
And if you still thus doo deny
Your knaverie to forbeare.
You shal therein have victory,
The garland you shall weare.
But heere I must full sore lament
The counsel you still geve
To your vile Jone, not to repent,
But beastly still to live.
O wicked man, darste thou be bolde,
Suche sinful seede to sowe?
And eke the same for to upholde,
In sinful hartes to growe?
O Lord, shal whoredom thus prevaile,
Shal men thus sinne mainteine?
Is this a christen common weale,
And can such filthe susteine ?
O magistrates, play Phinehes parte
Towarde suche, be not to milde.
Which may procure most grevous smart
To many a mothers childe.
The whoredom of one heretofore
Great plagues to many hath brought,
Although the Lord eftsoons therfore
In him repentance wrought.
OLD BALLADS. 63
What shal our lot be then, Oh Lord,
Which foster suche foule swine,
As live a lyfe to bee abhorde.
Yet glory and joye therein ?
Repent (O wretche) and cal for grace,
Leave of these wicked toyes.
Lest Sathan reache thee sower sauce
To these thy pleasant joyes.
Now sir, if Leache, as you doe tell,
Semes fondly thinges to knit,
It is because you cannot well
Them home Avith reason hit.
A homely cloke wold serve full wel :
Is there none to be had ?
If Eldertonne of none heare tell,
I doubt he will goe mad.
But if as you doo threaten, so
You fall for to bee wood,
You shall streight waies to Bedlem go,
To tame your madding mood.
Now, Eldertonne, I must desire
You to hold Leache excusde,
For that no reason doth appeare
Why he shuld so be usde.
()4 OLD BALLADS.
And sith that I thus curteously
For Leache doo you intreat,
Your phrensie so to satisfy,
You need no more to freat.
Wherfore, gentle Maiste Elderton,
As I may doo you pleasure,
Graunt this my supplication,
Which is not out of measure.
And thus subscribed,
The first day of June,
At which time you said
Beginneth your fume.
Qd. Willyam Fulwod.
Imprinted at London at the Long shop adjoining unto Saint
Mildreds Church in the Pultry by John Aide.
ON THE DEATH OF JOHN FELTON.
John Felton, according to Stowe, was arraigned on the 4th, and
executed, by hanging and quartering before the Bishop of London's
palace, on the Sth August, 1570. His offence %vas hanging a bull
from the Pope on the gate of the Bishop of London. From tlie fol-
lowing ballad, (the second by the same author, Stephen Peell) it
appears also that the offender's quarters were exposed upon the
gates of the metropolis. It is in the form of an epistle to the
Pope, and is cleverly written, like "The Warning to London
Dames" to a very popular tune.
OLD 13ALLADS. 65
A LETTER TO ROME TO DECLARE TO THE POPE
JOHN FELTON HIS FREEND IS HANGD IN A ROPE :
AND FARTHER, A RIGHT HIS GRACE TO ENFORME
HE DYED A PAPIST AND SEEMD NOT TO TURNE.
TO THE TUNE OF EOW WELL YE MARINERS.
Who keepes Saint Angell gates ?
Where lieth our holy lather, say ?
I muze that no man waytes,
Nor comes to meete me on the way.
Sir Pope, I say, yf you be nere,
Bow downe to me your listning eare :
Come forth, besturre you tlien a pace,
Fo[r] I have newes to show your grace.
Stay not, come on.
That I from hence were shortly gon :
Harke well, heare mee,
What tidings I have brought to thee.
The Bull so lately sent
To England by your holy grace,
John Felton may repent.
For settyng of the same in place ;
For he upon a goodly zeale.
He bare unto your common weale,
Hath ventured lyfe to pleasure you,
And now is hangd, I tell you true.
66 OLD BALLADS.
Wherfore, sir Pope,
In England have you lost your hope.
Curse on, spare not,
Your knights are lyke to go to pot.
But further to declare
He dyed your obedient divide.
And never .seemd to spare
For to exalt your doctrine wylde :
And tolde the people every one
He dyed your obedient sonne;
And as he might he did set forth
Your dignitie, thats nothyng worth ;
Your trash, your toyes
He toke to be his onely joyes :
Therefore hath wonne
Of you the crowne of martirdome.
Let him be shryned then
According to his merits due.
As you have others doen
That prove unto their Prince untrue.
For these (sir Pope) you love of lyfe,
That with their Princes fall at stryfe,
Defendyng of your supreame power;
Yet som have paid full deare therfore,
As now lately
Your freend John Felton seemd to try.
Therfore I pray
That you a masse for him wyll say.
OLD BALLADS. 67
Ryng all the belles in Rome,
To doe his sinful soule some good :
Let that be doen right soone,
Because that he hath shed his blood.
His quarters stand not all together,
But ye mai hap to ring them thether
In place where you wold have them be ;
Then might you doe as pleaseth ye.
For whye ? they hang
Unshryned each one upon a stang :
Thus standes the case,
On London gates they have a place.
His head upon a pole
Stands wavering in the wherling wynd,
But where shoulde be his soule
To you belongeth for to fynd :
I wysh you Purgatorie looke,
And search each coi'ner with your hooke,
Lest it might chance, or you be ware,
The Devyls to catce him in a snare.
Yf ye him see,
From Purgatorie set liim free :
Let not, trudge than,
Fetch Felton out, and yf ye can.
I wysh you now, sir Pope,
To loke unto your faithful freendes,
That in your Bidles have hope
To have your pardon for their sinnes ;
h'2
G8 OLD BALLADS.
For here, I tell you, every lad
Doth scoff and scorne your bulies to bad,
And thinke they shall the better fare.
For hatyng of your cursed ware.
Now doe I end ;
I came to show you as a frend :
Whether blesse or curse,
You send to me, I am not the worse.
Finis. Steven Peele.
Imprinted by Alexander Lacie for Henrie Kirkham, dwellyng at
the signe of the blacke Boy : at the middle North
dore of Paules church.
THE POPE'S LAMENTATION.
The subsequent humorous ballad is in the same measure as
the preceding, and until now it has never been heard of. Ritson
(Bibl. Poet. 300) mentions Thomas Preston as the well-known
author of " Cambises," which Shakespeare ridicules, and of a
ballad called " A Geliiiower, or swete Marygolde," by the same
printer as the following, and one year earlier in point of date; but
Ritson knew nothing of this "Lamentation froin Rome." It is
from first to last a piece of ridicule of the Pope and his Conrt, dis-
concerted at the news of the defeat of the rebels in Northumberland.
A LAMENTATION FROM ROME HOW THE POPE DOTH BEWAYLE,
THAT REBELLES IN ENGLAND CAN NOT PREVAYLE.
TO THE TUNE OF EOWE WELL VE MARINERS.
All you that newes would liere.
Give eare to me, poor Fabyn Flye.
At Rome I was this yere,
And in the Pope his nose dyd lye ;
OLD BALLADS. 69
But there I could not long abide,
He blew me out of every side ;
For furst when he had harde the newes
That Rebelles dyd their Prince misuse,
Then he with joye
Did sporte him selfe with many a toye :
He then so stout,
That from his nose he blew me out.
But as he was a slepe,
Into the same againe I goot :
I crept there in so depe,
That I had almost burnt my coote.
New newes to him was brought that nigiit,
The Rebelles they were put to flight ;
But Lord, how then the Pope toke one,
And called for a Mary bone.
Up howgh ! make hast,
My lovers all be like to waste :
Ryse Cardnall, up priest,
Saint Peter he doth what he lest.
So then they fell to messe :
The fryers on their beades did praye ;
The Pope began to blesse.
At last he weist not what to saye.
It chanced so the next day morne,
A post came blowing of his home,
Sayng Northomberland is take ;
But then the Pope began to quake.
He then rubd his nose;
70 OLD BALLADS.
With pilgrome salve he noynt hi>! hose.
Runne here, riinne there ;
His nayles for anger gan to pare.
Not Northomberland alone,
But many of his wicked ayd,
Such as thought not to grone :
They hoped well for to aplayd
Their partes, to have their hartes desire;
But now is quenched their flames of fire.
The greatest and the meane beside.
With other youths fast bound must ride.
Ketch fast, kepe well,
There youthfull bloud they long to sell :
. Trust this, dere Pope,
What is it than wherfore ye hope?
When he perceaved well
The newes was true to him was brought.
Upon his knees he fell.
And then S. Peter he be sought.
That he would stand his frend in this.
To helpe to ayd those servauntes his.
And he would do as much for him ;
But Peter sent him to Saint Simme.
So then he snuft,
The fryers all about he cuft :
He roarde, he cryde ;
The priests they durst not once abide.
The Cardnalles then they beginnes
To stay and take him in their arme.
OLD BALLADS. 71
He spurnd them on the shinnes,
Away the[y] trudgd for feare of harme.
So there the Pope was left alone.
Good Lord, how he dyd make his mone !
The stooles against the walles he threwe,
And me out of his nose he blewe.
I hopt, I skipt,
From place to place about I whipt :
He swore, he tare,
Till from his crowne he pold the heare.
He courst me so about
In the house I could finde no rome.
Loth was I to go out,
And shrind my selfe under a brorae.
Then by and by downe he was set ;
With anger he was one a swet :
He rubde his elbovve on the wall,
So fell a ray ling on Saint Paule.
Fye, fye, bloud, harte !
He scratchd him selfe till he dyd smart.
Poll nose, rube eye,
Grash the teth, drawe mouth awrye.
He wept and wrong his handes,
Yea, worse and worse began to fret :
Thus raging still he standes ;
Then out at doore I dyd me get.
I was not sooner gone from tiience,
But worse and worse was his pretence.
72 OLD BALLADS.
The post he plucked from the house,
He left no harbour for a mouse.
Thus now the Popes mad,
Because no better lucke they had ;
Forlorne, molest,
That they so ill their meate digest.
When I had vewed all,
To bring this newes my winges I spred.
To this parplict is he fall,
I wish some would go hold his head ;
For certainely he doth yll fare ;
Yet for the same I do not care,
For God his power will convince,
And ayd with right his beloved prince.
Then, Pope, radge thou:
The God in heaven hath made a vowe
To kepe all his.
That God is just, our stay he is.
Finis. Qd. Thomas Preston.
Imprinted at London in Fletestrete at the Signe of the Faulcon by
Wylliam Gryfiith and are to be solde at his shoppe
in Saint Dunstones Churchyard. 1570.
STUTELEY'S VOYAGE TO FLORIDA.
Most of the existing information regarding the celebrated adven-
turer Thomas Stutely, or Stukeley, is to be found in a note to
Dyce's Peele's Works, ii. 82. The name of Robert Seall, who
subscribes the ensuing ballad, is new in poetical bibliography ;
OLD BALLADS. 73
aud if lie wrote anything else, it has not been recovered. .John
Allde mu.st have printed this broadside at an early date, because
Stuteley's voyage to Florida was one of his first enterprises. The
parallel between Stuteley and Columbus, near the end, is singular.
It is no where inserted among the productions of Allde's press.
A COMMENDATION OF THE ADVENTERUS VIAGE OF THE
WURTHY CAPTAIN, M. THOMAS STUTELY ESQUYER
AND OTHERS TOWARDS THE LAND CALLED
TERRA FLORIDA.
If fortunes force procure
The valiant noble hart
In travail pain and daungers great.
In warres to have his part ;
If losse of goods insue
Through valiant enterprise.
Or for slaknes, or the foresight
Of diligent advise ;
Yet of his wurthy praise
I can not speak tomiche,
Who ventreth both his goods and life
His contrey to enriche.
The worldly wise doo muse,
And also doo envay
At noble harts, when that their welths
Doo fall unto decay.
OLD BALLADS.
As now of late I knew,
And saw the evidence,
Of one whose part it was to sliew
The like experience.
A noble hart in deed.
And wurthy great renowne,
Whose fortune was not to remain
In cittie nor in towne.
A yong Eneas bolde,
With hart and courage stout.
Whose enterprise was only pight
Straunge things to bring about.
And though that all men seemd
His dooings to deride,
Yet this his fact he would not leve.
Nor throwe it so a side.
But stil he dooth procure
With boldned hart and minde
That thing which erst he had assayd
By travail now to finde.
Into a land unknowne
To win hym wurthy fame,
As exequies and memory
Of his most noble name ;
OLD TULLADS. 75
Whiclie if it fall to his lot
With fortunes helping hand,
He may wel make a lawhing stock
Of them whiche him withstand.
Some terme it Stolida.
And Sordida it name ;
And to be plain, they doo it mock
As at a foolishe game.
If reasons sence be cause
Of this forespoken talke,
Or fayned folly be the ground
Why mennes tungs thus doo walke,
Then might it seem to me
The Frenches labour lost,
Their careful pain and travail eke
That they therein have cost.
The cronicles also,
Whiche only seem as trew.
And writ by them that of that place
Before did take the vew.
The Spaniards eke doo shew,
And verify the same.
To be described as a thing
Deserving suche a name.
OLD BALLADS.
The Portingales doo say
The crownacles be just,
And all that travaiid have that coste
The same confes it must.
Of that in times before
Through talkes men have refraind,
Whiche for the love of travail sore
Their harts have long been paind.
Columbus, as I reed,
The space of many yeeres
Was counted as unwise also,
As in writers appeeres.
His ernest sute denied,
Yet in the finall ende
His wards and deeds did seem at length
On reason to depend.
The like assay in hand
He did at last procure,
Whose life and lucky viages
Good fortune did assure.
At thend in savety home
At length he did retourn,
And quenched all their mocking harts,
Whiche erst did seem to burn.
OLD BALLADS. 77
For fire of force must needs
Declare his burning heat,
Though for a time in smothering smoke
It seemes it self to beat.
So talk of tungs may not.
By smothering through be tame,
But bursting out at length vvil turn
Into a firye flame.
And then, the mallice gon,
The fire falleth down
And quenched quite, as by this man,
Whiche was of great renowne.
Now, Stuetley, hoice thy sail,
Thy wished land to finde.
And never doo regard vain talke.
For wurds they are but winde.
And in reproof of all,
I will not once refrain
With prayer for to wish that thou
JVIaist safely come again.
And that sum frute at length
By travail thou maist finde,
With riches for to satisfy
Thy manly modest minde.
Finis. Qd. Robert Seall.
Impriiued at London at the long Shop adjoyning unto Saint
Mildreds Churche in the Pultrie, by John Allde.
78 OLD BALLADS.
THE FLOODS OF BEDFORDSHIRE, Sec.
The subsequent ballad gives us the earliest notice of that extra-
ordinarily popular actor, Richard Tarlton, whose name is sub-
scribed as the author of it. Whether he was on the stage at this
time, must be matter of speculation ; but it is certain that he was
not a member of the first authorized theatrical company — that of
the Earl of Leicester, in 1574. (Vide Hist, of Dramatic Poetry and
the Stage, i. 211.) He is not spoken of as an actor until 1583, when,
with Wilson, he was at the head of the twelve players selected by
the Queen as her own company; but he must have obtained cele-
brity considerably before that date, and we know that he died in
September 1588. According to the writer of the play, " The
Three Lords and Three Ladies of London," published only two
years after Tarlton's death, he was originally "a water-bearer." It
seems probable that he had obtained some reputation prior to the
following temporary effusion, and that that reputation was employed
to secure it an additional sale, for it certainly has little merit as
an original composition. In 1578, John Allde (the printer of
what follows) had a license to publish " Tarlton's device upon
this unlooked for great snowe." (Dibdin's Typ. Ant. iv. 579.)
The ensuing ballad was not the only production upon the occasion
to which it relates, for William How in 1571 printed ' A Decla-
ration of such tempestuous and outragious Fluddes as hath been
in divers places of England. 1570." We may gather from
Thomas Nash's "Terrors of the Night," 4to. 1594, that "Tarl-
ton's Toys" had appeared in 1586, but Tarlton's " Jests" and
" News out of Purgatory" were published after his decease. The
precise share he had in the extemporal play of " The Seven Deadly
Sins," may be disputed. Stowe mentions the " terrible tempest of
wind and rain," on 5th October, 1570.
A VERY LAMENTABLE AND WOFULL DISCOURS OF THE FIERCE
FLUDS, WHICHE LATELY FLOWED IN BEDFORD SHIRE, IN
LINCOLN SHIRE, AND IN MANY OTHER PLACES, WITH
THE GREAT LOSSES OF SHEEP AND OTHER CATTEL,
THE 5 OF OCTOBER 1570.
All faithful harts come waile,
Com rent your garments gaj^,
Els nothing can prevaile
To turn Gods wrath away.
OLD BALLADS. 79
Of waters fierce and fel,
And fluds both huge and hie,
You may report and tel
Of places far and nye.
Of monsters very rare.
That are unseemly borne,
Whiche dooth at large declare
We live as men forlorne.
We live and linger stil,
We wander quite astray,
We want true Christians skil
To guide us in the way.
Ful straunge unseemly sights
We may beholde and see,
What mis-deformed wights
Of women borne there bee.
Ouse bridge was lately lost
By force of roring streame,
Which many a crowne hath cost,
In this our English realme.
Why should I make delay,
Reciting of such acts?
What need I more to say
Of vice and worldly facts ?
80 OLD BALLADS.
As erst I did pretend,
So forward will I glide,
To tel the totall end.
What hapned at this tide.
By rushing rivers late,
In Bedford town, no na}%
Ful many a woful state
May yeeld to fast and pray.
At twelve a clock at night,
It flowde with such a hed,
Yea, many a woful wight
Did swim in naked bed.
Among the rest there was
A woful widow sure,
Whome God did bring to passe
The death she did procure.
Widow Spencer by name :
A sleep she beeing fast,
The flud so rashly came,
That she aloft was cast.
Which seeing started up,
Regarding small her pelf.
She left beside her bed.
And so she drownd her self.
OLD BALLADS. 81
The houses very strong,
The cattel great and small,
Were quickly laid along.
And so they perisht all.
The geldings tall and brave
In stables rashly roules :
The churche was over flowed
In Bedford, named Poules.
The gardens round about.
The sheep in marsh or feeld,
The river was so stout
They knew not where to sheeld.
The kine and oxen, to,
Were all drowned by force,
They west not what to doo,
It had so small remorse.
O Lord, this flud was straunge.
And none occasion why ;
The wether did not chaunge.
The wind was nothing hie.
There was no store of raine.
But very little sure.
That wee should thus sustaine
The losse we did endure.
82 OLD BALLADS.
The arke of father Noy
Was had in rainde as than.
When God did clene destroy
Both woman, childe and man.
But that he promis made,
When he did heer remaine,
Tlie world should never vade
By waters force agaiue ;
Els would we then have thought
The dredful day of doome
Had been both shape and wrought
To drown us all and some.
Upon the Saboth day
We were amazed all ;
In church we could not pray,
But in the judgement hall
We were assembled there,
With praiers most devout
To God, with many a tare,
To tame this river stout.
No horse nor man could passe
Of busines small or post,
For issue none there was,
No way but to be lost.
OLD BALLADS. 83
In Bedford town, I knowe,
This many score of yeeres,
Did never rivers flowe,
To bring us in such feares.
By chaunce I came in place,
This great mischaunce to tel,
To end our crooked race
What fotune late befel.
Which tale no sooner doon,
Two men along did walke :
Betwixt us we begon
To raise some further talke.
What cuntrey men they were
I did request to knowe:
They said of Lincoln shire,
The certen trueth is so.
Quod they, your losse is small,
But one hath lost her life :
He askt what dame she was ?
I said one Spencer's wife.
In Lincoln shire (he said)
We have sustaind great losse :
Our stomacks are decaide,
That late so frolick was.
g2
84 OLD BALLADS.
Our cattel in like case
Are drowncl and cast away ;
For oure offence in every place
The dum beasts truly pay.
We have not scaped so :
Both widow, man and wife,
Since first this flud did flowe.
Have gained losse of life.
When that the waters seast,
As I and more doo knowe,
Ther did from skies discend
A great and greevous snowe.
And so we parted then.
Bewailing both togither,
Like poor and out cast men,
This sudden chaunge of wether.
In us therefore for shame
Let vice no more be seene,
And eke our selves to frame
To serve a right our Queen.
Finis. Qd. Richard Tarlton.
Imprinted at London at the long shop adjoyning unto Saint
Mildreds Churche in the Pultrye by John Allde. 1570.
OLD BALLADS. 85
ADMONITION TO THE PAPISTS.
This ballad, subscribed " G. B." may have been by Gulielnius or
William Birch, the author of a former piece of the same kind in
the present volume: William Baldwin, who was a writer of con-
siderable celebrity, and one of the original projectors of " The
Mirror for Magistrates," sometimes used the initials G. B. and
1571 is not perhaps too late a date for him. The following is,
however, precisely in the pious, puritanical spirit of Birch. It
was unknown to Dibdin, Ames and Herbert, and is therefore not
enumerated among the productions of Awdeley's press. Towards
the close it refers to the execution of John Felton in the year pre-
ceding, regarding which we have already inserted a contemporary
eifusion by Stephen Peel. The " three trees," of which the
Roman Catholics are told in the title to beware, of course meant
" the triple gallow-tree," or "the three legged mare," as it was
sometimes called in the language of the time.
A FREE ADMONITION WITHOUT ANY FEES,
TO WARNE THE PAPISTES TO BEWARE OF THREE TREES.
If that you be not past all grace,
O Papystes, heare mee speake ;
Let reason rule and truth take place.
Cease you from that you seeke.
Can you God or his woord deface ?
Can you the truth wythstand?
Can you our noble Queene displace,
And yet lyve in England ?
Take heede, beware the Devyll is a knave,
He wyl you sure begile :
In cruelty he would you have
To serve hvm here awhile :
86' OLD BAl.T.ADS.
With lying ami liipocrisy
His kyngdonie to iiiayntayne.
Contemning truth and equity,
This is his suhtiK> trayne.
Let cursed Cain example be
That slew Abel his brother ;
Whom neither (iod with majesty,
Could move to leave his murder,
Nor yet the godly lyfe of hym
That gave hym none offence,
Tyll he had heaped up hys synne
In pi'aetisyng his pretence.
Let Core and Datlian come from iiell
Where now they do remayne.
That they their minds at length mai tel
W^herfore they ther remain ;
Namely for that they did rebel
And would not be perswaded,
But would be Lordes in Israel,
Tyll hell had thorn devoured.
What could make Absalon meeke and tame
And to desist from rage ?
His father Davids worthy fame,
Or yet his counsel sage ?
No, no, these things wil not prevail
With hym that feares not God ;
The force of doctrine there doth fail,
Tvl God strike with his rod.
0\.\\ UAl.l.AOS. 87
Antl as flu' |)('\il ill iIksc diii ra^c
'Vo Avorkc \]\< \v\rkoil \\\\\.
I'liat iiotliviig 0(iulii(> llii'vr lurvi' svvagt^
Tyl flioy dill it rnltyl,
vSo that the law of Cod and man
They sought to overthrow;
Kvon so of hifi! I truly can
The lyko unto yon show.
Whon kyiig l',d\\ard nf vmiliv fnnio
Had Anti<"hrist |iui ddwnc.
And Id the ltIoiv of Gods name,
Had jilaccil truth in hor roouH";
'I'hc DiMisiiirc dolls, like Hchcis ranok
In rusi V annoiir ran;i:('d.
Hut liauixd wcr soiu. tlicir oarions stanok,
The worUl was <|uirkly changed.
And thi'ii dyd Kot, the tanner stout,
In NorHolkc j)lay his part.
Assembling such his i-ebcls rout,
That innocents might smari.
Hut hanged he was, this wa.s his end,
And so ende all the sort
That Rebels are ami wyll imi miinl.
A rope be their eomrort.
Such blessings as the Nortons liiul.
And such as Feltnn found,
(lod send I hem all that are so bad
\\ ilh ill ( les to blcsse the iiround.
8S OLD llAl.l.ADS.
It' that you liki' not tor to liave
Tins blessyiig in a ropo,
Leavf of you robels tor to rave.
And curso your chid tlie Pope.
Whicli makes you ott sueli crowes to put.
Then leaves you in tlie mire ;
In sending you to sueh a liull.
This is but symple liire :
Behold tlie end of tliis attempt
That hist here was begun,
Loe, God your doyng dotii prevent
The rebels race to run.
Synce God by grace doth guyde hy> Hock
That none can them anoy.
If you be grafted in this stocke
He wyl you not destroy.
Feare God, tlee syn, the truth embrace.
And seeke your Prince to please.
Obey the hiwes and call for grace.
So shall you lyve at peace.
God save our Queene Elizabeth
Finis. Qd. O. B.
Impriiued at London by John Awdely, for Henry Kirkluiin,
dwelling :it the middle North doore of Paules, at the sigue
ot the blacke Bov. The xii of December. 1571.
OLD ISALLADS. 89
THK FALL OF ANTWERP.
The date of this ballad is only to be ascertained from the event to
which it relates: it is no where mentioned among the prodnetions
of Allde's press, (which range between 15C1 and 159(i) though Dr.
Dibdiu informs us " a great many ballads" were licensed to him.
Ralph or Rafe Norris is one of several names in this collection
quite new in our poetical bibliography, and no other production of
his pen is known. The tune to which he wrote, " Row well, ye
mariners," was very popular, as may be seen from Mr. W. Chap-
pell's "National English Airs," p. ]34; and we have already
inserted two specimens of verse adapted to it. Camden introduces
the siege and sacking of Antwerp by the Spaniards among the
events of the year 1 576, and there can be little doubt that the
" Warning to London" appeared very soon afterwards.
A WARNING TO LONDON BY THK FAI,I, OF ANTWERP
TO THE TUNE OF ROW WEL VE MAUINKRS.
The sturdy oke at length,
When torse doth fail, thouuh nere .so tall,
Resignetli up his strcngtli
Bj' boistrous blasts unto the fal :
Tiie stately stag in time dooth yoeld
Him self a pray to dogs in foeld :
The pecock proud, the swelling swan,
At last dooth serve the use of man.
Pride, pompe, plumes gay,
Must have a fall, who ere say nay :
Hye mindes, state, power,
Shall come to end witliin an houre.
Let Antwerp warning be,
Thou stately London, to lieware,
90 OLD BALLADS.
Lest, resting in thy glee,
Tliou wrapst thy self in wretched care.
Be vigilant, sleepe not in sin,
Lest that thy foe doo enter in :
Keep sure thy trench, prepare thy shot ;
Watch wel, so shall no foil be got.
Stand fast, play thy parte ;
Quail not, but shew an English hart.
Dout, dread, stil fear,
For Antwerps plague approcheth neer.
Leave tearing of thy God,
Let vain excesse be laid aside;
Els shalt thou feel the rod
Prepared for to scou[r]ge thy pride.
Forsake thy Devilish drunken trade,
Which almoste hath the entrance made.
Erect your walles, give out your charge ;
Keep wel your ray, run not at large.
Faint not, fiercely fight :
Shrink not, but keep your countries right.
Stand stout, on Jesus call,
And he no doubt will help you all.
Trust not a civil foe
Which under couiour wisheth good.
For ere thy self doost knowe.
By craft he seeks to have thy blood.
The snake in grasse doth groveling lie.
Til for revenge due time he spie.
OLD BALLADS. 91
The leering dog doth bite more sore.
Then he that warning gives before.
Fine flattery, fair face
Much discorde breeds in every place.
Fire shot must be to hot
For those which have their God forgot.
Rejoyce not if thou see
Thy neighbours house set on a flame,
For like thy luck may be,
Unlesse thou wel prevent the same.
The scourge which late on Antwerp fel,
Thy wrack and ruine dooth foretel.
Make not a gibing jest tlierat,
I^est stately Troy be beaten flat.
Pray God faithfully
To save us from all treachery.
Dout not if we doo so,
We shall escape the forain fo.
Pray we with one accorde.
That God our Queene may ay defend
From those which seeke by swoord
To bring her graces reign to end.
Cut of (O Lord) their devilish dayes,
And graunt her life thy name to praise.
Garde her with grace, her champion be,
That she may gain the victory.
92 OLD BALLADS.
Hope wel, pray stil :
God is our guide, we feare none il.
Fear not, watch, pray :
God sheeld this Citie from decay.
Amen. Qd. Rafe Norris.
Imprinted at London at the long Shop adjoyning unto S. Mildreds
Church in the Pultrie by John Allde.
THE LARK AND HER FAMILY.
E.1TS0N, who mentions this ballad (Bibl. Poet. 137), informs us
that the author's name is not Arthur Bour, as it is subscribed at
the end, but Arthur Bourcher ; and certainly a person of the latter
name has a poem in " The Paradise of Dainty Devices." What
follows was twice printed, and the copy here adopted was of the
later edition by Richard Jones. Mr. Heber had an earlier im-
pression. The apologue, which is from yEsop, has been frequently-
translated, and three times at an early date, — viz. in prose, in
"The Palace of Pleasure," 4to. 1566; and in verse, in "The
Forrest of Fancy," 4to. 1579, (attributed by some to H. Chettle,
and by others to H. Constable, but in all probability by neither)
where it is related in ten-syllable alternate rhyme, and by Arthur
Bour or Boucher, very cleverly, as follows.
A WORTHY MYRROUR, WHERIN YE MAY MARKE
AN EXCELLENT DISCOIJRSE OF A BREEDING LARKE :
BY READYNG WHEROF FERCEYVE WELL YE MAY
WHAT AT TRUST IS FREENDES OR ON KINSFOLKS TO STAY.
A LARKE sometimes did breed
Within a field of corne,
And had increase when as the grayne
Wasredy to be shorne.
./.'/V
OLD BALLADS. 93
Shee, wary of the tyuie
And carefull for her nest.
Debated wisely with her selfe
What thynge to doo were best.
For to abyde the rage
Of crueli reapers hande,
Shee knew it was to perillous,
With safetie for to stande :
And to dislodge her broode,
Unable yet to Hy,
(Not knowing whither to remove)
Great harmes might hap thereby.
Therfore shee ment to staye
Tyll force constraynd to fleete,
And in the whyle for to provyde
Some other place as meete.
The better to provyde
The purpose of her mynde ;
She would forthwith go seeke abroad,
And leave her yong behind:
But first shee bad them all
Attend their mothers wyll,
Which carefull was for to eschewe
Each likelyhood of yll.
94 OI,D BALLADS.
This corne is ripe (quoth shee,)
Wherin we nestled are,
The which (if heede prevents not harmes)
May cause our raortall care.
Therfbre to fence with skyll
The sequeall of mishappes,
I wyll provyde some other place
For feare of afterclappes.
Whilste I for this and foode
Am flowen hence awaye.
With heedefull eares attentive bee
What coramers by doo saye.
Thus sayde shee vaunste her selfe
Upon her longest toe.
And mounted up into the skies,
Styll singing as shee flovve.
Anone shee home returnde
Full fraught with choyce of meate ;
But loe, (a suddaine change) her byrdes
For feare could nothyng eate.
Therwith agast she cryed,
What, how ? what meaneth this?
I charge ye ou my blessyng tell
What thyng hath chaunst amis.
OLD BALLADS. 95
Are these my welcomes home.
Or thankes for foode I have?
Ye wonted were with chirping cheare
To gape before 1 gave :
But now such quawmes oppresse
Your former quiet kynde,
That (quite transformed) dumb mute things,
And senselesse soules I finde.
The prime and eldest birde
(Thuscheckt) began to say,
Alas, deare dame, such news we hard
Sence ye were flowen awaye,
That were it not the trust
That wee repose in you,
Our lives were lost remediles
We know it well ynow.
The owner of this plot
Came hither with his sonne,
And sayd to him, this wheat must down,
'Tis more than time 'twere don:
Go get thee to my friendes,
And byd them come to morne,
And tell them that I crave their helpes
To reape a peece of corne.
96 OLD BALLADS.
The Larke that was the dam
Stood in a dump a whyle.
And after said, his frindes (quoth hee)
And then began to smile.
Tush, friendes are hard to finde,
True friendship seild appeares :
A man may misse to have a friend,
That lives olde Nestors yeares.
True Damon and his friend
Long ere our time were dead :
It was in Greece, a great way hence,
Whei's two such friends were bred.
Our country is to colde
To foster up a friende,
Tyll proofe be made eche one wyll say,
Styll yours unto the ende.
But trye in time of need?
And all your friends are flowen ;
Suche fruitlesse seede, suche fickle stay
In faithlesse friendes is sowen.
Therfore be of good cheere,
Revive your dulled sprites,
Expell the care that causelesse thus
Bereaves you of delightes.
OLD BALLADS. 97
Let no surmised feare
Deprive your eyes of sleepe,
My selfe wyll be amongst ye still,
That safely shall ye keepe.
And sweare eene by the tufte
That growes upon my crowne,
If all his helpe be in his freendes
This come shall not goe downs.
The yong, assured by her
That such an othe dyd sweare,
Dyd passe the time with wonted sleepe,
And banisht former feare.
And when the drowsie night
Was fled from gladsome daye,
She bad them wake and looke about,
For she must go her way.
And saide, I warrant you,
These friendes wyll not come heere ;
Yet notwithstanding, listen well.
And tell me what you heare.
Anone the farmer came,
Enraged, wellnie raadde.
And sware who so depends on friends.
His case is worse then badde :
H
98 OLD BALLADS.
I wyll go fet ray kinne
To helpe raee with this geare :
In things of greater weight then this
Their kindred shall appeare.
The larkes, their dam returnd,
Informed her of all,
And how that he hymselfe was gone
His kindred for to call.
But w hen she hard of kinne
Shee laughinge cried araayne,
A pin for kin, a figge for friendes.
Yet kinne the worst of twayne.
This man him selfe is poore
Though wealthy kine he have,
And kindred now a dayes doth quaile
When neede compelles to crave.
No, no, he shall returne
With yll contented minde ;
His paynes shall yeald but losse of time.
No succoure he shall finde.
They all are so addicte
Unto their private gayne,
That if ye lacks power to requite
Your sutes are all in vayne.
OLD BALLADS. 99
My selfe am over chardgde
With harvest, ye maye see,
And neerer is my skin then shirte :
This shall their answer bee.
Therfore, as earste of frieudes
So saye I now of kin :
Wee shall receyve no hurte by them
Nor he no profite win.
Yet listen once agayne
What now [h]is refuge is.
For kinred shalbe lyke to friendes ;
Be well assured of this.
I must go furnish up
A neast I have begone,
And wyll returne and bring ye nieate
Assoone as it is done.
Then up she clam the clowdes
With suche a lusty saye
That it rejoyste her yonglinges hartes
As in their neast they layer
And muche they did commende
Their mothers lofty gate,
And thought it long til time had brought
Them selves to such estate.
H 2
100 OLD BALLADS.
Thus whilste their twinkelynge eyes
Were rovyng to and fro,
They saw where as the Farmer came
That was their mortall foe.
Who after due complaintes,
Thus said in the ende;
I wyll from hencefoorth trust myselfe,
And not to kinne nor friende.
Who gives me glosing wordes,
And fayles me at ray neede.
May in my Pater noster bee,
But never in my Creede.
My selfe wyll have it downe,
Since needes it must be so,
For proofs hath taught me too mutch wit
To trust to any mo.
The birdes that listenyng laye
Attentive to the same,
Informde their mother of the whole
As soone as ere she came.
Yee, mary, then quoth shee,
The case now altered is :
We wyll no longer heare abyde ;
I alwayes feared this.
OLD BALLADS. 101
But out she got them all
And trudged away apace,
And through the corn she brought them safe
Into another place.
God send her lucke to shun
Both hauke and fowlers gin,
And mee the hap to have no neede
Of friende, nor yet of kin.
Finis. Arthur Bour.
Printed at London by Richard Johnes.
THE EXECUTION OF BALLARD, &c.
The history of the plot in which Ballard, Babbington, Tichbourne
and others, were engaged in 1586, is well known. The subsequent
ballad, by the celebrated Thomas Deloney, (liis initials T. D.
being at the conclusion of it) was no doubt printed immediately
after the execution of the " fourteen most wicked traitors," on
the 20th and 21st September. At the top of the broadside are
woodcuts of fourteen heads, but they are not likenesses, but merely
engravings which the printer happened to have in his possession,
and which had been already used for Hill's work on Physiognomy,
and perhaps for other publications requiring illustration.
A PROPER NEW BALLAD, BREEFELY DECLARING THE DEATH
AND EXECUTION OF 14 MOST W'ICKED TRAITORS, WHO
SUFFERED DEATH IN LINCOLNES INNE FIELDE, NEERE
LONDON : THE 20 AND 21 OF SEPTEMBER 1586.
TO THE TUNE OF WEEP WEEP.
Rejoyce in hart, good people all,
Sing praise to God on hye.
Which hath preserved us by his power
From traitors tiranny ;
102 OLD BALLADS.
Which now have had their due desarts,
In London lately seen,
And Ballard was the first that died,
For treason to our Queene.
O praise the Lord with hart and minde.
Sing praise with voices cleare ;
Seth traiterous crue, have had their due
To quaile their partener's cheere.
Next Babington, that caitife vilde,
Was hanged for his hier ;
His carcasse likewise quartered,
And hart cast in the fier.
Was ever seen such wicked troopes
Of traytors in this laud,
Against the pretious woord of truthe,
And their good Queene to stand ?
Oh praise, &c.
But heer beholde the rage of Rome,
The fruits of Popish plants ;
Beholde and see their wicked woorks.
Which all good meaning wants ;
For Savage also did receave
Like death for his desert.
Which in that wicked enterprise
Should then have doon his part.
O praise, &c.
OLD BALLADS. 103
O cursed catifes, void of grace,
Will nothing serve your turne,
But to behold your cuntries wrack,
In malice while you burne ?
And Barnwell thou, which went to view
Her grace in each degree,
And how her lite might be dispatcht,
Thy death we all did see.
O praise, &c.
Confounding shame fall to their share,
And hellish torments sting,
That to the Lords annointed shall
Devise so vile a thing.
O Techburne, what bewitched thee
To have such hate in store,
Against our good and gratious Queene,
That thou must dye therfore ?
O praise, &c.
What gaine for traitors can returne,
If they their wish did win ?
Or what preferment should they get.
By this their trecherous sinne?
Though forraine power love treason well.
The traitors they dispise.
And they the first that should sustaine
The smart of their devise.
O praise, &c.
104 OLD BALLADS.
What cause had Tilney, traitor stout,
Or Abbington likewise,
Against the Lords annointed thus
Such mischeef to devise?
But that the Devill inticed them
Such wicked woorks to render ;
For which these seven did suffer death.
The twentith of September.
O praise, &c.
Seven more the next day following
Were drawen from the Tower,
Which were of their confederates,
To dye that instant hower:
The first of them was Salsburie,
And next to him was Dun,
Who did complaine most earnestly
Of proud yong Babington.
O praise, &c.
Both lords and knights of hye renowne
He ment for to displace,
And likewise all the towers and townes
And cities for to race :
So likewise Jones did much complaine
Of his detested pride,
And shewed how lewdly he did live
Before the time he died.
O praise, &c.
OLD BALLADS. 10."
Then Cliarnock was the next in place
To taste of bitter death ;
And praying unto holy saints,
He left his vitall breath.
And in like nianer Travers then
Did suffer in that place,
And fearfully he left his life,
With crossing brest and face.
O praise, &c.
Then Gage was stripped in his shirt,
Who up the lather went.
And sought for to excuse him selfe
Of treasons falce intent.
And Bellamie the last of all
Did suffer death that daye ;
Unto which end God bring all such
As wish our Queenes decay.
O praise, &c.
O faulce, and foule disloyall men,
W^hat person would suppose
That clothes of velvet and of silke
Should hide such mortall foes ?
Or who would think such hiddenhate
In men so fair in sight,
But that the Devill can turne him selfe
Into an angell bright.
O praise, &c.
106 OLD BALLADS.
But, soveraigne Queene, have thou no care,
For God, which knoweth all,
Will still maintaine thy royall state,
And give thy foes a fall.
And for thy Grace thy subjects all
Will make their praiers still.
That never traitor in this land
May have his wicked will.
O praise, &c.
Whose glorious daies in England heere
The mighty God maintaine,
That long unto thy subjects joye
Thy Grace may rule and raigne.
And, Lord, we pray, for Christes sake,
That all thy secret foes
May come to naught, which seeke thy life
And Englands lasting woes.
O praise the Lord with hart and minde, &c.
The names of 7 Traitors The names of the other
which were executed on vii which were exe-
Tuesdaj' being the xx cuted on the next
of September 1586. day after.
3ohn Ballard Freest. Thomas Salsbury.
Anthony Babington. Henry Dun.
John Savage. Edward Jhones.
Robert Barnwell. John Travers.
Chodicus Techburne. John Charnock.
Charles Tilney. Robert Gage.
Edward Abbington. Harman Bellamy.
Finis. T. D.
Imprinted at London at the Long Shop adjoyning unto Saint
Mildreds Churche in the Pultric by Edward .\lldc.
OLD BALLADS. 107
CHURCHYARD'S FAREWELL TO COURT.
Thomas Churchyard, the author of the subsequent hitherto
unknown production, was a versifier (not to dignify him by the
title of poet, to which he had few pretensions) from his early
youth, and he continued to ])rint his rhimes down to the very year
of his death, 1604, when he had attained the age of eighty-four.
Many of his publications were autobiographical, and a singular
and varied life might easily be composed from them. He was
patronized in the outset of his career by the Earl of Surrey, and
wrote some of the " Songes and Sonnettes," first printed in 1557.
At this time he was probably in the army, and so he continued
for many years, vainly seeking employment at court. The
following ballad was evidently written in a fit of despondency at
some disappointment of the kind ; and he laments the absence of
Lady Sydney from court, as the cause of it. He probably means
the widow of Sir Philip Sydney, which would fix the date of
the ballad prior to her marriage with Robert Earl of Essex.
Some new and interesting particulars regarding Churchyard and
his patrons are to be found in Mr. Wright's " Elizabeth and her
Times," 8vo. 1838.
A FAREWELL, CAULD CH U RCHE YE ARDS ROUNDE,
FROM THE COURTE TO THE CLNTRY GROWND.
In courte yf largies be,
Why parte I thens so bare ?
Yf lords were franke and fre,
Sum dradg wold lordings spare.
To hyme whose tonge and penn
Myght showe in every coste
The worth ynes of men.
And who desarvythe moste.
Full lyttill may be gott
Where hungry droppes do falle ;
Where all goes to the pott
The kitchine fese are smalle.
108 OLD BALLADS.
The byrde can spare no plumes
That fethers gave wolde have ;
The Courtyer all consumes
• Who makes hymeselfe so brave.
No, no, here lyes in dede
The padde within the stravve ;
For eche man pleadethe neade,
And he is held a dawe
That gyves to such as wante.
And thynkes hyme selfe in lacke.
This makes the world so skant.
And tournythe all to wracke.
For fryndshype, cowlde as ise,
I wayted longe and late,
And gladde to playe the vice
To plesure eche estate ;
And ever dyd I hope
To hitt my wyshyd marke,
Yet lo, I dyd but grope
For gnats within the darke.
Perhappes the froste hath nypt
Eache noble lyberall hand.
Or ellse awaye is skypte
In to sume other lannde,
God send a thawe a gayne,
And shyppes drawe home as fast,
That pore men for ther payne
Maye fynde some welthe at last.
OLD BALLADS. 109
I saught the Prynce to sarve,
As all oure dutyes is,
And hope I dyd desarve
A greter sute then this ;
But dayes and wekes are spente,
And worne ray cotes fid thyne.
And all my yearly rent,
Yet founde no grace therein.
No monstoure sure I am,
Nor fovvUe deformyd thynge ;
No shepe nor suckinge lame ;
More lycke to sarve a kinge.
As shall both hand and harte
At lengthe ray wytnes be.
When profFe in any part
Shall be requyrde of me.
Had I but founde a wyght
In courte, when I was there,
The Lady Sydney hight,
All changed had byn this gere.
What happ had I to shue
Where no suche helpe is founde ?
O dames, yt blush not you.
Thought she in grace a bound.
Nowe from the courte to carte,
My horse and I must pase.
Who hathe the meryst harte,
Who is in better case,
110 OLD BALLADS.
My horse or I, GotI knon'es :
The one muste beare his charge,
The other where he goes
Must pourely lyve at large.
Finis. Quod. T. Churcheyeard.
Imprinted at London in Fletestrte at the Faucon, over againste
St. Dunstons Churche by Wj'lliam Gryffith.
QUEEN ELIZABETH AT TILBURY.
It would be idle to conjecture to whom the initials T. J. at the
end of this spirited ballad belong : had it been some half century
later, it would have been confidently assigned to Thomas Jordan,
who was a prolific penman of pieces of this class. The production
itself is no where mentioned, and the only known writer of about
that period whose name corresponds is Thomas Jeney, who in 1568
printed " A Discours of the present Troobles in Fraunce," trans-
lated from Ronsard. It is improbable, both from the date and
style, that the ballad should have been by him. It gives a few
particulars respecting the Queen's visit to the camp at Tilbury
not found in contemporary historians. The date when the ballad
was printed, was of course shortly anterior to the destruction of the
Spanish Armada.
A JOYFUL SONG OF THE ROYALL RECEIVING OF THE QUEENES
MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTIE INTO HER HIGHNESSE CAMPE
AT TILSBURIE, IN ESSEX : ON THURSDAY AND FRYDAY
THE EIGHT AND NINTH OF AUGUST 1588.
TO THE TUNE OF TBIOMPH AND JOY.
Good English men, whose valiant harts,
With courage great and manly partes,
Doe minde to daunt the overthwarts
Of any foe to England,
OLD BALLADS. 1 1 1
Attend a while, and you shall heare
What love and kindnesse doth appeare
From the princely mind of our love deare
Elizabeth Queene of England.
To cheare her souldiers one and all,
Of honour great or title small,
And by what name you will them call :
Elizabeth Queene of England.
The time being dangerous now, ye know,
That forraigne enimies to and fro
For to invade us make a show,
And our good Queene of England,
Her Majestie by grave advise,
Considering how the danger lyes,
By all good meanes she can devise
For the safetie of all England,
Hath pointed men of honour right,
With all the speede they could or might,
A canipe of men there should be pight
On Tilsburie hill in England.
Her grace being given to understand
The mightie power of this her land.
And the willing harts thereon she fand
From every shire in England ;
The mightie troupes have shewed the same,
That day by day to London came,
From shires and townes too long to name,
To serve the Queene of England.
112 OLD BALLADS,
Her grace, to glad their harts againe,
In princely person tooke the paine
To honour the troupes and martiall traine
In Tilsburie campe in England.
On Thursday the eight of August last
Her Majestie by water past,
When stormes of winde did blow so fast,
Would feare some folke in England ;
And at her forte she went on land,
That neare to Tilsburie (strong) doth stand,
Where all things furnisht there she fand
For the safe defence of England.
The great shot then did rage and roare,
Replyed by a forte on the other shore.
Whose poudred pellets, what would ye have more.
Would feare any foe in England.
Her highnesse then to the campe did goe,
The order there to see and know,
Which her Lord Generall did dutifully showe
In Tilsburie campe in England :
And everie captaine to her came.
And every officer of fame,
To show their duetie and their name
To their sovereign Queene of England.
Of tents and cabins thousands three.
Some built with bowes and many a tree,
And many of canvasse she might see
In Tilsburie campe in England.
OLD BALLADS. 113
Each captain e had his colours brave
Set over his tent in winde to wave ;
With them their officers there they have
To serve the Queene of England.
The other lodginges had their signe
For souldiers where to sup and dine,
And for to sleepe with orders fine
In Tilsburie campe in England :
And vittaling boothes there plentie were,
Where they sold meute, bread, cheese and beere :
One should have been hangd for selling too dear
In Tilsburie campe in England.
To tell the joy of all and some
When that her Majestic was come,
Such playing on phiphes and many a drum
To welcome the Queene of England :
Displaying of ensignes very brave.
Such throwing of hats, what would ye have ?
Such cryes of joy, God keepe and save
Our noble Queene of England I
And then to bid her grace good night.
Great ordenance shot with pellets pight,
Fourteene faire peeces of great might
To teaze the foes of England.
Her Majestic went then away
To the Court, where that her highnesse lay.
And came againe on the next day
To Tilsburie campe in England.
1 1 4 OLD BALLADS.
The captaines yerly did prepare
To have their battell set out faire,
Against her highnesse coming there,
To Tilsburie campe in England ;
And long before her highnesse carae
Each point was ordered so in frame,
Which served to set forth the fame
Of a royal campe in England.
The gallant horsemen mounted brave,
With stomackes stoute that courage have,
Whose countenance sterne might well deprave
In fight the foe of England ;
The armde men, bowmen, and the shot
Of muskets and calivers hot,
None of these wanted, well I wot,
In Tilsburie campe in England.
Fiftie ensignes spred there were.
Of severall colours fine and faire.
Of drums and phyphes great numbers there,
In Tilsburie campe ia England.
The battell plac'd in order due,
A mightie host, I tell you true ;
A famous sight it was to view
That royall campe in England.
The hoast thus set in battell ray.
In braver sorte then I can say,
For want of knowledge to display
So goodly a carape in England.
OLD BALLADS. 115
How the maine battell and the winges,
The vauntgarde, rearewarde and such thinges,
The horsemen whose sharpe launces stinges
In fight the foe of England.
The noble men and men of fame,
In duetie bound did show the same,
To waite when that her highness came
Our soveraigne Queene of England :
And she, being come into the field,
A martiall stafFe my lord did yeelde
Unto her highnesse, being our shield
And marshall chiefe of England.
Then rode she along the campe to see
To everie captaine orderly,
Amid the rankes so royally.
The marshall chiefe of England.
What princely wordes her grace declarde,
What gracious thankes in every warde
To every souldier, none she sparde
That served any where for England.
With princely promisse none should lacke
Meate or driuke or cloth for backe,
Golde and silver should not slacke
To her marshall men of England.
Then might she see the hats to flye,
And everie souldeir shouted hye
For our good Queene wee'i fight or dye
On any foe to England.
I 2
116 OLD BALLADS.
And many a captaine kist her hand
As she past forth through everie band,
And left her traine farre off to stand
From her marshall men of England.
Two houres she spent among them there,
Her princely pleasure to declare,
Where many a one did say and sweare
To live and dye for England ;
And would not aske one penny pay.
To charge her highnesse anj'^ way,
But of their owne would finde a stay
To serve her grace for England.
To my lordes pavilion then she went,
A sumptuous faire and famous tent.
Where dinner time her highnesse spent
With martiall men of England.
In the evening, when the tide was come.
Her highnesse thankt them all and some :
With trumpets shrile and sound of drum
Returnd the Queene of England,
To the blockhouse where she tooke barge ;
Their divers captaines had their charge,
Then shot the cannons off at large
To honour the Queene of England.
And thus her highnesse went away,
For whose long life all England pray.
King Henries daughter and our stay,
Elizabeth Queene of England.
OLD BALLADS. 117
What subject would not spend his life
And all he hath to stay the strife
Of forraigne foe that seekes so rife
To invade this realme of England.
Therefore, deare countrie men, I say,
With hart to God let us all pray
To blesse our armies night and day,
That serve our Queene for England.
Finis. T. J.
London, Printed by John Wolfe for Richard Jones. 15S8.
THE EXECUTION OF LUKE HUTTON.
/? -.
>■
A TRACT by Luke Hutton, of which there were two editions, the
first without date, and the last in 1638, is very well known, and
an account of it may be found in the Bridgewater Catalogue,
(privately printed for Lord Francis Egerton) p. 149. Hence it .,''#^ ' ^'
appears also that Hutton was the author of an earlier production, j.
called his " Repentance." He seems to have been a highway- J "^ ^
man and housebreaker, who, being condemned and pardoned,
dedicated an affected piece of contrition to Lord Chief Justice
Popham ; and on subsequent liberation, returned to his old
courses, and was hanged at York in 1598. Whether what follows,
or indeed anything that goes under his name, were really written
by him is very questionable.
LUKE button's LAMENTATION: WHICH HE WROTE THE DAY
BEFORE HIS DEATH, BEING CONDEMNED TO BE HANGED
AT YORKE THIS LAST ASSISES FOR HIS ROBBERIES
AND TRESPASSES COMMITTED.
TO THE TUNE OF WANDERING AND WAVERING.
I AM a poore prisoner condemned to dye,
Ah woe is me, woe is me, for my great folly !
118 OLD BALLADS.
Fast fettred in yrons in place where I lie.
Be warned yong wantons, hemp passeth green holly.
My parents were of good degree,
By whom I would not counselled be.
Lord Jesu forgive me, with mercy releeve me,
Receive, O sweet Saviour, my spirit unto thee.
My name is Hutton, yea Luke of bad life.
Ah woe is me, woe is me, for my great folly I
Which on the high way did rob man and wife,
Be warned yong wantons, &c.
Inticed by many a gracelesse mate,
Whose counsel I repent too late.
Lord, &c.
Not twentie yeeres old, alas, was I,
Ah woe is me, woe is me, &c.,
When I begun this fellonie.
Be warned yong wantons, &c.
With me went still twelve yeomen tall,
Which I did my twelve Apostles call.
Lord, &c.
There was no squire nor barron bold,
Ah woe is me, woe is me for my great folly !
That rode the way with silver or gold,
Be warned yong wantons, &c.
But I and my twelve Apostles gaie
Would lighten their load ere they went away.
Lord, See.
OLD BALLADS. 119
This newes procured ray kins-folkes griefe,
Ah woe is me, woe is me !
They hearing I was a famous theefe,
Re warned yong wantons.
They wept, they wailde, they wrong their hands,
That thus I should hazard life and lands.
Lord, &c.
They made me a jaylor a little before,
Ah woe, &c.
To keep in prison offenders store ;
Be warned, &c.
But such a jaylor was never none,
I went and let them out everie one.
Lord, &c.
I wist their sorrow sore grieved me.
Ah woe is me, &c.,
Such proper men should hanged be.
Be warned yong, &c
My office ther I did defie.
And ran away for company.
Lord, &c.
Three yeeres I lived upon the spoile,
Ah woe is me, &c.
Giving many a carle the foile.
Be warned yong, &c.
Yet never did I kil man nor wife,
Though lewdly long I led my life.
Lord, &c.
120 OLD BALLADS.
But all too bad my deedes hath been,
Ah woe is me, &c.
Offending my country and my good queene,
Be warned yong, &c.
All men in Yorke-shire talke of me ;
A stronger theefe there could not be.
Lord, &c.
Upon S. Lukes day was I borne.
Ah woe, &c.
Whom want of grace hath made a scorne,
Be war &c.
In honor of my birth day then,
I robd in a bravery nineteen men.
Lord, &c.
The country weary to beare this wrong,
Ah woe is me, &c.
With huse and cries pursude me long.
Be war &c.
Though long I scapt, yet loe at last,
London, I was in Newgate cast.
Lord, &c.
There did I lye with a grieved minde :
Ah woe is me, &c..
Although the keeper was gentle and kinde,
Be warned yong, &c.
Yet was he not so kinde as I,
To let me be at libertie.
Lord, &c.
OLD BALLADS. 121
At last the shiriffe of Yorke-shire came,
Ah woe is me, &c.
And in a warrant he had my name.
Be warned yong, &c.
Said he at Yorke Ihou must be tride,
With me therefore hence must thou ride.
Lord, &c.
Like pangues of death his words did sound
Ah woe is me, &c.
My hands and armes full fast he bound.
Be warned, &c.
Good sir, quoth I, I had rather stay,
I have no heart to ride that way.
Lord, &c.
When no entreaty might prevaile,
Ah woe is me, &c.
I calde for beere, for wine and ale ;
Be warned, &c.
And when my heart was in wofuU case,
I drunke to my friends with a smiling face.
Lord, &c.
With clubs and staves I was garded then ;
Ah woe is me, &c.
I never before had such waiting men :
Be warned, &c.
If they had ridden before amaine,
Beshrew me if I had cald them againe.
Lord &c.
122 OLD BALLADS.
And when into Yorke that I was come,
Ah, &c.
Each one on me did passe their doome ;
Be war &c.
And whilst 3'ou live this sentence note,
Evill men can never have good report.
Lord, &c.
Before the judges when I was brought,
Ah woe is me, &c.
Be sure I had a careful! thought,
Be&c.
Nine score inditements and seaventeene
Against me there was read and scene.
Lord, &c.
And each of these was fellony found,
Ah woe is me, &c.
Which did ray heart with sorrow wound.
Be&c.
What should I heerein longer stay,
For this I was condemned that day.
Lord, &c.
My death each houre I do attend ;
Ah woe is me.
In prayer and teares my time I spend ;
Be &c.
And all my loving friends this day
I do intreate for me to pray.
Lord, &c.
OLD BALLADS. 123
I have deserved long since to die :
Ah woe, &c.
A viler sinner livde not then T,
Be &c.
On friends I hopte my life to save.
But I am fittest for my grave.
Lord, &c.
A due my loving frends each one :
Ah woe is me, woe is me. for my great folly !
Thinke on my words when I am gone.
Be warned young wantons, &c.
When on the ladder you shall me view,
Thinke I am neerer heaven then you.
Lord, &c.
Finis. Hutton.
Printed at London for Thomas Millington. 1598.
THE DEATH OF THE EARL OF ESSEX.
The subsequent ballad, for obvious reasons, was not published
until James I. came to the throne, though it would seem from the
narrative that it had been written very soon after the melancholy
event it celebrates. It gives some new, and probably then well-
known, particulars regarding the Earl of Essex and his demeanour
before and at his execution, which are omitted by Camden and
other authorities. When Stowe wrote, he was afraid of enlarging
upon the subject, and purposely left it to the " books thereof
extant." Howes, in his continuation, was equally cautious,
although without the same reason. Margaret Allde, for whom
what follows was printed, was no doubt the widow of John Allde,
124 OLD BALLADS.
whom Dr. Dibdin names Mary, possibly from misreading Marg.
in the registers of the Stationers' Company. (Typ. Ant. iv. 571.)
The tune of *' Welladay," to which the anonymous writer adapted
his lines, is not mentioned, at least under that name, by Mr. W.
Chappell in his " National English Airs."
A LAMENTABLE DITTIE COMPOSED UPON THE DEATH OF
ROBERT LORD DEVEREUX, LATE EARLE OF ESSEX, WHO
WAS BEHEADED IN THE TOWER OF LONDON UPON
ASHWEDNESDAY IN THE MORNING. 1601.
TO THE TUNE OF WELLADAY.
Sweet Englands pride is gone,
Welladay, welladay !
Which makes her sigh and grone
Evermore still.
He did her fame advance
In Ireland Spaine and France,
And now by dismall chaunce
Is from her tane.
• He was a vertuous peere,
Welladay, welladay I
And was esteemed deere
Evermore still.
He alwaies helpt the poore,
Which makes them sigh full sore ;
His death they doe deplore
In every place.
Brave honor grac'd him still
Gallantly, gallantly :
He nere did deede of ill,
Well is it knowne.
OLD BALLADS. 125
But envie, that foule fiend
Whose malice ne're hath end,
Hath brought true vertues friend
Unto his thrall.
At tilt he did surpasse
Gallantly, gallantly,
All men that is and was
Evermore still.
One day, as it was scene,
In honor of his Queene
Such deeds hath ne're been seen
As he did doe.
Abroade and eke at home
Gallantly, gallantly.
For valour there was none
Like him before.
In Ireland France and Spaine
They feared great Essex name,
And England lov'd the same,
In every place.
But all would not prevaile,
Welladay, welladay !
His deedes did nought availe,
More was the pittie.
He was condemnd to die
For treason certainly,
But God that sits on hie
Knoweth all things.
126 OLD BALLADS.
That Sunday in the morne,
Welladay, welladay !
That he to the cittie came
With all his troupe:
That first began the strife,
And caused hira loose his life,
And others did the like
As well as hee.
Yet her princely Majestic
Gratiously, gratiously,
Hath pardon given free
To many of them.
She hath released them quite,
And given them their right ;
They may pray both day and night
God to defend her.
Shrovetewesday in the night,
Welladay, welladay !
With a heavy harted spright.
As it is sayd,
The leiftenant of the Tower,
Who kept him in his power.
At ten a clocke, that hour,
To him did come.
And sayd unto him there,
Mournfully, mournfully,
My lord you must prepare
To die tomorrow.
OLD BALLADS. 127
Gods will be done, quoth he.
Yet shall you strangely see
God strong in me tobe,
Though I am weake.
I pray you, pray for me,
Welladay, welladay 1
That God may strengthen me
Against that houre.
Then straightway did he call
The guard under the wall,
And did intreate them all
For him to pray.
For to morrow is the day,
Welladay, welladay I
That I the debt must pay
Which I doe owe :
It is my life I meane.
Which I must pay my Queene,
Even so hath justice given
That 1 must doe.
In the morning was he brought,
Welladay, welladay !
Where a scaffold was set up
Within the Tower.
Many lords were present then,
With other gentlemen,
Which were appointed then
To see bim dye.
128 OLD BALLADS.
You noble lords, quoth he,
Welladay, welladay I
That must the witnesse be
Of this my death ;
Know, I never loved Papistrye,
But did it still defye.
And Essex thus did dye,
Heere in this place.
I have a sinner been,
Welladay, welladay !
Yet never wrong'd my Queene
In all my life.
My God I did offend,
Which grieves me at my end :
May all the rest amend,
I doe forgive them.
To the state I nere ment ill,
Welladay, welladay !
Neither wisht the Commons ill
In all my life ;
But loved with all my heart,
And alwaies tooke their part
Whereas there was desert
In any place.
Then mildely did he crave,
Mournfully mournfully,
He might that favour have
Private to pray :
OLD BALLADS. 1 29
riien he prayed heartely,
And with great fervency
To God that sits on hie
For to receive him.
And then he prayed againe,
Mournefully, mournefully,
God to preserve his Queene
From all her foes ;
And send her long to raigne
True justice to maintaine,
And not to let proud Spaine
Once to offend her.
His gowne he shpt off then,
Welladay, welladay !
And put off his hat and l)ani!,
And hung it by ;
Praying still continually
To God that sits on hie,
That he might paciently
There suffer death.
My headsman that must be,
Then said he cheerfuUie,
Let him come heere to me
That I may him see ;
Who kneeled to him then.
Art thou (quoth he) the man
Which art appointed now
My life to free ?
:oO OLD BALLADS.
Yes, my lord, did he say,
Welladay, welladay !
Forgive me I you pray
For this your death.
1 heere doe thee forgive,
And may true justice live.
No foule crime to forgive
Within their place.
Then he kneeled dbwne againe,
MournefuUy, mournefully.
And was required by some
There standing by,
To forgive his enemies
Before death closde his eyes,
Which he did in heartie wise,
Thanking them for it.
That they would remember him,
Welladay, welladay !
That he might forgive all them
That had him wrong'd.
Now, my lords, I take my leave,
Sweet (Christ ray soiile receive;
Now when you wil I prepare,
For I am readie.
He laide his head on the blocke,
Welladay, welladay !
But his doubtlet did let the stroke.
Some there did say.
OLD BALLADS, 131
What must be done (quoth he)
Shall be done presently ;
Then his doubtlet put off hee,
And laye downe againe.
Then his headsman did his part
Cruelly, cruelly.
He vvas never seene to start
For all the blowes .
His soule it is at rest"^
In heaven among the blest,
Where God send us to rest,
When it shall please him.
God save the King,
Imprinted at London for Margret Allde, and are to be solde at the
long shop under Saint Mildreds Church in the Poultry. 1608.
LONDON : C. RICHARDS, PRINTBK, ST. MARTIN S I.ANE.
A COLLECTION OF
SONGS AND B.ILLADS
RELATIVE TO THE LONDON PRENTICES
AND TRADES ; AND TO THE AFFAIRS
OF LONDON GENERALLY.
DC RING THE
dTifteeutl;, ^ivtccnti), ani ^ebcnteentj^ Ccntuiif^.
EDITED,
WITH NOTES AND INTRODUCTIONS,
BY CHARLES MACKAY
LONDON :
PRINTED FOR THE PERCY SOCIETY.
BY C. KICHAEDS, ST. MARTIN'S LANE.
COUNCIL
€i)t ^errp ^onetp*
J. A. CAHUSAC, Esq. F.S.A.
WILLIAM CHAPPELL, Esq. F.S.A.
JOHN PAYNE COLLIER, Esq. F.S.A.
T. CROFTON CROKER, Esq. F.S.A. M.R.I.A.
REV. ALEXANDER DYCE.
RICHARD HALLIWELL, Esq. F.S.A.
JAMES ORCHARD HALLItt'ELL, Esq. F.R.S. Treasurer.
WILLIAM JERDAN, Esq. F.S.A.
SAMUEL LOVER, Esq.
CHARLES MACKAY, Esq.
E. F. RIMBAULT, Esa Secretary.
THOMAS WRIGHT, Esq. M.A. F.S.A.
ADVERTISEMENT.
In offering this collection to the members of the
Percy Society, the Editor thinks it necessary to
say a few words in explanation of his departure
from his original intention of confining it solely
to Songs and Ballads relating to the London
Prentices and Trades during the fifteenth, six-
teenth, and seventeenth centuries. The London
Prentices were, during this period, and especially
towards the latter part of it, a very important
body; and it was thought that it would be a
matter of comparatively small difficulty to collect
a number of ballads relating to them sufficient to
form of themselves a volume of moderate size.
Upon further investigation, however, it was found
that the number extant was not so great as was
anticipated, and, of this number, some were
unworthy, and many more unfit on the score of
decency, for republication in the present day.
It was therefore deemed advisable to extend
the design of the collection, and to include, not
only ballads relating to the Prentices and Trades,
but to the public events and politics of London
in general. To these have been added a few
VI
that are interesting at the present time from
their mention of the ancient topography of this
daily increasing city; and the whole, it is hoped,
will prove acceptable to the members of the
Percy Society.
The Editor cannot conclude without returning
his thanks to various members of the Council,
and especially to the ever-zealous Mr. Rimbault,
for their valuable suggestions and other assistance
during the progress of his labours.
London,
March 2bth, 1841.
CONTENTS.
PAGE
1. Epistles of John Ball ..... 1
■i. Second Epistle of John Ball ..... 2
3. Jack Miller's Song ...... 3
4. .Tack Trneman's Epistle . . . . .4
.5. Sir Richard Wliittington's Advancement . .4
C. The Story of 111 May Day, in the time of King Henry VIII 1 1
7. The Honour of a London Prentice . . . .22
8. Upon my Lord Maior's Day being put olf by reason of the
Plague ....... 28
9. London's Ordinary; or, Every Man in his Humour . . 31
10. George Barnwell . . . . . .35
11. A Ballad ....... 51
13. The Ranting Rambler . . .54
13. A True Character of Sundry Trades and Callings; or, a new
ditty of Innocent Mirth . . . .59
14. Michaelmas Term . . .63
15. A Use of Exhortation to the London Apprentices: or, a
Second Message after their Petition . . .67
16. Robin Conscience . . . .69
17. A Dialogue betwixt Tom and Dick . . . .88
18. A Ballad in praise of I^ondon Prentices, and what they did
at the Cockpit Play-House, in Drury Lane . . 94
19. The Life and Death of the Two Ladies of Finsbury, that
gave Moorfields to the City, for the Maidens of London
to dry Cloaths . . .97
20. A new Song, on the Instalment of Sir John Moor Lord
Mayor of London . . .103
21. Loyalty Triiunphant ...... 109
22. London's Joy and Triumph, on the Instalment of Sir William
Pritchard Lord Mayor of London for the ensuing year . 112
Vlll
•i3.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
3.5.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
Lomloii s Lanieutatiou for tbe Loss of tlieir Charter .
A new Song, in praise of the Loyal Company of Stationers,
who, for their singular Loyalty, obtained tlie First
Charter of I^ndon, 1684 .
The Mug-House ....
The Couragious Enghsli Boys of several Trades and Callinj
The Blacksmith ....
The Brewer .....
The Good Fellows' Frolick; or, Kent Street Cliih
The Merry Hoastess ....
The Merchant Tailors' Seng .
The Mercer's Company's Song
Freemen's Song, of Four Voices
The Scriuener's Seruant's Song of HolViorne .
A Belman's Song ....
The Smith's Man ....
The Cryer's Song of Cheapside
The Painter's Song of London
Citie Rounds .....
New Broomes, — Green Broomes
The Tinker .....
He that a Tinker would be .
Hot Codlins .....
115
118
121
122
126
130
134
138
142
147
lis
150
151
152
152
153
1.53
154
155
15U
157
SONGS OF THE LONDON PRENTICES
AND TRADES.
EPISTLES OF JOHN BALL.
The Epistles of John Ball are taken from Stowe's Annals. John
Ball was a priest who was hanged and beheaded at St. Alban's,
on the 15th of July, 1381, for his participation in the rebellion
of Wat Tyler. He was author of that famous couplet —
" When Adam delved and Eve span,
\Mio was then the gentleman?"
And, according to Stowe, used to commence his sermons with it,
when he wished to stir up the people. He confessed, at the place
of execution, that he wrote these Epistles — half prose and half
verse — and distributed copies of them among the populace.
Stowe says they are full of riddles and dark sentences ; and
many of the allusions are now unintelligible. The following
was taken from the pockets of a man, who was captured after
the riots of London, and sentenced to be hanged.
John Shepe, sometime Saint Mary priest, of York,
and now of Colchester, greeteth well John Namelesse,
and John Miller, and John Carter, and biddetli them
that they beware of Gillinbrough, and standeth together
in God's name ; and biddeth Pierce Plowman goe to his
work, and chastise well Hob the Robber, and take with
him John Trueman, and all his fellowes, and no moe.
B
SONGS OF THE
John the Miller hath ygi-onnd small, small,
The king's son of heaven shall pay for all,
Beware or be ye wo!
Know your friend from your foe.
Haveth ynough and saith hoe!
And doe well and better and fleeth sinne,
And seeketh peace and holde therein !
And so biddeth John Truemau and all his fellowi
SECOND EPISTLE OF JOHN BALL.
Stowe saj's he had seen several other Epistles of John Ball, but
has only preserved the foUo\ving.
John Baxl, Saint Mary priest,
Greeteth well all manner of men,
And biddeth them in name of the Trinitie,
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
Stand manlike together in truth.
And helpe truth, and truth shall hel}) you.
Now reigneth pride in jirice,
Couetise is holden wise.
Lechery without shame,
Gluttonie without blame.
Enuie raigneth with reason.
And sloth is taken in great season,
God do boote, for now is time, Amen.
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES.
JACK MILLER'S SONG.
Jack Miller was an important personage in these riots, but
the old chroniclers give no information of his fate. It is probable,
however, that he suffered execution about the same time as Wat
Tyler, John Ball, Jack Straw, and the other leaders of the
rebellion. Fifteen of them were beheaded with John Ball, at
St. Alban's, and more than double that number at London. The
following verses are printed in Stowe's Annals as if they were
prose, and have thus doubtless escaped the observation of those
who are curious in old jjoetry.
Jack Miller asketh helpe to turn his Mill aright,
He hath gi'ound small, small,
The king's son of heauen shall pay for all ;
Looke thy Mill goe right,
With four sails, and the post;
Stand in stedfastnes.
With right and might.
With skill and will,
Let might helpe right,
And skill before will.
And right before might.
Then goeth our Mill aright.
But if might
Goe before right,
And will
Before skill,
Then is our Mill misdight.
B 2
SONGS OF THE
JACK TRUEMAN'S EPISTLE.
This is also taken from Stowe, and was popular at the same
period as the foregoing. Jack Trueman is more than once
alluded to in the first Epistle of John Ball. The name of John
Bathon, Mhich occurs in this, is not mentioned by any of the
historians of Wat Tyler's rebellion.
Jacke Trewman doeth you to vnderstond
That falsenesse and guile hath raigned too long;
And truth hath been set vnder a locke,
And falsenesse raigneth in every flocke,
No man may come truth to,
But he sing, si dedero; [and therefore,
Speake, spend and speed, quoth John of Bathon,
Sinne fareth as wilde flood.
True love is away that is so good,
And clarkes for wealth wirketh them wo —
God doe boote for now is time. Amen.
SIR RICHARD WHITTINGTON'S ADVANCEMENT;
BEING AN HISTOKICAL ACCOUNT OF HIS EDICATION,
UNEXPECTED FORTUNE, CHARITY, ETC.
To the Tune of " Dainty, come thou to me."
The following is taken from the third edition of a " Collection of
old Ballads, corrected from the best and most ancient Copies,
with Litroductions, historical, critical, and humorous. London,
Printed for J. Roberts, in Warwick Lane ; D. Leach, in Black and
White Court, in the Old Bailey ; and J. Batteley, at the Dove,
in Paternoster Row. 1727." It has also been collated with
another copy of the same ballad, entitled " A song of Richard
Whittington, who by strange Fortunes came to be thrice Lord
Mayor of London, with his bountiful Gifts and I^iberality, given
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES. O
to this honourable City ;" which is to be found in the " Crown
Garland of Golden Roses, gathered out of England's Royal
Garden, set forth in many pleasant new Songs and Sonnets, &c.
by R. Johnson. London, jjrinted by J. M. for W. F. Thackeray,
at the Sign of the " Angel," in Duck Lane, near West Smith-
field, 1692." The two concluding stanzas do not appear in the
collection of 1727. The story of Sir Richard Whittington,
and the marvellous advancement of his fortune by means of
his cat, has long been popular in England ; but there appears
to be no other authority for it than tradition. The wealth and
benevolence of Sir Richard are however beyond doubt. This
worthy citizen was, as the ballad repeats, thrice Lord Mayor of
London, — the first time in 1396, the second in 1404, and the
third in 1419. From Sir Richard's will, it appears that his ex-
traction was not so humble as the old legends represent it, but
that he was the son of a knight — Sir William Whittington and
Dame Joan his wife. The various good works he performed, and
the chai-ities he endowed, are correctly enumerated in the ballad.
Grafton, in his Chronicle, relates an anecdote of the knight,
which is not elsewhere recorded. In a codicil to his will, he
commanded his executors, as they should one day answer before
God, to look diligently over the list of the persons indebted to
him, and if they found any who was not clearly possessed of
three times as much as would fully satisfy all the claim, they
were freely to forgive it. He also added, that no man whatever
should be imprisoned for any debt due to his estate. "Look
upon this, ye aldermen," says the historian emphatically, " for it
is a glorious glass !"
Here must I tell the praise
Of worthy Whittington,
Known to be in his days
Thrice Lord Mayor of London.
But of poor Parentage
Born was he, as we hear.
And in his tender Age
Bred up in Lancashire,
SONGS OF THE
Poorly to London then
Came up this simple lad;
Where, with a Merchant-man
Soon he a dwelling had;
And in a kitchen plac'd,
A scullion for to be;
Where a long time he pass'd
In labour drudginly.
His daily service was
Turning at the fire;
And to scour pots of brass,
For a poor scullion's hire;
Meat and Drink all his Pay,
Of coin he had no store;
Therefore to run away
In secret, thought he bore.
So from the merchant-man
Wliittington secretely
Towards his country ran
To purchase liberty.
But as he went along,
In a fair summer's morn,
London's bells sweetly rung
Wliittington's back return;
Evermore sounding so,
Turn again, AVliittington ;
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES.
For thou, in time, shall grow
Lord Mayor of London.
Whereupon back again
Wliittington came with speed,
A prentice to remain.
As the Lord had decreed.
StiU blessed be the beUs,
This was his daily song;
This my good fortune teUs,
Most sweetly have they rung.
If God so favour me,
I will not prove unkind;
London my love shall see.
And my large bounties find.
But, see this happy chance!
This scullion had a Cat,
Wliich did his state advance.
And by it wealth he gat.
His master ventm^'d forth.
To a land far unknown,
With merchandize of Worth,
As is in Stories shown:
Whittington had no more
But this poor Cat as then.
Which to the ship he bore,
Like a brave valiant man:
SONGS OF THE
Vent'ring the same, quoth he,
I may get store of gold,
And Mayor of London be,
As the Bells have me told.
Wliittington's merchandise
Carried to a land
Troubled with rats and mice.
As they did understand;
The King of the country there
As he at dinner sat,
Daily remained in fear
Of many a mouse and rat.
Meat that on trenchers lay.
No way they could keep safe ;
But by rats bore away.
Fearing no wand or staff ;
Whereupon soon they brought
Whittington's nimble cat;
Which by the King was bought;
Heaps of gold giv'n for that.
Home again came these men
With their ship laden so,
Wliittington's wealth began
By this cat thus to grow:
Scullions life he forsook,
To be a merchant good,
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES.
And soon began to look
How well his Credit stood.
After that he was chose
SheriiF of the City here,
And then full quickly rose
Higher as did appear;
For, to this City's praise.
Sir Richard Whittington
Came to be in his days
Thrice Mayor of London.
More his fame to advance,
Thousands he lent the King,
To maintain war in France,
Glory from thence to bring.
And after, at a feast
Wliich he the King did make.
He burnt the bonds all in jest,
And would no money take.
Ten thousand pounds he gave
To his Prince willingly;
And would no penny have
For this kind courtesy.
As God thus made him great.
So he would daily see
Poor people fed with meat,
To shew his charity:
10 SONGS OP THE
Prisoners poor cherish'd were,
Widows sweet comfort found:
Good deeds, both far and near
Of him do still resound.
Wliittington's College is
One of his charities;
Record reporteth this,
To lasting memories.
Newgate he builded fair.
For prisoners to lye in;
Christ Church he did repaii',
Christian love for to win.
Many more such like deeds
Were done by Wliittington ;
WTiich joy and comfort breeds,
To such as look thereon.
Lancashire, thou hast bred
This flower of charity,
Though he be dead and gone,
Yet lives he lastingly.
Those bells that called him so:
" Tui-n again Whittington,"
Call you him back no more,
To live so in London.
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES. 11
THE STORY OF ILL MAY DAY, IN THE TIME
OF KING HENRY THE EIGHTH,
AND WHY IT WAS SO CALLED: AND HOW QUEEN CATHARINE
BEGGED THE LIVES OF TWO THOUSAND
LONDON APPRENTICES.
To the Tune of " Essex's good night."
Froji the same collection as the preceding ballad. The story
of Evil May Day is one of great note in the annals of London,
and is one in which the apprentices played a chief but unhappy
part. The events which gave rise to this calamitous occurrence
happened in the early part of 1517 ; and the first outbreak was
on May-day of the same j-ear. The story, as related in the ballad,
is very much exaggerated. The following more correct account
of it is taken from Mackay's " History of London," p. 203 to 212.
" The first of May, 1517, is a remarkable day in the annals of
London, and has been called E^il May day, on account of the
calamities which it occasioned. For some time previous there
had existed a growing jealousy in the city towards the foreigners
and non-freemen who were permitted to exercise their craft
within the walls, to the detriment of the freemen, whose profits
were in consequence much reduced. One John Lincoln, a broker,
was loud in his complaints, and made himself very conspicuous
in his enmity to the foreign artisans. He had influence enough
mth a popular preacher, named Bell, to induce him to make
allusions in his sermons to the injustice of suffering these
foreigners to take the bread out of the mouths of native-bom
Englishmen. The preacher entered into the cause with so much
zeal, and expatiated v^dth so much eloquence on the hardships of
the oppressed freemen, that the whole city was in a ferment.
This was about the middle of April ; and day after day it was
whispered abroad, among the people, that on May-day some
dreadful event would take place. It was impossible to trace this
dark and menacing riunour to its source — nobody knew what
was to happen, but every one was prepared for something extra-
ordinary.
" While the popular mind was in this state of excitement, the
yoimg men of the city insulted and abused every foreigner they
passed. Three young men, named Studley, Stevenson, and
12 SONGS OF THE
Betts, made themselves particularly consijicuous ; and having, on
the 28th of April, met five or six foreign traders in Cheapside,
they abused and beat them in so shamefid a manner, that the
lord mayor deemed it necessary to interfere, and sent out a strong
party of the city-watch to capture the offenders, who were im-
mediately conveyed, bound hand and foot, to the Compter.
" The indignation of the people against the foreigners now
began to assume a more threatening complexion, and the vague
rumours of the preceding fortnight hourly acquired a fearful con-
sistency ; and it was openly asserted, that on May-day evening every
foreigner in London woidd be put to the sword. This rumour
ha\ing reached the ears of Cardinal Wolsey, he sent in all haste
for the lord mayor, the sheriffs, and the principal aldermen, and
told them what he had heard, and that he shoidd hold them
responsible for the tranquillity of the city. This was on the
30th of April, or May-day eve ; and as soon as the lord mayor
was dismissed from the presence of the cardinal, he returned to
the city, and immediately summoned a common-hall, to adopt
such measures as shoidd appear advisable for the preservation of
the peace. The Guildhall was in less than an hour crowded by
the aldermen and common councilmen, all filled with the most
intense anxiety as to the fearful rumours that were abroad.
" After a long debate, it was agreed that orders should be im-
mediately issued to every householder in the city, calling upon
him to shut up his house, and keep his children, apprentices, and
servants, strictly within doors, from nine o'clock that night until
nine on the following morning. It was nearly eight o'clock
before they agreed to this resolution, and it was necessary that
they should acquaint Cardinal Wolsey of what the}' had resolved,
as they coidd do nothing without his approbation. The recorder
was, in consequence, charged to proceed with the utmost haste
to Westminster, and inform the cardinal. The latter signified
his approval of this precautionary measure, and the recorder
rode back again into the city, where he an-ived at half-past eight.
There now remained but the short space of half an hour to pro-
claim this order in every part of the city ; the consequence was,
that the clock struck nine before the proclamation had been read
in more than two or three places.
" An unfortunate, and certainly unpremeditated circumstance,
rendered all these precautions vain, and let loose the flood of
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES. IS
angry passions. Alderman Sir John Mumlie, ha\ingjust left the
common-hall, was passing through the Cheap, on his way home,
when he saw two apprentices plajang at buckler in the middle
of the street. It was a few minutes past nine o'clock ; and,
without staying to inquire whether the order had yet been pub-
lished in that quarter, he threatened to send the two young
men to the Compter. The over-zealous alderman met with an
insolent answer from the youths, who had no idea of lea\ing off
their sport ; and this having roused his ire, he seized hold of
one of them, with the intention of dragging him off to prison.
This unfortimate act was the signal for the commencement of
the riot. Several other apprentices, who were looking on, no
sooner saw this violence offered to their companion, than they
raised the customary cry of ' Prentices ! prentices ! — Clubs !
clubs !' In less than a minute the shout was responded to by a
boisterous crowd of the young men of the city, armed vnth clubs,
bills, staves, and weapons of every description. They rescued
the apprentice from the gTasp of the alderman, who had great
difficulty in escaping with his life from the hands of his enraged
assailants.
" The riot had now begun in earnest, and the apprentices were
joined by upwards of seven hundred watermen, porters, and idle
fellows, from all parts of the city. Another mob, with a similar
purpose, collected about the same time in St. Paul's Churchyard,
and the two having effected a junction, and being increased every
minute by fresh bands of riotous apprentices from all parts of
the town, commenced the work of destruction. Their first ob-
ject was the release of Stevenson, Studley, and Betts, who had
been committed to Newgate two days before, and they proceeded
in that direction, bearing down all opposition, till they arrived
at the gates of the prison. The gaolers were summoned to
deliver up their captives ; and, this being refused, the mob in-
stantly broke open the doors, and brought them out in triumph.
" Their next feat was to force open the Compter, set all the
prisoners loose, and then plunder the building, of which they left
nothing but the bare walls standing. Hanng thus recruited
their ranks by the addition of men who were not likely to be
very scrupulous as to what they attempted, they rushed on, hal-
looing and shouting, to LeadenhaU Street, where several of the
foreigners resided, pillaging a house in St. Martin's-le-Grand in
14 SONGS OF THE
their way, because somebody from a window had cried out
'Down with the 'prentices! down with the rioters!' The
strangers, who had heard, in common with every other inhabitant
of the city, the dark and sinister rumours of the preceding week,
had taken care of their own safety, and transported themselves
and famihes to places of security, \nthout the walls — to IsKngton,
Hackney, and other villages. The mob, thus baulked of their
victims, vented their rage upon their dwellings, and pillaged
every house where foreign traders or artisans, non- freemen, were
known to reside, levelling to the ground such of them as were not
strong enough to resist their furious onset. This scene of plunder
and confusion continued Vv ithout intermission until three o'clock in
the morning, when the rioters, exhausted with their own violence,
separated gradually, and returned to their homes.
" In the meantime the government had not been idle, and Car-
dinal Wolsey, on the first intimation of the real state of affiiirs
in the city, had dispatched a message, with orders to the lieu-
tenant of the Tower to commence a discharge of artillery upon
the city. Several shots were fired, but as they only damaged
the houses, without producing the sUghtest effect upon the mob,
the assault from this quarter was discontinued, and the Earls of
Shrewsbury and Surrey were ordered to enter the city at the
head of a strong body of troops. They did not, however, effect
an entrance, until the rioters had begiin to disperse of their own
accord, when they aided the Lord Mayor in capturing nearly
three hundred of the most violent, including some women, who
had excited the rest,
"Next morning one of the aldermen recalled to mind the
seditious sermons of Dr. Bell, and orders were immediately
given for his apprehension, and that of John Lincoln, the broker,
who had originally prevailed upon him to i^reach to the people
as he had done. They were both sent to the Tower, and the
following day was fixed for their trial, along with the other
rioters. The trial, owing to the great number of prisoners, was
afterwards fixed for the fourth of May, when the Duke of Nor-
folk and the Earl of Surrey were sent, on the part of the lung,
to aid the lord mayor. The former entered the city with a force
of upwards of one thousand men, under whose escort the whole
of the prisoners were led at once through the streets from New-
gate to the Guildhall. The court was set, and John Lincoln,
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES. 15
Betts, Stiidley, and ten others, were found guilty, and ordered to
be taken next day to the place of exeention, and to be hanged,
dra'svn, and quartered. The remaining rioters, whose trial had
not been proceeded with, were remanded to prison until a future
day.
" The king's commissioners were determined on this occasion
to strike terror, and orders were given that ten gallows should
be erected during the night in different parts of the city. One
was placed before Newgate, another at the Compter, and the
remaining eight at Aldgate, Bishopsgate, St. i\Iartin's-le-Grand,
Mark Lane, Leadenhall Street, Gracechurch Street, Aldersgate
Street, and Smithfield. Early in the morning the thirteen un-
fortunate men were brought to the place of execution ; and John
Lincoln, in the presence of a large body of soldiers to keep the
crowd in awe, was first hanged.
" The spectators were remarkably silent, and looked upon each
other with lowering eyes, to think of the undue severity which
was about to deprive so many men of life — ^for a rumour was
spread abroad that evei'y one of the three hundred would surely
be hanged. The luckless companions of Lincoln, ha^^ing been
forced to behold his death-struggles for a time, were then led off
to other quarters of the city, with the ropes about their necks,
followed by the array of the soldiery, and the immense but silent
mob. They had just an-ived at the next gallows, when a horse-
man, covered with dust, rode rapitUy through the mass, which
opened for him as he came. Every eye was turned towards him —
a fearfid stUlness reig-ned, and the multitude ahnost held its
breath, in anxiety to discover the message of the hard-i-iding
horseman. Wiping the perspiration from his forehead with one
hand, he presented a document to the sheriffs with the other.
It was a reprieve for the remaining culprits. An overpowering
shout of ' God save the King' resounded through the air as soon
as the multitude were made acquainted with it, and the prisoners
were then led back to Newgate.
" This act of grace was not a pardon, but only a reprieve tiU
the king's pleasm-e should be known, and the lord mayor and
aldermen, who had heard that the king was highly incensed with
them, resolved to wait upon Henry, who was then at Green\^T[ch,
and exculpate themselves from all blame. The Idng did not
receive them so graciously as they had expected ; but told them
16 SONGS OF THE
in angry terms, that such men as they ought not to be entrusted
with the government of a great city ; — that they had been guilty
of gross negligence at the very least, and for all that he yet knew
to the contrary, might have connived at the riot, for their own
dishonest puii^oses. "With this he dismissed them, adding that
if he had anything fiu'ther to communicate to them upon the
matter, they should hear it from the mouth of the Lord Chan-
cellor Wolsey.
" The lord mayor and his fellows left the royal presence in no
en\ iable frame of mind, and remained for two days in a state of
anxiety as to the ultimate intentions of the king. At the end of
that time a note was received from Cardinal Wolsey, to the effect
that they should present themselves with befitting humility, and
with the whole of their prisoners, before the king, at Westmin-
ster Hall, on the 22nd of Ma}-. Accordingly, the lord mayor,
the recorder, the sheriffs, and many of the aldermen and mem-
bers of the common-council appeared before the king. They
were all dressed in mourning robes, in token of contrition for
their negligence. The king sate on the throne at the upper end
of Westminster Hall, surrounded b}' Cardinal Wolsey, the Dukes
of Norfolk and Suffolk, the Earls of Surrey, Shrewsbury and
Essex, and others of the principal officers of state. After the
lord mayor and the other citj^-functionaries had made their
obeisance to the king, orders were issued for the introduction of
the prisoners, who, to the number of two hundred and seventy-
eight, including eleven women, were marched into the hall, tied
together in couples, dressed only in their long shirts, and with
halters about their necl;s.
" The Lord Chancellor Wolsey then addressed the magisti-ates
in the king's name, and rebuked them in severe terms for their
negligence in not taking proper precautions to preserve the peace
of the city, and the lives and property of strangers who had
taken up their abode within their walls in the fullest reliance
that they would be protected by the right feeling of the magis-
tracy, as well as by the law. The lord mayor and his company
bowed their heads in submission, and made no reply. Cardinal
Wolsey then turned from them to the long array of unfortunate
prisoners, and asked them what they coidd plead in extenuation
of their offence, and wherefore they should not one and all be
sentenced to death? The degi-aded and miserable trim of the
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES. 17
culprits, and the sobs and cries for mercy by which alone they
answered the interrogatory of the chancellor, somewhat softened
the heart of Henry ; some of the nobility present even shed
tears, and implored the king to pardon the unhappy culprits.
After a little solicitation, Henry allowed himself to be persuaded,
and ha\-ing listened to a severe admonition from the cardinal as
to their future conduct, they were ordered to be discharged.
The same night the ten gallows, the shame and dread of the
city, were removed amid the general rejoicings of the inhabit-
ants, upon whose mind the clemency of the king produced a
more salutary effect than aU the rigour he could have employed."
Peruse the stories of this land,
And with advisement mark the same,
And you shall justly understand { ^
How 111 May-Day first got the name.
For when King Henry th' Eighth did reign,
And rul'd our famous kingdom here,
His royal queen he had from Spain,
With whom he liv'd full many a year.
Queen Catharine nam'd, as stories tell,
Sometime his elder bi'other's wife ;
By which unlawful marriage fell
An endless trouble during life.
But such kind love he still conceiv'd
Of his fair queen, ana* of her friends,
Which being by Spain and France perceiv'd.
Their journey's fast for England's bends.
And with good leave were suffered
Within our kingdom here to stay :
18 SONGS OF THE
Which multitude made victuals dear,
And all things else from day to day.
For strangers then did so increase,
By reason of King Henry's queen,
And privileg'd in many a place
To dwell, as was in London seen.
Poor tradesmen had small dealing then,
And who but strangers bore the bell ?
Which was a grief to English-men,
To see them here in London dwell :
Wherefore (God wot) upon May Eve,
As prentices on Maying went,
Who made the magistrates believe
At all to have no other intent.
But such a May-game it was known.
As like in London never were ;
For by the same full many a one.
With loss of life did pay fuU dear :
For thousands came with Bilboe blade.
As with an army they would meet.
And such a bloody slaughter made
Of foreign strangers in the street.
That aU the channels ran with blood.
In every street where they remain'd ;
Yea, every one in danger stood,
That any of their part maintain'd ;
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES.
The rich, the poor, the old, the young.
Beyond the seas tho' born and bred,
By prentices they suifer'd wrong,
When armed thus they gather'd head.
Such multitudes together went,
No warlike troops could them withstand,
Nor yet by policy them prevent,
What they by force thus took in hand:
Till at the last King Henry's power
This multitude encompass'd round,
There with the strength of London's Tower
They were by force suppress'd and bound.
And hundi-eds hang'd by martial law.
On sign posts at their masters' doors,
By which the rest were kept in awe,
And frighted from such loud uproars;
And others which the fact repented,
(Two thousand 'prentices at least)
Were all unto the King presented,
As mayor and magistrates thought best.
With two and tAvo together tied,
Through Temple-Bar and Strand they go.
To Westminster there to be tried,
With ropes about their necks also:
But such a cry in every street,
Till then was never heard or known,
By mothers for their children sweet,
Unhappily thus overthrown. c 2
20 SONGS OF THE
Whose bittei' moans and sad laments,
Possess'd the coiu't with trembling fear;
Whereat the queen herself relents,
Tho' it concern'd her country dear;
'NVliat if (quoth she) by Spanish blood
Have London's stately streets been wet,
Yet will I seek this country's good.
And pardon for these young men get.
Or else the world will speak of me.
And say Queen Catharine was unkind,
And judge me stiJl the cause to be
These young men did their fortunes find.
And so disrob'd from rich attires.
With hairs hang'd down, she sadly hies.
And of her gracious lord requires
A boon, which hardly he denies.
The lives (quoth she) of all the blooms
Yet budding green, these youths, I crave;
let them not have timeless tombs.
For nature longer limits gave:
In saying so, the pearled tears
Fell trickling from her princely eyes;
Whereat his gentle Queen he cheers,
And says, stand up, sweet lady, rise.
The lives of them I freely give.
No means this kindness shall debar;
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES. 21
Thou hast thy boon, and they may live
To serve me in my Bullen* war.
No sooner was this pardon given,
But peals of joy rung through the hall,
As tho' it thunder'd down from heaven
The Queen's renown amongst them all.
For which (kind Queen), with joyful heai't.
She gave to them both thanks and praise,
And so from them did gently part.
And liv'd beloved all her days :
And when King Henry stood in need
Of trusty soldiers at command.
These prentices prov'd men indeed.
And fear'd no force of wai'like band.
For at the siege of Tours, in France,
They shew'd themselves brave Englishmen ;
At Bullen, too, they did advance
St. George's lusty standard then :
Let Tourine, Tournay, and those towns
That good King Henry nobly won,
Tell London's prentices' renowns.
And of the deeds by them there done.
For Bl May-Day and Bl May-games,
Perform'd in young and tender days.
Boulogne.
22 SONGS OF THE
Can be no hindrance to their fames,
Or stains of manhood any ways :
And now it is ordain'd by law
We see on May-Day's eve at night,
To keep unruly youths in awe,
By London's watch in armoui* bright.
Still to prevent the like misdeed,
^Vliich once thro' headstrong young men came ;
And that 's the cause that I do read
May-Day hath got so ill a name.
THE HONOUR OF A LONDON PRENTICE :
BEING AN ACCOUNT OF HIS MATCHLESS MANHOOD AND BRAVE
ADVENTURES DONE IN TURKEY, AND BY WHAT MEANS
HE MARRIED THE KING's DAUGHTER, ETC.
To the Tuuo of " All you that love good fellows," &c.
The tune of this ballad is to be found in ]\Ir. Chappell's " CoUection
of National English Airs." The editor of the " Collection of
Old Ballads, corrected from the most Ancient Copies Extant,
with Introductions, Historical, Critical, or Hmnorous, London,
1727," says this ballad relates " to a noble piece of chivalry per-
formed in Queen Elizabeth's day, but I must acknowledge myself
so ignorant that I cannot yet discover who this famous prentice
was, nor yet any particular accoimt of the fact." The only
celebrated apprentice in Queen Elizabeth's time, and who fi-om
his after renown was of importance enough to have g^ven occa-
sion to popular ballads, was Edward Osborn, apprentice to Sir
William Hewitt, Lord Mayor of London, and cloth-worker, on
London Bridge. Osborn, while at work, saw his master's
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES.
23
daughter, then an infant, fall from the arms of a servant, who
was standing at the window, into the Thames. He instantly
sprang out of the window, and brought the chUd safely to the
shore. As she grew up to womanhood she bestowed her love
upon the apprentice, and afterwards married him, although the
Earl of Shrewsbury was a suitor for her hand. Osborn himself
became Lord Mayor of London, and was the founder of the
present ducal family of Leeds. It is stated in the histories of
London, that Osborn performed many valiant deeds, and was
quite a popular hero in his day. It does not however appear
that the present ballad, which is e^-idently fabidous, has any re-
ference to him, — the only allusions tending to warrant the sup-
position being, that both were from Cheshire and appi'enticed to
masters who resided on London Bridge. There is a black-letter
copy of this baUad in the collection in three volumes, folio, under
the press-mark 643m, in the British Museum, of which the fol-
lowing is a transcript.
Of a worthy London prentice
my purpose is to speak,
And tell his brave adventures
done for his country's sake ;
Seek all the world about,
and you shall hai'dly find
A man in valour to exceed
a prentice gallant mind.
/ i^\
He was born in Cheshire,
The chief of men was he,
From thence brought up to London
a prentice -boy to be.
A merchant on the bridge
did like his service so,
That for three years his factor
to Turkey he should go.
24" SONGS OF THE
And in that famous countiy
a yeai" he had not been,
Ere he by tilt maintained
the honour of his queen :
Elizabeth the princess
he nobly did make known,
To be the Phenix of the world,
And none but she alone.
In armour richly gilded,
well-mounted on a steed,
One score of knights most hardy,
one day he made to bleed :
And brought them all to ground,
who proudly did deny
Elizabeth to be the pearl
of princely majesty.
The king of that same country
thereat began to frown.
And will'd his son, there present
to pull this youngster down ;
Who at his father's words
these boasting speeches said :
" Thou ai't a traytor, English boy,
and hast the traytor plaid."
" I am no boy nor traytor,
thy speeches I defie.
For which I'll be revenged
upon thee by and by :
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES. 25
A London prentice still
shall prove as good a man
As any of your Turkish knights,
do all the best you can."
And there withal he gave him
a box upon the ear,
W^iich broke his neck asunder,
as plainly doth appear.
" Now know, proud Turk," quoth he,
" I am no English boy.
That can with one small box o' th' eai*
the prince of Turks destroy."
When the as king perceived
liis son so strangely slain,
His soul was soi'e afflicted
with more than mortal pain :
And in revenge thereof,
he swore that he should dye
The cruel'st death that ever man
beheld with mortal eye.
Two lyons were prepared
this prentice to devour.
Near famish'd-up with hunger
ten days within the tower,
To make them far more fierce
and eager of their pray,
To glut themselves with human gore,
upon this di-eadful day.
26 THE SONGS OF
The appointed time of torment
at length grew neai* at hand,
Where all the noble ladies
and barons of the land,
Attended on the king,
to see this prentice slain,
And buried in the hungry maws
of these fierce lyons twain.
Then in his shirt of cambrick,
with silk most richly wrought,
This worthy London prentice
was from the prison brought,
And to the lyons given
to stanch their hvmger great,
Which had not eat in ten days' space
not one small bit of meat.
! But God, that knows all secrets,
I the matter so contriv'd,
That by this young man's valour
they were of life depriv'd;
For being faint for food,
they scarcely could withstand
The noble force and fortitude
and courage of his hand:
For when the hungry lyons
had cast him in their eyes,
The elements did thunder
with the eccho of their cries;
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES.
And running all amain
his body to devour,
Into their throats he thrust his arms,
with all his might and power;
27
From thence by manly valour
their hearts he tore in sunder,
And at the king he threw them,
to all the people's wonder.
" This have I done," quoth he,
" for lovely England's sake,
And for my country's maiden queen
much more will undertake."
But when the king perceived
his wrothful lyons' hearts.
Afflicted with great terrour,
his rigor soon reverst:
And turned all his hate
into remorse and love,
And said : " It is some angel
sent down from heaven above."
"^^ eyi- ■■■-
" No, no, I am no angel,"
the courteous young man said,
" But born in famous England,
where God's word is obey'd :
Assisted by the heavens,
who did me thus befriend.
Or else they had most cruelly
brought here my life to end."
28 SONGS OF THE
The king in heart amazed,
lift up his eyes to heaven,
And for his foul offences
did crave to be forgiven;
Believing that no land
like England may be seen,
No people better governed
by vertue of a queen.
So taking up this young man,
he pardon'd him his life,
And gave his daughter to him
to be his vredded wife;
AVliere then they did remain,
and live in quiet peace.
In spending of their happy days
in joy and love's encrease.
London : Printed by and for W. S. and sold by the Booksellers
of Pye Corner and London Bridge.
UPON MY LORD MAJOR'S DAY, BEING PUT OFF
BY REASON OF THE PLAGUE.
This satirical ballad, which is extracted from " Wit and Drol-
lery, 1656," and which the Editor has not been able to find in
any earlier collection, appears, from the allusions it contains, to
have been written on the plague of 1602-1603. The mention
made in the third stanza of the Spanish armada, shows that that
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES.
29
event was still comparatively recent ; and the words in the eighth
stanza, " in first of reigne," fix its period more clearly as the
first of James I, when this gi-eat plague broke out. It raged
for nearly a year, and carried off 30,578 persons, of whom 3,090
died in one week. The king's public entry into London, and the
city rejoicings, were postponed from the 9th November, 1603, to
the 15th of JMarch following, when the plague having abated,
the king, queen, and Prince Henry, rode from the Tower of
London through the city, which on that occasion was decorated
with more than usual magnificence.
If you '1 but hear me I shall tell
A sad mischance that late befell,
for which the dayes of old,
In all new almanacks must moLxrne,
And babes that never must be borne
shall weep to hear it told.
/h6%
For loe the sport of that great day,
In which the Maior hath leave to play,
and with him all the town ;
His flag and drum, and fife released,
And he forbad to goe a feast-
ing in his scarlet gown.
/• .:i
o'
v
No fife must on the Thames be seen,
To fright the maior, and please the queen,
nor any wilde-fire tost ;
Though he suppose the fleet that late
Invaded us in eighty-eight,
ore-matcht by his gaily foist.
30 SONGS OF THE
The pageants, and the painted cost
Bestowed on them, are all quite lost,
for now he must not ride ;
Nor shall they hear the players tale,
AVlio mounted on some mighty whale,
swims with him tlu-ough Cheap-side.
Guildhall noAv must not entertaine
The maior, who there would feast his brain
Avith white broth and with hen ;
Nor shall the fencers act their piggs
Before the hinch-boyes, which are giggs
whipt out with all the men.
Nor must he goe in state to sweare.
As he was wont, at Westminster,
no trumpet's at the hall;
Their clamorous voices there would stretch,
As if the lawyers they would teach
in their owne courts to bawl.
But what in sooth is pitty most,
Is for the daughters they have lost,
all joyes for which they pray;
Which scatter palmes on their cheeks,
AVliich they had prim'd at least three weeks
before, against the day.
And 'mongst themselves they much complain,
That this lord maior in first of reigne
should doe them so much wrong.
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES.
31
As to surpresse by message sad,
The feast for which they all have had
theii" march-pane dream so long.
Thus for their beauteous sakes have 1
Described the dayes large history,
'tis true, although not witty;
Which is deny'd, for I'de be loth
To cut my coat above my cloath, —
my subject is the city.
LONDON'S ORDINARY: OR, EVERY MAN IN
HIS HUMOUR.
To a pleasant new Tune.
The following humorous list of taverns in London, has been
transcribed from a broadside in the British Museum. It is also
to be found in Heywood's " Eape of Lucrece." A portion of it,
with some variations, is also inserted, under the title of the " Ta-
vern Song," in the third edition of " Wit and Mirth, an Antidote
against Melancholy. London, 1682."
Through the Royal Exchange as I walked,
where gallants in sattin did shine ;
At midst of the day they parted away
at several places to dine.
The gentry went to the King's Head,
the nobles unto the Crown ;
The knights unto the Golden Fleece,
and the plowman to the Clown.
■^
32 SONGS OF THE
The clergy Avill dine at the Miter,
the vintners at the Three Tuns;
The usurers to the Devil will go,
and the fryers unto the Nuns.
The ladies will dine at the Feathers,
the Globe no captain will scorn;
The huntsman will go to the Grey -hound below,
and some townsmen to the Horn.
The plummer will dine at the Fountain,
the cooks at the Holy Lamb;
The di'unkards at noon to the Man in the Moon,
and the cuckolds to the Earn.
The rovers will dine at the Lyon,
the watermen at the Old Swan;
The bawds wiU to the Negro go,
and the whores to the Naked Man.
The keepers will to the Wliite Hart,
the marriners unto the Ship;
The beggars they must take their way
to the Eg-shell and the A^Hiip.
The ferriers wiU to the Horse,
the blacksmith unto the Lock ;
The butchers to the Bull will go,
and the carmen to Bridewell-Dock.
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES. 33
The fishmong^ers unto the Dolphin,
the bakers to the Cheat-Loaf ;
The turners unto the Table will go,
where they may merrily quaff.
The taylor will dine at the Sheers,
the shoo-makers will to the Boot;
The Welshmen they will take their way,
and dine at the sign of the Goat.
Tlie hosiers will dine at the Leg,
and drapers at the sign of the Brush;
The tletchers to Robin Hood will go,
and the spendthrift to Beggar's Bush.
The pewterers to the Quart Pot,
the coopers will dine at the Hoop;
The coblers to the Last will go,
and the bargemen to the Scooj).
The carpenters Avill dine at the Axe,
the colliers will dine at the Sack;
Your fruiterer he to the Cherry-tree, —
good fellows no liquor will lack.
The goldsmiths to the Three Cups,
their money they count as dross;
Your puritan to the Pewter Can,
and your papists to the Cross. ^
34 SONGS OF THE
The weavers will dine at the Shuttle,
the glovers will into the Glove;
The maidens all to the Maidenhead,
and true lovers unto the Dove.
The sadlers will dine at the Saddle,
the painters to the Green Dragon;
The Dutchman will go to the sign of the Vrow,
where each man may drink his flagon.
The chandlers will dine at the Scales,
the salters at the sign of the Bag;
The porters take pain at the Labour-in-vain,
and the horse-courser to the White Nag.
Thus every man in his humour,
from the north unto the south;
But he that hath no money in his purse,
may dine at the sign of the Mouth.
The swaggerers wiU dine at the Fencers ;
but those that have lost their wits,
With Bedlam Tom let there be their home,
and the Drum the drummers best hits.
The cheater will dine at the Chequer,
the pick -pocket at the Blind Ale-house;
Till taken and tride, up Holborn they ride,
and make their end at the gallows.
Printed for F. Coles, T. Vere, J. Wright, and J. Clarke.
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES. 35
GEORGE BARNWELL.
An apology may be necessary for the reproduction ln-re of a
ballad so well known as " George Barnwell ;" and tlie only
apology that can be offered is, that a collection relating to London
and London Prentices would be incomplete without it. In the
introduction given to it in Percy's Reliques, the bishop states
that this tragical ballad seems to relate to a real fact, but when
it happened he had not l)een able to discover. No further light
has since been thrown upon the matter. The title of the ballad,
as taken by Percy from the Ashmole Collection, at Oxford, is
" An excellent Ballad of George Barnwell, an Apprentice of
London, who thrice robbed his master, and Murdered his Uncle,
at Ludlow. To the Tune of ' The IMcrchant.' " The well-known
play of " George Barnwell," written by Lillo, and produced
by him in or shortl}' prior to 1730, was until very recently
annually brought forward on the metropolitan boards at holiday
time, as an example to the idle youths that then Hocked to the
theatres ; but it now seems to be discarded altogether, and bids
fair to become obsolete. It is said of a recent worthy chamber-
lain of the city, that he never failed when an apprentice was
bound before him, to relate the sad story of George Barnwell,
and quote some lines of the ballad, as a warning to him.
THE FIRST PART.
All youth of fair England
Tliat dwell both far and near,
Regard my story that I tell,
And to my song give ear.
A London lad I was,
A merchant's prentice bound ;
My name George Barnwell ; that did spend
My master many a jiound,
u2
36 SONGS OF THE
Take heed of harlots then,
And their enticing trains ;
For by that means I have been brought
To hang alive in chains.
As I, upon a day,
Was walking through the street
About my master's business,
A wanton I did meet.
A gallant dainty dame,
And sumptuous in attire ;
With smiling look she greeted me.
And did my name require.
Which when I had declar'd,
She gave me then a kiss,
And said, if I would come to her,
I should have more than this.
Fair mistress, then quoth I,
If I the place may know,
This evening I wiU be with you,
For I abroad must go,
To gather monies in.
That are my master's due :
And ere that I do home return,
I'll come and visit you.
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES. 37
Good Barnwell, then quoth she,
Do thou to Shoi'editch come.
And ask for Mrs. Millwood's house,
Next door unto the Gun.
And trust me on my trutli.
If thou keep touch with me,
My dearest friend, as my own heart
Thou shalt right welcome be.
Thus parted we in peace.
And home I passed i-ight;
Then went abroad, and gathered in.
By six o'clock at night,
An hmidred pound and one:
With bag under my arm
I went to Mrs. Millwood's house.
And thought on little harm ;
And knocking at the door,
Straightway herself came down ;
Rustling in most brave attire.
With hood and silken gown.
Wlio, tlu-ough her beauty bright.
So gloriously did shine,
That she amaz'd my dazzling eyes,
She seemed so divine.
38 SONGS OF THE
She took me by the hand,
And with a modest grace
Welcome, sweet Barnwell, then quoth she,
Unto this homely place.
And since I have thee found
As good as thy word to be :
A homely supper, ere we part.
Thou shalt take here with me.
pardon me, quoth I,
Fair mistress, I you pray ;
For why, out of my master's house,
So long I dare not stay.
Alas, good sir, she said.
Are you so strictly ty'd.
You may not with your dearest friend
One hour or two abide ?
Faith, then the case is hard ;
■ If it be so, quoth she,
1 would I were a prentice bound,
To live along with thee :
Therefore, my dearest George,
List well what I shall say.
And do not blame a woman much,
Her fancy to bewray.
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES. 39
Let not affection's force
Be counted lewd desire ;
Nor think it not immodesty,
I should thy love require.
With that she tui-n'd aside,
And with a blushing red,
A moui'nful motion she bewray'd
By hanging down her head.
A handkercliief she had
All wrought with silk and gold :
Which she to stay her trickling tears
Before her eyes did hold.
This thing unto my sight
Was wondrous rare and strange ;
And in my soul and inward thought
It wrought a sudden change :
That I so hardy grew,
To take her by the hand :
Saying, Sweet mistress, why do you
So dull and pensive stand ?
Call me no mistress now.
But Sarah, thy true friend,
Thy servant, MiUwood, honouring thee,
Until her life hath end.
40 SONGS OF THE
It' thou wouldst here alleclge,
Thou art in years a boy;
So was Adonis, yet was he
Fair Venus' only joy.
Thus I, who ne'er before
Of woman found such grace,
But seeing now so fair a dame
Give me a kind embrace,
1 supt with her that night,
With joys that did abound ;
And for the same paid presently.
In Money twice three pound,
An hundred kisses then,
For my farewel she gave ;
Crying, Hweet Barnwell, when shall I
Again thy company have ?
O stay not hence too long,
Sweet George, have me in mind.
Her words bewitcht my childishness,
She uttered them so kind :
So that I made a vow,
Next Sunday without fail.
With my sweet Sarah once again
To tell some pleasant tale.
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES. 41
When she heai'd me say so,
The tears fell from her eye ;
O George, quoth she, if thou dost fail,
Thy Sarah sure will dye.
Though long, yet loe I at last,
The appointed day was come,
That I must Avith my Sarah meet ;
Having a mighty sum
Of money in my hand,*
Unto her house went I,
Whereas my love upon her bed
In saddest sort did lye.
What ails my heart's delight,
My Sarah dear ? quoth 1 ;
Let not my love lament and grieve.
Nor sighing pine, and dye.
But tell me, dearest friend,
Wliat may thy woes amend,
And thou shalt lack no means of help,
Though forty pound I spend.
* The having a sum of money with him on Sunday, &c. shows
this narrative to have been penned before the civil wars: the
strict observance of the Sabbath was owing to change of manners
at that period. — Percy.
42 SONGS OF THE
With that she tui'n'd her head,
And sickly thus did say,
Oh me, sweet George, my grief is great.
Ten pound I have to pay
Unto a cruel wretch ;
And God he knows, quoth she,
I have it not. Tush, i-ise, I said.
And take it here of me.
Ten pounds, nor ten times ten,
Shall make my love decay,
Then from my bag into her lap,
I cast ten pound straightway.
All blithe and pleasant then.
To banqueting we go;
She proffered me to lye with her,
And said it should be so.
And after that same time,
I gave her store of coyn.
Yea, sometimes fifty pound at once,
AU which I did purloyn.
And thus I did pass on;
Until my master then
Did call to have his reckoning in
Cast up among his men.
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES. 43
The which when as I heard,
I knew not what to say;
For well I knew that I was out
Two liundred pound that day.
Then from my master straight
I ran in secret sort;
And unto Sarah Millwood there
My case I did report.
" But how she us'd this youth,
In this his care and woe,
And all a strumpet's wiley ways,
The SECOND PART may show."
THE SECOND PART.
Young Barnwell comes to thec^
Sweet Sarah, my delight;
I am undone, unless thou stand
My faithful friend this night.
Our master to accompts
Hath just occasion found;
And I am caught behind the hand
Above two hundred pound.
And now his wrath to 'scape.
My love, I fly to thee,
Hoping some time I may reniaine
In safety here with thee.
44 SONGS OF THE
With that she knit her brows,
And looking all aquoy,
Quoth she, "Wliat should I have to do
With any prentice boy?
And seeing that you have purloyn'd
Your master's goods away,
The case is bad, and therefore here
You shall no longer stay.
WHiy, dear, thou know'st, I said,
How all which I could get,
I gave it, and did spend it all
Upon thee every whit.
Quoth she, Thou ai't a knave,
To charge me in this sort,
Being a woman of credit fair,
And known of good report.
Therefore I tell thee flat,
Be packing with good speed,
I do defie thee from my heart.
And scorn thy filthy deed.
Is this the friendship, that
You did to nie protest?
Is this the great affection, which
You so to me exprest?
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES. 45
Now fie on subtle shrews!
The best is, I may speed
To get a lodging any wliei'e
For money in my need.
False woman, now farewell.
Whilst twenty pound doth last,
My anchor in some other haven
With freedom I will cast.
Wlien she perceiv'd by this,
I had store of money there,
Stay, George, quoth she, thou art too quick:
Wliy, man, I did but jeer.
Dost think for all my speech,
That I would let thee go?
Faith no, said she, my love to thee
I wiss is more than so.
You scorne a prentice boy,
I heard you just now swear,
AVlierefore I will not trouble you.
Nay, George, hark in thine ear
Thou shalt not go to-night.
What chance soe'er befall;
But man we'll have a bed for thee,
Or else the devil take all.
1
46 SONGS OF THE
i
So I by wiles bewitcht,
And snar'd with fancy still,
Had then no power to get away,
Or to withstand her will.
For wine on wine I call'd,
And cheer upon good cheer;
And nothing in the world I thought
For Sarah's love too dear.
AVhilst in her company,
I had such merriment ;
AU, all too little I did think,
That I upon her spent.
A fig for cai'e and thought!
AAHien all my gold is gone,
In faith, my girl, we will have more,
AAHioever I light upon.
My father's ricli, why then
Should I want store of gold?
Nay with a father sure, quoth she,
A son may weU make bold.
I've a sister riclily wed,
I'll rob her ere I'll want.
Nay then, quoth Sarali, they may Avell
Consider of you scant.
I
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES. 47
Nay, I an uncle have:
At Ludlow he doth dwell:
He is a grazier, which in wealtli
Doth all the rest excell.
Ere I wiU live in lack.
And have no coyn for thee;
I'll rob his house, and murder him.
Wliy should you not? quoth she:
Was I a man, ere I
Would live in poor estate;
On fathei', friends, and all my kin,
I would my talons grate.
For without money, George,
A man is but a beast:
But bringing money, thou shalt be
Always my welcome guest.
For shouldst thou be pursued
With twenty hues and ciyes,
And with a warrant searched for
With Argus' hundred eyes.
Yet here thou shalt be safe;
Such privy wayes there be,
That if they sought an hundred years,
They could not find out thee.
48
SONGS OF THE
And so carousing both
Their pleasures to content :
■George Barnwell had in little space
His money whoUy spent.
I
Which done, to Ludlow straight
He did provide to go,
To rob his wealthy uncle there;
His minion would it so.
And once he thought to take
His father by the way.
But that he fear'd his master had
Took order for his stay.
Unto his uncle then
He rode with might and main,
Wlio with a welcome and good cheer
Did BarnweU entertain.
One fortnight's space he stayed
Until it chanced so,
His uncle with his cattle did
Unto a market 2:0.
His kinsman rode with him,
Wliere he did see right plain.
Great store of money he had took:
When coming home again,
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES. 49
Sudden within a wood,
He struck his uncle down,
And beat his brains out of his head;
So sore he crackt his crown.
Then seizing fourscore pound.
To London straight he hyed,
And unto Sai'ah Millwood all
The cruell fact descryed.
Tush, 'tis no matter, George,
So we the money have
To have good cheer in jolly sort,
And deck us fine and brave.
Thus lived in filthy sort.
Until their store was gone:
When means to get them any more,
I wis, poor George had none.
Therefore in railing sort,
She thrust him out of door:
A^Hiich is the just reward of those.
Who spend upon a whore.
O! do me not disgrace
In tliis my need, quoth he,
She caU'd him thief and mm'derer ; —
AVith all the spight might be,
E
50 SONGS OF THE
To the constable she sent,
To have him apprelieuded:
And shewed how far, in each degree.
He had the laws offended.
When Bai-nweU saw her cb-ift,
To sea he got straightway;
Where fear and sting of conscience
Continixally on him lay.
Unto the lord mayor then.
He did a letter write;
In which his own and Sarah's fault
He did at large recite.
Whereby she seized was,
And then to Ludlow sent;
"WTiere she was judg'd, condemn'd, and hang'd.
For murder incontinent.
There dyed this gallant quean,
Such was her greatest gains:
For murder in Polonia,
Was BarnweU hang'd in chains.
Lo ! here's the end of youth,
That after harlots haunt;
Who in the spoU of other men,
About the streets do flaunt.
I
i
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES. 51
A BALLAD.
To the Tune of " I waile in woe, I plunge in pain ; or, Labandola
Shott."
In the books of the Stationer's Company is the following entry : " [y ^ /,*-
"7November,T576, licensed untohim(i.e.RichardJones) aballad, , ( •% L
intituled 'A woeful Ballacl, made by Mr. George IMannyngton an ■^■*^ ^*^
Hour before he suRered at Cambridge CasteU,' to the Tune of --> ./-^ O
' Labandola Shott,' and beginning ' I waile in woe, I plunge in
paine.' " The following ballad, which is transcribed fi-om " Wit
and Drollery," 1656, and which is published without a title, appears
from the allusion to Mannington, to have been written at a time
when the fate of that malefactor was still recent and fresh in the
popular memory. The lines commencing the second stanza:
" I cast my coat and cap away.
And went in silt and satins gay,"
seem to refer to an order published in 1582, at the command of
the queen. Elizabeth, being scandalized at the extravagance of
dress indulged in by the citizens generally, and by the appren-
tices in particular, sent a remonstrance to the Court of Common
Council, commanding them to take care, under pain of her dis-
pleasure, that the apprentices dressed themselves in a more sober
and becoming manner. The court issued their orders accord-
ingly ; and apprentices were commanded to wear a woollen coat
and cap, and forbidden under any circiunstances, or upon &ny
pretence whatever, to wear jewellery, or any silk or velvet
apparel, or to carry any weapon of offence or defence. For the
first transgression of this kind, the delinquent was to be punished
at the discretion of his master ; for the second, he was to be pub-
licly whipped in the hall of his company ; and for the third, he
was not only to be whipped, but to serve six months longer than
the term for which he was bound. The ballad relating to George
Mannington may be seen in the " Gentleman's Magazine" for
January 1781 ; and in Ritson's Collection of Ancient Songs and
Ballads. In " Eastward Hoe," by Jonson, Chapman, and ilars-
ton. Quicksilver, the apprentice, is introduced as a prisoner in
the Counter, reading these verses, which he calls his " Repent-
E 2
52 SONGS OF THE
ance." The tune of " Labandola Shott," although that of a
"woful ballad," was, it appears, frequently danced to. SeeEitson's
introduction to the " Lamentation of George Mannington," in his
Ancient Songs and Ballads, vol. ii. p. 47. London, 1829.
1
In Cheapside, famous for gold and plate,
Quicksilver I did dwell of late;
I had a master good and kinde,
That would have wrought me to his minde.
He bade me stiU work upon that,
But, alas ! I wrought I know not what.
He was a Touchstone, black but true,
And told me still what would ensue;
Yet, woe is me, I would not learne,
I saw, alas! but could not discerne.
I cast my coat and cap away,
I went in silkes and sattins gay;
False mettall of good manners I
Did daily coyne unlawfully.
I scorn'd my master, being drunke,
I kept my gelding and my punke.
And with a knight, Sir Flash by name,
VJJio now is sorry for the same.
StiU eastward hoe, was all my word,
But westward I had no regard;
Nor never thought what would come after,
As did, alas, his youngest daughter.
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES. 53
At last the black oxe trod on my foote,
I saw then what belong'd unto't;
Now cried I, Touch-stone, touch me still,
And make me current by thy skill.
O Mannington, thy stories show
Thou cut'st a horse head off at a blow ;
But I confesse I have not the force
For to cut off the head of a horse.
Yet I desire this grace to win,
That I may cut off the horse-head of Sin,
And leave his body in the dust
Of Sinnes high way, and bogges of lust,
AVTiereby I may take Vei'tue's purse;
And live with her for better for worse.
Farewell, Cheapside; farewell, sweet trade
Of goldsmiths all, that never shall fade;
Farewell, dear feUow prentices all.
And be you warned by my faU:
Shun usurer's bonds, and dice and drabs,
Avoid them as you would French scabs;
Seek not to goe beyond your tether.
And cut your thongs unto joiu- lethei".
So shall you tlirive by little and little.
Scape Tyborne, Counters, and the Spittle.
54- SONGS OF THE
THE RANTING RAMBLER:
OR, A YOUNG gentleman's FROLLICK THRO' THE CITY BY
night; where he was taken by the watch, and sent
TO the counter because he would not speak; and
the next day brought before my lord mayor, where
HIS pardon was begg'd by his loving daughter.
To a pleasant new Tune, called " The Rant, Dal, derra,
rara."
From a broadside in the British Museum. The tune of the
Kant is to be found in " A Collection of National English Airs,"
by W. Chappell, F.S.A. 4to. 1840.
I PRAY now attend to this ditty,
a merry and frollicksome song,
'Twas of a young spark through the city,
by night he went ranting along,
The Rant, Dal derra, rarra, &c.
The constable happen'd to hear him,
and call'd to his watch out of hand;
They went forth and never did fear him,
but presently bid him to stand.
The Rant, &c.
Come bring forth the lanthorn and candle.
That streight we his person may seize;
I hope we have power to handle
such tui-bulent fellows as these.
The Rant, &c.
I
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES. 55
Sir, come before Mr. Constable,
there to be examin'd, in course,
Nay, if you refuse it, we're able
to bring you before him by force.
The Rant, &c.
Friend, where have you been this late hour,
ne'er baffle, but now tell me true;
'Tis veiy well known I have power
to punish such ranters as you,
The Rant, &c.
No person like him ever acted,
his senses and reason is fled;
I think that the fellow's distracted; —
why han't you a tongue in your head?
The Rant, &c.
I'm the king's lieutenant, don't flout me,
my power all persons will own;
The watch are my nobles about me,
this chair is a type of the throne.
The Rant, &c.
This touch of my office I'U lend him,
my power o'er night he don't mind;
Therefore to the Counter I'll send him,
next morning a tongue he may find.
The Rant, &c.
56 SONGS OF THE
The watchmen did streightways surround him,
and him to the Counter they bring,
And yt"t notwithstanding they found him
resolved tliis ditty to sing,
The Rant, &c.
Come open, Turnkey of the prison.
this ranter must with you remain,
AVhen sleep has restored his reason,
oiu- master ^vill call here again.
The Rant. ^o.
The keeper he said. Worthy Squire,
you seem like a person well bred;
Will you have a chamber and fire?
or shall we provide you a bed?
The Rant. &c.
Come bring him a quart of canary.
and pipes of tobacco jxlso;
The gentleman seems to be merry.
hell pay us before he doth go.
The Rant. 8ic.
The prisoners heard the oration,
how he in his rant diil proceed.
And therefore without disputation,
they j\ll came for garnish with speed.
The Rant, &c.
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES.
And streight they laid huld of his bever,
and told him he garnish should pay;
The keeper he us'd his endeavour
to pacifie them while next day.
The Rant, 8fc.
The constable that was offended,
next day to the goal did repair,
And being with servants attended,
he brought him before the Lord Mayor.
The Rant, &c.
As I in my watch-house was sitting,
this fellow a racket did keep;
A humour which was much unfitting,
he waken'd men out of their sleep.
The Rant, &c.
Said I, where is your habitation,
I question'd this over and o'er;
But he would give me no relation,
but still he came ranting the more.
The Rant, &c.
My officers has he not rested,
in this you must satisfie me;
They to my Lord Mayor streight protested,
no man had slept better than he.
The Rant, &c.
58 SONGS OF THE
Do's such a strange humour attend you?
will you by strange fancies be led? I
Again to the Counter I'll send you,
to cure the strange noise in your head.
The Rant, &c.
I
Then streightways came in my lord's daughter, *
and begg'd that he might be set free;
And said, Sir, I know that hereafter,
you'll find this a wager to be.
The Rant, &c.
He streightways did grant her desire,
and to her request he agrees,
And did the young gallant require
to pay down his officers fees.
The Rant, &c.
To pay which the gallant was ready,
yet never a word did he say.
But made a bow to the young lady,
and then he went singing away,
The Rant, &c.
Licensed according to Order.
Printed for P. Broolcsby, J. Deacon, J. Blare, J. Back.
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES. 59
A TRUE CHARACTER OF SUNDRY TRADES AND
CALLINGS : OR, A NEW DITTY OF
INNOCENT MIRTH.
This song is new, perfect, and true,
There's none can tliis deny ;
For I am known, friend, to be one
That scorn to tell a lie.
To the Tune of " Old Simon the Iving."
Licensed accordinsr to Order.
From a broadside in the British Museum. The song and tune
of " ( )ld Sir Simon the King, are reprinted in " A Collection of
National English Airs," by W. Chappell, F.S.A. 4to. 1840.
Now, gentlemen, be you all merry, "'*-' / '/ ^
I'll sing you the song of a want ;
I'll make you as merry as may be,
Tho' money begins to grow scant,
A Woman without e'er a tongue
She never can scold very loud;
'Tis just such another great want
Wlien the Fidler wants his crowd.
Good people, I tell unto you,
These lines are absolute new ;
For I hate and despise the telling of lies, —
This ditty is merry and true.
A Ship that's without e'er a sail,
May be di'iven the Lord knows whither;
'Tis just such another sad want
When the Shooe-maker wants his leather.
GO SONGS OF THE
A man tliat has got but one legg,
Will make but a pitiful runner;
And he that has no eyes in his head,
Will make but a sorrowful Gunner.
Good people, I tell, &c.
A Doctor without any stomack
Will make but a pitiful dinner;
And he that has got no dinner to eat,
Will quickly look thinner and thinner,
A beU without e'er a clapper,
Will make but a sorrowful sound;
And he that has no land of his own,
Blay work on another man's ground.
Good people, I tell, &e.
A Blacksmith without his bellows.
He need to not rise very soon;
And he that has no cloaths to put on,
May lye in his bed tUl noon.
An Innkeeper without any custom,
Will never get store of wealth ;
And if he has ne'er a sign to hang up,
He may e'en go hang up himself.
Good people, &c.
A Mdler without any stones,
He is but a son-owful soul;
And if that he has no corn to grind,
He need not stand taking of toll.
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES. (U
The Taylor we know he is loath
To take any cabbidge at all, *"
If he has no silk, stuiF, or cloath,
To do that good office withal.
Good people, &c.
A Woman without e'er a fault,
She like a bright star will appear;
But a Brewer w itliout any mault,
Will make but pitiful beer.
A man that has got but one shirt,
When e'er it is wash'd for his hide,
I hope it can't be no great hurt
To lye in his bed till 'tis dry'd.
Good people, &c.
A Mountebank without his fools.
And a ship-kennel turn'd out of place, yr^ Q'/'^-^
A Tinker without any tools,
They are all in a sorrowful case.
All know that a dish of good meat,
It is the true stay of man's life;
But he that has nothing to eat.
He need not to draw out his knife.
Good people, &c.
A Pedlar without e'er a stock.
It makes him look pittiful blcAv;
A Shepherd without e'er a flock,
Has little or nothing to do.
62 SONGS OF THE
A Farmer without any corn,
He neither can give, sell, or lend;
A Huntsman without e'er a horn,
His whistle must stand his good friend.
Good people, &c.
A Plowman that has ne'er a plow,
I think may live at his ease;
A Dairy witliout e'er a cow,
Will make but bad butter and cheese.
A man that is pittiful poor.
Has little or nothing to lose;
And he that has never a foot.
It saves him the buying of shooes.
Good people, &c.
A Warren without e'er a coney.
Is bai-ren, and so much the worst;;
And he that is quite without money.
Can have no great need of a purse,
I hope there is none in this place
That is now displeas'd with this song;
Come buy uji my ballads apace.
And I'll pack up my awls and begone.
Good people, I tell unto you,
These lines are absolute new;
For I hate and despise the telling of lies,
This ditty is merry and true.
London : Printed for P. Brooksby, at the " Goklen Ball," in
Pyo Corner.
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES. 68
MICHAELMAS TERM.
THE CITIZENS KIND WELCOME TO COUNTRY-MEN THAT
FROM ALL PARTS OF THE LAND COME HITHER ABOUT THEIR
NEEDLESSE OCCASIONS (NEEDFUL, I MEAN) WITH A DES-
CRIPTION OF THE SEASONS AND MANNERS OF THE PEOPLE
THEREIN IMPLOYED.
To the Tune of " The Kambling Gierke."
[From a broadside in the British Museum.]
Come hither, my muse, if that thou be'st cold, f cJ / ^0 i'
And warm thyself well with Promethean fire;
Which when thou hast done, let me be bold
In matter of moment thy aid to require.
My mind is resolved to write on a theam.
The which my expression I hope shall confirm;
Those men that do come from all parts of the realm,-—- -aX^
I bid them all welcome to Michaelmas Term.
The tradesmen of London, with long expectation
Have lookt for the coming of this ha])py time;
They are sick at heart of the tedious vexation,
But now on a sudden they'll l)e in their prime.
They think themselves happy, especially some.
If Michaelmas rent and their dyet they earn;
But now they are glad, for their harvest is come, —
The country brings money to Michaelmas Term.
The Innholders, Vintners, Victualers, and Cooks, '
Through want of imployment make grievus complaint ;
64 SONGS OF THE
In all this long season they were off o' th' hook,
But now their Red Lettise they do new paint.
Some set up new signes, or new florish the old,
And mend their old houses, if they be infirm ;
To venture their money they dai'e well be bold,
In hope to regain it in Michaelmas Term.
The Tapsters, Ostlers, and Chamberlains ale,
Chiefly about Holborn, Fleet Street, and the Strand,
Since Trinity term had takings but small,
Wliich caus'd many of them to run beliind hand;
But now they are jovial, and take heart a grace.
And both nimble gestures and speeches they learn;
Theu" gains now come tumbling in a great pace, —
Long time they have wished for Michaelmas Term.
Some atturnies, and some that solicite law cases,
That at the vacation in the country plods.
They, like to King Janus, can use double faces.
And bribe to set neighbour with neighbour at odds;
Now hither they come, with their bags fuU of law,
But the profits they all to themselves do confirm;
Although it be but for a trusse of rye straw.
The case must be try'd at Michaelmas Term.
The rambling Clerks, that for lodging and dyet
Have rim on the ticket with Vitlers and Cooks,
Besides now and then for some overplus royot
Some of them liavc pawn'd their gowns and their books.
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES. 65
O now they are frollick, and sing cai'e away,
For country clients about them do swarm;
Now all their old scores they'll be able to pay, —
Their hands are so busy in Michaelmas Term.
The three-peny ordinaries are so full throng'd, '-/
That there you can scarce get one bit of meat;
Your countrymen proudly do scorn to be wrong'd,
And yet their own bellies they basely will cheat.
The lawyers' hands are stiU itching for fees.
Which maizes the plain husbandman let out his farm,
To come up to London to eat bread and cheese,
Wliile lawyers eat rost meat in Michaelmas Term.
The dainty fine girls that keep shop in the Change, j
Against this quick season have been exercis'd,
To fm-nish their coffers with fashions all strantre, — 1
1
The finest and rarest that can be devis'd; i
They keep their old ditty, — sir, what is't you lack? —
Which country people ai'e greedy to learn: /
The husband must carry the wife some new knack, /
Or else he's not welcome from Michaelmas Term.
The jovial Watennen trim up their botes.
And to be more plyant in plying their fares.
With strong beer and ale they do liquor their throats,
For which they will wander to the ale-house by pairs;
And, if the frost do not their labour prevent,
Abundance of money they daily wiU earn,
Which in the vacation will freely be spent,
And then they will think upon Michaelmas Term.
66 SONGS OF THE
The feather-heel'd wenches that live by tlieir owne,
Wlio long have been needy, foi* want of good training;
For Avhen all the gallants are gone out o' th' town,
O then these fine pinaces lack their due lading.
Therefore the vocation they rue like the rest,
♦' Because neither dyet nor cloaths they can earne;
But now they're in hope well to feather their nest, —
They looke for good doings in Michaelmas Term.
Pick-pockets and Cheaters, with knights of the post,
Doe long for the term-time, like honester men;
Where concourse of jjeople is, they doe get most.
With raking exploits, which they use now and then.
And yet if they chance to be got in the nick,
The Hangman next sessions will teach them a charm
WiU cure their disease, be they never so sick;
O then will they think upon Michaelmas Term.
The court and the city, the country withaU,
If you will behold a part of all three,
Then come at this time to Westminster Hall,
Wliere people from all parts assembled be:
And thus I'll conclude, as at first I began.
Experience all this for truth will confirm;
I hope I have given distaste to no man,
For I bid them all welcome to Michaelmas Term.
Printed for F. Coles, J. W. T. Vcre, W. Gilbertson.
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES. 67
A USE OF EXHORTATION TO THE LONDON
APPRENTICES : OR, A SECOND MESSAGE
AFTER THEIR PETITION.
These lines, which are transcribed from a broadside in the
British Museum, have no date, but are probably of the year
1643. At that time, and for some months previous, the appren-
tices had taken a great part in public affairs : they had assisted
to fortify London against the royal army; they had drawn up
petitions to parliament several times, and besieged the doors of
the house in going to present them. After the battle of Edge-
hill, when the king retired to Oxford, the parliamentary army,
imder the Earl of Essex, was recruited out of the apprentices of
London, who were encouraged by an ordinance of parliament
that delivered them from the authority of their masters, and
commanded their masters to receive them upon their return,
with a clause to indemnify the masters out of the public purse
for any damage they might sustain by their absence. In 1643,
the king made an effort to gain over the Londoners and the
apprentices, and wrote a letter, addressed to the lord mayor,
aldermen, and aU other well-affected citizens, with the view of
eflecting a reconcihation. These verses appear to have been
printed at Oxford at the time, to aid the efforts of the Icing, and
produce an impression upon that powerful body, the apprentices.
The " carnation coats" and " lobsters" alluded to, are the soldiers
of the Earl of Essex : and the mention of the doings in Exeter
and Cornwall, shows that we must fix the date of this production
shortly after the victories of the Cornish royalists. The petition
of the apprentices may be seen in the Harleian Miscellanj',
vol. viii. page 593.
Young meu, where are you now ; what, fast asleep? ■■'' / ^
What, in a dream? or do you keep
Close to the fire-side, because 'tis cold?
Or (as your masters say) must you be told
Over and over? What are you blinde?
Besotted quite, or do you feare the winde?
f2
68 SONGS OF THE
Or have the gun-men phuig'd you into fears?
Or are you frighted with their bandileers?
Why gaze you thus? like men distracted,
Looking at one another, and nothing acted :
Crjang a lyon hirketh in the way:
When as 'tis but a lobster, whom (men say)
Turn him but o're and o're hell turn to you ;
Then turn for shame, O sluggards, least you rue
When 'tis too late; — be wise betimes,
Me thinks the countries valour should ring chimes:
Unless you stop your ears, you can't but hear
How Exiter and Cornwal banish fear;
They help for you to better your condition,
They hazard all to fuMll your petition;
Yet you won't help yourselves, I blush to see
Such pettie places venture more then we.
Then Prentices awake, awake for shame,
Be faint no more, all cowai'dize disclaim;
Disband feamality, let courage be your portion,
In such a case, vaUour's the best devotion.
Petitions will not do, fare means are slighted.
You are compeU'd at least, much more invited
To do the work yourselves; then since 'tis so.
Shew yourselves men, about the business go:
Time is a precious thing, forbear delay,
Wliilst the sun shines, be sure to make your hay.
Fear not carnation coats, they are but men,
They'd rather eat then fight; not one in ten,
But (like self-seeking rascalls) are so evil,
For six-pence more they'd list unto the devil.
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES. 69
Then blades revive, thus far I dare aspire,
You may yourselves accomplish your desire;
The day's your own, and such is your condition.
Yourselves may quickly grant your own petition.
Till these things come to pass, till this we see.
Serve Jacob's prentiship, you shan't be free.
Till men have noble hearts, till youths grow bold.
Till men do one another's good uphold.
Till valour springs, till courage doth increase,
Till wrong have right, expect no settled peace:
Here's arguments enough, if you be wise.
Reduce your honour, though you lose your eyes.
Uphold your trade, maintain the good old cause,
Uncoat the lobsters, take away their clawes.
Take this for all, I have no more to say,
I am the guide to put you in the way:
Here's the right path, hang him that goes astray.
J.E. App;—
Oxford : Printed for Carolus Adolphus.
ROBIN CONSCIENCE:
OR, CONSCIONABLE ROBIN, HIS PROGRESS THROUGH COURT,
CITY, AND COUNTRY, WITH HIS BAD ENTERTAINMENT
AT EACH SEVERAL PLACE.
This ballad, which is of peculiar value to all who are interested
in the topography of London, was, it would appear, first pub-
lished at Edinburgh, in 1683, in a small duodecimo tract of
70 SONGS OF THE
twenty-four pages, and has been since (ven- incorrectly) printed in
the first voUmie of the Harleian Miscellany. The local allusions
are interesting at this distance of time, and the satire is of such
a character as never to be out of date. The idea seems to have
been suggested by Lydgate's ballad of " London Lackpeiuiy."
I HAVE been quite through England wide
With many a foint and weary stride,
To see what people there abide
that love me,
Poor Robin Conscience is my name.
Sore vexed with reproach and blame.
For all wherever yet I came
reprove me.
Few now endure my presence here,
I shall be banishd quite I fear,
I am despised every where,
and scorned,
Yet is my fortune now and then
To meet some good woman or man,
Who have (when they my woes did scan)
sore mourned.
To think that conscience is despised,
Wliich ought to be most higlily prized,
This trick the devil hath devised
to blind men,
'Cause Conscience tells them of their ways,
Which 01*6 so wicked now-a-days.
They stop their ears to what he says; —
unkind men!
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES. 71
I first of all went to the court,
Where lords and ladies did resort,
My entertainment there was short; —
cold welcome!
As soon as e'er my name they heard.
They ran away full sore afear'd.
And thought some goblin had appear'd
from hell come.
" Conscience," quoth one, " begone with speed.
The court few of thy name doth breed,
We of thy presence have no need; —
be walking;
Thou tell'st us of our pride and lust.
Which spite of thee we follow must.
(So out of court was Conscience thrust)
no talking.
Thus banished from the court I went.
To Westminster incontinent,
Wliere I alas was sorely shent
for coming,
The lawyers did against me plead,
" 'Twas no great matter," some there said,
" If Conscience quite were knock'd in th' head;
Then running
From them I fled with winged haste;
They did so tlu'eaten me to baste,
Thought it was vain my breath to waste
in counsel.
72 SONGS OF THE
For lawyers cannot me abide,
Because for falsehood I them chide,
And he that holds not on their side
must down still.
Unto the city hied I then,
To try what welcome there, trades-men
Would give poor Robin Conscience; when
I came there
The shop-keepers that use deceit
Did come about me and did threat,
Unless I would begone, to beat
me lame there.
And eveiy one, both high and low,
Held Conscience as a mortal foe
Because he doth ill vices sliow
each minute.
Therefore the City in uproar
Against me rose, and me so tore
That I'm resolved I'll never more
come in it.
On Friday I to Smitlifield went.
Where being come incontinent.
The horse-coursers with one consent
did chide me;
They said that I was not myself,
And said I was a pinching elf.
And they could get more store of pelf,
beside me.
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES. 73
1 told them of a cheating trick
Wliich makes the horses run and kick,
By ])utting in an eel that's quick
i' th' belly,
Another which they use full oft
To bear their lame jades' heads aloft,
And beat their buttocks till they're soft
as jelly.
I told them that their wealth would rot,
That they by cheating men thus got.
But they for this same tale, would not
abide me,
And charged me quickly to be gone.
Quoth they, " Of Conscience we use none,"
Those whom I follow with my mone
out-ride me.
From thence I stepp'd into Long Lane,
^^niiere many brokers did remain.
To try how they would entertain
poor Conscience;
But my name when I to them told.
The women did begin to scold,
The men said, " They that word did hold
but nonsense."
For Conscience is so hard a w^ord
That scarce the broker can afford
To read it, for liis mouth is stored
with lying •,
74 SONGS OF THE
He knows not what this Conscience means,
That is no cause unto his gains,
Thus I was scorned for my pains;
all crying,
" Away with Conscience from this lane,
For we his presence do disdain": —
They said if I came there again
among them,
They said they'd band me back and side;
Being menaced, away I hied;
Thus worldlings think, that when I chide,
I wrong them.
Among the butchers then went I;
As soon as e'er they did me spy.
They threaten'd me most spitefully
to kill me;
Quoth one, " If Conscience here should dwell
We were not able to live well,
Nor could we gain by the meat we sell; —
nor will we
Be bound to follow Conscience nice,
Which would confine us to a price;
Robin, be rul'd by my advice,
(quoth he then)
And get thee to some other place;
We hate to look thee in the face:"
I, hearing this, from them a-pace
did flee then.
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES. 75
To Newgate market went I then,
Where country-women, maids, and men,
Were selling needful things; and when
they saw me,
At me the butter-woman rails
Whose butter weigh'd not down the scales;
Another comes, and with her nails
did claw me.
The bakers which stood in a row,
Began to brawl at me also,
And charged me away to go,
because I
Told them they did make lesser bread; —
Did not the laws put them in dread; —
There's some of them would wish them dead,
might laws die.
Thus chid of them, my way I took
Unto Pye-corner, where a cook
Glanc'd at me as the devil did look
o'er Lincoln.
" Conscience," quoth he, " thou shew'st not wit
In coming to this place unfit;
I'U run thee thorow with a spit;
then think on
Those words to thee which I have said,
I cannot weU live by my trade,
If I should stiU require thy aid
in selling :
76 SONGS OF THE
Sometimes one joint I must roast thrice
Ere I can sell it at my price;
Then here's for thee (who art so nice)
No dwelling."
Perforce he drove me backward still,
Until I came unto Snow-hill;
The sale- men there, with voices shrill
fell on me.
I was so irksome in their sight,
That they conjured me to flight.
Or else they swore, (such was their spight)
" They'd stone me."
At Turn-again Lane the fish-wives there
And wenches did so rail and sweai".
Quoth they, " No Conscience shall come here,
we hate him;"
Theii' bodges which for half-pecks go
They vowed at my head to throw;
No Conscience they were bred to know,
but prating.
Away thus frighted by these scolds,
To Fleet Street straight my love it holds,
Where men whose tongues were made in moulds
of flattery,
Did cry, " Wliat lack you, countryman?"
But seeing me away they ran.
As though the enemy had began
his battery.
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES. 77
One said to others, " Sir, ill news.
Here Conscience comes us to abuse,
Let us his presence all refuse
together,
And boldly stand against him all;
We ne'er had use of him, nor shall
He live with us; — what chance did call
him hither?"
The haberdashers that sell hats
Hit Robin Conscience many pats.
And like a company of cats
they scratch'd him;
Quoth they, " Why com'st thou unto us?
We love not Conscience," ruling thus,
They gave him words opprobrious,
and match'd him.
The mercers and silk-men also.
That live in Paternoster Row,
Their hate against poor Conscience show,
and when I
Came to that place they all did set
On me, 'cause I their gain would let,
Wlio will both swear and lie to get
one penny.
From thence unto Cheapside I past,
Wliere words in vain I long did waste,
Out of the place I soon was chas'd;
quoth one man.
78 SONGS OF THE
" Conscience, for thy presumption base,
Intruding to tliis golden place.
Thou death deserv'st, therefore a-pace
begone man!
Think'st thou that we have so much gold
Before our eyes still to behold,
WiU this by Conscience be controU'd
and curbed;
Oh! no, poor fellow, haste away,
For if long in this place thou stay.
Thou shalt be (I'll be bold to say)
disturbed."
From thence I turned down Bread Sti'eet,
A cheese-monger I thei-e did meet.
He hied away with winged feet
to shun me;
" How now," quoth I, "why run ye so?"
Quoth he, " Because I well do know
That thou art Conscience my old foe; —
thou'st done me
Great wrong: while I made use of thee,
And dealt with all men honestly,
A rich man I could never be;
but since then
I banish'd have thy company,
And us'd deceit with those that buy,
I thrive, and therefore, Robin, hie
tlioe hence then."
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES.
I left him with his bad intent,
And unto Fish Street straight I went,
Among those lads who wish that Lent
were all year,
As soon as e'er they me espy'd,
They all at once upon me cry'd,
And swore that " Conscience should not guide
a stall there."
I seeing things thus seeming strange
That all men did from goodness range.
Did hie me straight to the Exchange.
A merchant
Was so affrighted when I came.
That presently he blush'd for shame,
His countenance did show the same
in searchant.
Quoth he, " Friend Robin, what dost thou
Here among us merchants now?
Our business will not allow
to use thee;
For we have tratific without thee,
And thrive best if thou absent be; —
I for my part will utterly
refuse thee."
Now 1, being thus abus'd below,
Did walk up stairs, where on a row
Brave shops of ware did make a show
most sumptuous.
80 SONGS OF THE
But, when the shop-folk me did spy,
They drew their dark light instantly,
And said, in coming there, was I
presumptuous.
The gallant girls that there sold knacks
Wliich ladies and brave women lacks,
When they did see me, they did wax
in choler.
Quoth they, " we ne'er knew Conscience yet,
And, if he comes om* gains to let,
We'U banish him; he'U here not get
one scholar."
I, being jeered thus and scorn'd,
AVent down the stairs, and sorely mouruM
To think that I should thus be turn'd
a begging.
To Grace-church-street I went alpng.
Where dwell a great ungracious throng,
That will deceive both old and young
As drapers, poulterers, and such
Who think they never get too much;
The word Conscience to them is Dutch,
or Spanish;
And harder too, for speech they'll learn.
With all their heart, to serve their turn.
But Conscience, when they him discern,
they banish.
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADKS. 81
I, seeing all the city given
To use deceit, in s^iiglit of heaven.,
To leave their company I was driven
perforce then;
So over London bridge in haste,
I, — hiss'd and scoff'd of all men, — past ;
Then I to Southwark took, at last,
my course then.
When I came there, I hoped to find
Welcome according to my mind;
-But they are rather more unkind
than London.
All sorts of men and women, there,
Ask'd how I durst to them appear,
And swore my presence they would clear
abandon.
Then I, being sore athirst, did go
Into an alehouse in the Row,
Meaning a penny to bestow
on strong beer;
But, 'cause I for a quart did call,
l\Iy hostess swore, " she'd bring me small,
Or else I should have none at all."
Thus wrong'd there,
I bade her on her licence look,
" Oh sir," quoth she, " ye are mistook,
I ha\'e a lesson without book
most perfect: g
82 SONGS OF THE
If I my licence should observe,
And not in any point to swerve,
Both I and mine, alas! should starve,
not surfeit.
" Instead of a quart-pot of pewter,
I fill small jugs, and need no tutor;
I quart'ridge give to the geometer*
most duly;
And he will see, and yet be blind;
A knave, made much of, will be kind,
If you be one, sir, teU your mind
most truly."
" No, no," quoth I, " I am no knave.
No fellowship with such I have;
My name is Robin Conscience, brave,
that wander
From place to place, in hope that some
Will as a servant give me room;
But all abuse me, where I come,
with slander."
Now, when my hostess heard me teU
INIy name, she swore " I should not dwell
With her, for I would make her sell
fidl measure."
Tlu' ganger.
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES. 88
She did conjure me to depart;
" Hang Conscience," quoth she, " give nie art
I have not got, by a penny a quart,
my treasure." —
So out of doors I went with speed,
And glad she was to be thus freed
Of Conscience, that she thence might speed
in frothing.
To the King's Bench I needs woukl go;
The jailor did me backward throw:
Quoth he, " For Conscience here ye know
is nothing."
Through Blackman Street I went, where whores
Stood gazing, there at many doors, —
Thei-e two or three bawds against me roars
most loudly:
And bade me to get thence apace,
Or else they'd claw me by the face;
They swore they scorn'd me and all grace.
Most proudly
I walk'd into St. George's field,
Where rooking rascals I beheld,
That all the year their hopes did build
on cheating;
They were close playing at nine pins, —
I came and told them of their sins,
Then one among the rest begins,
intreatinof g 2
84 SONGS OF THE
That I would not torment them so. —
I told them that I would not go:
" Wliy then," quoth he, " HI let thee know
we care notj
And yet we'll banish thee perforce."
Then he began to swear and cui'se;
And said, " Prate on till thou art hoaa*se,
and spare not."
I left them in their wickedness.
And went along in great distress,
Bewailing of my bad success
and speed.
A windmill standing there hard by.
Towards the same then passed I,
But when the miller did me spy,
he cryed,
" Away with Conscience, I'll none such,
That dwell with honesty so much,
I shall not quickly fill my hutch
by due toll;
But must, for every bushel of meal
A peck, if not three gallons, steal;
Therefore with thee I will not deal,
thou true soul."
Then leaving cities, skirts and all,
Where my welcome it was but small,
I went to try what would befall
i' th' country.
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES. 85
There thought I to be entertain'd
But I was likewise there disdain'd,
As long as bootless I complain'd
to th' gentry.
And yet no service could I have;
Yet, if I would have play'd the knave,
I might have had maintainance brave
among them.
Because that I was Conscience poor,
Alas! they thrust me out of door, —
For Conscience many of them swore
did wrong them.
Then went I to the yeomanry,
And farmers aU of the country,
Desiring them most heartily
to take me:
I told them I would sell their corn
Unto the poor; but they did turn
Me out of doors, and with great scorn
forsake me.
One said, " He had no use of me
To sell his corn; for, I (quoth he)
Must not be only rul'd by thee
in selling.
If I shall Conscience entertain.
He'd make me live in crossing gain, —
Here is for thee, I tell thee plain,
no dwelling."
86 SONGS OF THE
Thus from the rich men of the world
Poor Conscience up and down is hui'l'd;-
Like angry curs at me they snarl'd,
and clieck'd me.
Alas! what shall I do? thought I.
Poor Robin, must I starve and die?
Aye, tliat I must, if nobody
respect me.
At last I to myself bethought
Where I must go, and heaven brought
Me to a place where poor folks wrought
most sorely;
And there they entertained me well,
With whom I ever mean to dwell,
With them to stay it thus befel,
though poorly.
Thus people that do labour hard
Have Robin Conscience in regard,
For which they shall have their reward
in heaven;
For all their sorrows here on earth.
They shall be filled with true mirth, —
Crowns shall to them at second birth
be given.
And all these caitiffs that deny'd
To entertain him for their guide,
When they by Conscience shall be tried
and judged.
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES. 87
Then will they wish that they had us'd
Poor Conscience, whom they have refus'd, —
Wliose company they have abus'd
and grudged.
Thus Robin Conscience, that hath had,
Amongst most men a welcome bad,
He now hath found to make him glad,
abiding
'Mong honest folks that hath no lands.
But get their living with their hands.
These are the friends that to him stands
and's guiding.
These still keep Conscience from grim death,
And ne'er gainsay what'er he saith;
These lead their lives so here beneath,
that dying,
They may ascend from poverty
To glory and great dignity.
Where they shall live and never die;
Avhile frying
In hell the wicked lie, who would
Not use true Conscience as they should.
This is but for a moral told
you; in it
He that observes may somewhat spy
That savours of divinity, —
For conscionable folks do I
beain it.
88 SONGS OF THE
And so I'll bring all to an end: —
It can no honest man oftend,
For those that Conscience do defend,
it praises.
And if that any jrall'd jade kick,
The author hath devis'd a trick,
To turn him loose, i' th' fields to pick
up daisies.
A DIALOGUE BETWIXT TOM AND DICK:
THE FORMER A COUNTRYMAN', THE OTHER A CITIZEN, PRE-
SENTED TO HIS EXCELLENCY AT THE COUNCIL OF STATE,
drapers' HALL, IN LONDON, MARCH 28, 1660.
To the Tune of " I'll never love thee more."
The tune of " I'll never love thee more" is found in " The
English Dancing Master," 4to. 1651, and in at least ten more
editions of the same vf ork. " I'll nevt r love thee more" is the
burden of the Marquess of Montrose's celebrated song, begin-
ning " My dear and only love, I pray," which is reprinted in
Evans' Collection of Old Ballads, 8vo. 1810. The following
ballad, from a broadside in the collection in the British IMuseum,
in three volumes, folio, under the press-mark 643m, is a loyalist
effusion, made immediately prior to the restoration of Charles 11,
when General Monk, the " George" so vaunted by Dick in every
stanza, was in the height of his popularity. In the previous
year, the citizens, uncertain whether to side with the parliament
or make a stand against it, and greatly apprehensive of a ci^dl
war, declined for a time to declare either for the parliament or
the army. The apprentices, however, were more decided in their
opinions, and assembled in great numbers about the doors of the
House of Commons, and in the streets of the city, declaring that
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES. 81)
they would have a free parliament. Colonel Ilughson marched
against them ^vith a company of troops, and a conflict ensued, in
which several of the apprentices were slain. The proceeding-
was very unpopular in the city, and a violent outcry was raised
against the army. The Committee of Safety afterwards applied
to the city for a loan, which was denied, the citizens at the same
time boldly objecting to their authority, and declaring their in-
tention to submit to no imposition that was not commanded by a
freely chosen parliament. General Monk was immediately
ordered to march into the city and reduce it to obedience. He
posted regiments at all the gates, — the posts and chains were pulled
down, — the portcullises at Bishopsgate, Cripplegate, and Aldgate
taken away, and the other gates taken off and their hinges
destroyed. Eight members of the Common Council and two
aldermen were also made prisoners, together with a great number
of apprentices and other riotous young men. Monk afterwards
saw reason to regret his severity against the city, and mistrusting
the parliament, in whose name he had acted, he thought it pru-
dent, in the interest of the king, to make peace again with the
Londoners. Having drawn up his army in Finsbury Fields, he
sent a message to the Lord Mayor, in which he expressed his
sorrow for what he had done to the prejudice of the city, and
desired the favour of a conference with his lordship and the
Common Council, that he might make reparation for his late
error. They met accordingly, and the result was that friendship
was sworn between them, and the doom of the famous, or in-
famous. Rump Parliament was sealed. " This coalition," says
Entick, in his History of London, vol. ii. p. 240, " was no
sooner published in the city but an universal joy and rejoicing-
spread over all, with ringing- of bells, acclamations, bonfires, and
illuminations. At the same time they breathed out the most
contemptible tokens and signs of scorn and ridicule against the
parliament. There was scarce a bonfire where a rump was not
roasted, or something- resembling a rvunp, to celebrate the par-
liament's funeral obsequies." Monk was now as popular in the
city as he was formerly detested ; and between this time and the
return of Charles II, was a frequent visitor to one or other of the
city halls, to deliberate with the lord mayor and corporation
upon the exigencies of the times. Maitland says, book i. p. 285,
that " at this time sti-ong nightly guards were kept in the city,
90 SONGS OF THE
vnth tho clKiins drawn across the streets till the morninj;; ; and
by day frequent entertainments were made by the several com-
panies at their halls for regalin"; the Council of State, the general
(Monk), and his principal officers. The entertainment, com-
memorated in the title of the follow-ing baUad, took place only
seventeen days before the celebrated letter of Charles 11 was
written to the citizens from Breda.
Tom. Now would I give my life to see
This wondrous man of might,
Dick, dost thou see that jolly lad? That's he,
I'le warrant him he's right.
There's a true Trojan in his face;
Observe him o'er and o'er.
Dick. Come, Tom, if ever George be base
, C/iorus.
Ne're trust good feUow more.
; base 1
He's none of that phantastique brood
That murther while they pray;
That trusse and cheat us, for ovu* good,
(All in a godly way);
He drinkes no bloud, and they no sack
Into their gutts wUl poiu*e,
But if George does not do the knack, ^
Ne're trust good fellow more. j
His quiet conscience needs no guai'd,
He's brave, but fuU of pitty.
Tom. Yet, by your leave, he knock'd so hard,
H'ad like t'awak'd the city.
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES. 91
Dick. Foole, 'twas the Rump that let a f — t,
The chaynes and gates it tore,
But if George bears not a true heart, ^
Ne're trust good fellow more. J
Tom. Your city-blades are cunning i-ookes,
How rarely you collogue liim!
But when your gates flew off the hookes.
You did as much be-rogue him.
Dick. Pugh — 'twas the Rum}) did onely feele,
The blowes the city bore;
But if George be'nt as true as Steele, ^
Ne're trust good fellow more. J
Dick. Come, by this hand, we'll crack a quart,
Thou'U pledge his health, I trow:
Tom. Tope, boy! Dick — A lusty dish my heart,
Away wi't ! Tom — Let it go.
Drench me your slave in a full bowle,
I'U take 't an 'twex'e a score.
Dick. Nay, if George be'nt a hearty soule, \
Ne're trust good fellow more. j
Tom. But heark you, sirrah, we're too loud,
He'U hang us by and by.
Methinks, he should be vengeance proud?
Dick. No more than thou or I.
Tom. Why, then, I'le give him the best blade
That e'er the Bilbo wore.
Dick. If George prove not a bonnv lad, )
X- » 1 /- 1, " flmrits.
JNere trust good lelloAv more. I
92 SONGS OF THE
Tom. 'Twas well he came, we'd mawU'd the tayle;
We've all throwne up our farmes;
And from the musket to the flayle
Put all our men in armes.
The girles had ta'ne the Members down
Ne're saw such things before.
Dick. If George speak not the town our owne, \
^^ , , „ „ c Chorus.
Ne re trust good lellow more. J
Dick. But, prethee, are the folks so mad —
Tom. So mad, say'st, — They're undone,
There's not a penny to be had;
And ev'ry mother's sonne
Must fight if he intend to eate,
Grow vaUiant now he is poore.
Dick. Come — yet if George don't do the feate,
Ne're trust good fellow more.
Chorus.
Tom. Wliy, Richard, 'tis a devilish thing,
We're not left worth a groate,
My Doll has sold her wedding ring.
And Sue has pawn'd her coate.
The sniv'ling rogues abus'd our stjuire.
And call'd his mistresse whore.
Dick. Yet — if George don't what we desire, ) ^,
> Lhoriis.
Ne're trust good fellow more. )
Tom. By this good day; I did but speak.
They took my py-baU'd mare;
And put the carrion wench to th' squesik,
(Things go against the liair).
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES. 9o
Our prick-ear'd cor'nell looks as bigg
Still as he did before.
Dick. And yet if George do'nt liumme his gigg,
Ne're trust good fellow more.
C/ioriis.
Faith, Tom; our case is much at one;
We're broke for want of trade;
Our city's baffled, and undone,
Betwixt the Rump and blade.
We've emptied both our veines and baggs
Upon a factious score :
If George compassion not our raggs ) ^,
V Cnorits.
Ne're trust good fellow more. )
Tom. But what dost think should be the cause
Wlience all these mischiefs spring?
Dick. Our damned breach of oaths and lawes,
Our murther of the king.
We have been slaves since Charles his reign.
We liv'd like lords before.
If George do'nt set all right again, | ^,
- Lliorus.
Ne re trust good fellow more. )
Tom. Our vicar — (and he's one that knows)
Told me once — I know what; —
(And yet the thief is woundy close).
Dick. 'Tis all the better; — That
Has too much honesty and witt
To let hi& tongue runne o'er;
If this prove not a lucky hit, ) ^,
^ ^ \ Chorns.
Ne're trust good fellow more, j
94 SONGS OF THE
Shall's ask him, what he means to doe?
Tom. Good faith, with all my heart;
Thou mak'st the better leg o' th' two;
Take thou the better part.
I'll follow, if thou'lt lead the van.
Dick. Content — I'll march before.
If George prove not a gallant man, ) ^,
Chorus.
Ne're trust good fellow more. )
My Loixl — in us the nation craves.
But what you're bound to doe.
Ton. Wehavehv'd di'udges; Dick. — And we slaves;
Both. We would not die so too.
Restore us but our lawes agen: \
Th'unborn shall thee adore; _,,
VChorifs.
If George denies us his Amen,
Ne're trust good feUow more.
A BALLAD IN PRAISE OF LONDON PRENTICES
AND WHAT THEY DID AT THE COCKPITT
PLAY-HOUSE, IN DRURY LANE.
The London prentices, at the time of the Revohition, laid claim
not only to great valour but to great piety. " On Shrove Tues-
daj-, March 4th, 1617," says ]\Ir. J. P. Collier, in his "History
of English Dramatic Poetry and Annals of the Stage," vol. i.
p. 401 ; " some riots occurred in Lincoln's Liu Fields (then an
open space unoccupied by houses) and in Drury Lane, where the
mob, among whom the apprentices appear, as usual, to have been
especially active, made an attack upon the Cock]>it Theatre.
Camden, in his Annals, states that they pulled it down and
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES. 9o
destroyed the wardrobe ; but according^ to the account of this
circumstance in the Privy Council Rejj;i.ster, which was drawn up
on the following day, the mob only attempted to pull it do^\n.
However there is no doubt they did considerable damage, and
that several lives were lost in the fray. The apprentices of
London from time immemorial had claimed, or at least exercised,
the right of attacking and demolishing houses of ill fame on Shrove
Tuesday ; and, in this instance, they carried their zeal for morals
a degree farther." Li the Collection of Ballads in the British
Museum, which will be found imder the press-mai'k 64331, there
are two or three other ballads relating to the demolition of the
houses of ill-fame by the apprentices, and the complaints made
by their frail tenants of the rigid righteousness of the young
men, but they are too gross for publication.
The Prentices of London long
Have famoits been in story,
But now they are exceeding all
Their chronicles of glory:
Looke backe, some say, to other day,
But I say looke before ye,
And see the deed they have now done,
Tom Brent and Johnny Cory.
Tom Brent said then to his merry men,
" Now whoop my men and hollow,
And to the Cockpitt let us goe, —
I'll lead you like brave Rollow."
Then Johnny Corry answered straight,
In words much like Apollo;
" Lead, Tommy Brent, incontinent,
And we'll be sm-e to follow."
96 SONGS OF THE
Three score of these brave prentices,
All fit for workes of wonder,
Rush'd down the plaine of Drury Lane,
Lilie lightning and like thunder:
And there each dore, with hundreds more.
And windows burst asunder;
And to the tire-howse broke they in,
^\niich some began to plunder.
" Now hold your handes, my merry men,"
Said Tom; "for I assure ye,
Wlio so begin to steale shall win
Mee both forjudge and jury:
And eke for executioner,
Within this lane of Drury;
But teare and rend, I'll stand your frend.
And will uphold your fury."
King Priam's robes were soon in rags.
And broke his gilded scepter;
False Cressid's hood, that was so good
When loving Troylus kept her:
Besse Brydges gowne, and Muli's crowne.
Who would ful faine have lept her:
Had Theseus scene them use his queene
So ill, he had bewept her.
Books old and young on heap they flung.
And burnt them in the blazes, —
Tom Dekker, Haywood, Middleton,
And other wand'iing crayzes.
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES.
Poor Daye that daye not scapte awaye;
And what still moi'e amazes,
Immortal] Cracke* was burnt all blacke,
"Wliich every bodie praises.
Now sing we laude with one accord,
To these most dignl latak',
Who thus intend to bring to end
All that is vile and bawdie;
All players and whores thrust out a' dores,
Seductive both and gawdie,
And praise we these bold prentices
Cum voce et cum corde.
THE LIFE AND DEATH OF THE TWO LADIES OF
FINSBURY, THAT GAVE MOORFIELDS TO THE
CITY, FOR THE MAIDENS OF LONDON
TO DRY CLOATHS.
To the Tune of " Where is my true love."
From the " Crowii Garland of Golden Roses." The ballad is
also inserted in Evans' Collection, vol. iii. p. 318.
You gallant London damsels.
Awhile to me give ear.
* " Regarding this person, orpla^," says Mr. Collier, "which-
ever it might be, I can give no information."
98 SONGS OF THE
And be you well contented
With what you now shall hear.
The deeds of two kind ladies
Before you shall appear; —
Oh maidens of London so fair!
At Finsbury there dwelled
A noble gallant knight,
That for the love of Jesus Christ
Desired for to fight:
And 60 unto Jerusalem
He went in armoiu* bright.
Oh maidens of London so fiiir!
And charged both his daughters
Unmarried to remain,
Till he from blessed Palestine
Returned back again:
And then two loving husbands
For them he would attain;
Oh maidens of London so fair!
When he was gone from fair England
A knight of Rhodes to be,
His daughters they were well content,
Though born of good degree.
To keep themselves in mean estate
Of living orderly; —
Oh maidens of London so fair!
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES. 99
The eldest of the two was naiii'd
Fair Maiy, as is said,
Wlio made a secret vow to God
To live and die a maid;
And so a true professed nun
Herself with speed array'd, —
Oh maidens of London so fair!
Her garments were of mourning blat-k,
Befitting her desires,
Wliere at the house of Bethlehem
The abbess she requires,
An entertainment to be made
To their melodious quires; —
Oh sweet singing maids so fair!
Wliere in the nunnery she remained
Beloved many a yeai',
Still spending day and night in prayers
For her old father dear, —
Refusing woi'ldly vanities
With joy and pleasant cheer; —
Oh heavenly blest maidens so fair!
And in the name of Jesus Christ
A holy cross did build,
Which some have seen at Bedlam-gate,
Adjoining to Moorfield:
These be the blessed springing fruits
That chastity doth yield; —
Oh maidens of London so fair! h 2
100 SONGS OF THE
" If that England's great I'oyal queen
I should be made," quoth she,
" Not lialf so well contented then,
Good ladies should I be;
There is no life that's half so sweet
As virgin life, I see:"
Oh maidens of London so fair!
" Nor will I taste the joys of love
Belong to marriage bed.
Nor to a king consent to yield
My blooming maidenhead.
Till from my father I do hear
To be alive or dead;"
Oh maidens of London so fair!
So virgin-like she spent her days
About this pleasant spring.
And us'd herself from time to time
Upright in every thing;
Wliich caused the ladies of this land
Her noble praise to sing; —
Oh maidens of London so fair!
The younger of the sisters, nam'd
Dame Annis, fair and clear.
Who framed there a pleasant well,
By her esteemed dear;
Where wives and maidens daily came
To wash, from far and near;
Oh heaven-blest maidens so fair!
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES. 101
Li it were all her earthly joys,
Her comfort and delight;
About the same remaining still
With pleasure day and night,
As glorious as the golden sun.
In all his beams so bright;
Oh maidens of London so fair!
The lovely ladies of the land
Unto Dame Annis went,
Persuading her this single life
Was not the best content;
The married sort doth most commend.
Being stiU to pleasures bent;
Oh maidens of London so fair!
And daily troops of London dames
Unto her did repair.
With purest lawn and cambric fine
To wash both clean and fair;
And rich embroidered furnitures
Of child-bed linen rare; —
Oh maidens of London so fair!
Thus lived these two sisters here.
As you have heard it told.
Till time had chang'd their beauteous cheeks,
And made them wrinkled old;
Then of their father news was brought
How he was wrapt in mould; —
Oh maidens of London so fair!
102 SONGS OF THE
For the King of England soon
Tlie Duke of Normandy,
Returned from Jerusalem
With fame and victory;
And brought their father's heart in lead
Here buried for to be; —
Oh maidens of London so fair!
This heart that spilt its dearest blood
For Jesus Christ in heaven,
Being thus unto his daughters twain
Li kindness brought and given.
Was mourned for three hundred days,
From morning until even;
Oh maidens of London so lair!
And then with lamentations,
Sweet maidens, being weary.
Their aged father's noble heart
Most solemnly did bui-y;
And gave the place their father's name.
As says our English story:
Oh maidens of London so fair!
Old Sir John Fines he had the name,
Being buried in that place,
Now, since then, called Finsbury,
To his renown and grace;
Which time to come shall not outwear,
Nor yet the same deface:
Oh maidens of London so fair!
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES. 1 Oo
And likewise when those maidens died,
They gave those pleasant fields
Unto our London citizens,
Wliich they most bravely build.
And now are made most pleasant walks.
That great contentment yield
To maidens of London so fair!
Where lovingly both man and wife
May take the evening air,
And London dames to dry their cloaths
May hither still repair;
For that intent most freely given.
By these two damsels fair.
Unto the maidens of London for ever!
A NEW SONG, ON THE INSTALMENT OF SIR
JOHN MOOR LORD MAYOR OF LONDON.
To the Tune of " St. George for England."
From a " Collection of One Hundred and Eighty Loyal Songs, all
wTitten since 1678, and intermixed Avith several new Love Songs.
The Fourth Edition, with many Additions. London, printed
and to be sold by Richard Butt, in Princess Street, in Covent
Garden. 1694." These loyal songs appear, from the initials
N. T. to the preface, to have been collected by Nathaniel Thomp-
son, who says that the malice of the opposite party " swelled so
high against him, that he was imprisoned six times ; so that for
above six years he was never fi'ee from trouble, having seldom
less than three or four indictments at a session against him ; at
other times, informations in the Crown Office, -which villainous
contrivances of their agents cost him at least £500 in money,
besides the loss of his trade and reputation. The principal
104 SONGS OF THE
crimes alleged against him were — ' Let Oliver now be forgotten,'
a song ; ' A Hue and Cry after Titus Gates when turned from
Whitehall ;' ' The Character of an ignoramus Doctor ;' ' A Dia-
logue between the Devil and the Doctor ;' and ' The Prisoners'
Lamentation for the Loss of Sheriff Bethel.' "
Towards the end of the reign of King Charles IL the more than
suspected popery of the king, and the avowed popery of the heir to
the throne, were the occasion of violent contests for all the municipal
offices for the city of London. Sir Patience Ward, the late lord
mayor, was a violent enemy of the court ; and at the expiration
of his mayoralty, great efforts were made by the friends of the
king and the Duke of York, to secure sheriffs as fully attached
to their side as the next in rotation to the chair (Sir John Moor)
was known to be. The lord mayor, in accordance with an
ancient custom, drank to ^Mr. Dudley North, at the Bridge House
feast, by which this person was nominated as one of the sheriffs.
Another gentleman in the court interest, named Box, was also
nominated ; and two, named Papilion and Dubois, on the popular
side, being proposed, a hot contest for the office took place, which
ended, after many squabbles, in the election of the latter,— the
crowd following them, great numbers shouting " God bless the
protestant sheriffs — God bless Papilion and Dubois." Some dis-
turbance having taken place at the polling-booth. Sir John Moor
complained to the king and council of being jostled and insulted.
In consequence, the lord mayor, aldermen, and sheriffs, were
ordered to attend the Privy Council on the Monday following,
and the lord mayor having made his complaint, the late sheriffs,
Pilkington and Shute, and Mr. Alderman Cornish, were com-
mitted prisoners to the Tower, and the attorney-general was
ordered to prosecute with the utmost rigour of the law all persons
implicated in the late distui'bances. Several persons were
arrested, whose trial came on shortly afterwards, before the
Lord Chief Justice Jeffreys, in the King's Bench, at Guildhall.
The following were found guilty, and fined in the undermen-
tioned sums : — Alderman Cornish, the late sheriffs, and the Lord
Gra}', were fined 1,000 marks each ; four other influential citi-
zens, named Pilkington, Player, Swinock, and Goodenough, .500
marks each ; one, named Deagle, 400 marks ; two, named Jenkes
and Freeman, 300 marks each ; one, named Jekyll, 200 marks ;
and two, named Keys and Wickham, 100 marks each.
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES. 105
You London lads rejoyce,
And cast away your care,
Since with one heart and voice
Sir John is chosen Mayor;
The famous Sir John Moor,
Lord Mayor of London town,
To your eternal praise
Shall stand a subject of renown
Anaongst your famous worthies,
Wlio have been most esteem'd;
For Sir John, Sir John,
Your honour hath redeem'd.
Sir John he's for the king's right,
Which rebels would destroy,
Vive, Vive, Vive le Roy.
When with a Hide-bound mayor
The town was in distraction,
Sir John clapt in the chair.
And cur'd the hall of faction;
He to the people shew'd
Their duty and allegiance,
How to the sacred king and laws
They pay their due obedience.
Sir George unto the people
A loyal speech did give;
But Sir John, Sir John,
Your honour did retrieve.
Sir John is for allegiance,
Which rebels would destroy.
Vive, Vive, Vive le Roy.
106 SONGS OF THE
When thou wast last, O London,
In faction and sedition;
By Wliigs and zealots are midone,
While they were in commission;
"Wlien treason, Hke Old Noll's brigade,
Did gallop thi'ough the town,
And loyalty (a tyr'd jade)
Had cast her rider down;
The famous Sir George Jeffiys
Your charter did maintain;
But Sir John, Sir John,
Restor'd your fame again.
Sir John, he is for monarchy,
Which rebels would destroy.
Vive, Vive, Vive le Roy.
When the mayor with sheriffs mounted,
And jealousies contriv'd,
And all the town run after.
As if the devil di-iv'd;
Then famous Sir John Moor
Thy loyalty restor'd.
And noble Sir George Jeffrys
AATio did the acts record;
Sir George of all the heroes
Deserves the foremost place;
But Sir John, Sir John,
Hath got the sword and mace;
^ Sir John, he is for justice,
Which rebels would destroy.
Vive, Vive, A'ive le Roy.
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES. 107
Sir Patience wou'd have the court
Submit unto the city,
Wliite-Hall stooi) unto the Change,
And is not that a pity?
Sheriff Bethel (save allegiance)
Thinks nothing a transgression:
Sir Tom rails at the lawful prince,
Sir Bob at the succession;
Wliile still the brave Sir George
Does then- fury intei^jose.
But Sir John, Sir John,
Maintains the royal cause.
Sir John is for His Highness
Whom rebels would destroy.
Vive, Vive, Vive le Roy.
Sir Patience is for a parliament,
Sheriff Bethel a petition,
Instead of an address
Cramm'd brim full of sedition.
Sir Tom he is for liberty
Against prerogative;
Sir Bob is for the subject's right,
But will not justice give;
And brave Sir George does all
Their famous deeds record:
But Sir John, Sir John,
Your loyalty restor'd.
Sir John, he's for the int'rest
Which rebels would destroy.
Vive, Vive, Vive le Roy.
108 SONGS OF THE
Sir Patience he calls for justice,
And then the wretch will sham us;
Sheriff Bethel he packs a jury
Well vers'cl in ignoramus:
Sir Tom would hang the Tory,
And let the Whig go free;
Sir Bob wou'd have a commonwealth,
And cry down monarchy.
While still the brave Sir George
Does all their deeds record;
But Sir John, Sir John,
Your loyalty restor'd;
Sir John he is for justice,
WMch rebels would destroy.
Vive, Vive, Vive le Roy.
And may such loyal mayors,
As honest sheriffs find;
Such sheriffs find a jury
Will to the king be kind;
And may the king live long
To rule such people here;
And may ye such a Lord Mayor find
And Sheriffs eveiy year:
That tray tors may receive
The justice of the laws.
While Sir John, Sir John,
Maintains the royal cause;
Sir John is for the king still,
Whom rebels would destroy.
Vive, Vive, Vive le Roy.
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES. 1 01)
LOYALTY TRIUMPHANT.
ON THE CONFIRMATION OF MR. NORTH AND MR. RICH.
Tune, — " Joy to the bridegroom."
From the same collection as the preceding, and relating to the
same circumstances. Mr. North and Mr. Box, the defeated can-
didates at the Common Hall, were returned by the lord mayor
to the Court of Aldermen, as the duly elected sheriffs, upon
pretence of the illegality of the former proceedings, already
alluded to. The citizens petitioned the Court of Aldermen to
swear in Papilion and Dubois, the protestant sheriffs, as they
were called, but the aldermen refused. Mr. Box, however
fearing that if he served the office riots might ensue, decKned,
and was fined the usual sum. The court party thereupon, aided
by the influence of the lord mayor, returned Mr. Peter Rich,
the person alluded to in the ballad, and he and Mr. North were
sworn accordingly. In Entick's " History and Survey of Lon-
don," vol. ii. page 316, are the following remarks relative to
these memorable proceedings : — " All this strife about sheriffs,
was not in favour of any particular men ; the court had deep
views. By securing sheriffs of London in their interest, they
secured juries to acquit or condemn whom they pleased, — to
favour or ruin. Under which influence we find the juries that
found Lord Russell (Lord William Russell) guilty of treason ;
that fined Alderman Pilkington £100,000, for saying 'that the
Duke of York had fired the city, and was now come to cut their
throats,' upon the information of Sir William Hooker and Sir
Henry Tulse, Aldermen; and brought in Sir Patience Ward
guilty of perjury, because he, upon the trial of Alderman Pil-
kington, swore he did not hear him say the words above recited,
though he was present at the time Hooker and Tulse swore that
he said them."
Fill up the bowl, and set it round,
The day is won, the Sheriff's crown'd,
The rabble flies, the tumults yield ;
And loyalty maintains the field:
110 SONGS OF THE
Saint George for England, then amain
To royal James the ocean drain.
With justice may it ever flow,
And in an endless cii'cle go;
The brim with conqu'ring bays be crown'd.
And faction in the dregs be di'own'd:
Then to the Queen and royal James
Sacrifice your flowing Thames.
Thanks to Sir John, oui- good Lord Mayor,
'Gainst Sheriffs' tricks he kept the Chair;
The Court and City's rights maintains,
While head-strong faction broke the reins;
Then to the famous Sir John Moor;
May after-age that name adore.
What zeal (ye whigs) to the old cause.
Thus makes you act against the laws;
That none for Sheriff must contend.
But your old ignoramus friend ?
But now, your hopes are all destroy'd,
And your two champions laid aside.
Is this your love to Church and State,
That no good man must serve of late.
While you can find one factious rogue
To sway the poll, and get the vogue;
By unjust means your rights you claim,
And lawless force maintain the same.
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES, 111
But brave Sir John, while th' storms inci'case,
His wisdom made the tumults cease;
In spight of all illegal poU,
The routs and ryotts did control;
Whence he shall gain a lasting name,
And after-age record his fame.
Amongst the men of cliiefest worth,
The vote is given for loyal North:
In spight of PUkington and Sh
PapiUion, and the rabble rout.
Then to brave North a double dose,
Who the strong factions did oppose.
Now Box withdraw, Dubois contends,
And noble Rich the stage ascends;
By legal ('gainst illegal) vote.
The loyal Tribune they promote;
Then, to brave Rich a help of hand,
Who the loud tumults did withstand.
For ropes and gibbets the next year,
The whigs (we hope) need not despair;
If Rich find timber, (give them scope)
Brave North will never grudge them rope:
Then to conclude, we'U crown the bowl.
With a health to the king and each loyal soul.
112 SONGS OF THE
LONDON'S JOY AND TRIUMPH, ON THE INSTAL-
MENT OF SIR WILLIAM PRITCHARD LORD
MAYOR OF LONDON FOR THE
ENSUING YEAR.
To thu Tune of " Tangier March."
Froji the same Collection as the preceding. Sir William Prit-
chard succeeded Sir John Moor in the Mayoralty, and was of
the same political opinions as his predecessor. Many of the
names of the persons mentioned in the following, will be found
in our note to the foregoing ballad, on the installation of Sir
John Moor and the confirmation of Mr. North and Mr. Rich.
Let the Wliigs revile, the Tories smile,
That their business is compleated;
Let all rejoyce with heart and voice
That the AVliig 's at last defeated.
The Whigs for loyalty so fam'd,
With all their hopes are undone;
Since now brave Pritchard is proclaim'd
The loyal Mayor of London.
Y"ou Polish brace whose brazen face
To the chair wou'd be aspiring,
See the rabble crowd who bawl'd so loud
Are bawk'd beyond admiring;
Learn in time to mitigate
Your bold tumultuous furies;
Ere you shall find you trust too late
To ignoramus juries.
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES, 1 1 3
Let player Tom receive the doom
So long due for his cheating,
Who did purloin the city coin,
To keep up holy meeting;
To rob the orphan, and the poor,
His great discharge of trust is.
And run upon the widows' score,
To do the city justice.
Let Ward repent, and Jenks relent.
Their practice so malicious;
Let Hubbard rue, with all the crew,
That they were so officious;
Such Jews as these, who did deny
Their Saviour for a tester,
No doubt again would crucify
Their sovereign lord and master.
For North and Rich, and ev'ry such,
They set up a Papillion;
'Gainst Pritchard bold, with Cornish Gold,
With I'yot and rebellion.
To love the king can you pretend,
AVlio Royalists deny all?
And with such vigour dare contend
Against the man that's loyal.
For shame, in time repent your crime,
Your ryot and commotion;
I
114 SONGS OF THE
And to the Mayor, who kept the chair,
Pay all your just devotion.
Sucli was their loyalty of late
To give the king no money;
But freely throAv away their plate
To join with rebel Toney.
Thus you before did run on score
With royal Charles, your master;
Like di'unk or mad, spent all you had
To uphold a bold impostor.
Let not knaves again betray,
And rob you of your reason ;
Then leave your factious heads to pay
The forfeit of your treason.
With all your heat what did you get?
With all yom* did aun quarter;*
But to involve with each resolve
The more entangled Charter?
To James your just allegiance give,
Your properties then plead 'em;
Defending the prerogative
You best protect your freedom.
* The Editor is quite unable to explain this line. It is pro-
bably a misprint ; but he has in vain endeavoured to discover the
true reading.
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES. 115
LONDON'S LAMENTATION FOR THE LOSS OF
THEIR CHARTER.
To the Tune of " Pakington's Pound."
From the same Collection as the preceding. The constant disputes
between the court and the citizens relative to the appointment of
the sheriffs, led to the well-known determination on the part of the
government of Charles U, to annul the charters of the city. The
celebrated Quo Warranto was issued by the attorney-general,
and the corporation was cited into the Court of King's Bench,
to show cause wh}' they had so long usurped the pri\ilege of
choosing their own officers. The matter being argued. Lord
Chief .Justice Jones pronounced judgment against the city, on
the 12th of June, 1683. The court then took the government
of London into its own hands. Sir William Pritchard was con-
firmed in the office of lord mayor, during his Majesty's pleasure ;
eight aldermen in the popular interest were deprived of their
office, and eight others of the Yoi-k faction appointed to their
places. Besides this, the king dismissed the then recorder. Sir
George Treby, and conferred the dignity upon Thomas Jerner,
whom he also knighted for the occasion.
You freemen and master, and prentices mourn,
For now you are left with your Charter forlorn ;
Since London was London, I dare boldly say,
For your riots you never so dearly did pay:
In Westminster Hall
Your Dagon did fall.
That caus'd you to ryot and mutiny all;
Oh London ! Oh London ! thou'dst better had none.
Than thus with thy Charter to vie with the tlu-one.
Oh London ! Oh London ! how cou'dst thou pretend
Against thy Defender thy crimes to defend?
1 1 6 SONGS OF THE
Thy freedom and rights from kind princes did spring,
And yet in contempt thou withstandest thy king;
With bold brazen face,
They pleaded thy case.
In hopes to the Charter the king would give place :
Oh London! thou'dst better no Charter at all.
Than thus for rebellion thy Charter shou'd ftill.
Since Britains to London came over to dwell,
You had an old Charter to buy and to sell;
And whilst in allegiance each honest man lives,
Then you had a Charter for Lord Mayor and Shrieves ;
But when, with your pride,
You began to backslide.
And London by factions did run with the tide;
Then London, Oh London! 'tis time to withdraw,
Lest the flood of your factions the land over-flow.
When faction and fury of rebels prevail'd,
Wlien coblers were kings, and monarchs were jay I'd,
When masters in tumult their prentices led.
And the tail did begin to make war with the head;
When Thomas and Kate
Did bring in their plate,
T'uphold the old cause of the Rump of the state;
Then tell me. Oh London ! I prithee now tell,
Hadst thou ere a Charter to fight and rebel?
WHien zealous sham sheriifs the city oppose.
In spight of the Charter, the king, and the laws,
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES. 117
And make such a ryot and rout in the town,
That never before such a racket was known;
"VVlien ryoters dare
Arrest the Lord May'r,
And force the king's substitute out of the chair ;^
Oh London ! whose Charter is now on the lees,
Did your Charter e'er warrant such actions as these?
Alas for the brethren ! what now must they do,
For choosing Whig sheriffs and bm-gesses too?
The Charter with Patience is gone to the pot.
And the Doctor is lost in the depth of the plot:
St. Stephen his flayl
No more wiU prevail,
Nor Sir Robert's dagger, the Chaiter to bail;
Oh London! thou'dst better have laid in the fii-e,
Then thus thy old Charter should stick in the mire.
But since with your foUy, your faction and pride,
You sink with the Charter who strove with the tide.
Let all the lost rivers return to the main
From whence they descended; they'll spring out again;
Submit to the king
In every thing,
Then of a new Charter, new sonnets we'U sing;
As London (the phoenix of England) ne'er dies,
So out of the flames a new Charter will rise.
118 SONGS OF THE
A NEW SONG, IN PRAISE OF THE LOYAL COM-
PANY OF STATIONERS, WHO, FOR THEIR
SINGULAR LOYALTY, OBTAINED THE FIRST
CHARTER OF LONDON, 1684.
To the Tune of " Winchester Wedding."
From the same Collection as the foregoing. The Stationers'
Company, as related in the ballad, obtained a restoration of their
charter, in consequence of their dutiful submission to the court.
The persons alluded to in the ballad by the names of Dick, Jack,
George, William, &c. were probably apprentices, distinguished
in their day for their adherence to the popular side.
In London was such a quarter,
The like was never known.
About the forfeited Charter,
Betwixt the Court and the Town.
The masters were crowding before,
The prentices i' th' rear did fall,
There were a thousand and more
Attended to lead up the brawl :
Kit arm'd with a fork and a spade,
And Bob with a shovel and fork,
But Tender was for a surrender
And now it began to work.
Quoth Willj, what lose the Charter ?
I'll sooner lose my head :
Quoth Bob Hog, I'll die a martyr
Before that shall ever be said.
Quoth John, you may shut up your shopping,
Yoiu- Charter was all your shield,
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES. 119
For every seaman of Wappiug
May be freeman now of the Guield,
Quoth a butcher, the beggarly French
Will out of our mouths eat the bread ;
But the weaver he cock'd up his beaver,
And valiantly march'd at the head.
But Stationers- Hall so loyal
The Charter by which they meet,
The gift of his Ancestors Royal,
Did humbly lay at liis feet ;
Whose suit he so far befriendeth.
Their liberties know no bound.
Their Charter her \^Tiigs extendeth,
Thro' London, and full four miles round.
And now from the Bygot and Wliig,
(To distinguish the good men and true),
The table is purg'd, and rabble
With the members excluded withdrew.
With limping Dick the zealous.
Went doting Yea and Nay,
And squinting Jack so zealous
Lest loyalty got the day.
With these Jack Thumb was reckon'd,
And hungry Will of the Wood ;
And Frank the first and the second.
And George that will never be good.
And thus they did trip it along.
Whilst William led up the brawl.
120 SONGS OF THE
But John did storm above any
To be turn'd out of the Hall.
Jack gave his right hand to Harry,
Who almost his place had lost,
And swore if the day they carry.
The loyal should pay for the roast.
But Bob Hog who made a tryal.
And found how the jig would go,
Resolv'd to change sides and be loyal,
But all the Dissenters said " No:"
Thus whilst to the Charter or law
They woidd no obedience yield,
The glory was stiU, true Tory
Is master of the field.
Now to the stationers honour,
The Charter is on record ;
Great Charles the bountiful donor
Their franchises has restor'd ;
To whose everlasting glory
Thy honour will still redound ;
That they are the first in story,
Who London's Charter did found ;
Then to the brave founder a health,
Who first did oui- freedom create ;
A bumper to Charles, to the rumper
A halter, aiid Robin Hogs fate.
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES, 121
THE MUG-HOUSE.
From the same Collection as the preceding. This ballad, which
was written prior to the year 1694, shows that the " Mug" was
a common party cry at least twenty -four years before the cele-
brated Mug-house riots, which broke out in Salisbury Court,
Fleet Street, and led to the death of several persons. I have
seen it somewhere stated, though I am not able to refer to the
passage, that the " mugs" out of which the politicians of that
day drank their beer, were fashioned into the resemblance of
Lord Shaftesbury's face. It has since become a \ailgar phrase,
to say of a man with a disagreeable coimtenance, that " he has an
ugly mug."
If sorrow the tyrant invade thy breast,
Draw out the foitl fiend by the lug, the lug;
Let no thought of to-morrow disturb thy rest,
But dash out its brains with a mug, a mug.
If business unluckily go not well,
Let duU fools their ill fortune hug:
To show our allegiance we'll go to the Bell,
And di'own all our cares in a mug, a mug.
If thy wife be not one of the best, the best.
Admit not a respit to think, to think;
Or the weight of thy forehead weigh down thy brest,
Divert the dull demon with drink, with drink;
If thy mistress prove peevish, and wiU not gee,
Ne'er pine, ne'er pine, for the scornful pug;
But find out a prettier, and kinder than she;
And banisli despair with a mug, a mug.
122 SONGS OF THE
Let zealots o'er coffee new plots divine,
And lace with fresh treasons the pagan di*ug;
With loyal blood flowing in our veins, that shine
Like our faces, inspir'd with the mug, the mug;
Let sectai'ies dream of alarms, alarms.
And fools, still for new changes tug;
We fam'd for oui' loyalty, Avill stand to our arms;
And di'ink the king's health in a mug, a mug.
Then, then to the queen, let the next advance.
With all loyal lads of true English race ;
That scorn the stum'd notion of Spain and France;
Or to Burdeux or Bm-gundy to give place,
The flask and the bottle breed ach and gout,
"N^Tiilst we, we all the season lie snug ;
Nor Spaniai'd nor Florentine can vie with our stout,
And Monsieur submits to the mug, the mug.
THE COURAGIOUS ENGLISH BOYS OF SEVERAL
TRADES AND CALLING;
AS WEAVERS, SHOOMAKERS, DYERS, AND HATTERS, IN CITY
AND COUNTRY, WHOSE RESOLUTION IS TO MARCH INTO
FLANDERS AFTER KING WILLIAM, TO RELIEVE THAT COUN-
TRY FROM THE FRENCH CRUELTY, AND FROM THENCE
MARCH WITH HIM TO CONQUER FRANCE.
To the Tune of " Let Cpesar live long."
From a broadside in the British Museum. Licensed according to
Order. The song of " Let C?esar live long," with the tune, is printed
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES. 123
in " A Collection of One Hundred and Eighty Loyal Songs," &c.
12m(). 1694, 4th edition, from which we have already and largely
quoted ; also in earlier editions of the same work.
Brave boys we shall soon have an army of those
That will both the French and the Papists oppose,
What tho' they do now on the Protestants frown,
It is not those Romans that shall run us down;
For every tradesman his calling will leave,
And bright shining armour resolves to receive.
The Weavers they throw by their shuttle and loom.
Resolving to stand against treacherous Rome,
Whose insolent pride did their betters degrade,
And oftentimes proved the ruin of trade;
Therefore the brave Weavers will now play their part,
Vowing that MoUnsier they'll vex to the heart.
The valiant Shoomakers in hundreds come.
Resolving to follow the true martial drum,
With flourishing colours to enter the field,
Not fearing to make the proud enemy yield.
The bones of St. Hugh they do now bid adieu.
As having a far greater work now to do.
The Butchers, the Dyers, the Hatters also,
AVith undaunted courage these valiantly go,
Stout lads that are season'd to laborious work.
Well able to fight the proud French or the Turk,
In glittering arms they resolve to appear.
To make all our enemies tremble for fear.
124 SONGS OF THE
Not only in London, but every where
They do to the army in thousands repair,
The Cornwall and Devonshire boys are agreed
To make the proud ])apists in Flanders to bleed;
And like valiant souldiers they solemnly vow
To make the most insolent Catholicks bow.
The Dorset and Somerset boys too we find,
They are to a Protestant monarch inclin'd;
And at his command they will valiantly go
In order our enemies to overthi'ow.
They have not forgot their relations of late,
Who suffer'd under a great j)erson of state.
Through every county all over the west,
Their loyalty to their good king is exprest;
And under his banner they'll fight till they dye,
Or otherwise make our proud enemies flye;
Their cause being good, they are void of all fear,
Resolving to charge from the front to the rear.
'Tis very well known that they fear not the French,
Nor will they retire to give back an inch,
But up to the face of the enemy ride.
To curb and subdue their insolent pride:
A touch of true courage ere long they shall feel,
They'll cliase them vvith swords of true temper'd
steel.
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES. 125
Our army makes Lewis to tremble and quake,
He fearing that Mons we again will retake;
Which we are resolved tliis summer to do,
And a farther progi-ess we still will pursue;
With undaunted courage, brave boys, we'll advance,
In order to conquer the glory of France.
Renowned King William, of conduct and skill.
With brave sons of thunder will follow them still;
Wliile drums they are beating, and trumpets do sound,
And cannons like thunder are tearing the ground,
The glory and power of France we disdain.
King William in triumph and glory shall reign.
From Flanders to France, boys, we soon will repair.
And conquer that nation, oppose us who dare.
Their castles, and towers, and cities subdue.
And make the proud Lewis submit to us too;
Wliilst conquering William with lawrels is crown'd,
His fame and his name thro' the world shall go round.
Printed for J. Blare, at the " Looking-glass," on London Bridge.
126 SONGS OF THE
THE BLACKSMITH.
From " Pills to Purge Melancholy ; or, Wit and Mirth, an An-
tidote against IMelancholy, compounded of T\-itty and ingenious
Ballads, Songs, and Catches, and other pleasant and merry
Poems ; the Third Edition, enlarged. London, printed by A. G.
and J. P. and sold by Henry Playford, near the Temple Church,
1682."
Of all the trades that ever I see,
Ther's none to a Blacksmith compared may be,
AVith so many several tools works he,
Wliich nobody can deny.
The first that ever thunderbolt made
Was a Cyclops of the Blacksmith's trade.
As in a learned author is said.
Which nobody can deny.
Wlieu thundering like we strike about,
The fire like lightning flashes out.
Which suddenly with water we dout,
AVhich nobody can deny.
The fairest goddess in the skies.
To marry with Vulcan did advise.
And he was a Blacksmith grave and wise.
Which nobody can deny.
Vulcan he, to do her right,
Did build her a town by day and by night.
And gave it a name which was Hammersmith hight,
Wliich nobody can deny.
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES. 127
Vulcan further did acquaint her,
That a pretty estate he would appoint her,
And leave her Sea Coal Lane for a joynter,
Which nobody can deny.
And that no enemy might wrong her.
He built her a fort you'd wish no stronger,
Which was in the lane of Ironmonger,
Which nobody can deny.
Smithiield he did cleanse from dirt,
And sure there was great reason for't,
For there he meant she should keep her court,
Which nobody can deny.
But after in a good time and tide,
It was by the blacksmith rectified.
To the honour of Edmund Ironside,
Which nobody can deny.
Vulcan after made a train
Wherein the god of war was ta'en,
Which ever since hath been call'd Paul's Chain,
Which nobody can deny.
The common proverb, as it is read,
That a man must hit the nail on the head.
Without the Blacksmith cannot be said,
Which nobody can deny.
128 SONGS OF THE
Anotlier must not be fiargot,
And falls unto the Blacksmith's lot,
That a man must strike while the iron is hot,
Which nobody can deny.
Another comes in most proper and fit.
The Blacksmith's justice is seen in it,
Wlien you give a man roast meat, and beat him witli
the spit. Which nobody can deny.
Another comes in our Blacksmith's way.
When tilings ai^e safe, as old wives say.
We have them under lock and key,
Which nobody can deny.
Another that's in the Blacksmith's books,
And only to him for remedy looks.
Is when a man's quite off the hooks,
Wliich nobody can deny.
Another proverb to him doth belong,
And therefore let's do the Blacksmith no wrong.
When a man's held hard to it, buckle and thong.
Which nobody can deny.
Another proverb doth make me laugh.
Wherein the Blacksmith may challenge half,
AYlien a reason 's as plain as a jnke staff,
Which nobody can deny.
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES. 129
Tho' your lawyers travel both near and far,
And by long pleading a good cause may mar,
Yet your Blacksmith takes more pains at the bar.
Which nobody can deny.
Tho' your scrivener seeks to crush and to kill.
By his counterfeit deeds, and thereby doth ill.
Yet your blacksmith may forge wliat he will.
Which nobody can deny.
Tho' your bankrupt citizens lurk in their holes,
And laugh at their creditors and their catchpoles,
Yet your Blacksmith can fetch them over the coals.
Which nobody can deny.
Though jockey in stable be never so neat,
To look to his nag and prescribe him his meat,
Yet your Blacksmith knows better how to give him aheat,
Wliich nobody can deny.
If any tailor have the itch.
The Blacksmith's water as black as pitch
Will make his hands go thorough stitch.
Which nobody can deny.
There's never a slut, if filth o'ermatch her,
But owes to the Blacksmith for her leacher, [her.
For without a pair of tongs there's no man would touch
WTiich nobody can deny.
130 SONGS OF THE
Your roaring boys who every one quails,
Fights, domineers, swaggers, and rails.
Could never yet make the smith eat liis nails,
Which nobody can deny.
If a scholar be in doubt,
And cannot well bring his matter about.
The Blacksmith can iilways hammer it out,
^Vliicli nobody can deny.
Now if to know him you would desire.
You must not scorn but rank him higher.
For what he gets is out of the Jire,
^\1iich nobody can deny.
Now here's a good health to Blacksmiths all,
And let it go round, as round as a ball;
We'U drink it all off, though it costs us a ftiU,
^^'^lich nobody can deny.
THE BREWER.
From the same Collecrion as the preceding. The last stanzas
e%idently refer to Oliver Cromwell, whose father was a brewer,
at Huntingdon, and appear, fi'om the allusions to his son Richard,
to have been written shortly after the death of the great Pro-
tector, by some admirer of his principles and prowess.
There's many a clinching verse is made
In honour of the Blacksmith's trade.
But more of the Brewer may be said,
"Which nobody can deny.
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES. lol
I need not much of this repeat,
The Blacksmith cannot be complete,
Unless the Brewer do give him a heat,
Wliich nobody can deny.
When Smug unto the forge doth come.
Unless the Brewer doth liquor him home.
He'll never strike " my 2)ot and thy pot, Tom,"
Wliich nobody can deny.
Of all professions in the town.
The Brewer's trade hath gain'd renown, —
His liquor reacheth up to the crown,
Wliich nobody can deny.
Many new laws from him there did spring.
Of all the trades he still was their king;
For the Brewer had the world in a sling,
Which nobody can deny.
He scorneth all laws and marshal stops,
But whips an army as sound as tops,
And cuts off his foes as thick as Ao/w;
Wliich nobody can deny.
He dives for riches down to the bottom.
And cries, " My masters," when he has got 'em,
"Let every tub stand on its own bottom;"
"\^^lich nobody can deny.
K 2
13 SONGS OF THE
In warlike acts he scorns to stoop;
For when his army begins to droop,
He draws them up as round as a hoop,
AVliich nobody can deny.
The Jewish sot, that scorns to eat
The flesh of swine, and Brewers' beat, —
'Twas the sight of his hogshead made 'em retreat,
Which nobody can deny.
Poor Jockey and his basket hilt,
Was beaten, and much blood was spilt.
And their bodies, like barrels, did run a tilt,
WTiich nobody can deny.
Tho' Jemmy gave the first assault,
The Brewer at last made him to halt.
And gave them Avhat the cat left in the malt,
Which nobody can deny.
They cry'd that Antichi'ist came to settle
Religion in a cooler and a kettle;
For his nose and copper were both of one mettle,
Wliich nobody can deny.
Some Christian kings began to quake.
And said with the Brewer no quarrel we'll make,
We'U let him alone, as he brews, let him bake;
Wliich nobody can deny.
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES. 133
He had a strong and very stout heart,
And thought to be made an emperor for't,
But the dev^il put a spoke in his cart,
Which nobody can deny.
If any intended to do him disgrace,
His fury would take off his head in the place,
He always did carry his furnace in his face,
Which nobody can deny.
But yet, by the way, you must understand,
He kept his foes so under command.
That Pride coidd never get the upper hand,
Which nobody can deny.
He was a stout Brewer, of whom we may brag,
But now he is hmTied away with a hag, —
He brews in a bottle and bakes in a bag,
Which nobody can deny.
And now may all stout soldiers say.
Farewell the glory of the day.
For the Brewer himself is turned to clay.
Which nobody can deny.
Thus fell the brave brewer, the bold son of slaughter;
We need not to fear what shall follow after.
For he dealt all his time in fii'e and water,
Which nobody can deny.
134 SONGS OF THE
And if his successor had had but his might,
Then we had not been in a pitiful plight,
But he was found many grains too light.
Which nobody can deny.
Let's leave off singing, and drink off our bub,
We'll call up a reckoning, and every man club,
For I think I have told you a tale of a tub.
\\'liich nobody can deny.
THE GOOD FELLLOWS' FROLICK:
OR, KENT STREET CLUBB.
From Evans' Collection of Old Bjillads, Lond. 1810, vol. i. p. 162
Here is a crew of jovial blades,
That lov'd the nut-brown ale.
They in an alehouse chanc'd to meet,
And told a merry tale.
A bonny seaman was the first,
But newly come to town,
And swore that he his guts could bm*st,
With ale that was so brown.
See how the jolly carman he
Doth the strong liquor prize,
He so long in the alehouse sat.
That he drank out his eyes;
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES. 18.'
Aiid groping to get out of door,
Sot-like, he tumbled down,
And there he like a madman swore
He lov'd the ale so brown.
The nimble weaver he came in,
And swore he'd have a little.
To drink good ale it was no sin,
Though't made him pawn his shuttle.
Quoth he, I am a gentleman,
No lusty country clown,
But yet I love with all my heart
The ale that is so brown.
Then next the blacksmith he came in.
And said, " 'Twas mighty hot;"
He sitting down did thus begin:
" Fair maid, bring me a pot;
Let it be of the very best,
That none exceeds in town,
I tell you true, and do not jest,
I love the ale so brown."
The prick louse tailor he came in,
Whose tongue did run so nimble.
And said he would engage for drink
His bodkin and his thimble.
" For though Avitli long thin jaws I look,
I value not a crown,
So I can have my belly full
Of ale that is ?o brown."
136 SONGS OF THE
The lusty porter passing by
With basket on his back,
He said that he was grievous dry,
And needs would pawn his sack.
His angry wife he did not fear,
He valued not her frown,
So he had that he lov'd so dear,
I mean the ale so brown.
The next that came was one of them
Was of the gentle craft.
And when that he was wet within.
Most heartily he laugh'd.
Crispin was ne'er so boon as he,
Tho' some kin to a crown,
And there he sat most merrily,
With ale that was so brown.
But at the last a barber, he
A mind had for to taste.
He called for a pint of di'ink,
And said he was in haste.
The drink so pleased he tarried there
Till he had lost a crown,
'Twas all the money he could spare
For ale that is so brown.
A broom-man as he passed by
His morning draught did lack ;
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES. 1 37
Because that he no money had,
He pawn'd his shirt from 's back:
And said that he without a shirt
Would cry brooms up and down;
" But yet," quoth he, " I'll merry be
With ale that is so brown."
But when all these together met,
Oh what discourse was there; —
'Twould make one's hair to stand on end
To hear how they did swear!
One was a fool and puppy dog.
The other was a clown,
And there they sat and swill'd their guts
With ale that was so brown.
The landlady they did abuse,
And called her nasty whore;
Quoth she, " Do you your reckoning pay,
And get you out of door!"
Of them she could no money get.
Which caused her to frown;
But loath they were to leave behind
The ale that was so brown.
138 SONGS OF THE
THE MERRY HOASTESS :
OR,
A pretty new ditty, compos'd by an hoastess that lives in the city
To wrong such an hoastess it were a great pity.
By reason she caused this pretty new ditty.
From Evans' Collection of Old Ballads, vol. i. page 150.
Come all that love good company,
And hearken to my ditty,
'Tis of a lovely hostess fine,
That lives in London city,
AVliich sells good ale, nappy and stale,
And always thus sings she,
My ale was tunn'd when I was young.
And a little above my knee.
Her ale is lively, strong, and stout,
If you please but to taste.
It is well brew'd you need not fear.
But I pray you make no waste.
It is lovely brown, the best in town.
And always thus sings she,
My ale was tunn'd when I was young,
And a little above my knee.
The gayest lady with her fan,
Doth love such nappy ale.
Both city maids and country girls
That carry the milking pail.
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES. 189
Will take a touch, and not think much,
To sing so merrily,
My ale was tunn'd when I was young.
And a little above my knee.
Both lord and squire have a desire
Unto it night and day,
For a quart or two, be it old or new.
And for it then will pay.
With pipe in hand, they may her command,
To sing right merrily.
My ale was tunn'd when I was young.
And a little above my knee.
You're welcome all, brave gentlemen,
If you please to come in,
To take a cup I do intend.
And a health for to begin,
To all the merry jovial blades
That wiU sing for company,
My ale was tunn'd when I was young.
And a little above my knee.
Here's a health to all brave Englishmen,
That love a cup of ale,
Let every man fill up his can,
And see that none do fail;
'Tis very good to nourish the blood,
And make you sing with me.
My ale was tunn'd when I was young,
And a little above my knee.
140 SONGS OF THE
THE SECOND PART.
The bonny Scot will lay a plot
To get a handsome touch
Of this my ale so good and stale,
So will the cunning Dutch,
They will take a part with all their heart.
To sing this tune with me,
My ale was tunn'd when I was young,
And a little above my knee.
It will make the Irish cry " ahone!"
K they but take their fill,
And put them all quite out of tune.
Let them use their chiefest skill.
So strong and stout it will hold out,
In any company, —
For my ale was tunn'd when I was young,
And a little above my knee.
The Welshman on St. David's day.
Will cry, " Cot's plutter a nail!"
Hur will hur ferry quite away
From off that nappy ale;
It makes hur foes with hur red nose,
Hur seldom can agree, —
But my ale was tunn'd when I was young.
And a little above my knee.
The Spaniard f^tout will have a bout.
For he hath store of "old.
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES. 141
Till at the last he is laid fast, —
My ale doth him so hold;
His poignard strong is laid along,
Yet he is good company, —
For my ale was tunn'd when I was young.
And a little above my knee.
There's never a tradesman in England
That can my ale deny, —
The weaver, tailor, and glover,
Delight it for to buy;
Small money they do take away.
If that they drink with me, —
For my ale was tunn'd when I was young,
And a little above my knee.
There's Smug, the honest blacksmith.
He seldom can pass by.
Because a spark lies in his tliroat,
Which makes him very dry;
But my old ale tells him a tale.
So finely we agree, —
For my ale was tunn'd when I was young,
And a little above my knee.
The brewer, baker, and butcher,
As well as all the rest,
Both night and day wiU watch where they
May find ale of the best;
..q A
142 SONGS OF THE
And the gentle craft will come full oft,
To drink a cup with nie, —
For my ale was tunu'd when I was young,
And a little above my knee.
So, to conclude, good fellows all,
I bid you all adieu;
If that you love a cup of ale,
Take rather old than new:
For if you come where I do dwell.
And chance to drink with me, —
My ale was tunn'd when I was young,
And a little above my knee.
THE MERCHANT TAILORS' SONG.
To the Time of " Treason's Joy."
From the " Crown Garland of Golden Roses," where it is enti-
tled " A delightful Song of the four famous Feasts of England ;
one of them ordained by King Henry the Seventh to the Honour
of Merchant Taylors, shewing how seven Kings ha^ ing been free
of that Company, and how lastly it was graced by the renowned
Henry of Great Britain." The ballad is also inserted in E\ans"
Collection, vol. iii. page 44 to :50 ; and in the " History of the
Twelve Companies of London, by William Herbert. London,
1834."
[^ (o I ^ England is a kingdom
Of all the world atlmu-ed.
More stateliness in pleasures
Can no way be desired;
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES. 143
The court is full of bravery,
The city stor'd with wealth,
The law preservetli unity.
The country keepeth health.
Yet no like pomp and glory
Our chi-onicles record.
As four great feasts of England
Do orderly afford;
All others be but dinners called,
Or banquets of good sort,
And none but four be named feasts,
AVhich here I will report.
St. George our English champion,
In most delightful sort.
Is celebrated year by year
In England's royal court;
The king with all his noble train,
In good and rich array,
StiU glorifies the festival
Of great St. George's day.
The honoured Mayor of London
The second feast ordains.
By which the worthy citizen
Much commendation gains;
For lords and judges of the land,
And knights of good request.
To Guildliall come to countenance
Lord Mayor of London's feast.
144 SONGS OF THE
Also the sergeants of the law
Another feast aifords,
With gi'ace and honour glorified
By England's noble lords;
And this we call the sergeant's feast,
A third in name and i^lace,
But yet there is a fourth likewise
Deserves a gallant grace.
The Merchant Tailor's company,
The fellowship of fame,
To London's lasting dignity
Lives honour'd with the same;
A gift King Henry the Seventh gave.
Kept once in three years still,
Where gold and gowns be to poor men
Given by King Henry's will.
Full many a good fat buck he sent.
The fairest and the best
The king's large forests can afford.
To grace this Avorthy feast;
A feast that makes the number just
And last account of four,
Therefore let England thus record
Of feasts there be no more.
Then let all London companies,
So highly in renown.
Give Merchant Tailor's name and fame
To wear the laurel crown;
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES. 145
For seven of England's royal kings
Thereof have all been free,
And with their loves and favours graced
This worthy company.
King Richai'd once, the second name.
Unhappy in his fall,
Of all his race of royal kings
Was freeman first of all ;
Bullingbrook, fourth Henry, next.
By order him succeeds,
To gloryfie his brotherhood
By many princely deeds.
Fift Henry, which so valiantly
Deserved fame in France,
Became free of this company.
Fair London to advance;
Sixt Henry, the next in reign,
Though luckless in his dayes,
Of Merchant Tailors freeman was,
To their eternal praise.
Fourth Edwai'd, that most worthy king,
Beloved of great and small.
Also performed a freeman's love
In this renowned hall;
Third Richard, which by cruelty.
Brought England many woes,
Unto this worthy company
No little favour shews. l
l-i(j SONGS OF THE
But richest favours yet at last
Proceeded from a kinjr
Whose kingdom round about the world
In princes' ears do ring;
King Henry, whom we call the Seventh,
Made them the greatest grace,
Because in Merchant Tailor's Hall
His picture now stands plac'd.
Their charter was his princely gift,
Maintained to this day,
He added Merchant to the name
Of Tailors, as some say.
So Merchant Tailors they be called,
His royal love was so,
No London company the like
Estate of kings can shew.
From time to time we thus behold
The Merchant Tailors' glory.
Of whose renown the Muses' pen
May make a lasting story.
This love of kings begot such love
Of our now royal prince.
For greater love than this to them
Was ne'er before nor since.
It pleased so his princely mind,
Li meek kind courtesie,
To be a friendly freeman made
Of this brave company.
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES. 147
O Loudon then in heart rejoyce,
And Merchant Tailors sing
Forth praises of this gentle prince,
The son of our good king.
To tell the welcome to the world
Here then in London had,
Might fill us full of pleasant joyes.
And make our hearts full glad.
His triumphs were performed and done,
Long lasting will remain,
And chronicles report aright
Tlie order of it plain.
THE MERCER'S COMPANY'S SONG.
This ballad, which is of the year 1701, is transcribed from Her-
bert's " Historj' of the Twelve Companies of London."
Advance the virgin, — lead the van, —
Of all that are in London free,
The Mercer is the foremost man
That founded a society.
Cho. Of all the trades that London grace,
We are the first in time and place.
^Vlien nature in perfection was,
And virgin beauty in her prime,
l2
148 SONGS OF THE
The Mercer gave the nymph a gloss,
And made e'en beauty more sublime.
Cho. In this above our brethren blest,
The Virgin's since our coat and crest.
Let others boast of lions bold.
The camel, leopard, and the bear, —
That tygers fierce their arms uphold.
And rav'nous wolves their scutcheons rear,
Cho. To us our virgin innocence
Is both supporter and defence.
Then let a loyal peal go round,
There's none dare claim priority;
To Cesar's health each glass be crown'd,
Whose predecessors made us free.
Cho. Of all the trades that London grace,
Oui''s first in dignity and place.
FREEMEN'S SONG, OF FOUR VOICES.
From "Deuteromelia: or, the Second Part of pleasant Rounde-
layes ; K. H. Mirth, or Freemen's Songs, and such delightful
Catches. London, printed for Thomas Adams, dwelling in Paul's
Church-yard, at the sign of the ' Wliite Lion,' 1609." The terms
A'. H. Mirth and Freemen s Songs have given rise to considerable
discussion. It is supposed that the former stands for King Henry's
Mirth ; that is, songs or catches of a merry nature, which were
favourites with that prince. It may be so ; but there is no au-
thority for it beyond mere conjecture. Ritson has some absurd
notion of freemen being a mistake for three-men, because Shake-
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES. 149
speare speaks of " Three-men song-men" that is, men who could
sing songs of three parts : but if Ritson ever saw the book in
question, he must there have found freemen's songs to four voices,
which sets the mr.tter at rest. This ballad is also to be found in
the "Pills to Purge Melancholy," third edition, vol. i. p. 49.
London, 1707.
Who liveth so merry in all this land
As cloth the poor widdow that selleth the sand?
And ever shee singeth as I can guesse,
Will you buy any sand, any sand, mistress?
The broom-man maketh his living most sweet,
With carrying of broomes from street to street;
"VVlio woidd desire a pleasanter thing,
Then all the day long to doe nothing but sing.
The chimney-sweeper aU the long day,
He singeth and sweepeth the soote away;
Yet when he comes home altho' he be weary,
With his sweet wife he maketh full merry.
The cobbler he sits cobbling tiU noone,
And cobbleth his shooes till they be done;
Yet doth he not feare, and so doth say.
For he knows his worke wiU soone decay.
The marchant man doth saile on the seas,
And lye on the ship -board with little ease;
Always in doubt the rocke is neare.
How can he be merry and make good cheare?
C-. \. <''
150 SONGS OF THE
The husband-man all day goeth to plow,
And when he comes home he serveth his sow;
He moyleth and toyleth all the long yeare,
How can he be merry, and make good cheare?
The servingman waiteth fro' street to street,
With blowing his nails and beating his feet:
And serveth for forty shillings a yeare,
That 'tis impossible to make good cheare.
Wlio liveth so merry and maketh such sport
As those that be of the poorest sort?
The poorest sort wheresoever they be.
They gather together by one, two, and three.
And every man will spend his penny.
What makes such a shot among a great many?
THE SCRTUENER'S SERUANT'S SONG
OF HOLBORNE.
This and the five following, — "The Belman's Song," "The
Smith's Man," " The Cryer's Song of Cheapside," " The Pain-
ter's Song of London," and " The City Rounds,"- — ^are transcribed
from " Meligmata ; Musical Phantasies, fitting the Court, City,
and Country Manners, to three, four, and five Voices, —
To all delightful, except to the spiteful ;
To none offensive, except to the pensive.
London, printed by William Stansby, for Thos. Adams, 1611."
From the initials, T. R., B.M., at the end of the dedicafion, there
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES. 151
can be little doubt that the work was compiled by Thomas Ra-
venscroft, Bachelor of Music. He was also the editor of " Dcii-
teromelia," and tv,o other musical works. In the year 1822, the
Duke of Marlborough presented to the Members of the Rox-
burgh Club " A Selection from the Works of Thomas Ravens-
ci'oft," but they were very incorrectly given.
My master is so wise, so wise,
That he'es proceeded wittall.
My mistris is a foole, a foole.
And yet 'tis the most get-all.
Let the vsiirer cram him
Interest that excell,
Their pit's enough to damme him
Before he goes to hell.
In Holborne some: in Fleet Streete some,
Where care he come.
A BELMAN'S SONG.
Maides to bed, and cover coale,
Let the mouse out of her hole.
Crickets in the chimney sing,
Wliilst the httle bell doth ring;
If fast asleep, who can tell
When the clapper hits the bell?
152 SONGS OF THE
THE SMITH'S MAN.
Who will be the smith's man?
He that any good can,
To take his cups, or drink his bowls,
Or whisk his beesom o'er the coals.
Or heave the bellows, the first to blow.
And while the iron is hot, strike ho!
Fouffh — fouffh — to fouorh !
TflE CRYER'S SONG OF CHEAPSIDE
Oyes ! oyes ! oyes ! if any one at fifteene
Hath taken vp and found
A pretie pretie thing ••
That hath her maiden head vnbound,
If any gallant haue with cater-tray,
Play'd the wise-acre, and made all away,
Let him come to the cryer.
There will be laide a thousand pound to tenne.
That none of these will e'er be had againe.
Oyes ! oyes ! if note or line, or word be here let fall,
That giues to any man the taste of gall,
Let him come to the cryer,
I will lay my lips to a fat slu'oving hen
That none of these will 'er be had againe.
For this I say and likewise I protest
No arrowes here are shot at any brest;
But all are welcome to my musicke feastc.
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES. 1 58
THE PAINTER'S SONG OF LONDON.
Where are you, faire maides,
That have need of our trades?
I'll sell you a rare confection:
WiU yee have your faces spread
Either with white or red,
Will yee buy any fair comp lection?
My di'ugges are no dregges,
For I have whites of egges,
Made in a rare confection.
Red leather and surflet water.
Scarlet colour or staues-aker,
WiU yee buy any fair complection?
CITIE ROUNDS.
Broomes for old shooes ! pouchrings,bootes and buskings !
Will yee buy any new broome?
New oysters! new oysters! new new cockels!
Cockles nye ! fresh herrings ! Will yee buy any straw ?
Hay yee any kitchen stuife, maides?
Pippins fine, cherrie ripe, ripe, ripe!
Cherrie ripe! &c.
154 SONGS OF THE
Hay any wood to cleaue?
Give eare to the eloeke!
Beware your loeke !
Your fire and yom* light !
And God giue you good night!
One o' clocke!
NEW BROOMES— GREEN BROOM ES.
From " A right excellent and famous comedy, called The Three
Ladies of London, wi-itten by R. W. printed in 1584." One of
the personages of the comedy is Conscience, who is supposed to
enter with brooms at her back, singing the following.
New broomes, green broomes, will you buy any?
Come, maydens, come quickly, let me take a peny.
My broomes are not steeped,
but very weU bound:
My broomes be not crooked,
but smooth cut and round.
I wish it should please you
to buy of my broome:
Then would it well ease me,
if market were done.
Have you any olde bootes,
or any olde shoone?
Powch-rings or buskijis
to cope Tiith new broome?
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES. 155
If so you have, maydens,
I pray you bring hither:
That you and I, friendly,
may bargen together.
New broomes, green broomes, will you buy any?
Come, maydens, come quickly, let me take a peny.
THE TINKER.
From " Catch that Catch can ; or, the Musical Companion,"
1667, 4to. Both this and the following appear in the "New
Academy of Complements, erected for Ladies, Gentlewomen,
Courtiers, Gentlemen, Scholars, Souldiers, Citizens, Countrymen,
and all Persons of what DegTee soever, of both Sexes, compiled
by L. B. Sir C. S. Sir W. D. and others, the most refined Wits
of the Age. London, printed by J. D. for John Churchill, at
the 'Black Swan,' in Paternoster Row. 1694." The initials
Sir C. S. and Sir W. D. are probably meant for Sir Charles
Sedley and Sir William Davenant.
Have you any work for a tinker, mistriss?
Old brass, old pots, or kettles?
I'le mend them all with a tink, terry tiuk,
And never hurt your mettles.
First let me have but a touch of your ale,
'Twill steel me 'gainst cold weather,
Or tinkers frees,
Or vintners lees,
Or tobacco, chuse you whether.
]5<) SONGS OF THE
But of your ale,
Your nappy ale,
1 would I had a ferkin,
For I am old,
And very cold,
And never weai- a jerkin.
HE THAT A TINKER WOULD BE.
From " Wit and Mirth, or Pills to Purge Melancholy," vol. i.
London, 1707.
He that a Tinker, a Tinker would be,
Let him leave other loves
And come listen to me;
Though he travels all the day,
He comes home late at night,
And dallies with his doxey
And dreams of delight.
His pot and his toast in the morning he takes,
And aU the day long good music he makes;
And wanders the world to wakes and to fairs,
And casts his cap at the court and her cares.
"VATien to the town the tinker doth come.
Oh how the wanton wenches run!
Some bring liim basons, some bring him bowls;
All wenches pray him to stop up their holes.
LONDON PRENTICES AND TRADES. 157
Tink! goes the hammer,
The skillet and the skummer!
Come bi'ing me the copper kettle!
For the Tinker, the merrj Tinker,
He is the man of mettle.
HOT CODLINS.
From "Catch that Catch Can; or, the Musical Companion," 1667
4to.
Have jou observ'd the wench in the street, —
She's scarce any hose, or shoes to her feet,
Yet she is very merry.
And when she cries,
She sings " I ha' hot codlins ;"
Or have you ever seen or heard
The mortal with a lion taiony heard ? —
He lives as merrily as any heart can wish,
And still he cries " buy a bris/t."
Since these are merry why should we take care?
Musicians, like camelions, must live by the ayr.
Then let's be blitli and bonny,
And no good meeting balk;
For when we have no mony,
We shall find chalk.
RII-nAiins, IMMNTl-.It, ST. MARTIN S I.WK.
THE
HISTORICAL SONGS
OF IRELAND :
ILLUSTRATIVE OF
THE REVOLUTIONARY STRUGGLE
HETWEF.N
JAMES II AND WILLIAM III.
WITH INTRODUCTIONS AND NOTES,
hT)
T. CROFTON CROKER.
LONDON :
PRINTED FOR THE PERCY SOCIETY,
BY C. RICHARDS, ST. MARTIN'S LANE.
COUNCIL
Cfte ^ercp ^onetp*
J. A. CAHUSAC, Esq. F.S.A.
WILLIAM CHAPPELL, Esq. F.S.A.
JOHN PAYNE COLLIER, Esq. F.S.A.
T. CROFTON CROKER, Esq. F.S.A. M.R.I.A.
REV. ALEXANDER DYCE.
RICHARD HALLIWELL, Esq. F.S.A.
JAMES ORCHARD HALLIWELL, Esq. F.R.S. Treasurer.
WILLIAM JERDAN, Esq. F.S.A.
SAMUEL LOVER, Esq.
CHARLES MACKAY, Esq.
E. F. RIMBAULT, Esq. Secretary
THOMAS WRIGHT, Esq. M.A. F.S.A.
ADVERTISEMENT.
There is an old adage, that "• the least said is the
soonest mended ;" to the profound wisdom of
which the Editor subscribes.
Nevertheless, in editing the following songs, he
has said a great deal more than is necessary, to
recal to the reader's mind the precise circum-
stances under which the songs, selected by him to
illustrate an important page in the history of
the British Isles, were Avritten. He has been
induced to pursue this course, and to deviate
from the path which prudence dictated he should
follow, by the strong light under which party
feelings may regard even at the present moment
some of the points touched upon in this Collection,
The endeavour honestly to perform his duty as
Editor, without reference to party objects, has
perhaps led him into the error of minute contem-
porary illustration ; which, if it should be so
considered after thus explaining his motive, he
trusts will be indulgently viewed by the members
of the Percy Society.
The Editor most gratefully acknowledges the
assistance he has received from many kind friends,
while passing this little publication through the
press.
Rosamon(Vs Bower, Fulhatn,
2(5th January, 1841.
CONTENTS.
LlLLIBUELEKO
Introduction - - - - 1
Ballad. Parti - ... 6
Ditto. Part II - - - - 9
Notes - - - - - 11
The Reading Skirmish —
Introduction - - - 14
Ballad - - - - - 15
Notes - - - - - 19
King James's Welcome to Ireland —
Introduction - - - - 22
Song - - - - - 29
Undaunted Londonderry —
Introduction - - - .30
Ballad - - - - - 46
Notes - - - - - 49
The Protestant Commander —
Introduction - - - - 51
Ballad - - - - - 53
The Boyne W.\ter —
Introduction - - - - 56
Ballad - - - - 60
Notes - - - - - 63
The Death of the Duke ov Schomberg —
Introduction - - - - 64
Ballad - - - - - 71
/
Tut Woman Waukiok —
Introduction - - - .74
Ballad - - - - - 76
Note - - - - - 79
The Conquest of Ikel.vxd —
Introduction - - - - 80
La Conquete d'Irlaude - - -82
Le Relour de Vaphnis - - - 80
Notes - - - - - 101
The Stout Insiskillin Man —
Introduction - - - - 109
Song - - - - - 115
The Tkeatv of Limerick —
Introduction - - - - 117
Epigram ..... 120
It was a' for our rightfu' King —
Introduction ..... 120
Song - . . . - 121
The Jacks put to their Trumps —
Introduction - - - - 123
Ballad - . - - - 13.3
HISTORICAL SONGS OF lEELAND.
LILLI BURLERO.
It is stated in the " Memoirs of Ireland, by the Author
of the Secret History of Europe,"* that soon after the
accession of James II, " the Irish lords animated their
vassals to insult them [the Protestants], giving out that
the Earl of Clarendon should not be long lord-lieutenant.
They hired wretched scribblers to make barbarous songs
in praise of Tyrconnel, whom they designed his suc-
cessor, and prophetically decreed him the honour of de-
stroying the English Church. These infamous ballads
were bawled about the streets, and served to inflame
their lewd mirth."
At this period, according to a letter which the Editor
has seen, and which existed among that important his-
torical collection, the Southwell MSS.,f " an Irish song
was much sung by the lower orders of the people
throughout the kingdom, in which there was a great
repetition of the words here, lere, burlere ; J and it was
* London, 1716, p. 45.
t Now dispersed. Sold by auction at Messrs. Christie's,
February 1 834, by order of the executors of Lord De Clifford.
X " Religion, religion, yoxir religion.^'
2 LILLI BURLERO.
soon after most effectively parodied against Tyrconnel
and the tyrannical proceedings towards the poor Pro-
testants in Ireland."
According to Bishop Percy, " Lilli. burlero, and
Bullen a lah, are said to have been words of distinction
used among the Irish Papists, in their massacre of the
Protestants in 1641." There can be no doubt that these
words are an English imitation of the sound of an
Irish phrase or sentence, but they are so disguised as
to admit only of a conjectural translation. Mr. David
Murphy, an ingenious Irish scholar, supposes the ori-
ginal words to have been equivalent to "A foreign
soldier, strike him down."
The first part of the song of Lilli burlero is preserved
by Bishop Percy, in his " Reliques of Ancient English
Poetry," where these remarks occur upon it : " The fol-
lowing rhymes, slight and insignificant as they may now
seem, had once a more powerful effect than either the
philippics of Demosthenes or Cicero ; and contributed
not a little towards the great revolution of 1688. Let
us hear a contemporary writer. ' A foolish ballad was
made at that time, treating the Papists, and chiefly the
Irish, in a very ridiculous manner, which had a burden
said to be Irish words, ' Lero, lero, lilliburlero,' that
made an impression on the [king's] array, that cannot
be imagined by those that saw it not. The whole army,
and at last the people, both in city and county, were
singing it perpetually ; and, perhaps, never had so slight
a thing so great an effect.* — Bishop Burnet's History of
his Own Times."
LILLI BURLERO. S
A note in Percy at the end of Lilli burlero, adds,
" The foregoing song is attributed to Lord Wharton, in
a small pamphlet, entitled, ' A true Relation of the
several Facts and Circumstances of the intended Riot
and Tumult on Queen Elizabeth's Birthday, &c. third
edition. London, 1712, price 2d., see page 5, viz. :' —
' A late viceroy [of Ireland] who has so often boasted
himself upon his talent for mischief, invention, lying,
and for making a certain Lilli burlero song, with which,
if you may believe himself, he sung a deluded prince
out of three kingdoms.' "
With regard to the authorship of Lilli burlero, Mr.
Markland has observed,* that, according to Lord
Dartmouth, " there was a particular expression in it,
which the King remembered he had made use of to the
Earl of Dorset, from whence it was concluded that he
was the author." " The ballad of Lilli burlero," re-,
marked Beauclerk to Dr. Johnson, " was once in the
mouths of all the people of this country, and is said to
have had a great effect in bringing about the revolution.
Yet I question," he continued, " whether any body can
repeat it now; which shews how improbable it is that
much poetry should be preserved by tradition." This,
however, is not a fair deduction ; for, a political squib,
and especially one in a barbarous jargon, cannot be
considered poetry; and, although in a moment of ex-
citement few things are more captivating to the fancy
* Boswell's Johnson. Note in Murray's 10 vol. ed. vol. v.
p. 291 .
B 2
4 LILLI BURLERO.
than the jingle of satirical rhj'mes which have a witty
reference to temporary circumstances, yet few things
sooner lose their popular relish.
A slight reference to the verses of this period, will
shew how popular the ballad of Lilli bui-lero must have
been.* -'
* In the Irish Huclibras, (London 1689, p. 151), we have —
'■ LilU-bo-lero-lero sing
Tyrconnel is no longer k ," &:c.
In an epistle to INIr. Diyden, (Poems on Affairs of State,
1716, vol. i. p. 143,)
" Dryden, thy wit has catterwaul'd too long,
Now lero lero is the only song."
The tenth verse of a ballad on the Inniskilling Regiment,
in the same volume (p. 261) runs thus : — it may also be found
in D' Urfey's " Pills to purge Melancholy."
" He the nag of an Irish papist did buy,
So doubting his courage and his loyalty,
He taught him to eat with his oats gunpowdero.
And prance to the tune of Lilli-burlero."
A ballad entitled " Popery pickled ; or, the Jesuit's Shoes
made of running Leath," has the following verse:
" Would you see the priests recanting,
Now they fear the Enghsh law;
You shall hear them all a ranting
Lew, lero, bullcn a la."
" On the Lord Lovelace's coming to Oxford from Gloucester
Gaol in 1688.
" At the foot of the colours blithe Craudon did go.
Who play'd a new tune you very well know ;
His bagpipes squeak'd nothing but lero, lero,
Wliich nobody can deny."
LILLI BURLERO. ;j
Sterne has materially contributed to extend the fame
of Lilli burlero to our times, by making my Uncle
Toby whistle the tune on many occasions. The present
version of this celebrated song, is given from " The
Muses' Farewell to Popery and Slavery ; or, a Collec-
tion of Miscellany Poems, Satyrs, Songs, &c. made by
the most eminent wits of the nation, as the Shams, In-
trigues, and Plots of Priests and Jesuits gave occasion."
London, 1689. And the second part from the sup-
plement to the same work. In the table of contents,
the first part of Lilli burlero is emphatically called
" The Irish Song."
Mr. Monck Mason, in his " History of St. Patrick's
Cathedral," states, that " Abel Roper, publisher of the
' Post-boy,' a person of infamous character, who was
alternately Whig or Tory, as suited his purpose, is said
to have been the original printer of the celebrated
ballad of Lilly bullero."
The zealous Secretary of the Percy Society, Mr.
Rimbault, has informed the Editor, that " The air of
Lilli burlero is generally considered to be the composi-
tion of the celebrated Henry Purcell ; but that it could
A song in " the Muses' Farewell to Popery and Slavery,"
contains this verse :
" Life and fortune addresses
Shall not wear out our presses,
To flatter and sooth ajust Nero;
But loud declarations
To secure the three nations
From the French, and from Lilli burlero." &c.
See also note (B), p. 21.
6 LILLI BURLERO.
not liave been his composition is evident from the fact
of its being contained in 'An Antidote against Melan-
choly,' printed in the year 1661, when Purcell was only
three years old. The air is there given (with some tri-
fling difference in the latter part) to the following words :
' There was au old man at Walton cross,
Who merrily sinig- when he liv'd by the loss ;
He never was heard to sigh a hey ho,
But he sent it out with a hey truly lo.
He chear'd up his heart
When his goods went to wrack,
With a hem, hey hem
And a cup of old sack
Sing, hey troly-troly lo.'
" The air of Lilli burlero," adds Mr. Rimbault, " first
appeared with Purcell's name to it, in ' Musick's
Handmaid, New Lessons and Instructions for the Vir-
ginals, 1678,' where it is called Lilli burlero, or Old
woman, whither so high ; but Purcell's name attached
to it merely signifies that he arranged it."
LILLI BURLERO.
Ho ! brother Teague, dost hear de decree,
Lilli burlero buUen a la;
Dat we shall have a new debittie, [^deputy']
Lilli burlero bullen a la.
Lero, lero, lero, lero, Lilli burlero bullen a la.
Lero, lero, lero, lero, Lilli burlero bullen a la.
LILLI BURLERO.
Ho ! by my shoul' it is a T 1, [Talbot]
LilH, &c.
And he will cut all the English"^ t — t, [throat]
Lilli, &c. &c.
Though by my shoul de English do prat,
Lilli, &c.
De law's on dare side, and Chreist knows what,
Lilli, &c. &c.
But if dispense do come from de pope,
Lilli, &c.
We'll hang Magno Carto and demselves^ in a rope,
Lilli, &c. &c.
And" the good T 1 [^Tatbotl is made a lord,
Lilli, &c.
And he with brave lads is coming aboard,*
Lilli, &c. &c.
Who all in France have taken a swear,
Lilli, &c.
Dat dey will have no Protestant h — r, [/te/r]
Lilli, &c. &c.
O ! "^ but why does he ' stay behind ?
LiUi, &c.
^ Ho ! by Sheint Tyburn. — Percy.
2 Englishmen's. — Percy. ^ Dem. — Percy. ■* For. — Percy.
* And lie, brave lads, is coming aboard. — Percy.
" Ara. — Percy. '' King James.
» LILLI BURLERO.
Ho by mj' shoul 'tis a Pro.testant wind,'
Lilli, &c. &c.
Now T 1 [^Tyrcoiine/^ is come ashore,^
Lilli, &c.
And we shall have coramissious gillore,^
Lilli, &c. &c.
And he dat will not go to ni— ss^ [//mss]
Lilli, &c.
ShalH turn out and look like an ass,
Lilli, &c. &c.
Now, now de heretics all go down,
Lilli, &c.
By Chreist and St. Patrick de nation's our own,*
Lilli, &c. &c.
There was an old prophecy found in a bog,
Lilli, &c.
That Ireland should be rul'd by an ass and a dog :'
Lilli, &c. &c.
And now this prophecy is come to pass,^
Lilli, &c.
1 See note (A).
2 But see de Tpconnel is now come ashore. — Percy.
^ Plenty — in abundance. ■• Go to de Mass. — Percy.
» Shall he.— Percy. « See note (B).
^ " Ireland shall he rul'd by an ass and a dog." — Percy.
* " The prophecy's true, and now come to pass." — Poems
on Affairs of State.
LILLI BURLERO.
For T — but's [_Talbot's'] the dog, and Tyr — nel's
[^Tijrconnelsl the ass,'
Lilli, &c. &c.
THE SECOND PART OF LILLI BURLERO
BULLEN A LA.
By Creist my dear Morish vat makes de sho' shad ?
Lilli, &c.
The heritticks jear us and mauke me mad,
Lilli, &c. &c.
Plague take me, dear Tague, but I am in a rage,
Lilli, &c.
Poo' what impidence is in dish age ?
Lilli, &c. &c.
Vat if Dush \_Dutch~\ shou'd come as dey hope,
Lilli, &c.
To up hang us for all de dispence of de pope,
Lilli, &c. &c.
Day shay dat T I's [Tyrconnel] a friend to
de mash,
Lilli, &c.
For which he's a traitor, a goose, and an ass,
Lilli, &c. &-C.
^ See note (C).
10 LILLI BURLERO.
Ara' plague tauke me now I make a swar,
Lilli, &c.
I to Shent Tyburn will make a great prayer,
Lilli, &c. &c.
O' I will pray to Shaint Patrick's frock,
Lilli, &c.
Or to Loretto's sacred smock,
Lilli, &c. &c.
Now a plague tauke me what dost dow tink,
Lilli, &c.
De English confusion to popery drink ;
Lilli, &c. &c.
And by my shoul the mash house pull down,
Lilli, &c.
While they were swearing the mayor of de town,
Lilli, &c. &c.
O' fait and be I'll mauke de decree,
Lilli, &c.
And swar by the Chancellor's modesty,^
Lilli, &c. &c.
Dat I no longer in English will stay,
Lilli, &c.
For be goad dey will hang us out of de way,
Lilli, &c. &c.
* See note (D).
LILLI BURLERO. H
NOTES.
(A) When it was known that the Prince of Orange was
about leaving Holland for the invasion of England, such was
the excitement of public feeling, that the slightest change in
the wind was regarded with intense anxiety. If it blew fairly
for England, it was spoken of as the Protestant, and when
in an adverse direction, as the Catholic Avind. The apart-
ments of James II v/ere opposite to the banquetting-house at
Whitehall. On the roof of this building he caused a lofty
vane to l)e erected, which he is said to have regarded daily
with extreme interest. This curious relic is supposed to be
the vane at present existing.
(B) " What follows," observes Bishop Percy, " is not in
some copies." Both the first and second parts of Lilli bur-
lero may be found in " A Collection of Poems on Affairs of
State," vol. iii. p. 231 (1704), but without these verses. At p.
256, however, they are given as an epigram, and entitled " An
Irish Prophecy."
(C) " For Talbot's de dog, and James is de ass." —Percy.
The last line of the " Irish Prophecy" above mentioned, agrees
with the text, and not with Bishop Percy's version, which at
first seems the better reading of the two. But the line appears
intended to satirise the heads of Church and State. Peter
Talbot, the In-other of Tyrconnel, had been the titular, or
Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin, and many anecdotes
are current as to the keenness with wliich he watched the
property that had belonged to his church. The one most
12 LILLI BURLERO.
commonly told is, that " landing at a place called the Sker-
ries, within twelve miles of Dublin, the archbishop was very
hospitably entertained by one Captain Coddington, at whose
house he lodged all night. The next morning he (the arch-
bishop) took him aside, and after the most affectionate expres-
sions of kindness, asked him, ' what title he had to that
estate ?' for that he observed he had expended considerably
upon its improvements. Coddington answered, "Twas an
old estate belonging to the Earl of Thomond.' Tall)ot re-
plied, 'That's nothing, it belonged to the church, and would
be taken away.' He then advised him to lay out no more
upon it, but to get what he could and desert it." Harris
(Ware's " Writers," p. 192) says that Peter Talbot, who had
been educated as a Jesuit, " was always forming designs, and
contriving schemes for advancing" the interests of the Roman
Catholic church, which, to use the words of an old author,
" he guarded with the fidelity that became the doggedness of
his name."
Upon being appointed by the pope Archbishop of Dublin,
as a reward, it is supposed, for the part he had played in
England during Cromwell's government, Talbot directly em-
broiled himself with Plunket, the titular Primate of Ireland,
who told him " that he had the reputation of meddling too
much in affairs of state." Mr. D' Alton, in his " Memoirs of
the Archbishops of Dublin" (1838), labours hard to shew that
Talbot was an amiable and persecuted man ; and expresses a
hope that justice will be done to his character, notwithstanding
"the prejudices of his contemporaries have sought to vilify
Ms memory ; and even Mr. Moore has reflected their opinions
when he styles him ' the clever and turbulent Peter Talbot.' "
This prelate died a prisoner in the Castle of Dublin, in 1680 ;
a picture of him is preserved at Malahide Castle.
LILLI BURLERO. 13
(D) The notorious Judge Jeffreys was made Lord Chancellor
by James II, 28th September 1685, and created Baron Wem.
His cruelty is said to have been only exceeded by his insa-
tiable avarice, and the open and unblushing manner in which
he received bribes. " He was not more hasty to hang up
those that had no money than he was zealous to procure in-
demnity to those that were rich. Pardons now were just as
they were at Rome, not according to the offence, but the
ability of the person, from ten pounds to 14,000 guineas,
which last sum this judge of iniquity did not scruple to take
from ]\Ir. Sp — s, and with which he bought an estate that may
be justly called ' the Field of Blood.' " Upon this passage,
which is from a contemporary tract, the Editor's friend Mr.
Bruce observes : — " I fancy there is a little mistake in the name
of the person who paid Jeffreys the 14,000 guineas. You have it
" Mr. Sp — s." The immensity of the amount seems to fix it
as having been the sum paid by " Mrs. P x" [Mrs Pri-
daux] for the release of her husband, which was agreed to
be £15,000; but a sum was abated byway of discount for
prompt payment, and the sum actually paid was thus reduced
to about 14,000 guineas. One can scarcely think there could
have been two such transactions. With tlie money thus ob-
tained Jeffreys bought the manor of Bough ton in Leicester-
shire, and after the establishment of William III, an endea-
vour was made to charge that estate with the sum paid to
Jeffreys on account of Mr. Pridaux, but it failed." — Wool-
rych's Life of Jeffreys, p. 238. Jeffreys, as is well-known,
having been taken in Wapping disguised as a sailor, died soon
after in the Tower. A contemporary rhymer recommends
that—
" On his grave
This should he wrote : — I was both fool and knave ;
To law and drink a scandal and a slave."
14
THE READING SKIRMISH.
" In 1688, a skirmish happened at Reading (Berk-
shire), in which fell the only officer of the Prince of
Orange's army, who lost his life in the expedition
which effected the happy revolution of that year. King
James's army, consisting of some Irish and Scotch
regiments, had been quartered at Reading, and had
quitted it on hearing that the Prince of Orange was
advancing with the main body of his army. The inha-
bitants, immediately on their departure, invited the
Prince to take possession of the town, and secure them
from the Irish, of which nation the King's army was
then chiefly composed, and of whom they, in common
with the rest of the kingdom, seemed to have enter-
tained a great dread. The King's army having received
intelligence that it was only a detachment from the
Prince of Orange, that had advanced to Newbury,
returned to Reading, and posted some Irish dragoons
to defend the bridge ; the Scotch were drawn up in
the market-place, when the Prince of Orange's troops
entered the town ; a slight skirmish ensued, and a few
lives were lost, but the King's troops soon fled with
precipitation, and left the town in possession of their
opponents.* This affair became the subject of a ballad.
* Rennet's History.
THE READING SKIRMISH. 15
called the ' Reading Skirmish ; or the bloody Irish
routed by the victorious Dutch.' The anniversary of
the Reading fight is still commemorated by bell-ringing
in the three parishes." — Lysons Magna Britannia.
This song is given from a collection of printed
ballads, &c. in the British Museum, two vols, folio.
The original is in black letter, except the title and the
last line of each verse, and is embellished with a wood-
cut representing two knights in armour tilting.
" By Chi'eest and St. Patrick we all go down,"
resembles so closely the tenth verse of the first part of
Lilli burlero, (see p. 8) that there can be little doubt
this burden was derived from it; and there are reasons
for believing that this verse was the conclusion of the
original song. See Note (B) p, 11.
THE READING SKIRMISH ;
OR, THE BLOODY IRISH ROUTED BY THE VICTORIOUS DUTCH.
" Five hundred papishes came there,
To make a final end
Of all the town in time of prayer,
But God did them defend."
To the tune of Lilli borlero. Licensed according to order.
Printed for J. D. iu the year 1688.
We came into brave Reading by night,
Five hundred horsemen, proper and tall ;
Yet not resolved fairly to fight,
But for to cut the throats of them all.
16 THE READING SKIRMISH.
Most of us was Irish Papists,
Who vowed to kill, then plunder the town ;
We this never doubted, but soon we were routed,
By Chreest and St. Patrick, we all go down.
In Reading town we ne'er went to bed,
Every soul there mounted his horse,
Hoping next day to fill them witli dread ;
Yet I swear by St. Patrick's cross,
We most shamefully was routed.
Fortune was pleased to give us a frown.
And blasted our glory : I'll tell you the story.
By Chreest and St. Patrick, we all go down.
We thought to slay them all in their sleep,
But by my shoul, were never the near;
The hereticks their guard did so keep,
Which put us in a trembling fear.
We concluded something further.
To seize the churches all in the town,
With kiUing and slaying, while they were a praying
But we were routed, and soon run down.
Nay, before noon, we vowed to despatch
Every man, nay, woman and child ;
This in our hearts we freely did hatch,
Vowing to make a prey of the spoil :
But we straightways was prevented,
When we did hope for fame and renown.
In less than an hour we forced [are] to scoure.
By Chreest and St. Patrick, we are run down.
THE READING SKIRMISH. 17
We were resolved Reading to clear,
Having in hand the flourishing sword ;
The bloody sceen was soon to appear,
For we did then but wait for the word :
While the ministers were preaching,
We were resolved to have at their gown ;
But straight was surrounded, and clearly confounded.
By Chreest and St. Patrick, we all go down.
Just as we all were fit to fall on.
In came the Dutch with fury and speed ;
And amongst them there was not a man,
But what was rarely mounted indeed ;
And rid up as fierce as tygers,
Knitting their brows, they on us did frown,
Not one of them idle, their teeth held their bridle.
By Chreest and St. Patrick, we were run down.
They never stood to use many words.
But in all haste up to us they flocked ;
In their right hands their flourishing swords.
And in their left carbines ready cock'd :
We were forced to fly before them
Thorow the lanes and streets of the town ;
While they pursued after, and threaten'd a slaughter.
By Chreest and St. Patrick, we were run down.
Thus being fairly put to the rout,
Hunted and drove before um like dogs;
c
18 THE READING SKIRMISH.
Our captain bid us then face about,
But we wisht for our Irish bogs ;
Having no great mind for fighting,
The Dutch did drive us thorow the town ;
Our foreheads we crossed, yet still was unhorsed.
By Chreest and St. Patrick, we're all run down.
We threw away our swords and carbines.
Pistols and cloaks lay strow'd on the lands ;
Cutting off boots for running, uds-doyns,
One pair of heels was worth two pair of hands. i
Then we called on sweet St. Coleman,2
Hoping he might our victory crown ;
But Du'chraen pursuing poor Teagues to our ruin.
By Chreest and St. Patrick, we're all run down.
Never was Teagues in so much distress.
As the whole world may well understand ;
When we came here, we thought to possess
Worthy estates of houses and land :
But we find 'tis all a story,
Fortune is pleased on us to frown :
Instead of our riches, we stink in our breeches.
By Chreest and St. Patrick, we're all run down.
They call a thing a three-legged mare.
Where they will fit each neck with a nooze ;
Then with our beads to say our last prayer.
After all this to die in our shoes.
1 See note (A). ^ See note (B)
THE READING SKIRMISH. 19
Thence we pack to purgatory ;
For us let all the Jesuits pray.
Farewell, Father Peters,' here's some of your creatures
Would have you to follow the selfsame way.
NOTES.
(A) The Irish troops, on which James depended at this
critical period, were ill disciplined, and generally, upon the
slightest cause, ran away panic-struck. In the instance men-
tioned in the song, we are told, that " Upon the approach of
a small party of his highness' [the Prince of Orange's] cavalry,
the Irish made a discharge and abandoned their post; the
Scotch, who had no inclination to fight, followed their example,
and fled in disorder, till they were rallied by the Earl of Fa-
versham, who was coming up to support them. Of the Irish
not many were killed, and as few taken. However, tbe court
[James's party] complained that tbe [Reading] town's-people
shot at them behind, from their windows, while the prince's
horse charged them before; but they justify themselves by
saying, that the fear the Irish were in made tliem fancy they
were attacked on every side, which, at this juncture, the court
thought fit to believe. Maidenhead bridge was also fortified,
and its defence committed to the Irish ; but some of the
townsmen beating a Dutch march in the night, in order to
alarm them, this stratagem took so well, that the Irish aban-
1 See note (C).
c 2
20 THE READING SKIRMISH.
doned their post in confusion, leaving their great guns behind
them."
(B) Edward Coleman, hanged at Tyburn in 1678, for his
participation in the Popish Plot.
" Now, painter, draw me hell in all its beat,
Let sulpliiirous flames and dismal darkness meet,
And in tlie hottest place, as best befits.
Draw Stayley, Coleman, and the Jesuits."
The Second Advice to a Painter. Broadside.
Upon this broadside Mr. Bruce has favoured the Editor
with the following observations :
" Stayley w'as the first victim sacrificed upon the testimony
of the respectable contrivers of the Popish plot. He was a
goldsmith or banker in Covent Garden, and it was sworn that
he was overheard to say, in a cook's shop, that the king was a
great rogue, and that his was the hand that would kill him, if
nobody else's would. All that seems to have been true was
that he was in the cook's shop and spoke in French. The
words were uttered on the 14th November, 1678 ; he was
arraigned on the 20th of the same month ; tried on the 21st;
executed on the 26th. His relations petitioned the king that
his body might not be set up on the gates of the city, and Charles
"out of his princely clemency and compassion," granted an
order for the sheriflF to deliver the " quarters" to his friends.
This was done, but, they being injudicious enough to say
masses over the mangled remains, and bury them pompously
in St. Paul's, Covent Garden, the king revoked his order ; the
body was disinterred ; and the head and quarters made to
adorn the city in the usual manner. The authorities for
these facts are Burnet's Own Times, ii. 160, Edit. 1823;
and the State Trials, vi. 1502. Stayley was probably a part-
ner with his father in the banking-house, which was lately
Wrights'.
THE READING SKIRMISH. 21
" There is a reference to ' Sweet Saint Coleman,' in a libel
published in 1689, entitled ' The Chancellor's Examination
and Preparation for a Trial,' of which Woolrych has given
a copy. It purports to contain a will made by JeftVeys, in
which he gives a thousand pounds, for the erection ' of a
shrine and chapel to St. Coleman, for the particular devotion
of a late very great English zealot: for whose glory,' he
continues, ' I further order my executors to bear half charges
in inserting and registering the sacred papers and memoirs of
the said saint in those divine legends ' The Lives of the
Saints,' by the hands of the reverend and no less industrious
successor. Father Peters.' In the same paper there is also
the following passage : — ' I desire that my funeral anthems
be all set to the tune of ' Old Lillihurlero,' that never-to-be-
forgotten Irish Shibboleth, in commemoration not only of
200,000 heretics that formerly danced off to the said musical
notes, but also of the second part of the same tune, lately
designing, setting, and composing by a great master of mine
and myself.' "
(C) The skirmish at Reading took place on the 9th Decem-
ber, 1688. On the 6th of December, "the popish party had
become so contemptible in London, that there was a hue and
cry after Father Petre publicly cried and sold in the streets."
This song, from the statement that the Irish intended to
" cut the throats of them all," and had " vowed to kill and
then plunder the town," was no doubt written immediately
after the 13th December, on which day "some country fellows
arriving towards midnight at Westminster, caused a sudden
uproar by reporting that the Irish, in a desperate rage, were
approaching London, firing the houses, and putting man,
woman, and child, to the sword. This false report gathered
as it went along, so that in a few moments, not only the
22 THE READING SKIRMISH,
trained bands and disciplined troops appeared in anns, but
cveiy body leaving their beds, placed lights in the windows,
betook themselves, with half their clothes on, the most fearful
to flight, the most resolute to their weapons. And what is
most strange, this alarm spread itself the same night over the
whole kingdom, and all that were able to carry arms vowed
the defence of their lives, laws, religion, and liberties, and
stood resolved to destroy all the Irish and papists in England,
in case any injury were offered them. Some said that this
general flight was occasioned by seven or eight Irish soldiers,
who, having no money, resolved to keep themselves from
starving, by forcibly entering into a country house. Whilst
they were cuffing with those who would have thrust them
out, a paltry cottage happened to catch fire, whereupon all
the neighbouring towiis and villages rang their alarm bells,
which were echoed throughout all England.
" Some politicians assigned another cause {which was most
probable) of this universal terror, and said it was industriously
propagated Ijy the directions of the Duke of Schomberg, both
to feel the pulse of the nation, and to .inspire them with
resentment against the popish party, by letting them see to
what dangers they were reduced by the bringing of Irish
troops into the kingdom." — Bowyerh History of William III.
Vol. i. 372 and 387. (1703.)
KING JAMES'S WELCOME TO IRELAND.
Ja.mes II landed at Kinsale on Tuesday, 12th March,
1688-9, where he was received by the Earl of Clan-
carty, and where, " for the want of bells," we are told,
" the king was welcomed with the shouts and accla-
KING James's welcome to Ireland. 23
mations of the people, bonfires, &c." Mr. Walker
states that a national dance, called the Rinka fada,
which he has minutely described in the " Memoirs of
the Irish Bards," was danced on this occasion before
James, " the figure and execution of which dehghted
him exceedingly."
On the following day, James proceeded to Cork, and
awaited in that city the arrival of his lord-deputy,
Tyrconnel. Here the king publicly heard mass on
Sunday, the 17th March, (St. Patrick's day) at the
new chapel of the north abbey, to which he went in
procession through the main street of the city, sup-
ported by two Franciscan friars, and attended bv
several other friars in their habits. Many traditionary
anecdotes are remembered of James's sojourn in Cork,
which tend to shew, that mercy, although the royal
prerogative, was one sparingly exercised by that king.
His sanction of the execution of Mr. Brown, a magis-
trate and a Protestant gentleman of consideration in
the county, was, under the circumstances, a cruel and
impolitic act j and the shooting on the spot, without
trial, a recruit whose musket had accidentally gone off,
was an unnecessary display of despotism.
On Wednesday, the 20th March, James rode to
Lismore Castle, where he is said to have started back
with surprise at beholding the height of the window
from which he looked upon the Blackwater. That
night he slept at Clonmel. On Thursday he rested in
the Castle of Kilkenny ; and on Friday night, after
being at Carlow, " slabbered with the kisses of the
24 KING JAMES'S
rude country Irish gentlewomen, so that he was forced
to beg to have them kept from him," the king slept at
Sir Maurice Eustace's, near Kilcullen Bridge, distant
seventeen miles from Dublin.
The journey was chiefly performed by James on
horseback, and he always made a point of riding through
the towns and villages. During this royal progress,
the roads were thronged with the peasantry, to be
recognised in Irish history under the name of Rappa-
rees,* or the more antiquated name of Tories, who
* The word Rapparee is explained by O'Reilly, as " a hti-
gious, bullying- fellow."
" Not only the men," says M'Kenzie, in his ' Narrative of
the Siege of Londonderry' (1690), " but the women and boys
too, began to furnish themselves with skeans and half pikes ;
it being the great business of the Irish smitbs in the country
to make this sort of arms for them. These were afterwards
called Rapparees, a sort of Iris 't vultures that follow their
armies to prey on their spoil." Dean Story observes of the
Rapparees, that they were "very prejudicial to our LWilliam's]
army, as well by killing our men privately, as stealing our
horses and intercepting our provisions. But after all," he
adds, " lest the next age may not be of the same humour
with this, and the name of Rapparee may possibly be thought
a finer thing than it really is, I do assure you that, in my
style, they can never be reputed other than tories, robbers, and
bogtrotters."
O'Halloran, who would excite our sympathy on behalf of
" those unhappy freebooters, called Rapparees," states that
" they were too numerous to be employed in the [Irish] army,
and their miseries often obliged them to prey alike upon friend
and foe; at length some of the most daring of them formed
themselves into independent companies, whose subsistence
chiefly arose from depredations committed on the enemy."
WELCOME TO IRELAND. 25
were armed with half pikes, skeins, or daggers, and
affected a military appearance.
About noon, on Saturday, the S^th March, James
entered Dublin. The way on both sides, from the St.
James's Gate to the Castle, was lined with soldiers,
and strewed with fresh gravel. At the entrance of the
liberty of the city, a stage had been erected covered
with tapestry, on which were placed two harpers ;
"and below," says a contemporary writer,* "a great
number of friars, with a large cross, singing ; and
about forty oyster wenches, poultry and herb women,
in white," who danced along by the side of the king to
the castle, " here and there strewing flowers. Some
hung out of their balconies, tapestry and cloth of arras ;
and others imitating them, sewed together the coverings
of Turkey work chairs, and handle cloth blankets, and
hung them out likewise on each side of the street."
" About a mile from Dublin, he [the king] called
for a fresh pad-nag, which, turning about to be brought
him, got loose, and forced him to stay, which did, in
some measure, vex him, so that he said to Tyrconnel,
' I think you are all boder'd.' "
After the siege of Limerick, a reward of forty shillings
was offered for the head of every Rapparee who did not sub-
mit himself. Upon which it has been asked, how a magistrate
was to distinguish the head of a Rapparee from any other
head ? A smart passage on this subject occurs in O'Driscol's
" History of Ireland," vol. ii. p. 350.
* "Ireland's Lamentation," &c. written by an English
Protestant that lately narrowly escaped with his life from
thence. London, printed by J. D. 1689.
26 KING James's
At the proper point, James was met by " the lord
mayor, aldermen, common-council, master, wardens,
and brethren of the several companies, in their form-
alities, the king and herald at arras, pursevants, and
servants of the household, and there received the sword
of state (which he gave to Tyrconnel, who carried it
before him through the city), and the sword and keys
of the city, and there had a speech made to welcome
him to that loyal city and people, by Counsellor Dillon,
who, that morning, was sworn recorder in the room of
Counsellor Barnwell.
" From thence he set forward toward the castle, pre-
ceded by five or six coaches with six horses each, two
callashes, four or five carts, and one close waggon, at-
tended by five or six French troopers ; next them fol-
lowed about two hundred of the stragglers of the city
that went out to meet him ; and after them, Major
Barker, of the royal regiment, bareheaded, giving orders
to the soldiers to keep the middle of the street clear,
and stand with their muskets shouldered ; then twenty-
nine horsemen, bareheaded, shouting before Mr. Fitz-
james, who was alone in one of Tyrconnel's coaches
with six horses. Close after him followed three officers
of the guard on horseback, attended by three led
horses ; after them, fifteen or sixteen officers of the
army, closely followed by the five trumpets and kettle-
drums of state in their liveries. After them, about
twenty of the gentlemen at large on horseback ; then
the messengers and pursevants, servants of the house-
hold ; next them, the herald and king-at arms ; close
after them, Tyrconnel, carrying the sword of state ira-
WELCOME TO IRELAND. 27
mediately before King James, who rid on a pad-nag in
a plain cinnamon- coloured cloth suit, and black slouch-
ing hat, and a George hung over his shoulder with a
blue ribbon. He was attended by the Duke of Ber-
wick, Lord Granard, and some maids running by him
on his left hand ; the Lords Powis and Melfort on his
right, with their hats on. Close after him followed a
troop of dragoons, several gentlemen and officers, two
troops of horse, and many attendants. After them, six
lords' coaches with six horses each; then Judge Keating
in scarlet, and next after his, three other gentlemen's
coaches empty, with six horses each ; then three coaches
with two horses each ; and then, last of all, the confused
rabble on foot. '
As King James was "riding along in this order,"
continues the minute narrator of his entry into Dublin,
" one Flemming, a pretended mad Scotsman, in Skinner
Row, the middle of the city, suddenly rushed through
the crowd, flung liis hat over the king's head, crying in
French, with a loud voice, ' Let the king live for ever,'
caughtsuddenly (madman-like) fast hold of the king's
hand and kist it, and so ran capering after his hat.
" As James marched thus along, the pipers of the
several companies played the tune of 'The king enjoys
his own again ;' and the people shouting and crying,
' God save the king.' And if any Protestants were ob-
served not to shew their zeal that way, they were im-
mediately reviled and abused by the rude papists. And
[James] being come thus to the castle, [he] alighted
from his horse, and was met at the gate by the host,
overshaded with a canopy bore up by four popish
28 KING JAMES'S
bishops, and accompanied with a numerous train of
friars singing, and others of that clergy. And among
the rest, the titular primate with a triple crown upon
his head, representing the pope, who this unfortunate
and bigotted prince no sooner saw, but he forthwith
went down upon his knees to pray to the image, and
for a blessing from this Irish pope. And from thence
[James was] conducted into the chapel there (made by
Tyrconnel of Henry Comwells riding-house), where
Te Deum was sung for his happy arrival. Thence he
retired into an apartment prepared in a new house
built before in the castle by Tyrconnel, and there dined
and refi'eshed himself."
The following song, which is given from the recita-
tion of an old lady, was probably that sung by the
pretty "oyster wenches, poultry and herb women in
white," who strewed flowers beside the king. There is
some slight resemblance between the first verse, and
one of a Jacobite song, called " King William's March,"
a satire on William's departure to join his army in Ire-
land previous to the battle of the Boyne, the burden of
which song is, " O Willie, Willie wan beard."
" Play, piper— play, piper,
Play a bonny spring,
For there's an auld harper
Harping to the king.
Wi' his sword by his side,
An' his sign by his reade.
An' his crown on his head
Like a true kins:."
WELCOME TO IRELAND. 29
KING JAMES'S WELCOME TO IRELAND.
Play, piper — play, piper,
Come, lasses, dance and sing.
And old harpers strike up
To harp for the king.
He is come — he is come,
Let us make Ireland ring
With a loud shout of welcome,
May God save the king.
Bring ye flowers — bring ye flowers.
The fresh flowers of spring,
To strew in the pathway
Of James our true king.
And better than flowers.
May our good wishes bring
A long life of glory
To James our true king.
Huzza, then — huzza, then,
The news on the wing.
Triumphant he comes
Amid shouts for the king.
All blessings attend him,
May every good thing
Be showered on the brave head
Of James, our true king.
30
UNDAUNTED LONDONDERRY.
"The defence of Derry," says O'Driscol,* "has
been much celebrated ; but never beyond, hardly ever
as much, as it merited. Few sieges have had more
effect upon the fate of nations ; none ever displayed
more heroic devotion and endurance on the part of the
besieged."
The story of the siege of Derry, is a long and a me-
lancholy one. Tyrconnel having withdrawn the garri-
son in order to enable him to send Irish troops to
England to support the cause of James, soon perceived
his error, and he endeavoured to remedy it by ordering
Lord Antrim's regiment, which consisted wholly of
Roman Catholics, to regarrison the town. On the 7th
December, 1688, the advanced party of this regiment
appeared within a short distance of the gate, when
about a dozen young men, whose names are fondly re-
membered in local history as " the 'prentice boys,"
closed the gate and drew up the bridge, and, seizing
upon the keys of the town, they secured the other three
gates, and refused to admit King James's soldiers.
Their conduct being approved of by a large and influ-
ential body of the inhabitants, guards were posted, the
magazine and all the arms that could be collected taken
possession of, and an agent was despatched to London
* History of Ireland, vol. ii. p. 14 ; 1827.
UNDAUNTED LONDONDERRY. 31
with an urgent application for support. " On this sud-
den, and apparently unimportant movement," it is justly
remarked by Dr. Reid,* " the fate of the three kingdoms
ultimately depended."
The result of these violent proceedings was, that
Lord Antrim's " red shanks" retired; and a negociation
followed, by which a free and general pardon for all
that had passed was granted, and a small body of Pro-
testant soldiers only were t . be admitted into Derry,
commanded by Lord Mountjoy, who was known to be
attached to the Protestant cause. On Lord Mountjoy
being recalled, he was succeeded by Colonel Lundy, a
professed friend of the Protestants ; but, as subsequently
appeared, a decided partisan to James, owing, it is
asserted, to his being under several obhgations to the
Duke of Berwick. f
Derry had become the principal refuge of the Pro-
testants of the north of Ireland, who chose rather the
hazard of standing on their defence, than of submit-
ting to the persecution they were likely to suffer under
Tyrconnel's government. But Lundy's reputation as
an officer of honour, courage, and skill, stood so high,
that the Ulster Protestants, who had entered into an
armed association for the protection of their lives,
liberty, and property, determined, although he had
been appointed by Tyrconnel, to put themselves under
his command.
* History of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, vol. ii.
p. 440. London, 1837.
f Life of the Duke of Berwick, p. 36. London, 1738.
32 UNDAUNTED LONDONDERRY.
While these occurrences took place, James arrived
in Ireland, and, on the 8th of April, left Dublin at the
head of an army of 12,000 men, with a considerable train
of artillery, intending to I'educe the refractory north to
submission, and then to proceed to Scotland. In ten
days after the king left Dublin, he appeared before
Londonderry, which place he expected would immedi-
ately be surrendered to him ; but, to his astonishment,
the reply to the royal summons was a heavy discharge
of cannon from the walls.
Although two regiments had arrived from England
to aid in the defence of Derry, Lundy stated " that
they had provisions but for a very few days, a week or
ten days at most, and that the people who were in the
city were but a rabble," therefore, that the place was
not tenable, and he advised the newly-arrived troops to
return, which they did. Upon the determination of the
council of war being promulgated, that Derry was to
be given up to King James, the cries of " treachery"
and " no surrender" resounded through the city, and
at this critical moment Captain Adam Murray, the
commander of a volunteer corps, arrived in the town.
He remonstrated with Lundy, and encouraged the
inhabitants to defend the place, upon which they
rushed to the walls, and fired upon James and his
advancing army. The men of Derry now prepared
for an obstinate defence. " Their choice of governors
was as extraordinary as the whole proceeding had been
strange." Major Baker, a military officer, and the
Rev. George Walker, a Protestant clergyman, were
UNDAUNTED LONDONDERRY. 33
elected to the government of the besieged town, and
the treacherous Lundy escaped in disguise, " with a
load of match on his back."
It has been as eloquently as truly observed, that, " in
mockery of all human wisdom, it was the very folly of
the mob that saved the town ; it was the madness of a
crowd of fools that snatched this important fortress
from the grasp of James, and contributed materially to
the successful issue of the war. The defence of Derry
was accomplished at an expense, no doubt, of enormous
and incalculable suffering. Most of the population
perished miserably, and only a wasted and ruined rem-
nant of the people survived to enjoy their melancholy
triumph."
Nothing could exceed the excitement of the besieged,
and nothing but that excitement could have enabled
them to sustain a siege of one hundred and five days.
" The Protestant clergy of all denominations," says
O'Driscol, " shared the labours of the siege in their
turns ; and when the day's work was over, and their
military tasks were at an end, they took their places
in the churches and conventicles.* There the people
crowded to their devotions, — weary, indeed with the
toils and labours of the day, and fainting, perhaps, for
want of sufficient food, but still with the high excite-
ment which the perils and the importance of the occa-
* There were eighteen clergymen in the town of the com-
munion of the church, and seven non-confonuing ministers. —
Walker.
34 UNDAUNTED LONDONDERRY.
sion created ; and when the preacher poured forth his
labouring heart at the feet of the great disposer of
events, the God of armies, and the ruler of the destiny
of nations, the people joined in the prayer with a solemn
energy of devotion which those only know who have
been in ' peril of their lives,' and in ' the toil of their
enemies,' The awful circumstances in which the city
was placed, were inspiration to the preacher, and fer-
vent and undoubting faith to the congregation. The
' man of God' had no need of the ornaments of speech,
while the thunder of the enemies' cannon roared round
the walls ; and the doubts of the sceptic, and the jests
of the scoffer fled before the face of famine, and the
rebuke of unrelenting misery.
" Thirty thousand fugitives, including aged men,
boys, women, and children from the neighbouring dis-
tricts, exclusive of the garrison, were shut up within
the walls of Derry.* Those could render no assistance
in the defence. The besiegers were estimated at twenty
thousand. When the rulers of this little republic looked
around them upon the multitude that were to be fed,
and abroad upon the host that encompassed them,
even their utmost enthusiasm could hardly sustain their
confidence, or their most exalted piety preserve them
from despair."
" It did beget," says Walker, " some disorder among
us, and confusion, when we looked about us, and saw
* Of these 10,000 left upon protections from the enemy,
and 7,000 died.— Walker.
UNDAUNTED LONDONDERRY, 35
what we were doing ; our enemies all about us, and
our friends running away from us. A garrison we had,
composed of a number of poor people frightened from
their own homes, who seemed more fit to hide them-
selves than to face an enemj-. When we considered
that we had no persons of any experience in war among
us, and those very persons that were sent to assist us
had so little confidence in the place, that they no sooner
saw it than they thought fit to leave it ; that we had but
few horse to sally out with, and no forage ; no engineers
to instruct us in our works ; no fire-works, not so much
as a hand-granado to annoy the enemy ; not a gun well
mounted in the whole town ; that we had so many
mouths to feed, and not above ten days' provisions for
them in the opinion of our former governors ; that
every day several left us, and gave constant intelligence
to the enemy ; that they had so many opportunities to
divide us, and so often endeavoured it, and to betray
the governors ; that they were so numerous, so powerful
and well-appointed an array, that, in all human proba-
bility, we could not think ourselves in less danger than
the Israelites at the Red Sea. When we considered all
this, it was obvious enough what a dangerous under-
taking we had ventured upon. But the resolution and
courage of our people, and the necessity we were under,
and the great confidence and dependence amongst us
on God Almighty, that he would take care of us and
preserve us, made us overlook all those difficulties."
" This quotation, from the diary of this singular man,"
observes O'Driscol, " is admirably descriptive of the
D 2
36 UNDAUNTED LONDONDERRY.
situation and condition of the besieged. Their defence
was conducted in a most unmilitarj- and irregular man-
ner, but it was effectual. Those who chose sallied
against the enenay, in what order, and with what accom-
paniment they pleased, and their sallies were frequent.
The town was almost in ruins ; the gates were often
open ; and the besieged would scornfully invite the
attack of their enemy, and ask why he lost his powder
upon the walls when the gates were open to him ?
" The high-wrought enthusiasm of the besieged
seems to have deterred the Irish commanders from the
attack, and they resolved to wait the slow but certain
progress of famine."
Having vainly essayed to take " Undaunted London-
derry," which, to use the expression of Story, " was the
greatest thorn in their sides," James returned to
Dublin, and committed the conduct of the siege to
General de Rosen, a foreign officer of some reputation.
" Every day increased the sufferings of the unhappy
garrison. Disease followed upon the rear of famine.
Exhausted with incessant labour, perishing of hunger,
sick from unwholesome and unnatural food, hope for-
sook them, and they surrendered themselves to despair,
but not to the enemy. They could not yet resolve to
submit.
"While in this state of sullen stupor, they were sud-
denly roused by the appearance of ships in the lake
bearing British ensigns. It was a fleet of thirty sail,
bringing troops, arms, ammunition, and provisions for
the relief of the garrison. The joy and exultation of
UNDAUNTED LONDONDERRY. 37
the perishing people of Derry knew no bounds. It was
to them a resurrection from death to life ; from bond-
age to liberty. They gazed with ecstacy upon the ships
as they continued their steady course upon the beauti-
ful waters of Lough Foyle ; every heart beat high, as
ship after ship bore up and displayed her white canvass
to the anxious crowd close wedged upon the ramparts.
Every voice whispered fervent murmurs of thanks-
giving to the God of the land and of the ocean, who
never deserts his faithful people in their extremity, or
consigns those who trust in him to the hands of his
enemies.
" On a sudde'.i, the ships were observed to haul to
windward, to the amazement of the garrison, and the
surprise of the army outside the walls. What could be
the meaning of this manoeuvre ? It was soon explained ;
the ships were standing out to sea. Signal followed
rapidly after signal from the dismayed inhabitants of
Derry, and Kirk made no signal in return.
"Meantime the Irish take their measures. Batteries
are planted along the shore, strong battalions are
marched to the water's edge, and line the borders of
the lake where they approach the city. A boom of
great strength, formed of timber, strong cables, and
vast iron chains, is stretched across a narrow part of
the lake, and made firm upon either shore. While all
this is transacting, the fleet was rapidly passing out of
sight
" Failh and patience are the great foundations of the
Christian religion ; and, tiiough all are called upon to
38 UNDAUNTED LONDONDERRY.
practise them, there have been few instances, perhaps,
of a severer trial than this was to the forlorn citizens of
Derry. When the hand is stretched out to save and
instantly withdra\^n ; when the time is come, and to-
morrow will be too late, can the victim be accused if he
dies with murmurs upon his lip ?
" Bakei-, the governor, was dead ; and famine was
novv rapidly thinning the ranks of the heroic garrison
more effectually than the sword of the enemy. Their
food was dead horses, dogs, cats, rats, and all loathsome
vermin. The extremity and horror of the famine had
nearly dissolved all discipline and authority. Murmurs
for a capitulation began to be heard among the dying
and ghastly crowd, and were only suppressed by the
fury of those who had become almost insane by their
sufferings. They threatened death to any who should
propose or mention a surrender, while they were
themselves expiring and without hope. Their detesta-
tion of Popery seemed to derive strength from the decay
of nature.
" They heai'd in a short time from Kirk ; he had
sailed round to Lough Swilly. He still talked of relieving
them, but he spoke doubtingly. He assured them that
everything went on well in England and Scotland for
the Protestant cause, and advised them to hold out
bravely, and be careful of their provisions. It was un-
certain whether Kirk's communications were not a cruel
mockery."
Marshal do Rosen, annoyed at the obstinacy with
which Londonderry resisted, had recourse to a cruel and
UNDAUNTED LONDONDERRY. 39
unsoldierlike mode of attack — appealing to the hearts of
the besieged, instead of storming their batteries. He
sent out parties to collect all the miserable Protestants
they could find about the country, without regard to
age or sex, and these were driven, by Rosen's orders,
under the walls of the town to perish, unless saved by
its capitulation. The besieged in return brought
forth their prisoners ; and, having erected a gallows
upon the rampart, threatened to hang them imme-
diately, unless the unfortunate creatures who had been
driven under the walls were allowed to depart. This
had the desired effect, but many had already died from
the hardships to which they were exposed ; and some,
as they expired, Avith their last breath, entreated the
famishing garison to persevere in the defence of the
place.
" The tumult of the retreating multitude had hardly
ceased outside the walls, when three ships were disco-
vered, in the lake, with all sails set, and steering for
the town. These were two store-sloops, laden with
provisions, and the Dartmouth frigate, part of Kirk's
squadron. Kirk had learned that his conduct at Derry
bad been heard with anger and astonishment in Eng-
land, and he hastened to avert the storm which he
saw was likely to overtake him. His dastardly or
treacherous conduct had lengthened the sufFei'ings
of Derry from the middle of June to the end of
July.
" The ships approached in view of the besiegers and
the besieged; but of the latter, more than half the eyes
40 UNDAUNTED LONDONDERRY.
were closed in death that had witnessed the former in-
effectual attempt at relief. The Irish army had taken
their posts along the shore ; the batteries that com-
manded the harbour were manned; the boom was
made tight, and all was in readiness. As the vessels
came within the range of shot, a heavy fire of cannon
and musketry was opened upon them from the Irish
lines along the shore. They returned the fire with
spirit, and continued to advance. At length the head-
most store-ship approached the boom, and struck it ;
the boom was broke, but the vessel went ashore with
the violence of the rebound. The besieging army
shouted, and prepared to board her; but the vessel
fired all her guns, and, extricated by the shock, she
floated and passed rapidly unto the city followed by her
companions.
"The garrison of Derry had consisted of about
eight thousand men; it was now reduced to less than
lour. The Ii-ish army broke up suddenly and retired ;
-their loss is said to have exceeded that of the garri-
son."
Walker, the gallant defender of Londonderry, pro-
ceeded (o London with an address to King William and
his queen, and was received by their majesties in the
most gracious manner. Thanks were voted to him by
the House of Commons, and delivered in form by the
Speaker ; he was entertained by the city, and cheered
wherever he was recognised by the populace, as the
champion of the Protestant faith ; the honorary degree
of Doctor of Divinity was conferred on him by the
UNDAUNTED LONDONDERRY. 41
University of Oxford ; the king presented him with
£5,000 ; and, by his majesty's command, Sir Godfrey
Kneller painted Walker's picture, which was imme-
diately engraved. In this picture he is represented
" with a Bible, open at the 20th chapter of Exodus, in
one hand, and a drawn sword in the other. His gar-
ment of a purple colour, and a large old-fashioned
band, form a strong contrast to the military sash ap-
pearing in crimson folds about his waist," in which a
pistol is lodged.
While in London, Walker published his " Diary of
the Siege of Londonderry," which was followed by no
less than nine publications on the same subject. In the
address prefixed to his " Diary," he apologizes as a
churchman, for having acted in that service a part which
might, with more propriety, have been done by other
hands. It is impossible that Walker could have been
made Bishop of Derry, as stated by O'Driscol, for that
see was not vacant until the day previous to the Battle
of the Boyne, where Walker was mortally wounded,
and where he was engaged as chaplain to the army.
O'Driscol, whose animated account of the " Siege of
Derry" has been so largely quoted from, therefore very
unfairly says, " This man was unnecessarily present at
the Boyne. Walker's exploits at Derry," he adds,
" might have had an excuse in the peculiarity of his
situation ; but neither his exhibitions in London, nor
his presence at the Boyne, can be justified." Now, the
fact is. Walker was a hero in Derry, the advocate of
his brave fellow-sufferers in London, and, in the course
42 UNDAUNTED LONDONDERRY.
of his duty as a Protestant clergyman, was slain at the
Boyne.*
* Mr. Bruce, in a note to the Editor, remarls upon this
passage : — " You are probably aware that there is a letter of
Tillotson's, in which he says 'the king. . . hath made him
[Walker] Bishop of Londonderry.' You say the see was not
vacant until the day before the Battle of the Boyne : i.e. the
30th June. Now I find in Wood's ' Athenae' (iv. 288), that
Bishop Hopkins died on the 19th June, 1690, and was buried
on the 24th, in St. Mary Aldermanbury. It is possible, if
Wood's date be right, that Walker may have been appointed,
although Wood himself, in another place (iv. 877), merely
says that he ' was designed to succeed' Bishop Hopkins ;
which is probably all that is true, and that the design may have
existed long before Hopkins's death. After all, the question
is, not whether he was Bishop of Derrj', but whether he was
chaplain to the anny. If he were, he was in his place at the
Boyne, whether bishop or not. And upon that point Wood
aids you ; for, immediately after stating that on his way
back into Ireland he had the degree of D.D. conferred upon
him at Oxford, he goes on : ' thence he went into Ireland,
where having a command conferred upon him in the aixny
(iv. 409) he ' received his death's wound,' and so on in
Wood's usual ballad style. One can scarcely conceive any
other 'command' than a chaplaincy conferred upon a new-
made D.D. It is very strange that Burnet does not mention
even the name of Walker.
" It seems from an extract from Anchitell Gray's Debates,
in the ' Gentleman's Magazine' for 1745, p. 192, that the
House of Commons recommended the king to grant ' the
mdows and orphans of Londonderry' £10,000, and that they
communicated their determination upon that head to Dr.
Walker at the same time that they returned him thanks for
his defence. Walker was apparently the bearer of the peti-
tion of ' the widows and orphans ;' of itself a sufficient cause
for his coming to London. He returned the house thanks on
their behalf as well as his own."
UNDAUNTED LONDONDERRY. 48
Dr. Reid, in his "History of the Presbyterian Church
in Ireland," says,* "It is painful to be obliged to add,
that the gallant defenders of Derry and Enniskillen
were treated very ungratefully by the state. Instead
of being in any wise rewarded, they did not even re-
ceive the amount of pay which was acknowledged by
parliament to be justly due to them." Dr. Reid then
enters into various particulars on this subject, the result
of which is, that after two-and-thirty yeai's of tedious
and fruitless negociations, 1^,1511. lls.Sd. arrears were
due to the eight regiments that formed the garrison of
Derry, " not a farthing of which appears to have been
ever paid." Upon this statement, however, it may be
questioned whether the Derry and Enniskillen troops
were not in the same position as the thirteen Dutch and
three French regiments, who served with them in Ire-
land, regarding their claims for arrears of pay, and
whose cases were printed in 1709, with " the case of
several of the inhabitants of Ireland, that subsisted
the army there for the year 1690 and 1691 pursuant to
the directions of the government;" and to whom and
not to the troops, this arrear of their pay appears to
have been due.
In the " Memoir of the Ordnance Survey of Lon-
donderry,"-]- it is stated that, " after a lapse of more
than two centuries, the fortifications of Derry remain
nearly unchanged in their original form and character ;
the external ditch, indeed, is no longer visible, being
* Vol. ii. note, p. 473. f ^"o\.\. p. 100. Dublin, 1837.
44- UNDAUNTED LONDONDERRY.
mostly occupied by the rears of houses. Between 1806
and 1808, the walls were repaired at a cost of 1,119/.
6s. 2d. In 1824, the north-west bastion was demolished
to make room for the erection of a market; and, in
1826, the central western bastion was modified for the
reception of Walker's Testimonial — an ornamental
memorial, both just and appropriate.
" Of the guns which performed such valuable services
in by-gone time, a few are preserved as memorials in
their original localities, the bastions ; but the greater
number have been converted to the quiet purposes of
peace, serving as posts for fastening cables, protecting
the corners of streets, &c. There are six at the south-
west bastion, two of which are inscribed ' vintners,
LONDON. 164-8.' ' MERCERS, LONDON. 164'2.' Of the
others, one bears the arms of Elizabeth — a rose sur-
mounted by a crown, with the letters ' E. R.' at each
side; and below, the date 1590. Another, the arms of
the Irish Society ; and a third, a less decipherable de-
vice. Of these three, the first was one of the few
pieces of ordnance possessed by the city on the out-
break of the rebellion of 1641. There are four at
Walker's Testimonial, two of which are inscribed
' MERCHANT TAYLORS, LONDON. 1642.' ' GROCERS,
LONDON. 1642.' Mounted on a carriage, in the court-
house-yard, and in good condition, stands ' Roaring
Meg,' so called from the loudness of her roaring during
the siege. This cannon is four feet six inches round at
the thickest part, and eleven feet long, and is thus in-
scribed, 'FISHMONGERS, LONDON. 1642.' The total
UNDAUNTED LONDONDERRY. 45
number of cannon i-eraaining in the city and suburbs is
nearly fifty."
The song upon tlie gallant defence of Londonderry
is here given from a black letter copy in the British
Museum, preserved in a collection of ballads, &c. 2
vols, folio. The title runs thus : " Undaunted London-
derry ; or, the Victorious Protestants' constant success
against the proud French and Irish Forces. To the
tune of ' Lilli Borlero.' Licensed according to Order."
It is embellished with a rude woodcut, representing a
city in flames, and bearing the word "Londonderry."
" Printed for J. Deacon, in Guiltspur Street."
This song is quite unworthy of the achievement that
it was intended to celebrate. Among the poems* of
the Rev. John Graham, the historian and bard of Derry,
may be found several clever lyrics referring to the me-
morable siege of " the maiden city ;" one in particular,
entitled " The Catalogue '' (p. 97), which consists of
no less than thirty-six verses, combines all the vigorous
simplicity of the old ballad, with an extraordinary mass
of minute historical particulars. Although not in-
cluded in Mr. Graham's volume of poems, the editor
believes that he does not incorrectly attribute the
authorship of the following spirited verses to that gen-
tleman,
" Derriaua ! lovely dame,
By many suitors courted ;
Thy beauty rare and deeds of fame,
Have been but ill reported.
* Belfast, 1829.
4t> UNDAUNTED LONDONDERRY.
" Seated in dignity serene
Beside a crystal fountain,
In radiant comeliness thou'rt seen
O'ershadowed by a mountain.
" Round tliee are groves and villas bright,
And temples of devotion ;
Fair fields for plenty and delight,
And inlets of the ocean.
" What was proud Troy compared to thee,
Though Hector did command her ?
How great thy Foyle would seem to be
Near Homer's old Scamander !
" Like thee, two sieges sharp she stood.
By timid friends forsaken ;
But, unlike thee, twice drenched in blood.
She fainted and was taken.
" What was her cause compared to thine ?
A harlot she protected ;
But thou for Liberty divine
All compromise rejected.
" But Troy a bard of brilliant mind
Found out to sing her glory,
While thou canst only dunces find
To mar thy greater story."
UNDAUNTED LONDONDERRY.
Protestant boys, both valliant and stout,
Fear not the strength and power of Rome,
Thousands of them are put to the rout,
Brave Londonderry tells 'urn their doom ;
UNDAUNTED LONDONDERRY. 47
For their cannons roar like thunder,
Being resolved the town to maintain ;
For William and Mary, still brave Londonderry,
Will give the proud French and Tories their bane.
Time after time, with powder and balls,
Protestant souls they did 'um salute ;
That before Londonderry's stout walls,
Many are slain and taken to boot ;
Nay, their noble Duke of Berwick,
Many reports, is happily tane,*
Where still they confine him, and will not resign him.
Till they have given the Tories their bane.
Into the town their bombs they did throw,f
Being resolved to fire the same.
Hoping thereby to lay it all low,
Could they but raise it into a flame ;
But the polititious Walker, j
By an intreague did quail them again,
And blasted the glory of French, Teague, and Tory,
By policy, boys, he gave them their bane.
Thundering stones they laid on the wall
Ready against the enemy came, §
With which they vow'd the Tories to mawl
Whene'er they dare approach but the same.
* See note (A). J See note (B).
t See note (C). § See note (D).
48 UNDAUNTED LONDONDERRY.
And another sweet invention,
The which in brief I reckon to name ;
A sharp bloody slaughter, did soon follow after,
Among the proud French, and gave 'em their bane.
Stubble and straw in parcels they laid.
The which they straightways kindled with speed ;
By this intreague the French was betrayed.
Thinking the town was fired indeed.*
Then they placed their scaling ladders.
And o'er the walls did scour amain ;
Yet strait, to their wonder, they were cut in sunder,
Thus Frenchmen and Tories met with their bane.
Suddenly, then, they opened their gate,
Sallying forth with vigour and might ;
And, as the truth I here may relate,
Protestant boys did valliantly fight,
Taking many chief commanders,f
While the sharp fray they thus did maintain
With vigorous courses, they routed their forces.
And many poor Teagues did meet with their bane.
While with their blood the cause they have sealed,
Heaven upon their actions did frown,
Protestants took the spoil of the field.
Cannons full five they brought to the town.
* See note (E). f See note (F).
UNDAUNTED LONDONDERRY. 49
With a lusty, large, great mortar
Tims they returned with honour and gain,
While Papists did scour from Protestant power,
As fearing they all should suffer their bane.
In a short time we hope to arrive
With a vast army to Ireland,
And the affairs so well we'll contrive.
That they shall ne'er have power to stand
'Gainst King William and Queen Mary,
W^ho in the throne does flourish and reign ;
We'll down with the faction that make the distraction.
And give the proud French and Tories their bane.
NOTES.
(A) In a sally, which was made by the garrison of London-
derry towards the end of April, " the Duke of Berwick re-
ceived a slight wound in his back." This was probably the
origin of the report mentioned in the song, and fixes the pre-
cise date of its composition to have been May 1689, as no
allusion to any subsequent occurrence is made.
(B) A list of the number of bombs throwTi into London -
deny daily during the siege, may be found in Walker's
" Diary." The total number was 587, besides cannon-balls
of twenty pounds' weight.
£
50 UNDAUNTED LONDONDERRY.
(C) " Violent disagreements arose as to the most acceptable
modes of addressing the Supreme Being. Some of the clergy
denounced those as unworthy to assist in the defence of the
town who refused to take the solemn covenant ; but the good
sense of Walker and others appeased the tumult as often as
it broke forth, and no serious consequences followed." —
O'DriscoVs Ireland, vol. ii. p 16.
(D) The labour was probably performed by the women. In
Mackenzie's Narrative of the Siege (London, 1690), under
date of the 4th of June, it is stated, that " our women, also,
did good service, carrying ammunition, match, bread, and
drink to our men, and assisted to very good purpose at the
Bogg side, in beating off the granadiers with stones, who
came so near to our lines."
(E) This seems to refer to the burning of some houses
outside the walls soon after the commencement of the siege.
"The first thing they [the governors] went upon, was the
burning of all the houses clear round the town without the
walls, and levelling their rubbish and ditches, so that the
enemy might not sculk in them and gall the men on the
walls." — A true and impartial Account of the most material
passages in Ireland, since December 1688, p. 27. London,
1689.
(F) No doubt an allusion to the sally made by the besieged
on the 6th of May, when, according to Mackenzie, " the men
were impatient, and ran out of their own accord." Lord
Neterville, Sir Gerald Aylmur, and Lieut.-Col. Talbot (called
Wicked Will), and who afterwards died of his wounds, were
taken prisoners in this affair.
UNDAUNTED LONDONDERRY. 51
ADDITIONAL NOTE.
Mr. Bruce views the action of this ballad in somewhat a
different light from the Editor. He says : — " Are you satisfied
that the lines to which your notes C, E, and F refer, relate to
separate transactions, which, if I apply the notes correctly
you seem to consider them to do ? The song reads to me as
if the whole of its action related to one incident in the siege-
The French threw their bombs, hoping to set the town on fire.
Walker defeated them by a stratagem. Stones had been pre-
viously piled on the walls, — he collected stubble and set it on
fire. The French thought they had succeeded, and mounted
the walls, where Walker's troops were ready stationed to use
their piles of stones and cut the assailants ' in sunder.' No
sooner had they thus repelled them, than out they sallied
'with vigour and might,' and took the 'many chief com-
manders.' I think it is all one. If not, I do not understand
the praise of Walker's intrigue."
THE PROTESTANT COMMANDER.
On the 20th of March, 1690, in compliance with a
royal summons, a new parliament met at Westminster.
On the following day, King William addressed himself
to both houses, stating that he was resolved to leave
nothing unattempted on his part which might contribute
to the prosperity of the nation ; and finding his presence
in Ireland would be absolutely necessary for the more
e2
52 THE PROTESTANT COMMANDER.
speedy reducing of that kingdom, he continued his re-
solution of going thither as soon as might be, and he
had now called them together for their assistance, to
enable him to prosecute the war with speed and vigour.
The king concluded a long speech by observing, that
the season of the year and his journey into Ireland,
would admit but of a very short session, so that he re-
commended to them the making such despatch, that
they might not be engaged in debates when their ene-
mies were in the field.
" All the people," says Dean Story, " were now big
with hopes of his Majesty's coming for Ireland, who left
Kensington the 4th of June, 1690, took shipping at
Hylake on the 12th, and on the l^th, being Saturday,
he landed, about four in the afternoon, at Carigfergus ;*
from whence, being upon the road to Belfast, he was
met by the general, Major-General Kirk, and a great
many more officers of the army, that were expecting
his Majesty's landing. And that evening landed his
highness Prince George, the Duke of Ormond, Earl of
Oxford, Earl of Portland, Earl of Scarborough, Earl
of Manchester, my Lord Overkirk, my Lord Sidney,
with a great many other persons of quality, some of
them officers in tlie army, and others volunteers."
The following song is entitled, " The Protestant Com-
mander, or a Dialogue between him and his loving
* "A large stone at the point of the quay is still called
' King- William's stone,' from his having set his foot on it
when lauding." — McSkimin^s History of Carrichfcnjus.
THE PROTESTANT COMMANDER. 53
Lady, at his departure hence with his Majesty King
WilHam, for the expedition in Ireland. To the tune of
' Let Caesar live long.' Licensed according to order."
It is copied from a collection of ballads and broadsides,
in two vols, folio, in the British Museum, and is in
black letter, except the two last lines or chorus of each
verse, which are in Roman letter, with the exception of
the words " King William." This song is " printed for
P. Brooksby. J. Deacon.'' The rest of the imprint is
cut off, but it probably was " J. Blare and J. Black,"
as these persons appear to have been the principal
ballad publishers in London during the Revolution of
1688.
THE PROTESTANT COMMANDER.
Farewell, my sweet lady, my love, and delight.
Under great King WiUiam in person I'lPfight ;
Wherefore for awhile I must leave thee behind,
Yet let not my absence, love, trouble thy mind :
In Dublin city our king we'll proclaim.
And crown him with trophies of honour and fame.
An army we have of true Protestant boys,
Who fears not the French nor the Irish, dear joys ;
We'll freely salute them with powder and ball,
Till we have utterly routed them all ;
The sword of King William his name shall proclaim,
And crown him with trophies of honour and fame.
54 THE PROTESTANT COMMANDER.
Love, let me go with thee, the lady reply 'd,
I freely can venture to die by thy side ;
A heart of true courage I bear in my breast,
Therefore for King William I vow and protest,
A sword I will flourish his name to proclaim.
And crown him with trophies of honour and fame.
I'll strip off these jewels and rings which I wear,
And other apparel in brief I'll prepare ;
In bright shining armour I then will appear.
And march in the field by the side of my dear ;
The conquering sword shall King William proclaim,
And crown him with trophies of honour and fame.
My jewel, if thou hast a mind to go o'er
Along with thy love to the Irish shore ;
I freely will give my consent to this thing,
Yet not like a souldier to fight for the king :
His army is able his name to proclaim,
And crown him with trophies of honour and fame.
The court is more fit than the camp for my dear,
Where beautiful ladies in glory appear ;
W^hile soldiers of fortune must fight in the field,
Until they have made the proud enemy yield.
The conquering sword shall King William proclaim,
And crown him with trophies of honour and fame.
My dearest, said she, I'll to Ireland go,
I value not courts, neither fear I the foe ;
THE PROTESTANT COMMANDER. 55
Thy presence will yield me both joy and delight;
I'll wait in thy tent till, returning from fight,
The conquering sword does King William proclaim.
And crown him with trophies of honour and fame.
If thou shouldst be wounded, ray dear, in the field,
Then shall I be ready some succour to yield,
'Tis true, my sweet lady, he straitways reply'd,
Thy earnest desire shall not be deny'd ;
Our conquering sword shall King William proclaim,
And crown him with trophies of honour and fame.
The French and the Tories King William will rout,
From city to castle he'll course them about;
We'll make the poor Teagues to quite change their tone,
From Lilli burlero to Ah 1 hone, ah ! hone.
With conquering sword we'll King William proclaim.
And crown him with trophies of honour and fame.
The Frenchmen the height of our fury shall feel.
We'll chase them with swords of true-tempered steel ;
They, food for the ravens and crows shall be made,
To* teach them hereafter that land to invade.
Then through the whole nation our king we'll proclaim.
And crown him with tropliies of honour and fame.
* " And" in the printed copy, probahly a printer's error.
" To" is substituted as the more obvious readino-.
i)6
THE BOYNE WATER.
The Battle of the Boyne, although in its result
among the most important in English history, was, as a
battle, neither remarkable for the length of time it
occupied, the severity of the conflict, the number of
killed, nor the skill displayed on either side.
A veteran, who was himself engaged in this battle,
has left us the following description of it,* which will
serve to correct the inflated accounts given by various
historians. " On the 29th of June we advanced to
Atherdee [Ardee], and on the 30th marched up to the
enemy and encamped within cannon-shot of them.
They were drawn up in good order, and to great ad-
vantage, on the other side of the Boyne, and seemed
resolved to dispute the passage of the river with us.
There was a rising ground on our side, which over-
looked their whole situation ; to this place they con-
cluded the King [William] would come to make his
observations. Whereupon they planted four field-
* " Memoirs of the most remarkable military transactions,
from the year 1683 to 1718, containing a more particular
account than any yet published, of the several battles, sieges,
&c. in Ireland and Flanders, during the reigns of King
William and Queen Anne, by Captain Robert Parker, late of
the Royal Regiment of Foot in Ireland, who was an eye-wit-
ness to most of them. Published by his son. Second Edition."
London, 1753.
THE BOYNE WATER. 57
pieces in a place proper for their purpose, under covert
of some buslies, which prevented them from being
discovered. The king came this evening to the very
spot they expected, and had not been long there when
they fired their four field-pieces at him. One of the
balls grazed on his shoulder, tore his clothes, and raised
a contusion in his skin ; but he soon had it dressed, and
shewed himself to the army. However, the enemy
observing some confusion in those about the king, con-
cluded he was killed ; and this news soon flew to Dub-
lin, and from thence to Paris, where they had public
rejoicings for it.
" Upon the king's taking a view of the enemy
[James's armyj, he observed they were strongly posted,
and drawn up to great advantage ; and saw plainly it
would be a difficult matter to force them from their
ground, unless some measures were taken before the
battle began, which might oblige them to break the
order they were drawn up in. Upon this a council of
war was held, in which it was resolved tiiat Lieut.-
General Douglas should march by break of day, with
about 8,000 men, to the ford of Slane, two miles up
the river, in order to pass there, and fall on the left
flank of the enemy, while the king, with the main of
the army, charged thera in front.
" Early next morning, being the first of July, both
armies were drawn up in order of battle, and General
Douglas marched ofi' with his detachment. The enemy
perceiving this, ordered oflT the greatest part of their
left wing to oppose Douglas ; and they were put into
58 THE BOYNE WATER.
no small confusion, in drawing troops from other parts
in order to make good their left, which they had weak-
ened. This answered the king's expectation, who,
perceiving the disorder they were in, ordered the army
to pass the river.* The front line was over before the
enemy had recovered their disorder, and the king soon
passed over and put himself at the head of them. The
enemy, being now prepared, charged our first line, and
broke through some of them. And some of ours, in
their turn, obliged some of theirs to scamper. By this
time, our whole army having passed the river, we
charged each other alternately with various success.
But the engagement did not last long, for they soon
took to their heels, even before Douglas could come up
to engage those that were sent against him, notwithstand-
ing he had passed the ford before the king began the
battle.
" I have met," adds Captain Parker, " with several
accounts of this battle ; some of them very particular
in reciting all the charges and repulses that had been
made on both sides, as if it had lasted the greatest part
of the day, and the field had been covered with slain.
But, after all, the enemy made but a poor fight of it, as
may appear by the loss on both sides. The enemy had
not quite 800 killed, and about as many taken ; and
we not above 500 killed, and as many wounded."
This total of thirteen hundred killed, where sixty
* According to Story, " it was about a quarter past ten
when our [William's] Foot first entered the river."
THE BOYNE WATER. 59
thousand men were in the field to contest the crown of
England, headed by the claimants in person, gives the
Battle of the Boyne the character rather of a mere
skirmish to pass a difficult ford of a river than of an
important victory. In fact, it was James's panic that
made the Battle of the Boyne memorable.
" And a mighty creditable thing it was, surely, to
that same King William, as you call him, and some-
thing to boast of," observed an Irishman, commenting
upon this victory, " a miglity creditable thing, indeed,
to turn out against a man's father-in-law, and to beat
him."
It is noticed by Mr. Lockhart, in his life of Sir
Walter Scott, that an old officer of dragoons, hearing
of the arrival of " the great unknown" at Drogheda
(July 1825), sent in his card, with the polite offer to
attend him over the field of the Battle of the Boyne,
about two miles off, which, of course, was accepted.
" Sir Walter," adds Mr. Lockhart, " rejoicing the ve-
teran's heart by his vigorous recitation of the famous
ballad ( The crossing of the water) as we proceeded to
the ground, and the eager and intelligent curiosity with
which he received his explanations; of it."
This song has been called " the Great Orange Song
of Ireland. ' The present version is given from a MS.
copy, in the Editor's possession, which corrects the read-
ing of a line in the seventh verse, invariably printed —
" And tried at Milmouiit after.
60 THE BOYNE WATER.
THE BOYNE WATER.
July the first, in Oldbridge town,*
There was a grievous battle,
Where many a man lay on the ground,
By the cannons that did rattle.
King James he pitched his tents between
The lines for to retire ;
But King William threw his bomb-balls in.
And set them all on fire.
Thereat enraged, they vow'd revenge
Upon King William's forces ;
And often did cry vehemently,
That they would stop their courses :
A bullet from the Irish came.
Which grazed King William's arm:
They thought his majesty was slain,
Yet it did him little harm.
Duke Schomberg then, in friendly care,
His king would often caution
To shun the spot, where bullets hot
Retain'd their i-apid motion.
But William said, — He don't deserve
The name of Faith's defender.
That would not venture life and limb
To make a foe surrender.
* See note (A).
THE BOYNE WATER. 61
When we the Boyne began to cross,
The enemy they descended ;
But few of" our brave men were lost.
So stoutly we defended.
The horse was the first that marched o'er,
The foot soon followed a'ter,
But brave Duke Schomberg was no more
By venturing over the water.
When valiant Schomberg he was slain,
King William thus accosted
His warlike men, for to march on,
And he would be tiie foremost.
" Brave boys," he said, " be not dismayed
For the losing of one commander ;
For God will be our king this day,
And I'll be general under."
Then stoutly we the Boyne did cross,
To give our enemies battle ;
Our cannon, to our foes' great cost,
Like thundering claps did rattle.
In majestic mien our prince rode o'er,
His men soon followed a'ter:
With blows and shouts put our foes to the route,
The day we crossed the water.
The Protestants of Drogheda
Have reasons to be thankful
That they were not to bondage brought,
They being but a handful :
62 THE BOYNE WATER.
First to the Tholsel they were brought.
And tied at Mihuount a'ter,*
But brave King William set them free,
By venturing over the water.
The cunning French, near to Duleek,]-
Had taken up their quarters ;
And fenced themselves on evei'y side,
Still waiting for new orders.
But in the dead time of the night,
They set the field on fire ;
And, long before the morning light,
To Dublin they did retire.
Then said King William to his men,
After the French departed —
" I'm glad," said he, " that none of ye
Seemed to be faint-hearted.
So sheath your swords, and rest awhile ;
In time we'll follow a'ter."
These words he uttered with a smile,
The day he crossed the water.
Come, let us all, with heart and voice.
Applaud our lives' defender,
Who, at the Boyne, his valour shewed,
And made his foes surrender.
* See note (B). f See note (C).
THE BOYNE WATER. 63
To God above the praise we'll give,
Both now and ever a'ter ;
And bless the "glorious memory"*
Of KingWilliam that crossed theBoyne water.
NOTES.
(A) The Dutch guards first entered the river Boyne at a
ford opposite to the little village of Oldhridge.
(B) " After the battle of the Boyne, the popish garrison of
Drogheda took the protestants out of prison, into which they
had thrown them, and carried them to the Mount; where
they expected the cannon would play, if King William's
forces besieged the town. They tied them together, and set
them to receive the shot; but their hearts failed them who
were to defend the place, and so it pleased God to preserve
the poor protestants." — Memoirs of Ireland, hy the Author of
the Secret History of Europe. (1716) p. 221.
(C) "When, in the coursebf the day, the battle approached
James's position on the hill of Donore, the warlike prince
retired to a more secure distance at Duleek, where he soon
put himself at the head of his French allies, and led the
retreat ; the king and the French coming off without a scar."
— O^DriscoVs History of Ireland, ii. 1 16.
(D) Many curious anecdotes might be told about " the
glorious memory." It was the fashion among the whigs of
* See note (D).
64 THE DEATH OF THE
William and Anne's time, as it was among the tories of our
day, to drink " the glorious, pious, and immortal memory" of
King William IIT ; which is supposed to have induced Dr.
Peter Brown, Bishop of Cork, to publish, in 1715, a little
volume which was much spoken of, intitled " Of Drinking in
Remembrance of the Dead ;" and in the following year " A
Discourse on Drinking Healths." His notion was, that
drinking to the dead is tantamount to praying for them, and
not, as is truly the case, in approbation of ceilaiu conduct or
principles. Neither whigs nor tories have been less copious
of their libations in consequence ; and the only effect Dr.
Bro^vn's books appear to have had, was the production of an
addenda to the obnoxious toast, " and a fig for the Bishop of
Cork."
THE DEATH OF THE DUKE OF
SCHOMBERG.
" The renowned Duke of Schomberg or Schonberg,"
says a contemporary writer, " was a person of firm and
composed courage, and one of the best generals that
France ever bred. To the laurels he gathered in Cata-
lonia and in Flanders, he added the glory of having
fixed the present King of Portugal* on his throne, and
of having been instrumental to the settlement of King
William. He had a great experience of the world,
* Pedro II.
DUKE OF SCHOMBERG. ^5
knew men and things better thaii any man of his pro-
fession ever did, and was as great in council as at the
head of an army. In his declining years, his memory
very much failed, but his judgment remained true and
clear to the last. He appeared courteous and affable
to everybody, and yet he had an air of grandeur that
commanded respect from all. He was of a middle
stature, fair complexioned, a very sound hardy man of
his age, and sat a horse incomparably well. As he
loved always to be neat in his cloaths, so he was ever
pleasant in his conversation, of which this repartee is a
pregnant instance. Sometime before he went for Ire-
land, he was walking in St. James's Park, amidst crowds
of the young and gay, and being asked, what a man of
his age had to do with such company? — his answer
was, that a good General makes his retreat as late as
he can. — He was eighty-two years of age when he was
killed."
Notwithstanding the great age of the Duke of Schom-
berg, William determined to entrust to him the com-
mand of an expedition into Ireland, on the result of
which depended the crown of England. " It is a proof
of the deep importance which the British parliament
attached to this expedition, that the House of Commons
sent for Schomberg, on his appointment, and the
Speaker having ordered a chair for the veteran, made
him a complimentary speech ; after which the House
voted him a sum of £100,000, a vast sura of money at
that period. In addition <o this munificent grant, the
F
QQ THE DEATH OF THE
General was created a Duke by the King, and presented
with the Order of the Garter."*
Schomberg landed at Carrickfergus, on the 13th of
August, 1689, with about ten thousand men. His
campaign, although unmarked by any brilliant achieve-
ment, was severe and distressing in no ordinary degree;
and all his judgment and coolness (no doubt, the qua-
lities for which he had been selected by William) Avere
required to preserve himself and his master from de-
feat.
Before the Battle of the Boyne, in which Schomberg
fell, he is said to have remonstrated with William
against attacking the enemy in so strong a position as
that occupied by James's army. The Prince of Orange
(for, until after that battle, William, although proclaimed
in England and acknowledged by several foreign powers,
can scarcely be called king) determined otherwise ; and
it has been well remarked, that "he reasoned as a king,
Schomberg argued as a general ; and though they dif-
fered, they were both right." The Duke, it is stated,
retired from the council of war to his tent, dissatisfied
that certain movements, which he had suggested, were
not adopted, and when the order of battle was brought
to him, he took it with discontent and indifference, ob-
serving, " It was the first that ever was sent him."
* O'Diiscol's History of Ireland, ii.p. 51. It should be
observed, that of this sum of £100,000, the duke received
but a small part ; his sou had £5,000 per annum paid him by
Kins: Willia:ii in lieu of the remainder.
DUKE OF SCHOMBERG. 67
Schomberg received his death-wound while leading
some French cavalry and infantry, whom he had rallied
a second time, across the Boyne. " Allons, Messieurs,
voila vos persecuteurs I" exclaimed the Duke ; and he
had scarcely uttered these words, when two sabre cuts
on the head, but not mortal wounds, were given to him
by some of James' guards, who were retreating full
speed to the main body.
" In this hurry," to use the words of Captain Par-
ker, " he was killed, some said by his own men, as they
fired on the enemy, and some said, otherwise; but that
which passed current in the army that day, and indeed
seems most probable, was, that he was shot by a trooper
that had deserted from his own regiment about a year
before, and was then in King James's guards." The
skull, which is shewn in St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin,
as that of the gallant Schomberg, appears to have been
penetrated by a ball in the forehead.
"The remains of this great General," says Mr. Wil-
liam Monck Mason,* " were removed to this cathedral
immediately after the Battle of Boyne, where they lay
until tiie 10th of July, and were then deposited under
the altar ; the interment of Duke Schomberg is noted
with a pencil in the register; the entry is almost illegible,
insomuch that it has been often sought for in vain.
Although he well merited from the gratitude of a
country in whose cause he fell, and the favour of a
* " History of St. Patrick's," Appendix I, note (A).
F 2
68 THE DEATH OF THE
prince whom he faithfully served, such a testimonial, no
memorial of the place of his interment was erected un-
til the year 1731.
" Dean Swift, besides his anxiety to embellish this
his cathedral, was actuated by a just indignation to-
wards the relations of this great man, who, though they
derived all their wealth and honours from him, neglected
to pay the smallest tribute of respect to his remains;
he therefore caused this stone [a slab of black marble
fixed in the wall near the monument of Archbishop
Jones] to be erected, and himself dictated the inscrip-
tion, which is as follows :
" Hie infra situm est corpus Frederici Ducis de Schon-
berg ad Bubindam, occisi a.d. 1690.
" Decanus et capitulum maximopere etiam atque
etiam petierunt, ut hseredes Ducis monumentum in
memoriam parentis erigendum curarent.
" Sed postquam per epistolas, per amicos, diu ac
saepe orando nil profecere ; hunc demum lapidem sta-
tuerunt; saltem ut scias hospes ubinam terrarum Schon-
BERGENSES cinercs delitescunt.*
* In a letter to the Countess of Suffolk respecting this
monument, Dean Swift says : — " And I will confess it was upon
their [the Chapter's] advice that T omitted the only two passages
which had much bitterness in them; and which a bishop here,
one after your own heart, blamed me very much for leaving
out: declaring the treatment given us by the Schomberg
family deserved a great deal worse. Indeed, madam, I shall
not attempt to convince England of anything that relates to
tliis kingdom."
" One of the passages to which he alludes in this letter Dr.
DUKE OF SCHOMBERG. 6.9
" Plus potuit fama virtutis apud alienos quam san-
guinis proximitas apud suos. a.d. 1731.
" Dean Swift, before he caused this stone to be
erected, made repeated applications to the descendants
of this nobleman, and endeavoured to interest them so
far as to contribute somewhat toward erecting a monu-
ment to his memory; on the lOth May, 1728, he wrote
a letter to Lord Carteret, from which I extract the fol-
lowing passage :
" ' The great Duke of Schomberg is buried under
the altar in my cathedral. My Lady Holderness is
ray old acquaintance; and I writ her about a. small
sum to make a monument for her grandfather. I writ
to her myself; and also, there was a letter from the
Dean and Chapter, to desire she would order a monu-
ment to be raised for him in my cathedral. It seems
Mildmay, now Lord Fitzwalter, her husband, is a
covetous fellow ; or whatever is the matter, we have
had no answer. I desire you will tell Lord Fitzwalter,
that if he will not send fifty pounds to make a monu-
ment for the old duke, I and the Chapter will erect a
small one of ourselves for ten pounds ; whereon it shall
be expressed, that the posterity of the duke, naming
particularly Lady Holderness and Mr. Mildmay, not
having the generosity to erect a monument, we have
Delany informs us was as follows : — instead of ' Saltern ut
scias hospes,' &o. it stood thus : ' Saltem ut sciat viator in-
dignabundus, quali in cellula, tanti ductoris cineres delites-
cunt.' "
70 THE DEATH OF THE
done it of ourselves. And if, for an excuse, they pretend
they will send for his body, let them know it is mine ;
and, rather than send it, I will take up the bones, and
make of it a skeleton, and put it in ray register office
to be a memorial of their baseness to all posterity.
This I expect your Excellency will tell Mr. Mildmay,
or, as you now call him, Lord Fitzwalter ; and I expect
likewise that he will let Sir Conyers D'Arcy know how
ill I take his neglect in this matter; although to do him
justice, he averred, 'that Mildmay was so avaricious a
wretch, that he would let his own father be buried
without a coffin, to save charges.'" — Swift's Works, vol.
xvii. p. 219. Scott's Edition.
Swift's letter repeating his application to the Countess
of Holderness on this subject, dated the 22nd May,
1729^ is entered on the book of Chapter-minutes, and
is printed by Mr. Mason in his history of St. Patrick's.
" When this inscription was first set up. Swift was
informed that it had given great offence," and he wrote
to his friend Pope on the occasion (29th July, 1731).
See Scott's Edition of Swift, vol. xvii. p. 412. In the
same volume, p. 416, and p. 449, may be found two
letters from Swift, dated 24th July, and 26th October,
1731, to the Countess of Suffolk, referring to this mo-
nument, the latter of which contains this passage: —
" Why should the Schoraberg family be so uneasy at
a thing they were so long warned of, and were told they
might prevent for fifty pounds ?"
The following Lament is given from a black-letter
copy in a Collection of Ballads, &c. 2 vols, folio, in the
DUKE OF SCHOMBERG. 71
British Museum. It is entitled, " Tlie Valiant Soul-
dier's Misfortune, or His Grace the Duke of Schom-
berg's last farewell. To the tune of ' The Souldier's
Departure.' Licensed according to Order, and printed
for P. Brooksby, J. Deacon, J. Blare, J. Black." Two
rude wood-cuts embellish this ballad ; one of which
represents a battle, and bears, in a conspicuous part, the
initials I. D. The other cut is a monumental effigy.
THE DEATH OF THE DUKE OP^ SCHOMBERG.
Let all noble stout commanders.
Likewise souldiers, foot and horse,
Both in England, Holland, Flanders,
Now lament this heavy loss,
Of a right renowned leader.
Who did many fights maintain,
The Duke Schomberg, gentle reader,
He in Ireland was slain.
With a right heroick spirit
He was evermore endu'd,
Fame and glory did he merit
As his foes he still subdu'd.
Where the guns did roar like thunder,
Bloudy fights he did maintain.
Filling all the world with wonder.
But great Schomberg now is slain.
72 THE DEATH OF THE
At the head of warlike forces,
Did he place his chief delight.
Taking such effectual courses
That his foes he put to flight;
Where the warlike drums did rattle,
Bloudy fights he did maintain
Never did he lose a battle.
Yet great Schomberg now is slain.
Though great councils did assemble,
To oppose him in the field ;
Yet he made them quake and tremble,
And as soon submit and yield.
Nay, his very name they dreaded.
Causing them to flye amain,
Many armies hath he headed,
Yet at last he now is slain.
Righteous causes he defended,
And would wronged monarchs right ;
So that blessings still attended
Him in shining armour bright :
By the sword he purchased glory,
Which the world can never stain,
Though he, by a rebel Tory,
Was in sharp battle slain.
He in warlike flaming fire,
Salamander-like did live ;
Nothing did he more desire
Than a fatal stroke to give,
DUKE OF SCHOMBERG. 73
To a rude rebellious faction,
Who in villanies did reign ;
But in the late Irish action,
Noble Schomberg he was slain.
Pale-faced Death has now confiii'd him
In a narrow silent tomb ;
Yet a name he left behind him,*
Sweeter than a rich perfume.
Let his actions be recorded
In the lasting rolls of fame,
In another world rewarded,
Noble Schomberg, who was slain.
Though his death may be lamented,
France shall have no cause to boast.
Their designs will be prevented
By our warlike armed host ;
Who, with courage, will pursue them,
Britain's freedom to maintain,
And has valiant courage shew'd 'em,
Though great Schomberg he is slain.
Towns and castles do's surrender
To our right renowned King,
The true Christian Faith's defender
Through the land his fame do's ring :
Nay, his very foes adore him,
Wishing that he long may reign ;
BoySj he conquers all before him,
Though great Schomberg he is slain.
* In the original erroneously printed " himer."
74
THE WOMAN WAEEIOR,
" Who," says the introduction prefixed to this song,
in D'Urfey's " Pills to Purge Melancholy,"* " lived in
Cow Cross, near West Smithfield ; who, changing her
apparel, entered herself on board in quality of a sol-
dier, and sailed to Ireland, where she valiantly behaved
herself, particularly at the siege of Cork, -where she lost
her toes, and received a mortal wound in her body, of
which she died in her return to London."
Whether the foundation of this song be true, or a
mere poetical invention, the Editor is unable to deter-
mine. Many instances, however, are on record of the
gallantry of " Warrior Women, " especially during
revolutionary times. The lamentation for the heroine
of Cow Cross, the Mary Ambree of her age, appears
to have been one of the many indirect efforts made to
bring into popular notice the military skill of the
famous Duke, then the Earl of Marlborough. William
III had returned to England, after an unsuccessful
effort to reduce Limerick ; and Marlborough, anxious
to distinguish himself, was, it is believed, appointed to
the command of an expedition for Ireland, by the in-
fluence of the Princess Anne's party, who urged the
necessity of securing Cork and Kinsale, which were
open to receive troops or supplies from France for the
* Vol. V. p. 8. 1719.
THE WOMAN AVARRIOR. 75
support of the cause of James. William, although he
could not well refuse his sanction to the proposed ex-
pedition, is said to have viewed it with a jealous eye,
and to have caused what is asserted to be the unneces-
sary co-operation of the Duke of Wirtemberg at the
head of a body of foreign troops, which led to a dis-
pute between Marlborough and Wirtemberg, as to the
command, and ended in an adjustment that they should
command alternate days.
Dryden, in his prologue to " The Mistakes," a play
written by Joseph Harris, comedian, says :
" Our young poet has brought a piece of work,
In which though much of art there does not lurk,
It may hold out three days, and that's as long as Cork."
And as Marlborough commanded on the first and third
days of the siege : viz. the 27th and 29th September,
1690, he obtained the credit of taking Cork. As a
military exploit it was one of no great difficulty ; but
in a political point of view it was important, and the
achievement was proportionably magnified for party
purposes. Marlborough's success at Cork may be
considered as the foundation of his future fame and
fortune. " The Earl arrived at Kensington on the
2Sth October," says a contemporary writer, " where he
received that favourable welcome from their majesties
which his great services deserved. How his lordship
came a year after to lay down his employments is still
a secret."
Immediately after the taking of Cork, Kinsale sur-
76 THE WOMAN AVARRIOR.
rendered; and the adherents of James truly sung, in
rhymes still current in Ireland :
" We have no fortresses that we can call our own,
But Limerick stout, Gal way, and brave Athlone."
THE WOMAN WARRIOR.
Let the females attend
To the lines which are penn'd,
For here I shall give a relation
Of a young mai'ry'd wife
Who did venture her life ;
For a soldier, a soldier she went from the nation.
She her husband did leave.
And did likewise I'eceive
Her arras, and on board she did enter ;
And right valiantly went
With a resolution bent
To the ocean, the ocean, her life there to venture.
Yet of all the ship's crew,
Not a seaman that knew
They then had a woman so near 'em ;
On the ocean so deep
She her counsel did keep,
Ay, and therefore, and therefore she never did
fear 'em.
THE WOMAN WARRIOR. 77
She was valiant and bold,
And would not be control'd
By any that dare to offend her ;
If a quarrel arose,
She would give him dry blows,
And the captain, the captain did highly commend
her.
For he took her to be
Then of no mean degree,
A gentleman's son, or a squire ;
With a hand white and fair.
There was none could compare,
Which the captain, the captain did often admire.
On the Irish shore,
Where the cannons did roar.
With many stout lads she was landed ;
There her life to expose.
She lost two of her toes.
And in battle, in battle was daily commended.
Under Grafton* she fought.
Like a brave hero stout.
And made the proud Tories retire ;
She in field did appear
With a heart void of fear.
And she bravely, she bravely did cliarge and
give fire.
* See note (A).
78 THE WOMAN WARRIOR.
While the battering balls,
Did assault the strong walls
Of Cork, and sweet trumpets sounded ;
She did bravely advance
Where by unhappy chance
This young female, young female, alas! was
wounded.
At the end of the fray
Still she languishing lay,
Then over the ocean they brought her,
To her own native shore:
Now they ne'er knew before
That a woman, a woman hadbeen in that slaughter.
What she long had conceal'd
Now at length she reveal'd,
That she was a woman that ventur'd ;
Then to London with care
She did straightways repair.
But she dy'd, oh she dy'd e'er the city she enter'd.
When her parents beheld,
They with sorrow was fill'd.
For why, they did dearly adore her ;
In her grave now she lies,
Tis not watery eyes,
No, nor sighing, nor sighing that e'er can re-
store her.
THE WOMAN WARRIOR. 79
NOTE.
(A) The Duke of Grafton (son of Charles II) served as a
volunteer at the siege of Cork, and received a mortal wound
in his shoulder, while leading some grenadiers to the assault.
The place where he fell, which then was a marsh, has since
been built upon, and the street named " Grafton's Alley,"
from this event. The Duke died at Cork on the 9th October.
(" London Gazette," 2,604.) " His bowels," says Fitzgerald,
in his rude local chronicle, " The Cork Remembrancer,"
c'were buried at Spring Garden, and his body carried to Eng-
land." The following jocular and equivocal epitaph on the
Duke of Grafton's death, does full justice to his bravery :
" Beneath this place
Is stowed his Grace
The Duke of Grafton ;
As shai-p a Made
As e'er was made ,
Or e'er had haft on ;
Who ne'er turn'd tail,
Though shot hke hail
Flew 'bout his ears,
Througli pikes and spears
So thick they hid the sun.
He valued not the balls of gun,
He ne'er would dread
Shot made of lead,
Or cannon ball,
Nothing at all.
Yet a Itullet of Cork
Soon did his work ;
Unhappy pellet,
With grief I tell it,
It has undone
Great Caesar's son,
A statesman spoiled,
A soldier foiled,
God rot him
Wlio sht)t liim,
A son of a whore,
I say no more."
80
THE CONQUEST OF IRELAND.
When the Editor placed before the Council of the
Percy Society, the extremely rare, if not unique,
pamphlet, in which the following curious contemporary
song, on the I'eturn of William III from Ireland, occurs,
the wish of the Council appeared to be, that, instead
of inserting merely the song in the present collection,
the pamphlet should be reprinted entire.
This pamphlet is a small quarto, consisting of
eighteen pages, and entitled " La Conquete d'Irlande ;
Dialogue en Vers." The imprint : " A Londres, chez
R. Baldwin, dans Warwick Lane, a I'Enseigne des
Armes d'Oxford. 1691." It was formerly, as appears
from the stamp, " bibliotheca heberiana," in the
possession of the late Mr. Heber. The character of
this production resembles the masque of Charles the
First's time, and that it was written by a French refugee
is certain, from the national feeling evident in many
passages. Neither can it escape the reader how politely
the exiled king is treated in a party song ; there is
nothing of asperity — no abuse whatever ; he is merely
" the unfortunate Mceris." If it had been the produc-
tion of an English pen, James's " papistrie" would
scarcely have been passed without notice.
With respect to the reception given by King William
to the French Protestants, it has been observed* that
* The History of King William III. (1702) vol. ii. p. 78.
THE CONQUEST OF IRELAND. 81
" it became a prince who owed his greatness to his
being the support of the Protestant interest to cast an
eye of compassion upon those who had abandoned their
possessions and various callings in France upon the
score of religion ; wherefore his Majesty issued out a
proclamation, [25th April, 1689] whereby he declared,
'That finding in his subjects a true and just sense of
their deliverance from the persecution lately threatning
them for their religion, and of the miseries and oppres-
sions the French Protestants lay under, such of them
as should seek their refuge in, and transport themselves
into, this kingdom of England, should not only have his
royal protection, but he would so aid and assist them in
their several trades and ways of livelihood, as that their
being in this realm might be comfortable and easie to
them.
" Some people, altogether void of charity, repined at
this invitation given to foreigners to settle here ; but
the generality highly applauded his Majesty for it, not
only out of a Christian tenderness for their persecuted
brethren, but also out of their love for the welfare of
England ; wisely considering that the kind entertain-
ment Queen Elizabeth gave to the Walloons, whom the
Inquisition drove out of the Low Countries, had vastly
improved the woollen and silken manufactures of this
nation ; and that the Dutch daily encreased in riches
and strength, by the favour they showed to the French
refugees, amongst whom were many wealthy merchants,
or brave and experienced officers and soldiers, who
would cheerfully venture their lives in the defence of
G
82
THE CONQUEST OF IRELAND.
the Protestant religion, and of those States that afforded
them protection."
The Editor has preferred faithfully retaining the
spelling of the original tract, to making anj% even a
literal alteration.
LA CONQUETE D^IRLANDE.
INTERLOCUTEURS :
Ariste
Lycidas
Hypomene ,
Alexis
Theophane
Anglois.
Irlandois Refugie.
Francois Refugie.
Hollandois.
Anglois.
ARISTE.
Quel sujet, Lycidas, si matin vous ameine ?
LYCIDAS.
Cork, Ariste, est rendu, la nouvelle est certaine,
Le brave Malborough signalant sa valeur,*
A montrc ce que peut la conduite et le coeur.
Les Irlandois vaincus et prisonniers de guerre.
* See introductory remarks to the preceding song, p. 74.
THE CONQUEST OF IRELAND. 83
Le Francois pred * courage, et ne voit rien sur terre.
Qui puisse I'empecher de toinber dans les fers ;
La fuite est son refuge, il repasse les mers.
Kingsale a nos soldats ouvre aussi-tot les portes,
Le Vieux Fort emporte par nos braves cohortes ;
Le Nouveau quelque jours vainement se defend,
Nos valureux guerriers le pressent, il se rend.f
Mais, 6 chere conquete I 6 cruel sort des armes !
Grafton y meurt ;J Bellone en a verse des larmes.
Mars repand a sa mort du sang au lieu de pleurs,
Et rile par des cris temoigne ses douleurs.§
Manes appaisez-vous, I'Hybernois prend la fuite,
Et le Printemps prochain voit I'lrlande reduite.
L'Automne le verroit, si le faux point d'lionneur|l
N'eut pas devant Limriek retarde ce bonheur.
Tandis que les premiers trop avides de gloire,
Disputent aux seconds I'honneur de la victoire,
Le canon ennemi tonne de toutes parts,
Et les chasse tous deux de dessus les reniparts.
ARISTE.
J'ay su ce coup fatal, mais puis qu'en recompense.
On voit tout Albion en bonne intelligence.
Le Parlement conforme aux volontez du Roy,
Un rebelle vaincu nous ferat-il la loy ?
LYCIDAS.
Non. Je crains seulement la France raartiale. . . .
* No doubt a misprint for ferd. \ See note (A).
+ See p. 79. § See note (B).
II See p. 75.
g2
84 THE CONQUEST OF IRELAND.
ARISTE.
II est vray, sa valeur que nulla autre n'egale,
Son pouvoir qu'aucun coup ne paroit ebranler,
Son Prince qui jamais ne semble chanceler.
Son peuple trop zele, ses conseillers trop sages,
Et ses succes passez sont de tristes presages.
La derniere campagne, on a vu les Germains
Assez unis entr'eux n'en venir point aux mains,
Le Batave battu, le Savoj-ard en fuite,
Opprimez par le nombre, ou faute de conduite,
Ou le Frau9ois montrant trop d'adresse et de coeur.
Mais qu'il est beau de vaincre un Roy toujours vain-
queur !
Que son nom soit illustre et son pouvuir terrible,
Louis est invaincu, mais non pas invincible ;
Plus I'adversaire est noble et le combat douteux,
Plus la victoire est belle et le sort glorieux.
Quel ennemi craint-on, si le bras de Gulllainne
A fait voir si souvent qu'il vaut seul un royaume ?
Suivons-le, et que les soins de nos coeurs soient banis.
A propos : et vos vers, le Retour de Daphnis*
Ne peut-on point les voir ?
LYCIDAS.
Quoy, devant Hypomene
Lire des vers Francois ?
HYPOMENE.
Ma presence vous gene ;
Je m'en vay.
* William III.
THE CONQUEST OF IRELAND. 85
LYCIDAS.
Vous pouvez m'entendre sans danger,
Pourvu que vous pensiez que je suis ctranger,
Et qu'il faut me passer quelque faute grossiere.
HYPOMENE.
A d'autres. Vous rimez aussi bien que Moliere.
LE RETOUR DE DAPHNIS.
stances;
Lycidas lit.
I.
Bergers, chantons en ce beau jour
Le Liberateur de retour ;
Le ciel nous a rendu cette tete si chere ;
Oublions nos ennuis, oublions nos frayeurs,
Et si quelque souci ronge encore nos cceurs,
Que ce soit le soin de luy plaire.
II.
Loiions le Souverain des Cieux,
Qui sur ce heros tient les yeux,
Qui par tout I'acconipagne, et par tout le couronne ;
La foudre a respecte les lauriers de Daphnis,
Et quand sous ces rameaux nous nous tiendrons unis,
Qu'aucun danger ne nous etonne.
86 THE CONQUEST OF IRELAND.
III.
Son grand coeur le porte aux hazards,
II veut surpasser les Cezars ;
II vient, il voit, il vainc, il conquiert I'Hybernie ;
Des passages forcez qu'on ne nous parle plus,
De I'Hydaspe, du Rhiii, des Alpes, du Taurus,
La Boyne a leur gloire ternie.
IV.
Ou sont ces guerriei's indomptez,
Dans un coin de leur camp plantez,
Ou du sommet d'un mont regardant si Ton donne ;
Qu'ils ne s'excusent plus sur le sort des combats,
C'est d'eux que vient le mal ; que peuvent des soldats
Lors que le chef les abandonne ?*
V.
C'est a notre chef glorieux,
Qu'est du le succes de nos vceux :
C'est de son sang verse que Ton tient la victoire ;-|-
Playe heureuse qui fait le salut du Pais,
Anime nos guerriers, abat nos ennemis,
Et comble le blesse de gloire 1
VI.
Qui peut egaler sa valeur ?
Rien que luy seul dans le malheur,
C'est alors que Ton voit triorapher sa sagesse ;
C'est dans I'adversite qu'eclate sa vertu,
Et jamais sous ce poids son courage abatu,
Ne marqua la moindre foi blesse.
* See p. 63, and note (G). f See note (C).
THE CONQUEST OF IRELAND. 87
VII.
Soit imprudence, on lachete.
Ascendant, on fatalitc,
Les maitres de la mer, batus sur leur rivage;
Succombent sous I'efFort du superbe Gaulois;*
Et le Batave aux mains deserte de I'Anglois,
Luy laisse Tocean en gage.
VIII.
Un ange vient dans le moment,
Rapporter ce coup a*sommant
Au valureux Daphnis, qui rangcoit son armue,
Pret a passer le fleuve, et livrer le combat.
Croit-on sous ce revers que son ame s'abat ?
EUe n'est pas meme allarmee.f
IX.
Nul trait ne trahit sa douleur;
" Courage I" dit-il ; " le malheur
Poursuit nos ennemis, et sur mer et sur terre ;
Passons, amis, passons, rHybernois est a nous ;
Ces laches pourroient-ils resister a vos coups,
Et savent-ils I'art de la guerre ? '
X.
Ainsi qu'un rapide torrent,
Dont la pluye enfle le courant,
Innonde, entraine, abat, et semble toujours craitre,
Ainsi Ton voit nager nos valureux guerricrs,
Terrasser, foudroyer, et courir aux lauriers,
Sur les traces de leur grand maitre.
* See note (D). f ^^(^ n<Jte (E)
88 THE CONQUEST OF IRELAND.
XI.
Qui pourroit ne pas avancer,
En voyant ce heros percer
Les epais bataillons des forces d'Hybernie ;
En le voyant suivi du Prince i et de Schoniberg,2
De Solmes/ de Douglas,* Cuts,^ Lumley,^ Wirtemberg/
Renversant la troupe ennemie.
XII.
Par tout THybernols chancelant
Fuit devant Ormond* et Portland f
Overkerk ^"^ y fait voir la valeur qui I'anime ;
Oxfordj^iGinkleji-Sidneyj^-^Montpouillanji^Scraveraor,!^
Harmstad/^ et cent guerriers s'y signalent encor,
Que Ton ne pent nomraer en rime.
1 Prince George of Denmark, see p. 52.
2 Count Schomberg, General of the Horse.
^ Heniy, Count de Solmes, or Zolmes, General of the Foot ;
made Commauder-in-Cbief of the Forces in Ireland, on King
William's return to England.
* Lieutenant-General Douglas.
^ Jobn, Lord Cutts ; see note (F).
* Ricbard, Viscount Lumley, created Earl of Scarborougb.
'' Tbe Duke of Wirtemberg, General of the Danes; see
p. 75.
® Tbe Duke of Ormond ; see p. 52.
' Earl of Portland, INIaistre-General des Camp ; see p. 52.
1" Lord Overkirk, Maistre-General des Camp ; see p. 52.
11 The Earl of Oxford ; see p. 52.
12 Baron de Giuckel, Lieutenant-General ; made Com-
mander-in-Chief of the army on Count Solmes leaving for
England in September 1690. Tbe Victor of Aughrim, and
the negociator of the memorable " Articles of Limerick."
Created Earl of Atblone.
13 Henry, Viscount S'dney, Major-General of Foot; see
THE CONQUEST OF IRELAND. 89
XIII.
Cependant le triste Moeris*
Pousse au ciel d'inutiles cris,
Lors qu'il voit f'uir ses gens du haut d'une colline ;
Et ne pouvant forcer Timplaeable destin,
II cede et se retire en hate vers Dublin, f
Cachant le chagrin qui le mine.
XIV.
C'est trop long-temps braver le sort,
Ne pouvant rencontrer la mort,
" Fuyons, amis," dit-il, " et retournons en France ;
Daphnis est invincible, on a beau resister;
Pour plaire au grand Louis, j'ay voulu tout tenter,
Mais a quoy nous sert la defense ?"
XV,
Laissons ce Prince infortune
Recourir a son Dieu-donne,t
Revenons a Daphnis, que la gloire environne;
Son parti dans Dublin se trouve le plus fort,
Drogheda se soumet,§ on luy rend Waterford,||
L'ennemi les champs abandonne.
p. 52. Appointed one of the Lord Justices of Ireland, and after-
wards Secretary of State; created in 1694 Earl of Rumney.
I'i The Marquis of Montpouillan, the senior commander of
one of the thirteen Dutch regiments which went into Ireland
with William.
15 Or Scraveumore, Major-General of Horse.
16 The Prince of H esse Darmstadt.
* James II. f See note (G).
X Does this allude to the Pretender, — the warming-pan
gentleman ? or does it refer to James's Popish propensities ?
§ See note (H). || See note (I).
90 THE CONQUEST OF IRELAND.
XVI.
Venez, vaincus, — venez, vainqueurs ;
Jou'issez en paix des douceurs
D'un empire ou le ciel a fait tant de merveilles ;
Soumettez a ses loix jusques a vos desirs,
Et si jamais en haut vous poussez des soupirs,
Demandez des graces pareilles.
XVII.
Priez qu'il prolonge les jours
D'un roy notre unique recours,
Qui nous defend luy seul contre deux puissant Princes ;
Qui pour notre repos afFronte le danger,
Arme, unit nos voisins afin de nous vanger,
Et gagne en un mois des provinces.
XVIII.
Et de la tete et de la main,
Par tout il paroit plus qu'humain.
Passant les derai-dieux dont nous parle la fable ;
General, capitaine, et soldat a la fois,
Un Nestor en conseil, un Achile en exploits.
Ah ! que n'est-il invulnerable !
XIX.
Le ciel est fecond en bien-faits,
Nous en ressentons les effets,
Mais peut-on esperer miracle sur miracle ?
Est-ce que les boulets connoissent les heros ?
Si quelqu'un de leurs coups tranchoit des jours si beaux,
Bon Dieu, quel terrible spectacle !
THE CONQUEST OF IRELAND. 91
XX.
On verroit I'insolent Gaulois,
Sur nos cotes donner les loix,
Tenter encor un coup d'y faire un descente ;
On verroit le saint nom de la Religion,
Servant de couverture a chaque faction,
Arraer la discorde naissante.
XXI.
On verroit de fleuves de sang
Du plus haut et du plus bas rang
La Taraise grossie, et la terra couverte.
Daphnis, quand ta valeur t'engage a conquerir,
Pense qu'un coup fatal t'y peut faire perir,
Et que rien n'egale ta perte.
XXII.
Pasteurs, dont les sacrez accens
Sur ce Prince sont si puissans,
De cueuillir des lauriers faites luy perdre envie ;
Chantez que son courage a passe nos souhaits,
Qu'il ne doit plus songer qu'a retablir la paix,
Assurant nos jours par sa vie.
XXIII.
Compagnons, illustres rivaux,
De sa gloire et de ses travaux,
Gardez de reveillerson ardeur martiale;
Pensez que le peril est aussi fait pour vous,
Et qu a suivre un heros au plus epais des coups,
Le danger votre honneur egale.
92 THE CONQUEST OP IRELAND.
XXIV.
Innoccnte troupe d'agneaux,
Remplissez de cris ces cotaux,
Et qu'a vos belemens son grand coeur s'amolisse ;
Nymphes, pour I'enchainer eniployez vos attraits,
Amour, pour le blesser decoche tous tes traits,
Et Ion rira de ta malice.
XXV.
Nymphes, je crains pour vos appas,
Daphnis est ne pour les combats,
Sensible au seul plaisir d'achever sa victoire ;
Le printemps cessera dembelir nos guerets,
Les oiseaux de chanter dans le fonds des forets,
Plutot que luy d'aimer la gloire.
HYPOMENE.
Ouj', cruel Lycidas, j'espere que vos voeux
Du ciel et de Daphnis censez pernicieux,
A quoy que votre zele indiscret vous engage,
Seront placez au rang des serments d'un volage.
Voulez-vous par vos cris arreter un heros,
De qui I'Europe en trouble attend seul le repos ;
Du reproche honteux d'une conduite mole
Ternir un nom chante de I'un a I'autre pole,
Et retenir le bras qui veut nous secourir,
De crainte des hazards qu'on court a conquerir.
Ne craignez rien, le Ciel, son ange tutelaire,
Le rendra possesseur de prince titulaire ;
Je vois encor un coup couronner ce grand roy,
N'enviez point aux Francs de vivre sous sa loy.
THE CONQUEST OF IRELAND. 93
LYCIDAS.
Parlons p'us franchement, avouez le, Hyporaene,
L'interet d'Albion n'est pas ce qui vous meine ;
Un motif plus puissant aninie vos raisons ;
On vous retient des prez, des champs, et des maisons,
Des enf'ans bien nourris, une femme fort sage,
Les bourreaux ont sur vous lasse toute leur rage ;
C'est un mal sans remede. On a vu de tons terns
Les petits exposoz a la fureur des grands,
Et quand de se vanger ils ont eu la raanie,
Ajouter a leurs maux nouvelle ignominie.
Croj'ez-moy, soyez calrae, et benissez le sort.
Par un naufrage heureux vous vous trouvez au port.
Chez tous les Protestans, les peuples, et les princes
Vous ont ouvert les bras, leur bourse, et leurs provinces,
Eu plus d'egards pour vous que pour ceux du pais,
Qu'esperez-vous de tel parmi nos ennemis ?
Vous voulez, dites-vous, aller joindre vos freres,
Les aider a sortir de leiirs longues miseres.
Puisse le juste Ciel accomplir vos souhaits,
Et que suivant chez vous la Victoire ou la Paix,
Vous goutiez les plaisirs d'une innocente vie.
Puissent les traits malins d'une jalouse envie
N'irriter plus I'esprit du monarque Gaulois,
Et ne plus renverser le boulevart des loix.
Qu'il n'arrive jamais de rupture nouvelle.
Capable a vous forcer d'etre ingrat ou rebelle,
De traliir votre prince ou votre defenseur.
HYPOMENE.
Vos voeux en apparence ont beaucoup de douceur,
94 THE CONQUEST OF IRELAND.
Mais ils cachent au fond je ne say quoy qui pique.
Voulez-vous nous charger de la haine publique ;
Qu'odieux aux Bretons, et suspects aux Francois,
Nous errions vagabonds par les monts et les bois ;
Toujours battus des flots, des vents, de la tem])ete.
Sans trouver nulle part ou reposer la tete ?
ARISTE.
Non, Hypomene, non, connoissez Lycidas,
Vous nuire ce seroit avoir le co2ur trop bas,
II vous aime, et voudroit vous voir I'esprit tranquiile,
Et n'abandonner pas aisement votre azyle.
HYPOftlENE.
Nous suivrons vos avis, la prudence du roy
Nous servira de guide, et ses ordres de loy.
Si sa protection merite nos services,
Son exemple et son bras sont des heureux auspices,
Sous qui le fier Gaulois peut craindre des banis.
ALEXIS.
Je vous laisse en repos disposer de Daphnis,
L'arreter dans votre isle, ou Tamener en France :
D'autres raisons chez luy font pancher la balance.
Son grand coeur renfermant les secrets de I'etat,
Vouloir le decouvrir c'est faire un attentat.
Mais si j'ose meler mes pensees aux autres,
De plus forts interets I'emportent sur los votres.
Chez les gens vertueux, les amis anciens
Sont toujours prcferez a de nouveaux liens.
Ce sacre rejetton de tant d'illustres princes,
A vu le jour naissant dans nos riches provinces,
Qui trois lustres et plus sous sa direction,
THE CONQUEST OF IRELAND. 95
Ont temoigne pour luy leur tcndre affection.
C'est pour votre salut, ou de toute la terre,
Qu'un puissant roy nous fait une mortelle guerre,
Et de votre bonheur ce monarque jaloux,
Nous fit pour I'empecher sentir ses premiers coups.
L'officieux Germain veut en vain nous defendre,
Sans le bras de Daphnis que pouvons-nous attendre ?
Pretez-nous son secours, rendez le a son pais,
C'est le seul Mars qu'on peut opposer a Louis.
ARISTE.
Ouy, nous vous le rendrons, mais avec cette clause,
Qu'en maltre souverain de vos coeurs il dispose,
Et que vous n'alliez pas par de faux contre-temps,
Mettre obstacle aux succes dont vous serez contens.
Qu'otant de vos esprits une crainte importune,
Vous luy laissiez le soin de la cause commune;
Qu'une trop naturelle, ou maligne lenteur,
Fasse place aux efforts d'une sincere ardeur ;
Que vous fermiez I'oreille aux vaines conjectures
D'un ennemi qui tache a rompre nos mesures,
Et vous faire abuser de votre liberte,
Par un jaloux caprice ou par temerite,
Pour causer notre deuil, ne faites pas sa joie,
Et ne nous livrez pas a ses fureurs en proie.
ALEXIS.
Accusez de caprice et de soubcon jaloux,
Nous pourrions le souffrir d'un autre que de vous.
Chez qui regnent le plus les plaintes, les murmures,
Les libelles malins, les fausses conjectures ?
Voit-on chez les Batave, ecrivain ou rimeur
96 THE CONQUEST OF IRELAND.
S'en prendre insolemment aux droits du gouverneur?
A-on [A-t-on] oui parler chez nous de Jacobites,
Ou de Louisiens ? en connoissez-vous? dites.
HYPOMENE.
Eh, de grace ! Bergers, ne passez pas plus loin,
Si de vous chagriner vous prenez tant de soin,
Croyez-vous que toujours un fidele Hyponiene
De vous racommoder se donnera la peine?
Manquons nous d'ennemis, declarez ou couverts,
Qui nous font quereller pour nous mettre des fcrs?
THEOFHANE.
Embrassez-vous, bergers, et sortez de vos doutes,
Vous courez a Daphnis par diiferentes routes,
Unissez vos efforts contre nos ennemis,
Assurez du succcs que le ciel a promis.
ARISTE.
Promis ! Expliquez-vous, comment done, Theophane ?
Dites, ne craignez jioint ici d'esprit profane.
ALEXIS.
Est-ce un prophete? A-t-il eu quelque vision ?
TIIEOPIIANE.
Ce siecle est-il un temps a revelation ?
LYCIDAS.
Qui vous fait done parler ainsi?
THEOFHANE.
Ce n'est qu'un songe.
HYPOMENE.
Ecoutons.
THEOPHANE.
Accable du chagrin qui me ronge,
THE CONQUEST OF IRELAND. 97
Depuis que pour ranger I'Hybernois sous la loy,
Nous voyons tous les jours s'exposer un grand roy ;
Dans un lieu solitaire ou souvent je m'egare,
Je revois au bonheur que son retour prepare.
La fraicheur de rombrage et I'ardeur du soleil.
La lassitude enfin m'invitoient au sorameil.
Je m'etends sous un arbre, ou tot apres Morphea
Eut enchante mes sens, et ma peine etoufee.
Dans ce profond sommeil, tout a coup d'un haut ton,
Une celeste voix m'appelle par mon nom.
Je m'eveille en sursaut, au moins il me le semble,
Un eclat de splendeur m'environne, je tremble,
Je palis, je freniis, je ne sais ou je suis,
Je fais de vains efforts pour parler, je ne puis.
Ne crains point, dit la voix, Ecoute, Theophane,
Ce que n'ouit jamais une oreille prophane.
Avant que Cynthie ait fourni trois cours entiers.
Ton Daphnis reviendra couronne de lauriers.
Avant que Phebus ait parcouru I'Ecliptique,
Ce heros finira la misere publique.
Ses deux fiers ennemis egaux en leur malheur,
Tous deux craints par leur haine, et I'un parsa valeur,
Ne pouvant soutenir I'efFort de sa puissance :
Ou ploiront sous son joug, ou fuiront sa presence.
Au devant du vainqueur tout le peuple sortant,
Temoigne par ses cris combien il est content ;
Les cloches, les buchers marquent leur allegresse ;
Les harangues, les vers expriment leur tendresse ;
Mais cependant Daphnis, qui veille pour I'etat,
S'applique a prevenir un nouvel attentat,
H
98 THE CONQUEST OF IRELAND.
Jette les fondemens d'une paix immobile,
Qui rende le pays florissant et tranquile,
Qui remette le calme au milieu d'Albion ;
Et luj' fasse oublier le nom de faction.
Tandis que I'Aquilon fait regner la froidure,
Et que d'epais frimats il couvre la nature,
Son esprit penetrant perce dans I'avenir,
Et contre ses projets rien ne sauroit tenir.
A quelle des vertus donner la preference ?
Sera-ce a sa valeur ? sera-ce a sa prudence ?
Ses desseins sont batis qu'ils ne sauroient tomber,
Et son bras si puissant qu'il ne pent succomber.
Mais le printemps revient, et deja le Zephire,
Semble eveiller Daphnis, et sans cesse luy dire,
Qu'il faut passer la mer et voler au secours
D'une troupe d'amis qui I'attend tous les jours :
Que combattre sans luy c'est tenter I'impossible,
Qu'a tout autre qu'a luy la France est invincible,
Et qu'a toute I'Europe elle mettra des fers,
Si son bras ne luy fait sentir un dur revers.
Neptune I'a deja porte chez les Bataves,
Je le vois entoure d'une troupe de braves,
Qui s'animent I'un I'autre a repandre leur sang,
Et veulent au combat chacun le premier rang.
Le Breton et le Beige oubliant leurs querelles,
Montrent a le servir des ardeurs mutuelles ;
L'Espagnol a repris son antique valeur ;
En suivant ce heros qui peut manquer de coeur ?
Pour I'interet commun de la cause publique.
On voit se reunir tout le corps Germanique,
THE CONQUEST OF IRELAND. 99
Et du brave Lorrain s'ils regrettent le sort,
lis trouvent plus 19! que n'a ravi la mort.
La Boyue et le Shannon ne sont pas de sa gloire
D'assez dignes temoins. Et le Rhin, et la Loire,
Et le Danube, et I'Arne, et le Tybre fameux,
Raconteront un jour ses exploits merveilleux.
Ses grandes actions rempliront les histoires,
Et ses combats seront contez par ses victoires.
Mais que vois-je 1 I'Envie au parler decevant,
Monstre qui meurt sans cesse, et sans cesse est vivant,
Qui du bien des liumains fait sa plus grande peine,
Et ne prend du plaisir que dans ce qui les gene,
Le sujet de I'horreur de la Terre et des Cieux,
Veut rendre de Daphnis les desseins odieux.
Impute sa valeur a son heureuse etoile,
Et de la piete prenant le sacre voile,
Inspire aux faux zelez qu'ils doivent craindre un bras,
Qui des Saints faineans menace le trepas.
Qui met dans Albion I'Eglise sur le trone,
Et tache dabolir le nom de Babylone.
Puis tournant ses regards vers les ambitieux,
La grandeur du heros quelle expose a leurs yeux.
Son nom ecrit au front du Temple de Meraoire,
Les grandes actions qui ternissent leur gloire,
Et I'amour qu'ont pour lui ses fideles sujets,
Les porte a traverser ses illustres projets.
Enfin cette Megere anime un cceur timide,
En peignant de Daphnis le courage intrepide,
Et leur persuadant que ses vastes desseins
Vent a luy conquerir I'empire des humains ;
H 2
100 THE CONQUEST OF IRELAND.
Que trop differer met la fortune en balance,
Et qu'il est encor temps de borner sa puissance.
L'Ignorance a ces mots leve ses etendarts,
La Discorde en fureur fremit de toutes parts,
L'alliance se romt. Un amas de perfides
Forment contre Daphnis des complots parricides;
Les Protestans, liguez pour proteger Sion,
Jurent d'aneantir la superstition.
Ne crain point de Babel I'impuissant artifice,
De la religion soutien seul I'edifice,
Daphnis, la verite s'est commise a tes soins,
Et son Pere Eternel veille pour ses besoins.
Va, fais la triompher du couchant a I'aurore,
Heros cheri du Ciel ; que le Tybre I'adore,
Que la Seine qui I'aime, et ne I'embrasse pas,
Avec toutes ses eaux se jette entre tes bras :
Que I'aigle ravissante abhorre le carnage,
Du sang des meurtriers fais deborder le Tage,
Sois le Liberateur du Chretien gemissant,
Et va planter la croix ou regne le croisant.
A ces mots la voix cesse, et ma foible paupiere
Eblouie al'instant d'un eclat de lumiere,
Je ne say si pour lors je commence a veiller,
Ou si je n'avois fait encor que sommeiller.
Mais cette vision me chargeant la memoire,
Je vous cherchois, amis, pour en faire I'histoire.
FIN.
THE CONQUEST OF IRELAND. 101
NOTES.
(A) Cork being reduced (see p. 75), was put under the
government of Colonel Hales. " Brigadier Villiers was, the
same day, detached with a party to possess himself of Kinsale,
which not being tenable was deserted by the enemy. On the
2nd October, the Lord Marlborough came thither with the
army ; on the 3rd, Alajor-General Tettau and Colonel Fitz-
Patrick, with about eight hundred men, got over in boats,
unperceived, near Ringroan Castle, marched towards the Old
Fort (called Castle ni Park), which they boldly assaulted and
took by storm ; whereupon the enemy retired into the Castle,
but, at the same time, three barrels of their powder took lire
at the gate, and blew it up, with about forty soldiers. At
length the governor. Colonel Driscoll, and two hundred of
the garrison, being killed, the rest surrendered upon quarter.
" Hereupon the New Fort (called Charles Fort) was sum-
moned ; but Sir Edward Scot, the governor, answered, that it
would be time enough a month hence to talk of surrendering :
whereupon the trenches were opened the 5th October; the
batteries were managed by the Danes on the east, and by the
English on the north. On the 15th a breach was made by
the Danes, and the English being masters of the counterscarp,
they sprung a mine with good success, when the governor
capitulated, and surrendered upon honourable conditions :
which would not have been granted, but that the weather was
exceedingly bad, provisions scarce, and the army very sickly.
Colonel O'Douovan delivered the keys of this fort into Lord
Marlborough's hands, who having thus fortunately accom-
plished the design of his voyage, left his brother. Brigadier
Churchill, governor of Charles Fort; and having disposed
102 THE CONQUEST OF IRELAND.
his regiments into Cork, Kinsale, and Bandon, he returned
with the fleet to Portsmouth." — Sir Richard Cox's Narration,
MS. quoted by Smith in his History of Cork.
(B) Although it is not probable that Ireland would respond
by its cries to the feeling of the English upon the death of
the Duke of Grafton, it is nevertheless probable that native
professional keeners exerted their extraordinary powers upon
that occasion. Stanihurst observes : — " They [the Irish]
follow the dead corpse to the grave with howling and bar-
barous outcries, pitifull in aparance ; whereof grew, as I
suppose, the proverbe, ' To weepe Irish.' "
(C) On the 30th June, King William encamped about a
mile distant from the River Boyne, and at noon he rode in
full view of the Irish army, which lay encamped on the other
side.
" The enemy soon discovered it must be His Majesty who
was so attended, which made them draw down two pieces of
six-pound ball from the forts a little higher, and planted them
opposite to the place where our horse were drawn up, they
presently began to fire, and one of the balls passed so close
to His Majesty that it took away a piece of his coat, waste
coat, and shirt, raised the skin on the blade of his right
shoulder and drew a little blood ; but a plaister being put on,
His Majesty continued on horseback without the least con-
cern, till four in the afternoon, when he dined, and in the
evening was on horseback again, though he had been up from
one in the morning." — Villare Hibernicum, or a View of
His Majesty's late Conquest in Ireland, by W. Griffytli, Esq.
1690.
The Irish local tradition respecting this memorable shot is
perhaps worth repeating. It is said that one of James's
THE CONQUEST OF IRELAND. 103
officers observing William on the opposite bank of the river,
directed two guns to be brought to a particular spot, where
they would be concealed by some old thorns, under the direc-
tion of a gunner named Burke, who was reputed to be ex-
ceedingly skilful in his art. The officer rode off to James,
who was not far distant, and solicited His Majesty to behold
the shot, which he complied with, and came up to the guns
just as Burke said : — " I have the Prince of Orange covered ;"
James, instead of giving the word fire, exclaimed : " Would
you make a widow of my daughter ?" But the gunner, who
saw only the movement of his monarch's lips, mistook the
import of his words, and applied his match to the touch-hole.
The news of William's death immediately spread through
the Irish camp, and was speedily carried to Paris. Voltaire,
in his "Siecle de Louis XIV," says : — " Cette fausse nouvelle
fut re^ue a Paris avec une joie indecente et honteuse. Quel-
ques magistrats subalternes encouragerent les bourgeois et
le peuple a faire des illuminations. On sonna les cloches;
on brula dans plusieurs quartiers des figures d'osier qui re-
presenterent le Prince d'Orange, comme on brule le pape dans
Londres ; on tira le canon de la Bastille, non par ordre du
roi, mais par le zele inconsidere d'un commandant."
(D) The 29th April, 1689, Admiral Herbert, being on the
south coast of Ireland, by his scouts discovered the French
fleet, and next day had intelligence that they were gone into
Baltimore, being forty-four sail ; but, on pursuing them, the
scouts had sight of them to the west of Cape Clear ; and,
upon steering after them, found they were got into Bantry
Bay. The admiral lay off the bay all night, and next morn-
ing stood in, where he found the enemy at anchor ; but soon
got under sail, bearing down upon him, in aline composed of
twenty-eight men of war and five fire ships. When they
104 THE CONQUEST OF IRELAND.
came within musquet-sbot of the Defiance, who led the van,
the French admiral put out the signal of battle ; which was
begun by firing their great and small shot at the Defiance,
and the rest as they came into line. The English made
several boards to gain the wind, or, at least to engage them
closer. Finding that way of working very disadvantageous,
Admiral Herbert stood ofi" to sea, as well to have got his
ships into a line as to have gained the wind of the enemy ;
but found them so cautious in bearing down, that he could
not get an opportunity to do it; so continued battering
upon a stretch till five in the afternoon, when the French
admiral stood into the bay. The admiral's ship and some
others being disabled in their rigging, they could not follow
them ; but continued for some time after before the bay, and
the admiral gave them a gun at parting. In this action
Captain George Aylmer, of the Portland, with one lieutenant
and ninety-four seamen were killed, and about two hundred
and fifty wounded. On the 7th of May the admiral got into
Plymouth with the fleet. — CamphelVs Naval History, vol. iii.
p. 9.
Although it appears to have been William's policy to con-
sider this encounter in the light of a victory (see subsequent
note), the dispassionate historian must regard the aftair as a
defeat. If any advantage was gained, that advantage was
most unquestionably on the side of the French fleet.
(E) On the 15tb May, 1089, a fortnight after the encounter
of the French and English fleets oS" the south-west coast of
Ireland, King William went to Portsmouth, " both to hasten
the refitting of the fleet, and to distribute rewards to the
oflicers and soldiers who had distinguished themselves in the
late engagement. Admiral Herbert was declared, and soon
after made Earl of Torriugton ; Captain John Ashby, com-
THE CONQUEST OF IRELAND. 105
mander of the Defiance, and Captoin Cloudesly Shovel, of
the Edgar, received the honour of tnighthood; and each
seaman a gratuity of ten shillings, which amounted to the
sum of £26,000. Besides this donative to the living. His
Majesty's bounty extended to the relicts of those \\'ho had
lost their lives in his and their country's service. Some
report that when the king received the news of this sea-fight,
he said : ' That 'twas necessary in the beginning of a war,
but that it had been rash in the course of it.' " — Bowyer's
History of William III, vol. ii. p. 83.
(F) " Lord John Cutts, one of the most memorable men of
his day, a soldier of great enterprise and bravery, was the son
of Richard Cutts, Esq. of Matching in Essex. He entered
early into the army, and served under the Duke of Monmouth
abroad ; was aid-du-camp to the Duke of Lorraine in Hun-
gary, and signalized himself in an extraordinaiy manner at
the taking of Breda by the Imperialists, in 1686. By what
means he found leisure to court the muses does not appear;
but in 1 687, his ' Poetical Exercises,' written upon several
occasions, dedicated to Her Royal Highness Maiy, Princess
of Orange, afterwards Queen Mary, were printed in 8vo.
containing verses to that princess, to Waller, &c. among them
one entitled ' La Muse Cavalier.'
" On the landing of the Prince of Orange, he had conferred
on him the command of a regiment, and was created Baron
of Gowran in Ireland, December 6, 1690. April 14, 1693,
he was appointed governor of the Isle of Wight, and raised
in rank to be a Major-General.
" In 1696, when the assassination plot was discovered.
Lord Cutts was Captain of the King's Guards. In 1699, in
some complimentary verses to King William on his conquests,
Lord Cutts is thus introduced :
106 THE CONQUEST OF IRELAND.
" The warlike Cutts the welcome tidings brings.
The true best servant of the best of Kings ;
Cutts, -whose known worth no herald need proclaim,
His wounds and his o^ti worth can speak his fame."
"As Colonel of the Coldstream Guards, Steele was in-
debted to him, in 1701, for a military commission, and to
him he dedicated his ' Christian Hero.' On the accession
of Queen Anne, he was made a Lieutenant-General of the
Forces in Holland; Commander-in-Chief of the Forces in
Ireland under the Duke of Onuond, March 23, 1705 ; and,
' to keep him out of the way of action,' subsequently one of
the Lords Justices, a circumstance which it is said broke his
heart. He died at Lord Kerry's house, in Dublin, January
26, 1707, and was buried in the Cathedral of Christ's Church."
— Abridged from Thorpe's Catalogue of State Papers.
(G) " The wreath of laurel which the unfortunate James
won by sea he lost by land. Having been a spectator of the
battle of the Boyne, he thought it most prudent while the
fate of the day was yet undecided to seek for safety in flight.
In a few hours he reached the Castle of Dublin, where he was
met by Lady Tyrconnell, a woman of spirit. ' Your country-
men (the Irish), Madam,' said James, as he was ascending the
stairs, ' can run well.' — ' Not quite so well as your Majesty,'
retorted her ladyship, ' for I see you have won the race.'
Having slept that night in Dublin, he rode the next day to
Waterford, a distance of two hundred English miles, in the
space of twenty-four hours. On his arrival in that city he
went immediately on board a ship that lay ready for him in
the harbour, in order to carry him to France. As he was
passing along the quay a sudden gust of wind carried off his
hat, and as it was night. General O'Ferrall, an old officer in
the Austrian service, presented him with his own. James took
THE CONQUEST OF IRELAND. 1 07
it without any ceremony, observing as he put it on his head,
that if he had lost a crowii by the Irish, he had gained a hat
by them."
The following graphic extract from a contemporaiy journal,
aflfords a complete vindication of Lady Tyrconnell's reply :
"July 1st. Early in the morning the Protestants were
wakened by an alarm, and the news that there would be a
battle. The gates of the city {Duhlin) were kept strictly
guarded, and the Protestants kept their houses. The issue
they expected with the greatest apprehensions. Several reports
were spread abroad every hour: one, that the French fleet
were in the bay ; another, that a French express was come
from Waterford, with the news of taking the Isle of Wight,
by the French, and of their being gone to Dover ; then that
the English right wing were quite routed ; then that the
Prince of Orange was taken prisoner. But at five that after-
noon, some that had made their escape on tired horses, told
the Protestants that the Irish were much worsted, and others,
at six, that they were totally defeated. From hence, till one
that night, all the entries of the town were filled with dusty,
wounded, and tired soldiers and carriages perpetually com_
ing in.
" After these, several of King James's horse-guards came
in straggling, without pistols or swords, and could not tell
what was become of himself.
" Near ten at night, he came in with about two hundred
horse, all in disorder. The Protestants concluded now that it
was a total rout, and that the English army were just ready
to come into town, but were greatly surprised, when an hour
or two after they heard the whole body of the Irish horse
coming in, in very good order, with kettle-drums, hautboys,
and trumpets ; and early the next morning the French, and a
great party of the Irish foot. These being a little rested.
108 THE CONQUEST OF IRELAND.
marched out agaiu (as they gave out) to meet the enemy,
which were supposed to draw nigh.
"Wednesday, July 2d. About five this morning. King
James, having sent for the Irish Lord Mayor and some prin-
cipal persons to the castle, made a speech to them."
This speech is well known, and has been admirably criti-
cized by O'Driscol. {History of Ireland, vol. ii. p. 218.)
Inmiediately after its delivery James left Dublin for Waterford.
(H). The morning after the Battle of the Boyne, " His
Majesty sent Brigadier la Meillonere, with one thousand
horse and dragoons, a party of foot and eight pieces of cannon,
to summons Drogheda, wherein the Irish had a garrison of
about 1300 men, commanded by my Lord Iveagh, who sur-
rendered the town upon condition that his garrison should
have leave to march out without their arms, and be conducted
to Athlone ; tho' their barbarity in tying the Protestants, in
town, back to back, and placing them where they expected
our guns to play (see p. 63) ought not to be forgot." — Storrfs
wars of Ireland, p. 26. (1693.)
(I). "Major General Kirk, with his own regiment and Col.
Brewer's, as also a party of horse, marched (on the 20th July
1690) from Carrick towards Waterford, more forces designing
to follow. The ^lajor General sent a trumpet to summon
the town, who, at first, refused to surrender, there being two
regiments then in garrison ; their refusal, however, was in
such civil tenns, that their inclinations were easily understood;
for soon after, ihey sent out to know what terms they might
have ? which were the same with those of Drogheda. But not
liking them, they proposed some of their own, which were,
that they might enjoy their estates, the liberty of their religion,
and a safe convoy to the next garrison, with their arms and
THE CONQUEST OF IRELAND. 109
proper goods. Those would not be granted; then the hea\7
cannon were brought down that way, and some more forces
ordered to march. But the Irisli, understanding this, sent to
ask liberty to march out with their arras, and to have a safe
convoy, which was granted them. And accordingly on the
25th, they marched out, with their arms and baggage, being
conducted to Mallow.
" The day after Waterford surrendered, (July 26) King
William went to see it, and took care that no persons should
be disturbed in their houses and goods." — Sinith^s Waterford,
p. 154.
THE STOUT INNISKILLIN MAN.
" Nor did Inniskillin, another town in the north of
Ireland," says the author of a History of King William
III, " contribute less than Londonderry to the asserting
the Protestant cause ; for upon notice that the latter
had deny'd entrance to the Lord Antrim's Regiment,
they resolved not to admit any Irish garrison, and
having raised a regiment of twelve companies, gave the
command of it to Gustavus Hamilton, Esq. a person of
conduct and resolution, whom they likewise chose their
governor. The towns-men being thus in some posture
of defence, proclaimed King William and Queen Mary,
on the nth March [1689] ; but the Lord Galraoy de-
* London, 1702, vol. ii. p. 69.
110 THE STOUT INNISKILLIN MAN.
daring for King James, some time after his Majesty's
arrival at Dublin, summoned the Governor of Innis-
killin to surrender that place to him, with a promise as
from King James, to grant them better terms than they
might ever expect from him afterwards. A council
being called upon this summons, it was unanimously
agreed to stand firm to their former resolutions of de-
fending the Protestant religion, and maintaining King
William's title.
" Whereupon, the Lord Galmoy landed all his forces
towards Crom, a castle sixteen miles distant fromlnnis-
killin, and possessed by the Protestants, which was be-
sieged some time by part of his troops ; but the Innis-
killiners having thrown a relief of two hundred men
into the castle, forced him to raise the siege and to re-
treat to Belturbat. On the 24th of April, a detachment
of the garrison of Inniskillin, headed by Lieutenant
Colonel Lloyd, made an excursion into the enemies'
country, took and demolished the Castle at Aughor,
and returned home with a considerable booty. Several
other skirmishes and rencontres passed between the
two parties, wherein the Inniskilliners signalized their
valour, and always came off with advantage ; but none
of those actions was so remarkable as that which hap-
pened, as it were, by a particular appointment of Pro-
vidence, on the same day Londonderry was relieved,
wherein 2000 Inniskilliners fought and routed 6000
Irish at a place called Newtown-Butler, and took their
commander, M'Carthy [More], with the loss only of
twenty men killed, and fifty wounded."
Upon more than one occasion Schomberg compli-
THE STOUT INNISKILLIN MAN. Ill
raented the bravery of the Inniskillin troops in the
highest manner ; and the many gallant feats performed
by them are to be found recorded in " A true Relation
of the Actions of the Inniskillen Men," from their first
taking up arms in December, 1688, by the Rev. An-
drew Hamilton,* and " A farther impartial Account
of the Inniskillen men," by Captain William Mac Car-
mock.f
"These troops," says O'Driscol.t speaking in what
may be called the dashing historical style, " the fame
of whose exploits had been spread abroad, excited
much attention in the British camp. Their appearance
was remarkable. They were a fine and hardy body of
men ; but resembled more a horde of wild Arabs, or
Italian banditti, than a body of European cavalry. They
observed little order in their military movements ; and
no uniformity of dress or accoutrement. Every soldier
was armed and clad according to his own fancy, and
each man was attended like the Asiatic military, by a
servant mounted on an inferior horse and carrying his
heavy arms and baggage. §
* London, 4to. p. 65. 1690.
t London, 4to. p. 68. 1691.
X " History of Ireland," vol. ii. p. 55.
§ The practice of horsemen requiring attendants, appears
to have been carried to a serious extent in Ireland. Pierce
Butler, Earl of Orinond and Ossory, being required in the
time of a Geraldine rebellion to send to the Lord Deputy a
body of sixty or eighty horsemen, objected to the expense it
would be to the king; begging his lordship to consider, that
" every horssman must have 3 horsses and 3 kepers." — MS.
Letter in State Paper Office.
112 THE STOUT INNISKILLIN MAN.
" But they were distinguished by an astonishing
rapidity of movement, and a boldness or rather fierce-
ness, and contempt of all difficulty and danger, which
made them almost invincible. They never calculated
obstacles or counted numbers, but rushed to the attack
with the ferocity and exultation of a tiger when bound-
ing upon his prey. That the enemy was Popish was
enough to excite horror and contempt. To hesitate in
attacking such a foe was disgrace worse than death ;
and to slaughter them a more acceptable service to the
Lord than a smoking holocaust offered by David him-
self.
" These strange troops were religious men or thought
they were. Their memories were abundantly stored
with scraps of the Old Testament, chiefly relating to
the massacres and spoliations committed by the Jews.
Upon these they formed themselves, and with these
they justified their practices. They were robbers and
murderers. They spared no man's life or property.
When spoil was not otherwise to be had, they never
hesitated to plunder their own party, whether Irish
Protestants or British allies. They were a fearful
scourge in the country, and aggravated dreadfully the
calamities of the war ; but they were scrupulous to
have their proper establishment of Chaplains or gifted
preachers of the word ; and heard prayers or out-
pourings of the spirit regularly. The Derrymen were
in all respects similar to the Inniskilliners.
" The Inniskilliners could not endure the restraints of
discipline ; and when placed under Schomberg's com-
THE STOUT INNISKILLIN MAN. 113
mand, they said of tliemselves that ' they should never
thrive so long as they were under his orders,' and they
were right. They were a kind of Cossack cavalry,
that were of no use unless left to themselves, and their
irregularities connived at. Schomberg did not under-
stand thera ; and General Ginckle, at a later period of
the war, considered them a nuisance and hated them
cordially."
Although there are some truths in this sketch of the
Tnniskilliners, it is evidently the preparatory candid
statement of an ingenious lawyer, to support his asser-
tions respecting their conduct at the Boyne, where he
would represent, if he could, these wild and fanatic
troops as wanting in courage when headed by " their
saviour," as William was irreverently styled by them.
It is said, by O'Driscol, that King William led on
bravely to the attack, his horse regiments ; " their
charge was met by that of the Irish cavalry, and they
had no sooner come in contact than the whole of this
foreign cavalry went about and rode off the field.
The Irish horse followed in pursuit, and the king stood
alone upon the field of battle. At this moment," con-
tinues O'Driscol, " the Inniskilliners appeared coming
up, and the King rode towards them and asked them
what they would do for him ? Woolsey told his men,
it was the king, and asked if they would follow him ?
The men replied by a shout, and the King put himself
at their head, and rode towards the Irish infantry ; but
the northerns did not venture to charge, and on receiving
I
114 THE STOUT INNISKILLIN MAN.
a well-directed volley they went about, and left the King
alone on thejield as before."
Now contemporary writers, and eye-witnesses of the
conduct of the Inniskilliners — those men of wild and
fanatic bravery, who are represented as deserting their
King upon the field of battle, in consequence of a well-
directed volley, — assure us that they behaved most gal-
lantly.
According to one authority,* " Duke Schomberg
headed the Dutch fort-guards, and the King the Innis-
killin horse, telling them, ' they should be his guards
that day.' " Is it probable then, that these men, — men
who had been, for the preceding eighteen months under
constant fire, would desert, at this critical moment, the
post of danger and of honour? Story's words are,
" the Inniskilliners, and French, too, both horse and
foot, did good service" [at the Boyne.]
A contemporary manuscript account of the battle,
most probably gives the true explanation of the retreat
of the Inniskilliners. After William's foreign cavalry
had been forced back, " the King, with that coolness of
thought which accompanies true courage, rode up to
the Inniskillin horse, and asked, what they would do
for him ? Their officer told his men that it was King
William who asked them that question. The brave
* " A true and perfect Journal of the Affairs of Ireland
since His Majesty's Arrival in that Kingdom, by a Person of
Quality." London 1690. See also " VUlare Hihernicum, by
W. Griffyth, Esq." London, 1690.
THE STOUT INNISKILLIN MAN. 115
fellows then gave a loud cheer, and the King saying
that they should be his guai'ds, headed them. They
advanced with the King, and received the enemy's fire ;
and as his Majesty wheeled to the left they followed.
But when King William led up some Dutch troojis,
they perceived their error, and returned bravely to the
charge."
The following song is given from a manuscript, in
which it is stated to have been " sung at the play-houses."
It is printed with some slight variations in D'Urfey's
" Pills to purge Melancholy," vol. i. p. 203, where it is
entitled, " Mac Bailor, a comical ditty, in imitation of
the Irish stile," and where the music may be found.
THE STOUT INNISKILLIN MAN.
If a woeful sad ditty to know thou art willing, man,
Open thy ears, joy, and then thou shalt see ;*
To London, Mac Ballor,f a stout Inniskillin man,
A seeking brown Kate, by my shoul am come eey ;
My heart is sore wounded, sore wounded, sore,
A la boo, boo, boo, boo, hone, oh hone, hery Morah.
* A specimen of that figure of speech called a bull. To
Irishmen speaking imperfectly the English language, may be
ascribed the national reputation for blunders.
f Mac Bailor means literally son of a clown. " Balach, a
clown, a sturdy fellow." — O'Reilly.
i2
116 THE STOUT INNISKILLIN MAN.
When the valiant King William cross'd over the Boyne,
joy'
And with broken pates made Jack Papishes flee ;
Of dragoons a brave troop made a gallop to join, joy,
And march with the foremost by Chreest did come eey ;
They were beaten sore, curst and swore, and did roar,
A la boo, boo, boo, i^c.
When 1 went on a party, I sung and was merry too.
Though hunger gives small occasion to laugh ;
I without any grumbling fought in Londonderry too,
Without one dram of Snush or Usquebaugh,
Where we fed on roots, stinking fruits, old jack boots,
A la boo, boo, boo, (5fc.
In a skirmish near Limerick, on the banks of the Shan-
non there,
Many stout Teagues were slain in time of rout ;
And at Aghrim I narrowly escaped the damned cannon
there,
Catching the balls by my shoul in my mout.
But though the guns spared my bones, love Gad zoous,
A la boo, boo, boo, &^c.
The bully god, Mars, though a bug-bear they make him.
All arm'd like a gunsmith with bullets and fire,
I defy ; but the little whelp, Cupid, plague take him.
Makes me snort and grunt like a hog in the mire.
She has Irish eyes, Dutch size, an English prize,
A la boo, boo, boo, ^c.
THE STOUT INNISKILLIN MAN, 117
Heaven make rae a cobler, or make me a broom-man,
Or, cry puddings, what a plague call ye it i' th* streets.
So I may no more follow after a woman ;
De'il take me, 't has scared me quite out of my wits :
For when I get drunk, like a monk, I'm in a funk.
A la boo, boo, boo, S(c.
THE TREATY OF LIMERICK.
" When they came to capitulate," says Burnet, " the
Irish insisted on very high demands, which was set on
by the French, who hoped they would be rejected ; but
the king had given Ginckle secret instructions that he
should grant all the demands they could make that
■would put an end to the war. So every thing was
granted, to the great disappointment of the French,
and the no small grief of some of the English, who
hoped this war should have ended in the total ruin of
the Irish interest."
" No one was pleased ;" observes O'Driscol. " The
Anglo-Irish party inveighed bitterly against the treaty,
as being unreasonably favourable to the Irish, whom it
was their object to crush, not to treat with. The Irish
were loud in their accusations of those who had made
peace with an enemy, who they asserted had never yet
kept faith with them ; and at a moment when a great
French fleet was on the coast, and when, even without
118 THE TREATY OF LIMERICK.
their help, they were able and readj^ to fight the battle
out to the last. The court of France cried out loudly
against the treaty, as treasonable and disgraceful ;
having been made M-ithout necessity."
After some interesting remarks upon this famous
treaty, O'Driscol proceeds : — " The clergy of the vio-
lent party commenced preaching against the treaty,
Dr. Dopping, Bishop of Meath, had the boldness to
preach against it before the Lords Justices, at Christ
Church, in Dublin, the Sunday after their return from
Limerick. He reproached the justices bitterly for the
treaty they had concluded, and argued that Protestants
were not bound to keep faith with Papists.
" The king was alarmed at this spirit, and ordered
Dopping to be removed from the council; and Dr.
Moreton, bishop of Kildare, and other moderate di-
vines, were instructed topreach the obligation of keeping
faith with all men. But Dopping continued to be the
popular man amongst his party."
The epigram, or " smart poem," on the treaty of
Limerick, here given, is copied from a rare tract of
twelve pages, entitled the " British Muse, or Tyranny
Expos'd : a satyr, occasioned by all the fulsom and
lying poems and elegies that have been written on the
death of the late King James, to which is added a
smart poem on the generous Articles of Limerick and
Galway." [A MS. note adds, " supposed to have been
written by Tutchin."]
" London, Printed for Eliz. Mallet, and Sold by the
THE TREATY OF LIMERICK, 119
Williamite Book-sellers of London and Dublin, who
are the haters of Tyranny and Slavery."
This tract is without date, but appears from the
address to the reader to have been published immedi-
ately after the death of James II (1700). " He [James]
has now," says the writer, " paid his debt to nature.
But his men of blood, who had not fully satisfied their
sanguinary desires in the late reign, are building monu-
ments of praise to his memory, which ought to be
buried in eternal oblivion. These men are the occasion
of this poem, and if they find it disagreeable they may
thank themselves."
Tutchin — " Captain Tutchin," as he was nicknamed —
the supposed author of this epigram, was the gentleman
who, being sentenced by JeflTries to be whipt in several
market-towns, for writing something or other in favour
of Monmouth, petitioned the king that his sentence
might be changed to hanging. He was a poor, miser-
able wretch, and died in great distress in some privi-
leged place, in 1707 ; his death being said to have been
hastened by a severe personal chastisement, inflicted
upon him about a month before by some friends of
King James.
" The following verses were made upon the surrender
of Limerick, 1691. When the late King James's army
(that fled there) obtained such large conditions."
120 THE TREATY OF LIMERICK,
THE TREATY OF LIMERICK.
Hard fate, that still attends our Irish war.
The conquerors lose, the conquered gainers are ;
Their pens the triumph of our swords defeat :
We fight like soldiers, but like fools we treat.
Sure Teague has charm'd us with some fatal spell :
- For lest the coward should no more rebell,
Lest he grow honest by becoming poor,
We pardon all his former bloody score.
And set him up again to murther more.
With a new fund of our own plunder'd store ;
But England doubtless in our loss will share;
And, to reconquer, a new tax prepare.
IT WAS A' FOR OUR RIGHTFU' KING
Is copied, with the following introductory observations,
from a small volume, entitled " Jacobite Minstrelsy,"
published at Glasgow in 1829. There have been so
many clever modern imitations in Scotland of Jacobite
songs, that it is difficult to distinguish between what is
genuine or not, and the Editor is therefore unwilling to
risk an opinion in this matter ; he consequently gives
this song and its history as he found them.
" Captain Ogilvie, of the house of Inverquharity, is
believed to have been the author of this song. He
IT WAS a' for our rightful KING. 121
was with King James at the battle of the Boyne, and
afterwards fell in an engagement on the Rhine. It is
said also that he was one of the hundred gentlemen, all
of good families, who volunteered to attend their royal
master in his exile. James had afterwards the pain of
seeing these devoted followers submit voluntarily to
become private soldiers on his account in the French
service, rather than return to their own country, with
permission of the government, although it was optional
to them to do so. They were formed into one company,
and fought both in Spain and on the Rhine with heroic
valour and reputation. At the peace of 1696 only
sixteen of them remained alive. Of the whole number
only four were Catholics ; the rest were Protestants of
the Episcopalian persuasion, and several of them had
been bred as divints. What is perhaps still more
curious, by far the greater portion of them were low-
landers."
IT WAS A' FOR OUR RTGHTFU' KING.
It was a' for our rightfu' king
We left fair Scotland's strand I
It was a' for our rightfu' king
We e'er saw Irish land, my dear,
We e'er saw Irish land.
122 IT WAS a' for our rightfu' king.
Now a' is done that men can do,
And a' is done in vain ;
My love an' native land, fareweel.
For I maun cross the main, my dear ;
For I maun cross the main.
He turn'd him right an' round about
Upon the Irish shore.
And ga'e his bridle-reins a shake.
With, " Adieu for evermore, my dear ;'
With, " Adieu for evermore."
The sodger frae the wars returns,
The sailor frae the main ;
But I hae parted frae my love,
Never to meet again, my dear.
Never to meet again.
When day is gane, an' night is come,
An' a' folk bound to sleep,
I think on him that's far awa',
The lee-lang night an' weep, my dear.
The lee-lang night an' weep.
123
THE JACKS PUT TO THEIR TRUMPS
Is reprinted from a rare 4to. pamphlet of twelve pages,
so entitled : — " A Tale of a King James's Irish Shilling.
Quis talia fando,
MyiTaidonum Dolopumve aut duri miles Ulyssei
Temperet a lacrymis ?
Virgil, JEneid. u.
London, Printed and Sold by R. Burleigh, in Amen
Corner. 1714. (Price 3J.)"
The title-page is embellished with a wood-cut, not
badly executed, of the reverse and obverse of James
the Second's brass shilling, for August 1689.
'• When the late king was obliged by his necessity to
make brass money current in Ireland, it was at first
pretended to pass only in payments between man and
man in their daily commerce and dealings, and in pub-
lick payment of duties to the Exchequer. But soon
after, the Irish beginning to consider that they were
generally indebted to the English, and that this might
be a fit season, and a lucky opportunity to get their
debts easily and cheaply discharged, a proclamation
was published, enjoyning and requiring, that copper
and brass money should pass as current money within
the realm of Ireland, in the payment of bills, bonds,
debts by record, mortgages, and all other payments
whatsoever. By which knack many a poor Protestant
was fob'd out of his right, and compell'd to take an heap
124 THE JACKS PUT TO THEIR TRUMPS.
of trash for debt, (as he was for his wheat and other
commodities) or be precluded from any further satis-
faction.
" And thus T have heard that Colonel Roger Moore
was served, (but I do not aver it upon my certain know-
ledge) who having an incumbrance of £3,000 upon the
Lord Dillon's estate, who is married to the daughter of
the Lord or Lady Tyrconnel ; she sent for him, and
told him, that having some money at her command,
and being very desirous to take off the burthen from
her daughter's estate, she was content to pay him off in
ready money, provided he would make some handsome
abatement of the sum due. The gentleman being com-
plaisant to the lady, and very willing to receive money
in such a time of scarcity, freely consented to abate
a thousand pounds, so the rest might be paid down
at once. The lady seem'd very thankful, and appointed
him to come next day, and to bring the deeds and obli-
gations with him, and to receive his money. Accord-
ingly he came, and having given a legal release, the
lady opened a door, and shewed him a long table
covered over with copper and brass, and tendered it for
his payment ; which whether he rejected it in passion,
or hired a cart to carry it away I cannot tell ; but this
I can say, having an estate, which was mortgaged to
the old proprietor before 1641, to which on payment
of the mortgage money, he hoped to be restored by
repealing the Acts of Settlement; he repaired to me,
and desired me to appoint time and place for paying
the mortgage money, of which I have taken time to
THE JACKS PUT TO THEIR TRUMPS. 125
consider. One of the most eminent silver smiths in
Dublin, having sold all his plate to a papist, who pro-
mised to pay him his price (agreed upon) in silver and
gold ; but no faith being to be kept with hereticks, the
goldsmith was compelled to take brass and copper.
But not to detain the reader with many more of these
examples, I here present you with that savoury and
fruitful proclamation, which is to make brass money
pass in satisfaction of all debts.
" By the King, a Proclamation.
" James R.
" Whereas, ive have by former Proclamations of the
I8th and 27th days of June last, for the reasons therein
set forth : ordained and declared, that a certain coyn
made by our order of a certain metal, mixed ivith cop-
per and brass, and viarked and stamped as in the said
Proclamations is expressed, in Sixpence, Tivelvepence,
and Half-crown pieces, should duriny our pleasure pass
as current mony, amo)iy all our subjects within this
realm, accordiny to the rates and values in the said
Proclamations mention'd ; and in all payments to be paid
either to us or from us, or to, or by any of our subjects
within this kingdom ; excepting mortgages, bills, bonds,
or obligations, debts due by record, and mony heretofore
left in trust or keeping with any person. And whereas
it hath since been represented to us, that such restriction
upon the said coyn is a great hindrance to trade and
industry, and to the circulation of the said mony, in
126 THE JACKS PUT TO THEIR TRUMPS.
regard vien of trade and industry cannot have credit
without passing bonds and judgments, ivhich since they
cannot satisjie by the said mony, they are therefore the
less industrious to acquire it by the sale of any of their
goods or merchandizes, as are also the generality of all
others ; because when they have acquired any quantity
thereof, they cannot thereby fay their debts, nor clear
their estates from incumbrances ; whereof we have
thought Jit by the advice of our privy council, further
to declare and ordain, that the aforesaid mony, made of
mixture of copper and brass as aforesaid, shall here-
after during our pleasure pass as current mony within
this realm, not only in all payments, in the said former
Proclamation mentioned ; but also in all the said pay-
ments of bills, bonds, debts by record, mortgages, and
all other payments whatsoever, in the said former Pro-
clamations excepted ; and whereas this is ordered at this
time to supply the present scarcity of mony, and remedy
the great inconvenience which would otherwise etisiie ;
we do therefore hereby promise and declare to all our
loving subjects, that as soon as the said mony shall be
called in, and decried, we shall thereupon not only
receive from all our loving subjects within this kingdom,
such proportion thereof as shall be in any of their
hands, at such time as it shall be so decried, according
to the value for which it noiv passes, in satisfaction of
any rents, customs, excise, debts or duties, tvhich they
shall oive to us ; but also where no such debts or duties
shall be due to us, we will make full satisfaction for
THE JACKS PUT TO THEIR TRUMPS. 127
the same in gold or silver of the current coyri of this
kingdom.
" Given at oj(r Court at Dublin Castle, the ^th
day of February, 1689."*
" Aboiatthe 10th of March," (1690-1) says Story,
(p. 61 ) " we had an account by some Protestants, that
came out of Connaught, that the Irish a little after my
Lord Tyrconnel's landing, being out of humour with
the brass money, little or nothing being to be had for
it, they cry'd it down by Proclamation, the crown piece
to three pence, the half-crown to three halfpence, the
shilling to a penny, and the sixpence to an halfpenny.
After which the soldiers lived upon free quarters. Pro-
visions also being scarce, and no markets, for want of
money, those parts begun to be under worse circum-
stances every day."
In a curious contemporary manuscript, in the Editor's
library, written by Colonel Charles 0"Kelly,f the fol-
lowing particulars respecting the brass currency intro-
duced by James occur: — " Another grievance was, that
which was generally believed to be in a great measure the
occasion of the Irish ruin, and of the disorders of their
* An Account of the Transactions of the late King James
in Ireland. London, 1690.
f As the names of the parties and places mentioned appear
masked iu this manuscript, — for instance, Amasis, for James ;
Corydon, for Tyrconnel ; Cyprus, for Ireland ; Syria, for
France; &c. — the disguise has been removed in the above
extract, with the view of making it readily intelligible.
128 THE JACKS PUT TO THEIR TRUMPS.
government. This was the abundance of copper money
that was coined by the king's order, and which produced
so many inconveniences in the country, that it merits a
more particular relation, and deserves to be traced up to
its source. When James arrived in Ireland, which was
about the middle of March, in the second year of the
war, he found the country very bare of gold and silver
(the English, who had all the wealth of the kingdom
in their hands, having transported their effects into
England) ; and as he was not very fond of spending in
haste the stock of money which Louis XIV freely
granted for the support of the war in Ireland, least it
might oblige him to call for more ; a thing he would
gladly avoid, foreseeing, that by being too far engaged
to any foreign prince in that manner, the reimburse-
ment of such vast sums must exhaust his treasure when
he came to the possession of his kingdoms, which he
soon expected, by the voluntary submission of his
deluded subjects ; he was therefore advised by a Scotch
counsellor, to make use of this copper coin to serve his
present turn in Ireland ; adding that this method would
enable him to employ a good part of his gold to keep
in heart his friends in Scotland and gain others in Eng-
land, which he represented was of greater consequence
than the affairs of Ireland, and that matters being once
settled there, he might recall this coin again and recom-
pense the losers. But though the French ambassador.
Count d'Avaux, and the nobles of Ireland, assured
James, that if he laid out the money he brought from
France, it would by circulation come back again into
THE JACKS PUT TO THEIR TRUMPS. 129
his treasury (the Pai'liament of the kingdom having
already freely granted a subsidy of £200,000); ne-
vertheless the Scottish advice prevailed. Accord-
ingly a considerable part of the gold was sent into that
country, and the remainder being reserved by James
for a dead lift, the copper money was resolved upon, and
the mint set to work in the August of the second year.
" On its first appearance abroad, the Protestants in
Leinster shewed a reluctancy to receive it ; but they
were soon forced into a compliance. Elsewhere it
passed pretty well in the beginning ; the people, who
were hitherto scant of money, being glad to have any
coin current among them, to advance trade, which was
dead in the country. But when it came to be coined
in such plenty, that the merchants, who could not use
it in foreign countries, raised the price of their out-
landish ware to an unreasonable rate, and that the
country people, following the example, began to rise
the prices of their commodities also, and in fine, that
the French troops, whcf were paid in silver, seemed to
reject it ; then, and not before, it began to decline.
But what undervalued it most, was the little esteem the
great ones about court shewed for it : Tyrconnel's
lady commonly giving double the quantity of brass for
so much silver. This made the inferior sort to vilify
the coin, which became so despicable, especially after
the defeat of James on the river Boyne, that the com-
modity which might be purchased for one piece of
silver would cost twenty in brass ; and yet Tyrconnel,
and those who governed under him, extorted from the
K
loO THE JACKS PUT TO THEIR TRUMPS.
country people their goods at the king's rate, when paid
in silver. But the oppression that the poor Irish mer-
chants lay under in the cities of Limerick and Galway,
from Tyrconnel's party, was most insufferable. A factor
who had his goods ready to be shipped on board a
vessel hired for that purpose, must have the affliction
to behold his warehouse broke open, and all the intended
fieight, which he acquired with so great pains and
expense, snatched from him in a moment; for which
he had the value given him in copper according to the
king's rate (or perhaps a ticket for it) which would not
yield him the price of a shoebuckle in any foreign
country. And though this plunder was daily committed, '
under pretence of supplying the king's stores, yet the
misfortune was, that the nephews and nieces, the friends
and favourites of Tyrconnel, got the greater part of
the spoil. The town of Galway can bear witness that
this was done commonly by his own orders, when he
was there to take shipping for France. If an outlandish
vessel came in by chance (for few would come design-
edly into a land where no other coin was used but
copper) the whole cargo was immediately seized, and
the owners must stay until their ship was loaded again
with the country provisions or commodities, which were
to be plundered from the natives. This unhappy man-
agement made all neighbouring nations shun that part
of Ireland, which was reputed an infamous den of rob-
bers and a receptacle of pyrates. It was the common
opinion, that this pitiful project of the copper coin was
purposely advised by some, who designed the total
THE JACKS PUT TO THEIR TRUMPS, 181
ruin of Ireland ; for it miglit easily be foreseen, that it
would quickly destroy all commerce, wherein chiefly
consists the wealth of any country surrounded by the
sea."
As money is said to be the sinews of war, O'Driscol's
view of the policy of this question, on both sides, is
perhaps worthy of consideration.
" The two kings who divided the British empire at
this time, were both driven by their necessities to
schemes of finance. William, having been reared in
the counting-house of Holland, was the abler contriver.
He laid the basis of the debt of England, by borrowing
gold and pawning the revenue of the country to the
lender. James did not understand the matter, or could
get no one to lend upon his security ; and the alchemy
of banking, or converting paper into gold, was not yet
discovered. But his plan was not very different.
" James's plan was to convert copper, or other metal
of small value, into gold and silver. He coined a large
quantity of base metal, into pieces upon which he
stamped a nominal value, and made them a legal tender
for crowns, halfcrowns, and other silver and gold coin.
By his proclamation, this new coinage was to be re-
ceived in all dealings, except only in the payment of
trust money, or money due on bills, bonds, or mort-
gages, and except for customs on imported commodities.
These exceptions were soon removed, — all but the latter.
" James promised that this coin should, at the end of
the war, be received in payment at the Exchequer, and
exchanged for sterling money. A respectable historian
132 THE JACKS PUT TO THEIR TRUMPS.
(Leland) sa5's, that this plan of finance was against all
' law, reason, and humanity,' and that it has rendered
the name of James 'horrible to Irish Protestants.' It
was not against law, because a law was made for the
purpose ; and reason and humanity seem to have little
to do with financial schemes. James's was as good as
many of later date. His bank failed, undoubtedly ; so
have many other banks ; but the Protestants did not
suffer more by the failure than the people of other
creeds. The Catholics were far the greatest holders
of James's promissory copper tokens.
"James's plan was a copper bank, set up Inst ant er,
with an immediate bank restriction. There might have
been, no doubt, an over-issue; but if the Protestants
lost, they had least right of any to complain, for
they did all they could to break the banker, and finally
succeeded in driving him out of the kingdom, copper-
notes and all. The Catholics lost by the coin very se-
verely, and they lost their estates also. The Protestants,
though they lost by this early experiment in banking,
recovered the land, which was ample compensation.
" In all former Irish wars, the land was made to pay
a great part, if not the whole, of the expense. Loans
were raised in London for carrying on the war, the
lender to be satisfied afterwards in Irish estates. This
system could not now be acted upon. There were
already two sets of claimants for the land: one claiming
under William, and the other under James. There M'as
no party that covUd be safely put out at this time.
THE JACKS PUT TO THEIR TRUMPS. J 33
Hence the necessitj' of the financial measures resorted
to by the contending powers.
" James was totally ignorant how to support the
credit of his coin. He had but one idea about any
thing — force ; and force, when applied to the currency,
is sure to fail. His exceptions to the circulation of his
coin, though a clumsy attempt at being honest, were
very injurious to its credit. Probably, if he had got a
few thousand pounds of sterling coin, and made his
copper tokens convertible, he might have kept up their
credit, as long, at least, as things went on well in the
country ; and it would have been time enough for the
restriction after the battle of tlie Boyne.
"James, like greater financiers, soon found himself
exceedingly embarrassed. His metal tokens came back
rapidly to his exchequer, in the payment of all taxes
and assessments. They were paid to him at their no-
minal value, but in the common transactions of busi-
ness they fell almost to their intrinsic worth. He could
fix a denomination upon his coin ; but the seller of any
article could fix a price upon his commodity, to meet
the arbitrary denomination. If a piece of metal, worth
one penny, be tendered for a shilling, the seller of a
pennyworth of bread has only to ask a shilling for it,
and the difficulty is got rid of. James was puzzled at
this. He found it necessary, in order to keep his scheme
of currency afloat, to take one step more, and fix a
price upon commodities, as he had settled a value upon
his coin.
134 THE JACKS PUT TO THEIR TRUMPS.
"Having done this, his views suddenly enlarged.
He found that money might be made of it ; and he
turned merchant himself. He bought large quantities
of butter, corn, hides, wool, and other articles, at such
prices as he thought proper to give, and he paid for all
by a few pounds'-weight of tin or copper. It is easy to
believe that he was no welcome customer : but he had
persons employed to find out who had goods to sell ;
and none dared to refuse to deal with a customer who
had forty-two regiments of foot and fourteen of cavalry.
All those commodities he shipped to France, where they
were sold for his own account. By this traffic, he real-
ised large sums of money, at the expense of his subjects."
There can be no question that the following ballad,
upon internal evidence, may be as fairly attributed to
Dean Swift, as many effusions which have appeared in
several editions of his works ; but when it is stated that
the pamphlet from which it is copied, was found among
a bundle of broadsides, most, if not all, of which, are
well-known to be Swift's composition, and when it is
remembered how many of the productions of Swift's
muse, about the period when this " tale of King James'
Shilling" was printed (1714-), are unknown, and to
which the Dean himself has made especial reference, it
will be admitted that this ballad deserves more than or-
dinary consideration, especially if it be possible to trace
in it the germs of feeling which afterwards displayed
themselves so vigorously in the Drapier's opposition to
Wood's coinage, and which have formed an immortal
wreath for the brow of Swift.
THE JACKS PUT TO THEIR TRUMPS. 135
THE JACKS PUT TO THEIR TRUMPS.
1.
How wondrous fickle is this world I
How Fortune's wheel turns round !
The spoke that is to-day at top,
To-morrow 's on the ground.
II.
When once in dust a monarch 's laid,
His honour soon is gone.
All in an instant tack about
And court the rising sun.
III.
True friendship with Astraea went,
And took to Heav'n her flight.
For she and loyalty long since
Were banish'd Ireland quite.
IV.
The name of Christians we assume.
But are than Pagans worse.
There's few amongst us who have more
Religion than a horse.
V.
Religion a chimaera proves.
Heaven has our pray'rs the least,
All our sincere devotion 's paid
Alone to interest.
VI.
While my dear master smiled on me,
Whose image still I bear,
I was a welcome guest to all, —
Was courted everywhere.
136 THE JACKS PUT TO THEIR TRUMPS.
VII.
The gentleman, and tradesman, too,
Mj' company approved ;
In city, and at Court I dwelt,
And was by all beloved.
VIII.
The miser hugg'd me in his arms,
And lock'd me in his chest,
And never once his visit fail'd
Before he went to rest.
IX.
The ladies did my shapes approve.
My features, too, admired ;
Where e'en my king could never go,
Securely I retired.
X.
Within their bosoms lay all day.
And revelled in their arms ;
I was myself all over love,
And they all over charms.
XI.
Thus for a time I liv'd secure,
And at my heart's content,
But soon I found a wondrous change
On Will's establishment.
XII.
Some few, indeed, my stamp did prize,
As high as e'er before ;
Yet as the Revolution grew,
I wasted more and more.
THE JACKS PIT TO THEIK TIUMFS. 137
XIII.
Those few, at last, veer'cl quite about,
And joyn'd in my disgrace,
They cry'd, my master's son, and 1,
Came both of bastard race.
XIV.
That I had never seen the light.
If James had never run,
That I at Dublin was begot.
And was a cannon's son.
XV.
In such contempt, in short, I fell.
Which was a very hard thing,
They scurrilously us'd mu there,
For nothing but a farthing.
XVI.
Mad, you may think, to be thus us'd,
Tho' miserably poor.
Thinking I couldn't well be worse,
To England I came o'er.
XVII.
But to my sorrow when I came.
Like-treatment there I found.
No Jacobite amongst 'em all
My former value own'd,
XVIII.
All Will's, and best of Anna's, reign,
No better w as my state ;
But yet I cheer'd myself with hopes
I should be fortunate.
1 38 THE JACKS PUT TO THEIR TRUMPS.
XIX.
My master's son, 1 thought, would come,
His father's cause t' advance;
I thought t' have shewn my face again,
And welcomed him from France.
XX.
In greater lustre thought to shine,
Long hop'd to be prefer'd,
T' have laid the Father's image down,
For that of James the Third.
XXI.
But all my hopes abortive prov'd,
In need, he found no friend,
There w^asn't one amongst 'em all.
Would sail against the wind.
XXII.
Misfortunes never come alone,
Just before Anna dy'd.
By Whigg and Tory, too, was I
Most basely mortify'd.
XXIII.
No piece that wore m' unhappy face
Amongst the rogues would pass,
For any more than what would prove
To be my weight in brass.
XXIV.
And now King George, and all his tribe,
Is settled in the nation,
I still a harder fate do droad,
A far-worse transmisrration.
THE JACKS PI T TO THEIR THUMPS. 189
XXV.
Some founder soon will melt me down.
And sell m}^ despised mettle
To some damn'd tinker, in the street,
To mend some whore's damn'd kettle.
XXVI.
Take warning, Brother Jacks, by me,
Before 'tis quite too late.
Think what will be your next remove.
If you should transmigrate.
XXVII.
If you at Tyburn chance to swing,
You're brought all to such passes ;
That when you quit your present shapes.
You'll change, I fear, to asses.
C. RICHARDS, I'UIKXKR, ST. MARTIN S LANE.
of
^IJBU Marmot*
\y
THE
PAIN AND SORTIOW
EVIL MARRIAGE.
FROM AN UNIQUE COPY
LONDON :
REPRINTED FOR THE PERCY SOCIETY,
OY C. lUCHARDS, ST. MARTINS LANE.
COUNCIL
€in ^tvt^ ^ofietp*
J. A. CAHUSAC, Esq. F.S.A.
WILLIAM CHAPPELL, Esq. F.S.A.
JOHN PAYNE COLLIER, Esq. F.S.A.
T. CROFTON CROKER, Esq. F.S.A.
REV. ALEXANDER DYCE.
RICHARD HALLIWELL, Esq. F.S.A.
JAMES ORCHARD HALLIWELL, Esq. F.R.S. Treasurer
WILLIAM JERDAN, Esq. F.S.A.
SAMUEL LOVER, Esq.
CHARLES MACKAY, Esq.
E. F. RIMBAULT, Esq. Secretary.
THOMAS WRIGHT, Esq. M.A. F.S.A.
INTRODUCTION.
There are three early humorous tracts in verse
upon the subject of marriage, all printed by
Wynkyn de Worde : only one of them has a
date, 1535, but we can have little difficulty in
assigning the two others to about the same
period. They have the following titles.
1. " A complaynt of them that be to soone
maryed."
2. " Here begynneth the complaynte of them
that ben to late maryed."
3. " The payne and sorowe of evyll maryage."
The last we have printed entire in the following
pages, and of the two others. Dr. Dibdin has
inserted a brief account in his edition of Ames
(Typ. Ant. Ii. 384). We propose to go more at
large into a description of the contents of these
ancient and facetious relics.
We have reason to believe that the two first
are translations ; and in default of English expres-
sions, especially in the second piece, the writer
has employed, and sometimes anglicised, several
of the French words, which he thought better
adapted to his purpose. To this production,
" the Auctour," as he calls himself, has subjoined
a sort of epilogue, which ingeniously includes the
printer's colophon, as follows :
" Here endeth the complaynt of to late maryed,
For spendynge of tyme or they a horde
The sayd holy sacramente have to longe taryed,
Humane nature tiissemble and it to accorde.
Enprynted in Fletestrete hy Wynkyn de Worde,
Dwcllyuge in the famous cyte of London,
His hous in the same at the sygne of the Sonne."
At the conclusion of the " complaynt of them
that be to soone maryed," the date of 1535 has
also been interwoven. Wynkyn de Worde's will
was proved the 19th January, 15.84, which, ac-
cording to our present mode of computing the
year, would be the 19th January, 1535 ; so that
eitlur this piece came out after his death, or it
was printed just before that event, and in an-
ticipation of the new year, which would not then
commence until the 26th March.
Each of the tracts has a wood-cut on the title-
page, but only that called " The payne and
sorowe of evyll maryage," can be said to have
anything to do with the subject, and that no
doidit had been used for other ^^•orks : it repre-
Vll
sents a marriage ceremony, — a priest joining- tiie
hands of a couple before the altar.
The " complaynt of them that be to soone
maryed" opens with the following stanza:
" For as moche as many folke there be
That desyre the sacrament of weddynge,
Other wyll kepe them in vyrgyny[t]e,
And toyll in chastyte he lyvynge ;
Thertbre I wyll put now in wrytjTige
In what sorowe these men lede theyr lyvcs,
That to soone he coupled to cursed Wyves."
Thence the author proceeds to give some very
sage and serious advice upon the evil of too hasty
matrimonial alliances, but he does not attempt
nuich humour until he comes to describe the con-
duct of his wife (for he \\Tites in the first person
tlirougliout) when they had been married eight
days : until then he had not been " chydden ne
banged," but he suffered for it bitterly afterwards ;
" But soone ynoughe I had assayes
Of sorowe and care that made me bare."
It may here be observed that the stanza is peculiar,
and consists of eight lines, the four first lines
rhyming alternately, the fifth rhyming with the
fourth, then a line with a new rhyme, while the
seventh line rhymes with the third and fourth, and
the eighth with the sixth. He continues the nar-
rative of his sufferings in the following manner :
" About eygbt dayes, or scone after
Our niaryage, the tyme for to passe
My ^vyfe I toke, and dyd set her
Upon my knee for to solace ;
And began her for to enbrace,
Sayenge, syster, go get the tyme loste ;
We must thynke to labour a pace
To recompence that it bathe us coste.
" Than for to despyte she up arose,
And drewe her faste behynde me,
To me sayenge, is this the glose ?
Alas, pore caytyfe, well I se
That I never shall have, quod she,
With you more than payne and tormente :
I am in an evyll degre ;
I have now loste my sacramentc.
" For me be to longe with you here,
Alas, I ought well for to thynke
What we sholde do within ten yere.
Whan we shall have at our herte brynke
Many chyldren on for to thynke.
And crye after us without fayle
For theyr meate and theyr drynke ;
Then shall it be no mervayle.
" Cursed be the houre that I ne was
Made a none in some cloyster.
Never there for to passe ;
Or had be made some syster,
In servage with a clousterer.
It is not eyght dayes sythe oiire weddynge
That we two togyther weere :
By god, ye speke to soone of werkynge."
The second piece of ancient facetioc, " the
complaynte of them that ben to late maryed," is
IX
vvi'itten with much more humour, and is far better
worth preservation, but it is disfigured by in-
delicacy, though not of the grossest kind, and
never introduced but for the sake of heightening
the drollery. It is the lamentation of an elderly
gentleman, who after a youth of riot had married
a young frolicksome wife, and he relates very
feelingly the inconveniences, annoyances, and jea-
lousies to which he is thereby exposed. After
two introductory stanzas, (all of them are in the
ordinary seven-line ballad form) he thus states
his resolution late in life to commit the folly of
matrimony.
" To lono;e have I lyved without oiiy make ;
All to longe have I used my yonge age :
I wyll all for go and a wyfe to me take
For to increase both our twoos lynage ;
For saynt John sayth that he is sage
That ayenst his wyll doth him governe,
And our lordes precepte hym selfe for to learne.
" There is no greter pleasure than for to have
A wyfe that is full of prudence and wysdome.
Alas, for love nygh I am in poynte to rave.
These cursed olde men have an yll custome
Women for to blame, both all and some ;
For that they can not theyr myndes full fyll,
Therfore they speke of them but all yll.
" Now, syth that I have my tyme used
For to follow my folyshc plcasaunces,
And have my sclfc oftentimes sore abused
At plaies and sportcs, pompcs and daunccs,
Spendynge golde and sylver and grete fynaimces,
For taut of a wyfe the cause is all :
To late maiyed men may me call."
Hence he proceeds to narrate his early courses,
especially his amours with " mercenary beauties,'"
He says : —
" Yf I vvithhelde ony piaty one,
Swetely ynough she made me chere,
Sayenge tliat sLe loved no ])ersone
But me, and tlierto she dyde swere.
But whan I wente fro that place there.
Unto another she dyde as moche ;
For they love none but for theyr poche."
His male companions were about upon a par
with his female, and upon both he wasted his
substance ; but having at last married, he ima-
gined that he had only to enjoy tranquillity and
happiness, and exclaimed : —
" Now am I out of this daunger so alenge,
Wherfore I am gladde it for to persever.
Longe about have I ben me for to renge ;
But it is better to late than to be ne\er.
Certes I was not in my lyfe tyll hyther
So full of joye, that doth in my herte inspyre :
Wedded folke have tyme at theyr desyre."
On trying the experiment, he by no means finds
it answer his expectation. Besides other evils,
he says, "constrayned I am to be full of jalousy;"
and ho admits in plain terms that his young wife
XI
has no great reason to be satisfied with her old
husband. He observes : —
" It is sayd that a man in servytude
Hyra putteth, wlian he doth to woman bende :
He ne hath but only habytude
Unto her the whiche well doth hym tende.
Who wyll to householde comprehende,
And there a bout studyeth in youth alwayes,
He shall have honoure in his olde dayes.
" Some chyldren unto the courtes hauntes,
And lien purvayed of benefyces ;
Some haunteth markettes and be marchauntes,
Byenge and sellynge theyr marchaundyses ;
Or elles coustytuted in offyces.
Theyr faders and moders have grete solace,
That to late maryed by no waye base.
" I be wayll the tyme that is so spent,
That I ne me hasted for to wedde ;
For I shall have herytage and rente,
Both golde and sylver and kynred ;
But syth that our lorde hath ordeyned
That I this sacrament t;ike me upon,
I wyll kepe it trewely at all season."
In the subsequent stanza, which occurs soon
afterwards, the author seems to alhide to the first
of the three tracts now under consideration.
" Yf that there be ony tryfelers.
That have wylled for to blame maiyage,
I da'e well saye that they ben but lyers,
Or elles god fayled in the fyrste age :
Adam beretb wytnesse and tesmonage :
Maryed he was, and comen we ben.
God dyde choyse maryage unto all men."
This stanza affords an instance of the employ-
ment of an anglicised French word because it
happened to answer the translator's purpose as a
rhyme to " age." His objection is not to mar-
riage generally, but to marriage when a man has
ceased to be the subject of amorous affection ; for
he says expressly,
" All tbey that by tlieyr subtyll artes
Hath wylled for to blame maiyage,
I vvyll susteyue that they be bastardes,
Or at least wage an evyll courage,
For to save that therein is servage
In maryage ; but I it reny,
For therin is but humayne company.
" Yf ther be yll women and rebell,
Shrewed, dispytous, and eke felonyous,
There be other fayre, and do full well,
Propre, gentyll, lusty and joyous,
That ben full of grace and vertuous ;
They ben not all born under a sygnet :
Happy is he that a good one can get."
He adds just afterwards : —
" Galantes, playne ye the tpne that yo have lost,
INlary you be tyme, as the wyse man sayth.
Tossed I have ben fro pyler to post
In commersynge natures werke ahvayes.
I have passed full many quasy dayes.
That now unto good I can not mate,
For mary I dyde my selfe to late."
In the second line we ought to read " sayes"
for " sayth," as the rhyme evidently shews. The
last stanza of the body of the poem is in the
same spirit.
" Better it is in youth a wyfe for to take,
And lyve with her to goddes pleasaunce,
Than to go in age, for goddes sake,
In worldly sorowe and perturbaunce,
For youthes love and uttcraunce,
And than to dye at the last ende.
And be danipned in hell with the foule fende."
The three terminating stanzas consist of a sup-
plementary address from " the Auctour," the last
containing the imprint or colophon as already
inserted. The work is ended by Wynkyn de
Worde's well known tripartite device.
We now proceed to insert, in its entire shape,
the third tract upon this amusing subject, pre-
mising that (like our preceding quotations) it
is from an unique copy. It will remind the reader
in several places of passages in the Prologue of
Chaucer's " Wife of Bath," especially where she
remarks,
" Thou sayst droppyng houses, and eke smoke,
And chidyng wyves maken men to flee
Out of her owne houses. Ah, benedieite !
What ayleth suche an olde man for to chide ?"
But the Wife of Bath does not quote Solomon
for the proverb, as we find him referred to on
XIV
p. 20. Again, in a subsequent stanza, p. 21 , we are
strongly reminded of the lines where the Wife of
Bath thus describes her conduct after she had
married her fifth husband : —
" Therfore made I my visytations
To vigilles, and to processyons,
To preachyng eke, and to pilgrymages,
To playes of myracles, and to manages,
And weared on my gay skarlet gytes."
The main difference is that instead of saying,
with Chaucer, that women frequent " playes of
myracles," the author of the ensuing tract tells
us that they delight " on scaffoldes to sytte on
high stages," from whence they usually beheld
such performances. Throughout, the writer seems
to have had our great early poet more or less in
his eye, and hence we may possibly conclude, that
if the two other pieces on the same subject were
translations, this was original. It, therefore,
deserves the more attention.
THE PAYNE AND SOllOWE OF
EVYLL MARY AGE.
Take hede and lerne, thou lytell chykle, and se
That tyme passed wyl not agayne retourne,
And in thy youthe unto vertues use the:
Lette in thy brest no maner vyce sojourne,
That in thyne age thou have no cause to mourne
For tyme lost, nor for defaute of wytte :
Thynke on this lesson, and in thy mynde it shytte.
Glory unto god, lovynge and benyson
To Peter and Johan and also to Laurence,
Whiche have me take under proteccyon
From the deluge of mortall pestylence.
And from the tempest of deedly vyolence,
And me preserve that I fall not in the rage
Under the bonde and yocke of maryage.
I was in purpose to have taken a wyfe,
And for to have wedded without avysednes
A full fayre mayde, with her to lede my lyfe,
Whome that I loved of hasty wylfulnes,
With other fooles to have lyved in dystresse,
As some gave me counseyle, and began me to constraynr
To have be partable of theyr woofull payne.
18 THE PAYNE AND SOROWE
They laye upon me, and hasted me full sore,
And gave me counseyle for to have be bounde.
And began to prayse eche daye more and more
The woofuU lyfe in whiche they dyd habounde,
And were besy my gladnes to confounde,
Themselfe rejoysynge, bothe at even and morowe,
To have a felowe to lyve with them in sorovve.
But of his grace god hath me preserved
By the wyse counseyle of these aungelles thre :
From hell gates they have my lyfe conserved
In tyme of warre, whan lovers lusty,
And bryght Phebus was fresshest unto se
In Gemynys, the lusty and glad season,
Whan to wedde caught fyrst occasyon.
My joye was sette in especyall
To have wedded one excellent in fayrnes,
And thrugh her beaute have made my selfe thrall
Under the yocke of everlastynge dystresse ;
But god alonely of his high goodnes
Hath by an aungell, as ye have herde me tell,
Stopped my passage from that peryllous hell.
Amonge these aungelles, that were in nombre thre.
There appered one out of the southe,
Whiche spake fyrst of all the trynyte
All of one sentence, the mater is full couthe ;
And he was called Johan with the golden mouthe,
Which concluded by sentence full notable,
Wyves of custome ben gladly varyable.
OF EVYLL MARY AGE. 19
After this Johan, the storj' sayth also,
In confyrmacj'on of theyr fragylyte,
How that Peter, called acorbylio,
AfFerraeth playnly, how that wyves be
Dyverse of herte, full of duplycyte,
Mayterfull, hasty, and eke proude,
Crabbed of langage whan they lyst erye aloude.
Who taketh a wyfe receyveth a great charge,
In whiche he is full lyke to have a fall :
With tempest tossed, as is a besy barge ;
There he was fre he maketh hyrnselfe thrall.
Wyves of porte ben full imperyall,
Husbandes dare not theyr lustes gaynsaye.
But lovely please and mekely them obaye.
The husbandes ever abydeth in travayle ;
One labour passed there cometh an other newe,
And every daye she begynneth a batayle.
And in complaynynge chaungeth chere and hewe.
Under suche falsnes she fayneth to be true ;
She maketh hym rude as is a dull asse,
Out of whose daunger impossyble is to passe.
Thus wedlocke is an endlesse penaunce,
Husbandes knowe that have experyence,
A martyrdom and a contynuaunce
In sorowe everlastynge, a deedly vyolence ;
And this of wyves is gladly the sentence
Upon theyr husbandes, whan they lyst to be bolde,
How they alone governeth the housholde.
20 THE PAYNE AND SOROWE
And yf her husbande happen for to thryve,
She sayth it is her prudent purveyaunce :
If they go abacke ayenwarde and unthry ve,
She sayth it is his mysgovernaunce.
He bereth the blame of all suche ordynaunee ;
And yf they be poore and fall in dystresse,
She sayth it is his foly and lewdnesse.
And yf so be he be no werkman good.
It may well happe he shall have an home,
A large bone to stufFe with his hood ;
A mowe behynde, and fayned cheere beforne :
And yf it fall that theyr good be lorne
By aventure, eyther at even or morowe,
The sely husbande shall have all the sorowe.
An husbande hath greate cause to care
For wyfe, for chylde, for stufFe and meyne.
And yf ought lacke she wyll bothe swere and stare,
He is a wastour and shall never the :
And Salomon sayth there be thynges thre,
Shrewde wyves, rayne, and smokes blake
Make husbandes ofte theyr houses to forsake.
Wyves be beestes very unchaungeable
In theyr desyres, whiche may not staunched be,
Lyke a swalowe whiche is insacyable :
Peryllous caryage in the trouble see;
A wawe calme full of adversyte.
Whose blandysshynge endeth with myschaunce.
Called Cyrenes, ever full of varyaunce.
OF EVYLL MARY AGE. 21
They them rejoyce to se and to be sene,
And for to seke sondrye pylgrymages,
At greate gaderynges to walke on the grene,
And on scafFoldes to sytte on hygh stages,
If they be fayre to shevve theyr vysages ;
And yf they be foule of loke or countenaunce,
They it amende with pleasynge dalyaunce.
And of profyte they take but lytell hede,
But loketh soure whan theyr husbandes ayleth ought ;
And of good mete and drynke they wyll not fayle in dede,
What so ever it cost they care ryght nought ;
Nor they care not how dere it be bought,
Rather than they should therof lacke or mysse,
They wolde leever laye some pledge ywys.
It is trewe, I tell you yonge men everychone,
Women be varyable and love many wordes and stryfe :
Who can not appease them lyghtly or anone,
Shall have care and sorowe all his lyfe.
That woo the tyme that ever he toke a wyfe ;
And wyll take thought, and often muse
How he myght fynde the maner his wyfe to refuse.
But that maner with trouth can not be founde,
Therfore be vvyse or ye come in the snare.
Or er ye take the waye of that bounde;
For and ye come there your joye is tourned unto care.
And remedy is there none, so may I fare.
But to take pacyens and thynke none other way aboute ;
Than shall ye dye a martyr without ony doute.
22 THE PAYNE AND SOROWE OF EVYLL MARY AGE.
Therfore, you men that wedded be,
Do nothynge agaynst the pleasure of your wyfe,
Than shall you lyve the more meryly,
And often cause her to lyve withouten stryfe;
Without thou art unhappy unto an evyll lyfe,
Than, yf she than wyll be no better,
Set her upon a lelande and bydde the devyll fet her.
Therfore thynke moche and saye nought,
And thanke God of his goodnesse,
And prece not for to knows all her thought.
For than shalte thou not knowe, as I gesse.
Without it be of her own gentylnesse,
And that is as moche as a man may put in his eye.
For, yf she lyst, of thy wordes she careth not a flye.
And to conclude shortly upon reason,
To speke of wedlocks of fooles that be blente.
There is no greter grefe nor feller poyson,
Nor none so dredeful peryllous serpent,
As is a wyfe double of her entent.
Therfore let yonge men to eschew sorowe and care
Withdraws theyr fete or they come in the snare.
Here endeth the payne and sorowe of evyll maryage.
Imprynted at London in Fletestrsts at the signs of the
Sonne, by me Wynkyn de Words.
. RICHARDS, TRIXIKK, IdO, sr. MARTIN'S LANE, CHARINfi CKOSS.
THE KING
A POOR NORTHERN MAN
OR,
TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE.
dTwm tfft (IBtiitmi of 164-0.
ATTRIBUTED TO MARTIN PARKER.
LONDON :
REPRINTED FOR THE PERCY SOCIETY,
BY C. RICHARDS, ST. MARTIN'S LANE.
COUNCIL
€i)t ^ercp ^onetp.
J. A. CAHUSAC, Esq. F.S.A.
WILLIAM CHAPrELL, Esq. F.S..\.
JOHN PAYNE COLLIER, Esq. F.S.A.
T. CROFTON CROKER, Esq. F.S.A.
REV. ALEXANDER DYCE.
RICHARD HALLIWELL, Esq. F.S.A.
JAMES ORCHARD HALLIWELL, Esq. F.R.S. Treasurer.
WILLIAM JERDAN, Esq. F.S.A.
SAMUEL LOVER, Esq.
CHARLES MACKAY, Esq.
E. F. RIMBAULT, Esa Secretary.
THOMAS WRIGHT, Esq. M.A. F.S.A.
INTRODUCTION.
Although somewhat modernized in the following
copy, there is little doubt that the humorous
story of " The King and the poor Northern Man"
is much older than 1640. It reads in particular
places like a narrative of considerable antiquity ;
but when it was " printed by The. Cotes," whose
name appears at the bottom of the title-page of
the black-letter edition which we have employed,
it was intended that the reader should suppose
the tale a new one, and that it was the author-
ship of Martin Parker, the celebrated and popular
ballad-maker : his well-known initials are placed
quite at the end, after the word '■'•Finis" but
possibly he was not concerned in the imposition,
v»'hich might be concocted by Francis Grove, the
bookseller. No older edition is extant than that
we have reprinted, and as far as yet appears it is
the only remaining copy of it. We find it men-
tioned in no bibliographical work, nor have we
been able to trace it in any catalogue.
,^
Besides the internal evidence, there is external
proof of the antiquity of the story, and even of
the title of the piece. In Henslowe's Diary,
under the date of 1601, we meet with two entries,
the first of which runs thus :
" Lent at the apoyntment of the company, and
my Sonne, unto Hary Chettell, in earnest of a
playe called To good to be trewe or Northern
Man, the some of 5s : the 14 of novmbr, 1601."
The second is as follows :
" Pd. at the apoyntment of Robart Shawe, and
Thomas To\ATie, unto Mr. Hathwaye and Mr.
Smythe, in part of payment of a boocke called
To goode ta be trewe, the 6 of Janewary 1601,
the some of 1*."
Hence we see that as early as 1601 a play had
been ^^Titten by Henry Chettle, Richard Hathe-
waye and Wentworth Smith, called " Too good
to be true, or the Northern Man," though the
second title is omitted in Henslowe's latest entry.
This play was, no doubt, founded upon the popu-
larity of the subsequent story ; the incidents of
which are hio-hlv lauo-hable, and would have af-
forded much scope to the rustic comicalities of
such actors as Pope, Singer, or Kempe.
That the story was known of old by the name
of " Too good to be true" we are not without
proof. The same incidents were employed in a
broadside in verse under the title of " The King
and Northern Man," printed " by W.O., and to be
sold by the Booksellers in Pye Corner and Lon-
don Bridge," a copy of which is in the British
Museum. The wording of the body of the ballad
does not differ very materially from our version
of 1640, but it varies at the beginning and end.
The ^Titer professes in the outset to have bor-
rowed from a work already in print, for the broad-
side thus opens :
" To drive away the weary day
A book I chanc'd to take in hand,
And therein I read assuredly
A story, as you shall understand.
" Perusing many a history over,
Amongst the leaves I chanc'd to view
The books name, and the title is this.
The Second Lesson, too good to he true."
Thus we have both the titles of the play men-
tioned by Henslowe in his first memorandum. The
book which the \\Titer of the broadside employed
must have been a now lost collection of popular
histories, divided into what were called " Lessons,"
the " second lesson" being the tale of " The King
and a poor Northern Man," or " Too good to
be true." This was probably the same as the
story used by Cliettle, Hathwaye, and Smith
for the foundation of their play, which story was
furbished up in 1640, and printed in a separate
duodecimo pamphlet. It is this pamphlet that
we have now accurately reprinted, with the omis-
sion only of some coarse and uncouth wood-cuts,
at the time intended to be attractive.
Many of our readers will be aware that the
same circumstance of a visit to the King by one
of his country tenants, though much abridged,
forms the subject of a comic song, which has kept
its place in various modern collections.
THE KING AND
A POORE NORTHERNE MAN.
SHEWING HOW A POORE NORTHUMBERLAND MAN,
A TENANT TO THE KING, BEING WRONGED BY
A LAWYER (his NEIGHBOUR), WENT TO
THE KING HIMSELF TO MAKE KNOWNE
HIS GRIEVANCES. FULL OF SIMPLE
MIRTH AND MERRY
PLAINE JESTS.
Printed at London by Tho. Cotes, and are to be sold
by Francis Grove, dwelling upon Snow hill.
1640.
THE
KING AND A POOEE NORTHEENE MAN.
Come hearken to me all around,
and I will tell you a merry tale
Of a Northumberland man that held some ground,
which was the Kings land in a dale.
He was borne and bred thereupon,
and his father had dwelt there long before,
Who kept a good house in that country,
and stav'd the wolfe from off his doore.
Now, for this farme the good old man
just twenty shillings a yeare did pay :
At length came cruell death with his dart,
and this old farmer he soone did slay :
Who left behinde him an aude wife then,
that troubled was with raickle paine,
And with her cruches she walkt about,
for she was likewise blinde and lame.
When that his corpes were laid in the grave
his eldest sonne possesse did the farme,
At the same rent as the father before :
he took great paines and thought no harme.
B 2
4 THE KING AND
By him there dwelt a Lawyer false,
that witli his farme was not content,
But over the poore man still haug'tl his nose,
because he did gather the King's rent.
This farme layd by the Lawyer's land,
which this vild kerne had a mind unto :
The deele a good conscience had he in his bulke,
that sought this poore man for to undoe.
He told him he his lease had forfite,
and that he must there no longer abide :
The King by such lownes hath mickle wrong done,
and for you the world is broad and wide.
The poore man pray'd him for to cease,
and content himselfe, if he would be willing ;
And picke no vantage in my lease,
and I will give thee forty shilling.
Its neither forty shillings, no forty pound,
Ise warrant thee, so can agree thee and me,
Unlesse thou yeeld me thy farme so round,
and stand unto my curtesie.
The poore man said he might not do sa :
his wife and his bearnes will make him ill warke.
If thou wilt with my farme let me ga,
thou seemes a good fellow, Ise give thee five marke.
A POORE NORTHERNE MAN.
The Lawyer would not be so content,
but further in the matter he means to smell.
The neighbours bad the poor man provide his rent,
and make a submission to the King him sell.
This pooi'e man now was in a great stond,
his senses they were almost wood :
I thinke, if he had not tooke grace in 's mind
that he would never againe beene good.
His head was troubled in such a bad plight,
as though his eyes were apple gray;
And if good learning he had not tooke
he wod a cast himselfe away.
A doughty heart he then did take,
and of his mother did blessing crave,
Taking farewell of his wife and bearnes ;
it earned his heart them thus to leave.
Thus parting with the teares in his eyne,
his bob-taild dog he out did call :
Thou salt gang with me to the King ;
and so he tooke his leave of them all.
He had a humble staffe on his backe,
a jerkin, I wat, that was of gray,
With a good blue bonnet, he thought it no lacke ;
to the king he is ganging as fast as he may.
() THE KING AND
I Fe had not gone a mile out o' th' toone,
but one of his neighbours he did espy :
How far ist to th' King ? for thither am I boone,
as fast as ever I can hye.
I am sorry for you, neighbour, he sayd,
for your simplicity I make mone :
Ise warrant you, you may ask for the King,
when nine or ten dayes journey you have gone.
Had I wist the King wond so farre
Ise neere a sought him a mile out o'th' toone:
Hes either a sought me, or wee'd neere a come nare
at home I had rather spent a crowne.
Thus past he alang many a weary mile,
in raine, and wet, and in foule mire,
That ere he came to lig in his bed
his dog and he full ill did tire.
Hard they did fare their charges to save,
but alas hungry stomackes outcrie for meate,
And many a sup of cold water they dranke,
when in the lang way they had nought to eate.
Full lile we know his hard griefe of mind,
and how he did long London to ken ;
And yet he thought he should finde it at last,
because he met so many men.
A POORE NORTHERNE MAN.
At length the top of kirkes he spide,
and houses so thicke that he was agast :
I thinke, quoth he, their land is full deere,
for ther's nought that here lies wast.
But when he came into the city of London,
of every man for the King he did call.
They told him that him he neede not feare,
lor the King he lies now at Whitehall.
For Whitehall he then made inquire,
but as he passed strange geere he saw :
The bulkes with such gue gawes were dressed,
that his mind a tone side it did draw.
Gud God, unto himselfe he did say,
what a deele a place I am come unto I
Had a man, I thinke, a thousne pounds in's purse,
himselfe he might quickly here undoe.
At night then a lodging him a got,
and for his supper he then did pay :
He told the host then heed goe lig in his bed,
who straight took a candle and shewd him the way.
Then with spying of farlies in the citie,
because he had never been there beforne,
He lee so long a bed the next day,
the Court was remov'd to Windsor that morne.
8 THE KING AND
You ha laine too long then, then said his host,
you ha laine too long by a great while :
The king is now to Windsor gone ;
he's further to seeke by twenty mile.
I thinke I was corst, then said the poo re man ;
if I had been wise I might ha consider.
Belike the King of me has gotten some weet :
he had neere gone away had not I come hither.
He fled not for you, said the hoste ;
but hie you to Windsor as fast as you may :
Be sure it will requite your cost,
for looke, what's past the king will pay.
But when he came at Windsor Castle,
with his bumble staff upon his backe,
Although the gates wide open stood
he layd on them till he made um cracke.
Why, stay 1 pray friend, art mad ? quoth the Porter
what makes thee keepe this stirre to day ?
Why, I am a tenant of the Kings,
and have a message to him to say.
The King has men enough, said the Porter,
your message well that they can say.
Why, there's neere a knave the King doth keepe
shall ken my secret mind to day.
A POORE NORTHERNE MAN. 9
I were told, ere I came from home,
ere I got hither it would be dear bought :
Let me in, Ise give thee a good single penny.
I see thou wilt ha small, ere thou t doe for nought.
Gramercy, said the Porter then ;
thy reward's so great I cannot say nay.
Yonder's a Nobleman within the court,
He first heare what he will say.
When the Porter came to the Nobleman,
he sayd he would shew him a pretty sport :
There's sike a clowne come to the gate,
as came not this seven yeares to the Court,
He cals all knaves the King doth keepe ;
he raps at the gates and makes great din ;
He's passing liberall of reward ;
heed give a good single penny to be let in.
Let him in, sayd the Nobleman.
Come in, fellow, the Porter gan say :
If thou come within thy selfe, he sayde,
thy staffe behind the gate must stay.
And this cuckolds curre must lig behind :
what a deele, what a cut hast got with thee I
The King will take him up for his owne sol,
Ise warrant, when as he him doth see.
10 THE KING AND
Beshrew thy limbes, then said the poore man ;
then mayst thou count rae foole, or worse.
I wat not what banckrout lies by the King ;
for want of money he may picke my purse.
That's to be fear'd, the Porter said ;
Ise wish you goe in well arm'd ;
For the King he hath got mickle company,
and among them all, you may soone be harm'd.
Let him in with his stafFe and his dog, said the Lord,
and with that he gave a nod with's head, and beck
with's knee.
If you be Sir King, then said the poore man,
as I can very well thinke you be;
For I was told ere I came from home,
you're the goodliest man ere I saw beforne ;
With so many jingle jangles about ones necke,
as is about yours, I never saw none.
I am not the King, said the Nobleman,
fellow, although I have a proud coat.
If you be not the King, helpe me to the speech of him,
you seeme a good fellow, Ise gi you a groat.
Gramercy, said the Nobleman ;
the rewards so great, I cannot say nay.
He go know the Kings pleasure, if I can ;
till I come againe be sure thou stay.
A POORE NORTHERNE MAN. 11
Heres sike a staying, then said the pooro man ;
belike the Kings better than any in our countrey.
I might be gone to th' farthest nuke i'th' honse,
neither lad nor lowne to trouble me.
When the Nobleman came to the King,
he said he would shew his (irace good sport :
Heres such a clowne come to the gate,
as came not this seven yeares to the Court.
He cals all knaves your Highnesse keepes,
and more than that, he termes them worse.
Heele not come in without his stafFe and his dogge,
for fear some bankrout will picke his purse.
Let him in with his staffe and his dog, said our King,
that of his sport we may see some.
Weele see how heele handle everything,
as soone as the match of bowles is done.
The Nobleman led him through many a roome,
and through many a gallery gay.
What a det:le doth the king with so many toome houses,
that he gets um not fild with corne and hay ?
What gares these babies and babies all ?
some ill have they done that they hang by the walls ?
And staring aloft at the golden roofe toppe,
at a step he did stumble, and downe he falles.
12 THE KING AND
Stand up, good fellow, the Nobleman sayd ;
what, art thou drunke or blind, I trow ?
Ise neither am blinde nor drunke, he sed,
although, in my sowle, you oft are so.
It is a disease, said the Lord againe,
that many a good man is troubled withall.
Quoth the Country man then, yet I made your proud
stones
to kisse my backeside, though they gave me a fall.
At last they spide the King in an ally,
yet from his game he did not start.
The day was so hot, he cast off his doublet ;
he had nothing from the wast up but his shirt.
Loe, yonder's the King, said the Noble man :
behold, fellow ; loe, where he goes.
Beleevet bee's some unthrift, sayes the poore man,
that has lost his money and pawnd his cloathes.
How hapt he hath gat neere a coate to his backe ?
this bowling I like not; it hath him undone.
Ise warrant that fellow in those gay cloathes,
he hath his coyne and his doublet won.
But when he came before the King,
the Nobleman did his curtesie :
The poore man followed after him,
and gave a nod with his head and a becke witli his knee.
A POORE NORTHERNE MAN. 13
If you be Sir King, then said the poore man,
as I can hardly thinke you be ;
Here is a gude fellow that brought me hither,
is liker to be the King than ye.
I am the King, his Grace now sayd ;
Fellow, let me thy cause understand.
If you be Sir King, Ime a tennant of yours,
that was borne and up brought within your ownc
lande.
There dwels a Lawyer hard by me,
and a fault in my lease he sayes he hath found ;
And all was for felling five poor ashes,
to build a house upon my owne ground.
Hast thou a lease here ? said the King,
or canst thou shew to me the deed ?
He put it into the Kings owne hand,
and said, Sir, tis here, if that you can read.
Why, what if I cannot ? said our King ;
that which I cannot, another may.
I have a boy of mine owne, not seven yeares old,
a will read you as swift as yould run i'th' highway.
Lets see thy lease, then said our King :
then from his blacke boxe he puld it out.
He gave it into the Kings owne hand,
with foure or five knots ty'd fast in a clout.
14 THE KING AND
Wast neere unloose these knots ? said the King :
he gave it to one that behind him did stay.
It is a proud horse, then said the poore man,
will not carries owne provinder along the highway,
Pay me forty shillings, as Ise pay you,
I will not thinke much to unloose a knot :
I would I were so occupied every day.
Ide unloose a score on urn for a groat.
When the King had gotten these letters to read,
and found the truth was very so :
I warrant thee, thou hast not forfeit thy lease,
if that thou hadst feld five ashes moe.
I, every one can warrant me,
but all your warrants are not worth a flea ;
For he that troubles me and will not let me goe,
neither cares for warrant of you nor me.
The Lawyer he is sike a crafty elfe :
a will make a foole of twenty such as me ;
And if that I said gang hang my sel,
Ise trow, he and I sud neere agree.
For he's too wise for all our towne,
and yet we ha got crafty knaves beside.
Heele undoe me and my wife and bearnes :
alas, that ever I saw this tide I
A POORE NORTHERNE MAN. 15
Thoust have an injunction, said our King ;
from troubling of thee he will cease :
Heele either shew thee a good cause why,
or else heele let thee live in peace.
What's that injunction ? said the poore man,
good Sir, to me I pray you say.
Why, It is a letter He cause to be written:
but art thou as simple as tliou shewest for to day ?
W^hy, ift be a letter, Ime neere the better:
keept to yourselfe and trouble not me.
I could a had a letter cheaper written at home,
and neere a come out of mine owne countrey.
Thoust have an attachment, said our King :
charge all thou seest to take thy part.
Till he pay thee an hundred pound,
be sure thou never let him start.
A, wais me I the poore man saide then ;
you ken no whit what you now do say.
A won undoe roe a thousand times,
ere he such a mickle of money will pay.
And more than this, there's no man at all
that dares anongst him for to lift a hand ;
For he has got so much guile in his budget,
that he will make all forfeit their land.
16 THE KING AND
If any seeme against thee to stand,
be sure thou corae hither straight way.
A, marry, is that all Ise get for my labour ?
then I may come trotting every day.
Thou art hard a beleefe, then said our King :
to please him with letters he was right willing.
I see you have taken great paines in writing,
with all ray heart lie give you a shilling.
He have none of thy shilling, said our King ;
man, with thy money God give thee win.
He threw it into the Kings bosome ;
the money lay cold next to his skin.
Beshrew thy heart, then said our King ;
thou art a carle something too bold :
Dost thou not see I am hot with bowling ?
the money next to my skin lies cold.
I neere wist that before, said the poore man,
befoi'e sike time as I came hither.
If the Lawyers in our country thought twas cold,
they would not heape up so much together.
The King call'd up his Treasurer,
and bad him fetch him twenty pound.
If ever thy errant lye here away,
He beare thy charges up and downe.
A POORE NORTHERNE MAN. 17
When the poore man saw the gold tendred,
for to receive it he was willing.
If I had thought the King had so mickle gold,
beshrew my heart, Ide a kept mj^ shilling.
Now, farewell, good fellow, quoth the King :
see that my command you well doe keepe ;
And when that the Lawyer you have in your hands,
looke that he doe pay you before he doe sleepe.
Gods benison light on your soule, then he sayd,
and send you and yours where ever you gang :
If that I doe ever meete with your fewd foes,
Ise sweare by this staffe that their hide I won bang.
And farewell, brave lads now, unto you all :
I wod all may win and neane of you leese.
Haude ; take this same tester among you awe :
I ken that you Courtiers doe all looke for fees.
Thus with a low courtsie of them he tooke leave,
thinking from the Court to take his way ;
But some of the gentlemen then of the Kings
would needs invite him at dinner to stay.
A little entreaty did soone serve his turne :
a thought himsel as good a man as them all.
But where (quoth he) sail I have this same feast?
then straightway they ushered him into the hall.
c
]8 THE KING AND
Such store of cheare on the board there was plast,
that made the countryman much for to muse.
Quoth he, I doe think you are all craftie knaves,
that such a service you will not refuse.
I nere saw such a flipper de flapper before ;
here's keele I doe think is made of a whetstone.
Heer's dousets and flappjacks, and I ken not what ;
I thinke, in tlie worlde such feasts there is none.
When he had well din'd and had filled his panch,
then to the winecellar they had him straight way,
Where they with brave claret and brave old Canary,
they with a foxe tale him soundly did pay.
So hard they did ply him with these strong wines,
that he did wrong the long seames of his hose,
That two men were faine to leade him up stayres ;
so, making indentures, away then he goes.
The poore man got home next Sunday :
the Lawyer soone did him espy.
Oh, Sir, you have been a stranger long,
I thinke from me you have kept you by.
It was for you indeed, said the poore man,
the matter to the King as I have tell.
I did as neighbours put it in ray head,
and made a submission to the King my sel.
A POORE NORTHERNE MAN. 19
Whatadeel didst thou with the King ? said the Lawyer:
could not neighbours and friends agree thee and me ?
The deel a neighbour or friend that I liad,
that would a bin sike a dales man as he.
He has gin me a letter, but I know not what they cal't ;
but if the King's words be frue to me,
When you have read and perused it over,
I hope you will leave, and let me be.
He has gin me another, but I know not what 'tis ;
but I charge you all to hold him fast.
Pray you that are learned this letter reade ;
which presently made them all agast.
Then they did reade this letter plaine,
the Lawyer must pay him a hundred pound.
You see the King's letter, the poore man did say,
and unto a post he sal straight way be bound.
Then unto a post they tide him fast,
and all men did rate him in cruell sort ;
The lads, and the lasses, and all the towne
at him had great glee, pastime and sport.
He pay it, He pay it, the Lawyer said :
the attachment, I say, it is good and faire ;
You must needes something credit me,
till I £joe home and fetch some meare.
20 THE KING, ETC.
Credit I nay, thats it the King forbad :
he bad, if I got thee, I should thee stay.
The Lawyer payd him an hundred pound
in ready money, ere he went away.
Would every Lawyer were served thus I
from troubling poore men they would cease :
They'd either show them a good cause why,
or else they'd let them live in peace.
And thus I end my merry tale,
which shewes the plain mans simplenesse,
And the Kings great mercy in righting his wrongs,
and the Lawyers fraud and wickednesse.
M. P.
< . UICHAKDS, PRIXTEK, ST. MAKTIN S I,:\Nr.
FOU THE
PUBLICATION OF ANCIENT BALLADS, SONGS,
PLAYS, MINOR PIECES OF POETRY,
AND POPULAR LITERATURE.
Otouncil, 1840-1.
J. A. CAHUSAC, Esq. F.S.A.
WILLIAM CHAPPELL, Esq. F.S.A.
JOHN PAYNE COLLIER, Esq. F.S.A.
T. CROFTON CROKER, Esq. F.S.A. M.R.I.A.
REV. ALEXANDER DYCE
JAMES ORCHARD HALLIWELL, Esq. F.R.S. Treasurer.
RICHARD HALLIWELL, Esq. F.S.A.
WILLIAM JERDAN, Esq., F.S.A. M.R.S.L.
SAMUEL LOVER, Esq.
CHARLES MACKAY, Esq.
EDWARD F. RIMBAULT, Esq., Secretary.
THOMAS WRIGHT, Esq., M.A., F.S.A.
Persons wishing to become Members, are requested to send
their names, as soon as convenient, to the Secretary, 9,
Denmark Street, Soho Square, London.
Subscriptions received at C. Richards' Printing Office,
100, St. Martin's Lane.
Bankers : Messrs. Cocks, Biddulph, and Biddulph, 4-3,
CharinsT Cross.
latos; of tfte perrp ^ocietp*
1 . That the Society be called " The Percy Society."
2. That the Publications of the Society shall consist of
Ancient Ballads, Songs, Plays, minor pieces of Poetry, and
Popular Literature, or works illustrative of the above-mentioned
subjects.
3. The Society shall consist of Members being Subscribers
of One Pound annually, such Subscription to be paid in
advance, on or before the day of General Meeting in each year.
The General Meeting to be held on the 1st of May, in every
year, unless it should fall on a Sunday, when some other day
is to be named by the Council.
4. That the affairs of the Society be conducted by a Council
consisting of twelve Members, including a Treasurer and Secre-
tary, all of whom shall be elected at the Annual General
Meeting of the Society.
5. That any Member may compound for his future Sub-
scriptions by the payment of Ten Pounds over and above his
Subscription for the current year.
6. That the Accompts of the Receipts and Expenditure of
the Society be audited annually by three Auditors, to be elected
at the General Meeting; and that any Member who shall be
one year in arrear of his subscription, shall no longer be con-
sidered as belonging to the Society.
7. That every Member, not in arrear of his Annual Sub-
scription, be entitled to a copy of each of the works published
by the Society.
movki ahtaOs ^riiitctr.
1. A Collection of Old Ballads anterior to the reign of Charles I,
by John Skelton, Stephen Peel, Clmrehyard, Tarlton, Eldtrton,
Deloney, <Vc. &c. Edited by J. Payne Collier, Esq. F.S.A.
2. " A search for Money ; or the lamentable Complaint for the
losse of the wandring Knight jNIounsieur 1' Argent ; or Come along
with me, I know thou lovest Money, &c. By William Rowley.
Imprinted at London for Joseph Hunt, &c. 1609." Reprinted
from the only extant copy.
movU in tljt ^vm.
3. " The Payne and Sorowe of evyll Maryage." From a copy
believed to be unique, printed by Wynkyn de Worde ; with an
Introduction regarding other works of the same class, and from the
same press.
4. A Selection from the Miscellaneous Poems of John Lydgate.
To be edited by James Orchard Halliwell, Esq. F.R.S. and English
Correspondent of the Royal Historical Commission of France.
5. Songs of the London Prentices and Trades, during the Reigns
of Henry VII, Henry VIII, Elizabeth, and James I. To be edited
by Charles Mackay, Esq.
WLoxks ^uggc^tetJ for publication.
6. " The King and a Poore Northerne Man. Shewing how a
poore Northumberland man, &c. went to the King himself to make
known his grievances. Full of simple mirth and merry plaine
jests." By Martin Parker. Printed at Loudon by Tho. Coates,
1(540.
7. The Revolution of 1688, illustrated by tlie popular Ballads of
the period. To be edited, with Introductions and Notes, by T.
Croftou Croker, Esq. F.S.A. M.R.I.A.
8. A Selection of Stories, Anecdotes, and Jokes, from various
Jest Books printed prior to the end of the reign of Charles I ; with
an account of the origin of many of them, and of the manner in
which they are to be traced through several European languages.
9. The Batcheler's Banquet, or a Banquet for Batcbelers.
Wherein is prepared sundry dainty dishes, &:c. Pleasantly dis-
coursing the variable humours of Women, &c. By Thomas Dekker.
Loudon. Printed by T. C. &c. 1603.
10. Latin Stories written in England during the 13th and 14th
Centuries, illustrative of the History of Fiction. Edited from the
original MSS. wth translations by Thomas Wright, Esq. M.A.
F.S.A.
11. A Collection of Lyrical Pieces contained in Old Plays of a
date prior to the suppression of Theatrical Representations in 1()47.
To be edited by Edward F. Rimbault, Esq.
12. " A Treatise shewing and declaring the Pryde and Abuse of
Women now a dayes." By Charles Bansley. From a copy printed
by Thomas Raynoldes, in the reign of Edward VI.
13. A Collection of Jacobite Ballads and Fragments, many of
them hitherto unpublished. To be edited by William Jerdan, Esq.
F.S.A., M.R.S.L.
14. " Strange Histories or Songes and Sonets of Kings, Princes,
Dukes, Lordes, Ladyes, Knights, and Gentlemen. Very pleasant
either to be read or songe," &c. By Thomas Deloney. Imprinted
at London for W. Barley, &c. 1607.
15. The French Invasions of Ireland, illustrated by popular
Songs, in three Parts, with an Introduction. To be edited by
T. Crofton Croker, Esq. F.S.A. M.R.I.A.
16. " A Marriage Triumphe. Solemnized in au Epithalamium
in memorie of the happie Nuptials betwixt the Count Palatine and
the Lady Elizabeth. Written by Thomas Heywood. London.
Printed for Edward Marchant, &c. 1613." With an introduction,
giving an account of other poems by different authors on the same
event.
17. A Collection of Christmas Carols, from the 12th to the 15th
Century. To be edited by Thomas Wright, Esq. M.A., F.S.A.
18. " The meriy Pranks of Robin Good-fellow. Very pleasant
and witty." A Poem reprinted from the only known copy, published
in the commencement of the 17th Century.
19. " The Pleasant History of the two angry Women of Abington.
With the humorous mirth of Dicke Cooraes and Nicholas Proverl)S,
two Servingmen. As it was lately playde by the Lord High Ad-
mirall his servants." Written by Henry Porter. 1599. The first
of a series of old plays, to be edited by the Rev. A. Dyce.
5
20. A Collection of Old English Ballads, from the Reign of
Henry VI to that of Edward VI. To be edited by William
Chappell, Esq. F.S.A.
21. The Poetical Works of James I of Scotland, with a Pre-
liminary Dissertation. To be edited by Charles Maclvay, Esq.
22. The Pleasant and sweet History of Patient Grissell. Shewing
how she, from a poore man's Danghter, came to l)e a great Eady in
France, being a patterne to all vertuous Women, &c. Loudon,
printed by E. P. for John Wright, &c. No date. In prose and
verse.
23. Political Songs of the age of Cromwell, collected and edited
by Thomas Wright, Esq. M.A. F.S.A.
24. " A most pleasant and merie new Comedie, intituled a Knack
to knowe a Knave. Newlie set foorth, as it hath sundrie tymes bene
played by Ed. Allen and his companie. With Kemp's applauded
Merrimentes of the Men of Goteham in receiving the Kiujr into
Goteham, 1594."
25. " Kind-Harts Dream. Conteining five Apparitions, with their
Invectives against abuses raigning. Delivered by severall Ghosts
unto him to lie publisht, after Piers Penilesse Post had refused the
carriage." Printed without date in 1592.
26. A Collection of early Ballads relating to Naval Affairs. To
be editedjby James Orchard Halliwell, Esq. F.R.S.
27. " Vinegar and Mustard, or Worm-wood Lectures for eveiy
Day in the Week. Being exercised and delivered in several
Parishes both of Town and City, on several dayes, See. Taken
verliatim in short writing by J. W." Reprinted from the edition of
1673.
28. " Pleasant Quippes for LTpstart newfangled Gentlewomen,
1596." A satirical and humorous production in verse by Stephen
Gosson, printed from a copy presented by the author to a contem-
porary.
29. Songs and Poems by known and unknown Authors, to be
found in Musical Miscellanies published during the reigns of
Elizabeth and James I.
Mtmbtti* faints.
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>«^ii^aiv^i ^^t^V^ I « «/ w >i I ^ <«7UC7
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