THE LIBRARY
OF
THE UNIVERSITY
OF CALIFORNIA
LOS ANGELES
R E L I Q U E S
O F
ANCIENT ENGLISH POETRY.
VOL. II.
R E L I Q U E S
O F
ANCIENT ENGLISH POETRY;
CONSISTING OP
Old Heroic BALLADS, SONGS, and other
PIECES of our earlier POETS,
Together with fome few of later Date.
THE FOURTH EDITION.
VOLUME THE SECOND.
LONDON:
PRINTED BY JOHN NICHOLS,
5FOR P. AND C.
MDCCXCIV.
1 J'L i wlv^ J.- _JL
.- ; , • ^O
[Of I JO f-'H/: ,ZW.
>-»Wf»<f 1
•ru 10 v/-;
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. CONTENTS OF VOLUME THE SECOND,
BOOK THE FIRST.
]T> Page
1. J\ICHARD of Almalgne — — I
2. On the Death of K. Edward L — 6
3. An original balled by Chaucer — — l x
4. The Turnament of Tottenham — 1 3
5. For the Vlftory at Aglncourt — • — 25
6. 5~Xe Not-browne Mayd — — — 17
7. ./? balet by the Earl Rivers — — 44.
8. Cw/zW'j A/fault. By Lord Vaux — 46
9. Sir Aldlngar — — 50
10. The Guberlunzle man, ScottlJJi By K. James V» 60
1 T . On Thomas Lord Cromwell — — 64
12. Harpalus. An ancient Englljh Paftoral — 68
13. Robin and Makyne. An ancient Scotttfli Pajloral J$
14. Gentle Herdftnan tell to me — — 79
j £. K. Edward IV. and the Tanner of Tawtoortat 83
16. As ye came from the Holy Land • 93
j 7. Hardy knute. A Scot. Fragment. By Sir J. Bruce 96
BOOK THE SECOND.
I* A ballad of Luther ^ the Pope, a Cardinal, and a
Hujbandman • • • « 113
2. John Anderfon my Jo. A Scottljh Song — 121
3. Little John Nobody - 123
4. £. Elizabeth's Verfes while Pr If oner at Woodjiock 127
;, The Heir of L'mne . . . .. 128
6. Gajcoignc's
68231.7
vi CONTENTS.
Page
6. Gafcozgnc's Praife of the fair Bridges^ afterwards
Lady Sandes • ' • 138
y. Fair Rofamond. By Thomas Delone, — 143
8. Queen Eleanor's ConfeJJion — — 15$
9. Thefturdy Rock — — — 1 60
10. The Beggar's Daughter cf Bednal Green — 161
An Eflay on the Word F i T, and the ancient Ballad-
fiiging • 174
j i . Fancy and Defire. By the Earl of Oxford — 178
12. Sir Andrew Ear ton — — — 183
13. Lady Anne Bothwell's Lament. A Scottijh Song 197
1 4. The Murder of the King of Scots — — 2OO
15. A Sonnet by ^ Elizabeth 204
16. The K. of Scots and And. Browne. By W. Elder ton 207
17. The Bonny Earl of Murray. A Scottifli Song 213
18. Young Wrqters. A Scottijh Song • 215
19. Mary Ambice -• • 219
20. Brave Lord Willcughly — — • 224
21. Viftoriouj men of Earth. By James Shirley 229
2.:. The winning of Cales - — 230
23. The Spanijh Lady's Love — — 234
24. Argent lie and Curan. By W. Warner — 238
25. Corin's Fate - • • 254
26. Jane Shore • 256
27. Cory don^s dtleful Knell — — 267
BOOK THE THIRD.
EJ/ay on the Metre of Pierce Plowman's yifions 272
I. 7/e; Complaint of Conjcience •• • 2JJ, 289
2. Plain
CONTENTS. vli
Page
2. Plain Truth and Blind Ignorance — 294
3. The 'wandering Jew — — * 3° *
4. The Lye. By Sir Walter Raleigh — 307
i;. Verfes (viz, two Sonnets) by K. James L — 311
6. K. John and the Abbot of Canterbury — 314.
7. Tou meaner Beauties. By Sir H. Wot ton — 320
8. The old andyeung Courtier • 321
9. Sir John Suckling's Campaigns • 326
10. To Althea from Prifon. By Col. Lovelace 329
1 1 . The Downftil of Charing Crofs - 331
13. Loyalty confined. By Sir Roger VEJlrange 334.
13. J^erfes by King Charles I. — 53 3
14. The Sale of Rebellious ffoi-/'. j/-I Stuff — ,342
15. The Baffled Knight or Lc.dys Policy — 347
1 6. Why fo pale? Bj Sir John Suckling — 355
ij.Old Tom of Bedlam. Mad Song thefi-ft — 356
1 8. The Dijlrattcd Puritan. Mad Song the fecond 359
19. The. Lunatic Lover. Mad Song the third — • 564
2Ot The LaJy dijlracled ivit/t Love. Mad Song the
21. The Dt/h-acled Lover. Mad Song the ji'th 369
22. The Frantic Lady. Mad Song the faith — 371.
23. Lilli-bwlero. By Lord Wharton — 375
24. The Braes of Yarrow. In imitation of the ancient
Scottijli wanner. By W Hamilton — 376
25. Admiral Heir's G/joft. Bj Mr. Glover — 282
26. Jemmy Daiijjvn, By ."/;•. S/ienJtone — 386
jtj. The Glcjjary — . _. 39 1
fc Though
Though fome make flight of LIBELS, yet you may fee
by them how the wind fits : As, take a ftravv and
throw it up into the air, you may fee by that which
way the wind is, which you fhall not do by cafting up
a flone. More folid things do not fhew the com-
plexion of the times fo well as BALLADS and Libels.
SELDEN'S TABLE-TALK.
OF ANCIENT POETRY,
ififcr.
.SERIES THE SECOND.
BOOK I.
I.
RICHARD OFALMAIGNE,
" A ballad made by one of the adherents to Simon tit
" Montfort, earl of Leicejler,joon after the battle ofLe<wesf
" •which 'was fought May 14, 1264,"
~ajfbrds a curious fpecimen of ancient Satire, and Jketvt
that the liberty ', ajjumed by the good people of this realm, of
nbufeng thtir kings a W prtneti at pleafurt* is a frivtlt^ t ef
very longftundinir*
VOL. AI. :'B ft
2 ANCIENT POEMS.
'To render this antique libel intelligible, the reader is tt
under ft and that j lift before the battle ofLe wes which proved
Jo fatal to the inter efts of Henry If I. the barons had offered
his brother Richard King of tfy Romans 30,000!. to pro-
cure a peacS upon fuch terms, as fiwvtd have dive fled Henry
of all his regal pdw^f, and therefore the treaty proved abor-
tive,— The ctnfequences of that battle are well known : the
king, prince Edward IMS f on, his brother Richard, and many
of his friends, fell into the hands of their enemies : while
tvjo great barons cfibe king's party, 'John earl of Warren,
and Hugh Bigot the. king's Juftidary, had been glad to
efcape into France.
In the \ftftanzatbeafsrefaidfum ^THIRTY THOU-
SAND pounds is alluded to, but with the ufual mifreprefenta-
tions of f arty malevolence, is averted to have been the exorbi-
tant demand of the king's brother.
With regard -to the id ft. the Readtr is to note that
Richard, along with the earldom of Cornwall, had the ho-
nours of W ALIN G F o R D and Eyre confirmed to him on his
marriage with Sanchia daughter of the Count of Provence,
in 1 243. Wi N D s o R caftle was the chief fortrefs be-
longing to the king, and had been garrifoned by foreigners ; a
circumftance which furnijhes out tke burthen of each ftanza.
The t,dft. alludes to a remarkable circumftance 'which
happened on the day of the battle of Leives. 4ft er the bat-
tle was loft, Richard king of the Romans took refuge in a
Windmill which he barricadoed, and maintained for fame
time againft the' Barons , but in the evening *waf obliged to
furrender. Set a very full account of this in the Chronicle
ofMailros. Qxctz. 1684. P- 229-
The Afth ft.' is of obvious interpretation : Richard, who
had been elt&ed king of the. Romans in 1256, and had
afterward* gone over to take pojfejjion of fais dignity, vjas in
the fear 12^9 about to return into England, when the Barons
raij'ed » popular clamour, that he -was bringing with hint
. rs io over-run the kingdom : upon which he weu
forced to t.i 'fitiifs almoft all hisfollo-wsn, otherwiije the baron*,
tjuould have ofpojed his landing^
In
ANCIENT POEMS. 3
In the $thjl. the writer regrets the efcapt of the Earl of
Warren, and in the btb and Jthfis. insinuates, that, tj ht
and Sir Hugh Bigot once fed into the hands of their adver-
far:es, they Jhoulti never more return home ; a circumjlance
•which fixes the date of this ballad y for, in the year 1265,
loth thefe noblemen landed in South Wales, and the royal
farty foon after gained tbt afcendar.t. See Holingjhtd»
Rapin, (ffr.
The following is copied from a 'very ancient MS. in the
Britijh Muff urn. \Harl MSS. 2 z ^ 3 . / 2 3. ] This MS.
is judged, from the peculiarities of the 'writing, to be not
later than thetimeofRiehard II. ; th being every where
exprej/ed by the char otter J> ; the' y is pointed after tht Saxon
manner, and tit i hath an cbliqueftrokeo'verit.
Prefixed to this ancient libel on government is afmall de~
fign, which the engraver intended Jhould csrrefpond *with
tht fubjefi. On the one fide a Satyr (emblem of Petulance
and Ridicule) is trampling on the enfigns of Royalty : on
the other, Faff ion under the mafque of Liberty is exciting
Ignorance and Popular rage to deface tht Royal Image ;
•mbieb ftands on apedefial infer ibed MACNA cMARTA,/a
denote that the rights of the king, at well as thcfe of the
people, are founded on the laws ; and that to attack eue, it
in effe£i to demilijh both.
QITTETH alle ftille, ant herkneth to me ;
^ The kyng of Alemaigne, by my leaute,
Thritti thoufent pound aflcede he
For te make the pees in the countre,
Ant fo he dude more. 5
Richard, thahthou be ever trichard,
Tricthen fhalt thou never more.
Vtr. 2. ky.. MS.
B » Richard
4 ANCIENT POEMS.
Richard of Alemaigne, whil that he wes kying,
He fpende al is trefour opon fwyvyng,
Haveth he nout of Walingford oferlyng, 10
Let him habbe, afe he brew, bale to dryng,
Maugre Wyndefore.
Richard, thah thou be ever, &c.
The kyng of Alemaigne wende do ful wel,
He faifede the mulne for a caftel, 1 5
With hare fharpe fwerdes he grounde the ftel,
He wende that the fayles were mangonel
To helpe Wyndefore.
Richard, thah thou be ever, &c.
The kyng of Alemaigne gederede ys hoft, 20
Makede him a caftel of a mulne poft,
Wende with is prude, ant is muchele boft,
Brohte from Alemayne mony fori goft
To ftore Wyndefore.
Richard, thah thou be ever, &c. 25
By God, that is aboven ous, he dude muche fynne,
That lette paflen over fee the erl of Warynn* :
He hath robbed Engelond,the mores, ant th fenne,
The gold, ant the felver, and y-boren henne,
For love of Wyndefore. 30
Richard, thah thou be ever, &c.
Sire Simon de Mountfort hath fuore bi ys chyn,
Hevede he nou here the erl of Waryn,
shuld-
ANCIENT POEMS. 5°
Shuld he never more come to isy'n,
Ne with meld, ne with fpere, ne with other gy'n, 3$
TohelpofWyadefore.
Richard, thah thou be ever, &c.
Sire Simond de Montfort hath fuore by ys cop,
Hevede he nou here Sire Hue de Bigot :
Al he mulde grante here twelfmoneth fcot 49
Shulde he never more with his fot pot
To helpe Wyndefore.
Richard, thah thou be ever, &c.
Be the luef, be the loht, fire Edward,
Thou malt ride fporeles o thy lyard 4$
Al the ryhte way to Dovere-ward,
Shalt thou never more breke foreward ;
Ant that reweth fore
Edward, thou dudeft as a Ihreward,
r- r t ,
Forfoke thyn ernes lore 50
Richard, &c.
i
Ver. 40. g'te here MS. i. e. grant their. ViJ. Gloft,
Ver. 44. Tblfftanxa ivat omitted in the firmer editions.
%* *fbit Ballad will rife in its importanct 'with tkt
Reader, <wheri he finds, that it is even believed to have oc-
cafeoned a Law in our Jtatute Book, <wz. '• Jlgainji flaiiderout
reports or tales, to caufe difcord betiuixt king and people."
(WESTM. PRIMER, c. 34. annos- Edw. I.) That it haul
this ejfeft is the opinion of an eminent Writer : See " Obftr-
" nations upon the Statutes, Cfff . " \to. ^d. Edit. 1 766, /. 7 1 .
However, in the Harl. Collection may be found other fati-
rical and defamatory rhymes of 'the fame age, that might have
their (bare in contributing to this fir ft Law avainli Libels.
B 3 II. ON
ANCIENT POEMS.
II.
ON THE DEATH OF K. EDWARD
THE FIRST.
We have here an early attempt at Elegy* EDWARD I.
died July J , 1307, /'« the ^th year cf his reign, and 6qtb
of his age. This poem appears to ha<ve been compofed foon
after his death. According to the modes of thinking pecu-
liar to thofe times, the writer dwellt more upon his devo-
tion, than his Jkill in government, and pajs Icfs attention to
the marti'il and political abilities of this great monarch,
in which he had no equal, than to fome little weakneffes of
fuperftition, 'which be had in common with all his cotempo-
raries. The king bad in the decline of life <vowed an expe-
dition to the holy land, but fading his end approach, he dedi-
cated the fum of 3 i,oco/. to the maintenance of a large body
of knights (i^ofay l.iftorians, So/ajs our poet), who were
to carry his heart -^,'ith th-:m in'o Paleftine. 1 his dying com-
mand of the king ivas never performed. Our poet, with the
beiujl prejudices of an Enylijhman, attributes this failure
1o the ad-vice of the king of Fran, e, whofe daughter Ifabel,
the young monarch whofucceeded, immediately married. But
the truth it. Edward and his defer ufli've favourite Piers
Geivefton fient the money won their plea fures. To do the
greater bo^c-tir to tie memory of his heroe, our poet puts hit
el»ge in the mouth of the Pcfe, 'with 1 he fame poetic licence^
as a more m ;'ern hard would have introduced Britannia, or
the Gfius c,' ?;.ro- e pcunng forth his praifes.
This an'.iijUt: El :-y is extracted from the fame MS. vo-
lume as the preceding article ; is found 'with the fame pe-
culiarities
ANCIENT POEMS. 7
euliarities of writing and orthography ; and tho* 'written
at near the dijlance of half a century contains little or no
^variation of idiom : 'whereas the next following peem by
Chaucer, which 'was probably written not more than 50
or 60 years after this, exhibits almojl a new language.
This feems to countenance the opinion of feme antiquaries •>
that this great foet made considerable innovations in his
mother tongue, and introduced many terms, and iie*w modes
fffpeech from other languages.
ALLE, that beoth of huerte trewe,
A ftounde hcrkneth to my fong
Of duel, that Deth hath diht us newe,
That maketh me fyke, ant forewe among ;
Of a knyht, that wes fo ftrong, 5
Of wham God hath don ys wille ;
Me-thuncheth that deth hath don us wrong,
That he fo fone ftiall ligge flille.
Al Englond ahte for te knowe
Of wham that fong is, that y fynge ; JQ
Of Edward kyng, that lith fo lowe,
Zent al this world is nome con fpringe :
Treweit mon of alle thinge,
Ant in werre war ant wys,
For him we ahte oure honden wrynge, 1 5
Of Chriftendome he her the prys.
Byfore that oure kyng was ded,
He fpek afe mon that wes in care,
<l Clerkes, knyhtes, barons, he faydc,
" Y charge ou by oure fware, 20
B 4 " That
ANCIENT POEMS.
" Th^fye to Engelonc'e be trewe.
" Y deze, y ne may ly ven ru more ;
" Helpeth mi fone, ant crouneth him newe,
«' For he is neft to buen y-core.
*'« Ich biqueth myn herte arhyt, 25
" That hit be write at my devys,
«' Ov r.h.3 fee that Hue* be diht,
«« With fourfcore knyhtes al of prys,
«• In werre that buen war ant wys,
" Azein the hethene for te fyhte, 30
" To wynne the croix that lowe lys,
«« Myfelf ycholde zef that y myhte."
KyngofFraunce, thou hevedeft ' finne,*
That thou '.lie counfail woldeft fonde,
To latte the wille of ' Edward kyng* 35
To wen^e to the holy londe :
That oure kyng hede take on honde
All Engelond to zeme ant wyfle,
To wenden in to the holy londe
To wynnen us heveriche blifle. 40
The meflager to the pope com,
And feyde that cur kynge was ded :
Ys oune bond ihe lettre he nom,
Ywis his herte was full gret :
* Tbtname of the per fen tubo wai ttfrejide ever this bufintfs.
Vt>. ^^ fnnne. MS.rti. 35. king Edward. MS. Vtr. 43. yi i*
ft contraction if in hys or yn bit.
The
ANCIENT POEMS. 9
The Pope him felf the lettre redde, 45
Ant fpec a word of gret honour.
«' Alas ! he feid, is Edward ded ?
" OfChriftendomehe her the flour."
The Pope to is chaumbre wende,
For dol ne mihte he fpeke na more ; jo
Ant after cardinals he fende,
That muche couthen of Criftes lore,
Bothe the lafTe, ant eke the more,
Bed hem bothe rede ant fynge :
Gret deol me myhte fe thore, ff
Mony rnon is honde wrynge.
The Pope of Peyters ftod at is mafle
With ful gret folempnete,
Ther me con the foule blefle :
" Kyng Edward honoured thoube : €o
" God love thi fone come after the,
" Bringe to ende that thou haft bygonne,
" The holy crois y-mad of tre,
'« So fain thou woldeft hit hav y-wonne.
" Jerufalem, thou haft i-lore 65
" The flour of al chivalrie
«' Now kyng Edward liveth namore :
" Alas ! that he zet ftiuide deye !
55. 59. Me, » t. Men. ft in Rtbert «f Gloucefter fajjim.
« He
to ANCIENT POEMS.
" He wolde ha rered ap ful heyze
" Oure banners, tha.t baeth broht to grounde;
«' Wei ! Jonge we mowe clepe and crie 70
" Er we a fuch kyng ban y-founde.''
Nou is Edward ofCarnarvan
King of Engelond al aplyht,
God lete him ner be worfe man
Thetx his fader, ne lafle of myht, 75
To holden is pore men to ryht,
And underftonde good counfail,
Al Engelong for to wyffe ant dyht ;
Of gode knyhtes darhhim nout fail.
Thah my tonge were mad of ftel, }?©
Ant minherte yzote of bras,
The godnefs myht y never telle,
That with kyng Edward was :
Kyng, as thou art clepedconquerour,
In uch bataille thou hadeft prys ; 85
God bringe thi foule to the honour,
That ever wes, ant everys.
*#* Here follow in the original three lines tnon, which >
asfeemingly redundant, <wt chuje to throw to the bottom of
the I age, <vix.
That lafteth ay withouten ende,
Bidde we God, ant our Ledy to thilke blil%
Jefus us fende. Amen.
JII. AN
ANCIENT POEMS. u
in.
AN ORIGINAL BALLAD BY CHAU CER.
This little fonnet, which hath efcaped all the editors of
Chaucer's works, i* now printed for the jirji time from an
ancient MS. in the Pepyfean library, that contains many
other poems of its 'venerable author. The verjijication is of
that fpecies, ivhich the French call RONDEAU, very natu-
rally englifbed by our boneft countrymen ROUND O. Tho'
fo early adopted by them, our ancejiors had not the honour
of in-venting it : Chaucer picked it u&, along with other
better things, among the neighbouring nations. Ji fondnejs
for laborious trifles hath alivay s prevailed in the~ dark ages
tf literature. The Greek poets ha<ve had their WINGS and
AXES : the great father cfEngliJhpoefy may therefore be
pardoned one poor folitary RONDEAU. — Geafrey Chaucer
died Qtf. 25, iqeo,aged -jz.
I. I.
YO U R E two eyn will fle me fodenly,
I may the beaute of them not fuilene,
So wendeth it thorowout my herte kene.
2.
And but your words will helen haftely
My hertis wound, while that it is grene,
Youre two eyn \vill fle me fodenly.
3-
Upon my trouth I fey yow feithfully,
That ye ben of my HfFe and deth the qnene ;
for with my deth the trouth ilia] be lene.
Youre two eyn, &c,
II. i. So
12 ANCIENT POEMS
II. i.
i So hath youre beauty fro your herte chafed
Pitee, that me n' availeth not to pleyn ;
For daanger halt your mercy in his cheyne.
2.
Giltlefs my deth thus have ye purchafed ;
I fey yow foth, me nedeth not to fayn :
So hath your beaute fro your herte chafed.
3'
Alas, that nature hath in yow compared
So grete beaute, that no man may atteyn
To mercy, though he flerve for the peyn.
So hath youre beauty, &c.
in. i.
Syn I fro love efcaped am fo fat,
I nere thinke to ben in his prifon lenc ;
Syn I am fre, I counte hym not a bene.
2.
He may anfwere, and fey this and that,
I do no fors, I fpeak ryght as I mene ;
Syn I fro love efcaped am fo fat.
3-
Love hath my name i-ilrike out of his fclat,
And he is ftrike out of my bokes clene :
For ever mo 'ther *' is none other mene.
Syn 1 fro love efcaped, &c.
« Thit MS.
IV. TH£
ANCIENT POEMS. 13
vr.
THETURNAMENTOF TOTTENHAM:
" OR, THE WOOEING, WINNING, AND WEDDING
" OFTlBBE, THE RfiEv's DAUGHTER THE RE."
It Joes honour to the good fenfe of this nation, that tuhile
all Europe *was captivated with the bewitching charms of
Chivalry and Romance, two of our writers in therudefi times
could fee thro"1 thefalfe glare that furrounded them, and dif-
cever whatever was abfurd in them both. Chaucer wrote
his Rhyme offer Thopas in ridicule of the latter ; and in the
following poem we have a humourous burlefque of the former.
Without pretending to decide, whether the injlitution of chi-
valry was upon the 'whole ufefulor pernicious in the rude age;%
a queftion that has lately employed many good writers *, it
tvidently encouraged a vindictive fpirit, and gave fuch force
to the cujlom of duelling, that- there is little hope of its being
abolijbed, 'This together with the fatal conferences which
often attended the diver/ion of the Turnament, was fujflc tent
to render it obnoxious to the graver part of mankind. Ac-
cordingly the Church early denounced its cenfures againjl it,
and the State was often prevailed on to attempt itsfuppreffion.
But fajhion and opinion are fuperior to authority ; and the
proclamations againjl 'Tilting 'were as little regarded in thofe
times, as the laws againft Duelling are in tbefe. This did
not efcape the difcernment of our poet, who eafily perceived
that inveterate opinions tnuft be at tacked by other weapons,
bejldes proclamations and cenfures : he accordingly made ufe of
the keen one o/"RlDicuLE. With thi s view he has here in-
troduced^ with ad/nirable humour, a parcel of clowns, imi-
tating all the folemnities of the Tourney. Here we have tht
regular challenge— the appointed day — tht lady for the prixf
—the formal preparations — the difplay of armour— the fcu-
cheons and devices— the oaths taken on entering the lifts— the
various accidents of the encounter— the viflor leading off the
» See [Mr. Kurd's] Letters «n Chivalry, 8vo. 1762. Memoirs deJa
Cheva.erie, par M. deUCurr.e de* Palais, 1759, 2 torn. I2mo. &c.
prize»
i4 ANCIENT POEMS.
prize,— and ike magnificent feafting, — with all the other
folemn fopperies that ufually attended the pompous Turnament.
j$nd how acutely the foarpnefs of the author's hum&ur mujf
have been felt in thofe days, we may learn, from --what we
tan perceive of its keennefs now, when time has fo much
blunted the edge of his ridicule.
THE Tu R 5. A WE K T o F TOTT E N H A M "Mas fir ft trinted
from an ancient MS. in 1631, ^to. by the rev. Whilhem
Bedwel, reel or of Tottenham* who was one of the tranjlatort
cfthe Bible, and afterwards Bijhop of Kilmer e in Ireland,
where he lived and died, with the higkcft reputation offanc-
tity, in \ 64 » . He tells us, it was written by Gilbert Piping-
ton, thought to have been feme time parfon of the fame parijh,
and author of another piece, infilled, Paffio Domini jefu
Chrifti. Bediiell, who was eminently Jkifttd in the oriental
and other languages, appears to have been but little con-ver-
Jant with the ancient writers in his own, and he fo little
entered into thefpirit of the poem he was publijking, that he
contends for its being a ferious narrative of a real event,
and thinks it mujl have been written before tie time of
Edward III. tecaufe Turnaments were prohibited in that
reign. " I do verily bsies-~ue" fays he, " that this Turna-
f< ment was aclen before this proclamation of K. Edward.
" For how durft any to attempt to do that, although injport,
"• which was Jo jl rat ghtly forbidden, both by ih civil I and
'•' ecc'ejiafticail power ? Fcr although they fought not with
" lances, yet, as our authour fayth, ' If ws.s no ckildrens
" game.' And what would have become of him, thinke
ff you. which Jbould have Jlayne another in this manner of
<e jeafting ? Would he not, trovj you, have been H A N a' D
' FOR IT IN EARNEST? YEA, AND HAVE B E N E
*' BURIED LIKE A DOGGE ?" It is however well known
that Ijtrnaments were in ufe down to the reign of Elizabeth.
In thefirji editions of this work, Sedweli's copy was re-
printedhere , with feme few conjectural emendations ; tut
a,s Bedwellfeemed to have reduced the orthography at leaj},
if not the phrafeolcgy, tothejlandard of his oven time, it
luat luith great pleajure that the Editor <was informed of an
ANCIENT POEMS. 15
ancient MS. copy preferred in the Mufeum {Earl. MSS.
5396.] which appeared to have been tranfcribed in the
reign of K. Hen. VI. about 14^6. 'This obliging information
tbe Editor owed to the friendjhip of THO. TYRWHITT,
efq. and he has 'chiejty followed that more authentic Tran-
jfcript, improved however by fame readings from BedweWs
OF all thes kene conquerours to carpe it were kinde ;
Of fele feyztyng folk ferly we fynde ;
The Turnamentof Totenham have we in mynde ;
It were harme fych hardynes were holden byhynde,
In ftory as we rede £
OfHawkyn, of Herry,
Of Tomkyn, of Terry,
Of them that were dughty
And ftalworth in dede.
It befelin Totenham on a dere day, 10
Ther was mad a fhurtyng be the hy-way :.
Theder com al the men of the contray
Of HyfTylton, of Hy-gate, and of Hakenay,
And all the fwete fwynkers.
Ther hopped Hawkyn, 1^
Ther daunfed Dawkyn,
Ther trumped Tomkyn,
And all were trewe drynkers.
Tyl the day was gon and evyn-feng paft,
That they fchuld reeky n ther fcot and ther counts caft ; 20
Ver. 20. It is not very clear in tbe MS. -whether ItlhoM be conts, w
centers.
Perkya
x6 ANCIENT POEMS.
Perkyn the potter into the prefs paft,
And fayd Randol the refe, a dozter thou haft,
Tyb the dere :
Therfor faine wyt wold I,
Whych of all thys bachelery 25
Were beft worthye
To wed hur to hys fere.
Upftyrtthos gadelyngys wyth ther langftaves,
And fayd, Randol the refe, lo ! thys, lad raves ;
Boldelyamang us thy dozter he craves ; 30
We er rycher men then he, and mor gode haves
Of cattell and corn.
Then fayd Perkyn, To Tybbe I have hyzt
That I fchal be alway redy in my ryzt,
If that it fchuld be thys day fevenyzt, 3$
Or elles zet to morn.
Then fayd Randolfe the refe, Ever be he waryd,
That about thys carpyng lenger wold be taryd :
I wold not my dozter, that fcho were mifcaryd,
But at hur moil worfchip I wold fcho were maryd ; 40
Therfor a Turnament fchal begynne
Thys day fevenyzt,—
Wyth a flayl for to fyzt :
And ' he', that is moil of myht
Schal brouke hur wyth wynne. 45
Whofo berys hym beft in the tumament,
Hym fchal be granted the gre be the comon aflent,
For
ANCIENT POEMS. 17
For to wynne my dozter wyth ' dughtynefle' of dent,
And ' coppell' my brode-henne * that' was brozt out of
Kent:
And my dunnyd kowe 50
For no fpens wyl I fpare,
For no cattell wyl I care,
lie fchal have my gray mare,
And my fpottyd fowe.
Ther was many * a* bold lad ther bodyes to bede J 55
Than thay toke thayr leve, and homward they zede ;
And all the weke afterward graythed ther wede,
Tyll it come to the day, that thay fuld do ther dede.
They armed ham in matts ;
Thay fet on ther nollys, 60
For to kepe ther pollyi,
Code blake bollys,
For batryng of bats.
Thay fowed tham in fchepefkynnes, for thay fchuld not
breft:
Ilk-on toke a blak hat, infted of a crefh 6$
* A baflcet or a panyer before on ther breft,*
And a flayle in ther hande; for tofyght preftj
Furth goa thay fare :
Ther was kyd mekyl fors,
Who fchuld beft fend hys cors : 70
He that had no gode hors,
He gat hym a mare.
Ver. 48. Dozty. MS. V. 49. coppeld. WtJMl uft the pbrafe «w
cofple-c owned btn" V. 57. gayed. PC. V. 66. is -wanting in
MS. and fupplitd from PC. V. 72. He borrowed him. PC.
VOL. U. C Sych
i8 ANCIENT? O E M S.
Sych another gadryng have I not fene oft,
When all the gret company com rydand to the croft:
Tyb on a gray mare was fet up on loft 75
On a fek ful of fedyrs, for fcho fchuld fyt foft,
And led ' till the gap'.
For cryeng of the men
Forther wold not Tyb then,
Tyl fcho had hur brode hen 8»
Set in hur Lap.
A gay gyrdyl Tyb had on, borowed for the nonys,
And a garland on hur hed ful of rounde bonys,
And a broche on hur breft ful of * fapphyre' ftonys,
Wyth the holy-rode tokenyng, was wrotyn for the
nonys; 85
For no * fpendings' thay had fpared.
When jo!y Gyb faw hur thare,
He gyrd fo hys gray mare,
* That fcho lete a fowkin' fare
At the rereward. 90
I wow to God, quoth Kerry, I fchal not If fe behynde,
May I mete wyth Bernard on Bayard the blynde,
Jch man kepe hym out of my wynde,
For whatfoever that he be, before me I fynde,
Ver. 76. The MS. bad once fedrs, /. e. feeds, which appears fo have
teen altered to fedyrs, or feathers. BediuelFs espy has Senvy, /. e.
Mujiard-feed. V. 77. Anil leil hur to cap. MS. V. 83. Bed-well 's
PC. has ' Ruel-Bones'. V. 84. fafer ftonef. MS. V. 85. wrotyn,
/. t, -wrought. PC. reads, written. V. 86. No catel [per baft cliatel]
they had fpared. MS. V. 89. Then . . . faucon. MS.
4. I wot
.ANCIENT POEMS. 0|9
I wot I fchall hym greve. 95
Wele fayd, quoth Hawkyti.
And I wow, quoth Dawkyn,
May I mete wyth Tomkyn,
Hys flayle I fchal hym reve.
1 make a vow, quoth Hud, Tyb, fon fchal thou fe, 100
Whych of all thys bachelery * granted' is the gre:
I fchal fcomfet thaym all, for the love of the;
In what place fo I come thay fchal have dout of me,
Myn armes ar fo clere :
I here a reddyl, and a rake, 105
Poudred wyth a brenand drake,
And three cantells of a cake
In ycha cornere.
I vow to God, quoth Hawkyn, yf ' I* hive the gowf,
Al that I fynde in the felde ' thruftand' here aboute, no
Have I twyes or thryes redyn thurgh the route,
In ycha ftede ther thay me fe, of me thay fchal ha vedoute,
When I begyn to play.
I make avowe that I ne fchall,
But yf Tybbe wyl me ckll, 1 15
Or I be thryes don fall,
Ryzt onys com away.
Then fayd Terry, and fwore be hys crede;
Saw thou never yong boy forther hys body bede,
Vtr. IOT. grant. MS. V. ,Og. yf he have. MS.
V. no. the MS. literally bat th'. fand, bert.
C a For
ao ANCIENT POEMS.
For when thay fyzt fafteft and moft ar in drede, 120-.
I fchall take Tyb by the hand, and huraway lede:
I am armed at the full ;
In myn armys I bere wele
A doz trogh, and a pele,
A iatlyll wythout a panel!, . 135
Wyth a fles of troll.
I make a vow, quoth Dudman, and fwor be the ftra,
Whyls me ys left my 'mare,' thou gets burr not f\va;
For icho ys wele fchapen, and lizt as the rae,
Ther is no capul in thys myle befor hur fchal ga ; 130
Sche wul ne nozt begyle: .
Sche wyl me bere, I dar fay,
On a lang fomerys d;iy,
FroHyflylton to Hakenay,
Nozt other half myle. 13$
I make a vow, quoth Perkyn, thow fpeks of cold roft,
I fchal wyrch ' wyfelyer* withouten any bolt ;
Five of the bed capulys, that ar in thys oft,
1 wot I fchal thay m wynne, and bryng thaym to my coft,
And here I grant thaym Tybbe. 140
Wele boyes here ys he,
That wyl fyzt, and not fle,
For I am in my jolyte,
Wyth fo forth, Gybbe.
Vtr, 137. fwyfelior. MS. Ytr. i z8. merth. MS.
When
ANCIENT POEMS. ax
,When thay had ther vowes made, furth can thay hie, 145
Wyth flayles, and homes, and trumpes mad of tre:
Ther were ail the bachelerys of that contre ;
Thay were ciyzt in any, as thaymfelfes wold be :
Thnyr baners were fill bi yzt
Of an old roc ten tell; ice
The cheveron ff a plow-mel!;
And the fchadow of a bcl',
Pond red wy.h the nione lyzt,
I wot yt ' was' no chy'der ga;ne, whan thay togedyr met,
When icha freke in the fe!d on hys'feloy bet, 155
And layd on tlyfi.y, for nothyog wold thay l.t,
And foght tcily fait, tyll ther horfes iwjt,
And few wordys fpoken.
Ther were flayles al to Hatred,
Ther were fchcldys al to flatred, 160
Bo'.iys and dyichrs al to fchatrec,
And many hedys brokyn.
There was dynkyug of cart-fa •'e'lys, & clattering of
Cannes ;
Of fele frekys in -the fcld brokyn were their fannes;
Of fam were the hedys broky;;, of fum the brayn-pannei,
And y\[ were thay befene, or thay went thanns, ibfr
Ftr. i+6:fl lite, ami han.iiTe. PC. V. 151. The Chiefe. PC.
Y. J54- >tys. MS.
C 3 Wyth
22 ANCIENT POEMS.
Wyth fwyppyng of fwepyls:
Thay were fo wery for-foght,
Thay myzt not fyzt mare oloft,
Butcreped about in the ' croft,' 170
As thay were croked crepyls.
Perky n was fo wery, that he began to loute;
Help, Hud, I am ded in thys ylk rowte:
An hors for forty pens, a gode and a ftoute !
That I may iyztly come of my noye oute, 175
For no coft vvyl 1 fpare.
He flyrt up as a fnayle,
And bent a capul be the tayle,
And ' rett' Dawkin hys flayle,
And wan there a mare. 180
Perkyn wan five, and Hud wan twa:
Glad and biythe thay ware, that they had don fa;
Thay wold have tham to Tyb, and prefent hur wit)) tha ;
TheCapuIls were fo wery, that thay myzt not ga,
But flyl gon thay ftond. 185
Alas! quoth Hudde, my joye F lefe;
Mee had lever then a fton of chefe,
That dere Tyb had al thefe,
Anu wyft it were my fond*
Perkyn turnyd hym about in that ych thrang, igd
Among thos wery boyes he wreft and he wrang;
Ver, 1 63. The boyes were MS. V. 170. creped then about in the
proft. MS. F. 1 79. rail MS. V. 1 85. ftand MS.
Y, i8g.faml.MA *
He
ANCIENT POEMS. 23
He threw tham doun to the erth, and thraft tham amang,
When he faw Tyrry away wyth Tyb fang,
And after hym ran;
Off his horfe he hym drogh, 19$
And gaf hym of hys flayl inogh:
We te he! quoth Tyb, and lugh,
Ye er a dughty man.
* Thus' thay tugged, and rugged, tyl yt was nere nyzt:
Ail the wyvesof Tottenham came to fethat fyzt 20*
Wyth wyfpes, and kexis, and ryfchys there lyzt,
To fetch horn ther hufbandes, that were tham trouth plyzt j
And Aim brozt gret harwos,
Ther hulbandes horn to fetch,
Sum on dores, and fum on hech, 205
Sum on hyrdyllys, and fom on crech,
And fum on whele-barows.
Thay gaderyd Perkyn about, ' on' everych fyde,
And grant hym ther ' the gre,' the more was hys pryde:
Tyb and he, wyth gret * mirth,' homward co» thay ryde,
And were al nyzt togedyr, ty! the morn tyde; 211
And thay ' to church went:'
So wele hys nedys he has fped,
That dere Tyb he * hath' wed ;
The pray se-tolk, that hur led, aij
Were of the Turnament.
Vtr. 199. Thys. MS. V. 204. horn for to fetch. MS. V. 208.
about everych fide. MS. V. 209. the gre, is wanting in MS. V. z 10.
mothe. MS. V. 2 t2. And thay ifere afient. MS. V. 214. had
wed. MS. r. 215. The clieefemen. PC.
C 4 To
24 ANCIENT POEMS.
To that ylk feft com many for the nones ;
Some come hyphalte, and fome trippand * thither* on the
ftonys j
Sum a ftaf in hys hand, and fum two at onys ;
Of fum where the hedes brpkep? of fo«e the fchulder
bonys: $20
With forrow come thay thedyr.
Wo was Hawkyn, wo was Kerry,
Wo was Tomkyn, wo was Terry,
And fo was all the bachtlary,
When thay met togedyr. axj
* At that feft thay wer fervyd with a ryche aray,
Every fyve & fyve had a cokenay j
And fo thay fat in jolyte al the lung day ;
And at the laft thay went to bed with ful gret deray ; _
Mekyl myrth was them among j . 330
In every corner of the hous
Was melody delycyous
For to here precyus
Of fix menys fong f ,
Ver. 418. trippand on, MS.
* In the former imprrffions this concluding Jianza v>at only grvcn fnm
Bediueirs printed Edition, but it it here copied from the cfd MS. lubtrein
it fa been fince found feparatedfrwn thf rejl of the foem, by fever al fages
of a money account, and other heterogeneous matter.
•f- Six-men S long, /. e. a fong fr>" Jix -voica. So Sbakeffcare ttfcs
Three-man fong-men, in bis Winter's Tale, A. III. fc. ? to denote
men that could ftng Catches compofed for three Voices.. Of ibis fort are
IVeelteis Madrigals mentioned belvu>t Boot II. Song 9. So again
Sbaieff. has Three-men Beetle ; /. e. a Beetle or Rammer -wotked by
three men, 2 Hen, If, j4. 1, Sc, 3.
V. F O R
ANCIENT POEMS.
V.
FOR THE VICTORY AT AGINCOURT.
'That our plain and martial ancejlors could wield their
fwords much better than tbcir pens, will appear from the fol-
lowing homely Rhymes, which were drawn up by fome poet
laureat of thofe days to celebrate the immortal -v'iftory gained
at Agincourt, Oft 25, 1415- This Jong or hymn is given
meerly as a curiojity, and is printed from a MS. copy in the
Pefys collection, vol. I. folio- It is thire accompanied with
the mujical notes, which are copied in a f mall plate at the
end of this -volume*
Deo gratias Anglia redde pro viftoria !
OWRE kynge went forth to Normandy,
With grace and myzt of chivalry;
The God for hym wrouzt marveloufly,
Wherefore Englonde may calle, and cry j
Deo gratias:
Deo gratias Anglia redde pro viftoria.
He fette a fege, the fothe for to fay,
To Harflue roune with ryal aray;
1 hat toune he wan, and made a fray, 10
That Fraunce (hall rywe tyl domes day.
Deo gratias, &c.
Then
a6 ANCIENT POEMS.
Then went owre kynge, with alle his ofte,
Thorowe Fraunce for all the Frenfhe bofte }
He fparecl « for' drede of lefte, ne moft, '
Tyl he come to Agincourt cvfte.
Deo gr atlas ) &c»
Than for fothe that knyzt comely
In A^incourt fold he fauzt manly,
Thorow grace of God moft myzty
He had bothe the felde, and the victory.
Ther dukys, and erlys, lorde and barone,
Were take, and flayne, and that wel fone,
And fome were ledde in to Lundone
With joye, and merthe, and grete renone.
Deo gratiasy &e.
Now gracious God he fave owre kynge,
His peple, and all his we 1 wyllynge,
Gef him gode lyfe, and gode endynge, 30
That we with merth mowe favely fynge
Deo gratias .•
Dio gratias Anglia redde pro vifloria.
VI. THE
ANCIENT POEMS. 27
VT.
THE NOT- BROWNE MAYD.
Thefentimental beauties ofthi- ancient ballad have ilways
recommenced it to Readers of ,afte, not-ivifk ftind'-ng the ruft
of antiquity which oh/cures the J}fle a*d ex'^e^ion. Imbed
if it had no other merit than the r:av;n\r stiff ordfd the ground*
•work to Prior's •-{? R.Y AND HMM ///•' »:t<?ht t» trefe "iff
it from oblivion. That ive are ablf. to i-ive it in Jo cor* r ft
a manner •, is o--wi*/<? to the gieat care and exattnef* rf thc\
accurate Editor of the PROI us TONS, Svo. < 700 j --who ha*
formed the fxt frr»i /TUO co-pies found in TWO diffeiint edi*.
tions of Arnolds' s Chronicle.* a book fup^ofed to be firft rintea
about \ ^ 1 1 Fro m the copy in the Proiujitns the folio ^ing.
is printed with afe-iv additional improvements gat/iered
from another editi'/n of Arnolde*3 book * preferred in the
public Library at Cambridge. All tht -various rer< • • • nf
this Coj-y 'will be found Art-,, cither r. jived into f'..-' t:xtt
or noted in the margin 7 tie references fi f' ' ' iuiions
rvuilij&evj ivhere they >.ccur. In our ancient folio MS. de*
Jcribed in the preface is a very corrupt and defective copy
of this ballad, which y?.t afforded a great improvement in
one paffage See v. 3-0.
It has been a much eafier talk to fettle the text of this poem,
than t* af certain its date The Ballad of the NUTBROWNE
MAYO -was fir ft revive din " The Mufes Mercury for June,
1707." 4/0 being prefaced with alitle *' E/fay on the
*4 old Englijh Poets and Poetrv :" in which this poem is
concluded tu be " ne.ar ,ec ye^i^ old," upon reafons ivhich,
though they appear inconcludve to us now, were fuffi-ient to
determine Prior . ivho there fit ft met with it. Hntvever,
this opinion had the approbatiun of the learned W AN LEY,
an excellent jiulge of ancient bo'ks. For that ivhatever re-
lated to the reprinting of th s old piece -was referred ,9
* rhh (which my friend Mr. Fanner fuffof a to be tie firjl Edition)
is in folio: the filios are numbered at the bittnm of the leaf: the Sorg
begins at folio 7 5. The Poem has face !>efn collated luitb a very fine copy
that iy.i-. in the nlletti™ of the lite James Weft, Ejq; the readings e\--
tra&ied thence are denoted thus ' Mr. W.'
a8 ANCIENT POEMS.
Wanley, appears from two letters of Prior's preferved
in the BritiJJi Mufeum [Harl, MSS. N° 3777.] The
Editor of the Prolufions thinks it cannot be older than
the year 1 5 O8, becaufe, in Sir Thomas Mare's Tale of
THE SERJEANT, &V. -which iuas written about that time,
there appears afamenefs of rythmus and orthography, and
a very near affinity of words and phrafes, with th feof this
ballad. But this reafoning is not conclujive ; for if Sir
Thomas More made this ballad his model, as is very likely,
that will account for the famenefs of meafure, and in fome
rffpeftfor that of words and phrafes, even tbo' this had been
•suritten kng before : and, as for the orthography, it is well
known that the old Printers reduced that of moft books to the
Jiandard of their own times. Indeed it is hardly probable
that an antiquary like Arnolde would have inferted it
among his hiflorical Colic ftions, if it had been then a modern
fiece ; at leaft he wculd have been apt to have named its
author. But to Jheiv how little can be inferred from a re-
femblance of rhythmus orfyle, the editor of thefe volumes has
in his ancient folio MS. a poem on the victory of FloJdcn-
field , written in the fame numbers, luith the Jams allite.ra •
tions, and in orthography, phrafeology, and ftyle nenrly re-
fembling the F~ijions of Pierce Plowman^ 'which are yet kno^vn
to have been compijed abwe 1 60 years before that battle.
As this poem is a great curiojity^ we Jhall givi a few of the
introJufiory lines :
" Grant gracious God, grant me this time,
*4 That ] may 'fay, or I ceafe, thy felven topleafe\
u And Mary his mother, that maketh this world ;
*' And all the feemlie faint S) that fit ten in heaven ;
** / TO/// carpe of kings, that conquered full wide,
' * 7 hat dwelled in this land, that was alyes noble ;
" Henry thefeventh, that Joveraigne lord, &c."
With regard to the date of the following ballad, we have
taken a middle courfe, neither placed it Jo high as ffanley and
Prior, nor quite fo low as the editor of the Prolujions : we
Jhnuld have fcllo^vtd the latter in dividing every other line
into two, but that the whole wculd then have taken up more
room than could be allowed it in this -volume.
B E
ANCIENT POEMS. 29
BE it ryght, or wrong, thefe men among
On women do complayne * ;
Affyrmynge this, how that it is
A labour fpent in vayne,
To love them wele; for never a dele $
They love a man agayne:
For late a man do what he can,
Theyr favour to attayne,
Yet, yf a newe do them perfuc,
Theyr firft true lover than < i»
Laboureth for nought ; for from her thought
He is a banyflied man.
I fay nat nay, but that all day
It is bothe writ and fayd
That womans faith is, as who faytb, i{
All utterly decayd;
But, neverthelefle, ryght good wytnefle
In this cafe might be layd,
That they love true, and continue:
Recorde the Not-browne Mayde: 2*
Which, when her love came, her to prove,
To her to make his mone,
Wolde nat depart; for in her hart
She loved but hym alone.
* My friend Mr. Farmer propofes to read tie firfl lines thus M a La-
tinifm:
Be it right or wrong, 'ds men among,
On women to comphyne.
Ver.i. Woman. Prvlujhru, and Mr. Wejft cofj. Vtr. ji. her.
/.*. their.
Than
3o ANCIENT POEMS.
Than betwaine us late us dyfcus a$
Wh t was all the manerc
Betwayne them two: we wyll alfo
Tell all the payne, and fere,
Tim flic was in. Nowe I begyn,
So that ye me anfwere; $•
Wherfore, all ye, that prefent be
I pray you, gyve an ere.
" I am the knjghir; I come by nyght,
As fecret as I can ;
Sayinge, A'as ! thus ftandeth the cafe, 35
I am a banyflied man."
SHE.
And T your wyll for to fulfyll
In this wyll nat refufe;
Truflying to fliewe, in wordes fewe,
That men have an yll ufe 40
(To theyr own fhame) women to blame,
And caufelefle them accufe :
•Therfore to you I anfwere nowe,
All women to excufe,— -
Myne owne hart dere, with you what chere ? 45
I pray you, tell anone;
For, in my mynde, of all mankynde
I love but you alone.
HE.
ANCIENT POEMS. 31
HE.
It ftandeth fo ; a dede is do
Wherof grefe harme fhall growe: 50
My deftiny is for to dy
A fliamefull deth, I trowe;
Or ellea to fle : the one muft be.
None other way I knowe,
But to withdrawe as an outlawe, 55
And take me to my bovve.
Wherfore, adue, my owne hart true I
None other rede I can :
For I muft to the grene wode go,
Alone, a banyfhed man. 60
SHE.
0 lord, what is thys worldys blyfle,
That changeth as the mone !
My fomers day in lufty may
Is derked before the none,
1 here you fay, farewell : Nay, nay, 6$
We depart nat fo fone.
Why ;ay ye fo ? wheder wyll ye go ?
Alas ! what have ye done ?
All my welfare to forrowe and care
Sholde chaunge, yf ye were gone; 70
For, in my mynde, of all mankynde
I love but you alone.
Vtr. 63. The fomers. Pro/.
HE.
3a ANCIENT POEMS.
HE.
I can beleve, it fhall you greve,
And fomewhat you dyftrayne;
But, aftyrwarde, your paynes harde 7 5
Within a day or tvvayne
Shall fone aflake ; and ye fhall take
Comfort to you agayne.
Why fholde ye ought? for, to make thought,
Your labour were in vayne. 80
And thus I do; and pray you to,
As hartely, as I can ;
For I muft to the grene wode go,
Alone, a banyfhed man.
SHE.
Now, fyth that ye have fliewed to me $5
The fecret of your mynde,
I (hall be playne to you agayne,
Lyke as ye fhall me fynde.
Syth it is fo, that ye wyll go,
I wolle not leve behynde ; 9*
Shall never be fayd, the Not-browne Mayd
Was to her love unkynde:
Make you redy, for fo am I,
Allthough it were anone ;
For, in my mynde, of all mankyndc 95
I love but you alone.
Vtr. 91. Shall it never. ?/••/. and Mr. IV. Ver. 94. Although!.
Mr. W.
HE.
ANCIENT POEMS. 33
HE.
Yet I you rede to take good hede
What men wyll thynke, and fav :
Of yonge, uxTolde it {hail betolde,
That ye he gone away, too
Your wanton wyll for to fulfill,
In grene wode you to play;
And th 't ye myght from your delyght
No lenger make delay.
Rather than ye ilioide thus for me 10$
Be called an yll woman,
Yet wolde I to the grene wode go,
Alone, a banyfhed man.
SHE.
Though it be fonge of old and yonge,
That I fholde be to blame, 1 1 w
Theyrs be the charge, that fpeke fo large
In hurtynge of my name :
For I wyll prove, that faythfulle love
It is devoyd of (hame ;
In your dyftrefle, and hevynefle, 1 1 £
To part with you, the fame :
And fure all tho, that do not fo,
True lovers are they none ; .
For, in my mynde, of all mankynde
I love but you alone. {20
Vtr. ii 7. To Ihewe all. Pnl. and Mr, W.
VOL. II. D Hi.
34 ANCIENT POEMS.
HE.
I counceyle you, remember howe,
It is no maydens lawe,
Nothynge to dout, but to renne out
To wode with an outlawe:
For ye muft there in your hand bere 125
A bowe, redy to drawe ;
And, as a thefe, thus muft you lyve,
Ever in drede and awe ;
Wherby to you grete harme myght growe :
Yet had I lever than, 130
That I had to the grene wode go,
Alone, a banyftied man.
SHE.
I thinke nat nay, but as ye fay,
It is no maydens lore:
But love may make me for your fake, 135
As I have fayd before
To come on fote, to hunt, and fhote
To gete us mete in flore ;
For fo that I your company
May have, I aflce no more : 140
From which to part, it maketh my hart
As colde as ony ilone;
For, in my mynde, of all mankynde
I love but you alone.
Ver. 133. I fay nat. Pro/, and Mr. IV. Vcr. 138. and ftore.
Cant. cofv.
HE.
ANCIENT POEMS. 35
HE.-
For anoutlawe this is the lawe, 145
That men hym take and bynde ;
Without pyte, hanged to be,
And waver with the wynde.
If I had nede, (as God forbede!)
What refcous coude ye fynde? 150
Forfoth, I trowe, ye and your bowe
For fere wolde drawe behynde :
And no mervayle ; for lytell avayle
Were in your counceyle than :
Wheifore I wyll to the grene wode go, 155
Alone, a banyfhed man.
SHE.
Ryght wele knowe ye, that women be
But feblefor tofyght;
No womanhede it is indedc
To be bolde as a knyght: i6«
Yet, in fuch fere yf that ye were
With enemyes day or nyght,
I wolde withitande, with bowe in hande,
To greve them as I myght,
And you to fave ; as women have 16$
From deth * men' many one:
For, in my mynde, of all mankynde
I love but you alone.
Ver. 150. focours. Prol. and Mr. W. Vtr. 162. and night.
Camb. Copy. Vtr. 164. to helpe ye with my myght. Prol.
end Mr. W.
D z HE.
36 ANCIENT POEMS.
HE.
Yet take good hede; for ever I drede
That ye coude nat fuftayne 176
The thornie waves, the dcpe valeies,
The fnowe, the froft, the rayne,
Thecolde, thehete: for dry, or wele,
We muft lodge «n the playne;
And, us above, none other rofe 175
But a brake bufti, or tway ne :
Which fone fholde greve you, I beleve;
And ye wolde gladly than
That I had to the grene wode go,
Alone, a banyihed man. 180
SHE.
Syth I have here benepartynerc
With you of joy and blyfle,
I muft alfo parte of your wo
Endure, as refon is :
Yet am I fure of one picture; 185
And, fliortely, it is this :
That, where ye be, me femeth, parde,
I coude nat fare amyfle.
Without more fpeche, I you befeche
That we were fone agone ; 1 90
For, in my mynde, of all mankynde
-I love but you alone.
Ttr. 171. froft and rayne. Mr. IT. TV. 174. Ye moft, Prol,
Tcr. 190. toortky gone. fnl. rtMr.K
Hi,
ANCIENT POEMS. 37
HE.
If ye go thyder, ye muft confyder,
Whan ye have luft to dyne,
There fhall no mete be for you gete, 193
Nor drinke, here, ale, ne vvyne.
No flietes clene, to lye betwene,
Made of threde and twyne ;
None other houfe, but leves and bowes,
To cover your hed and myne, 200
O myne harte fwete, this evyll dyete
Sholde make you j? ale and wan ;
Wherfore I wyll to the grene vvode go,
Alone, a banyfhed man.
SHE.
Amonge the wylde dere, fuch an archere, 205
As men fay that ye be,
Ne may nat fayle of good vitayle,
Where is io grete plente :
And water clere of the ryvere
Shall be full fwete to me ; azo
With which in hele I (hall ryght wele
Endure, as ye fliail fee;
And, or wfe go, a bedde or two
I can provyde anone j
For, in my mynde, of all mankynde 21$
I love but you alone.
Vtr. 196. Neyther here. Pro!, ami Mr. W. Ver. 201. Lo myn-
r.rr. Vtr. 207. May ^*nat fayle. Pro/. Ib. May nat fayle. Mr. V.
D 3 HE.
38 ANCIENT POEMS.
HE.
Lo yet, before, ye muft do more,
Yf ye wyll go with me :
As cut your here up by your ere,
Your kyrtel by the kne ; 220
With bowe in hande, for to withftande
Your enemyes, yf nede be :
And this fame nyght before day-lyght,
To wode-warde wyll I fle.
Yf that ye wyll all this fulfill, 22$
Do it Ihortely as ye can ;
Els wyll I to the grene wode go,
Alone, a banyflied man.
SHE.
I (hall as nowe do more for you
Than longeth to womanhede; 230
To fliote my here, a bowe to here,
To fliote in tyme of nede.
O my fwete mother, before all other
For you I have molt drede:
But nowe, adue! I muftenfue, 2$$
Where fortune doth me lede.
All this make ye : Now let us fle ;
The day cometh faft upon ;
For, in my mynde, of all mankynde
I love but you alone. 240
Ter. 119. above your ere. Pro/. Ver. azo. above the kne.
Prtl. *nd Mr. W. Vtr. 223. the fame. Prol. and Mr. W.
HE.
ANCIENT POEMS. 39
HE.
Nay, nay, nat fo ; ye (hall nat go,
And I fhall tell ye why,
Your appetyght is to be lyght
Of love, I wele efpy :
For, lyke as ye have fayed to me, 245
In lyke wyfe hardely
Ye wolde anfwere whofoever it were,
In way of company.
It is fayd of olde, Sone hote, fone colde;
And fo is a woman. 2^0
Wherfore I to the wode wyll go,
Alone, a banyflied man.
SHE.
Yf ye take hede, it is no nede
Such wordes to fay by me;
For oft ye prayed, and longe aflayed, 2$$
Or I you loved, parde :
And though that I of aunceftry
A barons daughter be,
Yet have you proved howe I you loved
A fquyer of lowe degre ; 260
And ever fhall, whatfo befall ;
To dy therfore * anone ;
For, in my mynde, of all mankynde
I love but you alone.
Ver. 251. For I muft to the grene wode go, Pro/, tnd. Mr. IV.
Ver. 253. vet is. Camb. Copy. Perhaps for yt is. Ver. 262. <ly
with him. Editor's MS.
* /'. e.for this cauft ; the* I were to die for having Iwed yo»i
D 4 HE.
40 ANCIENT POEMS.
HE.
A barons chylde to be begylde ! 265
It were a curfed dede j
To be felawe with an outlawe !
Almighty God forbede !
Yet beter were, the pore fquyere
Alone to foreft yede, *;o
Than ye fholde fay another day,
That, by my curfed dede,
Ye were betray'd : Wherfore, good mayd,
The beft rede that I can,
Is, that I to the grene wode go> 375
Alone, a banyfhed man.
SHE.
Whatever befall, I never (hall
Of this thyng you upbrayd :
But yf ye go, and leve me fo,
Than have ye me betrayd. 280
Remember you vvele, howe that ye dele ;
For, yf ye, as ye fayd,
Be fo unkynde, to leve behynde,
Your love, the Not-browne Mayd,
Truft me truly, that I (hall dy 28$
Sone after ye be gone;
For, in my mynde, of all manyknde
I love but you alone.
Ttr. 278. outbrayd. Pro/, and Mr. W. Ver. a8z. ye be as. P>ol.
•nd Mr. W. Vtr. zSj. Ye were unkynde to leve me behynde.
Pr»l. t*d Mr. W.
HE.
ANCIENT POEMS. 41
HE.
Yf that ye went, ye fholde repent ;
For in the foreft novve 290
I have purvayed me of a mayd,
Whom I love more than you ;
Another fayrere, than ever ye were,
I dare it wele avowej
And of yon bothe eche fholde be wrothe 295
With other, as I trowe :
It were myne efe, to lyve in pefe ;
So wyll I, yf I can ;
Wherfore I to the wode wyll go,
Alone, a banyflied man. 300
SHE.
Though in the v/ode I undyrftode
Ye had a paramoxir,
All this may nought remove my thought,
But that I wyll be your:
And me (hall fynde me fofr, and kynde, 305
And courteys every hour ;
Glad to fulfyll all that flie wyll
Coirraaunde me to my power:
For had ye, lo, an hundred mo,
* Of them I wolde be one;* 310
For, in my mynde, of all mar.kynde
I love but you alone.
310. So the Editor's MS. ^411 tkt -printed copies read,
Yet wolJ 1 be that one.
H£.
4* ANCIENT POEMS.
HE.
Myne owne dere love, I fe the prove
That ye be kynde, and true;
Of mayde, and wyfe, in all my lyfe, 315
The beft that ever I knewe.
Be mery and glad, be no more fad,
The cafe is chaunged newe ;
For it were ruthe, that, for your truthe,
Ye fliolde have caufe to revve. 320
Be nat difinayed; whatfoever I fayd
To you, whan I began ;
I wyll nat to the grene wode go,
I am no banyflied man.
SHE.
Thefe tydings be more gladd to me, 325
Than to be made a quene,
Yf I were fare they fholde endure :
But it is often fene,
Whan men wyll breke promyfe, they fpeke
The wordes on the fplene. 330
Ye fhape fome wyle me to begyle,
And ftele from me, I wene :
Than, were the cafe worfe than it was,
And I more wo- be gone :
For, in my mynde, of all mankynde 335
I love but you alone.
Ver. 315. of all. Pro!, and Mr. W. Vtr. 315, gladder. Prol.
mnd Mr, W.
HE.
ANCIENT POEMS. 43
P
HE.
Ye fhall nat nede further to drede;
I wyll nat dyfpara°;e
You, (God defend !) iyth ye defcend
Of fo grcte a lynage. 340
Novve undyrilande; to Weftmarlande,
\Vhich is myne herytage,
I wyll you brynge; and with a rynge,
By way of maryage
I wyll you take, and lady make, 34$
'As fhortely as I can :
Thus have you won an erlys fon,
And not a banyfhed man."
AUTHOR.
" Here may ye fe, that women be
In love, meke, kynde, and ftable ; 350
Late never man reprove them than,
Or call them variable;
But, rather, pray God, that we may
To them be comfortable;
Which fometyme proveth fuch, as he loveth, 35;
Yf they be chary table.
Forfythmen wolde that women fiiolde
Be meke to them each one;
Moche more ought they to God obey,
And ferve but hym alone. 360
Ver. 340. grete lynyage. Pro/, and Mr. W. Ver. 347- Then have.
Piol. Ver. 348. And no banyihed . Pro/, and Mr. IV. V. 351.
This line iv ant ing in Pro/, and Mr. IV. Ver 355. proved — loved.
Pro!, and Mi. W. Ib. as loveth, Camb. V. 357. Forfoth. Pnl. and
Mr.W.
VII. A
44 ANCIENT POEMS,
vn.
A BALET BY THE EARL RIVERS.
The amiable light in which the character of Anthony
Widville the gallant Earl Rivers has been placed by the ele-
gant Author of the Catal. of Noble Writers, interefts us in
•whatever fell from his fen. It isprefumed therefore that the
infertion of this little Sonnet mill be pardoned, th<? itjhould
not be found to have much poetical merit. It is the only ori-
ginal Poem known of that nobleman's ; his more voluminous
works being only tranflations. And if tve conjider that it
"was written during his cruel confinement in Pomfret tajlle
a. Jhort time before his execution in 1483, it gives us a fine
picture of the compofure andfieadinefs with which tbisjlout
earl beheld his approaching fate.
Tkis Ballad we owe to ROUSE a contemporary hijlo-
rian, who feems io have copied it from the Earl's own hand
writing. In tempore, fays this -writer, incarcerationis
apud Pontem-fra&um edidit unum BALET in anglicis,
nt mihi monftratum eft, quod fubfequitur fub his verbis:
•urn tojjat mufgnij, &c. " Roffi Hift. 8vo. 2 Edit. p. 213."
In Rouje the id Stanza, &c. is imperfeft, but the Defefts
are here fupplied from a more perfecJ Copy printed in " An*
dent Songs, from the 'Time of K. Hen. III. to the Revo*
lution" page 87.
This little piece, which perhaps ought rather to have been
printed injlanzas of eight Jhort lines, is written in imita-
tion of a poem of Chaucer's, that will be found in Urrji's
Edit. 172", p> 555, beginning thus :
Akne walkyng, In thought plainyng,
All defolate. •.
'* And fore Jighy ing, All de
" My remembrying Of my livyng
*' M death wijbn Bothe
My death wijbyng Bothe erly and latf.
Infer tun ate Isfo my fate
" That wote ye what, Out of mefure
My life I hate; Thus defper ate
** Injuch pore ejlatt, Dot I tndurt, &c."
5 SUM-
ANCIENT POEMS.
SUMWHAT mufyng, And more mornyng,
In remembring The unftydfaftnes ;
This world being Of 1'uch whelyng,
Me contrarieng, What may I gdfe?
I fere dowtles, Remediles, 5
Is now to fefe My vvofull chaunce.
[For unkyndnefs, Withouten lefs,
And no redrefs, Me doth avaunce.
With difplefaunce, To my grevaunce,
And no furaunce Of remedy.] to
Lo in this traunce, Now in fubftaunce,
Such is my dawnce, Wyllyng to dye.
Me thynkys truly, Bowndyn am I,
And that gretly, To be content:
Seyng playnly, Fortune doth wry xf
All contrary From myn enteut.
My lyff was lent Me to on intent,
Hytt is ny fpent. Welcome fortune!
But I ne went Thus to be flient,
But (ho hit ment ; Such is hur won. so
Fir. 15. That for tune. RoffiHift.
Ver* 19. went; /'. e. weened.
via. c
46 ANCIENT POEMS,
VIII.
CUPID's ASSAULT: BY LORD VAUX.
'The Reader will think that infant Poetry grew apace
between the times of RIVERS and VAUX, tho1 nearly contem-
poraries ; if t he following Song is the compojition of that Sir
NICHOLAS (after-wards Lord) VAUX, who was the Jhin-
ing ornament of the court of Henry VII. and died in the
year 1523.
And yet to this Lord it is attributed by Puttenham in his
" Art of Eng. Poejle, \ 589. 4/0.'* a writer commonly well
informed: take the paj/age at large. "In this figure
" \_Counterfait Aclion} the L'ord NICHOLAS VAUX, a
" noble gentleman and much delighted in -vulgar making ,
*' and a man other-wife of no great learning, but having
*' herein a marvelous facilitie, made a dittie reprefenting the
" Battayle and AJfault of Cupide,fo excellently well, as for
" the gallant and propre application of his fittion in every
" part, I cannot cboofe buffet downe the greatejl fart of his
" ditty , for in truth it cannot be amended. WHEN CUPID
" SCALED, &c." p. 200. For a farther account of Ni-
cholas Lord Faux, Jee Mr. Walpole's Noble Authors^ Vol. I.
The following Copy is printed from the firft Edit, of Sur-
rey's Poems, I 5^7, &to. See another Song of Lord Vaux*i
in the preceding Vol. Book II. No. II.
WHEN Cupide fcaled firft the fort,
Wherein my hart lay wounded forej
The batry was of fuch a fort,
That 1 muft yelde or die therfore.
There fawe I Love upon the wall, 5
How he his banner did difplay ;
Alarme, alarme, hcgantocall;
And bad his fouldiours kepe aray.
The
ANCIENT POEMS. 47
The armes, the which that Cupide bare,
Were pearced hartes with teares befprent, i»
In filver and fable to declare
The ftedfaft love, he alwayes ment.
There might you fe his band all dreft
In colours like to white and blacke,
With powder and with pelletes preft 15
To bring the fort tofpoile and facke.
Good-wyll, the maifter of the fhot,
Stode in the rampire brave and proude,
For fpence of pouder he fpared not
Aflault ! aflault! to crye aloude. 20
There might you hcare the cannons rore ;
Eche pece difcharged a lovers loke ;
Which had the power to rent, and tore
In any place whereas they toke.
And even with the trumpettes fowne 25
The fcaling ladders were up fet,
And Beautie walked up and downe,
With bow in hand, and arrowes whet.
Then firfl Defire began to fcale,
And flirouded him under ' his' targe ; 30
As one the worthieft of them all,
And aptefl for to geve the charge.
Vtr. 30. her. Ed. 1557. fo Ed. 1535.
Then
ANCIENT POEMS.
Then pufhed fouldiers with their pikes,
And halberdes with handy flrokcs ;
The argabufhe in flefhe it lightes, 35
And duns the ayre with miity fmokes.
And, as it is the fouldiers life
When fhot and powder gins to want,
I hanged up my flagge of truce,
And pleaded up for my lives grant. 40
When Fanfy thus had made her breche,
And Beauty entred with her band,
With bagge and baggage, fely wretch,
I yelded into Beauties hand.
Then Beautie bad to blow retrete, 45
And every fouldier to retire,
And mercy wylPd with fpede to fet
Me captive bound as prifoner.
Madame, quoth I, fith that this day
Hath ferved you at all afiayes, 50
I yeld to you without delay
Here of the fortrefle all the kayes.
And fith that I have ben the marke,
At whom you fhot at with your eye ;
Nedes muft you with your handy warke, 55
Or falve my fore, or Jet me die.
*** SINCE
ANCIENT POEMS. 49
*^* PINCE the foregoing Song was fir ft printed off, rea-
*^ fons have occurred, which incline me to believe that
Lord VAUX the poet -was not the Lord NICHOLAS VAUX,
who died in 1523, but rather a fuccejjor of bis in the
title, For in the firft place it is remarkable that all the
old writers mention Lord Faux, the poet^ as contemporary or
rather pojlerior to Sir THOMAS WYAT, and the E. of
SURREY, neither of which made any figure till long after
the death of the firjt Lord Nicholas Faux. 'Thus Puttenbam
in his " Art of Engli/h Poefie, 1589." in p* 48, having
named SKELTON, adds, il In the latter end of the fame
*' kings raigne \Henry VIIL]f prong up a new company of
" courtly Makers, [Poets] of whom Sir THOMAS WYAT
" tb1 elder, and Henry Earl of SOR.REV were the two
" chief taines, who having travailed into Italic, and there
" t a/led the fweet and Jlately meafures and Jlile of the
" Italian poejie . . greatly polijhed our rude and homely
" manner of vulgar poejie .... In the SAME TIME, or
" NOT LONG AFTER was the Lord NICHOLAS VAUX,
<; a man of much facilitie in vulgar makings *.'' — Webbe
in his Difcourfe of Engli/Ji Poeirie, 1586, ranges them in
the following order, " The E of Surrey, the Lord VAUX,
Norton, Brijlow*' AndGafcoigne, in the place quoted in the
ift vol. of this 'work, [B.H. No. II.] mentions Lord VAUX
after Surrey. -Again, the Jlile and meafure of Lord
VAUX'S pieces feem too refined and poliflted -for the age of
Henry VI 1. and rather refemble the fmoothnefs and harmony
of Surrey and Wyat, than the rude metre of Skelton and
Hawes: — But what puts the matter out of all doubt, in the
Rritijli M»feum is a copy of his poem, I lothe that 1 did
love, [vid. vol. I. ubi fupra] with this title, " A dyttye or
" fonet made by the Lord VAUS, in the time of the noble
" Quene Marye, reprefeatin? the image of Death." Harl.
MSS. No. 1701, §.2c. '
It is evident then that Lord VAUX the poet was not he that
flaurifhed in the reign of Henry vij. but either hisfon, or
grand/on: and yet accordingtoDngdale's Baronage, the former
was named 'T HO M AS, and the latter WILLIAM : fa* this
* /. t. Comfofttiom in Englijh.
Vot. II. £ difficulty
50 A N C I EN T POEMS.
difficulty is not great, for none of the old iiriters mention the
cbriftiaH name of the poetic Lord F'aux *, except Puttenham v
and it is more likely that he might be miftaken in that Lord's
name, than in the time in which heli<ved^ who was fo nearly
his contemporary. k '
THOMAS Lord V A ux, of Harrowiden in Northamp'on-
JJiire, was fummoned to parliament in 1531- When be died
does not appear ; but be probably lived 'till the latter end of
$>ueen Mary's reign, Jince hisfon.
VV ILL I AM was not fummoned to far I. till the laji year of
that reign, in 1558. This Lord died in 1595. See Dug-
dale, F~. II. p. 304. Upon the whole I am inclined
to believe that Lord THOMAS iiuas the POET.
* In the Paradife «/" Dainty Devifesy 1596, he ii called fimfly
« Lord Vaux the elder."
IX.
SIR ALDINGAR.
This old fabulous legend is given from the Editor's folit
MS i)jiih conjectural emendations, and the infer t ion of fome
additional Jlanzas tofufply and c ample at thejiory.
It has beenfuggejled to the Editor, thai the Author of this
Poemfeems to have bad in bis eye thejiory of Gunhilda, 'who
isfometimes called Eleanor, and^was married to the Emperor
{here called King) Henry.
OUR king he kept a falfe ftewarde,
Sir Aldingar they him call;
A falfer fteward than he was one,
Servde not in bower nor hall.
He wolde have layne by our comelye queene,
Her deere worfhippe to betraye :
Our
ANCIENT POEMS. 51
Our <jueene fhe was a good woman,
And evermore faid him naye.
Sir Aldingar was wrothe in his mind,
With her hee was never content, IO
Till traiterous meanes he colde devyfe,
In a fyer to have her brent.
There came a lazar to the kings gate,
'A lazar both blinde and lame:
He tooke the lazar upon his backe, 15
Him on the queenes bed has layne.
" Lye flill, lazar, wheras thou lyeft,
" Looke thou goe not hence away;
" He make thee a whole man and a found
" In two howers of the day *." 2*
Then went him forth fir Aldingar,
And hyed him to our king:
<{ If I might have grace, as I have fpace,
*' Sad tydings I could bring."
Say on, fay on, fir Aldingar, 2£
Saye on the foothe to mee.
" Our queene hath chofen a new new love,
'* And fhee will have none of thee.
* He probably inftnuates that tie kingjlould heal him by bis tower of
touching for the Mag's Evil.
E a "If
5a ANCIENT POEMS.
" If fliee had chofen a right good knight,
" The lefle had beene her fhame; 3<J
" But (he hath chofe her a lazar man,
" A lazar both blinde and lame."
If this be true, thou Aldingar,
The tyding thou telleft to me,
Then will 1 make thee a rich rich knight, 3-5
Rich both of golde and fee.
But if it be falfe, fir Aldingar,
As God nowe grant it bee !
Thy body, I fweare by the holye rood,
Shall hang on the gallows tree. 40
He brought our king to the queenes chamber,
And opend to him the dore.
A lodlye love, king Harry fays,
For our queene dame Elinore !
If thou were a man, as thou art none, 45
Here on rr.y fword thouil dye ;
But a payre of new gallowes fliall be built,
And there (halt thou hang on hye.
Forth then hyed our king, I wyfle,
And an angry man was hee ; 59
And foone he found queene Elinore,
That bride fo bright of Wee.
Now
ANCIENT POEMS. 53
Now God you fave, our queene, madame,
And Chrift you fave and fee ;
Heere you have chofen a newe newe love, $f
And you will have none of mee.
If you had chofen a right good knight,
The lefle had been your fliame :
But you have chofe you a lazar man,
A lazar both blinde and lame. 60
Therfore a fyer there fliall be built,
And brent all fhalt thou bee.— —
M Now out alacke ! faid our comly queene,
Sir Aldingar's falfe to mee.
Now out alacke ! fayd our comlye queene, 65
My heart with griefe will braft.
I had thought fwevens had never been true ;
I have proved them true at laft.
I dreamt in my fweven on thurfday eve,
In my bed wheras I laye, 70
I dreamt a grype and a grimlie beaft
Had carryed my crowne awaye ;
My gorgett and my kirtle of golde,
And all my faire head-geere:
And he wold worrye me with his tulh 75
And to his neft y-beare ;
E 3 Saving
54 A N C I ENT POEMS.
Saving there came a litle * gray* hawke,
A merlin him they call,
Which untill the grounde did ftrike the grype,
That dead he downe did fall. ' 80
Giffe I were a man, as now I am none,
A battell wold I prove,
To fight with that traitor Aldingar;
Att him I cajt my glove.
But feeing Ime able noe battell to make, 8$
My liege, grant me a knight
To fight with that traitor fir Aldingar,
To maintaine me in my right."
" Now foity dayes I will give thee
To feeke thee a knight therin : 90
If thou find not a knight in forty dayes
Thy bodye it muft brenn."
Then (hee fent eaft, and fliee fent weft,
By north and fouth bedeene :
But never a champion colde (he find, 95
Wolde fight with that knight foe keene.
Now twenty dayes were fpent and gone,
Noe helpe there might be had;
Many a teare flied our comelye qutene
And aye her hart was fad. 100
Ver. 77. fee below, ver. 137.
Thea
ANCIENT POEMS. 4 55
Then came one of the queenes damselles,
And knelt upon her knee,
" Cheare up, cheare up, my gracious dame,
I truft yet helpe may be :
And here I will make mine avowe, 105
And with the fame me binde ;
That never will 1 return to thee,
Till I fome helpe may finde."
Then forth me rode on a faire pal fr aye
Oer hill and dale about : 1 10
But never a champion colde (lie finde,
Wolde fighte with that knight fo.ftout.
And nowe the daye drewe on a pace,
When our good queene muft dye;
All woe-begone was that frire damselle, 115
When fhe found no helpe was nye.
All woe-begone was that faire damselle,
And the fait teares fell from her eye:
When lo ! as me rode by a rivers fide,
She met with a tinye boye. 120
A tinye boye (he mette, God wot,
All clad in mantle of golde j
He feemed noe more in mans likenefle,
Then a ehilde of lour yeere olde.
E 4 Why
56 ANCIENT POEMS.
Why grieve you, damfelle faire, he fayd, 12$
And what doth caufe yon moane?
The damfell fcant wolde deigne a looke,
But fafl fhe pricked on.
Yet turn againe, thou fa ire damselle,
And greete thy queene from mee : i3»
When bale is att hyeft, boote is nyeft,
Nowe helpe enoughe may bee.
Bid her remember what fhe dreamt
In her bedd, wheras fliee laye;
How when the grype snd the grimly beaft 135
Wolde have carried her crowne awaye,
Even then there came the litle gray hawke,
And faved her from his clawes :
Then bidd the queene be merry at hart, (.,;
For heaven will fende her caufe. 140
Back then rode that faire damselle,
And her hart it lept for glee;
And when (lie told her gracious dame
A gladd woman then was fliee.
But when the appointed day was come, 145
No helpe appeared nye :
Then woeful, woeful was her hart,
And the teares flood in her eye.
And,
ANCIENT POEMS. 57
And nowe a fyer was built of wood ;
And a (lake was made of tree; 150
And now queene Elinor forth was led,
A forrowfui fight to fee.
Three times the herault he waved his hand,
And three times fpake oil hye:
Giff any good knight will fende this dame, 155
Come forth, or fhee muft dye.
No knight flood forth, no knight there came,
No helpe appeared nye :
And now the fyer was lighted up,
Queen Elinor fhe muft dye. 160
And now the fyer was lighted up,
As hot as hot might bee ;
When riding upon a little white fleed,
The tinye boy they fee.
" Away with that flake, away with thofe brands, 16$
And loofe our co nelye queene :
I am come to fight with fir Aldingar,
And prove him a traitor keene."
«
Forthe then flood fir Aldingar,
But when he faw the chylde, 170
fie laughed, and fcoffed, and turned his backe,
And weened he had been beguylde.
« Novr
53 ANCIENT POEMS.
" Now turne, now turne thee, Aldingar,
And eyther fighte or flee;
I truft that 1 fliall avenge the wronge, 1 75
Thoughe I am fo fmall to fee."
The boye pulld forth a well good fworde
So gilt it dazzled the ee;
The fii ft ftroke ftricken at Aldingar
Smote off his leggs by the knee. 1 8»
" Stand up, ftand up, thou falfe traitor,
And £ght upon thy feete,
For and thou thrive, as thou begin'ft,
Of height wee fhall be mecte."
A prieft, a prief1, fayes Aldingar, i8£
'While I am a man alive.
A prieft, a pried, f^yes Aldingar,
Me for to houzle and flirive.
I wolde have laine by our comlie queene,
Boi fhee \\ olde never content ; 1 90
Then I thought to betraye her unto our kinge
In a fyer to have her brent.
There came a lazar to the kings gates,
A lazar both blind and lame:
I tooke the laiar upon my backe, 195
And on her bedd had him layne.
Then
ANCIENT POEMS. 59
Then ranne I to our comlye king,
Thefe tidings fore to tell.
But ever alacke ! fayes Aldingar,
Falling never doth well. 200
Forgive, forgive me, queene, madame,
The fliort time I mud live.
u Nowe Chrift forgive thee, Aldingar,
As freely 1 forgive."
Here take thy queene, our,king Harrye, 20$
And love her a.s thy life,
For never had a king in Chriftentye,
A truer and fairer wife.
King Henrye ran to clafpe his queene,
And loofed her full fone: 310
Then turnd to look for the tinye boye ;
— -- The bcye was vanifht and gone.
But firft he had tonchd the lazar man,
And ftroakt him with his hand:
The lazar under the gallowes tree 2I?
All whole and founde did (land.
The lazar under the gallowes tree
Was comelye, ftraight and tall ;
King Henrye made him his head ftewarde
TO wayte withinn his hall. %* 220
X. THE
60 ANCIENT POEMS.
X.
THE GABERLUNZIE MAN.
A SCOTTISH SONG.
Tradition informs us that the author of thisfong ivas K.
JAMES V. of Scotland. This prince (whofe char after for
•soil and libertinifm bears a great refemblance to that of his
•was noted for Jtrolling about his
ndfor his frequent gallantries with
gay fuccejjor Charles II.) -was noted for Jtrolling about his
dominions in dif guile *, and for his frequent gallantries with
country girls, Two adventures of this kind he hath cele-
brated with his own fen, -viz, in this ballad of THE G A-
EERLUNZIE MAN; and in another intitled THE JoLLY
BEGGAR, beginning thus:
Thair was a jollie beggar, and a begging he was boun,
And he tuik up his quarters into a land'art toun.
Fa, la, la, &c.
// feems to be the latter of thefe ballads (which ivas
too licentious to be admitted into this collection) that is meant
in the Catalogue of Royal and Noble Authors \, where the
ingenious writer remarks, That there is fomething "very
ludicrous in the young woman's dijlrefs when Jhe thought her
avour had been thrown away upon a beggar*
. Tanner has attributed to James V. the celebrated Sal-
lad of CHRIST'S KIRK o.v THE GREEN, which is
*feribed to K. James I. in Bannatyne's MS. written in
1568.- jAnd nolwithjlanding that authority, the Editor of
this Book is of opinion that Bp. Tanner was right.
AT. JAMES V. died Dec. \yb, 1542^ aged 33.
t. of a tinktr, le^ar, &V. fbia be ufed to -viftt a fmitb't
tr at Niddy, near Edinlurgk. ^ ftl. 11. f. 203.
•THE
ANCIENT £ O E M S. 61
TH E pauky auld Carle came ovir the lee
Wi* mony good-eens and days to mee,
Saying, Goodvvife, for zour courtefie,
Will ze lodge a filly poor man?
The night was cauld, the carle was war, 5
And down azout the ingle he fat;
My dochters fhoulders he gan to clap,
And cadgily ranted and fang,
O wow ! quo he, were I as free,
As firft when I faw this countrie, 10
How blyth and merry wad I bee !
And 1 wad nevir think lang.
He grew canty, and fhe grew fain ;
But little did her auld minny ken
What thir flee twa togither were fay'n, 15
When wooing they were fa thraiig.
And O ! quo he, ann ze were as black,
As evir the crown of your dadyes hat,
Tis I wad lay thee by my back,
And awa wi' me thou fould gang. 30
And O! quoth fhe, ann I were as white,
As evir the fnaw lay on the dike,
lid dead me braw, and lady-like,
And awa with thee lid gang.
Between the twa was made a plot ; 25
They raife a wee before the cock,
And wyliely they (hot the lock,
2 And
62 ANCIENT POEMS.
And faft to the bent are they gane.
Up the morn the auld wife raife,
And at her leilure put on her claiths, 30
Sync to the fervants bed flie gaes
To fpeir for the filly poor man.
She gaed to the bed, whair the beggar lay,
The Itrae was cauld, he was away,
She clapt her hands, cryd, Dulefu' day! 35
Frr fome of our geir will be gane.
Soire ran to coffer, and fome to kift,
But nought was Mown that could be mift.
SI e dancid her lane, cryd, Praife be bleft,
I have lodgd a leal poor man. 40
Since naithings awa, as we can learn,
The kirns to kirn, and milk to earn,
Gae butt the houfe, lafs, and waken my bairn,
And bidjier come quickly ben.
The fervant ga"ed where the dochter lay, 45
The (heels was cauld, flie was away,
And faft to her goodwife can fay,
_ Shes aff with the gaberlunzie-man.
O fy gar ride, and fy gar rin,
And haft ze, find thefe traitors agen; co
For fhees be burnt, and hees be flein,
Vtr. 29. The Carline. Other copies.
The
ANCIENT POEMS. 6j
The vvearyfou gaberlunzie-man.
Some rade upo horfe, fonie ran a fit,
The wife was wood, and out o' her wit;
She could na gang, nor yet could flie fit, 5$
But ay did curfe and did ban.
Mean time far hind out owre the lee,
For fnug in a glen, where nane could fee,
The twa, with kindlie fport and glee,
Cut frae a new cheefe a whang. 60
The priving was gude, it pleas'd them baith,
To lo'e her for ay, he gae her his aith.
Quo (he, to leave thee, I will be laith,
My winfome gaberlunzie-man.
O kend my minny I were wi' zou, 6jf
Jllfardly wad flie crook her moil,
Sic a poor man (held nevir trow,
Aftir the gaberlunzie-mon.
My dear, quo he, zee're zet owre zongej
And hae na learnt the* beggars tonge, 70
To follow me frae toun to toun,
And carrie the gaberlunzie on.
Wi' kauk and keel, 111 win zour bread,
And fpindles and whorles for them wha need,
VVhilk is a gentil irade indeed 7$
The
€4 A N C I E N T P O E M S.
The gaberlunzie to carrie — o.
Ill bow my leg and crook my knee,
And draw a black clout owre my ee,
A criple or blind they will cau me :
While we fall fing and be merrie— o. 80
XL
ON THOMAS LORD CROMWELL.
ft is ever the fate of a difgraced minijler to be forfaken
by his friends, and infulted by kis enemies, always reckon-
ing among the latter the giddy inconjlant multitude* We
have here a ffurn at fallen greatnefs from fame angry
partifan of declining popery, who could never forgive the
downfall of their Diana, and lofs of their craft. The
ballad feems to have been compofed 'between the time of Crom-
well''s commitment to the tower, June 1 1, 1540, and that
of his being beheaded July 28, following. A Jhort inter-
val! but Henry'' s pajjion for Catharine Howard would
admit of no delay. Noiwithftanding our libeller, Cromwell
had many excellent qualities ; his great fault was too much
«bfequioufnefs to the arbitrary WILLS/" his majier ; but let
it be considered that this mafter had raifed him from obfcurity,
and that the high born nobility badjhewn him the way in
every kind of mean and fertile compliance.— -The original
copy printed at London in i 540, is intitled, " A newe ballade
*' made of Thomas Crumwel. called TROLLE ON AWAY,'*
To it is prefixed this dijlich by way of burthen,
Trolle on away, trolleon awaye.
Synge heave and howe rombelowe trolle on away.
BOTH
ANCIENT POEMS. 65
BOTH man and chylde is glad to here" tell
Of that falfe traytoure Thomas CrumweH,
Now that he is fet to learne to fpell;
Synge trolle on away.
When fortune lokyd the in thy face,
Thou haddyft fayre tyme, but thou lackydyft grace; 5
Thy cofers with golde thou fyllydft a pace.
Synge, &c.
Both plate and chalys came to thy fyft,
Thou lockydft them vp where no man wyft,
Tyll in the kynges treafoure fuche thinges were my ft.
Synge, &c.
Both cruft and cmmme camethorowe thy hcmdc?, 10
Thy marchaundyfe fayled over the fandes,
Therfore nowe thou art layde faft in bandes.
Synge, &c.
Fyrfte when kynge Henry, God faue his grace !
Perceywd myfchefe kyndlyd in thy face,
Then it was tyme to purchafe the a place. 1 5
Synge, &c.
Hys grace was euer of gentyll nature,
Mouyd with petye, and made the hys feruyture;
But thou, as a wretche, fuche thinges dyd procure.
Synge, &c.
VOL. II. F Thou
66 ANCIENT POEMS.
Thou dyd not remembre, falfe heretyke,
One God, one fayth, and one kynge catholyke, 20
For thou haft bene fo long a fcyfmatyke.
Synge, &c.
Then woldyft not learne to knowe thefe thre;
But euer was full of iniquite:
W her fore all this lande hathe ben troubled with the.
Synge, &c.
All they, that were of the new trycke, 25
Agaynil the churche thou baddeft them ftycke ;
"Whcrfore nowe thou hafte touchyd the quycke.
Synge, &c.
Bothe facramentes and facramentalles
T hou woldyft not fuffre within thy wallesj
Nor let vs praye for all chiyften foules. 30
Synge, &c.
Of what generacyon thou were no tonge can tell,
Whyther of Chayme, or Syfchemell,
Or elfe fent vs frome the deuyll of htl!.
Synge, &c.
1 hou woldeft ncuer to vertue applye,
But couttyd euer to clymme to hye, 35
And nowe hafte thou trodden thy flioo awrye.
Fynge, &:c.
Per. 72. i.e. Cain, or Ifitnad. See iehw, tie Note, Boot II,
Ny. Ill fianxa *d.
Who-
ANCIENT POEMS. 67
Who-fo-euer dyd winne thou wolde not lofe ;
Wherfore all Englande doth hate the, as I luppofe,
Bycaufe thou wait falfe to the redolent role.
Synge, Sec.
Thou myghteft have learned thy cloth to flocke 40
Upon thy grefy fullers flocke ;
Wherfore lay dovvne thy heade vpon this blocke.
Synge, &c.
Yet faue that foule, that God hath bought,
And for thy carcas care thou nought,
Let it futfre payne, as it hath wrought. 45
Synge, &c.
God faue kyng Henry with all his power,
And prynce Edwarde that goodly flow re,
With al hys lordes of great honoure.
Synge trolle on awaye, fyng trolle on away.
Hevye and how rombelowe trolle on awaye.
Vcr. 41. Cromwell's father is generally faid to have been a Black fmitb
ft Putney : but the author of this Ballad 'would injinuate that either he
bimfelf or fomc if his ancejlors iveic Fullers by trade.
f|f The foregoing Piece gave rife to a poetic contrwerfy^
•vchich was carried on thro' a fuccejfion of feven or eight
Ballads written for and againji Lord C R o M w E L L . TAefe
are all preferred in the archives of the Antiquarian Society^
in a large folio Colleftion of Proclamations, &c. made in the
Reigns of K. Hen. FlIL K. Etho. FL %. Mary, $L EH*.
K. James L &c.
F 2 XII. H A R-
68 ANCIENT POEMS.
XII.
HARPALUS.
AN ANCIENT ENGLISH PASTORAL.
This beautiful poem, which is perhaps the firft attempt at
paftoral -writing in our language, is preferred among the
SONGS AND SONNETTES of the earl of Surrey, &c, 4/0.
In that part of the collection, which conpfts of pieces by
u NCE R TAi N A UCTOU RS. Thefe foems were firft publijhed
in 1557, ten years after that accomplijlied nobleman fell a.
•viftim to the tyranny of Henry VIII : but it isprefumed moft
of them were compofed before the death of Jir Thomas Wyatt
in 1541* See Surrey's Poems, ^to.fol. 19, 49.
Tko"1 written perhaps near half a century before the SHEP-
HERD'S CALENDAR *, this will be found farfitperior to
any of thofe Eclogues, in natural unaffecled fentiments, in
fimplicity of flyle, in eafy flaw of verification, and all other
beauties of paftoral poetry. Spenfer ought to have profited
more byfo excellent a model,
PHYLID A was a faire mayde,
A« frefli as any flowre;
Whom Harpalus the herdman prayde.
To be his paramour.
Harpalus, and eke Corin, 5
Were herdmen both yfere :
And Phylida could twift and fpinne,
And thereto fing full clere.
< Fir/l fullijttd in 1579.
But
ANCIENT POEMS. 69
But Phylida was all to coye,
For Harpalus to winne: , 10
For Corin was her onely joye,
Who forft her not a pinne.
How often would fhe flowers twine ?
How often garlandes make
Of couflips and of colombine ? 15
And al for Corin's fake.
But Corin, he had haukes to lure,
And forced more the field :
Of lovers lawe he toke no cure ;
For once he was begilde. 20
Harpalus prevailed nought,
His labour all was loft ;
For he was fardeft from her thought,
And yet he loved her moft.
Therefore waxt he both pale and leane, 25
And drye as clot of c'ay :
His flefhe it was confumed cleane;
His colour gone away.
His beard it had not long be (have ;
His heare hong all unkempt : 30
A man moft fit even for the grave,
Whom fpitefull love had fpent.
F 3 Hia
7o ANCIENT POEMS.
His eyes were red, and all ' forewachC ;
His face befprent with teares :
It femde unhap had him long « hatcht', 35
In mids of his dilpaires.
His clothes were blacke, and alfo bare ;
As oae forlorne was he ;
Upon his head alwayes he ware
A wreath of wyllow tree. 40
His beaftes he kept upon the hyll,
And he fate in the dale;
And thus with lighes andlbrrowes (hril,
He gan to tell his tale.
OhHarpalus! (thus would he fay) 45
Unhappieft under lunne!
The caufe of thine unhappy day,
By love was firft begunne.
For thou wenteft firft by fute to feeke
A tigre to make tame, £o
That fettes not by thy love a leeke ;
But makes thy griefe her game.
As eafy it were for to convert
The froft into 'a' flame;
As for to turne a frowarde herr, tj£
Whom thou fo fainc wouldft frame.
Vtr. 33. &&. Toe Correflicru are from Ed. 1574.
pprin
ANCIENT POEMS. 71
Corin he liveth carelefle:
He leapes among the leaves:
He eates the frutes of thy redrefle:
Thou * reapft', he takes the fheaves. 60
My beaftes, a wliyle your foode refraine,
And harke your herdmans founde :
Whom fpitefull love, alas ! hath flaine,
Through-girt with many a wounde.
0 happy be ye, beaftes wilde, 65
That here your pafture takes :
1 fe that ye be not begilde
Of thefe your faithfull makes.
The hart he feedeth by the hinde :
The bucke harde by the do : 70
The turtle dove is not unkinde
To him that loves her fo.
The ewe fhe hath by her the ramme :
The yong cow hath the bull :
The calfe with many a lufty lambe 7$
Do fede their hunger full,
But, wel-away! that nature wrought
The, Phylida, fo faire :
For I may lay that I have bought
Thy beauty all to deare. 80
F 4 What
72 ANCIENT POEMS.
What reafon is that crueltie
With beautie fhould have part ?
Or els that fuch great tyranny
Should dwell in womans hart ?
1 fee therefore to fliape my death 85
She cruelly is preft ;
To th'ende that I may want my breath :
My dayes been at the beft.
O Cupide, graunt this my requeft,
And do not floppe thine cares ; 90
That ftie may feele within her breft
The paincs of my difpaires :
Of Coriu c who' is careleflc,
That flie may crave her fee :
As I have done in great did re fie, 95
That loved her faithfully.
But fince that I (hal die her flave ;
Her flave, and eke her thrall :
Write you, my frendes, upon my grave
This chaunce that is befall. joo
" Here lieth unhappy Harpalus
*' By cruell love now flainc:
" Whom Phylida unjuftly thus
" Hath murdred with dildaine."
5 XIII. R O B I X
ANCIENT POEMS. 73
XIII.
ROBIN AND MAKYNE.
AN ANCIENT SCOTTISH PASTORAL.
T 'he palm, of paftoral poefy is here contejled by a cotempo-
rary writer with the author of the foregoing. The critics
'will judge of their refpeftive merits; but mujl make fame
allowance for the preceding ballad, "which is given Jimply,
as it ftands in the old editions: whereas this, which
has been revifed and amtnded throughout by ALLAN RAM-
SEY, from whofe EVER-GREEN, Vol. I. it is here chiefy
printed. The curious Reader may however compare it "with
the more original copy, printed among " Ancient Scsttijh
" Poems, from the MS. of George Bannatyne, 1568, Edinb.
" 17/0, i2mo" Mr. ROBERT HENRYSON (to whom
•we are indebted for this Poem) appears to fo much ad-van-
tage among the writers of eclogue, that we are furry we can
give little other account of him bejides what is contained ix
the following eloge, written by W. Dunbar, a ScottiJJi poety
who lived about the middle of the \ bih century :
" In Dumferling, he [Death] hath taneBtoun,
" With gude Mr. Robert Henryjon."
Indeed fame little further injight into the hijlory of this
ScottiJJi bard is gained from the title prefixed tofome of his
poems preferred in the Eritijh Mujeum; viz. " The morall
" Fabillis of Efop compylit be Maifler ROBERT HENRI-
41 SOUN, SCOLMAISFER of Dumfei'mling^ 1571." Harleian
MSS. 386;;. § i,
InRamfafs EVERGREEN, Vol.1, whence the above dijlich
is extracted, are preferred two other little Doric pieces by
Henry f on -t the one infilled THE LYON AND THE MOUSE ;
theother, THE GARMENT OF GUDB LADYIS. Some other
of his Poems may be feen in the " Ancient Scottijh Poems!
*' printed from Bannatyne's MS."' above referred to.
ROBIN
74 ANCIENT POEMS.
ROBIN fat on the gude grenehill,
Keipand a flock of fie,
Qiihen mirry Makyne faid him till,
" O Robin rew on me :
" I haif thee luivt baith loud and ftill, $
" Thir towmonds twa or thre;
" My dule in dern bot gif thou dill,
" Doubtlefs but dreid 111 die."
Robin replied, Now by the rude,
Naithing of luve I knaw, z*>
But keip my flieip undir yon wod:
Lo quhair they raik on raw.
Quhat can have mart thee in thy mude,
Thou Makyne to me fchaw ;
Or quhat is luve, or to be lude ? 15
Fain wald 1 leir that law.
" The law of luve gin thou wald leir,
" Tak thair an A, B, C ;
" Be heynd, courtas, and fair of fcir,
'•' VVyfe, hardy, kind and frie, 2*
" Sae that nae danger do the deir,
" Qnhat dule in dern thou drie ;
*' Prefs ay to pieis, and blyth appeir,
. " Be patient and privie."
< Fin: 19 Banriatyms MS. reads as above, heynd, not keynd, as in
trie Edinb. edit, 1770. 7tr, 1 1 . So that no danger. Bannafyne'i MS.
Robin,
ANCIENT POEMS. 75
Robin, he anfwert her againe, 2$
I wat not quhat is luve ;
But I haif marvel in certaine
Quhat makes thee thus wanrufe.
The wedder is fair, and I am fain j
My fheep gais hail abuve; *o
And Ibuld we p!ey us on the plain,
They wald us baith repruve.
" Robin, tak tent unto my tale,
" And wirkall as Ireid;
" And thou lall haif my heart all hale, 3$
" Eik and my maiden-heid :
." Sen God, he lendis bute for bale,
" And for murning remeid,
" I'dern with thee bot gif I dale,
" Doubtlefs I am but deid." 4q
Makyne, to-morn be this ilk tyde,
Gif ye will meit me heir,
Maybe my flieip may gang befyde,
Qiihyle we have liggd full neir;
But maugre haif I, gif I hyde, 45
Frae thay begin to Heir,
Quhat lyes on heart I will nocht hyd,
Then Makyne mak gude cheir,
" Robin, thou reivs me of my reft ;
" I luve bot thee alane." 50
Makyne, adieu ! the fun goes weft,
The day is neir-hand gane.
« Robin,
76 ANCIENT POEMS.
•* Robin, in dulc I am fo dreft,
" That luve will be my bane."
Makyn, gae luve quhair-eir ye lift, 55
For leman I luid nane.
" Robin, I (land in fie a ftyle,
" 1 fich and that full fair."
Makyne, I have bene here this quyle j
At hame I wifli I were. 60
" Robin, my hinny, talk and fmyle,
" Gif thou will do nae mair."
Makyne, fom other man beguyle,
For hamevvard I will fare.
Syne Robin on his ways he went, 65
As light as leif on tree;
But Makyne murnt and made lament,
Scho trow'd him neir to fee.
Robin he brayd attowre the bent:
Then Makyne cried on hie, 70
" Now may thou fmg, for I am flient i
'; Quhatailis luve at me?"
Makyne went hame withouten fail,
And weirylie could weip j
Then Robin in a full fair dale 7$
Aflemblit all his flieip.
Be that fome pan of Makyne's ail,
Out-throw his heart could creip;
Hir fafl he followt to afTail,
And (ill her tuke gude keip. 80
ANCIENT POEMS. 77
Abyd, abyd, thou fair Makyne,
A word for ony thing ;
For all my luve, it fall be thyne,
Withouten departing.
All hale thy heart for till have myne, 8j
Is all my coveting ;
My fheip to morn quhyle houris nyne,
Will need of nae keiping.
** Robin, thou haft heard fung and fay,
" hi gefts and ilorys auld, 99
" The man that will not when he may,
** Sail have nocht when he wald.
" I pray to heaven baith nicht and day,
*' Be eiked their cares fae cauld,
" That prefles firft with thee to play 95
" Be forreft, firth, or fauld."
Makyne, the nicht is foft and dry,
The wether warm and fair,
And the grene wod richt neir-hand by.
To walk attowre all where : ieo
There may nae janglers us efpy,
That is in luve contrair j
Therin, Makyne, baith yoxi and I
Unieen may mak repair.
V. 99. Eannatynt's MS. bas woid, net woilil, as in Ed. 1770.
« Robin,
78 ANCIENT POEMS.
" Robin, that warld is now away, 105
'* And qnyt brocht till an end :
" And nevir a^ain thereto, perfay,
" Sail it be as thou wend;
" For of my pain thou made but play ;
" I words in vain did Ipend: HO
*' As thou haft done, fae fall I fay,
" Murn on, I think to mend."
Makyne, the hope of all my heil,
My heart on thee is fet ;
I'll evermair to thee be leil, 1 1 5
Qiihyle I may live but lett,
Never to fail as uthers feill,
Quhat grace fo eir I get.
" Robin, with thee I will not deill;
" Adieu, for this we met.'* 120
Makyne went hameward blyth enough,
Outowre the holtis hair ;
Pure Robin murnd, and Makyne leugh ;
Scho fang, and he licht fair:
And fo left him bayth wo and wreuch, 125
In dolor and in care,
Keipand his herd underaheuch,
Amang the rulhy gair.
V. 1 17. BmmtyHft MS. reads as above feiU, not faill, as in £/. 1770.
„.
GENTLE
ANCIENT POEMS. 79
XIV.
GENTLE HERDSMAN, TELL TO ME.
DIALOGUE BETWEEN A PILGRIM AND HERDSMAN.
T'/ie fcene of this beautiful old ballad is laid near W 'al-
Jingham* in Norfolk, where ivas anciently an image of the
Virgin Mary, famous over all Europe for the numerous pit--
gr images made to if, and the great riches it poffejjed. Eraf-
jnus has given a "very exafl and humorous defcription of the
fuperjlitions pratfifed there in his time. See his account of t/ie
VIRGO PAR ATHALASSIA, in his colloquy, intitled, PERE-
GRINATIO RKLIGIONIS ERGO. He tells us, the rich offer~
ings injiiuer,gold, and prcciouo JJones , that loere there Jfieiun
him, were incredible, there being fcarce a perfon of any note
in England, but ivhat fame time or other paid a "vijit, or
fcnt aprcfent to OUR LADY OF WALSINGHAM *. At the
diffolution of the mono/series in 1538, this fplendid image,
with another from Ipfivich, ivas carried to Chelfea, and
there burnt in the prefence of commijjioners ; ivho, we truft^
did not burn thejeivels and the finery.
¥ his poem is printed from a copy in the Editor's folio MS.
which had greatly fujfered by the hand of time ; but <veftig<:s
of fever al of the lines remaining, fome conjectural fupplements
have been attempted, ivhich, for greater exaRnefs, are in
this one ballad diftmguijhed by Italicks»
ENTLE heardfman, tell to me,
Of curtefy I thee pray,
Unto the towne of Walfingham
Which is the right and ready way.
^See at tie endofj^BallaJan accent if tli annual offerings of
the Earls of Nwtbun^^^^^
" Unco
So ANCIENT POEMS.
« Unto the towne of Walfingham
" The way is hard for to be gon ;
«' And verry crooked are thofe pathes
" For you to find out all alone."
Weere the miles doubled thrife,
And the way never foe ill, !•
Itt were not enough for mine offence;
Itt is foe grievous and foe ill.
" Thy yeeares are young, thy face is faire,
" Thy witts are weake, thy thoughts are greene;
" Time hath not given thee leave, aiyetr, 15
" For to committ fo great a finnc."
Yes, heardfman, yes, foe woldefl thou fay,
If thou kneweft foe much as I;
My witts, and thoughts, and all the reft,
Have well deferved for to dye." 20
I am not what I feeme to bee,
My clothes and fexe doe differ farr :
I am a woman, woe is me \
Born to greeffe and irkfome care.
For my beloved, and well -beloved, 2$
My wayward cruelty could kill:
And though my teares -will nought avail,
Mojl dearely I bewail him
'*
ANCIENT POEMS. 81
He was the flower of «oble wights,
None ever more /f»cere colde bee; 30
Of comely mien andfiape hee was,
And tenderlye bee loved mee.
When thus I fata he /eved me well,
1 grewe fo proud bis fame to fee,
That I, who did not know myfelfe, 55
Thought fcorne of fuch a youth as hee.
* And grew foe coy and nice to pleafe,
As women's lookes are often foe,
He might not kifle, nor hand forfooth,
Unlefle I willed him foe to doe. 40
Thus being wearyed with delayes
To fee I pittyed not his greeffe,
He gott him to a fecrett place,
And there he dyed without releefFe.
And
* Three of the following Jlanxas have been finely far aphrafid by Dr.
GOLDSMITH, in his charming ballad of EDWIN AND EMMA; tie
rtader of tajlt will have a fleafare in comparing them with tht original t
4 'And' fill I try'd each fickle art,
Importunate and vain \
And ivhile his pajfion touch' d my heart,
1 triumph' 4 in his fain.
'Till quilt deje&ed -with my fcorn,
He left me to my priile ;
And fought a folitude forlorn,
Infecrtt, -where be dy'd.
8a ANCIENT POEMS.
And for his fake thefe weeds I weare, 45
And facriffice my tender age;
And every day He begg my bread,
To undergoe this pilgrimage.
Thus every day I faft and pray,
And ever will doe till I dye; 50
And gett me to fome fecrett place,
For foe did nee, and foe will I.
Now, gentle heardfman, afke no more$
But keepe my fecretts I thee pray ;
Unto the tovvne of Walfmgam 55
Show me the right and readye way.
" Now goe thy wayes, and God before !
" For he muft ever guide thee flill :
" Turne downe that dale, the right hand path,
" And foe, faire pilgrim, fare thee well !" 60
But mine the farrow, mine the fault,
And well my lifejhall fqy ;
rilfeek thefolitudc bt fought,
\ t.nb Andflretcb me inhere be ley,
And there forlorn deff airing hid,
I'll lay me down and die :
'Ttvatfofor me tb*t Ed-win did
And fo for him will I.
*** 7» flew what conftant tribute was f aid to Oun
LADY or WALSINGHAM, / Jhall give a few cxtraBs
from the " HOU*HOLU-BOOK OF HENRY ALGERNON
P*RCY, 5//5 Earl of Northumbrian^." Printed 1770, 8w.
ANCIENT POEMS. 83
Sea. XLIIL fag. 337, &c.
ITEM, My Lorde ujithyerly to fend of or Michaelmas for his
Lordfchip^s Offerynge to our Lady of Walfyngeham. — iiij d.
ITEM, My Lorde itjith ande accuftumyth tofendeyerelyfor the
upholdynge of the Light of Wax which his Lor df chip fynd-
ith birnynge yerly befor our Lady of Walfyngham, conten-
ynge xj Ib. of Wax in it after vij d, ob.for the fyndynge
ynge x . o ax n t ater v . o.or te ynynge
of every Ib. redy wrought by a covenaunt maid with the
Channon by great, for the hole yere, for thefyndinge of the
faid Lyght byrnning^ — vij. viiij d.
ITEM, My Lord ufeth and accuftomith to fyende yerely to the
Channon that kepith the Light before our Lady of Walfyn-
gham, for his reward for the hole yere, for kepynge of
the faid Light, lightynge of it at allfervice iymes doyly
thoroivt the y ere, — xij d.
ITEM, My Lord ufith and accuftomyth yerely to fend to the
Preji that kepith ike Light, lyghtynge of it at all fe
tymes daily thvroivt theyere^ — iij s . iiij d.
er-vice
XV.
K. EDWARD IV. AND TANNER OP T AM WORTH
Was aftory of great fame among our ancejiors. 'The au-
thor of the ART OF ENGLISH POESIE, 1589, 4/0, feems
tofpeak of it as a real fa fl. — Defer ibing that "vicious mode
offpeeck, which the Greeks called ACYRON, i.e. " When
' toe ufe a dark and obfeure word, utterly repugnant to
that we Jhould exprefs;" he adds, " Such manner of un-
couth fpeech did the Tanner of Tamworth ufe to king Ed-
ward the fourth ; which 'Tanner, having a great while
miftaken him, and ufed very broad talke with him, at
length perceiving by his traine that it was the king, <wat
*' afraide he jhould be punijhedfor it, \and\faid thus, with
" a certain rude repentance,
" I hope I fliall be banged to-morrow,
G * «for
84 ANCIENT POEMS.
'/or [I feare me] I {hall be hanged; whereat the king
' laughed a good *, not only to fee the Tanner's vaine-
f feare ; but alfo to bear e his illfhapen terme: and gave
' him for recommence of his good fport, the inheritance of
' Plumpton-parke. I AM AFRAID," concludes this fagad-
us writer, " THE POETS OF OUR TIMES THAT SPEAKE
*' MORE FINELY AND CORRECTEDLY, WILL COME
"|TOO SHORT OF SUCH A REWARD," p. 2 14. The
fhrafe, here referred to, is not found in this ballad at pre-
fent f , but occurs withfome -variation in another old poem, in-
titkJloHN THE REEVE, defcribcdin the following volume,
(fee the Preface to THE KING AND THE MILLER), vi%.
" Nay, fay d John, by Gods grace,
" And Edward wer in this place,
" Heejhold not touch this tonne:
" He wold be wroth 'with John I HOPE,
•« Therefore I beJJirew thefoupe,
" That in his mouthjhold come" Pt. x.fi. 24.
The following text is f defied (withfuch other correfHons
as occurred) from two copies in black letter. The one in the
Bodleyan library, intitled, " Amerrie, pleafant, and delec-
" table hijiorie befweene K. Edward the Fourth, and a
" Tanner of Tamnvortb, &c. printed at London, by John
" Danter, 1596." This copy, ancient as it now is, ap-
pears to have been modernized and altered at the time it was
publijhed; and many vejliges of the more ancient readings
•vjere recovered f 'torn another copy, (though more recently
printed,) in one Jheet folio, without aatet in the Pepys col-
leflion.
But thefe are both very inferior in point of antiquity to the
eld Ballad of THE KING AND THE BARKER, reprinted
with other " Pieces of Ancient Popular Poetry from Authen-
" tic Manufcripts and old Printed Copies, &c" Lend.
1791, %vo. As that very antique Poem had never occurred
to tJie Editor of the Reliqucs, till hefaw it in the above
colleftion, he now refers the curious Reader to it, as an iru*
perfeft and iucorrefl copy of the old original Ballad.
* Fid, GJtf: f Nor in that tf the BARKER mentioned below.
ANCIENT POEMS. 85
IN fummer time, when leaves grow greeRe,
And bloflbms bedecke the tree,
King Edward wolde a hunting ryde,
Some paftime for to fee.
With hawke and hounde he made him bowne, $
With home, and eke with bowe ;
To Drayton Baflet he tooke his waye,
With all his lordes a rowe.
And he had ridden ore dale and downe
By eight of clocke in the day, 10
When he was ware of a bold tanner,
Come ryding along the waye.
A fayre ruflet coat the tanner had on
Faft buttoned under his chin,
And under him a good cow-hide, i£
And a mare of four fhilling *.
Nowe ftand you flill, my good lordes all,
Under the grene wood fpraye ;
And I will wend to yonder fellowe,
To weet what he will faye. 20
* In the reign of Edward IV. Dame Cecill, lady of Torboka, in her
ivill iliited March 7, /7. D. 1466 ; among many other bcqueftf has this,
" jflfo 1 -will th.it rrv fonne Thomas of Torboke have i^s. ^d. to buy hint
" an borfe." Vid. Uarleian Catalog. 2176. z<j. Now if l$s. $d.
wtuld pur chafe a feed fit jw a per fen of quality , a tanmr'i borfe might
be valued at fiat or five Jhillingf.
G 3 God
86 ANCIENT POEMS.
God fpeede, God fpeede thee, faid our king.
Thou art welcome, fir, fayd hee,
" The readyeft waye to Drayton Baflet
I praye thee to fhewe to race."
" To Drayton Baflet vvoldft thou goe, a$
Fro the place where thou doft ftand ?
The next payre of gallowes thou comeft unto,
Turne in upon thy right hand."
That is an unreadye waye, fayd our king,
Thou doeft but jeft I fee : 30
Nowe fhewe me out the neareft waye,
And I pray thee wend with mee.
Awaye with a vengeance ! quoth the tanner :
I hold thee out of thy witt :
All daye have I lydden on Brocke my mare, 35
And I am failing yett.
" Go with me downe to Drayton Baflet,
No daynties we will fpare;
All daye (halt thou eate and drinke of the beft,
And I will paye thy fare." 40
/
Gramercye for nothing, the tanner replyde,
Thou payed no fare of mine :
I t;rowe I've more nobles in my purfe,
Than thou haft pence in thine.
God
ANCIENT-POEMS. 87
God give thee joy of them, fayd the kjng, 4$
And fend them well to priefe.
The tanner wolde faine have bcene away,
For he weende he had beene a thiefe.
What art thou, hee fayde, thou fine fellowe,
Of thee I am in great feare, 50
For the cloathes, thou weareft upon thy backe,
Might befeeme a lord towtear«.
I never ftole them, quoth our king,
I tell you, fir, by the roode.
" Then thou playeft, as many an unthrift doth, 5 $
And ftandeft in midds of thy goode*."
What tydinges heare you, fayd the kynge,
As you ryde farre and neare ?
*' I heare no tydinges, fir, by the mafle,
But that cowe-hides are deare." 60
" Cowe-hides ! cowe-hides ! what things are thofe ?
I marvdl what they bee?"
What art thou a foole ? the tanner reply'd j
I carry one under mee.
What craftfman art thou, faid the king, 6$
I praye thee tell me trowe.
" I am a barker f , fir, by my trade j
Nowe tell me what art thou ?"
* i.e. bafl no oiler wealth, but -what tbou carritft about ties.
•f /. f. a dealer in Bark.
G 4 lam
88 ANCIENT POEMS.
I am a poore courtier, fir, quoth he,
That am forth of fervice worne ; 79
And faine I wolde thy prentife bee,
Thy cunninge for to learne.
Marrye heaven forfend, the tanner replyde,
That thou my prentife were:
Thou woldft fpend more good than 1 (hold winne 75
By fortye (hilling a yere.
Yet one thinge wolde I, fayd our king,
If thou wilt not feeme fl range :
Thoughe my horfe be better than thy mare,
Yet with thee I faine wold change. 89
" Why if with me thou faine wilt change,
A s change full well maye wee,
By the faith of my bodye, thou proude fell&we,
I will have fome boot of thee."
That were againft reafon, fayd the king, 85
I fweare, fo mote I thee :
My horfe is better than thy mare,
And that thou well mayft fee.
" Yea, fir, but Brocke is gentle and mild,
And foftly (he will fare ; 90
Thy horfe is unrulye and wild, I wifs ;
Aye fcipping here and theare."
What
ANCIENT POEMS. 89
What boote wilt thou have ? our king reply'd ;
Now tell me in this ftound.
" Noe pence, nor half pence, by my faye, 9$
But a noble in gold fo round."
" Here's twentye groates of white moneye,
Sith thou wiil have it of mee."
I would have fworne now, quoth the tanner,
Thou hadft not had one pennie. 100
But fmce we two have made a change,
A change we muft abide,
Although thou hall gotten Brocke my marc,
Thou getteft not my cowe-hide.
I will not have it, fayd the kynge, 10$
T fweare, fo mought I thee ;
Thy foule cowe-hide I vvolde not beare,
If thou woldft give it to m«e.
The tanner hee tooke his good cowe-hide,
That of the cow was hilt; no
And threwe it upon the king's fadelle,
That was foe fayrelye gilte.
?' Now help me up, thou fine fellowe,
'Tis time that 1 were gone :
When I come home to Gyllian my wife, I r£
$heel fay I am a gentilmon."
The
So ANCIENT POEMS.
The king he tooke him up by the legge ;
The tanner a f * * lett fall.
Nowe marrye, good fellovve, fayd the kyng,
Thy courtefye is but fmall. 120
When the tanner he was in the kinges fadelle,
And his foote in the flirrup was ;
He marvelled greatlye in his miode,
Whether it were golde or brafs.
But when his fteede faw the cows taile wagge, i * c;
And eke the blacke cowe-horne ;
He damped, and flared, and awaye he ranne,
As the devill had him borne.
The tanner he pulld, the tanner he fweat,
And held by the pummil faft : 130
At length the tanner came tumbling downe ;
His necke he had well-nye braft.
i
Take thy horfe again with a vengeance, he fayd,
With mee he fliall not byde.
"My horfe wolde have borne thee well enoughe, 13^
But he knewe not of thy cowe-hide.
Yet if againe thou faine woldft change,
As change full well may wee,
By the faith of my bodye, thou jolly tanner,
I wifl have fonae boote of thee." 140
What
ANCIENT POEMS. 91
What boote wilt thou have, the tanner replyd,
Nowe tell me in this flounde ?
*' Noe pence nor halfpence, fir, by my faye,
But I will have twentye pound."
** Here's twentye groates out of my purfe ; 145
And twentye I have of thine :
And I have one more, which we will ipend
Together at the wine."
The king fet a bugle home to his mouthe,
And blewe both loude and ihrille : 1 50
And foone came lords, and foone came knights,
Faft ryding over the hille.
Nowe, out alas ! the tanner he cryde,
That ever I fawe this daye !
Thou art a ftrong thiefe, yon come thy feilowes i$$
Will beare my cowe-hide away.
They are no thieves, the king replyde,
I fweare, foe mote I thee :
But they are the lords of the north count rey,
Here come to hunt with mee. 160
And foone before our king they came, '
And knelt downe on the grounde :
Then might the tanner have beene awaye,
He had lever than twentye pounde.
A coller,
9* A N C I E NT POEM S.
A coller, a coller, here: fayd the king, 165
A coller he loud gan crye:
Then woulde he lever then tvventye pound,
He had not beene fo nighe.
A coller, a coller, the tanner he fayd,
I trowe it will breed forrowe : 1 7<>
After a coller commeth a halter,
I trow I fhall be hang'd to-morrowe, -
•
Be not afraid Tanner, faid our king ;
I tell thee, fo mought I thee,
Lo here I make thee the beft efquire 175
That is in the North countrie *.
For Plumpton-parke I will give thee,
With tenements faire befide :
'Tis worth three hundred markes by the yeare,
To maintaine thy good cowe-hide. i8qi
Gramercye, my liege, the tanner replyde,
For the favour thou hall me fhowne ;
If ever thou comeft to merry Tamworth,
Neates leather fhall clout thy flioen. ***
* Tbis ftamta. is reftored from a quotation <f this Ballad in Se Id n's
" Tttfet of Honour," who produces it as a gotd authority to prove, that
»ne mode of creating ESQ_UIRES at that time, was by the impofition of a
COLLAR. His ivords are, " Nor is that old pamphlet of the Tanner of
" Tamwortb ttnd King Ed-ward the Fourth fo contemptible, but that wee
" may tbenee note alfo an obfervablt paffagc, wherein the ufe of making
" Efqurres, by giving Collars, is expired." (Sub fit. Efyuire; fef
vide in Spehnanni Glojjar. Armiger.) This form of creating Efquircs ac-
tually exijtt at ibis day among the Seijfants at slrms, tubo are invcjled
•with a Collar f-w/.icb they wear on Collar Days] by the King bimfelf.
Tbit information I ttue to Samuel Pfgge, Efq. t« whom the Pub lick is
indebted for tbat curious ivsrk the CUKIALIA, Ato,
XVI. AS
ANCIENT POEMS. 93
xvr.
AS YE CAME FROM THE HOLY LAND.
DIALOGUE BETWEEN A PILGRIM AND TRAVELLER.
T'hefcene of this fan? is the fame as in Num. XIV. T'Ae
pilgrimage to Waljingham fuggefted the plan of many popu-
lar pieces. In the Pepys cotteftion, Vol. I, p. 226, is a
kind of Interlude in the old ballad flylet of which the firjl
fianza alone is ivorth reprinting,
As I went to Walfingham,
To the fhrine with fpeede,
Met I with a jolly palmer
In a pilgrimes weede.
Now God you fave, you jolly palmer !
" Welcome, lady gay,
" Oft have I fued to thee for love."
— Oft have I faid you nay.
The pilgrimages undertaken on pretence of religion, 'were
often produfll've of affairs of gallantry, and led the wtarics
to no other Jbrine than that of Venus *.
y if following ballad -was once very popular ; // is quoted
in Fletcher's " Knt. of the burning pejlle," Aft II. fc. *lt.
and in another old play, called, " Hans Beer-pot, his in-
vifible Comedy, &c." 4(0. 1618; Acl /. — The copy bcltro
•was communicated to the Editor by the late Mr, Shcnjtone
as corrected by him from an ancient copy^ andfupplied -witA
ti concluding Jianza.
* Even in the time of Langland, -pilgrimage* to Walfingbam -were mt
unfavourable to the rite* of Venus, Thus hi bis Vifiom of fierce Pliw
man, ft. I.
Qermet0 on a |>eape tottb |jo&cti ftatoea.
Lenten to caatlme^am, ann ijec , loencjw after.
f i.e.tkeir.
5 m
94 ANCIENT POEMS.
We have placed this, and GENTLE HERDSMAN, CsV*
thus early in the volume, upon a prefumption that they muft
have been written, if net before the dijjoluticn of the mo-
tiafteries, yet while the remembrance of them was frefli in
the minds of the people.
AS ye came from the holy land
Of blefled Walfingham,
O met you not with my true love
As by the way ye came ?
" How fhould I know your true love, 5
" That have met many a one,
" As 1 came from the holy land,
" That have both come, and gone ?"
My love is neither white *, nor browne,
But as the heavens faire ; 10
There is none hath her form divine,
Either in earth, or ayre.
" Such an one did I meet, good fir,
" With an angelicke face ;
" Who like a nymphe, a queene appeard 15
** Both in her gait, her grace."
Yes : flic hatk cleane forfaken me,
And left me all alone ;
Who fome time loved me as her life,
And called me her owne. 20
What
ANCIENT POEMS. 95
" What is the caufe flie leaves thee thus,
*' And a new way doth take,
" That fome times loved thee as her life,
" And thee her joy did make ?"
I that loved her all my youth, jj
Growe old now as you fee ;
Love liketh not the falling fruite.
Nor yet the withered tree.
For love is like a carelefle childe,
Forgetting promife paft: 3*
He is blind, or deaf, whenere he lift ;
His faith is never faft.
His fond defire is fickle found,
And yieldes a truftlefle joye;
Wonne with a world of toil and care, » 5
And loft ev'n with a toye.
Such is the love of womankinde,
Or LOVES faire name abufde,
Beneathe which many vaine defires,
And follyes are excufde. 40
* But true love is a lading fire,
4 Which viewlefs veftals * tend,
* That bxirnes for ever in the foule,
* And knovves nor change, nor end.'
***
*/A Angelt.
XVII. HAR-
ANCIENT POEMS.
XVJI.
HARDYKNUTE.
A SCOTTISH FRAGMENT.
As this fine morfel of heroic poetry hath generally paji for
ancient, it is here thrown to the end of our earliejt pieces ;
that fuch as doubt of its age, may the better compare it with
other pieces of genuine antiquity. For after all, there is
more than reafon to Jufpeft, that it owes moft of its beauties
(if not its ivhole exigence) to the pen of a lady, "within the
frefent century. The following particulars may be depended
on. Mrs. VFardlaw, whofe maiden name *vuas Halket (aunt
to the late Sir Peter Halket, of Pitferran, in Scotland, who
ivas iilled in America, along with general Bradock* in
I 7 c c ) , pretended Jhe had found this poem, written on JJireds
cf paper, employed for 'what is called the bottoms of clues.
A fufpiclon arofe that it *was her own compaction. Some
a tie judges offer ted it to he modern. The lady did in a man-
ner acknowledge it to be fo. Being de fired to Jheiu tin ad-
ditional jianza, as a proof of this, Jfte produced the 2 laft
beginning with " There's nae light," &c. ivhick were
not in the copy that wasfirjl printed. The late Lord Pre-
fdent Forbes, and Sir Gilbert Elliot, of Minto (late Lord
Juftlce Clerk for Scotland) who had believed it ancient,
contributed to the expence of puUlfhing the fir ft Edition,
in folio, 1 7 1 9. — This account 'was transmitted from Scotland
by Sir David Dalrymple, the late Lord Hailes, 'who yet
ivas of opinion, that part of the ballad may be ancient; but
retouched and much enlarged by the lady abovementioned.
Indeed he had been informed, that the late William Thomp-
fan, the Scottijh mujician, who publifhed the ORPHEUS
CALEDONIUS, 1733, 2 vols. 8vo. declared he had heard
Fragments of it repeated in his infancy, before Mrs. Ward-
lamis copy was heard of.
ANCIENT POEMS. 97
The Poem is here printed from tJie original Edition, as
it was prepared for the prefs luith the additional improve-
ments. (See below, page in.)
i.
STately ftept he eaft the wa»,
And ftately ftept he weft,
Full feventy years he now had feen,
Wi' fcarce feven years of reft.
He liv'd when Britons breach of faith $
Wrought Scotland mickle wae:
And ay his fword tauld to their coft,
He was their deadlye fae;
ii.
High on a hill his caftle flood,
With ha's and tow'rs a height, i®
And goodly chambers fair to fe,
Where be lodged raony a knight.
His dame fae pcerlefs anes and fair,
For chaft and beauty deem'd,
Nae marrow had in all the land, ij
Save ELENOR the queen,
ii i.
Full thirteen fons to him (he bare*
All men of valour flout ;
In bloody fight with fword in hand
Nine loft their lives bot doubt : ao
Four yet remain, lang may they live
To ftand by liege and land ;
High was their fame, high was their might,
And high was their command.
VOL. If. H Great
98 ANCIENT P.O E M S.
IV.
Great love they bare to FAIRLY fair, a 5
Their lifter faft and dear,
Her girdle fliaw'd her middle girrp,
And gowden glifl her hair.
What waefu' wae her beauty bred ?
Waefu' to young and auld, 50
Waefu' I trow to kyth and kin,
As flory ever tauld.
- •->•'_:• 57? '
V.
The king of Norfe in fummer tyde,
Puff'd up with pow'r and might,
Landed in fair Scotland the ifle 3^
With mony a hardy knight.
The tydings to our good Scots king
Came, as he fat at dine,
With noble chiefs in brave aray,
Drinking the blood-red wine. 40
VI.
" To horfe, to horfe, my royal liege^
Your faes Hand on the flrand,
Full twenty thoufand glittering fpears
The king of Norfe commands."
Bring me my fteed Mage dapple gray, 45
Our good king rofe and cry'd,
A truftier beaft in a' the land
A Scots king nevir try'd.
vn. Go
ANCIENT POEMS. 99
VII.
Go little page, tell Hardyknute,
That lives on hill fae hie, 5«>
To draw his fword, the dread of faes,
And hafte and follow me.
The little page flew fwift as dart
Flung by his matter's arm,
" Come down, come down, lord Hardyknute, 55
And rid your king frae harm."
VI II.
Then red red grew his dark -brown cheeks,
Sae did his dark -brown brow ;
His looks grew keen, as they were wont
In dangers great to do ; 60
He's ta'en a horn as green as glafs,
And gi'en five founds fae (hill,
That trees in green wood ihook thereat,
Sae loud rang ilka hill.
His fons in manly fport and glee, 6$
Had paft that fummer's morn,
When law down in a grafly dale,
They heard their father's horn.
That horn, quo* they, ne'er founds in peace,
We've other fport to bide. 70
And foon they hy'd them xip the hill,
And fcon were at his fide.
H 2 x. "Late
ioo ANCIENT POEMS.
x.
" Late late the yeftreen I ween'd in peace
To end my lengthened life,
My ag« might well excufe my arm 7|
Frae manly feats of ftrife ;
£ut now that Norfe do's proudly boaft
Fair Scotland to inthrall,
It's ne'er be faid of Hardyknute,
He fear'd to fight or fall. 80
xi.
" Robin of Rothfay, bend thy bow,
Thy arrows moot fae leel,
That mony a comely countenance
They've turnd to deadly pale.
Brade Thomas take you but your lance, 8|
You need nae weapons mair,
If you fight wi't as you did anes
'Gainft Weftmoreland's fierce heir.
XII.
" And Malcolm, light of foot as flag
That runs in foreft wild, 90
Get me my thoufands three of men
Well bred to fword and fhield :
Bring me my horfe and harnifine,
My blade of mettal clear.
If faes but ken'd the hand it bare, 95
Tkey foon had fled for fear.
xni. "Farewell
ANCIENT POEMS. 101
XIII;
** Farewell my dame fae peerlefs good,
(And took her by the hand),
Fairer to me in age you feem,
Than maids for beauty fam'd. 100
My youngeft fon (hall here remain
To guard thefe ftately towers,
And {hut the filver bolt that keeps
Sae faft your painted bowers."
XIV.
And firft (lie wet her comely cheiks, loj
And then her boddice green,
Her filken cords of twirtle twift,
Well plett with filver fheen ;
And apron fet with mony a dice
Of needle-wark fae rare, 1 10
Wove by nae hand, as ye may guefs,
Save that of FAIRI.Y fair.
xv.
And he has ridden o'er muir and mofs,
O'er hills and mony a glen,
When he came to a wounded knight >i$
Making .a heavy mane;
*' Here maun I lye, here maun I dye,
By treacherie's falfe guiles ;
Witleft I, was that e'er ga faith
To wicked woman's imiles." lao
H 5 xvi. « Sir
i
102 ANCIENT POEMS.
XVI.
" Sirknight, gin you were in my bower,
To lean on filken feat,
My lady's kindly care you'd prove,
Who ne'er knew deadly hate :
Herfelf wou'd watch you a' the day, 12 $
Her maids a dead of night ;
And FAIRLY fair your heart wou'd chear,
As (he Hands in your light.
XVII.
" Arife young knight, and mount your flead,
Full lowns the fliynand day : 130
Choofe frae my menzie whom ye pleafe
To lead you on the way."
With imilelefs look, and vifage wan
The wounded knight reply'd,
" Kind chieftain, your intent purfue, 135
For here I maun abyde.
XVIII.
To me nae after day nor night
Can e're be fweet or fair,
But foon beneath fome draping tree,
Cauld death (hall end my care." $40
With him nae pleading might prevail j
Brave Hardyknute to gain
With faireft words, and reafon ftrong,
Strave courteoufly in vain.
,3 six. Sync
ANCIENT POEMS. 103
XIX.
Syne he has gane far hynd out o'er 145
Lord Chattan's land fae wide ;
That lord a worthy wight was ay,
When faes his courage fey'd :
Of Piaifh race by mother's fide,
When Fids rul'd Caledon, 150
Lord Chattan claim'd the princely maid,
When he fav'd Pidifli crown.
xx.
Now with his fierce and ftalwart train,
He reach'd a rifing hight,
Quhair braid encampit on the dale, 15$
Norfs menzie lay in ficht
" Yonder my valiant fons and feirs
Our raging revers wait
On the unconquert Scottifh fward
To try with us their fate. 160
xxr.
Make orifons to him that fav'd
Our fauls upon the rude ;
Syne bravely fliaw your veins are fill'd
With Caledonian blude."
Then furth he drew his trufty glave, 165
While thoufands all around
Drawn frae their fheaths glanc'd in the fun ;
And loud the bougies found.
H 4 xxii. To
104 ANCIENT POEMS.
xxi r.
To joyn his king adoun the hill
In haft his merch he made, IJ&
While, playand pibrochs, minftralls meit
Afore him ftately ftrade.
" Thrice welcome valiant floup of weir,
Thy nations ftiield and pride ;
Thy king nae reafon has to fear 175
When thou art by his fide."
XXIII.
When bows were bent and darts were thrawn j
For thrang fcarce cou'd they flee ;
The darts clove arrows as they met,
The arrows dart the tree. 1 80
Lang did they rage and fight fu' fierce,
With little fcaith to mon,
Kut bloody bloody was the field, s
Ere that lang day was done,
XXIV.
The king of Scots, that findle brook'd 185
The war that look'd like play, .7U j
Drew his braid fword, and brake his bow,
Sin bows feem'd but delay.
Quoth noble Rothfay, " Mine I'll keep,
I wat it's bled a fcore." igq
Hafte up my merry men, cry'd the king,
As he rode on before.
xxv. Thf
A N^C IENT POEMS. iojf
XXV.
The king of Norfe he fought to find,
With him to menfe the faught,
But on his forehead there did light 19$
A {harp unfonfie fhaft ;
As he his hand put up to feel
The wound, an arrow keen,
O waefu' chance ! there pinn'd his hand
In midft between his een. soo
XXVI.
*' Revenge, revenge, cry'd Rothfay's heir,
Your mail-coat (ha* na bide
The ftrength and fliarpnefs of my dart;"
Then fent it through his fide.
Another arrow well he mark'd, 205
It pierc'd his neck in twa,
His hands then quat the filver reins,
He low as earth did fa*.
XXVII.
" Sair bleids ray liege, fair, fair he bleeds !"
Again wi' might he drew aio
And gefture dread his flurdy bow,
Faft the braid arrow flew :
Wae to the knight he ettled at ;
Lament now queen Elgreed ;
High dames too wail your darling's fall, AI$
Jiis youth and comely meed,
xxviii. "Take
K>6 ANCIENT POEMS.
*
XXVIII.
«* Take aff, take aff his coftly jupe '
(Of gold well was it tvvin'd,
Knit like the fowler's net, through quhilk,
His fteelly harnefs fhin'd). 220
Take, Norfe, that gift frae me, and bid
Him vengc the blood it bears }
Say, if he face my bended bow,
He fure nae weapon fears."
XXIX.
Proud Norfe with giant body tall, 225
Braid fhoulders and arms ftrong,
Cry'd, « Where is Hardyknute fae fam'd,
And fear'd at Britain's throne :
Tho* Britons tremble at his name,
I foon mall make him wail, 230
That e'er my fword was made fae fharp,
Sac faft his coat of mail."
XXX.
That brag his flout heart cou'd na bide,
It lent him youthfu' micht :
c* I'm Hardyknute ; this day, he cry'd, 235
To Scotland's king I heght
To lay thee low, as horfes hoof j
My word I mean to keep."
Syne with the firft ftroke e'er he ftrake,
He garr'd his body bleed. 240
xxxi. Norfs'
ANCIENT POEMS. 107
xxx r.
Norfs' een like gray gofehawk's ftair'd wyld,
He figh'd wi'-ftiame and fpite ;
*' Difgrac'd is now my far-fam'd arm
That left thee power to ftrike :"
Then ga' his head a blow fae fell, a^jf
It made him doun to ftoup,
A« laigh as he to ladies us'd
In courtly guife to lout.
XXXI I.
Fu' foon he rais'd his bent body,
His bow he marvell'd fair, 3^0
Sin blows till then on him but darr'd
As touch of FAIRLY fair:
Norfe marvell'd too as fair as he
To fee his ftately look ;
Sae foon as e'er he flrake a fae, >5$
Sae foon his life he took.
XXXIII.
Where like a fire to heather fet,
Bauld Thomas did advance,
Ane fturdy fae with look enrag'd
Up toward him did prance ; 260
He fpurr'd his fteid through thickeft ranks
The hardy youth to quell,
Wha ftood unmov'd at his approach
His fury to repell.
xxxiv. " That
io8 ANCIENT POEMS.
XXXIV*
"That fiiort brown lhaft fae meanly trimm'd, 165
Looks like poor Scotlands gear,
But dreadfull feems the rufly point!"
And loud he leugh in jear.
5* Oft Britons bood has dimm'd its fliine ;
This point cut fiiort their vaunt :" 170
Syne pierc'd the boafters bearded cheek j s
Nae time he took to taunt.
xxxv.
Short while he in his faddle fwang,
His ftirrup was nae flay,
Sae feeble hang his unbent knee »7 4
Sure taiken he was fey:
Swith on the harden't clay he fell,
Right far was heard the thud :
But Thomas look't nae as he lay
All vvultei ing in his blud . 289
xxxvi.
With carelefs gefture, mind unmov't,
On rode he north the plain ;
His feem in throng of fierceft ftrife,
When winner ay the fame :
Not yet his heart dames dimplet cheek 285
Could meafe foft love to bruik,
Till vengefu* Ann return'd his fcorn,
Then languid grew his luik.
5 xxxvii. la
ANCIENT POEMS. 109
XXXVII.
In thraws of death, with walowit cheik
All panting on the plain, 299
The fainting corps of warriours lay,
Ne're to arife again ;
Ne're to return to native land,
Nae mair with blithfome founds
To boaft the glories of the day, 295
And {haw their fhining wounds.
XXXVIII.
On Norways coaft the widowit dame
May wafli the rocks with tears,
May lang luik ow'r the fhiplefs fca*
Befor her mate appears. 300
Ceafe, Emma, ceafe to hope in vain;
Thy lord lyes in the clay ;
The valiant Scots nae revers thole
To carry life away.
XXX I T.
Here on a lee, where ftands a croft 305
Set up for monument,
Thoufands fu' fierce that fummer's day
Fill'd keen war's black inteut.
Let Scots, while Scots, praife Hardyknutc,
Let Norfe the name -ay dread, 310
Ay how he faughr, aft how he fpar'd,
Shall lateft ages read.
«. Now
no ANCIENT POEMS.
XL.
Now loud and chill blew th' wefllin wind,
Sair beat the heavy fhower,
Mirk grew the night ere Hardyknute 315
Wan near his (lately tower.
His tow'r that us'd wi' torches blaze
To fhine fae far at night,
Seem'd now as black as mourning weed,
Nae marvel fair he figh'd. 320
XL I.
" There's nae light in my lady's bower,
There's nae light in my ha' j
Nae blink dunes round my FAIRLY fair,
Nor ward ftands on my vra*
" What bodes it ? Robert, Thomas, fay j"— 32$
Nae anfwer flits their dread.
" Stand bick, my fons, Tie be your guide;"
But by they pad with fpeed.
XLII.
" As faft I've fped owre Scotlands faes,"—
There ceas'd his brag of weir, 23°
Sair fliam'd to mind ought but bis dame,
And maiden FAIRLY fair-
Black fear he felt, but what to fear
He wift nae yet ; wi' dread
Sair (hook his body, fair his limbs, 33$'
And a' the warrior fled.
In
ANCIENT POEMS. in
*^w In an elegant publication, infilled, " Scottifli Tra-
" gic Ballads, printed by and for J. Nichols, 178 1, Sw."
may tefeen a continuation of the 5rt//Wo/HARDYKNUTE,
by the addition of a SECOND PART, 'which hath fence been
acknowledged to be his ciun compaction, by the ingenious Edi-
tor.— To whom the late Sir D. Dalrymple communicated
(fubfequent to the account draion up above in p. 96,^ extrafis
if a It tier from Si? JOHN BRUCE, of Kinrofs, to Lord
Sinning, -which plainly proves lite pretended Jifcoverer of the
fragment nf Hardly knute to have been Sir John Bruce himfelf.
His nvordi are, •' To perform my promife^ I fend you a
*' true copy of the Manufcript 1 found fome iveeks ago in a
*' vault at Dumfertine. It is "written on vellum in a fair
*'• Got/lie char after, but Jo much defaced by time, as you'll
*' find that the tenth part is not legible.'' He then gives
the whole fragment as it ica$ firft publijhed in \^\C),fave
•ne or t-tuo jranzas, marking Jeveral paflages as having
perijhed by being illegible in the old MS. Hence it appears^
that Sir John was the author O/*HARDYKN"UTE, but after -
tvards ufed Mrs. Wardlaiu to be the midivife of his Poetry,
tmdfupprejjed the fiory of the vault ; as is well obferved
by the Editor of the Iragic BailaJs, &c. of Maitland's
Scot. Potts, vol. I. p. cxxvii.
To this gentleman ice are indebted for the life of the copy,
whence the fcccnd edition tuas afterwards printed, a f the
fame <uias prepared for the prefs by John Clerk, M. D. of
Edinburgh, an intimate companion of Lord l:rejident Forbes.
The title of the firft edition was, "HARDyKNUTE, A
" FRAGMENT. Edinburgh, printed for "James Uratfony
" &c. i -jig,''' folio, 1 2 pages.
Stanzas not in the firjl eaition are, Nos. 17, 18, iO, 21,
22, 23, 34, 35,^36, 57, 41, 4-2.
In the prefent imprefton the orthography of Dr* Clerk's
copy has betn preferved, and his readings carefully follo^med,
except in a feiv inflances, ivherein the common edition ap'
feared preferable : viz. He had in ver, ao. but. — -a. 56.
of harm. — v. 64. every. — v.t-j. lo down. — v. 83. rl'hat
emitted. — v. 89. And omitted. — v, 143. With argument
Voi. II. H 8 but
H2 A N C I E N T'.P O E M S.
but vainly flrave Lang.— v. 148. fay'd. — v. 155. in-
campit on the plain. — v..i $6. Norfefquadrons. — v. 158.
regand revers. — v. 170. his ill ides he bent. — v. iji.
minerals playand Pit rochs fine. — v. 172. {lately went.
— v. i §2. mon. — -y. 196. (harp and fatal, — <v> 219. which.
• — v. 241. flood \vyld. — Stanza 39 preceded fianza 38. —
v. 305 There. — '-v. 313. blew weilling. — v. 336. had
originally been, He fear'd a' cou'd be fear'd.
The Editor was alfo informed^ on the authority of Df*
David Clerk, M. D. of Edinburgh (fan of the aforefaid
Dr. John Clerk), that between the prefetit Jlanzas 36 and
37, the two following had been intended, but were on ma-
turer conjideration omitted^ and do not nocw appear among
the MS. additions ;
Now darts flew wavering through flaw fpeed,
Scarce could they reach their aim j
Or reach'd, fcarce blood the round point drew,
'Twas all but fliot in vain :
Right ftrengthy arms forfeeblcd grew,
Sair wreck'd wi' that day's toils :
E'en fierce-born minds now lang'd for peace,
And curs'd war's cruel broils.
Yet ftill wars horns founded to charge, %
Swords clafh'd and harnefs rang;
But (aftiy fae ilk blafter blew
The hills and dales fraemang.
Nae echo heard in double dints,
Nor the lang-vunding horn,
Nae mair flie blew out brade as (he
Did eir that iummers morn.
THE END OF BOOK THE FIRST.
OF ANCIENT POETRY,
SERIES THE SECOND.
BOOK II.
A BALLAD OF LUTHER, THE POPE, A
CARDINAL, AND A HUSBANDMAN.
In the former Book we brought down thisfecond Series
«f poems, as low as about the middle of the Jixteenth cen-
tury. W"e now find the Mufes deeply engaged in religious
controversy. The fudden revolution, wrougljt in the opt'
nions of mankind by the Reformation, is one of the moft
flriking events in the hiflory of the human mind. It could
not but engrofs the attention of every individual in that age,
tind therefore no other writings would have any chance to be
read, but fuch as related to this grand topic. The alter a-
tions made in the cftablijhcd religion by Henry yill} thejud-
Vol. II, i d<*
U4 ANCIENT POEMS.
Jen changes It underwent in the threefucc ceding reigns with-
in fojhort af^ace as eleven or twelve years, and the violent
Jlruggles between expiring Popery, and growing Protejtan-
tifm^ could not but interejt all manlind. Accordingly every
fen was engaged in the 'difpute. The followers of the Old
and New ProfeJJion (as they were called) had their refpeflive
Ballad-makers; and eve ry day produced fome popular fonnet
for or againjl the Reformation. T he following ballad, and
that intitled LITTLE JOHN NOBODY, mayferveforfpe*
cimens of the 'writings of each party. Both were written
in the reign of Edward VI ; and are not the worjl that
were compofed upon the occa/ion. Controverjial divinity is
no friend to poetic flights. Tet this ballad of " Luther and
the Pope," is not altogether devoid of fpirit ; it is of the
dramatic kind, and the char afters are tolerably wellfujlain-
ed\ efpecially that of Luther, which is made tofpeak in a
manner not unbecoming the fpirit and courage of that vigor-
ous Reformer. It is printed from the original black-letter
copy (in the Pepys collection, vol. I. folio,) to which is pre-
fixed a large wooden cut, dejigned and executed byfome emi-
nent majier. This is copied in miniature in the Jmall En-
graving inferted above.
We are not to wonder that the Ballad-writers of that
fige Jhould be infpired with the zeal of controversy, when
the very Jiage teemed with polemic divinity. I have now
before me two very ancient quarto black-letter plays : the
one publijhed in the time of Henry VIII, intitled, (Qftftg
; the other called ILuft2 3fubfttttW, printed in the
reign of Edward VI. In the former of thefe, occqfion
is taken to inculcate great reverence for old mother church
and her fuperjlitions * : in the other ^ the. poet (one R.
WEVER)
* Tale affecimenfrom b.'s high encomium* on the friejl 'hod,
« There is no emfcnjur, kyng, duke, ne baron
" That of God bath commi/yon,
" As bath the lee/} -f>rufl in the -world beynge.
* * *
" God bath to them more poiver gyven,
" Tian to any aungelL that it in beven :
ANCIENT POEMS. 115
WE v E R ) with great fuccefs attach both. So that the Stage
in thofe days literally ivas, 'what -wife men have always
tvi/bed it, — a f -.implement to the pulpit: — This was fo much
the cafe, that in the play of Lufty Ju-ventus, chapter aud
•verfe are every -where quoted as formally as in afermon ;
take an in/lance:
" The Lord by his prophet Ezechielfayeth in this wife
playnlye,
" As in the xxxiij chapter it doth appere:
" Be converted, O ye children, &c."
From this play ue learn that mojl of the young people were
New Go/sellers, or friends to the Reformation ; and that
the old were tenacious of the doflrines imbibed in their youth:
for thus the Devil is introduced lamenting the dvwnfal of
fuperjlition :
*' The olJe people would believe fill in my laiuest
'* But theyonge r fo t leade them a contrary wayt
*« They nvyl not beleve, they playnlyfay,
" In olde traditions, and made by men, &c."
I * And
« With v. words he may confecratt
" GotMei body injiesjhe and blode to take,
" And bandeletb bis maker bytwene his kanJes.
t( B'jthe in en be and in beven.—
" Thou minijten all the facramintes feven.
«' Though -we kyft thy fete tbou were wordy ;
" Tbou art the fur gy an that curetbfynne dedly\
" No remedy may wefynde under God,
" But alone on preeftbode.
" God gave fieeji that digniti,
" And lettetb them in hisfiede amange us be,
ft Tbui be they above aungeli in degre "
See Havjkint'i Orig. of Eng. Drama, Vol. I. f. *!.'
u6 ANCIENT POEMS.
And in another place Hypocrify urges t
' ' The *worlde was never merl
*' Since chyldren 'were ft boulde:
" Now every boy luill be a te acker t
" The father afoole, the chyld a preacher"
Of the plays abovementloned^ to the firfl is fubwined the fol-
lowing Printer* s Colophon, f STJ)U0 CtttJCt^ t|)i0 moral plSfe
flf (Etjeri? Sgatt. V. 31mptEnteU at HonHon in HDotDle« c&grc&f
jarDe fig me 3fojn Slot. /« Mr&jjmriclPs collection is
an imperfect copy of the fame playt printefciy^ Richardc
0tt enterluUe called Iluftg 3(ubnitu0 :
«i«</w /^KJ diftinguiflied at the end: jpinifl. QUOU K- 3HHCt)Ct.
3Imptinteti at Honuon tit HDauIes cjiuicpe cearD bg 3fcra{?am
tHeU at t&e Cgne of t|>c Lam&e. Of this too Mr. Garrick
Jias an imperfect copy of a different edition.
Of thefe tiLO Plays the Reader may find fame further par-
ticulars in the former Volume,, Sock II. fee THE ESSAY ON
THE ORIGIN OF THE ENGLISH STAGE ; and the turious
Reader lutlljind the Plays themf elves printed 'at large in
HAWKINS'S " Origin of the Englijli Drama" 3 vols,
Oxford, 1773, I2mo.
THE HUSBANDMAN.
LET \is Hft up our hai tes all,
And prayfe the lordes magnificence,
Which hath given the wolues a fall,
And is become our flrong defence:
For they thorowe a falfe pretens
From Chrifles bloude dyd all us leade*,
# /'. i, denied ut the Cuff fee below , ver. 94.
7
ANCIENT POEMS. 117
Gettynge from every man his pence,
As fatisfaftours for the deade.
For what we with our FLATLES coulde get
To kepe our houfe, and fervauntes ; 10
That did the Freers from us fet,
And with our foules played the merchauntes :
And thus they with theyr falfe warrantcs
Of our fweate have eafelye lyved,
That for fatnefle theyr belyes pantei, t$
So greatlye have they us deceaued.
They fpared not the fatherlefle,
The carefull, nor the pore wydowe ;
They wolde have fomewhat more or lefle,
If it above the ground did growe : **
But now we Hulbandmen do ktiowe
Al their fubteltye, and their falfe cafte ;
For the lorde hath them overthrowe
With his fvvete word now at the laftc.
DOCTOR MARTIN LUTHER.
Thou antichrift, with thy thre crownes, af
Haft nfurped kynges powers,
As having power over realmes and townes,
Whom thou oughteft to ferve all houres :
Thou thinkeft by thy jugglyng colours
Thou raaift lykewife Cods word opprefle j 30
izS ANCIENT POEMS,
As do the deceatful foulers,
When they theyr nettes craftelye dreflc.
Thou flattered every prince, and lord,
Thretening poore men with fwearde and fyre ;
All thofe, that do followe Gods worde, 35
To make them cleve to thy defire,
Theyr bokes thou burneft in flaming fire ;
Curfing with boke, bell, and candell,
Such as to reade them have dcfyre,
Or with them are wyllynge to meddell. 40
Thy falfe power wyl I bryng down,
Thou (halt not raygne many a yere,
I {hall dryve the from citye and towne,
Even with this PEN that thou feyfte here:
Thou fyghteft with fwerd, fhylde, and fpeare, 45
But I wyll fyght with Gods worde;
Which is now fo open and cleare,
That it (hall brynge the under the borde *.
THE POPE.
Though I brought never fo many to hel,
Ai.d to utter dampnacion, co
Throughe myne enfample, and confel,
Or thorow any abhomitiacion,
Yet doth our lawe excufe my fafhion.
And thou, Luther, arte accurfed ;
# /. t . Make tbee knack under tbt ttbli*
For
ANCIENT POEMS. 119
For blamynge me, and my condicion, 55
The holy decres have the condempned.
•
Thou ftryvcft againft my purgatory,
Becaufe thou findeit it not in fcripture;
As though I by myne au&orite
Myght not make one for myne honoure. 69
Knoweft thou not, that I have power
To make, and mar, in heaven and hell,
In erth, and every creature?
Whatfoever I do it muft be well.
As for fcripture, I am above it; $£
Am not I Gods hye vicare ?
Stualde I be bounde to folowe it,
As the carpenter his ruler * ?
Nay, nay, hereticks ye are,
That will not obey my au&oritie. yd
With this SWORDE I wyll declare,
That ye fiial al accurfed be.
THE CARDINAL.
I am a Cardinall of Rome,
Sent from Ch rifles hye vicary,
To graunt pardon to more, and fume, 75
That wil Luther refift flrongly :
He is a greate hereticke treuly,
And regardeth to much the fcripture ;
* hf.hisrdt.
14 lor
120 ANCIENT POEMS.
For he thinketh onely thereby
To fubdue the popes high honoure. So
Receive ye this PARDON devouteTy,
And loke that ye agaynft him fight ;
Flucke up you re herts, and be manlye,
For the pope fayth ye do but ryght :
And this be fure, that at one flyghte, 8$
Allthough ye be overcome by chaunce,
Ye fhall to heaven go with greate myghte;
God can make you no refiftaunce.
But thefe heretikes for their medlynge
Shall go down to hel every one ;- 9*
For they have not the popes bleflynge,
Nor regarde his holy pardon :
They thinke from all deftruction
By Chriftes bloud to be faved,
Fearynge not our excommunicaclon, 95
Therefore lhall they al be dampned.
II. JOHN
ANCIENT POEMS. iai
II.
JOHN ANDERSON MY JO.
A SCOTTISH SONS.
While in England verfe was made the vehicle of contro-
verjy, and Popery was attacked in it by logical argument^
or flinging fatire ; lue may be fure the zeal of the Scottijb
Reformers ivould not fujfe.r their pens to be idle, but many
a pafquil ivas difcbarged at the Romi/h priefts, axd their
enormous encroachments on property. Of this kind perhaps is
the following, (preferred in Maitland's MS. CellecJ'an of
Scott ijh poems in the Pepy/ian library :)
Tak a Wobfter, that is leill,
And a Miller, that will not fteill,
With ane Prieft, that is not gredy,
And lay ane deid corpfe thame by,
And, throw virtue of thame three,
That deid corpfe fall qwyknit be.
'Thus far all <was fair : but the furious hatred of popery
led them to employ their rhymes in ajiill more licentious man-
ner. It is a received tradition in Scotland., that at the
time of the Reformation, ridiculous and obfcene fongt *ujere
compofed to be fung by the rabble to the tunes of the tnojl
favourite hymns in the Latin fervice. ;-.iee". fleeves and
pudding pies (de/igned to ridicule the pipijh clergy) is
faid to have been one of thefe met amor phofej hymns : IVi ijfgy
1-auder 'was another: John Aniirr i'Ki my jo ivas a third.
The original mufec of all thefe burlefque fonnets -was very
fine. To give afpecimen of their manner, we have inferted
122 ANCIENT POEMS.
ne of the leajl offenjive. The Reader will pardon the
meannefs of the compofition for the fake of the anecdote-)
vcbich Jlrongly marks thefpirit of the times.
In the prejent Edition this Jong is much impreved by fame
flew readings communicated by a friend ; who thinks by the
*' Seven Bairns,'" injt. id. are meant the Seven Sacraments ;
fae of i^hich 'were thcfpurious offspring of Mother Church :
as the f.rjt Jlanza contains a fatirical allujion to the luxury
cf the popijh clergy.
The adaptation cf folemn church mujlc to thefe ludicrous
pieces, and the jumble of ideas, thereby occajioned, 'will ac*
count for the fallowing fa£L — From the Records of the Ge-
neral djfembly in Scotland, called, " The Book of the Uni-
•verfal Kirk,'" p. 90, fth July, 1568, it appears, that
Thomas BajJenJyne printer in Edinburgh^ printed " apfalme
" buik, in the end whereof was found printit ane baudy
"Jang, called^ " Welcome Fortunes *."
WOMAN. ^'^
JOHN Anderfon my jo, cum in as ze ga$,bye£
And ze fall get a flieips hcid weel baken in a pye;
Weel baken in a pye, and the haggis in a pat :
John Anderfon my jo, cum in, and ze's get that.
MAN.
And how doe ze, Cummer ? and how hae ze threven ?
And how monybairnshaeze? WOM. Cummer, Ihaefeven.
MAN. Are they to zour awin glide man? WOM. Na,
Cummer, n&i
For five of tham were gotten, quhan he was awa'.
* Ste alfo Bhgrafh. Sri tan. }Ji Edit. vol. I. f. 177,
III. LITTLE
ANCIENT POEMS. 123
III.
LITTLE JOHN NOBODY.
We have here a witty libel on the Reformation under king
Edward Fl '. written about the year 1 550, and preferred in
the Pepys collection, Britijh Mufeum, and Slype's Mem of
Cranmer. The author artfully declines entering into the
merits of the caufe, and 'wholly reflefl:, on the lives andaflions
«f many of the Reformed. It is fo eafy to find flaws and
imperfeflions in the condufi of men, even the be/I of thetnt
andjlill eafier to make general exclamations about the pro-
fligacy of the prefent times, that no great point is gained by
arguments of that fort, unlefs the author could have proved
that the principles of the Reformed Religion had a natural
tendency to produce a corruption of manners : -whereas he In-
dlreflly owns, that their REVEREND FATHER \archbijhop
Cranmer'] had ufed the mojl proper means to ftem the tor-
rent ', by giving the people accefs to thefcriptures, by teach-
ing them to pray with under /landing, and by publishing ho-
milles, and other religious tracJs. It muft however be ac-
knowledged, that our libeller had at that time fufficient
room for jujlfatire. For under the banners of the Reformed
had Inllfted themfelves, many concealed papifts, ivho had
private ends to gratify } many that were of no religion ;
many greedy courtiers, ivho thirjled after the poffejjions of
the church ; and many dijfolute perfons, who wanted to be
exempt from all ecclejiaftical cenfures : And as thefe men were
loudeft of all others in their cries for Reformation, fo in
effefl none obflrufled the regular progrefs of it fo much, or
by their -vicious lives brought vexation and Jhame more on
the truly venerable and pious Reformers,
6 f/AT
i«4 ANCIENT POEMS.
^he reader will remark thefondnefs of our Satiri/fsr
alliteration : in this he iuas guilty of no affectation or Jingu-
larity ; his verification is that of I ierce Plowman's fijians^
in <wbich a recurrence of Jimil&r letters is effential: to this
be has only fuperadded rhyme, which in bis time began to be
the general praftice. See an ESSAY on this very peculiar
kind of metre, prefixed to BOOK III. in this Volume.
IN december, when the dayes draw to be fhort,
After november, when the nights wax noyfome and
As I paft by a place privily at a port, [long j
I faw one fit by himfelf making a fong :
His laft * talk of trifles, who told with his tongue
That few were fail iW faith. I * freynedf ' that freake,
Whether he wanted wit, or fome had done him wrong.
Hefaid, he was little John Nobody, that durft not fpeake.
John Nobody, quoth I, what news ? thou foon note and
What maner men thou meane, thou are fo mad. [teli
He faid, Thefe gay gallants, that wil conftrue the gofpel,
As Solomon the fage, with femblance full fad ;
To difcufle divinity they nought adread ;
More meet it were for them to milk kye at a fleyke.
Thou lyeft, quoth I, thou lofel, like a leud lad. [fpeake.
He faid, he was little John Nobody, that durft not
Its meet for every man on this matter to talk,
And the glorious gofpel ghoftly to have in mind ;
It is fothe faid, that fed but much unfeemly fkalk,
As boyes babble in books, that in fcripture are blind:
* Perfapt He left talk. f fey ned MSS, and P. C.
Yet
ANCIENT POEMS, 125
Yet to their fancy foon a caufe will find ;
As to live in lull, in lechery to leyke :
Such eaitives count to be come of Cains kind ;
But that I little John Nobody durft not fpeake.
For our reverend father hath fet forth an order.
Our fervice to be faid in our feignours tongue ;
As Solomon the fage fet forth the fcripture;
Our fuffragcs, and fervices, with many a fweet fong,
With homilies, and godly books us among,
That no ftiff, ftubborn flomacks we fhould freyke !
But wretches nere worfe to do poor men wrong ;
But that I little John Nobody dare not fpeake.
For bribery was never fo great, fince born was our Lord,
And whoredom was never les hated, fith Chrift har-
rowed hel,
And poor men are fo fore puniflied commonly through
the world,
That it would grieve any one, that good is, to hear tel.
For ai the homilies and good books, yet their hearts be
fo quel,
That if a man do amifle, with mifchiefe they wil him
vrreake ;
The fafliion of thefe new fellows it is fo vile and fell:
But that I little John Nobody dare not fpeake.
Thus to live after their luft, that life would they have,
And in lechery to leyke al their long life ;
Vtr. -i,. Cains kind."] So in Pierct the Plowman's creed, tie proud friart
trefaid to he
- " 2>f Csgmw RinU," rid. •% & jj. t.
For
J26 ANCIENT POEMS.
For al the preachmg of Paul, yet many a proud knave
Wil move m'uchiefe in their mind both to maid and wife
To bring them in advoutry, or elfe they wil ftrife,
And in brawling about baudery, Gods commandments
breake :
But of thefe frantic il fellowes, few of them do thrife ;
Though I little John Nobody dare not fpeake.
If thou company with them, they wil currifhly carp,
and not care
According to their foolilh fantacy ; but faft wil they
naught :
Prayerwith them is but prating; therefore they it forbear:
Both almes deeds, and holinefs, they hate it in their
thought :
Therefore pray we to that prince, that with his bloud
us bought,
That he wil mend that is amifs: for many a manful freyke
Is forry for thefe fe&s, though they fay little or nought ;
And that I little John Nobody dare not once fpeake.
Thus in NO place, this NOBODY, in NO time I met,
Where NO roan, 4ne*' NOUGHT was, nor NOTHING did
appear ;
Through the found of a fynagogue for forrow I fwett,
That ' Aeolus f * through the eccho did caufe me to hear.
Then I drew me down into a dale, whereas the dumb deer
Did fliiver for a fliower ; but I fhunted from a freyke :
For I would no wight in this world wift who I were,
But little John Nobody, that dare not once fpeake.
* then, MSS. and PC. f Hercules, MSS. and PC.
IV. Q
ANCIENT POEMS. 127
IV.
0^ ELIZABETH** VERSES, WHILE PRISONER
AT WOODSTOCK,
WRIT WITH CHARCOAL OH A SHUTTER,
— are preferred by Hentzner, in that part of his Travels,
ivhicb has been reprinted in Jo elegant a manner at
STRAIFBEILRY-HILL. In Hentxner>s book they were
wretchedly corrupted, but are here given as amended by hit
ingenious Editor. The old orthography, and one or ftoo
ancient readings of Hentzner'f copy are here reftoied.
OH, Fortune ! how thy reftlefle wavering ftate
Hath fraught with cares my troubled \vitt !
Witnea this prefent prifonn, whither fate
Could beare me, and the joys I quit.
Thou caufedeft the guiltie to be lofed £
From bandes, wherein are innocents inclofed:
Caufing the guiltles to be ftraite referved,
And freeing thofe that death had well delerved.
But by her envie can be nothing wroughte,
So God fend to my foes all they have thoughte.
A. D. MDLV. ELIZABETHS, PRISON.VER.
Vtr. 4. Could beare, is an ancient idiwi, e<]iti-valent to Did biar tr
Hath borne. Ste below the Beggar of Bcd/tul G:e:n, ver. 57. Could faf.
V. THE
J28 ANCIENT POEMS.
V.
THE HEIR OF LINNE.
The original of tks Ballad is found in the Editor's folio
MS. the breaches and defefts in which, rendered the in-
fer tlon of fup fie mental ftanzas necejjary. *Tbefe it is hoped
the Reader will pardon, as indeed the conclufion of the Jiory
•suas foggefted by a modern ballad on ajimilar fubjefl.
From the Scottijh pkrafes here and there difcernable in this
fcem, itjhouldfeem to have been originally ctmpofed beyond
tbe ^Fioeed.
The Heir of Linne appears net to have been a Lord of
Parlieifnent) but a LAIRD, ivhofe title went along ivitb hit
fjiate.
PART THE FIRST.
LITHE and liften, gentlemen,
To fing a fong I will beginne :
It is of a lord of faire Scotland,
Which was the unthrifty heire of Linnc.
His father was a right good lord, 5
His mother a lady of high degree ;
But they, alas ! were dead, him froc,
And he lov'd keeping companie,
TP
ANCIENT POEMS. 129
To fpend the daye with merry cheare,
To drinke and revell every night, ia
To card and dice from eve to morne,
It was, I ween, his hearts delighte.
To ride, to runne, to rant, to roare,
To alvva'ye fpend and never fpare,
I wott, an' it were the king himtelfe, i$
Of gold and fee he mote be bare.
Soe fares the unthrifty lord of Linne
Till all his gold is gone and fpent ;
And he maun fell his landes fo broad,
His houfe, and landes, and all his rent. *•
His father had a keen ftewarde,
And John o' the Scales was called hee i
But John is become a gentel-man,
And John has gott both gold and fee.
Sayes, Welcome, welcome, lord of Llnne, aj
Let nought diihirb thy merry cheere ;
Iff thou wilt fell thy landes foe broad,
Good flore of gold He give thee hee re.
My gold is gone, my monry is fpent;
My lande nowe take it unto thee : 39
Give me the golde, good John o' the Scales,
And thine for aye my lande fhall b:e.
VOL. II. K Thea
130 ANCIENT POEMS.
Then John he did him to record draw,
And John he caft him a gods-pennie * ;
>»ut for every pounde that John agreed, 35
The lande, I wis, was well worth three.
He told him the gold upon the horde,
He was right glad his land to winne :
The gold is thine, the land is mine,
And now He be the lord of Linne. 40
Thus he hath fold his land foe broad,
Both hill and holt, and moore and fenne,
All but a poore and lonefome lodge,
That flood far off in a lonely glenne.
For foe he to his father hight. 4^
My fonne, when I am gonne, fayd hee,
Then thou wilt fpend thy lande fo broad,
And thou wilt fpend thy gold fo free :
But fweare me nowe upon the roode,
That lonefome lodge thou'lt never fpend ; 5*
For when all the world doth frown on thee,
Thou there {halt find a faithful friend.
The heire of Linne is full of golde :
And come with me, my friends, fayd hee,
Let s drinke, and rant, and merry make, ££
And he that fpares, ne'er mote he thee.
* /. e. earner-money ; from the French « Denier a Dieu.' At tlis day,
luhen afplicatitn is made to the Dean and Chaffer of CarliJJe to accept an
txckangf tf the tenant under one of their leafes, a piece of fll-ver is fre~
fented by the *nu tenant, which is Jill called «Gocs-f£HNY.
They
ANCIENT POEMS. i3t
They ranted, drank, and merry made,
Till all his gold it waxed thinne;
And then his friendes they flunk away; -\
They left the unthrifty heire of Linne. ^ 60
He had never a penny left in his purfe,
Never a penny left but three,
And one was brafs, another was lead,
And another it was white money.
Nowe well-aday, fayd the heire of Linne, 6$
Nowe well-aday, and \voe is mee,
For when I was the lord of Linne,
I never wanted gold nor fee.
But many a truftye friend have I,
And why fliold I feel dole or care ? 70
He borrow of them all by turnes,
Soe need I not be never bare*
But one, I wis, was not at home ;
Another had payd his gold away ;
Another call'd him thriftlefs loone, 7 £
And bade him fliarpely wend his way.
Now well-aday, fayd the heire of Linne,
Now well-aday, and woe is me !
For when I had my landes fo broad,
On me they liv'd right merrilee. 8«
Kr. 6 3, 4, 5> &e. Sit MS.
K. a. T«
ANCIENT POEMS.
To beg my bread from door to door
I wis, it were a brenning fliame :
To rob and fteal it were a finne:
To worke my limbs I cannot frame.
Now lie away to lonefome lodge,
For there my father bade me wend;
When all the world fliould frown on mce,
I there fhold find a trufty friend.
PART THE SECOND.
AWAY then hyed the heire of Linne
O'er hill and holt, and moor and ferine,
Untill he came to lonefome lodge,
That flood fo lowe in a lonely glenne.
He looked up, he looked downe, £
In I. ope fome comfort for to winne :
But bare and lothly were the walles.
Here's ferry cheare, quo* the heire of Linne.
The little windowe dim and darke
Was hung with ivy, brere, and ycwe ; 10
No fhimmeiing funn here ever flione ;
N* halefome breeze here ever blew.
No
ANCIENT POEMS. 133
No chair, ne table he mote fpye,
No chearful hearth, ne welcome bed,
Nought fave a rope with renning noofe, 15
That dangling hung up o'er his head.
And over it in broad letters,
Thefe words were written fo plain to fee :
" Ah ! graceletfe wretch, haft fpent thine all,
" And brought thyfelfe to penurie ? 2«
M All this iny boding mind mifgave,
" I therefore left this trufty friend :
" Let it now flieeld thy foule difgrace,
" And all thy fliame and ibrrows end.^
Sorely (bent wi' this rebuke, 2$
Sorely fhent was the heire of Linne ;
His heart, I xvis, was near to brail
With guilt and forrowe, fliame and finne.
Never a word fpake the heire of Linne,
Never a word he fpake but three : j»
" This is a trufty friend indeed,
" And is right welcome unto mee."
Then round his necke the corde he drewc,
And fprang aloft with his bodie :
When lo ! the ceiling burfl in tvvaine, 35
And to the ground came tumbling hee,
K 5 Aftonyed
i34 ANCIENT POEMS.
Aftonyed lay the heire of Linne,
Ne Icnewe if he were live or dead :
At length he looked, and fawe a bille,
And in it a key of gold fo redd. 40
He took the bill, and lookt it on,
Strait good comfort found he there :
Itttold him of a hole in the wall,
In which there flood three chefts in-fere *.
Two were full of the beaten golde, 45
The third was full of white money;
And over them in broad letters
Thefe words were written fo plaine to fee :
*' Once more, my fonne, I fette thee clere ;
" Amend thy life and follies paft ; 50
'* For but thou amend thee of thy life,
" That rope muft be thy end at laft.1'
And let it bee, fayd the heire of Linne }
And let it bee, but if I amend •(• :
For here I will make mine avcw, ££
This reade J (hall guide me to the end.
Away then xvent with a merry cheare.
Away then went the heire of Linne j
I wis, he neither ceas'd ne blanne,
Till John o' the Scales houfe he did winne. 60
* in-fere, /. e. tagitber, •}• i.e. unf eft I amend.
/J i. e. advice, nunfel. Yer, 60. «« old northern fhrafe.
And
• . • •
ANCIENT POEMS, 135
And when he came to John o* the Scales,
Upp at the fpeere * then looked hee ;
There fate three lords upon a rowe,
Were drinking of the wine fo free.
And John himfelf fate at the bord-head, 6$
Becaufe now lord of Linne was hee.
I pray thee, he faid, good John o* the Scales,
One forty pence for to lend inee.
Away, away, thou thriftlefs loone ;
Away, away, this may not bee: 7*
For Chrifts curfe on my head, he fayd,
If ever 1 truft thee one pennie. <
Then befpake the heire of Linne,
To John o* the Scales wife then fpake he :
Madame, fome almes on me beflowe, 75
I pray for fweet faint Charitie.
Away, away, thou thriftlefs loone,
1 fwear thou gettell no almes of mee ;
For if we fliold hang any lofel heere,
The firft we wold begin with thee. $o
* Perhitfs tie Hole in the doer or w/Wo-u>, by which it was fpeerei'j
/ Balis ^d Part of the ASlsrf Eng.
o. 38.^ <* The dofe tllgrof eft tymeS
K 4 The»
i ,
i.c.ffarred, faflentd, orjkut. — /// Balis ^d Part of the ASlsrf Eng.
Votaries, -we have this pbrafc, (fo. 38.^ <* The dofe tllgrof eft tymeS
*f apeaed andfpc
136 A N C I E N T P O E M S.
Then befpake a good fellowe,
Which {at at John o* the Scales his bord ;
Sayd, Turn againe, thou heire of Linne j
Some time thou waft a well good lord ;
Some time a good fellow thou haft been, 8$
And fparedft not thy gold and foe ;
Therefore He lend thee forty pence,
And other forty if need bee.
And ever, I pray thee, John o' the Scale*,
To let him fit in thy companie : 90
For well I wot thou hadft his land,
And a good bargain it was to thee.
Up then fpnke him John o' the Scales,
All wood he anfvver'd him againe:
Now Gh rifts curfe on my head, he fayd, 95
But I did lofe by that baigaine.
And here I proffer thee, heire of Linne,
Before thde lords fo faire and free,
Thou fhalt have it backe again better cheape,
By a hundred markes, than I had it of thoe. i o
I drawe you to record, lords, he faid.
With that he caft him a gods pennie :
Now by my fay, fayd the heire of Linne,
And here, good John, is thy money.
fee. 34. 104. caft, it tie rtad'ng of the MS.
f" And
ANCIENT POEMS. 137
And he pull'd forth three bagges of gold, iO£
And layd them down upon the bord ;
All woe begone was John o' the Scales,
Soe flient he cold fay never a word.
He told him forth the good red gold,
He told it forth mickle dinne. n»
The gold is thine, the land is mine,
And now Ime againe the lord of Linne.
Sayes, Have thou here, thou good felldwe,
Forty pence thou didft lend mee:
Now I am againe the lord of Linne, ii£
And forty pounds I will give thee.
He make the keeper of my forreft,
Both of the wild deere and the tame;
For but I reward thy bounteous heart,
I vvis, good fcllowe, I were to blame. 119
Now welladay ! fayth Joan o' the Scales :
Now welladay ! and woe is my life !
Yefterday I was lady of Linne,
Now Ime but John o' the Scales his wife.
Now fere thee well, fayd the heire of Linne ; I
Farewell now, John o' the Scales, faid hee:
> Chrifts curie light on me, if ever again
I bring my lands in jeopardy. %*
•f 4- 1 In the prefent Edition of this Ballad fever al ancient
Readings are reflored from tie folio J12S,
VL GAS-
138 A N C I E N T POEMS.
\
vr.
GASCOIGNE's PRAISE OF THE FAIR BRIDGES,
AFTERWARDS LADY S ANDES,
ON HER HAVING A SCAR IN HER FOREHEAD.
George Gafcoigne was a celebrated poet in the early part
ef Queen Elizabeth's reign, and appears to great advantage
among the mi/cellaneous <vuriters of that age. He was aut&or
of three or Jour plays, and of many fmaller poems ; one of
the moft remarkable of which is a fatire in blank verfe,
called the STEELE-GLASS, 1576, 4/0.
Gafcoigne was born in Ejjex, educated in both univer/i-
tifs, whence he removed to Grays-inn ; but, dijliking the
fiudy of the law, became firft a danglgr at court, and after-
wards afddier in the wars of the Low Countries. He had
no grt at fuccefs in any of thefe purfuils, as appears f mm a
form of his, intitled, " Gafcoigne 's H^odmanJ/iip, written
" to lord Gray of Wilton" Many of his epijlles dedicatory
are dated in 1575, 1576, from " his poore houfe in Ifa'l-
't thamjloe :" where he died a middle-aged man in 1^78,
according to Anth. Hrood: or rather in 11577, if he is the
•per f on meant in an old tracJ^ intitled, " A remembrance of
*' the <well employed Life and goaly End of GEO. GAS-
*' coiGNE, E/if, "who deceafed at Stamford in Lincoln-
*' Jhire, Ofi.j, I577» by Geo. V^heijlcne, Gent, an eye-
" 'VJitnefs of his godly and charitable end in this luorldj'
4*0. no 4ate — [From a. MS. of OLijs.']
Mr. Tn o M A s W A R T o N thinks ' ' Gafcoigne has much ex-
" ceeded M the poets of his age, infmoothnefs and harmony
" (f "verjlfication "*." But the truth is, Jcarce any of the
earlier poets of %. Elizabeth's time are found deficient in
barmwy and f moot hnefs, tho* thofc qualities atpear Jo rare
in the writings of their fucceljors. In the PARADISE OK
DAINTY DEViSESf, (the Dodjley^s Mijcellanyofthofe times)
* Obfcrvations on the Faerie <^ueen, Vat. II. f. 168.
f Printed in 1578, 1596, and -perhaps oftentr, in 4/0 llack-Ut.
' '
ANCIENT POEMS. 139
will hardly le found one rough, or inharmonious line * :
whereas the numbers of Jon/on, Donne, and moft of their
contemporaries, frequently offend the ear, like the filing of a
Jaw. — Perhaps this is in fome meafure to be accounted for
from the growing pedantry of that age, and from the "wri-
ters affefting to run theii lines into one another, after the
manner of the Latin and Greek poets?
'the following poem (which the elegant 'writer above
quoted hath recommended to notice, as pojffejfed of a dslicacy
rarely to befeen in that early fiate of our poztry) properly
confijls of alexandrines of 12 and T 4 fyllables, and is
printed from two quarto black-letter collections of Gafgoigne1^
pieces ; the firft intitled, " A hundreth fundrie flo^wres-j
" bounde up in one f mall pofie, &c. Londcn, imprinted for
" RicharJe Smith:" without date, but from a letter of
H. W. (p. 202 J compared with the Printer's epijt. to the
Reader, it appears to have been publijlied in 1572, or 5.
The other is intitled, " The Pojies of George Gafcoigne, Efq;
" correclcd, perfecT.ed, and augmented by the author; I 57^*
J' — Printed at Lond. for Richard Stnitk^ &f," Nojreart
but the epijh dedicat, is dated \ 576.
In the title page of this laft (by way of printers f, or
bookfeller's device) if an ornamental wooden cut, tolerably
•well executed, 'wherein Time is reprefented drawing the figure
ofTt'ut/i out of a pit or cavern, with this legend, OCCULT A
VERITAS TEMPORE PATET [R. S.j This is mentioned
becaufe it is not improbable but the accidental Jight of this
or fome other title page containing the fame, dmice^fuggejled
to Rubens that ^well-known defign of ajimilar kind, which
he has introduced into the Luxemburg gallery J, and which
has been fo jujlly cenfuredfor the unnatural manner of its
execution, — The device above mentioned being not ill adapted
to the fubjett of this volume^ is with fome f mall variations
copied in a plate, which, to gratify the curiofity of the
Reader, is prefixed to Book III.
* The fume is true of me/} of the poems in /^Mirrour of Magistrates,
1563, 4/0, and alfo of Surrey 's Poems, 1557.
' -j- Hcnde Bi/incman, J LE TZMS pscouvRB LA VERITB?
140 ANCIENT POEMS.
IN court vvhofo demaundes
What dame doth moft excell;
J-'or my conceit I muft needes fay,
Faire Bridges beares the bel.
Upon whofe lively cheeke, $
To prove my judgment true,
The role and lillie leeme to ftrive
For equall change of hevve ;
And therewith all fo well
Hir graces all agree ; 10
No frowning cheere dare once prefume
In hir fweet face to bee.
•
Although fome laviflie lippes,
Which likeibme other beir,
Will fay, the blemime on hir browe 15
Difgraceth all the reft.
Thereto I thus replie ;
God wotte, they little knovve
The hidden caufe of that mifhap,
Nor how the harm did growe : 20
For when dame Nature firft
Had frainde hir heavenly face,
And thoroughly bedecked it
With, goodly gleames of gracej
It
ANCIENT POEMS. 141
It lyked hir fo well : aj
Lo here, quod ihe, a peece
For perfect fliape, that paffeth all
Appelles' worke in Greece.
This bayt may channce to catche
The greateft God of love, 3*
Or mightie thundring Jove himfelf,
That rules the roaft above.
But out, alas [ thofe wordes
Were vaunted all in vayne;
And fome unfeen vver prefent there, 35
Pore Bridges, to thy pain.
For Cupide, crafty boy,
Clofe in a corner ftoode,
Not blyndfold then, to gaze on hirs
I gefle it did him good* 4*
Yet when he felte the flame
Gan kindle in his brefr,
And herd dame Nature boaft by h!r
To break him of his reft,
His hot newe-chofen love 45
He chaunged into hate,
And fodeynly with mightie mace
Gan ra hir on the pate.
142 ANCIENT POEMS.
It greeved Nature muche
To fee the cruel 1 deede : 50
Mee feemes I fee hir, how flie wept
To fee hir dearling bleede.
( '
Wei yet, quod (lie, this hurt
Shal have fome helpe I trowe :
And quick with {kin (he coverd itj 55
That whiter is than fnowe.
Wherwith Dan Cupide fled,
For feare of further flame,
When angel-like he faw hir (hine,
Whome he had fmit with (hame. .- 60
Lo, thus was Bridges hurt
In cradel of hir kind.
The coward Cupide brake hir browe
To wreke his wounded my'nd.
The Ikar ftill there remains ; 65
No force, there let it bee :
There is no cloude that caa eclipfe
So bright a funne, as (lie.
*#* The Lady here celebrated ivas Catharine, daughter
of Edmond fecond Lord ChanJos, •wife of William Lord
Sands. See Collinses Peerage, vol. IL f. 133, ed. 1779*
Vtr. 62. In cradel of hir kind : /. e. hi the cradle cf hir family,
Set Worton'j Olftrvttivni) vol. II. f. 137.
VIJ. FAIR
ANCIENT POEMS. 143
VIL
FAIR ROSAMOND.
Moft of the cir cumftances in this popular fiory of king
Henry II. and the beautiful Rofamond have been taken for
fa£i by our Engltjh Hiftorians ; who^ unable to account for
the unnatural conducl of queen Eleanor in Jiimnlatin^ her
fans to rebellion, have attributed it to jealoufy andfuppo-
fed that Henry's amour with Rofamond ewas the objeft of
that pafilon.
Our o'd Englijh annalijls feefn^ moft of the m^ to have fol-
Jorved Higden the monk of Chejler, whofe account, with form
tnlargements, is thus given by Sto-iv. " Rofamond thefayrc
" daughter of I/Walter lord Clifford, concubine to Henry II,
" (poifoned by queen EUanor, as fame thought) dyed at
.** Woodftocke \A. D. 1177.] where king Hertry had made
" for her a houfe of <voondtrfull working ; fo that no tna*
*'" or -wttinan might come to her, but he that was inftrufted
** by the, king, or fuch as were right fecret with him touch -
** ing the matter This houfe after fame ivas namtd L*by-
*' rinthus, or Dtdalus ^voorke^ ivhich <was wrought like u't-
" to a knot in a garden, call ft! a Maze * ; but it luas com-
" monlyfaid, that laftly the queene came to her by a clue cf
*' tbridde, orjilke, and fo dealt with her, that J/te lived
" not long after : but when Jlie was dead, Jhe was luried
" at Godjl(nu in an houfe of nunnes, bejide Oxfwdt wit ft
*' thefe nierfes upon her tombe :
*' Hie jacet in tumba, Rofa mundi, non Rofa munda:
" Non redolet, led olet, quse redolere folet.
* Ctnjijling <jf Vtults under grwnd, arcled and ivaUed ivifb brick
titidjiom, acitrding to Drayts/n. See note on bis EfljUe of Rofumntl.
"In
144 ANCIENT POEMS.
" The rofe of the w<.rld, but not the cleane flowre,
" Is now here graven; to 'whom beauty ivas lent!
" In this grave full darke nowe is her bowre,
*' That by her life was fweete and redolent:
*' Butnno that fiie is from this life blent,
*' Though Jhe were fweete, now foully doth Jhe Jlinke.
" A mirrour good for all men, that on her thinke."
Stowe's Annals, Ed. 1631, p. 154.
How the- queen gained admittance into Rofamond^s io-iuer
is differently related. HollingJJied fpeaks of it, as *' the
*' common report of the people, that the queene . . . founde
" hir out by a Jilken thread, which the king had drawne
" after him out of hir chamber with his foot, and dealt
*' 'with hir in fuch Jharpe and cruell <wife, that Jhe lived
«« not long after. " Fol. III. p. \ i c,. On the other hand,
in Speeders H.i/1 iue a*e told that the jealous inteen found
her out '* by a clew of Jilke, fallen from Rofamund's lappe^
" as Jliee fate to take ayre, and fudJenly fleeing from the
"Jight of the fearcher, the end of her jilke fajlened to her
" foot, and the clew Jlill unwinding, remained behinde :
" which the queene followed, till Jliee had found what Jhe
"fought, and upon Rofamund fo -vented her fpleene, as the
*' lady lived not long after." $d Edit. p. ^Oo. Our
ballad-maker with more ingenuity, and probably as much
truth, tells us the clue was gained, by furprife, from the
knight, fwho was left to guard her bo^ver,
It is cbfervr ble, that none of the old writers attribute
R of amend s death to polfon, (Stow, above, mentions it merely
as ajliglt conjetfure) ; they only give us to underjiand, that
the queen treated her haijhly ; ivith furious menaces, we
may fuppofe, andjliarp expojtulatiins, <vchich hadfuch effeft
tn herj'pirits, that Jin did not hug fury hi it. Indeed o*
ANCIENT POEMS. 145
her tomb-Jionc, as we learn from a perfon of credit *, among
other jine fculptures, was engraven the figure of a CUP*
This, which perhaps at firjl 'was an accidental ornament,
(perhaps only the Chalice) might in after times 'fuggeji the
notion that Jlie cwas po'tfoned', at lea ft this conliruftion was
put upon it, ivhen the Jlone came to be demolijhed after the
nunnery was dij]oh;ed. The account is, that " the tomb/lone
" of Rofamund Clifford was taken up at Godjlow, and
*' broken in pieces, and that upon it 'were interchangeable
** weavings drawn out and decked with rofes red and green,
*' and the piflure of the CUP, out of which Jhe drank the
" poifon given her by the queen, cawed in Jlone?*
Rofamond' s father having been a great benefaflor to the
nunnery of God/low, where Jhe had alfo refided herjelf in
the innocent part of her life, her bcdy <vjas conveyed there t
and buried in the middle of the choir ; in which place it re-
mained till the year 1191, when Hugh bifliop of Lincoln
caufed it to be removed. The fafl is recorded by Hove Jen,
a contemporary writer, <vjhofe 'words are thus tranflaled by
Stoiv: " Hugh bijhop of Lincolne came to the abbey of
" nunnes, called Godjhw, .... and when he had entrtd
" the church to pray, hefaw a tombe in the middle of the
" quire, covered 'with a pall of Jilke, andfet about with
'* lights of 'waxe : and demanding whofe tomb it ivas, he
'* ' was anfwered, that it 'was the tombe of RefamonJ, that
" was fdme time lemman to Henry II ivhofor the
*' Jove of her had done much good to that church. Then
" quoth the biJJiop, take out of this place the harlot, and
" bury her without the, church, lejt chrijlian religion Jlicidd
" grow in contempt, and to the end that, through example of
" her, other women being made afraid may beware, and
" keepe themfdves from unlawful I and advouterous company
^ with men?' Annals, p 159.
Htflory further informs us, that king John repaired God-
Jiow nunnery, and endowed it with yearly rei'enucs, " that
«* tbefe holy virgins might relceve with their prayers, the
<' foules of his father king Henrie, and of laxy Roj'amund
* Tin. Allen of GIoc. Hall, Oxon. who died in 1632, aged 90. See
Htarne's rambling difcwrfe concerning Ret/amend, of til end rf GuL
Ncubrig. Hi/I. V9l. Ill f. 739.
VOL. II. L "there
i46 ANCIENT POEMS.
*' there interred" * .... In tab at Jituation her remains
were found at the dijjoluticn of the nunnery, iue learn from
Lcland, " Rafamnndes tumbe at Godjioiue nunnery ivas
" taken up [of ] late ; /'/ it a Jtone iuith this injcription^
" TUMBA Ros iMUNDJfe. Her bones lucre clofid in lede%
" and ixit/iyn that bones ivere clofyd yn lethcr. When it
" ivas opened a -very fiaete fmell came ovut of it f ." See
Hearne's difcourfe above quoted, written in 1718; at ivbicb
time he tells in, vcre Jlill feen by the pool at Woodjlock the
foundation of a very large building, ivbicb iKere believed /•
be the remains of Rofamond's labyrinth'.
To conclude tins (perhaps too prolix) account, Henry had
t-wofons by Ro/amond, from a computation of tuAofe ages, a
n.odcrn h'florian has endeavoured to invalidate the received
Jiory, Tkefc ii-ere William Longw-efpe ; (or Long-fiuorJ)
earl of Sal;Jbi.ry and Geoffrey bijhop of LitiColne J. Geoffrey"
ivas the younger cf Rofamondrsjbns, and yet isfald to ha-vc
teen twenty years eld at the time of his eleflion to that fee in
1173. Hence this -writer concludes, that king Henry fell in
hve icith Rofamond in 1149, ivhen in king Stephens reign
be came over to be knighted by the king of Scots ; he al/o
thinks it probable that Henry's commerce with this lady
* broke off' upon his marriage ivith Eleanor [in 1152] and
' that the young lady, by a natural efftft of grief and refent-
' meni at the defection of her lover, entered on that occajtoa
* into the nunnery of Goe/Jloive, ivhere Jbe died probably be-
' fore the rebellion of Hefity'sfons in 1173 ." f Carte's Hi/I.
fal. L p. 652.] But let it be obfcri'ed that Henry was but
fix teen years old when he came over to be knighted ; if: at be
J: aid but eight months in thi\ ifland, and 'was aimoft all the
time iuith the king of Scots \ that he did nit return back /•
I'.ngland till I ! ,3, the year after hi i marriage with Eleanor \
tnd that no writer drops the leaji hint of Rofamond's having
ti'fr been abr<ad ivith her lover, nor indeed is it probable
that a boy of Jixteen Jhould venture to carry over a mijirejs to
* Vid. Re.'gn if Ktnry II. in SfeeJ's Hifl. writ by Dr. Barckam,
Dean cf Bocking.
-f- 'I bis -would have psflcd for miraculous, if it had bapfcned in tit
ttmh of any dtncal J-t"fon, and a prof of his being a faint.
% s}ftfr-wa>tis siri-btifaf of Ttik, temf. Rick L.
ANCIENT POEMS, 147
fil r mother* 3 court. If all thefe circumftances are con/iJei eJt
Mr. Carte's account will be found more Incoherent and im-
probable than that of the old ballad ; -which is aljo coun-
tenanced by moft of out old hiftorians .
Indeed the /' w<f date of Geffrey s birth, and Confequently
of Henry's commerce wit/i Rofamond, feems to be be ft afcef'
tained frtm an ancient manufcript in the Cost n library ;
•wherein it is thus regifleredof Geofferey ; lantagenet, u Na-
" tus eft 3° Hen. II [.HJQ-] Faff us eft miles as0 Hen.
«' //. lii/o.J Eteff. in Eplfcop. Lincoln. 2H° Hen. II.
« [1182.]-'" Fid. Cbron. de Kirkftall, (Domitian XII.)
Drake's Hijt. of Tort, f 422.
The fdlowing Ballad is printed (ivitb conjectural emen-
dations) frcm four ancient copies in black-letter', two of them
in the Pepys library.
WHEN as king Henry rtilde this land,
The fecond of that name,
Befides the queene, he dearly lovde
A faire and comely dame.
Moft peerlefle was her beautye founde, 5
Hei favour, and her face ;
A Tweeter creature in this worlde
Cotild never prince embrace.
Her crifped lockes like threads of goldc
Appeard to each mans light; IO
Herfparkling eyes, like Orient pearles,
Did call a heavenlye light.
The blood within her cryftal cheekes
Did fuvh a colour drive,
As though the lillye ana the rof* 1$
For mailerlhip did ftrive.
L a Yea
148 ANCIENT POEMS.
Yea Rofamonde, fair Rofamonde,
Her name was called fo,
To whom our queene, dame Ellinor,
Was known a deadlye foe. 20
The king therefore, for her defence,
Again ft the furious queene,
1 At Woodftocke builded fuch a bower,
The like was never feene.
Moft curioufly that bower was built 2$
Of Hone and timber Itrong,
An hundered and fifty doors
Did to this bower belong :
And they fo cunninglye contriv'd
With turnings round about, 30
That none but with a clue of thread,
Could enter in or out.
And for his love and ladyes fake,
That was fo faire and brighte,
The keeping of this bower he gave 3$
Unto a valiant knighte.
But fortune, that doth often frowne
Where fhe before did fmile,
The kinges delighte and ladyes joy
Full loon ihee did beguile : 40
For
ANCIENT POEMS. 149
For why, the kinges ungracious fonne,
Whom he did high advance,
Againft his father raifed warres
Within the realme of France.
But yet before our comelye king 4£
The Englifli land forfooke,
Of Rofamond, his ladyTaire,
His farewelle thus he tooke :
" My Rofamonde, my only Rofe,
That pleafeft beft mine eye : 50
The faireft flower in all the worlde
To feed my fantafye :
The flower of mine affecled heart,
Whofe fweetnefs doth excelle :
My royal Rofe, a thoufand times 5 £
I bid thee nowe farwelle !
For I muft leave my faireft flower,
My fweeteil Rofe, a fpace,
And crofs the feas to famous France,
Proud rebelles to abafe. 60
But yet, my Rofe, be fure thou flialt
My coming fliortlye fee,
And in my heart, when hence I am,
He beare my Rofe with mee."
L 3 When
150 ANCIENT POEMS.
When Rofamond, that ladye brighte, 6|
Did heare the king faye foe,
The forrowe of her grieved heart
Her outward lookes did fliowe ;
And from her cleare and cryftall eyes
The tearcs guflit out apace, j+
Which like the liher-pearlcd dewe
Ranne downe her comely face.
Her lippes, erft like the corall redde,
Did waxe both wan and pale,
And for the forrow ftie conceivde yc
Her vitail fpirits faile;
And falling down all in a fwoone
Before king Henryes face,
Full oft he in his princelye artnes
Her bodye did embrace : 80
And twentye times, with watery eyes,
He kift her tender cheeke,
Untill he had revivde againe
Her fenfes milde and meeke.
Why grieves my Rofe, my fweeteft Rofe ? 85
The king did often fay.
Becaufe, quoth fliee, to bloodye warres
My lord inuft part awaye.
4 But
ANCIENT POEMS. 151
But fince your grace on forrayne coafles
Amonge your foes unkinde 90
Muft goe to hazard life and limbe,
Why (hould I Haye behinde ?
Nay rather, let me, like a page,
Your fworde and target bcare j
Thit on my breaft the blowes may lighte, 95
Which would offend you there.
Or lett mee, in your royal tent,
Prepare your bed at nighte,
And with fweete baths refrefli your grace,
At your returne from fighte» ,100
So I your pre fence may enjoy e
No toil I will refufe j
But wanting you, my life is eeath j
Nay, death lid rather chufe!
" Content thy felf, my deareft love; 105
Thy reft at home fhall bee
In Englandes fweet and pleafant ifle ;
For travell fits not thee.
Faire ladies brooke not bloodye warr«s ;
Soft peace their fexe delightes; 1 1»
* Not rugged campes, but courdye bowers;
Gay feaftes, not crueil fightes,'
ANCIENT POEMS.
My Rofe fliall fafely here attde,
With muficke pafle the daye ;
VVhilfl I, amonge the piercing pikes, 115
My foes fecke far avvaye.
My Rofe fliall fhine in pearle, and golde,
Whilft Ime in armour dighte ;
Gay galliards here my love (hall dance,
Whihl I my foes goe fighte. 120
And you, fir Thomas, whom I trufle
To bee my loves defence;
Be carefull of my gallant Rofe
When I am parted hence."
And therewithall he fetcht a figh, 125
As though his heart would breake :
And Pvofamonde, for very griefe,
Not one plaine word could fpeake.
And at their parting well they mighte
In heart be grieved fore : 130
After that daye faire Rofamonde
The king did fee no more.
For when his grace had part the feas,
And into France was gone; ~
With envious heart, ^queene Ellinor, 135
To Woodftocke came anone.
And
ANCIENT POEMS. 153
And forth (lie calles this truftye knighte,
In an unhappy houre ;
Who with his clue of twined thread,
Came from this famous bower, 140
And when that they had wounded him,
The queene this thread did gette,
And went where ladye Rofamonde
Was like an angell fette.
But when the queene with fledfaft eye 14$
Beheld her beauteous face,
She was amazed in her minde
At her exceeding grace.
Caft off from thee thofe robes, flie faid,
That riche and coftlye bee; Ijo
And drinke thou up this deadlye draught,
Which I have brought to thee.
Then prefentlye upon her knees
Sweet Rofamonde did falle ;
And pardon of the queene (he crav'd i $£
For her offences all.
<c Take pitty on my yonthfnll yeares,
Faire Rofamonde did crye;
And lett mee not with poifon ftronge
Enforced bee to dye. 160
I will
j54 ANCIENT POEMS.
I will renounce my linfull life,
And in fome cloyfter bide;
Or elfe be baniflit, if you pleafe,
To range the world foe wide.
And for the fault which I have done,. 165
Though I was forc'd theretoe,
Preferve my life, and punilh nice
As you thinke meet to doe."
And with thefe words, her lillie handei
She wrunge full often there ; i;«
And downe along her lovely face
Did trickle many a teare.
But nothing could this furious <jueene
Therewith appeafed bee;
The cup of deadlye poyfon ftronge, 1 7$
As (he knelt on her knee,
Shee gave this comelye dame to drinke ;
Who tooke it in her hand,
And from her bended knee arofe,
And on her feet did fiand: 18*
And cafting up her eyes to heaven,
Shee did for mercye calle;
And drinking up the poifon flronge,
Her life (he loft withalle.
And
ANCIENT POEMS. 155
And when that death through evaye limbe
Had fhowde its grea-eft fpite, 18$
Her chiefe;! foes did plaine confefle
Shee was a glorious wighr.
Her body then they did entomb,
When life was fled away,
At Godflowe, neare to Oxford towne,
A» may be feeiie this d.iy. 19*
VIII.
QUEEN ELEANOR'S CONFESSION.
" Eleanor, the daughter and heirefs of William duke of
Guienne, and count of Poiflou, had b fen married Jixteen years
to Louis yiL ting of France, and had attended him in a
croifiide, "which that monarch commanded againft the infi»
dels ; but having left the affeflions of her hijband, and
et'cn fallen under fome fufpicions of gallant >j ivitk a handfome
Saracen, Loans, more delicate than polit'u . procured a divorce
from her, and reftored her tboje rich provinces, 'which by
her marriage Jbe had annexed to the croivn of France* The
young count of Anjou, after--wards Henry II. king of England^
tbo' at that time but in his nineteenth year, neither difcou-
ringed by the d'-fparity of age, nor by the reports of Eleanor1 1
gallantry, made Juch fuicefsful courtftnp to that princefs^
i hat he married her Jix 'weeks after her divorce, and rot
pijftffion of all her dominions as a do-ivery. A marriage thus
founded upon imereft ivas not likely to be verj happy : it
kappcntd
156 ANCIENT POEMS.
lappened accordingly. Eleanor, ivko had difgufled her firft
bujiand by her gallantries , cwas no lefs offenjive to her fe-
cond by her jealoufy : thus carrying to extremity, in the
different parts of her life, every circumftance of female
•weaknefs. She had federal fons by Henry, <iuhom Jlie fpi-
rited up to rebel again ft him ; and endeavouring to efcape to
them c'ifgu'.fed in mans apparel in ni^Jhe ewas dif covered
and thrown into a confinement, which feems to have conti-
nued till the death of her hujkand in 1 189. She however
furvived him many years : dying in 1204, in the Jixth year
«f the reign of her youngejl fon, John? See Hume's Hift»
4/0. Vol. /•/>/>• 2'. o, 307. Speed> Stow, &c.
It is needlefs to objerve, that the following ballad (given,
•with fome corrections, Jrom an old printed copy) is altogether
fabulous; ichate ver gallantries Eleanor encouraged in the
time of herfirjt hit/land^ none are imputed to her in that of
her fecond.
OUEENE Elianor was a ficke woman.
And afraid that fhe fliould dye :
Then flie fent for two fryars of France
To fpeke with her fpcedilye.
The king calld downe his nobles all, <;
By one, by two, by three j
" Earl marfhal!, He goe flirive the queene,
And thou flialt wend with mee."
A boone, a boone ; quoth earl marfhall,
And fell, on his bended knee j 10
That whatfoever queene Elianor faye,
No harme therof may bee.
lie
ANCIENT POEMS.
'57
lie pawne my landes, the king then cryd,
My fceptre, crowne, and all,
That whatfoere queen Elianor fayes 15
No harme thereof fhall fall.
Do thou put on a fryars coat,
And He put on another ;
And we will to queen Elianor goe
Like fryar and his brother. zo
Thus both attired then they goe :
When they came to Whitehall,
The bells did ring, and the quirifters (Ing,
And the torches did lighte them all.
When that they came before the queene a$
They fell on their bended knee j
A boone, a boone, our gracious queene,
That you fent fo haflilee.
Are you two fryars of France, flie fayd,
As I fuppofe you bee ? 30
But if you are two Engliihe fryars,
You (hall hang on the gallowes tree,
We are two fryars of France, they fayd,
As you fuppofe we bee,
We have not been at any mafl? 3J
Sith we came from the fea,
The
158 ANCIENT POEMS.
The firft vile thing that ever I did
I will to you unfolde ;
Earl marfliaii had my nuiidenhed^
Beneath this cloth of golde* 49
Thats a vile finne, then fayd the king ;
May God forgive it thee !
Amen, amen, quoth earl marfliaii j
With a heavye heart ipake hee.
The next vile thing that ever I did, 45
To you He IK t denye,
I made a boxe of poyfon ftrong,
To poifon king Heniye.
Thats a vile finne, then fayd the king,
May God forgive it thee ! £•
Amen, amen, quoth earl marfliaii j
And I wifli it fo may bee.
The next vile thing that ever I did,
To you I will dilcover ;
I poyfoned fair Rofamonde, 55
All io fair Woodilocke bower.
Thats a vile finne, then fayd the king;
May God forgive it thee!
Amen, amen, quoth earl raarfliall ;
And I wifli it fo may bee. 60
Da
ANCIENT POEMS.
Do you fee yonders little boye,
A toffing of the balle ?
That is earl marmalls elded fonne,
And I love him the beft of all.
Do you fee yonders little boye, 6$
A catching of the balle ?
That is king Henryes youngeft fonne,
And I love him the worft of all.
His head is fafhyon'd like a bull ;
His nofe is like a boare. »•
No matter for that, king Henrye cryd,
I love him the better therfore.
The king pulled off his fryars coate,
And appeared all in redde :
She flirieked, and cryd, and wrung her hands, 7$
And fayd fhe was betrayde.
The king lookt over his left (boulder,
And a grimme look looked hee,
Earl marfhall, he fayd, but for my oathe,
Or hanged thou fhouldft bee. 8«
?. 6?, 67. She means that tkt eldeft of tbefi two was tj t bt earl
urj]>ullt lltywngeji by tit king.
IX. THE
ANCIENT POEMS.
IX.
THE STURDY ROCtf.
This poem, fubfcribed M. 7". [perhaps iwvertedly for
¥. Mar (ball* \ is prcferced in <1 he Paradife of daintie
de'vifes, (W.td above i;i page 138. — 'The f~ivo firjt ftanzas
may be. J accompanied with mujical notes in " An
howres recreation in miiji.ke, &c. bv Richard Alifon, Lond.
1606, 4/0:" ufually bound up <wit/i 3 or 4 fets of " Ma-
drigals ftt to mu/ic by clho. Weelhes, Lend. 1597, 1600,
J6o8, 4/0." One of tbefe madrigals is Jo compleat an ex-
ample of the Bathos, that I cannot forbear presenting it to
the reader*
Thule, the pef iod of cofmographie,
unt of Hecla,
Doth melt the frozen clime^ and thaw thejkie,
Doth vaunt of Hecla, ivbofe fulphureous fire
Trinacrian JEtnas flames afcend not hier :
Thefe things feeme <wondrons , yet more wondrous /,
Whofe heart witbfeare doth freeze, with love doth fry*
¥he Andelujian merchant, that returnes
Laden ivith cutchinele and china dijbes,
Reports in Spaine, brw /Irangely F-^o burnes
Aniidji an ocean full of flying fykes :
Thefe things Jee; :e 'wondrous, yet wore wondrous /,
Whofe heart ivith feare doth freeze, with love doth fry.
Mr- Wectt.es f Jews to have been of opinion •with many of his
brethren of later times, that nonfenfe was be/I adapted /*
•difpu-j the ptti-ers of rivflcal compofure.
* Vid, At ben. Oxw. f. i$z, 316.
THE
ANCIENT POEMS. 161
TH E fturdy rock for all his flrength
By raging feas is rent in twaine :
The marble ftone is pearlt at length,
With little drops of drizling rain:
The oxe doth yeeld unto the yoke, $
The lleete obeyeth the hammer ftroke.
The ftately ftagge, that feemes fo ftout,
By yalping hounds at bay is fet:
The fwifteft bird, that flies about,
Is caught at length in fowlers net: jo
The greatefl fifh, in deepeft brooke,
Is foon deceived by fubtill hooke*
Yea man himfelfe, unto whofe will
All things are bounden to obey,
For all his wit and worthie fltill, 15
Doth fade at length, and fall away.
There is nothing but time doeth wade;
The heavens, the earth confume at laft.
"
'•
But vertue fits triumphing ftill
Upon the throne of glorious fame : aO.
Though fpiteful death mans body kill,
Yet hurts he not his vert nous name :
By life or death what fo betides,
The ftate of vertue never Hides.
VOL. II. M X. THE
162 ANCIENT POEMS.
X.
THE BEGGAR's DAUGHTER OF
BEDNALL-GREEN.
This popular old Ballad was written in the reign of Eli-
zabeth, as appears not only from wr. 23, where the arms
of England are called the " Queenes armes ;" but from its
tune's being quoted in other old pieces, written in her time.
See the Ballad on MARY AMBREE in this volume. — Tfie
late Mr. GUTHRIE ajfured the Editor, that he had for-
merlyfeen another oldfong on the fame fubjeft, compofed in a
different meafure from this \ which cwas truly beautiful, if
•we may judge from the onlyjlanza he remembered, hi thit
it ivasfaid of the old Beggar , that *' down his neck
— — his reverend lockes
In comelye curies did wave ;
And on his aged temples grewe
The bloffomes of the grave."
'The following Ballad is chiejly given from the Ediths
folio MS. compared -with two ancitnt printed copies : the
concluding Jlanzas, which contain the old Beggar's difcovery
of himfelf, are not however given from any of thefe, being
very different from thofe of the vulgar Ballad. Nor yet
does the Editor offer them as genuine, but as a. modern at -
tempt to remove the abfurdities and inconjiftencies , which fo
remarkably prevailed in this part of the fong, as it flood
before: -whereas by the alteration of a few lines, ihe ft^ry
is rendered much more affeclir.g, and is reconciled to proba-
bility and true hi/lory. For this informs us, that at the de~
cifive battle of Evcjham, (fought Aug. 4, 126;;.,) when
Simon de Montfort, the great Earl of Leicefter, was Jlain
at the head of the barons, hit c-lettft fon Hemy fell by his
fide,
ANCIENT POEMS. 163
fide, and, In confequence of that defeat, his -whole family
Junk for ever, tie king beftoiving their great honours and
ons on hisfecondfon Edmund earl of Lancajler*
PART THE FIRST.
ITT was a blind beggar, had long loft his fight*
He had a faire daughter of bevvty moft bright ;
And many a gallant brave fuiter had fhee,
For none was foe comelye as pretty Beflee.
And though fhee was of favor molt faire, 5
Yett feeing fhee was but a poor beggars heyre,
Of ancyent houfekeepers defpifed was fhee,
Whofe fonnes came as fuitors to prettye Beflee.
Wherefore in great forrow faire Befly did fay,
Good father, and mother, let me goe away lo
To feeke out my fortune, whatever itt bee«
This fuite then they granted to prettye Beflee.
Then Befly, that was of bewtye foe bright,
All cladd in gray ruflett, and late in the night
From father and mother alone parted fhee; 15
Who fighed and fobbed for prettye Beflee.
Shee went till fliee came to Stratford-le-Bow;
Then knew fhee not whither, nor which way to goe:
With teares fhee lamented her hard defliiue,
So fadcl and foe heavy was pretty Beflee. 20
M * Shoe
164 ANCIENT POEMS.
Shee kept on her journey untill it was day,
And went unto Rumford along the hye way;
Where at the Queenes armes entertained was ihee ;
Soe faire and wel favoured was pretty BefTee.
Shee had not beene there a month to an end, 25
But matter and miftres and all was her friend :
And every brave gallant, that once did her fee,
Was flraight-way enamourd of pretty Beflee.
Great gifts they did fend her of filver and gold,
And in their fongs daylye her love was extold ; 30
Her beawtye was blazed in every degree;
Soe faire and foe comelye was pretty Beflee.
The young men of Rumford in her had their joy;
Shee (hewed herfelf curteous, and modefllye coye ;
And at her commandment flill wold they bee; 35
Soe fayre and foe comlye was pretty Beflee.
Foure fuitors att once unto her did goe ;
They craved her favor, but frill file fayd noe ;
I wold not wifh gentles to marry with mee.
Yett ever they honored prettye Beflee. 40
The fir ft of them was a gallant young knight,
And he came unto her difguifde in the night :
The fecond a gentleman of good degree,
Who wooed and fued for prettye Beflee.
A mer-
ANCIENT POEMS. 165
A merchant of London, whofe wealth was not fmall, 45
He was the third fuiter, and proper withall :
Her matters own fonne the fourth man muft bee,
Who fwore he would dye for pretty Beflee.
And, if thou wilt marry with mee, quoth the knight,
He make thee a ladye with joy and delight j 50
My hart's fo inthralled by thy bswtie,
That foone I (hall dye for prettye Beflee.
The gentleman fayd, Come, marry with mee,
As fine as a ladye my EefTy dial bee :
My life is diftrefled: O heare me, quoth hee ; 55
And grant me thy love, my prettye Beflee.
Let me bee thy hutband, the merchant cold fay,
Thou (halt live in London both gallant and gay j
My fliippes (hall bring home rych Jewells for thee,
And I will for ever love pretty Beflee. 60
Then Befly fliee fighed, and thus fliee did fay,
My father and mother I meane to obey ;
Firft gett their good will, and be faichfull to mee,
And you fliall enjoye your prettye Beflee.
To every one this anfwer fliee made, 65
Whet fore unto her they joyfnllye layd,
This thing to fulfill wee all doe agree ;
But where dwells thy father, my prettye Beflee?
MS My
166 ANCIENT POEMS.
My father, fhce faid, is foone to be feene :
The feely blind beggar of Bednall-greene, 70
That daylye fits begging for charitie,
He is the good father of pretty Beflee.
His markes and his tokens are knowen very well ;
He alwayes is led with a dogg and a bell :
A feely olde man, God knoweth, is hee, jr£
Yett hee is the father of pretty Beflee.
Nay then, quoth the merchant, thou art not for mee :
Nor, quoth the innholder, my wiffe thou fUalt bee;
J lot he, fayd the gentle, a beggars degree,
And therefore, adewe, my pretty Beflee ! 80
Why then, quoth the knight, hap better or worfe,
I waighe not true love by the waight of the purfle,
And bewtye is bewtye in every degree;
Then welcome unto ms, my pretty Beflee,
With thee to thy father forthwith I will goe. 8<f
Nay foft, quoth his kinfmen, it muft not be foe j
A poor beggars daughter noe ladye fhal bee,
Then take thy adew of pretty Beflee,
But foone after this, by breake of the day
The knight had from Rumford flole Befly away. 90
The younge men of Rumford, as thickc might bee,
Rode after to feitch againe pretty Beflee.
ANCIENT POEMS. 167
A s fwifte as the winde to ryde they were feene,
Untill they came neare unto Bednall-greene ;
And as the knight lighted moft courteouflie, 95
They all fought againft him for pretty Beflee.
But refcew came fpeedilye over the plaine,
Or elfe the young knight for his love had been flaine*
Thjs fray being ended, then ftraitway he fee
His kinfmeu come rayiing at pretty Beflee. 100
Then fpake the blind beggar, Although I bee poore,
Yett rayle not againft my child at my own doore s
Though fhee be not decked in velvett and pearle,
Yett will I dropp angells with you for my girle.
And then, if my gold may better her birthe, 10$
And equall the gold that you lay on the earth,
Then neyther rayle nor grudge you to fee
The blind beggars daughter a lady to bee.
But firft you fliall promife, and have itt well knowne,
The gold that you drop (hall all be your owne. 1 10
With that they replyed, Contented bee wee.
Then here's, quoth the beggar, for pretty Beflee.
With that an angeli he caft on the ground,
And dropped in angels full three thoufand * pound ;
And oftentimes itt was proved moft plaine, 1 1 ^
For the gentlemens one the beggar dropt twayne :
* In the Editor't folio MS. it it 500 /.
M4 Soe
i68 ANCIENT POEMS.
Soe that the place, wherin they did fitt,
With gold it was covered every whitt.
The gentlemen then having dropt all their flore,
Sayd, Now, beggar, hold, for wee have noe more. 1 20
Thou haft fulfilled thy pmmife arright.
Then marry, quoth he. rny girle to this knight;
And heere, added hee, I will now throwe you downe
A hundred pounds more to buy her a gowne.
The gentlemen all, that this treafure had feene, 12$
Admired the betgar of Bednall-greene :
And all thofe, that were her fuitors before,
Their flefhe for very anger they tore.
Thvis was faire Befle matched to the knight,
And then made a ladye in others defpite: 130
A fairer ladye there never was feene,
Than the blind beggars daughter of Bednall -greene.
But of their fumptuous marriage and feaft,
What brave lords and knights thither were preft,
The SECOND FITT * (hall fet forth to your fight 135
With marveilous pleafure, and wiflied delight.
*-.SuMi Effay on the -word FIT at the end of the SECOND PAR T.
PART
o
ANCIENT POEMS.
PART THE SECOND.
FF a blind beggars daughter moft bright,
That late was betrothed unto a younge knight;
All the difcourfe therof you did fee ;
But now comes the wedding of pretty Beflee.
Within a gorgeous palace moft brave, 5
Adorned with all the coft they cold have,
This wedding was kept moft fumptuouflie,
And all for the creditt of pretty Betfee.
All kind of dainties, and delicates fweete
Were bought for the banquet, as it was moftmcete; 10
Partridge, and plover, and venifon moft free,
Againit the brave wedding of pretty Beffee.
This marriage through England was fpread by report,
Soe that a great number therto did refort
Of nobles and gentles in every degree.; i f
And all for the fame of prettye Beffee.
To church then went this gallant younge knight ;
His bride followed after, an angell moft bright,
With troopes of ladyes, the like nere was feene
As went with fweete Befly of Bednall-greene. ao
This marryage being folempnized then,
With muficke performed by the (kilfullcft men,
The nobles and gentles fate downe at that tyde,
Each one admiring the beautifull bryde.
i;o ANCIENT POEMS.
Now, after the fumptuous dinner was done, 25
Totalkr, and to icafnn a number begunn :
They talkt of the blind beggars daughter moft bright,
And what with his daughter he gave to the knight.
Then fpake the nobles, " Much marveil have wee,
This jolly blind beggar wee cannot here fee." 30
My lords, quoth the bride, my father's fo bafe,
He is loth with his prefence thefe flates to difgracc.
*' The prayfe of a woman in queflyon to bringe
Before her own face, were a flattering thinge ;
But wee thinke thy father's bafenefs, quoth they, 35
Might by thy bewtye be cleane put awaye."
They had noe fooner thefe pleafant words fpoke,
But in comes the beggar cladd in a filke cloke ;
A faire velvet capp, and a fether had hee,
And now a muficyan forfooth he wold bee. 40
He touched the firings, which made fuch a charme,
Saief, Pleafe you to heare any muficke of mee,
lie fmg you a fong of pretty Befiee.
With that his lute he twanged ftraightway, 45
And thereon begann moft fweetlye to play;
And after that leflons were playd two or three,
He ftrayn'd out this fong moft delicatelie.
" A poore
ANCIENT POEMS. 171
*' A poore beggars daughter did dwell on a greene,
" Who for her fairenefle might well be a queene : 50
*' A blithe bonny lafle, and a daintye was fliee,
*< And many one called her pretty Beflee.
" Her father hee had noe goods, nor noe land,
" But beggd for a penny all day with his hand;
" And yett to her marriage hee gave thoufands three*, 55
" And ftill he hath fomewhat for pretty Beflee.
" And if any one here her birth doe difdaine,
" Her father is ready, with might and with maine,
" To proove fliee is come of noble degree :
" Therfore never flout att prettye Beflee." 60
With that the lords and the companye round
With harty laughter were readye to fwound ;
Att laft faid the lords, Full well wee may fee,
The bride and the beggar's behoulden to thee.
On this the bride all blufhing did rife, 65
The pearlie dropps {landing within her faire eyes,
O pardon my father, grave nobles, quoth fliee,
That throughe blind affeclion thus doteth on mee.
If this, be thy father, the nobles did fay,
Well may he be proud of this happy day ; 70
Yett by his countenance well may wee fee,
His birth and his fortune did never agree :
* So tie folio MS.
And
172 A N C I E N T P O E M g.
And therfore, blind man, we pray thee bewray,
<And Inoke that the truth thou to us doe fay)
Thy birth and thy parentage, what itt may bee; 75
For the love that thou beareft to pretty Befiee.
" Then give me leave, nobles and gentles, each one,
*' Ore fong more to fing, and then I have done ;
" And if that itt may not winn good report,
«c Then doe not give me a GROAT for my fport. So
** [Sir Simon de Montfort my fubjeft dial bee;
" Once chiefe of all the great barons was hee,
*' Yet fortune fo cruelle this lorde did abafe,
*' Now lofle and forgotten are hee and his race.
" When the barons in armes did king Henrye oppofe, 85
*' Sir Simon de Montfort their leader they chofe;
*' A leader of courage undaunted was hee,
*' And oft-times he made their enemyes flee.
',. .V I -'
" At length in the battle on Evefliame plaine
" The barons were routed, and Montfort was (laine; 90
•" Mofle fatall that battel did prove unto thee, ' *sn
** Thoughe thou waft not borne then, my prettye Beflee!
** Along with the nobles, that fell at that tyde,
*' His eldefl fon Henrye, who fought by his iide,
*' Was fellcie by a blowe, he receivce in the tight ! 95
•*' A blowe that deprivde him for ever of fight.
" Among
ANCIENT POEMS. 173
" Among the dead bodyes all lifelefle he laye,
" Till evening drewe on of the following daye,
" When by a yong ladye difcoverd was hee ;
" And this was thy mother, my prettye Beflee! 100
" A barons faire daughter ftept forth in the nighte
" To fearch for her father, who fell in the fight,
" And feeing yong Montfort, where gafping he laye,
44 Was moved with pitye, and brought him awaye.
" In fecrette (he nurft him, and foraged his paine, 105
" Whil« he throughe the realme was beleevd tobeflaines
" At lengthe his faire bride (he confented to bee,
" And made him glad father of prettye Beflee.
" And nowe left cure foes our lives fliolde betraye,
" We clothed ourfelves in beggars arraye ; 1 10
u Her jewelles fliee folde, and hither came wee:
" All our comfort and care was our prettye Beflee.]
" And here have wee lived in fortunes defpite,
" Thoughe poore, yet contented with humble delighte:
" Full forty winters thus have I beene 115
" A filly blind beggar of Bediuill-greene.
" And here, noble lordes, is ended the fong
" Of one, that once to your own ranke did belong:
" And thus have you learned a feciette from mee,
" That ne'er had beene knowne, but for prettye Beflee."
2 Now
174 ANCIENT POEMS.
Now when the faire companye everye one, x **
Had he?rd the ftrange tale in the fong he had fhowne,
They all were amazed, as well they might bee,
Both at the blinde beggar, and pretty Beflee.
With that the faire bride they all did embrace, 12$
Saying, Sure thon art come of an honourable race,
Thy father likewife is of noble degree,
And thou art well worthy a lady to bee.
Thus was the feaft ended with joye and delight^
A bridegroome moft happy then was the young knighte,
In joy and felicitie long lived hee, 13!
All with his faire ladye, the pretty Beflee.
***
•fit The word FIT, for PART, often occurs in our an-
cient ballads, an.-i metrical romances \ which being divided
into fevtral parts for the convenience ofjinging them at pub-
lic entertainments, 'were in the intervals of the feaft fung by
FITS, or inter mijfions. So Puttenham in his Art of Englijh
Poejie, 1589, fays, "the Ep'-thalamie fwas divided by
" breaches into three partes tojer-ve for three feveral FITS»
** or times to hefting." p. 4.1.
Frcm the fame 'writer iuc learn fame curious particulars
relative to theftate of ballad Jinging in that age, that -will
throw light on the prefent Jubjefl : freaking of the quick re*
turns of one manner of tune in the Jhort meafures ufed by
common rh\meis\ thefe, he fays, '''•glut the eare, unlefs it bt
" in/mall and popular mujickcs fung by thefe Cantabanquiy
*' upon tenches and barrels heads, where they have none
** other audience then b«ys or countrey fellmues, that pajfe by
•«' them in thejlrcete; ir elfe by BLIND HARPERS, orfuch
*• like
ANCIENT POEMS. 17$
<: like tdverne Mixfirels, that give a fn of mirth for a
"GROAT, .. their matter being for the mojl .part (lories of
' ' old time, as the tale of Sir Tofias, tht reporter of Bevis of
" Southampton, Guy of War^Micke, Adam Bell and Clymmt
" of the dough, andfuch bther o!d romances or hiftorical
" rimes, made purpofely for recreation of the common people at
" ChriftmaJJe dinners and b> ideales, and in tavernes and
" alehoufes, andfuch other places of bafe reforte." />. 69.
This fpecies of entertainment, i^hith feems to have been
banded doicn from the ancient bards, was in the time of
Putten/iam falling into negleft ; but that it was nof,
even then, wholly excluded more genteel ajfemblies, he gifts
tts room to infer from another pa fl age, " JVe ourfelves, fays
*' this ciurtly % writer, have ivritten for pleajure a little
" brief romance, or hifturical ditty in the EngHJh tong of
" the JJle of Great Britaine injhcrt and long meetres, and
" by breaches or di-uijions [i. e FITS] to be more commo-
" dicufly fung to the harpe in places of affembly, ivhere
" ths company JliaL be defirous to heare of old adventures,
M and 'valiaunces of noble knights in times pn/t, as are
*' thoj'e of king Arthur and his knights of the Round table,
" Sir Bevy* of Southampton , Guy rf tfarwiftf, and other t
"like." p. 33.
In more ancient times no grand fcene of fefivity was com-
fleat iiithout one of thefe reciters to entertain ilie company
•with feats of arms, and tales of knighthood, or, as one of
thefe old minftrds fays, in the beginning of an ancient ro-
mance in the Editor's folio MS.
" IVhen meate and drinke is great plenty e,
" And lords and laayes ft ill wil bee,
«' And fittcndfJ:n-c\ ljthe\ § Perbapt
" Then itt is time for mee tofpeakc ** £/)7.k."
*' Of keene kn'ghtes, and kemtits great ^
44 Sjch carping far to itytheS*
J lie iuas cnf of §>^ Elizabeth^ g-fif. -pe-ijiwtrs, tit n tint: ivbtn t'lxs
•ui/) h latri conf'j.'ei of men of dninfu^icJ Liita an i fortune. fiJ.
Ath. Ox.
If
176 ANCIENT POEMS.
If <vjc conflder that a GROAT in the age of Elizabeth
was more than equivalent to ajhilling now, ivej/tall find
that the old harpers were even then, when their art was on
the decline* upon afar more reputable footing than the ballad-
Jingers cf out' time. The reciting of one Juch ballad as this
of the Beggar of Eednal green, in 2 parts, was rewarded
with half a crown of our money. And that they made a
•very refpe Stable appea> ance, we may learn from the drefs of
the old begga*\ in the preceding Ballad, p. I/O, "where he
conies into company in the habit and <. harafler of one of thefe
minjlrels, being not known to be the bride 's father, till after .
herfpeech, ver. 63. The exordium of bis fong, and his
claiming a CROAT for his reward, v. 76, are peculiarly
characlerijlic of that profej/ion — Mnft of the old ballads be~
gin in a pompous manner, in ord<r to captivate the attention
of the audience, and induce them to pur chafe a recital of the
fcng: and they feldom conclude the FIRST part without largs
promifes ofjiili greater entertainment in the s ECON D. This
•was a necejfary piece of art to incline the hearers to be at the
* cxpence of a fecond groaf s-iuorth. — Many of the old romances
extend to eight or nine FITS, which 'would afford a conjider~
able profit to the reciter.
To return to the word FIT; itfeems at one time to have
peculiarly Jignified the paufe, or breathing-time, between the
feveial parts, (anfwtring to PASS us in the <vijions of I ierce
Plowman) : thus in the ancient Ballad of CHEVY-CHASE,
(fol. /. />. 9 ; ttufirft Part ends with this line,
" Thefirji FIT here Ifynde:^
i. e. here I come to thefirfl paufe or intermijjion, (See alfo
Vol. I. p. 2(-.J By degrees it came tojignify the whole part
or dwifton preceding the paufe. (See Vol. I. pp. 164, 173.^
This Jeh/e it had obtained fo early as the time of Chaucer :
who thus concludes the firft part of his rhyme of Sir
(writ in ridicule of the old ballad romances) ;
'* Lo! lore/is mine, here is a FlT.Tj
** If ye ivoll any more of it, i \
" To tdl it wall I fended
The
ANCIENT POEMS. 177
The word F IT indeed appears originally to have Jignified a
Poetic Strain, Verfe, or Poem ; for in thefefenfes it is ufed
by the Anglo-Saxon 'writers Thus K. sElfredin his Boetius,
ing given a verfeon of lib. 3, metr. ^, adds, D.ij*e
bom tha thar- pfce apin^en h:i-p>e, p. 65, i.e.
When imfdom had fung theft [FiTTs] ver/es." And in
the Proem to the fame book i?on on pTee, " Put into [FITT]
" verfe." So in Cedmon, p. 4f. Feono on prcre, feems
to mean " compofed a fong," or ^ poem "•*— The Reader -tvill
trace this old Saxon pkrafe, in the application of the word
fond, in the foregoing pajfage of Chaucer. See doff.
Spencer has ufed the 'word FIT to denote " a ftrain of
li mu/ic :" fee his poem, infilled, " COLLIN Clout's come
home again," luhere hefays^
The Shepherd of the ocean [»&> Walt. Raleigh]
Provoked me to play fome plealant FIT.
And when he heard the mufic whicti I made
He found himielf full greatlye pleas'd at it, 4c.
// is alfo vft'd in the old Ballad of K. EsxMERfi, Vol. I.
p. 74., v. 243.
From being applied to Mufic, this nuord was eafilv trans-
ferred to Dancing ; thus in the old play of E.uftg 3[ut)entU0
(defcribed in p. Hi.), Juventusfays,
By the matte I would fayne go daunce a FITTE.
And from being ufed as a Pa>~t or Divifion in a Ballad^
Poem, &c. it is applied by BALE to a Seflion or Chapter
in a Book, (though I believe in afenfe oj rid it- le or far-
cafm) for thus he intitles two Chapters of his (ffnclifc &Q-
targea pt. ^d. -viz. -Jol. 49, '-The fyu. tvir of
*' ^iiileime with Kynge Wyllyam Rut'is." -fol. 50,
" An other FVTT of Anlelme Vi.t.i kynge VVyllyam
« Rufus."
VOL. II. N XI. FANCY
178 . A N 01 E N T POEMS.
XI.
F A N C Y AND DESIRE.
By THE EARL OF OXFORD.
Edward Vere, Earl of Oxford, ivas in high fame for bis
foetical talents in the reign of Elizabeth : perhaps it is no
injury to his reputation that few of his compojiiions are pre-
ferred for the infpcftion of impartial pofterity. To gratify
cu'iojity^ ice ha'ue inferted afonnet of his, <which is quoted
with great encomiums fur its " excelltncie andiuit*' in Put-
tenham's Arte. of Eng Poe/ie *, andfound intire in the Gar-
land of Good-will : A few more of his fonnets (dijiinguiflied
ly the initial letters E. O.) may befeen in the Paradife of
Daintie De-vifes. One of thefe is intitled, " The Complaint
" of a Lover, wearing blacke and taivnie," The only linet
in it -worth notice are thefey
A crowne of bales fliall that man ' beare'
Who triumphs over me ;
For black and tawnie will I weare,
Which mourning Colours be.
We find in Hall's Chronicle, that when 4J. Catharine of
Arrngon dyed, Jan. 8, I 536; *' S>ueen Anne [Bullen} ware
** YELLOW zfor the mourning" And "when this unfortunate
princefs lojl her bead. May 19, the fame year, " on the afcen-
" cion day following, the kyngfor mourning ware WHYTE."
Fol. 2*7, 228.
* Lwd. 1589, />. 172.
ANCIENT POEMS. 179
Edward, ivho iuas the XVlltb earl «f Oxford, of the
family of Vert, fucceeded hii father in bis title and honours
in 1562, and died an aged man in 1604. See Mr. Walpole's
Noble Authors. Athen. Oxon . &c.
COME hither fhepherd's fwayne:
" Sir, what do you require?"
I praye thee, fhewe to me thy name.
<« My name is FOND DESIRE."
When wert thou borne, Defire? $
" In pompe and pryme of may."
By whom, fweet boy, wert thou begot?
" By fond Conceit men fay."
Tell me, who was thy nurfe ?
" Frefh Youth in fugred joy." 10
What was thy meate and dayly foode?
** Sad fighes with great annoy."
What hadft thou then to drinke ?
" Unfavoury lovers teares."
What cradle wert thou rocked in ? 15
" In hope devoyde of feares."
What lulld tnee then afleepe ?
" Sweete fpeech, which likes me beft."
Tell me, where is thy dwelling place?
" In gentle hartes I reft." ao
N a What
180 ANCIENT POEMS.
What thing doth pleafe thee moft ?
" To gaze on beautye ftille."
Whom doft thou thinke to be thy foe ?
" Difdayn of my good wille."
Doth companye difpleafe ? 25
" Yes, furelye, many one."
Where doth Defire delighte to live?
" He loves to live alone."
Doth either tyme or age
Bringe him unto decay e? * 30
" No, no, Defire both lives and dyes
" Ten thoufand times a daye."
Then, for.d Defire, farewelle,
Thou art no mate for mee ;
I (holde be lothe, methinkes, to dwells 35
With fuch a one as thee.
XI I*
SIR ANDREW BARTON.
1 cannot give a better t elation of the f aft, which is the
fubjeft of the following ballad, than in an extraft from the
late Mr. Guthrie'; Peerage; which was begun upon a very
elegant fl*n, but never fai/htd. fal, I, ^to.p. 32.
ANCIENT POEMS. 181
" The tranfafiion which did the greatej} honour to tie earl
of Surrey * and his family at this time \^A.D. i^n.j
was their behaviour in the cafe of Barton, a Scotch fea-
qfficer. This gentleman's father having fujfered by fea from
the Portuguese he had obtained letters of marque for his
two Jons to make reprifals upon thefubjefls of Portugal. It
is extremely probable, that the court of Scotland granted
thefe letters with no very honeft intention. The council
board of England, at which the earl of Surrey held the
chief place, was daily peftered iviih complaints from the
Jailors and merchants, that Barton. who ivas called Sir
Andrew Barton, under pretence of fe arching for Portuguefe
goods} interrupted the Englifti navigation. Henry* sfitua-
tion at that time rendered him back-ward from breaking with
Scotland, Jo that their complaints were but coldly received.
The earl of Surrey, however, could not /mother his indig-
nation, but gallantly declared at the council board, that
while he had an eftafe that could furnijh out ajliip, or a
Jon that 'was capable of commanding one, the narrow feas
JJiould not be hifefted.
'• Sir Andrew Barton, who commanded the two Scotch
Jftips, had the refutation of being one of the ableft fea officers
of his time By his depredations, he had ainaffed great
•wealth, andhisjhips were very richly laden. Henry, not-
withjlanding his fituaticn, could not refufe the generous offer
made by the earl of Surrey. Tivo flips wei e immediately fitted
out, and put to fca with letters of marque, under his two
fans, Sir Thomas f and Sir Edward Howard. After en-
countering a great deal of foul ^aieatlier, Sir Thomas came
up cwith the Lion, which was commanded by Sir Andrew
Barton in perfon; and Sir Edward came up with the Union,
Barton' s other J/tip, [called by Hall, the Bark of Scotland.]
The engagement which enfuedwas extremely obftinate on both
Jides; but at loft the fortune if the Howards tire-vailed. Sir
Andrew was killed fighting bravely, and encouraging his
* Tbcniai Htward, afterwards created Duke of NvfolL
•j- Called ly old hijloiiam lord Howard, afterwards created earl t>f
Surrey in his father's life-time. He <was father if tie fottical E. i>f Surrey.
N 3 men
i8a ANCIENT POEMS.
men with his whiftle, to hold out to the loft ; and the two
$cctcb flips with their crews, were Carried, into th$ river
Thames. [Aug. ^, 1511.]
" This exploit had the more merit, as the two Englijk
commanders were in a manner volunteers in the fervice, by
their father's order But it feems to have laid the founda-
tion of Sir Edivard's fortune; for. on the -,th of April \ *;tz.
the king conflituted him (according to Dugdale) admiral of
England, Wales, &c
" King 'James ' in/ified1 upon fatisfaflicn for the death of
Barton, and capture of his JJiip : ' tho' Henry had ge tier oi>Jly
difmijjl'd the cte-ics, and e*v<:n agreed that the pay ties accufed
might appear in his courts of admiralty by their a.ttornies,
to -vindicate t!je?rf elves." This ajfair was in a great mea-
fure the ca fe of' the battle of Flodden^ in which James IF.
loft his life.
IN the following ballad will be fcund perhaps feme few
deviations from the truth of hiftory : to atone for 'which it
has probably recorded many lejfer fafi s , which hiftory hath
not condfjcendtd to relate, I lale many of ihe little circum~
fiances of thejlory to be real, became I find one of the moft
vnlikely ;o be not very remote from the truth. In Pt. 2, v.
156, it isfaid, that England had before '' but two flips of
war." Now the GREAT HARRY had been built onlyfeven
years before, "viz in 1<;O4: which " was properly f pi aking
'' the firjljhip in the Engli/h navy. Before this period, when
" the prince <w anted a fleet, he had no other expedient but
*' hiring Jkips from the merchants." Flume.
This Ballad which appears to have been written in the
reign of Elizabeth, has received great improvements from
the Editor's folio MS* wherein ivas an ancient copy, fwhu'ht
though very incorrefl, Jeemcd in many refpefts fuperior t»
the common ballad; the latter being evidently modernized,
and abridged from it. The following text is however in
fame places amended and improved by the latter (chiefly
frcm a black-letter copy in the Pepys collection), as alfo by
coyeflure.
ANCIENT POEMS. 183
THE FIRST PART.
' TT 7 HEN Flora with her fragrant flower«
V V ' Bedeckt the earth fo trim and gaye,
' And Neptune with his daintye (bowers
' Came to prefent the monthe of Maye * ;'
King Hen rye rode to take the ayre, 5
Over the river of Thames paft hee j
When eighty merchants of London came,
And dowhe they knelt upon their knee.
" O yee are welcome, rich merchants ;
Good faylors, welcome unto mee." jo
They fwore by the rood, they were faylors good,
But rich merchants they cold not bee:
" To France nor Flanders dare we pafs :
Nor Bourdeaux voyage dare we fare ;
And all for a rover that lyes on the feas, i£
Who robbs us of our merchant ware.'*
King Henrye frownd, and turned him rounde,
And fwore by the Lord, that was mickle of might,
*' I thought he had not beene in the world,
Durft have wrought England fuch unright." 20
The merchants fighed, and faid, alas !
And thus they did their anfwer frame,
He is a proud Scott, that robbs on the feas,
And Sir Andrewe Barton is his name.
* From tbcfr. cofy. Ver. 15. 83. robber. MS.
N 4 ( The
184 ANCIENT POEMS.
The king lookt over his left fhoulder,' 2$
And an angrye look then looked hee :
" Have I never a lorde in all my readme,
Will feitch yond traytor unto mee ?"
Yea, that dare I; lord Howard fayes ;
Yea, that dare I with heart and hand ; 30
]f it pleife your grace to give me leave,
Myfelfe wil be the oniy man.
Thou art but yong ; the kyng replyed:
Yond Scott hath numbred manye a yeare.
" Truft me, my liege, He make him quail, 35
Or before my prince I will never appeare."
Then bcwemen and gunners thou fhalt have,
And chufe them over my realme fo free ;
JSefides good mariners, and (hipp-boyes,
To guide the great fhipp on the fea. 40
The firft man, that lord Howard chofe,
Was the ableft gunner in all the realm,
Thoughe he was threefcore yeeres and ten :
Good Peter Simon was his name.
Peter, fais hee, I muft to the fea, 4.5
To bring home a traytor live or dead :
Before all ©thers I have chofen thee ;
Of a hundred gunners to be the head.
Tr. *9- lord Charles Howard. MS.
If
ANCIENT POEMS. 185
If you, my lord, have chofen mee
Of a hundred gunners to be the head, £o
Then hang me up on your maine-maft tree,
If I miffe my maike one lliilling bread *.
My lord then chofe a boweman rare,
' Whofe aclive hands had gained fame f.
In Yorkfhire was this gentleman borne, jjj
And William Horfcley was his name J.
Horfeley, fayd he, I mud with fpeede
Go feeke a tray tor on the fea,
And now of a hundred boivenen brave
To be the head I have chofen thee. 60
If you, quoth hee, havt chofen mee
Of a hundred bowemen to be the head ;
Qn your maine-maft He hanged bee,
If I mifs twelvefcore one penny bread *•
"With pikes and gnnnes, and bowemen bold, 6£
This noble Howard is gone to :he fea;
With a valyant heart and a pleafant cheare,
Out at Thames mouth fayled he.
And days he fcant had fayled three,
Upon the * voyage', he tooke in hand, 70
But there he mett with a noble fhipp,
And iloutely made itt ftay and ftand.
* An old Eng. word for Breadth. f Pr. copy.
J Mr. Lambe, in bis Notes to the Poem en the Battle of FlodJen Field,
contends, that tin's expert bowman's name ivas not HORSE LEY, but
HUSTLER, of afant'/y long feated near Stock ton t in Cleveland, Tori-
flirt. Vid. f. 5. I cr. 70. Journey. MS.
Thou
i86 ANCIENT POEMS.
Thou muft tell me, lord Howard faid,
Now who thou art, and what's thy name;
And fhewe me where thy dwelling is: 75
And whither bound, and whence thou came.
My name is Henry Hunt, quoth hee
With a heavye heart, and a carefull mind;
I and my fliipp doe both belong ,
To the Newcaille, that flands upon Tyne. 8e
Haft thou not heard, nnwe, Henrye Hunt,
As thou hali fayled by daye and by night,
Of a Scottifh rover on the feas ;
Men call him fir Andrew Barton, knight?
Then ever he fighed, and fayd alas! 85
With a grieved mind, and well away!
But over-well I knovve that wight,
I was his priioner yefterday.
As I was fayling \ippon the fea,
A Burdeaux voyage for to fare; $•
To his hach-borde he clafped me,
And robd rlie of all n y merchant ware:
And mickle debts, God wot, I owe,
And every man \\iil have his owne ;
And i am nowe to London bounde, g_j
Ol our gracious king to beg a boone.
Ver. 91. The MS. has here Archborde, but in Pt. II. ver. 5. Hachebord.
You
A N C I E N T P O E M S. 187
That fliall not need, lord Howard fais j
Lett me but once that robber fee,
For every penny tane thee froe
It fhnl) be doubled (hillings three. loo
Nowe God forefend, the merchant faid,
That you (hold ieek foe far amifle !
God keepe you out of that traitors hands!
Full litle ye wott what a man hee is.
Hee is brafle within, and fteele without. io£
With beames on his topcaftle llronge;
And eighteen pieces of ordinance
He carries on each fide along :
And he hath a pinnace deerlye d:ght,
St. Andreues crufle that is his guide ; no
His pinnace beare'h nineicore men,
And fifteen canons on each fide.
Were ye twentye fiiippes, ar.d he but one ;
I fweare by kirke, and bower, and hall ;
fle wold overcome them everye one, nj
If once his beaaies they doe downe fall *.
* It Jlould feem from hence, th it befort our marine artillery tuns brmgbt
to its prefent perfefiiirt, fomc mrval commanders btid recourfe to injlrumentt
or machine:, fimilar in ufc, though perhaps unlike in conJlruEtion, to the
bra-vy DOLPHINS made cf lead or itr,'i ujid by the ancient Greeks; ivbicb
they fuj 'fended from beams or yard- fnjlened to the ma/'i, and which they
jr^-ifitat'ly let fall on the enemies flip*, :n oidcr to Jink them, by beating
b'Jis through the bottoms (,f their undecked Triremes, orotberwifc damaging
//AM. Tbefe are mentioned by Thuydidts, Lib. •}, p. i;6, Ed. 1564,
folio, and are more fully explained in Scheme i de Militia Ntrt.a/i, Lib- Zt
cap. 5, p. 136, Ed. 165?, 4/0.
ACi'. // every -ivfaie in the MS.fiems to be imitten Beanes.
This
i88 ANCIENT POEMS.
This ig cold comfort, fais my lord,
To wellcome a ftranger thus to the fea :
Yet He bring him and his fhipp to fhore,
Or to Scottland hee fliall carrye mee. lio
Then a noble gunner you muft have,
And he muft aim well with his his ee,
And fmke his pinnace into the fea,
Or elfe hee never orecome will bee:
And if you chance his fliipp to horde, 125
This counfel I muft give withal),
Let no man to his topcaftle goe
To ilrive to let his beams downe fall.
And feven pieces of ordinance,
I pray your honour lend to mee, 130
On each fide of my fhipp along,
And I will lead you on the fea.
A glaffe He fi.tr, that may be feene,
Whether you fayle by dny or night ;
And to-morrowe, I fweare, by nine of rhe clock'e 135
You fliall meet with Sir Andrewe Barton knight.
THE
ANCIENT POEMS. 189
.
THE SECOND PART.
''I' > H E merchant fett my lorde a glafle
JL Soe well apparent in his fight,
And on the morrowe, by nine of the clocke,
He (Levved him Sir Andrevve Barton knight.
His hachebord it was * gilt' with gold, $
Soe cleerlye dight it dazzled the ee :
Nowe by my faith, lord Howarde fais,
This is a gallant fight to fee.
Take in your ancyents, flandards eke,
So clofe that no man may them fee; 10
And put me forth a white willowe wand,
As merchants ufe to fayle the fea.
But they ilirred neither top, nor raaft * ;
Stoutly they part Sir Andrew by.
What Englifli chinks are yonder, he fayd, if
That can foe litlc curtdye ?
Now by the roode, three yeares and more
I have beene admirall over the fea ;
And never an Englifh nor Portingall
Without my leave can pa fie this way. 2
Then called he forth his itout pinnace;
*' Fetch backe yond pedlars nowe to mee:
I fweare by the mafle, yon EngliQi churles
Shall all hang att my maine-malt tree."
Ttr. 5. « ha^ied with geld.' MS, *
With
igo ANCIENT POEMS.
With that the pinnace itt fhott off, 25
Full well lord Howard might it kea ;
For itt tfroke down my lord's fore maft,
And killed fourteen of his men.
Come hither, Simon, fayes my lord,
Looke that thy word be true, thou faid ; 30
For at my maine-maft thou fhalt hang,
If thou miffe thy marke one (hilling bread.
Simon was old, but his heart itt was bold.
His ordinance he laid right lowe ;
He put in chaine full nine yardes long, 3$
With other great fhott lefle, and moe j
And he lette goe his great gunnes fhott ;
Soe well he fettled itt with his ee,
The firft fight that Sir Andrew fawe,
He fee his pinnace funke in the fea. 40
And when he faw his pinnace funke,
Lord, how his heart with rage did fwell !
«' Nowe cutt my ropes, itt is time to be gon j
lie fetch yond pedlars backe myfeli."
When my Lord fawe Sir Andrewe toofe, 45
Within his heart hee was full faine :
" Nowe fpread your ancyents, flrike up drummes,
Sound all your trumpetts out amaine."
Yer. 35. /. e. difcbarged chain-foot.
iV'ii'1' '" Fight
ANCIENT POEMS. 191
Fight on, my men, Sir Andrewe fais,
Weale hovvfpever this geere will fway ; 50
Itt is my lord admirall of England,
Is come to feeke mee on the fea.
Simon had a fonne, who fhott right well,
That did Sir Andrewe mickle fcare ;
In att his decke he gave a fhott, £$
Killed threescore of his men of vvarre.
Then Henrye Hunt with rigour hott
Came bravely on the other fide,
Soone he drove downe his fore-mail tree,
And killed fourfcore men befide. 60
Nowe, out alas ! Sir Andrewe cryed,
What may a man now thinke, or fay ? .
Yonder merchant theefe, that pierceth mee,
He was my prifoner yefterday.
Come hither to me, thou Gordon good, 6$
That aye waft readye att my call 5
I will give thee three hundred markes,
If thou wilt let my beanies downe fail.
Lord Howard hee then cd!d in haile,
" Horfeley fee thou be true in (lead ; 70
,For thou (halt at the maine-maft hang,
If thou miffe tvvelveicore one penny bread.
. Jrer. 67. 84 pounds. MS.
Then-
2 ANCIENT POEMS.
Then Gordon fwarved the maine-maft tree*
He fwarved it with might and maine;
But Horfeley with a bearing arrowe, 75
Stroke the Gordon through the braine ;
And he fell unto the haches again,
And fore his deadlye wounde did bleed:
Then word went through Sir Andrews men,
How that the Gordon hee was dead. 80
Come hither to mee, James Hambilton,
Thou art my only filters fonne,
If thou wilt let my beames downe fall,
Six hundred nobles thou haft wonne.
With that he fwarved the maine-maft tree, 85
He fwarved it with nimble art;
But Horfeley with a broad arrowe
Pierced the Hambilton thorough the heart:
And downe he fell upon the deck,
That with his blood did ftreame amaine: <^o
Then every Scott cryed, Well-away !
Alas a comelye youth is flaine !
AH woe begone was Sir Andrew then,
With griefe and rage his heart did fwell !
"Go fetch me forth my armour of proofe, 95
For I will to the topcaftle my fell."
Fir. 75. bearijnST, ft. that carriet well, Sift. But fee Gloff". vol. 1.
"Goc
ANCIENT POEMS. 193
" Goe fetch me forth my armour of proofe j
That gilded is with gold foe cle?re :
God be with my brother John of Barton !
Againft the Portingalls hee it ware; 100
And when he had on this armour of proofe,
He was a gallant fight to fee :
Ah! nere didft thou meet with living wight,
My deere brother, could cope with thee."
Come hither Horfeley, fayes my lord, 105
And looke your fliaft that itt goe right,
Shoot a good fhoote in time of need,
And for it thou flialt be made a knight,
lie flioot my bell, quoth Horfeley then,
Your honour fhall fee, with might and maine; 1 10
But if I were hanged at your maine-maft,
I have no*v left but arrovves twaine.
Sir Andrew he did fvvarve the tree,
With right good will he fwarved then:
Upon his bread did Horfeley hitt, 115
But the arrow bounded back agen.
Then Horfeley fpyed a privye place
With a pei feel eye in a fecrette part ;
Under the fpole of his right arme
He fmote Sir Andrew to the heart. 120
VOL. II. O " Fight
i94 ANCIENT POEMS.
** Fight on, my men, Sir Andrew fayes,
A little line hint, but jett not flaine;
He but l\e downe and bletde a while,
And then He rife and fight againe.
** Fight on, my men, Sir Andrew fayes, 125
And ncvei fimche before the foe ;
And itand faft I y irt. Ar.drtwes crofle
Untill you heare my vvhitlle blowe."
They never heard his whittle blow,
\Vhich made their hearts waxeiore adread: 130
Then Hoi leley l^yd, Aboard, n.y lord,
For well 1 vvott Sir Andrew's dead.
They boarded then his noble flnpp,
They boarded it with might ai:d maine;
Eighteen fcore Scots alive thty found, 13 $
The reil were either maimed or flaine.
Lord Howard tooke a fword in hand,
And off he fn ore Sir Andrewes head ;
" I rmti have left England many a daye,
If thou wert al>e as thou art dead." 140
He ca'ifed his body to be caft
Over the hatchbord into the fea,
And about his middle three hundred crownes:
" "Wherever thou land this will buiy thee."
Thus
ANCIENT POEMS. 195
Thus from the warres lord Howard came, 14$
And backe he fayled ore the maine,
With mickle joy and triumphing
Into Thames mouth he came againe.
Lord Howard then a letter wrote,
And fealed it with (eale and ring ; 150
" Such a noble prize have I brought to your grace,
As never did iubjeft to a king,
" Sir Andreses fhipp I bring with mee ;
A braver fhipp was never none :
Nowe hath your grace two fliipps of warr, 155
Before in England was but one."
King Henryes grace with royall cheere
Welcomed the noble Howard home,
And where, faid he, is this rover ftout,
That I myfelfe may give the doome ? 16$
« The rover, he is fafe, my leige,
Full many a fadom in the lea j
If he were alive as he is dead,
I muft have left England many a day :
And your grace may thank four men i'the Ihip 1 6 5
For the victory wee have wonne,
Thefe are William Horfeley, Henry Hunr,
Aad Peter Simon, and his fonne."
Oa To
196 ANCIENT POEMS.
To Henry Hunt, the king then fayd,
In lieu of what was from thee tane, 170
A noble a day now thou flialt have,
Sir Andrewes jewels and his chayne.
And Horfeley thou flialt be a knight,
And lands and livings flialt have ftore;
Howard fliall be erle Surrye hight, 175
As Howards erit have beene before.
Nowe, Peter Simon, thou art old,
I will maintaine thee and thy fonne:
And the men fliall have five hundred markes
For the good fervice they have done. 18*
Then in came the queene with ladyes fair
To fee Sir Andrewe Barton knight :
They weend that hee were brought on fhore,
And thought to have feen a gallant fight.
But when they fee his deadlye face, 18^
And eyes foe hollow in his head,
I wold give, quoth the king, a thoufand markes,
This man were alive as hee is dead :
Yett for the manful! part heeplayd,
Which fought foe well with heart and hand, 190
His men fliall have twelvepence a day,
Till they come to my brother kings high land.
Vtr. 175, 6, , . Erie of Nottingham, And foe was never, &c. MS.
XIII. LADY
A,N C I E N T POEMS. 197
XIII.
LADY ANNE BOTHWELL's LAMENT.
A SCOTTISH SONG.
<fhffi<bjeft of this pathetic Ballad the Editor once thought
might pojjibly relate to the Earl of Bothwell, and bis defer-
tion of his wife Lady Jean Gordon, to make room for his
marriage with the Queen of Scots : But this opinion he noiu
believes to be groundlefs ; indeed earl Eotbiuell s age, who
evuas upwards of oo at the time of that marriage, renders it
unlikely that he Jhoitld be the object offo warm a pajjion as
this elegy fuppofes. He has been Jince informed^ that it en-
tirely rgfers to a private Jlory : A young lady of the
name of- -vJoTHWb LL, or rather BO^WELL, having been, to-
gether with her child ^ deferted by her hufband or lover, com-
pofedthefe ajfefiing lines herfelf, --which here are given from
a copy in the E<ntor's folio MS. corrected by another in
Allan Ramfay's Mifcettany.
BA LO W, my babe, lye ftill and fleipe !
It grieves me fair to fee thee weipe:
If thouft be filen% He be glad,
Thy maining maks my heart ful fad,
Batow, my boy, thy mothers joy, 5
Thy father bieides me great annoy.
Balow, my babe, ly ftil and fleipe,
It grieves me fair to fee thee weepe.
O 3 When
i93 ANCIENT POEMS.
Whan he began to court my luve,
And with his fugred wordes * to muve, 10
His faynings fals, and flattering cheire
To me that time did not appeire :
But now I fee, inoft cruell hee
Cares neither for my babe nor mee.
Balow, &c. 1$
Lye flill, my darling, fleipe a while.
And when thou wakell, Iweitly fmile:
But fmile not, as thy father did,
To cozen maids : nay God forbid !
Bot yett I feire, thou wilt gae neire 30
Thy fatheris hart, and face to beire.
Balow, &c.
I cannae chufe, but ever will
Be hiving to thy father ftill :
Whair-eir he gae, whair-eir he ryde, a£
My luve with him doth {till abyde :
Jn wei! or wae, whair-eir he gae,
tyline hart can neire depart him frae.
Balow, &c.
* Whin fugar ivas frjl imported into Europe, it <wat a very great
dainty ; and therefore the epithet fn^t ed it ufed by all our old writers
metaphorically to exprefe extreme and delicate fweetnefi. (See above,
No. XI. i>. IO •) Sugar at prcfent is cheap and common} and therefore
fuggcJJs now a coarfe and -vulgar idea.
Bot
ANCIENT POEMS. 199
Bot doe not, doe not, prettie mine, 30
To faynings fals thine hart incline :
Be loyal to thy luver trew,
And nevir change hn fora new:
If glide or f lire, of hir have care,
For womens banning's wonderous fair. 3$
Balow, &c.
Bairne, fin thy cruel father is gane,
Thy winfome fmiles maun eife my paine ;
My babe and I'll together live,
He'll comfort me when cares doe grieve: 40
My babe and I right faft will ly,
And quite forgeit man's cruelty.
Balow, &c.
Farewell, fareweil, thou falfeft youth,
That evir kift a womans month f 45
I wifh all maides be warnd by mee
Nevir to truft mans curtefy ;
For if we doe bot chance to bow,
They'le ufe us then they care not how.
Balow, my babe, ly ftil, and fleipe, 50
It grives me fair to fee thee weipe.
04 XIV. THE
200 ANCIENT POEMS.
XIV.
THE MURDER OF THE KING OF SCOTS.
The catajlrcphe of Henry Stewart, lord Darnley. the un-
fortunate hufband of Mary ^ of Scots, is the fubjefl of t/iis
ballad. It is here related in that partial imperfefl manner,
in which fuch an event 'would naturally ftt ike the fubjefls of
another kingdorK\ of tubich be was a native. Henry ap-
pears to have been a -vain capricious worthlefs young man,
of <weak underjtanding, and dijjolute morals. But the beau-
ty cf his perfon, and the inexperience of his youth, 'would
dijpofe mankind to treat him with an indulgence 'which the
cruelty of his murder would afterwards convert into the mojt
tender pity and regret : and then imagination would not fail
to adorn his memory 'with all thofe virtues he ought to have
pojfcffed. Ibis twill account for the extravagant elcgiutn
bejio<wed upon him in thejirjl flanza, C5c.
Henry lord Darnley was eldejljon of the earl of Lennox^
ly the lady Margaret Douglas, niece of Henry VIII. and
daughter of Margaret queen of Scotland by the earl of An-
gus, whom that princejs married after the death of James
IV. — Darnley, who had been born and educate J in England,
was but in his i. ->Jt year, 'when be 'was murdered, Feb. 9,
1 567-8. This crime -was perpetrated by the E. of Botbwell,
not out of refpeft to the memory of Riccio, but in order to
pave the way for his o^wn marriage with the queen-
This ballad (printed^ tvith a fefw corrections, from the
Editor's folio MS.) feems to have been 'written foon after
Mary's efcape into England in 1568, fee v. 65. — It 'will
be remembered at -v. 5, that this princefs was £>. dowager
of France, having been firft married to Francis II. who
died Dec. fa ic 60.
WOE
ANCIENT POfcMS. 2tl
WOE worth, woe worth thee, falfeScotlandel
For thou haft ever wrought by Height;
The worthyeft prince that ever was borne,
You hanged under a cloud by night.
The queene of France a letter wrote, j
And lealed itt with harte and ringe ;
And bade him COTDC Scotland within,
And fliee wold marry and crowne him kinge.
To be a king is a pleafant thing,
To bee a prince unto a peere : i »
But you have heard, and foe have I too,
A man may well buy gold too dcare.
There was an Italyan in that place,
Wa"s as well beloved as ever was hee,
Lord David was his name, I j
Chamberlaine to the queene was hee.
Jf the king had rifen forth of his place,
He wold have fate him downe in the chearc,
And tho itt befeemed him not fo well,
AUho the kinge had beene prefeut there. *•
Some lords in Scotlande waxed wroth,
And quarrelled with him for the nonce;
I fliall you tell how it befell,
Twelve d riggers were in him att once.
fe-. 1$. fa MS.
When
202 ANCIENT POEMS.
When the queene faw her chamberlaine was flaine,
For him her faire cheeks fhee did weete, 26
And made a vowe for a yeare and a day
The king and fjjpe wold not come in one fheete.
Then fome of the lords they waxed wrothe,
And made their vow all vehementlye; 30
For (he death of the qvweties chamberlaine,
The king himfelte, how he (hall dye.
With gun-powder they ftrewed his roome,
And layd greene rumes in his way;
For the traitors th ught that very night 3$
This worthye king for to betray.
To bedd the king he made him bowne ;
To take his reft was his delirej
He was noe looner caft on fleepe,
But his chamber was on a blafing fire. 40
Up he 'ope, and the window brake,
And nee had thirrye fooce to fa;l ;
Lord B 'dwell kept a privy watch,
Underne ith his caftle wall.
Who have wee here ? lord Bodwell fayd: 45
Now anfwer me, that J may know.
44 K .g Henry the eighth n y uncle was ;
For his iweete lake ibme pitty fliow."
Who
ANCIENT POEMS. 203
Who have we here? lord Bodwell fayd,
Now aniwer me when I doe fpeake. 50
" Ah, lord Bodwell, I know thee well ;
Some pitty on me 1 pray thee take."
He pitty thee as much, he fayd,
And as much favor ihow to thee,
As thou didil to the queenes chamberlains, 55
That day thou deemedft him to die *.
Through halls and towers the king they ledd,
Through towers and caftles that were nye,
Through an arbor into an orchard,
There on a peare-tree hanged him hye, 60
When the governor of Scotland heard
How that the worthye king was llaine;
He perfued the queen fo bitterlye,
That in Scotland fhee dare not remaine.
But fhe is fledd into merry England, 6$
And here her refidence hath taine;
And through the queene of Englands grace,
In England now fliee doth remaine.
* Pronounced after the northern manner dee.
XV. A
ao4 ANCIENT POEMS.
XV.
A SONNET BY Q^ ELIZABETH.
T&e folfcantig lines* if they difplay no rich "vein of poetry,
are yet jo ftrongly characJcriftic of their great and fpi* ited
author ejs, that the Infer lion of them -will bs pardoned. They
are prefervcd in Puttenhani s Arte of Eng lijhPoefie ; a biok /'*
tubick are manyjly addrefles to the queen's foible ofjliining as
a poetefs. The extraordinary manner in which tbefe -verfes
are introduced Jheivs what kind of homage "was exa fled front
the courtly writers of that age, viz.
*' I find) Jays this antiquated critic, none example in Eng'
4 Jijk metre, fo well maintaining this figure [Exargafia, or
' the Goigecus, Lot. Expolitio] as that dittie of her majef-
* ties owne making, paj/ing fweete and harmonicall , ivliicb
<• figure bey rig as his very originall name purporteth the moft
l'6ewtifull and gorgious of ail others, it ajketh in reafon to
' be rejernjed for a laft complement, and defciphred by a la-
' difs penne herfetfe beyng the mojl be<wtifull, or rather beiu-
' tie of ijutencs f . And this was the cccajion : our f over aigne
* lady percfi<ving hoiu the Scctiijh qveenes rejidence ivithin
'• this rcalme at fo g eat libertie and enfe (as iue*e Jkarce
' meete Jor fo great and dangerous a pryfcner) bred Jeciet
'faflions an^ong her people, and made many of the nob'ditie
' incline tofaiour her partie : fame oj them dejirous of in-
' nan-ation in the fate. : others a/firing to greater fortunes
by her liktrtit: and life The queene oi.r Joveraigne ladie
,' to declare that JJie 'was nothing ignorant of thofe fecret
4 pratlizes, though Jhe had long -with great wljdome and
' pacience dtffeiKoled it, ivriteth this dittie moftfiueete and
f She -was at ibh time near tbrte-fnre.
"fenten-
ANCIENT POEMS. 205
"fgntentjous, not hiding from all fuch afpiring minds the
** daunger of their ambition and dijloyaltie : which after-
*' war d fell out mojl truly by tb* exemplary cba/fifemenk of
" fundry per/bns, who infauour of the faid Sc. ££. t/tm
*4 dining from her Maief.!e,Jougbt to interrupt the quiet of
*' the Realms by many euill and vndutiful praflizesj*
(p. 207.)
This Sonnet ivas probably written in \ ^4, not long be-
fore Ken. Percy $>th J-'-. of Northumberland ewas imprifoneJ
on fufpicion of plotting with F. Tkrockmtirfori', Tho. Lord
Pagft, and the. Guifes . for invading England ', and liber a •
ting the £^. of Scots, eV. (See Collins' s Peerage, i779»
11. 405,) — 7 he original •'•• ~v>itten in long lines or alexan-
tlrineS) each of ivbi h is here, on account of the narro*wne/s of
the 'page, fubuivided into two ; but her majejly^s orthogra-
phy, or at leajl that of her copyijl-, is exactly followed.
In the jlrft edition of Harringtons Nyo^E AiVTiQjT^,
ifl. foL ! 7 69 , \ziiiv. p 58, is a copy of this poem, with
great ^vatiatioas^ the be it <.. " frjhick are noted below. It
is there accompanied with a very curious 'letter, in which
this four ft isJaiJ t« be " of her Jrligbtiejs own enditing . . .
" My Lady Wtllo:igf;l<y did cheerily get it on her Majejiies
' tablet, and hu>z muih hazard in Jo doing • for the ^ueen
* did find out the thief, and -chid for fpreading evil
* bruit of her writing fuch toyes, when other matters did
lfj occupy her employment *t this time ', and was fearful of
' being thought too lightly offorfo doing" ***
TH E doubt of future foes,
Exiles my preient ioy,
And wit me warnes to flum fuch fnares
As threaten mine annoy.
For falfhood now doth flow, $
And fubiett faith doth ebbe,
Which would not be, if reafon rul'd
Or wiidome weuM the webbe.
V. i. dread. Harrington i Ed, V. 6. fubjefts. far, V. 7. ft:oulJ.
H*/. V. 8. wove. Har.'
VOL. II, O 6 But.
*a6 ANCIENT POEMS.
But clowdes of tois vntried,
Do cloake afpiring mindes, ifr
tvhich turne to raine of late repent,
By courfe of changed windes.
. ( . . . -•..'. vi ?B.Ai'iH, Vi*. **
The toppe of hope fuppofed,
The roote of ruthe vvil be,
And frutelefle all their graffed guiles, l£
As fhortly ye fliall fee.
Then dazeld eyes with pride,
Which great ambition blinds,
Shalbe vnfeeld by worthy wights,
Whofe forefight falfhood firid». 2«
The daughter of debate *,
That eke difcord doth fowe,
Shal reap no gaine where former rule
Hath taught ftil peace to growe*
No forreine banniflit wight a|
Shall ancre in this port,
Our realme it brookes no ftrangers force,
Let them elfewhere refort.
Our rufty fworde with reft,
Shall firft his edge employ, 3<5
To polle their toppes, that leeke foch chaflge,
And gape for l fuch like' ioy.
r. 9. joys. Har. V. n. raigne. Puttenbatn.. * Sell, tie S^uetif
if Scott. 'V. ^^. That difcorde aye. Har. V. 13. formor. Put.
V. 27. realms broolte? no ftxHtious Setts, U«r. V. 32. fuch like
h fttfflifd from Marington's Ed. in ivbisb an atttr frttriationst tk*i
ftem wca wij^ifi (/' the tranji'iiier, or frinttr.
Hf J
ANCIENT POEMS. 207
•f-i-f I cannot help fuljoinihg fo the above fonnet another
diftich of Elizabeth's prefeived by Puttenham (p. 197.^
•' which (fays he) our f over aigne lady wrote in defiance of
"fortune." "
Never thinke y$u, Fortune can beare the ftvay,
Where Venue's force can caufe her to obay.
The Jlighteft ejfufien of fuch a mind deferves attention.
XV.
KING OF SCOTS AND ANDREW BROWNE.
This ballad is a proof of the little intercom fe that fubjifted
let ween the Scots and Englijh, before th-e acc?Jfion of James I.
to the crown of England. 'Tie tale 'which is here /o circum-
Jiantlally related does not appear to have had the leafl founda-
tion in liijlory, but was .probably built vpcn fo;r,e 'confufed
J.ecirfny report of the tumults In Scctland during flit minority
of that prince, and of the conf piracies formed by different fac-
tions to get pijfijfion of Iiis pcrfon. It Jhould feem from *ver,
07 to have been written during the regency o> at leaft be-
fore the dtath, of the earl of Morton, ivho was condemned and
executed June 2, 1581; when Barnes was in his i^thyear.
The original copy (preferred in the archives of the A/ai-
quartan Society, London) is intltled, " Anew Ballad^ d >.lir-
*' ing the great trcafon confpired againft the young -ing of
*' Scots, and honjj one Andrew Browne an EugUJJi-man^
" which was the king's cha:nb&laine, prevented thejt m\
" To the tune of Milf.tld, or els to Green-Jleeves.'"~ At the
end is fubjv'ned the name of the authyr \V. KtDEt? T »> N.
" Im-
2o8 ANCIENT POEMS.
" Imprinted at London fo' Ta^athe James, dwelling in New-
'* gate Market, aver agaiiift Ch. Church" in black-letter,
folio
This ELDER TON. -who had been originally an attorney
in thejher'tffs counts of London, and afterwards (if we may
believe Oldys) a comedian was a facetious fuddling compa-
nion, ivhole tipf'lirtg and rhymes rendered him famous among
his contemporatir-s He was author of many popular fongs
and ballads ; atid probablv otbtr pieces in ihffe volnmes,
Itejides the following, are of bis compofing. He is believed
to have fallen a vicTim to his bottle before the year 11:92.
His epitaph has been recorded by Camdent and tranjlated
ty Oldys.
Hie fitus eft fitiens, atque ebrius Eldcrtonus,
Quid dico hie fitus eft ? hie potius fitis eft.
Dead drunk here Elderton doth lie ;
Dead as he is he flill is dry :
So of him it may ivell be f aid,
Here he, but not his tbirfl^ is laid.
See Stow's Land, \Guild-hall. .] — Biogr. Brit. [DRAYTON',
by Oldys Note B.] Ath. Ox.—Camden's Remains The
Exale-tation of Alet among Beaumont 's Poems, S-vo. 1653.
T alas !' what i griefe is this'
That princes fubjefls cannot be true,
But ftill the devill hath fome of his,
Will play their parts- whatfoever enfue;
Forgetting what a grievous thing 5
It is to offend the anointed king ?
Alas for woe, why fliould it he fo,
This makes a forrovvful heigh ho.
In
ANCIENT POEMS. ^09
In Scotland is a bonnie kinge,
As proper a youth as ruecle to be, 10
Well given to every happy thing,
That can lie in a kinge to fee :
Yet that unluckie country (HI!,
Hath people given to craftie will.
Alas for woe, &c. 15
On Whitfun eve it fo befell,
A poflet was made to give the king,
Whereof his ladie nurfe hard tell,
And that it was a poyfonsd thing:
She cryed, and called piteouflie ; «o
Now help, or els the king fliall die!
Alas for woe, &c.
One Browne, that was an Englifh man,
And hard the ladies piteous crye,
Out with his fword, and beftir'd him than, *$
Out of the doores in halle to flic ;
But all the doores were made fo fair,
Out of a window he got at laft.
Alas for woe, &c.
He met the bifhop coming faft, 3»
Having the poffet in his hande:
The fight of Browne made him aghaft,
Who bad him ftoutiy ftaie and iland*
VOL. II. ij With
210 ANCIENT POEMS.
With him were two that ranne awa,
For feare that Browne would make a fray. 3$
Alas for woe, &c.
Bifliop, quoth Browne, what haft thou there?
Nothing at all, my friend, fsyde he ;
But a poflet to make the king good cheer?.
Is it fo? fayd Browne, that will I fee, 40
Firft I will have thyfelf begin,
Before thou go any further in ; »
Be it weale or woe, it ftiall be fo,
This makes a forrowful heigh ho.
Cfc
The hifhop fayde, Browne T doo know, 45
Thou art a young man poore and bare ;
Livings on thee I will beftowe :
Let me go on, take thou no care.
No, no, quoth Browne, 1 will not be
A tyaitour for all Chriftiantie : 59
Happe well or woe, it fliall be fo,
Drink now with a forrowfull, &c«
The bifhop dranke, and by and by
His belly burft and he fell downe:
* A jurt rewarde for his traitery. £j
This was a pofTet indeed, quoth Brown !
He ferchecl the bifiiop, and found the keycs,
To c'Mpe to the kir.ge when he did pleafe.
Alas for wee, kc.
At
A N C I E N T P O E M S. an
As foon as the king got word of this, 6»
He humbly fell uppon his knee,
And prayfed God that he did mifse
To taft of that extremity :
For that he did perceive and know,
His clergie would betray him fo : 65
Alas for woe, &c.
Alas, he faid, unhappie realme,
My father, and grandfather flaine ;
My mother baniftied, O extreame !
Unhappy fate, and bitter bayne ! 70
And now like treafon wrought for me,
What more unhappie realme can be !
Alas for woe, &c.
The king did call his nurfe to his grace,
And gave her f.venty poundes a yeere; 75
And truftie Browne too in like cafe,
He knighted him with gallant geere ;
And gave him 'lands and livings great,
For dooing fiich a manly feat,
As he did fhowe, to tht biftiop'? woe, 80
Which made, &c.
T. 67. Hii father -was Henry Lord Darnly. His grandfather the old
Earl of Lenox, regent of Scotland, and father of L.rd D^rnley, war
tnunlered at Stirling, S^ft. 5, 1571.
212 ANCIENT POEMS.
When all this treafon done and paft»
Tooke not eifcft of traytery ;
Another treafon at the laft,
They fought agninrt his majeftie: 85
How they might make their kinge away,
By a privie banket on a daye. »
Alas for woe, &c.
* Another time' to fell the king
Beyonde the feas they had decreede : 9*
Three noble Earles heard of this thing,
And did prevent the fame with fpeede.
For a letter came, with fuch a charme,
That they mould doo their king no harme:
For further woe, if they did foe, 9$
Would make a forrowful heigh hoe.
The Earle Mourton told the Douglas then,
Take heede you do not offend the king ;
But (hew yourfelves like honelt men
Obediently in every thing: io»
For his godmother * will not fee
Her noble childe mifus'd to be
With any woe ; for if it be fo,
She will make, &c.
God graunt all fubjedts may be tnie, tof
Jn England, Scotland, every where :
That
ANCIENT POEMS. 213
That no fuch dnunger may enfue,
To pur the prince or flats in feare :
That God the higheft king may fee
Obedience as it ought to be, no
In wealth or woe, God graunt it be fo
To avoids the forrowful bei^h ho.
XVIT.
THE BONNY EARL OF MURRAY,
A SCOTTISH SONG.
In December 1501, Francis Stewart, Eai I of Bothiue //,
bad made an attempt tofeize on the perfon of Ins Jovereign
James f^l. but being di/appointed, had retired towards the
north. The king unadvifcdly gave a commijpon to George
Gordon Earl of Huntley, to purfite Both-well and his follow-
ers with fit: andfiuurd. Huntley. under cover of executing
that commijjlon. took occa/ion to revenge a private quarrel he
had again/I James Stewart Earl of Murray, a relation of
&ar Jewell's. In the night of Feb. 7, i $g2, he befet Mur-
ray s houfe, burnt it to the ground, andjlevj Murray him-
fflf'\ a youny^ nobleman of tlie moft promifin* virtues t and
the very darling of the people. See Robeitfon's Hi ft.
The ptefent Lord Murray hath n<nv i/t his pofftj/ion a pic-
ture of his ancefior naked and covered with wounds, which
had been carried about, according to the ciiftom of that age,
rn order to inflame the 1>of>uhicf, to revenge his death' If this
piflnrc did not flatter ', bg -ii>t:/l deferred the name of the
RON NY EA»I, Jor he is there reprefcnted as a tall and
comely fwfvttagt* It is a tradition in the family, that Gor-
tlwi of Bucky gavi him a wound in the face ; Murray half
i' 3 «xfiriH&
214 ANCIENT POEMS.
expiring, faid, " You hae fpilt a better face than your
a*vuin." Upon this, Bucky pointing his dagger at Hunt ley's
breajl, fawre, *' You fhall be as deep as 7j" -andfoiced
him to pierce the poor defencelefs body.
K. James, 'who took no care to punijh the murtberers, is
faid by fome to have privately countenanced and abetted
them, being jlimulated by icaloufy for fome indifcreet praifes
•which his Queen had too la"uijhly be flowed on this unfortunate
youth. See the preface to the next ballad. See alfo Mr»
W-alpole's Catalogue of Royal Auth. vol. I, p, 42.
YE highlands, and ye Ir.wlands,
Oh! quhair hae ye been ?
They hae flaine the Earl of Murray,
And hae laid him on the green.
Now wae be to thee, Huntley ! f
And quh airfare did you lae!
I bade you bring him wi* you,
But forbade you him to flay,
He was a braw gallant,
And he rid at the ring ; 10
Ar<d the bonny Earl of Murray,
Oh ! he might hae been a king,
He was a braw gallant,
And he playd at the ba' ;
And the bonny Earl of Murray j£
Was th* flower among them a*.
He
ANCIENT POEMS. 215
He was a braw gallant,
And he playd at the gluve ;
And the bonny Earl of Murray,
Oh ! he was the Queenes luve. »o
Oh ! lang will his lady
Luke owre the caftle downe *,
Ere (he fee the Earl of Murray
Cum founding throw the towne.
* Caftle downs here las been thought to wean the CASTLK or
DowNr, a feat belonging to the family if Murray,
•
XVIII.
YOUNG WATERS.
A SCOTTISH BALLAD.
// has been fuggefted to tbe Editor, that this ballad co-
vertly alludes to tbe indifcreet partiality^ -which jj*. Anne
of Denmark is faid to have JJiewn for the BOX NY EARL
OF MURRAY; and -which it fuppofed to have influenced
the fate of that unhappy nobleman. Let the Reader judge
for himfelf.
The follffwing account of the murder is given by a con-
temporary writer, and a petfon of credit, Sir James Bal-
f«ur, knight, Lyon King of Arms, •wbo/c MS. of the Au-
nals of Scotland is in the Advocates library at Edinburgh.
" The f event h of Ft'bry, this zei*~e, i 592, the Earle of
" Murray was cruelly murthered by the Earlc of Huntley at
" his houfe in Dunibrijfcl in Fyjft-Jhyre^ and i-jith him
P 4 ' "Dunbart
2i6 ANCIENT POEMS.
w Dunbar, Jktrtffe of Murray. It was given out and
" publicity ialkt, that the Earle of Hunt-ley was only the
'" injirument of perpetrating this facie, 1 -fatisfie the Kings
* jealoufie of Murray, qutiuvi the Queene more rajiiely than
* Suifely, fomefeiu days before had commendit in the King's
1 bearing, -with too many epithets of a proper and gallant
' man. 'The reafons of thtfe furnrfes proceed: t from a pro.-
' clamatione of the Kings, the I" of Marche following ;
'* inhibiteine the zoung Eatle of Murray to perfue the Earle
' of Hunt ley i for his father's Jlaiighter, in refpefi he
' being 'wardeit \imprijoned] in the cajiell of Blackneffe
* for the fame tnurther, was willing to abide a tryall^
4 averring that he had done nothing but by the King's
1 tnajefties comnrijjione j and was neither airt not part in
tl themurtber*."
^Tke following ballad is here given from a copy printed
not long Jince at Gla/goiu, in one JJieet %vo. The world
was indebted for its publication to the lady Jean Humct
fijler to the Earle of Hume, who died at Gibraltar.
ABOUT Zule, quhen the wind blew cule,
And the round tables began,
A' ! there is cum to our kings court
Mony a well-fa vourd man.
The queen luikt owre the caQle \va, 5
Beheld baith dale and down,
And then (he faiv zoung Waters
Cum riding to the town.
His footmen they did rin before,
His horfemen rade behind, 10
Ane mantel of the burning gowd
Did kelp him frae the wind.
* Z$K extrtfl is cofltdfrtm tbt CW'ftW Rcvitv*
Gowdem
ANCIENT POEMS. 217
Gowden graith'd his horfe before
And filler food behind,
The horfe zong Waters rade upon i£
Was fleeter than the wind.
Bat than fpake a wylie lord,
Unto the queen (aid he,
O tell rhe qhua's the faired face
Rides in the company. 39
I've fene lord, and I've fene laird,
And knights of high degree j
Bot a fairer face than zoung Watcrt
Mine eyne did never fee.
Out then fpack the jealous king, jj
(And an angry man was he)
O, if he had been twice as fair,
Zou micht have excepted me.
Zon're neither laird nor lord, flic fayg,
Bot the king that wears the crown; 3%
Theris not a knight in fair Scotland
Bot to thee maun bow down*
For a* that (lie could do or fay,
Appeasd he wad nae bee ;
Bot for the words which flie had f lid j£
Zoung Waters he maun dee.
They
218 A N C I E N T POEMS.
They hae taen zoung Waters, and
Pot fetters to his feet ;
They hae taen zoung Waters, and
Thrown him in dungeon deep.
Aft I have ridden thro' Stirling town
In the wind both and the weit ;
Bot I neir rade thro' Stirling town
Wi fetters at my feet.
Aft have I ridden thro' Stirling town 45
In the wind both and the rain;
Bot I neir rade thro' Stirling town
Neir to return again.
They hae taen to the heiding-hill *
His zoung fon in his craddle, 50
And they hae taen to the heiding-hill,
His horfe both and his faddle.
They hae taen to the heiding-hill
His lady fair to fee.
And for the words theQneen had fpoke, 55
Zoung Waters he did dee.
* Heiding-hill; /. e. leading [bebiading] hill. The place of execu-
n -i.ua; anciently an artificial biHtck.
XIX. MA-
ANCIENT POEMS. *i9
XIX.
MARY AMBREE.
In the year 1584, the Spaniards, under tTie command of
Alexander Farnefe prince of Parma, began to gain great
advantages In Flanders and B'abant, by recovering many
Jii ong holds and cities from the Hollanders, as Ghent, (called
then by the Englijh GAUNT,) Antwerp, Mechlin, &c. See
Sfovj's Annals, p 711 . Some attempt made with the ajfiftance
of Englijh -volunteers to retrieve the former of thofe places
probably gave occajion to this b alia -I I can find no mention
of our heroine in hi/lory, but the following rhymes rendered
her famous among our poets. Ben Jonfon often mentions her,
and calls any remarkable virago by her name. See his Epi~
cane,firft attedln 1609, Aft 4,fc. 2. His Tale of a Tub,
Aft \,fc. •. And his mafque intitled the Fortunate IJle st
1626, luhere he quotes the very words of the ballad 't
.MARY AMBREE,
(Who marched fa free
To thefege of Gaunt,
And death could not daunt^
As the ballad doth -vaunt)
Were a braver wight, &c.
She is alfo mentioned in Fletcher's Scornful Lacty, Aft :,
fub f.nem.
" jVy large gentlewoman, my MARY AMBREE,
" hadluutfeen into you, you Jkould have had another bed-
"fellow."
// is likewife evident, that JJie is the virago intended by
Butler in Hudibras (P. i, c. 3, v. 36^.;, by her being
coupled with Joan d'Arc, the celebrated Pucelle d'Orleaas.
A bold virago flout and tall
As Jean of France, or Englifh Mall.
This
220 ANCIENT POEMS.
This ballad is printed from a black-letter copy in tht
Pepys Collefiion, imprtn.'edfrom the Editor's folio MS. and
by conjefiuie. The full title M, " The valorous afts per-
" formed at Gaunt by the brave bonnie lafs Mary Ambree %
44 'who in reverse of her lovers death did play her part mojl
"gallantly. The tune is, The blind beggar, &f«r."
WHEN captaines couragious, whom death cold
not claunte,
Did march to the fiege of the citty of Gaunt,
They muftred their foiildiers by two and by three,
And the formofl in battle was Mary Ambree.
When brave Sir John Major* was flaine in her fight, $
Who was her true lover, her joy, and delight,
Bccaufe he was flaine moll treacherouflie,
Then vowd to revenge him Mary Ambree.
She clothed herfelfe from the top to the toe
In buffe of the braveft, moft feemelye to fliowe ; 10
A faire fliirt of male f then flipped on fhee;
Was not this a brave bonny lafs, Mary Ambree ?
A helmett of proofe ihee ftrait did provide,
A ftrong arminge fword fiiee girt by her fide,
On her hand a goodly faire gauntlett put fhee; i£
Was not this a brave bonny lafs, Mary Ambree ?
» So MS. Serjeant Major in PC,
f d peculiar kind if armcttr, nmpofed tf fmall riigi of inn , amtvnrn
under the ckaths. It it mtntiened by Spencer, -who f pea it of the lti/L
Gallvwglaft or Foot-fM;er at " urwud in a /««£ Shirt of May/." (V'uw
j tie Statt ef Ireland.)
Then
ANCIENT POEMS. zt*
Then tooke fliee her fwordc and her targett in hand,
Bidding all fuch, as wold, bee of her band;
To wayte on her perfon came thouiand and three :
Was not this a brave bonny lafs, Mary Arabree ? 2*
My foldiers, fhe faith, foe valiant and bold,
Nowe followe your captaine, whom you doe beholde;
Still formoft in battel myfelfe will I bee:
Was not this a brave bonny lapflTe, Mary Ambree?
Then cryed out her fouldiers, and loude they did fay, 35
Soe well thou becomeft this gallant array,
Thy harte and thy weapons foe well do agree,
There was none ever like Mary Ambree.
Bhee cheared her fouldiers, that foughten for life,
With ancyent and flandard, with drum and with fife, $•
With brave clanging trumpetts, that founded fo free;
Was not this a brave bonny lafle, Mary Ambree i
Before I will fee the worft of you all
To come into danger of death, or of thrall,
This hand and this life I will venture fo free: 35
Was not this a brave bonny lafle, Mary Ambree t
Shee led upp her fouldiers in baftaile array,
Gainft three times theyr number by breake of the daye $
Seven howers in flcirmim continued fliee:
Was not this a brave bonny lafle, Mary Ambree r 40
4 She
4ia ANCIENT POEMS.
She filled the fkyes with the fmoke of her fliott,
And her enemyes bodyes with bullets foe hott;
For one of her owne men a fcore killed fliee:
Was not this a brave bonny lafie, Mary Ambree?
And when her falfe gunner, to fpoyle her intenf, 45
Away all her pellets and powder had fent,
Straight with her keen ueapon fliee flaflit him in three :
Was not this a brave bonny lafle, Mary Ambree ?
Being falfelye betrajed for lucre of hyre,
At length (lie was forced to make a retyre ; 50
Then her fouldiers into a ilrong caftle drew fhee :
Was not this a brave bonny lafle, Mary Ambree?
Her foes they befett her en everye fide,
As thinking clofe fiege fliee cold never abide;
To beate down the walles they all did decree : 55
But flout lye deffyd them brave Mary Ambree.
Then tooke fhee her fword and her targett in hand,
And mounting the walls all undaunted did ftand,
There daring their captaines to match any three:
O what a brave captaine was Mary Ambree ! 60
Now faye, EngliHi captaine, what woldeil thou give
To ranfome thy felfe, which elie muli not live ?
Come yield thy feife quicklye, or flaine thou muft bee.
Then fm.lsd iweetlye brave Maiy Ambiee.
Ye
A N C I E N T P O E M S. 225
Ye captaines couragious, of valour fo bold, 6$
Whom thinke you before you now you doe behold ?
A knight, fir, of England, and captaine foe free,
Who fhortelye with us a prifoner mult bee.
No captaine of England ; behold in your fight
Two brefts in rr.y bofome, and therfore no knight: 70
Noe knight, firs, of England, nor captaine you fee,
But a poor fimple lafs, called Maiy Ambree.
But art thou a woman, as thou doft declare,
Whofe valor hath provd fo undaunted in warre?
If England doth yield fuch brave laiTes as thee, 7^
Full well may they conque.-, faire Mary Ambree.
The prince of Great Parma heard of her renovvne,
Who long had advanced for Englands faire crovvne j
Hee wooed her and hied her his miftiefs to bee,
And ofil-rd rich prefents to Mary Ambree. So
But this virtuous msyden defpifed them all,
He neie lell my honour for purple nor pa!! :
A mayden of England, fir, never will bee
The whore of a monarcke, quoth Mary Ambree.
Then to her owne country fliee b .eke did returne, 85
Stiil holding the f.;es of faire England in fcorne :
Therfore Enghfti cnptaines of every degree
Sing forth ths brave val<r.:rs of^Msry Ambree.
XX. bRAVE
324 ANCIENT POEMS.
XX.
BRAVE LORD WILLOUGHBEY.
Peregrine Bertie lord Wtllwghby of Ertjby had, in the ye At
1586, di/lingr, iflied frmfelf at the fiege of Zutpben, in the
L,civ Countries, fie ivas they far after made general of the
Engli/k rorces in the United Provinces, in room of the tat I of
Leicejier* ivbo was recalled. This gave him an opportunity
vf Jignalizing bis courage and military Jkill injimtral ac-
tions again/} the Spaniards. One of thtfe, greatly exagge-
rated by popular report, is probably the fubjrft of this" olft
ballad, luhicb, on account of its flattering encomiums on Eng-
lifli valour, bath always been a favourite ivitb the people,
" My lord Willonobbie (J'ays a contemporary writer) was
*' one of the quetties bejl J-VMI djmen : . ... he <was a great
** niajler of the art military I have heard it J-poken^
'* that bad he not Jligbtcd the court, but applied bunjclf to
" the aueene, he might have enjoyed a plentiful portion of
** her grace; and it was bis faying, and it did him no gcod,
'* that be taas none of the Rtrrii,! A ; intimating, that he
*' could not creepe wi the ground, and that the court tias not
44 his element ; for indeed, as be was a great Jluldier, Jo he
44 ewas of f nit able magnaniniitie, and could net brook • the ob~
" Jeyuioujnf/fe and ajjuluitie of the court." (Nauntcn )
Lord Willoughbie died in 1601. — Both Ncrris and Fur-
tier 'were famous among tbt military men of that age.
The Jubjefl of this ballad (iijbicb is printed from an old
Uack-letter copy, nuith fomc coujtflxral emendaiiuns,) may
foj/ibly receive illujlrationfrovt tub at CH APMAN^/^'J in the
Deaicat. to his verjlon of Homer's Fiogs and l\iice, con-
terning the brave and memvrabte Retreat of Sir John Norrist
nuitb only icoo men, thro' the icbole Spanijh army^ under
the Juke of Parma, for three miles together.
THE
ANCIENT POEMS. 22$
THE fifteenth day of July,
With glittering fpear and fliield,
A famous fight in Flanders
Was foughten in the field t
'The mofl couragious officers £
Were Englifli captains three;
But the braveft man in battel
Was brave lord Willoughbey.
The next was captain Norris,
A valiant man was hee : 10
The other captain Turner,
From field would never flee".
With fifteen hundred fighting men,
Alas ! there were no more,
They fought with fourteen thoufand then, 15
Upon the bloody fhore.
Stand to it noble pikemefi,
And look you round about :
And (hoot you right you bow-men,
And we will keep them out : 20
You mufqiiet and calliver men,
Do you prove true to me,
Tie be the formoft man in fight,
S«ys brave lord Willonghbey.
VOL, II. Q And
226 ANCIENT POEMS.
And then the bloody enemy 2$
They fiercely did aflail,
And fought ir out moft furioufly,
Not doubting to prevail ;
The wounded men on both fides fell
Moft pit ions for to fee, 30
Yet nothing could the courage quell
Of brave lord Willoughbey.
For feven hours to all mens view
This fight endured fore,
Until our men fo feeble grew 35
That they could fight no more;
And then upon dead horfes
Full favourly they eat,
And drank the puddle water,
They could no better get. 40
When they had fed fo freely,
They kneeled on the ground,
And praifed God devoutly
For the favour they had found j
And Beating up their colours, ^
The fight they did renew,
And turning tow'rds the Spaniard,
A thoufand more they flew.
The
ANCIENT POEMS. 227
The fliarp fteel-pointed arrows,
And bullets thick did fly ; 50
Then did our valiant foldiers
Charge on moft furioufly ;
Which made the Spaniards waver,
They thought it beft to flee,
They fear'd the flout behaviour c 5
Of brave lord Willoughbey.
Then quoth the Spanifh general,.
Come let us march away,
I fear we fhall be fpoiled all
If here we longer flay ; 60
For yonder comes lord Willoughbey
With courage fierce and fell,
He will not give one inch of way
For all the devils in hell.
And then the fearful enemy 65
Was quickly put to flight,
Our men perfued couragioufly,
And caught their forces quite;
But at lart they gave a fliout,
Wrhich ecchoed through the Iky, 70
God, and St. George for England !
The conquerers did cry.
Z This
228 ANCIENT POEMS.
This news was brought to England
With all the fpeed might be,
And foon our gracious queen was told 75
Of this fame vi&ory.
O this is brave lord Willoughbey,
My love that ever won,
Of all the lords of honour
'Tis he great deeds hath done. 80
To the fouldiers that were maimed,
And wounded in the fray,
The queen allowed a penfion
Of fifteen pence a day ;
And from all cofts and charges 8§
She quit and fet them free :
And this fhe did all for the fake
Of brave lord WHloughbey.
Then courage, noble EnglHhmen,
And never be difmaidj go-
lf that we be but one to ten,
We will not be afraid
To fight with foraign enemies,
And fet our nation free.
And thus I end the bloody bout 9$
Of brave lord Willoughbey.
XXI. VIC-
ANCIENT POEMS. 229
XXI.
VICTORIOUS MEN OF EARTH.
This little moral fonnet hathfuch a pointed application
to the heroes of the foregoing and folio-wing ballads^ that I
cannot help placing it here, tho1 the date of its compofition is of
later
a much later period. It is extracted from " Cupid and
Death, a mafque by J. S. [James Shirley]
Mar. 26, 1653. London printed 1653," 4/0.
Victorious men of earth, no more
Proclaim how wide your empires are ;
Though you binde in every fliore,
And your triumphs reach as far
As night or day; £
Yet you proud monarchs muft obey,
And mingle with forgotten afhes, when
Death calls yee to the croud of common men.
Devouring famine, plague, and war,
Each able to undo mankind, 10
Death's fervile emiflaries are :
Nor to thefe alone confin'd,
He hath at will
More quaint and fubtle wayes to kill ;
A fmile or kifs, as he will ufe the art, 15
Shall have the cunning Ikill to break a heart.
C XXII. THE
230 ANCIENT POEMS.
XXII.
THE WINNING OF CALES.
T'hefubjeft nf tins ballad is the taking of the c:ty of
Cadiz, (called Ly our Jailors corruptly Cales) on June 21,
I 596, in a cicjcent made, on the coaji of Spain, under the
command of the Lord Howaid admiral, and the earl of
EJJfv general.
The 'valour of EJ/ex iui»s not more diftinguifbed on this oc-
cajion than his generojity : the to<wn 'was carried f-juor<! in
band, l/ut he fiopt the Jlaughter asfoon as pqjjiblc. and treated
his prifor.ers wif/i Jo. greatcft humanity, and even aff'abilitj
and kiminefs. The Lnglifb made a rich plunder in the city,
but n:i/Jed if r. much nchci\ by the rejolution 'vdncb the Duke
of Medina the Si-ani/h admiral /"?/£, of fetting fire to the
Jliips, in ordtr to prevent their falling intc the hands of the
enemy. It was computed, that the lofs ii'hich the Spaniards
fufiaineJfrom this enterprize^ amounted to twenty millions of
ducats. See Hume's Hijl.
The Earl of EJ/ex knighted on this occaf.on net fewer than
Jixty perjons, cwhich gai'e rife to the follciuing farcajm :
A gentleman of Wales, a snight of Cales,
And a laird of the North country ;
Sut a yeoman of Kent ivith his yearly rent
Will buy them out all three.
The ballad is printed, with fame ccrreft'ons, from the
Editor's. folio MS, andfeems to have been atmpcjed by fome
perfon,
ANCIENT POEMS. 231
perfon, ivbo -was concerned in the expedition. 3/ty? of the
circumjiances related in it ivill be found Jupported by hijiory.
LONG the proud Spaniards had vaunted to con-
quer us,
Threatning our country with fyer and fword ;
Often preparing their navy moft fumptuous
With as great plenty as Spain could afford.
Dub a dnb, dub a dub, thus ftrike their drums j 5
Tantara, tantara, the Englifhman comes.
To the feas prefentlye went our lord admiral,
With knights courac/ious and captains full good;
The brave Earl of Kfl^x, a profp ;rous general,
With him prepared to pais the fait flood. i*
Dub a dub, &c.
At Plymouth fpeedilye, took they fliip valiantlye,
Braver fliips never were teen under fayle,
\Vith their fair colours fpread, and ftreamers ore their
head,
Now bragging Spaniards, take heed of your tayle, 15
Dub a dub, &c. .
Un-to Cales cunninglye, came we moft fpeedilye,
Wheje^he kinges navy fecurelye did ryde;
Being upon their backs, piercing their butts of facks,
Ere any Spaniards our coming defcryde. 20
Dub a dub, &c.
Q^ 4 Great
232 ANCIENT POEMS.
Great was the crying, the running and ryding,
Which at that fcafon was made in that place ;
The beacons were fyred, as need then required ;
To'hyde their great treafure they had little fpace. 2$
Dub a dub, &c?
There you might fee their fhips, how they werefyred far!,
And how their men drowned themlelves in the fea;
There mightyou hear them cry, wayleand weeppiteoufly,
When they faw no fliift to fcape thence away. 30
Dub a dub, &c,
The great St.. Phillip, the pryde of the Spaniards,
Was buint to the bottom, and funk in the fea;
But the St. Andrew, and eke the St. Matthew,
Wee took in fight manfullye and brought away. 35
Dub a dub, &c.
The Earl of Eflex molt valiant and hardye,
With horfemen and footmen march'd up to the town;
The Spanyaids, which faw them, were greatly alarmed,
Did flvfor their fa vegard, anddurft not come down. 40
Dub a dub, &c.
Now, qucth the noble Earl, courage my fol<toers all,
Fight and be valiant, the fpoil you fhall have;
And be '.veil rewarded all from the great to the fiV.all j
But looke that the women and children you fave. 45
Dub a dub, &c.
The
ANCIENTPOEMS. 233
The Spaniards at that fight, thinking it vain to fight,
Hung upp flags of truce and yielded the towne;
Wee marched in prefentlye, decking the walls on hye,
With Englifh colours which purchas'd renovvne. 50
Dub a dub, &c.
Entering the houfes then, of the moft richeft men,
For gold and treafnre we fearched eche day ;
In fome places we did find, pyes baking left behind,
Meate at fire rofting, and folkes run away. tj£
Dub a dub, &c.
Full of rich merchandize, every fhop catch'd our eyes,
Damalks and fattens and velvets full fayre j [fwords ;
Which foldiers meafur'd out by the length of their
Of all commodities eche had a (hare, 60
Dub a dub, &c.
Thus Gales was taken, and our brave general
March'd to the market-place, where he did {land :
There many pri Toners fell to our feveial fliaref.
Many crav'd mercye, and mercye they fannd. 6$
Dub a dub, &c.
When our brave general faw they delayed all,
And would not ranfome their towne as they faid,
With their fair wanfcots, their preffss and bediteds,
Their joint-ftools and tables a fire we made j 70
And when the town burned all in a flame,
With tara, tantara, away wee all came.
XXII [. THE
ANCIENT POEMS.
XXIII.
THE SPANISH LADY's LOVE.
7 his fieatft'ful old ballad moft probably took its rife from
one of ihefe defccnts made on tbe Sbanijh coajls in the time of
queen Elizabeth : and in all likelihood from that which is
celebrated in the foregoing ballad
It was a tradition in the Wtft of England, that the perfon
admired by tbeJSpani/b lady 'was a gentleman of the Popham
family , and that her piflure^ fwith the pearl necklace men-
tioned in the bal ad, 'was net many years ago preferred at
Littlcca?, ne-ar Hunger Jord^ IVilts^ the feat of that refpec-
table family
Another tradition hath pointed out Sir Richard Leinfon,
of Trcntham, in StajjlrJj/iire, as thefubjecl of this ballad\
•zuho married Margaret daughter of Charles Earl of Not-
tingham ; and was eminently diftinguiflied as a naval offi-
cer and commander in all the expeditions again/I the Spa-
niards in the latter end of ^. Elizabeth s reign, particu-
larly in that to Cadiz in i ^06, ewhen he <vjas aged 27.
He died in 1605, and has a monument , with his tffigy in
Arafs, in Wolverhampton church.
It is printed from an ancient black-letter copy, corrected
fa part by the Editor' s folia MS.
WILL you hear a Spanifli lady,
How flie wooed an Englifh man ?
Garments gay as rich as may be
Decked with jewels (he had on.
Of a comely countenance and grace was (he, $
And by biith and parentage of high degree.
AS
ANCIENT POEMS. 235
As his prifoner there he kept her,
In his hands her life did lye ;
Cupid's bands did tye them fafler
by the liking of an eye. IO
In his courteous company was all her joy,
To favour him in any thing me was not coy.
But at laft there came commandment
For to fet the ladies free,
With their jewe.s ftill adorned, l£
None to do them injury.
Then faid this lady mild, Full woe is me ;
O let me ftill fuftai.' thft kind captivity !
Gallant captain, fhew fome pity
To a ladye in dillrefle; 1*
Leave me not within this city,
For to dye in heavinefle :
Thou haft fet this prefent day my body free,
But my heart in priion Hill remains with thce.
" How fhould'ft thou, fair lady, love me, af
Whom thou knowfl thy country's foe?
Thy fair wordes make me fufpect thee:
Serpents lie where flowers grow."
All the harm I wiflie to thee, moft courteous knight,
God grant the fame upon my head may fully light. 30
Blefied
236 ANCIENT POEMS.
Blefled be the time and feafon,
That you came on Spanifli ground;
If our foes you may be termed,
Gentle foes we have you found :
With our city, you have won our hearts eche one, 35
Then to your country bear away, that is your owne.
«' Reft you flill, molt gallant lady ;
Reft you f;ill, and weep no more ;
Of fair lovers there is plenty,
Spain doth yield a wonderous flore." 40
Spaniards fraught with jealoufy we often find,
But Englifhmen through all the world are counted kind.
Leave me not unto a Spaniard,
You alone enjoy my heart ;
I am lovely, young, and tender, 45
Love is likewife my defert :
Still to ferve thee day and night my mind is preft ;
The wife of every Englifliman is counted bleft.
'* It wold be a fliame, fair lady,
For to bear a woman hence ; t&
Englifh foldiers never carry
Any fnch without offence."
I'll quickly change myfelf, if it be fo,
And like a page He follow thce, where'er thou go.
" J have
ANCIENT POEMS. 237
*' I have neither gold nor filver $$
To maintain thee in this cafe,
And to travel is great charges,
As you know in every place."
My chains aud jewels every one fhal be thy own, 59
And eke five hundred * pounds in gold that lies unknown*
" On the fens are many dangers,
Many florms dp there arife,
Which wil be to ladies dreadful,
And force tears from watery eyes."
Well in troth I fhall endure extremity, 6jf
For J could find in heart to lofe my life for thee.
" Courteous ladye, leave this fancy,
Here comes all that breeds the ftrifej
I in England have already
A fweet woman to my wife : 70
1 will not falfify my vow for gold nor gain,
Nor yet for all the faireft dames that live in Spain."
O how happy is that woman
That enjoys fo true a friend !
Many happy days God fetid herj 7$
Of my fuit I make an end:
On my knees I pardon crave for my offence,
Which did from love and true affe&ion firft commence.
* So tbt MS. 10,030.'. PC. V. 65. Well in worth. MS.
Com-
$3* ANCIENT POEMS.
Commend me to thy lovely lady,
Bear to her this chain of gold ; 89
And thefe bracelets for a token ;
Grie\ing that I was fo bold :
All my jewels in like fort take thou with thee,
For they are fitting for thy wife, but not for me.
I will fpend my days in prayer, 85
Love and all her la* s defye ;
In a nunnery will I fluoud mee
Far from any companye :
But ere my prayers have an end, be fare of this,
To pray for thee aud for thy love I will not mifs. 90
Thus farewell, mod gallant captain !
Farewell too my heart's content !
Count not ."-panifli ladies wanton,
Though to thee my love was bent :
Joy and true profperity goe ftill with thee ! 95
" The like fall ever to thy fhare, moil fair ladie."
XXIV.
ARGENTILE AND CURAN,
— Is extratted from an ancient hiftorical poem in XIII*
Books, intitled, ALBION'S ENGLAND, fyWi LLIAM\VAR-
KER : " An author (fays a former editor,) only unhappy in
" the choice of his fvbjetl, and meafure of his verfe. His
" poem is an epitome of the Britijli biftary, and written
*' ivitA great learning, fenfe, andfpirit. In fome places fine
" to an extraordinary degree, as I think will eminently appear
" in
ANCIENT POEMS. 239
" in the enfuing epifode [of ArgentiJe and Curan\. A tale
'•'•full of beautiful incidents in the romantic tafte, extremely
" affefling, rich in ornament, wonderfully various in jtyle%
" and injhort, one of the moji beautiful pajlorals 1 ever met
*< with." [Mufes library , 1738. Svo,] I'D his merit
nothing can be objefied, unlefs perhaps an affetted quaintnefs
infome of his exprejjion^ and an indelicacy in fame of his
pajloral images.
WARNER is/aid, by A. Wood*, to have heen a War-
ivickjhire man, and to have been educated in Oxford, at
Magdalene-hall; as alfo in the latter part of his life la
have heen retained in the fervice of Henry Cary Lord
Hunfdon, to lohom he dedicates his poem. However that
may have been, new light is thrown upon his hiftory, and
the time and manner of his death are now afcertained, by
the following extra ft from the parijli regi/ler book of Am-jjell^
in Hertfordshire ; "which ivas obligingly communicated to the
Editor by Mr. HOOLE, the very ingenious tranjlator of
Tajj^&c.
[1608 — 1609.] " Mailer William Warner, a man of
" good yeares and of honeft reputation ; by his profef-
** lion an Atturnye of the Common Pleas ; author of
" /Ubions England, diynge fuddenly in the night in his
** bedde, without any former complaynt or iicknefie,
*' on thurfday night beeinge the gth daye of March;
" was buried the fatturday following, and lyeth in the
<{ church at the corner under the ftone of Walter
" rtader." Signed Tho. Hnffsll Vicarius.
Though no<w Warner is fofeldom mentioned, his contem-
poraries ranked him on a level ivith Spenfer, and called them
the Homer and f^i-igil of their age\. But Warner rather
refembled OVID, --w/io/e Melamorphojis he feems to have
taken for his model, having deduced a perpetual pozm front
the deluge do--wn to the eera of Elizabeth, full of li-velv
digiejfions and entettainin? cpifodes. And though he isfome-
limes harjk, affecled, and obfcure^ he often dijplays a moft
* Atltn. Oxofi. f Ibid.
2 charming
240 ANCIENT POEMS.
charming and pathetic Jimplicity : as where he defcribes
Eleanor's harfli treatment of Rofan
With that fhe dafht her on the lippes
So dyed double -ed i
Hard was the heart that gave the blow,
Soft were thofe lippes that bled.
The edition of ALBION'S ENGLAND here followed <was
printed in 4/0, 1 602 ; faid in the title-page to have beeii
ti Jirjl penned and publifned by William Warner, and now
" reuijed andneiuly enlarged by the fame author." Thejlory
of A R G E N T I L E A N D C u R AN /V 7 believe the poet's own in-
vention ; // is not mentioned in any of our chronicles. It was
bo<vjei>erfo Much admired, that not many years after he pub-
Hjhed it, came out a larger poem on the fame fubjecJ injlanzas
cfjix lines, intitled, *' The moji pleafant and delightful hif-
** torie of Curan a prince of Danjke, and the fay re princeffe
*' j4rgenlile, daughter andheyre to Adelbrigbt,fometime king
" of Northumberland, &c. by WILLIAM WEBSTER, Lon-
*' don 1617," *H $ fleets \to. An indifferent paraphrafe
of ihe following poem. — This epifode of Warner's has alfo
leen altered into the common Ballad, " of the two young
*' Princes on Salijluty Plain," which is cbiefy compofed of
Warner's lines, with a few contractions and interpolations t
but all greatly for the ivcrfe. See the colleclion of Hi/}.
Ballads, 1727, 3 vols. izmo.
Tho' here fub divided intojlanzas, Warners metre is the
oltl-fajhioned alexandrine of \\fyllables. The reader there-
fore mujl not expeft to find the clofe of thejlanzas confultetf
in the paufes.
THE Bruton*s ' being' departed hence
Seaven kingdoms here begonne,
Where diverfly in divers broyles
The Saxons loft and wonne.
King
ANCIENT POEMS. 241
King Edel and king Adelbright £
In Diria jointly raigne j
In loyal concorde during life
Thefe kingly friends remaine.
When Adelbright fhould leave his life,
To Fdel thus he fayes ; 10
By thofe lame boncles of happie love,
That held us friends alwaies j
By our by-parted crowne, of which
The moyetie is mine;
By God, to whom my foule muft pafTe, 15
And io in time may thine ;
I pray thee, nay I conjure thee,
To nnurifh, as thine owne,
Thy niece, my daughter Argentile,
Till (lie to age be growne; 20
And then, as thou received it,
Refigne to her my throne.
A promife had for his bequeft,
The teftator he dk'S ;
But all that Edel unJertooke, 25
lie afterwards denies.
Yet well he * fullers for' a time
rl he damfell that \v?.s gnyvne
VOL. 11. R The
242 ANCIENT POEMS.
The faireft lady under heaven ;
Whofe beautie being knovvne, 30
A many princes feeke her love ;
But none might her obtaine;
For grippell Edel to himfelfe
Her kingdome fought to gaine ;
And for that caule from fight of fuch 35
He did his ward reftraine.
By chance one Curan, fonne unto
A prince in Danfke, did fee
The maid, with whom he fell in love,
As much as man might bee. 40
Unhappie youth, what mould he doc ?
His faint was kept in mewej
Nor he, nor any noble-man
Admitted to her vevve.
Cue while in melancholy fks 45
He pines himfelfe awaye j
Anon he thought by force of arms
To win her if he maye :
And ftill againft the kings reftraint
Did fccretly invay. 50
At length the hi^h controller Love,
Whom none n ay difobay,
Ir.bafcd
ANCIENT POEMS. 243
Imbafed him from lordlines
Into a kitchen drudge,
That fo at leaft of life or death $5
She might become his judge.
Accefle fo had to fee and fpeake,
He did his love bewray,
And tells his birth : her anfwer was,
She hulbandles would ftay. 60
Meane while the king did beate his braines,
His booty to atchieve,
Nor caring what became of her,
So he by her might thrive ;
At laft his refolution was 65
Some peflant fliould her wive.
And (which was working to his wifh)
He did obferve with joye
How Curan, whom he thought a drudge,
Scapt many an. amorous toye*. 70
The king, perceiving fuch his veine,
Promotes his vaffal ftill,
Left that the bafenefle of the man
Should lett, perhaps, his will.
* The cotjlruffion ist " How that many an amorcus toy, or foolery cf
love, 'jcafetl Quran? i. e. cfcafedfiem bhn, being off bis guard.
R 2 Afluied
244 ANCIENT POEMS.
Allured therefore of his love, 75
But not fufpedling who
The lover was, the king himfelfc
In his behalf did woe.
The lady refolute from love,
Unkindly takes that he 80
Should barrc the noble, and unto
So bafe a match agree :
And therefore fhifting out of doores,
Departed thence by tfealth ;
Preferring povertie before 8^
A dangerous life in wealth.
When Curan heard of her efcape,
The anguifh in his hart
\Yas more than much, and after her
From court he did depart ; go
Forget full of himfelfe, his birth,
His country, friends, and all,
And only minding (whom he mitt)
The foundrefle of his thrall.
Nor meanes he after to frequent 95
Or court, or flately tovvnes,
But folirarily.to live
Amongft the country grovvnes.
A brace
ANCIENT POEMS. 245
A brace of years he lived thus,
Well pleafed fo to live, 100
And mepherd-like to feed a flocke
Himfelfe did wholly give.
So wafting, love, by worke, and want,
Grew almoft to the waine i
But then began a fecond love, 105
The worfer of the twaine.
A country wench, a neatherds maid,
Where Curan kept his flieepe,
Did feed her drove : and now on her
Was all the ftiepherds keepe. 1 10
He borrowed on the working daies
His holy ruflets oft,
And of the bacon's fat, to make
His ftartops blacke and foft.
And leaft his tarbox fhould offend, 115
He left it at the folde :
Sweete growte, or whig, his bottle had,
As much as it might holde.
A flieeve of bread as browne as nut,
And cheefe as white as fnovv, 120
And wildings, or the feafons fruit
He did in fcrip beflow.
Ver. i J2. i.e. boly-day Rujfctt.
R 3 And
246 ANCIENT POEMS.
And whilft his py-bald curre did fleepe,
And fheep-hooke lay him by,
On hollow quilles of oten ilraw 125
He piped melody.
But when he fpyed her his faint,
He wip'd his greafie fhooes,
And clear'd the drivell from his beard,
And thus the Ihepheard wooes. 130
" I have, fweet wench, a peece of cheefe,
" As good as tooth may chawe,
" And bread and wildings fouling well,
(And therewithall did drawe
His lardrie) and in 'yeaning' fee 135
" Yon crumpling ewe, quoth he,
" Did twinne this fall, and twin fhouldft thou,
" Jf I might tup with thee.
" Thou art too elvifli, faith thou art,
" Too elvifli and too coy : 140
" Am I, I pray thee, beggarly,
" That fuch a flocke enjoy ?
" I wis I am not : yet that thou
" Doeft hold me in difdaine
" Is brimme abroad, and made a gybe 145
*' To all that keepe this plaine.
Ver. 135. Eating. PCC.
" There
ANCIENT POEMS. 247
" There be as quaint (at leaft that thinke
" Themfelves as quaint) that crave
" The match, that thou, I wot not why,
" Maift, but miflik'ft to have. 150
" How woulclft thou match? (for well I wot,
" Thou art a female) I,
" Her know not here that willingly
" With maiden-head would die.
" The plowmans labour hath no end, 155
" And he a churle will prove:
" The craftfman hath more worke in hand
" Then fitteth unto love :
" The merchant, traffiquing abroad,
" Sufpedls his wife at home: 160
" A youth will play the wanton j and
" An old man prove a mome.
" Then chufe a (hepheard : with the fun
" He doth his flocke unfold,
" And all the day on hill or plaine 165
** He merrie chat can hold j
" And with the fun doth folde againe ;
" Then jogging home betime,
" He turnes a crab, or turnes a rotind,
" Or fings fome merry ryme. 170
V. 1 53. Her know I not her that. 1602.
V. 1 69. /. e. roajli a crab) or apple.
R 4 « Nor
248 ANCIENT POEMS.
" Nor lacks he gleefull tales, whilft round
" The nut-brown bowl doth trot ;
«' And litteth finging care away,
" Till he to bed be got :
<; Theare fleepes he foundry all the night, 1/5
" Forgetting morrow-cares :
" Nor feares he blafting of his corne,
*' Nor uttering of his wares ;
" Or flormes by feas, or ftirres on land,
" Or cracke of credit loft : 180
" Not fpending franklier than his flocke
" Shall ilill defray the coft.
" Well wot I, footh they fay, that fay
" More quiet nights and daies
" The fliepheard fleeps and wakes, than he 18^
" Whofe cattel he doth graize.
" Beleeve me, lafle, a king is but
" A man, and fo am I :
" Content is worth a monarchic,
" And mifchiefs hit the hie ; 190
" As late it did a king and his
*' Not dwelling far from hence,
cr. 171. to tell, whilil round the bole doth trot. F.d. 1597.
" Who
ANCIENT POEMS. 249
" Who left a daughter, fave thyfelfe,
" For fair a matchlefs wench."
Here did he paufe, as if his tongue 19$
Had done his heart offence.
The neatrefie, longing for the reft,
Did egge him on to tell
How faire Ihe was, and who fhe was.
" She bore, quoth he, the bell 200
" For beautie : though I clownifli am,
" I know what beantie is;
" Or did I not, at feeing thee,
" I fenceles were to mis.
*****
" Her flature comely, tall ; her gate 205
" Well graced ; and her wit
" To marvell at, not meddle with,
" As matcakfs I omit.
" A globe-like head, a gold-like haire,
" A forehead fmooth, and hie, 210
" An even nofe ; ou either fide
" Did fliuie a grayifh eie :
*
" Two roGe cheeks, round ruddy lips,
" White juft-fet teeth within ;
" A mouth in meane ; and nnderneathe 215
"•A round and dimpled chin.
"Her
250 A N C I E N T P O E M S.
" Her fnowie necke, with blewifli veines,
*' Stood bolt upright upon
" Her portly fhoulders : beating balles
*' Her veined breafts, anon 220
" Adde more to beautie. Wand-like was
" Her middle falling ftill,
" And rifing whereas women rife : * * *
" — Imagine nothing ill.
" And more, her long, and limber armes 22$
" Had white and azure wrifts;
" And (lender fingers aunfwere to
«' Her fmooth and lillie fifts.
11 A legge in print, a pretie foot ;
" Conjefture of the reft : 230
" For amorous eies, obferving forme,
" Think parts obfcured beft.
" With thefe, O raretie ! with thefe
" Her tong of fpeech was fpare ;
" But fpeaking, Venus feem'd to fpeake, 235
" The balle from Ide to bear.
*' With Phcebe, Juno, and with both
" Herfelfe contends in face ;
'* Wheare equal] mixture did not want
" Of mildc and ftately grace. 240
"Her
ANCIENT POEMS. 251
" Her fmiles were fober, and her lookes
" Were chearefull nnto alls
" Even fuch as neither wanton feeme,
" Nor waiward j mell, nor gall.
" A quiet minde, a patient moode, 2,i£
" And not difdaining any j
" Not gybing, gadding, gawdy : and
" Sweete faculties had many.
" A nimph, no tong, no heart, no eie,
" Might praife, might wifli, might fee ; 2$o
" For life, for love, for forme; more good,
" More worth, more faire than fhee.
" Yea fuch an one, as fuch was none,
" Save only (lie was fuch :
" Of Argentile to fay the moft, 25$
" Were to be filent much."
I knew the lady very well,
Bat worthies of fuch praife,
The neatrefle faid : and mufe I do,
A fhepheard thus mould blaze 260
The • coate' of beautie *. Credit me,
Thy latter fpeech bewraies
* i.e. emblazon beauty's coat. Ed. 1597. i6oz. 1612. rejJ Coote.
Thy
252 ANCIENT POEMS.
Thy clownifh fliape a coined ihew.
But wherefore doft thou weepe ?
The fhepheard wept, and flie was woe, 265
And both doe filence keepe.
" In troth, quoth he, I am not fuch,
" As feeming I profefle:
" But then for her, and now for thee,
" i from myfelfe digrefle. 270
" Her loved I (wretch that I am
" A recreant to be) (
*' I loved her, that hated love,
*' But now I die for thee.
" At Kirkland is my fathers court, 275
" And Curan is my name,
*' In Edels court fometimes in pompe,
*' Till love countrouid the fame :
" But now — what now? — deare heart, how now?
" What aileft thou to weepe ?" 280
The damfell wept, and he was woe, -
And both did filence keepe.
I graunt, quoth flie, it was too much
That you did love fo much :
But whom your former could not move, 285
Your fecond love doth touch.
Thy
ANCIENT POEMS. 253
Thy twice-beloved Argentile
Submitteth her to thee,
And for thy double love prefents
Herfelf a (ingle fee, 29*
In paffion not in perfon chang'd,
And I, my lord, am Ihe.
They fweetly furfeiting in joy,
And filent for a fpace,
When as the extafie had end, 295
Did tenderly imbrace;
And for their wedding, and their wifli
Got fitting time and place.
Not England (for of Hengifl then
Was named fo this land) 300
Then Curan had an hardier knight;
His force could none withftand :
Whofe fheep-hcoke laid apart, he then
Had higher things in hand.
Firft, making knowne his lawfull claime 30$
In Argentile her right,
He wan'd in Diiia *, and he wonne
Bernicia * too in fight:
And fo from trecherous Edel tooke
At once his life and crowne, 310
And of Northumberland was king,
Long raigning in renowne.
* * Set the note at tie end.
Z * * During
254 ANCIENT POEMS.
* * During the Saxon heptarchy the kingdom of Northum-
berland (conjijling of (> northern counties, bejidet pait of
Scotland) fwas for a long time divided into two Ifjjer Jo-
'vereigj.ties, -viz. Deira (called here Diria) 'which contained
the fouthern part*t and Beinicia, comprehending thofe which
lay north.
XXV.
C O R I N's FATE.
Only the three firfl Jlanzas of thisfong are ancient ; thefe
are exti acled from a fmall quarto MS. in the Editor's pof-
Jejfion, written in the time of ^, Elizabeth. As theyfeemed
to iuant application, this has been attempted by a modern
band.
CO R I N, moft unhappie fwaine,
Whither wilt thou drive thy flocke ?
Little foode is on the plaine ;
Full of danger is the rocke :
Wolfes and beares doe kepe the woodes j $
Foreffo tangled are with brakes ;
Meadowes fubjeft are to floodes ;
Moores are full of miry lakes.
Yet
ANCIENT POEMS. 255
Yet to fliun all plaine, and hill,
Foreft, moore, and meadow-ground, 10
Hunger will as furely kill :
How may then reliefe be found ?
Such is haplefs Corins fate :
Since my waywarde love begunne,
Equall doubts begett debate 15
What to fceke, and what to fliunne.
Spare to fpeke, and fpare to fpeed ;
Yet to fpeke will move difdaine :
If I fee her not I bleed,
Yet her fight augments my paine. 10
What may then poor Corin doe ?
Tell me, fhepherdes, quicklye tell ;
For to linger thus in woe
Is the lover's fharpeft hell.
?**
XXVI. JANE
256 A N C I E N T P O E M S.
XXVI.
JANE SHORE.
Thcnghfo many vulgar error; have prevailed concerning
this celebrated courtezan, no character in hi/lory has been
more perfectly handed down to us. JJ^e have her portrait
drawn by t-ivo majleriy pens ; the one has delineated the fea-
tures of her per/on , the other tJiofe of her characler and'ftory.
Sir Thomas More drew from tJie life, and Draytcn has copied
an orig tnal piFtuve of her. The reader will pardon the length
of the quotations, as theyferve to co>refl many popular mi/lakes
relating to her cataftrophe. Thefirjl is from Sir Thomas
MOR h's Iiifory of Rich. III. wit ten in 15 15, about thirty
years after the death of Ed--w. IF~.
" Wow then by and by, as it iver for anger , not for cove-
" tlfe, the proteflor fent into the houfe of Shores wife (for
' ' her h '/fiand diuelhd not ivith her) and f polled her of al that
" ever Jhe had, (above the value of 2 or 3 thoufand marks)
" andfe.nt her body to prifon. ^nd-when he had a while laide
" unto her, for the manerfake, tJiatJJie went about to bewitch
" him, and that Jhe was of counfcl with the lord chamberlein
*' to deftroy him : in conclujion when that no colour could faf-
" ten upon thefe matters, then he layd heinoujly to her charge
** the thing that herfelfe cculJ not deny, that al the world wijl
** ivas true, and that nathele; e-iery man laughed at to here
*' it then fo jodainly fo highly taken, — that Jhe ivas naught
*' of her body. And far thys caufs (as a goodly continent
" prince, dene anrifautleft of hlmfelf^fent ante of heaven into
'* this vicious world for the amendment of metis matters) he
" cavffd the bljliop of London to put her to open pennance, go-
** ing iefore the cr^jje in j>rccejfi<in i;pon afonday with a taper
"in
ANCIENT POEMS* 257
in her hand. In ivhichjlie went In countenance and pace
*' demure fo womanly ; and albeit JJie -was out of al array
11 Jave her kyrtle only, yet iuent Jhe fo fair and lovely, name-
ly e, Awhile the wondering of the people cajle a comly rud in
" her cbekes (of -which Jlie before had mojl mijje) that far
" great Jhame nvan her muck praife among thofe that ivere
more amorous of her body, then curious of herfoule* Jlnd
" many good folke alfo, that hated her living, and gladder
" tofe fin corrc£led,yet pittlcd thei more %er penance then re-
" joiced tberin, tuhen thei conji ired that the proteflor pro-
' ' Cured it more of a corrupt intent, then any virtuous affeccion.
" This woman 'was torn in London, luorfliipfully frended,
' honeftly brought up, and -very ivel matyed, favingfome-
* what tojocne ; her hufbande an honcft citizen, yonge, and
1 goodly, and of good fubftance. But forafmuche as they
1 icere coupled ere JJit iwr ivel ripe, Jhe not very fervently
' loved, for <whomjlie never longed. W'Tiich was happely
' the thinge, that the more eafily made her ending unto the
" kind's appetite, ivhen he required her- HoTjbeit the refpefl
of his royaltie, the hope of gay apfarel, cafe, plefure, and
able
other iiuanton ivt/t/j, was able foone to perfe a Jo ft tender
*' hearts. But when the kin* had abuffd her, ancn her
** hujland (as he was an honeft man, and one that could his
'* good, not prefuming to touch a kinges concubine) left her
44 up to him al together. IF'htn the king died, the lord
*' chamberlen \HaJlings\ take her * : which in the kinges.
*' dales, albeit he 'was Jore enamoured upon her,yctheforbare
" her,
* dfter the death of HaJ1ingt,fi( w.w ksft iji the marquis of Do'fet,
fon ti Ed-iuard IV 's queen. In Rjmer'i Focdera is a proc/<i>na(ion of
Richard's, dated at Lciccjlcr, OS. 2 :> 1 48 3 , w he: ein a re-ward of iroo
mtirki in money, or 100 a year in Ian. I h offered for taking '• Thomas late
" tthirquis tf Do'fet," ".vtm, " not having tlef'.ar of Gcd, nor thcfal-
"• vat ion oj his own fciul, btfoie his eyes, has damnably debauched and
'•defiled many m»ids, widows, and "wives, .inJuvt-D IN ACTUAL
*' ADUI-TEKY WITH THE WIFE OF SHORE." Buckingham icoi at
that time in rebellion, but as Doifet iva-. not -u-ith him, Richard cwld not
accufe him of trcafon, and tbcnfye made a h;i»d!e of theft 'f n tended de-
bauch fries to get him app-chendcd. Fide Rjm. ¥«ed torn. x>j. fag. 204.
VOL. II. S
258 ANCIENT POEMS.
" her, either for reverence, or for a certain frendlyfaithf ul-
" ae/s.
'* Proper Jhe was, and fair e : nothing in her body that you
'* "Mold aave changed, but if you would have wiflied her
"fomewbat higher. Thus fay thei that knew her in her
"jontbe. Albeit /time that NOW SEE HER (FOR YET SHE
*' LIVETH) deme her never to have bene ivel infageJ.
** WTwfe jugement feemeth me fomewhat like, as though men
tfjkould gejje the bcwty of one longe before departed, by her
" fealpe taken out of the chaincl houfe; for now isjlie old,
*' lenc, withered, and dried up, nothing left but ryvilde Jkin,
" and hard bone. And yet being even fuch, whofo ivel ad-
* ' vife her *vifage, might geffe and de-vife which paries how
'•'•filled, wold make it a fair face.
" Tet delited not men Jo much in her bewty, as in her pJea-
l<fant behaviour. For a proper wit had Jhe, and could both
*' rede ivel and write ; mery in company, reify and quick of
'* ann/kver, neitJier mute twrful of bable ', fometime taunting
*' icv t Lout dijplefifure, and not without difport. The kin?
*' would fay, That he had three concubines, which in three
' divers properties diverjly excelled. One the merieji, an-
* other the wjiliejl, the thirde the holieft harlot in his realmc,
* as cne whom no man could get out of the church lightly to
' any place, but it wer to his bed. The other two -wer
1 fom--what greater perfonages, and natheles of their humilite
' content to be nameles, and toforbere the praife of thofe pro-
' per ties ; but the meriejl nvas the Shoris wife, in whom the
" king therfore take f pedal pleafure. For many lie had,
*' but her he loved, whofe favour, to fai the trouth (for
"Jinne it wer to belie the devil) Jhe never abufed to any
* ' mans hurt, lut to many a mans comfort and relief. Where
* * the king take difplea/ure, Jhe would mitigate and appeaje
" his mind: where men were out of favour,. fhe wold bring
*' them in his grace : for many, that had highly offended,
*•* Jftee obtained pardon : of gt eat forfeitures Jhe gate men
" remiffion : and finally in many weighty futes Jhe ftode many
* ' men in gret ftede, either for none or veryjmal rewardes,
«' and thofe rather gay than rich; either for that Jhe was
ANCIENT POEMS. 259
" content with the dedefelfe well done, or for that Jlie de-
" lited to be faed unto, and to Jhow what Jlie was able to
" do wyth the king, or for that wanton women and welthy
" be not alway covetous.
" / doubt not feme Jbal think tbis woman too Jleight a
" thing to be written of, andfet amonge the remembraunces
" °f great matters: which thei Jfjal fpecially think , that
" happelyjhal efleme her only by that thei NOW SEE HER.
" Butmefemeth the chauncefo much the more worthy to be
" remembred, in bow much /he is NOW in the more beg-
' ' gerfy condition, unfr ended and ivorne out of acquaintance,
*' after good fubftance, after as grete favour cwitb the
" prince, after as grete Jute and feeking to with al thofe,
" that in thofe days had bufynes to fpede, as many other
" men were in their times, which be nofw famoufe only by
' the infamy of their il dedes* Her doinges ivere not much
' lejfe, albeit thei be ?mtche leffe remembred becaufe thei
' were not fo evil. For men ufe, if they have an evil
' turne, to --write it in marble ; and whofo doth us a good
tourne, ive write it in dufte *. Which is not worji
»557i
PP- 56> 57-
DR AYTON has 'written a poet'n.al epijlle from this lady
to her royal lover, and in his notes thereto he thus dravos her
fort! ait ; " Her Jlature was meane, her haire of a dark
4 * ye llo<W) her face round and full, her eye gray, delicate.
" harmony being betwixt each part's proportion, and each
*' proportion's colour, her body fat, white andfmoot-:, her
*' countenance cheerfull and like to her condition. 'The pic-
" ture which 1 havefeenof hers was fuch as jJie rofe out
* Tbefe words of Sir Tbcmas More -fnlMy fuggejled to Shatefpeart.
that proverbial refleSilon in Hsn. viij. Act 4, fc. 1 1".
" Men's evil! manners livt in brafs;. their virtues
<f We 'write in water."
b. IH.f/i/lotut Mtre's Wijl, of that reign, ami
Shakefp. in his p.'av of Rich,
therefore ciu'.d not 'tut fee fit's
260 ANCIENT POEMS.
** of her led in the morning, having not fling on but a rich
'* mantle cajl under one arms over her Jhoulder, and fitting
" on a chair 'f, on ivhich her naked arm did lie* What he*
," father's name nuc.s, or where fhe fwas borne, is not cer-
.*' tainly ktioicne : but Shore a young man of right goodly
*' perjon, i^talth and behaviour, abandoned her bed after
*' the king had made her bis concubine. Richard 111.
.*' caujing her to Jo open penance in Paul's cliurch-ya'd,
" COMMANDED THAT NO MAN SHOULD RELIEVE HER,
• ' which the tyrant did, notfo much for bis hatred tojinne,
" but that by making bis brother's life odious, he might
44 cover his horrible treafons the more cunningly" See
England's Heroical Epijlles, by Mich. Dray ton, Efy; Lena1,
1037, izmo.
An original Picture o/" JANE SHORE almojl naked is pre-
ferred in the Prove/I'1 s Lodgings at Eton; and another pic-
ture of her is in the Provcjl's Lodge at King's College Cam-
biidge: to both ichich foundations Jhe is fnppofed to have
done friendly iffices with EDWARD IV. A fmall quarto
Mezzotinto Print ixas taken from the former of tlefe ly
]. FABER.
The following ballad is printed (ivithfome corrections.)
from an old black-letter copy in the Pepys collection. Its full
title is, " The woefull lamentation of Jane SJtore, a gold-
*' ftnittts ivife in London, fometime king Edward IF. bis
*'• concubine. To the tune f/LiVE WITH ME, &c." [See
the firjl •volume.'] To every Jlanxa is annexed the following
burt.xn :
Then maids and wives in time amend,
For love and beauty will have end.
IKRofamonde that was fo faire,
Had caufe her forrowes to declare,
Then let Jane Shore with forrowe ling,.
That was beloved of a ki»g.
In
ANCIENT POEMS. abi
In maiden yeares my beautye bright 5
Was loved dear of lord and knight;
But yet the love that they requir'd,
It was not as my friends defir'd.
My parents they, for thii ft of gaine,
A hufband for me did obtaine ; 10
And I, their pleafure to fulfille,
Was forc'd to wedd againfl my wille.
To Matthew Shore I was a wife,
Till luft brought ruine to my life ;
And then my life I lewdlye fpent, 15
Which makes my foul for to lament.
In Lombard-flreet I once did dwelle,
As London yet can witnefs welle ;
Where many gallants did beholde
My beautye in a mop of golde. ao
I fpred my plumes, as wantons doe.
Some fweet and fecret friende to wooe,
Becaufe chad love I did not finde
Agreeing to my wanton minde.
At laft my name in court did ring 25
Into the eares of Englandes king,
Who came and lik'd, and love requir'd,
But I made coye what he defir'd :
S 3 Yet
462 • A N C I E N T P O E M S.
Yet Miftrefs Blague, a neighbour neare,
Whofe friendfhip I efteemed deare, 30
Did faye, It was a gallant thing
To be beloved of a king.
By her perfuaftons I was led,
For to defile my marriage -bed,
And wronge my wedded hulband Shore, 35
Whom I had married yeares before.
In heart and mind I did rejoyce,.
That I had made fo ftveet a choice ;
And therefore did my ftate refigne,
To be king Edward's concubine. 4.0
From city then to court I went,
To reape the pleafures of content ;
There had the joycs that love could bring,
And knew the fecrets of a king.
When I was thus advanc'd on highe 4^
Commanding Edward with mine eye,
For Mrs. Blague I in fhort fpace
Obtainde a livinge from his grace.
No fricnde I had but In ftiort time
I made unto a promotion climbc; 50
But yet for all this cofllye pride,
My hufbande could not mee abide.
His
ANCIENT POEMS. 263
His bed, though wronged by a king,
His heart with deadlye griefe did fting;
From England then he goes away 55
To end his life beyond the lea.
He could not live to fee his name
Impaired by my wanton fhame;
Although a prince of peerlefle might
Did reape the pleafure of his right. 60
Long time I lived in the courte,
With lords and ladies of great forte ;
And when I fmil'd all men were glad,
But when I frown'd my prince grewe fad.
But yet a gentle minde I bore 65
To helplefle people, that were poore ;
I ftill rcdreft the orphans crye,
And fav'd their lives condemnd to dye.
I ftill had ruth on widowes tears,
I fuccour'd babes of tender yeares ; 70
And never look'ti for other gaine
But love and thankes for all my paine.
At laft my royall king did dye,
And then my dayes of woe grew nighe ;
When crook-back Richard got the crowne, 75
King Edwards friends were foon put downe.
84 I then
264 ANCIENT POEMS.
I then was punifht for my fin,
That I fo long had lived in ;
Yea, every one that was his friend,
This tyrant brought to fhamefull end. So
Then for my lewd and wanton life,
That made a ftrumpet of a wife,
I penance did in Lombard-flreet,
In fhamefull manner in a fheet.
Where many thoufands did me viewe, 85
Who late in court my credit knewe ;
Which made, the teares run down my face,
To thinke upon my foul difgrace.
Not thus content, they took from mee
My goodes, my living?, and my fee, 90
And charg'd that none ihould me relieve,
Nor any fuccour to me give.
Then unto Mrs. Blague I went,
To whom my jewels I had fent,
In hope there bye to eafe my want, 95
When riches fail'd, and love grew fcant :
But (he denyed to me the fame
When in my need for them I came ;
To recompence my former love,
Oat of her doores fliee did me fhoye. 100
So
ANCIENT POEMS. 265
So love did vanifh with my ftate,
Which now my foul repents too late ;
Therefore example take by mee,
For friendship parts in povertie.
But yet one friend among the reft, io£
, Whom I before had feen diftreft,
And fav'd his life, condemn'd to die,
Did give me food to fuccour me;
For which, *by lawe, it was decreed
That he was hanged for that deed ; no
His death did grieve me fo much more,
Than had I dyed myfelf therefore.
Then thofe to whom I had done good,
Durft not afford mee any food ;
Whereby 1 begged all the day, 115
And ftill i:i ftreets by night I lay.
- ';'»}. u, .».,
My gowns befet with pearl and gold,
Were turn'd to (imple garments old j
My chains and gems and golden rings,
To filthy rags and loathfome things. 120
Thus was I fcorn'd of maid and wife,
For leading fuch a wicked life ;
Both fucking babes and children fmalJ,
Did make their paftime at my fall,
I could
266 ANCIENT POEMS.
I could not get one bit of bread, 125
Whereby my hunger might be fed :
Nor drink, but fuch as channels yield,
Or ilinking ditches in the field.
Thus, weary of my life, at lengthe
I yielded up my vital ftrength 130
Within a ditch, of loathfome fcent,
Where carrion dogs did much frequent :
The which now fmce my dying daye,
Is Shoreditch call'd, as writers faye * j
Which is a witnefs of my finne, 135
For being concubine to a king.
You wanton wives, that fall to luft,
Be you aflur'd that God is juft ;
Whoredome (hall not efcape his hand,
Nor pride unpunifh'd in this land. 140
If God to me fuch fhame did bring,
That yielded only to a king,
How (hall they fcape that daily run
To praftife fin with every one?
* But it bad ibis name long before 5 being fo called from its being *
commut SEWER (vulgarly SHORE) or drain. See Stow.
You
ANCIENT POEMS. 267
You hufbands, match not but for love, 14$
Left fome difliking after prove ;
Women, be warn'd when you are wives,
What plagues are due to finful lives :
Then, maids and wives, in time amend,
For love and beauty will have end.
.
-
XXVII.
CORYDON's DOLEFUL KNELL.
This little Jimple elegy is given, 'with fome cor re fi ions ^
from two copies, one of which is in " The golden garland of
*' princely delights"
The burthen of the fong, DING DONG, &c. is at prefent
appropriated to burlefquefubjefls, and therefore may excite
only ludicrous ideas in a modern reader ; but in the time of
our poet it ufually accompanied the mojt folemn and mournful
ftrains. Of this kind is that fine a'srial Dirge in Shake-
fpear's Tempejt :
*' Full f adorn jive thy father lies,
" Of his bones are corrall made ;
" Thofe are pearles that were his eyes j
" Nothing of him, that dothfadet
** But doth fujfer a ff a change
" Inlofomething rich andftrange :
« Sea-
268 ANCIENT POEMS.
" Sea-nymphs hourly ring his knelt,
" Harke ntno I Jteare them, Ding dong bell*
" Burthen, Ding dong."
I make no doubt lut tie poet intended to conclude the above
air in a manner the moftjolemn and exprejjive of melancholy.
MY Phillida, adieu love !
For evermore farevvel !
Ay me \ I've lofl ray true love,
And thus I ring her knell,
Ding dong, ding dong, ding dong, 5
My Phillida is dead !
I'll flick a branch of willow
At my fair Phillis' head.
For my fair Phillida
Our bridal bed was made: 10
But 'ftead of filkes fo gay,
She in her fliroud is laid.
Ding, &c.
Her corpfe (hall be attended
By m aides in fair array,
Till the obfequies are ended, i£
And fhe is wrapt in clay.
Ding, &c.
Her
ANCIENT POEMS. 269
Her herfe it fhall be carried
By youths, that do excell ;
And when that (he is buried,
I thus will ring her knell, 8,9
Ding, &c.
A garland fhall be framed
By art and natures fkill,
Of fundiy-colour'd flowers,
In token of good-will *:
Ding, &c.
And fundry-colour'd ribbands 2£
On it I will beftow ;
But chiefly black and yellovve f :
With her to grave (hall go.
Ding, &c.
I'll decke her tomb with flowers,
The rareft ever feen, 3»
And with my tears, as ftiowers,
I'll keeps them frefli and green.
Ding, &c.
* // :'i a cii/lc,m in many pa>ts of England) to carry ajfoiveiy gar 'and
before the corpfe of a tvoman ivho dies unmarried.
f See abwt, frefate t» No. XI, Bwk II- f. 178,
Inftead
270 ANCIENT POEMS.
Inftead of faireft colours,
Set forth with curious art *,
Her image (hall be painted j£
On my diftrefled heart.
Ding, &c.
And thereon fhall be graven
Her epitaph fo faire,
" Here lies the lovelieft maiden,
" That e'er gave fliepheard care." 4*
Ding, ike.
In fable will I mourne ;
JBlacke iball be all my weede j
Ay me ! I am forlorne,
Now Phillida is dead .'
Ding dong, ding dong, ding dong, 45
My Phillida is dead!
I'll flick a branch of willow
At my fair Phillis' head.
* This aHuda to the fainted effigict of Alabajlery anciently ereDett
vfen tt/mbi and monuiKcxti.
THE END OF THE SECOND BOOK.
OF ANCIENT POETRY,
SERIES. THE SECOND.
BOOK 1I[.
I.
THE COMPLAINT OF CONSCIENCE.
I jhaH begin this Tui^nEooK wit A an old allegoric
Satire: A manntr of moralizing, which, if it --was not firft
introduced by the author of PIERCE PLOWMAN'S VISION'S,
was at lea/I chiefly brought into repute by that ancient fati-
rifl. It is not Jo generally known that fbe kind ofverfe uf?d
in this ballad hath any affinity nvitb the peculiar metre of
that writer, for which reafon Ifliall throw together fume
ciirfory remarks on th'at very fingular fpecies of -verj{ficationt
the nature of ivhich has been Jo lit:lc underfiood.
2 ON
272 ANCIENT POEMS.
OW THE ALLITERATIVE METRE,
WITHOUT RHYME,
IN PIERCE PLOWMAN'S VISIONS.
WE learn from Wormius^, that the ancient Iflandic
poets uied a ^reat variety of meafures: he mentions 136
different kinds, without including RHYME, or a cor-
refpondcnce of final fyllables: yet this was occasionally
ufed, as appears from the Ode of fgil, which Wormius
hath inferted in his book.
He hath analyfed the ftrufture of one of thefe kinds of
Terfe, the harmony of which neither depended on the
quantity of the fyllables, like that of the ancient Greeks
and Komans ; nor on the rhymes at the end, as in modern
poetry; but confided altogether in alliteration, or a cer-
tain artful repetition of the founds in the middle of the
verfes. This was adjufted according to certain rules of
their profody, one of which was, that every diftich fiiould
contain at leaft three woicls beginning with the fame let-
ter or found. Two of thefe coi refpondent founds might
be placed either in the firit or iecond line of the difticb,
and one in th" other: but all three were not regularly
to be crowded into one line. This will be belt under-
flood by the following examples (b).
" JWeire og A/inne " (7ab Ginunga
JWi-gu heimctaller." Enn G"ras huerge."
There were many other tittle niceties obferved by the
Iflandic poets, who as they retained their original lan-
guage and peculhiiities longer than th;, other nations of
Gothic
(a.) Lkeratura Runica. Hafnise 1636, 4to. — 1651, fol. Tl»e
I; L AN D-, c langui.geircf the fame triginas our ANGLO-SAXON, being
hotli dialers of the ancient GOTH ic or TEU i ON TC. Viil. HickcfiL
Iiaefat. inGratnm.-t. Au?!o-S.ixon, & VToefo-G»:h. 410, 1689.
(b) Yitl. Hickts .*.miq. Literatur. Scj-ieatriciial. Tom. I. p. n-j.
ANCIENT POEMS. 273
Gothic race, had time to cultivate their native poetry
more, and to carry it to a higher pitch of refinement,
than any of the reft.
Their brethren the Anglo-Saxon poets occafionally
ufed the fame kind of alliteration, and it is common to
meet in their writings with fimilar examples of the fore-
going rules. Take an inftance or two in modern cha»
rafters (c) :
" Stoop tha and Stymie « Ham and Heahfetl
Styppend ure." J/eofena rikes."
I know not however that there is any where extant an
entire Saxon poem all in this meafure. But diftichs of
this fort perpetually occur in all their poems of any
length.
Now, if we examine the verfification of PIERCE
PLOWMAN'S VISIONS, we fliall find it co'nftructed ex-
actly by thefe rules ; and therefore each line, as printed,
is in reality a diftich of two verfes, and will, I believe,
be found diftinguiflied as fuch, by fome mark or other
in all the ancient MSS. viz.
" In a Somer Seafon, J when ' hot fdj was the Sunne,
«* 1 Mope me into S&roubs, | as I a Sfcpe were ;
rt In J/abite as an flarmet \ unJFfoly of werkes,
« Went /fyde in thys world | bonders to heare, &c.
So that the author of th:s poem will not be found to have
invented any new mode of verfification, as fome have
fuppofed, but only to have retained that of the old Saxon
and Gothic poets ; which was probably never wholly
laid afide, but occafionally ufed at different intervals :
(c) Ibid.
(d) So I would read with Mr. Warton, rather than either « fo£,'
as in MS. or « fet,' as in PCC.
VOL. II. T though
374 ANCIENT POEMS.
though the ravages of time will not fuffer us now t»
produce a regular iuies of poems entirely written in it.
There are iorr.f readers, whom it may gratify to men-
tion, that tlide VISIONS <F PJ tRCE [i. e. PeterJ th«
PI.OWMAN, are attributed t<> Robert Langland, a fecular
pritil, born at Mo'tin.er's Clrobnry in Shropfhire, and
fellow of O.'iol college in ( xtord, who flounflied in the
reigns of Edwaid Li], and Richard II. and publilhed hit
poem a few jears after 1350. It coniilis of xx PASSCS or
Breaks (e), exhibiting a leries ot vifions, which he pre-
tends happened to him on Malvern hills in Worcefter-
fliire. The author excells in ftrong allegoric painting,
and has with great humour, ipirit, and fancy, cenfured
moft of the vices incident to the leveral profeflions of
life ; but he particularly inveighs againfl the corrup-
tions of the clergy, and the abiurdities of fuperfHtion.
Of this work I have now before me four different edi-
tions in b'fick-'etter quarto. Three of them are printed
in 1 550 6f Ko6ertCrotoIe2&toeHinB in <&lw rentes in tyol-
fcurue. It is leuiarkabie mat u\u (>r iheie are mentioned
in the title-page as both of the itcond impreffion, though
they contain evidenr variations in evt-ry page (f). The
other is faid to be nctolpe tmprgnteli after t$e aui^ow oHe
corg . . . . 6g SDtoen dogere, l<cb. 21, 1561.
As Langland was not the h'rit, fo neither was he the
laft that ufed thisaliterativeipecies of vei fification. To
Rogers's edition of the Vifions is fubjoined a poem,
(e) The poem properly contains xxi parts : the word PASSUS,
adopted by the author, feerr.s only lo denote tl>e break or di'vifion
between two parts, though by the ignoranre <if the printer applied
to the parts themfelves. See vol. 111. preface to ballad III. where
Taffus feems to hgnify Pau/e.
(f) That which feems the firft rf tl»e two, is thus diftingnifhed
in the title-page, notee trje fstcnixrtjmie iir.printet! tp r- oliertc
drotolpe i the other thus, notoc tl)e fecontt tintt imprinteo fog
JKcliert <2lVCiBl^. In the former the f-lios are thi s erroneously
numbered 39, 39, 41, 63, 4?, 42, 45, &c. The bookfellers of
thofc days did not oftentatioufly affect to multiply editions.
which
ANCIENT POEMS. a;j
Which was probably writ in imitation of them, intitled
PIERCE THE PLOUGHMAN'S CREDE. It begins thus:
*' Cros, and Curteis Chrift, this beginning fped«
" For the Faders -Frendfhipe, that fourmed heareri*
" And through the Special Spirit, that Strong of hem tweyn«,
" And al in one godhed endles dwelleth."
The author feigns himfelf ignorant of his Creed, to be
initrufted in which he applies to the four religious
orders, vi/. the gray friers of St. Francis, the black
friers of St. Dominic, the Carmelites or white friers,
and the Auguftines. This affords him occafion to de-
fcribe in very lively colours the floth, ignorance, and
immorality of thofe reverend drones. At length he
meets with Pierce a poor Ploughman, who refolves
his doubts, and inftru&s him in the principles of true
religion. The author was evidently a follower of
Wiccliff, whom he mentions (with honour) as no
longer living^. Now that reformer died in 1384.
How long after his death this poem was written, does
not appear.
In the Cotton library is a volume of ancient Englifti
poems (A)t two of which are written in this alliterative
metre, and have the divifion of the lines into diflichs
diflindly marked by a point, as is ufual in old poeti-
cal MSS. That which ftands firft of the two (though
perhaps the lateft written) is intitled THE SEGE OF
TERLAM, [i. e. Jerufalen], being an old fabulous
legend compofed by fome monk, and fluffed with mar-
vellous figments concerning the definition of the holy
city and temple. It begins thus:
" In Tyberius Tyme . the Trewe emperour
«« Syr .Sefar hymfelf . beSted in Rome
(g) Signature . tit. ft) Caligula A. ij. frf, 109. 123.
T z • « Whytt
a76 ANCIENT POEMS.
" Whyll Pylat was Provofte . under that Prynce ryche
" And yewesjfuftice alfo . of Judeas londe
" fferode under empere . as flerytage wolde
« Ayng, &c.
The other is intitled CHEVALERE ASSIGNE [or DC
Cigne], that is, " The Knight of the Swan," being an
ancient Romance, beginning thus :
« All-/Feldynge God . TThene it is
« /rele he /fereth his /Ferke . /^ith his owene honde
« For ofte Harities were Jfente . that flelpe we ne myzte
" Nere the flyznes of Hym . that lengeth in J/evene
*' For this, &c.
Among Mr. Garrick's collection of old plays (i) is a profe
narrative of the adventures of this fame Knight of the
Swan, *' newly tranflated out of Frenftie into Englyfhe,
** at thinftigacion of the puyffaunt and illuftryous
«* prynce, lorde Edward duke of Buckynghame." This
lord it feems had a peculiar intereft in the boot, for
in the preface the tranflator tells us, that this u highe
" dygne and illuftryous prynce my lorde Edwarde by
" the grace of god Duke of Buckyngham, erle of He-
*' reforde, Stafforde, and Northampton, defyrynge coty-
•* dyally to encreale and augment the name and fame
" of fuch as were relucent in vertuous feates and tri-
" umphaunt afles of chyvalry, and to encourage and
u flyre every lufly and gentell herte by the exemply-
*' ficacyon of the lame, havyng a goodli booke of the
" highe and miraculous hiftori of a fameus and puyf-
«4 faunt kynge, named Oryant, fometime reynynge in
*' the parties of beyonde the fea, havynge to his wife
«' a noble lady ; of whom* flie conceyved fixe fonnes
" and a daughter, and chylded of them at one only
« time ;
ANCIENT POEMS. 277
*' time ; at whofe byrthe echone of them had a chayne
" of fylver at their necfces, the whiche were all
" tourned by the provydence of god into whyte
" fvvannes, fave one, of the whiche this prefent hyftory
" is compyled, named Helyas, the knight of the
*' fwanne, OF WHOME LINIALLY is DYSCENDED MY
" SAYDE LORDE. The whiche ententifly to have the
" fayde hyftory more amply and unyverfally knowen
" in thys hys natif countrie, ns it is in other, hath of
" hys hie bountie by fome of his faithful and trufti
" fervauntes cohorted mi mayfter Wynkin de Worde
" (k) to put the laid vertuous hyftori in prynte at
" whofe inftigacion and iliring I (Roberte Copland)
" have me applied, moiening the helpe of god, to re-
" duce and tranilate it into our maternal and vulgare
" englilh tonge after the capacite and rudenefle of
" my weke entendement." A curious picture of
the times! While in Italy literature and the fine arts
were ready to burft forth with claflical fplendor under
Leo X. the firft peer of this realm was proud to de-
rive his pedigree from a fabulous KNIGHT OF THE
SWAN (I).
To return to the Metre of '?ierce Plowman : In the
folio MS. fo often quoted in thefe volumes, are two
poems written in that fpecies of verification. One of
thefe is an ancient allegorical poem, ituitied DEATH
AND LIFE, (in 2 fitts or parts, containing 458 diftichs)
which, for ought that appears, may have been written
as early, if not before, the time of Langland. The
firft forty lines are broke as they fliould be into diflichs,
ft) W. de Worde's edit, is hi 1 5 1 ^. See Ames, p. 92. Mr. G's
copy is " f 31mprinteB at Honnon top me (fttgUiam CoplanB.
(I) He is faid in the ftory-boolc to be Che grandfather of God-
frey of Boulogne, through whom I fuppofe the duke made out Ins
relation to him. This duke was beheaded May 17. i.jzi> i*
adif-
278 ANCIENT POEMS.
a diftin&ion that is negle&ed in the remaining part of
the tranfcript, in order I fuppofe to fave room. It
begins,
*' Chrift. Chn&en. king,
that on the Croffe tholedj
« Hadd Fames and Paflyons
to defend our foules ;
" Give us Grace on the Grt>und
the Greatlye to ferve,
" For that Roy all Red blood
that .Rann from thy fide."
The fubjeft of this piece is a vifion, wherein the poet
fees a conteft for fuperiority between " our lady Dame
"LIFE," and the "ugly fiend Dame DEATH;" who
with their feveral attributes and concomitants are per*
fonified in a fine vein of allegoric painting. Part of
the deicription of Dame LIFE is,
" Shee was .Brighter of her 2?lee,
then was the 2?right fonn :
« Her JJudd .Redder then the Jtofe,
that on the .Rife hangeth :
" JWiiekely fmiling with her Mmthj
And Merry in her lookes j
« Ever Laughing for Love,
as fhee Like would.
« And as ftiee came by the 5ankes,
thePoughesecheone
" They Lowted to that Ladye,
and Layd forth their branches}
" 51ofTomes, and JJurgens
breathed full fweetej
« Flowers
ANCIENT POEMS. 27*
" Flowers Flourifhed in the Frith,
where fhee Forth ftepped ;
" And the Grafle, that was Gray,
Greened belive."
DEATH is afterwards Iketched out with a no lefs bold
and original pencil.
The other poem is that, which is quoted in the aSth
page of this volume, and which was probably the lail
that was ever written in this kind of metre in its ori-
ginal fimpliciry unaccompanied with rhyme. It fhould
have been oblerved above in page 28, that in this poem
the lines are throughout divided into diftichs, thus :
Grant Gracious God,
Grant me this time, &c.
It is intitled SCOTTISH FEILDE (in 2 PITTS, 420 di-
ftichs,) containing a very circumftantial narrative of
the battle of Flodden, fought Sept. 9, 1513: at which
the author feems to have been prcfent from his fpeak-
ing in the firft perfon plural :
" Then wt Tild downe OUR Tents,
that Told were a thoufand."
In the conclufion of the poem he give* this account
of himfelf :
I
" He was a Gentleman by /efu,
that this Geft (m) made :
" Which Say but ?s he Sayd (n)
for ^ooth and noe other.
(m) Jeft. MS.
(n) Probably corrupted for—' 5ays but as h« ^aw.'
T 4 *Al
*8o ANCIENT POEMS.
« At £agily that £earne
his hiding place had ;
" And his anceftors of old time
have yearded foj theire longe,
" Before William Conquerour
this Cuntry did inhabitt.
« Jefus .Bring « them (p)' to 51ifle,
that .Brought us forth of B AL E,
" That hath flearkned me //ears
or /feard my x AL E."
The village of Bagily or Baguleigh is in Chefhire, and
had belonged to the ancient family of LEGH for two
centuries before the battle of Flodden. Indeed that
the author was of that county appears from other paf-
fages in the body of the poem, particularly from the
pains he takes to wipe oft a itain from the Chelhire-men,
who it feems ran away in that battle, and from his en-
comiums on the Stanleys earis of Derby, who ufually
headed that county. He laments the death of James
Stanley bilhop of Ely, as what had recently happened
when this poem was written ; which ferves to afcertain
its date, for that prelate died March 22, 1514-5.
Thus have we traced the Alliterative Meafure fo low
as the fixteenth century. It is remarkable that all
fnch poets as ufed this kind of metre, retained along
with it many peculiar Saxon idioms, particularly fuch
as were appropriated to poetry : this deferves the
attention of thofe who are defirons to recover the
laws of the ancient Saxon Poefy, ufually given up as
(o) Yearded, /. i. Buried, earthed, carded. It is common to pro-
nounce " Earth," in fome parts of England " Yearth," particularly
in the North. Pitfcottie fpeaking of James III. flain at Bannock-
bourn, fays, '• Nae man wot whar they YEAKDED him."
(p) ' us.' MS. In the zd line above, the MS. has ' bidding.'
in.
ANCIENT POEMS. 281
inexplicable: I am of opinion that they will find what
they feck in the Metre of Pierce Plowman ((/).
About the beginning of the fixteenth century this
kind of verfification began to change its form; the
author of SCOTTISH FIELD, we fee, concludes his
poem with a couplet in rhyme : this was an innova-
tion that did but prepare the way for the general
admiffion of that more modifh ornament ; till at length
the old uncouth verfe of the ancient writers would no
longer go down without it. Yet when Rhyme began to
be Aiperadded, all the niceties of Alliteration were at
firft retained along with it; and the fong of LITTLE
JOHN NOBODY exhibits this union very clearly. By
degrees the corrcfpondence of final founds engrof-
iing the whole attention of the poet, and fully iatis-
fying the reader, the internal imbelliihment of Alii-
teration was no longer ftudied, and thus was this kind
of metre at length iwallowed up and loit in our com-
mon Burlefque Alexandrine, or Anapeftic verfe (r)9
(q) And in that of Robert of Gloucefler. See the next note.
fr) Confuting of four Anapefts (o o -) in which the Acceut
refts upon every third fyllable. This kind of Verfe, winch
I alfo call the Burlefque Alexandrine (to diftinguifh it from
the other Alexandrines of n and 14 fyllables, the parents of
our lyric meafore : fee examples, pp. 139, 140, &c.) vvr.s early
applied by Robert of Gloucefter to ferious fubjeds. That writer's
metre, like this of Langland's, is formed on the Saxon mo-
dels (each verfe of his containing a Saxon diftich), only inftead
of the internal Alliterations adopted by Langhnd, he rather chofe
final Rhymes, as the French -goets have done fince. Take a
fpecimen :
" The Saxons tho in ther power, tho thii were fo rive,
" Seve kingdoms made in Engelonde, and futhe but vivs:
" The king of NorthomberJond, and of Eaftan^le alfo,
« Of Kent, and of Wcitfex, and of the Match, therto."
Robert of Gloucefter wrote in the weftern dialed, and his lan-
guage tViffvr-i exceedingly from liut of other contemporary Writers,
who
282 ANCIENT POEMS.
tiow never ufed but in ballads and pieces of light hu-
rnour, as in the following Song of CONSCIENCE, and
in that well-known doggrel,
" A cobler there was, and he lived in a ftall."
But although this k:nd of meafure hath wirh us been
thus degraded, it fiill retains among the French its
ancient dignity; their grand Heroic Verfe of twelve
fyllables (s) is the fame genuine offspring of the old alli-
terative metre of the ancient Gothic and Francic poets,
llript like our AnapefHc of its alliteration, and orna-
mented with rhyme: But with this difference, that
whereas this kind of verfe hath been applied by us only
to light and trivial ^jjj|dls, to which by its quick
and lively meafure' it leemed beft adapted, our Poets
have let it remain in a mere lax unconfined flate (t)t
who refined in the metropolis, or in the midland counties. Had t!io
Heptarchy continued, our Englilh language would probably have
been as much diftinguifhed for its different dialers as the Greek; or
at leaft as that of tlie feveral indcpcndant ftates of Italy.
ftj Or of thirteen fyllab'.ef, in what they call a feminine verfe.
It is remarkable that the French alone have retained this old Gothic
metre for their ferious poerrs; while the Englifh, Spaniards, occ. have
adopted the Italic \eile of ten fyllall s, although the Spaniards, as
well as we, anciently ufed a fhort-lined metre. 1 believe the fuccefs
with which Petrarch, and perhaps one or two others, firft ufed the
heroic verfe of ten fyllablcs in Italian Poefy, recommended it to the
§panifh writers ; as it alfo did to our Chaucer, who firft attempted
it in Englifh ; and to his focceffors Lord Surrey, Sir Thomas Wyat,
&c. ; who afterwards improved it and brought it to perfection. To
Lord Surrey we alfo owe the firfl introduction of Blank Verfe in
liis Wrfumsof thefecond and fourth Books of the JEneid, 1557, 4ta
ft) Thus our poets ufe thisverfe indifferently with 12, n, and even
T o f; Hables. For though regularly it confifts of 4 Anapefts ( u o -) or
twelve fyllable?, yet they frequently retrench a fy liable from the firft
or third Anapefl; and fometimes from both; as in thtfe inftances
from PRIOR, and from the following Song of CONSCIENCE:
Who has eir been at Paris, muft needs know the Grew,
ThJ fata! retreat ofth' unfortunate brave.
"He ftcpt to him ftritghr, and did him require.
6
ANCIENT POEMS. 283
as a greater degree of feverity and ftri&nefs would
have been incouiiftent with the light and airy fubjefis
to which they have applied ir. On the other hand, the
French having retained this Verfe as the vehicle of
their Epic and Tragic flights, in order to give it a
itatelineis and dignity were obliged to confine it to
more ex a 61 laws of Scanfion ; they have therefore li-
mited it to the number of twelve Syllables ; and by-
making the Csefnra or Paufe as full and diftincl at
poffible; and by other fevere reftriftions, have givea
it all the folemnity of which it was capable. Tbe
harmony of both however depends fo much on the
fame flow of cadence and difpofal of the paufe, that
they appear plainly to b<£af^the fame original • and
every French heroic verfe evidently confifts of the
ancient Diftich of their Francic anceflors: which,
by the way, will account to us why this verfe of the
French fo naturally refolves itfelf into two complete
hemiftics. And indeed by making the caifura or panic
always to reft on the laft fyllable of a word, and by
making a kind of paufe in the fenfe, the French poets
do in effect reduce their hemiftics to two ditlincl: and
jndependmt ver'es: and fome of their old poets have
gone fo fa'r as to make the 'two hemiftics rhyme to each
other (u).
After all, the old alliterative and anapeflic metre
of the Englifh poets being chiefly ufed in a barbarous
age, and in a rude unpolifhed language, abounds with
verfes defective in length, proportion, and harmony;
and therefore cannot enter "into a companfcm with ths
correcl verlification of the beft modern Fr«nc!» writen;
but making allowances for t he fe defects, that lort of
metre runs with a cadence lo exactly relembling the
French heroic Alexandrine, that 1 believe no peculia-
rities of their verification can be produced, which
(u) See Inftances in L'HiJt. de la Pocjjc Franpiffpar M AS si F. u, Sec,
In the feme book are allb fpecirae.js of alliterative french Verfes.
cannot
2*4 ANCIENT POEMS.
cannot be exaftly matched in the alliterative metre. I
fliall give by way of example a few lines from the mo-
dern French poets accommodated with parallels from
the ancient poem of LIFE AND DEATH; in thefe I fliall
denote the Cseiura or Paufe by a perpendicular line, and
the Cadence by the marks of the Latin quantity.
Uejuccesfut toujcurt | tin ertfUnt de ra,uda.ce\
All (hall drye with the" dints | that I deal with my hands.
L'honme prudent volt trof \ I' Illusion lejuit,
Yonder damsel is death | that drefteth her to fmlte.
L' inirtp tde volt mteux | It le fZntome fuit (x).
When file dolefully f5w | how fhe dang downehir folke.
$,reme auxyeux de I'tujufte \ un injujle ejl horrible (y).
Then (he cSft up a crye | to the high king of heaven.
Du menjangi toujoun \ le vriii demeure maitre,
Thou (halt bltterlye bye | or elfe thS booke faileth.
Peur faroitrc bowete bomme \ en un mot, ilfaut /' etre (zj.
Tlius I fared throughe a frythe | where the flowers were maiiye.
To conclude: the metre of Pierce Plowman's Viilons
has no kind of affinity with what is commonly called
Blank Verfe; yet has it a fort of harmony of its own,
proceeding not fo much from its alliteration, as from
the artful difpofal of its cadence, and the contrivance of
its paufe; fo that when the ear is a little accuftomed to
it, it is by no means unpleafmg; but claims all the
merit of the French heroic numbers, only far lefs po-
liflied ; being fweetened, inftead of their final rhymes,
with the internal recurrence of funilar founds.
; Catalina, A. 3. (y) Boileau Sat. (x) Boil. Sat. 1 1.
ADDI-
ANCIENT POEMS. 283
ADDITIONS TO THE ESSAY
ON
THE ALLITERATIVE METRE.
SINCE the foregoing Eflay was firft printed, the
Editor hath met with fome additional examples of
the old Alliterative Metre.
The firft is in MS. (a) which begins thus :
tfrift Crowned ATyng, that on Cros dideft (l>),
And art Comfort of all Care, thow (c ) kind go out of Coar%
With thi Halwes in Heven Heried mote thu be,
And thy J^brihipful Jferkes JTorJhiped evre,
That fuche Sondry Signes Sheweft unto man,
In Dremyng, in .Drecchyng (d)t and in Uerke ftvevenes.
The Author from this proemium takes occafion to
give an account of a Dream that happened to himfelfs
which he introduces with the following circumflances ;
Ones y me Ordayned, as y have Ofte doon,
With Frendes, and Felawes, Frendemen, and other;
And Caught me in a Company on Corpus Chrifti even,
Six, other (e) Seven myle, oute ol Suthampton,
To take Mslodye, and JVfirthes, among my Afakes;
With JJedyag of RO&L4UNCES, and JJevelyng among,
The Dym of the Derkneffe Drewe me into the weftj
And beGon for to fpryng in the Grey day.
Than Lift y up my Lyddes, and Loked in the &y,
And JTnewe by the ^Tcnde Cours, hit clered in the efts
My ve y i?ufked me down, and to .Eed went,
For to Comforte my £ynde, and Cacche a flepe.
' (a) In afmall 410 MS. containing 38 leaves in private hands.
(I) Didft dye. (c) though. (dj_ being ov«rpow«red.
(*) i. e. either; or.
286 ANCIENT POEMS.
He then defcribes his dream :
Mcthought that y JF/bved on High on an Hill,
Andloked Doun on a Dale Depeft of othre;
Tber y Sawe in my Sighte a Selcouthe peple ;
The Afultitude was fo Afoche, it Af ighte not be nombred '.
Methoughte y herd a Crowned A'yng, of his Comunes ax«
A So'eyne (f) Subfidie, to Sufteyne bis werres.
*****
With that a Clerk Alieled adowne and Carped thefe wordes,
Liege Lord, yif it yon Like to Liften a while,
Som Sawes of Salomon y fhall you (hewe fone.
The writer then gives a folemn lecture to kings on
the art of governing. From the demand of fubfidies
• to iufteyne his werres,' I am Inclined to believe this
poem ccmpofed in the reign of K. HENRY Vth, as the
IMS. appears from a fkibfequent entry to have been writ-
ten before the o.th of Henry VI. The whole poem con-
tans but 146 lines.
The Alliterative Metre was no lefs popular among
the old Scotridi poets, thnn with their brethren on this
fide the Tweed. In Mait'and's Collection of ancient
Scottifli Poems, MS. in the Pepyfian library, is a very
long poem in thisfpecies of veriificatjon, thus infcribed:
HEIR begins the Tret is of the Twa Marriit Wemen, nnd the
Wedo, campy lit be Mahler WILLIAM DUNBAR (g).
" Upon the Midfummer -evven M irrieft of niclitis
" I Afiivir furth al.-'.iie quhen as Midnight was paft
(J) folemn.
fg) S nee the above was written, this popm ?nath been printed irf
«•' Ancient Scottifh P(>emr, &c. fmm the MS. Colleclions of Sir R.
«' M:tiibnd, of Lclhin,>ton, knight, of London, 1786," z vols. izmo.
The two firit lines are here corrected by that edition.
« Bofyd
ANCIENT POEMS. 287
" Befyd ane Gudlie GYene Garth (b), full of Gay flouris
" /fegeit (i) »f ane Huge tficht with Iftwthorne treeis
" Quairon ane Bird on ane j?ranfche fo Blrfi. out hir notis
" That nevir ane Ely thfuller Bird was on the 5euche (k) hard &cv"
The Author pretends to over-hear three goffips fitting
in an arbour, and revealing all their fecret methods ot
alluring and governing the other fex ; it is a fevere and
humorous fatire on bad women, and nothing inferior
to Chaucer's Prologue to his Wife of Bath's Tale. As
DUNBAR lived till about the middle of the fixteenth cen-
tury, this poem was probably compofed afrer SCOTTISH
FIELD (defcribed above, in p. 277,) which is the lateft
fpecimen I tiave met with written in England. This
poem contains about five hundred lines,
But the current ufe of the Alliterative Metre In
Scotland, appears more particularly from thofe popular
vulgar prophecies, which are ftill printed for the ufe of
the lower people in Scotland, under the names of
THOMAS the RYMEU, Marvellous MERITING, &c.
This collection feems to .have been put together after
the acceflion of James I. to the crown of England, and,
moft of the pieces in it are in the metre of i'ierc*
Plowman's Vifions* The firft of them begins thus :
" Merling fayes in his book, who will Read J?ight,
** Although his Sayings be uncouth, they Shall be true found,
" In the feventh chapter, read /fhofo /-Till,
•" One thoufan J and more after Chrift's birth, &c."
And the Prophefie of BE ID:
* Betwixt the chief of Summer and the Sad winter;
•" Before the /feat of fummer Happen fhall a war
" That £urop*s lands Earneftly (hall be wrought
" And £arneft£nvy Jhalllaft but a \vhile, &c."
(I) Garden. //; He^ed. (k) Bough.
238 ANCIENT POEMS.
So again the Prophefie of BERLIN GTON:
" When the .Ruby is #aifed, .Reft is there none,
" But much Rancour Ihall Rife in River and plain
" Much Sorrow is Sesn through a S uth-hound
" That beares I/ornes in his Head like a wylU f/art, &c."
In like Metre is the Prophefie of WALDHAVE :
«' Upon Lowdon Law alone as I Lay,
" Looking to the Lennox, as me Lief thought,
" The firft Morning of May, Medicjne to feek
" For Malice and Melody that Moved me fore, &c."
And laftly, that intitled, The Prophefie of GILDAS.
" When holy kirk is /^racked and fFill has no Wit
t( And Paftors are Pluckt, and PilM without Pity
«' When Idolatry Is In ENS and RE
" And fpiritual paftours are vexed away, &c."
It will be obferved in the foregoing fpecimens, that
the Alliteration is extremely negle&ed, except in the
third and fourth inftances j although all the reft are
written in imitation of the cadence ufed in this kind
of metre. It may perhaps appear from an attentive
perufal, that the poems afcribed to Berlington and
Waldhave are more ancient than the others: indeed the
firft and fifth appear evidently to have been new mo-
delled, if not intirely compoled about the beginning of
the laft century, and are probably the lateft attempts
ever made in this fpecies of verfe.
In this and the foregoing ESSAY are mentioned all
the fpecimens I have met with of the Alliterative Metre
without rhyme: but inftances occur Ibmetimes in old
Manufcripts, of poems written both with final rhymes
and the internal cadence and alliterations of the Metre
of Pierce Plowman.
THE END OF THE ESSAY.
THE
ANCIENT POEMS. 289
THE following Song, intitled, THE COMPLAINT OF
CONSCIENCE, is printed from the Editor's folio Manufcript :
Some corruptions in the old copy are here corrected ; but iuitb
notice to the Reader wherever It <was judged necejjary, by
inclojing the correflions between Inverted * commas.'
AS I walked of late by ' an' wood fide,
To God for to meditate was my entent;
Where under a hawthorne I fuddenlye fpyed
A filly poore creature ragged and rent,
With bloody teares his face was befprent, 5
His fleflie and his color confumed away,
And his garments they were all mire, mucke, and clay*
This made me mufe, and much * to' defire
To know what kind of man hee (hold bee ;
I ftept to him ftraight, and did him require 10
His name and his fecretts to flievv unto mee.
His head he caft up, and wooful was hee,
My name, quoth be, is the caufe of my care,
And makes me fcorned, and left here fo bare.
Then ftraight wayhe turnd him, and prayd ' me* fit downe,
And I will, faithe he, declare my whole greefe; 16
My name is called CONSCIENCE: — wrieratt he did
frowne,
He pined to repeate it, and grinded his teethe,
« Xhoughe now, filly wretche, I'm denyed all releef,'
Ver. i. one. MS. V. 15. him. MS. K 19. not in MS.
VOL. II. U «Yet'
V • -. * .
290 ANCIENT POEMS.
* Yet' while I was young, and tender of yeeres, 29
I was entertained with kinges, and with peeres.
There was none in the court that lived in fuch fame,
For with the kings councell ' I' fate in commiflion ;
Dukes, carles, and barrens efteem'd of my name;
And how that I liv'd there needs no repetition : 25
I was ever holden in honeft condition,
For howfoever the lawes went in Weftminfter-hall,
When fentence was given, for me they wold call.
No incomes at all the landlords wold take,
But one pore peny, that was their fine ; 30
And that they acknowledged to be for my fake.
The poore wold doe nothing without councell mine:
I ruled the world with the right line :
For nothing was pafled betweenc foe and friend,
But Confcierice was called to bee at * the' end. 3$
Noe bargaines, nor merchandize merchants wold make
But I was called a wittenefle therto ;
No ufe for noe money, nor foifett wold take,
But I wold controule them, if that they did foe :
* And' that makes me live now in great woe, 40
For then came in Pride, Sathan's difciple,
That is now entertained with all kind of people.
He brought with him three, whofe names ' thus they call'
That is Covetoufnes, Lecherye, Ufury, befide :
Ya. 23. he fate. MS. V. 3 5. an end. MS. ^43. they be thefe. MS.
They
ANCIENT POEMS. 291
They never prevailed, till they had wrought my downe-fall ;
Soe Pride was entertained, but Confcience decried, 46
And ' now ever fince' abroad have I tryed
To have had entertainment with fome one or other;
But I am rejected, and fcorned of my brother.
Then went I to the Court the gallants to vvinn, $»
But the porter kept me out of the gate :
To Bartlemew Spitrie to pray for my finne,
They bade me goe packe, it was fitt for my ftate;
Goe, goe, threed-bnre Confcience, and feeke thee a mate.
Good Lord, long prelerve my king, prince, and queene,
With whom evermore I elteemec have been. 56
Then went I to London, where once I did < dwell' r
But they bade away with me, when they knew my name;
For he will undoe us to bye and to fell !
They bade me goe packe me, and hye me for (name; 60
They lought at my raggs, and there had good game;
l^his is old threed-bare Coufcience, that dwelt wilh
faint Peter :
But they wold not admitt me to be a chimney-fweeper.
Not one wo^ receive me, frhe Lord ' he' doth know;
I having but one poor pennye in my purfe, 6j[
On an awle and fome patches I did it beftow ;
* For' 1 thought better cobble fhooes than doe worfe.
Straight then all the coblers bjgan for to curfe,
V. 46. was derided. MS. V. 53. packeme. M<i. tr. $7. wonne. MS.
* U 2 And
292 A N C I fi N T P O E M 9.
And by iiatute wold prove me a rogue, and forlorne,<
And whipp me out of towne to ' feeke' where 1 WJTT
borne. 70
Then did I remember, and call to my minde/
The Court of Conscience where once I did lit:
Not doubting but there I fome favor fliold find,
For my name and the place agreed foe fit;
But there of my purpofe I fayled a wliit, jrij
For ' thoughe' the judge us'd my name in everye
« commifllon,' ,
The lawyers with their quillets wold get 4 my'difmiffion.
Then Weflminfter-hall was noe place for me ;
Good lord ! how the Lawyers began to aflemble,
And fearfull they were, left there I fliold bee! 80
The filly poore ciarkes began for to tremble ;
I mowed them my caufe, and did not diffemble;
Soe they gave me fome money my charges to beare,
But fwore me on a booke I muft never c©me there.
Next the Merchants faid, Gountei feite, get thee away, 85;
Doft thou remember how wee thee fond ?
We baniflu thee the country beyond the fait fea,
And fett thee on fhore in the New-found land;
A-nd there thou and wee moil friendly (hook hand,
. And we w ere right glad when thou ilidft refufe us ; 90
For when we wold reape prolitt here thou woldlt
accufe us.
V. 70. fee. MS. V. 76. condicion. MS. ?. 77. get a. MS.
7 Then
ANCIENT POEMS. 293
Then had I noe way, but for to goe on
To Gentlemens houfcs of an ancyent name;
Declaring my greeffes, and there I made moane,
* Telling' how their forefathers held me in fame: 9$
And at letting their farmes ' how always I came'*
They fayd, Fye upon thee! we may thee curfet
* Theire' leafes continue, and we fare the worfe.
And then I was forced a begging to goe
To luiibaud metis houfes, « ho greeved right fore, 100
And fware that their landlords had plagued them fo,
Thac they were not able to ke?pe open doore,
JJor nothing had left co give to the poore :
Therefore to this wood i doe me rep;iyre,
Where heppa and hawes, that is my beft fare.- 105
Yet within this fame defert fome comfort I have
Of Mercy, of Pittye, and ot Almes-deeds;
"Who have vowed to company me to my grave.
Wee are * ail' put to fiience, and live upon weeds,
* And hence hich cold houte-keeping proceeds' : up
Our bin foment ic its utter decay,
The which the riche glutton will anfwer one day.
Why then, f faid to him, me-thinks it were beft
To goe to the Clergie ; for dailye they preach
Eche man to love you above all the reft ; 115
Of Mercye, 'and Pittie, and Almes-' deeds', they teach.
6, laid he, noe matter of a pin what they preach,
V. 95. And how. MS. V. 101. fo fore. MS.
r.iov. ill. MS. V. 1 10. mt in MS.
For
294 ANCIENT POEMS.
Fortheirwives znd their children foe hange them upon,
That whofoever gives almes they will * give none.
Then laid he him down, and turned him away, 120
And prayd me to goe, and leave him to relU
I told him, I haplie might yet fee the day
For him and his fellowes to live with the beft.
Firft, faid he, banifh Pride, then all England were Weft;
Forthenthofewoldloveus,thatnovv fell theirland, ia§
And then good 'houfe-keeping wold revive' out of hand.
* We ought injuftict and truth to read ' can'.
Ver. 119. almes-deed*. MS.
V. 126, houfes every where wold be kept. MS.
II.
PLAIN TRUTH, AND BLIND IGNORANCE.
This excellent old ballad is prefer-ved in the little ancient
mifcellany, intithd> " The Garland of Goodwill." — IGNO-
RANCE is here made to f peak in the broad Some rfetjbire dla-
leff. TAefeene we mayfuppofe to be Glajlonbwy Abbey.
TRUTH.
GOD fpeed you, ancient father,
And give you a good daye ;
What is the caufe, I praye you
So fadly here you ft aye ?
And
ANCIENT POEMS. 295
And that you keep fuch gazing 5
On this decayed place,
The which, for fup^rftition,
Good princes down did raze ?
IGNORANCE.
Chill tell thee, by my vazen *,
That zometimes che have knowne to
A vair and goodly abbey
Staad here of bricke and (tone j
And many a holy vrier,
As ich may fay to thee,
Within thefe goodly cloyfters
Che did full often zee. 1 5
TRUTH.
Then I muft tell thee, father,
In truthe and veritie,
A forte of greater hypocrites
Thou couldft not likely fee ; ap
Deceiving of the fimple
With falfe and feigned lies ;
But fuch an order truly
Chrifl never did devife.
IGNORANCE.
Ah ! ah! che zmell thee now, man ; 2$
Che know well what thou art ;
* /. e.faltben: at in tit Mid/and countiet t bey fay hwftn, cfofeny for
btu/ei, clofet. A.
U 4 A veU
296 ANCIENT POEMS.
A vellow of mean learning,
Thee wa& not worth a vart :
Vor when we. had the old lawe,
A merry world was then ; 30
And every thing was plenty
Among all zorts of men.
TRUTH.
Thou give ft me an anfwer,
As did the Jewes fometimes
Unto the prophet Jeremye, «
When he accus'd their crimes ;
'Twas merry, fayd the people,
And joyfull in our rea'me,
When we did offer fpice-cakes
Unto the queen of heav'n. 40
t'>,;j'i3v :.:< .£ ^'sini-.rii
IGNORANCE.
Chill tell thee what, gcod vellowe,
Before the vriers went hence,
A bufhell of the beft wheate
Was zold vor vourteen pence;
And vorty egges a penny, 45
That were both good and newe j
And this che zay my zelf have zeene,
And yet ich am no Jewe.
TRUTH.
\Vithm the facred bible
We find it written plain, 50
The
ANCIENT POEMS. 297
The latter days fliould trqublefome
And dangerous be, certaine;
That we fliould be felf-lovers,
And charity wax colde ;
Then 'tis not true religion ij|
That makes thee grief to holde.
IGNORANCE.
phill tell thee my opinion plainr.
And choul'd that well ye knewe,
Ich care not for the bible booke j
Tis too big to be true. $Q
Our blefled ladyes pfalter
Zhall for my money goe ;
Zuch pretty prayers, as there bee *,
The bible cannot zhowe.
TRUTH.
Nowe haft thou fpoken trulye, 6|
For in that book indeede
No mention of our lady,
Or Romifli faint we read ;
For by the blefled Spirit
That book indited was, yp
And not by fimple perfons,
As was the foolifh mafle.
* Prolally alluding h tk illuminated Pfalter*, Mi/als, &c.
lotto.
±98 ANCIENT POEMS.
IGNORANCE.
Cham znre they were not vooliflie
That made the mafler che trowe;
Why, man, 'tis all in Latinc, 75
And vools no Latine knowe.
Were not our fathers wife men,
And they did like it well ;
Who very much rejoyced
To heare the zacring bell ? 8«
TRUTH.
But many kinges and prophets,
As I may fay to thee,
Have wiflit the light that you have,
And could it never fee :
For what art thou the better 85
A Latin fong to heare,
And nnderltandeft nothing,
That they fing in the quiere t
IGNORANCE.
O hold thy peace, che pray thee,
The noife was paffing trim 90
To heare the vriers zinging,
As we did enter in ;
And then to zee the rood-loft
Zo bravely zet with zaints ;—
But now to zee them wandring 9$
My heart with zorrovv vaints.
TRUTH.
ANCIENT POEMS. 299
TRUTH.
The Lord did give commandment,
No image thou fliouldil make,
Nor that unto idolatry
You Paould your felf betake: 100
The golden calf of Ifrael
Moles did therefore fpoS'e ;
And Baal's prieits and temple
Were brought to utter fbile* .
IGNORANCE.
But our lady of Walfingh ime 105
Was a pure and holy zaint,
And many men in pilgrimage
Did (hew to her complaint.
Yea with zvveet Thomas Becker,
And many other moe : n«
The holy maid of Kent * likewifc
Did many wonders zhowc.
TRUTH.
Such faints are well agreeing
To your profeflion fure ;
And to the men that made them xl£
So precious and fo pure ;
The one for being a trnytoure,
Met an untimely death ;
* By name Eliz. Sa'tan, executed jffr. i r, 1534. Stow, f. 570.
Tht
ANCIENT POEMS.
The other eke for treafon
Did end hex hateful breath.
IGNORANCE.
Yea, yea, it is no matter, ---•. •_•<
Difpraife them how you vville:
JJtit zure they did much goodnefle j
Would they were with us flillc !
We had our holy water, I2£
And holy bread likewife,
And many Ijoly reliques
. . . We zavv before our eyes.
TRUTH.
And all this while they fed yoa
With vain and empty fliowe, - 130
r . . Which never Chrift commanded,
As learned do&ors knowe :
Search then tlve holy fcriptures,
And thou fhalt plainly fee
That headlong to damnation 135
They alway trained thee.
t IGNORANCE,
If it be true,, good vellowe,
As thou doft zay to mee,
Unto my heavenly fader
Alone then will I flee; 140
,OT*J .* ftV«C'-.v • L ,- I tv - - •-.- - • '
Be-
ANCIENT POEMS. 301
Believing in the Gofpel,
And pnffion of his zon,
And with the zubtil papiftes
Ich have for ever done*
et
THE WANDERING JEW.
T"he Jlery of the Wandering Jew is cf con/idefalh ant?'
tuity : it hail obtained full credit i?t this part of the loorU
before the year 1:28, as ive learn from Mat. Paris* For
in that year ', it feems, there came an Armenian arcbbijhvp
into England, tovifit tbejkrines and reliqftes preferred in wir
churcbe* ; who. being entertained at the monaftery of St. Al-
bans, was ajked fever al qveftions relating to bis country, &c.
Among the reft a monk, nuhofat war him, inquired l< if ke
fl bad ever feen or heard of the famous perfoi named Jofepk,
" that ivasjo much tafked of; -Jjha -was prejcnt at ottr Lord's
" crucifixion and converfed iuitb him, andiuho was Ji ill alive
" in confirmation of the Cbriftian faith.'" Ihe arcbFiJbop
anJTvered, That thefafl was true. And afterwards one of
.bis train, <vjbo was ivell kno^un to a fertjant of the abbot's^
interpreting his mailers ivords, told them in French, * That
his lord knew the perfon they f poke of very well : that Jjc hatl
dined at his table but a little while bejort he left the Eajl:
that he had been Pontius Pilate s porter, by name Cartaphi-
lus ; who, when they <were dragging Jefus out of :/i- door of
the Judgment-hall, Jlruck him -with his fjl on the uack, Jay-
>«£,
302 A N C I E N T P O E M S.
ing, " Go f after, Jefus, go faff r; tvfy do ft thou linger? "
Upon whi^h JeP'S looked at him ivitb a frown andjai<?+
** / indeed am going, but thou jhalt tarry till I come" Soon
after be ivas converted, and baptized by the name of jfo-
feph. He lives for ever, but at the end of every hundred
yearj falls into an incurable illnefs, and at length into a fit
or ecflajy, out of tvhich *when hj recmers, he returns to the
fame Jiate of youth he was In 'when Jefus fufj'ertd, being
then aboht 30 years of age. He remembers all the clrcum-
Jlances of the death and refurre£li<in of Chrift . the faints that
aroje tuith him, the -compojing of ike apoftles creed, their
preaching, and differ/Ion ; and is hitife'f a very grave and
holy pe 'Jon." This is thefubjlance of Matthew Paris'* ac-
count, <u.vJ0 ivas bin f elf a monk of St. Alb an s, and icas
living at the time when this Armenian archbijhop made the
abo-~ue relation.
Since ha time fever al imfo/lors have appeared at intervals
under the name and char after of the W AN DER i NO JEW;
luhofe fever al hiftories may be feen in C.almti1 s Jifiionary of
the Bihle. See alfo the Turkijh Spy, t'ol. IL Book ^ Let. i .
Ihejlory that is copied in the following ballad is of otiKy ivbo
appeared at Hamburgh in 1547- and pretended he had been a
Jenuijb Jboemaker at the time of Chrijl^s crucifixion. — The
kail ad boivever feems to be of later date. It is pre/'a vt.it
in black letter in the Pefys collection.
WHEN as in f;iire Jcrufalem
Our Saviour Chrift did live,
And for the fins of all the vvorlde
His own deare life did give ;
The wicked Jewes with fcoffes and iconics 5
Did-dailye him mold!,
That never till be left his life,
Oar Saviour could not reil.
When
ANCIENT POEMS. 303
When they had crown'd his head with thornes,
And fcourg'd him to difgrace, l«
In fcornfull fort they led him foithe
Unto his dying place ;
Where thoufand thoufands in the ftreete
Beheld him pafle along,
Yet not one gentle heart was there, j J
That pityed this his wrong.
Both old and young reviled him,
As in the ftreete he wente,
And nought he found but churlifli tauntes,
By every ones confente : a*
His ovvne deare crofle he bore himfelfe,
A burthen far too great,
Which made him in the ftreet to fainte,
With blood and water fweat.
Being weary thus, he fought for reft, a£
To eaie his burthened foule,
Upon a (lone j the which a wretch
Did churli/hly controule j
And fayd, Awaye, thou king of Jewel,
Thou flialt nut reft thee here ; j«
Pafi on ; thy execution place
Thou feeft novvc dr&weth nearc.
And thereupon he thruft him thence;
At which our Saviour fayd,
i 1 furc
304 ANCIENT P O E M S.
I fure will reft, but thou flialt walke, 3$
And have no journey flayed.
With that this curfed fhoemaker,
For offering Chriit this wrong,
l,eft wife and children, h'oufe and alf,
And went from thence along. 40
Where after he had feene the bloude
Of Jeius Chrift thus (bed,
And to the crofle his boclye nail'd,
Aw aye with fpeed he fled
\Vithout returning backe againe 45
Urito his dwelling place,
And wand-red tip and downe the worlde,
A runnagate rr.oft bale.
J^o refling could he finde at all,
No eale, nor hearts content ; 50'
No houfe, nor home, nor biding place:
But wandnng forth he went
From to«.ne to towne in foretgne landes,
With grieved conference Itill,
Repenting for the heinous guilt ^5
Of his fore-paffed ill.
Thus after feme fewe ages paft
In wandriog up and downe j
He much again delired to fee
Jerufalems rcnowne, 60
But
ANCIENT POEMS. 305
But finding it all quite deftroyd,
He wandred thence with woe,
Our Saviours wordes, which he had fpoke,
To verifie and fliovve.
" I'll reft, fayd hee, but thou flialt walke,'* 65
So doth this wandring Jew
From place to place, but cannot reft
For feeing countries newe ;
Declaring (till the power of him,
Whereas he comes or goes, 70
And of all things done in the eaft,
Since Chrift his death, he fliowes.
The world he hath {till compaft round
And feene thofe nations flrange,
That hearing of the name of Chrift, 75
Their idol gods doe change :
To whom he hath told wondrous thinges
Of time forepaftj and gone,
And to the princes of the worlde
Declares his caufe of moane : 80
Defiring toll to be diflblv'd,
And yeild his mortal breath ;
But, if the Lord hath thus decreed,
He fliall not yet fee death.
For neither lookes he old nor young, 85
But as he did thofe times,
VOL. II, X When
3o6 ANCIENT POEMS.
When Chrift did fuffer on the crofle
For mortall fmners crimes.
He hath paft through many a foreigne place,
Arabia, Egypt, Africa, 90
Grecia, Syria, and great Thrace,
And throughout all Hung r a.
Where Paul and Peter preached Chrifty
Thofe bleft apoftles deare ;
There he hath told our Saviours wordes, 95
In countries far, and neare.
And lately in Bohemia,
With many a German towne ;
And now in Flanders, as tis thought,
He wandreth up and downe : 100
Where learned men with him conferre
Of thofe his lingering dayes,
And wonder much to heare him tell
His journeyes, and his wayes.
If people give this Jew an almes, IQ£
The moft that he will take
Is not above a groat a time :
Which he, for Jefus' fake,
Will kindlye give unto the poore,
And thereof make no fpare, i K>
Affirming (till that Jefus Chrift
Of him hath dailye care.
He
ANCIENT POEMS. 307
He ne'er was feene to laugh nor fmile,
But weepe and make great moane ;
Lamenting {till his miferies, n£
And dayes forepaft and gone :
If he heare any one blafpheme,
Or take God's name in vaine,
He telles them that they crucifie
Their Saviour Chrifte againe. lao
If you had feene his death, faith he,
As thefe mine eyes have done,
Ten thoufand thouf <nd times would yee
His torments think upon :
And fuffer for his fake all paine iaf
Of torments, and all woes.
Theie are his wordes and eke hjs life
Whereas he comes or goes.
vOi) .
.
,
IV.
THE LYE,
BY SIR WALTER RALEIGH,
— is found in a very fcarce mifcellany intitled " Dairifon's;
" Poems, or a poetic all Rapfodie divided intojixe books
" The \th imprejjion newly correfied and augmented, and
X 2 "fttt
3o8 ANCIENT POEMS.
" put Into a forme more pita/ing to the reader. Lond. 162 r >
" I27S0." This poem is reported to have teen written by
its celebrated author the night before bis execution. Oft. 29,
1618. But this muft be a miftake, for there laeie at leajt
two editions of Davi/on's poems before that time, one in
1608*, the other in 1611 f. So that unlefs this poem
•was an after -infer t ion in the A,th edit.' it muft have been
^written long before the death of Sir Walter : perhaps it cwas
eompofedfoon after his condemnation in 1603. See Oldys's
Life of Sir W. Raleigh, p. 173,/c/.
GOE, foule, the bodies gueft,
Upon a thankeleffe arrant j
Feare not to touche the beft,
The truth fliall be thy warrant:
Goe, lince I needs muft dye, 5
And give the world the lye.
Goe tell the court, it glowes
And fliines like rotten wood ;
Goe tell the church it fhowes
What's good, and doth no good : 10
If church and court reply,
Then give them both the lye.
Tell potentates they live
Acting by others actions ;
Not lov'd unlefle they give, jr
Not flrong but by their factions ;
* Catalog, of T. Ka-wlinfan, (727.
f Cat. of Man «//, library \ <ffo is titber loft, or
If
ANCIENT POEMS. 309
If potentates reply,
Give potentates the lye.
Tell men of high condition,
That rule affairs of ftate, 20
Their purpofe is ambition,
Their pra&ife onely hate ;
And if they once reply,
Then give them all the lye.
Tell them that brave it moft, 35
They beg for more by fpendThg,
Who in their greateft coft
Seek nothing but commending ;
And if they make reply,
Spare not to give the lye. 30
Tell zeale, it lacks devotion;
Tell love it is but luft ;
Tell time, it is but motion ;
Tell flefli, it is but duft;
And wifli them not reply, 35
For thou muft give the lye.
Tell age, it daily wafteth j
Tell honour, how it alters ;
Tell beauty, how me blafteth ;
Tell favour, how file falters ; 40
X 3 And
310 ANCIENT POEMS.
And as they fliall reply,
Give each of them the lye.
Tell wit, how much it wrangles
In tickle points of nicenefle ;
Tell wifedome, me entang'es 4$
Herfelfe in over-wifentfle ;
And it they do reply,
Straight give them both the lye.
Tell phyficke of h.er boldnefle;
jTell flcill, it is pretenfion ; 50
Tell charity of coldnefs ;
Tell law, it is contention ;
And as they yield reply,
So give them itill the lye.
Tell fortune of her blmdnefle ; 55
Tell nature of decay j
Tell friendihip of unkindnefle }
Tell juftice of delay;
And if they dare reply,
Then give thejn all the Jye. 60
Tell arts, they have no foundnefle,
But vary by efteerr.ing;
Tell fchooles, they want profoundnefle,
And ftand too much on feeming :
If
ANCIENT POEM S, 311
If arts and fchooles reply, 6$
Give arts and fchooles the lye.
Tell faith, it's fled the citie;
Tell how the countrey erreth j
Tell, manhood fhakes off pitie;
Tell, vertue leail preferreth : 70
And, if they doe reply,
Spare not to give the lye.
So, when thou haft, as I
Commanded thee, done blabbing,
Although to give the lye 75
Deferves no lefs than tabbing,
Yet flab at thee who will,
No ftab the foule can kill.
VERSES BY KING JAMES I.
In the firft edition of tJiis book ewere inferted, ly luay
ef fpecimen of bis majefty's poetic talents, fame Punning
Fer/es made on the difputations at Sterling : but It having
been fuggcfted to the editor, that the king only gave the
X 4 quibbling
3i2 ANCIENT POEMS.
quibbling commendations in profe, and that fame obfequiotts
court-rhymer put them into metre*; it -was thought proper
to exchange them for two SONNETS of K. James's own
compo/ition, 'James was a great verifier ', and therefore out
of the multitude of his poems, we ha-ve here J-elefled -two,
which (to Jlie<vj our impartiality) are written in his beft
and his ^worft manner. Yhe Jirji would not dijhonour any
•writer of that time ; thefecond is a moji complete example
of the Bathos.
A SONNET ADDRESSED BY KING JAMES TO HIS
SON PRINCE HENRY:
From K. James's works IK folio: Where Is alfo printed
another called his Majefty's OWN Sonnet'; it would per-
haps be too cruel to infer from thence that this was NOT
his .Majefty's OWN Sonnet.
GOD gives not kings the flile of Gods in vaine,
For on his throne his fcepter do they Ivvey :
And as their fubje&s ought them to obey,
So kings ftiould feare and ferve their God againe*
If then ye would enjoy a happie reigne,
Obferve the llatutes of our heavenly king;
And from his law make all your laws to fpring;
Since his lieutenant here ye fhould remaine.
Rewarde the juil, be fledfaft} true and plains;
Reprefle the proud, maintayning aye the right ;
Walke always fo, PS ever in HIS fight,
Who guardes the godly, plaguing the prophane.
* See a folio infilled « The Mufet -welcome to Xixg James."
4 X And
ANCIENT POEMS. 313
And fo ye fliall in princely vertues flrine,
Refembling right your mightie king divine.
A SONNET OCCASIONED BY THE BAD WEATHER.
WHICH HINDRED THE SPORTS AT NEW-
MARKET IN JANUARY 1616.
This is printed from Dntmnionel vf Hawthorn Jen's
folio: where alfo way be feen fome' merfes of Lord Stirling's
upon this Sonnet , which concludes with thefineft Anticlimax,
I remember to bavefeen.
HOW cruelly thefe catives do confpire?
What loathfome love breeds fuch a baleful band
Bctv/ixt the cankred king of Greta land *,
That melancholy old and angry fire,
And him, who wont to quench debate and ire 5
Among the Romans, when his ports were clos'd f ?
But now his double face is ftill difpos'd,
With Saturn's help, to freeze us at the fire.
The earth ore-covered with a flieet of fnow,
Rf,fufes food to fowl, to bird, andbeaft: 10
The chilling cold lets every thing to grow,
And lurfeits cattle with a ftarving feaft.
Cuis'd be that love and mought j continue fiiort,
Which kills all creatures, and doth fpoil our fporf.
* Saturn. f Jamtt, "^ I.e. may it.
VI. K.
514 ANCIENT POEMS.
vr.
K. JOHN AND THE ABBOT OF CANTERBURY.
Tie common popular baUad of KIN c JOHN AND THE
ABBOT feem to have been abridged and modernized about
the time of James I.Jrom one much older, infilled, ** Ki NO
" JOHN AND THE BISHOP OF CANTERBURY." The
Editor s folio MS. contains a copy of this lajl, but in to»
corrupt a Jlate to be reprinted; it however afforded many
lines vvoft/j reviving, ic/jich will be found inferted in the
enfuingjtanzas .
The archnefs of the following quejlions and anfivers bath
leett muck admired by our old ballad-makers ; for befdes
the t<wo copies abon-e mentioned, there is extant another bal-
lad on the fame fubjeft (but of no great antiquity or merit))
iaiitlcJ, "KING OLFREY AND THE ABBOT *." Laftly,
about the time of the civil -zt/z'-j, ivhen the cry ran
againft the BiJIjops^ forne Puritan worked up the fame
Jtory into a very doleful ditty, to a folemn tune, concerning
*' KING HENRY AND A BISHOP," nvit/i this flinging ,
moral:
" Unlearned men hard matters out can find,
*' When learned bijbops princes eyes do blind."
* Sft tie colleaionof Hi ft. Ballads, 3 vo/i. 7727. Mr. Wife fup~
/O/«OLFREV to be a cwruftioH t,f AJ.FICEI), in bh pamphlet con.
ttining tbe WHI T E Hos^z in Bert/7. iff, p. 15.
ANCIENT POEMS. 315
:•' '. * -T •;•
*Tbe folloiving is chiefly printed from an ancient blacl-
letter cofyt to " The tune of Derry tlo-iun"
AN ancient flory He tell you anon
Of a notable prince, that was called king Johnj
And he ruled England with maine and with might, ,
For he did great wrong, and maintein'd little right.
And He tell you a ftory, a ftory fo merrye, J
Concerning the Abbot of Canterbui ye ;
How for his houfe -keeping, and high renowne,
They rode poile for him to fair London towne.
An hundred men, the king did heare fay,
Th^: abbot kept in his houfe every day; to
And fifty golde chaynes, without any doubt,
In velvet coates waited the abbot about.
How no\v, father abbot, I heare it of thee,
Thou keepeft a farre better houfe than mee,
And for thy houfe-keeping and high renowne, J$
I feare thou work'ft treafon again li my crown.
My liege, quo' the abbot, I would it were knowne,
I never fpend nothing, but what is my owne ;
And I truft, your grace will doe me no deere,
For {pending of my owne true-gotten geere. jo
Yes,
3i6 ANCIENT POEMS.
Yes, yes, father abbot, thy fault it is highe,
And now for the fame thou needed muft dye;
For except thoai can ft anfwer me queftions three,
Thy head (hall be imitten from thy bodje.
And firft, quo' the king, when I'm in this flead, 2$
With my crovvne of guide fo faire on my head,
Among all my liege-men fo noble of birthe,
Thou mull tell me to one penny what J am vvorthe.
Secondlye, tell me, without any doubt,
How foone I may ride the whole world about. 30
And at the third queftion thou muft not (brink,
But tell me here truly what I do think.
O, thefe are hard queftions for my fhallow witt,
Nor I cannot anfwer your grace as yet :
But if you will give me but three weekes fpace, 35
Jle do my endeavour to anfwer your grace.
Now three weeks fpace to thee will I give,
And that is the longeft time thou haft to live;
For if thou cloft not anfwer my queftions three,
Thy lands and thy liviqgs are forfeit to mee. 40
Away rode the abbot all fad at that word,
And he rode to Cambridge, and Oxenford ;
But never a dodlor there was fo wife,
That could with his learning an anfwer devife.
2 Then
ANCIENT POEMS. 317
Then home rode the abbot of comfort fo cold, 45
And he mett his fhepbeard a going to fold:
How now, my lord abbot, you are welcome home ;
What newes do you bring us from good king John?
" Sad newes, fad newes, fhepheard, I muft give ;
That I have but three days more to live : jjo
For if I do not anfwer him queftions three,
My head will be faiitten from my bodie.
The firft is to tell him there in that ftead,
With his crowne of golde fo fair on his head,
Among all his liege men fo noble of birth, $J
To within one penny of what he is woith.
The feconde, to tell him, without any doubt,
How foone he mny ride this whole world about:
And at the third queftion I mutt not fhrinke,
But tell him there truly what he does thinke." 60
Now cheare up, fire abbot, did you never hear yet,
That a fool he may leirn a wife man witt?
Lend me horfe, and ferving men, and your apparel,
And I'll ride to London to anfwere your quarrel.
Nay frowne not, if it hath bin told unto mee, 6£
I am like your lordfliip, as ever may bee:
And if you will but lend me your gowne,
There is none (hall knowe us at fair London towne.
Now
318 ANCIENT POEMS.
Now horfes, and ferving-men thou (halt have,
With fumptuous array moft galiant and brave ; 70
With crozier, and miter, and rochet, and cope,
Fit to appeare 'fore our fader the pope."
Now welcome, fire abbot, the king he did fay,
Tis well thou'rt come back to keepe thy day ;
For and if thou canft anfwer my queftions three, 75
Thy life and thy living both faved fliall bee.
And fuft, when thou feed me here in this ftead,
With my crown of golde fo fair on n.y head,
Among all my liege-men fo noble of birthe,
Tell me to one penny what I am worth. 80
u For thirty pence our Saivour vvais fold
Amonge the f.ilfe jewes, as I have bin told ;
And twenty nine is the worth of thee,
For I thinke, thou art one penny worler than hee.'1
The king he laughed, and fvvore by St. Bittel *, 85
I did not think I had been worth fo littel !
—Now fecond'y tell me, without any doubt,
How foone I may ride this whole world about,
" You muft rife with the fun, and ride with the fame,
Until the next morning he rifeth againe ; go
* Meaning frtbably St. Boto!j>b.
jfced
ANCIENT POEMS. 319
And then your grace need not make any doubt,
But in twenty-four hours you'll ride it about."
The king he laughed, and fwore by St. Jone,
I did not think, it could be gone fo foone!
—Now from the third queftion thou muft not fhrinke,
But tell me here truly what I do thinke. 96
" Yea, that (hall I do, and make your grace merry:
You thinke I'm the abbot of Canterbury ;
But I'm his poor fhepheard, as plain you may fee,
That am come to beg pardon for him and for mee." zoo
The king he laughed, and fwore by the matte,
He make thee lord abbot this day in his place !
" Now naye, my liege, be not in fuch fpeede,
For alacke I can neither write, ue reade."
Four nobles a weeke, then I will give thee, io<j
For this merry jeft thou haft fliowne unto mce ;
And tell the old abbot when thou corned home,
Thou haft brought him a pardon from good king John.
*
•'•
VII. YOU
ANCIENT POEMS.
VII.
YOU MEANER BEAUTIES.
This little Sonnet was 'written by Sir HENRY WOTTON,
Knight^ on that amiable Princefs, Elizabeth daughter of
James I. and 'wife of the Elector Palatine , -who <was chofen
King of Bohemia, Sept, $, 1619. The confequences of this
fatal election are well known : Sir Henry ff^otton, who in
that and the following year was employed infeveral embajjies
in Germany on behalf of this unfortunate lady, feems to have
had an uncommon attachment to her merit and fortunes, for
be gave away a jeivel worth a thoufand pounds, that was
presented to him by the Emperor, '; becaufe it came from an
" enemy to his royal mijlrefs the Queen of Bohemia" See
Biog. Britan.
This four is printed from the Reliquiae Wottonianse,
1651, luitnfome correft ions from an old MS. copy*
YOU meaner beauties of the night,
That poorly fatisfie our eies
More by your number, than your light ;
You common people of the flues,
What are you when the Moon fliall rife ? ' 5
Ye
ANCIENT 'POEMS. 321
Ye violets that firft appeare,
By your pure purple mantles known
Like the proud virgins of the yeare,
As if the Spring were all your own ;
What are you when the Rofe is blown ? 10
Ye curious chaunters of the wood,
That warble forth dame Nature's layes,
Thinking your paffions underftood
By your weak accents: what's your praife,
When Philomell her voyce (hall raife ? i£
So when my miftris fhal be feene
In fweetnefle of her looks and mindc j
By virtue firft, then choyce a queen ;
Tell me, if fhe was not defign'd
Th' eclypfe and glory of her kind ? no
VIII.
THE OLD AND YOUNG COURTIER.
3" his excellent oldfong, tJiefubjtfl of ivhicb is a compart"
fin bet--vjeen the manners of the old gentry, as Jlill fubjijling
in the times of Elizabeth* and the modern refinements af~
VOJL. II. Y
322 ANCIENT POEMS.
fcfied by theit fans in the reigns of her fuccejjors, is given,
'with correftionS) from an ancient black-letter copy in the
Pepys colleflion, compared with another printed among Jont€
miscellaneous "poems and fongs" in a btok infilled, " Le
" Prince d'amour," 1660, 8<fo.
AN old fong made by an aged old pate,
Of an old woffliipful gentleman, who had a greate
eftate,
That kept a brave old houfe at a bountiful rate,
And an old porter to relieve the poor at his gate;
Like an old courtier of the queen's,
And the queen's old courtier.
With an old lady, whofe anger one word affwages ;
They every quarter paid their old fervants their wages,
And never knew what belong'd to coachmen, footmen,
nor pages,
But kept twenty old fellows with blue coats and badges ;
Like an old courtier, &c.
With an old ftudy fill'd full of learned old book?,
With an old reverend chaplain, you might know him
by his looks.
With an old buttery hatch worn quite off the hooks,
And an old kitchen, that maintain'd half a dozen old
cooks :
Like an old courtter, £c.
With
ANCIENT POEMS. 323
With an old hail, hung about with pikes, guns, and bows,
With old fwordc, and bucklers, that had borne lua^y
flirewde blows,
And an old f'ize cont, to cover his worftip's trunk hufe,
Arid a cup of old- iherry, to comfort his copper rioie ;
Like an old courtier, &c.
With a good old fafliion, when Chriftmafle was come,
'i"o cat! in all his old neighbours with bagpipe and drum,
With good chear enough to furnifli every old room,
And old liquor able to make a cat fpeak, and inan dumb,
Like an old courtier, &c.
With an old falconer, huntfman, and a kennel of hounds,
That never hawked, nor hunted, but in hi? own grounds,
Who, like a wife mqn, kept hi.ufelf within his own
bounds,
And when lie dyed gave every child a thoufand good
pounds :
Like an old courtier, &C;
But to Irs eldeft fon his houfe and land he nffign'd,
Charging him in his will to keep the old hount':fuH mind,
To be good to his old tenants, and to his neighbours
l:el;ind:
But in the coining ditty you flull hear ho'.v he was in-
cbn'd;
Like a young courtier of the kind's,
And the kind's young courtier.
Y » Like
324 AN C IE N T POEM S.
Like a flourifhing young gallant, newly come to hit
land,
Who keeps a brace of painted madams at his command,
And takes up a thoufand pound upon his father's land,
And gets drunk in a tavern, till he can neither go nor
fland ;
Like a young courtier, &c.
With a new-fangled lady, that is dainty, nice, and fpare,
Who never knew what belong'd to good houfe-keeping,
or care,
Who buyes gaudy-cplor'd fans to play with wanton air,
And feven or eight different dreflings of other \vomens_
hair ;
Like a young courtier, &c.
With a new:fafhion'd hall, built where the old one
flood,
Hung round with new pi&ures, that do the poor no
good,
With a fine marble chimney, wherein* burns neither coal
nor wood,
And a new fmooth fliovelboard, whereon no vi&ual*
ne'er flood ;
Like a young courtier, &Cr
With a new ftudy, {hi ft f.ill of pamphlets, and playy,
And a new chaplain, that fwears fafter than he prays,
With-
A NC IE NT t O EM S. 325
With a new buttery hatch, that opens once in four or
five days,
And a -new French cook, to devife fine kickfliaws, and
toys;
Like a young. courtier, &c.
With a new fafhion, when Chriftmas is drawing on,
On a new journey to London ftraightwe all muft begone,
And leave none to keep houfe, but our new porter John,
Who relieves the poor with a thump on the back with
a (lone ;
Like a young courtier, &c.
With a new gentleman-uflier., whofe carriage is com-
. pleat,
With a new coachman, footmen, and pages to carry up
the meat,
With a waiting-gentlewoman, whofe dreffing.is very neat,
Who when her lady has din'd, lets the fervants not eat,;
Like a young courtier, &c.
With new titles of honour bought with his father's old
gold,
(For which fundry of his anceftors old manors are foldj
And this is the courfe moft of our new gallants hold,
Which makes that good houfe-keeping is now grown fo
cold,
Among the young courtiers of the king,
Or the king's young courtiers.
***
Y 3 1£. SIR
ANCIENT POEMS-
IX.
Sf'R JOHN SUCKLING'S CAMPAIGNS.,
ll'lcn the Scottijh covenanters rofe up in arms, and ad'
•vanct-,1 to the Englijh borders in 1659, many of the courtiers
complimented the kiyg.iy raijing forces at tkeirocujn expence.
Amen? fbtfi none were more diJlinguiJJied than the gallant
S\r "jcki Suckling, ii'ho raffed a troop of horfe. fo richly
Accoutred, that it coft him \ ?,ooo/. The like expenjive
equipment of other parts of the army^ made the king re-
work, that '• the Scots ivould fight Jhutly, if it were but for
" the Englijitineifs fine cloaths?' [Lloyd s Memoirs.} When
thev came to aflion^ the rugged Scots proved more than a.
match for the. fine $ei'.y Erglijh : maty of ivhom behaved
remn'kally ill, and among the rejl thisfplendid troop of Sir
jfo/m Suckling's,
'This humorous pafquil Las been generally fuppofed to have
bf.en iwitten by Sir Jehu, as a banter upon himfelf. Some
of his contt-wporarie! however attributed it to Sir John
Me Ki>i s, a taif of thife t:m?s, among "whnfe poems it is
printed in a fmall poetical r/tifcellany^ intitldL " Mufarunt
'• delicitf : or the Mifes recreation, containing federal pieces
" of poetique ivit, d. edition. — Ky Sir J. M. [Sir John
?* Mtnnis\ anil j^a. S. [James Smit/i.] Lone/. 16^6, T^/WO.'*
. ( See Wood s Athena. II. 307, 418.] In that copy is
Jubjoinfd an additional Jlanza, luhich probably -was 'written
by this. Sir John Mennis, viz.
But
ANCIENT POEMS. 327
'* But now there is peace, he's returned to increafe
" His money , which lately he f pent- a,
11 But his loft honour muft lye ft ill in the dujl;
" At Barwick a-way it ivent-a."
SIR John he got him an ambling nag,
To Scotland for to ride-a,
With a hundred horfe more, all his own he fworc,
To guard him on every fide-a.
NO Errant-knight ever went to fight $
With halfe fo gay a bravada,
Had you feen but his look, you'ld have fwern on a book,
Hee'ld have conquer'd a whole armada.
The ladies ran all to the windows to fee
So gallant and warlike a fight-a, 10
And as he pafs'd by, they faid with a figh,
Sir John, why will you go fight-a ?
But he, like a cruel knight, fpurr*d on ;
His heart would not relent-a,
For, till he came there, what had he to fear? 15
Or why Ihould he repent-a.?
The king (God blefs him!) had fmgular hopes
Of him and all his troop-a :
The borderers they, as they met him on the way,
For joy did hollow, and whoop- a. 20
Y 4 Non«
328 ANCIENT POEMS,
None lik'd him fo well, as his own colonellj
Who took him for John de Wert-a ;
But when there were fhows of gunning and blows,
My gallant was nothing fo pertra.
For when the Scots army came within fight, ajj
And all prepared to fight-a,
fie ran to his tent, they alk'd what he meant,
He (wore he muft needs goe fli*te-a.
The colonell fent for him back agen,
To quarter him in the van.-a, 3$
But Sir J,>hn did fwear, he would not come there,
To be kjll'd the very firft map- a.
To cure his fear, he was fent to the reare,
Some ten miles back, and more-a j
Where Sir John did play at trip and away, 35
And ne'er faw the eneiny more-a.
Ver. 2». JOHN DE WERT -was a German general of great refuta-
tion, and the terror of the French in the reign of Louis XIII. Hence bi\
name became provtrt.'al in France, -where he ivas called De Vert. See
Boyle's Diff.
K. TO
ANCIENT POEMS. 329
. V •. *- i li-r* rir
X.
TO ALTHEA FROM PRISON.
This excellent fonnet, which pojfijjed a high degree of fame
among the old Cavaliers, 'was written by Colonel Richard
Lovelace during his confinement in the gate-houfe Weftminfter :
to which he was committed by the Houfe of Co/mnons, in April
1642, for prefenting a petition from the county of Kent , re-
quejling them to reftore the king to his rights, and to fettle
the government. See food's Athenee, Vol. II. p. 228, and
Lyfon's Environs of London, Vol. I. p. 109; where may
be feen at large the affe fling Jlory of this elegant <w) iter,
iv/io after having been dijiinguijhed for every gallant and
polite accomplifhment^ the pattern of his own fex, and the
darling of the ladies, died in the lovoejl wretchednefs, ob~
fcurity, and want, in 1658.
'This fang is printed from afcarce volume of his poems in-
titled, " Lucajla, 1649, izmo." collated with a copy in
the Editor's folio MS.
WHEN love with xmconfined wings
Hovers within my gates,
And my divine Althea brings
To whifper at my grates j
When I lye tangled in her haire, 5
And fetter'd with her eye,
The birds that wanton in the ajrc,
Know no fuch libertye,
When
330 ANCIENT POEMS.
When flowing cups run fwiftly round
With no allaying Thames, 19
Our carelefle heads with rofes crown'd,
Our hearts with loyal flames ;
When tbirfty griefe in wine we fteepe,
When healths and draughts goe free,
Fifties, that tipp-e in the deepe, l$
Know no fuch libertie.
When, linnet-like, confined I
With fliriller note (hall ling
The mercye, fweetnefs, majeftye,
And glories of my king j 20
When I Ihall voyce aloud how good
He is, how great fliould be,
Th' enlarged windes, that curie the flood,
Know no fuch libertie.
Stone walls doe not a pi ifon make, a £
Nor iron barres a cage,
Mindes, innocent, and quiet, take
That for an herrrntage :
If I have freedom in my love,
And in my foule am free, jo
Angels alone, that foare above,
Enjoy fuch libertie.
10. with woe-allaying themes. MS. Tbamet it here nfed fir
general.
XL THE
ANCIENT POEMS, 331
XT.
THE DOWNFALL OF CHARING-CROSS.
Cbaring-crofs, as itfiwd before the ci-vll <wars< ivas one
of tf'ofe beautiful Gothic obelijks erefted to conjugal ajfefiion
by EtfiVfrJ I. who built /:?c* a one wherever the herfe of
his beloved Eleanor reflect in its "way from Lincolnjhire to
Weft min ft er> But neither its ornamental foliation, (he beauty
of its ftru£lurey nor the noble defign of its ereftion (iubicb
did honour l» humanity ), could pre/erve it from the mercihjs
Keal of the times : For, in 1^4" it was dcmolijhed by o>-aer
of the Houfe of Commons . a; popijii and juperftitious. Th:s
tccajianed the following not-unbi.morous farcafm, tabicfj hat
teen often printed among the popular fonnets of thofe times.
T/:e flat referred to in "ver. 1 7, iaas that entertd into by
Mr. If Caller the poet, and others, luitb a view to reduce the
city and ioiver to the fer-vice of the king ; for <w/iicb t^vo of
them, Nath, Tomkins and Rich. Chaloner Jujjered death
July 5, 1643. nd. Ath. Ox. II. 24.
u
FNdone, undone the lawyers are,
They wander about the townc,
Nor can find the way to Weilminfter,
Now Charing-crofs is downe :
At the end of the Strand, they make a {land, £
Swearing they are at a lols,
A^d chaffing fay, that's not the way,
They muft go by Charing-ciofs.
The
ANCIENT POEMS.
The parliament to vote it down
Conceived it very fitting,
For fear it fliould fall, and kill them all,
In the houfe, as they were fitting.
They were told god-wot, it had a plot,
Which made them fo hard-heanted,
To give command, it fliould not Hand,
But be taken down and carted.
Men talk of plots, this might have been worfc
For any thing I know,
Than that Tomkins, and Chaloner,
Were hang'd for long agoe. x fQ
Our parliament did that prevent,
And wifely them defended,
For plots they will difcover Hill,
Before they were intended,
But neither man, woman, nor child, 3$
Will fay, I'm confident,
They ever heard it fpeak one word
Againft the parliament.
An informer fwore, it letters bore,
Or elfe it had been freed ; op
iTil take, in troth, my Bible oath,
It could neither write, nor read.
The
ANCIENT POEMS. 33 J
The committee faid, that verily
To popery it was bent ;
For ought I know, it might be fo, Jjj
For to church it never went.
What with excife, and fuch device,
The kingdom doth begin
To think you'll leave them ne'er a crofs,
Without doors nor within. 40
Methinks the common-council fliou'd
Of it have taken pity,
'Caufe, good old crofs, it always flood
So firmly to the city.
Since crofleS you fo much difdainy 4$
Faith, if J were as you,
For fear the king fliould rule again-,
I'd pull down Tiburn too.
*n* Whithckefays, '''•May 3, 1643, Cheapfide crofs and
"other crofles 'were voted down" &c. But this Vote
<was not put in execution <wit/i regard. to CHAR ING CROSS
//// four yean after, as appears from Lilly's Obfervations
on the Life^ &c. of K. Charles', viz. u Charitig-Crofs) nice
" know, "was pulled down, 1647, in June, July> and
<; Auguft. Part of the Stones 'were converted to pave
*' before Whitehall I have feen Knife- hafts made of
"fome of the. Jlo?ies, 'which, being well-polijbed^ looked
" like marble?* Ed. 17 i 5, />. 18, i zmo.
See an Account of the pulling down Cheapjide Crofs t iji
the Supplement to Gent, Mag. 1/64.
XII. LOYAL.
334 ANCIENT POEMS.
XII.
LOYALTY CONFINED.
This excellent chl fong is preferred in David Lhyd'i
*' Memoir es of iboje that /offered in the caiife of diaries /."
Lond* i6(>8, fol. p. 96. He f peaks of it as the composition
of a ivortf.y perfonage, who jujjered deeply in ttiofe times ^
and ivasjiill living <u;iih no other rei&ard than the conscience
of having fnffered. The author" s name he has not mentioned,
but, if tradition may be credited, this fovg ivas written by
Sir I<OGER L' ESTRANGE. — Some mi/lakes in Lloyds copy
are corrected by two others , cue in MS. the other in thd
" Weftminfter Drollery, or a choice Colleclion of Songs and
** Poetnsy 1671," I2mo.
BEAT on, proud billows ; Boreas blow ;
Swell, curled \vayes, hi^h as Jove's roof;
Your incivility doth fliovv,
That innocence is ten.peft proof;
Though furly N lens fiown, my thoughts are calm ; 5
Then firike, Affliction, for thy wounds are balm.
That which the worlcl mifcalls a jail,
A private ciolet is to me :
\Vhil ft a good conicience is my bail,
And innocence my liberty : ifc
Locks, bars, and lolitude, together met,
Make me no prifoner, but an anchoret.
6 I, vvhilft
ANCIENT POEMS. 335
I, whilft I vviflit to be retir'd,
Into this private room was turn'd ;
As if their wifdoms had confpir'd i£
The falamander fhould be burn'd ;
Or like thofe fophifts, that would drown a fifli,
I am conftrain'd to fuffer what I wifh.
The cynick loves his poverty ;
The pelican her wildernefs ; 3«
And 'tis the Indian's pride to be
Naked on frozen Caucafus:
Contentment cannot fmairt, Stoicks we fee
Make torments eafie to their apathy.
Thefe manacles upon my arm $j
I, as my miftrefs' favours, wear;
And for to keep my ancles warm,
I have Ibme iron fliackles there :
Thefe walls are but my ganifon ; this cell,
Which men call jail, doth prove my citadel, 30
I'm in the cabinet lockt up,
Like fome high-prized margarite,
Or, like the great mogul or pope,
Am cloyfter'd up from publick fight :
Retirednefs is a piece of majefty, 35
And thus, proud fultan, I'm as great as the®.
Here
336 ANCIENT POEMS*
Here fin for want of food mud flarve^
Where tempting objecls are not feen ;
And thefe flrdng walls do only ferve
To keep vice out, and keep me in : 40
Malice of late's grown charitable fure,
I'm not committed, but am kept fecurc*
So he that ft ruck at Jafon's life *,
Thinking t' have made his purpofe fure,
By a malicious friendly knife *e
Did only wound him to a cure:
Malice, 1 fee, wants wit ; for what is meant
Mifchief, oft-times proves favour by th' event*
When once my prince affliction hatbj
Profperity doth treafon feem ; £O
And to make fmooth 16 rough a path,
I can learn patience from him :
Now not to fuffer fliews no loyal heartj
When kings want eafe fubjecls muft bear a part.
What though I cannot fee my king 5$
Neither in perfon or in coin ;
Yet contemplation is a thing
That renders what I have not, mine :
* See this remarkalle Jlory in Cicero cir Nat. Darurtt. Lit. ?, c. z8.
Cic, cie Offic. Lib. I, <. 30; fee alfo Vol. Max. I. 8.
My
ANCIENT POEMS. 337
My king from me what adamant can part,
Whom I do wear engraven on my heart? 6»
Have you not feen the nightingale,
A prifoner like, coopt in a cage,
How doth (he chaunt her wonted tale
In that her narrow hermitage ?
Even then her charming melody doth prove, 65
That all her bars are trees, her cage a grove.
I am that bird, whom they combine
Thus to deprive of liberty ;
But though they do my corps confine,
Yet maugre hate, my foul is free : 70
And though immur'd, yet can I chirp, and fing
Difgrace to rebels, glory to my king.
My foul is free, as ambient air,
Although my bafer part's immew'd,
Whilft loyal thoughts do ftill repair 75
T' accompany my folitude :
Although rebellion do my body binde,
My king alone can captivate my minde.
VOL.!!. 2 XIII. VERSES
338 ANCIENT POEMS,
XIII.
VERSES BY K. CHARLES I.'
41 Jlrctig thoughts in it. fame gcccl fenfe^ and a Jlrain of ina-
" jeftic piety, " Mi'. H'alfole's Royal and Noble Authors,
vol. L
It :; in his " Memoirs of tie Duke of Hamilton," p. 370,
that Bnri:d haih preferfed'thii ehgy, luliic/i he tells us lie
had from a gentleman^ ewho ivaited on the Ling at the time
•when it was written, and copied it out fu-m the original.
It is there ini'M, « MJJESTr IN M1SERT: OR
«« ANIMPLORATlONIOTHEKING OF KINGS.*
Hume lath remarked cf tlefe /Lanzas , " that the truth cf
*' the fttitiment, rather than the elegance of the exprej/ion^
" renders them very pathetic." See his /lift. 176^, -qto,
p'cl. /'*. pp. .137. 442. ivhich is no bad canrnent upon them,
——Thtjt! are almcft the only <verfes known of Chafta's com-
fojiticn. Indeed a little Poem ON A (^yiET C ONSCI i; NCt ,
printed in the 'ccetical Calendar, 1763, "vol fill, is attri-
buted to K. CHARLES I; being reprinted from a thin fca>0.
publiflied by Nahum 7afe, called ^ Mijcellanea Saiva, or
'• Poems on Divine and Moral Subjects."
GReat iponarch of the world,from.\vhofe power fprings
The potency and power of kings,
Record the royal woe my fuffering fings ;
4 Ai:4
ANCIENT POEMS. 339
And teach my tongue, that ever did confine
Its faculties in truth's feraphick line, 5
To track the treafons of thy foes and mine.
Nature and law, by thy divine decree,
(The only root of righteous royaltie)
With this dim diadem invefted me:
With it, the facred fcepter, purple robe, I a
The holy undYion, and the royal globe:
Yet am I levell'd with the life of Job.
The fierceft furies, that do daily tread
Upon my grief, my grey difcrowned head,
Are thofe that owe my bounty for their bread. i$
They raife a war, and chriften it THE CAUSE,
While facrilegious hands have bed applaufe,
Plunder and murder are the kingdom's laws ;
Tyranny bears the title of taxation,
Revenge and robbery are reformation, aa
Gppreffion gains the name of fequeitration.
My loyal fubjefts, who in this bad feafon
Attend me (by the law of God and reafon),
They dare impeach, and punifli for high treafon.
Z * Next
340 ANCIENT POEMS.
Next at the clergy do their furies frown, a 5
Pious epifcopacy muft go down,
They will deftroy the crofier and the crown.
Churchmen are chain'd, and fchifmaticks are freed,
Mechanicks preach, and holy fathers bleed,
The crown is crucified with the creed. 30
The church of England doth all factions fofter,
The pulpit is ufurpt by each impoftor,
Extempore excludes the Paternofter.
The Prefbyter, and Independent feed
Springs with broad blades. To make religion bleed 3 £
Herod and Pontius Pilate are agreed.
The corner ftone's mifplac'd by every pavier ;
With fuch a bloody method and behaviour
Their anceftors did crucifie our Saviour.
My royal confort, from whofe fruitful womb 4*
So many princes legally have come,
Is forc'd in pilgrimage to leek a tomb.
Great Britain's heir is forced into France,
Whilft on his father's head his foes advance :
Poor child ! he weeps out his inheritance. 45
With
ANCIENT POEMS. 341
With my OWH power my majefty they wound,
In the king's name the king himfelf's unCrown'd :
So doth the duft deftroy the diamond.
With propoHtions daily they enchant
My people's ears, fuch as do reafon daunt, 50
And the Almighty will not let me grant.
They promife to ere& my royal ftem,
To make me great, t' advance my diadem,
If I will firft fall down, and worfliip them !
But for refufal they devour my thrones, 55
Diftrefs my children, and deftroy my bones j
I fear they'll force me to make bread of ftones.
My life they prize at fuch a {lender rat?,
That in my abfence they draw bills of hate,
To prove the king a traytor to the ftate. 60
Felons obtain more privilege than I,
They are allow'd to anfwer ere they die ;
*Tis death for me to afk the reafon, why.
But, facred Saviour, with thy words I woo
Thee to forgive, and not be bitter to 65
Such, as thou know'ft do not kcow what they do.
Z 3 For
342 N C I E N T P O E M S.
For fince they from their lord are fo disjointed,
As to contemn thofe edi&s he appointed,
How can they prize the power of his anointed ?
Augment my patience, nullifie my hate, 74
Preferve my iflue, and infpire my mate,
Yet, though we perifh, BLESS THIS CHURCH and STATED
XIV.
THE SALE OF REBELLIONS HOUSHOLD-STUFF.
tfhisfarcaftic exultation of triumphant loyalty, is printed
front an old black-letter copy in the Pefys collection, cor-
refled by two others, one of*wJtifh is preferred in '•'•A choice
collection of 1 20 loyal Jongs, &c." 1684, I2/»0. — "To the
tune of Old Simon the king.
REbellion hath broken up houfe,
And hath left me old lumber to fell j
Come hither, and take your choice,
I'll promife to ufe you well :
Will you buy the old fpeaker's chair ? 5
Which was warm and eafie to fit in,
And oft hath been clean'd I declare,
When as it was fouler than fitting.
Says old bimun the king, &c.
Will
A N C I E N T P O E M S. 343
Will you buy any bacou-flitclies, 10
The fattelt, that ever were Ipent ?
They're the fides of the old committees,
Fed up in the long parliament.
Here's a pair of bellows, and tongs,
And for a {mall matter I'll fell -ye 'um ; i£
They are made of the prelbyters lungs,
To blow up the coals of rebellion.
Says old Simon, &c.
J had thought to have given them once
To fo.T.e black-fmith f<>r his forge j ao
But now I have confidered on't,
They are confecrate to the church :
So I'll give them unto fome quire,
They will make the big organs roar,
And the little pipes to fqueeke higher, ^4
Than ever they could before.
Says old Simon, 8cc.
Here's a couple of ftools for fale,'
One's fquare, and t'other is round ;
Betwixt them both the tail 30
Of the RUMP fell down to the ground.
Will you buy the (tales council-table,
Which was made of the good wain Scot ?
The frame was a tottering Babel
TO uphold the Independent plot. jtf
Says old Simon, &c.
Z 4 Here's
344 ANCIENT POEMS.
Here's the beefom of Reformation,
Which fhould have made clean the floor,
But it fwept the wealth out of the nation,
And left us dirt good (lore. 40
Will you buy the ftates fpinning-wheel,
Which fpun for the ropers trade ?
But better it had flood flill,
For now it has fpun a fair thread.
Says old Simon, &c. 45
Here's a glyfter-pipe well try'd,
Which was made of a butcher's flump •*,
And has been fafely apply 'd,
To cure the colds of the rump.
Here's a lump of Pilgrims-Salve, 5®
Which once was a juftice of peace,
Who Noll and the Devil did ferve ;
But now it is come to this.
Says old Simon, &c.
Here's a roll of the ftates tobacco, £5
If any good fellow will take it ;
No Virginia had e'er fuch a fmack-o,
And I'll tell you how they did make it :
* dlluding frobally to Major-Genet al Harrifea a butcher's font
•who ajjifted Granrwtll in turning out the long parliament) April 20,
I653.
'Tis
ANCIENT POEMS. 345
'Tis th' Engagement, and Covenant cookt
Up with the Abjuration oath ; 60
And many of them, that have took't,
Complain it was foul in the mouth.
Says old Simon, &c.
Yet the afhes may happily ferve
To cure the fcab of the nation, 6$
Whene'er 't has an itch to fwcrve
To Rebellion by innovation.
A Lanthorn here is to be bought,
v The like was fcarce ever gotten,
For many plots it has found out 7*
Before they ever were thought on.
Says old Simon, &c.
Will you buy the RUMP'S great faddle,
With which it jocky'd the nation ?
And here is the bitt, and the bridle, y J
And curb of Diffimulation :
And here's the trunk-hofe of the RUMP,
And their fair diflembling cloak,
And a Prefbyterian jump,
With an Independent fmock. $•
Says old Simon, &c.
Will you buy a Confcience oft tnrn'd,
Which ferv'd the high-court of juftice,
And ftretch'd until England it mourn'ds
But Hell will buy that if the woift is. 85
Here',
346^ ANCIENT POEMS.
Here's Joan Cromwell's kitching-ftuff" ttibj
Wherein is the fat of the Rompers,
"With which old Noll's horns fhe did rob,
When he was got drunk with falfe bumpers.
Says old Simon, &c. 90
Here's the purfe of the public faith;
Here's the model of the Sequeibation,
"When the old wives upon their good troth,
Lent thimbles to mine the nation.
Here's Dick Cromwell's Proiedoifhip, , 95
And here are Lambert's commiilions,
And here is Hugh Peters his fcrip
Cramm'd with the tumultuous Petitions.
Says old Simon, &c.
And here are old Noll's brewing veflels, 109
And here are his dray, and his Uings j
Here are Hewfon's awl, and his brifties;
With diverfe other odd things :
And what is the price doth belong
To al! thefe matters before ye ? 105
I'll fell them all for an old fong,
And fo I do end my ftory.
Says old Simon, &c.
Vcr. 86. This ivas a cr.nt name given to Cromwell's wift ly the
Kyafrjis, the' her name was Elizabeth. She was taxedivitb exchanging
tie kitchen-faff for the candles, ufed in the Protefiot's foujlo/ei, &c. See
Gent. Mag. fir March, 17??, f. 242.
Ver. 94. See Grey's Hudibrai, Pi. I. Cant. 2. ver. 5 ;o, &c.
Ptr. ice. 102. Cr&wiueh h.id in bis younger years fcllQivcd the l>vcio~
ing trad; at lluntingilan. Col. lleivfin iijnici ta have been originally «
(ttlcr.
XV. THE
ANCIENT POEMS.
347
XV.
THE BAFFLED KNIGHT, OR LADY's POLICY,
Given (luithfome corrections) from a MS. copy^ and col'
latcd with tiuo printed ones in Roman character in the Pejys
tolletfion.
was a knight was drunk with wine,
A riding along the way, fir ;
And there he met with a lady fine,
Among the cocks of hay, fir.
Shall you and L, O lady faire, $
Among the grafs lye down-a r
And I will have a fpecial care
Of rumpling; of your eowue-a.
i a j s>
Upon the grafs there is a dcwe,
Will ipoil my damafk gowne, fir: f*
My gowne, nnd kirtle they are newe,
And coil me many a crowne, fir.
I have a cloak of fcarlet red,
Upon the ground I'll thrdwe it ;
Then, lady faire, come lay thy head ; f J
'We'll play, and none fljall knowe it.
O yonder
348 ANCIENT POEMS.
O yonder ftands my fteed fo free
Among the cocks of hay, fir ;
And if the pinner fhould chance to fee,
He'll take my fteed away, fir. 20
Upon my finger I have a ring,
Its made of fineft gold-a ;
And, lady, it thy fteed mail bring
Out of the pinner's fold-a.
O go with me to my father's hall ; *5
Fair chambers there are three, fir:
And you fliall have the beft of all,
And I'll your chamberlaine bee, fir;
He mounted himfelf on his fteed fo tall,
And her on her dapple gray, fir: 30
And there they rode to her father's hal],
Faft pricking along the way, fir.
To her father's hall they arrived ftrait ;
'Twas moated round about-aj
She flipped herfelf within the gate, 3$
And lockt the knight without-a.
Here is a filver penny to fpend,
And take it for your pain, fir j
And two of my father's men I'll fend
To wait on you back again, fir. 40
5 He
ANCIENT POEMS. 349
He from his fcabbard drew his brand,
And wiped it upon his fleeve-a:
And curfed, he faid, be every man,
That will a maid believe-a !
She drew a bodkin from her haire, . ^j*
And whip'd it upon her gown-a;
And curs'd be every maiden faire,
That will with men lye down-a !
A herb there is, that lowly grows,
And fome do call it rue, fir : 54
The fmalleft dunghill cock that crows,
Would make a capon of yo«> fir.
A flower there is, that fhineth bright,
Some call it mary-gold-a :
He that wold not when he might, $$
He fliall not when he wold-a.
The knight was riding another day,
With cloak and hat and feather :
He met again with that lady gay,
Who was angling in the river. . 6e
Now, lady faire, IVe met with you,
You fliall no more efcape me ;
Remember, how not long agoe
You falfely did intrap me.
The
350 ANCIENT POEMS.
The lady blufhed fcarlet red, 65
And trembled at the ftranger:
How fliall I guard my maidenhead
From this approaching danger ?
He from his faddle down did light,
In all his riche attyer ; 7»
And cryed, As I am a noble knight,
1 do thy charms admyer.
He took the lady by the hand,
Who feemingly coniente'd ;
And would no more difputing fland : 7$
She had a plot invented.
Looke yonder, good Hr knight, I pray,
Methinks 1 now difcover
A riding upon his dapple grsy,
My former contain lover* 80
On tip-toe peering flood the knight,
Faft by the rivers brink-a ;
The lady pufht with all her might:
Sir knight, now fvvim or fmk-a.
O'er head and ears he plunged in, $£
The bottom faire he founded ;
Then riling up, he cried amain,
Help, helpe, or elfe I'm drowncied !
Now,
ANCIENT POEMS. 35,
Now, fare-you-well, fir knight, adieu!
You fee what comes of fooling : $•
That is the fitteft place for you ;
Your courage wanted cooling.
Ere many days, in her fathers park,
Juft at the clofe of eve-a,
Again flie met with her angry fparke ; 9^
Which made this lady grieve-a.
Falfe lady, here thou'rt in my my powre,
And no one now can hear thee;
And thon (halt forely rue the hour,
That e'er thou dar'dil to jeer me. xe»
I pray, fir knight, be not fo warm
With a young filly maid-a :
I vow and iwear I thought no harm,
' Twas a gentle jell I playd-a.
A gentle jeff, infoothel he cry'd, i«£
To tumble me in and leave me:
What if 1 had in the river dy'd?— — .
That fetch will not deceive me.
Once more I'll pardon thee Phis day,
Tho' injur'd out of meafure ; lia
Kut then prepare without delay
To yield thee to my pleafure.
Well
352 ANCIENT POEMS.
Well then, if I muft grant your fuit,
Yet think of your boots and fpurs, fir :
Let me pull off both fpur and boot, 115
Or elfe you cannot ftir, fir.
He fet him down upon the grafs,
And begg'd her kind affiftance :
Now, fmiling thought this lovely laf§,
I'll make you keep your diflance. 12®
Then pulling off his boots half-way ;
Sir knight, now I'm your betters :
You (hall not make of me your prey ;
Sit there like a knave in fetters.
The knight when fhe had ferved foe, 1215
He fretted, fum'd, and grumbled *
For he could neither ftand nor goe,
But like a cripple tumbled.
Farewell, fir knight, the clock ftrikes ten,
Yet do not move nor ftir, fir: 130
I'll fend you my father's ferving men,
To pull off your boots and fpurs, fir.
This merry jeft you muft excufe,
You are but a flinglefs nettle :
You'd never have flood for boots or (hoes, 135
Had you been a man of mettle.
All
ANCIENT POEMS. 353"
All night in grievous rage he lay,
Rolling upon the plain-a ;
Next morning a fliepherd paft that way,
Who fet him right again-a. 149
Then mounting upon his fteed fo tall,
By hill and dale he fwore-a :
I'll ride at once to her father's hall j
She fhall efcape no more-a.
I'll take her father by the beard, 145
I'll challenge all her kindred ;
Each daftard foul mail Hand affeard j
My wrath mall no more be hindred.
He rode unto her father's houfe,
Which every fide was moated: iijo
The lady heard his furious vows,
And all his vengeance noted.
Thought fhee, fir knight, to quench your rage,
Once more I will endeavour:
This water fhall your fury 'fwage, 155
Or elfe it fhall burn for ever.
^,-^ifit: -
TKen faining penitence and feare,
She did invite a parley:
Sir knight, if you'll forgive me heare,
Henceforth I'll love you dearly. 160
Voi. II. A a My
554 ANCIENT P O E M &
My father he is now from home,
And I am all alone, fir:
Therefore a-crofs the water come ;
to^i And I am all your own, fir.
Falfe maid, thou eanft no more deceive; 165
I fcorn the treacherous bait-a:
If thou would'ft have me thee believe,
Now open me the gate-a.
The bridge is drawn, the gate is barr'd,
My father he has the keys, fir. 170
But I have for my love prepar'd
A fhorter way and eafier.
Over the rnoate I've laid a plank
Full feventeen feet in meafure :
Then ftep a-crofs to the other bank, 175.
And there we'll take our pleafure.
Thefe words (he had no fooner fpoke,
But itrait he came tripping over:
The plank was faw'd, it (napping broke;
And ious'd the unhappy lover. i8«
XVI. WHY
ANCIENT POEMS. 355
XVI.
WHY SO
From Sir John Suckling's Poems, This fprightly inight
•was born iri 1613, and cut off by a fever about the 2tyh
year of his age. See above. Song IX. of this Book.
WHY fo pale and wan, fond lover?
Prethee, why fo pale ?
Will, when looking well can't move her,
Looking ill prevail ?
Prethee why fo pale ? 5
Why fo dull and mute, young Cnner?
Prethee why fo mute?
Will, when fpeaking well can't win her,
Saying nothing doe't ?
Prethee why fo mute ? i6>
Quit,, quit for fiiame ; this will not move,
This cannot take her j
If of herfelf flie will not love,
Nothing can make her.
The devil take her! 15
9
Aaa XVII. OLD
356 ANCIENT POEMS.
XVII.
OLD TOM OF BEDLAM.
MAD SONG THE FIRST.
// is worth attention, that the EngliJJi have more Jongs
and ballads on the fubjeft of madnefs^ than any of their
neighbours. Whether there be any truth in the infatuation^
that ive are more liable to this calamity than other nations,
or that our native gloominefs hath peculiarly recommended
fvbjefls of this caji to our writer s\ ive certainly Jo not find
the Jame in the printed collections of French, Italian
Songs, &c.
Out of a much larger quantity, ive have felefled half a
dozen MAD soNGS,/or thefe •volumes. The three firjl ate
originals in their refseftivg kinds ; the merit of the three la/I
is chiefly that of imitation. They weie written at confider-
able intervals of time; but ive have here, grouped them toge-
ther, that the reader may the better examine their compa-
rative merits. He may confidtr them as fo many trials of
Jkill in a very peculiar fubjefl as the contejl of fo many ri-
vals toflioot in the boiu of UlyJJes. The tivo Jirft 'were fro-
iably written about the beginning of the lajl century the
third about the middle of it ; the fourth and fixth towards
the end ; and the fifth -within this prefent century.
This is given from the Editor s folio MS compared with
t<wo or three old printed espies — With regara to the author
tf this eld rhapjody^ in Walton's Complcat Angler, cap. 3, is
ANCIENT POEMS. 357
ttfong in praife of angling, 'which the author fays tvas made
at his requejl " by Mr. WILLIAM BASSE, one that has
" made the choice Jongs of the HUNTER IN HIS CAREER,
" and of TOM OF BEDLAM, and many others of note"
p. 8*. See Sir JOHN HAWKINS'S curious Edition, 8w.
ef that excellent old Book.
FORTH from my fad and darkfome cell,
Or from the deepe abyfle of hell,
Mad Tom is come into the world againe
To fee if he can cure his diflempered braine.
Feares and cares opprefle my foule; $
Harke, howe the angrye Fureys houle !
Pluto laughes, and Proferpine is gladd
To fee poore naked Tom of Bedlam madd.
Through the world I wander night and day
To feeke my ftraggling fenfes, IO
In an angrye moode I mett old Time,
With his pentarchye of tenfes :
When me he fpyed,
Away he hyed.
For time will flay for no man: 15
In vaine with cryes
1 rent the flcyes,
For pity is not common.
Cold and comfortlefs I lye :
Helpe, oh helpe! or elfe I dye! 20
A a 3 Harkc!
ANCIENT POEMS,
Harke f I heare Apollo's teame,
The carman 'gins to whiftle;
Chart Diana bends her bowe,
The boare begins to brittle.
Come, Vulcan, with tools and with tackles, 2$
To knocke off my troublcfome (hackles;
Bid Charles make ready his waine
To fetch me my fenfes againe.
Lad night I heard the dog-ftar bark;
Mars met Venus in the darke ; 30
Limping Vulcan het an iron barr,
And f uriouflye made at the god of war J
Mars with )iis weapon laid about,
But Vulcan's temples had the gout,
For his broad horns did fo hang in his light, 35
He could not fee to aim his blowes aright ;
Mercurye the nimble poft of heaven,
Stood ftill to fee the quarrell ;
Gorrel-bellyed Bacchus, gyant-like,
JJeftryd a flrong-beere barrel!. 49
To mee he dranke,
I did him thanke,
But J could get no cyder j
ANCIENT POEMS. 359
He dranke whole butts
Till he buift his gutts, . 45
But mine were ne'er the wyder.
Poore naked Tom is very drye:
A little drinke forcharitye!
Harke, I hear A&eon's home !
The huntfmen whoop and hallower £o
Ringwood, Royfter, Bowman, Jowler,
All the chafe do followe.
•
The man in the moone drinkes clarret,
Bates powder'd beef, turnip, and carret,
But a cup of old Malaga fack $£
Will fire the bulhe at his backe.
•
XVIII.
THE DISTRACTED PURITAN,
MAD SONG THE SECOND,
v— 'was written about the beginning of the feventeentb cen-
tury by the witty bijbop Corbet, and is printed from the $J
edition of his Poems, izmo. 1672, compared 'with a more
ancient copy In the Editor1 s folio MS.
A a 4 AM
360 'ANCIENT-POEMS.
AM I mad, O noble Feftus,
When zeal and godly knowledge
Have put me in hope
To deal with the pope,
As well as the beft in the college? 5
Boldly I preach, hate a crols, hate a furplice,
Mitres, copes, and rochets ;
Come hear me pray nine times a day,
And fill your heads with crochets.
In the houfe of pure Emanuel * 10
I had my education,
Where my friends furmife
1 chzel'd my eyes
With the Tight of revelation.
Bolcily I preach, &c.
They bound me like a bedlam, 1$
They lafu'd my four poor quarters ;
Whiia this I endure,
Faith makes me fure
To be one of Foxes martyrs.
Boldly I preach, &cc.
Thefe injuries I fuffer 29
Through antichrift's perfwafion :
* Emanuel college Cambridge -was trigtnally a. Jtminary of Purftant.
Take
ANCIENT POEMS. 361
Take off this <*hain,
Neither Rome nor Spain
Can refift my ftrong invafion.
Boldly I preach, &c.
Of the bead's ten horns (God blefs us !) *$
I have koock'd off three already j
If they let me alone
I'll leave him none :
But they fay I am too heady.
Boldly I preach, &c.
When T fack'd the feven-hill'd city, 3*
I met the great red dragon ;
I kept him aloof
With the armour of proof,
Though here I have never a rag on.
Boldly I preach, &c.
With a fiery fword and target, 3$
There fought I with this monfler :
But the fons of pride ;' '
My zeal deride,
And all my deeds mifconfter.
Boldly I preach, &c.
I un-hors'd the Whore of Babel, 40
With the lance of Infpiration;
I made
362 ANCIENT POEMS,
I made her tfink,
And fpill the drink
In her ci'p of abomination.
Boidiy I preach, &c.
I have feen two in a vifion 45
With a flying book * between them,
I ha\e beer, in defpair
Five times in a year,
And been cur'd by reading Greenham f ,
Boidiy I preach, &c.
I obferv'd in Perkin's tables J 59
The black line of damnation ;
Thofe crooked veins
So ftuck in my brains,
That 1 fear'd my reprobation.
Boldly I preach, &c.
* diluting to feme vijionary exfofttion of Zeeb. cb. V. ver. i ; or,
if the date of this Jong luou/d permit, one might fuffofe it aimed at one
Coppe, « Jiravfre cutknfittft^ ivbofe life may be jeen in Wood's sltben.
Vol. II. f. 501. He tva: author of a bwk, intttlcd, " The f\ery Flying
Roll:" and <iftc>''wardi fubli/led a Recantation, fart of nuboje t.tle is,
.'• The Fiery Flying Rett's Wing* dipt," fsfc.
f See Greenbam s Works, Jot. 1605, -particularly the traQ infilled,
" Jlfiveet Cw-Jort fa an ajfiitfcd Conjcicnce."
1 See Perhm'i Worts, fol. 1616, Vol. I. f. r r ; where is a largs
lalj "fleet folded, containing, " A fun ey, or table, declaring the order
" of the caufes 'f ful-v ution and damnation, (s~c." the fedigree of damna-
tion Icing dijlin-uificd by a It tad black X'g-xag line.
In
ANCIENT POEMS. 363
In the holy tongue of Canaan 5$
I plac'd my chiefeft pleafure:
Till I prick'd my foot
With an Hebrew root,
That I bled beyond all meafure.
Boldly I preach, &c.
I appear'd before the archbifliop *, 6«
And all the high commiflion;
I gave him no grace,
But told him to his face,
That he favour'd fuperftitioru
Boldly I preach, hate a crofs, hate a furplice,
Mitres, copes, and rochets : 66
Come hear me pray nine times a day,
And fill your heads with crotchetsf
.
* 4tf. Laud.
XIX.
364 ANCIENT POEMS.
XIX.
THE LUNATIC LOVER,
MAD SONG THE THIRD,
——is given from an old printed copy in the Briti ^
compared with another in ibe Pepys colleflion ; both in black
letter.
GRIM king of the ghofts, make hafte,
And bring hither ali your train ;
See how the pale moon does wafte,
And juft now is in the wane.
Come, you night-hags, with all your charms, 5
And revelling witches away,
And hug me ciofe in your arms ;
To you my refpecls I'll pay.
I'll court you, and think you fair,
Since love does diflrail my brain : 10
I'll go, I'll wed the night-mare,
And ki!s her, and kifs her again :
* But
ANCIENT POEMS. 365
But if (he prove peevifti and proud,
Then, a piie on her love ! let her go j
I'll feek me a winding (hroud, Ijj
And down to the (hades below,
A lunacy fad I endure,
Since reafon departs away ;
I call to thofe hags for a cure
As knowing not what I fay. 20
The beauty, whom I do adore,
Now (lights me with fcorn and difdainj
I never (hall fee her more ;
Ah ! how {hall I bear my pain !
I ramble, and range about *£
To find out my charming faint }
While (lie at my grief does flout,
And fmiles at my loud complaint.
Diitraftion I fee is my doom,
Of this I am now too fure j 30
A rival is got in my room,
While torments I do endure.
Strange fancies do fill my head,
While wandering in de(pair,
I am to the defarts lead, 3$
to find her there.
Methbks
-
ANCIENT POEMS,
Methinks in a fpangled cloud
I fee her enthroned on high ;
Then to her I crie aloud,
And labour to reach the fky. 4*
When thus I have raved awhile,
And wearyed my f elf in vain,
I lye on the barren foil,
And bitterly do complain.
Till flumber hath qireted me, 4$
In forrow I figh and weep j
The clouds are my c:nopy
To cover me while I fleep.
I dream that my charming fair
Is then in my rival's bed, 50
Whofe treffes of golden hair
Are on the fair pillow befpread.
Then this doth my paffiori inflame,
I flart, and no longer can He:
Ah! Sylvia, art thou not to blame £$
To ruin a lover? I cry. »'"**
Grim king of the ghofts, be true$
And hurry ine hence away,
My languifhing life to you
A tribute I freely pay, 60
ANCIENT POEMS. 367
To the elyfian (hades I poft
In hopes to be freed from care,
Where many a bleeding ghoft
Is hovering in the air.
XX.
THE LADY DISTRACTED WITH LOVE,
MAD SONG TffE FOURTH,
<was originally fun^ in one of TOM D'uRFEY's cVrtie-
dies of Don Quixote a fled in 1694 and 1696; and probably
compofed l>y hunfelf. In the fever al ftanzas, the author re~
prefents his pretty Mad-woman as i . fuddenly mad: 2. mirth-
fully mad : 3. melancholy mad : 4 fantailically mad : and
q . /lark mad. Bvtk this, and Num.'+XXIL are printed from
D'urfeys " Pills to purge Melancholy^ 1719, "vol. I.
FROM rofie bowers, where fleeps the god of love.
Hither ye little wanton cupids fiy ;
Teach me in {oft melodious ftrains to move
With tender paffion my heart's darling jyy:
Ah ! let the foul of mulick tune my voice, £
To win dear Strephon^, who my foul ^njoyj,
>,
Or,
368 ANCIENT POEMS.
Or, if more influencing
Is to be brifk and airy,
With a ftep and a bound,
With a frilk from the ground,
I'll trip like any fairy.
As once on Ida dancing
Were three celeftial bodies :
With an air, and a face,
And a fhape, and a grace, 1 5
I'll charm, like beauty's goddcfs.
Ah ! 'tis in vain ! 'tis all, 'tis all in vain !
Death and defpair mtift end the fatal pain :
Cold, cold defpair, difguis'd like fnow and rain,
Falls on my bread ; bleak wind* in tempefts blow ; 20
My veins all flnver, and my fingers glow :
My pulfe beats a dead march for loft repofe,
And to a folid lump of ice my poor fond heart is froze.
Or fay, ye powers, my peace to crown,
Shall I thaw myfelf, and drown 25
Among the foaming billows ?
Increafmg all with tears I died,
On beds of ooze, and cryftal pillows,
Lay down, lay down my lovelick head ?
No, no, I'll (trait run mad, mad, mad, ^'
That foon my heart will warm;
Who
ANCIENT £ O £ M S. 369
XVhen once the fenfe is fled, is fled.
Love has no power to charm.
Wild thro' the woods I'll fly, I'll fly,
Robes, locks fhall thus be tore! 3$
A thoufand, thoufand times I'll dye
Ere thus, thus, in vain, — ere thus in vain adore*
xXt*
tHE DISTRACTED LOVER,
MAD SONG THE FIFTH,
written by HENRY CAREY, a celebrated compdfer
*f Mujic at the beginning of this century, and author of
federal little Theatrical Entertainments, -which the reader
may find enumerated in the *' Companion to the Play-hoofs', ,'*
£sV. The fprightlinefs of this Songfter's fancy could not
prefer*ve him from a very melancholy cataftrophe* iuhich iuas
off eel ed by his vwirhand. In his POEMS, 4(0. Lond. \ ~z ,
may befeen another Mad Song of this airthor, beginning tJuts :
" Gods! I can never this endure,
*' Death alone mujl be my cure," &c.
I Go to the Elyfian fliade,
Where forrow ne'er iliall wound me;
Where nothing flrall my' reft invade,. '
But joy fliall ftill furround me.
VOL.!!, Bb Jflr
370 ANCIENT POEMS.
I fly from Celia's cold difdain, $
From her difdain I fly ;
She is the caufc of all my pain,
For her alone I die.
Her eyes are brighter than the mid-day fun.
When he but half his radiant courfe has run, :•
When his meridian glories gaily fliine,
And gild all nature with a warmth divine.
See yonder river's flowing tide,
Which now fo full appears ;
Thofe ftreams, that do fc> fwiftly glide, ijj
Are nothing but my tears.
There I have wept till I could weep no more,
And curft mine eyes, when they hare wept their ftorej
Then, like the clouds, that rob the azure main,
I've drain'd the flood to weep it back again. to
Pity my pain?,
Ye gentle Ivvains!
Cover me with ice and fnow,
I fcorch, I burn, I flame, I glow!
Furies, tear me, if
Quickly bear me
To the difmal {hades below !
Where yelling, and howling
And
ANCIENT POEMS. 371
And grumbling, and growling (
Strike the ear with horrid woe. O
Hiding fnakes,
Fiery hk;s
Would be a pleafnre, and « cur: :
Not all the hells,
Where Pluto dwells,
Can give fuch pain as I endure.
To fome peaceful plain convey me,
On a mofley carpet lay me,
Fan me with ambrofial breeze,
Let me die, and fo have eafc !
XXTT.
THE FRANTIC LADY,
MAD SONG THE SIXTH.
Wit, like Num. XX. ivas originally fung in one of
D'UR KEY'S Comedies of Dm Qtiixote, (fit ft afte-1 , bout the
year 16^4.) and tuns piobably compojed by that pojulaf
Songfter IV'JQ died b'eb. :6. i ' 2 \-
This is printed in the " H.*v, a Colitfiioi of Sftgs,"
4 ^'ois. i - a i, i zmo. tu'we may be fmnd ituo or three othtr
Tvl AU SONG > not admit te. I into thtje Volumes,
B b * I Burn,
372 A-N CIENT POEMS.
IBurn, my brain confumes to afhes!
Each eye -ball too like lightning flafties!
Within iny bread there glows a folid fire,
Which,in a thoufand ages can't expire!
Blow, blow, the winds' great ruler! £
Bring the Po, and the Ganges hither,
[•Tis lultry weather,
Pour them all on my foul,
It will hifs like a coal,
But be never the cooler. JNt
*Twas pride hot as hell,
That firft made me rebell,
From love's awful throne a curfl anger I fell j •
, And mourn now my fate,
Which myfelf did creates i£
Fool, fool, that confider'd not when I was well !
Adieu ! ye vain tranfporting joys !
Off ye vain fantaftic toys ! ..
That drefs this face — this body — to allure!
Bring me daggers, poifon, fire ! a&
Since fcorn is turn'd into defire.
All hell feels not the rage, which I, poor I, endure.
XXIII. LILLI
ANCIENT POEMS. 373
.
XXIII.
LILLI BURLERO.
fAe following rhymes, flight and infignificant as they may
noivfeem, had once a more powerful ejfecl than either the
Philippics of Demofthenes, or Cicero ; and contributed not a.
little towards the great revolution in 1688. Let us hear a
•contemporary writer.
" A foolijb ballad was made at that time, treating the
*' Papijls, and chiefly the Irijli, in a very ridiculous manner •,
" which had a bur den f aid to be Irijh words, " Lero, kro9
' lilibuflero," that made an imprej/ion on the [king's] arrny^
1 that cannot be imagined by thofe that f aw it not. The
* whole army, and at lafl the people,- both in city and 'country ',
' iverejing ing it perpetually. And perhaps never had Jo
''flight a thing fo great an effeft" Burnet.
It 'was -written, or at leajl republijhed, on the earl of
cTyrconnel> s going afecond time to Ireland in Oftober, 1688.
Perhaps it is unnecejjary to mention, that General Richard
Talbot, newly created ea*~l of Tyrconnel, had been nomi-
nated by K. fames II. to the lieutenancy of Ireland in 1686,
on account of his being a furious papift, luho had recom-
mended himftlf to his bigotted majler by his arbitrary treat-
ment of the proteftants in the preceding year, ivhen only lieu-
tenant general, and iv/tofejub/tquenf condufl fully juftified
his expectations and their fears. The violences of his ad-
miniflration may be.feen in any of the hijlories of thofe times :
particularly in bifoop Kings " State of the Protejlants in
* ' Ireland, " 1 6 y i , 4 to. .
LII.LIBCRLERO and BULLEN-A-LAH arefaid'to have
been the words of diftinclion ufed ammg the Irijk Papijls in
their majfacre of the Pro teflant t in 1641,
Bb3 HO!
374 ANCIENT POEM?.
HO! broder Teague, doft hear de decree I
Lilli burlero, bullen a-la.
Pat we fliall have a new deputie,
Lilli bu Lio bullen a-la.
Lero lero, lilli burlero, lero lero, bullen a-la, 5
Lero leroj lilli burlero, lero lero, bullen a-la*
Ho ! by fliaint Tyburn, it is de Talbote :
Lilli, &c.
And he will cut de Englifhmen's troate,
Lilli, &c. i»
Doxi^h by my flioul de Englifli do praat,
Lilli, &c.
De law's on dare fide, and Creifli knows what.
Lilli, &c.
But if d'fpence do come from de pope, i£
i.illi, &c.
We'll hang Migna Charta, and dem in a rope.
Lilli, &c.
| For de gf>od Talbot is made a lord,
Dili, &c. 40
And wi-h \ rave lads is coming aboard :
\ Lilli, &c.
"U ho all in France, have taken a fware,
Lilli, &c.
»^-
Ytr. 7. Ho by my flionl. id. ed.
Dat
ANCIENT POEMS. 375
Dat dey will have no proteftant heir. »$
Lilli, &c.
Ara! but why does he flay behind?
Lilli, &c.
Ho! by my fhoul 'tis a proteftant wind.
Lilli, &c. 39
But fee de Tyrconnel is now come afhore,
Lilli, &c.
And we fhall have comrniffions gillore,
Lilli, &c.
And he dat will not go to de mafs, 35
Lilli, &c.
Shall be turn out, and look like an afs.
Lilli, &c.
Now, now de hereticks all go down,
Lilli, &c. 40
"By Chrifli and fhaint Patrick, de nation's our own.
Lilli, &c.
Dare was an old prophefy found in a bog,
Lilli, &c.
« Ireland fliall be rul'd by aa afs, and a dog," 4^
Lilli, Sec.
Vtr. 43. What fellow it ml infant vfitt.
B b 4 And
376 ANCIENT POEMS.
And now dis prophefy is come to pafs,
LiUi, &c.
For Talhot's de dog, and JA**S is de afs.
Lilli, &c. '
•:
*^* 'The foregoing Song is attributed to
TON in ajmail ptimp/ilet, intitled, ' '• A true relation of the
fg-i'eral fafts and circuniftances of the intended riot and
tumult on ^. Elizabeth's birth-day, &V " %J. ed- Lond.
1712 pr. 2d. — See p 5, viz. — "^ late Viceroy \of
Ireland^ IL/I- ha> jo often boafled himfclf upon his ta-
lent for mi/chief, invention, lying, and for making a cer-
tain Lillibuiiero Song; with '-which, if you will believe
him [elf i he fung a decided Prince out qf Three
XXIV.
THE BRAES OF YARROW,
IN JMITAT ION OF THE ANCIENT ScOIS MANNER,
• — -was ivrilte n by William Hamilton, of Bungour, Efq; tube
died March 2 5, i^;4, aged 50. // is printed from an
elegant edition of his Poems publijhed at Edinburgh, 1760,
iznio* This fong teas nv> it ten in i»:itation of an old Scot~
t'JIt Bali ad on ajimilar fubjecl^ <wi(/t {he fame burden to
tachJlaniM.
A. TQ USK ye, bufk ye, my br»nny bonny bride,
J-' Bi.lkye, bufk ye, my winfome marrow,
Buflc ye, b Ik ye, my bonny bonny bride,
Apd think r^e mair on the Braes of Yarrow.
B.
\
ANCIENT POEMS. 377
B. Where gat ye that bonny bonny bride ? $
Where gat ye that winfome marrow ?
A.. I gat her where I dare na well be feen,
Puing the birks on the Braes of Yarrow.
Weep not, weep not, my bonny bonny bride,
Weep not, weep not, rny winiome marrow j id
Nor let rhy heart lament to leive
Puing the birks on the Braes of Yarrow.
B. Why does {he weep, thy bonny bonny bride ?
Why does ilie weep thy winfome marrow ?
And why dare ye nae mair weil be feen i£
Puing the birks on the Braes of Yarrow?
A Lang maun fhe weep, lang maun fhe, maun (lie weep,
Lang maun (he weep with dule and forrow j
And lang maun I nae mair weil be feen
Puing the birks on the Braes of Yarrow, ao
For fhe has tint her luver, luver dear,
Her luver dear, the caufe of forrow;
And I hae ilain the comlieft fwain
That eir pu'd birks on the Braes of Yarrow,
.. r
Why rins thy ftream, O Yarrow, Yarrow, reid? 25
Why on thy braes heard the voice of forrow ?
And why yon melancholious weids
Hung on the bonny birks of Yarrow?
* What't
378 ANCIENTPOEMS.
What's yonder floats on the rueful rueful fluder
What's yonder floats ? O dule and forrow ! 3*
O 'tis he the comely fwain 1 flew
Upon the duleful Braes of Yarrow.
Wafli, O wafli his wounds, his wounds in tears,
His wounds in tears with dule and forrow ;
And wrap his limbs in mourning weids, 3$
And lay him on the Braes of Yarrow.
Then build, then build, ye fifttrs, lifters fad,
Ye fitters fad, his tomb with forrow ;
And weep around in waeful wife
His haplefi fate on the Braes of Yarrow. 49
Curfe ye, curfe ye, his ufelefs, ufelefs fhield,
My arm that wrought the deed of forrow,
The fatal fpear that pierc'd his breaft,
His comely breaft on the Braes of Yarrow,
Did I not warn thee, not to, not to luve ? 4$
And warn from fight ? but to my forrow
Too raflily bauld a ftronger arm
Thou mett'fl, and feU'fl on the Braes of Yarrow.
Sweet fmelis the birk, green grows, green growl
the grafs,
Yellow on Yarrow's bank the gowan, 50
Fair hangs the apple frae the rock,
Sweet the wave of Yarrow flowan.
*V -"' Flow*
ANCIENT POEMS. 379
Flows Yarrowfweet ? as fweef, as fvveet flows Tweed,
As green its grafs, its gowan as yellow,
As fweet fir el Is on its braes the birk, 55
The apple frae its rock as mellow.
Fair was thy luve, fair fair indeed thy hive,
In flow'ry bands thou didrt him fetter;
Tho' he was fair, and weil beluv'd again
Than me he never luv'd thee better. 69
Bufk ye, then bulk, my bonny bonny bride,
Buik ye, buflc ye, my winfome marrow,
Bulk ye, and luve me on the banks of Tweed,
And think nae mair en the Brats of Yarrow.
C. How can I bufk a bonny bonny bride? 65
How can I buflc a winfome marrow ?
How luve him upon the banks of Tweed,
That flew my luve on the Braes of Yarrow?
O Yarrrow fields, may never never rain,
Nor dew thy tender blofToms cover, 70
For there was bafely (lain my iuve,
My luve, as he had not been a lover.
The boy put on his robes, his robes of green,
His purple vett, 'twas my awn fewing:
Ah! wretched me! I little, little kenn'd 7$
lie was in thefe to meet his ruin.
The
38o- ANCIENT POEMS.
The boy took out his milk-white, milk-white fteed,
Unheedful of my dule and forrow :
But ere the toofall of the night
He lay a corps on the Braes of Yarrow. 80
Much I rejoyc'd that waeful waeful day;
I fang, ir.y voice the woods returning:
But lang ere night the fpear was flown,
That (lew my luve, and left me' mourning.
What can my barbarous barbarous father do, 8$
But with his cruel rage purfue me?
My luver's blood is on thy fpear,
How canft thou, barbarous man, then wooe me?
My hippy Mers may be, may be proud
With cruel, and ungentle fcoffin', 99
May bid me feek on Yarrow's Braes
My luver nailed in his coffin.
My brother Douglas may upbraid, upbraid,
And ftrive with threatning words to muve me:
My luvcr's blood is on thy fpear, 95
How canft thou ever bid me luve thee ?
Yes, -yes, prepare the bed, the bed of luve,
With biidal fheets my body cover,
Unbar, ye bridal fhaids, the door,
Let in the expected hufband lovert io»
But
ANCIENT POEMS. 3g*
But who the expected hufband hufband is?
His hands, methinks, are bath'd in flaughters
Ah me ! what ghaftly fpe&re's yon
Comes in his pale fhroud, bleeding after?
Pa!e as he is, here lay him, lay him down, 16
O lay his cold head on my pillow ;
Take aff, take aff thefe bridal weids,
And crown my careful head with willow.
Pale tho' thou art, yet befr, yet beft beluv'd, '
O could my warmth to life reftore thee! IIO
Yet lye all night between my breifts-,
No youth lay ever there before thee.
Pale, pale indeed, O luvely luvely youth;
Forgive, forgive fo foul a (laughter,
And lye all night between my breifls, n£
No youth fhall ever lye there after.
Return, return^ O mournful, mournful bride,
Return and dry thy ufelefs forrow:
Thy luver heeds none of thy fighs,
He lyes a corps in the Braes of Yarrow. la*
XXV. AD.
382 ANCIENT POEMS.
XXV.
ADMIRAL HOSIER'S GHOST,
• • ' was a Party Song written by the Ingenious author of
L FONT DAS *, on the taking of Porto Bella from the Spa-
niards by A'miral Femon Nov. 22, 1730. — 'The cafe of
Hojier, which is here fo pathetically represented, was briefly
this. In April • 723, that commander ewas fent with a
ftrongflctt into the Spanijh l^eft- Indies, to block up the gal-
leons in the ports of that country, or JhoiJd they prefume to
tome o: t to ft ize and carry them into England: he accordingly
arrived at the Baflimentos near Porto Bella, but being em -
ployed rather to wet-awe than to attack the Spaniards, ivitb
•whom it 'was probably not our inter eft to go to war, he Con -
tinued long inafli've on that Jlation, to bis onun great regret.
He afterwards removed to Carthagena, and remained
(ruizing in thefe Jeas, till far the greater part of his men
feri/bed deplorably by the difenjes of that unhealthy climate.
This brave man feeing his befl officers and men thus daily
fwept away, bis Jhips expofed to inevitable dcjtrufiion, and
bimftlf made tht J port of the enemy, is f aid to ha've died
of a'brolen heart. Such is the account of Smollett, corn-
fared iKJtt/i that of other lefs partial writers.
cTheJollofwingfong is commonly accompanied ivith a Second
Part, or AnJ^jer, which being of inferior merit, and ap»
farentiy written by another hand^ hath been lejefted.
AS near Porto-Bello lying
On the gently fwelling flood,
At midnigltt with fi reamers flying
Our triumphant navy roc'e ;
* J?n ingenious Csrref pendent informs tbt Edi:trt titt ttis Ballad b ;/£
Ittn a/fa attributed to the late Ltrd Salt.
ANCIENT POEMS. 383
There while Vernon fate all-glorious £
From the Spaniards' late defeat :
And his crews, with fliouts victorious,
Drank fuccefs to England's fleet :
On a fudden fhrilly founding,
Hideous yells and fhrieks were heard ; to
Then each heart with fear confounding,
A fad troop of ghofts appear 'd,
All in dreary hammocks fhrouded,
Which for winding-flieets they wore,
And with looks by forrow clouded f£
Frowning on that hoftile Ihore.
On them gleam'd the moon's wan luftre,
When the (hade of Hofier brave
His pale bands was feen to mufter
Riling from their watry grave. 3O
O'er the glimmering wave he hy'd him,
Where the Burford * rear'd her foil,
With three thoufand ghoih befide him,
And in groans did Vernon hail.
Heed, oh heed our fatal ftory, «$
I am Hofier's injur'd ghoft,
You, who now have purchas'd glory,
At this place where I was loft!
* Admiral Pirnon's Jtif.
Tho'
384 ANCIENT POEMS.
Tho' in Porto-Bello's ruin
You now triumph free from fears',
When you think on our undoing,
You will mix your joy with tears.
See thefe mournful fpeftres {weeping
Ghaftly o'er this hated wave,
Whofe wan cheeks are ftain'd with weeping;
Thefe were Englifh captains brave.
Mark thofe numbers pale and horrid,
Thofe were once my failors bold :
Lo, each hangs his drooping forehead,
While his difmal tale is told*
I, by twenty, fail attended,
Did this Spanifh town affright ;
Nothing then its wealth defended
But my orders not to fight.
Oh! that in this rolling ocean
I had caft them with difdain,
And obey'd my heart's warm motion
To have quell'd the pride of Spain !
0
For refinance I could fear none,
But with twenty fliips had done
What thou, brave and happy Vernon,
Haft atchiev'd with fix alone.
Then
ANCIENT POEMS. 385
Then the baftimentos never
Had our foul difhonour feen.
Nor the fea the fad receiver j;$
Of this gallant train had been.
Thus, like thee, proud Spain difmaying,
And her galleons leading home,
Though condemn'd for difobeying,
1 had met a traitor's doom, €o
To have fallen, my country crying
He has play'd an Englifh part,
Had been better far than dying
Of a griev'd andvbroken heart.
Unrep'.iiiug at thy glory, 65
Thy fuccefsful arms we hail ;
But remember our fad ftory,
And let Hofier's wrongs prevail.
Sent in this foul clime to languifh,
Think what thoufands fell in vain, 70
Wafted with dileafe and anguifh,
Not in glorious battle (lain.
Hence with all my train attending
From their oozy tombs below,
Thro' the hoary foam afcending, 7£
Here I feed my conftant woe :
VPL. [i. C c Here
386 ANCIENT POEMS.
Here the baftimentos viewing,
We rccal our fhameful doom,
And our plaintive cries renewing,
Wander thro' the midnight gloom. 8»
O'er thefe waves for ever mourning
Shall xve roam depriv'd of reft,
If to Britain's fliores returning
You negleft my juft requeft ;
After this proud foe fubduing, 8$
When your patriot friends you fee,
Think on vengeance for my ruin,
And for England fham'd in me.
xxvr.
JEMMY DAWSON."
JAMES DAWSON teas one of the Manchefter rebels, ivkt
was hanged, drawn, and quartered^ on Kenn'in^ton-common,
in the county of Surrevt July 30, 1746. — Ibis ballad is
founded on a remarkable f 'aft :, luhich was reported to have
happened at his execution. It luas 'written by the lats
WILLIAM SHENSTONE, Jifofoon after the event, and
ias been printed amongjl his pofthumous ivorks, 2 "vols. Bvo.
It is here given from a MS. which contained fame final}
variations from that printed copy.
C O M E
ANCIENT POEMS. 387
COME liftcn to my mournful tale,
Ye tender hearts, and lovers dear j
Nor will you fcorn to heave a figh,
Nor will you blufli to flied a tear.
And thou, dear Kitty, peerlefs maid, $
Do thou a penfive ear incline ;
For thou canft weep at every woe,
And pky every plaint, but mine.
Young Dawfon was a gallant youth,
A brighter never trod the plain ; jo
And ^ell he lov'd one charming maid,
And dearly was he lov'd again.
One tender maid fhe lov'd him dear,
Of gentle blood the damfel came,
And faultlefs was her beauteous form, 15
And fpotlels was her virgin fame.
But curfe on party's hateful flrife,
That led the faithfu! youth auVay
The day the rebel clans appear'd :
O had he never feen that clay ! 20
Their colours and their fafli he wore,
And in the fatal drefs was found ;
And now, he muft that death endure,
Which gives the brave the keeneft wound.
C c 2 How
388 ANCIENT POEMS.
How pale was then bis true love's cheek, 25
When Jemmy's fentence reach'd her ear !
For never yet did Alpine fnows
So pale, nor yet fo chill appear.
With faltering voice flie weeping faid?
Oh Dawfon, monarch of iny heart, 30
Think not thy death fhall end our loves,
For thou and I will never part.
Yet might fweet mercy find a place,
And bring relief to Jemmy's woes,
O GEORGE, without a prayer for thee 35
My orifons fhould never clofe.
The gracious prince that gives him life
Would crown a never-dying flame,
And every tender babe I bore
Should learn to liip the giver's name. 40
But though, dear youth, thou fhould'il be dragg'tj
To yonder ignominious tree,
Tbou fhalt riot want a faithful friend
To fhare thy bitter fate with thee.
O then her mourning-coach was call'd, 45
The fledge mov'd ilowly on before ;
Tho' borne in a triumphal car,
She had not lov'd her favourite more.
She
A N C I E N T P O E M S. 389
•She followed him, prepnr'd to view
The terrible beheds of law ; $•
And the laft fcene of Jemmy's woes
With calm and ftedfaft eye (lie faw.
Diftorted was that blooming face,
Which file had fondly lov'd fo long:
And {lifted xvas that tuneful breath, $£
Which in her praife had fweetly fung:
And fever'd was that beauteous neck,
Round which her arms had fondly clos'd:
And mangled was that beauteous bread,
On which her love-fick head repos'd; 60
And ravifh'd was that conftant heart,
She did to every heart prefer ;
For tho' it could his king forget,
Twas true and loyal ftill to her.
Amid thofe unrelenting flames 65
She bore this conftant heart to foe;
But when 'twas moulder'd into duft,
Now, now, flie cried, I'll follow tbce.
My death, my death alone can fliow
The pure and lading love I bore: 70
Accept, O heaven, of woes like our«t
And let us, let us weep no more.
C c 3 The
390 ANCIENT POEMS.
The difmal fcene was o'er and pnft,
The lover's mournful hearfe retir'd ;
The maid drew back her languid head, 75
And fighing forth his name, expir'd,
Tho* jnflice ever muft prevail,
The tear my Kitty flieds is due ;
For feldom fiiall (he hear a tale
So fad, fo tender, and fo true. fc«
THE END OF THE THIRD BOOK,
A.GLOS-
(39' )
A GLOSSARY
OF THE OBSOLETE AND SCOTTISH WORDS IN
VOLUME THE SECOND.
Such words, as the reader cannttfind kere, be is dejired to
look for in the Gloffaries to the olher volumes.
ADeid of. nicht, s. in dead
of night.
Aboven ous, above us.
Advoutry, Advouterous, adultcr,
adulterous.
Aff, s. off.
Ahle, ought.
Aith, s. oatb.
Al, p. 5, alb8lt, although.
Alernaigne, f. Germany.
Alyes, p. 28, probably corrupted
for algates, a/ways.
Ancient, a flag, banner.
Angel, a gold coin worth IOJ.
Ant, and.
Apliht, p. 10, al aplyht, juite
complete.
Are:abulhe, harquebuffe, an »ld-
fajbioned kind </ rnufeet.
Afe, as.
Attawre, s. out over, over ant
above,
Azein, agein, againjt.
Azont the ingle, s. p. 6r, beyond
the fire. The fire was in toe
middle of the rotm *.
Bairded, s. bearded.
Bairn, s. child.
Bale, evil, mifchirf, mifery.
Balovv, S, a nurfeiy term, liujlt f
lullaby! &V. "
Ban, curfe, banning, cur/ing.
Battes, heavy J)::ks, dubs.
Bayard, a noted blind Lwfe in tit
old romances. The horfe on which
the four Jons of Aymw rode, is
* In the weft of Scotland, at this prefent time, in many cottage?,
they pile their peats and turfs upon itones in the middle of the room.
There is a hole above the fire in the ridge of the houfe to let the
fmoke out at. In fome places are cottage -houfes, from the front of
which a very \vii!e chimney projecV like a bow-window: the fire
is in a grate, like a maU-tyln grate, round which the people fit;
fometimes they draw this grate into the middle of the room.
(Mr. LAMBI.)
C c 4 ™.W
A GLOSSARY.
called Baynrd Montalbon, by
SMttH in hit « Phillip Spar-
row."
Be, s. by, Be that, by tkat time.
Beam, 'bairn, S. child: alfo hu-
man creature.
Bed, p. 9, bade.
Bede, £.17, offer, engage.
Befall, ?. 12, befallen.
Befoir, s. before.
Belive, immediately, prefently.
Ben, S. "within, the inner-room,
Ben, />. IT, be, are.
Bene, p. 12, bean, an exprrflion
of contempt.
Beoth, p. 7, be, are.
Ber the prys, p. 7, bare the prize.
Bery?, bcareth
Befprent, befprinkled.
Beftecl, p. n$, abode.
Bewraies, difcovcrs, betrays.
Bet, better. Bett, did beat.
Bi mi leaute, by my loyalty, ho-
nejly.
Birk, S. bird-tree.
Blan, blann«, did, Win, i.e. lin-
ger, fop
Blee, complexion.
Blent, ^. 144, ceafed
Blink, S. ^ glimpfeof light: the
fudden light of a cand'.e feen in
the night at a dijlance.
Bold, boifteris, s. boajl, boafers.
Bollys, p. 17, bo^vls.
Bonny, s. handfome, comely.
Boote, gain, advantage.
Bot, S. but : fomttt'mes ttfecms ufed
for ' Loth', or ' befdei1, ' tmrt-
crver'm
Bet, s. -without. Dot dreid,
•without dread, i. e certainly.
Bougils, s. bugle horns.
Bowne, ready.
Braes of Yarrow, s. the hiUy
banks of the river Y"arrt<uJt
Brade, braid, s. broad.
Braifly, s. bravely.
Braw, s. brave.
Brayd, S. arofr, bajlencd.
Brayd attowre the bent, s. hafted
over the field.
Brede, breadth. So Chauc.
Brenand drakf, p. \ c, may per-
haps be the fame as a f>e-diake,
tr frey ferpent, a meteor or fire-
tvtrt fo called: Here it perns to
fignify " burning umbers, orjirc*
" brands."
Brimm«,^>;//i//V, univerfally lno<wnt
A. S. bryme, idem.
Brouk her with winne, enjoy her
•with pleasure, p. 16. A. S. brok.
Brouch, an ornamental trinket : *
J)one-bucltle fir a -woman's breaft,
&c. Vid. Brooche, Ghjf.
rot. III.
Brozt, brought.
Buen, bueth, been, be, are.
Buik, s. book.
Burgens, bud*, young Jioots.
Bnflc ye, & dtefiye.
But, without, but let, without
hindrance.
Bute, S. boot, advantage, gted.
Butt, S. nut, the cuter rocm.
* " BUT o* houfe" means the outer part of the houfe, outer- room ;
viz that part of the hovife into which you firft enter, fuppofe, from the
flreet. " BEN o' houfe," is the inner-room, or more retii eJ part of
the houfe. — The daughter did not lie out of doors. — The cottagers
often defire their landlord? to build them a BUT, and a BEN. (Yid.
Gloff. to Vol. III.) Mr. LAMBE.
C. Cadgily,
A GLOSSARY.
393
c.
S. meiri/v, chcarfulty.
O.liver, a kind of mufltet.
Can curtefye, know, under/ianci
gnod manners.
Cannes, p- zi, wooden cups, bowls.
Cantabanqui, Ital. ballad-fingers,
fingers on benches.
Caivy, S chearful, chatty.
C mtles, pieces, corners.
Capnl, a foor borfc.
Carle, churl, clown. It is a/fa
uffd in the North for a firing bale
ol I man.
Carline, s. the feminine of Carle.
Carps, to fpeak, recite: alfe, to
ccnfure.
Carding, reciting.
Chayme, p. 66, Cain.
Che, fSomerfft dialcft.) I.
Cheis, s. choofe.
Cheefe, />. ^^, the upper fart *f
the fcutcbeon in heraldry.
Chill, (Stm dial.) I -will.
Chould, (ditto) I -would.
Chykled, brought forth, was de-
livered.
Chykler, children, children s.
Glittered, beat ft as to rattle.
Clead, S. clad, chath.
Clenlc'iig, clinking, jingling.
Ciepe, call.
Cohorted, incited, exhorted.
Cokeney, />. 24 feemt to be a di-
minutive for Cwok; frwn the
Latin Coquinator, er Cotiui-
narius. The meaning feems to
It, that " Every Five and Five
<' had a Cook or Scullion to at tend
" them." Chaucer's Cant. Tales,
%vo K/.ir.p.zsl.
Cold roft, (a ph afe) nothing to
the purpofe.
Com, />. 8, tame*
Con^ can, gax, began. Item.
Con fpringe (a pbrafe ) fprung,
Con fare, went, puffed.
Coote, p. z ; i , (note) mat.
Cop, bead, tbf top of anything. Sax.
Coft, n.iff, fide.
Cotydyallye, drily, every day.
Covetife, covetoufncfs.
Could hear, a pbr.ife for bare.
Could creip, s crept. Could
fay, faid. Could weip, s.
Could his good, p. 257, Kneiu
•wh-'.t was go'xi for him ; Or
pciLipi, Could live upon bis
Courhen, />. 9, knew.
Croft, an inchfure near a bcufc.
Croiz, cr.fs.
Crook my knee, p. 64, make-
Lime my knee. They fay in the
north, " 716^ hirfe is crcokit,1
i. e. Lims. « The borfe crooks,"
i e. poet lame.
Crouneth, p. 8, crvwnye.
Crumpling, crooked; or perbapi
with crnktj knotty borns.
Cule, s. not.
Cummer, s. gr-ffif>, friend, fir.
Com mere, c mpere.
Cure, care, heed, regard*
D.
Date, s. deal, p. 75, hot give t
dale, ua'tft Ideal.
Dam\«ied, dtimned.
Dan, p. II, an ancient title of re"
fpffl ; from Lat. Duninus.
D.uilke, p. 24;, Denmark, query.
Darh, p. 10, perhaps for Tliar,
there.
Dnrr'd, s. hit.
I) irt the tvi«, S. bit tie tref.
Dankin, diminutive of Dai-id.
Daunger liadt. cy#fs loldeTl.
Deare
394
A GLOSSARY.
Deare day, ebarming, pteafant
day.
Dede is do, p. 31, deed is done.
Deere, hurt, mijcbief.
Deerlye dight, richly fitted out.
Deimt, s. deem'd, efeitn'd.
Deir, S.dear. Item, hurt, trouble,
diftutb.
Dale, deal.
Dertie, deemed, judge, doomed.
Dent, p. 1 7, a dint, ilovj.
Deol, dolt, grief.
Dere, decre, dear: alf', hurt.
Derkeil, daikened.
Dern, s. ffcret, p. 75. 1" dern,
irtjeeret.
Devyz devifc, the aiJ (f bequeath-
ing by will.
Deze, dcye, die.
Dight, cliclit, s. decked, drej/ed,
prepared, fitted out, done.
Dill,////, calm, mitigate.
Dol, fee Deol, Pule.
Don, p. 19, dawn,
Dou^luineis of de.,t, Jlurdinefs of
Doz-trogh, a dwgh-trougb, *
tntadhsg- trough, p. 20.
D tzter, daughter.
Drie, s./^r.
Drowe, drew.
Drake, fee Brcnaud Drake.
Dryug, drink.
Diu'e, AW. Dudeft, rfA//7.
Dule, s. duel, do!, <£/*, grief.
Dyce, S. <£«, che<jucr-ivork,
Dyht, p. 10, to dijpofc, order.
J9»ne, S p qfc, dinner,
Dyzc, ™<1 d glit.
Fard, e. earth
Earn, s. /& curdle, m.ikt cbetje.
* FIT -.s, i.e. " divifuns or
Troiius and Lreiiida, A. iii. ic. i
Eked, S.p. 76, added, enlarged.
Elvifh, pcevijb: — -fantajiical.
Erne, kinfman, uncle.
Ene, s. eyn, eyes. Ene, s. even.
Enfue, follow.
Kntendcment, f. under/landing.
Eutentifly, to the intent, purpofelyi
Er,erc,l>eforf,p. ib,art. Ere, c«r.
Ettlei), aimed.
F.
Fader, Fatheris, s. father, fathers.
Fair of feir, s. of a fair and
healthful Lok (Raiiify). Per-
kaph far off free f,cm) fear.
Falfuig, dealing in faljlood.
Fang, p. zj, feize, carry cff.
Fanueb, p. ;i, /njirumentt for
winnowing corn.
Fare, go, pafs, travel.
Fc.re, the price of a pajjagc : p.
%b,Jht,t, reckoning.
Fauzt, fr.ucht, s. fought. Item
J-eii, s p. 78, fele, many. S»
Hardinge has Lords fele, /'. e.
many Lerdi, c. 239.
Felay, feloy, p. IT, fellow.
Fele, fell, funoui, p. a, Jlin.
Fend, defend.
Ft re, fear. Item, companion, wife.
Ferliet, s. wondered.
Feily, wonder ; a/fo, wonderful.
Fey, s. predeflinated to death, or
Jcme mi fn tune ; under a fatality.
Fcatyiig, fighting.
Fie, s Offjltf cuttle.
Fnth, Fmh, s. p. 77, a wood.
It an aim of the Sea, 1. f return.
Fit, S./.D/.
FiU, divijnny part. See p. 1 74—
IT?*-
parts j : mufic" are alluded toi.i
bet AU.STEEVENS'S A te.
Fles,
A GLOSSARY.
39$
Fles, p. ao, fleece.
Fleyke, p. 112, a large kind of
hurdle : Coivs are frequently milk-
ed in hovels made of Fley ks.
Flowan, s. flowing.
Fond, contrive: alfo, endeavour)
try.
Force, f. 140, no farce, m
matter.
Forced, regarded, heeded.
Foreferul, avert, hinder.
For-fought, f. zz, over-fought.
Forwatcht, over-watched, Heft
*wakc.
Fors, f. 12. I do no fors, /
don't care.
Forft, p. 69, beeded, regarded.
Fowkin, a cant ivordfor a fart,
Fox't, drunk.
Frae thay begin, />. 75, from their
beginning, from the time they
begin.
Freers, fryars, friars, monks.
Freake, freeke, freyke, man, hu-
man creature.
Freyke, f. 1*5, humour, indxlge
freakijhly, capricioufly.
Freyned, a/ked.
Trie, s. fre, fret.
Ga, gais, S. go, goes.
Gaberluwzie, gaberlunyie, s. «
wallet.
Gaberlunzie-man, s. a wallet •
• man, i.e. tinker, beggar.
Gadlings, gaddtrs, idle fellows.
Gadryng, gathering.
Galliard, afpright/y kind of dance.
Gar, S. to make, eaufe, &c.
Gayed, made gay (their chaths).
Gear, geire, geir, gair, s. goods,
effefts, Jtuff.
Geere will fway, p. igr, tbft
matter will turn out j affnir ttr~
minate.
Gederede ys hoft, fathered b!s-
&
Gef, geve, give.
Geft, p. 279, eft, feat, jlvry^
hijiory. (It it [eft in MS.)
G ie, gien, s. give, given.
Gillore, (Irifi) plenty.
Gimp, jimp, S. neat, Jltnder.
Girt, s. pierced. Throughgirt»
p.Jl, pietced through.
Give, s gif, giff, p. 75, //.
Glaive, Lfword.
Glen, S. a narrmv valley.
Glie, S. glee, merriment, jty.
Glift, s. gltflertd.
Code, gcnlniifs, good, gwdnffs.
God before, f. 82, i. e. God fr
thy guide : a form of bleffing *.
Go()d, p. 85,7!; a gotd dtal.
Good-e'ens, good-e enitigs.
Gorget, the drefs of the neck.
Go wan, S. the common vellnv crow
feot, or goldcup.
Graithed (gowden), s. w«tt ca-
parifoned 'with gold.
Graythed, />. 1 7, s. decked, put we.
Gree, f.p>ize, vifJory.
Greened, grc-w green,
Gret, p. 9, great; p. 8, grieve*?,
fivoln, ready to iurft.
Glippel gr'p">£> tenacJCMt, mi-
ferly.
Grownes, grounds, p. 144, (rytb*
mi gratia, Vid. Sowne )
* So in Shakefpear's K. HEN.V. (A. 3, fc. 8.) the Ki
" My army's hut a weak and lickly guard;
" Yet, GooBfcFosF, Jeil liiin we will come on.
Groute
yfi
A GLOSSARY;
tonire
is a kind if f>nall-bcer, extralted
ft cm the malt, after the Jlrengtb
has been drawn off. In Devon,
it is a kindoffiuect ale medicated
-with eggs, faid to be a Danijb
litjuor *.
Giype, a gr'ijfin.
Cynl, p. 18. girded, lafied, &V.
Gyhe, jeft, jote.
Gyles, s. gullet.
Gyn, engine, cwtryuanct.
(jyfc, S. guif'} form, faction.
H.
Ha, have; ha, s. IK!!.
Hahbe, afe he brew, p. 4, have
fis be bre-ltx.
Haggis, E. ajtteftjhmaebifiufftd
•with a pudding made '>f mince-
meat, cTc.
Hail, hale, s. wholly altogether.
Halt, btldetb.
Hame, ham ward, borne, borne-
tvard.
Han, have, 3 pe>f. plur.
Hare . . fwertks, f. 4, tleir . .
fviOrds.
Harnifme, barnefs, am;our.
Harrowed, lamjfed, diflurled.
Harwos, humivs.
Hav, have.
Havt-S (of), (ffc&s, fubftance,
ritbei.
Hawkin, fynonymwi to Halkinf
dimin. of' Harry.
He, p. zi, hie, hjjlen.
Hech, p. 17, batch, fnmll dwr.
• Hede, p. 17, hied; p. 8, &V, be
would i p. 36, Affi/.
Hed, lead.
Heare, here; p. 69, ta/r.
Heil, £. hel«, bealfh.
Hetht to lay thee law, S. pro-
mt fed, engtiirt'd to lay ibee loiv.
Heichr, s. height.
Heiding-hill, s. the 'beading £ /'. e.
beheading'] hill. The place of
execution ivai anciently an arti-
ficial hillock.
Helen, heal.
Helpeth, help ye.
Hem, them.
Henne, hewe.
Hc!it, hente, belJ, laid hold of\
affo, received.
Her, pp. 17, 27, 19, their.
Here, p. 5, /Mrj ^>. 65, iwr;
p. 38, /ja/>.
Hetkneth, bearkenye.
Hert, hertis, Zw>7, /^ar/j.
Hes, r. /jaj.
Het, ^.
Hetlier, s. &«/,&, a /»w T^w^,
that gtvws upon the mfors, &V.
fo luxuriantly, at to ehoak the'
graft ; t» prevent luhich the in-
habitants fet wkole acret tf it
on fire ; the rapidity of ivhi/-h
gave the pift that -apt and nolle
Jimile in p. 107. (Mr. faut*
cbinfon )
Heucli, S. a rod crfeep hill.
Hevede, lievedeft, had, hadfl.
Heverictie, hevenriche, heaven-
b, p. 8.
Heynd, hend, gtntle, obliging.
Heyze, high; Heyd, s. hied.
H'cht; a-hicht, s. on height.
Hie dames to wai!, s. p. 10?,
high [or, great J ladies to wait}
ort hiijlen ladies to wai/, &c.
* GBOWTF is a kind of fare much ufed by Danifti failors, being
boiled oro.its (i. e. hr.lled oats) or elfe (helled barley, I'crved "P very
tliitk, 'and butter ailcej to it. (Mr. LAMB E.)
7 Highr,
A GLOSSARY.
397
Hight, prunijed, engaged: alfo,
Jo, s.fweet-beart, fn'tnJ. lo if
namtd.
properly the contrtflivn of Joy^
Hilt, taken off, fayed. Sax. hyl
yi' rejoice is -written rejoce in
dan.
old Ssottifl MSS. particularly
Hincn-boys, hench- (properly
hau-..c!i ) men, p"ges of ho-
Banatync's, pajjim.
lo forth, p :. c, wruptly printed fn.
nour : pages attending on perj'ons
Jbeu/U prot'alfy be loo, i. e. fj^.'i'oa.
of office.
Is, p. a, his.
Hind, s. behind.
Ife, s. 1 flail.
Himiy, s. honey.
Its neir, s. p. ioc, it flail nicr.
Hit, ;/ ; hit bo write, p. 8, it U
Jupe, S. p. io6,a-iuppeygj».-:.riti
"written.
tr. a petticoat.
Holden, bold.
Holtis hair, F. p. 78, boar bills.
Holy-roo.ie, b'Af crofs.
K.
Honden wrynge, hands wring.
Hop-halt, limping; hopping, and
Kauk, s. chalk.
halting.
Keipand, S. kecp':n%.
Houzle, give the facrament.
Keel, p. 63, -.raddle.
Howeres, hovvtii, bours.
KempoF, foldiers, lua-riours.
Huerte, heart.
Kend; s. Jine-w.
Hyc, hyeft, high, highefl.
Kcne, teen.
Hynd attqwre, s. behind, over, or
Kid, kyd, kithed, made tnoion^
about.
fhown, *
Hyp- halt, lame in the hip.
Kind, kinde, nature, p. 15. To
Hys, bis ; alji, is.
carp is our kind, it is natural
Hyt, hytt, it.
for ui to talk of.
Hyznes, bigbnefs.
Kirm, S churn.
Kifts. S cbejh.
Kith and Kin, acquaintance ttnd
«. L
kindred.
Kowe, p. 17, cow.
Jinglers, talkative perfons, tell-
Kye, kinc, cows.
tales, dlfi, -wranglers.
Kirtel, kirtle, petticooat.
I -fere, together.
j-lore, kjl. t ftrike, Jlrirken.
Kythe, appear; afft, make appear,
flew, declare.
1-trowe, [f Iffieve,] vcnty.
Kythed, S. appeared.
1-wilTe, [/X'/o7w,j -veti-y
Ich, /. Ich biqusth, ~l bequeath.
Jenkin, d;,ninutivc of John.
L.
Ilk; this ilk, s-tiujame.
Jlke, p. 1 8, every ilne, every one.
Lane, lain, s. lone; her lane,
Ilk one, each one.
alone, bv berfelf.
IHfardly, s ill-favour' dly, uglily,
Laide unto her, p. 256, itr.futfd
Inowe, enougb.
fj her.
Into, S, in.. *
Laile, (tfs.
Lajne,
39*
A GLOSSARY.
Layne, Hen: alfo, laid.
Leek, f. 70, fbrafe of nntempt.
Leal, leil, S. loyal, bone/}, tine;
f. loyal.
Leiman, leman, lover, mifirefs.
Leir, s. lere, learn.
Lenger, fe/ig
Lys, lies.
Lythe, />. 175, ea/y, gentle.
Ly ven na more, live /to mtret
Itnger.
Lyzt, //§*&/.
Lengcth in, />. 176, refidctk In.
M.
Lett, lattc, hinder, p i \ ,Jlacken,
leave off; late, let.
Maden, made.
Lever, rather.
Making, p. 46, fc. verfes : -verfi.
Leves and bovves, haves and
fying.
boughs.
Marrow, s. equal.
Leuch, leugh, s. laughed.
Mart, S. marred, hurt, damaged.
Leyke, like, play, pp. 115, 278.
IV) HI ie, maiding, S. moan, mean-
Lie, s. lee, p. 100, jicld, plain.
ing.
Liege-men, v/ij/a/s, fubjifli.
Mangonel, an engine ufedfor dif-
Lightly, eaftly.
ilwging great Jiones, arrvwtj
Lir«', ffft-, complexion.
fe?c. before the invention of guH-
Lodtye, p 52, loathfome. V.d.
pcnvdcr.
Ghfs -vol. 111. lothly.
Margarite, a pearl, lat.
LolU, (Ballad I. v. 45.;
Maugre, p 4, fpite of, p. 75, ill-
•will (I incur.)
Loo, bi; I'M !
Maze, A labyrinth %, any thint
'Lore, lijfiit, dofJrine, learning.
int angled or intricate.
Lore, fajl.
Me, p. 9, men. Me con, mcn'ga*.
Lorrel, ajony, itnrtblffi perjon.
Me-thuucketh, methinks.
Lofe', ditt'j.'
Mean, moderate, middle-fixed.
Loud and ttill, phr. at al! times.
Meit, s. meet, //, proper.
Lought, lowe .. lugh, p. •> 3 , laughed.
Lowns, s. p. 1 02, bLizes. Ra-
th-;- tipp'jcd to ivindy, boifterous.
NJeid, s. p. 105, mood.
Meife, s. foften, reduce, \pitigatet
p. 10s?.
\JtfKlf, li)Ut, I'OVJ. Jloop
Mell, honey : alfo, meddle, mingle.
Liiiie, i'i\t, luivt, s. Ivitd.
Menfe the faught, s. p. 105,
Luefs /we.
meafure the battle. To give to
Luiks, s l'.-jl-.
the menfe, is, to geve above
Lyanl p. ir , Gny: a name given
the meafure. TV* elve and one
to a Lo-fefrom its grey colour, as
to the menfe, is common will
RiViudJ/om b'jy.
children in their piny.
* On the top of Catharine-hill, Winchefter (the nfnal play-place
«»f t!ic fcliool), was a very perplexed anil winding path, running in
a very fma'.l fpace over a great deal of ground, called a M i z-M AZE.
The fei'ior hoys obliged the juniors to tread it, to prevent the figure
from bting iol', as 1 am informed by an ingenioui correfpondent.
Mer.zie.
A Vr L, U I
> 5 A K Y. 399
Menzie, s. meaney, retinue, com-
Nonce, purpofe-, for the nonce,
pany.
MefTiger, f. meffmger.
for the occajion.
Norfe, S. Norway.
TVIinny, s. mother.
Nou, now.
Miike, S. dark, black.
Mirry, s. meri, me>ry.
Nout ; nocht, s. nought ; alfo, not.
Nout, p. 10, fiems for ' n«
Miflcaryed, mi/carried.
moiijiht.'
Milter, s. to need.
Novvght, nought.
Mo, moe, more'.
Nowls, noddle*, beads.
Moiening, by means of, fr.
Mome, a dull, ftupid perfon.
Noye,/>. 21. v. \-j^,annoy; query.
Nozt, nought, n»t,p. 20.
Mone, moon.
NjZt, night.
More, mure, s. moor, heatb,
marfhy ground; affe ivild bill,
p. 4, mores ant the feiine, $r.
a
d. bill and dale.
Morne, p. 75, to morn, to msr-
Ochr, F. ought.
ro"M : in tie morning.
Mornyng, p. 45, mourning.
Oferlyng, fuperior, pa, amount ;
oppofedto underling,/.. 4.
Mote I thee, miglt I thrive.
On, p. 45, one, an.
Mowe, may ; moil, S mouth. .
On-lot, p. «8, aloft.
Mnchele boft, mickle boajl, great
Onys, once
baaft.
Or, ere, before.
Made, s. mood.
Orifon^, s. prayers,: » r uteri* •
Mulne, mill.
Ou, cure, p. 7, you, you , 'bio.
Murne, murnt, murning, s.
our.
mourn, mourned, mourning.
Out ates! exclamation tf g ief.
Myzt, myzty, might, mighty.
Out ovvre, <;. out enter.
Oivene; a\ven, ain, t.own.
Owj'e, s. over.
N.
P.
Nathelefs, neverrbelefs.
P d' d' 7 f
Neat, oxen, coivs, large cattle.
dieu.
Niathenl, a keeper of cattle.
Pauky, S.Jtiewd, cunning, fly;
Neatrelfe, a female ditto.
Nere. p. 276, ne were; were it
not for.
or, faucy, infolent.
Pect;, piece, fc. of canwn.
Pees', pele. peace.
Nert, uyeft, next, neareft.
Pe'e, a baler's peel.
Noble, a gold coin in value 10
Pemarchyeof tenfss,_/?iv tinfes.
groats, or 6s. %d
Perchmine, f. parchment.
Nollys, p. 17, noddles, beads.
Worn, p. *, took. Nome, name.
Per fay, s. -verily, f p »• foy.
Perk in , diminutive 'f Petrr.
Non, ntne. None, nwi.
Peifit, s. pearced, fisrccJ.
Petye,
^oo 4
Petye, pity.
Peyn, fain.
Pibroclis, s. Hlpllcvid
Pbyand, s.flw*g.
Flett, s.j>?attaL
P.lfZ', />//£&•
Flo*meH, p. 21, a fn.,"t -vi
Lmtmfr occa/Junu/j il.fd to the
flc-w, pill vfcd hi the Xvtb : in
tb- midland realties in itsjleaJ ;j
*feJ a plyu-'latcbtt.
Foil cat. a Citnt "j.-ordfor a ll'lnrt.
Pollys, powii-, i'olL-, bead.
Poui'cred, /•- 19, a trnn in Hi-
GLOSSARY.
PowHs. felt', 'bcadi.
Piayfe-fo!k, p
Pr<;.t, f. ready.
Priefe, p. Z~t frwt.
Priving, J. proving, t.rji
Prove, p. 42, ?•«/"-
Prude, p. 4, pride. It
Puing, s.pu//iag.
Pnrchafed, /> 12, ^rsoi
Quat, S. pitted.
Qu?jnt, •f,.t:n
; f 147
Q«el, ?• 125,
Quvle,
Qi yj, S. yii:e.
Qvvy knit, s. auicfcaed, rejlzrtd to
life.
R.
Fae, a roe.
Rjik, S, to go afaee. Raik on
raw, gofafl in a >w.
Ranted, s. £. 6r, •u/vr< merry. Vi<^.
Cl. (9 Goit. Skepberd.
Ratlglit, rcacbiJ, gained, obtained.
Razt, r<j«g-i/, or f. 2 a, r<//, 5f.
nff.
Rea'nie, reaume, r«//«.
Reiie, redde, f. 9, r<W.
Re«!f, re.'.d, f. 31, advifet ajr-ice.
Rcrfieire, ^. 71, ca)*, /ofer.
Refe, reve, r«jcve, ^a///^".
Refr, beteavff »r perhaps, rivft
fff/t, f. .
Rei-', s. flrfu//?.
Remeid, s i&netfy.
Refcous, refcuei,
Rcve, £. 19, bereave, depr'n-e.
R overs, s. rMen, pirates, rcrvers,
Rei> , s. tale pity.
Rev.-cth, regrets, lai rcafm to tf-
pent.
Rin, s. run.
Rife, p. 278, _/?3^, lufi, firub..
Rive, p. ?8s »7/», aboundin
Rood lofc, //&<• />/dc<r /« />&*
lubere the '.tr.agti -were fit up.
Rudd, ruddinrp, evnplexiii.
Rude, s. roc%d,
Ruel!-boiies,/>. 18, perhaps bones
ured, f. riole,— or
thu
perhaps fma/l hie-ri»gt, f,om
tic fr. nrtic'.le, afmall ring or
Imp. Cotgrav DHHm.
Rugged, p. 23, pulled luitb -vio-
lence.
Rulhy, s. p. 7?, fivuldlf >-afhy
gain, rufiy fuff\ ground co-
verej with ruflrct.
Ruthe, p • 42, fity ; p. zo6, watt
Ryfcliys, fr 23, i ///£«.
Ryxve, rue.
Ryzt, »/g^f.
Safjr, />. 1 8., w«/f,
A GLOSSARY.
40*
SaiF, s.favc, Savely, fafely.
Shrew,a bad, an ill-temper' dperfin.
Sailede, faxed.
Shrive, confefs j Item, bear con-
Say,^>. z8, a Jay, attempt.
feffion.
Scant, fcarce.
ShynanJ, s. Joining.
S-chall, /ball,
Shurting, recreation, diveijion,
Schattered, flattered.
pa/lime, p. i c. fid. Gaw. DoufL
Schaw, s.jloiv.
Glojf.
Schene, s. fieen, ftining ; dKo
Siiunted._/&www^.
bright,^.
Sich, fie, s. fuch, Sich, s. figb
Schiple?, s.Jbiplcfs.
Side, s. long.
Scho, s. fie.
S indie, *.fcldmn.
Schuke, s. ft>ook.
Sitteth, p. 3. fit ye.
Sclat, JJfite, p. 12, fit tie table-
book of Jlates to 'write upon.
Skaith, fcath, barm mifcbief.
Skalk, p. 124, perhaps from
Scomfit, difcomfit.
the Germ. Schalck, malici-
Scot, tax, revenue, p. 5, a
ous, pervcrfc. (Sic Dan.
year's tax of the kingdom ;
Skalck, Nequitia, malida,
alfo Jhot, reckoning.
&c. Sheringham de Angl.
Se, fene, feying ; fee, ften,
Orig. p. jiS.y — Or perhaps
feeing.
from the Germ. Schalchen,
See, fee^, s.fea, feas.
to fquint. Hence our Northern
Sek.faci:, p. 1 8.
word, fkelly, to fquint.
Sely, tee\y,ftlly,Jjmpk.
Skinker, one that ferves diini.
Selven, felf.
Skomfit, difcomfit.
Selver, filler, s. filver.
Skotfj^o/, reckoning.
Sen, s. fince.
Slattered, fit, broke into fpti*'
Senvy, mujiard-feed, f. fenvie.
ten.
Seve, p. 281, feven. .
Sle, flea, fley, fo, Jlay.
Sey yow, p. n, fay to, tell
Slee, s. Jlay, aifojly.
you.
Send, a prefent, a fending.
Seyd, s./aw,
Sone, fowl, p. 9. foon.
Shave, p. 69, be (have, been
Sonn, p. 278. foil, fun.
Jiaven.
Soth, foo'.b, truth; alfo, true.
Sheeve, fhive, a great Jlke or
Soothly, truly.
luncheon of bread, p. 245.
Sonld, s. fuld,^o»W. (p- 17.)
Shirt of male, or mail, -was a
Sonling, p. 246. victualling.
garment for d-fmce made all
Sowle is Ji If ufed in the north
of rings of iron, ivorn under
for any thing fat en with
the coat. According to fome,
bread. A. S. Suple, Sufle.
the Hawberk was fo formed.
Job. 21.5. (or to fovvle, may
Sho, s. fie.
be frojn the "French word
Shop?, p- 273, bctwk me, fiafed
faonler "' to fluff and cram,
my courfe.
" to glut." vid. Cotzravc.)
Siiorte, ^.fiorten.
Shreward, a male Jkie-w»
Sowne, found, p. 47. (rlytbmi gr )
Spec, fpak, fpack, s. fpake.
Spesrc, f. 135. lide locum.
VOL. II,
Syeered ;
40 a
A G L O S S A R Y.
Specret!, fparreJ, /'. t. fafiened,
/tut*. i>id p. 135.
Speir, s. fpeer, fpfar.
Speir, s. (p. 6i.) fpeer, fpeare,
aflt, inquire, Vid. Gltffl vo! 3.
Spcnce, (pens, ex fence.
Swindles and uhorles, the in-
Jiruments ufed for fpinning in
Scotland, injlead of ff:nning-
iv heels +.
Spilt, s.ff-Mt.
Spole, Jboulder, f. efpaule.
t- *93> '"' feemi to mean
tf arm fit."
Sporele?, fpurlefs, without ffurs.
Stalwart, flal * orth, flout.
Startopes, bujtin<, or half -boots,
tuorn by rujtics, laced down
before.
S'ead, ftede, place.
Steir, s. ftir.
Ste',yJ«/, fteilly, s. fleely.
Stounil, time, a ftound, a ivhi!et
Stown. ?. ftolen.
S:oup of weir, p. 104, a pillar of
•war.
Strike, p. I z, Jiricken.
Stra, ftrac, s. Jiraiut
St\rt,/«rf.
S"tlif, fw:tb,yc'/«, quickly.
Snore hi ys chin, jtvom by bit
chin.
Si\vari', fwfaring, oatby
Swa, fa,/«..
Snared', fwarved, cTnr,cd\ or, as
it is now exf'fjjed in the mid-
land counties, Swarmed : Ti
fwariTi, is ta draw onefe If up a
tree, or any other thing,
to it -with the legs, and arms ;
at hatb been fuggejied by an
ingenious Correfpcndint.
Swain), the grajfy furface of the
ground.
Swearde, fwerd, fivorJ.
Swevens, dreams.
Swypyng, p. 22, fining fijt;
[Cimb. inipan, cito agere,
or rather ' fcourging* from
vol-vere, raptare.J Scof.
Sweap, to fcourge, Vid Gloff.
to GafW. Douglas.
Swepyls, p. 21, A Swepyl M
that faff of the flail, with
ivbich the cam is beaten out,
vtt/g. a Supple: f called in
tht midland counties a Swind-
gell; ivhfe the ether part it
termed the Hand-ftaff.)
Swinkers, labouien.
Swyving, -whoring.
Swyke, fgb.
Syns, fince, Syne, s. then
Syfbemell. p. 66. IJhmatl.
Sych,fucb.
Syth, fince.
Syzt, fight.
T.
Take, p. 25, taken.
Taiken, s. p. 108, token fgn.
Targe, target, Jlield.
Te, to ; te make, p. 7, /* make*
Te he / inttrjefHon of laughing.
Tent, s. hied.
* So in an o'd " Trcatyf" agavnft Peflilence, &fc 410 Emprynted
" by VVynky a i!e \\orde:" we are exhorted to ''Sp ERE [i. e (hut
'• orbar]tlij w ynilowcs ay cnft the fouth." fol. 5.
f THE ROCK, SPINDLES, atul WHORI. KS, are very much ufed in
S:ot'andand the northern parts of Northumberland at this time.
Tl.e tlT ad for fhos-mak-.re, a-'d even fove linen-webs, and all the
f.vinit of which the Tweed Salmon-nets are made, are fpun u| oi\
SPINI>LIS. They ar« fail! to make a more even and fmooth thread
t/.aa Spinn'.ng-whetls. Mr. LAMBZ.
Terry,
A GLOSSARY.
403
Ter»y, diminutive of Thierry.
Thfodoricus, Didericus. Lat.
a/fo of Terence.
Tha, />, zt, them, Thah, though.
Tharc. theire, ihcr, thore, tkere.
The. thee.
The God, p. 25, feetnt crntraft-
ed for The he, /. e. high God.
The, thee, thrive. So mo:e [
thee, f. 88, So may I thrive*.
Thii,//. 281, they.
Thi fone, p. 9, thy fan.
Thilke, tbit.
Thir. s //j/t, //•(/"<••
Thir tovvmonds, s. thefe twelve
Tho, then, f. 33, cifl/f, the.
Thole; tholed,>^fr; f'tffered.
Thouft, th'Mjhalt orjhouldtji.
Thrang, S. throng, clofe.
Thrawis, s. //W*.
Thirtti thoufent, thirty tboufand.
Thrie, s. thre, three.
Thrif, thrive.
Thruch, throuch, s. through.
Thud, f. 108, mife of a fall.
Tibbe. In Scotland Tiube it
the diminutive of Ifabel.
Tild down, f. 179. filched. <jt.
Till, s. top. 16. W&M. y«ery.
Timk.in, aiminutive of Timothy.
Tint, s. loji.
To, /oo.
Too-fall, f s. f. 380, tt«7/g£r.
Traiterye, treafon.
Trie, s. tre, /w.
Trichard, treacherous, f. tri-
chenr. Vjd.f.i.
Triflhen, trick, deceive. Ibid.
Trough, tronth, troth.
Trow, think, believe, trujt.
Trumped, f>. 15, Loa/ieJ, told
bragging lies, lying Jiories.
So in the North they Jay,
" that's a Trump," /. e. a.
lie. " She goes about trump-
" ing, /. e. telling lies.
Trumps mai'e cf a tree. f. 21,
perhaps " wooden ttumpeh :"
mufical inftrumenti fit enougo
for a mock turnament.
Trke gude keip, s. kept a chft
eye upw her.
Turnes a crab, fc. at the fire :
too/Is a crab.
Twritle twift, S. f>. IOI, tho-
roughly twi[led: •' t<wijled,"
'« twirled twiji." f. tortirlle.
V.
Vair, Somcrfctfi. Di<:!ef1, fair.
Valzient, S. valiant.
Uch, each.
Vive, f.zli, Somtrfct. jSvt.
Uufeeled, />. opened', a term
in Falconry.
Unmufit, s. twdijiurbed, uncon-
founded. ferb unmx^it.
Unfonfie, s. unlucky unfwtunat;.
Vriers, Somt frien, p. 196, (a
• is Vicars, in PGC )
Uthers, s. others.
Vazen, Sim, probably for fa! then f
i. e.faitbi ; as boufen, chjen, &c.
w.
Wa,s. p. 97, iuay,p. 4i6, <it>/j//»
Wad, s. would.
\Vaine, -waggon.
Wallowit, s.fadeJ, -withered.
Wame, s. womb.
Wan neir, s. diew near.
Wanrufe, S. uneafy.
* So in Chaucer, p.iilitn. Canterb. Tales, Vol. I. p. 308.
" God lethirn never THF."
f " ToofaU of the Night," feems to be an image drawn from a fuf-
em'edcjtii'py, folet fa'l as to cover what is telow. [Mr. LAMBB.J
A GLOSSARY.
War ant wys,/>. 8, wary andivifc
Ward, ;. watch, fentinel.
Warke, s- work.
Warld, s world.
Wai yd, S. afcurfeJ.
Watc, s. weeie, wete, witte,
wot, wote, wotte. know.
Weale, wee), vveil, wele, s. well
We irifu', wearifomc, ti/efome,
dijlurling,
Wee, s. little.
Weer, s. •«,•«•/.
Weid, s. wede, weed, cloatbst
clotitbing
WeUlynge, ruling.
Weir.de, s.wende, went, weende
weened, thought.
Wene; weeneft, ween; weeru/i.
Wend, wenden, go.
Wende, went, p. 9,wendeth,£orf,6
Wer, were. .
Weretb,/>. 276, defendetb.
. \Verre : weir, s. war, Warrif,
S. war's.
Wes, wat.
Weftlin, s. wejiern.
Whang, S. a large Jl-ct.
Wheder, wbiiber.
Wheelynjf, wheeling.
Whij, four •[< />?y. or btttter~milk,
Whorles, &^ Spindles.
WildingF, wild applet.
Winfome, S. cgrtcabley engaging.
Win,fc.g</, ga/«.
Wjrk.e w iflier, work more wifely.
Wif?, wift, knvw, knew.
Witlvmien, without.
Wobfter, s. webfter, weaver.
Wode-ward, j>. 38, towards
the wood.
Woe wortti, itw ^<r /
Wen, worrf, «/»^.
Wonder?, wjndercus.
Wooi', mad, jurious.
\\'ote, \voc, know, I wote verily.
Worlhip'uliy friended, *. 257,
cf iwxjliffvl friend*.
\\ ow, An exclamation of ivon-
der-. ia/fo vow, Lond. Dialcft.
Wreake, purfue
Wreuch, s. iiorctcbedtm.
Wroiut, wrought.
Wynnen, win, gain.
Wiffe, f. 8, dircfff govern, tats
care of. A. S. pi]" f lau:
Y.
Y. 7. Y fynge, I fa..
Yae, S. each.
Y beare; Y-boren. lean;
borne.- fo Y-fouude, found.
Y-mad, made. Y-vvonne,
Y-core, chofen.
Y-wis, {/ know] -verily.
Y-Zote, motion, melted.
Yalpin^, s. yelping.
Ycha, ilka, each, every.
Ycholde, yef, -IJhould, if.
Ytl'.on, each one.
Yearded, p. 180, burled.
Yede, yode, went.
Yfere, together.
Yf, //.
Yll, ///.
Yn, houfe, lume.
Y s, p. i o, is, f. 4, his, f, 8, ?'« bii.
z.
Zacring bell, 5tw. Sacring bell,
a little bell rung to give no-
tice of \.be elevation oj the hojj,
(1th Zeering in PCC.p. z^.i
Zede, p. yede, went.
Zee, zeene, Som.fee. feen.
Zef, yef, ,/.
Zeu'S, s. years.
Zeme, take care of. A. S.
Zent, through, A. S.
Zeftrene, i.ycfler-e'cn.
Zit, S. zt-t yet.
Zoud, S. you'd, you
Zule, f. yule, chrijlmas.
Zung, S.yortng.
TBE END OF THE GLOSSARY,
ADDITIONAL NOTES to Book IT. 40^
No. VI I. p . T 47 . T'be Ballad of FAIR Ros A M o N D
appears to have been firft publijhed in " Strange Hiilories,
or Songs and Sonnets, of Kinges, Princes, Dukes,
Lords, Ladyes, Knights, and Gentlemen; 'Sec. By
T/iymas Delate. Lond. 1612." 410.
No. XXVI. p. 260. The hlftvry of JAN E SHOR E receipts
new llluflrationfrom the folio- wig letter ofK. R . CH AR D ///.
ivbich is pieferved in the Had. MSS. Num. 433, Art. 2378,
tut of<vjhich the copy tranfmitted to the Editor has been re-
duced to modern orthography* &c. It is faid to have been
addrejjed to RUSSEL bp of Lincoln, lord chancellor % Anno
1484.
By the KING.
" Right Pveverend Father in God, &c. Signifying
unto you, that it is (hewed unto UF, that our Servant
and Solicitor Thomas Lynom, marvclloufly blinded*
and abuled with ihe late Wife of William Shore, now
living in Ludgate by our commandment, hath made
Contract of Matrimony with her, as it is laid, and in-
tendeth, to our full great marvel, to effect the fame.
WE, for many caufes, would he lorry that he fliould
be Ib difpoied ; pray you therefore to' fend for him,
and in that ye goodly may, exhort, nnd ftir htm to tlu
contrary: Ancf if ye find him utterly i'o; k-: to marrv
her, and none other^viie won' ' -..d, then, iY
it may itand with the laws of ue be con-
tent the time of marriage be deferred to our coming
j cxt to i.oiidon; that upon fuffiJent Surety found or"
her gpQtl at)earing, ye do fo lend for her Keep,
.(difcha'rge'him of our' laid cotjunar.donent,
df thric, committing her to- the rule, ar.:
her i'ather, or any other, by your dirsltion, in tin:
rnean ieafon. v ' Given, Sec*
«« RIG. 7^."
/' ..• • fa.m: 1,1$. •
Rkhard h.tfl granted t* MM //.?
office of Kin. \ and alfo ihe Mnnn,-
cf CohtieiVMi .''id his- Heirs Male
(Art. 596.;
Book
Book III. pp. 272, 284.
THE ESSAY ON THE ALLITERATIVE METRE
•will receive illuftrationfrom another fpecimen in WA R TON7 '•
" Hifforv of Engljh -oetry," FO! I p. 309. being the
fragment of a MS. poem on the fubjefl of ALEXANDER
THE GREAT, in the Bodleian T.ibrary, tuhich he Juppofes
to be the fame ivith Nu-n. 44, in the Afljmol. MSS. contain'
ing 2 7 paj/ifs, and beginning thus :
Whcner folk faftid [feafted, qu.] and fed,
fayne wolde thei her [/. e. hear]
Soiree farand thin^;, ^'c.
// is toell obfervedby Mr. TYRXVHITT, on CHAUCER'S
Jheer at this old alliterative metre: (Vol. 1 1 1. p. 305 ) T-'/Z.
I am a Sothern-- [/. e. Southern] man,
I cannot geile, rom, ram, raf, .by my letter.
that the fondnefs for thisfpecies of verification, &c. was re-
tained longefi in the Northern provinces : And that the Au-
thor of '"'•Pierce Pcughmari *s Vifions^ is in the. bejl MSS called
"WlLLIAM, without any fw name. See Vol. If, p. 74.
THE END OF VOLUME THE SECOND.
/) ec> jjra&if
* ' * " » ^
pro
^KV Ky-ncre -wwnt &rt}i to iNorraamir •vntk grace and.
iiyzt of Chyvalrvr flie God iot- Iran, wrouzt marvehdljr
Whoretbre
mav call and or. -Ot
n II . i .
I g •.•!•• "^ » +t
o ^<? ^Kfctr, A7u?lia retfJe f>7V
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