I
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 
 AT LOS ANGELES
 
 

 
 RELIQ^UES 
 
 O F 
 
 ANCIENT ENGLISH POETRY. 
 VOL. in.
 

 
 R E L I 
 
 E S 
 
 O F 
 
 ANCIENT ENGLISH POETRY 
 
 CONSISTING OF 
 
 Old Heroic BALLADS, SONGS, and other 
 PIECES of our earlier POETS, 
 
 (Chiefly of the L Y R i c kind) 
 
 Together with fome few of later Date. 
 
 THE SECOND EDITION. 
 
 VOLUME THE THIRD. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed for J. D o D s i. E T in PaH-Mafi, 
 LXVfl,
 
 
 CONTENTS OF VOLUME THE THIRD; 
 BOOK THE FIRST. 
 
 the ancient Metrical Romances fag. v 
 
 I . The Boy and the Mantle I 
 
 2r The Marriage of Sir Ga-iuaine ~ II 
 
 3. King Ryence's challenge 2 
 
 4. King Arthur's death. A Fragment 28 
 
 5. 'The Legend of King Arthur yj 
 
 6. A Dyttie to Hey Downe - 42 
 
 7. Glafgericn. 43 
 
 8. Old Sir Robin of Portingale 4$ 
 
 9. * Child Waters 54 . 
 *o. Phillida and Corydon. By Nic. Breton 62 
 
 11. Little Mufgranye and Lady Barnard 63 
 
 12. 'Tht E<w-hughts Marion. A Scott ijb Seng 69 
 1 3 The Knight and Shepherd's Daughter 71 
 
 14, The Shepherd's Addrefs to his Mufe 76 
 
 15. Lord Thomas and Fair Ellinor 78 
 16.. Cupid and Campafpe. By John Lily e 82 
 17. The Lady turned Servingman 8j 
 i-8. GilMorrice. A Scottish Ballad 89 
 
 BOCK THE SECOND. 
 
 I Legend of Sir Guy 99" 
 
 2. Gw/ 
 
 rlftnzie Man,/ee in^aL 2. /^. 59. 
 
 196776
 
 H CONTENTS. 
 
 2. Guy and Amarant I Of" 
 
 v The auld good Man. AScottijh Song 116 
 4. Fair Margaret and Sweef William 119 
 
 . 5. Barbara Allen's Cruelty 123 
 
 6. Sweet William's Gho/l. A SctXtijh Ballad 126 
 7. Sir John Grehme and Barbara Allen, ditto 1 25 
 
 . 8. The Bailiff's Daughter of Ifiington 131 
 
 9. The Willow Tree. A Pajloral Dialogue 154 
 
 10. The Lady 1 i fall 136 
 
 11. Waly t ivaly, L*Ve be bsnny. A Scott ijh Song 14-5 
 
 12. The wanton Wife of Bath 1 4; 
 
 13. Dulciita ~ 151 
 
 14. Lady Ifabdlrfs tragedy 154 
 
 15. A Hat and cry after Cupid. By Ben Jdnfon 159 
 1 64 The King of France's Daughter 1 6 1 
 17. TbeJ'weet neglefi. By Ben. Jonfon - 170 
 i S. The Children in the Wocd 1 7 \ 
 
 19. A Lo*ucr of late teas I j->& 
 
 20. The King and the Miller of Mansfeld 179 
 
 21. The Shepherd's Refutation. By Geo. Wither 190 
 
 22. The Wandering Prince of Trey in* 
 3 The Witchts Stng. By Ben. Jo ft/on jgr> 
 
 "24. Rcbin GccJ-fiHoiv 2Ojfc 
 
 25, The Fairy Qfeen ~~ 207 
 
 26. The Fdiriet Farewell By Dr. Corbet 210 
 
 BOOK THE THIRD. 
 
 i. The Rirtb of St. Gecr^ t ~ 215 
 
 :. St.
 
 CONTENTS. iii 
 
 a. St. George ana the Dragon* 227 
 
 3. Love will find cut the Way 238 
 
 4. * Lord Thomas and Fair Annet. A Scott ijh Ballad 240 
 
 5. Unfading Beauty. By T/JO. Careia 246 
 ,6. George Barniuell 247 
 
 7. The Steafaji Shfyher.1, iniitled in the frjl Edition 
 
 *' The afpiring Shepherd." 263 
 
 8. The Spanijh Virgin, or Effects of Jcalonfy 266 
 
 9. Jcaloufy Tyrant of the Mind - 272 
 
 10. Conjlant Penelope 273 
 
 11. To Lacafta ongoing to the Wars. By Lovelace 278 
 J2. Valentine and Urfine 279 
 
 13. The Dragon cf Wantley 296 
 
 14. St. George for England. Thffrjl Part 306 
 
 15. St. Gear ge for England. The fecond Part 311 
 
 16. Lucy and Colin. By Titkel 328 
 
 17. Margarets Gbojl. By David Mallet 331 
 1.8. The Bey and the Mantle rt-viftd, &c . 3-55 
 19. L' Amour et Gljcere. Traduit dc I' Anglais 345 
 
 The Glofary ~-"347 
 
 An 
 
 * Tie Baffled Knight, cr Lady** Policy, and the Song 
 " Why S? pale." Set in Vol. 2. /. 339. 347.
 
 An ordinary SONG or BALLAD, that is the delight of the 
 common people, cannot fail to pleafe all fuch readers, 
 as are not unqualified for the entertainment by their 
 affectation or their ignorance ; and the reafon is plain, 
 becaufe the fame paintings of naturewhich recommend 
 it to the moft ordinary Reader, will appear beautiful to 
 
 the moft refined. 
 
 ADDISON, in SPECTATOR, No: 70,
 
 a c 3( < & c 
 SONGS AND BALLADS, 
 
 SERIES THE THIRD. 
 
 BOOK I. 
 BALLADS ON KING ARTHUR, fcfr. 
 
 ?*;& Third Volume being chiefly devoted to Romantic Sub- 
 jeffs, may not be improperly introduced 'with a fe*.'.' flight 
 StriSlures ontbt old METRICAL ROMANCES: afutijed the 
 more luorthy attention, asjiich as baite written en the naturf 
 and origin of Hods of Chivalry, Jeem not to have known 
 
 VOL. III. b that
 
 ii ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 that tbefrft ccmpofitions of this kind 'were in Verfe, and 
 ufually Jung to the Harp. 
 
 O N 
 
 THE ANCIENT METRICAL ROMANCES, &c. 
 
 I. T^HE firft attempts at compofition among all bar- 
 barous nations are ever found to be Poetry and 
 Song. The prarfes of their Gods, and the achieve- 
 ments cf their heroes, are* ufually chanted at their fef- 
 tival meetings. Thefe are the firft 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 
 .xon Ancellors, before they quitted their Ger- 
 man fbfelis/^,'. The ancient Britons had their BARDS, 
 andtheGerhicrtitior.s rfrcirScALDs or popular poetsfV^, 
 whofe bufinefs it was to record the victories 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 another. 
 So long as Poetry continued a diftinft profeffion, and 
 while the Bard, or Scald was a regular and ftated of- 
 ficer in the Prince's court, thefe men are thought to 
 have performed the functions of the hiftorian pretty 
 faithfully ; for tho' their narrations would be apt to re- 
 ceive a good deal of embellimment, they are fujjpofed 
 
 to 
 
 (a) Vid. Lafiteau Moeurs ch Sauvages, T. 2. Dr. Browne's Hifl. 
 of the Rife and Progrefs. of Poetry. 
 
 ft) Germanl celebrant carminibus ar.t'iquh (quod vnum apud illos, 
 mtmonte tt annallum genus eft) Tuiftcner/i &c. Tacir. Germ. c. z. 
 
 (c) Barth. Antiq, Dan.' Lib, "i. 'cap. io. Worrtiii Literature 
 Runica. ad finem.
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. lit 
 
 to have had at the bottom fo nvuch of truth as to ferve 
 for the bafis of more regular annals. At leaft fucceed- 
 "ing hiftorians have taken up with the relations of thefe 
 rude men, and for want of more authentic records, 
 have agreed to allow them the credit of true hiftory (d). 
 After letters began to prevail, and hiftory affumed 
 a more ftable form, by being committed to plain fim- 
 ple profe ; thefe Songs of the Scalds or Bards began to 
 be more amufmg, than ufeful. And in proportion as 
 it became their bufmefs chiefly to entertain and delight, 
 they gave more and more into embellimment, and fet 
 off their recitals with fuch marvelous ficlions, as were 
 calculated to captivate grofs and ignorant minds. Thus 
 began ftories of adventures with Giants and Dragons, 
 and Witches and Enchanters, and all the monftrous ex- 
 travagances of wild imagination, unguided by judg- 
 ment, and uncorreled by art (e.) 
 
 THIS is the true origin of that fpecies of Romance, 
 which fo long celebrated feats of Chivalry, and which 
 at full in metre and afterwards in profe, was the enter- 
 tainment of our anceftors, in common with their con- 
 temporaries on the continent, till the fatire of Cer- 
 vantes, or rather -the increafe of knowledge and claf- 
 fical literature, drove them off the Itage, to make room 
 for a more refined fpecies of fiftion, under the name of 
 French Romances, copied from the Greek (f). 
 
 That our old Romances of Chivalry may be derived 
 in a lineal defcent from the ancient hiftorical fongs of 
 the Gothic bards and Scalds, will be mown below, and 
 indeed appears the more evident as many of thofe 
 Songs are ilill preferved in the north, which exhibit all 
 b 2 the 
 
 (d) See " A Defcription of the Manners, Cuftoms, &c. of the 
 " ancient Danes and other northern nations, tranflated from the Fr. 
 " of M. Mallet." 8vo. vol. i. p. 40,. &c. 
 
 (e) Vid. infra, p. iv, v, &c.. 
 
 (f) Viz. ASTEJEA, CASSANDRA, CLELIA, &c.
 
 iv ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 the feeds of Chivalry before it became a folemn inftitu- 
 tion (g). "CHIVALRY, as a dhtinfl military order, con- 
 " ferred in the way of inveftiture, and accompanied with 
 " the folemnity of an oath, and other ceremonies," was 
 of later date, and fprung out of the feudal conilitution, 
 as an elegant writer has lately fhown (h). But the ideas 
 of Chivalry prevailed long before in all the Gothic na- 
 tions, and may be difcovered as in embrio in the cuf- 
 toms, manners, and opinions, of every branch of that 
 people (I). That fondnefs of going in queft of ad- 
 ventures, that fpirit of challenging to fmgle combat, 
 and that refpe&ful complaifance fhewn 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 
 to the earlieft times among all the northern nations (k.) 
 Thefe exifted long before the feudal ages, tho' they 
 were called forth and ftrengthened in a peculiar man- 
 ner under that conftitution, and at length arrived to 
 their full maturity in the times of the Crufades, fo 
 replete with romantic adventures (I). 
 
 EVEN the common arbitrary fiftions of Romance 
 were (as is hinted above) moft of them familiar to the 
 
 ancient 
 
 (g) Mallet, vid. Defcript of the Manners, Sec. of the Danes, vol. 
 i. p. 318, Sec. vol.2, p. 234. &c. 
 
 (b) Letters concerning Chivalry. 8vo. 1763. 
 (\) Mallet, paffim. 
 (k) Mallet, paffim. 
 
 (I) They could not owe their rife either to the feudal fyftem or t 
 the Crufades, becaufe they exifted long before either. Neither were 
 the Romances of Chivalry tranfmitted to other nations from the 
 Spaniards ; who have been fuppofcd to borrow them from the Moors, 
 and thefc to have brought them from the eaft. Had this been the 
 cafe, the firft French Romances in verfe would have been upon the 
 fame fubjecls of thofe of the Spaniards : whereas the moft ancient 
 metrical Romances in Spanifh have nothing in common with thofe of 
 the French, Englifh, Sec. being altogether on Moorirti fubjefts; and 
 the Spanifh Romances on the fubjecls of Charlemagne, Arthur, &c. 
 arc chiefly in profe and of later date, being evidently borrowed from the 
 
 French.
 
 AND BALLADS. v 
 
 ancient Scalds of the north, long before the time of 
 the Crufades. They believed the exiflence of Giants 
 anil .Dwarfs (m), they had fome notion of Fairies (nj t 
 they were ftrongly poffefled with the belief of fpells 
 and inchantment (o}, and wf re fond of inventing com- 
 bats with Dragons and Monfters (pj. 
 
 We have a ftriking inftance of their turn for Chi- 
 yalry and Romance, in the hiflory of King Regner 
 Lodbrog, a celebrated warrior and pirate, who. reigned 
 in Denmark about the year See (q). This hcrofigna- 
 Jized his youth by an exploit of gallantry. A Svvcdiih 
 prince had a beauti f ul daughter, whom he in trailed 
 (probably during fome expedition) to the care of one 
 of his officers, affigning allrongcaftle for their defence. 
 The Officer fell in love with his ward, and detained 
 her in his cattle, fpite of all the efforts of her father. 
 Upon this he publimed a proclamation through all the 
 neighbouring countries, that whoever would conquer 
 the raviiher and refcue the Lady fhould have her in 
 marriage. Of all that undertook the adventure, Rcgner 
 alone was fo happy as to atchieve it : he delivered the 
 fair captive, and obtained her for his prize. It hap- 
 pened that the name of this difcourteous officer was 
 ORME, which in the lilandic language iignifies.StR- 
 PENT : Wherefore the Scalds, to give the more poetical 
 turn to the adventure, reprefent the Lady as detained 
 from her father by a dreadful Dragon, and that Regner 
 b 3 flew 
 
 French. Not but the Spaniards, like the other nations of Gothic 
 race, had ab engine a turn for chivalry, which prepared them to 
 receive and improve the Songs of the Moors, as well as thole of the 
 French, &c. 
 
 (m) Mallet. Defcript. of the Danes, vol. i. p. 36. vol. 2. pafTim. 
 
 (n) Olaus Verel. ad Hervarer Saga. p. 44. 45. Hickes's Thofaur. 
 v. 2. p. 311. Defcript. of the Ancient Danes, vol. 2. paflim. 
 
 (i) Ibid. vol. i. p. 69, 37$, &c. vol. z, p. ai6, &c. 
 
 (f) Rollofs Saga. Cap. 35. &c. 
 
 (%) Saxo Gram. p. 152. 153 Mallet. Defcript. vol. r. p-321'
 
 vi ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 flew the monfter to fet her at liberty. Even Regner 
 himfelf, who was a celebrated poet, gives this fabulous 
 account of the exploit in a poem of his own writing 
 that is ftill extant, and which records all the valiant 
 atchievements of his life (r). 
 
 WITH marvelous embellifhments of this kind the 
 Scalds early began to decorate their narratives : and 
 they were the more lavifh of thefe, in proportion as 
 they departed from their original inftitution, but it 
 was a long time before they thought of delivering a fet 
 of perfonages and adventures wholly feigned. Of the 
 great multitude of romantic tales ftill preferved in the 
 libraries of the North, moft of them are fuppofed to 
 have had fome foundation in truth, and the more an- 
 cient they are the more they are believed to be con- 
 nected with true hiftory (f). 
 
 It was not probably till after the hiftorian and the 
 bard had been long difunited, that the latter ventured 
 at pure fiction. At length when their bufinefs was no 
 longer to inftruft 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 France and England before 
 they had books of Chivalry in profe. Yet in both 
 thefe countries the Minftrels ftill retained fo much of 
 their original inftitution, as frequently to make true 
 events the fubjeft of their Songs (t) ; and indeed, as 
 during the barbarous ages, the regular hiftories were 
 almoft all written in Latin by the Monks, the memory 
 of events was preferved and propagated among the ig- 
 
 (r) See a Tranflation of this poem, among the " Five pieces of 
 " Runic Poetry," &c. 
 
 (f) Vid. Mallet. Defcript. of the Manners, &c. ofthe Danes, paffim. 
 
 (t) The Editor's MS. contains a multitude of poems of this latter 
 kind. It was from this cuftom of the Minftrels that feme of our firft 
 Hiftorians wrote their Chronicles in verfe, as Rob, of Gloucefter, 
 Harding, c.
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. vii 
 
 norant laity by fcarce any other means than the popu- 
 lar Songs of the Minftrels. 
 
 II. THE inhabitants of Sweden, Denmark, and 
 Norway, being the lateft converts to Chriftianity, re- 
 tained their original manners and opinions longer than 
 the other nations of Gothic race : and therefore they 
 have preferved more of the genuine compofitions of 
 their ancient poets, than their fouthern neighbours. 
 Among thefe the progrefs from poetical hiftory to poe- 
 tical fiftion is very difcernible : they have fome of the 
 latter kind, that are in effect complete Romances of 
 Chivalry (u). They have alfo a multitude of SAGAsfxJor 
 hiftories on romantic fubjedls, containing a mixture of 
 profe and verfe, of various dates, fome of them written 
 fince the times of the Crufades, others long before : 
 but their narratives in verfe only are efteemed the more 
 ancient. 
 
 Now as the irruption of the NORMANS^ 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 fkill to 
 their children and fucceffors. Thefe adopting the re- 
 ligion, opinions, and language of the new country, 
 fubftituted the heroes of Chriftendom infteacl of thofe 
 of their Pagan anceftors, and began to celebrate the 
 feats of Charlemagne, Roland, and Oliver ; whole 
 b 4 true 
 
 (u) See a Specimen in ad Vol. of Defcript. of the Mannei s of che 
 Danes, &c. p. 248, &c. 
 
 {x ) Eccardi Hift. Stud. Etym. 1711. p. 1795 &c. HickesVThe- 
 faur. Vol. 2. p. 314. 
 
 (y) i. e. NORTHERN MEN : being chiefly Emigrants' from Nor- 
 %'ay, Denmark, &c.
 
 viii ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 true hiflory they fet off and embellished with the Scaldic 
 figments of dwarfs, giants, dragons, and inchantr 
 ments. The rft mention we have in fong of thofe 
 heroes of chivalry is in the mouth of a Norman warrior 
 at the conqueft of England (z) : and this circumftance 
 alone would fufficiently account for the propagation of 
 this kind of romantic poems among the French and 
 
 But this is not all ; it is very certain, that both the 
 Anglo-faxons and the Franks had brought with them, 
 at their farft emigrations into Britain and Gaul, the 
 fame foiidntfs for the ancient fongs of their anceftors, 
 which prevailed among the other Gothic tribesf^and 
 th-at all their firll annals were tranfmitted in thefe po- 
 pular oral poems. This fondnefs they even retained long 
 after their conversion to (Jhriftianity, as we learn from 
 the examples of Charlemagne and Alfred (b). Now 
 POETRY, being thus the tranfmitter of fafts, would as 
 cafily learn to blend them with fi&ions in France and 
 England, as me is known to have done in the north, 
 and that much fooner, for the reafons before affigned^V^. 
 This, together with the example and influence of the 
 Normans, will eafily account to us, why the firft Ro- 
 mances ofrChivalry that appeared both in England and 
 
 France 
 
 (s) Seethe Account of TAILLETZR in Vol. i. Introd. 
 
 (a)Jpfa CARMINA mtmor'ite mandabant, 6? prcelia initvri dieanta- 
 bant j f "" memvria tarn fortium gtftorum a majtriius fatratorum ad 
 imitar.onern animus adderttur* Jornandes de Gothii. 
 
 (A^Ednhartus deCARoto MAGNO. "Item barbara & ar.tiquiffima 
 CAKMINA, quibus -veterum regum afius & bdla canebantur, fcriffrt." 
 c. 29. 
 
 Afferius de /E LFRZDOMAGNO. "Rex inter bel!a, &c ..... Saxo- 
 nicos libros rtcitare, & MAXIME CARMINA SAXONICA memoriter 
 difcere, nms imferart, fif folus ajfidue pro -viribus, ftudlofijjimc Mn di- 
 Jincbat" Ed. 1722. 8vo. p. 43. 
 
 (c) See above, p. iii, vi, &c.
 
 AND BALLADS. ix 
 
 France (d) were compofed in metre, as a rude kind of 
 epic fongs. In both kingdoms tales in verfe were 
 uiualJy lung by Minitrels to the harp on feilival occa- 
 fions : and doubtlefs both nations derived their relifh 
 for this fort of entertainment from their Teutonic an- 
 ceftors, without either of them borrowing it from the 
 other. Among both people narrative Songs on true or 
 fictitious fubjecls had evidently obtained from the ear- 
 Heft times. But the profeffed Romances of Chivalry 
 feem to have been tirii compofed in France, where alio 
 they had their name. 
 
 The Latin Tongue, as is obferved by an ingenious 
 writer (e}> ceaied to be fpoken in France about the 
 ninth century, and was fucceeded by what was called 
 the ROMANCE Tongue, a mixture of the language of 
 the Franks and bad Latin. As the Songs of Chivalry 
 became the moit popular compofitions in that language, 
 they were emphatically called ROMANS or ROMANTS ; 
 tho' this name was at riril given 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 Mailtre Euftacbe was written in 1 155 : JJut this was 
 by no means the firlt poem of the kind; others more 
 ancient are ftill extant (g). And we have already 
 
 feen, 
 
 (d) The Romances on the fubjeft of PERCEVAL, SAN GRAAL, 
 LANCELOT DU LAC, TRISTAN, &c. were among the firft that 
 appeared in the French language in PP o SE, yet thefe were or'ginal- 
 ly compofed in METR E : The Editor has in his pofiefion a very old 
 French MS. in vcrfe, Containing Vandtn Roman de PERCEVAL, 
 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, &C. Nicholfon's Eng. Hift. Library, 3d Ed. p. gi.&c. 
 See alfo a curious collection of old French Romances, with Mr. 
 Wanley's account of this fort of pieces, in Harl. MSS. Catal. 978. 
 106. 
 
 (e) The Author of the Eflay on the Genius of Pope, p. 282. 
 
 (f) Ibid. p. 183. Hift. Lit. Tom. 6. 7. 
 
 (g) Voi Preface aux " Fabliaux fc Cpntes des Pcetes Francois 
 " des xu, xiii, xiv, Sc xv fiecles, &c. Paris, 1756- 3 .Tom. 
 ** jzmo." (A verj curious work.)
 
 x ANCIENTSONGS 
 
 feen, that, in the preceding century, when the Nor- 
 mans marched down to the battle of Haftings, they 
 animated themfelves, by-finging (in fome popular ro- 
 mance or ballad) the exploits of ROLAND an,d the other 
 heroes of Chivalry (b). 
 
 So early as this I cannot trace the Songs of Chivalry 
 in Englifh. The moft ancient I have feen, is that of 
 HORNECHILD defcribed below, which feems not older 
 than the twelfth century. However, as this rather re- 
 fembles the Saxon poetry, than the French, it is not 
 certain that the firft Englifh Romances were tranflated 
 from that language. We have feen above, that a pro- 
 penfity to this kind of fiftion prevailed among all the 
 Gothic nations (i) ; and, tho' after the Norman Con- 
 queft, both the French and Englifh tranflated each 
 others Romances, there is no room to doubt, but both 
 of them compofed original pieces of their own. 
 
 The 
 
 (b ) Vid. fupra, Vol. I. Introd. p. xxvii, &c. Et vide. Rapin, Carte, 
 &c. This Song of ROLAND (whatever it was) continued for 
 fome centuries to be ufually fung by the French in their marches, if 
 we may believe a modern French writer. " Un jour qu'on cbantoit 
 " la CHANSON DE ROLAND, comme c*aalt Fufoge'dmula marches. 
 " 11 y a long temps, dit IL, [John K. of France, who died in 1364.] 
 <c qucn lie -volt plus de Rolands parml les Fronton, On y -vtrrcit- 
 " encore des Rolands, lui repcndit un -vleux Capitaine, s"ih avoicnt un 
 " Charlemagne a leur ttte" Vid. Tom. iii. p. 202. des Efiais Hift. 
 fur Paris de M. DE SAINTEFOIX: who gives as his authority, 
 Sostklus in H'tfi. Scotorutn, This Author, however, fpeaks of the 
 Complaint and Repartee, as made in an AfTembly of the States, (<ve- 
 fatofenatu), and not upon any march, &c. Vid. Boeth. lib. xv. 
 101.317. Ed. Paris, 1574. 
 
 (i) The f.rft Romances of Chivalry among the GERMANS wer 
 in Metre : they have fome very ancient narrative Sonas, (which they 
 <?all Lifder) not only on the fabulous heroes of their own country, 
 but alfo on thofe of France and Britain, as Triftram, Arthur, Ga- 
 v/ain, and the Knights Vtn tier Tafel-ronde. (Vid. Goidarti Not, 
 inEginlurt. Vit. Car. Mag. 410. 1711. p. 207.) 
 
 Th e fame Tories prevailed alfo in ITALY and Spain this kind 
 of fiflions was ut one time or other admired and cultivated throughout 
 E a rope.
 
 ANDBALLADS. xi 
 
 The ftories of King Arthur and his Round Table, 
 may be reafonably fuppofed of the growth of this ifland ; 
 both the Englifh and the French had them from the 
 Britons (k). The ftories of Guy and Bevis, with fome 
 others, were probably the invention of Englifh Min- 
 ftrels (I). On the other hand, the Englifh procured 
 tranflations of fuch Romances as were mofl current in 
 France ; and in the Lift given at the canclufion of thefe 
 Remarks, many are doubtlefs of French original. 
 
 The firft PROSE books of Chivalry that appeared in 
 our language, were thofe printed by Caxton (m) ; at 
 leaft, thefe are the firft I have been able to difcover, 
 and thefe are all tranflations from the French. Where- 
 as Romances of this kind had been long current in 
 metre, and were fo generally admired in the time of 
 Chaucer, that his Rhyme of Sir Thopas was evidently 
 written to ridicule and burlefque them (n). 
 
 He 
 
 (k) The Welfh have ftill fome very old Romances about K. Ar- 
 thur 5 but as thefe are in profe, they are not probably their firft pieces 
 that were compofed on that fubjedh 
 
 (1) That the French Romancers borrowed fome things from the 
 Englifh, appears from the word TERMAGANT, which they lookup 
 from our Minftrels, and corrupted into TERVAGAUNTE. See 
 Vol. I. p. 74 . 362. 
 
 (m) Recuye 1 of the Hyftoryes of Troy, ^471. Godfroye of Bo- 
 loyne, 1481. Le Morte de Arthur, 1485. The life of Charle- 
 magne, 1485. &c. As the old Minftrelfy wore out, profe books of 
 Chivalry became more admired, efpecially after the Spanifh Ro- 
 mances began to be tranflated into Englifh towards the end of Q._ 
 Elizabeth's reign : then the moft popular metrical Romances began 
 to be reduced into profe, as Sir Guy, Bevis, &c. 
 
 (n) See Extract from a Letter in Mr. Warton's Obfervations, 
 Vol. 2. p. 139. [Where in p. 140. inftead of" Mofl of tkefe, &c." 
 read, " Many of the old poetical Romances are in the -very fame metre, 
 
 &c." The old black-letter Edit, in p. 142, proves to be one of 
 
 Speght's.J
 
 xu 
 
 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 He <=xprefs1y mentions feveral of them by name in a 
 ftanza, which'l (hall have occafion to quote moie than 
 once in this volume. 
 
 Men fpeken of Romaunces of Price, 
 Oi Home-Child, and Ipotis, 
 
 Of Bevis, and Sir Guy, 
 Of Sir Libeaux and Blandamoure, 
 But Sir Thopas bereth the floure, 
 
 Of riall chevallrie. 
 
 Moft, if not all of thefe are ftill extant in MS. in 
 fome or other of our libraries, as J ihall (hew in the 
 conclufion of this flight Effay, where I (hall give a lift 
 of fucb metrical Hiftories and Romances as have fallen 
 under my obfervation. 
 
 As many of thefe contain a confiderable portion of 
 poetic merit, and throw great light on the manners and 
 opinions of former times, it were to be wifhed that 
 Come of the bed of them were refcued from oblivion. A 
 judicious collection of them accurately publimed with 
 proper illuftrations, would be an important acceflion to 
 cur ftock of ancient Englilh Literature. Many of them 
 exhibit no mean attempts at Epic Poetry, and tho' full 
 of the exploded fictions of Chivalry, frequently difplay 
 great descriptive 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 fimplicity that makes them be 
 read with lefs interruption, and be more eafily under- 
 ftood : and they are far more fpirited and entertaining 
 thati 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 
 cf Englifh poetry, the old metrical Romances, tho* far 
 more popular in their time,are hardly known to exift. But
 
 AND BALLADS. xni 
 
 it has happened unluckily, that the antiquaries, who 
 have revived the works of our ancient writers, have 
 been for the mofl part men void of taile and genius, 
 and therefore have always faftidioufly rejeded the old 
 poetical Romances, becaufe founded on fictitious or 
 popular fubje&s, while they have been careful to grub 
 up every petty fragment of the moft dull and iniipid 
 rhymift, whofe merit it was to deform morality, or ob- 
 fcure true hiitory. Should the public encourage the 
 revival cf fome of thofe ancient Epic Sorgs of Chivalry, 
 they would frequently fee the rich ore of an Arioilo or 
 a TafTo, tho' buried it may be among the rubbifh and 
 drcfs of barbarous times. 
 
 Such a publication would anfwer many important ' 
 ufes : It would throw new light on the rife and pro- 
 grefs of Engliih poetry, the hiilory of which can be but 
 imperfectly underflood, if thefe are neglected : It would 
 alfo ferve to illuftrate innumerable pa ei in our an- 
 cient clafiic poets, which without thcL no.p nvuft be for 
 ever obfcure. For not to mention Chaucer and Spen- 
 cer, who abound with perpetual allufions to them, I 
 (hall give an inftance or t\vo from Shakefpeare, by way 
 of fpecimen of their ufe. 
 
 In his play of KING JOHN our great Dramatic Poet 
 alludes to an exploit of Richard I. which the reader 
 will in vain look for in any true hiftory. Faulcon- 
 bridge fays to his mother, Adi I. fc. I. 
 
 " Needs muft you lay your heart at his difpofe . . . 
 
 " Againft whofe furie and unmatched force, 
 
 " The awlefle lion could not wage the fight, 
 
 " Nor kecpe his princely heart from Richard's hand : 
 
 u He that perforce robs Lions of their hearts 
 
 ' May eafily winne a woman's : " 
 
 The faft here referred to, is to be traced to its fource 
 only in the old Romance of RICHARD CEUR DE 
 
 LYOK,
 
 XIV 
 
 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 LYON (o), in which his encounter with a lion makes Jt 
 very finning figure. I fhall give a large extraft from 
 this poem, as a fpecimen of the manner of thele old 
 rhapfodifts, and to fhew that they did not in their fic- 
 tions neglecl the proper means to produce the ends, as 
 was afterwards done in fo childim a manner in the 
 profe books of Chivalry. 
 
 The poet tells us, that Richard in his return from 
 the Holy Land having been difcovered in the habit of 
 " a palmer in Almayne," and apprehended as a fpy, 
 was by the king thrown into prifon. Wardrewe, the 
 king's fon, hearing of Richard's great ftrength, de- 
 fires the jailor to let him have a fight of his prifoners. 
 Richard being the foremoft, Wardrewe afks him, " if 
 " he dare ftand a buffet from his hand ? " and that on 
 the morrow he fhall return him another. Richard con- 
 fents, and receives a blow that ftaggers him. On the 
 morrow, havi *" previoufly waxed his hands, he waits 
 his antagonists arrival. Wardrewe accordingly, pro- 
 ceeds the ftory, " held forth as a trewe man," and Ri- 
 chard gave him fuch a blow on the cheek, as broke his 
 jaw-bone, and killed him on the fpot. The king, to 
 revenge the death of his fon, orders, by the advice of 
 one Eldrede, that a Lion kept parpofely from food, 
 fhall be turned loofe upon Richard. But the king's 
 daughter having fallen in love with him, tells him of 
 her father's resolution, and at his requeft procures him 
 forty ells of white filk " kerchers;" and here the de- 
 fcription of the Combat begins, 
 
 The kever-chefes (p) he toke on honde, 
 And abouie his arme he wonde j 
 
 And 
 
 CD) Dr. Grey has fhewn that the fame ftory is alluded to in 
 Raftell's Chronicle : As it was doubtlefs originally had from the" 
 Romance, this is proof that the old metrical Romances throw light 
 en our firft writers in profe : many of our ancient Hiftorians have re- 
 curded the .fictions of Romance. 
 
 (p) i. e. Handkerchief). Here we have the etymology of the 
 wuru, via. " Couvre ie chef."
 
 AND BALLADS. 
 
 And thought in that ylke while, 
 
 To lice the lyon with fome *gyle. 
 
 And fyngle in a kyrtyll he ftode, 
 
 And abode the lyon fyers and wode, 
 
 tVith that came the iaylere, 
 
 And other men that wyth him were, 
 
 And the lyon them amonge ; 
 
 His pawes were ftiffc and ftrongc. 
 
 The chambre dore they undone, 
 
 And the lyon to them is gone. 
 
 Rycharde fayd, Helpe, lordejefu! 
 
 The lyon made to hym venu, 
 
 And wolde hym have all to rente : 
 
 Kynge Rycharde befyde hym glente Cq), 
 
 The lyon on the brefte hym fpurned, 
 
 That aboute he tourned. 
 
 The lyon was hongry and megre, 
 
 And bette his tayle to be egre j 
 
 He loked aboute as he were madde j 
 
 Abrode he all his pawes fpradde. 
 
 He cryed lowde, and yaned (q) wyde. 
 
 Kynge Rycharde bethought hym that tydc, 
 
 Whr.t hym was befte, and to hym fterte, 
 
 In at the throte his honde he gerte, 
 
 And hente out the herte with his honde, 
 
 Lounge and all that he there fonde. 
 
 The lyon fell deed to the grounde : 
 
 Rvcharde felte no wem (r), ne wound?. 
 
 He fell on his knees on that place, 
 
 And thanked Jefu of his grace. 
 
 ***** 
 
 What 
 
 (p) \. e. glanced, dipt. (j) \. e. yawned. (r) \. e. hurt, 
 4
 
 xvi ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 What follows is not fo well, and therefore I fhall ex- 
 tract no more of this poem : but, the preceding circum- 
 Itances are not unworthy the feleftion of any Epic poet. 
 For the above feat the author tells us, the king was 
 defervedly called 
 
 Stronge Rycharde Cure de Lyowne. 
 
 THAT diftich which Shakefpeare puts in the mouth 
 of his madman in K. LEAR, Aft 3. fc. 4. 
 
 Mice and Rats and fuch fma!l deere 
 
 Have been Tom's food for feven long yeare, 
 
 has excited the attention of the critics. Inftead of 
 deere, one of them would fubftitute geer ; and another 
 cheer (s). But the ancient reading is eftablifhed by 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 hardfhips fuf- 
 fered by Bevis, when confined for feven years in a 
 dungeon. 
 
 Rattes and myfe and fuch fmal dere 
 
 Was his meate that feven yere. Sign, F. iii. 
 
 FI. IN different parts of this work, the Reader will 
 find various extradls from thefe old poetical Legends : 
 to which I refer him for farther examples of their ftyle 
 and metre. To complete this fubjeft, it will be proper 
 at leaft to give one fpecimen of their flcill in diftributing 
 and condu&ing their fable, by which it will be feen 
 that nature and common fenfe had fupplied to thefe old 
 fimplc bards the want of critical art, and taught them 
 
 fome of the moft eflential rules of Epic Poetry. 1 
 
 fhall 
 
 (t) Bp. Warb. Dr. Grey.
 
 ANDBAELADS. w i 
 
 lhall feledl the Romance of LIBIUS DISCONIUS (t) t as 
 being one of thofe mentioned by Chaucer, and either 
 Ihorter or more intelligible than the others he has 
 quoted. 
 
 If an Epic Poem may be defined, " (u) A fable re- 
 " lated by a poet, to excite admiration and infpire 
 " virtue, by repreienting the action of fome one hero, 
 " favoured by heaven, who executes a great defign, in 
 " fpite of all the obftacles that oppofe him : " I know 
 not why we mould withhold the name of EPIC POEM 
 from the piece which I am about to analyfe. 
 
 My copy is divided into IX PARTS or Cantos, the 
 feveral arguments of which are as follows. 
 PART I. 
 
 Opens with a fhort exordium to befpeak attention r 
 the Hero is defcribed, a natural fon of Sir Gavrain, a 
 celebrated knight of K. Arthur's court, who being 
 brought up in a foreft by his mother,- is kept ignorant 
 of his name and defcent. He early exhibits marks of 
 his courage, by killing a knight in fmgle combat, who 
 encountered him as he was hunting. This infpires him 
 with a defire of feeking adventures : therefore cloath- 
 ing himfelf in his enemy's armour, he goes to K* 
 Arthur's Court, to requeft the order of knighthood. 
 His requeft granted, he obtains a promife of having 
 
 the firft adventure affigned him that fhall offer. A 
 
 damfel named Ellen, attended by a dwarf, comes to 
 implore K. Arthur's afliftance, to refcue a young Prin- 
 cefs, " the Lady of Sinadone" their miftreis, who is 
 detained from her rights, and confined in prifon. The 
 adventure is claimed by the young knight Sir Lybius : 
 the king afTents : the meflengers are difTatisfied, and 
 object to his youth ; but are forced to acquiefce. And 
 here the firft book clofes with a defcription of the ce- 
 remony of equipping him forth. 
 
 VOL. HI. c PART 
 
 (t) So it is intitled in the Editor's MS. 
 
 (v) Vid. " Difcours fur la Poefie Eplque,"" prefixed to TuLf-
 
 XV111 
 
 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 PART II. 
 
 Sir Lybius fets out on the adventure : he is derided 
 by the dwarf and the damfel on account of his youth ; 
 they come to the bridge of Peril), which none can pafs 
 without encountering a knight called William de la 
 Braunch. Sir Lybius is challenged : they juit with their 
 fpears : De la Braunch is difmounted: the battle is renew- 
 ed on foot : Sir William's fword breaks : he yields. Sir 
 Lybius makes him fwear to go and prefent himfelf 
 to K. Arthur, as the firft-fruits of his valour. The 
 conquered knight fets out for K. Arthur's court : is 
 met by three knights, his relations : who, informed 
 of his difgrace, vow revenge, and purfue the conque- 
 ror. The next day they overtake him : the eldeft of 
 the three attacks Sir Lybius : but is overthrown to the 
 ground. The two other brothers afTault him : Sir Lybius 
 is wounded ; yet cuts off the fecond brother's arm : 
 the third yields : Sir Lybius fends them all to K. Ar- 
 thur. In the third evening he is awaked by the dwarf, 
 who has difcovered a fire in a wood. 
 PART III. 
 
 Sir Lybius arms himfelf, and leaps on horfeback : he 
 finds two Giants roafting a wild boar, who have a fair 
 Lady their captive. Sir Lybius, by favour of the night, 
 runs one of them through with his fpear : is aflaulted 
 by the other : a fierce battle enfues : he cuts off the 
 giant's arm, and at length his head. The refcued 
 Lady (an Earl's daughter) tells him her ftory ; and leads 
 him to her father's caftle : who entertains him with a 
 great feaft ; and prefents him at parting with a fuit of ar- 
 mour and afteed. He fends the giant's head to K.Arthur. 
 PART IV. 
 
 Sir Lybius, maid Ellen, and the dwarf, renew their 
 journey : they fee a caftle ftuck round with human 
 heads ; and are informed it belongs to a knight called 
 Sir Gefferon, who, in honour of his lemman or miftrefs, 
 challenges all comers: He that can produce a fairer 
 lady, is to be rewarded with a milk-white faulcon, but 
 
 if
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. xix 
 
 if overcome* to lofe his head. Sir Lybius fpends the 
 night in the adjoining town : In the morning goes to 
 challenge the faulcon. The knights exchange their 
 gloves : they agree to juft in the market place : the 
 lady and maid Ellen are placed aloft in chairs : their 
 dreiFes : the fuperior beauty of Sir Gefferon's miftrefs 
 defcribed : the ceremonies previous to the combat. 
 They engage : the combat defcribed at large : SirGef- 
 feron is incurably hurt ; and carried home on his 
 ihield. Sir Lybius fends the faulcon to K. Arthur ; and 
 receives back a large prefent in florins. Heftays 40 days 
 to be cured of his wounds, which he fpends in feafting 
 with the neighbouring lords. 
 
 PART V. 
 
 Sir Lybius proceeds for Sinadone : in a foreft he 
 meets a knight hunting, called Sir Otes de Lifle : 
 maid Ellen charmed with a very beautiful dog, begs 
 Sir Lybius to beftow him upon her : Sir Otes meets 
 them, and claims his dog: is refufed : being unarmed 
 he rides to his caftle, and fummons his attendants : 
 they go in queft of Sir Lybius : a battle enfues : he is 
 itill victorious, and forces Sir Otes to follow the other 
 conquered knights to K. Arthur. 
 
 PART VI. 
 
 Sir Lybius comes to a fair city and caftle by a river- 
 fide, befet round with pavilions or tents : he is in- 
 formed, in the caftle is a beautiful lady befieged by a 
 giant named Maugys, who keeps the bridge, and will 
 let none pafs without doing him homage : this Lybius 
 refufes : a battle enfues : the giant defcribed : the fe- 
 veral incidents of the battle ; which lafts a whole fum- 
 mer's day : the giant is wounded; put to flight ; (lain. 
 The citizens come out in proceffion to meet their deli- 
 verer : the lady invites him into her caftle : falls in 
 love with him : and feduces him to her embraces. He 
 forgets ths princefs of Sinadone, and ftays with this 
 bewitching lady a twelvemonth. This fair forcerefs, 
 like another Alcina, intoxicates him with all kinds of 
 c 2 fenfual
 
 xx ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 fenfual pleafure ; and detains him from the purfuit of 
 honour. 
 
 PART VII. 
 
 Maid Ellen by chance gets an opportunity of fpeak- 
 ing to him ; and upbraids him with his vice and folly : 
 he is filled with remorfe, and efcapes the fame evening. 
 At length he arrives at the city and caflle of Sinadone : 
 Is given to understand that he muft challenge the con- 
 ftable of the caftle to fingle combat, before he can be 
 received as a gueft. Theyjuft: the conftable is worft- 
 ed : Sir Lybius is feafted in the caftle : he declares his 
 intention of delivering their lady ; and inquires the 
 particulars of her hiftory. " Two Necromancers 
 have built a fine palace by forcery, and there keep her 
 inchanted, till me will furrender her duchy to them, 
 and yield to fuch bafe conditions as they would im- 
 pofe." 
 
 PART VIII. 
 
 Early on the morrow Sir Lybius fets out for the in- 
 chanted palace. He alights in the court : enters the 
 hall : the wonders of which are defcribed in ftrong 
 Gothic painting. He fits down at the high table : on 
 a fudden all the lights are quenched : it thunders, and 
 lightens ; the palace fhakes ; the walls fall in pieces 
 about Jiis ears. .He is difmayed and confounded : but 
 prefently hears horfes neigh, and is challenged to 
 fingle combat by the forcerers. He gets to his fteed : a 
 
 battle enfues, with various turns of fortune : he lofes 
 his weapon : but gets a fword from one of the Necro- 
 mancers, and wouuds the other with it : the edge of 
 the fword being fecretly poifoned, the wound proves 
 mortal. 
 
 'PART IX. 
 
 He goes up to the furviving forcerer, who is carried 
 away from him by inchantment : at length he finds 
 him, and cuts ofF his head : He returns to the palace 
 to deliver the lady : but cannot find her : as he is la- 
 
 menting, a window opens, through which enters a 
 
 horrible
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. xxi 
 
 horrible ferpent with wings and a wom.an's .face : it 
 coils round his neck and kifles him ; then is fuc'dcnly 
 converted into a very beautiful lady.- She tells him 
 Ihe is the Lady of Sinadone, and was fo'inchanted, till " 
 fhe might kifs Sir Gawain, or foine one of his blood : 
 that he has diflblved the charm, and that herfelf and 
 her dominions may be his reward. lie joyfully ac- 
 cepts the offer j makes her his bride, and then fets out 
 with her for King Arthur's court." 
 
 SUCH is the fable of this ancient piece : which the 
 reader may obferve, is as .regular in its conduct, as 
 any of the fineft poems of claffical antiquity. If the 
 execution, particularly as to the diftion and fentiments, 
 were but equal to the plan, it would be a capital per- 
 formance ; but this is fuch as might be expected in 
 rude and ignorant times, and in a barbarous unpoliftxed 
 language. 
 
 ; 
 
 IV. I SHALL conclude this prolix account,with a LT-ST 
 of fuch old METRICAL ROMANCES as are ftill extant:' 
 beginning with thofe mentioned by Chaucer. 
 
 i. The Romance of Horne-cbilde -is preferved in the. 
 Britifh Mufeum,' where it is' in titled }>e 5 e!>enf kyngHome. 
 See Catalog. Karl. MSS. 2253. /. 70. The Language 
 is almoft Saxon, yet from the mention in it of Sara- 
 zens, it appears to have been written after fome of the 
 Crufades. It begins thus, 
 
 All heo ben b!yf;e 
 
 Jsat to my fonj ylyjje: 
 
 A fons ychulle ou Cnj 
 
 Of Allof J3e sode kynge (x) &c. 
 
 Another copy of this poem, but greatly altered and 
 
 fomewhat modernized, is preferved in the Advocates. 
 
 c 3 Library 
 
 (x) \. e. May all they be blithe, that to my fong liften : A fone 
 1 fliall you fing, Of Allof the good king, &c.
 
 XXI I 
 
 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 Library at Edinburgh, in a MS. quarto volume of old 
 Englifh poetry [W. 4. i.J Num. XXXIV. in feven 
 leaves or folios (b), intitled, Horn-child and Maiden 
 Rinivel, and beginning thus, 
 
 Mi leve frende dere, 
 Herken and ye may here, 
 
 2. The Poem of Ipoth (or Tpctis] is preferved in the 
 Cotton Library, Calig. A. ^. fo. 77. but is rather a re- 
 ligious Legend, than a Romance. Its beginning is, 
 
 He }?2t \vyll of wyfdome here 
 
 Herkeneth nowe .ze may here 
 
 Of a tale of holy vvryte 
 
 Seyr.t Jon the Evangelyfte wytneHeth hyt. 
 
 3 The Romance of Sir Guy, was written before that 
 of Bevis, being quoted in it (y). An account of this 
 old poem is given below, pag. 100. To which it may 
 be added, that two complete copies in MS. are preferv- 
 ed. at Cambridge, the one in the public Library (x), 
 
 the other in that of Caius College, Clafs A. 8. In 
 
 Ames's Typog. p. 153. may be feen the firlt lines of 
 the printed copy. The ift MS. begins, 
 
 Sythe the tyme that God was borne. 
 
 4. Guy and Colbror.de, an old Romance irt three parts, 
 is preferved in the Editor's folio MS. (p. 349.) It is 
 
 in 
 
 (b) In each full page of this Vol. are 44 lines, when the poem is in 
 long metre : and 88, when the metre is fliort, and the page in z co- 
 lumns. 
 
 (y) Sign. K. 2. b. 
 
 (x) For this and rnoft of the following, which are mentioned as 
 preferred in the Public Library, I refer the reader to the Oxon C;ta-^ 
 logue of MSS. 1697. vol. 2. pag. 394. in Appendix to Bp. Mue t 
 MSS, No, 650. 33. fincc given to the Univerfity of Cambridge,
 
 AND BALLADS. xxUi 
 
 in ftanzas of 6 lines, the firft of which may be feen in 
 vol. 2. p. 163. beginning chus, 
 
 Wlien rneate and driuke is great plentye. 
 
 In the Edinburgh MS. (mentioned above) are two an- 
 cient poems on the fubjetl of Guy of Warwick : viz. 
 Num. XVIII. containing 26. leaves, and XX. 59 leaves. 
 Both thefe have unfortunately the beginnings want- 
 ing, otherwiie they would perhaps be found to be dif- 
 ferent Copies of one or both the preceding articles. 
 
 5. From the fame MS. I can add another article 
 to this lilt, viz. The Romance of Rembrun fon of 
 Sir Guy ; being Num. XXI. in 9 leaves : this is pro- 
 perly a Continuation of the Hiftory of Guy: and in 
 Art. 3. theHift. of Rembrun follows that of Guy as a 
 necell'ary Part of it. This Edinburgh Romance of 
 Rembrun begins thus 
 
 Jefu that erft of mighte moft 
 Fader and fone and Holy Goft. 
 
 Before I quit the fubjeft of Sir Guv, I mufl obferve, 
 that if we may believe Dugdale in his Baronage, [vol. 
 I. p. 243. col. 2.] the fame of our Englim Champion 
 had in the time of Henry IV. travelled as far as the 
 Eaft, and was no lefs popular among the Sarazens, 
 than here in the Weft among the Nations of Chriften- 
 doin. In that reign a Lord Beauchamp travelling to 
 Jerufalem, was kindly received by a noble perfon, 
 the Soldan's Lieutenant, who hearing he was defcend- 
 ed from the famous Guy of Warwick, " whofe flory 
 " they had in books of their own language," invited 
 him to his palace ; and royally feafting him, prefent- 
 ed him with three precious ftones of great value; be- 
 ^des divers cloaths of filk and gold given to his fer- 
 vants. 
 
 c 4 6, The
 
 xxiv ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 6. The Romance of Syr Bevis is defcribed in pag. 
 216. 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 
 firft of thefe begins, 
 
 Lordyngs lyftenyth grete and (male. 
 
 There is alfo a Copy of this Romance of Sir Bevis 
 efHamptoun, in the Edinburgh MS. Numb. XXII. con- 
 fifting of 25 leaves, and beginning thus, 
 
 Lordinges kerkneth to mi tale, 
 Is merier than the nightengale. 
 
 The printed copies begin different from both: viz. 
 
 Lyften, Lordinges, and hold you ftyl. 
 
 7. Libeaux (Libeaus, or, Lybius) Difccnius is pre- 
 ferved in the Editor's folio MS. (pag. 317.) where the 
 firft ilanza is, 
 
 Jefus Chrift 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 
 [Cal. A. 2. fol. 40.] containing innumerable varia- 
 tions : the firft line is, 
 
 Jefu Chrift our Savyour. 
 
 4, 
 
 ,{a) No. 650. ^. 3I . Vid. Catalog. MSS. P . 394.
 
 AND BALLADS. xxV 
 
 As for Blant'amoure, no Romance with this title has 
 teen difcovered; but as the word occurs in that of Li- 
 beaux, 'tis pofcble Chaucer's memory deceived him. 
 
 8. LeMorte Arthure, is among the Harl. MSS. 2252, 
 49. This is judged to be a tranflation from the 
 French ; Mr. Wanly thinks it no older than the time 
 of Hen. vii. but it feems to be quoted in Syr Bevis, 
 (Sign. K. ij.b.) It begins 
 
 
 Lordingcs, that are leffe and deare. 
 
 In the Library of Bennet Coll. Cambridge, N. 351. 
 is a MS. intitled in the Cat. Ada Arthuris Metrico An- 
 gllcano, but I know not whether it has any thing ia 
 common with the former. 
 
 9. In the Editor's Folio MS. are many Songs and 
 Romances about King Arthur and his Knights, fome 
 of which are very imperfedt, as K. Arthur and the king 
 of Cornwall, (p. 24-) in ftanzas of 4 Lines, begin- 
 ning 
 
 Come here, my cozen Gawain fo gay. 
 
 The Turke andGavoain, (p. 38.) in ftanzas of 6 'lines* 
 beginning thus, 
 
 Liften, Lords, great and fmall. 
 
 Sir Lionel in diftichs (p. 32.) thus beginning, 
 
 Sir Egrabell had Sonnes three. 
 
 but thefe are fo imperfect that I do not make diftin<El 
 articles of them. See alfo in this Vol. Book i. N. I. 
 II. IV. V. 
 
 10. In the fame MS. p. -203. is the Greene Knight, 
 in 2 Parts, relating a curious adventure of Sir Ga- 
 \vain, in ftanzas of 6 lines, beginning thus, 
 
 Lifts
 
 xxvi ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 Lift : when Arthur he was kLnge. 
 
 1 1 . 7he Carle of Carlif.e, is another romantic tale 
 aboot Sir Gawain, in the fame MS. p. 448. in dif- 
 tichs. 
 
 Liften to me a little ftonde. 
 
 In all-thefecld poems the fame fet of knights are al- 
 ways drawn with the fams manners and characters ; 
 which feem to have been as \vell known and as diftindl- 
 ly marked among our anceftors, as Homer's Heroes 
 were among the Greeks : For as UlyJJes is always re- 
 prefented crafty, Achilles irafcible, and Ajax rough. 
 So Sir Gawain is ever courteous and gentle, Sir Kay 
 rugged and difobliging, &c. " Sir Gawain with his 
 " ould courtejy" is mentioned by Chaucer as noted to 
 a proverb, in his Squire's Tale. Urry's Ed. p. 60. 
 v. 115. 
 
 12. Sjr Laanfal, an excellent old Romance con- 
 cerning another of K. Arthur's Knights, is preferved 
 in the Cotton Library, Calig. A. 2. f. 33. This is a 
 translation from the French (b) made by one Thunas 
 Cheftre, who is fuppofed to have lived in the reign of 
 Hen. vi. [See Tanner's Biblioth.] It is in ilanzas of 
 6 Lines, and begins, 
 
 Le douzty Artours dawes. 
 
 The above was afterwards altered by fome Minfirel 
 into the Romance of Sir LambivelL, in 3 Parts, under 
 which title it was more generally known (c). This 
 ii in the Editor's folio MS. p. 60. beginning thus, 
 
 Doughty in king Arthures dayas. 
 
 13. The 
 
 M 71-r French Original is preferved among the Hid. MSS. N. 
 97?. ^112, Law*L 
 
 (L ) S-JG Lrnpham's Letter concern. Q^Eliz. entertainment at Kil- 
 . 1575. izmo. p. $$.
 
 AND BALLADS. 
 
 13. The Romance of Marline, in 9 Parts, (preferved 
 in the fame folio MS, p. 144.) gives a curious account 
 of the birth, parentage, and juvenile adventures of 
 this famous Britifh Prophet. In this poem the Saxons 
 are called Sarazens ; and the thrufting the rebel angels 
 out of Heaven is attributed to " cure Lady." It is in 
 diitichs, and begins thus, 
 
 He that made with his hand. 
 
 There is an old Romance Of Artbour and of Merlin , 
 in the Edinburgh MS. of old Englifh Poems : I know 
 not whether it has any thing in common with this laft 
 mentioned. It is in the volume, numbered XXIII. and 
 extends through 55 leaves. The two firit Lines are 
 
 Jefu Crift, heven king 
 Al ous graunt gode ending. 
 
 14. Sir Ifenbras, (or as it is in the MS. copies, Sir 
 Jfumbras] is quoted in Chaucer's R. of Thop. v. 6. 
 Among Mr. Gamck's old plays is a printed copy ; of 
 which an account has been already given, in Vol. i. 
 
 305. It is preferved in MS. in the Library of Caius 
 oil. Camb. Clafs A. 9. (2.) and alfo in the Cotton 
 Library, Cal. A. 12. (f. 128.) This is extremely dif- 
 ferent from the printed copy. E. g. 
 
 God }>at made both erj>e and hevene. 
 
 15. Emare, a very curious and ancient Romance, is 
 preferved in the fame Vol. of the Cotton Library, f. 
 69. It is in ftan. of 6 lines, and begins thus, 
 
 Jefu J3at ys kyng in trone. 
 
 16. Chevelereaffigne, or, The Knight of the Swan, 
 preferved in the Cotton Library, has been already de- 
 fcribed in Vol. 2. p, 272, as hath alfo 
 
 17. The
 
 ixviii ANCIENT S ON G S 
 
 1.7. The Sege of Jerlam, (or Jerufalem) which feem* 
 to have been written after the other, and may not im- 
 properly be clafTed among the Romances : as may alfo 
 the following which is preferved in the fame volume : 
 
 viz. 
 
 1 8. O--waine Myles, (fol. 90 ) giving an account of 
 the wonders of St. Patrick's Purgatory. This is a 
 tranflation into verfe of the itory related in Mat. Paris's 
 Hill, (fub Ann. 1153.) It is in diftichs beginning thus, 
 
 God f>at ys fo full of ftiyght. 
 
 In the fame Manufcript are one or two other nar- 
 rative poems, which might be reckoned among the 
 Romances, but being rather religious Legends, I mall 
 barely mention them ; as, Tundale, f. 17. Trentah Set 
 Gregorii. f. 84. Jerome, f. 133. Eujlacbe. f. 136. 
 
 19. OSavian hnperator, an ancient Rtmance of 
 Chivalry,. is in the fame vol. ><Tthe Cotton Library, f.zo. 
 Notwithstanding the name,, Jh:s old p->,?rn has no- 
 thing in common with the hllory of the Roman 
 Emperors. It is in a very pecui'ar kind of Stanza, 
 whereof i, 2, 3, & 5, rhyme tog^iher, as do the 
 4 and 6. It begins thus, 
 
 Ihefu J>at was with fpere yftonge. 
 
 Jn the public Library at Camb. ,(l>) is a poem with 
 fiie fame title, that begins very differently 
 
 Lyttyll and mykyll, olde and yongs. 
 
 20. E glamour of Arias (overlays) is preferved in the 
 fame Vol. with the foregoing both in the Cotton Li- 
 brary, and public Library at^Camb. It is alfo in the 
 
 (b) No. 690. (30.) Vid. Oxon. Catalog. MSS. p. 394. 
 
 Editor's
 
 AND BALLADS. xxix 
 
 Editor's folio MS- p. 295- where it is divided into 6 
 Parts .A printed Copy is in the Bodleian Library, 
 C. 39. Art. Seld. And zynong Mr. Garrick's old 
 plays, K. vol. X. it is in diflichs, and begins thus, 
 
 Ihefu Crift of heven kyng. 
 
 21. Syr Triam^re (in Man. of 6. Lines) is preferved 
 in MS. in the Editor's folio Volume, p. 210. and in 
 the public Library at Camb. (690. 29. Vid. Cat. 
 MSS. p. 394.) Two printed Copies are extant in the 
 Bodleian Library, and among Mr. Garrick's plays in 
 the fame volumes with the lafl article. Both the Edi- 
 tor's MS. and the printed Copies begin 
 
 . Nowe Jefa Chiyfte our hsven kynge. 
 
 The Cambridge Copy, thus, 
 
 Heven blys that all fhall Wynne. 
 
 22. Sir Degree (Dcgare, or Degore, which la ft fecms ' 
 the true title) in 5 Parts, in diflichs, is preferved in ths 
 Editor's folio MS. p. 371. and in the public Library at 
 Camb. (ubi fupra ) A '-printed Copy is in the Bod. 
 Library, C. 39. Art. Seld. and amon^ Mr. Garrick's 
 plays K. vol. IX. The Editor's MS. and the printed 
 Copies begin 
 
 Lordinge, and you \vyl holde you fiyl. 
 
 The Cambridge MS. has it 
 
 LyftenytH, lordyng^s, gente and fre. 
 
 23. Ipnmydotii (or Chylde Ipomydon) is preferved 
 ajnong the Had. MSS. 2252. (44.) It is in diidchs 
 and begins, 
 
 Mekely, lordyngis, guntylle and fre. 
 
 In
 
 xxx ANCIENTSONGS 
 
 In the Library of Lincoln Cathedral. K k. 3. 10. is 
 an old imperfect printed Copy, wanting the whole 
 firft fheet A. 
 
 24. 'The Squyr of Lowe degre, is one of thofe bur- 
 lefqued by Chaucer in his R. of Thopas (a} Mr. Gar- 
 rick has a printed Copy of this, among his old plays, 
 K. Vol. IX. It begins 
 
 It was a fquyer of lovve degre, 
 
 That loved the kings daughter of Hungre. 
 
 24. Hijiorye of K. Richard Cure [C<fur] de Lyon. 
 [Impr. W. de Worde, 1528. 4to.] is preierved in the 
 Bodleian Library, C. 39. Art. Selden. A fragment of 
 it is alfo remaining in the Edinburgh MS. of old 
 Englifh Poems ; Num. XXXVI. in 2. leaves. A large 
 Extracl from this Romance has been given already 
 above,p.xv. Richard was thepeculiarpatron of Chivalry, 
 and therefore was a favourite with the old Minftrels. See 
 Warton's Obferv. V. i. p. 29. V. 2. p. 40. 
 
 26. The following I have not feen, but I believe 
 they may all be referred to the Clafs of Romances. 
 
 The Knight of Ccurtefy and the Lady ofFc.guel (Bodl, 
 Lib. C. 39. Art. Seld. a printed Copy.) This Mr. 
 Warton thinks is the Story of Coucy's Heart, related in 
 Fauchet, and in Howel's Letters. [V. i. S. 6. L. 20. 
 See Wart. Obf. V. 2. p. 40.] The Editor has feen 
 a very beautiful old ballad on this fubjecl in French. 
 
 27. The four following are all preferved in the MS. 
 fo often referred to in the public Library at Camb. 
 (690. Appendix to Bp. More's MSS. in 'Cat. MSS.' 
 Tom. 2. p. 394.) viz. The Erie of rbolcufe. (N w 27.) 
 beginning 
 
 Jefu Chryfte in Tr\njte. 
 
 () See Mr. Warts.Vs Obfervat. Vol.- 
 
 p, 1^9, note.
 
 AND BALLADS. xxxi 
 
 28. Rolerd Kjnge of Cyfyll (or Sicily) {hewing the 
 fall of Pride. Of this there is alfo a Copy among the 
 Harl. MSS. 1703. (3.) The Camb. MS. begins 
 
 Princis that be prowde in prefe. 
 
 29. Le lone Florence of Rome, beginning thus 
 
 As ferre as men ride or gone. 
 
 30. Diockjian the Emperour, beginning, 
 
 S um tyme ther was a noble man. 
 
 31. The two knightly brothers Amys and Amelicn 
 (among the Harl. MSS. 2386. 42.) I fuppofe to be 
 an old Romance of Chivalry ; as alfo the fragment of 
 the Lady Belefanr, the Duke of Lombards fair daughter, 
 mentioned in the fame article. See the Catalog. Vol. 2. 
 
 32. In the Edinburgh MS. fo often referred to (pre- 
 ferved in the Advocates Library, W 4. i.) might pro- 
 bably be found fome other articles to add to this lift, 
 as well as other copies of fome of the pieces mentioned 
 in it ; for the whole Volume contains not fewer than 
 xxxvn poems or romances, fome of them very long. 
 But as many of them have loft the beginnings, which 
 have been cut out for the fake of the illuminations ; 
 and as I have not had an opportunity of examining 
 the MS. myfelf, I mail be content to mention only the 
 articles that follow f, viz. 
 
 An old Romance about Rouland (not I believe the fa- 
 mous Psladine, but a champion named Rouland Louth ; 
 quere) being in the Volume, Numb. xxvu. in 5 
 leaves, and wants the beginning. 
 
 f Some of thefe I give, though mutilated and diverted of their 
 tides, becaule they may enable a curious inquirer to complete or im- 
 p revt other copies. 
 
 3 53. Another
 
 xx'xii ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 33. Another Romance, that feems to be a kind oT 
 continuation of this laft, intitled, Otuel a Knight, 
 (Numb, xxviii. in 1 1 leaves and a half.) The two iirft 
 lines are, 
 
 Heikneth both zinre and old> 
 
 That willen heren of battailes bold. 
 
 34. The King off art (Numb. iv. in 5 leaves and 1 a 
 hal ) beginning thus, 
 
 Herkneth to me bothe eld and zing, 
 For Maries love that fwete thing. 
 
 35. A Tale or Romance, (Numb. i. 2 leaves), that 
 wants both beginning and end. The firft lines now re- 
 maining are, 
 
 Th Erl him graunted his will y-wis. that the knicht him haden 
 
 y told. 
 
 The Baronriis that were of mikle pris. befor him thay weren 
 y-cald. 
 
 36. Another mutilated Tale or Romance (Numb. in. 
 4 leaves). The firft lines at prefent are, 
 
 To Mr Steward wil y gon. and tellen him the fothe of the 
 Refeyvcd bcftovr fone anon, gif zou will ferve and with hir be. 
 
 37. A mutilated Talc cr Romance (Numb. ::i. in 
 13 leaves). The two mil lines that occur are, 
 
 That richa Douke his feft gan hold 
 With Erls and with Baronns bold. 
 
 I cannot conclude my account of this curious Ma- 
 nufcript, without acknowledging publicly, that I am 
 indebted to the friendmip of the Reverend Dr. 
 BLAIR, the prefent ingenious Profeffor of Deltes 
 Lettres in the Univerfity of Edinburgh, for whatever 
 I know of its contents, and for the important addi- 
 tions it has enabled me to make to the foregoing Lift. 
 
 T. THE BOY
 
 AND BALLADS. 
 
 I. 
 
 THE BOY AND THE MANTLE, 
 
 // printed verbatim from the old MS defcribed in 
 
 the Preface. The Editor Believes it more ancient, than it 
 will appear to be at fir ft fight ; the tranfcriber of that ma- 
 vufcript halving reduced thi orthography and ftyls in many 
 inftances to the ftande.rd of his own times. 
 , The incidents of the MANTLE and the KNIFE have not, 
 that I can recollect, betn borroivedfrom any other writer. The 
 former of thefe evidently fuggejted to Spenfer his conceit of 
 FLORIMEL'J GIRDLE. B. iv. C. 5. St. 3. 
 "That girdle gave the virtue of chafte love 
 And wivehooa true to all that did it bears j 
 But wbe/bKVtr contrarie dcth prove, 
 Might not the fame about her middle weare, 
 Rut it would loofe or elfe afunder teare. 
 So it happened to the falfe Florimel, ft. 1 6, when 
 
 Being brought, about her middle fmall 
 
 They thought to gird, as beft it her became, 
 Jint by no means they could it thereto frame, 
 For ever as they f aft ned it, it loos' * d 
 And fell avjay, as feeling fecret blame, &c. 
 That all men wondrcd at the uncouihjtght 
 
 And each one thought as to their fancies came. 
 B-ut Jhe herfelf did think it done for fpight, 
 And touched *was with jecret vjrath and Jh ante 
 Therewith, as thing deviz'd her to defame : 
 Then Many other ladies likevoife tride 
 About their fender loynes to knit the fame, 
 But it *would not on none of than abide, , 
 ut when they thought it f aft, eftfooties it <was untide. 
 Thereat all knights gan laugh and ladies lovjre, 
 
 Till that at la ft the gsntle Amoret 
 VOL. III. B Li\t-
 
 2 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 Likevjife affayed to prove that girdle's powre. 
 
 And having it about her middle Jet 
 
 Did find it fit 'without en breach or let, 
 
 Whereat the reft gan greatly to envie. 
 
 But Florimel exceedingly did fret 
 
 And fnatching from her hand, &c. 
 
 As for the trial of the Ho R N E , it is not peculiar to our Poet : It 
 occurs in the old romance, zntitledMorte Arthur, which was 
 tranjlated out of French in the time of K. Edw. IV. and fir ft 
 printed anno 1 484. From that romance Ariofto is thought to 
 have borrowed his tale of the Enchanted Cup, C. 42. &c. 
 See Mr. Warton's Obfervations on the Faerie Queen, &c. 
 
 The ftory of the HORN in Morte Arthur varies a good 
 deal from this of our Poet, as the reader will judge 
 
 from the following extra fl. *' By the <way they met with 
 
 " a knight that *was fent from Morgan le Faye to king 
 *' Arthur, and this knight had a fair home all garni jhed 
 * ' ivitb gold, and the home had fuch a -virtue that there 
 <c might no ladye or gentlewoman drinke of that home, but 
 " *f fie were true to her hujband : and if Jhee were falfe 
 " jhe Jhould fpill all the drinke, and if Jhee 'were true unto 
 *' her lorde, Jhee might drink peaceably : and becaufe of 
 " queene Guene-~uer and in defpite of Sir Launcelot du Lake, 
 
 '* this home was fent unto king Arthur" This horn is 
 
 intercepted and brought unto another king named Marke, 
 *who is not a whit more fortunate than the Britijh hero, 
 for he makes " his queene drinke thereof and an hundred 
 " ladies moe, and there 'were but four e ladies of all thofe 
 " that drank cleane" of which number the faid queen, 
 proves not to be one \Book II. chap. 22. Ed. 1632.] 
 
 In other refpeils the two ft cries are fo different, that we 
 have juft reafon to fuppofe this Ballad was written before 
 that romance was tranjlated into Englijh. 
 
 As for queen GuenevGr,_/& is here reprefented no otherwife, 
 
 than as we find her in old hiftories and romances. Holinjhcd 
 
 cbferves, that "Jhe was evil reported of , as noted of inconti- 
 
 " nence and breach of faith to hlr hujband:" Vd. I. /. 93. 
 
 8^= SUCH READERS, AS HAVE NO RELISH FOR PURE 
 
 ANtlQ^JlTY, WILL FIND A MORE MODERN COPY OF 
 
 THIS BALLAD AT THE END OF THE VOLUME. 
 
 IN
 
 AND BALLADS. 3 
 
 IN the third day of may, 
 To Carleile did come 
 A kind curteous child, 
 That cold much of vvifdome. 
 
 A kirtle and a mantle 5 
 
 This child had uppon, 
 With ' brooches' and ringes 
 Full richelye bedone. 
 
 He had a fute of filke 
 
 About his middle drawne; 19 
 
 Without he cold of curtefye 
 
 He thought itt much ihame. 
 
 God fpeede thee, king Arthur, 
 
 Sitting at thy meate : 
 
 And the goodly queene Guenever, 15 
 
 I cannott her forgett. 
 
 I tell you, lords, in this hall ; 
 
 I hett you all to * heede' ; 
 
 Except you be the more furer 
 
 Is for you to dread. 20 
 
 He plucked out of his poterver, 
 And longer wold not dwell, 
 He pulled forth a pretty mantle, 
 Betweene two nut-fhells. 
 
 B 2 Have 
 
 Vtr. 7, Brandies, MS, Yer t \\, heate, MS. Vtr. 21. or potewer.
 
 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 Have thou here, king Arthur ; 2 5 
 
 Have thou heere of mee : 
 Give itt to thy comely queene 
 Shapen as itt is alreadye. 
 
 It fhall never become that wiffe, 
 That hath once done amifle. 30 
 
 Then every knight in the king's court 
 Began to care for 'his.' 
 
 Forth came dame Guenever ; 
 
 To the mantle fhee her * hied' ; 
 
 The ladye mee was newfangle, 35 
 
 But yett ihe was affrayd. 
 
 When mee had taken the mantle ; 
 
 She ftoode as me had beene madd : 
 
 It was from the top to the toe 
 
 As fheeres had itt Ihread. 40 
 
 One while was it ' gule' ; 
 Another while was itt greene ; 
 Another while was itt wadded : 
 111 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 
 Vir, 31. hi wiffe. MS, Vtr. 41. gaule. MS,
 
 AND B A L LAD S. 5 
 
 Shee threw downe the mantle,. 
 
 That bright was of blee ; 50 
 
 Faft with a rudd redd, 
 
 To her chamber can fhee flee. 
 
 She curft the weaver, and the walker, 
 
 That clothe that had wrought ; 
 
 And bade a vengeance on his crowne, 55 
 
 That hither hath itt brought. 
 
 I had rather be in a wood, 
 
 Under a green tree ; 
 
 Than in king Arthur's court 
 
 Shamed for to bee. 60 
 
 Kay called forth his ladye, (fi J\- 
 
 And bade her come neere ; 
 Saies, Madam, and thou be guiltye, 
 I pray thee hold thee there. 
 
 Forth came his ladye 65 
 
 Shortlye and anon ; 
 Boldlye to the mantle 
 Then is fhee gone. 
 
 When me had tane the mantle, 
 
 And caft it her about j 70 
 
 Then was me bare 
 
 Before all the rout." 
 
 B 3 Then
 
 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 Then every knight, 
 That was in the king's court, 
 ' Talked, laughed, and fhowted 75 
 
 Full oft at that fport. 
 
 Shee threw downe the mantle, 
 
 That bright was of blee ; 
 
 Faft, with a red rudd, 
 
 To her chamber can me flee. So 
 
 Forth came an old knight 
 Mattering ore a creede, 
 And he preferred to this litle boy 
 Twenty markes to his meede ; 
 
 And all the time of the Chriftmafle 85 
 
 Willinglye to ffeede j 
 
 For why this mantle might 
 
 Do his wiffe fome need. 
 
 When me had tane the mantle, 
 
 Of cloth that was made, 90 
 
 She had no more left on her, 
 
 But a taflel and a threed : 
 
 Then every knight in the kings court 
 
 Bade evill might fhee fpeed. 
 
 Shee threw downe the mantle, 95 
 
 That bright was of blee ; 
 
 And
 
 AND BALLAD S.<. 
 
 And faft, with a redd rudd, 
 To her chamber can fhee flee. 
 
 Craddocke called forth his ladye, 
 
 And bade her come in $ 100 
 
 Saith, winne this mantle, ladye, 
 
 With a little dinne. 
 
 Winne this mantle, ladye, 
 
 And it ftial be thine, 
 
 If thou never did amiffe 105 
 
 Since thou waft mine. 
 
 Forth came Craddocke's ladye 
 
 Shortlye and anon ; 
 
 But boldlye to the mantle 
 
 Then is Ihee gone. no 
 
 When ihee had tane the mantle, 
 
 And caft itt her about, 
 
 Upp att her great toe 
 
 It began to crinkle and crowt : 
 
 Shee faid, bowe downe, mantle, 115 
 
 And mame me not for nought. 
 
 Once I did amiffe, 
 I tell you certainlye, 
 When I kift Craddocke's mouth 
 tinder a greene tree ; 1 20 
 
 B 4 When
 
 8 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 When I kift Craddockes mouth 
 Before he marryed mee. 
 
 When fhee had her fhreeven, 
 
 And her finnes fhee had tolde ; 
 
 The mantle ftoode about her 1 25 
 
 Right as fhee wold : 
 
 Seemelye of coulour 
 
 Glittering like gold : 
 
 Then every knight in Arthurs court 
 
 Did her behold. 130 
 
 Then fpake dame Guenever 
 
 To Arthur our king ; 
 
 She hath tane yonder mantle 
 
 Not with right, but with wronge. , 
 
 See you not yonder woman, 135 
 
 That maketh her felf ' cleane' ? 
 I have feene tane out of her bedd 
 Of men five teene ; 
 
 Priefls, clarkes, and wedded men 
 
 From her bedeene : 140 
 
 Yett fhee taketh the mantle, 
 
 And maketh her felf cleane. 
 
 The* 
 
 Per. 136. cleare, MS. Vtr. 139. by dcene. MS,
 
 AND BALLADS. 9 
 
 Then fpake the litle boy, 
 
 That kept the mantle in hold ; 
 
 Sayes, king, chaften thy wiffe, 145 
 
 Of her words Ihee is too bold : 
 
 Shee is a bitch and a witch, 
 
 And whore bold : 
 
 King, in thine owne hall, 
 
 Thou art a cuckold. 150 
 
 The litle boy ftoode 
 Looking out a dore ; 
 ' And there as he was lookinge 
 ' He was ware of a wyld bore.' 
 
 He was ware of a wyld bore, 155 
 
 Wold have werryed a man : 
 
 He pulled forth a wood knifte, 
 
 Paft thither that he ran : 
 
 He brought in the bores head, 
 
 And quitted him like a man. 160 
 
 He brought in the bores head, 
 
 And was wonderous bold : 
 
 He faid there were never a cuckolds kniffe 
 
 Carve itt that cold. 
 
 Some rubbed their knives 165 
 
 Uppon a whetilone : 
 
 Some
 
 J0 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 Some threw them under the table, 
 And faid they had none. 
 
 King Arthur, and the child 
 
 Stood looking upon them ; 170 
 
 All their knives edges 
 
 Turned backe againe. 
 
 Craddocke had a litle knive 
 
 Of iron and of fteele ; 
 
 He britled the bores head 175 
 
 Wonderous weele ; 
 
 That every knight in the kings court 
 
 Had a morfell. 
 
 The litle boy had a home, 
 
 Of red gold that ronge : 1 80 
 
 He faid, there was noe cuckolde 
 
 Shall drinke of my home ; 
 
 But he ihold itt ftieede 
 
 Either behind or beforne. 
 
 Some fhedd on their moulder, 1 85 
 
 And fome on their knee ; 
 
 He that cold not hitt his mouthe, 
 
 Put it in his eye : 
 
 And he that was a cuckold 
 
 Every man might him fee. 190 
 
 Craddocke 
 Vtr. 170. them upon. MS.
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. fci 
 
 Craddocke wan the home, 
 
 And the bores head : 
 
 His ladie wan the mantle 
 
 Unto her meede. 
 
 Everye fuch lovely ladye 195 
 
 God fend her well to fpeede. 
 
 H. 
 
 THE MARRIAGE OF SIR GAWAINE 
 
 Is chiefly taken from the fragment of an old ballad in the 
 Editor's MS. which he has reafon to believe more ancient than 
 the time o/ r CHAUCtR, and <vjhat furnifhed ihat bard <witb 
 his Wife of Bath's Tale. The original <uias fo extremely 
 mutilated, half of every leaf being torn a-ivay, that ivitbout 
 large fupplementS) ffr. it would have been improper for this 
 collection : thefe it has therefore received, fuch as they are. 
 They are not here particularly pointed out, becanfe the FRAG- 
 MENT itfelf ivill fame time or ether be given to the public. 
 
 PART THE FIRST. 
 
 KING Arthur lives in merry Carleile, 
 And feemely is to fee ; 
 And there with him queene Guenever, 
 That bride foe bright of blee. 
 
 And there with him queene Guenever, 5 
 
 That bride fo bright in bowre : 
 And all his barons about him ftoode, 
 
 That were both ftiffe and ftowre. 
 
 3 The
 
 ANCIENT- SONGS 
 
 The king a royale Chriftmafle kept, 
 
 Wi'h nv'rth and princelye cheare ; 10 
 
 To him repaired many a knighte, 
 That came both farre and neare. 
 
 And when they were to dinner fette, 
 
 And cups went freely round ; 
 Before them came a faire damfelle, 15 
 
 And knelt upon the ground. 
 
 A boorte, a boone, O kinge Arthure, 
 
 I beg a booiie cf thee ; 
 Avenge me of a carlifh knighte, 
 
 Who hath faent my love and mee. 20 
 
 In Tearne-Wadling J his caftle ftands, 
 
 All on a hill foe hye, 
 And proudlye rife the battlements, 
 
 And gaye the ftreameres flye. 
 
 Noe gentle knight?, nor ladye faire, 25 
 
 M.iy pafs that caftle-walle : 
 But from that foule difcurteous knighte, 
 
 Mifh?npc will them befalle. 
 
 Hee's twyce the fize of common men, 
 
 Wi' thewes, and finewes ftronge, 30 
 
 And on his backe he bears a clubbe, 
 That is both thicke and longe. 
 
 'This 
 
 I T/.ii h the name of a place in Cumberland, ivlere tie remaint of 
 an ancient Cajile arc Jlill to tefeen : Tearne in the dialed oftbat Count, y 
 Jtgnifici a jmall Lake.
 
 ANDBALLADS. 13 
 
 This grimme barone 'twas our harde happe, 
 
 But yeiler morne to lee ; 
 When to his bowre he bore my love, 35 
 
 And fore mifufed mee. 
 
 And when I told him, king Arthure 
 
 As lyttle mold him fpare ; 
 Goe tell, fayd hee, that cuckold kinge, 
 
 To meete mee if he dare. 40 
 
 Upp then fterted king Arthure, 
 
 And fware by hille and dale, 
 He ne'er vvolde quitt that grimme barone, 
 
 Till he had made him quail. 
 
 Goe fetch my fword Excalibar : 4 j 
 
 Goe faddle mee my fteede ; 
 Nowe, by my faye, that grimme barone 
 
 Shall rue this ruthfullt- deede. 
 
 And when he came to Tearne Wadlinge 
 
 Benethe the caitle walle : 50 
 
 " Come forth ; come forth ; thou proude barone, 
 Or yielde thyfeif my thralle." 
 
 On magicke grounde that cattle ftoode, 
 
 And fenc'd with many a fpelle : 
 Noe valiant knighte could tread thereon, 55 
 
 But ihaite his courage felle. 
 
 Forth
 
 I4 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 Forth then rufli'd that carliih knight, 
 
 King Arthur felte the charme : 
 His fturdy fmewes loft their ftrengthe, 
 
 Downe funke his feeble arme. 60 
 
 Nowe yield thee, yield thee, kinge Arthure, 
 
 Now yield thee, unto mee : 
 Or fighte with mee, or lofe thy lande, 
 
 Noe better termes maye bee. 
 
 Unlefle thou fweare upon the rood, 65 
 
 And promife on thy fa ye, 
 Here to returne to Tearne Wadling, 
 
 Upon the new-yeare's daye : 
 
 And bringe me worde what thing it is 
 
 All women mofte defyre : 70 
 
 This is thy ranfome, Arthur, he fayes, 
 He have noe other hyre. 
 
 King Arthur then helde up his hande, 
 
 And fware upon his faye, 
 Then tooke his leave of the grimme barone 75 
 
 And fafte hee rode avvaye. 
 
 And he rode eaft, and he rode weft, 
 
 And did of all inquyre, 
 What thing it is all women crave, 
 
 And what they moft defyre, 80 
 
 Some
 
 ANDBALLADS. 15 
 
 Some told him riches, pompe, or ftate ; 
 
 Some rayment fine and brighte ; 
 SoiAe told him mirthe ; fome flatterye ; 
 
 And fome a jollye knighte. 
 
 In letteres all king Arthur wrote, 85 
 
 And feal'd them with his ringe : 
 But ftill his minde was helde in doubte, 
 
 Each tolde a different thinge. 
 
 ; ' 
 As ruthfulle he rode over a more, 
 
 He faw a ladye fette 90 
 
 Betweene an oke, and a greene holleye, 
 AH clad in red * fcarlette. 
 
 Her nofe was crookt and turnd outwarde, 
 
 Her chin ftoode all awrye ; 
 And where as fholde have been her mouthe, 95 
 
 Lo ! there was fet her eye : 
 
 Her haires, like ferpents, clung aboute 
 
 Her cheekes of deadlye hewe : 
 A worfe-form'd ladye than me was, 
 
 No man mote ever viewe. 100 
 
 To hail the king in feemelye forte 
 
 This ladye was fulle faiue ; 
 But king Arthure all fore amaz'd, 
 
 No aunfwere made againe, 
 
 What 
 
 * So the Original*
 
 16 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 What wight art thou, the ladye fayd, 105 
 
 That wilt not fpeake to mee ; 
 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 
 
 Afk what thou wilt, thou grimme ladye, 
 
 And it mall bee thy meede. 
 
 O fweare mee this upon the roode, 
 
 And promife on thy faye ; 
 And here the fccrette I will telle, 115 
 
 That fhall thy ranfome paye. 
 
 King Arthur promis'd on his faye, 
 
 And fware upon the rcode ; 
 The fccrette then the ladye told, 
 
 As lightlye well Ihee cou'de. i 20 
 
 Now this fhall be my p.iye, Jlr khirj, 
 
 And this my guerdon bee, 
 That fome yong, fair and courtlye knight, 
 
 Thou brir.ga fo marrye mee. 
 
 Faft then pricked king Arthure 125 
 
 Ore hille, and dale, and downe : 
 And foone he fouude the barone's bowre ; 
 
 .And fcone the grimme baroune. 
 
 He
 
 AND BALLADS. 17 
 
 He bare his clubbe upon his backe, 
 
 Hee ftoode bothe ftiffe and ftronge ; 130 
 
 And, when he had the letters reade, 
 
 Awaye the lettres flunge. 
 
 Nowe yielde thee, Arthur, and thy lands, 
 
 All forfeit unto mee ; 
 For this is not thy paye, fir king, 1 35 
 
 Nor may thy ranfome bee. 
 
 Yet hold thy hand, thou proude barone, 
 
 I praye thee hold thy hand j 
 And give mee leave to fpeake once moe 
 
 In reflcewe of my land. 140 
 
 This morne, as I came over a more, 
 
 I faw a ladye fette 
 Betwene an oke, and a greene holleye, 
 
 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 true, 
 
 That I have payd mine hyre. 
 
 An earlye vengeaunce light on her ! 
 
 The carlifh baron fwore : 150 
 
 Shee was my filter tolde thee this, 
 
 And Ihee's a mifhapen whore. 
 VOL. III. C But
 
 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 But here I will make mine avowe, 
 
 To do her as ill a turne : 
 For an ever I may that foule theefe gette, 155 
 
 In a fyre I will her burne. 
 
 PART THE SECONDS. 
 
 HOmewarde pricked king Arthure, 
 And a wearye man was hee ; 
 And foone he.mette queene Guenever, 
 That bride fo bright of blee. 
 
 What newes ! what newes ! thou noble king, 5 
 
 Howe, Arthur, haft thou fped ? 
 Where haft thou hung the carlifh knighte ? 
 
 And where beftow'd his head ? 
 
 The carlifh knight is fafe for mee, 
 
 And free fro mortal harme : IP 
 
 On magicke grounde his caftle ftands, 
 
 And fenc'd with many a charme. 
 
 To bowe to him I was fulle faine, 
 
 And yielde mee to his hand : 
 And but for a lothly ladye, there 15 
 
 I fholde have loft my land. 
 
 And
 
 ANDBALLADS. 19 
 
 And nowe this fills my hearte with woe, 
 
 And forrowe of my life ; 
 I fwore a yonge and courtlye knight, 
 
 Sholde marry her to his wife. 
 
 Then befpake him fir Gawaine, 
 
 That was ever a gentle knighte : 
 That lothly ladye I will wed ; 
 
 Therefore be merrye and lighte. 
 
 Nowe naye, nowe naye, good fir Gawaine ; 25 
 
 My filter's fonne yee bee ; 
 This lothlye ladye's all too grimme, 
 
 And all too foule for yee. 
 
 Her nofe is crookt and turn'd outwarde ; 
 
 Her chin ftands all awrye ; 30 
 
 A worfe form'd ladye than fhee is 
 
 Was never feen with eye. 
 
 What though her chin ftand all awrye, 
 
 And fhee be foule to fee : 
 I'll marry her, unkle, for thy fake, 35 
 
 And I'll thy ranfome bee. 
 
 Nowe thankes, nowethankes, good fir Gawaine ; 
 
 And a bleffing thee betyde ! 
 To-morrow wee'll have knights and fquires, 
 
 And wee'll goe fetch thy bride. 40 
 
 C 2 And
 
 ao ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 And wee'll have hawkes and wee'll nave houndes* 
 
 To cover our intent ; 
 And wee'll away to the greene foreft, 
 O 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 frelhe and greene. 
 
 And when they came to the greene forreft, 
 
 Beneathe a faire holley tree 
 There fate that ladye in red fcarlette 5 5 
 
 That unfeemelye was to fee. 
 
 Sir Kay beheld that lady's face, 
 
 And locked upon her fweere ; 
 Whoever kifles that ladye, he fayes 
 
 Of his kifle he Hands in feare. 60 
 
 Sir Kay beheld that ladye againe, 
 
 And looked upon her fnout ; 
 Whoever kifles that ladye, he fayes, 
 
 Of his kifle he ftands in doubt. 
 
 Peace,
 
 AND BALLADS. 21 
 
 Peace, brother Kay, fayde fir Gawaine, 65 
 
 And amend thee of thy life : 
 For there is a knight amongft us all, 
 
 Mult marry her to his wife. 
 
 What marry this foule queane, quoth Kay, 
 
 I'the devil's name anone ; 7. 
 
 Get mee a wife wherever I maye, 
 In footh mee mall bee none. 
 
 Then fome tooke up their hawkes in hafte, 
 
 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 fware there by this daye ; 
 For a little foule fighte and miflikinge, 
 
 Yee mall not fay her naye. 80 
 
 Peace, lordings, peace : fir Gawaine fayd, 
 
 Nor make debate and ftrife ; 
 This lothlye 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 owne ladye, 
 Thou never (halt rue this deede. 
 
 C 3 Then
 
 22 ANCIENT SONGS' 
 
 Then up they took that lothly dame, 
 
 And home anone they bringe : 90 
 
 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 turne to mee, mine owne wed-lord 95 
 
 Come turne to mee I praye. 
 
 Sir Gawaine fcant could lift his head, 
 
 For forrowe and for care ; 
 When, lo ! inftead of that lothelye dame, 
 
 Hee fawe a young ladye faire. IOO 
 
 Sweet blufhes ftayn'd her rud-red cheeke, 
 
 Her eyen were blacke as floe : 
 The ripening cherrye fwellde her lippe, 
 
 And all her necke was fnowe. 
 
 Sir Gawaine kifs'd that lady faire, 105 
 
 Lying upon the fheete : 
 And fwore, as he was a true knighte,' 
 
 The fpice was never foe fweete. 
 
 Sir Gawaine kifs'd that lady brighte, 
 
 Lying there by his fide : HO 
 
 " The faireft flower is not foe faire ; 
 Thou never can'ft bee my bride." 
 
 I am
 
 AND BALLADS. 23 
 
 I am thy bride, mine owne deare lorde, 
 
 The fame whiche thou didft knowe, 
 That was foe lothlye, and was wont 115 
 
 Upon the wild more to goe. 
 
 Nowe, gentle Gawaine, chufe, quoth fhee, 
 
 And make thy choice with care ; x 
 Whether by night, or elfe by daye, 
 
 Shall I be foule or faire ? <* 120 
 
 " To have thee foule ftill in the night, ] 
 
 When I with thee mould playe ! 
 I had rather farre, my lady deare, 
 
 To have thee foule by daye." 
 
 What when gay e ladyes goe with their lordes' 125 
 
 To drinke the ale and wine ; 
 Alas ! then I muft hide myfelf, 
 
 I muft not goe with mine ? 
 
 " My faire ladye, fir Gawaine fayd, 
 
 I yield me to thy fldlle ; 1 30 
 
 Becaufe thou art mine owne ladye 
 
 Thou malt have all thy wille." 
 
 Nowe blefled be thou, fweete Gawaine, 
 
 And the daye that I thee fee ; 
 For as thou feeft mee at this time, 135 
 
 Soe mail I ever bee. 
 
 C 4 My
 
 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 My father was an aged knighte, 
 
 And yet it chanced foe, 
 He tooke to wife a falfe ladye, 
 
 Whiche broughte me to this woe. 140 
 
 Shee witch'd mee, being a faire yonge maide, 
 
 In the greene foreft to dwelle ; 
 And there to abide in lothlye fhape, 
 
 Moft like a fiend of helle. 
 
 Midft mores and mofTes ; woods, and wilds j 145 
 
 To lead a lonefome life : 
 Till fome yong faire and courtlye knighte 
 
 Wolde marrye me to his wife : 
 
 Nor fully to gaine mine owne trewe fliape, 
 
 Such was her devilifh fldlle ; 150 
 
 Until he vvolde yielde to be rul'd by mee, 
 And let mee have all my wille. 
 
 She witchd my brother to a carlifh boore, 
 
 And made him ftiffe and ftronge ; 
 And built him a bowre on magicke grounde, 155 
 
 To live by rapine and wronge. 
 
 But now the fpelle is broken throughe, 
 
 And wronge is turnde to righte ; 
 Henceforth I mall bee a faire ladye, 
 
 And hee be a gentle knighte. 160 
 
 III.
 
 AND BALLADS. 
 
 III. 
 KING RYENCE's CHALLENGE. 
 
 ong is more modern than many of thofe which fol- 
 low it, but is placed here for the fake of the fubjefl. It 
 was fung before queene Elizabeth at the grand entertain- 
 ment at Kenelworth-caftle in '575> and was probably 
 compofed for that occajlon. In a letter defcribing thofe fefti- 
 fuities, it is thus mentioned; " A minftral came forth 'with 
 " afollem Jong, warranted for ftory out of K. Arthur's 
 " afts, whereof I gat a copy, and is this ; 
 So it fell out on a Pentecoft ffr." 
 
 After the fong the narrative proceeds: " At this the 
 " Minftrell made a paufe and a curtezy for primus paffus. 
 *' More of the fong is tkear, but I gatt it not." 
 
 'The ftory in Morte Arthur, whence it is taken, runs at 
 follows, " Came a meffenger haftely from king Ryence of 
 " North-Wales, - -faying, that king Ryence bad difcomfited 
 " and overcomen eleaven kings, and ever ic he of them did 
 
 * ' him homage, and that 'was this ; they gave him their 
 " beards cleane flayne off, - wherefore the mejjenger came 
 
 * ' for king Arthur's beard, for king Ryence had purfeled a 
 11 manteU with kings beards, and there lacked for one 
 " place of the mantell, wherefore he fent for his beard, or 
 " elfe he 'would enter into his lands, and brenn and Jlay t 
 ** and never leave till he have thy head and thy beard. 
 " Well, faid king Arthur, thou haft faid thy mejjage, 
 " which is the moft villainous and lew deft mej/age that 
 tl ever man heard Jent to a king. Alfo thou may eft fee my 
 " beard is full young yet for to make a purfell of, but tell 
 " thou the king that - or it be long hejhalldo to me homage 
 " on both his knees, or elfe he Jhall leefe his head.'" [B. i. 
 c. 24. See alfo the fame Romance, B. I. c. 92.] 
 
 The thought feems to be originally taken from Jeff'. Mon- 
 mouth's hift. B. IO. c. 3. which is alluded to by Dray- 
 ton in his Poly-Olb. Song 4. and by Spencer in Faer. )u. 6. 
 I, 13, 15. Seethe Obfervatiom on Sfenfer, vol. 2. p. 22-?.
 
 26 ANCIENTSONGS 
 
 The following text is compofed of the left readings fe- 
 leftedfrom three different copies. The Jirft in Enderbie'i 
 Cambria Triumphant, p. 197. The fecond in the Letter 
 abo f uementioned. And the third inferted in MS. in a copy 
 of Morte Arthur, 1632, in the Bodl. Library. 
 
 " Stow tells us, that king Arthur kept his round 
 " table at " diverfe places, but efpecially at Carlion, Win- 
 " chefter, and Camalet in Somerfetfhire. This Ca- 
 " melet fometimes a famous to-iJune or caftle, is Jltuate on 
 " a very high tor or hill, &c." [See an exatt defcrip- 
 tisn in Stewe's Annals, Ed. 1 63 1./. 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, 
 Cryed, Largefse, Largefse, Chevaliers tres-hardie. 
 
 A doughty dwarfe to the uppermoft deas 
 Right pertlye gan pricke, kneeling on knee, 
 
 With fteven fulle ftoute amids all the preas, 
 
 Sayd, Nowe fir king Arthur, God fave 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 refunded tbefe -words as oft as tbey 
 reui-ved of the bounty of the knigbti. See " Memoir es de la Chcvalerie" 
 torn. p. I. W.TbeexpreffionisJIMufedin the form of Injlalling knights 
 tf:bs garter. 
 
 * Perbaps 'broidered : fo " purfelled" fignifes. 
 
 And
 
 AND BALLADS. 27 
 
 And there is room lefte yet in a kantle, 
 
 For thine to ftande, to make the twelfth out : 
 This muft be done, be thou never fo ftout ; 
 This muft be done, I tell thee no fable, 
 Maugre the teethe of all thy round table. 
 
 When this mortal meflage from his mouthe pafl, 
 Great was the noyfe bothe in hall and in bower : 
 
 The king fum'd; the queene fcreecht; ladies were aghaft ; 
 Princes puffd ; barons bluftred ; lords began lower; 
 Knights ftormed ; fquiresftartled, like fteedsin a flower j 
 
 Pages and yeomen yell'd out in the hall, 
 
 Then in came fir Kay, the ' king's' fenefchal. 
 
 Silence, my foveraignes, quoth this courteous knight, 
 And in that ftound the ftowre began ftill : 
 
 ' Then' the dwarfe's dinner full deerely was dight, 
 Of wine and wafTel he had his wille ; 
 And, when he had eaten and drunken his fill, 
 
 An hundred pieces of fine coyned gold 
 
 Were given this dwarf for his meflage bold. 
 
 But fay to fir Ryence, thou dwarf, quoth the king, 
 That for his bold meflage 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 fhall trye, 
 
 Whether he, or king Arthur will prove the beft barbor; 
 
 And therewith he Ihook his good fword Excalabor, 
 
 IV.
 
 48 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 IV. 
 
 KING ARTHUR'S DEATH. 
 A FRAGMENT. 
 
 tfhe fuljett of this ballad is evidently taken from the old 
 romance Mqrte Arthur, but with feme 'variations, efpecially 
 in the concluding ftanzas ; in which the author Jeetns ra- 
 ther to follow the traditions of the oldWelJh Bards, ivho 
 tl believed that King Arthur was not dead, but conveied 
 " awaie by the Fairies into jome pleafant place, where he 
 " Jhould remains for a time, end thsn returne againe and 
 " reign in as great authority as ever." Holingjhed. 
 B. 5. c. 14. or as it is exprej/ed in an old Chronicle 
 printed at Antwerp 1493 fy Ger. de Leew, " The Bre- 
 
 " tons fuppofen, that he \K. Arthur\ jhallcome yet and 
 
 *' conquer e all Breiaigne, for certes this is the prophicye of 
 " Merlyn : He fay d, that his dethjhall be doubteous ; and 
 " fayd joth, for men thereof yet have doubt e, and Jhullenfor 
 
 " ever more, -for men ivyt not whether that he lyvetb 
 
 *' or is dede" See more ancient testimonies in Selden's Notes 
 on Polyolbion, Song III. 
 
 This fragment being very incorrefl and imperfeSl in the 
 original MS. hath received fame conjectural emendations, and 
 even a fupplement of ^ or 4 ftanzas compofed from the ro^ 
 mance o'MoRTE ARTHUR, 
 
 ON Trinitye Mondaye in the morne, 
 This fore battayle was doom'd to bee ; 
 Where manye a knighte cry'd, Well-awaye ! 
 Alacke, it was the more pittie. 
 
 Ere
 
 AND BALLADS. 29 
 
 Ere the firft crowinge of the cocke, 5 
 
 When as the kinge in his bed laye, 
 He thoughte 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 I 
 
 O meet not with your foe in fighte ; 
 
 Putt off the battayle, if yee maye. 
 
 For fir Launcelot is nowe in Fraunce, 
 And with him many an hardye knighte : 
 
 Who will within this moneth be backe, j$ 
 
 And will aflifte 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 alke a parley faire 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
 
 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 The king he charged all his hofte, 
 
 In readinefTe there for to bee : 3* 
 
 But noe man fholde noe weapon fturre, 
 
 Unleffe a fword drawne they fhold fee. 
 
 And Mordred on the other parte, 
 
 Twelve of his knights did likewife bringe ; 
 
 The befte of all his companye, 35 
 
 To hold the parley with the kinge. 
 
 Sir Mordred alfoe charged his hofte, 
 
 In readinefle there for to bee ; 
 But noe man fholde noe weapon fturre, 
 
 But if a fworde drawne they fhold fee. 49 
 
 For he durfte not his unkle trufte, 
 
 Nor he his nephewe, fothe to tell : 
 Alacke ! it was a woefulle cafe, 
 
 As ere in Chriftentye befelle. 
 
 But when they were together mette, 45 
 
 And both to faire accordance broughte ; 
 
 And a month's league betweene them fette, 
 Before the battayle fholde be foughte. 
 
 An addere crept forth of a bufhe, 
 
 Stunge oneo'th' king's knightes on the knee : 50 
 Alacke ! it was a woefulle chance, 
 
 As ever was in Chriftentie. 
 
 When
 
 ANDBALLADS. 31 
 
 When the knighte found him wounded fore, 
 And fawe the wild-worme hanginge there ; 
 
 His fworde he from his fcabberde drewe : 55 
 
 A piteous eafe as ye mail heare. 
 
 For when the two hoftes fawe the fworde, 
 
 They joyned battayle inftantlye ; 
 Till of foe manye noble knightes, 
 
 On one fide there were left but three. 60 
 
 For all were flain that durft abide, 
 
 And but fome fewe that fled awaye : 
 Ay mee ! it was a bloodye fielde, 
 
 As ere was foughte on fummer's daye. 
 
 Upon king Arthur's own partye, 65 
 
 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 j 
 That manlye face in fight fo bolde. 
 
 Nowe refte 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 
 2
 
 32 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 Moft loyal have yee been to mee, 
 Moft true and faithful unto deathe : 
 
 And, oh ! to rayfe yee up againe, 
 
 How freelye could I yield my breathe ? 8c 
 
 But fee the traitor's yet alive, 
 
 Lo where hee ftalkes among thedeade ! 
 
 Nowe bitterlye he fhall abye : 
 
 And .vengeance fall upon his head. 
 
 O ftaye, my liege, then fayd the duke; 8$ 
 
 ftaye for love and charitie ; 
 Remember what the vifion fpake, 
 
 Nor meete your foe, if it may bee. 
 
 O, ftaye mee not, thou worthye wight, 
 
 This debt my loyal knights I owe : 90 
 
 Betide me life, betide me death, 
 
 1 will avenge them of their foe. 
 
 Then ftraite he grafp'd his truftye fpeare, 
 And on his horfe then mounted hee : 
 
 As his butler holpe him to his horfe, 9,5 
 
 His bowels gufhed to his knee. 
 
 Alas I then fayd the noble king, 
 
 That I fhould live this fight to fee ! 
 To fee this good knight here be flaine, 
 
 All for his love in helping mee 1 100 
 
 He
 
 AND BALLADS. 33 
 
 He put his fpeare into his relte, 
 
 And to fir Mordred loud gan crye ; 
 Nowe fette thyfelf upon thy guarde, 
 
 For, traitor, nowe thy death is nye. 
 
 Sir Mordred lifted up his fworde, 105 
 
 And fierce to meet the king ran hee : 
 
 The king his fpeare he through him thruft j 
 A fathom thcrow his bodie. 
 
 When Mordered felt the ftroke of death, 
 
 And found that he was wounded foe ; no 
 
 He thrufte himfelfs upon the fpeare, 
 And ftrucke die king a deadlye blowe. 
 
 Then grimmlye dyed fir Mordered, 
 
 Prefentlye upon that tree : 
 And bloody ftreames ranne from the kinge, 115 
 
 Ere to the duke returned hee. 
 
 Sir Lukyn then he thus befpake, 
 
 Sir knighte, thou haft beene faithfulle tryde, 
 Nowe take my fword Excalibar, 
 
 That hangs fo freelye by my fyde. 120 
 
 O take my fword Excalibar, 
 
 And there into the river thrc-.ve : 
 .For here, henceforth, benethe this tree, 
 
 All ufe of weapons I foregoe. 
 VOL. III. D And
 
 34 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 And fare thee well, thou truftye fword, 125 
 
 A better neer had valiant knighte, 
 
 With thee full ofte, and manye a daye, 
 Have I withftood my foe in fighte. 
 
 With this good fauchion in my hande, 
 
 Oft have I reapd the bloody feelde : 1 30 
 
 Bat nowe the fatalle houre is come, 
 That never more I may thee weelde. 
 
 The duke then to the river went, 
 
 And there his ovvne fword in threwe hee : 
 
 But he kept back Excalibar, 135 
 
 He kept it back in privitee. 
 
 For all of coleyne was the blade ; 
 
 And all the hflte of precious ftone : 
 And ever alacke ! then fayd the knighte, 
 
 Muft fuch a fword awaye be throwne ? 140 
 
 Then backe he came unto the kinge, 
 
 Who fayd, Sir Lukyn, what did yee fee ? 
 
 Nothing, my liege, fave that the winde 
 Blewe oer the waters faire and free. 
 
 O goe againe, then faid the kinge, 145 
 
 O good fir Lukyn, goe againe : 
 Into the rivere throvve my fword, 
 
 Nor keepe me lingering here in painc. 
 
 3 The
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 35 
 
 The duke then to the river went, 
 
 And the kings fcabberd in threwe hee ; 150 
 But hee kept backe Excalibar, 
 
 And hid it undernethe a tree. 
 
 Then backe he came to tell the kinge, 
 Who fayde, Sir Lukyn fawe ye oughte ? 
 
 Nothinge, my liege, fave that the winde 155 
 Nowe with the angrye waters fought. 
 
 O Lukyn, Lukyn, faid the kinge, 
 Twice hafte thou dealt deceytfullye : 
 
 Alacke, whom may wee ever trufte, 
 
 When fuche a knighte foe falfe can bee ? 1 60 
 
 Saye, wouldft thou have thy mafter dead ; 
 
 All for a fword, that wins thine eye : 
 Nowe goe againe, and throwe it in, 
 
 Or here the tone of us mall dye. 
 
 The duke, all fhent with this rebuke, ,165 
 
 No aunfwere made unto the kinge : 
 
 But to the rivere tooke the fworde, 
 And threwe it far as he coulde flinge. 
 
 A hande and an arme did meete the fworde, 
 And flourifhd three times ,in the air ; 170 
 
 Then funke benethe the renninge ftreme, 
 And of the duke was feene noe mair. 
 
 D 2 All
 
 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 All fore aftonied flood the duke ; 
 
 He flood as ftill, as ftill mote bee : 
 Then haftend backe to telle the kinge ; 175 
 
 But 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, 180 
 
 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 direfulle daye, 185 
 
 Hee never more was feene on molds. 
 
 Ver. I7 S. fee .MS. 
 
 -J- Not unlike that fa/age in Vi R G 1 1. . 
 
 Summoque ulularunt vertice nymphse. 
 
 Ladies was the word our old Englifh writers ufed for 
 Nymphs : As in the following lines of an old fong in the 
 Editor's MS colleflion. 
 
 " When fcorcbing Phoebus he did mount, 
 " Then Lady Venus went to hunt : 
 
 " To who?n Diana did refort, 
 " With all the Ladyes of hills, and valleys, 
 " f firings, andfaodes, &c. 
 
 V. T H E
 
 AND BALLADS. 37 
 
 V. 
 THE LEGEND OF KING ARTHUR. 
 
 We have here a Jhort fummary of K. Arthur's Hiflory as 
 given by J?Jf' of Monmouth and the old chronicles, ivith 
 the addition of a fe-~w circumftances from the romance Morte 
 
 Arthur. The ancient chronicle of Ger. de Leevj, (quoted 
 
 above in p. 2%.} feems to have been chiefly followed: upon 
 the authority of vjhich ive have reftored fome of the 
 names ivbicb 'were corrupted in the MS. and have tranf- 
 pofed one jlanza, 'which appeared to be mifplaced. [viz. that 
 beginning at v. 49. which in the MS. followed <v. 36.] 
 Printed from the Editor's ancient manufcript. 
 
 OF Brutus' blood, in Brittaine borne, 
 King Arthur I am to name ; 
 Through Chriftendome, and Heathynefle, 
 Well knowne is my worthy fame. 
 
 In Jefus Chrift I doe beleeve ; 5 
 
 I am a chriftyan bore : 
 The Father, Sone, and Holy Gofl 
 
 One God, I doe adore. 
 
 D 3 In 
 
 Ver. i. Bruitchis. MS, 
 
 196776
 
 38 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 v 
 
 In the four hundred ninetieth yeere, 
 
 Ore Brittaine I did rayne, 10 
 
 After my favior Chrift his byrth : 
 What time I did maintaine 
 
 The fellowfhipp of the table round, 
 
 Soe famous in thofe dayes ; 
 Whereatt a hundred noble knights, 15 
 
 And thirty fate alwayes : 
 
 Who for their deeds and martiall feates, 
 
 As bookes done yett record, 
 Amongft all other nations 
 
 Wer feared through the world. 20 
 
 And in the caftle off Tyntagill 
 
 King Uther mee begate 
 Of Agyana a bewtyous ladye, 
 
 And come of his eftate. 
 
 And when I was fifteen yeeres old, 25 
 
 Then was I crowned kinge : 
 All Brittaine that was att an uprore, 
 
 I did to quiett bringe. 
 
 And drove the Saxons from the realme, 
 
 Who had oppreft this land ; 30 
 
 All 
 
 Ver, 9. He began kis reign A.D. 515, according to the Cbronicles. 
 Ver. 23. She is named Igerna in the old Chronicles.
 
 ANDBALLADS. 39 
 
 All Scotland then throughe manly feates 
 I conquered with my hand. 
 
 Ireland, Denmarke, 'and ' Norwaye, 
 
 Thefe countryes wan I all ; 
 Ifeland, Gotheland, and Swetheland ; 35 
 
 I made their kings my thrall. 
 
 I conquered all Gallya, 
 
 That now is called France ; 
 And flew the hardye Froll in feild 
 
 My honor to advance. 40 
 
 And the ugly gyant Dynabus 
 
 Soe terrible to vewe, 
 That in Saint Barnards mount did lye, 
 
 By 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 turne their backe : 
 
 ; " 
 Five kinges of paynims I did kill 
 
 Amidft that bloody ftrife ; 50 
 
 Befides the Roman emperour 
 
 Who alfoe loft his life. 
 
 D 4 Whofe 
 
 Ver. 39. Froland field MS. Froll according to the Chronicles was 
 
 Roman knight governor of Gaul. 
 
 Ver. 49. of Pavye. MS, fcr. 51. Grecian. MS.
 
 40 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 Whofe carcafle I did fend to Rome 
 
 Cladd poorlye on a beere ; 
 And afterward I pad mount Joye 55 
 
 The next approaching 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 withfloode : 70. 
 
 But yett at laft I landed there, 
 
 With effufion of much blood. 
 
 For there my nephew fir Gawaine dyed, 
 
 Being wounded in that fore, 
 The whiche fir Lancelot in fight 75 
 
 Had given him before. 
 
 Thence
 
 AND BALLADS. 4.1 
 
 Thence chafed I Mordered away, 
 
 Who fledd to London ryght, 
 From London to Winchefter, and 
 
 To Cornewalle tooke his flyght. 80 
 
 And flill I him purfued with fpeede 
 
 Till at the laft we mett : 
 Wherby an appointed day of fight 
 
 Was there agreede and fett. 
 
 Where 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. 90 
 
 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 ! 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. 100 
 
 Vcr. 92. Feates. MS. 
 
 VI. A
 
 42 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 VI. 
 A DYTTIE TO HEY DOWNE. 
 
 Copied from an old MS. in the Cotton Library, \Vefp. A. 25.] 
 intitled, " Divers things of Hen. <viifs time" 
 
 WHO fekes to tame the bl uttering winde, 
 Or caufse the floods bend to his wyll, 
 Or els againft dame natures kinde 
 
 To ' change' things frame by ounning fkyll : 
 That man I thinke beftoweth paine, 5 
 
 Thoughe that his laboure be in vaine. 
 
 Who ftrives to breake the fturdye fteele, 
 Or goeth about to ftaye the funne ; 
 
 Who thinks to caufse an oke to reele, 
 
 Which never can by force be done : 10 
 
 That man likewife beftoweth paine, 
 
 Thoughe that his laboure be in vaine. 
 
 Who thinks to ftryve againft the ftreame, 
 
 ' And for to fayle without a mafte ; 
 Unlefse he thinks perhapps to faine, 15 
 
 His travell ys forelorne and wafte ; 
 And fo in cure of all his paine, 
 His travell ys his cheffeft gaine. 
 
 So 
 Vcr, 4 caufle. MS.
 
 ANDBA LLADS. 43 
 
 So he lykewife, that goes about 
 
 To pleafe eche eye and every eare, 20 
 
 Had nede to have withouten doubt 
 
 A golden gyft with hym to beare ; 
 For evyll report (hall be his gaine, 
 Though he beftowe both toyle and paine. 
 
 God grant eche man one to amend ; 25 
 
 God fend us all a happy place; 
 And let us pray unto the end, 
 
 That we may have our princes grace : 
 Amen, amen ! fo mall we gaine 
 A devve reward for all our paine. 30 
 
 Vfl. 
 GLASGERION. 
 
 An ingenious Friend thinks that the following old Dity 
 (which is given from the Editor's MS. Collection) may 
 poffibly have given birth to the tragedy of the ORPHAN, 
 in which Polidore intercepts Monimia's intended favours 
 to Cajialio. 
 
 GLafgerion was a kinges owne fbnne, 
 And a harper he was goode : 
 He harped in the kinges chambere, 
 Where cuppe and caudle ftoode. 
 
 And
 
 44 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 And foe did he in the queenes chambere, 5 
 
 Till ladyes waxed glad. 
 And then befpake the kinges daughter ; 
 
 Thefe were the wordes fhe fayd. 
 
 Strike on, ftrike on, Glafgerion, 
 
 Of thy ftriking doe not blinne : 10 
 
 Theres never a ftroke comes oer thy harpe, 
 
 But it glads my harte withinne. 
 
 Faire might he fall, ladye, quoth hee, 
 
 - Who taught you nowe to fpeake ! 
 I have loved you, ladye, feven longe yeare 1 5 
 My minde I never durft breake. 
 
 But come to my bower, my Glafgerion, 
 
 When all men are att reft : 
 As I am a ladye true of my promife, 
 
 Thou fhalt bee a welcome gueft. zo 
 
 Home then came Gla/gerion, 
 
 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 : 
 
 Vcr. 6. wood. MS. Ver. 16. harte. MS.
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 45 
 
 And att her chambere muit I bee 
 Beffore the cocke have crowen. . 
 
 O matter, mailer, then quoth hee, 
 
 Lay your head heere on this ftone : 30 
 
 For I will waken you, mafter deare, 
 
 Afore it be time to gone. 
 
 But up then rofe that lither ladd, 
 
 And hofe and fhoone did on : 
 A coller he caft upon his necke, 35 
 
 He feemed a gentleman. 
 
 And when he came to the ladyes chambere, 
 
 He thrilled upon a pinn. 
 The lady was true of her promife, 
 
 And rofe and lett him in. 40 
 
 He did not take the lady gave 
 
 To boulfter nor to bed : 
 ' Nor thoughe hee had his wicked wille, 
 
 ' A fingle word he fed. 
 
 He did not kifle that ladyes mouthe, 45 
 
 Nor when he came, nor yode : 
 And fore that ladye did miltruft 
 
 He was of fome churls blode. 
 
 But
 
 4 6 AKCIENT SONGS 
 
 But home then came that lither ladd, 
 
 And did off his hofe and fhoone ; 50 
 
 And caft the collar from ofF his necke : 
 He was but a churles forme. 
 
 Awake, awake, my deere matter, 
 
 The cock hath well-nigh crowen. 
 Awake, awake, my matter deere, 55 
 
 I hold it time to be gone. 
 
 For I have faddled your horfe, matter, 
 
 Well bridled I have your ileede : 
 And I have ferved you a good breakfaft : 
 
 For thereof ye have need. 60 
 
 Up then rofe, good Glafgerion, 
 
 And did on hofe and fhoone ; 
 And caft a coller about his necke : 
 
 For he was a kinge his fonne. 
 
 And when he came to the ladyes chambere, 65 
 
 He thrilled upon the pinne : 
 The ladye was more than true of promife, 
 
 And rofe and let him inn. 
 
 O whether have you left with me 
 
 Your bracelet or your glove ? 7 
 
 Or
 
 AND BALLADS. 47 
 
 Or are you returned backe agauie 
 To know more of my love ? 
 
 Glafgerion fwore a full great othe, 
 
 By oake, and aftie, and thorne ; 
 Ladye, I was never in your chambere, 75 
 
 Sith the time that I was borne. 
 
 O then it was your lither foot-page, 
 
 He hath beguiled mee. 
 Then fhee pulled forth a little pen-kmffe, 
 
 That hanged by her knee. , .' 80 
 
 Sayes, there fhall never noe churles blood 
 
 Within my bodye fpring : 
 No churles blood mail 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 : 90 
 
 But if I have not killed a man to night 
 
 Jacke, thou haft killed three. 
 
 And 
 Ver. 77. little, MS, . -
 
 48 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 And he pulled out his bright browne fworde, 
 
 And dryed it on his fleeve, 
 And he fmote off that lither ladds head, 95 
 
 Who did his ladye grieve. 
 
 He fett the fwords poynt till his breft, 
 
 The pummil untill a ftone : 
 Throw the falfenefle of that lither ladd, 
 
 Thefe three lives all were gone. ico 
 
 Vtr, ico. werne all. MS. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 OLD SIR ROBIN OF PORTINGALE. 
 
 From an ancient copy in the Editors MS i oHeSlion. 
 
 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 cf his life. 
 
 For the mayors daughter of Lin, god wott, 
 
 He chofe her to his wife, 
 And thought with her to have lived in love, 
 
 But they fell to hate and ilrife.
 
 A N D B A L L A D g. 43 
 
 They fcarce were in their wed-bed laid, 
 
 And fcarce was h*e afleepe, 10 
 
 But upp fhe rofe, and forth fhee gee's, 
 To the fteward, and gan to weepe. 
 
 Sleepe you, wake you, faire fir Gyles ? 
 
 Or be you not withinn ? 
 Sleepe you, wake you, faire fir Gyles, t 
 
 Arife and let me inn* 
 
 O, I am waking, fweete* he faid,- 
 
 Sweete ladye, what is your wille ? 
 J have bethought me of a wyle 
 
 How my wed-lord weell fpille. 20 
 
 Twenty-four good knights, fhee fayes, 
 
 That dwell about this towne, 
 Even twenty-four of my near cozens* 
 
 Shall helpe to ding him downe. 
 
 All this beheard his litle footepage, *| 
 
 As he watered his mailers fteed j 
 And for his matters fad penile 
 
 His verry heart did bleed. 
 
 He mourned, fighed, and wept full fore : 
 
 I fweare by the holy roode 30 
 
 The teares he for his matter wept 
 
 Were blent water and bloode. 
 VOL. UI E All 
 
 Ver. 19, unbethought. MS, Ver, 3-2. blend. MS.
 
 50 ANCIENT SO N 'G S 
 
 All that beheard his deare mafter 
 
 As he flood at his garden pale : 
 Sayes, Ever alacke, my litle foot-page, 35 
 
 What caufes thee to wail ? 
 
 Hath any one done to thee wronge 
 
 Any of thy fellowes here ? 
 Or is any * one' of thy good friends dead, 
 
 That thou fhedft manye a teare ? 40 
 
 Or if it be my head bookes-man, 
 
 Aggrieved he Ihal bee : 
 For no man here within my howfe, 
 
 Shall doe wrong unto thee. 
 
 O, it is not your head bookes-man, 45 
 
 Nor none of his degree : 
 But ' on ' to-morrow ere it be noone 
 
 All doomed to die are yee. 
 
 And of that bethank your head fteward, 
 
 And thank your gay ladee. 50 
 
 If this be true, my litle foot-page, 
 The heyre of my land thouft bee. 
 
 If it be not true, my dear mafter, 
 
 No good death let me die. 
 
 If it bee not true, thoa litle foot-page, 55 
 
 A dead corfe -'ftialt thou lie. 
 
 Ocall 
 Ve\ 47. or. MS.- .*V. 4 s. deemed. MS. V. 56. -bee. MS,
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 51 
 
 O call now 'downe my faire ladye, 
 
 O call her dbwne to mee : 
 And tell my ladye gay how ficke, 
 
 And like to die I bee. 60 
 
 Downe then came his ladye faire, 
 
 All clad in purple and pall : 
 The rings that were on her fingers, 
 
 Caft light throughout the hall. 
 
 What is your will, my own e wed-lord ? 65 
 
 What is your will with mee ? 
 O fee, my ladye deere, how ficke, 
 
 And like to die I bee. 
 
 And thou be ficke, my own wed-lbrd, 
 Soe fore it grieveth mee : 70 
 
 But my five maydens and myfelfe 
 Will make 'the bedde for thee : 
 
 And at the waking of your firft fleepe, 
 
 We will a hot drinke make : 
 And at the waking of your firft fleepe, 75 
 
 Your forrowes we will flake. 
 
 He put a filk cote on his backe, 
 
 And mail of manye a fold : 
 And hee putt a fleele cap on his head, 
 
 Was gilt with good red gold. 80 
 
 E 2 He
 
 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 He layd a bright browne fword by his fide, 
 
 And another att his feete : 
 And twentye good knights he placed at hand, 
 
 To watch him in his fleepe. 
 
 And about the middle time of the night, 85 
 
 Came twentye-four traitours inn : 
 Sir Giles he was the foremoft man, 
 
 The leader of that ginn. 
 
 The old knight with his bright browne fword, 
 Sir Gyles head foon did winn : 90 
 
 And fcant of all thofe twenty-foure, 
 Went out one quick agenn. 
 
 None fave only a litle foot page, 
 
 Crept forth at a window of Hone : 
 And he had two armes when he came in, 0,5 
 
 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 me found her owne wedd knight. 100 
 
 The firft thinge that me (tumbled on 
 
 It was fir Gyles his foote : 
 Sayes, Ever alacke, and woe is mce ! 
 
 Here lyes my fweete hart-roote. 
 
 The
 
 AND BALLADS. 53 
 
 The next thinge that ftie fturabled on 105 
 
 It was fir Gyles his heade : 
 Sayes, Ever, alacke, and woe is me ! 
 
 Heere lyes my true love deade. 
 
 Hee cutt the pappes befide her breft, 
 
 And did her body fpille ; no 
 
 He cutt the eares befide her heade, 
 
 And bade her love her fille. 
 
 He called then up his litle foot-page, 
 
 And made him there his heyre ; 
 And fayd henceforth my worldlye goodes 115 
 
 And countrye I forfweare. 
 
 He mope the crofle on his right moulder, 
 Of the white ' clothe' and the redde*, 
 
 And went him into the holy land, 
 
 Whereas Chrift was quicke and deade. 1 20 
 
 Ver. 118. fleflie. MS. 
 
 * Every perfon, ivho went on a CROISADE to the Holy 
 Land, ujually <vuore a crofs en his upper garment, on the 
 right Jhoulder, as a badge of his profejjion. Different na- 
 tions 'were dijlinguijhed by croffes of different colours: The 
 Englijh wore white; the French red; &c. This circum- 
 Jiance feems to be confounded in the ballad. \Vidc Spelmanm 
 Glojar. Chamber i Diet. 
 
 E 3 IX. CHILD
 
 5* ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 IX. 
 C H I.I, D WATER S. 
 
 CHILD is frequently ufed by our old writers, as a Title. 
 It is repeatedly given to Prince Arthur in the Fair ie Queen: 
 and- the Jon of a king is in the fame poem called Child 
 Triftram. [B. g* ' c. \\.fi. 8. 13. B. 6. c. 2. //. 
 36. Ibid. c. 8. ft. 15.] In an eld ballad quoted in 
 Sbakefpeare's K. Lear, the hero of Aiiojlo is called Child 
 Roland. Mr. Theobald fuppofes ibis ufe of the word re- 
 ceived along with their romances from the Spaniards, <with 
 whom Infante fignifu* a Prince. A more eminent critic 
 tclls^us, that " /'/, the old times of chivalry, th$ noble youth, 
 " who were candidates for knighthood, during the time of 
 " their probatien were called Infans, Varlets, Damoyfels, 
 " Bacheliers. The moft noble of the youth were particu- 
 " larly called Infans." \Tid. Warb. Sbakefp.] A late 
 commentator on Spexfer objer-ves, that the Saxon, 'word 
 cnihz knight, figmfies alfo a Child. [See Upton's glofs to 
 ike F. gj 
 
 T.he Editor's MS., colledion, whence the following piece 
 is taken, affords federal other ballads, wherein the word 
 Child occurs as a title: but in none of thefe it Jignifies 
 " Prince." See the fong intitled Gil Morrice, in fhis 
 volume. 
 
 It ought to be obfer-oedihat the Word CHILD or CHI, ELD 
 is* ft ill ufcd in 'North Britain to denominate a Man, com- 
 monly with fane contemptuous character .affixed to. him.: but 
 ftntstimes to denote Man in general. 
 
 CHilde Waters in his ftable ftoode 
 And flroakt his milke-white fteede : 
 To him a fayre yonge ladye came 
 As ever v/are womans \veede. 
 
 3 . Sayes,
 
 ANDBALLADS. 55 
 
 Sayes, Ckrift you fave, good: Childe Waters j 5 
 
 Sayes, Chrift you fave, and fee : 
 My girdle of. gold that was too longe, 
 
 Is now too fhort for mee. 
 
 And all is with one childe of yours, 
 
 I feele fturre at my fide : lo 
 
 My gowne of greene it is too ftraighte ; 
 
 Before, it was too wide. 
 
 If the childe be mine, faire Ellen, he fayd, 
 
 Be mine as you tell mee ; 
 Then take you Chefhire and Lancashire both, 1 5 
 
 Take them your owne to bee. 
 
 If the childe be mine, faire Ellen, he fayd, 
 
 Be mine, as you doe fweare ; 
 Then .take, you Chefhire and- Lancalhire both, 
 
 And make, that childe your heyre. 20 
 
 Shee fayes, I had rather have one kifle, 
 
 Childe Waters, of thy mouth ; 
 Than I wolde have Chemire and Lancalhire both, 
 
 That lye by north and fouthe. 
 
 And I had rather have one twinkling, 25 
 
 Childe, Waters, of thine ee : 
 Then I wolde have Cheftiire and Lancafhjre both, 
 
 To take them mine owne to bee. 
 
 E 4 To
 
 5$ ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 To morrowe, Ellen, I muft forth ryde 
 
 Farr into the north countree ; 39 
 
 The fayreft ladye that I can finde, 
 Ellen, mufl goe with mee. 
 
 f Thoughe J am not that ladye fayre, 
 
 * Yet let me go with thee ' : 
 And ever I pray you, Childe Waters, 35 
 
 Your foot-page let me bee. 
 
 If you will my foot-page bee, Ellen, 
 
 As you doe tell o mee ; 
 Then you muft cut your gowne of greene, 
 
 An inch above your knee : 43 
 
 Soe muft you doe your yellowe lockes, 
 
 An inch above your ee : 
 You muft tell no man what is my name j 
 
 My footpage then you fhall bee. 
 
 Shee, all the long daye Childe Waters rode, 45 
 
 Ran barefoote by his fyde j 
 Yet was he never foe courteous a knighte, 
 
 To fay, Ellen, will you ryde ? 
 
 Shee, all the long daye Childe Waters rode, 
 Ran barefoote thorow the broome ; 50 
 
 Yet was hee never foe courteous a knighte, 
 To fay, put on your Ihoone. 
 
 Hide
 
 AND BALLADS. 57 
 
 Ride foftlye, fliee fayd, O Childe Waters, 
 
 Why doe you ryde fo fall ? 
 The ehilde, which is no mans but thine, 55 
 
 My bodye itt will braft. 
 
 Hee fayth, feeft thou yond water, Ellen, 
 That flows from banke to brimme. 
 
 J truft in God, O Childe Waters, 
 
 You never will fee me fwimme. 60 
 
 But when fhee came to the water fyde, 
 
 Shee fayled to the chinne : 
 Nowe the Lord of heaven be my fpeede, 
 
 For I muft learne to fwimme. 
 
 The fait waters bare up her clothes ; 65 
 
 Our Ladye bare up her chinne : 
 Childe Waters was a woe man, good Lord, 
 
 To fee faire Ellen fwimme. 
 
 And when fhee over the water was 
 
 Shee then came to his knee. 70 
 
 Hee fayd, Come hither, thou fayre Ellen, 
 
 Loe yonder what I fee. 
 
 Seeft thou not yonder hall, Ellen ? 
 
 Of red gold mines the yate : 
 Qf twenty foure faire ladyes there 75 
 
 The faircft is my mate. 
 
 Seeft
 
 5 8 ANCIENT SONG'S 
 
 Seeft thpu not yonder hall, Ellen ? 
 
 Of red golde fhines the towre : 
 There are twenty four fayre ladyes there, 
 
 The fayreft is my paxamoure. So 
 
 I fee the hall now, Chiide Waters, 
 
 Of red golde fhines the yate : 
 God give you good now of yourfelfe, 
 
 And of youj worthye mate. 
 
 I fee the .hall now, Chiide Waters, 85 
 
 Of red golde fhines the towre : 
 God give you good now of yourfelfe, 
 
 And of ycur paramoure. 
 
 There twenty four fayr ladyes were 
 
 A playing at the hall : 90 
 
 And. Ellen the fayreft ladye there, 
 Muft bring his. Heed to the flail. 
 
 There twenty four fayre ladyes were, 
 
 A playinge at the cheffe ; 
 And Ellen- the fayreil ladye there, 95 
 
 Muft bring his horfe to grafle. 
 
 And then befpake Chiide Waters fifler, 
 
 Thefe were the wordes fayd Ihee : 
 You have the prettyeft page, brother, 
 
 That ever I did fee. 100 
 
 But 
 Ver. 84. worldlyc. MS.
 
 AND BALLADS. 53 
 
 But that his bellye it is foe bigge, 
 
 His girdle ftands foe hye : 
 And ever I. pray you, Chjlde Waters, 
 
 Let him in my chamber lye. 
 
 It is not fit. for a little foot page, 105 
 
 That has run throughe moffe and myre, 
 
 To lye in the chamber of any ladye, 
 That vveares foe ridie attyre. 
 
 It is more meete for a little foot page, 
 
 That has run throughe molfe and myre, no 
 
 To take his fupper upon his knee, 
 And lye by the kitchen fyre. 
 
 Now when they had fnpped every one, 
 
 To bedd they tooke theyr waye : 
 He fayd, come hither, my little foot-page, 1 1 
 
 And hearken what I faye. 
 
 Goe thee downe into yonder towne, 
 
 And lowe into the ftreete ; 
 The fayreft ladye that thou canft finde, 
 
 Hyre in mine armes to flecpe, 1 20 
 
 And take her up in thine armes twaine, 
 
 For filing* of her feete. 
 
 Ellen is gone into the towne, 
 And lowe into the ftreete : 
 
 The 
 * /. e. defiling. See Walton's Obferv. Vol. 2. p. 15?.
 
 6o ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 The fayreft ladye that Ihee colde finde, 1 25 
 
 She hyred in his armes to fleepe ; 
 And tooke her up in her armes twayne, 
 
 For filing of her feete. 
 
 I praye you nowe, good Childe Waters, 
 
 Let mee lye at your feete : ! 30 
 
 For there is noe place about this houfe, 
 Where I may faye a fleepe. 
 
 * He gave her leave, and faire Ellen 
 
 * Down at his beds feet laye : 
 This done the nighte drove on apace, 135 
 
 And when it was neare the daye, 
 
 Hee fayd, Rife up, my little foot-page, 
 
 Give my fteede corne and haye ; 
 And give him nowe the good black oats, 
 
 To carry mee better awaye. 140 
 
 Up then rofe the fayre Ellen 
 
 And gave his fteede corne and haye : 
 
 And foe fhee did the good black oates, 
 To carry him the tetter awaye. 
 
 She leaned her back to the manger fide, 145 
 
 And grievouflye did groane : 
 Shee leaned her back to the manger fide, 
 
 And there mee made her moane. 
 
 And 
 
 Ver. 132. f. e, effay, attempt.
 
 AND BALLADS. 61 
 
 And that beheard his mother deare, 
 
 Shee heard ' her woefull woe. ' 150 
 
 Shee fayd, Rife up, thou Childe Waters, 
 
 And into thy ftable goe. 
 
 For in thy ftable is a ghoft, 
 
 That grievouflye doth grone : 
 Or elfe fome woman laboures with childe, 155 
 
 Shee is fo woe-begone. 
 
 Up then rofe Childe Waters foone, 
 
 And did on his ihirte of filke ; 
 And then he put on his other clothes, 
 
 On his bodye as white as milke. 160 
 
 And when he came to the ftable dore, 
 
 Full ftill there hee did ftand, 
 That hee mighte heare his fayre Ellen, 
 
 Howe {hee made her monand. 
 
 Shee fayd, Lullabye, mine 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 one daye, 
 
 X. PHIL- 
 Vtr. 164. /. e. waning, bemoaning, &c.
 
 62 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 X, 
 PHILLIDA AND CORYDON. 
 
 This Sonnet is given from a fmall quarto MS in the 
 editor's pojjejjion, written in the time of ^ Elizabeth. Ano- 
 ther Copy of it, containing fame variations, is reprinted in 
 the MUSES LIBRARY p. 295. from an ancient mif cell any, 
 z//V/^EN GLAND'S HELICON 1600.4^0. The author was 
 NICHOLAS BRETON, a writer offomefame in the reign cf 
 Elizabeth ; who alfo publifbed an interlude intitled ' ' An 
 eld man's lejjon and a young man's love." 1605. ^to. and 
 many other little pieces in profe and verfe, the titles of which 
 may be feen in Winjlanley, Ames* Typog. and OJborne's HarL 
 catalog. ffr. He is mentioned with great refpett by MERES, 
 77? his id pt of Wit's Common-wealth. 1598. f. 283. and 
 is alluded to in Beaumont and Fletcher's SCORNFUL LADY, 
 Acl 2. and again in WIT WITHOUT MONEY, A. 3. 
 See Whalley's Ben Jonfon, vol. 3. p. 103. 
 
 IN the merrie moneth of Maye, 
 In a morne by break of daye, 
 With a troope of damfelles playing 
 Fo'rthe ' I yode' forfooth a maying : 
 
 When anon by a wood fide, 5 
 
 Where that Maye was in his pride, 
 I efpied all alone 
 Phillida and Corydon. 
 
 Muche adoe there was, god wot ; 
 He wold love, and fhe wold not : 10 
 
 She 
 Per. 4. tKc wode. MS.
 
 AND BALLADS. 63 
 
 She fayde, never man was trewe ; 
 He fayes, never falfe to you. 
 
 He fayde, hee had lovde her longe : 
 She fayes, love fhould have no wronge. 
 Corydon wold kifTe her then : 1 5 
 
 She fayes, maydes muft kiffe no men, 
 
 Tyll they doe for good and all : 
 
 When {he made the fhepperde call 
 
 All the heavens to wytnes truthe, 
 
 Never loved a truer youthe. 20 
 
 Then with manie a prettie othe, 
 Yea and nay, and, faith and trothe ; 
 Suche as feelie fhepperdes ufe 
 When they would not love abufe ; 
 
 Love, that had bene Jong deluded, 25 
 
 Was with kifles fweete concluded ; 
 And the mayde with garlands gaye 
 * Crownde ' the lady of the Maye. 
 
 Ver. 28. Was ths. MS. 
 
 XI. 
 
 LITTLE-MUSGRAVE AND LADY BARNARD. 
 
 This ballad is ancient, and has been popular : ivefnd it 
 uoted in many old plays. Set eaum. and Fletcher's Knight
 
 6* ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 of tie Earning Peftle. 4'. 1613. All 5. The Varietie, A 
 comedy, I 2 m . 1649. Aft 4. &c. In Sir William Da-ve- 
 tiant's play, The Witts, A. 3, a gallant thus boa/Is of 
 himfelf, 
 
 " Limber and found ! bejldes 1 feng M.ufgra<ve, 
 " And for Che<vy-chace no lark comes near me. 
 
 In the Pepys Collection is an imitation of this ol 
 in a different meafure, by a more modern pen, with many 
 alterations, but evidently for the ivorfe. 
 
 This is given from an old printed copy in the Sritijh 
 Mufeum, correEied in part by the Editor* s folio manufcript \ 
 
 AS it fell out on a highe holye daye, 
 As many bee in the yeare, 
 When yong men and maides together do goe 
 Their mafies and mattins to heare, 
 
 Little Mufgrave came to the church door, 5 
 
 The priefl was at the mafs ; 
 But he had more mind of the fine women, 
 
 Then he had of our Ladyes grace. 
 
 And feme of them were clad in greene, 
 
 And others were clad in pall ; I<3 
 
 And then came in my lord Barnardes wife, 
 The faireft among them all. 
 
 Shee caft an eye on little Mufgrave, 
 
 As bright as the fummer funne : 
 O then bethought him little Mufgrave, l 
 
 This ladyes heart I have wonnc. 
 
 Quoth
 
 AND BALLADS. 65 
 
 Quoth flie, I have loved thee, little Mufgrave, 
 
 Fulle long and manye a daye. 
 So have I loved you, ladye faire, 
 
 Yet ward I ,never durft faye. 2* 
 
 I have a bower at Bucklesford-Bury, 
 
 Full daintilye bedight, 
 If thoult wend thither, my little Mufgrave, 
 
 Thouft lig in mine armes all night. 
 
 Quoth hee, I thanke yee, ladye faire, 25 
 
 This kindnefs yee Ihew 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 Barnardes manne. 
 
 My lord Barnard mall knowe of this 
 
 Although I lofe a limbe. 
 And ever whereas the bridges were broke, 35 
 
 He layd hin downe to fwimme. 
 
 Afleep or awake, thou lord Barnard, 
 
 As thou art a man of life, 
 Lo ! this fame night at Bucklesford-Bury 
 
 Little Mufgraves abed with thy wife. 40 
 
 VOL. III. F - If
 
 66 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 If it be trewe, them tiney foot-page, 
 
 This tale thou haft told to mee, 
 Then all my lands in Bucklesford-Bury 
 
 I freelye will give to thee. 
 
 But and it be a lye, thou tiney foot-page, 45 
 
 This tale thou 'haft told to mee, 
 On the higheft tree in Bucklesford-Bury 
 
 AH hanged lhalt thou bee. 
 
 Rife up, rile up, my merry men all, 
 
 And faddle to me my fteede ; 50 
 
 This night muft I to Bucklesford-Bury; 
 God wott, I had never more neede. 
 
 Then fome they whittled, and fome they fang, 
 
 And fome did loudlye faye, 
 Whenever lord Barnardes home it blewe 55 
 
 Awaye, Mufgrave, away. 
 
 Methinkes I hear the throttle cocke, 
 
 Methinkes I heare the jaye, 
 Methinkes I heare lord Barnardes home; 
 
 I would I were awaye. 60 
 
 Lye ftill, lye ftill, thou little Mufgrave, 
 
 And huggle me from the cold j 
 For it is but fome Ihephardes boye 
 
 A whittling his fheepe to the fold.
 
 ANDBALLADS. 67 
 
 Is not thy hawke upon the pearche, 65 
 
 Thy horfe eating corne and haye ? 
 
 And thou a gaye ladye within thine armes : 
 And wouldft thou be awaye ? 
 
 With that lord Barnard came to the dore, 
 
 And lighted upon a ftone ; 70 
 
 And he pulled out three filver keyes, 
 And opened the .dores eche one. 
 
 He lifted up the coverlett, 
 
 He lifted up the fheete ; 
 How now, how now, thou little Mufgrave, 75 
 
 Doft find my gaye ladye fw^ete ? 
 
 I find her fweete, quoth little Mufgrave, 
 The more is my griefe and paine ; 
 
 Ide gladlye give three hundred poundes 
 
 That I were on yonder plaine. 89 
 
 Arife, arife, thou little Mufgrave^ 
 
 And put thy doathes nowe on, 
 It mail never be faid in my countree, 
 
 That I killed a naked man. 
 
 , *% 
 
 ll have two fwordes in one fcabbarde, 85 
 
 Full deare they coft my purfe; 
 And thou {halt have'the beft of them, 
 And I- "will have the worfe. 
 
 F 2 ' The 

 
 68 ANCIENTSONGS 
 
 The firft ftroke that little Mufgrave ftrucke, 
 
 He hurt lord Barnard fore ; 90 
 
 ' The next ftroke that lord Barnard ftrucke, 
 Little Mufgrave never ftrucke more. 
 
 With that befpake the ladye faire, 
 
 In bed whereas {he laye, 
 Althoughe thou art dead, my little Mufgrave, 95 ' 
 
 Yet for thee I will praye : 
 
 And wifhe well to thy foule will I, 
 
 So long as I have life ; 
 So will I not do for thee, Barnard, 
 
 Thoughe I am thy wedded wife. 100 
 
 He cut her pappes from off her breft ; 
 
 Great pitye it was to fee 
 Some drops of this fair ladyes bloode 
 
 Run trickling downe her knee. 
 
 Wo worth, wo worth ye, my merry e rr.en all, 105 
 You never were borne for my goode : 
 
 Why did you not offer to flay my hande, 
 When you fee me wax fo woode ? 
 
 Fof I have flaine the faireft fir knighte, 
 
 That ever rode on a fteede ; HO 
 
 So have I done the faireft ladye, 
 That ever ware wmans weedc. 
 
 A grave,
 
 ANDBALLADS. 69 
 
 A grave* a grave, lord Barnard cryde, 
 
 To putt thefe lovers in ; 
 But lay my ladye o' the upper hande, 115 
 
 For fhee comes o' the better kin. 
 
 XII. 
 
 THEE W-B U G H T S MARION. 
 A SCOTTISH SONG. 
 
 *This fonnet is faid to be of great antiquity : that and it's 
 Jimplicity offentiment have recommended it to a place here. 
 
 WILL ze gae to the ew-bughts, Marion, 
 And wear in the fheip wi' mee ? 
 The fun (nines fweit, my Marion, 
 
 But nae half fae fweit as thee. 
 O Marion's a bonnie lafs ; 5 
 
 And the blyth blinks in her ee : 
 And fain wad I marrie Marion, 
 Gin Marion wad marrie mee. 
 
 -F 3 Theircs
 
 7 o A N.C IENT SONGS 
 
 Theires gowd in zour garters, Marion j 
 
 And filk on zour white haufs-bane : 19 
 
 Fou faine wad I kifle my Marion 
 
 At eene quhan I cum hame. 
 Theires braw lads in Earnflaw, Marion, 
 
 Quha gape and glowr wi' their ee 
 At kirk, quhan they fee my Marion ; 1 5 
 
 Bot nane of tham lues like raee. 
 
 Ive nine milk-ews, my Marion, 
 
 A cow and a brawney quay : 
 Ife gie tham au to my Marion, 
 
 Juft on her bridal day. 20 
 
 And zees get a grein fey apron, 
 
 And waiftcote o' London broun ; - 
 And wow bot ze will be vaporing 
 
 Quhaneer ze gang to the toun, 
 
 Ime yong and flout, my Marion, 35 
 
 Nane dance lik mee on the greine ; 
 And gin ze forfak me, Marion, 
 
 Ife een gae draw up wi' Jeane. 
 Sae put on zour pearlhis, Marion, 
 
 And kirtle oth cramafie ; 30 
 
 And fune as my chin has nae haire on, 
 
 I fall cum weft, and fee zee. 
 
 XIII. THE
 
 AND BALLADS. 7, 
 
 XIII. 
 
 THE KNIGHT, AND SHEPHERD'S DAUGHTER. 
 
 c . 
 
 This ballad (given from an old black-letter Copy) <was 
 popular in the time of i. Elizabeth, being ufuqlly printed 
 nvith her pifiure before it, as HEARNE informs us in his 
 preface to " Gul. Neubrig. Hift. Oxon. 1719. S'vo. vol. 
 I . p. Ixx" It is quoted in Fletcher's comedy of the Pilgrim, 
 Aft. 4. fc. i. 
 
 THERE was a fhepherds daughter 
 Came tripping on the waye ; 
 And there by chance a knighte fhee mett, 
 Which caufed her to ftaye. 
 
 Good morrowe to you, beauteous maide, $ 
 
 Thefe words pronounced hee : 
 O I mall dye this daye, he fayd, 
 
 If Ive not my wille of thee. 
 
 The Lord forbid, the maide replyde, 
 
 That you {hold waxe fo wode ! 10 
 
 * But for all that Ihee could do or faye, 
 * He wold not be withftood. 
 
 F4 9i*
 
 72 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 Sith you have had your will of mee, 
 
 And put me to open fhame, 
 Now, if you are a courteous knighte, 15 
 
 Tell me what is your name ? 
 
 Some do call mee Jacke, fweet heart, 
 
 And fome do call mee Jille ; 
 But when I come to the kings faire courte 
 
 They call me Wilfulle Wille. 20 
 
 He fett his foot into the ftirrup, 
 
 And awaye then he did ride ; 
 She tuckt her girdle about her middle 
 
 And ranne clofe by his fide. 
 
 But when fhe came to the brode water, 25 
 
 She fett her breft and fwamme ; 
 And when fhe was got out againe, , 
 
 She tooke to her heels and ranne. 
 
 He never was the courteous knighte, 
 
 To faye, faire maide, will ye ride r 30 
 
 Nor fhe was never fo loving a maide 
 To faye, fir knighte abide. 
 
 When fhe came to the kings faire courte, 
 
 She knocked at the ring ; 
 So readye was the king himfelf 35 
 
 To let this faire maide in. 
 
 Now
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 7 j 
 
 Now Chrift you fave, my gracious liege, 
 
 Now Chrift you fave and fee, 
 You have a knighte within your courte 
 
 This daye hath robbed mee. 40 
 
 What hath he robbed thee of, fweet heart ? 
 
 Of purple or of pall ? 
 Or hath he took thy gaye gold ring 
 
 From off thy finger fmall ? 
 
 He hath not robbed 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 batchelor, 
 
 His bodye He give to thee ; 50 
 
 But if he be a married man, 
 
 High hanged hee mall bee. 
 
 He called downe his merrye men all, 
 
 By one, by two, by three ; 
 Sir William ufed to bee the firft, , 55 
 
 But nowe the laft came hee. 
 
 Ver. 50. His bodye He give to thee.] This <was agreeable to the 
 ftudal cuftoms : The Lord had a right to gi-ve a wife to bis -vaffafs. See 
 
 Sbakefptare's, " Ail's ivc!/, that ends iuell." 
 
 He
 
 74 ANCIENT SONG 5 
 
 He brought her downe full fortye pound*,, 
 
 Tyed up withinne a glove : 
 Faire maid, He give the fame to thee ; 
 
 Go, feeke thee another love. 60 
 
 O He have none of your gold, me fayde, 
 
 Nor He have none of your fee ; 
 But your faire bodye I muft have 
 
 The king hath granted mee. 
 
 ; f Sir William ranne and fetchd her then T 65 
 
 Five hundred pound in golde, 
 Saying, faire maide, take this to thee, 
 Thy fault will never be tolde. 
 
 Tis not the gold that mall mee tempt, 
 o Thefe words then anfwered mee, 70 
 
 But your own bodye I muft have, 
 The king hath granted mee. 
 
 Would I, had dranke the water clearc, 
 
 When I did drinke the wine, 
 Rather than any fhepherds brat 75 
 
 Shold bee a ladye of mine ! 
 
 Would I had drank the puddle foule, 
 
 When I did drink the ale, 
 Rather than ever a fhepherds brat 
 
 Shold tell me fuch a tale ! 80 
 
 A fliep-
 
 AND BALLADS, 7$ 
 
 A fliepherds brat even as I was, 
 
 You 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 milk-white fteede, 85 
 
 And himfelf upon a grave ; 
 He hung a bugle about his necke, 
 .:- Attd foe they, rode aw aye. 
 
 But when they came unto the place, 
 
 Where marriage-rites were done, 90 
 
 She proved herfelf a dukes daughter, 
 
 And he but a fquires fonne. 
 
 Now marrye me, or not, fir knight, 
 
 Your pleafure (hall be free : 
 If you make me ladye of one good towne, 95 
 
 He make you lord of three, 
 
 Ah ! curfed bee the gold, he fayd, 
 
 If thou hadft not been trewe, 
 I mold have forfaken my fweet love, 
 
 And have changd her for a newe. 100) 
 
 And now their hearts being Jinked faft, 
 
 They joyned hand in hande: 
 Thus he had both purfe, and perfon too, 
 
 And all at his commande. 
 
 * 
 
 XIV. THE
 
 76 ANC.IENT SONGS 
 
 XIV. 
 
 THE SHEPHERD'S ADDRESS TO HIS MUSE. 
 From thefmallMS 'volume, mentioned above in page 62. 
 
 GOOD Mufe, rocke me aflepe 
 With fome fweete harmony : 
 This wearie eyes is not to kepe 
 Thy wary company. 
 
 Svveete Love, begon a while, 3 
 
 Thou feeft my heavines : 
 Beautie is borne but to beguyle 
 
 My harte of happines. 
 
 See howe my little flocke, 
 
 That lovde to feede on highe, i 
 
 Doe headlonge tumble downe the rocke, 
 
 And in the valley dye. 
 
 The bulhes and the trees, 
 
 That were fo freihe and greene, 
 Doe all their deintie colors leefe, . 15 
 
 And not a leafe is feene. 
 
 The
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 77 
 
 The blacke birde and the thrulhe, 
 
 That made the woodes to ringe, 
 With all the reft, are now at hufhe, 
 
 And not a note do finge. 20 
 
 Swete Philomene, the birde 
 
 That hath the heavenly throte, 
 Doth nowe, alas ! not once affbrde 
 
 Recordinge of a note. 
 
 The flowers have had a froft, 25 
 
 The herbs have lofte their favoure ; 
 * For haples Corydon' hath loft 
 
 His lovelye Phyllis' favoure. 
 
 And therefore, my fweete Mufe, 
 
 That knoweft what helpe is beft, 30 
 
 Doe nowe thy heavenlie conninge ufe 
 
 To fett my harte at reft ; 
 
 And in a dreame bewraie 
 
 What fate mal be my frende ; 
 Whether my life fhall ftill decaye, 35 
 
 Or foone my forrowes ende. 
 
 XV. L O R D
 
 78 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 XV* 
 LORD THOMAS AND FAIR ELLINOR. 
 
 From an ancient copy in black letter, in the Pepys col' 
 leEiion, intitled, " A tragical ballad on the unfortunate 
 " love of lord 'Thomas and fair Ellinor t together 'with the 
 " downfall of the browne girl." In the fame collection 
 may be feen an attempt to modernise this old fong, and re- 
 duce it to a different meafure. A proof of it's popularity. 
 
 LORD Thomas he was a bold forrefter, 
 And a chafer of the kings deere ; 
 Faire Ellinor was a fine woman, 
 And lord Thomas he loved her deare. 
 
 Come riddle my riddle, dear mother, he fayd, 5 
 
 And riddle us both as one ; 
 Whether I (hall marrye with faire Ellinor, 
 
 And let the browne girl alone ? 
 
 The browne girl (he has got houfes and lands, 
 Faire Ellinor me has got none, 10 
 
 And therefore I charge thee on my blefsing, 
 To bring me the browne girl home. 
 
 Ami
 
 AND BALL ADS. 79 
 
 And as it befelle on a high holidaye, 
 
 As many there are befide, 
 Lord Thomas he went to faire Ellinor, 15 
 
 That mould have been his bride. 
 
 And when he came to faire Ellinors bower, 
 
 He knocked there at the ring, 
 And who was fo readye as faire Ellinor, 
 
 To lett lord Thomas withinn. z 
 
 What newes, what newes, lord Thomas, (he fayd? 
 
 What newes doft thou bring to mee ? 
 I am come to bid thee to my wedding, 
 
 And that is bad newes for thee. 
 
 God forbid, lord Thomas, me fayd, 25 
 That fuch a thing mould be done ; 
 
 1 thought to have been thy bride my felfe, 
 
 And thou to have been the bridegrome. 
 
 Come riddle my riddle, dear mother, me fayd, 
 And riddle it all in one ; 30 
 
 Whether I mall goe to lord Thomas his wedding, 
 Or whether mall tarry at home ? 
 
 There are manye that are your friendes, daughter, 
 And manye that are your foe, 
 Therefore I charge^ you on my blefling, 35 
 
 To lord Thomas his wedding don't goe. 
 
 3 There
 
 So AN CIENT SONG S 
 
 There are manye that are my friendes, mother; 
 
 But if thoufands there were my foe, 
 Betide me life, betide me death, 
 
 To lord Thomas his wedding lid goe. 40 
 
 She cloathed herfelf in gallant attire, 
 And her merrye men all in greene, 
 
 And as they rid through everye towne, 
 They took her to be fome queene. 
 
 But when me came to lord Thomas his gate, 45 
 
 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? 
 
 Methii.ks {he looks wonderous browne ; 50 
 Thou mighteil have had as faire a woman, 
 
 As ever trod on the groande. 
 
 Dcfpife her not, fair Ellin, he fayd, , 
 
 Defpife her not unto mee ; 
 For better I love thy little finger, 55 
 
 Than all her whole bodee. 
 
 This browne bride had a little penknife, 
 That was both long and iharpe, 
 
 And betwixt the fhort ribs and the long, 
 
 She prickd faire Ellinor's harte. 60 
 
 O Chrift
 
 AND BALLADS. 8r 
 
 O Chrift thee fave, lord Thomas hee fayd, 
 Methinks thou lookft wonderous wan ; 
 
 Thou ufedtt to look with as frelh a colour, 
 As ever the fun fhone on. 
 
 Oh, art thou blind, lord Thomas ? me fayd, 65 
 
 Or canft thoa not very well fee ? 
 Oh ! doft thou not fee my owne hearts bloode 
 
 Run trickling down my knee. 
 
 Lord Thomas he had a fword by his fide ; 
 
 As he walked about the halle, 70 
 
 He cut off his brides head from her ihoulders. 
 
 And threw it againft the walle. 
 
 He fet the hilte againft the grounde, 
 
 And the point againft his harte. 
 There never three lovers together did meete, 75 
 
 That fooner againe did parte. 
 
 %* The reader will fad a Scottijh fong on a JlmHar 
 fubjefl to this, towards the end of this 'volume, intitled 
 ' LORD THOMAS AND LADY ANNET." 
 
 VOL. i. o xvr. CUPID
 
 82 A N C IENT SONGS 
 
 XVI. 
 CUPID AND CAMPASPE. 
 
 i This elegant little fonntt is found in the third aft of an old 
 play intitled, li Alexander and Campafpe^" written by John 
 Lilye, a celebrated writer in the time of queen Elizabeth. 
 This play tvas fir ft print e d in 1591 : but the fong is given 
 from a later edition. 
 
 CUPID and my Campafpe playd 
 At cardes for kifles ; Cupid payd: 
 He flakes his quiver, bow and arrows, 
 His mothers doves, and teame of fparrows; 
 Lofes them too ; then down he throws 
 The coral of his lippe, the rofe 
 Growing on's cheek, (but none knows how) 
 With thefe, the cryftal of 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 me done this to thee ? 
 
 What fhall, alas! become of mee? 
 
 XVII. THE
 
 AND BALLADS. * 
 
 :. TITS:> vsHT 
 
 't?id LnA. 
 
 . [.-'A 
 
 XVTI. [ *** *Mt I 
 
 ' 
 
 THE LADY TURNED 
 
 is given from a written copy, containing fame improve- 
 ments, (perhaps modern oyesj upon the old popular ballad, 
 intitled, " The famous flower of Serving-men : or the 
 tf L ady turned Serving-man . ' ' 
 
 YO U beauteous ladyes, great and fmall, 
 I write anto you one and all, 
 Whereby that you may underftand 
 What I have fuffered in the land. 
 
 I was by birth a kdy faire, '& 
 
 An ancient barons only heire, 
 
 And when my good old father dyed, 
 
 Then I became a young knightes bride. 
 
 And there my love built me a bower, 
 Bedeck'd with many a fragrant flower ; 1O 
 
 "A braver bower you ne'er did fee 
 Then my true-love did build for mee. 
 
 And there I livde a ladye gay, 
 
 Till fortune wrought our loves decay; 
 
 For there came foes fo fierce a band, ;..lj 
 
 That foon they over-run the land. 
 
 G z They
 
 84. ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 They came upon us in the night, 
 
 And brent my bower, and flew my knight ; 
 
 And trembling hid in mans array, 
 
 I fcant with life efcap'd away. 2* 
 
 In the midft of this extremitie, 
 My fervants all did from me flee : 
 Thus was I left myfelf alone, 
 With heart more cold than any ftone, 
 
 Yet though my heart was full of care, 25 
 
 Heaven would not fuffer me to difpaire, 
 Wherefore in hafte I chang'd my name 
 From faire Elife, to fweet Williame : 
 
 And therewithall I cut my haire, 
 
 Refolv'd my man's attire to weare; 30 
 
 And in my beaver, hofe and band, 
 
 I travell'd far through many a land. 
 
 At length all wearied with my toil, 
 
 I fate me downe to reft awhile ; 
 
 My heart it was fo fill'd with woe, 35 
 
 That downe my clieeke the teares did flow. 
 
 It chanc'd the king of that fame place 
 With all his lords a hunting was, 
 And feeing me weepe, upon the fame 
 Afct who I was, and whence I came. 4 
 
 Then
 
 AND BALLADS. 85 
 
 Then to his grace I did replye, 
 I am a poore and friendlefse boye, 
 Though nobly borne, nowe forc'd to bee 
 A ferving-man of lowe degree. 
 
 Stand up, faire youth, the king reply'd, 45 
 
 For thee a fervice I'll provyde ; 
 But tell me firfl what thou canft do, 
 Thou ihalt be fitted thereunto. 
 
 Wilt thou be ufiier of my hall, 
 
 To wait upon my nobles all? 50 
 
 Or wilt be taller of my wl .ie, 
 
 To 'tend on me when I fhall dine ? 
 
 Or wilt thou be my chamberlaine, 
 
 About my perfon to remaine ? 
 
 Or wilt thou be one of my guard, 55 
 
 And I will give thee great reward ? 
 
 Chufe, gentle youth, faid he, thy place. 
 
 Then I reply'd, if it pleafe your grace, 
 
 To mew fuch favour unto mee, 
 
 Your chamberlaine I faine would bee. ^o 
 
 The king then fmiling gave confent, 
 And ftraitwaye to his court I went ; 
 Where I behavde fo faithfullie, 
 That hee great favour fhowd to mee. 
 
 G 3 New
 
 86 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 Now marke what fortune did provide ; 65 
 
 The king he would a hunting ride 
 With all his lords and noble traine, 
 Sweet William inuft at home remainc. 
 
 Thus being left alone behind, 
 
 My former flate came in my mind, 70 
 
 I wept to fee my mans array, 
 
 No longer now a ladye gay. 
 
 And meeting with a ladyes veft, 
 
 Within the fame myfelf I dreft 
 
 With filken robes, and jewels rare, 75 
 
 I deckt me as a ladye faire. 
 
 And taking up a lute ftraitwaye, 
 
 Upon the fame I ftrove to play, 
 
 And fweetly to the fame did fing, 
 
 *As made both hall and chamber ring. 80 
 
 *' My father was as brave a lord, 
 '* As ever Europe did afford ; 
 " My mother was a lady bright ; 
 " My hufband was a valiant knight : 
 
 " And I myfelf a ladye gay, 85 
 
 " Bedeckt with gorgeous rich array ; 
 
 " The happiefl lady in the land, 
 
 " Had not more pleafure at command. 
 
 " I had
 
 ANDBALLADS. 87 
 
 " I had my muficke every day 
 
 " Harmonious leflbns for to play; 90 
 
 " I had my virgins fair and free, 
 
 " Continually to wait on mee. 
 
 " But now, alas! my hufband's dead, 
 
 " And all my friends are from me fled, 
 
 " My former days are paft and gone, 95 
 
 *' And I am now a ferving-man." 
 
 And fetching many a tender figh, 
 
 As thinking no one then was nigh, 
 
 In penfive mood I laid me lowe, 
 
 My heart was full, the tears did flowe. 100 
 
 The king, who had a huntinge gone, 
 Grewe weary of his fport anone, 
 And leaving all his gallant traine, 
 Turn'd on the fudden home againe : 
 
 And when he reach'd his ftatelye tower, 105 
 
 Hearing one fing within his bower, 
 He ftopt to Men, and to fee 
 Who fung there fo melodiouflie. 
 
 Thus heard he everye word I fed, 
 
 And fawe the pearlye teares I fhed, 1 10 
 
 And found to his amazement there, 
 
 Sweete William was a ladye faire. 
 
 G 4 Then
 
 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 Then ftepping in, Faire ladye, rife, 
 
 And dry, faid he, thofe lovelye eves, 
 
 For I have heard thy mournful tale, f 15 
 
 The which fhall turne to thy availe. 
 
 A crimfon dye my face orefpred; 
 
 I bluftit for fliame, and hung my head, 
 
 To find my fex and ftory knowne, 
 
 When as I thought I was alone. I zo 
 
 Bat to be briefe, his royall grace 
 Grewe foe enamour'd of my face, 
 The richefl gifts -he proffered mee, 
 His miftrefs if that I would bee. 
 
 Ah! no, my liege, I firmlye fayd, 125 
 
 I'll rather in my grave be layd, 
 
 And though your grace hath won my heart, 
 
 1 ne'er will a& foe bafe a part. 
 
 Faire ladye, pardon me, fayde hee, 
 
 Thy virtue fhall rewarded bee, 130 
 
 And fmce it is foe fairly tryde 
 
 Thou fhalt become my royal bride. 
 
 Then ftrait to end his amorous ftrife, 
 
 He tooke fweet William to his wife ; 
 
 The like before was never feene, J35 
 
 A ferving-man became a qneene. 
 
 xvm. GIL
 
 AND BALLADS. 89 
 
 xvm. 
 
 GIL MORRICE. 
 
 A SCOTTISH BALLAD. 
 
 *The following piece has lately run thro 1 two tditions in 
 Scotland: the fecond was printed at Glafgow in 1755. Sw. 
 Prefixed to them both is an advertifement, fetting forth that 
 the prefervation of this poem was owing " to a lady, who 
 " favoured the printers with a copy, as it was carefully 
 " collected from the mouths of old women and nurfes ;" And 
 " any reader that can render it more corntJ or complete " is 
 defered to oblige the public with fuch improvements. Incon- 
 fequence of this advertifement Jixteen additional verfes have 
 teen produced and handed about in manufcript, which are 
 here inferted in their proper places : (thefe are from ver. 
 109. to ver. 121. and frontier. 124. to ver. 129. and are 
 perhaps after all only an ingenious interpolation.) 
 
 As this poem lays claim to a pretty high antiquity >> we have 
 afligned it a place among our early pieces : though, after all, 
 there is reafon to believe it has received very considerable 
 modern improvements : for in the Editor's ancient MS col- 
 leflion is a very old imperfetl copy of the fame ballad .- 
 wherein though the leading features ofthejtory are the fame ^ 
 yet the colouring here is fo much improved and heightened^ 
 find fo many additional ftrokes are thrown in, that it it 
 evident the whole has undergone a revifal. 
 
 N. B. The Editor's MS infteadof lord Barnard", has 
 *' John Stewart"; and injieadof " G/7 Morrice", CHILD 
 MAURICE, which laft is probably the original title. Set 
 above p. 54. 
 
 GI L Morrice was an erles fon, 
 His name it waxed widej
 
 90 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 It was nae for his great riches, 
 
 Nor zet his mickle pride; 
 Bot it was for a lady gay, 
 
 That livd on Carron fide. 
 
 Quhair fall I get a bonny boy, 
 
 That will win hofe and fhoen ; 
 That will gae to lord Barnards ha', 
 
 And bid his lady cum ? ie 
 
 And ze maun rin errand Willie ; 
 
 And ze may rin wi' pride ; 
 Quhen other boys gae on their foot, 
 
 On horfe-back ze fall ride. 
 
 O no ! Oh no ! my matter dear ! 15 
 
 I dare nae for my life ; 
 I'll no gae to the bauld barons, 
 
 For to trieft furth his wife. 
 My bird Willie, my boy Willie ; 
 
 My dear Willie, he fayd: 20 
 
 How can ze ftrive againft the flream ? 
 
 For I mall be obeyd. 
 
 Bot, O my mafter dear ! he cryd, 
 
 In grene wod ze're zour lain ; 
 Gi owre fie thochts, I walde ze rede, 25 
 
 For fear ze mould be tain. 
 Hafte, hafte, I fay, gae to the ha', 
 
 Bid hir cum here wi' fpeid : 
 
 If 
 
 Vtr. 1 1. fometb'tng feems ivantlng here.
 
 AND BALLADS. 91 
 
 Ff ze refufe my heigh command, 
 
 111 gar zour body bleid. 30 
 
 Gae bid hir take this gay mantel, 
 
 'Tis a' gowd bot the hem ; 
 Bid hir cum to the gude grene wodt, 
 
 And bring nane bot hir lain : 
 And there it is, a filken farke, 35 
 
 Hir ain hand fewd the fleive ; 
 And bid hir cum to Gill Morice, 
 
 Speir nae bauld barons leave. 
 
 fcr>w 3^3 afciij ylinj,,- .jttit M ,*atiQ. . 
 Yes, I will gae zour black errand, 
 
 Though it be to zour coft ; 40 
 
 Sen ze by me will nae be warn'd, 
 
 In it ze fall find froft. 
 The baron he is a man of might, 
 
 He neir could bide to taunt, 
 As ze will fee before its nicht, 45 
 
 How fma' ze hae to vaunt. 
 . 
 
 And fen I maun zour errand ria 
 
 Sae fair againft my will, 
 I'fe mak a vow and keip it trow, 
 
 It fall be done for ill. 50 
 
 And quhen he came to broken brigue, 
 
 He bent his bow and fwam ; 
 And quhen came to grafs growing, c-3 v;!--- 
 
 Set down his feet and ran. 
 
 And
 
 i ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 Andquhen he came toEarnards ha', 55 
 
 Would neither chap nor ca' : 
 Bot fet his bent bow to his breift, 
 
 And lichtly lap the wa'. 
 He wauld nae tell the man his errand, 
 
 Though he ftude at the gait ; 60 
 
 Bot ftraiht into the ha' he cam, 
 
 Quhair they were fet at meit. 
 
 Hail ! hail ! my gentle fire and dame ! 
 
 My mefTage winna waite ; 
 Dame, ze maun to the gude grene wod 65 
 
 Before that it 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 your fel alane. 70 
 
 And there it is, a filken farke, 
 
 Your ain hand fewd the fleive ; 
 Ze maun gae fpeik to Gill Morice ; 
 
 Speir nae bauld barons leave. 
 The lady ftamped wi' hir foot, 7^ 
 
 And winked wi' hir ee ; 
 Bot a' that me coud fay or do, 
 
 Forbidden he wad nae bee. 
 
 Its furely to my bow'r-woman ; 
 
 It neir could be to me. 80 
 
 I brocht
 
 AND BALLADS. 93 
 
 I brocht it to lord Barnards lady ; 
 
 I trow that ze be fhc. 
 Then up and fpack the wylie nurfe, 
 
 (The bairn upon hir knee) 
 If it be cum frae Gill Morice. 85 
 
 It's deir welcum to mee. 
 
 y#3i> SrunqtJ> aaftoi s*:I eqqil till 
 
 Ze leid, ze leid, ze filthy nurfe, 
 
 Sae loud's I heire ze lee ; 
 I brocht it to lord Barnards lady ; 
 
 I trow ze be nae Ihee. 90 
 
 Then up and fpack the bauld baron, 
 
 An angry man was hee ; 
 He's tain the table wi' his foot, 
 
 Sae has he wi' his knee ; 
 Till filler cup and ezar difh 95 
 
 In flinders he gard fiee. 
 
 Gae bring a robe of zour eliding, 
 
 That hings upon the pin ; 
 And I'll gae to the gude grene wode, 
 
 And fpeik wi' zour lemman. ICO 
 
 O bide at hame, now lord Barnard, 
 
 I warde ze bide at hame ; 
 N eir wyte a man for violence, 
 
 That neir wate ze wi' nane. 
 
 Per. 88. Perhaps, loud fay I heire. 
 
 Gil
 
 94 A N C I EN T SONGS 
 
 Gil Morice fate in gude grene wode, 105 
 
 He whittled and he fang : 
 O what mean a' the folk coming, 
 
 My mother tarries lang. 
 His hair was like the threeds of gold, jilt 
 
 Dravvne frae Minervas loome : no 
 
 His lipps like rofes drappingdew, 
 
 His breath was a' perfume. 
 . 
 His brow was like the mountain fnae 
 
 Gilt by the morning beam : 13 I 
 
 His cheeks like living rofes glow : 115 
 
 His een like azure ftream. 
 The boy was clad in robes of grene, 
 
 Sweete as the infant fpring : 
 And like the mavis on the bum, 
 
 He gart the vallies ring. 120 
 
 The baron came to the grene wode, 
 
 Wi' mickle dule and care, 
 And there he firft fpied Gill Morice 
 
 Kameing his zellow hair : 'iw 
 That fweetly wavd around his face, 1 2 5 
 
 That face beyond compare : 
 He fang fae fweet it might difpel, 
 
 A' rage but fell difpair. 
 
 Nae 
 
 Ver. 128. Soltflton, 
 
 Verr.al delight ar.d joy : able to drive 
 
 All fadncfi but defpalr. B. iv, v. 155,
 
 AND BALLADS. gy 
 
 Nae wonders nae wonder, Gill Morice, - 
 
 My lady loed thee weel, 130 
 
 Thefaireft part of my body' 
 
 Is blacker than thy heel. 
 Zet neir the lefs now, Gill Morke, 
 
 For a* thy great bewty\ '-- 
 Ze's rew the day ze eir was born ; 135 
 
 That head fall gae wi' me. : 
 
 ; ornsrfi ban mi'sbbrm W 
 Now he has drawn his trufty brand, 
 
 And flaited on the ftrae ; 
 And thro' Gill Morice' fair body* 
 
 He's gar cauld iron gae. 140 
 
 And he has tain Gill Morice' head 
 
 And fet it on a fpeir : 
 The meanelt man in a' his train 
 
 Has gotten that head to bear. 
 rj raiijkxxbuiM ufT^jrftJMiA 
 
 And he has tain Gill Morice up, 145 
 
 Laid him acrofs his fteid, 
 And brocht him to his painted bowr 
 
 And laid him on a bed. 
 The lady fat on caftil wa', 
 
 Beheld baith dale and doun ; - 150 
 
 And there fhe faw Gill Morice' head 
 
 Cum trailing to the toun. 
 
 J*iK3ift*ft 300 *n UndO ' 
 Far better I loe that bluidy head, 
 
 Bot and that zellow hair, 
 
 3 Than
 
 > ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 Than lord Barnard, and a' his lands, 155 
 
 As they lig here and thair. 
 And {he has tain her Gill Morice, 
 
 And kifsd baith mouth and chin : 
 I was once as fow of Gill Morice, 
 
 As the hip is o' the ftean. tfrfj '* 160 
 
 ' * ;, " '-;' 
 
 I got ze in my father's houfe, 
 
 Wi' mickle fin and lhame ; 
 I brocht thee up in gude grene wode, 
 
 Under the heavy rain : 
 Oft have I by thy cradle fitten, 165 
 
 And fondly feen thee fleip ; 
 Bot now I gae about thy grave, 
 
 The faut tears for to weip. 
 
 And fyne me kifsd his bluidy cheik, 
 
 And fyne his bluidy chin: 170 
 
 O better I loe my Gill Morice 
 
 Than a' my kith and kin 1 
 Away, away, ze ill woman, 
 
 And an il deith mait ze dee : 
 Gin I had kend he'd bin zour fon, 175 
 
 He'd neir bin ilain for mee. 
 
 Obraid me not, my lord Barnard J 
 
 Obraid me not for fhame ! 
 \Vi that faim fpeir O pierce my heart ! 
 
 And put me out o' pain. 180 
 
 Since
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 97 
 
 Since nothing hot Gill Morice head 
 
 Thy jelous rage could quell, 
 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 ; 
 I'll fill the air with heavy fighs, 
 
 And greet till I am blind. 
 Enouch of blood by me's bin fpilt, 
 
 Seek not zour death frae mee ; 190 
 
 I rather lourd it had been my fel 
 
 Than eather him or thee. 
 
 With waefo wae I hear zour plaint ; 
 
 Sair, fair I rew the deid, 
 That eir this curfed hand of mine lor 
 
 Had gard his body bleid. 
 Dry up zour tears, my winfom dame, 
 
 Ze neir can heal the wound ; 
 Ze fee his head upon the fpeir, 
 
 His heart's blude on the ground. 200 
 
 I curfe the hand that did the deid, 
 
 The heart that thocht the ill ; 
 The feet that bore me wi' fik fpeid, 
 
 The comely zouth to kill. 
 I'll ay lament for Gill Morice, 205 
 
 As gin he v/ere my ain ; 
 VOL. in. H I'll
 
 ANCIENT SONGS, 
 
 I'll neir forget the dreiry day 
 On which the zouth was fiain.* 
 
 * The foregoing ballad is faid to have fur nijhed tht 
 plot to the tragedy of DOUGLAS. 
 
 // may be proper to mention that other copies read 
 fuer* no. thus 
 
 " S hot frae the golden fun." 
 Andver. 116. as follows 
 
 " His een like azure Jheene." 
 
 THE END OF THE FIRST BOOK.
 
 SONGS AND BALLADS, 
 
 SERIES THE THIRD. 
 BOOK II. 
 
 THE LEGEND OF SIR GUY 
 
 contains a Jhort fummary of the exploits of tbtt 
 famous champion, as recorded in the old ftory books j and 
 is commonly intitled, " A pleafant fong of the valiant deeds 
 " of chivalry atchieved by that noble knight fer Guy of 
 " Warwick, who, for the love -of fair Phelis, became a 
 H 2 '^hermit,
 
 ioo ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 " hermit, and dyed in a cave of craggy rocke, a mile 
 " dijtantfrom Warwick." ' 
 
 The hiftory ofjir Guy, tbo 1 now very properly rejigned to , 
 children, was once admired by all readers of wit and tafte : 
 for tafte and wit bad once their childhood. Tho 1 ofEygliJh 
 growth, it was early a favourite with other nations : it ap- 
 peared in French in 1525 .' and is alluded to the old Spanijh 
 romance Tirante el bianco, <vabicbit is believed was writ- 
 ten not long after the year 1430. See advert ifement to the 
 French tranjlation, 2 'Voh. 1 2mo, 
 
 The originalwbencealltbefe ftories are extracted is a very 
 ancient romance in old Englijh verfe, which is quoted by 
 Chaucer as a celebrated piece even in his time, (viz. 
 " Men Jpeken of romances of price, 
 tc Of Home childe and Ippotis, 
 
 " OfBevis, and fir Guy, &c. R. ofThop.) 
 and was ujually fung to the harp at Chrijfmas dinners and 
 brideales, as we learn from Puttenhani's art of poetry, 
 4/0. 1589. 
 
 This ancient romance is not wholly loft. An imperfecJ 
 
 copy in black letter, " Impryntedat London for Wylliam 
 
 " Copland." in ^Jheets 4/0. without date, is ftill preferved 
 among Mr. Carriers colleflion of dd plays. As afpecimen 
 of the poetry of this antique rhymer, take his defcription cf 
 the dragon mentioned in ver. \ 05 of the following ballad, 
 " A mejjenger came to the king. 
 '* Syr king, be fay d, lyften me now, 
 f< For bad tydinges I bring you, 
 " In Northumberlar.de there is no man, 
 " But that they be Jlayne every ch^ne : 
 tl For there dare no man route, 
 " By twenty myle rcunde aboute, 
 4( For doubt of afow/e dragon, 
 tl That f.eatb men and beaftes downe, 
 * ' He is blacke as any cole, 
 " R- u gg d os a rough f oh', 
 " His body e from the navill upwarde 
 " No man may it pierce it ii fo' horde ~ t 
 
 " Hi*
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 101 
 
 His neck is great as any fummere ; 
 
 He rennet h asfwifte as any dijirere', 
 
 Pawes he hath as a lyon : 
 
 All that he toucheth he Jleath dead downe . 
 
 Great winges he hath to flight, 
 
 That is no man that bare him might. 
 
 There may no man fight him agayne, 
 
 But that he Jleath him cert ay ne : 
 
 For a fowler beaft then is he, 
 
 Ywis of none never heard ye." 
 The accurate Dugdale is of opinion that the Jlory of Guy is 
 not wholly apocryphal, tho 1 he acknowledges the monks have 
 founded out his praifes too hyper bolically. In particular, he 
 gives the duel fought with the Danijh champion as a real 
 hiftorical truth, and fixes the date of it in the year 929, 
 JEtat. Guy, 70. See his IVarwickjhire. 
 
 The following is written upon the fame plan, as ballad 
 V. Book I. but which is the original and which the copy, 
 cannot be decided. This fong is ancient, as may be inferred 
 from the idiom preferred in the margin, <ver. 94. 102 .- and 
 'Mas once popular, as appears from Fletcher 1 s Knight of the 
 burning peftle, ad. 2 . fc. ult. 
 
 Printed from an ancient MS copy in the Editor's old folio 
 volume, collated with two printed ones, one of which is in 
 black letter in tkrPepys collection. 
 
 WAS ever knight for ladyes fake 
 Soe toft in love, as I fir 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 fheeld and fpeare, 
 
 Ere that her love fhee wold grant me ; 
 Which made mee venture far and neare. 
 
 H 3 Then
 
 102 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 Then proved I a baron bold, 
 
 In deeds of armes the doughtyeft knight to 
 
 That in thofe dayes in England was, 
 
 With fworde and fpeare in feild to fight. 
 
 An Englifh man I was by birthe : 
 
 In faith of Chrift a chriftyan true : 
 The wicked lawes of infidells 1 1 
 
 I fought by prowefle to fubdue. 
 
 <Nine' hundred twenty yeere and odde 
 After our Saviour Chrift his birthe, 
 
 When king Athelftone wore the crowne, 
 
 I lived heere upon the earthe. 20 
 
 Sometime I was of Warwicke erle, 
 
 And, as I fayd, of very truthe 
 A ladyes love did me conftraine 
 
 To feeke ftrange ventures in my youthe, 
 
 To win me fame by feates of armes 25 
 
 In ftrange and fundry heathen lands j 
 
 Where I atchieved for her fake 
 
 Right dangerous eonquefts with my hands. 
 
 For firft I fayled to Normandye, 
 
 And there I^ftoutlye wan in fight 30 
 
 The emperours daughter of Almayne, 
 
 From manye a vallyant worthye knight. 
 
 Then 
 
 Per. 9. The proud fir Guy, P. Ver. 17. Two hundred. MS nd P,
 
 AND BALLADS. 103 
 
 Then parted I the feas to Greece 
 
 To helpe the emperour in his right ; 
 
 Againft the mightye fouldans hoafte 35 
 
 Of puiflant Perlians for to fight. 
 
 Where I did flay of Sarazens, 
 
 And heathen pagans, manye a man ; 
 
 And flew the fouldans cozen deare, 
 
 Who had to name doughtye Coldran. 40 
 
 Efkeldered a famous knight 
 
 To death likewife I did purfue : 
 And Elmayne king of Tyre alfoe, 
 
 Moll terrible in fight to vievve. 
 
 I went into the fouldans hoaft, 45 
 
 Being thither on embaflage fent, 
 And brought his head awaye with mee, 
 
 I having flaine him in his tent. 
 
 There was a dragon in that land 
 
 Moil fiercelye mett me by the way 50 
 
 As hee a lyon did purfue, 
 
 Which I myfelf did alfoe 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. 
 
 H 4 To
 
 104 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 To England then I came with fpeede, 
 
 To wedd faire Phelis ladye bright : 
 For love of whome I travelled farr 
 
 To try my manhood and my might. 60 
 
 But when I had efpoufed her, 
 
 I ftayd with her but fortye dayes, 
 Ere that I left this ladye faire, 
 
 And went from her beyond the feas. 
 
 All cladd in gray, in pilgrime fort, 65 
 
 My voyage from her I did take 
 Unto the blefled Holy-land, 
 
 For Jefus Chrift my Saviours fake. 
 
 Where I erle Jonas did redeeme, 
 
 And all his fonnes which were fifteene, 70 
 
 Who with the cruell Sarazens 
 
 In prifon for long time had beene. 
 
 I flew the gyant Amarant 
 
 In battel fiercelye hand to hand : 
 And doughty Barknard killed I, 75 
 
 A treacherous knight of Pavye land. 
 
 Then I to England came againe, 
 
 And here with Colbronde fell I fought : 
 
 An ugly gyant, which the Danes 
 
 Had for their champion hither brought. 80 
 
 i 3 I over-
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 105 
 
 I overcame him in the feild, 
 
 And flewe him foone right valliantlyej 
 Wherebye this land I did redeeme 
 
 From Danifh tribute utterlye. 
 
 And afterwards I offered upp jg - 
 
 The ufe of weapons folemnlye 
 At Winchefter, whereas I fought, 
 
 In fight of manye farr and nye. 
 
 * But firft,' neareWinfor, I did flaye 
 
 A bore of pafiing might and ftrength ; go 
 
 Whofe like in England never was 
 
 For hugenefle both in bredth, and length. 
 
 Some of his bones in Warwicke yet, 
 
 Within the caftle there doe lye : 
 One of his Iheild-bones to this day 95 
 
 Hangs in the citye of Coventrye. 
 
 On Dunfmore heath I alfoe flewe 
 
 A monftrous wyld and cruell beaft, 
 Calld the Dun-cow of Dunfmore heath ; 
 
 Which manye people had oppreft. loo 
 
 Some of her bones in Warwicke yett 
 
 Still for a monument doe lye ; 
 Which unto every lookers viewe 
 
 As wonderous ftrange, they may efpye. 
 
 A dragon 
 
 Ver. 94. 102. doth lye. MS.
 
 * A N C I E N T S O N G S 
 
 A dragon in Northumberland, 105 
 
 I alfoe did in fight deftroye, 
 Which did bothe man and beaft oppreffe, 
 
 And all the countrye fore annoye. 
 
 At length to Warvvicke I did come, 
 
 Like pilgrime poore and was not knowne ; 119 
 And there I livd a hermites life 
 
 A mile and more out of the towne. 
 
 Where with my hands I hewed a houfe 
 
 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 20 
 
 Till at the laft I fell fore ficke, 
 
 Yea ficke foe fore that I muft die ; 
 I fent to her a ringe of golde, 
 
 By which ftie knewe me prefentlye. 
 
 Then fhee repairing to the cave 125 
 
 Before that I gave up the ghoft ; 
 Herfelf closd up my dying eyes : 
 
 My Phelis faire, whom I lovd moft. 
 
 Thus
 
 AND BALLADS. 107 
 
 Thus dreadful death did me arreft, 
 
 To bring my corpes unto the grave; 130 
 
 And like a palmer dyed I, 
 
 Wherby I fought my foule to fave. 
 
 My body that endured this toyle, 
 
 Though now it be confumed to mold ; 
 
 My ftatue faire engraven in ftone, 135 
 
 In Warwicke ftill you may behold. 
 
 n. 
 
 GUY AND AMARANT. 
 
 The Editor found this Poem in bis ancient folio manu- 
 Jcript among the old ballads ; he 'was dejirous therefore that 
 it foauld ftill accompany them ; and as it is not altogether 
 devoid of merit, its infertion here ivill be pardoned. 
 
 Although this piece feems not imperfeff, then is reafon to 
 believe that it is only a part of a much larger poem, 'which 
 contained the whole hiftory of fir Guy : for upon compar- 
 ing it with the common Jlory book 12mo, nue find the latter 
 to be nothing more than this poem reduced to profe : which 
 is only ejfetted by now and then altering the rhyme, and 
 throwing out fame few of the poetical ornaments. The 
 difguife is fo Jlight that it is an eafy matter to pick com- 
 plete ft anzas in any page of that book. 
 
 The author of this poem has Jhown fame invention. 
 Though he took the fubjeSl from the old romance quoted bt- 
 fore, he has qdcrned it afrejh, and made the jiory intirelj 
 bis o-~wtt 
 
 GUY
 
 io$ ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 GU Y journeyed ore the fanftifyed ground, 
 Whereas the Jewes fayre citye fometime flood, 
 Wherin our Saviours facred head was crownd, 
 
 And where for fmfull man he fhed his blood : 
 To fee the fepulcher was his intent, 5 
 
 The tombe that Jofeph unto Jefus lent. 
 
 With tedious miles he tyred his wearye feet, 
 And pafled defart places full of danger, 
 
 At laft with a moft woefull wight * did meet, 
 
 A man that unto forrow was noe ftranger : 10 
 
 For he had fifteen fonnes, made captives all 
 
 To flavifh bondage, in extremeft thrall. 
 
 A gyant called Amarant detaind them, 
 
 Whom noe man durft encounter for his ftrength : 
 
 Who in a caftle, which he held, had chaind them : 15 
 Guy queftions, where ? and underftandsat length 
 
 The place not farr. Lend me. thy fword, quoth hee, 
 
 He lend my manhood all thy fonnes to free. 
 
 With that he goes, and lays upon the clore, 
 
 Like one, he fayes, that muft, and will come in : 20 
 
 The gyant he was nere foe rowzd before ; 
 For noe fuch knocking at his gate had bin : 
 
 Soe takes his keyes, and clubb, and goeth out 
 
 Staring with ireful countenance about. 
 
 Sirra, 
 
 Erie Jena:, mentior.ed In the fsreplng balled.
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 109 
 
 Sirra, fay'es hee, what bufmes haft thou hecre ? 25 
 Art come to feaft the crowes about my walls ? 
 
 Didft never heare, noe ranfome cold him cleere, 
 That in the compas of my furye falls : 
 
 For making me to take a porters paines, 
 
 With thisTame clubb I will dafti out thy braines. 30 
 
 Gyant, fayes Guy, y'are quarrelfome I fee, 
 Choller and you are fomething neere of kin : 
 
 Moft dangerous at a clubb belike you bee, 
 
 I have bin better armd, though nowe goe thin ; 
 
 But mew thy utmoft hate, enlarge thy fpight, 35 
 
 Keene is my weapon, and muft doe me right. 
 
 Soe takes his fword, falutes him with the fame 
 About the head, the moulders, and the fides : 
 
 Whilft his erefted clubb doth death proclaime, 
 Standinge with hugeCololfus' fpacious ftrides, 40 
 
 Putting fuch vigour to his knotted beame, 
 
 That like a furnace he did fmoke extreame. 
 
 But on the ground he fpent his ftrokes in vaine, 
 For Guy was nimble to avoyde them ftill. 
 
 And ere he cold recover his clubb againe, 45 
 
 Did beate his plated coat againft his will: 
 
 Att fuch advantage Guy wold never fayle, 
 
 To beat him foundlye in his coate of mayle. 
 
 ~ ' * Att
 
 no ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 Att laft through ' lacke of ftrcngth hee feeble grewe, 
 And fayd to Guy, as thou'rt of humane race, 50 
 
 Shew itt in this, give natures wants their dewe, 
 Let me but goe, and drinke in yonder place : 
 
 Thou canft not yeeld to ' me' a fmaller thing, 
 
 Than to grant life, thats given by the fpring. 
 
 I give thee leave, fayes Guye, goe drinke thy laft, 55 
 Go pledge the dragon, and the favage bore* : 
 
 Succeed the tragedyes that they have paft, 
 But never thinke to drinke cold water more : 
 
 Drinke deepe to Death and unto him caroufe : 
 
 Bid him receive thee in his earthen houfe. 60 
 
 Soe to the fpring he goes, and flakes his thirft ; 
 
 Takeing the water in extremely like 
 Some wracked fhipp that on fome rocke is burft, 
 
 Whofe forced hulke againft the ftones does ftryke j 
 Scoping it in foe faft with both his hands, 65 
 
 That Guy admiring to behold him ftands. 
 
 Come on, quoth Guy, lets to our worke againe, 
 Thou ftayeft about thy liquor overlong ; 
 
 The fifh, which in the river doe remaine, 
 
 Will want thereby ; thy drinking doth them wrong : 
 
 But I will ' have ' their fatisfaclion made, 7 1 
 
 With gyants blood they muft, and mall be payd. 
 
 Wbitb Guy badjluln before. Ver. 64. bulke. MS. 
 
 Vil-
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. m 
 
 Villaine, quoth Amarant, He crufh thee ftreight ; 
 
 Thy life mall pay thy daring toungs ofFence : 
 This clubb, which is about fome hundred weight, 75 
 
 Has deathes commiffion to difpatch thee hence : 
 Drefle thee for ravens dyett I muft needes ; 
 And breake thy bones, as they were made of reedcs. 
 
 Incenfed much att this bold pagans boftes, 
 
 Which worthye Guy cold ill endure to heare, So 
 
 He hewes upon thofe bigg fupporting poftes, 
 Which like two pillars did his body beare : 
 
 Amarant for thofe wounds in choller growes, 
 
 And defperatelye att Guy his clubb he throwes : 
 
 Which did direftly on his body light, *5 
 
 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 fift, 
 
 And aimd a blowe that wonderfullye mill. 90 
 
 Traytor, quoth Guy, thy falfhood He repay, 
 This coward aft to intercept my bloode. 
 
 Sayes Amarant, He murther any way, 
 With enemyes all vantages are good : 
 
 O cold I poyfon in thy noftrills blowe, or 
 
 Befure of it t wold deftroy thee foe. 
 
 Its
 
 U2 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 Its well, faid Guy, thy honeft thoughts appeare, 
 Within that beaftlye bulke where devills dwell, 
 
 Which are thy tenants while thou liveft heare, 
 
 But will be landlords when thou comeft in hell : 100 
 
 Vile mifcreant, prepare thee for their den, 
 
 Inhumane monfter, hurtfull unto men. 
 
 But breathe thy felfe a time, while Igoe drinke, 
 For flameing Phoebus with his fyerye eye 
 
 Torments me foe with burning heat, I thinke 105 
 
 My thirft wold ferve to drinke an ocean drye : 
 
 Forbear a litle, as I delt with thee. 
 
 Quoth Amarant, thou haft noe foole of mee. 
 
 Noe, fillye wretch, my father taught more witt, 
 
 How I mold ufe fuch enemyes as thou, 1 10 
 
 By all my gods I doe rejoice at itt, 
 
 To underiland that thirft conftraines thee now ; 
 
 For all the treafure, that the world containes, 
 
 One drop of water fhall not coole thy vaines. 
 
 Releeve my foe ! why, 'twere a madmans part : 115 
 
 Refrelh an adverfarye to my wrong : 
 If thou imagine this, a child thou art : 
 
 Noe, fellow, I have known the world too long 
 To be foe fimple : now I know thy want, 
 A minutes fpace to thee I will not grant. 120 
 
 And with thefe words heaving aloft his clubb 
 Into the ayre, he fwings the fame about : 
 
 Theft
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 113 
 
 Then fliakes his lockes, and doth his temples rubb, 
 
 And, like the Cyclops, in his pride doth fhout, 
 Sirra, fayes hee, I have you at a lift, . 125 
 
 Now you are come unto your lateft fhift. 
 
 Perim forever : with this ftroke I fend thee 
 A medicine, will doe thy thirft much good ; 
 
 Take nee more care of drinke before I end thee, 
 
 And then weele have caroufes of thy blood: 130 
 
 Here's at thee with a butchers downright blow, 
 
 To pleafe my furye with thine overthrow. 
 
 Infernall, falfe, obdurate feend, faid Guy, 
 That feemft a lumpe of crueltye from hell ; 
 
 Ungratefull monfter, fince thou doft deny 135 
 
 The thing to mee wherin I ufed thee well : 
 
 With more revenge, than ere my fword did make, 
 
 On thy accurfed head revenge He take. 
 
 Thy gyants longitude (hall fhorter mrinke, 
 
 Except thy fun-fcorcht fkin be weapon proof: 140 
 
 Farewell my thirft ; I doe difdaine to drinke, 
 
 Streames keepe your waters to your owne behoof; 
 
 Or let wild beafts be welcome thereunto; 
 
 With thofe pearle drops I will not have to do. 
 
 Here, tyrant, take a tafte of my good-will, 145 
 
 For thus I doe begin my bloodye bout : 
 
 You cannot chufe but like the greeting ill ; 
 
 It is not that fame clubb will beare you out 
 VOT,. III. I And
 
 ii4 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 And take this payment on thy fhaggye crowne. 
 
 A blowe that brought him with a vengeance downe. 1 50 
 
 Then Guy fett foot upon the monfters breft, 
 And from his fhoulders did his head divide, 
 
 Which with a yawninge mouth did gape unbleft, 
 Noe dragons jawes were ever feene foe wide 
 
 To open and to fhut, 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 miferye : 160 
 
 Eche told a tale with teares, and fighes, and cryes, 
 
 All weeping to him with complaining eyes. 
 
 There tender ladyes in darke dungeon lay, 
 That were furprifed in the defart wood, 
 
 And had noe other dyett everye day, 165 
 
 Than flefh of humane creatures for their food : 
 
 Some with their lovers bodyes had beene fed, 
 
 And in their wombes their hufbands buryed. 
 
 Now he bethinkes him of his being there, 
 
 Toenlargethe wronged brethren from their woes ; 170 
 
 And, as he fearcheth, doth great clamours heare, 
 By which fad founds direflion on he goes, 
 
 Untill he findes a darkfome obfcure gate, 
 
 Armd ftrongly ouer all with iron plate. 
 
 That
 
 AND BALLADS. 115 
 
 That he unlockes, and enters, where appeares 175 
 
 The ftrangeft objeft that he ever faw j 
 Men that with famiihment of many yeares, 
 
 Were like deathes pi&ure, which the painters draw j 
 Divers of them were hanged by eche thumb : 
 Others head-downward : by the middle fome. 180 
 
 With diligence he takes them from the walls, 
 With lybertye their thraldome to acquaint : 
 
 Then the perplexed knight the father calls, 
 
 And faye?, Receive thy fonne; though pooreand faint : 
 
 I promisd you their lives, accept of that; 185 
 
 But did not promife you they fhold be fat. 
 
 The caftle I doe give thee, heeres the keyes, 
 Where tyranye for many yeeres did dwell : 
 
 Procure the gentle tender ladyes eafe, 
 
 For pittyes fake, ufe wronged women well: 193 
 
 Men eafilye revenge the wrongs men do: 
 
 But poore weake women have no llrength thereto. 
 
 
 
 The good old man, even overjoyed with this, 
 
 Fell on the ground, and wold have kift Guys feete: 
 
 Father, quoth he, refraine foe bafe a kifs, 195 
 
 For age to honor youth I hold unmeete : 
 
 Ambitious pryde hath hurt mee all it can, 
 
 I goe to mortifie a finfull man. 
 
 %* The foregoing poem on GUY AND AMARANT has 
 
 teen dij 'covered to be a fragment of, the famous hijiorie of 
 
 I 2 Guy
 
 n6 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 " Guy earlofWarwicke, by SAMUEL ROWLANDS. Lon- 
 " don, printed by J. Bell. 1649. 4/0." in xii cantos t be- 
 ginning thus 
 
 " When dreadful Mars in armour every day.'* 
 
 Whether the edition in 1649, wasthejirft, is not known, 
 but the author SAM. ROWL A N D s was one of the minor poets, 
 "who lived in the reigns of <^ Elizabeth, and James I. and 
 perhaps later. His other poems are chiefly of the religious 
 kind, 'which makes it probable that the hift. of Guy <vcas one 
 
 of his earlieft performance:. There are extant of his (i.J 
 
 The betraying of Chrijl, Judas in difpaire, the fe<ven 
 
 words of our Saviour on the croj/e, with other poems on 
 
 tbepaffton,t3c. 1598.4/0. \_AmesTyp.p. 428.] (2.) A 
 
 Theatre of delightful Recreation. Lend, printed for A. 
 
 Johnfon. 1605." 4/0. (Penes editor.) This is a book of 
 
 poems onfubjecJs chiefly taken from the old Teft ament . (3.) 
 
 " Memory of Chrift's miracles, inverfe. Land. 1618. 4/0." 
 
 (4.) " Hta<uen's glory, earth's vanity, and hell's horror. 
 
 Lond. 1638. 8vo. \Thefe 2 in Bod. Cat.] 
 
 III. 
 
 THE AULD GOOD-MAN. 
 A SCOTTISH SONG. 
 
 We ha-~ve not been able to meet with a more ancient copy 
 of this humorous old Jong, than that printed in the Tea- 
 Table mif cell any, ffc. which feems to have admitted fame 
 corruptions. 
 
 LA T E in an evening forth I went 
 A little before the fun gade down, 
 And there I chanc't, by accident, 
 To light on a battle new begun : 
 
 A man
 
 AND BALLADS. 117 
 
 A man and his wife wer fawn in a ftrife, ^ 
 
 I canna weel tell ye how it began ; 
 But aye me wail'd her wretched life, 
 
 Cryeng, Evir alake, mine auld goodman ! 
 
 HE. 
 Thy auld goodman, that thou tells of, 
 
 The country kens where he was born, 10 
 
 Was but a filly poor vagabond, 
 
 And ilka' ane leugh him to fcorn : 
 For he did fpend and make an end 
 
 Of gear ' his fathers nevir' wan ; 
 He gart the poor Hand frae the door ; 1 5 
 
 Sae tell nae mair of thy auld goodman. 
 
 SHE. 
 My heart, alake ! is liken to break, 
 
 Whan I think on my winfome John, 
 His blinkan ee, and gait fae free, 
 
 Was naithing like thee, thou defend drone; 29 
 Wi' his rofie face, and flaxen hair, 
 
 And a fkin as white as ony fwan, 
 He was large and tall, and comely withall ; 
 
 Thou'lt nevir be like mine auld goodman. 
 
 HE. 
 Why doft thou plein ? I thee mainteinj 25 
 
 For meal and mawt thou difna want; 
 But thy wild bees I canna pleafe, 
 
 Now whan our gear gins to grow fcant: 
 
 I 3 Of
 
 iis ANCIENT-SONGS 
 
 Of houfhold fluff them haft enough ; 
 
 Thou wants for neither pot nor pan; 30 
 
 Of ficklike ware he left tkee bare; 
 
 Sae tell nae mair of thy auld goodman. 
 
 SKI. 
 Yes I may tell, and fret my fell, 
 
 To chink on thofe blyth days I had, 
 Whan I and he, together ley 35 
 
 In armes into a well-made bed : 
 But now I figh and may be fad, 
 
 Thy courage is cauld, thy colour wan, 
 Thou falds thy feet and fa's afleep ; 
 
 Thou'lt nevir be like mine auld goodman. 40 
 
 Then coming was the night fae dark, 
 
 And gane was a' the light of day ? 
 The carle was fear'd to mifs his mark, 
 
 And therefore wad nae longer flay : 
 Then up he gat, and ran his way, 45 
 
 I trowe, the wife the day Ihe wan ; 
 And aye the owreword of the fray 
 
 Was, Evir alake ! mine auld goodman. 
 
 IV. FAIR
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 
 
 IV. 
 FAIR MARGARET AND SWEET WILLIAM. 
 
 This feems to be the old Jong quoted in Fletcher's " Knight 
 " of the burning pejlleS'' Acts zd and 3^; altho 1 the fix 
 lines there preferved are fomewhat different from thofe in the 
 ballad, as it ftands at prefent. The Reader will not wonder 
 at this, when he is informed that this is only given from a 
 modern printed copy picked up on a ftall. It' 's full title is 
 <f Fair Margaret's Misfortunes ; or Sweet William's 
 " frightful dreams on his wedding night, with the fudden 
 " death and burial of thofe noble lovers." 
 The lines preferred in the play are this diftich, 
 " You are no love for me, Margaret, 
 
 " I am no love for you." 
 And the following ftanza, 
 
 t( When it was grown to dark midnight t 
 
 *' And all were f aft afleep, 
 *' ,In came Margarets grimly ghofl 
 " And flood at William feet." 
 
 Ybefe lines have acquired an importance by giving birth 
 to one of the moft beautiful ballads in our own or any lan- 
 guage. See the Jong intituled MARGARET'S GHOST, at the 
 end of this volume. 
 
 In this fecond edition fame improvements are inferted, 
 ivhich were communicated by a lady ofthefirft diftinQion, as 
 Jb? had heard this feng repeated in her infancy. 
 
 I 4 AS
 
 i2o ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 AS it fell out on a long fummer'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 you, Margaret, 5 
 
 .And you fee none by mee ; 
 Before to-morrow at eight o'clock 
 
 A rich wedding you mall fee. 
 
 Fair Margaret fate in her bovver- window, 
 
 Combing her yellow hair ; i 
 
 There me fpyed fweet William and his bride, 
 As they were a riding near. 
 
 Then down me layd her ivory combe, 
 
 And 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 afleep, 
 There came the fpirit of fair Marg'ret, 
 
 And flood at Williams feet. 
 
 Are you awake, fweet William? fheefaid; 
 
 Or, fweet William, are you afleep? 
 God give you joy of your gay bride-bed, 
 
 And me of my winding- meet. 
 
 * Whcm
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 121 
 
 When day was come, and night was gone, 25 
 
 And all men wak'd from deep, 
 Sweet William to his lady fayd, 
 
 My dear, I have caufe to weep. 
 
 I dreamt a dream, my dear ladye, 
 
 Such dreames are never good : -30 
 
 I dreamt my bower was full of red fwine, 
 
 And my bride-bed full of blood. 
 
 Such dreams, fuch dreams, my honoured Sir, 
 
 They never do prove good; 
 To dream thy bower was full of* red ' fwine, 35 
 
 And thy bride-bed full of blood. 
 
 He called up his merry men all, 
 
 By one, by two, and by three ; 
 Saying, I'll away to fair Marg'rets bower, 
 
 By the leave of my ladye. 40 
 
 And when he came to fair Marg'ret's bower, 
 
 He knocked at the ring ; 
 And who fo ready as her feven brethren 
 
 To let fweet William in. 
 
 Then he turned up the covering-meet, 45 
 
 Pray let me fee the dead : 
 Methinks {he does look pale and wan, 
 
 She has loft her cherry red. 
 
 Til
 
 122 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 I'll do more for thee, Margaret, 
 
 Than any of thy kin; 53 
 
 For I will kifs thy pale wan lips, 
 
 Though a fmile I cannot win. 
 
 With that befpake the feven brethren, 
 
 Making moll piteous mone : 
 You may go kifs your jolly brown bride, 55 
 
 And let our fitter alone. 
 
 If I do kifs my jolly brown bride, 
 
 I do but what is right ; 
 I neer made a vow to yonder poor corpfe 
 
 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, 65 
 
 Sweet William dyed the morrow : 
 Fair Margaret dyed for pure true love, 
 
 Sweet William dyed for forrow. 
 
 Margaret was buryed in the lower chancel, 
 
 And William in the higher : 70 
 
 Out of her breft there fprang a rofe, 
 And out of his a briar. 
 
 Thfy
 
 AND BALLADS. 123 
 
 They grew till they grew unto the church-top, 
 And then they could grow no higher ; 
 
 And there they tyed in a true lovers knot, 75 
 Which made all the people admire. 
 
 Then came the clerk of the parifli, 
 
 As you this truth ftiall hear, 
 And by misfortune cut them down, 
 
 Or they had now been there. So 
 
 V. 
 
 BARBARA ALLEN's CRUELTY. 
 
 Given, <witbfome corrections, from an old printed copy in 
 the editor's pojjejjton, intitled, " Barbara Allen's cruelty t 
 " er the young man's tragedy." 
 
 IN Scarlet towne, where I was borne, 
 There was a faire maid dwellin, 
 Made every youth crye, wel-awaye ! 
 Her name was Barbara Allen. 
 
 All in the merrye month of may, j 
 
 When greene buds they were fwellin, 
 
 Yong Jemmye Grove on his death-bed lay, 
 For love of Barbara Allen. 
 
 He
 
 12 4 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 He fent his man unto her then, 
 
 To the town, where fhee was dwellin ; IO 
 
 You muft come to my matter deare, 
 
 Giff your name be Barbara Allen. 
 
 For death is printed on his face, 
 
 And ore his hart is ftealin : 
 
 Then hafte away to comfort him, 15 
 
 O lovelye Barbara Allen. 
 
 Though death be printed on his face, 
 
 And ore his harte is ftealin, 
 Yet little better mall he bee, 
 
 For bonny Barbara Allen. 20 
 
 So flowly, flowly, fhe came up, 
 
 And flowly fhe came nye him ; 
 And all fhe fayd, when there fhe came, 
 
 Yong man, I think y'are dying. 
 
 He turnd his face unto her ftrait,] 2$ 
 
 With deadlye forrow fighing ; 
 
 lovely maid, come pity mee, 
 Ime on my death-bed lying. 
 
 " If on your death-bed you doe lye, 
 
 What needs the tale you are tellin : 30 
 
 1 cannot keep you from your death j 
 Farewell, fayd Barbara Allen. 
 
 He
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 125 
 
 He turnd his face unto the wall, 
 
 As deadlye pangs he fell in : 
 Adieu ! adieu ! adieu to you all, 3- 
 
 Adieu to Barbara Allen. 
 
 As Ihe was walking ore the fields, 
 
 She heard the bell a knellin ; 
 And every ftroke did feem to faye, 
 
 Unworthy Barbara Allen. 40 
 
 She turnd her bodye round about, 
 
 And fpied the corps a coming : 
 Laye downe, laye down the corps, Ihe fayd, 
 
 That I may look upon him. 
 
 With fcornful eye me looked downe, 45 
 
 Her cheeke with laughter fwellin ; 
 Whilft all her friends cryd out amaine, 
 
 Unworthye Barbara Allen. 
 
 When he was dead, and laid in grave, 
 
 Her harte was ftruck with forrowe, 50 
 
 O mother, mother, make my bed, 
 For I mail dye to morrowe. 
 
 Hard harted creature him to flight, 
 
 Who loved me fo d early e : 
 O that I had beene more kind to him, 55 
 
 When he was live and neare me ! 
 
 She
 
 126 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 She, on her death-bed as (he laye, 
 
 Beg'd to be buried by him : 
 And fore repented of the daye, 
 
 That fhe did ere denye him. 60 
 
 Farewell, fhe fayd, ye virgins all, 
 
 And fhun the fault I fell in : 
 Henceforth take warning by the fall 
 
 Of cruel Barbara Allen. 
 
 VI. 
 
 SWEET WILLIAM'S GHOST. 
 
 A SCOTTISH BALLAD. 
 
 from Allan Ramfay's Tea Table mzfcellany. The concluding 
 Jlanza of this piece feems modern. 
 
 THERE came a ghoft to Margaret's door, 
 With many a grievous grone, 
 And ay he tirled at the pin ; 
 But anfwer made fhe none. 
 
 Is this my father Philip ? j 
 
 Or is't my brother John ? 
 Or is't my true love Willie, 
 
 From Scotland new come home ? 
 
 Tis
 
 ' A N D B A L L A D S. 127 
 
 Tis not thy father Philip ; 
 
 Nor yet thy brother John : 10 
 
 But tis thy true love Willie 
 
 From Scotland new come home. 
 
 O fweet Margret ! O dear Margret ! 
 
 I pray thee fpeak to mee : 
 Give me my faith and troth, Margret, *i 5 
 
 As I gave it to thee. 
 
 Thy faith and troth thou'fe nevir get, 
 
 1 Of me (halt nevir win,' 
 Till that thou come within my bower, 
 
 And kifs my cheek and chin. ao 
 
 If I mould come within thy bower, 
 
 I am no earthly man : 
 And fhould 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 and troth, Margret, 
 
 As I gave it to thee. 
 
 Thy faith and troth thou'fe nevir get, 
 
 * Of me (halt nevir win,' 30 
 
 Till thou take me to yon kirk yard, 
 And wed me with a ring. 
 
 My
 
 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 My bones are buried in a kirk yard 
 
 Afar beyond the fea, 
 And it is but my fprite, Margret, 35 
 
 That's fpeaking now to thee. 
 
 Sheflretched out her lilly-white hand, 
 
 As for to do her beft : 
 Hae there your faith and troth, Willie, 
 
 God fend your foul good reft. 4 
 
 Now fhe has kilted her robes of green, 
 
 A piece below her knee : 
 And a' the live-lang winter night 
 The dead corps followed fhee. 
 
 Is there any room at your head, Willie ? 45 
 
 Or any room at your feet ? 
 Or any room at your fide, Willie, 
 
 Wherein that I may creep ? 
 
 There's nae room at my head, Margret, 
 There's nae room at my feet, jc 
 
 There's no room at my fide, Margret, 
 My coffin is made fo meet. 
 
 Then up and crew the red red cock, 
 
 And up then crew the gray : 
 Tis time, tis time, my dear Margret, 55 
 
 That you were gane away. 
 
 No
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 129 
 
 No more the ghoft to Margret faid, 
 
 But, with a grievous grone, 
 Evanifh'd in a cloud of mift, 
 
 And left her all alone. 60 
 
 O ftay, my only true love, ftay, 
 
 The conitant Margret cried : 
 Wan grew her cheeks, me clos'd her een, 
 
 Stretch'd her faft limbs, and died. 
 
 v Liino>i bus 
 
 VIL 
 
 SIR JOHN GREHME AND BARBARA ALLAN. 
 A SCOTTISH BALLAD. 
 
 Printed, nitb a. few conjeSlural emendations, from 4 
 . written copy. 
 
 IT was in and about the Martinmas time, 
 When the greene leaves wer a fallan ; 
 That Sir John Grehme o' the weft countrye, 
 Fell in luve wi' Barbara Allan. 
 
 He fent his man down throw the towne, t 
 
 To the plaice wher me was dwellan : 
 
 O hafle and cum to my maifter deare, 
 Gin ye bin Barbara Allan. 
 
 VOL. Ill K O hooly
 
 130 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 O hooly, hooly, raife me up, 
 
 To the plaice wher he was lyan ; i o 
 
 And whan fhe drew the curtain by, 
 
 Young man, I think ye're dyan* 
 
 O its I'm fide, and very very fick, 
 
 And its a' for Barbara Allan : 
 O the better for me yeYe never be, 15 
 
 Though your harts blude wer fpillan. 
 
 Remember ye nat in the tavern, fir, 
 
 Whan ye the cups wer fillan ; 
 How ye maide the healths gae round and round, 
 
 And flighted Barbara Allan ? 20 
 
 He turn'd 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 me up, 25 
 
 And hooly, hooly left him ; 
 And fighan faid, foe could not ftay, 
 
 Since death of life had reft him. 
 
 She had not gane a mile but twa, 
 
 Whan fhe heard the deid-bell knellan ; 30 
 
 And everye jow live deid-bell geid, 
 
 Cried, wae to Barbara Allan ! 
 
 * An ingenious friend thinks the rhymes Dyanii and Lyand ought 
 to be tranfpofed j as theUuut Ywnp man, Itbir.kyere'-tyand, would tc
 
 A tf D B A L L A D g 131 
 
 O mither, mither, mak my bed, 
 
 O mak it faft and narrow : 
 Since^my luve died for ie to day* 35 
 
 Ife die for him to morrowe. 
 
 : : C'jdT. 
 
 VIIL 
 
 THE BAILIFF'S DAUGHTER OF ISLINGTOK. 
 
 From an ancient black-letter copy in the Pepys Collection, 
 "with fome improvements communicated by a lady as (he had 
 heard the fame recited in her youth. The full title is " True 
 *' love requited : Or, the Bailiffs daughter of IJlingten" 
 
 ISLINGTON in Norfolk is prolably the place here meant. 
 
 THere was a youthe, and a well-beloved youthe* 
 And he was a fquires fon : 
 He loved the bayliffes daughter deare, 
 That lived in Iflington. 
 
 Yet flie was coye and wo aid not believe 
 
 That he did love her foe, 
 Noe nor at any time would me 
 
 Any countenance to him fhowe. 
 
 K * Bat
 
 I 3 2 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 But when his friendes did underftand 
 
 His fond and foolifh minde, 10 
 
 They fent him up to faire London 
 
 An apprentice for to bindc. 
 
 And when he had been feven long yeares, 
 
 And never his love could fee : 
 Many a teare have I fhed for her fake. 1 5 
 
 When fhe little thought of mee. 
 
 Then all the maids of Iflington 
 
 Went forth to fport and playe, 
 All but the bayliffes daughter deare ; 
 
 She fecretly ftole awaye. 20 
 
 She pulled off her gowne of greene, 
 
 And put on ragged attire, 
 And to faire London me would go 
 
 Her true love to enquire. 
 
 And as fhe went along the high-road, 25 
 
 The weather being hot and drye, 
 She fat her downe upon a green bank, 
 
 And her true love came riding bye. 
 
 She ftarted up, with a colour foe redd, 
 " Catching hold of his bridle-reine ; 30 
 
 One penny, one penny, kind fir, fhe fayd, 
 Will eafe me of much paine. 
 
 3 Before
 
 ' A N D B A L L A D S. 133 
 
 Before I give you one penny, fweet-heart, 
 Praye tell me where you were borne. 
 
 At Iflington, kind fir, fayd fhee, 35 
 
 Where I have had many a fcorne. 
 
 I prythee, fweet-heart, then tell to mee, 
 
 O tell me, whether you knowe 
 The bayliffes daughter of Iflington. 
 
 She is dead, fir, long agoe. 40 
 
 If ihe be dead, then take my horfe, 
 
 My faddle and my bowe ; 
 For I will into fome farr countrye, 
 
 Where noe man mall me knowe. 
 
 O ftaye, O ftaye, thou goodlye youthe, 4.5 
 
 She ftandeth by thy fide ; 
 She.is here alive, me is not dead, 
 
 And readye to be thy bride. 
 
 O farewell griefe, and welcome joye, 
 
 Ten thoufand times therefore ; -5 
 
 For nowe I have founde mine owne true love, 
 
 Whom I thought I fliould never fee more. 
 
 K 3 IX. T H E
 
 i 3 4 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 IX. 
 
 THE WILLOW-TREE. 
 
 A PASTORAL DIALOGUE. 
 
 From the /mall black-letter colleftion, intitled, " The 
 Golden Garland of princely delights ;" collated with two 
 other copies and corrected Ly conjetfure* 
 
 WILLY. 
 
 HO W now, fhepherde, what meanes that ? 
 Why that willowein thy hat ? 
 Why thy fcarffes of red and yellowe 
 Turn'd to branches of greene willowe ? 
 
 CUDDY, 
 
 They are chang'd, and fo am I ; 5 
 
 Sorrowes live, but pleafures die : 
 Phillis hath forfaken mee, 
 Which makes me weare the willowc-trec. 
 
 WILLY. 
 
 Phillis ! fhee that lov'd thee long ? 
 Is ftiee the lafs hath done thee wrong ? IO 
 
 Shee that lov'd thee long and beft, 
 Js her love turn'd to a j eft ?
 
 AND BALLADS. 135 
 
 CUDDY. 
 
 Shee that long true love profeft, 
 
 She hath robb'd my heart of reft : 
 
 For fhe a new love loves, not mee ; 1 5 
 
 Which makes me wear the willow:-tree. 
 
 WILLY. 
 
 Come then, fhepherde, let us joine, 
 Since thy happ is like to mine : 
 For the maid I thought moft true 
 Mee hath alfo bid adieu. 20 
 
 CUDDY. 
 
 Thy hard happ doth mine appeafe, 
 Companye doth forrowe eafe : 
 Yet, Phillis, ftill I pine for thee, 
 And ftill muft weare the willowe-tree. 
 
 WILLY. 
 
 Shepherde, be advis'd by mee, 45 
 
 Caft 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-tree : 30 
 
 Henceforth I will do as they, 
 And love a new love every day. 
 
 * * 
 
 K 4 X. T H E
 
 136 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 X. 
 THE LADY's FALL, 
 
 is given from the editor's ancient folio MS, collated 
 *with t-~wo printed copies in black letter ; one in the Britijh 
 Mufeum, the other in the Pepys collection. Its old title is, 
 " A lamentable ballad of the Lady's fall. To the tune of, 
 
 " In Pefcod Time, &c." The ballad here referred to is 
 
 preferred in the MUSES LIBRARY 8<vo. p. 281. It is 
 an allegory or vijion, intitled " THE SHEPHERDS SLUM- 
 " BER," and opens <with fame pretty rural images, viz. 
 
 "In pefcod time 'when hound to horn 
 
 " Gives eare till buck be kiVd, 
 tl And little lads ivith pipes of ccrne 
 
 " Safe keeping beafls a-Jield, 
 
 " I vcent to gather jiranuberries 
 
 " By ivoods and groves full fair," &c. 
 
 MARKE well my heavy dolefull tale, 
 You loyall lovers all, 
 And heedfully beare in your breft, 
 
 A gallant ladyes fall. 
 Long was {he woo'd, ere Ihe was wonne, 5 
 
 To lead a wedded life, 
 But folly wrought her overthrowe 
 Before fhee was a wife. 
 
 Too
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 137 
 
 Too foone, alas ! fhee gave confent 
 
 And yeelded to his will, 10 
 
 Though he protefted to be true, 
 
 And faithfull to her ftill. 
 Shee felt her body altered quite, 
 
 Her bright hue waxed pale, 
 Her lovelye cheeks chang'd color white, 1 5 
 
 Her ftrength began to fayle. 
 
 Soe that with many a forrowful figh, 
 
 This beauteous ladye milde, 
 With greeved hart, perceiv'd herfelfe 
 
 To have conceiv'd with childe. 20 
 
 Shee kept it from her parents fight 
 
 As clofe as clofe might bee, 
 And foe put on her filken gowne 
 
 None might her fvvelling fee. 
 
 Unto her lover fecretly 25 
 
 Her greefe fliee did bewray, 
 And walking with him hand in hand, 
 
 Thefe words to him did fay ; 
 Behold, quoth fliee, a maids diftrefie 
 
 By love brought to thy bowe, 30 
 
 Behold I goe with childe by thee, 
 
 But none thereof doth knowe. 
 
 The
 
 8 AtfCIENT SONGS 
 
 The little babe fprings in my wombc 
 
 To heare its fathers voyce, 
 Lett it not be a baflard call'd, 35 
 
 Sith I made thee my choyce : 
 Come, come, my love, perform thy vowe 
 
 And wed me out of hand; 
 O leave me not in this extreme, 
 
 In griefe alwayes to ftand. 40 
 
 Thinke on thy former promifcs, 
 
 Thy oathes and vowes eche one ; 
 Remember with what bitter teares 
 
 To mee thou madeft thy moane. 
 Convay me to fome fecrett place, 45 
 
 And marry me with fpeede ; 
 Or with thy rapyer end my life, 
 
 Ere further ftxame proceede. 
 
 Alacke ! my deareft love, quoth hee, 
 
 My greateft joye on earthe, 5* 
 
 Which waye can I convay thee hence, 
 
 Without a fudden death ? 
 Thy friends are all of hye degree, 
 
 And I of meane eftate ; 
 Full hard it is to gett thee forthe 55 
 
 Out of thy fathers gate. 
 
 Dread
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 13$ 
 
 Dread not thy life to fave my fame, 
 
 For if thou taken bee, 
 My felfe will ftep betweene the fwords, 
 
 And take the harme on mee : 60 
 
 Soe mall I fcape di (honor quite j 
 
 And if I mould be flaine 
 What could they fay, but that true love 
 
 Had wrought a ladyes bane. 
 
 And feare not any further harme ; 65 
 
 My felfe will foe derife, 
 That I will ryde away with thee 
 
 Unknowne of mortal eyes : 
 Pifguifed like fome pretty page, 
 
 He meete thee in the darke, 70 
 
 And all alone He come to thee, 
 
 Hard by my fathers parke. 
 
 And there, quoth hee, lie meete my deare 
 
 If God foe lend me life, 
 On this day month without all faile 75 
 
 I will make thee my wife. 
 Then with a fweet and loving kifle, 
 
 They parted prefentlye, 
 And att their partinge brinifh teares 
 
 jStoode in eche others eye, So 
 
 Att
 
 140 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 Att length the wifhed day was come, 
 
 On which this beauteous mayd, 
 With longing eyes, and ftrange attire, 
 
 For her true lover ftayd : 
 When any perfon fhee efpyed 85 
 
 Come rydingore the plaine, 
 She hop 'd it was her owne true love ; 
 
 But all her hope^ we/e vaine. 
 
 Then did fhee weepe and fore bewayle 
 
 Her moft unhappy fate ; . 90 
 
 Then did ihee fpeake thefe woefull words, 
 
 As fuccourlefs fhee fate : 
 O falfe, forfworne, and faithleffe man, 
 
 Difloyall in thy love, 
 Haft thou forgott thy promife paft, 95 
 
 And wilt thou perjur'd prove ? 
 
 And haft thou now forfaken mee . 
 
 In this rny great diilreffe, 
 To end my dayes in open fhame, 
 
 Which thou mightft well redrefle ? joo 
 
 Woe worth the time I eer believ'd 
 
 That flattering tongue of thine ; 
 Would God that I had never feene 
 
 The teares of thy falfe eyne. 
 
 An<|
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 141 
 
 And thus with many a forrowful figh, : r : ; ./ 105 
 
 Homewards me went againe ; 
 Noe reft came in her waterye eyes, 
 
 Shee felt fuch privye paine. 
 In travail ftrong fhee fell that night, 
 
 With many a bitter thrpwe j no 
 
 What woefull pangs fhee then did feel,' 
 
 Doth eche good woman knowe. 
 
 Shee called up her waiting mayd, 
 
 That lay at her bedds feete, 
 Who mufing at her miftrefs woe, brrA 115 
 
 Began full faft .to weepe. 
 Weepe not,' faid fhee, but fluitt the dores,> riiT 
 
 And windowes round about, 
 Let none bewray my wretched Hate, 
 
 But keepe all perfons out. 1 20 
 
 O miftrefs, call your mother deare, 
 
 Of women you have neede, 
 And of fome fkilfull midwifes helpe, 
 
 That better you may fpeed. 
 Call not 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
 
 2 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 With that the babe fprang from her wombe 
 
 No creature being nye, i$Cf 
 
 And with one fighe, which brake her heart, 
 
 This gallant dame did dye. 
 The lovely little infant yonge, 
 
 The mother being dead, 
 Refigned its new received breath 135 
 
 To him that had it made. 
 
 Next morning came her own true love, 
 
 Affrighted at the newes, 
 And he for forrow flew himfelfe, 
 
 Whom eche one did accufe. 140 
 
 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, you daintye damfelles all, 145 
 
 Of flattering words beware, 
 And of the honour of your name 
 
 Have an efpecial care. 
 Too true, alas ! this ftory is, 
 
 As many one can tell. 150 
 
 By others harmes learne to be wife, 
 . And you (hall do full well. 
 
 XL WALY
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 143 
 
 XI. 
 
 WALY WALY, LOVE BE BONNY. 
 A SCOTTISH SONG. 
 
 This is a very andentfong, lut we could 'only give it front 
 modern copies. Some editions injlead of the four .loft lines 
 in the fecond ftanza have tbefe, 'which have too much merit 
 to be wholly Juppreffed, 
 
 " Whan cockle Jhelh turn filler tells, 
 " And mufcles gro-~w on every tree, 
 " When froft and fnaiu fall voarm us aw' r 
 " Than fall my love prove true tome.'' 1 
 
 See the Orpheus CaleJonius, tiff. 
 
 Arthur-feat mentiemd in <uer. I'j.is a hill mar E&nborough ; 
 at the bottom of which is St. Anthony's well. 
 
 "3fl 30.1 eiT ^ 
 
 O 
 
 Waly 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 kant my back unto an aik, 5 
 
 I thought it was a trufty tree; 
 But firft it bow'd, and fyne it brak, 
 
 Sae my true love did lightly me. 
 
 O waly, waly, gin love be bonny, 
 
 A little time while it is new, 10 
 
 But when its auld, it waxeth cauld, 
 
 And fades awa' like morning dew. 
 
 2 O wher-
 
 i 4 4 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 O wherfore fhuld I bufk my head ? 
 
 Or wherfore fhuld I kame my hair? 
 For my true love has me forfook, 15 
 
 And fays he'll never loe me mair. 
 
 Now Arthur-feat fall be my bed, 
 The (heets fall neir be fyl'd by me: 
 
 Saint Anton's well fall be my drink, 
 
 Since my true love has forfaken me. 20 
 
 Marti'mas wind, whan wilt thou blaw, 
 And make the green leaves aff the tree ? 
 
 gentle death, whan wilt thou cum ? 
 For of my life I aai wearie. 
 
 Tis not the froft, that freezes fell, 25 
 
 Nor blawing fnaws inclemencie ; 
 Tis not fie cauld, that makes me <;ry^ 
 
 But my loves heart grown cauld to me. 
 Whan we came in by Glafgowe town, 
 
 We were a comely fight to fee, 30 
 
 My Jove was cled i' th' black velvet, 
 
 And I my fell in cramasie. 
 
 But had I wift, before I kifst, 
 
 That love had been fae ill to win ; 
 
 1 had lockt my heart in a cafe of gowd, 3 5 
 
 And pinnd it with a filler pin. 
 
 Oh,
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 145 
 
 Oh oh ! if my young babe were born, 
 
 And fet upon the nurfes knee, 
 And I my fell were dead and gane! 
 
 For a maid again Ife never be. <J.O 
 
 *. 
 THE WANTON WIFE OF BATH. 
 
 From an ancient copy in black-print, in the Pepys collection. 
 Mr. Addifon has pronounced this an excellent ballad^ See 
 the Spetiator, N. 248. 
 
 IN Bath a wanton wife did dwelle, 
 As Chaucer he doth write; 
 Who did in pleafure fpend her dayes, 
 And many a fond delight. 
 
 2 r ik* .-.a* aiftw'j t)d flvcy;i au>ir 
 Upon a time fore ficke fhe was, < 
 
 And at the length did dye ; 
 And then her foul at heaven gate 
 
 Did knocke moft mightilye. 
 
 Firft Adam came unto the gate : 
 
 Who knocketh there? quoth hee, IO 
 
 I am the wife of Bath, ftie fayd, 
 
 And faine would come to thee. 
 VOL. III. L Thou
 
 I 4 6 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 Thou art a finner, Adam fayd, 
 
 And here no place malt have. 
 And fo art thou, I trowe, quoth mee ; 
 
 Now, gip, you doting knave. 
 
 I will come in, in fpight, me fayd, 
 
 Of all fuch churles as thee; 
 Thou wert the caufer of our woe, 
 
 Our paine and mifeiy ; 
 
 And firft broke Gods commandiments, 
 
 In pleafure of thy wife 
 
 When Adam heard her tell this tale, 
 
 He ranne away for life. 
 
 S HT 
 Then downe came Jacob at the gate, 
 
 And bids her packe to- hell ; 
 Thou falfe deceiving knave, quoth me, 
 
 Thou mayft be there as well. 
 
 For thou deceiv'dft thy father deare, 
 
 And thine t>wn brother too. 
 Away flunk' Jacob prefently, 
 
 And made no more adoo. 
 
 Ver, 16. Gip, fep, or guep, is a common interjeflion of contempt in 
 ur old poets. See Gray's Hudibras, ft. I. canto 3. v. zoz. note. 
 
 She
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 147 
 
 She knockes again with might and maiae, 
 
 And Lot he chides her ftraite. 
 How now, quoth me, thoti drunken afs, 35 
 
 Who bade thee here to prate ?,t m / 
 
 With thy two daughters thoo didft lye, 
 
 On them two baftardes got. 
 And thus moft tauntingly flie chaft 
 
 Againft poor filly Lot. 40 
 
 Who calleth there, quoth Judith then, 
 
 With fuch fhrill founding notes ? 
 This fine minkes furely came not here, 
 
 Quoth fhe, for cutting throats. 
 
 Good Lord, how Judith blufh'd for flume, 45 
 
 When fhe heard her fay foe ! 
 King David hearing of the fame, 
 
 He to the gate would goe. 
 
 Quoth David, Who knockes there fo loud, 
 
 And maketh all this ftrife ? 50 
 
 You were more kinde, good Sir, fhe fayd, fl'f 
 Unto Uriah's wife. 
 
 And when thy fervant thou didft caufe 
 
 In battle to be flaine ; 
 Thou caufedft far more ftrife than I, 55 
 
 Who would come here fo faine. 
 
 L 2 The
 
 i4 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 The woman's mad, quoth Solomon, 
 
 That thus doth taunt a king. 
 Not half fo mad as you, Ihe fayd 
 
 I trowe, in manye a thing. 60 
 
 Thou hadft fevcn hundred wives at once, 
 
 For whom thou didft provide ; 
 And yet, god wot, three hundred whores 
 f Thou muft maintaine befide: 
 
 And they made thee forfake thy God, 65 
 
 And worlhip flockes and fiones; 
 Befides the charge they put thee to 
 
 In breeding of young bones. 
 
 Hadft thou not bin befide thy wits, 
 
 Thou wouldit not thus have ventur'd ; 70 
 
 And therefore I do marvel much, 
 
 How thou this place haft enter'd. 
 
 I never heard, quoth Jonas then, 
 
 So vile a fcold as this. i m br 
 
 Thou whore-fon run-away, quoth flie, 75 
 
 Thou diddeft more amifs. jJuU 
 
 They fay' quoth Thomas, womens tongues 
 
 Of afpen-leaves are made. 
 Thou unbelieving wretch, quoth flie, 
 
 All is not true that's fayd. 80 
 
 When 
 Ver. 77. I think. P. "
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 149 
 
 When Mary Magdalen heard her then, 
 
 She came unto the gate. 
 Quoth ftie, good woman, you muft think 
 
 Upon your former ftate. 
 
 No finner enters in this place 85 
 
 Quoth Mary Magdalene. Then 
 'Twere ill for you, fair miftrefs mine, 
 
 She anfwered her agen : 
 
 You for your honeftye, quoth (he, 
 
 Had once been fton'd to death ; 90 
 
 Had not our Saviour Chrift come by, 
 
 And written on the earth. 
 
 It was not by your occupation, 
 
 You are become divine : 
 I hope my foul in Chrift his paffion, 95 
 
 Shall be as fafe as thine, 
 
 Uprofe the good apoftle Paul, 
 
 And to this wife he cryed, 
 Except thou ftiake thy fins away, 
 
 Thou here fhalt be de.nyed. IOO 
 
 Remember, Paul, what thou haft done, 
 
 All through a lewd defire : 
 How thou didft perfecutc God's church* 
 
 With wrath as hot as fire. 
 
 L 3 Then
 
 150 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 Then up ftarts Peter at the laft, 105 
 
 And to the gate he hies : 
 Fond fool, quoth he, knock not fo faft, 
 
 Thou wearieft Chrift with cries. 
 
 Peter, faid fhe, content thyfelfe, 
 
 For mercye may be won j no 
 
 I never did deny my Chrift, 
 
 As thou thyfelfe haft done. 
 
 When as our Saviour Chrift heard this, 
 
 With heavenly angels bright, 
 He comes unto this finful foul } 115 
 
 Who trembled at his fight. 
 
 Of him for mercye fhe did crave. 
 
 Quoth he, thou haft refus'd 
 My proffer'd grace, and mercy both, 
 
 And much my name abus'd. 120 
 
 Sore have I finned, Lord, me fayd, 
 
 And fpent my time in vaine ; 
 But bring me like a wandring (heepe 
 
 Into thy fold againe. 
 
 O Lord my God, I will amend 125 
 
 My former wicked vice : 
 The thief for one poor filly word 
 
 Paft into paradife. 
 
 My
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 151 
 
 My lawes and my commandiments, 
 
 Saith Chrift, were knowne to thee ; 130 
 
 But of the fame in any wife, 
 
 Not yet one word did yee. 
 
 I grant the fame, O Lord, quoth Ihe ; 
 
 Moft lewdly did I live ; 
 But yet the loving father did 135 
 
 His prodigal fon forgive. 
 
 So I forgive thy foul, he fayd, 
 
 Through thy repenting crye ; 
 Come enter then into my reft, 
 
 I will not thee denye. 140 
 
 xra. 
 
 D U L C I N A. 
 
 Given from tiuo ancient copies, one in black-'print, in tie 
 Pepys colleSion ; the otbtr in the editor's folio MS. The 
 fourth jtanza is not found in MS, and feems redundant. 
 This fong is quoted as very popular in Walton's Compltat 
 Angler, chap. 2. It is more ancient than the fong of RO- 
 BIN GOOD-FELLOW printed b(lo-iu t <whick yet is fuppofetl 
 to have been written by Ben Jonfon. 
 
 AS at noone Dulcina refted 
 In her fweete and Irtady bower ; 
 Came a fhepherd, and requefted 
 In her lappe to fleep an hour. 
 
 L 4 Bu
 
 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 But from her looke 5 
 
 A wounde he tooke 
 So deepe, that for a further boone 
 
 The nymphe he prayes : 
 
 Whereto fhe fayes, 
 Foregoe me now, come to me foone. 10 
 
 But in vayne fhee did conjure him 
 
 To departe her prefence foe ; 
 Having a thoufand tongues to allure him, 
 And but one to bid him goe : 
 
 Where lippes invite, 1 5 
 
 And eyes delight, 
 
 And cheekes, as frefh as rofe in June, 
 Perfuade delay ; 
 What boots to fay, 
 Foregoe me new, come to me foone ? 20 
 
 He demands what time for pleafure 
 Can there be more fit than now : 
 She fayes, night gives love that leifure, 
 Which the day doth not allow. 
 
 He fayes, the fight 25 
 
 ' Improves delight : 
 
 . ' Which mee denies ; nights mirkie noone 
 In Venus* playes 
 Makes bold, ihe fayes ; 
 Foregoe me now, come to mee foone. 30 
 
 But
 
 A N D B A L L A D S, i S3 
 
 But what promife or profeffion 
 
 From his hands could purchafe fcope ? 
 Who would fell the fweet pofleffion 
 Of fuche beautye for a hope ? 
 
 Or for the fight 3 j 
 
 Of lingering night 
 Foregoe the prefent joyes of noone ? 
 
 Though ne'er foe faire 
 
 Her fpeeches were, 
 Foregoe me now, come to me foone. 40 
 
 How, at laft, agreed thefe lovers ? 
 
 Shee was fayre, and he was young : 
 The tongue may tell what th'eye difcovers ; 
 Joyes unfeene are never fung. 
 
 Did fhee confent, 45 
 
 Or he relent; 
 
 Accepts hee night, or grants fhee noone ; 
 Left he her mayd, 
 Or not; me fayd 
 Foregoe me now, come to me foone. 50 
 
 XIV. THE
 
 154 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 XIV. 
 THE LADY ISABELLA'S TRAGEDY, 
 
 This ballad is given from an old black-letter copy in t" e 
 Pepys collection, collated ^with another in the Britijh 
 Mufeum, H. 263. folio. It is there intitled, " The Lady 
 " 1/abella's Tragedy, or the Step-Mother's Cruelty : being 
 " a relation of a lamentable and cruel murther, committed 
 " on the body of the lady Ifabella, the only daughter of a 
 " noble duke, &c. To the tune of the Lady's Fall." 
 To fame copies are annexed eight more modern ftanzas, 
 intitled, " The Dut chefs' s and Cook's Lamentation." 
 
 T* H E RE was a lord 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 Ihe did feigne, 
 
 Unto the church to praye. 
 
 This
 
 AND BALLADS. 155 
 
 This lord he had a daughter deare, 
 
 Whofe beauty Ihone fo bright, io 
 
 She was belov'd, both far and neare, 
 
 Of many a lord and knight. 
 
 Fair Ifabella was me call'd, 
 
 A creature faire was fliee ; 
 She was her fathers only joye; 15 
 
 As you fhall after fee. 
 
 Therefore her cruel ftep-mothcr 
 
 Did envye her fo much ; 
 That daye by daye (he fought her life, 
 
 Her malice it was fuch. 29 
 
 She bargain'd with the mafter-cook, 
 
 To take her life awaye : 
 And taking of her daughters book, 
 
 She thus to her did faye. 
 
 Go home, fweet daughter, I thee praye, 25 
 
 Go haften prefentlie ; 
 And tell unto the mafter-cook 
 
 Thefe wordes that I tell thee. 
 
 And bid him dre/Te to dinner {height 
 
 That faire and milk-white doe, 30 
 
 That in the parke doth mine fo bright, 
 
 There's none fo faire to fliowe. 
 
 This
 
 i 5 6 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 This ladye fearing of no harme, 
 
 Obey'd her mothers will ; 
 And prefentlye (he hafted home, 35 
 
 Her pleafure to fulfill. 
 
 She ftreight into the kitchen went, 
 
 Her meflage for to tell; 
 And there fhe fpied the mafter-cook, 
 
 Who did with malice fwell. 
 
 Nowe, mafter-cook, it muft be foe, 
 
 Do that which I thee tell : 
 You needes muft dreffe the milk-white doe, 
 
 Which you do knowe full well. 
 
 Then ftreight his cruell bloodye hands, 45 
 
 He on the ladye layd; 
 Who quivering and fhaking Hands, 
 
 While thus to her he fayd: 
 
 Thou art the do, that I muft dreflc j 
 
 See here, behold my knife j $ 
 
 For it is pointed prefently 
 
 To ridd thee of thy life. 
 
 O then, cried out the fcullion-boye, 
 
 As loud as loud might bee : 
 O fave her life, good mafter-cook, 55 
 
 And make your pyes of mee ! 
 
 For
 
 AND BALLADS. 157 
 
 For pityes fake do not deftroye 
 
 My ladye with your knife ; 
 You know fhee is her father's joye, 
 
 For Chriftes fake fave her life. 60 
 
 I will not fave her life, he fayd, 
 
 Nor make my pyes of thee ; 
 Yet if thou doft this deed bewraye, 
 
 Thy butcher I will bee. , 
 
 Now when this lord he did come home 65 
 
 For to fit downe and 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 : 70 
 
 Into fome nunnery ftie is gone ; 
 
 Your daughter deare forget. 
 
 Then folemnlye he made a vowe, 
 
 Before the companie : 
 That he would neither eat nor drinke, 75 
 
 Until he did her fee. 
 
 O then befpake the fcullion-boye, 
 
 With a loud voice fo hye : 
 If now you will your daughter fee, 
 
 My lord, cut up that pye : 80 
 
 Wherein
 
 i S 8 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 Wherein her flefhe is minced fmall, 
 
 And parched with the fire ; 
 All caufed by her ftep-mother, 
 
 Who did her death defire. 
 
 And curfed bee the mafter-cook, 85 
 
 O curfed may he bee ! 
 I proffered him my own hearts blood, 
 
 From death to fet her free. 
 
 Then all in blacke this lord did mourne ; 
 
 And for his daughters fake, 90 
 
 He judged her cruell ftep-mother 
 
 To be burnt at a ftake. 
 
 Likewife he-judg'd the mafter-cook 
 
 In boiling lead to ftand ; 
 And made the fimple fcullion-boye 95 
 
 The heire of all his land. 
 
 XV. A
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 159 
 
 XV. 
 
 A HUEANDCRY AFTER CUPID- 
 
 'This Poem, tuhich Is in imitation of the fir ft Idyllium of 
 Mofchus, is extracted from Ben Jonfon's Mafque at the 
 marriage of lord vifcount Hadington, on Shro^ue-'Tuefday 
 1608. One ftanza full of dry mythology net have omitted, 
 as we found it dropt in a copy of this fong printed in afma.ll 
 volume called " Le Prince d' amour. Load. 1660." 8vo. 
 
 BEAUTIES, have yee feen a toy, 
 Called Love, a little boy, 
 Almoit naked, wanton, blinde ; 
 Cruel now ; and then as kinde ? 
 If he be amongft yee, fay ; t 
 
 He is Venus' run-away. 
 
 Shee, that will but now difcover 
 
 Where the winged wag doth hover, 
 
 Shall to-night receive a kifle, 
 
 How and where herfelfe would wifh : lo 
 
 But who brings him to his mother 
 
 Shall have that kiffe, and another. 
 
 Markes he hath about him plentie ; 
 You may know him among twentie : 
 
 > 3 Ail
 
 160 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 All his body is a fire, I r 
 
 And his breath a flame entire : 
 Which, being {hot like lightning in, 
 Wounds the heart, but not the fkin. 
 
 Wings he hath, which though yee clip, 
 
 He will leape from lip to lip, 20 
 
 Over liver, lights, and heart j 
 
 Yet not ftay in any part. 
 
 And, if chance his arrow miffes, 
 
 He will moot himfelfe in kifles. 
 
 - , 
 
 He doth beare a golden bow, 25 
 
 And a quiver hanging low, 
 Full of arrowes, which outbrave 
 Dian's fhafts ; where, if he have 
 Any head more (harpe than other, --mi A 
 
 With that firft he Itrikes his mother. y jQ 30 
 
 ri"il 
 
 Still the faireft are his fuel!, 
 When his daies are to be cruell ; 
 Lovers hearts are all his food, 
 And his baths their warmeft bloud : 
 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 : 40 
 
 Not
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 161 
 
 Not a kifle but poyfon beares ; 
 And moft treafon in his teares. 
 
 Idle minutes are his raigne ; 
 
 Then the ftraggler makes his gaine, 
 
 By prefenting maids with toyes 45 
 
 And would have yee thinke hem joyes : 
 
 'Tis the ambition of the elfe, 
 
 To have all childilh, as himfelfe. 
 
 If by thefe yee pleafe to know him, 
 
 Beauties, be not nice, but mow him. 50 
 
 Though yee had a will to hide him, 
 
 Now, we hope, yee'le not abide him, 
 
 Since yee heare this falfer's play, 
 
 And that he is Venus' run-away. 
 
 XVI. 
 THE KING OF FRANCE'S DAUGHTER. 
 
 Tbeftory of this Ballad feems to be taken from an incident 
 in the domeftic hiftory of Charles the Bald, king of France. 
 His daughter 'Judith was betrothed to Etbelwulph king of 
 England : but before the marriage ivas confummated, Ethel" 
 ivnlph died, and Jhe returned to France : whence Jhe 'was 
 carried off" by B aid-ivy n, Forreftcr of Flanders ; ivho after 
 many crojjes and difficulties, at length obtained the king's 
 (onj'ent to their marriage, and was made Earl of Flanders. 
 This happened about A. D. 863. See Rapin, Renault, 
 and the French Hifloriant, 
 
 VOL. III. M Tbe
 
 162 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 The following copy is given from the editor's ancient folia 
 MS. collated 'with another in black letter in the Pepys 
 Collection, intitled, " An excellent Ballad of a prince of 
 " England's courtjhip to the king of France's daughter, &c. 
 " To the tune of Crimfon Velvet."'' 
 
 Many breaches having been made in this old fong by the 
 hand of time, principally (as might be expetfed} in the 
 quick returns of the rhime; nue have attempted to repair them, 
 
 IN the dayes of old, 
 When faire France did flouriih, 
 Storyes plaine have told, 
 
 Lovers felt annoye. 
 The queene a daughter bare^ * 
 
 Whom beautye's queene did nourifh : 
 She was lovelye faire, 
 
 She was her fathers joye. 
 A prince of England came, 
 Whofe deeds did merit fame, 1$ 
 
 But he was exil'd, and outcalt : 
 Love his foul did fire, 
 Shee granted his defire, 
 
 Their hearts in one were linked faft. 
 Which when her father proved, 15 
 
 Sorelye he was moved, 
 
 And tormented in his minde. 
 He fought for to prevent them ; 
 And, to difcontent them, 
 
 Fortune crofs'd thefe lovers kinde. 20 
 
 When thefe princes twaine 
 
 Were tKus barr'd of pleafure, 
 Through the kinges difdaine,
 
 AND BALLADS. 163 
 
 Which their joyes withftoode : 
 The lady foone prepar'd 3 25 
 
 Her Jewells and her treafure ; 
 Having no regard 
 
 For ftate and royall bloode ; 
 In homelye poore array 
 She went from court away, . 30 
 
 To meet her joye and hearts delight ; 
 Who in a forreft great 
 Had taken up his feat, 
 
 To wayt her coming: in the night. 
 But, lo! what fudden danger '^ 35 
 
 To this princely ftranger 
 
 Chanced, as he fate alone? 
 By outlawes he was robbed, 
 And with ponyards ftabbed, 
 
 Uttering many a dying gronc. : . ^o 
 
 / .fccs az Us, z: *\il-\m y&vt aol - 
 The princeffe, arm'd by love, 
 
 And by chafte defire, 
 All the night did rove 
 
 Without dread at all : 
 Still unknowne fhe paft . 4$ 
 
 In her ftrange attire ; 
 Coming at the laft 
 
 Within echoes call, 
 You faire woods, quoth mee, 
 Honoured may you bee, 
 
 Harbouring my hearts delight ; 
 Which encompafs here 
 My joye and only deare, 
 
 My truftye friend, and comelyc knight. 
 
 M 2 Swcete,
 
 i64 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 Sweete, I come unto thee, 55 
 
 Sweete, I come to woo thee ; 
 
 That thou mayft not angrye bee 
 For my long delaying ; 
 For thy curteous Haying 
 
 Soone amendes He make to thee. 60 
 
 Faffing thus alone 
 
 Through the filent foreft, 
 Many a grievous grone 
 
 Sounded an her eares : 
 She heard one complayne 6 
 
 And lament the foreft, 
 Seeming all in payne, 
 
 Shedding deadly teares. 
 Farewell, my deare, quoth hee, 
 Whom I muft never fee ; 70 
 
 For why my life is att an end, 
 Through villaines crueltye: 
 For thy fweet fake I dye, 
 
 To mow I am a faithfull friend. 
 Here I lye a bleeding, 75 
 
 While my thoughts are feeding 
 
 On the rareft beautye found. 
 O hard happ, that may be ! 
 Little knowes my ladye 
 
 My heartes blood lyes on the ground. So 
 
 With that a grone he fends 
 
 Which did bur ft in funder 
 All the tender ' bands'
 
 A N D B A L L A D S 165 
 
 Of his gentle heart. 
 She, who knewe his voice, 85 
 
 At his wordes did wonder ; 
 All her formerjoyes 
 
 Did to griefe convert. 
 Strait fhe ran to fee, 
 Who this man {hold bee, 9t 
 
 That foe like her love did feeme : 
 Her lovely lord fhe found 
 Lye flaine upon the ground, 
 
 Smear'd with gore a ghaftlye ftreame. 
 Which his lady fpying, 95 
 
 Shrieking, fainting, crying, 
 
 Her forrows could not uttered bee : 
 Fate, fhe cryed, too cruell ! 
 For thee my deareft Jewell, 
 
 Would God ! that I had dyed for thee. ' 100 
 
 His pale lippes, alas ! 
 
 Twentye times fhe kitted, 
 And his face did wafh 
 
 With her trickling teares : 
 Every gaping wound 105 
 
 Tenderlye fhe prefled, 
 And did wipe it round 
 
 With her golden haires. 
 Speake, faire love, quoth fhee, 
 Speake, faire prince, to mee, HO 
 
 One fweete word of comfort give : 
 Lift up thy deare eyes, 
 Liflen to my cryes, 
 
 Thinke in what fad griefe I live.
 
 166 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 All in vaine me fued, . 115 
 
 All in vaine fne wooed-, 
 
 The prince's life was fled and gone. 
 There flood fhe flill mourning, 
 Till the funs retourning, 
 
 And bright day was coming on. 120 
 
 In this great diilreffe 
 
 Weeping, waylingever, 
 Oft fhee cryed, alas ! 
 
 What will become of mee ? 
 To my fathers court ' i%$ 
 
 I r.eturne will never : 
 But in lowlye fort 
 
 Will a fervant bee. 
 While thus me made her mone, 
 Weeping all alone, 130 
 
 In this deepe and deadlye feare : 
 A for'fter all in greene, 
 Moil comelye to be feene, 
 
 Ranging the woods did find her there : 
 Movd with her forrowej 135 
 
 Maid, quoth he, good morrowe, 
 
 What hard happ has Brought thee here ? 
 Harder happ did never 
 Two kinde hearts diflever 
 
 Here lyes flaine my brother deare; 140 
 
 JWhere mayjremaine, 
 Gentle for'fter, ihew me, 
 
 Till
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 167 
 
 Till I can obtaine 
 
 A fervice in my neede ? 
 Paines I will not fpare : 145 
 
 This kinde favour doe me, 
 It will eafe my care ; 
 
 Heaven fhall be thy meede. 
 The for'fter all amazed, 
 On her beautye gazed, 150 
 
 Till his heart was fet on fire, 
 If, faire maid, quoth hee, 
 You will goe with mee, 
 
 You mail have your hearts defire. 
 He brought her to his mother, 155 
 
 And above all other 
 
 He fett forth this maidens praife. 
 Long was his heart inflamed, 
 At length her love he gained, 
 
 And fortune crown'd his future dayes. 160 
 
 Thus unknowne he wedde 
 
 With a kings faire daughter ; 
 Children feven they had, 
 
 Ere me told her birth. 
 Which when once he knew, 165 
 
 Humblye he befought her, 
 He to the world might mew 
 
 Her rank and princelye worth. 
 He cloath'd his children then, 
 (Not like other men) 170 
 
 In partye-colours flrange to fe ; 
 
 M 4 Th
 
 168 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 The right fide cloth of gold, 
 The left fide to behold, 
 
 Of woollen cloth ftill framed hee*. 
 Men thereatt did wonder ; 175 
 
 Golden fame did thunder 
 
 This ftrange deede in every place : 
 The king of France came thither, 
 It being pleafant weather, 
 
 In thefe woods the hart to chafe. 1 8e 
 
 The children then they bring, 
 
 So their mother will'd it, 
 Where the royall king 
 
 Muft of force come bye : 
 Their mothers riche array, 1 85 
 
 Was of crimfon velvet : 
 Their fathers all of gray, 
 
 Seemelye to the eye. 
 Then this famous king, 
 Noting every thing, 190 
 
 * This will remind the reader of the livery and device 
 of Charles Brandon, a private gentleman, who married the 
 Queen Dowager of France, fefter of Henry VHI. At a tour- 
 nament which he held at his wedding, the trappings of his 
 horfe 'were half Cloth of gold, and half Frieze t <with the 
 following Motto, 
 
 " Cloth of Gold, do not difpife, 
 
 " jT/ta' thou artmatcht wifh Cloth of Prize ; 
 
 " Cloth of Prize, be not too bold, 
 
 " ThJ thou art matcht with Cloth of Gold." 
 
 ir W. Temple's Miff., vol. 3. /. 336. 
 
 2 Afkt
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 169 
 
 Afltt how he durft be fo bold 
 To let his wife foe wears, 
 And decke his children there, 
 
 In coftly robes of pearl and gold. 
 The forrefter replying, 195 
 
 And the caufe defcrying*, 
 
 To the king thefe words did fay, 
 Well may they, by their mother, 
 Weare rich clothes with other, 
 
 Being by birth a princefse gay. 200 
 
 The king aroufed thus, 
 
 More heedfullye beheld them, 
 Till a crimfon blufh 
 
 His remembrance croft. 
 The more I fix my mind 20; 
 
 On thy wife and children, 
 The more methinks I find 
 
 The daughter which I loft. 
 Falling on her knee, 
 I am that child, quoth fhee ; 21 
 
 Pardon mee, my foveraine liege. 
 The king perceiving this, 
 His daughter deare did kifs, 
 
 While joyfull teares did ilopp his fpeeche. 
 With his traine he tourned. 215 
 
 And with them fojourned. 
 
 Strait he dubb'd her hufband knight; 
 Then made him erle of Flanders, 
 
 * /. e. Jkfcribing. Su Gbfs.
 
 170 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 And chiefe of his commanders t 
 
 Thus were their forrowes put to flight. 220 
 
 XVII. 
 THE SWEET NEGLECT. 
 
 Tats little madrigal (extraEted from Ben Jon/en's Silent 
 Womany A3 I. Sc. I; Firjl afted in 1609.^ is in imita- 
 tion of a Latin poem printed at the end of the Variorum 
 Edit, of Petronius, beginning ', Semper munditias, 
 lemper Bafilifla, decoras, & c ." See Wkallefs Ben 
 Jin/on, vol. 2. /. 420. 
 
 STILL to be neat, ftill to be dreft, 
 As you were going to a feaft : 
 Still to bepou'dred, ftill perfum'd: 
 Lady, it is to be prefum'd, 
 
 Though art's hid caufes are not found, <J 
 
 All is not fweet, all is not found. 
 
 Give me a looke, give me a face, 
 
 That makes fimplicitie a grace ; 
 
 Robes loofely flowing, haire as free : 
 
 Such fweet negleft more taketh me, 10 
 
 Than all th' adulteries of art, 
 
 That Urike mine eyes, but not my heart. 
 
 j XVIH. THE
 
 A N I> B A L L A D S. 171 
 
 xviir, 
 
 THE CHILDREN IN THE WOOD, 
 
 The fubjeft of this very popular ballad (which has btea 
 fet in fo favourable a light by the Spectator, N* 85.^ feems 
 to be taken from an old play , intitled, " Two lamentable 
 ' ' Tragedies, The one of the murder of Maifter Beecri, a 
 '* chandler in Thames-ftrecte, &c. The other of a young; 
 ff child murtbered in a wocd by two r tiffins, with the ccn- 
 " fentofhii unkle. By Rob. Tarrington, 1 601. 410." Our 
 ballad-maker baiftriclly followed the play in the defcriptizn 
 of the father and mother's dying charge : in the uncle's 
 promije to take care of their ijjue : his hiring two ruffians 
 to dejlroy his ward, under pretence offending him to fchool ~ 
 their cbujlng a wood to perpetrate the murder in : one of 
 the ruffians relenting, and a batth enfuirtg, &c. hi other 
 refpefts he has departed from the plav- In the latter the 
 fcene is laid in Padua : there is but ont child : ivhicb is 
 murdered by a fuddenftab of the unrelenting ruffian : he is 
 Jlain himfelf by bis lefs bloody companion, but ere he dies 
 gives the other a mortai'<vjound: the latter living jujt long 
 enough to impeach the uncle : who in confequence of this im- 
 peachment is arraigned aud executed by the band of jujlice, 
 &c. Whoever compares the play with the ballad, will have 
 no doubt but the former is the original : the. language is far 
 more obfolete, and fuch a vein ofjtmplicity runs thro' the 
 whole performance, that had the ballad been written frft, 
 there is no doubt but every circumjlance of it would have 
 teen received into the drama : whereas this was probably 
 built on fame Italian novel. 
 
 Printed from two ancient copies, one of them in black let- 
 ter in the Pepys Collection. It's title at large is, " Tht 
 " Children in the Wood : or, The Norfolk Gentleman'? 
 " Lajl Will and Teflament : To tht tune of Rcgero, 5fff.'\
 
 i 7 2 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 NO W ponder well, you parents deare, 
 Thefe vvordes, which I fnall write j 
 A doleful ftory you fhall heare, 
 
 In time brought forth to light : 
 A gentleman of good account 5 
 
 In Norfolke dwelt of late, 
 Who did in honour far furmount 
 Moil men of his eftate. 
 
 Sore ficke he was, and like to dye, 
 
 No helpe his life could fave ; ! 
 
 His wife by him as ficke did lye, 
 
 And both pofleft one grave. 
 No love between thefe two was loft, 
 
 Each was to other kinde, 
 In love they liv'd, in love they dyed, 1 5 
 
 And left two babes behinde : 
 
 The one a fine and pretty boy, 
 
 Not paffing three yeares olde ; 
 The other a girl more young than he, 
 
 And fram'd in beautyes molde. z 
 
 The father left his little fon, 
 
 As plainly doth appeare, 
 When he to perfecl age ftiould come, 
 
 Three hundred poundes a yeare. 
 
 And to his little daughter Jane 2* 
 
 Five hundred poundes in gold, 
 To be paid downe on marriage-day, 
 
 Which might not be controll'd ;
 
 AND BALLADS. 173 
 
 But if the children chance to dye, 
 
 Ere they to age mould come, 30 
 
 Their uncle mould poffefTe their wealth ; 
 
 For fo the wille did run. 
 
 Now, brother, faid the dying man, 
 
 Look to my children deare ; 
 Be good unto my boy and girl, 35 
 
 No friendes elfe have they here : 
 To God and you I recommend 
 
 My children deare this daye ; 
 But little while be fure we have 
 
 Within this world to ftaye. 40 
 
 You muft be father and mother both, 
 
 And uncle all in one ; 
 Cod knowes what will become of them, 
 
 When I am dead and gone. 
 With that befpake their mother deare, 4$ 
 
 O brother kinde, quoth fhee, 
 You are the man muft bring our babes 
 
 To wealth or miferie : 
 
 And if you keep them carefully, 
 
 Then God will you reward j 50 
 
 But if you otherwife mould deal, 
 
 God will your deedes regard. 
 With lippes as cold as any ftonc, 
 
 They kift their children fmall : 
 God blefs you both, my children deare ; 55 
 
 With that the teares did fall.
 
 4 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 Thefe fpeeches then their brother fpake 
 
 To this ficke couple there, 
 The keeping of your little ones 
 
 Sweet fitter, do not feare ; 60 
 
 God never profper me nor mine, 
 
 Nor aught elfe that I have, 
 If I do wrong your children deare, 
 
 When you are layd in grave. 
 
 The parents being dead and gone, oT ^65 
 
 The children home he takes, 
 And bringes them ftraite unto his houfe, 
 
 Where much of them he makes. 
 He had not kept thefe pretty babes 
 
 A twelvemonth and a daye, 7 
 
 But, for their wealth, he did devife 
 
 To make them both awaye. 
 
 . 
 He bargain'd with two ruffians ftrong, 
 
 Which were of furious mood, 
 That they fhould take thefe children young, 75 
 
 And flaye them in a wood : 
 He told his wife an artful tale, 
 
 He would th children fend 
 To be brought up in faire London, 
 
 With one that was his friend. 80 
 
 Away then went thefe pretty babes, 
 Rejoycing at that tide, 
 
 Rejoycing
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 175 
 
 Rejoycing with a merry minde, 
 
 They mould, on cock-horfe ride. 
 They prate and prattle pleafantly, 8j 
 
 As they rode on the waye, 
 To thofe that mould their butchers be, 
 
 And work their lives decaye. 
 
 So that the pretty fpeeche they had, 
 
 Made Murder's heart relent ; go 
 
 And they that undertooke the deed, 
 
 Full fore did now repent. 
 Yet one of them more hard of heart, 
 
 Did vowe to do his charge, 
 Becaufe the wretch, that hired him, 95 
 
 Had paid him very large. 
 
 The other won't agree thereto, 
 
 So here they fall to ftrife ; 
 With one another they did fight, 
 
 About the childrens life; loo 
 
 And he that was of mildeft mood, 
 
 Did flaye the other there, 
 Within an unfrequented wood, 
 
 While babes did quake for feare. 
 
 He took the children by the hand, 105 
 
 Teares {landing in their eye, 
 And bad them ftraitwaye follow him, 
 
 And look they did not crye : 
 
 And
 
 176 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 And two long miles he ledd them on, 
 
 While they for food complaine : no 
 
 Staye here, quoth he, I'll bring you bread, 
 
 When I come back againe. 
 
 Thefe pretty babes, with hand in hand, 
 
 Went wandering up and downe; 
 But never more could fee the man 115 
 
 Approaching from the town : 
 Their prettye lippes with black-berries, 
 
 Were all befmear'd and dyed, 
 And when they fawe the darkfome night, 
 
 They fat them downe and cryed. 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-red-breaft pioufly 
 
 Did cover them with leaves. 
 
 And now the heavy wrathe of God 
 
 Upon their uncle fell ; 130 
 
 Yea, fearfull fiends did haunt his houfe, 
 
 His confcience felt an hell : 
 His barnes were fir'd, his goodes confum'd, 
 
 His landes were barren made, 
 
 His 
 
 fir. 125. thefe. . babes. PP.
 
 A I* D B A L L A D S, 177 
 
 JHis cattle dyed within the field , 13$ 
 
 And nothing 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 : J4<S 
 
 He pawn'd and mortgaged all his land 
 
 Ere feven yeares came about. 
 And now at length this wicked a& 
 
 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 blefled will ; 
 Who did confefs the very truth, 
 
 As here hath been difplay'd : 150 
 
 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, 155 
 
 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 
 
 Voi.. HI, N XIX, A
 
 i;S ANCIENT SONG 
 
 XIX. 
 A LOVER OF LATE. 
 
 From the Editor' s folio M&nufcript. 
 
 A Lover of late was I, 
 For Cupid would have it foe, 
 The boye that hath never an eye, 
 
 As everye man doth knowe : 
 
 I fighed and fobbed, and cryed, alas ! 5 
 
 For her that laught, and call'dme afs. 
 
 Then knew not I what to doe, 
 
 When I faw it was all in vaine 
 A ladye fo coy to woe, 
 
 Who gave me the afle fo plaine : 10 
 
 Yet would I her afle freelye bee, 
 Soe fhee would helpe and beare with mee. 
 
 An' I were as faire as fhee, 
 Or fhee were as fond as I, 
 What paire could have made, as wee, 15 
 
 So prettye a fympathye : 
 1 was as fond as fhee was faire, 
 .But for all this we could not paire. 
 
 Pair*
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 179 
 
 Paire with her that will for mee, 
 
 With her I will never paire ; 20 
 
 That cunningly can be coy, 
 
 For being a little faire. 
 The affe I'll leave to herdifdaine } 
 And now I am myfelfe againe 
 
 XX. 
 
 THE KING AND MILLER OF MANSFIELD, 
 
 // has been a favourite fubjeJl 'with our Englijh ballad- 
 makers to reprefent our kings converfeng, either by accident 
 or defegn, with the meaneji of their J'ubjeSs. Of the former 
 kind, befides this fong of the King and the Miller ; lug 
 have K. Henry and the Soldier ; K. James I, and the 
 Tinker; K. William III. and the For reft er, *3c. Of the 
 latter fort, are K. Alfred and the Shepherd ; K. Edward 
 IF. and the Tanner ; K. Henry fill, and the Cobler, &c. 
 
 A few of the beji of thefe we have admitted into this 
 
 colleflion. Both the authvr of the following ballad, and 
 others who have written on the fame plan, feem to have 
 copied a very ancient poem, intithd JOHN THE REE VH, 
 which is built en an adventure of the fame kind, that hap- 
 pened between K. Edward Long/hanks, and one of his Reeves 
 or Bailiff's. This is a piece of great antiquity, being writ- 
 ten before the time of Edward IV. and for its genuine hu- 
 mour, diverting incidents, and faithful pi/Sure of rujiic 
 manners, is infinitely fuperior to all that have been fence 
 written in imitation of it. The editor has a copy in his 
 ancient folio MS. but its length rendered it improper for 
 this volume, it ccnjifting of more than 900 lines. It contains 
 al/o fame corruptions, and the editor chafes to defer its pub- 
 lication in hopes that fome time or other he foall be able to 
 r r move them. 
 
 N ^ Mr
 
 i8o ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 The following is printed from the editor's ancient foil* 
 MS. collated ivith an old black-letter copy in the Pepys col- 
 leftion, intitled " A pie af ant ballad of K. Henry II. and 
 " the Miller of Mansfield, &c." 
 
 PART THE FIRST. 
 
 HENRY, our royall king, would ride a hunting 
 To the greene foreft fo pleafant and faire ; 
 To fee the harts fkipping, 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. 
 
 AH a long fummers day rode the king pleafantlye. 
 With 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. i 
 
 Then at laft, riding faft, he had loft quite 
 
 All his lords in the wood, late in the night.- 
 
 Wandering thus wearilye, all alone, up and downe, 
 
 With a rude miller he mett at the lalt : 
 Aiking the ready way unto faire Nottingham ; 15 
 
 Sir, quoth the miller, I meane not to jeil, 
 Yet I thinke, what I thinke, footh for to fay, 
 You doe not lighdye ride out of your way. 
 
 Why, what doftthou think of me, quoth oar king merrily, 
 Puffing thy judgment upon me fo briefe ? 20 
 
 Good
 
 AND BALLADS. 181 
 
 Good faith, fayd the miller, I meane not to flatter thee ; 
 
 I guefs thee to bee but fome gentleman thiefe : 
 Stand thee backe, in the darke ; light not adowne, 
 Left that I prefentlye cracke thy knaves crowne. 
 
 Thou doft abufe me much, quoth 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. 
 J 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-dim, I'll 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 (hake ; 35 
 
 With none but honeft men hands will I take. 
 
 Thus they went all along unto the millers houfe ; 
 
 Where they were feething of puddings and foufe : 
 The miller firft enter'd in, after him went the king ; 
 
 Never came hee in foe fmoakye a 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 houeft face ; 
 
 With my fon Richard this night thou (halt lye. 
 Quoth his wife, by my troth, it is a handfome youth, 45 
 N 3 Yet
 
 i8z ANClErfT SONGS 
 
 Yet it's beft, hufljand, to deal warilye. 
 Art thou no run-away, prythee, youth, tell ? 
 Shew me thy pafTport, and all fhal be well. 
 
 Then our king prefentlye, making lowe courtefye, 
 With his hatt in his hand, thus he did fay ; 50 
 
 I have no paflport, nor never was fervitor, 
 But a poor courtyer, rode out of my way : 
 
 And for your kindnefs here offered to mee, 
 
 J will requite you in everye degree : 
 
 Then to the miller his wife whifper'd fecretlye, 55 
 
 Saying, it feemeth, this youth's of good kin, 
 
 Both by his apparel, and eke by his manners ; 
 To turne him out, certainlye, were a great fin. 
 
 Yea, quoth hee, you may fee, he hath fome grace, 
 
 When he doth fpeake to his betters in place. 60 
 
 Well.quo* the millerswife, young man,ye'rewelcomehere; 
 
 And, though I fay it, well lodged mail be : 
 Frefh ftraw will I have, laid on thy bed fo brave, 
 
 And good brown hempen fheetes likewife, quoth fhee. 
 Aye, quoth the good man ; and when that is done, 65 
 Thou malt lye with no worfe, than our own fonne. 
 
 Nay, firft, quoth Richard, good-fellowe, tell me true, 
 Haft thou noe creepers within thy gay hofe } 
 
 Or art thou not troubled with the fcabbado ? 
 J pray, quoth the king, what creatures are thofe? 70 
 
 Art
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 183 
 
 Art thou not lowfy, nor fcabby? quoth he : 
 If thou beeft, furely thou lyeft not with mee. 
 
 This caus'd the king, fuddenlye, to laugh moft heartilye, 
 Till the teares trickled faft downe from his eyes. 
 
 Then to their fupper were they fet orderlye, 75 
 
 With hot bag-puddings, and good apple-pyes ; 
 
 Nappy ale, good and ftale, in a browne bowle, 
 
 Which did about the board merrilye trowle. 
 
 Here, quoth the miller, good fellowe, I drinke to thee, 
 And to all cuckolds, wherever they bee.* 80 
 
 I pledge thee, quoth our king, and thanke thee heartily* 
 For my good welcome in everye degree : 
 
 And here, in like manner, I drinke to thy fonne. 
 
 Do then, quoth Richard, and quicke let it come. 
 
 Wife, quoth the miller, fetch me forth lightfoote, 8c 
 That we of his fweetnefle a little may tafte : 
 
 A fair ven'fon paftye brought me out prefentlye ; 
 Eate, quoth the miller, but, fir, make no wafte. 
 
 Here's dainty lightfoote, in faith, fayd the king, 
 
 I never before eate fo dainty e a thing. 90 
 
 I wis, quoth Richard, no daintye at all it is, 
 
 For we doe eate of it everye day. 
 In what place, fayd our king, may be bought like to this? 
 
 We never pay pennye for itt, by my fay : 
 
 N 4 From 
 
 Vtr. 80. courtnalls, that courteaus be. MS. and P,
 
 184 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 From merry Sherwood we fetch it home here; 95 
 
 Now and then we make bold with our kings deer. 
 
 Then I thinke, fayd our king, that it is venifon. 
 
 Eche foole, quoth Richard, full well may know that : 
 Never are wee without two or three in the roof, 
 
 Very well flefhed, and excellent fat : ioO 
 
 But, prythee, fay nothing wherever thou goe; 
 We wold not, for two pence, the king mould it knowe. 
 
 Doubt not, then fayd the king, my promift fecrefye ; 
 
 The king (hall never know more on't for mee. 
 A cupp of lambs-wool they dranke unto him then, 105 
 
 And to fheir bedds they pad prefentlie. 
 The nobles, next morning, went all up and down, 
 For to feeke out the king in everye towne. 
 
 At laft, at the millers <cott', foone they efpy'd him out, 
 As he was mounting upon his faire fteede ; 1 10 
 
 To whom they came prefently, falling down on their knee; 
 Which made the millers heart wofully bleeder 
 
 Shaking and quaking, before him he flood, 
 
 Thinking he mould have been hang'd, by the rood. 
 
 The king perceiving him fearfully trembling, 115 
 
 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 knight. 120 
 
 PART.
 
 AND BALLADS. 185 
 
 PART THE SECOND. 
 
 "\\T Hen as our royall king came home fromNottinghana, 
 
 And with his nobles at Weftminfter lay ; 
 Recounting the fports and paftimes they had taken, 
 
 In this late progrefs along on the way; 
 Of them all, great and fmall, he did proteft, 5 
 
 The miller of Mansfield's fport liked him beft. 
 
 And now, my lords, quoth the king, I am determined 
 
 Againft St. Georges next fumptuous feaft, 
 That this old miller, our new confirmed knight, 
 
 With his fon Richard, mail here be my gueft : 10 
 For, in this merrymer.t, 'tis my defire 
 To talke with the jolly knight, and the young fquire. 
 
 &WWOT-I; 
 When as the noble lords faw the kinges pleafantnefs, 
 
 They were right joyfull and glad in their hearts j 
 A purfuivant there was feut ftraight on the bufmefs, 15 
 
 The which had often-times been in thofe parts. 
 When he came to the place, where they did dwell, 
 His meflage orderlye then 'gan he tell. 
 
 God fave your worfliippe, then faid the meflenger, 
 And grant your lad ye 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 muft come to the court on St. Georges day ; 
 
 Therfore
 
 186 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 Therfore, in any cafe, faile not to be in place. 25 
 
 I wis, quoth the miller, this is an odd jeft : 
 
 What fhould we doe there? faith, I am halfe afraid. 
 I doubt, quoth Richard, to be hang'd at the leaft. 
 
 Nay, quoth the meflenger, you doe miftake ; 
 
 Our king he provides a great feaft for your fake. 30 
 
 Then fayd the miller, By my troth, meflenger, 
 Thou haft contented my worlhippe full well. 
 
 Hold here are three farthings, to quite thy gentlenefs, 
 For thefe happy tydings, which thou doft tell. 
 
 Let me fee,-hear thou mee; tell to our king, 35 
 
 We'll wayt on his mafterfhipp in everye thing. 
 
 The purfuivant fmiled at their fimplicitye, 
 
 And, making many leggs, tooke their reward ; 
 
 And taking then his leave with great humilitye 
 
 To the kings court againe he repair'd ; 40 
 
 Shewing unto his grace, merry and free, 
 
 The knightes moft liberal 1 gift and bo untie. 
 
 When he was gone away, thus gan the miller fay, 
 Here come expences and charges indeed ; 
 
 Now muft we needs be brave, tho' we fpend all we have > 
 For of new garments we have great need : 46 
 
 Of horfes and ferving-men we muft have ftore, 
 
 With bridles and faddles, and twentye things more. 
 
 Tufhe,
 
 AND BALLAD 5. 187 
 
 Tufhe, fir John, quoth his wife, why mould you frett, or 
 You fhall n'er be att no charges for mee ; [frowne ? 
 
 For I will turne and trim up my old ruffet gowne, 51 
 With everye thing elfe as fine as may bee j 
 
 And on our mill-hories fwift we will ride, 
 
 With pillowes and pannells as we mail provide. 
 
 In this moft ftatelye fort, rode they unto the court, ec 
 Their jolly fonne Richard rode foremoft of all ; 
 
 Who fet up, by good hap, a cocks feather in his cap, 
 And fo they jetted downe to the kings hall j 
 
 The merry old miller with hands on his fide ; 
 
 His wife, like maid Marian, did mince at that tide. 60 
 
 The king and his nobles, that heard of their coming, 
 Meeting this gallant knight with his brave traine ; 
 
 Welcome, fir knight, quoth he, with your gay lady : 
 Good iir John Cockle, once welcome againe : 
 
 And fo is the fquire of courage foe free. 65 
 
 Quoth Dicke, Abots on you ; do you know mee ? 
 
 Quoth our king gentlye, how mould 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 
 Thou whore-fon unhappy knave, then quoth the knight, 
 Speake cleanly to our king, or elfe go mite. 
 
 The
 
 i88 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 The king and his courtiers laugh at this heartily, 
 While the king taketh them both by the hand ; 
 
 With ladyes and their maids, like to the queen of fpades 
 The millers wife did foe orderly ftand, 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 tojefting 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, I'll pledge you a pottle, 85 
 Were it the beft ale in Nottinghamshire : 
 
 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. go 
 
 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 wine heartily. 
 
 Quoth Dicke, You are like to ftay till I have din'd : 
 You feed us with twatling dimes foe fmall; 95 
 
 Zounds, a blacke-pudding is better than all. 
 
 Aye,
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 189 
 
 Aye, marry, quoth our king, that were a daintye thing, 
 Could a man get but one here for to eate. [hofe, 
 
 With that Dicke ftraite arofe, and pluckt one from his 
 Which with heat of his breech gan to fweate. io 
 
 The king made a proffer to fnatch it away : 
 
 'Tis meat for your matter : good fir, you muft ftay. 
 
 Thus in great merriment was the time wholly fpent ; 
 
 And then the ladyes prepared to dance : 
 Old Sir John Cockle, and 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, 
 Aflting young Richard then, if he would wed j i 10 
 
 Among thefe ladyes free, tell me which liketh thee? 
 Quoth he, Jugg Grumball, Sir, with the red head : 
 
 She's my love, file's my life, her will I wed ; 
 
 She hath fworn I mail have her maidenhead. 
 
 Then fir John Cockle the king call'd unto him, 1 15 
 And of merry Sherwood made him o'er-feer; 
 
 And gave him out of hand three hundred pound yearlye . 
 Now take heede you fteale no more of my deer : 
 
 And once a quarter let's here have your view; 
 
 And now, fir John Ccckle, J bid you adieu. 12* 
 
 XXI. THE
 
 190 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 xxr. 
 
 THE SHEPHERD'S RESOLUTION. 
 
 This beautiful old fong'njjas written by a poet, *whof 
 name would have been utterly forgotten, if it had not been 
 preferred by SWIKT, as a term of contempt. "DRYDEN 
 " and WITHER" are coupled by him like the BAVIUS and 
 M M, v i u s of Virgil. DRYDEN however has hadjuftice done 
 him by poftevity : and as for WITHER, though offubordi- 
 nate merit, that he was not altogether devoid of genius t 
 *will be judged from the following ft anzas. The truth is, 
 WITHER was a very voluminous party-writer : and as 
 his political and fatyrical jirokes rendered him extremely po- 
 pular in his life time ; fo afterwards, when their date vjas 
 out, they totally configncd his writings to oblivion* 
 
 GEORGE WITHER was born June II. 1588, and in 
 his younger years diftinguijhed himfelf by fame paftoral 
 pieces, that were not inelegant ; but growing afterwards 
 involved in the political and religious difputes in the times 
 ef "James I, and Charles I, he employed his poetical vein 
 in < fever e pafquils on the court and clergy, and was occa- 
 Jlonatty a Jujjerer for the freedom of his pen. In the civil 
 war that enfued, he exerted himfelf in the fervice of the 
 Parliament, and became a conjiderable jharer in the fp oils. 
 He was even one of thofe provi>zc:a1 tyrants, whom Oliver 
 dijlributed over the kingdom, under the name of Major Ge- 
 nerals; and had the fleeing of the county of Surrey: but 
 furviving the Refc oration, he ouitived both his power and 
 his afiluence ; and giving i 'ent to hi; chagrin in libels on 
 
 the
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 191 
 
 the court, nvas long a prifoner in Newgate and the Tower. 
 He died at length on the id of May, 1667. 
 
 During the -whole courfe of his life, WITHER ivas a 
 continual publijher ; having generally for opponent, 
 TAYLOR the Water^poet. The long lift of his productions 
 may be feen in Wood's Atheen<z. Oxon. 'vol. 2. His moft 
 popular fatire, is intitled,. " Abufe s <whipt and ftript. " 
 1613. His moji poetical pieces 'were eclogues, i ntitle d, " The 
 Shepherd's Hunting" 1615, S<vo. and others printed at the 
 end of Browne 1 s " Shepherd's Pipe" 1 6 1 4. S<vo. The follow- 
 ing fonnet is extrafted from a long pajioral piece of his, inti- 
 tled, " The MiftreJJe of Philarete:' S<vo. which is faid in 
 the preface to be one of the Author* s firft poems : and may 
 therefore be dated as early as any of the foregoing. 
 
 SHALL I, wafting in difpaire, 
 Dye becaufe a woman's faire ? 
 Or make pale my cheeks with care, 
 'Caufe another's rofie are ? 
 
 Be fhee fairer then the day, 5 
 
 Or the flowry meads in may ; 
 
 If (he think not well of me, 
 What care I how faire (hee be ? 
 
 Shall my heart be griev'd or pin'd, 
 
 Caufe I fee a woman kind? i 
 
 Or a well-difpofed nature 
 
 Joyned with a lovely feature ? 
 
 Be fhee meeker, kinder, than 
 
 The turtle-dove or pelican : 
 
 If fhee be not fo to me, 15 
 
 What care I how kind fhee be ? 
 
 Shall
 
 192 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 Shall a womans virtues move 
 
 Me, to perifh for her Ioy6 ? 
 
 Or, her well-defervings knowne, 
 
 Make me quite forget mine owne ? 2* 
 
 Be fhee with that goodnefle bleft, 
 
 Which may merit name of Belt ; 
 If me be not fuch to me, 
 What care I how good me be ? 
 
 Caufe her fortune feemes too high, 25 
 
 Shall I play the foole and dye ? 
 
 Thofe that beare a noble minde, 
 
 Where they want of riches find, 
 
 Thinke what with them they would doe, 
 
 That without them dare to woe; 30 
 
 And, unlefle that minde I fee, 
 What care I, though great me be ? 
 
 Great or good, or kind or faire, 
 
 I will ne'er the more difpaire : 
 
 If me love me, this beleeve ; 35 
 
 I will die ere me mall grieve. 
 
 If (he flight me, when I wooe ; 
 
 1 can fcorne and let her goe: 
 
 For, if fliee be not for me, 
 - What care I for whom me be ? 4* 
 
 XXIL THE
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 193 
 
 XXII. 
 
 THE WANDERING PRINCE OF TROY. 
 
 This excellent old ballad, which perhaps ought to have 
 teen placed earlier in the volume, is given from the editor's 
 folio MS. collated 'with two different printed copies, both 
 in black letter in the Pepys collection. 
 
 The reader 'will/mile to obferve with what natural and 
 affecting Jlmplicity, our ancient ballad-maker has engrafted 
 a Gothic conclusion on the claffic flory of Virgil, from whom, 
 however, it is probable he had it not. Nor can it be de- 
 nied, but he has dealt out his poetical jujtice with a mart 
 impartial hand, than that celebrated poet. 
 
 WHEN Troy towne had, for ten yeares paft,' 
 Withftood the Greeks in manful wife, 
 Then did their foes increafe fo faft, 
 
 That to refift nought could fuffice : 
 Wafle lye thofe walls, that were foe good, ^ 
 
 And corn now grows where Troy towne flood. 
 
 ^Eneas, wandering prince of Troy, 
 
 When he for land long time had fought, 
 At length arriving with great joy, 
 
 To mighty Carthage walls was brought; o 
 
 Where Dido queen, with fumptuous feaft, 
 Did entertaiue this wandering gueft. 
 Ver. \. zi. war. MS. and PP. 
 VOL. III. O And
 
 194 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 And, 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 could well, 20 
 
 Of their unhappy ten yeares * fight', 
 
 So true a tale began to tell, 
 With words fo fweet, and fighs fo deepe, 
 That oft he made them all to weepe. 
 
 And then a thoufand fighes he fet, 25 
 
 And everye fighe brought teares amaine ; 
 That where he fate the place was wet, 
 
 As though he had feene thofe warrs againe; 
 Soe that the qneene, with ruth therefore 
 Sayd, worthye prince, enough, no more. 30 
 
 And now the darkfome night drew on, 
 
 And twinkling ftarres the flcye befpred ; 
 When he his dolefull tale had done, 
 And everye one was laid in bed : 
 
 Where they full fweetlye took their reft, 35 
 
 Save only Dido's boyling breaft. 
 
 This feely woman never flept, 
 
 But in her chamber, all alone, As
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 195 
 
 As one unhappy, alwaies wept, 
 
 And to the walls fhee made her mone ; 40 
 
 That fhee fhould ftill defire in vaine 
 The thing, fhe never muft obtaine. 
 
 And thus in griefe fhee fpent the night, 
 
 Till twinkling ftarres the fkye were fled, 
 And Phoebus, with his glittering light, 45 
 
 Through mifty cloudes appeared red ; 
 Then tidings came to her anon, 
 That all the Trojan fhipps were gone. 
 
 And then the queene againft her life 
 
 Did arme her heart as hard as ftone, jo 
 
 Yet, ere fhe bared the bloody knife, 
 
 In woefull wife fhee made her mone; 
 And, rolling on her carefull bed, 
 With fighes and fobs, thefe words fhee fed : 
 
 O wretched Dido queene ! quoth fhee, ^ 
 
 I fee thy end approacheth neare ; 
 For he is fled away from thee, 
 
 Whom thou didlt love and hold fo deare: 
 What is he gone, and parted bye ? 
 O heart, prepare thyfelf to dye, 60 
 
 In vaine thou pleadlt I fhould forbeare, 
 And ftay my hand from bloody flroke ; 
 
 Thee, treacherous heart, I muft not fpare, 
 Which fettered me in Cupids yoke. 
 
 O 2 Com e
 
 196 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 Come death, quoth mee, refolve my fmart : 
 And with thofe words fhe pierc'd her heart. 
 
 When death had pierc'd the tender heart 
 
 Of Dido, Carthaginian queene; 
 Whofe bloody knife did end the fmart, 
 
 Which mee fuftain'd in mournfull teenej 79 
 
 JEaeas being Ihipt and gone, 
 Whofe flattery caufed all her mone ; 
 
 Her funerall moft coftly made, 
 
 And all things finifht mournfullye ; 
 Her bodye fine in mold was laid, - 75 
 
 Where itt confumed fpeedilye : 
 Her fitters teares her tombe beftrew'd ; 
 Her fubjefts griefe their kindnefTe Ihew'd. 
 
 Then was ^Eneas in an ifle 
 
 In Grecia, where he ftay'd long fpace, 8 
 
 Whereatt her fitter in fhort while, 
 
 Writt to him to his vile difgrace ; 
 In fpeeches bitter to his minde 
 Shee told -him plaine, hee was unkinde. 
 
 Falfe-hearted wretch, quoth fhee, thou art; 85 
 
 And traiterouflye thou haft betraid 
 Unto thy lure a gentle heart, 
 
 Which unto thee much welcome made; 
 My filler deare, and Carthage' joy, 
 Whofe folly bred her dere annoy. 90
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. I97 
 
 Yet on her death-bed when fhee layc, 
 
 Shee prayed for thy profperitye, 
 Befeeching god, that every day 
 
 Might breed thee great felicitye : 
 
 Thus by thy meanes I loft a friend ; 95 
 
 Heaven fend thee fuch untimely end. 
 
 When he thefe lines, full fraught with gall, 
 
 Perufed had, and weighed them right, 
 His lofty courage 'gan to fall ; 
 
 And ftraight appeared in his fight vrfaio j'6'o 
 
 Queene Dido's ghoft, both grim and pale ; 
 Which made this valliant fouidier quail. 
 
 , quoth this ghaftly ghoft, 
 My whole delight while I did live, 
 Thee of all men I loved moft j 1 oj 
 
 To thee my fancye I did giv^ . 
 And for the welcome I thee gave, 
 Unthankfully thou didft me grave. 
 
 Therefore prepare thy fleeting foule 
 
 To wander with me in the ayre ; no 
 
 Where deadlye griefe (hall make it howle, 
 
 Becaufe of me thou tookft no care : 
 Delay not time, thy glafle is run, 
 Thy date is pall, thy life is done. 
 
 O flay a while, thou lovelye fp right, 115 
 
 Be not fo hafty to convay 
 
 O 3 My
 
 198 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 My foule into eternal night, 
 
 Where it fhall ne'er behold bright day. 
 O doe not frown, thy angry looke 
 Hath all my foule with horror ihooke. 120 
 
 But, woe is me ! all is in vaiae, 
 
 And bootlefle is my difmall crye ; 
 Time will not be recall'd againe, 
 
 Nor thou furceafe before I dye. 
 
 let me live, and make amends 125 
 To fome of thy moft deareft friends. 
 
 But feeing thou obdurate art, 
 
 And wile no pitye on me ftiowe, 
 Becaufe from thee I did depart, 
 
 And left unpaid what I did owe : 130 
 
 1 muft content myfelf, to take 
 What lott to me thou wilt partake. 
 
 And thus, as one being in a trance, 
 
 A multitude of uglye fiends 
 About this woefull prince did dance ; 13 j 
 
 He had no helpe of any friends : 
 His body then they tooke away, 
 And no man knew his dying day. 
 
 XXIII. THE
 
 AND BALLADS. 199 
 
 XXIII. 
 THE WITCHES' SONG 
 
 From Ben Jonfon's Mafque of Queens, prefenteJ at 
 Whitehall, Feb. 2, i6cy. 
 
 'The editor thought it incumbent on him to infert fame eld 
 pieces on the popular fuperftition concerning witches, holt- 
 goblins, fairies, and ghcfts. The laft ofthej'e make their ap~ 
 pearance in nioft of the tragical ballads ; and in the follow- 
 ing fangs ivill be found fame defcription of the former. 
 
 It is true, this fong of the Witches, falling from the 
 learned pen of Ben Jonjon, is rather an extrafl from the 
 various incantations ofclajfic antiquity, than a difplay of 
 the opinions of our own vulgar. But let it be obferved, 
 that a parcel of learned luifeacres had juft before bujied 
 tbemfel'ves on thisfubjeff, with our Britijh Solomon James I. 
 at their head : and thefe had fo ranfacked all ^writers an- 
 cient and modern, and Jo blended and kneaded together the 
 federal fuperftitions of different times and nations, that 
 thofe of genuine Englijh growth could no longer be traced 
 out and di/tinguijhed. 
 
 By good luck the 'whimftcal belief of fairies and goblins 
 could fur nijh no pretences for torturing our fello'w -creatures, 
 and therefore <we have this handed daian to us pure and 
 unfophifticated. 
 
 i 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, and adders eares j 
 
 O 4 The
 
 200 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 The fpurging of a deadmans eyes : 
 And all fmce the evening ftarre did rife. 
 
 3 WITCH. 
 I laft night lay all alone 
 
 O' the ground, to heare the mandrake grone; 10 
 
 And pluckt him up, though he grew full low : 
 And, as I had done, the cocke did crow. 
 
 4 WITCH. 
 
 And I ha' beene chufing out this fcull 
 From charnell houfes that were full ; 
 
 From private grots, and publike pits; 15 
 
 And frighted a fexton out of his wits. 
 
 5 WITCH. 
 
 Under a cradle I did creepe 
 By day ; and, when the childe was a-fleepe 
 At night, I fuck'd the breath ; and rofe, 
 And pluck'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 bade him again blow wind i* the taile. 
 
 7 WITCH. 
 
 A murderer, yonder, was hung in chaines ; 25 
 
 The funne and the wind had (hrunke his veines : 
 
 I bit
 
 AND BALLA D^S. 201 
 
 I bit off a finew ; I clipp'd his haire ; 
 
 1 brought off his ragges, that danc'd i'the ayre. 
 
 8 WITCH. 
 
 The fcrich-owles egges, and the feathers blacke, 
 The bloud of the frogge, and the bone in his backe 30 
 I have been getting ; and made of his fkin 
 A purfet, to keepe fir Cranion in. 
 
 9 WITGH. 
 
 And I ha' beene plucking (plants among) 
 Hemlock, henbane, adders- tongue, 
 Night-fhade, moone-wort, libbards-bane ; 35 
 
 And twife by the dogges was like to be tane. 
 
 10 WITCH. 
 
 I from the jawes of a gardiner's bitch 
 
 Did fnatch thefe bones, and then leap'd the ditch : 
 
 Yet went I back to the houfe againe, 
 
 KilPd the blacke cat, and here is the braine. 40 
 
 11 WITCH. 
 
 I went to the toad, breedes under the wall, 
 
 I charmed him out, and he came at my call ; 
 
 I fcratch'd out the eyes 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 poppie, cyprefle boughes, 
 
 The
 
 202 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 The fig-tree wild, that growes on tombes, 
 And juice, that from the larch-tree comes, 
 The bafilifkes bloud, and the vipers (kin : 
 And now our orgies let's be~in. 50 
 
 XXIV. 
 ROBIN GOOD-FELLOW, 
 
 alias PUCKE, alias HOBGOBLIN, in the creed cf an- 
 cient faperjtition, was a kind cf merry Jprite, whoje cha- 
 racter and atchievements are recorded in this ballad, ana 1 in 
 thofe well-Known linns cf Miltcas V 'Allegro , which the 
 antiquarian Peckjuppcjes to be owing to it ; 
 
 " Tells how the drudging Go KLIN /wet 
 
 " 9~o earn his cream-bowle July jet ; 
 
 " When in one night, ere glimpje cf morne, 
 
 " His Jbadowy fail hath threjVd the corn 
 
 " That ten day-labourers could not end ; 
 
 " Then lies him down the lubbarflend, 
 
 " And ftr etch' d out all the chimneys length, 
 
 " Bajks at the fire his hairy flrength, 
 
 tf And crop-full out cf doors he. flings ^ 
 
 " Ere the firji cock his matins rings." 
 The reader id II obfer-ve that our fimple ancejtors bad re- 
 duced all thefe w'himftts to a kindofjyjtem, as regular, and 
 ferhaps more conjijlent, than many parts cfclajp.c mythology : 
 a procfof the extenji--ue influence and <vaft antiquity of thefe 
 fuperftitions. Mankind, and efpe dally the common people, 
 could not every where have been fo unanimovfly agreed con- 
 cerning theje arbitrary notions, if they had not prevailed 
 among them for many ages. Indeed, a learned friend in 
 Whales cjfures the editor, that the exigence of Fairies and 
 Goblins is alludtd to by the mcjt ancient Britijh Bards, who 
 mention them under various names t one oj the inojl common of 
 
 which
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 203 
 
 which Jignifies, " The jpirits of the mountains." See alj'b 
 Preface to Song XX P. 
 
 This Jong (which Peck attributes to Ben Jetifon, tho* 
 it is not found among his 'works) is given from an ancient 
 hlack letter copy in the Britijh Mufeum. It feems to have 
 teen originally intended for fome Mafyue. See the iaji 
 page of this volume. 
 
 FROM Oberon, in fairye land, 
 The king of ghofts and fhadowes there, 
 Mad Robin I, at his command, 
 
 Am fent to viewe the night-fports here. 
 
 What revell rout 5 
 
 Is kept about, 
 In every corner where I go, 
 I will o'erfee, 
 And merry bee, 
 And make good fport, with ho, ho, ho ! 10 
 
 More fwift than lightening can I flye 
 
 About this aery welkin foone, 
 And, in a minutes fpace, defcrye 
 
 Each thing that's done belowe the moone. 
 
 There's not a hag 15 
 
 Or ghoft fhall wag, 
 Or cry, ware Goblins ! where I go ; 
 
 But Robin I 
 
 Their feates will fpy, 
 And fend them home, with ho, ho, ho ! 20 
 
 Whene'er fuch wanderers I meete, 
 
 As from their night-fports they trudge home . 
 2 With
 
 204 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 With counterfeiting voice I greete 
 
 And call them on, with me to roarae 
 
 Thro' woods, thro' lakes, 25 
 
 Thro' bogs, thro' brakes ; 
 Or elfe, unfeene, with them I go, 
 
 All in the nicke 
 
 To play fome tricke 
 And frolicke it, with ho, ho, ho ! 30 
 
 Sometimes Imeete them like a man ; 
 
 Sometimes, an ox ; fometimes, a hound ; 
 And to a horfe I turn me can ; 
 
 To trip and trot about them round. 
 
 But if, to ride, 25 
 
 My backe they ftride, 
 More fwift than wind away I go, 
 Ore hedge and lands, 
 Thro' pools and ponds, 
 I whirry, laughing, ho, ho, ho ! 40 
 
 When lads and lafTes merry be, 
 
 With pofiets and with juncates fine ; 
 Unfeene of all the company, 
 
 I cat their cakes and fip their wine ; 
 
 And, to make fport, 45 
 
 I fart and fnort ; 
 And out the candles I do blow : 
 The maids I kifs ; 
 They fhrieke Who's this ? 
 I anfwer nought, but ho, ho, ho ! 50 
 
 , Yet
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 205 
 
 Yet now and then, the maids to pleafe, 
 At midnight I card up their wooll ; 
 And while they fleepe, and take their eafe, 
 With wheel to threads their flax I pull. 
 
 I grind at mill 55 
 
 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 
 
 When h'oufe or harth doth flnttifh 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, 65 
 
 I do them take, 
 And on the key-cold floor them throw. 
 
 If out they cry, 
 
 Then forth I fly, 
 And loudly laugh out, ho, ho, ho ! 70 
 
 When any need to borrowe ought, 
 
 We lend them what they do require ; 
 And for the ufe demand we nought ; 
 Our owne is all we dodefire. 
 
 If to repay, . 
 
 They do delay, 
 Abroad amongft them then I go, 
 
 And
 
 ae6 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 And night by night, 
 I them affright 
 With pinchings, dreames, and ho, ho, ho ! 80 
 
 When lazie queans have nought to do, 
 
 But ftudy how to cog and lye ; 
 To make debate and mifchief too, 
 'Twixt one another fecretlye ; 
 
 I marke their gloze, [85 
 
 And it difclofe, 
 To them whom they have wronged fo ; 
 
 When I have done, 
 
 I get me gone, 
 And leave them fcolding, ho, ho, ho ! 90 
 
 When men do traps andengins fet 
 
 In loop-holes, where the vermine creepe, 
 Who from their foldes and houfes, get 
 
 Their dukes andgeefe, and lambes and fheepe: 
 
 I fpy the gin, 95 
 
 And enter in, 
 And feeme a vermine taken fo ; 
 
 But when they there 
 
 Approach me neare, 
 I leap out laughing, hp, ho, ho ! 100 
 
 By wells and rills, in mcadowes greene, 
 
 We nightly dance our hey-day guife ; 
 
 And to our fairye king, and queene, 
 
 We chant our moon-light minftreles. 
 
 When
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 207 
 
 When larks 'gin fmg, 105 
 
 Away we fling ; 
 And babes new-borne fteal as we go, 
 
 An elfe in bed 
 
 We leave inftead, 
 And wend us laughing, ho, ho, ho ! no 
 
 From hag-bred Merlins time have I 
 
 Thus nightly revell'd to and fro ; 
 And for my pranks men call me by 
 The name of Robin Good-fellow. 
 
 Fiends, ghofts, and fprites, 115 
 
 Who haunt the nightes, 
 The hags and goblins do me know ; 
 
 And beldames old 
 
 My feates have told ; 
 So yah, Fall ; ho, ho, ho ! j 20 
 
 XXV. 
 THE FAIRY Q^U E E N. 
 
 We have here a jhort difplay of the popular belief ton- 
 ter ning FAIRIES. // will afford entertainment to a con- 
 templative mind to trace tbefe whimjical opinions tip to their 
 origin. Whoever considers, ho-~w early, hovu extensively, 
 and ho~jj uniformly they have prevailed in theje nations, 
 <wtl! not readily ajjcnt to the hjpothejis of thofe, who fetch 
 them from the eaft fo late as the time of the Crvifades. 
 Whereas it is well known that our Saxon anceftcrs long te~ 
 fare they left their German ferejts, believed the exigence of 
 
 a kind
 
 2c3 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 a kind of diminutive demons, or middle fpecies between men 
 andfpirits, whom they called Du ERG AR or DWARFS, and 
 to <whom they attributed many wonderful performances, far 
 exceeding human art. Fid. Hervarer Saga Olaj Verelj* 
 1675. Hickes rhefaur. &c. 
 
 1'his Song is given from an old black-letter copy. 
 
 COME, follow, follow mee, 
 Ye, fairye elves that bee ; 
 Come follow Mab your queene, 
 And trip it o'er the greene : 
 
 Hand in hand we'll dance around, c 
 
 Becaufe this place is fairye ground. 
 
 i 
 
 When mortals are at reft, 
 And fnoring in their neft ; 
 Unheard, and un-efpy'd, 
 
 Through key-holes we do glide ; 10 
 
 Over tables, ftooles, and fhelves, 
 We trip it with our fairye elves. 
 
 And, if the houfe be foull 
 
 With platter, dim or bowl, 
 
 Up ftaires we nimbly creep, 15 
 
 And find the fluts afleep : 
 Then we pinch their armes and thighes ; 
 None us heares, nor none efpies. 
 
 But if the houfe be fwept, 
 
 And from uncleannefs kept, o 
 
 We praife the houmold maid, 
 
 And duelyfhe is paid : 
 
 Every
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 209 
 
 Every night before wegoe, 
 We drop a tefter in her Ihoe. 
 
 Then o'er a mufhroomes head 25 
 
 Our table-cloth we fpread; 
 
 A grain of rye, or wheat, 
 
 The diet that we eat ; 
 Pearly drops of dew we drink 
 In acorn cups fill'd to the brink. 30 
 
 The braines of nightingales, 
 
 With unftuous fat of fnailes, 
 
 Between two cockles ftew'd, 
 
 Is meat that's eafily chew'dj 
 
 Tailes of wormes, and marrow of mice 35 
 
 Do make a difli, that's wonderous nice. 
 
 The grafhopper, gnat, and fly, 
 
 Serve for our minftrelfy, 
 
 Grace faid, we dance a while, 
 
 And fo the time beguile : 40 
 
 And if the moon doth hide her head, 
 The glow-worm lightes us home to bed. 
 
 O'er tops of dewy grafie 
 
 So nimbly we do paffe, 
 
 The young and tender ftalk 45 
 
 Ne'er bends where we do walk : 
 Yet in the morning may be feene 
 Where we the night before have beene. 
 VOL. HI. P XXVI. THE
 
 2 io ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 XXVI. 
 THE FAIRIES FAREWELL. 
 
 This humorous old fong fell from the hand of the facetious 
 lijhop Corbet (probably in his youth), and is printed from 
 his Poetica Stromata, 1648, I2mo. (compared with the 
 third edition of his poems, 1672.) // is there called, " A 
 " proper new Ballad, intituled, The Fairies Farewell, or 
 " God-a-mercy Will, to be fung or whiftled to the tune of 
 '* 'The Meddow brow, by the learned : by the unlearned, to 
 " the tune of Fortune." 
 
 The departure of Fairies is here attributed to the abolition 
 of monkery : Chaucer has, <vjith equal humour, ajjigned *- 
 eaufe the <very reverfe. 
 
 lt In the old dayes of king Art our 
 
 tf (Of which the Britons fpeken grete honour) 
 
 * ' All was this land fulfilled of fayry ; 
 
 " The elf-quene, --with her jolly company, 
 
 ft Daunfedfull oft in many a grene mede. 
 
 " This was an old opinion as I rede : 
 
 " 1 fpeke of many hundred y ere agoe : 
 
 " But now can no man fee no elfes moe : 
 
 " For noiv the grete charite, and pray ere f 
 
 ff Of Limit ours, and other holy freres, 
 
 " That ferchen every lond, and every ftreme, 
 
 "As thick as motes in the funne beme, 
 
 " Blejjing halles, chambers, kitchins, and bowres, 
 
 t( Cities, boronves, cajielles, and hie toures, 
 
 *' Thropes, and bernes, foepens, and dairies ; 
 
 " This maketh that there ben no<w no fairies : 
 
 ** For there as ivotit to ivalken was an elfe, 
 
 " There walketh now the Limit our himfclfc, 
 
 *' In under meles and in morrcwnynges, 
 
 " And faictb his mat tins and his bolie t hinges,
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 211 
 
 As he goeth In his limitadoune. 
 
 Wymzn may now go fafely up and daunt. 
 
 In every bujh, and under every tree, 
 
 There is none other incubus but he : 
 
 And he ne will don hem no dijbonciir." 
 
 Wife ofBatVi Tale. 
 
 Dr. Richard Corbet, having been bijhop of Oxford about 
 three years, and after-ivards as long j>. of Rior*wich, ditd 
 in 1635, jEtat. 52. 
 
 FArevvell 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 lefs 5 
 
 Than mayds were wont to doe, 
 Yet who of late for cleanelinefs 
 Finds fixe-pence in her fhoe ? 
 
 Lament, lament old Abbies, 
 
 The fairies loft 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 x 
 Who live as changelings ever fince, 15 
 
 For love of your demaines. 
 
 At morning and at evening both 
 
 You merry were and glad, " 
 So little care of fleepe and fioth, 
 
 Thefe pr&ttie ladies had. 20 
 
 P a. Wheft
 
 212 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 When Tom came home from labour* 
 
 Or Cifs to milking rofe, 
 Then merrily went their tabourv 
 
 And nimbly went their toes. 
 
 Witnefs thofe rings and rounddelayes 35 
 
 Of theirs, which yet remaine ; 
 Were footed in queene Maries dayes 
 
 On many a grafly playne. 
 But fmce of late Elizabeth 
 
 And later James came in ; 30 
 
 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-ve Maries, 35 
 
 Their dances were proceflion. 
 But now, alas ! they all are dead, 
 
 Or gone beyond the feas, 
 Or farther for religion fled, 
 
 Or elfe they take their cafe. 40 
 
 A tell-tale in their company 
 
 They never could endure ; 
 And whofo kept not fecretly 
 
 Their mirth, was punifh'd fure : 
 It was a juft and chriftian deed 45 
 
 To pinch fuch blacke and blue : 
 O how the common-welth doth need
 
 AND BALLADS. 23 
 
 Now they have left our quarters ; 
 
 A Regifter they have, 50 
 
 Who can preferve their charters ; 
 
 A man both wife and grave. 
 An hundred of their merry pranks 
 
 By one that I could name 
 Are kept in (lore ; con twenty thanks 55 
 
 To William for the fame. 
 
 To William Churne of StafFordflure 
 
 Give laud and praifcs due, 
 Who every meale can mend your cheare 
 
 With tales both old and true : 60 
 
 To William all give audience, 
 
 And pray yee for his noddle : 
 For all the fairies evidence 
 
 Were loft, if it were addle. 
 
 %* After tbefe SONG.S on the FAIRIES, tie Reader may 
 lye curious to fee the manner in which they were formerly in- 
 voked and bound to human fervice. In AJhmole's Collefiion 
 cfMSS. at Oxford, [Num. 8259. 1406. 2.] are the pa- 
 pers of fame Alchymijl, -which contain a variety if Incan- 
 tations and Forms of Conjuring both FAIRIES, WITCHES 
 and DEMONS, principally, as it Jhould fetm, to ajpjt him 
 in his Great Work of tranf muting Metals. Mojl of them 
 are too impious to be reprinted : but the tnvo following may 
 be very innocently laughed at. 
 
 Whoever looks into Ben Jonfon's ALCHYMIST, 'will 
 find that tbefe impoftors, among their other Secrets, affecled 
 to have a power over FAIRIES. 
 
 P 3 "Aw
 
 2T4 ANCIENT S O N G S, &c. 
 
 " AN EXCELLENT WAY to gett a FAYRIE. (Formyfelf 
 I call M A R G A R E T T B A R R A N c E ; but this ixill obteine 
 any one that is not allreadj bownd.) 
 " FIRST, gett a broad fquare chriftall or Venice 
 glajfe, in length and breadth 3 inches. 'Than lay that glafe 
 or chriftallin thebhSd cf a white henne, 3 Wethefdayes , cr 
 3 Fridayes. Then take it cut, and wajh it with hcly ciq. 
 and fumigate it. Then tcJ:; 3 bazle flicks, or tuands of 
 an years grot h : pill them fey re and white ; and make ' them' 
 foe longe, as you write the SPIRITTS name, cr FAYRIES 
 name, 'which you call, 3 times on every flicke being made 
 Jlatt on one Jide. Then bury them under Jt,me hill, 'whereas 
 you fiippofe F A y R i E s haunt, th: Wednefday befort you call 
 her : And the Friday follvwinge take them uppe, and call 
 her at 8 or 3 or 10 of the cloche, which be good planet ts 
 and houres fcr that turns : but when you call, be in cleans 
 life, and turne thy face towards the eaft. And iyben you 
 have her, bind her to that ft one or glajfc." 
 
 " AN UNGUENT to annoy nt under the Eyelids, and upon 
 the Eyelids evninge and mornings : but efpecially when 
 you call ; or fnd your feght net perfefl. 
 " R. A pint of fallet-oyle, and put it into a viall 
 glaffe : but fir ft <v.'ajb it with rofe-watcr, and marygohi- 
 water ; the flowers ' to' be gathered towards the eafl. Wajh 
 it till the oyle come white ; then put it into the glaj/e, ut fu- 
 fra : and then put thereto the budds of hslyhocke, the flow- 
 ers of mxrygold, the flowers or toppes of wild t kirns, the 
 budds of young hazlc : and the tbimemuft be gathered neare 
 the fede of a. bill where FAYRIES life to be : and ' take" 1 the 
 grajje of a fayrie throne, there. All thefe put into the oyle, 
 into the glajfe : and fet it to dijjblve 3 day a in the funnc, 
 and then keep it for thy ufe; ut fupra." 
 
 After this fellows a Form of Incantation, wherein the 
 n'ft conjures a Fairy, -named ELABYGATHON, to 
 appear to him in that Chryftal Glafs, meekly and mildly ; 
 to refolve- him truly in all manner of qucflions ; and to be 
 fbedient to all his commands, under pain of Damnation, &c. 
 
 THE END OF BOOK THE SECOND.
 
 SONGS AND BALLADS, 
 
 fcfr. 
 
 SERIES THE THIRD. 
 BOOK III. 
 
 I. 
 THE BIRTH OF ST. GEORGE. 
 
 The incidents in this, and the other ballad of ST. GEORGE 
 AND THEDRAGON, are chiefly taken from the old ' jlory-book 
 of the Seven Champions of Chriftendome ; which, tho' now 
 the play-thing of children, "was once in high repute. p. 
 Hall in his j at ires, publijhed in I597> ranks 
 
 " St. George's for ell, and his crofs of blood" 
 among the mcji popular ftories of his time : and an ingenious 
 critic thinks that Spencer himfelf did not difdain to borrow 
 hints from it f ; tho 1 I much doubt whether this popular ro~ 
 mance 'were written fo early as the Faery Queen* 
 
 The author of this book of the Seven Champions 'was 
 
 one Richard Johnfon, <wbo li-~ued in the reigns of Elizabeth 
 
 P 4 and 
 
 f- Mr. Warton, Vid, Obfervathn.s on tie Fairy Queen, a vol, 1762, 
 12>'::, paflim.
 
 216 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 ndja?nes t as voe colleSl from his other publications : viz. 
 " The nine worthies of London: 1592. 4/0. " The plea/ant 
 walks of Moor-fields : 1607. 4/2. " A cro-i-n garland of 
 Goulden Rofes, gathered, &c. 1612. S-t/o. " 7&* ///i 7 <7</ 
 death of Rob. Cecill, E. ofSaliJlury: 1612.4/6. " Vhtkijl. 
 of Tom cf 'Lincoln, 4/0." /j a^'o by R. jf. i^'jo lihevcife re- 
 printed'''' Don Flares of Greece, 4/0." 
 
 The Seven Champions, tho 1 ^written in a luild inflated Jtyle, 
 contains fame Jtrong Gothic fainting^ which fecms, for the mcft 
 fart, copied from the metrical romances cf former ages. At Iccift 
 tbeftoryofSt. George, andthef air Salr a, is taken almofl verba- 
 tim from tbe old poetical legend of " Syr Bevis of Hampton." 
 
 'This <vety antique poem was in great fame in Chaucer's 
 time, [fee above pag. I CO.] and fa continued till the intro- 
 diiflion of printing, ivhen it ran thro 1 fevcral editions ; tivo 
 oflttbitD are in black letter, 4/0, " imprinted by Wyllyam 
 *' CopJc f .Kd )t icithcut date ; containing great variations. 
 
 As afpecimen of the. poetic powers of this very old rhimrft, 
 and as a proof hovj clofety the author of the Seven Cham- 
 pions hat followed him, take a defcriptiou oftht dragon fiain 
 by fir Bevis. 
 
 *' Whan the dragon, that foule is, 
 
 " Had a fyght of fyr Bevis, 
 " He caft up a loude cry, 
 '* As it had thondrcd in the Jl:\- ; 
 " He turned his bcly ttntiarde the fen ; 
 " It <vuas greater than any tonne : 
 " His fcales -~was bryghter then the glas, 
 *' And harder they were than any bras : 
 ' Betivene his JhulJer and his tayle, 
 ' Was forty fote voithoute fayk. 
 ' lie vualtred out of his denne, 
 ' And Bevis pricked his ftede then, 
 1 And to hym a fpcre he thrafte 
 1 That all to Jhyvers he it brajle : 
 ' The dragon then gan Bevis ajjc.yh, 
 ' And fmote fyr Bevis voith his tayJe ; 
 ' Then dovcne vaent horfe and man, 
 *' And ifi> rybbes of Bev'ts brrfed than* 
 
 Afler
 
 AND BALLADS. 217 
 
 After a longfght, at length, as the dragon was preparing 
 to fy, Jir Bevis 
 
 ' Hit him under the wynge 
 
 ' As he was in his jlytnge, 
 
 ' There he was tender without fc ah, 
 
 ' And Bevis thought to be his. bail, 
 
 ' He f mote after, as I you fay e, 
 
 ' With his good jword Morglaye, 
 
 ' Up to the hiltes Morglay yode 
 " Through harte, lyver, bone, andblcudti 
 
 ' To the ground fell the dragon, 
 
 ' Great joye Jyr Bevis began, 
 
 * Under the jcalcs al on hight 
 
 ( He fmcte off his head forth right, 
 
 ' And put it on a fpere : &c. Sign, K. iv* 
 
 Sir Bevis' s dragon is evidently the parent of that in the 
 Seven Champions, fee Chap, 111, viz, " The dragon no 
 " fooner had ajight of him [t$V. George\ but he ga-~ve fucb 
 " a terrible peal, as though it had thundered in tbe elements, 
 , , . . " Betwixt his jhculders and his tail were fifty feet in 
 " dijtance, his fcales gliftering cs bright as jil<ver, but far 
 ' ' more hard than brafs ; his belly of the colour of gold, but 
 " bigger than a tun. Thus lueltered he. from his den, &c, 
 .... " The champion . , , gai>e the dragon juch a thruft luiib 
 ' ' his fpear* that it Jbi*vered in a thoufand pieces : wber&at 
 " the furious dragon fc fiercely fmots him with his venomcut 
 *' tail, that down fell )nun and horfe ; in which fall two 
 
 *' cfSt, Georges ribs were fore bruifed, C5*r. At length 
 
 . . . St, George " /mete the dragcn under the wing where 
 " it was tender without Jc ale, whereby his good fword Afca- 
 " Ion with an eafee paffdge went to the -i'cry hilt through 
 *' both the dragcn' 's heart, liver, bone and blcod Then St. 
 " Gecrge cut off the dragon's head and pitcht it upon the 
 " truncheon of a fpear, &c." 
 
 The Hiftory of the Seven Champions being written jvft le- 
 fore the decline of bocks of chivalry was never, I believe, 
 tranjlated into any foreign language : But " Le Roman de 
 *' Beitves of Hantonnc, " was published at Paris in 1502, 
 4.'0. Let, Gcthique. 
 
 Tit
 
 218 ANCIENT S is 1 G S 
 
 'The learned Selden tells us that about tbt time of the 
 Norman invajion was Bevis famous wits the title of Earl of 
 Southampton, ivhofe refedence was at Dttnfton in Wiltjhire ; 
 but obferves that the monkijh enlargements of his Jlory, have 
 made his very exijtence .doubted. See Notes on Poly-Olbion, 
 t-V Song III. 
 
 As for the martial Hijtory of St. George, it is given up 
 as entirely apocryphal. The equejlrian figure, worn by the 
 knights of the garter , has bren underftocd to be an emblem of 
 the cbrijiian warrior ', in his fpiriiual armour, -vanquishing 
 the oldferpent. But a learned 'writer has lately /hewn that 
 it is neither more nor lefs, than a charm or amuht borrowed 
 from fame eajlern heretics ; which having been originally 
 worn as a protection from tht malignity of the air, at length 
 was conjidered as a prefer'vati've from wounds, and a means 
 to injure <viftory in battle. For it feems the ancient orientals 
 reprefented the fun by a man on horfeback ; the fun's rays by 
 ^Mjpear ; and any noxious exhalation by a ferpent. See Pe- 
 tingall's differ* at ion, 4/0., 
 
 // cannot be denied, but that a great part of the fallowing 
 ballad is mo-iern : for -which rcrfon it would have been 
 thro-ivnto tdic end of the volume, had not its fubjeff procurc-d 
 it a place here. 
 
 LISTEN, lords, in bower and hall, 
 I fing the wonderous birth 
 Of brave St. George, whofe valorous arm 
 Rid monfters from the earth : 
 
 Diftrefied ladies to relieve 5 
 
 He travell'd many a day ; 
 In honour of the chriftian faith, 
 
 Which fhall endure for aye. 
 
 In Coventry fometime did dwell 
 
 A knight of worthy fame, 10 
 
 High
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 219 
 
 High fteward of this noble realme ; 
 Lord Albret was his name. 
 
 He had to wife a princelye dame, 
 
 Whofe beauty did excell. 
 This 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 
 
 Conceiv'd within her womb ; 
 Whofe mortal fangs her body rent 
 
 Ere he to life could come. 
 
 All woe-begone, and fad was me j 25 
 
 She nouriflit conflant woe : 
 Yet ftrove to hide it from her lord, 
 
 Left he mould forrow know. 
 
 In vain fhe ftrove her tender lord, 
 
 Who watch'd her flighteft look, 30 
 
 Difcover'd focn her fecret paine, 
 
 And foon that paine partook. 
 
 And when to him the fearful caufe 
 She weeping did impart, 
 
 With
 
 2 2o ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 With kindeft fpeech he ftrove to heal 35 
 
 The anguifh 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. 40 
 
 And for this foul and fearful dreame, 
 
 That caufeth all thy woe, 
 Truft me I'll travel far away 
 
 But I'll the meaning knowe. 
 
 Then giving many a fond embrace, 45 
 
 And fhedding many a teare, 
 To the wei'rd lady of the woods 
 
 He purpos'd to repaire. 
 
 To the weird lady of the woods, 
 
 Full long and many a daye, 50 
 
 Thro' lonely mades, and thickets rough 
 
 He winds his weary waye. 
 
 At length he reach'd a dreary dell 
 
 With difmal yews o'erhung ; 
 Where cyprefs fpred it's mournful boughes, 55 
 
 And pois'nous nlghtmade fprung. 
 
 No chearful gleams here pierc'd the gloome, 
 He hears no chearful found ; 
 
 Bat
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 221 
 
 But Ihrill night-ravens yelling fcreame, 
 
 And ferpents hils around. 60 
 
 The fhriek of fiends, and damned ghofts 
 
 Ran howling thro' his care: 
 A chilling horror froze his heart, 
 
 Tho' all unus'd to feare. 
 
 Three times he ftrives to win his waye, 65 
 
 And pierce thofe fickly dewes : 
 Three times to bear his trembling corfe 
 His knocking knees refufe. 
 
 At length apon his beating breaft 
 
 He figns the holy crofle; ~o 
 
 And, rouzing up his wonted might, 
 
 He treads th' unhallow'd mofle. 
 
 Beneath a pendent craggy cliffe, 
 
 All vaulted like a grave, 
 And opening in the iblid rocke r 75 
 
 He found the inchanted cave. 
 
 An iron grate clos'd up the mouthe, 
 
 All hideous and forlorne j 
 And, faften'd by a filver chaine, 
 
 Near hung a brazen home. So 
 
 Then offering up a ' fecret prayer, ' 
 Three times he blowes amaine : 
 
 Three
 
 222 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 Three times a deepe and hollow found 
 Did anfwer him againe. 
 
 " Sir knight, thy lady beares a fen, 
 " Who, like a dragon bright, 
 
 " Shall prove moft dreadful to his foes, 
 " And terrible in fight. 
 
 " His name advanc'd in future times 
 " On banners (hall be worne : 
 
 " But lo ! thy lady's life muft paffe 
 " Before he can be borne." 
 
 All fore oppreft with feare and doubt 
 Long time lord Albret ilood j 
 
 At length he winds his doubtful wave 
 Back thro' the dreary wood. 
 
 Eager to clafp his lovelye dame 
 Then faft he travels backe : 
 
 But when he reach'd his caftie gate, 
 His gate was hung with blacke. 
 
 In every court and hall he found 
 
 A fullen filence rcigne ; 
 Save where, amid the lonely towers, 
 
 He heard her maidens 'plaine ; 
 
 And bitterly lament and wcvpe, 
 With many a grievous groae :
 
 AND BALLADS. 223 
 
 Then fore his bleeding heart mifgave, 
 His lady's life was gone. 
 
 With feultering ftep he enters in, 
 
 Yet half affraid to goe ; I JO 
 
 With trembling voice afks why they grieve, 
 
 Yet fears the caufe to knovve. 
 
 " Three times the fun hath rofe and fet ; 
 
 They faid, then ftopt to weepe : 
 " Since heaven hath laid thy lady deare 1 1 f 
 
 " In death's eternal fleepe. 
 
 " For, ah ! in travel fore (he fell, 
 
 " So fore that Ihe muft dye ; 
 " Unlefs fome fhrewd and cunning leech 
 
 " Could eafe her prefentlye. 129 
 
 " But when a cunning leech was fct, 
 
 " Too foon declared hee, 
 " She, or her babe muil lofe its life ; 
 
 " Both faved could not bee. 
 
 " Now take my life, thy lady faid, 125, 
 
 " My little infant fave : 
 " And O commend me to my lord, 
 
 " When I am laid in grave. 
 
 " O tell him how that precious babe 
 
 " Cofl him a tender wife : 130 
 
 "And
 
 224 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 " And teach my fon 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, j?j 
 
 " Her gentle foul did flee." 
 
 What tongue can paint lord Albret's woe, 
 
 The bitter tears he fhed, 
 The bitter pangs that wrung his heart, 
 
 To find his lady dead ? 140 
 
 He beat his breail : he tore his hair : 
 
 And fhedding many a teare, 
 At length he aikt to fee his fon j 
 
 The fon that coil fo deare. 
 
 New forrowe feiz'd the damfells ali : 14- 
 
 At length they faultering faye ; 
 " Alas ! my lord, how mail we tell ? 
 
 " Thy fon is ftoln awaye. 
 
 " Faire as the fweeteft flower of fpring, 
 
 " Such was his infant mien : 150 
 
 " And on his little body ttampt 
 
 " Three wonderous marks were feen : 
 
 " A blood-red crofs was on his arme ; 
 " A dragon on his brcait : 
 
 " A little
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 225 
 
 *' A little garter all of gold 155 
 
 i 4 " Was round his leg expreft. 
 
 " Three carefull 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 ! all in the dead of night, 
 
 " We heard a fearful found : 
 " Loud thunder clapt; the cattle {hook; 
 
 " And lightning flaiht around. 
 
 " Dead with affright at firft we lay j 165 
 
 " But roufing 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, 170 
 
 " In deep and magic flumbers laid, 
 
 " The nurfes there we found." 
 
 O grief on grief ! lord Albret faid : 
 
 No more his tongue cou'd fay, 
 When falling in a deadly Avoone, 175 
 
 Long time he lifelefs lay. 
 
 At length reflor'd to life and fenfe 
 
 He nourilht cndlcfa wee, 
 VOL. III. Q_ No
 
 226 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 No future joy his heart could tafte, 
 
 No future comfort knovve. iSt* 
 
 So withers on the mountain top 
 
 A fair and ftately oake, 
 Whofe vigorous arms are torne away, 
 
 By fome rude thunder-ftroke. 
 
 At length his caftle irkfome grew, 185 
 
 He loathes his wonted home ; 
 His native country he forfakes 
 
 In foreign lands to roame. 
 
 There up and downe he wandered far, 
 
 Clad in a palmer's gowne j 190 
 
 Till his brown locks grew white as wool, 
 His beard as thiftle downe. 
 
 At length, all wearied, down in death 
 
 He laid his reverend head. 
 Meantime amid the lonely wilds 195 
 
 His little fon was bred. 
 
 There the weird lady of the woods 
 
 Had borne him far away, 
 And train'd him up in feates of armes, 
 
 And every martial play. 200 
 
 II. ST.
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 227 
 
 ST. GEORGE AND THE DRAGON. 
 
 The following ballad is given (ivith feme corrections) 
 from two ancient black-letter copies in the Pepys Colle&ion : 
 one cf 'which is in I2mo, the other in folio. 
 
 OF He&or's deeds did Homer fmg; 
 And of the fack of ftately Troy, 
 What griefs fair Helena did bring, 
 Which was fir Paris' only joy : 
 And by my pen I will recite 
 
 St. George's deeds, an Englifh knight. 
 
 Againft the Sarazens fo rude 
 
 Fought he full long and many a day; 
 Where many gyants he fubdu'd, 
 
 In honour of the chriilian way : 10 
 
 And after many adventures pafl: 
 To Egypt land he came at laft. 
 
 Now, as the ftory plain doth teil, 
 
 Within that countrey there did reft 
 
 A dreadful dragon fierce and fell, 15 
 
 Whereby they were full fore oppreft : 
 
 Who by his poifonous breath each day, 
 
 Did many of the city flay. 
 
 Q2 The
 
 228 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 The grief whereof did grow fo great 
 
 Throughout the limits of the land, 2* 
 
 That they their wife-men did intreat 
 
 To mew their cunning out of hand ; 
 What way they might this fiend deftroy, 
 That did the countrey thus annoy. 
 
 The wife-men all before the king 25 
 
 This anfwer fram'd incontinent ; 
 The dragon none to death might bring 
 
 By any means they could invent : 
 His fkin more hard than brafs was found, 
 That fword nor fpear could pierce nor wound. 30 
 i 
 
 When this the people underftood, 
 
 They cryed out moft piteouflye, 
 The dragon's breath infefts their blood, 
 
 That every day in heaps they dye : 
 Among them fuch a plague it bred, 35 
 
 The living fcarce 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 blood his fury might a/Twage ; 40 
 
 Each day he would a maiden eat, 
 
 For to allay his hunger great. 
 
 This
 
 AND BALLADS. 2297 
 
 This thing by art the wife-men found, 
 
 WJiich truly muft obferved be ; 
 Wherefore throughout the city round ..45 
 
 A virgin pure of good degree 
 Was by the kings commiffion ftill 
 Taken up to ferve the dragon's will. 
 
 Thus did the dragon every day 
 
 Untimely crop fome virgin flowr, 50 
 
 Till all the maids were worn away, 
 
 And none were left him to devour : 
 Saving the king'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 forrow fling ; 
 
 She ifc, quoth he, my kingdom's heir : 
 O let us all be poifoned here, 
 Ere me mould die, that is my dear. - 60 
 
 Then rofe the people prefently, 
 
 And to the king in rage they went ; 
 
 They faid his daughter deare mould dye, 
 The dragon's fury to prevent : 
 
 Our daughters all are dead, quoth they, 65 
 
 And have been made the dragons prey : 
 
 0^3 And
 
 23 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 And by their blood we refcued were, 
 
 And thou haft fav'd thy life thereby ; 
 
 And now in footh it is but faire, 
 
 For us thy daughter fo fhould die; 70 
 
 O fave my daughter, faid the king ; 
 
 And let ME feel the dragon's fling. 
 
 Then fell fair Sabra on her knee, 
 
 And to her father dear did fay, 
 O father, ftrive not thus for me, 75 
 
 But let me be the dragon's prey ; 
 It may be, for my fake alone 
 This plague upon the land was thrown. 
 
 Tis better I fhould dye, fhe faid, 
 
 Than all your fubje&s perifh quite ; 80 
 
 Perhaps the dragon here was laid, 
 
 For my offence to work his fpite : 
 And after he hath fuckt my gore, 
 Your land /hall feel the grief no more. 
 
 What haft thou done, my daughter dear, ' 85 
 For to deferve this heavy fcourge ? 
 
 It is my fault, as may appear, 
 
 Which makes the gods our ftate to purge ; 
 
 Then ought I die, to ftint the ftrife, 
 
 And to preferve thy happy life. 90 
 
 Like
 
 AND BALLADS. 231 
 
 Like mad-men, all the people cried, 
 Thy death to us can do no good ; 
 
 Our fafety only doth abide 
 
 In making her the dragon's food. 
 
 Lo ! here I am, I come, quoth me, 95 
 
 Therefore do what you will with me. 
 
 Nay flay, dear daughter, quoth the queen, 
 
 And as thou art a. virgin bright, 
 That haft for vertue famous been, 
 
 So let me cloath thee all in white ; 100 
 
 And crown thy head with flowers fweet, 
 An ornament for virgins meet. 
 
 And when me was attired fo, 
 
 According to her mother's mind, 
 Unto the ftake then did me go; 105 
 
 To which her tender limbs they bind : 
 And being bound to ftake a thrall 
 She bade farewell unte them all. 
 
 Farewell, my father dear, quoth me, 
 
 And my fweet mother meek and mild ; 1 10 
 Take you no thought nor weep for me, 
 
 For you may have another child : 
 Since for my country's good I dye, 
 Death I receive moil willinglye. 
 
 CU The
 
 232 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 The king and queen and all their train 115 
 
 With weeping eyes went then their way, 
 
 And let their daughter there remain, 
 To be the hungry dragon's prey : 
 
 But as fne did there weeping lye, 
 
 Behold St. George came riding by. 120 
 
 And feeing there a lady bright 
 
 So rudely tyed unto a ftake, 
 As well became a valiant knight, 
 
 He ftraight to her his way did take : 
 Tell me, fweet maiden, then quoth he, 125 
 
 What caitif thus abufeth thee ? 
 
 And, lo ! by Chrift his crofs I vow, 
 
 Which here is figured on my breaft, 
 
 I will revenge it on his brow, 
 
 And break my lance upon his cheft : 130 
 
 And fpeaking thus whereas he flood, 
 
 The dragon iffued from the wood. 
 
 The lady that did firft efpy 
 
 The dreadful dragon coming fb, 
 Unto St. George aloud did cry, 135 
 
 And willed him away to go ; 
 Here comes that curfed fiend, quoth me, 
 That foon will make an end of me. 
 
 St.
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 233 
 
 St. George then looking round about, 
 
 The fiery dragon foon efpy'd, 140 
 
 And like a knight of courage ftout, 
 
 Againft him did moil fiercely ride ; 
 And with fuch blows he did him greet, 
 He fell beneath his horfe's feet. 
 
 For with his launce that was fo ftrong, 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. 150 
 
 The favour of his poifoned breath 
 
 Could do this holy knight no harm. 
 
 Thus he the lady fav'd from death, 
 And home he led her by the arm ; 
 
 Which when king Ptolemy did fee, 155 
 
 There was great mirth and melody. 
 
 When as that valiant champion there 
 
 Had flain the dragon in the field, 
 To court he brought the lady fair, 
 
 Which to their hearts much joy did yield. 160 
 He in the court of Egypt ftaid 
 Till he moft falfcly was betray'd. 
 
 That
 
 4 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 That lady dearly lov'd the knight, 
 He counted her his only joy ; 
 
 But when their love was brought to light 
 It turn'd unto their great annoy : 
 
 Th' Morocco king was in the court, 
 
 Who to the orchard did refort : 
 
 Dayly to take the pleafant air, 
 
 For pleafure fake he us'd to walk, 
 
 Under a wall he oft did hear 
 
 St. George with lady Sabra talk : 
 
 Their love he fhew'd unto the king, 
 
 Which to St. George great woe did bring. 
 
 Thofe kings together did devife 
 
 To make the chriflian knight away, 
 
 With letters him in curteous wife 
 They ftraightway fent to Perfia : 
 
 But wrote to th' fophy him to kill, 
 
 And treacheroufly his blood to fpill. 
 
 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, 
 
 With zeal deftroy'd each idol god.
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 235 
 
 For which offence he ftraight was thrown 
 
 Into a dungeon dark and deep ; 
 Where, when he thought his wrongs upon, 
 
 He bitterly did wail and weep : igo 
 
 Yet like a knight of courage ftout, 
 At length his way he digged out. 
 
 Three grooms of the king of Perfia 
 
 By night this valiant champion flew, 
 
 Though he had fafted many a day ; 195 
 
 And then away from thence he flew 
 
 On the belt fleed the fophy had ; 
 
 Which when he knew he was full mad. 
 
 Towards Chriftendom he made his flight, 
 
 But met a gyant by the way, 200 
 
 With whom in combat he did fight 
 Moil valiantly a fummer's day : 
 
 Who yet, for all his bats of fteel, 
 
 Was forc'd the fting of death to feel. 
 
 Back o'er the feas with many bands 205 
 
 Of warlike fouldiers foon he part, 
 
 Vowing upon thofe heathen lands 
 
 To work revenge ; which at the laft, 
 
 Ere thrice three years were gone and fpent, 
 
 He wrought unto his heart's content. aio 
 
 Save
 
 236 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 Save onely Egypt land he fpar'd 
 
 For Sabra bright her only fake, 
 And, ere for her he had regard, 
 
 He meant a tryal kind to make : 
 Mean while the king o'ercome in field 215 
 
 Unto faint George did quickly yield. 
 
 Then ftraight Morocco's king he flew, 
 
 And took fair Sabra to his wife, 
 But meant to try if {he were true 
 
 Ere with her he would lead his life : 220 
 
 And, tho' he had her in his train, 
 She did a. virgin pure remain. 
 
 Toward England then that lovely dame 
 
 The brave St. George conducted ftrait, 
 
 An eunuch alfo with them came, 2x5 
 
 Who did upon the lady wait ; 
 
 Thefe three from Egypt went alone. 
 
 Now mark St. George's valour mown. 
 
 When as they in a foreft were, 
 
 The lady did defire to reft ; 230 
 
 Mean while St. George to kill a deer, 
 
 For their repaft did think it beft : 
 Leaving her with the eunuch there, 
 Whilft he.did go to kill the deer. 
 
 But
 
 AND BALLADS. 237 
 
 But lo ! all in his abfence came 235 
 
 Two hungry lyons fierce and fell, 
 And tore the eunuch on the fame 
 
 In pieces fmall, the truth to tell ; 
 Down by the lady then they laid, 
 Whereby they fhew'd, (he 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 "ftrait he did advance, 
 
 And came into the lions fight, 245 
 
 Who ran at him with all their might. 
 
 Their rage did him no whit difmay, 
 
 Who, like a ftout and valiant knight, 
 
 Did both the hungry lyons flay 
 
 Within the lady Sabra's fight : 250 
 
 Who all this while fad and demure, 
 
 There ftood moft like a virgin pure. 
 
 Now when St. George did furely know 
 
 This lady was a virgin true, 
 His heart was glad, that erft was woe, 255 
 
 And all his love did foon renew : 
 He fet her on a palfrey fteed, 
 And towards England came with fpeed.. 
 
 Where
 
 238 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 Where being in fhort fpace arriv'd 
 
 Unto his native dwelling place ; 26(3 
 
 Therein with his dear love he liv'd, 
 
 And fortune did his nuptials grace : 
 They many years of joy did fee, 
 And led their lives at Coventry. 
 
 III. 
 
 LOVE WILL FIND OUT THE WAY. 
 
 fhis excellent fong is ancient: tut e we could only give it from 
 modern copies. 
 
 OVER the mountains, 
 And over the waves j 
 Under the fountains, 
 
 And under the graves ; 
 Over floods that are deepeft, |J 
 
 Which Neptune obey ; 
 Over rocks that are fteepeft, 
 
 Love will find out the way. 
 
 Where there is no place 
 
 For the glow-worm to lye ; JO 
 
 Where there is no fpace 
 
 For rec|ipt of a fly j 
 
 Where
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 239- 
 
 Where the midge dares not venture, 
 
 Left herfelf faft ihe lay ; 
 If love come, he will enter, ie 
 
 And foon find out his way. 
 
 You may e'fteem him 
 
 A child for his might ; 
 Or you may deem him 
 
 A coward from his flight ; 29 
 
 But if (he, whom love doth honour, 
 
 Be conceal'd from the day, 
 Set a thoufand guards upon her, 
 
 Love ^ill find out the way. 
 
 Some think to lofe him, zj 
 
 By having him confin'd ; 
 And fome do fuppofe him, 
 
 Poor thing, to be blind ; 
 But if ne'er fo clofe ye wall him, 
 
 Do the beft that you may, - 
 
 Blind love, iffoye call him, 
 
 Will find out his way. 
 
 You may train the eagle 
 
 To ftoop to your fifl ; 
 Or you may inveigle 35 
 
 The phenix of the eaft ; 
 The lionefs, ye may move her 
 
 To give o'er her prey ; 
 But you'll ne'er ftop a lover : 
 
 He will find out his way. 40
 
 240 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 IV. 
 
 LORD THOMAS AND FAIR ANNET, 
 A SCOTTISH BALLAD, 
 
 feems to be compofed (not without improvements) out oft<wo 
 ancient Englijh ones, printed in the former part of this volume. 
 
 See took I. ballad Xf. and book II. ballad IV.- If this 
 
 bad been the original', the authors of thofe t<wo ballads would 
 hardly have adopted two Juck different ftories : bejides, this 
 contains enlargements not to be found in either of the others. 
 It is given <witb fame corrections, from a MS. copy tranf- 
 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, 5 
 
 Fair Annet took it ill : 
 A' ! I will nevir wed a wife 
 
 Againft my ain friends will. 
 
 Gif
 
 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 nrither, 
 
 And knelt upon his knee : 
 
 O rede, O rede, mither, he fays, 
 A gude rede gie to mee : 
 
 fall I tak the nut-brown e bride, 15 
 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 haef, 
 
 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 ; 
 
 1 wad hae ye marrie the nut-browne bride, 
 
 And caft 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. HI. R And
 
 242 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 And he has till his fifter gone : 
 
 Now lifter rede ye mee ; 
 O fall I marrie the nut browne bride, 35 
 
 And fet fair Annet free ? 
 
 Ife rede ye tat; fair Annet, Thomas, 
 
 And let the browne bride alane j 
 Left ye fould gh and fey, Alace ! 
 
 What is this we brought hame ? 40 
 
 No, I will tak my nuthers counfd, 
 
 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 4; 
 
 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 fheene ; 50 
 
 Let us gae to St. Maries kirke, 
 And fee that rich weddeea. 
 
 My matdgg, gae to my drefiing rooms, 
 
 And drefs to me my hair ; 
 Whair-eir yce laid a plait before, 55 
 
 See yce lay ten times mair. 
 
 My
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 243 
 
 My maids, gae to my dreffing room, 
 
 And drefs to me my fmock ; 
 The one half is o' the Holland fine, 
 
 The other o' needle-work. 60 
 
 The horfe fair Annet rade upon, 
 
 He amblit like the wind, 
 Wi' filler he was mod before, 
 
 Wi' burning gowd behind;. 
 
 Four and twanty filler bells. 65 
 
 Wer a' tyed till his mane, 
 And yae lift o' the norland wind, 
 
 They tinkled ane by ane. 
 
 Four and twanty gay gude knichts ' 
 
 Rade by fair Annets fide, 70 
 
 And four and twanty fair ladies, 
 
 As gin fhe had bin a bride. 
 
 And whan fhe cam to Maries kirk, 
 
 She fat on Maries ftean ; 
 The deading that fair Annet had on j$ 
 
 It fkinkled in their een. 
 
 And whan fhe cam into the kirk, 
 
 She fhimmer'd like the fun ; 
 The belt that was about her waift, 
 
 Was a* wi' pearles bedone. 80 
 
 R 2 She
 
 244 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 She fat her by the nut-browne 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 kifles three, 
 And reaching by the nut-browne bride, 
 
 Laid it on fair Annets knee. 
 
 Up than fpak the nut-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 wull neir get nane, 
 For I did get that very rofe-water 95 
 
 Into my mithers wame. 
 
 The bride flie drew a long bodkin, 
 
 Frae out her gay head gear, 
 And ilrake fair Annet unto the heart, 
 
 That word fhe fpak nevir mair. i co 
 
 Lord Thomas he faw fair Annet wcx pale, 
 
 And marvelit what mote bee : 
 But whan he faw her dear hearts blude, 
 
 A' wood-wroth wexed hee. 
 
 He
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 245 
 
 He drew his dagger, that was fae fharp, 105 
 
 That was fae fharp and meet, 
 And drave it into the nut-browne bride, 
 
 That fell deid at his feit. 
 
 Now flay for me, dear Annet, he fed, 
 
 Now flay, my dear, he cry'd ; !! 
 
 Than flrake the dagger untill his heart, 
 
 And fell deid by her fide, 
 
 Lord Thomas was buried without kirk-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 dear e. ! 
 
 R 3 V. UN
 
 246 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 V. 
 UNFADING BEAUTY. 
 
 fhis little beautiful fonnet is reprinted from a fmal 
 ef " Poems by THOMAS CAREW, Efq; one of the gentle- 
 " men of the priv ie-c hambe r, and fewer in ordinary to his 
 " majejiy (Charles I). Land. 1640." This elegant, and 
 almcjl-forgotten writer, ivhofe poems defer-ve to be revived, 
 jied in the prime of his age, in 1639. 
 
 In the original follows a third Jianza, nuh-ich not being 
 of general application, nor of equal merit, I have ventured 
 to omit. 
 
 HEE that loves a rofie cheeke, 
 Or a corall lip admires, 
 Or from ftar-like eyes doth feeke 
 
 Fuell to maintaine his fires ; 
 
 As old time makes thefe decay, 5 
 
 So his flames muft wafte away. 
 
 But a fmooth and ftedfaft mind, 
 
 Gentle thoughts, and calme defires, 
 Hearts with equal love combin'd 
 
 Kindle never-dying fires : 10 
 
 Where thefe are not I defpife 
 Lovely cheekes, or lips, or eyes. 
 ***** 
 
 VI. GEORGE
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 247 
 
 VI. 
 
 GEORGE BARNWELL. 
 
 * 
 
 tfhefubjefi of this ballad is fuffidently popular from the mo- 
 dern play ^which is founded upon it. 'This was written by 
 GEORGE LILLO a jeweller of London, and jirft ated 
 
 about 1730. As for the ballad, it was printed at leaji as 
 
 early as the middle of the laft century. 
 
 It is here given from three old printed copies, which ex- 
 hibit a ftrange intermixture of Roir.an and black letter. It 
 is alfo collated with another copy in the AJhir.de collection at 
 Oxford, which is thus infilled, " An excellent ballad of 
 " GEORGE BARNWELL, an apprentice of London, waa 
 *' . . . thrice robbed his mafter and murdered his <vncle in 
 *' Ludlow. The tune is " The Merchant." 
 
 This tragical narrative feems to relate c. real faff ; but 
 nvben it happened I have not been able to difcomtr. 
 
 THE FIRST PART. 
 
 ALL youths of fair England 
 JL\ That dwell both far and near, 
 Regard my (lory that I tell, 
 And to my fong give ear. 
 
 A London lad 1 was, 5 
 
 A merchant's prentice bound ; 
 My name George Barnwell ; that did fpend 
 
 My mailer many a pound. 
 
 R 4 Take
 
 248 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 Take heed of harlots then, 
 
 And their enticing trains ; IO 
 
 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 bufinefs, jr 
 
 A wanton J did meet. 
 
 A gallant dainty dame, 
 
 And fumptuous in attire ; 
 With fmiling look me greeted me, 
 
 And did my name require. 20 
 
 Which when I had declar'd, 
 
 She gave me then a kifs, 
 And faid, if I would come to her, 
 
 I mould have more than this. 
 
 t 
 
 fair miftrefs, then quoth I, 35 
 
 If I the place may know, 
 This evening I will be with you 
 
 For I abroad mult go 
 
 To gather monies in, 
 
 That are my mailer's due : * 
 
 And ere that I do home retunij 
 
 I'll come and vifit you. 
 
 Goo*
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 249 
 
 Good Barnwell, then quoth me, 
 
 Do thou to Shoreditch come, 
 And afk for Mrs. Millwood's houfe, jj 
 
 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 (halt right welcome be. 40 
 
 Thus parted we in peace, 
 
 And home I pafled right ; 
 Then went abroad, and gathered in, 
 
 By fix o'clock at night, 
 
 An hundred pound and one : 45 
 
 With bag under my arm 
 I went to Mrs. Millwood's houfe, 
 
 And thought on little harm ; 
 
 And knocking at the door, 
 
 Straightway herfelf came down; 50 
 
 Ruftling in moft brave attire, 
 
 With hood and filken gown. 
 
 Who, through her beauty bright, 
 
 So glorioully did mine, 
 That me amaz'd my dazzling eye, 55 
 
 She feemed fo divine.
 
 250 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 She took me by the hand, 
 
 And with a modefl grace, 
 Welcome, fweet Barnwell, then quoth me, 
 
 Unto this homely place. 60 
 
 And fince I have thee found 
 
 As good as thy word to be ; 
 A homely fupper, ere we part, 
 
 Thou malt take here with me, 
 
 pardon me, quoth I, <$ 
 Fair miftrefs, I you pray ; 
 
 For why, out of my matter's houfe, 
 So long I dare not flay. 
 
 Alas, good Sir, me faid, 
 
 Are you fo ftriftly ty'd, 7* 
 
 You may not with your deareft friend 
 
 One hour or two abide ? 
 
 Faith, then the cafe is hard, 
 If it be fo, quoth me ; 
 
 1 would I were a prentice bound, 75 
 
 To live along with thee : 
 
 Therefore, my deareft George, 
 
 Lift well what I mail fay, 
 And do not blame a woman much, 
 
 Her fancy to bewray. 80 
 
 z Let
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 251 
 
 Let not affection's force 
 
 Be counted lewd defirc, 
 Nor think it not immodefty, 
 
 I fhould thy love require. 
 
 With that {he turn'd afide, 8j 
 
 And with a blufhing red, 
 A mournful motion me bewray'd 
 
 By hanging down her head. 
 
 A handkerchief me had, 
 
 All wrought with iilk and gold : 9* 
 
 Which me to ftay her trickling tears 
 
 Before her eyes did hold. 
 
 This thing unto my fight 
 
 Was wondrous rare and ftrange ; 
 And in my foul and inward thought, 95 
 
 It wrought a fudden change : 
 
 That I fo hardy grew, 
 
 To take her by the hand : 
 Saying, Sweet miftrefs, why do you 
 
 So dull and penfive (land ? 100 
 
 Call me no miftrefs now, 
 
 But Sarah, thy true friend, 
 Thy fervant, Millwood, honouring thec, 
 
 Until her life hath end. 
 
 If
 
 * ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 If them wouldft here alledge, 105 
 
 Thou art in years a boy ; 
 So was Adcnis, yet was he 
 , Fair Venus' only joy. 
 
 Thus I, who ne'er before 
 
 Of woman found fuch grace, HO 
 
 But feeing now fo fair a dame 
 
 Give me a kind embrace, 
 
 I fupt with her that night, 
 
 With joys that did abound ; 
 And for the fame paid prefently, I \ 5 
 
 In money twice three pound. 
 
 An hundred kiffes then, 
 
 For my farewel me gave ; 
 Crying, Sweet Barnwell, when (hall I 
 
 Again thy company have ? 1 20 
 
 O flay not hence too long, 
 
 Sweet George, have me in mind. 
 Her words bewitcht my childifhnefs, 
 
 She uttered them fo kind : 
 
 So that I made avow, 125 
 
 Next Sunday without fail, 
 With my fweet Sarah once again, 
 
 To tell feme pleafant tale. 
 
 Whe
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 253 
 
 When fhe heard me fay fo, 
 
 The tears fell from her eye ; 1 30 
 
 O George, quoth fhe, if thou doft fail, 
 
 Thy Sarah fure will dye. 
 
 Though long, yet loe ! at laft, 
 
 The appointed day w?.s come, 
 That I mult with my Sarah meet; *35 
 
 Having a mighty fum 
 
 Of money in my hand, 
 
 Unto her houfe went I, 
 Whereas my love upon her bed 
 
 In faddeit 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 malt lack no means cf help, 
 
 Though forty pound I fpend. 
 
 With that fiie turn'd her head, 
 
 And fickly thus did fay, . 150 
 
 Oh me, fweet George, my grief is great, 
 
 Ten pound I have to pay 
 
 Unte
 
 354 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 Unto a cruel wretch ; 
 
 And God he knows, quoth fhe, 
 I have it not. Turn, rife, I faid, 
 
 And take it here of me. 
 
 Ten pounds, nor ten times ten, 
 
 Shall make my love decay. 
 Then from my bag into her lap, 
 
 I caft ten pound ftraightway. 160 
 
 All blithe and pleafant then, 
 
 To banqueting we go ; 
 She proffered me to lye with her, 
 
 And faid it mould be fo. 
 
 And after that fame time, 165 
 
 I gave her ftore of coy n, 
 Yea, fometimes fifty pouad at once j 
 
 All which I did purloyn. 
 
 And thus I did pafs on ; 
 
 Until my mafter then 170* 
 
 Did call to have his reckoning in 
 
 Caft up among hia men. 
 
 The which when as I heard, 
 
 I knew not what to fay : 
 For well I knew that I was out 175 
 
 Two hundred pound that day. 
 
 Then
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 255 
 
 Then from my mailer ftraight 
 
 I ran in fecret fort ; 
 And unto Sarah Millwood there 
 
 My cafe I did report. 1 8 
 
 But how fhe us'4 this yoqth, 
 
 In this his care and v*or, 
 And all a (trumpet's wiley ways, 
 
 The SECOND PART may Ihowa. 
 
 THS SECOND PART. 
 
 YOUNG Barnwell comes to thec, 
 Sweet Sarah, my delight ; 
 I am undone unlefs thou ftand 
 My faithful friend this night. 
 
 Our mafter to accorr.pts, 5 
 
 Hathjuft occajlon 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
 
 256 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 With that fhe knit her brows, 
 
 And looking all aquoy, 
 Quoth fhe, What mould I have to do 15 
 
 With any prentice boy ? 
 
 And feeing you have purloyn'd 
 
 Your matters goods away, 
 The cafe is bad, and therefore here 
 
 You mall no longer ftay. 20 
 
 Why, dear, thou knowft, I faid, 
 
 How all which I could get, 
 I gave it, and did fpend it all 
 
 Upon thee every whit. 
 
 Quoth me, Thou art a knave, 25 
 
 To charge me in this fort, 
 Being a woman of credit fair, 
 
 And known of good report. 
 
 Therefore I tell thee flat, 
 
 Be packing with good fpeed, 3 
 
 I do defie thee from my heart, 
 
 And fcorn thy filthy deed. 
 
 Is this the friendfhip that 
 
 You did to me proteft ? 
 Is this the great afre&ion which 35 
 
 You fo to me expreft ? 
 
 Now
 
 AND BALLADS. a 57 
 
 Now fie on fubtle ftirews ! 
 
 The beft is, I may fpeed 
 To get a lodging any where 
 
 For money in my need. ^o 
 
 i - 
 
 ' Falfe woman, now farewell ^ 
 
 Whilft twenty pound doth laft 
 My anchor in fome other haven 
 With freedom I will caft. 
 
 When fhe perceiv'd by this, 4$ 
 
 I had ftore of money there : 
 Stay, George, quoth fhe, thou art too quick : 
 
 Why, man, I did but jeer: 
 
 Doft think for all my fpeech, 
 
 That I would let thee go ? 50 
 
 Faith no, iaid fhe, my love to thce 
 
 I wifs is more than fo. 
 
 You fcorne a prentice boy, 
 
 1 heard you juft now fwear, 
 Wherefore I will not trouble you. rr 
 
 Nay, Georgp, hark in thine ear; 
 
 Thou fnalt not go to-night, 
 
 What chance foe're befall : 
 But man we'll have a bed for thee. 
 
 Or elfe the devil take all. 
 
 VOL. III. S So
 
 3 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 So I by wiles bewitcht, 
 
 And fnar'd with fancy ftill, 
 Had then no power to * get * away, 
 
 Or to withftand her will. 
 
 For wine on wine I call'd, ^ 
 
 And cheer upon good cheer ; 
 And nothing in the world I thought 
 
 For Sarah's love too dear. 
 
 Whilft in her company, 
 
 I had fuch merriment ; 7 
 
 All, all too little I did think, 
 - That I upon her fpent. 
 
 A fig for care and thought ! 
 
 When all my gold is gone, 
 In faith, my girl, we will have more* 75 
 
 Whoever I light upon. 
 
 My father's rich, why then 
 
 Should I want ftore of gold ? 
 Nay with a father fure, quoth me, 
 
 A fon may well make bold. 8* 
 
 I've a lifter richly wed, 
 
 I'll rob her ere I'll want. 
 Nay, then quoth Sarah, they may well 
 
 Confider of your fcant. 
 
 Nay,
 
 AND BALLADS. 259 
 
 Nay, I an uncle have, - g* 
 
 At Ludlow he doth dwell : 
 He is a grazier, which in wealth 
 
 Doth all the reft excell. 
 
 Ere I will live in lack, 
 
 And have no coyn for thee : g 9 
 
 I'll rob his houfe, and murder him. 
 
 Why mould you not ? quoth flic : 
 
 Was I a man, ere I 
 
 Would live in poor eftate ; 
 On father, friends, and all my kin, oc 
 
 I would my talons grate. 
 
 For without money, George, 
 
 A man is but a beaft : 
 But bringing money, thou ihalt be 
 
 Always my welcome gueft. lo 
 
 For fliouldft thou be purfued 
 
 With twenty hues and cryes, 
 And with a warrant fearched fot 
 
 With Argus' hundred eyes, 
 
 Yet here thou (halt be fafe ; joe 
 
 Such privy ways there be, 
 That if they fought an hundred years, 
 
 They could not find out thee. 
 
 S z And
 
 260 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 And fo caroufing both 
 
 Their pleafures to content : i 10 
 
 George Barnwell had in little fpace 
 
 His money wholly fpent. 
 
 Which done, to Ludlow ftraight 
 
 He did provide to go, 
 To rob his wealthy uncle there; j 15 
 
 His minion would it fo. 
 
 And once he thought to take 
 
 His father by the way, 
 But that he fear'd his mafter had 
 
 Took order for his flay. 1 29 
 
 Unto his uncle then 
 
 He rode with might and main, 
 Who with a welcome and good cheer 
 
 Did Barnwell entertain* 
 
 One fortnight's fpace he flayed, 125 
 
 Until it chanced fo, 
 His uncle with his cattle did 
 
 Unto a market go. 
 
 His kinfman rode with him, 
 
 Where he did fee right plain, 13* 
 
 Great ftore of money he had took : 
 
 When coming home again, 
 
 Sudden
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 261 
 
 Sudden within a wood, 
 
 He ftruck his uncle down, 
 And beat his brains out of his head ; 135 
 
 So fore he crackt his crown. 
 
 Then feizing fourfcore pound, 
 
 To London ftraight he hyed, 
 And unto Sarah Millwood all 
 
 The cruell faft defcryed. 140 
 
 Tufh, 'tis no matter, George, 
 
 So we the money have 
 To have good cheer in jolly fort, 
 
 And deck us fine and brave. 
 
 Thus lived in filthy fort, 145 
 
 Until their ftore was gone : 
 When means to get them any more, 
 
 I wis, poor George had none. 
 
 Therefore in railing fort, 
 
 She thruft him out of door : 150 
 
 Which is the juft reward of thofe, 
 
 Who fpend upon a whore, 
 
 O ! do me not difgrace 
 
 In this my need, quoth he. 
 She call'd him thief and murderer, 155 
 
 With all the fpight might be : 
 
 S 3 To
 
 562 ANCIENT SON.GS 
 
 To the conftable {he fent, 
 
 To have him apprehended ; 
 And {hewed how far, in each degree, 
 
 He had the laws offended. 160 
 
 When Barnwell faw her drift, 
 
 To fea he got ftraightway ; 
 Where fear and fling of confcience 
 
 Continually on him lay. 
 
 Unto the lord mayor then, 165 
 
 He did a letter write ; 
 In which his own and Sarah's fault 
 
 He did at large recite. 
 
 Whereby fhe feized Was, 
 
 And then to Ludlow fent : 170 
 
 Where fhe was judg'd, condemn'd, and hang'd, 
 
 For murder incontinent. 
 
 There dyed this gallant quean, 
 
 Such was her greateft gains : 
 For murder in Polonia, 175 
 
 Was Barnwell hang'd in chains. 
 
 Lo ! here's the end of youth, 
 
 That after harlots haunt ; 
 Who in the fpoil of other men, 
 
 About the ilreets do flaunt. 180 
 
 VII. HENCE
 
 AND BALLADS. 263 
 
 VII. 
 
 THE STEDFAST SHEPHERD. 
 
 Tbefe beautiful Stanzas 'were 'written ly GEORGK 
 WITHER, of 'lubom fome account was given in the firmer 
 fart of this Volume \ fee the fong intitled, THE SHEP- 
 HERDS RESOLUTION,/. 190. In our firft Edition only 
 afmall Fragment of this Sonnet had been recovered, but <we 
 are now able to give it more perfel and intire by the in~ 
 fertion of five additional Stanzas : Thefe are extraQtd,from 
 Wither' s Paftoral Poem, THE MISTRESS OF PHILARETE ; 
 of which this Song makes a part. There 'were two or three 
 other Stanzas, but as they appeared to be of inferior merit t 
 ivere not adopted. 
 
 HENCE away, you Syrens, leave me* 
 And unclafpe your wanton armes ; 
 Sugred words fhall ne'er deceive me, 
 
 (Though ' you' prove a thoufand charmes). 
 Fie, fie, forbeare ; 5 
 
 No common fnare 
 Could ever my affection chaine ; 
 Your painted baits, 
 And poore deceits, 
 Are all beftowed on me in vaine. i 
 
 Vtr. 4. thou P. C. 
 
 S 4 I'mc
 
 264 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 I'me no flave to fuch, as you be ; 
 
 Neither fhall a fnowy breft, 
 Wanton eye, or lip of ruby 
 Ever robb me of my reft : 
 
 Goe, goe, difplay I* 
 
 Your beautie's ray 
 
 To fome ore-foone enamour'd fwaine : 
 Thofe common wiles 
 Of fighs and fmiles 
 Are all bellowed on me in vaine, 20 
 
 I have elfewhere vowed a dutie ; 
 
 Turne away your ' tempting eyes : 
 Shew not me a naked beautie ; 
 Thofe impoftures I defpife : 
 
 My fpirit lothes ?5 
 
 Where gawdy clothes 
 And fained othes may love obtaine : 
 I love her fo, 
 
 Whofe looke fweares No ; 
 That all your labours will be vaine. 39 
 
 Can he prize the tainted pofies, 
 
 Which on every breft are worne ; 
 That may plucke the fpotlefle rofes 
 
 From their never-touched thorne ? 35 
 
 I can goe reft 
 On her fweet breft, 
 
 Yer. 12. thy. P. C. 
 
 That
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 265 
 
 That is the pride of Cynthia's traine : 
 
 Then hold your tongues ; 
 
 Your mermaid fongs 
 Are all beflowed on me in vaine. 4.9 
 
 Hee's a foole, that bafely dallies, 
 
 Where each peafant mates with him : 
 Shall I haunt the thronged vallies, 
 
 Whilft ther's noble hils to climbe ? 
 
 No, no, though clotvnes 45 
 
 Are flcar'd with frownes, 
 I know the beft can but difdaine ; 
 And thofe He prove : 
 So mail your love 
 Be all beftowed on me in vaine. co 
 
 I doe fcorne to vow a dutie, 
 
 Where each luftfull lad may wooe : 
 Give me her, whofe fun-like beautie 
 Buzzards dare not foare unto : 
 
 Shee, fhee it is re 
 
 Affoords that blifle 
 For which I would refufe no paine : 
 But fuch as you, 
 Fond fooles, adieu ; 
 You feeke to captive me in vaine. 60 
 
 Leave me then, you Syrens, leave me ; 
 
 Seeke no more to worke my harmes : 
 Craftie wiles cannot deceive me, 
 
 Who am proofe againft your charmes :
 
 266 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 You labour may 65 
 
 To lead aftray 
 The heart, that conftant fliall remaine : 
 
 And I the while 
 
 Will fit and fmile 
 To fee you fpend your time in vaine. 7* 
 
 VIII. 
 
 THE SPANISH VIRGIN, OR EFFECTS 
 OF JEALOUSY. 
 
 The fubjefl of this ballad is taken from a folio collection 
 cf tragical ftories, intitled ' ' The theatre of God's judg- 
 ments, by Dr. Beard and Dr. Taylor, 164.2. Pt. z. p. 89. 
 The text is gi<vsn (with fome cornelians) from two co- 
 pies ; one of them in black letter in the Pepys collection. In 
 this every ftanza is accompanied with the following diftich 
 by 'way of burden, 
 
 " Oh jealoujie ! thou art nurjl in hell : 
 " Depart from hence ; and therein dwell." 
 
 AL L tender hearts, that ake to hear 
 Of thofe that fuffer wrong ; 
 All you, that never fhed a tear, 
 Give heed unto my fong. 
 
 Fair Ifabella's tragedy 5 
 
 My tale doth far exceed : 
 Alas ! that fo much cruelty 
 
 In female hearts fhould breed ! 
 
 In
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 267 
 
 In Spain a lady liv'd of late, 
 
 Who was of high degree ; IO 
 
 Whofe wayward temper did create 
 
 Much woe and mifery. 
 
 Strange jealoufies fo fill'd her head 
 
 With many a vain furmize, 
 She thought her lord had wrong'd her bed, 15 
 
 And did her love defpife. - 
 
 A gentlewoman pafling fair 
 
 Did on this lady wait ; 
 With braveft dames fhe might compare ; 
 
 Her beauty was compleat. ao 
 
 Her lady caft a jealous eye 
 
 Upon this gentle maid ; 
 And taxt her with difloyaltye; 
 
 And did her oft upbraid. 
 
 In filence ftill this maiden meek 25 
 
 Her bitter taunts would bear, 
 While oft adown her lovely cheek 
 
 Would Heal the falling tear. 
 
 In vain in humble fort me ftrove 
 
 Her fury to difarm ; 30 
 
 As well the meeknefs of the dove 
 
 The bloody hawke might charm. 
 
 Her
 
 268 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 Her lord of humour light and gay, 
 
 And innocent the while, 
 As oft as (he came in his way, 
 
 Would on the dam/ell fmile. 
 
 And oft before his lady's face, 
 
 As thinking her her friend, 
 He would the maiden's modeft grace 
 
 And comelinefs commend. 
 
 All which incens'd his lady fo 
 She burnt with wrath extreame ; 
 
 At length the fire that long did glow, 
 Burft forth into a flame. 
 
 For on a day it fo befell, 
 
 When he was gone from home, 
 
 The lady all with rage did fwelj, 
 And to the damfell come. 
 
 And charging her with great offence, 
 
 And many a grievous fault ; 
 She bade her fervants drag her thence, 
 
 Into a difmal vault, 
 
 That lay beneath the common-more : 
 
 A dungeon dark and deep : 
 Where they were wont, in days of yore, 
 
 Offenders great to keep.
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 263 
 
 There never light of chearful day 
 
 Difpers'd the hideous gloom j 
 But dank and noifome vapours play 
 
 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, 65 
 
 The fair one innocent 
 Was caft, before her lady's face ; 
 
 Her malice to content. 
 
 This maid no fooner enter'd is, 
 
 But ftrait, alas ! fhe hears ' ~% 
 
 The toads to croak, and fnakes to hifs : 
 
 Then grievoufly me fears. 
 
 Soon from their holes the vipers creep, 
 
 And fiercely her aflail : 
 Which* makes the damfel forely weep, 75 
 
 And her fad fate bewail. 
 
 With her fair hands fhe drives in vain 
 
 Her body to defend : 
 With fhrieks and cries fhe doth complain, 
 
 But all is to no end. ?o 
 
 Afer-
 
 270 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 A fervant liftning near the door, 
 Struck with her doleful noife, 
 
 Strait ran his lady to implore ; 
 But fhe'll not hear his voice. 
 
 With bleeding heart he goes agen 8$ 
 
 To mark the maiden's groans ; 
 And plainly hears, within the den, 
 
 How me herfelf bemoans. 
 
 Again he to his lady hies 
 
 With all the hafte he may : 93 
 
 She into furious paffion flies, 
 
 And orders him away. 
 
 Still back again does he return 
 
 To hear her tender cries j 
 The virgin now had ceas'd to mourn ; 95 
 
 Which fill'd him with furprize. 
 
 In grief, and horror, and affright, 
 
 He liftens at the walls ; 
 But finding all was filent quite, 
 
 He to his lady calls. 100 
 
 Too fure, O lady, now quoth he, 
 
 Your cruelty hath fped : 
 Make haft, for fliame, and come and fee; 
 
 I fear the virgin's dead. 
 
 She
 
 AND BALLADS. 271 
 
 She ftarts to hear her fudden fate, 105 
 
 And does with torches run : 
 But all her hafte was now too late, 
 
 For death his worft had done. 
 
 The door being open'd ftrait they found 
 
 The virgin ftretch'd along : HO 
 
 Two dreadful fnakes had wrapt her round, 
 Which her to death had ftung. 
 
 One round her legs, her thighs, her waft 
 
 Had twin'd his fatal wreath : 
 The other clofe her neck embrac'd, 115 
 
 And ftopt her gentle breath. 
 
 The fnakes, being from her body thruft, 
 
 Their bellies were fo fill'd, 
 That with excefs of blood they burfl, 
 
 Thus with their prey were kill'd. 120 
 
 The wiqked lady at this fight, 
 
 With horror llrait ran mad ; 
 So raving dy'd as was moft right, 
 
 Caufe Jhe no pity had. 
 
 Let me advife you, ladies all, . 125 
 
 Of jealoufy beware : 
 It caufeth many a one to fall, 
 
 And is the devil's fnare. %* 
 
 IX. JEALOUSY
 
 72 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 IX. 
 
 JEALOUSY TYRANT OF THE MIND. 
 
 From a Manufcript copy communicated to the Editor, 
 
 WHAT ftate of life can be fo bleft, 
 As love that warms the gentle breft ? 
 Two fouls in one ; the fame defire 
 To grant the blifs, and to require : 
 
 If in this heaven a hell we find, 5 
 
 Tis all from thee, 
 O Jealoufie ! 
 Thou tyrant, tyrant of the mind. 
 
 All other ills, though fharpe they prove, 
 Serve to refine and perfect love : 19 
 
 In abfence, or unkind difdaine, 
 Sweet hope relieves the lovers paine : 
 But, oh, no cure but death we find 
 To fett us free 
 
 From jealoufie, ij 
 
 Thou tyrant, tyrant of the mind. 
 
 Falfe in thy glafs all objects are, 
 Some fett too near, and fome too farre : 
 Thou art the fire of endlcfs night, 
 The fire that burns, and gives no light. 20 
 
 All
 
 AND BALLADS, 273 
 
 All torments of the damn'd we find 
 
 In only thee, 
 
 O Jealoufie ; 
 Thou tyrant, tyrant of the mind. 
 
 X. 
 
 CONSTANT PENELOPE. 
 
 9 r 'he ladles are indebted for the following notable documents 
 to the Pepys colle&ion, ivbere the original is preJer-TJea 1 in black- 
 letter, and is intitled, " A looking-glafsfor ladies, or a mirrour 
 "for married women. Tune Queen Dido, or Troy tewn." 
 
 WHEN Greeks, and Trojans fell at ftrifo, , 
 And lords in armour bright were feen j 
 When many a gallant loft his life 
 
 About fair Hellen, beauties queen j 
 Ulyffes, general fo free, 5 
 
 Did leave his dear Penelope. 
 
 When me this wofull news did hear, 
 That he would to the warrs of Troy jf 
 
 For grief me fhed full many a tear, 
 
 At parting from her only joy ; 10 
 
 Her ladies all about her came, 
 
 To comfort up this Grecian dame. , 9 
 
 VOL. III. T UlyiTes,
 
 274 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 Uly/Tes, with a heavy heart, 
 Unto her then did mildly fay, 
 
 The time is come that we muft part ; 
 My honour calls me hence away ; 
 
 Yet in my abfence, deareft, be 
 
 My conftant wife, Penelope. 
 
 Let me no longer live, me fayd, 
 Then to my lord I true remain ; 
 
 My honour mall not be betray'd 
 Until I fee my love again ; 
 
 For I will ever conftant prove, 
 
 As is the loyal turtle-dove. 
 
 Thus did they part with heavy chear, 
 And to the fhips his way he took ; 
 
 Her tender eyes dropt many a tear; 
 Still caftirg many a longing look : 
 
 She faw him on the furges glide, 
 
 And unto Neptune thus fhe cry'd : 
 
 Thou god, whofe power is in the deep, 
 And ruleft in the ocean main, 
 
 My loving lord in fafety keep 
 Till he return to me again : 
 
 That I his perfon may behold, 
 
 To me more precious far than gold. 
 
 3
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 275 
 
 Then ftraight the fhips with nimble fails 
 
 Were all convey'd out of her fight : 
 Her cruel fate fhe then bewails, 
 
 Since fhe had loft her hearts delight : 40 
 
 Now (hall my practice be, quoth fhe, 
 True vertue and humility. 
 
 My patience I will put in ure, 
 
 My charity I will extend ; 
 Since for my woe there is no core, 45 
 
 The helplefs now I will befriend : 
 The widow and the fatherlefs 
 I will relieve, when in diftrefs. 
 
 Thus fhe continued year by year 
 
 In doing good to every one ; 50 
 
 Her fame was noifed every where, 
 
 To young and old the fame was known j 
 No company that fhe would mind, 
 Who were to vanity inclin'd. 
 
 Mean while Ulyfles fought for fame, 55 
 
 'Mongft Trojans hazarding his life : 
 Young gallants, hearing of her name, 
 
 Came flocking for to tempt his wife : 
 For fhe was lovely, young, and fair, 
 No lady might with her compare. 60 
 
 T 2 With
 
 276 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 With coftly gifts and jewels fine, 
 
 They did endeavour her to win ; 
 With banquets and the choicefl wine, 
 
 For to allure her unto fin : 
 
 Moll perfons were of high degree, 6 
 
 Who courted fair Penelope. 
 
 With modefty and comely grace, 
 
 Their wanton fuits {he did denye j 
 No tempting charms could e'er deface 
 
 Her dearell hufband's memorye j ? 
 
 But conftant me would ftill remain, 
 Hopeing to fee him once again. 
 
 Her book her dayly comfort was, 
 
 And that me often did perufe ; 
 She feldom looked in her glafs ; 75 
 
 Powder and paint flie ne'er would ufe> 
 . I wilh all ladies were as free 
 From pride, as was Penelope. 
 
 She in her needle took delight, 
 
 And likewife in her fpinning-wheel ; & 
 
 Her maids about her every night 
 
 Did ufe the diftaff, and the reel : 
 The fpiders, that on rafters twine, 
 Scarce fpin a thread more foft and fine. 
 
 Some-
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 277 
 
 Sometimes me would bewail the lofs 85 
 
 And abfence of her deareft love : 
 Sometimes me thought the feas to crofs, 
 
 Her fortune on the waves to prove : 
 I fear my lord is flain, quoth me, 
 He ftays fo from Penelope. go 
 
 At length the ten years fiege of Troy 
 Did end ; in flames the city burn'd ; 
 
 And to the Grecians was great joy, 
 To fee the towers to afhes turn'd : 
 
 Then came Ulyfles home to fee 95 
 
 His conftant, dear, Penelope. 
 
 O blame her not if me was glad, 
 
 When me her lord again had feen. 
 Thrice-welcome home, my dear, me faid, 
 
 A long time abfent thou haft been : 100 
 
 The wars mall never more deprive 
 Me of my lord wfcilft I'me alive. 
 
 Fair ladies all example takej 
 
 And hence a worthy leffon learn, 
 All youthful follies to forfake, 105 
 
 And vice from virtue to difcern : 
 And let all women ftrive to be, 
 As conftant as Penelope. 
 
 T 3 IX. TO
 
 278 A N C IENT SONGS 
 
 XI. 
 TO LUCASTA, ON GOING TO THE WARS. 
 
 By Col. Richard Lovelace : from the volume of bis 
 poems intitled, " Lucafta, Lond. 1649." izmo. The elegance 
 of this writer's manner would be more admired, if it had 
 fome^what more ofjimplicity. 
 
 TELL me not, fweet, I am unkinde, 
 That from the nunnerie 
 Of thy chafte breaft and quiet minde, 
 To warre and armes I flie. 
 
 True ; a new miftrefle now I chafe, 5 
 
 The firft foe in the field ; 
 And with a ftronger faith imbrace 
 
 A fword, a horfe, a fhield. 
 
 Yet this inconftancy is fuch, 
 
 As you too fhall adore ; 10 
 
 I could not love thee, deare, fo much, 
 
 Lov'd I not honour more. 
 
 X. VA-
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 279 
 
 XII. 
 VALENTINE AND URSINE. 
 
 // would be in i>aia to put off this ballad for ancient, 
 nor yet is it altogether modern. The original is an old MS 
 poem in the Editor's poj/ejfion ; which being in a wretched cor- 
 rupt ft ate, the jubjel was thought worthy of feme fmbellijb- 
 ments. 
 
 The old ft ory -book of Valentine and Orfon (which fug- 
 gefted the plan of this tale, but it is not ftricJly follow- 
 ed in it) was originally a tranjlation from the French, being 
 one of their earlieft attempts at romance. See " Le Bib- 
 " liotheque de Remans, 5r." 
 
 The circumftance of the bridge of bells is taken from the 
 old metrical legend of Sir Bevis, and has alfo been copied 
 in the Seven Champions. The original lines are, 
 
 Over the dyke a bridge there lay, 
 
 That man and beeft might pafse aivaj :. 
 
 Under the brydge were fexty belles ; 
 
 Right as the Romans telles ; 
 
 That there might no man pafse in, 
 
 But all they rang with a gyn" 
 
 Sign. E. iv. 
 
 PART THE FIRST. 
 
 WHEN Flora 'gins to decke the fields 
 With colours frelh and fine, 
 Then holy clerkes their mattins fmg 
 To good Saint Valentine ! 
 
 T 4 The
 
 So ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 The king of France that morning fair 5 
 
 He would a hunting ride : 
 To Artois foreft prancing fortfy 
 
 In all his princely pride, 
 
 To grace his fports a courtly train 
 
 Of gallant peers attend; 10 
 
 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 kercher lay'd 
 
 Of filk fo fine and thin : 
 A golden mantle wrapt him round 
 
 Pinn'd with a filver pin. 20 
 
 The fudden fight furpriz'd them all ; 
 
 The courtiers gather'd round ; 
 They look, they call, the mother feek ; 
 
 No mother could be found. 
 
 At length the king himfdf drew near, 25 
 
 And as he gazing ftands, 
 The pretty babe look'd up and fmil'd, 
 
 And ftretch'd his little hands. 
 
 Now,
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 281 
 
 Now, by the rood, king Pepin fays, 
 
 This child is palling fair : 30 
 
 I wot he is of gentle blood ; 
 
 Perhaps fome prince's heir. 
 
 Goe bear him home unto my court 
 
 With all the care ye may : 
 Let him be chriflen'd Valentine, 35 
 
 In honour of this day : 
 
 And look me outcome cunning nurfe ; 
 
 Well nurtur'd let him bee j 
 Nor ought be wanting that becomes 
 
 A bairn of high degree. 4.0 
 
 They look'd him out a cunning nurfe ; 
 
 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 Ihew'd in all he fpake or dvd 
 
 A wit beyond his years. 
 
 But chief in gallant feates of arms 
 
 He did himfelf advance, 50 
 
 That ere he grewe to man's eflate 
 
 He had no peere in France. 
 
 And
 
 2 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 And now the early downe began 
 
 To fhade his youthful chin ; 
 When Valentine was dubb'd a knight, 55 
 
 That he might glory win. 
 
 A boon, a boon, my gracious liege, 
 
 I beg a boon of thee 1 
 The firft adventure, that befalls, 
 
 May be referv'd for mee. 60 
 
 The firft adventure fhall be thine; 
 
 The king did fmiling fay. 
 Nor many days, when lo ! there came 
 
 Three palmers clad in graye. 
 
 Help, gracious lord, they weeping fay'd; 65 
 
 And knelt as it was meet : 
 From Artoys foreit we be come, 
 
 With weak and wearye feet. 
 
 Within thofe dep and drearye woods 
 
 There wends a favage boy ; 70 
 
 Whofe fierce and mortal rage doth yield 
 
 Thy fubje&s dire annoy. 
 
 'Mong ruthlefs beares he fure was bred ; 
 
 He lurks within their den : 
 With beares he lives j with beares he feeds, 75 
 
 And drinks the blood of men.
 
 AND BALLADS. 283 
 
 To more than favage ftrength he joins 
 
 A more than human fldll : 
 For arms, ne cunning may fuffice 
 
 His cruel rage to ftill. 80 
 
 Up then rofe fir Valentine, 
 
 And claim'd that arduous deed. 
 Go forth and conquer, fay'd the king, 
 
 And great mail be thy meed. 
 
 Well mounted on a milk-white fteed, $5 
 
 His armour white as fnow ; 
 As well befeem'd a virgin knight, 
 
 Who ne'er had fought a foe : 
 
 To Artoys foreft he repairs 
 
 With all the hafte he may ; go 
 
 And foon he fpies the favage youth 
 
 A rending of his prey. 
 
 His unkempt hair all matted hung 
 
 His fhaggy moulders round : 
 His eager eye all fiery glow'd : 95 
 
 His face with fury frown'd. 
 
 Like eagles' talons grew his nails : 
 
 His limbs were thick and ftrong ; 
 And dreadful was the knotted oak 
 
 He bare with him along. 100 
 
 Soon
 
 S. ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 Soon as fir Valentine approach'd, 
 
 He ftarts with fudden fpring; 
 And yelling forth a hideous howl, 
 
 He made the forefts ring. 
 
 As when a tyger fierce and fell 105 
 
 Hath fpyed a pafling roe, 
 And leaps at once upon his throat ; 
 
 So fprung the favage foe ; 
 
 ,80 lightly leap'd with furious force 
 
 The gentle knight to feize : 1 10 
 
 But met his tall uplifted fpear, 
 
 Which funk him on his knees. 
 
 A fecond ftroke fo ftiff and ftern 
 
 Had laid the favage low ; 
 Bnt fpringing up, he rais'd his club, 1 15 
 
 And aim'd a dreadful blow. 
 
 The watchful warrior bent his head, 
 
 And fhun'd the coming ftroke j 
 Upon his taper fpear it fell, 
 
 And all to fhivers broke. 120 
 
 Then lighting nimbly from his fteed, 
 
 He drew his burnifht brand : 
 The favage quick as lightning flew 
 
 To wreft it from his hand. 
 
 Three
 
 AND BALLADS/ 285 
 
 Three times he grafp'd the filver hilt ; 125 
 
 Three times he felt the blade ; 
 Three times it fell with furious force ; 
 
 Three ghaftly wounds it made. 
 
 Now with redoubled rage he roar'd ; 
 
 His eye-ball flafh'd with fire ; 130 
 
 Each hairy limb with fury fhook j 
 
 And all his heart was ire. 
 
 Then cloiing faft with furious gripe 
 
 He clafp'd the champion round, 
 And with a ftrong and fudden twift 135 
 
 He laid him on the ground. 
 
 But foon the knight, with active fpring, 
 
 O'erturn'd his hairy foe : 
 And now between their fturdy fifts 
 
 Pail many a bruifing blow. 14.0 
 
 They roll'd and grappled on the ground, 
 
 And there they ftruggled long : 
 Skilful and active was the knight ; 
 
 The favage he was ftrong. 
 
 But brutal force and favage ftrength 145 
 
 To art and (kill muft yield : 
 Sir Valentine at length prevaiPd, 
 
 And won the well-fought field. 
 
 Then
 
 286 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 Then binding ftrait his conqaer'd foe 
 
 Faft with an iron chain, !$ 
 
 He tyes him to his horfe's tail, 
 
 And leads him o'er the plain. 
 
 To court his hairy captive foon 
 
 Sir Valentine doth bring ; 
 And kneeling downe upon his knee, 155 
 
 Prefents him to the king. 
 
 With lofs of blood and lofs of ftrength, 
 
 Th favage tamer grew j 
 And to fir Valentine became 
 
 A fervant try'd and true. 16* 
 
 And 'caufe with beares he erft was bred, 
 
 Urfme they call his name ; 
 A name which unto future times 
 
 The Mufes fhall proclame. 
 
 PART THE SECOND. 
 
 IN high renown with prince and peers 
 Now liv'd fir Valentine : 
 His high renown with prince and peere 
 Made envious hearts repine.
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 287 
 
 It chanc'd the king upon a day 5 
 
 Prepar'd a fumptuous feaft ; 
 And there came lords, and dainty dames, 
 
 And many a noble gueft. 
 
 Amid their cups, that freely flow'd, 
 
 Their revelry, and mirth \ JQ 
 
 A youthful knight tax'd Valentine 
 
 Of bafe and doubtful birth. 
 
 The foul reproach, fo grofsly nrg'd, 
 
 His generous heart did wound : 
 And ftrait he vow'd he ne'er would reft 15 
 
 Till he his parents found. 
 
 Then bidding king and peers adieu, 
 
 Early one fummer's day, 
 With faithful Urfine by his fide, 
 
 From court he takes his way. 
 
 O'er hill and valley, mofs and moor, 
 
 For many a day they pafs ; 
 At length upon a moated lake, 
 
 They found a bridge of brafs. 
 
 Beyond it rofe a caftle fair 2J 
 
 Y-built of marble ftone : 
 The battlements were gilt with gold, 
 
 And glittred in the fun. 
 
 Beneath
 
 288 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 Beneath the bridge, with ftrange device, 
 
 A hundred bells were hung ; 30 
 
 That man, nor beaft, might pafs thereon, 
 But ftrait their larum rung. 
 
 This quickly found the youthful pair* 
 
 Who boldly croffing o'er, 
 The jangling found bedeaft their ears, 35 
 
 And rung from more to more. 
 
 Quick at the found the caftle gates 
 
 Unlock'd and opened wide, 
 And ftrait a gyant huge and grim 
 
 Stalk'd forth with flately ftride. 40 
 
 Now yield yoo, caytiffs, to my will ; 
 
 He cried with hideous roar j 
 Or elfe the wolves mail eat your flefh, 
 
 And ravens drink your gore. 
 
 Vain boafter, faid the youthful knight, 45 
 
 I fcorn thy threats and thee : 
 I truft to force thy brazen gates, 
 
 And fet thy captives free. 
 
 Then putting fpurs unto his fteed, 
 
 He aim'd a dreadful thruft : 5 
 
 The fpear againft the gyant glanc'd, 
 
 And caus'd the blood to burft. 
 
 Mad
 
 AND BALL ADS. 289 
 
 Mad and outrageous with the pain, 
 
 He whirl'd his mace of fteel : 
 The very wind of fuch a blow rij 
 
 Had made the champion reel. 
 
 It haply mift ; and now the knight 
 
 His glittering fword difplay'd, 
 And riding round with whirlwind fpeed 
 
 Oft made him feel the blade. 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 crufli : 
 With fuch a force the enormous foe 
 
 Did on the champion rum. 
 
 A fearful blow, alas ! there came, 
 
 Both horfe and knight it took, ~ 
 
 And laid them fenfelefs in the dult ; 
 
 So fatal was the ftroke. 
 
 Thn fouling forth a hideous grin, 
 
 The gyant ftrides in hafle, 
 And, Hooping, aims a fecond ftroke : 75 
 
 " Now caytifF breathe thy la.1 ! " 
 V.OL. III. U But
 
 ago ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 But ere it fell, two thundering blows 
 
 Upon his fcull defcend : 
 From Urfine's knotty club they came, 
 
 Who ran to fave his friend. 80 
 
 Down funk the gyant gaping wide, 
 
 And rolling his grim eyes : 
 The hairy youth repeats his blows : 
 
 He gafps, he groans, he dies.. 
 
 Quickly fir Valentine reviv'd 85 
 
 With Urfine's timely care : 
 And now to fearch the caftle walls 
 
 The venturous youths repair. 
 
 The blood and bones of murder*d knights 
 
 They found where'er they came : 90 
 
 At length within a lonely cell 
 They faw a mournful dame. 
 
 Her gentle eyes were dim'd with tears j 
 
 Her cheeks were pale with woe : 
 And long fir Valentine befought 95 
 
 Her doleful tale to know. 
 
 " Alas ! young knight," me weeping faid, 
 
 " Condole my wretched fate : 
 " A childlefs mother here you fee ; 
 
 " A wife without a mate. 100 
 
 3 Tlicfc
 
 AND BALLADS. 2 9 r 
 
 " Thefc twenty winters here forlorn 
 
 " I've drawn my hated breath; 
 " Sole witnefs of a monfter's crimes, 
 
 " And wifhing aye for death. 
 
 " Know, I am filter of a king ; I o<; 
 
 " And in my early years 
 ** Was married to a mighty prince, 
 
 " The faireft of his peers. 
 
 " With him I fweetly liv'd in love 
 
 " A twelvemonth and a day : 1 10 
 
 " When, lo ! a foul and treacherous prieft 
 
 " Y -wrought our loves' decay. 
 
 *' His feeming goodnefs wan him pow'r; 
 
 " He had his matter's ear : 
 ** And long to me and all the world 1 1 
 
 " He did a faint appear. 
 
 " One day, when we were all alone, 
 
 " He profFer'd odious love : 
 *' The wretch with horrour I repuls'd, 
 
 " And from my prefence drove. 120 
 
 " He feign'd remorfe, and piteous beg'd 
 
 " His crime I'd not reveal : 
 " Which, for his feeming penitence, 
 
 " I promis'd to conceal. 
 
 U 2 "With
 
 292 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 * c With treafon, villainy, and wrong 12* 
 
 " My goodnefs he repay 'd : 
 " With jealous doubts he fill'd my lord, 
 
 " And me to woe betray'd. 
 
 " He hid a flave within my bed, 
 
 " Then rais'd a bitter cry: 130 
 
 " My lord, poffeft with rage, condemn'd 
 
 " Me, all unheard, to dye. 
 
 " But 'caufe I then was great with child, 
 
 " At length my life he fpar'd : 
 " But bade me inftant quit the realme, 135 
 
 " One trufly knight my guard. 
 
 " Forth on my journey I depart, 
 
 " Opprefl with grief and woe ; 
 " And tow'rds my brother's diftant court, 
 
 " With breaking heart, I goe. 140 
 
 '* Long time thro' fundry foreign lands 
 
 " We ilowly pace along : 
 " At length within a foreft wild 
 
 " I fell in labour ftrong : 
 
 *' And while the knight for fuccojur fought, 145 
 
 *' And left me there forlorn, 
 " My childbed pains fo fail increait 
 
 " Two lovely boys were born. 
 
 The
 
 AND BALLADS. 293 
 
 ft The eldeft fair, and fmooth, as (how 
 
 " That tips the mountain hoar 150 
 
 *' The younger's little body rough 
 *' With hairs was cover'd o'er. 
 
 "But here afrelh begin my woes : 
 
 " While tender care I took 
 " To Ihield my eldeft from the cold, jj^ 
 
 " And wrap him in my cloak ; 
 
 " A prowling bear borft from the wood, 
 
 " And feiz'd my younger fon : 
 " Affetk>n lent my weaknefs wings, 
 
 " And after them I run. 160 
 
 ''But all forewearied, weak and fpent, 
 
 " I quickly fwoon'd away ; 
 " And there beneath the greenwood ihade 
 
 ' Longtime I lifelefs lay. 
 
 " At length the knight brought me relief, 165 
 
 " And rais'd me from the ground ; 
 *' But neither of my pretty babes 
 
 " Could ever more be found, 
 
 " And, while in fearch we wander'd far, 
 
 " We met that gyant grim ; 170 
 
 " Who ruthlefs flew my trufty knight, 
 * c And bare me off with him, 
 
 U 3 " But
 
 294 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 " But charm'd by heav'n, or elfe my griefs, 
 
 " He offer'd me no wrong ; 
 " Save that within thefe lonely walls 175 
 
 " I've been immur'd fo long." 
 
 , furely, faid the youthful knight, 
 Ye are lady Bellifance, 
 Wife to the Grecian emperor : 
 
 Your brother's king of France. 1 80 
 
 For in your royal brother's court 
 
 Myfelf my breeding had ; 
 Where oft the ftory of your woes 
 
 Hath made my bofom fad. 
 
 Iffo, know your accufer's dead, 185 
 
 And dying own'd his crime ; 
 And long your lord hath fought you out 
 
 Thro' every foreign clime. 
 
 And when no tidings he could learn 
 
 Of his much-wronged wife, 190 
 
 He vow'd thenceforth within his court 
 
 Now heaven is kind ! the lady faid ; 
 
 And dropt a joyful tear : 
 Shall I once more behold my lord , ? 195 
 
 That lord I love fo dear ? 
 
 But,
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 295 
 
 But, madam, faid fir Valentine, 
 
 And knelt upon his knee ; 
 Know you the cloak that wrapt your babe, 
 
 If you the fame fhould fee ? 200 
 
 And pulling forth the cloth of gold, 
 
 In which himfelf was found ; 
 The lady gave a fudden fhriek, 
 
 And fainted on the ground. 
 
 But by his pious care reviv'd, 205 
 
 His tale me heard anon ; 
 And foon by other tokens found, 
 
 He was indeed her fon. 
 
 But who's this hairy youth ? me faid j 
 
 He much refembles thee ; 210 
 
 The bear devour'd my younger fon, 
 
 Or fure that fon were he. 
 
 Madam, this youth with beares was bred, 
 
 And rear'd within their den. 
 But recollect ye any mark 21-5 
 
 To know your fon agen ? 
 
 Upon his little fide, quoth me, 
 
 Was flampt a bloody rofe. 
 Here, lady, fee the crimfon mark 
 
 Upon his body grows ! 220 
 
 tf 4 Then
 
 296 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 Then clafping both her new-found fons, 
 She bath'd their cheeks with tears ; 
 
 And foon towards her brother's court 
 Her joyful courfe flic fleers. 
 
 What pen can paint king Pepin's joy, 225 
 
 His filler thus reftor'd ! 
 And foon a mefienger was fent 
 
 To chear her drooping lord : 
 
 Who came in hade with all his peers, 
 
 To fetch her home to Greece ; 230 
 
 Where many happy years they reign'd 
 
 In perfedl Jove and peace. 
 
 To them fir Urfine did fucceed, 
 
 And long the fcepter bare. 
 Sir Valentine he flay'd in France, 23$ 
 
 And was his uncle's heir. *** 
 
 XIII. 
 THE DRAGON OFWANTLEY. 
 
 This humorous fong (as a former Editor f has nvell cb- 
 ferved) is to old metrical romances and ballads cf chival- 
 ry, nvhat Don Quixote is to proje nnrraiives of that kind : 
 a li-jely fatire on their extravagant fiflions. But alt ho' 
 the fat ire is thus general ; the Jubjeft of thit ballad fe^mj 
 local and peculiar ; fo that many oftbefinejljirokes cf hu- 
 mour are loft for want cf cur hunting the particular fads. 
 
 to. 
 
 \ Co!!eft'.on of Hiftorical Dallads In 3 vol. 1727.
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 297 
 
 to which they allude, Thefe we have in vain endeavoured 
 to recover ; and are therefore obliged to acquiefce in the 
 common account', namely, that this ballad alludes to a con-' 
 teji at law between an overgrown Torkjhire attorney and a 
 neighbouring gentleman. The former, it feems, had jiript 
 three orphans of their inheritance, and by his incroachmsnts 
 and rapacioitfnefs in/as become a nujance to the whole coun- 
 try ; when tie latter generoujly efpoujed the cauje of the op- 
 preffed, and gained a complete vidory over his antagonijly 
 ,iuho with meer fpite and vexation broke his heart. 
 
 In handling this fubjtEl the Author has brought in moji 
 of the common incidents vjhich occur in Romance. The de~ 
 Jcripiion of the dragon* ' his outrages the people 
 
 flying to the knight for fuccour his care in chuf.ng his ar- 
 mour his being dreji for fght by a young damfel and 
 moft of ike circumftances of the battle and viflory (allcw- 
 ing for the burlefque turn given to them) are what sccur 
 in every book cf chivalry whether in profe or verfe. 
 
 If any one piece, more than other, is more particularly 
 levelled at, it feems to be the old rhiming legend of fir Be^ 
 vis. There a DRAGON is attacked from a WELL in 4 
 Wanner not very remote from this of the ballad : 
 There was a well, fo have 1 wynne, 
 And Bevis Jiumbled ryght therein. 
 
 Than ivas he glad without fayle, 
 
 And refted a why le for his avayle ; 
 
 And dranke of that water his fyll ; 
 
 And than he lepte out, with good icy/7, 
 
 And with Morglay his brande, 
 
 He ajjfayled the dragon, I underftande : 
 
 On the dragon he Jmote fo fafte, 
 
 Where that he hit thej'cales brafte : 
 
 The dragon then faynted fire, 
 
 And caji a galon and more 
 
 Out of his tnnuthe of venim ftrcng, 
 
 Andonfyr Be-vis he it fiong : 
 
 // ivas venymous y-v:is. 
 
 Tlii
 
 298 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 be meant by the Dragon of Wantley 1 $ ftink, 
 ver. 1 10. As the politick knight's creeping out, and attack- 
 ing the dragon, &c.feems evidently to allude to the following, 
 
 Bevis blejjed himfelfe, and forth yode, 
 
 And lepte out with hajlefull good ; 
 
 And Bevis unto the dragon gone is ; 
 
 And the dragon alfo to Bevis. 
 
 lionge, and harde 'was that fyght 
 
 Bet'wene the dragon, and that knyght : 
 
 But ever whanfyr Bevis was hurt fort, 
 
 He went to the well, and wajhed him thore ; 
 
 He was as hole as any man, 
 
 Ever frejhe as whan he began : 
 
 *The dragon f awe it might not avayle 
 
 Befyde the well to hold batayle ; 
 
 He thought he 'would, -ivy th fome wyle, 
 
 Out of that place Bevis begyle ; 
 
 He woulde haveflowen then awaje, 
 
 But Bevis lepte after with good Morglaye, 
 
 And hyt him under the wynge, 
 
 As he was in his fyenge, &c. 
 
 Sign. M.jv. L.j.&c, 
 
 After all, perhaps the writer of this ballad was acquaint 
 ed with the above incidents only thro 1 the medium of Spen-, 
 fer, who has affumed mojl of them in his Faery Queen. At 
 leajl fome particulars in the defer iption of the Dragon, f?<r, 
 Jcem evidently borrowed from the latter, See Book I . Can- 
 to 1 1. 'where the Dragon's " two wynges like fayls huge 
 
 " long toy I witbfiings his cruel-rending clatves and 
 
 " yron teeth his breath of feathering Jmoke and fulphur" 
 and the duration of the fight for upwards of two days, 
 bear a great rtfcmblance to paffages in the follcwi?ig bal- 
 lad ; though it muft be confej)~ed that thtfe particulars are 
 common to all old writers of Romance. 
 
 The following ballad appears to have been written late 
 in the 'lift/I ccnturv ; at leajt we have met with none but 
 modern copies : ihc text is given from on: in Roman letter 
 in the Pefys collection, collated with two or three others. 
 
 OLD
 
 AND BALLADS, 299 
 
 OL D ftories tell, how Hercules 
 A dragon flew at Lerna, 
 With feven heade, and fourteen eyes, 
 
 To fee and well difcern-a : 
 But he had a club, this dragon to drab, 5 
 
 Or he had ne'er done it, I warrant ye : 
 But More of More- Hall, with nothing at all, 
 He flew the dragon of Wantley. 
 
 This dragon had two furious wings, 
 
 Each one upon each flio aider ; 10 
 
 With a fting in his tayl, as long as a flayl, 
 
 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, 1 5 
 
 Which did him round environ. 
 
 Have you not heard how the Trojan horfe 
 
 Held feven ty men in his belly ? 
 This dragon was not quite fo big, 
 
 But very near, I'll tell ye. 20 
 
 Devoured he poor children three, 
 
 That could not with him grapple ; 
 And at one fup, he eat them up, 
 As one would eat an apple.
 
 3 oo ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 All forts of cattle this dragon did eat. 25 
 
 Some fay he did eat up trees, 
 And that the forefts fure he would 
 
 Devour up by degrees : 
 
 Forhoufesandchurthesjweretohimgeefeandturkies; 
 He eat all, and left none behind, 30 
 
 But fome ftcnes, dear Jack, that he could not crack, 
 Which on the hills you will find. 
 
 In Yorkfhire, near fair Rotherham, 
 
 The place I know it well ; 
 Some two or three miles, or thereabouts, 35 
 
 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. 40 
 
 Some 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 
 
 Far. 29. were to him gorfc and birches. Oibt
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 301 
 
 Hard by a furious knight there dwelt, 
 
 Of whom all towns did ring ; 50 
 
 For he could wreftle, play at quarter-ftaff, kick r 
 
 cuff and huff, 
 
 Call fon of a whore, do any kind of thing : 
 By the tail and the main, with his hands twain 
 
 He fwung a horfe 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 flay 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 brifk, 'and keen,' 
 
 And fmiles about the mouth ; 
 Hair black as floe, fkin white as fnow, 
 
 With bluflies her cheeks adorning ; 70 
 
 To anoynt me o'er night, ere I go to figlit, 
 And to drefs me in the morning. 
 
 This
 
 302 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 This being done he did engage 
 
 To hew the dragon down ; 
 But firft he went, new armour to je 
 
 Befpeak at Sheffield town ; 
 With fpikes all about, not within but without, 
 
 Of fteel fo fharp and ftrong ; 
 Both behind and before, arms, legs, and all o'er 
 Some five or fix inches long. 80 
 
 Had you but feen him in this drefs, 
 
 How fierce he look'd and how big, 
 You would have thought him for to be 
 
 Seme Egyptian porcupig : 
 He frighted all, cats, dogs, and all, 85 
 
 Each cow, each horfe, and each hog : 
 For fear they did flee, for they took him to be 
 Some ftrange outlandifh hedge -hog. 
 
 To fee this fight, all people then 
 
 Got up on trees and houfes, 9 
 
 On churches fome, and chimneys too j 
 
 But thefe put on their trowfes, 
 Not to fpoil their hofe. As foon as he rofe, 
 
 To make him ftrong and mighty, 
 He drank by the tale, fix pots of ale, 95 
 
 And a quart of aqua-vitae. 
 
 It
 
 AND BALLADS. 303 
 
 It is not ftrength that always wins, 
 
 For wit doth ftrength excell ; 
 Which made our cunning champion 
 
 Creep down into a well j 100 
 
 Where he did think, this dragon would drink, 
 
 And fo he did in truth j 
 
 And as he ftoop'd low, he rofe up and cry'd,. boh ! 
 And hit him in the mouth. 
 
 Oh, quoth the dragon, pox take thee, come out, 105 
 
 Thou difturb'ft ine in my drink : 
 And then he turn'd, and f . . . at him ; 
 
 Good lack how he did llink ! 
 Befhrew thy foul, thy body's foul, 
 
 Thy dung fmells not like balfam ; 1 10 
 
 Thou fon of a whore, thou ftink'il fo 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 fly 
 
 With hand and with foot, and fo they went to't ; 
 And the word it was, hey boys, hey ! 1 20 
 
 Your
 
 4 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 Your words, quoth the dragon, I don't underftandt 
 
 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 z ; 
 
 Our champion on the ground ; 
 Tho' their ftrength it was great, their fkill it was neat, 
 They never had one wound. 
 
 At length the hard earth began to quake, 
 
 The dragon- gave him a knock, 130 
 
 Which madehim to reel, and ftraitway he thought. 
 
 To lift him as high as a rock, 
 And thence let him fall. But More of More-Hall, 
 
 Like a valiant fon of Mars, 
 
 As he came like a lout, fo he turn'dhim about, 135; 
 And hit him a kick on the a ... 
 
 Oh, quoth the dragon, with a deep figh, 
 
 And turn'd fix times together, 
 Sobbing and tearing, curfing and fwearing 
 
 Out of his throat of leather ; 140 
 
 Mure of More-Hall ! O thou rafcal ! 
 
 Would I had feen thee never ; 
 
 With the thing at thy foot, thou haft prick'd my a. . gut, 
 And I'm quite undone for ever. 
 
 Murder,
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 305 
 
 Murder, murder, the dragon cry'd, 145 
 
 Alack, alack, for grief ; 
 Had you but mift that place, you could 
 
 Have done me no mifchief. 
 Then his head he fhaked, trembled and quaked, 
 
 And down he laid and cry'd j 150 
 
 Firft on one knee, then on back tumbled he, 
 So groan'd, kickt, f . < ., and dy'd. 
 
 *** Since thefirft Edition was printed of, the Editor has 
 been favoured with fame curious particulars relating to the 
 foregoing Song, which are here given in the words of the 
 Relater. 
 
 " InTorkJhire,Jix miles fromRotherkam, isav illage, called 
 " WORTLEY, thefeatoftbelate^NQK.T'LW MONTAGUE, 
 " Efq; About a mile from this village is a lodge, called 
 ' ' W.A R N c L i F F Lo D G E , but vulgarly called W A N T L E y : 
 " here lies the fcene of the Song. I was there above forty 
 " years ago ; and it being a woody, rocky place, my friend made 
 4 ' me clamber over rocks and Jl one s, not telling me to what 
 *' end, till I came to a fort of a cave ; then ajked my opinion 
 '' of the place, and pointing to one end, fays, Here lay the 
 ' Dragon killed by MOOR r/'MoOR-HALi, : here lay his 
 ' head ; here lay his tail ; and the ftones ive came over on 
 ' the hill, are thofe he could not crack ; and yen ivhi. e 
 ' houje you fee half a mile off, is MOOR-HALL. / had 
 f dined at the lodge, and knew the man's name was 
 ' MATTHEW, ivhonvas a keeper to Mr. Worthy, and, as he 
 ' endeavoured to perfuade me, was the fame Matthew men-' 
 ' tioned in the Song : In the houfe is the picture of the 
 ' Dragon and Moor of Mocr-hall, and near it a Well, 
 ' which, fays he, is the Well def^ribed in the Ballad" 
 
 VOL. III. X XIV. ST.
 
 3oS ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 XIV. 
 
 ST. GEORGE FOR ENGLAND. 
 THE FIRST PART. 
 
 As the former fong is in ridicule of the extravagant in- 
 cidents in i.ld ballads and metrical romances ; fo wis is a 
 hurlefque cf their ftyle ; particularly of the rambling tran- 
 jiiions and wild accumulation nf unconnected parts, Jo fre- 
 quent in many of them. 
 
 'This ballad is given from an old black-letter copy in the 
 Pepys collection, '* imprinted at London, 1612." It is more 
 ancient than many of the preceding ; but ive place it here fr 
 the fake of connecting it with the SECOND PART. 
 
 WHY doe you boaftof Arthur and his knightes. 
 Knowing 'well' how many men have endured 
 
 fightes ? 
 
 For beftrles king Arthur, and Lancelot du lake, 
 Or fir Triftram de Lionel, that fought for ladies fake ; 
 Read in old hiitories, and there you fhall fee 
 How St. George, St. George the dragon made to flee. 
 St. George he was for England; St. Dennis was for France. 
 Sing, Honi Joit qui mal y penfe. 
 
 Mark our father Abraham, when firfthe refckued Lot 
 
 Onely with his hou&iiold, what conqueit there he got : 
 
 3 David
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 307 
 
 David was elected a prophet and a king, 
 He flew the great Goliah, with a ftone within a fling: 
 Yet thefe were not knightes of the table round ; 
 Nor St. George, St. George, who the dragon did 
 
 confound. 
 
 St. George he was for England ; St. Dennis was for France. 
 Sing, Honifoit qui mal y penfe, 
 
 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 Bafie ; 
 And Sampfon flew a thoufand with .the jawbone of 
 
 an afle, 
 And eke he threw a temple downe, and did a mighty 
 
 fpoyle : 
 
 And St. George, St. George he did the dragon foylr. 
 St. George he was for England ; St. Dennis was for France. 
 Sing, Honi foit qui maly penfe. 
 
 The warres of ancient monarches it were toolong 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 : 
 Remus and Romulus, were they that Rome did builde : 
 But St. George, St. George the dragon made to yielde. 
 St.George he was for England ; St. Dennis was for France, 
 Sing, Honi felt qui maly penfe, 
 
 X ^ The
 
 3 o8 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 The noble Alphonfo, that was the Spanifh king, 
 The order of the red fcarffes and bandrolles in did 
 
 bring * : 
 For he had a troope of mighty knightes, when firft 
 
 he did begin, 
 Which fought adventures farre 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 dragon fight. 
 St. George he was for England j St. Dennis was for France. 
 Sing, Honi foit qui maly penfe. 
 
 Many ' knights' have fought with proud Tamberlaine. 
 Cutlax the Dane, great warres he did maintaine: 
 Rowland of Beame, and good 'fir' Olivere 
 In the foreft of Aeon flew both woolfe and beare : 
 Befides that noble Hollander, 'fir' Goward with thebill. 
 But St. George, St. George the dragon's blood did fpill. 
 St. George he wasforEngland; St. Denniswasfor France. 
 Sing, Honi foit qui mal y 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 probably alludes to " An Ancient Order of Knight- 
 hood, called the Order of the Band, inftituted by Don Af- 
 phonfus, king of Spain, . . to <wear a red riband of three 
 fingers breadth" See Ames ''Typog. p. 327,
 
 A N D B A L L A.D S. 305 
 
 Sir Hughon of Burdeaux, and Godfrey of Bullaine : 
 
 Thefe were all French knightes that lived in that age. 
 
 But St. George, St. George the dragon did affuage. 
 
 St. Georgehewas for England; St. Dennis was for France. 
 
 Sing, Honi foit qui mal y penfe. 
 
 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. 
 
 But St.George,St.Georgeplucktoutthedragon's heart. 
 St. Georgehewas for England ; St. Dennis was for France. 
 Sing, Honi foit qui mal y penfe. . 
 
 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. Getfrge, St. George the dragon did appeafe. 
 St. G eorge he was for England ; St. Dennis was for France. 
 Sing, Honi foit qui mal y penfe. 
 
 X 3 Richard
 
 3io ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 Richard Coeur-de-lion erft king of this land, 
 He the lion gored with his naked hand*: 
 The falfe duke of Auflria nothing did he feare ; 
 But his fon he killed with a boxe on the eare : 
 Befides his famous adtes done in the holy lande. 
 But St. George, St. George the dragon did withftande. 
 St. George he was for England; St. Dennis was for France. 
 Sing, Hani fait qui mal y penfe* 
 
 Henry the fifth he conquered all France, 
 And quartered their arms, his honour to advance : 
 He their cities razed, and threw their cafties 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 dragon tame. 
 St. George he was for England; St. Denniswas for France. 
 Sing, Hani fait qui mal y fenje. 
 
 St. David of Wales the "\Velm-men much advance: 
 St. Jaques of Spaine, that never yet broke lance : 
 St. Patricke of Ireland, which was St. Georges boy, 
 Se ven.yeares he kept his horfe, and then Hole him away : 
 For which knavifh aft, as flaves they doe remaine. 
 But St. George, St. George the dragon he hath flaine. 
 St. George he was for England; St. Dennis was for France. 
 Sing, Hcai kit jui mal y penje. 
 
 * Alluding to tee fubulcm Exploits attributed to fk's 
 the Old Romances. See ti-c DiJ/ertatiw prefixed to 
 tlft) I'cumc. 
 
 XV. ST.
 
 AND BALLADS. 311 
 
 XV. 
 
 ST. GEORGE FOR ENGLAND, 
 THE SECOND PART, 
 
 'was written by JOHN GRVBB, M. A. of Cbrijt 
 
 Church, Oxford. The occajion of its being compojed is Jaid 
 to ha've been as follows. A Jet of gentlemen of the uni*uer- 
 Jity bad formed themfel<ves into a Club, all the members of 
 which were to be of the name of GEORGE : Their anni- 
 *verfary feaft was to be held OH ST. GEORGE '/ day. Old 
 GRUBB of Chrijl Church folicited ftrongly to be admitted \ 
 but his name being unfortunately JOHN, this dijqualijicatioit 
 was not without great difficulty dijpenfed ivitb ', and at loft 
 only upon this condition, that he would compofe a Jong i* 
 honour of their Patron Saint, and would e<very year prcduce 
 one or more new Jianza.s, to be fung on their annual fejii'val. 
 This gai>e birth to the fdlonving humorous performance, the 
 federal jianzas of which <vcsre the produce of auaty Juccejfive 
 anni<verfaries. 
 
 All that we fan learn further concerning this facetiouz 
 
 writer is contained in a few extracts from tke u>ii--verf.ty 
 
 Regifter ; by which it appears that he ivas matriculated 
 
 in 1667, aged 20 years , being the f on of John Grubb 
 
 " de Atlrjn Burnel in Comitatii Salop, pauper i<." He took 
 
 his degree of Batchelor of Arts, June 7, 1671; and became 
 
 Mafter of Arts, June 28, 1675. He was ft ill living in 
 
 Oxford, when the folltnvimg humorous Dtftich -was written, 
 
 Alma novem ^enuit celebres Rhedycina poetas, 
 
 ub, Stubb, Grubb, Crabb, Trapp, Young, Carey, 
 
 Tickel, Evans. 
 
 X 4 Theft
 
 3 i2 'ANCIENT' SONGS 
 
 Thefe were Bub Dodington (the late LordMelcombe,) Dr, 
 Stukbes, our Poet Grubb, Mr. Crabb, Dr. Trapp the Poetry 
 Pr._. ;>-, Dr. Edw. Tcung the Poet, Walter Carey, Thomas 
 lie.. , Ejq; and Dr. Eva,m the Epigrammatiji* ' 
 
 7 he '.'' '.'or has never met with any two copies of the fol- 
 lowing ballad in which the ftanzas were ranged alike, he 
 ,has therefore thrown them into what feemed to him themofl 
 n'atii) al ci dc>~- The verjes were originally written in long 
 lines' as Alexandrines, but the narrownefs of the page made 
 it neceJTary to fubdi<vide them. 
 
 In this fecond Edition the Reader will fnd many improve- 
 inents, which the Editor received from an ingenious friend. 
 
 THE ftory of king Arthur old 
 Is very memorable. 
 The number of his valiant knights, 
 
 And roundnefs of his table : 
 The knights around his table in 5 
 
 A circle fate, d'ye fee : 
 And altogether made up one 
 ' 'Large hoop of chivalry. 
 He had a fvvord, both broad and ftiarp, 
 
 Y-cleped Caliburn, 10 
 
 Would cut a flint more eafily, 
 
 Than pen-knife cuts a corn ; 
 As cafe-knife does a capon carve, 
 
 So would it carve a rock, 
 
 / have face harr.t tkat JOHN GRUBB was living in i-jz\ 
 cb time be was aged 81. 
 
 /nd
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 313 
 
 And fplit a man at fmgle flam, 15 
 
 From noddle down to nock. 
 As Roman Augur's fteel of yore 
 
 Diffedted Tarquin's riddle, 
 So this would cut both conjurer 
 
 And whetilone thro' the middle. u 
 
 He was the cream of Brecknock, 
 
 And flower of all the Welfli : 
 
 
 
 But George he did the dragon fell, 
 And gave him a plaguy fquelfh. 
 St. George he was for England; St. Dennis was for France. 
 
 Sing, Hani foit qui mal y pexfe. 26 
 
 Pendra^on, like Tiis father Jove, 
 
 Was fed with milk of goat ; 
 And in return a ihield made of 
 
 His fhaggy nurfe's coat : ja 
 
 On top of burnimt helmet he 
 
 Did wear a creft of leeks ; 
 And onions' heads, whofe dreadful nod 
 
 Drew tears from hoftile cheeks. 
 Itch, and Welfh 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 brimftone he took inwardly 
 
 When fcurf gave him occafion, 40 
 
 His poftern puff of wind was a 
 
 Sulphureous exhalation. 
 
 Th
 
 3f4 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 The Briton never tergivers'd, 
 
 But was for adverfe drubbing, 
 And never turn'd his back for aught, 45 
 
 But to a poft for fcrubbing. 
 His fword would ferve for battle, or 
 
 For dinner, if you pleafe ; 
 When it had flain a Chefhire man, 
 
 'Twould toafl a Chefhire cheefe. 50 
 
 He wounded, and, in their own blood, 
 
 Did anabaptlze Pagans. 
 But George he made the dragon an 
 
 Example to all dragons. 
 
 St. George he was for England ; St. Dennis was for France. 
 Sing, Koni foit qui mal y penfe. 56 
 
 Brave Warwick Guy, at dinner time, 
 
 Challeng'd a gyant favage ; 
 And ftreight came out the unweildy lout 
 
 Brim-full of wrath and cabbage : 60 
 
 He had a phiz of latitude, 
 
 And was full thick i' th' middle ; 
 The cheeks of puffed trumpeter, 
 
 And paunch of fquire Beadle *. 
 But the knight fell'd him, like an oak, 6; 
 
 And did upon his back tread ; 
 The valiant knight his weazon cut, 
 
 And Atropos his packthread. 
 
 Befides 
 
 * Men if bulk anfioerabL to their places, as is tcifi kni-wn at Oxford.
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 31$ 
 
 Befides he fought with a dun cow, 
 
 As fay the poets witty, 70 
 
 A dreadful dun, and horned too, 
 
 Like dun of Oxford city : 
 The fervent dog-days made her mad, 
 
 By caufing heat of weather, 
 Syrius and Procyon baited her, 75 
 
 As bull-do^s did her father : 
 Gmfiers, nor butchers this fell beaft, 
 
 E'er of her frolick hindred; 
 John Dorfet* fhe'd knock down as flat, 
 
 As John knocks down her kindred : 80 
 
 Her heels would lay ye all along, 
 
 And kick into a fwoon ; 
 Frewin's f cow-heels keep up your corpfe, 
 
 But hrrs would beat you down. 
 She vanquiiht many a fturdy wight, 8$ 
 
 And proud was of the honour ; 
 Was pufFt by mauling butchers fo, 
 
 As if themfelves had blown her. 
 At cnce fhe kickt, and pafht at Guy, 
 
 But all that would not fright him ; 90 
 
 Who vvnv'd his whLnyard o'er fir-loyn, 
 
 As if he'd gone to knight him : 
 Re let her blood, her frenzy to cure, 
 
 A ad eke he did her gall rip ; 
 His trenchant blade, like cook's long fpit, 95 
 
 Ran thro' the monger's bald-rib: 
 
 He 
 
 Jy? cook, 
 trip:. 
 
 rig 1 .-?: w-?i famous fo>- felling cnv-beel
 
 3i6 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 He rear'd up the vaft crooked rib, 
 
 Inflead of arch triumphal. 
 But George hit th' dragon fuch a pelt, 
 
 As made him on his bum fall. 100 
 
 St. George he yvasforEngland; St. Dennis was for France. 
 Sing, Honi foit qui maly penft, 
 
 Tamerlain, with Tartarian bow, 
 
 The Turkifh fquadrons flew ; 
 And fetch'd the pagan crefcent down, 105 
 
 With half-moon made of yew : 
 , His trufty bow proud Turks did gall, 
 - With mowers of arrows thick, 
 And bow-ftringo, without throtling, fent 
 
 Grand- Vifiers to old Nick : 1 10 
 
 Much turbants, and much Pagan pates 
 
 He made to humble in duft, 
 And heads of Saracens he fixt 
 
 'On fpears, as on a fign-poft : 
 He coop'd in cage grim Bajazet, 1 15 
 
 Prop of Mahound's religion, 
 As if he had been the whifpering bird, 
 
 That prompted him ; the pigeon. 
 In Turkey-leather fcabbard, he 
 
 Did fheath his blade fo trenchant. 120 
 
 Bat George he fwing'd the dragon's tail, 
 
 And cut off every inch on't. 
 
 St. George he was for England ; St. Dennis was for France. 
 Sing, Horn foit gui maly penfe* 
 
 The
 
 AND BALLADS. p 7 
 
 The amazon Thaleftris was 125 
 
 Both beautiful, and bold ; 
 She fear'd her breafts with iron hot, 
 
 And bang'd her foes with cold. 
 Her hand was like the tool, wherewith 
 
 Jove keeps proud mortals under; i jo- 
 
 lt Ihone juft like his lightning-, 
 
 And batter'd like his thunder : 
 Her eye darts lightning, that would blaft 
 
 The proudeft he that fwagger'd, 
 And melt the rapier of his foul, j- 
 
 In its corporeal fcabbard. 
 Her beauty, and her drum to foes 
 
 Did catife amazement double ; 
 As timorous larks amazed are 
 
 With ligkt, and with a low-bell : 14* 
 
 With beauty, and that lapland-charm*, 
 
 Poor men me did bewitch-all ; 
 Still a blind whining lover had, 
 
 As Pallas had her fcrich-owl. 
 She kept the chaftnefs of a nun 14- 
 
 In armour, as in cloyfter. 
 But George undid the dragon juft 
 
 As you'd undo an oifter. 
 
 St. George he was for England; St. Dennis was for France* 
 Sing, Honi foit qui n:al y penfe, 150 
 
 Great 
 
 Her drum.
 
 318 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 Great Hercules, the o ffsP" n g of 
 
 Great Jove, and fair Alcmene : 
 One part of him celeftial was, 
 
 The other part terrene. 
 To fcale the hero's cradle walls 
 
 Two fiery fnakes combin'd, 
 And, curling into fwadling cloaths, 
 
 About the infant twin'd : 
 But he put out thefe dragons' fires, 
 
 Ani did their hiffing ftop ; 
 As red-hot iron with hiffing noife 
 
 Is quencht in blaclcfmith's fhop. 
 He cleans'd a ftable, and rubb'd down 
 
 The horfes of new-comers ; 
 And out of horfe-dung he rais'd fame, 
 
 As Tom Wrench f does cucumbers. 
 He made a river help him through ; 
 
 Alpheus was under groom ; 
 The ftream, grumbling at office mean, 
 
 Ran murmuring thro' the room : 
 This liquid oftler to prevent 
 
 Being tired with that long work, 
 His father Neptune's trident took, 
 
 Inilead of three-tooth'd dung-fork. 
 This Hercules, as foldier, and 
 
 As fpinfter, could take pains ; 
 His club would fometiineb fpin ye flax, 
 
 And fometimes knock out brains : 
 
 f Who keft Paradift gar Jem at OxfirJ.
 
 AND BALLADS. 3^ 
 
 H' was forc'd to fpin his mifs a fhift, 
 
 By Juno's wrath and her-fpite ; lg o 
 
 Fair Omphale whipt him to his wheel, 
 
 As cooks whip barking turn-fpit. 
 From man, or churn he well knew how 
 
 To get him lafting fame : 
 He'd pound a giant, till the blood, i$r 
 
 And milk till butter came.* 
 Often he fought with huge battoon, 
 
 And oftentimes he boxed ; 
 Tapt a frefh moniler once a month, 
 
 As Hervey * doth frefh hogfhead. i^O 
 
 He gave Anteus fuch a hug, 
 
 As wreftlers give in Cornwall. 
 But George he did the dragon kill, 
 
 As dead as any door-nail. 
 
 St. GeorgehewasforEngland ; St. Dennis was for France. 
 Sing, Honi foit %ui malypenfc. 19$ 
 
 The Gemini, fprung from an egg, 
 
 Were put into a cradle : 
 Their brains with knocks and bottled ale, 
 
 Were often-times full addle : 200 
 
 And, fcarcely hatch'd, thefe fons of him, 
 
 That hurls the bolt trifulcate, 
 With helmet-fhell on tender head, 
 
 Did buttle with red-ey'd pole-cat. 
 
 Caltor 
 A mstd AUkouft-kttper at Oxford.
 
 320 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 Caftor a horfeman, Pollux tho* 20$ 
 
 A boxer was, I wilt : 
 The one was fam'd for iron heel ; 
 
 Th' other for leaden fift. 
 Pollux to fhew he was a god, 
 When he was in a paffion, 210 
 
 With fift made nofes fall down flat, 
 
 By way of adoration : 
 This fift, as fure as French difeafe, 
 
 Demolifh'd nofes' ridges : 
 He like a certain lord * ' was fam'd c 1 5 
 
 For breaking down of bridges. 
 Caftor the flame of fiery fteed, 
 
 With well-fpur'd boot took down ; 
 As men, with leathern buckets, do 
 
 Quench fire in country town. 220 
 
 His famous horfe, that liv'd on oats, 
 
 Is fung on oaten quill ; 
 By bards' immortal provender 
 
 The nag furviveth ftill. 
 This fheliy brood on none but knaves 22^ 
 
 Employ'd their brifk artillery : 
 Flew naturally at rogues, as eggs 
 
 At Dan De Foe in pillory. 
 Much fvveat they fpent in furious fight, 
 
 Much blood they did einmd : . 230 
 
 Their whites they vented thro' the pore ; 
 
 Their yolks thro' gaping wound : 
 
 Then 
 
 * Lord Lovelace broke dnvn tke bridges alwt Oxford, at tb be- 
 of the Revolution,
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 3 n 
 
 Then both were cleans'd from blood and dnft 
 
 To make a heavenly fign ; 
 The lads were, like their armour, fcowr'd, 235 
 
 And then hung up to mine ; 
 Such were the heavenly double-Dicks, 
 
 The fons of Jove and Tindar. 
 But George he cut the dragon up, 
 
 As 't had bin duck or windar. 240 
 
 St. George he was for England ; St.Dennis was for France : 
 Sing, Honi fcit qui mal y penfe* 
 
 Gorgon a twifted adder wore 
 
 For knot upon her moulder : 
 She kemb'd her hiffing periwig, 24$ 
 
 And curling fnakes did powder. 
 Thefe fnakes they made ftiff changelings 
 
 Of all the folks they hift on ; 
 They turned barbers into hones, 
 
 And mafons into free-ftone : 250 
 
 Sworded magnetic Amazon 
 
 Her fhield to load-ftone changes ; 
 Then amorous fword by magic belt 
 
 Clung faft unto her haunches. 
 This ftrield long village did protect, 255 
 
 And kept the army from-town, 
 And chang'd the bullies into rocks, 
 
 That came t' invade Long-compton*. 
 VOL. ID. Y She 
 
 * SeetbescctuntefRnlriebtSUnes, in Dr,P left's HiJ}.ofOxforJf:irs.
 
 322 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 She poft-diluvian ftone unmans, 
 
 And Pyrrha's work unravels ; 26' 
 
 And flares Deucalion's hardy boys 
 
 Into their primitive pebbles* 
 Red nofes me to rubies turns, 
 
 And noddles into bricks. 
 But George made dragon laxative ; 265 
 
 And gave him a bloody flix. 
 
 St. George he was for England; St. Dennis was for France: 
 Sing, Honi foit qui mal y penfe* 
 
 By boar-fpear Meleager 
 
 Acquir'd a lafting name r 270 
 
 And out of haunch of bafted fwine, 
 
 He hew'd eternal fame. 
 This beaft each hero's trouzers ript, 
 
 And rudely fhew'd his bare-breech, 
 Prickt but the wem, and out there came 275 
 
 Heroic guts and garbadge. 
 Legs were fecur'd by iron bolts 
 
 No more, than peas by peafcods : 
 Brafs helmets, with inclofed fculls, 
 
 Wou'd crackle in's mouth like chefiiuts. ?.* 
 His tawny hairs erefted were 
 
 By rage, that was refiftlefs ; 
 And wrath, inftead of cobler's wax,. 
 
 Did ftiffen his rifing briftles.
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 323 
 
 His tuflcs lay'd dogs fo dead afleep, 285 
 
 Nor horn, nor whip cou'd wake 'um : 
 It made them vent both their laft 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, inflead of cloves, 
 
 He ftuck in monfter's gammon. 
 For monumental pillar, that 
 
 His vidtory might be known, 
 He rais'd up, in cylindric form, 295 
 
 A coller of the brawn. 
 He fent his made to fhades below, 
 
 In Stygian mud to wallow : 
 And eke the ftout St. George eftfoon, 
 
 He made the dragon follow. 300 
 
 St. G eorge he was for England ; St.Dennis was for France : 
 Sing, Hani foit qui maly penfe. 
 
 Achilles of old Chiron learnt 
 
 The great horfe for to ride ; 
 H' was taught by th' Centaur's rational part, 305 
 
 The hinnible to beftride. 
 Bright iilver feet, and mining face 
 
 Had this ftout hero's mother j 
 As rapier's filver'd at one end, 
 
 And wounds us at the other. 310 
 
 Her
 
 324 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 Her feet were bright, his feet were fwift, 
 
 As hawk purfuing fparrow : 
 Her's had the metal, his the fpeed 
 
 Of Barfoot's * filver arrow. 
 Thetis to double pedagogue 315 
 
 Commits her deareft boy ; 
 Who brad him from a flender twig 
 
 To be the fcourge of Troy : 
 But ere he lafht the Trojans, h' was 
 
 In Stygian waters ileept ; 32* 
 
 As birch is foaked firft in pifs, 
 
 When boys are to be whipt. 
 With (kin exceeding hard, he rofe 
 
 From lake, as black and muddy, 
 As lobfters from the ocean rife, 325 
 
 With fhell about their body : 
 And, as from lobfter's broken claw, 
 
 Pick out the fiih you might : 
 So might you from one unfhell'd heel 
 
 Dig pieces of the knight. 33 
 
 His myrmidons robb'd Priam's barns 
 
 And he-n-joofts, fays the fong; 
 Carried away both corn and eggs, 
 
 Like ants from whence they fprung. 
 Hirafelf tore Heftor's pantaloons, 335 
 
 And fent him down bare-breech'd 
 To pedant Radamanthus, in 
 
 A poll are to be fwitch'd. 
 
 But 
 
 * Af*mus !tttcr-carrler a: OM/a-J : vld. b\\ fifJure tlert.
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 325 
 
 But George he made the dragon look, 
 
 As if he had been bewitch'd. 340 
 
 St. George he was forEngland ; St. Dennis was for France : 
 Sing, Hani foit qui mal y penfe. 
 
 Full fatal to the Romans was 
 
 The Carthaginian Hanni- 
 bal; him I mean, who gave to them 345 
 
 A devilifh thump at Cannae : 
 Moors thick, as goats on Penmenmurc, 
 
 Stood on the Alpes's front : 
 Their one-eyed guide *, like blinking mole, 
 
 Bor'd thro' the hindring mount: 350 
 
 Who, baffle^ by the maffy rock, 
 
 Took vinegar for relief; 
 Like plowmen, when they hew their way 
 
 Thro' ftubborn rump of beef. 
 As dancing louts from humid toes 355 
 
 c . Caft atoms of ill favour 
 To blinking Hyatt f , when on vile crowd 
 
 He merriment does endeavour, 
 And faws from fuffering timber out 
 
 Some wretched tune to quiver: 360 
 
 So Romans flunk and fqueak'd at fight 
 
 Of Affrican carnivor : 
 
 Y 3 The 
 
 * Hannibal kad bat one eye. 
 
 f A one-eyed fellciu, who pretended tg make fiddles as well as play 
 n thepi j ivell-knoiun in Oxford.
 
 326 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 The tawny furface of his phiz 
 
 Did ferve inftead of vizzard: 
 But George he made the dragon have 365 
 
 A grumbling in his gizzard. 
 
 St. George he was for England; St. Dennis ws^s for France: 
 Sing, Honifoit qui mal y penfe. 
 
 The valour of Domitian, 
 
 It muft not be forgotten j 370 
 
 Who from the jaws of worm-blowing flies, 
 
 Protected veal and mutton. 
 A fquadron of flies errant, 
 
 Againft the foe appears ; 
 With regiments of buzzing knights, 375 
 
 And fwarms of volunteers : 
 The warlike wafp encourag'd 'em, 
 
 With animating hum ; 
 And the loud brazen hornet next, 
 
 He was their kettle-drum : jS 
 
 The Spanifli don Cantharido 
 
 Did him moft forely pefter, 
 And rais'd on flcin of vent'rous knight 
 
 Full many a plaguy bliiter. 
 A bee whipt thro' his button hole, 385 
 
 As thro' key hole a witch, 
 And ftabb'd him with her little tuck 
 
 Drawn out of fcabbard breech :
 
 AND BALLADS. 327 
 
 Bat the undaunted knight lifts up 
 
 An arm fo big and brawny, 390 
 
 And flafht her fo, that here lay head, 
 
 And there lay bag and honey : 
 Then 'mongft the root he flew as fwift, 
 
 As weapon made by Cyclops, 
 And bravely quell'd feditious buz, 395 
 
 By dint of mafly fly- flops. 
 Surviving flies do curfes breathe, 
 
 And maggots too at Csefar. 
 But George he ihav'd the dragon's beard, 
 
 And Afkelon * was his razor. 400 
 
 St. George he was for England ; St. Dennis was for France ; 
 Sing, Hani foil yui maly peafe-. 
 
 * Tbt narnt of St. Gxrff' 
 
 V 4 XVI. LUCY
 
 328 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 XVI. 
 LUCY AND COLIN 
 
 Britten by Tho'mas Ticket, Efq; the celebrated 
 friend of Mr. Addijon, and editor of his works. He was/on 
 of a, Clergyman in the north of England, had his education at 
 Queen s college Qxon, 'was undersecretary to Mr. Addifonand 
 "Mr. Craggs,whenfuccejfi c velyfecretariesofftate; and 'was 
 laftly (in 'June, 1724) appointed fecretary to the Lords 
 "Jujiices in Ireland, which place he held till his death in 
 1740. He acquired Mr. Addifon's patronage by a poem in 
 fraife of the opera, of Rofamond written while he was at 
 the Uniijerjity. 
 
 OF Leinfter, fam'd for maidens fair, 
 Bright Lucy was the grace ; 
 Nor e'er did Liffy's limpid itream 
 Refled fo fair a, faqe. 
 
 Till lucklefs love, and' pining care 5 
 
 Impaired her rofy hue, 
 Her coral lip, and damafk cheek, 
 
 And eyes of glofly blue. 
 
 Oh ! have you feen a lily pale, 
 
 When beating rains defcend ? 10 
 
 So droop'd the flow-confuming maid ; - 
 
 Jier life now near its end.
 
 AND BALLADS. 329 
 
 By Lucy warn'd, of flattering fwains 
 
 Take heed, ye eafy fair : 
 Of vengeance due to broken vows, : jr 
 
 Ye perjured fwains, beware. 
 
 Three times, all in the dead of night, 
 
 A bell was heard to ring;. 
 And at her window, Shrieking thrice, 
 
 The raven flap'd his wing. 20 
 
 Too well the love-lorn maiden knew 
 
 The folemn boding found ; 
 And thus, in dying words, befpoke 
 
 The virgins weeping round. 
 
 '* I hear a voice, you cannot hear, aj 
 
 . " 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, 35 
 
 *' Nor think him all thy own.
 
 3 3<5 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 " To-morrow in the church to wed, 
 
 " Impatient, both prepare ; 
 " But know, fond maid, and know, falfe man, 
 
 " That Lucy will be there. 40 
 
 '* Then, bear my corfe ; ye comrades, bear, 
 
 " The bridegroom blithe to meet ; 
 " He in his wedding-trim fo gay, 
 
 *' I in my winding-meet." 
 
 She fpoke, me dy'd ; her corfe was borne, 4$ 
 
 The bridegroom blithe to meet ; 
 He in his wedding-trim fo gay, 
 
 She in her winding-meet. 
 
 Then what were perjar'd Colin's thoaghts ? 
 
 How were thofe nuptials kept ? $ 
 
 The bride-men flock'd round Lucy dead, 
 
 And all the village wept, 
 
 Confufion, fhame, remorfe, defpair 
 
 At once his bofom fwell : 
 The damps of death bedew'd his brow, 55 
 
 He fhook, he groan'd, he fell. 
 
 From the vain bride (ah bride no more !) 
 
 The varying crimfon fled, 
 When, ftretch'd before her rival's corfe, 
 
 She faw her hujband dead, 60 
 
 Then
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 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 +$ 
 
 And plighted maid are feen ; 
 With garlands gay, and true-love knots 
 
 They deck the facred green. 
 
 But, fwain forfworn, whoe'er thoq art, 
 
 This hallow'd fpot forbear ; 70 
 
 Remember Colin's dreadful fate, 
 And fear to meet him there. 
 
 XVJI. 
 MARGARET'S GHOST. 
 
 *This Ballad, which appeared in fame of the public tifws- 
 papers in or before the year 1724, cam; from the pen of 
 Da-vid Mallet, Efq; who in the edition of his poems, 3 vols, 
 1759, informs us that the plan was fuggejhd ty the four 
 *verfes quoted above in pag. 1 19, which he fuppoj'ed to be 
 the beginning of fame ballad nmv loft. 
 
 *' fhefe lines, Jays he, naked of ornament andfemple, as they 
 ' ' are, Jtruck my fancy ; and bringing frejb into my mind an 
 " unhappy adventure much talked of formerly, gave birth to 
 " the following poem, which ivas written many years ago." 
 
 The two introductory lines (and one or two others elfe- 
 where) had originally more of the ballad jtmplicity, viz. 
 " When all was wrapt in dark midnight, 
 tl And all were faff alleep, &c. 
 
 'TWAS
 
 332 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 9 TT WAS at the filent folemn hour, 
 
 JL When night and morning meet ; 
 In glided Margaret's grimly ghoft, 
 And flood at William's feet, 
 
 Her face was like an April morn, 
 
 Clad in a wintry cloud : 
 And clay-cold was her lily hand, 
 
 That held her fable flirowd. 
 
 So fliall the faireft face appear, 
 When youth and years are flown : 
 
 Such is the robe that kings mull wear, 
 When death has reft their crown. 
 
 Her bloom was like the fpringing flower, 
 
 That fips the filver dew ; 
 The rofe was budded in her cheek, 15 
 
 Juft opening to the view. 
 
 But love had, like the canker worm, 
 
 Confum'd her early prime : 
 The rofe grew pale, and left her cheek ; 
 
 She dy'd before her time. 2 
 
 *' Awake ! (he cry'd, 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. 
 
 333 
 
 " This is the dumb and dreary hour, 25 
 
 " When injur'd ghofts complain ; 
 " Now yawning graves give up their dead, 
 
 " To haunt the faichlefs Twain. 
 
 " ''Bethink 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 promife keep ? 
 " Why did you fwear mine eyes were bright, 35 
 
 " Yet leave thofe eyes to weep ? 
 
 " How could you fay my face was fair, 
 
 " And yet that face foifake ? 
 " 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 witlafs maid, 
 
 * Believe the flattering tale ? 
 
 " That face, alas ! no more is fair ; 45 
 
 ** Thefe lips no longer red : 
 " Dark are my eyes, now clos'd in death, 
 
 " And every charm is fled. 
 Kf. 25. the mirk and fearful hour. i/?. Edit. " The
 
 334 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 " The hungry worm my filler is ; 
 
 " This winding-meet I wear : 50 
 
 " And cold and weary lafts our night, 
 
 " Till that laft morn appear. 
 
 " But hark ! the cock has warn'd me hence ! 
 
 " A long and laft adieu ! 
 *' Come fee, falfe man, how low me lies, 5$ 
 
 " Who dy'd for love of you." 
 
 The lark fung loud ; the morning fmil'd, 
 
 With beams of rofy red : 
 Pale William fhook in ev'ry limb, 
 
 And raving left his bed. 6 
 
 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's name, 6$ 
 
 And thrice he wept full fore : 
 Then laid his cheek to her cold grave, 
 
 And word fpake never more. 
 
 Yer, 57. Now birds did fing, and morning fmile, 
 
 And fhuw her glittering htad. ijt Ed, 
 
 XVIII. THE
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 
 
 xvm. 
 
 THE BOY AND THE MANTLE, 
 
 As REVISED AND ALTERED BY A MODERN HAND. 
 
 Mr. Warton, in bis ingenious Observations on Spenfer r 
 has given his opinion that the fSion of the Boy and the 
 Mantlets taken from an old French piece intitled LE COURT 
 MANTEL quoted by M. de St. Palaye in bis curious 
 " Memoir es fur /' ancienne Chevalerie," Paris, 1759* 
 2 torn. 1 2mo. vjho tells us the ftory refembles that of Ari- 
 ojlo^s inch anted cup. 'Tis pojfible our English poet may have 
 taken the hint of this fubjefl from that old French Ro- 
 mance, but he does not appear to have copied it in the man- 
 ner of execution : to 'which (if one may judge from thefpe- 
 cimen given in the Memoires} that of the ballad does not 
 bear the leafl refemblance. After all 'tis moft likely that all 
 the old ft cries concerning K. Arthur are originally of Britijh 
 growth, and that *what the French and other fouthern na- 
 tions have ofthi' kind were at Jirft exported from this ijlantf- 
 See Memoires de I' Ac ad. des Injcrip. torn. xx. /, 352. 
 
 IN Carleile dwelt king Arthur, 
 A prince of pafling might; 
 And there maintain'd his table round, 
 Befet with many a knight. 
 
 And there he kept his Chriftmas 
 
 With mirth and princely cheare, 
 When, lo ! a ftraunge and cunning boy 
 
 Before him did appeare- 
 
 j A kirtle.
 
 336 ANCIENT S-O N G S 
 
 A kirtle, and a mantle 
 
 This boy had him upon, io 
 
 With brooches, rings, and owches 
 
 Full daintily bedone. 
 
 Hehadafarkeoffilk 
 
 About his middle meet ; 
 And thus, with feemely courtefy, 15 
 
 He did king Arthur greet. 
 
 " God fpeed thee, brave king Arthur, 
 
 *' Thus feafting in thy bowre. 
 " And Guenever thy goodly queen, 
 
 " That fair and peerleffe flowre. 2 
 
 " Ye gallant lords, and lordings, 
 
 " I wifli you all take heed, 
 " Left, what ye deem a blooming rofe 
 
 *' Should prove a cankred weed." 
 
 Then ftraitway from his bofome 25 
 
 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 mee, 30 
 
 *' And give unto thy comely queen, 
 *' All-fhapen as- you fee. 
 
 " No
 
 AND BALLADS. 337 
 
 '* No wife it (hall become, 
 
 " That once hath been to blame." 
 Then every knight in Arthur's court 35 
 
 Slye glaunced at his dame. 
 
 And firft came lady Guenever, 
 
 The mantle me muft trye. 
 This dame, me was new-fangled, 
 
 And of a roving eye. 40 
 
 When (he had tane the mantle^ 
 
 And all was with it cladde, 
 From top to toe it (hiver'd down* 
 
 As tho' with fheers befhraddd 
 
 One while it was too long* 4$ 
 
 Another while too fliort, 
 And wrinkled on her moulders 
 
 In moil unfeemly fort. 
 
 Now greenj now red it feemed* 
 
 Then all of fable hue. 5* 
 
 ft Befhrevv me, quoth king Arthur* 
 
 *' I think thou teeft not true," 
 
 Down (he threw the mantle, 
 
 Ne longer would not ftay ; 
 But (terming like a fury^ 55 
 
 To her chamber flung a\vaj> 
 VOL. III. 2
 
 ANCIENT SONG S 
 
 She curft the whorefon weaver, 
 
 That had the mantle wrought: 
 And doubly curft the froward impe, 
 
 Who thither had it brought. 6c 
 
 " I had rather live in defaits 
 " Beneath the green-wood tree :. 
 " Than here, bafe king, among thy groom es, 
 " The fport of them and thee." 
 
 Sir Kay call'd forth his lady, 65 
 
 And bade her to come near : 
 ** Yet dame, if thou be guilty, 
 
 " I pray thee now forbear." 
 
 This lady, pertly gigling, 
 
 With forward ftep came on,, 79 
 
 And boldly to the little boy 
 
 With fearlefs face is gone. 
 
 When flie had tane the mantle, 
 
 With purpofe for to wear : 
 It fhrunk up to her moulder, 75 
 
 And left her b**fide bare. 
 
 Then every merry knight, 
 
 That was in Arthur's court, 
 Gib'd, and laught, and flouted, 
 
 To fee that pleafant fport. 80 
 
 Downs
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 339 
 
 Downe (he threw the mantle, 
 
 No longer bold or gay, 
 But with a face all pale and wan, 
 
 To her chamber flunk away. 
 
 Then forth came an old knight, 85 
 
 A pattering o'er his creed ; 
 And proffer'd to the little boy 
 
 Five nobles to his meed : 
 
 " And all the time of Chriilmafs 
 
 " Plumb-porridge mall be thine, 90 
 
 " If thou wilt let my lady fair 
 
 " Within the mantle mine." 
 
 A faint his lady feemed, 
 
 With ftep demure, and flow, 
 And gravely to the mantle 95 
 
 With mincing pace does goe. 
 
 When {he the fame had taken, 
 
 That was fo fine and thin, 
 It flmvell'd all about her, 
 
 And fliow'd her dainty fldn. 100 
 
 Ah ! little did HER. mincing, 
 
 Or HIS long prayers beftead ; 
 She had no more hung on her, 
 
 Than a uflel and a thread. 
 
 Z * Vow*
 
 340 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 Down fhe threwe the mantle, IO^ 
 
 With terror and difmay* 
 And, with a face of fcarlet, 
 
 To her chamber hied away. 
 
 Sir Cradock call'd his lady, 
 
 And bade hf to come neare : HO 
 
 *' 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, j 1 5 
 
 " Sith firft I made thee mine.'* 
 
 The lady gently blnfhing, 
 
 With modefl grace came on, 
 And now to trye the wondrous tharm 
 
 Courageously is gone. j 2* 
 
 When me had tane the mantle, 
 
 And put it on her backe, 
 About the hem it feemed 
 
 To wrinkle and to cracke. 
 
 " Lye ftill, fliee cryed, O mantle ! 125 
 
 " And ihame me not for nought, 
 *' I'll freely own whate'er amifs, 
 
 *' Or blameful I have wrought. 
 
 2 " One*
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 34I 
 
 Once I kift Sir Cradocke 
 
 " Beneathe the green-wood tree: 130 
 
 ** Once I kifl Sir Cradocke's mouth 
 
 " Before he married mee." 
 
 When thus me had her mriven, 
 And her worft fault had told, 
 
 The mantle foon became her .135 
 
 i Right comely as k mold. 
 
 Moft rich and fair of colour, 
 
 Like gold it glittering fhone : 
 And much the knights in Arthur's court 
 
 Admir'd her every one. 144 
 
 Then towards king Arthur's table 
 
 The boy he turn'd his eye ; 
 Where ftood a boar's-head garnished 
 
 With bayes and rofemarye. 
 
 When thrice he o'er the boar's head 145 
 
 His little wiind had drawne, 
 Qnoth he, " There's never a cuckold's knife, 
 - " Can carve this head of brawne." 
 
 Then fome their whittles rubbed 
 
 On whe-tftone, and on hone : i^ 
 
 Some threwe them under the table, 
 
 And fwore that they had none. 
 
 Z 3 Sir
 
 342 ANCIENT SO'NGS 
 
 Sir Cradock had a little knife 
 
 Of fteel and iron made ; 
 And in an inftant thro' the fkull 155 
 
 He thruft the mining blade. 
 
 He thruft the fiiining blade 
 
 Full eafily and faft : 
 And every knight in Arthurs court 
 
 A rnorfel had to tafte. 1 6& 
 
 The boy brought forth a home, 
 
 All golden was the rim : 
 Said he, " No cuckolde ever can 
 
 '* Set mouth unto the brim. 
 
 ' No cuckold can this little home 165 
 
 " Lift fairly to his head : 
 *' But or on this, or that fide, 
 
 " He mail the liquor med." 
 
 Some fhed it on their moulder, 
 
 Some med it on their thigh ; 170 
 
 And hee that could not hit his mouth, 
 
 Was fure to hit his eye. 
 
 Thus he, that was 3 cuckold, 
 
 Was known of every man : 
 Jut Cradock lifted eafily, 175 
 
 And wan the golden can. 
 
 Thus
 
 A N D B A L L A D S. 343 
 
 Thus boar's head, horn and mantle 
 
 Were this fair couple's meed : 
 And all fudi conftant lovers, 
 
 God fend them well to fpeed. 1 80 
 
 Then down in rage came Guenever, 
 
 And thus could fpightful fay, 
 *' Sir Cradock's wife moft wrongfully 
 
 " Hath borne the price away. 
 
 *' See yonder fhamelefs woman, 185 
 
 " That makes herfelfe fo clean : 
 *' Yet from her pillow taken 
 
 *' Thrice five gallants have been. 
 
 " Priefls, clarkes, and wedded men 
 
 " Have her lewd pillow preft : 190 
 
 " Yet me the vvonderous prize forfooth 
 
 " Muft beare from all the reft." 
 
 Then befpake the little boy, 
 
 Who had the fame in hold : 
 *' Chaftize thy wife, king Arthur, 195 
 
 Of fpeech me is too bold : 
 
 *' Of fpeech me is too bold, 
 
 *' Of carriage all too free ; 
 " Sir king, me hath within thy hall 
 
 " A cuckold made of thee. zoo 
 
 Z 4 "All
 
 344 ANCIENT SONGS 
 
 " All frolick light and wanton 
 
 '* She hath her carriage borne : 
 " And given thee for a kingly crown 
 
 " To wear a cuckold's home." 
 
 %* The learned editor of the Specimens of WELCH 
 POETRY, 4/0. informs me that the jhry of the BOY AND* 
 THE MANTLE is taken from what is related in feme of 
 the old Weljh HISS, of 3 'egan Earfron, one cf King Ar- 
 thur's miftrcffes. She is /aid to have pfljjejjed a mantle that 
 would not jit any immodeft or incontinent 'woman ; this 
 (which, the old writers fay, was reckoned among the curt- 
 ofities of Britain) is frequently alluded to by the old Weljh 
 Bards. 
 
 CARLEILE, fo often mentioned in the Ballads of K. Ar+ 
 thur, the editor once thought might probably be a corruption 
 r/'CAER-LEON, fin ancient Britijh city on the river UJke 
 in Monmouthjbire, which was one of the places of K, Ar- 
 thur's chief refidence ; but he is now convinced, that it it 
 no other than CARLISLE, in Cumberland ; the Old Englijb 
 Minftrels, being moji of them Northern Men, naturally re- 
 
 prefented the Hero of Romance as refiding in the North : 
 And many of the places mentioned in the Old Ballads are 
 
 Jiill to be found there: Thus Tearne-Wadling (vid- p. 
 12. note.) is the name of a Lake near Hejketh in Cumber- 
 land, on the road from Penrith to Carlijle. A Tradition 
 
 Jiill prevails in the neighbourhood, that an old Cajtle once 
 
 jlood at Tearne-Wadling, the remains of which are either 
 ntfw, er were not long fence to be feen. 
 
 XIX. V AMOUR.
 
 A N D B A L 1* A D S. 34$ 
 
 XIX. 
 
 L 'AMOUR ET GLYCERE. 
 
 DE L'ANCJLOIS. 
 
 'The little Sonnet intitled CUPID AND CAMPASPE 
 (printed above in p. 82.^ beautiful as it is, 'will have an 
 additional merit ivitb the Reader of Tafte, 'when be finds it 
 has given birth to the following elegant andfpirited lines : 
 to which the Author's modefty will not permit him to affix 
 bis name. It is, however, too flattering a compliment for 
 the Editor to conceal, that this little Jprightly pcem was 
 written purpofely for this Collection ; and was at onct ajt 
 effujion of fancy and friend/hip. 
 
 ' A ^ P"l uet avec ma Glycere 
 
 *JL L 'amour jouoit un jour aux bailers, ctperdit. 
 II paye, et met fon arc, fes fleches ; ma bergere 
 * Le fait capot et gagne : Amour, plein de depit, 
 
 * Rifque les effets de fa mere, 5 
 ' Ses colombes, fes tourtereaux, 
 
 * Son attelage de moineaax,
 
 $4$ A N C I E N T S O N G S, &c. 
 
 ' Et fa ceinture feduifante ; 
 
 * Perd tout cela : de fa bouche charmante 
 
 ' II joue enfuite le corail, 
 * L 'albatre de fon front, 1 'email 
 ' De fon teint des lis et des rofes, 
 ' La foflette de fon jnenton, 
 
 * Et mille autres beautes nouvellement eclofes : 
 
 ' Le jeu s 'echaufFe, et le petit fripon, 15 
 
 ' Sans reflburce, et tout en furie 
 
 ' Contre mes yeux, va le tout, il s 'eerie ! 
 
 ' Glycere gagne, et L 'Amour confterne 
 Se leve aveuglc et ruine. 
 
 * Aicoor ! de 1 'infenfible eft-ce done la' 1 'ouvrage ? 
 
 ' Heias ! pour inoi quel funefte prefage ! 
 
 THE END OF THE THIRD BOOK. 
 
 - A GLOS-
 
 A GLOSSARY 
 
 OF THE OBSOLETE AND SCOTTISH WORDS IN 
 VOLUME THE THIRD. 
 
 Sncb ivords, as the reader cannot find here, be is dejtred to 
 hokfor in the Glnjjariet to the other volumes. 
 
 A. 
 
 A' au. s. all. 
 Ahye./v/fr, fry for. 
 Aff. s. off. 
 Afore, before. 
 Aik. s. oyk. 
 Aith. s. oath. 
 Anc. s. one ; an, a. 
 Ann. if. 
 
 Aquoy, p. 256. coy, Jby. 
 Aftonied. aftonijbed, Jlunned. 
 Auld. s. old. 
 Avowe. vonu. 
 Awa*. s. a^juay. 
 Aye. ever ; alj'a, ah ! alas ! 
 Azont. s. beyond. 
 
 B. 
 
 Ban. curfe. 
 
 Banderoiies. Jif earners, little 
 fags. 
 
 Banlcl. s. bold. 
 
 Becleene. immediately. 
 
 Bedone. ivrougbt, nia.de up, 
 
 Becre. s. bier. 
 
 Bent. s. long graft ; alfo, <u,lld 
 
 fields, ivbere bents, &c.grow. 
 Bcreth. (Introd.) bearetb. 
 Bernes. barns. 
 Befeeme. become. 
 Befhi-adde. cut into fbreds. 
 Befhrew me ! a le/er form of 
 
 imprecation. 
 Bice, complexion. 
 Blent, blended. 
 Blinkan, hlinkand, s. tivint- 
 
 ling, fparkling. 
 Blinks, s. twinkles, fparkles. 
 Blinne. ceafe t 'gi<ve o-zn: 
 Blytli, blithe. ft>rigfjtfy,jqyouf. 
 Blyth, p. 6t).joy,jprightiini:fi. 
 Bones. />. 14.8. young bones; 
 
 a common phrafe ivith our old 
 
 I'jr/tersjbr Children*. 
 
 BbokeT- 
 
 * So in the Old Chronicle Hiftory of King Leir, 1605. wi it- 
 ten before Shakefpeare's. (Vid. Vol. I. p. *IQ.) LEIR lays of 
 
 GONORILL, 
 
 ^_ ' Poor*
 
 A GLOSSARY. 
 
 Bookcfinan. clerk, fecretary. 
 B >on . favour ) requeft, petition. 
 Bore. born. 
 
 Bc'-ver, bowre. any boived or 
 
 arched room ; a parlour, 
 
 chamber j alfo a dwelling in 
 
 general. 
 
 Bowie woman, s. chamber- 
 
 maul. 
 Brae. s. the fide of a bill, a de- 
 
 clivity. 
 
 Brakes, thickets of brambles. 
 JBrand. fword. 
 Braft. bur/I. 
 liraw. s. brave. 
 Brayde. a're-rv out, unjbeatked* 
 Krenr. s. burn. 
 Bridal, the nuptial f erf. 
 Biiaue, brigg. bridge. 
 Britied. cawed. Vid. Biytt- 
 
 lynge. Ghff. Pal. I 
 Brooches, />. 3. ornamental 
 trinkets. Stone buckles off, I 
 *uer or gold* with wbicb gen- 
 thtnen cvd ladles cl-itp their 
 fiirt-bofo:n.>j and handker- 
 chief < f are called in the North 
 brooches. 
 
 Brocht. s. brought. 
 Bugle, bugle-horn, a hunting 
 born: 
 
 Bx.rn, bourne, b^ook. 
 Br.fk. drfft, deck. 
 i-Ui{ if. unitfs. 
 Bitt, s. out, cut of doors, 
 
 C. 
 
 Can. ""gan, began. 
 
 CaitifF. ajlave. 
 
 Canr.a, s. cannot. 
 
 Carle, a churl, clown. 
 
 Carlifh, cbuylijb, difccurtttas. 
 
 Cau. s. call. 
 
 Cai.ld. s. cold. 
 
 Certes. certainly. 
 
 Chap. s. knock. 
 
 Chevaliers, f. knights. 
 
 Clii'd, p. 54. a knight. See 
 
 ! r oi. I. p. 44. f Glo/. 
 Chielci, s. is afltght cr familiar 
 way 0} fpeaking of a perfon, 
 like cur Englijb ivord lellow. 
 Tlie chield, /. e. the feliti-uo. 
 Chriitentie. C'uriflendcme. 
 Churl, clo-wn : a perfon of Icio 
 
 birth j a 'villain. 
 Church-ale, a watt, a feaft 
 in commemorating if tk de- 
 dication of a Church. 
 Claith?, s. chatbs. 
 Ciead, s. chat bed. 
 Cleadi:ig, s. cha;b>nr, 
 Cittl, s. clad, clov'iltd. 
 Clerks, clergymen, literati^ 
 
 fcholar:. 
 
 Cliding, s. doctbing. 
 Cold, couid, p. 3. kjie r w. 
 Coieynr. f.ologn fltel. 
 C,'on tli rinks, gi-i-e tlxmks. 
 Cotirtnais. p. 183. 
 Cramafie, . crimfon. 
 Cianion. JkuU. 
 
 CrinWs. 
 
 " Porre foule, flie lireeds yoNG BONES, 
 
 ' A:id thai is it mnkes h>r fb ti.tchy lure. 
 
 f GON. WllP.tHiee.l V-ONH BO.ES n!rca<!y' 5;c. 
 
 iictvfiis edit. (Voi. IV. iig. M m 5)
 
 A GLOSSARY. 
 
 349 
 
 Crinkle, run in and out, run Douzty. dsugbty. 
 
 into flexures, wrinkle. 
 Crook. /7o//?, wrinkle, diftort 
 Crowt. to pucker up. 
 Cum, s. come. 
 
 D. 
 
 Dank, meijl, damp. 
 
 Dawes. (1/itrcd.) days. 
 
 Deas, deis. the high table in a 
 ball: from f. dais, a canopy. 
 
 Dealan, deland, s. dealing. 
 
 Dee, s. die. 
 
 Deed, (Introd.) dead. 
 
 Deemed, /. 50. ought perhaps 
 to have been retained in tl:e 
 text, being no corruption, hut 
 Jignififd in old authors the 
 fame as doomed, judged, &c. 
 thus in the Ijle of Man, Judges 
 are called deemfters. 
 
 Peerly, p. 27. prec'mijly, richly. 
 
 Deid, s. dead. 
 
 Deid-bell, s. pajfing bell. 
 
 Dell, narrow 
 
 Dtlt. dealt. 
 
 Demains. demefnes * ejtate in 
 
 lands. 
 
 Dight. decked. 
 Ding, knock, beat. 
 Din, dinne. noife, btiftle. 
 Difna, s. doe ft not. 
 Diitrere. the hcrfe rode by a 
 
 knight in the turnament. 
 Dolend, s. dojing, dronvjjy tor- 
 
 pid, benumbed, &e. 
 Doublet, a mans inner gar- 
 
 ment; waijlcoat. 
 Doubt, fear. 
 Doubteous. doubtful. 
 
 uouzty. aaugam, 
 Drapning, s. dropping. 
 I/rehy, s. dreary, 
 Dule. s. dole, for row. 
 Dwellan, dwclland, s. divel- 
 
 ling. 
 Dyan, dyand, s. djing. 
 
 E. 
 
 Father, s. either. 
 
 Eej ten, eyne. s. eye j eyes, 
 
 Een. even, evtning. 
 
 EfFimd. pour forth. 
 
 Eftioon. in a Jhort time. 
 
 Eir. s. e'er, ever. 
 
 Enouch. s. enough. 
 
 Eke. a/fa. 
 
 Evamlhed. s. i<anifhed. 
 
 Everiche. every, each. 
 
 Eveiychone. every one. 
 
 Ew-bughts. p. 69. cr Ewe- 
 bonghts, s. are fmall inclo- 
 fures, or pens ', into 'which tbt 
 farmers drive (Scctice weir^ 
 tk. ir milch eives, morning 
 and evening, m order to mi k 
 them. They are commonly 
 made ivith iale-dykts, i. e. 
 earthen dykes. 
 
 Ezar. s. p. 93. probably, azure. 
 
 F. 
 
 Fartge. s. a thick loaf ef bread : 
 , any coarfe heap 
 
 Fain, i^lad, fond, well-pleafeA. 
 Faids/s. thoufddeft. 
 Fallan', failand. s! fa H 'ing. 
 Fallen, a deceiver, hypocrite. 
 Fa's. s. tioufaUtJi. 
 
 Fawn.
 
 35 
 
 A GLOSSARY. 
 
 Faw'n. s. fallen. 
 
 Faye. faith. 
 
 Fee. re-iuarJ, recompence ; it 
 alfofignifies land, -when it is 
 ecnnefled with the tenure by 
 which it is held j as knight" s 
 fee, &c. 
 
 Fet. fetched. 
 
 Fillan', filland. 9. filing. 
 
 Find froft. find mifcbance, or 
 difaJler.ThephrafeisJlilljtfed. 
 
 Fit. s.feet. 
 
 Five teen, fifteen. 
 
 Flindars. s. pieces, fplinters. 
 
 Fonde. found. 
 
 Foregoe. quit, give up, refign. 
 
 Foi-ewearied . much -wearied. 
 
 Forthy. therefore, 
 
 Foxf , Fow. s.fall: Item , 
 
 Frae. s. fro : from. 
 
 Fyer. (Intro ) fierce. 
 Fyled, fyling. defiled, defiling. 
 
 G. 
 
 Cae. s. gave. 
 Gae, gaes. s. go, goes. 
 Gaed, gade. s. went. 
 Gan. began. 
 Gane. s. gone. 
 Gang. s.go. 
 Gar. s. make. 
 Gart, garred. s. made. 
 
 Gear, geir. s. geer y goods, fur- 
 niture. 
 
 Geid. s. gave. 
 
 Gerte. (Introd.} pierced. 
 
 Gibed, jeered. 
 
 Gie. s. give. 
 
 Giff. iff 
 
 Gin. s. if. 
 
 Gin, gyn. engine, contrivance. 
 
 Gins, begins. 
 
 Gip.p. 146. an inter jettion of 
 contempt. 
 
 Glee, merriment, joy. 
 
 Glen. s. a narrow valley. 
 
 Glente. glanced, jlipt. 
 
 Glowr. s.Jlare. 
 
 Gloze. canting, dtffimulation, 
 fair outfide. 
 
 Code. (Introd.") good. 
 
 Gone. (It/trod.] go. 
 
 Gowd. s. gold. 
 
 Greet, s. nveep. 
 
 Groomes. attendants ,ft rvants. 
 
 Gude, guid. s.good. 
 
 Guerdon, raivard. 
 
 Gule. red. 
 
 Gyle, gu-le . 
 
 H. 
 
 Ha\ s. hall. 
 
 Hame. Lome. 
 
 Hauls bane- s. p. 70. the neck- 
 bone (halfe-bone) a phrafe 
 for the neck *. 
 
 Hee's. 
 
 * In the North they fing the line in qneftion thus : 
 " And filler on zour white hauls-bane." 
 
 which is doubrlcfs the true reading. It is likely that Marrion 
 had a filver locket on, tied clofe to her neck with a ribband, 
 
 Such.
 
 A GLOSSARY, 
 
 Hee's. s. be Jball : alfo,behas. 
 Heathennefs. the heathen fart 
 
 of the world. 
 Hem. V/, them. 
 Hente. (latnJ.) held, pulled. 
 Heo. (Introd.*) they. 
 Her, hare, their. 
 licit, bight, bid, call, com- 
 
 mattd, 
 
 Hewkes. leraLls coats. 
 Hind. s. behind. 
 Hings. s. hanqs. 
 Hip, hep. th berry, nuhich 
 
 CGr.ta.ins the Jlcnes or jeeds of 
 
 the do^-roje. 
 Hir j hir lain. s. her ; bcrfilf 
 
 alone, 
 
 Hole. ivbols. 
 Honde. band. 
 Hooiy. s. fionvly. 
 Hole. Jlockings. 
 Huggle. ', cleft. 
 Hyt. (Litrott.) it. 
 
 r. 
 
 1 1 fard 1 y . s . H1-fa--vouredlj , Kglily. 
 
 Ilka. s. eacbi every one. 
 
 Impe. a little demon. 
 
 Ingle, s. fire. 
 
 Jow. s. jew!. 
 
 Ireful, any y , furious. 
 
 lie. s. I Jball. 
 
 K. 
 
 Kame. s. comb. 
 Kameing. s combing. 
 Kantle. piece, cor tier. p. 27. 
 Kauk. s. chalk. 
 Keel. s. raddle. 
 Kempt, combing. 
 Ken. s. ko--w. 
 Kever-chefes. handkerchief i. 
 
 cfurck- 
 
 cburcb- 
 
 Kilted, s. tucked up. 
 Kirk. s. church. 
 Kirk-vva. s. />. 245. 
 
 <iv all : or perhaps 
 
 yard-ivalL 
 Kirn. s. churti. 
 Kiitle. a petficcat, 
 
 Kith, acquaintance. 
 Kr.cllan, kneiland. s. Z 
 
 ringing the knell. 
 Kyrtell. vid. k ; rtle. i>i 
 
 trod, it fiyiijies a ;;:::>:' 
 
 der garment . 
 
 L. 
 
 La eke. nuftnt. 
 Laith. s. /;,'/'. 
 Lang. s. laai;. 
 Lnp. s. h\T^.f. 
 LargefTe. t. give. 
 
 I.ee; 
 
 Such kind of ornaments were very commonly worn in ihis man- 
 ner formerly by. young women in the North ; where it is a com- 
 mon phrafe to lay, " I've got a lair haufe." i.e. I have got a 
 fore thro.it. 
 
 * Bale in his A8es of Eng. Votaries (;d Part, fol. 53.) ufc 
 the wore! KYRTLE to ligr.iiy a Monk's Frock. He fays Ko^er 
 Earl f Shrewfbiuy, whfn lie was'ilying, lent " to C1'iny;ike in 
 ' France, lor the KV.RTI.E ci holy Hugh the Abbct thcie, .Xc."
 
 A GLOSSARY, 
 
 Lee. fold, plain. 
 
 Lee. s. lie. 
 
 Leech, phyfician. 
 
 Leefe. s. lofe. 
 
 Leffe. (Itttrod.) leefe. dear. 
 
 Leid. s, lyed. 
 
 Ivemman. lover. 
 
 Letieh. s. laughed. 
 
 Lewd, ignorant ifcandaloits. 
 
 Lichtly. s. lightlj, eafily, nimbly. 
 
 Lig. s. lie. 
 
 Limitoiirs./Hflrr licenfed to beg 
 
 within certain limits. 
 Limitacioune. a certain pre- 
 
 cinSl altoived to a limitour. 
 Lither. haughty, wicked. 
 Lo'e, loed. s. love, loved. 
 Lothly. p. 18. (vid. lodlye, 
 
 Gloff. Vol. a.) loathfome *. 
 Loud's I heire. perhaps t Loud 
 
 as I hear. p. 9 ? . 
 Lounge, (Introd). lung. 
 Lourd, lour, s. lever, rather. 
 Loss, lave, s. loves, love. 
 Lyan, lyard. s. lying. 
 Lyftenyth. (Introd.) lift en. 
 
 M. 
 
 Mair. more. 
 
 Mait. s. Might. 
 
 Mark, a coin in value i^s. $d. 
 
 Maugre. infpite of. 
 
 Mavis, s. a ihrujh. 
 
 Maun. s. miifi. 
 
 Mawt. s. malt. 
 
 Meed, reward. 
 
 Micht. might. 
 
 Mickle. much, great. 
 
 Midge, a ftnall in/eft, a hint 
 
 of gnat. 
 
 Minftral. s. minftrel. muficiant. 
 Minftrelfie. mufic. 
 Mirkie. darh, black. 
 Mifliap. tniifortune. 
 Mither. s. mother. 
 Moe. more. 
 Mold, mould, ground. 
 Monand. moaning, bemoaning. 
 Mores, moors, marjh grounds. 
 Morrownynges. mornings. 
 Mofles. fwampy grounds c- 
 
 vered ivith mofs. 
 Mote, mought. might. 
 Mou. s. 
 
 Na. nae. s. no. 
 
 Naithing. s. nothing. 
 
 Nane. s. none. 
 
 Newfangle, newfangled, fond 
 
 of novelty. 
 Nicht. s. night. 
 Noble, a coin in value 6s. %d. 
 Norland, s. northern. 
 North gales. North Wales. 
 Nurtured, educated, bred up. 
 
 o. 
 
 * The adverbial Terminations -SOME and -LY were applied 
 indifferently by our old writers : thus, as we have Lothly for 
 Loathfcme, above; fo we have Ugfome for Ugly in Lord SUR- 
 REY'S Vtrfion of ./En. ad. viz. 
 
 " In every place the V."SOME fightes I faw." 
 
 Page [29.1
 
 A GLOSSARY. 
 
 353 
 
 o. 
 
 Obraid. s. upbraid. 
 
 Ony. s. any. 
 
 Or. ere, before.-~ln p. 50. v. 
 
 41 . or feems to have tee force 
 
 of the Latin vel, and tojigni- 
 
 fy even. 
 
 Ou. (lntrod.}you. 
 Out-brayde. drew out, un- 
 
 Jbeatlxd. 
 Owre. s. crvfr. 
 Owre-word. s. the loft <vuord.. 
 Owches. bcffes, or buttons of 
 
 gold. 
 
 P. 
 
 Pall, a cloak, or mantle of fate, 
 Palmer, a pilgrim , 'who having 
 
 been at the holy land, carried 
 
 a palm-branch in bis band. 
 Paramour, gallant, love)*, mif- 
 
 trefs. 
 Partake, p. 198. participate, 
 
 affign to. 
 
 Pattering, murmuring, mum- 
 bling. 
 
 Paynim. pagan. 
 Pearlins. s. p. 70. a coarfe fan 
 
 of bone-lace. 
 Peer: peerlds. equal: luhhout 
 
 equal. 
 Peering, pecpixg, looking nar- 
 
 roTJvly . 
 
 Periil. danger. 
 Philomene. Philomel, the nigbt- 
 
 ingate. 
 
 Plaine. complain. 
 Plein. complain. 
 Porcupig. porcupine, f. porc- 
 
 epic. 
 
 VOL. III. 
 
 Potcrver. p. 3. perhaps pocket. 
 
 Pautoniere in Fr. is a fhef- 
 
 berd'i fcrip. (Cotgrave.) 
 Piece, s./. iz8. a little. 
 Preas, prefe. prefs. 
 Pricked, fynrrcd forward, tra- 
 
 velled a good round pace. 
 Prowefs. bravery, valour^ mi- 
 
 litary gallantry. 
 Puiflant. flrong, powerful. 
 Purfel. an ornament of embroi- 
 
 dery. 
 Purfellsd. embroidered. 
 
 Qua il . -/brink, Jtincb, yield. 
 Quay, qu hey, s. a young heifer , 
 
 called a whie in Yorkjbirc. 
 Quean, forty, bafe "woman. 
 Q\\e.\\.fubdue. alfo, kill. 
 Quelch. a b/o-~w or battg. 
 Quha. s. ivbo. 
 Quliair. s. where. 
 Quhan, whan. s. ivbefi. 
 Qu^haneer. s. <wbene'tr. 
 Quhen. s. <wben. 
 Quick, aii-ve, living. 
 Quitt. requite. 
 Quo. quoth. 
 
 R. 
 
 Rade. s. rode. 
 
 Raife. s. rofe. 
 
 Reade, rede, s. advife. 
 
 Reeve, bailiff. 
 
 Renneth, renning. runneth, 
 
 running. 
 Reft, bereft. 
 Regifter. the officer who ktepi 
 
 the public regi/ler. 
 
 A a Riall.
 
 354 
 
 A GLOSSARY. 
 
 Riall. (Introd.) royal. Senefchall. mafler of the cere- 
 
 Ruidle. p. 78, 79. feems to be monies. 
 
 a <vulg. idiom for unriddle ; Sey. s. p. 70. fay, a kind of 
 
 or is perhaps a corruption of woollen fluff. 
 
 reade, i. e. ad<vife. Sheets, s.jhejhall. 
 
 Rin. s. run. Rin [my] errand. Sheens. Joining. 
 
 p. 90. a contracted way of Shield-bone, p. 105. the blade- 
 
 fpeakin<? for " run on my er- bone: a common phrafe in the 
 
 ' " rand.~" The pronoun is o- North. 
 
 mittcd. So the Fr.fay. faire Shent. Jbamed, disgraced, ab~ 
 
 meflage. ufed. 
 
 T^ood.Vro/}, crucifix. 
 
 Shepens, (hipens. coiv-houfes. 
 
 Route, p. i oo. go about, travel. 
 
 p. 209. A. S. Scypen. 
 
 Rudd. r'ed,'ruildy. 
 
 Shimmered, s glittered. 
 
 Rial -red, deep red, ruddy. 
 
 Sho, fcho. s. Jhe. 
 
 Ruth pity. 
 Ruthfull. rueful, woeful. 
 
 Shoone. Jhoe<. 
 Shope, Jhaped. 
 
 
 Shread. cut into fmall piece!. 
 
 S. 
 
 Shreeven, fhriven. confejj'ed her 
 
 
 Jms. 
 
 Sa,iae. s. fo. 
 
 Shullen. Jhall. 
 
 Salt, s.foft. 
 
 Sic, fich. fuck. 
 
 Saim. s. fame. 
 
 Sick- like, s.fuch-like. 
 
 Snir. s.fore. 
 
 Si^han, fighand. s. Jigbing. 
 
 Sail. i.Jball. 
 
 Siller, s. filler. 
 
 Sarke. s. flirt. 
 
 Sith. fince. 
 
 Saut. si fait 
 
 Skinkled. s. glittered. 
 
 Say, eflay. attempt. 
 
 Slaited. s. whetted\ or perhaps, 
 
 Scant, fcarce : item, p. 258. 
 
 wiped. 
 
 fcantinefs. 
 Scarlette. p. 15. Red fcarlette. 
 
 Sleath. Jlayeth. 
 Slee. jlay. 
 
 a common phrafe in our old 
 
 Sna% fnaw. s. fnoiu. 
 
 writers *. 
 
 Sooth, truth, true. 
 
 Seely.///v. 
 
 Soth, fothe. ditto. 
 
 Seethingr. boiling. 
 
 Sould. s. Jbould. 
 
 Sed.faul. 
 
 Souldan,foldan,fowdan._///^. 
 
 Sel, fell, s.felf. 
 
 Spack. .. fpake. 
 
 Sen. s.Jince. 
 
 Sped. fpeeded,fucceeded. 
 
 
 Speik. 
 
 * So CHAUCER, in the Prologues to his Canterbury Tales, 
 fajsof the Wife of Bath, 
 
 ' Her Hofen were of fine SCARLET REP."
 
 A GLOSSARY. 
 
 355 
 
 Speik. s. Jpeal:. 
 
 Speir. s. fpere, fpeare, fpeere, 
 
 fpire. ajk, inquire*. 
 Speir. s. fpear. 
 SpilL flail, dejlroy, kill. 
 Spilian, fpilland. s. Jpilling. 
 S purging. froth that purges out. 
 Squelfh. a blow, or bang. 
 Stean. s. ftone. 
 Sterte. farted. 
 Steven, voice, found. 
 Stint, (top. 
 
 Thrilled. twirled,turnedround. 
 
 Thropes. villages. 
 
 Thccht. thought. 
 
 Tift. s. puffofivind. 
 
 Tirled. twined, turned round. 
 
 Tone, t'one. the one. 
 
 Tor. a tower; alfo a high' 
 
 pointed rock, or hill. 
 Tres-hardie, f. thrice-hardy. 
 Trenchant, f. cutting. 
 Trieft furth. s. draw forth to 
 
 an affignation. 
 
 Stound.ftonde. (Introd.) fpace, Trilulcate. three-forked, three* 
 
 moment, hour, time. 
 Stowre. firong, robuft, fierce. 
 S tower, ftowre. Jlir, dijturb- 
 
 ance, fight. 
 Stude, ftuid. s. flood. 
 Sum mere./, i o i.afumpter horfe 
 Surceafe. ceafe. 
 Sune. s. Coon. 
 Sweere, fwire. neck. 
 Syne. s. then, afterwards. 
 
 Teene. farrow, grief. 
 Thewes. manners. In p. iz. 
 
 it fignifies limbs. 
 Than. s. then. 
 Thair. s. there. 
 Thir. s. tbis t thefe. 
 Tho. then. 
 Thrall, captive. 
 Thrall, captivity. 
 Thralldome. ditto. 
 Thrang. clofe. 
 
 pointed. 
 
 Trow, believe, truft: alfo, verily. 
 Troth, truth, faith, fidelity. 
 Tufti. an interjection of con- 
 
 tempt, or impatience. 
 Twa. s. t-ivo. Twayne. two. 
 
 Vvcm.(lntrod)approacb, coming. 
 
 Unhethought, p. 4.9. is a com- 
 mon word in the midland parts 
 of England, for bethought : 
 it might therefore have been 
 received into the text. So we 
 fay Unloofe/br Loofe. 
 
 Unftuous. fat, clammy, oily. 
 
 Undermeles. afternoons. 
 
 Unkempt, uncombed. 
 
 Ure. ufe. 
 
 W. 
 
 Wadded, p. 4.. perhaps from 
 woad : i. e. of a light blue 
 colour f . 
 A a a Wae. 
 
 So CHAUCER, in his Rhyme of Sir Thopas. 
 
 " He fought both north and fouth, 
 
 And oft' he SPIRED with his mouth." 
 i.e.* inquired' : not blowed', &c. as in Urry's GlofTary. 
 
 f Taylor, in his Hift. of Gavel-kind, p. 49. fays, " Bright, 
 from the Britifh word Britb, which fignifies their -- 
 
 lour, which was a light blue, Minfhew's diaion."
 
 35* 
 
 A GLOSSARY. 
 
 Wne. waefo'. s. woe, woeful. 
 
 Wad. s. walde. would. 
 
 Walker, a fuller of cloth. 
 
 Waitered. weltered, rolled a~ 
 long. Alfa, wallowed. 
 
 Waly. an interjeflir.n oj grief . 
 
 Wame, wem. s. belly. 
 
 Warde. s. adwfe^joreiuarn. 
 
 Waffe!. drinking, good cheer. 
 
 Wat. s. wet. Aifo, knew. 
 
 Wate. s. blamed. Pr<ft. of 
 wyte. to blame. 
 
 Wax. to grow, became. 
 
 Waywaid. ptrverfe. 
 
 Weale. welfare. 
 
 Weare-in. s. drive in gently. 
 
 Weede. clothing, drefs. 
 
 Weel. well. Mfo, wf/L 
 
 Weird, --wizard, witch. Pro- 
 perly, fate, deRiny. 
 
 Welkin, thejky. " 
 
 Well away, exclam. of pity. 
 
 Wem. (Introd.} hurt. 
 
 Wende, wtened. though. 
 
 Wend, to go. 
 
 Werryed. worry ed. 
 
 W,a. s. 'who. 
 
 Whair. s. 'where. 
 
 Whan. s. wben. 
 
 Whilk. s. which. 
 
 Whit. jot. 
 
 Whittles. kni<ves. 
 
 Wi'. s. with. 
 
 Wight, human creature, man 
 or woman. 
 
 Wild- worm, ferpent. 
 
 Wis. know. 
 
 Wit, weet. know, underfland. 
 
 Woe. woeful, forrowful. 
 
 Wode, wod. waoct. Alfo mad. 
 Woe-man, aforrowful man. 
 
 worlha.n.(feri')toc'e i to become 
 Woltle. would. 
 
 WondejC/^rod 1 ) wound,winded 
 Wood, wode. mad,jurious. 
 Wood-wroth, s. furivujly en- 
 
 raged. 
 
 Wot. know, think. 
 Wow. s. excl^uin. of wonder. 
 WYacke. ruin, dejlrucHon. 
 Wynne, win.jzy. 
 Wyt, wit, weet. know. 
 Wyte, blame. 
 
 Y. 
 
 Yate. gate. 
 
 Y -built, built. 
 
 Ychulle, (Infrod.) IJlall. 
 
 Yefe. s. ye /ball. 
 
 Yike, ilk. fame. That ylk, 
 
 that fame. 
 
 Yiythf, (Introd.) lijlen. 
 Yode. went. 
 Ys. is. Yf. if. Yn. in. 
 Yftonge, (Introd.) Jlung. 
 Y- wrought, 'wrought. 
 Y wys. truly, "verily. 
 
 Z. 
 
 Ze. s.je. zee're. *. 
 Zees.s. yejball. 
 Zellow. s. yellow. 
 Zet. s. yet. 
 Zong. s.yong. 
 Zou. s. you. zour. s.jour. 
 Zour-lane, your- lane. s. alone t 
 
 by yourfelf. 
 Zouth. s. youth. 
 
 THE END OF THE GLOSSARY.
 
 ( 357 ) 
 ADDITIONAL NOTES. 
 
 Page 62. 
 
 PHILLIDA AND CORYDON is one of the Songs in " 'The 
 ' Honourable Entertainment gieven to the Queenes MajeJ.ie 
 ft in Progrejfe at Elvetham in Hampjkire, by the R. H. the 
 " Earlt of Hertford. 1591." 4/. [Printed by Wolfe. No 
 name cf author. ] See ia. that poinpblet, 
 
 11 The thirde dales Entertainment. 
 
 " On Wednefday morning about 9 o' dock, as her Majrjiie 
 opened a cafement of her gallerie window, ther were 3 ex- 
 cellent mufitians, who being difguijed in auncient country 
 attire, did greet her <with a pleafant fong of CORY DON 
 AND PHILLIDA, made in 3 parts cf purpofc. The Jong, 
 as well for the iwrtb of the dittis, at the aptnejje of 
 the note thereto applied, it pleafed her Highnejfe after 
 it had been once fung to commend it againe, and highly to 
 grace it <with her cheer efull acceptance and commendation. 
 
 " THE PLOWMAN'S SONG. 
 " In the merrie month of May, fcfr." 
 
 The Splendour and Magnificence of Elizabeth reign is no 
 <wherc more Jtrongly painted than in thefe little Diaries cf 
 fome of her jummer excurjicns to the hoafcs of her nobility ; 
 nor could a more acceptable prefent be gi'ven to the world, than 
 a re^ubli cation of ajelecl number ofjuch details as this, of th^ 
 entertainment at ELVETHAM, that at KILLINGWORTH, -[- 
 dff c. &c. which Jo Jtrongly mark the fpirit of the times and 
 prefent us with fccnes fa very remote from modern manners. 
 
 f Vid. Vol. I. Introd. Vol. III. p. 25. 
 
 Page 
 
 i
 
 [3*8 J 
 Page 159. 
 
 Tke HUE AND CRY AFTER CUPID 13 a kind ofTranf- 
 lation of a pretty poem O/~TASSO'S, called Amore fuggitivo, 
 generally printed with bis AMI NT A, and originally imi- 
 tated from MOSCHUS. 
 
 Page 202. 
 
 Since this ballad was printed off the Editor hath fern an 
 ancient black-letter copy, containing feme variations, and in- 
 titled , " The merry pranks of Robin Good-Fellow. To the 
 " tune ofDulcina, &e." See p. 151. 
 
 To this copy nuere prefixed two wooden cuts of ROB IN 
 GOOD -FELLOW, which feem to reprefent the dreffes in which 
 tkis whimfical character was formerly exhibited on the jl age, 
 To gratify the curious thefe are engraven below. 
 
 THE END OF VOLUME THE THIRD.
 
 BOOKS 
 
 Printed and Sold by J. DODSLZY, in 
 Pall-Mail, London. 
 
 HAU Kiou C HO A AN, or, The Pleafmg Hiftory: a 
 Novel tranflated from the CHINESE. 4 vols. 
 izmo. 1761. 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES relating to the CHINESE. 
 
 2 VOls. I2IHO. 1762. 
 
 FIVE PIECES of Runic Poetry, tranflated from the 
 Icelandic Language. 8vo. 1763. 
 
 - 
 
 THE SONG of SOLOMON, newly tranflated from 
 the original HEBREW, with a Commentary and 
 Notes. 8vo. 1764. 
 
 Thefe FOUR by the Editor of the RELIEVES,
 
 Lately published In France, 
 
 HAU Kiou C HO A AN, Hijloire Cbinoife, ^r adult e de 
 /' Anglais, par M. * * *. 4 torn, (dans 2.J izmo. a 
 LYON, cbsz Benmt Duplain lihreire Rue Merciefe, a 
 I' Aigle. 1766. 
 
 EXTRACT 
 
 Of a Letter from CANTON, July gth, 1763, to 
 JAMES GARLAND, Efq. of Burlington Street. 
 
 " As to HAU Kiou CHOAAN, I inquired among 
 my Chinefe acquaintance about it, but without fuccefs, 
 until I hapgen'd by chance to mention the Hero of the 
 Story Ty-cbung-u, when they immediately knew what I 
 meant, and faid in their jargon, " Truely have fo 
 '* fafhiori man 4 or 500 years before; have very true 
 " Story : How you czn/cavez he."
 
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