XI.FANCY AND DESIRE.

Off a blind beggars daughter most bright,That late was betrothed unto a younge knight;All the discourse therof you did see;But now comes the wedding of pretty Bessee.Within a gorgeous palace most brave,5Adorned with all the cost they cold have,This wedding was kept most sumptuouslìe,And all for the creditt of pretty Bessee.All kind of dainties, and delicates sweeteWere bought for the banquet, as it was most meete;10Partridge, and plover, and venison most free,Against the brave wedding of pretty Bessee.This marriage through England was spread by report,Soe that a great number therto did resortOf nobles and gentles in every degree;15And all for the fame of prettye Bessee.To church then went this gallant younge knight;His bride followed after, an angell most bright,With troopes of ladyes, the like nere was seeneAs went with sweete Bessy of Bednall-greene.20This marryage being solempnized then,With musicke performed by the skilfullest men,The nobles and gentles sate downe at that tyde,Each one admiring the beautifull bryde.Now, after the sumptuous dinner was done,25To talke, and to reason a number begunn:They talkt of the blind beggars daughter most bright,And what with his daughter he gave to the knight.Then spake the nobles, "Much marveil have wee,This jolly blind beggar wee cannot here see."30My lords, quoth the bride, my father's so base,He is loth with his presence these states to disgrace."The prayse of a woman in questyon to bringeBefore her own face, were a flattering thinge;But wee thinke thy father's baseness," quoth they,35"Might by thy bewtye be cleane put awaye."They had noe sooner these pleasant words spoke,But in comes the beggar cladd in a silke cloke;A faire velvet capp, and a fether had hee,And now a musicyan forsooth he wold bee.40He had a daintye lute under his arme,He touched the strings, which made such a charme,Saies, Please you to heare any musicke of mee,Ile sing you a song of pretty Bessee.With that his lute he twanged straightway,45And thereon begann most sweetlye to play;And after that lessons were playd two or three,He strayn'd out this song most delicatelìe."A poore beggars daughter did dwell on a greene,Who for her fairenesse might well be a queene:50A blithe bonny lasse, and a daintye was shee,And many one called her pretty Bessee."Her father hee had noe goods, nor noe land.But beggd for a penny all day with his hand;And yett to her marriage hee gave thousands three,[573]55And still he hath somewhat for pretty Bessee."And if any one here her birth doe disdaine,Her father is ready, with might and with maine,To proove shee is come of noble degree:Therfore never flout att prettye Bessee."60With that the lords and the companye roundWith harty laughter were readye to swound;Att last said the lords, Full well wee may see,The bride and the beggar's behoulden to thee.On this the bride all blushing did rise,65The pearlie dropps standing within her faire eyes,O pardon my father, grave nobles, quoth shee,That throughe blind affection thus doteth on mee.If this be thy father, the nobles did say,Well may he be proud of this happy day;70Yett by his countenance well may wee see,His birth and his fortune did never agree:And therfore, blind man, we pray thee bewray,(And looke that the truth thou to us doe say)Thy birth and thy parentage, what itt may bee;75For the love that thou bearest to pretty Bessee.""Then give me leave, nobles and gentles, each one,One song more to sing, and then I have done;And if that itt may not winn good report,Then doe not give me agroatfor my sport.80"[Sir Simon de Montfort my subject shal bee;Once chiefe of all the great barons was hee,Yet fortune so cruelle this lorde did abase,Now loste and forgotten are hee and his race."When the barons in armes did king Henrye oppose,Sir Simon de Montfort their leader they chose;86A leader of courage undaunted was hee,And oft-times he made their enemyes flee."At length in the battle on Eveshame plaine[574]The barons were routed, and Montfort was slaine;90Moste fatall that battel did prove unto thee,Thoughe thou wast not borne then, my prettye Bessee!"Along with the nobles, that fell at that tyde,His eldest son Henrye, who fought by his side,Was fellde by a blowe, he receivde in the fight!95A blowe that deprivde him for ever of sight."Among the dead bodyes all lifelesse he laye,Till evening drewe on of the following daye,When by a yong ladye discoverd was hee;And this was thy mother, my prettye Bessee!100"A baron's faire daughter stept forth in the nighteTo search for her father, who fell in the fight,And seeing yong Montfort, where gasping he laye,Was moved with pitye, and brought him awaye."In secrette she nurst him, and swaged his paine,105While he throughe the realme was beleevd to be slaine:At lengthe his faire bride she consented to bee,And made him glad father of prettye Bessee."And nowe lest oure foes our lives sholde betraye,We clothed ourselves in beggars arraye;110Her jewelles shee solde, and hither came wee:All our comfort and care was our prettye Bessee.]"And here have wee lived in fortunes despite,Thoughe poore, yet contented with humble delighte:Full forty winters thus have I beene115A silly blind beggar of Bednall-greene."And here, noble lordes, is ended the songOf one, that once to your own ranke did belong:And thus have you learned a secrette from mee,That ne'er had beene knowne, but for prettye Bessee."120Now when the faire companye everye one,Had heard the strange tale in the song he had showne,They all were amazed, as well they might bee,Both at the blinde beggar, and pretty Bessee.With that the faire bride they all did embrace,125Saying, Sure thou art come of an honourable race,Thy father likewise is of noble degree,And thou art well worthy a lady to bee.Thus was the feast ended with joye and delighte,A bridegroome most happy then was the young knighte,130In joy and felicitie long lived hee,All with his faire ladye, the pretty Bessee.

Off a blind beggars daughter most bright,That late was betrothed unto a younge knight;All the discourse therof you did see;But now comes the wedding of pretty Bessee.

Within a gorgeous palace most brave,5Adorned with all the cost they cold have,This wedding was kept most sumptuouslìe,And all for the creditt of pretty Bessee.

All kind of dainties, and delicates sweeteWere bought for the banquet, as it was most meete;10Partridge, and plover, and venison most free,Against the brave wedding of pretty Bessee.

This marriage through England was spread by report,Soe that a great number therto did resortOf nobles and gentles in every degree;15And all for the fame of prettye Bessee.

To church then went this gallant younge knight;His bride followed after, an angell most bright,With troopes of ladyes, the like nere was seeneAs went with sweete Bessy of Bednall-greene.20

This marryage being solempnized then,With musicke performed by the skilfullest men,The nobles and gentles sate downe at that tyde,Each one admiring the beautifull bryde.

Now, after the sumptuous dinner was done,25To talke, and to reason a number begunn:They talkt of the blind beggars daughter most bright,And what with his daughter he gave to the knight.

Then spake the nobles, "Much marveil have wee,This jolly blind beggar wee cannot here see."30My lords, quoth the bride, my father's so base,He is loth with his presence these states to disgrace.

"The prayse of a woman in questyon to bringeBefore her own face, were a flattering thinge;But wee thinke thy father's baseness," quoth they,35"Might by thy bewtye be cleane put awaye."

They had noe sooner these pleasant words spoke,But in comes the beggar cladd in a silke cloke;A faire velvet capp, and a fether had hee,And now a musicyan forsooth he wold bee.40

He had a daintye lute under his arme,He touched the strings, which made such a charme,Saies, Please you to heare any musicke of mee,Ile sing you a song of pretty Bessee.

With that his lute he twanged straightway,45And thereon begann most sweetlye to play;And after that lessons were playd two or three,He strayn'd out this song most delicatelìe.

"A poore beggars daughter did dwell on a greene,Who for her fairenesse might well be a queene:50A blithe bonny lasse, and a daintye was shee,And many one called her pretty Bessee.

"Her father hee had noe goods, nor noe land.But beggd for a penny all day with his hand;And yett to her marriage hee gave thousands three,[573]55And still he hath somewhat for pretty Bessee.

"And if any one here her birth doe disdaine,Her father is ready, with might and with maine,To proove shee is come of noble degree:Therfore never flout att prettye Bessee."60

With that the lords and the companye roundWith harty laughter were readye to swound;Att last said the lords, Full well wee may see,The bride and the beggar's behoulden to thee.

On this the bride all blushing did rise,65The pearlie dropps standing within her faire eyes,O pardon my father, grave nobles, quoth shee,That throughe blind affection thus doteth on mee.

If this be thy father, the nobles did say,Well may he be proud of this happy day;70Yett by his countenance well may wee see,His birth and his fortune did never agree:

And therfore, blind man, we pray thee bewray,(And looke that the truth thou to us doe say)Thy birth and thy parentage, what itt may bee;75For the love that thou bearest to pretty Bessee."

"Then give me leave, nobles and gentles, each one,One song more to sing, and then I have done;And if that itt may not winn good report,Then doe not give me agroatfor my sport.80

"[Sir Simon de Montfort my subject shal bee;Once chiefe of all the great barons was hee,Yet fortune so cruelle this lorde did abase,Now loste and forgotten are hee and his race.

"When the barons in armes did king Henrye oppose,Sir Simon de Montfort their leader they chose;86A leader of courage undaunted was hee,And oft-times he made their enemyes flee.

"At length in the battle on Eveshame plaine[574]The barons were routed, and Montfort was slaine;90Moste fatall that battel did prove unto thee,Thoughe thou wast not borne then, my prettye Bessee!

"Along with the nobles, that fell at that tyde,His eldest son Henrye, who fought by his side,Was fellde by a blowe, he receivde in the fight!95A blowe that deprivde him for ever of sight.

"Among the dead bodyes all lifelesse he laye,Till evening drewe on of the following daye,When by a yong ladye discoverd was hee;And this was thy mother, my prettye Bessee!100

"A baron's faire daughter stept forth in the nighteTo search for her father, who fell in the fight,And seeing yong Montfort, where gasping he laye,Was moved with pitye, and brought him awaye.

"In secrette she nurst him, and swaged his paine,105While he throughe the realme was beleevd to be slaine:At lengthe his faire bride she consented to bee,And made him glad father of prettye Bessee.

"And nowe lest oure foes our lives sholde betraye,We clothed ourselves in beggars arraye;110Her jewelles shee solde, and hither came wee:All our comfort and care was our prettye Bessee.]

"And here have wee lived in fortunes despite,Thoughe poore, yet contented with humble delighte:Full forty winters thus have I beene115A silly blind beggar of Bednall-greene.

"And here, noble lordes, is ended the songOf one, that once to your own ranke did belong:And thus have you learned a secrette from mee,That ne'er had beene knowne, but for prettye Bessee."120

Now when the faire companye everye one,Had heard the strange tale in the song he had showne,They all were amazed, as well they might bee,Both at the blinde beggar, and pretty Bessee.

With that the faire bride they all did embrace,125Saying, Sure thou art come of an honourable race,Thy father likewise is of noble degree,And thou art well worthy a lady to bee.

Thus was the feast ended with joye and delighte,A bridegroome most happy then was the young knighte,130In joy and felicitie long lived hee,All with his faire ladye, the pretty Bessee.

⁂

[Thefollowing stanzas (ll. 217-240 of the whole ballad), were rejected by Percy in favour of the verses above which are between brackets, and were written by Robert Dodsley, the bookseller and author:—

"When ffirst our king his ffame did Advance,& fought for his title in delicate ffrance,in many a place many perills past hee:then was not borne my pretty Bessye."And then in those warres went over to fightmany a braue duke, a Lord, & a Knight,& with them younge Mountford, his courage most free:but then was not borne my pretty Bessye."Att Bloyes there chanced a terrible day,where many braue ffrenchmen vpon the ground Lay;amonge them Lay Mountford for companye:but then was not borne my pretty Bessye.[575]"But there did younge Mountford, by blow on the face,loose both his eyes in a very short space;& alsoe his liffe had beene gone with his sight,had not a younge woman come forth in the night"Amongst the slaine men, as fancy did moue,to search & to seeke for her owne true loue;& seeing young Mountford there gasping to bee,shee saued his liffe through charitye."And then all our vittalls, in Beggar attireatt hands of good people wee then did require.att last into England, as now it is seene,wee came, & remained att Bednall greene."[576]

"When ffirst our king his ffame did Advance,& fought for his title in delicate ffrance,in many a place many perills past hee:then was not borne my pretty Bessye.

"And then in those warres went over to fightmany a braue duke, a Lord, & a Knight,& with them younge Mountford, his courage most free:but then was not borne my pretty Bessye.

"Att Bloyes there chanced a terrible day,where many braue ffrenchmen vpon the ground Lay;amonge them Lay Mountford for companye:but then was not borne my pretty Bessye.[575]

"But there did younge Mountford, by blow on the face,loose both his eyes in a very short space;& alsoe his liffe had beene gone with his sight,had not a younge woman come forth in the night

"Amongst the slaine men, as fancy did moue,to search & to seeke for her owne true loue;& seeing young Mountford there gasping to bee,shee saued his liffe through charitye.

"And then all our vittalls, in Beggar attireatt hands of good people wee then did require.att last into England, as now it is seene,wee came, & remained att Bednall greene."[576]

†‡† The wordfitforpart, often occurs in our ancient ballads and metrical romances: which being divided into several parts for the convenience of singing them at public entertainments, were in the intervals of the feast sung by fits, or intermissions. So Puttenham in hisArt of English Poesie, 1589, says: "the Epithalamie was divided by breaches into three partes to serve for three several fits, or times to be sung." P.41.From the same writer we learn some curious particulars relative to the state of ballad-singing in that age, that will throw light on the present subject: speaking of the quick returns of one manner of tune in the short measures used by common rhymers; these, he says, "glut the eare, unless it be in small and popular musickes, sung by these Cantabanqui, upon benches and barrels heads, where they have none other audience then boys or countrey fellowes, that passe by them in the streete; or else byblindharpers, or such like taverne minstrels, that give afitof mirth for agroat, ... their matter being for the most part stories of old time, as the tale ofSir Topas, the reportes ofBevis of Southampton,Guy of Warwicke,Adam Bell and Clymme of the Clough, and such other old romances or historical rimes, made purposely for recreation of the common people at Christmasse dinners and brideales, and in tavernes and alehouses, and such other places of base resorte." P.69.This species of entertainment, which seems to have been handed down from the ancient bards, was in the time of Puttenhamfalling into neglect; but that it was not, even then, wholly excluded from more genteel assemblies, he gives us room to infer from another passage: "We ourselves," says this courtly[577]writer, "have written for pleasure a little brief romance, or historical ditty in the English tong of theIsle of Great Britainein short and long meetres, and by breaches or divisions (i.e.fits), to be more commodiously sung to the harpe in places of assembly, where the company shal be desirous to heare of old adventures, and valiaunces of noble knights in times past, as are those ofKing Arthur andhis Knights of the Round Table,Sir Bevys of Southampton,Guyof Warwicke, and others like." P.33.In more ancient times no grand scene of festivity was compleat without one of these reciters to entertain the company with feats of arms, and tales of knighthood, or, as one of these old minstrels says, in the beginning of an ancient romance onGuy and Colbronde, in the Editor's folio MS. p.349[ed. Hales and Furnivall, vol. ii., p. 527]:

From the same writer we learn some curious particulars relative to the state of ballad-singing in that age, that will throw light on the present subject: speaking of the quick returns of one manner of tune in the short measures used by common rhymers; these, he says, "glut the eare, unless it be in small and popular musickes, sung by these Cantabanqui, upon benches and barrels heads, where they have none other audience then boys or countrey fellowes, that passe by them in the streete; or else byblindharpers, or such like taverne minstrels, that give afitof mirth for agroat, ... their matter being for the most part stories of old time, as the tale ofSir Topas, the reportes ofBevis of Southampton,Guy of Warwicke,Adam Bell and Clymme of the Clough, and such other old romances or historical rimes, made purposely for recreation of the common people at Christmasse dinners and brideales, and in tavernes and alehouses, and such other places of base resorte." P.69.

This species of entertainment, which seems to have been handed down from the ancient bards, was in the time of Puttenhamfalling into neglect; but that it was not, even then, wholly excluded from more genteel assemblies, he gives us room to infer from another passage: "We ourselves," says this courtly[577]writer, "have written for pleasure a little brief romance, or historical ditty in the English tong of theIsle of Great Britainein short and long meetres, and by breaches or divisions (i.e.fits), to be more commodiously sung to the harpe in places of assembly, where the company shal be desirous to heare of old adventures, and valiaunces of noble knights in times past, as are those ofKing Arthur andhis Knights of the Round Table,Sir Bevys of Southampton,Guyof Warwicke, and others like." P.33.

In more ancient times no grand scene of festivity was compleat without one of these reciters to entertain the company with feats of arms, and tales of knighthood, or, as one of these old minstrels says, in the beginning of an ancient romance onGuy and Colbronde, in the Editor's folio MS. p.349[ed. Hales and Furnivall, vol. ii., p. 527]:

"When meate and drinke is great plentyè,And lords and ladyes still wil bee,And sitt and solace lythe;[578]Then itt is time for mee to speakeOf keene knightes, and kempès great,Such carping for to kythe."

If we consider that agroatin the age of Elizabeth was more than equivalent to a shilling now, we shall find that the old harpers were even then, when their art was on the decline, upon a far more reputable footing than the ballad-singers of our time. The reciting of one such ballad as this of theBeggar of BednalGreen, in two parts, was rewarded with half-a-crown of our money. And that they made a very respectable appearance, we may learn from the dress of the old beggar, in the preceding ballad, p.178, where he comes into company in the habit and character of one of these minstrels, being not known to be the bride's father till after her speech, ver. 63. The exordium of his song, and his claiming a groat for his reward, v. 76, are peculiarly characteristic of that profession. Most of the old ballads begin in a pompous manner, in order to captivate the attention of the audience, and induce them to purchase a recital of the song: and they seldom conclude the first part without large promises of stillgreater entertainment in the second. This was a necessary piece of art to incline the hearers to be at the expense of a second groat's-worth. Many of the old romances extend to eight or nine fits, which would afford a considerable profit to the reciter.To return to the wordfit; it seems at one time to have peculiarly signified the pause, or breathing-time, between the several parts (answering to Passus in theVisions of Pierce Plowman): thus in the ancient ballad ofChevy-Chase(vol. i. p. 27), the first part ends with this line:

To return to the wordfit; it seems at one time to have peculiarly signified the pause, or breathing-time, between the several parts (answering to Passus in theVisions of Pierce Plowman): thus in the ancient ballad ofChevy-Chase(vol. i. p. 27), the first part ends with this line:

"The firstfithere I fynde:"

i.e.here I come to the first pause or intermission. (See also vol. i. p. 44.) By degrees it came to signify the whole part or division preceding the pause. (See vol. i. pp. 162, 169.) This sense it had obtained so early as the time of Chaucer; who thus concludes the first part of his rhyme ofSir Thopas(writ in ridicule of the old ballad romances):—

"Lo! lordis mine, here is afitt;If ye woll any more of it,To tell it woll I fonde."

The wordfitindeed appears originally to have signified a poetic strain, verse, or poem; for in these senses it is used by the Anglo-Saxon writers. Thus K. Ælfred in hisBoethius, having given a version of lib. 3, metr. 5, adds, Ða ꞅe pιꞅꝺom þa þaꞅ ꝼιꞇꞇe aꞅunȝen hæꝼꝺe, p.65,i.e."When wisdom had sung these (Fitts) verses." And in the proem to the same book, Fon on ꝼιꞇꞇe, "Put into (fitt) verse." So in Cedmon, p.45. Feonꝺ on ꝼιꞇꞇe, seems to mean "composed a song," or "poem." The reader will trace this old Saxon phrase, in the application of the wordfond, in the foregoing passage of Chaucer.Spencer has used the word fit to denote "a strain of music;" see his poem, intitled,Collin Clout's come home again, where he says:—

Spencer has used the word fit to denote "a strain of music;" see his poem, intitled,Collin Clout's come home again, where he says:—

"The Shepherd of the ocean [Sir Walt. Raleigh]Provoked me to play some pleasantfit.And when he heard the music which I madeHe found himself full greatlye pleas'd at it," &c.

It is also used in the old ballad ofK. Estmere, vol. i. book 1, No. 6, v. 243.From being applied to music, this word was easily transferred to dancing; thus in the old play ofLusty Juventus(described in preliminary note to book 2, No. 1 in this volume), Juventus says:

It is also used in the old ballad ofK. Estmere, vol. i. book 1, No. 6, v. 243.

From being applied to music, this word was easily transferred to dancing; thus in the old play ofLusty Juventus(described in preliminary note to book 2, No. 1 in this volume), Juventus says:

"By the masse I would fayne go daunce afitte."

And from being used as a part or division in a ballad, poem, &c. it is applied by Bale to a section or chapter in a book (though I believe in a sense of ridicule or sarcasm), for thus he intitles two chapters of hisEnglish Votaryes, part 2nd, viz. fol. 49, "The fyrstfyttof Anselme with Kynge Wyllyam Rufus;" fol. 50, "An otherFyttof Anselme with kynge Wyllyam Rufus."

FOOTNOTES:[571]In the Editor's folio MS. it is£500.[572]See an essay on the wordfitat the end of the second part.[573]So the folio MS.[574]The battle of Evesham was fought on August 4, 1265.[575][This stanza is not in the ordinary versions.][576][Bessie of Bednall, Percy folio MS., ed. Hales and Furnivall, vol. ii. p. 279.][577]He was one of Q. Elizabeth's gent. pensioners, at a time when the whole band consisted of men of distinguished birth and fortune. Vid.Ath. Ox.[578]Perhaps "blythe."

[571]In the Editor's folio MS. it is£500.

[572]See an essay on the wordfitat the end of the second part.

[573]So the folio MS.

[574]The battle of Evesham was fought on August 4, 1265.

[575][This stanza is not in the ordinary versions.]

[576][Bessie of Bednall, Percy folio MS., ed. Hales and Furnivall, vol. ii. p. 279.]

[577]He was one of Q. Elizabeth's gent. pensioners, at a time when the whole band consisted of men of distinguished birth and fortune. Vid.Ath. Ox.

[578]Perhaps "blythe."

By the Earl of Oxford.

EdwardVere, Earl of Oxford, was in high fame for his poetical talents in the reign of Elizabeth; perhaps it is no injury to his reputation that few of his compositions are preserved for the inspection of impartial posterity. To gratify curiosity, we have inserted a sonnet of his, which is quoted with great encomiums for its "excellencie and wit," in Puttenham'sArte of Eng. Poesie,[579]and found intire in theGarland of Good-will. A few more of his sonnets (distinguished by the initial letters E. O.), may be seen in theParadise of DaintieDevises. One of these is intitledThe Complaint of a Lover,wearing blacke and tawnie. The only lines in it worth notice are these:—

"A crowne of baies shall that man 'beare'Who triumphs over me;For black and tawnie will I weare,Which mourning colours be."

We find in Hall'sChronicle, that when Q. Catharine of Arragon dyed, Jan. 8, 1536, "Queen Anne (Bullen) wareyellowefor the mourning." And when this unfortunate princess lost her head, May 19, the same year, "on the ascencion day following, the kyng for mourning warewhyte." Fol. 227, 228.

Edward, who was the seventeenth earl of Oxford, of the familyof Vere, succeeded his father in his title and honours in 1563, and died an aged man in 1604. See Mr. Walpole'sNoble Authors. Athen. Oxon, &c.

[Walpole was in error when he stated that Lord Oxford died an aged man, for that nobleman was only about sixty at the time of his death. Sir Egerton Brydges points out in his edition of theParadise of Dainty Devices(British Bibliographer, vol. iii.), that the earl could not have been born earlier than 1540 or 1541, because his elder half-sister Katherine, widow of Edward, Lord Windsor, died in January, 1599, aged 60. The chief events of his life are these. In 1585 he was the chief of those who embarked with the Earl of Leicester for the relief of the states of Holland and Zealand. In 1586 he sat as Lord Great Chamberlain of England on the trial of Mary, Queen of Scots. In 1588 he hired and fitted out ships at his own charge against the Spanish Armada. In 1589 he sat on the trial of Philip Howard, Earl of Arundel, and in 1601 on the trials of the Earls of Essex and Southampton. His private character was far from good, and his honour was tarnished by his dispute with Sir Philip Sidney. He used his first wife (a daughter of the great Burleigh) cruelly, in revenge for the statesman's treatment of his great friend, Thomas, Duke of Norfolk. In his early youth he travelled in Italy, and returned from that country a finished coxcomb, bringing home with him Italian dresses, perfumes, and embroidered gloves. He presented a pair of the latter to Queen Elizabeth, who was so pleased with them that she was drawn with them on her hands. The earl was buried at Hackney, on the 6th of July, 1604.Percy might have spared rather more praise for this pretty little poem.]

Percy might have spared rather more praise for this pretty little poem.]

Come hither shepherd's swayne:"Sir, what do you require?"I praye thee, shewe to me thy name."My name is Fond Desire."When wert thou borne, Desire?5"In pompe and pryme of may."By whom, sweet boy, wert thou begot?"By fond Conceit men say."Tell me, who was thy nurse?"Fresh Youth in sugred joy."10What was thy meate and dayly foode?"Sad sighes with great annoy."What hadst thou then to drinke?"Unsavoury lovers teares."What cradle wert thou rocked in?15"In hope devoyde of feares."What lulld thee then asleepe?"Sweete speech, which likes me best."Tell me, where is thy dwelling place?"In gentle hartes I rest."20What thing doth please thee most?"To gaze on beautye stille."Whom dost thou thinke to be thy foe?"Disdayn of my good wille."Doth companye displease?25"Yes, surelye, many one."Where doth Desire delighte to live?"He loves to live alone."Doth either tyme or ageBringe him unto decaye?30"No, no, Desire both lives and dyesTen thousand times a daye."Then, fond Desire, farewelle,Thou art no mate for mee;I sholde be lothe, methinkes, to dwelle35With such a one as thee.

Come hither shepherd's swayne:"Sir, what do you require?"I praye thee, shewe to me thy name."My name is Fond Desire."

When wert thou borne, Desire?5"In pompe and pryme of may."By whom, sweet boy, wert thou begot?"By fond Conceit men say."

Tell me, who was thy nurse?"Fresh Youth in sugred joy."10What was thy meate and dayly foode?"Sad sighes with great annoy."

What hadst thou then to drinke?"Unsavoury lovers teares."What cradle wert thou rocked in?15"In hope devoyde of feares."

What lulld thee then asleepe?"Sweete speech, which likes me best."Tell me, where is thy dwelling place?"In gentle hartes I rest."20

What thing doth please thee most?"To gaze on beautye stille."Whom dost thou thinke to be thy foe?"Disdayn of my good wille."

Doth companye displease?25"Yes, surelye, many one."Where doth Desire delighte to live?"He loves to live alone."

Doth either tyme or ageBringe him unto decaye?30"No, no, Desire both lives and dyesTen thousand times a daye."

Then, fond Desire, farewelle,Thou art no mate for mee;I sholde be lothe, methinkes, to dwelle35With such a one as thee.

FOOTNOTES:[579]Lond. 1589, p. 172.

[579]Lond. 1589, p. 172.

Icannot give a better relation of the fact which is the subject of the following ballad, than in an extract from the late Mr. Guthrie'sPeerage,[580]which was begun upon a very elegant plan, but never finished. Vol. i. 4to. p. 22.

"The transaction which did the greatest honour to the earl of Surrey[581]and his family at this time (A.D.1511), was their behaviour in the case of Barton, a Scotch sea-officer. This gentleman's father having suffered by sea from the Portuguese, he had obtained letters of marque for his two sons to make reprisals upon the subjects of Portugal. It is extremely probable, that the court of Scotland granted these letters with no very honest intention. The council board of England, at which the earl of Surrey held the chief place, was daily pestered with complaints from the sailors and merchants, that Barton, who was called Sir Andrew Barton, under pretence of searching for Portuguese goods, interrupted the English navigation. Henry's situation at that time rendered him backward from breaking with Scotland, so that their complaints were but coldly received. The earl of Surrey, however, could not smother his indignation, but gallantly declared at the council board, that while he had an estate that could furnish out a ship, or a son that was capable of commanding one, the narrow seas should not be infested.

"Sir Andrew Barton, who commanded the two Scotch ships, had the reputation of being one of the ablest sea officers of his time. By his depredations, he had amassed great wealth, and his ships were very richly laden. Henry, notwithstanding his situation, could not refuse the generous offer made by the earl of Surrey. Two ships were immediately fitted out, and put to sea with letters of marque, under his two sons, Sir Thomas[582]and Sir Edward Howard. After encountering a great deal of foul weather,Sir Thomas came up with the 'Lion,' which was commanded by Sir Andrew Barton in person; and Sir Edward came up with the 'Union,' Barton's other ship (called by Hall, the 'Bark of Scotland.') The engagement which ensued was extremely obstinate on both sides; but at last the fortune of the Howards prevailed. Sir Andrew was killed fighting bravely, and encouraging his men with his whistle, to hold out to the last; and the two Scotch ships with their crews, were carried into the river Thames. (Aug. 2, 1511.)

"This exploit had the more merit, as the two English commanders were in a manner volunteers in the service, by their father's order. But it seems to have laid the foundation of Sir Edward's fortune; for, on the 7th of April, 1512, the king constituted him (according to Dugdale) admiral of England, Wales, &c.

"King James 'insisted' upon satisfaction for the death of Barton, and capture of his ship: tho' Henry had generously dismissed the crews, and even agreed that the parties accused might appear in his courts of admiralty by their attornies, to vindicate themselves." This affair was in a great measure the cause of the battle of Flodden, in which James IV. lost his life.

In the following ballad will be found perhaps some few deviations from the truth of history; to atone for which it has probably recorded many lesser facts, which history hath not condescended to relate. I take many of the little circumstances of the story to be real, because I find one of the most unlikely to be not very remote from the truth. In pt. 2, v. 156, it is said, that England had before "but two ships of war." Now the "Great Harry" had been built only seven years before, viz. in 1504: which "was properly speaking the first ship in the English navy. Before this period, when the prince wanted a fleet, he had no other expedient but hiring ships from the merchants."—Hume.

This ballad, which appears to have been written in the reign of Elizabeth, has received great improvements from the Editor's folio MS. wherein was an ancient copy, which, though very incorrect, seemed in many respects superior to the common ballad; the latter being evidently modernized and abridged from it. The following text is, however, in some places amended and improved by the latter (chiefly from a black-letter copy in the Pepys collection), as also by conjecture.

[There is little to be added to the above preface, but those who wish to read the Scottish version will find John Lesley's (Bishop of Ross) account of the affair (Historie of Scotland, 1436-1561), quoted in Mr. Furnivall's full preface to the ballad in the folio MS. (vol. iii. p. 399). Percy fully explains how he made up his copy.There is, in fact, hardly a line that has not been altered, and the notes at the foot of the page give the reader no idea of the changes that have been made. To have noted all the differences would have loaded the page unnecessarily, and therefore in consideration of the interest of the ballad, a reprint of the folio copy has been added, although there are several printed copies. It is difficult to understand what could have induced Percy to reject the pretty lines:

"As itt beffell in Midsummer timeWhen burds singe sweetlye on every tree,"

for the incongruous opening of Flora with her flowers, and Neptune with his showers. The greatest alterations are in vv. 33-40, 129-136; part 2, vv. 1-8, 17-64, 89-94, 113-120, 145-176.]

The First Part.

When Flora with her fragrant flowers'Bedeckt the earth so trim and gaye,'And Neptune with his daintye showers'Came to present the monthe of Maye;'[583]King Henrye rode to take the ayre,5Over the river of Thames past hee;When eighty merchants of London came,And downe they knelt upon their knee."O yee are welcome, rich merchànts;Good saylors, welcome unto mee."10They swore by the rood, they were saylors good,But rich merchànts they cold not bee:"To France nor Flanders dare we pass:Nor Bourdeaux voyage dare we fare;And all for a rover that lyes on the seas,[584]15Who robbs us of our merchant ware."King Henrye frownd, and turned him rounde,And swore by the Lord, that was mickle of might,"I thought he had not beene in the world,Durst have wrought England such unright."20The merchants sighed, and said, alas!And thus they did their answer frame,He is a proud Scott, that robbs on the seas,And Sir Andrewe Barton is his name.The king lookt over his left shouldèr,25And an angrye look then looked hee:"Have I never a lorde in all my realme,Will feitch yond traytor unto mee?"Yea, that dare I; lord Howard sayes;[585]Yea, that dare I with heart and hand;30If it please your grace to give me leave,Myselfe wil be the only man.Thou art but yong; the kyng replyed:Yond Scott hath numbred manye a yeare."Trust me, my liege, Ile make him quail,35Or before my prince I will never appeare."Then bowemen and gunners thou shalt have,And chuse them over my realme so free;Besides good mariners, and shipp-boyes,To guide the great shipp on the sea.40The first man, that lord Howard chose,Was the ablest gunner in all the realm,Thoughe he was threescore yeeres and ten:Good Peter Simon was his name.Peter, sais hee, I must to the sea,45To bring home a traytor live or dead:Before all others I have chosen thee;Of a hundred gunners to be the head.If you, my lord, have chosen meeOf a hundred gunners to be the head,50Then hang me up on your maine-mast tree,If I misse my marke one shilling bread.[586]My lord then chose a boweman rare,Whose active hands had gained fame.[587]In Yorkshire was this gentleman borne,55And William Horseley was his name.[588]Horseley, sayd he, I must with speedeGo seeke a traytor on the sea,And now of a hundred bowemen braveTo be the head I have chosen thee.60If you, quoth hee, have chosen meeOf a hundred bowemen to be the head;On your maine-màst Ile hanged bee,If I miss twelvescore one penny bread.[586]With pikes and gunnes, and bowemen bold,65This noble Howard is gone to the sea;With a valyant heart and a pleasant cheare,Out at Thames mouth sayled he.And days he scant had sayled three,Upon the 'voyage' he tooke in hand,[589]70But there he mett with a noble shipp,And stoutely made itt stay and stand.Thou must tell me, lord Howard said,Now who thou art, and what's thy name;And shewe me where thy dwelling is:75And whither bound, and whence thou came.My name is Henry Hunt, quoth heeWith a heavye heart, and a carefull mind;I and my shipp doe both belongTo the Newcastle, that stands upon Tyne.80Hast thou not heard, nowe, Henrye Hunt,As thou hast sayled by daye and by night,Of a Scottish rover on the seas;[584]Men call him sir Andrew Barton, knight?Then ever he sighed, and sayd alas!85With a grieved mind, and well away!But over-well I knowe that wight,I was his prisoner yesterday.As I was sayling uppon the sea,A Burdeaux voyage for to fare;90To his hach-borde he clasped me,[590]And robd me of all my merchant ware:And mickle debts, Got wot, I owe,And every man will have his owne;And I am nowe to London bounde,95Of our gracious king to beg a boone.That shall not need, lord Howard sais;Lett me but once that robber see,For every penny tane thee froeIt shall be doubled shillings three.100Nowe God forefend, the merchant said,That you shold seek soe far amisse!God keepe you out of that traitors hands!Full litle ye wott what a man hee is.Hee is brasse within, and steele without,105With beames on his topcastle stronge;And eighteen pieces of ordinanceHe carries on each side along:And he hath a pinnace deerlye dight,[591]St. Andrewes crosse that is his guide;110His pinnace beareth ninescore men,And fifteen canons on each side.Were ye twentye shippes, and he but one;I sweare by kirke, and bower, and hall;He wold overcome them everye one,115If once his beames they doe downe fall.[592]This is cold comfort, sais my lord,To wellcome a stranger thus to the sea:Yet Ile bring him and his shipp to shore,Or to Scottland hee shall carrye mee.120Then a noble gunner you must have,And he must aim well with his ee,And sinke his pinnace into the sea,Or else hee never orecome will bee:And if you chance his shipp to borde,125This counsel I must give withall,Let no man to his topcastle goeTo strive to let his beams downe fall.And seven pieces of ordinance,I pray your honour lend to mee,130On each side of my shipp along,And I will lead you on the sea.A glasse Ile sett, that may be seene,Whether you sayle by day or night,And to-morrowe, I sweare, by nine of the clocke135You shall meet with Sir Andrewe Barton knight.

"O yee are welcome, rich merchànts;Good saylors, welcome unto mee."10They swore by the rood, they were saylors good,But rich merchànts they cold not bee:"To France nor Flanders dare we pass:Nor Bourdeaux voyage dare we fare;And all for a rover that lyes on the seas,[584]15Who robbs us of our merchant ware."

King Henrye frownd, and turned him rounde,And swore by the Lord, that was mickle of might,"I thought he had not beene in the world,Durst have wrought England such unright."20The merchants sighed, and said, alas!And thus they did their answer frame,He is a proud Scott, that robbs on the seas,And Sir Andrewe Barton is his name.

The king lookt over his left shouldèr,25And an angrye look then looked hee:"Have I never a lorde in all my realme,Will feitch yond traytor unto mee?"Yea, that dare I; lord Howard sayes;[585]Yea, that dare I with heart and hand;30If it please your grace to give me leave,Myselfe wil be the only man.

Thou art but yong; the kyng replyed:Yond Scott hath numbred manye a yeare."Trust me, my liege, Ile make him quail,35Or before my prince I will never appeare."Then bowemen and gunners thou shalt have,And chuse them over my realme so free;Besides good mariners, and shipp-boyes,To guide the great shipp on the sea.40

The first man, that lord Howard chose,Was the ablest gunner in all the realm,Thoughe he was threescore yeeres and ten:Good Peter Simon was his name.Peter, sais hee, I must to the sea,45To bring home a traytor live or dead:Before all others I have chosen thee;Of a hundred gunners to be the head.

If you, my lord, have chosen meeOf a hundred gunners to be the head,50Then hang me up on your maine-mast tree,If I misse my marke one shilling bread.[586]My lord then chose a boweman rare,Whose active hands had gained fame.[587]In Yorkshire was this gentleman borne,55And William Horseley was his name.[588]

Horseley, sayd he, I must with speedeGo seeke a traytor on the sea,And now of a hundred bowemen braveTo be the head I have chosen thee.60If you, quoth hee, have chosen meeOf a hundred bowemen to be the head;On your maine-màst Ile hanged bee,If I miss twelvescore one penny bread.[586]

With pikes and gunnes, and bowemen bold,65This noble Howard is gone to the sea;With a valyant heart and a pleasant cheare,Out at Thames mouth sayled he.And days he scant had sayled three,Upon the 'voyage' he tooke in hand,[589]70But there he mett with a noble shipp,And stoutely made itt stay and stand.

Thou must tell me, lord Howard said,Now who thou art, and what's thy name;And shewe me where thy dwelling is:75And whither bound, and whence thou came.My name is Henry Hunt, quoth heeWith a heavye heart, and a carefull mind;I and my shipp doe both belongTo the Newcastle, that stands upon Tyne.80

Hast thou not heard, nowe, Henrye Hunt,As thou hast sayled by daye and by night,Of a Scottish rover on the seas;[584]Men call him sir Andrew Barton, knight?Then ever he sighed, and sayd alas!85With a grieved mind, and well away!But over-well I knowe that wight,I was his prisoner yesterday.

As I was sayling uppon the sea,A Burdeaux voyage for to fare;90To his hach-borde he clasped me,[590]And robd me of all my merchant ware:And mickle debts, Got wot, I owe,And every man will have his owne;And I am nowe to London bounde,95Of our gracious king to beg a boone.

That shall not need, lord Howard sais;Lett me but once that robber see,For every penny tane thee froeIt shall be doubled shillings three.100Nowe God forefend, the merchant said,That you shold seek soe far amisse!God keepe you out of that traitors hands!Full litle ye wott what a man hee is.

Hee is brasse within, and steele without,105With beames on his topcastle stronge;And eighteen pieces of ordinanceHe carries on each side along:And he hath a pinnace deerlye dight,[591]St. Andrewes crosse that is his guide;110His pinnace beareth ninescore men,And fifteen canons on each side.

Were ye twentye shippes, and he but one;I sweare by kirke, and bower, and hall;He wold overcome them everye one,115If once his beames they doe downe fall.[592]This is cold comfort, sais my lord,To wellcome a stranger thus to the sea:Yet Ile bring him and his shipp to shore,Or to Scottland hee shall carrye mee.120

Then a noble gunner you must have,And he must aim well with his ee,And sinke his pinnace into the sea,Or else hee never orecome will bee:And if you chance his shipp to borde,125This counsel I must give withall,Let no man to his topcastle goeTo strive to let his beams downe fall.

And seven pieces of ordinance,I pray your honour lend to mee,130On each side of my shipp along,And I will lead you on the sea.A glasse Ile sett, that may be seene,Whether you sayle by day or night,And to-morrowe, I sweare, by nine of the clocke135You shall meet with Sir Andrewe Barton knight.

The Second Part.

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