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iTRerrp Songs anb BaHaos
^4Z%W^Z A4ZZ^Z) ^AZP ^<9^V(?
/BSerr^ Songs an&
BaUabe
PRIOR TO THE YEAR A.D. 1800
EOITEt) BY
JOHN S. FARMER
VOLUME I
MDCCCXCVII
INDEX
TO VOL. I
AUTHORS, TITLES, FIRST LINES, REFRAINS,
AND SOURCES
AKEROYDE (S.)...............t3S
" All Christians and Lay-Elders too " (SiR JOHN BIR-
KENHEAD, .Sag/ora? ^<7^c<fy, iii. 57)......n8
"All in a greene meadowe" (A/'f^y ^o/zo ytA?., r.
1620-50)................. 82
"All you that are disposed now to hear a merry
jest" (,A?M;3M7yA .ga//fn?.r, iii. 166)....... 89
"Aminta one Night had occasion to Piss" (AYJj
?o .PM?y<? J^Jn^rAo/y, 1707).........202
^?M? mrV/ ,^'<37%'' 7M^ 7^f?zr ^ rctvyy, A?y.r (Re/rainj ^
^MF ^/^cyaKi! Car&;7!t? 0/* ^w^f^ A^K^<f JSYow<??*j,
(:S$s).............^7, 275, 277. 2*9
"As Damon late with CMoe sat" (S. BOLTON, 1720) 228
"As honest Jacob on a night" (i. 1796).....257
"As I lay musing all alone" (r. 1707)......iSp
"As I lay on my lovely bead" (LAURENCE PRICE,
r. 1654, ^o^AM^y/; _/3a//*a<&, iii. 226).....105
"As I sat at my Spinning Wheel" (.Pz'/Jj ?o T^Mry^
y!^-A;Kr^c/;', 1707)......,......180
vi INDEX
"As I was riding by the way" (Percy Folio MS.,
c. 1620-50)................ 71
"As I was walking I cannot tell where " (Jiawlinson
MS., c. 1610-50).............. 37
"As I went o'er yon misty moor" (Pills to Purge
Melancholy, 1707).............188
"As I went to Tottnam" (Choyce Drollery, 1666) 109
"As Lady Jane devoutly wise" (1766, Durfey the
Younger)................251
"As Oyster Nan stood by her tub" (c. 1705) . . 177
As she lay sleeping in her bed (Tune).....105
"As the fryer he went along" (Pills to Purge Me-
lancholy, 1707)..............197
Auld cripple Dow, The (/Tune).........257
Ayres by Alfoxso Ferrabosco (1609)..... 29
„ „ W. Corkine (1610)......... 34
Bagford Ballads.............85, 118
Bathing Girles, The (Westminster DrolWry, 1672) 148
Bathing Girles, The (Westminster Drollery, 1672)
(Tune).................163
Beehive, The (Pills to Purge Melancholy, 1707) . 206
Beggar-wench tum'd into a devil (Debauchery Scared,
Roxburgh Ballads, 1685-8, ii. 101).....160
Behn (Mrs.).................168
Behold the man (Tune)............ 41.
"Beneath a cool shade" (Mrs. Behn, 1697) . . , 168
Birkenhead (Sir John)...........118
Bob-Tail'd Lass, The (b. 1800).........275
Bolton (Sol.)................228
Bonnie Dundee (Tune).............263
INDEX vii
"Bonny Lass o' Liviston, The" (b. 1796) .... 254
Boye, Friar and, The............. 51
Broze and Butter (i. 1796)...........264
Burns (R.) 253, 254, 256, 257, 259, 261, 263, 264
205, 267, 269, 272, 274
" By the mole on your bubbles " (Musical Miscel-
lany, 1731)................238
"Canst thou loue and lie alone" (Melismata, c. 1611) 40
Carey, H..................228
"Certain Presbyterian Pair, A," {Musical Miscel-
lany, 1729)................230
Chappell, William.......89, 113, 159, 189
Choyce Ay res (PlaVFORD J.).........157
Choyce Drollery.............109, 113
Clout the Couliron (Tune)..........267
" Come hither, good people" (MusicalMiscellany, 1729) 230
'Come off of ?ny mother, Sirrah' (Refrain) ... 35
Complements, Marrow of...........159
CORKINE (W.)................ 31
"Country Gentleman came up to town, A" (1685-8,
Roxburgh Ballads, ii. 101).........160
Courteous Knight, The (1609, Roxburgh Ballads,
"• «8l).................. 31
Courtiers Good morrow to his llistris. The (c. 1611) 40
Crimsall, Richard.............. 89
Cuddie the Cooper (b. 1796)..........263
Cumberland Lass, The (1674-80)........152
Cupid's Visions (or Dainty Damsels Dream, Laurence
Price, c. 1654, Roxburgh Ballads, iii. 226) . . 105
viii
INDEX
Dainty Damsels Dream, The (Laurence Price, c.
1654, Roxburgh Ballads, Hi. 226)......105
Dainty ducke I chanced to meet, A (Percy Folio
MS., c. 1620-50)............. 84
Debauchery Scared (1685-8, Roxburgh Ballads,
ii. 101)..................160
Devonshire Damsels Frollick, The (1685-8,
Roxburgh Ballads, ii. 136-7)........163
Deuteromelia (1609)............. 31
Dildo, Nashes................ 14
Disaster^ The sad...............251
Dorset, The Earl of............157
Dub'd Knight of the Forked Order, The (1660-
77, Roxburgh Ballads, ii. 114).......125
"Duncan Macleerie and Janet his wife" (b. 1796) . 267
Dunstable, Ridmg to.............135
Durfey (T.)............169, 208, 210
Durfey the Younger...........> . 251
Fair Kitty, beautiful and young (Tune) .... 251
Ferrabosco (Alfonso)............ 29
Forked Order, The Dub'd Knight of the .... 125
"Four and twentieth day of May, The" (Pills to
Purge Melancholy, 1707)..........183
Four-Legg'd Elder, The (Sir John Birkenhead,
Bagford Ballads, iii. 57)..........118
Fryar and Boye, The (Percy Folio MS., c. 1620-
5°)................... 51
Fryer and the Maid, The...........187
Fumbler, The Old.............. 167
INDEX
IX
Gabwlunzie Man, The (James V. Scotland, *.
1542).................. l
Gallant Schemers Petition, The (Musical Miscellany,
i?3>)..................238
Gather your rosebuds (Tune).........118
Green Grow the Rashes, O {i>. 1796)......2b]
Gramachree (Tune)..............274
" Gudewife when your gude man's frae hame"
(*. 1796).................256
Haddington, Earl of............242
Harleian MS.................103
Harlot, The high priz'd (or The Penurious Quaker) 216
"Hee that hath no mistresse " (1610)...... 34
Help House of Ca?nmons, House, of Peers (Refrain) 118
" Her dainty palm I gently prest" (Ma> raw of Com-
plements, 1685)..............159
Horrible relation of a dog (or Four legff'd elder) . . 118
"1 a tender young maid Wte been courted by
many" [Pills to Purge Melancholy, Ijoy) . . . '94
" I am a young Lass of Lynn" (Pills to Purge Me-
lancholy, 1707)..............199
I am fallen away (Tune)...........125
/ cannot tell what to do (Refrain).......199
I cannot, •winnot, monnot buckle too (Refrain) . . 169
"I dreamed my Loue lay in her bed" (Percy
Folio MS,, c. 1620-50)........... 80
/ hcHe laid a herrin'' in sa't (Tune).......259
"I have a tenement to let" (Pills to Purge Melan-
choly, 1719)................218
X
INDEX
I'll tell you . . ■ how this knave serv'd me (Refrain) 179
"I owed my hostess thirty pounds" (c. 1720) . . 224
I pr'ythee now hear me, dear Molly (Refrain) . . 238
"I Rede you beware 0' the Ripples young man"
(R. Burns, i. 1796)............253
"I went to the Alehouse as an honest woman
should" (1707)..............179
"I will fly into your arms" (c. 1720)......225
" In a May morninge I mett sweet mirsse " {Percy
Folio MS., c. 1620-50)........... 77
"It was a Lady of the North she lov'd a Gentleman"
(1616, Roxburgh Ballads, iii. 23^...... 41
"It was a puritanicall ladd" (Percy Folio MS., c.
1620-50)................. 73
"It was in June" (Westminster Drollery, 1672) . 148
James V. of Scotland............1,5
Jenny begtiil'd the Webster (Tune).......240
"Jenny sits up i' the laft" (b. 1796)......265
Jocky Mac Gill (Tune)............267
John Anderson my Jo (Tune).........256
Jolly Beggar, The (James V. of Scotland, b. 1542). 5
Jovial Companions, The (Bagford Ballads, i. 88) . 85
Joviall Pedler, The (1637-9, Roxburgh Ballads, .
iii. 184).................. 96
Kind-hearted Creature, The (1630, Roxburgh Ballads,
iii. 166-7)................. 89
Ladies of London (Tune)...........160
Lass o'Liviston (b. 1796)...........254
INDEX
XI
Lass of Lynn's Sorrowful Lamentation, The (Pills to
Purge Melancholy, 1707)..........199
Lass with the velvet a—se, The (c. 1710) . . . . 214
Late Dialogue between Captain Low and his friend
Dick (Robertson of Struan, b. 1749) .... 244
" Let the world run its course of capricious delight"
(Earl of Haddington, 5. 1735).......242
Leveridge (R.)...............175
Little 0' th'one with t'other (Refrain)......137
" Lusty Young Smith at his vice stood a filing, " A
(1705, Pills to Purge Melancholy [1707], ii- 198) 175
Lynn, The Lass of..............199
Maid and a younge man, A (Percy Folio MS., c.
1620-50)................. 75
"Maid, I dare not tell her name, A" (b. 1S00). . 279
Maid of Tottenham, The (Choyce Drollery, 1666). 109
Maids have you any Cony, Cony skins (Refrain) 96
Maid's Lesson, The (c. 1710).........212
Maiden's Delight (1661, Merry Drollery) .... 137
"Man and a younge maid that loued, A" (Percy
Folio MS., c. 1620-50)........... 75
Man he lay whopping, The (Refrain)..... 75
Man's Yard, A (Raialinson MS., 1600-20; ... 10
Marrow of Complements...........159
May morninge, In a............. 77
Melismata (1611).............. 40
Merry Drollery ' (1661). 41, 80, 116, 133, 135, 137,
140, 142
Merry Muses of Caledonia. 253, 254, 256, 257, 259
261, 263, 264, 266, 267, 269, 272, 274
XII
INDEX
"Methinks the poor town has been troubled too
long" (Earl of Dorset, c. 1676)......157
Miles (A.).................I25
Modem Prophets, The............208
Modiewark has done me ill, The (b. 1796) . . . . 272
Mother beguil'd the daughter, The (Tune) .... 89
Musical Miscellany.......228, 230, 236, 238
" My friend thy beauty seemeth good" (Pills to
Purge Melancholy, 1719)..........216
"My Mistress is a hive of bees in yonder flow'ry
garden" (Pills to Purge Melancholy, 1707) . . 206
"My pretty maid fain would I know" (Pills to
Purge Melancholy, 1707)..........204
My thing is my own (Pills to Purge Melancholy,
1707)...................194
Nameless Maiden, The (b. 1800)........279
Narcissus, come kiss us (Rawlinson 'MS., c. 1610-50) 37
Nash his Dildo (Thomas Nash, Rawlinson and
Petyt MSS., b. 1601)........... 13
Nash (Thomas)............... 13
0 for ane and twenty, Tarn (Tune)......272
0 gie my love brose, lasses (Refrain)......264
O jolly Robin hold thy hande" (Percy Folio MS.,
1620-50)................. 47
"O Mither dear I gin to fear" (Orpheus Caledonius,
1753)...................240
O never went Wimble in Timber more nimble
(Refrain).................140
"O wat ye ought of Fisher Meg" (b. 1796) ... 261
INDEX
xiii
Off a Puritane (Percy Folio MS., c. 1620-50) . . 73
"Oh mother, Roger with his ldsses " (Pills to Purge
Melancholy, 1707).............186
Oh! to Bed to me, to Bed to me (Refrain) ... 152
Old Fumbler, The (b. 1695)..........167
Old Wanton Lady, The (Dub'd Knight of the fork-
ed order, 1660-77, Roxburgh Ballads, ii. 114) 125
"On Wednesday in the afternoon" (b. 1800) . . . 276
Orpheus Caledonius, see Thomson (W.) .... 240
Our John's Erak Yestreen (h. 1796).......274
Oyster Nan, As...............177
Pack, Mr..................208
" Pardon, sweete flower of machles poesye " (Nash,
b. 1601)................. J5
Patriarch, The (5. 1796)............257
"Pauky auld carle cam ovir the lee, The" (Gaber-
lmrae Man, James V. of Scotland, b. 1542) . . 1
Pedler, Joviall, The.........., . . . 96
Pedlar Proud, The (c. 1750, Roxburgh Ballad, iii. 656) 247
"Peggy in devotion, bred from tender years" (T.
Durfey, c. 1710).............210
Penurious Quaker, The (c. 1719, Pills to Purge
Melancholy)................216
Percy Folio MS. (c. 1620-50) . . 26, 47, 49, 51, 71
73. 75. 77. 80, 82, 84
Petyt MS. (b. 1601)............. 13
Pills to Purge Melancholy (1707) . . 175, 179, 183, 186
188, 192, 194, 197, 199, 202, 204, 206
Pills to Purge Melancholy (1719) . . 85, 109, 118, 152
T57> 169. 171. 177, 180, 208, 210, 216, 218, 220
xiv
INDEX
Playford (J.) {Choyce Ayres).........157
Pleasant Garland, Ane (b. 1800) . . . 275, 277, 279
"Ploughman he's a bonnie lad, The" {b. 1796) . . 269
Popular Music of the Olden Time (CHAPPEIX) 26, 89
113. l89
Presbyterian Wedding, The {Musical Miscellany, 1729) 236
Price (Laurence)..............105
Purcell (Henry)............167, 169
Puritan, A {Merry Drollery, 1661).......133
Puritane, Off a {Percy Folio MS., 1620-50) ... 73
Quaker, The Penurious............216
Rattle, The (1766)..............251
Ravenscroft, Thomas............ 40
Rawlinson MS. (1600-50).......10, 13, 35, 37
Reed me a ridle: what is this {Rawlinson MS.,
c. 1600-20)................ 10
" Riding by the way, As I was " ....... 71
Riding to London on Dunstable way (Merry Drollery,
1661)..................135
Robertson of Struan...........244
Room for a Jovial Tinker: Old Brass to Mend {c. 1616,
Roxburgh Ballads, iii. 230)......... 41
"Rosebery to his lady says" (b. 1796).....266
Roxburgh Ballads, 31, 41, 89, 96, 105, 125, t6o, 163, 247
Sad Disaster, The, (Durfey the Younger, 1766). 251
Sally in our Alley (Tune)..........228
School Master's Lesson, The (c. 1720)......225
Scotch Parson's Daughter, The (T. Durfey, c. 1710) 210
INDEX
xv
Sharpe (C. KiRKrATRicK)...........275
"She lay up to the navel bare" (Tune 116) . . . 131
"She lay all naked in her bed" (Wit & Drollery, 1656) 116
Sheeles (J.)................238
Silent Flute, The (S. Bolton, 1720).......228
Sing Boyes, Drink Boycs (Refrain)...... 89
Sing trolly lolly (Refrain)..........192
Sing, Stow the Fryer (Refrain)........197
" Smug rich and fantastic old Fumbler was known"
(*■ 1695).................167
"So merrily singeth the nightengale" (c. 1750, Box-
burgh Ballads, hi. 656)..........247
So old, so old, so wondrous old (Refrain) .... 125
"Spinning Wheel, As I sat at my".......180
"Story, strange I will you tell, A" \Choyce Drollery,
1656)...................113
"Supper is na Ready" (b. 1796)........267
Surprised Nymph, The (Pills to Purge Melancholy, 1707) 183
Taylor's faun thro' the bed (Tune)......253
Tell me mother, pray, now do (Refrain) .... 186
" Tell me, thou source of scandal, Dick" (b. 1740
Robertson of Struan)..........244
Tenement to let, A (Pills to Purge Melancholy,
1719)...................218
" That God that dyed for vs all and drank both
vinegar etc." (Percy Folio MS., 1620-50) ... 51
Then she sang down a down (Refrain)..... 31
"There dwelt a man in Lanrickshire" (b. 1800) . 277
"There liv'd a Wife in Whistle-cock-pen" (b. 1796) 259
"There was a buxom lass" (c. 1710)......214
XVI
INDEX
"There was a cooper they ca'd him Cuddy (b. 1796) 263
" There was a jolly beggar, and a begging he was born"
(James V. of Scotland, b. 1542)...... 5
" There was a joviall pedler" (1637-9, Roxburgh
Ballads, iii. 184).............. 96
" There was a Lady in this land" (Merry Drollery,
1661)...................142
"There was a lass in Cumberland" (c. 1674-80) . 152
" There was an old woman Hv'd under-a hill " (Pills
to Purge Melancholy, 17c 7).........192
"There was three Birds that built very low" (Merry
Drollery, 1661)..............140
" There was three Travellers, Tra\ellers three" (c. 1630,
Bagford Ballad's, i. 88).......... 85
This way, that -way, -which way you will (Refrain) 171
" Thomas vntyed his points apace " (Percy Folio MS.,
c. 1620-50)................. 26
"Thomas you cannott" (Percy Folio MS., c. 1620-50) 26
Thomson (W.) [Orpheus Caledonius~\......240
Three Merry Travellers (r. 1630, Bagford Ballads,
i- 88)................... 85
Tinker, The (Merry Drollery, 1661)......142
To fall down, down, derry down (Refrain) ... 109
" Tom and William with Ned and Ben " (Roxburgh
Ballads, ii. 136-7).............163
" Tom Tinker's my true love, and I am his dear"
(c. 1698).................171
" To play upon a viol if a virgin will begin" (c. 1710) 212
Trooper Watering his Nagg, The (Pills to Purge
Melancholy, 1707).............102
Turnep Ground, The (c. 1720)......., 224
INDEX
xvii
" Twa neebour wives sat in the sun " (b. 1796, Burns) 274
"'Twas a Lady born of high degree" (1660-77,
Roxburgh Ballads, ii. 114-5)........125
'"Twas within a Furlong of Edinborough town"
(Durfey, 1697, Pills to Purge Melancholy) . . 169
"Upon a certain day when Mars and Venus met
together" (Rawlinson MS., 1610-20)..... 35
" Venus, Mars, and Cupid " (Rawlinson MS., 1610-
20).................... 35
""Wad ye do that" (b. 1796).........256
Wanton Virgins Frighted, The [Pills to Purge
Melancholy, 1719).............220
Westminster Drollery............148
When first Amyntas su'd for a kiss (Tune) . . 202
"When Phoebus address't himselfe to the West (Percy
Folio MS., c. 1620-50)........... 49
White Thighs (b. 1735)............242
Who is to marry me (b. 1609)........ 29
Willie Steenson (b. 1800)...........277
"Will ye na, can ye na let me be?" (b. 1796) . . 259
Willing Lover, The (Wit &* Drollery, 1661) . . 131
Wit and Drollery........96, 103, 116, 131
With a dildo (Refrain)............113
With a down ... up and down (Refrain) . . . . 230
With a hey ho, hey, derry derry down (Refrain) 41
With a Humbledum, Grumbledum (Refrain) . . 204
With a rub... in and out, in and out ho (Refrain) 175
Without ever a stiver of money (Refrain) .... 85
xviii
INDEX
" Would you have a young Virgin of fifteen years "
(T. Dukfey, 1709).............208
" Yonder comes a courteous Knight" (Roxburgh
Ballads, ii. 281).............. 31
Yorkshire Tale, A (Musical Miscellany, 1729) . . 230
" You that delight in a jocular song" (Pills to Pttrge
Melancholy, 1719).............220
Young Man of late, A (Merry Drollery, 1661). . 137
" Younge and simple though I am" (b. 1609) . . 29
This section of National Ballad and Song,
devoted to the "Merry Muses", will be completed
in ten volumes. Of these, nine will contain the songs
and ballads, the tenth being devoted to notes,
variorum readings, bibliography, and a full general
index of titles, burdens, and first lines. Each
volume will, however, be complete in itself as
far as the text is concerned, with its own index
to first lines.
As far as possible, but with obvious limitations,
chronological order has been observed; a faithful,
unbowdlerised, and unexpurgated transcript of
the early text being presented, in many cases for
the first time since the original publication: the
only exceptions are unmistakeable misprints,
and occasionally faulty punctuation where it
completely obscures the sense. In the case of
MSS. careful collation has been made.
J. S. F.
flftevr\> Songs anb ffiallabs
THE GABERLUNZIE MAN
[b. 1542]
[Attributed to James V of Scotland and said to
celebrate one of his own adventures with
country girls]
The pauky auld carle came ovir the lee
Wi' mony good-eens and days to mee,
Saying, Goodwife, for zour courtes>ie,
Will ze lodge a silly poor man?
The night was cauld, the carle was wat,
And down azont the ingle he sat:
My dochters shodders he gan to clap,
And cadgily ranted and sang.
MERRY SONGS I. I
frail
bejond
cheerfully
THE GABERLUNZIE MAN
"O wow!" quo he, "were I as free,
As first when I saw this countrie,
How blyth and merry wad I bee!
And I wad nevir think lang."
He grew canty, and she grew fain,
become weary
lively
her old mother But little did her, auld minny ken
know
What thir slee twa togither were sayn,
busy
When wooing they were sa thrang.
if "AndO!" quo he, "aim ze were as black,
As evir the crown of your dadyes hat,
'Tis I wad lay thee by my back,
go And awa wi' me thou sould gang!"
" And O!" quoth she, " ann I were as white,
As evir the snaw lay on the dike,
I'd clothe me gay lid dead me braw, and lady-like,
And awa with thee lid gang.
Between the twa was made a plot;
a nttie They raise a wee before the cock,
And wyliely they shot the lock,
open field And fast to the bent are they gane.
Up the morn the auld wife raise,
And at her leisure put on her claiths,
Syne to the servants bed she gaes
enquire To speir for the silly poor man.
went She gaed to the bed, whair the beggar lay,
The strae was cauld, he was away;
THE GABERLUNZIE MAN
3
Scho clapt her hands, cry'd "Dulefu' day!
For some of our geir will be gane."
Some ran to coffer, and some to kist,
But nought was stown that could be mist.
She dancid her lane, cry'd, " Praise be blest!
I have lodg'd a leal poor man."
goods
chest
stolen
alone
loyal; true
Since naithing's awa, as we can learn,
The kim's to kirn, and milk to earn;
Gae butt the house, lass, and waken my bairn,
And bid her come quickly ben."
The servant gaed where the dochter lay,—
The sheets was cauld, she was away;
And fast to her goodwife can say,
"Shes aff with the gaberlunzieman."
"0 fy gar ride, and fy gar rin,
And hast ze, find these traiters agen!
For shee's be burnt, and hee's be slein,
The wearifou gaberlunzieman!"
Some rade upo' horse, some ran a-fit;
The wife was wood, and out o' her wit;
She could na gang, nor yet could she sit,
But ay did curse and did ban.
Mean-time far hind, out owre the lee,
Fu' snug in a glen, where nane could see,
The twa, with kindlie sport and glee,
Cut frae a new cheese a whang.
churn
go to the outer
apartment
to the inner
apartment
did say
O haste ; cause to
ride
troublesome
a-foot
mad ; funous
far hence; out
over
THE GABERLUNZIE MAN
proving; tasting The prieving was gude, it pleas'd them
baith;
To lo'e her for ay he gae her his aith.
Quo she, "To leave thee I will be laith,
My winsome gaberlunzieman.
" O kend my minny I were wi' zou,
IU-fardly wad she/ crook her mou'.
ste'd never trust Sic a poor man sheld nevir trow,
Aftir the gaberlunzieman."
"My dear," quo he, "zee're zet owre zonge;
And hae na learnt the beggar's tonge,
To follow me frae toun to toim,
And carrie the gaberlunzie on.
Vo/marking e " Wi' kauk and keel, 111 win zour bread,
sl And spindles and whorles for them wha need-
Whilk is a gentil trade indeed,
The gaberlunzie to carrie 01
bend I" D0W my leg and crook my knee,
doth; rag And draw a black clout owre my ee;
A criple or blind they will cau me,
While we sail sing and be merry O!"
THE JOLLY BEGGAR
THE JOLLY BEGGAR
[b. 1542]
[Attributed to James V of Scotland: see note
to preceding song].
There was a jolly beggar, and a begging he was born. set iorA
And he took up his quarters into a land 'art town, country
fam-
1 L steading
And we'll gang nae mair a roving
Sae late into the night,
And we'll gang nae mair a roving, boys,
Let the moon shine ne'er so bright.
He wad neither ly in barn, not yet wad he in byre;
But in ahint the ha'door, or else afore the fire. behmd
And we'll gang nae mair a roving
Sae late into the night,
And we'll gang nae mair a roving, boys,
Let the moon shine ne'er so bright.
The beggar's bed was made at e'en wi' good clean
straw and hay,
And in ahint the ha'door, and there the beggar lay.
And we'll gang nae mair a roving
Sae late into the night,
And we'll gang nae mair a roving, boys,
Let the moon shine ne'er so bright.
6 THE JOLLY BEGGAR
Up raise the goodman's dochter and for to bar
the door,
And there she saw the beggar standin' i' the floor.
And we'll gang nae mair a roving
Sae late into the night,
And we'll gang nae mair a roving, boys,
Let the moon shine ne'er so bright.
He took the lassie in his arms, and to the bed he ran,
cautiously O hooly, hooly wi' me, sir, ye'll waken our
goodman.
And we'll gang nae mair a roving
Sae late into the night,
And we'll gang nae mair a roving, boys,
Let the moon shine ne'er so bright.
The beggar was a cunnin' loon, and ne'er a word
he spake,
talk Until he got his turn done, syne he began to crack.
And we'll gang nae mair a roving
Sae late into the night,
And we'll gang nae mair a roving, boys,
Let the moon shine ne'er so bright.
"Is there ony dogs into this town? maiden, tell
me true."
™uy doveey a" " And what wad ye do wi' them, my hinny and
my dow ?"
And we'll gang nae mair a roving
Sae late into the night,
THE JOLLY BEGGAR
7
And we'll gang nae mair a roving, boys,
Let the moon shine ne'er so bright.
"They'll rive a' my meal pocks, and do me meal bags
meikle wrang."
"O dool for the doing o't! are ye the poor man?"
And we'll gang nae mair a roving
Sae late into the night,
And we'll gang nae mair a roving, boys,
Let the moon shine ne'er so bright.
Then she took up the meal pocks, and fiang
them o'er the wa';
"The deil gae wi' the meal pocks, my maiden-
head, and a'!"
And we'll gang nae mair a roving
Sae late into the night,
And we'll gang nae mair a roving, boys,
Let the moon shine ne'er so bright.
" I took ye for some gentleman, at least the laird
of Brodie;
O dool for the doing o't! are ye the poor bodie ? "
And we'll gang nae mair a roving
Sae late into the night,
And we'll gang nae mair a roving, boys,
Let the moon shine ne'er so bright.
8 THE JOLLY BEGGAR
He took the lassie in his arms, and gae her kisses
three,
*i^T. sTg.W°rt And four and twenty hunder merk to pay the
wet-nurse wage nuriCe-iee.
And we'll gang nae mair a roving
Sae late into the night,
And we'll gang nae mair a roving, boys,
Let the moon shine ne'er so bright.
He took a horn frae his side, and blew baith
loud and shrill,
And four and twenty belted knights came skipping
o'er the hill.
And we'll gang nae mair a roving
Sae late into the night,
And we'll gang nae mair a roving, boys,
Let the moon shine ne'er so bright.
And he took out his little knife, loot a' his
rags duddies fa';
And he was the brawest gentleman that was
amang them a'.
And we'll gang nae mair a roving
Sae late into the night,
And we'll gang nae mair a roving, boys,
Let the moon shine ne'er so bright.
The beggar was a cliver loon, and he lap shoulder
height:
such "0, ay for sicken quarters as I gat yesternight!"
THE JOLLY BEGGAR
9
And we'll gang nae mair a roving
Sae late into the night,
And we'll gang nae mair a roving, boys,
Let the moon shine ne'er so bright.
IO
A MANS YARD
A MANS YARD
[c. 1600-1620]
\Rawl. MS. Poet. 216, If. 94 back].
Reed me a ndle: what is this
You holde in your hand when you pisse?
It is a kinde of pleasing stinge,
A pricking and a pleasing thing;
It is a stiffe shorte fleshly pole,
That fittes to stopp a maydens hole;
It is Venus wanton staying wand,
That ne're had feet, and yet can stand;
It is a penn with a hole in the toppe,
To write betwene her two-leued booke;
It is a thing both dumb and blinde,
Yet narrowe holies in darke can finde;
It is a dwarfe in height and length,
And yet a giannt in his strength ;
It is a bachelours button newly cutt,
The finest new tobacco pipe;
It is the Zirus that makes dead vse
When he did pull on Vulcans shooes;
A MANS YARD
II
It is a grafte Home on a prettye head,
A staffe to make a Countesse bedd;
There is never a Ladye in this land
But that will take it in her hand;
The fayrest mayd that ere tooke liffe,
For loue of this became a weife;
And every wench, by her owne will,
Would keepe [it] in her quiuer still.
When sturdye stormes arise,
Shall blustering windes appeare:
I finde ofte tymes dust in ashes heare,
Live kindled coles of fire.
With good intent, marke well my minde,
You shall herein a secrett find.
[Then follows a kind of rebus:—]
Oh, my faire misteres, °° in;
::>P your thighes, The %° in,
And put my o o into jour o,
And then my o°o shall wag apace,
Sir, is ° ° in your mistres then
° ° ° not to deepe, lest if thow °o° in
and drowne my o o o in my o
and driue your o o out of his place
Owles, Farewell, I wish your trees may grov.e
12
A MANS YARD
like to your homes which make a famus showe,
because they are grafted on a fethei bedd
Therefore, good neighboures, I bid you all adue,
For I haue written nothing but what that is true.
NASH HIS DILDO
13
THE MERIE BALLAD OF NASH
HIS DILDO
[b. 1601]
[By Thomas Nash; Rawlinson MS. Poet. 216,
leaves 96-106; also Petyt MS. (Inner Tem-
ple), 538, Vol. 43, f. viii. 295^)—hitherto
unpublished: dedicated in Petyt MS. " To the
right Honorable the Lord S(outhampton)"].
Pardon, sweete flower of Machles poesye,
and fairest bud that euer red rose bare,
although my muse, diuert from deepest care,
presentes you with a wanton elegie.
Ne blame my verse of loose inchastitye,
for paynting forth the thinges that hidden be,
only induced with varyetye,
sith most men marke what I in speech descrie.
Complayntes and prayses every man can write,
and passion foorth there loue in statly rime;
but of loues pleasure none did e're indite,
that have succeeded in this latter time.
Accept of it, deare loue, in gentle parte,
and better farr, ere large, shall honor thee. P ere lonel
THE MERIE BALLAD
NASHES DILDO
It was the merry moneth of February,
when younge men in their brauery
Rose in the morning, before breake of daye,
to seeke their valentynes soe fresh and gaye.
With whome they maye consorte in Somers shene,
and daunce the high degree in our towne greene:
And allso at Ester, and at Penticost,
preambulate the fieldes that fiorish most:
And goe into some village bordering neere,
to tast the Cakes & creame and such good cheere,
To see a playe of strange morality,
showen by the bachelours of magnaminity,
Whither our Country Franklins flockmeale swarme,
and John and Joane come marching arme in arme.
Even on the Hallowes of that blessed Sainct,
that doth true lovers with those ioyes acquaint,
I went, poore pilgrime, to my Ladyes shrine,
to see if shee would be my valentyne.
But out, alas, she was not to be found,
for she was shifted to another ground:
Good Justice Dudgeon, with his crabbed face,
with bills and staues had scard her from that place:
And she poore wench, compeld for sanctuary
to fly into a house of Venery.
Thither went I, and bouldly made inquire
if they had hackneys to lett out to hire,
And what they craud by order of their trade,
NASH HIS DILDO i5
to lett me ride a iourney on a iade.
With that, stept forth a foggy three-chinde dame,
that vsd to take younge wenches for to tame,
And askt me, if soothe were my request,
or only moud a question but in iest ?
" In iest," quoth I, " that terme yt as you will,
I come for game ; therefore giue me my Gill. "
" If that yt be, " quoth shee, " that you demaunde,
Then giue me first a godes peny in my hand;
For in our oratory, siccarly,
none enters in, to doe his deuory,
But he must paye his affidavit first,
and then perhaps He ease him of his thirst."
I, seeing her soe earnest for the box,
I gaue her her due, and shee the doare vnlockes.
Nowe I am entered, sweete Venus be my speede!
but wheres the female that must doe the deed ?
Through blind meanders, and through crooked
wayes,
She leads me onward, as my author sayes,
Vntill I came vnto a shady loft
where Venus bouncing vestures skyrmish fought. miSh oft]
And there she sett me in a Lether chayre,
and brought me forth, of wenches, straight a paire,
And bad me choose which might content my eye;
but she I sought, I could noe waye espye.
I spake her faire, and wisht her well to fare,
" but soe yt is, I must haue fresher ware ;
16 THE MERIE BALLAD
Wherefore, dame baud, soe dainty as you be,
fetch gentle Mistres Francis vnto me."
" By Holy dame," quoth shee, " and gods one
mother
I well perceatie you are a wyly brother ;
For if there be a morcell of better price,
youle find yt out, though I be now soe nice.
As you desire, soe shall you swiue with her;
but look, your purse-stringes shall abide yt deere;
For he whoole feed on quayles, must lauish crownes,
and Mistres Fraunces, in her velvett gownes,
Her ruffe and perriwigge soe fresh as May,
Cannot be kept for halfe a crowne a daye."
" Of price, good hostes, wee will not debate,
although you assize me at the highest rate;
Onely conduct me to this bonny bell,
and tenn good gobletes vnto thee I'le tell,
of gold or siluer, which shall like you best,
soe much I doe her company request."
Awaye she went, soe sweete a worde is golde,
it makes invasion in the strongest holde;
Loe, here she comes that hath my harte in keeping,
sing lullaby, my cares and fall a sleeping.
Sweeping she comes, as she would brush the ground:
her Ratling silcke my senses doe Confound:
Awaye I am ravisht: "voyd the chamber straight,
I must be straight vppon her with my waight."
"My Tomalyn," quoth she, and then she smiled:
NASH HIS DILDO 17
"I, I," quoth I, "soe more men are beguiled
With sighes and nattering woordes and teares,
When in your deedes much falshood still apeares."
"As how, my Tomalyn," blushing she replied,
" because I in this dauncing should abide ? [' school]
If that be it that breedes thy discontent,
we will remove the campe incontinent:
For shelter only, sweete harte, cam I hither,
and to avoyd the troublesome stormye weather;
And since the coast is cleare, I will be gonne,
for, but thy self, true louers I haue none."
With that she sprunge full lightly to my lippes,
and about my necke she hugges, she culles, she
clippes,
She wanton faynes, and falles vppon the bedd,
and often tosses to and froe her head;
She shakes her feete, and waggles with her tongue :
Oh, whoe is able to forbeare so longe?
" I come, I come, sweete Ladye, by thy leaue;"
softely my fingers up theis curtaines heaue,
And send me happye stealing by degrees,
first vnto the feete, and then vnto the knees,
And so ascend vnto her manly thigh—
a pox on lingering, when I come so nighe!
Smocke, climbe apace, that I may see my ioyes,
all earthly pleasures seeme to this but toyes,
Compard be these delightes which I behould,
which well might keepe a man from being olde.
MFRRY SONGS I.
18 THE MERIE BALLAD
A prettye rising wombe without a wenne,
that shine[s] as bright as any christell gemme,
And beares out like the riseing of a hill,
at whose decline the[r] runnes a fountayne still,
That hath her mouth besett with rugged briers,
resembling much a duskye nett of wires:
A lusty buttock, barrd with azure vaines,
whose comely swellinge, when my hand restraines,
Or harmles checketh with a wanton gripe,
it makes the fruite thereof too soone be ripe,
A pleasure pluckt to tymely from his springe
it is, dyes e're it can enioye the vsed thinge.
O Godes, that ever any thing soe sweete,
soe suddenly should fade awaye, and fleete!
Her armes and legges and all were spredd, )
But I was all vnarmed, )
Like one that Ouid's cursed hemlocke charmd,
\Petyt i\fs.] [So are my Limm's unwealdlie for the fight,]
that spent there strength in thought of your delight.
What shall I doe, to shewe my selfe a man?
Yt will not be, for ought that beauty cann:
I kisse, I clipp, I winck, I feele at will,
Yet lyes he dead, not feeling good or ill.
" By Holly dame (quoth she), and wilt not staund ?
now lett me roule and rub it in my hand!
[? silly] Perhapps the seely worme hath laboured sore,
and worked soe that it cann doe noe more:
Which if it be, as I doe greately dreads,
NASH HIS DILDO 19
I wish ten thousand times that I weare dead.
What ere it be, noe meanes shall lack in mee,
That maye avayle for his recoverye."
Which said, she tooke & rowld it on her thighc,
and looking downe on it, did groane and sighe;
She haundled it, and daunced it vpp and downe,
not ceasing till shee raisd it from [the swoune]; iP'tyt us.]
And then it flewe on her as it were wood,
And on her breech laboured and foam'd a good;
He rubd and peirct her euer to the bones,
digging as deepe as he could digg for stones;
Now high, now lowe, now stacking shorte and thicke,
and diving deeper, peircte her to the quicke;
Now with a girde he would his course rebate,
then would he take him to a stately gate.
Playe when he liste, and thrust he nere soe hard,
poore patient Grissell lyeth at his ward,
And giues and takes as blith and fresh as Maye,
and ever meetes him in the middle of the waye.
On her his eyes continually were fixt;
with his eye-browes, her melting eyes were mixt,
which, like the sunne, betwixt two glasses playes,
from the one to the other casting rebounding rayes.
She like a starr that, to requite his beames, p reguiid]
suckes the influence of sweete Phebus streamcs,
Imbathes the beames of his discending light
m the deepest fountaines of the purest light.
Shee, faire as fairest plannet in the skye,
20 THE MERIE BALLAD
her puritye to noe man doth denye ;
The verye chamber that includes her shine,
seemes as the pallace of the gods devine,
Whoe leades the daye about the Zodiacke,
and in the even, settes of the ocean lake;
Soe feirce and fervent in her radiaunce,
such fiyeing breath she dartes at every glaunce
/ww MS ]Se~ -^"s m'gnt inflame the verry mappe of age,
and cause pale death him suddenly t'asswage,
And stand and gaze vppon those orient lampes,
where Cupid all his ioyes incampes.
{Petyt ms.} [And sitts and plays with euerie atomie
That in her Sunne-beames swarme aboundantlie.j
T,hus striking, thus gazeing, we perseuere :
but nought soe sure that will continue ever :
" Fleete not soe fast," my ravisht senses cries,
" sith my Content vppon thy life reives,
Which brought so soone from his delightfull seates,
me, vnawares, of blissefull hope defeates ;
\Petyt ms.] [Togeather lett our equall motions stirr,
togeather lett vs Hue and dye, my deare ; ]
Togeather let vs march with one contente
and be consum[e]d without languishmente. "
As she prescribed, soe keepe we clocke and time,
and euery stroake in order like a chime.
Soe shee that here preferd me by her pyttye,
vnto our musicke ftamd a groaning dyttye :
" Alas, alas, that loue should be a sinne!
NASH HIS DILDO 21
even now my ioys and sorrows doe beginne ;
Hould wyde thy lappe, my lonely Danae,
and entertaine this golden showry see,
That drisling fallfs] into thy treasurye:"
sweet Aprill flowers not halfe soe pleasaunt be,
Nor Nilus overflowinge Egipt playne,
as is the balme that all her woombe destreynes.
"Now, oh now," she trickling moues her lippes,
and often to and fro she lightly startes and skippes:
She yerkes her legges, and fresketh with her heeles:
noe tongue can tell the pleasures that she feeles.
" I come, I come, sweete death, rocke mee a-sleepe!
sleepe, sleepe, desire, intombe me in the deepe!"
"Not soe, my deare and dearest," she replyed:
" from vs two [? sweete] this pleasure must not glide,
Vntill the sinnowie Chambers of our blood
withould themselves from this newe prisoned flood;
And then we will, that then will come soe soone,
Dissolued lye, as thoughe our dayes were done."
The whilest I speke, my soule is stealing hence, cms. /»]
and life forsakes his earthly residence :
" Staye but one houre,—an houre is not soe much,
nay, half an houre : and if thy haste be such,
Naye, but a quarter, I will aske noe more,
that thy departure, which torments me sore,
May now be lengthened by a litle pawse,
and take awaye this passions suddaine cause.
He heares me not; hard harted as he is,
THE MERIE BALLAD
[? hates] he is the scorne of time, and hath my blisse:
Time nere lookes backe; the riuer nere returnes;
a second spring must helpe, or elles I burne :
[Petyt A/s.] [No, no, the well is dry that should refresh me,
The glasse is runne of all my destinie:
Nature, of winter leauneth, nigardize,
Who, as he ouerbeares the streame with ice
That man nor beaste maie of their pleasance taste,
So shutts she up hir conduit all in haste,
And will not let her Nectar ouerfiowe,
Least mortall man immortall ioyes should knowe.
Adieu, unconstant loue, to thy disporte;
Adieu, false mirth, and melodies too shorte;
Adieu, faint-hearted instrument of lust,
That falsely hath betrayde our equale trust.]
Hensforth I will noe more implore thine ayde,
Or thee for euer of Cowardice shall vpprayd:
My little dildoe shall supplye your kinde,
a youth that is as light as leaues in winde:
He bendeth not, nor fouldeth any deale,
but standes as stiffe as he were made of Steele;
\Peiyt .us.] [And playes at peacock twixt my leggs right
blithe
And doeth my tickling swage with manie a sighe;]
And when I will, he doth refresh me well,
and neuer makes my tender belly swell."
Poore Priapus, thy kingdom needes must fall,
eccept thou thrust this weakling to the wall;
Behould how he vsurpes in bed and bower,
NASH HIS DILDO 23
and vndermines thy kingdome euery hower:
And slyly creepes betwene the barke and tree,
and suckes the sap while sleepe deteyneth thee:
He is my Mistres lake at euery sound, \$&%e-Petyt
and soone will tent a deepe intrenched wound;
He waytes on courtly nimphs that are full coye,
and bids them scorne the blind alluring boye;
[He giues yong guirls their gamesome suste- [Petyt arc.]
nance,
And euerie gaping mouth his full sufficiance.]
He fortifyes disdayne with foraigne artes,
while wantons chast delude all loving hartes.
If any wight a cruell Mistres serue,
And in dispaire full deeply pyne and sterue,
[Curse Eunicke dilldo, sencelesse counterfeit, \_petyt ms.]
Who sooth maie fill, but neuer can begett:
But if revenge enraged with dispaire,
That such a dwarf his wellfare should impaire,]
Would faine this woemans secretary knowe,
let him attend the markes that I shall showe:
He is a youth almost two handfulles high;
straight, round, and plump, and having but one eye,
Wherein the rheume soe fervently doth raine,
the Stigian gulfe can scarce his teares conteyne;
Running sometymes in thicke congealed glasse,
where he more like, downe into hell would passe:
An arme strong guider stedfastly him guides;
vpon a chariot of flue wheeles he rides,
THE MERIE BALLAD
Attird in white velvet or in silke,
And norisht with warme water or with milke,
And often alters pace as waves growe deepe;
for whoe, in places vnknowne, one pace can keepe ?
Sometymes he smothly slippeth downe a hill;
some other tymes, the stones his feete doe kill;
In clayey wayes he treadeth by and by,
[? piasheth] and placeth himself and all that standeth by:
Soe fares this royal] rider in his race,
plunging and sowsing forward in like case,
Bedasht, bespotted, and beplotted foule—
god giue thee shame, thou foule mishapen owle!
But free fiom greife a ladyes chamberleyne,
and canst thou not thy tatling tongue refrayne?
I tell the beardlesse blabb, beware of stripes,
and be advisd what thou soe vainely pipst;
If Illian queene knowe of thy brauery heere,
thou shouldst be whipt with nettles for thie geere.
Saint Dennis sheild me from such femall sprightes!
regard not, dames, what Cupids poett writes:
I pen this story onely for my selfe;
and, giving yt to such an actuall elfe,
Am quite discoraged in my musery,
sinse all my store to her seemes misery.
I am not as was Hercules the stout,
that to the seauenth Iourny could hould out;
I wantes those hearbes and rootes of Indian soyle,
that strengthen weary membeis in their toyle,
NASH HIS DILDO 25
Or drugges or electuaryes of newe devises,
that shame my purse, and tremble at thie prices.
I paid of both, [the] scott and lott allmost,
yet looke as lanke and leane as any ghost;
For that I allwayes had, I payd the wole,
which, for a poore man, is a princely dole—
what cann be added more to my renowne?
she lyeth breathlesse; I am taken downe;
The waves doe swell, the tide climes ore the bankes;
Judge, gentleweomen, doth this deserue no thankes?
And soe, good night vnto you, euery one;
For loe, our thred is spunne, our playes done.
[Thus hath my penne presum'd to please my friend-.
Oh mighst thou lykewise please Apollo's eye. \Petyt ms.
No, Honor brookes no such impietie,
Yett Ouid's wanton muse did not offend.
He is the fountaine whence my streames doe
flowe—
Forgive me if I speak as I was taught,
Alike to women utter all I knowe,
As longing to unlade so bad a fraught.
My mynde once purg'd of such lascivious witt,
With purifide words and hallowed verse,
Thy praises in large volumes shall rehearse
That better maie thy grauer view befitt.
Meanwhile ytt rests, you smile at what I write
Or for attempting banish me your sight.]
2b THOMAS YOU CANNOTT
THOMAS YOU CANNOTT
\c. 1603-5]
[Percy Folio Manuscript, page 521 of MS. Music
in Ciiapfell's Popular Music of the Olden Time,
i. 337: the words exist only in this MS.].
point = a tagged
lace to fasten the Thomas vntyed his points apace,
dress.
& kindly hee beseeches
that shee wold giue him time & space
ffor to vntye his bieeches.
" Content, Content, Content! " shee cryes.
he downe wzth his breeches imedyatlye,
& ouer her belly he Cast his thye.
But then shee Cryes " Thomas! you Cannott, you
Cannott!
0 Thomas, O Thomas, you Cannott!"
Thomas, like a liuely ladd,
lay close downe by her side:
he had the worst Courage that euer had man;
in conscience, the poie ffoole Cryed.
THOMAS YOU CANNOTT 27
But then he gott some Courage againe,
& he crept vpon her belly amaine,
& thought to haue liitt her in the right vaine;
But then shee Cryes " Thomas! you Cannott, you
Cannott!
O Thomas, O Thomas, you Cannott! "
This maid was discontented in mind,
& angry was wzth Thomas,
that he the time soe long had space,
& cold not p«forme his promise.
he promised her a thing, 2 handfull att least,
•which made this maid glad of such a ffeast;
but shee Cold not gett an Inch for a tast,
w^z'ch made her cry " Thomas! you Cannott, you
Cannott!
O Thomas, O Thomas, you Cannott!
Thomas went to Venus, the goddesse of loue,
& hartily he did pray,
that this ffaire maid might constant proue
till he performed what he did say.
in hart & mind they both wee[r]e content;
but ere he came att her, his courage was spent,
w^z'ch made this maid grow discontent,
and angry was wzth Thomas, wz'th Thomas,
and angry was wzth Thomas.
Vulcan & venus, wzth Mars & Apollo,
they all 4 swore they wold ayd him;
28 THOMAS YOU CANNOTT
Mars lent him his buckler & vulcan hfis hamwer,]
and downe by her side he laid him.
[Page 522, a fragment apart from the MS.]
then...........
but all her body qu(?) . . . .
he tickled her, laid (?).....
& then shee Cryes.....
& then shee Cryes f . . Tho[mas]
This mayd wa.......
that ffortune had lent hi ... .
ffull oft he had beene.....
yett neuer cold stop.....
he tickeled her tuch.....
he made her to tr......
& Thomas was glad he . . .
& then shee cryes " ....
& then shee cryes " ....
WHO IS TO MARRY ME ? 29
WHO IS TO MARRY ME?
[b. 1609]
[These words are set to music in Ayics by Alfonso
Ferrabosco, viiij.
Younge and simple though I am,
I haue hearde of Cupids name;
Guesse I can, what thinge it is,
Men desire when they doe kisse.
Smoake can neuer burne, they say;
But the flame that followes, may.
I am not so foule or fayre,
To be proude, or to dispaire;
Yet my lipps haue oft obseru'd,
Men that kisse them, presse them hard,
As glad louers vse to doe
When there newe met loues they wooe.
Faithe, 'tis but a fooiishe minde;
Yet me thinkes, a heate I finde,
Like thirst longing, that doth bide
Euer one my weaker side,
Where they say my harte doth moue:
Venus grante it be not loue
3o WHO IS TO MARRY ME ?
If it be, alias what then,
Were not Women made for men?
As good 'tis, a thing were past,
That must needes be done at last,
Roses that are ouerblowne,
Growe lesse sweete, then fall alone.
Yet noe Churle nor silken Gull,
Shall my maiden blossome pull,
Who shall not I soone can tell:
Whoe shall, I would I could as well.
This I know who ere hee be,
Loue hee must, or flatter mee.
Marryed Wyues may take and leaue;
Where they please, refuse, receaue;
Wee poore Maydes must not doe soe;
Wee must answer yea with noe;
Wee seeme strange, coye, and curste,
And faine wee would doe, if wee durst.
THE COURTEOUS KNIGHT
THE COURTEOUS KNIGHT
[i6oq]
[Deuteromelia (with music) 1609; cf. "The Baffled
Knight: or The Ladys Policy " (Rox. Ballads,
ii. 281)].
Yonder comes a courteous Knight,
Lustily raking over the lay,
He was well ware of a bonny lass,
As she came wandering over the way:
Then she sang down a down,
Hey down deny.
Then she sang down a down,
Hey down derry.
Jove you speed, fair Lady, he said,
Amongst the leaves that be so green;
If I were a King, and wore a Crown,
Full soon fair Lady, should thou be a Queen.
Then she sang down a down, &c.
Also Jove save you, fair Lad}',
Among the Roses that be so red;
If I have not my will of you,
Full soon fair Lady, shall I be dead.
Then she sang down a down, &c.
THE COURTEOUS KNIGHT
Then he lookt East, then he lookt West,
He lookt North, so did he South:
He could not find a privy place,
For all lay in the Devil's mouth.
Then she sang down a down, &c.
If }OU will cany me gentle Sir,
A maid unto my fathei's hall;
Then you shall have your will of me
Under purple and under Pall.
Then she sang down a down, &c.
He set her upon a steed,
And himself upon another;
And all the day he rode her by,
As tho' they had been sister and brother.
Then she sang down a down, &c.
When she came to her fathers hall,
It was well walled round about;
She rode in at the wicket gate,
And shut the four ear'd fool without.
Then she sang down a down, &c.
You had me (quoth she) abroad in the field,
Among the com, amidst the hay,
Where you might had your will of me,
For, in good faith Sir, I ne'er said nay.
Then she sang down a down, &c.
THE COURTEOUS KNIGHT
You had me also amid the field,
Among the rushes that were so brown;
Where you might had your will of me,
But you had not the fare to lay me down.
Then she sang down a down, &c.
He pull'd out his nut-brown sword,
And wip'd the rust off with his sleeve:
And said; Joves Curse come to his heart,
That any Woman would believe.
Then she sang down a down, &c.
When you have your own true love,
A mile or twain out of the Town,
Spare not for her gay cloathing,
But lay her body flat on the ground.
Then she sang down a down, &c.
MERRY SONGS I.
34 HEE THAT HATH NO MISTRESSE
HEE THAT HATH NO MISTRESSE
[1610]
[From Ayres by W. Corkine].
Hee that hath no mistresse,
must not weare a fauor,
he that wooes a mistris,
must serue before he haue her,
he that hath no bedfellow,
must lie alone,
And he that hath no Lady,
must be content with lone,
and so must I,
for why alas my loue and I are parted,
my False Cupid I will haue the whipt,
and haue thy mother carted.
VENUS, MARS, AND CUPID 35
VENUS, MARS, AND CUPID
[c. 1610-20]
[Rawl. MS. Poet. 1335, leaf 31 back].
Upon a certaine day, when Mars and Venus met
together,
All in a shady bower, wheras she did invite him
thether;
But when as Cupid did espy Mars hit the mark
so narrow
He could not abide, but out be cryed
"Come of[f] of my mother, Sirrah!"
"Peace, boy!" quoth he, "and give consent, for
Venus is a woman,
born to give the world content, and discontent
to no man.
Se how I hold her in mine armes," the boy thought
he had run her through,
And then cryed the lad, as if he had bin mad,
" Come of[f] of my mother, Sirrah, Sirrah!
Come of[f] of my mother Sirrah!"
"I pray the, Cupid, hold thy peace; I will not
hurt thy mother;
36 VENUS, MARS, AND CUPID
Her smiles keep all the world at ease; all dis-
content is ded.
If thou will give me leave to draw my golden
headed arrow,
lie give thee a groat," "all's one for that,
Come of[f]of my mother, Sirrah, Sirrah!
Come of[f] of my mother Sirrah!"
"Peace, boy!" quoth Venus, this is Mars the
furious god of batle;
All the heavenly plannets him obey, then cease
thy needless pratle.
He is a god, and will comand; hee'l neither beg
nor borrow."
"----Be he god or divil, let him be more civill:
Come of[f] of my mother, Sirrah, Sirrah.'
Come of[f] of my mother Sirrah!"
She tooke the child, and kist his cheek, saying
" Mars his rage is over ;
His friends that we all must keep; se, nothing
thou discover;
He will not stay to trouble thee, heel go from
hence to-morrow."
"I care not, I; let him go by and by,
Come of[f ] of my mother, Sirrah!
Come of[f] of my mother, Sirrah !"
NARCISSUS, COME KISS US! 37
NARCISSUS, COME KISS US!
[c. 1610-50]
\Rawl. MS. Poet.; also Ane Pleasant Garden],
As I was a walking, I cannot tell where,
Nor whither, in verse or in prose;
Nor know I the meaning, altho' they all sate,
Even, as it were, under my nose.
But ever and ever the ladies all cried,
" Narcissus, come kiss us, and love us beside."
There came in a lad from I cannot tell where,
With I cannot tell what in his hand;
It was a fine thing, tho' it had little sense,
But yet it would lustily stand.
Then ever and ever the ladies all cried,
" Narcissus, come kiss us, and love us beside."
Some shaked it, some stroked it, some kiss'd it,
For it looked so lovely indeed, [it's said,
All loved it as honey, and none were afraid,
Because of their bodily need.
Then ever and ever the ladies all cried,
"Narcissus, come kiss us, and love us beside."
38 NARCISSUS, COME KISS US!
At length he did put his pretty fine toy
(I cannot tell were 'twas) below,
Into one of these ladies, I cannot tell" why,
Nor wherefore, that he should do so.
Then ever and ever the ladies all cried,
"Narcissus, come kiss us, and love us beside."
But when these fair ladies had sported all night,
And rifled Dame Nature's scant store;
And pleasured themselves with Venus' delight,
Till the youth could hardly do more.
Then ever and ever the ladies all cried,
" Narcissus, come kiss us, and love us beside."
The lad being tired, began to retreat,
And hang down his head like a flower;
The ladies the more did desire a new heat,
But alace! it was out of his power.
But ever and ever the ladies all cried,
" Narcissus, come kiss us, and love us beside."
When full forty weeks were expired,
A pitiful story to tell,
These ladies did get what they little desired,
For their bellies began for to swell.
Still ever and ever the ladies all cried,
" Narcissus, come kiss us, and love us beside."
Lucina in pity then sent them her aid,
To cese them of all their sorrow;
NARCISSUS, COME KISS US!
But when these fair ladies were once brought to bed,
They still had the same mind tomorrow.
And dandling theii babies they rantingly—cried,
"Narcissus, shant miss us, and be by our side!"
4o THE COURTIERS GOOD MORROW
THE COURTIERS GOOD MORROW TO
HIS MISTRIS
[i&ii]
[From Thomas Ravenscroft's Melismata].
Canst thou loue, and lie alone,
Loue is so, loue is so disgraced:
Pleasure is best, wherein is rest
In a heart embraced.
Rise, rise, rise,
Day-light doe not burn out,
Bels doe ring,
And Birdes doe sing,
Onely I that mourne out.
Morning Starre doth now appeare,
Wind is husht, and skies cleare:
Come come away, come come away,
Canst thou loue and burne out day?
Rise, rise, rise, rise,
Day-light doe not burne out,
Bels doe ring,
Birds doe sing,
Onely I that mourne out.
ROOM FOR A JOVIAL TINKER 41
ROOM FOR A JOVIAL TINKER: OLD
BRASS TO MEND
[c. 1616]
Here is a Tinker full of mettle,
The which can mend pot, pan, or Kettle;
For stopping of holes is his delight,
His work goes forward day and night.
If there be any women brave
Whose Coldrons need of mending have,
Send for this Tinker nere deny him,
He'l do your work well if you try him.
A proof of him Pie forthwith show,
'Cause you his workmanship may know.
\Rox. Ballads, iii. 230: cf " The Tinker" from
Merry Drollery (1616), p. 142 post: tune,
Behold the man &c].
It was a Lady of the North she lov'd a Gentleman,
And knew not well what course to take, to use
him now and than.
Wherefore she writ a Letter, and seal'd it with
her hand,
And bid him be a Tinker, to mend both pot
and pan,
With a hey ho, hey, derry derry down; with hey
trey, down down, derry.
42 ROOM FOR A JOVIAL TINKER
And when the merry Gentleman the Letter he
did read,
He got a budget on his back, and Apron with
all speed,
His pretty shears and pincers, so well they did
agree,
With a long pike staff upon his back, came tripping
o're the Lee.
With a hey ho, hey, derry derry down; with hey
trey, down down, derry.
When he came to the Ladye's house, he knocked
at the gate,
Then answered this Lady gay, "Who knocketh
there so late ? "
"Tis I, Madam," the Tinker said, "I work for
gold and fee:
If you have any broken pots or pans, come
bring them all to me."
With a hey ho, hey, derry derry down; with hey
trey, down down, derry.
" I am the bravest Tinker that lives beneath the Sun,
If you have any work to do, you shall have it
well done;
I have brasse within my budget, and punching
under my Apron,
I'm come unto your Ladyship, and mean to
mend your Coldron."
ROOM FOR A JOVIAL TINKER 43
With a hey ho, hey, derry derry down; with hey
trey, down down, derry.
"I prethee," said the Lady gay, "bring now
thy budget in
I have store of work for thee to do, if thou
wilt once begin."
Now when the Tinker he came in, that did the
budget bear,
"God blesse," quoth he, "your Ladyship! God
save you Madam fair."
With hey ho, hey, derry derry down; with hey
trey, down down, derry.
But when the Lady knew his face, she then
began to wink,
"Hast, lusty Butler!" then quoth she, " to fetch
the man some drink.
Give him such meat as we do eat, and drink as
we do use,
It is not for a Tinker's Trad good liquor to
refuse."
With hey ho, hey, derry derry down; with hey
trey down down, derry.
But when that he had eat and drunk, the truth
of all is so,
The Lady took him by the sleeve, her work to
him to show,
44 ROOM FOR A JOVIAL TINKER
" Let up thy Tools, Tinker," quoth she, " and
see there be none lost,
And mend my Kettle handsomely, what ere it
doth me cost."
With hey ho, hey, derry derry down; with hey
trey, down down, derry.
" Your work, Madam, shall be well done, if you
will pay me for't;
For every nayl that I do drive, you shall give
me a mark.
If I do not drive the nayl to th'head, I'le have
nothing for my pain,
And what I do receive of you shall be return'd again."
With hey ho, hey, derry derry down; with hey
trey, down down, derry.
At last being come into the Room, where he the
work should do,
The Lady lay down on the bed, so did the
Tinker too:
Although the Tinker knockt amain, the Lady was
not offended,
But before that she rose from the bed, her Coldron
was well mended.
With hey ho, hey, derry derry down; with hey
trey, down down, derry.
ROOM FOR A JOVIAL TINKER 45
But when his work was at an end, which he did
in the dark,
She put her hand into her purse and gave him
twenty mark,
"Heres mony for thy work," said she, "and
I thank thee for thy pain,
And when my Coldron mending lacks I'le send
for thee again."
With hey ho, hey, derry derry down; with hey
trey, down down, derry.
The Tinker he was well content for that which
he had done,
So took his budget on his back,, and quickly he
was gone.
Then the Lady to her husband went, " O my dear
Lord," quoth she,
I have set the bravest Tinker at work that ever
you did see."
With hey ho, hey, derry derry down; with hey
trey, down down, derry.
"No fault at all this Tinker hath, but he takes
dear for his work,
That little time that he wrought here it cost me
twenty mark."
"If you had been so wise," quoth he, "for to
have held your own,
46 ROOM FOR A JOVIAL TINKER
Before you set him to this work the price you
might have known."
With hey ho, hey, derry derry down; with hey
trey, down down, derry.
"Pray hold your peace, my Lord," quoth she,
" and think it not too dear.
If you cou'd doo't so well 'twould save you
forty pound a year."
With that the Lord most lovingly, to make all
things amends,
He kindly kist his Lady gay, and so they both
were friends.
With hey ho, hey, derry derry down; with hey
trey, down down, derry.
You merry Tinkers, every one, that hear this
new-made Sonnet,
When as you do a Lady's work be sure you
think upon it;
Drive home your nayls to the very head, and
do your work profoundly,
And then no doubt your Mistresses will pay you
for it soundly.
With hey ho, hey, derry derry down; with hey
trey, down down, deny.
O JOLLY ROBIN 47
O JOLLY ROBIN
[c. 1620-50]
[Percy Folio Manuscript, page 95 of MS.].
"O lolly Robin, hold thy hande!
I am not tyde in 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, fie! "
"what a deale of doe is here, is kere, is here!"
" I begin to fainta!
heyda, fye! oh ! oh ! oh ! oh ! "
" what was thai you sayd ?
heyda! heyda! heyda ! heyda!
you will neuer leaue till I be paide."
"O lolly Robin, doe thy worst!
thou canst not make my belly buist.
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, isheeie! "
"I begin to fainta!
48 O JOLLY ROBIN
heyda, fye! oh! oh! oh! oh!
"what was that you sayd?
heyda! heyda! heyda! heyda!
you will neuer leaue till I be paide."
WHEN PHEBUS ADDREST 49
WHEN PHEBUS ADDREST
[c. 1620-50]
{Percy Folio Manuscript, page 96 of MS.; prob-
ably the earliest copy known].
When Phebus addrest himselfe to the west,
& set vp his rest below,
Cynthia agreed in her gliteringe weede
her bewtie on me to bestow;
& walking alone, attended by none,
by chance I hard one crye
" O doe not, doe not, kill me yett,
for I am not prepared to dye! "
Wz'th that I drew neare to see & to heare,
& strange did appeare such a showe;
the Moone it was bright, & gaue such a light
as ffitts not each wight to know:
a man & a Mayd together were Laid,
& eucr the mayd shee did cry,
" 0 doe not, doe not, kill me yet, I,
for I am not resolued to dye! "
The youth was rough, he tooke vp her stuffe,
& to blindmans bufife they did goe;
MERRY SONGS I. 4
WHEN PHEBUS ADDREST
hee kept such a coyle, 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 crye,
" O doe not, doe not, kill me yett,
for I am not resolued to dye! "
wj'th 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!"
FRYAR AND BOYE 31
FRYAR AND BOYE
[c. 1620-50]
[Percy Folio Manuscript, p. 104 of MS.: the
completest copy known],
That god that dyed for vs all
& dranke both vinigar & gall,
bringe vs out of balle,
and giue them both good life & longe
wh'ch listen doe vnto my songe,
or tend vnto my talle!
there dwelt a man in my countrye
■which in his life had wiues 3,
a blessing full of Ioye!
By the first wife a sonne he had,
w/«'ch was a prettye sturdye ladde,
a good vnhappy boye.
His father loued him well,
but his stepmother neue[r] a deale,—
I tell you as I thinke,—
All things shee thought lost, by the roode,
wh'ch to the boy did anye good,
as either meate or drinke;
unlucky or full of
52
FRYAR AND BOYE
And yet I-wis it was but badde,
nor halfe enouge therof he hade,
but euermore the worst;
And therfore euill might shee fare,
that did the litle boy such caie,
soe forth as shee durst.
Vnto the man the wifife gan say,
" I wold you wold put this boy awaye,
& that right soone in haste;
Trulie he is a cursed ladde!
I wold some other man him hade
t.e. chasten that wold him better chast."
Then said the goodman, "dame, not soe,
I will not lett the yonge boy goe,
he is but tender of age;
Hee shall this yeere wz'th me abyde
till he be growne more strong & tryde
ffor to win better wage:
"Wee haue a man, a sturdie lout,
which keepeth our neate the feilds about,
& sleepeth all the day,
Hee shall come home, as god me sheeld,
and the Boy shall into the feild
to keepe them if hee may."
Then sayd the wiffe in verament,
" husband, therto I giue consent,
FRYAR AND BOYE fa
for that I thinke it neede."
On the Morrow when it was day,
the litle boy went on his way
vnto the feild wz'th speede.
Off noe man hee tooke anye care,
but song " hey ho! away the Mare! "
much mirth he did pursue;
fforth hee went wz'th might & maine
vntill he came vnto the plaine,
where he his dinner drew.
But when he saw it was soe bad,
full litle list therto he had,
but put it from sight,
Saying he had noe list to tast,
but that his hunger still shold last
till hee came home att Night.
And as the boy sate on a hill,
there came an old man him vntill,
was walking by the way;
"Sonne," he said, "god thee see!"
" now welcome, father, may you bee! "
the little boy gan say.
The old man sayd, " I hunger sore;
then hast thou any meate in store
w&ch thou mightest giue to me ? "
54
FRYAR AND BOYE
The child replyed, " soe god me saue!
to such poore victualls as I haue,
right welcome shall you be."
Of this the old man was full gladd,
the boy drew forth such as he hadd,
& sayd "goe to gladlie."
The old man easie was to please,
he eate & made himselfe att ease,
saying, " sonne, god amercye!
"Sonne," he sayd, " thou hast giuen meate to me,
& I will giue 3 things to thee,
what ere thou wilt intreat."
Then sayd the boy, " tis best, I trow,
that yee bestow on me a bowe
w?'th ■which I buids may gett."
"A bow, my sonne, I will tnee giue,
the which, shall Last while thou dost Hue,
was neuer bow moie fitt!
ffor if thou shoot therin all day,
waking or winking, or anye waye,
the marke thou shalt hitt."
Now when the bowe in hand he felt,
& had the arrowes vnder his belt,
hartilye he laught I-wiss,
And sayd, " had I a pipe w/th-all,
FRYAR AND BOYE 55
tho neuer litle or soe small,
I then had all my wishe."
"A pipe, sonne, thou shalt haue alsoe,
w^z'ch in true Musicke soe shall goe—
I put thee out of doubt—
As who thai liues & shall it heare,
shall haue noe power to forbeare,
but laugh & leape about.
" Now tell me what the 3d. shalbee;
for 3 things I will giue to thee
as I haue sayd before."
The boy then smiling, answere made,
" I haue enough for my pore trade,
I will desire noe more."
The old man sayd, " my troth is plight,
thou shalt haue all I thee behight;
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;
" when meate my father giues to mee,
shee wishes poyson it might bee,
and stares me in the face:
Now when shee gazeth on me soe,
I wold shee might a rapp let goe
thai might ring through the place."
56 FRYAR AND BOYE
The old man answered then anon,
"when-ere shee lookes thy face vpon,
her tayle shall wind the home
Soe Lowdlye, that who shold it heare
shall not be able to forbeare,
but laugh her vnto scome.
" Soe, farwell sonne! " the old man cryed;
" god keepe you, Sz'r! " the boy replyed,
" I take my leaue of thee!
God, that blest of all things, may
keepe thee save both night & day!"
" gramercy, sonne! " sayd hee.
When it grew necre vpon the night,
lacke, well pi«pared, hied home full right; —
itt was his oidinance;—
And as he went his pipe did blow,
the whilest his cattell on a row
about him gan to dance;
Thus to the towne he pipt full trim,
his skipping beasts did ffollow him
into his ffathers close.
He went & put them [up] each one;
w^z'ch done, he homewards went anon;
vnto his fathers hall he gooes.
His ffather att his supper sate,
& litle lacke espyed well thatt,
FRYAR AND BOYE 57
and said to him anon,
"father, all day I kept yo«r neate,
at night I pray you giue me some meate,
I am hungrye, by Saint Iohn!
" Meateless I haue lyen all the day,
& kept yo?<r beasts, they did not stray;
My dinner was but ill."
His ffather tooke a Capon winge,
& at the boy he did it fling,
bidding him eate his fill.
This greeued his stepdames hart full sore,
who lothed the Ladd still more & moie;
shee stared him in the face:
wz'th that shee let goe such a' blast
that made the people all agast,
itt sounded through the place;
Each one laught & made good game,
but the curst wife grew red for shame
and wisht shee had beene gone.
"Perdy," the boy sayd, "well I wott
that gun was both well charged and shott,
and might haue broke a stone."
ffull curstlye shee lookt on him tho;
that looke another cracke lett goe
w^z'ch did a thunder rise.
Q«oth the boy, " did you euer see
58 FRYAR AND BOYE
a woman let her pelletts flee
More thicke and more at ease?
" ffye! " said the boy vnto his dame,
" temper your teltale bum»z, for shame! "
w^z'ch made her full of sorrow.
" Dame,'' said the goodman, " goe thy way,
for why, I sweare, by night nor day
thy geere is not to borrow."
Now afterwards, as you shall heare,
Vnto the house there came a fryar,
& lay there all the night.
The wiffe this fryer loued as a Saint,
and to him made a great complaint
of Iackes most vile despight.
"We haue," qwth shee, "w/thin, I-wis,
a wiced boy,—none shrewder is,—
w/zz'ch doth me mighty care;
I dare not looke vpon his face,
or hardly tell my shamefull case,
soe filthylie I fare;
"for gods loue meet this boy to-monow,
beat him well, & giue him sorrow,
and make him blind or lame."
The fryar swore he wold him beat,
the wiffe prayd him not to forgett,
the boy did her much shame:
FRYAR AND BOYE 59
" Some wiche he is," quoth shee, " I smell."
"but," q?«>th the fryar, "He beat him well!
of that take you noe care;
lie teach him witchcraft, if I may."
" O," quoth the wiffe, " doe soe, I pray,
lay on & doe not spare."
Early next morne the boy arose,
& to the field full soone he goes,
his cattell for to driue.
The fryer then vp as early gatt,
he was afrayd to come to late,
he ran full fast & blythe.
But when he came vnto the land,
he found where litle Iacke di/-1. btand,
keeping his beasts alone.
"Now, boy," he said, "god giue thee shame!
what hast thou done to thy stepdame?
tell me forthw/th anon!
"And if thou canst not quitt thee well,
Be beate thee till thy body swell,
I will not longer byde."
The boy replyed, "what ayleth thee?
my stepdame is as well as thee;
what needs you thus to Chyde?
"Come, will you see my arrow flye
and hitt yon small bird in the eye,
6o FRYAR AND BOYE
& other things wz'thall ?
Sir fryer, tho I haue litle witt,
yett yonder bird I meane to hitt,
& giue her you I shall."
There sate a small birde in a bryar:
"Shoot, shoot, you wagg," then sayd the fryer,
" for that I long to see."
lacke hitt the bird vpon the head
soe right thai shee fell downe for dead,
noe further cold shee flee.
ffast to the bush the fryar went,
laid hold on & vp the bird in hand hee hent,
much wondeiing at the chance.
Meane while lacke tooke his pipe & playd
soe lowd, the fryar grew mad apaide,
& fell to skip and dance;
Now sooner was the pipes sound heard,
but Bedlam like he bou[n] cet & fared,
& leapt the bush about;
The sharpe bryars cacth him by the face,
and by the breech & other place,
thai fast the blood ran out;
It tare his clothes downe to the skirt,
his cope, his coole, his linen shirt,
& euery other weede.
The thorues this while were rough and thicke,
cowl
garment
FRYAR AND BOYE
& did his priuy members pricke,
that fast they gan to bleede.
Iacke, as he piped, laught amonge;
the fryar wzth biyars was vildlye stunge,
he hopped wonderous hye.
Att last the fryar held vp his hand,
& said, " I can noe longer stand'
Oh! I shall dancing d}e!
" 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 the other side,
thou hast free leaue to goe.''
Out of the bush the fiyai then went,
all Martird, raggd, scratcht & rent,
& torne on euery side;
Hardly on him was left a clout
to wrap his belly round about,
his harlotrye to hide.
The thornes had sciatcht him by the face,
the hands, the thighes, & euery place,
he was all bathed in bloode
Soe much, that who the fryar did see,
for feare of him was fame to flee,
thinking he had beene woode.
62
FRYAR AND BOYE
When to the good wife home he came,
he made noe biagge for verry shame
to see his clothes rent all;
Much sorrow in his hart he had,
mad & euery man did guesse him made
when he was in the hall.
The goodwiffe said, " where hast thou beene ?
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,
noe man him conquer may."
wz'th that the goodman he came in,
made complaint the wiffe sett on her madding pin,
cryed, " heeres a foule array!
thy sonne, that is thy liffe & deere,
hath almost slaine the holy fryar,
alas & welaway! "
The goodman said, " Benedicitee!
what hath the vile boy done to thee ?
now tell me wz'thout let."
"The devill him take!" the fryar he sayd,
"he made me dance, despite my head,
to gambol among the thornes the hey-to-bee."
The goodman said vnto him thoe,
" father! hadst thou beene murdered soe,
FRYAR AND BOYE
it had beene deadly sine."
The fryar to him made this replye,
" the pipe did sound soe Merrilye
that I cold ne\er blin."
Now when it grew to almost night,
Iacke the boy came home full light
as he was wont to doo;
But when he came into the hall,
full soone his father did him call,
& bad him come him too:
"Boy," he said, "come tell me heare,
what hast thou done \nto this fiyer?
lye not in any thing."
"ffather," he said, "now by my bLthe,
I plaide him but a fitt of Mirth
& pipet him vp a spiing."
"That pipe," said his father, "wold I heare."
"now god forbidd!" cryed out the fryar;
his hands he then did wringe.
"You shall," the boy said, "by gods grace."
the ffryar replyed, "woe & alas!"
making his sorrowes ringe.
"ffor gods loue!" said the warched fryar,
" & if you will that strange pipe heare,
binde me fast to a post!
for sure my fortune thus I reade,
64 FRYAY AND BOYE
if dance I doe, I am but deade,
my woe-full life is lost!"
Strong ropes they tooke, both shavpe and round,
& to the post the fryer bounde
in the middest of the hall.
All they wvfo'ch att the table sate,
laughed and made good sport theratt,
sayinge, " fryer, thou canst not fall! "
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."
WVth that his pipe he quicklye sent,
& pipt, the whilest in verament
each creature gan to dance;
Lightly the scikipt & leapt about,
throwing- out yarking in their leggs, now in, now out,
striuing aloft to prance.
The good man, as in sad dispaire,
leapt out & through and ore his chayre,
noe man cold caper hyer;
Some others leapt quite ore the stockes,
some start att strawes & fell att blockes,
some wallowed in the fyer.
FRYAR AND BOYE 65
The goodman made himselfe good sportt
to see them dance in this madd sortt;
the goodwiffe sate not still,
But as shee dancet shee looket on lacke,
& fast her tayle did double each cracke,
lowd as a water Mill.
The fryer this while was almost lost,
he knocket his pate against the post,
it was his dancing grace;
The rope rubd him vnder the chinn
that the blood ran from his tattered sckin
in many a Naked place.
lacke, piping, ran into the street;
they followed him wz'th nimble ffeLt,
hauing noe power to stay,
And in their hast they dore did cracke,
eche tumbling over his ffellows backe
vnmindfull of their way.
The Neighbors that were dwelling by,
hearing the pipe soe Merrilye,
came dancing to the gate;
Some leapt ore dores, some oer the hatch,
Noe man wold stay to draw the latch
but thought they came to Late;
Some sicke or sleeping in their bedd,
as the by chance lift vp their heade,
MERRY SONGS I. t
66 FRYAR AND BOYE
were wz'th the pipe awaked;
Straight forth the start thorrow dores & kockes,
some in their shirts, some in their smockes,
& some starke belly naked.
When all were gathered round about,
here was a vild vnrulye rout
that dancing in the street,
Of w/iz'ch, some lame that cold not goe,
striuing to leape, did tumble soe
they dancet on hands & feet.
Iacke tyred wz'th the sport said, " now He rest."
" doe," qaoth his father, " I hold it best,
thou cloyest me wz'th this cheere;
I pray thee, boy, now quiett sitt;
in faith this was the Merry est fitt
I heard this 7 yeere."
All those that dancing thither came,
laught heartilye & made good game,
yett some gott many a fall.
" Thou cursed boy! " cryed out the fryar,
" heere I doe sumzzzon thee to appeare
beffore the Official!!
" Looke thou be there on fryday next;
He meet thee then, thou now p«zplext,
for to ordaine thee sorrow."
The boy replyed, " I make avowe,
FRYAR AND BOYE 67
fryer, He appeare as soone as thou,
if fryday were to Morrowe."
But fryday came, as you shall heare;
Iackes stepdam & the dancing fryar,
together they were mett,
And other people a great pace
flockt to the court to heare eche case:
the OfEciall was sett.
Much c[i]uill matters were to doo,
more libells read then one o tow
both [against priest & clarke;]
Some there had testaments to proue,
some women there through wanton loue,
w/z/ch gott strokes in the darke.
Each Proctor there did plead his case;
when forth did stepp fryer Topias
& Iackes stepdame alsoe:
"Szr Officiall," a-lowd said hee,
" I haue brought a wicked boy to thee,
hath done me mightye woe;
" He is a wiche, as I doe feare,
in Orleance he can find noe peere,
this of my troth I know."
"He is a Devill," quoth the wiffe,
" & almost hath bereaued my liffe! "
at that her taile did blow.
68 FRYAR AND BOYE
Soe lowd, the assembly laught theratt,
& said 'her pistolls cracke was flatt,
the charge was all amisse.'
"Dame," quoth the gentle Officiall,
"proceed & tell me forth thy tale,
& doe not let for this."
The wiffe that feared another cracke,
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 of thee;
now euill mayst thou speed! "
The fryer said, " Sz'r Officiall!
this wicked boy will vexe vs all
vnlesse you doe him chast.
Sz'r, he hath yett a pipe trulye
will make you dance & leape full hie
& breake yo«r hart at last."
The Officiall replyd, " p^rdee!
such a pipe faine wold I see,
& what mirth it can make."
" Now god forbidd' " replyed the fryar,
" that ere wee shold that vild pipe heare
ere I my way hence take."
"Pipe on, Iacke!" sayd the officiall,
"& let me heare thy cuning all."
FRYAR AND BOYE 69
Iacke blew his pipe full loude
That euery man start vp & dancte;
Proctors & preists, and somners pranct,
& all in that great crowde;
Over the deske the officiall ran,
& hopt vpon the table, then
straight Iumpt vnto the fiore.
The fryer that danct as fast as hee,
mett him midway, & dangerouslye
broke eithers face full sore.
The register leapt from his pen,
& hopt into the throng of men,
his inkhorne in his hande;
wzth swinging round about his head,
some he strucke blind, some almost dead,
some they cold hardly stand.
The proctors flung their bills about,
the goodwiues tayle gaue many a shout,
p« fuming all the Mirthe;
The Somners, as they had beene woode,
leapt ore the formes & seates a goode,
& wallowed on the earth.
Wenches thai for their pennance came,
& other Meeds of wordlye shame,
danct euery one as fast;
Each sett on a merry pin,
'O
FRYAR AND BOYE
some broke their heads, & some their shin,
& some their noses brast.
The officiall thus sore turmayld,
Halfe swelt with sweat, & almost spoyld,
cryed to the wanton childe
'To pipe noe more uz'thin that place,
but stay the sound, euen for gods grace,
& loue of Mary Milde.'
Iacke sayd, " as you will, it shal be,
provided I may hence goe free,
& no man doe me wrong,
Neither this woman nor this fryer,
nor any other creature heere."
he answered him anon,
" Iacke, I to thee my promise plight,
in thy defence I mean to fight,
& will oppose thy fone."
Iacke ceast his pipes: then all still stood;
some laughing hard, some raging woode.
soe pat ted at that tide
The Officiall & the Somner,
the stepdame & the wicked fryer,
w?th much Ioy, mirth, and pride.
AS I WAS RIDINGE BY THE WAY 71
AS I WAS RIDINGE BY THE WAY
[c. 1620-50].
[Percy Folio Manuscript, page 104 of MS.].
As I was ryding by the way,
a woman pwfered me a bagge,
& 4ot>'e. cattell more, to stay
& giue her belly but a swagge.
A pox on the whore, they were but scrapps
that I supposed was single monye/
the cattell had lice, or else p^rhapps
I had light and tooke her by the coney.
I had not further rydd a Myle
but I mett wzth a market Maide
who sunge, the way for to beguile,
in these same words, and thus shee said:
" I see the Bull dothe Bull the cow;
& shall I hue a maiden stilP
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 ?"
72 AS I WAS RIDINGE BY THE WAY
"\w'th all my hart, Sz'r! yo«r nose in my arse,"
quoth she, "for to keepe out the winde."
Shee ryde vpon a tyred mare,
& to reuenge noe time wzthstoode,
I bluntlye asket pro to occupye her;
but first shee wold know wherfore that was good.
"It will make thee liuely," I did say,
"put Ioy and spiritt in stead of woee."
" then occupy my mare, I pray,
good Szr, for shee can hardlye goe."
I milder grew, & wold but feele:
She said she was neuer felt, but kist;
I was content, & shee said, " weele,
youst kisse my bum and feele my fist."
I was red & pale with shame & spight
to be soe answered of the drabb,
that I swore, & spurrd, & away did ride,
& of my wooinge was noe blabbe.
OFF A PURITANE
73
OFF A PURTTANE
[c. 1620-50]
[Percy Folio Manuscript, page 182 of MS.J.
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.
"Alas! what wold they wicked say?"
quoth 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 pa/t,—■
I speake itt out of pure devotion,—
by yee & nay He not away
till thou feele my spiritts motion."
The huft & puft with many heaues,
till that the both were tyred,
" alas! " quoth shee, " youle spoyle the leaues ;
my peticoates all Myred!
74 OFF A PURITAN E
if wee professors shold bee knowne
to the English congregation
eyther att Leyden or Amsterdam,
itt wold disgrace our nation;
"But since itt is, thai p#?t wee must,
tho I am much vnwilling,
good brother, lets haue the tother thrust,
& take thee this fine shilling
to beare thy charges as thou goes,
& passage ore the ocean."
then downe shee Layd, & since tis sayd,
shee quencht his spirits motion.
A MAID AND A YOUNGE MAN 75
A MAID AND A YOUNGE MAN
[c. 1620-50]
[Percy Folio Manuscript, page 197 of MS.].
A man and a younge maid that loued a long time
were tane in a frenzye ithe Midsomwzer prime;
the maid shee lay drooping, hye;
the man he lay whopping, hey, the man he lay
whopping hoe.
Thus talking & walking the came to a place
Inuironed about wzth trees & w/'.h grasse,
The maid shee lay drooping, hye;
the man he lay whopping, hey, the man he lay
whopping hoe.
He shifted his hand wheras he had placet,
hee handled her knees instead of her wast,
The Maid shee lay drooping, hye;
the man he lay whopping, hey, the man he lay
whopping hoe.
He shiffted his hand till hee came to her knees,
he tickeled her, & shee opened her thyhes,
yett s[t]ill shee lay drooping, hye;
the man he lay whopping, hey, the man he lay
whopping hoe.
76 A MAID AND A YOUNGE MAN
He hottered & totered, & there was a line
that drew him on forward; he went on amaine;
yett still shee lay drooping, hye;
the man he lay whopping, hey, the man he lay
whopping hoe.
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!
and he lay drooping, hoe, and he lay drooping, hoe.
"My Billy, my pilly! how now?" quoth shee;
" gett vp againe, Billy, if thai thou louest me; "
yett still he Lay drooping, hye;
the man he lay whopping, hey, the man he lay
whopping hoe.
He thought Mickle shame to lye soe longe;
he gott vp againe & grew very strong;
the Mayd shee Lay drooping, hye;
the man he lay whopping, hey, the man he lay
whopping hoe.
The trees & the woods did wring about,
and enery leafe began to showte,
and there was such drooping, hye;
the man he lay whopping, hey, the man he lay
whopping hoe,
IN A MAY MORNINGE
IN A MAY MORNINGE
[c. 1620-50]
[Percy Folio Manuscript, page 383 of MS.J.
In a may morning I mett sweet nursse
wz'th a babe in her armes, sweetly cold busse.
I wold to god itt were mine! I shold be glad ont!
ffor it was a merry mumping thing, who ere was
dad ont.
I saluted her kindlye, & to her I sayd,
" god morrow, sweet honye, and you be a mayd;
or if you wold shew to me, I shold be glad ont;
or if you wold tell me who is the right dad ont."
" The dad of my child, Sz'r, I doe not well know,
ffor all that lay with mee refuseth me now
from one to the other; still I wold be rid ont."
" but whosoeuer gott the Child, He be the dad ont."
" He take itt in mine armes, & wislye He woike,
He lay itt the hye way as men come from kirke,
& euerye one that comes by shall haue a
glance or sly
glegge ont, look
vntill I haue ffound out a man, the right dad ont."
78 IN A MAY MORNINGE
There came a kind Scotfcjhman whose name is not
knowne,
sayes hee to this sweet hart, " this babye is mine
owne;
come bind it vpon my backe; lone shall be rid ont;
for whosoeu«r gott the child, He be the dad ont."
"Now, nay! now, nay!" shee sayes, " soe itt may
not bee!
yoz^r looke & his countenance doe not agree;
for had hee beene sike a swayne, I had neere
been great ont;
for hee was a blythe young man that was the
right dad ont.
" his lippes like the rubye, his cheekes like the rose,
he tempthed all ffayre mayds where-euer he goes
first he did salute mee; then w as I right glad ont;
O hee was a blythe younge man that was the
right dad ont.
"He trauell through England & Scottland soe
wyde,
& a~ffoote I will ffollow him to be his bryde;
He bind itt vpon my backe, He not be ryd ont
vntill I haue found out the man thats the right
dad ont.
= hush; " He husse itt, He busse itt, He lapp itt in say ;
He rocke itt, He lull itt, by night & by day;
IN A MAY MORNINGE
He bind itt vpon my backe, He not be ridde ont
vntill I haue found out the man thats the right
dad ont.
" And thus to conclude, thoe itt ffall to my Lott
to ffind a dad ffor my bame that. I cannott; bairn, child
if an englishman gett a child, & wold be ridd ont,
let him bring it to Scot[c]hman, and heele be the
dad ont."
8o I DREAMED MY LOUE
I DREAMED MY LOUE
[c. 1620-50]
[Percy Folio Manuscript, page 480 of MS. Also
a varying version in Merry Drollery, 1661].
I dreamed my loue lay in her bedd:
itt was my Chance to take her:
her leggs & armes abroad were spredd;
shee slept; I durst not awake her.
O pitty itt were, that one soe faire
shold Crowne her loue w/th willowe;
the tresses of her golden haire
did kisse he[r] louely pillowe.
Methought her belly was a hill
much like a mount of pleasure,
vnder whose height there growes a well ;
the depth no man Can measure.
about the ple[s]ant mountaines topp
there growes a louely thickett,
wherin 2 beagles trambled,
& raised a liuely prickett.
They hunted there wz'th pleasant noyce
about the pleasant mountaine,
I DREAMED MY LOUE 81
till hee by heat was fforct to ffly,
& skipp into the ffountaine.
they beagles ffollowed to the brinke,
& there att him they barked;
he plunged about, but wold not shrinkc;
his Coming fforth they wayted.
Then fforth he Came as one halfe lame,
weere weary, ffaint, and tyred;
& layd him downe betwixt her leggs,
as helpe he had required.
the beagles being reffresht againe,
my Loue ffrom sleepe bereued;
shee dreamed shee had me in her armes,
& shee was not decerned.
MERRY SO.XC/S I. 6
82 ALL IN A GREENE MEADOWE
ALL IN A GREENE MEADOWE
[c. 1620-50]
[Pety polio Manuscript, page 518 of MS.].
AH in a greene meadow, a riuer running by,
I hard a prop*? maiden both waile, weepe, and crye,
the teares ffrom her eyes as cleare as any pearle;
much did I lament the mourning of the girle:
shee sighed and sobbed, & to her selfe sayd,
" alas! what hap had I to liue soe long a maid ?
" Now in this world no Curtesye is knowen,
& young men are hard harted, w/«ch makes
me liue alone;
the day and time hath beene, if I had still beene
wise,
I might haue enioyed my true loue had I not
beene so n[ise];
but Coyishness, & toyishness, & peeuishness
such store
hath brought me to this pensiueness, and many
maidens [more].
" Some dames thai are precise, & heare me thus
Complaine,
theyle thinke me fond and Idle, my Creditt much
wold stafine.]
ALL IN A GREENE MEADOWE 83
but lett me ansewre them; the Case might be
their owne;
the wisest on the earth, by loue may be orethrowen;
ffor Cupid is blinded, and cometh in a Cloud,
& aimeth att a ragg as soone as att a robe.
" Sith goddesses come downe to icst with such a boy,
then hapily poorc maidens may tread shoestheir
awrye.
Hellen of greece for bewty was the rarest,
a wonder of the world, & certainlye the ffairest;
yett wold shee, nor Cold shee, Hue a maiden still.
MS. torn away
.........few or none can carrye
........others all did many
......oftime that they haue vsed before
[Whoever it be] that come, I will deny no more,
[be itt light o]r be itt darke, doe he looke or winke,
[He let him hit] the marke, if he haue witt but
for to thinke.
[Tho silly m]aidens nicely deny itt when its offered,
[yet I wi]sh them wisely to take itt when itts
proffered;
[If they be lijke to Cressus to scorne soe true a freind,
[Theyle be] glad to receiue poore Charitye in the end.
■ [ti]me gone & time past is not lecalld againe;
[tjherfore I wish all mayds make hast, lest with
me the Complaine.
84 A DAINTY DUCKE
A DAINTY DUCKE
[c. 1620-50].
[Percy Folio Manuscript, page 487 of MS.].
A dainty ducke I Chanced to meete;
shee wondered what I wold doe,
& curteously shee did mee greete
as an honest woman shold doe.
I asked her if shee wold drinke;
shee wondered what I wold doe,
shee answered me with sober winke,
as an honest woman shold doe.
I tooke........
[A leaf is gone hen in the MS,, containing among
other things perhaps the beginning of " The
Spanish Lady "].
THE JOVIAL COMPANIONS 85
THE JOVIAL COMPANIONS,
OR
THE THREE MERRY TRAVELLORS,
WHO PAID THEIR SHOT WHERE EVER THEY CAME,
WITHOUT EVER A STIVER OF MONEY
[c. 1630]
[In Bagford Ballads, i. 88; music in Pills to
Purge Melancholy (1719), vi. 177].
There was three Travellers, Travellers three,
With a hye down, ho down, Lanktre down derry,
And they wou'd go Travel the North Country,
Without ever a stiver of Mony.
They Travelled East, and they Travelled West,
With a hye down, ho down, Lanktre down derry,
Where ever they came still they drank of the best,
Without ever a stiver of Mony.
At length by good fortune they came to an Inn,
With a hye down, ho down, Lanktre down derry,
And they were as Merry as e're they had been,
Without ever a stiver of Mony.
A Jolly young Widdow did smilling appear,
With a hye down, ho down, Lanktre down derry,
Who drest them a Banquet of delicate cheer,
Without ever a stiver of Mony.
86 THE JOVIAL COMPANIONS
Both Chicken and sparrow grass she did provide,
With a hye down, ho down, Lanktre down derry,
You'r Welcome kind Gentlemen, welcome, (she
cry'd)
Without ever a stiver of Mony.
They called for liquor, both Beer, Ale, and Wine,
With a hye down, ho down, Lanktre down derry,
And every thing that was curious and fine,
Without ever a stiver of Mony.
They drank to their Hostess a merry full bowl,
With a hye down, ho down, Lanktre down derry,
She pledg'd them in love, like a generous Soul,
Without ever a stiver of Mony.
The Hostess, her Maid, and Cousin all three,
With a hye down, ho down, Lanktre down derry,
They Kist and was merry, as merry cou'd be,
Without ever a stiver of Mony.
full Bottles and Glasses replenisht the Board,
With a hey down, ho down, Lanktre down derry,
No liquors was wanting the house cou'd afford,
Without ever a stiver of Mony.
When they had been Merry good part of the Day,
With a hye down, ho down, Lanktre down derry,
They called their Hostess to know what's to pay,
Without ever a stiver of Mony.
THE JOVIAL COMPANIONS 87
There's Thirty good shilling, and Six pence, (she
cry'd)
With a hye down, ho down, Lanktre down derry,
They told her that she should be soon satisfy'd,
Without ever a stiver of Mony.
The Handsomest Man of the three up he got,
With a hye down, ho down, Lanktre down derry,
He laid her on her Back, and paid her the shot,
Without ever a stiver of Mony.
The middlemost Man to her Cousin he went,
With a hye down, ho down, Lanktre down derry,
She being handsome, he gave her Content,
Without ever a stiver of Mony.
The last Man of all he took up with the Maid,
With a hye down, ho down, Lanktre down derry,
And thus the whole shot it was Lovingly paid,
Without ever a stiver of Mony.
The Hostess, the Cousin, and Servant, we find,
With a hye down, ho down, Lanktre down derry,
Made Courchies, and thankt them for being so
kind,
Without ever a stiver of Mony.
The Hostess said, welcome kind Gentlemen all,
With a hye down, ho down, Lanktre down derry,
88 THE JOVIAL COMPANIONS
If you chance to come this way be pleased to Call,
Without ever a stiver of Mony.
Then taking their Leaves they went merrily out,
With a hye down, ho down, Lanktre down derry,
And they're gone for to Travel the Nation about,
Without ever a stiver of Mony.
THE KIND-HEARTED CREATURE 89
THE KIND-HEARTED CREATURE;
OR
The prettiest iest that er'e you knew,
Yet Tie say notrrng but wli?t is true;
I once heard of a ^rTiiiTT Whore,
But ner'e the l;ke of this before.
[1630!
[By R[ichard] C[eimsall], Fox. Ballads, iii. 166,
167; see Chappell's Popular Mink of the
Olden Time (1855-59) 1. 306, 356, 375;
tune, The Mother beguiled the Daughter}.
All you that are disposed now, to hear a merry
jest,
By me shall be disclosed how a bonny Lasse
confest,
That she had loued one or two, nay, two or
three and twenty,
I cannot tell what they did doe, but she had
Louers plenty.
Sing Boyes, drink Boyes, why should we not be
merry ?
I'le tell you of a bonny Lasse, and her Loue
beyond the Ferry.
go THE KIND-HEARTED CREATURE
This bonny Lass had caught a clap it seenies
by some young shauer;
She being matchf'd] with such mishap, the Ladds
began to leaue her;
Though she mist of their company, some one
made sure bargain:
But she was lou'd of so man}', that it is worth
regarding,
Yet she will sing, and ahvayes say, " Drink round
and lets be merry;
I haue a loue in Lankeshire, and a little beyond
the ferry "
She now being called to account, for to describe
aright
What yo[u]ng man was the Father on't, and her
owne heart's-dehght;
But she could not resolue the same, because
there was so many,
She knew not's trade, nor yet his name, for she
was free for any.
Sing Boyes, diink Boyes, why should we not
be merry?
I have a loue in Lankeshire, and a little beyond
the ferry.
Quothe she, " And if it haue a Booke, then 'twas
the man i'th' Gowne,
THE KIND-HEARTED CREATURE 91
Or other wayes, an't haue a hooke, 'twas the
Sheephard on the down;
Or if it haue a whip in's hand, then sure it was
a carter;
Or if it cannot goe nor stand, I thinke 'twas
drunken Art or.
Sing Boyes, drink Boyes! why should we not be
merry ?
I haue a loue in Lankeshire, and a little beyond
the ferry.
'And if it haue a new fash'on, 'twas one came
out of Fiance;
And if it be a Musician, 'twas one taught me
to dance;
And if in's hand a needle be, then sure it was
a Taylor;
Or if it chance to crosse the Sea, I thinke it
a was saylor.
Sing Boyes, drinke Boyes, why should we not
be merry?
I haue a loue in Lankeshire, and a litle beyond
the ferry
THE SECOND PART, TO THE SAME TUNE
" And if it haue a Hammer, then sure a Smith
was he,
And if it be full of man[n]er, 't was one of good
degree;
c)2 THE KIND-HEARTED CREATURE
Or if it haue a shuttle, a Weaver sure was he
then;
"And if that it be wise and su[b]tle, 'twas one
of the Bayliffe's yong-men.
Sing Boyes, drinke Boyes, why should we not
be merry?
I haue a loue in Lankeshire, and a little beyond
the feriy.
" And if it haue a long locke, a Courtier sure
was he;
And if it be a prety-cocke, then that t'was
William he;
And if it haue a shooe in's hand, it was the
boone Shoomaker;
Or if it haue a durty hand, 'twas sure a donghill-
raker,
Sing Boyes, drinke Boyes, why should we not be
merry ?
I haue a loue in Lankeshire, and a little beyond
the ferry.
" And if it haue a Kettle, then sine he was a Tinker;
And if it be full of mettle, 'twas sure a good
Ale-drinker;
And if that he be Gresie, then sure it was a
Butcher;
And if that he be lowsie, then sure it was a
Botcher.
THE KIND-HEARTED CREATURE 93
Sing Boyes, drinke Boyes, why should we not
be merry?
I haue a loue in Lankeshire, and a little beyond
the ferry.
" And if in's hand a flower be, a Gardner was
the man, sure;
And if it loue to take a Fee, I thinke t'was the
Pariture: appamor
And if it be in a gowne of gray, 'twas one that
lives i'th' Country:
And if that it be fresh and gay, 'twas one of
the common gentry.
Sing Boyes, drinke Boyes, why should we not
be merry?
I haue a loue in Lankeshire, and a little beyond
the ferry.
" And if it have a Pen in's hand, then sure it
was a Scriu'ner;
And if i'th' Tauern he loue to stand, then sure
it was a Vintner;
And if it haue a drowsie eye, 'twas him that
they call ' Sleeper';
And if with bromes and homes he cry, 'twas
sure the Chimney-sweeper.
Sing Boyes, diinke Boyes, why should we not
be merry?
94 THE KIND-HEARTED CREATURE
I haue a loue in Lankeshire, and a little beyond
the ferry.
"And if in's hand he haue a Funne, then suie
it was a Baker;
And if he loue to drinke i'th' Tunne, 'twas then
the good Ale-maker;
And if he loue to ride a Horse, I think it was
an Ostler;
Or else it was the man o'th' Crosse, that was a
valiant Wrastler.
Sing Boyes, drinke Boyes, why should we not
be merry ?
I haue a loue in Lankeshire, and a little beyond
the ferry.
"And if it haue a mealy face, 'twas him that
grin[d]es the corne;
And if a long note be in place, 'tis him that
windes the home;
And many more I here might name, which lou'd
me once most dearely;
But that indeed it is a shame, for enough is
shewen hereby.
Sing Boyes, drinke Boyes, why should we not
be merry?
I haue a loue in Lankeshire, and a little beyond
the ferry.
THE KIND-HEARTED CREATURE 95
" Now all the hope I haue is this, my barne must
haue a Father,
And I confesse I did amisse, would I had re-
pented rather.
Yet ther's a youngman loues me wel, but I could
nere abide him;
I know of -me hel'e haue no feare, though many
will deride him."
Sing Boyes, drinke Boyes! why should we not
be merry ?
I've told you of a bonny Lasse, and her Loue
beyond the Ferry."
96 THE JOVIALL PEDLER
THE JOVIALL PEDLER
OR
A MERRY NEW DUTY, WHICH IS BOTH HARM-
LESSE, PLEASANT, AND WITTY
[1637-39]
[Rox. Ballads, iii. 184; mutilated throughout,
but apparently unique; with other stanzas
being additions from Wit &? Drolleiy, 1661].
There was a Joviall Pedler, and he cryde Cony-
skins,
[An]d on his back he had a pack [fu]ll of points
and pins,
[W]ith laces and braces, [an]d other prety things.
Hey down, ho down! with a hey down, down,
Down, derry, derry, down, the Pedler never lins,
But still doth cry, so merry merrily,
" Maids, have you any Cony, Cony-skins ? "
"Maids, bring out your Cony-skins," the Pedler
doth you pray;
For then you may have points or pins, be
they black or gray;
THE JOVIALL PEDLER
[Two lines are here torn away]
Hey down, ho down! with a hey down, down,
Down, derry, derry, down, the Pedler never lins,
But still doth cry, so merry merrily,
" Maids, have you any Cony, Cony-skins ? "
The Pedler to an Ale-house went and call'd for
beere and ale,
In midst of all his merriment his purse began to
faile.
His laces and braces and all his prety things:
Hey down, ho down! with a hey down, down,
Down, derry, derry, down, the Pedler never lins,
But still doth cry, so merry merrily,
" Maids, have you any Cony, Cony-skins ? "
When he came to pay the shot his heart grew
very cold,
For he had broke a black pot, which made his
Ostesse scold,
And all his money spent which made him to
lament,
Hey down, ho down, with a hey down, down,
Down, derry, derry, down, the Pedler never lins,
But still doth cry, so merry, merrily,
" Maids, have you any Cony, Cony-skins ? "
The Pedler took his cony-skins, and his Cob-
web Lawn
MERRY SONGS I.
98 THE JOVIALL PEDLER
The Pedler took his points and pins [and] laid
them there to pawn:
[His laces] and braces, [7wo lines and a half are
here missing]
Hey down, ho down! with a hey down, down,
Down, derry, derry, down, the Pedler never lins,
But still doth cry, so merry merrily,
" Maids, have you any Cony, Cony-skins ? "
[the second part, to the same tune]
The Pedler he went drunk to bed, and when
he did awake,
Then he remembred what he did, it made his
heart to ake.
His Ostesse had his ware, and left him very bare.
Hey down, ho down! with a hey down, down,
Down, derry, derry, down, the Pedler never lins,
But still doth cry, so merry merrily,
"Maids, have you any Cony, Cony-skins?"
He to his Ostesse faire did say, and did prevaile
so farre,
He got his ware of her again, and took his leave
of her:
He took up his pack, and hung it on his back.
Hey down, ho down! with a hey down, down,
Down, derry, derry, down, the Pedler never lins,
But still doth cry, so merry merrily,
"Maids, ha\e you any cony, cony-skins?"
THE JOVIALL PEDLER
The high-way it was very deep, which sorely
troubled him,
Through the water did he creep, and set his
ware to swim;
His laces and braces, and all his prety things.
Hey down, ho down! with a hey down, down,
Down, derry, derry, down, the Pedler never lins,
But still doth cry, so merry merrily,
" Maids, have you any cony, cony-skins ? "
The Pedler on a hill did get, and laid his ware
to dry,
His cony-skins was very wet, which grieved him
wondrously:
His laces and braces, and all his prety things.
Hey down, ho down! with a hey down, down,
Down, derry, derry, down, the Pedler never lins,
But still doth cry, so merry merrily,
"Maids, have you any con)', cony-skins?"
The Pedler he fell fast asleep, and as asleep
he lay,
Up the hill a Knave did creep, and stole his
ware away:
His laces and braces, and all his prety things.
Hey down, ho down' with a hey down, down,
Down, derry, derry, down, the Pedler never lins,
But still doth cry, so merry merrily,
"Maids, have you any cony, cony-skins ?"
THE JOVIALL PEDLER
The Pedler waked from his sleep, [and] found
his ware was gone,
[Tzvo lines torn away]
With an empty pack to shew what he did lack.
Hey down, ho down! with a hey down, down,
Down, derry, derry, down, the Pedler never lins,
But still doth cry, so merry merrily,
" Maids, have you any cony, cony-skins ? "
There was two lovely Lasses, that in one house
did dwell,
The one of them was bon[n]y Kate, the other
bouncing Nell:
And either of them both had Cony-skins to sell.
Hey down, ho down! with a hey down, down,
Down, derry, derry, down, the Pedler never lins,
But still doth cry, so merry merrily,
" Maids, have you any cony, cony-skins ? "
Kate brought forth her Cony-skins, from under-
neath the Staires,
They were as black as any Jet, and full of silver
haires :
The Pedler would have bought them rather than
his eares.
Hey down, ho down! with a hey down, down,
Down, derry, derry, down, the Pedler never lins,
THE JOVIALL PEDLER
But still doth cry, so merry merrily,
" Maids, have you any cony, cony-skins ? "
Nell brought forth hers to sell, one of another view,
They were as good as good might be, and that
the Pedler knew,
The sawcy Jack set down his pack, and set his
wares to view.
Hey down, ho down! with a hey down, down,
Down, derry, derry, down, the Pedler never lins,
But still doth cry, so merry merrily,
" Maids, have you any cony, cony-skins ? "
[A Harl. MS. copy reads ' And forth his wares he
drewe, Hey doivn.' It continues thus:]
[Then he tooke up his Packe againe, and would
have gon his way,
Those Maids they cal'd him back againe, and
pray'd him for to stay;
And they would show him cunny skins, a white
one and a grey,
Hey down, ho down! with a hey down, down,
Down, derry, derry, down, the Pedler never lins,
But still doth cry, so merry merrily,
"Maids, have you any cony, cony-skins?"]
Besse went tripping ore the green, with one poor
Cony-skin,
Because shee would not have it seene, or known
where she had bin,
THE JOVIALL PEDLER
Sliee closely hid the same, untill the Pedlar came.
Hey down, ho down! with a hey down, down,
Down, derry, derry, down, the Pedler never lins,
But still doth cry, so merry merrily,
"Maids, have you any cony, cony-skins?"
The Maidens of CamderzveUbrought forth their skins;
But when they came their ware to sell, the Pedler
had no pins,
Nor laces, nor braces, nor such prety things,
Hey down, ho down! with a hey down, down,
Down, derry, derry, down, the Pedler never lins,
But still doth cry, so merry merrily,
"Maids, have you any cony, cony-skins?"
The Maidens have truste[d him] with their
[Torn off] Cony-skins;
And he hath [promis'd, sleek and prim, as one
who cheats and wins;
And tells them, he will come again, and give them
pretty things.
Hey down, ho down! with a hey down, down,
Down, derry, derry, down, the Pedler never lins,
But still doth cry, so merrv merrily,
"Maids, have you any cony, cony-skins?"
[Ere two (score) weekes were gon and past, these
maids began to say
Where is this Joviall Pedler that vsde to come
this way ?
THE JOVIALL PEDLER
I doubt hee hath couzen'd vs and soe is run away.
Hey down, ho down! with a hey down, down,
Down, derry, derry, down, the Pedler never lins,
But still doth cry, so merry merrily,
"Maids, have you any cony, (Sony-skins?"]
[A " Wit and Drollery" version (1661) reads as
follows from the point ivkere the Harl. MS.
text is given on page 100]
" The Pedlar he took up his Pack, and 'gan to
go his way
The Maidens call'd him back again, desiring him
to stay,
For they would show him cony-skines, a white
one and a gray.
Hey down, ho down! with a hey down, down,
Down, derry,- derry, down, the Pedler never lins,
But still doth cry, so merry merrily,
"Maids, have you any cony, cony-skins?"
" I pray you, fair maids, to take no further care,
For when that I come back again I'l
