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(, 



/\€Lt 



iqC 



RELICLUES 



o r 



ANCIENT ENGLISH POETRY. 



VOL. m. 



R EL I Q^U E S 

a ¥ 
ANCIENT ENGLISH POETRYi 

Consisting or 

Old Heroic Ballads, SonCs, and other 

Pieces of our earlier PoeTs, 

(Chiefly of the L T K i c kkd) 

Togetker withfome few of later Date. 

-THE SECOND EDITION. 

VOLUUI THE THIRD. 



t N D D N: 

Printed for J. D o d < i e t in PjJI-M»S. 
MDCC LXVU. 



^ 



I 

i 



CONTENTS OF VOLUME THE THIRD} 

BOOK THE FIRST. 

pSSjfjr cn tbi ancient Metrical Rmaam — fag* ▼ 

i: f be Soy and the Mantle — — I 

2. Tie Marriage of Sir Gawaine — ^- ll. 

3. King Syenc^s challenge — — *S 

4. i:i»^ Arthit's death. J Fragment — - aS 

5. W/ i<f«ji of King Arthur — ~ 37 

6. A Dyttie to Hiy Downe .— — +« 

7. Glajgerion* — -^ •^43 
f Oi/ ^ir Robin of Porttngale — ~ ♦^ 
9. • Child Waters — — ~ 54 

0. PhiUida and Corjden. Bj Nic. Breton — 6z 

1. Little Mufgrave and Lady Barnard — 63 

2. 7»r etv'bughts Marion. A Scetfijh Song — 69 
J' yi* J&w^A^ ««/ Shepherd's Daughter — 7 « 
4. The Shepherd's Addre/s to bis Mu/e — 7* 
5^ Lord Thomas and Fair Ellinor — — 7* 
6. Cupid and Campafpe. ^y John Lilye — 8« 
J. The LadyJurnedServingman — — 8j 
$. GilMorrice. A Scottijh Ballad r- ~ 89 

BOOK THE SECOND. 

U legend of Sir Guy — — — 99 

V ♦ TheGuierluH%ieMa?tffeeinf^ol.z*tag.S9* 



n CONTENTS. 

2» Guy and Amarant "^ -^ ^-* •*« loy 

3. Tb€ aktigtU Mam. A Siottifh Smf ^-^ 1 1^ 

M|.. Fmt Margaret and S^iMtet William *'^ ii^ 

5, Barbara AlWi Ctuilty. -f^ ^ "—125 

, 6. S<weet JriJSUam'f Gbeft. A Scottijh Ballad — 126 

^» ^^> *^i&iS Grebmt and Barbara Men. Mh -** ti^^ 

%, The Bailiff^ slaughter nf JJlin^n » -—151 

9, 7& »7aat; 7r^^. j^ Pafttral bialogkt - , — i J4 

\^i Tffi Lady* s fait — — * •«- lj<i 

li. ff^^, tvaiy, Lffve bi bonfi^, ASct^f^img ^->- i4j^ 

i:a. TBi nvamonWifetf Satb »-^ 14-^ 

tj* Dulcina — -* ^^-iji 

1 4-» ii^i^ V^Mlc^s tragedy «*-^ —.154 

f 5. A Hue and cry afier Cupid. By Men Jonfon *— i 5^ 

\ii4 T^eKing of France^ s Daughter — . i— ■, i5| 

\T .' The frjoeet negleB, By Btn* Jimfin •-^ 176 

rt* The Children in the Wood — -^ i^f 

119. ALofoer tf late toas / . — ^ .^ ijrf 

iO. The King and the Miller of Mansfield •^17^ 

«r. The Shepherd* s Refohtiin. By Geo. WithUr — 19* 

ft 2.' TXtf Wandering Frinte of Troy ••» igj 

^J. 91^/? Witches Song. By Ben. JonfoH •— 1^9 

24. Rchin Good'fello'w — . — ^«. 201^ 

-ftj, 715^ F/»/ry i^f^« _ tow, ^.^ 267 

zd* ^ he Fairies Farewell. By Dr^Corb^ •—21^ 

. BOOfc THE THIRJ), 

C. thi Birth of St, Gecrge ~ — iiy 

2.4 i^f • 



' J 



1 



CONTENTS. ill 

i, St, Ge0fge ana tbt Dragon. •— — 127 

J. Lwi 'mill find out tie Waj — — 238 

4. * Lord Thomas amdstair Annet. A Scottijf^ Ballad 240 

5. Unfading Beauty* By Tbo*- Carew -«* 246 

6. George Barnwell — — — 247 

7. The Stedfaft Shepherd^ intitled in thrjirft Edition 

" The a/piring Shefherd.'* — — 263 

S. The Spamfif Virgin^ or EJeSs of Jeahnfy *-- 266 

9i Jeahnj^ Tyrant ^f the Mind -— *- rj% 

i^ CoaftmtTmil^ — — -^ «75 

U. To Lucira en ffiingfjiih^JTarif ByLavelue — ^S 

!?• Vajintineand IJrfine -^ — 279 

\l. The Pragon of WantUj — —296 

♦14. ^#, George for England* Thefirft Pari -^ 306 

%%< J^. Gmgifot^ Engli^. TheJknndFatct ^^31^ 

16, X»(y W Cfl//>. j?y 7«-if/ -- --32? 

^« MoKgmmU Giafi* * ^ David Mallet *"-' 331 

1 8. 7i^ Jff^ A^i/ //^^ Mantle rruijedi 13 c. "*" 3 3f 

Ij^. £' Amour et Glycere. Tradmt do PAnghie — * 345 

TbeGhfa^ — — —347 

An 



* TW ^^#1/ Knight 9 or Ladfi ¥oU<y^ and the Sotqi 
** l^hA/tik''* See in FoL 2. /. 339. i\fi 



*v 



• k 



An ordinaqr Sonq or Bm«i.ad« that is the delxghtof the 

common people, cannot fiul to pleafe all fach readen, 

a3 are not «nquali£cd for the entertainment by their 

» 
afieftation or their ignorance ; and the reaibn is plain, 

be^aufe the fame paintings of nature whiduecamnu^d 

it to the moft ordinary Reader, will appearbeanttfulto 

the moft refiiiM- 

K AnnisoKfin SftcTATOKy No:7ap 



ii€%%^U€Jk 



a » « 3 « ® a; 

SONGS AND fiALLADS, 

a,. 

SERIES »■■•« THIRD. 

BOOK I. 

B-tLLADS ON KING ARTHUR, a,. 

Thii Third r^uat tfiig chiefy JtVBlldll Roikaiitic Sal- 
}t£tl, maf mil ht intfrepirly itttradueci •with a ff.v flight 
StriSxra on /if o/^ Metrical Rouahces: a/ubjr3tbt 
atrt luerihy atiattiin, aifiuh at hatie turiitta eit til atttiirt 
mhJ »rigi« tf jBeorfi ef Chivalrj, Jem ket ta ha^vt ixa^vn 

Vol.. III. b thtt 



ii ANCIENT SONGS 

% 

that ihefirft compofithus of this kind lagri in Fer/e^ mni 
ttfually/ung to the Harp. 



O N 

THE Ancient Metrical Romances, &c« 



!• 'T'HE £rft attempts at composition among all buv 
barous nations are ever found to be Poetry and 
Song. The praifes of their Gods» and the atchieve- 
ments of their heroes, are ufually chanted at their fes- 
tival meetings. Thefe are the iirft rudiments of Hif- 
tory. It is in this manner that the favages of' North 
America preferve the memory of paft events (a) : and 
the fame method is known to have prevailed among; 
oftr Saxon Anceftors, before they quitted their Ger- 
man forefts (b)* The ancient Britons had their Bards, 
and the Gothicnations theirSc alds or popular poets^r^^, 
whofe buiinefs it was to record the vi^Uries of their 
warriors, and the genealogies of their Princes, in a 
kind of narrative fongs, which were committed to me- 
mory, and delivered down from one Reciter to anetKer. 
So long as Poetry continued a. diilin£t profeffion, and 
while the Bard, or Scald was a regular and Hated of- 
ficer in the Erincc*© .court, thefe men are thought to 
have performed the funftion* of the hiftoriaii' pretty 
faithfully ; for tho' their napations wo«ild be apt to re- 
ceive a good deal of embelKihment, they tee fuppofed 

to 

(aj VW. Lafttau Moeurs de Sauvagcs, T, s. Pr. Browsers Hi*, 
of the Rife and Progrefe of Poetry. ' ' 

'**■'■ 
(h) Qtrrfiam celebrant carminibai anti^uis (quod untim apud iHos 

fnemoria et anna/ium ^enus tfi) Tutjlonem ^c, Tacit^ Germ. c» 2. 
. ... ■''... 

^/fJJ&a^' Antiq. Dan, Ljbt i. Cap, lo.— Wormii Literatuia . 

Runica. ad fincni. 



^ 



A K D BALLADS. ii! 

tehave had at tlie bottoih (o mack ct truth as to ferve 
for die bafis of more regular annals. At lead focceed- 
ing; hiftorians have taken ap with the relations of thefq 
rode men, and for want of more aathentic records* 
hare agreed to allow them the credit of trae hiftorv^^/. 
After letters began to prevail^ and hiftory aflamed 
a more ftable form, by being committed to plain iim* ' 

eprofe; thefe Songs of the Scalds drRards began to 
more amoiiney than nfefi^h And in proportion as' 
it became their biifincfs. chiefly to enter tatn and deKght^ 
tbey gave mere and more into embelliihment, and fet 
off their recitals witk foch marvelous £^ions, as were 
calculated to captivate grois and ignorant minds. Thot 
began ftories of adventiu'es with Griants and I>ragoiis» 
a^d Witches and Enchanters, and all the nionftrons e^^ 
tfavagances of wild imagination, unguided by jadg-* 
ment, and uncorrcAed by art' f^.Jf 

THIS is tlie true origin of that fpecies of Romance, 
which fo long celebrated feats of Chivalry, and which 
atfirft in metre and afterwards in profe, was the enter- 
tainment of oi>r ancedorsy in common with their con- 
temporaries on the- continent,, till the fatire of Cer-' 
vantes, or rather the increafe of knowledge and claT- 
fical literature, drove them off" the flage, to make room 
for a more refined fpeicks of tidion, under the name of 
French Romances, copied from the Greek (fj. 

That our old Romance* of Chivalry may be derived 
in a lineal defcent from the ancient hiHorical fongs of 
the Gothic bards and Scalds, will be ikown i>elow, and 
indeed appears the more evident as many of thofc 
Songs are fiill prcferved ift the north, which eadiibit all 

b 2 the 

(d) See <' A DoTcnptioaof the ManoieR, Coftttms, See, of tl»« 

*' aocieDt Dadec %a4< ofh^r imrtbern natioss, tiaaflatid Iram d>eflb 
« of M« i^^SH,"" %^ vol. s. p. 49. dte* 

* * - . ^ 



ly- A N C:I £ N T; SlOIf G/S . 

the feeds of Chicly before it became a folemn'inftillb*'^ 
tipn (g)* **CtiivALtLYf as adiIUn£lmiiitaryorder, con- • 
*\ ferred in thp way of iiiveftiture, and accompanied with - 
'' the folemnity of ^n o^tli, and other ceriemonies," was- 
ot later date, and Sprung out of the feudal conftitutton^. 
ai^aidegant writer. ha?;Jateiy ihown (^J, But the ideas 
of,]Chiva]ry prevailed Ipcig before in, all the Gothic na-*; 
t^onsy and may be difcevered as in embrio in the cui^ 
tomsy manners, and opinions, -of every branch of that 
people (i^^ That:f<>n^^fs oF going in queft of ad- 
v^^ntures, that ipirit of cHalleiiging to iingle combat^ 
and tha^ reipe6ifal qomplaifahce flievn to the fair fex,. 
(fo different from the manners of the Greeks and Ro- . 
mans), ^all are of Gothic origin » and may be traced up 
tgthe earlieft times among ail the northern nations fk.J ■ 
Xhefe exifted long before the feudal, ages, tho' they 
wfeire Called forth and ftrengthened in a peculiar man-* 
ner under that conllitutipny and at length arrived to 
tteir full maturity in the times of the Crufades, fo- 
replete with romantic adventures flj. 
..Even the common arbitrary itdions of Romance* 
^ere (as is hinted lal^OY^) moft of them familiar to the 

ancient 

'. (g) Mallet, vid. Dcfcript of the Manners, &?. of tjie Danes, vol. 

It "p. 318, &C. vol.2, p. 2,34. &C, 

r (b) Letters concerning Chiiwlry* 8vo. 1763. 

(i) Mallet, paffim. 

. (h) Mallet, paffim. • 

t (1) They could not owe their rife either to the feudal fyftem or t» 
th^^Crufadef, bec^ic t^ey.cxifted long before either* - Neither were 
the Romances of Chivalry tranfmittcd to other nations from the 
Spaniards ; who have been fuppofed to borrow them from the Moors, 
and thefe to have brought them from the eaft. Had this been the 
(yijljb, the iirft French l^omances in verfe would have been upon the 
fMnc fubje^s of thoff^iof the Spaniard»s whereas the moft ancient 
metrical Romances in Spaniih h^ve^othing incomnion with thofe of 
the French, Englifli, &c. being altogether on Moorifh fubje£b ; aod 
the Spani/h Romances on the fubje^ of Charlemagne, Arthur, &c. 
are chiefly in proie^nd of later date, being evid^tly borrowed f^m the 
.:s, ,\; ..- » ^ Freneli. 



A N.D: B A.L L ADS- * v 

.Ancient Scalds of the north, long before the time bf 

, the Crufades. They believed the exiiience of Giants 
and Dwarfs (m)^ they had fome notion of Fairies (.ni^ 
jthey "K&c^ ftrongly pofTeiTed with the belief of fpeUs 
and inchantment (o)y and wfre fond of inventing com- 
bats with Dragons and Mongers (p)^ 

We have a ftriking inftance of their torn far Chi- 
valry and Romance, in the hiftory of King Regner 
Lodbrog, a celebrated warrior and pirate, who reigned 
in Denmark about the year 800 (q). This herofigna- 
lized his youth by an exploit of gallantry. A Swedifli 
prince had a beautiful daughter, whom he intrufled 
(probably during fome expedition) to th^care of oijc 
of his officers, affigning a&rongcafllefor their defence. 
The Officer fell i^ love with his ward, and detainod 
her in-^his caftle, fpite of .all the efforts- of her father. 
Upon this he pubUAed a proclamation through all the 
neighbouring countries, that whoever would conrqufr 
the ravifher and refcue the Lady fhould have her in 

. marriage. Of all that undertook the adventure, Regner 
alone was fo happy as to atchieve it : he delivered the 
fair captive, and obtained her for his prisix. It hap- 
pened that the name of this difcourteous ofEcer w;^s 
Orme, which in thelflandic language iignifie^^sA- 
PENT : Wherefore the Scalds, to give? the more poetical 

' turn to the: adventure, reprefent the Lady as detained 
irom her father by a dreadful Dr^on, and that Regner 

b 3 ^ ^ flew 

Trench. Not Iput the Spani»r4s, like the other nations of Gothic 
race, had ah origine a tuin tor chivalry, which prepared theni to 
receive and improve the Songs of the Moors, as well as thofe of the 
French, Sec. 

(m) Mallet. Defcript. bf Ch«r Daniss. iroh i. p". J6. 'vol; 2'. palTim. 

(nl Olaus Verel. «d Hervarer Saga. p. 44. 45. Hickes*s Thcfaur. 
V. X. p. 3 iLf Defcript. t( tHe Ancient Danes, vol. 2. paiHm. ' .) 

t . 
(0) Ibid. voL I. p. %, 374> &£• vol.2, p. 216, &c. 

(f) Rollofs Saga. Cap. 35. ifec. •• • 

(q) Saxo Gram. p. 152. 153.— -—Mallet* Defcript. vol. r. p. 32x« 



vi ANCIENT SD N G S 

flew the monftcr to fee her at Hberty. Even Regner 
himfelfy who was a celebrated poet, givej this fabuloas 
account oJF the exploit in a poem of hia own writing 
that is (lill extanty and which records all the valiaai^ 
atchievements of his life (r). 

With marvelous embelli^ments of this kind the 
Scalds early began to decorate their ni^rratives : anc{ 
they were the more laviih of thefe, in proportion as 
they departed from their original inftitationy but it 
was a long time before they thought of delivering a fet 
cf perfonages and adventures wholly feigned. Of the 
great multitude of romantic tales ftill preierved in the 
libraries of the l^orth^ mofi of them ^re fappofed tp 
bave had fome fcidhdation in truth, and the tsiote^ an- 
cient the^ are the more they are believed to be con- 
neded with true hiftory (/}. 

It was not probably till after tka liiftorian and the 
bard had been long difunited, that the latter ventured 
at pure fiction, At length when their bufinefs was nq 
longer to inftru£^ or inform, but merely to amufe, it 
was no longer needful for them to adhere to truth. 
Then began fabulous and romantic fongs which for a 
long time prevailed in Prance and England before 
they had books of Chivalry in profb. Yet in bodi 
iheie countries the MinArels ftiU retained fb much of 
tiieir original inftitution^ as frequently to make true 
events the ibbjeA of their Songs {t) ; and indeed, as 
during the barbarous ages, the rei^ular hiftories were 
almoft all written in Latin by the Monks, the memory 
of events was prcferved and propagated among the ig- 
norant 



fr) See % T^mihttifii of this'P^efP, among the ** Fhe pieces of 
*' Runic Poetry," &c. 

(J) VidL Mallet, ^efcript. of the MannerSj &c. of the Daoes^ pa5in). 

(t) The Editor^s MS. contains a multitude of poems of this latter 
kind. It was from this cuftoro'df the Miiiflreit that i»rat of our firft 
Hiftorians wrote their Chxofiicles ift verfe^ ^ lUh. «f Glcacefter^ 
Harding; &e. 



AND BALLADS. 



vn 



iiorant laity by fcarce any other means than the popa* 
lar Songs of the Minftrels. 

n. The inhabitants of Sweden, Denmark, and 
Norway, bein^ the lateft convcfts to Chriftianity, re- 
iCained their original manners and opinions longer than 
the other nations of Gothic race : and therefore they 
have preferved more of the ecnoine compoAtions of 
their ancient poets, than their fouthern neighbours. 
Among thefc the progrefs from poetical hiftory to poe- 
tical fidion is very difcernible : they have fome ot the 
latter kind, that are in effed complete Romances of 
Chivalry^«>^. They have alfo a multitude of Sag AS/^;e^or 
hiflories on romantic fubjedls, containing a mixture of 
profc and vcrfe, of various dates, fome of them written 
fince the times of the Crufades, others long before : 
J)ut their narratives in veHe only are efteemed the more 
ancient. 

Now astheirruptionof the Norma ns/j;^ into France 
under Rollo did not take place till towards the begin- 
ning of the tenth century, at which time the Scaldic 
art was arrived to the higheft pitch in Rollo's native 
country, we can eafily trace the defcent of the French 
and Englifh Romances .of Chivalry from the Northern 
Sagas. That conqueror doubtlefs carried many Scalds* 
with him from the north, who tranfmitted their ikill to 
their children and f^icceifors. Thcjfe adopting the re- 
ligion, opinions^ and language of the new country, 
fublUcuted the heroes of Chriiiendom inftead of thofe 
of their Pagan anceftors, and began to celebrate the 
feats of Charlemagne, Roland, and Oliver; whofe 

b 4 • true 

/"uj Sr:e a Specimen in zd Vol. of Der(eript. of the Manne; s of l!i? 
Danes, &c. p. %^Z, &c. 

Y^^Eccardi Hift. Stud. Etyra. 1711. p, 179, &c. IIlckcs*s Thc- 
£»ur. Vol, 2. p. 314. 

fyj i, c. Northern Men ; being chiefly Emigrants from N«r~ 
way^ Denmark, &c» 



viii AN CIE^^T SONGS 

I 

true hiftory they fetoffand embellifhed with the ScaU^c 
figments ot dwarfs, giants, dragons, and inchan^- 
ments. The firft mention we have in fong of thoic 
heroes of chivalry is in the mouth of a Norman warrior 
at the conqueft of England (zj : and this circumilanae 
alone would fufiiciepcly aj:count for the propagation of 
this kind of romantic poems among mp French and 
Engliih. 

But this is not all ; it is yery certain, that both the 
Anglo- faxons and the Franks had brpught with them, 
at their firft emigrations into Britain and Gaul, the 
fame fondnefs for the ancient fongs of their anceflors, 
which prevailed among the other Gothic tribes^tf^»and 
that all their Hrft annals were tranfmitted in thefe po- 
pular oral poems. This fondnefs they even retained long 
after their converfion to Chriflianity, as we learn from 
the examples of pharlemagne and Alfred 1"^^. Now 
Poetry, being thus the tranfmitter of fa6ts, would as 
ea£ly learn to blend them with fidion^ in France and 
England^ as ihe is known to have dovie in the north* 
and that much fooner, for the reafons before affigned^r^. 
This, together with the example and influence of the 
Normans, will eafily account to us, why the £rfl fto« 
mances of Chivalry that appeared both in England and 

France 

fts) Seethe Account of Taillxfxx in Vol. i. lotrod. 

(a) Jpfa c A R M I N A memoria mandahanty & preella imturt decantg'^ 
bant \ ^ua memoria tarn fort ium gefiorum a majotihus patratontm ad 
imitationem animus adderetur. Joraandes de Gotbu. 

(b) E^ohartus deCAJtox-OMACNo. ** Item barbara & antiaui^ma 
cakmina, quibus veterum-regum aSius & bella cantbantur^ firtpfit,'*^ 
c, 29. 

Aflerius dc ^lf rsdo m agno. ** JRex inter bella, 6ff Saxth- 

meos libroi recitarCf G^ maxims carmina Saxonica memoriter 
^ifeere, aliis imperare, & Jolut ajjidueprp viribus, Jhdio/ffime non de^ 
Jinehat:^ Bd. 172X. 8vo. p. 43. 

(c) Sec above^ p. iii, vi, &c. 



^ 



AND BALLADS. bt 

France (dj were compofed in metre, as a rode kind of 
epic fongs. In both kingdoms tales in verfe were 
ulually fung by Minitrels to the harp on feflival occ^- 
, ^ons : and doubtleis both nations derived their reliih 
for this fort of entertainment from their Teutonic an- 
ceflors, without either of them borrowiijg it from the 
other. Among both people narrative Songs on true or 
fiftitious fubjedjs hatd evidently obtained f|om the ear- 
lieft times. But the prqfeiTed Romances of Chivalry 
feem to l^ave been hrll compofed in Fr^nce^ where alio 
they had their name. 

The Latin Tongue, as is obferved by an jngenions 
writer (e)^ ceafed to be fpoken in France about the 
|iinth century, and was fucceeded by what was called 
the Romance Tongue, a mixture of the language 9f 
the Franks and bad Latip. 4s the Songs pi Chivalry 
became the moil popular compofitions in that language, 
jhcy were emphatically called Romans or Romants ; 
the' this name was at firft giv.en to any piece of poetry. 
The Romances of Chivalry can |be traced as early as 
the eleventh century (f). The famous Roman de Brut 
by Maiftre Euftache was written in 1 1 5 5 : But this was 
by no means the firft poem of the kind ; others more 
ancient are ftill extant (g}* And we have already 

feen, 

« 

(i) The Romances on the fubjeft ofPiRCEVAi, San Graai., 
LvfCELOT Du Lac, Tristan, &c. were among the firfl that 
appeared in the French language in Pro se^ yet the(e were original- 
ly compofed in Metr e ; The Editor has in his poiTeilion a very old 
French MS. in verfe, containing Uancien Roman ^/^ PERCEVAt, 
and metrical copies of the others may be found in the libraries of the. 
curious* See a Note of Wanley's in Harl. Catalog. Num. 2252, 
p. 49, ice. Nicholfon's Eng. Hid. Library, 3dEd« p. 91. &c.— 
See alfo a curious colle^lion of old French Romances, with Mr. 
Wanley^s account of this fort of pieces, in HarL MSS, Catal. 97$. 
106. 

(e) The Author of the Effay on the Genius of Pope, p. 2S2. 

(f) Ibid. p. 283^. Hift. Lit. Tom. 6. 7. 

(g) Voi Preface aux " Fabliaux & Contas *des Poctes Franjoit 
•* des xii, XI 11, XIV, & XV fiecles, &c. Paris, 1756. 3 Tom- 
^ iftmo." (A ycry curious work.) 



X ANCIENT SONGS 

fiseiTy that, in the preceding century, whea the Nor- 
maxisr maurclied down to the battle of Haftings, they 
ttAmated themfelves, by finging (in fome popular ro- 
nattceor ballad) the exploits of Roland and the other 
ixxoes of Chivalry ("j^fj. 

So early as this I cannot trace the Songs of Chivalry 
idrEnglifh. The moil ancient I have feeii, is that of 
HoitKECHiLD defcribed below, which feems not older 
ibattt the twelfth century. However, as this rather re- 
Csikbles the Saxon poetry, than the French, it is not 
certain that the firft Englifh Romances were tranilated 
from that language* We have feen above, that a pro^ 
jyenfity to this kind of iiflion prevailed am«ng all the 
Gothic nations f/>) j and, tho' after the Norman Cour 
ifxeiip both the French and Englifh tranftated each 
#deers Romances, there is no room to doubt, but both 
4f them compofed original pieces of their own. 

The 

fhJYid* fupw, Vel. r. Introd. f, xxvii, &c» Et vi^e Rapin, Carte, 
#fc,< ■ T hb Song of Roland (whatever it was) continued lor 
lame centuries to be ufaaUy fung by the French in their marches, if 
Wfr may believe a modem French writer, ** Un jour qu'on cbantoit 
**^ /tf CHTANsoir DK RotAKO, comme c*etoit Vufftge dans Us marches. 
* Ny gfong temps f dif it, [John K. of France, who died-in 1364.] 
^ f »W ne voir flut de Rolands patmt les Franfois» On y verroit 
^'^ emore des Rolands, lul repondit un vieux Capitaint, s*ils avoient «« 
^ CBarlemaffie a leur ttte," Vidr Tom. iii, p. 20a. des Eflait Hift. 
for Faris de M. dx Saintzpoix: who gives as his authority, 
Moethws m ffifl. Scotarum. Thiff Author, however, fpeaks of the 
CompIainC and Repartee, as made in an AiTembly of the States, fvo- 
^sfiffenattt/^zndnot upon any march, &c, Vid. Bueth. lib. xv» 
^t^P-T* Ed. Paris, 1574, 

fif the ifrff Kdwanccs of Chivalry among the Germans were 
AiliCefre; they hawe fome veiy ancient narrative Songs, (wiiich they 
' tiSiHettatf not only en the fabulous heroes 0/ their own country,. 
lhifaifo^0i» thole of France and Britain, as Triftram, Arthur, Ga- 
^viR^^ sfc J the Knights ^M' der Tafel-ronde.^ (Vid. Goldaftt Kot. 
j^XTghliait.. Vlr^ Car. Mag« 4to. 17 11. p. 207.) 

Tfire iame lEorxe9 prevailed alfb in Italy and Spain: this kind 
^fi£l>on9 watf aloai? tiioe or other admired aod cultivated thiougihovt 



A K D B A L L A D S. »l 

Tie florins of King Arthur and Ws Round TaMt^ 
Ittay be reafonably foppofed of the growth of this iflarvdi 
,i)oth the Englifh and the French had them front th« 
Britons fJ^J. The Hones of Guy and fievis, with fome 
others, were probably the invention of Engliih Min^ 
firels CIJ, On the other hand, the Englifh procure4 
jCranflations of fuch Romances as were moft current III 
France ; and in the Lift given at the concli^fion of thefe 
Remarks, man/ are donbtljcfs^ of French originalir 

The firft prose books of Chivalry that appeared U$ 
«Jar language, were thofe printed by Cajtton ffrtj i tc 
leaft, thefe are the firft I have been able to difcover, 
tod thefe are all tranflations from the French. Where- 
^ Romances of this kind had been long curtent in 
tttetre, and were fo generallv admired in the lime of 
. Chaucer, that his Rhyme of Sir Thopas was evidently 
imttci? to ridicule and burl^cfque them ("i/J. 

He 

(I) The Wel/h have ftill (brae ^irery old j^omancei about K. Ar« 
£&ur ; tnit as thefe are in profe, they are not probably their fifft |>iec€f 
that were compofed oa that fubjedt* 

(I) That die French Roman<fertf heaoWed (omt things from thf 
SiigHlh, s^pears from the word Te«magant,> which they tdoktifr 
inm our Minftrels, and corrupted into Txrvagaunt£« 5e9 
Vol. I. p.74r ^Szf 

(m) Recuyel of the Hy^ryes of Troy, 1471. Godfroytf of fid-* 
loyae, 14S1. Le Morte de Arthur, 1485. The life of Charles 
fliagne, 1485. &c. As the old Minfttelfy wofe out, profe books cpf 
CUnliy became more admhred,^ efpecially after the Spani/h Re- 
Vaaenr began to be tranilated into Engliih towards the end ai Ql 
£lttabeth*ft reign : then the moft popular metrical Romance » be^A 
fo be reduced into profe, as Sir .Guy, Bevls, &c. 

(n) See Extra£t from ^ Letter in Mr. Warton's Obfervatjd/is* 
Vol. 2. p, 139, [Where in p. 140* inftead of " Moft efthejty &c. 
^d, «^ Many of the MpHtUal Romancts are In the 'Oery fame ttietrtf 
.*t." The oW biaiek-l€tter Edit, in p, 142, prcfves ta be oae 0/ 



»i ANCIENT S O.NG S 

He e«prefs1y mentions fcveral of them by irame in a 
Hanza, which I (hall have bccafion to quote Q)ore^tha|i 
iOQce in this volume. 

Men fpeken of Romaunces of Price, 
Of Hornc-Child, and Ipotis, 

Of Bevis, and Sir Guy, 
Of Sir Libeaux and 61andainoure> 
But Sir Thopas bereth the floure^ 

Of riall chevallrie. 

Moft, if not all of thefe are flill extant in MS. in 
feme or other of our libraries, as I ihall ihew in the 
conclufion of t^is flight Erfay, where I fhall give a lift 
of fuch metrical Ijiftorics and Romances as have fallep 
under fny. obfervation, , 

As many of thefe contain a confiderable portion pf 
poetic merit, and throw great light on the manners and 
opinions of former times, it were to be wifhed that 
fome of the beft of them were refcued from pblivipn, A 
judicious colleftion of them accurately publifhed with 
proper illaftrations, would be an important acceHion tp 
our ftock of ancient Englifli Literature. Many of them 
exhibit no mean attempts at Epic Poetry, and tho' full 
of the exploded fidlions of Chivalry, frequently difplay 
great defcriptive and inventive powers in the Bards, 
who compofed them. They are at leaft generally equal 
to any other poetry of the fame age. They cannot in- 
deed be put in competition with the nervous produc- 
tions of fo univerfal and commanding a genius as Chau- 
cer, but they have a iimplicity that makes them be 
read with lefs interruption, and be more eaiiJy under- 
ftood : and they are far more fpirited and entertaining^ 
than the tedious allegories of Gower, or the dull and 
prolix legends of Lydgate. Yet, while fo much ftrefs 
is laid upon the writings of thefe laft, by fuch as treat 
of Englifh poetry, the old metrical Romances, tho' fjr 
more popular in their time,are hardly known to exift. But 

I it 



r'" 



• AND BALLADS. Xiif 

ft has happened unluckily, that the antiquaries, whty 
have revived the works of our ancient writers, have 
!>cen for the moll part men void of tafte and genius, 
find therefore have always faftidioufly reje£led the 0!! 
poetical Romances, becaufe founded on fiftitious or 
popular fubjefts, while they have been careful to grub 
up every petty fragment of the moft dull and infipid- 
rhymift, whofe merit it was to deform morality, or ob - 
fcure true hiftory. Should the public encourage the 
revival of fome of tbofe ancient Epic Sorgs of Chivalry, 
thev would frequently fee the rich ore of an Ariofto or 
a TafTo, tho' buried it may be among the rubbifh and 
' drofs of barbarous times. 

Such a publication would anfwer many important 
nfes : It would throw new light on^ the rife and pro- 
grefs of Engliih poetry, the hiftory of which can be but 
imperfeftly underftood, if thefe are negle^Sled : It would 
alfo ferve to illuftrate innumerable palTages in our an- 
cient claffic poets, which without their help muft be for 
ever obfcure. For not to mention Chaucer and Spen- 
cer, who abound with perpetual allulions to them, I 
Ihall give an inftance or two from Shakefpeare, by way 
of fpecimen of their ufe. 

In his play of King John our great Dramatic Poet 
alludes to an exploit of Rkhard L which the reader 
will in vain look for in any true hiftory, Faulcon- 
bridge fays to his mother, A 61 i. fc. i. 

*f Needs muft you lay your heart at his difpofe ... \ 

" Againft whofe furie and unmatched force, 
« The awleffe lion could not wage the fight, 
■ " Nor keepe his princely heart from Richard's band t 
" He that perforce robs Lions of their hearts 
" May eafily winne a woman's : "— — 

The fadl here referred to, is to be traced to its fourcc 
only in the old Romance of Richard Ceur de 

Lyon, 



1 

i 

i 



%i9 ANCIENT SONGS 

jLyp^ foj^ in whicb Jiis encounter widi a.lion majk^a 
v«ry fliiuing figure, I ihall give a large cxtrad from 
fixh jpo^m/.a? a fpecioicn of the jnanner of thele old 
rkap-fodifts, and to Ihew that they did not in their £c- 
tiofls -negjeft the proper means to produce the ends, an 
«/a« ;ifterwards done in fo. childiih a mannejr in the 
profe .books of Chivalry. 

The poet tells us, that Richard in his return from 
the HoJy Land having been difcovered m the habit of 
^* St, palmer in Almayne,*' and apprehended as a fpy, 
Wias by the king thrown into prifon, Wirdrewe, the 
ijbog's Ton, hearing of Richard's great ftrength, dc- 
ifires the jailor to let him have a fight of his prifoners. 
Richard being the foremoft, Warorcwe aiks him, ** if 
*• he .dare ftand a buffet from his hand ? " and that on, 
the morrow he fliall return him another. Richard con- 
ieJDjta, .and recejj^es a blow that flaggers him. On the 
jOMWxow, having previoufly waxed iiis hands, he m'ait^. 
Ms antagonift's arrival. Wardrewe accordingly, pro- 
ceeds th^ ftory, •• held forth as a trewe man,*' and Ri- 
dbiard gave him fuch a blow on the cheek, as broke his 
Jftw-bone, and killed him on the fpot. The king, to 
jcevcnge the death of his fon, orders, by the advice of 
4Ekne £ldrede, that a Lion kept purpofely from foodr 
fiuJl be turned loofe upon Richard. But the king's 
idaiighter having fallen in love with him, tells him of 
fcer father's refolution, and at his requeft procures him 
£orty ells of white filk " kerchers;'* and here the dc- 
fcuptipn of the Combat begins, 

'The kevrr-chefes (pj he toke on honde, 

^.od aboute his anne he wonde 5 

And 

,<fo} Dr. Crey has (hewn that the fame ftory U alluded to in 
fliftcirs Chronicle : As it was doubtlefs originally had from the 
]Roin»nce, this is proof that the old metrical Rontances throw light 
An^oxK^rft >\'TLters in profe : many of our ancient Hiftorians have re- 
corded the fid^ions of JRomance. 

(p) i. e. Handkerchiefs. Here wc have the etyibology pf the 
«r«i4> viz. " Couvre Ic chef." 



ANDfiALLADS. xv 

And thoughtin that ylke whil^ 

To flee the lyon with fom« gyle 

And fyngle in rkyztyh he ilode. 

And abode the lyon fyert and wodc* 

With that came the jaylere. 

And other men that wyth him werCj 

And the lyon them amonge ; 

His pawes were ftifFe and ftrongc. 

The chambre dore they undone. 

And the lyon to them is gone. 

Rycharde fayd, Helpe, lorde Je(ti ! 

The lyon made to hym venuj 

And wolde hym have all to rente : 

Kynge Rycharde bcfyde hym glente f^y. 

Tbe lyon on the hrefte hym (pnmed. 

That aboute he totimedi 

The lyon was hongry and megre, 

Aod bette his tayle to be egre 5 

He loked aboute as he were madde^ 

Abrodc he all his pawes fpradde. 

He cryed lowde, and yaned (qj wyde, 

Kynge Rycharde bethought hym that tydc» 

What hym was befte, and to hym Aerte, 

In at the throte his honde he gerte. 

And htnte out the hcrte with his to^ ' 

Lounge arfd aU that he there fonde. 

The lyon fell deed to the grounde : 

Avchardc fdte no wem frj, ne wounde. 

He fell on his knees on that place. 

And thanked Jefu of his grace. 



What 

(p) i. c. glanced, flipt. Cj) i. c. yawned. /r) LcJiurt. 

4 



jcvt Al^dlEM-rSdhfCfS 

What follows is not fo well, and therefore I (hall cj^- 
traft no more of this poem : but the preceding circum- 
ftances are not unworthy the feIe6lion of any Epic poet< 
-—For the above feat the author tells us^ the king wa» 
defervedly called 

Stronge Rycharde Cure de Lyowiie< 

That diftich which Shakefpeare puts in thtf mdttth 
of his madman in fi.. Lear, Ad 3. (C, 4. 

Mice and Rats and futk fmall deere 

{lave been Tom's food for feven long ycaf^, 

has excited the atl?ention of the critics. Indesid of 
^eere, one of them would fubflitutc geer ; and another 
cheer OJ* But the ancient readinc is cftablilhed bv the 
old Romance of Sir Bevis, which Shakefpeare had 
doubtlefs often heard fung to the harp. This diftich is 
part of a defcription there given of the hardfliips fuf- 
fered by Bevis, when confined for feven years in a 
dungeon. 

Rattes and myfe and Tuch final dere 

Was his meate that feven yere. SigA. F. iix. 

III. Im different parts of this work, the Reader will 
£nd various extrads from thefe old poetical Legends : 
to which I refer him for farther examples of their flyle 
and metre. To complete this fubjcft, it will be proper 
at leaft to give one fpecimen oftheir fkillindiftriboting 
and conducing their fable, by which it will be feen 
that nature and common fenfe hadfupplied to thefe old 
fimple bards the want of critical art, and taught them 
fomc of the moft effcntial rules of Epic Poetry.— ^1 

(i) Bp. Warb.— Dr. Grey* 



-X. 



tt 

it 



t -^ A N D B A L L, A D S. wii 

&all feled the Romance of Libivs Disconivs ^tj, u 
being one of tkofc mentioned by Chancer, and either 
ihorter or more * intelligible than the others he has' 

qaote^* 

If an Epic Poem. may be defined, ** («) A fable re- 
" lated by- a poet,, to excite admiration and infpiio 
*• virtue, -by^ reprefenting the'adiion of fome one heroy 

favoaredby heaven, who executes a great deiign, in» 

fpite of all the obilacles that oppofe him : ". I know, 
oot why we fhoiild withhold' the name of Epic Poem 
from the piece which I am about to analyfe. r . * * 

My copy i» divided into IX Parts or Cantos, tho 
fev9ral ac^ments of which ace as £ollow84 , 

• w. •. ? : • . P A R.T. I.- ... .• J 

' Opens'with.a ihort exordium to' befpeak attention > 
the Hero is:defcribed, a natjiralfon of Sir Gavraitts a 
celebrated kndght of K. Arthur's court,- who .being 
brought «ip in' aforeft by hismothitfr .is kept igoQrant 
of hid namrahd defcent. • He early exhibits marjcsof 
his courage, by killing a knight in fingle combat, wh^ 
encountered him as he was hunting. This infpires him 
With a deiire of -feeking adventures : therefore rldatth- 
ing himfelf .in his enemy's armour, he goes to..£* 
'Arthur's> Courts to .requeft the order of knigbtboed. 
Hisreqneft granted, he .obtains a *promife of having 
the firft adventure affigned him that fliall offer.— *— -A 
damfel named Ellen, attended' by- a dwaif, comes to 
implore K. Arthur's afliflance, to refcue a young Prin- 
•cefs, ** the. Lady of Sihadone" their miftrefac, , who is 
detained fr^m her rights, and confined in prifotn* The 
•adventure- is claimed by the young knight Sir Lybius : 
the king afTents : the mefTengers are diflatisiied, and 
objed to his .youth ; but are forced to aqquiefce. And 
here the firft book clofes with a defcription of the ce- 
remony of equipping him forth. 
Vol. III. c Part 

(t) So it is intitlcd in the Editor's MS. * 

fuj Vid. <^ Difcours fur la Pocfie Epi«|ue/' prefixed to Tel*- 

MAqjtf£. 



4 




jirm AV4tI£NTSQN6S 

P A & T IL 

fo LyUn* ftu •ttc on tlift adnpfMtiisr ; h» h d^ade^ 
llf thedfiNvf anddiedai]iAlaaaoeaa]KQ£hi»7<Ni|ki 
th^ come to 0ie bridge of Perill, which nouccmp^ 
wifmi enttowitetlng a knigfct ctiloi WiBiui ^. U 
BMVMh. SirLyUMkchdkogcd: tki|r>ifrwi& their 
ijMfttt I f>cUWtsMnchU4i£mouatJtJiz tfari»tdei»tfptw^ 
#dQftflM»:^W]mjUa'srwoidbi«al&:ii#]»UUb. )S» 
L^Mu msdoM Ittttt fiiMftr to ^ ami prt&sft. hittiletf 
to SL. Ardtan » ^ ifft^^mta of iift lalosvi T]»9 
conquered knMM ftti Mt fi» IL. Adhnr^s c«art4 i| 
jM«t 1^ dMO wughts, his Dclation&i «h<^ iafwned 
of his daigraoi, vow msagty aad jwafag. Aa rHaiMf . 
for. The aezt day tkef OKitaIr him : the eideft of 
tk^tiuM atiariu Sit l^Mya: hatkoaeiijhowittatlie 

SroMid^ TketwooiiMrMotlHr»aflhaliblMai: Sirli^Milf 
r woaadad ^ yet cttu of? the feooadr.lHitlMr't vMt 
^« tilrd Yi(kd»: ttit Iiybiiifi ftiub tfaantaUiOilU Ar^ 
Ikur* Ifc d>t» ttod eirtafliy he k wwkeH byrthn diKai<» 
Wbe hat-dBh ove ia d a^ fl«eiB.a wood; 

p' A R T Hi. 

ttpI^Mi»aitiiB hiaifiEtf,a&d']Bap»oa:hodlBba«k: liir 
finds^ two^ Gitots foattaff a wild boar,, who^haata a £ar 
ILady tilrik' captilf^ SirEyiia^by &w>ardFtkeAig))t» 
«tta«^oiit^o# t&amthrott^ witk hk^ptari is wfiEmAt^A 
1^ tho ether: a£M«e Mttkaa^aes:: iio aula off die 
giaat^i anttf and' at iMgch his^haaiL Ihc i^Md 
liadjr^E4i4'ftdaiightar)^k llimhor fhw^c;. souiJiiidB 
hk» to her ikther'fr caftk' : w4m» entcnmm him voikM 
great ftaft ; aad ftaAaitt Ua at partin^with a £vatnB afr? 
moaraftd aOiK^ He fesde idie gilint^sJielBd tO'£.ibduyr. 

F a ft T IV. 

Sir£iyMli|» nftdd:Rlkii» and th^ Jwarf» Befiew.th8ir 
Jbomey : dHrJF (ba a eaftle' Hack round with haauwi 
heads ; and are informed it belo^gsvto a knight eaU^ 
SHr-d^tfSstfmf who* in honour of his lemman ar mifti^elay 
challenges all comers; He that can produce a fairer 
tf^r '^ to I)C rewarded with a milk-iuiite faukoA* hot 






AN9 B A t L A I>S. 1^ 

y ompp9)ey to half Msh^sA. . Sif {.yliw J^endi ^ 
night in &c adjoining town: In the morning goetW 
dalienge the faalcqn. The knif hts exchange dieir 
l^yes r tfygy 9^^ to jaft in ^ me/ket jilai^ : the 
hij and ihaid Eifen are places^ aloft Uk ch^9 : tMi 
dieffes : the fi^erior beaiay of $u Gefib^'s AitftteQ 
d^fcribed : the cereaio0iee frovip^^ to the combat 
iiey en^^ : t)|e combat deieriKed at kfge : Sir Gel^ 
i^on if Wf$f9^\y iw^i a^wl cairied home oa hM 
Moli. $w If/bitt^ feiKls t|ie fanlcon to K. Ardmr ; i^ 
moivttp b^^k a lar|^ freknt in florif^s, Hefta^ dO cb^ra 
to be cored of his woiiiid^, whiclh be i^tnds in ttaAtng 
mtii «;he ftcigh Wring -lords^ 

F A a T V. 
Sw Lybini proee^$ for Skadeiie : in A fbreft he 
n^to /i^ ka%^t homing, c^led Sir Otes de LiBe: 
maid Ellen charmed with a very beautiful dog, bep 
Sir Lybias to beftow' hjm iipon her : Sir Otes meets 
tkoh a^d: olakss hli d^g t is refofed : being mkurilied 
he lidos to hip eaft)c, 4n4 (iimnions his atte^daftti^: 
i^^o in ^v^ft cf Sir hfhx^9 : a batde eafueA. : kfe ill 
|l|ll i^iaori0ns, and fpvf^es Sir Otes to follow ibstti^b^ 
eeaquered knig^tr to K* Anhnr. 

P A R <P VL 

Sir Ikybiu3^«omfe- to.a^ faifiSty And caflle by t mcSb- 
SAti h^kt rpoiki with {Kivilioiit ot tents: hb it ift*- 
^npied, in «he eaftlfFfs a beamfai lady hefieged by a 
l^t na^aed M^^Sr who keeps tHe bridge, and will 
ktnmie p^^ wkh^nt doing. him homagb : this LyUitt 
fefuTes^: nbfitfie i^afae^: the giant dc^Hbed: tihye fe- 
vftpal i^adeats of t^ battle r which laAs a Mok faiii- 
mcr's day : the giant is wounded ; put to flight ; flain*^ 
The citizens come OOt in- pioccffl^n to meet their deli- 
vcftper; ihe lad^ inwitles hirii ii^to hcre^k: fal& in 
|0ve adtH him :- an4:*fedaQes hial to'her tfmbnudeai i$» 
Iftlliets Aa priaoeft of Siastdoaie^ And AB|n with thb 
bewitckiag Mk. a twelvemonth. Thik far faifctfrofi, 
Jtkf^ aMtkfit Akiiiffr tato^cat^ hial witKall Ubds of 

c a fc&faaL 



feafual plpafiire J ^and detains him Trokn ^hc'^puffait' of 
honour. . ?. ;;:.'•.,•;' 

- Part VTT: " • 

• Maid Ellen by chance gets aii 'opportunity of fpeak-> 
lAg'to hitti ; and upbraids him'With his vice and folly : 
he is fitted with remorfe, and efcapes the fame evening; 
At length he arrives at the city and caiHe of Sinadone i 
Is given to underftand thathe-maft challenge the'co^n- 
ftable of the caftle to (ingle CcJft^bat, before he can be 
received as a gHcft.- They juftt the conftable is ^orfl- 
ed : Sir Lybius is feafted in the caftle :" he declares his 
|ptention':of d^i^ring thei^ lady; and inquires the 
particulars of her hiftory. ** Two- Necromancer* 
have built a fine palace by forcery, and there keep her 
inchanted, till (he • will -furrend^fr hfer jduchy to th&m^ 
and yield to'Xuch bafe Condition's a& tihey would itS^ 
pofd.'? ' ' • • . ' • / • • • 

'1 P A R r • Vtll. - 
* Early on the morrow Sir Lybius fets'ont fbr th* inf 
chanted palace. He alights' in the cojirt : enters' the 
hal^: the wonders of which ^ are' defcribed in ftron^ 
Gothic painting. He firs down at 'the high table : on 
afudden all the lights ave quenched Vit thunders, and 
lightens ; the palace ihakes 5 the walls fall in pieces 
^bout his ears. He is difmayod 4ndCortfounded: 'but 
•prefently hears horfes neigh, atcd is challenged- td 
Jfin^le conibat by the fofcerer^* 'He gets to his ftee3-j a 
l)attle cnfuesV'with various turn* of fortune: he^ldies 
•his weapon : but gets a fword from one of the Necro- 
mancers, and wounds the other with it : the -edge of 
-the fwofd being fecrctly poifoned, the wound proves 
•mortal. ■ « .• 



't 



i. I 



Part IX. 



* He goes up to the furviving forcerer, who is carried 
^way from thim'*by inchantment{ at length he fin^ 

• him, and cuts off his head : He 'returns to the palace 
to deliverthe lady : but* cannot find her; .as he is la- 
menting, ^4l window opensy ckK)H{^. which enters «. 

A.. ... « > horrible 






AND ballades/- rx\ 

p • • • 

horrible ferpCht with wings and a woman's face : it 
coils round his neck and kifles him ; then is fuddenly 
converted into a- very beautiful lady. She tells him 
Iheis the Lady of Sinadone, and was^fo inchanted,- till* 
Ibe might kifs Sir Gawain, or fome one of his blood : 
that he has difTolved the charm, arid that herfelf and 
her dominions may be his reward. He joyfully ac- 
cepts the offer ; makes her his bride, and then fets out 
with her for King Arthur's court.'* 

StJCH if the fable of this ancient piece : which the 
reader may obferve, is as regular, in its condudl, as 
any of the fineft poems of claffical antiquity. If the 
execution, particularly as to the diftion and fent.iments, 
were but equal to the plan, it would be a capital per- 
formance ; but this is fuch. as might be expeded in 
rode and ignorant times, and in a barbarous unpolifhed 
language. 

IV.I SHALL conclude this prolix account, with a List' 
of fnch old Metrical Romances as are Hill extant: 
beginning with thofe mentioned by Chaucer, • 

I. The Romance of Home-childe is preferved in the 
Britifli Mufeum, where it is intitled Jje jefieof kyng Home.' 
See Catalog. Harl. MSS. 2253./. 7®' '^^^ Language 
isalmoft Saxon, yet from the mention iii it of Sara- 
zens, it appears to have been written after fome of the 
Crafades. It begins thus, 

' ^ All heo ben blyf^e 

J>at to my fonj ylyj^e: 

■.•«,. 

• A fonj; ychuUe ou finy 
Of AUof J?e 5ode kyn^e (x) tcz. 

Another copy of this poem, but greatly altered and 

femcwhat modernized, is preferved in the Advocates 

' c 3 . Librar^ 

M •»•»€. May all they be blithe, that to my fong liften : A forjg 
Ilhallyoufing, Of AUof the good king, &c. 



spi ANCIj^KTlONGS 



— .'anrat E^hi^A, m fMS. «m^o ^^^tafti^ «>f ^ 
Englift poetry £Wr4t »•! Nw. XXXJV. i» fevtM 
leaves or feHos /^ij, iiititkd. HmiHkil4 mid iUi^f^ 
Hiaivilp and bcg^aoi^g ^hs^ 



3. The f oem of j!)m/» (<9f T^/u) is pf^erfe4 ifi fft^ 
Cotton liibntrvy CaUg. A. s. to. 77. but is rather a re- 
Jigipoft Legep4, than a|t.ommu:e, |tf Vi^WHI »» 

He tit yryll of yryf^^qie h#e 

Of « t^e of hsilf wfyic 

Scymt jp^D ^ Etaagplyfto wytnd|rtth Byt. 

3 The Romance tof j/r G«)^» was written bete# ^M 
of Bevisy being quoted in it (y). An accoont of this 
old poem is given below, pag. iqe. To which it i^^y 
be added, that e#9tdmplete copies iii II9» ft^ pre^nr- 
6d at Cambridge, tKi ttiit in tnc ptrf^fic Library /^;rA 
the Other in that of CaiiM College, Clafi A. d.-**— in 
4net'€ Typ^; p« 1^3. fnay be feeo ^ #fi li&<^a of 
the printed cppy«— rThe ift MS* hegiasi 

Sjithfi «kf tyi«e tlMt (M was b<irn^ 

4* Guy and Colbronde^ an oldRomanae k thi^ee pavts« 
is preferved in the Editor's foHo MS. (p. 349.) It is 

in 

(h) In etch full pag^ of thitVol; tre^iJi^ltlkog'vhen the poem it in 
Itng metre : an^ BSa when the metre is fl^oct, and the page in % co- 
lumns. 

(y) Slga K. t. h. 

f«j For this andtaoft ^ ^ fen<yvrin8» ^hiicil ao» »WWiy iW fWi ««l 

•rererred in the Public library, I refer the reader to the Oxen Cata- 

, fcgue of mSS. 1697. vol. 2. pag. 394. in Appendix to Bp. More*s 

IfS^.iNo. 6^a 33. iii^ ghveo to the VaiH»fi<;y 



ri 



AlfD BALLADS. im 

Wiien ^ate and driske is €>9«t pUBt)pe. 

. In the Edinburgh MS. (mentioned alcove} are two an* 
dent poems om t]M fy^^oS Qt^^ Warwick : vi^ 
Nam. XVIII. containing 26. leaves, and XX* 59 leaves* 
.Btth Aefe lun^ «albi«iDa4lie1y %^ bl^gjuitifigt want* 
'mg,. ach^riri& th^ ^ronkl perhitw \»c ^w^d |» Im dif- 
ferent Copies •£ one «» bpdH the preceding articks* 

£. From the fame MjS- I oan add pother articl* 
to this lift» viz. The Romance oi Rmbrun fon of 
Sir Gay ; being Nam. XXt* in 9 leaves : this is pro- 
perly a Continiu^n of the Hiftory of Gut: andia 
Art. 3. iht iM. of Rembranibilows that t)f Ouy as a 
necel^ ?;urt of it. TMs. Sdiabvrgh Romance of 



Jcfii tb4t 0i of tfil^tx iMIi 
iPader and ibnc and Hol^ GqIU 

Before I quit the ftit:9fA of Sif Gn tA. moft oUerre» 
that if we {»av be^eve Ougd^k 'hjbl hit Baronage, [vol. 
1. p. 243. col. 2.] the fame of «ur Engliih Champion 
had in the time of. Henry IV. trayeUed as far as the 
Eaft, and was no lefs popular among the Sarazens» 
than here in the We]^ among the Pfations of Chriften- 
dom. In that reij^n a lord Beauchamp travelling to 
Jeniialeni, was kindly received by a noble perfon, 
the Soldan's Lieutenant^ who hearing he wia^ defcend* 
cd from the jfamotts Guy of Warwick, '* whdfe fiory 
^' they had in books of dieir own language/' invited 
him to his palace ; and royally feafling him, prefent- 
fd him with three precious ftone^ of great value ; be- 
fides divers deaths of iilk and gold given to his fer- 
vants. 

# ♦ *• Tic 



I 



Mriv A N C I E N T S O N G S 

-6. ThcRomarcc of Syr JSei/is is defcribed in pag. 
3 1 6. of this vol. Two manufcript copies of this poem 
are extant at Cambridge ; viz. in the Public Library 
(a), and in that of Caius Coll. Clafs A. 9. (5.) — The 
kr& of thefe begins, 

Lordyngs lyftenytb grete and finde. 

' » 

There is alfo a Copy of this Romance of Sit Be^h 
0f Hamptoun, in the Edinburgh MS. Numb. XXII. con- 
Ming of 25 leaves, and beginning thus, ^ . 

Lordinges kerkneth to mi tale. 
Is meiier than the nightengale* 

The printed copies begin different from both: viz* 

Lyilen, Lordinges, and hold you-ftyl. 

7. Lihehux (Libeausy or, Lybius) Di/conius is prc- 
ferved in the Editor^s folio MS. (pag. 317.) where th^ 
kxk ilanzl is, • 

Jefus Ckrift chriften kinge. 
And his mother that fweete thinge, 

Helpe them at their neede. 
That will liften to my tale. 
Of a Knight I will you tell, 
A doughtye man of deede. 

^ An older copy is preferved in the Cotton Library 
f Cal. A. 2. fol. 40. J Qontaining innumerable varia- 
tions : the iirft line is, 

Jefu Chrift our Savyour. 

As 

j(a) No. 690. §.31. Vid. Catrfog. MSS. p. 3944 



r 



AND BALL ADS.. xxr 

As for BlanJamourej no Romance with this title hat 
lecn difcovered ; but as the word occurs in that of i/- 
htaux^ 'tis poflibie Chaucer's memory deceived him. 

8. LeMorte Arthurs^ is among the Harl. MSS. 225 2# 
§ 49. This is judged to be a tranflation from the 
French ; Mr. Waniy thinks it no older than die time 
of Hen. vii. but it feems to be quoted in Syr Bevis^ 
(Sign. K. ij. b.) It begins 

Lordinges, that are lefFe and deare. 

In the Library of Bennet Coll. Cambridge, ^**. 3 5 !• 
is a MS. intitled in the Cat. A^a Arthuris Metrico An^ 
glicanoy but I know not whether it has any thing itt 
common with the former, 

9. In the Editor's Folio MS. are many Sorigs ah J 
Romances about King Arthur and his Knights, fome 
of which are very imperfed, as K, Arthur and the king 
o/Corn'walL (p. 24*) in ftanzas of 4 Lines^ begin- 
wng - 

Come here, my cozen Gawain fo gay. 

The Turke andGawMtt, (p. 38.) in ftanzas of ^JincS, 
beginning thus, , . : 1 i 

Liilen^ Lords, great and fmalL 

&*ri/ow/in^diftichs (p, 32.) thus beginnings 

Sir Egrabell had Sonnes three. 

but the^e are 9q imperfed . that I do not make diiHoft 
articles of them. See alfo in this Vol. Book 1. N^. I# 
II. IV. V. 

10. In the fame MS. p. 203. is the Greene Knight f 
in 2 Parts, relating a curious adventure of Sir Ga- 
waifiy in ftanzas of 6 lines, beginnipg'thus^ 



AIICIEMTS0II09 

II. ne CatU of Carlifie^ is another ramittde tde 
about Sir Gawab, in flic fimt, MS* p. 449. in dST- 
ticlis* 

iiften totoie a fltlSe ibode* 

• > 

b aH tiidbold poems the fame ttt tifitrishtl ft»#4rf^ 
ways drawn with die fame manners and charaft^s s 
which feem to have been as well known an^ ms 4i^|ift« 
•I7 marked among oar anceftqrSy as. Homer's Heroes 
were among die Greeks : For as Ufjiffes is always re- 

frefented craF^^ ^cbiUes iraicible^ and ^ax xonghf. 
o iir Gofwmn is ever courteous and gentle, ilr £9 
rugged and ^irobUging, &c« ** Sir Gamtain fiutff> ih 
"* vM ewtrteff* is mentioned by Chancer as noted tib 
A proverb* in his ^Squire's Tale, Urry*s Ed. p. 6o« 
r» Hi. 

1%. tyrtmmfidr an excellent old Romance con- 
cerniug another of K. Arthur's Knights, Is m^ifcrved 
in the Cotton Library, Calig. A« 2. f. 33. This !a a 
tranflation from the French [bi made by one ThmnUki 
Cbeftrgy who is fuppofed to have lived in the reign of 
»»m. vi. [S«e Tannor's BiblML] It is Jn flannas of 
ft LiaeSf and begins, 

Le dousty Aftoiin daw«fl. 

IVie above was afterwards altered by fome Minftrel 
into the Romance ef Sir LmmlMutit, in J Parts, under 
which title it was more generally known fc). This 
is in the Edien^ Alio MS. p. 6o, heguimng thus. 

Doughty in kina Arthuret dayw. 

13^ Tke 

fh) Th« FruKh O^^oA i» fUt^kftt^ anoag the HyL MSS. No. 
§78. 4 112. Lam/mf, 

(ej Sac Cangha«*B tette coaeem; <t;^£fis. iBisrtddttisi 
llig^vvitb; 1575. xsaio. p. 34« 



ANJ> BAH A Oil. »»l; 

li^tlie fm&e ftUo M& p« 144^) fjivet j^ cnrioiis ftccooat 
of ibe hirtby ^areoug^, and javeiMle advcntores of 
tU» fmofx^ Bntiih Prophet. In tkU poem the Saxamt 
are called Sara$sinsi and the thmiting the rebel angela 
out of Heaven is attribated to ** ourt Ladjf.** It u im 

*4WdM(f and l»^nr tha v 

He that mic mth lutlupd* 

There it an old Romance O/Arthmr and o/MtrSM, 
ia the Edbbmh MSt ^oU Siiflifli P^ms: I kn6«r 
not whether it Eaa any thing in common with th ia laft 
aptntioftedi ItiskiihoiPDliime^ n«ari>fP«t XXllL and 
mtfmtk liromi^ g Jeayet* Tk^ t9/4 6Ahm» wn 

. ^1 Sir fiMtr^f (or at it if in the MS* copiet. Sir 
IS^Af) is quoted in Chauc^s lU of Thop. t. tf. 
Sfit$9g Mr« Gorrick's old plays is a printed copy ; of 
ipr^^an account hai^ been already given, in Vol. i, 
P« $og« It is preierved in MS* in the Library of Caiaa 
(So% Cainbw ^lafs A* 9. (2.) and alfo in the Cotton 
library, Cal. A. 12. (f.i2S,) Thia ia eKtreme^y dif*. 
ferent from the printed copy. £• g. 

God Jiat made both er]>e zsn^^hfwni, 

1 c. Emarit a irery cnnons and anoent Roflsaiiee« is 
preferred in the fame Vol. of the Cotton library, f. 
#9. Itisinftan*ofl^littii» aiidb^pnithas> 

Jt^ ^a ys hyoc In tioa4 

l4« CiivAnaJIpih oPf The Kni|^ of die fi«ran« 
preferred in the Cotton Library, has been alxeady de» 
wribed i» YoL 2. f, apa. nakathiUa 

17. Tht 



»i»m A M fc 'r fe N T ^ b N G S 

\ 

17. 7'/5£' «y^^r ffjirlamy (or Jefnfalem) which feim* 
to have been writteti after the other, and may not im- 
jnoperly be clalTed among the Romances :- as may alfb 
the foRowfng' which is prefer ved in the^&mc volume: 
inz. . ' -. . 

18. Owaine Myles^ (fol. 90) "giving an account of 
the wonders of St. Patrick's Purgatory. ' This is a 
frandation into'vcrfe of the ftoiy related in Mat. Paris's 
liift. (fab Ann. 1 15 3.) — ^It is in diftichs beginning thus, 

God ^at ys ib full of myght. 

• • - • 

In the fame Manfuicript are one -or -two other nar- 
rsttve poetfis, which might Hbe reckoned 4unong. -the 

Romances, but being rather relieious Legends, I fliall 
Iwrely mention them ;" as, Tund/Se, f. 17. Trent ale Scs 
Gregorii, f. 84- Jtrome» f. 133. Euftache* f. 136. 

f^. OSfavtan tmperdfvr, an ancient Rcm^nde* of 
Chivalry, is in the fame vol. of the Cotton Library, f. 20. 
■— Notwithftanding the name; this old poem has no- 
thing in common with the hiftory of the -Roman 
Emperors. It is in a very peculiar kind of Stanza, 
^hereof i, 2, 3, & 5, rhyme together, as do the 
•4 and 6. It begins thus, '' 

Ihefu fat was with fpere yftongc. 

In the public Library at Camb. [h) is a poem with 
the iaitie title, that begins very differently 

Lyttyll and mykyU>. olde and yonge. 



* » % * 



20» Eglamour ofJrfar (or Afttiys). is preferved in the 
fiune Vol- with the foregoing both in the Cotton Li- 
hnar^f and public Library at G^mb. It is alfo in the 

0) Ka, 69CX. (30s,) Vid. Oxoflw Catalog MSS; p, 394. 

/ "> Editor's 



HitoPsFoKo MS.*p.i9^-' where it is. divided into 6 
Pans.-^A .pripted'Copy.is in the Bodleian Libraiy; ' 
C. 59, Art- Seld. And among Mr. Gariick's ' oM 
plays, K. vol. X. It is in diftichs, and begins ^diosy 

- •' IhcfuCrift of hivefe'kyng, • - , ' 

« -> -v. ' r. • .j1 ^ '•■■••. . . 

21. Syr Triamore (in ftan> of 6. Lines) is prcS&ttredi 
in MS. in the Editor's folio Volume, p. 21c. and in 
the public Library .'df- Camb. (690. ■§ ' 29. Vid. Cat. 
MSS, p. 394.)-^Two pri-nted C6pie«> aw^ extant in the 
Bodleian Library, and among Mr. Garrick's ylays la 
the fame volumes with- the laii article, fioth the £di- 
tDr*«MS. and the printed Copies begin ' 



I, 



• Nowc JefirChryfteour hevenkyflige..-- 

• • * 9 , \ • 

The .Cambridge (Copy, thus, ..* ..1 

■ * .' ■ • . i ■ . . 

t.i ,-. , Hevea blys tii4t all ihsil| wyi^ik«: • 



22. 5/> Degree (Degare^ Or Degore^ which lad lecmB 
^Jriip title) in,;5 Paxes, in diilichs, ds prefexye^in'thc 
Editor's folio IVlS. p. ,37 1. and in the public Library at; 
Qamb. (ubi fupra.) — A printed Cqpy is in the Eod- 
tiErary, C. 39. -Art. Seld. ' and among MrvGardtk'sT. 
plays K. vol. IX.— The Editor's MS: and. tlie |irinted; 
Copies begin / ' \ ,.".*', 

Lordingir, and you wyl holde you ftyl. . . * 

The Cambridge MS. has it 

Lyftenyth, lordyngis^ gcntc and frc . . , 

23.* Ipomydon,' (or ChyUe Ipomj/on) is ^refervcd; 
anumg'the'Harl; MSS. 22^. (44.)' It is in^ifachs. 
aad begins, 

• Mekcly, lordyngis^ ^entylle and frc 






SIX ANCIENT SONGS 

Ia thcLifanryof LiayooiaCatliedsal. Kk. 3»vo«ip 
«a old imperfeft pnated Cppft waatuig tbe whoS^ 
fidt ihcet A* 

24. ?%« $f «^ 9/ towe degru is one of thoie bdr* 
lefqaed by Chaucer in hit IL of TbQip«i'(4}"**<Mr. Gar- 
ricK has a printed Copy of this, among lus old playa» 

It wts a .ii^iyer of lowe de|!!^ 

That loved tfas &hip 4a«f^ #f Ilii<igiCk 

t4« ^(^M^ 0/" K* Richard Cut$ [Cmrr] idS^ J^tiN 
rimpr. W. de Worde* ifM* 4flQ*l » ^(wredili d^ 
fiodleian Library, C. 39. Art. Selden. A fragment of 
it is alTo remaWng in the Edhiblftlgli MS. of old 
Englifh Poems ; Num. XXXVI. in 2 leaves* A larse 
Extrad from diis Romanoe baa been i^vfti i^bAeaSq^ 
above»p.xv. Richard was the peculiarpatron of Chivalry, 
andtheielbrewatalbfMMiiteiwiiii^^^liiMfaft^^ See 
Warton's Obffnr. V« i. p, 29. V. 2. p. 40. 

26. The^ fellowittg r haire net fe^n", but I lieliqfMP 
they may ail be referred to die'daft of Romaneet^ .. 

The Knight af Courtegf and the LaA oftagmt (Bo^ 
£ib. C. 391. Art. Seld. a printed OopyO 'tKts My. 
Warton^ thinks is the Story of Coney's Heart* related i»' 
Fanchety and in HowePs Letters. fV. i* S. 6. t. 20. 
See Wart. Obf. V, 2w p. 40.] The Editor has feen 
a very beautiful' old ballad on this fnbje& in French. 

27. The four following are all preferved in the MS. 
fo often referred to in the psbiile Library at Camb. 
(690. Appendix |o Bjk Morels M$S. ia Cat. MSS. 
Tom. 2. p. J94.) viz. Tbf Brie ^Tboht^e. 0N* a?.), 
l^eginning 

Jeiii Chrjrfte in Trynyts. 

2S. X«- 
(tf) See Mr, WartQa*s Obiltrvat. Vol; i. p. 1 J9. iiate»' 



AND BALLADS. xzxi 



^* JLoterd Kipgi tf CjjSfll (or Sicib) fhewiiig the 
fall of Pride* Of this there is alfo a Cofjr among tlir 
fl^ y^. lyoy (3O The Camb. MS. iepnt 



Priocis tha^ be powdcin peefe. 
2^. Li tone TUrencf kfRmiy beginning thus 
As ferre as mei| ride or psae* 

30. Dioclifia»tbeBmptroiar^ begimtfaig, 

Sgm t^fmf$ titer was 9 opble man* 

31. The two knightly biMXher^ jfi^f^ mdl AmAm 
(among the Harl. MSS. 2386. % 42.) I foppofe^ to br 
anokl Rcnttance^of Chivalfy; at alfb tht fragment of 
ihe Vady Behfau:^ tbt Dmkt ef Lomhardy^s fmr daughttr^ 
mwOinBeAift the feme article^ See the Catalog. Vol. z^ 

• 32. In the Edinbargh MS. lb often referred to (pro- 
fe#Teiift th#A^Nf<o«aMsLibt«i7>, W ^ t.) na^ pio- 
bably be found fbitie ot^iet artioka to add to thit MSi^ 
as well another copies of ^oolz of the pieces mentioned 
in ki for the whole Volume contains not fewer than 
xxxvii poems or romances, fome of them ^ery long. 
But i6>^roa;ny of thcw lM»e loft the beginnings^ whidi 
have been- out Ott« fo ihefiihrof tiie iUuminattona^ 
and as I have not had an oppoivtunity of examining 
the MS. myfelfy 1 ihall be content to mention only th^ 
articles that follow f , vi2. 

An old Bfomance about VSntUmd (not I believe the fa^^ 
ttoorPdadine,, bttt a champion nmedilwii»if^i>aMii It 
mre) being^ in the ¥olaffie» NUmb^ xttViu in ^ 
Impr^ and wants the beginning. 

, t Some^dysft'Tgite^ Ao«||li« m«^*Md Mid ah«te^.«fAaea|[ 
thliti bccauie.tib4riBi7flaiM»«dawtavii^ ota^ltia cM^iia* 
fVovt4therceptts« 

J 3j. Ai^otl^er 



x;ixu A tic I E'k T SON GS 



•?.. 



3^. AnQther Romance, that fecms to be atijid tfjf^ 
continuation of this laft, ' intitled, Otuel a Knight ^ 
(Numb/xxviii. m ii leaves aftd a half.) The two firft ' 
lines are, , ' ' . • 

Hcrkneth both zingc and old, 
' . Th»t willett heren of battailes bold. , 

34. ne King of Tars (Numb. iv. in 5 leaves and a 
hal) beginning thus, ' 

Herkoethto vAt bothe eld and zlng^ ' 
For Maries love that fwcte thing. 

35. AT-aleor Romance, (Numb. I. cleaves), that 
wants both, beginning. and end. The firft line^ijpw re- 
maining are, ;. . . 

' ■ ' • . -/ ■ * •' • 

'TK Erl him graunted his ivill y-vls. that the knicbtthilQi h&de* > 

' y told. • '•- ' ._•../. 

The Baromiis that were of niikle pfrs. befbr him tliay 'Woren^' 

36^ Another mutilated Tale or Romarice (N»»b^ ui-» 
4 leaves). . The firftlines at prefcnt are, *-.;•' ^ 

To Mr Steward wil y gon." ' and ttWen him the fbthe' 6? the*" / ' 
Kefeyvcd bjeftow fone anon, gif zoo will ferve and with h?r be. 

37. A 'mutilated Tale or. Romance (Numb. "Xi. .in 
.13 leaves). The two hrft line's that occur are. 

That riche Douke his fcft gan hold 
With Erls and with Baronns bbl4. 

. 1 cdnnot' con elude my account of this curious Ma- 
nilfcript, without acknowledging publicly, .that. I ,anx 
indebted : tO: . the fri^ndljiip ^of . the Reverend Dr. 
^ Blair, the prefent ingenious . Profeflbr of. Belle$- 
Lettres in the Univerfity of Edinburgh, for whatever 
f knowv <5f its ■ contents, • ^ ai&d for the:important addi- 
€ioit9^ 'tl has enabled me to make to the ^regoing Lift^ 

L T H E 6 Y 



1 



AND BALLAD S, 



L 
THE BOY AND THE MANTLE, 

— Is printed 'verbatim from the old MS defcribed im 
tht Prt/ace. The Editor beiieves it more ancient ^ than it 
mil appear to be at Jirfi fight ; the tranfcriber of that ma* 
nfcript halving reduced the orthography and fiyle in many 
nf antes to the Jtandard of his O'wn times. 

The incidents of the Mantle and tht Knife have not, 
that Icon recoiled, been borronuedfrom any other ivriter. The 
firmer of thefe evidently faggefted to Spenfer his conceit of 
Florimel'/ Girdle, B. iv.'C. 5. St, 3, 
That girdle gave the virtue of chafte love 
And luivehood true Jo all that did it beare ; 
But vjhofoever contrarie doth provey 
Might not the fame about her middle iveare. 
But it ivould loofe or elfe afunder teare. 
St it happeised to thefalfe FlorimeU fi, 16, vjhen 
■ Being brought^ about her middle fmall 
Thty thought to girdy as beft it her became^ 
But by no means they could it thereto frame ^ 
For ever as thrf fafined ity it loosed 
And fell away, as feeling fecret blarney Sec, 
That all men vjondred at the uncouth fight 
And each one thought as to their fancies came* 
But Jhe herf elf did think it done for fpigbty 
And touched vaas voith fecret >iurath andjhamir 
Therennfithy as thing devized her to defame : 
Then many other. ladies likefwife triae 
About their tender loynes to knit thefamcy 
But it vjould ma on none of them abide y , ' 

But vjhen they thought it fafiy eftfoones it vuas untide. 
Thereat all inijiffts *gan laugh and ladies lowre. 

Till that 3/ laj the gentle Amoret 
Vol, m. ^ B I/i*- 



2 ANCIErrT SONGS 

Liktvuife ajfayed to prove tb^ girdle's powre* 
And having it about her middle fet 
Did find it fit twitbouten breach or let^ 
Whereat the reft gan greatly to enijie* 
But Florimel exceedingly did fret 
And fneiichtt^.from her band^ He* 
As for the trial of the Ho r n E, // // not peculiar to our Poet : It 
occurs in the old romance^ intitledMortt Arthur, ^wbicb naas 
tranfiatedout of French in the time of K. Edw. IV. andfirfi 
printed anno 14^4. From that romance Ariofto is thought to 
home horronmdhis tale tf^/i^e Enchanted Cup, C. 42. Wf» 
See Mr* Warton^s Ohftrvaitions on the Faerie ^ueen^ ^c, 

The Jfory of the Horn in Morte Arthur varies a good 

dea} from this of our Poet^ as the reader ni'iil judge: 

from the fbHotuing extraS* ■ ** By the <way they met nvitb 

** a knight that vjas fent from Morgan le Fcye t9 king 

** Arthur J and this knight had a fair home all ^mifhed 

ivitb gold^ and the borne bad fiich a virtue that there 

might no ladye or gentlenjjoman drinke of that borne ^ but 

if flfe vjere true to her hujhemd: and if fim *were falfe 

** Jhe ftfouldfpiU aU the drinke y and if jhee 'were true unto 

•* her lortki Jhee might drink peaceably : and hetaufe of 

^' queene Gueneuer and in defpite of Sir Launcektdu Lakcy 

** this borne nuas fent unto king Arthur, ^^ This horn is 

intercepted and brought unto another king named Marke^ 

*who is not a ivbit more fortunate than the Briti^ beroy 

for be makes " bis queene drinke thereof and an hundred 

** ladies mecy and there tnere hut foure ladies of all thofe 

** that drank cleane^' of nxjhicb number the fatd queen.y 

proves not to be one [Book IL chap. 22. Ed, 1632.] 

In other refpe&s the tnuoftories are fo differ ent^ that <vje 
have juft reafon to fuppofe this Ballad nvas vuritten before 
that romance vuas tranjlated into Englijh, 

Asforqueen'GvLh[\cveYyft2e is here reprefentedno otbervjtje^ 
than as five find her in old biftories and romances, Holinfijed 
objervesy that ** flje ivas evil reported of , as noted of incotrti^ 
** nence and breach of faith to hir bujband.^* Vol, i. p, 9^3* 
^ Such Readers, as have no rjelish for pure 
a*ntrqulty, will fin1> a more modern copy of 

THIS BaLLaD at TH£ END OF THE VOLUME. 

IN 






AND BALLADS. 3 

IN the third day of may. 
To Carleile did come 
A kind cuitcous chitd. 
That cold much of wifdom^- 

A kirtle smd 9 m^^^ntlp J' 

This child had iippoii. 
With ' brooches' afid ringes 
Full richelye bedone. 

He had a fate of filke 

About his middle drawne ; 10 

Without he cold of curtefye 

He thought itt mach fliSMne. 

God fpeede i^e^, king Arthur, 

Sitting at thy me^te : 

And the goodly queene Gueneve/, 15 

I cannott her forgett. 

I tell youy lords, in this hallj 

I hett you all to ' heede' ; 

Except you be the more fiiref* 

Is for you to dread. , 20 

He plucked out of his poterver. 
And longer wold not dwclU 
He pulled forth a pretty mantle, 
Betweene two nut-f^ells. 

B 2 Have 

r«r. J, BrandfeB?$, MS* Vv. lit hqite, M^. Vtr. ai. or ^tewet* 



ANCIENT SONG. 8 

Have thou here, king Arthur^ 25 

Have thou heere of mee : 
Give itt to thy comely queene 
Shapen as itt is alreadye.- 



It ihall never become that wiSe, 
' 'That hath once done amiffe. 
Then every knight in the king's court 
Began to care for * his/ 



Vir» 32, Ms wiife. MS* Ver* 41* gaule, HS, 



30 



Forth came dame G'uenever ; 

To the mantle fliee her * hied* ; 

The ladye ihee was newfangle, 35 

But yett flxe was affrayd. 

When iOiee had taken the mantle ; 

She iloode as ihe had beene madd: 

It was from the top to the toe 

As fheeres had itt fhread. 40 

One while was it * gule* ; 
Another while was itt greeiie ; 
Another while was itt wadded : . 
Ill itt did her befeeme. 

Another while was itt blacke, 45 

And bore the worft hue : 

By my troth, quoth king Arthur, 

I thinke thou be not true. 



Shee 



J 



• 



AND BALLADS. 

Shee threw downe the mantlcy 
That bright was of blee j 
Faft witji a rudd re'dd. 
To her chamber qan. fliec flee. 



S* 



She curfl thg weaver, and the walker. 
That clothe that had wrought ; 
And bade a vengeance on his crownc, cr 

That hither hath itt brought. 

1 had rather be in a wood. 

Under a green tj-ee ; 

Than in king Arthur's court 

Shamed for to bee. gp 

» 
Kay called forth his ladye. 

And bade her come neerq j 

Saies, Madam, and thou be guiltye. 

I pray thee hold thee> there. 

Forth came his ladye . 5# 

Shortlye and anon ; 
Boldlye to the mantje 
Then U Ihee gone. - > 

When fhe had tane the mantle. 

And caft it her about ; * 70 

Then was ihe bare 

* Before all the rout," 

B 3 Then 



ANCIENT SD NO S 

Then every kmght. 

That was in the king's cantt. 

Talked, laughed, and ihowtdt y^ 

Fall oft at that %oit. 

Shee threw dowhe ^t rnhvuAt, 

That bright was df Mec $ 

Fkft, wkh a ffed'i-iidd. 

To her chamber can fhe fle^. 3^ 

Forth came an old knighrt 
Pattering ore a cre^de. 
And he proferred to this title boy 
Twenty markes to his meede 5 



And all the time of the Chriibnalfe 
Willinglye to ffeede 5 
For why this mantle might 
Do his wifTe fonUe iieed. 

When fhe had tane the ihaiitie. 

Of cloth that was made. 

She had no more h£t on her. 

But a taifel and a threed : 

Then every knight in the kings court 

Bade ev^ ipight ^lee fpeed, 

Shee threw downe the mantle, 
That bright was of Wee ; 



«5 



And fail, mA « Yedd radA, 
To her chamber ^a& ^€ietflee. - 

Craddocke lealted Jbydi hk iady«. 

And bade 4ier come in-; lOO 

Saithy win]ie<dn8(ina&die» laAye, 

With a little dinno. 

Winne this mantle, iadye. 

And it flial be thine. 

If ^tou «€V6r ^d amifie 1 05 

Since thou waft mine. 

Forth came (Craddodke^dadjise 

Shortlye and anon ; 

But boldlyoe to -tiie mande 

Then is iftiee go»e. no 



When fhee had tane the mmdc^ 

And caft itt dier aboot^ 

Upp art her vgf eat toe 

It began to crinkle and4»DWt : - 

Sheefaid, bowe downe, mantle, 115 

And fliame -me >n0t lornoiigfat. 

Once I did amiffis, 

t 

I tell you ceslaiaaiye. 
When I kift Craddocke's mouth 
Under a greene tree ; 1 20 

:B 4 When 



tp AN CIENTSONGS 

When I kid Craddockes moath' 
Before he marryed mee. 

When,&ee had her flireetea, ' 

And her finnes fliee had.tolde ; 

The nvmde ftobde abQat:her 125 

Right as fliee wold : 

Seemelye of (COttloar ' 

Glittering like gold : 

Then every knight in Arthurs court 

Did her behold. 1 30 

Then (pake dame Gncnever 
To Arthur our king ; 
She hath tane yonder mantle 
Not with right, but. with wronge. 

See you not yonder wonian, 135 

That maketh her felf \ cleaoe' ? 
I have feene tane out of her bedd , 

Of men five teene ; 



Priefls, ciarkesy and wedded men 
From her bedeene : 
Yett ihee taketh the mantle/ 
And maketh her felf deane. 



140 



yer, 136. deare^ MS, )PV. 139. by dcenc. MS* 



Then , 

! 

i 



A N D B A L L A D S. 9 

Then {pake the title boy. 

That kept the mantle in hold | 

Sayes, king, chailen thy wifFe, 14J 

^Of her words ihee is too bold : 

Shee is a bitch and a witch. 

And whore bold : 

Xingy in thine owne hall. 

Thou art a cuckold. 150 

The litlc boy iloode 
Looking out a dore ; 

* And there as he was lookinge 

* He was ware of a wyld bore.* 

He was ware of a wyld bore, 15 j 

Wold have werryed a man : 

He pulled forth a wood kniffe. 

Fail thither that he ran : 

He brought in the bores head. 

And quitted him like a m^. 160 

He brought in the bores head. 

And was wonderous bold : 

He faid there were never a cuckolds kniife 

Carve itt that cold. 

Some rubbed their knive& 165 

Uppon a whetHone : , 

Some 



^0 ANCIENT SONGS 

Soitie threw tbem nnder the taible. 
And faid they had none. 

KiQg Ardmr, and t-ke dkiUi 

Stood looking upon them ; j y^ 

All their kmves edges 

Turned backe againe. 



Craddocke had a litle 

Of iron and of fteele ; 

He Britled the bores head 17 j 

Wonderous weele ; 

That eveiy Wight in tiie kings camt 

Had a morfeH. 

The litle bof kad a iiome. 

Of red gold «h«t ronge : 1S0 

He faid, there was >iioe cockolde 

Shall drinke of my home $ 

But he (hold itt fbeede 

Either behind ^ beforaie. 

Some (tioid on Dheir Ihoulder, 1 85 

And fome on thek knee^ 

Me tha;t <sdd not hitt his moatbey 

Put it in his eye : ' 

And he that was a cuckold 

Every mannugbt him fee^ 190 



Craddock< 



yer, 170. them upon. MS. 



i 



AND BALLADS. tt 

Cradiodse wan the home. 

And tlie bores litetA : 

His ladie wan tSie manlle 

Unto her meede. 

Eveiye fuch lovely ladye 195 

God fend her well to ipeede. 



THE MARRIAGE OF SIR GAWAINE 

Is chiefly uAenfromibe fragment of an old ballad in the 

Editor's MS, ivbich be bas reafon to believe more ancient than 
the time of C«H a u c K R , and <wbat fumifiyed ibat -hard <witb 
bis Wife of jBatVs Tale, The original ivas fo extremely 
mutilate^, balf of every leaf being torn a^way, tbat ^witbout 
large fupplementsy t^c. it <would ba'oe been improper for tbis 
colleSion : thefe it has tberefore reeei'ved, fucb as tbey are, 
They are not bere particularly pointed out 9 becaufe tbe Frag- 
ment itfelf^willfometime or otber be gi'ven to tbefuhlic. 

Paut the First. 

KIN'G Arthur lives in merry Carleile, 
And fecmely is to fee ; 
And there with him queene Guenever, 
That bride foe bright of blee. 

And there with him queene 'Gaen«vtr, 5 

That bride fo bright rn bowre : 
And all his barons about him ftoode. 

That were both ilifie and ftowre. 

3 The 



1 



^ AN CIENT SONGS 

The king a royale ChrifhnafTe kept. 

With mifth and princelye cheare ; !• 

To him repaired many a knighte. 
That came both farre and neare. 



And when they were to dinner fette^ 

And caps went freely rpond ; 
Before them came a faire damfelle, I j 

And knelt upon the ground. 

A booae, a boone, O kinge Arth&re, 

I beg a boone of thee ; 
Avenge me of a carlifii knighte. 

Who hath fhent my love and mee. 

In Tearne-Wadling % his caftle ftands« 

All on a hill foe hye. 
And proudlye rife the battlements* 

And gaye the flreameres Bye* 

Noe gentle knfghte, nor ladye faire, 2$ 

May pafs that caflle-walle : 
fiat from that foule difcorteoas knighte, 

Miihappe will them befalle. 

Hee's twyce the fize of common men, . 

Wi* thewes, and finewes ibonge, $• 

And on his backe he bears a clubbe. 

That is both thicke and longe. . 

This 

X This is tbt name of a place in CuwhcrJandf tobere ibe remains of 
an ancient CafiU arefiul to befeen : Tearae in (he 4Ciale3 of that Cwntrj 
^^nifies XL fnuUl Lake, 



AND BALLADS. 13 

This grimme bardne 'twas oar harde kappe. 

Bat yefter morne to fee ; 
When to his bowre he bore my love, 35 

And fore xnifufed mee. 

And when I told him, king Arthure 

As ly ttle fhold him fpare ; 
Goe tell, fayd hee, that cuckold kin^. 

To meete mee if he dare. 40 

Upp then fterted king Arthilre, 

And fware by hille and dale. 
He ne'er wolde quitt that grimme bar6ne. 

Till he had made him quail. 

Goe fetch my fword Excalibar : 45 

Goe faddle mee my ileede ; 
Nowe, by my &ye, tkat grimme bardne 

Shall rue this ruthfulle deede. 

And when he came to Tearne Wadlinge 
Bf nethe the cafUe walle : . 5t 

*^ Come forth ; come forth ; thou proude bardne^ 
Or yielde thyfelf nay thralle." 

On magicke gronnde that caHle ftoode,i 

And fenc'd with many a fpelle : 
Noe valiant knig^te could tread thereon, ^5 

But ftraite his courage felle. 

Forth 



ANCIENT SO NG S 

Forth theo ni(k'4 iba ^uVJk kwgl^n 

King Arthur felte tbo eh^OBe,: 
His (lardy finewe^ Wft tht «r ftxc^gthe, 

Downe fanke his feeblt arxne. 60 

Nowe yield ihec» yield thee> kinge Arthurc, 

Now yield thee, uftto i^ee : 
Or fighte with mee^ ov lafe thy laQ4c4 

Noe better termea v^y^ hfle« 

Unlefie thou fweftre !ipon At tooi, 65 

And promife on thy fky^. 
Here to retvrac to Teame Wadltig^ 

Upon the new-^yeare'a daye : 

And bringe me worde what thing it ia 

All women mofte defyre : 79 

This is thy wznfamc^ Arthur, he iayea» 
He have noe other hyre. 

King Arthur then helde up his hande. 

And fware upon his faye. 
Then tooke his leave of the grimme baione 75 

And fade hee rode awaye. 

And he rode eaft, and he rode weft. 

And did of all inquyre, 
What thing it is all women crave* 

And what they moil; defyre. 80 

Some 



A N P B A L L A D S. 15 

Some told hism rkh<s» pompe, or ftate ; 

Some raymei&t 6iie and brighte ; 
Some told Mm mirtJie ; ibme flatterye; 

And fome a jollye Unighte. 

In letteres all king Arthor wrote, 85 

> And feal'd them with his ringe : 
But (UU his minde was helde in doKbte, 
Each tolde a diiFerent thinge. 

As rnthfulle he rode over a more» 

He faw a ladye fette 90 

Betweene an oke^ and a greene hoUeye, 

All clad in red * fcarlette. 

Her nofe was crookt and turnd outw^de. 

Her chin ftoode all awrye ; 
And where as fbolde have been her moxithe» 95 

Lo ! there was fet her eye : ^ 

Her hairesy like ferpents, clung aboute 

Her cheekes of deadlye hewe : 
A worfe-form'd ladyethan fhe w^. 

No man mote ever viewe. 100 

To hail the king in feemelye forte 

This ladye was falle faine |, 
But king Arthiire all fore amaz'd» 

No aunfwere m^de againe» 



What 



• So the Origwai, 



L 



I 
i 



16 A N C I E N T S O N G S 

What wight art thou, the ladye fayd, loj 

That wilt not fpeake to mec ; 
Sir, I may chance to eafe thy paine. 

Though I bee foule to fee. 

If thou wilt eafe my paine, he fayd. 

And helpe me in my neede ; no 

Aik what thoa wilt, thon grimme ladye. 
And it fhall bee thy meede. 

O fweare mee this upon the roode. 

And promife on thy hye ; 
And here the fecrette I will telle, 1 15 

That ihall thy ranfome paye. 

King Arthur promis'd on his faye. 

And fware upon the roode ; 
The fecrette then the ladye told. 

As lightlye well fliee cou'de. 1 29 

Now this fhall be my paye, fir king. 

And this my guerdon bee. 
That fome yong, fair and courtlye knight. 

Thou bringe to marrye mec. 

Faft then pricked king Arthure li^ 

Ore hille, and dale, and downe : 
And foone he founde the barone's bowre ; 

And foone the grimme baroiine. 

He 



ANDBALLADS, 17 

* 

He ba^e his clnbbe upon bis backe, 

Hee iloode botbe itiiFe and flronge ; ito 

And, when he had the letters reade^ 

Awaye the lettres ilungei 

Nowe yielde thee, Arthur, and thy lands^ 

All forfeit unto mee ; 
For this is not thy paye, fir king^ ijj 

Nor may thy raaibme bee« 

Yet hold thy h^d, thou proude bardn6> 

I praye thee hold thy hand ; 
And give mee leave to fpeak« once moe 

In r^lkewe of my land. i^o 

This morne, as I came over a more, 

I faW a. ladye fette 
Betwene an oke; and a greene hoUeye^ 
. All clad in red fcarlette. 

Shee fayes, all women will have their wille, 145 

This is their chief defyre ; 
Now yield, as thou art a barone truei 

That I have payd mine hyre. 

An earlye vengeaunce light on her I 

The carlifh baron fwore : S 50 

Shee was my Mer.tolde thee this. 
And fiiee's a miihapen whore. 
Vou m. C But 



4 



a ANCIENT SONGS 

Bat here I wUl make mine ari^. 

To do:hw M 111 A tttm€ : 
For an even I ttt^y tl^it fcmlt X^ech gette^ i g; 

In a fyre I will heir bUfftd» 



Part the Sbcond^. 



HOmewarde pricked king Arthure, 
«Aiid a wesLTft man was hie ; 
And foonc he mtfttc qiteohie Qufeaever^ 
That bride fo bright of btee. 

"% 
What newes ! what nQwes ! thou noble king, 5 

Howe, Arthur, haft thou iped ? 

-'Where hafl thou hung the carlifh knighte t 

And where beftow'd his head ? 

The carlifh knight is fafe for mec. 

And free fro mortal harme : )^ 

On magicke grounde his cafUe ftands. 

And fe^e'd with many a charme. 

To bowe to him I was fuUe faine. 

And yielde mee to hiis hand : 
' And but for a lothly lady6, th«rc 'J 

{ fholde have toft my land* 

' Ani 






A N D B A L L A D S. 19 

And nowe this fills my hearte with woe, ^ 

And forrowe of my life ; 
I fwore a /Qdge and coortlye knight, i 

Sholde marry her to his wife. . 20 

Then befpake hipi fir Gawaine, 

That was tver a gentle knighte : ^, 

That lothly ladye I will wed ; 

Therefore b^ merrye and lighte. 

Nowe naye, nowe naye, good fir Gawaine ; 2; 

My fitter's fonne yee bee ; 
This lothlye ladye's all too grimme> ; 

And all too fbule for yee* 

Her nofe is crookt and tnm'd outwarde ; 

Her chin ilands all awrye ; • 30 

A worfe fonn'd ladye than ihee is 

Was never feen with eye* 

What though her. diitt ftand all awrye, 

'And fiiee be fbule to fee : 
fll marry her, unkle, for thy^fake, 35 

And ril thy ranfome bee* 

Nowe thankes. nowe thanked, good fir Gawaine ; 

And a blefiing thee betyde ! 
To-morrow wee'lbhave knights and fqtiires. 

And wee'U goe fetch thy bride, 40 

C 2 * And 



ao A N C I E N T S O N G S 

And wee'll have hawkes and wee'll have houndes» 

To cover our intent ; 
And wee'll away to the greene foreft. 

As wee a hunting went. 

Sir Lancelot, fir Stephen bolde, 45 

They rode with them that daye ; 
And foremofte of the companye 

There rode the ftewarde Kaye : 

Soe did firBanier and fir Bore, 

And eke fir Garratte keene ; 50 

Sir Triftram too, that gentle knight. 

To the foreft freflie and greene. 

And when they came to the greene forreft, 
. Beneathe a faire holley tree 
There fate that ladye in red fcarlette 55 

That unfeemelye was to fee» 

Sir Kay beheld that lady's face,. 
And looked upon her fiveere ; 
- Whoever kiffes that ladye, he fayes 

Of his ki/Te he flands in feare. 60 

Sir Kay beheld that ladye againe. 

And looked upon her fnout ; 
Whoever kiffes that ladye, he fayes. 

Of his kifTe he Hands in doubt. 
. . Peace, 



t 



AND BALLADS. ai 

Peace, brother £ay, fayde fir Gawaine, 65 

And amend thee of thy life : 
For there is a knight amongfl us all, 

Muft marry her to his wife. 

What marry this foule qaeane, quoth Kay, 
Pthe deviPs name anone ; 70 

Get mee a wife wherever I maye. 
In footh ihee ihall bee none. 

Then fonw tooke up their hawkes in haftc> 

And fome took up their houndes ; 
And fayd they wolde not marry her, 75 

For cities, nor for townes. 

Then befpake him king Arthure, 

And fwar^ there by this daye ; 
For a little foule iighte and miilikinge, 

Yee fhall not fay her naye. 80 

Peace, lordipgs, peace : fir Gawaine fayd. 

Nor make debate and fbife ; 
This \oA}ye ladye I will take, 

And marry her to my wife. 

Nowe thankes, now thankes, good fir Gawaine, 
And a bleffinge be thy meede ! 86 

For as I am thine awne ladye, 
Thou never Ihalt rue this depdc. 

C 3 Then 



A I 



22 ANCIENT SONGS 

Then up they took that lothly dame. 

And home anone they bringe : g^ 

And there fir Gawaine he her wed. 
And married her with a ringe. 

And when they were in wed-bed laid» 

And all were done awaye ; 
Come tni-ne to mee, mine owne wed-lord pj 

Come tume to jnee J praye* 

Sir Gawaine fcant could lift his head. 

For forrowe and for care ; 
When, lo 1 inftead of that iothelye dame, 

Hee fawe a young ladye faire. lOo 

Sweet blufhes ftayn'd her rud-red cheeke. 

Her eyen were blacke as floe : 
The ripening chenye fwellde her Uppe* 

And all hernecke was faowe. 

Sir Gawaine kifs'd that lady faire, 105 

Lying upon the iheete : 
And fwore, as he was a true knighte,) ^ 

TJie fpice was never foe iWeete. 

Sir Gawaine kifs'd that lady brighte. 
Lying there by his fide : 110 

** The faireft flower is not foe faire ; 
Thou never qan'ft bee my bride." 



I am 

i 



< AND BALLADS. ^3 

I am thy bride. ttiii« owiic dears lorde. 

The fame whiche (hou didft knjowe. 
That was foe lotJUyf » aad was wont 115 

Upon the wild moiie to goe. 

lifewe, gentle Gawaine, chafe, qaoch ftee. 

And make thy choice with care ; 
Whether by nig^t, or elfc by daye, • 

Shall I be foule or fake ? 1 29 

^< To have thee fbiHe fUU in the night. 

When I with thee (hoald playe I 
I had rather farre, my lady deare. 

To have thee fbule by daye.** 

What when gaye ladyes goe with their lordes 1 25 

To drinke the ale and wine ; 
Alas ! then I maft hide myfelf, 

I moil not goe with mine ? 

** My faire ladye, fir Gawaine iayd> 

I yield me to thy ikille ; 1 30 

Becaufe thou art mine owne ladye 

Thou Ihalt have all thy wille." 

Nowe blefled be thou, fweete Gawaine, 

And the daye that I thep fee ; 
For as thou feeft mee at this time, 135 

' Soe Ihall I ever bee. 

C4 My 



J 



1 



24. ANCIENT SONGS 

My father was an aged kniglite» 

And yet it chanted foe. 
He tooke to wife a falfe ladye, 

Whiche broughte me to this woe. i ^q 

Shee witch'd mee, being a faire yonge maide^ 

In the greene foreil to dwelle ; 
And there to abide in lothlye fliape. 

Moil like a fiend of hell^t 

■ Midft i^ores and molTes ; woods, an4 wildgr >» 145 

To lead a lonefome life : 
Till fome yopgfaire and courtlye knightc 
Wolde marrye nie to his wife ; 

Nor fully to galne mine owne trewe ihape^ 

Sach was her devilifli Mile | 150 

Until he wolde yielde to be rul'd by me?, 
And let mee have all my wille. 

She witchd my brother to a carliih boore. 

And made himi flifFe and fliaonge ; 
And built hjm a bowre on magicke grounde, 155 

To live by rapine ajid wronge. 

But now the fpelle is broken throughe, 

And wronge is turnde to righte ; 
Henceforth I fhall bee a fairc ladye, 

^n4 hee be a gentle knighte. 160 



AND BALLADS. 25 

HI. . 

KING RYENCE's CHALLENGE* 

^his'fong is mors modirn than manf oftbofe 'which foU 
htw it 9 hut is placed here for the fake of the fubjeS, It 
fwas Jung before queene Elizabeth at the grand entertain- 
ment at Kenelworth'Cadle in 15759 and was probably 
compofedfor that occajion* In a letter defer ibing thofefefti- 
vities, it is thus mentioned; ** ji minfral came forth tjuith 
** afollem fongy 'warranted for ftory out of K» Arthur^ s 
** a^Sf ivhereo/'I gat a copy, and is this ; 
So it fell out on a Pentecoil ^r.'* 
Afler the fong the narrati^ve proceeds: *^ At this the 
** Minftrell made a paufe and a curtesy for primus pafTus. 
** More ofthefong is thear^ hut I gatt it not.** 

The ftory in Morte Arthur, whence it is taken^ runs as 
follows y *' Came a mejfenger haftely from king Ryence of 
" North-Wales y— "—Jay ingy that king Kyence had dffcomfited 
'* and overcomen 'elea'ven kingSy and e*veriche of them did 
'' him homage y and that ivas this ; they gcrve him their 
" beards cleaneftayne offy - wherefore the mejfenger came 

** for king Arthur's beardy for king Ryence had purfeled a 
** mantell nvith , kings beardsy and there lacked for one 
*^ place, of the mantelly ^wherefor^ he fent for his beardy or 
*^ elfe he njoould enter into his lands y and brenn and Jlay^ 
" ank ne*ver lea've till he hanje thy head and thy beard* 
" We}ly Jaid king Arthur y thou haft Jaid thy mejfage^ 
" which is the moft 'villainous and lewdeft mejfage that 
" ever man heard Jent to a king, Aljo thou may eft Jee my 
** beard is full young yet for to make a pur fell of but tell 
** thou the king that or it be long hejhalldo to me homage 
** on both his knees y or elfe he JhaU leefe his head,** [B. I. 
c. 24, , See alfo the fame Romance y^, i. €.92.] 

The t bought feems to be originally taken from Jeff, Mon^ 

, mouth's hift„ B, 10* c, 3. <which is alluded to by Dray- 

Son in his Poly-Olb, Song 4. and by Spencer in Faer, ^. 6. 

If '3« 15' Seethe Obfervaticns on Spenfery*voL 2, p, 22^, 

The 



ftS ANCIENT gONOS 

f he following text is comptfid of the heft readings fe-* 
USedfrom three different copies. The firft in Enderbie's 
Camhria Triumfhans, p. 197. Thejecond in the Letter 
ahovementionedi And the third inferted in MS. in a copj 
of Morte Arthur y 1 63 2, in the Bodl. Library. 

" Stow tells us 9 that king Arthur kipt his rettnd 
** table at ** dinierfe places y hut ej^ciatfy at QzAofLj Win- 
*' chefter, and Camalet in Somerfetfliire. This Ca- 
** mtXtt fometimes a famous totvne or caftk, is fituate on 
** a <uery high tor or hiUy Wf." \See an exah dejcrip- 
tion in Stotve^s Annals ^ Ed. 16^1, p. 55.] 

AS it fell out on a Pentecoft day. 
King Arthur at Camelot kept his court royall, 
With his faire queene dame Guenever the gay ; 
And many bold barons fitting in hall ; 
With ladies attired in purple and pall ; 
And heraults in hewkes, hooting on high, 
Cryedy Largefse, Large/se, Chevaliers tres-hardU. § 

A doughty dwarfe to the iippermoil deas 
Right pertlye gan pricke, kneeling on knee^ 

With fleven fulle itoute amids all the preas, 

Saydy Nowe fir king Arthur^ God fiive thee, and fee! 
Sir Ryence of North-gales greeteth well thee. 

And bids thee thy beard anon to him fend. 

Or elfe from thy jaws he will it off rend. 

For his robe of ftate is a rich fcarlet mantle. 
With eleven kings beards bordered * about, 

§ Largefse, Largefse, The heralds refounded tbefe words as ofiastbc^ 
received of the bounty of the knights. See " Memoir es de la Chevalerie, 
torn, p, I. 99.-— Ti&tf expreffion isfiittufedin the farm of infiallivg km^i 
0ft be garter, ; 

* Fertaps 'broidcrdd : /» " ^urfelled** fgHifies, 

And 



ANDBALLADS, ij 

And there is room lefte yet in a kantle. 
For thine to ftande, to make the twelfth out: 
This mnft be done, be thpa never fo flout ; 

This mnft be done, I tell thee no fable, 

Mangre ^ teethe «f all thy round tat)Ie. 

When this mortal meCage from his mouthe pail» 
Great was the noyfe bothe in hall and in bower: 

The king fum'd; the queene fcreecht; ladies were aghafl ; 
Princes pufFd ; barons bluflred ; lords began lower; 
Knights fiormed; fquiresftartled, likefiecdsiaaftower; 

Pages and yeomen yell'd out in the hall. 

Then in came fir Kay, the * king's* fenefchal. 

Silence, my (bfveraignes, qnoth this oomteaas knight. 
And in that ftound the ilowre began ftili : 

' Then' the dwarfe's dinner full deerely was dlght. 
Of wine and waflei he had his wille ; 



And, when he had eaten and dranken his fill. 
An hundred pieces of fine coyned gold 
Were given this dwarf for his meifage bold* 

Bat fay to fir Ryence, thou dwarf, quoth the king. 
That for his bold meifage I do him defye ; 

And fhortlye with bafins and pans will him ring 
Out of North-gales ; where he and I 
With fwords, and not razors, quickly fliall tryc. 

Whether he, or king Arthur will prove the bcft barbor: 

And therewith he ihook his good fword Excalabor. 

• ••#•# 

IV. 



«» A.NCIENT SONGS 



IV. 

KING ARTHUR'S DEATH. 

AFragment. 

I'he Juhjt^ of this ballad is evidently taken from the old 
romance Morte Arthur, but luitb/ome fuariations^ e/pefially 
in the concluding ftanxas ; in nxihich the author Jeenu ra- 
ther to follo'w the traditions of the oldWelJb Bards ^ <who 
** believed that King Arthur twas not dead^ but conveied 
** aivaie by the Fairies into fome pleafant place ^ njuJjere be 
*'^ Jhould remcunefor a time, and then returne againe and 
•* reign in as great authority as e^erJ** Holingfoedn 
B. 5. c. 14. 0r AT </ is exprejfed in an old Chronicle 
printed at Antwoerp 1493 by Ger. de Leewy ** The Bre- 

** tons Jkppofeny that he \K, Arthur\ Jh all come yet and 

** cbnquere all Bret aigne^ for certeS this is the prophicye of 
" Merlyn : Hefaydy that his dethjhaU be deubteous 5 and 
** faydjoiby fi^ ^^ thereof yet have doubte, andjhullenfor 

•' e'ver more,, for men luyt not ^whether that be lyveth 

** oris dede**^ See more ancient tejllmonies in Selden*s Note's 
on Polyolbiany Sonz ■^^^* 

This fragment being 'very incorreS and imperfeS in the 
original MS. hath . recei'vedfome tonjeBural emendations y and 
e*ven afupplement of 'i^ or ^ fanzas compofed from therO'^ 
mance c/'MaRTE Arthur. 



I . 



ON Trihitye Mondayc in the morne, 
This fore battayle was dcom'd to bee; 
Where manye a Jcnighte cry'd, Well-awaye ! 
Alacke, it was the more pittie. 

Ere 



A N D B A L L A D S- 19 

Ere the &r& crowinge of the cocke, 5 

When asL the kinge in his bed laye. 
He thoagl^e fir Gawaine to him came, 

And there to him thefe wordes did faye. 

Nowe as you are mine unkle deare. 

And as you prize your life» this daye 10 

O meet not with your foe in fighte ; 

Putt olF.the battaylc, ifyeemaye. 

For fir Launcelot is nowe in Fraunce, 
And with him many an hardye knighte : 

Who will within this moneth be backe* 15 

And will affile yee in the fighte. 

The kinge then call'd his nobles all. 

Before the breakinge of the daye ; 
And tolde them howe fir Gawaine came. 

And there to him thefe wordes did faye. 20 

His nobles all this counfayle gave. 

That earlye in the morning, hee 
Shold fend awaye an herauld at armes. 

To afke a parley fairc and free. 

Then twelve good knightes king Arthure chofe^ 25 

The beft of all that with him were : 
To parley with the foe in field. 

And make with him agreement faire. 

The 



f» ANCIENT SONGS 

The king he chafged all his kofte. 

In re^diitdTe thete foif to b«e : ,^ 

Bat noe man dtokle iio« weapon itum, 
Unleffe a fword drawnc ckcy ftoW fee. 

I And Mordred on the other parte, 

* Tweli^? of hi$ kaightf iid likewift bfiiige ; 

The befle of all his companye, ^r 

To hold the parley with the kange. 

Sir Mordred alfoe charged his hode. 

In readineffe there for to bee ; 
But noe man fhMe noe weapon ftunt. 

But if a fworde drawne they ihold fee. 49 

For he durfie not his'unkletnifte» 
Nor he lus nephewe, fiMbe to tell s 

Alacke ! it was a woefulle cafe. 
As ere m ChriHentye. befelle. 

But when they were together t&^te, 45 

And both to faire accordance broughte ; 

And a mpnth's league betweene them fette^ 
Before the battayle iholde be foughte. 

. An addere crept fo*th of a bufhc, 

Stunge one o' th' king's kniglites on the kii^e : 50 
Alacke ! it was a woefulle chance, 
As ever was in Chrifieatie. 

Whca 



J 



ANDBALLADS. ji 

When the knighte found Ikiin wounded {ore. 
And fawe the wild-wonne hanginge there ; 

His fworde he from his fcabberde drewe : 55 

A piteous cafe as ye fliall heare. 

For when the two hoiles fawe the fworde» ■ 

Tbey joyned battayle inilantlye ; 
Till of foe manye noble knightes, \ 

On one fide there were left but three. 6^ 

For all were flain that durft abide» 

And but fome fewe that fled awaye : 
Ay mee ! it was a bloodye fielde, t 

As ere was foughte on fummer's daye. 

Upon king Arthur's own partye» 6; 

Onlye himfelfe efcaped there. 
And Lukyn duke of Glofter free. 

And the king's butler Bedevere* 

And when the king beheld his knightes^ 
All dead and fcattered on the molde ; 70 

The teares faft trickled downe his face ; 
That manlye face in £ght fo bqlde. 

Nowe reile yee all, brave knights, he faid, 

Soe true and faithful to your truft: 
And muft yee then, ye valiant hearts^ 75 

Be lefte to moulder into duft ! 

Moft 



% 



i% A N C I E N. T S O N G S 

Moft loyal have yee been to mee, 
. Moft true and faithfal unto deathe 2 

And, oh I to rayfe yee up againe, - .^ 
How freelye could I yield my breathe ? 80 

But fee the traitor^s yet alive, 

Lo where. hee ilalkes among thedeade ! 

Nowe bitterlye he fhall abye : 

And vengeance fall upon his head. 

O ftaye, my liege, then fayd the duke; S$ 

O ftaye for love and charitie ; 
Remember what the viHon fpake, 

Norm.eete your foe, if it may bec« ., 

O, ftaye mee not, thou worthye wight. 

This debt my loyal knights I owe : 90 

Betide me life, betide me death, 
I will avenge them of their foe. 

Then ftraite he grafp'd his truftye fpeare. 

And on his horfe then mounted he^ : 
As his butler holpe him to his horfe, gS 

His bowels gufhed to his knee. 

Alas I then fayd. the noble king. 

That i fliould live this fight to fee ! 

To fee this good knight here be flaine. 

All for his love ia helping meei '^^ 

He 



J 



AND BALLADS. 33 

He put Ms fpeare into his reUe, 
And to fir Mordred loud gan crye ; 

Nowe fettc thyfclf upon thy guarde. 
For, traitor, nowe thy death is nyc. 

Sir Mordred lifted up his fworde, 105 

And fierce to meet the king ran hee : 

The king his fpeare he through him thruH ; 
A fathom thorow his bodU. 

When Mordered felt the fboke of death. 
And found that he was wounded foe ; no 

He thruile himfelfe upon the fpeare. 
And ilrucke the kin|; a deadJye blowe. 

Thjen grimmlye dyed fir Mordered, 

Prcfentlyc upon that tree : 
And bloody fireames ranne from the kinge, 1 15 

Ere to the duke returned hee, 

^ir Lukyn then he thus befpake. 

Sir knighte, thou haft beene faithfuUe tryde, 
Nowe take my fword Excalibar, 

That hangs fo freelye by my fyde, 1 20 

O take my fword Excalibar, 

And there into the river throwe : 
For here, henceforth, benethe this trpe. 
All uf<; of weapQns I foregoe. 
Vol. m. P And 



34 AN CIENT SONGS 

And fare thee well, tkou trnftye fword, 125 

A better neer had valiant knighte. 

With thee fail ofte, and tHnoye a daye. 
Have I withflood ifiy foe In fight^. 

With this good fauchion in my hande» 

Oft have I rctpd the bloody feelde : 130 

Bat nowe the fataUe hoare is come. 

That never more I may thee weelde. 

/ 
The duke then to the river went. 

And ^ert hi« ofwne fword in threwQ hfc : 
But he kept b^ck Excalibar, 135 

He kept it bapk in ptivitce. 

For all of eokyne wbb the blade ; 

And all the )aiti& °^ precious ftone : 
And ever alacke ! Chen ikyd the kni^bte, 

Mttft fuch A fword awaye be throwne? 14* 

Then backe Jie came nnto the kinge. 

Who fayd. Sir Lukyn, what did yee fee ? 

Nothing, my liege, favc that the wind.^ 
Bleweoer d^e waters faire and free* 

O goe againe, tiien ikid the kinge^ 145 

O good fir Lttkyn, goe againe : 
Into the rivere throwe my fword. 

Nor keepe lae lingering here in paine* . 

3 The 



AND BALLADS, 



SS 



The duke then to tkt liver \^eiir. 

And the kings fcabberd in tbrewe Imc; 150 
Bat hee kept backe Excaiibar^ 

And hid it undernethe a tree. 

Then backe** he came to tell the kingiK^ 
Who fayde. Six L^kyn fawe ye oughce i 

Nochinge, my liege, fave that the wi&de 155 
Nowe widi the aiig;rye wateri fought. 

Lakyn» Lukyn, faid tht kinge» 
Twice hafbe thoa dealt deceytfallye t 

Alacke, whom may w^ ev«r trufte. 
When fttchc a knighte foe falfe can bee ? 160 

s 

Saye, wouldH thouliave thy mafter dead ; 

All for a fwordy that wins thine eye ; 
Nowe goe againe, and throwe it in^ 

Or here the tone of us (hall dye. 

The duke, all ihent with this rebiike> 165 

No auniwere made ante the kiage:: 

Bat to the rivere tooke the fworde^ 
And threwe it far as he coulde flinge. 

A hande and an arme did meete the fworde. 
And fioiiriihd three times in the air; 170 

Then funke bencthe the renninge ilreme» 
And of the duke was feene noe main 

D 2 All 



• 



36 ANCIENT SONGS 

All fore aftonied flood the duke ; 

» 

He flood as flill, as Hill mote bee : 
Then haftend backe to telle the kinge ; 175 

Bttt he was gone from benethe the tree. 

Unto what place he colde not telle. 

For never after he did him fpye : 
But hee fawe a barge goe from the lande, i8e 

And hee heard ladyes howle and crye.f 

And whether the kinge were there, or not, 
Hee never knewe, nor ever colde : 

For from that fad and direfalle daye, iS; 

Hee never more was feene on molde. 



# 



.f Not unlike that pajage i« Vi » G 1 l , 

Summoque ulularunt vertice nympha^. 

Ladies fwas the «word our old Englijh ^writers ufidfir 
Nymphs : As in -the following lines of an oldfong in the 
Editor's MS colUaion, 

** When /cor ching P ha bus he did mounts 
*' Then Lady Venus fwent to hunt : 

** To 'whom Diana did refort^ 
" With all the Ladyes of hills ^ and valley s^ 
" ^/jp^'l^'g^t andfcodes, ^c. 

V. THE 



J 



AND BALLADS. 37 



V. 

THE LEGEND OF KING ARTHUR. 

We have here a Jhort fummary of K, Arthur*! Hiftoryas 
ihen by Jeff, of Monmouth and the old chronicles, «with 
the addition of a fe*w circumftances from the romance Morte 

Arthur, The ancient chronicle of Ger» de Lee^iv, f quoted 

above in f. iS.J feems to have been chiefly follovsed : ufan 
the authority of <which vue have reftored fome of the 
names ivhich *were corrupted in the MS, and have trat^f- 
fifed one ftanxa, vuhich appeared to be mifplaced, [viz. that 
heginning at v. 49. ivhich in the MS^follovued v, 36.] 

Printed from the Editor'* s ancient manufcript, 

OF Brutus' blood, in Brittaine borue^ 
King Arthur I am to name ; 
Through Chriftendome, and HeathyneiTe, ' 
Well knowne is my worthy fame. 

« 

In Jefus ChriH I doe bclecve ; 5 

I am a chriflyan bore : 
The Father, Sone, and Holy Goft 

One God, I doe adore. 



D t In 



Ver, I, Bniitebis. MS^ 



3t ANCIENT SQNGS 

In the four hundred ninetieth yeerci 

Ore Brittaine I did rayne, lO 

After my favior Chrifl: his byrth : 
What time I did maintaine 

The fellowfliipp of the table round, 

Soe famous ivr thofe dxye9 ; 
Whereatt a hundred noble knights, 15 

And thirty fete alwayes : 

Who far their deeds and martiall fflates. 

As booke* done yett record* 
Amongft all other nations 
* Wcr feared through the world. *© 

And. ia the caftle off TyntagiU 

King Uther mee begate 
Of Agyana a bewtyous ladye. 

And come of hxs. eftatiu 

And whf n I was fifteen yeerea old, 2 J 

Then w*» I crowned fciage : 
All Brittaine that was att an uprdre, 

I did to quictt bringc. 

And drove the Saoaans from ditf rcahne^ 

Who hiad oppreft this laod ;. 3^ 

All 



rer. 9. He began his reign A.D. 515, according to tbeCbnnicks, 
Ver. »3. SbeisnamcdJgamintbe^Cbromckt. 



A N D B A L L A D 8. 3f 

All Scotland th€ii tkroogke ttanty featet 
I conquered With my hftfid. 

Ireland, Denmarke, ' *and ' Norwaye, 

Thefe countryes wan I all ; 
ITeland, Ootheland, and S^etlielatHi ; 35 

I made their kings my tkraU. 

I conquered all Gallya, 

That now is called Francb ; 
And flew the hardye Frdl in leild 

My honor to advance. 40 

And the ugly gyant Dynabos 

Soe terrible to vewe. 
That in Saint Barnards mount did lye, 

Hy force of armes I flew : 

And Lucyus the emperour of Rome 45 

I brought to deadly wracke ; 
And a thoufand more of noble knightes 

For feare did tume their backe : 

Five kinges of paynims I did kill 

Amidft that bloody ftrife ; p 

Befides the Roman emper(iuf 

Who alfoe loft his Hfe. 

D 4 Whofc 

Fer, ^. Froland field MS. Froll according to the Cbrotacles was 
« XmM knigbt governor of Gaul* 

Vtr, 49* of Pavyc. MS* Ver, 51. Grecian, MS-* 



40 ANCIENTSONGS ^ 

Whofe carcafle I did (end to Rome 

Cladd poerlye on a beere ; 
And afterward I pail mount Joye 55 

The next approaclung yeere. 

Then I came to Rome, where I was mett 

Right as a conquerour. 
And by all the cardinalls folempnelye 

I was crowned an emperour. 60 

One winter there I made abode : • 

Then word to mee was brought 
Howe Mordred had opprefst the crowne : 

What treafon he had wrought. 

At home in Brittaine with my queene ; 65 

Therefore I came with fpeede 
To Brittaine backe, with all my power. 

To quitt that traiterous deede : 

And foone at Sandwiche I arrivde. 

Where Mordred me withftoode : 70 

But yett at lail I landed there. 

With effufion of much blood. 

V 

For there my nephew fir Gawaine dyed. 

Being wounded in that fore. 
The whiche fir Lancelot in fight 75 

Had given him before. 

Thence 



J 



AND BALLADS. 41 

Thence chafed I Mordered away. 

Who fledd to London ryght, 
From London to Wincheftcr, and 

To Cornewalle tooke his fiyght. 80 

And ftill I him purfucd with fpeede 

Till at the 1^ we mett : 
Wherby an appointed day of fight 

Was there agrecde and fctt. 

Wiicre we did fight, of mortal life 85 

Eche other to deprive. 
Till of a hundred thoufand men 

Scarce one was left a live. 

There all the noble chivalrye 

Of Brittaine tooke their end. . 9« 

O fee how fickle is their ftate 

That doe on fates depend ! 

There all the traiterous men were flaine 

Not one efcapte away ; 
And there dyed all my vallyant knightes. 95 

Alas I that woefull day ! 

Two and twenty yeere I ware the crowne 

In honor and great fame ; 
And thus by death was fuddenlye 

Deprived of the fame. «oo 

Ver, 92. Fcates, MS^ 

VI. A 



4t ANCIENT SONCS^S 



vr. 

A DYTTIE TO HEY 0OWNE. 

Copied from an old MS, in the Cotton Library y [Fe/p.A* 25.] 
intitledy ** Diners things of Hen* ifiifs tinted 



n 



WHO fekes to tame the bluftering winde, 
Or eanfse tke flood» bend to llif wyU^ 
Or els againU dame natores kinde 

To ' change' things frame by comdiig Ityll : 
That man I thinke beftoweth psdne, 5 

Thoughe that his laboure be in vaine. 

Who ftrives to breake the ilordye fteele. 
Or goeth aboat to flaye the Ibane } 

Who thinks to eavlse aa oke to rede. 

Which never can by force be done : 10 

That matt likewise beibweth paine, 

Thooghe that his laboare be i» vaiae. 

Who thinks to ilryve againft the ftreajn^f 

And for to fayle without a mafte ; 
Unle^ he t^nks perhappfr to £iiae, ^ 15 

His travell ys fbrekM-ne and wafte ; 
And fo in core of all h» paine. 
His travell ys his cheffeft gauie* 



So 



^er* 4cauire. MS, 



1 



A ND B A LL A D S. 



4S 



So he lykewiiby tlut goes about 

To pleafe eche eje and every eare^ 2m 

Had nede to have widiouten doubt 

A golden gf ft with hym to beai^ i 
For evyll report fhall be his gaine^ 
Though he befia«ve both toyk and paiae. ' 

God grant eche man one to amend i 25 

God fend us all a happy place ; 
And let us pray unto the end. 

That M/e may h^e our princes grace : 
Amen, amen ! fo ihall we gaine 
A dewe rewacd for all our potne. 30 



G L A S G E R I O N- 

Jn ingenious Friend thinks that the following old Dity 
(nubicb is gi'ven fr^m the Editor* s MS, C^UeSionJ may 
foffibly h(¥ve gi*veu births to the Tragedy of the Orphan, 
in ivhich PoUdare intercepts Monimia^s intended fa^vours 
to Caftalio* 

GLafgerkm was a kinges ovrne fenne, 
And a hadrper he was goode : 
He harped in the kinges chambere. 
Where cnppe and caudle floode. 

And 



L, 



44 ANCIENT SONGS 

And foe did he in the qneenes chambere, { 

Till ladyes waxed glad. 
And then befpake the kinges danghter ; 

Thefe were the wordes ihe fayd. > 

Strike on, Urike on, Glafgerion, 

Of thy {hiking doe not blinne : lo 

Theres never a ftroke comes oer thy harpe. 

Bat it glads my harte withinne. 

Faire might he fall, ladye, qaoth hee. 
Who taught you. nowe to fpeake ! 

I have loved you^ ladye, feven longe year^ ij 
'My minde I never durft breake. 

But come to my bower, my Gla(geri6n, 

When all men are att reft : 
As I am a ladye true of mf promife. 

Thou (halt bee a welcome gaefl. ^o 

Home then came Glafgerion, 

A glad man, lord ! was hee* 
And, come thou hither, Jacke my boy ; 

Come hither unto mee. 

For the kinges daughter of Normandye 25 

Hath granted mee my boone : 



And 



Ver. 6. wood. MS. Vtr* 16. harte. J(f5. 



AND BALLADS.' .45 

And att her chambere mail I bee 
Beffbre the cockc have crowen. 



O mailer, maHer, then quoth hee. 

Lay your head heere on this ilone : 30 

For I will waken you, mafter deiare> 

Afore it be time to gone. 

But up then rofe that lither ladd, 

And hofe and (hoone did on : 
A coller he cafl upon his necke, 3 j 

He feemed a gentleman. 

And when he came to the ladyes chamberet 

He thrilled upon a pinn. 
The lady was true of her promife. 

And rofe and htx him in. 4^ 

He did not take the lady gaye 

To boulfter nor to bed : 
* Nor thoughe hee had his wicked wille, 

* A iingle word he fed. 

He did not kiife that ladyes mouthe, 4$ 

Nor when he came, nor ycde : 
And fore that ladye did miilruft » 

He was of fome churls blode. 



Bat 



46 ANCIENTSbNGS 

Bat home then came that lidwr l^dd. 

And did off Ids hofe and ihoone ; pq 

And caft the coller from oiFhis necke: 
He was but a chorles fonne. 

Awake» awcice, ray deei« mafter, 
l*he cock hath well-nigh crowen. 
- Awake, awake, my mailer deere, 55 

I hold it time to be gone. 

For I have faddled your horfe, mafler. 

Well bridled I have your fteede : 
And I have ferved you a good breakfaft : 

For thereof ye have need. 60 

Up then rofc, good GlafgerUta, 

And did on hofe and ihoone ; 
And cafl a coller about his necke : 

For he was a kinge'his fonne. 

And when he came to the ladyes chambore, 65 

He thrilled upon the pinne : 
The ladye was more than true of promjfe, 

And rofe and let him inn. 

* O whether have you left with me 

Your bracelet or your glove ? 70 



Or 



A.NO BALLADS. 47 

Or tre yon rctttrned bacfcc againc 
To know more of my love ? 

Glafgerion fwore a fall great otbe» 

By oake, and afhe, and thorne ; 
Ladycy I was nerer in your cbasabcret 75 

Sith the time that I wa$ borne* 

O then it wa$ your Uther foot-page. 

He hath beguiled mee. 
Then fhee pulled forth a little pen-knifie. 

That hanged by her knee. 80 

Sayesy there {hall never noe charles blood 

Within my bodye (pring : 
No churles blood ihall eer defile 

The daughter of a kinge. 



Home then went Glafgerion, 85 

And woe» good lord^ was hee. 
Sayes, come thou hither, Jacke my boy» 

Come hither unto mee. 

If I had killed a man to night, 

Jacke, I would tell it thee : ^o 

But if I have not killed a man to night 

Jacke, thou haft killed three. 



And 



Fir. 77. little. MS* 



1 



48 A ij C I E N T SONGS 



And he pulled out his bright browne fwarde, ' 

And dryed it on hi$ fleeve, 
And he {mpt;e off that lither ladds head, ; 95 

Who did his ladye grieve. 

He fett the <words poynt till his brcft. 

The pummil untill a done : 
Throw the falfeneile of that lither ladd* 

Thefe three lives all were gone. , 100 

ykr. %qo. Mfttat i^h MS. 



f vm. 

OLD SIR ROBIN OF PORTINGALE? 

From an ancient copy in the Editor^ s MS coUe^ion, 

. . '/ ■.*'•■ 

LET never again foe old a man 
Marrye foe yonge a wife. 
As did old * fir ' Robin of Portingale ; 
Who may rue all the dayes of his life. 
I. * - 

For the mayors daughter of Lin, god wotti $ 

He chofe her to his wife, -* 

And thought with her to have lived in love, 
But they fell to hate and llrife. 



AND BALLADS. 



49 



They fcai^e were in their wed-bed Iaid» 
And fc^i^e was hee afleepe^ m 

Bat upp flie rofe, and forth Ihee goes*. 
To the fieward, and gam to weepe. 

Sleepe yon, wake yon, faire fir Oylet ? 

Or be yon not withinn ? 
Sleepe you, wake you, faire fir Gyleti 15 

Arife and kt me inn. 



O, I am waking, fwMte, he faid, 

Sweete ladye, what is your wille f 
I have bethought me of a wylc 

How my wed-lord wetU fpille. ^0 

Twenty-four good knights, fliee faycsj 

That dwell about this towne, 
Even twentyfour of my near cozens^ 

Shall helpe to ding him downe« 

All this beheard his litle footepage, sj 

As he watered his mafiers fteed ; 
And for his matters fad perlUe 

Hia verry heart did bleed* 

He mourned, fig^d, and wept fullfore: 

I fweare by the hoiy roode 30 

The t^aret he for his mailer wept 
Were blent water and bloode. 
Vol. m E AH 

Fir. x^. unb^thottfbt. M9» V«r^ 32. ^ea4, ilCS« 



•4 



All tJkatfbcli/f^id Jbtt^eRs^ao^r 7 

As he flood at Jus;gai4^a^lei:. . . 
Sayes, ^ Ew al^|v^ Jwy.'litle tftioi^^^ . .:; 35 



Hathranjr cii«ii^%ijp^o |)Me<«rf]!Oiigc - c 
Any of thy felloRVCitJMiw) . .^ 

Or is aay-^]|])''H«C'lh7ag«o4fffieQd$^«ad» '3 
That thou fliedft ixiM(fej«l»fre^ ... 40 



V' 



Or if it beni^ ]|||&<Jr>hiri^sMttB, . . 

ft 

For no man h$t^mi^hm^my'kmK6Sf 
c :; Shall doe.^QMg iHMBoHJXirit. . ; .1 . : : 

O, it jrii0t f9i^ Jmdi^'httclkoMamMif . .. 45 

Nor none of i»iicgtlse z- 
But * OQ ' te«aiQEroiV'Qiefkiie uottne - - H 

All dootiifldiCDjdte due TOe. 

:^: Andof tl^/hptlnDikijriiur JLtiDiiS^ ^u 

And th(ii)k>)k>ar;ga9nl«£e« I 50 

If this be true^'iiBy4ifleifoastxpi^, 1 . ' iL 
The heyre of xhy >lttiH lihi3iiiftlber« ; c;i i 

If itiieintit)rtQab^^^^^>iiH0^ r r^ .!. 
s,'^ No good death^let:X9fe^die«. ' r. ': I 

If it bee noftmies )<hon Utte:ida(kipi^ir • - !T £$ 
A dead co£(bdlhklt!idK>a^iie« ^ : ; > 



] 



AVfS) B fit L AP.«. 51 

O call her downe io mep i 

And like to 4^ I t}ee. 69 

DoT^4>e» *»me >M« l«flj^ 4^kie^ 

All cUd iiii j>«rple isxkd |)ail : 
The ring^ 4hftt we«e Ofi hsr ftni^^ib 
Cad light throu^ttt<tibie tu»U. 

fftb^tiiB |r^»»r iweiUi [af'^omnfi ^mdAari.f 65 

What is ymtr will iM^th ^iiee ? 
O fee, i^f jftdjce Jack, hm» M^» 

And like to die I hpfi* 

And thou beifidie« my gmtk wt)d^l«9d» 

Soe foreitgdev»thni«e: « - > 79 

Bat ny ime maydiens aiul joayfttfe 
I Will make jdie»bedde ior 4;h9^ : 

I 

And at the wiJung^df yonr £iArfleepe^ 

We will a; hot dsiaj&e make : 
And at the waking of 3itottr iirft ft^epe^ 75 

Your fim-pwes wis will ilabe. 

He put a^Ik icote. on M& ibacke. 

And mail of man^xe a. ibid.: ) 
And heeipott a*iba«le :Gapim his head. 

Was gilt -mxh -good sed jgpH^ ^^ 

E 2 He 



5ft ANCIET^T SONGS 

He layd a bright browne fv^ord by his fide. 

And another att his feete : 
And twentye good knights he placed at hand, 
V To watch him in his fleepe. ' 

And about the middle time of the nightt S j 

Came twentye-four traitours inn : 
Sir Giles ht was the fbremoft man. 

The leader of that ginn,r 

The old knight with his bright browne fwofd. 
Sir Gyles head foon did winn : 90 

And fcant of all thofe twenty-foure. 
Went out one quick a^nn. ■ • 

None Ikvt only a litle foot page. 
Crept forth at a wimtow of ilone: 

And he had tw« armes when he came in, '■.- 95 
And he went back with one» 

Upp then came that ladie gaye 

With torches burning bright : 
She thought to have brought fir Gyles a drinke. 

Butt fhe found her owno wcdd knight. 100 

The firft thinge that fhe ftumbled on 

It was fir Gyles his foote : 

Sayes, £ver alacke, and woe is mee ! 

Here lyes my fwectc hadt-robte. 

The 



AND BALL AD S. <t 

The next thinge that (he ftambled on 105 

It was fir Gyles his heade : 
Sayet, Ever, alacke, and woe is me ! 

Heere lyes my true love deade. 

Hee CQtt the pappes befide her bred. 

And did her body fpille ; no 

He cutt the eares befide her heade. 

And bade her love her iille. . 

He called then ap his litle foot-page» 

And made him there his heyre ; ' 
And fayd henceforth my worldlye goodes 115 

And countrye I forfwea^'e. 

He ihope the cxofle on his right ilioiilder» 
Of the white * clothe' and the redde*. 

And went him into the holy land. 
Whereas ChrifL was ^alcke and deade* 1 2% 



• Every fer/hfif nx^ho tvini on a Croisade to the Holy 
Land, ttfiiaify *wore a crofi on his upfer garment, on the 
right fioulder^ as a haige of his profejjion. Different nd- 
lions nvere diftingmjhed hy croffes of different colours: The 
EngUjb 'wore <white\ the French red\ Wr. This circum* 
fiance feenu to be confounded in the ballad* \Vide Spehnannt 
Gl^ar. Chambers DiU. ^fr.] 



E 3 IX. C H I L B 



54 AlfCIENT SON'GS 

4 

m * * 

C H 1. 1 D^ W A T * K .fi. 

Child is frifna^njedi^ okr M 'uirkirsy at a fitU. 
7/ is repeatedly given to Prince ArthuK in the Fairie^ueen: 
and ''the fin of a king is in the fame poem called Child 
Triftram. \B. f. c. ii, JF, 9. ly. — ff. &. /. 2t/. 
36.-- Uid, f. 8./, .If.]-. Jm an vU h'aUdd q^ted in 
Shakefpeare*s K, LeaVy the hero of Ariofto is called Child 
Roland. Mr, l^heobald fuppcfes this ufe pf Jk^ 'word re- 
cei*ved along m)lfh their romances from tie Spaniards ^ tvitb 
ivhom Infante Jlgn^i « Pirince. A Inore eminen critic 
tells aSf that^ *^ in the old timet eftU'OeJryf tbe ndhle jduth, 
** ivho 'were candidates for knighthood^ duringtbe time of 
their probation njuere called In fsins\ Varlets, iJamoyfels, 
Bacheliers. The mofi noble of the youth 'were parlicu- 
larly called tvtfyA^^' [P'id. H^m'iK SJHaJ^.} Alafe 
commentator^ 0^ ^ Spenfir oiffrff^s^ that ibf ,^axga word 
cnihz knight, fignifies alfo^Si Child.. [^See Upton^s- gkfs tt 
theF.^ * 

^7%e Editw^r MB. 'ttdtt&iony *whmct the foHotet/ikg piece 
is taken, affords fe'veral other ballads, ^wherein the word 
Child occurs as a title: but in none, of tbe/e it figfdpes 
" Prince,*^ See the fong intitkd Gil Morrice, tn this 
^volume. 

^'It ought to.be o^fsrvedthat the fFofd CHii*D orCnnid} 
is fill ufed in North Britain to denominate a Man, eovL" 
monly ^with fome Contemptuous charaMer affxed to him: huct 
foptetimes ta denote Man in generaL 

CHilde Waiters in hk ftaWe ftoode 
And ftroakt hii milke-wMte fteede: 
To him a fay re yonge ladye came 
A^ cvef Ware womans we«de. 

3 Sayes, 






Sayes, Clriff yo» feve, gdo* Chilifc Waters ; 5 

Sayes, ChriH yoti-ftre, aiwf feet 
My girdle of gold dkrt waes too^Rmge^ 

Is now too ihorfr fbr inet, - 

And all ir wftA one dkiSkrot yours, 
I feelc fturrc at my 'fltfe r - ' ' * 10 

t : My gown* ^'grteue it Is* toa flraig&te ; * 

Before, it was too* wide.-- . ^* 

' If the clukte *^ «itte; IffielHleM, he feyd. 
Be mine as you tell ibb^ ; 
The**akeLyou' Cheikire^ and Lancailiire botJf, 1 5 
♦. Take them yoiifowhe to Jbee. 

If the cbadfc'be inhir, fifre Elfen, he fayd, 

Be mine, as you dbe fWearc ; 
•Thcwtfiiflfe-yan Cheftire and Lancafliirc both^. 

And make duir eililife youi" heyre. 2» 

« 

^> Shce%y^s, r had ratlier Save one kifl?, ' " ^ 
Childe Water*, of tJiy mouth ; ' 
Thatf-rwoMe have Chefliire and LaAcjilhirf both. 
That lye by north and ftuthe. ' ' ' 

Aild r tad rather havfe one' twinkling, ^25 
^' Child^ Waters, of thine ee: 

Thcffl woldfc havcCheflifre arid tanc^ffiiie Iboth, 
To take them mine bwnc td Bee. ^ 

E + T«. 



56 ANCIENT SONGS 

To morrowvt EUen^ I mnft fonb iyd« 

Farr into the north countree ; jo 

.The &yre$ ladye that J can finde, 
Ellen, muft goe with n^e, 

* Thoijghe I am not that ladye fayre, . / 

* Yet let me go with thee '• ; 
i^d ever I pray yon, Childe Watin^ 35 

Your foot'page let me b«e» . 

If yott will my fbe^page bee, EUin» 

As you doe tell to mee $ 
Then yon mufi cut your gowne of greene^ 

An inch above ypnr knee ; . 44 

Soe moft you doe your yellowe ]ocke9» 

An inch abov^ your ee : 
You muft tell no man what it my name; 

My ibotpage then you.ihaU bce^ 

Shee, all the long daye CUlde Wal^ iod€(iL\ 45 

Ran baivfoot^ by hit fyde ; 
Yet was he never foe court^ut a knighte^ 

To fayt ElkUf will you ryde I 

6hee, all thf long daye Childe Watttrs lod^ 
Kan bare&ote thorow the broome ; 59 

Y^t was bet never ibe courteous a knighte^ /* 
To fiqr» put on your iboone. 

Ride 



1 



^A ND B A LL AD 1 57 

Ride foftlye, (hee fafd, O Chiide Waters, *" ' 

Why doe you rydc fo &tt ? 
The (bilde^ wkich is no iniui» birt thine, 5^ 

My bodye iu wiU braft, 

Hee fayth, fceft thoa yoad'' water, EHctt, 
That flows from banke ta farimme. — - 

I truft m. ikA, O Childe Waters, 

You never will £ee me fwimmcu io 



But when ihee>guRe.M^^^e water iyde, 

Shee fayled to thechinne : 
NoMi«^.the Xjord-of liearcit be my fpeede, 
i^ For I mail leame to iwimme. 



Thefalt waters^ bare up her cldthjei I 6$ 

Our Ladye bare op her cbinne : 
Childe Waters^ was a woe jnan, good Lord, *' 

To fee faire EUen fwimme. 

> Aadwhen^eeoirer the water was - ' ' -^ 

Shee then came to his knee. ^ 

HeQ i^ydy Come hither, thoii &yre Ellen, ^ 
Loe yonder- what I fee. 

S^ft tboti not yonder halU £11^ i 

Of red gold ihines the yate : 
Of twenty foure faire ladyes there ~ 7S 

The faireft is my mate, 

SedL 



L 



5^ Ai*.CLE.n.T aaj^as 

Seeft,«hM ttotybndbx hall^ latttt ^ . : ( 

Of redgolde iMiwa tftc^oom^ffr:, - ^ > 

The faynft is my.psBanuiiirdl • %% 



I fee t^ ten iflMr^ CUMe Watbs^ 

Of ssd .goUs Ajw» Ifae yafir 2 
God give yoi^ good iiov* oTyiiiriUlt^ - i 

t:^ Andof youRW0rlfi}«.4nHlt^ ^ . 

I fee th^'Sflfl nxMv^ GliUiB WWeeiv, - ' '^ 85 
Of red golde ihiwM ifae-fcwi^ ? . • ^ 
^ God g^y^u good flovr ol yenvAUb^ • 
And of your. 



% .Ther6 twfatP|('ifaiDr&yieil«^»wet» •' 

A playing aatfaehaUX'.-' — ^ 90 

An4lXtf(eit4heil^pRftilaid^theM^ ^ 

Maft bring hisf itotti to tha taik 

There twen^ font * fiiyvtt ladyetf ^ert^ ^ 

^«i A playinge at tlK c&tife ; 

And.Kl}«ai lhe.Ja|iBcft \Kitf% iH^fstty - 95 

Maft bring his horft^ tot ff^fft* , . *- ' 

And then btifaftd CUUa Wacers.iflen 
Thefe were the wprdss ^yd Dic« : 
„ You have th^pret^i^ jpagt; bfothei, ^ 

That ever I did fee* . loa 

^ But 

iV. 84. worWlye, MS^ 



J 



* 

His girdle iasdds: fat hyc t 
And e%cr I frajr ^wo^-ChiMe^Watar^r 
Let liim in my chaocbcy lytJ 

It is not «« W :iJSMa feiaptfgr/ • '• . '105 
! ' That has run tlwwightf iii»fle ^d mfrtf. 
To lye 3A Aak cUamitMi^ of sHjr l^€y 
That weares foe fH^ atCJ***'^. 

It is more meefe-fer a: little f«ol pag»/ 
That has run thsottgiie' flwrfe and mffe, ' no 

To take ltt$ fttpfer Ofon ld« kner^ 
And lye bf the liit«liic» fyrtf. ^ 

Now wlitft ch<y kJht fiipp«d «Veiy biW, 

To bedd they iobkt thcyr n^syc : 
He fay^r coflM Jkiiclier; nsf Kirtle fedt-patgt, '115 

And hearken .^M I ifeye* ' 

# 

Goe thee dqwne iiitri jfcflder to«rt*e. 

And lowe iiitty tkr llrerte ;> 
The fayi<e^ lad^ thitft dsoa caMU ftndt, 

Hyre in ro^ tmae^ t& fteepe, i 2Q 

And take her up in thine armes twaine, 
. For filing* of h«r feetc. 



Ellen is gone mto the tdwndy 
And lowe' into the ftreete : 

» h e, defiing. Sec Wartott^.Otrfcnr, J^vU a. p; r$«. * 



The 



60 AiTCIEUT SONGS 

The fayreft l^dye that fhee oolde Undc, 12c 

She hyred in his aimes to fieepe ; 
And tooige her up inr her armes twaTn^, 

For filing of her fcete. 

I prayc you npwc, good Childe Wat&s, 
Let mee lye at your feete : ij^ 

For there is aoe place abonr this faoafe. 
Where I may fayc a €eepe. 

* tie gave Jber leuve, and fair* Ellen 

* Down at his beds feet laye : 
This done the nighte drove on apace, ~ 13 j 

And when it was neare the daye, 

Hee fayd» Rife np, my little loot-page. 

Give my fteede come and haye ; 
And give him n«we the good black oatd. 

To carry mee better awaye. 140 

Up then rofe the fayre £11^ 

And gave his fteede come and haye : 

And jToe ihee did the good black oates. 
To carry him the better awaye. 

She leaned her back to the manger fide, 145 

And grievonilye did groane : 
Shce leaned her back to the manger fide, 

And there fhee made her moane* 



yir» i^z, hj, effhy^ cttmpu 



And 



i 



AND B A I. L A D S. ©t 

And that bekeard fals mother deare, 

Shcc heard * her wocfull woe. ' 15Q 

Shee fayd» Rife up, thou Childe Waters, 

And into thy flable goe. 

For in thy ftaHc is a ghoft. 

That gricvooflyc doth grone : 
Or elfe fome woman Jaboures with childe^ 1 5 $ 

Shee is (b woe-begone. 

I3p then lofe Childe Waters foone* 

And did on his ihirte -of filke ; 
And then he put on hi» odier clothes. 

On his bodye as white as miike. 160 

And when he came to the.ftable due. 
Full ftill there hee did ftand, * ^• 

That hee mighte hcare his fayrc Ellin, 
Howe (hee made her jnonind. 

Shee fayd, LuUabye, miae own dear childe, 165 

Lullabye, deare childe, deare: 
I wolde thy father were a kinge» 

Thy mothere layd on a biere. 

Peace nowe, hee fayd, good faire Ellen, 
Bee of good cheere, I praye; 170 

And the bridall and the churchinge bothe 
Shall bee upon Que d^ye* 

X.PHIL- 

^cr, 164. 1, e, m9smngf hm^rtngt ^t* 



tbz > Al^ Ci X BT T S O W G S 



• -f 



PHILLIDA' AKt) CORYDOl^. 



This Sonnet is' given ^§0 m '/mdlTquarto MS -in the 
editoi^s poJfeJftQtt^ Written inji^e time of^ Elixajbefh. JnO' 
thef^Qpy ofiiy cohtainikg fomt ^uriations^ is reprinted in 
^he Mir6«9 iif Bit a'IL t p. ^95,. JfM» an' amietit jmifoellanyt 
intitledKitGLAVlf*^ HRLTiXm i^to^vfi^- The 0ithor <was 
•NiCHO^A? Breton, a writer offomefame in the reign of 
Eliziab€th\ nvifo edfi publijhed an interlude intitled '* An 
old man^s Ujforfietkd a jdung man's k've^ i^^iO^.^o. and 
many other little pieews in. pru/Ss and -^ar^t tbettitktjf 'which 
may befeen in Wivfi^nlcf^ Jfmss* ^,yf^* ^md.Qfitorjfe'^ HarL 
c^alog. Hc^-'^He is mentioned lAjith great r^/pe^ b^ Meres, 
in bis id pt of^Wtf'S C&mmcn-nveahh, 1 59*8. y*. 283. and 
is alluded to in Beaumont and Fletcher'* s ScornfulLady, 
Aa. 2. arid /^Piin WlrT W^ITilHMfT fA^^^Yp,^ 3,— 
See tVhall'ey^^Men yotifon, W. 3./. 1^3. 

« 

•N <ihe fliertie moaedi «f ftisye^ 

In a morne 'h^ teeok cif ^daye^ 

With a troppe of damfelles playing 



I 



When anontbys'vv'ood^de, 5 

Where that Mf^ was ift {lis ^yrkbi 

I efpied all alone 
Philkda'OiidOeryideii. ' . 

Mlk^heJai^ t^K wftft, god* w«it'i 

He wold love, aad . file ^weld<4uH: !<) 

. .. ^ She 



Ver, 4. tb« «ro4ic. 'ill9« 



J 



$he ta^y ne^r jnan ivas trewe j 

. ' ♦ ■ ... 

He fayde, hee had lovde her longe : 
Mie faycs, lave flioold have no wtongc, , * 
Cory don wold kifle her then : ■ * ' -15 

SheHTayes, tt»ydcsiniitt*4t3Ie no men^ 

Tyll, they doe for .good and all : 

When ihe made the Aq>perde ;ca]i 

All the heavens to wytnes trothe, 

Never loved ft>tJ-iiei- y^atke. . ' • . 20 

Then with manie « prjcttte othc. 
Yea and na,y, and* £uth omd trothe .; 
Suche as feelie ihepperdes ufe 
When ^tiicy would Mot kwie abufe 5 

Love, that bad bene JongileUidcuU 25 

Was with kii&s fweete .concluded .; 
And the mayde with garlands gaye 
* Qroymit * the lady <of the shiayie. 

y^r. ftS. Ww the. MS. 



XI. 

UTTVE. MUSGRA^E.AND LABY ^ ARNA)RD. 

T^s ballad is ancient ^ and has leen popular : nuefind it 
^iiHtd in many old plays. See Beaum* and Fletcher's Knight 

of 



64 .ANCIENT SONGS 

' vftie Burning PtftU V^ i6i4« Aa^. Th Fariaie^ a 
€9medy^ \i^. 1649. Aa 4. £^« In Sir WiUiitm Dave- 
tum^s *tlwfy ^i fVittSf A, ^^ a galUmt thus hoap of 
kim/elfy ' 

•'** LimheT' and found ! hofides Ifing Mufgravt^ 
« *' And for Che^'chace no lark tonus near me* 

Ifi the Pepye Colhaion is an imitation of this old fongf 
' in a ^different meafure^ ly a more modem pen^ *witb nuny 
' aberatiouSf^Jmi evidently for the *9oorfe.^ 

This is given from an old printed copy in the Britip 
Vufemn^ corriaed in part by the Editof^s folio manufaript. 
• 

AS it fell out on a highe holye daye, 
. As many bee in the yearc, 
• When yong men and maides together do goe 
Their maifes and mattins to heare, 

"Little Mufgr^ve came to the church door, 5 

The prieft was at the mafi ; 

a 

But he had more mind .of the fine women. 
Then he ^ad of our Ladyes grace. 

And fbme of them were clad in greene. 

And others were clad in pall ; lo 

And then came in my lord Barnardes wife, 
The faired among them all. 

Shee call an eye on little Mulgrave, 

As bright as the fiimmer funne : 

O then bethought him little Mufgrave, 1$ 

This ladyes heart I have wonne« 

Quoth 



A l|f D »ALL AD S. . 65 

Quoth flie, I have loved th«e, Ittde Mufgiive, 

FuUe long and manye a daye. 
So have I loved you, ladye faire»* 

Yet word I never durft fayc. * 30 

I.have a bower at Bucklesfbrd«-Bttry, 

Fall daintilye bedight. 
If thoalt wend thither^ my little Mu%t^vd, 

Thottft lig in mine arises all night. 

Quoth hee, I thanke yee, ladye faire, 2$ 

This kindnefs yee (hew to mee ; 
And whether it be to my weale or woe, . . 

This night will I lig with thee. 

All this beheard a tiney foot-page,* 

By his ladyes coach as he ranne : 30 

Quoth he, thoughe I am my ladyes page. 

Yet Ime my lord Barn^des manne. 

My lord Barnard iball knowe of thU 

Although I lofe a limbe. 
And ever wherea^ the bridges were bxoke, 35 

He layd hin downe to fwimrae. 

Afleep or awake, thou lord Barnard, 

As thou art a man of life, 
Lo ! thi§ fam^ night at Bucklesford-Bury 
Little Mufgraves abed with thy wife* 40 

Vol. in. ' F ' If 



66 AM^iENlP S^OI^GS 

This tale tiioa haft told to mee. 
Then all my kinds in FncUesfbrd^Burf 
I frcelyc wHl girc to thee. 

But ani it be a lye, thoo tinef fyot^pzge^ 45 

This tale thou kaft told ta mee^ 
Oft the higlieft tree in RaclileU^>«Ui«fy 

All hanged ihalt theu hetw 

RjlTe 1^ itt ttf 9 ny tatfty men afi. 

And (kddk to ne nqr fteede 1 {• 

This night fimft I to Backlerford-Bnry ) 
God wocCj I bad never 0K)re ncede. 

Then fome they whiftkd, and ibme they fiung, 

Alid fome did londlye Aye, 
Whenever lord. Bamardes home it blewe SS 

Awaye, Mi&fgrive, away. 

Methihkes I he»* the diroftle cocke, 

Methinkes I heare the jaye, 
Methinkes I heare lord Bahiardes home; 

I would I were awaye. S* 

Lye ftill, lye IHU, dion Ihtit Mufgrlvc, 

And huggle me from the cold ; 
For it h bat fbme ihephu'des boye 

A whirling his iheepe to the fold. 



J 



A N© F A L L A.DS. 67 

biootrdiy hawko xtptm tbe peauche^ 65 

Thy horfe eadn^ come i^nd kagtef 
And: thoiL a^ ga^e ladyo wkbih. thine, armea : 

Asd wottldft^thou beiawaye ?/ 

With that l^rd ftaraani: caac; to.tho dose,. 

And lighted upoji a^ ftone ; ^ 70 

Aud- he puUedi oui tfa«ee.fiduev k»eA». 

And opened th< dqrea echo one. 

He lifted up^the oorectott^ 

He lifted up the iheeie ;• 
How now, how now, thou little Mii%r£vc» 75 

Doft find my g^/c» la4ye^ fiiroete .^ 

I find hdP iWeete^ quoth little. Moigr^v^/ 

The more is my<'grieft'aBd paine-; 
Ide gladiye give three hundred pounde» 
^ That I were-OB yondier ptaine. $• 

Asife, aiiife, thpu little 'Mufgrdye, 

AndpiK ^y ckaiifaeaL nowe a»» 
It (haHnevei l|a faid in my poan^ce^ 

That I kiHed a naked aaii. 

I ha^ t9i^ (worde» in one icabbaade, i| 

Full dear& they coft my puvfd ; 
And thou '^fiUi^ hav^e th^ beft of theiii^ 

And I wis h&Ve ^e worfe. 

Fa The 



68 ANCIENTS O N.G S 



I 



The firft'ftrokc that little M'ufgrave'lbucbc, 

He hurt lord Barnard fore ; 
The next ftrokc that lord Barnard ftrucke/ :| 

Little Mufgravc never ftrucke more4 | 

With that bcfpake the ladye faire, V 

In bed whereas ihe laye, 
Althoughc thou art dead, n^y little Mufgrave, 9$ 

Yet for thee I will prajr e : 

And wiihe well to thy foule will I, 

So long as I have life ; 
So will I not do for thee^ Barnard* 

Thottghc I am thy wedded wife. 100 

He cut her pappes from off her breft ; 

Great pitye it w4s to fee 
Some drops of this fair ladyes bloode 

Kun trickling downe her knee* 

Wo worthy wo worth yc, my merryc men all, 105 
Y6a never were borne for my goode : 

Why did you not ofFer to ftay my hande. 
When you fee me wax fb woode ? 

a 

For I have flaine the faired fir knighte. 

That ever rode on a ileede ; n® 

So have I done- the faireft U^^ye^ 
That ever ware w^mans we^j, 

. . ' ' A grave. 




^ 



"^ 3a:n d b a l l ad s. ; 69 

A grzve, a' grave, lonl Barnard cryde, ^ 
c To putt thefe lovers in ; 
^ Bttt lay my ladye o' the upper iiande, 1 1 $ 

For fl^ee comes o' theiaettci; kin. 



xn. 



THEE W-B U G H T S M A R I O N. 



A Scottish Song. 



This fonnet is /aid to he of gnat antiquity: that and it*i 
fanfUeity of/entiment barvi recomminded it to a place hire. 



WILL ze gae to the ew-bughts, Marion, 
And wear in the fheip wi' mee ? 
The fun ihines fweit, my Marion, 

But nae half fae fweit as thee. 
O Marion's a bonnie lafs ; I 

And the bjyth blinks in her ee : - ., '' 

And fain wad I marrie Marion, 
Gin Marion wad marrie mee. 



a F 3 Theires 



70 ANnCI£ Jr T S 03f'G.« 

. Thcires gdnrd)iii izosr ^tisIC^ s^ 'Mnnoii^^ 

And filk on zoor whiterbnura^xtie:: i^ 

Fou faine. wad. 1 Idfieriny 'Marion 

At eene qalukiil^CttmiiuuiK. 
Theires braw lads in Earnflaw, Marion,' 

Quha gape and glowr wi' their ee 
At kirk, qohan they fee my Marion ; 15 

Bot nane of tham laes like mee. 

. Ive nine milk-ews, my Marion, * 

A cow and a brawney quay : 
lie gie tham au to my Marion, 

^oft Dn'htrTbridal ii9)r. ^ 20 

And zees get a grein fey apron. 

And waiftcote o' London bronn ; 
And wow bot ze will be vaporing 

Quhaneer ze gang to the toun. 

Imeyong and iftout, TnyMariton, 'z^ 

Nane dance lik mee on the greine ; 
^l&d gin ze ibrfak^me, 'Marion, 

Ife cen;gae draw op wi' Jeane. 
Sae pnt on zour-pearlhu, Marion, 

And kirtle oth cramaiie,; 30 

And Aine as my chin has nae.haisejon, 

I fall cnm.weft, 'aod foe aee» 



Xffl. THJB 



I 

J 



A KO BALL AD 5. ft 



■■*, 



xin. 

THE KNIGHT, AND SHEPHEHD's PAUGHTER. 

Thu taUad fgh/en from an old hlack-Utter Copy) ^was 

popular in the time ofSi^ Elixabath, htinf uJuaUy printed 

tvith her piSure before )/, us Hearne informs us in his 

preface to ** GuL fhiArig, flift. Oxin. »7I9. 8«ve. 'voL 

I . /. hex.** fa is quoted in FUuber's iontiiyj^the FiJgrim^ 

As. 4. fc. I-. 

TH£&C was a ^jpliefdft cUagfator 
Came ttri^ng «ii itke i^waj^ ; 
And there bf ici^tfioe « Iciogiite Ihee iMtt, 
Which .cwrfedlur to ^)te. : 

Good iiuuxmfRe (to :^piNi, ibe^oteoM «iaide^ ' 1 * 5 

Thefe words pKMtomunl thee : 
O I (hall^^Ee diM sUjie, he^yd» 

If Ive not my wilkidf 4iliee. 

ft 

The li0td:^fofl)tfl, .die moidM^eitf^^e, 
That you (hold wuxt io wode 4 10 

^ Bat for all Siat Aee icoold do<Hr fiiye, 
* He wold notdiejwitfaftood. 

F 4 Sith 



L 



^: AK ClfiNT S ON GS 

Sith yoa have had y<mr will of mee. 

And pat me to open ihame, 
NoW'9 if yoa are a coaiteoas knighte, 15 

Tell me what is your name ? 

Some do call mee Jacke, fweet heart. 

And fome do call mee Jille ; . 
Bat when I come to the kings fsaft coarte 

They call me WilfuUe Wille. z% 

« 

He fett hit ftiat into. the. ftirnip» 

And awaye then he did ride ; 
She tuckt her girdle aboat her middle 

And ranne clofe by his fide. 

Bot when flie.came to the brode water, 3j 

She fett her breft and firaiiime ; 
And when flie was got ont againe. 

She tooke to her heels and ranne* 

He never was the conrteoas knighte. 
To faye, faire maide, will ye ride ? 30 

Nor flie was never fo loving a maide 
To faye, £r knighte abide. 

When ihe ckme to the kings faire coiirte. 
She knocked at the ring ; 
. So re^dye was tht king himfelf 3S 

To let this fiire maide in* 

Now 




• 



'ANl> BALLADS. ^ -71 

Now Chrift.yoti fave, my gracious' fiege. 

Now Chrift you' favc and fee. 
You hate 8 knlghte within your coarte 

This daye hath robbed itiee. * , . ^ 

What hath he'robbe4 thee of/ iweet fadut ? ' 

Of purple or of pall ? 
Or hath he took thy gaye gold ring 

From off thy ^nger (mall ? 

He hath not tobbed mee» my leige, 4^ 

Of purple nor of pall : 
But he hath gotten my maiden head* 

Which grieVes mee worft of all,. 

Now if he be a batdielor. 

His bodye He give to thee ; * $• 

But if he be ar married man» 

High hanged hee ihall bee. 

He called downe his nierrye men all. 

By one, by two, by three; 
Sir William ufed to bee the firft, 55 

But nowethe laft came hee. 

Fer, 50. His bodye He give to the^.] This was agrnabte f9 the 
feudal cufioms : The Lord had aright to give a wife t9 hit va^ab* Sit 

Shahfptare*s, ** ji/fs wpU, that endt loeliy* 



He 



L. 



7f - • A N C I f: N T S^ O f^'Cs ' 

V 

ft 

He biwf^t ]^r.d««riie ftOl Ibii^ jpiH«i^ 

Tyed up witkiline « gk^et 
Faire mmd^ Ik ftv^ die/a^e tp tbfge $ 
;c Go^feeke thcemioAerbve. tio 

*; OIlElBi^iMteoffo«rf|Dld»''ft0 6fdr» 
Nor He have none of ^eor fee i; 

iSat your faice hodjw, I amft liaare ^ 

' The king hath gnnted m^. 

Sir WiniainnnMAodletchdiwrtben 65 

Five hundred pound iin goI4e» 
Saying, £dre nnodic, take tUs io Ao^, 

Thy fault «dIliicnperte3tQld*f 

Tis not the gold that ifatH j&fee t!ai9fM(» 
c Thefe words ifaoi n^Awved AQe» 70 

But your own bodjie i muft share* 
The king hath igcantiBd 



Would 1 8uid dEmnke the water <leaae« 

When I did draniDe the wim^^ 
Rather than jo^r Atq)hefd6 -brat 75 

Shold bee a ladgreof -mine i 

Would I had dsank the puddle fonle;, 

When I'did-drink the de. 
Rather than ever a fhepherds brat 

Shold tell me fuch a tale ! 80 

Aflicp- 



J 



AND :B>ALX ADB* 7^ 

A ihepherds brat even as I was^ 

Yoa mote have let" me bee, 
i never had come to the kings faire courte. 

To crave any love of thee. 

He fett her on a jnilk*white fleede, S5 

.: Jl*Bi4ifin|t^'upon «OTye ; - ~ 

He hung a bugle about his necke, 
. .ib^^oe3lifa^2aade«W2|^ ' 

f 

But when tlMff»oiMe iMlD«the>{diiiire» 

Where n*ut#!Bgi>*he8 Avwe^dtttfe, 90 

She proved herMf « ^ktis diitfgl^div 

And he but a fquires fdiiat. -' 

Now marrye me, «arttim/ fir'^lmiglfty 

Your pleafure ihslll^v^e : 
If you make me U&yt-of aoue^ood^nmimy 9^ 

lie make you lord of^t^. 

Ah ! curfed bee the gdlb, Jheftiy«d, 

If thou hadJft *n<4t 'been ♦twjwe, 
I fliold'iiave fdrrafecn-Wiy^Mect toirte. 

And have changd her.fcr^'ncwc. 100 

And now their hearts *bcing4infecB%ft, 

They joyiKrd4rand'in hanilc: 
Thus he had both-purfc, and-perfon^too. 

And all at his conmiande. 

xrv. THE 



7fr ANGIINT SONGS 



XIV. 

THE SHEPHERD'S' ADDRESS TO HIS MUSE. 
From tbefmall MS vohmus mmttMidabc^t inp^gt 62. 

GOOD Miiie» rocke me aflepe 
Witb ibme fweete harmony : 
This wearie eyes is not to kepe 
Thy wary company • 

Sweete Loyei begon a while, ~. 5 

Thou feeft my heavines : 
; Beau^e is borne bat to beguyle 
My harte of happtnes. ., 

ft 

See howe my little flocke. 

That lovde to feede on.highe, it 

Doe headlonge tumble downe the rocke, 
^ : And in ^e valley dye. 

The buifaes and the trees. 

That were {o freihe and g|eef^e^ ' 
Doe all their deintie colors leefe, 15 

And not a leafe is feene. 

The 



. A N D R A:L.L a D Sc .77 

• 

The blacke birde and the thrnihe. 

That made the wpodes to ringe. 
With all the re&, are now at hdhe. 

And not a note do finge. 2^ 

Swete Philomeney the blrde 

That hath the heavenly throte. 
Doth nowe, alas ! not once^afforde 

Recordinge of a note. 

ff 

The flowers have had a froft, z^ 

The herbs have lofte their iavonre ; 
* For haples Corydon' hath loft 

* His lovelye Hiyllis* favonre. 

And therefore, my fweete Mufe, 

That knoweft what helpe is beft, 3a 

Doe nowe thy heavenlie conninge nfe 

• 

To fett my harte at reft : 

And in a dreame bewraiei 

What fate ihal be my frende ; 
Whether my life (hall ftill decaye, 35 ^ 

Or foone my forrowes ende. 



X V. L O R D 



78 AMCIBNT S-QNGS 



XV. 



LORD THOMAS AND FAIR EliUNOR. 



From an anciint copy in black Utter ^ in the Pefys col- 
b£tien, intitkd, ** A tna^oai ballad an, the m ^rt m uitt 
love of lord Thomas, ana fair Ellinor^ together 'with tbt 



4€ 



downfall of tht Browne- gi^'l'*** — I^ the fame colkSiw 
nievjf be feen an e^ttmft /a nmdbmsu^tkm oldfimg^ and re- 
dace it to a Afferent tn$iefmie\ 4^^ ^ i^pfularitj, 

LORD Tbomsfr hs waa sb b«ld fbcraftSiv 
And' a cbufcr oftlte king^ 4oai>t i 
Faire SUioor was a fti» wem^y 
And lord Thonaa \o loved bet d)Mie» 

Come riddle my ridak) daapmoibeis W>fiiyd, 5 

And riddlt vf bot]^ 2^ one } 
Whether 1 Aatt marryo wi^* f aii« BlUft^n 

And let the^ bfowfie girl atond' I 

The browne girl ihe has got hoafes and lands, 

Faire Ellinor fhe has got none, 10 

And therefore I charge thee on my blefsing, ^ 

To bring me the browne girl home* 

And 



A N D B A L L A I> S. 79 

And as it befeSc on a high hoKdaye, 

As many there are befide, • 
Lord Thomas he went to fiire ElHndr, ' i; 

Tliat fhonld have been his bride. 

And when he came to faire ElGnors bower. 

He knocked there at the ring. 
And who was fo readye as faire EUindr, 

To lett lord Thomas withinn. 2« 

What newes, what newes, tord Thomas, flie fayd? 

What newes doll thou bring to mee ? 
I am come to bid thee to my wedding. 

And that is bad newes for thee. 

God forbid, lord Thomas, fhe fayd, 25 
That fuch a thing fhould be done ; 

1 thought to have been thy bride my felfe. 

And thon to have been the bridegrome. 

Come riddle my riddle, dear mother, fiie fayd. 
And riddle it all in one ; 30 

Whether I fhall goe to lord Thomas his wedding. 
Or whether ihall tarry at home ? 

There are manye that are your friendes, daughter. 

And manye that are your foe. 
Therefore I charge you on my bleffiifg, 35 

To lord Thomas his wedding don't goe. 

3 There 



So A N CI E N T SO NG S 

There are manye that are my friendea, mother; 

But if thoufands there were my foe. 
Betide me life, betide me death, ' 

To lord Thomas his wedding Dd goe. 46 

She cloathed herfelf in gallant attire. 
And her merry e men all in grcene,. 

And as they rid throagh cverye towne. 
They took her to be fome queene. 

But when (he came to lord Thomas his gate, 4j 

She knocked there at the ring ; 
And who was fo readye as lord Thomas, 

To lett faire Ellinor in. 

Is this your bride, faire Ellinor fayd? 

Methihks flie looks wonderoas browne ; 50 
Thou mightefl have had as faire a woman. 

As ever trod on the grounde. 

Defpife her not, fair Ellin, he fayd, 

Defpife her not unto mee ; 
For better I love thy little finger, 5 J 

Than all her whole bodee. 

This browne bride had a little penknife. 

That was both long and fharpe, ^ 

And betwixt the fhort ribs and the long. 

She prickd faire Ellinor's "harte. ^ 

OChrift 



AND BALLADS/- «^ 

t> Chrift thee fare, lord Thomas hee fayd^ 
Methinks thcia lookft wonderoos wan ; 

Thon aiedft to look with as freih a coldur. 
As ever the fun ihone on^ 

Oh, art thofi blind, lofd Thomas ? ihe Cxyi^ 65 

Or canft thoH not very well fee ? 
Oh ! dofi: thou not. fee my ofmt. hearts bloode 

Ru\x tf ickling'down my knee. 

Lord Thomas- he had 9^ fword by hif.'fida 1 ' . . \ v 
As he walked about) the halle^ ■ ' 'y^ 

He cttt off his brides head from hj^f.flnittWcfs; 
And threw it agaitilf the walleV ' . 



> .» » 



He fet theJiilte agkinft the groAwie/" > 

And the point agaiuft his hwte. • • 
There neyer three lovers together did metttf^ • y^ ^ 

That fooner againe did parte*' 



•/ nt readir iviUfind a. Sceiiiflr[fimg dh a JMlar 
fnhjta to this, fo^wart^ the end of^ tbif 'uolumct iiUitkJ 
^* LOKD Thomas and Lady Annet." . 



Vol. m. G XVI. CtJPlI> 



fla A Kt:.f S N T S O Iff .G S 



t >< • I 



•\ 



- ' • CtJPm ANii CAkpASPE. L 

This plav njoas firft frinted in ^591 : hut tbt/ong if ^vcn 
from a later editimr* 

CUPID, ted 1117 Campafpe pl«)ra 
At cardes for idfibs-.; Cnpid pagrdt 
; H€|lakes]fisqini^»boir«idacrawt, 
His mothers dovtt* and tetme of ^arvonn^ . 
Lofes them too ; then down he throws 
The conU of his lippe» the rofe 
. 6 jowii^ ott's dMseky ^nt none kxnamt hoW) 
' Wxththeic, th« cryftalof his browe. 
And then the dimple of his chinne*; 
All thefe did my Campafpe winne. 
At laft he fet her both his eyes. 
She won, and Cupid blind did rife. 

O Love ! . has (he done this to thee I 
^ What fli^lly alas ! become of mee ? 

?CVU. THB 



AND J ALL AD S. 



t| 



JEVtt. 



'M^i 



^^f gi<uen /rem a nwrfften topy^ vonttdnmg /me impt^^- 
ments, ("perhaps madem e^gsj Mptmi^e pU ptftdgr htdUd^ 
iniitledy " the feaufm fiawer tf Seming-m^z ^ f6# 
" Ladj turned Ser<Vi9g'Man.*^ 

YO U beaateoas hdjrts, gnait «ad {qmU, 
I write «ito yvoLime imd ail. 
Whereby i(h«t yoa may vndeiifhuid 
Wliat I have Aiiemd in due land* 

\ was by birth a ladjr fam, i 

An ancient barons only heire^ 
And when my giood old father djned^ 

Then I became « fotti^ kaighftta bride* 

And there my Icwe built «ie a ^bower, 

Bedeck'd with many a finagraot flower $ |o 

A braver bower yoe iie!er did fee 

Then mf erne-love dad ^niid te mee* 

And there I litide a ladye gey. 

Till fortune wrought our loves deciy ; 

For there caaie foes Sq £cvce aboiidt 1$ 

That foQn they over-nin the land. 

G a They 






«♦: ANCIENT SaNGS 

THqr came upon as in tlie night. 

And brent my bower, and flew my knight ; 

And trembling hid in mans arrays 

I fcant with life efcapf d away. ;o 



In the midft of this extremitie, 
. My ienrants all did from me. flee : 
. Thos was I left myfelf alone, 
^^^WiOi heart more cold than any ftone. 

Yet though my heart was fiill of care, t\ 

Heaven would not fuffer me to difpaire. 
Wherefore in hafte I chaag'd my name 
From faire Elife, ' to fweet WiUiame : . . 

^ And therewithall I cot jny hsure, . 
Refolv'd my man's aittire to weare; - .}• 

And in my beaver, hofe and band, 
I travell'd far thcDogh many a land* 

At length all. wearied with my toil; 

4 fate me dpwne to reft awhile ; 

My heart it was ib fiU'd with woe, 3S 

That downe.inycheeke the teares did flow* 

r 

It chanc'd the king of that fame place 
With all his lords a hunting was, 
: And feeing me weepe, upon the fame 
Afkt who I was, and whence I came. 4^ 

Thct 



r AND BALL A^D S. 

Then ta kis grace I did leplye, 
I am a poore and friendleise boye. 
Though nohly borne, nowre forc'd to bee 
A ferving-man oflowe degree^ .. 

Stand up, hare ybnth, the king replyM/ ' 45 
For thee a (prnet VU provyde ; 
Bat tell me firft what thou caiift do. 
Thou ihalt be fitted theieunto. 

Wilt thou be niher of my hall. 

To wait upon my nobles all? 5« 

Or wilt be ^fter of my wine. 

To 'tend on me when I ihall dine ? 

Or wilt thou 1^ my chamberlaine. 

About my perfon to remaiae ? 

Or wilt thou be one of my guard, 5 5 

And I wiU give thee great reward ? 

Chufe, genfle, youth, faid he, thy place. 

^hen I reply'd, if it pleafe yopr grace. 

To (hew fuch favour unto mee. 

Your chai^berlaine I faine woold bee, <6a 

The king then fmjiling gave conient. 
And ftraitwaye to his court I went ; 
Where I behavde fo faithfuUie, 
That hee great hyovur f^oWd |o aiec« 

G 3 Now 



S6 ANCIENT S O NG S 

Now marke whatftvtane didpfoviitti 6j 

The king he would n hmrtlifg lide 
With mil hu lovch mif vobk tnmt,. 
Sweet WilUam araft tt holnie 



Thus beiog left aloae bdUad, 

My fbraer ibite cane m uy snid^ 70 

I wept to ice drf naiui titif r 

No longer now s ladjfr ga/* 

And meeting wil^ a hifyet ftfl, 

Within the fame toffeU I dieft 

With filkenxobes, and jeweb nM^ 75 

I deckt me ai « laifc 



And taking up ai iMe flHdtW9i)r»» 

Upon the fame I iboMe 0» plaf , 

And fweetly tbr dl^ftme did ing^. 

As made botfc kaU anddltti^ryli^ 80 






My fiMiitr wal » bratt 4k toird. 
As ever Europe d&t afeld i 
My mother was a lady bright; 
' My hu Acmd wa» a 'Mlmt knight 



<' And I vy^f « Mye gay» ^ 

<' Bedeckt with gorgeoo^ rkh ari^ ; 

♦• The happieft lady in the tend* 

'' {iad not ««ie pkafore at ^^Mbmaiid. 



A K D B A X L A 1) d. 9f 

** I had my maficktf every day 
Hamoniow kfibiis for to ^\tj% go 

I had my virgkis fair and ftpe^ 
Continually to wait on met. 



Ctf 



'* Bat now» alas ! , wf hnftaafs dead, 

" And alliny frieods iire fren me fied, 

** My former day» are' paft aad goae, g^ 

*f And I am now a l<Hndng«niai>.** 



And fetching many f tendo- %h^ 

As thinking not)nje then. was aig&. 

In pen£ve mood I laid^me lowe^ 

My heart was foil, the te»« did flowe. roo 

The king» whohad a hi»itlnge gone, 
Qrewe weary of his fpwt sanwnti. 
And leavingall hia gallant tiisfake^ 
Tum'd on the fudden hiome agdne: 

And when he ivaelx^d his flotelye tDW^^L 105 

Hearing one fing within his bower. 
He ftoptto liften, and to fte 
Who fung there fo melodioaflle. 

Thus heard* he cveryc word I fed. 

And iawe the pearlye teares I jfhed, 1 10 

And found to his amazement there, 

Swcett William was a ladye fidre. 

G '4 Then 



t 



/ 



«?- A N,CI E N T SrO'NG* 

Then ftcpping in, Fairo ladxe,'rire,. * 

^^nd dry, faid he, thofe lovclye cyta. 

For I have heard j^y mottrofal tsi^t 115 
The which ihali turne to thy availe. ' ^ 

A crimfon dye my. lace oreipred, ■ 
I bluiht fojif ihaotfi, imd hiuig^ my head, 
. vTo find my (ax and ftory knowne, 
When as I thought I was alone* 129 

But to be briefe, his royall grace 
Grewe foe enamour'd of my face. 
The richeft gifts \i€ ptoffered inee, 
^ ^is miftrefi) if tbat'i wottld be^* ' 

Ah! no, my JijCge, I firml^e^fayd, - 125 

J'll rather in my grave be layd. 

And though yojar gmce hath won my heart, 

I ne'er will a^ foe bafe a part. ; 

« 

. , faire ladyc, pardon me, fayde'hte^ ^ 

Thy virtue ih^U rewarded'bee,* ' 13© 

And iince it is foe fairly tryde 
Thou ihalt become my royal tbiide. 

Then ftrait to epd l^is ^moi^oi^s flrife,' 

Pe tooke fweet William to his wife: 

fj'he like befofe was never fecne,^ 13 J 

A fpfving-man became a queene* 



\ 



AK D BALLAD S/ 



GIL MORRICE. 

A Scottish Bai-lad. 

7%( fotUmmg pitce kai latefy ran tbr»' tvua-t£fitai /■ 
SfatlaM^ : tbt ficanJ •wai priited at Glafg«w i^ ly^^. Sv, 
Trifixtd ta tbtm both h an advert i/emtiU, fttling/brtk that 
tht prtftrvatiBn of this poem luai cowing " tc a lady, •wh* 
" favoured tht printers •with a cepy, as it laai earefiiJlf 
" talUaedfram the meiilir »foU tuemeit and nutfit -^^Jmd 
" air/ reader that can x*nder it mart carrtS «r nw^lete" h 
iej»ed ta eilige tbepaBlic •wilh/ucb intfrovewientt. Ineam- 
Sequence af thii aJverti/ement fixtwtn additianal •vtrfei hmv» 
"iten produted and handed aimt in manufiript, tubiA mrt 
here in/erled in their propfr plaett : (theft are from vtr. 
109. ta litr. 111, and /rem 'ver. i 14. ta ver. i 19. eud art 
perbapi after ail only 'an ingeniem interpelatitn.) 

Atthispaemlay) claim ta a pretty high anlijaily, w havt 
a^ned it a place attang eiir eoMy pieces : thaugh, afiir aU, 
there is rea/an to believe it has received very c^^dtrahlt 
Madefn impravpnents : far in the Editor's ancient MS tal- 
U3ian is a very eld imperfeil npy af the fame ballad .1 
therein tbeugb the leading featarti aftbijtary ere the fame, 
jet the ealauriHg here is fa much in^rmied and heightened, 
and fa many additienttl firekt! are thraw" in, that it it ' 
evident the lohote has nndergane a rrt/i/al. 

N. S. The Editor't MS infteadef" lard B,amBrd" , h 
fjehn Stev/art"iandinfieadaf"GilM»rric^', Chii 
Maurice, vjbich lafi is frehably the arigi^al title. I 
ttbavep. 54. 

GI L Morrice wu xa erln Ibn, 
i{u natneitwuwd wide; 



0b ANCIINT SO'BYGS 

t 

It was nae for his great licheSy 

Nor zet lus mickle pride; 
Bot it was for a lady fay^ 

That livd on Canon fide. 



Qnhair fall I get a bonny boy. 

That will win hofe and ihoen; "* 
Tkat will gae ta lord Barnard* haV 

And bid his lady earn ? l^ 

And aie ma«it rin errand WilHe ; 

And ze may rin. wi* pride ; 
Qjihen edics boys gae on their foot» 

On hor&^back ze Ml ride. 

.Onai.Ohhal my m^fctir dear 1 . . if 

I dars nae for ny lifei 
Ffi no gae to the banld bardns^ 
' For to trieft forth his wife. 
My bird Willie, my hoy WilUe ; 

My dear WilHe, he fayd: 20 

How can a(e firive againft.the fiream ? 

ForllhaU be obcyd. 

• ' • 
^or, Q my mafter 4ear ! he cryd. 

In grene wod ze're zonr lain ; 
Gi owre fie thochts, I walde ze rede, ^ 

For foar. ze ftoold be tdn. 
Hafle, hafte, I fay, gae to the ha'. 

Bid Jiir cum here wi' iprid : 



If 



#Vr» II, fometblngjetmx vfantwjr here* 



ANd 13 ALt ADS. 91 

IFzerefttfe my hei^'^iomtkwi^ 
HI gar zour body Bleid. $m 

Gae bid htr take this gaf ntaiita» 

Bid hir cum to die giide graie woctr. 

And bring nane b^t bir hdn : 
And there it is» it Mcea farke, . ' }S 

Hir ain hand fewd the fleire ; 
And bid W€«m 10 Gill Morkd* 

Speir nae banld b&rons ie«T«, 

Yes^ I will gae zonr blaak e^tand^ 

Thoagh it be fti'SOtir coft ; 40 

Sen ze by me will asie be wim^d« 

In it zr iid( find ftotf. 
The baron he is a man of jeigbty 

He neir could bide to taunt. 
As ze will fee befi»e its nicht, \ 45 

How fina' ze kfte ia iraiint. 

r 

And fen I maun *Br efl«nd ria 

Sae fair againft^kifmlly 
rfe mak a vow and keip it trofr, 

It fall be done fw ill. 5^ 

And quhen he came t^ broken brigite> 

He bent his bow and fwam ; 
And quhen came to grafs growing. 

Set down his feet ani ran. 

And 



9$ A^iCl^Vf T :S O N 6 S 

Andquhen lie cjiine toBarnaurdsha'f / ' ' SS 

^> Would neither chap,norca' : 
Bot fet his bent bow to his breift^ 

And lichtly lap thewa'. ' 
He wanld nae tell the man his errand^ ' 

Though be ftude at the gait ; 60 

Bot ftraiht into the ha' he cam. 

• • • ^ 

Qnhair they w^refet at meit* 

Hail ! hail ! n^y gentle fire and dane ! 

My melTage w|nna waito ; 
Dame, ze maun to the gude grene wod 65 

Before that ^t be late. 
Ze're bidden tak this gay mantel^ 

Tis a' gowd, bot the hem : 
Zou maun gae to the gude grene wode, 

Ev'n by yourielalane. 70 

, And there it is, a.filken farke. 

Your ain hand fewd the fleive ; 
Ze maun gae fpeik to Gill Morice ; 

Speir nae bau}d barons leave* 
The lady ftamped wi' hir fbot» 7 . 

And winked ya* hir ee>| 
- Bot a' that ihe coud fay or do. 
Forbidden he wad nae bee* 



b 

Its furely to nyr bow*r-woman $ 
It neir could be to me. 



So 
Ibrocht 






AND B A Lli A D S. 93 

I broclit it to lordBarnards lady $ - ' 

I trow that ze be fiie* 
Then up and fpaeck Uie wyUe nuiie^ ^ ^ 

(The bairn upon hur knee) - 
If it be cum frae GiB Morlce^ %% 

^ It's deir welcum to mee. * ' 



* - 



Ze leid, ze leid, ze*tithy nprfe/ 

Sae loud's I heire zelee ; 
I brocht it to lord Bartiards lady ; 

I trow ze be nae ihee. ' - .. ^ ^ 

Then up and fpack the btold bordn, ' 

An angry man was >ee ; 
He's tain the taWe wi* his foot, 

Sae has he wi' his knee ; 
Till filler cup and ezar diih ' ... ,95; 

. In flinders he gard fiee. . - 

Cae bring a robe of zom* eliding. 

That hings upon the pin ; 
And ril gae to the gude grene wode, 

And fpeik wi' zour lemrnin. lOO 

O bide at haQie, now lord Barnard, 

I warde ze bide at hame ; ' 
Neir wyte a man for violence. 

That neir wate ze wi' n^ne. 



V$rp 88. Ftrhifs^ loud fay | helrCf 



GU 



Gil Morice iatf in gaM-»^m m4^- r 105 

He whiilled and he fai^f p ... J 

O wlut mean n' ike ft4k Mvkig, . : 

My mother tarries Ivtg^ ' 
; ; His hair was like the thfp0<|i^{rit^ 

Drawne frae Minerv:a»l#QD^9 ; ^ _ ii« 

'His lipps like rofes drappingdew* 

His breath was ^^ perAuij^. 

His brow was Uke (the fOMmtMhrn. 
(. , Gilt hj the morning \mmk r . 

His cheeks l|kd.]irijit:^^forQig]*W'S . . - ii; 

His een like azure fitatfi» 

' Theboy wascladJOjrobesofgMW^ 
Sweete as the infant firing ; . . ! 
> And like the mavis on tike ibnA« 

He gart the rabies ruig» . uo 

The baron cam^tfli the gpwew«4t* 

Wi' mickle dale 40^. cam* 
And there he *A fptA GiU Hmm 
..I Kameing his zeUfliK kajr s 
, Jhat fweetly mmA uovwA hit iai3B» J 2; J 

That face beyond icoapare : 
He fang fae fweet it»aght di 
A' rage bat fell iii^iir. / 

Nse 

Vtrnal delight and Jejf : tAlf to drvat 
AUfadnefibutdttffatr* B*iT, v* J5S* 



^178 bAI;La4)S.: 9S' 



r r 



I Nae wondeiv tfAe wonder, 6iQMC!i)ee> 

My lady loed thee iiv«^t ijo 

The faireft paii^irf^irty tiedy* 

Is blacker <Iiittdiy lieel. 
Zct iieir the le&«ewr6iU MDi)ee,<" _ / . . i 
' For a* thy great bd*rty\ • - - . -— - - 
Ze'$ rew the day ze eir was bom ; 135 

That head fall gafewi^ »'e» . ^ .-^ 

•■ • r • • « 

• • - r I • • 

r • *.A -^.A .4.. 

Nowhe has tdrftwn hklrvfty. brandy ' 

And flaited on the firae ) . 
. And thio' Gill Merioe' fair body^ ' > 

He's gar caald iron gae. i^ 

And he has tain &XL Moiice* head 

And fet it on a fpeir : 
The meaneft man in a' his train 

Has gotten* that h^ad to bear. 

And he has tun GiU M oiice ap, Sf 5 

Laid him acrofs his ibeid» 
And brocht him to his paintod bowr 

And laid him on a bed. 
; 7he lady fat on caftil wa% * 

Beheld baith daleraad doun ; 150 

And there flie faw Gill Morice' head 

Cum trailing to the toan. > 



Far better I loe tSiat blnidy head, 
Bot and that zellow 



Thaa 



AN C.IENT SOWjG S 

Than lor^Bsmaxdi:Vii,^hi^. ku^j^ tjj 

As they lig here and thaijr* 
And Ihe has tain her GUI Mpricey 

And kifsdbaith rnQBthaadchiif: . 
I was once as few of Gili.MwkCi ; 

As the hip is o' the.ftea^* . t64 

\ . . . . . 

• ■ -■• •- #»*^ 

-. , ^ • . > 

tgot ze in my father's, h(H»fe# ^ 

Wi' nuckle fin and ihame ; 
I brocht thee lip in gc^-peiie m^i^w 

Under the heavy rain i " 
Oft have I by thy cradle fi||tiQ«... . . |6J 

V ' And fondly feen thee Heip } 
Bot now I gae about thy grave^. 

The faut tears for to wcip* _ . 



And fyne ihe kifsd his bluidy cheik. 
And fyne his bluidy chin: 

O better I loe my Gill Morice 
Than a' my kith and kin I 

Away, away, xe ill woman. 
And an il deith mait ze dee r ' 

Gin I had kend he*d bin zoux fon^^ 

< He'd neir bin flain for mee: 



lyd 



Ki 



Obraid me not, my lord Barnard! 

Obraid me not for ihame ! 
Wi that faim fpeir O pierce my heart t 

And put me out o' paim 



.f 



.180 
Since 



Since nothing h^ QUI 'Mioiiqe hfi^A 
Thy jelo*6.f^gp «ps«14 H^U* ; 

Let that faim hand now tak hir life. 
That neir to thee did ill. 

To me nae after days nor nichts 185 

Will eir be faft or kind ; 
m fill the air with heavy iighs. 

And greet till I am blind* 
EaoMch 4if Ibkod hy jne's Jbin ^fdl^^ 

Seek not ssour deaifi irae mee^ too 

J rather loard it had been my fel 

Than eather him or thee. 

With waefo wae 1 hear aoor plaint ; 

Sair, fair I rew the deid> 
That eir this curfed hand of mine 19^ 

Had gard his lx>dy bl^id* 
Dry up zour tears, my winfom dame, 

Ze neir can heal the wound ; 
Ze fee his head upon the ipeir. 

His heart'sH)lude on the ground. '200 

I curfe the hand that did the deid. 

The heart that thocht the ill ; * •* 
The Siet that bore meovi' £k Iftaiji, ^ 

The comely zouth ,to kill. 

.'1 

rU ay lament for Gill Mbrice, *_■ 205 

As gin he were my ain ; 
Vol. III. H . I»U 



« - 



^ ANCIENT SONGS^ &c* 

Pll ncir forgctthc drciry day 
On which the ssoatk was flam.^ 



* Tbi foregoing iM^ is /aid to bavefirmfkdtbi 
fbt to the tragedy of Douglas. 

It may he proper to mention that otter idfies read 
njer* no. thus 






«* Skotfrae the golden fun 
And ver. 1 1 6. as follows 

« His een like axnrejfiene/* 



THE END OF THE FIRST BOOK. 



• ♦ ■ 



J 



a js c s « iS c 
SONGS AND BALLADS, 

Hi. 
SERIES THE THIRD. 

BOOK ir. 



I. 

THE LKGEND OF SIR GUY 

' tentains it Jtwf fummarj sf tht exploit! ef thit 

famaiit champkn, as rtcerJed it the dd ftarj haaks \ and 

it CBtntntnly intitltd, " A pUaJtttit foitg of tbt tiatiant dttdi, 

" ttf chitialry atckirttcd bj that nobli inight jir Guy a/ 

, " IFar^ci, iittD, for the We of fair Phelii, iecatue a 

H 2 " heniflt 



100 ANCIENT SONGS 

" hermit, and dytd in a eavt 'f craggy roch, a mill 
" diftant frian War'viitk" . .- 

Tbchifiory sf fir Guy, iha' novi 'utrffreptrtj refipti h 
fhildfen, •uiai once adimred iy ali readcrt ef'uiit and tafit: 
fartafiei 
grevflh, 
peartd in 

FriBfb /I 
Thior 

Cbtuxer 

"2 

" 0/ nameemui4 4i»*iffQtfi, - 
" - " O/Bevii, and fir (?<y> iA:. ■ R. BfThtp.) 
and "wai ujually fiing to thi barf at Chriftpiai dinncri ani 
bridtila, Aj tie ^arv f^om Pxtttnhiuifs aft ^ pt^J* 
4*. 1585. - 

Tbit ancient romance it not •wholly hfi. An iMptrfiS 

topy in black letter, " Imprytttdat Lendun for WyUiam 

" Copland," in ■^/^flieeti ^o. •vjithoiitJate,iiftiU preferred 
among Mr. Garrici'i eolleBien ofoldplajs. jii a/pecimi* 
of the peetty tjf (hit tintiqueTbjmer, tbke Hi dt/criptien 'f 
r^e dragon mentioned in 'ver. 10.5 cf tke follo'wing ballaJ, 

— " jf mejfinger came to the king. 

" Syr king, be/ayd, lyjltn me notu, 

" For bad tydinges 1 bring you, 

" In Norlh«mberlandc tbire is no man, 

" But that ihey befiayne everychone: 

" For there dare no man route, 
» "By tiiL'enty rryleTtimde'aitnte, 

" For doubt cf a fonjill dragon, 

" That fiealb men Jind be^Of dva;Bt, 

*' Hi ii biafitj ai a>ty_ coU, 

" Ruggedaiarov^fole; ■ .. 

" His bedyefrtmibc nd-viU upviard* 

" tiiomanvur/itfierie it ii/o hardei 






r •;A;3*t)r B.A LLjAOiS/. skjtI 

*^ His neck is greiO" lu Tawyi fuiffmewe'i 

** Ifs renmtb as/wifte as any difirere\ 

** Paives be hath as a lyon :' 

** All that he toucheib he Jleath dead dvwne* 

** Gi^ak %jiiiuges he hatb to flights 

** That is no man that bare him might. 

There may no pia^ fight him figayne^ . 
But that hefieatb him certayne : ' 
** For afd^kr heaft then isbej 
,. ** ffwis of none never heard ye, "* 

The ar cur ate Dugdale is of opinion that the flory of Guy is 
not ivbolly apocryphal, tho* he acknenwledges' the monks ba*ui 
founded out bis praifes too hyper bolically* In particular, he 
gives the daeffmtght ivitb tie D^n^ ekanfpitn 4^ a real 
hiftorical truth^ a^d fixes t^e Jute, of it in {be year gig, 
^tat. Guy, jo. See bis iVarnuickJhire* 

The foliating is ^written upon the fame plan, as ballad 
^. Boek /. but <wbieMi is the origii^al and k/jbicbi the copy, 
cannot he decided, This fong is ancient, as may be inferred 
from the idiom preferred in the margin, vet' 94* 102 i and 
'ivas once popular, as appears from Fletcher* s Knight of the 
. burning peftle, a3. t, fc. ult. 

Printed from an aiKient M&c^py r> the Editor's old folio 
volume, coiiaf^ iv/th two printed ones^ -on^ ef ^wbich is in 
black letter in the Pepys colle^ion. 

^' \X7AS ever kmglit for ladyes fake 
^ ' ' Soc toft in love, as I fit Guy 
For Phelis fayre, that lady bright 
As ever man beheld with eye ? 

Shee gave me leave myfelf to try, 5 

The valiant knight with (heeld and fpeare. 

Ere that her love ftiee wold grant me; ■ 
Whidi'made mee venture far and neare. 

H3 Thea 



fos A N CIEN r SO 

Then proved I a baron bold, ' 

In deeds of armes the dou^tyeft knight id 

.That in thofe daf es in England was. 

With fworde and ^peare inici)d to i^t* 

... 

An Engliih man I was by birthe : » 

In faith of Chxift a chrillyan true ; 

The wicked lawcs of* infidel!* • ; IJ 

1 fought by prpwefle to fubdue, 

* « * 

•Nine' hondfed -twenty yccre and odde 

After 6uf Saviour CKrift hiV birther; - ^' 
yyi^n king ^t^clilone wore the orown^i 
I lived heeie upon the eaiiMe* ^ JO 

Sometlgie I was pf Warwicke crle. 

And, as I fayd, of very truths . > 

A ladyes loVe did me conftraiae 

To feeke ftrange ventures in my yotrthe^ 

To win 1^0 fame by featey of , armes . 'i z ^ 
In fbange 4ud fundry heathen Jand$; / 

Where I atcWved for her fake 
Right dangerous cOl>q^efls with^^y h^4f» 

For firft I fayled to Normandyc, 

Afid there } ftoutlye wan in fight }• 

• The emperours daughter of Almayiifi^ 
From fli^nyp ^ vaUyant worthyc knight 

Thw 

f^fTf 9. The proud fir Guy. P, Vp-t 17 • l^wo hundred. M$ md ?* 



•AN D B A L L A D S» 103 

Then pafTed I the feas to Greece 

To helpct the emperour in his rigfct ; 
Againft the migfatye ibuldans hoafte 3 j 

^ . Of puiiimt Perfiaas fbr to fight* 

Where I did flay of.Sara^enSy 
And heathen pagans, manye a man ; 

And flew the ibuldans cozen deare. 
Who had to name doughtye Coldr»i« . 40 

Eikeldered a famons knight 

To death Ukewife I did purfue : , 

And Elmayne king of Tyre alfoe, 

Moft terrible in fight to yiewe* 

I went into the fbuldans hoaft, '45 

Bein^ tliither on embafiage ient» 
And brought his head awaye with mee^ , 

I having flaioe him in his tent* 

There was a dragon in that land 

Moft fiercelye mett me by the way 50 

'As hee a lyon did pnrfue. 

Which. I myfelf did aUbt flay. 

Then foon I paft the feas from Greece^ 

And came to Pavye land aright ; 
Where I the duke of Pavye killd, 55 

His hainous treafon to requite. 

H4 To 



104' ANCIENT fiONG^S 

To England then I eamerwidt fpcede^ 

To wedd^fltirc Fheifi tedjre Idglurr 
^ For love of whotttti tm^lkd fair 

To try my miAki^(Sd isid my miglkt^^^^ ,60 

Bat when I had efpoofed kr^» ^ . - 

I ftayd W1& htrbotibrfyediijdSy 
Ere that I left this ladye fake. 

And wem &6m hct boydud tke ftAsiw 

All cladd in gray, \nfilgt\tM fyt%, -6$ 

My voyage kovx her I did take 
Unto the bleiredH(^y^laAd» 

For Jefus Cha& my Savsonirs fake . - . 

>Where I erle Jonas did rsdceme,^ 

And tdl his'ftmlies wfakh. were* Mt/^enci _ 70 
Who with the crnelt Saraztos 
In prifon for long time had 



I flew the gyant'Aniaraiit ' . . 

In battel fiercelye hand to hand : 
And doaghty Barknard killed I» 75 

A treacherous k&ight of Favye land. 

Then I to England came againe. 

And here with Colbrohde fell I fought : 

An ugly gyant, which the Danes 

Had for their champion hitbet brought. ^^ 

1. lover- 






AND B A L LA D S. . 105 

I overcame him in die feild» 

And flewe him fooiie right ralliaattye) 
Wherebrjre tfab land I did redeeme 

From Danif^ tvibitte tttterlj^e» 

And afterwards I ofited upp . $e 

The jofc of weapons folemnlje 
At Winchefter, whereas I iboght. 

In fight of maA/e farr and nye^ 

' Bat firfty' neare Wiafor, I did flaye 

A bore of paffing might ^d ftrength ; 90 

Whofe like in England never was 

For hugenefle both in bredth, and length*. 

Some of his hones in Warwicke yet,. 

Within the caflle there doe lye : 
One of his fheiidrbones to this day . 95 

Hangs in the cttye of Coventrye* 

On Dunfmore heath I aUbe flewe 

A monftrous wyld and craell beaft, 
Calld the Dun-cow of Dunfmore heath ; 

Which manye people had oppreft. 100 

Some of her bones in Warwicke yett 

Still for a*monament doe lye; 
Which unto every lookers viewe 

As wonderpu.s ib-^nge^ they may efpye. 

A dragon 

Fer, 94. io». doihlyc,,M3» 






foi A N C lE'N T S O N G*S 

A dragon in Northundberlandy . lo; 

I alfoe did in iigbt deftro^re. 
Which did boihe man and beaft opprefle. 

And all the conntrye fore annoye. 

At length to Warwicke I did come. 

Like pilgrime poore and was not kaowae ; i !• 
And there I liv4 a hermites life 

A mile and more oat of the towne* 

Where with my hands I hewed a houie 

Out of a craggy rocke of ftone ; 
And lived like a palmer poore 115 

Within that cave myfelf alone : 

And dailye came to begg my bread 
Of Phelis at my caftle gate ; 
' Not knowne unto my loving wife. 

Who dailye' mourned for her mate, 1 29 

Till at the lail I fell fore licke. 
Yea ficke foe fore that I mail die ; 

I fent to her a ringe of golde. 

By which file knewe me prefentlye* 

Then feee repairing to the cave . I*j 

Before that I gave up the ghofl ; 
Herfelf closd up my dying eyes : 

My Phelis faire, whom I lovd moft. 



z 



Thos 



J 



AN I> B A:LL A D S. ; toj 

Thtt$ dreadful, death.4i4inearr6il, 
'. To biing my corpes anto the grave ; ., 130 
And like a palmer dytd l, 
Whethy I fooglit my.foiUe to fave« 

My body that endured this toyle. 
Though now it be confumed to mold ; 

My ftatvie fair^e-^ngr^'en in ftone, j^j 

In Warv^ickchtill yoa may behold. 



GUY ANDAMARANT. 

Tbi Editor found ibis Poem in his andmt fiUo manu- 
fyript among the ol4 baliadf ; henvas defirous there/are that 
iififould^tll accompany them ; and as it is not altogether 
devoid of merit, its infertion here njoill he pardoned. 

Jkbough this piece fiems not imperfeB, there is reafen to 
heUeve that it is only apart of a much Iwrgtr poem^ 'which 
contained the *wboie hiftory ofjir Gujf : for upon compare 
i»g it «with the common fiory hook I TmOy nve find the hitter 
to he nothing more than this poem reduced to profe : ivhich 
h only eff$Bed hy now and then altering the rhyme, and 
throwing out fome fenjo of the poetical ornaments. The 
difguife i^fffiight that it is an eafy matter to pick c^m* 
fhte ftanxas in any page of that book. 

The author of this poem has Jhonmt fome invention* 
though be took the.fithjed from the old romance quoted hs^^ 
fircy he has adorned it afrejhf and made the fiory intirely 
his o^n% 

GUY 






iot A i^ccrEK'r goNG' s 

GUY journefed ore ^ foiiffifyeii groQAd, 
Whereas the Jcwes^ feyfc citye ftiKetiBie food, 
Wherin our Savioars facred htad wa» tr&Mai, 

And where fcff finftill man hi fhed his htood : 
To fee the fepulcher was his intent, e 

The tombe that Joieph unt» Jfefw Icdt. - — ^ 

Wfth tedious miles he tyreii his w^kr^e fei^^ 
And pafied de^ plauc^ Artt^of dan^r, ' •' ( 

At laft with a moft woeful! wight • did meet, 
A man that unto forrow was noe fbanger : lo 

For he had fifteen fonnes, made captives all 

To flaviih bondage, in eJttremeft thrall. 






A gyant called Amarant detaind them'. 
Whom itoe man durit enoMiftter Jforhif fbttHgth : 

Who in a caiftle, which he held^ hwA ckaiAd theM : i r' 
Guy (jyeftions, where ? aAd underftand^at length 

Tfefl place apt farr.— Lend ipe thy (Word, (fnoiih %, 

Be lead iay,maflhood all thy ^cmnes to free. 

With that he goes, and lays upon the dorc, 
Like.o«e, he faycs, that muft, and will come in : 20 

The gyant he was ncre foe rowssd before ; 
Fornoe fdch knocking at. his gate had biii : 

Soc t^kes his keyies, and clubb, and gopth out 

Staring with ireful coimtenaAce about. 



Sirra, 



♦ Erk Jonas, mentioned in the foregoing 6al/ad, 



: A M D :5B A L L A O a '. fQ9 

Art ^OGjDW^lo Ibtift tke fcrowes 9^tu my oralis ? 
DidftvMnbr iutane, noe Taotfoone cold him tiecre^ 

For majdagiitto ts&b o^poneri paiaeftf 

With ckiJ3^tne«lirUbi wMl idaA o«t thjr .Waitef. 3a 

G^t^ ifeyes G4if» y'are^qaaiTeirQXBe I &c» 
Ch^^ler and ydu are Annedani; oeere<of kin : 

Moil dangtt>9u« at a clabb 3idlike yim bee, . - 
I have 4>iii ^better artnd, idioagih jwwt jgoe din ; 

But fiiew 4iy tftmGift hate, eoiasge tiif i^igltt* 3$ 

Xeene is ajr ^iiswpaa^ and miift dioe .me irtght. . 

Soe takes his fword, Salates him wi/th 4;he iasne 
About thei^d, the i£how]derB» and the fides? 

Whllft fits eisded dobb dodi deadi tpffedaifiiey 
Scandingewith huge ColoiFtts' ii>a€iou8 ftmdes, 40 

Putting fuc^ rvigotu' to his knotted htam^ 

That like aiarnace he idid i^oke extreaxne« 

But <m the ^(Mind he fpenst his 'fkbhes in vaiae, 
ForGoiy wa» jumble to aroyde them^lU 

And ere he cold recover has -diabb t^gsancy 45 

Did 4eate his plated coat agai&ft his will : 

Att fuch advantage -Gay vuald never fayle. 

To beat 4Hm -fbuhdiye in his coate of ouyle. 

Att 



L 



no AN C I EN T S ONG S 

Att lail through ' lacke oP ftreagth ]ieftfeeUegr8we^ 
And fftydto Guy^ as thou'rl of httmane race, 59 

Shew itt in this, give natures wants their dewe. 
Let me but goe,- and driftke in yonder place i 

Thou canil not yeeld to ' me' a imaUer things 

Than to grant life^ thats given fay the fpring, 

I give thee leave, fayes Guye, goc drinke thy laft, 5 j 
Go pledge the dragon» and the fiivage bore * ; 

Succeed the tragedyes that they have paft. 
But never thinke to drinke cold water more i 

Drinke deepe to Death and unto him caroole: 

Bid him receive thee in his earthen houie. 6^ 

Soe to the fpring he goes, and flakes his thirft*^ 

Takeing the water in extremely iike 
Some wracked fliipp that on fome rocke is. bard^ 

WhoTe forced hulke againft the ftones does ihyke ; 
Scoping it in ibe fail: with both his hands> . 6j 

That Guy admiring to behold him ilaads. 

Come on, quoth Guy, lets to our worke againe^ 
Thott (layeft about thy liquor overlong ; 

The iifii, which in the river doe remaine» 

Will want thereby ; thy drinking doth them wrong: 

But I will * have ' their fatisfaiftion made, 71 

With gyants blood they muft, and jQiall be payd, 

• l^icb Guy kadf^in before, Vcr. $4. bulke. MS. 



1 



A N D B A E L A D S. m 

yiUaine, qaoth Amarant, He crnih thee ibeight ; 

Tiy life fhall pay thy daring toungs offence : 
This clubby which is about ibme hundred weight, 75 

Has deathes commiffion to difpatch thee hence : 
Drefie thee for rarens dyett I muft needes ; 
And breake thy bones, as they were made of reedes. 

Incenfed moch att this bold pagans Jboftes, 
Which worthye Guy cold ill endure to heare, tm 

He hewes upon thofe bigg fupporting pofles. 
Which like two pillars did his body beare : 

Amarant for thofe wounds in choller growes» 

And defperatelye att Guy his clabb he throwes : 

Which did direftly on his body light, II5' 

Soe heavy, and fo weighty there-withall. 

That downe to ground on fudden came the knight ; 
And, ere he cold recover from his fall. 

The gyant gott his clubb againe in fill. 

And aimd a blowe that wonderfullye mift* 9« 

Traytor, quoth Guy, thy falfliood He repay. 
This coward a6b to intercept my bloode. 

Sayes Amarant, He murther any way. 
With enemyes all vantages are good : 

O cold I poyfon in thy nollrills blowe^ yj 

Before of it I wold deftroy thee foe. 



Its 



m ANC I EN T 6 O N 6 S 

Its weU, faid Gay, iky liouefi dbongbts sippciar^, ' 
Within that beaftl}^ <b«UK «4iere dmOs liwell* 

Which are thy tenafits while thou Im^ hcxtc. 
But will be landlords wlieii tfcott anoft in iM : ioa 

Vile mifcreant, prepaid diee for their den, 

Inhsmane moAfter^ ImrtfiiU ii&to mea. 

But breathe thy felfe a time, while I goe dridke. 

For flameiiig Phoebus with his fyerye eye 
Torments xne foe with burning heat» I diitfke lo^ 

My thirft wold ferve to drioke an <H;ean 4iye : 
Forbear a lide, at I dek with thee. 
Quodi Amaranty thou haft noe look of mee. 

• 
Noe, fiUye wretch, my father taught more witt. 

How I (hold tife fuch enemy es as thou, no 

By all my gods I doe rejoice at itt, . 

To underhand that thirft conftraines thee now ; ' 

For all the treafure, that die world containes, 1 

One drop of water ihall not coole thy vaines. 

Releeve my foe ! why, 'twere a madmans part : 115 

Refrefh an adverfarye to my wrong : 
If thou imagine this, a child thou art : 

Noe, fellow, I have known the world too lo^g 
To be foe fimple : now I know thy want, | 

A minutes fpace to thee I will not grant. lao j 



And with thefe words heaving aloft his clubb 
Into the ayre, he fwings the fame about : 



Then, 



OA.'J^P BALLAD S. - ,13 

Then Jbakes h^ lockes,- and doth bis temples riibb^ . 

An4» 4%e the Cyclops, in his pride, 40th j(hottt» 
Sirra, fayes hee, I have you at a lift, 125 

Now yon ai;e come unto your ktelL ihifc« . - 

Perifh Ibr^Vor : with this flrakc I icnd thee 
A medicUie, will do^ thy thirft much good ; 

%Bke nee more .care of drinke before I end thee» 

And thciii lyeele have cvoufes of thy hlood : 190 

Here's at thee with a butchers downright blow. 

To pleafe my/uryc with thine overthrow. 

InfemalU falfe, obdurate ieend, iaid Guy, 
That fec^fi a lumpe of icrueltye fr«m hell ; 

Ungratefqll (npnfter, ^qe ,thou dofi deny . 135 

The thing to mee wherin I ufed thee well : . 

Witji more revenge, than ere my fword did make. 

On thy accuf(ed head revenge lie take. • 

Thy gyants longitude (hall fliorter fhrinke, 

£xcc^ thy fun-fcprcht ikin be weapon proof; . 140 

Farewell pny {hirft; I dqe difdaine to drinke, . 
Streamer keepeyg^r waters to your owne behpof $ 

Or let wild bcafts be welcome thereunto; 

With thofe pearle drops I will not have to dOh 

Here,, tyrant, take a taftc ^of my good-will, , i^ 

For thu$ -J doe begin my bloodye bout : « 

You cannot cl^ufe hut like the greeting ill ; • 
* It is not thatX^UOe dubb will beare you out 
Vol. in, ♦ Jt And 



9 



114 A N C IE N T S O NG S 

And take this payment on thy ihaggye crowne.-— 

A blowe that brought him with a vengeance downe. 150 

Then Guy fett foot upon the monfters breft. 
And from his ihoulders did his head divide. 

Which with a yawninge mouth did gape unbleft, 
Noe dragons jawes were ever feene foe wide 

To open and to fhat, till life was fpent. 155 

Then Guy tooke keyes and to the caftle went.^ 

Where manye woefull captives he did find. 
Which had beene tyred with extremitye. 

Whom he in freindly manner did unbind. 

And reafoned with them of their mi^erye: 160 

Eclie told a tale with teares, and fighes, and cryes^ 

All weeping to him with complaining eye&. 

There tendw ladyes in darke dungeon lay, 

That were furprifed in the defart wood. 
And had noe other dyett everye day, t^ 

Than ffeih of humane creatures for their food; 
Some with their lovers bodyes had beene fed^ 
And in their wombes their hufbaads biiryed. 

Now he bethinkes him of his being there. 
To enlarge the wronged brethren from their woes ; 1 70 

And, as ht fearcheth, doth great clamours heare. 
By which fad founds diredion on he goes,. 

Untill he find^es a darkfome obfcure gate, 

Armd ilrongly ouer all with iron pkte* 

That 



A N D B A L LADS* U$ 

•*niat he unlockesy and enters, where appearet . I75 

The ftrangeft 6hjeA that he ever faw i 
Men that with famifhment of many yeares, 

*Were like deathes pi&are^ which the painters draw t 
Divers of them were hanged by eche thumb : 
Others head-dowAward; by tiie middle iome* 180 

With diligence he takes them from the walls. 
With lybertye th^ thzaldome to acquaint.) ^ 

Then the perplexed knight the father c^h; 

And faye». Receive thy fonnes th6u'ghj>6oreana /ain^ : 

I promisd you their lives, accept df thati . : 185 

But did not prOmife you they ihold be fat* 

The caftle I doe give thee, heeret the keyes^ 
Where tyranye for many yeeres did dwell 1 

procure the gentle tender ladyes eafe. 

For pittyes fake, ufe wtonged women well 2 i^o 

Men eaiilye revenge the wrongs men do : 

But poore weake women have lio ilrength thereto. 

The good old man^ even overjoyed with this. 

Fell on the ground, and wold have kift Guys fttt^t 

Father, quoth he, refraine foe bafe a kifs, 19^ 

For age to honor youth I hold unmeete : 

Ambitious t>i'yde hath hurt mee all it can, 

I goe to mortiiie a iinfull man. 

•^* Thti foregMng poem on Guy and AmarAMT hai 
ban di/coverei to^ le. a fragment of «< the famoui hiftorie of* 

la «* Qujl 






• jiue. A':N:c. J j: N T s o N t> s 

m 

; -ff Gw^ tm^jff 'War<toieiif^ SamueJs Rovlakds. I^- 
" ifen, frinied hy J. SeU. 1 649. 4/tf.*' /« jf// caxt^, be^ 
ginnittg thus 

Whether the edition in 1649, «k;/w thefirft^ is not known^ 
' ^t the auiyo¥ $^M . RewL a if D s nJtmt mte of the minor fcetf, 
nvho li*ued in the reigns of ^ EUxabethy and James /. and 
f^haps lat^. His other Joettfs ar-e ehiefy^ of the- rel^iont 
isnd, nvhich makes it probable that the hijf, of Guy *wasone 
of Bis eafUijtfetformamer.i^~.-J[heP€ arejxtas^t of bis (1.) 
<' The betrf^wg rf Chrifi^ Judat dm di^re, ^ Jeven 
^* Vf^ds of our Saviour on the crojft^ tuith other poems oh 
• ^« thepajfiii,%gc.\^g%.^to, [AmesTjp.p. 428.]— (2.)-/ 
'^^i Theatre of dilightfd JUtr^ation, Lend, printed fir A, 
" Johnfon. a6oiJ^ j^o. (Pones. editor.) This is a book of 
poems onfubje&s chiefly taken from the oldTeflament* (3.) 
♦* Memory ofChrift^s miracles^ in.'uerfe. Lond. 1618. 4/*." 
(4.) '< Howaa^s gJory, edrth^s fuanity, And heWs borwr* 
Lond. 16^8. ^f^a.\Thefe 2 in Bod. Cat.] 



;^: . HI. 



THE AULD GOOD^MANk 



f 



A Scottish Song. 

PTe h0ue.noi hin 4ibli Umsit loith a more ancient eopj 
.of.^this hmfsoronS'M f^f^gfjtban tl^at prinud in the Tea- 
^ Table mifcellas^y i^c. which feem^ to hofpe admitted Jem 
Xiirruptioni. 

* T A X^ in an evenkg forthl wmit 

^ •*--^ A little before the/on gade 4owi9» 

And there I ckanc't, by accident. 

To li^ht'on .a battle new "begun : * \ 

A «» 






A N» B A L L A D S. tif 

A man smd liif wile wer hnm in k&nb, ^ 

I causa weei tdl ye hgw it began; 
Bat aye ihe waiPd her wretched life, 

Ct.J'bb^ Evk alak^ mine anld.gdodfflan ! , 

He. 
Thy auld goodmnn, that thoa tdlt o^ 

The dniiitty kens where he was born, *io 

Was bat a filly piK>r vagabond* 

And ilka^iUff lengh him to fcaom: . 
For he did fpend and make an e|id 

0£gear * his^^ fathers nevir' wan; 
He gart the poor ftand fne the door ; 15 

S» tell nae mair of thy auld goodman. 

.'" She. . . 

My hearty akkel is liken to break* 

Whan I iMnk on my winfbme j0hn». 
His blinkaa ee, and gmt fiie bittp 

Was naidiing Uke.thee». dion dofilnddirone; 20 
Wi' his rofie face, and S»xa^ hatr; 

And a fkin as white as ony iwai^ 
He was lai^ahd tali, an4 cOiliely withall; 

Thott'ltnevir be like mine auld goodman* 

He. 
Why dofl thoa plein ? I thee maintein ; 25 

For meal and mawt thoa difna want; 
Bat tiff wild bees I canna pleaie. 
Now whan our gear gins to grow fcant: 

I 3 Of 



Ti8 AKCieiJ^T SONGS 

Of hgttflioid ftaff thou haft enoogh ; 

Thou wants for neither pot nor pani 3d 

Of iicklilgB wate he left thee. bare; 

: Sae tell nae.mair of thy auld gOodina]|« 

Shi. - 
Yes I xai»f tell; and fret my iell. 

To think on thofe blyth days I had. 
Whan I and he, together ley 3S 

In armesaato a weli^-mado bed : ^ 

Bat now I fig|t and may be fad» 

Thy eourage is caald, thy colour watt» 
Thou falds thy feet and la's aH^ep; 

Thou'lt ncvir be like mine aold goodman. 40 

Then coming was the nigh^ iae dark> 

And gane wao a' the light of day ? 
The cai^le w.as fear*d to mifs his mark. 

And therefore wad nae longer ftay : 
Then up he gat, and ran his way, 4S 

I trowe, the wife the day ihe wan ; 
Aod aye the owreword of the fray 

WaS| Evir alake ! mine auld goodjlian* 



IV. FAIR 



• ♦ 



AND BALLADS. »i$ 



IV. 



FAIR MARGARET AND SWEET WILLIAM. 

Tbisfiems to be the oU/onf quoted in Fletcher* s ** Knight 
«< of the burning pejik.** Jits 2d and ^d; altho* the fix 
lines there pre/er*ved are fomeivhat different from tbofe in the 
balladf at itftands. at prejent. The Reader will not tmnder 
4tt this, when he is informed that this is only given from a 
moJem printed copy picked up on a flail. It^s full title is 
** Fair Margarets Misfortunes; or- Stjveet William*s 
*^ frightful dreams on his tvedding night f ^with the fudden. 
" deetth and burial of thofe noble lover s^^-^ 
The lines preferred in the play are this diftich^ 
** Tou are no love for me^ Margaret ^ 
** lam nolovefor you.* 
And the following fianzap 

** When it nvas gro*wn to dark midnight, 

^^' And all were fafl afUepy 
** /». came Margarets grimly ghofl 
** And flood at Williams feet:* 
Thefe lines have acquired an importance by giving birth 
to one of the mofi beautiful ballads in our o*wn or any lan- 
guage. See thefong intituled Marg aretes Ghost» at the 
tnd of this volume. 

In this fecond edition fome improvements are inferted, 
which were communicated by a lady ofthefirfi difUnQkn^ as 
foe bad biard this fong repeated in her in/an^. 

I 4 AS 



r 
I 



fad AN CIEN T -S O K G S 

AS it fell oat on a long fiunmcr's day 
Two lovers they fat on a hill; 
They fat together that long fummer^s day. 
And could not talk their fill. 

I fee no harm by yoa, Margaret, e 

And you fee none by mee ; 
Befojie to-morrow at erght o'clock 

A rich wedding yon ihall iee. 

Fair Margaret fate in her bower- wind5w» 

Combing her yellow hair ; . i p 

There (he Cpjed fweet William and his bride. 
As they were a riding near. 

Then down fhe layd her ivory combe, 

A fad braided her hair in twain : 
She went alive out of her bower, 15 

But ne'er came alive in*t again. 

When day was gone, and night was come,. 

And all men faft aileep. 
There came tht fpirit of fair Marg*rct, 

And flood at Williams feet. t$ 

Are you awake, fweet William ? ftec faid> 

» 

Or, fweet William, are you aileep? 
God give you joy of your gay bride-bed, 
And me of my winding-fheet. 

,13 Whw 



When day wtfi come,- and night ww gone,-** 25. 

And all men wak*d'from fleep, ^ ' 

Sweet Williadi to h» hidj %d, "^ 

My dear, I have eaufe-td weep. ' 

» 
I dreamt a dreamr, my dear Fadyi, 

Such dreames are never good : 30 

I dreamt iby bower was Ml of red fwine^ - 

And my bride-bed full <^ blood. 

Snch dreams iifeh dr^ms, my honoured Sir^- 

They never do prove good ; 
To dfeam thy bower was fall of < red ' fwine, 35 

And thy bride-bed full of blood. 

He called ftp h«^ merrjr men all. 

By one, by two, imd by three ; 
Saying, V\\ away to fair Marg'rets bower. 

By the leave of my ladye. 40 

Aiid when he caftie to hir MargVet's bower. 

He knocked at the ring ; 
And who to ready zt her ievea brethren 

To let fwcet William in. 

Then he turned up the covering-fheet, 4:5 

Pr^y let me fee the dead : 
Methinks ihe does look pale and wan, 

She has loft her cherry red. 

I'll 



12^ ANCIENT SON^^S 

1 /4o more for thee, Margaret, 

'ir^an any of thy kin; jo 

For I will kifs thy pale wan Itpi , 

Though a imile I cannot win. 

With that betake the feren brethren. 

Making moft piteoos mone : 
You may go kifs yonr joUy. bcown brufe, 5 j 

And let our fifter alone. 

If I do kifs my jolly brown bride, . 

I do bat what is right ; 
I neer made a vow to yonder poor corpie 

By day, nor yet by night. . 60 

Deal on, deal on, my merry men all. 
Deal on your cake and your wine ; 

For whatever is dealt at her funeral to-day. 
Shall be dealt to-morrow at mine. 

Fair Margaret dyed to-day, to-day, (5 

Sweet William dyed the morrow : 
Fair Margaret dyed for pure true k)ve. 

Sweet William dyed for forrow. 

Margaret was buryed in the lower chancel. 
And William in the higher : 70 

Out of her brcft there fprang a rofe. 
And out of his a briar. 

They, 



J 



A N D B A L L A D S. 123 

They grew till , they grew onto the charch-top, 
^d then they could gfow bo higher ; 

And there they tyed in a trae lovers knot^ . 75 
Which made all the people admire. 

Then came the clerk of the parift. 

As you this troth fliall hear. 
And by misfortttne cut them down. 

Or they had now been there. 80 



V. 



BARBARA ALLEN^s CRUELTY. 

Gi*viny luifh/ome com^tom, from an old printid cofy ht 
the ediUi^s poJfeJfUn^ intithd, " Barbara Allen* s truel^^ 
" cr thejetmgman^ftragidjfj* 

IN Scarlfst towne, where I was borne* 
There was a faire maid dwellin. 
Made every xouth crye, wel-awaye ! 
Her name was Barbara Allen. 

All in the merry e month of may, 5 

When greene buds they were fwellin, . 

Yong Jemmye Grove on his death-bed lay. 
For love of Barbara Allen. 

He 



. 



•♦ 



J24 ANCIENT SONGS 

He fent bi^msui onto ker dieii. 

To the tdwo, wliere Bsat was dweUih ^ te^ 
Y09; mvdk come to my matter deare, 

Giff your name be Barbara Allen. 

For dea&^k printed on his hccp 

And ore his hart is Aealia : 
Then hafie away to* comfort him, 15 

O lovelye Barbara Allca. 

Though death be printed on his face. 

And ore his harte is ftealin. 
Yet little better fhall he bee. 

For bonny Barbara Allen* 20 

. So flowly, (lowly, fhe^aalo'upv . 
And flowly ihe came nye him ; 
And all ihe fayd, when there fhe came, 
Yong man, I thitfk y'are.dyii>g« 

|Ie turtfd his face unto her ftrait,] 25 

With^deadlyeibrrow^ghing; 

lovely maid, comepicy mee^ 
Ime on my death-bed lying. 

.; If on your death^bed you doe lye,' 

What needs the p^ you are tellin : 5* 

1 cannot keep you from your death ; 

Farewell, fayd Barbara AU<n> 

He 



A»'© BAXXAOS." ia$ 

He turnd imfaeeionto the ivall. 

As deadlye ^josigs he iell in : 
AdieU.! adieui adien to^da aU, . 35 

Adiea to Barbara Allen. 

^As ihe was walking ow the Mds^ . 

She heard the* bell. a knellin ; 
And every, ftrok^ didfeem tofaye. 

Unworthy Barbaira Allen. • 40 

She tilmd her bodye roond about. 

And rpied the corps a coming : 
Laye downe, laye down the corps^ (he fayd» 

That I may look upon him. 

With feomfal eye fhe looked downe» 45 

Her chcieke with laughter f>N[elliH ; 
Whilft ail her friends cryd out amaine, 

Unworthye Barbara Allen. 

When he was dead, and laid in grave, . 

Her harte was ftrnck with (brrowe, 50 

O mother, mother, make my bed. 

For I ihall dye to morrowe. 

Hard hartedcreatare him to flight. 

Who loved me fo dearlyc : 

O that I had beene more kind to him, 55 

When he was live an() neare me ! 

She 



I 

4 



ffa6 ANC IE NT SONGS 

She, on her death-bed at (he laje, 

Beg'd to be buried by him : 
And fore repoited of the dayei. 

That (he did ere denye him. 60 

Farewell, ike fiiyd, ye Tirgins ail^ 

And fhun the fiink I fell in : 
Henceforth take warning by the fall 

Of crael Barbara Allei*. 



VI. 

SWEET WILLIAM'S GHOST. 

A Scottish Ballad. 

Fr^m Allan Ramfqfs Tea Table mi/cellanjf* The concludiifg 
JlanTSXL of this piece feems modern, 

THERE came a ghoft to Margaret's door. 
With many a grievous gronc» 
And ay he tirled at the pin ; 
But anfwer made ihe none. 

1$ this my father Philip .? ^ 5 

Or is*t my brother John I 
Or is't my true love Willie, 

From Scotland new come home \ 




AND BALLADS. 127 

Tis not thy father Philip t 

Nor yet thy brother John : 10 

Bat tis thy tme love Willie 

From Scotland new comr home. 

O fweet Margret ! O dear Margret ! 

I pray thee fpeak to mee : 
Give me my faith and troth, Margret, 1 5 

As I gave it to thee. 

Thy feith and troth thou'ie nevir get, 

< Of me ihalt nevir win/ 
Till that thou come within my bower. 

And kifs my cheek aAd chin. 20 

If I (hoald come within thy bower, 

I am no earthly man ; 
And (hould I kifs thy rofy lipp. 

Thy days will not be lang, 

O fweet Margret, O dear Margret, 25 

I pray thee fpeak to mee : 
Give me my faith slnd troth, Margret, 

As I gave it to thee. 

Thy faith and troth thou'fe nevir get, 

« Of me Ihalt nevir win,* 30^ 

Till thou take me to yon kirk yard. 

And wed me with a ring. 

My 



f3S A N JC I E: N T S O NO S 

My bones are bnric4 in a kirk fzx/i 
^ I Afar beyond the fe^. 

And it is but my fpixt^ JVf a^rg^t^- 55 

That's i^eaking jaqw.to die^ 

• 

She flretchcd Oftt-her liUy-wJhite hand» 

As for to do her beft : • 
Hae thece your faith and troth, Willie, 

God fend your foul j;ood xt&, 40 

Now fhe Jias .jolted Jher rpbes^ o^^f F^>. 

A piece below her knee : . 
And a' the ^ire4ang winter night 
The dead corps followed 4hee. 

Is therej^ny rpQpa^t yourheadj Willie? 4J 

Or any room at ypur feet ? 
Or any roooi ^t yo.ur ftje, Willie, 

Wherein that I may creep ? 

There's n^e room at my bead, Margret, 

There's nae room atjny feet, 50 

There'^.jio .room^t my fide, Margiet, 
My cofiin is made fo ipeet. 

Then pp and crew the red red cock. 

And up then crew the gi'ay : 
Til time, ^is^ime, «iy ^ear M^argret, 55 

That you werp gai^e away. 

* No 



AND- BALLADS. 

No more the ghoft to Margtet £dd, 

But, with a grieroa* gione, 
Evanilh'd io a clond of mift, 

And left her all alone. 

O ftay, my only trae love, ft«y. 

The conflant Margret cried ; 
Wan grew her cheeks, flic clot'd her een, 

Strctch'd her fafc limbs, and died. 



vn. 

sm JOHN GREHME AND BARBARA ALLAN. 
A Scottish Ballad. 

frinttd, •with a fnu tat^tSural tmtnJatUnt, from « 
•writttn ff^, 

IT was in and abont the Martinmas time. 
When the gteene leaves wer a fallan ; 
That Sir John Grehme o' the weft conDtzye, 
Fell in lave wi' Barbara Allan, 

He fent hb man down throw the towne. 
To the plaice wher Ihe was dwelUn : 

O hafte and cam to my nudAer deare. 
Gin ye bin Barbara Allan. 

Vol. IB K O 



jjo A>JCl£N T SONGS 

O hooly, hooly, mft Ihe op. 

To the plaice wher ke was lyta ; |# 

And whan (he drew the cttftain by. 

Young man> I think- ye'ie d]raB*# 



\ •« 



O its Fm ficky and very veiy fick^ 

And its a' for Barbara Allan : 
O the better for me yeYe never be^ 15 

Though your harts binde wer fpHh 



to 
-very 



Remember ye nat in the tavern, fir. 

Whan ye the cups wer fiUan s 
How ye maide the healths gae round and round, 

And flighted Barbara Allan ? 20 

He turnM his face unto the wa' 

And death was with him dealan ; 
Adiew ! adiew ! my dear friends *a% 

Be kind to Barbara Allan. 

Then hooly, hooly, raife ihe np, tS 

And hooly, hooly left him ; 
And ii^han faid, Ibe could not Aay, 

$iace death of Hfe had reft hint* 

'She had not gane a mile but twa. 

Whan ihe heard the dcid-bell knellan ; |« 

And emerye jow die deid-bell geid. 

Cried, wae to Barbara Allan i 

* An iageniovs fn end thitikf tlic rhymes S^Md aildI>Woasbt 
be Uranfppfe<Ji as the ttuftt Tcung imn, Itbinkyirt tf*nd^ nwld ht 
rycftani6«n(&Ml. 



I 



6 mitiicr, nlUher, lA^kmy h^ . Kx. ; I 

O male it fafit ind namw ? ; [ ; 

8mce my luve ihd 6x tab to dsgr^ ' • l* 3^5 

Ife die for him tQ iBUmofW^ \ • ' 



r •► 






.1 V ^ 



.,^ 



1 



» ♦, 



• Viji. . ■■•■• • ••' 

... ' ^ 

VHfi BAltlFF's DAUGHTER OF ISJiWOf 01^. 

vntb/ome inkproviments cojnmunicated by a l^dy as /he bad 
btard tbe/ame recited in her youth . Thefuutitie is ** True 
*' love requited : Or^ the BaiUjfs doM^tr tftjkngtm^* 

Islington iti Norfolk is froiably the place here meditfd 

Tttere w«6 a yoadKe^ and a-^it^N^ed yovtikei 
And He was a fi|oireB ibii : 
He loved the baylifes daugiitcrdeaiey 
That lived in Ifliagton. 

< Vet ihe was coye and woald m^beti^ire' jf 

That he did love her fy^^ . 

Koe nor at any tiiiie woald ffie' 
Any countenamiDe to him ihowe. 

K :» Sutf 



fjt ANCIENT SONGS 

Bat when his frieiidcs did ailderftaiid 

His fond and fboSfli minde^ Id 

' They fent him <iip to faire Londbft 
An apprentice for to binde. - ' 

** ** 
And when he had been feven long yeares. 

And never his love conid fee : 

Many a teare have I (hed for her fake. i $ 

When flie little thought of mee. 

Then all the maids of Iflington 
. Went forth to fport and playe. 
All bi^t the baylifies daughter deare ; 
She ftcrttly ftole awaye. zm 

She pulled off her gowne of greene. 

And put on ragged attire. 
And to faire London ihe would go . 

Her true love to enquire. 

And as ihe went along the high-road, s^ 

t The weather being hot and dryt» 
She fat her downe upon a green bank. 
And her true love came riding bye* 

r 

She ftarted up, with a colour foe redd. 

Catching hold of his bridle-reine ; 3# 

One penny, one penny, kind fir, ihe fcyd. 

Will eafe me of much paine^ 

. } Before 

T 

•*, f 



N' 



Before I give you one penny, fweet-heart> 
Pnye tell me where yon were borne. 

At lilington, kind fir, fayd ihee, 3 j 

Where I have had many a fcome. 

I prythee, fweet-heart, then tell to mee^ 
O tell ti^ wheUid you kiowe^ I : V 

The bayliffes daughter of Iflington. 
She IB dead, fir, long agoe. 40 



V 



.J .,) 






\ » 



\ 



If ihe be dead, then take my horfe>. 

My faddle and my bowe ; 
For I will into fome hxt coontrye. 

Where noe man ihaU,^e knowe. 

* ' • ' ,' ' r ■• r — 

\ •* -' •• ..J. .,»/.». 1 1 > 1 

Oftaye, O^ftayre, thongoodlyeyQfilhei, ./ x. : 45 

She fiande^ by thy fide ; 
She is hfreailTiBtf 9m» is not dead. 

And readye to b9 thy bride. 



V 



O farewell griefti and wd^ome; joye,' ,, 
Ten thoafand times therefi^Mfeift ^^ [ 50 

For nowe. I hiar^ .fomnie mi^ igj^n^^^coe Ip^ / 
Whom I thought I ihould never fee more^ 






Kj. DC THE 



^ 



t^ A l^cM^ K^: s^O H O 9 



.. 't t " ' 'r , 






*4l <»* !*^« »L.i. ••.«•» '_*•» " * ' 

. TIfB..«.lLX(Olif^T)t£!B< ; 

FromtbgJmJt hlackrUtter cMOu^, hoitUf ''Th 






TT O W now, fhepherde, what meanes that } 



why'tkirtcMlI«»^ii|%*>u>t^' ' . 

Why thy fbtflFcf of t«Jl ai^)r4fcwe' '' 
Tnni'd ^ bian^if^bf t#Mie i^jttttft ^^^ 

.- 'CJin^»W ' '• . •-. ' 

They are chanp;*d, and fb am I ; | 

Sorrowes Vc^k'i\.^mF^^ktaiim dli^'- ^: 

'^^ fhillishathfbrfltt^tt^, - J ^-^i - 

Wfi^ n^^^'W #ea»(^^^AlB•f^'Jluw»^ ' - 

WiLLTf 

f hilHs ! fliee that lov'd the^ long f 
Js 0iee the. lafs hath done diee wrong ? |9 

ghee that lov'd thee long and beft, 
3 Kfilfefl^ Jpyc turned to a j^ f 



.*r 



• A N t> B'Att'ADS/ 1^5' 

Cuddy. 
Sliee that long trae love profeft. 
She hath robb'd my heart of reft : 
For fhe a new love loves, iiot mee ;^ i^ 

Which makes me wear the wiIlow*-tree. 

t 

, WlLLT. 

Come then, ihepherde, let us joinst 

Since I&7 happ is like to mine : 

For the maid I thought tn6ft true 

Mee liath alfo bid adieu. ao 

Ct/DDT* 

Thy hard happ d6th miiie appeaft, 
Companye doth forrowe eafe ; 
Yet, PhUlis, ftill I pine for thee, 
And ftill moft weare the wiUow&4rte. 

Shepherde, be advisM by mee, %^ 

Call off grief and willowe*tree : 
For thy grief brings her content^ 
She is pleas'd if thou lament. 

Cuddy. 
Herdfman^ I'll be rul'd by thee, 
There lyes grief and willowe-uee ; JO 

Henceforth I will do as they. 

And love a new love every day. 

# • 

K4 X. THE 



136 A N C I E N T S O N G S 



X. 

« " ■ 

THE LADY'S FALL, 

^-$s given from the editor* s ancient folio MS, eoUatei 
with two primed copies in black letter ; one in the Britifo 
Mufeumy the other in the Pepyt toUeSHon, Its oU title iSf 
** A lamentable ballad of the Lady's fall. To the tune cf^ 

" In Pefcod Time, ^c." The ballad here referred to is 

freferfved in the MvBES Li^fiAKr Svo. p. zSl, It is 
an allegory or 'vifimt, intitled ** Thb Shepherds Slum- 
^* ber/' and opens witkfoms pretty rural ime^s, *msh ' 

I 

'' In pefcod time nohen hound to horn 

** Giws eare till hud be kiPd, . 
** Andlittl0 lads vjtth pipes of cor me 

** Sate keeping heafts et-feld, 

** I tvent to gather ftranoherries 

*^J^ *woods and groves full fair,** b}c* 

MARKE well my heavy dolefall tale, 
Yoa loyall lovers all. 
And heedfuUy beue in yoor brefi, 

A^^allant ladyes fall. 
Long was (he woo'd, ere fhe was wonne, 5 

To lead a wedded life. 
But folly wrought her overthrowe 

Before Ihee was a wife. ' 

Tot 



^ J 



^ 



AND BALLADS. 137 

Too fooney alas ! fliee gave confent 

And yeelded to his will, lO 

Though he protefted to be tnie. 

And faithfiill to her ftili. 
Shee felt'hef body altered qnlte, 
. Her bright hue waxed pale. 
Her lovelye the^ks changed color white, 15 

Her ftrength began to fayle. 

Soe that with many a forrowful figh. 

This beauteous ladye milde. 
With greeved hart, percciv'd herfelfe 

To have conceived with childe. 20 

Shee kept it from her parents fight 

As clofe as clofe in^ht bee. 
And foe put on )ier iilken gowne 

None might her fweUisg fee. 

Unto her Ipvcr ftcretly - 25 

Her greefe (hee did bewray, 
And walking with him hand in hand, 

Thefe words to him did fay ; 
Behold, quoth ihee, a maids diilrefle 

By love brought to thy bowe, 3^ 

Behold I goe with childe by thee. 

But none thereof doth knowe. 



The 



ijS A NCI E.N T SONGS 

The little babe ^ringt in my WMibd 

To heare its fathers Toyoe, 
Lett it not be a byftaei cdlM, 5$ 

Sith I made thee my dkqyCe i 
Come, come, my lore, perffarm thy ytmt 

And wed me out of handf 
O leave me not in this extfdmey 

Ingriefe alwaycatoftand* 4* 



Thinke on ithy former 

Thy oathes and vowesedM one$ 
Remember with what bitter tearst 

To mee thoa madoft thy moaat^ 
Csnvay me to fomt iccrett plaee» 4; 

And marry me with fpeede 1 
Or widi thy rapyer end my lilt» 

Ere farther (hamepiioceide« 

Alacke! my deareft love, qaoth het» 

My greatelk joye oa earthe, JO 

Which waye can I coMvay thee huM, 

Without a fadden death f 
Thy friends are all of hye degree^ 

And I of meane eftate ; 
Fall hard it is to gett thee fbrthe fS 

Oat of thy fathers gate. 

Dread 



I'J 



AND BALLADS. 139 

Pread not thy U& to f^tve xny fame. 

For if tkou taken bee. 
My feife will ftep betweeae the fwor4«9 

And take the harme on mee : 60 

iSoe ihall I fcape diflionor qtiiCcj 

And if I ihoold be ilaine 
What conld tkey %, bat that true Jovt 

Had wrought ^ Itdyei bane. 

And feare not any f«nher Imm^ $ €{ 

• My felfe will foe dcfift, 
That I will ryde awiy with th«f 

XJnknowne of mortal eyet : 
Pifgttifed like ibme pretty page, 

He meete diee in the darke, J9 

And all alone He twne to thee. 

Hard by my fathers pafkc. 

And there, qnoA hee, Be me6t» my deaif 

If God foe len4 me life. 
On this day month without all iUle 7S 

* ' I will make thccxny wife. 
Then with a fwcet and loving Itiife, 

They parted prcfentlye, 
^ Ai^d *tt their partingc brinifh teareji 

g^opde in cche othejrr eye. fo 

All 



•-n. 






I4Q ANCIENT S O N G.S 






Att length thp wilhed day was come^ . 

Oa which this beaotepQs maydp 
With long^g eyes J aB4 ftrange attire* 

For her true lover ftayd :^ 
When anj perfoxi ihce efpycd. ^ S5 

Come ryding ore the plaioe* 
She hop'd itf was her owne tmt love ; 

But all her hopes were v|^« 

, Then did ihee weepe mi toitp bewayle 

Her moil unhappy f^te'^ .. 9e 

Then did fhee fpeake theie woefwll words. 

As faccourlefs fliee fate : 
O falfe, fbrfworne. and faitUefle>maii«' 

DiiIoyailinth}rl<>ve« ^ 

Hail thou forgott thy promiic paft, 9J 

And wilt thou pejjar'd prove,^^ 

And haft tliou now foHaiien met 

In this my great diflrefie* 
To end my d^yts in open ih.axne» 

Which thou mightft well rcdreffc ? lot 

Woe worth the time I eer belicv'd 

That flattering tongue of thine ; 
Would God that I had never feen^ 

The teares of thy faUe eyn^. . 



Asi^ 



^ 



A N D B A L L A D S. 14.1 

And thus with many a forrowful iigh, 105 

Homewards ihe went againe ; 
Noe reft came in her waterye eyes, 

Shee felt fach privye paine. 
In travail ftrong fhes fell that night. 

With many a bitter thi^we ; i jf 

What woefuU panga (hee then did feel. 

Doth eche good yoman knowe. 

Shee cs^Ued up her waiting mayd. 

That lay at her bedds feete. 
Who mufing at her miftrefs woe« x 15 

Began full faft to weepe. , 

Weepe npt» faid (hee» but fhutt the dores^ 

And windowes round about» 
Let none bewray my wretched ftate, ' 

But keepe all perlbns out. 120 

O miftrefs, call your mother deare. 

Of women you have neede. 
And of fome ikilfull midwifes helpe. 

That better you may {peed. 
Call ngt my mother for thy life, 125 

Nor fetch no women here, 
The midwifes helpe comes all too late. 

My death I doe not feare. 

With 



142 akciektsomgs 



With that the babe fprang from her wombe 

No creature being nye, 13^ 

And with one fighe, which brake her health 

This gallant dame did dye. 
The lovely little infant y^nge^ 

The mother being dead» 
ftefigned its new received breath i }^ 

To him that had it mad^l 



I 



Next morning came her own tme lovej 

Affrighted at the newes^ 
And he for forrow flew hifflfcUe^ 

Whom eche one d|d accufe. 
The mother with her new borne babe^ 

Were both laid in one grave. 
Their parents overcome with woe^ 

No joy thenceforth cold have. 

Take heed, yon daintye damfelles alU 

Of flattering words beware. 
And of the honour of your name 

Have an efpecial care. 
Too tme, alas ! this ftory is, 

As niany one can tell. 
By others harmes learneto be wife. 

And yon fhall do full well. 



«4^ 



*4f 



i$(f 



XI. WALY 



r 



AND BALLADS. 143 



[ 



3a. 

WALY WALY, LOVE BE BONNY. 

A Scottish Song. 

7%/x // a *very omdiHtfing^ hia noe couU vniy gi^e it from 
wudem copies. Some editions inftead of the four lajt lines 
in the fecond fiatixa heeve tbefey lubicb hanjfe too much merit 
to he nvbottyfuppreffedy % 

•• Wban cockle Jbells turn fitUr Mls^ 

** And mufclisgrofiu m tnfery tree$ 
** Wben f r oft and fnaw fall fwarm us ofvf^ 

** Tbanfallmy love pro^e true tome** 

See tbe Orpbeus Caledomusy i^c. 

Jkthur-feat mentioned in *uer, iy,is ahillnearEdinborougbi 
at tbe bottom of *wbicb is St. Aiuboi^^s n^glL 

OWaly waly up the bank. 
And waly waly down the brae. 
And waly waly yon burn fide. 

Where I and my love wer wont to gae. 
I leant my back unto an aik, % 

Ithonght it was a trttiiy tree; 
But firfl it bow'd, and fyne it brak, 
Sae my true love did lightly rae« 

O waly» waly, gin love be bottny, 
A little time while it is new, la 

Bat when its auld, it waxeth cauldy 
And fades awa' like morning dew* 

2 O wher- 



L. 



144 ANCIENT SONGS 

O wherfore flmld I bulk my head ? 

Or wherfore (hold I kame my hair? 
For my true love has me forfook. 

And fays he'll never loe me main 



«5 



Now Arthar-feat fall be my bed. 

The iheets fall neir be fyl'd by me: 
Sunt Anton's well (all be my drink. 

Since my true love has for&ken me. 
Marti'mas wind, whan wilt thou blaw. 

And fhake the green leaves aff the tree ? 
O gentle death, whan wilt thou cum ? 

For of my life I am wearle. 



Tis not the fit)ft, that freezes fell. 

Nor blawing fnaws indemencie; 
Tis not fie cauld, that makes me cry. 

But my loves heart grown cauld to 
Whan we came in by Glafgowe town. 

We were a comely fight to fee. 
My love was ded i' th' black velvet. 

And I my fell in ciamasie. 



But had I wift, before I kifit, 
Tha; love had been fiie ill to win ; 

I had loekt my heart in a cafis of gowd. 
And pinnd it with a filler pin. 



»S 



3S 



Oh, 



iji'^ 



A N D B A L L A D S. 14$ 

Oh oh ! if my yoang babe wtre horn. 

And fet upon the niirlcs knee. 
And I my fell were dead and gaaef 

For a maid agdn Ife never bt« 40 



XiL 
THE WANTON ^IFB OF BATH. 

From an auaent copy ih tflacit-frita^ in the Pifys coUtBton* 
Afr. Addifon has pronounced this an ixeellent iaUad: ^ee 
the Speaator, N^* 248. 

JN Bath a wanton wife did dwelle» 
As Chancer he doth write; . 
Who did in pleafnre fpend her dayes, 
AndiiMUly a fond delight. 

Upon a time (ore ficke (he waSj, i ' 

And at ' the length did dye ; 
^\ And then her foul at heaven gate 
Did knocke moft mighdlye, 

Firfl Adam came unto ^e gate : 

Who knocketh there? quoth hee. 10 

I am the wife of Bath, (he fayd. 
And faine would come to thee. 
Vol. III. L Thou 



U6 ANC/IBliirT? ?QN:6§ 

And here ^p^plft^^fl^^t^lMLiM^ 
And fo art) ikWf. V %rfmA$ VOth ih^ ; i; 

Now, gip,, 39)«:d$^ilg li^i^^. 

I will come in, in fpight, flie fayd. 

Of all fuch Charles as thee; 
Thou wert the caufer of our woe. 

Oar paine and xmtoef^ ; 20 



And firft broke Gods commandihiehts, 

In,5lq;iftrc o£ 4x wifti.— r. 
WheA Adi«a hend^her udL tU^^ulfi^ 

He ranne away for life. 

Then downe cfomet Jafiib.al th«tgfttlU ^ 

And bidB. her packe- tp hdU: 
Thou falfo deceiving^knavse^ qqpt)v.flM». 

Thoa mayft be there at well. 

For thou deceiv/d^ iky fa^hfodearf. 

And thine o^tt^ IncMher t»6i. ' 3^, 

Away * flunk* Jactpb prsfenfilx^ 

And made no more adoo. 



* • yer. i6. Gip, gcp, or giiepi, ij a common int€rJefHon ^ tontenf*^ 
•ur old ^5, See Graj^f U^udihrM, ftm If c^tp, p v, so^ ««^' 

Shei 



JL .4. 



r 



a:wjt b a l»l a D!& 147 



She knockey agttiwt widi* wiglifc and^ M M ki# > / 

And Lot he clndssthev UndtK* 
How now, quoliv fte^ thMrdmnkes thi 3 5 

Who bade thee hen^thi prate I 

With tlsf twO'-dmighftirrtifDu^ did(b' I jrie^. 

On them two UilhMkft«gdt»> . ' 
And dnu'ffloft'tmmtitogiycflirohaft 

Againft poor fllyi^Iioc-^ 40 

Who calletbthere; qttdth^ Jodidrthea,' 
With fach^fllitil r^UWiiftgvn€tte&?. . 

This fine miiflt0B>lili«ly. eauritieiRir htiei: 
Qaoth fhe, foToiittiitji tlfrc^s^. 

Good Lordi how Jaditii btiifh^dr for: fli^mfe;^ 4; 

Wh*n> ih€-lM^ht]e % (be; !^ 
King David h^ftHkfg tfPtW fkmc, - 

He to thd-j^oli^ wdttld^ gb«). 

Quoth DaTidy Wbo^kMolckied' tberrl^lbad/ 
And maketh all this' ftrjffe>? 50 

You were'mol-e kindly good-Sir> ihvfayd; 
Unto Uriah's wilb« • 

Albd wlftn" tll)^ (^rvAftt -thiba dSdIt cattIS 

In battle to be {k&ut'; -' 
Thou caulMft far more* dHfetbaR I, 55 

Who would con)e here-fo^fdi^ei - 

La The 



i4» A N CI ENT SONOS 

The w^Mtttn^s mad, qnodi Sotomon, 

That thus doth taunt a king* 
Not half ib mad as yoQ, ihe fayd 

I trowe, in man ye a thing* 69 

Thou hadH fevcn hundred wives at oncei 

For whom thou didft provide ; 
And yety god wot, three hnndned whores 

Thou mnfl: maintaine befide : 

And they made thee foffake thy God» ^5 

Acd worfhip flockes an4 i!:one6$ 
Befides the charge they pot thee. Co 

In breeding of yOjurg bfMAei,. , 

Hadil thou riot bin bfefidfe thy wift. 

Thou wouldil.not tii9s hate v^ntut'd } 7^ 

And therefore I dd marv^ niilfh» • •/ • 

How thou this jlace' haft enter'4* : 

I neyfer ho^^ quotk Jon^ ihtfk, ' - ! 

So vile a fcold as this. ,: ' 
Thou whoreson run-away, quotfi ihe, 75 

Thou diddeft more amifs. 

' They &y' qtf^th Tho.snas» womens t^ngaes . 

Of aipen- leaves are made. ; .j ..I 

Thou unbelif>viDg.W«tch, quftth-fte,: i .. . 
All is not true that's (ayd. ,, . c/i / ^J^ 

Ver. 77, I think, P. ' • 



T 



AND BALLADS. 149 

When Mary Magdalen heard her then, . 

She came unto the gate. 
Qaoth ibe^ good wooiian, you mail think 

Upon your former iUte* 

No iinner enters in this place ; 65 

Quoth Mary Magdalene. Then 
^Twere ill for you, fair mi%efs mine, '\ 

She anfwered her agen : 

You for your honeftye, qnoth fhe. 

Had once been fton'd to death s 90 

Had not oar Saviour Chriil come by. 

And written on the earth. 

It was not by your occupation, > 

You are become divine : 
I hope my foul in Chrifi: his pai&on, 95 

Shall be as fafe as thine,- 

Uprofe the good apoftle Paal, 

And to this wife he cryed. 
Except thou ihake thy fins away. 

Thou here ihalt be denyed. \o» 

Remember, Paul, what thou had done. 

All through a lewd defire : 

ilow thou didft perfecute God's ^hurcb, 

With wrath as hot as fire, 

L 3 Then 



(50 ANjCfENT :SONGS 

Then ap.ftarC6Fater4M;diekft^ 105 

And to the gate he iuo^ y 
Fond fed, jc^aaikhe, knock «ioc 4b /aft» 

Thou wearied Chrift nothiviu. 

Peter, faid (he, contemt itkfrfeMe, 

For mercyc ^lay be «Boa «; 1 10 

I never did deny my Chnft, 

As thoa thy felfe haft d^aei* 

When as oar Saviour €}Mk iieard due. 

With heaveniy dBgdsMf^ 
He comes bii«o ddifinMiovi ^ 115 

r 

Who trembled at hk £gbt. 



Of him for mercye Hie 4id ^Mre, 

Quoth he, thou haft fefus'd 
My proffer'd grace, and mercy betii. 

And much my name abusM. "^ 

Sore have I finned, L«rd, ikf fayd. 

And fpent my time in va.iM j 
But bring me like a wandriog Ikaepc 

Into thy fold againe. . 

ft 

O Lord my God, I will amand '^^^ 

My former wicked vice : 

r 

The thief for one p<ior iilly w^ 

Paft into paradife, * 

My 



A lYll ft A L^LrA B S. ' 157 

My lawes and my cotkM^d^theftitSf 

Saith Chxift, were fsM^tt^ le ¥hc^ '; 1 30 

But of the ikfl(b4i Imy lirife. 

Not yet one W(ft€'ffi4 yee. 

I grant iitci ^Hofc^ O LMrd> ^0(h ^te ^ 

Moll lewdly did I live ; 
Bat yet the loni% ikbn: >dM 135 

His prodigal km foiigi^. 



So I forgive thy (ati, ite ioyH, 

Through thy repetttibg ayt ; 
Come enter then into il^y teft> 

I will not tAkt dcAye* 140 



xin. 

i) \J L c i N A. 

Qimnfrom fixfb tmcktit t*>M, Wr^ ^n 'blad^-ftifffy *in the 
Pepys colhaion 5 tkf aihr m th ^dit&'s. foHa 'M$. ^'he 
fiurtb ftanza is not found in M&i andjeems redundant, 

Tbis/ong is quoted as fvery populdr inWaJton^s Compleat 
Angler y chap, 2. It is ntort 4cnchrA thdn the fong of Ro- 
bin €^D-FsxLt»w^rf4r^4^M^^ *oJhiA> yet i/fuppojed 
to have been ^written by Ben ^onfon, 

AS at noone biilcifta Yfettbd 
In her flvfeetfe and Khaiy bower ; 
Came a (hepherd, and requeued 
In h^ lappe to deep an hoar. 

L 4 "" But 



IS* ANCIENT SONGS 

Bat ftom her looke j 

A wounde he looke 
So deepe» tliat for a farther booha 

The nymphehe prayes : 

Whereto ihe fayes, 
Foregoe me now, ^ome to me (bone. lo 

Bat in vayne fhee did conjure him 

To departe her prjcfence foe ; 
Having a thoufand tongues to alluie bim« 
And but one to bid him goe : « ' 

Where lippes invite, ij 

And eyes delight. 
And cheekes, as frefh as. rofe in jnne, 

Perfuade delay ; 

What boots to fay» 
Foregoe me now, come to me (bone f ^6 J 

He*dehiands whs^t time for pleafure. 

Can there be more fit than now : 
She fayes, night gives love that leifore. 
Which the day doth not allow. 

He fayes, the fight 25 

* Improves delight ; 
^ Which fliee denies ; nights mirkie noonc 

In Venus' playes 

Makes bold, iheiayes; 
Forcgoeinenow, come tomeefoope. 30 ' 

.i 
But 



1 



A N D B A L L A D S; isj 

Bat what promife or profeiEon 

From his hands coald porchaie fcope? 

Who woald fell the fweet poiTeffioa 
Of fache beautye for a hope ? 

Or for the fight )( 

• * 

Of lingering night 
Fprqgo^ the prpfent jqyf s of noonc ? 

Though ijie'cr foe faife' 

Her speeches were/ .. 
Foregoe xne now, come to me foone* 4a 

How, at laft, agreed thefe lovers I ' 
Shee was fayre, and he was yonng: 
The tongue may tell what th'eyc difcovcrs | 
Joycs unfeene are never fung. 

Did ihee cofifent, 4$ 

Or he relent; / ^ ' 

Accepts hee night, or grants fliee noone; 

Left he her mayd. 

Or not; Ave fayd 
j^oregoe me noW| come to me foone. . 50 



XIV. THE 



IS« AH C InEiN T S ON OS 



xw. 



THE LAlliYlSABELLA^STrilAGlaDY. 



Viif ballad is gi<venfrom an old black'Utter copy in F^ 
Pepys coHeSiotty collated *witb another in the Britifi 
Mu/eum^ H, 26^.fi}io. h is ihre intffkdj ** The Ladf 
<' I/abelUs Tri^sdy^ w da Sitf-HMitr^t CrmeU^ : being 
** a relation of a lamenuMeand cruel murtbtr^ 4pmmitted 
** on the body of the lady I/abellay 'the only daughter of a 
" noble duke^ \ic. to tie tune of the Ladfs Fall:' 
9^ Jome copies are anmrnd ti^ ^vre modern Jfanzas, 
intitled, «' The Dutchefs's and Cook's Lamentation^* 



T^HE RE was a Ibrd oF worthy Fame, 
And a hunting he would ride. 
Attended by a noble traine 
Of gentrye by his fide. 

And while he did in chafe remaine, 5 

To fee both fport and playe ; 
His ladye went, as fhe did feigne. 

Unto the church to praye. 



This 






AMD S ALL AD S. ijy 

Thk lord he had ^^angfacer-deaict, 

Whofe beauty (ho«e l# bijg^> lo 

She was belov'd, bvA. hrmadrntstre^ 

Of many a lord and knight. 

Fdr Ifabella w» iflie adi*4, 

A creature faire was ilide 4 
She was her fiaiuRre oalf we;$ ir 

As you (hall after i«e. 

Therefore hercivieit ic|>^ni«>ther 

Did envye her fo jscttch; 
That daye by da/e ihe ibught her life. 

Her malice it was iuth, , zm 

She bargained with the mafier-co^ky 

To take her life awayc : 
And taking of her dsM^jk^s bftok* 

She thus to her 4id &y^. 



Go heme, fwttt daughter^ [ thee praye^ 25 

Go haften prefentlie ; 
And tell unto the mailer-cook 

Thefe wordes that I tell thee* 

And bid him ^rele to dinner ftreight 

That faire and milk-white doe, 30 

That in the parke doth ihiae (b bright,^ 

There's none fo faire to Aowe. 

This 



JS6 ANCIENT SONGS 

This ladyc fearing of no hame. 

Obeyed her mothers will j 
And prefentlye fhe hM&cd home, jf 

Her pleafare to fulfill. 

She ftreight into the kitchen went. 

Her meflage for to tell; 
And there fhe ipied the mafler-cook. 

Who did with malice fwell. ^ 

Nowe, mafter-cook, it mail be foe. 

Do that which I thee tell : 
You iieedes muft dreiTe the milk-white doe, 

Which you do knowc fall well. 

Then ftreight his cruell bloodye hands, 4J 

He on the ladye layd; 
Who quivering and fliaking ftands. 

While thus to her he fayd: 

Thou art the doe, that I muft dreffe 5 

See here, behold my knife j jo 

For it U pointed prefently 
To ridd thee of thy life, 

O then, crie4 out the fcullion-boye. 

As loud as loud might bee : 
O fave her life, good maller-cook, J5 

And make your ^es of mee I 



For 



1 



AND BALLADS. tsj 

Far pityes fake i0 not defirojre 

My ladye with yonr knife ; 
Yoa know ihee is. her father's j^<^ 

For Chriftes fake fave her life. 60 

I will not fave her life, he fayd^ 

Nor make my pyes of thee t 
Yet if thou doft this deed bewraiye^ 

Thy butcher I will bee* 

Now when this lord he did. come hom« . (^5 

For to iit downe ^d eat ; 
He called for his daughter deare. 

To come and carve his meat. . 

Now fit you downe» his ladye fayd, 

O fit you downe to meat : 7» 

Into fome nunnery ihe is gone ; 

Your daughter deare forget. 

Then folemnlye he made a vowe. 

Before the companie : 
That ht would neither eat nor drinke, 75 

Until he did her fee. 

O then befpake the fcullion-boye. 

With a loud voice fohye: 
If now yctt will your daughter fee. 

My lord, cut up that pye : 80 

Wherein 



1 



i5« AKCiENiT sa.i*as. 

Wheifcin her flefli* m mikc»d^ hmlk 

And parched wkb tiie> fim' i 
All caafed by^ker fli9p4iiotli«ir,> 

Who did her. dtadfr d«fin. 

And curied bee fther Aifi6ik««dt»i 85 

O curfed may k0^bce'^ 
I proffered hkiK mf o^wr- htaab blood; 

From death to fet herfreet 

Then all-in Maoke tlli«'l^i>dltdid mpiiaiite ; 

And for his daagl&tere ftjle^ 99 

He judged her«erti^*flep>aioth8f< 

To be burnt at- ar flakow 

Likewife he j udg^dr tiiii* i»vftei»a»ik: 

In boiling lead to-ftand'; 
And made the iitnple.foullMm^tofet 95 

The heire of aU hi^land; 



XV. A 



A, Ni I> |( A L L A I> Sv 459 



XV. 



A HUEANDCftY AIT IB CUPID' 



TbisPoemi ivhich is in imitation ofthtfirfi I dy Ilium of 
Mofchusy is BXtra&ed from BBn-fonJWs^Mafque at the 
marriage of lord 'vifiountHudingtom^ ofo- Si^omerfue/day 
1608. One^anzafvitiif:diQii nfjffkdfgf ^t^^hofVii.emiifedy 
as fwe found it dropt in a copy ofthisfong printed in a /mall 
volume called ** Le Prince d^amo^r:. Lond. 1660 J* 8vo. 



CalUd Lo^,.. a lifdp bpK,, 

Aimoft naked,,M6aft|Pn,..b^ip49 5i 

Cruel now ; a<i4^tl)^{Lfas,ki|ixle ? 

If he be amongft yee, fay • 5 

He is Venos* run-awajf. 

Shee, tliat will but now difppver. 

Where the wi|iged wag> 49t]^ hoycr,. 

Shall to-night recjeivc a kiffe. 

How and where, herfedfc; would wiih : i# 

But who brings him to his mother 

Shall hm^. th^ kfiiTe* and another. 



t* 



Markes he hath about hip ple;ntie ; 

You may know him among,- tw^ntip : 

3 All 



.» 



i66 ANCIENT SONGS 

All his body is a fire, i^ 

And his breath a flame entire : 
Which, being fhot like lightning in. 
Wounds the he^rt, bat not the fldn. 

"■ Wings he hath, which thbugh'yee cli]^. 
He will leape from lip to lip^ 20 

Over liver, lights, and heart ; 
Yet not ftay in any part. 
And, if chance his arro^ miites* 
He will ihoot himfelf^ in idfTes. 

' t 

He doth beare a golden bow, 25 

And a quiver hanging low, 

Pttll of arrowes, which outbrave 

Dian's ihafts ; where, if he have 

Any head more iharpe thati other. 

With that &I& he ftrikes his mother. 30 

I 

Still the faireft are his fuell. 

When his daies are to be cruell ; 

Lovers hearts are all his food. 

And his baths their warmeft blond : 

Nought but wounds his hand doth feafon, 3; 

And he hates none like to Reafon. 

Truft him not : his words, though fweet, 

Seldome with his heart doe meet : 

All his practice is deceit ; 

Everie gift is but a bait : - 4Q 

Not 



AND B A L t A P S, 

Not a kiffisimt poyibo jbeares .; 
•And moil treaibn in his tearet. 

Idl^MRinates are his raigne ; ' \ - 
Then the haggler makes his gaih^» 
By prefenting maids with toyes ^ ; ,- 
And. would have yee thinke hem jofH : 
'Tis the ambition of the elfe,: . 

« 

To have alKchilAlhy as himftlfe.. . . 



i6| 



4$ 



If by thefe yee pleafe to know him» . 
Beauties^ be not nice, but Ihow Jiim. 
Though.yee had a. will to hide him* < 
Now, we hope, yee^le nqt abi^. hiniy 
Since yee heare thi« faiftf's play, 
Apd that he is Venus' fun-awHy, ' . 



5^ 



XVI. 



) ;. 



THE KING OF FRANCES DAUGHTER. 

•- • * - s 

m ' 

libift^ry of this Ballad feems to he taken jrom an incident 
in the donuftic hiftory of ChanrUs the, MM^ king of France. 
His daughter Judith was b^troihedt^ -^thekwulph king of 
Snghmd: hut before the marriage luas conjummated, Ethel" 
mtmlph diedf and fie returned to Ffanci : 'vihence Jhe luas 
carried off hy Baldwyn, Forrefter of Flanders ; ivho after 
nuosy croffes and difficulties ^ ai Imgth^oh^^ned the binges 
eoiffint to their marriage, and, *wa$ jnude S art of Flanders » 
This happened about A. D. 863.— ^/'i{4^//r» Sinault, 
wdthi French Hiftoriam* ^ ' ' *-'*• 

Vol. III. M The 



f^i ANt IBKT S K ftS 

n$feUowwg ctpis i^v0f frm 9ii iii99t^0 Sittkmfilii 
MS. collate<i wit} .^MHlm ^ ^^^ ^«r im *k ftfji 
ColUaion^ imtitlejy *> Jn. fxalUnt Ballad of a frtMUcf 
** England's (ourtjbip t9^ i^ 1^ sffrancfi dtmgktr^ \Si> 
" To tbt tune efQrimfon Vthii:* 

Maty bi^^a^bei haijinp been made in this did fikg iy tk 
hutd of time^ frincifiSfy (as might h ^xfiOU) in tk 
quick returns eftbi riimei w^ ifa^/^aitpfftfdtn refi^ then* 

INthedayaof«ia. 
When fwe Pnnce did Boariflu 
Storytt plaine have toldj^ 

Loverf fel( aiMQye. 
Theqaeeneadniiglittr barCy. j 

* Whom bMotya't qoteoe did noarifr s 
$he was Imeiy^ fidra. 

She was her fatl^ers joye. 
A prince of Englttld cne, 
Whofe deeds did merit fame. If 

But he was exilM^ and oatqdi : 
Love his foul did fire, 
Shee granted his defire. 

Their hearts in one were linked fa^. 
Which when h^r father pr^edj^ IJ 

$orelye he wai moved, 

And (ormentpd in his minde.. 
He (ought fott to pre venc them $ 
And, to dti^ontent them. 

Fortune crofs'd theft lovers kinde. ?^ 

When thei^ princes twaine 

Were thus barr'd of plcafurc^. 
Through the hinges diflaiinb 



A N D B A L L A D «. 163 

Which their joyes ^tUbodci . 
The lady foone prqpar'd 2$ 

Her jewelk imd Imr tf«ftfiu« $ 
Having no regard 

For date and royall bloode^i 
In homelye ppore «rr#y 
She went from cocurt away, jo 

To meet her joye and hearts delight | 
Who in a forreft great 
Had taken up his featp 

To wayt her coming, in the i^t 

But, lo ! what fudden daagsr jj 

To this princely ftrang^ 

Chancedy as he fate alopel 
'By outlawes he was robbed« 
And with ponyards ftabbed^ 

Uttering many a dying gfjOU^ 40 

The princefie, ami'd by I^y^b 

And by chafte defire» 
All the night did fove 

Without dread at all : 
Still nnknowne Ae j^ 4j 

In her ftrange. auaire ; 
Coming at the laft . . 

Within echoes call,-* 
You faite weodi, qnotKAe^ 
Honoured may you bee« to 

Harbouring my heaitd dflUght I 
Which encompafs he0i , 
My joye and only deare, ^ 

My trufiye fiiend, and comelye knight. 

M z Sweete» 



164 ANCIEKT SONGS 

8w^te» I como unto thee, ^ 

Sweete, I come to woo thee^ 

That thou ma^ft H0t angryr beo 
For my long delaying ; 
For thy curteoas laying 

Soone amides He make to thet* 6§ 

FafBng thus alone 

Through the filent foreft, 
Many a grievous grone 

Sounded in her eares : 
. She heard one complayne 6$ 

And lament the foreft« 
Seeming all in payne^ 

Shedding deadly teares* 
Farewell> my deare» quoth hoe, 
Whoqi I moft never iee ; ;• 

For why my life if att an end^ 
Through villainot crudtye: 
For thy fweet tikt I dye» 

To ihow I Jim a faitlvfttU fri^id^ 
Here I lye a bleeding* 75 

While my thoughts are feeding 

On the mr^ft beaatye found. 
O hard h^pp, that may bci 
Little knowes my ladye 

My heartes bloeH lyes on the ground. - M 

With thut a grona he fends 

Which did burft in fuilder 
All the ten4er ' bamds* 



j 



AND Ballads; le^ 

Of his gende heart. 
She^ who knewe^his voic^^ tj 

At his word^ did Wondex* | 
All her ^ormtrjoyei 

Did td griefe convert* 
Strait ihe ran to fee^ 
Who this man (hold bee, ijo 

That foe like her love did feeme t 
Her lovely lord ihe foond 
Lye flaine upon the groundi 

Smeared with gofe a ghaftlye ib-iaine* 
Which his lady ipyingf 9I 

Shrieking^ faintingi trying^ 

Her forrows could not uttered bbc i 
Fate^ ihe cryed, too cruell ! 
For thee-^my deareft jewell. 

Would God! that I had dyed for thee* lod 

■ , ' ' ■ 

His pale lippes, alas i . 

Twentye times ihe kiiTedf 
And his face did waih 

With her trickling teares i 
Sveiy gaping wound 10^5 

Tenderlye ihe preiTedy 
And did wipe it round 

With her golden haires* 
Speake» faire love, quoth ihee, 
Speake, faire prince, to mee, tiO 

One fweete word of comfort give 2 
Lift up thy deare eyes, 
Liilen to my cryes, 

Tliinke in what fad griefe I live* 



'1 

I 



i<6 ANCIENT. SONGS 

AU in vaine flie fned, ii; 

All m vaine flie woocd^ 

The prince'f li|b WM (k;^^ ind g^mu 
There fiood flie ftill moumii^ 
Till the fans retoamingt 

And bright day wai con^Qg tn^ tat 

1b this greatdiftieib 

Weeping, wzyhngmtn^ 
Oft fliee ciyedy. ali^ii I. 

What mitt hr«MtM tf SIM a 

To my fathers court 'hj 

I letiunc wiH. nevir z 
But in low^ <»ft . • 

\i^ ft lervant bee* 
Whilethaa flie made hev msm^^ 
WeepiAgaliatoac^- < »3t 

In this deepe- and deadlye feare : 
A fbr'fter idl in greene, 
Moft comelye to be feeae. 

Ranging die woods did find kir dMrt s: 
Moved with her foirowe^ ijj 

Maidy qnodi he, goodmosaMMv 

What hard happ has. tMOttg|bt iheo-hefe ¥ 
Harder happ did never 
Two Idnde hearts diflbver ! 

Here lyes flaine my brother deare; 14^ 



Where may t ittamne, 

Gentle for'fler, fliew ae. 



\ 



Till 



J 



A)^D S At LADS. 167 

Till I can obtaine 

A fervice in my/necdc ? 
Paines I will aigit f|ia,re : . HS 

This kinde favoar docac» . " 

It will €afe my care; 

Heaven (ball kQ thy 9«cdek 
The for'fter all amazed. 
On her bea&tye gazed» f 50 

Till his heact wa^fct oil ix% 
If, faire maid> quoth hee. 
You will goc with mce, 

Yon fliall have your hearta dfifijre. . ^ 
He brought her to his mother, I5S 

And above all other 

He fett forth this m^dens piaift* 
Long was his heart inflamed^ 
At length her love he gained* 

And fortune crown'd hi^ fatttse dayca» 160 

Thus unknowne he wedde . 

With a kings faire daughter i 
Chikben /even they had. 

Ere flie told her birth. 
Which when once he knew. ti^ 

Httmblye he beionght lier» 
He to the world might ihew 

Her rank and princelye worth. 
He cloath'd his children then, 
(Not like other men)* «?• 

In partye-g^lours ftrange 10 ft« |. 

M 4 "^^t 



1 
I 

i 

I 



i6S AN<;iENT SONGS 

The right fide cloth of gold. 

The left fide to behold, 

- Of woollen cloth itiU framed hee*. 

Men thereatt did wonder ; 175 

Golden fame did thnnder 

This ftrange deede in every plice : 
The king of France came thither. 
It being pleafant weather. 

In thefi: woods die hart to diafe. ite 

The children then they bring. 

So their mother will'd it. 
Where the royall king 

Mafi of force come bye : 
Their mothers riche array, 1S5 

Was of crimfon velvet 1 
' Their fathers all of gray » 
^ " '' Seemdye to the eye. 
Then this famous king. 
Noting every thing, 190 

• This nvill remind the reader of the ti'very and devict 
of Charles Brandon^ afri'vate gentlemmi^ nvho married thi 
^^en Dowager of France^ Jifter of Henry VIH. At a tour- 
imment <which he held at his nuedding^ the trappings of his 
horfe nuere half Cloth ofgold^ and half Friexet with the 
follonving Motto^ 

" Cloth of Gold, do not difpife, 
" Tho" thou artmatcht with Qloth of Prize ; 
** Cloth of Frize, he not too hohU 
<• '• " tho' thou art matcht with Cloth of Gold.** 

Se£ Sir IV. TempWs Mife. nfoL 3. /. 336, 

2 Att 



i 



A N D B A L L A D S. 169 

Aikt how he dttirft be fe bold 
To let his wife foe .weare> 
And decke his children there^ 

In coftly robes of pearl and gold. 
The forreiler reply ing» 1 9 5 

And the caufe defcrying*. 

To the kii^g thefe words did iay. 
Well may they, by their mother^ 
Wearc rich clothes with other. 

Being by birth a princefse gay. 20# 

The king aroufed thus» 

More heedfullye beheld thepi, 
Till a crimfon blufh 

His remembrance croft. 
The more I fix my mind 2©5 

On thy wife and children. 
The more methinks I find 

The daughter which I loft. 
Falling ^n her knee, 
I am that child, quoth (hee ; 2i« 

Pardon mee, my fovcrainc liege. 
The king percriving this. 
His daughter deare did kifs. 

While joyfuU teares did ftopp his fpcechr. 
With his traine he tourned. 215 

And with them fojourned. 

Strait he dubb'd her hufband knight; 
Then made him erle of Flanders, 

* i. €, def^ribin^» See GUfs* 



^ I 



170 ANCIENT SONOS 

And chiefe of hit €0a«ito4fr9 X 
Thas were their forrewe^ {Hit Ki fligjtkl. 220 



XVII. 
THE SWEET NEGLECT. 

This it f tie madrigal ( extraO$d frxm Mm Jwi^t Stka 
Woman^ Aa i. Sc. \. firfi s^d im x6o^.J it fm imta- 
tion of a Latin poem printed at the end ff the F^ri/Krm 
Edit, of PetroniuSf beginning *, Semper inandttias» 
ft taper BafiliiTay decoras, (#r/* S^ WMl^s Btn 
Janfm^ 'uoL z. p* 420. 

ST I L L to be neal, fiill to be <k«At 
As you were going to a feaft s 
Still to bepouMredy ftill peHiim'4; 
Lady, it is to be prefan^i 

Though art's hid c^^ufe^ 9X» not fQ«a4» f 

All is not fweet, all is not b^wi* 

Give me a looke, give me x facc^ 

That makes fimplicitie a grace ; 

Robes loofely flowing, haire as free : 

Such fweet negled more taketh mc^, it 

Than all th* adulteries of art. 

That flrike mine tyesy but not my heart. 

I XVni. THE 



i 



A H D B A t t A D & tyt 



%vat. 

THE CHILDREN IN THE WOQDt 

Tbi/ubjeS of this ntery popuLqt ktflhd ('uAick k^ bftm 
fit in Jo fanfwrable a light by the Spedatery N^ %^.) fetms 
H be taken from an old flay ^ intitled^ ** T*wo lamentabUf 
^ •* Tragedies^ Tb^ one of the murder efMatfier Beech^ a 
** cbamdler in Thames'-ftreeU^ Ufc. The other of a young;, 
** child murthered in a 'wood fy t*wo ruffrnf nmth the^on- 
** fentofhis unhle. By Rob. farrington, 1 60 1. 410," Our 
ballad-maker heuftri^ly fhltowed the play m the defcriptiom 
of the father mid mothir^s ^^ ehetrwt : in the umle^s^ 
frondfe to take care of their ijfm : his hiring tmfo rujjianp 
tff dejhrby his nvard^ und^^ pretence' of fending him tofchqolz 
their chufing a nvood to perpetrate toe murder in : one of 
the ruffians relenting^ and a battile enjuing^ kit. hi other 
refpe£ts be has departed from the play. In the latter the 
fiene is laid in Padua : there i4 but one child : 9ithi<h ip 
murdered iy a fuddenflab of the unrelenting rujfian : he ir 
fiain himfelf by his lefs bhodjt companion^ but ere be dier 
gives the other a mertal vmmd: tbe^ latter li*uing jnfi long, 
pmigh to impeach the, uncle : 'who in conjeqmnci ^tjhis im^ 
ptachment is arraigned aud executed by the hand of jufiice^ 
Vc. JVhoen;er compares the play fwith the ballad f *will have 
no doubt but the former is the origintd : the language is fat 
more objolete, andjuch et 'uein offimplieity uuno thro^ the 
vihoU performance 9 that had the ballad been ^written firft^ 
there is no doubt but every circumftance of it vuould have 
been received into the drama : vfhereas this *was probably 
hilt on fome Italian novel. 

Printed from tvio ancient copies t one of them in black let' 
ter in the Pepys ColUmon. It's title at large is, ''^ The 
** Children in the Wood: or. The Norfolk Gentleman's 
** Laft Will and Teftament : To the tune ofRogero, tsfc.'* 



17* ANCIENT SONGS 

NO W ponder well, yoir parents deaie, 
Thcfe wordes, which I (hall write f 
A doleful ftory you fliall heare. 

In time brought forth to light : 
A gentleman of good account . j 

In Norfblke dwelt of late. 
Who did in honour far furmount 
Moft men of hit eilate. 

Soreficke he was, and like to dye« 

No helpe his life could £ive ; lO 

His wife by him as ficke did lye. 

And both poiTeft one grave. 
No love between thefe two was loft« 

Each was to other kinde. 
In love they liv'd, in love they dyed, if 

^ And left two babes behinde : 

* * ^he'bnea fine and pretty boy. 

Not pafling three yeares olde ; 
"The other a girl more young than he» 

And fram'd in beautyes molde. «• 

The father left his little ibn, 

As plainly doth appeare. 
When he to perfed age ihould come. 

Three hundred poundes a yeare. 

And to his little daughter Jane. ^» 

Five hundred poundes in gold, 
To be paid downe on marriage-day. 

Which might not be controlPd : 



AND BALLADS. 173 

Bat if the children chance to dye. 

Ere they to age ihould oome, 30 

Their nncle (hoold pofleffe their wealth $ 

For fo the wille did ran. 

l^ow, brother, faid the dying man. 

Look to my children deare ; 
9e good unto my boy and girl, 3$ 

No friendes elfe have they here: 
To God and yon I recommend 

My children deare this daye ; 
But little while be fore we have 

Within this world to ftaye. 1 4* 

You muft be father amd mother both. 

And uncle /all in one ; 
God knowes what will become of theoi. 

When I am dead and gone. 
With that befpake their mother deare, 4$ 

O brother Idnde, quoth Ihee, 
You are the man muft bring our babes 
To wealth or miferie : 

And if you keep them carefully,' 

Then God will you reward $ 50 

But if f(3>& otherwife (hould deal, 

God >^11 your deedes regard. 
Wi^'^rpes as cold as any ilone, 
''iriiey kift their children fmall 2 
Cod blefs you both, my children deate ; 5J 

With that this teares did fall. 



^4 ANCJ/ENT SaWGS 

Thefe fpeeciiei itoi iSxdr fakvAcr i^kleb» 

To this fidce couple diei|K» 
The ktxpiti^ of jrohtr little olite 

Sweet Mer, do not fissit« ; {o 

God never profper xnc nor mine^ 

Nor aught eljfe^hst 1 hvft. 

If I do wrong your ckiU]«B.Hdeane^ 
When yott arc layd in gnsrc. 

The parents being dbml «nd g«oe, . 6j 

The children -homt hie takes* 
And bringes them Araiie nnto Ids hmiie^ 
' Where much of (iieiii he anakcs. . 

He had not kept theie pretty babes 

A twelveftnotidi ted a daye» f^ 

But, for their wealth, h^ did dttrifr 

To make them both HWaye^ 



He bargained with tw« rnfians Atoilg^ 

Which were of fdiiooo niodd» r , 
That they Ihduld take thefe childi^en yoou^ 7( 

And flaye them in a wood : 
He told his wife an artful tale* 

He would the kthildren ftiid 
To be brought up in fairc Lond^n^ 

With one tb|t was his &ienfL So 

Away then went theft pretty babes* 
Rejoycing at that iiAc^ . 

Eqoycing 



% 




AMD 8 A L L A O g. iji 

Jlejoycing with a merry iAind«, 

They ihould on co€k-*lK>^re ride. . 
They prate an4 |»railfc {>}eafaiitly« t^ 

As they rode on tkewaye» 
To thofe that fliould their butchera be. 

And wdrk «}>ttir Hres detaye« 

So that the pretty <|>e€che they had* 

Made Murder's heart relent ; ^e 

And they ^at und^trtooke the deed. 

Full fore did nowrepeat^ 
Yet one of them m(M« htf d of faei^; 

Did vowe to dp hk charge, 
^ecaufe the wretch, that hired him, 95 

Had pai4 i^ttt very large. 

» * 

The other woxi^t ag«e thereto. 

So here they fall tq flrife ; 
With one another thby did fight. 

About the childrens life: 100 

And he that was of tmldeft atpod« 

Did flaye the other there^^ 
Within an nnfreqaented wood. 

While babeb did qvakc for feare , 

He took At children i:^ the hand, 105 

Teares Handing in th^^ir eye. 
And bad them ilrakwaye follow hiniy 

And look they did not orye : 

And 






176 ANCIENT SONGS 

And two long n&iles he ledd them on. 
While they for food complaine : i le 

Staye here, quoth he, I'll bring you breaid^ 
When I come back againe. 

Thefe pretty babes, with hand in hand. 

Went wandering up and downe; 
But never more could fee the man iij 

Approaching from the town : 
Their prettye lippes with bbck-berries. 

Were all befmear'd and dyed. 
And when they fawe the darkfome night. 

They fat them downe and crycd. 120 

• 

Thus wandered thefe .poor innocents^ 

Till deathe did end their grief. 
In one anothers armes they dyed, 

As wanting due relief: 
No burial * this ! pretty • pair* 125 

Of any man receives. 
Till Robin-redrbreaft pibufly 

Did cover them wi(h leaves* 

And now the heavy wrathe of God 

Upon their uncle fell ; 130 

Yea» fearfuU fiends did haunt his houfe. 

His confcience felt an hell : 
His bames were fir'd, his goedes oonfttm'di 

His landes were barren made, % 



His 



Yir, 125* thefe. . babes, t Pr 



AND B ALL AD S. 177 

Ifis cattk dyed widiin the fields 13$ 

And mothing with him flayd. 

And in a voyage to Portugal 

Two of his fonnes did dye ; 
And to conclude, himfelfe was brought 

To want and miferye : 149 

He pawn'd and mortgaged all his land 

Ere feven yeares came about. 
And now at length this wicked a£t 

m 

Did by this meanes come out : 

The fellowe, that did take in hand 145 

Thefe children for to kill. 
Was for a robbery judged to dye. 

Such was Gods bleifed will ; 
Who did confefs the very t]:uth. 

As here hath been difplay'd : x jo 

Their uncle having dyed in gaol^- 

Where he for debt was layd. 

You that executors be made. 

And overfeers eke 
Of children that be fatherlefs, 15^ 

And infants mild and meek ; 
Take you example by this thing, 
< And yield to each his right. 
Left God with fuch like miferye 

Your wicked minds requite. 160 

VoL.m. • N XIX. A 



L _ 



* 



Ajji AJf QIERT S^NjCS 



XIX. 
Fr»m tie E^ttr's J^efio Mati^cript. 



A 



Lover of late was !» 

The boye that baiJi iie¥«r «A ^M» 
As €very# qi^ dotjbi k^nprni* : 
I fighed and fobl^dv aiidcs)^4 alas \ i 

For her that laughl/ and caU'd no «&• 

Then kne^ not I wMi to^ ^ock 

When I favic H «{9A41:ift \W^ 
• A ladye fd coy to woe. 

Who gave n^^ t]|p afi!^ fo pblUlft> : !• 

Yet would I her affe freelye bl?e, 
Soe ihee would helpe aod bi^are^widuxBoes 

An* I were a$ fwe as.flieo. 

Or fhee we];e as^fo^d^^ I» ' ^ 

f' What paire- could haye. made» a& wee/ '5 

I So prettye a fy mpanhye : 

L^as as fond as fhee .was faire, 
' But for all this we could not pairc* 



Pair«! 






■i> '* 



AN IIBALLAD& 



179 



PaAfc witb her that will fbr iiiee» 

With h«f I will never paire ; aw> 

. That cunningly can be coy. 
For being a little faire. 
The afle I'll leave to her difiiaine | 
And now I am myfelfe againe. 



XX. 
THE KING AND MILLER OP MANSFIELD. 

It has been a favourite fuhje3 ivitb our Englifi ballad- 
makers to repre/ent our kings con'uerjingj either by accident 
or defign^ ivith the meaneft of their fuhjeds. Of the former 
kindy hefides this fong of the King ahd the Miller \ ewe 
have K, Henry and the Soldier ; K. James I. and the 
Tinker ; K. William III. and the Forrejler^ l^c. Of the 
tatter fort, are K. Alfred and the Shepherd ; K, Ednxmrd 
ly. and the Tanner ; K. Henry FIH, and the Cobier, i^c, 
— ' A fetv of the beft oftbefiijoe ha<ve admitted inta this: 
eolJe^on. Both the author of the following ballad, and 
ethers ^who ha*ve ivritten on the fame plan, feem to ha'vt 
copied a ^dety ancient poem, Entitled John thkRbevk, 
^bich is built on an eukf^ure of the Jams kind, that bap^ 
Pened between K, E^huard Longjhanksy and one of his Reeves 
or Bailiffs, This is a piece of great antiquity, being turit' 
ten before the time ofEd^ward IV, and for itp genuine hu^ 
.ntour, di*verting incidents, and faithful piSure of ruftic 
manners, is infinitely fuperior to all that hwve heenjince 
f^witten in imitfiiion of it. The editor has a copy in his 
tmcient folio Az«J. but its length rendered it improper for 
this 'volume, it confifting of more than 900 lines* It contains 
edfofonu corruptions, and the editor chufos to defer its pub^ 
Ucationin hopes that fome time or other he Jhall he able to 
remove them* 

N »• ,% The 



my • 



L .. 



.!•• 



i 



i8o ANCIENT SONGS 

The foUiywing is printed from tbt editor^ s ancient fiUe 
MS. cMatednjuitb an old black-letter copy in the Pepys col" 
le&ion^ intitled ^* A plea/ant ballad of K. Henry ILani 
•• the Miller of Mansfield, fcfr." 

Part the FinaT. 

* 

HE N R Yy our royall king» would ride a hunting 
To the greene foreft To pleafant and faire ; 
To fee the harts ikipping, and dainty does tripping : 

Unto merry Sherwood his nobles repaire : 
Hawke and hound were unbound, all things prepar'd; 
For the game, in the fame, with good regard. 

All a long fummers day rode the king pleafantlye, 
>Vith all his' princes and nobles eche one ; 

Chafing the hart and hind, and the bucke gallantlye, 
Till the dark evening forc'd all to turne home. I9 

Then at lafl, riding faft, he had loft quite 

All his lords in the wood, late in the night. 

Wandering thus wearilye, all alone» up and downe, 
AVith a rude miller he mett at the lall : 

Aiking the ready way unto faire Nottingham ; '5 

Sir» quoth the miller, I meane not to jeft. 

Yet I thinke, what I thinke, footh for to fay. 

You doe not lightlye ride out of your way. 

Why, what doft thou think of me, quoth our king merrily* 

PaiBng thy j udgment upon me fo briefe ? ^o 

Good 



A N D B A L L A D U i»f 

Good faith, %d the^miller, I meane not to flatter tkee; 

I gaefs th^e to bee bqt fome gentleman tUefe : 
Stand thee backe,'4ri the darke ; light not adowne, * 
Left that I prefenttye cracke thy knaves crowne. 

^hoa doitabisifi; me much, fuoth the king, faying thus; 

I am a gentleman ; lodging doe lacke. 26 

Thou haft not, quoth th' miller, one groat in thy purfe ; 

All thy inheritance hanges on thy backe. 
I have gold to difcharge all that I call 
If it be forty pence, I will pay all. 30 

If thou beeft a true man, then quoth the miller, 

I fweare by my toll-diih. Til lodge thee all night. . 

Here's my hand, quoth the king, that was I ever. 
Nay, foft, quoth the miller, thou may'ft be a fprite. 

Better I'll know thee,, ere hands we will fliako ; 3 ; 

With none but honeft men hands will I take. 

I 

Thus they went all along unto the millers houfe ; . 

Where they were feething of puddings and foufe : . 
The miller iirft enter'd in, after him went the king ; 

Never came hee in {be fmoakye t houfe. 40 

Now, quoth hee, let me fee here what you are. 
Quoth our king, looke your fill, and doe not fpare. 

I like well thy -countenance, thou haft an honeft face ; 

r 

With ihy fon Richard this iiight thou ftialt lye« 
Quoth liis wife, by my troth, it is a handfome youths 45 

. N 3 Yet 



i8f AHCIEMTSOKGS 

Yet it's beft, IttillMiidi to 4oil ^uilyc. 
Art thott lie rtn-awaj, pfytbe^, youth, tdl I 
^hew me thy paiTport, and alt fkal be welL 

Then oar king prefentlye, making lowe coortefye. 
With his hmin his haii4» dli«s lie did fay ; 5t 

I have no pafTport^ aor never was fervitor, 
B«t a poor conrty^^ rode ont of ray way : 

And for your- kindn^s here offisred to niee, 

I will recite you in everye degree: 

Then to the miller his wife whifper*d fecretlye, 55 
Saying, it letmeth, this youth's of good kin. 

Both by his apparisl, and ek6 by hi» manners ; 
To tarne him out, certainlye, wetv a great fin. 

Yea, quoth he^, you rtay fee; be hath ibme graojj^ 

When hi&doth ^eake to his betten in place. 60 

WelI,qtto' the millers wife, young man,ye'reweIcomeherei 
And, thougii I % It, well lodged Ihall be : 

Freih ftraw will I have, laid on thy bed fo brave. 
And good brown hempen flieetes likewile, quoth fliee. 

Aye, quoth the good man ; and when that is done, 65 

Thou flialt lye with no worfe; than our own (bnne« 

• 

Nay, Bx&t quoth Richard^ good-fellowe, tell me troe» 
Haft thou noe creepers within thy gay hofe? 

Or art thou not troubled with the fcabbado ? 
I pray, quoth the king> what creat|ires are thofe? 70 

Art 



J 



• 



A N D B AL L A D S. • 1^3 



^ 



Art thoa not lowfy^ mot tcMof} >qaodi lib: 
If th0Q bcttt^ fttrtljr ihon lydb fbt with nvee. 

This cattVd the kitig> {bddenlye, to laugh moft heardlyb, 
Ttll thtt teatts trickled faft Jdowne from his byes. ' 

Then td tktir Aipper were they fet ordbriye> 7; 

With hot bag-poddtng^t and good apple-pyes ; < 

Nappy aie, gcNod and fta}e» in a brawne bowle» 

WliMi did aMit the iM^ird mMrily« trowle. 

* 
Here, l|ttMh Uie milter, good felbwe^ I drbl^ tb xbth. 

And to dll < ctttkoldiB, whek-ever they hee.' , So 
I pledge thi!«> q^otli our king, and thanke thee heartilyc 

For my good Welcome in everyc degree : * 

And lier^ in like manner^ I drinke to thy foniie. 

Do then, quo^ Ridiard> and ^aicke let it come, 

— ♦ 

Wife^ 4tt6th the miller, fetch me fbrth ligktfbotb^ t^ 
That we of his Aveetntfle a llttte may tafte : 

A Ihir iren%n paftye brought (he dtit prefentlye $ 
Eatei qnokh the miller, bat, fir, makie no walle* 

Here's dainty lightfobte^ ih faith, fayd die Idn^, 

I nttet before eate (b dainty e a thing. fo 



I wis, qaoth Rlchird, no daintye at all it is. 

For we doe eate of it evW-ye day. 
In what place, &yd oor king^ may be bought likefo this?^ 

We never pay pennye for itt, by my fay : 

N 4 Erpte 

Ftr, %o* cottitnalb, that couxteoos be. MS, and P. 



•> 



r8* . ANCIENT SONGS 

i 

From merry Sherwood we fetch it home hert; 9$ 

Now and then we sudee bold with our kings deer. 

Then I thinkc» fayd oar king, that it it venifoa. 

£.che foole, qaoth Richard* full well may know tkat: 
Never are wee withont two or three in the roof. 

Very well fle(hedt and excellent fat : 100 

But» pry thee, fay nothing wherever thou goe ; 
We wold not, for two pence, the king flionld it knowe. 

,Pd«bt not, then fayd the king, my promift fecrefye; 

The khig fliall never know more on't for mee. 
A capp of lambs-wool they dranke nnto him then* 105 

And to their bedds they paft prefentlie. 
The qobles, next morning, went all up and down. 
For to feeke gut the king in everye towne. 

At laA, at the millers <cott% (bone they efpy'dhim onU 
As he was mounting qpon his faire fteede; no 

Towhomtheycame prefently, falling down on their knee; 
Which made the millers heart wofiilly bleede: 

Shaking and quaking, before him he ftdod. 

Thinking he fhould have been hang'd, by the rood. 

The king perceiving him fearfully trembling, 1 iS 
Drew forth his fword, but nothing he fed : 

The miller downe did fall, crying before them all. 
Doubting the king would have cut off his head : 

But he his kind courtefye for to requite. 

Gave him great living, and dubb'd him a Jtnight. no 

Fart. 



: A ND BALLAD S. f^i 

Part the Sblcond. 

\JLT Hen as oar royM king came home fipomNottlngham^ 

And with his nobles at Weftminfter lay ; 
Recounting the (ports and pailimes they had taken. 

In this 1^ progrefs along on the way; 
Of them ally great and fmall, he did proteft, 5 

The miller of Mansfield's fport liked him bcft, 

# 

And now, my lords* qubth the king, I am determined 
Againft St. Georges next fumptuous feaft. 

That this old miller* our new confirmed knight* 
With his ion Richard* ihall here be my gnefl : 10 

For* in this merryment* 'tis my defire 

To talke with the jolly knight* and the young fq^uire. 

When as the noble lords faw' the kinges pleafantnefs* 
They were right joyfnll and glad in their hearts ; 

A purfuivant there was feat ftraight on the bufinefs* i j 
The which had ofcen-times been in thofe parts. 

When he came to the place* where they did dwell* 

His meiTage orderlye then 'gan he tell. 

* 

God fave your worfhippe* then faid the meflTenger* 
And grant your ladye her owne hearts defire ; 20 

And to your fonne Richard good fortune and happinefs ; 
That fweet* gentle* and. gallant young fquire. 

Our king greets you well, and thus he doth fay* 

You mud come to the court on St. Georges day ; 

Thcrforc 



il^ ANCIENT «ONaS 

Therfore, ia any cafe^ TaUe not to te in place. 25- 
I wisy quoth the miller, this is an. odd jeft ; 

<What ihotild we dbe dtetisl hi^, I Un halfe ifraSd* 
I doubt, qti6ilK kitrhahi, to be hah^A «t die leaft. 

Nay, t^uoth thfc meifi^ger, ytm doe wiibki ; 

Our king he prbvide^ a gi^skt ftaft fel* yoof fidte. ]• 

Then ia)rd the miller. By iiy tit>di, niedfehgtr. 
Thou haft contented my w(M*(hippe fall welL 

bold here afe three fKrthttig^s, t6 quite thy geidtlendfr, 
For thele happy tydikigs^ whith thon dtA tdl. 

Let me lee, hear th^n ih^; tbil to onr king, Jj 

We'll wayc on his maftedliipp in evtrye thihg. 

The puHnivtnt fmiled at theif, Hmplirftye," 
And, making many leggs, tool^e their reward ; 

And taking then his leiire Wtth gttilt numilityfc 
To the kings court hgaihe he rq>ab'd ; 40 

« 

dewing unto his gface, merry and free. 
The knightes moil liberall gift and bottntie. 

When he was gone siway, thus gan the miller fay,' 
Here come expences and charges indeed ; 

Now mud we needs be brate* tho' we i|>edd all weha?e > 
For of new garments \Ve have great need : 46 

Of horfes and ferving-men we muil have ftore. 

With bridles and (addles, and twentye things mort» 

Tafte, 



J 



AND BALLADS. tij 

Taihe* fir Jfoliti» ^voth Ids #ift» whj ihomldyxm frett, or 
You Hull ii*er be att no charges fbr mee ; [frovme? 

For I vfiil tnrae And trim np my did rnfftt gowne^ 51 
With every^ chang die «i €iie aft may hee $ 

And on our ihiU^iiORfes Iwift we wiii ride. 

With pillowes mai {lonneUs at we fluU provide* 

In this mi^ft ftatelyc fost) rode they onto the cotiit, ;$ 
Their jolly Amiie Rich^d rode fbremoil of all ; 

Who fet ap, by good hap, a cocks feather in his cap, • 
And (b they jetted dowtieto the kings hall; 

The merry did iniller with hands on his fide ; 

His wife, li^e maid Marian, did mince at that tide. 6a 

The king and his nobles, that heard of their coming. 
Meeting this gallant knight with his brave traine; 

Welcome, fir knight, qooth he, with your gay lady : 
Good fir John Cockle, once welcome againe : 

And fo is the fqnire of courage foe fire. 6 j 

Qnoth^Dicke, Abots on you rdo you know mee? 

Qttojth our king gentlye, how fhould I forget thee ? 

That waft my owne bed-fellow, well it I wot. 
Yea, fir, quoth Richard, and by the fame token. 

Thou with thy farting didft make the bed hot. 70 
Yhou whore-fon unhappy kn^ve, then quoth the knight^ 
Speake cleanly to our king, or elfe go fhite. 



The 



iM A.NCIFMT SONGS 

The king ai^d his coartiers laugh at this heartily^ 
While the king taketh them both by the hand ; 

With ladyes and their maids, like to the qaeen of fpades 
The millers wife did fye orderly ftandy 76 

A milk-maids courtefye at every word; 

And downe the folkes were fet to the board : 

Where the king royally, in princelye majeftye;. 

Sate. at,his dinner with joy and delight ; . 80 

When they had eaten well, then hee to jefting fell. 
And in a bowle of wine dranke to the knight : 

Here's to you both, in wine, ale and beer; 

Thanking you heartilye for my good cheer* 

Quoth fir John Cockle, PU pledge you a pottle, 85 
' Were it the beft ale in Nottinghamfhire: 
But then faid our king, now I think of a thing-; 
Some of your lightfoote I would we had here* 
Ho ! ho ! quoth Richard, full well I may fay it, 
^Tis knavery to eate it, and then to betray it. 99 

» 

Why art thou angry ? quoth our king merrilye; 

In faith, I take it now very unkind : 
I thought thou wouldft pledge me in ale and wineheartily. 

Quoth Dicke, You are like to ftay till I have din'd : 
You feed us with twatling diihes foe fmall ; 95' 

bounds, a blacke-pudding is better than aU« 



Aye, 



J 



AND BALLADS. 189 

Aye» marry, qooth our king, that were a daintye thing. 

Could a man get bat one here for to eate. [hofe. 
With that Dicke ftraite arofe, and pluckt one from hit 

Which with heat of his breech gan to fweate. i«o 
The king made a proffer to fnatch it away : — 
'Tis meat for yqar mailer : good fir, you muD: flay- 
Thus in great merriment was the time wholly ipent; 

And then the ladyes prepared to dance : 
Old Sir John Cockle, knd Richard, incontinent 105 

Unto their paces the king did advance : 
Here with the ladyes fuch fport they did make. 
The nobles with laughing did make their fides ake. 

Many thankes for their paines did the king give them, 
Afking young Richard then, if he would wed; 1 10 

Among thefe ladyes free, tell me which liketh thee? 
Quoth he, Jugg Grumball, Sir, with the red head : 

She's my love, (he's my life, her will I wed ; 

She hath fwom I ihall have her maidenhead. 

Then fir John Cockle the king call'd unto him, 115 
And of merry Sherwood made him o'er-feer ; 

And gave him out of hand three hundred pound yearlyc . 
Now take heede you fleale no more of my deer: 

And once a quarter let's here have your view; 

And now, fir John Cockle, I bid you adieu. 120 

XXI. THE 



»9« AHCtEWt SanGS 






XXL 



THE SHEPHERD'S RESOLUTION. 



This heantiful old fong luas ^lAiritUn by. a poet^ fwhofi 
name iajouU ha've been utterly fir gotten^ tf it Bad not hitn 
prefer*ved by Swift, as a iarm of contempt. ** DftrTJ^EK 
" and WiTREn'* art coupUd by him liktt the Bavlus and 
Mmvi vs of yir^L Dr Y a bn honvever has hadjuftice dou 
him by pofterity : and as for Wit HEVi^ though of fubordi- 
note merity that he nvas not altogether devoid ofgemuSf 
•wiU be judged from the Jblknjiiingfianxas* Hhe truth u% 
WITHER ivaeoi 'Very 'voluminous party-^wriier : and as 
his political and fatyrical ftrokes rendered him extremely po* 
pular in his life time ; fo aferivards, ivhen their date was 
out, they totally configned his ^writings to ohlivicm* 

G^ORGB WtTHER <a»£f born J^ne i.i. X^^y andm 
his younger years diftinguijhed himfelf by fame pafioral 
pieces f that (were not inelegant ; but gro-wing afterwardi 
in'vol'ved in the political and religious difputes in the times 
of James I, and Charles I, he mphyed his poetical vein 
infrverepafqusls om the court and clergy :9 and ^was occa* 
JionaUy afujferer for the freedom of his pen* In the civil 
<war that en/uedy he exerted himfelf in the ferwce of tbi 
Parliament y and became a ctmfiderable Jharmr in thefpoih* 
He ivas even one of thoje proa/incial tyrants y *wbom Olivet 
diftflbuted over the kingdom, under the name of Major Ge- 
nerals ; and had the fleecing of the county of Surrey : hut 
furvi'ving the Reft oration, he outlived both his power and 
his ajjluence \ and giving vent to^ his chagrin in libels ow 

tht 



J 



1 



AND BALLADS. 191 

thi court f was long a frtfimr in NfctvgaU and tbi Tonver. 
Ht died at length on the id ofMe^t 1667. 

During the whole, covxJk tf A*^ Ufh Wjthb.r nuas a 
continual publijher ; hailing general^ for opponent^ 
Taylor the Water-poet. The long lift of his produdions 
nu^ be feen in Wood's Atb^musf^ 0»ou* 'vol-. 2. His moft 
popular fatire^ is iniitledj *'^ 4h^fefi whipt and ftript,'** 
16 1 3. His moft poetical pieces were eclogues^ intitledy^^ The 
Shepherd's Hunting,^* 1615, %'vo. and others printed at the 
endofBrown^s ^*3hepherd^s Fipe.** 161 J^.%nfo. The follow- 
ing fonnet is extraSed from a long p aft oral piece of his 9 inti" 
tied, " The Miftrejfe of Philarete:' S^va. which is fold in 
* the preface to be one of the ^thor* s firft poems : and may 
therefore be dated as early, as. a/Kf of the foregoing^ 

SHALL I9 wafting in difpaire. 
Dye becaafb a woman's faire? 
Or make pale my cheeks witk care» 
'Caufe another's rgfie ^re ^ 

Be ihee fairer then the da)% $ 

Or the flowry meads in may ; 

If flie think not well of me» 
What care I how faire ihee be? 

^all my heart be griev'd or |nn'd, 

Caufe I fee a woman kind? 10 

Or a well-difpofed nature 

Joyncd with a lovely feature ? 

Be ihee meeker, kinder, than ^ 

The turtle-dove or pelican : 

If (hee be not fo to me, 1 5, 

What care I how kind ihee be \ 

Shall 



i9a A N C I E N T S O N O S 

. Shall a womans virtoei move 

Me, to periih for her love ? ' 

Or, her well-defervings knowne, 

. Make me qaite forget mine owne? ^ . 20 I 

Be ihee with that goodnefle bleft> ' \ 

Whick may merit name of Bcft; 1 

If ihie be not fuch to mc, ? 

What care I how good ihe be ? \ 

■ ■ ■ . ■ i 

Caufe her fortune feemes too high* 25 • ' 

Shall I play the foole and dye? 
Thoie that beare a noUe minde. 
Where they want of riches find, 
Thinke what with them they wonld doc^ 
That without them dare to woe; 30 

And, unlefle that minde I fee, ' 

What care I, though great ihe be ? 
Great or good, or kind or faire, . ^[ 

I will ne'er, the more difpaire : j 

If (he love me, this beleeve ; ^l 

I will die ere fhe (hall grieve. 
If fhe flight me, when I wooe ; 
1 can fcorne and let her goer 

For, if (hce be not for me. 

What care I for whom flie he 1^ -P 



i 



XXn. THE 



A N D B A L L A D S. 193 



•XXIL 
THE WANDERING PRINCE OF TROY. 

This excellent old ballad^ *uuhich perhaps ought to home 
hten placed earlier in the 'volume ^ is given froi^ the editor* s 
feliQ MS. ctfllated tvith tnvo different printed copies^ both 
in black letter in the' Pepys cdlk^on, 

The reader nuillfmile to ^bftrite «witb nviuU natural And 
affeSing Jimplicity, our ancient ^ballad-maker has engrafted 
€L Gothic conclujion on the clajjicftory of Virgil, from nvhom, 
honjuever^ it is frcbable he had it not. Nor can it be i/#- 
nied, but he has dealt out his poetical juftice 'with a mort^ 
impartial handy thattthat celebrated poet , 

WHEK Troy towne had, for ten yearcs * pall,* 
Withftood the Greeks, in manful wife» 
Then did their foes incrqafe fo faft> 
That to refill nought could fuffice : 
Walle lye thofe walls, that \yere foe good» t 

And corn no^ grows where Troy towne Hood. 

^neasy wandering prince of Troy, 

When he for land long time had fought, • 
At length arriving with great joy. 
To mighty Carthage wlalls was brought; 10 

Where Dido queen, with fumptuous feall. 
Did entertaine this wandering guell. 
' ' Ver, i.zu war. MS. Mud PP. 

Vol. Ill, O And 



< 

i 



194 ANCIENT SONGS 

Andy as in hall at meate they fate. 

The queen, defirous newes to hear, 
' Says, of thy Troys unhappy fate* 15 

-Declare to me thou Trojan dear: « 

The heavy hap and chance fo bad. 
Which thou, poore wandering prince, haft had* 

And then anon this comely knight. 

With words demure, as he coura well, 20 

Of their unhappy teiTycares * fight'. 
So true a tale began to tell, 
Wkh words fo fweet, and fighs fo deepe. 
That oft he made them all to weepe. 

And then a thoufand fighes he fet, JJ 

- And cterye fighe brought teares amaine; 
That where he fate the place was wet. 
As though he had feenc thofe warrs agaiae; 
Soe that the quecne, with ruth therefore 
5ayd, worthyc prince, e^p]%^ no more. 3P 

» • 

And now the darkfome night drew po, ' 

And twinkling, ftarres the fltye \x6partd fi 'j^ 
When he his dolefull talc had done, / '- 

And everye on^was laid m feied : 
•Where they full fwcedye took Adx rf ft, 35 

Save only Dido's boy ling breaft* ^ 



This feely woman neve* flept. 
But in her chamber, all^lone^, "'"A* 






. AKD fi ALL A D S. 195 

As one unhappy, alwares wept. 
And to the walls fhee nMe her mone ; 4^0 

That ihee fhould ftill defire in vaine 
The ^ing, ihe never mail obtaine. 

And thus in griefe fliee fpent the night. 

Till twinkling ftarrcs the fkye were fled, 
And Phoebus, with hjs glittering light, 4f 

Through mifty cloudes appeared red ; « 
Then tidings came to her aaon. 
That all the Trojan fhipps were gone. 

And then the queene againft her life 

Did arme her heart as hard as ftose, jq 

Yet, ere ihe bared the bloody knife. 
In woeful! wife fhee made her mone; 
And, rolling on her carefull bed. 
With fighes and fobs, thefe words fliee fed : 

^ O wretched Dido queene ! qubth (hce, jj 

I fee thy end" approacheth neafe' ; 
For he is iled away from thee. 

Whom thou didlt love and hold fb de'are i 
; What is he gone, aad paffed bye ? 
G heart, prepare thyfelf to dye. 60 

In v^ne thou pleadft I fhould forbeare. 
And ftay my hand' from bldody ftroke ; ' 

Thee, dreacherous*heart, I muft not fpare. 
Which fettered me in Cupid^s yoke* 

O 2 Come 



jd 



L 



196 AN G.I ENT SON<lS 

Come death, qaoth fliee, refolve my (mart :—« 65 

Aiui with thofe words fhe pierc'd her heart. 

* ■ 

When death had piercM the tender heart 

Of Dido, Carthaginian queene; 
Whofe bloodji^ knife 'did end the (hurt^ 

Which (hee fuftai/i'd in moarnfnll teene ; 70 

^Sneas being ihipt and gOB% 
Whofe fitter/ caufed all her mone ; 

Her fun«rall moft cofily made. 

And all things finifht monrnfallye ; 
Her bodye fine in mold was laid, 7S 

Where itt confumed fpeedilye : 
Her lifters teares her tombe beftrew'd ; 
Her fubjcfks gricfe their kindneffe (hcw'd. 

Then was^aeas in an iQc 

In Grecia, where he Itay'd long fpace, %^ 

Whereatt her fitter in fliort while,.,,. 
Writt to him. to his vile difgracc ; 
In fpeeches bitter to his minde 
Shec fiold .him plaine, hice was unkince- . 

>^alfe-h«arte4 wretch, quoth fliee, thou arti ^ 

And traiterouflye thou haft bctraid 

«Unto thy lure a gcntkJhe^t, . • . 

Which unio thee much welcome made; 

My filler deare, ^nd Carthage' joy, ... 

Whofe folly bred her dei« annoy. . 9* 

' " Yet 









f -v~»' 



A NO B ALL ADS. 



197 



Yet on lier death- bed when ftiee laye, 

Shec prayed for thy profperitye, ^ .* 

Befeeching god, that every day 
Might breed thee great felicitye : 
Thus by thy meanes I loft a friend ; oc 

Heaven fend thee fuph nntiniriy end* ..: .. 

When he thefe liQes, fall fraught with gall, 
Perufed had, and weighed them right, 

^ His lofty courage 'gan to fail; 

And ftraight appeared in,hi& fight / 100 

Qaeene Dido*s ghoft, both grim and pale ; 

Which made this valliant fouidid* <^uail«. . 

.Aneas, quoth thi^ ghaftly/ghoft, •) 

: My whole dsHght. while lidid liye^i t ' :. ' 

Thee of all men I loved maft ;\ L : \ . . : : . ^ ! . .:/ - 1 d§ 
To thee my fancye I did give^i:. •..:♦..! . : . 
And for the welcome I thee gave, 
Unthankfully thoa didft;iaie gr^v^* \ ^. ' 

Therefore prepare thy fleeting fonle . 

To wander witk me in the ayre; 1*10 

y 

Where deadlye griefe fliall make ;t;how]e, 
Becaufe of me thou tookHi no cajro.: 
Delay not time, thy glafTe is run. 
Thy date is pail, thy life i^ done» 

O ilay a while, thou lovelye (pright, iij 

Be not fo hafty to convay 

O 5 My 



L 



298 ANCIENT SONGS 

My (bale infp eternd ttiglit, 

. 'VKJiere it fhal} oe'er behoU bright 4>y* 

O doe not frown, thy tngiy lookc 

Hath all my fool^ with honor ^ooke. 120 



Butf woe is me.1 alliain 

And bootlefle is my difmall crye | 
Time will not be recall'd ag^Br, 

Nor thpn fnrceafe be&re I dyau . 

let ma liye, and make aneadt J25 
To fome of thy molt dcareft frieadt* 

Bat feeing thbn obdnrate art. 

And wilt no pitye on me ihowe« 
Becaufe from thee I did dqpart^ 

And left unpaid what I did owt : 130 

1 muft content myfelf, to take . 
What lott to me th^a wilt portal^ 

m 

And thus, as one being in a tranor, 

A multitude of uglye fiends 
About this woelall prince did dance.; i}5 

He had no hdpe of any frienda » 
His body then thby tooke away. 
And no nian knew hi» dying daj^ 



XXULTHI 



1 



r 



A K b B A L L A D S. 199 

xam. 

THE WITCHES' SONG 

— From Sen Jon/or^ s Mafque of ^ueent, prejennd at 
Whitehall^ Feb. 2, 1609. 

The editor thought it incumheni on him to injert fome old 
pieces en the fopidar fuferfiition concerning nvitches, hoif- 
goblins, fairies 9 and ghofts, Thelafi ofthrfe make their 4j^- 
fearance in moft of the tragical ballads ; and in thefollotW" 
ing^ fangs ivill be found fome defcription of the former. 

It is truet this fong of the 1r itches, falling from the 
learned pen of Ben Jonfon, is rather an extraS from tlfe 
^various incantations ofclajjic antiquity, than a difplay of 
the opinions of our own vulgar. But let it 'he obfertvedy 
that a parcel of learned wfeacpis had juft before bufied 
themfel'ves on thisfubjeB^ with our Britijh Solomon James /. 
at their head : and thefe had fo ranf ached all ^writers an^ 
cient find modern, andfo blended and kneaded together the 
femeral fuperftitions of different times and nations^ that 
thofe of genuine Englijh growth could no longer be traced 
out and difiinguijhed. 

By good luck the nvhimfical belief of fairies and gohlini 
could furnijh no pretences for torturing our fellonv-creaturesy 
and therefore *we have this handed down to us pure and 
unfophifiicated. 

1 Witch. 

I Have beene all day looking after 
A raven feeding upon a quarter ; 
And, foone as fhe turn'd her beak to the fouth^ 
I fnatch'd this morfell out of her mouth. 

2 Witch. 

I have beene gathering wolves haires, 5 

The mad dogges foame^ wd adders eares ; 

O 4 The 



«oo ANCIENT SONGS 

The iparging of a deadman^ cycs^z 
And all ilnce the eveniqg ftarre did rife. 

3 Witch. 
7 Uik' night lay all alone 

O* the ground, to hcare the mandrake grone.; lo 

And pluckt him up, though he grew full low : 
^ Aa9, as I.Jj|ad d()ne, thecockc did crow. 



4 Witch. 
And I ha' beene chuiing out this fcull 
From charnell houfes that were full ; 
From private grots, and publikc pits ; rj 

Ajid frighted a'ftxton out of his wits* 

5 Witch. 
Under a cradle I did creepe 
By day ; and, when the childc was a-ileepe . 
At nighty i fuck'd.the breath; and rofe. 
And ptiick'd the nodding nurfe by the nofe» ' 20 

6 Witch,. 

I had a dagger: what did I with that? 

Killed an infant to have his. fat. 

A piper it got, at a church-ale, 

I tadc him again blow wind i' the .tajle, 

V • 

» 

7 Witch. '. ' 

A murderer, yonder, was hung in chaines ; 25 

The funne and the wind had fllrunke his Veinesr 

I bit 






AND BALLADS. aoi 

I bit off a finew ; I cHpp'd his liaire ; 

1 brought ojf his ragges, that danc'd i'the ayre. 

8 Witch. 
The ferich-owles egges^ and the feathers blacke. 
The bloud of the frogge, and the bone in his backc 5^ 
I have been getting ; and made of his fkin 
A porfety to keepe fir Cranion in. 

9, Witch. 
And I ha' beene plucking (plants among) 
Hemlock, henbane, adders- tongue, 
Night-Ihade, moone-wort, libbards-bane ; 35 

And twife by the dogg^s.was like to be tane. 

10 Witch. 

I from the jawcs of a gardiner's bitch 

Did fnatch thefe bones, and then leaped the ditch : 

Yet went I back to the houfe againe, 

Kili'd the blacke.cat, and here is the braine. 40 

11 Witch. 

I y^ent to the toad, breedes under the wall, 

I charmed him out, and he came at my call ; 

X fcratch'd out the,qres of the owle before; 

I tore the batts wing : what would you have more ? 

Dame. 

Yes : I have brought, to helpe your vows, 45 

Horned popp ie, cypreife boughes. 

The 



1 



sot ANCIENT SONOS 

The fig-tree wild, that gn>we8 oft tombes» 
And jaice, that from the larch-tree comes. 

The baiiiifkes Bloud, and the vipers ikin : 
And now our orgiei let's brgin. je 



XXIV. 
ROBIN GOODrFELLOW, 



a lias PuCiCE, alias HoB (Goblin, in the creed of an- 
eient fnperftittony 'was a kind of merry fprite^ ivhofe cba- 
rmSer and atchie<vements are recorded in this ballad, and in 
thofe ivell-knonvn lines of MiltotCs UAUegr^y *which tbt 
antiquarian Peckfuppofes to he onuing to it ; 
* * Tells ho'w the drudging Goblin fixjet 
*^ To earn his cream-ioniule duly fet \ 
** When in one night ^ ere gUmtfi ofmorni^ 
" His fifodvwy flail hath threjh^d the com 
** That ten day-labourers could not end ; 
•* Then lies him do^m the luhhar fiends 
•* Jndflretch'd out all the chimneys length, 
*' Bafls at the fire his htdry ftrength^ 
** And crop-full out of doors he flings ^ 
' ** Ere thefirft cock his matins rings,'** 
The reader tuill ohfer*ue that ourftmple anceflort hairt" 
duced all theft fwhimfees to a kindoffyftem^ as regular, und 
perhaps more confiftent, than many parts ofclaffic mythology - 
aprcofof the extenfi've influence and 'vafl antiquity of theft 
fuperfiitions. Mankind, and efpeeidlly the common peepkf 
could not every <whef*e ha've been fo unanimoufly agreed con' 
cerning thefe arbitrary notions f if they had not pre*uailed 
among them for many ages* Indeed, a learned friend in 
Wales affures the editor, that the exiftence of Fairies and 
Goblins is alluded to by the moft ancient Britifh Bards, who 
mention them under ^various names ^ one oj the moft common of 

<wbich 



i 



AND BALLADS. aoj 

Vihichfignifits^ '' TU/pkUstfthe mmttUmMs.'* 8$f alfi 
Preface to So^g XXF, 

Tbis/ong (luhich Peck attributes to Ben J on/on ^ th(^ 
k is not found among his nvorks) is gi'venfrem an ancient 
black letter cofy in th$ Britifis Jdujkum. It feems to have 
been originally intended fir fome Mafque* See the loft 
page of this *volu7he. 

F% O M Oberea, in faiiye land, ^ 
The king oi gho^ and fhadowes tkere» 
Mad Robin I, at his command. 

Am feat to view« the night-fports here. 

What fe^U root c 

Is kept abotft, 
^ In vf%ry corner where I go, 

I will o'erfcc. 
And merry bee. 
And make good iport, with ho, ho, ho ! !• 

More fwift than lightening can I flye 

Aboat this 9iay welkin ibone. 
And, in a minutes fpace, defoye 

Each thing that's done belowe the nioone. 

There's not a hag 15 

Or ghoft fhail wag. 
Or cry, ware Goblins ! where I gou; 

But Robin I 

Their feates will fpy, 
ibid fend them home, with ho, ho, ho ! 20 

Whene'er fuch wanderers. I meete. 

As from their night-ijports they tru^d home ; 
2 With 



204 ANCIENT SONGS 

With counterfeiting voice I greete 

- And call tbem on, with nie to roam^ 

Thro* woods, thro' lakes, z$ 

Thro* bogs, thro' brakes ; 
Or eife, unfeene, with them I go. 
All in the nicke 

To play Ibihe tricke > 

And frolicke it, with ho,, ho, ho I 30 

Sometimes Imeetie them like a man $ 

Sometimes, an ox; fometiines, a hound; 
And to a horfe I turn me can ; - 

To trip and trot about thera round* ^ ^ 

But if, to ride, . jj. 

My backe they flride, 
MoreTwift than wind away I go. 
Ore hedge and lands. 
Thro' pools and ponds, 
I whirry, laughing, ho, ho, ho ! 4® 

'When lads and lailies merry.be. 

With poflets and with juncates fine ; 
Unfeene of all the company, 

1 9^ their cakes and iip their wine ; 

And, to make fport; 45 

I fart and fnort ; ^ . 
And' out the candles I db blow : 
The maids I kifs ; 
They Ihricke-— Who's, this ? 
I anfwer nought, but hp, ho, ho I * 5 



J 



A. HD B A L X. A D S. 



205 



Yet now and tlien, thfe maids to pleafe. 
At midnight I card up their wooll ; 
And while they fleepe, and. take their eafc^ 
With wheel to threads their flax I pulL 

I grind at mill ^^ 

Their malt up ftill ; 
I drefs their hemp» I fpin their tow* ' ' 

If any 'wake. 

And would me take, 
I wend me, laughing, ho, ho, ho ! 60 

W^en hbnfe or harth doth fluttifli lye, 

I pinch the maidens blacke and blue ; 
The bed-clothes from the bed pull I» 
And lay them naked all to view. 

'Twixt fleepe and wake> ^5 

I do them takt. 
And on the key-cold floor them throw. 
If out they cry, . 
Then forth I fly, 
. And loudly laugh out, ho, ho, ho 1 ^# 



When any' need to borrowe ought, 

' We lend them what they do require ; 
And for the ufc djemand we nought ; 
Onrown^l^ all we dodeflre. 
' If to repay, 
^ They do delay. 

Abroad amongfl them then I go. 



75 



And 



toft ANCIENT SONGS 

And night by night, 
- I them affright 
Widi i^nching^y dreamet > and ho» ha» he ! 80 

.When lazie queans have noaght to dc^ 

But ftudy how to cog and lye ^ 
To make debate and mifchief too, 
Twixt one another fecrctlyc : 

I marke their gloze, 85 

And it difclofe. 
To them whom they have wronged fo ; 
When I iave done, 
I get me gone. 
And leave them fcolding, ho, ho« ho ! 9^ 
• • 

When men do* traps and engine (et 

In loop-holes, where thevermine creepe. 
Who from their fbkkt and houses, get 

Their duckes and geefe^ and lambes and fheepe: 
I fpy the gin, 9i^, 

And enter in. 
And feeme a vermine taken fo ; 
But- when they there 
Appfoadiip me neare, 
I leap o«it laughiirg^ ho, ho> ho ! 109 

By wells and rills, in meadowcfs greene, 

We nightly dance our hey-day guife ; 

And to our fkirye king, and qneene, 

W^ chantjour moon-light minftrelfie^. 

Whci| 



J 



AND BALLADS. 



ao7 



When larks *gin fing, 105 

Away we fling ; 
Ao4 bab^ aew-bo/nc fl^al as wc go. 

An elfe in bed 

We leave inftead. 
And weQd us kughing^ ho^ ho, ]|0 ^ 110 

From hag-bred Merlins time have I 

Thus nightly rcvclPd to and fro ; 
And for my pranks men call m^ by 
The namp of Robin Good-fellow* 

Fiends, ghoils, and Sprites, iij 

Who haunt the iiightes. 
The hags and goblins do me know ; 
And beldamet old 
My feates have told ; 
So Fakt Vale ; ho, ho, ho ! \%% 



XXV.. 

THE FAIRY CLU E E N- 

\ 

\ ' We ha'ue here a Jhort difplay of the popular belief con- 
f eerning Faij^^i.es.. // fivill afford etitertainment to a con- 
Jemplati^ve mind to^ trace thefe ivhimjical opinions up to their 
] ^'^igifi. Whoey.ex confidei^Sy ho^iv early ^ ho<w extenjhjeijt 
{ Mnd^ho^ uniformly they ha*ue prevailed in thefe nationsy 
F/ *will not readily affent to the hypcth^s of tbofe^ ^'who fetch 
* them from the edp fo late as the*^ time of the Croifades. 
JVhereas it is,<well kno^n that out^ Saxon anceftors long he- 
fort they left their German forejlsy believed^ th^ exijftnce of 
f a kind 



ac8 ANCIENT SONGS 

a kind of diminuti've demons ^ or mddU /pedes bet*wten miK 
and Joints y luhom they called Dv erg ak or Dwarfs, and 
to tjuhom they attributed many «ivonder/ui performances, far 
exceeding human art. Vid, Her*varer Saga Olaj Ftrclj* 
1675. Hickes The/aur. i^c* 

Sihis Song is gimen from an, old black-letter copy* 

CO M £» follow, follow niee» 
Yc, fairyc elves that bee ; 
Come follow Mab yottr queene. 
And trip it o'er the greenc : 
Hand in hand we'll dance around, \ 

Becaafe this place is fairye ground. 

When mortals ;Lre at reK, 

And fnoring in their neft ; 

Unheard, and an-cfpy'd. 

Through key-holes we do glide ; 10 

Over tables, ftooles, and {helves. 
We trip it with our fairye elves. 

« 

And, if the houfc be fouU* 

With platter, difti or bowl. 

Up ftaires we nimbly creep, ij 

, And find the fluts aflecp : 
Then we pinch their armes and thighes ; 
None us hearcs, nor none efpies. 

But if the houfc be fwept. 

And from uncleaonefs kept, *° 

We praife^thethoofhold maid. 

And ducly ihe is paid : 

Ever' 



J 



AND BALLADS. 

Every night before we goe. 
We drop a teller in her Ihoe. 



^09 



Then o'er a mufhroomes head zz 

Our table-cloth we ipread; 

A grain of rye, or wheat. 

The diet that wc cat ; , 
Pearly- drops of dew we drihk 
In acorn cups fill'd to the brink, 39 

The braines of nightingales, 

With unftuous fat of fnailes. 

Between two cockles Hew'd, 

Is meat that's eaiily chew'd; 
Tailes of wormes, and marrow of mice 35 

Do make a diili, that's wonderous nice. 

The graihoppcr, gnat, and fly, 

Serve for ourminftrelfy, 

Grace faid, we dance a while. 

And fp the time beguile : 4c 

And if the moon doth hide her head; 
The glow-worm lightes as home to b«d* 

O'er tops of dewy graiTe , * 

So nimbly we do pafie, 

Th^ young and tender ftalk 4j 

Ne'er bends where we 4o<walk ; 
Yet in the morning t%^y be feene 
Where we the night before have beene. 
Vol. hi. P XXW. THl 



L ^^ 



aia A N C I E N T S O N G S 



XXVI. 
THE FAIRIES FAREWELL. 

This humorous old fong fell from the hand of the facetious 
Ujhop Corbet (probably in his youth) ^ and is printed from 
his Poetica Stromata^ 1648, izmo. {(compared ivitl the 
third edition of his poems, 1672.) It is there called, " J 
** proper new Ballad, intituled, Th^ Fairies farewell, or 
** God-a-mercy IVill, to he fung or ^whiftled to the^Umof 
** The Meddo<w hrovt, by the learned: by thi unkamed, t» 
" the tune of Fortune.** 

The departure of Fairies is here attributed to the aholititnir 
of monkery : Chaucer has^ tvith equal humour j affignei « 
laufe the fvery reverfe. 

** In the old dayes of king Artour 
'* (Offwhich the Britons fpeken grete honour} 
** AU 'was this lond fulfilled offayryi 
'* The elf-quene, njuith her jolly company^ 
** Daunfed full oft in many a grene nude* 
** This 'was an old opinion as I rede: 
•* Ifpeke of many hundred yere agoe : 
** But no'w can no man fee no elfes moe : 
** For no'w the grete charite, and prayerti 
** Of Limiiours, and other holy freres,' 
t ** Thatferchen every lond, and e'very ftreme^ 

^* As thick as motes in thefunne heme, 
*• BkJJtng halles, chambers, kitchins, and bowres, 
** Cities, boronjuif, cajlelles, and hie toures, 
** Thropes, and bernes, Jhepens, and dairies ; 
. ** This maketh that there ben no'w no fairies : 
** for there as 'wont to <walken 'was an elfe, 
*[ There 'walketh noiv the Limitour himfelfe^ 
** In und^meles and in morrowunynges, 
** And fiaiah hit mmins and his holie tiinges, 



ANDBALLA D 8. 21c 

4*^ jfs he goeth in his limitacioune. 
** IVymen may nonv go/afely up and dourn^ 
** In every bujh^ and under every tree^ 
** ^here is none other incubus but he : 
** ^!id he ne 'will don hem no di/honour,** 

fVife of Bath's Tali. 
Or. Richard C^rbet^ having keen bifiop of Oxford about 
three years, and after^vards as long Bf. of Norwich^ died 
in 1635, jEtat, 52. 

FArcwell rewards and Fairies ! 
Good houfewives now may fay; 
For now foule fluts in dairies. 

Doe fare as well as they : 
And though they fweepe their hearths no left 5 

Than mayds were wont to doe. 
Yet who of late for cleanelinefs 
Finds fixe-pence in her ihoe ? 

Lament, lament old Abbies, 

The fairies lofl command ; 10 

They did but change priefts babies. 

But fome have chang'd your land : 
And all your children ftoln from thence 

Are now grown e Puritanes, 
Who live as changelings ever fince, IJ 

For love of your demaincs. 

At morning and at evening both 

You merry were ahd glad. 
So little care of fleepe and floth. 

Theft prettie ladies had. 20 

P 2 Whc» 



r 



^12 ANCIENT SONGS' 

When Tom came Iiome from labour^ 

Or Cifs to milking rofe. 
Then merrily went their tabour. 

And nimbly went their toes. 

Witnefs thofe rings and rounddelayes 25 

Of theirs, which yet remaine ; 
Were footed in qaeene Maries dayes 

On many a grafly playne. 
Bttt iince of late Elizabeth 
* And later James came in ; 5® 

They never danc'd on any heath. 

As when the time hath bin. 

By which wee note the fairies 

Were of the old profeffion : 
Their fongs were A<ue Maries^ 35 

Their dances were proceffion. 
Bat now, alas ! they all are dead. 

Or gone beyond the feas. 
Or farther foi religion fled. 

Or elfe they take their eafe. 4^ 

A tell-tale in their company 

They never could endure $. 
And whofo kept not fecretly 

Their mirth, was puniih'd fare : 
It was a juH and chriftian deed 45 

To pinch fuch blacke and blue : 
O how the common-welth doth need 

Soch juftices, as you ! 



A N D B A L L A D S. aij 

Kow they Have left our quarters ; 

A Regifter they have, j« 

Who can prefervc theif charters ; 

A man both wife and grave. 

# 

An hundred of their merry pranks 

By one that I could name 
Are kept in ftore ; con twenty thanks 55 

To William for the fame. 

' To William Chnme of Stailbrdihire 

Give laud and praifes due. 
Who every meale can mend your cheare 

With tales both old and true : ^ 

To William all give audience. 

And pray yee for his noddle : 
Por all the fairies evidence 

Were loft, if it were addle. 



*«* After thefe Songs m the Fairies, the Reader may 
he curious to fee the manner in ^whicb they loere formerly in- 
<voked and bound to human fer*vice. In AfhmoWs CoUeOien 
efMSS. at Oxford^ [Num, 8259. 1406. 2.] are the pa- 
pers of feme Alchymiftj "nvhicb contain a ^variety of Incan- 
tations and Forms of Cotuuring both Fairies, Witches 
aW Demons, principally 9 as it fiould fum^ to aJ/Sft bim 
in bis Great Work of tranfmuting Metals. Mofi of tbem 
are too impious to be reprinted z but the fwo following may 
be 'very innocently laughed at. 

Whoever looks into Ben Jwfot^s Alchtmist^ «m;/7/ 
find that tbefe impoftorsy among their other Secrets^ ajfeffed 
to bave apvwer over Fairies. 

P 3 "An 



f 14 ANCIENT SONGS, &c. 

" An excellent way to geft a Fayrie. fFor my/elf 
J call Margarett Barrance ; iut this 'will ohteine 
any one that is not allreaJy ho'wnd*) 

** FIRST, gett a broad Square chriftall or Venice 
glaj/cy in length and breadth 3 inches. Than lay that glajfe 
or chriftall in the blcud of a ivhite henHe^ 3 WedneJdayeSy or 
3 Fridtves. Then take it oufy and luajh it nioitb holy aq. 
tMd fumigate it^ Then take 3 hazle fticks^ #r nvaadi of 
anyearegroth : pill them fayre and ixjhite ; and make 'them^ 
foe longe, as you ivrite the Spiritts name, or Fayries 
name, ijuhich you calif 3 times on every fiicke being made 
jiatt on one fide. Then bury them under fome bilU 'whereas 
^ you fuppofe Fayries haunt y the Wednefday before you call 
her : And the Friday followoinge take them uppe^ and call 
her at % or '^ or 10 of the clocke^ ^whicb be good planetts 
and hour es for that turne : but nuhenyou cally be in deant 
life, and turne thy face forwards the eafl. And 'when you 
have her, hind her to that fl§ne or glajfe*^ 

** An Unguent to amtoynt trndw the Eyelids, and upon 
the Eyelids evninge and morninge : but effeciaUy ivhen 
you call i or find your fight not perfe^, 

** R. A pint of fallet'oyle, and put it into a viall 
glaffe : but frft 'wafh it twith rofe-nvater, and ^marygold- 
nvater ; theflonvers • to* be gathered towards the eaft. Wafi 
it till the oyle come nuhite ; then put it into the glaffe, utfu' 
fra : and then put thereto the hudds of holyhocke, the flew- 
ers ofmarygold, the flowers or toppes of ^wild thime, the 
hudds of young hascle : and the thime muft be gathered neare 
the fide of a hill v} here pAYKiEsufe to be : and * take* the 
grafje of a fayrie throne, there. All thtfe put into the oylt, 
into the glaffe : and fet it to diffohve 3 dayes in the fanne, 
and then keep itfhr thy ufe\ utfupraJ* 

After this follovjs a Form of Incantation, nvherein ibc 
Alchym'tfl conjures a Fairy, named Elaby GathOn, to 
appear to him in that Chryfial Glafs, meekly and mildly ; 
to refolve him truly in all manner of queflions ; and to be 
4hedient to all his commands, under pain of Damnation, l^c» 

THE END OF BOOK THE SECOND. 



A 



3 i3 C 3 <£ JP 2C 
SONGS AND BALLADS, 

SERIES THE THIRD. 
BOOK III. 

I. 

THE BIRTH OF St. GEORGE. 

Tie ineiJenlj intbii,andtheBtbtr hallad of St. GsoxOK 
AND THE Dragon, are chiifty taken from tbt old finry-hatk 
eftht St^tn Champions of Chriftendnmt \ 'which, tho' sow 
the play-thing of children, tuai once in high repute. Bf, 
Hall in his fatirts, publijhed in 1597, ranks 

•' St. GcnTge'-sforell, and his crofs of Mood" 
awitng the moft popular fiaries of his time ." and an ingeitiaiu 
critic thinks that Spencer himfilf did not Sfdain to lorroia 
bints from it \ ; thn' J mach doubt tubether this popular ro- 
manci •were •written fo early as the Fairy ^ueen, 

7'ie author of this hook of- the Seven Champions 'wat 

■ one Richard Johnfon, ivha lit/ed in the reignt of EltKabtth 

P 4 and 

t Mr. Tfmm, Vii. Otfirvalim m tbt Fmij Siffca, a W. 1761. 



2i6 ANClENT'fidNGS 

and yamtSf as <we coUeSifrom his other publications : i/Zz.— 
* * The nine nvorthies of London : 1592. 4/c. — * * The pleafant 
ifjalks of Moor-fields : 1607. 4/0. — ** A eronicn garland 9/ 
Coulden Rofesy gat her ed^ i^c* 1612. 8«uc. — *• The life and 
deathofRbb. Cecil/, E. ofSalifiury: 1612.4/0. — " Thehijl. 
of Tom ofLincohy ^oJ*^ isaljo by R, y. ivho likewiitfe rf 
printed*^ Don Flores of Greece ^ 4/c.'* 

The Se^en Champions y tho* fwriften in a tvild inflated fyle, 
cont tuns fame ftrong Gothic painting} ivhichfeems^forthemcft 
part, copied from the metrical romances of former ages* At leojl 
theftoryofSt* George and the fair Sabra, is taken almofi verba- 
tim from the old poetical legend of ** Syr Be^is of Hampton.^* 

This 'very antique poem ^was in great fame in ChaucerW 
time, [fee above pag* 100.] and fo continued till the intro- 
du3ion of printing, <when it ran thro* fe-veral editions ; tvjo 
of^jhich ar€ in black letter, 4/0, '* imprinted by WyUyam 
** Copland^* tuithout date ; containing great 'variations* 

As afpecimen of the poetic po<voers of this 'very oldrhimift. 
And as a proof honju clofely the author of the Seven Cham- 
pions has followed him, take a defcription of the dragon fiah 
by fir Be'vis. 

** ■ Whan the dragon, that foule is, 

** Had ajyght offyr Be'vis, 

" He caft up a loude cry, 

^* As it had thondrcd in the fky \ 

** He turned his bely toivarde the fon ; 

** // ijuas greater than any tonne : 

*• His fcales 'was bryghter then the glas, 

** And harder they fwere than any bras : 

** Bet*wene his Jhulder and his tayle, 

** Was forty fote 'withoute fayle, 

** He tvaltred out of his denne, 

** And Be'vis pricked his ftede then^ 

** And to hym a fpere he thrajle 

** That all to Jhyvers he it brafie : 

*' The dragon then gan Be'vis ajfayle, 

" And fmote Jyr Be'vis 'ujith his tayle \ 

** Then do'Uine ivent horfe and man, 

•* And tivo fybbes of Bivis hrvfed than* 



Affter 



A N D i A L L A D S. 217 

After a long fight j at lengthy as the dragon *was preparing 
to fly y fir Bevis 

** Hit him under the ivynge 

*'*' As he ivas in hisfiytnge, 

** There he was tender nxjitlout fcale^ 

*' And Be'vis thought to he his hale, 

*' Hefmoie after ^ as I you fay e, 

** With his good fivord Morglaye, 

" ^ '* *^^ ^///« Morglayyode 

** Through harte^ lyver, hone, andhloude: 

^^ To the ground fell the dragon, 

** Great joye Jyr Be^is hegon* 

** Under the fc ales al on hight 

*' Hefmote off his head forth right, 

** Anid put it on afpere : tff. ^/g^/r. JSf. /v. 

Sir Be*visU dragon is evidently the parent of that in the 

Seven Champions, fee Chap.^IJL *viz. ** The dragon no 

*" fooner had a fight of him [5/. George\ hut he ga'vefuch 

' a terrible peal, as though it had thundered in the elements • 

. . . ** Betivixt his fhoulders and his tail ^Mere fifty feet in 

* diftance, hisfcales gliftering as bright as filler, but far 

* more hard than hrafs ; his belly of the colour of gold, hut 

* bigger than a tun. Thus iveltered he from his den, fcfr. 
. . . ** The champion . . . ga've the dragon fuch a thruft ivith 

* his fpear, that it fhi'vered in a thouf and pieces : ^whereat 

* the furious dragon fo fiercely f mote him ivith his ^venomous 

* tail, that dotvnfell man and horfe ; in ivhich fall tnvo 

* of St, Georges ribs *werefore bruifed, tff.- At length 
. . St, George **finote the dragon under the nving <wher& 

* it ijuas tender ^without fcale, njohereby his good f*word Afca^- 

* ion nvith an eafie paffage 'went to the «very hilt through 

* both the dragon^ s heart, li'ver, bone and blood^-^Then St. 

* George — cut off the dragon* s head and pitcht it upon the 

* truntheon of a fpear, ^c." 

The Hifiory of the Se*ven Champions being <writtenjufi he^ 

fore the decline of books of chivalry loas never, I believe, 

tranfiated into any foreign language : But ** Le Roman d€ 

** Beuves of Hantonne,^* nvas puSliJhed at Paris in 1 502, 

Ato, Let, Gothique* 

rbt 



iiS ANCIENT SOWGS 

fhe learned SeUen tells us that about the time af the 
If or man irrvajion ivas Be'uis famous^ith the title of Earl of 
Soutbamptotty luhofe reftdence ivas at Dunoon in IViltJhire; 
but ohferves that the monkifh enlargements ofbisflory^ ha*ue 
made his *verj exiftence doubted » See Notes on Poly^Olbien, 
Song IIL 

As for the martial Hiflory of St. George, it is given up 
its entirely apocryphal. The equeftrian figure, ivorn by the 
knights of the garter, has been underfiood to be an emblem of 
ihe chrifiian ^warrior, in his fpiritual armour, *vanquijhing 
the oldferpent. But a learned i^riter has lately Jhenun that 
it is neither more nor lefs, than a charm or amulet borrofwed 
from fome eaflem heretics \ ivhich hanging been originally 
<worn as a proteSion from the malignity of the air, at length 
mjas confidered as a prefer'oati'ue from ^wounds, and a means 
to infure 'uiSory in battle. For it feems the ancient orientals 
teprefentfd the fun by a man •» horfeback^ thefun^s rtvfs hy 
afpear ; and any noxious exhalation by aferpent. SeePe* 
tingalPs dijfertation, 4/0. 

// cannot be denied, but that a great part of the following 
lallad is modern : for ivhich reafon it nuould have been 
thro^vn to the end of the volume, had not its fub/e^ procured 
Jt a place here* 



LISTEN, lords, in bower and hall, 
I fing the wonderous birth 
Of brave St. George, whofe valorous arm 
Rid monflers from the earth : 

DiftrefTed ladies to relieve J 

He travel rd many a day ; 
Xn honour of the chriftian faith. 

Which fliall endure for aye. 

In Coventry fometime did dwell 

A knight of worthy fame, 10 

High 



J 



AND BALLADS. 219 

High fteward of this iioble realxne ; 
Lord Albret was his name. 

He had to wife a princelye dame, 

Whofe beauty did excell. 
Thi^ virtuous lady, being with child^ 15 

In fudden fadnefs fell : 

For thirty nights no fooner fleepe 

Had clos'd her wakeful eyes. 
But, lo ! a foul and fearful dreame 

Her fancy did furprize : 20 

She dreamt a dragon fierce and fell 

ConceivM within her womb ^ 
Whofe mortal fangs her body rent 

Ere he to life could come. 

All woe-begone, and fad was fhe } aj 

She nourifht conftant woe : 
Yet ftrove to hide it from her lord. 

Left he ihould forrow know. 

In vain (he ftrove, her tender lord* 

Who watch'd her flighteft look, 3# 

DifcoverM foon her fecret paine. 

And foon that paine partook. 



And when to him the fearful cauiit 
She weeping did impart. 



With 



210 ANCIENT SONGS 

With kindcfl: fpccch he Urove to heal 55 

The angaiih of her heart. 

Be comforted, my lady deare, 

Thofe pearly drops refraine ; 
Betide me weal, betide me woe« 

I'll try to eafe thy paine. _^ 

And for this foul and fearful dreame» 

That caufeth all thy woe, 
Truft me 1*11 travel far away 

But I'll the meaning knowe. 



m 

Then giving many a fond embrace, 45 

And fhedding many a teare. 
To the weird lady of the woods 

He purpos'd to repaire. 

To the weird lady of the woods. 

Full long and' many a daye, 5* 

Thro' lonely ihades, and thickets rough 

He winds his weary wayc. 

At length he reached a dreary dell 

With difmal yews o'erhufjg; 
Where cyprefs fprcd it's mourtjful boughes, J5 

And pois^'nous nightfliadc fprung. 



No chearful gleams here pierc'd the gtoome, 
He hears no chearful found } 



Bar 



A N D B A L L A D S. aai 

But fhrill night-ravens yelling fcreame. 

And ferpents hifs around. 60 

The ihriek of fiends, and damned ghofls 

Ran howling thro' his eare: 
A chilling horror froze his heart, 

Tho* all vinas'd to feare. 

Three times he ftrivcs to win his waye, 6j 

And pierce thofe iickly dewes : 
Three times to bear his trembling ccfrfe 

His knocking knees refufe. 

At length upon his beating breaft 

He figns the holy croiTe; 70 

Andy roQzing up hif wonted might. 

He treads th' unhallow'd moife. 

Beneath a pendent craggy cliffe. 

All vaulted lik» a grave. 
And opening in the fo^ rocke, 7$ 

He found the inchanted cave. 

An iron grate clos'd up the mouthe. 

All hideous and forlorne ; 
And, faflen'4 by a filver chaine. 

Near hung a brazen home* 80 



Then offering up a * iccrc^t prayer,* 
Three times he 4>lowes amaifie : 



Three 



ill ANCIENT SONGS 

Three times a d^epe and hollow found 
Did anfwer him againe. 



** Sir knight, thy lady beares a fon, Sj 

** Whoy like a dragon bright, 
*' Shall prove moft dreadfal to his fi>es, 

" And terrible in fight. 

** His name adranc'd in futqjrc times 

*' On banners fhall be worne : 9* 

^* But lo ! thy lady's life muft pafie 

** Before he can be borne/* 

All fore oppreft with f^are and doabt 

Long time lord Albret flood ; 
At length he winds his doubtful waye 95 

Back thro' the dresiry wood. 

Eager to clafp his lovelye dame 

Then faft he travels backe : 
But when he reach'd his caftle gate. 

His gate was hung with blacke» lOQ 

In every court and hall he found 

A fallen filence reigne 1 
Save where, amid the lonely towers, 

He heard her maidens 'plaine ^ 

And bittefly lament and weepe, ^O) 

With many a grievous grone i 



i 



AND BALLADS. aaj 

Then fore his bleeding heart mifgave. 
His lady's life was gone. 

With faultering ftep he enters in. 

Yet half aiFraid to goe ; t f O 

With trembling voice afks why they grieve. 

Yet fears the caufe to knowe« 

** Three times the fun hath rofe and fet ; 

They faid, then ftopt to weepe : 
^ Since heaven hath laid thy lady deare . 1 1 j 

** In death's eternal fleepe. 

•* For, ah ! in travel fore ihe fell, 

** So fore that (he nuift dye ; 
*^ Unlefs fome fhrewd and canning leech 

** Could eafe her prefentlye. 129^ 

•* But when a cunning leech was fet, 

*• Too foon declared hee, 
•* She, or her babe muft lofe its life; 

** Both faved could not bee. 

•* Now take my life, thy lady faid, I25 

" My little infant fave : 
•* And O commend me to my lord, - 

** When I am laid in grave. 

** O tell him how that precious babe 
, * ' Coft him a tender wife : 130 

"And? 



ft24 ANCIENT SONGS 

** And teach my (on to lifp her name^ 
** Who died to fave his life. 

•« Then calling ftill upon thy name, 

•* And praying ftill for thee ; 
** Without repining or complaint, 135 

" Her gentle foul did flee." 

What tongue can paint lord Albret's woe. 

The bitter tears he (hed. 
The bitter pangs that wrung his heart. 

To find his lady dead ? 14^' 

He beat his breall : he tore his hair: 

And ihedding many a teare, 
At length he a(kt to fee his fon ; 

The fon that coft fo deare« 

>few forrowe feiz'd the damfetls all : 145 

At length they faultering faye ; 
•* Alas ! my lord, how. fhall we tell ? 

** Thy fou is ftoln awaye. 

" Faire as the fweeteft flower of fpring, 

*^ Such was his infant mien : 15* 

" And on his little body Hampt 

** Three wonderous marks were feen: 



** A blood-red crofs was on his arme ; 
** A dragon on his breall : 



It 



Ab'ttlc 



A N D B A L L A D S. Us 

'* A little garter all of gold 155 

** Was round his leg expreft. 



ffi 



S€ 



Three careful! nurfes we provide 

" Our little lord to keepe : 
One gave him fucke^ one gave him food^ 

** And one did lull to fleepe. 160 



*' But lo 1 all in the dead of nighty 

** We heard a fearful found : 
** Loud thunder clapt ; the caiUe fhook } 

** And lightning flaflit around. 

" Dead with affright at firfk. we lay ; l6j 

''But routing up anon^ 
" We ran to fee our little lord : 

*' Our little lord was gone ! 

" But how or where we could not tell ; 

" For lying on the ground, 1 70 

" In deep and magic (lumbers laid^ 

*• The nurfes there we founds'' 

O grief on grief ! lord Albret faid > 

No more his tongue cou*d fay. 
When falling in a deadly fwoone, I7J 

Long time he lifelefs lay. 

At length reflor'd to life and fenfe 

He nourifht endlefs woe. 
Vol. UL CL No 



aa6 A N C I E H T S O N G » 

No future joy his heart could tafte^ 

No fatuTtt comlbrc knowe. >S0 

So withers on the mountain top 

A fair and (lately oake, 
Whbfe vigorous arms are torne away,. 

By fome nude thunder-ftroke* 

At length his caftle irkfomc grtw^ tt^ 

He loathes' his wonted home j 
His native country he forfakes 

In foreign lands to roame* 

There up and downe he wandered far. 

Clad in a palmer's gowne ; '9^ 

Till his brown locks grew white as wooU 
His beard as thiftle downe* 

At lengtli^ alli wearied, down an deatk 

He laid his reverend head. 
Meantime amid the lonely wilds^ ^9^ 

His little fen was bred. 



There the weird lady of the woodr 

Had borne him far away. 
And train'd him op in feates of armes^ 

And every martial play. 



• • 



200 



n; St, 



J 



APft) BAtLADS. 



227 



fcx. GEORGE AND THE DRAGON. 

The foUowifig ballad is gi*ven (ivith fome comSions) 
from tivo ancient klack^rletter cofitf in the Pepys QplU&ion : 
I em ofwjbicb is in izmo, the other in folio • 

Of Hedor's deeds did Homer £iig; 
And 4>f the €ack of ftately Troy^ 
What griefs fair Helena did bring. 
Which was fir Paris' only joy : 
And by my pen I will recite c 

St. George's deedfi^ an EngUih knight. 

Agaiiift the Sarazens fo rude 

Fought he fttil long and mahy a day ; 
Where many gyants he fubdu'd. 

In honour of the chriftian way : le 

And after many adventures paft 
1^0 Egypt land he came at lail. 

N0W9 as the ftory plain doth tell. 

Within that countrey there did reft 

A dreadful dr^gcm £erce and feH, 15 

Whereby they were full fore opprdt : 

Who by his poifonous breath each day. 

Did many of the city flay. 

di The 



228 A N C I E l>r T SO N-G S 

The grief whereof did grow fo great 

Throughout the limits of the land, f9. 

That they their wife-men did hitreat 

To (hew their cunning out of hand ; 

What ^y they mi^t this fiend deftroy. 

That did the countrey thus annoy. 

The wife-men all before the king 2J 

This anfwer fram'd incontinent ;• 

The dragon none to death might bring 
By any means they could invent : 

His Ikin more hard than brafs was found, 

That fword nor fpear could pierce nor wound. 30 

When this the people uhderftood, 
^ They cryed out moll piteouflye, 

The dragon's breath infefts their blood. 
That every day in heaps they dye : 
Among them fuch a plague it bred, 3J 

The living fcarcc could bury the dead. 

No means there were, as they could hear. 
For to appeafe the dragon's rage. 

But to prefent fome virgin clear, 

Whofe blocd his fury might alTwage ; 4° 

Each day he would a maiden eat, * 

For to allay his hunger great. 



This 



1 



r ""■ 



AND BALLADS.. 229 

This thing by art th« wife-men found* 

Which truly muft ohfenred bc\; 
Wherefore throughout the city round , 4^ 

f ; A virgin pure of good degree 
Was by the kings commiffion i]i]l 
Taken up to ferve the diagon'^ will* 

Thus did the dragon every day 

Untimely ^rop ibme virgin flow4*, 50 

1)11 all the maids were worn away^ 

And none were left him to devour: 
Saving the kin^s fair daughter bright^ ' ' 
Her father's only heart's delight. 

Then came the officers to the king 5^ 

That heavy meflage to declare. 
Which did his heart with fotrow fling $ 

She is» quoth he, my kingdom's heir : 
O let us all be poifoned here. 
Ere fhe ihould die, that is my dear. ^ 

Then rofc the people pirefently. 

And to the king jn rage they went ; 

They faid his daughter deare (hould dye. 
The dragon's fiiry to prevent : 

Our daughters all are dead, qaoth they, 65 

And havt been made the dragons prey : 

0^3 And 



J30 ANCIENT SONQS 

And by their Uood #e veicded were» 

And thou haA r«r*d tky life th^reky ; 

Aftd now in footh it is but feirtf; 

For us thy davgbter fb fiimild die* 70 

O fave my daught»r» faid the king ; 

And let me feel thr 4ngop*i fting^ 

Then fell fair Sabra 01^ her knee. 

And to her ikther dear dkl fay, 
O father^ ftrive not thus for me^ JJ 

But let flEie be the drigim's prey ; 
It may be, foif my fakd alobe 
This plague upoii tbe laild was di»^n« 

Tis better I fhould dye, flie Cud, 

Than all your fnbjcfo pdfifli quilo | $0 

Perhaps the dragO|i here was laid. 

For my offence to work his fpite : 
And after heihath fnckt my gore^ 
Your land (hall feel the grief no more. 

What haft thou done^ my daughter dear, ^i 

For to deferve this heavy fcouige ? 
It is my faulty as may appear* 

' Which makes the gods^^vt ftate to purge j 
': ■ 'T;*icn ought I die, to ftint Che ftrife, 

A|id to preferve thy happy life, ^ 90 



A N O B A L L A D S. a ji 

madrmeo, all tl» pe(^\e cricd^ 
Thy death to us ^an do no good^ 

fOar fafety oaly doth Mie 

In making her the dragon's food. 

^ ! here I am, I come* qooth ihe, 95 

Therefore do what you will with me. 

l^ay ftay, dear dapghter* quoth the qneen^' 

And as thou art a virgin bright. 
That haft for vertue famous been. 

So let Bie <;loath thee all in white > 100 

And crown thy head with flowers iweet. 
An ornament for vijrgins meet. 

And when fhe was attired fo^ 

According to her mother's mind, 
Vnto the ftake then did flie go ; XP5 

To which her tender limbs they bind ; ' 
And being bound to flake a thndi 
She bade farewell uji^to^them ii|^ 

farewell, my father dear, ^oth Ib^ 

And my fweet mother meek and mild ; no 
Take you no thought nor weep for me. 

For you may have aiKHher child ; 
^ince for my country's good I dye^ 
I)eath I receive moftwiUinglye* 

^4 The 



2^2 AN C 1 EN T S O N G S 

The king and qiieeni alod: ^U ^tkdr train u; 

With.wecping'cyes went then their way. 
And let their daughter there remain. 

To be the hungry dragon's prey : 
But as ihe did there werping lye, J 

Behold St. George came riding by. 1^20 

And feeing there a lady {>rigbt 

So rudely iyed' unto a flak^. 
As well became a valiant knight, 

He Uraight to her his way did take : 
Tell me, fwect maiden, then quoth he, i2j 

What caitif thus abafeth thee ? 

And, lo ! by Chrift hi« crofs I vow. 

Which here is figured on my bi^aft, 

I will revenge it on his brow. 

And break ^y lance upon his cheft : 150 

And ipeaking thus whereas he ftood. 

The dragon iiTued from the wood. 

The lady that did lirff efpy 

The dreadful dragon coming fo,* 

Unto St. George aloud did cry, 15$ 

And willed him away to go ; 

Here comes that curfed fiend, quoth fhe. 

That foon will make an end of me» 



St, 



i 



AND ^B'A L L A D S. * 233 

St. George then looking round about. 

The fiery dragon foon cfpy'd, ' 140 

'And like a knight of coarse ftdut, 

Againft him did moft -fiercely ride^; 
And with fuch blows he did^m greet. 
He fell beneath hit horfe's ^tl ., i f 

For with his launde that was io Urong, 145 

As he came gaping in his face. 
In at his mouth he thruft along, 

For he could pierce no other place : 
And thus within the lady's view 
This mighty dragon ftraight he flew, i^a 

The favour of his poifoned breath 

Could, do this holy knight no harm. 

Thus he the lady fav*d from d^ath. 
And home he led her by the arm ; 

Which when king Ptolemy did fee, 155 

There was great mirth ai>d melody. 

When as that valiant cliamplon there 

Had ilain the dragon in the field. 
To court he" brought the lady fair. 

Which to their hearts miuch joy did yield, 160 
He in the court of Egypt ftaid 
Till he moft falfely was betray'd. ^ 






^34 ANCIENT SONGS 

That lady dearly hnr'd tke koigbt, 

Ht counted licr his only joy s jSe 

Bat when their love was brought to l%]^t 

It tornM anto their great annoy : 
Th' Morocco king was in the co^ir^ 
Who to the orchard did isj^fo^rt : 

J^ayly to take the pleafaat air^ 

For pleaftire fake he us'd to walk^ 179 

Under a wall he oft did hear 

St. George with lady Sabra talk ^ 
Their love he Ihew'd unto the king. 
Which to St. George ^ei^t woe did bring. 

Thofe kings together did devift 17 j 

To make the chriflian knight ^way^ 

With letters hi^ in corteous wife 
They ftraightway lent to Perfia^ 

fiat wrote to th' ibphy Jiim to kill. 

And treacherottfly his blood to fpilt ifti 

Thus they for good did him reward 

With evil, and moft fubtilly 
By much vile meanes they had regard 

To work his death moft cruelly ; 
Who, as through Perfia land he rode, if$ 

With zeal dcilrqy'd each idol god. 



For 



J 



A N D B A L L A D S. 23J 

for which offence he flraight was thrown 

Into a dangton diu-k and deep ; 
Where, when he tbooght his wrongs upon* 

He bitterly did wail and weep : 190 

Yet like a knight of courage ftoat. 
At length his way he digged out. 

Three grooms of the king of Perfia 

By night this Taliant champion flew. 

Though he had fafted many a day ; 19c 

And then away from thence he flew- 

On the heft fleed the fophy b»d ; 

Which when he knew he was full mad. 

Towards Chriilendom he made his flight. 

But met a gyant by the way, 200 

With whom in combat he did fight 
Moft valiantly a fummer's day : 

Who yet, for all his bats of &e€l. 

Was forcM^^ fting of death to feel. 

Sack o'er the feas with many bands toj^ 

Of warlike ibuldiers foon he pad, 
Vowing upon thoTe heathen lands 

To work revenge ; which at the laft. 
Ere thrice three years were gone and fpent, 
He wrought qn^ bis heart's coittent« 2tci 

Save 



^»»J 



436 ANCIENT SONGS 

Save onely Egypt land he fpar'd 

For Sabra bright her only fake. 
And, erp for her he had regard, * 

He meant a tryal kind to make : 
Mean while the king overcome in field 915 

Unto faint George cUd quickly yields 

Then ilraight Morocco's king he flew» 

And took hir Sabra to his wife. 
Bat meant to try if ihe were true ' 

Ere with her he would lead his life : 22« 

And, tho' he had her in his train. 
She did a virgin pure remain. 

Toward England then that lovely dame 
The brave St. George condui^d ftnut* 

An eunuch alfo with them canie, 225 

Who did upon the lady wait ; 

Thcfe three from -Egypt went alone. 

Now mark St* George's valour ihowA. 

When as they in a foreft were. 

The lady did defire to reft ; 230 

Mean while St. George t,o kill a deer. 

For their repaft did think it beft : 
Leaving her with the eunuch there, 
; Whilft he did go to kill the deer. 



Bat 



J 



AND BALLADS.. 237 

But lo ! all in his al)rence came 235 

Two hungry lyons fierce and fell. 
And tore che eunuch on the fame 

Jn pieces fmalU the truth to tell ; 
Down by the lady then they laid. 
Whereby they fhew'd, ihe was a maid* 240 

But when he came from hunting back. 
And did behold this heavy chance. 

Then for his lovely virgin's fake 

His courage ^rsax he did advance. 

And came into the lions iight, 24c 

Who ran at him with all their might* 

Their rage did hin^ no whit difmay. 

Who, like* a flout and valiant knight. 

Did both the hungry lyons flay 

Within the lady Sabra's fight : 250 

Who all this while fad and dem|ire. 

There flood mofk like a virgin pure. 

Now when St. George did furely know 

This lady was a virgin true. 
His heart was glad, that erft was )voe, 2^^ 

And all his love did fpon renew : 
He fet her on a palfrey deed. 
And towards England came with fpeed^ 



Where 



tii AKCIENT SONGS 

Where being in fhort (pace arriv'd 

Unto his native dwelling place ; 260 

Therein with his dear love he Kv*d, 

And fortune did his nuptials gface : 
They many years of j<^ did fee. 
And led their lives at Coventry. 



m. 



LOVE WILL FIND OUT THE WA^. 

Tits excellent fong is ancient : but we couU onfy give it/rai 

motlem cofies* 

OVER the mountains^ 
And over the wavesr ; 
Under the fonjitains. 

And under the graves ; 
Over floods, that are deepefl, J 

Which Neptune obey ; 
Over rocks that are fteepcft,' 
Love will find oat the wa/. 

Wiere there is no place 

For the glow-worm to ly* ; io 

Where there is no fpace 

For receipt of a fly ; 



AND BALLADS. 239 

Wh^re the midge dares not venture. 

Left herfelf faft ifae lay ; 
If love come, he will enter, ij 

And foQn find oat his wzy* 

You may efteem him 

A child for his might ; 
Or yon may deem him 

A coward from his flight t 20 

tut if fhe, whom love doth honoar. 

Be coneeal'd from the day. 
Set a thottfand guards upon her, 

tiove will £nd out the way. 

Some think to k>(e l^m, 2g 

By having him confined ; 
And fome do fuppofe him. 

Poor thing, to be blind ; 
But if ne*er fo elofe ye wall him^ 

Do the bell that you may, 30 

Blind love, if (b ye call him, 

Will find out his way. 

You may train the eagle 

To ftoop to your fill 5 
Or you may'inveigle 35 

The phenix of the eait ; 
The lionefs, ye may move her 

To give o'er her prey ; 
But you'll ne'er flop a lover : 

He will find out his way. 40 



L 



a40 ANCIENT SOKGS 



IV. 

LORD THOMAS AND FAIR ANNET, 
A Scottish Ballad, 



^^feems to be compofed (not luitbout imfro<uemints) nU oft*m0 
ancient Englijh ones, printed ir^ the former part oftbisvtbau* 

See hook L hallad XV. and hook IL ballad IV. If tint 

had been the original^ the authors of tbofe tftvo ballads fwouU 
hardly have adopted fwofuch ^^fftrtnt ftofies : befidis^ tins 
tontains enlargements not to be found in iithgr of the others. 
It is given ivith fome correJlions, from a MS, copy trontf* 
mittedfrom Scotland. 



LORD Thomas and fair Annet 
Sate a' day on a hill ; 
Whan night was cum, and fun was fett. 
They had not talkt their filL 



.. • 



Lord Thomas faid a word in jeft. 
Fair Annet took it ill : 

A' ! I will ncvir wed a wife 

Againft my ain friends will# 



Gif 



V 



A N D B A L L A D S. 241 

Gif ye wull nevir wed a wife, 

A wife wull neir wed yee. 10 

Sae he is hame to tell his ihithery 

And knelt upon his knee : 

O rede, O rede, nuther,* he fays, 

A gude rede gie to mee : 
O fall I tak the nut-browne bride, i^ ' 

And let faire Annet bee ? 

The nut-browne bride haes gowd and gear. 

Fair Annet fhe has gat nane ; 
And the little beauty fair Annet hae5, 

O it wull foon be gane ! 20 

And he has till his brother gane : 

Now brother rede ye mee ; 
A' fall I marrie the nut-browne bride. 

And let fair Annet bee ? 



^The nut-browne bride has oxen, brother, 25 

The nut-browne bride has kye; 
I wad hae ye marrie the nut-browne bride. 

And call fair Annet bye. 

Her oxen may dye i* the houfe, Billie, 

And her kye into the byre ; 30 

And I fall hae nothing to my fell, 

Bot a fat fadge by the fyre. 
Vol. m. R And 



242 ANCIENT SONGS 

And he has till his Mer gane : 

Now fitter rede ye mce ; 
P fall I marrie the aut-browne bride, j; 

And fet fur Annet free ? 

Ife rede ye tak fair Annet, Thomas, 

And let the browne bride alane ; 
Left ye fould figh and fay, Alace I 

What is this we brought hame ? 40 

No, I will tak my mithers coanfel. 

And marrie me owt o' hand ; 
And I will tak the nut-browne bride ; 

Fair Annet may leive the land* 

Up then rofe fair Annets father 45 

, Twa hours or it wer day. 
And he is gane into the bower. 
Wherein fair Annet lay. 

Rife up, rife up, fair Annet, he fays. 

Put on your filken (heene ; 5* 

Let us gae to St. Maries kirke. 
And fee that rich weddeen. 

My maidcs, gae to my dreffing roome. 

And drefs to me my hair ; 
Whair-eir yee laid a plait before, 5> 

See yee lay ten times mair. 

My 



I. 



A N D B A L L A D S. 243 

V 

My maids, gae to my dreffing roqm. 

And drefs to me my fmock ; 
The one half is o* the holland fine. 

The other o' needle-work. £o 

The horfe fair Annet fade upon. 

He amblit like the wind, 
Wi* filler he was (hod before, 

Wi' burning gowd behind. 

Four and twanty filler bells 6c 

Wer a' tyed till his mane, 

« 

And yae tift o* the norland wind. 
They tinkled ane by ane. 

Four and twanty gay gude knichtt 

Rade by fair Annets fide, 70 

And four and twanty fair ladies. 

As gin file had bin a bride. 

And whan (he cam to Maries kirk. 

She fat on Maries ftean ; 
The cleading that fair Annet had on 75 

It ikinkled in their een. 

And whan (he cam into the kirk. 

She fhimmer'd like the fun ; 
The belt that was about her waiH, 

Was a' wi' pearles bedone. ^o 

R d She 



244 ANCIENT SONGS 

* 

Sic fat her by the nut-brownc bride. 

And her een they wer fae clear. 
Lord Thomas he clean forgat the bride^ 

Whan fair Annet drew near. 

He had a rofe into his hand, 85 

He gae it kiffes three. 
And reaching b/ the nut-browne bride. 

Laid i( on fair Annets knee. 

Up than fpak the nnt-browne bride^ 

She fpak wi' meikle fpite ; 90 

And whair gat ye that rofe-water. 

That does mak yee fae white ? 

> 
O I did get the rofe-water, 

Whair ye wuU neir get nane. 
For I did get that very rofe-water 95 

Into my mithers wame. 

The bride ihe drew a long bodkin, 

Frae out her gay head gear. 
And ilrake fair Annet unto the heart. 

That word Ihe fpak nevir mair. wo 

Lord Thomas he faw fair Annet wex pale. 

And marvelit what mote bee ; 

But whan he faw her dear hearts blude, 

A' wood-wroth wexed hee« 

He 



^ 



AND BALLADS. 245 

He drew his dagger, that was fae iharp, 105 

That was fae fharp and meet, 
And drave it into the nutrbrowne bride. 

That fell deid at his feit» 

Now ftay for me, dear Annet, he fed. 

Now ftay, my dear, he cry'd ; no 

Than drake the dagger untill his heart, 
' And fell deid by her fide. 

Lord Thomas was buried without Idrk-wa', 

Fair Annet within the quiere ; 
And o' the tane thair grew a birk| 115 

The other a bonny briere. 

And ay they grew, and ay they threw. 

As they wad faine be neare ; 
And by this ye may ken right weil. 

They were twa luvers deare, 120 



R 3 V- UN- 



146 ANCIENT S O N G S 



V. 

U N F A D I N G BEAUTY, 

» 

fhis little heautifuljonnet is rtfriniedfrom afmallnjdMm 
of ** Poems hy Thomas Carew, Ej\\ one if the gentle- 
'* men of the fri'vie -chamber y and 'e^wer in ordinary to his 
*^ majejiy (Chm Us I). Lond. 1640.*' This elegant^ and 
aim- ft-f or gotten <vuriter^ .<whQ/e poems defen/i to 6e. revived, 
died 'Ti the prime of his age, in 1639. 

la the original follo^is^s a thirl Jlanza^ njuhich not leing 
of general applicatiotty nor of equal merits I have ventured 
to omit, 

HEE thaj: loves arofie <;Keekc» 
Or a corall lip admires. 
Or from flar-like eyes dpch ieeke 

, Fuell to maintaine hi;s $rj&$ ; 
As old time makes thefe decay, j 

So his flames muft wafle away. 

But a fmooth and (ledfafl mind. 

Gentle thoaghts, and calme defires. 

Hearts with eqUal love combin'd 

Kindle never-dying fires : 10 

Where thefe are not I defpife 

Lovely cheekesy or lips, or eyes* 

• * • • • 

VI. GEORGE 



AND BALLADS. 247 



VI. 
GEORGE BARNWELL. 

^h€ fiihjeB of this ballad is fufficientlypopular from themo^ 
itrnplay 'which is founded upon it. This <was ^written by 
George Lillo a jeiveller of London y and fir ji a3ed 
about ij '^o,^-''^As for the ballad J it ivas printed at leafi as 
early as the middle of the lafi century. 

It is here gvve7i from three old printed copies y 'which ex- 
hibit a firange intermixture of Roman and black letter. It 
is alfo collated ^th another copy in the AJhmole colleSiion at 
Q^ordy 'which is thus intitledy ** jin excellent ballad of 
"George Barnwell, an apprentice of London^ 'who 
** . . . thrice robbed his mafier and murdered his ijncle in 
** Ludlonv, The tune is ** i'he Merchant,^* 

This tragical narrati've feems to relate a realfa& ; but 
nmhen it happened I k^t^^ not been able to difcoiter. * 

» • 

The First Part. 

AL L youths of fair England 
That dwell both far and near. 
Regard my ftory that I tell. 
And to my fong give ear. 

A London lad I was, 5 

A merchant's prentice bound ; 
My name George Barnwell ; that did fpend 

My mafier many a pound. 

R 4. Take 



248 ANCIENT SONGS 

Take heed of harlots then. 

And their enticing trains ; t« 

For by that means I have been brought 

To hang alive in chains* 

As I, upon a day. 

Was walking through the ftreet 
About my matter's buiinefs, ij 

A wanton I did meet. 

A gallant dainty dame. 
And fumptuous in attire ; 
, With fmiling look (he greeted me. 

And did my name require* so 

Which when I had declarM, 

She gave me then a kifs, 
And faid, if I would come to her, 

I fhould have more than this* 

Fair miitrefs, then quoth I, t$ 

If I the place may know. 
This evening I will be with you. 

For I abroad muil go 

To gather monies in. 

That are my matter's due ; JO 

And ere that I do home return, 

I'll come and vifit you. 

Good 



J 



AND BALLADS. 249 

Geod Barnwell, then quoth (he. 

Do thou to Shoreditch come. 
And aflc for Mrs. Millwood's liouie, 5 j; 

Next door unto the Gun. 

And truft me on my truth. 

If thou keep touch with me. 
My deareft friend, as my own heart 

Thou ihalt right welcome be. 40 

Thus parted we in peace. 

And home I pafTed right ; 
Then went abroad, and gathered in. 

By fix o'clock at night. 

An hundred pound and o>ne 2 • 4j 

With bag under my arm 
I went to Mz9.:MiUwQod's houfe. 

And thought on little harm ; 

And knocking at th^ door. 

Straightway herfelf came down; go 

Riiftling in ;noft bntYe attire. 

With hood and filken gown* 

Who, through her beauty bright. 

So gloriouily did fhine, ' 
That fhe amas^'d my daszlin^ eyeS| -5$ 

She feemed fo divine. . 

She 



ISO A N C.IEN T SON GS 

She took me by the haady . 
And with a mocjeft gracQ, 
Welcome, fwee^^S^awelly then qttO& fliei» 

Unto this homely place, . . . 60 

And fince I have thee fouod 

As good as thy word to be. ; 
A homely lupgcF^ ere we pvt,. 

Thou ihalt tak? hse^c witkonc 

pardon me, quoth I, .6j 
Fair miftrefs, I yoi| pray ; /.. 

For why, out i>tmj mafter^a H^iifi^ 
So long I dare not ftajr. 

Alas, good Sir, (he faui, ' : 

Arc you fo ftriftly ty'd^ - Jo 

You may not wj^ your dcareftftfead 

One hour or two aUUlei* ' 

Faith, then the cafe is hard. 
If it be fo, quotkihe; . . 

1 would I were a prentice bouadt 75 

To live along with, thee : 

Therefore, my daareA George, 

Lift well what I fhall fay. 
And do not blaane a woman iliocliif 

Her fancy to bewray. 80 

Z, Let 



\ 



.1 



J 



AND BALLADS. , 251 

I^t not aiFeftion's force 

Be counted lewd deiire. 
Nor think it not immodefty, 

I fhould thy love require 

With that ihe turn'd afid^, . ^5 

r And with a blafhii^ red, 
A mournful motion (he bewray'd 
By hanging dowu her head* * 

A handkerchief (he had^ ^ 

All wrought with iiik and gold: 90 

.lyhich ihe to Itay hei- trickling tear* 
Before her eyes .4id kol4^ . 

This thing unto my fight. 

Was wondrous rare and flrange ; 
And in my (biil and iaward though^ 9I 

It wrought a fudd^ii i^h9nj;e : 

That I fo hardy grew, , 

To take hec by the htind : 
Saying, Sweet miftrefS) why ^ yom 

So dull and penfive lland I io# 

Qall me no miilrei^ now, . 

But Sarah, thy truA fiiend. 
Thy fervant, Millwood, JuniOBjitigtkcf, 

Until her life hatk cmd* 



aji ANCIENT SONGS 

If thou wouldft here alledge, 105 

Thott art in years a boy ; 
So was Adonis, yet was he 

Fair Venus* only joy. 

. Thus I, who ne'er before 

Of woman found fuch grace, 1 10 

But feeing now fe fair a dame 
Give me a kind embrace, 

I fupt with her that night, 
. With joys that did abound ; 
And for the feme paid prefently, 1 15 

In money twice three pound* 

An hundred kifles then. 
For my farewel ihe gave ; 
' Crying, Sweet Bamwell, when fliall I 

Again thy company have ? 120 

O Hay not hence too long. 

Sweet George, have me in mind* 
Her words bewitcht my childiihnefs, 
f She uttered them fo kind: 

So that I made avow, ^ I2j 

Next Sunday without fail, 
With my fweet San^ once again, 

To tell fome pleafant tale. 

Whca 



J 



A N D B A L LADS. 253 

When fhe heard me fay fo. 

The tears fell from her eye ; 1 30 

O George, quoth (he, if thou doil fail. 

Thy Sarah furc will dye. 

Though long, yet loe ! at laft. 

The appointed day was coQie, 
That I muft with my Sarah meet ; 13^ 

Having a mighty fum 

Of money in my hand; 

Unto her houfe went I, 
Whereas my love upon her bed 

In faddeft fort did lye. 140 

What ails my heart's delight, 

My Sarah dear ? quoth I ; 
Let not my love lament and grieve. 

Nor fighing pine, and die. 

But tell me, deareft friend, 145 

What may thy woes amend. 
And thou fhalt lack no means of help. 

Though forty pound I fpend. 

With that fhe turn'd her head. 

And fickly thus did fay, 150 

Oh me, fweet George, my grief is great. 

Ten pound I have to pay ' 

Unto 



154 ANCIENT SONGS 

Unto a cruel wretch ; 

And God he knows, qnoth ihe» 
I have it not. Tufli, rife, I faid, 15J 

And take it here of me. 

Ten pounds, nor ten dmes ten, 

Shall make my love decay. 
Then from my bag into her lap, 

I caft ten pound ilraightway. 1(0 

All blithe and pleafant then. 

To banqueting we go ; 
She profFered me to lye with her. 

And faid it fhould be fo. 

And after that fame time, 165 

I gave her ftore of coyn. 
Yea, fometimes fifty pound at once ; 

All which I did purloyn. 

And thus I did pafs on ; 

Until my matter then lyt 

Did call to have his reckoning i« 

Call up among his men. 

The which when as T heard, 

I knew not what to fay : 
For well I knew that I was out 175 

^wo hundred pound that day» 

Then 



A N D B A L L A D S. 255 

Then from my maiier fbaight 

I ran in fecret fort ; 
And unto Sarah Millwood there 

My cafe I did report* 180 

But how fhe us'd this youth. 

In this his care and woe. 
And all a flrumpet's wiley ways, - 

The SECOND FART may fhowe. 



The Second Part. 



YOUNG Barnwell comes to thee. 
Sweet Sarah, my delight ; 
I am undone unlefs thou fland 
My faithful friend this night. 

Our mailer to accompts> 5 

Hath jufl occafion found ; 
And I am caught behind the hand. 

Above two hundred pound: 

And now his wrath to 'fcape. 

My love, I fly to thee, 10 

Hoping fome time I may remaine 

In fafety here with thee. 

With 



156 ANCIENT SONGS 

With that (he knit her brows. 

And looking all aquoy* 
Qaoth ihe» What ihould I have to do 15 

With any prentice boy ? 

And feeing you have pnrlpyn'd 

Your mailer's goods away. 
The cafe is bad, and therefore here 

You ihall no longer ftay. 20 

Why, dear, thou knowft, I faid. 

How all which I could get, 
I gave it, and did fpehd it all 

Upon thee every whit. 

Qaoth fhe. Thou art a knave, 25 

To charge me in this fort, 
peing a woman of credit fair. 

And known of good report* 

Therefore I tell thee flat. 

Be packing with good fpeed, 5^ 

I do de&e thee from my heart, 

And fcorn thy filthy deed. 

Is this the friend (hip that 

You did to me proteft ? 

Is this the great aiFe6lion which 35 

You fo to me expreft ? 

Now 



AND Ball AD & as/ 

Now fie on fabtle ihrews !. 

Tke beft is, I may ipeed 
To get a iodgiag any whete 

For money in my medL ^ .^ 

J^aUewoman^ HowfareweU, 

Whilft twenty poand doth U^ 
My anchor in ibme other haven 

With freedom I will caft* • 

When fte perceiF*d by th», ^- 

I had ftore of money th^re : 
Stay, George, quoth Ae, dioa art too quick : 

Why, man, I did but jeer ; 

Doft think for all my fpccch* 

That I would let thee go ? j^ 

Faith no, iaid flie, my love to thee 

I wifs is more than fg. 



Yon fcorne a prentice boy^ 

I heard you juft now (wear. 
Wherefore I will not trouble you. 

Nay, George, hark in thine ear; 



5S 



Thou (halt not go to-night. 

What chance foe'rc befall : 
But man we'll have a bed for thee, 

Ot elfs the devil take all. ^ 

Vox.. III. S S^ 



«5» AN GIE-KT SONUS 

So I by wiles bcwitcht. 

And fnar'd with faAef ttUy 
Had thcE no power »*g«:* WMft 
^ y Or to withftand her wStt« 

For wine on wife I GallM» ^i 

And cheer upon ^<ood dieeri 
And nothing in Ae W^ild I thooghl 

For Sarah's love too itean 

: Whilft in her company, 

I had fuch merrkntirt s ?• 

All, ^1 too liWfc I «d tMnk, 
That I upon her fpent. 

■ 

A fig for care and thlMglit t 
. > When all my gol4 ii gone. 

In faith, my git!, we wiU kaire more^ 7 J 

Whoever I light upon. 

My father's rich, why theft ' 

Should I want ftorc of gold f 
Nay with a father fiirc, quoth ihe, 

A fon may well make bold. •• 

IVe a lifter richly wed, 

I'll rob her ere 111 want. 
Nay, then quoth Sarah, they may well 

Confider of your fcant. 

Nay, 



K)ay> I an ancle hare, 1g« 

At Ladlow he doth iAmU i 
be is a graziei^ wUdi In wtfdtfi: 

Doth all the reft exoM. 

Ere I will live injfakck. 

And have no coyn for tiimnx 00 

m rob his hpttie, §ui MoaUfdnr Um» 

Why ihoald 70a not i qaolk Ami 

Was I a man, ere I 

Would live in pooi^ efixtoi 
On father, friend^ jnd ali af ldn» ^^ 

I woald my talons gratt« ^ 

For without money, George, 

A man is but a isctlf : 
But bringing .aMae)r, 'thMiibidtibfe 

Always my welcome ^gmsiL too 

for (hottldft thou be r«^!*H 

With twenty hues and cxyos^ 
And with a warrant liBardUadiar 

With Argus' hundred eyes> 

Yet here thou (halt be f«& $ jo^ 

Such privy ways ^ore he, . 
Th^t if they fought an kaadsod yca^ 

They could not find ost dbotf* 

S z And 



'•V . 



I 

L 



*' 



z6o ANCIENT SONGS 

. And fo caronfiag both 

Their pleafures to contents m 

Georg;o Bamwell had in little fpsoe 
His money wholly fywu 

Which done, to Ladlow fttaigte 

He did provide to go» 
To rob his wealthy uncle there; iij 

His minion would it £>• 

And once he thought to take 

His father by the way,' 
But that he ftar^d his mailer had 

Took order for his fiay. 129 

Unto his uncle then 

He rode with might and main. 
Who with a welcome and go^ chctr 
V . Did Barnwell entertain* 

One fortnight's fpace. he ftayed, 125 

Until it chanced fo, 
His uncle with his cattle did 

Unto a m»>ket gQ.^ . ^ 

; His kinfman rode with him» 

Where he did fee right plains 130 

Great ftore .of .mp&ey he had took : 
When coming JMNtoeagain, . 



vW 



Sudden 



AND BALLAD &• 261 

Sadden within a wood» 

He ftrack his uncle dovirn^ 
And beat M$ brains oat of his head ; 1 3 j 

So fore he crackt his crowm 

Then feizing fbti^Aore potin<^ 

To London firaight he hyed> 
And unto Svtk Millwood all 

The cmell faft delayed. 1^0 

Tolhy 'tis no matter, Geofg;ei, 

So we the money have 
To have good cheer in jolly fo|t» 

And deck ns fine and brave. 

Thus lived in filthy fort, ^ >4J 

Until their fiore was gone : 
When SAean$ to get them any more, j 

I wis, poor George had none* 

Therefore in railing fort. 

She thrufi: hiin out of door : 150 

Which is the juA reward of thofe, 

Who ipend upon a whore. 

O ! do me not diigrace 

In this myneedy quoth he* 
She call'd him thief and murderer, 155 

With all the fpjght might be : 

S3 To 



« , 



.a«2 AKTCi^^KT SONGS 

To the conftable flie fcn^ 

To have him app]«heMM$ *• 
t And fhe^a }tiv$ ^Af r il»^ •skM ^^V^r 

He had the la#»«f0siMfcitr i6q 

When Barnwell 4w*»'htr^«Wftv 
To fca he got'lbcrf^vwij'f 
Where fear, and dfRg ^ etkiM^RP 
' ■ . I . Continually on hiia Jiji* -»- 'I 

Utato the lord n^qetM^tli^nr |6| 

He did a letter wrilei . ... 

In which his •^ akict SftP^tik^ (Hii}|« 
He did at large r«ci«v. - 

Whereby (he feized waey '''*^ ** " * ■ 

And then to Ltdlbvi ftivt t ^ 170 

Where flietWfts^ji^d, «cmd<9i»^<i». Mi# iMg^. 
For murder -fecofelilienU '^ . ^ 

There dyed this gallant qtMOft* ^ 

Such was her gteftteil'galss^l^ 
Por murder iik ^nloii^iay ' 175 

Was Barnwell h^gM in dltiftii« 



k1 



- r 



Lo ! here's the end of yotitby 
That af^er harioi6 lUkuit ; 
ri^ Who in the i^ii ^ atb«rin«D) 

About t|ie fbettt <^ flftrntf . : 1 80 

^'i * Vn. HENCE 



ii:ND BAttAl>S«' .46$ 



•y 

*« 



m 



THE S TED FA ST SHEPHBIID. 

1 » i 

• » 

fhe/e heautiful Stan%£Vi nutrg wfkieu' ffy Georgx 
Wither, of nuhomfome> account <was gi'ven. in the former 
fart of this Volume ; fee the fong intttUiy The Shep- 
herds Resolution,/. 190. In our frft Edition only 
^ a fmall Fragment of^s So9^ heul k¥V'r4Co^fereik ilft ive 
are notv aple to pve. it mptt ferfiS and.iutirei hy the in*- 
fertton of five additional Stanxfn ' ^hefe aire extra&edfrom 
Wither' s PafioralPoem^ The MrsTTRirss^ or Phixarete ; 
ofnuhich this Song maim a part ^ There njo»e two or three 
sther StanfcaSi hut as they affe^iKid ^a b^ of inferior merits 
njuere not adopted. 

HENCE awaf, you Syrens, leavq me. 
And unclafpe youx wanton armes ; 
Sugred words fhall ne'er deceive me, 

(Though * you* prove a thoufand charmes). 
Fie, fie, forbeare; 5 

No common (hare 
Could ever my aiTedion (;liaine i 
Your painted baits, 
AndpQore deceits,' 
Are all beftowed oa me in vaine*. 10 

yett 4. thou P, C, 
' ;» S 4 Fmc 



s64 ANCIENT SONGS 

§ 

Fine no flave to fach, as you be ; 

Neither iball a fiiowy hre^ 
Wanton eye, or Up of mby 
Ever robb me of my reft : 

Goe, goe, difpUy rj 

Your bea^utie's ray 
To Ibme ore*ib6oc enamonr'd fwaine : 
Thofe common wilei 
Of $ghs and fmiles 
Areallbeftowe4oQmexnyaine« zi 

I liaye elfewhere vowed a dutie ; 

Tnme away * yonr * tempting eyes ; 
Shew not me a naked beantie ^ 
Thofe impoftures I de^ife : 
My fpirit iothes , ^5 

Where gawdy clothes 
And fained othes may love obtaine : 
I love her fo, 

' Whofe loojce fweares No ; 
That all your labours will be vaine. jo 

Can he prise the tainted pofies. 

Which on evexy breft are worne ; 
That may plncke the ipotleile rofes 

From their never-touched thome f $S 

I can goe reft 
On her fweet breft. 



yier, $>%, thy. P. C« 



That 



J 



AND B A L LA D S. %6s 

THatU the pride of Cynthia's traine : 

Then hold your tongues ; 

Your Qfennaid fongs 
Are all beftowed on me in vaine. ^ 

Hee's a foole, that baiely dallies. 

Where each peafant mates with him : 
Shall I haont the thronged vallies, 

Whilft ther's noble hils to climbe ? 
Noy no, though cloivnes ^e 

. Ajre ftar'd .with £rownes, 
I know the beftcan but difdaine ; 
And tbofe He prove ; 
So fliall your love 
Be all beftowed on me in vaine. 5« 

I doe fcome to vow a dutie. 

Where each luftfnll lad may wooe ; 
Give me her, whofe fun-like beautie 
Buzzards dare not foare onto : 
Shee, ihee it is e^ 

A£fbords that blifTe 
For which I would refufe no paine r 
But fuch as you. 
Fond fooles, adieu ; 
Yoo ieeke to captive me in vaine. (o 

Leave me then, you Syrens, leave me ; 

Seeke no more to worke my harmes ; 
Craftie wiles cannot deceive me, 

Who am proofe agai^ft your charmes : 



H66 ANCI ENT SONGS 

YoJCtUboor iQ4y 65 

To lead ailray 
The heart, that co^lUnA iliaU xcvwnt : 

And I the whiU 

Will fit and fmile 
To fee yott (pei4.y9«r tm^ i|i vai^t. . 70 



VOT. 

THE SPANIS.HVIlt6^lN, ©* R^FFECTS 

OFJEALOUSY. 

« 

.ThefuhjeS of this Ballad is taken fram a fqlio coUeSion 
tf tragical fiories^ intitUd '* The theatre of God^s judg* 
mtentSf by Dr. BeMfdandDr* Taylor y 164*. Pf, t.f, 89. 
'—The text is gi'ven (tmthfome corre3ion$) from two «- 
fits ; one of them in black Utter im^theFifyi e§BeMm. In 
this every ft^nxa is a£ai>i^ani$d nuitb tin JkUormfng difiicb 
by «way of burden^ 

" Ohjeahufie ! thou artnurft in hell : 
^ << Depart femmhimt^ andtksrmn dwoik*^ 



A 



L L tender hearts^, that ake to hear 






Of thofe that ftffer wrong ; 
All you, that never flied a t^ar. 
Give heed unto m^ foag;* 

Fair Ifabella's tragedy S 

My tale doth far exceed : 
Alas ! that fo much cruelty 

r 

In female hearts flio.i^ld breed ! 

In 



AND BALLADSir ^67 

In Spain a bdf BtM of late. 

Who was of Kigh degree ; 10 

Whofe wayward tenper did cieate 

Much woe and mfery^ 

Strange jealoufifltf & filPd ker head 

With many a vun Ainnize> 
$he thougftft her lord had wronged her bed, 15 

And did her lort de^iiib^ 

A gentlewoman paAng fair 

Did on th]» lady wait) 
With braveft da«ie$ ihe night eompare ; 

{ler be^oty was compleat. zo 

|ier lady caft a jealoue eye 

Upon this gentle maid ; 
And taxt her wki^ difloyaltyei 

And did her oft npbfaid. 

In filenco ffiK Ais maid«n meefc 25 

Her bitter taants wovld bear. 
While oft adown her lovely cheek 

Would fteal the falling tear. 

In vain in bnmbte fi>rC fiie firove 

Her fury to dlfarm ; 30 

As well the meeknefi of the dove 

The*bloody hawke. might charm* 

Her 



<.* 



1^ 



26» ANCIENT SONGS 

Her lord of humour ligkt and gay. 

And innocent the while. 
As oft as ihe came in his way» $i 

Would on the damfell fmile. 

And oft befbre his lady*s face. 

As thinking her her ftiehd. 
He . wcfuld the maiden's modeft grace 

And comelinefs 00mmeAd# 4* 

All which iacens'd-his lady ib 

She burnt with wrath extreame ; 
At length the iire that kmg did ghrnh 

Burft forth into a flami^. 

For on a day it fo befell, ' 45 

When he was gone from home. 
The lady all with rage did fw<U> 

And to the damfcll ^ofa^ , — 

And charging her with great offence. 
And many z grievous fault $ 5* 

She bade her fervants drag her thence. 
Into a difmal vault. 

That lay beneath the comition-ihore : 

A dungeon dark and deep ; 
Where they were wont, in days of yore, 55 

Offenders great to k^p. , 

There 



n 



A N D B A L L A D 8. 269 

There never light of chearfal dajr 

DHpers'd the hideoas gloom ; 
Bttt dank and noifome vapours plajr 

Around the wretched room : 69 

And adders, fnakes, and toads therein. 

As afterwards was known. 
Long in this loathfome vault had bin. 

And were to monfters grown. 

Into this foul and fearful place, (j 

The fair one innocent 
Was caft, before her lady's face ; 

Her malice to content* 

This maid no ^ner enterM is. 

Bat ilrait, alas! ihe hears 70 

7he toads to cibak, and fnakes to hifs : 

Then grievodly flie fears, 

» 

Soon from their holes the vipers creep. 

And fiercely her aflail : 
Which makes the damfel fbrely weep, 75 

And her fad fate bewaiU 

With her fair hands (he Mves in vain 

Her body to defend : 
With ihrieks and cries (he doth complain, 

Bat all is to no end. to 

A fcr* 



A fervant lUbiing ftfku At icon 
Struck with her doleful soifei 
Stnut ran his kdy to imjftlore ; 

i Bttt fhe'll not hear lus voice* 

With bleedkg fatert lie pies ageA «{ 

To mark the maiden's grdass; 
And plainly hebts* within tin dssi 

How ihe herfelf bemoftna* 

Again he to his lady^^lne» 

With all the hafte he ma^ : . ij6 

She into furious pafion flies» 

And orders him away. 

Still back again does he return 

To hear her tender cries i ' 
The virgin now had ceas'd to xftoum ; $5 

Which iiird him with fuiprixe. 

In grief, and horror, and'a&jgift. 

He liltens at the walls ; 
•Sot finding ^il was £le&t qai(e» 

He to his lady calls. 100 

Too fure, G lady, now quoth hflb 

Your cruelty hath fped : 
Make hiAf for &ame, and come and feei 

I fear the virgin's dead. 

She 



vj 



she ftarts to hear her fadden fat^ 105 

. And does with torches ran : 
But all her haile was n6W too late^ 
For death his worft had done* 

The door being open'd Urait they SmaA 

The virgin ftretchM along : I to 

Two 4r^adfal fnakes had wrapt her rcnmd. 
Which her X0 death had ftang. 

One round her legs, her tlnghs, her vtxlt 

Had twin'd his fatal wreath : 
The other dofe her neck emBrac'd^ 1 15 

And flopt her gentle breath. 

The fnakes» being from her body thruft> 

Their bellies were fo filPd, 
That with excefs of blood they barft. 

Thus with theit prey were*kiird» 120 

The wicked lady at thh *ght. 

With horror flrait ran mad ; 
So raving dy'd as was moft right, 

Caufe ihe iio pity hud. 

Let me advife you, ladks all, 125 

Of jealottfy beware : 
It caufeth many a one to fall. 

And is the devif s fnare. 






IX. JEALOUSY 



Va AJMCIENT SONGS 



IX. 

JEALOUSY tyRANt OF THE MIND. 
From a MMu/cri^ ti^ tmauudcaud t» the Sditiri 

f 

WHAT ftate of life can be fo bleft» 
As love that warms the gentle hretki 
Two fouls in one ; the fame defire 
To grant the blifs, and to require : 
If in this heayen a hell we^nd, e 

'Tis all from thee, ^ 

O Jealoufie ! 
Thoa tyrant, tyrant of the mind* 

All other ills, though fliarpe they prove. 
Serve to refine and perfed love : i« 

In abfence, or unkind difdaine. 
Sweet hope relieves the lovers paine : 
But, oh, no cure but death we find 
To fett us free 

From jealouiie, 15 

Thou tyrant, tyrant of the mind. 

Falfe in thy glafs all objeds are. 

Some fett too near, and fome too farre : 

Thou art the fire of endlefs night. 

The fire that burns, and gives no light* 2« 



J 



: AND B A L L A.p S. 173 

All torments of the damn'd we find 

In only thee, 

O Jeaiouiie ; 
Thou tyraht, tyrant of the mind. 



5C. 



CONSTANT PENELOPE. 

9 

The ladies are indebted for the foih^ing nolahle dhcumenti 
to the Pepys colleSlioriy ishere the original is prefirmed in black-- 
Utter J and is intitledy ** A looking-glafs for ladies ^ or a mirrour 
^^for married ^women. Tune ^een DidOf or Troy tsivn.^* 

WHfeN Greek's, and T^rojans fell at ftrife. 
And lords in armour bright were fcJen j 
When many a gallant loft his life 

About faif Hellen, Beauties que^n ; 
Ulyffes, general fo free, j 

Did leave his dear Penelope. 

When fhe this wofull news did hear. 
That he would to the' warrs of Troy ; 

t^or grief (he fhed full many a tear> 

At parting from her only joy ; lo 

Her ladies ail abbut her came,- 

To comfort up this Grecian dame. 
Vol. m. v T Ulyfles, 



u- 



174 A Vci EKT • S biff b S 



Ulyfles, with a heavy heart, 

Untojier then did mildly fay. 
The time is come that we muft part; ic 

My honour calls me hence away ; 
Yet in my abfence, deareft, be 
My conilant wife, Penelope. 

Let me no longet live, flie fayd. 

Then to my lord I trae remain ; 20 

My honour /ihall not be betray'd 

Until I fee my lore again ; 
J For I will eyer cc^nftant prove> 
Aj is the loyal turtle-dove. 

Thus di(i they part with heavy chear, 25 

And to the ihijps his way he took ; 
Her tender eyes dropt many a tear ; 

Still caflipg many a longing look : 
She faw Jvim on the furges gUde> 
And unto Neptune thus ihe cry*d : S* 

Thou god, whole power is in the deep» 

And ri^lefl in the ocean main. 
My lovine lord in fafety keep 

Till he return to me ac^ain : 
That I his perfon may behold, 35 

To me more precious far than jg<Dld. 

% Then 



.A N, p B A L L A D S. 275 

Then ilraight the (hips with nimble fails 

Were all conveyed out of her fight : 
Her cruel fate (he then bewails. 

Since fhe had loft her hearts delight : ^0 

Now (hall my piradice be, quoth ihe. 
True vertue and humility! 

My patience I will put in ure. 

My. charity I will extend ; 
Since for my woe there is no cure. 4c 

The helplefs now I will befriend : 
The widow a;id the fatherlefs 
I will relieve, when in didrefs. 



Thus (he continued year by year 

In doin^g good to every one j 50 

Her fame y/as noifed every where, 

f t • • • . 

' To young and old the fame was known ; 
No company that (he would mind, ' 
Who were to vanity inclined. 

Mean while ^Uly(res fought for fame, 55 

'Mo^gjt Trojans hazarding his life : 
Young gallants, hearing of her name, 

Camje flocking for to tempt his wife : 
For (he was lovely, young, and fair, 
No Jady might with her compare. 60 

T z With 



\ 



278' AN C lENT S'ON G S 



XL 



TO LUCASTA, ON GOING TO THE WARS. 

By Col Richard Lovelace : from the 'oolumi of his 
foems intitUd, " Lucafta^ Lond. \6\g.'* l2mo. The deghwce 
of this 'writer* s mannfr ivould be more admired^ if it bad 
fomrwhai more offtm^Ucity. 

TELL mc not, fwcet, I am unkinde. 
That from the nunneric 
Of thy chafte breaft and quiet minde. 
To warre and armes I flic* 

True ; a new miftreffe now I chafe, 5 

The firft foe in the field ; 
And with a ftronger faith imbrace 

A fword, a horfe, a fliield. 

Yet this inconftancy is fach. 

As you too fliall adore ; 10 

I could not love thee» deare, fo much, 

Lov'd I not honour more. 



X. VA- 



A. N,D , B A ,1^ L A, P S. ^179 



VALENTIUE AND URSINE. 

7t «would Be in vaifi to put ^ff this ballad for ancient ^ 
nor yet is it altogether modern'. The original is an eU MS 
poem in the Editor* s poffeffion ; nvhich being in a 'wretched ror- 
ruptjtate^ the fubje& luas thoughf nvorthy of fame embellijh' 
ments, 

^he old ftory-book of Valentine Mnd Orfon (nvbich ^fiig- 
gefied the plan of this- taU\ bUt it is not ftriSly follotv^ 
edfn it) *was originally a tranJJQtion from the French ^ being 
erne of their eanieft attempfs at romance. See '** Le Bib- 
" liothefue de RohumU tsfr." ' ' t • 

ne circumftance of the bridge of bells is taken from the 
eld metrical legend of Sir Be^is^ 'and has alfo been copied 
in the Seven Champions* 7%e original lines dre, 

** Over the dykf a bridge there lay, 

** That man and beeft migii pafse trway : 

** Under the brydge *werefi:ity belles ; 

'' Right as the Romans telles \ 

** That there might no man pafse in, 

** But all they rang ivifh a gyn,** ' 

''''-'- Sign. E. iv. 



Part the First. 

WHE^ Flora 'gins to dccke the fields 
With colours freih and fine, 
Then holy clerkes their mattins fing 
To good Saint Valentine 1 

T 4 The 



a8o A N C I E N T S O N O S 

The king of France that morning fair 5 

Me, would a hunting ride : 
To Artois forell prancing forth 

In all his princely pride. 

Tb grace his fports a courtly train 

Ofgallant peers attend; ip 

And with their loud and cheerful cryes 
' The hills and valleys rend. 

Through the deep foreft fwift they pafs^ 
Through woods and thickets wild ; 

When down within a lonely dell • 15 

They found a new-born child : 

All in a fcarlet kerchcr lay'd 

Of iilk fo fine and thin : 
A golden i^antle wrapt him roitnd 

Pinn'd with a filvcr pin, ?o 

The fudden fight furpriz'd them all ; 

The courtiers gather'd round ; 
They look, they call, the mother feck ; 

No mother could be found* 

At length the king himfelf drew near, ^5 

And as he gazing ftands. 

The pretty babe looked up and fmil'd, 

And Hretch'd his little hands. 

Now* 



A N E> % A t L A D S. 281 , 

Now, by the rood,''king Pepin fays, 

This. child is paffing fair : qo 

I wot he is of geatle blood ; 

Perhaps feme prince's heir. .. 



\ •» 



Goe bear him ho'nie nnto my conrt 

With all the care ye may : 
Let him be chriften'd -Valentine, 35 

In honour of this day : 



i > • » 



And look me oat f6hie ctihhing nurfe | *" 

Well nurtur'd let him bee j - ^ 
Nor ought be wantitag that beconies 

A bairn of high dejgfee. 40 

They look'd him out a cannitig hurfe ; 

And nurtur'd well was hee ; 
Nor ought was wanting that became 

A bairn of high degree. 

Thus grewe the little Valentine 45 

Belov'd of king and peers ; 
And fhew'd in all he fpake or did 

A wit beyond his years* 

But chief in gallant feates of arms 

He did himfelf advance, 50 

That etc he grewe to man's eftate 

He had no peere in France. , 

r And 



a82 AN,ClBNiT S O N Q & 

And now the eaj^jLy^dqwn^^begafi , 

To (hade his youthful, chia; 
When Valentine was dubb*^ a kfiigh^, 5} 

That he might glory..^??* 

A boon, a boon, my;g^afiioius liq;eu 

I beg a boon of thee I 
Xhe firft adventure^ tfi^t^befaljb. 

May be referv'd for xnee, 60 

The firft adv^i^tu^f d^ be, thine ; 

The king did fmiling.fa^j. 
Nor many day^ wh.fn.,19 1 * there c^q. 

Three palmers clad in.gra^r^. 

Help, graciqu3 lord, tl^y, wcjfefiing^ ^V'^3>. ^ 

And knelt as it was.i^eet.: 
From Artoys fou^ Mi^.h^ CQmc> 

With weak and wearye Uj^L 

Within thofe deep sipddx^st^, v^pods 

There wends a favage l^y ; 70 

Whofe fierce and; lopri^al .r;ije. diotl^ )(i^ 
Thy fubjeds dire annpj(« 

'Mong rnthlefs hearts be fuxe was b;r$(^ ; . ^ 

He lurks within their den : . ~ C 

With beares he Uves ; with he^c^^ he fepd?* 75 
And drinks the bl(>94 ff me^. 



AND B A LL A D'S. 183; 

To more than favnge ftitei^^ he join* 

A more than hutA^'Hi^ t 
Forarmsy ne cnnhing^xstef ^dfiee^ 

His cruel rage to ftillC 80 

U^ then rofe fir Valentin*; 

And claim'd that ardtfoate "dt^Aj 
Go forth and cdnqk^r^ fd^'d'thli i^gf 

And great ihall be tkf meedi 

Well mounted on a mllki-\v4nte(feed; 9j 

His armour white aS fmdW; 
As well befeem^d a Virgin le^nght. 

Who ne'er had fdught a*foe : 

To Artoys foreft hfc repairs 

With all the haile hen^ay ; g% 

And foon he fpieir the (kvage youth' 

A rending of his pf cy. 

His unkempt litdr aH matted hun]gf 

His fliaggy fhdidders round : 
His eager eye all fiery giow'd : 95 

His face with fufry fn^wn'd!. 

Like eagles' talons gre^ M'^ it«dls : 

His limbs were thick itnd firong ; 
And dreadful \^as the knotted oak 

He bare with him atoitg. 1 00 

Soon 



r 



284 A N Q I E N T SONG 

Soon as fir Valentiii^ appi;oach'd. 

He ftarts with fudden fpring; 
And yelling fbrth-a hideous bowl. 

He made the forefts ring, . 

As when a tyger fierce and fell 105 

Hath fpyed a paffingroe. 
And leaps at once upon his throat ; 

60 fprnng the favage foe ; 

^ lightly leaped with furious force 

The gentle knight to feize : no 

But met his tall ijiplifted fpear. 

Which funk him on his knees. 

» 
A fecond ftroke fo ftiiF and ftern 

« Had laid the favage low ; 

But fpringing up» he rais'd his club* 1 1$ 

And aim'd a dreadful blow. 

The watchful warrior bent )|is head. 

And (hun'd the cpmin'g firoke ; 
Upon his taper fpear it fell. 

And all to ihivers broke. 120 

Then lighting nimbly from his fteej. 

He drew his burniiht brand:- 
The favage quid? as lightning flew 

To wreft it from his hand. 



A N D B A L L A D 1 185 

Three times he grafp'd the filver hiit; ' 125 

Three times he felt the blade ; 
Three times it fell with fnrious force ; 

Hiree ghaftly wounds it made. 

Now with redoubled rage he roared ; 

His ejre-bair'ffafh^d with fire ; 130 

Each hairy limb with fury fhook ; 

And all his hdart was ire, 

TheA clofing faft with furious gripe 

He dafp'd the^ champion round, ' 
And with a ftroWg and fudden twift 135 

He laid him cfn the ground. 

But foon the knight, with aftive %ring, 

O'erturn'd his hairy foe : 
And now between their fturdy fill* 

Paft many a bruiiihg blow. 140 

They roll'd and grappled, on the ground. 

And there they ftruggled long : 
Skilful' and aftive was the kAight ; 

The favage he was ftrong. 

• 

But brutal force and favage ftrength " ^ 145 

To art and ikill muft yield : 
Sir Valentine at length prevaird, 1 

And won the well-fought field. 

. Then 



486 ANC lErNT SONGS 

Thcn.biftdipg ftr^ Us.^QftgjBer'd.foc 
Faft withankpodvain, 150 

He tyfi&J|||m^>w»J»<>^fe>i^*i^» 
And leadjkjum Q'er.th^ plain. 

To cour^ Wa iaiiy .wptiv^ /bon 

Sir Valentine d^tk bripg ; 
And knccUng dawn^juppn his Jcnee, 155 

Prefents him ta. ^9 J^pX* 

With lo{&,af,hjpod.ap4jpfs.o(frength. 

The faMa®e. t;a»^r.gr?y ; 
And to fir Vialeiitin,^ li>«^9xe 
A fenrant tiy'd 4,n4,jpic. i^ 

And fcajBii5.with.l|r^?s h/e crj^ w» bred, 

Urfine they call. hi3.,i^.^,ine j 
A name ip^hich unto.fut^r^^tim^s 

The Mufcs ifealL pJVfiiame. 



: Par'? ?TgH;^ sSaqoi^'D. . ^ 



IN high reaown wit^^-prins^.^ii^ Ji^^^^ 
Now liv'd fir, VakPUne: 
His high yenown, with prince and Jecrc 
Made envious h^artj- refine. 



J 



'A'N'D B'A' L'D Ai EK S. Wy 

It ckknc'd th^ king ttpbn k day 5 

Prepar'd a fdnlpl^bu^ f<iaft ; 
^ And' there 'ckm6 lords, ftkd dldnty Unfiles, 

And many a ndbl^'goeft. 

Amid tlieu" Ctrps;* tHa¥ fridf fldw'd. 

Their revelry,- 'and itiSrth ; i# 

A yoirtHM knlghr tax'i VMiehtine 

Of bafe and doibtfolbifth. 

The four W^khrfi^^grolslfUrg'd, 

His generous hfcaA did'S^t^und: 
And fti'ait lie v^ow'a Ke rie^dr' iwald reft i j 

Till he life* parent!*^ fdvind. 

Then biddln^Mcfhg' and' fSeri^' adieu. 

Early one rirfnTher*8-dayy 
With •feitftfifl tTrfine by ^ hh -fide. 

From courf be thkti hh^way* 2# 

O'erhitt andvaHey/ moft- and*'moor« 

For niany*a'8ay;theypafs ; 
At length upon al moated 'l^ke. 

They found a' brid^^ of tt-afs. 

Beyond it rofe a t^Ic^fair 25 

Y-built of -marble ftone : 
The batttemenks were '^ilt'WithJgold!, 

And glittred in the fun. 

Beneath 



1 



V « 



s88 ANCIENT S Q^ G S 

Beneath tbe bridge^ with ftrange device^ : 
A hundred bells were hung ; 3d 

^Tl|at man, nor beaft> might pafs thereon. 
But ilrait their, larum rung. 

This quickly found the youthful pair. 

Who boldly crofling o'er. 
The janglipg fo^d bedeaft their ears, 55 

And rung from, ihore to^ihore. 



' t 



Quick ^t the found thq cafUe gites 
Unlock'd and opened wide, 
*^\ . And:$rfih a^y^t huge andgrim 

Stalk'd forth .with fiately ilride. 4^ 

Now yifld you, caytifis,. to my wi^U 1 . 

He cried with hide^s roar $ 
Or elfe the wolves fliall eat your flefh, r 
I ' And ravens drink your. gore. 

Vain I}oafter, (aid the youthful knight, -, 45 

I fcorn thy threats and thee : 

I truft to force thy brazen gates. 

And fet ^hy captives free. 
I 

* Then putting fpurs unto his fteed, r 

He aim'd a dreadful thrufl : 5^ 

The fjgear againft the gyant glanc'd. 

And caus'd the blood to burfl. 

Mad 



J 



AND B A L LA D S. 889 

Mad and outrageous with the paio^ 

He whirl'd his mace of fteel ; 
The very wind/ of fuch a blow j j 

Had made thcw champion reel. . 

It haply mift ; and how the knight 

His glittering fword difplay'd. 
And riding round with whirlwind fpeed 

Oft made him feel the blide* 60 

As when a large and monftrous oak 

Unceaiing axes hew : 
So faft around the gyant's limbs 

The blows quick<^darting flew* 

As when the boughs with hideous fall 65 

Some haplefs woodman cruih : 
With fiich a force the enormous foe 

Did on the champion rufh* 

A fearful blow^ alas ! there came^ 

Both horfe and knight it took» 70 

And laid them fenfelefs in the dud ; 

So fatal was the iiroke. 

Then fmiling forth a hideous grin. 

The gyant (brides in haAe, 
And, Hoo^ipg, aims a fecond flroke : 7; 

" Now cay tiff breathe thy laft ! " 
Vol. IU. U But 



290 ANCIENT SONGS 

Bttt ere it fdl, two tfanndering blows 

Upon his fcull defcend : 
From Urfine's knotty club they came^ 

Who ran to fave his friend. 80 

Down Tank the gyaatLj[aping wide. 

And rolling his grim ^es : 
The hairy ypath repeats his blows : 

He gafps, lie gh>ans> he 



Quickly fir Valentine revir'd 8j 

With UHine's timely care : 
And now to feareh the caftle walls 

The venturous ypnths repair. 

The blood and hemes of murdered knights 

They found whereW they came : 90 • 

At length within a lonely cell 
They faw a mouraful dame. 

Her gentle eyes were dim'd with tears ; 

Her cheeks were pale with woe : 
And long fir Valentine befbught 9; 

Her doleful tale to know. 

** Alas ! yonng knight,*' fhe weeping laid, 

" Condole my wretched fate : 
" A childlefs mother here you fee ; 

" A wife without a mate. lOO 

3 ^ *«Thefe 



A N D B A L L A D S. 291 

«* Thefc twenty winters kere forlorn 

" I've drawn my hated breatk ; 
** Sole wiineis of a monger's crimef» 

" And wifhing ^e for death. 

** Know, I am fifter of a king ; 10^ 

** And in my early years 
*^ Was married ta a mighty prince, 

** The faireft of kis peers. 

** With him I fwcetly lfv*d in love 

*^ A twelvemonth and a day : 1 10 

** Wheb, lo ! a foal and treacherons prieft 

" Y-wroiight our loves* decay. 

" His feeming goodnefs wan him pow'r j 

** He had his matter's ear : 
** And long to me and all the world 115 

** He did a faint appear. 

*' One day, when we were all alone, 

" He proffered odious love : 
" The wretch with horroar I repuls'd^ 

" And from my prefence drove. 120 

" He feign'd remorfe, and piteous beg'd 

** His crime I'd not reveal : 
•* VNHiich, for his feeming penitence, 
' " I promis'd to conceal. 

U 2 *' With 



202 ANCIENT SONGS 

" With treafon, villainf, and wrong • 125 

** My goodncfs he ^cpay^d : . 
** With jealotts doubts he fiU'd my lofd, 

** And Bie to woe bctray'd. 

** He hid a flave within my bed, 

" Then rais'd a bitter cry : 130 

** My lord, poiTeft with rage, condemned 

** Me, all anheardy to dye. 

** But 'caufe I then was great with child, 

** At length my life he fpar'd : 
^^ But bade me inftant quit the realme, 13$ 

^' One trufty knight .my guard. 



*« Forth on my journey I depart, 

** Oppreft with grief and woe ; 
** And tow'rds my brother's diftant court, 

" With breaking heart, I goe. 140 

" Long time thro* fundry foi^cign lands 

** We flowly pace along : 
** At length within a foreft wild 

*^ I fell in labour fh-ong : 

" And while the knight for fuccour fought, 145 
" And left me there forlorn, 
y^ My childbed pains fo feft increaft • 

■ *' Two lovely boys were born. 



c< 



The 



AN D B A L L A D S. 293 

'* The eldeft.fair, and finooth^ as fnow 

'* That tips the moantaiii hoar : 150 

** The yoanger*8 little body rough 
** With hairs was covcr'd o'er* 

•' But here afrefh; begin my woes : 

** While tender care I took 
^* To fhield my eldeft from the cold, 155 

** And wrap him in my cloak ; 






A prowling bear burft from the wood. 
And feiz'd my younger ion : 
^'* AiFediion lent my weaknefs wings^ 

^* And after them I run. 160 

** But all foreweariedy weak and fpent, 

** I quickly fwoon'd away ; 
^' And there beneath the greenwood fhade 

*^ Longtime I lifelefs lay, 

*' At length the knight brought me relief, 165 
*^ And raised me from the ground ; ^ 

** But neither of my pretty babes 
" Could ever more be found* 

" And, whil« in fearch we wander'd far* 

** We met that gyant grim ; 170 

■^ << Who ruthlefs flew my trufty knight^ 
** And bare me oiF with him* 

U 3 ** But 



494 ANCIENT SONGS 

<^ But chann'd hy heaven, or elfe my gjAsfs^ 

" He offered me no wrong ; 
" Save that within thefe loncljr walk ^^175 

«* I've been immur*d (o long." 

IsTow, forely, faid the yoothfal knight* 

Ye are lady Bellifance, • 
Wife to the Grecian emperor : 

Yoar brother's king of France. 180 

' For in your royal brother's court 
Myfelf my breeding had ; 
Where oft th^ ftory of your woes 
Hath made my bofom iad. 

If fo, know your accufer's dead» iSj 

And dying bwn'd his crime ; 
And long your lord hath fonght you oat 

Thro' every foreign clime. 

, And when no tidings he could learn 

Of his much-wronged wKe* 190 

He vow'd thenceforth within his court 
To lead a hermit's life. 

Now heaven is kind ! the lady faid ; 

. And dropt a joyful tear : 
Shall I oncQ more behold my lord ? 1$^ 

That lord I love fo dear ? 

Bttt» 



AND Ballads. ,29s - 

Bttt» madaflu, faid fir Vadeatbto, ' 

And knelt upon his kofee ; 
Know you the cloak that wrapt yonr bftbe» 

If you the fame ihoiild fee ? 200 

And pulling feth the cloth of gold* 

' In which himfelf was found \ 

_ • 

The lady gave a fudden fluieky 
And fainted on. the ground. 

But by his pioit^ care reviv'd^ . 205 

« His tale ihe heard anon ; 
And foon by other tokens founds 
He was indeed her fon. 

But who's this hairy youth F iheiaii; 

. He much refembles thee : 210 

The bear defour'd my younger fon, • 
Or fure diat fon were Ik;. 

Madam, this youth with beares wasbred. 

And rear'd within their den. 
But recoiled ye any mark ' ' ' 215 

To know your fon agen ? 

Upon his little iide» quoth ihe. 

Was ftampt a bloody rofe. 
Here, lady, fee the crimfon mark 

Upon his body grows ! 220 

U 4 Then 



L 



196 A N C I EN T SONGS 

Then clafpiog bodi her new-foimj fons^ 
She bath'd their cheeks with te«rs | 

And foon tbwartU her brothej^s court 
Her joyful courfe -Ac ftecrs. - 

What pen can paiiit king Pepin's joy, ' 225 

His filler thus reftor^d ! 
And foon a meflenger was fent 

To chear her drooping lord : * 

Who came in hafte with all hi» peers. 

To fetch her home to Greece ; ^jo 

Where many hap|>y years they resgn'd 

In perfed love and peace. 

To them fir Urfine'^iiM focceed. 

And long the fcepter bare. 
Sir Valentine, he ftay'd in France, " ^35 

And wa3 his uncle's heir« *«^ 



Til E DRAGON OF WANTLEY. 

7i/j humorous fong (as a former Editor \^ has «well oh- 
fir'ved) is to old metrical romances and ballads of cbi'val- 
ryj nvhat Don ^ixete is f pro/e narratives of that kind: 
— a lively fatire on their extravagant fiffions. But alt ho* 
the fat ire is thus general ; the fuhjed of this ballad fesms 
local and peculiar ; fo that many ofthefineflftrokes of bu- 
piour are loft for vjont of our ino«wing the particular faMs 

^ CoU^dllon of Hiftorical Ballads in 3 vol. 17275 



AND BALLADS. 297 

to njifhich they allude, Tbefe ive ha*ve in vain endea'veured 
to recover j and are therefore obliged to acquic/ce in the 
common account ; namely ^ that this ballad alludes to a con^ 
' teft at latv bet-iueen an o*vergro^-wn Tork/hire attorney and a 
neighbouring gentleman. The former j it feems^ had ftrift 
three orphans of their inherit ance^ and by (jis incroachments 
and rafdcioufnefs wjas become a nufance to the ^jjh*le coun^ 
try ; ijuhen the loiter generoujly efpoufed the cauje of the op^ 
frejfedj and gained a complete vidory over his antagoniftf 
njoho luifh meerfpite and vexation broke his heart. 

In handling thisfuhjeQ the Author has brought in fnofl 
of the common incidents vjhich occur in Romance, The de^ 
Jicription of the dragon* ■ — his outrages'—^^the people 
flying to the knight for fuccour — his care in chufing hts ar~ 
mour^^his being dreft for fight by a young damfel — and 
moft of the circumftances of the battle and viSfory (alhrw" 
ing for the burlefque^ turn given. to them) are vohat occur 
in every book of chivalry nvhether in prof e or verfe. 

If any one piece, more than other ^ is more particularly 
levelled aty itfeems to be the old rhiming legend of fir Be- 
vis, There a Dragon // attacked from a Well in ^ 
memner not very remote from this of the ballad : 
There nvas a v^elly fo have I vjynne, 

^nd Bevis ftumbled rygbt therein, 

• • « 

Than v}as he glad vjithout fayUy 

And refted a v:hyle for his avayle ; 

And dranke of that vjoter his fyll ; 

And than he lepte out^ v:ith good v:ylij 

And vjith Morglay his brandcy 

He affayled the dragon, I underftande : 

On the dragon he fmote fo fajfe, 

Where that he hitJhefcales brafie : "^ 

The dragon then faynted fore. 

And cajt a galon and more 

Out of his mouthe of venim ftrongf 

And onfyr Bevis he it flong : 

Jt vjos vehjmous y^vfis, 

Tbii 
* Sft ohcvepag^ lOo. &/>> 2i6« 



298 ANCIENT SONGS 

Tbis/eems to be meant by tbe Dragon ef Wantkfs fiink^ 
ver* 110. As tbe politick knight's creeping otity and attack^ 
ing tbe iragon^ ^c*feems evidently to allude to tbefollo'wingp 

Bevis blejfed bimfelfe^ andfortb yode, 

And lepte ont imtb bafiefuU good ; 

And Bevis unto tlfe dragon gone is ; 

And tbe dragon alfo to Bevis. 

Longe^ and bar de nuas tbat Jyght 

BetiAfene tbe dragon f and tbat knygbt : 

But ever *wbanj^r Bevis ivas hurt for e^ 

He ivent to tbe tvell, and tuajbed bim tbore ; 

He ^as as bole as any man, 

Ever/rejbe as nuban be began : 

Tbe dragon favje it migbt not avayle 

Befyde the viell to bold bat wfle ; 

He thought be vsouldy nuytb/ome vjyle^ 

Out of tbat place Bevis hegyle ; 

He vioulde bavefknuen then anuaye^ 

But Bevis lepte after vjitb good Morgls^e, 

And byt him under tbe vjyngef 

As be vjos /V bisfyenge, (Sc. 

Sign. M.jv, L,J. ^c. 
After all, perhaps tbe vuriter of this ballad vj as acfuaint- 
ed vuith tbe above incidents only thro* tbe medium of Spen- 
fcTy *who has a/fumed moft of them in bis Faery ^ueen* At 
leaft fome particulars in tbe defcription of tbe Dragon, kic. 
feem evidently horrovjed from tbe loiter. See Book l . Can- 
to 11, ivhere tbe Dragon* s ** tvio wynges like fayls-^~buge 
** long taylr'-'vjithjlings^^his cruel-rending clavte s and 
*' yron teeth^his breath of fmothering fmoke and fulpbur*^ 
'^and the duration of tbe fight for upvuards of tvjo daj^s, 
bear a great rtfemhlanceto paffages in the follc^wing bal- 
lad ; though it mt^ be confeffed that thefe particulars are 
common to all old vjriters of Romance. 

The follovjing ballad appears to have been vjritien late 
in the laft century ; at leaft <we have met vjith non^ but 
mf^dern copies : the text is given from one in Roman fetter 
in the Pcpp colledion, collated with twp or three others. 

OLD 



AND BALLADS. 299 

OL D florie$ telU how Hercules 
A dragon flew at Lema, 
With feven heads, and fourteen eyes. 
To fee and well difcern-a ; 
But he had a club^ this dragon to drub» 5 

Or he had ne'er done it, I warrant ye : 
But More of More-Hall, with nothing at aU» 
He flew the dragon of Wantley . 

This dragon had two furious wings. 

Each one upon each ihoulder ; 10 

With a fling in his tayl, as long as a flayU 
Which made him bolder and bolder. 
He had long claws, and in his jaws 

Four and forty teeth of iron ; 
With a hide as tough, as any buff, 15 

Which did hi© round e^viron. 

Have you not heard how the Trojan horfc . 

Held feventy mep in his belly ? 
This dragon was not quite fo big. 

But very near, I'll tell ye, zo 

pevoured he poor children three. 

That could not with him grapple ; 
And at one fup, he eat them up. 
As one would eat an apple* 



AU 



300 ANCIENT SON G S 

All forts of cattle this dragon did eat. te 

Some fay he did eat up trees^ 
And that the ferefts fare he would 
Devour up by degrees : 
; For honfesandchorchesywere to himgeeieand turkies; 
He eat all, and left none behind, 30 

But fome ftones» dear Jack, that he could not crack, 
Which on the hills you will find. 

In Yorkihire, near fair Rotherham, 

The place J know it well ; 
Seme two or three miles, or thereabouts, 3; 

I vow I cannot tell ; 
But there is a hedge, juft on the hill edge. 

And Matthew's houfe hard by it ; 
O there and then, was this dragon's den. 

You could not chufe but fpy it. |0 

I 

^ome fay, this dragon was a witch ^ 

Some fay, he was a devil. 
For from his nofe a< fmoke arofe. 
And with it burning fnivel ; 
Which he caft off, when he did cough, 45 

In a well that he did ftand by ; 
Which made it look, juft like a brook 
Running with burning brandy. 



Hard 



Ftr, »9. were tohimgorfe and birches. Other Of 'm. 



A N D B A L L A D S. 30X 

Hard by a furious knight there dwelt. 

Of whom all towns did ring ; , 50 

For he could wreftle, play at quarter-ftaff, ldck» 
cuiF and buffy 
Call fon of a whore, do any kind of thing : 
By the tail and the main, with his hands twain 

He (wung a horie till he was dead ; 
And that which is ftranger, he for very anger 55 
Eat him all up but his head. 

Thefe children, as I told, being eat ; 

Men, women, girls and boys. 
Sighing and fobbing, came to his lodging. 

And made a hideous noife : 60 

O fave us all. More of More-Hall, 

Thou peerlefs knight of thefe woods ; 
Do but, (lay this dragon, who won't leave us a rag on. 
We'll give thee all our goods. 

Tut, tut, quoth he, no goods I want ; 65 

But I want, I want in footh, 
A fair maid of fixteen, that's briik, * and keen,' 
And fmiles about the mouth ; 
Hair black as floe, flcin wiiite as fnow, 

With blufties her cheeks adorning ; 70 

To anoynt me o'er night, ere I go to fight. 
And to dreft me in the morning. 



Thii 



302 ANCIENT SONGS 

This being done He did engage 

To hew the dragon down ; 
But firft he went, new armour to y^ 

Befpeak at Sheffield town ; 
With fpikes all about, not within but without. 

Of fteel To fliarp and flrOng ; 
Both behind and before, arms, legs, an^d all o'er 
Some five or fix inches long, 80 

Had you but feen him in this drefs. 

How fierce he look'dand how big. 
You would hare thought him for to be 
Some Egyptian porcupig : 
He frighted all, cats, dogs, and all, * 85 

. Each cow, each horfe, and each hog : 
For fear they did ftee, for they took him to be 
Some fb-ange outlandffh hedge-hog. 

To fee this fight, all people then 

Got up on trees and honfes, 90 

On churches ibme, and chinmeys too ; 
But thefe put on their trowfes. 
Not to fpoil their hofe. As foon as he rofc. 

To make him ftrong and mighty. 
He drank by the tale, fix pots of ale» 9S 

And a quart of aqua-vitae. 



It 



AND BALLADS. 303 

It is not ftrength tbiat always wins. 

For wit doth fh-ength excell ; 
Which made our cunning champion 

Creep down into a well ; 100 

Where he did think, this dragon would drink. 

And £0 he did in truth ; 
And as he ftoop'd low, he rofe up and cryM, boh ! 
And hit him in the mouth. 

Oh, quoth the dragon, pooc take thee, come out, i o; 

Thou difknrb'ft me in my drink : 
And then he tnm'd, and f • . . at him ; 
Good lack how he did ftink ! 
fieihrew thy foul, thy body's foul. 

Thy dung fmells not like balfam ; no 

Thou Ton of a whore, thou ftink'ft Co fore. 
Sure thy diet is unwholfome. 

> 

Our politick knight, on the other fide. 

Crept out upon the brink. 
And gave the dragon fuch a doufe, 115 

He knew not what to think : 
By cock, quoth he, fay you fo : do you fee ? 

And then at him he let Hy 
With hand and with foot, and fo they went to't ; 
And the word it was, hey boys, hey ! iz9 



Your 



K H 



304 ANCIENT SONGS 

Yoar words»qiioth the dragon, I don't anderftand: 

Then to it they fell at all> 
Like two wild boars fo fierce, if I may 
Compare great things with fmall. 
Two days and a night, with this dragon did fight i aj 

Onr champion on the ground ; 
Tho' their ftrength it was great, their (kill it was neat. 
They never had one wound* 

At length the hard earth began to qnake» 

The dragon gave him a knock, 1 30 

Which made him to reel, and itraitway he thought. 
To lift him as high as a rbck. 
And thence let him fall. But More of More-Hall, 

Like a valiant fon of Mars, 
As he came likek lout, fo he^turu'dhim about, 135 
And hit him a kick on the a . « • 

Oh, quoth the dragon, with a deep figh. 

And tam'd fix times together. 
Sobbing and tearing, curfing and fwearing 
Out of his throat of leather ; 140 

More of More-Hall ! O thou rafcal I 

Would I had feen thee never ; 
With the thing at thy foot, thouhaftprick'dmya..gut. 
And I'm quite undone for ever. 

Murder^ 



AND BALLADS.. 305 

Murder, murder, the dragon cry'd, 14.J 

Alack, alack, for grief ; 
. Had yon but miA that place, you could 

Have done me no mifchief. 
^hen his head he ihaked, trembled and quaked. 

And down he laid and cry'd ; 150 

Firft on one knee, then on back tumbled he. 
So groan'd, kickt, f.. ., and dy'd. 

*»• Since the firft Edition ivas printed offy the Editor has 

Been favoured 'with fome curious particulars relating to the 

foregoing Song^ 'which are here gi'uen in the 'words of the 

Relater, 

, ^^ In Yorkfinre, fix miles fromRotherhaniy is a 'village, called 

** WoKTLEYt th^ feat of the lateWOKTLEYMoUTACVEf 

Efq; Ahout a mile from this 'village is a lodge , called 
Warnclifp Lodge, hut 'vulgarly called WakT ley : 
here lies the fcene of the Song, I 'was there abo've forty 
years ago ; and it being a fwoody^ rocky place, my friend made 
*\ me clamber ofver rocks and ft ones ^ not telling me to 'what 
** endy till I came to a fort cf a ca've ; then ajked ?ny opinion 
of the' place, and pointing to one end, fays. Here lay the 
Dragon killed by Moor jt/* Moor- hall: here lay his 
head; here lay his fail; and the fiones fwe came o'vertn 
the hill, are thofe he could not crack ; and yon 'white 
" houfe you fee half a mile off, is Moor-hall. / had 
** dined at the lodge, and kne^w . the viands name 'was 
*^ Matthew, nvho 'was a keeper to Mr. Wort ley, and, as he 
endea'voured to perfuade me; loas the fame Matthe'w men-^ 
tioned in the Song : In the houfe is the piciure of the 
*' Dragon and Moor of Moor -hall, and near it a tVell^ 
** 'which, fays he, is the Well defcribed in the Ballad .^ 



rVoi. IlL X XIV. ST. 



IC 
€C 
€€ 









J 

i 

1 



3o6 ANCIENT SONGS 



T 



XSY. 

ST. GEORGE FOR ENGLAND. 
Thb First Part. 

jfj the former fongis in ridicule of the exttavagemt tit- 
ci dents in eld bmlads and metrical romances ; fi this is a 
burlefque of their ftyle ; farticvlarfy of the r ambling tran- 
Jit ions and luild accumnuui^n of nnevmii^ed farts, fo fre- 
quent in many "of them. 

This ballad is given from an old bhuk-letter co^ in the 
Fepys colle^ion, ** imprinted at London, l6ia." It is more 
ancient than many of the preceding ; btit mie place it heref^r 
the fake of conne£ting it with the Secokd Part. 

WHY doe yon boaft of Arthor mnd his kitightes> 
Knowing *weU* kow many men liaYeendare4 
fightes ? 
For befides king Arthnr, end Lancelot da lake. 
Or iir Trifh-am de Lionel, that fought for kdies fake ; 
Read in old hidories^ and there yon fhall fee 
How St. George, St. George the dragon made to flee. 
St. George he was for England ; St. Denms was for Fiante. 
Sing, Honifoit qui medypenft* 

Mark our father Abraham, when firfl he refckoed Lot 
"Onely with his hoa£ehold, what conqueft there he got: 
*« ,1 Dwul 



•*, 



A ND B A L t A D S. 3<»7 

David was eleded a prophet and a king. 
He fle# the great Goliah, with a ftone within a flings 
Yet thefe were not knightes of the table round ; 
Nor St. George, St. George, who the dragon did 
confound. 
St. Georgelie was for England ; St'. Dennis was fotFrance* 
Sing, Honifiit qui maly penft^ \ 

Jephthah and Gideon did lead their men to fight. 
They conquered the Amorites, and put them all to 

flight : 
Hercules his labours * were' on the plaines of BaiTe ; 
And Sampfon flew a thoufand with the jawbone of 

an affe. 
And eke he threw a temple downe, and did a mighty 

fpoyle : 
And St. George, St. George he did the dragon foyle* 
St. George he wasfor England; St. Dennis was for France. 
Sing, HQnifoit qui maly fenfe. 

The warres of ancient monarches it were too long to tell. 
And likewife of the Romans, how farre they did excell ; 
Hannyball and Scipio in many a fielde did fighte : 
Orlando Furiofo he was a worthy knighte r 
Remus and Romulus, were they tha,t Rome didbnilde ; 
But St. George, St. George the dragon made to yielde. 
St.George he wa^for England ; St. Dennis was for France* 
Sing, Heni foit qui mal y penfi. 

X z * T^*r ^ 



L 



. 3o8 ANCIENT SONGS 

The noble Alphonfo^ that was the Spanilh kingr 
The order of the red fcarffes ^nd bandroUes im did 
bring • : 
f For he had a troope of adgbty koightes^ when firft 
he did begin. 
Which fought adventures fiu-re and neare, that con- 

queft they might win : 
The rankes of the Pagans he often put to flight. 
But St. George, St. George did with the dragop fight. 
,St. George he was for England ; St.Dennis was for France. 
Sing, Honi/oit qui maly pen/e. 

Many 'knights' have fought with. proud Tamberlaine* 
Cutlax the Dane, great warres he did maintaine: 
Rowland of Beame, and good 'fir' Olivere 
In the forefl of Aeon flew both woolfe and beare: 
Befides thatjioble HUUnder, 'fir' Goward with thebilU 
But St. George, St. George the dragon's blood did fpilj. 
St. George he was for England; St. Dennis was for France. 
Sing, Honi/oit qui maly penfe. 

Valentine and Orfon were of king Pepin's blood : 
Alfride and Henry they were brave knightes andgood: 
The four fons of Aymon, that follow'd Charlemaine: 

Sir 

• This fnhahly alludes to ^^ An Ancient Order of Knight- 
hood^ called fix Order rof the Bandy inftituted by Don Jl- 
phonfusy king of Spain , , , to luear a red riband of three 
fngers breadth.^ See Ames Typog. p. 327. 



'and ballads. 309 

Sir Htighon of Burdeaux, and Godfrey of Bullainc : 

Thefc were all French knightes that lived in that age. 

Bat St. George, St. George the dragon did afluage. 

St. Gcorgehewas for England ;*St. Dennis was for France. 

Sing, Honi/oit qui mal y pen/e* 

• Bevis conquered Afcupart, and after flew the boare, 
And then he croft beyond the feas to combat with 

the Moore : 
Sir Ifenbras, and Eglamore they were knightes moft 
bold ; 

• And good Sir John Mandeville of travel much hath 

told : 
There were many Englifh knights that Pagans did 
convert. 

• * B at St. George,St. George pluckt out the dragon's heart*. 
St- George he was for England ; St. Dennis was for France. 

Sing, Honi foit qui maly fetife. 

The noble earl of Warwick, that was calPd fir Guy, 
The infidels and pagans ftoutly did defie ; 
He flew the giant Brandimore, and after was the death 
Of that moft gaftly dun cowe, the divell of Dunfmore 

heath : 
Befides his noble deeds all done beyond the feas. 
But St. Gebrge, St. George the dragon did appeafe, 
St Georgehewasfor England; St. Dennis was for F^-ancc. 
Sing, Honi/oit qui maly pen/e^ 

X 3 Richard 



310 ANCIENT SONGS 

Richard Coenr-de-lioD erft king of dbit land» 
He the lion goxed with his naked band*: • 
The falfe dake of Auftria nothing did he feare ; 
Bat his Ton he killed with a boxe on the care : 
iefides his famous adtes done in the holy lande. 
But St. George, St. George the dragon did withftande. 
St. Geoige he was for England; St. Dennis w^ for Franice. 
Sing, Honi/oit jui maly fn/e. 

Henry the fifth he conquered all France. 
And quartered their arms, his honour to advance : 
He their cities razed* and threw their caftles downe. 
And his head he honoured with a double crowne: 
He thumped the French-men* and after home he came. 
But St. George, St. George he did the dragoii tame* 
St. George he was for England ; St. Dennis wa^ for Fraace« 
Sing* Homjoit fii maly pen/i. 

St. David of Wales the Welfli-men much advance: 
St. Jaques of Spaine* that never yet broke lance : 
St. Patricke of Ireland, which was St. Georges boy. 
Seven y eares he kept his horfe, and then Hole him awty : 
For which knaviih aft* as flaves they doe remaine. 
But St. George, St. George the dragon he hath ilaine. 
St. George he was for England ; St. Dennis was for France^ 
Sing, Honi/oit qui maly penft, 

• ^llfiding to tht fabulous Exploits attributed to this 
JCing in the Old Romances, See {h^ PiJJertation prefixed to 
thU Volume, 

XV. ST» 



AND B A t L A D S. 311 



ST. GEORGE FOR ENGLAND, 
The Seconp Part, 

nffAs'wfimn iy John Grujjb* M.A. 9/ Chrifi 
Church J Oxfords The txcafion of its being compojed is /aid 
to ha*ve been as follo^uxs, A Jet of gentlemen of the umver- 
Jity had formed themfeliits into a Club^ aU due members of 
fivhich ivere to be of the name of George : Their anni- 
^erfarj feaft 'was to be held en St. Gborge'j day. Old 
Orubb of Chrifl Church foUcited firongly to be admitted'; 
-but his name being unfortunately John, this difqualification 
*was not 'without gr^at difficulty difpenfed njuith \ and at laft 
^nly upon this condition^ that hei 'would compqfe a fong in 
honour of their Patron Saint, a»d 'would every year produce 
-one or more nenv ftansnas^ to befung on. their annual fejii'val. 
This gante birth to the follonxiing humorous performancey the 
Jeveral fianxas of 'which 'were the produce of mat^fuccej/i've 
anni'verfaries* 

AH that fwe can learn further 'Concerning this facetim's 
njQriter is contained in a few . extra3s from the uni'verjity 
Regifter \ by 'which it appears that he 'was matriculated 
in 1667, aged zoyears^ being the fon of y oh a Grubh 
** de ASion Burnel in Camitatu Salop, pauper it J* He took 
his degree of Batchelor of Arts^ f%ne 7, 1671 ; and became 
Mafter of Arts , June 2^ ^ ^^7S' He fwas fill living in 
^xfordy fwhen the follo'wing humorous Dijiich 'was fwritten. 

Alma novem genuit, celebres Rhedycina poetas, 
Bab, Stubb, Grubb, Crabb, Trapp, Young, Carey, 
Tickel, Evans. 

X 4 TJee^ 



5i4 AKCIENT SONGS 

Thefe ixjere Bub Dodington (the late LordMeUtmhty) Dr, 
Stubbes^ our Poet Grubby Mr. Crabby Dr. Trapp the Poetry 
Profejjbry Dr, Eduu. Young the Poet^ iVaher Cartf^ Tboma^ 
7'icielf E/qi and Dr. E'vajis the Epigrammatift.* 

^be Editor has never met tuith any tmio copies ofthefd" 
hawing ballad in luhich the ftanxcu 'were ranged alikey be 
has therefore thrtjFwn them' info vnhatfeemed to bin$ themeft 
natural order. The <verfes ^ere originally luritten in long 
lines as Alexandrines ^ but the narro^ne/s of the page made 
it necejfary tofubdi'uide them. 

In this fecond Edition the Reader ivillfind many improve-- 
ments^ vohich the Editor received from ait ingenious friend. 



THE ftory of king Artjiur QI4 
I? very memorabk. 
The number of his valiant knights. 

And roundnefs of his table : 
The knightfi around his table in c 

A circle fate, d*yc fee : 
And altogether made up one 

Large hoop of chivalry. 
He had a fword, both broad and iharp» 

Y-cleped Galiburn, !• 

Would cut a flint more eafily. 

Than pen-knife cuts a corn ; 
As cafe-knife does a capon carve, 

So would i( carve a rock. 



♦ / have finee learnt that John Grubb «;« Tivlng In 1728, ^ 
tvhkb time be was ^ged 8u 



J^^i 



AND BALLA D S/ 31^ 

^d fplit a man at fingk flafh^ 15 

From noddle down to nock. 
As Roman Augur's fteel of yore 

DifTedted Tarquin's riddle. 
So this would cut both conjurer ■ 

And whetftone thro' the middle. ;t9 

He was the creani of Brecknock, 

And flower of all' the Wclfti t 
But George he did the dragon fell. 

And gave him a plaguy fqueiih. 
]^t • George he wias for England ; S t. DennU was for France. 
Sing, Honi foit qui mal y fen/e* 26 

' . ■ - * 

J^en dragon, like his father Jove, 

Was fed with milk of goat ; 
And in return a ihield made of 

His ihaggy nurfe's coat : 30 

On top of bumiiht helmet he 

Did wear a crcft of leeks ; 
And onions' heads, whofe dreadful nod 

Drew tears from^hoitile cheeks. 
Jtchj and Welih* blood did make him hot, 35 

And very prone to ire ; 
H* was ting'd with brimftone, like a match. 

And would as foon take fire : 
As brimflpne he took inwardly 

When fqurf gave him occafion, ^ 40 

His poftern pufF of wind was a 
Sulphureous exhalation. 

The 



314 ANCIENT SONGS 

The Briton never tetgiversM, 

Bot was for adverfe drabbing» 
And never torft'd hii back for aoght, 45 

But to a poft for foruhbing^ 
His fword wmild ferve for battle, or 

Fordinner* ifyoapieafe; 
When it had (lain a Cheihire man, 

*Twoald toaft a Cheihire cheeft. 5* 

He wonnded, and* in their own blood. 

Did anabaptise Pagana. 
But George kf made the dragon an 

Example to all dragons. 
St. George he was for England ; St. Dennis was for France. 
Singt Houi/oitfHi maly ptrnje. 56 

Brave Warwick Goyt at dinner time, 

Challcng'd a gyant favage 1 
And freight cam^e out the unwfildy lout 

Brim-full of wrath and cabbage : *6o 

He had a phis of latitude. 

And was full thick V th* middle 1 
The cheeks of puiFed trampeter* 

And paunch of fquire Beadle *. 
But the knight fell'd hio, like an oak> 6$ 

And did upon his back tread ; 
The valiant knight his weawn cut. 

And Atropos his packthread. 

• * BefidM}: ■ •' 

• Men «f bulk anfwerahle /» fhtir placet, ns is'w4ffltti9wm at Oxfird* 



A N D B A t L A D S. 31^ 

Befides he fooght with a don cow. 

As fay the poets witty, yo 

A dreadful dun> and homed too» 

Like dun of Oxford city : 
The fervent dog-days made her mad. 

By caafing heat of weather, 
Syrius and Procyon baited her» j.^ 

As bull-dogs did her &ther : 
Graiiers, nor l)tttchera this fell beaft. 

E'er of her frolick hindred ; 
John Dorfet* (he'd knock down as flat. 

As John knocks down her kindred : to 

Her heels would lay ye aU along, 
. And kick into a fwooo ; 
Frewin's f cow-heels keep up your corpfe, , 

But hen would beat yoa down. 
She vanquifht many a Hardy wight, $5 

And proud was of the honour ; 
Was pufTt by mauling butchers fo. 

As if themfelves had blown her. 
At once fhe kickt, and pufht at Guy, 

But all that would not fright him ; 90 

Who wav'd his whinyard o'er fir-loyn. 

As if he'd gone to knight him : 
He let her blood, her frenzy to cure. 

And eke he did her gall rip ; 
His trenchant blade, like cook's long fpit, pj 

Ran thro' the naonfter's bald-rib : 

He 

♦ ^ butcher at Oxford, 

•f A ecok, who on fafi nights was fanumi for Jelling ctW'-hetl 
0nd trif4f 



Zib ANCIEr^T SONGS 

He reared up the t aft crooked rib, 

Inftead of arch triumphal. 
But George hit th' dragon fuch a pelt. 

As made him on his bam fall. loo 

St. George herfras forEngland ; St. Dennis was for France. 
Sing, Honifoit qui maly perift. 

Tamerlain, with Tartarian bow. 

The Tarkifii fquadrons flew ; 
And fetch'd the pagan crefcent down, 105 

With half^moon made of yew : 
His trufty bow proud Turks did gall. 

With fhowers of arrows thick, • 
And bow-ftrings, without throtling, fent 

Grand- Vifiers to old Nick : .110 

Mach turbants, and much Pagan pates 

He made to humble, in duft. 
And heads of Saracens he iixt 

On fpears, as on a £gn-poft ; 
He coop'd in cage grim Bajazet, 115 

Prop Qf Mahound's religion. 
As if he had been the whifpering bird. 

That prompted him ; the pigeon. 
In Turkey-leather fcabbard, he 

Did fhp^th his blade fo trenchant, 120 

But George he fwing'd the dragon's tail. 

And cut off every inch pn't. 
St. George he was for England ; St. Dennis was for France. 
§ing, Honifoit qui maly pen/e, 

TjiC 



AND B A L t A D S. 337 ] 

The amazon Thalcftris y/va 125 

Both beautifuU ^nd bold : 
She fear'd her breafls with iron hot^ 

And bang'd her foes with cold. 
Her hand was like the tool, wherewith 

Jove keeps proud mortals under ; 130 

It fhone juft like his lightnings 

And batter'd like his thunder : 
Her eye darts lightning, that would blaft 

The proudefl; he that fwagger'd. 
And melt the rapier of his foul« 13^ 

In its corporeal fcabbard. 
Her^ beauty, and her dram to foes^ 

Did caufe amazement doable ; 
As timorous larks amazed are 

With lighty and with a low-bell : 140 

With beauty^ and that laplaad-charm^ 

Poor men (he did bewitch-all ; 
Still a blind whining lover had. 

As Pallas had her fcrich-owL 
She kept the chaflnefs of a nun Ia$ 

In armour, a^in cloyfter* 
But George undid the dragon jafl 

As you'd undo an oilier. 
St. George he was for England ; St. Dennis was forFrance. 
Sing, Honi foit qui mal y pen/e. 150 



Great 

• Hir drum* 



3i8 ANCIENT SONGS 

Great Hercules, the offsP^^^^ ^^ 

Great Jove, aod fair Alcmcne : 
One part of him celeftial Was,* 

The other part terrene. 
To (tale the hero's cradle walls 15$ 

Two £ery fnakes combined. 
And, curling into fwadling cloaths. 

About the infant twin*d : 
Bat he put out thefe dragons' fires. 

And did their hifiing ilop ; jfo 

As red-hot iron with biffing noife 

Is quencht in blackfmith's {hop. 
He cleans'd a ftable, and rubb'd down 

The borfes of new-comers ; 
And out of horfe-dung he rais'd fiune, 165 

As Tom Wrench f does cucumbers. 
He made a river help him through ; 

Alpheus was under groom ; 
The dream, grumbling at office meaii» 

Ran murmuring thro' the room : 17* 

This liquid oftler to prevent 

Being tired with that long work. 
His father Neptune's trident took, 

Inilead of three-t(!>oth'd dung-fork* 
This Hercules, as foldier, and 175 

As fpinfter, could take pains ; 
His club would fometimes fpin ye flax. 

And fometimes knock out brains : 



ffwas. 



^ Wlo kept Paradife gardens at Ox^ord^ 



A N D B A L L A D S* 319 

H' was forc'd to fpin Ids mifs a fliift^ 

By Juno's wrath and her^fpitc; 1%^ 

Fair Omphale wbipt him to his whee]» 

As cooks whip barking tarn-fpit. 
From man, or chum he well knew how 

To get him lafting fame : 
He'd pound a giant, till the bloody ig^ 

And milk till butter came. 
Often he fought with huge battoon. 

And oftentimes he boxed ; 
• Tapt a freik monfter once a month) 

As Hcrvey* doth frefh hogihead* 100 

He gave Anteus fuch a hug. 

As wrefllers give in Cornwall. 
But George he did the dragon kill. 

As dead as any door-nail. 
St. George he was for England ; St. Dennis was for France* 
Sing, Honi /oit ^ui mulj fenji, in6 

The Gemini, fprung from an egg. 

Were put into a cradle : 
Their brains with knocks and bottled ale. 

Were often-times full addle : 20^ 

And, fcarcely hatch'd,^tbefe fons of him, 

That hurls the bolt trifalcate. 
With helmet-fhell on tender head. 

Did bullle with red-ey*d pole-cat. 



Cal^or 



* ^ nQt4d Alehoufe*ke^tr at Otef^rd* 



► 



340 A N C I E N T S O N G S 

Cailor a borfeman^^ Pollux tho* 2d§ 

A boxer was, I wift : . 
The one was faxn'd for. iron heel ; 

Th' other for leaden fift; 
Pollux to fhewhe was a godi 

When he was in a paifionv ii# 

With fill made ndfes fall down flat^ 

By way of adoration : 
This Att, as fare as French difeafe^ 

Demolifii'd nofes' ridges : 
He like a certain lord* was fam'd itf 

, For breaking down of bridges. 
Cailor the flame of fiery fleed, , 

With well-fpur'd boot took down j 
As men, with leathern buekets, do 

Quench fire in country town. ^ ii9 

His famous horfe^ that liv'd on oats^ 

Is fvng on oaten quill i . : 
By bards' immortal provender 

The nag.furviveth ftill. 
This fhelly brood on none but knaves 22j 

Employ'd.their brilk artillery : 
Flew naturally :at rogues^ as ^g$ 

At Dan D,e Foe in pillory- 
Much fwcat they.fpent in furiops fight,{ 

Much blood they, did efTund : 23a 

Their whites they vented thro' the pore; 

Their yolks thrqjj gaping wound : 

Then: 

• Lord Lovelace broke dmn^the bridges about Oxford, at :bt be^ 
pnning of tht Revolution, 



AND b A L L A 13 g. '324 

then both were cleans'd from blood and duft 

To make a heavehly^ fign j 
The lads were, like their armour, fcowr'd^ ijl 

And then hUng up to Ihine j - 
Such were the heavenly double-bicks. 

The fons of JoVe ind Tindjar^ 
But George h(i cut the dragon up. 

As 't had bin duck or windar. 240 

8ti George he was for England; St.Dennis Was forFrance t 
Sing, Honi /oit qui mal y fe^fti « * • 

Gorgon a twifted adder wort 

For knot upon her fhoulder : 
She kemb'd her hiffing periwig, 445 

And curling fnakes did powder. 
Thefe fnakes they made ftifF changelings 

Of all the folks they hift on i 
They turned barbers into hones* 

And mafons into free-ftone 1 sra 

£worded magnetic Aihazdn 

Her fhield to load-flone changes i 
Then amorous fword by magic belt 

Clung faft unto her haunches. 
This ihield long village did pi-oteft^ ij j 

And kept the army from-town. 
And chang'd the bullies into rocks^ 

That came t* invade Long-compt6ii*< 
Vol* ffl. Y She 

• Sutbt mount of RMtii Sttiies, inDr.fUifi Hifi, of OxfirdJJ.lre. 



pi A N C I EN T S Q N G S 

She poft-dtluvian fioce anmans. 

And Pyrrha's work unravels j 269 

And ftaxes Deucalion's hardy boy* 

Into their primitiTe pebbles. 
Red nofes flie to rubies tums^ 

And noddles into bricks. 
But George made, dragon liaxative p 265 

And gave him a bloody fliXt 
St, (jeorgchewasforEnglajQd; St. Dennis was fcrFrance: 
Sing, Honifoit quimaly penft*^ 

Sy boar-fpear Meleager 

Acquired a laftuig name, aj* 

. And out of Ibaunch of bafked fwine^. 

He hew'd ei?ernal fame. 
This bcail each hero's troiizcrs ript,: 

And rudely ftiew'd his bare-breechr 
Prickt but the wem, and out ther« came 275 

Heroic guts and garbadge. 
Legs were fecur'd by^ iron belts 

No more,. than peas by peaft^ds r 
Brafs helmets, with inelofed fculls> 

Wou^d crackle in's mouth like chefiuits, aSo 
His tawny hairs, eredled were . 

By rage, that was reMlefs ;: . 
And wrath, inflead.of cobler's ivajiy 

Did ftiffen his rifmg briUles^ 






^ 

s 



A N D B A L L A D S. 323 

His talks lay'd dogs fo dead afleep^ ^85 

Nor horn, nor whip cou'd wafcc 'um : 
It made them vent both their la^ blood. 

And their laft album-grecum. 
But the knight gor'd him with his fpear. 

To make of him a tame one, 290 

And arrows thick, inftead of cloves. 

He ftuck in moniler's gammon; 
For monun^ental pillar, that 

His vidiory might be known. 
He rais'd up, in cylindric form, zg^ 

A toiler of the brawn. 
He fent his fhade to fhades below. 

In Stygian mud to wallow : 
And eke the float St. George eftfoon. 

He made the dragon follow. 300 

St. George he was for England ; St.Dennis was for France : 
Sing, Hotti/oit qui nudy pen/e. 

Achilles of old Chiron learnt 

The great hbrfe for to ride ; 
H' was taught by th' Centaur's rational part, 505 

The hinnible to beilride. 
Bright filver feet, and ihining fac^ 

Had this flout hero's mother ; 
As rapier's filver'd at one end. 

And wounds us at the other. 310 



y 1 . Htr 



4 
^k. .1 — 



324 ANCIENT SONGS 

Her feet were bright, his feet were (wxfty 

As hawk purfuing fparrow : 
Her's had the metal, his the fpeed 

Of Barfoot's * fitver arrow. 
Thetis to doable pedagogue 51; 

Commits her deareft boy ; 
Who bred him from a flender twig 

To he the fcoarge of Troy ; 
But ere he laiht the Trojans, h' waa 

In Stygian waters fteept ;; 32a 

As birch ia foaked firft in pifs> 

When boys are to be whipt. 
With ikin exceeding hard» he rofe 

From lake, as black and muddy,. 
As lobfters from the oc^an rife, 325 

With ihell about their body : 
And, as from lobHer^s broken claw. 

Pick out the fiflr you might : 
So might you from one unlhell'd heel 

Dig pieces of the knight. 330 

His myrmidons robbed Priam^s Barns- 

And hen-roofts, fays the fbng ; 
Carried away both corn and eggs, 

like ants from whence they fpfung- 
Himfelf tore HedoFs pantaloons, 335 

And fent him down bare-breech'd 
" To pedant Radamanthus, in 

A poftore to be fwitch'd. 



Bat 



* Afamous Utter-cmtrieratOitford: nnd, bis fiBMr€*ibert* 



"vn 



AND BALLA D S. 325 

Bat George he made the dragon looky 

As if he had been bewitch'd, I40 

St. George he was for England ; St. Dennis was for France : 
Singt Honifiit fui maiy pinft. 

Fall fatal to the Romans was 

» 

The Carthaginian Hanni- 
bal; him I mean, who gave to them 1^^; 

A deviliih thump at Canns : 
Moors thick, as goats on Penmenmure, 

Stood on the Alpes's front : 
Their one-eyed guide *, like blinking mole, 

Bor'd thro* the hindring mount: jro 

Who, baffled by the maify rock. 

Took vinegar for relief; 
Like plowmen, when they hew their way 

Thro* ftttbborn rump of beef. 
As dancing louts.from humid toes 355 

' Call atoms of ill favour 

To blinking Hyatt f, when on vile crowd 

He merriment does endeavour. 
And faws from fuffcring timber out 

Some wretched tune to quiver : 360 

So Romans ilunk and fqueak'd at fight 

Of African carnivor : 

Y 3 TIu 

* Hsnnthal had hut one «ye. 

t A one-iyed feU<.'n, who pretended to make fiddles aiweUaspl^y 
09 tktm i well-known in Oxford* 



I 

I 

i 



326 ANCIENT SONGS 

The tawny furface of his phiz 

Did ferve inilead of vizzard : 
Bot George* he made the dragon have 565 

A grumblipg in his gizzard. 
St. George he was for England ; St. Dennis was for France: 
Sing, Honifoit qui malj penfo^ 



The valour of Domitian, 

It muft not be forgotten ; 570 

Who Mm the jaws of worm-blowing flies» 

Protected veal and mutton* 
A fquadron of flies errant, 

Againfl the foe appears ; 
With regiments of buzzing knights, 375 

And fwarms of volunteers : 
The warlike wafp encourage 'em. 

With animating hum ; 
And the loud brazen hornet next. 

He was their kettle-drum : jJa 

The Spaniih don Cantharido 

Did him moil forely pefter. 
And rais'd on fkin of vent'rous knight 

Full many a plaguy blifter* 
A bee whipt thro' his button hole, 385 

As thro' key hole a witch. 
And flabb'd him with her little tuck 

Drawn out of fcabbard breech : 



/ 



Bot 



i 



AND BALL ADS. ' 3^7 

Silt the undaunted knight Hfts up 

An arm fo big and brawny, 390 

And flafht her fo, that- here lay head. 

And there lay bag and honey : 
Then 'ipongH the rout he flew as Avift, 

As weapon made by Cyclops^ 
And' bravely qiiell'd feditious hvLz, |9{ ' 

' By dint of mafly fly* flops. 
Surviving flies do curfes breathe. 

And maggots too at Caefar* 
But George he.&av'd the dragon's beard. 

And Aikeloh * was his razor. 400 

St. George he was for England ; St. Dennis was iFor France : 
Sing, Homjiit ^ui maly fen/e* 



• The name of St* OsorfrfsftMrdt 



Y 4 XVI. hJiCY^ 



V 



3>8 ANCIENTS ONGS 



LUCy AND COLIN 



'written fy Thomas Tickel, E/q\ tbt alehrmed 
frwid of Mr. Addifon^ andetUtor ofiif imrks. Hi ivasfin 
tfa Clergy man in the north ofEngland^ had his education at 
^neen*s cpUege Oxon^ 'was nnder-Jecretary to Mr* Addifonami 
Mr* Craggs^'when/ucceJ/ivelyJecretariesofftaiei and was 
laftly (in Junt^ ^T^^ appointed fe^r^ary to the Lords 
Jufiices in Ireland^ 'which place he held tiU his death in 
1740. He acquired Mr. Addi/ot^s patronage hy a poem in 
frai/e of the opera of Rofamond 'written fwhik he 'was ^ 
the Umverfity. 

OF Leinftery fam'd for maidens faira 
Blight Lucy was. the grace ; 
Nor e'er did Lify's limpid ftream 
Refleft (b fair a fjice. 

Till Ittckleft love, and pining care { 

Impair*d her rofy hue. 
Her coral lip, and damaik cheek. 

And eyes of glolTy blue. 

Qh ! have you ieen a lily pi^e. 

When beating rains defcend ? lO 

go droop'd the flow-confuming maid ; 

Her lift now near its eiid« 

By 



n 



A N D B A L L A D S. 319 

By Lucy wam'd, of flattering fwains 

Take heed, ye eafy fair : 
Of vengeance due to broken vows, ij 

Ye perjured fwains, beware. 

Three times, all in the dead of night, 

A bell was heard to ring s 
And at her window, ihrieking thrice. 

The raven flap'd his wing. 20 

Too well the love-lorn maiden knew 

The folemn boding found } 
And thus^ in dying words, befpoko 

The virgins weeping round* 

*^ I hear a voice, you cannot hear, 95 

" Which fays, I muft not ftay : 
I fee a hand, you cannot fee, 
*' Which beckons me away, 

** By a falfe heart, and broken vows, 

** In early youth I die, 30 

** Am I to blame, becaufe his bride 

** Is thrice as rich as I ? 

•* Ah Colin ! give not her thy vows ; 

** Vows due to me alone : 
** Nor thou, fond maid, receive his kifs, 3$ 

^* Npr think him all thy own. 

M To- 



u 



I 

I 



330 ANCIENT SONfeS 

*' To-morrow in the charch tx) wed, 

*' Impadenty both prepare ; 
** But knowi fond maid, and know, falfe man, 
That Lucy will be there. ^ 



€i 



** Then, bear my corfe ; ye comrades, bear, 
" The bridegroom blithe to meet ; 
He in his wedding-trim fo gay, 
I in my windlng-flieet." 






She fpoke, ihe dyM ; — her corfe was borne, 4j 

The bridegroom blithe to meet ; 
He in his wedding-trim fo gay. 

She in her winding-iheet. 

Then what were peijnr'd Colin's thoaghts i 
How were tbofe nuptials kept ? jq 

The bride-men fiock'd round Lucy dead. 
And all the village wept, 

Confufion, fhame, remorfe, dcfpair 

At once his bofom fwell ; 
The damps of death bedew'd his brow, 55 

He (hook, he groanM, he fell. 

From the vain bride (ah bride no more !) 

The varying crimfon fled. 
When, tlretch'd before her rival's corfe, 

She faw her hufband dead. 6« 

Then 



J 



AND BALLADS. 331 

Then to his Lucy's new-made grave, 

Convey'd by trembling fwains, 
One mould With her, beneath one fod 

For ever now remains. 

Oft at their grave the conftant hind 65 

And plighted maid are feen ; 
With garlands gay, and true-love knots 

They deck the facred green. 

But, fwain forfworn, whoe'er thou art. 

This hallow'd fpot forbear ; . ' 70 

Remember Colin's dreadful fate. 
And feai* to meet him there. 



xvn. 

M All CARET'S GHOST. 

This Ballady which af feared in fome of the public nrws^ 
papers in or before the year 1724, came from the pen of 
Da<vid Mallet y Efq\ nuho in the edition of his poems ^ 3 <volsn 
1759, informs us that the plan ijuas fuggefted by the four 
njerfes quoted abo've in pag, 119, nuhich he fuppofedto be 
the beginning of fome ballad no^-w loft» 

** Thefe lines J fays he^ naked of ornament and fimple^ as they 
** arCyftruck my fancy ; and bringing frejh into my mind an 
** unhappy ad'venture much talked offormerlyy ga^ue birth f 
** the follo<wing poem^ ixihich 'was njuritten many years ago J** 

The tnvo introdu&ory lines (and one or tivo others elfe- 
where) had originally more of the ballad fimplicity^ viz. 
** ff^hen all ivas njurapt in dark midnight, 
*' 4nd all were faji ajle'ep, Uc. 

'TWAS 



231 ANCIENT SONGS 

f np WAS at tbc filcnt folemn hour, 
M, When night and moniing meet ; 

In glided Margaret's grimly ghoft. 
And fiood at William's feet. 

. Her face was like an April mom, ^ 

Clad in a wintry cloud : 
And clay-cold was her lily hand. 
That held her fable (hrowd, 

60 ihall the faireft face appear. 

When youth and years are flown : 10 

Such i» the robe that kings muft wear. 

When death has reft their crown. 

Her bloom was like the fpringing flower. 

That fips the filver dew ; 
The lofe was budded in her cheek, 15 

Jufl opening to the view. 

But love had, like the canker worm, 

Confuin'd her early prime : 
The rofc grew pale, and left her cheek 1 

She dy'd before her time. 20 

" Awake ! flie cryM, thy true love calls, 
" Come from her midnight grave j 

*' Now let thy pity hear the maid, 
*• Thy love refus'd to fave. 

«« This 



AND BALLADS. jjj 

** This is the dumb and dreary hoar^t 1$ 

" When injur'd ghofb complain ; 
*' Now yawning graves give up their dead, 

** To haunt the faithlefs fwain. 

^' Betlunk thee, William, of thy fault, 

" Thy pledge, and broken oath : 30 

** And give me back my maiden vow, 
*'. And give me back my troth. 

** Why did you promife love to me, 

** And not that promifi? keep ? 
•* Why did you fwear mine eyes were bright, 55 

** Yet leave thofe eyes to weep ? 

** How could yon fay my face wa» fair, 

** And yet that face fotfake? 
** How could you win my virgin heart, 

** Yet leave that heart to break ? 40 

'* Why did you fay my lip was fweet, 

** And made the fcarlet pale } 
** And why did I, young witlefs maid. 
Believe the flattering tale ? 



ti 



** That face, alas ! no more is fair ; ^j 

" Thefe lips no longer red ; 
** Dark are my eyes, now clos'd in death, 

** And every charm is fled. 
y$r,%^. the mirk and fearful hour, zfi.Edit. " The 



334 ANCIENTSONGS 

** The hungry worm my fifter is ; 

" This winding-flieet I wear ; jo 

** And cold and weary lafts our nighty 

'' Till that U& morn appear* 

** But hark ! the cock has Wzrn'd me hence ! 

.''A long and laft adieu I 
** Come fee» falfe man^ how low ihe lies, | j 

** Who dy'd for love of you^" 

The lark fung loud ; the morning fmil*d« 

With beams of rofy red : 
Pale William ihook in ev'ry limb. 

And raving left his bed* &i 

He hyed him to the fatal place» 

Where Margaret's body lay ; 
And ftretch'd him on the grafs*green turf. 

That wrapt her breathlefs clay : 

And thrice he call'd on Margaret'* name, 6f 

And thrice he wept full fore : 
Then laid bis cheek to her cold grave. 

And word fpake never more. 



J^er, 57t Now bfrds did (ing, and morning fmile. 

And ihew her glittering head. I^ E4I0 



xvm. TH< 



A N D B A L L A D S. 33^ 



xvin. 

THE BOY AND THE MANTLE, 

As REVISED AND ALTERED BY A MODERN HAND* 

Mr. Wartont in Bis ingenious Oh/er'vations on Spen/ery. 
has gi*ven bis opinion that the fiBittn of the Boy and the 
Mantle is taken from an old French piece intitledlais, court 
MANTEL quoted hj M. de St, Palaye- in his €uriotts 
** Memoires fur I* ancienne Che'valerie^^ Paris ^ 1759- 
2 torn, l2mo» ijuho tells us the ftory refemhles that of Ari^ 
ofto^s inchanted cup* *Tis pojfible our Englifo poet may ha've 
taken the hint of this fubjed from that old French Ho- 
mancey but he does not appear to ha've copied it in the man- 
ner of execution : to nvhich (if ^ne may judge from thefpe- 
eimen gi^ven in the Memoires J that of the ballad does not 
bear the leaft refemblance. After all *tis moft likely that alt 
the oldfiories concerning K. Arthur are originally of Brit^Jh 
grotuth, and that ivhat the French and other fouthern na^ 
tions ha<ve of this kihd'were at fir ft exported from this iftand^ 
See Memoires de P Acad* des Infcrip, tom.iac^ p, 352- 

• 

IN Carleilc dwelt kiag Arthur, 
A prince of palling might ; 
And there maintain'd his table round,. 
Befet with many a knight. 

Ir 

/Ind there he kept his Chriflm^as 5^ 

With mirth and princely cheare, 
When, lo ! a (Iraunge and cunning boy 

Before him did appcare.. 

\ A kiFtlcy 



1 



336 ANCIEN T 60 K G S 

, A kirtle, and a mantle 

This boy had him upon, l# 

With brooches, rings, and owches 
Full daintily bedone. 

He had a farke of filk 

About his middle meet ; 
And thus, with feemely courtefy^ Ij 

He did king Arthur greet. 



t4 



« 









And give unto thy comely queen, 
All-ftapen as you fee. 



» 



God (peed thee, brave king Arthur, 

*' Thus feafUng in thy bowre. 

And Gaenever thy goodly queen, 

'* That fair and peerlefle fiowre. t^ 

Ye gallant lords, and lordings;, 
'' I wifh you all take heed, 
Left, what ye deem a blooming rofe 
Should prove a cankred weed.'* 



Then ftraitway from his bofome i j 

A little wand he drew ; 
And with it eke a mantle 

Of wondrous fhape, and hew. 

** Now have thou here, king Arthur, 

" Have thou here of mefe, jo 



•* No 



AN d B A L L A D S. ' 337 

^* No wife it ihall become, 

** That once hath becii tablaitfei'* 
"I'hen every knight in Arthur's court ' 35 

Slye glaunced at his dame* 

And firii came lady Gnenever^ 

The mantle fhfe mdft tiye. 
This dame, ihe was tiew-fangled| 

And of a roving eyei 4^ 

When fhe had tane the mantle^ 

And M was with it ckdde. 
From top to toe it fliiver'd down^ 

As tho' with fhkets beihradde; 

One while it was too Ibngi 4J • 

Another while 166 (hbrt. 
And wrinkled on hei* fhoulderd 

In mofi: unfeemly fort; 

Kow gweh, now i-ed it feemed^ 

Then all of fable hue. S^ 

*^ Befhrew me, quoth king Arthur^ 

** I think thou beeft not true/* 

i)own ihe threw the mantle, 

Ne longer would not ftay ; 
feut ilormihg like a fury^ j5 - 

To hep chamber flung at^ay: 

voL.iH. a 



L. 



338 ANCIENT SONGS 

. She curft the whorefon wearer; 

' That had the diantle wrooghr : 
• ^ And doubly^Cttrft the froward impe,. 

Who thither had it brought. I« 

^ I had rather live in defarts 
** Beneath the green-wood tree : 
** Than here^ bafe king, among th^ gvoomefl, 
*•' The fport of them and thee," 

Sir Kay calPd foj;4h his lady, ' 6ji 

And bade her tq-comeaoea]^ :^ 
** Yet dame, i^iAoil be guilty,. 

" I pray thee.«K>w forbe^.?* 



This lady, pertly gigUng,. 

With forward ftep came on^ 7© 

And boldly to the little boy 

With fearlefs face is gone». 

When (he had taiie the mantle,^ 

With purpofe fof to wear : 
It fhranic up to her ihoulder, 75 

And left her b**iide bare. 

Then every merry Jcnight, 

That was in Arthur's court,- 
Gib'd, and laugh t, and flouted. 

To fee that pleafant fport* 80 

Downe 



A Jf P B ALL ADS. Z3i 

Downe (he threw the mantle* 

No longer bold of gay. 
But with a face all pale and wan, ' 

To her chamber flank away» 

Then forth came an old knight, 15 

A pattering o'er his creed ; 
And profFer'd to the little bojr 

Five nobles to his m€ed : 

" And all the time of Chriftmafs 

" Plamb*porridge fliall be thine, 99 

** If thou wilt let my lady fair 

" Within the mantle (hinc.*' 

A faint his lady feemed, 

With llep demure, and flow. 
And gravely to the mantle 9$ 

With mincing pace does gde. 

When flie the fame had taken. 

That was fo fihe and thin,' 
It ftirivell'd all aboift her. 

And fliow'd her dainty fldn* - %09 

Ah! little did HER mincing. 

Or HIS long prayers beftead ; 
She had no more hting on her. 

Than a taifel and a thread. 

Z 2 ' '• • iDowB 



7^ 



J 



Down (he thrtfwc the msmtlc, ^^i 

With terror apd difinay, 
And, with a face of fcarkt^ 

To her chamber hied away. 

Sir Cradock calPd his lady^ 
And bade her to come n«art : »!• 

*« Come win this mantle, lady, 
" And do me credit here; * 

*« Come win this mantle, lady^ 

<« For now it fhall be thine, 
** If thou haft never done amifs, »^5 j 

" Sith firil I made thee mine.'" 

» • • • 

•The lady gently blufliing, 
With modeft grace came oh. 

And now to tryc the wondrous charfti 
Courageoufly is gone. "• 

» • • • ^ 

When lilt had tanc the mantle^ 

And put it on her backe» 
About the hem it fecmed 

To wrinkle and to crackc. 

• • • 

« Lye ftill, ihce crytd^ O mantle! m 

<« And ihame me not for nought, 

•* I'll freely own whatever amifs, 

: i* Ok bUmefttl I hart wroughi 

* **©nte 



^ NO B A L L A DS. . 341. 

« Once I kift Sir Cradocke 

'< Beneathe the green-wood tree : 130 

"^^ Once I kift Sir Cradocl^e's mouth 

** Before he marriecl mee.'* 

When thus flie had her fbrJven^ 

And her worft fault had tol^ 
The mantle foou bcjcamehex ^13$ 

Right comely as it fhold. 

Moft rich and fair qf colour^ ... ^ 

Like gold it glitteri^^ fhojie : 
And much the jknights in Arthur's po^irt 

Admir'd her every one. > '4* 

Then toward? king Arthur^s table 

The boy he tum'd his eye : 
Where flood a boar'srhead garnifltief 

With bayes and loiemarye. 

When thrice he o'er the boar's head 14; 

His little wan4 h^d draw^e^ 
<2uoth he, " There's ^eyer a. cuckold's k^iife,^ 

** Can carre this head of brawne/' 

Then fome their whittles rubbed 

On whetftone, and on hone: '5^ 

Some threwe them under the tabltf. 

And fwore that they had none. 

Z 3 Sir 



L^ 



345^ Av'ctij^f s b N 6 4 

, Sir Cradock had a.lStle &nife 
Of fteel and iron maife } 
And in an inHant tiiro' the fkull ']5{ 

He thrnft the ihining blade* 

• • • . 

He thraft the fliimn'g btaae 

Fall eafily and fail : 
And every knight in Arthurs court 

A morfel had to tdfte. j6o 

The boy brought ftiftlh a home, 

AH golden was the rim : 
Said he', " Ko cuckdlde ever can 

*' Set month nnto the brim. 

'* No cuckold can this little hbrne |6} 

** Lift fairly to iiis head : 
** But or on this, or that fide, 

*' He ihall the liquor flied.** 

Some flied it oh their fhoalder» 
Some flied it oh their thigh ; ij9 

. Jind hee that could not hit his mouth. 
Was fure to hit his eye. 

Thus he, that was a cuckold. 

Was known of every man : 
But Cradock lifted eafily, 175 

And wan the golden can, 

, Th*i 



A N D BALLADS. 343 

Thus toar's head, horn and niantle 

Were this feir couple's meed ^ 
And all fudi conftant lovers, 

God fend them Wll to fpced. 1 80-. - 

> 
Then down In rage came Guei\ever, 

Aftd thtts €<8ild fpightfttl fay* 

« Sk Cradocfc's wife moft wrongfuHjr 

** Hatk borne the priqe away. 

** See yonder fimneleft woman^ "%%% 

** That makes herfelfe fo clean : 
«« Yet from her pillow taken 

" Thrice five gallants have been. 

. ** Ptiefts, darken, and wedded mca 

** Have her lewd pillow preft : 19^ 

♦* Yet ihe the wonderous pri«e forfoo& 
" Muft bearc from all the reft,** 

Than befpakc the little boy. 

Who had the fame in hold : ' 
<* Chaftiee thy wife, king Arthur, I95 

•' Of fpeeeh flie is too bold : « 

*' Of fpeeeh (he is too bold, 

" Of carriage all too free ; 
. ^* Sir king, (he hath within thy hall 

** A cuckold made of thee. ^om 

Z 4 *' All 



1 



J44 ANCIENTSQNQS 

* ■ • 
I 

'' All frolick light and wanton 

** She hath her carriage borne :' 
** And given thee for a kingly crown 

** To wear a cuckold's home," 

^^* TJbi UameJ editor of the Specimens of Whlch 
Poetry, 4/©. informs me that the Jtory of the Boy and 
THB Mantle is taken from 'what is rilated in fime of 
the old Welfth MSS. of Tegau Earfron,^ one of King Ar- 
thur's miftrejfes. She is faid to have pojfejfed a mantle that 
Kvould not fit any 'immodeft or incontinent *woman\ this 
(nvhichf the old ^writers fay^ luas reckoned among the curi^ 
pfities of Britain J is ftefuemty alluded to hy the old Weljh 
Bards. 

Carleile, fo ofUn mentioned in the Ballads ofK. Ar^ 

thur, the editor once^jhonght might probably be a corruption 

^Caer-leOn, an ancient Britifb city on the river Ufie 

in Monmouthjhirey 'which iJuas one of the places ofK% Ar* 

j^hur*s chief refidetfcei but he is nonv convinced^ that it is 

no other than Carlisle, in Cumberland i the OldEnglifis 

Minjirelsf being mofi of them Northern Men^ natural^ re- 

prefented the Hero of Romance as refiding in the North : 

And many of the places mentioned in the Old Ballads are 

fiill to be found ther^: Thus Tearne-Wadling (vid. /. 

12. note,) is the name 6f a Lake near Hejketb in Cumber^ 

landf on the road from Penrith to Carkfie* A Tradition 

fi^U prevails in the, neighbourhood^ that an old Caftle once 

Jfood at Tearne-Wadling, the remains of nvhich are either 

novu, or ivere not Ungjince to befeen* 



XIX. L* AMOUR 



AND BALLADS. 9|f 



x:x. 



' »L'AMOUR E,T GLYGERE, 

The little Sonnet intitled Cupid and Campaspb 
(printed above in p. 82.^ beautiful as it is, <will hanfe an 
ftdditiohol purit 'with the Reader of Tafie^ *whoM hi finds ii 
has given birth to the follo*wing elegant andfpirited lines : 
Jo ivhich the Author* s modefiy luill not permit him to ajjix 
bis name* It isy hov)e*ver^ too flattering a compliment for 
the Editor to conceal j that this little fprigbtly poem ijuas 
^written purpofely for this Colleciion ; and *tvas at o^ce am 
effufion rf fancy and friendjhip* 



* A U piquet avcc ma Glyccre 

' ./jL L 'amour jouoit un jour aux balfers, ct perdit . 
II paye, et met fon arc, fes (leches ; ma bergere 

^ Le fait capot et gagne : Amour, plein de depit> 

' Rifque les effets de fa mere, 5 

* Ses colombes, fes tourtereaux, 
f ^pxi attelage de moineaux. 



< 



St 



^ ANCIENT SONGS, &c. 

* Et fa ceinture feduifante ; 

* Perd tout cela : de fa bonche charmante 

* H joue enfttite le corailt - - 
' L 'albatre de fon front, 1 'email 

* De fon teint des lis ec des rofes^ 

* La foflette de fon |nenton» 

< £t mille aatres beaates noavellement edofes : 

• Le jeu s 'echauffe, et Ic petit fripon* ij 

* Sans.reiiotti^ey et toat en fbns 

* Contre mes yeax^ va le toat, il s 'ecrk ! 
« Glycere g«git^, et L ' Amoiir conlteme 

' Se leve aveugle et f nine. 

* Amour ! de 1 'infenfible eft-ce done la' 1 'oavragei 

' Helaa ! pour moi quel funefte 



«! 



THE END OF TIffi THIRD BOOK. 



I 

t 



A GLOS- 



A GLOSSARY 

OF THE OBSOLETE AND SCOTTISH WORDS m 



VOLUME THE THIRD. 



Sucb wards f as the reader cannot find here^ he is defired H 
look for in the Qloffdries to the other 'volumes^ 



A, 

A' an. 8. aU* 
A\iyt.fi^er,f(tj^for. 

'Aff. 8» fff» 

Afore, before. 

Aik. 8. oak, 
' Aith. s. oath, 

Ane. 8. one\ an, a. 

Ann. if. 

Aquoy, p, 256. coy, Jfy. 

Aftonied. afionijbedy ftunned. 

Auld. 8. old. 

Avowe. votv. 
• Awa'. $. anvay. 

Aye. ever\ alfo, ah! alas! * 

Azont. s. beyond. 

B, 

Ban. curfe. 

Banderolles. fireamm% Sttle 
flags. 



Banld. 8. bold, 
Bedeene. mmedsatefy. 
Bed one. 'wrought^ made up* 
Beere. 8. bier. 

Bent. 8, long graft 5 cdfi^ tjuild 
fields jnvbere bents, &c* groiAf* 
Bereth. (Jtrtrod,) bearetb. 
Bemes. bams. 
Befeeme. become. 
Befhradde. cut intofhreds. 
Beftirew me 1 a lejfer form of 

imprecation, 
Blee. complexion. 
Blent, blended, 
Blinkan, hlinkand^ s; twinU^ 

ling, fparkling. 
Blinks. 8. tnvinkleSfJparkles. 
Blinne. cea/e, gi'Vi o<ver. 
Bly th, bli the. fprightly, joyoUS, 
Blyth, /. S^.joyyJprighthnefSn 
Bones. />. 148. young bones: 

a common phrafe ivith our old 

ivritersfor Children • . 

Bookef- 



• So in the Old Chronicle Hiftory of King Leir, 1605, writ- 
ten before Shakefpcait's. (Vid. Vol. I. p. az9.) Lbir fays of 

GONOEILI., ,,p^^ 



34« 



A glossary; 



1 1 



Bookefman. 3{rk^pcrifarf^ 

Boon./iia'oar, requeji, petition. 

Bore, bom, 

Bowef , bowre. 4«y honved cr 
ttrchtd room \ a p^rlour^ 
chamber \ alfo a dnjueUing in 
general, 

Bowre woman, s. chamber- 
maid. 

Brae. 8. thejide of a h'dl%M de^ 
* cTi'vitj, 

Brakes thickets of brambles. 

Brand, ftuord. 

Braft. burjf. 

Braw. s. brave* 

Brayde. d/ntv outy .unjbeatbed. 

Bsenn. s. bvrjt. 

Bridal, the nuptial feaft. 

Brifiue^ fcr'gg' bridge. 

Brk]ed. car^ved. fid. Brytt- 
lynge. Glof, ("ol, L 

Brooches, p. 3. ornamental 
tri/ikets. Stone bucMles offd 
<wr or goldf tvith *wbich gen-* 
tiemen and ladies ciafp their 
Jb'trt'hofovis^ and bandker" 
chiefs f nre called in ibeiiorih 
brooches. 

^rooht. t. brought. 

Bugle, hngle-horn, a hunting 
£orn: bei/igthe horn (^22 Bu- 
glc, ©rWild-BulL 
Burn, bourne, jrook, 

^\y§k. dreff deck. 

But if. unhfs. 

Butt, s. out^ out of doors. 
Byrt, s. co-w-bou/e. 



Can. *^tf«, begem. 

Caitiff. aJJave* 

Canna, s. cannot, ' 

Carle, a churls cloivn, 

CarJtAi»-r6ifr^, difcotirteous* 

Cnii. s. call. 

Can Id. s. cold, 

Ccvtcs. certain^* 

Chap. «. knock. 

Chevaliers, f. km^btt^ 

Child, p. 54. a kmgbt. See 

l^oL I. /. 44. 6f Ctof. 

Chield, s. is ajkgbt or fambof 

nvay offpeaking of a perftn^ 

like our EngRJb nmrdiAtv* 

Xhc-chieW, i.e. thefettnfi. 

Chriftentie. Chriftendome, 

Churl. clo*wn : apgrfin (flow 

'birth J a^vUlain. 
Chureh-ale. a ^wake^ a fetf 
in commemor.fi.ti on of the i* 
dication of a Church, 
ClaithSf s. flo^tbf, 
Clead, «. cioathed, 
Cleading, s. cloathing* 
Clcd, 8. clad J chat bed. 
Clerics, clergymen^ Uteralif 

feholars, 
eliding, s. cloathiug,. 
Cold, could, p. 3. kne^v, 
Coleyne. Volcgn-fteel. 
Con thanks, grve thanks, 
Courtnals. p. \%\^ 
Cj-amafie, s. crimfon. 
CranioiQ. fiuU. 

Crinkle. 



-— " Poore foulc, (he breeds yowG Bt>KES, 

** And that 1$ it niftk/'S Jijer io tutxrhy iure. 

** GON, What h.eed vo'ng bones already ! }ctt 

Scecven4s'€ edit. (Vol. IV. fig. M m j) 



J 



A fe Lt)^S S A* r. 



.i» 



tffihkfc. rif« in ini out, run 

into flexures y ^wrinkle. 
Crook- i'wifl, 'Wrir/kUf diflort. 
Crowt. to pucker up, 
Cujh^ 8. come. 

D. 

Oank. mofpy damp, 

Pawes. (Introd.) days, 

D«ds, (feis. the high table in a 
ball: from f. dais, a cano^, 

Dealan> deland, s. dealing. 

Dee, 8. die. 

Deed, (Introd,) deeid. 

Deemed, ^.50. iiught perhaps 

' H hihje been retaifted in the 

ieictf bein^ no cbrrupiiony but 

fignifiid tn old authoH the 

fame as doomed ^ Judged ^ &c, 

thus in the Ifle ofMan^Judges 

\ are called deemfters. 

l)*fer)y,^. itj . precioujly, richly, 

Deld, s. deitd, 

Dcid-bell, s. pdjfmg hell, 

Dell, narronxj 'valltf, 

Dtlr. dealt, 

][)ercrye,p. \^^,iii^cwit,defcrihen 

PemaiDS. defnefnesi eftate in 
lands, 

Dight. decked. 

Ding, knocks beat, 

t)1h, dihne. nosfe, biffife, 

'Diiiia, s. dotflnoh 

Diflcere. the herfe rode ly a 
knight in the tumament, 

Dofend^ 8. dqfingy drowfy^ tor- 
pidf benumbed^ &c. 

Doublet, a man"! inner gar- 
ment i nyaiflcoat. 

t)oubt. fear, 

p^ht€OiXt, doubtful. 



Douzty. doughty, 
Drapping, s. droppings 
Ijreiiy, 9, dreary, 
Duid. s. dole^forrotu, 
Dwellat), dwellaiid, 8. drntef' 

Ungi ^ 

Dyan, dyand, 8. dying* 



Eatti^r^ 8. either, 

£e ) een, eyne. 9, eye \ ley^s* 

Ecn. e*veny evening, 

F/fFund. pour forth, • 

Eftfoot). in ajbort time* 

Eir, 8. i^ery e^ver, 

Enoubh; t, enough. 

Eke. iilfi, 

Evaniihtd. s. njani/hed, 

Evfcrichfr. t^eryy each, 

Everychore. e-very one. 

Ew-bughts. p, 69. or Ewtf^ 
boughts, 8. are fmali incUh' 
fittest . or pensi into ^which ^<* 
farmers dri<ve (Scotice NA'cir) 
thiir milch e'wes, morning 
and e'vening, in order to mi k 
them. They are coiTtmokh^ 
madenvith fale-dyk«ft, i.e, 
earthen dykeS^ » 

£zar.8. p, 93. probably^ azufe, 

Fadge* «. A thick haf of bread: 
fgurati'vely, any coarfe heap 

ofM- 

Fain, giad^'fond^ 'vdelUpleafed, 
Falds. s. thoufoldejU 
Fa I Ian', falland. s. falling, 
Falfef.' a deceiver , hypocrite, 
F«'8i %, iboHjalli^, 

FaWn. 



^^ 



A eLpSJARU, 



Faw'n. «./tfiZp». . Gev,gw.9,giir,g0o4f4fiit^ 
Tzyt.ftuth* niture. 

Fee. reward^ recMtftnei\ U GtiA. %, ga've. 

^fifiS'^i^ landi 'v^hen it is Gerte, (Lttrodm) furcei. 

€mn^ed*witb tie tftmre by Gihed Jeered, 

nubicb it is held ; as hugbfs Gie. s. give. 

fee, ^c. Giff. i/ 

Ttt.fetcbed, Gin. 8. if. 

Fillan', filland* s> filing. Gin, gyn. ef^ine, cotOri^usuch 

Find \'ro^, find mtfcbancet or Gins, begins, 

difafier. *tbepbrafiisJliUufed. Gip. p^ i^6.a» interjeB'm f/ 
Fit. %.feeU contempt. 

Five teen.y^^Av, Glee, merriment ^ joy ^ 

¥\zynt. Jilted, Glen. s. ^i narrofw *ua!leyt 

Flindan. s. )^i/f ^/^ J^UsUiru Glente. gtanced^fiipt. 



Tonde. found, 
Foregoe. quitf give up, refign* 
Forewearied. mucb tvearied, 
Forthy. tberrfore. 



Glo.wr. 9,fiare, 

Glo2e. canting^ dt/^mulatiaif 

fair outfide, 
Gode. (IntrodJ) good* 



Tou\Tow, 9* full* Item fdnmk. Gone. (Introd,) go, 

Frae. $, fro : from. ^ • 

Fvnh./ortb. 

Fyen. (Introd) fierce, 

Fyledy fyling. defiled, defiing. 



G. 

Gae. t.gave. 
Gae, gaes. f • go, goes. 
Gaed, gade. $• luent* 
Gan. b^an, 
Gane. s. ;0ff^. 
Gang* 9. go. 
Gar. 8. m^i^^. 
Garty garred. s. HMuif* 



Gowd. 8. gold. 

Greet, s.'weep, 

Groomes. attendant s^fervM^ 

Gtide, guid. s,good. 

Guerdon, revt/ard* 

Gule. red. 

Gyle, guile. 

H. 

Ha\ s. baU. 

Hame. bome. 

Haufsbane. 8.^. yo. the neck' 

bone (halfe-bone) a pbraft 

for tbi neck ♦. 

Hce^« 



* In the North they iuig the line in qaeftion tl^is s 
** And filler on zour white, hauft-bane.** 

.which is doubtlefs the (rue reading. It is likely that Marrioi 
had a filvcr locket on, (i^d clofe to her neck with » ribband* 

Aicl 



A © L OS S A JL Y. 



m 



fikeVt. Be /ball t alfOf bebas, 
Heathennefs. tbe biatben fart 

rftbeivorld.: 
Hem. ^em^ ibem, 
f^ente. (htirod,) beUfpulkd, 
He6.'(IjftroJ.) tbey. 
Her, hare, ibeir, 
Hetty bight, bui^ caU, com- 

mand* 
Hewkes. keraUs <oaiu 
fiind. 8. b§bind» 
Hings. s. bansfn 



ICamc. s« cMib» 
Kameing. s. combing, 
KaiHiel piecey corner, f^ zf^ 
Kavk. s. chM» 
Keel. s. raddle. 
Kempt, combing. 
Ken. s. inmv, 
Kever-chefes. bandkercbiefs^ 

{rtd. Introd.) 
Kilted. 9h tucked up» 



Hip> hep. the berry^^ nvbicB Kirk. s. cburcb. 
contains tbe fiones «r feeds rf Kii^-w».r s. p.- %^$, cburcb^ 



the df^^ofe. 
Hir I hir lain,- ^ her \ berjkff 

altfne^ 
Kple* lAfbole. 
Honde. band. 
Hooly. s» ,fiewfy» 
Hofe» ftockings, 
Huggle. bugy claj^. 
Hyt. {Introd.) it. 



I. 



Hfardly.s, iU-favwred^yMgUfy. 
%lkBi. u each 9 evety one. 
Impe. a little demm. 
Ingle, s. fire. 
J<>vr. s, jeiwl. 



InM. aagrVf furious^ 
ife. ». IJbaU. 



nxfoH: or pirhape church" 

yard-'waU. 
Kirn.^^ s. eht^m. 
Kirtle. a pettic9atp 'wonutn^e' 

goijun. 
'SJ^. acquaintance. 
Knellan, knelland. s. hnellhtgy 

ringing tbe knell. 
Kyrtell. vid, kirtle. in tbefnt^ 

trod, it fignifies a man's wt^ 

der 'garment •. 

U 

Lacke. tvant* 
Laith. s. Ictb. 
Lang. s. long. 
L;]ip* s. leaped. 
Largeffe. t. g^e» 



Such kind of ornaments were very commonly worn in this man-^ 
^ner formerly by young women in the North ^' where it is a com*- 
mon phrafe to iay» *^ Tve got a fair baufe."* i. e. I have got a 
.lore throat. 

• Bale in his ABe& of Eng. Votaries (id Part, fol. 53^) ufes 

the word Kyrtle to fignify a Monk's Frock. He fays Roger 
.Eatl of Shrewlbury, when he was dying, fent ** to Clunyake in 

♦•'^JfraiKc, for the Kyrtli of holy Hugh the Abbot theie, Scc^" 

3 



tit 



A GLOSSAHl^} 



Lee. fields pUm^ 

Lee. s. lie. 

Leech, pbyficiam 

Leefe. 8. hfei . 

Lc^e» (bared,} leefe< deati 

Ldd. 8. fyed. 

Lemman. bver. 

Leugh. s. laughed,' 

Lewd, ignorant J feottdaloui, 

Lichtly.8. ligbtfyi eafily.^ nimbly, 

Lig. 8. He, 

Limitours.yHori l^enfed to beg 

tvithin certain limits, 
LimiCacioune. a certain pre^ 

eimS aUovjed to a limitour, 
Lither. haughty ^ ^wicked, 
Lo*e, ]oed. s. Itnfit lo*ved, 
Lothly. pi tt. {<vid. lodlye^ 

Glof Vol ».) loathfome •. 
Loud's I hetre. perhaps, LouA 

as I hear, p, <)^. 
Louiij?e, (Introd), lung, 
Lburd, lour, s* lever, rather, 
JbsVitii hive, 8i UveSf io*ue, 
Lyan, lyand. s. fyiftg* 
Lyllenyth. (Introd,) liften, 

M. 

Mair. more. 

Mail. 8. might, 

Mark, a coin in <value ipt ^, 

Maugre. incite of. 

Mkns, 8. a tbrujb. 



Maunr8. ^ufti 

Mawt. 8. mah. 

Meed, renvard, 

Micht. mights 

Mickle. muchy greAt: 

Midge* a fi/udl injeBj la kind 

of gnat. 
Mtnftrkl; 8. miftftrel. mufitmk 
Minftrelfie. mu/ic, 
Mirkie. desrh, black* 
Mifliap. misfortttnem 
Mither. s. mother* 
Mbe. more. 
Mold. mouM^ ground, 
Monand. moaning, hemoaniffgi 
Mores, m^ersy marJAgroutubi 
Morrownynges.^ mornings, 
MoflTcs. fwampy grounds d^ 

<vered tvith mofs. 
Mote, mought, migbti 
Mou. s. mouthi 

N. 

Na. nae. s. no, 
Natthing. %, nothing* 
Nane. s„none, 
Newfangle, newfangled, fni 

tfno*uekyi 
Nicht. s. night. 
Noble, a coin in ^vobte 6s, Si* 
Norland, s. northern* 
North gales. North HVaies, 
Nurtured, educated, bred up, 

0. 



• The adverbial Temoinations -toinz and -ly were appM 
indifferently by our old writers r thus, as we have Lotbtf for 
Loathfome, al)Ove ; fo we have L^;w^ for Ugly in Lord Suk- 
Kiy*8 Verfion of ^n. id. viz. 



! 



♦ *In every |>lac« the UGroME fi^hte* I faw," 



Paje [«9.} 



J 



A O L O S S A R Y. 



5J3 



O. 

Obriiii, 8* upbraid, 

Ony. s. any. 

Or. ere, before.^^In f, ^o. *v, 
41. otfeems to have the force 
if the Latin vcl, and iofigni- 

Ou. {lntrod.)you, 
Out-brayde. dre^w out, un*' 

Jbeathed, 
Owre. 8. (Tver, 

Owre-word. s. the laft nvord, . 
Owche8. hofet, or buttons tf 

gold, 

PdlL a cloak, tft mantle offtate. 
Palmer, a^dgrim, nvbo halving 

been at the holy land, carried 

a pahn^brancb in his band. 
Paramoor* gallant, lover, mf*^ 

trefs. 
Partake. p„ 19S. participate, 

affign to. 
Pattering, murmuring, mum^ 

bling, 
VTLyTkim, pagan, 
Pearlins. s. p. 70. « coarfefirt 

ofbone^lace. 
Peer : peerlefs. efua^t «witbout 

equal. 
Peering, peeping, looking nar* 

rovuly. 
Perill. danger, 
PbiUmene. Philomel, the night* 

ingale* 
Plaine. complain, 
Plein. con^lau(. 
Porcupig. porcupine, f. pore- 
epic 

Vol. III. 



Poterycr. p. 3 . perhaps pocket* 
Paiitonicre in Fr. is a jhep" 
herd's fcrip. (Cotgrave.) 

Piece, s. p. iiS. altttle. 

Preas, prefe. prejs. , 

Pricked, jarred forward; tra* 
*veUed a good round pace. 

"Prowefs. bravery, valour, mi' 
litary gallantry, 

•PuiffaiJt. ftrong, pov^erfui, 

Purfei. an ornament ofembroi* 

. dery, 

PurJFelle^' embroidered. 

Quail . /brink, Jlincb, yield. 
Quay, quhey, s, ayoung heifer, 

called a whiter York/hire, 
Q^^n, forty, bafe nvoman* 
Qwill Mdue, alfi, kiU, 
Quelch. a blovj or boftg. 
Quha. 8. voho, 
Quhair* s. vnhere. 
Quhan, whan. s. *when, 
Quhaneer. s. vnhenier* 
Quhen. s. nuben. 
Quick, alive, living, 
Quitt. requitf. 
Quo., quoth, 

R. 

Rade. s. rode, 

Raife. 8. rofe, ' 

Reade, rede, s. advifi* 

Reeve, bailiff. 

Renneth, renaing. runneti, 

running. 
Reft, bereft. 

Regifter. the officer <who keeps 
the public regifter, 
' Aa RialU 



p 



3S4 



A GI^OSSARY- 



Rial]. (Introd*) rgyd- Senefchall. .«i^/r of the are- 

Kiddle. P' 7%y 79. feems to be monies, 

• ^ 'vulg. iM$m for ynricUfle 5 Scy. s. p. 70, f^,. a. kind f 

tr is perhaps a corruption 9[ *weollen fluff, 

reade, 1. e, ad'vi/e, ^ $hee's. ^Jbejtall. 

Ki9 • s» f xur* Rin [ liiy ] errancf . Sheene. Jbining, 

' /^ 90V a cdniraSed way of Shield- hoa«. ^.1^5. the klade- 

^eakin^for ' * rtif» on m% er^ tfone : a common phvufe in the 

^^rand,^^ *the tronoun if (T- North, 

minted* Sothetr,f^A^vt Stitnt.. jfiatgfJtK^i/k''^^* ^ 

nie(Tag.e. . , . . ufed, 

K'ood/cfv/j, criicijix, Shepens, (hipenc co^-hoiifiTt 

Koute, p^lQQ,pQabputj,jraiiek f^^^o^ A. S, S^yp^n. 

Rudd. reJ^ ruddy, 3li»ii»crtd, 5 gtiU^red^ 



Rud-red, deep r^d^ ruddy, 

Ruth, pity, 

RuthfuU, rnefujL^ 'woeful, r 

S. 

Sa, lae. ^•fi* > 

Saft. s,Joff, , 

Saim. fCfame, . , , 

Sair. %,fbre. 

Sail. 8.^#//. 

Szrke, ^Sf^J^irff 

Saut. s/yS/} 

Say, effay. attempt. 

Scant., fcdrte : item, p, 3,$%^ 

fcantinefs, 
Scarlette. p, 15. Red fc^fetrt. 

a common phtftfe in our old 

^writers *. 
Seely,jlilly, , ;.^ -7 

Seething, hoiling, 
Sed, faidf- • 
Sel, icU.'s.T^^ 



Sho, fcho. s. jie, " 

Shoone. /hoes. 

Shopcy Jbaped^' 

Shread. cut into fmall pieces, 

S|ireeve]i> ibrivMi. eotfejeihtf 

. Jini, 

Shullen. JlioU, 

Sic. fich. fuch, 

Shghan, figHand. i, /gbif^» 
Siller, s. jU'vtr. 
^x"^: Jince, 

SlupiJecl. •« ^t^red. 
Slaited. •. 'wbeited\ orfirkps, 

lAnped, 
Sletth. ./%«r/^.* . . 

Slee; JU^, 

Sf}a\ ihaw. s. yif^^M^ 
Sooth. rr»/i&, fr«f. 

Soth, ibthct ^<'<«'« . . 

Sould. 8. flfould, 

Souldanyfoldan^rowcUiityii/W. 

Spackf s. Jpe^U, 

Sped, fpeededffucceeded. 



* So Chaucpr, in the Frctogues to his Caiiterbury Taleii 
AJmofil^eWlftofBath, : 



. *' Her Hofen were q( fine scaklbt rid, 



•t 



J 



A GLOSSARY. 



3Si 



Spttk. s. j^gaL 

5pcir. 8. (pere, (pear?, /peere> 

fpire. /j^, inquire*, 
Speir, t»fpear. 
Spill. y^w7, ^//:/?r^j, !«//. 
Spilhft, i^itland, 6. ^tUing, 
Sporging. Jrofhtbat purges ouU 
Sqxielfii. ^ ^/o^, 0r ^^z/;^, 
Stean. s. Jione. 
Stcrtc. fiarud, 
SwTcn. <t/oif^, found • 
Stint. y^cij&. 
Stotind)ftonde. (Introd,) fpace^ 

moment f hour^ time. 
Stowrc. Jirong, robuft,fiirce, 
Stower, ftowre. y?;>, difittr^ 

once, fight, 
Stude, fluid, s. flood, 
Summere./. loi ,ajumpter borfe 
Surcear<^. c'eAfe, 
Sune. s* fyon, 
fiweere, l^ire. neck. 
Syne. s. tbeUf ^ter^wards. 

Tcene. fgrriyw^ f^^if" 
Thewcs. manners • In p, i^» 

itfignifies iimbs. 
Than. s. then. 
Thair. s. then* 
Thir. s. tbis^ thife. 
Tho. then. 
Thrall. caf>ti<ve. 
Thrall. capti*viiy. 
Thralldome. ditto, 
Thrapg. clo/e. 



Thril led . twirkd, tumedrMtnd. 

Thropcs. ^villages. 

Thocht. tbougDt. 

Tift. s. puj^ of ivind. 

Tirlecl. tiMtrled, iurmdroimd. 

Tone, t*one. the one. 

Tor. a ioiver\ alfo a high* 
pointed rocky or htU. 

Tres-hardie, f. thrice-hardj. 

Trenchant, f. cutting. 

Tricft flirt h. s. dra-JJ forth to 
an afllg^ation. 

Trifulcate. three-forked^ thre^ 
pointed. 

Trowr. belie'veytrufli aijby'verify* 

Troth, truth, faith, fidelity. 

Tuih. fin interjeSfion of con- 
tempt, cr impatience. 

Twa. s. t'wo. Twayne. t^vjo. 
U. 

Venu .(Introd)approacb, coming, 

UnWthoiigbt, />. 49. is a cont- 
mon iJOQrdin the midland parts 
of England, for betho\ight : 
it might therefore have beem 
rece'i*ved into the text. So lae 
fay Unloofe/o^ Loofe. 

Unftiions. fat, clammy, oify, 

Undermcles. afternoons. 

Unkempt, uncombed, 

Urc, ufe, 

W. 

Wadded, p. 4.. perhaps from 
woad : ;. e, of a light blue 
colour f. . 
A a a Wae« 



• So Chaucer, in his Rhyme of Sir Thopat. 

" He foTiglit both north and fouth, 

** And oft' he SPIRED with his mouth.'* 

i. e. * inquired' : not * blowed', &c. as in Urry"* Gloflary. 

t Taylor, in his ftift. of Gavel-kind, p. 49. fays, " Bright, 
" from the Britifh word Britb, which fignifies their nvadde-co- 
•' lour^ which was a light bluc» Minlhcw's diflion." 



35^ 



A GLOSSARY, 



Wac. wacfo*. s« *w9e, ijjoeful, 
Wad. s. walde. *would, 
VfzX^tt.afidlerofchtb, 
Waltercd, weltered, rolled a- 

long, Ji/bf HA/allo'weJ. 
Waly. an mttrje3ion qf grief, 
Wanie, wcro. s. btUy. 
Warde. «. adnjifcy forenuarn. 
Waflel. drinking^ good cheer » 
Wat. 8. ijjet, Aifit htftv, 
Wate. s. blamed. Prat, ef 

wyte. to blame. 
Wax, togroiVy become. 
Wayward. per*verfe. 
Wcalc. ijoetjare, 
Weare-in. s. drive in gentfy, 
Weede. clothing, drefs, 
Wccl. ivell. /ilfoy 'We'll, 
Weird. *unzardy ivitch. PrO' 

perfyyfate, de/iny. 
Welkin, tbejky. 
Well away, exclam, ofpi^ 
Wcm. (Introd.) hurt. 
Wcndc, weened, thought. 
Wend, to go, 
Werryed. tvorrjed, 
Wha. s. ivto, 
Whair. s. nvbere. 
Whan. s. ivben, 
Whilk. 8. ijubicb, 
Whit, jot. 
Whittles, knives, 
Wi\ 8. *witb. 
Wight, human creature, man 

or txioman, 
Wi Id -worm . ferpent. 
Wis. knoiu. 

Wit, weet. know, underfland. 
Woe. lAJoefitl, forronvfuL 



Wodc, wod. wood, Alfonai, 
Woe-man, a forrvwful man, 
Woe.worth.«tw^*^to[jwir]A.S. 
'^cit^dfaii,(jieri)tobe,tohetmt 
Wolde« mfould^ 

Wondc, {If0trod) nuoutid/umdei 
Wood, wode^ mad, furious. 
Wood-wroth, g. furioufy «» 

raged. 
Wot. kno^, tbiak. 
Wow. 8. exclam, ofixjonder^ 
Wi acke. ruin, defiruQim, 
Wynne, win.jajy. 
Wyt, wit, weet. Jbr^ov, 
Wyte, l^ame, 

Y, 
Yaned . yawuned* 
Yate. gate. 
y^-buUt. buiU, 
Ychulle. (Introd,) IJbaU. 
Yefc. fi. yeJbaU, 
Ylke, ilk. fame. That ylk, 

thai fame. 
Ylythe, (Introd.) li/len. 
Yode. <u;/ir/. 
Ys. i/. Yf. (^ Yn. mt. 
Yftohge, (Introd.) /u/^, 
Y- wrought, 'wrought. 
Y-wys. truly, venfy. 

Z, 
Zt. %.ye. zee're. %,ye are, 
Xcf. f . yeJbaU, 
Zellow. %, yellow, 
Zet, 8. yet, 
%Qiti%. s.yong, 
Zcni, s,you, zour. uyeur, 
Zour-lane, your. lane, t, ahuti 

byyourfelf, 
Zoutb. 8, youth. 



THE END OF THE GLOSSARY, 



^^l^nm^^^-w^^Vi^^^ ' ■■'"" « "^^pi^ 



( 357 J 

ADDITIONAL NOTES. 

Page 62* 

Fhillida and Corydon // $neoftbe Songs in ** The 
^' Honmrahk Entertaittnunt giev«» to the ^eenes Majeftie 
^* in Frogreffe at El'vetham in Hampflnre^ by the R, H. the 
** Earle of Hertford. 1591-" ^0. [Printed by Wolfe. J^9 
name of author, '\ See in that pamphlet ^ 

» 
** The thirde dales Entertainment • 

*^ On Wednefday morning about 9 p^ clock, as her Majeftie ' 
** opened a cafement of her gallerie ivindoiv, ther nxjere 3 ex^ 
'* cellent mufetiansy ivho being difguifed in auncient country 
«* attirey did greet her with a plea/ant fong of Qokyt>0}X 
^'andPhillida, made in 3 parts ofpurpofe. The fong^ 
^* as nuell for the tjjorth of the ditiiey as the aptneffe of 
** the note thereto applied^ it pleajed her Highnejfe after 
^* it had been oncefung to commend it againe, and highly f 
f< grace it 'with her cheerefull acceptance and commendation^ 

*' The Plowmak*s Song, 
" In the merrie month of May, i^r," 

The Splendour and Magnificence of Elizabeth's reign is n9 
nsAere more ftrongly painted than in thefe little Diaries of 
feme of her fummer excurfiom to the houfes of her nobility ; 
nor could a more acceptable frefent begi<ven to the worlds than 
a republication ofafeleS number offuch details as this of the 
entertainment at Elveth MA, that at Killinqworth, f 
(^c. ISc. njohich fo ftrongly mark the fpirit of the times and 
frefent us with f cents fo itery remote from modern manners^ 

t Vidr Vol. Irlnttod.— -Vol. HI; p. as* 

' Page 



Page 159. 

■ AFT IK Cup 
haum ef a pretty pern »/Tmso'», collet/ Amore faggitii 
gtHfraUj frinttJ •wi'tib bis Ahihta, anJ erigia«Sjf im- 
tatidfrm MoaCHVl. 

Page 20Z. 

Sinn thit halhtd •wot pritaeJ ef lit EJitvr btab feen a* 
tmcieta ilmi-letler cefy, eenlaining feme •variatimi, aai in- 
titledy " the meny praxii tf Rshin Gcod-Felhw. To tit 
" turn *f Dulcitia, fjc." Step. 151. 

7* till eefy lutre pnfixed fwa lutoden cult «/ RoBtf 
Good-Fellow, ivbitb/em to rifrefint the drtjfes in •which 
thii 'mbimjltal ebaraSer miai formerly exhibited tn thtjiagt. 
7e gratify the turietu thefe art engraven betew. 



THE END OF VOLUME THE THIRD. 



BOOKS* 

Printed and Sold by J. Dodsljs y, ia 
Pall-Mail, LondoD, 



• Haw Kiow Cmoaaw, or. The Pleafiflg Hiftoiy: a 
^ Novel tranflated from the Chinese. 4 vols. 
i2mo. 1761. 

1mijs€Ellaneous Pieces relating to the Chinese* 

± vols. rzmo. 1762. 

• » 

^jLVi: Pisces of Runic Po6tiy, tranflated from &t 
Icelandic Lahgm^. 8vo. 1763. 



The Song of Soi;oj|f^ON, newly tranflated from 
the original H e s^ $ w^ with a Commentary and 
Notes, 8vo. 1764. 



Thefe Four by the Editor of the Reliqi/bs, ^c. 



Hau Kiou CHbA A, N» liiftoire Chineifit Tnubiiu Ji 
P An^lois, par M. • * •. 4 torn, (dans 2. J inmo. k 
Lyon 9 <beic BtnUt ^ttftain librairt Rut MertieU^ i 



, . ' ■ . . • 

EXTRA C T 

Of a Letter from Canton, July 9th, 176J, t% 
James Garland, £fq. of Burlington Street. 



'' As to HaC Kiotr CnOAiiPKy I inquired amoBg 
mf Chmefe acqaaij^tance ahosflt it, hoc whhout fufceTsf 
nntU I happened by ckance to mention the Hero pf the 
Story Tj-cbung-Uf when they immediately Ipiew^ #hat I 
jneanty and faid ih their jai^Hj^ '' Truely haye fo 
'* faihton flian.4 or 500 yea^« Before; Ittive ve{|r tiaie 
** Story I Haw yov^xsai/cu^m he**' ^ 






• ■-^,' 



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Lately publHhcd in France, | 



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Full text of "Reliques of ancient English poetry: consisting of old heroic ballads, songs, and other pieces of our earlier poets, (chiefly of the lyric kind.) Together with some few of later date"

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