Old English Ballads
CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS
C. F. CLAY, MANAGER
LONDON : FETTER LANE, E.C4
NEW YORK : THE MACMILLAN CO.
BOMBAY I
CALCUTTA > MACMILLAN AND CO., LTD.
MADRAS J
TORONTO : THE MACMILLAN CO.
OF CANADA, LTD.
TOKYO : MARUZEN-KABUSHIKI-KAISHA
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Old English Ballads
1553-1625
Chiefly from Manuscripts
EDITED BY
HYDER E. ROLLINS, Ph.D.
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH
NEW YORK UNIVERSITY
CAMBRIDGE
AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS
1920
pft
Printed in Great Britain
ty Turnbull & Spears, Edinburgh
TO
PROFESSOR C. H. FIRTH
THIS BOOK IS
RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED.
Contents
PAGB
INTRODUCTION ix
BALLADS RELATING TO QUEEN MARY I. (Nos. 1-6) . i
BALLADS ON PROTESTANT MARTYRS (Nos. 7-9) . . 33
CATHOLIC BALLADS (Nos. 10-25) . . .62
PROTESTANT AND MORALIZING BALLADS (Nos. 26-63) • l^°
MISCELLANEOUS BALLADS (Nos. 64-75) . . . 322
APPENDIX I. : THE PARLIAMENT OF DEVILS . . 384
APPENDIX II. : A SINGULAR SALVE FOR A SICK SOUL . 405
INDEX OF FIRST LINES, TITLES, AND TUNES . . 407
GLOSSARIAL INDEX . . . . .411
Acknowledgment
For permission to reprint the ballads and
broadsides in this volume grateful acknowledg
ment is made to the authorities of the Society
of Antiquaries, London ; Corpus Christi
College, Cambridge ; the Pepysian Library,
Magdalene College, Cambridge ; the Bodleian
Library ; and the British Museum. Thanks
are due also to my friend Dr Alwin Thaler
for some help with the MS. and to Professor
C. H. Firth for his kindness in reading the
proof-sheets of the Introduction.
H. E. R.
May 1920
Introduction
i
THROUGHOUT the history of the black-letter ballad no
subject has called forth so many rhymes as the struggle
between Protestants and Catholics. One of the earliest
broadside ballads extant deals with riots that grew out
of the dissolution of the monasteries in Cornwall and
Devon. This paean of rejoicing is, unhappily, preserved
only in a fragment of four (or parts of four) stanzas,1
but is worth reprinting : —
There hartes ware so roted in the popes lawes
They be gane the laste yere when they slew bodye 2
All England reioysethe at ther ouer throwse
For only the Lorde is oure Kynges victorye
They had falce prophetes which brought thi[n]ges to passe
Cleane contrary to ther owne expectation
Ther hope was for helpe in ther popishe masse
They wolde nedes haue hanged vp a reseruacion
The vicare of pon wdstoke with his congeracio»
Commanded them to sticke to ther Idolatry
They had muche proui[s]ion and great preperacion
Yet God hath gyuen our Kynge the victorye
They did robe and spoule al the Kynges frendes
They called them heritekes with spight & disdayne
They toffled a space lyke tirantes and F[e]indes
They put some in preson & sume to greate payne
1 This ballad, which I have never seen reprinted or alluded to, is
preserved in the British Museum, press mark Cup. 651. e. 2. It is in
Black Letter throughout. All the stanzas on the left side of the sheet
have been torn off, though a few scattering letters remain.
2 " William Body, gentleman, one on the King's side, was slain " in
the Cornish Popish rebellion of April, 1548 (Strype, Ecclesiastical
Memorials, 1822, II., ii., 143 ; cf. Froude's History of England, 1870,
V., 97). I cannot identify the martyr William Hilling mentioned in the
third stanza.
ix
OLD ENGLISH BALLADS
And sume fled a waie or else they had bene slayne
As was Wyllam hilling that marter truly
Whiche they killed at sandford mowre in the playne
Where yet god hath giuen oure Kynge the victory
They Came to plumwo with the Kynges trusty towne . . .
Ballads of this type were pleasing to Henry VIII.
and his advisers. But the extraordinary popularity of
ballads, and the no less extraordinary versatility of the
ballad-writers, not infrequently resulted in songs to
which the King bitterly objected and to suppress which
he spared no pains. He was particularly displeased
with the attacks made on Cardinal Wolsey and Lord
Cromwell. He complained, also, in 1537, to James V.
of Scotland, through the agency of Sir Thomas Wharton,
Warden of the West Marches, of various ballads by
Scotch subjects in which he himself, no less than the
true Protestant religion, was satirized. James replied
to Wharton that he had given " sharp charges to all
parts of our borders " for the ballads to be thoroughly
suppressed and for their authors to be sought out, but
added that, because he personally had never before
heard of such ballads, he suspected them to have been
written " by some of your own nation." l Hardly a
year later, Wharton informed Lord Cromwell that a
ballad deriding the English for living in the false religion
was circulating through Scotland ; and, subsequently,
he reported that his " espial," Mungo Armstrong, had
secured a copy of the ballad and believed it to have been
written by the Scotch Bishops or else at their direction.2
Armstrong's suspicion was probably well-founded.
Men of prominence and education throughout the
sixteenth and seventeenth centuries used ballads to
disseminate their views or to ridicule their opponents.
1 Henry Ellis, Original Letters, 1st Series, II., 103 ; Maidment's
Book of Scottish Pasquils, p. 418.
2 Calendar of State Papers, Henry Fill., XIII., Pt. II., Nos. 1129,
1145.
INTRODUCTION
Cromwell himself had done so. John Foxe reckoned as
one of Cromwell's chief services that by his " industry
and ingenious labours, divers excellent ballads and books
were contrived and set abroad, concerning the suppres
sion of the pope and all popish idolatry " ; and printed,
as a specimen, a ballad of fifty stanzas called " The
Fantassie of Idolatrie." l This was the work of William
Gray, a man of some ability, who wrote ballads at the
dictation of high officials in the reigns of both
Henry VIII. and Edward VI. His best-known work,
however, was a non-political ballad, " The Hunt Is Up."
But, as Gray found to his sorrow, there was no real
liberty for the ballad-press. In 1540 he indulged in
a ballad-flyting v/ith Thomas Smyth (Sir Thomas
Smyth, Secretary of State ?) that originated in a libel
against the deceased Lord Cromwell, but soon degener
ated into personalities.2 On December 30, 1540, the
Privy Council sent letters to Banks and Grafton, whose
names appeared on the colophons of the ballads, and to
Gray, directing them to appear before the Council on
the following Sunday. Gray and Smyth gave an
unsatisfactory explanation of why they had written
ballads against each other, and were instructed to
appear for a re-examination at 7 a.m. on the following
morning. Interrogated by the Council, Banks denied
that he had printed any of the ballads, or " invectives,"
laying the " fault to Robert Redman deceased and
Richard Grafton." The latter confessed to a share in
the printing, and was sent to the Porter's ward. As a
result of their further examination, Gray and Smyth
were committed to the Fleet.3
An Act for the Advancement of True Religion and for
1 Acts and Monuments, First Edition, p. 598.
2 For the ballads see Calendar of State Papers, Domestic, XVI., 212 ;
Hazlitt's Fugitive Tracts, ist Series, Nos. VI.-XIII. ; Kingdon's
Incidents in the Lives ofPoyntz and Grafton, p. 84.
3 Calendar of State Papers, Domestic, XVI., No. 366 ; Acts of the Privy
Council, ed. Nicolas, VII., 103, 105, 107.
xi
OLD ENGLISH BALLADS
the Abolishment of the Contrary, of 1543, specifically
named " printed ballads, rhymes and songs " among the
instruments used by malicious persons to " subvert the
very true and perfect exposition, doctrine, and declara
tion " of the Scriptures, and provided that printers and
sellers of such matter were, for a first offence, to be
fined .£10 and imprisoned three months, for a second
offence to suffer confiscation of property and life im
prisonment.1 In April of this year eight London
printers were brought before the Privy Council for
violations of the statute. A fortnight later, five of them
were released, on the condition that they would furnish
a complete list of all books and ballads bought and sold
by them within the past three years. On April 25
twenty-five other booksellers were similarly bound.2
No better proof of the popularity of the ballad could
be asked for.
Though under Edward VI. the Statute of 1543 was
repealed,3 yet, as always, the Privy Council kept a
watchful eye on the printing of ballads. Thus on
June 7, 1552, William Marten was summoned to ex
plain why he had printed a seditious ballad written by
John Lawton. After the hearing, he was placed under
bond of ;£ioo to report to the Council daily until further
orders, and instructed " in the meantime to bring in
as many of the same ballates as he may come by." 4
Controversial ballads (like those of the Churchyard-
Camell flyting 5) abounded during Edward's reign ;
and a number of anti-Catholic ballads have been
preserved.6
1 Statutes of the Realm, III., 894.
2 E. G. Duft's Century of the English Book Trade, pp. xxiv ff.
3 Statutes of the Realm, IV., 19.
4 Acts of the Privy Council, ed. Dasent, IV., 69.
5 These are reprinted in H. L. Collmann's Ballads and Broadsides,
Roxburghe Club, 1912.
6 Percy's Reliques, ed. Wheatley, II., 125, 133 ; Collier's Old Ballads,
from Early Printed Coties, 1 840, p. 9.
xii
INTRODUCTION
No English sovereign has ascended to the throne
among more sincere rejoicings than Mary I. General
sympathy had been aroused by the unscrupulous methods
the Duke of Northumberland had employed in dis
puting both her legitimacy and her accession. What
ever sympathy existed for Lady Jane Grey was thoroughly
neutralized by the fear and hatred felt for the Duke.
A striking description of this feeling is given in the first
ballad in this volume. Ballad-writers, whatever may
have been true of the country as a whole, had no fears
that Mary would introduce changes in religion and
state policy. Thus Richard Beard, in his " Godly
Psalme of Marye Queene," l rejoiced at the thought
that Mary would continue the work of true religion
begun under Edward VI. : —
Yet are wee comforted agayne
Lyft vp, and eke erect :
By cause the Lord hathe placed thus
His chosen and elect.
Whiche beeing oure moast godly Queene
That seekes our preseruasion :
No doubt wil strongly buyld vpon
Her brothers good fondacion.
The ground worke hee hathe layde him selfe,
And she is left a Ion,
To buyld the house, and fortresse vp
Of trew religion.
Mary wag_fully aware of the powerful influence^ of
>allads,_a_nd of all printed matter, in influencing public
opinion. A bare month after she was proclaimed
Queen — six weeks before her coronation — she issued a
proclamation against the printing of " books-, ballads,
rhymes, and interludes " without special licence.2 There
was a vital need for such legislation if the Queen was
effectually to carry out her plans to crush heresy and
1 Hazlitt, Fugitive Tracts, ist Series, No. 17.
2 Arber's Transcript of the Registers of the Stationers' Company, V., xl.
xiii
OLD ENGLISH BALLADS
to restore the ancient faith. She had already reinstated
the Catholic Bishops, had imprisoned Ridley, Coverdale,
Hooper, Latimer, and Cranmer, and had issued orders
that no one should presume to preach without special
license from her. At the opening of Parliament, on
October 5, Mass was celebrated before the two Houses.
On October 10 some person addressed a ballad of warn
ing to her. It begins, pleasantly enough,
O louesomme Rosse most Redelente,
but goes on to warn her against that " myserable mask-
yng masse," and ends by comparing her to Jezebel.1
Ballads of every description now abounded, the work
not only of professional ballad-mongers, but also of men
of education and social standing. Priests, in particular,
thought it no indignity to sign their names at the end
of printed ballads. Two priests, William Forrest and
L. Stopes, are represented by works in this volume
(Nos. 2, 3). Mary found herself, like her predecessors
and successors, unable to exercise complete control over
ballad-printing. Along with Forrest's flattering ballad
of " The Marigold " (No. 2) her people were reading
and singing such pieces as John Bradford's " Tragical
Blast of the Papistical Trumpet for Maintenance of the
Pope's Kingdom in England," with its mocking refrain,
Now all shaven crownes to the standerd
Make roome, pul down for the Spaniard.2
It was all very well for the poet-dramatist John Hey-
wood to pen " A Balade specifienge partly the maner,
partly the matter, in the most excellent meetyng and
lyke Manage betwene our Soveraigne Lord and our
Soveraigne Lady " 3 ; but simultaneously books of
1 Furnivall, Ballads from M55., I., 431.
2 Strype, Ecclesiastical Memorials, 1822, III., ii., 339 ; Dyce's Skelton,
L, cxvii.
3 Harlelan Miscellany, 1813, X., 255.
xiv
INTRODUCTION
" very evil and lewd songs " against the Mass, the
Church, and the Sovereigns themselves were being spread
throughout the Kingdom.1 Outrageous libels were
printed and put into circulation.
To crush these, an Act against Seditious Words and
Rumours 2 was passed, which recites that " dyvers
heynous, sedicious and sclanderous Writinges, Rimes,
Ballades, Letters, Papers, and Bookes," tending to stir
up discord, had been circulated. The statute provided
that for such offences in the future, the guilty person
should be placed in the pillory and have his ears cut off,
or else pay a fine of £100. By a further provision, any
person who after this proclamation should write a book,
rhyme, or ballad against the King and Queen, or who
ever should print it, was, if the offence were not already
covered by a statute of treason, to have his right hand
cut off. Queen Elizabeth later availed herself of this
provision to gunish the printers of a libel against her
suitor, the Duke of Anjou.3
Active steps to control ballads were taken. In
March, 1554, Mary sent orders to the Bishop of London
to be put into effect throughout his diocese. The sixth
article required him to suppress " ballads and other
pernicious and hurtful devices engendering hatred
among the people and discord among the same." 4 In
the visitation of London during 1554-55 Bishop Bonner
(himself a severe sufferer from libelous ballads) directed
that inquiry be made " whether there be any that hath
printed or sold slanderous books, ballads or plays contrary
to Christian religion : declaring and specifying their
names, surnames, and dwelling-places " and " whether any
1 Rye, Depositions before the Mayor and Aldermen of Norwich, p. 55
(cited by C. H. Firth, Transactions of the Royal Historical Society, 3rd
Series, III., 64).
2 Statutes of the Realm, IV., 240.
3 Stow's Annals, 1615, p. 695 (October, 1581).
4 Frere and Kennedy, Visitation Articles and Injunctions of the Reforma
tion, 1910, II., 326.
XV
OLD ENGLISH BALLADS
teacher or schoolmaster do teach or read to their scholars ]
any evil or naughty corrupt book, ballad or writing." 1
Presumably, these measures proved fairly effective.
Certainly few printed ballads of even remote political
significance remain, though ballads of other types are
preserved in comparatively large numbers. To be sure,
John Heywood, an ardent and consistent Catholic (as
his later life showed), wrote a number of political ballads,
but he was of the ruling class. The printer of a ballad
on Lord Wentworth, who surrendered Calais to the
French, was heavily fined.2 Henry Spooner, who in
Edward's reign had lampooned Bonner, now perforce con
tented himself with the safer subjects of love, satire,
and morality.3 Only Catholic poets had a free hand.
The hope of the Catholic religion in England lay in
the permanent exclusion of Elizabeth from the throne.
Mary fervently hoped and prayed for an heir to whom
she could pass on the succession and the true faith.
The third ballad in this volume deals with that subject,
giving an interesting contemporary account of the
supposed pregnancy of the Queen and the rejoicing of
the Catholics. But the Queen had mistaken her con
dition, and, according to Froude, her disappointment
led her to believe that she had forfeited Divine Favour
because of her failure to root out heresy. The persecu
tion of Protestants began with renewed vigour.
No printed ballad contemporary with and describing
the burning of the martyrs is known to exist. It is
doubtful whether any could have been published, but
that ballads on the martyrs circulated in manuscript is
certain. Ballads connected with John Careless (No. 8),
Robert Glover (No. 7), John Bradford, and Robert Smith
1 Frere and Kennedy, Visitation Articles and Injunctions of the Reforma
tion, 1910, II., 353, 356.
2 Arber's Transcript, I., 101. The offending ballad is printed in
H. L. Collmann's Ballads and Broadsides, 1912, p. 183.
3 See Thomas Wright's Songs and Ballads Chiefly of the Reign of Philip
and Mary, 1 860, passim.
xvi
INTRODUCTION
were well known to their contemporaries, and are pre
served both in manuscripts and in printed copies of the
subsequent reign. Long after the' Marian persecutions
had ended, ballads on Anne Askew and the misfortunes
of the Duchess of Suffolk were composed.
When Mary died, an enthusiastic Catholic composed
an epitaph (No. 5) in which her surpassing virtues
are extolled to the skies— her meekness, her mercy,
her kindness ; and the printer was promptly sent
"to ward." The evil that Queen Mary did has
lived after her with a vengeance : the good qualities,
which the ballad-poet saw, were interred with her
bones. Perhaps Dickens was right when, through the
mouth of John Grueby, he remarked, " She s done a
eal more harm in her grave than she ever did in her
lifetime. . . . One of these evenings, when the weather
gets warmer and Protestants are thirsty, they 11 be
pulling London down-and I never heard that Bloody
Mary went as far as that." The Gordon riots, which
Grueby predicted, are an example of a bigotry and
cruelty rivalling that of the Catholic Queen
sincerity and her faith have never been questioned.
With the accession of Elizabeth, the picture changed.
Now it was the Catholics who were martyred, only
Protestants who could print ballads unmolested,
of the Queen's first acts was to put into effect the statute
of « Seditious Words and Rumours " that Mary had
promulgated.1 At the same time, she gave strict
orders that, " because many pamphlets, plays, and
ballads be oftentimes printed, wherein regard would be
had that nothing therein should be either heretical,
seditious or unseemly for Christian ears," no work was
to be printed until it had been licensed by three of the
Commissioners for Causes Ecclesiastical^ Numerous
sealchln were appointed tolceep watch on .he output
of the printing presses. The Privy Council and the
1 Journals of the House of Lords, I., 579-
2 Arber's Transcript, I., xxxviii.
XV11
OLD ENGLISH BALLADS
Lord Mayors of London constantly kept themselves
informed of the subjects of printed ballads.1
The position of Elizabeth's Catholic subjects was
extremely difficult. The writer of the epitaph on Mary
evidently felt no fear of Elizabeth, and indeed her
earliest utterances seemed to indicate that the period
of religious intolerance and persecution had ended.
Such, however, was far from being the case. The
rebellion of 1569, led by Catholic nobles, and the bull
Pope Pius V. issued shortly thereafter, brought about
distressing conditions. The bull itself declared' that
never at any time had Elizabeth been the true Queen
of England, absolved her subjects from their allegiance,
and threatened with excommunication her adherents.
John Felton, who had dared to nail the bull before the
Bishop of London's palace, was promptly hanged, drawn,
and quartered. His execution, like that of his pre
decessor, the notorious Dr Story, formed the subject
of many ballads, all bigoted and malicious to a degree.
William Elderton, Stephen Peele, John Awdeley, and
their crew of professional Smithfield bards, whatever
their actual religious sentiments, gloated over the news-
value of Tyburn executions, and indulged in never-
failing adulation of the Queen who was responsible for
them. Of the hundred ballads licensed at Stationers'
Hall during the year 1569-70, fully three-fourths dealt
with the Northern Rebellion, while nearly all of
those registered in the following year were tirades
against Dr Story, Felton, the Pope, or the Roman
Church.
By a statute of 1571 it was made treason to call the
Queen heretic, schismatic, or usurper, to introduce Papal
bulls, and to send money or aid to fugitives across the
seas. A rigid persecution of Catholics followed : the
exercise of their religion, even in the privacy of their
1 E.g. Journals of the House of Commons, I., 122, 125, 136; Stow's
Survey of London, ed. Strype, II., v., 333 ; Acts of the Privy Council, ed.
Dasent, XXXI., 226.
XV111
INTRODUCTION
homes, was forbidden ; private houses -were continually
subjected to search, and their inmates carried before
the Courts of High Commission, where fines and im
prisonment were lavishly awarded. In 1581 a drastic
Act to Retain the Queen's Majesty's Subjects in Their
J^u&.JS'bedience was passed, which provided that any
person who led another to accept the Roman religion
should be treated as a traitor ; that saying Mass was to
be punished by a fine of two hundred marks and a year's
imprisonment, hearing it with a year's imprisonment
and a fine of one hundred marks ; that absence from
church should be punished by a fine of twenty pounds
monthly, and, if long continued, sureties of four hundred
pounds were to be required for good behaviour in the
future. The victims of these laws have been duly
chronicled by historians. It is especially noticeable
that just after the defeat of the Armada — a time when
the Catholics of England had rallied loyally to the
support of their ruler — some thirty persons suffered by
the cord and axe for religion. Other statutes followed
in due succession, one of 1593 forbidding " Popish
recusants " to travel more than five miles from their
respective homes.
It is appalling to see how frequently contemporary
chroniclers record the execution of recusants — bare,
unrelieved, unexcused jottings, such as that on Feb
ruary 27, 1602, " was hanged a Gentlewoman, called
Mistris Anne Line, a widow, for relieving a priest con
trary to the Statute," and that on February 18, 1594,
at Tyburn a priest named Harrington was " cut down
alive, struggled with the hangman, but was bowelled
and quartered." Still it must be remembered that all
criminal offences met with punishment equally severe.
In 1586 George Whetstone remarked that "there are
more executed from Newgate and the Marshalsies, than
in three of the greatest Cities of Fraunce, and yet I
truely say, that more offenders are fauourably quitted,
and pardoned in London in one moneth, than in Paris
xix
OLD ENGLISH BALLADS
in a whole yere, so exceeding great is the mercie of our]
most good Queene Elizabeth" l A casual glance
through the annals of Stow and Camden shows that
" wenches burnt in Smithfield " for various crimes and
men strangled on the gallows and then quartered or
hanged in chains for murder, counterfeiting, arson, or
theft, equal, perhaps surpass, the number of persons
executed because of their religion. Furthermore,.
Protestant nonconformists were at times in danger of
the gallows or the stake. The city of Norwich, in
particular, gained a special odour of sanctity by the
zeal with which it hunted out and burned John Lewes
(No. 9) and others who scorned the Established
Church no less than the Church of Rome, holding beliefs
that, in large measure, anticipated those of the present-
day Unitarians. Atheists, too, were ruthlessly punished.
Christopher Marlowe's views were hurrying him to the
fire when a dagger, in a low tavern-broil, put him out
of the reach of " justice."
The number of Protestant martyrs during three
years of Queen Mary's reign is estimated at almost
three hundred. During the forty-five years of
Elizabeth's reign " there were put to a most barbarous
and shameful death for conscience' sajbe/^ _a Catholic
scholar reminds us, " at least one hundred and twenty^-
four Catholic priests and as many as fifty-seven laymen
and women." 2 The author of " A Song of the Four
Priests" (No. u) sorrowfully wrote of "two hundred
priests, almost, in our time martered." If among these
are included priests who, like Throgmorton and Babing-
ton, certainly were not guiltless of treason, yet by far
the majority were, like Campion (No. 10), Nutter, Hunt,.
Middleton, and Thwing (No. n), undoubtedly martyrs
to Elizabethan bigotry. A distinguished victim comes
to mind at once : Robert Southwell, poet and priest,,
1 The Enemy to Unthriftiness, 1586, sig. K 3V.
2 T. G. Law, editing Challoner's Martyrs to the Catholic Faith, 1878,,
I., ix.
XX
INTRODUCTION
ho was imprisoned for three years and tortured thirteen
es before finding peace at the gallows.
In " A Triumph for True Subjects " (No. 10) an
phatic statement is made that religion had nothing,
treason everything, to do with the death-sentence
passed on Campion, Sherwin and Brian. The Govern
ment naturally tried to give this impression in all its
dealings with the Catholics ; and the Lord Treasurer,
Cecil, has been credited with the authorship of a book
called The Execution of Justice (1584), in which the
distinction between treason and religion is stressed.
Since, however, the Roman religion required a denial
of the Queen's, and an affirmation of the Pope's,
supremacy as head of the Church, and since the act of
denying the Queen's supremacy was treason, it was
an easy matter to prove even the most innocent Catholic
a traitor. Dr (afterwards Cardinal) Allen wrote a
Modest Answer to the English Persecutors, in which he
purposed to demolish the arguments advanced in The
Execution of Justice ; and for distributing copies of it
in England, Thomas Alfield, a priest, and Thomas
Webley, a dyer, were put to death (July, I584).1 Their
crime, too, was treason.
Into a further account of the penal laws against
Catholics it is not necessary to enter. To dismiss the
unpleasant subject briefly, it may be said that James I.
brought them no relief, among his earliest public acts
being a proclamation warning Jesuits and Seminary
priests to leave the Realm, A later proclamation to
this same effect (1624) is celebrated in two ballads
(Nos. 27, 28) in this volume. Naturally enough, the
Gunpowder Plot (Nos. 70-72) led to redoubled efforts
to crush the Roman Church.
No person, whatever his religious beliefs, can deny
that the barbarity with which Catholics were treated
forms a very dark blot on " the spacious times of great
Elizabeth " and on the reign of her successor. Excuses
1 Challoner's Martyrs to the Catholic Faith, 1878, I., 1 12.
OLD ENGLISH BALLADS
9
for this barbarity are at the present time superfluous,^
though many — some of them logical enough — have
been presented by the historians. It is a sufficient
explanation to say that real religious tolerance was still
unheard of, on the Continent as well as in England —
and, unhappily, intolerance is not the exclusive posses
sion of any age or any religion. The very people (surely
it is permissible for a ballad-editor to moralize !) who I
to-day express the greatest horror at the religious ||
persecutions of " Bloody " Mary and Elizabeth, in times
long past, are often quite unmoved when Christians in I
Armenia are massacred on a scale never dreamed of by
these Queens, or when in race riots, for the mere accident
of colour, unoffending men and women are subjected
to tortures that sometimes surpass those of the Tower
and the Inquisition. Glover, Lewes, and Thewlis
(Nos. 7, 9, 13) represent three phases of religious per
secution, all to be deplored alike.
As a result of censorship of the press, most extant
ballads and poems give an altogether one-sided view
of the years 1558-1625. Unless written as denuncia
tions (like No. 10), ballads on Catholic martyrs had
small chance of being printed, less chance still of being
widely circulated, and almost no chance of being pre
served. There are extant many Elizabethan and
Jacobean ballads which treat of recusants from the point
of view of Protestants. But ballads written by Catholics
have been conspicuous by their absence and are unknown
to historians. A partial exception to this statement is
the group of poems printed secretly in a book called
A true report of the martyrdom of M. Campion, Jesuit,1
— a book burlesqued by Antony Munday with what
Hallam called "a savageness and bigotry which I am
sure no scribe of the Inquisition could have surpassed.3
It would, however, be a serious mistake to believe
1 See the introduction to No. 10. Certain other poems connected,
in one way or another, with Catholic martyrs are given in the Ballad
Society's Ballads from MSS., II., xxiii., 191.
xxii
INTRODUCTION
that Catholic ballads did not exist. Valuable evidence
to the contrary is furnished in the one place where it
is least to be expected— in the Registers of the Stationers'
Company. Thus in the year 1565-66 it is recorded that
Alexander Lacy licensed for publication a ballad called
" a Replye agaynste that sedicious and papesticall
wretten ballet late caste abrode in the stretes of the
Cetie of London." What was evidently a similar work,
" a Papisticall Byll, cast in the streetes of Northampton,
and brought before the ludges at the last Syses, 1570,"
called forth an answer from T. Knell, which has sur
vived in a single printed broadside.1 On July 7, 1601,
was licensed a book called A short poeme conteyning an
answere to certen godles and seditious balledes spred abroad
in Lancashire. Lancashire was the home of the Catholic
ballads here printed from Addit. MS. 15,225, and it
is probable that some of them, particularly the ballad
on the four priests executed in 1600-1 (No. 11), were
alluded to in the 1601 Short Poem. On May 22, 1602,
Simon Stafford registered a book called an Answere to
A popishe Ryme Lately prynted and intituled " A proper
newe Ballad wherein are conteined Catholycke questions
to the protestant." * Two years later— on August 31,
1604— Samuel Heiron secured a license for An Answere
to A popishe Rime latelie scatered abroade in the weste
panes much Relyed vppon by some simply seduced*
Finally, the fourteenth ballad in this collection was
licensed for publication in 1586; another (No. ^ 24) was
entered in the Stationers' Registers for transfer in 1624,
as an old ballad ; and another (No. 25) had appeared
in a book of Catholic poems in 1601.
There can, then, be no question about the circulation,
1 H. L. Collmann's Ballads and Broadsides, 1912, p. 171.
2 There are copies of this book in the British Museum and the
Cambridge University Library.
3 See Arber's Transcript, L, 311 ; HI., l87> 2°6> ^9. There are
copies of Heiron's book in the British Museum and the
(Ashmole, 995).
xxiii
OLD ENGLISH BALLADS
both in manuscript and in print, of Catholic ballads.
The chief interest of this volume lies in the fifteen
unique Catholic ballads of the years 1586-1616
(Nos. 11-25) it contains: they furnish a striking con
trast to the five Catholic ballads (Nos. 2-6) of Queen
Mary's reign, and to Nos. 26-28, which are bitterly
Protestant. Some of the fifteen were written in prison
by priests ; over all hangs the shadow of Tyburn ; so
that wholly unlooked-for is the calm resignation of tone,
the lack of bitterness, the absence of invective. Narrow
religious beliefs do occasionally present themselves :
there is a mournful account of the evils heresy has
brought on the kingdom (No. 20), a sarcastic rhyme on
the hypocrisy of Puritans (No. 19), and a description
of heaven, from which heretics are, as a matter of
course, excluded (No. 22) ; but after the tirades of
Antony Munday and the bigoted rejoicings in the anti-
Papist ballads of William Elderton (cf. No. 10), Thomas
Deloney, and Martin Parker (No. 28),-7it is pleasant to
find in these Catholic poems a semblance of charity and
a piety wholly free from thoughts of personal vengeance.
The writers were firmly convinced of the justice of
their cause. They look forward with equanimity —
professedly with real longing — to the rack and the halter,
with the comforting thought that through torture and
death they will be made fit to associate with the apostles
and saints. Schematically pictured in their minds is
the New Jerusalem (Nos. 22-25), which, down to' the
smallest peach and plum, is a place of never-ending
material joys. Intent on preparing themselves for the
attainment of this heavenly bliss, the authors were
not particularly concerned with thoughts of revenge.
The heretics temporarily in control of England will
have no place in the Land of Joy, they believe : that is
punishment enough ! No better ballad was ever
written than " The Song of the Death of Mr Thewlis "
(No. 13). And while, like most of the other ballads, it
has small pretensions to poetry, it unquestionably has
xxiv
INTRODUCTION
genuine pathos, personal interest, and historical value.
The five Catholic ballads of Mary's reign illustrate an
intolerance and a bigotry with which everybody is
familiar : perhaps the fifteen manuscript ballads of the
reigns of Elizabeth and James, portraying an intolerance
and a bigotry often glossed over or even unknown, will
aid in giving a truer historical perspective.
Of the other ballads in the volume little need be said
here, as all essential facts are given in the separate
introductions. Attention should, however, be called to
the comparatively large number that were entered in
the Stationers' Registers and are here first identified
and printed. Religious verse enjoyed great vogue m
Elizabeth's day. Ninetnetri^^
.
with music, are said to have been printed during the
Pen5a~Ts6o-i6oo. Poets like Googe, Turbervile,
Whetstone, Edwards, and Churchyard contributed their
full quota; professional ballad-mongers, either from
expediency or taste, followed their example ; so that
there was an enormous production of " pious chansons.
Of this flood of verse, the ballads of piety here reprinted
are thoroughly representative. Most of them are
sicklied o'er with didacticism, a few (like Nos. 53 and 63)
are pleasant little poems ; all are an effective answer to
those critics (and their name is legion) who persist in
describing non-traditional ballads as " lewd and scur
rilous journalism." Fearful warnings of the imminence
of Death and the Judgment Day abound (Nos. 42 et seqj,
as do invectives against pride (Nos. 43, 49) and the sins
of society (Nos. 51, 52)- Several are melancholy
lamentations by sinners, whose penitence demanded a
poetical outlet (Nos. 30, 55, 57) ; others a.re ™°salcs °f
general advice on holy living and holy dying (Nos. 38,
30 54). There are, also, didactic ballads on Tobias
(No. 36) and Job (No. 33) ;ya pretty Christmas carol
(No. 41) ; and a pleasant song on friendship (No. 37).
The miscellaneous ballads (Nos. 64-75) include a burlesque
song on the Gunpowder Plot, a scornful attack on the
XXV
OLD ENGLISH BALLADS
Scotch beggars who, after 1603, overran England,
" good-night " by Mrs Sanders, a delightful ballad on
drunkenness, and " A Very Pretty Song " in which a
lover tunefully narrates his woes. The volume, as a
whole, presents a fairly characteristic collection of
Elizabethan and Jacobean ballads. Among them are
many that would have ravished the ear of Mopsa an<~
enriched the purse of Autolycus, though that clever
singer would keenly regret the absence of ballads of
" good life " and of miraculous or sensational news.
For the absence of these subjects the piety of the com
pilers of the two principal manuscripts accounts. But
the ballad of Good-Ale and the sobs of Mrs Sanders
would have brought to Autolycus and his audiences
genuine delight and edification.
II
Treatment of Printed, Texts. The printed ballads in
this volume are reproduced exactly, except for the
punctuation (which is made to conform to modern
usage) and for obvious printers' errors, such as inverted
letters, which are corrected in the text but indicated
in the notes. In a few instances, dropped letters have
been inserted in square brackets. It is customary to
sneer at the slovenliness and inaccuracy of the ballad-
press : a comparison, however, of early ballads with
printed books of the same period will show that, as far
as accuracy is concerned, one is quite as good (or as
bad) as the other. Real laxity of printing began after
the Restoration, and reached its climax in the roman-
letter ballads of the eighteenth century. Early six
teenth-century ballads (like Nos. 1-6) are, on the
whole, admirable specimens of printing ; in them only
black-letter type, unrelieved by roman or italics, is
used. Later (as in Nos. 9 and 28) proper nouns and
refrains were, with more or less consistency, printed in
xxvi
INTRODUCTION
roman, or " white," letter,— a custom imitated in
this book, where black-letter type is represented by
roman and roman by italics. In the case of the Mb.
ballads, I have followed this scheme much more con
sistently than, as a matter of fact, the printed ballads
do : there are, for example, many proper nouns not
italicized in No. 10.
Treatment of the MSS. In all essential particulars
the MSS. are reproduced in their present state. Con
ventional abbreviations and contractions, such as y, y,
wch, fcf, and the like, are here of no importance, and
have been expanded without notice ; while the ^use of
capital or small letters at the beginning of lines is
normalized. Elsewhere the use of capital and ^smali
letters strictly follows the MSS., as does the variation
between u and v, i and j. The spelling of the MSS.,
always uncertain, is reproduced exactly. Many obvious
errors are allowed to stand in the text, but corrections
are indicated in the foot-notes. Occasionally, missing
words or dropped letters have been supplied within
square brackets. The punctuation of the MSS. is scanty
and haphazard ; it has been disregarded, and modern
pointing substituted.
' Location of the MSS. With the exception of the
Rawlinson MSS., in the Bodleian Library, all the MSS.
used in the preparation of this volume are preserved in
the British Museum. Only the two basic MSS.,
Additional 15,225 and Sloane 1896, demand a detailed
description ; but in regard to MS. Rawlinson Poet. 185,
from which three ballads have been taken, it may be
said that this MS. (dating about 1592) has been fully
described and partially reprinted in the Reverend
Andrew Clark's Sbirburn Ballads (Oxford, 1907), and
that it is edited in Herrig's Archiv, 1904 (vol. 114,
pp. 326-57), though so inaccurately as to have little
value. . .
Additional MS. 15,225 was purchased by the British
Museum on June 18, 1844, at the .Bright Sale, lot 188.
xxvii
OLD ENGLISH BALLADS
It is a small, neat quarto of sixty leaves, size 6x7! inches,
without title-page or list of contents, and part of th<
original MS. has been lost. The page-numbering
the compiler runs from I to 124. Pages 95-98, however,
are missing, while at the bottom of page 124 ( = the
present fol. 6ov) there is a title, " A Godly Exhortation
to Love by the Parable of Our Saviour Christ. To
the Queen's Almaine" but the leaves that contained
this ballad, and probably others, have disappeared.
The volume has suffered at the hands of binders, various
margins being clipped so closely as to have injured the
text ; many of the leaves are stained by damp, on others
holes have been eaten through by inferior ink, several
have torn edges, some of which are mended. Never
theless, the MS. can be said to be in good condition,
and the scholarly Jacobean handwriting is everywhere
clear and legible.
The date of compilation is about 1616. A ballad
(No. 12) on fol. 22V deals with the priest Thewlis, who
was executed in 1616, and this appears to represent the
latest date in the MS. A ballad on fol. 31 (No. n)
is concerned with events of the years 1600 and 1601 :
others originally date back to 1560-65, but were un
doubtedly copied from later broadside issues.
It is a curious fact that this MS., though known to
many scholars and often referred to, has so long escaped
a careful examination. Collier frequently mentioned
it, Halliwell-Phillipps and William Chappell appear to
have glanced through it, and in more recent days cer
tain Catholic investigators have given it a cursory
view. The remarkable nature of its contents has not
been appreciated, and the ballads have remained
unknown to students. There are in all thirty-five
separate compositions, including one partial duplicate
of the first ballad in the MS. and a brief prose work.1
Fifteen of the ballads are distinctly Catholic produc
tions : most of the others are religious or moralizing
1 See Appendix II.
xxviii
INTRODUCTION
verses with no apparent theological bias ; but there is
also a long Catholic poem on the life of Christ,1 a
splendid burlesque on drunkenness (No. 67), and an
historical ballad on Buckingham and Bannister (No. 69).
The MS. is reprinted entire, with the following
exceptions : —
1. "A dolfull daunce and song of death Intituled:
the shakeing of the sheetes. . . . Finis. Thomas Hill,"
fols. 15-16.
[There are many printed copies of this ballad (see the Roxburghe
Ballads, III., 184), but none of them is signed.]
2. " A song in praise of a Ladie," fols. i6-i6v.
[This poem, attributed to John Heywood and licensed in 1 5 60-6 1
and 1566-67 for broadside issue, is printed in Tottel 's Miscellany, ed.
Edward Arber, pp. 163 f.]
3. A poem beginning " My mind to me a kingdom is,"
fols. 43-43-.
[The work of Sir Edward Dyer ; printed in William Byrd's Psalmes,
1588, John Forbes's Cantus, Songs and Fancies, 1666, Clark's Shtrbum
Ballads, and elsewhere. Entered for transfer as an old ballad at
Stationers' Hall on December 14, 1624.]
4. " A dittie most excelent for euerie man to reade,
that doth intend for to amende and to repent with
speede. To the tune of a rich marchant man, or John,
come Kiss me now" fols. 56-58.
[This poem, beginning " Who loveth to live in peace," is printed in
Totter s Miscellany, ed. Arber, p. 205. It was registered as a ballad on
September 4, I 5 64.]
That an ardent Catholic compiled the MS. is obvious.
An identification of him with " Father Laurence
Anderton alias John Brerely " has been proposed by
J. H. Pollen, who adds : " It is quite possible that
Anderton should have composed some and collected
1 See Appendix I.
xxix
OLD ENGLISH BALLADS
the rest." l I do not feel competent to judge the
probability of this suggestion. But the mildness and
resignation expressed in these fugitive poems speak well
for the charity of the author, whoever he was. The
compiler has also preserved certain pious ditties that were
perhaps the work of Protestants, as well as a jocular
ballad on the exploits of Master Good-Ale. It is a
pity that some of his work is lost. Yet even as it stands,
this MS. is unique among ballad-anthologies, and is far
from being the least important.
Sloane A1S. 1896 is a small oblong quarto of fifty-
nine leaves, about 4$ x 8 inches in size, which have
been cut out of their original covers, pasted on heavy
flaps, and rebound. There is a Table of Contents, and
this Table, the original foliation, and the entire MS.,
save for two pages (fols. 9v-io), are in a single neat,
well-formed, Elizabethan hand. The second hand is
scrawling and illiterate, possibly that of some child.
The MS. is well preserved, except that a few margins
have been pared too closely and that on several pages
the ink has faded so badly as to be almost indecipherable.
In recent years the foliation has been changed so as to
include several unrelated sheets of parchment that have
been bound in at the beginning. Among scribbles on
an otherwise blank sheet at the end of the MS.
occur the names k< Thomas hatcheman," " Thomas
hachemane," and " John Blounte," all in the neat writing
of the chief compiler of the MS., though the second
hand has also repeated the name of " Thomas Hache-
man/' Perhaps Hachman or Blount compiled or owned
the MS.
The latest date is 1576: this occurs in "A Godly
and Virtuous Song Made by the Honourable the Earl
of Essex, Late Deceased in A.D. 1576 " (fols. 58-59),
with which the MS. ends. There is no reason to
believe that any part of the MS. is of a later date. It
1 The English Martyrs, Catholic Record Society's Publications, V
3*5.
XXX
INTRODUCTION
is a collection of pious songs and ballads, quite un
relieved by humour or satire, most of them devoid of
poetry, but a few (like No. 53) of considerable merit.
The gem of the MS. is the " good-night " of Mrs
Anne Sanders, heroine of the Elizabethan play, A
Warning for Fair Women (No. 68). Twenty-four ballads
and poems are not reprinted from the MS. These
include " A Godly Song in Commendation of Mr
John Bradford," and five ballad-poems by Robert
Smith, familiar because of their inclusion in Foxe's
Book of Martyrs l ; five poems that appear in TotteVs
Miscellany 2 ; and the Essex ballad previously men
tioned.3 The compiler of Sloane MS. 1896 was a
devout Protestant ; his work affords an interesting con
trast to that in Addit. MS. 15,225.
Order of the Ballads. In this volume the ballads are
grouped according to subjects, but within groups the
sequence of the MSS. is retained as closely as possible.
1 Foxe's Acts and Monuments, ed. Townsend, VII., 195, 356 ff.
2 Totters Miscellany, ed. Arber, pp. 25, 1 10, 142, 205, 256.
3 Printed in the Paradise of Dainty Devises, 1578, ed. Collier, p. 136;
in the Camden Society Miscellany, 1855, Vol. III.; in Farr's Select
Poetry of the Reign of Elizabeth, I., 316; in Grosart's Fuller Worthies
Miscellany, IV., 102 f. On the matter of authorship see Notes and
Queries, 4th Series, III., 361, and the Dictionary of National Biography.
XXXI
Considering oft the state of man
A unique copy of this ballad is preserved in the British Museum,
press-mark C. 18 e. I (88). It is printed in black letter on a folio
broadside in two columns ; there are no woodcuts, but a large orna
mental C begins the first line. The ballad has not been reprinted, and
appears in no ballad collection, but is reproduced in facsimile in Richard
rarnett's Accession of Queen Mary (1892). A copy of it, made by
[erbert, is referred to in Herbert-Ames's Typographical Antiquities, II.,
126.
To present the historical situation briefly : the Duke of Northumber-
id had prevailed upon Edward VI. to disinherit both Mary and
lizabeth in favour of Lady Jane Grey, who was proclaimed Queen on
ily 10, 1553. Three days later Mary was proclaimed Queen at
lorwich ; a similar proclamation was made at London, after the
>llapse of Northumberland's army, on July 19 (cf. stanza 10). From
anza 10, with its reference to "this month of July," it is obvious that
ic ballad was written and printed after July 25, when Northumberland
ras sent to the Tower (cf. stanza 12, line 2), and before August I.
[ary was crowned on October i .
As a contemporary account of the joy with which the proclamation of
[ary was welcomed in London, the ballad is of rare interest ; and it is
)propriate that this volume, which contains ballads on both Protestant
id Catholic martyrs, should open with a ballad-poet's eulogy of Mary,
greatly misunderstood and too much reviled Queen. The poet
limself was not concerned with Mary's religious views : indeed, though
speaks of her " leading the perfect dance of godliness " (stanza 8), he
probably knew little or nothing of them, and may well have been a
Protestant. That he was a Protestant seems to be indicated by his
eulogy of Edward VI. (stanza 7) and by the striking absence of comment
on the ill-fated Protestant Queen, Lady Jane. His joy, like that of the
people at large, arose from the knowledge that Mary's accession would
put an end to the power and tyranny of the Duke of Northumberland.
Very interesting indeed are his bitter comments (stanza 12) on the
Duke. Perhaps it would be a better thing for all concerned if our
ideas of Mary, Elizabeth, Lady Jane, Northumberland, and the' other
leading persons of that time came from Ainsworth's admirable, but
almost forgotten, romance of The Tower of London, — just as the ideas of
almost all English-speaking persons about Henry V. and Richard III. (cf.
stanzas 2-4) come from Shakespeare's plays.
CONSIDERING OFT THE STATE OF MAN
The initials T. W. may be assumed to be those of Thomas Watertoune,
whose name is signed to a ballad of slightly later date in MS. Ashmole
48 (Thomas Wright's Songs and Ballads chiefly of the Reign of Philip and
Mary, p. n).
a ninuertjwe agap0t ereagon,
11 Remember well, o mortall man, to whom god geueth
reason,
How he truly, most ryghtfully, doth alwayes punyshe
treason.
Consyderyng oft the state of man, and of this mortall
lyfe,
which is but short and very ful of mutabylyte,
I called to remembraunce the hateful war and stryfe
Which hath ben don within this realm e thrugh gret
iniquite, —
In clymyng to achyue the crowne & reyal dingnyte
Of this kyngdome, now called England, but somtyme
greate bretain,
And howe by false and ranke traytours the kynges they
haue ben slayne.
[2] I
What moued the Duke of Glocester, Edwarde the
fourthes brother,
Of his two natural Neuewes, by lyneall dissent,
Sekyng of them distruction, and also of the queene their
mother,
But that he the ryghtfull rayne of them he falsely myght
preuent ?
Styll workynge tyl he had brought to passe his false and
yll entent,
[i] 3 stryfe : text has stryle ; 5 reyal .dingntye : read, regal dignity.
[2] I Duke : better known as King Richard III. ; 2 dissent : i.e.
descent.
CONSIDERING OFT THE STATE OF MAN
by murtherynge the innocentes, that he him selfe myght
raygne,
Yet lyke a noughty false traytour at Boseworth was he
slayne.
He neuer rested tyll he had made away his owne naturall
brother,
George, the good duke of clarence, that noble prince
truly ;
Causyng the kynge to graunt therto, for it wolde be none
other,
For which wycked fact sone afterwarde the kynge was
ryght sory,
That in a but of Malmesey the man was forst to dye,
Within the towre, as wel was knowen, the story is ryght
playne ;
Yet at the last this ranke traytour at boseworth was he
slayne.
w
11 He eke slewe with a short dagger that mylde Henry
the sext,
Remaynynge in the towre vntyl his lyf e he did there end ;
That he to were the crowne, therby, myght surely be
the next.
Thus to murther and false treason he dyd him selfe
extende,
Vntyll suche tyme, most ryghtfully, god brought him
to his ende ;
Leuyng hym in tyranny no lenger for to raygne,
But at the last, for his desartes, at Boseworth was he
slayne.
[2] 7 Boseworth : i.e. Bosworth Field, where Henry VII. slew
Richard III.
[3] 3 kynge : i.e. Henry VI. ; 5 man : i.e. the Duke of Clarence.
[4] 3 were : i.e. wear.
3
CONSIDERING OFT THE STATE OF MAN
7: [5]
Lyke treasone to our last Henry was wrought by haynous
spyght
olde
By olde Hemson and by Dudley, as traytours most
vntrue ;
At Rychemond was their full entent to haue distroy'd
him quyght,
That their malicious purpose myght there forthwith
ensue.
But god out of this present lyfe awaye them streyght he
drue,
Takyng their heades from their bodyes, which thyng
is most certayne ;
So, not vnlyke to false traytours, they both were iustly
slayne.
[6]
Yet many treasons mo were done agaynst this noble
kynge
By dyuers men of wyckednes, as is most euydent,
But god alwayes, of his goodnes, reueled their dowynge,.
So that theyr euyl deuysed thynges he euer dyd preuent,
That no myscheuous traytour could obtayne his owne
entent ;
But al theyr crafty false treasons, which deuelyshely they
wrought,
Were ryght sone serched out truly, and ryght sone
brought to nought.
[7]
But out, alas, the noughty sede of traytours hath
increased,
And spronge vp very hastely, nowejn his sonnes dayes, —
[5] i Henry : i.e. Henry VIII. ; 2 for Edmund Dudley and Sir
Richard Empson, who were executed on Tower Hill on August i8x
1510, see the D. N. B. ; 3 Rychemond : /.^.Richmond.
[6] 3 dowynge : i.e. doing = acts.
CONSIDERING OFT THE STATE OF MAN
Edwarde the syxt, forsoth I meane, whom god hath
now displaced,
Which sought and mynded goddes glory, entendyng
vertuous wayes, —
With him and his two vncles deare they made dyuers
assayes,
Vntyll such tyme as they cought them, in theyr most
crafty trayne,
And so workyng most wyckedly the ryghteous haue
they slayne.
At last they dyd attempt agaynst theyr lyege Lady and
Queene,
Mary, by the grace of god of Englande and of Fraunce,
And also ryght heyre of Irelande, most comly to be sene,
Whom the myghty lorde perserue from all hurt and
myschaunce ;
For she to ioyful godlynes ledeth the parfect daunce :
Whom god at her great nede doth helpe, workynge
nothyng in vayyne,
Subdueth to her her enemies al, which wrought with
dredful trayne :
[9]
When they forth went, lyke men they were, most fearefull
to beholde ;
Of force and eke of pusaunt power they semed very
stronge ;
In theyr attemptes, also, they were both fearse and
wonders bolde.
[7] 5 vncles : i.e. the Duke of Somerset, Lord Protector, and Lord
Seymour. The first of these "dear uncles," Edward VI., at the
instigation of the Duke of Northumberland, allowed to be executed.
There is a heartless comment on this execution in the young King's
diary.
[9] 2 pusaunt : i.e. puissant ; 3 wonders : read wondrous.
5
I
CONSIDERING OFT THE STATE OF MAN
If god wolde haue ben helper to such as stryueth in the
wronge —
But at the last he helped vs, though we thought it ryght
longe.
The Nobles here proclaymed her queene, in voydyng
of all blame ;
Wherfore prayse we the lorde aboue, and magnyfie
his name.
[10]
Which thyng was done the .xix. day of this moneth of
The yere of God .xv. hundred fyfty addynge thre,
In the Cytie of glad London, proclaymed most ioyfully,
Where cappes and syluer plenteously about the stretes
dyd flye :
The greatest ioy and most gladnes that in this realme
myght be,
The trumpettes blewe vp all on hye our Marie's royall
fame.
Let vs, therfore, styll gloryfy and prayse his holy name.
The nobles all consented than together, with one
accorde,
To go to Paules churche, euery man, to gyue thankes
vnto the lorde ;
Wheras they harde a songe of praise, as custome it hath
bene,
To rendre thankes to god alwayes for the victorie of our
queene.
Suche chere was made in euery strete as no man can
expresse,
In settyng forth wyne and plentie of meate and fyers of
much gladnes ;
[9] 7 magnyfie : text has mangnyfie.
[ 1 1 ] I than : read then ; 3 wheras : pertaps whereat
6
CONSIDERING OFT THE STATE OF MAN
Such myrth was made in euery place as the lyke was neuer
scene,
That god had shewed on vs his grace in geuyng a ryghtful
queene.
_
And where as he went forth full glad, as prince both
stout and bolde,
He came a traytour in full sad, with hart that myght
be colde ; —
The same whom al before dyd feare, and were in most
subiection,
The people wolde in peeces teare, yf they myght haue
election ;
The same for whom before they prayde, reuyled was and
curste,
And he that longe the swynge hath swayde was now
most vyle & worst.
We se, therfore, the ouerthrowe of al theyr wicked wayes,
Howe wicked might is brought furlowe, to god's great
Laude & prayse.
tfte
Imprynted at London by Roger Madeley, and are
to be solde in Paules Church yearde at
the sygne of the Starre.
[12] I he : i.e. the Duke of Northumberland ; 8 furlowe : read full
low.
ittte. qd. T. W.
2
The God above for marts delight
From a unique broadside in the Library of the Society of Antiquaries,
London (Lemon's Catalogue of Broadsides, p. 12). Black-letter type is
used throughout, printed in two columns, no cuts. The ballad is re
printed in the Har/eian Miscellany (1813), X., 253 f. It was written to
eulogize Mary I., under the figure of the Marigold, shortly after her
accession, and was entered at Stationers' Hall for reprinting in 1569-70
(Arber's Transcript, I., 409). The author, William Forrest, a Catholic
priest, served as one of the Queen's chaplains, and was a musician of
some skill. There is a sketch of his life in the Dictionary of National
Biography.
a netn balla&e of ttje s^arigotoe.
The God aboue, for man's delight,
Hath heere ordaynde euery thing, —
Sonne, Moone, and Sterres, shinyng so bright,
with all kinde fruites that here doth spring,
And Flowrs that are so flourishyng.
Amonges all which that I beholde,
As to my minde best contentyng,
I doo commende the Marigolde.
In Veare first springeth the Violet ;
The Primerose, then, also doth spred ;
The Couslip sweete abroade doth get ;
The Daisye gaye sheweth forth her hed
[i] 2 ordaynde : read ordayned.
[2] i Veare : i.e. ver : Spring.
8
THE GOD ABOVE FOR MAN'S DELIGHT
The Medowes greene, so garnished,
Most goodly, truly, to beholde ;
For which God is to be Praised.
Yet I commende the Marigolde.
The Rose that chearfully doth showe
At Midsomer, her course hath shee ;
The Lilye white after doth growe ;
The Columbine then see may yee ;
The Jofiflowre in fresh degree,
with sundrie mo then can be tolde :
Though they neuer so pleasaunt bee,
Yet I commende the Marigolde.
w
Though these which here are mencioned
Bee delectable to the iye,
By whom sweete smelles are ministred,
The sense of man to satisfye,
Yet each as serueth his fantasye ;
wherfore to say I wyll be bolde,
And to aduoide all flaterye,
I doo commende the Marigolde.
[5]
All these but for a time doth serue,
Soone come, soone gone, so doth they fare,
At feruent heates and stormes thei sterue,
Fadyng away, their staulkes left bare.
Of that I praise, thus say I dare,
Shee sheweth glad cheare in heate and colde,
Moche profityng to hertes in care, —
Such is this floure, the Marigolde.
[3] 5 Joliflowre : i.e. gillyflower.
[4] 2 iye : i.e. eye.
THE GOD ABOVE FOR MAN'S DELIGHT
[6]
This Marigolde Floure, marke it well,
with Sonne dooth open, and also shut ;
which (in a meanyng) to vs doth tell
To Christ, God's Sonne, our willes to put,
And by his woorde to set our futte,
Stiffly to stande, as Champions bolde,
From the truthe to stagger nor stutte, —
For which I praise the Marigolde.
[7]
To Marie, our Queene, that Floure so sweete,
This Marigolde I doo apply,
For that the Name doth serue so meete
And properlee, in cache partie ;
For her enduryng paciently
The stormes of such as list to scolde
At her dooynges, with cause why,
Loth to see spring this Marigolde.
.
Shee may be calde Marigolde well,
Of Marie (chief e), Christ es mother deere,
That as in heauen shee doth excell,
And Golde in earth, to haue no peere :
So (certainly) shee shineth cleere,
In Grace and honour double folde,
The like was neuer earst seene heere,
Suche is this floure, the Marigolde.
Her education well is knowne,
From her first age how it hath wrought ;
In singler Vertue shee hath growne,
[6] 2 Sonne : i.e. sun ; 5 futte : i.e. foot ; 7 stutte = desist from,
[8] 6 honour : text has hononr.
[9] 3 singler: i.e. singular.
10
THE GOD ABOVE FOR MAN'S DELIGHT
And seruyng God, as she well ought ;
For which he had her in his thought,
And shewed her Graces many folde,
In her estate to see her brought,
Though some dyd spite this Marigolde.
[10]
Yf she (in faith) had erred a-misse,
which God, most sure, doth vnderstande,
wolde hee haue doone, as proued is,
Her Enmies so to bring to hande ?
No, be ye sure, I make a bande,
For seruying him he needes so wolde
Make her to Reigne ouer Englande, —
So loueth hee this Marigolde.
Her conuersacion, note who list,
It is more heauenly then terraine,
For which God doth her Actes assist ;
All meekenesse doth in her remaine.
All is her care, how to ordayne
To haue God's Glorie here extolde ;
Of Poore and Riche, shee is most fayne.
Christ saue, therfore, this Marigolde.
[12]
Sith so it is, God loueth her,
And shee, His Grace, as doth appeare ;
Ye may be bolde as to referre
All doubtfulnesse to her most cleare,
[9] 8 some : i.e. Lady Jane Grey's adherents.
[10] 5 bande = bond.
[i i] 2 terraine : i.e. terrene.
II
THE GOD ABOVE FOR MAN'S DELIGHT
That, as her owne, in like maneare
She wilth your welthes, both yong & olde,
Obey her, then, as your Queene deare,
And say : Christ saue this Marigolde.
[13]
Christ saue her in her High Estate,
Therin (in rest) long to endure ;
Christ so all wronges heere mitigate
That all may be to his pleasure :
The high, the lowe, in due measure,
As membres true with her to holde,
So cache to be thother's treasure,
In cherishyng the Marigolde.
[HI
Be thou (O God) so good as thus
Thy Perfect Fayth to see take place ;
Thy Peace thou plant here among vs,
That Errour may go hide his face.
So to concorde vs in eache case,
As in thy Courte it is enrol de,
wee all (as one) to loue her Grace,
That is our Queene, this Marigolde.
<90tr tfstte tftt
Quod WILLIAM FORREST, Freest.
Imprinted at London in Aldersgate strete by Richard Lant.
[12] 5 maneare : i.e. manner ; 6 wilth : i.e. willeth.
12
3
Hail Queen of England^ of
most worthy fame
From a unique broadside in the Library of the Society of Antiquaries,
London (Lemon's Catalogue of Broadsides, p. 12). Printed in two
columns, black-letter type throughout, no woodcuts.
This striking ballad is the work of Leonard Stopes, an English priest,
who, after the death of Mary, suffered the loss of his Fellowship at St
John's, Oxford, imprisonment and, later, exile. (See the sketch in the
Dictionary of National Biography.) The eulogy of "Bloody" Mary as a
mirror of merciful meekness has, to phrase it mildly, an unusual sound ;
but, in any case, the ballad is no more exaggerated in its way than are
the later eulogies of Queen Elizabeth. The sincerity of the priest,
unlike that of various Elizabethan poets, is not open to question : the
chief reason for his admiration lay in the " great travail " Mary took to
"weed out sects and schisms and horrible errors" (stanzas 3-4). The
prayer (stanza 20) that Mary's marriage may prove fruitful, expanded at
considerable length, forms the subject of the ballad next following.
an AVE MARIA in Commendation of
our most l9crtHou0 cuteene. imprinted
at London, in Pater Noster Reaw, by Richard
Lant.
[i] HAILE
Haile Quene of Englad, of most worthy fame
For vertue, for wisdome, for mercy & grace ;
Most firme in the fath, Defence of the same,
Christ saue her and keepe her in euery place.
[Title] Reaw : read Row.
[i] 3 fath : read faith.
13
HAIL QUEEN OF ENGLAND
[2] MARIE
Marie, the mirrour of mercifulnesse,
God of his goodnesse hath lent to this lande ;
Our iewell, our ioye, our ludeth, doutlesse,
The great Holofernes of hell to withstande.
[3]
Full well I may liken and boldly compare
Her highnesse to Hester, that vertuous Quene ;
The enuious Hamon to kyll is her care,
And all wicked workers to wede them out clene.
W OF
Of sectes and of schysmes a riddaunce to make,
Of horrible errours and heresies all ;
She carckes & cares & great trauell dooth take,
That vertue may flourish and vice haue a fall.
[5] GRACE
Grace and all goodnesse doth garnish her Grace
with mercifull meeknesse, on euery syde,
And pitifull Prudence, in rennyng her race,
Her highnesse in honor most godly dooth guyde.
[6] OUR
Our life is a warfare, the worlde is the fielde :
Her highnes her army hath alwayes at hande ;
For Hope is her helmet, Faith is her shielde,
And Loue is her brestplate, her foes to withstad.
[2] 3 ludeth : i.e. Judith.
[3] 2 Hester : i.e. Esther ; 3 Hamon : i.e. Haman.
[4] 3 trauell : i.e. travail.
[5] 3 rennyng: read running.
14
OF MOST WORTHY FAME
[7] LORDE
Lorde, for thy mercy, vouchsafe to defende
Her Grace from all griefes, and dredfull distresse ;
whom thou hast vouchsafed, so frendly, to sende
Our maners to mende, our deedes to redresse.
[8] Is
Is not this Ilande of duty most bounde
To pray for her highnesse most prosperous state ?
By whom all our enmies be cast to the grounde,
Exilyng all errour, all strife, and debate.
[9] WITH
With wisdome, her wisdome, most witty & wise,
Most wisely dooth welde vs, in wele and in wo ;
In rest to rule vs, this dooth she deuise,
In grace and in goodnesse, with vertue also.
[10] THEE
Thee humbly we honour, most mercifull Lorde,
Besechyng thy goodnesse to graut vs thy grace,
That we in faith as one may accorde,
All vices exiled, may vertue imbrace.
[n] BLESSED
Blessed be lesu, and praise we his Name,
who of his mere mercy hath lent to this lande
So Catholike Capitaynes, to gouerne the same,
And freely the foes of Faith to withstande.
[12] ART
Art thou not a-shamed, thou caitif vnkynde,
To whisper, to whimper, with traitourous tene ?
[8] 2 highnesse : read highness'.
[9] 2 welde : i.e. wield.
[12] 2 tene : i.e. teen = malice, anger.
HAIL QUEEN OF ENGLAND
to matter, to mourmure* with mischeuous mynd
Aflinst thy so louyng and gracious * Queue ?
[13] Tiro*
Thou wishest and woldest* But til is in vayne
(God dooth abhorre) ; to thinke in thy harte
Or speake in sevxrete of them that doo raigne ;
the birdes \vyll be\vrai thee : — to prai is thy parte,
[14] AMONG
Amcy al the scriptures* \vher hast thou but sene
the murmurers punishte, & neuer had their wyll
Agaynst their heade ; our $ou«reigne Queene,
\vhcv<e GMCC I pray G\xi prcserue from aU yll*
[15] WOMEN
\\\vvuct\ AUvi \rido\ves* with maidens & wiue$*
Of this blessed woman example may take,
lu womanly wisdonxe to leade wdl their Hues,
All Englaixde is bie<^cd for this w»man%s sake*
[TO] Axr
And for thit therf is suche gvxihr behauiour,
Srecixlly ter.dryr^: God's worthy tune :
He, through his rower xnd Princeiy fiuour,
Vxith blincievi her foes* to their crtat shame.
e, thertone, our Lorde Gv\i
Ar.d Marie* our Miistrtsse, our r.-Lerciful Queue ;
For vntv> this lande our Lorvie, for her loce,
Hith of his mesxv most n^crvifull ber.e,
ctx a&i« c««r ts« rssrt;**: c* ti?5
is v>^c«^
-.-•
OF MOST WORTHY FAME
[18] Is
Is not her highnesse most worthy of prayse,
And England moch holden her grace to cSmend
By who it hath pleased our Lord many wayse
His bountefull blessyng on vs for to sende.
[19] THE
The plentifull pitie, the faith, and the grace,
The meruailous mekenes and mercy, also,
And other the vertues that shine in her face,
Doo saue vs her subiectes in weale and in wo.
[20] FRUYTE
Fruyte of her body God graunte vs to see,
This-Royalme to rule in peace and in rest ;
That louyng, as she is, to vs maye be,
who woulde vs all, as our hertes can thinke best.
[21] OF
Of this may the good be bolde as to say
She woulde God's glory to flourish and spryng,
And her true subiectes to walke in one way,
In vnitie of faith all vs for to bryng.
[22] THY
Thy gracious goodnes to God, therfore,
we humbly beseche her grace to preserue ;
And thy holy Churche in state to restore,
As daily desireth our princely Mynerue.
[23] WOMBE
Wombe that she beareth by God be it blest,
From dauger of childing whe God he shal sende
[ 1 9] 4 subiectes : text subiected.
[20] 2 Royalme = realm.
[22] 4 Mynerue : i.e. Minerv(a).
B 17
HAIL QUEEN OF ENGLAND
Neuer by enemyes to see her supprest,
But, as his chosen, to haue heere her ende.
[24] IESUS
lesus most gentle, graunte this request,
Our Noble Queene with thy grace to encrease
In health and honour, as pleaseth thee best,
That long ouer vs she may reigne in peace.
QD. L. STOPES.
18
Now England is happy and
happy indeed
Reprinted from a unique black-letter broadside preserved in MS. 106,
fol. 630, at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. This text has been
reprinted in Herbert- Ames's Typographical Antiquities, III., 1794.
Evidently from the same exemplar came the MS. copy preserved in the
Pepys Collection, I., 23. There Pepys added the following note :—
"Extract of a Letter from Mr. Michael Bull, M.A., Fellow of Bennet
Coll., Camb. of the 12th of June 1701 to Mr. Humphry Wanley,
relating to the foregoing Ballad.
" I have according to your desire copyed out the Ballad, and with all
the exactness I could. There is no picture in it ; nor anything wrott
in Capital or Roman Letters, but all printed in the old English Letter.
I have spelt it and pointed it, just as it is printed.
" There is pasted on the Backside of this Ballad, a printed copy of a
Letter sent from the Councel to the BP- of London, to sing Te Deum
for her Majtie's being wth child.1 If a copy of it will be usefull to
you, I shall send it you assoon as I know it."
Pepys has also added the title, " The Ballad of Joy vpon the publica
tion of Q. Mary, Wife of King Philip, her being with child, Anno
Domini I5[54]."
This MS. copy has been reprinted, with a brief introduction, by Pro
fessor C. H. Firth in the Scottish Historical Review, IX. (1912), 361-63.
The question of whether Protestantism or Catholicism should triumph
in England hinged upon the fruitfulness or unfruitfulness of Mary's
marriage with Philip of Spain. In October, 1554, the Queen believed
herself to be enceinte, and the present ballad was no doubt written at
that time. As Froude (History of England, 1870, VI., 346) tells the
story: "About the 2Oth of April [1555] she withdrew to Hampton
Court for entire quiet. The rockers and the nurses were in readiness,
and a cradle stood open to receive the royal infant. Priests and bishops
*A copy of this letter is in the Corpus Christi MS. 106, fol. 629.
See M. R. James's Descriptive Catalogue of the MSS. in the Library of
Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, 1912, 1., 221, and the note in Herbert-
Ames, op. cit., III., 1793.
19
NOW ENGLAND IS HAPPY
sang litanies through the London streets ; a procession of ecclesiastics in
cloth of gold and tissue marched round Hampton Court Palace, headed
by Philip in person ; Gardiner walked at his side, while Mary gazed J
from a window. Not only was the child assuredly coming, but its sexL
was decided on, and circulars were drawn and signed both by the king
and queen, with blanks only for the month and day, announcing to I
ministers of state, to ambassadors, and to foreign sovereigns, the birth of
a prince. On the 3Oth, the happy moment was supposed to have ;
arrived. . . . The bells were set ringing in all the Churches ; Te Deum I
was sung in St Paul's ; priests wrote sermons ; bonfires wer*1 piled ready 1
for lighting, and tables were laid out in the streets." According to I
Froude, the Queen's disappointment on this occasion (as well as later)
incited her to more diligent persecution of heretics.
jaotoe 0inge, notne 0pringe, oure care is eril'D,
fwre bertuous duene 10 quicfeneD fnify ctnlt).
Nowe englande is happie, and happie in dede,
That god of his goodnes doth prospir here sede ;
Therfore, let vs praie, it was neuer more nede,
God prosper her highnes, god send her good sped.
[2] I
Howe manie good people were longe in dispaire
That this letel england shold lacke a right heire ;
But nowe the swet marigold springeth soo fayre
That England triumpheth without anie care.
[3] \
Howe manie greate thraldom es in englan[d]e were seene
Before that her highnes was pwblyshed quene :
The bewtye of englade was banyshed clene,
with wringing & wrongynge, & sorowes betwen.
[i] 2 prospir: text pspir, an crdinary abbreviation; here sede L
i.e. her seed.
20
AND HAPPY INDEED
W
And yet synce her highnes was planted in peace,
* Her subiectes wer dubtful of her highnes' increse ;
But nowe the recofort their murmour doth cease,
They haue their owne wyshynge, their woes doo releasse,
[5]
i And suche as enuied the matche and the make,
And in their procedinges stoode styffe as a stake,
Are now reconciled, their malis dothe slake,
And all men are wilinge theyr partes for to take.
[6]
Our doutes be dyssolued, our fansies contented,
The manage is ioyfull that many lamented ;
And suche as enuied, like foles haue repented
The Errours & Terrours that they have inueted.
[7]
But God dothe worke more wonders then this,
For he is the Auther and Father of blysse :
He is the defender, his workinge it is,
And where he dothe fauoure, they fare not amys.
[8]
Therfore let vs praye to the father of myght
To prospre her highnes and shelde her in ryghte ;
Wyth ioye to deliuer, that when she is lighte
Both she & her people maie Ioye without flight.
God prossper her highnes in euery thinge,
Her noble spouse, our fortunate kynge,
And that noble blossome that is plated to spring.
Amen, swete lesus, we hartelye singe.
[8] 2 shelde : i.e. shield.
21
NOW ENGLAND IS HAPPY
[10]
Blysse, thou swete lesus, our comforters three,
Oure Kynge, our Quene, our Prince that shalbe ;
That they three as one, or one as all three,
Maye gouerne thy people to the plesure of the.
U Imprinted at London in Lumbarde strete, at the
signe of the Eagle, by Wyllyam Ryddaell.
[ i o] i Blysse : i.e. Bless ; 4 the : i.e. thee.
22
Tain is the bliss, and brittle
is the glass
From a unique broadside in the Library of the Society of Antiquaries,
London (Lemon's Catalogue of Broadsides, p. 16). Printed in one
column, black-letter type throughout, no woodcuts. It is reprinted in
the Harleian Miscellany (1813), X., 259 f.
Mary I. died on the morning of November 17, 1558, and before
noon of the same day Elizabeth was proclaimed Queen. An ardent
Catholic, very probably a priest, promptly wrote this exaggerated eulogy.
Certainly the most ardent apologist could not now urge that Mary
* never spared her hand to help the righteous man distressed,' or that she
showed ' pity to both friend and foe ' ; and the balladist's prophecy that
" no age can thee obscure " has been fulfilled in quite a different fashion
from that he anticipated. From the last lines of the epitaph it appears
that the accession of a new Queen brought no premonitions or fears of
change to the poet : Elizabeth's inclination towards Protestantism —
always largely political — was evidently not known to him.
It is curious to read in the Stationers' Registers (Arber's Transcript, I.,
101) that "Rychard Lante was sente to warde for the pryntynge of an
Epithaphi of quene Mary with out lycense," undoubtedly the present
production. It is difficult to see how this epitaph could have offended
the new Queen.
epitaph bpon ttie Deatb of ttje
excellent ana our late toertuous
duene, spatie, Deceaseu, augments bp
tlje ffr0t author,
Vayne is the blisse, & brittle is the glasse, of worldly
wished welth ;
The steppes vnstayde, the life vnsure, of lastyng hoped
helth.
23
VAIN IS THE BLISS
witnes (alas) may Marie be, late Quene of rare renov/ne,
whose body dead, her vertues Hue, and doth her fame
resowne ;
In whom suche golden giftes were grafte, of nature and
of grace,
As when the tongue dyd ceasse to say, yet vertue spake
in face,
what vertue is that was not founde within that worthy
wight ?
what vice is there that can be sayde wherin she had
delight ?
She neuer closde her eare to heare the rightous man
distrest,
Nor neuer sparde her hande to helpe, wher wrog or
power opprest.
when all was wracke, she was the porte from peryll vnto
ioye;
when all was spoyle, she spared all, she pitied to
distroye.
How many noble men restorde, and other states also,
well shew'd her Princely liberall hert, which gaue
both friend & fo.
where conscience was, or pitie moued, or iuste desertes
dyd craue,
For lustice' sake, all worldly thynges, she vsed as her
slaue.
As Princely was her birth, so Princely was her life,
Constante, courtise,1 modest, and mylde, a chast and
chosen wife.
In greatest stormes she feared not, for God she made
her shielde,
And all her care she cast on him, who forst her foes to
yelde.
Her perf ecte life in all extremes her pacient hert dyd shoe,2
For in this worlde she neuer founde but dolfull dayes
and woe.
1 courtise : i.e. courteous.
2 shoe : i.e. show.
24
AND BRITTLE IS THE GLASS
All worldly pompe she set at nought, to praye was her
delight,
A Martha in her kyngdomes charge, a Mary named right.
She conquer'd death in perfect life, and feared not his
darte ;
She liued to dye and dyed to Hue, with constant
faithful hart.
Her restles ship of toyle and care these worldly wrackes
hath past,
And safe arriues the heauenly porte, escapt from
daungers' blast,
when I haue sene the Sacrament (she said, euen at her
death),
These eyes no earthly syght shall see, — and so lefte life
and breath.
O mirrour of all womanhed, o Quene of vertues pure,
0 constaunt Marie filde l with grace, no age can thee
obscure.
Thyne end hath set the 2 fre from tongues of tickle 3 trust,
And lockte the lippes of slauder's brute, which daily
damnes the iust.
Thy death hath geuen thee life, thy life with God shall ioye,
Thy ioye shall last, thy vertues Hue, from feare and
all anoye.
O happie heauens, O hatefull earth, O chaunge to Marie
best,
Though we bewaile, thou maist reioyce, thy longe
retourne to reste.
0 worthy Quene, most worthy life, o lampe of vertue's
light,
But what auayles, sith flesh is wormes,4 and life is
deathes 5 of right ?
Mercy and rest may Marie fynde, whose fayth and mercy
craue
Eternall prayse here in this earth, and ioye with God,
to haue.
1 filde : i.e. fill'd. 2 the : i.e. thee. 3 tickle = unreliable, uncertain.
5 deathes : i.e. death's.
25
VAIN IS THE BLISS
Marie is gone, whose vertues teache of life and death
the way,
Learne we that Hue her steppes to treade, and for her
soule to pray.
Make for your mirrour (Princes all) Marie, our maistres
late,
whom teares, nor plaintes, nor princely mace might
stai in her estate.
Lo, here we see, as nature formes, death doth deface at
lengthe ;
In life and death, pray we to God to be our guyde
and strengthe.
Farewell o Quene, o pearle most pure that God or nature
gaue,
The erth, the heaues, the sprites, the saintes cry honor to
thy graue.
Marie now dead, Elisabeth Hues, our iust & lawf ull Quene,
In whom her sister's vertues rare habundantly are seene.
Obaye our Quene, as we are bounde, pray God her to
preserue,
And sende her grace longe life & fruite, and subiectes
trouth to serue.
JFtnts,
Imprinted at London in Smithfielde by Richarde Lant.
26
O heresy with frenzy
From a unique broadside in the Library of the Society of Antiquaries,
London (Lemon's Catalogue of Broadsides, p. 16). Printed in two
columns, black-letter type throughout, no woodcuts.
This Catholic ballad of the reign of Mary I. is a bitter attack on
heresy, and a plea for a general acceptance of the Catholic faith, which
should be compared with No. 20. Notice the defense of images in
stanzas 7-9, and the plea to authority and antiquity in stanja 14. Very
few ballads of this nature have survived, though undoubtedly many were
printed.
an ejcclamatio bpo fl;e erronious ann
fantasticall sprite of tieresp, troublig ttie
tmitie of ttje ctiurct), fceceauig tlje simple
, urittj Ijer tonperfect, Unprofitable
$ tiapn tuoroes.
O Heresy, with frenesy,
disobedience and pride,
Hast lead man's mind, with fancies blind,
headlong runnyng farre [and] wyde,
From the path way to Christ, I saye,
o fonde, folish, vayne guyde !
11 Brought many one to perdicion,
to play a desperate parte,
Made deuition in eche Region ;
a false traitour thou arte
i ] 3 lead : i.e. led ; 4 headlong ; text has headloug.
2] 3 deuition : i.e. division.
27
0 HERESY WITH FRENZY
To God aboue, the knotte of loue
to Christ Church to subuert.
[3]
11 The Sacramentes, our regimentes
of health, .vii. giftes of grace,
when we doo fall through synne, to call
for them, our great solace ;
A remedie, for eche degree,
God's fouour to pourchace.
w
11 Babtisme is one, Confirmation,
with trew Penaunce certayne ;
wedlocke to endure, Presthod most pure,
Christ body to remayne ;
At our last ende suche grace God sende,
Extreme Unction to attayne.
[5]
11 By which all we membres knitte be
to Christ, our most chiefe head,
In vnitie through his Bodie,
which dyde for quicke and dead ;
Christ's Church, likewise, doth Sacrifice
the same, in fourme of bread.
[6]
11 Very flesh and blood, our daily food,
in vs to byde and dwell,
Bi who we moue, Hue euer through loue,
in vertew to excell.
The other dead be not in this bodie,
shall perish, and burne in hell.
[2] 6 to Christ : read of Christ's.
[3] 6 fouour : rend fauour ; pourchace : i.e. purchase.
[4] 4 remayne : text remayue. [5] 4 dyde : i.e. died.
28
O HERESY WITH FRENZY
[7]
11 O infidell, darest thou rebell
against Christes humane body ?
Thymage to graue, pictures to haue,
thou calst ydolatry, —
The laye man's booke, theron to looke,
to folow their lyues by.
[8]
H God doth forbed ydoles in dede ;
for ydolatry playne
Doth signify thynges made therby,
not hauyng life certayne ;
which represent a false entent, —
that worke of man is vayne.
[9]
11 The ymage of ma is God's worke tha,
praise him in his sayntes daily :
Their ymage to make for vertew sake,
no good man can denye,
His sayntes liuyng (for vs praiyng),
to haue their memory.
[10]
If whose fame imortall dye neuer shall :
the lust man lyues for euer,
where the vniust is scatred like dust,
consumed with the wether ;
whose mortall fame dyeth with shame,
no mention of him neuer.
11 O Traitour vntrue to Christ lesu,
his ymage to deface,
[7] 5 man's : read men's.
29
O HERESY WITH FRENZY
To set at nought hym that the bought,
thou arte cleane voide of grace ;
whose remebrauce thou ought taduauce,
with his sayntes in eche place.
H" whose life & dayes in penauce alwayes
dyd byde Religiously,
In praier by night, w[i]the world to fight,
and wunne the victory.
Their vow thei kepte bi the flesh, ne slept,
most chaste Virgens dyd dye.
[13]
H Thou counterfaite, O foule disceate,
a false fayth to entende,
To breake thy vowe for thy lust nowe,
death needes must be thy ende :
Dew execution to thy confusion,
Christ churche for to defende.
[14]
11 whose vnitie, by antiquitie,
vniuersall is knowne ;
Continewed, from Rome the hed,
by trew succession ;
By Counsels tride, the truthe out spide
of God's sprite longe agone.
[15]
H O heresy, thou walkest a-wrye,
abrode to gadde or raunge ;
[u] 3 the : i.e. thee ; 5 taduauce = t[o] advance.
[13] 2 entende = to devote oneself to.
[15] I thou : text thon.
30
O HERESY WITH FRENZY
Kike false brethren, deceaue children,
this Churche nowe for to chaunge :
Her praier by night to banish quight,
with new imientions straunge.
[16]
11 To breake, also, thy first faith, to[o],
through wilfull impietie ;
For thy debate excomunicate
from Christ spousesse holy.
Thou canst not accord with spouse & lord
that liuest in aduoutry.
[17]
11 Runyng retchlesse from thy spousesse,
Christ Churche, most Chatholike,
whose company God kepes, truly,
to banish the heretike ;
Her errours all, schismatical,
out of this churche to strike.
H Fro her ne swerue, lest thou do sterue
with childer reprobate,
whose parentes be iniquitie,
gotte by the sprite debate, —
Thulauful spouses, whose workes, doutles,
as hypocrites God doth hate.
I [19]
H Repent & tourne, your Hues refourme,
Come to Christes Church most trew,
[i 5] 3 kike : this seems to be an obsolete imperative form o/~keek, meaning
peep ; but the word may be a misprint for like.
[ 1 6] 5 with : text wthi ; 6 aduoutry : i.e. adultery.
[17] I retchlesse = reckless ; 2 Chatholike: read Catholike.
31
O HERESY WITH FRENZY
with humilitie reconsilde to be
to the mother of vertew,
which night and day serues God alway,
whose faith her childre ensew ;
11 And doo endure, in one pasture,
of one folde styll together,
Both all and some, lest the wolfe come,
them for to disceuer
From our Pastour, which doth succour,
keepe, and defende vs euer.
U Imprinted at London in Pater Noster Reaw, by
Richarde Lant.
[20] 4 disceuer : i.e. dissever.
O Lord) thou God of Israel
Stowe MS. 958, fols. 8v-iy. The small quarto leaves on which this
ballad is written, in a hand contemporaneous with the events described
(1555), have severely suffered, many of the initial and final letters of
the lines being torn off. These letters are supplied, by guess when
necessary, in square brackets. The writing itself is badly faded, and at
times is difficult to decipher.
This ballad on a prominent martyr of Queen Mary's reign is unique :
no ballad even remotely resembling it — though laments on Anne Askew
and John Bradford, among others, are extant — has been preserved.
Robert Glover, a gentleman in the diocese of Lichfield and Coventry,
was burned for religion, along with Cornelius Bungey, a capper of
Coventry, "about the 2Oth day of September, 1555," according to
Foxe. A long account of his martyrdom in Foxe's Acts and Monuments
(ed. Townsend, VII., 384-399) makes him out to have been quite as
lovable and courageous as does the ballad. He is given prominence i^i
the Reverend Thomas Brice's metrical Register * of the martyrs (1559),
where the day of his death is said to be September 19 : —
September 19 When Glover, and Cornelius
Were fiercely brent at Coventry ;
4 When Wolsay and Pigot, for Christ Jesus
At Ely, felt like cruelty.
19 When the poor bewept Master Glover's death,
We wished for our Elizabeth.
Robert Bott, the author of the ballad, who describes himself as god
father to Glover's youngest son, devotes most of his lines to eulogizing
the martyr and advising the widow ; but in stanzas 49-63 there is an
account of Glover's arrest, imprisonment, and trial. Several stanzas
appear to have been omitted after stanza 6 1 . This is disappointing,
because Bott seems to have planned to tell how the day of Glover's
burning was set by divine intervention, " not by chance." There is
nothing of this in Foxe. Laurence Saunders, mentioned in stanza 61,
was a learned preacher, who, after being imprisoned " a whole year and
three months," was burned at Coventry on February 8, 1555. Foxe
gives a full account of his martyrdom, as well as verses from " Laurence
!See Arber's English Garner, IV., 158.
c 33
O LORD, THOU GOD OF ISRAEL
Saunders to his Fellow-Prisoners in the Prison of the Marshalsea," and
remarking that he went " with a merry courage towards the fire," com
pares him to St. Laurence. This remarkable ballad should i be compared
with the even more remarkable ballad on the Catholic martyr, John
Thewlis (No. 1 3), that follows it.
I
a ballati concefnpnge ttie fceatt) of mr.
Robart glover, tttptOnC tO map0ttf0
marye glover, 1)10 ttpf, Of a frmD Of font*.
O lord, thou god of Israeli,
to the[e] I macke my mone ;
In my distrese and miserye,
I pray the[e] helpe me sone.
For why, my hart is so oppreste
with sorowe and wyth payne,
[So] that except thou helpe me nowe
[I] shall not long remayne.
[3]
When I considere with my selfe
the death of my deare frend,
Which in coventrye was burnt of lat[e],
no reste my hart can fynd.
w
Robart glovere his name it was,
yf you will liste to knowe,
A mane of lernyng excellent,
to antechryste a foo.
[Title] of a frend of heres : read by a friend of hers.
[ i ] 4 sone : MS. some ?
[4] 3 a mane : one word in MS.
34
O LORD, THOU GOD OF ISRAEL
[5]
Which evere loved godlynes
in all his wordes and dedes,
As it appered in hys end
in gevyng vpe his sprites.
[6]
What stedfastnes, what manfuli[ness],
he showed at his deathe
(A numbre ther cann witnes bay[r]),
in all his moste distrese.
O Coventry e, thou wickede towne,
which haste spylt this man's blood,
That was moste giltles in his lyfe,
in chryste to all mene good.
[8]
Macke haste, amend thy lyf with spede,
or els thou wylt be shent ;
The plages of god will fall on the[e],
except thou doo repent.
[9]
O glover dear, happye thou arte
that thou haste paste this lyfe,
Whear I am lafte to se the paynes
of thy childrene and wyf !
[10]
£Th]ear wippynge and ther waylynge sore
[fjor the[e] both day and night,
[7] 4 mene : read men.
[10] I wippynge : i.e. weeping.
35
O LORD, THOU GOD OF ISRAEL
The[y] fill my hart (that is appreste)
[w]ythe heavynes and syght.
[»] SKjM I||
When I call to rememberaunce
the tendre love whych thou
Dedste bear to me, vnfanedlye,
and with thy dedes dedeste showe,
.
I am appreste with heavynes,
so that I cannot fynde
No reste nor quyit for my hart,
nor also for my mynd.
[13]
Therfore to god I macke my mon[e],
desyerynge hys comfort,
Yet to lament I cannot chose,
my great lose of this sort.
But nowe to you whom he hath [left]
be-hynd hym in this world, —
That is his wyfe and childr[en],
of whom I well be bolde, —
[15]
To tell you without all vayne[ty]
that god your hosband is,
A father swe[e]t, without desete,
in all your myseries.
i o] 4 syght : evidently means sighes.
ii
H
4 dedeste : read didst.
2 desyerynge : I.e. desiring ; 3 yet : read but, meaning except..
3 children : read childeren ; 4 well : read will.
3 desete : i.e. deceit.
O LORD, THOU GOD OF ISRAEL
[16]
To you, therfore, dear maysterese,
whom I doo reverence,
Bothe in my mynd and in my hart,
dpo showe my full pretence ;
Desyerynge you, in godes behalf e,
your sorowe to forgett ;
Cheryshe your hart with godes word,
whear comfort you shall gett.
[18]
[Co]nsydre well the cause for which
[yo]ur hosband ded depart
[This] worlde and so from all worldly thynge,-
[bec]ause of godes reward,
[19]
[Whi]ch is promysed in his worde
to all them that doo professe
His holy name and gosple dear,
which he dothe nowe possese.
[20]
Reioyse, therfore, in godes behalfe,
so fare as nature will bear ;
And doo not morne as hethene doo,
which are wrapt in despayre.
[21]
Praypare your selfe in hart and myfnd]
to goo his stepes allway,
[ 1 7] 3 godes : read god his.
[18] 3 omit so ; thynge : read thynges.
37
O LORD, THOU GOD OF ISRAEL
The which he went to heaven's blis[s], —
then shall you not decaye.
[22] . :' ••'..' I
Doo nott forgett his wernynges g[ood]
and admo-nisions swett,
Which he gave you out of godes bo[ok],
which was all his delyte.
. [23]
Call to remembrance for your [sins]
yf anye you have doone,
And aske godes pardon with all spede,
with syighinge and wythe groone.
[24]
Prepare your hart to bear your chrose
for cbryste and his gosple,
The which, trullye, will folowe you,
as scripture dothe vs tell.
[25]
[Bojthe fleshe and pleasuers of the same
in sprit do you withstande ;
Soo shall you fynd without delay
his good and helpynge hand.
[26]
[In] prayer be fervente and ofte
[to] god macke all your mone,
[His] helpe desyar moste instantly e,
[then s]hall you fynd it soone.
[22] 2 swett : i.e. sweet ; 3 omit you ; godes : nWgod-es0r god his.
[24] I chrose : i.e. cross.
[26] I fervente: read fer-vi-ente.
O LORD, THOU GOD OF ISRAEL
[AJbhore paprye ; to god doo cleve ;
[d]efyle not you your selfe
Wyth wicked doctryne ; tacke no hed
to all your warily pelfe.
[28]
Have your delyt in christ allways,
and marke his godlye will ;
Soo will he be your helper true
and gued you ever styll.
[29]
His word see that you not neglec[t] ;
butt in his gosple deare
Lett all- ways your pleasuer be,
soo shall you then be suer.
[30]
To your howsholde tacke good hed,
gyd them in godlynes,
Which are att your governynge, —
kype them from wickednes.
[31]
Your neglygence in that behalf e
God will punishe it selfe ;
Be-wayre, therfore, and sycke his love
above all warldlye pelfe.
[27] i papyre : i.e. papistry, Popery ; 4 warily : i.e. worldly,
[28] 4 gued : i.e. guide.
[29] 2 deare : read pure ; 3 all-ways : perhaps always all.
[31] 3 sycke : i.e. seek.
39
O LORD, THOU GOD OF ISRAEL
Consydre offt with-in your hart
the treasuer whych you have
Of god, in all your chyldren dear, —
from syne see the[y] be save.
[33]
In godlynes and vertue puere,
see that you teache them all ;
So that the[y] may, an other day,
be free from devylles thrall.
[34]
[IJnstructe them in the laus of god,
[n]or let them not forgett
[Th?] ensample of ther father swe[e]t,
[be]for ther eyes that sett.
[35]
Reherse to them, without all vayn,
his vertues great and puer ;
Teach them to folowe hym allways, —
from yll shall the[y] be suer.
[36]
His lernynge and his godlynes,
his eloquence soo greatt,
His godlye lyfe, his gentelnes,
in england which are spred,
[37]
His wisdome and experience,
his counsells wythout vayne,
That no man yet that godly [is]
nor shall ever disdayn.
i [3 6] 4 spred : Faulty rhyme here.
4o
O LORD, THOU GOD OF ISRAEL
[38]
In daungers and callamityes,
manfull without dispayre ;
In god put he all confydens,
as no man ded ells whear ;
[39]
In paciens, he may to all
a teacher be ryght well ;
Agaynste the lord for he ded not,
nor ever woulde, rebell.
.
His sicknes, which he had longe tym,
coulde never macke hym shrynke
From god, his lord ; but ever ded
spaycke well of hym and thyncke.
He had delyte to rede and spacke
the gosple, puer and clayne,
To everye man, bothe highe and low ;
no mane he ded disdayne.
[4*] _
He had great pleasuer in the pore,
[to] helpe them in distrese,
[Than] anye man in england ded, —
[no] man can say no leasse.
[43]
[The] callynge and estat he ded
applye accordynglye,
To which god had appoynted hym,
as in his end you see.
[41] i spacke : read speak ; 4 no mane : one word in MS.
41
O LORD, THOU GOD OF ISRAEL
[44]
He ded with ryght vnfanede love
embrace you, his dear wyfe ;
For your sacke he coulde have bine
content to losse his lyfe.
[45]
His childrene he ded love so muche
as anye man elles whear ;
In godlynes brought he them vp,
so longe as he was heare.
,
His fethfull harte towardes his fre[nds]
no man ought to forgett ;
His lyberall mynd and hart so ky[nd]
to them whych weare in debt.
[47]
His reverent behavyore
to them which weare in giftes
And lerny[n]ge, also, excelent, —
he would have them in syghtt.
[48]
He was not met to tarrye hear
in this moste wicked warld,
When his tym cam, at Coventry
ther was he bought and sold.
[49]
The sheryffe ther layd hand on him ;
full meckelye he ded bear
[44] 3 sacke : i.e. sake ; 4 losse : i.e. lose,
[47] i behavyore : i.e. behav-i-or.
[48] i met : read mete.
42
O LORD, THOU GOD OF ISRAEL
The crosse of cbryst, for why, he knew
[th]at he sholde leve els-whear.
[50]
The[y] kept him in the prison ther,
agaynste all lauwes and ryght ;
Full wickedly the[y] ded off ende
the lord, him selfe, of myght.
[so
The busshope, att his commyng ther,
sent for him out of hand,
Intendyng hym to bring from christ ; —
manfully he ded stand
Agaynste the busshope and his trayne,
agaynste ther masse so vayne,
Ther tromperye and paperye,
he ded dispyse moste playne.
[S3]
The bosshope, beinge moved then
with his boldnes and his sprit,
To lychefyld he ded sende hym th[ere]
with great disdayne and spyte.
[54]
What trouble, what great my[series],
the[y] ded showe vnto hym
In his impriso[n]ment so longe.
O lord, forgive ther syne !
[51] i busshope: i.e. bishop.
[52] 3 papeiye : i.e. Popery.
[53] * bosshope : i.e. bishop.
43
O LORD, THOU GOD OF ISRAEL
[55]
From tyme to tyme he ded disp[ute]
with them that sought his blode,
Agaynste ther masse and papish dr[ove],-
in lernynge he was goo<~
[56]
The day of condempnacion
then being comm att hand,
Full manfully and lernedlye
aganst them all ded stand.
[57]
The busshope and his schapplens all
ther lernyng ded thene fayll,
No ansure the[y] coulde macke to hym,
therfore the[y] fell to rayll.
[58]
[With] wickednes and lyes foulle,
[they] ded withstande his worde,
Which he spacke in godes behalfe —
[God] will distroye ther sword.
[59]
Moste cherfullye and merelly,
without all tremlynge feare,
Ded he reseve ther sentence ther,
as men cane witnes bear.
The day of execution
and his deleverance
[57] I schapplens: i.e. chaplains.
[58] i lyes : read\y&> full.
[59] i merelly : i.e. merrily ; 4 cane
44
i.e. can.
O LORD, THOU GOD OF ISRAEL
Att coventrye appoyntted was
by god, and not be chance.
For ther suffred not long before
a man of good halase,
His fethfull frende and brother treu,
Sandars he namede was.
Too tell you nowe, my dear mary,
the maner of his deathe,
And his vnfaned hartenes
and hope in christe with feathe,
[63]
It nedethe not, for why, all men
which wear with him presentt
Canne bear recorde that never man
to dye so was content.
Butt that I wishe moste hartely
be not to[o] slacke nor slowe,
By his deathe to teche your sons
to god to stand in awe ;
[65]
To folowe, with all godlynes,
ther father's lyfe and deathe ;
The which wilbey the beste tresuer
the[y] may reseve on earthe.
[61] 2 good halase : perhaps God, alas !
[62] i too : i.e. to ; 4 feathe : i.e. faith.
[65] 3 wilbey : i.e. will be.
45
O LORD, THOU GOD OF ISRAEL
[66]
[I]n syence and in l^rnyng good
god grant the[y] may excell,
To helpe to teache the flocke of god
Antecbriste to expelL
[67]
Moste instan[t]lye I doo requear,
forgett not that same chylde,
Tymothye glover , yonge in age, —
the lordes will be fullfild !
[68]
For him to care above the rest,
my dutye doth requear ;
Beinge the yongest of them all,
also my good-sonne dear.
[69]
My prear is, and shalbey soo
so longe as I doo leve,
To god, my lord, to kepe them all
and you, his f eathfull wyfe.
[70]
Thus fare you well in god, the lord,
whoo graunt that you may fyn[d]
Eternall reste in heven's blys.
Amen, I say, your frynd.
JFiw0.
in $i0 sagntr 0.
W* Robart Bott.
[66] I and in : MS. and is.
[68] 4 good-sonne : i.e. godson.
[69] i prear : i.e. pray-er.
46
.8 •:;,;—;
Some men for sudden joy do weep
Sloane MS., 1896, fols. n-i2v. No sketch of John Careless, a
Coventry weaver who occupied a place of honour and friendship among
the martyrs of Queen Mary's reign, appears in the Dictionary of National
Biography ; but a great deal of information about his life is given in
Foxe's Act* and Monuments, while twenty-two of his letters have been
preserved. The latter were first printed in Bishop Miles Coverdale's
Certain most godly, fruitful, and comfortable letters of such true Saintes and
holy Martyrs of God, as . . . gaue their lyues for the defence ofChristes holy
gospel, 1564 ; this work was reprinted by Edward Bickersteth, London,
1837. At the end of the letters, Coverdale remarks : " Because he maketh
mention in the former letter and other heretofore, of the most godlye
and Christian conflictes which he had susteyned, we thought good to
adioyne hereto this swete and heauenly exercise followyng, whereby it
may appeare what fruite these conflictes wroughte in hys most godly and
Christian conscience." He then prints a version (A.) of the ballad given
below. To this poem Thomas Nashe referred in a letter to William
Cotton (Works, ed. McKerrow, V., 196) : "well some men for sorrow
singe as it is in the ballet of lohn Carelesse in the booke of martirs, & I
am mery whe[n] I haue nere a penny in my purse."
Long before that time, however, this " sweet and heavenly exercise "
had begun to be printed and sung as a ballad. As early as October 8,
1583, a ballad called "A Declaration of the death of John Lewes" (see
No. 9) was written " To the tune of John Carelesse" and " Sortie men
for suddaine joyes doe weepe " is the tune of " The Confession of a
Penitent Sinner" (Roxburghe Ballads, III., 168). "A ballad of John
Careles, &c.," was licensed for publication on August I, 1586, "John
Carelesse " on December 14, 1624, and " Sir John Careles " on February
9, 1635, — all undoubtedly broadside versions of the ballad preserved in
the Certain Letters and the Sloane MS.
Nashe refers to it a second time in Have With Tou to Saffron Walden,
1596 (Works, III., 104), where he says of Barnaby Barnes's Divine
Century of Spiritual Sonnets : " such another deuice it is as the godly
Ballet of lohn Carelesse, or the Song of Greene sleeues moralized." The
first two lines are quoted in Shakespeare's King Lear (I., iv. 168) and in
Hey wood's Rape of Lucrece (Dramatic Works, 1874, ^., 179).
The MS. copy probably represents closely the ballad as it appeared in
printed broadside form, but all the variants between it and A. are given
47
SOME MEN FOR SUDDEN JOY DO WEEP
in the footnotes. Four stanzas of A. are, it will be observed, omitted
in the MS. A. ends with the words, " Continue constant in Christ
q[uoth] Careles."
Careless is named in the Reverend Thomas Brice's interminable verse
Register of the Martyrs (Arber's English Garner, IV., 158), where a
marginal date places his death on June 25, 1556.
a go&lp ano tortuous 0onge or 'Battaue,
ma&e bp t^e constant member of
John Careiesse, being in pri0an in
hinge* benche for pwfe00ing ft
ttfjae, enning tits t>ape0 tberin, toa0
ttjrotten out anti burpeti mo0t 3igno=
miniou0lp bpon a tiongtuU, bp
anuer0arpe0 of goDe0 tuortie,
Some men for sodayne joye do wepe,
and some in sorrowe synge ;
When as they are in daunger depe,
to put away mournyng.
_
Betwene them both will I begyn,
being in joye and payne ;
With sighing to lament my synne,
and yet reioyce againe.
[3]
My synfull lyfe doth still encrease,
my sorrowes are the more ;
From wickednesse I cannot cease,
woe is my heart therfore.
[i] 3 as ... are : that they lie (A.}.
[2] 3 with : In (A.) ; 4 and : But (A.).
[3] 2 sorrowes are : sorow is (A.).
48
SOME MEN FOR SUDDEN JOY DO WEEP
W
Sometyme when I thincke to doe well,
and serve god night and day ;
My wicked nature doth rebell,
and leadeth me astray,
[si :; "
As bond and captive vnto synne,
which grieveth me full sore ;
This misery doe I lyve in,
woe is my heart therfore.
[6]
Indede, sometymes I doe repent
and pardon doe obtayne ;
But yet, alas ! incontinent,
I fall to synne againe.
I [7]
My corrupt nature is so ill,
offending more and more ;
That I displease my lord god still,
woe is my hart therfore.
I [8]
Woe is my hart, woe is my mynde,
woe is my soule and spirit ;
That to my god I am vnkynde,
in whome I should delight.
His love alwayes I should regard,
which towardes me was pure ;
[6] i some tymes : sometyme
[8] 2 spirit : read sprite (A.).
[9] 2 towardes : towarde (A.}.
49
SOME MEN FOR SUDDEN JOY DO WEEP
With synne and vice I him reward,
oh most vnkynde creature !
[10]
The beast, the bird, the fishe, the foule,
their maker doe obey ;
But I which am a lyving soule,
am farre more worse then they.
For they, according to their kynde,
doe serve god nyght and day ;
But I, alas, with hart and mynde,
offend him many wayes.
Thus doe I sore complayne of synne,
and with king David wepe ;
For I doe feele, my hart with-in,
the wrath of god full depe.
[13]
To heaven myne eyes I dare not lyft,
against it I haue trespast ;
And in the earth I fynde no shift
nor succor that may last.
What shall I doe ? shall I dispayre,
and from my saviour slyde ?
[9] 3 With . . . I : But I wyth synne do
[10] 3 which : that (A.) ; 4 more : much
[ 1 1 ] 2 To seme -him do not cease (4.) ; 3 alas with : wyth sinful!
.) ; 4 Do daily him displease
[i 3] 4 may: can
SOME MEN FOR SUDDEN JOY DO WEEP
Noe, god forbid, ther is noe feare,
syth Christ hath for me dyed.
God became man, and for vs men
he dyed and rose againe ;
His mercy greate we may se[e], then,
for ever doth remayne.
[16]
Therfore, my synnes I will confesse
to god and mourning make ;
He will forgeue the same, doubtlesse,
for his sonne Christ his sake.
,
If synne in me god should respecte,
then doe I knowe full well,
His justice would me sone reiect
doune to the pit of hell.
[18]
His glorious eyes could not abyde
my fowlle and fylthy smoke ;
Wherwith I am one euery syde,
couered as with a cloke.
But christ in me doth he behold,
in whome he doth so delight,
[ 1 6] I synnes : sinne (^.) ; 3 He : who (^.) ; 4 Christ his
Jhristes
[17] 4 doune to the : To the deepe
[18] i could : can (A.) ; 2 my : the (A.) ; 3 one : read on
£19] i Christ ... he : he in Christ doth me (A.) ; 2 omit so
51
SOME MEN FOR SUDDEN JOY DO WEEP
That myne offences manyfold,
he doth release them quyte ;
[20] ^ , ^
Reputing me amonge the iust,
forgeving all my synne ;
Therfore, my faythfull hope and trust
shall ever be in hym.
. m
[21]
O lord, encrease true fayth in me,
thy good spirit to me geue ;
That by the fayth I haue in the[e],
I may both love and lyve
[22]
In true obedience to thy will,
and thanckefullnes of heart ;
And with thy grace so guyde me still,.
that I never depart
From thy true word and testament,,
all the dayes of my lyfe ;
Nor from thy churche most innocent
thine owne true spouse and wife.
[But from that filthy whore of Rome
Lord kepe me euermore ;
[19] 4 he ... them : Through him releaseth (A.).
[20] i amonge : amongest (A.) ; 3 faythfull hope and : faith, my
hope, my (A.).
[21] 3 That I may grow in loue toward thee (A.) ; 4 And euer seeke
to Hue (A.).
[22] i to : of (A.).
[24] i Stanzas 24-27 added from At
52
1 SOME MEN FOR SUDDEN JOY DO WEEP
As gratiously thou hast yet done,
Thankes be to thee therfore.
[25]
And sith thou haste of thy goodnes
Forgeuen me all my sinne,
Stre»gth me thy truth for to cofffesse,
And boldly die therin.
[26]
That as I haue confessed thec
Before the wicked sort,
thou maiest in thy good time know me,
To my ioy and comfort.
• l>7]
My soule returne vnto thy reste,
Thou art wel satisfied ;
The Lord hath graunted thy request,
And nothyng thee denied.]
". [*»]
Praysed be god, the father of might,
praysed be thou, o christ ;
Praysed be thou, o holy spirite,
thre[e] in one god most highest.
[28] I Praysed : Prayse (4.) ; 2, 3 praysed be thou : Praise be to
| thee (A.) ; 3 spirite : read sprite
53
9 |
Shall silence shroud such sin
Printed from a unique black-letter broadside in the Library of th(
Society of Antiquaries, London. The sheet has three columns enclosed
in a light ornamental border. There is one rude woodcut, representing
Lewes tied to the stake ; it has been reproduced in Lemon's Catalogue
of Broadsides, p. 26. The ballad was not entered in the Stationers'
Registers.
All historians who, presumably, would have been interested in this
metrical account of John Lewes have overlooked it. The earliest of
these is Fuller, who in his Church History of Britain (ed. J. S. Brewer, V.,
72) wrote : —
We must not forget how, this year [1584], one John Lewes was burnt at
Norwich for denying the Godhead of Christ, and holding other detestable
heresies. He called himself " Abdoit " (let him tell you what he meant thereby),
alluding therein to the promise of a new name, •which no man knoiueth but him that
recelveth it [see Revelations ii. 17] ; having in it a little mock-Hebrew, to make
himself the more remarkable.
According to Brewer, " the original draught of the significavit for his
burning is still preserved among the Sarum MSS. in the Bodleian."
Fuller's date, 1 584, is repeated in all histories of Norfolk, but undoubtedly
is incorrect : there is every reason for accepting the date given in the
ballad. In his Annals (ed. 1615, p. 697) John Stow gives the date as \
September 17, 1583.
Lewes was a victim of a religious intolerance seldom referred to in the I
histories of the Elizabethan period. His "detestable opinions" now I
form a part of the creed of the Unitarian Church. There were both I
predecessors and successors at Norwich to Lewes's martyrdom. Thus I
on May 20, 1579, Matthew Hamount was burned for having said that I
" the New Testament and Gospel of Christ is but mere foolishness, a I
mere fable ; that Christ is not God or the Saviour of the world, but a
mere man, a shameful man, and an abominable idol ; that he did not
rise again from death or ascend unto Heaven ; that the Holy Ghost is
not God ; and that baptism is not necessary, nor the sacrament of the
body and blood of Christ." (Victoria History of 'Norfolk ', II., 275 ; cf.
Stow's Annals, 1615, p. 685.) In 1588 a clergyman, Francis Ket,
was burned for having expressed " divers detestable opinions against
Christ our Saviour" (R. H. Mason, History of Norfolk, 1884, p. 401).
Apart from the merits of the case and the attitude of the ballad-
54
SHALL SILENCE SHROUD SUCH SIN
writer, the reader's sympathy will naturally be with Lewes, With
startling na'ivett the poet unwittingly presents a picture of a man resolute
in his views and beliefs even unto death, — a man whose courage is far
more admirable than the piety of his judges. The grotesque travesty on
Christian charity by which preachers are described as using persuasion,
almost force, to drag a confession of faith from their victim before
thrusting him in the flames was often duplicated in England under both
Catholic and Protestant rulers.
It seems a bit ironical that the ballad is directed to be sung to the
tune of John Careless, — to the tune (itself unknown) of the ballad (No. 8)
directly preceding.
The Biblical quotations appear to have been made from one of the
editions of the Geneva Bible.
a Declaration of tyt Deatt) of hbn
a most Detestable anD obstinate
ticfee, burneD at Norwich, ttie Ftoiii Dape
Of September, 1583. aftflUt t&m flf flje
clocfee in ttje after noone.
To the tune of lohn Carelesse.
Math. x. vers. 33.
He that denieth me before men, I will denle him before my Father which
is in Heauen.
loan.1 17. 3.
This is eternall life, that they know thee to be the very only true God, and
him whome thou hath sent, lesus Christ.
lohn. 3. 1 8.
He that beleeueth in him shall not be condemned : but hee that beleeueth not,
is condemned already, because hee beleeueth not in the name of the only begotten
sonne of God.
Shall silence shrowde such sinne,
as Sathan seemes to showe
Euew in his impes, in these our dayes,
that all men might it knowe ?
1 loan : read John.
55
SHALL SILENCE SHROUD SUCH SIN
No, no, it cannot be ;
but such as loue the Lorde,
With heart and voyce, will him confesse,
and to his word accord.
[3]
And do not as this Deuill did,
though shape of man he bare ;
Denying Christ, did silence keepe
at death, deuoyde of care.
.
Yet did this wretch, most wickedly
(lohn Lewes, who to name),
Full bouldly speake, and brutishly
God's glorie to defame,
[5]
In presence of those Persons which
were learned, wise, and graue,
That wisht in heart, with weeping teares,
repentance he would craue.
[6]
But he, dispising reuerence
to Prince or any state,
Not them regardes, but vsed tearmes
as ech had beene his mate.
[7]
For he did thou each wight the which,
with him had any talke ;
Thus did his tong most deuilis[h]ly
with defamie still walke.
[7] i thou : read thus.
56
SHALL SILENCE SHROUD SUCH SIN
[8]
But when that no perwasion might
procure him to relent,
Then Judgement did, by Justice right,
vnto his death consent.
[9] ;
That he should burned be to death,
this Justice did awarde ;
Now marke what after did insue,
and therto haue regarde.
[10]
The time then of his death being come,
which was the eighteene daye
Of September, in eightie three, —
this wretch wrought his decaye.
For when he to the place was brought
where he his life should ende,
He forced was a time to stay,
a Sermon to perpende.
[12]
The which was preached by the Deane
of Norwich, in such wise,
Which well might mooue ech sinful soule
from seat of sinne to rise.
[13]
He, like a tender Father, did
geue documents most pure
Unto this wretch as to his childe,
from ill him to procure.
[n] 4 perpende = ponder over, consider.
57
SHALL SILENCE SHROUD SUCH SIN
[14]
But all in vaine, this varlet vylde
his doctrin did detest ;
For when he spake of Christ, God's Son,
he made therat a iest.
[IS]
And smilingly his face wold turne
from Preachers present there,
Which argued that he neuer stood
of God or man in feare.
[16]
When that the Sermon drew to ende,
then did the Deane desire
Him that he would fall on his knees,
and God's mercie require.
[17]
But still he stood as any stone,
not liftyng hand or eye,
Unto the Heauews, which shew'd his hart
to God was nothing nie.
[18]
The Shryfe, thew, strikes him on the brest,
wishing him to returne ;
Yea, Gentlewomen, two or three,
before he went to burne,
[19]
Would seeme to pull him on his knees,
his sinnes for to confesse,
[14] i vylde = vile.
[18] i Shryfe : Sir William Heydon was Sheriff in 1583 (R. H.
Mason's History o/Norfott, 1884, p. 535).
58 '
SHALL SILENCE SHROUD SUCH SIN
But he full stoutly stood therein,
not meaning nothing lesse.
[20]
From preaching place vnto the stake,
they straight did him conuaye,
Where preachers two or three him wyld
vnto the Lorde to praye,
[21]
And Christ our Sauiour to confesse
both God and man to be ;
That soule and body, by true faith
in him, might be set free
[22]
From Sathan, who had him in houlde ; —
but he not this regarde,
As countinance his did shew full plaine,
for why, no worde was harde
That he did speake ; but like a dogge,
did end his dayes with shame,
Not bending knee, hand, hart, or tong,
to glorifie God's name.
For though that diuers Preachers than,
both Godly, graue, and wise,
Did hope (in heart) to win this man,
yet all would not suffise.
[24] i than : read then.
59
SHALL SILENCE SHROUD SUCH SIN
For not one worde that they could get,
what so they did or sayde,
Till one that was right earnest set,
by these wordes him assayde : —
" If that thou doest not lesus Christ,
God's onely Sonne confesse,
Both God and Man, and hope in him
for thy saluation, doubtlesse,
[27]
" As sure as now thou shalt be burnt
before vs here at Stake,
So sure in Hell thou shalt be burnt,
in that inf email lake."
[28]
Quoth he, " thou liest," and no more words
at all this Caytife sayd ;
Nor no repentant signe would show,
which made vs all dismayde.
And when the fire did compasse him
about on euery side,
The people lookt he then would speake,
and therfore lowde they cryed :
[30]
" Now call on christ to saue thy soule ;
now trust in Christ his death."
But all in vaine, no wordes he spake,
but thus yeeldes vp his breath.
60
SHALL SILENCE SHROUD SUCH SIN
Oh wofull state, oh daunger deepe,
that he was drowned in ;
Oh graunt vs, God, for Christ his sake,
we fall not in such sinne.
And we that thinke wee stand in faith
so firme, Lorde let it be
To thee, thy Sonne, and holy Ghoste, —
one God in Persons three.
TH. GILBART.
Aue morta nonfa mele.
Rom. 14. 9.
For Christ therfore dyed and rose againe and reuiued, that he might be.
Lord both of the dead and the quicke.
2. Corin. 5. 21.
For he hath made him to be sinne (for vs) which knewe no sinne : that wee
should be made the righteousnes of God, in him.
Coloss. i. 15. 1 6.
Who is the image of the inuisible God, the first begotten of euery creature*
For by him were all things created which are in Heauen and Earth, thinges
visible and inuisible, &c.
Imprinted at London by Richard lones,
dwelling neere Holbourne Bridge.
October. 8.
6r
I
10
Good subjects of England, rejoice
and be glad
Reprinted from the unique black-letter broadside in the Library of
the Society of Antiquaries, London (Lemon's Catalogue of Broadsides,
p. 26). It is printed in two columns enclosed in a heavy ornamental
border. There are no cuts ; but the first line begins with a large
ornamental block-letter, and similar block-letters, spelling the name
" Ed Campion," separate the columns.
The author of the ballad was probably the celebrated Smithfield bard,
William Elderton. A true reporte of the death and martyrdome of M.
Campion, 1581, states definitely that Elderton had written at least one
ballad on this subject : —
Fonde Elderton, call in thy foolish rime,
thy scurile balates are to bad to sell ;
let good men rest, and mende thy self in time,
confesse in prose thon hast not meetred well ;
or, if thy folly can not choose but fayne,
write alehouse toys, blaspheme not in thy vain.
Antony Munday, who had been instrumental in the capture and con
demnation of the three priests, replied to this book with a bigoted
parody called A breefe Aunswer made vnto two seditious Pamphlets, the one
printed in French and the other in English, containing a defence of Edmund
Campion and his complices, their moste horrible and vnnaturall Treasons against
her Maiestie fcf the Realme, where the stanza corresponding to that just
quoted runs : —
Yea, Elderton dooth deskant in his rime,
The high offences of such gracelesse men,
Which causeth him to yrke at euerie crime,
And gainst their treasons to prouide his pen :
Yet not without wisedome and modestie,
To warne all other that liue wickedlie.
(See the convenient reprint of these poems in Furnivall and Morfill's
Ballads from MSS. II., 170, 183).
No other ballad on Campion is preserved in print. Curiously, too,
none was licensed, or at least entered in the Register, at Stationers' Hall.
The only recorded title that seems to be that of a ballad is " master
Campion the seditious Jesuit is welcome to London/' a work registered
62
GOOD SUBJECTS REJOICE AND BE GLAD
on July 24, 1581. This was evidently an account of the arrest of
Campion, Sherwin, and Brian. Captured in Berkshire on July 22,
Campion was carried through the streets of London to the Tower with
his elbows tied behind his back, his hands tied in front of his body, his
feet tied under the horse's belly, and with a placard inscribed " Campion
the seditious Jesuit " fastened on his hat. He was twice tortured, was
tried for treason on November 20, and was executed on December I.
By an extraordinary innovation the ballad emphasizes the statement that
the priests were condemned for treason, "not for their religion, as
Papists persuade " (stanza 4). Hallam, however, has declared that " the
prosecution was as unfairly conducted, and supported by as slender
evidence, as any, perhaps, that can be found in our books." The most
complete and judicious account of the priest is given in Richard
Simpson's Edmund Campion, a Biography, 1867; see also Ballads from
MSS., II., 157 ff.
The following passages from Stow's Annah (1615, p. 694) give
specific facts and dates that apply to the ballad, though discrepancies in
names will be noticed : —
"On the 1O. of Nouember [1581], Edm. Champion lesuit, Ralfe Sherivine, Lucas
Kerbie, Edivard Rishton, Thomas Coteham, Hcnric Orton, Robert lohnson, and lames
Bosgraue, were brought to the high bar at Westminster, where they were seuerally,
and all together indicted vpon high treason, for that contrary both to loue and
dutie, they forsooke their natiue countrey, to Hue beyond the seas vnder the Popes
obedience, as at Rome, Rheimes, and diuerse other places, where (the pope hauing
with other princes practised the death and depriuation of our most gracious
princesse, and vtter subuersion of her state and kingdome, to aduance his most
abhominable religion) these menne hauing vowed their alleagiance to the pope,
to obey him in all causes whatsoeuer, being there, gaue their consent, to ayd him
in this most trayterous determination. And for this intent and purpose they
were sent ouer to seduce the harts of her maiesties louing subjects, and to conspire
and practise her graces death, as much as in them lay, against a great date, set &
appoynted, when the generall hauocke should be made, those onely reserued that
ioyned with them. This laid to their charge, they boldly denied, but by a iurie
they were approoued guiltie, and had Judgement to bee hanged, bowelled, and
quartered.
"The first of December, Ednond Champion lesuit, Ralfe Sherivine, and Alexander
Brian seminary priests, were drawne from the tower of London to Tyborne, &
there hanged, bowelled & quartered."
"On the l8. day of May [1582], Thomat Ford, lohn Shert, & Robert Johnson
priests, . . . were drawne from the Tower to Tiborne,and there hanged, bowelled,
& quartered.
" And on the 30. Luke Kirby, William Filby, Thomas Cottam,*nd Laurence Richardson,
were for the like treason in the same place likewise executed."
The ballad was printed shortly after the first execution of December I .
GOOD SUBJECTS OF ENGLAND
a criump^ for true subiectg, ant) a
Cerrour tonto al €raitour0: T5p tyt
example of tty late Deatlj of Edmund
Campion, Ralpbe Sberwin^ atll) Thomas
Bryan, 3ie0uite0 anti seminarie prieste0:
0ufferet) at cpburne, on JFriDap,
fir0t Dave of December,
anno Domini 1581.
GOOD Subiectes of ENGLAN£>E, reioyce and be glad ;
Gyue glorie to God — with humble knees downe ! —
That Campion the Traytour his hyre hath now had,
Who sought for to spoyle our queene and her Crowne ;
And all vnder colour of Jesuits' profession,
To perswade the Queenes Subiects to their own destruc
tion.
Therfore vnto God for our Queene let vs pray,
That the Lorde may preserue her lyfe many a day.
H And it was not he only that went thus about,
Under cloake of Hipocrisie Subiects' harts to bring
down ;
But sundrie Seducers (his Associates) founde out,
That sought for to spoyle the Realme and the Crowne ;
Sent in by the Pope, Saunders, Allen, and sutche,
[Title] Thomas : in an old handwriting this name is scratched out
and the correct name of " Alexander " substituted.
[2] 5 Saunders : on the suspected activities of Dr. Saunders in Ireland
see Bishop Challoner's Martyrs to the Catholic Faith, 1878 ed., I., 46, 6cv
68, 105 ; Allen : i.e. Dr. (afterward Cardinal) William Allen, who-
founded the seminaries abroad for the education of English priests.
REJOICE AND BE GLAD
Who at England** happy state most trayterously grutch ;
Which sort God reuealed with their trayterous intent,
For what cause was their comyng, & who had them
sent.
11 Their cruell Conspyracie at Rome was deuised,
And the lyke at Rheims agreed vpon ;
And that they were Authors, it was manifestly prooued,
And Styrrers, of late, in the Irysh Rebellion.
And now were fully purposte in Englande agayne
To rayse new Rebellion, as prooued was playne,
To the great endaungeryng of the Realme and the
State,
But Goddes name be praysed, their deuices are
frustrate ;
W
11 And they apprehended and iustly condempned,
Not for their Religion, as Papistes perswade,
But for haynous hie Treason whiche they did and in
tended ;
Neither were they endicted on the Acte lately made,
But by an auncient olde statute, made long tyme agoe,
As by their Endictmentes the Recordes do shoe.
Therfore, all true Subiectes haue cause for to ioy
That God cut them off whiche the Realme did annoy.
[si
11 If they had preuayled, as they did intende,
To rayse vp Rebellyon in Countrey and towne,
[3] 4 Rebellion : it was crushed by Lord Grey of Wilton in
November, 1580.
[4] 4 Act: the Act of 1581 here referred to is discussed in tke
Introduction, p. xix. ; 6 shoe : i.e. show.
-E 65
GOOD SUBJECTS OF ENGLAND
They had brought many a Papist vnto an yll ende,
As well as good subiectes to the Queene and the
Crowne.
For suche is their malice in thirstyng for blood,
To the one or the other they meant but small good,
As some (their late Harbourers) their acquaintance
deare bought,
To others' Example great cause they be taught.
[6]
H As the Deuyll, no doubt, set these Traytours aworke,
By the Pope's appoinctment — his Chaplayne of Rome —
Whose spight to Goddes people is worse than the Turke
In dayly enticing Christian Subiectes to come
From their naturall Prince, withdrawyng their allegeance,
And yeld it by Oath vnto his obeysance ; —
Euen so from his falshed God delyuer vs for euer,
That to his allurementes our hartes agree neuer.
[7] 1
11 Though Campion, his Captayne, did no whit forget
To put all in practise, as much as he might,
Yet the Lord to preuent him his deuices detecte,
With his other associates, and brought them to light,
To their vtter confusion, as lately was seene
By Campion and others that hanged haue beene,
Which cal'd themselues lesuits, blaspheming his name ;
But in-deed ranker Traytours in England nere came.
[8] ... .I
11 These are the Deuices that Sathan doth vse
in seekyng Goddes people eche day to deuoure ;
By many lyke meanes he doth them abuse,
as farre as God suffreth and is in his power.
[7] 7 his : i.e. His, Jesus'.
66
REJOICE AND BE GLAD
Yea, rather then fayle of his purposed spight,
He'le transforme him selfe to an Angell of light
That, if it were possible, the very Elect
With his faire Shewes of Holynesse he would infect.
[9]
If Therefore, beware of him, resist him and his Frie,
With all his illusions and showes of Hipocrisie !
What Glozes his Prophetes do bryng do you trye ;
If they bring not their warrant by God's word and
veritye,
Though they come in sheep's clothing, let their talk be
in vain ;
For rauening Wolues inwarde ye shall proue them plaine.
By their fruicts ye shal know them, the Scripture doth
tel,
Therfore, beware of them, if you wyll scape Hell.
[10]
11 They will talke so diuinely, with fancies to feede you,
And rattle out Rethorique your mindes to amaze,
With Learning and Logique theyle seeme for to lead you
Euen straight into Heauen, so graue is their grace.
Theyle make you beleue that white is fayre blacke,
Except by strong fayth ye put them quite backe ;
Th' effecte is playne treason against God and our
Queene,
As by these late Traytours well tryed hath beene.
fl" Yea, treasons playne proued, as dyuers they were,
As well in generalyte against them all
As also particuler, as nombers did heare,
[9] 7 Scripture : i.e. Matthew vii., 1 5 .
67
GOOD SUBJECTS OF ENGLAND
Gainst ech of them, seuerall, in open Court hall.
By Letters, by Lybelles, by Bulles and confession,
Were foureteene found gyltie, for all their illusion,
Beside sundry witnesses, deposed in place,
Avowde seuerall treasons, viua voce^ to their face.
ff Three of them haue suffred the Guerdon of treason, —
Not small, but as hye as the lyfe of our Queene,
Was most plainely proued, yet in their confession
No whit they acknowledged, no grace to be seene.
But euen as they lyued in treason and treachery e,
Euen so with false hearts they dyed in Hypocrisie,
Acknowledging ye Queene souerain Prince of this
Realm,
But the Pope of the Church to be head and supreame.
1F God graunt the rest grace to repent their misdeedes,
And to spend well the time they haue for to Hue,
To fly those affections which their fancy so feeds
That God of his goodnes their faults may forgiue.
God graunt them acknowledge the trueth as it is,
As well toward God, the Queene, and the Realme,
That due prayse and glory all only may be his,
Who to saue them and vs suffered death most extreame.
God blesse and preserue Elizabeth our Queene,
Most graciously to gouerne vs long time in this land>
As now twenty yeares and three shee hath beene,
And bring to confusion her foes out of hand.
Her Godly wise Counsell direct them, good Lord,
In all trueth and Justice to agree and accorde,
To roote out the Rebelles and foes of this land,
That our Queene and her subiectes in saftie maye
stand.
68
REJOICE AND BE GLAD
[IS]
From the Pope and his Chaplaynes deliuer vs, good Lord,
Of sectes and seditions that we may beware,
And not to giue eare, nor in ought to accord,
When they seeke to seduce vs in their trayterous
snare.
How soeuer they cloake it with c^aft and collusion,
It may rebound backward to their vtter confusion !
God open the eyes of our hartes for to spy
Hys trueth from all treasons, f alshoode, and villanie !
The names of the condemned Prtsonners that weare araigned with CAMPION
on Munday, the twent\\e\th of Nouember, and the rest on the Thesdaye
fillowynge, who remaine in the Tower of London, at her Maiesties pleasure,
as yet unexecuted.
lohn Bosgraue. Thomas Cotehamc. Luke Kyrbie.
Robert lohnson. Edivarde Rushton. Henric Orion.
Thomas Foord. Thomas Fi/lbie. lohn Hart.
Laivrance Richardson and Wiliidm Shert. And one
other, named lohn Colyngton, was quight by the lurie.
AT LONDON
Printed by Richarde lones, dwellinge ouer agaynst the
Faulcon, neare Holburne Bridge.
Anno. 1581.
69
II
O God, of thy great might
strengthen our frailty
Addit. MS. 15, 225, fols. 31-33.
This quite remarkable ballad was written, and evidently put into |
circulation, shortly after the events (1601) which it describes. It has
not been reprinted, but stanzas 22-24 are quoted in J. H. Pollen's
English Martyrs, p. 385. The first 21 stanzas are a mere conventional
enumeration of other glorious martyrs who have suffered patiently,
almost identical with that given in the ballad " written by Mr. Thewlis
(No. 1 2) ; but the stanzas which deal specifically with the four English
priests and the moral drawn from their execution must greatly have
strengthened the hearts of Catholic singers and readers. The estimate
of the number of priests executed in England (stanza 22) as two
hundred is not, we are told, much exaggerated.
None of the four priests was guilty of any crime, apart from his
religion. Robert Nutter, of Burnley, and Edward Thwing, of York
shire, were executed at Lancaster on July 26, 1600. Nutter's career
had been a stormy one : as early as February, I 584, according to Bishop
Challoner, he had been imprisoned in the Tower, "where he was put
down into a dungeon for seven-and-forty days, loaded with chains for
the greatest part of the time, and twice tortured, and in November
following was lodged again in the same hole, and remained there for
two months and fourteen days." He is said rather to have " despised
than conquered death," going to the gallows " with as much cheerful
ness and joy as if he had been going to a feast, to the astonishment of
the spectators." Robert Middleton was arrested on September 30,
1 600, and carried to Preston, where his examination (a report of which
is extant) was held. A rash attempt by four priests, led by Thurston
Hunt (alias Greenlowe), to rescue him, resulted in the capture of Hunt.
In November Hunt and Middleton were delivered into the hands of the
Privy Council at London, where they remained in prison until March
3, 1 60 1. They were then sent back to Lancaster, the Council having
given orders that " the legges [be] bound under the belly of the horses
they shall ryde upon and their hands behinde them," — treatment
regularly accorded to criminals. The result of the trial that followed
was, naturally enough, a sentence of death. A contemporary account
says : " They being brought to the place of execution professed their
faith very constantly and dyed very resolutely. They asked benediction
70
O GOD, STRENGTHEN OUR FRAILTY
one of another and embraced each other before they went up the
gallows. Mr Hunt was first executed, and having the corde about his
neck he gave his blessing to all Catholicks there present which were
a greate number : both executed in their cassocks. Mr Hunt hanged
til he was dead. Mr Middleton seemed to have flowen up the gallows,
he went so nembly up, and was cutte [down] alive by error, as some
think. For as soon as the rope was cutt and he began to stirre in the
butchers hands, the sheriff bid streight waies cutt of his head, and soe it
was ; and thus he being last hanged was first quartered."
Abundant information about the four priests will be found in Pollen's
English Martyrs, pp. 384-90 ; Bishop Challoner's Martyrs to the Catholic
Faith, 1878 ed., I., 251-53, 263 ; Victoria History of Lancaster, VIII.,
14, 1 6 ; Acts of the Privy Council, ed. Dasent, XXX., 751 ; XXXI.,
194, 198, 238. The four were beatified by Leo XIII. in 1886.
For the tune see Chappell's Popular Music, II., 517.
a 0onge of faitre pretefe0 ttiat 0uffereo
at Lancaster.
To the Tune of Daintie, come th:u to me.
O god, of thy great might strengthen our frailtie soe,
Stoutlie to stand in feight against our infernall foe !
Thy Campe in Order standes, where many a Champion
bould
In their victorious handes et email Tryumph hould.
Saihan sustaines the foyle, Christ gaines the victorie,
The world doth well recoile, the flesh doth faint we see.
Let vs march on amaine, Christ's Crosse be our good
speede,
Full resolu'd to sustaine what Jesus hath decreede.
- [3]
In measure of our feight, reward we beare a-way ;
Then let vs stand vpright stronglie in our aray ;
[2] I foyle = defeat.
71
O GOD OF THY GREAT MIGHT
And never be dismaide with anie adversitie,
Sith Christ, our lord, hath said : " take my Crosse,
followe mee."
Our lord is gonne before with his Crosse, rufullie
Laid on his shoulders sore, to mount of Caluarie ;
Our blessed Ladie sweete this dolfull sight did see,
With her sonne shee did meete, laden soe cruellie.
[5] m 1;
The sworde of sorrow then pearced her louinge hart.
Amongst all blessed men Christ doth his Crosse impart.
From Abell to Zacherie, the scripture telleth plaine,
By greeuous crueltie many sweete saintes were slaine.
[6]
O the seven machabees with their sweete mother deare,
The wonderful cruelties those blessed marters beare
Would throughlie foarce, I thinke, the hardest hart to
thawe ;
Yet would they never shrinke from Christ his most sacred
lawe.
.
Eich Prophet and eich saint of the Quid Testament
In hart did never faint, but with their Crosse content ;
But walked on louinglie, St. Paule did plainlie say,
That to them there might bee more joy the latter day.
[8] j
St. lohn, that Prophet great, whome Christ did soe
commend,
Reproouinge Herald's lust, whoe lewdlie did offend,
[3] 4 See St Matthew xvi., 24.
[6] 3 throughlie : i.e. thoroughly ; 4 Christ his : read Christ's.
[8] 2 Herold's : i.e. Herod's.
72
STRENGTHEN OUR FRAILTY
A wench heroldes fancie fed, soe with her dancing skill,
That saint John lost his head at a lewd woman's will.
[9]
All the Apostles deare, whose happie lot was such,
Their weightie crosses bare, for god did loue them
much : —
St. Peter principall vpon a Crosse was kil'd,
His louinge duties all to Christ were soe fulfil'd.
[10]
St. Paule, that b[l]essed wight, godes elect vessell deare,
In travell day and night his painfull Crosse did beare ;
And, as the storie saith, by the sword lost his head ;
In plantinge of Christ's faith, his sacred blood was shedd.
.
St. Andrew with godes aide, when he his Crosse did see :
" O good crosse," then he said, " welcome thou art to
mee ;
Take me with gladsome cheere, whoe long haue wisht for
thee,
For soe my sauiour deere thus hath redeemed mee ! "
Lykewyse St. James the Just, for his fidelitie,
From a Tower he was thrust, brained most cruellie ;
St. Earthlomew, also, aliue did lose his skinne,
Fleed from the top to toe, thereby godes blisse to winne.
[13]
St. Stephen, stoned to death by the Jezues feirce and fell,
Through bloodie tormentes past in endlesse joyes to dwell;
[8] 3 A wench : i.e. Salome (St Matthew xiv., 1-12).
[12] i James : i.e. the Apostle, St. James the Less, who was thrown
from the battlements of Jerusalem and stoned to death ; 3 Barthlomew :
i.e. Bartholomew ; 4 Fleed : i.e. flayed.
73
O GOD OF THY GREAT MIGHT
St. Lawrence eake, god wot, long time did broile and fry
Vpon a grid-Iron hot, for Jesus' sake to dye.
.
And st. 5 'abas tine, quicke, vnto a tree was bound, —
With arrowes sharpe and thicke shot through with manie
a wounde.
O whoe can wryte with pen, or yet what tonge can showe,
What loue these blessed men did to their maker owe ?
Infinite marters moe, which pen cannot expresse,
In this same way did goe to endlesse happinesse,
With merie hart and cheere in their most deepe distresse,
For god would not for-beare to leaue them comfortlesse.
[16] - . I
And such as marterdome kiPd not with violence
To their conflict did come in Austeare penitence,
In praier to entreat, in fast and discipline,
In workes of mercie great, and soe they spent their time.
Thus Christ hath gonne before ; and thus hath followed
fast
All his saintes euermore, whose Crosses now are past.
Raigninge in heauen aboue, crowned with glorie great,
In measure of their loue eich hath his kinglie seat.
[18]
Codes grace it was that made the saintes soe well to doe ;
Let vs not be airraid, for that is oures alsoe !
[14] i Sabastine : i.e. St. Sebastian, A.D. 288 ; according to the story,
he did not die after the tortures here mentioned, but later, at the order
of Emperor Dioclesian, was beaten to death.
[15] i moe = more. [16] 3 praier: i.e. pray-er.
74
STRENGTHEN OUR FRAILTY
If we will seeke, therefore, by feruent prair still,
Though our crosse greeue vs sore, godes grace shall
strength our will.
[19]
Was ever blessed wight, since man first came to losse,
That wonne eternal! blisse without bearinge his Crosse ?
All of necessitie, as saint Paulle doth repeate,
Walke to felicitie with toiles and trouble greate.
[20]
Wor[l]dlinges heereat will muse in their volupteousnesse,
And thinke these wordes I vse nothinge but foolishnesse.
Godes wisdome, as we reade, amongst the worldlie-wise
Is follie deem'd indeede vnto their veiled eies.
But let the flesh repine, let worldlie wittes say nay.
Let vs beginne in time to walke this blessed way,
As manie marters doe in these our present daies,
Many confessors, too, — godes name haue all the prayse !
In this our English coast much blessed blood is shed :
Two hundred preistes almost in our time martered !
And manie lay-men dye with joyfull sufferance,
Manie moe in prison lye, godes cause for to advance !
[23]
Amongst these gratious troupe, that follow Christ his
traine
To cause the devill stoupe, foure preistes were lat[e]lie
slaine : —
[18] 3 prair : i.e. pray-er. [23] i these : read this.
75
O GOD OF THY GREAT MIGHT
Nutter's bould constantie, with his sweete fellow,
Thwinge,
Of whose most meeke modestie Angells and saintes may
singe !
Hunters hawtie corage staut, w[it]h godlie zeale soe
true,
Myld middleton, — o what tonge can halfe thy virtue
shew ! —
At Lancaster, louingly, these marteres tooke their end
In glorious victorie, true faith for to defende.
[25]
And thus hath Lancashyre offered her sacrifice
To daunt their lewde desyre and please our sauiour's
eies !
For by this meanes, I trust, truth shall haue victorie,
When as that number just of such saintes compleat bee.
Whoe the holie ghost doth moue vnto his deitie,
In feruent flames of loue thus sacrifis'd to bee,
Whose faith and fortitude, whose grace and constantie,
With mildnesse meeke indude, confoundeth heresie ;
[27]
Whose sacred members rent, and quarters set on hye,
Caus'd moe to be content in the same cause to dye ;
Whose Hues whyle they did Hue, whose blessed deaths
also,
Doe admonishion giue what waie we ought to goe.
[23] 3 constantie : i.e. constancy.
[24] i with : MS. defective here. [26] 4 indude : i.e. endued.
76
STRENGTHEN OUR FRAILTY
[28]
If we should them dispise, as manie wretches doe,
We should contempne, likewise, our blessed sauiour too,
Let their examples, then, moue our hartes to relent —
These were most blessed men, whom god to vs hath sent.
[29]
Codes holie truth they taught, and seal'd it with their
blood,
Dyinge, with tormentes fraught, and all to doe vs good.
Let lyinge heresie with her false lyebilles lout,
Truth will haue victorie through such mild champions
stout !
[30]
Praise be to godes good will, whoe doeth his truth
defend !
Lord, to thy Viniard still such worthie workemen send !
And, good lord, grant vs grace that we may constant bee,
With our Crosse in each place to please thy maiestie !
On[e] thinge here I request and still of thee implore,
In thy house to aspire to dwell for evermore,
There for to see thy will in virtue all our daise,
And visit thy temple still to thyne eternall praise.
I [32]
All laud and glorie great be to the Trinitie,
In his eternall seat one god and persones three ;
And to the virgin mild, the Queene of heauen hye,
With Jesus, her louinge Child, in all eternitie !
[29] 3 lyebilles: i.e. libels; 3 lout =- mock, jeer.
[30] i doeth : i.e. doth.
77
O GOD OF THY GREAT MIGHT
[33]
Vnto all Prophetes meeke, to Christes Apostles deere,
Marters, Confessors eake, and to all virgins cleare,
And vnto each of them, Crowned in their degree,
With joy in Jerusalem godes blessed face to see !
12
True Christian hearts, cease to
lament
Addit. MS. 15,225, fols. 22v-25. Thirteen stanzas are printed from
this MS. in J. H. Pollen's Acts of the English Martyrs, pp. 204 ff.
John Thewlis, of Upholland, a seminary priest, was executed for his
religion at Lancaster on March 18, 1616, and his head set on the castle
walls. He was beatified by Leo XIII. in 1886, and is entitled
"Venerable." Some account of him is given in Bishop Challoner's
Martyrs to the Catholic Faith, 1878 ed., II., 68, in the Victoria History of
Lancaster, 1914, VIII., 16, and in Pollen's Acts. See also the next
ballad (No. 1 3), which describes his death.
It is by no means improbable that Thewlis was actually the author
of this ballad : cf. stanzas 1 5 and 1 9, in which he appears to be address
ing his fellow-prisoners. The custom of writing farewell verses from
prison (debased though it was by the shameless fabrications of the ballad-
journalists) was general. For poetry the ballad is not distinguished.
Particularly awkward is the variation in the refrain between rising and
rising. The lengthy enumeration of earlier martyrs is conventional : in
the "Song of the Four Priests" (No. 1 1) almost the same enumeration
is made. With stanza 1 3 may be compared these verses which appear
with music in Byrd's Psalmes, 1588, XXXIII. : —
That stoare of such were once on earth pursu'd
the histories of auncient times record,
whose con>«tancie great tirants rage subdu'd,
through patie«t death professing Christ their Lord,
as his Apostles perfect witnesse beare,
with many more that blessed Martirs were.
Whose patience rare & most couragious minde
with fame renoum'd perpetuall shall endure,
by whose examples we may rightly finde,
of holie life and death a patterne pure :
that we therfore their vertues may embrace,
pray we to Christ to guide vs with his grace.
St. Laurence (cf. stanza 1 2) was so frequently referred to in Elizabethan
and Jacobean days that his " Grid-yron " came near losing its significance :
trifling uses of the phrase abound, as in Mercurius Democritus for September
7.14, October 5-12, 1653, pp. 573, 602. Antony Munday, in his
79
TRUE CHRISTIAN HEARTS
English Romaine Life, 1582, sig. 04, observes of St. Laurence's Church in
Rome : " There also they saye to be the Grediron whereon S. Lauraunce
was broyled : but that I neuer sawe." A coarse song of " A Puritan "
in Merry Drollery, Part I., 1661, p. 2, contains the lines :
Here's a Rib of St. Laurence,
'Tis also at Florence,
And it may be in France, or in Spain ;
It cures Stone and Gravel . . .
foUowtt) ttye songe mr.
uirit l;im sclfe.
To the Tune of [none given] .
True Christian hartes, cease to lament,
for greefe it is in vaine ;
For Christ, you know, was well content
to suffer bitter payne,
That we may come to heaven blisse,
there joyfully to singe.
Whoe doth beleeue, shall never misse
to haue a joy full ry singe.
But, England?, heere my hart is sad
for thy great crueltie ;
And losse of faith which once thou had
of Christianitie ;
In thee false doctrine doth appeare
abundantlie to springe,
Which is the cause, I greatlie feare,
thou loose thy happie ry singe.
[3]
As for my selfe I am not affraid
to suffer constantlie ;
[i] 5 heaven : read heaven's. [2] 8 thou loose : read thou'll lose.
80
CEASE TO LAMENT
For why ? — due debt must neede be paid
vnto sweete god on hye.
St. Paule he being firme of faith,
hopinge with saintes to singe,
Most patientlie did suffer death —
lord send vs bap-pie ryseinge I
w
Marke well my ghostlie victorie,
my frendes both great and smale,
Bee firme of faith, remember me,
and dread not of your fale.
For you, my sheepe, I (sheaparde) haue
mad[e] labour for to bringe, —
You to my fould, your soules to saue —
Christ send vs happie ryseinge !
[5]
I haue said masse and mattinnes both,
and true instructions tought ;
Confirmed by the holie Ghost
and mightie power wrought ;
The holie communion, also,
with manna ever liuinge,
The holie Sacramentes I taught —
lord send vs happie rysing !
[6]
Christis passion oft before your face,
I haue declared plaine ;
How for our sinns he suffered death,
and how he rose againe ;
And how the twelue Apostles, eike,
were put to death for preachinge
[6] i Christis : read Christ's.
81
TRUE CHRISTIAN HEARTS
The Catholike faith which Christ did teach—
Christ send vs happie ry singe !
[7]
St. Andrew he condempned was
vpon a Crosse to dye.
The[y] could not hurt his sacred soule,
she to thee then did fly ;
There streatched foarth her armes soe wyde,
most joyfullie doth singe,
That we with her may there a-byde —
Christ send vs happie ry singe !
[8]
St. James he never did refuse
most faithfullie to pray,
Euen when the cruell-harted jfewes
did take his life away.
And St. Bartholomew, also,
a-liue did loose his skinne ;
Yea, for his truth and confidence
in Christ, our heavenlie kinge.
St. lohn Euangelist did preach,
being simplelie arayed,
The Catholike faith (in Englande heere,
though now it be decaid).
St. lames the more headed was he, —
of death he fealt the stinge, —
[7] i According to the legend St. Andrew was crucified at Patrae in
Achaia.
[8] i James: i.e. St. James the Less, or the Just. Cf. No. n,
stanza 1 2, note.
[9] 5 James : the first apostle to suffer martyrdom, beheaded at
Jerusalem.
82
CEASE TO LAMENT
Although he liued verteouslie —
lord send vs happie ry singe J
[10]
St. Matthew lost his life becau[s]e
godes word he did maintaine ;
And manie saintes in like case,
which truth could not refraine.
St. Thomas, the apostle cleere,
he by a cruell kinge
Was murthered with a hatefull speare
lord send vs happie ry singe !
St. Paule, a Catholike of Roome,
for loue of Christ he beare,
Did lease his life, but yet his fame
is spread both far and neare.
St. Steuen was ston'd to death, also,
and when he lay a-dyinge,
He prayed for his enemyes —
Christ send vs happie ry singe !
[12]
Moreover, Marke Evangelist,
a cruell death died hee :
A rope about his necke was cast,
and dragg'd to death was hee.
[ i o] 3 saints : MS. substitutes for Angels, in : later hand makes MS.
read in the, to restore metre ; 6 according to Leucina, in his false Acts, the
"cruel king" was Gundaphore, — usually explained as the King of
Gandispor, a city in Persia.
[i i] 7 See Acts vii., viii.
[12] 2 died : on April 25, A.D. 68, tempo Nero. He was dragged for
two entire days.
83
TRUE CHRISTIAN HEARTS
St. Lawrence on a grid- Iron hot
did lye most freshlie fryinge,
Was put to cruell death, god wot —
Christ send vs happie ry singe !
[13] ; :
And manie saintes and marters moe,
which were too long to wryte,
Haue suffered cruell death, you knowe,
as scripture doth recyte.
They now with Christ aboue doe raigne,
and joyfully doo singe,
That we may all attaine godes loue —
Christ send vs happie ry singe !
And then why should I be afraid
to suffer constantlie ?
Sith in this cause soe manie saintes
did suffer patientlie ;
And left examples for vs all
that we with them may singe ;
God grant wee may for mercie call,
and haue a happie ryseinge !
[15]
O yea poore prisoners, dread not death,
though you haue donne amisse ;
But pray to god with faithfull hartes
to bringe you vnto blisse ;
[12] 6 fryinge : This horrible word does not seem to have jarred on
the Elizabethan ear. Many instances of its use occur ; e.g. " I fry in
freesing colde " (Southwell's Poems, ed. Grosart, p. 85), "Each noure
amidst the deepe of hell I frie " (John Dowland's First Book of Songs,
1600, XVI.), "I ... with loue doth fry, doth fry " (Thomas Weelkes's
Madrigals, 1600, sig. Dz). See also No. n, stanza 13.
[13] i moe = more. [15] i yea: i.e. ye.
CEASE TO LAMENT
Confesse your sins with contreete hartes
vnto our heauenlie kinge ;
For he is mercifull indeed —
Christ send vs happie ry singe !
[16] f
There is noe man Hues in such case
that hath not done amisse ;
Yet through repentance and godes grace
may reape eternall blisse.
Our sauior Christ did suffer death,
poore soules in blisse to bringe
Vnto that blessed, heavenlie place —
god send vs joy full ryseinge !
[17]
The saintes also did suffer death,
and marteres as you heare ;
And I my selfe am now at hande,
but death I doe not feare.
Then haue I trust of greater grace
vnto my soule will bringe,
When we shall meete both face to face
Before ou\r~\e heavenlie kinge.
[i 8]
Noe heardle hard nor hempen rope
canne make me once afraid ;
Noe tyrantes knife against my life
shall make me disamaide.
[17] 6 will : read to ; 8 oure : MS. possibly one.
[18] i heardle: i.e. hurdle, a kind of sledge on which till 1870
traitors were drawn through the streets from the prison to the place of
execution. Sometimes, according to contemporary accounts, horses
obstinately refused to draw the hurdles on which Catholic martyrs were
placed, an incident regarded as a sign from heaven. Cf. Pollen's English
Martyrs, pp. 60, 185, 231, etc.
85
TRUE CHRISTIAN HEARTS
Though flesh and bones be broken and tome,
my soule, I trust, will singe
Amongst the glorious cornpanie,
with Christ, our heavenlie kinge.
[19]
Thus I, your frend lohn Tbuelis,
haue made my latest end,
Desyreinge god, when his will is,
vs all to heaven send ;
Where neither strange nor dampned crewe
can greefe vnto vs bringe.
And now I bid my last adue —
Christ send vs happie ryseinge !
[20]
God grant you grace still in your hartes
false doctrine to refraine,
And hould the true Catholi[ke] faith,
which Christ did once ordaine.
All honour be to god of hoastes,
all glorie to his sonne,
All praise be to the holie ghost,
three persones all in one !
[20] 3 Catholike : MS. leaves space for the letters ke.
86
'3
O God above relent
Addit. MS. I5,225,fols. 25-27v. Stanzas written in double columns
on each page.
This marvellous ballad has escaped the eye of all ballad-collectors,
though it has been inaccurately reprinted in J. H. Pollen's Acts of the
English Martyrs ', pp. 194 ff. No other ballad, and but few prose
accounts, comparable to it, in its graphic journalism, its nai've admixture
of the supernatural, and in what modern critics are fond of calling
human interest, either about Protestant or Catholic martyrs exists. In
spite of his halting poetry, the author makes the unfortunate priest appear
in a most attractive light ; and the mildness, the resignation, of his tone
is wholly remarkable. The "constant wight" of Part I., stanza 33,
was Roger Wrennall, a weaver who had been imprisoned for religion.
Because he assisted Thewlis in an attempt to escape, he was condemned
to death and executed with his friend. He was beatified in 1886. The
Parson Lee referred to in Part I., stanza 7, and Part II., stanza 18, was
William Leigh, B.D., rector of the Standish Church of St. Wilfrid,
Fellow of Brasenose College, and Tutor of the Prince of Wales : full
accounts of his life are given in the Dictionary of National Biography and
the Victoria History of Lancaster, VI., 189.
Every particular connected with the trial and execution of Thewlis
was many times duplicated in the reign of James I. The refinement of
cruelty by which these two men were compelled to witness the execution
of three felons recalls the similar case of Lady Jane Grey and the
decapitated body of her husband. Wrennall, it will be observed, was
forced to see Thewlis hanged, just as the priest Middleton watched the
hanging of his friend Hunt before his own turn came (see No. n).
In 1595 two priests, Henry Walpole and Alexander Rawlins, were taken
to the place of execution together ; " and when Mr. Rawlins was in
quartering, they showed him to Father Walpole, bidding him be more
wise than to follow his example " of refusing to take the oath (Challoner's
Martyrs, 1878, I., 225). An eye-witness of the execution of Robert
Southwell tells how that ill-starred poet-priest kept making the sign of
the cross for a considerable space, the rope being adjusted so as not to
break the neck but to cause strangulation ; and adds that only the
murmurs of the crowd prevented the executioner from cutting the rope
(to proceed with the ghastly business of quartering) before life was
extinct. Even more sympathetic were the spectators at the hanging of
87
O GOD ABOVE RELENT
the priest Garnet (in 1 606, for the Gunpowder Treason), who only by
determined threats prevented his being prematurely cut down. The
spectators eagerly sought Garnet's blood and other " relics " while his
body was being quartered ; and observed " a visible and apparent circle
of red about his head in the form of a crown " (John Morris, Father
Gerard's Narrative, 1871, pp. 296 f.).
For the tune see ChappeH's Popular Music, II., 5 1 7.
foUotnetl) fye songe of ttie fceatt) of
Hit, Tbeivlis.
To the Tune of Daintie, come thou to mee.
O god aboue, relent,
and lissten t[o] our cry ;
O Christ, our wooes prevent,
let not thy Children die !
w
As at th' assyses late,
good proofe, too much, we see,
Thy lambes their lyms haue lost,
through Tyrant es' Cruelltie.
[3]
One Thewlis is the man
which makes me call and cry ;
Come helpe me all that can
of Christ to beg mercie !
w
His courage myld and meeke,
and his most comlie glee,
[ i ] 2 to our : MS. tour.
[2] i assyses: i.e. assizes — held at Lancaster in 1616 ; 3 lyms
MS. possibly lyu[e]s.
88
O GOD ABOVE RELENT
His answere not to seeke,
in middes of misserie, —
[s]
In a dungeon he was cast,
amonge the theeues to lye.
Of all meates he did tast[e]
which came to fellons' fee.
[6]
And in th' assyses weeke,
in lent, arainde was he ;
Where frendes and kinsfolks were
to see hjs constanccie.
[7]
Best preachers in the land —
by name one parson Lie ;
Noe better can be found
within the Counterie —
[8] _
Three seuerall daies did tempt
to try his constancie ;
The judge beinge present there,
with all his companie.
[9]
To all thinges they demande,
he answeres Cheerfully e ;
His answere there was sound
in all contraversie.
[4] 4 middes : I.e. midst.
[7] 2 by : read perhaps to ; Lie : i.e. Lee (Leigh).
O GOD ABOVE RELENT
[10]
As they were apt to moue
from poynt to poynt, trulie
He did not them reprooue,
but answered quyetlie.
When they could not preueile
to wrest his constantie,
They did him treator call,
and said that he should die.
Then smylinglie he said,
with sweete and pleasant glee :
" Noe treason I haue wrought,
nor wicked Treacherie.
[13]
" Noe Treason I haue done
against king nor Countrie ;
Christ Jesus, godes owne sonne,
a witnes take for mee.
[14]
" It is for his deere sake,
his Church both meeke and free,
That I doe vndertake
a true Catboli\ke\ to dye ;
[15]
" It is for his deere sake,
that gaue his life for me,
[n] 2 constantie : i.e. constancy. [13] 2 king : i.e. James I.
[14] 4 Catholike : space is left in the MS. for the letters ke.
90
0 GOD ABOVE RELENT
My Crosse I vndertake,
his spouse to glorifie."
[16]
Then they gaue him a note :
th' effecte did signifie
That he must take the oeth,
or eles prepare to dye.
[17]
Then answered he and said :
" for dutie temperall,
1 anye oeth will take,
whensoeuer you doe call.
[18]
" For o-ther oath," quoth he,
" I vtterlie denye.
God saue our king and queene,
and send them,meekle joy ! "
[19]
Accordinge to the law,
death sentance then had hee ;
And, as all people knowe,
he took it patientlie.
[20]
On fry day in the morne,
attempted sore was hee ;
They wilde him to reforme
and take the king's mercie.
[16] 3 oeth : i.e. oath.
[18] 3 I.e. James I. and Anne ; 4 joy : read glee.
[20] 3 wilde : i.e. willed.
91
O GOD ABOVE RELENT
.
His kinsfolke, in like cause,
did proffer gould and fee,
If his faith hee would refuse,
a Protestant to bee.
[22]
He gaue them hartie thankes,
and tould them, Cheerfullie,
His life they should not craue —
a Protestant to bee.
[23]
In wrastinge of[f] his bondes
somwhat too hastilie,
They hurt his tender leggs,
whereat they seem'd sorie.
Then smylinglie he said :
" Forbeare to mourne for mee !
Smale hurts doe little greeue,
when great on[e]s are soe nye.
[25] _
" I thanke my sauiour sweete
from these bondes I am free ;
Soe soone I hope I shalle
from all extremitie.
[26]
" By afflixtions god doth prooue
who his true Children bee ;
21] 2 Bishop Challoner (he. cit.) tells of one person's offering Thewlis
Q yearly for the rest of his life if he would take the oath.
92
O GOD ABOVE RELENT
Christ Jesus this can remooue,
in the twinklinge of an eye ! "
They forst him to the Church,
in spite of his bodie,
Wher he full myldlie sate,
for all their crueltie.
[28]
Then did he aske the Sheriff e
his breedren for to see,
With them to take his leaue
before he went to dye.
[29]
The sheriffe gaue consent —
he thankt him hartelie.
He to his breedren went
with humble Curtesie.
[30]
Then did he frendlie leaue
of all his breethren take ;
Sayinge, " doe you not greeue,
nor mourne not for my sake ;
[31]
" For it's godes blessed will
that I must leade the way ;
But be you constant still,
and I will for you pray."
93
O GOD ABOVE RELENT
[32]
And then with watterie Cheekes,
they parted mournfullie ;
His gesture little shranke —
such was his constantsie.
[33]
Another Constante wight,
which I had neare forgot,
Was constant day and night,
and thankfull for his lot ; —
[34]
On[e] wrennall was he cal'd,
a lay-man happie he,
They both prepar'd themselues
on hurdle for to lye.
[35] _
And thus these faithfull wightes
soe myldlie fram'd the same :
The father and the sonne
thus hath their journey tane.
[36]
My muse beginns to faint,
and greefe me overflowe ;
But of these martered saintes,
the seconde part shall showe.
[35] 4 journey : MS. joirney.
94
O GOD ABOVE RELENT
gecont) part.
As Tbewles past the way,
the poorest he did spye ;
He gaue that money he had lefte
their wantes for to supplye.
M
O god aboue, relent,
and listen to our crye ;
Sweet Christ, thy spouse defend
from tyrantes' crueltie !
[3]
To Th' execution place,
the[y] beinge thither drawne,
Present before their face
was fier one cruell flame.
w
Then did they them attempt
their faith for to denye ;
Sainge they must be hangde
and buried cruellie.
[s]
Then, smylinge, Thewles said :
" If that the worst may bee,
Our sauiour Christ hath paid
farre greatter paines for me ! "
drawne : i.e. on hurdles ; 4 one : perhaps in or a.
they = the executioners, them = Thewlis and Wrennall
95
O GOD ABOVE RELENT
[6]
Then myldlie they preparde
to Th' execution place.
Three fellones they did see
hanged before their face.
[7] '
And at the ladder foote,
where manie people stoode,
He held them with dispute,
while ever they would abyde.
[8]
Then did they profer them
part of the oath to take, —
And they should not be slaine,
such frendshippe they would make.
[9]
But all could not preveale
their mindes for to remoue ;
Nor once their courage quaile,
soe constant was their loue.
[10]
With Crosse and signes soe meeke,
the ladder he did take ;
Where manie a watterie eye
appeared for his sake.
A hundred poundes was there
for his life offered free,
7] 3 He = Thewlis ; 4 Read while ever abyde they would.
10] 2 he = Thewlis.
96
O GOD ABOVE RELENT
If he would yet consent
a protestant to bee.
[12]
Then, smylingely, he said :
" That ransome I denye ;
That may noe way be paid
but by death eternally.
[13]
" I thanke you for your loues, —
your good will all I see, —
But I must take the Crosse
that Christ hath lefte for me."
Then willingly he did
himselfe most readie make ;
He preferred to vnbare,
and his Cloath of[f] to take.
[15]
A cap as white as snowe
over his face puPd hee ;
His hat he threw him froe,
and purse away gaue he.
[16]
The hangman plaid his part,
as he did him command ;
Three stroakes upon his brest,
he gaue with his right hand,
97
O GOD ABOVE RELENT
The father beinge gone,
the Child did after hye ;
Without all show of mone
he suffered willingly.
[18]
At first the rope did breake,
which parson Lee did see ;
He said it was godes will,
to shew him such mercie.
[19]
The[y] profered him the oath,
which he did still denye.
" This night I hope we boath
shall sup in heaven hye."
[20]
The people moou'd and blusht,
both hye and low degree,
And said they thought noe lesse
but he should saved bee.
[17] 2 the child : i.e. Wrennall.
[18] I Personal pronouns in this portion of the ballad are used very
carelessly ; but according to Bishop Challoner (op. «'/., II., 68) stanzas
18-20 apply to Wrennall, not Thewlis. "The rope broke with th
weight of his [WrennaH's] body, and he fell to the ground ; and after
short space he came perfectly to himself, and going upon his knees, begai
to pray very devoutly." He refused emphatically to take the oath
saying : " * I am the same man I was, and in the same mind, use you
pleasure with me ' ; and with that he ran to the ladder, and went up i
as fast as he could."
[19] 3 boath : i.e. both Thewlis and Wrennall.
O GOD ABOVE RELENT
[21]
When that the rope was cut,
and quartered he should be,
The hangman did denye,
and then a-way went hee.
[22]. "".:..', :.: •
The sherifTe did him oppresse
with great extremitie,
And said : " either thou or I
must doe this butcherie."
When Thewles was vnbarde,
a vision there was seene :
Out of his mouth appeared
of couller bright and sheene ;
Most lyke the glorious sunne,
shyninge in clearest skye,
Downe over his bodie ranne,
and vanish from their eye.
The butcher play'd his part,
his bodie he did goare ;
And sure the hardest hart
did much his death deplore.
I M
A hundred handcarchaffes
with his sweete blood was dight,
[21] 2 he : perhaps Thewlis is meant.
123] 4 of : read a. [24] 4 vanish : read vanished.
26] i handcarchaffes : I.e. handkerchiefs.
99
O GOD ABOVE RELENT
As Reliques for to we[a]re
for this said blessed wight.
Then were his quarteres set
vpon the Castell hye,
Where hapt as strang a thinge
as ever man did see.
A flight of Ravens came,
and pyked flesh from bones ;
In the Church-yarde the[y] did light,
and scraped there deepe holes !
O Christian hartes, relent ;
prepare your soules to saue —
When fethered foules shall help
for vs to make a graue !
[30] _ •
O happie martered saintes,
to you I call and crye,
To helpe vs in our wantes
and begge for vs mercie !
[31]
O Christ, that suffered death,
thy spouse for to defend,
Lyke co[n]stansie till death
and in heaven be our end !
[26] 3 Reliques : MS. Reliuqes.
[28] 4 deepe : MS. dedpe.
100
A jolly shepherd that sat on
Zion hill
Addit. MS. 15,225, fols. 1-2. Written in four-line stanzas; the
margins are closely trimmed, so that some of the stanza numbers have
disappeared. Line I as printed below is metrically incomplete ; but it
is obvious from stanzas ^ adfinem that an eight-line stanza was intended.
On fol. 33 of the MS. the first two stanzas again appear, and are
arranged in seven lines. They are printed here as an example of the
uncertain spelling even of the cultivated class in Jacobean times, — a class
to which the compiler of this MS. certainly belonged, — and of the equal
uncertainty of ballad-texts.
i
A Jollie sheppard that sate on Sion hill,
whoe with his rodde and shepardes Crooke
his sheepe derecteth still,
His Church it is the fould,
in tender grasse they feede,
And to the lountaines fair they goe,
which is his word indeede.
The way vnto the holie Church, if anie list to goe,
by shepardes Tabernacle past
they must on foot-steppes goe ;
Where shepardes ould are wonted
to walke right reuerentlie,
And there this shepardes spouse soe sweete
at noone day sure doth lye.
The first line recalls the later song by John Wootton of " Damaetas ligge
in praise of his Loue " in England's Helicon (ed. Collier, pp. 5 5 f. ) : —
Jolly Sheepheard, Sheepheard on a hill
on a hill so merrily,
on a hill so cherily,
Feare not Sheepheard there to pipe thy fill,
Fill euery Dale, fill euery Plaine :
both sing and say : Loue feeles no paine.
The ballad, an exposition of the Crucifixion, is distinctly Catholic in
expression ; but it was evidently regarded by Henry Carr, who licensed
101
A JOLLY SHEPHERD
it for publication on August 15, 1586, as "A ballat begynnynge O Jolly
shepherd on Sionbill" as an allegory of the Holy Protestant, rather than
the Holy Catholic, Church. Possibly Carr omitted the fifth stanza.
Collier (Extracts from the Stationers9 Registers, II., 2 1 2), following his
usual manner of mystification and vague references, says of this entry :
" A reprint of this ballad is in the Roxburghe Collection.'* It is not.
A Jollie sheppard
that sate on Sion hill,
That with his rod [and] sheppardes crooke
his sheepe derecteth still,
His Church it is the fould,
in tender grasse the[y] feede,
And to the fountaines faire they goe,
which is his word indeede.
The way vnto the holie church,
if anie list to knowe,
By sheppardes tabernacle past,
they must on foote-stepes goe ;
Where sheppardes ould were wonted
to walke right reverently,
And there this sheppardes spouse soe sweete
at noone dayes sure doth lye.
[3] _
This Church is like a Citie faire
that builded is on hye ;
Like to a candle shininge bright
to all that passed by ;
Where truth shall never fade away,
but virtue still abyde,
And where this sheppard dwellinge is,
both church and sheepe doth guide.
[2] 2 know : substituted by a later hand for goe.
102
THAT SAT ON ZION HILL
w
The holie scriptures sure to keepe,
this Church she hath in charge ;
And power, eike, to bynd and lose,
to keepe and let at large ;
And with the holie sacramentes
his sillie flocke to feede,
Which is his blood and bodie both
to them in time of neede.
[5]
And, for the glorie of his Church,
this shepard did prouide
Both Prophets and Appostles, eake,
and marteres trulie tryde,
With Virgins and confessors pure,
and docters manie moe,
The praises of this holie Church
throughout the world to sho[w]e.
[6]
And more then this : he promissed,
when he should passe away,
The holie ghost, the comforter,
to send with her to stay,
Whoe in all truth should her defend,
in virtue euermore,
Although the waues of wickednesse
should wash her wales full sore.
[7]
This Church did at Jerusalem
full visiblelie appeare,
And afterward confirmed was
by Christ, our sauiour deere,
[4] 3 lose : i.e. loose ; 6 sillie : i.e. silly, innocent, helpless.
7] 2 visiblelie : read visibly.
IO3
A JOLLY SHEPHERD
When breade and wine he blessed
and to his Appostles plaine
Said, "take and eate, this is my flesh,
which for you shall be slaine."
[8]
For to confirme what he hath said
the cruell Jewes that night,
With clubs and staues and weapons sharpe,
with toarch and lantorn b[ri]ght,
Came for to take this shepard sweete,
as he at prayer was,
If that his father's will it were
that cup from him might pas.
[9]
They bound him fast, they beat him sore,
they stroake him on the face,
They spit at him, they rail'd on him,
with spite and vile disgrace ;
By witnes false, they him accus'd,
for to put downe their lawes,
Although the Judg did answer them,
" I finde in him noe cause."
[10]
In-stid of princlie Cepter,
in his hand the[y] put a reede,
And like a f oole they him araid
in whiteish cloathes, indeede ;
They whipt him soe the blood ran downe,
his blessed bones were scene,
And on his head a crowne they set
of thornes bothe sharpe and keene.
[9] 2 stroake : I.e. struck.
104
THAT SAT ON ZION HILL
" Behould the man," the Judg did say ;
they " crucifie " did crye.
And Bar abas they did let goe,
but Jesus iudg'd to dye ;
Although the Judg did answere them,
" I finde in him noe ill ;
You haue a law, and by that law,
goe kill him if you will."
[12]
Away they led him wickedlie,
and on his backe they cast
The crosse of our offences all,
that downe he fell at last ;
And on a roode betwixt two theeues
they did him crucifie.
His loue and likinge to his Church,
these thinges did trulie trye.
[13]
To witnes cale those rageinge words
the two theeues they did vse,
To witnes cale the blasphemies
then spoken by the Jewes,
To witnes cale his bloodie woundes
in handes, in feete, and hart,
To witnes cale his mother deere,
that thereof had her part.
To witnes cale the bloodie speare,
which at his syde did runne ;
To witnes cale both heaven and earth
before whome it was done ;
[u] 3 Barabas : i.e. Barabbas.
105
A JOLLY SHEPHERD
To witnes call both sunne and moone,
whoe then Eclipsed went ;
To witnes call the Temple vaile
that all in sunder rent.
[is]
To witnes calle the darknes great
that couered earth and skyes ;
To witnes cale the dead men's bones,
which from the graues did ryse ;
To witnes cale his bitter drinke
and Joyfull wordes he saide ;
To witnes cale his charitie,
when for his foes he praid.
[i 61
To witnes cale his coate vnseam'd,
for which the loates were cast ;
To witnes cale his d[e]ath and paine,
which euerie lim[b]e did tast ;
To witnes cale his goeinge downe
to hell, through his greate might ;
To witnes calle his assendinge vp
to heauen in glorie bright.
[17]
Then sith this sheppard paid soe deare
to buy our freedome lost,
His scornes, his blo[w]es, his blood and life
was price of that it cost ;
And heere doth giue vs all we haue
and after Joyes for aye,
And doth requeere our seruice true,
in humble wise to pray.
1 6] 2 loates : i.e. lots. [17] i sheppard : MS. sphepard.
106
THAT SAT ON ZION HILL
[18]
" O come away, [O] come away,"
this shepard cales and cryes ;
" Take vp your crosse and follow me,
and doe this worled dispise."
Like sheepe, in humble sort, let vs
vnto his voice giue eare, '
And in his lawes still walke vpright,
while we abyden heere.
[19]
" O come away, [O] come away,"
this shepard cales and cryes :
" Take vp your crosse and follow me,
and doe this world dispise,
And in this house and truth abyde,
what ever shale befalle,
And in i[t]s truth both Hue and dye."
Amen, amen, say all !
JFtnts,
[18] 4 worled : i.e. world.
107
No wig/it in this world that wealth
can attain
Addit. MS. 15,225, fols. 7V-9V. The stanzas are numbered in the
MS., but some of the numbers have been trimmed away by the binder.
Owen Rogers licensed " a ballett agaynste covetous " on October 30,
1560. Collier, in his Extracts from the Stationers' Registers, I., 32,
identified this entry with the present ballad, and mentioned another
version : " In the Editor's MS. [of the reign of James I.] it has only
eleven stanzas, and those with some variations ; and as it is clearly the
older and more correct copy of the two," and as " the title there accords
more with that of the entry ; viz. : — Against Covetousnes" he printed it.
Collier's copy, however, is an impudent fabrication ; nor is there any
reason for identifying this genuine and unprinted ballad with the entry
in the Registers. That entry is more applicable to the ballad here
printed as No. 52 from a Sloane MS. Not covetousness but, instead,
the evil and the good done by money is dealt with : the author dwells, as
poets of all times have delighted to do, on a vanished Golden Age when
all was right with the world. The mention of priests in stanza 23 is
the only Catholic note in the ballad.
against nigamie anD riches.
Noe wight in this world that wealth can attaine,
vnles he beleeue that all is but vaine ;
And as it doth come, euen soe let it goe,
as tydes vse their times to ebb and to flowe.
[2] I
This muche on the mould that men soe desyre
doth worke them much wooe, and mooue them to ire ;
108
NO WIGHT THAT WEALTH CAN ATTAIN
With greefe it is gott, with, care it is kept,
with sorrow soone lost ; that long hath beene rept,
[3]
And wooe worth the manne that first dolue the mould,
to finde out the myne of siluer and gould ;
For when it lay hid, and to vs vnknowne,
of strife and debate the seede was not sowne.
w
Then liued men well and held them content
with meate, drinke, and cloath, without anie rent ;
Their houses but poore, to shrowd themselues in,
for Castles and Towers were first to beginne.
I . Cs3
Noe Town had his wale ; they feared noe warre
nor enemies hoast to seeke them of farre ;
Soe let they their Hues in quiet and rest,
till hoard beganne hate, from East vnto West ;
And gould for to grow, a lord of great price,
which changed the world from vertue to vice,
And turned all thinges soe farre from their kind
that how it should be is worne out of mynd.
_ [7]
For riches beare now the fame and the brute,
and is onelie the cause of all our pursuit,
Which maketh amongst vs such mischeeff to raigne,
and shall till we seeke the right way againe.
[2] 4 rept, pas t part. <?/*reap.
[3] 4 seede : followed in MS. by who, but later scratched out. .
[5] i wale : i.e. wall ; 3 let : read led.
109
NO WIGHT IN THIS WORLD
[8]
When mariage was made for vertue and loue,
then was noe divorce, godes knotte to remooue ;
When Judges would suffer noe brybes in their sight
their iudgmentes were true, accordinge to right.
When prelates had not possessions nor rent,
they preached the troth, and truelie they meante ;
When men did not flatter for favour nor meede,
then kinges h[e]ard the troath and how the world
yeede,
[10]
And men vnto honour throwe vertue did ryse ;
but all this is turned cleane contrarie wyse ;
For money makes all, and rules as a god,
which ought not to be, for Christ it forbode ;
And bad that we should take nothinge in hand,
but for our lordes loue and the wealth of the land ;
And wills vs full oft that we should refraine
from wrestinge his will to make our owne gaine.
[12]
For couetous folke, of euerie estate,
as hardlie shall enter with-ine heauen-gate
As through a nedle eie a cammell to creepe ; —
why doe these mad men then hoard vp and keepe ?
[13]
Yea, more then may serue themselues to suffice,
as though perfit blisse should that way arise ;
[9] 4 yeede = went [from O.E. eoden, to go].
[10] i throwe : i.e. through. [12] 3 Matthew xix., 24.
110
THAT WEALTH CAN ATTAIN
But if they would suffer to sinke in their brest,
what trouble of mynd, what vnquiet rest,
.
What mischeefe, what hate, this money doth bringe,
they would not soe toyle for soe vyle a thinge ;
For they that haue much are euer in care
which way for to winne, and how for to spare ;
Their sleepes be vnsound, for feare of a theefe ;
the losse of a little doth worke them much greefe.
In seekinge their lacke, they want what they haue,
and subiect to that which should be their slaue.
[16]
They never doe know, while riches doe raigne,
a frend of effect from him that doth faine ;
For flatterers doe seeke where fortune doth dwell,
and when that she lowreth, they bid them farewell,
[17]
The poore doth him curse, as oft as they want,
in hauinge soe much and make it soe scant ;
Their children, sometime, doe wish them in graue,
that they might posses the riches they haue.
[18]
And that which they winne with trauill and strife,
oft times, as we see, doth cost them their life.
Loe these be the fruites that riches bringe foarth,
with manie other moe which be noe more worthe.
!i 3] 4 vnquiet :
1 8] 4 moe = m
MS. vriquied. [17] I him : i.e. a rich man
more.
Ill
NO WIGHT IN THIS WORLD
For money is cause of murther and thefte,
of battle, and bloodshed, which would god were left ;
Of ravine, of wronge, of false witnesse-bearinge,
of treason conspired, and eake of forswearinge.
And for to be short, and knit vp the knot,
few mischeefes at all that money makes not ;
But though it be ill, when it is abused,
yet, never-the-less, it may be well vsed.
[21]
Nor I doe not find that men be denyde
for sufficient thinges them selues to prouide,
Accordinge as god hath put them in place,
to haue and to hould, a time and a space,
[22]
Soe it be well wone, and after well spent,
for it is not theirs, but for that intent.
And if they soe doe, then it is good still,
they haue that is meete to vse at their will.
[23]
As Preistes should not take promotions in hand,
to Hue at their ease like lordes of the land,
But onelie to feede godes flocke with the troth,
to preach and to teach, without anie sloth.
[24]
Nor folke should not need great riches to winne,
but gladlie to Hue and for to flee sinne ;
His will for to worke that is their soules health,
and then may they thinke they Hue in great wealth.
[19] i thefte : substituted in MS. for strife.
112
THAT WEALTH CAN ATTAIN
. ' [25]
For in this vaine world, which now we be in,
is nothinge but miserie, mischeefe, and sinne,
Temtation, vntroth, contention, and strife ;
then let vs not set by soe vile a life.
. [26]
But lift vp your eies, and looke through your faith,
beholdinge his mercies that manie times saith :
" The iust men shall Hue by their good beleefe,
and shall haue a place, where canne be noe greefe,
[273
" But gladnes and mirth that non[e] can amend,
vnspeakable ioyes, which never shall end,
with pleasures that passe all that we haue sough[t],
felicities such as cannot be thought."
[L'ENvoy]
Which place they shall haue, which his will intends,
with life everlastinge ; and thus my tale endes.
Jft'nte-
H 113
16 :\
O blessed God, O Saviour sweet
Addit. MS. 15,225, fols. nv-i3. In this interesting ballad the
author — who, to judge from stanzas 19 and 20, was a priest or, at any
rate, a Catholic, who feared " rack and cord " — laments his sins, extols
the mercy of Christ, and professes to make a whole-hearted repentance.
The last stanza is not numbered in the MS., and is an exact repetition
of the last four lines of the ballad on " Calvary Mount " (No. 22). The
repetition may possibly be due to confusion on the part of the copyist.
_
O blessed god, O sauiour sweete,
O Jesu, looke on mee !
O Christ, my kinge, refuse me not,
though late I come to thee !
I come to thee, confounded quyte,
with sorrowe and with shame,
When I beheld thy bitter woundes,
and knew I did the same.
[3]
I am the wretch that Crowned thee,
I made those woundes soe wyde ;
I nailed thee vnto the crosse,
with speare I pearst thy syde.
W
Thy sydes, thy bellie, eike, I rent
with whip and cruell rod ;
114
O BLESSED GOD, O SAVIOUR SWEET
'Twas I that wrought thee all that wooe —
forgiue me, my good lord !
[5] t ;
For onelie pryd of Cherubines
how manie thousandes fell
From pleasure to perpetuall paine,
From heauen to hatefull hell.
[6]
More then a thousand thousand times
haue I deseru'd thine Ire ;
Yet doe I (myser) still remaine,
and feele not yet hell-fire.
[7]
Yet doe I still thy favour finde,
yet thou doest keepe me still
Against the foarce of all my foes,
that seeke my soule to spill.
[8]
Yea, more then this, that I might Hue
thou diedst on the roode ;
And to redeeme my soule from hell,
thou speandst thy deerest blood.
[9]
That pretious blood which from thy syde
came gushinge out amayne
Was spent to saue my sinfull soule
from endlesse wooe and paine.
[4] 4 lord : read God . [7] 2 doest : i.e. dost.
[8] 4 speandst : i.e. spent.
"5
O BLESSED GOD, O SAVIOUR SWEET
[10]
Alas, my lord most mercifull,
what haue I donne or wrought,
That thou shouldst like soe well of mee ?
What haue I said or thought ?
What didst thou see in mee (vile wretch !)
O god, what didst thou see ?
What mooued thee, o Judge most iust,
to take such ruth on mee ?
O come, Angelles ; come, Archangelles ;
come, saintes and soules divine ;
Come, marters and Confessors eike,
your aide to mee assigne.
[13]
Let mee your helpe, your councell giue,
O tell me how I may
Releeue my lord that loues me soe,
which am but dust and clay.
All worldlie honour now farewell,
all wicked welth adew ;
Pryde and vaine-glorie, packe you hence,,
too longe I served you !
[15] _
In you I dream'd my ioy had beene,
but I deceiued was,
[13] i Let: read Lend.
116
O BLESSED GOD, O SAVIOUR SWEET
And now broade-wakeinge I doe see
that it hanges on the Crosse.
Vpon the Crosse, betweene two theues,
starke dead, alacke, hee hanges.
For me, the Child of endlesse Death,
hee felt these bitter panges.
[17]
O that it once were my good chance
to kisse those woundes soe wyde,
O that my hart had once the happe
to harbour in his syde !
I _ [18]
O that I might with Magdalenne
Imbrace his fastened feete,
Or that with good thefe hange by him,
a thinge for me more meete.
I [I9].
Then would I bouldlie dare to say
that neither racke nor Coard
Nor any tormentes in the world
debarre me from my lord.
I [20]
Then machavell, with all his sleights,
should not once make me mone ;
Noe Turke nor Tyrant, noe, nor divell
should make me leaue my lord.
[15] 4 Crosse : no rhyme here. [18] 3 thefe : perhaps read thieves.
[20] i machavell : i.e. Machiavelli ; 4 lord : no rhyme here.
117
O BLESSED GOD, O SAVIOUR SWEET
[21]
Grant blessed god, grant saviour sweete,
grant Jesu, kinge of blisse,
That in thy loue I Hue and dye,
sweet Jesu, grant me this !
iPintg,
118
Behold our Saviour crucifed
Addit. MS. 15,225, fols. 2O-22V. A splendid ballad in which a
Catholic author vigorously applies the lessons taught to man both by the
Crucifixion and by its permanent symbol, the crucifix. No doubt because
he was addressing a strictly orthodox audience, he makes no apologies
and indulges in no recriminations.
.M
Behould our saviour crucifide,
and beare it well in mynd ;
Which will suppresse all sinfull pryde,
and make vs groe more kynd.
O let vs striue to flee from sinne
and righteous courses hould,
And take our crosse and followe hime,
as he hath said we should.
I [2]
The Crucifix as lecture cheefe,
let vs not faile to learne ;
And with the eise of true beleefe
devoutlie it disserne,
How for our sinne and for our sake
a prickeinge crowne of thorne,
Which manie a bloodie hole did make,
his blessed head hath borne.
I . [3].
And for our sinne with scourges keene
his tender flesh was rent ;
[2] 3 eise : I.e. eyes. Lines 3 and 4 of this stanza were at first
omitted by the copyist, and were later inserted in the margin.
119
BEHOLD OUR SAVIOUR CRUCIFIED
And for our sinne of Jewes hath beene
with manie a scorne content ;
And for our sinne condemn'd was he,
that once must be our Judge ;
And for our sinne to Caluarie
with his owne Crosse did trudge ;
w
And for our sinne he was contente
in tormentes there to dye,
His father's Justice to prevente,
for sinne to satisfie.
Hi3 Crowne of thornes may plucke away
our vndeserved pryde,
His mournfull teares will cause vs lay
all wanton mirth asyde.
[5]
In his great thirst the bitter gaule
to drinke they doe him giue,
A doccument vnto vs all
in temperance for to Hue.
His armes out stretched to imbrace
all men, both frende and foe,
May teache vs still to call for grace,
all malice to forgpe.
[6]
Handes, feete, and syde with nayles and launa
through pearced on the roode,
May teache vs true perseueraunce
to the sheedeinge of our bloode.
His Virgin's flesh all full of woundes,
both blacke and blewe to see,
All fleshlie lust in vs confoundes,
teachinge true Chastitie.
120
BEHOLD OUR SAVIOUR CRUCIFIED
[7]
His prayinge for his enemies
a-midste his bitter payne,
Doth teache vs in all iniuries
in meekenesse to remaine.
Veiwe, and reveiwe, and never cease
these lessones for to feade
If thou in virtue will increase,
and prosperously proceede.
[8]
Thinke whoe it is that suffered all
these bitter paynes for thee ;
Our god and lord, the Virgin's Childe,
in his humanitie,
Whose power and potent maiestie
filles heaven, earth, and hell ;
Yet suffered he all this for thee,
and more then tounge can tell.
[9]
For thee vnkynd and base, abiecte,
he suffered all this payne ;
Yet thou, poore wretch, doth still neclect
thyne owne eternall gayne.
O man vnkynd, behould his loue,
behould his bitter smart,
And let his paynes and passions mooue
compassions from thy hart.
[10]
Since Christ from sinne vs to release
hath suffered all this payne,
Why doe we not from sinne then cease,
but still in sinne remaine ?
121
BEHOLD OUR SAVIOUR CRUCIFIED
Let vs hate sinne with all our hartes
that wrought our lord this woe ;
True Christianes all, it is our partes
in earnest to doe soe.
O man vnkynd, forgetfull in
thy loue and sirvice due,
And hast thou still such mynd to sinne,
and yet this mirror vewe ?
In thy temptations doe not say
thou hast noe power to stand,
For Christ his grace shall be thy stay,
sent from his mightie hand.
[12]
The well of grace standes open wyde,
and bounteously doth springe,
Since Lungeus speare first pearst his syde,
that fountaine foarth to bringe ;
Within the holie Sacramentes
throughe Crist his Church doth flowe,
Whereby to verteous complementes
eache Christian soule may growe.
[13]
The Crucifix is now our owne,
behould it well therefore ;
In brason sarpent once fore showne
to heale each deadlie sore.
His Crosse, his Nailes, his crowne of thorne,
his speare, his spunge, his reede,
His bitter gaule and bodie torne,
his lanced woundes that bleede,
[12] 3 Lungeus : i.e. lungeous = violent, spiteful.
[13] 3 Numbers xxi., 8, 9.
122
BEHOLD OUR SAVIOUR CRUCIFIED
[Hi '
His streatched armes vpon the crosse,
and all admonish thee,
In tyme he will repaire thy losse,
if thou repentante bee.
If in this tyme,.throughe worldlie pelfe,
thou lose this libertie,
In time to come accuse thy selfe,
fore-warned thus to bee.
[is]
In all affares yet rightlie scanne,
and beare it well away,
What to the soule of sinfull man
the Crucifix doth say :
" For thee, from heavenlie maiestie
I did my selfe Imbase ;
As Erringe shippe, I haue sought thee
in manie a wearie place ;
[16]
" I thee pursude with hartes desire,
I ranne with faintinge breath ;
Wilt thou vnkinde from me retyre,
and frustrate soe my death ?
My enemies they did not payne
my bodie halfe so sore,
As thy vnkyndnesse doth constraine
my sorrowes tennes more.
[17]
" Shall satanus, my deadlie foe,
my labors all defeate,
[15] i affares : i.e. affairs ; 7 shippe : perhaps sheep.
[16] 8 tennes : possibly temes or tonnes or ten times.
123
BEHOLD OUR SAVIOUR CRUCIFIED
And with that pearle away to goe
I sought with bloodie sweate ?
O that thy soule I loue soe much,
and was soe deare to mee,
Should in thy handes, I say, of such
a carelesse keeper bee !
[18]
" How deepe a danger was thou in,
inwrapt through Adam's fale,
Whome none but I could freedome winne,
and my hartes blood recalle ;
Which like the Pelicanne I giue,
even everie droppe for thee,
That thou the foode of life might haue,
a[nd] soe regayned bee.
[19]
" How deare a Gemme thy soule, I thought,
then vmbethinke the[e] well, —
Which with soe deare a pryce I bought
from Satkan, death, and hell.
[17] 7 thy : read the.
[18] 5 Pelicanne : cf. "The Waterman's Delight," Bagford Ballad;,
I., 259:—
"My loves she's like a Pellican,/that sucks blood from her breast,
And feeds her young ones every day/as they lye in her nest."
There seems to be no foundation for this ancient belief: cf. Proceedings
of the Zoological Society, 1869, p. 146. In William Hunnis's Seven Sobs,
1583, p. 6 1, there is a peculiar passage :
"The pellican as some report,/hir harmelesse birds doth kill,
And three daies after mourneth shee,/and is vnquiet still;
Then with her beake hir breast she plucks/till blood gush out amaine,
Which she lets drop vpon hir young,/till they reuiue againe."
In Hunnies Recreations, 1595, p. 49, he speaks of the Pellican restoring
to life in this fashion her young who have been killed by a serpent.
124
BEHOLD OUR SAVIOUR CRUCIFIED
Thou maist well thinke there was more losse
then man's tonge can expresse,
Which nailled Christ vnto the Crosse,
this danger to redresse.
[20]
" And wilt thou, then, in franticke moode,
soe smale the same esteeme,
As not regarde my precious bloode
which did ihy soule redeeme ?
O heaven, O earth, astonisht bee,
and stand amazed mute :
This thanklesse sinner thus to see
my precious blood polute.
[21]
" Though mercie now doe plead ihy case,
expect inge thee a whyle ;
Yet Justice once must needes take place,
and change my former stile ;
Though like a lambe I earst haue borne
my passions all for thee,
Yet lyon-lyke I will retorne
and once revenged bee ; —
[22]
" When all men's bodies must aryse,
both from the sea and lande,
And at that day in dreadfull wyse
before my Judgment stande ;
When heaven and earth shall mooued bee
before my fearfull Throne,
Where thou in endlesse shame shall see
thy thankelesse hart made know[n]e."
125
BEHOLD OUR SAVIOUR CRUCIFIED
[23]
O lord, those wordes doe me agri[e]ue,
and thrilleth throughe my hart ;
And on my knees, in humble wyse,
I heere to thee convert.
Heere cut, o lord, and turne away,
with fier of tribulation,
My soules defectes, that at that day
I may 'scape thyne Indignation.
[L'ENVOY]
And soe thy bitter passion deere,
which thou for me hast taken,
Let vs on thy right hand appeare,
and not to bee forsakenne.
126
When as mankind through Adam's
fall
Addit. MS. i5,225,fols. 2jv-2gv. In several places holes have been
eaten in the leaves by inferior ink.
Protestant ballads on the cross are not unusual. One, registered in
1 568-69 as " a frutfull songe of bearynge of Christes Cross " is preserved
in MS. Ashmole 48 (ed. Thomas Wright, Songs and Ballads, Roxburghe
Club, No. 30) ; another, "The lamentacion of the crosse," is in MS.
Cotton Vespasian A. XXV. (ed. Boeddeker, Jahrbuch fur romanische und
englische sprache, N.F., III., 95) ; earlier than these is a long ballad in
the Gude and Godlie Ballatis of 1567 (ed. A. F. Mitchell, pp. 79-82)
with the refrain
And gloir in the Croce of Christ Jesu.
I do not know of any other Elizabethan or Jacobean ballad written by
a Catholic in glorification of the cross and its symbolism in the Catholic
faith. The author gives a spirited defence (stanzas 14, 15) against con
temporary criticism of crucifixes. He was evidently a man of learning,
with considerable knowledge of the works of the Church Fathers.
Most of the ballad is made up of comments on the crucifix culled from
these Latin writers, — the source of which it has not seemed worth while
to attempt to trace.
a gong of tl)t cros0e.
To the Tune of [none given]
When as mankind,- through AdanCs fale,
to endlesse greefe was led,
God promised the woman's seede
should breake the serpentes head ;
127
WHEN AS MANKIND
And though four thousand yeares and moe
man was the Chyld of death,
God sent his sonne him to redeeme,
for soe the scripture saith.
Whoe wrought it not with sacrifice
of Ca[l]fe, younge lambe, or kidde,
But by his death vpon the crosse
from thrall he did vs ridde ;
Whose benefittes soe great we may
within our hartes renewe,
The crosse when as before our face
we daylie see and vew.
[3]
This crosse was plaine prefigured
in Exodus, we knowe,
By wood that made the waters sweete,
as St. Sir ill doth showe.
To call the crosse the tree of life
damasine doth not let,
Which in the middes of Paradice
god planted and it set.
w
The arke of Noe man for to saue,
great floodes when god them send,
This marke Esekeall speaketh of
his people to defend.
[i] 7 him to redeeme : MS. substitutes for to suffer death.
[3] 2 i.e. Exodus xvi., 2554 Sirill : I.e. Cyril ; 6 damasine ; i.e. St.
Damasus ; 6 let : i.e. leave undone.
[4] i Noe : i.e. Noah ; 3 Esekeall : i.e. Ezekiel ix., 4-7.
128
THROUGH ADAM'S FALL
This is our maister's badge that we
must daylie were in feild,
The speare where-with our deadlie foe
wee doe enforce to yeald.
[5] -T
Because (St. Austine saith) you are
beset with manie a foe,
With this sine of the crosse still blesse
you daylie where you goe.
St. Hierome willes vs with this signe
our foreheades to be sign'd,
Lest he that Egipt did destroy
in vs should restinge fynd.
[6]
Chrisosdome biddes vs make this signe
daylie vpon our face,
Whereby thou shall the wicked sprites
cleane frome thee driue and chase ;
" For how dare they him set vpon,"
saith he, " in rageinge broyle,
When as they see the speare where with
Christ did their kingdome foyle ? "
This is the marke by damasine,
as we may plainlie learne,
Panims and Jewes from Christian men
derecteth to disserne.
" I doe not blush," St. Austine saith,
" this holie signe to weare,
Nor seeke to hyde my selfe since on
my forehead I it beare."
i4_] 6 were : i.e. wear.
6] i Chrisosdome : i.e. Chrysostom. [7] i by : read that.
I 129
WHEN AS MANKIND
[8]
Cbrisosdome alsoe doth vs charge,
and warne both more and lesse,
And teach our Children with this signe,
them daylie for to blesse ;
Before that they this thinge can doe,
the nurse their head must take
Vpon the Infantes yonge, saith he,
that they this crosse still make.
[9]
This Crosse is of such force and might,
as Origin? doth wryte,
That haueinge Christ and crosse in sight
to sinne non[e] hath delight ;
And as a shippe, St. Ambrose saith,
without mast cannot saile,
Lykewise whereas the crosse doth want
that Church forthwith shall quaile.
[10]
Without the crosse noe sacrament
can ministred right be due,
St. Austine, if we credite which,
the same to vs doth shew.
Both prince and subiect, great and smale,
the crosse did on them weare ;
In everie place, Chrisosdome saith,
this signe did then appeare.
Did not god shew to Constantino,
for ayde when he did call,
[8] 3 And : read To ; 6 head : read heed.
[9] 2 Origine : I.e. Origen.
130
THROUGH ADAM'S FALL
The crosse, and h[e]ard a voyce that said,
" in this signe winne you shall ? "
Wherefore he straitlie gaue in charge
eich souldier should it weare,
And on his standard after still
in feild he did it beare.
[12]
What strength it hath by Julian
and power, all men may know,
Whoe, being an apostata,
this signe droue sperites him froe.
When Austen came England for to
convert vnto the faith,
The crosse before him still was borne,
as holie Bede he saith.
I . [I3]
Yet some will say, to haue the crosse
at all it is not fitt,
Because there-with Idolatrie
the people doe commit.
Thinke they that man whome god hath made
heere ruler of the rest,
In sence and reason nothinge doth
excell the brutishe beast ?
I [I4] .
What hound doth hunt at painted hare,
with coullers wrought full new ?
Or where at painted partridge yet
ever any sparhauke flew ?
If they diserne the quicke from dead,
whom sences onelie scoole,
[12] I Julian : MS. badly damaged by action of ink here ; 3 apostata :
i.e. Julian the Apostate, Roman Emperor, 331-63 ; 5 Austen : i.e. St.
Augustine ; 8 Bede : i.e. Ecclesiastical History, Bk. I., chap. 25.
WHEN AS MANKIND
He that doth Judge farre worse of man
shall proue himselfe a foole.
[15] ;;
Lyke cryme to Athanatius once
the heathen did obiect,
Whoe did their errores confounde in this,
and did plainlie them detect.
You say our godes are made of wood,
which thinge you cannot prooue,
And that yours ours doe farre excell
in starrie skyes that mooue.
[i6J .
Our Crosse consistes of peeces foure,
in sunder if wee it take ;
And from eich other seperate
noe count thereof we make ;
But made in cosse we honour it,
although not with devine,
Whereby you see wee doe not weigh
the substance bvt the signe.
Which signe it selfe hath not such health
vnto mankynd heere brought,
But by the sheedeinge of his blood,
which all thereon hath wrought ;
And when all flesh shall ryse againe,
at the last dreadfull day,
[15] i Athanatius: i.e. St. Athanasius, 293-373. " Athanasius his;
Creed, Quodcumque vult " found a place, with musical score, in
William Hunnis's Handful! of Honeysuckles, 1583, pp. 16 ff.
[16] I, 2 MS. damaged by ink, though decipherable; 5 cosse =
exchange, barter.
132
THROUGH ADAM'S FALL
This holie signe will then appeare,
As Ephraim doth say.
[18] '
A Joy to those that faithfull heere
at everie time are tryde,
A torment to all such as leavue
heere Christ his crosse denyde.
God grant heerein we may reioyce,
lyke as st. Paule doth say,
And learne to beare the crosse of Christ
vpon vs night and day.
[17] 8 Ephraim
[18] 3 leavue
I do not find this prophecy.
read have ; 6 Paule : i.e. in Galatians vi., 12, 14.
'33
19 |
In days of yore when words did
pass for bands
Addit. MS. 15,225, fols. 29V-3<DV. The numbers of stanzas 1-5 have
been cut off in binding, and the leaf is damaged in several places, though
still decipherable. The interest of this ballad as a contemporary con
demnation of Jacobean Puritans by a Catholic poet is undeniable. No
other ballad of this nature has yet come to light.
5>eere foUown) a songe of ttje puritan.
In dayes of yore when wordes did passe for bandes,
before deceit was bread or fraud was seene,
When tounges did signe and seale with clappe of handes,
before the purt 'gainst Christians tooke their spleene, —
The maister paid, and pleased was the man,
and then vnborne was anie Puritane.
In those good daies liued hospitalitie ;
men hoarded not, nor did they hyde their pelfe ;
Then liued resident kynd Charitie,
and then plaine dealinge bouldlie show'd himselfe ;
The blacke Jacke vs'd, — noe pewter nor noe canne, —
nor men neare heard of anie Puritanne.
[i] i bandes = obligations ; 2 bread : i.e. bred.
[2] 5 blacke Jacke = a leather jar for beer, etc.
134
WHEN WORDS DID PASS FOR BANDS
[3]
But now of late they all are growne soe holie,
puer, vnspotted, alwayse vpright treadinge ;
Yet vnto practice lewd they are bent wholelie, — •
Lucifer's lantorns vnto hellmouth leadinge, —
Puer in show, an vpright holie manne,
corrupt within, and cal'd a Puritanne.
; W /;
These fellowes haue both day and nightlie meeteinge,
where Tinkers comment, most of gouldsmiths' trade ;
And there the sisters take their brothers' greeteinge,
they wreth and wrest the word which god hath made ;
They make new lawes accordinge to their functionne
against the ould and against the kinges Iniunctionne.
[s]
Then there is Racbell, maude, Doll, Jane^ and Grace,
kate starched with a ruffe halfe an inch longe ;
And mistris mince-pepin with her mumpinge face,
Peg that hates musique, yet she loues prick songe ;
And prittie malle that loues the place soe well,
she will not leaue meetinge till her bellie swell.
[6]
When these haue had their conference a space,
and they growe something wearie with longe sittinge,
And see they haue a good convenient place,
with each thinge necessarie and well fittinge ; —
[4] 4 wreth : i.e. writhe.
[5] 2 On the introduction of starch and ruffs (against the use of which
ballad-writers continually inveighed) see Stow's dnnals, 1615, p. 869.
Many proclamations restricting the making and use of starch were issued
by Queen Elizabeth ; 3 pepin : i.e. pippin ; mumpinge = grimacing ;
4 musique : MS. musiuqe ; 6 she will : read she'll.
135
IN DAYS OF YORE
*
Out goes the light, the brethren swere they loue them,
they must increase, for why, the spirit mooues them I
[7] '".""
If Puritans plucke downe the house of prayer,
oppresse the crosse whereon our sauior dyde ;
If puritans preach nothinge but dispaire,
and noe good recreation can abyde ;
And if they thus will frame a new religion,
beleeue me, I will be noe puritanne \
[8] : I
But if in Chambers wiues haue nightlie meeteinge,
and the[y] be free the time their husbandes sleepe ;
And if the spirit mooue to seuerall greeteinge,
and they may say and doe what eare vnmeete ;
And if with these vile sinnes dispence they canne,
Tie change my note and be a Puritanne \
JFim'0.
[8] 4 what eare : i.e. whate'er.
136
2O
Winter cold into summer hot
Addit. MS. 15,225, fols. 33v-35« Everything's going to the dogs,
this extremely interesting ballad tells us ; for England hangs priests as
traitors, jeers at and scorns the doctrines and faith of the Catholic
Church, and substitutes therefor a new error — "a bird of Calvin's
brood " — that neither demands nor expects obedience to Government
and God : only the true faith can help and can preserve England. The
mildness of tone is quite remarkable when one recalls the cruelties heaped
upon Catholics in James I.'s reign : it is never found in the anti-Catholic
ballads of the Jacobean writers. In connection with stanza 6, it may
be remarked that the King seems to have attempted to put a stop to the
" killing, dressing, and eating Flesh on Fish days " and in Lent, issuing
proclamations dealing with this on November 14, 1619, January 30,
1621, February 4, 1622, January 30, 1623, Decerriber 27, 1623, and
February 7, 1625.
Winter could into summer hoate
well changed now may bee ;
For thinges as strange doe come to passe,
as wee may plainlie see :
England, priestes which honour 'd hath
soe manie hundred yeares,
Doth hange them vp as Traytors now,
which causeth manie teares.
[a]
She doeth condemne her elders all,
as all the world besyde, —
Religion ould, which long hath beene
in landes both farre and wyde.
[2] I doeth : i.e. doth.
137
WINTER COLD INTO SUMMER HOT
A gospell new she hath found out,
a bird of Caluin's broode,
Abandoninge all memorie
of Christ his holie roode.
[3]
Abstinence is Papistrie,
as this new error saith ;
Fastinge, praier, and all good workes
avoyde ; for onelie faith
Doth bringe vs all to heauen straight, —
a doctrine verie strange,
Which causeth men at libertie
of vice and sinne to range.
[4]
From Angelles, honour taken is ;
from saintes, all worshippe dewe ;
The mother of our liuinge god
(a thing most strang yet true)
Compared is by manie a Jacke
vnto a safron bagge,
To a thinge of nought, to a paltrie patch,
and to our vicar's hagge !
[S3
Vnitie is cleane exilde ;
for preachers doe agree,
As doe our clockes when they strike noone —
now one, now two, now three ;
But all together never Jumpe —
when as our elders all
[5] 3 This figure foreshadows Pope's famous simile : —
lents
each
138
'Tis with our Judgments as our watches, none
Goes just alike, yet each believes his own."
WINTER COLD INTO SUMMER HOT
Of faith and doctrine did accorde
in poyntes both great and smale.
Noe restitution they teache —
pill, robbe, pole, rape, and steale.
Thine ownlie faith cleane freeth all,
amendes doth nought prevaile.
Noe vow obseru'd, noe promise kept,
flesh fry dales now afoarde ;
Which of our elders, as great sinne
and vice, was much abhorde.
I . .[7]
Fastinge did enrich the Relme,
feastinge the same distroyes ;
Single life helpt poore men's needes,
wiufde life church weale annoyes ;
Raysinge of rentes pi[c]kes poore men's purse ;
divorcem[en]tes doe devyde
The husband from his wedded wife,
whom god him selfe hath tyde.
I [8]
Obedience to magistrates
this gospell nought esteemes ;
For that their lawes in conscience
to bind it noe way deemes.
Concupiscence is counted sinne
which non[e] at all can shunne ;
Therefore in vaine they doe resist,
for neede int' vice they runne.
[6] 2 This line uses five words to express one idea, namely, pilfering.
'f. Mercurius Fumigosus, November 1-8, 1654, p. 199 : "We are not
ke men, That Pi//, Poll, Rob . . . for a little Earthly Pelf"
139
WINTER COLD INTO SUMMER HOT
[9]
Contrition a trashe is cal'd,
confession scofte and scorn'd ;
And soe is satisfaction,
purgatorie paines forlorn'd ;
Which causeth feare of sinne to flee,
where sole faith doth suffice
To amend all that is amisse, —
but non[e] thinkes soe that's wise. ,
[10]
They deeme them selues predestinantes,
yet reprobates indeede ;
Free will they will not haue ; good workes
with them are voyd of neede ; —
Which poyntes of doctrine doe destroy
eich common-wealth and land,
Religion ould in order due
makes Kingdoms longe to stand.
Their fruites doe prooue their gospell false,
their Hues most lewd are seene ;
For sinne and all Iniquetie,
the like hath never beene ;
Noe feare of god, noe dread of manne,
of Prince, nor yet of lawes ;
Almes-deedes, as all devotion,
esteemed are as strawes.
Wherefore I hould him verie wise
which doth their gospell flee,
And cleaue vnto religion ould,
and therein Hue and dye,
[9] 8 that's : MS. thates.
140
WINTER COLD INTO SUMMER HOT
As all his elders ever did
whoe afraid were to offend ;
Which feare god grant vs all, and then
our daies wee well shall end.
JFint's,
141
21
Sweet music mourns and hath
done long
Addit. MS. 15,225, fols. 35-36.
This interesting ballad was written by a lover of music and a hater of
Puritans shortly after the accession of James I. (see line 2),,in the hope
that James would relieve the " poor songmen." The Injunctions of
Queen Elizabeth referred to in stanza 10 were issued to Clergy and
Laity in the first year of her reign (1559), expressly provided for the
continuance and maintenance of singing in the Church, and forbade any
alteration whatever to be made in the livings " appointed for the main
tenance of men and children, to use singing in the church." Later on,
however, the Queen gave control of the lands intended for the support
of singers into the control of deans and chapters, by which act, said
William Chappell (Popular Music, II., 402), " she did more injury to the
cause she desired to advocate than all puritanism could effect." Elizabeth's
love for music and her own remarkable skill as a musician are matters of
general knowledge. Early in her reign she issued proclamations providing
for an increase in the number of singing men and children at Windsor
Castle, and she had singing-boys also at St. Paul's, Westminster Abbey,
and the Household Chapel. Yet only three years after her 1559
Injunctions were issued, "six articles, tending to a farther reformation
of the liturgy, were presented to the lower house of convocation, the !
last whereof was that the use of organs be removed from churches ;
which, after great debate, were so near being carried, that the rejection ;
of them was owing to a single vote, and that, too, by the proxy of an
absent member" (Hawkins's History of Music, 1875, H-» 543)-
Misappropriation of the funds which the Queen turned over to the
deans and chapters grossly increased during the reign of James I. The
conditions described in the ballad are not exaggerated, and the ballad
furnishes contemporary evidence and comment of great interest. A paper
on "The Occasions of the decay of Music in Cathedral and College
Churches " (preserved in a British Museum MS. and quoted in Chappell's
Popular Music, II., 402) informed James that, in spite of all previous
grants and the late Queen's Injunctions, the funds had been " swallowed
up by the Deans and Canons, because they are the only body of that
incorporation, and the singing men are but inferior members." In other
words, as the ballad phrases it, the " velvet beggars " alone were profiting.
142
MUSIC MOURNS AND HATH DONE LONG
[t complains also that the places of singing men are bestowed " upon
Tailors, and Shoemakers, and Tradesmen," that "divers of the said
places are bestowed upon their own men, the most of which can only
read in the church, and serve their master with a trencher at dinner, to
the end that the founder may pay the Dean's or the Prebend's man his
wages, and save the hire of a servant in the master's purse " ; that deans
and canons are living in ease and wealth, while " the poor singing men
do live like miserable beggars." It recommended to the King that the
statutes of every foundation be examined, and " if the said lands be not
employed to the true use and intention of the founder, as the members
are sworn to preserve them, the aforesaid oath is violated and broken, and
the abuse needeth reformation." So, too, does the ballad appeal to James.
Many Elizabethan ballads attacking and defending music are extant :
a number are discussed in my notes on MS. Ashmole 48 in Modern
Language Notes, XXXIV. (1919), 341. It will be observed that the
ballad proceeds along the customary lines in its defence of music : such
a defence was always felt to be necessary. Even after the Restoration
John Forbes thought it necessary to put an apology in the preface of
his Cantus : —
See how much the Royall Psalmist, Holy King David is taken up in singing
Praises to his Creator, for you shall seldom meet Him, without an Instrument in
I his Hand, and a Psalm in his Mouth : having Dedicated Fifty-three Holy Meeten
or Psalms to his Chief Musician leduthun, to compose Mustek to them. . . .
Some of the reasons for learning singing given by William Byrd in 1588
(Psalmes, Sonets, and Songs, preface) were : —
[i] It is a Knowledge easely taught, and quickly learned, where there is a
good Master, and an apt Scoller.
2 The exercise of singing is delightfull to Nature, & good to preserue the
health of Man.
3 It doth strengthen all parts of the brest, & doth open the pipes.
4 It is a singuler good remedie for a stutting & stamering in the speech.
8 The better the voyce is, the meeter it is to honour and serue God there-with :
and the voyce of man is chiefely to be imployed to that ende.
a songe in prai0e of mu0ique.
Sweete musique mournes and hath donne long
these fortie yeares and almost fiue —
God knowes it hath the greater wronge
by puritanes that are aliue,
Whose hautie, proude, disdainfull myndes
Much fault agaynst poore musique findes.
[Title] musique : MS. throughout has musiuqe.
SWEET MUSIC MOURNS
Yet haue they nothinge to replye
within godes bookes that they canne finde
Against sweete musique's harmonye,
but their owne proude, disdainfull myndes
They are soe holie, fyne, and pure,
Noe melodie they canne endure.
They doe abhorre, as devilles doe all,
the pleasant noyse of musique's sounde,
Although kinge David and st. Paule
did much commend that art profound ;
Of sence thereof they haue noe smell,
Noe more then hath the develles in hell.
w
The devilles in noe wise can abyde
the pleasant noyse of musiques sent,
As in the booke of kinges is tryde
by david and his Instrument :
When David tooke his harpe to play,
The spirit from Said vanisht away.
[5]
But marke the sequell of the thinge,
and where- vpon we doe relye,
In heaven the blessed saintes doe singe
before the Throne continnually :
" O holie, holie, lord god," they say,
" Which was, and is, for ever and aye ! "
[6]
In hell there is the contrarie, —
cohtinuall sorrow without release,
[4] 3 kinges : i.e. I Samuel xvi., 14-23 ; xix., 9.
144
AND HATH DONE LONG
Amongst the dampned companie,
where is weepinge, wailinge, and gnashinge teeth
All pleasant noyse they doe detest,
And soe doth euerie hellish beast.
[73
When that our sauiour Christ was borne <
in Betkla[h~\em, that faire Citie,
To saue mankind that was forlorne,
the Angelles songe continuallie.
Thus saintes and Angelles, in heven aboue,
And godlie men doe musique loue.
[8]
Licurgus, also, you may reade,
whoe did establishe holsome lawes,
By him alsoe it was decreede
(as manie auntiente wryters knowes),
He gaue commaund to euerie man
That noble art to learne and scanne.
[9]
In Churches, alsoe, we may knowe,
our ancient fathers did alowe
The vse of songe cum Organo
(which from the Church is taken nowe),
In skilfull partes where man and Child
Did praise our lord with voyces myld.
[10]
The Queene's Iniunctions did allowe
the laudable vse of songe to bee,
[6] 5 noyse : i.e. music. . [7] 4 songe: i.e. sung.
[8] i Licurgus : i.e. Lycurgus.
[10] i Queene's: MS. substitutes for kings.
K 145
SWEET MUSIC MOURNS
Eike to be vsde in Churches now,
yet shame they not this to denye.
Let everie man Hue by his arte,
Denye him not his due desert.
Some veluet beggars, lykewise, they
haue begde Church landes (poore songmen's right),
And in their plase doe beare a sway
in open vew to all men's sight :
Poore ragged beggars they get smal[l]e,
For velvet beggars beg vp all.
.
0 noble kinge, restore againe
Church landes and liuinges as the[y] were,
Which did poore songe men well maintaine
and little Children in the Queere.
Now skilfull songe is laid asyde,
Church landes maintaineth nought but pryde.
[13]
1 say noe more, god speede the plowe !
god saue kinge James from treators' bane !
That poore men may haue ioy enoughe,
god make him carefull for their gaine,
And eike godes glorie to advance,
God saue his grace from all mischance !
lo] 4 they : i.e. the Puritans.
12] i kinge : i.e. James I. ; 4 Queere : i.e. choir.
146
22
Calvary mount is my delight
Addit. MS. 15,225, fols. 2v-3. Written in stanzas of four long lines.
This fluent and most remarkable ballad is the work of a fervent
Catholic, probably a priest, who knew only too well the tortures meted
out to Catholics in the reign of James I. In a mood of religious fervour
and exaltation he professes an eagerness to undergo every punishment —
even hanging, bowelling, and quartering — in order to attain the joys
of Calvary Mount. Such ballads as this, passed about in MS. or in
print, may well have served to stimulate the courage of Catholic
Englishmen.
Caluarie mount is my delight,
a place I loue so well,
Calvarie mount, O that I might
deserue on thee to dwell ;
O that I might a pilgrime goe,
that sacred mount to see ;
O that I might some seruice doe,
where Christ died once for me !
O that I had some hole to hyde
my head, on thee to stay ;
To vewe the place where Jesu dyed
to wash my sinns away.
Lyke wordes then would I vtter there
that Peter sometim[e]s did :
" Lord, well it is that I am heare,
let me still heere a-bide ! "
[2] 6 Peter : see St. Matthew xvii., 4.
CALVARY MOUNT IS MY DELIGHT
. ' [3] I
Let me still heere abyde and be
and never to remooue ;
Heere is a place to harbour me,
to ponder on thy loue ;
To ponder, lord, vpon thy paines
that thou for me hast felt,
To wonder at the firvent loue,
where with thy hart did melt.
w
Loe heere I see thee faintinge goe
with Crosse which thou hast borne,
Imbrude with blood from top to toe,
lyke one that were forlorne ;
Like one forlorne, alacke for greefe !
with torm[en]ts over runne,
And alle, deare lord, to seeke releefe
for that which man hath done.
_
With vile rebukes, with scourges whipt,
most greeuous to behould,
And lapped lyke one naked stript,
as earst he had fore-tould ;
His handes and feete, with nailes full stronge^
were fixed to the roode ;
And there he hounge three houers longe,
imbrude with sacred blood ;
[6]
With sacred blood to quench men's wrath
to god for man's decay,
And with a pure and sacred bath
to wash man's sinns a-way.
[5] 3 lapped = disguised, appearing ; 4 St. Matthew xx., 17-19..
148
CALVARY MOUNT IS MY DELIGHT
Caluarie mounte, thus would I muse
if I migh[t] come to thee,
All earthlie thinges I would refuse,
might there my dwelinge bee.
[7]
Might there my dwellinge be, noe foarce
nor feare should me remooue,
To meditate with great remorse
vpon my sauiour's loue.
Noe herode nor herodiane
should cause me thence to flee ;
Noe Polat, Jew^ nor soldier
should mooue me till I dye,
[8]
Nor all the helpe that they would haue
from Caluin's cu[r]sed crue.
There would I make my tombe and graue,
and never wish for new.
Noe pursiuant I would esteeme,
nor craftie catchpole feare ;
Of gaile nor gailer nothinge deeme,
if I might harboure there.
[9]
•
Noe rope nor cruell tortour then
should cause my minde to faile ;
Nor lewde deuice of wicked men
should cause my corage quaile,
[7] 5 herodiane : i.e. Herodias ; 7 Polat : read Pilate ; 8 mooue me :
MS. substitutes for cause me.
[8] 2 crue : i.e. crew ; 5 pursuant = here specifically a priest-hunter ;
dozens of such pursuivants were employed by the authorities.
149
CALVARY MOUNT IS MY DELIGHT
On racke in tower let me be lead,
let Joynts at large be stretched ;
Let me abyde each cruell braid,
till blood frome vaines be fetched.
[10]
And if they can devise worse waies
to vtter thinges vntrue,
Let them proceede by all assaies
to frame Inventions newe ;
Let all distresse to me befale
to doe my Countrie good ;
And let the thirst of Tyrantes all
be quenched in my blood.
EH]
Let me be falslie condemned ;
let Sherife on me take charge ;
With bo[w]es and billes let me be led,
least I escape at large ;
Let me from prison passe away
on hurdle hard to lye,
To Tyburne drawne without delay
in tormentes there to dye.
[12]
Let mee be hang'd and yet, for doubt
least I be dead too soone,
Let there some devillish spirit start out
in hast to cut me downe ;
Let bowells be burnt, let paunch be fryde
in fier or I be dead ;
O London*bridg, a poule provide,
thereon to set my head.
[9] 6 joynts : MS. originally joyes.
[n] 4, [12] 2 least : i.e. lest. [12] 6 or = ere.
150
CALVARY MOUNT IS MY DELIGHT
[13]
O London, let my quarters stand
vpon thy gates to drye ;
And let them beare the world in hand
I did for treason dye ;
Let cro[w]es and kytes my carkas eate ;
let ravens their portion hau[e],
Least afterwardes my frendes intreate
to lay my corpes in graue.
Sweete Jesu, if it be thy will,
vnto my plaintes attend :
Grant g[r]ace I may continue still
thy seruant to the end ;
Grant, blessed lord, grant, sauiour sweete,
grant, Jesu, kinge of blisse,
That in thy loue I Hue and dye,
sweete Jesu, grant me this.
JFttttB*
[14] 5-8 These lines form the last stanza of No. 16.
is1
- • :' I
Amount, my soul, from earth
awhile
Addit. MS. 15,225, fols. 3V-6V. Stanzas 53-55 are written in two-
line stanzas so that they can be crowded on the last folio. The margins
are closely trimmed.
This unique ballad is a remarkable one. No man knows the glory
of the New Jerusalem save he who actually experiences it, says our ardent
Catholic poet ; yet he manages to give a concrete and detailed account
of its unparalleled joys. Into these joys, however, only true Catholics
can hope to enter : there is no place for heretics 'or for those potentates
who use Tyburn and the rack in an attempt to root out the true faith.
The other ballads in this volume describing Heaven are only slightly
Catholic in tone, and were, with slight and judicious excisions, acceptable
to Protestants. The present ballad would mortally have offended them.
Amounte, my soule, from earth awhyle,
sore vp with wings of loue,
To see where S[ain]tes and Angelles dwell
with god in blisse aboue.
Remember thou a stranger art,
a wanderinge pilgrime heere,
A pilgrime heere till thou depart
to S[ain]tes, thy fellowes, there.
.
An exile poore, in earth alone,
among professed foes —
The world, the devill, the flesh, and non[e]
but such as seeke thy woes.
152
AMOUNT, MY SOUL, FROM EARTH AWHILE
[ w
O spouse of Christ, why doest thou stay
to build thy house on sand ?
The bridgrome comes, the minstrill playes,
the manage is at hand.
[5]
A weddinge garment thou must haue, I say
(I meane a vertuous life),
For other garmentes are not gay
for such a prince's wife.
[6]
Therefore, renounce this eart[h]lie pelfe
a heavenlie race to runne,
Forsake the world, and frame thy selfe
to Hue as S[ain]tes haue donne.
[7]
Passe over ayre aizar skye
and thinges that mortall bee,
Aboue the spheare of heaven to flye,
if thou these ioyes would see.
A Citie there renowned is
for statlie structure rare,
A princlie place, adorn'd with blisse,
for costlie buildinges faire.
[4] i doest : read dost.
[5] l garment : a later 'insertion in the MS. Fcr the sake of the rhythm
omit weddinge in this line.
[7] i ayre aizar : i.e. airy azure.
153
AMOUNT, MY SOUL, FROM EARTH AWHILE
Hierusalem the place is cal'd,
most sumtuous to behould ;
The place with precious stones is wal'd,
and streetes are paued with gould.
[10]
The gates with precious pearles are framed,
there rubies doe abound ;
The precious pearles that can be namde
are there in pleantie found.
Amidst the streetes the well of life
with goulden streame doth flowe ;
Vpon whose bankes the tree of life
in statelie sort doth growe ;
Whos[e] pleasant fruites of euerie kind,
delightinge mortall eies,
Hard by whose roote there you shall find
where heauenlie manna lyes.
[13]
The Citie shines with endlesse blisse
and glorie passinge bright,
For god himselfe the Lantorne is
and lampe that giueth light.
[14] _
The bodie there of everie one
is like to Cristale fine,
And sho[w]es as bright as doth the sunne
when it most cleare doth shine.
[9] 3 place : MS. placle. [10] 3 namde : MS. substitutes for made
154
AMOUNT, MY SOUL, FROM EARTH AWHILE
There thou shalt see the Gherubins
in glorious state excell,
There Angelles and the Seraphins
and soules of saintes doe dwell.
[16]
There Noe and all the iust doe dwell,
there doe the prophets stand ;
The Patriarkes ould there doe remaine
with Cepters in their hand.
[17]
There marters and apostles Hue,
there sacred virgins stay ;
There they doe waite, there they doe giue
attendance night and day.
_ [18]
Our Ladie there most heauenlie singes,
with sweete melodious voyce ;
The saintes and all Celestiall thinges
for ioy of her reioyce.
Good Magdalene hath lefte her mone,
her sighs and sobes doe cease ;
And since her teares and plaintes are gone,
she Hues in endlesse peace.
There thousand thousand Angells bee
and soules in glorie braue ;
And everie one doth ioy to see
the ioy their fellowes haue.
[15] 2 excell : MS. substitutes for to be. [16] I Noe : i.e. Noah.
[19] 2 sighs : MS. sightes.
155
AMOUNT, MY SOUL, FROM EARTH AWHILE
[21]
The precious pearle the marchant sought,
with longe and restles toyle,
Is here to vew ; the ground he bought,
in this most happie soyle.
[22]
Tenne thousand tounges cannot expound,
nor Angells' skill indite,
The passinge pleasures there abounde,
and ioyes that doe delight.
[23]
Heere all thy faithfull frendes remaine,
here doe thy parentes dwell,
Here thou in blisse shall meete againe
with them thou louedst soe well.
[24] j
There all thy good progenitors
doe watch and wish for thee,
And thousandes of thine ancestors,
which thou didest never see.
[25]
O speachles ioy to meete our frends
and louinge kinsfolke there ;
And Hue in life that never endes
with them we loued soe deare.
[263
Noe blisse, noe pleasure there doth want
that man may wish to haue ;
Noe ioy nor braue delight [is] scant,
thou canst devise to craue.
[21] i Cf, St. Matthew xxii., 45-46. [24] 4 didest : read didst.
156
AMOUNT, MY SOUL, FROM EARTH AWHILE
[27]
If wealth or honour thou desyre,
or happie dales to see,
Here nothinge wantes thou wilt require,
for thou a kinge shalt be.
m
Thy cloathinge shale be all of blisse,
and thou a Cepter beare
And diademe, that better is
then earthlie princes weare.
[2?]
If thou desyrest daintie cheere,
or rich or costlie meate,
The bread and drinke of life are there,
and foode that Angells eate.
[30]
In aged yeares if thou request
to liue with faithfull frendes,
With saintes and Angells thou shalt rest
in life that never endes.
. [3I].
If learning, skill, or wit thou would,
in booke of life that's there,
Most plainlie there thou shalt behould
the thinges thou knowest not heere.
[32]
Or if thou would, by good advice,
the will of god goe doe,
Here is the priest and sacrifice,
the Church and alter, too.
[31] 4 knowest : read know'st.
157
AMOUNT, MY SOUL, FROM EARTH AWHILE
[33] _ j
Here god himselfe doth heare our plaintes
and pittieth cristiane cause ;
Here all his frendes and holie saintes
be-hould him face to face.
[34] _ ]
Here euerie word and godlie thought,
each greife and great annoy,
And euerie worke in vertue wrought
rewarded is with ioy.
[35]
The widdowes myte here [has] rewarde,
could water wantes not meede,
For god respectes and hath regard
to each good worke and deede.
[36] . j
Noe eye hath scene, nor eare hath h[e]arde,
noe creatur ever found,
Nothinge on earth may be compar'd
to ioyes that there abound.
[37] \
The pleasures thou shalt there behould
were not with treasure bought,
For gould nor pearles nor siluer sould,
or thinges that nature wrought.
. [38]
Noe value worthie was to buy
the ioyes are heere to see,
Till Christ, the sonne of god, did dye
to purchace them for thee.
[33] 2 cause : read case.
158
IAMOUNT, MY SOUL, FROM EARTH AWHILE
[39]
O then what ioyes shall these be deemde,
how great and passing good,
Which with noe price would be redeemde,
but with our sauiour's blood ?
O blisfull ioyes, nothinge there was
in heauen or earth belowe,
But Christ alone to bring to passe
that man such ioyes should knowe.
[41]
St. Paule that did these secretes see
could not their pleasures name ;
Their glorie noe man knowes but hee
that doth enioy the same.
Noe neede is there, noe want of wealth,
no death nor deadlie paine,
Where Christ, the cause of all our health
and heauenlie life, doth raigne.
[43]
There thou shalt rest foarth of the reach
and waies of wicked men,
Blasphemous tounges and filthie speac[h]e
shall not annoy thee then.
[44]
Noe threatinge wordes to prison vile
shall terrific thy mynd,
But Angeles sweete and saintes most mild
will welcome the[e] most kind.
159
AMOUNT, MY SOUL, FROM EARTH AWHILE
[45]
For noe blasphemers there remaine,
non[e] that in blood delight,
Noe vile adulterer there doth raigne,
noe lewde nor wicked wight ;
[46]
Noe rude nor raillinge heretikes
that new religions make,
Noe temperisinge scismatickes
that Christ and Church for-sake
[47]
Noe persecutinge potentate
doth rule and gouerne there ;
Noe workmaister or pursivant
hath office there to beare.
[48]
There tiburne nothinge hath to doe,
noe rope nor racke is knowne ;
Tormenters all and sathan, too,
are fullie over-throwne.
[49]
There triumph over sinne is wonne,
the devill and death devided,
The kingdome of the iust begunne,
and they in glorie placed.
[47] l potentate substituted in MS. for protestant.
significant — a direct slur at James I.
[49] 4 placed : no rhyme here.
1 60
The change
[AMOUNT, MY SOUL, FROM EARTH AWHILE
[so]
Concupiscence is rooted out,
temptations all doe cease,
Noe motions of the flesh dare roote
in thy triumphant peace.
[51]
Nothinge that tastes of wickednesse,
nothinge defield with sinne,
Doth harbour there or hath accesse
that place to enter in.
For it was made for purified soules
before the world was made,
Where they possesse both crownes and states
of ioyes that never fade.
[S3]
Then, o my soule, take thou thy winges
and faith of hope and loue,
And soare alofte to vew the thinges
prepar'd for thee aboue.
[54]
O happie day when thou shalt leaue
this flesh those ioyes to see !
What hart can thinke and once conceiue
the ioyes remaine for thee ?
[51] 2 defield: U defil'd.
[5 3] 2 and faith : read of faith.
161
AMOUNT, MY SOUL, FROM EARTH AWHILE
[55]
O mightie god, grant one request
and boone that I shall craue,
O lord, my sute is there to rest
and there my dwellinge haue !
JTfttC*,
162
Jerusalem, my happy home
Addit. MS. 15,225, fols. 36V-37V. Reprinted from this MS. in
The Month, September, 1871, III., 232 ff., with no reference to other
versions, in John Julian's Dictionary ofHymnotogy, 1907, p. 580, 2nd ed.,
p. 1656; and in Eleanor M. Brougham's anthology, Com from Olde
Fieldes, 1918, pp. 19-24.
Other early versions of this not unjustly celebrated hymn are : —
1 . " The zealous Querister's songe of Torke, in the prayse of heaven,
to all faithfull singers and godlye readers in the world. To the Tune
of 0 man in desperation" 80 lines, in the Shirburn Ballads, pp. 1 70 fF.
This version (5.) differs so widely in order of stanzas, in omission of
certain stanzas found in the MS. and in the introduction of additional
stanzas, and in phraseology that no attempt is made at a complete
collation here, only a very few of the variations being noted.
2. " Another on the same subiect " [i.e. " The description of heauenly
lerusalem" : cf. the following ballad, No. 25], in The Song of Mary The
Mother of Christ, 1601, pp. 38-41. This version (^.) consists of 19 four-
line stanzas, of which three are identical — i.e. stanza I is thrice repeated,
evidently as a sort of refrain. In the foot-notes, where elaborate collations
are made of the MS. and A., the superiority of the MS. readings (as in
stanza 8) will generally be obvious.
3. "The true description of the everlasting ioys of Heaven. To the
Tune of, O man in desperation" 152 lines, a black-letter ballad in a
Bodleian collection (4to Rawlinson, 566, fol. 167) "printed for F.
Coles, T. Vere, and J. Wright." This ballad was registered under the
title of its first line on December 14, 1624, and has been only partially
reprinted, — by the editor of the Shirburn Ballads in continuation of his
incomplete MS. version. It is an apparently unique copy, but calls for
no special attention here.
4. " The Queristers song of yorke in praise of heaven," Addit. MS.
38,599, fols. 1 33v-i 34V. A line of music, preceded by the words " this
is the tune," follows the title. This version (F.) consists of 19 eight-
line stanzas. It is a contemporary copy of the ballad that was registered
for publication in 1624, and is practically identical with the Shirburn
and Rawlinson copies. "The Seconde parte" begins with stanza 13,
at the point where 5. breaks off.
163
JERUSALEM, MY HAPPY HOME
I can throw no light on the initials F. B. P., though the F. may be
an abbreviation for " Father " or the P. for " Priest." Various identifi
cations of these initials are proposed in Julian's Dictionary ; while
Gillow (Catholic Record Society's Publications, XVI., 421) thinks that
the initials should be " J. B. P.," that is, " John Brereley, Priest," an
alias of Laurence Anderton, S.J. (1575-1643). The tune of Diana
\and her darlings dear\ is evidently equivalent to O man In desperation,
but neither of these tunes was found by William Chappell (cf. Popular
Music, II., 770). The ballad is, it hardly need be said, a distinctly
Catholic production, and in the printed copy lines 93-98 (stanza 23) were
omitted. For Jerusalem ballads in general, consult Philipp Wackernagel's
Das deutsche Kmhenlied, passim. A comparison should also be made
between this ballad and the three other similar ballads printed in this
volume.
a 0ong ma&[e]
To the Tune of Diana.
.
Hierusalem, my happie home,
when shall I come to thee ?
When shall my sorrowes haue an end ?
thy ioyes when shall I see ?
[2] _
O happie harbour of the saintes,
O sweete and pleasant soyle,
In thee noe sorrow may be founde,
noe greefe, noe care, noe toyle.
[3]
In thee noe sickenesse may be seene,
noe hurt, noe ache, noe sore :
There is noe death nor vglie devill,
there is life for euermore.
[2] I harbour : Citty (4.) ; 4 stanza 3 is not in the Shirburn co
Stanza 4 precedes stanza 3 in A.
[3] i seene : found (A.) ; 3 In thee there is no dread of death
4 there is : there's (A.).
164
JERUSALEM, MY HAPPY HOME
W
Noe dampishe mist is scene in thee,
noe could nor darksome night ;
There everie soule shines as the sunne,
there god himselfe giues light.
[si
There lust and lukar cannot dwell,
there envie beares noe sway ;
There is noe hunger, heate, nor coulde,
but pleasure everie way.
Hierusalem, Hierusalem,
god grant I once may see
Thy endlesse ioyes, and of the same
partaker aye to bee.
[7]
Thy wales are made of precious stones ;
thy bulwarkes, diamondes square ;
Thy gates are of right Orient pearle,
exceedinge riche and rare.
[4] I There is no dampe nor foggy mist (4.) ; 3 soule : Saint
[5] I Stanza 5 is not in A. It has instead : —
There is no raine, no sleete, no snow,
no filth may there be found :
There is no sorrow, nor no care,
all ioy doth there abound,
and then repeats stanza i.
A.
with g
glorious
165
[6] I Stanza 6 is not in A.
[7] 2 thy streetes paued with golde (^4.) ; 3 are ... Orient : are eke
of precious (A.) ; 4 most glorious to beholde (A.).
JERUSALEM, MY HAPPY HOME
[8]
Thy terrettes and thy Pinacles
with Carbuncles doe shine ;
Thy verie streetes are paued with gould,
surpassinge cleare and fine.
[9]
Thy houses are of Ivorie,
thy windoes Cristale cleare ;
Thy tyles are mad[e] of beaten gould, —
O god, that I were there !
[10]
Within thy gates nothinge doeth come
that is not passinge cleane ;
Noe spider's web, noe durt, noe dust,
noe filthe may there be seene.
Ay my sweet e home, hierusaleme,
would god I were in thee ;
Would god my woes were at an end,
thy ioyes that I might see !
[12]
Thy saintes are crown'd with glorie great,
they see god face to face ;
They triumph still, they still reioyce,
most happie is their case.
[8] i Thy Pinacles and Carbuncles (^4.) ; 2 Carbuncles : Diamondes
.) ; 3, 4 Thy houses couered are with golde,/most perfect, pure and
fine (A.).
[9] I Stanzas 9-14 are not in A. ; 3 And tyles of burnish t bright red
gould (5.).
[10] 2 passinge cleane : verye cleere (5.) ; 3 noe durt . . . dust : nor
filthy thinge (5). ; 4 in thee may once appeare (5.).
[i i] 1-4 not in 5. [12] 4 Sbirburn version ends here.
1 66
JERUSALEM, MY HAPPY HOME
[13]
Wee that are heere in banishment
continuallie doe mourne ;
We sighe and sobbe, we weepe and weale,
perpetually we groane.
/
[Hi
Our sweete is mixt with bitter gaule,
our pleasure is but paine, .
Our ioyes scarce last the lookeing on,
our sorrowes still remaine ;
But there they liue in such delight,
such pleasure, and such play,
As that to them a thousand yeares
doth seeme as yeaster-day.
[16]
Thy Viniardes and thy Orchardes are
most beutifull and faire,
Full furnished with trees and fruites,
most wonderfull and rare.
[17]
Thy gardens and thy gallant walkes
continually are greene ;
There gro[w]es such sweete and pleasant flowers
as noe where eles are seene.
[14] 4 Stanza 15 comes next to the last stanza in A.
[15] 3 That thousand thousand yeares agoe (A.).
[16] 1-4 not in A.
[17] 3 such : the (A.) ; 4 as ... are : that euer erst was (A.).
167-
JERUSALEM, MY HAPPY HOME
[i 8]
There is nector and Ambrosia made,
there is muske and Civette sweete ;
There manie a faire and daintie drugge
are troden vnder feete.
[19]
There Cinomon, there sugar, gro[w]es ;
there narde and balme abound.
What tounge can tell or hart conceiue
the ioyes that there are found ?
[Thy happy Saints (Jerusalem)
doe bathe in endlesse blisse :
None but those blessed soules can tell
how great thy glory is.]
[20]
Quyt through the streetes with siluer sound
the flood of life doe flowe ;
Vpon whose bankes, on everie syde,
the wood of life doth growe.
[21]
There trees for euermore beare fruite,
and evermore doe springe ;
There euermore the Angels sit,
and evermore doe singe.
1 8] 1-4 not in A.
19] 2 there, Balme springs from the ground (A.).
190] 1-4 added from A.
20] i sound : streames (A.) ; 2 doe : read does.
21] 3 Angels : Saints doe (A.).
1 68
JERUSALEM, MY HAPPY HOME
[22]
There David standes, with harpe in hand,
as maister of the Queere.
Tenne thousand times that man were blest
that might this musique heare.
Our Ladie singes magnificat,
with tune surpassinge sweete,
And all the virginns beare their partes,
sitinge aboue her feete.
[24] -.
Te Deum doth sa[i]nt Ambrose singe,
saint Augustine dothe the like ;
Ould Simeon and Zacharie
haue not their songes to seeke.
There Magdalene hath left her mone,
and cheerefullie doth singe,
With blessed saintes whose harmonie
in everie streete doth ringe.
[26]
Hierusalem, my happie home,
would god I were in thee ;
Would god my woes were at an end,
thy ioyes that I might see !
Jftnte,
23 I -[24] 2 do not appear in the printed (Rawlinson) ballad or in F.
23 4 aboue : read about (A.).
"24 2 dothe : A. omits ; 3 and : and good (A.).
^25] 2 cheerefullie: she likewise (A.).
26] 2-4 A. omits and here repeats lines [i] 2-4.
169
25
Jerusalem, thy joys divine
Addit. MS. 15,225, fols. 39-42^ Text reprinted from this MS. in
The Month, September, 1 87 1, and said to be a translation by Father Henry
Walpole,1 S.J., from St. P. Damian's Ad perennem vlt<z fontem (cf. Dublin
Review, CXXXIIL, 354)- This editor was unaware that another version
(^4.) of the ballad occurs in The Song of Mary the Mother of Christ , . .
With The description of heauenly lerusalem, 1601, pp. 30-37, whence it is
reprinted in Edward Farr's Select Poetry of the Reign of Elizabeth, pp. 427 ff.
Nor did he note the gross error in the MS. which makes the first
stanza begin with lines 5-8 instead of lines 1-4 (cf. notes on these lines).
Version A., called " The description of heauenly Jerusalem," consists of
52 four-line stanzas : the MS. version is twelve lines longer, and affords
several readings superior to those of A. The chief variations are given
in the foot-notes.
This ballad well deserves a place in the present collection not only
for the purposes of comparison with the other descriptions of heaven
printed herein, but also for its intrinsic merits. As always there is a
tendency to make the description so specific as to verge on the ridiculous,
but on the whole the picture presented is attractive. Some of the stanzas
(5 if.) remind one of the celebrated passages in Keats's Eve of St. Agnes.
a pri0oner'0
My thirstie soule desyres her drought
at heavenlie fountains to refresh ;
My prisoned mynd would faine be out
of chaines and fetters of the flesh.
I Lines 5-8 should be here, and lines 1-4 should open the first stan:
as in A. The arrangement in the MS. destroys the sense. The phrase
"The vnder songe " is not in A., and applies only to lines 5-8.
1 Walpole was executed for religion at York on April 17, 1595. The
best account of his life is that of an Anglican minister, Augustus Jessopp,
in One Generation cf a 'Norfolk House, 1878.
170
JERUSALEM, THY JOYS DIVINE
The vnder songe.
Ikerusalem, thy ioyes devine —
noe ioyes may be compar'd to them ;
Noe people blessed soe as thine,
noe Cittie like hierusalem.
She looketh vp vnto her state
from whence she downe by sinne did slyde,
She mournes the more the good she lost,
for present ill she doeth abyde.
She longes, from roughe and dangerous seas,
to harbour in the hauen of blisse,
Where safelie ancoreth at her ease
and shore of sweete contentment is.
From bannishment she more and more
desyres to see her countrie deare ;
She sittes and sendes her sighes before ;
her ioyes and treasures all be there.
I [3] '
From Babilon she would retorne
vnto her home and towne of peace,
Hierusalem^ where ioyes abound,
continnue still, and never cease.
There blusteringe winter never blowes,
nor summer's parchinge heate doth harme.
It never freeses there nor snowes ;
the weather euer temperate warme.
[i] 2 may : to (A.) ; 5 She : i.e. My thirstie soule of line I ; her
the (A.) ; 8 ill : euill (A.) ; doeth : i.e. doth.
[2] 3 ancoreth : anchor (A.).
171
JERUSALEM, THY JOYS DIVINE
W
The trees doe blossom, bud, and beare,
the birdes doe ever chirpinge singe,
The fruit is mellow all the yeare,
they haue an euerlastinge springe ;
The pleasant gardens ever keepe
their hearbes and flowers, fresh and greene ;
All sortes of pleasant, daintie fruites
at all times there are to be seene.
[s]
The lillie white, the ruddie rose,
the crimsone and carnation flowers,
Be wattered there with honie dewes
and heavenlie droppes of goulden showers.
Pome-grannat (prince of fruit), the peach,
the daintie date, and pleasant figge,
The almond, muscadell, and grape,
exceedinge good and wonderous bigge ;
[6]
The lemmond, Orange, medler, Quince,
the apricocke, and Indie spice,
The Cherrie, warden, plumbe, and peare, —
more sortes then were in Paradice, —
The fruite more eisome, toothsome, farre
then that which grew on Adames tree ;
With whose delightes assailed were,
and both suppressed, Eaue and hee.
[4] 2 chirpinge : chirpe and (A.) ; 7 .pleasant . . . fruites : dainl
plants and fruites (A.).
[6] 2 Indie : Indian (.4.) ; 5 With fruite more tooth-some, eye-some,
faire (A.) ; 6 Adames : i.e. Adam's ; 8 and both suppressed : Wher-
with suppris'd were (A.) ; Eaue : i.e. Eve.
172
JERUSALEM, THY JOYS DIVINE
[7]
The swellinge, Odoriferous balme
most sweetely there doth sweate and droppej
The fruitfull and victorious palme
layes out her mountie loftie tooppe ;
The river wine most pleasant flowes,
more pleasant then the honie combe,
Vpon whose bankes the sugar growes,
enclos'd in reedes of Cinomond.
[8]
The wales of Jasper stone be built,
most rich and faire that ever was ;
The streetes and houses paued and guilt
with gould more cleare then Christall glasse.
Her gates in equall distance bee,
and eac[h]e a glisteringe margerite,
Which commers-in farre of[f] may see, —
a gladsome and a glorious sight.
[9]
Her inward Chambers of Delight
be decte with pearle and precious stone ;
The Doares and posternes all be white,
of wrought and burnisht Ivorie bone,
Her sunne doth never eclips nor cloud,
her moone doth never there wax wanne ;
The lambe with lighte hath her endowde,
whose glorie pen cannot explane.
[10]
The glorious saintes there dwellers bee,
in number more then man can thinke,
[7] 4 mountie . . . tooppe : lofty mounting top (A.).
[9] i of: and (A.) ; 5 eclips : Clipse (A.) ; 6 there wax : wax nor
(A.) ; 7 endowde : endued (A.).
[10] i there : her (A.).
173
JERUSALEM, THY JOYS DIVINE
Soe manie in a companie
as loue in likelinesse doth thinke.
The Starrs, in brightnesse, they doe passe ;
in swiftnesse, arrowes frome a bo[w]e ;
In strength and feircenesse, steele and brasse ;
in lightnesse, fire ; in whitenesse, snowe.
Their cloathinge is more softe then silke,
with guirdles guirt of beaten gould ;
They in their handes (more white then milke),
of Palme triumphant, branches hould ;
Their faces, shininge like the sunne,
shoote out their gladsome, glorious beames ;
The feild is fought, the battell woone,
their heades be crown'd with diademes.
Rewarde, as merit, different is ;
distinct, their Joy and happinesse ;
But each, in Joy of others' blis,
doth as his owne the same possesse :
Soe each in glorie doth abounde,
and all their glories doe excell ;
But where as all to each redownd,
whoe canne th' exceedinge glorie tell ?
[13]
Triumphant marters, you may heare
recount their dangers, which doe cease.
And noble Citicens ever weare
their happie gownes of ioy and peace.
[10] 4 in . . . thinke : in likenes doth them linke (A.) ; 5 doe passe
surpasse (A.); J and feircenesse : in firmnes (.4.).
[l l] I is : are (A.) ; 3 more, then : as, as (A.) ; 6 out : forth (A.}
[12] I merit : vertue (^4.).
[13] i marters: warriers (A.) \ 3 ever weare: euery where (^
4 gownes : gaines (A.).
174
JERUSALEM, THY JOYS DIVINE
There learned clarkes, with sharpened wittes,
their maker's wonderous workes doe tell.
The Judges graue on benc[h]e doe sitte,
to Judge the tribes of Israeli.
[HI
The glorious courtiers ever there
attend on person of their kinge,
With Angells, ioyned in a Queere,
melodious himmes of praises singe.
The virginne chast, in lillie white,
the marteres clad in scarlet red,
The holie fathers which did write,
weare Lawrell garelandes on their heads.
[15]
Each Confesser a goulden crowne,
adorn'd with pearle and precious stone,
Th' apostles (pearles in renowne)
like princes sit in regall throne ;
Queene mother, virgine Iminent, —
then saintes and Angels more devine, —
Like sunne amids the firmament,
aboue the planetes all doth shine.
[16]
The King, that heavenlie pallace rules,
dothe beare vpon his goulden sheild
A crosse in signe of triumph, — gules
erected in a vardiant feild.
His glorie saith as doeth behooue
him in his manhood for to take,
[14] 4 himmes of praises : praise of hymmes to (A.) ; 5-8 — [15] 1-4
are not in A.
[15] 3 pearles : i.e. peerless.
[16] i that : i.e. who that ; 4 vardiant : i.e. verdant (A.) ; 5 saith :
read such (^4.).
175
JERUSALEM, THY JOYS DIVINE
Whose godhead earth, and heauen aboue,
and all that dwell therein did make.
[17]
Lyke frendes, all partners as in blis
with Christ^ their lord and maister deare ;
Lyke spouses, they the brydgroome kis,
whoe feasteth them with heauenlie cheere :
With tree of life and manna sweete,
which, tasted, doth such pleasure bringe
As non[e] to Judge thereof be meete
but such as banquet with the kinge.
[18]
With Cherubims their winges they mooue
and mount in contemplation highe ;
With Seraphims the[y] burne in loue,
the beames of glorie be soe nighe.
The virgin's Children deare they bee,
her louinge sonne for to imbrace,
And Jesus his brethren, for to see
his heavenlie father's glorious face.
[19]
O sweete aspecte, vision of peace,
happie regard, and heauenlie sight !
O en[d]les ioy without surcease,
perpetuall day which hath noe night !
O well and wale, fountaine of life,
ofspringe of everlastinge blis,
Eternall sunne, resplendant light,
and eminent cause of all that is !
[17] i as : read are (A.) ; 6 tasted, such : taste, such a (A.) ; 8 such
as : they which (A.).
[18] 5-8 not in A. ; 7 Jesus his : i.e. Jesus's.
[19] 5 and wale : of weale (A.) ; 6 ofspringe : a spring (A.).
176
JERUSALEM, THY JOYS DIVINE
[20]
Riuer of pleasure, sea of delight,
garden of glorie ever greene !
O glorious glasse and mirror bright,
wherein all truth is euer scene !
O princlie palace, royall court,
monarchall seate, imperiall throne,
Where kinge of kinges and soueraigne lord
for ever ruleth all alone, —
; [21]
Where all the glorious saintes doe see
the secretes of the deitie, —
The godhead and, in persons three,
the super-blessed trinitie :
The depth of wisdome most profounde,'
all puisant, high sublimitie,
The breadth of loue, without all bound,
in endlesse longe eternitie.
[22]
The heauie earth belowe by kynd
aboue ascendes the mountinge fier,
Be this the Center of my mynd
and loftie speare of her desyre !
The Chased deare doe take the soyle,
the tyred hart the thicke and wood ;
Be this the comfort of my toyle,
my refuge, hope, and soueraigne good.
[23]
The marchant cutes the seas for gaine,
the soldier serues for his renowne,
[20] 4 euer : clearely (A.). [21] 3 and : one (A.).
• [22] 4 speare : i.e. sphere ; 6 thicke : thickes (A.).
[23] i cutes : i.e. cuts ; 2 serues for : serueth (A.).
M 177
JERUSALEM, THY JOYS DIVINE
The tilman plowes the ground for graine,—
be this my ioy and lastinge crowne !
The falkener seekes to see a flight,
the hunter beates to see his gamme, —
Longe thou, my soule, to see that sight,
and labor to enioy the same.
Noe houre without some one delight
which he endevours to attaine, —
Seeke thou, my soule, both day and night
this one, which euer shall remaine :
This one containes all pleasure true ;
all other pleasures are but vaine,
Bid thou the rest, my soule, adew,
and seeke alone this one to gaine.
[25]
Goe count the grasse vpon the ground,
or sandes that be vpon the shoare,
And when you haue the number found,
the ioyes thereof be manie more.
More thousand, thousand yeares they last
and lodge within the happie minde,
And when soe manie yeares be past,
yet more and more bee still behind.
[26]
Far more they be then we can weene,
they doe our Judgment much excell ;
Noe eare hath hard nor eie hath seene,
noe pen can wryte, noe tounge can tell.
[23] 6 see his : view the (A.). [24] i houre : one (A.),
[25] i Goe : to (A.) ; 4 thereof: heereof (A.).
178
JERUSALEM, THY JOYS DIVINE
An Angell's tonge cannot recyte
the endlesse ioyes of heauenlie blis,
Which, beinge whollie infinite,
behond all speach and wrytinge is.
We can imagine but a shade, —
it never entred into thought
What ioy he is enioyn'd that made
all ioy, and them that ioy, of nought.
My soule cannot the ioyes contayne, —
let her, lord, enter into them,
For euer with thee to remayne,
within thy towne hierusalem.
Jfinte.
[27] 3 What ioyes he hath enioyed, that made (//.).
179
If England will take heed
Sloane MS. 1896, fols. 56v-58. This curious ballad, with its slurs
at " the Romish rout," " popish tyrants," and " prateing Papists,""
affords a striking contrast to the ballads from Additional MS. 15,225.
In 1560 the Spanish Ambassador wrote to Philip II. : "Two-
thousand families of Flemish Protestants are established in England,"
and by 1570 Flemings had "crowded across the Channel in tens of|
thousands" (Froude's History, 1870, VII., 202 ; X., 106). The ballad j
was written about 1570 — apparently its author refers to the Northera
Rebellion of 1569 in the last stanza — and reproaches those Engl \shmea
who objected to the influx of oppressed Protestants as if these unfortunate-jl
refugees came " to make things dear and vanish wealth away." The II
ballad, then, has some historical value. Notice the internal rhyme iaj|
the fifth line of each stanza.
Dotty blesse t\)w realme for
receding of straungers being persecuted
for ttye gospell, alttyougt) some Do repine
ttjerat.
If England will take heede,
as cause ther is indeede,
Then let them lo[o]k about,
and wede abuses out.
For if they range, the state will change
from weale to wo, no doubt.
It is not as some deeme,
which by their carping seme
1 80
IF ENGLAND WILL TAKE HEED
Pore straungers to invay,
as all the matter laye —
That they be here to make thinges deare
and banishe wealth away.
Theise men, as may apeare,
came never yet so neare
The scripture to discerne ;
wherin we ought to learne
With those to beare that strangers are
their stomakes are to[o] sterne.
w
It semes well by their hast
in tyme of turmoyles past,
Ye lovde your ease and slepe
with house and landes to keepe ;
Else would not you pore strangers now
dispise, that succor seeke.
[5]
If they had bene exilde,
as others were turmoylde,
And so had learnde to knowe
what kindenesse suche did showe,
As straungers are to straungers were
suche blastes they would not blowe.
We would as well as theise
that god and prince may please,
This englishe yle to guyde
and for the same provyde ;
As it may gaine a wealthfull raign
with all good thinges besyde.
[2] 3 invay = inveigh ; 4 all : read if.
181
IF ENGLAND WILL TAKE HEED
And eke we wishe also
that suche as come and goe
From forraine realmes about
may well be syfted out :
If sound they be, and hither fle,
to voyde the romishe route.
[8]
And suche as be not found
sincerely bent and sound,
But make it their pretence
and have their secrete sence,
For game to fyshe, to theise we wishe
let them be banished hence.
[9]
Howbeit suche straungers poore,
as we have bene to fore,
That fle the bloudy trayne,
where popishe tirantes raygne, —
Let vs no wise such gestes despise,
but well them entertayne.
[10]
Thou shalt not be the worse,
o england, if thou nourse
Theise exiles come of late
(What so theise papistes prate ?),
Who, to retaine their cbrist, are faine
to chose this banisht state.
But god with good successe
in mercy shall the[e] blesse ;
182
IF ENGLAND WILL TAKE HEED
And make thy fruites abound,
thy cattell, and thy ground, •
And corne by heape shall force a cheap,
if thou in fayth be sound.
And eke if thou repent
thy synne and tyme mispent,
And lyve as god doth will
in his apointed still,
Then god, in love, that raignes above
shall the[e] defend from ill.
I t'3]
As for our noble Quene
in trouble she hath bene
For truth, and therfore nowe
poore straungers doth alowe
A quyet state, thoughe brablers prat,
they wot not why nor ho we.
JTtttta.
[il] 5 heape = a definite measure, cheap = a bargain.
[13] I Quene : i.e. Elizabeth ; 2 Possibly an allusion to her imprison
ment by Queen Mary, or to the Catholic Rising of 1569 ; but only a
general reference to religious disturbances may be intended.
183
. 27
A happy wind those locusts hence
doth blow
From a unique broadside in the Library of the Society of Antiquaries,
London (Lemon's Catalogue of Broadsides, p. 67) : printed in white-letter
type in four columns, with one wood-cut showing the four personages,
Truth, Time, Popery, and Politic.
On May 6, 1624, James I. issued A Proclamation charging all I e suites,
Seminaries, 8$c., to depart the Land, which recites that the King " doth by
this his Proclamation strictly charge and command all lesuites, Seminary
Priests, and all others that haue taken Orders by any authority deriued
from the Sea \sic\ of Rome, now resident, or being within this His
Maiesties Realme of England, or the Dominion of Wales, That they, and
euery one of them, doe before the fourteenth day of lune next ensuing
the date hereof, make their repaire to some of His Maiesties Ports within
the said Realme or Dominion, and from thence to Transport themselues
out of the same, with the first opportunitie of Winde and Weather, into
some forreine parts beyond the Sea, and neuer after to returne into this
Realme." Those found in England or Wales after June 14 "shall
vndergoe the vttermost seuerity and punishment, which by the Lawes,
in that behalfe made, can bee inflicted vpon them." (The copy of this
proclamation in the British Museum has the press-mark €.83. k. 1/3.)
Line 88 shows that the broadside was printed sometime between May 6
and June 14, 1624. Earlier proclamations to this same effect had been
issued by James I. in February, 1604 ; June, 1606, and June, 1610.
crabete of cime:
Eoatrrn tot'tjj }3optsfj
Great Britaine tO Rome.
anfc 5Tntt|)> ?30p£?g anfc
of tjjem twlaring tojat setuice tftes twtt* tone
/o //5^/r Masters.
184
THOSE LOCUSTS HENCE DOTH BLOW
TIME.
A Happy winde those Locusts hence doth blow
That would our Church and Common- wealth o'rethrowe;
Who all (so ill) did play their parts so well,
Stout Actors and true Factors vnto Hell,
Men's soules and hearts from God and King to steale,
Cum Priuilegio, vnder Hel's great Scale ;
That true Religion (to whom all must stoope),
Like [a] Decaying Tree, did seeme to droope,
Romis caterpillers did so multiply,
And in her boughes and branches lurking lye,
That all true hearts that saw how thicke they swarm'd
Were (God be thanked) much more fear'd then harnrd.
Yet no conniuence or no toleration
Inferr'd a feare of any alteration ;
But when their Insolence was at the height,
Then topsie turuy downe it tumbled streight.
When TIME'S Great Maker (the most high ETERNAL)
In mercy looked from his Throne supernall,
And saw the Euils which began to grow
In his deare Vine, here Militant below,
HE to my Daughter TRVTH gaue straight command
That SHEE those dang'rous ERRORS should withstand.
Then vp I tooke vpon my aged Backe
This load of Vanitie^ this Pedler's packe,
This Trunke of Trash, and Romish Trumperies,
Deluding showes, infernall forgeries.
This Burden backe to Rome Pie beare againe
From thence it came, there let it still remaine.
TRVTH.
Deare Father, though I seem'd asleepe a while,
'Twas but to note their Insolence and Guile,
Their vndermining trickes, their iugling shifts,
Their Practice, politicke, and deuillish drifts ;
Whilst vnder shadowes and meere showes of TRVTH,
They sought to blinde and coozen age and youth,
A HAPPY WIND
Which my Great Master, GOD Omnipotent,
Foresaw ; and, seeing, timely did preuent.
The Sunne-Beames of his Gospell he displayes,
Whose glorious lights (eternall, piercing Rayes)
Shines with such burning heate through TRVTH'S bright
. Glasse
That errors are consumed like withered grasse.
But say, old Father TIME, what's that, I pray,
Which on your backe you beare so swift away ?
TIME.
Beloued Daughter, I haue said before
It is the Figure of the purple Whore,
Which, like a fugitiue, I beare with shame
From Tything vnto Tything, whence she came.
But what is Hee that followes thee behinde,
Yet to ore-take thee seemes no way inclined ?
TRVTE.
It is a trusty, seruiceable Don,—
A Vassall to the Beast of Babylon, —
Who doth his best and worst, where he doth come,
To make all Kingdomes subiect vnto Rome.
He followes TRVTH, but 'tis farre off you see ;
He neuer meanes to lay true hold on MEE.
Yet with my Robes himselfe doth oft disguise,
And make the simple swallow downe his lyes.
Indeed hee's but a Furie in man's shape,
His name is Politicize, Religion's Ape.
And, I perceiue, his minde he faine would breake
To your sweet Load ; Harke, he beginnes to speake,
POLITICK.
Say, wherefore are you hence in poste thus riding ?
1 86
THOSE LOCUSTS HENCE DOTH BLOW
POPERT.
To Rome againe, for here is no abiding ;
Our labour's lost, my deare adopted Sonne,
And all that we haue done is quite vndone.
The things we thought more secret then the night,
TIME and his Daughter TRVTH hath brought to light.
POLITICK.
Al times and seasons I with care haue watcht,
And sate on Egges, in hope they would be hatcht ;
Which, had they taken life, had been a brood
Of Cockatrices (for our Gen'rall good).
They were my scrues, my engins, and my trickes,
Surpassing Machiuilian Politicks.
Oh had they come to haue a happy birth,
'T had beene an vniuersall day of mirth ;
O[u]r great Cause Catholike had beene aduanc'd,
And all our enemies discountenanc'd.
Then came a Parliament, whose weighty stroake,
Found out my Nest, and all my Egges they broke.
Thus (Father) all our paines and labour's lost,
And you and I must needs depart this Coast.
The Catholikes of vs are growne suspitious —
Our lesuit-Priests haue beene so auaritious,
And with such holinesse haue pick'd their purse,
Which being spyde, our cause is much the worse ;
And thus old TIME and TRVTH hath giuen such light
That Catholikes themselues distaste vs quite.
Then let's be logging, here's no staying here,
The fourteenth day of lune is full of feare,
For then a Proclamation doth take force,
To Hang vs all. Pray God it proue no worse.
TRFTH.
This sweet Discourse exceeding pleasing was,
Prais'd be the GOD of TRVTH that brings to passe
A HAPPY WIND
These wondrous things for his beloued VINE,
Which makes her Militant on Earth to shine,
And by his mercy here such Grace is giu'n
That shee shall shine Triumphantly in Heau'n.
TIME.
And TIME ascribes all praise and thankes therefore
Vnto his Glorious Name for euermore.
188
28 If -
Famous Brittany, give thanks
Reprinted from a unique black-letter broadside in the Pepys Collec
tion, I., 60. Part I. is printed in three columns, Part II. in two, each
separated by a heavy rule. There are three good wood-cuts. The
margins are badly torn : in stanza 2 it has been necessary to fill in the
gaps more or less by guess.
This ballad has the distinction of being the earliest work extant by
Martin Parker, that prince of ballad-mongers. Though not dated or
entered in the Stationers' Registers, it was printed shortly after the
Proclamation against Jesuits and seminary priests issued by James I. on
May 6, 1624. Parker here appears in no very pleasant light, but it is
not to be expected that a mere ballad-writer should be more tolerant
and charitable than " the patterne of pietie," James I., whom he so
devotedly admired. There is a brief sketch of Parker in the Dictionary
ofNational Biography, and a more elaborate sketch by the present writer
in Modern Philology, XVI. (1919), 449-474.
The celebrated printer, John Trundle, was noted for his ballads even
before 1 600, as readers of Jonson's Every Man in His Humour will
remember. No other ballad of Parker's came, I believe, from his press ;
but the widow Trundle, later on, not infrequently published the work
of M. P.
For the tune, Room for Cuckolds, see Chappell's Popular Music, I., 322.
a scourge for tye pope,
sarpricallp scourging tfoe itcijing sines of tits
obstinate moot in
To the Tune of Roome fcr, etc.
Famous Brittany,
Giue thankes to God on high
Who hath deliuered thee
from Popish fictions.
189
FAMOUS BRITTANY, GIVE THANKS
Thy Religion free
With God's Word doth agree,
While Romis false doctrine
imply contradictions.
With subtill intrusion,
They sought Truthe's confusion ;
I trust the conclusion
will frustrate their hope.
Our King doth defy them,
Our Commons descry them,
'Tis fit they should hye them
away to the Pope.
[2]
Where are the lesuites
That late were so arrogant ?
That they would needs
take vpon them to teach vs,
In euery corner
Seduceing the ignorant ;
But now I hope they
no more shall ore-reach vs.
They are best be packing
(Their power is slacking),
Unlesse they loue cracking
[thjeir necks in a rope.
"Now] Truth's manifested,
Religion's unmjolested,
For we have protested
[against the falsje Pope.
[3]
Long haue they looked
To get toleration,
But God kept the heart
of our King in his Hand ;
[i] 8 imply : read implies.
190
FAMOUS BRITTANY, GIVE THANKS
That would haue wrought
Our Truth's extirpation,
If they had diuulged
their lyes through the Land.
But now 'tis otherwise :
All popish trumperies,
With faigned forgeries,
shall haue no scope ;
Our Laws will preuent them,
And shrewdly torment them,
There's none to content them
so soone as the Pope.
w
You fond Papists
That late were seduced,
In time be resolued
to make recantation,
That your poore soules may
Againe be reduced
Unto his blest Gospell
who bought your saluation.
Shake hands and bid adue
To that deceitfull crue ;
What pittie 'tis that you
in blindnesse grope ;
Make haste and come from thence,
Submit for your offen[ce],
Put no more consider[ence],
in the false Pope.
[5]
Now we shall haue
No secret Assemblies,
Nor meeting houses
to celebrate Masse ;
[3] 7 diuulged : i.e. divulged.
FAMOUS BRITTANY, GIVE THANKS
Now the lesuit
With feare made to tremble is,
To thinke what strange euents
will come to passe.
This great vexation,
Beyond expectation,
A strange alteration
hath bred in their hope ;
They Arguments framed
And priuiledge claimed,
But now they are tamed,
and fly to the Pope.
[6]
All Professors true
Lately were sore afraid,
For feare the Papists would
get some permission
To haue free vse of their
Seditious, lying trade ;
But now, I hope,
there's no cause of suspicio[n].
Our Parliament Royall
Will giue them deniall,
A meanes to destroy all
their causes of hope ;
Our King will requit th[em].
And worthily fit them,
Their best waie's to [flit them]
with speed to the [Pope].
192
FAMOUS BRITTANY, GIVE THANKS
0econt> part.
To the same tune.
[7] '.' ••
Farewell, Masse-mongers,
With all your iuggling tricks ;
Your puppet plaies will not
here be allow'd.
Haue me commended
Unto your great Pontifex,
Tell him Saint Peter
was neuer so proud ;
And say 'tis needfull,
That he should be heedfull,
Lest God's Judgements dreadfull
do light on his Cope.
Dominic nor Francis,
Whom Rome so aduances,
Cannot from mischances
secure the proud Pope.
[8]
Our good King is
The patterne of pietie,
And well deserueth
his Stile, Faith's Defender.
He, like a Shepheard,
Ordained by the Deity,
His Flocks most safely
will nourish and tender.
The Pope he excludeth :
Though oft he intrudeth,
Yet, like zealous ludeth,
his head he will crop ;
[8] i King : i.e. James I. ; 1 1 ludeth : i.e. Judith, the apocryphal
icroine.
N I93
FAMOUS BRITTANY, GIVE THANKS
Like good Hezekias
And feruent losiasy
He serues the Messias,
and hateth the Pope.
[9]
Then, Professors true,
Plucke vp a courage good,
Feare the Lord truely,
dread not your foes ;
Keepe your faith still pure,
And doe not spare your bloud,
Let not the Papists
delude you with showes.
Giue no permission
To Romis superstition,
Upon no condition
of promise or hope ;
Let due execution
And stout resolution
Expell all pollution
that springs from the Pope.
That we may effect
What we desire to see,
Let vs to God direct
our supplications
For our dread Soueraigne ;
Under whose Maiestie
We doe enioy the true
meanes of Saluation ;
Giue him strength to subdue
Antichrist and his crue ;
With zeale Prince Charles endu[e],
our second hope ;
194
FAMOUS BRITTANY, GIVE THANKS
Good Lord, be thou present
In our high Parliament
That none may giue consent
to loue the Pope.
tffnt*.
Per me, Martin Parker.
London : printed for John Trun\dle\
and are to be sold at his Shop
in Smithfield.
195
H^ho would not be a cuckold
Harleian MS. 3910, fols. 41^42. This ballad, wholly unobjection
able in its phrasing, belongs to the reign of James I., and is worth
including here not only because of its tone of genuine indignation, but
because its slurs at Bishops and Catholics give it a real connection
with many of the other ballads in this collection. The measure, too,.!
is attractive.
Whoe would not be a Cuckold,
To haue a hansom wife ?
Whoe would not be a wittold,
To lead a merry life ?
Though many do disdayne it,
And scorne to haue the name,
Yet others intertayne it,
And neuer blush for shame.
[2]
The good-wife, like a Peacock,
She getts in braue attyre ;
The good-man, like a Meacock,
Sitts smoaking ore the fyre :
Hee neuer dares reprooue her,
But letts her haue her will ;
Nor cares how many loue her,
So shee the purse do fille.
[3]
Some men attayne to Maces,
Through bounty of their Dames,
[2] 3 Meacock an effeminate and cowardly man
196
WHO WOULD NOT BE A CUCKOLD
And couer all Disgraces,
Yf well they playe their games ;
But when the sole comanding
Emongst the females fall,
For want of vnderstanding
They comenly marre all.
W : • ~.
Nor doth alone the Citty
Such presidents aforde :
In Courte, the more the pitty,
Some Ladies playe the lorde :
And then to be in fashion
Shee turnes Catholicall, —
O vile abhomynation,
The pope can pardon all !
[s]
Are women thus devoted
To levities by kinde ?
Or are the men so doted
To see and yet be blynde ?
But proffitt and promotion
The worlde do over rule,
And counterfett Devotion
Can make the wise a foole.
[4] 2 presidents : i.e. precedents.
197
30
Jesus, my loving spouse
Addit. MS. 15,225, fols. y-yv. Written in double columns. TJ
title is taken from the only other copy known : that in the Shirbui
Ballads, pp, 84 ff. The present version is, on the whole, superior
the Shirburn copy (S.), and is one stanza longer. The chief variatu
between the two are cited in the foot-notes. The ballad was entered
the Stationers' Registers (Arber's Transcript, I., 380) in 1568-69 as "
tru invocation of God in the name of Christe Jesus."
For the tune see Chappell's Popular Music, II., 517.
[Clie sinner, tri0pi0inge tlje tnorlu anfc
all eattftp banitie0, repa0ett) t>fe &>We
confidence in W0 beloben satiour, 3ie0u0
To the Tune of Dainty, come thow to mee.]
CO
Jesus, my louing spouse,
eternall veritie,
Perfect guide of my soule,
way to eternitie, —
Strengthen me with thy grace,
from thee He never flee,
Let them all say what they will,
Jesu, come thou to me.
Poore men seeke after wealth ;
blind men seeke libertie ;
[2] 2 blind : bond (5.).
198
JESUS, MY LOVING SPOUSE
Crazed corpes cry for health ;
all seeke prosperietie ;
I seeke nothinge but Christ,
he alone pleaseth mee ;
Let them all say what they will,
Jesu, come thou to mee.
_ [3] /••<:".
Some wearie out themselues
in waies of vanitie ;
Some folio we painted flees
in feeldes of miserie ;
Some, in the mouthes of men,
place their felicitie ; —
Such tryfles I contemne,
Jesus , for loue of thee.
W
Feruent loue longeth sore
his ladies face to see ;
Discarded courtiers seeke
in princes' grace to be ;
Noe want nor wooe I f eele,
whitest I doe inioy thee.
Let them all say what they will,
Jesu, come thou to mee.
I [5]
Some passe through surginge seas,
in daylie jeopardie ;
Hazardinge life and limme,
to bee inricht thereby ;
[2] 3 crazed corpes : read craz'd corpses ; 6 he alone : read alone he.
[3] 3 flees : i.e. flies, trifles. [4] I Stanza 4 follows stanza 5 in S. ;
3 seeke : not in S. ; 6 while I remane with thee (5.).
199
JESUS, MY LOVING SPOUSE
In toyle at home, therefore,
I, by possessinge thee,
Haue all they haue and more.
Jesu, come tbou to mee.
[6]
What can this wretched world
(repleat with miserie)
Yeald to delight my soule
(made for eternitie ) ?
All is vaine, all is fraile,
all that compar'd to thee,
All earthlie thinges doe faile.
Jesus, come thou to mee.
[7]
All that hart can conceiue,
eares can heare, eies can see, —
All and more I posses,
sweete Jesus Christ, by thee ;
Heauen and earth — all therein —
life and lime thou giuest mee ;
Haue I not then cause to singe,
Jesu, come thou to mee ?
[8]
If pleasure mooue my mynde,
power, or nobillitie,
All this in thee I fynd, —
strenght and agillitie,
Wisdome, wit, bewtie, wealth,
peace, and all sanc[ti]tie,
Perfecte health of my soule.
Jesu, come thou to mee.
[5] 5 In : some (5.). [7] 2 Read eares heare or eies can see.
[8] 4 strenght : i.e. strength ; 6 peace, and felicity (5.).
200
JESUS, MY LOVING SPOUSE
Though the world tempt me sore,
though the flesh trouble me,
Tho the devill would devoure,
my refuge is to thee ;
Though heaven and earth doe faile,
tho all perplexed bee,
Thou art and euer shall
my cheefest comfort bee.
' • [10]
Thou art my sauiour sweete,
foode and delight to mee,
A medicine most sweete
to eich mfirmitie ;
To my tast, honnie sweete ;
to my eare, melodic ;
Perfecte guyde to my feete ;
to my hart, Jubelie.
Not my will, sauiour myne,
but thine performed bee.
All thinges I count as dunge,
Jesu, for loue of thee.
Pleasure, pompe, all delight, —
that I may blessed bee, —
I doe abandon quyte,
Jesu, for loue of thee.
[12]
If I faile for thy sake
in seas of miserie,
Noe account thereof I make,
soe thou abyde with me.
l_io] 2 to : MS. originally vnto ; 3 sweete : read meete (5.).
[12] I Stanza 12 not in 5.
201
JESUS, MY LOVING SPOUSE
Thou alone hast my hart
in all extremitie,
From thee lie never part,
Jesu^ come thou to mee.
[13]
Hauinge thee, tho I dye,
I Hue most ioyfullie ;
Wantinge thee, thoe I Hue,
such life is death to me ;
Thou art my blisse, my ioy,
my soules f elicitie,
Cheefe succour in annoy,
Jesu, come thou to me.
For thee my soule was made,
nought eles contenteth mee ;
All earthlie pleasures fade,
thou Huest eternallie ;
Strengthen mee with thy grace
that I may warthie bee,
In heauen to see thy face.
esU come thou to mee.
[12] 5 Thou alone : read Alone thou.
[14] 8 and burne in loue of thee (5.).
202
. 31 •
A word once said, Adam was made
Addit. MS. 15,225, fols. io-iov. A pleasant little ballad summariz
ing the life of Christ, and suggestive of early Latin hymns. On the
title, Verbum caro, see The Gude find Godlie Ballatis, 1567 (ed. A. F.
Mitchell, 1897, p. 52), and P. Wackernagel's Das deutsche Kirchenlied,
I., Nos. 264-266 et passim.
ierbum caro factum est et gabitauit in nobi0,
ab 00 Dictum e0t, cretnte rnanoo
tobi0.
A word once said, Adam was made,
(the truth I say to you),
And of his rib a woman's seede —
but whoe cann tell me how ?
A maiden pure, nothinge more sure
(the truth I say to you),
Did beare a Child, she vndefield,
but who can tell mee how ?
[3]
This Child he wrought woonders full ofte
(the truth I say to you) :
The lame did walke, the dumbe did talke,
but whoe cann tell mee how ?
203
A WORD ONCE SAID, ADAM WAS MADE
W
In wildernesse vpon the grasse
(the truth I say to you) ;
Fiue loaues of bread fiue thousand fed —
but whoe cann tell me how ?
[5] •
This Child hath made in forme of bread
(the truth I say to you),
His bodie and blood to be our foode —
but whoe can tell me how ?
[6]
This Childe did dye vpon a tree
(the truth I say to you),
And buried then did ryse againe —
but whoe can tell me how ?
[7]
The ston[e] vnroul'd, the cloathes vnfould
(the truth I say to you),
He, whole and sound, rose from the ground —
but whoe cann tell mee how ?
[8]
Like gardiner he did appeare
(the truth I say to you),
To magdalene with spade in hand —
but whoe cann tell me how ?
[9]
Vnto Emaus the scripture sais
(the truth I say to you),
7] i cloathes : i.e. cloths = the shroud.
9] i Emaus : i.e. Emmaus (cf. St. Luke xxiv., 13).
204
A WORD ONCE SAID, ADAM WAS MADE
With Cleofhas he yeede, in Palmer's weede, —
but whoe cann tell me bow ?
[10]
Then after all in cloased hal[l]e
(the truth I say to you),
His appostles there saw him appeare —
but whoe cann tell me how ?
He made an end and did assend
(the truth 1 say to you)
To his farther aboue, whoe did him loue,-
but whoe cann tell me how ?
[12]
Beleeue all this or eles, doubtlesse
(the truth I say to you),
Hence shall you goe to sorrow and woe,
and I shall tell you how.
[13]
At the last day this Child shall say
(the truth I say to you),
" [Ye]a cursed, goe to endlesse wooe."
[W]0ft> haue I tould you how.
[9] 3 Cleophas : i.e. Cleopas (St. Luke xxiv., 18).
[13] 3 Yea : MS. torn. Read ye.
205
Who is my love ? I shall you tell
Addit. MS. 15,225, fol. ii. The two lines of the heading are
bracketed in the MS. and possibly the name of a tune was written, but
the margin after the bracket is torn away. Stanza I is written as two
long lines. From stanza 4 on, the refrain is written as an extension of
the third line, with the result that in stanza 8 and 9 a number of letters
have been trimmed off by the binder.
3] loue titme, 31 loue jtfm, ti)t trutl) for to say,
31 purpo0e to loue ftm, ttl)[o]e euer sate nap.
Whoe is my loue ? I shall you tell :
Even he that made both hea[ven] and hell,
And dyed for me on good fry day.
I purpose to loue him whoeuer sals na\y~\.
M
My loue hath made this world of nought,
All thinges therein by him was wrought,
The sunne and moone, the sooth to say.
I purpose to loue him whoe ever sais nay.
[3]
He made the sea, alsoe the sand,
The grasse to gro[w]e vpon the land,
The fish, the f oule, the sooth to say.
/ purpose to loue him whoe ever sais nay.
[i] 2 heaven : MS. torn ; 4 nay : y cut off by binder.
206
WHO IS MY LOVE ? I SHALL YOU TELL
W
He hath me made to his likenesse, —
Neither in bone not yet in flesh, —
But in soule, the sooth to say.
7 purpose to loue, &c.
[5]
He doth my bodie cloath and feede,
It lackes nothinge that it doth neede,
Meate ney drinke, the soth to say.
/ purpose to loue, i$c.
[6]
He hath set about my soule
Mercie and grace, to keepe out all
My ghostlie enemyes night and day.
/ purpose to, &c.
[7]
Three foes I haue which would me quell, —
The world, the flesh, the devill of hell,
But all three stroakes my loue doth stay.
I purpose,
[8]
He hath bought my loue full deare,
His hart was cloven with a speare,
To dye for me he tooke the paine.
Alacke, I will loue him, an[cf\ loue him aga[ini\.
[5] 3 ney: i.e. ne = nor. [7] i quell = kill.
207
WHO IS MY LOVE ? I SHALL YOU TELL
[9]
I haue not lou'd him as I should ;
But what of that ? I will be bould
To aske him mercie night and day —
And still for to loue him whoe[ver~\ sais na[y\.
JTittt*.
208
33 ' We .-.
Walking alone not long agone
Addit. MS. 15,225, fols. i6v-iy. Reprinted from this MS. in
Collier's Extracts from the Stationers' Registers, L, 92 ff.
The ballad was registered in 1564-65 by John Kyngeston as "a
ballett intituled the story of Jobe the faythfull servaunte of God,-&c.,"
and was re-entered a few days later by William Pekering (Arber's
Transcript, I., 260, 262). It was transferred on December 14, 1624,
as " Patient Job." Late copies of the ballad, " printed for F. Coles,
T. Vere, I. Wright, J. Clarke, W. Thackeray and T. Passenger " (on the
same sheet as " The Shaking of the Sheets," a copy of which is also in
this MS., fols. 15-16), are preserved in the Pepysian (L, 62), Rawlinson
(4to Rawlinson, 566, fol. 203), and Crawford (Bibliotheca Lindesiana, A
Catalogue of English Ballads, Nos. 202, 1239) Collections. The title
runs : —
" A Godly Ballad of the Just Man Job.
Wherein his great patience he doth declare,
His plagues and his miseries, and yet did not despair.
The Tune is, The Merchant."
These copies, none of which has been reprinted, are arranged in sixteen
six-line stanzas, of which the first runs : —
Walking all alone,
No not long agone,
I heard one wail and weep ;
Alas, he said,
I am laid
In sorrow strong and deep.
In the MS. the ballad is written in eight four-line stanzas. Complete
collations of the MS. copy and the Pepys copy are given in the foot
notes. On the whole, the MS. has the better readings. Laurence
Price also wrote a ballad on Job : " Bee Patient in Trouble. To the
Tune of Bodkin's Galliard" reprinted in the Roxburghe Ballads, III., 174.
209
WALKING ALONE NOT LONG AGONE
a plea0ant ballaD of tye iust man
shearing tits patience in ertremitie.
Walking alone not long agone,
I heard one weale and weep.
" Alas," he said, " I am now laid
in sorrowes strong and deepe."
To heare him cry, I did apply,
and priuilie aboade ;
There did I find, in secret mind,
the rust and patient Jobe.
His woofull paine did me constraine
by foarce to waile and mone ;
God did him proue how he did loue
his liueing lord alone.
In heauinesse he did expresse
these words, with bitter tears :
" Alas, poore man ! wretched I am,
in care my life out-weares.
[3]
" This mortal! life is but a strife
and battell mightie and stronge ;
My yeares, also, doe wast and goe
and not continue longe.
[i] 1-4 cf. the stanza quoted in the introduction.
[2] 8 life : self (P.).
[3] 2 mightie : great (P.) ; 3 doe : to (P.).
2IO
WALKING ALONE NOT LONG AGONE
The time wherin I did begine
to mooue and stir my breath,
Would god I had to earth beene made
and turned vnto death !
w
" Then should not I in miserie
beene wrapped as I am ;
The time and day well curse I may
when into this world I cam[e].
For my faults past I am out cast,
and of all men abhorde ;
O that I might once stand in sight
to reason with my lord !
[5]
" Then should I know why he did show
this extreame crueltie
Vpon such flesh that is but nesh,
and borne is for to dye.
From top to toe I feele such wooe
that sorrow is my meate ;
Put to exile with botch and byle
the dunghill is my seate.
|-"' [6]
" My kinsfolke walke, and by me talke,
much wonderinge at my faule ;
They count my state vnfortunate,
and thus forsake me all.
[3] 5 time : day (P.) ; 7 to earth beene : an exchange (P.).
[4] I Then : So (P.) ; 2 beene : be (P.) ; 4 into : to (P.) ; 8 my :
the (P.).
[5] I Then . . . I : I should then (P.) ; did : doth (P.) ; 3 such :
his (P.) ; nesh : grass (P.) : 5 such : with (P.) ; 8 the : and (P.).
[6] i walke, talke : talk, walk (P.) ; 2 much : not in P. ; 4 thus : so (P.).
211
WALKING ALONE NOT LONG AGONE
My children fiue that were aliue,
they be all cleane distroy'd ;
The like plague fell on my cattell,
and all that I inioy'd.
[7]
" Should I for them my god blaspheme,
and his good giftes dispise ?
That will I not, but take my lot, •
giuing his name the praise.
They were not mine but for a time,
I know well it is soe ;
God gaue them me, why should not he
againe take them meiroe ? "
[8] 1
When he thus had said, full still I staid
his end for to behould.
There did I see his felicitie
encreasing maniefould.
I know well then that patient men
should not suffer in vaine,
But should be sure t' haue great pleasure
rewarded for their paine.
JFini*.
[6] 5 that : which (P.) ; 6 cleane : quite (P.) ; 7 like : P. omits ;
plague : MS. plaug ; 8 and : with (P.).
[8] i When . . . said : Thus having said (P.) ; 3 There ... see : I
there did see (P.) ; 5 that : how (P.) ; 7 should : shall (P.) ; great i
P. omits.
212
34
To pass the place where pleasure is
Addit. MS. 15,225, fols. I7v-i8. Printed from this MS. in Collier's
Extracts from the Stationers' Registers, I., 48-50. The ballad was regis
tered for publication under the title of " to passe the place, &c.," in
1561-62, and under the title of "to passe the place where pleasure ys,
&c.," in 1564-65 (Arber's Transcript, I., 179, 265). The latter regis
tration was made by Thomas Colwell, who obviously printed the ballad
on the same sheet as " I might have lived merrily," a copy of which
follows in this MS. and is the next ballad in this volume. The ballad
appears to be a moralization of a popular song.
To passe the place where pleasure is,
it ought to please our fantasie ;
If that the pleasure be amis
and to godes word plaine contrarie ;
or eles we sinne, we sinne,
and hell we winne, —
great paine there-in,
all remedie gone
except in Christ alone, alone.
..
The Hues that we long liued haue
in wantonnesse and iolitie,
Although the[y] seeme and show full braue,
yet is their end plaine miserie.
Let vs therefore, therefore,
now sinne noe more,
but learne this lore :
all remedie gone
except in Christ alone, [alone].
213
TO PASS THE PLACE WHERE PLEASURE IS
[3]
And say we then, with Salomon,
that bewtie is but vanitie,
Yet they that feare the lord alone
shall sure enioy felicitie.
For this may wee, may we,
perceiue and see
most true to be :
all remedie gone
except in Christ alone, alone.
w
Our perfett trust and confidence
must fixed be on Christ onelie,
Serueinge our lord with pure pretence,
and shunning all hipocrisie, —
which might vs draw, vs draw,
from godes true law,
marke well this saw :
all remedie gone
except in Christ alone, alone.
[5]
If godes true word, by preaching plaine,
might anie wise vs certiefie,
We should not, then, soe blind remaine,
but should imbrace the verietie ;
for why ? — the word, the word,
of god our lord
doth well record,
all remedie gone
except in Christ alone, alone.
[3] i Salomon : i.e. Solomon. Cf. Proverbs xxxi., 30.
[4] i perfett : i.e. perfect.
214
TO PASS THE PLACE WHERE PLEASURE IS
[6]
Our faithfull frendes, the pastors pure,
doe giue vs councell, certainlie,
From wickednesse, for to be sure,
to leaue our fooleish fantasie, — •
which is the springe, the spring,
that doth vs bring
to eich ill thing :
all remedie gone
except in Christ alone, alone.
[7]
What wisdome haue our wicked wittes
to worke all thinges vntowardlie ;
What reason rest es in such fond fittes
to cause things chance so frowardlie ?
Therefore betime, betime,
leaue we our crime
and learne this rime :
all remedie gone
except in Christ alone, alone.
JFtnt'0,
[6] 9 The word/ff/V follows this line in the MS.
215
35
/ might have lived merrily
Addit. MS. 15,225, fols. i8-i8v. Text arranged in four-line stanzas.
The ballad was entered in the Stationers' Registers in the year 1564-65
(Arber's Transcript, I., 265) thus : —
T. Colwell Receaved of thomas Colwell for his lycense for
pryntinge of ij balletes the one intituled to posse the
place -where pleasure ys <tv/and the Other / myghte have
leved meryly morralysed . . . . . iiijd
From the license fee of fourpence it is evident that Colwell printed the
two ballads on a single broadside. As a copy of "To pass the place"
occurs in the MS. just before this ballad (see No. 34), it is very probable
that the compiler of the MS. took the two ballads from Colwell's, or a
later, single sheet.
I might haue liued merelie
If I had sinned never ;
But now, forsooth and verelie,
condemp'd I am for ever,
Except I turne right towardlie
to god with hart and glee,
And leaue my sinninge frowardlie,
and true repentant bee !
w
I haue beene alwais necligent
to doe the best I canne,
My sinnes they are most evident
both vnto god and man ;
[l] i liued merelie : read liv'd merrily.
216
I MIGHT HAVE LIVED MERRILY
And if my sinning wickedlie
doe happen to my thrall,
Then let me know assuredlie,
I might haue with all.
[3]
For where my god of gentlenes
doth offer loue soe kind,
Loe I that in my stubburnnesse
fulfill my sinfull mynd,
His grace and eake his godlines,
his mercie kept in store,
But onelie for my frowardnes
were myne for euermore.
w
I offered once a reminent
to god of godlie life,
But yet alas ! incontinent
I fell to sinne and strife ;
Which makes me thinke most suerlie,
construinge in my braines,
My god I serue not puerlie,
I looke for other gainefs].
[s]
But though that I most wickedlie
my lord god haue offended,
Yet doe I hope most stidfastlie
my faultes shall be amended ;
And heere repenting puerlie
my former necligence,
I know my lord god suerlie
will pardon my offence.
[3] 3> 4 Written in two lines in the MS.
blurred.
217
The word Loe is badly
I MIGHT HAVE LIVED MERRILY
[6]
So Sathan shall not higgle me
for all his craftie wiles,
But I will stretch and struggle me
for to withstand his guiles ;
And will display his dubbleing
by help of god most highest,
And be free from his troubleing
through faith and hope in Christ.
[6] 6 highest : read highest.
218
36
Old Toby called his loving son
Addit. MS. 15,225, fols. 19-20.
" A pleasant new Ballad of Tobias, wherein is shewed the wonderfull
things which chanced to him in his youth : and how he wedded a
young Damsell that had had seven husbands and never enioyed their
company : who were all slaine by a wicked spirit," beginning
In Ninivie old Toby dwelt,
occurs in most of the great ballad collections, and is reprinted in A
Collection of Old Ballads, 1723, II., 158, and in the Roxburghe Ballads,
II., 621. Registered at Stationers' Hall on December 14, 1624 (as a
transfer), and on March I, 1675, it summarizes the first eleven chapters
of the Apocryphal Book of Tobit. The ballad printed below is decidedly
interesting because it is a sequel, apparently unique, to the " Ballad of
Tobias," dealing solely with the concluding (the twelfth) chapter of
Tobit. It was, I think, the "godly ballet taken out of ye iiijth
[ = xijth ?] chapeter of Tobeas " which was licensed for publication in
1568-69 (Arber's Transcript, I., 378).
The fish mentioned by young Toby in stanza 4 is dealt with in the
Book of Tobit, vi., 2, — " a fish leaped out of the river, and would have
devoured him," — but has a far from formidable appearance in the wood
cuts that accompany the printed ballads. "The error of our days"
(stanza 1 7) is possibly Protestantism, though only a general reference to
sin may have been intended.
Ould Tobie calde his lovinge sonne
and eike that faire and loulie bryde ;
Quoth hee, " my will, Iwis, we are
to recompence this carefull guyde."
[2]
Younge Tobie said, " my father deere,"
with Joyfull moode and merry glee,
[l] 2 loulie : i.e. lovely ; bryde : i.e. Sara.
219
OLD TOBY CALLED HIS LOVING SON
" Nothinge of woorth wee haue, I feare,
To recompence his loue to mee.
[3]
" He brought me foarthe and backe agayne,
both safe and sounde, as you haue scene ;
He kept me that I was not slayne,
or now at home I had not beene.
w ; ;
" Hee causde Gabella pay the debte,
and droue the spiritt frome my wife.
A happie Day when I hime mete,
or eles the fishe had had my life !
[5]
" Your selfe was blind and coulde not see,
which caused sorrow to vs all ;
By him, the brightnesse of the skye
you doe behould, which is not smale.
[6]
" Wee were in want and verie poore,
now riche as cressus at this tyde ;
Then render thankes to him therefore,
and giue him halfe we haue besyde."
[7] ;
They cal'd the angell then apart,
and humblie offered halfe the[y] had.
He thanked them with all his hart.
" Praise god," he said, " and eike be gladde ;
[4] I Gabella : i.e. Gabael ; 3 mete : read met.
[5] i not : MS. non.
[6] cressus : i.e. Croesus.
22O
OLD TOBY CALLED HIS LOVING SON
[8]
" Our lord this favour hath you donne
for prayer good, with holie fast,
And good almes-deedes which non[e] should shunne,
noe gould doth Equall them at last.
[9] ;
" The truth I doe intende to tell,
and eake my counsell to vnfould :
Thy workes of mercie helpe thee well,
from Deathe and sinne they doe thee hould.
[10]
" When thou in prayer did daylie sitte,
and tricklinge teares runne downe thy face ;
When thou at dinner eate noe bitt,
then was I ever still in place.
" When thou tooke vp the corpse of those
which lay for want of buriall ;
When thou would such good deedes inclose,
for thee I did both cry and call.
[12]
" When thou did breake thy sleepe by night
to doe such deedes of Charitie,
I offered vp thy prayers aright
to god in Throwne of Maiestie ;
[13]
" Whoe hath rewarded all thy deedes
and sent me to doe all I haue.
[10] 3 eate : read ate.
221
OLD TOBY CALLED HIS LOVING SON
The man is blest which soe proceedes,
and hath a care his soule to saue.
C'4]
" I am the Angell of our lord,
Raphaell am I calPd by name,
One of the seven which accorde
to stand and waite from whence I came."
[15]
The[y] were amazed at his speeche,
and grou[e]linge fell vpon the ground.
But then affrighted, with his speach
they Joyfull rose, out of their s[w]oound.
[16]
With wordes of praise the Angell bright
assended hath the Airie skyes.
In prayer and Joy they spent the night,
and pra[i]s'd our lord in humble wise.
[17]
To god be honour, laude, and prayse ;
to Angelles Eake be reverend due.
God mend the error of our dayse,
and holie customes soone renue !
pint's,
[17] 2 reverend : read reverence.
222
37
The thoughts of man do daily
change
Addit. MS. 1 5,225, fol. 38. This beautiful little ballad is very much
earlier than the only printed copy I have found ; namely, that in John
Forbes's Cantus, Songs and Fancies (2nd ed., 1666, song VII.). All the
important variations between the MS. and Forbes's version (F.) are given
in the foot-notes, from which it will be seen that the two are very
different. Furthermore, there are two additional stanzas in the Cantus
(here printed), while there also stanza 4 of the MS. precedes stanza 3.
The last two lines of stanza 3 of the MS. and stanza 6 of F. are identical :
probably stanzas 5 and 6 are a later edition to the original ballad, these
two lines being transferred to the sixth stanza to make a fitting conclusion.
Ballads and songs on the scarcity or falsity of true friends were written
out of number by Elizabethans. See, for example, TottePs Miscellany,
ed. Arber, p. no ; Collier's reprints of the Paradise of Dainty Devises,
pp. 10, 59, 105, 128, and A Gorgeous Gallery of Gallant Inventions, pp. 85,
1 24. Among the ballads registered were " the Dyscryption of a tru
frynde, &c.," in 1563-64, "shewyng how a man shall knowe his frynde
and What fryndshippe ys, &c.," in 1 565-66, " the treasure of frynshippe "
in 1569-70, and "howe hard it is a faithfull frend to find" on August
i, 1586 (Arber's Transcript, I., 237, 305, 417 ; II., 450). Some of
these entries seem applicable to this ballad.
The thoughtes of man doe daylie change,
as fancie growes within their brestes ;
For now their nature is soe strange,
a few can finde where frenshippe restes.
The hautie hart soe plentie growes
That everie weede doth seeme a rose.
[i] i man : read men (F.} ; 2 fancie growes : fantasie breeds (F.) ;
4 a : that (F.) : 5, 6 For double dealing bears such sway,/That honest
meaning doth decay (F.).
223
THE THOUGHTS OF MAN DO DAILY CHANGE
03
The stidfast faith that frendes professe
is fled a-way, and little vs'd.
Whoe hath soe sure a frend possest
by whome he never was abus'd ?
But where thou findst a frend indeed,
A score there be faile at neede.
[3] . ': !
A frend in wordes, where deedes be dead,
is like a well that water wantes ;
And he that with faire wordes is fead,
doth looke for fruit es of withered plant es.
But there as wordes and deedes agree,
Accept that frend, and credit mee.
w
The barren tree doth blossomes beare
as well as those that good fruites yeald ;
And boughes and branches beene soe faire,
as any tree within the feild :
As simply lookes the subtill man
As he that of noe falshood can.
[5]
[The fairest way that I can find,
Is first to try, and then to trust ;
So shal affections not be blind :
For proof will soon spy out the just :
And tryal knows who means deceit,
And bids us be-ware of their bait.
[2] i professe : profest (F.} ; 2 a-way : from them (F.) ; 3 He who
a faithful friend profest (F.) ; 4 Doth make his friendship now abus'd
(F.) ; 5 But . . . findst : Where one is found (F.) ; 6 be : read be that (F.).
[3] 2 well : spring (F.) ; 4 looke : hope (F.) : 5, 6 But who can judge
by hew of eye,/Since deeds are dead, where truth should be (F.).
[4] i For barren trees will bloom right fair (F.) ; 2 good fruits : fruit
will (F.) ; 3 Whose bark and branches seems as fair (F.) ; 5 simply :
simple (F.) ; 6 of no : no kind (F.).
[5] i Stanzas 5 and 6 occur only in F.
224
THE THOUGHTS OF MAN DO DAILY CHANGE
[6]
Without good proof be not too bold,
If thou my counsel list to take :
In painting words there is no hold,
They be but leaves that wind do shake :
But where that words and deeds agree,
Accept that friend, and credit me.]
Jftms.
225
Seek wisdom chiefly to obtain
Addit. MS. 15,225, fols. 38^39. This ballad is a sort of Foot
Richard's Almanac that must have delighted the pious Catholic who
compiled the MS. : seek wisdom, it advises ; waste not, shun borrowing,
value true friends, avoid drink and dice, lose no time, envy not thy
neighbour — good advice expressed in a pithy line or two, every item of
which was both before and after the date of this MS. fully emphasized
in separate ballads.
Seeke wisdome cheefly to obteine,
delight not much in worldlie gaine,
For riches bringes men's soules in thrall,
but wisdome suffereth non[e] to fale.
Much better is the wise man poore
then welthie churles with all their store.
Wast[e] thou noe more then thou hast got ;
if thou dost want, yet borrowe not ;
Thoughe coyne be sweete when thou dost borrowe,
yet wilt thou pay it home with sorrowe.
Better it were thy bodie pyne,
then borrowed goodes should make thee fine.
[3] .
Doe not aquynt thy selfe with stelth,
thou knowest it bringes a shameifull death,
Though it at first haue pleasant tast,
yet it is bitter at the last.
[3] I aquynt : i.e. acquaint.
226
SEEK WISDOM CHIEFLY TO OBTAIN
Better thou were thy mouth withdrawe,
then such vnsavorie meate to gnawe.
w
If thou haue smale to keepe thy state,
doe not dispaire of this thy fate ;
But giue god thankes for that thou hast,
and of thy little make noe wast.
For better is little with quyet life
then store of gould with wooe and strife.
If thou doest find a frend at neede,
him to requyte see thou make speede ;
Of all thinges this remember still,
be not vnthankefull for good will.
For better is one frend in thy scant
then thousandes when thou hast noe want.
[6]
An honest conscience is a treasure ;
in drinke be sure thou keepe a measure ;
To dice and Gardes make thou noe hast ;
of all thinges see thou keepe thee chast.
For lust makes purse and bodies bare,
and throwes the soule downe to dispaire.
[7]
In youth remember to take paine,
be sure thou spend noe time in vaine ;
Remember time will not come backe,
when time requeeres, then, be not slacke.
.For losse of goodes may greeue thee sore,
but losse of time will greeue thee more.
[5] I doest : read dost.
227
SEEK WISDOM CHIEFLY TO OBTAIN
Search not in other men too neare,
first see that thou thy selfe bee cleare ;
For he that seekes an other's spite,
in others' harmes oft takes delight.
Whoe soe ioyes to see his neightbour's thrall
is soonest like him selfe to fale.
;ftm0.
[8] 5 Omit soe.
228
39
O man that runneth here thy race
Addit. MS. 1 5,225, fols. 43V-44V. This ballad obviously was printed
in two parts, the second part beginning with stanza 6, where the refrain
changes ; but the copyist numbered the stanzas consecutively from
beginning to end, although the numbers of stanzas 1-7 have been
trimmed from the leaves by the binder.
Stanzas 6- 1 1 are printed as a separate poem, called " Remember thy
ende," in the Paradise of Dainty Devises, 1578 (Collier's reprint, pp. 34-
35), where it is signed D. S. The identification, sometimes proposed,
of D. S[ands] with Dr. (Edward) Sandys, Archbishop of York, is very
doubtful. The six stanzas in the Paradise differ considerably from those
in ,the MS., not only in their order but in phrasing : they are arranged
thus — 8,9, 6, 7, 10, ii. Collations with Collier's reprint (P.) are
given in the notes.
There is nothing noteworthy about this ballad : many similar ballads
are extant ; e.g. a ballad in John Forbes' s Cantus (Song VIII.) with the
refrain " A Conscience clear is worth a world of treasure " — correspond
ing to stanzas 1-5 — and a ballad "To the toune of The raire and greatest
gift" in MS. Cotton Vesp. A. XXV. (ed. Boeddeker, Jahrbuch ftir
romanische und englische sprache, N.F., II., 326), with the refrain,
Yet hap what hap, fall what may fall,
A lyffe content excedethe all, —
corresponding to stanzas 6-1 1.
For the title and the date of registration see Appendix II.
[a Cable of ®ooO Counsel]
.,
O man that runneth heere thy race
in worldlie wealth, yet rapt in wooe,
Provide betime, while thou hast space,
the ioyfull way and path to goe.
Though life and liveinge thou refuse,
Let never conscience thee accuse.
[i] 2 rapt : i.e. wrapped.
229
O MAN THAT RUNNETH HERE THY RACE
W
Thy time is short, thy daies but fewe,
this life is but a miserie ;
And marke what after will ensue,
if thou Hue in iniquitie.
Though life and liuinge thou refuse,
Let [never conscience thee~\ accuse.
[3]
Although the world doe thee disdaine,
and feined frendes vpon thee lower,
Yet if thou thinke to obtaine the sweete,
first thou must tast heere of the sower.
Though life and liuinge thou refuse,
Let neuer conscience thee accuse.
w
For in this life nought canst thou gaine,
which to thy soule may comfort bee,
Except that meeklie thou sustaine
such troubles as shall happe to thee.
Though life and liuinge thou refuse.
Let neuer conscience thee accuse.
[5]
Therefore, in time the world reiect,
account these pleasures all but vaine,
That thou maist be of godes elect,
in heauenlie blisse with him to raigne.
Though life and liueinge thou refuse,
Let neuer conscience thee accuse.
[2] 6 Binder has cut off three words in this line.
230
O MAN THAT RUNNETH HERE THY RACE
aecont) part]
[6]
The happie life, in these our daies,
that all doe seeke, boath small and great,
Is all for gaine, or eles for praise,
or whoe may sit highest in seat.
But in this life happe what happe shall,
the happie end exceedeth all.
[7]
A good beginninge oft we see,
but seeldome stand the[y] at one stay,
For they doe like the meane degree
then praise at partinge, some men say.
The thinge where each wight is in thrall,
the happie end exceedeth all.
[8]
To be as wise as Cato was,
or riche as Cressus in his life,
To haue the strength of Hercules,
whoe did subdue by foarce of strife, —
What helpeth it when death doth call ?
The happie end exceedeth all.
[6] I happie life : happiest end (P.) ; 3 Is ... gaine : Is eyether for
Fame (P.) ; 4 highest in seate : in highest seate (P.) ; 5 in this life of
these thinges (P.).
[7] 2 stand they : standing (P.) ; 3 they : few (P.) ; 5 The thinges
wherto each wight is thrall (P.).
[8] 2 Cressus : i.e. Croesus ; 4 whoe, of : which, or (P.).
231
O MAN THAT RUNNETH HERE THY RACE
[9]
The rich may well the poore releeue,
the rulers may redresse each wronge,
The learned may good councell giue,
but marke the end of this my songe, —
Whoe doe this may the[y] happie call,
the happie end exceedeth all.
The meane estate, the quiet life,
which liueth vnder gouernment,
Which mooues noe hate nor breedes noe strife,
but takes in worth his happie chance, —
If contentation him befall,
the happie end exceedeth all.
The longer life that we desire,
the more offence doth dailie groe ;
The greatter paine it doth requeere,
except the Judge some mercie showe.
Wherefore I thinke, and euer shall,
the happie end exceedeth all.
[9] 5 Who doth these thinges, happy they call (P.) ; 6 the : their (P.).
[10] 2 gouernment: gouernance (/*.); 3 mooues: seeks (P.); 6
the : his (P.).
232
40 : If
From sluggish sleep and slumber
Addit. MS. 1 5,225, fols. 45v-47« The only other copy of this ballad
now known is that printed from a manuscript in l\itj>kirJ>Mrn Ballads
(pp. 182-185). The Shirburn copy (S.) has an additional stanza (after
stanza 6) not found in this MS., and was made from an earlier broadside
that concluded with a prayer for Queen Elizabeth. This ballad ends
with a prayer for James I. The most important variations between the
two versions are given in the foot-notes. Two stanzas of the ballad
from this MS. are printed in Collier's Extracts from the Stationers' Registers,
I., 229. In subject-matter it is a loose paraphrase of St. Matthew xxii.,xxiv.
Perhaps this was the ballad of " Awake out of your slumbre " which
was registered for publication in 1568-69: it was certainly "the bell
mannes good morrowe " and " From sluggish sleepe " that were licensed
on November 21, 1580, and December 14, 1624, respectively. The
tune, Awake, Awake, O England ! (equivalent to O man in desperation),
comes from the first line of " A Bell-man for England " (Shirburn
Ballads, p. 36 ; Roxburgbe Ballads, IV., 467), which appears in the
Stationers' Registers for the first time on December 6, 1586.
bellmanes gooiimorrauje,
To the Tune of awake, awake, o England.
•
From sluggishe sleepe and slumber,
good Christians, all aryse.
For Christ his sake, I pray you,
lift vp your drowsie eies.
The night of shame and sorrow
is partinge cleane away, —
God giue you all good morrowe,
and send you happie day.
[ i ] 2 aryse : substituted in a later band for awake ; 6 partinge :
parted (S.).
233
FROM SLUGGISH SLEEP AND SLUMBER
.[2] I
The King of glorie greeteth you,
desyreinge you to come
Vnto the mariage banquet
of his beloued sonne.
Then shake of[f] shame and sorrowe,
put on your best array, —
God giue you all good morrowe,
'and send you happie day.
[3] ' 1
From all the rage of wickednesse
looke that you strip you quite ;
In garmentes of true godlinesse
see that your selues be decte.
Shake of[f] all shame and sorrowe
which doth your soules distroy, —
God giue you all good morrowe,
and send you happie day.
w -f
And ryse not to revenge thee
of any trespas past ;
Thou knowest not of a certaintie
how longe thy life will last.
Seeke not thy neightbour's sorrow
in any kind of way, —
God giue you all good morrow,
and send you bappie day.
[5]
Forgiue thy brother irendlie,
for Christ doth will thee soe ;
[2] 7 Refrain here and later written in one long line in the MS.
[3] I rage : read rags (5.) ; 4 be decte : delight (5.). Read be dight ;
8 day : read)oy. [4] 2 of: for (5.).
234
FROM SLUGGISH SLEEP AND SLUMBER
And let not spyte and envie
within thy stomoke growe,
Least god shoote foarth his arrowe
thy malice to distroy, —
God giue you all good morrow,
and send you happie day.
[6]
Seeke not, by fraude and falshood,
for to procure thy gaine ;
But beare in thy rememberance
all earthlie thinges are vaine ;
For he which searcheth norrowlie
thy secretes will beray, —
God giue you all good morrowe,
and send you happie day.
[7]
In whoredome, pryde, and drunkennesse,
doe not thy pleasure traine ;
Wish not thy neightbour's hinderance,
nor blemish his good name ;
And never take thy sorrowe
for losses gone away, —
God giue you all good morrow,
and send you happie day.
[6] 5 norrowlie : read narrow (5.).
[7] I S. adds the following stanza : —
Vnto the poore and needye
stretch forth thy helping hand,
And thow shalt be most happye,
and blessed, in thy lande.
From him that fayne would borow
turne not thy face awaye ;
2 traine : frame (5.).
235
FROM SLUGGISH SLEEP AND SLUMBER
[8]
Be thankefull to thy maker
eich day, vpon thy knee,
For all his gratious benefites
he hath bestoed on thee ;
And let thy greatest sorrowe
be for thy sinnes, I say, —
God glue you all good morrow,
and send you happie day.
[9]
And, beinge thus attyred,
you may in peace proceede
Vnto the heauenlie table
of Christ our lord indeede ;
Where neither shame nor sorrowe
shall you in ought anoy, —
God glue you all good morrowe,
and send you happie day.
[10]
Then looke your lampes be readie,
and that with oyle of store,
To waite vpon the bryd-groome
euen at his Chamber doore ;
Where neither shame nor sorrowe
shall you in ought annoy, —
Go d giue you all good morrow,
and send you happie day.
Then shall you rest in blessednesse
which never shall haue end,
Inioyinge Christ his presence,
our sweete and sureest frend ;
[9] 8» [I0] 8 day : read joy.
236
FROM SLUGGISH SLEEP AND SLUMBER
Where nether shame nor sorrow
shall you in ought annoy, —
God giue you all good morrow,
and send you happie day.
[12]
Thus with my bell and lantorne,
I bid you all farewell ;
And keepe in your rememberance
the soundinge of my bell,
Least that with sinne and sorrowe,
you doe your selues distroy, —
God giue you all good morrow,
and send you happie toy.
[13]
Lord, saue our gratious soueraigne,
yea, James our king, by name,
That long vnto our comfort
he may both rule and raigne.
His foes with shame and sorrow,
o lord, doe thou distroy :
And thus, with my good morrowe,
god send you a happie day.
[i i] 8 day : read joy.
[12] 5 Least : i.e. lest ; 8 ioy : substituted in the MS. for day, the only
flace in which the correction is made.
[13] 2 Elizabeth by name (S.) ; 4 he : she (5.) ; 8 day : read joy.
237
41
From Virgin's womb this day to
us did spring
Addit. MS. 15,225, fol. 47V. There is a copy of this pretty carol
(" For Christmas day") in the Paradise of Dainty Devises, 1578 (Collier's
reprint, pp. 17-18), signed F. Kindlemarsh, /.*., Francis Kinwelmersh,
the friend of George Gascoigne ; and another in William Byrd's Songs of
Sundry Natures, 1610 (Songs XXII. and XXXV.),— "A Carowle for
Christmas day, the quire whereof (Reioyce} being of 4 parts, is the XXII.
song," — with a musical score for five voices. Byrd's music for the chorus
is given also in Bodleian MS. Mus. f. 1 1, No. 24. There is an eighteenth-
century copy, with 'musical score, in Addit. MS. 23,626, fols. 45 and
75V. The Paradise poem is reprinted in Edward Farr's Select Poetry of
the Reign of Elizabeth, p. 291. Collations with Byrd (B.) and Collier's
reprint (P.) are given in the foot-notes, and show no great variations
from the MS. What version the compiler of the MS. followed cannot
be told, though one is naturally inclined to think that some printed
broadside copy was available. "A ballad entytuled, A Christmas
Caroll," licensed on October 9, 1593, may have been the original of
this MS. ballad. "A godly hymne or carol for Christmas" was also
licensed by John Aide on December 3, 1579, — possibly a reprint of
this ballad from the Paradise.
a carall jfor Christmas Day,
Reioyce, Reioyce, with hart and voice,
In Christ his birth this day reioyce.
From Virgin's wombe this day to vs did springe
the precious seede that onelie saued manne ;
This day let man reioyce and sweetelie singe,
since on this day salvation first beganne ;
This day did Christ man's soule from death remooue,
With glorious saintes to dwell in heauen aboue.
[i] I to vs : B. and P. omit ; 2 onelie : B. omits ; 5 man's : P. has man.
238
FROM VIRGIN'S WOMB
M
This day to man came pledge of perfit peace ;
this day to man came loue and vnitie ;
This day man's greefe began for to surcease ;
this day did man receiue a femedie
For each oifence and everie deadlie sinne,
With guilt of hart that earst he wandred in.
[3]
In Christ his flocke let loue be surelie plas'd,
from Christ his flocke let concorde hate expell,
In Christ his flocke let loue be soe Imbras'd,
as we in Christ and Christ in vs may dwell ;
Christ is the author of all vnitie,
From whence proceedeth all felicitie. '
w
O singe vnto this glitteringe glorious kinge,
and praise his name let everie liueinge thinge ;
Let hart and voyce, let belles of silver ringe,
the comfort that this day to vs did bringe ;
Let Lute, let shaulme, with sound of sweete delight,
The ioy of Christ his birth this day recyte.
tftttt*.
[2] i perfit : i.e. perfect (/?., P.) ; 6 guilt of: guiltie (B., P.).
[3] 3 In : of (B., P.) ; 5 all : sweet (B.) ; 6 felicitie : MS. perhaps
felikitie.
[4] 2 and : O (B., P.) ; 3 let : like (B., P.) ; 4 to vs : P. omits. B.
has to man doth bringe ; 5 shaulme : MS. substitutes for shalme (B., P.)
= psaltery ; 6 the ioy : these ioyes (B.).
239
What means this careless world
to Vance
Sloane MS. 1896, fols. 45^47. A good specimen of the Judgment-
Day ballad. According to the author the time for the fearful trump is
almost at hand, and he finds it peculiar that any one should dislike the
thought of the imminent change. Like all his associates in balladry, he
delights in warning his social superiors — kings, princes, and bishops —
that before the Awful Judge they shall be equal with him and exactly as
accountable. Possibly this was the ballad " Remembering Man of the
Judgment Day " or " The Day of the Lord Is at Hand," registered in
1557-58 and 1 568-69 ; and very probably it was the ballad of" Christes
commynge to Judgemente " that was licensed on August I, 1586, and
the " Dittie worthie to be viewed of all people dechringe the dreadfull
corny nge of Christ to Judgement and howe all shall appeare before his
presence" that was licensed on July 4, 1595.
a maming tmto repentaunce anu of
comming tonto au&gement
What meanes this carelesse world to vance
in course of carelesse race,
And will no warning voyce regard,
but raunge in carelesse case ?
Licentious dealing beares the sway,
and all delightes the same ;
Noe feare of hell nor Judgement great
can aught their wildnesse tame.
[2] 4 their : i.e. the world's.
240
WHAT MEANS THIS CARELESS WORLD
[3]
Althoughe the throne prepared be
wheron the Judge most hie
Shall sit to aske and call accompt,
in glorious maiesty, —
w
Yea, thoughe the heavenly powers above
already glowe with fyre,
The world will not reclaymed be
nor leave their lewd desyre.
[s]
Though blast of trumpe be eke at hand,
when heaven and earth shall teare,
Yet, loe, they will not warned be,
so far they are from feare.
All ceasoned care is throwne asyde ;
the people, carelesse nowe,
Go forth in vayne and carnall race,
to carnall lyfe they bowe.
[7]
The threates of god they nought regard ;
his Judgementes nothing move,
Nor cbristes appearaunce in the skies
they nought desyer or love.
[8]
But rather wishe, and wishe againe,
that he would byde for aye ;
And that ther wer no heaven nor hell
nor yet noe Judgement day.
241
WHAT MEANS THIS CARELESS
M
But, loe, the Judge will not be stayed
that comes in flaming skyes,
But cause the trumpe so shrill to sound
that quicke and dead must rise,
[10]
To make accompte before his throne
and make a reckening plaine :
Yea, all estates and sortes of men —
not one may thence remayn.
The emperores, with mighty kinges,
must stand before the barre, —
Before thie greate and fearfull Judge,
to make or all to marre.
[12]
For why ? accompte they render must
of that their highe degree ;
And howe their talentes vsed have.
They shall enquired be
[13]
If they in feare of god have walked
amidst their worldly might,
And if they have his honor vaunst,
as them became aright.
Yea, princes, then, with dukes and lordes,
with all that honor beare,
Before that Judge must yeeld accompt,
thoughe most with trembling feare.
[u] 3 thie = the. [13] 3 vaunst : i.e. advanced.
242
WORLD TO VANCE
[IS]
Yea, bishoppes, to[o], and those that take
the cure of soule in hand,
A reconing streight must yeld when they
at barre of Judgement stand.
[i6J
If they not nowe the gospell teache,
and so their soldes defend,
From gredy guttes (devouring wolves),
repent they shall at end.
[17]
Then meane and basest sorte of men
may not exempted be,
But nedes perforce to Judgement come,
both hie and lowe degree.
[18]
Yea, man and woman, old and yong,
must perforce ther appeare
To yeld accompte, and shortely nowe, —
the tyme aprocheth neere.
[19]
For why ? — the signes expired are,
the tokens sure are past,
And onely nowe remaines behinde
of trompe the fearfull blast,
To call vs vp to this accompt,
this sessions greate proclaime ;
let vs, therfore, the life reiect
that hath bene to[o] to[o] vaine.
[ 1 6] 2 soldes : i.e. souls.
243
WHAT MEANS THIS CARELESS WORLD
[21]
Let vs, I say, with hasty spede
our carelesse lyf e of[f] shake ;
Let love and dread of Judgement day
from vaine delightes vs wake.
_ _
Yea, let vs all with virgins wise
our oyle in lampes have prest,
To enter when the bridegrom comes
to that immortall rest.
O graunt vs grace, thou blessed god,
that we may so have power,
And that our hartes so longinge wishe
for christ, our saviour ;
With whome the faithfull and elect
shall raign in blisse alwaies,
To whome, with his deare father and
the holy ghost, be praise.
[JFfofcJ
[22] 2 prest = ready. [23] 4 saviour : read sav-i-our.
244
43
Why should not mortal men awake
MS. Rawlinson Poet. 185, fols. 2 -4V. The title given in the MS.
to this splendid Judgment-Day ballad does not seem appropriate. The
ballad itself was registered for publication on August 19, 1584, as "a
godly exhortacon of Doomes Daie is at hand &c." ; and, again, as a ballad
of "Doomes Daie is at hand &c.," on August 1, 1586.
The author, R. D., contributed a poem, " No wordes, but deedes," to
he Paradise of Dainty Devises, 1578 (Collier's reprint, pp. 24-25).
Thomas Deloney's "Lamentation of Beccles," 1586, was sung to
Wilson's Tune, and " A proper newe Ballad, declaring the substaunce of
ill the late pretended Treasons against the Queenes Majestic," 1586
in the Library of the Society of Antiquaries), was sung to Wilson's
new Tune. Cf. also Chappell's Popular Musical., 86.
a goDty anu goou example to atoopne all
3inronteniende0 a0 hereafter
To wilson's tune. ft. 29.
Why should not mortall men awake
and see the day appere ?
Why should we not shake of[f] our pride
and serue the lord with fere ?
Men are so drowned in peevishe pride
the worser parte they take ;
But what attaines to perfect good,
they wholly do forsake.
The day is nye,for shame awake,
with 'humble hartes, therfore,
Approche the place where mercy is,
and lerne to sinne no more.
[Title] examyle : i.e. example.
245
WHY SHOULD NOT MORTAL MEN AWAKE
How lounge shall we forgett our god
and laye his law aside ?
How lounge shall we procure his wrath
by this excesse of pride ?
High tyme it is for English e harts
to god for grace to call,
With bendinge knees, and liftinge hands,
and shrikinge woice withall.
The day is nye,for shame awake,
with humble harUs,
[3]
The axe is sett vnto the tree :
then if we be not rotton,
Let vs shake of[f] our vanitie,
let pride be quite forgotton ;
For god hath shewed examples store
to move vs to repente,
But we, alas, sinne more and more,
we are so lewdly bente.
The day is nye,for shame awake,
with humble hartes,
[4]
For pride, alas, doth bere the swaye
in outwarde showe and harte,
But meeknes of the minde, we maye
perceaue, is put aparte :
Haue minde, therfore, howe angells bright
that once with god did dwell
for pride, wherin they tooke delight,
were headloung throwne to hell.
The day is nye,for shame awake,
with humble harttes, &c.
[2] 8 shrikinge woice : i.e. shrieking voice.
246
WHY SHOULD NOT MORTAL MEN AWAKE
[5]
Proud lesabell, whose sinne so great
did move the lorde to Ire,
Was headlonge from her tower so neat
cast in the filthy myre ;
The raveninge dogges, in open streates,
devored her wicked corse ;
Her fleshe and blood with horses' feett
was trode without remorse.
The day is nye,for shame awake,
with humble hartes,
[6]
Nabuchadnezar so greate,
of Babylon the kinge,
Was quite excluded from his seate,
which plauge his pride did bringe ;
For when that pride in him encrest,
he therin did abounde ;
But for his pride he was a beast,
and eat the grasse on grounde.
The day is nye,for shame awake,
with humble hartes,
[7]
Antiocus, through pride, thought good
equall to be with god ;
Whose thoughts most vile the Lord withstoode
by his reuenging rod,
He made this wicked king accurst,
who showed him selfe so stout,
[5] I lesabell : i.e. Jezebel (i Kings xxi. ; 2 Kings ix., n).
[6] i Nabuchadnezar : I.e. Nebuchadnezzar ; 4 plauge : MS. originally
playge.-
[7] I Antiocus : i.e. Antiocus Epiphanes (2 Maccabees ix., 1-18)
247
WHY SHOULD NOT MORTAL MEN AWAKE
And caused his bowells so to burst
that wormes came cra[w]linge out.
The day is nye,for shame awake,
with humble hartes, &c.
The daughter of a merchant late,
in Italy that dwelt,
Accepted pride to be her mate,
which caused her soule to swelt ;
Whose ruffes to sett none plesed her sight,
she was so Coye a dame,
Tyll sathan had her for his right
vnto her parentes' shame.
The day is nye,for shame awake,
with humble hartes,
[9]
The Gy antes once to haue the seat
of suprem head presumed,
The which was very hard to gett —
at length they were consumed.
The bewtye of narcis so strainge,
which did his wittes devour e,
The godes decree the same did chainge
into a yellow flower.
The day is nye,for shame awake,
with humble hartes,
[10]
Loe, daintye dames of London braue,
that now in plesure's barge,
How mighty kinges and ladies haue
from vertue runne at large,
[9] i Gyantes : i.e. the Titans ; 5 narcis so : read Narcissus.
[ i o] 2 now : read row.
248
WHY SHOULD NOT MORTAL MEN AWAKE
By hauty hartes before the lord —
of sinnes which is the worst ;
And angells bright, with one accord,
howe pride hath made accurst.
The day is nye,for shame awake,
with humble hartes, &c.
What makes the rich, without all feare,
disdaine the lowly minde ?
What causes the sonne his father dere
denye against all kinde ?
What cavses whordome now prevayle,
or theft so muche to raigne ? —
This filthy pride, for why, some steale
ther mynions to maintaine.
The day is nye, for shame awake,
with humble hartes,
[I2]
Leaue of[f], therfore, this vaine excesse
whilst mercye may be had ;
Abandon all presumptuousnes,
which makes your soules full sad ;
For god lifted vp the humble harte,
he lawdes the lowly minde,
But puffinge pride he puttes aparte,
as chaff e against the winde.
The day is nye,for shame awake,
with humble h[arts,
God doth compare vnto a Child
his glorious Kingdome wholly,
And to the little dove so milde
that sheweth her selfe so lowly :
[12] 5 lifted : ;•*&/ lifts. [13] i Child : i.e. St. Matthew xix., 14.
249
WHY SHOULD NOT MORTAL MEN AWAKE
The first, saith Christ, shalbe the last,
the gretest shalbe lest,
And he that never pride did tast
with god shall live in rest.
The day is nye,for shame awake,
with humble h[arts, WV.].
[14]
Strive not for welth, let vertue bounde,
with lowly minds accord ;
For when god doth the prowed confound,
the meeke shall see the lorde.
The meeke who seekes the lord to plesse
for his deserued hire,
Shalle were a Crowne of Blisfull bayes, —
what more can he desire ?
[The day is nye,for shame awake,
with humble harts, &c.~\
[15]
What can avayle your velvet gownes,
your Caules of glitteringe golde,
Your ruffes so deepe, your chaines of lette,
when you are tourn'd to mould ?
Your painted face, your fristed heare,
your Cotes of scarlet red,
Your colloured hose, your lewells deare,
your hoodes vpon your head ?
The day is nye,for shame awake,
with humble, &c.
[16]
Your fingers fine, bedect with ringes,
your countenance braue and bolde ;
[13] 5 Christ : i.e. St. Matthew xix., 30 ; 6 lest : read least.
[15] 2 Caules = caps, or nets, for the hair; 5 fristed heare: i.e.
frizzled hair.
250
WHY SHOULD NOT MORTAL MEN AWAKE
Your tatlinge tounges and other thinges,
most sinfull to beholde ;
Your trippinge pace and gaddinge grace,
your lives to venus bente ;
Your lofty lookes, with lustfull hookes ; —
will cause your soules be shente.
The day is nye,for shame awake,
with humble harts,
When doomes-day comes, as it is nye,
all thinges shall loose thire light,
Those which are ioyned with meeknes clere
shall shine in glory bright ;
For shame, therfore, shake of[f] your pride,
put vaine delightes awaye,
And let dame vertue be your guide, —
your state shall not decaye.
The day is nye, for shame awake,
with humble hartes, therfore,
Approch the place where mercye is,
and lerne to sinne no more.
[17] 2 loose thire : i.e. lose their.
251
44
Come on, good fellow, make an end
Sloane MS. 1896, fols. 6v-8. The tops of most of the letters in the
title have been clipped by the binder, and the ink throughout the ballad
is badly faded.
This really good ballad was licensed for publication by John Cherle-
wood under the title of " betwene Death and youghte" in 1563-64
(Arber's Transcript, I., 237). There is an especially disconcerting
reference to the frailty of life in stanza 16.
a Dialogue bettuene Dcatt) anD poutlje*
DEATH [i]
Come on, good fellowe, make an end,
for you and I must talke ;
You may noe longer soiourne here,
but hence you must goe walke.
YOUTH [2]
What wofull wordes, alas,
be theise that I do heare ?
Alas, and shall I now forthewith
forsake my lyfe so deare ?
DEATH [3]
Come on, come on, and lynger not,
ye tryfle but the tyme ;
Ye make to[o] muche of that, Iwis,
which is but dirt and slyme.
252
COME ON, GOOD FELLOW, MAKE AN END
YOUTH [4]
O cursed death, what dost thou mean,
so cruell for to be,
To him that neuer thought the[e] harm
nor once offended the[e] ?
[s]
O death, behold ; I am but younge
and of a pleasaunt age :
Take thou some old and croked wight,
and spare me in thy rage.
I [6]
Behold, my lymmes be lyvely now,
my mynd and courage strong,
And by the verdit of all men
lyke to continew long ;
[7]
My bewty like the rose so red,
my heare like glistring gold ; —
And canst thou now of pity then
transforme me into molde ?
[8]
O gentle death, be not extreme ;
thy mercy heare I craue ;
It is not for thyne honor nowe
to fetche me to my grave :
[9]
But rather let me lyve a while,
till youth consumed be, —
[5] I younge : MS. yougne ; 2 pleasaunt : badly blurred in MS.
[6] 3 verdit : i.e. verdict. [7] 2 heare : i.e. hair.
253
COME ON, GOOD FELLOW, MAKE AN END
When crooked age doth me opres,
then welcome death to me.
DEATH [10]
O fo[o]lishe man, what dost thou meane
to strive against the streame ?
Nothing there is that can the[e] nowe
out of my handes redeame.
Thy time is past, thy daies are gone,
thy race is fully runne ;
Thou must of force nowe make an end,
as thou hadst onse begunne.
[12]
O foole, why dost thou beag and boast
of theise thy youthfull dayes ? —
Which passeth fast and fadeth swifte,
as flowers freshe decayes.
Both youth and age to me be one —
I care not whome I stryke :
The child, the man, the father old,
doe I reward alyke.
EH]
The proudest of them all, Iwis,
can not escape my darte :
The lady fayre, the lazer fowlle,
shall both posses a parte.
[12] i beag : i.e. beg. [14] 3 fowlle : i.e. foul.
254
COME ON, GOOD FELLOW, MAKE AN END
[IS]
Thou art not nowe the first, I say,
that I haue eared vppe ;
Ne yet shalt be the last, pardy, %
that drincketh of my cuppe ;
[16] V
For he that doth vs now behold, —
perusing this our talke, —
He knoweth not yet how sone, god wot,
with thee and me to walke !
[17]
Dispatche, therfore, and make an end,
for ne[e]des you must obey ;
And as thou earnest into this world,
so shalt thou nowe away.
YOUTH [18]
And must I passe out of this world
in-dede, and shall I soe ?
May noe man me restrayn a while,
but ne[e]des nowe must I goe ?
[19]
Why, then, farewell my lyfe and landes,
adiew my pleasures all !
Loe dredfull deth doth vs departe,
and me away doth call.
[20]
My chearfull dayes be worne a-way,
my pleasaunt tyme is past,
[15] 2 eared = ploughed up (<O.E. grian).
[17] 3 earnest: read cam3 st. [19] 3 departe = separate.
255
COME ON, GOOD FELLOW, MAKE AN END
My youthfull yeares are spent and gone,
my lyfe it may not last ;
[21]
And I (for lacke of lyfe and breath)
whose like hath not bene sene,
Shall straight consumed be to dust,
as I had never bene.
[22] ^
But thoughe I yeld as now to thee,
when nothing me can save,
Yet I am sure that I shall lyve
when thou thy death shalt haue.
256
45
\
Lo here I Dance with spear and
shield
Sloane MS. 1896, fols. 5iv~52v. A ballad of a conventional type in
which Death, after gloating over his victory in destroying Croesus, warns
all estates of his power and urges them to be ready. He seems to be
uncertain as to whether his master is God or Jove. In the woodcuts
that ornament most of the ballads on Death, he is depicted as a skeleton
with an hour-glass in one hand, a dart (or spear) in the other. A ballad
much like this appears in the Gorgeous Gallery of Gallant Inventions, 1579
(Collier's reprint, pp. 1 19 ff.).
mitt) Ijourcglasse in tbe one
anu speare in tlje ofljer ttireatnetl) all
estates.
Loe heare I vaunce, with speare and shield,
To watche my pray, to spoyle, to kill ;
By day, by night, on sea, one land,
Noe tyme I stay ; but toyling still,
My force I try, to worcke the will
Of ruling Joue : with deathfull dint,
Eache hart I reave, though hard as flint.
My shape is dread of wor[l]dly wightes ;
My piercing darte, abhored sore ;
Which them devides from vayne delightes,
From glaring pompe possest before,
[i] 3 one : read on.
R 257
LO HERE I VANCE
From scepter, croune, and earthly glore :
With Pallas, throne, yea reign and power,
I them bereave at 'pointed howre.
No king so sure nor keyser founde
But I remove from ruling seate ;
No wight but when he heres my sound
Must yeld perforce, thoughe force be great.
Sith lord of lyfe as man did sweate,
With trickling droppes of watry bloud,
Who dare resist, be he never so good ?
w
Thoughe thou, a king, thy selfe enclose
In Iron, in brasse, in stone, in stele, —
Which may defend the[e] from suche foes
As thou on earth their force might fele, —
Yet I, not rulde by fortune's whele,
But stay'd on god at tourne of glasse,
Will sparce thy stele, thy stone, thy bra[sse].
[5]
One godes decre dependes my power ;
And serve I do at 'pointed will :
If he commaund and lot myne houre,
Then forth I fare to spoile and kill ;
If he restraine, then rest I still
(As momme, and eke as cheyned, to[o]),
Not able ought gaine him to doe.
2] 6 Pallas : i.e. palace.
3] 3 heres : i.e. hears.
4] 7 sparce : i.e. sparche = scorch ; brasse : Clipped by the binder.
5] i One : read on ; 6 momme = mum, quiet ; 7 gaine : i.e. against.
258
WITH SPEAR AND SHIELD
[6]
And thoughe in hand I vaunce this speare,
Whose dint is death and wound to grave,
Yet loe this glasse againe I beare,
To shewe that I noe fredome have
For hate to strike, for love to save,
Till mighty Joue apoint the houre ;
And then I want no will nor power.
[7]
Defer noe tyme, therfore, I say,
Ye sonnes of men, your selves prepare ;
For hence, perforce, ye must away :
No keyser, kyng, nor Quene, I spare ;
But when their times fulfilled are,
I strike them doune, whome none may save,
But dust to dust I fling in grave.
[8]
Yeld, therfore ; yeld, thou Cresus crounde,
For glasse is out, hence must thou wend :
Though pompe, thoughe welth do large abound,
Yet can not life from death defend.
Doune, Cresus, doune ; for fat all end,
By ruling will, hath thronne my speare —
Ha, sturdy wight, now lyest thou there !
Sith Cresus now is doune in dust,
And could not shunne this mortall hour,
Who may to wealth or worship trust ? —
He wanted neyther pomp nor power :
Thus death in fyne will all devoure.
[8] i Cresus : i.e. Croesus ; 6 thronne : i.e. thrown.
[9] 5 fyne : l'e' fine = end.
259
LO HERE I VANCE
Then note the swiftness e of this glasse ;
For tyme decreed, thou canst not passe.
[10]
A kyng is now a clod of claye,
His breathlesse corse must hence to grave
Report shall good or ill display, —
If well be done, he well shall have.
But thus no graunt they got that crave
Of me, but doune with Cresus kyng,
With vnresisted force, I slyng.
For sith that he, this princely wight,
Could not resist my dint of speare,
Whoe else may thincke to have suche might
That cause he hath not like to feare ?
Prepare your selves, therfore, prepare :
The glasse is swift and runnes out fast,
Then earth to earth must needes be cast.
[12]
He shrouded lyes in lynnen shete
That lately was clothed in Pall ;
His croune bereft and throwen at fete,
With scepter, mace, he rulde withall,
In pieces wroong ; his carcase thrall
To crowling woormes, to feed their fill : —
WTatche, therfore, watche, I warn you still.
[13]
For eache may thus perceyve and se
That naught can force of death withstand ;
[12] 2 was clothed : read clothed was ; 3 throwen : read thrown.
260
WITH SPEAR AND SHIELD
For I depend on Jouis decree,
And forth will walke with glasse in hand
To slay, to spoile, by sea and land ; —
Prepare yourselves, therfore, I say,
Ye knowe noe tyme, no houre, nor day.
261
/ am that champion, great of power
Sloane MS. 1896, fols. 54-54v. In this fluent but conventional
ballad Death enumerates distinguished persons whom he has "flang"
to the dust. Antony Munday has several ballads in his Dainty Conceits,
1588 (Harleian Miscellany, IX., 227, 230, 238, 252), shewing that
"divers worthy personages past in auncient time" could not resist
death, — a truth that might be supposed to be self-evident. One of the
Gude and Godlie Ballafu, 1567 (ed. A. F. Mitchell, p. 167), asks : —
Quhair is Adam and Eue his wife
And Hercules, with his lang stryfe,
And Matussalem, with his lang lyfe ?
They all ar cum downe ay, downe ay.
And in his poem " Upon the Image of Death " the talented Catholic
priest Robert Southwell (Poems, ed. A. B. Grosart, p. 157) falls into the
ballad style : —
Though all the East did quake to heare
Of Alexander's dreadfull name,
And all the West did likewise feare
To heare of lulius Caesar's fame,
Yet both by Death in dust now lie;
Who then can 'scape, but he must die ?
Cfce triumptje of oeatt).
[i]
I am that champion, greate of power,
one barbed horse, with coulor pale,
Which all that lyve will onse devoure
and thrust in grave with forced bale.
Against me naught thou canst prevayle,
what so thou art, — the reason why,
All men that lyve are borne to dye.
[i] 2 one : i.e. on.
262
I AM THAT CHAMPION, GREAT OF POWER
W
Yeeld, princes ; yeld, ye men of might ;
resign to me your rule and croune ;
Or, if you will presume to fight,
do on, you lordes that grimly frowne,
Your steely cotes, you of renowne.
Come breake a staffe with me who dare :
No kyng except, no prince I feare.
. .
Not Nemrod, with his sturdy lookes,
could me repulse ; but forcibly
(As standes in first of Moyses bookes),
amiddes his pryde and tyranny,
Doune, doune, he fell confusedly,
and (nilling-wise) thus catching, fall ;
By wofull force became my thrall.
The spoyling Sampson, prince of strength,
thoughe noble actes by force he wrought,
Was forcibly enforst at length
his force to yeld, which holp him nought ;
But doune I flang him, yea, and brought
to mouth of grave his vanquisht strength.
Thus none may dure but yeld at length.
f [5]
To speake of noble conqueroures,
as Alexander (warlike wight),
Ccesar, with Romaine emperours,
whose fame one earth remayneth bright ; —
[3] i Nemrod : i.e. Nimrod ; 3 Moyses : i.e. Moses. Cf. Genesis
x., 8-9 ; 6 nilling = unwilling.
[4] i spoyling = despoiling, ravaging ; strength : MS. strenghth ;
4 holp : old strong form of the verb help. [5] 4 one : i.e. on.
263
I AM THAT CHAMPION, GREAT OF POWER
They all at beck obeyed my might,
and groveling fell, resigning croune
To me, their lord, that threw them downe.
[6]
Wher is that Hector, croune of Troye,
whose wing'd renoune no tyme can staye ?
Wher is, o Jewe, thy boasting Joy ? —
thy Dauyd he but past my way,
With yong Josias swete, I say :
theise all ar now in dusty plight.
Then yeld, perforce, your force and might.
[7]
Now come, contend with me who list ;
for doune they must, who euer they be ;
Theise namde, you se[e], could not resist
my force, but captives now they be.
Looke, therfore, lo[o]k alwayes for me ;
for when thy glasse is full runne out,
I come with speare, be out of doubt.
[finis.]
[6] 5 Josias : 2 Kings xxii.-xxiii. [7] 2 euer : read e'er.
264
47
O mortal man, behold and see
MS. Rawlinson Poet. 185, fols. 4V-$V. This MS. preserves an
almost entirely new ballad, which is longer than, and much superior to,
the two other extant versions. The two-line chorus is written as the
opening lines of the first stanza, and in an effort to normalize the form
of this stanza, the copyist did not repeat the last line as he did elsewhere.
Other copies of the ballad occur: (i) In Additional MS. 15,233
(Halliwell-Phillipps, The Moral Play of Wit and Wisdom, Shakespeare
Society, 1848, pp. 110-111). This version (//.) has nine stanzas: it
omits three of those in the Rawlinson MS., but adds a new stanza, here
reprinted as stanza 13. It does not repeat the last line of each stanza —
using instead the chorus — and is signed " Fynis, quod Mr. Thorne."
(2) In the Paradise of Dainty Devises, 1578 (Collier's reprint, pp. 121-
122). The chorus is printed at the head of this version (P.), but neither
chorus nor the last line of the stanzas is repeated at the conclusion of
each stanza. Of the eight stanzas in this version four (printed here as
stanzas 2-5) do not occur in either the Rawlinson or the Additional
MS. copies. It is signed " Finis. M[r.] Thorne."
The ballad seems to have been registered in 1 563 by John Cherlewood
(cf. especially stanza 15) as "ye vanitie of this worlde and the felycite of
the worlde to come" (Arber's Transcript, I., 231).
Two other ballads by Thorne are preserved in Addit. MS. 15,233
(ed. Halliwell-Phillipps, op. cit., pp. 65, 102), and one of these is
included in the Paradise.
a pretie trittie ant) a pittite intitules
flD mortall man.
O mortall man, behold and see,
This world is but a vanetie.
Who shall profoundly way and scan
the vnassured state of man
[i] i way : i.e. weigh ; 2 vnassured : assured (P.).
265
O MORTAL MAN, BEHOLD AND SEE
Shall well perceue by reson, then,
that ther is no stabilitie.
All is subiect to vanety,
[all is subiect to vanety].
[2] :
[For what estate is there thinke ye,
throughly content with his degre,
Whereby we may right plainly see :
That in this vale of miserie,
remaineth nought but vanitie.
The great men wish ye meane estate,
mean men again their state do hate,
Olde men thinke children fortunate :
A boy a man would faynest be,
thus wandereth man in vanitie.
W
The country man doth daily swel,
with great desire in court to dwell,
The Courtier thinkes him nothing well :
Till he from Court in country be,
he wandreth so in vanitie.
[5]
The sea doth tosse ye marchants brains,
to wish a farme & leue those pains,
The Farmer gapeth at marchants gaines :
Thus no man can contented be,
he wandreth so in vanitie.]
[6]
If thow be kinge or emperoure,
prince, ether lord of might or powre,
[i] 4 ther : where (P.) ; 5 remayneth nought but vanitie (P.).
[2] i Stanzas 2-5 appear only in P.
[5] 5 Stanzas 6 and 7 omitted in P.
266
O MORTAL MAN, BEHOLD AND SEE
Thy poore subiectes do not devoure ;
beware of pride and Crueltye,
Lose not thy fame for vanetie,
lose not thy fame, &c.
[7]
If thow be set to do Justice,
reward vertue and punish vice ;
Oppresse no man, I thee advice ;
abuse not thine aut[h]oritye
To vex poore men for vanetye,
to vex poor men, &c.
,
If thow haue landes or goodes great store,
consider then thy charge is more,
Sith that thow must accompt therfore ;
they are not thine but lent to thee,
And yet they are but vanetie,
and yet they are, &c.
And if thow forten to be poore
so that thow go from dore to dore,
Humblie giue thankes to god therfore,
and thinke in thine adversetie,
This world is but a vanetie,
this world is but, &c.
[10]
Yf thow of youth haue oversight,
refraine thy will with all thy might ;
3 Oppresse : O ! pres (//.).
I or : and (H.) ; 3 Synce thow must make acownt therfore
(H., P.) ; 6 Stanzas 9-13 are not in P.
[9] i forten : i.e. fortune. [10] I Stanza 10 is not in H.
267
[7]
[8]
O MORTAL MAN, BEHOLD AND SEE
For wicked will doth worke his spight.
Let them at no tyme idle bee,
For that encreseth vanetie,
for that encreseth, &c.
If to seme others thow be bent,
serue with goodwill, and be content
To do thy lordes commandement.
Serue trew and eeke painfully,
Do not delight in vanetie,
do not delight, &c.
[12]
But if thow haue men's soules in cure,
thy charge is great, I thee assure ;
In wordes and deedes thow must be pure,
all vertue must abound in thee.
Thow must eschew all vanetie,
thow must eschew, &c.
[13]
[Then since ye do perseve right clere,
That all is vayne as doth apeere
Lerne to bestow while thow art heere,
Your wyt, your powre, your landes, your fees ;
Lerne to bestow thes vanitees.]
Yf thou be stronge and faire of face,
sikenes or age doth both deface ;
Then be not prowed in any case ;
for how can ther more follye be,
[i i] i Stanza 1 1 is not in H.
[13] i Stanza 13 added from H.
[14] 2 deface : disgrace (//., P.). Stanza 14 follows stanza 8 in //. ;
3 prowed : i.e. proud.
268
O MORTAL MAN, BEHOLD AND SEE
Then to be prowed in vanetie,
then to be proued, &c.
[15]
Now, finally, be not infectt
with worldly care, but haue respect
How god rewardes his trew elect
with most perfect felicitie,
Voide of all worldly vanetie,
voide of all worldly, &c.
[16]
Now let vs pray to god aboue
that he voutsaffe our harts to moue,
Each one another for to loue
and flye from all inyquitie ;
So shall we 'voide all vanetie,
so shall we 'voide all vanetie.
[14] 5 For to be prowed in P. reads for to host of.
[15] 3 rewardes : rewardth (H., P.) ; 4 with glorious felicitie (P.) ;
5 Voide of: Fre from (H., P.).
[16] i Stanza 16 is not in H. or P. ; 2 voutsaffe : i.e. vouchsafe.
269
48
Alas how long shall I bewail
Sloane MS. 1896, fols. 2 5-2 5 v. This ballad is evidently incomplete.
Its interest lies in the fact that it was entered in the Stationers' Registers
on August i, 1586 (several years after the MS. was written), as a ballad
called " a Dialoge betwene Christ and a sinner." Similar ballads
abound : e.g. " a Christian conference betwene Christe and a synner,"
registered on November 7, 1586, printed in the Roxburghe Ballads, III.,
1 64 ; "A Dialog betweene Christ and a Sinner," two poems in William
Hunnis's Comfortable Dialogs betweene Christ and a Sinner, 1583 [added
to his Handfull of Honeysuckles, pp. 51 ff., 56 ff.] ; a song beginning
" Satan, my foe, full of iniquity " in John Forbes's Cantus, Songs and
Fancies, 1666, sig. B 2.
a Dialogue betmene christe anu fyt pore
oppre00en
[i] SYNNER
Alas, how long shall I bewaile
my wofull case to the[e] ?
O lord, how long shall teares complaine,
and yet refused be ?
Alas, my Christ, hath mercy end
that scepter vsde to beare ?
Hath grace forgot his wonted trade,
hath pity closde her eare ?
[2] CHRIST
Poore synfull soule that dost bewaile
thy dolefull case to me,
Thoughe long the[e] seme thy sute delay'd,
I yet refuse not the[e].
270
ALAS HOW LONG SHALL I BEWAIL
No, mercy hath not end for ay,
but ruling scepter beares ;
Nor grace forgot his wonted trade
nor pity closde her eares.
[3] SYNNER
Why, then, what workes this cause of griefe,
thine absence still to have ?
And so to want that swetest ioye
that most my soule doth crave ?
Thoughe, dearest christ, confes I do
my soule vnworthy muche,
To f ele indede possessing-wise
thy swetest treasures suche.
[4] CHRIST
O mourning soule, thoughe cause of myne
absence bringes indeede griefe,
It is not the[e] to speale of Joye
that I thus-wise proceede ;
But that, by feeling thus this want,
thou might st be forst to cry,
And therwith, eke, to know thy selfe,
and sue for grace on hye.
[4] I of : Line ends with this word in MS., myne beginning the next line ;
3 speale : i.e. spiel = to make off with, to deprive of.
271
49
There is no man so lewd of life
Sloane MS. 1896, fols. 26-2 7V. There is no stanza-division in the
MS. The thoroughly disheartened early Elizabethan poet who wrote
this ballad enumerates not only venial sins that masquerade as vices but
also condemns the people's craze for dancing, fencing, over-dressing, and
for eating imported foods. Especially curious and interesting are the
stanzas (9-11) which describe Elizabethan styles in dress. The poet
was evidently an advocate of strict sumptuary laws, and he would have
enjoyed reading " An excellent newe ballad Declaringe the monsterous
abuse in apparrell and the intollerous pride nowe a daies vsed, &c.," that
was printed in December, 1594.
etoerp trice crepetl) in bn[uer]
name ant) stjeto of a tmue.
Ther is noe man so lewde of lyfe,
so fond in fylthy talke,
That doth not still perswade him selfe
in perfect path to walke.
The covetous carle whose hart and hand
doth lust and reache for coyne,
He thinckes it is a glory great
his bages and heapes to Joyne.
And Bacchus' knight es whose grapy bowe
do budde with in their braine,
They thincke it is good fellow-shippe
in ryot to remayne.
[2] i bowe : i.e. bough.
272
THERE IS NO MAN SO LEWD OF LIFE
The lusty laddes whose lecherous lust
their wanton ladyes fele,
Do thincke with goddesse for to spinne
and with a god to reele.
[3]
" Tushe, tushe, whoe would not take," say they,
" dame nature for his guyde ?
And we from nature's wanton will,
we know, do never slyde ;
We shewe our selves we[e] dwarf es to be
in doing suche a dede,
But manly mates to fyght in field
when England shall haue nede.
w
" We store the realme with basterd borne,
to help our natyve soyle ;
Whose strength, since parentes were so strong,
must nedes put foes to foyle."
The Clyent thinckes he geues noe more
then larges do requyre ;
The lawyer thinckes he takes noe more
then clyentes would desyre.
[5]
So both agre to swymme in synne
or lurcke in hell, — they care not ;
So both their willes be brought to passe,
for wyly wayes they spare not.
The proude doe thincke it comlynesse
to vaunt in Jolly Jagges,
And compteth other garmentes all
to be but rotten ragges.
[4] 6 larges : i.e. largess.
s 273
THERE IS NO MAN SO LEWD OF LIFE
The ha[i]rbrain'd heades esteme the stoute
but cowherdes in the fyeld,
And therfore thincke it manlynesse
at noe man's sute to yeld :
The lyver by extorcyon, —
whose wealth is others' woe, —
Hath reasons sound, or else he lyes,
his foes to ouerthrowe.
[7]
" The losse to ritche is small," saith he,
" their gaynes were great e of late ;
The poore that begge devoute men's almes,
it kepeth in their state :
The myser feeles noe hurt by stealth,
for he doth robbe him selfe,
And gathereth goodes, but wantes the vse
of all his gotten pelfe.
[8]
" The ryotous man which to the dyce
his father's landes doth send,
I helpe to throwe a losing chaunce
to bring him to his end."
Excesse in meate is Friendlynesse,
so names do vs beguyld ;
Carouse is made a harty draught,
to pynche the pottes a while.
[9]
And fylthy woordes are mery iestes
to sporte the gestes with all ;
And knavyshe dedes are youthfull toyes,
which still in youthe doe fall ;
[6] 5 lyver : perhaps Th' usurer. [8] 6 beguyld : read beguile
274
THERE IS NO MAN SO LEWD OF LIFE
Create hose be comely for the legge,
and makes one semely cladde ;
French e cappes are nowe the fashion,
and therfore must be had ;
. [10] ;;
Pincke pumpes are good to let in wynde,
and must in heate be worne ;
Cut elbowes are as coole as they,
and cannot be forborne ;
In sommer bumbast makes a brest,
wher lately ther was none, —
In wynter bumbast kepes from cold,
when harvest heate is gone.
And gaskins now are worne for ease,
to stretche both leg and arme ;
Eache one hath now a dagger gotte
to save himselfe from harme ;
A handsome hatte is not without
a tassell hanging downe,
And custome byddes vs now to weare
a felt with loftye croune.
[12]
In mockes there is a certaine grace
which youthfull youthes doe vse,
And will somtymes, for want of foes,
their freindes therwith abuse.
Now should'ring vp of symple soules
is sign bf courage bold ;
Now hoary heares ar in contempt,
their age is doting old.
[10] i Pincke: read pink'd ; 5 bumbast = a stuffing.
|f 1 2] 7 heares : i.e. hairs.
275
THERE IS NO MAN SO LEWD OF LIFE
[13] _
Nowe dauncing shewes hir good effectes,
to hyde her lewde conceiptes,
And Joyfull lymmes will daunce a dumpe
to worcke some depe deceiptes.
Her nymble trickes, her capers cros[s],
do well become our feete,
And toes that earst did come behinde
againe before must mete.
Nowe fencinge must be vsde and had,
our foes to ouer throwe
With sleightes and feates of reaching armes
to strike a quarter blowe,
I would theise fetches were the worst
that england nowe doth breede.
But all the world can scarse, I feare,
our rage and fury feede.
[15]
Our natyve soyle cannot aforde
suche meates as may content,
But shippes must seke for spanisbe spice
till all our goodes be spent.
God make vs thanckefull for his giftes,
which he so freely doth bestowe,
Least other do obtaine our wealth,
which will them selves more thankfull shew.
[15] 6 Read which freely He doth bestow ; 8 Omit which will,
50
What way is best for man to choose
Sloane MS. 1896, fols. 27v-z8v. There is no stanza-division in the
MS. The melancholy, pessimistic tone that appealed to the compiler
of the MS. finds its full expression in this ditty. Stanzas 2-4 throw
interesting light on the street-brawls of the Elizabethan period, when
the phrase " More work for the Cutler " had actual, as well as pro
verbial, significance ; but in the remaining stanzas the author expresses
the futility of human life only in wise saws and general instances.
Possibly this was the ballad called " a Dyscription of this mortall lyfe,"
licensed for publication in 1561 (Arber's Transcript, I., 175).
's tyfe is full of mpserp.
What way is best for man to chuse,
what path to lyve in rest ?
What trade of lyfe can man invent
to chose or lyke for best ?
Ther is not one amongst them all,
so pleasant to the ey[e],
Which hath not thousand thoughtes and cares
to ban the pleasures bye.
Abroad the cutlers rule the roast,
with frayes in every streate ;
And daggers drawen, with pearcing pointes,
in tender fleshe doe mete.
[2] i rule the roast : i.e. rule the roost, a proverbial phrase for assuming
authority or leadership.
277
WHAT WAY IS BEST FOR MAN TO CHOOSE
I thincke since first the world was made
and fleshe was framed out,
Suche losse of lyves was never yet
in countreys round about.
[3] • r: '
Suche searching out for turkye blades,
of highe and lofty pryce,
Doth make the cutler now-a-dayes
alofte in wealth to rise.
The daggers now be all of steele,
to flashe and cracke the croune,
With hikes and pommelles pounced out
to beate their neighbores downe.
w
The buckelers, made of beastly home,
which furious hand doth grasp e,
In soke must lye before they fight
their enmyes' sword to claspe.
And theise be all the goodly sightes
which we in stretes can fynde :
At home the griefes of carking cares
do pinche our wearyed mynde.
[5]
Somtymes we feare the losse of house
by servauntes' retchlesse hede ;
Somtymes we spend vp all our gaynes,
our houshold folkes to feede :
The countrey all is full of cares ;
and plowes must play their parte,
If hoped harvest we will have
to glad our heavy hart.
[3] 7 pounced : i.e. chased, embossed.
[4] i buckelers : i.e. bucklers.
278
WHAT WAY IS BEST FOR MAN TO CHOOSE
[6]
The sease be full of ragged rockes
and sands to sincke thy shippe ;
Whose billowes, beating on thy barcke,
doth make it mount and skippe.
If thou abounde in worldly wealth
and bagges be stuffed vppe,
For feare of sworde or flashing flames,
thou canst not dyne or suppe.
[7]
Againe, if want do pynche thy purse
when naught in chestes be left,
Then wilt thou wishe thy bones in grave,
and lyfe, with purse, bereft.
If thou be lynckt in maryage knotte,
whoe can expresse thy care ?
And if thou have noe wyfe at all,
full simply thou shalt fare.
I [8]
To fynde thy sonnes, which thou hast gotte,
will ask great paine and cost ;
And then thou semest left alone
when all thy sonnes be lost.
If youthfull yeares do the[e] beseke
with bewtyes rytche aray,
Then fancyes fond will rage in head,
for youth must have his swaye.
I [9]
If crooked age have dryed thy lymmes
and sucked vp thy sappe,
Then hoary heares for[e]shew that death
will bring his fatall happe.
[6] 7 flashing: MS. flasyhing. [8] I fynde = support.
[9] 3 heares : i.e. hairs.
279
WHAT WAY IS BEST FOR MAN TO CHOOSE
What then is left for man to wishe,
thus borne and nurst in griefe ?
What comfort shall he seke on earth,
to fynde him some reliefe I
[10] ' " • I
The best is, eyther not be borne
by mother's pensyve payne ;
Or, after death, from whence he came
straight-wayes to tourne againe.
280
51 '
The lord that guides the golden
globe
Sloane MS. 1896, fols. 30^31 v. There is no stanza-division in the
MS. The ink is badly faded. This ballad, imploring Englishmen
" born of Brutus' s blood " to be wise, just, and attentive to reason's
lore, ends with a heart-felt prayer for Queen Elizabeth, part of which
at least was granted. During all the long years of her reign, the
Queen's popularity with ballad-writers was unfailing.
3lt 10 not goD but w our seltoes 0efee
eucrgion of our own country.
The lord that guydes the golden globe
hath not his heavenly army sent
To lay our cityes in the dust,
nor yet at them their batt'ry bent ;
For Pallas, in our stately tower,
doth stand with speare and shaken shield,
And myghty mar s hath got the walks
to beate them downe, that will not yeld.
M
But we our selves, lyke wretched wightes,
doe seke to vndermyne the towne ;
A civill discord hath begonne
to make our walles come tumbling downe.
[Title] euersion = overthrowing.
28l
THE LORD THAT GUIDES
By wicked thought of divelyshe hart,
we still provoke our god to yre ;
By carelesse lyfe, we him procure
to wast our walles with flaming fyre.
[3] _ ' -
For they whose hungre is for gold
and thirst for silver's shining gaine,
They breake the lawes, forsweare the faith,
as though ther wer no punishing payne.
Some seke by force of bloudy blade
a trade of lyving to beginne ;
Some seke, by open tirranny,
the princely seate and lyfe to winne.
.
So that noe marvaile now it is,
though simple soules take sword in hand,
And griefe constraines their yerning hartes
to ayd and help their native land.
Some spoile abrode, and bring it home,
not caring how they winne their welth,
And leave their countrey sicke in woe,
dispairing quyte of happy health.
[s]
No shiftes be left for getting goodes ;
and loke, wher force will not prevayle,
Ther sleightes and pievyshe pollicyes
shall geue the onset and assayle.
They bring Astrea in contempt,
and iustice can them never fray,
Her power, her might, her maiesty,
her anger doth them not dismay.
[5] 3 pievyshe . i.e. peevish ; 6 fray = frighten.
282
THE GOLDEN GLOBE
[6]
Yet she beholdes their wicked woorckes,
and will reward when tyme shall serve :
Eache one shall then receive reward
as he by woorckes doth well deserve ;
Thoughe god to stay his heavy hand
from powring out his plagues beneath,
Yet trust the sworde shall once be drawen,
which lyeth nowe so depe in sheath.
[7]
Thoughe he be close within his cloudes,
and semes to mortall men to slepe,
Yet doth he seke, with mighty arme,
his glory still on earth to kepe.
The longer leave that he doth geue
our naught, and synfull lyves, to mend,
The greater plagues one careles men
his armed arme shall surely send.
[8]
And, therfore, do thou not thy selfe
with faire and flattering wordes beguild,
The money is not alwayes lost,
whose payment is differd a while.
Ye Britaines, borne of Brutus' bloud,
leave of[f], therfore, to walcke at will,
That all your woordes and deedes may be
to reason's lore attentive still.
[9]
Then god will blesse this litle He
with corne and grasse, in plenteous store,
[6] 5 to : read do.
[7] 6 naught and : possibly read naughty ; 7 one : read on.
[8] 2 beguild : read beguile ; 4 differd : i.e. deferred.
283
THE LORD THAT GUIDES
Then peace, as it hath well begonne,
so shall it flourishe more and more.
God save our Quene Ely-sabeth^
and ayd her alwaies at her nede,
That earth may bring her hartes desyre,
and heavenly foode her soule may fede.
[10]
God graunt full long her noble grace
with vs in England, to remayne,
And graunt her in the world to come
with the[e] and all the sainctes to raign ;
Wher angelles sing suche heavenly songes,
with their most swetly-sounding voyce,
Where all the cherfull cherubins
with Joyfull hart and mouth reioise.
284
The covetous carl when greedy
eyes
Sloane MS. 1896, fols. 33-35. There is no stanza-division in the
MS. The ballad is probably " a ballett agaynste covetous[ness],"
which Owen Rogers licensed on October 30, 1560 (cf. No. 15), though,
to be sure, it is an invective rather against hoarding than against covet-
ousness. Addressing his remarks to fathers, the balladist urges them to
' spend their money in their own lifetime rather than leave it for idle sons
to spend lewdly, thus foreshadowing Martin Parker's ballad on " Gather-
good the Father, Scattergood the Son" (Roxburghe Ballads, I., 129).
The moral is emphatically stated in stanzas 14-16. But whatever point
this ballad had in the Elizabethan age has been removed, one may well
think, by our inheritance, income, and luxury taxes.
a generall Discourse bpon cotetousnesse.
The covetous carle, when gredy eyes
the glittering gold doth blynde,
Noe place so safe, noe tyme so sure,
that doth not feare his mynde.
At table tyme, when meate and drincke
before his eyes doth stand,
And Gesse declare the wondrous workes
that chaunce in straungest land ;
Suche meate and drincke he doth not wey,
they can him not content ;
[i] 4 feare = make afraid ; 7 Gesse : i.e. guests.
[2] i wey : i.e. weigh.
285
THE COVETOUS CARL WHEN GREEDY EYES
For all the ioyes of mery mates
his mynde will not relent,
" Alas," he sayth, " that blustring prince
which one the windes doth reign,
Hath sent his impes amongst the floudes
to teare my shippe in twayne ;
[3] I
" Else Neptune, with his forcked mace,
hath stroke the swelling wave,
Whose fomyng force with violence
my barcke in sonder clave.
And thoughe the godes should be my freindes
till wyndes and waves were past,
Yet sandes wold sincke my shaken shippe,
and make it sticke full fast.
w
" Or ragged rockes would strike her syde[s],
till they did cleave in sonder ;
And gaping gulfes would get alofte,
till all my goodes were vnder."
And thus he feares his goodes abroad
and doubtes their safe retourne ;
At home he feares Vulcamis force,
his buildinges brave to burne.
[5]
So that he is vnto him selfe
the cause of all his care ;
Whilest he in hope of Nestor's yeares,
from spending still doth spare.
[2] 4 relent : i.e. soften in temper ; 5 prince : i.e. vEolus ; 6 one
read on ; 7 impes = children, attendants.
[3] 2 stroke : i.e. struck.
[4] 7 feares Vulcamis : read feareth Vulcan's.
[5] 3 whilest : i.e. whilst.
286
THE COVETOUS CARL WHEN GREEDY EYES
He hath enoughe, yet wanteth all
that he with payne hath gotte,
For who will thincke a man to have
the thing he vseth not ?
[6]
Who will believe him satisfyed
that still doth thirst for drincke ?
Who thinckes that ground is wet enoughe
wher raine doth quickely syncke ?
What man will deme his cofers full
with gripes of gotten gold,
If that his chestes and cofers yet
a greater somme would hould ?
[7]
Soe whoe can well accompt him rytche
that gapeth still for gayne ? —
Althoughe his bagges lye strouting full,
and so in chest remayne.
Yea, lo[o]ke, the more he hath of goodes,
the more he wantes of fill ;
Muche lyke the dropsye drye desease
that craveth water still.
I [8]
He is good to none, yet to himselfe
he is the worst of all :
His goodes do never profyt one
till death on him befall ;
And then most lyke the wrouting sowe,
which never bringeth good
5] 5 wanteth : i.e. lacks.
6] 6 gripes = handfuls ; 8 somme : i.e. sum.
7] 3 strouting : i.e. strutting.
8] 5 wrouting sowe : i.e. rooting sow.
287
THE COVETOUS CARL WHEN GREEDY EYES
Till meate be of her body made
by letting of her bloud,
So he that in his lyfe was naught,
by leaving good behinde,
Hath raked vp for ryotus sonnes
their lyfe a while to fynde.
And, lo[o]ke, as he with car[e]full cloulthe
did scrape his goodes together,
So they will send them out agayne
at euery tyde and weather.
[10]
Some is on bancketes brave bestowed
in grocers' sugred shoppes ;
Some hanges in neate and statly house,
with brave and golden knoppes ;
Some Bacchus doth devoure in cuppes,
and drincketh all away :
Yea, freindes carousing to and froe
bringes heapes vnto decay.
[»] I
When Venus shewes her darlinges deare,
which earst in chambers lay,
And do them selves in whoorishe weedes
before their eyes display :
One comes with wanton lute in hand,
in hope of lucky chaunce ;
Another leades about the house
some new disguysed daunce ;
[9] 4 fynde = to support ; 5 cloulthe : MS. perhaps cloulche. Read
clutch.
[10] i bancketes : i.e. banquets ; 4 knoppes : i.e. knobs.
288
THE COVETOUS CARL WHEN GREEDY EYES
[12]
The third hath fyngers redy lymde,
whilest youthes do tourne aboute,
To catche their purses in her clawes
and steale the money out ;
The fowerth, the 5th, and all the rest
of all the lecherous trayne
Doth bid them eyther geve their goodes,
or else they shalbe slayne.
[13]
This is the end of goodes ill gott :
they wilbe lewdely spent,
And as they safely came to hand,
so swiftly are they sent.
Beware therfore, ye mysers all,
and learne to vse your owne,
That they may still enioye the fruictes
which first the sedes have sowne.
Who could abyde to play the asse
with dainties one his backe,
Yet he him selfe to feed one thornes
for needy hunger's lacke ? —
Then vse thy gold both thou and thyne
in honest state to fynde,
For sparing fathers oftentymes
leave spending sonnes behinde.
[IS]
Thou thinck'st by hoording vp of heapes
thou shalt be ritcher still :
[12] I lymde = ready for pilfering; lime-fingered occurs often in
Elizabethan usage ; 6 lecherous : MS. lecherour ?
[14] 2, 3 one : i.e. on.
T 289
THE COVETOUS CARL WHEN GREEDY EYES
Nay, nay, thou art more pore, indede,
when chestes thou sek'st to fyll ;
For whoe is ritche ? — even he that doth
content him with his store ;
And whoe is pore ? — even he that sekes
to gather more and more.
[16]
The vnthrifte wilbe quickely pore
when tyme shall geue him leave ;
And thou thy selfe vnwittingly
of substaunce dost bereave :
Then spend thy goodes among thy freindes,
whilest lyfe doth lycense lend,
And let thy sonnes know how to gett
before they knowe to spend.
[fini*.]
290
53
Where pensive hearts relieved are
Sloane MS. 1896, fols. 42, 43^44. Because on fols. 42^43 an
entirely different song is inserted, the copyist has written in the margin
of stanza i , " tourne to the next leafe saue one fore the rest of this
sonet." The "sonet" is a delighful little poem that well deserves
rescuing from oblivion : I have met with no printed copy.
a jopfuU con0olacon tnfeer Christ 10
Iptortp felt
Wher pensive heartes relieved are
with dewes of grace,
And peace succeedes turmoyling care
and takes his place,
Ther ioyfull Joy the hart doth f ede
That comfortes swete therout precede,
And they reioyce, with thankfull voice,
their happy case.
Wher christ is felt in lyvely wise
by fayth sincere,
And that they doe with inward eyes
behold him clear e,
O ther the soule, with Joy repleate,
Doth crave no better drincke or meate,
But wisheth she may enioy for aye
that lyfe most deare.
291
WHERE PENSIVE HEARTS RELIEVED ARE
.
Wher christ embraceth in armes of love
the synfull soule,
And eke in heavenly booke above
his name enrowle,
When fayth, perswaded, feles it sure, —
What turmoyles then may grefe procure ?
Suche ioye, by grace, triumphes in place,
and rappes the soule.
w
Wher sence of christ is surely had,
as sainctes possesse,
And wher the hart, with grefe sor[e] clad,
hath swete redresse,
Oh ther they feele the blisfull gaine
Of pleasure, tourn'd from pinching paine,
And are, therby, enforst to crye
with thanckefullnesse.
[5]
Wher sinfull soule persuasion hath,
when she doth crave
Of freedome from deserved wrath
and grace to have,
Ther dolefull sighes departe their way,
And Joyfull hymnes their ioy display ;
Yea, god hath praise, whpe grauntes alwayes-
suche soules to save.
[6]
Therfore, thoughe we, o blessed lord,
corrupted be,
And merite still to be abhor'd,
oh wretches we !
[3] 8 rappes : i.e. wraps.
292
WHERE PENSIVE HEARTS RELIEVED ARE
Extend thy love, extend thy grace,
In armes of mercy vs embrace,
For christe we pray that laude we may,
both him and the[e].
293
54
Should my poor heart, O dearest
Lord
Sloane MS. 1896, fols. 44v-45.
a €l)ancfee0grt)ing for one from pertU of
re0tarea to former fteattlj.
Should my pore hart, o dearest lord,
thy goodnesse greate from minde reiect,
Sith thou in mercy hast restorde
my health, whiche long thou didst correct ?
O lord, should I vnmyndefull be
of theise, thy giftes, bestowed on me ?
I 'knowledge, lord, protesting-wise,
that health of our precedes from the[e],
Therfore, with lifted hart and eyes,
I beg'd thy grace to comfort me ;
So now thou hast thus cured me,
should I not, therfore, thanckefull be ?
[3]
Not that I haue suche cause to love
this life, alas, with greate delight,
But rather long for lyfe above
with angelles swete to gaine thy sight.
But sith thy will is suche to me,
lord, let me, therfore, thanckefull be.
294
SHOULD MY POOR HEART
W
Let me thy grace in mynd retaine,
yea, all thy mercies old and newe,
That thanckefull so I may remaine,
and fruictes of love therout ensue.
Sith thou hast done so muche for me,
let me againe yeld thanckes to the[e].
Cs]
Let me the course of lyfe direct
thy blessed name to laude and praise,
And, lord, vouchesafe me to protect
with grace of thine in all my wayes ;
That then I may, for love to me,
breake out againe in love to the[e].
[6]
And while thou shalt this life maintaine,
thoughe feble fayth oft stag'ring reele,
Graunt, lord, — or else the rest were vaine,-
that thy swete mercyes I may fele ;
Which are most deare, o christe, to me.
Then shall I alwaies thanckfull be.
295
: . ' 55 it
Dear Christ, my poor and pensive
breast
Sloane MS. 1896, fols. 45-45 .
0inne, ano ctatett) parson for tfte 0ame.
Deare christe, my pore and pensive brest
I wailing lift to the[e] ;
Thy chering face, swete lord, let rest,
and tourne thy grace to me
That have, alas, offended sore,
Oh, wo is hart of myne therfore !
.
My thoughtes disperst in strugling-wise,
now here, now ther, they raunge,
By greedy sight of wand'ring eyes,
alas, to[o] woondrous straunge, —
Oh that I might from strayeing cease,
And the[e] possesse, my Joye and peace.
[3]
O that thou wouldest, displeased lord,
thy mercy large extend,
Thoughe I deserve to be abhor'd,
that dayly so offend.
[3] i wouldest: r^W wouldst.
296
DEAR CHRIST
O swetest christe, retourne thy face,
And me relyeve with lokes of grace.
[4]
My wretched sinne I now confesse,
as rightfull cause I have ;
And pardon, lord, with swete redresse
in fearfull wise I crave.
With quaking feare my body chilles,
And wofull teares doune trikling trilles.
|f _ [5]
Let theise the[e] move (o mercy, thou !)
that mercy hast in store,
To geve and graunt thy mercy nowe
to me that synned haue sore.
Thy face convert, or loe ! I dye,
And let me, lord, obtaine mercye.
[6]
Then aulters I shall make and raise,
suche as thou dost requyre,
And offer sacrifice of prayse,
with ever-burning fyre.
Yea, never then my lippes shall stay,
But thy ritche grace, swete christ, display.
tffnf*.]
[5] 4 haue : changed by a later hand to had ; c; convert = turn.
297
.56
If thou wilt, Lord, extend thy grace
Sloane MS. 1896, fols. 47-47v. A charming little pious ditty with
a conventional refrain.
a prayer of one being afflictet) toitt) 0inne.
...
If thou wilt, lord, extend thy grace,
if thou wilt yet thy favour show
To chaunge my state and ruthfull case,
which sence of sinne enforcth to grow,
I vowe and promise, then, to thee
from this time forth more ware to be.
[2]
But dashe me not, I the[e] desyer,
thoughe I thus oft have promyse made,
Nor me reiect in grievous Ire,
sith I repent my sinfull trade,
And vowe with promise, lord, to the[e]
from this tyme forth more ware to he.
[3]
Of right thou mayest my soule denye
and chase me, wretche, from mercies throne^;
But canst thou, lord, reiect the crye
of broken heartes that sighe and grone ?
Yea, vowe and promise, lord, to the[e]
from this time forth more ware to he.
[2] 2 thus : MS. thue. [3] I mayest : i.e. may'st.
298
IF THOU WILT, LORD, EXTEND THY GRACE
[4]
Thoughe blust'ring storme and tempest great,
confounding- wise, my soule assayle,
Which flatt to Pluto's gulfe me beate,
yet mercy, lord, least theise prevaile.
Then vow and promise, lord, to the[e]
from this time forth more ware to be.
[5]
Thy heavy wrath so heavy lyes
(which guilt of myne deserveth right)
That vp to heaven resound my cries
for grace, that else am damned quyte ;
Which graunted, lord, I vow to the[e]
from this ty me for the more ware to be.
[6]
And thus my dolfull sute I end ;
let me atchive that I desyer.
Then shall my dolfull state amend,
and I to comfort swete aspyre ;
And for thy grace thus geven to me,
from this time forth still thankfull be.
tftattj
[4] 4 least : i.e. lest.
299
57
Judge me not, Lord, in wrathful ire
Sloane MS. 1896, fols. 48^49. The ink is badly faded, and in
stanzas 6 and 7 is almost indecipherable.
guilty conscience, acfenotnle&ging
t)er sinne, cratett) partion for ttie 0ame,
apealing from justice tnto mercpe.
Judge me not, lord, in wrathfull Ire,
ne yet reiect me vtterly,
But way my ruthfull hartes desyer
that pantes, alas, dispairingly ;
For feare of thy displeasure greate,
O lord, in mercy me entreate.
My wretched synne, as david cryes,
lyke mountaine huge, alas and woe,
Before my face, in lothsome wise,
remaynes, and me amaseth so
That feare (o wretche) oppresth me still.
But, lord, let mercy rule thy will.
[3]
Loke not one my deformed synne,
nor to[o] precisely viewe my case,
[i] 3 way : i.e. weigh.
[3] i one read on,
3OO
JUDGE ME NOT, LORD, IN WRATHFUL IRE
For from corrupted hart within
what fruictes corrupt in me have place !
I dye for feare (o Justice, thou),
Extend, therefore, thy mercy nowe.
w
And enter not thy Judgement throne
to Judge by Justice' scales, alas !
Am I so right (what, I alone ?)
that thou shouldst bring it thus to passe ?
Sith that all flesh quailes in thy sight,
How should I, then, be Just and right ?
[5]
To mercies sentence, therfore, lord,
I now appealle ; o mercy graunt,
That I may feele thy swete accord,
and boldly, then, bid Sathan vaunt ;
Who now turmoyles me in dispaire,
And drounes my soule in dreadfull care.
[6]
Sith blame I do, in earnest wise,
my wretched heart, offending so,
And sith to the[e] I tourne myne eyes,
in this distresse to cure my woe,
Thy grace and mercy, lord, extend,
My ruthfull plight so to amend.
[7]
And let me tast thy goodnes swete,
which cruell synne hath reft me long,
301
JUDGE ME NOT, LORD, IN WRATHFUL IRE
Then shall my soule be made full mete
to spread ihy praise in cherfull song.
Grant this, therfore, o father good,
I the[e] beseche for Christ his blood.
tftnt*.]
302
What cause there /If, alas, to wail
Sloane MS. 1 896, fols. 49-49 v.
toretcfte&nesse of man's estate taitill
tetiresge ana comfort come from
What cause ther is, alas, to waile
the wretched wofull state,
Wherin we (sowsing) plunged lye
in wretched, wofull rate ;
Whose heart cannot conceive at full,
whose eyes not clearly se,
That wayes the state where in we were,
and vewes what now we be.
[3]
By synne bereft, and spoyled quyte,
of noble treasures all,
Which nature had, in noble wise,
before that ruthfull fall.
[i] 3 sowsing : i.e. sousing = soaking, drenched.
[2] 2 clearly : MS. crearly ; 3 wayes : i.e. weighs ; where in we were :
MS. blurred and ink badly faded here, but these four words can be
deciphered.
[3] i spoyled = despoiled.
303
WHAT CAUSE THERE IS, ALAS, TO WAIL
' ' '*' \ W
In-stead of which (o cursed chaunge !)
corrupcon is infusde,
And vices reign for giftes devine,
thus Satban vs abusde.
[5]
Among them all (for many be),
as Judgement shewes it cleare,
The frosen, flynty hartes of ours,
me thinkes, do straunge appeare.
[6]
Corrupcon added hath to them
suche steely hardnesse nowe,
That naught can bring at all remorse,
nor ought suffise to bowe ;
Or pierce theise rockes, these stony flintes,
at least to make them softe,
But heavenly showers alone may help
by their distilling ofte.
[8]
Yet meanes are made, and 'pointed, to[o],
by him that heavenly is,
For earthly men to put in proufe ;
and chefe of those are this : —
To read, to thincke, to muse and way,
of cbriste the bytter payne,
His passion, panges, and tormentes large,
to view them all againe.
304
WHAT CAUSE THERE IS, ALAS, TO WAIL
[10]
^And therwith, eke, to beare the cause
of all this griefe in mynde,
For vs that damned were by synne
that we release may fynde.
This, this should melt the frosen hart,
this same should pierce the flintes,
And bring vs ioye and make our mouthes
with prayses not to stint.
tfinte.]
u 305
'59
In rage of storm and tempests all
Sloane MS. 1896, fols. 49V-5OV. The refrain presents rather a
picture.
JDotn fcappp anfc agguret) ttyp arc, in all
gtormos, tfcat ffrmelp DepettD tpon gon,
M
In rage of storme and tempestes all,
which syn or Sathan vp doth raise
To beate the[e] doune, to make the[e] fall,
pore soule, for ayd in theise assayes,
Flee to thy heavenly father's will
That situs betwene the cherubbes still.
Comfort thy selfe in all distresse,
sith god supreamely scepture beares ;
Who can and will give swete redresse,
and cleane dispatche all cause of teares.
Oh, therfore, stay vpon his will
Who sittes betwene the Cherubbes still.
[3]
What thoughe we feele our weakenes so
that ofte we slippe (oh wretches we !) ;
From god and christe why should we goe,
sith fleshe from sinne cannot be fre ?
Nay, runne, pore soule, vnto his will
That sitts betwene the cherubbes still.
306
IN RAGE OF STORM AND TEMPESTS ALL
M
Confesse thy faulte, and pardon crave ;
appeale to grace in constant wise,
And so be sure thy sute to have ;
and then sho[u]te forth, with ioyfull cryes :
" My god, with lyfe praise the[e] I will,
That sittes betwene the cherubbes still."
[5]
This done, let synne and Sathan rage ;
yea, thoughe they breake them selves with spit[e] ;
With all that fowle and vgly rage
nought can they doe but take their fligh[t],
And in noe wise resist his will
That sittes betwene the cherubbes still.
[6]
Oh, happy soule, that canst believe
and stay thy selfe one him therfore,
Thoughe grawing synne cease not to greve,
yet happy thou for evermore ;
•Sith sure thou art of his good will
That sittes betwene the cherubbes still.
t7]
then with Davyd take thy rest,
slepe thou with Peter quietly.
Repose thy head on that swete brest
wher happy John was wont to lye.
Yea, stay one god thy father's will
Who sittes betwene the cherubbes still.
j] 2 spite : e cut off by the binder ; 4 flight : / cut off by the binder.
^6] 2 one : read on ; 3 grawing : obsolete form of growing.
7] 5 one : read on.
307
IN RAGE OF STORM AND TEMPESTS ALL
[8]
And while one earth thou shalt remaine
till thou to heaven assumpted be,
For love love god and christ againe,
let hart, let tongue, let lyfe agre, —
To spread his mercy and good will,
To whome be praise and honor still.
OffcfoJ
[8] i one : read on.
308
6o
Till Christ our Lord return
Sloane MS. 1896, fols. 5i-5iv. This Protestant ballad should be
mpared with the Catholic ballads on the same subject printed earlier
this volume. It is a bit unusual to find a ballad actually praying for
the Judgment Day, though ballad-writers often characterized the world
s*a vale of tears and sin, with an ominous Doomsday close at hand.
faittifull Despre, according to goD'0
to mafee etrtange of earttj for
, ant) tberfot mi0t) tlje coming of
cbritt.
Till Christe our lorde retourne
to throne his sainctes in blesse,
We must content our selves
with griefe and pensivenesse.
For earth wheron we byde,
this world wherin we dwell,
Wilbe noe heaven nor resting place,
as wofull chaunges tell.
[3]
Nought here, alas, so sure
but melting vades awaye :
Our gaine is griefe, our life is losse,
all which my hart dismay.
[i] 2 blesse : i.e. bliss. [3] 2 vades : i.e. fades.
309
TILL CHRIST OUR LORD RETURN
W
For meerly vaine, alas,
theise thing es on earth we try ;
What then, should those that heaven desire
on earth turmoyling lye ?
[5]
But shriking clamours send
from pore distresfull hart,
That christ from heaven will come with spede
to end this earthly smart ;
That then the carfull toyle,
of those that banisht be
By earth from heaven may throughly cease,
and they from griefe set free ;
[7]
That wofull plaintes may end,
which worldly happes procure ;
That sinne may cease and saintes possesse
those ioyes that aye endure ;
[8]
.That thine redemed deare,
with bloud to the[e] most swete,
May the[e] enioye in heavenly reign,
thoughe they, alas, vnmete.
[9]
O ryeve the heavens in twaine,
breake out throughe toppes of skye,
[4] 3 What : read why.
[6] i carfull : i.e. careful ; 3 throughly : i.e. thoroughly.
[9] i ryeve : i.e. reave.
310
TILL CHRIST OUR LORD RETURN
Let Angell sound his trump e with spede,
oh shewe thy selfe on hye !
[10]
With armes bespread embrace
thy saintes that then apere,
And let them yeld eternall praise
to the[e], their lord most deare.
[JKttfeJ
6i
Alas, for shame, how dare I sue
Sloane MS. 1896, fols. 5J-53V.
ctje 0pner, being ashmen of triis gpnne,
Daretti tjar&ty crate reteaee for ttie same.
Alas, for shame, how dare I sue
to the[e], my god, for grace ?
How dare I (wretche) present my selfe,
how dare I shew my face ?
That so polluted am with synne,
that so offended have
My dearest god, in heaped-wise,
how dare I pardon crave ?
[3]
How dare I lyft my synfull hart
and synfull eyes to the[e] ?
0 wretche, howe dare I thus presume ?
alas, for shame I flee.
w
1 dare not, lord, my god, my christ \ —
" Why, man, what hast thou done,
That thus oppressing feare and sham[e]
from me should cause the[e] runne ?
[4] 2-4 Represented as being words spoken by God.
312
ALAS, FOR SHAME, HOW DARE I SUE
[5]
Ah, luring synne with tysing speache
hath caught my soule in snare,
As oft before, yet could I not,
vnhappy man, beware
[6]
To shunne her cruell, bayted hooke,
her lure did so provoke,
Whose pleasures while I thought to tast,
I caught her deadly stroke ;
[7]
That wounded hath my wofull soule,
yea, pierst my synfull heart,
And reft me of my swetest ioye,
with plunge of deadly smart.
[8]
And yet I dare not seke redresse,
I dare not sue for ayde ;
So shame and feare doth hold me back,
and kepe my hart dismayed.
[9]
Howbeyt, except his grace I crave,
and, sueng, seke redresse,
The wound of synne is suche, that dye
I must, in this distresse.
[10]
And, therfore, payne and perill both,
encount'ring feare and shame,
Have vanquisht both, and forst me (loe !)
to beg in christ his name.
[5] I tysing = enticing.
3*3
ALAS, FOR SHAME, HOW DARE I SUE
Now, therfore, lord, and father deare,
my often synnes forgeve,
And cure my Justly pinched soule,
let mercy it relyeve.
[12]
With depest hart-rote sighes, I crave
that grace of thine in the[e]
May cleane remytt and pardon, lord,
this synne of myne in me.
[13]
And that I may, in feeling-wise,
so feele thy swetest grace,
That ioyfull hart may thankfull be
while lyfe in me hath place.
Dffttf*.]
[12] I hart-rote : i.e. heart-root.
62
As I on New Year's Day
Sloane MS. 1 896, fols. 29-30. This ballad may have been that called :
(l) "xij wittie warninges shewinge faultes to be Refrained," entered in
the Stationers' Registers on September 18, 1579 ; and (2) the "Dozen
of pointes" entered for transfer on December 14, 1624, although there
is extant a printed ballad, on a different subject, with that title (Roxburgke
Ballads, VII., 780). It is printed from this MS., somewhat inappro
priately, in F. W. Fairholt's Satirical Songs and Poems on Costume, Percy
Society, XXVII. (1849), 79'83» — tne onty piece, I believe, hitherto
reprinted from the MS. Fairholt thought that the ballad was alluded
to by Ben Jonson in Bartholomew Fair, II., iv. ; but the allusion is not
altogether certain. Cf. also Roxburghe Ballads, VII., 823.
Fairings, gifts bought at a fair, often " posies " and " points " like
this ballad, were enormously popular. Very many such ballads are
entered in the Stationers' Registers, and a number are preserved. For
example, ballads called " The newe married wyfes fayringe " and " a
maydes lamentacon for lack of a fayringe," originally licensed on June 26,
1 594, were relicensed by an enterprising printer for " timely " publica
tion on August 21, just before Bartholomew Fair was to be held. The
present ballad is an excellent example of the type. With it may be
compared George Whetstone's " Verses written of 20. good precepts, at
the request of his Especiall good freend and kinseman, M. Robart Cudden
of Grayes Inne," printed in the Paradise of Dainty Devises (Collier's
reprint, pp. 1 1 8 ff.). Whetstone's points are " shun many words,"
" be merciful," " cherish the poor," " serve God," " obey thy Prince," etc.
a Da00en of patnte0, sent bp a gentle-
woman to tier later far a nea peare0
gifte,
As I on new yeare's day
did walcke amidst the streate,
My restlesse eyes for you, my hart,
did seke a fayring mete.
315
AS I ON NEW YEAR'S DAY
I sercht throughout the faire,
but nothing could I fynde.
No, no, of all ther was not one
that would content my mynde.
[3]
But all the boothes wer filled
with fancyes fond attyre,
And trifling toyes were set to sale
for them that would requyre.
W
Then to my selfe quoth I,
" what meanes theise childish knackes ?
Is all the faire for children made
or fooles that babies lackes ?
[5]
" Are theise the goodly giftes,
the new yeare to beginne,
Which friendes present vnto their freindes
their fayth and love to winne ?
[6]
" I se[e] I came in vayne,
my labour all is lost,
I will departe and kepe my purse
from making any cost."
[5] 2 new yeare : Began in England on March 25 down to the
year 1752.
316
AS I ON NEW YEAR'S DAY
[7]
But se[e] my happy chaunce :
whilest I did hast away,
Dame vertue doth display her booth
my hasty feete to stay.
[8]
I, Joyfull of the sight,
did preace vnto the place
To se[e] the tricke and trimmed tent
for suche a ladyes grace.
[9]
And after I had viewed
cache thing within her seate,
I found a knotte of perlesse pointes,
beset with posyes neate.
Theise pointes, in number twelve,
did shew them selves to be ;
The sence wherof, by poetes skill,
I will declare to the[e].
1. With meate before the[e] set,
suffise but nature's scant ;
2. Be sure thy tongue at table tyme
noe sober talke doe want.
[12]
3. Let word, let thought and dede,
in honest wise agree ;
[8] 2 preace : i.e. press.
[9] 4 posyes : i.e. posies = brief mottoes, or maxims, in verse.
317
AS I ON NEW YEAR'S DAY
4. And loke that pore in tyme of nede
thy helping hand may see.
5. When foes invade the realme,
then shew thy might and strength ;
6. Tell truth in place wher thou dost come,
for falshed failes at length.
7. Be fast and firme to freinde,
as thou wouldest him to be ;
8. Be shamefast ther wher shamfull dedes
be offred vnto the[e].
[15]
9. Weare not suche costly clothes
as are not for thy state ;
10. Heare eache man's cause as thoh he wer
in wealth thine equall mate.
[16]
11. In place thy manners shewe,
in right and comly wyse ;
12. From the[e] let peace and quietnesse,
and wars from others, ryse.
[17]
With theise 12 vertuous pointes,
se[e] thou do tye the[e] round ;
And lyke and love this simple gifte
till better may be found.
[13] 4 falshed : i.e. falsehood.
[14] 2 wouldest: read wouldst ; 3 shamefast = modest, virtuous.
[17] i, [18] i pointes, point : Here/w'ff/ assumes the ordinary Eli;
bethan meaning of tagged laces used to attach the hose to the doublet.
318
AS I ON NEW YEAR'S DAY
[18]
Yet one point thou dost lacke
to tye thy hose before :
Love me as I love the[e] and shall
from hence for evermore.
63 ''•
Though others have their sight
at will
Sloane MS. 1896, fol. 30. In this very pretty ditty a pious author
offers a consolation for blindness that may possibly have been efficacious.
At any rate, it has the merit of novelty — if of specious logic.
a comfort tonto fctm ttiat is
Though other[s] have their syght at will,
with vayne delightes their mynde to fill ;
Yet when the day is Passed away,
the night her pleasures doth display.
Then blynd doth se as well as he
that hath most perfecte eyes to se.
The losse of eyes is losse of vyce,
which throughe the eyes in hart doth rise :
The eyes do kindle first the flame,
and hart doth nourishe vp the same ;
But blyndenesse cannot onse perceyve,
with folly, reason to disceyve.
[3]
O happy troye haddest thou bene,
if eyes fayre Helene had not sene ;
[i] i Though: MS. thought. [3] I haddest: read hadst.
320
THOUGH OTHERS HAVE THEIR SIGHT
The mighty walks might yet haue stood,
which Greece destroyed in angry mo[o]de I
In fame thou, Lucrece, mightst haue died,
if Tarquyne had the[e] not espyed.
w
Thus eyes are workers of our woe,
still seking vs to overthrowe ;
And semely sightes that shew so gay
be framinge of our depe decay.
And, therfore, happy thrice is he
which synfull sightes could never se.
321
64
Fain would I have a pretty thing
MS. Rawlinson Poet. 108, fol. 44. This ballad, with two additioi
stanzas, is printed in Clement Robinson's Handfull of Pleasant Delights,
1584 (ed. Edward Arber, p. 50). The exceptional interest taken i
this poetical miscellany (extant in a single imperfect copy at the Brith
Museum) from Shakespeare's day to the present time, as well as the fad
that only one other ballad in the Handfull has as yet been met with in z
second copy, urges the reprinting of this MS. version, — itself approxi
mately contemporary with the Handfull, — which was made from at
entirely different broadside and which furnishes a few interesting
variant readings. In the Handfull (H.) the first stanza is repeated as
chorus at the conclusion of each of the nine other stanzas.
In MS. Ashmole 48 (Thomas Wright's Songs and Ballads, Roxbui
Club, p. 195) there is a ballad on Troilus and Cressida, registered ii
1565-66 (Arber's Transcript, I., 300), "To the tune of Fayne wool<
I fynd sum pretty thynge to geeve unto my lady," a tune withou
question named from the present ballad. (Cf. also Popular Music, I., 91.)
A moralization of the ballad, too, entitled " A fayne wolde I have
godly thynge to shewe vnto my ladye," was licensed in 1566-67 (Arbei
Transcript, I., 340), while a further moral parody, "fayne wolde I hai
a vertuous wyfe adourned with all modeste bothe mylde and meke
quyett lyf esteemynge chef hyr chastetye," licensed in the same y<
(ibid., p. 342), shows how extensive was its popularity.
[a proper ®ong, 3(ntituUt>: jfain
31 ftaue a pretfe tiring to giue tonto mp
To the Tune of lustye gallaunt.
Fayne wold I haue a pretye thinge
to geue vnto my ladye.
I meane no hurt, I meane no harme,
but as pretye a thinge as may be.
Title from H. [i] 3 I name no thing, nor I meane no thing (//.).
322
FAIN WOULD I HAVE A PRETTY THING
[2]
Twentye lourneyes wold I make,
and twentye ways goo hye me,
To geue adventures for her sake,
to sett some matter by me.
Some do longe for pretye knackes,
and some for strange devises ;
God send me that my ladye lakes,
I care not what the p[r]ice is.
Some go here, and some go there,
where gapings be not geason ;
And I goo wandringe euer where,
and styll come owt of season.
[I walke the towne, and tread the streete,
in euery corner seeking :
The pretie thinge I cannot meete,
that's for my Ladies liking.]
I [6]
The mercers pull me goynge by,
the sylke wyffes say, " what lake you ? "
" A thinge that you haue not," say I,
" you folyshe fooles, go packe you."
I [7]
Yt is not all the gold in cheape,
nor all the golden treasure,
[2] 3 geue : make (H.) ; her : MS. here. [3] 3 lakes : i.e* lacks.
[4] 2 gapings : gases (H.) ; geason = rare, extraordinary ; 3 wan-
•inge : gaping (W.). [5] i -4 added from H.
[6] 3 that you haue not : you haue not, then (//.).
[7] i gold : Silke (H.).
323
FAIN WOULD I HAVE A PRETTY THING
Nor twentye busshels in a heape
can do my ladye pleasure.
[8]
[The Grauers of the golden showes,
with luelles do beset me.
The Shemsters in the shoppes that sowes,
they do nothing but let me.]
[9]
For weare yt in the wytte of man
by anye meanes to make hit,
I wold for mony by hit than,
and say, " faire ladye, take hit."
[10]
But, ladye, what a lucke is this
that my good wyllynge myssethe,
To find what preatye thinge hyt is
that my good ladye wysshethe.
7] 3 in : on (#.). [8] 1-4 added from H.
9] i For : But (H.) ; 3 wold : could (H.) ; by, than : i.e. buy, then.
10] i But : O (H.).
324
65
Assist me now, you doleful dames
MS. Rawlinson Poet. 185, fols. 9-10. A splendid amatory lyric
with a very attractive refrain. The MS. cannot date later than 1592,
and the ballad itself may be considerably older : in any case the tune
is distinctly important, for it comes from the traditional song of Hobby
Noble and John a Side, " one of the best ballads in the world," which
is No. 187 in Professor Child's superb edition of English and Scottish
Popular Ballads. So extremely rare are allusions to these traditional
ballads before 1600 that the present instance of a street ballad sung to
a traditional-ballad tune assumes considerable importance, and proves
that at least one Scottish traditional song was well known in Elizabethan
London. For the tune itself see F. J. Child's Ballads, V., 408.
a terie prette sounst,
To the Tune of Hobblnoble and lohn a Side.
.
Assist me now, you dolefull dames,
sing hevely now my ioyes do weare,
Sound forth your rewfull morning plantes,
lament my sorofull, wayling cheare ;
Lament with me, for I am he
who lives (alas !) and faine would die,
Oh paine, sorofull paine, paine that nipes me sore.
Great cause I haue, alas, to morne,
sing hevely now my ioyes do weare,
Woe worth the tyme that I was borne,
to tast of this my wayling cheare !
[i] 3 morning plantes : i.e. mourning plaints ; 7 nipes : an obsolete
for nips.
325
ASSIST ME NOW, YOU DOLEFUL DAMES
And cursed be that crewell happ,
that fostred me to this ill happ.
Oh paine, sorofull paine, paine that nipes, &c.
[3] ; ;
Did ever weight feell half e such woe ?
sing hevely now my ioyes do weare.
0 fortune fraile, why frownest thow so,
to make me langvish still in feare ?
Relent, you stoney hartes, I saye,
my heapes of greefes for to beraye.
Oh paine, sorofull paine, paine that nipes me s[ori\.
w
My sighes and sobes doth testefie,
sing hevely now my ioyes do weare,
What greefe within my hart do lye ;
lament my sorofull, wailing cheare.
The grones that comes from my poore hart
beres witnes of my wofull smarte.
Oh paine, sorofull, &c.
[5]
If that I might my ladie vew,
sing hevely now my ioyes do weare,
1 know she is a dame so trew
she would redresse my wayling cheare,
And shew remorse of me, poore rache,
which liveth heare comfortles.
Oh paine, sorofull, &c.
[6]
* What dost thow meane, thow crewell spight,
sing hevely now my ioyes do weare,
[3] i weight : i.e. wight.
[5] 5 rache : i.e. wretch ; 6 heare : redd heare so.
326
ASSIST ME NOW, YOU DOLEFUL DAMES
To keep me from my ladies sight,
who should this wailling cheare ?
Did ever I deserue of thee
that thow shouldest worke such woe to me ?
Ob paine, sorofull paine, &c.
[7]
Full oft I tooke my penn in hand,
sing hevely now my ioyes do weare,
To let my ladie vnderstand
of this sorofull, wailing cheare ;
But then dispaire aresteth me,
and saith : " in vaine thy swet shalbe."
Ob paine, sorofull,
[8]
Then home she comes and comforts me,
sing hevely now my ioyes do weare,
And bides me of good cheare to be,
and not to languish still in feare ;
And biddes me write vnto my love
that she my sorroes might remove.
Oh paine, sorofull,
[9]
The same is donne in-continent,
sing hevely now my ioyes do weare,
And to my ladie it is sente,
who shoulde redresse my wailing cheare,
To see if she will pittie me
and show some love of ametie.
Oh paine, sorofull, &c.
[6] 4 this : terhaps read this sorrowful.
[8] i home : read hope.
327
ASSIST ME NOW, YOU DOLEFUL DAMES
[10]
With hope and despaire am I fed,
sing hevely now my ioyes do weare^
With trebles tombling in my bed,
. lament my sorofull, wailing chear ;
Till that I meete with venix mine,
whose grace excells the muses nine.
Ob paine, sorofull paine, paine that nipes me sore.
[IQ] 5 venix : i.e. phoenix.
t
328
66
In Crete when Daedalus first began
Harleian MS. 7578, fol. 103. The text and music of this incom
plete ballad on the exploits of Daedelus and Icarus were discovered by
Mr. F. Sidgwick and printed in the Gentleman's Magazine, August, 1 906,
pp. 179-181. It has seemed worth while, in view of the importance
of the two stanzas and the unexpected place in which they are printed, to
give them here. Mr. Sidgwick has mentioned all the allusions given
below except that in the Knight of the Burning Pestle.
The MS. is perhaps of the early part of the seventeenth century, but
the ballad was printed at least by 1591, the year in which one "Simon
Smelknave," in his Fearfull effects of two Comets, sig. B i , scoffed at " you
Ale-knights . . . that sing In Creete when Dedalus, ouer a cup." Thomas
Nashe (Have With You to Saffron Walden, 1596, Works, ed. McKerrow,
III., 67) said of Gabriel Harvey : " In Creete when Dedalus, a song that
is to him food from heauen, and more transporting and rauishing than
Platoes Discourse on the immortalitie of the soule was to Cato" In
Beaumont and Fletcher's Monsieur Thomas, III., iii., Thomas says he
can sing, among other ballads, " In Crete when Dedimus first began,"
and shortly afterwards he sings two lines of it : —
The love of Greece, and it tickled him so,
That he devised a way to go.
Two lines — which have not previously been identified — are sung by
Merrythought in the Knight of the Burning Pestle, I., iii. : —
When earth and seas from me are reft,
The skies aloft for me are left.
Possibly there is some faint reference to the ballad in I Henry VI., IV.,
vi., 54, and 3 Henry VI., V., vi., 18, 22. The tune of In Crete is not
infrequently used for other ballads.
In creat when dedylus fyrst began
his stait and long exile to wayle,
[i] I creat, dedylus : i.e. Greet, Daedalus.
329
IN CRETE WHEN DAEDALUS FIRST BEGAN
When mynus* wrath had shutt vpp then
yche way by land, eche way by Sayle,
The love of creett hyme prycked So,
that he devysed away to goo.
His tender Sonn, yonge Icarus^ —
his fatheres cayre and onlye Joy, —
Bedewed with teares, dyd comfort thus :
" Be of good chear, myne owen sweet boy ;
Thoughe land and Seas be from vs Raft,
the skyes aloft befor vs laste."
11] 3 mynus : i.e. Minus ; 5 creett : read Greece.
2] 4 owen : read own.
I
330
67
All you that with good ale do hold
Addit. MS. 15,225, fols. 58v-6ov. This curious and delightful
ballad on drunkenness may at first sight seem out of place among the
pious and religious verse that makes up the remainder of the MS. No
other ballad of the same type is extant, though one of much later date,
"A Pleasant New Ballad to look upon,
How Mault deals with every man,"
printed in the Roxburghe Ballads (II., 379), has some resemblances.
For example, the stanzas (quoted from the Pepys copy), —
The Shoomaker sitting on his seat,
At Master Mault began to fret,
He said he would the Knave so beat,
•with hii sharp Spanish Knife, Sir.
But Mjult came peeping through the Hall,
And did his Brains so fiercely maul,
He turned round and caught a fall,
you never \_iaiv the like, Sir~\.
The Weaver sitting in the Loom,
He threatned Mault a cruel doom,
And make him to repulse the room,
or throto him in a Dike, Sir.
The doughty warrior Good-ale is given a place of prominence also in
the ballad of "Sir John Barleycorn " (Ibid., II., 373).
When Sir John Good-ale heard of this,
he came with mickle might,
And there he tooke their tongues away,
their legs, or else their sight.
And thus Sir John, in each respect,
so paid them all their hire,
That some lay sleeping by the way,
some tumbling in the mire.
Some lay groning by the wals,
some in the streets downe right,
The best of them did scarcely know
what they had done ore-night
ALL YOU THAT WITH GOOD ALE DO HOLD
Thomas Robins, a well-known ballad-writer, wrote a pamphlet in
prose and ballad-verse called The Arraigning and Indicting of Sir John
Barky-Corn, A Man of Noble blood, and well-beloved in England, — a much
less stupid work than the majority of chap-books.
In the final stanza the author states that he wrote " this merry jest '
to declare the loathsomeness of drunkenness, a statement that may serve
to connect his jest with ballads " agaynste Dronkerdes " and " aganste
Drunckers" which were licensed in 1560-61 and 1562-63 (Arber*
Transcript, I., 153, 205). Entries of "a ballad being a Jest of bottel
ale" (August 19, 1583) and of "A proper newe ballad whiche withou
any fayle will shewe all the hurte in a pott of good ale " (May 27, 1612
could appropriately refer to the present ballad.
All you that with good ale doe hould,
Draw neere, I say, both young and ould,
and listen to my tale ;
And you shall heare how in what wether
A sort of Souldiers met together
for to devour good alle.
w
It chanc'd of late, in smale braynshire,
One maister good-ale did appeare
out of a lether canne ;
He held the countrie for his owne,
Where he by strength had overthrowne
manie a proper manne.
[3]
It fell about the wbitsontyde,
The Countrie rose on everie syde
on him to make a ryot ;
They mustered all at one ale-stake
With stronge good-ale a feilde to make,
which did them sore disquiet.
[i] 6 alle : read ale.
332
ALL YOU THAT WITH GOOD ALE DO HOLD
W
Thither came a full heuge hoast
With pompe, with prid[e], with bragge, and boast,
against good- ale the[y] goe ;
But if a while you will giue eare
Their names in order you shall heare
out of the Christ crosse-rowe.
[5]
Now Christ his crosse be my good speede
That I may shew that doughtie deede
by good-ale doone that day !
There was never fought with speare and sheild
Such a battell as he held,
I dare be bould to say.
[6]
Adam, Austine, and Adrian,
The first stout skirmiche they beganne
with Polax in their hand.
But good-ale arest them with his mase,
And brought them soone in such a case,
much care they had to stande.
[7]
33 Benet, Brandon, Barnard, Beede,
With Blase and Bryan, made great speede
with their bo[w]es readie bent ;
But good-all smote them on the heades
That they were caried home on sleades,
sore mained home they went.
[4] 6 Christ crosse-rowe : i.e. the alphabet.
[7] 4 good-all : read good-ale.
333
ALL YOU THAT WITH GOOD ALE DO HOLD
[8]
C Clement and Crabbe came cracking in,
And swore they would lay on the skinne
all that durst carpe one worde ;
But good-ale troubled soe their braine
That they to looke their bedes were faine,
all nigh vnder the board.
[9]
9 David, Denis, Dicke, and Daniell
Came rydeing in vpon a paniell,
for saddles non[e] they had ;
But good-ale seru'd on them a writ
That on their mares the[y] could not sit
nor speake, they were soe madde.
[10]
Edmunde, Elvish, and sir Elis
Provided harnes for their bellies,
their backes were bare, god wot !
They linde their salletes soe with barme,
And couch'd vnder the stayers warme
for feare of the gunshotte.
Jf Francis and Fabian fought full sore,
The space of halfe an houre and more,
thinkinge to winne the flagge ;
But good-ale gaue them such a bloe
That they their best frendes could not knowe
nor scarce their heades to wagge.
[9] 2 paniell : i.e. pannel, a sort of saddle without a cantle.
[10] 2 harnes : i.e. harness ; 4 linde : i.e. lined ; salletes : i.e. heads ;
barme : the froth that forms on malt liquors.
334
YOU THAT WITH GOOD ALE DO HOLD
[12]
Gawine and Guy, George and Gyles,
Came leapinge in on merrie styles,
and rushinge on they runne.
They fought lyke hardie men and bould,
Till noe man wist whither they would
nor yet from whence they come.
[13]
Henrie was hardie and soe was bugh,
And cryed, " a new feild, a new,
in spite of th' villaines nose " ;
But good-ale with his good Blacke boule
Soe beate them both about the noule
that the[y] bepist their hose.
[I4]
lainkin, lerome, lonas and lude,
With lames and lefferey, did conclude
they would not bee opprest.
But good-ale troubled soe their pates
That all night vnder the towne gates
they tooke their naturall rest.
[15]
& Kidwallader stoode and beheld
How good-ale troubled all the feild, —
he was of such a might ;
He tooke soe longe his fellowes' parte
Till he fell drunken vnder th' carte,
and there he lay all night.
12] 2 in on : perhaps reading should be on in.
14] i lainkin : i.e. Jenkin.
15] 3 he : i.e. good-ale ; 4 He : i.e. Kidwallader.
335
ALL YOU THAT WITH GOOD ALE DO HOLD
[16]
3t Lawrence^ Lewis^ and long Leonard,
Kept them selues in the middleward
lyke warlike men and tawlle ;
But good-ale arest them to the peace
That all the night they did not cease
to sleepe vnder the wale.
[17]
Michaell, Matthew and Morison
All that night full fast had runne
with good-ale for to meete ;
But good-ale paid them soe their hyre
That they lay tumblinge in the mire
and swearing in the streete.
[18]
Nicolas came in with his browne bill,
And swore, and stared that he would kill
all that durst him abyde ;
But good-ale shew'd him such a game
That all his limmes were taken lame,
he could neither goe nor ryde.
[19]
Oliver though he were [ould]
Came in most like a Champion bould
in a pair of blew sockes ;
But as he pressed to the boule
Good-ale full sore did pearse his noule
with all his hoarie lockes.
[16] 3 tawlle : i.e. tall.
[18] 2 stared : Read said.
[19] i ould : MS. torn ; 5 noule : i.e. noil, head.
336
ALL YOU THAT WITH GOOD ALE DO HOLD
[20]
|3 Peter, Patricke, and prateing Peers
Held out the stirre lyke valiant Sqyres,
with everie man a tunne ;
Lyke hardie fellowes then they say
That they would carrie good-ale away,
but then the sport beganne.
[21]
Quarters of malt came in apase
To strengthen good- ale in that case,
that all these men were faine,
First, to lay their cloathes to pledge
And, after, creepe vnder a hedge
to saue themselues from raine.
[22]
Richard, Reinold, Rowland, and Raufe
In great anger beganne to chaufe,
like franticke boares did fome ;
But good-ale taried them aright,
And fought with them such a might
that they came speechles home.
Simkin, Sabastion, and Steven
With all the world they made cleane even
before they went to battaile ;
But yet, as holie as they went,
Good-ale them home full naked sent
without either corne or cattell.
[20] 3 tunne : a tub, a barrel ; 6 beganne : read begunne.
337
ALL YOU THAT WITH GOOD ALE DO HOLD
[24]
C Thomas saw this soe feirse a fray,
How good-ale bare the name away
all that longe afternoone ;
He thought [to] haue fled and fought noe more,
But good-ale tooke him prisoner thore —
he had no legges to runne.
[25]
The whole hoast beinge soe neere distroyde,
Walter and William would not abyde,
but thought t' haue stol'ne away ;
But good-ale got of them a sight
And lodged them as frendes al night
besydes a cocke of hay.
[26]
Xpofur made a rufull mone
When he saw all his f ellowes gone,
he waxed wonderous sad ;
For why ? he would noe more strife make,
He offered to the good ale-stake
even all that ever he had.
All you that now be present heere
Thinke on this frey in smale brainshire,
and note it in your braine ;
Keepe you from thence if you be wyse
And with good ale be not too nyce,
least it put you to paine.
[24] 5 thore : i.e. there.
[26] i Xpofur : i.e. Christopher.
[27] 6 least : i.e. lest.
338
ALL YOU THAT WITH GOOD ALE DO HOLD
[28].
This merrie Jest thus did I wryte,
Meaning noe man hurt nor noe man spite,
but onelie to declare
The loathsome life and beastlie waies
Daylie vsed in these our daies
by those that drunkards are.
tftttfc.
Finis : MS. repeats this word three times.
339
68
O high and mighty God
Sloane MS. 1896, fols. 8-n. There is no division into stanzas in
the MS., save perhaps on fols. 9V and 10 (see note on stanza 10), where
an attempt seems to be made to group the lines in fours.
The crime bewailed in this ballad — the murder of George Saunders
(or Sanders), a London merchant, in 1573, by George Browne, the lover
of Mrs. Saunders, with the connivance of herself, Roger Clement, and
Anne Drewry — is too familiar to students of Elizabethan literary history
to need discussion here. There are accounts of the murder in Stow's
Annals (1615, pp. 674 f.), in Antony Munday's View of Sundry Example*
Reporting Many Strange Murders, 1580 (edited by J. P. Collier, Shake
speare Society, 1851, pp. 78-80), in a tract called Sundry Strange and
Inhuman Murders Lately Committed, 1591 (Lambeth Palace Library), and
in A[rthur] G folding's] Brief e discourse of the late murther of master George
Saunders, 1573. Saunders was murdered on March 25, 1573. On
April 1 8 following, Browne was arraigned in the King's Bench, West
minster Hall ; he was executed two days later, and his body was hanged
in chains. "Trusty Roger," Mrs. Saunders, and Mrs. Drewry were
hanged in Smithfield on May 13. For a time it had seemed as if
Anne Saunders, by the aid of her confederates and of an infatuated
minister, George Mell, would escape punishment : her scheme was
unmasked, and on May 1 2 the Privy Council sent a peremptory letter
to the Sheriffs of London, instructing them " to precede to thexecution
of ... Saunders' wyfe, acording to the judgment given at their con-
dempnacion ; and also to put one Mell, a mynister, to some shame,
who have been a practiser to move Saunders' wyfe to conceyle her facte "
{Acts of the Privy Council, ed. Dasent, VIII., 121 ; cf. pp. 91, 92, 94,
105). The author of this ballad would have us believe that it was
actually Mrs. Saunders's own work : evidently she must have composed
it after this order from the Privy Council was communicated to her
along with the news that she was to be hanged on the following day !
Mell, as students of the drama know, was " put to some shame " in the
pillory.
To-day the chief interest in the murder lies in the fact that it was
written up for dramatic presentation in the play called A Warning for
Fair Women, variously attributed to Lyly, Lodge, and Kyd. In the
editions of this play by Richard Simpson (School of Shakspere, II., 219)
and by A. F. Hopkinson (London, 1904) most of the contemporary
340
O HIGH AND MIGHTY GOD
(accounts mentioned above are reprinted. But both editors agree in
< saying that " probably ballads were written on the events dramatised in
A Warning, but if there were they have not, unfortunately, come down
to the present time." The Stationers' Registers for the years 1571-76
are lost ; so that no record exists of the ballads that were undoubtedly
licensed for publication on the murder. (The ballad of " George
Sanders," transferred among a large number of old ballads on December
14, 1624, and doubtfully connected by Arber, in his Transcript, IV.,
131, with Anne Saunders's husband, dealt with an entirely different
person : it was " The Confession and Repentance of George Sanders,
Gent., late of Sugh, in the County of Hertford" and is reprinted in the
Roxburghe Ballads, VIII., 72.) But at least one ballad on the murder,
not improbably that here reprinted, was still in circulation in 1596, for
in that year Thomas Lodge (Wits1 Misery, sig. F iijv) wrote of Cousenage :
" Shee will reckon you vp the storie of Mistris SANDERS, and weepe
at it, and turne you to the Ballad ouer her chimney, and bid you looke
there, there is a goodly sample."
The ballad here reprinted has escaped the notice of all commentators
on the Warning for Fair Women and all writers on the murder. It has no
poetical merit whatever, but is an interesting example of a " good-night,"
and is preserved in a MS. itself contemporary with the murder. The
contents of the ballad harmonize well with " Anne Saunders confession as
she spake it at the place of execution " and " The Prayer whiche was
said by Anne Saunders at the place of execution," both of which are
given in Arthur Golding's tract. Significantly enough, the ballad makes
no mention of the intrigue between Mrs. Saunders and George Mell,
while only by implication is her earlier liaison with George Browne
noticed. The theological views expressed in the ballad are, to say the
least, dubious.
Cl)e toofull lamentacon of mr0* Anne
Saunders, fol)tCl) $\)t tUfOte toltl) l^t OttUt
), bring pri0oner in «*«#*/*, Sitistty
conDemneti to neatly
I lament, I repent, I beleve, I reioyce,
I trust in the lord christ, he will here my voyse.
w
O highe and mighty god,
which reignst the skyes above,
O HIGH AND MIGHTY GOD
With watred eyes I muche commend
thy provydence and love.
With wofull broken hart,
with swolne and blobred face,
I wayle my wanton lyfe long spent,
which had noe better grace.
I make my mone to the[e],
with sighes and sobbing teares ;
In what distresse and heavy case,
my conscience wytnesse beares.
Depryved of worldly joye,
which late I had at ease,
Depryved of wealth and clad with care,
which sought not thee to please.
[3]
Depryved of pleasures greate,
bewrapt in griefe and payne,
And all throughe synne which thus to mourne,
deare god, doth me constraine.
My babes and children deare,
can heart of myne but sobbe
To lose them thus, o gryping griefe,
can intrelles sease to throbbe !
w
Alake, I cannot stay,
myne eyes will not byde dry,
To thincke what sinne hath brought me to,
out one me wretche, fye, fye !
Let tender mothers judge
and gushe out teares with me,
When as the[y] wey my inward doubt
and eke my anguishe se.
[4] 4 one : read on ; 7 wey = weigh.
342
O HIGH AND MIGHTY GOD
[5]
For naught besyde my facte,
I more lament then they ;
God send them better grace to lyve
and not to walke my way.
For wealth did pricke me soe,
being well and could not se,
Oh swetest god, I say thou knowest
this is performed in me.
[6]
And righteous is thy rodde,
a plague procured long ;
And those that warned me of my fault,
I thought they did me wronge.
I lyncked my selfe in love
to hatefull bitter bale,
Throughe which my barcke is ouertourn'd
with quyte contrary gale.
[7]
Anne Drewry^ woe to thee,
which drewe me to decaye !
And woe the tyme I loved thy lure,
woe me and wele away !
Woe worth thy false entent,
woe worth thy bloudy mynde,
And woe thy flattering wordes which made
my doting hart so blynde !
[8]
And, Roger^ woe to the[e],
in whome it was to staye
Brownis handes from slaughter of my deare
and vs from this decaye !
[5] i facte = crime.
343
O HIGH AND MIGHTY GOD
Take hede, all honest dames,
what servauntes ye retayne,
For if thou, Roger, hadst feared god,
we had not felt this payne.
O righteous god, thou knowest
their councell wrought me ill ;
And yet, Anne Saunders, woe to the[e]
that leanedst so muche thertill !
My husband to betray
(a grieffe to say or thinke),
And iustly weighed as I haue brewed
this bitter drafte to drincke.
[10]
Behold, all honest wyves,
and fynest london dames,
Beare to your husbandes trusty hartes,
procure not to your shames ;
Tacke patterne playne by mee,
well vewe my race and end ;
And while yow stand, see to your stepes,
and lett the faultye amend.
For god, thoughe longe hee Beares,
att lenghte will sharply paye,
As may bee Sine by my fyrst State
and now by mee decaye.
[10] 6 Fols. 9v-io are in a vicious and illiterate handwriting, quite
different from that of all the other leaves in the MS. The scribe has
written the lines as if they were prose, paying no attention to the metre
(which is here restored), though apparently he attempted to break up
his work into four-line stanzas ; 8 amend : read mend.
344
O HIGH AND MIGHTY GOD
Trust never Trusties tayles,
detest that odius love,
Defie suche frindship fraughte with fraude,
as matrones dothe beehove ;
[12]
For I beewailinge told
off this my fau[l]te the causse,
I had noe perfytte loue nor care
to godes wourd nor y[e]tt his Lawes
My Love was daylie hate,
my faythe was flatteringe sure ;
0 cvrsyd Satban, I lament
thow didest mee Soe A-lure !
I [I3]
1 yellded to to mvche
to thie Foulle helliche lore,
I gaue the[e] Rainge to Rulle the Fleche,
which nowe I rew full Sore.
For grudginge att my State,
I thought to mend the Sam[e],
Thoughe which, in-stede of lyfe, to deathe
a Foulle and [hatejfull sham[e].
[H]
See what A gayne ys gotte, —
o god, see whate A gayne,
off my childerne, goodes, and Frindes,
and more which dothe Remayne,
[i i] 6 odius : MS. odiues ? 8 beehove : i.e. behoove.
!i 2] 2 off : read of ; 4 yett : omit ; 6 sure : MS. Suer.
1 3] i yellded to to : read yielded too too ; 3 Fleche .- read flesh ;
8 hatefull : MS. indecipherable.
[14] 3 off: read of all.
345
O HIGH AND MIGHTY GOD
A losse Farre mountinge this,
for breche off my deare,
My Soule and Bodie bothe quytte Spylte,
christ, where ytt not For thee.
[15]
Cbryst, For thie presious deathe,
thie woundes, and Blodie harte,
Which are my pardone by thie crosse
and my Releyffe From Smarte ;
Thou arte all which nowe Remaynes,
com dayned wrothe dysmaye,
Thou, crist, arte all my anker-hould,
which hast my Ransom paye ;
[16]
Which cheres my wounded harte,
and mackes mee glad to dye,
A thousand Times mor[e] cruell deathe
my Sellffe I quytte defye.
Oute of this carnall wourld,
deare god, I longe For thee :
O when shall I bee ryd of Sin
that I thie face maye see !
[17]
I am Full Redie prest,
my Sines I doe Repent,
O for my Blodie facte, o god,
lett notte my Soule bee shentte !
[14] 6 breche = breach, an assault on, an injury to. Murder would
restore the rhythm. 8 where : read were.
[15] 5, 6 Possibly Thou (all which now remains), condemned wrath
dismay ! the last three words also being parenthetical.
346
O HIGH AND MIGHTY GOD
Noe, noe, I am full sure
thy promyse is full just ;
Christes bloud my bloudy facte hath clensde,
and therto will I trust.
[18]
And nowe behold and se
what for me god hath done,
A lost and infected wandring shepe
his merry home hath woonne ;
Whose love so let me fall, —
and justice threw me downe,
From worldly pompe to foule reproche,
and losse of all renowne, —
[19]
That he might rayse me vp
from death to state of blisse,
From Satban's baytes, by his rebukes,
to be a child of his ;
In flower of constant age
my dayes to end with shame,
To my immortall blisse and joye
set fre from synne and blame.
[20]
And yet what shame is this
for me, so clad with synne,
To take noe more then I shall tast
the lasting throne to wynne ?
And, therfore, nowe farewell,
all thinges corrupt and vayne,
It is not longe til heavenly throng
will make me vppe agayne,
[17] 5 The original copyist resumes his work here.
[18] 3 infected : " Evilly affected or contaminated in respect of moral
character, opinions, etc." — N. £./).; 5 love : MS. lore.
[20] 3 tast, 8 make : read take.
347
O HIGH AND MIGHTY GOD
[21]
In this my very fleshe
to se christe with myne eyes,
And sould and body dwell with him
aboue the christall skyes.
For whome my freindes prepare,
and so I yow commend
To Jesus Christ, who shall ye kep, —
and thus I make an end.
[21] 3 sould : read soul.
348
The noble peer while he lived here
Addit. MS. I5,225,fols. 13-15. This ballad, except for two stanzas
gratuitously printed in Collier's Extracts from the Stationers'* Registers, I., 4,
has not been reprinted. There is another, and a much later version, in
the Percy Folio MS., edited by Hales and Furnivall, II., 255 ff. The
P.P. version differs considerably from this, among other things being
five stanzas longer : the most important variations are indicated in the
foot-notes.
The ballad does not appear to have been entered in the Stationers'
Registers : a ballad called " The murnynge of Edwarde Duke of
Buckyngham," which was registered in 1557-58 (Arber's Transcript,
I., 75) is that reprinted in the Ballad Society's Ballads from MSB., I., 62 ;
and another called " A mournefull songe comparatiuely of the miserable
ende of Bannister that betraied the duke of Buckingham his lord and
master to the punishement of mystres Shore, &c.," which was registered
on January 18, 1600, is "A most Sorrowful Song, setting forth the end
of Banister, who betrayed the Duke of Buckingham, his Lord and
Master," reprinted from the unique copy in the Pepys Collection (I., 64)
in Evans's Old Ballads, 1810, III., 23. There is in Richard Johnson's
Crown Garland of Golden Roses, 1612 (Percy Society ed., pp. 25 ff. ; A
Collection of Old Ballads, 1725, III., 38), a ballad of 24 stanzas called
"The Life and Death of the Great Duke of Buckingham ; who came
to an untimely End, for consenting to the deposing of two gallant young
Princes, King Edward the Fourth's Children. To the tune of Shore's
Wife."
The historical background has been only vaguely hinted at by previous
editors, though there are full accounts in both the Annals of Stow
(1615, p. 466) and the Chronicles of Holinshed (III., 743). Briefly,
Buckingham's fatal mistake came in his attempt to further the cause of
the Earl of Richmond, afterwards Henry VII., against King Richard III.,
-before time was ripe. After the unfortunate and premature defiance
of Richard III., the Duke found himself (as the ballad describes) deserted
by his men. He then, to quote Holinshed,
conueied himselfe into the house of Humfreie Banaster his seruant beside Shrewes-
burie, whome he had tenderlie brought vp, and whome he aboue all men loued,
fauoured, and trusted. [A proclamation offering £1000 reward for information
leading to his capture was issued by the King, whereupon] Humfreie Banaster
(were it more for feare of life and losse of goods, or allured & prouoked by the
349
THE NOBLE PEER WHILE HE LIVED HERE
auaricious desire of the thousand pounds) he bewraied his guest and maister t(
John Mitton then shiriffe of Shropshire : which suddenlie with a strong power j
of men in harnesse apprehended the duke in a little groue adioining to the mansion
of Humfreie Banaster, and in great hast and euill speed conueied him apparelled
in a pilled blacke cloake to the towne of Shrewesburie, where king Richard then
kept his houshold. Whether this Banaster bewraied the duke more for feare
than couetous, manie men doo doubt : but sure it is, that shortlie after he had
betraied the duke his master, his sonne and heire waxed mad, & so died in a
bores stie ; his eldest daughter of excellent beautie, was suddenlie striken with a
foule leprosie ; his second sonne maruellouslie deformed of his lims, and made
lame ; his yoonger sonne in a small puddle was strangled and drowned ; and he
being of extreame age, arreigned, and found guiltie of a murther, and by his
cleargie saued. And as for his thousand pounds, K. Richard gaue him not
one farthing.
Buckingham "without arraignment or judgment" was beheaded at
Salisbury on All-Souls' day, 1483.
No subject more appealing to Elizabethan and Jacobean ballad-
writers could be conceived of than Holinshed's straightforward account
of the woes resulting from Bannister's treachery. Richard Johnson thus
chronicles these woes : —
Thus Banester was forst to beg,
And crave for food with cap and leg,
But none to him would bread bestow,
That to his master prov'd a foe.
Thus wand'red he in poor estate,
Repenting his misdeed too late,
Till starved he gave up his breath,
By no man pittied at his death.
To wofull ends his children came,
Sore punisht for their father's shame ;
Within. a kennell one was droun'd,
Where water scarce could hide the ground.
Another, by the powers devine,
Was strangely eaten up by swine ;
The last a woofull ending makes,
By strangling in a stinking jakes.
In the Pepysian ballad Bannister in person relates his misfortunes,
following the historical account fairly closely : —
My eldest, first, through misery
Did hang himself in a pig-sty,
Whilst over him we sat and mourn'd,
My youngest in a ditch was droun'd.
Where we did leave our children dead,
Above the ground unburied,
Myself, my wife and daughter dear
Did range the country far and near. . . .
35°
THE NOBLE PEER WHILE HE LIVED HERE
Then we returned home again
At our own door to end our pain,
Whilst I sought sticks to make a fire,
My daughter's death brought her desire.
His servant which my land possess'd
Came first, and found my child deceased,
Mitton's young son my wife there kill'd,
His father's heart with sorrow filFd.
Bannister, so the ballad goes on, himself killed the servant's " only son,"
And after this my wife and I
Ended our lives in misery.
a gong of ttie Dufee of •Bucfemgtiam.
The noble Peere, while he liued heere,
the worthie Duke of Buckingham,
Whoe florisht in king Edwardes raigne,
the fourth king of that name ;
_
Which did in seruice keepe a man,
of meane and low degree,
Which of a child he had brought vp
from base to dignitie, —
[3]
He gaue him landes and liuinge good,
of which he was noe heire,
And maried him to a galant Dame,
as rich as she was faire.
[i] i P.P. begins with this stanza :
You Barons bold, ma[r]ke and behold
the thinge that I will rite ;
A story strange and yett most true
I purpose to Endite ;
3 raigne : MS. substitutes for daies. [2] 3 of : read as.
[3] 4 The two stanzas following are added from P.P.
35'
THE NOBLE PEER WHILE HE LIVED HERE
[It came to passe in tract of time
his wealth did soe excell,
His riches did surpasse them all
that in that shire did dwell.
Who was soe braue as Banister ?
or who durst with him contend ?
Which wold not be desirous still
to be his daylye freind ?]
.
But out, alas ! it came to passe,
and soe the strife beganne,
The maister he constrained was
to seeke succour at the man.
[5]
King Richard the third he got the sword,
forswore himselfe t' bee king ;
Murdered two princes in their beddes,
the which much strife did bringe.
[6]
This noble Duke when he saw that,
that vile and wicked deed,
Against this Tyrant rais'd an hoast
of armed men with speede.
.
But when the king that he heard tell,
a mightie hoast he sent
W i, *
For then it came to passe ; more woe, alas !
for sorrowes then began (P.F.}.
5] I he got : swaying (P.P.) ; 2 cryed himselfe a kinge (P.P.).
6] i, 2
And then the duke of Buckingham
hating this bloody deede (P.P.}.
352
I THE NOBLE PEER WHILE HE LIVED HERE
Against the Duke of Buckingham,
his purpose to prevent.
[8]
When the Duke his souldiers they h[e]ard tell,
feare pearst their hartes eich on[e] ;
That all his souldiers fled by night
and left this worthie Duke alone.
[9]
Then in extreame neede he tooke his steede,
and poasted night and day ;
Vnto his owne man Banister,
these wordes to him did say :
" O Banister, sweet e Banister,
pittie thou my cause," quoth hee ;
" And hyde me from my cruell foes,
which thus pursueth mee."
" O you are welcome, my maister deere,
you are hartelie welcome heere ;
And like a frend I will you keepe,
although it cost me deere."
[8] I Duke his : read Duke's. P.P. has and when the duke's people
>f this heard tell ; 3 all : many of (P. F.) ; 4 and left : perhaps and left
he Duke alone. P.P. has and left him one by one.
[9] 4 in secrett there to stay (P.F.).
[10] 4 thus pursueth : here accuseth (P.P.).
[i i] 3 And as my liffe He keepe you safe (P*F.).
Z 353
THE NOBLE PEER WHILE HE LIVED HERE
[12]
His velvet sute then he put of[f],
his chaine of gould likewise ;
An ould letherne coate he put vpon,
and all to blinde the people's eise.
Sayinge, " Banister, O Banister,
O Banister, be true ! "
" Christ his curse then light on me and myne,
if ever I be false to you."
An ould felt hat he put on his head.
ould letherne slopes also ;
A hedginge bill vpon his necke,
and soe to the woodes did goe.
[15]
This worthie Duke went to the woodes,
as did not him beseeme,
And soe in sorrow spent his dais,
as he some drudge had beene.
*
[And there he liued long vnknowen,
and still vnknowne might bee,
Till Banister for hope of gaine
betray'd him ludaslye.]
[12] i The order of stanzas 12 and 13 is reversed in P.P. ; 3 Andj
soe he did his veluett capp (P.P.) ; 4 and all : omit.
!i 3] 3 Christ his : read Christ's ; 4 omit ever.
^14] I a lethern lerkyn on his backe (P. F.) ; 2 slopes : i.e. trousers ;
4 Here P.P. adds the following stanza : —
An old felt hat vppon his head,
with 20 holes therin ;
And soe in labor he spent the time,
as tho some drudge he had beene.
[15] 1-4 Not in P.P.
The stanza following is added from P.P.
354
THE NOBLE PEER WHILE HE LIVED HERE
[16]
A proclamation there was made,
whosoeuer then could bringe
Newes of the Duke of Buckingham
vnto Richard the kinge,
[17]
A thousand pound should be his fee,
of gould and money bright,
And be preferred by his grace
and made a worthie knight.
[18]
When Banister that he h[e]ard tell,
he to the Court did hye ;
And he betraid his maister deere
for luker of that fee.
[19]
King Richard then he sent in hast
a mightie hoast with arrowes good,
And for to take this worthie Duke,
as he was wander inge in the wood.
[17] I thousand pound : 1000 markes (P.F.).
[18] 2 straight to the court sent hee (P.P.).
[19] 1-4 Not in P.P., which has instead
A herald of armes there was sent
and men with weapons good,
Who did attach this noble Duke
where he was labouring in the wood ;
t, 4 Both lines have too many syllables.
355
THE NOBLE PEER WHILE HE LIVED HERE
s
[20]
And when the Duke that he saw that,
he wronge his handes with wooe.
" O false Banister" quoth he,
" why hast thou serued thy maister soe ?
[21]
" O Banister, false Banister,
woe worth thy f ained hart !
Thou hast betraid thy maister deere,
and play'd a treator's part ! "
[22]
The noble Duke to London was brought,
in his great feare and dread,
And straight in prison he was cast
and Judg'd to loase his head.
[23]
Then Banister went to the court,
hopeinge these gifts to haue ;
And straight in prisson he was cast,
and hard his life to saue.
Noe frend he found in his distresse,
nor yet noe frend at neede ;
[20] i Stanzas 20-21 have a wholly different wording, though the
same general contents, in the P.P. ; 3 Perhaps O thou false, etc. ; 4 thjr
maister : perhaps reading should be me, for sake of the metre.
[22] 1-4 In the P.P. this stanza runs : —
Then Fraught with feare and many a teare,
with sorrowes almost dead,
This noble Duke of Buckingham
att Salsbury lost his head.
356
[E NOBLE PEER WHILE HE LIVED HERE
But euerie man reviled him
for his most hatefull wicked deed.
His eldest sonne starke mad did runne ;
his daughter drouned was
Within a shallow runninge streame,
which did all danger passe.
Accordinge to his owne desyre,
godes curse did on him fale ;
That all his wealth consumed quyte,
and soe was wasted all.
[27]
Yonge Banister liu'd longe in shame,
but at the length did dye ;
And soe our lord he shew'd his wrath
for his father's villanye.
524] 4 Omit wicked.
25] i The P.P. reverses the order of stanzas 25 and 26. For
([25] i, 2 it reads : —
For one of his sones for greeffe Starke madd did fall ;
the other For sorrow drowned was.
|It then adds this stanza : —
His daugter right of bewtye bright,
to such lewde liffe did Fall
That shee dyed in great miserye ;
and thus they were wasted all.
[27] i Yonge : Old (P.F.) ; 3, 4
ord
echi
357
And thus they Lord did plague them al
For this his trecherye (P.f.\
THE NOBLE PEER WHILE HE LIVED HERE
[28]
Good lord, preserue our noble kinge,
and send him longe proceede ;
And god send euerie distressed man
a better frend at need !
fini*.
[28] i kinge : i.e. James I. P.P. has Now god blesse our king an
councell graue.
358
70 '
Of Gates by ', Faux^ and Garnet
Stowe MS. 182, fols. 47-47v. In the MS., which belongs to the
(latter part of the reign of James I., the ballad is written in three-line
mzas. Though the metre is rough, as a burlesque the ballad is wholly
[delightful, and it is perhaps more nearly contemporaneous with the Plot
lan any other ballad yet discovered. For other poetical effusions on
[the Gunpowder Plot see Professor C. H. Firth's excellent Ballad History
\of the Reign of James I. (Transactions of the Royal Historical Society, 3rd
| Series, Vol. V.).
It is a striking commentary on the personality of James I. that even
during his lifetime, and quite openly in the reign of Charles I., the
Gunpowder Treason was regarded as a legitimate subject for burlesque.
There is a ridiculous ballad " Upon the Gun-powder Plot " in Choyce
Drollery, 1656 (ed. J. W. Ebsworth, p. 40 : cf. Roxburghe Ballads, IV.,
273 ; VIII., 757), — certainly somewhat older than the date 1656 would
indicate, — of which one stanza may be quoted for illustration : —
And will this wicked world never prove good ?
Will Priests and Catholiques never prove true ?
Shall Cattily, Piercy, and RookiuooJ
Make all this famous Land to rue ?
With putting us in such a feare,
With huffing and snuffing and runt-powder ,
With a Ohone houonorcera tarrareera, tarrareero hone.
As another illustration take this passage from the post-Restoration
ballad of "The Loyal Subject" (Pepys, IV., 243 ; 410 Rawlinson, 566,
fol. 84 ; Douce, II., I43V, etc.) : —
See the Squibs, and hear the Bells,
the fifth day of November,
The Preacher a sad Story tells,
And with horror doth remember,
how some dry-brain 'd traitors wrought
Plots, that would to ruine brought,
both King and every member.
One of Antony a Wood's MS. ballads (Wood, 417, fols. 24-24^) is a
quaint disputation between a Jesuit and a Presbyterian, in which the
crux of the discussion hinges upon the question whether the Gunpowder
Plot or the execution of Charles I. was the more heinous crime. It
begins : —
359
N
OF CATESBY, FAUX, AND GARNET
Jack presbiter & a sonn of the pope
had of.late a dispute of aright to the rope :
who meritted hanging without any hope ? —
ivck nobody can deny.
First Jack began, and bade him remember
A horrible plott on the 5th of nouember,
that very month preceadeing december,
''The 3Oth of January," the other replyed,
" wee heard on 't at Roome, it can't be denyed ;
had Jack bin Loyall. then Charles had not dy'd,
A later stanza runs : —
" Oh powder treason, oh horrible plott ! "
" 1 prethee, deare brother, be not soe hott ;
for Charles was kil'd, but Jammy was not.
But occasionally ballad-writers treated the Plot seriously : of such a
nature are the lines beginning " My Masters all, awake from sleep, 1
pray" in A Loyal Garland of Mirth and Pastime, 1685, and the ballad
on "The Gun-Powder Plot " in the Pepys Collection. The latter, as
well as a broadsheet in the Collections of the Society of Antiquaries, is
reprinted for comparison with the present ballad.
a
Of Catesby, Faux, and Garnet,
a Story Fie you tell-a,
And of a Rare Plott,
ne're to be forgott,
And eke how it befell-a.
All on the 4th of November,
the Papists they had a drift-a
Quite for to destroy
brave England' s joy,
And to blow it all vp on the fifth- a.
360
OF CATESBY, FAUX, AND GARNET
[3]
Soe many Barretts of Gunpowder,
the like was never seen-a,
That eke that the match
had chanc'd for to catch,
Good L[or]d, where should we all have been-a
w
Why we should all have been slaine outright,
for marke what thee varlets had don-a,
They had sett soe many Barrells
to decide all our Quarrells,
Nay they had don't as sure as a Gun-a.
[5]
O Varlets that esteeme noe more
3 K[ing]doms than 3 shillings !
It were a Good deed
to hang 'm with Speed^ —
Oh out vppon them Villaines !
[6]
But now these Papists their designs
we care not for a louse-a ;
For fit as it was,
it soe came to passe
That the Plot was blown vp, not the house-a
[7]
For our King he went to the Parliam[en]t
to meet his Noble Peers-a ;
But if he had knowne
where he should have been blown,
He durst not have gori for his Eares-a.
[3] 3 that the : read if the.
[4] 2 thee : i.e. the ; 5 don't : I.e. done t.
36l
OF CATESBY, FAUX, AND GARNET
[8]
Then, " Powder I smell," quoth our gracious King
(now our King was an excellent smeller) ;
And lowder and lowder,
quoth the King, " I smell powder " ;
And downe he run into the Cellar.
And when he came the Cellar into,
and was the danger amid-a,
He found that the traine
had not been in vaine,
Had he not come downe as he did-a.
[10]
Then the Noble-men that there stood by
and heard the words of the King-a, —
" Ah, my So[u]l, if the Fire
had come a little nigher,
'Twould have made vs all flye without wing-a ! "
[10] 3 Fire : read Fi-er.
362
7i
O Lord, we have continual cause
From a broadside in the Library of the Society of Antiquaries,
London (Lemon's Catalogue of Broadsides, p. 77) : white letter, no cuts,
printed in two columns with ornamental border running around the
four edges of the sheet. There is no stanza-division in the original.
The sheet appeared only a short time before the death of James I.
a «>ong or p0alme of
in remembrance Of OUr great deliuerance
from the Gun-powder Treason, the fift of
Nouember, 1 605.
O Lord, we haue continuall cause
thy mercies to remember ;
For thou hast bin our God and guide,
our Keeper and Defender,
Deliuering vs from those Attempts
that wicked men haue sought
Against thy truth, against thy Saints,
to bring them vnto nought.
Amongst the great Deliuerances,
thou hast this Land affoorded,
There is one chiefe, that doth deserue
in heart to be recorded :
O let vs not forget, good Lord,
but grant we may remember,
363
O LORD, WE HAVE CONTINUAL CAUSE
What thou didst do for vs and ours,
the fift day of Nouember.
[3]
That when we on our beds did rest,
the night before, secure ;
Next day prepared was for vs
great sorrowes to endure.
When that our King, Queene, Prince & Peeres,
* our commons chiefe and best,
In Parliament should meet to make
good Lawes to guide the rest,
w
A hellish blast with powder mad
from vnder them should rise,
To cast them vp into the aire
betwixt the earth and skies.
When as in health and strength they were,
- and danger none did feare,
A hideous cracke and cruell blow
in peeces them should teare.
[5]
No cruell beast more eager then,
and greedier of his pray,
Then Antichrist his priests and slaues
were of our Hues that day.
They thought our ruine to haue wrought
in twinckling of an eye,
But God, our great Deliuerer,
this mischiefe did descry.
[4] i mad : i.e. made. [5] 3 Then : i.e. than.
364
O LORD, WE HAVE CONTINUAL CAUSE
[6]
And when that they the spoile did thinke
amongst them to deuide,
The high and mighty Lord of hoasts
their counsels did deride, —
By making lames, our royall King,
so quicke in apprehension,
As to discouer and preuent
Rome's Diuels' deepe intention.
[73
So that the net and snare is broke,
Hel's counsell is reueled,
That from the ages for to come
it may not be concealed.
Now we that Hue may sing a Psalme
of praise and thankes to him ;
And where that they with shame did end,-
with ioy we may begin.
[8]
And say : " O Lord, to thee alone,
alone to thee, O Lord,
The Praise is due, the praise is due,:
euen all with on[e] accord ;
Nothing there was in vs that did
deserue this loue of thee ;
It was thy loue and mercie great
bestowed on vs most free.
[9]
It was thy loue vnto thy name,
and to thy Saints most deare,
That mou'd thee thus to deale with vs
in danger when we were ;
365
O LORD, WE HAVE CONTINUAL CAUSE
Euen while we Hue we will confesse,
to thy eternall praise,
That by this great Deliuerance wrought
thou hast renewed our daies.
[10]
And giuen vs time for to repent
and to amend our Hues,
And of thy mercies manifold
the higher for to prize.
O let the practise of these men
against thy children deare
Make vs to hate their wicked wayes,
and thee the more to feare.
And grant that we may still detest
that doctrine and that sinne
That teacheth vs to eate our God
and eke to kill our King.
And euermore whiPst that our Hues
and breath in vs doth last,
To lay vp in our hearts thy law,
and there to keepe it fast ;
[12]
That by the same we may be kept
from errors grosse and nought,
Vntill we haue obtain'd that crowne
that Christ for vs hath bought.
[n] 2 doctrine : i.e. of transubstantiation.
366
O LORD, WE HAVE CONTINUAL CAUSE
Lord blesse thy Church, preserue our King
and Prince and Race royall,
Prolong their dayes, make them the meanes
of Antichrist's downfall.
amen. T. s.
London, Printed by William lones. 1625.
„ [12] 5 King : i.e. James I. ; 6 Prince : i.e. Charles, Prince of Wales.
367
True Protestants, I pray you, do
draw near
From a printed broadside, probably unique, in the Pepys Collection,
II., 370. The text dates several years after the Restoration, though it
may be considerably older originally. For the tune see Chappell's
Popular Music, I., 167.
(SuiHpatiJfcer plot:
©r,
& Brief account of tftat bioufcg anfc subtle Qf sign
laifc against tfjr Eing» j)is Hov&s anfc Commons
in ^aritamnU, antr of a JJapps Qfitbrrancr fop
iDibine
To the Tune of Aim not too high. Htcettsetr ac cortrtng to Ortretr.
[I] '
True Protestants, I pray you, do draw near,
Unto this Ditty lend attentive Ear ;
The Lines are New, although the Subject's Old,
Likewise it is as true as e'er was told.
When James the First in England, Reigned King,
Under his Royal, Gracious, Princely Wing
Religion flourished, both in Court and Town,
Which wretched Romans strove to trample down.
[3]
To their old plotting Trade they strait did go
To prove Three Kingdom's final Overthrow, —
368
TRUE PROTESTANTS DO DRAW NEAR
A Plot contriv'd by Catholicks alone,
The like before or since was never known.
w
Rome's Counsel did together often meet,
For to contrive which way they might compleat
This bloudy Treason ; which they took in hand
Against the King and Heads of all the Land.
At length these wretched Romans all agreed
Which way to make the King and Nation bleed ;
By Powder, all agreed with joint Consent,
To Blow up both the King and Parliament.
[6]
For to keep secret this their Villany
By solemn Oaths they one another tye ;
Nay farther, being void of Grace and Shame,
Each took the Sacrament upon the same.
[7]
Their Treason wrapt in this black Mantle then,
Secure and safe from all the Eyes of Men,
They did not fear ; but by one fatal Blow
To prove the Church and Kingdom's Overthrow.
[8]
Catesby, with all the other Romish Crew,
This Powder Plot did eagerly pursue ;
Yet after all their mighty cost and care,
Their own Feet soon was taken in the Snare.
2 A
369
TRUE PROTESTANTS I PRAY YOU
' . [9]
Under the House of the Great Parliament,
This Romish Den and Devils, by consent,
The Hellish Powder-Plot they formed there,
In hopes to send all flying in the Air.
[10]
Barrels of Powder privately convey'd,
Billets and Bars of Iron, too, was laid,
To tear up all before them as they flew,
A black Invention by this dismal Crew.
And with the fatal Blow all must have flown, —
The gracious King upon his Royal Throne,
His gracious Queen, likewise their Princely Heir, —
All must have dy'd and perish'd that was there.
[12]
The House of Noble Lords of high Degree,
By this unheard of, bloudy Tragedy,
Their Limbs in sunder strait would have been tore>
And filPd the Air with noble, bloudy gore.
[13]
The worthy, learned Judges, Grave and Sage,
The Commons, too, all must have felt Romis rage ;
Had not the Lord of Love stept in between,
Oh, what a dismal Slaughter had there been.
[14]
The King, the Queen, and Barons of the Land,
The Judges, Gentry, did together stand
On Ruine's brink, while Rome the blow should give, —
They'd but the burning of a Match to live.
370
DO DRAW NEAR
[IS]
But that the Great God that sits in Heaven high
He did behold their bloudy Treachery ;
He made their own Hand-writing soon betray
The Work which they had Plotted many a day.
[16]
The Lord in Mercy did his Wisedom send
Unto the King, his People to Defend ;
Which did reveal the hidden Powder-Plot,
A gracious Mercy ne'er 'to be forgot.
[17]
And brought Romis Faction unto Punishment,
Which did the Powder Treason first invent ;
And all that ever Plots I hope God will,
That the true Christian Church may flourish still.
Printed for P. Brooksby, J. Deacon, J. Blare, J. Back.
[15] I But that : read But.
371
73 I
Christmas is my name
Addit. MS. 38,599, fols. 142-143. This interesting MS., a seven
teenth-century commonplace book, account book, and diary of the
Shanne family of Yorkshire, contains thirteen ballads, which are prefaced
by the title, " Certaine pretie songes hereafter followinge, Drawn
together by Richard Shanne, 1611," but a number of which, like the
present ballad, date about 1624.
This ballad is a distinctly Catholic production, lamenting the decay
of Christmas festivities under the regime of Protestants and Puritans.
The ballad was sung to the tune of Now the Spring is come (cf. Roxburghe
Ballads, L, 154 ; Popular Music, II., 464), and not improbably it was
connected with the " northerne songe of He awaie " that was licensed for
publication on August 15, 1586. A non-extant ballad of "Christmas
Delightes" was licensed on December 12, 1593, and a far from gloomy
account of Christmas is given in a prose and verse pamphlet, by the
celebrated ballad-monger, Laurence Price, called Make Room for Christmas.
a €>onse beaailinge tlje tpme of Christmas,
g>o mucti DecapeD in England.
M :
Christmas is my name,
Fair have I gone, have I gone, have I gone,
Have I gone with out regarde,
Where as great men by flockes they be flowen, they be
flowen,
They be flowen, they be flowen to London warde,
Where they in pompe and pleasure do waste
That which Christmas had wont to feast,
Wellay daie !
Houses where musicke was wonted to ringe,
Nothinge but Batts and Ouls now do singe.
Wellay daie, wallay daie, wallay daie, where should I stay ?
372
CHRISTMAS IS MY NAME
M
Christmas bread and Beefe is turn'd into stons, into
stons, into stons,
Into Stones and Silken ragges ;
And ladie monie it doth slepe, It doth slepe, It doth
sleepe,
It doth sleepe in Mysers' bagges.
Where manie gallantes once abounde
Nought but A dogg and A Sheperd is founde,
Wellay day !
Places where Christmas revells did keepe
Are now becom habitations for Sheepe.
W allay day, wallay day, wellay day, where should I stay ?
[3]
Pan, the Shepherdes God, doth deface, doth deface,
doth deface,
Doth deface Ladie Ceres' crowne ;
And Tilliges doth decay, doth decay, doth decay,
Doth decay in everie towne.
Landlordes their rentes so highly Inhaunce
That Peares the plowman barefoote doth daunce,
Wellay day /
Farmers that Christmas would Intertaine
Hath scarselie withall them selves to mantaine.
Wellay day, wellay day, wellay day, where should I stay ?
W
Go to the Protestant, hele protest, hele protest, hele
protest,
He will protest and bouldlie boaste ;
And to the Puritine, he is so hote, he is so hote, he is so
hote,
He is so hote he will burne the Roast ;
[2] 5 abounde : read did abounde. [3] 3 Tilliges : i.e. tillage.
[4] 3 The last he is written in MS. as one word ; 4 he is : one word in MS.
373
CHRISTMAS IS MY NAME
The Catholike good deedes will not scorne,
Nor will not see pore Christmas for-lorne,
Wellay Day I
Since Holmes no good deedes will do,
Protestantes had best turn Papistes, too,
Wellay day, Wellay day, wellay day, where should I stay
[5]
Pride and Luxurie doth devoure, doth devoure, doth
devoure,
Doth devoure house-kepinge quite,
And Beggarie doth beget, doth begett, doth begett,
Doth begett in manie A knight.
Madam, for-sooth, in Cooch she must reele,
Although she weare her hoose out at heele,
Wellay day !
And on her backe were that for her weede
That woulde both me and manie other feede.
Wellay day, W allay day, wellay day, where should I stay ?
[6]
Breefelye for to ende, here I fynde, here I fynde,
Here I fynde such great vacation
That some great houses do seeme to have, Seme to have,
seeme to have,
For to have some great Purgation ;
With Purginge Pills such effectes they have Shewed
That out of dores theyr owners they have spewed.
Wellay day !
And when Christmas goes by and calles,
Nothinge but solitude and naked walls.
Wellay day, Wellay day, wellay day, where should I stale ?
[5] 5 Cooch : i.e. Coach ; 8 were : i.e. wear.
374
CHRISTMAS IS MY NAME
[7]
PbilemeVs Cottages are turn'd into gould, into gould,
Into gould for harboringe Jove ;
And great men's houses vp for to hould, vp for to houlde,
Vp for to hould make great men mone ;
But in the Cittie they saie they do live,
Where gould by handfulls away they do give,
Wellay day !
And, therefore, thither I purpose to passe,
Hopinge at london to fynde the goulden Asse.
He away, lie away, lie away, lie no longer staie.
[7] i Philemel's : i.e. Philemon's.
375
74 .
Let bare-footed beggars still walk
in the street
Addit. MS. 23,723, fols. I7v-i8. Several bars of music are given at
the end of this attractive ballad. The MS. dates about 1620, but the
ballad is several years older. At the beginning of the verses the compiler
of the MS. wrote : " His witte was indifferent that made this following
rime, but for his wisedome I leave it to the grave and wise to be
censured."
The extravagant gifts which James I. bestowed upon his countrymen,
somewhat at the expense of the English, caused much ill feeling. Many
ballads on the Scotch " beggars " are extant : they were widely circulated
at the time, and versions almost identical with the present ballad (a very
early specimen) are preserved in other MSS. Of the same general
description, too, are " A Songe of a fine Skott " printed in Fairholt's
Satirical Songs and Poems, Percy Society, 1849, P« I27 > "Our Scottish-
men are beggars yet," in MS. Rawlinson Poet. 160, fol. 179 ; and a
ballad in the Percy Folio MS. (ed. Hales and Furnivall, II., 43). The
subject is adequately discussed by Professor C. H. Firth in the Trans
actions of the Royal Historical Society, 3rd Series, V., 23 f. Addit. MS.
23,723, it may be added, contains a number of songs on James I., some
of which have not been reprinted.
Let barefooted beggers still walke in the streete
in ragged attire, as for them it is meete ;
For it is most certaine, and ofte hath bene triede,
set a beggar on horsebacke, and then he will ride
a-galloppe, a-galloppe.
.
Our ould English beggars in summer did swarme
at Fayers and markets, at feaste and at ferme ;
[2] 2 ferme : i.e. farme.
376
LET BEGGARS STILL WALK IN THE STREET
Theire certaine, by begging, eche day was supplide ;
also for a peny for good ale they'de ride
a-begging, a-begging.
[3]
But nowe in these dayes from Scotland we see,
for one English begger, of Scottes there come three ;
In fayers and markets they scorne to abide,
the courte is theire Couerte to mainteine theire pride
by begging, by begging.
W
Theire bonny blewe bonnets [ar]e nowe caste away,
and beaver and fether for Jocky is gay ;
With brave golden hatte-bandes to mainteine theire
pride,
with guilte sworde and dagger now Jocky must ride
a-begging, a-begging.
[5]
Theire russet gray mantles both threedbare and ould
are turned to scarlet, all laced with gould,
Theire belte of horse-leather to veluet and pearle,
and Jockie will caper as high as an Earle
by begging, by begging.
. [6]
Too many Scottsh beggars in England doe dwell,
by Hobbie and Jockie and Jenny and Nell ;
A page at the first, of a page grewe a knight,
a Lord and a vicounte, an Eirle (by this light)
by begging, by begging.
[2] 3 Theire : i.e. there.
377
LET BEGGARS STILL WALK IN THE STREET
[7]
You lusty young gallants, looke well to your handes,
leste stabbing or striking you forfeite your landes ;
At one place or other theire palfries abide,
your living once forfeite, then Jockie will ride
on-begging, a-begging.
I thinke, if the devill of hell could be gotte,
that Jockie would begge him, or some other Scotte
Our noble king James, Lord ever defend,
and all Scottish beggars soone home againe send
a-gallope, a-gallope.
378
. II 75 WK:jff§
/, a Constable, have took mine oath
Harleian MS. 367, fol. 159. The ballad is in six-line stanzas on a
single " broad-sheet " of paper which has been pasted into the MS.
Practically all the initial letters of the lines are torn off or smudged, and
many are indecipherable.
I have been unable to discover any facts about the author of this
somewhat cryptic production. It appears from stanza 8, with its address
to " hearers, sayers, and singers," that the ballad was actually circulated
in print. The metre is rough, the phrasing disjointed and occasionally
vague ; but the curious account here retailed of the difficulties attendant
on a constable's office, and especially the description of the procedure of
the courts, is of considerable interest. Albury is presumably the Surrey
parish. In connection with the tune, it may be remarked that in John
Hilton's Catch That Catch Can, 1663, p. 73, one of the catches runs : —
Come jump at thy Cosen and kiss,
that men may say another day.
What jumping call you this ?
Though the date 1626 given in the title is later than that of the
other ballads in this volume, the ballad is included because it obviously
applies to Jacobean courts quite as well as to those of Charles I., who
had just come to the throne when Mr Gyffon wrote his song.
€tie song of a constable: mane bp
James Gyffon, Constable Of Alburyt,
a[nn]o 1626.
To the Tune of Jump to me, Cossen.
I, a constable, haue took myne oath
by which shall plaine appeere
The troth and nothing but the troath,
whos[o]euer my song will heare.
379
I, A CONSTABLE, HAVE TOOK MINE OATH
[O]ne greate Constable of Ingland was,
another late should haue ben ;
But litle ones now 'tis found will serue,
so they be but honnest men.
A Constable must be honnest and Just,
haue knowledge and good Reporte,
And able to straine with bodie and braine,
ells he is not fitting for't.
w . • .. :
Some parish putts a constable on,
alas without vnderstanding ;
By cause they'd Rule him when they haue done,
and haue him at their comanding ;
And if he commaunds the poore, they'le grutch
and twit him with partial blindnes ;
[A]gaine and if he commaunds the rich,
they'le threaten him with vnkindnes.
To charge or compell 'im hee's busie, they'le tell 'im,
in paying of rat[e]s they'le brawle.
Falls he but vnto do that he should do,
Tie warnt you displease them all.
[3]
Whip he the roagues, they'le raile and they'le curse,
soldiers as rude cause they are ;
Sent to the treasurer with their passe,
and may not beg euerye where.
[I]f warrantes do come, as often they do,
for money, then he it demaundes.
To eu'rye one with's rate he does go,
wherein they are leuied by landes.
They'le say then he gathers vp money of others
to put to vse for Increase ;
Ells gathers it vp to run awaye wu't, —
what terrible wordes be these !
[2] 1 2 warnt : i.e. warrant.
380
I, A CONSTABLE, HAVE TOOK MINE OATH
W
Hearing a presse for souldiers, they'le start ;
ells hide them selues when we come.
Their wiues then will saye, " to presse wee yee maye,
our husbands are not at home."
Coyne for magazens sent for in hast,
much ado was eare they yeilded ;
Yet's gather'd and paid, and I am afraid
they will not in hast be builded.
The Justices will set vs by the heeles
if wee do not do as we should ;
Which if we performe, the townsmen will storme, —
some of them hang's if they could.
[s]
The constable's warnde to th' sessions then,
vnwilling some goes, alas !
Yet there maye wit and experience lerne,
if that he be not an asse.
There shall he see the Justices set,
here three of O yeses, And
Then shall he here the comission Read,
though litle he vnderstand.
[Fo]ur free landed men are calPd for in, then,
to be of the great inquest :
the cheife of our townes, with hoare on their crownes,
that what should be done knowes best.
[6]
Choice men of euerye towne in the sheire,
3 Juries their must be more,
[4] 3 A ballad of a Constable in Pills to Purge Melancholy, 1719, VI.,
236, has the refrain,
" If I miss the Man, I'll Press the Wife " ;
5 magazens : i.e. magazines.
I, A CONSTABLE, HAVE TOOK MINE OATH
Cal'd vnto the booke with here, sir, here,
the wisest of twentye Before.
Then there shal he see whom hath transgrest
punished for his Offence ;
There shall he here an number amerct,
along of their negligence.
What things are amisse, what doings there is,
Justices charge them enquier
'Fore clarke of the peace and baylies, at least
a dozen, besides the Crier.
[7]
Verdicts must come from these Juries then,
but howsoeare they endite them,
They'le not be tooke till next day by ten,
vnlesse that their clarkes do wright them.
Ruffe wordes or smoth are all but in vaine,
all courts of profHt do sauour ;
And though the case be neuer so plaine,
yet kissing shall go by fauour.
They'le punish the leastest and fauour the greatest,
nought may against them proceede,
And who may dare speak 'gainst one that is great —
lawe what a powlder indeede !
[8]
[TJhus Now my constableship's neare done,
marke heareres, sayers, and singers,- —
Not an officer vnder the sunne
but does looke through his fingers.
[7] 8 Cf. Mercurius Melancholicus, No. 24 (1648), p. 142 : — "I see
the old Proverb verified, Kissing goes by favour but marriage and hanging
goes by destiny." There is a ballad of " Kissing goes by Favour. To
the tune of I marry and thank you too" in the British Museum (c. 20.
r. H/I).
382
I, A CONSTABLE, HAVE TOOK MINE OATH
Yet where I see one willing to mend,
not prating nor making excuses,
Such a one if I can Pie befreind,
and punish the grosse Abuses.
My counsel now vse, you that are to chuse,
put able man euer in place ;
For knaues and fooles in authoritye do
but them selues and their countrie disgrace.
383
Appendix I
When Mary was great with
Gabriel
Addit. MS. 15,225, fols. 48-55^ This is in no sense a ballad but
is included because it furnishes a good, and almost unknown, text of an
interesting old Catholic poem. Furnivall edited another version, A
Song Called Te Deuelis Perlament, Or Parlamentum of Feendis (F.), from
MS. 853, Lambeth Palace Library, for the Early English Text Society
(Hymns to the Virgin, etc., pp. 41-57) in 1867. He mentions the 1509
version (^.) printed by Wynkyn de Worde, a unique copy of which is
preserved in the Cambridge University Library. There is a modern
reprint of this work made by Heber for presentation to the Roxburghe
Club but never put into circulation by him (Lowndes's Bibliographer?
Manual, s.v. Parliament of Fiends). In Warton-Hazlitt's History of English
Poetry, III., 166, reference is made to the Lambeth MS,, to the 1509
edition, and to editions, without date, by Richard Fakes and Julian
Notary. Perhaps older than any of these is the version preserved in
Addit. MS. 37,492, fols. 83-90^ (^.). It is considerably shorter than
the other versions named, and varies widely from them, among other
things transposing whole blocks of lines. E.g., stanzas 2-14, as printed
below, come after stanza 18. It ends at stanza 58, line 4.
F. and W. consist of 504 lines. This copy has but 490, twelve lines
(21-32) perhaps being purposely omitted, two (stanza 20) inadvertently.
It agrees sometimes with IV., sometimes with F., and sometimes differs
from both : it was evidently made from a different printed version,
perhaps from Fakes's or Notary's (though I know nothing about these
editions). No attempt is made here at printing a " critical text," so
that only a few of the variant readings from A., IV., and F. are given,
In all these versions the metre is irregular.
The poem covers sketchily the life of Christ, chief emphasis being
placed on the Temptation and the Harrowing of Hell. Ballads dealing
with the life and miracles of Christ were a staple production of the pro
fessional ballad-mongers. Typical titles are those of "a mournefull
memory of the Death of Christ," " The Devills temptacon to Christ our
salvacon," and " ye fyrst fall of our father Adam and Eve for the breache
of Gods commandement and of his Recouerye againe by the pro
mised seede Jesus Christe," ballads registered during 1578-79 (Arber's
Transcript, II., 342, 348).
384
WHEN MARY WAS GREAT WITH GABRIEL
C^c parlament of Detotlte.
[i] '' ' •-:
When marie was great with Gabriell,
and had conceuid and borne a child,
All the devills of th'ayre, of the earth, and hell,
held their Parlament of that maiden myld.
What man had made her wombe to swell,
or whoe had wrought with her those workes wyld,
That child his father's name, — whoe could tell ?
or whoe had marie soe beguild ?
In hell the feindes they answered :
" We near knew father that he had,
But amongst Prophets we haue learned
that god with man had covenant made :
* As a serpent in desert was reared,
soe shall godes sonne to glorie be led ;
The soule of hime is yet vnspyred ;
hio hart the[y] cloue and he sore bled.'
[3]
" The Prophetes spake soe, in the myst,
that what the[y] meant we never knew ;
They spake of one whoe should high[t] Christ,
but mar Us sonne he hight Jesu.
[And they sayd ye Ciyst w* god sholde be at wyst ;
But this Ihesu never in the godhede grewe.
We ben begyled all with our lyst,
The clothe is all of another hewe.
[2] 2 near : i.e. ne'er ; 5 cf. Numbers xxi. ; 7 vnspyred : i.e.
unspoiled. F. reads vnsperid = set free, unlocked.
[3] 5-[4] 8 Added from W. Also in F.
2B 385
WHEN MARY WAS GREAT WITH GABRIEL
W
And though^od make his parlyment
Of peas, mercy, trouthe, and reason,
And from heuen to erthe his sone he sent
In mankynde to take a ceason,
We shall ordayne, by one assent,
A preuy counceyle all of treason,
And clayme Ihesu for our rent ;
For y* he is kynde of man, it is good cheson.]
[5]
" We will worke whether that we speede,
for vnto vs he is vnknowne ;
And although he be come of a strange seede,
' yet in Adam's ground was he sowne.
When he is rype, doe we our deede ;
and looke we doe him reape and mowe,
Though he him selfe our roule in reede,
by right we chaleng him for our owne."
[6]
The maister devill said : " it lyes in mee ;
to Jesu will I take good heede,
To norish him in fantasies,
his fraile flesh to cloath and feede.
And though he be never soe wyse,
yet out of th' way I shall him leade ;
To make of him both foolish and wyse,
and into hell his soule to breade."
_
Thus the devilles their wyles did cast,
with argumentes many and great ;
And thirtie years they founded fast
to tempt Jesu in many a heate.
f 5] 7 our . . . reede : our rolles rede (^.), oure rollis rede (F.).
[6] 7 foolish and wyse : fool and nice (W.y F.).
386
WHEN MARY WAS GREAT WITH GABRIEL
Into a wilderness with Jesu I past,
of him knoledg for to gett,
And fortie dais there did he fast,
without either sleepe, drinke, or meate.
[8]
The maister devill wonder thought
of Jesus' worthie complection :
By man's foode liued he nought,
but by prayer and devotion.
But when he hungered, as I thought,
to tempt him then I made boune :
" Loo, heere be stones that be hard wrought,
make thereof bread to man's feson."
" Forsooth," Jesu said, " not onelie by bread
is everie man's proper liuinge,
But everie word of the godhead
to bodie and soule is comfortinge."
Vpon a high pinacle I him brough[t] anon
and left him there, and downe I sprunge,
And said : " saue thee harmeles, both limme andfbone,
and doe noe masteries, whilst thou art younge.
[10]
"" If thou be godes sonne, let vs see ;
for of thee it's writen long agone
That Angelles in handes shall hould thee,
least thou spume thy foote against a stone."
Jesus said : " in holie writ thou maist see,
' tempt not thy lord god liuing alone ;
With all thy might, in everie degree,
thou shalt him serue and other non[e].' 3
[8
\),
8] 6 boune : i.e. ready, prepared ; 8 feson : foysowne (^.), foisoun
from French foison = plenty. A. has seson.
387
WHEN MARY WAS GREAT WITH GABRIEL
The devill saw it might not gaine,
but of Jesus his purpose he did mysse.
He brought him to a high mountaine,
and bade him doe as he would wish.
There he shewed him certaine
Jewells, riches, and worldlie blisse,
And said : " worship me heere and become my swayne,
and I will giue thee all this."
[12]
" Avant, Satanus ; from blisse thou hye,
from heaven rich, that royall tower ;
In Exodus it is written certainly :
6 the lord thy god thou shalt honour.' '
" Alas," quoth the devill, " art thou soe wittie ?
thy wordes be bitter, thy workes be sower,
Thy conclution kniteth me soe ferventlye,
that I neare aboade soe sharpe a shower."
[13]
The devilles gathered a great nome,
and held their parlament 'nith myst :
One would reaue vs at home,
and gather the flower out of our twist.
New Jeolors would wait vs shame ;
one (they called him John Baptist]
Now he hath turned Jesus9 name, —
it first was Jesus, now is Christ.
[i i] 7 And said : Omit (W. and F.).
[12] 3 Exodus xxi., 3 ; 8 neare : i.e. ne'er.
[13] i nome: i.e. number. A., W.t and F. read frame; 2 'nitli
myst = 'neath mist ; in the mist (A.y F.,
388
WHEN MARY WAS GREAT WITH GABRIEL
Laugh nor sport I him never saw,
but in stablenesse he is alway,
And straitlie keepeth godes holie law,
and stronglie withstandeth myne affray.
To workes of vice he will not draw,
a wonderous worde I heard him say, —
That the great Temple he would downe draw
and raise it agayne on the third day.
[IS]
When he was borne, wonders fell :
over all was peace, both East and west ;
In Rome of Oyle there sprang a well,
from Trestmore t' Tybur it ranne prest ;
In Rome the Temple it downe fell,
and their Mahometes did all to burst,
Angelles to shepardes glorie can tell
and to all mankind both peace and rest.
[16]
The Emperour in Roome stood hee,
three sunns in one he saw shineinge cleare ;
In the mids of them a maid he see
that a man child in her armes did beare.
The Emperour and Cibell spake Profhesie,
and the[y] accorded both, in feare,
[i 5] 4 Trestmore : Trystyvere (^.), trystmer (W.\ tristiuer (F.).
" Is this Trastevere ? " — F. ; 6 Mahometes : Mawmettes = idols (A., W.,
F.) ; 7 can : read gan.
[16] 5 Cibell : i.e. Sibylla Cumana (cf. Vergil, Eclogues, IV., 4 ff.).
" Certayne Verses of one Cibila, a Prophetis among the heathen. . . .
By me, Henry Sutton for the buke of Mr. Rich. Bradgere" are
preserved, with a musical score, in Addit. MS. 4900, fol. 8.
389
WHEN MARY WAS GREAT WITH GABRIEL
And said, " godes sonne mankind should buy, —
it is a token the time drawes neare."
[17]
Also three kings came from a farre,
to worshippe Jesus all they sought,
Which raised Herodes hart soe there
him for to slay, for soe he wrought.
By the lighteninge of a starre
all three to Jesu presentes brought ;
Homwardes an Angell taught them f aire
an other way then they had thought.
[18]
There I counsailled Herod within a while
to distroy the former Prophesie,
To slay all men children in Towne and pyle,
that Jesu might amonge them dye.
He fled into Egipt in that while :
their mahometes fell downe from on hye ;
He knew my thought, he saw my guile,
I could not hyde it from his eye.
[19]
To tempt Jesu it will not availe :
of the worldes good, he hath noe neede ;
I loose in him soe much travaile,
the more I soe worke, the worse I speede.
With the sharper assaults I him assaile,
the les of me he standes in dread ;
The boulder in bicker I bid him battaill,
the lesse of me he taketh heede.
39°
WHEN MARY WAS GREAT WITH GABRIEL
[20]
If I tempt him with welth or pryde,
he voydeth me of[f] with chastitie ;
In gluttonie and Envie he'ill not abyde,
but is euer in largnesse and pouertie.
In covetousnes and avarice he will not ryde,
but alwais is full liberall.
[21]
The devill said, " nether in heate nor could,
I may not make him stumble or faale.
I wist him never goe to scoole,
yet I see him dispute in the scoole haule :
He set him selfe on the highest stoole
and a[r]gued against the maisters all.
Some cal'd him wyse, some caPd him foole,
but godes sonne he did him selfe cale.
f;' . [22]
" His workes passeth all man-kind,
for crooked cripples he makes right,
The deafe and dumbe and the borne blind,
he giueth them speach, hearinge, and sight.
Mad men he giueth them their mynd,
he maketh measells whole and light ;
[20] I The copyist got confused In stanza 20, changing his original
considerably and omitting two lines. In W. the stanza runs : —
•
For yf I tempte hym with wrathe or pryde
With pacyence and mekenes he scomfyteth me
If I tempte hym wl lechery 1 must me hyde
He voydeth me of with chastyte
In ^lotony and enuy he wyll not abyde
But is euer in mesure and charyte
In couetyse and auaryce he wyll not ryde
But is euer in largesse and pouerte.
[21] 2 faale : read fall.
391
WHEN MARY WAS GREAT WITH GABRIEL
A legion of feindes in a man he did finde,
all he droue out throughe his great might.
[23]
" Wyne of water he maketh blyth,
and doth many a wonderous deede ;
With two fishes and loaues fiue,
fiue thousand men I see him feede.
Twelue Basketes of releife thereof did thriue
to men and children that had neede ;
Dead men he raised againe on Hue,
and yet he neare weare but one weede.
" He handleth neither money nor knife,
nor in sinne he desyres noe woman to kisse,
But once he saued a wedded wife
that in spousage had donne amisse.
He is soe wonderfull in life,
I cannot know well what he is ;
I would that we had ended our strife,
and he out of our bookes and we out of his.
" Sith I him first to tempt beganne,
I saw him never change his hewe.
Once he bade mee ' goe, foule sathanne^
ever that reproofe I rewe.
In workes he is god ; in personne, man :
the like to him I never knew ;
Where learned he all wit ne know I canne,
euerie day he doth wonders new.
[23] 3 wl to loues And fyssches fyue
] 4
[24] 4 spousage : spousayle (^.), spousebriche (F.).
392
WHEN MARY WAS GREAT WITH GABRIEL
[26]
" I followed him once vnto a place,
vnto a mountaine vpon height,
Peter , John, and James there was,
Elie and Moyses stoode there vp right.
I would haue seene Jesus' face,
but I could not, it shone soe bright :
The southwest sunne did him embrace,
the bright beanies blinded my sight.
[27]
" To let the Prophesie soone I went ;
the Jewes to slay Jesus, I gaue them choyse ;
If he did dye on th' roode we shale be shent, —
I would I had not giuen them that voyce.
I was wooe for that Judgment,
of * crucifie ' to heare the voyce :
Pylates wife I bade buselie giue tent
that Jesus were not done vpon the crosse.
[28]
" Yet the Jewes, for his deedes good,
false witnesse against him conspyred ;
And nailed him vpon the rood,
and slew him which was vndefyled.
Vnder his left syde my selfe I stoode,
and after his soule full fast I spyed ;
But I wist never whither it yeewd,
when he gaue it vp, soe manlie he cryed.
[26] 4 Elie: i.e. Elias. Moyses = Moses ; 7 southwest: stedfast
.\ so[o]thfast (W., F.).
[27] 7 wife : cf. Matthew xxvii., 19.
[28] 7 yeewd : yode (A., W., F.).
393
WHEN MARY WAS GREAT WITH GABRIEL
09]
" The sunne and moone, they lost their light ;
the Element es fought as leight and thunder ;
The earth quak'd and mountaines on height ;
wal[l]es and stones did burst a-sunder.
Dead" men arose, through his great might,
to beare witnesse of that wonder.
My strength failed, and I lost my sight ;
I wist not how soone I came there vnder.
[30]
" Jesus9 soule is gone (I wot not whither),
soe priuelie it did from mee passe ;
When his heart was pearsed with a speare,
full well then wist I whoe he was.
Ordeyne we vs with all our geere,
for hither hee thinkes to make a race ;
Aryse we all that ly bounden heere,
and stifflie defend wee our place.
[31]
" For if that he would hither come,
wee shall aryse, euerie each one,
And goe against him, all and some,
and teare of[f] him, bone from bone.3
Then said Lucifer a-non-:
" it is but wast[e] for to speake soe,
The soule of him is now hither come
to vs, for to worke all wooe."
[32]
There as the good soules did then in dwell
they chained the gates and bar'd them fast,
394
I
WHEN MARY WAS GREAT WITH GABRIEL
"Jesus said : " yea Princes fell,
open the gates that eare shall last,
And let in your king of heauen and hell ! "
The devilles asked him in hast[e] :
" Whoe is the king that that doest of tell ?
weenest thou for to make vs agast ? "
I [33] .
" Stronge god and king of might
I am ; lord of lordes, and king of blisse,
Vsurper of death ['s] mightie f eight, —
everlasting [gates], open without misse !
Both peace, mercie, grace, and rest,
I brought them at once and made them kisse.
Everlasting gates, open on high,
and let in your king to take out his.
[34]
" I, the soule of Jesus Christ, am comon hither
(witnes my bodie in earth lyes dead),
The holie ghost with the soule together
that never shall part from the godhead.
In heauen's blisse thou stoode full shider,
through pryde thou offended my father's beed ;
Man's soule for meekenes shall come thither,
there as the feinds forfeted that stid."
f [35]
Then said Lucifer : " god did forbid
to Adam in Paradice but one tree
On paine of death, to haue for that deede
and ever after hell to bee.
[32] 3 yea : read ye ; 4 eare = e[v]er ; 7 that that ; read that thou.
33] 4 ga^s : so fv. and F.
[34] 5 shider : slyddyr, slyder, slider (A., W.y F.). F. explains the
word as equivalent to lubricas.
395
WHEN TMARY WAS GREAT WITH GABRIEL
And thou art come of Adam's seede,
therefore by right we chaleng thee ;
For in holie writ thou maist see
that in hell there is noe remedie."
[36]
Jesus said : " Lucifer, truth thou tellest mee,
but thy selfe thou wots not how ;
There is a bond hell, but this is free,
the bond hell is ordein'd for you.
For that which Adam forfeted through a tree,
through a tree againe is bought now ;
Thou mad'st him to sinne, the paine 'longeth to thee,
for thou was never good vnto man's prow.
[37]
" Lucifer, thou me vndernome,
and said I was of the seed of man ;
For sooth I did out of the godhead come
and tooke flesh and blood of a maid within :
As of the earth there springeth a bloome,
soe met we and parted without sinne ;
Thine argument is false, soe is thy doome,
by what right wouldest thou me winne ?
[38]
" Whoe was the cheifest of thy councell,
in heauen when thou forfeted thy blisse ?
In Paradice thou didst Adam assaile,
and tempted him to forfeit his.
And I in his quarrell tooke battell
vnto my father, to mend his misse ;
Therefore of thy purpose thou shalt faile,
for thy quarrell nought it is."
[36] 8 prow = advantage. [38] 7 Therefore : MS. threrefore.
396
WHEN MARY WAS GREAT WITH GABRIEL
[393 _
Then Lucifer answered againe :
" why speakest thou soe to me heare ?
It was but wanton wordes in vaine,
I tro thou comest hither vs to feare.
Somtime when I was in heauen hye,
that I lost for my pryd certaine ;
Heereafter I hope full sicarlie
for to come to that blis agayne."
[40] : -
Christ Jesus s[p]ake vnto him againe,
and said to him on this manner :
" It is but wast[e] for thee to speake soe,
or any such wordes to vtter heere.
That time while thou in heauen were,
full much ioy hadest thou thoe ;
For all thy fellowes were glad there,
but right soone it was overgoe."
- [41]
Lucifer spake vnto him againe,
and said to him with wordes in feare :
" Heere haue I dwelled, in woe and paine,
more then four thousand yeare.
Helpe me to that blisse againe,
which for my pryde I did loase there ;
For there is blisse and pleasure certaine
to dwell with angells shininge clear e."
[42]
" Heare me, Lucifer, I shall thee tell,
or ever any thinge was wrought
= make afraid ; 7 sicarlie = certainly,
feare : sere (^., F.) ; 6 loase : read lose,
ere.
397
[39] 4 fe^e
[41] 2 in fe
[42] 2 or =
WHEN MARY WAS GREAT WITH GABRIEL
(Either in heaven, earth, or hell),
forsooth I did make thee of nought.
In heaven when thou stoodest well,
I .made thee aboue Angells all ;
But thereof cared thou never a deall,
till thou was come to miserable fale.
[43]
" In heaven when thou was at thy will,
thou might haue beene in peace and rest
I tooke thee in my seat full still,
it to serue thou was full prest.
And whylle I went where soere I list
and came againe anon on hye,
Thou said that thou were the worthiest
to sit there as well as I.
[44]
" And thou repentest thee never the more,
but ever agredest thy trespasse :
Adam wept and sighed sore,
and asked mercie and oyle of grace.
My father sent mee hither, therefore,
and on a tree let death me chace ;
A speare through my hart can boare,
let out the worthiest oyle that euer was.
[45]
" In my father his name in heauen,
open the gates now against mee."
As leyt of earth and thunder even,
the gates open can burst and flye.
r
144
145
8 Suche pryde in thyn herte gan fall (W., F.).
2 agredest = encreaseth (^.) ; 7 can : read gan.
3 As lyght of ayre and thonder leuen (A.} ; 4 can
398
WHEN MARY WAS GREAT WITH GABRIEL
God tooke out Adam and Eaue full even,
and all his chosen companye ;
The Prophet es said with myld Steven,
" a songe of wonder now singe wee."
[46]
" A," quoth Adam, " my god I see, —
he that made me with his hande."
" I see," quoth Noy, " where commeth hee
that saued me, both on water and land."
Quoth Abraham, " my god I see
that sau'd my sonne from bitter brande."
Moyses said, " the tables he betooke me,
his lawes to preach and vnderstand."
[47]
Quoth David, " we spake of one soe stout
that should breake the brason gates."
Quoth Zacharie, " and his flocke take out,
and leaue there still such as he hates."
Quoth Simon, " he lighteneth his flocke in dime,
whereas darkenesse shadoweth their state."
Tho said John, " this lambe, I spoke of him,
that all the worldes sinne abates."
[48]
Our lord tooke them by the hand,
and brought them to the place of blis,
And said to them (I vnderstand) :
" this bargaine haue I bought for this :
For rich and poore, both free and bond,
that will aske grace and mend their misse,
[46] 3 Noy : i.e. Noah ; 6 brande : bonde {W.\ bande (F.) ;
7 Moyses : i.e. Moses.
[47] 5 dime : read dim.
399
WHEN MARY WAS GREAT WITH GABRIEL
Shall be with you heere for aye iocand
in my kingdome, heaven's blis."
[49]
Thus lesu Christ he harrowed hell,
and led his servantes t' Paradice ;
With the other hells would he not meddell,
where feindes blacke bounden lyes,
And where dampned soules ever shall dwell, —
that will not mend, but doe a-misse, —
Tormented sore with divells fell,
that some times were angells of price.
[50] •
Hell reproued the Devill Satbanne,
and a rablelie can him dispise :
" To me thou art a shrewd captaine,
a combred wretch in cowardice."
Tho said Lucifer : " since the world beganne
I haue brought hither manie a prize ;
Yea, I haue brought of all kinde of men, —
both true, false, foolish, and wise.
[51] :
" Soe worshiped never thou were,
if thou couldst haue kept thee soe ;
I brought thee both god and mann in feare, —
why was thou soe foolish as let them goe ? "
Quoth hell : " not with thy power
I might not warne him one of tho ;
He tooke out all that weare to hime deare,
I could not let though he would had moe."
[48] 7 iocand : i.e. jocund.
49] 6 doe a-misse : euer be nyse (W., F.) ; 7 Tourmented with
horryble deuyelles [fell] (W.\ [of hell] (F.).
[50] 2 rablelie : horrybly (W., F.).
400
WHEN MARY WAS GREAT WITH GABRIEL
[52]
Quoth Belsabub, " I bar'd full fast
with locke, chaine, boult, and pinne ;
With one word of his mouthes blast,
the gates brake vp, and he came in.
He bound me fast, and downe me cast, —
it is noe boote to striue with him, —
When the dreadfull day is come and past,
our endlesse paine is now t' beginne."
[53]
Though the Jewes made Jesu to dye,
on the third day he rose againe ;
It was to him more victorie
then all the Jewes if he had slaine.
Some were glad when they him see,
some were sorie, and some were faine ;
And sometime, in one companie,
amonge flue hundred he was seene.
[54]
Of oyntmentes full manie a drope
Marie magdalen to Jesu brought ;
lesu from her a little of[f] loape,
and said, " marie, touch me not ! "
All his disciples were in one hope,
for to comfort them Jesu thought ;
And bade them his wounds handle and groape, —
" I haue flesh and blood, soe spirittes haue nought."
[ss]
Thomas was of right hard beleefe
till he had spoken with Jesu tho ;
[52] 2 with : The gate with (W., F.).
[54] 5 one hope : wanhope (/F., F.).
2C 401
WHEN MARY WAS GREAT WITH GABRIEL
Jesu spake with wordes soe breefe,
" come hither, Thomas, and speake me too.
For heere thou may the sooth soone prooue,
how I was on the roode doo ;
And he that will not it beleeue
shall vnto paine for ever goe."
[56]
Then said Jesu, with a mild speach,
to his disciples : "I will that yea goe,
To all creatures about, to preach
my vpriseinge to frend and foe ;
And he that beleeueth that which yea preach,
bodie and soule saued shall be ;
And they that beleeue not, I say to each,
they shall for eare tormented be.
[57]
" From you feindes shall flee, for my name ;
adders and vermine shall from you stay ;
Thoughe you drinke poyson, it shall not tame,
nor yet you greeue in anye way.
I shall new tonges within you frame,
all manner of languages foarthe to deale ;
And they that yea touch, sicke or lame,
bodie and soule I shall them heale."
[58]
Our lord, after his resurrection here,
on earth was for sooth dwellinge,
Till holie tbursday it come were
that he stept to heauen where he is kinge.
At the dreadfull day without leasinge,
both quick and dead he shall them deeme ;
God giue vs grace in our beginninge
to serue our god and marie our queene.
[56] 2, 5 yea : read ye.
4<D2
WHEN MARY WAS GREAT WITH GABRIEL
[59]
Of all the Children that euer were Borne,
saue onelie Christ him selfe a-loane,
Was non[e] soe holie here be forme
as was the holie child, saint John,
That baptiz'd our lord in flem Jordanne,
with full devout and good devotion,
And for Jesus' loue to death was donne,
and for his loue suffred his passionne.
[60]
Now shall I tell, with full good cheere,
of that holie ascention ;
And of his blessed mother deere,
how she was taken vp, with great devotion,
Vnto her blessed sonne, as his will were,
that thereto sent his Angells downe ;
And vp they bare that maiden cleare,
and Queene of heauen they did her crowne.
[61]
Then all Angelles that were in heauen
were at the crowning of that maiden free,
And sung all, with mild Steven,
Omnis gloria tibi, domine.
That is a songe of ioy and blisse ;
god giue vs grace that light to see,
Of his mercie that we may not misse,
qui natus est de virgine.
[59] 3 be forme : beforne, biforn (W., F.) ; 8 And suffred full grete
passyon (W. ; similarly F.).
ascention : assumpycon (/F., F.).
Omnis not in W. and F. ; 8 est : es (W., F.).
4°3
!6o] 2
6i]4
WHEN MARY WAS GREAT WITH GABRIEL
[62]
This tale that I haue tould you heare
is caPd the vivell parliament ;
Therefore is red in time of yeare
on the third Sunday in cleane lent.
Whosoeuer will that heuen procure,
keepe him from divelles comberant ;
In heven his soule may then be sure
with Angelles t' singe in light splendent.
[63]
This lesson new was made of late,
there be no tryfles in't at all ;
The divelles boast thus can he abate,
our curteous Christ soe ryall.
Help vs all in at heauen gates,
with s[ain]ts to sit there, out of thrall ;
Christ keepe vs out of harme and bate,
for thy holie spirit soe speciall.
Jftnte*
[62] 2 vivell : rafc/divell's ; 6 comberant : combrement, combirment
(W.y F.).
[63] 5-8 These lines are j?mmed together as two lines in the MS. ;
7 bate : hate (IV., F.).
404
Appendix II
\A Singular Salve for a Sick Soul
Addit. MS. 1 5,225. The title is on fol. 44V, the text on fols. 45-45 v.
Valentine Sims registered for publication a broadside called " a table
lof good Counsell " on December n, 1598, and on May 7, 1599,
transferred his rights in it to John Brown. In the assignment the full
| title is given as " The table of good Counsell with a singular salue for
the syck soule " (Arber's Transcript, III., 133, 144); from which it
seems certain that " A Table of Good Counsel " in verse and " A
Singular Salve " in prose were printed on the broadside, and that a copy
of the broadside was followed by the compiler of the MS. In that case
"The Table of Good Counsel" was probably the ballad (No. 39) that
on fols. 43V~44V of the MS. directly precedes the " Singular Salve."
The title fits that ballad admirably. Ballads were not infrequently
called "tables" : an example is "A Table of Good Nurture" reprinted
in the Roxburghe Ballads, II., 570.
The " Salve " is a curious, highly figurative work with enough
intrinsic interest to justify its reproduction here. Much longer but of
similar nature are The Sick Man's Salve by Thomas Beacon (i 580, 1585,
1631, etc.), and A Soveraigne Salue to cure a slcke Soule, infected with the
poyson of slnne (1624) "by I. A. Minister and Preacher of Gods Word."
a singuler 0alue for a sicfee soule*
Take a quart of the repentance of Niniuie, and put
thereto both thy handes full of fervent faith in Christes
.blood, with as much hope and Charitie of the purest
you can get in Christes shop (a like quantitie of each),
and put it into a vessell of a cleane conscience, and let
it boyle well together in the fier of loue soe longe till
thou seest, by the eye of faith, the blacke foame of this
worldes loue stinke in thy stomake : then scumme it
of[f] cleane with the spoone of faithfull prayers ; that
donne, put in the powder of patience, and bake the
imaculate cloath of Christes pure Inocentie, and throwe x
1 i.e. through.
405
A SINGULAR SALVE FOR A SICK SOUL
it straine altogether in to Chris tes cup ; then drinke
it burninge hoat,1 betimes, next thy hart.
This done, lay thee downe vpon the bed of Christ es!
pure inocencie, and caver 2 thee warme with as manie;
cloathes of amendement of life as god shall strengthen
thee to beare, where-by thou maist sweat out all the vile
poyson of Couetousnesse and Idollatrie, with all kynde
of pride, whoredome, oppression, extortion, vsurie and
prodigallitie, swearinge, lieinge, slanderinge, envyinge,
wrath, sedition, sectes, theft, murther, drunkennesse,
gluttonie, sloath, and such like sinnes. All which
sweate cleane out of thy hart, thy head, thy boanes, and
thy bodie, with all the other partes and powers of thee,
and ever wash thy hart and eies well with the pure water
of humilietie mixt with the feare of god.
And when thou feelst thy selfe altered from all these
forenamed vices, then take the powder of say-well and
lay it vpon the top of thy tonge to sauour thy mouth,
wit[h]all, and the eares of the hearer. But drinke
thrise as much doe-well daylie, mixt with the same
mercie that god hath willed vs to vse, and annoynt
therewith thine eies, thine eares, thy lippes, thy hart,
and thy handes throughlie,3 that they may bee light,
nimble, and quicke to minister to the poore and dispersed
members of Jesus Christ, ever as you are able and see
occation.
But beware thou takest not wynd in ministeringe
thereof, least 4 the deadlie dust of vaine-glorie doe thee
much harme. Also, to keepe a dyet for thy head, vse
the hot broath of righteousnes continually, and feede
thee well with the spoone of godlie meditacons ; then
annoynt thy selfe well with the Oyle of godes peace:
this beinge done, aryse from sinne willinglie, & thou
shalt Hue euerlastinglie.
1 i.e. hot. 2 Read cover.
3 i.e. thoroughly. 4 i.e. lest.
406
Index of
First Lines, Titles, and Tunes
Tunes are printed in italics. Titles are distinguished from First Lines
by enclosure in double quotation marks
PAGE
A happy wind those locusts hence doth blow . . .184.
A jolly shepherd that sat on Zion hill . . . IQI
A word once said, Adam was made . . .203
" Against Nigardy and Riches " . . . .108
Aim not too high ...... 368
Alas, for shame, how dare I sue . . . .312
Alas how long shall I bewail . . . .270
All you that with good ale do hold . . . 3 5 i
Amount, my soul, from earth a while . . . 152
As I on New Year's day . . . . .315
Assist me now, you doleful dames . . . .325
"An Ave Maria in Commendation of our Most Virtuous
Queen" . . . . . .13
Awake, awake, O England . . . . .233
Behold our Saviour crucified . . . .119
" The Bellman's Good-morrow " . . .233
"Buckingham, A Song of the Duke of" . . . 349
Calvary Mount is my delight . . . .147
Careless, John . . . . . .47,55
" Careless, John, A Godly Ballad made by " . . 47
" A Carol for Christmas Day " .238
Christmas is my name . . . . .372
" Christmas, A Song Bewailing the Decay of " . . 372
Come on, good fellow, make an end . . . 252
'* A Comfort unto Him that is Blind " . . .320
Considering oft the state of man . . i
" Constable, The Song of a " 3 79
" Covetousness, A General discourse on " . . . 285
-" Cross, A Song of the " 127
Dainty, come thou to me . . . 71, 88, 198
Dear Christ, my poor and pensive breast . . . 296
"Death with Hourglass Threatened! all Estates" . . 257
" A Declaration of the Death of John Lewes" . . 54
" Dialogue between Christ and the Poor Oppressed Sinner" . 270
407
OLD ENGLISH BALLADS
p
" A Dialogue between Death and Youth " . . 252
Diana and her darlings dear . . . . 1 64
" A Dozen of Points " . . . . .315
"The Epitaph upon the Death of Queen Mary" . . 23
" An Exclamation upon the Erronious Sprite of Heresy " . 27
Fain would I have a pretty thing . . . . 322
" The Faithful Desire to make Exchange of Earth for Heaven " 309
Famous Brittany, give thanks . . . .189
" Four Priests, A Song of" .... 70
From sluggish sleep and slumber . . . .233
From Virgin's womb this day . . . . 238
" A General Discourse on Covetousness " . . . 285
"Glover, Robert, A Ballad Concerning the Death of" . 33
" God doth Bless this Realm " . . . . 180
" A Godly and Good Example to avoid all Inconveniences " . 245
" A Godly Ballad made by John Careless " . . .47
" Good Counsel, A Table of " .... 229
Good subjects of England, rejoice . . . .62
"The Grieved Sinner acknowledgeth His Sin" . . 296
" The Guilty Conscience, acknowledging Her Sin, Craveth
Pardon "...... 300
"Gunpowder Plot," 368; " A Song of the — ," 360; "*A
Song or Psalm of Thanksgiving about the — " . . 363
Hail Queen of England, of most worthy fame . . 13
Hobbinoble and John a Side . . . . • 3 2 5
" How every Vice Creeepeth In " . . . 272
" How Happy and Assured are They "... 306
I, a constable, have took mine oath . . . 379
I am that champion great of power .... 262
" I love him, I love him " . . . . . 206
I might have lived merrily . . „ . .216
If England will take heed . . . .180
If thou wilt, Lord, extend thy grace . . . 298
In Crete when Daedalus first began . . 329
In days of yore when words did pass for bands . . 134
In rage of storm and tempests all .... 306
" An Invective against Treason " . . . I
" It is not God but We that Seek " . . .281
Jerusalem, my happy home . . . .163
Jerusalem, thy joys divine . . . . .170
Jesus, my loving spouse . . . . .198
" Job, A Pleasant Ballad of the Just Man " . . . 209
" A Joyfull Consolation where Christ is Lively Felt " . . 291
Judge me not, Lord, in wrathful ire . . . . 300
Let bare-footed beggars still walk . . . jjj 376
"Lewes, John, A Declaration of the Death of" . . 54
408
FIRST LINES, TITLES, AND TUNES
PAGE
Lo, here I vance with spear and shield . . . 257
Lusty Gallant . . . . . .322
" Man's Life is Full of Misery " . . .277
" Marigold, A New Ballad of the " . . . . 8
Mary, Queen, Ballad of Joy upon Her Being with Child" . 19
" Mary, Queen, Epitaph upon the Death of " . . 23
The Merchant \cf. Chappell's Popular Music, I., 381] . . 209
"Music, A Song in Praise of" . . . . 142
My thirsty soul desires her drought . . . . 170
A New Ballad of the Marigold " . . . . 8
" Nigardy and Riches " . . . . . 108
No wight in this world that wealth . . . .108
Now England is happy and happy indeed . . . 19
" Now sing, now spring, our care is exiled " . . . 19
Now the Spring has come . . . . .372
O blessed God, O Saviour sweet . . . .114
O God above, relent . . . . .87
O God, of thy great might ..... 70
O heresy with frenzy . . . . .27
O high and mighty God . . . . .340
O Lord, thou God of Israel . . . . -33
O Lord, we have continual cause . . . -363
O man in desperation . . . . 163,233
O man that runneth here thy race . . . . 229
O mortal man, behold and see . . . .265
Of Catesby, Faux, and Garnet . . . -359
Old Toby called his loving son . . . .219
" The Parliament of Devils " . . . .384
" A Pleasant Ballad of the Just Man, Job " . . . 209
"A Prayer of One Being Afflicted with Sin " . . 298
"A Pretty Ditty entitled O Mortal Man" . . . 265
" A Prisoner's Song " ...170
"A Proper Song, Fain would I Have a Pretty Thing" 322
" Puritan, A Song of the " . . . . .134
Room for Cuckolds . . . . . .189
" Sanders, Woeful Lamentation of Mrs. Anne " . 340
41 A Scourge for the Pope " . . . . 189
Seek wisdom chiefly to obtain . . . .226
Shall silence shroud such sin . . . .54
Should my poor heart, O dearest Lord . . .294
" A Singular Salve for a Sick Soul ". . . .405
"The Sinner, Being Ashamed of His Sin, Dareth Hardly
Crave Release " . . . . .312
" The Sinner, Despising the World, Reposeth His Confidence
in Christ" . . . . .198
Some men for sudden joy do weep . . . .47
409
OLD ENGLISH BALLADS
" A Song made by F. B .P." ....
Sweet music mourns and hath done long
" A Table of Good Counsel "
" A Thanksgiving for One from Peril of Death Restored "
The covetous carl when greedy eyes ....
The God above for man's delight ... . . 1
The Lord that guides the golden globe . . . 28
The noble peer while he lived here . . . 34*
The thoughts of man do daily change . . . 22;
There is no man so lewd of life . . . . 27;
"Thewlis, The Song of the Death of Mr." . . . 8'
" Thewlis, The Song Writ by Mr." ....
Though others have their sight at will . .
Till Christ our Lord return .....
To pass the place where pleasure is .
« Tobias, A Pleasant Ballad of" ....
"The Travels of Time" . . .
True Christian hearts, cease to lament
True Protestants, I pray you do draw near .
" A Triumph for True Subjects "
" The Triumph of Death
Vain is the bliss and brittle is the glass . . . 23
" Verbum caro factum est " . . . . . 203
" A Very Pretty Song " . . . . -325
Walking alone, [no] not long agone .... 209
" A Warning unto Repentance and of Christ's Coming" .. 240
What cause there is, alas, to wail . . . 303
What means this careless world to vance . . . 240
What way is best for man to choose . . . .277
When as mankind through Adam's fall . . . 127
When Mary was great with Gabriel . . . .384
Where pensive hearts relieved are . . . .291
Who is my love ? I shall you. tell .... 206
Who shall profoundly weigh and scan . . . 265
Who would not be a cuckold . . . .196
Why should not mortal men awake .... 245
Wilson's Tune . . . . . .245
Winter cold into summer hot . . . .137
" The Woeful Lamentation of Mrs. Anne Sanders " . . 340
" The Wretchedness of Man's Estate "... 303
4IO
Glossarial Index
Abdoit, i.e. John Lewes, 54
abyden, to abide, 107
achyue, to, achieve, 2
I adultery, tirades against, 249, 273,
288
I aduoutry, adultery, 3 1
[agredest, to aggravate, 398
Ainsworth, Harrison, The Tower of
London, \
Albury, Surrey, 379
Aide, John, printer, 238
ale, see good-ale
ale-stake, 332, 338
Alfield, Thomas, Catholic martyr, xxi
Allen, Cardinal William, xxi, 64
alms-deeds, value of, 221
ambrosia, 168
amiddes, amidst, 263
Anderton, Laurence, S.J., xxix, 164
annoy, annoyance, 25, 158, 202
Antiocus Epiphanes, 247
Antiquaries, Society of, ballad-col
lection, 8, 13, 23, 27, 54, 62, 184,
H5» 363
antiquity, Catholic plea to, 27, 30
apostolic succession, Catholic doctrine
of, 30
appreste, oppressed, 36
apricocke, 172
Armstrong, Mungo, a spy, x
Askew, Anne, Protestant martyr, 33
assumpted, to be, to heaven, 308
atchive, to, achieve, 299
authors of ballads : Anderton,
Laurence, 1 64 ; Bott, Robert, 46 \
Careless, John, 47 ; D., R., 245 ;
Elderton, William, 62 ; Forrest,
William, 12 ; Gilbart, Thomas,
6 1 ; Gyffon, James, 379 ; Hill,
Thomas, xix ; Parker, Martin,
189 ; S., T., 367 ; Sanders, Anne,
340 ; Stopes, Leonard, 18 ; Thew-
lis, John, 79 ; W., T, 7 ; Wai-
pole, Henry, 170
Ave Maria, an, 1 3
Awdeley, John, printer and balladist,
xviii
Babylon, beast of, Catholic Church,
1 86
Bacchus' knights, drunkards, 272
ballads : anti-Catholic, xiv, xxiii, 62,
1 80, 184, 189, 363, 368 ;
Bishop Bonner investigates, xv ;
Catholic, under Elizabeth, xxii,
70, 101, under James I., 79, 87,
1 08, 114, 119 ; censored by Privy
Council, xi, xii, xvii ; flytings with,
xi, xii ; John Foxe on, xi ; legis
lation about, xi, xii, xiii, xv, xvii ;
Protestant, under Mary I., xvi, 33,
47 ; printing of, xxvi ; searchers for,
xvii. See also Authors, Elizabeth,
Henry VIII., James L, Mary I.
balm, balsam, 168, 173
bande, a, bond, n, 134
Banks, Richard, printer, fined, xi
Bannister, Humphrey, 349
barbed horse, 262
Barleycorn, Sir John, 331, 332
barme, 334 n.
Barnes, Barnaby, 47
base, substantive, 3 5 i
bate, strife, 404
" Be Patient in Trouble," a ballad,
209
Beacon, Thomas, Sick Man's Sahe,
405
OLD ENGLISH BALLADS
Beard, Richard, ballad on Mary I.,
xiii
Beaumont and Fletcher, ballad-
allusions in, 329
Beccles, Suffolk, Lamentation of, 245
Bede, Venerable, cited, I 3 I
beed, command, 395
Browne, George, murderer, 340, 34 j
brute, reputation, 25, 109
Brutus, legendary founder of Britain
283
Buckingham, Edward, Duke
ballads on, 349
Bull, Michael, 19
of
beggars, English and Scottish com- ! Bulls, Papal Proclamations, xviii, 68
pared, 376 ; velvet — , 146 \ bumbast, 275
behond, beyond, 1 79 Bungey, Cornelius, Protestant martyr
bellman, England's, 233
beray, bewrai, to, betray, 16, 235,
326
bicker, be bold in, 390
birds, betrayed by, 1 6
black-jack, 134
blanked her foes, 16
blindness, consolation for, 320
Blount, John, a scribe, xxx
blubbered face, 342
Bodkin's Galliard, 209
Body, William, Cornish martyr, ix
Bonner, Bishop, xv
boot, advantage, 401
Bosgrave, L, Catholic martyr, 63, 69
Bosworth Field, 3
botch and byle (boil), 2 1 1
Bott, Robert, balladist, 33
boun, prepared, 387
bound, to, abound, 250
bounden, p.p., 400
bows and bills, 150
Bradford, John, balladist, xiv ; Pro
testant martyr, xvi, xxxi, 33
brainshire, 332, 338
brave, fine, finely, 213, 248, 250,
286
breade, breed, 386 ; bred, 134
breedren, brethren, 93
Brerely, John, priest, xxix, 164
Brian, Alexander, Catholic martyr,
63, 64
Brice, Thomas, 33, 48
Brittany, Britain, England, 189
broad-waking, wide awake, 1 1 7
Brown, John, printer, 405
33.
burn in love, to, 1 76
burning to death, 33, 34, 54
prayers before a, 58 ; spectators
actions at, 58, 60
busshope, bosshope, bishop, 43,
but, a, butt, 3
byde, to, abide, 28, 30
Byrd, William, Psalmes, xxix, 79
143 ; Songs of Sundry Natures, 23$
cale, to, call, 105, 106, 107, 391
Calvary Mount, ballad of, 147
Calvin's brood, 137, 138; — cursec
crew, 149
Campion, Edmund, Catholic martyr
xxi, 62, 63
Careless, John, Protestant martyr
xvi, 47, 55
carking cares, 278
carks and cares, 14
carols, Christmas, 238
carp, to, grumble, 180
Carr, Henry, printer, 102
catchpole, 149
caterpillars, minions, 185
Catesby, Robert, 360, 369
Catholics : ballads by, xxii ; Christ
mas and, 374 ; legislation against
by Elizabeth, xviii, xix, by James I.,
xxi ; Lord Cecil's book against,
xxi ; persecution of, xviii, xx. Set
Martyrs, Priests
Catholike Capitaynes, I 5
cattle, possessions, 183, 212, 377
caules, head-dress, 250
4I2
GLOSSARIAL INDEX
2ecil, Lord, and Catholic persecution,
XXI
relibacy defended, 139
Charles I., King, 194, 359, 364, 367,
37°> 379
cheap, a, bargain, 183 ; on sale
(Cheapside), 323
Jherlewood, John, printer, 252, 265
cheson, encheson, occasion, 386
Child, F. J., English and Scottish
Popular Ballads, 325
childer, childre, children, 31, 32
childing, child-birth, 17
Christ and crucifixion, ballads on,
102, 1 14, 1 19 ; — and a Sinner,
370 ; the life of, 203, 384
Christ's cross-row,* 333 n.
Christmas carols, 238 ; decay of, a
ballad, 372
Churchyard, Thomas, xii, xxv
cinnamon, 168, 173
civette, 168
civil discord condemned, 281
Clarence, Duke of, murdered, 3
Clark, Andrew, editor. See Shir burn
Ballads
Clement, Roger, murderer, 340
cloath, clothes, 97, 109 ; to
clothe, 386
cloth of another hue, i.e. another
matter, 385
coaches, complaint of, 374
cockatrices, 187
Coles, Francis, ptinter, 209
Collier, John Payne, 101, 102, 108,
209, 213, 229, 233, 238, 349
Colwell, Thomas, printer, 213, 216
Colyngton, John, Catholic martyr,
69
comberant, pres. part., harassing, 404
combred, encumbered, 400
comon, p.p., come, 395
concupiscence, 139, 161
confessors, 75, 78, 103, 116, 175
...... -
conscience, ballad of a clear, 229,
:onstable, ballad of a, 379
constantie, constancy, 76, 90
contempne, to, condemn, 77
contentation, 232
contreete, contrite, 85
convert, verb intrans., to turn to, 1 26,
297
Cornwall, ballad on Catholic rising
in, ix
cosse, a, bargain, 132
costumes, Elizabethan, 250, 272,
3*5* 3545 Jacobean, 377
Coteham, Thomas, Catholic martyr,
63, 69
cought, caught, 5
could, cold, 137, 158, 165, 391
countinance, countenance, 59
courtise, courteous, 24
courts, Jacobean constables', 379
Coventry, 33, 34, 35, 42, 45, 47
Coverdale, Bishop Miles, 47
covetousness, tirades against, 108,
272, 285
cowslip, 8
cracking in, to come, 334
Crawford, Earl of, ballad-collection,
209
cressus, Croesus, 220, 231, 257
Cromwell, Thomas, Lord, x, xi
cross, the, ballads on, 127
crucifix, the, ballad on, 1 19 ; defence
of, 131
crucifixion, the, ballad on, 102
crue, crew, 191
cuckoldry, ballad on, 196
cure, in, charge of, 243, 268
cutlers, complaint of Elizabethan, 277
D., R., balladist, 245
Daedalus, ballad on, 339
daggers, Elizabethan, 275, 278
Damian, St. P., 170
dance a dump, 276
David and music, 143, 144, 169
264
227
Death, ballads on, 252, 257, 262
4*3
OLD ENGLISH BALLADS
decaye, downfall, 57, 148, 321, 343 ;
to, 38
deem, to, judge, 402
Deloney, Thomas, balladist, xxiv,
245
depart, to, separate, 255
deuices, schemes, 65, 66
Devils' Parliament, 384
Devon, ballad on Catholic riots
in, ix
dialogue ballads, 252, 270, 360
dice play, 227, 274
Dickens, Charles, on Mary I., xvii
dight, to be, 99
dint, a, stroke, 257, 259, 260
disceuer, to, dissever, 32
" Ditty Most Excellent for Every
Man to Read," xxix
divorce condemned, no, 139
do on, to, 263
" Doleful Dance and Song of Death,"
xxix
dolue,/./., delve, to dig, 109
doo,/./>., do, placed, 402
doubling, duplicity, 218
Douce,
359
Elderton,William, balladist, xviii, xxiv,
62
eles, else, 167, 231
Elizabeth, Queen, i, 13, 26,68, 183,
233, 281; Campion's alleged ploti
against, 63 ; Catholic ballads under,
xxii; excommunicated, xviii; per-;
secution of Catholics, xviii, xx, xxi;
proclamation of as Queen, 23 ; pro
clamations by, on music, 142, on
starch, 135; restrictions on ballads,
xv, xvii
Empson, Sir Richard, executed, 4
England, 5, n, 16, 17; little — , 20;
receives Flemish refugees, 180
England's Helicon, i o I
Essex, Earl of, poems by, xxx, xxxi n.
eversion, overthrow, 281
every each one, 394
extend, verb intrans., to give oneself
to, 3
eyesome, adj., 172
fact, a, crime, 3, 340, 343, 346, 347
fairings, 315
Francis, ballad-collection, faith, doctrine of salvation of by,,
condemned, 138, 139, 140
fale, fall, 81, 124, 127, 226, 228,
357, 398
falshed, falsehood, 66, 318
fantasy, fancy, 9, 213,215
far more worse, 50
Farr, Edward, Select Poetry, 1 70, 238
fasting, decay of, 139
Faux, Guide, 360
fell, fierce, 73, 400
Felton, John, xviii
fencing, tirades against, 276
feson, 387 n.
fetches, tricks, 276
Filby, Thomas or William, Catholic
martyr, 63, 69
dowynge, dooynges, doing, acts, 4,
10
Drewry, Anne, murderess, 340, 343
drue, drew, 4
drugs, herbs, 168
drunkenness, ballads on, 332
dubtful, doubtful, 2 1
Dudley, Edmund, beheaded, 4
dure, to, endure, 263
Dyer, Sir Edward, ballad by, xxix
ear, to, plough up, 255
eare, e'er, 395,402
Edward IV., King, 2, 349, 351
Edward VI., King, xii, xiii, i, 5
Edwards, Richard, xxv. See Paradise ' filde, p.p., fill'd, 25
of Dainty Devises \ find, to, support, 279, 288, 289
eich, each, 72,74, 201, 215, 353
.-eike, eke, 81, 103, 114,219
fine, the, end, 259
fines for ballads, xi, xii, xvi
414
GLOSSARIAL INDEX
irth, C. H.,xv, 19, 359, 37^
sh-days, abuse of, 137
jag, to win the, 334
jeed, flayed, 73
em, a, river, 403
^lemings, migration to England, 1 80
.oure, flowers, Mary I. compared to,
8
en,/./., flown, fled, 372
Joles, fools, 21 ; folish, 27
Jbnd fits, 2 1 5
;bo, foe, 34
botsteps, to goon, 102
:br why, 43, 45, 46, 59, 81, 136
^Forbes, John, Cantos, xxix, 143, 223,
229, 270
jFord, Thomas, Catholic martyr, 63,
69
jfbrlorn, to be, lost, 140, 145, 148
IForrest, William, priest, ballads by,
xiv, 2, 12
iforst, forced, 3, 24, 93, 271, 313
ifould, a, sheep-fold, 81, 102
ifbnrme, form, 28
foyle, a, defeat, 7 1 ; to, 129
France, 5
French caps condemned, 275
frenesy, frenzy, 27
frey, affray, 338
Fridays, meat eaten on, 139
frie, fry, crew, 67
friends, false, ballads on, in, 223,
227, 230
fruit, offspring, 17, 26
fry, to, burn alive, 74, 84, 150
futte, foot, 10
Gabael, 220
gad, to, 30
Gandisphore, 8 3
Garnet, Richard, priest, execution of,
88, 360
gaue, forgave, 24
geason, rare, 323
geere, gear, 394
gestes, guests, 182
geuen, geueth, geuyng, firms of give,
2, 7,25, 283,322
ghostlie, spiritual, 81
Gilbart, T., ballad by, 61
glore, glory, 258
Gloucester, Duke of, see Richard III.
Glover, Mary, 34; Robert, xvi, 33;
Timothy, 46
glozes, glosses, 67
God wot, inter/., 74, 84, 255, 334
" Godly Exhortation to Love," xxviii
gold and fee, 92
Golding, Arthur, pamphlet by, 340
good-ale, ballad on Master, 3 3 1
good-nights, last farewells in verse,
xxxi, 79, 340
Googe, Barnaby, xxv
Gorgeous Gallery of Gallant Inventions,
223, 257
grafte, grafted, 24
Grafton, Richard, punished for print
ing ballads, xi
grawing sin, 307 ».
Gray, William, balladist, xi
Create bretain, 2
greedy guts, 243
Greenslowe, alias Hunt, Catholic
martyr, 70
Grey, Lady Jane, xiii, I, 1 1, 87
Grey, Lord, de Wilton, 65
grid-iron, St. Laurence's, 74, 79, 80, 84
gripes of gold, 287
grutch, to, grumble, 65, 380
Gude and Godlie Ballatis, 127, 203,
262
guilt,/./., gilt, gilded, 173
gules, 175
Gundaphore, 83
Gunpowder Plot, xxi, 88 ; ballads
on, 359» 363» 3^8
Gyffon, James, ballad by, 379
(h)abundantly, 26
Hachman, Thomas, scribe, xxx
Hamount, Matthew, Protestant
martyr, 54
OLD ENGLISH BALLADS
handcarchaffes, 99
Handfutt of Pleasant Delights, 322
happe, the, fortune, 117, 279, 310,
326 ; to, happen, 231
harde, heard, 6, 59, no, 131, 178,
353*355
harrowing of hell, 106, 384
Hart, John, Catholic martyr, 69
Harvey, Gabriel, 329
headed, to be, beheaded, 82
heap, a, measure, 183, 324
heare, here, 42, 147, 404; hair,
250, 253, 275, 279
heart-root sighs, 3 1 4
heaven, descriptions of, 147, 152,
,163, 170
hedging bill, 354
hell harrowed, 106, 384
hellish, 145, 345
Henry VI., King, 3
Henry VII., King, 3, 349
Henry VIII., King, x, 4
here, her, 20, 34
heresy, ballads against, 27, 137 ;
Mary I. praised for crushing, 14
heretics, tirades against, 31, 77, 160
hert, hertes, heart(s), 9, 17, 24,
passim
Heywood, John, his ballads, xiv, xvi,
xxix
Heywood, Thomas, ballad-allusion
in, 47
hie, high, 65, 241, 243
Hill, Thomas, balladist, xxix
Hilling, William, martyr, ix
Hilton, John, Catch That Catch Can,
379 "
hit, it, 324
hoarding condemned, 109, 285
hoat, hot, 137, 406
holp, helped, 263
honey sweet, 201
hote, hot, 373
hounge, hung, 148
hourglass, Death's, 257, 264
Hunnis, William, 124, 270
Hunt, Thurston, Catholic martyi
70, 87
hurdle, 85 »., 94, 95, 150
hye, high, 68, 98, 100, 102, 27;
390, 397; to, hasten, 98, 32
355
Icarus, ballad on, 329
idolatry, Catholicism defend<
against, 29, 131
imbrude, drenched, 148
imps, children, attendants, 55, 286
incontinent, immediately, 49, 21
327
infect,/./., infected, 269, 347
iocand, jocund, 400
Ireland, 5, 65
Italy, pride punished in, 248
Jack, many a, 138
James I., King, 90, 91, 146, i6<
J93, 233, 358> 378 ; anti-Catholic
legislation of, xxi, 184, 189 ; his
Scotch beggars, 376 ; music
declines under, 142 ; powde
treason and, xxi, 359, 363, 368
proclamations on Lent, 137
James V., King of Scotland, x
jeolors, gaolers, 388
Jerusalem, the heavenly, described,
78, 152, 163, 170 ^
Jesuit and a Presbyterian, a dialogue
between, 359
Jesuits, see Seminary priests
Jews, the cruel, 73, 82, 104
Jezebel, 247 ; Mary I. compared to,
xiv
Job, ballad of, 209
Jockie, i.e. a Scotchman, 377, 378
jogging, let's be, 187
Johnson, Richard, balladist, 349
Johnson, Robert, Catholic martyr,
63, 69
jolifloure, gillyflower, 9
jolly jags, 273
Jones, Richard, ballad-printer, 61, 69
416
GLOSSARIAL INDEX
Jones, William, printer, 367 j Lewes, John, Protestant martyr, 47, 54
Jonson, Ben, 189, 315 j leyt, light, 398
Judgment Day, ballads on the, 240, icense fees of ballads,
245, 309 ; predicted by the cru
cifix, 125, by Ephraim, 133
Judith and Holofernes, 14, 193
jump, to (used of clocks), 138
juries, Jacobean described, 382
kaiser, emperour, 258, 259
Keats, John, 1 70
Ket, Francis, Protestant martyr, 54
kike, peep (?), 31 »•
Kindlemarsh, Francis, ballad by, 238
King's Bench, Southwark prison, 48
Kirby, Luke, Catholic martyr, 63,
69
kissing goes by favour, 382
Knell, T., balladist, xxiii
knot, God's, marriage, no, 279;
knit up the, to conclude, 112;
-of love, 28 ; — of points, 317
kynde, kind, nature, 50
Kyngston, John, printer, 209
Lancashire, Catholic ballads in, xxiii
Lancaster, priests executed at 70, 76,
79, 87
Lant, Richard, ballads printed by, 12,
13, 26 ; imprisoned for ballad on
Mary I., 23
lapped, 148 n.
Lawton, John, balladist, xii
lease, to, lose, 83
leasing, lying, 402
least, lest, 150, $&, passim
lecture, lection, 119
Leigh, Dr. William, 87, 98
lemmond, lemon, 172
lenger, longer, 3
Lent, legislation for observance of,
137
let, to, hinder, 324, 393, 400 ; to
leave undone, 128
leuyng, leaving, 3
2 D
Lichfield, 33, 43
ightening, lighting, 390
imed fingers, 289 n.
ink in love, to, 343
little isle (England), 283
oape, leaped, 401
base, to, lose, 355, 397
locusts, i.e. Papists, 1 8 5
Lodge, Thomas, 341
look through one's fingers, to over
look, condone, 382
loose, to, lose, 82, 251
lot, to, allot, 258
lout, to, jeer, 77
loves, plural sub St., 97
lover, complaint of a, 322 325
lowreth, frowns, 1 1 1
Loyal Garland of Mirth, 360,
Lucifer's lantern, 1 3 5
lucre, desire of, 165, 355
lungeous spear, 122
lure, a, deceit, 343
Lycurgus on music, 145
Machabees, the seven, 72
Machiavelli, 117, 187
macke, to, make, 34, 36, 38, 41, 44,
346
Madeley, Roger, ballad printed by, 7
magnificat, the, 169
Mahomets, idols, 389, 390
maistresse, mistress, 16, 26
malis, malice, 21
malmesey, 3
mane, a, man, 34, 41
MS. Ashmole 48, 2, 127, 143, 322
MS. Cotton Vespasian A. XXV.,
127, 129
Manuscripts, the, dates of, xxvni,
xxx ; described, xxvii, xxx ; edi
torial treatment of, xxvii ; location
of, xxvii
margerite, a, pearl, 173
417
OLD ENGLISH BALLADS
marigold, 20 ; ballad of the, 8
Marten, William, ballad-printer, fined,
xii
martyrs, Catholic, xix, xx ; ballads on,
62,70,79,88, 114, 137, 147, 152
martyrs, Nonconformist, xx ; ballad
on, 54
martyrs, Protestant, xvi, xx ; ballads
on, 33, 47
Mary I., Queen, accession of, i ; com
pared to Jezebel, xiv ; character
of, xvii ; Dickens on, xvii ; im
prisons Elizabeth, 183; instructions
to Bonner about ballads, xv ;
libelous ballads on, xiv ; number
of martyrs under, xx ; restrictions
on ballad printing, xiii, xv
Mary I., Queen, ballads on her pro
clamation as Queen, I ; comparing
her to a marigold, 8 ; an Ave
Maria in honour of, 13; her
supposed pregnancy, 19 (xvi);
epitaph on, 23 (xvii)
Mary the Mother of Chris t, 163, 170
mass, vanity of the, 43, 44
mass-mongers, 193
match and the make, the, 2 1
mate, a familiar, an intimate, 56, 318
mault, Master, 331; Quarters of, 337
maxims, ballads of, 226, 229
maysterese,maystrys, mistress, 1 6, 3 4, 3 7
meacock, 196
mean, low socially, 266, 351
measles, 391
meat, sorrow is my, 2 1 1
meckelye, meekly, 42
medler, a fruit, 172
meekle, mikle, much, 91
Mell, George, lover of Mrs. Sanders,
34°
mend a miss, to, 396, 399
mene, men, 35
Mercurms Democritus, 79 ; — Fumi-
gosus, 139
merry mates, 286
meruailous, marvellous, 17
middes, amidst, 89, 128
Vliddleton, Robert, Catholic martyr,
.70, 87
mince pepin, Mrs., 135
misery of life, ballads on the, 277, 30 j||'
mo(e), more, 4, 9, 74, 75 76
iioch, much, 17
momme, mum, 258
monasteries, dissolution of, a ballac
on the, ix
moneth, month, 6
money, 'tirades against the evils olj
109, in, 112
moralized ballads, 198, 213, 216
322
mould, the, earth, 108, 109, 250
mumping face, 1 3 5
Munday, Antony, xxii, xxiv, 62, 79
262, 340
murders, pamphlets on Elizabethan
34°
music, ballad on the decay of, 142
names, Elizabethan and Jacobea
given, and surnames, 135, 333
Narcissus, pride of, 248
narde, 168
Nashe, Thomas, allusions to ballads,
47, 329
ne, nfg., 30, 207, 392
near(e), ne'er, 385, 392
neightbour, 228
nesh, weak, delicate, 211
Nestor's years, 286
neuewes, nephews, 2
Newgate, London prison, 341
New Year's gifts, 3 1 6
nigardy, ballad against, 1 08
ninuectyue, a, an invective, 2
nipes, 325
noise, music, 144, 145
Nonconformists, Elizabethan, treat
ment of, xx, 54
Northampton, Catholic ballads in,
xxiii
Northern Rebellion, xviii, 1 80
418
GLOSSARIAL INDEX
(Northumberland, Duke of, xiii, I,
5, 7,
[Norwich, Mary I. proclaimed at, I ;
heretics burned at, xx, 54
| Nutter, Robert, Catholic martyr, 70
|oeth, oath, 91
officers, corruptibility of Jacobean,
110, 382
one, on, 257, 258, 263, passim
or, ere, 150, 397
organs in churches objected to, 142,
H5
Orton, Henry, Catholic marryr, 63,
out alas ! 4, 352
overgo,/./., overgone, 397
P., F. B., balladist, 164
painted flies, 199
paltry patch, 138
pannel, 334
pants, the heart, 300
papyre, popery, 39, 43
Paradise of Dainty Devises, xxxi, 223,
229, 238, 245, 265, 315
pardy, inter/., 255
Parker, Martin, balladist, xxiv, 189,
285
Parliament, the Devils', 384
paste, passed, 35
Paul's, St., Cathedral, Mary I. pro
claimed at, 6
Peele, Stephen, balladist, xviii
Pekering, William, printer, 209
pelfe, treasure, 39, 123, 134, 153,274
pelican, superstitions connected with
the, 124
Pepys, Samuel, 19 ; ballad-collection
of, 19, 189, 209, 331, 349, 359,
360, 368
Percy Folio MS., 349
perfett, perfit, perfect, 1 10, 214, 2*39,
345
perpende, to, consider, 57
Piers the Plowman, generic term, 373
Philip II., King of England and
Spain, 1 9, 180
pill, to, rob, 139
pinch the pots, to, drink, 274
pinched soul, 314; pinching pain, 292
plenty, adv., plentifully, 223
plows, need for, 278 ; God speed
the, 146
Plymouth, x
pointed, appointed, 258, 304
points, maxims, 315; laces, 3 1 8
pole, to, rob, 139
Policy and Popery, ballad of, 184
Pollen, J. H., xxix, 70, 79, 85, 87
Pon Woodstock (?), ix
Pope, Alexander, 138
Popes : Gregory XIII., 64, 69 ; Leo
XIII., 71, 79; Pius V., 66, 68 ;
Urban VIII., a scourge for, 189
posies, 315
post, to, ride hurriedly, 186, 353
powlder, a, hubbub, 382
pray, a, prey, 364
predestination scoffed at, 140
press-gangs, difficulties of Jacobean,
38i
prest, ready, 244, 346, 398 ; quickly,
389
Preston, Yorkshire, priest executed
at, 70 ^
pretence, intent, 214
Price, Laurence, balladist, 209, 372
prick song (with double entendre], 135
pride, ballad against, 245
priests, ballads by, xiv, 2, I 3, 23, 1 14,
147, 152 ; legislation against, xix,
xxi ; number executed under
Elizabeth, xx ; treasonable, xx.
See Seminary priests
printers, ballad, works reproduced :
Back, J., Blare, J., Brooksby, P.,
Deacon, J., 371 ; Jones, Richard,
6 1, 69 ; Jones, William, 367 ;
Lant, Richard, 12, 13, 26, 32 ;
Madeley, Roger, 7 ; Ryddle,
William, 22 ; Trundle, John, 195
419
OLD ENGLISH BALLADS
prisoners, farewell verses from, 79,
340; treatment of, 43, 48, 55,
63, 70, 85, 87, 93, 147
proclamation of Lady Jane Grey as
Queen, I ; of Mary I., I ; customs
at, 6
procure, to, induce, 57, 282 ; con
trive, 343, 344
prodigies at execution of priests, 88,
99, 100
proufe, proof, 304
prow, advantage, 396
pro wed, proud, 250, 268, 269
Psalms, Elizabethan editions of the,
XXV
puffing pride, 249
purging pills, 374
Puritans abhor Christmas, 373 ;
destroy music, 142 ; satirized by
a Catholic, I 34
pursivants, priest-hunters, 149, 1 60
pusuant, puissant, 5
pwblyshed, published, 20
pyle, pile, a small castle, 390
quaile, to, decline, fail, 130, 149
queere, choir, 146, 169, 175
quell, to, kill, 207
quicke, alive, 28, 74
quyght, quite, 4, 3 I
rablelie, rabblement, mob, 400
rack, torture on the, 63, 70, 151, 160
ragged rocks, 279, 286
Raphael, Angel, and Tobias, 222 .
rattle out rhetoric, to, rant, 67
ravens bury a priest, 100 ; devour
quartered priests, i 5 I
ravine, rapine, 112
Rawlins, Alexander, Jesuit, execution
of, 87
Rawlinson (Bishop Richard), ballad-
collection, 163, 209 ; MSS., xxvii,
245, 265, 322, 325, 359
rayne, raygne, to, reign, 2, 3
recomfort, 21
Redman, Robert, printer, xi
reft, bereft, 301, 313
regiments, rules, 28
religious verse, popularity
Elizabethan, xxv
" Remember Thy End," a poem
229
reminent, remnant, 217
rennyng, running, 14
rent, complaints of excessive, 139
373
rept, 109 n.
resowne, to, resound, 24
retchless, heedless, 31, 278
Rheims, Jesuit college at, 63, 65
Richard III., King, 2, 349
Richardson, Laurence, Catholi
martyr, 63, 69
Rishton, Edward, Catholic martyr
63, 69
Robins, Thomas, tract by, 332
Robinson, Clement, 322
Rogers, Owen, ballad-printer, 108,
285
Romans, Catholics, 368, 369
Rome, Time's travels to, a satire,
184
roost, to rule the, 277
ruffs, great, satirized, 1 3 5
Rushton, Edward, see Rishton
Ryddaell, William, ballad-printer, 22
S., D., i.e. D. Sands, ballad by, 229
S., T., ballad by, 367
sacraments, the seven, 28, 122
saffron bag, a, trifle, 138
sallets, heads, 334
Salve for a Sick Soul, A, 405
Sanders, Mrs. Anne, ballad by, 340 ;
George, London merchant, mur
dered, 340 ; George, murderer,
of Hartford, 341
Sari%ford Moor, x
Sands, D., ballad by, 229
Sandys, Archbishop Edward, of
York, 229
420
GLOSSARIAL INDEX
Saunders, Dr., 64 ; Laurence,
Protestant martyr, 33, 45. See
Sanders
scant, a, poverty, 227, 317
scape, escape, 67, 126
Scotch beggars, 376
Scotland, libelous ballads in, x
scrues, screws (of the Inquisition),
187
sede, seed, offspring, 4, 20
Seminary priests, ballads on their
proscription from England, 184,
189 ; execution of, 63, 64, 70,
79, 87 ; laws against, 65, 184,
189. See Priests
sext, sixth, 3
Shakespeare, ballad-allusions in, 47;
329
" Shaking of the Sheets," xxix, 209
shalme, 239
Shanne, Richard, of Yorkshire, his
Diary, 163, 372
sheep's clothing, 67
shemsters, sempstresses, 324
shent, to be, severely punished, 35,
251* 346» 393.
shepherd, a, on Zion hill, 101
Shert, John or William, Catholic
martyr, 63, 69
Sherwin, Ralph, Catholic martyr,
63,64
shider, to stand full, 395 ».
shift, action, resources, 50, 282
Shir burn Ballads, xxvii, 163, 198,
233. See Andrew Clark
shoe, to, show, 24, 65, 103, 154
Shore, Jane, 349,
shrowde, to, shroud, conceal, 55,
109
sicarlie, 397
Sick Man's Salve, The, 405
Sidgwick, F., 329
silly, innocent, helpless, 103
Simon Smellknave, 329
Sims, Valentine, printer, 405
singing defended, 143
singler, singular, 10
sinner, ballads of a, 296, 298, 300,
312 ; Christ and a, 270
slopes, trousers, 354
lumber, awake from, a ballad, 233
Smith, Robert, Protestant martyr,
xvi, xxxi
Smyth, Sir Thomas, his flyting with
W. Gray, xi
Somerset, Duke of, Lord Protector,
beheaded, 5
one, soon, 3, 4
>ongmen, troubles of Jacobean, 142
>onne, sun, 8, 10 ; son, 10, 51, 61,
passim
sousing, 303
Southwell, Robert, Jesuit poet, xx,
84, 87, 262
Sovereign Salve, A, 405
spacke, spaycke, to, speak, 41, 44
Spanish spice condemned, 276
sparch, to, 258
sparhawk, 131
spiel, to, deprive, 271
spill, to, harm, 1 15, 346
spoile, see spoyle
Spooner, Henry, balladist, xvi
spousage, marriage, 392
spouse, Christ's, the Catholic Church,
31* 9!» 95» I00> I01 5 the
Protestant Church, 52 ; the soul
of man, 153.
spousesse, Christ's, 3 I
spoyle, to, destroy, 24, 64, 257, 258,
261, 263
stagger nor stutte, 10
stand stiffly, to, i.e. boldly, 10
starch, legislation against, I 3 5
stay, to, hold up, support, 26 ; to
stop, 242, 264, 343 ; a, position,
231
stayers, stairs, 334
sterres, stars, 8
sterue, to, die, 9, 3 I
Steven, voice, 399, 403
stid, a, stead, place, 395
421
OLD ENGLISH BALLADS
stiff as a stake, 2 1
still as a stone, 58
stirre, a struggle, 337
Stopes, Leonard, priest, ballad by, 1 3
store, abundance, 246, 267, 283, 290
Story, Dr. John, Catholic martyr, xviii
straws, esteemed as, 14.0
street-brawls, Elizabethan, 277
strive against the stream, 254
strutting full, 287
styrrers, originators of, 65
sutche, such, 64
swelt, to, die, 248
swet, sweat, 327
swim in sin, 273
swinge, to sway the, to bear sway, 7
syence, science, knowledge, 46
syne, sin, 43
tables, printed ballads or broadsides,
229, 405
tacke, to, take, 39, 344
tame, to, subdue, injure, 192, 240,
402
tane, /./., taken, 94
tattling tongues, 25 I
tene, malice, I 5
tent, heed, 393
terrettes, turrets, 166
texts, treatment of, explained, xxvi,
xxvii
than, then, 6, 29, 59, 324
the, thee, 25, 30, 35; they, 36, 40,
43> 8z» '36
then, than, 9, 21, 50, 67, 115, 121,
172
theretill, 344
Thewlis, John, priest, 70; ballad by,
79; ballad of his execution, 87
thicke, thicket, 177
thie, the, 242; thy, 346
tho, those, 400; then, 397, 399, 401
Thorne, Master, ballads by, 265
thrall, evil fortune, 40, 128, 217,
226; 228
thrilleth, pierces, 126
throughlie, thoroughly, 72, 266, 310,
406
throwe, through, 405
Thwing, Edward, Catholic martyr, 70
tickle trust, 25
tilman, a, ploughman, 178
Time, Father, ballad on, 184
Tobias, ballad of, 219
Tobit, Book of, 219
too, to, 402
too, too, adv. phrase, 243, 345
top to toe, 73, 148, 2ii
Totters Miscellany, 223; poems from
in MSS., xxix, xxxi
Tower, the, of London, I, 3, 69, 70,
150
toys, trifles, 274, 316
train, a, snare, 5, 43; a band, 75, 289
transubstantiation, 28, 366
trauvell, to, travail, 14, 1 1 1
treachery, God's punishment for, 357
Troilus and Cressida, ballad on, 322
trump of Judgment, 241, 242, 243,
3H
Trundle, John, ballad-printer, 189
Trusty Roger, murderer, 340, 343,
344
tun, a, tub, 337
Turbervile, George, xxv
Turkey blades, 278
turmoyle, trouble, 181, 301
" Twelve Witty Warnings," 3 I 5
twist, out of our, 388
Tyburn, 64, 150, 152, 160.
type, use of, explained, xxvi
umbethink, to, 1 24
undernome, p.p., received, 396
undersong, a, chorus or refrain, 170
(Other examples of undersongs are
printed on pp. 20, 206, 238, 265,
340
unstayed, unsupported, 23
vade, to, fade, 309
vale of misery, the earth, 266
422
GLOSSARIAL INDEX
vance, to, advance, 240, 242, 257,259
I vanity of the world, ballad on the, 265
velvet beggars, 146
vices, tirades against various,
140,
226, 240, 272, 277, 281, 285
vine, God's, the Church of England,
185, 188
voide, adj., devoid of, 30; to, avoid,
6, 269
vylde, vile, 58
W., T., i.e. Thomas Watertoune,
ballad by, 2, 7
walk, to, used of the tongue, 56
Walpole, Henry, Jesuit, 87, 170
Wanley, Humphry, 19
warden, a, pear, 172
I ware, to be, heedful, 298
Warning for Fair Women, A, 340
Watertoune, Thomas, ballad by, 2, 7
ise, confounding — , 299; contrary
—, no; feeling — , 314; heaped
— , 312; honest—, 317; nillmg
— , 263; possessing — , 271; pro
testing — , 294; struggling — , 296
without all vain, 40
wittold, a, cuckold, 196
witty, wise, 15, 388
woe worth, intety'., 325, 343, 356
Wolsey, Cardinal, attacked by ballad-
ists, x
Wood, Antony, ballad-collection,
359
Wooton, John, 101
Worde, Wynkyn de, printer, 384
wracke, ruin, 24, 25
Wrennall (Wrenno), Roger, Catholic
martyr, 87, 98
wringing and wrunging, 20
wyld, will'd, 59
weale, to, wail, 167, 210
weare, were, 42, 35, 324, 400
Webley,Thomas, Catholic martyr, xx
were, to, wear, 3, 129, 250
Whartbn, Sir Thomas, and Scotch
ballads, x
Whetstone, George, xix, xxv, 3 1 5
whore of Rome, 52; the purple -
1 8 6, the Catholic Church
wifed, life, married life, objected t
for priests, 1 39
yche, each, 330
yea, ye, 84, 395> 4°2
yeede, />./., went, no, 205, 393
"York, Chorister's Song of," 163
Yorkshire, priests arrested in, 70;
Shanne family of, 372
Youth and Death, a dialogue be
tween, 252
Zion hill, a shepherd on, I o I
423
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Rollings, Hyder Edward
Old English Ballads