Below is the raw OCR of Bishop Percy's Folio Manuscript:
Loose and Humorous Songs. If you wish to verify the text below, please download the
PDF of the scanned pages.
Bishop Percy's
Folio Manuscript
Loose and Humorous Songs
EDITED BY
JOHN W. HALES, M.A.
FELLOW AND LATE ASSISTANT-TUTOR OF CHRIST'S COLLEGE,
CAMBRIDGH
AND
FEEDEEICK J. FURNIVALL, M.A.
OF TRINITY HALL, CAMBRIDGE.
(assisted by W. CHAPPELL, Esq., &c. &c.)
LONDON:
N. TRUBNEE & CO., 60 PATERNOSTER ROW.
1867.
LONDON
PRINTED BY Sl'OlTISWOODB AND CO.
NEW-STREET SQUARE
Ill
NOTICE.
Qui s'excuse tf accuse; but we make no excuse for putting
forth
these Loose and Humorous Songs. They are part of the Manu-
script which we have undertaken to print entire, and as our
Prospectus says, " to the student, these songs and the like are
part of the evidence as to the character of a past age, and they
should not be kept back from him." Honi soit qui mat y jpense.
They serve to show how some of the wonderful intellectual
energy of Elizabeth's and James I.'s time ran riot somewhat,
and how in the noblest period of England's literature a freedom
of speech was allowed which Victorian ears would hardly
tolerate. That this freedom dulled men's wits or tarnished
their minds more than our restraint does ours, we do not
believe. We cannot give in to Mr. Procter's opinion that
because ladies of the Court liked Jonson's jokes, coarse to us,
therefore they could not appreciate his fancy and the higher
qualities of his mind.1 Manners refine slowly, and speech as
1 " On referring, after an interval of the conclusion
that civilisation must
many years, to these old Masques, we have failed in some
respects, and to fear
find ourselves somewhat staggered at the that the refined
and graceful compli-
character of the jests, and the homely ments which our
author so frequently
(not to say vulgar) allusions in which lavished upon the
high ' damas' of
they ahound. The taste of the times King James's court
was a pure waste
was, indeed, rude enough; and we can of his poetical
bounty. It is scarcely
easily understand that jests of this possible that the
ladies who could sit and
nature were tolerated or even relished hear jokes far
coarser than Smollett's,
by common audiences. But when we uttered night after
night, could ever have
hear that the pieces which contain them fully relished
the delicate and sparkling
were exhibited repeatedly, with ap- verses which flowed
from Jonson's pen."
plause, before the nobles and court —Introduction to Ben
Jonson's Works,
ladies of the time (some of them young ed. 1838, p.
xxiii-iv.
unmarried women), we are driven to
IV
NOTICE.
well. Tis custom that prevents the ill effects of habits that
seem likely to injure mental and moral health. Foreigners
judging from the low dresses in our ball-rooms, English maids
judging from French fish worn en's bare legs,1 often come to
very wrong conclusions. Water clear to one generation needs
straining for the next. Even Percy, and he a bishop, has not
marked with his three crosses (his marks of loose and humorous
songs) a few which we, easy-going laymen, have now thought
better to transfer to this volume. These are, See the Bwild-
inge, Fryar and Boye, The Man that hath, Dulcina, Cooke
Laurell, The Mode of France, Lye alone, Downe sate the
Shepard. We have not written Introductions to every one of
these pieces, as to the Ballads and Eomances of the MS. Let
it be enough that they are put in type.
1 Cp. Punch : " But that indelicate I There ! you might have
knocked me down
with a feather!"
V
SECOND NOTICE.
Some of these songs the Editors would have been glad had it
not
fallen to their lot to put forth. But, as was said before, they
are part of the Manuscript which has to be printed entire, and
must be therefore issued. They are also part of our Elizabethan
and Jacobite times; and when you are drawing a noble old oak,
you must sketch its scars and disfigurements as well as the
glory
of its bark, its fruit and leaves. Students must work from the
nude, or they'll never draw.
Of the general character of Early English Literature enough
has been said in the Introduction to Conscience;, in vol. ii. of
the
Ballads and Eomances ; but no age, no man, has been without
drawbacks, without sensual feelings or the expression of them.
They are natural: improper delight in them alone is wrong.
And from the expressions of this improper delight our Early
Literature is singularly free. Plain speaking there is, broad
humour there is; but of delight in sensuality for sensuality's
sake, there is very little indeed. Some of it is here, but it's
of our Middle Time, a time when the pressure of early wrongs,
and perchance the earnestness of national feeling, had somewhat
lessened, when luxury and indulgence more abounded. It is
well for the student to see it, that he may be under no illusion
as to that time; as it will be right for the student of
Victorian
England, two or three hundred years hence, to see productions
VI
SECOND NOTICE.
that we would not willingly circulate now. But still, let no
one doubt that Professor Morley's words are true — that the
spirit of our Early and Middle Times was noble and pure; that,,
notwithstanding prurient novels and review-articles, and Holy-
well Street filth, our Victorian time is, in the main, noble and
pure too.
The Poems not marked with Percy's three crosses as loose,
which we have transferred to these pages, are Men that more;
Panche; In a May Mominge; The Turk in Linen; Loners
hearke alarum; 0 nay, 0 nay, not yet; I cannot be contented;
Lillumivham; Last night I thought; A Dainty Ducke (incom-
plete); A may den heade; Tom Long e; Allinagreene meadow e.
We had not at first intended to have side-notes added to this
volume, but See the bwildinge, the Fryar and Boye, and some
other poems, having been set with side-notes for the Ballads and
Romances before they were turned into this volume, the rest of
the pieces were side-noted for uniformity's sake. The italics in
the text are extensions of the contractions of the Manuscript.
August, 1867.
Vll
CONTENTS.
SEE THE BWILDINGE
WALKING IN A MEADOW GREN
0 JOLLY ROBIN
WHEN PHEBUS ADDREST
FRYAR AND BOTE .
AS I WAS RIDINGE BY THE WAY
THE MAN THAT HATH
DULCINA
OFF A PURITANE .
COOKE LAURELL .
THE MODE OF FRANCE .
BE NOT AFRAYD ,
DOE YOU MEANE .
A MAID AND A YOUNGE MAN
A CREATURE FOR FEATURE
LYE ALONE .
DOWNE SATE THE SHEPARD
MEN THAT MORE .
PANCHE
WHEN AS I DOE RECCORD
WHEN SCORTCHING PH(EBUS
IN A MAY MORNINGE
THE TURK IN LINEN
COME WANTON WENCHES
AS IT BEFFELL ON A DAY
BLAME NOT A WOMAN ,
OFF ALLE THE SEAES .
Vlll
CONTENTS.
fa
LOUERS HEARKE ALARUM
A FREINDE OP MINE
0 NAY: 0 NAT: NOT YETT
1 CANNOTT BEE CONTENTED
LILLUMWHAM
THE SEA CRABB .
LAST NIGHT I THOUGHT
I DREAMED MY LOUE
PANDERS COME AWAYE ,
A DAINTY DUCKE .
NOW FYE ON DREAMES .
A MAYDEN HEADE .
TOM LONGE .
ALL IN A GREENE MEADOWE
THOMAS YOU CANNOTT .
PAGE
87
89
92
94
96
99
101
102
104
103
109
111
112
114
116
t
1
[Page 56 of MS,]
This song is to be found in the Koxburghe Collection of
Black-letter Ballads, I. 454, with the title " A well-wishing to
a
place of pleasure. To an excellent new tune," and with six more
lines in each stanza. We quote it here for contrast sake.
A WELL-WISHING TO A PLAGE OF PLEASUEE.
To an excellent new Tune.
See the building
Where whilst my mistris lived in
Was pleasures essence,
See how it droopeth
And how nakedly it looketh
Without her presence:
2 Every creature
That appertaines to nature
'bout this house living,
Doth resemble,
If not dissemble,
due praises giving.2
Harke, how the hollow
Windes do blow
And seem to murmur
in every corner,
for her long absence :
The which doth plainly show
The causes why I do now
All this grief and sorrow show.
See the garden
Where I receivde reward in
for my true love :
Behold those places
Where I receivde those graces
the Grods might move.
2 The Queene of plenty
With all the fruits are dainty,
delights to please
1 Not inelegant.—P. Note on a se-
parate slip of paper:—
" This was once a very popular song,
as appears from a parody of it inserted
(as a solemn piece of music) in Hemming's
Flora springing
Is ever bringing
Dame Venus ease.2
Oh see the Arbour where that she
with melting kisses
distilling blisses
From her true selfe
with joy did ravish me.
The pretty nightingale
did sing melodiously.
Haile to those groves
Where I injoyde those loves
so many dayes.
Let the flowers be springing,
And sweet birds ever singing
their Roundelayes,
2 Many Cupids measures
And cause for true Loves pleasures,
Be daucd around,
Let all contentment
For mirth's presentment
this day be found2:
And may the grass grow ever green
where we two lying
have oft been trying
More severall wayes
than beauties lovely Queen
When she in bed with Mars
by all the gods was seen.
Jew's Tragedy, act 4, 4to, 1662.—KB.
The marginal corrections are made from
this Parody."—P.
2"2 Not in the Percy Folio copy.—F.
2
SEE THE BWILDINGE.
Mr. W. Chappell says that the " excellent new tune of this
song was adopted for other songs."
See my
mistress's
house!
It is desolate
in her
absence.
See the
garden
where we
have loved,
the arbour
where we
12
16
and the
groves!
and on the
grass where
we lay !
20
24
See the building which. whilestl my Mistress liued in
was pleasures asseince2 !
see how it droopeth, & how Nakedly it looketh
w^h-out her presence!
heearke how the hollow winds doe blowe,
& how the 3 Murmer in every corner
for her being absent, from whence they cheefly4 grow !
the cause that I doe now this greeffe & sorrow showe.
See the garden where oft I had reward in
for my trew loue !
see the places where I enioyed those graces
they 5 goddes might moue !
oft in this arbour, whiles that shee
w^th melting kisses disstilling blisses
through my frayle lipps, what Ioy did ravish me !
the pretty Nightingale did sing Melodiouslee.
Haile to those groves where wee inioyed our loues
soe many daies !
May the trees be springing, & the pretty burds be
singing
theire Roundelayes !
Oh ! may the grasse be euer greene
wheron wee, lying, haue oft beene tryinge
More seuerall wayes of pleasure then loues queene,
which once in bedd w^th Mars by all the godds was
seene.
, . lling.........
[half a page missing.']
where once.—P.
"With pleasure's essence,—P.
they.—P.
MS. cheesly.—F.
* the.—P.
aSMfcmg m a JHtatroto gtm
[Page 93 of MS.]
Perhaps the following may have been suggested by the ballad
of "The Two Leicestershire Lovers; to the tune of And yet
methmlcs I love thee," a copy of which is in the Eoxburghe Col-
lection, I. 412. The subject of each is two lovers; both poems
are in nearly the same metre, and begin with the same line.
The difference is in the after-treatment. The " Two Leicester-
shire Lovers " begins thus:—
Walking in a meadow green
For recreation's sake,
To drive away some sad thoughts
That sorrowful did me make,
I spied two lovely lovers,
Did hear each other's woe,
To 'point a place of meeting
Upon the meadow brow.
This was printed by John Trundle, at the sign of " The
Nobody,"
in Barbican—the ballad-publisher immortalized by Ben Jonson
in his " Every Man in his Humour." (" Well, if he read this with
patience, I'll go and troll ballads for Master John Trundle
yonder, the rest of my mortality.") The printed copy is there-
fore as old as the manuscript.—W. C.
Walking in a meadowe greene, Walking
out,
fayre flowers for to gather,
where p[r]imrose rankes did stand on bankes
4 to welcome comers thither,
B
4
WALKING IN A MEADOW GREN.
I heard
a lass ask for
" Once
more,"
She was 12
under a lad,
and cried
" Once
more."
but still
she said
" Once
more."
He tried
and failed,
but still
she cried
" Once
more."
She helped
him
16
He was dull,
20
24
28
32
36
I hard a voice which made a Noise,
which caused me to attend it,
I heard a lasse say to a Ladd,
" once more, & none can mend it."
They lay soe close together,
they made me much to wonder ;
I knew not which was wether,
vntill I saw her vnder,
then off he came, & blusht for shame
soe soone that he had endit;
yet still shee lyes, & to him cryes,
" Once More, & none can mend it."
His lookes were dull & verry sadd,
his courage shee had tamed;
shee bad him play the lusty lad
or else he quite was shamed;
" then stifly thrust, hee hit me iust,
ffeare not, but freely spend it,
& play about at in & out ;
once more, & none can mend it."
And then he thought to venter her,
thinking the ffitt was on him ;
but when he came to enter her,
the poynt turnd1 backe vpon him.
Yet shee said, " stay ! goe not away
although the point be bended !
but toot againe, & hit the vaine !
once more, & none can Mend it."
Then in her Armes shee did him fold,
& oftentimes shee kist him,
yett still his courage was but cold
for all the good shee wisht him;
1 There is a tag to the d like an s.—F.
WALKING IN A MEADOW GKEN.
5
40
yett with her hand shee made it stand
soe stiffe shee cold not bend it,
& then anon shee cryes " come on
once more, & none can mend it! "
and cried
still" Once
more."
" Adew, adew, sweet hart," quoth hee,
" for in faith I must be gone."
" nay, then you doe me wronge," q^oth shee,
44 "to leaue me thus alone."
Away he went when all was spent,
wherat shee was offended ;
Like a troian true she made a vow
48 shee wold have one shold mend it.l
ffins.
He declined
and went
away.
She declared
she'd get
some one
else.
1 Qui n'en a qu'un, n'en a point: Prov. good have none as
have no more l»ut one.
(Meant of Cocks, Bulls, &c, and some- Cotgrave.—F.
times alledged by lascivious women,) as
2? 2
6
<& follp tonkin.1
I'll cry out.
12
[Page 95 of MS.]
(J lolly Robin, hold thy hande !
I am not tyde in 2 Cupids bande;
I pray thee leaue thy foolinge, heyda !
by my faith & troth I cannot: heyda, fie !
what ? doe you meane to be soe bold ?
I must cry out! I cannot holde: heyda, ^.el "
" what a deale of doe is here, is here, is here ! "
" I begin to fainta 1
heyda, fye ! oh ! oh ! oh ! oh ! "
" what was that you sayd ?
heyda ! heyda! heyda ! heyda !
you will neuer leaue till I be paide."
Robin, do
your worst!
16
20
" 0 lolly Robin, doe thy worst!
thou canst not make my belly burst.
I pray thee leaue thy fooling: heyda! "
"by my faith & troth I cannot: heyda, fie ! "
" what ? doe you meane to vse me soe ?
I pray thee Robin let me goe : heyda, fye ! "
" what a deale of doe is heere, is heere, is heere ! "
" I begin to fainta. &c."
ffins.
wretched stuff.—Percy.
MS. lydain.—F.
Mfytn \$f)thn& atftr*sst
[Page 96 of MS.]
This song is printed in "Merry Drollery Complete," Part 2,
1661 and 1670, also in "Wit and Drollery, Jovial Poems," 1656,
p. 35. The tune is printed under the title of the burden " 0
doe not, doe not kill me yet," in J. J. Starter's u
Boertigheden,"
Amsterdam, 4to, 1634, with a Dutch song written to the tune.
This proves that the popularity of the song had extended to
Holland twenty-two years before the earliest English copy that I
have hitherto found. If the date given for the Percy folio,
about
1620, is right, it contains the earliest copy known.—W. C.
When Phebus addrest himselfe to the west,
& set vp his rest below,
Cynthia agreed in her gliteringe weede
4 her bewtie on me to bestow ;
& walking alone, attended by none,
by chance I hard one crye
" 0 doe not, doe not, kill me yett,
s for I am not prepared to dye ! "
With that I drew neare to see & to heare,
& strange did appeare such a showe ;
the Moone it was bright, & gaue such a light
12 as ffitts not each wight to know:
a man & a Mayd together were Laid,
& euer the mayd shee did cry,
" 0 doe not, doe not, kill me yet, I,
16 for I am not resohied to dye !"
By moon-
light,
walking
alone,
I heard a
maid say
" Don't kill
me yet."
I saw a
strange
show,
and still
the maid
cried
" Don't kill
me yet."
4
8
WHEN PHEBUS ADDREST.
The game
was blind-
man's buff,
and at the
end she
cried
" Don't kill
me yet!"
20
24
The youth was rough, he tooke vp her stuffe,
& to blindmans buffe they did goe;
hee kept such a eoyle, he gaue her the foyle,
soe great the broyle it did growe.
but shee was soe yonge, & he was soe stronge,
& he left her not till shee did erye,
" 0 doe not, doe not, kill me yett,
for I am not resolued to dye !"
The young
man pro-
mised
not to.
Then she
said,
" O kill me
once again."
28
32
with that he gaue ore, & solemplye swore
he wold kill her noe more that night,
but badd her adew: full litle he knew
shee wold tempt him to more delight.
But when they shold part, it went to her hart,
& gaue her more cause for to crye,
" O kill me, kill me, once againe,
ffor Now I am willing to dye ! "
ffins.
9
The present is the completest copy known to us of this
capital
story, Wynkyn de Worde's, reprinted (with collations) by Mr.
W. C. Hazlitt ("Early Popular Poetry," v. 3, p. 54-81), runs
with
it, though less smoothly, to 1. 456, but there suddenly
throws up
its six-line stanzas, and ends the story with six four-line
stanzas,
a circumstance not noticed by Mr. Hazlitt. The present copy
either wants half a stanza after 1. 495, or a stanza of 9
lines is
given at 1.493-501, as in stanzas of four lines one is often
increased
to six. Mr. Hazlitt's introduction gives all the bibliography
of
the poem, except a notice of Mr. Halliwell's print of it in
the
Warton Club " Early English Miscellanies," 1854, p. 46-62,
from
Mr. Ormsby Gore's Porkington MS. No. 10. This Porkington
copy is in seventy-one six-line stanzas (426 lines), but does
not
contain the citation of the boy before the " officiall" and
the
scene in court. The tale ends at 1. 402 (corresponding with
1. 396 here, no doubt the end of the first version of the
tale)^
the last four stanzas winding it up with a moral.
1HAT god that dyed for vs all [page 97#] May
God
& dranke both vinigar & gal],
bringe vs out of balle,3
4 and giue them both good life & longe
■which listen doe vnto my songe,
or tend vnto my talle4 !
1 The rhyme every where requires p. 209, col. 1. E. E.
Text Soc 1867.—-E.
that it should be written or pronounced 2 Collated
with a copyinPepys library,
ERERE, as in Chaucer.—P. In our 12°, Vol. N°. 358.
Lettered, Wallace.— P.
earliest Rhyming Dictionary, Levins's This song is very
different and much su-
Manipulus, 1570, under the words in perior to the common
printed story "book.
eare, are entered a Bryar, a Eryar, a For date see st. 71
[1. 428, p. 25].—P.
Whyer, chorus, a Quear of paper, liber, 3 bale.—P. 4
tale.—P.
10
FRYAR AND BOYE.
A man,
thrice
married,
has a son by
his first
wife,
there dwelt a man in my countrye
8 whichJ in his life had wines 3,
a blessing fnll of Ioye !
By the first wife a sonne he had,2
which was a prettye sturdye ladde,
12 a good vnhappy3 boye.
whom he
loves well,
but the
stepmother
spites.
His father loned him well,4
bat his stepmother neue[r] a deale,—
I tell yon as I thinke,—
16 All things shee thonght lost, by the roode,
which to the boy did anye good,5
as either meate or drinke;
The boy
fares ill.
And yet-1-wis it was bnt badde,
20 nor halfe enonge therof he hade,
but enermore the worst;
And therfore enill might shee fare,
that did6 the litle boy such care,
24 soe forth7 as shee dnrst.
The step-
mother asks
her husband
to send him
away.
28
Vnto the man the wiffe gan say,
" I wold yon wold put8 this boy awaye,
& that right soone in haste ;
Trnlie he is a cursed ladde 9 !
I wold some other man him hade
that wold him better chast.10"
The husband
will not,
Then said the goodman, " dame,11 not soe,
32 I will not lett the yonge boy goe,
he is but tender of age ;12
1 who.—P.
2 his first . . a child . .—P.
3 i. e. unlucky, full of waggery.—P.
4 loved him very well.—P.
5 which might the boy do.—P.
6 that wrought.—P.
7 so far forth.—P.
8 I would ye put.—P.
9 wicked lad.—P.
10 i.e. chasten, chastise.—1
11 dane in MS.— F.
12 He's but of tender age.-
FKYAR AND BOTE.
11
He© shall this yeere w^'th mel abyde
till he be growne more strong & tryde
36 ffor to win better wage :
40
" Wee haue a man, a sturdie lout,
which keepeth 2 our neate the feilds about,
& sleepeth all the day,
Hee shall come home,3 as god me sheeld,
and the Boy shall4 into the feild
to keepe them if hee may."
but proposes
he shall take
the
neatherd's
place.
44
48
Then sayd the wiffe in verament,
" husband, therto I giue consent,
for that I thinke it neede."
On the Morrow when it was day,
the litle boy went on his way
vnto the feild5 with. speede.
Next day
the boy does
so,
52
Off noe man hee tooke anye care,6
but song " hey ho ! away the Mare7 ! "
much mirth 8 he did pursue ;
fforth hee went9 w^'th might & maine
vntill he came vnto10 the plaine,
where he his* l dinner drew.
singing as
he goes.
56
60
But when he saw it was soe bad, .
full litle list therto he had,
but put it from12 sight,
Saying he had noe list to 13 tast,
but thatu his hunger still shold last
till hee came home att Night.
The food
given him
is so
untempting
that he
cannot eat
it.
1 with me this year.—P.
2 who keeps.—P.
3 bide home.—P.
4 And Jack shall pass.—P.
5 towards the field.—P.
6 took he . . cure.—P.
7 mure.—P.
8 with mirth.—P.
9 Forward he drew.—
10 amidst,—P.
11 And then his.—P.
12 it up from.—V.
13 no will to.—P.
14 And that.—P.
12
FRYAK AND BOYE.
An old man
comes his
way,
And as the boy sate on a hill,
there came an old man him vntill,
was walking by the way;
64 " Sonne," he said, "god thee see1 ! "
" now welcome, father, may you bee2 !
the litle boy gan say.3
and asks for
food.
The boy
offers what
he has.
The old man sayd, "I hunger sore ;
68 then hast4 thou any meate in store
which thou mightest5 giue to me ? "
The child 6 replyed, " soe god me saue !
to such poore victualls as I haue,
72 right welcome shall you be."
The old man
eats and is
happy,
Of this the old man was full gladd,
the boy drew forth such as he hadd,
& sayd "goe to gladlie."
76 The old man easie was to please,
he eate7 & made himselfe att ease,
saying, " sonne, god amercye 8 !
[page 98, ]
then bids
the boy
choose three
presents.
He chooses
1. a bow.
"Sonne," he sayd, "thou hast giuen meate to me,9
80 & I will giue 3 things to thee,10
what ere thou wilt in treat."
Then sayd the boy, "tis best, I trow,11
that yee bestow on me12 a bowe
84 with which I burds may gett."
The old
man
promises
him a right
good one,
" A bow, my sonne, I will thee giue, '
the which shall Last while thou dost Hue,
was neuer bow more fitt! 13
1 Who said my son now God thee see.
-P.
2 full welcome father .... ye.—P.
3 did say.—P.
4 Jack, hast,—P.
5 mayest,—P.
6 the boy.—P.
7 he ate.—P.
8 gramercye.—P.
9 And for the meate thou gave to me'.
-P.
10 I will . . unto.—P.
11 The best . . know.—P.
12 ye give to me.—P.
13 Yea never bow nor break.—P.
FKYAfi AND BOYE.
13
88 ffor if thou shoot therin all day,
waking or winking, or1 anje waye,
the marke2 thou shalt iLitt/'
Now when the bowe in hand he felt,
92 & had the3 arrowes vnder his belt,
hartilye he laught I-wiss,4
And sayd, " had I a pipe w?'th-all,
tho neuer litle or soe small,5
96 I then had all my wishe." 6
and gives it
him.
He chooses
2. a pipe.
100
"A pipe, sonne, thou shalt haue alsoe,7
which in true Musieke soe shall goe—
I put thee out of doubt—
As who that Hues 8 & shall it heare,
shall haue noe power to forbeare,
but laugh & leape about.
The old man
him a very
charming
one.
" JNTow tell me what the 3? shalbee ;
104 for 3 things I will giue9 to thee
as I haue sayd before."
The boy then smiling, answere made,
" I haue enough for my pore trade,
108 I will desire noe more."
The boy is
content.
112
The old man sayd, " my troth is plight,
thou shalt haue all I thee behightI0;
say on now, let me see."
" Att home I haue," the boy replyde,
" a cruell step dame full of pride,
who is most curst to mee;
The old man
bids him
choose his
third pre-
sent.
1 walking: del. or.—P.
2 [insert] still.-—P.
3 the, del.—P.
4 He merry was I, &e.—P.
5 Though ne'er so little.—P.
6 I had all that I wish.-—P.
7 shalt thou have.—P.
s that whoso-ever.—P.
9 will I give.—P.
w behight, printed copy, behett; be-
hight, behote, promittere, vovere, pro-
missus, pollicitus.—P.
c 2
14
FEYAK AND BOYB.
The boy
wishes that
whenever
his step-
mother
stares
spitefully at
him she may
" a rap let
go."
" when meate my father giues to mee,
116 shee wishes poysonjt might bee,
and stares me in the1 face :
Now when shee gazeth on me soe,
I wold shee might a rapp 2 let goe
120 that might ring through the place."
The old man
agrees,
The old man answered then anon,
"when-ere3 shee lookes thy face vpon,
her tayle shall wind4 the home 5
124 Soe Lowdlye, that who shold 6 it heare
shall not be able to forbeare,
but laugh her vnto scorne.
and departs. " Soe, farwell Sonne ! " the old man
cryed;
128 " god keepe you, S^r ! " the boy replyed,
" I take my leaue of thee !
God, that blest7 of all things, may
keepe 8 thee save 9 both night & day !"
132 "gramercy, sonne ! " sayd hee.
At nightfall
Jack pipes
his cattle
home,
When it grew neere vpon10 the night,
Iacke, well prepared,11 hied home full right ;-
itt was his ordinance ;—
136 And as he went his pipe did blow,
the whilest his cattell on a row
about him gan to 12 dance;
1 stareth in my.—P. 2 fart.—P.
3 that.—P.
4 wynd.—P.
s Compare G-loton in the Vision of
Piers Plowman, who
blew his rounde ruwet
At his rugge-bones ende,
That alle that heard that horn
Helde hir noses after,
And wisshed it had been wexed
With a wispe of firses.
(ed. Wright, v. 1, p. 98, 1. 3171-6).-
6 shall.—P.
7 And he that best,—P.
8 protect.—P.
9 safe.—P.
10 drew . . . unto.—P.
11 advised.—P.
12 fast did.—P.
FBYAR AND BOTE.
15
Thus to the towne he pipt1 full trim, [page 99.]
140 his skipping beasts did 2 ffollow him
into his ffathers close.
He went & put them [up] each 3 one;
which done, he homewards went anon; 4
144 vnto his fathers hall5 he gooes.
His ffather att his supper sate,
& litle Iacke espyed well thatt,
and said to him anon,
148 "father, all day I kept yo^r neate,
at night I pray you giue me some 6 meate,
I am7 hungrye, by Saint Iohn !
" Meateless 8 I haue lyen all the day,
152 & kept jour beasts, they did not stray;
My dinner was but ill."
His ffather tooke a Capon9 winge,
& at the boy™ he did it fling,
156 bidding him eate his fill.
finds his
father
supping, and
asks for a
help.
His father
throws him
a capon's
wing,
This greeued11 his stepdames hart full sore,
who lothed12 the Ladd still more & more;
shee stared13 him in the face :
160 with that shee let goe such a blast
that made14 the people all agast,
itt sounded15 through the place;
The step-
dame stares
at him,
fulfils the
old man's
promise,
Each one laught & made16 good game,
164 but the curst wife grew red for shame
& wisht shee had beene gone.
and is
laughed at.
pipes.—P.
do.—P.
up each.—P.
Then went into the house anon.-
1 into the hall.—P.
! del.—P.
' I'm.—P.
3 meatless.—P.
-P.
9 capon's.—P.
10 at his son.—P.
11 loathes.—P.
12 grieves.—P.
13 And stares.—P.
14 As made.—P.
15 And sounded.—P.
16 did laugh & make.
-P.
16
FRYAR AND BOYE.
168
" Perdy," the boy sayd, " well I wott
that gun was both well chargedl & shott,
& might haue broke a stone."
She stares
again, with
the same
result.
ffull curstlye2 shee lookt on him tho :
that looke another cracke 3 lett goe
which did a thunder4 rise.
172 Q^oth the boy, " did5 you euer see
a woman let her pelletts flee
More thicke & more at ease ?
The boy
triumphs.
She tells her
wrongs to a
friar,
" ffye! " said the boy vnto his dame,
176 " temper yo^r6 teltale bumm, for shame ! "
w^'eh made her full of sorrow.
"Dame,"7 said the goodman, " goe thy way,
for why, I sweare, by night nor day8
180 thy geere is not to borrow."
Now afterwards, as you shall heare,
Ynto the house there eame a fryar,
& lay there all the'night.
184 The wiffe this fryer loued as a Samt,9
& to him made a great complaint
of Iackes most vile despight.
"We haue," q^oth shee, "within, I-wis,
188 a wiced boy,—none shrewder is,—
which doth me mighty care;
I dare not looke vpon his face,
or hardly tell10 my shamefull case,
192 soe filthylie I fare ;
1 well, not in P. C.—P.
2 Cp. Cotgrave's "Feroce, cruell, fierce,
curst f hard-hearted, sterne, austere:"
" the auncient Komanes . . ysed to ty a
wispe of Hay about the one home of a
shrewd or curst Beast," (w. foin). " Belle
femme mauvaise teste: Pro. Faire women
either curst or cruell "be."—~F.
3 And then another fart.—P.
4 Which gart the Thunder.—P.
5 Quoth Jack, Sir, did.—P.
6 thy.—P.
7 good maid.—P.
8 and day.—P.
9 This wife did love him as a saint,
-P.
10 Nor . . . shew.—P.
FRYAR AND BOTE.
17
" for gods loue meet this boy1 to-morrow,
beat him well, & giue him sorrow,
& make2 him blind or lame."
196 The fiyar swore he wold him beat,
the wiffe prayd him 3 not to forgett,
the boy did her much shame :
and asks him
to beat the
boy soundly.
" Some wiche he is," q^oth4 shee, " I smell."
200 " but," q^oth the fryar, " He beat him well!
of that take you noe care;
He teach him witchcraft, if I may."
" 0," q^oth the wiffe, " doe soe, I pray,
204 lay on & doe not spare."
The friar
agrees.
208
Early next morne the boy arose,
& to the field full soone he goes,
his cattell for to driue.
The fryer then5 vp as early gatt,
he was afrayd to come to 6 late,
he ran 7 fall fast & blythe.
[page 100.]
Next day
the boy
goes afield
as before,
followed by
the friar:
212
216
But when he came vnto the land,8
he found where litle Iacke did stand,
keeping his beasts alone.
"Now, boy," he sayd, " god giue thee shame !
what hast thou done to thy stepdame ?
tell me forthwith anon !
who asks
him to
explain his
conduct.
" And if thou canst not quitt9 thee well,
He beate thee till thy body swell,
I will not longer10 byde."
1 For my sake meet him.—P.
2 Yea, make.—P.
3 She prayed him.—P.
4 He is a witch, qth.—P.
5 dele then.—P.
6 he came too.—P.
7 And ran.—P.
8 upon the land.—P.
9 quite.—P.
10 no longer.—P.
18
FRYAR AND BOYE.
Jack
changes the
subject;
offers to
shoot a bird
and give it
to the friar.
Shoots it.
220 The boy replyed, " what ayleth thee ?
my stepdame is as well as thee ;
what needs you thus to Chyde ? l
" Come3 will you seemy 2 arrow flye
224 & hitt yon small bird in 3 the eye,
& other things w^thall ?
Six fryer, tho I4 haue litle witt,
yett yonder bird I meane to hitt,
228 & giue her you I shall."
There sate a small birde in a5 bryar:
" Shoot, shoot, you wagg," then sayd the fryer,
" for that I long to see." 6
232 Iacke hitt the bird vpon the head
soe right that shee fell downe for dead,
noe further cold shee flee.
The friar
gone among
the bushes
to pick it up,
Jack pipes
and makes
him dance.
236
240
ffast to the bush the fryar went,
& vp the bird in hand7 hee hent,8
much wondering at the chance.
Meane while9 Iacke tooke his pipe & playd
soe lowd, the fryar grew mad apaide,10
& fell to11 skip & dance;
The briars
scratch and
tear him.
Now sooner was12 the pipes sound heard,
but Bedlam like l3 he bou[n]cet & fared,
& leapt the bush about;
244 The sharpe bryars cacth14 him by the face,
& by the breech & other place,
that fast the blood ran out;
1 Clyde in MS.—F.
2 Sir, will. . . mine.—P.
3 yon . . . on.—P.
4 Good Sir, if I.—P.
3 on a.—P.
6 that fain w*I see.—P.
7 hands.—P.
8 hent, seized, laid hold on. Johnson:
capere, assequi, prehendere, arripere.—
Junius.—P.
9 mean time.—P.
10 perhaps mal-apaid. Id est ill-apaid.
See p. 363, lin. 23 [of MS.].—P.
11 And gan to.—P.
12 no . . . he.—P.
13 madman-like.—P. H scratcht.—P.
FRYAR AND BOTE.
19
It tare J his clothes downe to the skirt,
248 his cope,2 his coole,3 his linen shirt,
& emery other weede.4
The thornes this while 5 were rough & thicke,
& did his priuy members pricke,
252 that fast they gan to bleede.
Iacke, as he piped, laught amonge 6;
the fryar w^'th bryars was vildlye stunge,
he hopped wonderous hye.
256 Att last the fryar held vp his hand,
& said, " I can noe longer stand!
Oh ! I shall dancing dye !
Jack laughs,
The friar
begs for
mercy.
260
264
" Gentle Iacke, thy pipe hold still,
& here I vow for goode nor ill
to doe thee any woe ! "
Iacke laug[h]ing, to him thus replyed,
" fryer, sckipp out on the7 other side,
thou hast free leaue to goe."
Jack lets
him go.
Out of the bush the fryar then went,
% all Martird,8 raggd,9 scratcht & rent,
& torne on euery side;
268 Hardly on him was left a clout
to wrap his belly round about,
his harlotrye to hide.
The friar
goes away
ragged and
lacerated,
The thornes had scratcht him by the face,
272 the hands, the thighes,10 & euery place,
he was all bathed in bloode
1 He tare.—P.
2 His cap.—P.
3 cowle, a monk's hood.—P.
4 garment, A.-S. weed, wed.—F.
5 the while.—P.
8 at intervals.—F.
7 at the.—P.
8 So the French martirise, tormented,
put to great pain, torture. So martyrit,
Scot., is martyr'd, murder'd, kill'd. Item,
sore wounded or bruised.—Grloss. to
G[awin] D[ouglasj.—P.
9 ragged.—P.
10 on hands & thighs.—P.
D
20
FEYAK AND BOTE.
276
Soe much, that who the fryar did see,
for feare of him was faine * to flee,
thinking he had beene woode.
to the step-
dame.
280
When to the good wife home2 he came,
he made noe bragge for verry shame
to see his clothes rent all ;
Much sorrow in his hart he had,
& euery man did guesse him made3
when he was in the hall.
[page 101.J
and recounts
his woes.
The goodwiffe said, " where hast thou beene ?
284 sure in some evill place, I weene,
by sight of thine array."
" Dame," said he, " I came from thy sonne ;
the devill & he hath me vndone,
288 noe man him conquer may."
She
complains
of the boy
to the
goodman,
292
w^th that the goodman he came in,
the wiffe sett on her madding pin,4
cryed, " heeres5 a foule array !
thy sonne, that is thy liffe & deere,
hath almost slaine the holy fryar,6
alas & welaway ! "
who inquires
into the
The goodman said, " Benedicitee !
296 what hath the vile boy done to thee ?
now tell me without let."
" The devill him take ! " 7 the fryar he sayd,
" he made me dance, despite my head,8
300 among the thornes the hey-to-bee.9 "
were fain.—P.
1 MS. hone.—E.
mad.—P.
See note 2 to 1. 484, p. 28.—F.
here is.—P.
6 frere.—P.
7 take him . . . then.—P.
8 mine head.—P.
9 hey-go-heat.—P. Hey, to sport, play
or gamhol; to kick about. Halliwell.—P
FRYAR AND BOYE*
21
The goodman said vnto him thoe,
" father! hadst thou beene murdered soe,
it had beene1 deadly sine.2 "
304 The fryar to him made this replye,
" the pipe did sound soe Merrilye
that I cold never blin.3 "
Now when it grew to almost night,
308 Iacke the boy came home full right
as he was wont to doo;
But when he came into4 the hall,
full soone his father did him call,
312 & bad him come him too :
and, when
Jack comes
home,
" Boy," he said, " come tell me heare,5
what hast thou done vnto this fryer ?
lye not in anything."
316 " fFather," he said, "now by my birthe,
I plaide him but a fitt of Mirth
& pipet him vp a6 spring."
calls him
to account
for his
doings.
" That pipe,7" said his father, "wold I heare."8
320 " now god forbidd ! " cryed out the fryar9 ;
his hands he then did10 wringe.
" You shall," the boy said, " by gods grace."
the ffryar replyed, " woe & alas ! "
324 making his sorrowes ringe.
Wishes
himself to
hear the
pipe.
"ffor gods loue ! " said the warched fryar,11
" & if you will that strange pipe heare,
binde me fast to a post!
At his own
request the
friar
1 It sh? be:—It had been no deadly
sin.—P.
2 sin, pr. copy.—P.
3 blin, cessare, desinere, desistere.—
Lye.-~P.
4 unto.—P.
5 let me hear.—P.
6 piped him a.—P.
7 There is a tag to the e as if for s.—F.
8 Pype ... I would.—P.
9 frere.—P.
10 then did he.—P.
11 frere.—P.
d2
22
FRYAR AND BOYE.
328 for sure my fortune thus I reade,
if dance I doe, I am but deade,
my woe-full life is lost! "
is bound
fast to a
post.
Strong ropes they tooke, both sharpe & round,
332 & to the post the fryer bounde1
in the middest2 of the hall.
All they which att3 the table sate,
laughed & made good sport theratt,
336 sayinge, " fryer, thou canst not fall! "
340
Then sayd the goodman to the boy,
" Iacke, pipe me vp a merry toye,
pipe freelye when thou will! "
" ffather," the boy said, " verelye
you shall haue mirth enoughe & glee
till you bidd me bee still."
Jack pipes,
and every
creature 344
dances,
348
W^'th that his pipe he quicklye sent,4
& pipt, the whilest in verament
each creature gan to dance ;
Lightly the scikipt & leapt about,
yarking5 in their leggs, now in, now out,
striuing aloft to prance.
the goodman The good man, as in sad dispaire,
leapt out & through & ore his chayre,
noe man cold caper hyer 6 ;
352 Some others leapt quite ore the stockes,
some start att strawes & fell att blockes,7
some8 wallowed in the fyer.
[page 102.]
1 they bound.—P.
2 middle.—P.
3 that at.
4 hent.—P.
5 yerking their Legs.
To yerk is to
throw out or move with a spring.—
Johnson.—P.
6 caper higher.—P. T o'er blocks.—P.
8 MS. sone, with a mark of contraction
over the n.—P.
FKYAR AND BOTE.
23
356
360
Tlie goodman made himselfe good sportt
to see them dance1 in this madd sortt;
the goodwiffe sate not still,
But as shee dancet shee2 looket on Iacke,
& fast her tayle did double each cracke,
lowd as a water Mill.
and his wife,
364
The fryer this while was almost lost,
he knocket3 his pate against the post,
it was his dancing grace;
The rope rubd him vnder the chinn4 f
that the blood ran from his tattered sckin
in many a Naked place.
The friar,
in spite of
his pre-
cautions, is
much
Iacke, piping, ran into the street;
368 they followed him with nimble ffeet,
hauing noe power to stay,
And in their hast they5 dore did cracke,
eche tumbling oyer his ffellows backe
372 vnmindfull of their way.
Jack passes
into the
street with
his dancers.
The Neighbors that were dwelling by,
hearing the pipe soe Merrilye,
came dancing to the gate;
376 Some leapt ore dores, some oer the hatch,6
ISToe man wold stay to draw the latch
but thought they came to Late;
The
neighbours
join the
rout,
Some sicke or sleeping in their bedd,
380 as the 7 by chance lift vp their heade,
were w^'th the pipe awaked;
even sick
folks, and
undressed,
1 the dance.—P.
2 But dancing still she.—P.
8 knockt.—P.
4 chim, MS.—F. his chin.—P.
6 the.—P.
6 A wicket, or half-door.
Gloss.—F.
7 they.—P.
Halli well's
24
FEYAK AND BOYE.
and lame.
Straight forth1 the 2 start thorrow dores & kockes,3
some in their shirts, some in their smockes,
384 & some starke belly naked.
When all were gathered round about,
there was a vild vnrulye rout
that dancing4 in the street,
388 Of wMch, some lame that cold not goe,
striuing to leape, did tumble soe
they dancet on hands & feet.
At last Jack,
tired, rests.
The friar
summons
Jack to
appear
before the
official.
392
396
400
Iacke tyred w^'th the sport5 said, " now He rest/'
" doe," q^oth his father, "I hold it best,
thou cloyest me w^'th this cheere6;
I pray thee, boy, now7 quiett sitt;
in faith8 this was the Merry est fitt
I heard this 7 yeere."
All those9 that dancing thither came,
laught heartilye & made good game,
yett some gott many a fall.
" Thou cursed boy! " cryed out the10 fryar,11
"heere I doe summon thee to appeare 12
beffore the Officiall!
" Looke thou be there on fry day next;
404 He meet thee then, thou13 now perplext,
for to ordaine thee sorrow.14 "
The boy replyed, " I make15 avowe,
fryer, He appeare as soone as thou,
408 if fry day were to Morrowe."
1 ouwP.
2 MS. ye.—R
3 ?small openings; cf. Phillips.
" Among Sea-men Cocks are little square
pieces of Brass, with Holes in them, put
into the middle of great Wooden Shivers,
to keep them from splitting and galling
by the Pin of the Block or Pulley on
which they turn."—F.
4 danced.—P. * with sport.—P.
6 this not in Pfrinted] C[opy],~
* thou.—P.
8 In truth.^P.
9 these.—P.
10 MS. thy.—P.
ii frere.—P.
12 thee appear.—rP.
13 though.—P.
14 they sorrow.—P.
15 I'll make.—P.
FRYAR AND BOTE.
25
But fryday came, as you shall heare ;
Iackes stepdam & the dancing fryar,1
together they were mett,
412 And other people a great pace
flockt to the court to heare eche case:
the Officiall2 was sett.
On Friday
all the world
flocks to the
court.
Much c[i]uill matters were to doo,
416 more libells read then one o tow3
both [against priest & clarke ; ] 4
Some there had testaments to proue, [page 103.]
some women there through wanton loue,
420 wMgIo. gott strokes in the darke.
Each Proctor 5 there did plead his case;
when forth did stepp fryer Topias6
& Iackes stepdame alsoe :
424 " Sir Officiall," a-lowd said hee,
" I haue brought a wicked boy to thee,
hath done me mightye woe;
Other
business
disposed of,
the friar
steps
forward,
" He is a wiche, as I doe feare,
428 in Orleance7 he can find noe peere,
this of my troth8 I know."
and accuses
Jack of
witchcraft;
1 frere.—P.
2 Phillips defines an Official, " In the
Canon Law, a Person to whom any Bishop
commits the Charge of his Spiritual Ju-
risdiction ; the Chancellor or Judge of a
Bishop's Court. In the Statute or Common
Law, a Deputy whom an Archdeacon
substitutes in the executing of his Juris-
diction." Chaucer, in his Freres Tale,
tells us the offences that an Archdeacon
tried, and we quote his words to illustrate
the next stanza above—
Whilom there was dwellyng in my
countre
An erchedeken, a man of gret degre,
That boldely did execucioun
In punyschyng of fornicacioun,
Of wicchecraft, and eek of bauderye,
Of diffamacioun, and avoutrie,
Of chirche-reves, and of testamentes,
Of contractes, and of lak of sacraments,
And eek of many another [maner] cryme
Which needith not to reherse at this
tyme.
Canterbury Tales, ed. Morris, v. 2, p.
246, 1. 1-10; ed. Wright, p. 78, col. 2,
1. 6883-90.—F.
3 one or two.—P.
4 MS. cut away. " Both with preest
and clerke," ed. Hazlitt; but the bits of
letters left in the folio require against
and priest.—F.
5 Proctor, an Advocate who, for his
Fee, undertakes to manage another Man's
Cause in any Court of the Civil or Eccle-
siastical Law: Phillips.—F.
6 Tobias—P.
7 alluding to the Pucelle d'Orleans,
accounted a witch by the English.—P.
8 of my ruth.—P.
26
FRYAR AND BOTE.
and so does
the step-
mother,
432
" He is a Devill," quoth the wiffe,
" & almost hath bereaued my1 liffe ! "
at that her taile did blow
436
Soe lowd, the assembly laught theratt,
& said ' her pistolls cracke 2 was flatt,
the charge was all amisse.'
" Dame," q^oth the gentle Ofieiall,
" proceed & tell me forth thy tale,
& doe not let for this."
but is
abruptly
made
ashamed and
dumb.
The wiffe that feared another cracke,
440 stood mute, & neere a word shee spake ;
shame put her in such dread.
" Ha ! " said the fryer right angerlye,
" knaue ! this is all along sill of3 thee ;
444 now euill mayst4 thou speed! "
The friar
tells of
Jack's pipe,
448
The fryer said, " Sir Officiall!
this wicked boy will vexe vs all
vnlesse you doe him chast.
Sir, he hath yett a pipe trulye
will make you dance & leape full hie
& breake your hart at last."
and raises
the official's
curiosity,
The Officiall replyd, " perdee!
452 such a pipe faine wold5 I see,
& what mirth it can make."
" Now god forbidd! " replyed the fryar,6
" that ere wee shold that vild pipe heare
456 ere I my way hence take."
1 almost ber? me of my.—P.
2 Compare Bussell's BoJce of Nurture,
1. 304 :—
And euer beware of gunnes with thy
hynder ende blastyng.—F.
3 all still long of.—P. ? sill, beam.
—F.
4 mote.—P.
5 I fain would.—P. 6 frere.—P.
FEYAR AND BOTE.
27
460
" Pipe on, Iacke ! " sayd the officiall,
" & let me heare thy cuningJ all."
Iacke blew his pipe full lowde
That euery man start yp & dancte;
Proctors & preists, & somners3 pranct,
& all in that great crowde ;
at whose
bidding Jack
pipes away,
and all the
world begins
dancing,
464
468
Over the deske the officiall ran,
& hopt vpon the table, then
straight Iumpt vnto3 the flore.
The fryer that danct4 as fast as hee,
mett him midway, & dangerouslye
broke eithers5 face full sore.
even the
official,
who suffers
a collision
with the
friar.
472
The register leapt from his pen,
& hopt into the throng of men,
his inkhorne in his hande ;
with swinging round about his head,
some he strucke6 blind, some almost dead,
some they cold hardly stand.
The
Register's
ink-horn
swings
about
banefully.
476
480
The proctors flung their bills7 about,
the goodwiues tayle gaue many a shout,
perfuming all the Mirthe ;
The Somners, as they had beene woode,
leapt ore the formes & seates a goode,8
& wallowed on the earth.
Proctors and
somners hop
madly.
Wenches that for their pennance came,
& other Meeds of wordlye9 shame,
danct*0 euery one as fast;
1 cunning.—P.
2 sompners or somners, i.e. summoners,
they who cited to the court.—P.
3 into.—P.
4 dauns't.—P.
5 others.—P.
6 strake.—P.
7 the bills.—P.
8 i. e. at a good rate.—P.
good 'un."—F.
9 worldly.—P.
10 daunst.—P.
Cp. our " a
E
28
FRYAR AND BOYE.
484 Each sett onl a merry pin,2
some broke their heads, & some their shin,
& some their noses brast.
At last the
official begs
the boy to
give over
playing.
The officiall thus sore turmayld,
488 Halfe swelt3 with sweat, & almost spoyld,
cryed to the wanton childe
4 To pipe noe more within that place,
but stay the sound, euen for gods grace,
492 & loue of Mary Milde.'
[page 104. |
Jack will
do so on
condition of
an amnesty.
Iacke sayd, " as you will, it shalbe,
provided I may hence goe free,
& no man doe me wrong,4
496 Neither this woman nor this fryer,5
nor any other creature heere."
The
condition
agreed to,
he answered him anon,
" Iacke, I to thee my promise plight,
500 in thy defence I mean to fight,
& will oppose thy fone.6"
Jack stops
his pipe.
Iacke ceast7 his pipes : then all still stood;
some laughing hard, some raging woode.
504 soe parted at that tide
The Officiall & the Somner,
the stepdame & the wicked fryer,8
w^'th much Ioy, mirth, & pride.
ffins.
1 sat upon.—P.
2 On the pin, on the qui vive. In a
merry pin, i. e. a merry humour, half
intoxicated. HalliweU's Gloss.—P.
3 MS. pared away, read by Percy.—P.
4 Half a stanza seems wanting here
and in Pr. Copy.—P.
5 frere.—P.
6 fone, i.e. foes.—P.
7 cast.—P. 8 frere.—P.
29
as 5 toas rfomge ftp tf)e toap*1
[Page 104 of MS.]
AS I was ryding by the way,
a woman profered me a bagge,
& 40^. cattell more, to stay
& giue her belly but a swagge.
A pox on the whore, they were but serapps
that I supposed was single monye ;
the cattell had lice, or else perhapps
I had light and tooke her by the coney.
I had not farther rydd a Myle
but I mett with a market Maide
who sunge, the way for to beguile,
in these same words, and thus shee said :
" I see the Bull do the Bull the cow;
& shall I liue a maiden still ?
I see the bore doth brim the sow ;
& yet there is neuer a Iacke for gill."
I had some hope, & to her spoke,
" sweet hart, shall I put my flesh in thine ? "
" w^th all my hart, Sir ! yo^r nose in my arse/'
q^oth she, " for to keepe out the winde."
First I met
a woman
who wanted
me.
Then I met
a market
maid who
sang
that she
wanted a
lover.
I offered
myself,
and she
sold me.
Shee ryde vpon a tyred mare,
& to reuenge noe time w^thstoode,
I bluntlye asket pro to occupye her ;
T asked t0
but first shee wold know wherfore that was good. occupy er"
1 A loose but humorous song.—P.
e2
30
AS I WAS EIDINGE BY THE WAY.
"Occupy
my mare,'
said she.
" It will make thee liuelye," I did say,
" put Ioy and spiritt in stead of woee."
" then occupy my mare, I pray,
28 good S^r, for shee can hardlye goe."
I asked to
kiss her,
tout was
sold again.
I milder grew, & wold but feele:
She said she was neuer felt, but kist;
I was content, & shee said, " weele,
32 youst kisse my bum & feele my fist."
So I rode
away,
and told
nobody.
36
I was red & pale w^th shame & spight
to be soe answered of the drabb,
that I swore, So spurrd, & away did ride,
& of my wooinge was noe blabbe.
ffins.
31
Wt)t i^lan tf)Ut fcaffi,
[Page 104 of MS.]
The man that hath a hansome wiffe
& keepes her as a treasure,
it is my cheefest ioy of liffe
to haue her to my pleasure ;
But if that man regardless were
as tho l he carde not for her,
tho shee were like to venus fayre,
8 in faith I wold abhor her.
If to doe good I were restrained,
& to doe euill bidden,
I wold be puritan, I sweare,
12 ffor I loue the thing forbidden.
It is the care that makes the theft ;
none loues the thing forsaken ;
the bold & willinge whore is left
16 when the modest wench is taken.
Shee dulle that is 2 too forwards bent ;
not good, but want, is reason ;
fish at a feast, & flesh in lent,
are never out of season,
ffins.
MS. has a mark between o and h.—F,
[page 105,3
20
Stolen
waters are
sweet;
nn watched.
are nought.
Care tempts
the theft.
1 for is that's,—F.
32
[Page 178 of MS.]
The first notice of this ballad that Mr. Chappell has found
is
" in the registers of the Stationers' Company, under the date of
May 22, 1615, [where] there is an entry transferring the right
of publication from one printer to another, and it is described
as <A Ballett of Dulcina, to the tune of Forgoe me nowe, come
to me soone? " the burden of the present ballad: (" Pop. Music/'
v. 2. p. 771). At v. 1. p. 143 the tune is given; it is to be
played
" cheerfully." The earlier title of the tune seems to have soon
disappeared; for, says Mr. Chappell, v. 1. p. 142, "this tune is
referred to under the names of ' Dulcina,' 6 As at noon Dulcina
rested,' < From Oberon in Fairy-land,' and 6 Eobin Goodfellow.'
. .
The ballad of ' As at noon Dulcina rested' is said, upon the
authority of Cayley and Ellis, to have been written by Sir
Walter
Kaleigh. The milk-woman in Walton's ' Angler ' says, ' What
song was it, I pray you? Was it, < Come shepherds, deck your
heads.' or c As at noon Dulcina rested ?' &c." Mr. Chappell
gives
a list of eight ballads and songs directed to be sung to this
tune,
and the last of them is one that shows an earlier person than
Eowland Hill (?) didn't see why the devil should have all the
good times to himself: for " Dulcina is one of the tunes to the
Psalms and Songs of Sion, turned into the language and set to
the tunes of a strange land," 1642.
att noone Dulc[i]na rested
in her sweete & shade2 bower,
« Let me there came a shepeard, & requested
lap!"m 1J 4 in her lapp to sleepe and hower 3;
1 This song is printed in many col- 2
shady.—P.
lections of songs.—P.
3 an hour.—P.
As
DULCINA.
33
but from her looke a wound he tooke
soe deepe, that for a further boone
the Nimph he prayes ; wherto shee sayes
"forgoe me now, come to me soone."
" Go away.!
But in vayne shee did coniure him
to depart her presence soe,
hauing thousand tounges to allure him,
12 & but one to say him noe.
where lipps invite, & eyes delyght,
& cheekes as red as rose in Iune
perswade delay, what boots shee say1
16 "forgoe me &c."
"What? go,
when your
tongue says
No, but your
eyes say
Yes!"
20
24
Words whose hopes might have enioyned
him to lett Dulcjna sleepe.2
Can a mans loue be confined,
or a mayd her promise keepe ?
But hee her wast still held as ffast
as shee was constant to her tune,
though neere soe fayre her speechers were,
"forgoe me &c."
Did he let
her sleep ?
No, he held
her fast.
32
He demands, "what time or3 pleasure
can there be more soone4 then now? "
shee sayes, " night giues loue that ley sure
that5 the day cannott allow."
" the said kind sight forgiues delight,"
quoth hee, " more easilye then the moone."
"In Yenus playes be bold," shee sayes,
"fforgoe me &c."
" "What
better time
than now ?,!
" Be bold,"
ehe says.
1 to say.—P.
2 The e has a flourish at the end like
another e.—F.
3 for, qu.—P.
4 apt, meet, or fit.—P. ? MS. seene.—F.
5 which.—P.
34
DULCINA.
What was
the result ?
I'll not tell
it,
She said,
*' Go away I"
36
40
But who knowes how agreed these loues ?
Shee was fay-re, & he was younge ;
tounge l may tell what eyes discouer ;
Ioyes vnseene are neuer songe.
did shee consent or he relent ?
accepts he night, or grants shee none ?
left hee her Mayd or not ? shee sayd
"forgoe me now, come to me soone."
1 tongues,—P.
35
<Bff a puritans
[Page 182 of MS.]
There are several other ballads of this kind extant, about
Puritans and holy sisters. They were a favourite topic with
the Cavaliers, more especially after the Puritans came into
power.—W. C.
It was a puritanicall ladd
that was called Mathyas,
& he wold goe to Amsterdam
to speake w^th Ananyas.
he had not gone past halfe a mile,
but he mett his holy sister;
hee layd his bible vnder her breeche,
& merylye hee kist her.
Mathias,
going to
Amsterdam,
meets his
sister,
and kisses
her.
12
16
" Alas ! what wold they wicked say? "
q^oth shee, " if they had seene itt!
my Buttocckes the lye to lowe : I wisht
appocrypha were in itt! "
" but peace, Sweet hart, or ere wee p&rt,-
I speake itt out of pure devotion,—
by yee & nay He not away
till thou feele my spiritts motion."
" What
would the
wicked say
if they'd
seen it ? "
Before
we part,
yau must
feel my
spirit's
motion.
20
The huft & puft w^th many heaues,
till that the both were tyred,
" alas ! " q^oth shee, " youle spoyle the leaues ;
mj peticoates all Myred!
She does.
OFF A PTTRITANE.
if wee professors shold bee knowne
to the English congregation
eyther att Leyden or Amsterdam,
24 itt wold disgrace our nation ;
" But since itt is, that part wee must,
tho I am much vnwilling,
good brother, lets haue the tother thrust,
28 & take thee this fine shilling
to beare thy charges as thou goes,
& passage ore the ocean."
then downe shee Layd, & since tis sayd,
32 shee quencht his spiritts motion.
37
[Page 182 of MS.]
This song is from Ben Jonson's " Masque of the Metamorphosed
Gipsies, as it was thrice presented to King James — first at
Burleigh-on-the-Hillj next at Belvoir, and lastly at Windsor,
August, 1621." (Ben Jonson's Works 9 ed. Procter (after
Grifford),
1838, p. 618.) Puppy the Clown terms it "an excellent song,"
and of its singer says, " a sweet songster, and would have done
rarely in a cage, with a dish of water and hemp-seed! a fine
breast of his own!" Gifford also says: " This c song' continued
long in favour. It is mentioned with praise not only by the
poets of Jonson's age, but by many of those who wrote after the
Restoration." The present copy contains eight more stanzas
than Jonson's own MS. printed by Gifford, and (after him) by
Mr. Procter at p. 626 of his edition of Jonson's Works. The
presence of these additional stanzas may be explained by
Gifford's
remarks on the Masque itself:
" This Masque, as the title tells us, was performed before
James and his
Court at three several places. As the actors, as well as the
spectators,
varied at each, it became necessary to vary the language; and
Jonson, who
always attended the presentation of his pieces, was called on
for additions
adapted to the performers and the place. These unfortunately are
not very dis-
tinctly marked either in the MS. or the printed copies, though
occasional notices
of them appear in the former. As everything that was
successively written
for the new characters is not come down to us, the Gipsies
Metamorphosed
1 By Ben Jonson. See Dryden's Misc. tion of 1716, where
Cook Laurel is called
vol. 2. page 142. See also Ben Jonson's " A Song on the
Devil?s Arse of the Peak.
Works, vol. 6. p. 103. See Pepys Col- By Ben Jonson." It
is reprinted from
lection, vol. 4. page 284.—P. See Chap- the folio
edition, as it has the three extra
pell's Popular Music, p. 160-1. Another verses at the
end, and slirted fox flirted
copy of this Ballad is in the Boxburghe in the stanza
before them. This poem
Collection, ii. 445. Percy's reference to is not in the
original edition of the Mis-
Dryden's Miscellanies is to the fourth edi- cellanies,
Part II., in 1685. ~P.
f2
38 COOKE IAURELL.
appears of immoderate length -, it must however have been
highly relished by
the Court; and the spirit and accuracy with which the male
characters are
drawn, and the delicacy and sweetness with which some of the
female ones
are depicted, though they cannot delight (as at the time) by the
happiness of
their application, may yet be perused with pleasure as specimens
of poetic
excellence, ingenious flattery, or adroit satire."—Ben Jonson's
Works (ed.
Gifford, 1816), vol. vii. p. 366.
On the text of this Metamorphosed Gipsies Gifford says in
his Introduction :
" A Masque, &c.] From the folio 1641. But a copy of it had
stolen
abroad, and been printed the year before, together with a few of
Jonson's
minor poems, by J. Okes, in 12mo.
" The folio, never greatly to be trusted, is here grievously
incorrect, and
proves the miserable incapacity of those into whose hands the
poet's papers
fell. The surreptitious copy in 12mo. is somewhat less
imperfect, but yet
leaves many errors. These I have been enabled in some measure to
remove,
by the assistance of a MS. in the possession of my friend
Richard Heber, Esq.,
to whose invaluable collection, as the reader is already
apprised, I have so
many obligations. This, which is in his own hand, and is perhaps
the only
MS. piece of Jonson's in existence, is more full and correct
than either of the
printed copies, the folio in particular, and is certainly prior
to them both. It
fills up many lacunae and, in once instance, completes a stanza,
by furnishing
three lines, which no ingenuity could have supplied."
In speaking of Jonson's Masques, Mr. Procter says, " Jonson
returned to London in May, 1619," and "speaks of his wel-
come by King James, who was pleased to see him. Towards
the end of May our author went to Oxford, where he resided for
some time at Christchurch, with Corbet, afterwards Bishop of
Norwich, with whom he was on terms of friendship. During his
stay at Oxford he composed several of his Masques and other
works; quitting the place occasionally, however, to accompany
the Court in its royal progresses, and probably visiting the
gentry
around. Amongst these Masques, the best were, The Vision of
Delight, Pleasure reconciled to Virtue, and The Gypsies Meta-
morphosed. Although the dialogue in the Masques, generally,
strikes us as being tedious and somewhat too pedantic, yet the
contrast of the Masque with the Anti-Masque—the mixture of
the elegant with the grotesque, the introduction of graceful
dances, the ingenious machinery, and the music ' married' to the
charming lyrics, of which these little dramas are full, must
have
rendered them in the main very delightful performances. . , .
The
COOKE LAURELL. 39
Metamorphosed Gypsies is a much longer and more elaborate
performance than the others. It comprises, as its title will
pro-
bably suggest, a considerable quantity of the gipsy cant or
slang,
and some rough and not over-delicate jesting; but several of the
lyrics are, as usual, very delightful." (P. xxiii-iv.)
The present song is the answer to the following question of
Puppy's to the gipsy Patrico :—"But I pray, sir, if a man might
ask on you, how came your Captain's place first to be called c
the
Devil's Arse?'" Mr. Chappell prints the tune of it at p. 161 of
his Popular Music, and says that other copies of the song are in
the Pepys Collection of Ballads, and, with music, in Pills to
purge
Melancholy. Also that " in S. Rowland's Martin Markhall, his
defence and answer to the Bellman of London, 1610, is a list
of rogues by profession, in which Code Lorrel stands second.
He is thus described:—cAfter him succeeded, by the general
council, one Cock Lorrell, the most notorious knave that ever
lived.' . . By trade he was a tinker, often carrying a pan and
hammer for shew; but when he came to a good booty, he would
cast his profession into a ditch, and play the padder." Glfford,
who quotes the same treatise from Beloe's Anecdotes, adds
that Cock Lorrell as he "past through the town would crie,
Hd ye any worhe for a tinker ? To write of his knaveries, it
would aske a long time. This was he that reduced in forme the
Catalogue of Vagabonds or Quartern of Knaves, called the Five
and twentie Orders of Knaves. This Cock Lorell continued
among them longer than any of his predecessors; for he ruled
almost two and twentie years until the year a.d. 1533, and about
the five and twenty year of Hen. VIII." In 1565, says Mr.
Chappell, a book was printed called The Fraternitye of Vaca-
hondes; whereunto also is adjoyned the twenty-five orders of
knaves: confirmed for ever by Cocke Lorell.
Cocke LorelUs Bote, printed by Wynkyn de Worde, is, we hope,
so well known by the Percy Society's edition of it, as to need
no
further mention.
40
COOKE LAURELL.
Cooke
Laurell asks
the Devil
to dinner.
Cooke Latirell wold needs have the devill his guest,
who came in his holel to the Peake to dinner,
Where neuer fieend had such a feast
4 provided him yet att the charge of a sinner.
The Devil
asks for a
poached
Puritan;
His stomacke was queasie, he came thither coachet,2
the logging itt3 made some crudityes ryse;
to helpe itt hee Called for a puritan pochet4
that vsed to turne up the eggs of his eyes.
And soe recovered to5 his wish,
he sett him downe 6 & fell to7 Meate ;
then, Pro- Promooters8 in plumbe9 broth was his first
dish,
plum broth, 12 his owne priuye10 kitchen had noe n such
meate.
& pickled
Tailors,
12 Sixe pickeld taylors slasht13 & cutt,
With Sempsters & tire women ffitt for his pallatt,14
and a salad With ffeathermen15 & perfumers put
ofPerfumers.
x
16 Some 12 in a charger, to make a graue 16 sallett.
Next a
Bawd and
Bacon,
20
Yett thoe with this hee much was taken,
Upon a sudden hee shifted his trencher,
& soone 17 he spyed the Baude & Bacon ls
by which you may know19 the devill is a wencher.20
1 to his hole in the &c.—P. And bade
him in.—W. (or Works, ed. Procter, after
Gifford.)
2 coached.—P. 8 had.—P.
1 poached.—P. 5 unto.—P.
6 straight.—P. 7 his.—P.
8 A Promoter: s. An informer; from
promoting causes or prosecutions. . . .
" There goes but a pair of sheers between
& promoter and a knave." {Match at Midn.
Old Plays, vii. 367) in Nares.—F.
9 plumb Pottage.—P. MS. may be
plimke. "Plum-broth: an article in
cookery which appears to have been
formerly in great repute, and to have
been a favourite Christmas dish:" Nares.
See the long recipe in Nares for making
it.—P.
10 privy.—P. The first e has been
changed into y.—F. ll never.—P.
12 "W. transposes this and the next
stanza.—F. 13 slashed, sliced.—P.
14 palate.—P.
15 See Kandolph's Muses Looking Glass.
—P.
16 grand.—P. 17 as soon as.—W.
18 a Baud's fat bacon.—P. 19note.—P.
20 Wencher or Wenching-Man, one that
keeps Wenches Companye, or goes a
whoring; a Whoremaster. Phillips.—F.
COOKE LAUKELL.
41
A rich ffatt vserer stewed in his Marrowe,
& by Mm a lawyers head inl greene sawce,2
both which his belly tooke in Like a barrowe
24 As if tell3 then he had neuer seene sowce.4
a stewed
Usurer,
Then, Carbonadoed 5 & eooket6 with paynes,7
was sett on 8 a clouen sergeants 9 face;
the sawce was made of his yeamans 10 braynes,
28 that had beene beaten out with his owne mace.
a carbona-
doed Ser-
jeant's face,
Tow roasted sherriffes came whole to the borde,— 2
roast
the ffeastu had beene nothing without them ;—
both lining & dead they were foxed 12 & furred,
32 theire chaines like sawsinges 13 hang about them.
The next14 dish was a Maior of a towne,
a May°r>
with a pudding of Maintenance15 [thrust16] in his
bellye,
like a goose in his 17 fethers drest in his gowne,
36 & his couple 18 of hinch boyes19 boyled to 20 Iellye. 2
boiled
1 and.—W.
2 See the Kecipes for "Pur verde sawce,"
in Liber Cure Cocorum, p. 27, & "Vert
Sause" (herbs, bread-crumbs, vinegar,
pepper, ginger, &c), in Household Ordi-
nances, p. 441. " G-rene sawce is good
with grene fische." John Russell's
BoJce of Nurture, Sawce for Fische.—F.
3 till.—P.
4 sauce.—W. Souse means pickle.—F.
5 Carbonado, meat broil'd on the
Coals.—Phillips. And see Markham's
Housewife.—F.
6 cooked.—P.
7 ? pains, care. " In Cookery Pains
signifie certain Messes proper for Side-
dishes, so call'd as being made of Bread,
stuff'd with several sorts of Farces and
Ragoos." Phillips.—F.
8 brought up.—W.
9 grave face.—P.
10 yeoman's.—P.
11 in truth had.—P.
12 ? wore foxes skins as fur.—F.
13 Sausages hanging.—P.
14 very next.—P.
15 Cap of Maintenance, one of the
"Regalia, or Ornaments of State, belong-
ing to the King of England, before
whom it is carry'd at the Coronation, and
other great solemnities. Caps of Main-
tenance also are carry'd before the Mayors
of several Cities of England. Phillips.—F.
16 thrust.—P.
17 the.—P.
18 An I has been altered into p in the
MS.—F.
19 i. e. pages.—P. A hench-man or
hench-boy, page tfhonneur qui onarche
devant quelque Seigneur de grande au~
thorite.—Sherwood (in Cotgrave). See
Mr. Way's note *, Promjptorium, p. 293,
and Household Ordinances as there re-
ferred to. Henchman or Heinsmen, a Ger-
man Word signifying a Household-Ser-
vant; and formerly taken amongst us
for a Page of Honour or Footman ♦
Phillips.—F. 2° to a.—W.
42
COOKE LAURELL.
a roast
Cuckold,
a Lecher's
back,
a Harlot's
haunch,
a Midwife
pasty,
an old
Justice of
the Peace,
and a Holy
Sister's
kidney,
which
nearly made
the Devil
sick,
a Traitor's-
guts' pie,
40
A London Cuckold1 hott from the spitt:
but2 when the Carver vpp had broke 3 him,
the devill chopt up his head att a bitt,
[him.
but the homes were verry neere like to haue choakt4
The chine of a leacher too there was roasted,
with a plumpe 5 harlotts haunche & garlike;
a Panders petitoes that had boasted
44 himselfe for a Captaine, jet neuer was warlike.
A long 6 ffatt pasty of a Midwiffe hot:
& for a cold baket meat7 into the storye,
a reuerend painted Lady was brought,
48 had beene8 confined in crust till 9 shee was hooary.
To these an ouer worne10 justice of peace,
With a clarke like a gisarnell trust vnder eche arme ;
& warrants for sippitts laid in his owne grace,12
52 Sett ore 13 a chaffing dish to be kept warme.
14 Then broyled and broachtls on a buchers pricke,
the kidney came in of a holy sister;
this bitt had almost made his devillshipp sicke,
56 that his doctor did feare he wold need a glister.
" ffor harke," q^oth hee, " how his bellye rumbles! "
& then w^'th his pawe, that was a reacher,
hee puld to a pye of a traitors numbles,16
60 & the gibbletts 17 of a silent teacher.
1 came hot.—P. 2 and.—P.
3 " Termes of a Keruer. BreJce that
dere," (Wynkyn de Worde's Poke of
Keruyng): the right name therefore for
a horned biped.—P.
4 to choake.
5 plunpe in MS.—F. 6 large.—W.
7 meat pie.—P. 8 And.—W.
9 until shee.—P. 10 overgrown.—W.
11 gizzard.—P. Gyserne (of fowles)
idem quod Garbage supra: Garbage of
fowls (or gyserne infra), Entera, vel
enteria, vel exta. Promptorium, p. 194,
p. 186. Grisie, m. the gyserne of birds.
Cotgrave.—P.
12 grease.—P. 13 over.—W.
14 W. omits this stanza and the next
one.—F. 15 i. e. rosted.—P.
16 Humbles. The humbles of a deer
are the Liver, &c.—P. "Noumbles of
a dere, or beest, entraittes. Palsgrave.
PrcBcordia, the numbles, as the hart, the
splene, the lunges, and lyver. Elyot.
. . . Skinner writes the word the «hum-
bles ' of a stag, and rightly considers it
as derived from umbilicus." Way in
Promptorium, p. 360, note.—F.
17 Gybelet, idem quod Garbage (see
note u, above). Gybelet of fowlys. Pro-
fectum. Promptorium.—F.
COOKE LAURELL.
43
The Iowle of a Iaylor wasl serued for a ffisli,
w^th vinigar2 pist by tlie deane of Dustable 3 ;
tow aldermen lobsters a-sleepe in a dish,
64 with a dryed depntye & 4 a sowcet5 constable.6
2 Aldermen
lobsters.
68
7 These gott him soe feirce a stomacke againe,
that now he wants meate wheron to ffeeda :8
he called for the victualls were drest for his
traine,
and they brought him vp an alepotrida,9
The Devil
asks for
more food.
They give
him an 011a
Podrida
Wherin were10 mingled courtier,11 clowne,
tradsmen,12 marchants,12 banquerouts store,
Churchmen,12 Lawyers of either gowne,—
72 of civill, commen,13—player & whore,
of Bank-
rupts,
Lawyers,
Countess,14 servant, Ladyes,14 woman,
mistris,14 chambermaid, coachman,14 knight,
hord & visher, groome 15 & yeaman ;
76 where first the ffeend wz'th his forke did light.
Ladies,
Chamber-
maids, &c,
He eats
it all,
All which devowred, he now for to close
doth for a 16 draught of Derbye ale call.
he heaued the huge vessell vp to his nose,
so & left not till hee had drunk17 vp all.
asks for
some Derby
ale,
and drinks
it up.
1 W. omits was.—F.
2 Yynegur is good to salt purpose &
torrentyne, Salt sturgeon, salt swyrd-
fysche, savery & fyne. John Russell.
BoJce of Nurture. Sawce for Fische..—F.
3 A constable sous'd with vinegar by.
—W.
4 Deputy dried and.—P.
3 sowced.—P. Cooked in vinegar,
&c. " Souce, a sort of Pickle for a Collar
of Brawn, Pork, &c." Phillips.—F.
6 A deputy tart, a churchwarden pye.
—W.
7 W. omits this and the next two
stanzas.—F.
8 feed-a.—P.
9 Olla-podrida.— P. Olla Podrida
(Span.) a Hotch-pot, or a Dish of Meat
made of several Ingredients, the chief of
which is Bacon. Phillips.—F.
10 The first e is made over an li.—F,
11 and.—P.
12 and—and—and.—P.
13 of civil and common Law.—P.
14 and—and—and—and.—P.
15 groone in MS.—F.
16 he then for a close Did for a full.
—W.
17 it.—P.
44
COOKE LAUEELL.
Then the
Devil breaks
wind,
Then from the table hee gaue a start,
where banquett & wine were nothing scarce ;
all which hee blewl away with a ffartt,
from wence itt was called the Devills arse.
and the
stink of
that
is the
Tobacco
which
Punks
smoke;
from
which may
God keep
King James!
2And there he made such a breach w^'th the winde?
the hole yett3 standing open the while,
the sente of the vay[pour4] hee left5 behind
88 hath since infected6 most part of the lie.
And this was tobbacco, the learned suppose,
which both 7 in countrye, court and towne,8
in the devills glister pipe smokes att the nose
92 of punke 9 & Madam, gallant10 & clowne ;
ffrom which wicked perfume, swines flesh,11 and linge,12
13 or any thing else he H doth 16 not loue,
presenie & send our gracious king 16
96 such meate as he loues, I beseeche god aboue ! 13
ffins.
1 flirted.—W. slirted.—Folio ed.
2 W. omits these last three stanzas.—F.
3 too.—Folio.
4 Scent of the Vapour which he left.—P.
s That the sent of the vapour, before
and.—Folio.
6 fouly perfumed.—Folio.
' since.—Folio.
8 in Court and in towne.—P.
9 Pollcat,—Folio.
10 of Gallant.—Folio.
11 Cp. the 2nd Gipsy's speech, p. 51 of
Masques, in the Folio edition of 1640 :
Where the Cacklers, but no Grunters,
Shall uncas'd be for the Hunters.
On which Gifforcl, vii. 372, says: " a side
compliment to the King, who hated pork
in all its varieties."—F.
12 Lota molva (Cuvier) or Gadus molva
(Linnaeus). The ling, Asellns longus:
Way. Leenge, fysehe, Lucius marinas:
Promptorium. Norse laanga, Dan. lange,
Du. linge, lenge, a kind of codfish: Wedg-
wood.—F.
13.13 Qr any thing else thats feast for the
Fiend:
Our Captaine, and wee, cry God save
the King,
And send him good meate, and mirth
without end.—p. 72 of Masques,
Folio ed. 1640.
14 It showed seem to mean James I.
whose aversion to Tobacco is well known,
as also to Pork—being a Scotchman.—P.
15 which he doth.—P.
16 James I.'s Counterblast to Tobacco
was first printed in folio, as the King's
work, in 1616. Harris says there was
an earlier edition in quarto, without
name or date.—F.
45
[Page 193 of MS.]
VY ILL you lieare the Mode of france
to stopp the mouthe of those that done yon1 ?
neatly Leade them in a dance,
because wee are behind in mony.
I'll tell yon
the French
way to put
off dims :
If your Lanlord chance to call
either for dyett or for rayment,
Leade him in a dance w^thall,
& forgett itt in yo^r payment.
your Land-
lord,
12
If yo^r taylor chance to strike you
with his bill, & stay noe Leasure;
Lead him in a dance that likes you,
& in-stead of coyne take measure.
your Tailor,
IK
If yoz^r shoomaker come on
with his last, & neatly Lead itt;
lett [t]his euerlasting done2
see his owne boots3 neatly tread itt.
[page 194.] your Shoe-
maker,
If yo^r Landlady doe call,
needs must satisfye her pleasure ;
shee despises jour carrant,4
20 sheele be payd with standing measure.
your LaTi
lady.
J dim ye.—P.
2 Let this everlasting Dun.—P.
3 Boots were formerly worn at Balls
as Pumps now.—P.
4 currante.—P. current coin.~~F.
g2
it
46
and your
Lawyer.
24
THE MODE OF FKANCE.
If ycmr Lawer1 finds you out
for fees for this devise or tother?
let him dance for all his goute,
& pay one Motion with another,
This way
gets you out
of all
troubles.
28
Thus wee range the world about,
thus wee scape then all disasters ;
then Let all the world declare
that wee are nimble quicke paymasters,
ffins.
Lawyer.—P,
47
3Se not afraptr.
' [Page 194 of MS.]
'Bee not aflrayd thou fayrest, thou rarest
that euer was made ! deny me not a kisse;
then thou shalt see the Measure of pleasure
that I will haue from thee, what hurts there in
this?
Then lets imbrace, & lett pleasure be free,
the world shall neere take notice how delightfull
[we be.1]
O fairest
deny me not;
let me en-
joy thee!
" I see that spyes, both peeping & creeping,
in eche corner lyes to hinder all our Ioyes ;
but Cupidd shall see, & find them, & blind them
thatt hindrance wilbe to the getting of Boyes.
Then lets, &c : /
Cupid will
blind all
spies,
" Venus, Iupiter, faire nature, Dame creature,2
Made thee for delight, but yett for none but I;
Then lets imbrace, & riffle & trifle,
leaue a Iewell in the place, but keeptt till you
d[ye.«]
Then Lets, &c."
You were
made for me
alone.
Let us em-
brace !
" Nay pish! nay fye! youle venter to enter!
a trespas soe high, youle wist were 4 vndone ;
should any spie, theyle wonder, looke yonder ;
but youle not fly the place you haue begunn.
Then Lets, &c.
Man, you
will enter
me.
What will
spies say ?
1 Added by Percy.—F.
2 Dame Nature, faire creature.—P.
3 dye.—P.
4 wish 'twere.—F.
48
BE NOT AFKAYD.
If you tell
any one, I'm
undone.
" Now yon haue enioyed the Measure of pleasure,
indeed I['m] destroyed if yon speake of it againe ;
24 for women doe prone neelected, reiected,
when freedome of love is known to other men.
Now yon hane enioyed me, & all things be free,
in faith youle vndoe me if a teltale you bee.
But I love
you. and
that's why ]
err;
the fault is
so sweet.
28 " Then heeres my hart! He euer endeuer
that wee will neuer part till death assignes the
time.
were itt not you, beleeue me it wold greeue m[e]
to doo what I doo ; that loue shold be a crime;
32 but it is a fault of soe sweet a degree,
that sure I am perswaded, court nor country be
fr[ee.] "
ffins:
49
Mot pott meant*
[Page 197 of MS.]
Doe you meane to ouerthrow me ?
out! alas ! I am betraid !
what! is this the loue you show mee ?
4 to vndo a sillye Maide.
alas! I dye ! my hart doth breake!
I dare not crye, I cannotl speake!
what! all alone ? nay then I finde
8 men are to strong for women kind.
Out vpon the maid that put mee
in this roome to be alone!
yett she was noe foole to shut mee
12 where I shold be seen of None.
harke ! harke ! alae ! what Noyce is that ?
o, now I see itt is the Catt.
come gentle pus, thow wilt not tell;
16 if all doe soe thou shalt not tell.
Seely foole ! why doubts thou tellinge
No matter.
J J
& Babies tell
where thou didst not doubt to trust ?
tneir °^n
stories*
if thy belly fall a swellinge,
'20 theres noe helpe, but out itt must.
alas the spite ! alas the shame !
for then I quite Loose my good name ;
but yett the worst of Maids disgract,
24 I am not first nor shalbe last.
' camot in MS,—F,
Is this your
love ? to
undo a silly
maid?
How wrong
of that
woman to
put me in
here!
What noise
is that ?
50
DOE YOU MEANE.
Never mind.
Come on
again.
28
32
Once againe to try jour forces,
thus I dare thee to the feild;
time is lost that time diuorces
from the pleasures loue doth yeeld.
Ah ha! fyee, fye! itt comes yett still!
itt comes, I, I! doe what you will!
my breath doth passe, my blood doth trickle !
was euer lasse in such a pickle ?
ffins.
51
a maflj $c a pounce man*
[Page 197 of MS.]
A MAN & a younge maid that loued a long time
were tane in a frenzye ithe Midsomwier prime;
the maid shee lay drooping, hye;
4 the man he lay whopping, hey, the man he lay
whopping hoe.
Thus talking & walking the came to a place
Inuironed about wtth trees & with grasse,
The maid shee, &c.
8 He shifted his hand wheras he had placet,
hee handled her knees instead of her wast,
The Maid, &c.
He shiffted his hand till hee came to her knees,
He tickled
12 he tickeled her, & shee opened her thyhes,
yett s[t]ill shee, &c.
He hottered & totered, & there was a line
that drew him on forward; he went on amaine;
16 yett still shee, &c.
He light in a hole ere he was aware!
the lane itt was streat; he had not gone farr,
but shee fell a kissing, hye !
she kissed
him.
20 & he lay drooping, hoe, & he lay drooping, hoe.
" My Billy, my pilly ! how now ? '' q-woth shee;
" gett vp againe, Billy, if that thou louest me ; "
yett still he Lay, &c.
H
A man and
a maid
came to a
shady place.
52
a second 24
time as well
as the first.
A MAID AND A YOUNGE MAN.
He thought Mickle shame to lye soe longe;
he gott vp againe & grew very strong;
the Mayd shee Lay, &c.
The trees & the woods did wring about,
28 & every leafe began to showte,
& there was such, &c.
53
& mature ffor feature*
[Page 199 of MS.]
12
A creature, for feature I neuer saw a fairer,
soe witty, soe prettye, I neuer knew a rarer;
shee soe kind, & I soe blynd,
that I! may say another day
" I did complaine, & I mett a swaine,
but [he] knew not how to wooe me nor doe mee,
he was soe dull conceipted.
I gaue a smile him to beguile,
I made a show to make him know,
I pincht his cheeke to make him seeke
& find some further pleasure, whose treasure
needs not to be Expected.
I met a lass
so pretty
and kind.
But I was
dull.
She may tell
how she
tempted me,
"I stayd him, & praide him, & proffered him a
favour;
he kist mee, & wisht me to beare w^'th his be-
hauior;
but hie tro lolly lolly, le silly willy cold not doe.
16 all content w^th him was spent
when he had dipt & kist me, & mist me,
& cold not . . kisse . . [line cut off by the binder^
then thought I, & thought noe lye,
perhapps his pipe is not yett ripe;
20 yett an hower may haue the power
to make itt grow in full Lenght & full strenght;
but fooles are led in blindnesse.
and I only
kist her.
She waited
for me to
serve her,
i ?she.~P.
h2
54 A CREATURE FOR FEATURE.
but I didn't
or couldn't,
24
28
and was not
32
" But woe mee, & woe mee ! alas, I cold not raise !
itt wold not, nor cold not, doe all I cold to please.1
his inke was run, his pen was done.
Iacke! art thou dead ? hold vp thy2 head !
I will litter thee & water thee,
& feed thee w^'th my neet,
& better, if thou wilt lye besyd me.
but all in vaine I did complaine,
his Iacke was tyrd, heed not be hyred
for all my prayers & all my teares."
ffins,
1 One stroke of a word, pared off by
the binder, follows.—F.
2 MS. my.—F.
55
%yti alom:1
[Page 200 of MS.]
Can any one tell what I ayle 2 ? what do
i
3 that 14 looke soe leane, soe wan, soe pale.
5 if I may be there Iudge, I thinke there is none
4 that, can any longer lye alone.6
why, i car
lie alone,
Was euer womans 7 ease like mine ?
att 15 yeeres [I] began to pine;
soe vnto this plight now I am growne,
and l won
8 I can, nor will, noe longer Lye alone.8
9 If dreames be true, then Ride I can;
I lacke nothing but a man,
j want a
o i» it
man,
for tis onlye hee can ease my moane.
12 I can, nor &c.
10 When daye11 is come, I wish for night;
12 When night is come, I wish for light;
13 thus all my time I sighe & moane.
16 u I can, nor &c.
1 The Maidens Complaint. To the
tune of, I can nor will, &c. The Read-
ings in Red Ink are from The Golden
Garland.—P. See Chappell's Popular
Music, ii. 462, for a different "Maiden's
sad Complaint for want of a Husband."
—R
2 maidens ail.—P.
8 I am grown so weak, &c. [G.G.]
—P.
4 That they.—P.
5 If I may judge.—P.
6 Unto that plight, alas! I'm grown,
That I can, nor will, no longer lye
alone. [G.G.]-P.
7 Maiden's. [G.G.]— P.
8 Thus at 15 years to pine;
Were I the judge I'm sure there's
none
That would any longer, &c. [G.G.]
—P.
9 [This & the 4th stanza are transposed
in^e Gold. Garld.]—P.
All that I want is but a man ;
Only I for one do make this moan.
For I can, &c. [G.G.]—P.
10 When it is day, I wish. [G.G.]—P.
11 There is a tag, as for s, to the e.—F.
12 And when it is dark. [G.G.]—P.
13 All the night long I, &c. [G.G.]—P.
14 Because that I too long have lain,
&c. [G.G.]—P.
56
LYE ALONE.
and I'll take l To woe the first, ashamed am I;
comes. 2 for & if he aske I will not
denye;
3 for the case is such I must needs haue one.
20 41 can noe &c.
5 Therfore my prayer, itt shalbe still
that I may haue one that will worke my will;
for itt is only hee can ease me anon,
24 & therfore He noe longer lye alone.
I will not
lie alone.
1 Wooe him first, [G.G-.]~P. 5 For
all my wishmg's, I'll have none
2 But if. [G-.G-.]— P.
But him I love, & love but one;
3 Such is my case, I must have one. And if he
love not me, then
[G-.G-.]-P.
I'll have none,
4 For that I, &c. [G.G.]— P. But
ever till I dye I'll lye alone.
[G-.G.]—P.
57
©ohmej sate tije stfjepartu
[Page 201 of MS.]
: sate the sliepeard swaine
soe sober & demure,
wishing for his wench againe
soe bonny & soe pure,
w^th his head on hillocke lowe,
& his armes a Cimbo,
And all for the losse of his hinononino !
A swain
longed for
his wench,
and wept
12
The leaves the fell as thinl
as water from a still;
the heire vpon his head did growe
as time 2 vpon a hill;
his cherry cheekes as pale as snowe
to testifye his mickle woe ;
& all was for the loue of his hy &c.
because he
had lost her.
16
20
fiayre shee was to loue, as euer liked swaine;
neuer such a dainty one
shall none enioy againe;
sett a thousand on a rowe,
time forbidds that any showe
euer the like to her hy &c.
She was one
in a thou-
sand.
24
faire shee was, [of] comly 3 hew,
her bo some like a swan;
backe shee had of bending yew,
her wast was but a span;
Her bosom
swan-swell-
ing,
qu. MS.—F.
thyme.—P.
of comelye.—P.
DOWNE SITE THE SHEPARD.
her hair
black
all over.
She was so
tempting,
all men
were mad
for her,
and the
swain hoped
to find her
on the grass.
28
32
36
40
her hayre as blacke as any croe,
from the top to the toe,
all downe along to her hy &c.
with. her Mantle tucked vp
shee fothered her flocke,
soe that they that doe her see
may then behold her smocke,
soe finely doth shee vse to goe,
& neatly dance on tripp on l toe,
that all men run madd for her hy &c,
In a Meadow fayre & greene
the shepard layeth him downe,
thinking there his loue to find
sporting on a round,
A round which Maidens vse to go;
Cupid bidds itt shold bee soe,
because all men were made for her hy &c.
1 tripping.—P.
59
jflttnt tfmt Mom
[Page 201 of MS.]
We have not been able to find anything about the origin of
this
song. Neither Mr. Chappell nor any other song-learned person
we have referred to knows it. It seems a notice, on the one
hand, to men that a girl's refusal does not always mean a real
No, and on the other hand, a warning to girls to beware lest
love or waggish inclination tempt them beyond the bounds of
prudence. How oft, alas, are they but flies that do play with
the
candle, and perish, while that burns on its allotted space, with
no lessening of its brilliance in the eyes of men!—F.
Men that more to the yard1 northe church Men some-
times pro-
are oft enclined, P°se
t0 £irls«
take young mayds now & then att lurch
to try their mind ;
But younge maids now adayes are soe coy, the will not
show
when they are in loue,
But for feare I 2 oft say noe, when perhapps they wold but
they're
fayne doe if itt wold not proue. say no.
If for a time for feare they bee wyllye
and seeme coy,
there is one that perhapps may beguile yee,
Yet Cupid
j i i -i • -i i
win Pierce
*2 the blind boy;
their hearts.
1 ? MS. yord.—F. » for they.—F.
j4
MEN THAT MORE.
heele strike home when lie please ; to the quicke heele
shoot
his shaft without delay ;
then theyle sigh & lament when, alas, their owne
kind hart
cannott say Nay.
The small fly that playeth w^th the candle
oft doth burne;
such young maids as doe loue for to dandle
once, may monrne.
lett flyes burne, & maids mourne, for in vaine you do
perswade
them from their folly;
Nature binds all their kinds now & then to play the
waggs
though the seeme holy.
ffins,
61
^amfc.1
[Page 238 of MS.]
It was a younge man that dwelt in a towne,
a Iollye husband2 was hee,
but he wold eate more at one sett dinner3
the[n] 20 wold att three.
soe great a stomacke had hee,
his wiffe did him provide
ten meales a day, his hungar4 to lay,
yet was he not satisfyed.
take heed of hott furmitree !
Panche is a
great glut-
ton,
and his wife
gives him
ten meals a
day.
His wiffe had a sister neere at hand,
deeket vp in a gowne of gray;
12 shee loued a young man, & marryed the weere
vpon St. lames his day;
& to the wedding went they,
her brothers & sisters each one.
16 shee vowed to bring her to5 capon pyes,
with birds the sids vpon.
take heed &c.
But yet the good wiffe, tho litle shee sayd,
20 in mind & hart was woe
because her husband, the glutton, wold
vnto the wedding goe.
Her sister
marries,
and she
promises her
two capon
pies for her
wedding-
feast.
Panche's
wife
—F.
A Droll old Song, rather vulgar.—P.
There is a tag like an s at the end.
4 One stroke too few in the first syl-
lable.—F.
5 two.—P.
8 dimer in the MS.—F.
K
62
PANOSE.
tries to per-
suade him
not to go to
the wed-
ding, |
bis 28 |
as he'll
shame her |
|
and all his
kindred |
32 |
by Ms mon-
strous
eating. |
|
" good husband," then sayd shee,
24 "at the wedding there will bee
my vnckle Iohn, & my cozen Gylee,l
& others of good degree;
then stay you at home, my dere,
[then stay you at home, my dere,]
"ffor if yo[u] come there, youvtterlye shame [page 239]
yor selfe & me besides,
& all yo^r kinred euery one,
the Bridgrome & the bryde,
you feed soe Monst[r]ouslye
aboue all other men,
for you deuoure more meate at a meale
36 then 40 will doe at ten."
take heede &c.
Panche gets
angry,
says his wife
has some
plot
to cuckold
him.
To the wed-
ding he will
go.
His wife
says, then
he must stop
eating when
she winks at
him.
When that he heard his wiffe say soe,
his anger waxed hotte:
40 Q^oth he, " thou drabb! thou filthy Queane !
thy councell likes me not!
belike some match is made
betwixt some knaue & thee
44 to make me a scorne, my head for to home !
I smell out thy knauerye !
to the wedding that I will goe! "
" Good husband," q^oth shee, " Misdoubt not of me !
48 I speake it for the best!
yet doe as you will, yo^r mind to fulfill;
but let me this request,
that when vnorderlye 2
52 I see you feeding there,
when I doe winke, I wold haue you thinke
its time for to forbeare."
take heed &c.
1 Giles.—P.
2 i.e. disorderly.—P.
PANCHE.
68
56
60
U
The man was content; to the wedding he went;
great cheare was there prepared ;
the Bridsgroome father & mother both
sate there w^th good regard.
furst to the table was brongh[t]
a course of furmitree,
& Panche had a dish, a gallandl I-wiss,
that fitted his appetye2;
& quieklye he slapt vp all.
Panche
agrees; goes
to the wed-
ding;
Hee learned3 on his wiffe, & drew out his kniffe ;
to a legg of Mutton fell hee;
he slapt it vp breefe, w^th a surloyne of beefe,
68 & mincte pyes 2 or three :
he neuer looked about,
but fed with such a courage,
he left for his share the bord almost bare,
72 or the rest were out of their porrage.
take heede &c.
1. a gallon
of furmity,
2. a leg of
mutton;
8. a surloin
of beef ;
4. some
mince pies,
and nearly
clears the
table.
76
80
Then did he spye his wiffe for to winke 4;
therfore he, to 5 mend the matter,
lie cast vp againe the Meate he had eaten,6
before them in a platter:
" take heere jour victualls," hee sayd,
" & grudg not me my meate;
& where I thinke that welcome I am,
I cannott forbeare to eate."
take heede &c.
Seeing his
wife wink at
him,
he spews up
the food,
and says,
" here's your
victuals!"
The time drew on when euerye man
84 vnto his rest did goe ;
but Paunch lay grunting by his wiffe,
■which, made her wonderous woe.
When in
bed,
Panche
grunts,
1 Grallon.—P. 2 appetee.—P. 5 A long
upright stroke is between
* leer'd.—P. these
words in the MS.—F.
4 wink her eye.—P. 6 tane.
jt2
64
PANCIIE.
and says
lie's ready
to die for
hunger.
" what ayle you man ? " q^oth shee.
88 Q^oth hee, " my hart is dry,
I am soe hungry, that for meat
I readye am to dye."
take heede &c.
His wife
says he
must wait
till break-
fast.
Tush! says
he;
jumps out of
hed,
goes to the
kitchen,
and slaps up
all the f ur-
mity
except a
ladlefull
that he
means to
take to his
wife ;
but he goes
to another
man's,
92 " Alas !" quoth shee, " content you must bee
till breakfast time to stay ;
for none in the house is risen, you see,
to giue you meate any way."
96 " tush ! tell not me of that!
my belly must be fedd!"
& with, that word he Nimbly leapt
out of his naked bed,
100 & into the kitchin did goe.
To the ffurmitreeY pott he quicklye gott,
& there, without delay,
he slapt vp the furmitree euerye whitt
104 or he departed away,
saue a ladel-full att the last
he kept to carry his wiffe.
Then he mistaking the chamber, he went [page 2403
108 vnto another mans wiffe.
take heede [&c]
the bride-
groom's
mother.
Panche
takes her
buttocks
for his wife's
face,
112
116
The Bridgroomes ffather & mother both
did at that time lye there;
the woman had tumbled the clothes soe
that her buttockes all lay bare,
which by a glimering light
that was in that same place,
Panch soone espyed, & tooke the same
to be his wiues sweet face.
1 Frumenty or Furmety, a kind of
Potage made of prepared Wheat, Milk,
Sugar, Spice, &c. Phillipps. " Still a
favorite dish in the north, consisting of
hulled wheat boiled in milk and sea-
soned. It was especially a Christmas
dish." Nares, ed. 1859. See the recipe
and extracts there.—3?
PANCHE.
65
120
124
Then softly he sayd, " sweet wiff, I haue brought
some furmitree for thee ! "
the woman Aisled1: " nay, blow not," q^oth hee,
" for cold enough they bee."
w^'th that shee puffed againe,
& made him angrye bee :
" I tell thee, thou need not to blow them att all,
but supp them vp presentlye."
take heed &c.
and offers
her the
furmity.
She breaks
wind
128
132
The woman was windye, & fisled againe
within a litle space,
w^'ch made him to sweare, if shee blew any more,
to fling all in her face.
but shee, being fast asleepe,
did ffisle without regard.
then flung he the furmitree in her tayle,
saying, " there is for thy reward ! "
take heede
three times,
and Panche
swears if she
does it again
he'll fling
the furmity
in her face.
She does it;
he flings the
furmity at
her;
136
140
144
W^th that the woman suddenly waked,
& clapt her hand behind ;
" alas ! " q^oth shee, " how am I shamed,
being soe full of wind ! "
" what ayles thee ? " her husband sayd.
" I haue rayed2 the bedd," qwrfch shee.
" that comes w^th thy craming, thou egar queane!
a Murraine take thee for me ! "
take heede &e.
she puts her
hand be-
hind,
and thinks
she has
dirtied the
bed.
But Panche, perceuing how the matter went,
he closly got away,
& into the milkehouse hyed with hast,
14S wheras without delay
Panche
steals off
to the dairy,
1 ? MS. ffisted. Fyistyn (fyen, W.)
Cacco C. F. lirido ; Fyyst, stynk, Lirida;
Fyystynge, Liridacio. Promptorrum,—
P.
2 wrayed.—P. I he-ray', I fyle ones
