279

THE JOLLY BEGGAR

A.‘Ther was a wife in yon toun,’ “Old Lady’s Collection,” No. 36.B.a.‘The Jolly Beggar,’ Herd, The Ancient and Modern Scots Songs, 1769, p. 46; ed. 1776, II, 26.b.‘The Jolly Beggars,’ Curious Tracts, Scotland, British Museum, 1078. m. 24. No 30 (a collection made by James Mitchell at Aberdeen in 1828).c.‘The Jolly Beggar-Man,’ Macmath MS., p. 103, a fragment.d.The same, a fragment.

A.‘Ther was a wife in yon toun,’ “Old Lady’s Collection,” No. 36.

B.a.‘The Jolly Beggar,’ Herd, The Ancient and Modern Scots Songs, 1769, p. 46; ed. 1776, II, 26.

b.‘The Jolly Beggars,’ Curious Tracts, Scotland, British Museum, 1078. m. 24. No 30 (a collection made by James Mitchell at Aberdeen in 1828).

c.‘The Jolly Beggar-Man,’ Macmath MS., p. 103, a fragment.d.The same, a fragment.

I have not found this piece in any printed collection older than Herd, 1769, but it is cited in the second edition of Percy’s Reliques, 1767, II, 59 (preface to ‘The Gaberlunyie-Man’) and was known before that to Horace Walpole, who, as Percy remarks, confounds it with ‘The Gaberlunyie-Man,’ or gives it that title: Catalogue of Royal and Noble Authors, II, 202 f., second edition, 1759 (not mentioned in the first edition). It was probably in circulation as a flying-sheet.[93]

We are regularly informed by editors that tradition imputes the authorship of both ‘The Jolly Beggar’ and ‘The Gaberlunyie-Man’ to James Fifth of Scotland. ‘The Gaberlunyie-Man’ was, so far as can be ascertained, first printed in the Tea-Table Miscellany (in 1724), and I am not aware that it is mentioned anywhere before that date. Ramsay speaks of it as an old piece, but says nothing about the authorship. The tradition as to James Fifth is, perhaps, not much older than the publication in either case, and has no more plausibility than it has authority.

The copies in Pinkerton’s Select Scotish Ballads, II, 35, 1783, Johnson’s Museum, p. 274, No 266, 1790, Ritson’s Scotish Songs, I, 168, 1794, etc., are all from Herd’s second edition, 1776. In this we have, instead of the Fa la la burden, the following, presumably later (see Herd’s MSS, I, 5):

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 neer sae bright,And we’ll gang nae mair a roving.

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 neer sae bright,

And we’ll gang nae mair a roving.

Motherwell’s MS., p. 124, has a recited copy which seems to beB aas in Herd, 1776, corrupted by oral transmission. It does not seriously differ from the original until we come to the end, where we find an absurd stanza which is derived fromB b.

The variations ofB bare not the accidents of tradition, but deliberate alterations. ‘The Jovial Beggarman,’ in The Forsaken Lover’s Garland, No 15 of a collection of garlands, British Museum, 11621. e. 1 (“Newcastle? 1750?”), is arifacimento, and a very inferior piece. Of this Rev. S. Baring-Gould took down a copy from the singing of a laborer on Dartmoor, in 1889.[94]

‘The Jovial Tinker and Farmer’s Daughter,’ British Museum, 1346. m. 7 (31), ‘The Tinker and Farmer’s Daughter’s Garland,’ British Museum, 11621. a. 6 (34), is anotherrifacimento, with less of the original in it. The tinker, we are told at the outset, is a noble lord disguised.

An English broadside ballad of the second half of the seventeenth century, Pepys, III, 73, No 71, has the same story as the Scottish popular ballad, and may have been the foundation of it, but the Scottish ballad is a far superior piece of work. The English broadside is given, substantially, in the notes.

‘Der Bettelman,’ Hoffmann u. Richter, Schlesische Volkslieder, p. 45, No 24, has a generic resemblance to this ballad.[95]So, more remotely, a Flemish ballad, ‘Ein schöner Krüppel,’ Hoffmann, Niederländische Volkslieder, p. 129 and elsewhere. Again, a very pretty and innocent Portuguese ballad, ‘O Cego,’ Almeida-Garrett, III, 191, No 35, Braga, Romanceiro Geral, p. 147, No 55, and Cantos pop. do Archipelago Açoriano, p. 372, No 76 (all in Hartung, II, 103 ff.), which Almeida-Garrett, quite extravagantly, supposed might be derived from ‘The Gaberlunyie-Man,’ brought home from Scotland by Portuguese sailors. There is an accidental similarity in one or two points with the Spanish ballad ‘Tiempo es, el caballero,’ Duran, I, 163, No 307, Primavera, II, 91, No 158.

‘The Gaberlunyie-Man’ is given in an appendix.

“Old Lady’s Collection,” No 36.

1‘Ther is a wife in yone toun-end, an she has dothers three,An I wad be a beager for ony of a’ the three.’2He touk his clouty clok him about, his peak-staff in his hand,An he is awa to yon toun-end, leak ony peare man.3‘I ha ben about this fish-toun this years tua or three,Ha ye ony quarters, deam, that ye coud gie me?’4‘Awa, ye pear carl, ye dinne kean my name;Ye sudd ha caed me mistress fan ye called me bat deam.’5He tuke his hat in his hand an gied her juks three:‘An ye want manners, misstres, quarters ye’ll gie me.’6‘Awa, ye pear carle, in ayont the fire,An sing to our Lord Gray’s men to their hearts’ disire.’7Some lowked to his goudie lowks, some to his milk-whit skine,Some to his ruffled shirt, the gued read gold hang in.8Out spak our madin, an she was ay shay,Fatt will the jolly beager gett afore he gaa to lay?9Out spak our goudwife, an she was not sae shay,He’se gett a dish of lang kell, besids a puss pay.10Out spak the jolly beager, That dish I dou denay;I canne sup yer lang kell nor yet yer puss pay.11Bat ye gett to my supper a capon of the best,Tuo or three bottels of yer wine, an bear, an we sall ha a merry feast.12‘Ha ye ony siler, carll, to bint the bear an wine?’‘O never a peney, misstress, had I lang sine.’13The beager wadne lay in the barn, nor yett in the bayr,Bat in ahind the haa-dor, or att the kitchen-fire.14The beager’s bed was well [made] of gued clean stray an hay,. . . . . . . . .15The madin she rose up to bar the dor,An ther she spayed a naked man, was rinen throu the flour.16He tuke her in his arms an to his bed he ran;‘Hollie we me, sir,’ she says, ‘or ye’ll waken our pear man.’17The begger was a cuning carle, an never a word he spakeTill he got his turn dean, an sayn began to crak.18‘Is ther ony dogs about this toun? madin, tell me nou:’‘Fatt wad ye dee we them, my hony an my dou?’19‘They wad ravie a’ my meall-poks an die me mukell wrang:’‘O doll for the deaing o it! are ye the pear man?20‘I thought ye had ben some gentelman, just leak the leard of Brody!I am sorry for the doing o itt! are ye the pore boddie?’21She tuke the meall-poks by the strings an thrue them our the waa:‘Doll gaa we meall-poks, madinhead an a’!’22She tuke him to her press, gave him a glass of wine;He tuke her in his arms, says, Honey, ye’ss be mine.23He tuke a horn fra his side an he blue loud an shill,An four-an-tuenty belted knights came att the beager’s will.24He tuke out a pean-kniff, lute a’ his dudes faa,An he was the braest gentelman that was among them a’.25He patt his hand in his poket an gaa her ginnes three,An four-an-tuenty hunder mark, to pay the nires feea.26‘Gin ye had ben a gued woman, as I thought ye had ben,I wad haa made ye lady of castels eaght or nine.’

1‘Ther is a wife in yone toun-end, an she has dothers three,An I wad be a beager for ony of a’ the three.’

‘Ther is a wife in yone toun-end, an she has dothers three,

An I wad be a beager for ony of a’ the three.’

2He touk his clouty clok him about, his peak-staff in his hand,An he is awa to yon toun-end, leak ony peare man.

He touk his clouty clok him about, his peak-staff in his hand,

An he is awa to yon toun-end, leak ony peare man.

3‘I ha ben about this fish-toun this years tua or three,Ha ye ony quarters, deam, that ye coud gie me?’

‘I ha ben about this fish-toun this years tua or three,

Ha ye ony quarters, deam, that ye coud gie me?’

4‘Awa, ye pear carl, ye dinne kean my name;Ye sudd ha caed me mistress fan ye called me bat deam.’

‘Awa, ye pear carl, ye dinne kean my name;

Ye sudd ha caed me mistress fan ye called me bat deam.’

5He tuke his hat in his hand an gied her juks three:‘An ye want manners, misstres, quarters ye’ll gie me.’

He tuke his hat in his hand an gied her juks three:

‘An ye want manners, misstres, quarters ye’ll gie me.’

6‘Awa, ye pear carle, in ayont the fire,An sing to our Lord Gray’s men to their hearts’ disire.’

‘Awa, ye pear carle, in ayont the fire,

An sing to our Lord Gray’s men to their hearts’ disire.’

7Some lowked to his goudie lowks, some to his milk-whit skine,Some to his ruffled shirt, the gued read gold hang in.

Some lowked to his goudie lowks, some to his milk-whit skine,

Some to his ruffled shirt, the gued read gold hang in.

8Out spak our madin, an she was ay shay,Fatt will the jolly beager gett afore he gaa to lay?

Out spak our madin, an she was ay shay,

Fatt will the jolly beager gett afore he gaa to lay?

9Out spak our goudwife, an she was not sae shay,He’se gett a dish of lang kell, besids a puss pay.

Out spak our goudwife, an she was not sae shay,

He’se gett a dish of lang kell, besids a puss pay.

10Out spak the jolly beager, That dish I dou denay;I canne sup yer lang kell nor yet yer puss pay.

Out spak the jolly beager, That dish I dou denay;

I canne sup yer lang kell nor yet yer puss pay.

11Bat ye gett to my supper a capon of the best,Tuo or three bottels of yer wine, an bear, an we sall ha a merry feast.

Bat ye gett to my supper a capon of the best,

Tuo or three bottels of yer wine, an bear, an we sall ha a merry feast.

12‘Ha ye ony siler, carll, to bint the bear an wine?’‘O never a peney, misstress, had I lang sine.’

‘Ha ye ony siler, carll, to bint the bear an wine?’

‘O never a peney, misstress, had I lang sine.’

13The beager wadne lay in the barn, nor yett in the bayr,Bat in ahind the haa-dor, or att the kitchen-fire.

The beager wadne lay in the barn, nor yett in the bayr,

Bat in ahind the haa-dor, or att the kitchen-fire.

14The beager’s bed was well [made] of gued clean stray an hay,. . . . . . . . .

The beager’s bed was well [made] of gued clean stray an hay,

. . . . . . . . .

15The madin she rose up to bar the dor,An ther she spayed a naked man, was rinen throu the flour.

The madin she rose up to bar the dor,

An ther she spayed a naked man, was rinen throu the flour.

16He tuke her in his arms an to his bed he ran;‘Hollie we me, sir,’ she says, ‘or ye’ll waken our pear man.’

He tuke her in his arms an to his bed he ran;

‘Hollie we me, sir,’ she says, ‘or ye’ll waken our pear man.’

17The begger was a cuning carle, an never a word he spakeTill he got his turn dean, an sayn began to crak.

The begger was a cuning carle, an never a word he spake

Till he got his turn dean, an sayn began to crak.

18‘Is ther ony dogs about this toun? madin, tell me nou:’‘Fatt wad ye dee we them, my hony an my dou?’

‘Is ther ony dogs about this toun? madin, tell me nou:’

‘Fatt wad ye dee we them, my hony an my dou?’

19‘They wad ravie a’ my meall-poks an die me mukell wrang:’‘O doll for the deaing o it! are ye the pear man?

‘They wad ravie a’ my meall-poks an die me mukell wrang:’

‘O doll for the deaing o it! are ye the pear man?

20‘I thought ye had ben some gentelman, just leak the leard of Brody!I am sorry for the doing o itt! are ye the pore boddie?’

‘I thought ye had ben some gentelman, just leak the leard of Brody!

I am sorry for the doing o itt! are ye the pore boddie?’

21She tuke the meall-poks by the strings an thrue them our the waa:‘Doll gaa we meall-poks, madinhead an a’!’

She tuke the meall-poks by the strings an thrue them our the waa:

‘Doll gaa we meall-poks, madinhead an a’!’

22She tuke him to her press, gave him a glass of wine;He tuke her in his arms, says, Honey, ye’ss be mine.

She tuke him to her press, gave him a glass of wine;

He tuke her in his arms, says, Honey, ye’ss be mine.

23He tuke a horn fra his side an he blue loud an shill,An four-an-tuenty belted knights came att the beager’s will.

He tuke a horn fra his side an he blue loud an shill,

An four-an-tuenty belted knights came att the beager’s will.

24He tuke out a pean-kniff, lute a’ his dudes faa,An he was the braest gentelman that was among them a’.

He tuke out a pean-kniff, lute a’ his dudes faa,

An he was the braest gentelman that was among them a’.

25He patt his hand in his poket an gaa her ginnes three,An four-an-tuenty hunder mark, to pay the nires feea.

He patt his hand in his poket an gaa her ginnes three,

An four-an-tuenty hunder mark, to pay the nires feea.

26‘Gin ye had ben a gued woman, as I thought ye had ben,I wad haa made ye lady of castels eaght or nine.’

‘Gin ye had ben a gued woman, as I thought ye had ben,

I wad haa made ye lady of castels eaght or nine.’

a.Herd, The Ancient and Modern Scots Songs, 1769, p. 46.b.Curious Tracts, Scotland, British Museum, 1078, m. 24, No 30.

1There was a jolly beggar, and a begging he was bound,And he took up his quarters into a landart town.Fa la la, etc.2He wad neither ly in barn, nor yet wad he in byre,But in ahint the ha-door, or else afore the fire.3The beggar’s bed was made at een wi good clean straw and hay,And in ahint the ha-door, and there the beggar lay.4Up raise the goodman’s dochter, and for to bar the door,And there she saw the beggar standin i the floor.5He took the lassie in his arms and to the bed he ran,‘O hooly, hooly wi me, sir! ye’ll waken our goodman.’6The beggar was a cunnin loon, and neer a word he spakeUntil he got his turn done, syne he began to crack.7‘Is there ony dogs into this town? maiden, tell me true.’‘And what wad ye do wi them, my hinny and my dow?’8‘They’ll rive a’ my mealpocks, and do me meikle wrang.’‘O dool for the doing o’t! are ye the poor man?’9Then she took up the mealpocks and flang them oer the wa:‘The d—l gae wi the mealpocks, my maidenhead and a’!10‘I took ye for some gentleman, at least the Laird of Brodie;O dool for the doing o’t! are ye the poor bodie?’11He took the lassie in his arms and gae her kisses three,And four-and-twenty hunder merk to pay the nurice-fee.12He took a horn frae his side and blew baith loud and shrill,And four-and-twenty belted knights came skipping oer the hill.13And he took out his little knife, loot a’ his duddies fa,And he was the brawest gentleman that was amang them a’.14The beggar was a cliver loon and he lap shoulder height:‘O ay for sicken quarters as I gat yester-night!’

1There was a jolly beggar, and a begging he was bound,And he took up his quarters into a landart town.Fa la la, etc.

There was a jolly beggar, and a begging he was bound,

And he took up his quarters into a landart town.

Fa la la, etc.

2He wad neither ly in barn, nor yet wad he in byre,But in ahint the ha-door, or else afore the fire.

He wad neither ly in barn, nor yet wad he in byre,

But in ahint the ha-door, or else afore the fire.

3The beggar’s bed was made at een wi good clean straw and hay,And in ahint the ha-door, and there the beggar lay.

The beggar’s bed was made at een wi good clean straw and hay,

And in ahint the ha-door, and there the beggar lay.

4Up raise the goodman’s dochter, and for to bar the door,And there she saw the beggar standin i the floor.

Up raise the goodman’s dochter, and for to bar the door,

And there she saw the beggar standin i the floor.

5He took the lassie in his arms and to the bed he ran,‘O hooly, hooly wi me, sir! ye’ll waken our goodman.’

He took the lassie in his arms and to the bed he ran,

‘O hooly, hooly wi me, sir! ye’ll waken our goodman.’

6The beggar was a cunnin loon, and neer a word he spakeUntil he got his turn done, syne he began to crack.

The beggar was a cunnin loon, and neer a word he spake

Until he got his turn done, syne he began to crack.

7‘Is there ony dogs into this town? maiden, tell me true.’‘And what wad ye do wi them, my hinny and my dow?’

‘Is there ony dogs into this town? maiden, tell me true.’

‘And what wad ye do wi them, my hinny and my dow?’

8‘They’ll rive a’ my mealpocks, and do me meikle wrang.’‘O dool for the doing o’t! are ye the poor man?’

‘They’ll rive a’ my mealpocks, and do me meikle wrang.’

‘O dool for the doing o’t! are ye the poor man?’

9Then she took up the mealpocks and flang them oer the wa:‘The d—l gae wi the mealpocks, my maidenhead and a’!

Then she took up the mealpocks and flang them oer the wa:

‘The d—l gae wi the mealpocks, my maidenhead and a’!

10‘I took ye for some gentleman, at least the Laird of Brodie;O dool for the doing o’t! are ye the poor bodie?’

‘I took ye for some gentleman, at least the Laird of Brodie;

O dool for the doing o’t! are ye the poor bodie?’

11He took the lassie in his arms and gae her kisses three,And four-and-twenty hunder merk to pay the nurice-fee.

He took the lassie in his arms and gae her kisses three,

And four-and-twenty hunder merk to pay the nurice-fee.

12He took a horn frae his side and blew baith loud and shrill,And four-and-twenty belted knights came skipping oer the hill.

He took a horn frae his side and blew baith loud and shrill,

And four-and-twenty belted knights came skipping oer the hill.

13And he took out his little knife, loot a’ his duddies fa,And he was the brawest gentleman that was amang them a’.

And he took out his little knife, loot a’ his duddies fa,

And he was the brawest gentleman that was amang them a’.

14The beggar was a cliver loon and he lap shoulder height:‘O ay for sicken quarters as I gat yester-night!’

The beggar was a cliver loon and he lap shoulder height:

‘O ay for sicken quarters as I gat yester-night!’

62. disere.92. pussmight berusshere, but is unquestionable in the next stanza.242. blaestforbraest. 262. ninge (nignemay be what was intended).B. b.A slip with no imprint. Dated in the Museum catalogue 1800?1There was a jolly beggar, and a begging he had been,With his fal de diddle de dal dalAnd he took up his quarters in a house in Aberdeen.With his toran oran ad de odi2This beggar would not lye in barn nor yet would he in byre,But he would lye into the ha, or beyond the kitchen-fire.3The beggar’s bed it was well made, with clean straw and hay,And beyond the kitchen-fire, there the jolly beggar lay.4The lassie then she did get up to bar the kitchen-door,An there she met the jolly beggar, standing naked on the floor.5He gript the lassie by the middle jimp, laid her against the wa,‘O kind sir,’ she said, ‘be civil, for ye will wake my dadda.’6He never minded what she said, but carried on his stroke,Till he got his job done, then he began to joke.7‘Have you got any dogs about the house, or any cats ava?For I’m feared she’ll cut my mealpocks before I gang awa.’8The lassie took up the mealpocks, threw them against the wa,‘O deil tak your mealpocks! my maidenhead’s awa.’9The lassie she got up again the hour before ’twas day,For to gie the beggar hansel before he went away.10She went into the cellar, to draw a pot of ale,The beggar followed after, and did the job again.11He laid her on the ringle-tree, and gave her kisses three,And he gave her twenty guineas, to pay the nurse’s fee.12‘Had you been an honest lass, as I took you to be,You might have rode in your carriage and gone along with me.’13The beggar he took a horn and blew it wondrous shrill;There was four-and-twenty belted knights came riding oer the hill.14‘Now if you are afraid you should miscall your child,You may call him for the daddy o’t, the great Duke of Argyle.’11, jelly:but32, 42, jolly.31. hay and straw.91. hours.132. kinpaforknights.There are many other misprints; some, perhaps, which are not corrected, asshe’ll cut, 72.The copy in Motherwell’s MS, p. 124, ends:He louted oure the saddle to her and gave her kisses three,And he gave her fifty guineas, to pay the nourice-fee.‘Oh had you been an honest maid, as I thocht ye wud hae been,I would have made you lady of a’ the land, and then the Scotish queen.’

62. disere.

92. pussmight berusshere, but is unquestionable in the next stanza.

242. blaestforbraest. 262. ninge (nignemay be what was intended).

B. b.A slip with no imprint. Dated in the Museum catalogue 1800?

1There was a jolly beggar, and a begging he had been,With his fal de diddle de dal dalAnd he took up his quarters in a house in Aberdeen.With his toran oran ad de odi2This beggar would not lye in barn nor yet would he in byre,But he would lye into the ha, or beyond the kitchen-fire.3The beggar’s bed it was well made, with clean straw and hay,And beyond the kitchen-fire, there the jolly beggar lay.4The lassie then she did get up to bar the kitchen-door,An there she met the jolly beggar, standing naked on the floor.5He gript the lassie by the middle jimp, laid her against the wa,‘O kind sir,’ she said, ‘be civil, for ye will wake my dadda.’6He never minded what she said, but carried on his stroke,Till he got his job done, then he began to joke.7‘Have you got any dogs about the house, or any cats ava?For I’m feared she’ll cut my mealpocks before I gang awa.’8The lassie took up the mealpocks, threw them against the wa,‘O deil tak your mealpocks! my maidenhead’s awa.’9The lassie she got up again the hour before ’twas day,For to gie the beggar hansel before he went away.10She went into the cellar, to draw a pot of ale,The beggar followed after, and did the job again.11He laid her on the ringle-tree, and gave her kisses three,And he gave her twenty guineas, to pay the nurse’s fee.12‘Had you been an honest lass, as I took you to be,You might have rode in your carriage and gone along with me.’13The beggar he took a horn and blew it wondrous shrill;There was four-and-twenty belted knights came riding oer the hill.14‘Now if you are afraid you should miscall your child,You may call him for the daddy o’t, the great Duke of Argyle.’

1There was a jolly beggar, and a begging he had been,With his fal de diddle de dal dalAnd he took up his quarters in a house in Aberdeen.With his toran oran ad de odi

There was a jolly beggar, and a begging he had been,

With his fal de diddle de dal dal

And he took up his quarters in a house in Aberdeen.

With his toran oran ad de odi

2This beggar would not lye in barn nor yet would he in byre,But he would lye into the ha, or beyond the kitchen-fire.

This beggar would not lye in barn nor yet would he in byre,

But he would lye into the ha, or beyond the kitchen-fire.

3The beggar’s bed it was well made, with clean straw and hay,And beyond the kitchen-fire, there the jolly beggar lay.

The beggar’s bed it was well made, with clean straw and hay,

And beyond the kitchen-fire, there the jolly beggar lay.

4The lassie then she did get up to bar the kitchen-door,An there she met the jolly beggar, standing naked on the floor.

The lassie then she did get up to bar the kitchen-door,

An there she met the jolly beggar, standing naked on the floor.

5He gript the lassie by the middle jimp, laid her against the wa,‘O kind sir,’ she said, ‘be civil, for ye will wake my dadda.’

He gript the lassie by the middle jimp, laid her against the wa,

‘O kind sir,’ she said, ‘be civil, for ye will wake my dadda.’

6He never minded what she said, but carried on his stroke,Till he got his job done, then he began to joke.

He never minded what she said, but carried on his stroke,

Till he got his job done, then he began to joke.

7‘Have you got any dogs about the house, or any cats ava?For I’m feared she’ll cut my mealpocks before I gang awa.’

‘Have you got any dogs about the house, or any cats ava?

For I’m feared she’ll cut my mealpocks before I gang awa.’

8The lassie took up the mealpocks, threw them against the wa,‘O deil tak your mealpocks! my maidenhead’s awa.’

The lassie took up the mealpocks, threw them against the wa,

‘O deil tak your mealpocks! my maidenhead’s awa.’

9The lassie she got up again the hour before ’twas day,For to gie the beggar hansel before he went away.

The lassie she got up again the hour before ’twas day,

For to gie the beggar hansel before he went away.

10She went into the cellar, to draw a pot of ale,The beggar followed after, and did the job again.

She went into the cellar, to draw a pot of ale,

The beggar followed after, and did the job again.

11He laid her on the ringle-tree, and gave her kisses three,And he gave her twenty guineas, to pay the nurse’s fee.

He laid her on the ringle-tree, and gave her kisses three,

And he gave her twenty guineas, to pay the nurse’s fee.

12‘Had you been an honest lass, as I took you to be,You might have rode in your carriage and gone along with me.’

‘Had you been an honest lass, as I took you to be,

You might have rode in your carriage and gone along with me.’

13The beggar he took a horn and blew it wondrous shrill;There was four-and-twenty belted knights came riding oer the hill.

The beggar he took a horn and blew it wondrous shrill;

There was four-and-twenty belted knights came riding oer the hill.

14‘Now if you are afraid you should miscall your child,You may call him for the daddy o’t, the great Duke of Argyle.’

‘Now if you are afraid you should miscall your child,

You may call him for the daddy o’t, the great Duke of Argyle.’

11, jelly:but

32, 42, jolly.

31. hay and straw.

91. hours.

132. kinpaforknights.

There are many other misprints; some, perhaps, which are not corrected, asshe’ll cut, 72.

The copy in Motherwell’s MS, p. 124, ends:

He louted oure the saddle to her and gave her kisses three,And he gave her fifty guineas, to pay the nourice-fee.‘Oh had you been an honest maid, as I thocht ye wud hae been,I would have made you lady of a’ the land, and then the Scotish queen.’

He louted oure the saddle to her and gave her kisses three,And he gave her fifty guineas, to pay the nourice-fee.

He louted oure the saddle to her and gave her kisses three,

And he gave her fifty guineas, to pay the nourice-fee.

‘Oh had you been an honest maid, as I thocht ye wud hae been,I would have made you lady of a’ the land, and then the Scotish queen.’

‘Oh had you been an honest maid, as I thocht ye wud hae been,

I would have made you lady of a’ the land, and then the Scotish queen.’

B. c.

From the recitation of Miss Jane Webster, Crossmichael, August 8, 1893; learned by her many years ago from her mother, Janet Spark.1There was a jolly beggar, as mony a ane has been,An he’s taen up his lodging in a house near Aberdeen.Wi his yi yi yanti O, his eerie eerie anWi his fine tan taraira, the jolly beggar-man2He wadna lie in barn, nor he wadna lie in byre,But he wad lie at the ha-door or the back o the kitchen-fire.

From the recitation of Miss Jane Webster, Crossmichael, August 8, 1893; learned by her many years ago from her mother, Janet Spark.

1There was a jolly beggar, as mony a ane has been,An he’s taen up his lodging in a house near Aberdeen.Wi his yi yi yanti O, his eerie eerie anWi his fine tan taraira, the jolly beggar-man2He wadna lie in barn, nor he wadna lie in byre,But he wad lie at the ha-door or the back o the kitchen-fire.

1There was a jolly beggar, as mony a ane has been,An he’s taen up his lodging in a house near Aberdeen.Wi his yi yi yanti O, his eerie eerie anWi his fine tan taraira, the jolly beggar-man

There was a jolly beggar, as mony a ane has been,

An he’s taen up his lodging in a house near Aberdeen.

Wi his yi yi yanti O, his eerie eerie an

Wi his fine tan taraira, the jolly beggar-man

2He wadna lie in barn, nor he wadna lie in byre,But he wad lie at the ha-door or the back o the kitchen-fire.

He wadna lie in barn, nor he wadna lie in byre,

But he wad lie at the ha-door or the back o the kitchen-fire.

B. d.

From the recitation of the same, on the same occasion; learned in youth at Airds of Kells, from the singing of Thomas Duffy, joiner, Parton.Refrain:Wi his long staff, and ragged coat, and breeches to his knee,And he was the bauldest beggar-man that eer my eyes did see.

From the recitation of the same, on the same occasion; learned in youth at Airds of Kells, from the singing of Thomas Duffy, joiner, Parton.

Refrain:

Wi his long staff, and ragged coat, and breeches to his knee,And he was the bauldest beggar-man that eer my eyes did see.

Wi his long staff, and ragged coat, and breeches to his knee,

And he was the bauldest beggar-man that eer my eyes did see.

4Up rose the farmer’s daughter, for to bar the door,There she beheld a naked man, was standing on the floor.7‘Hae ye ony cats or dogs, or hae ye eer a grew?I’m feared they rive my meal-pokes, when I am kissing you.’9She’s taen up his meal-pokes an thrown them owre the wa:‘O the deil gang wi your meal-pokes! for my maidenhead’s awa.’‘It’s fare ye weel, gudewife, an it’s fare ye weel, gudeman,Ye hae a gude fat doughter, an I rattled on her pan.

4Up rose the farmer’s daughter, for to bar the door,There she beheld a naked man, was standing on the floor.

Up rose the farmer’s daughter, for to bar the door,

There she beheld a naked man, was standing on the floor.

7‘Hae ye ony cats or dogs, or hae ye eer a grew?I’m feared they rive my meal-pokes, when I am kissing you.’

‘Hae ye ony cats or dogs, or hae ye eer a grew?

I’m feared they rive my meal-pokes, when I am kissing you.’

9She’s taen up his meal-pokes an thrown them owre the wa:‘O the deil gang wi your meal-pokes! for my maidenhead’s awa.’

She’s taen up his meal-pokes an thrown them owre the wa:

‘O the deil gang wi your meal-pokes! for my maidenhead’s awa.’

‘It’s fare ye weel, gudewife, an it’s fare ye weel, gudeman,Ye hae a gude fat doughter, an I rattled on her pan.

‘It’s fare ye weel, gudewife, an it’s fare ye weel, gudeman,

Ye hae a gude fat doughter, an I rattled on her pan.

12‘If she had been an honest lass, as I took her to be,She micht hae ridden in her coach-an-four this day along wi me.’

‘If she had been an honest lass, as I took her to be,

She micht hae ridden in her coach-an-four this day along wi me.’

12Then he took oot a whistle, an he’s blawn baith loud and shrill,There was four-an-twenty foresters cam at their master’s will.13Then he took oot a wee pen-knife, an let his duddies fa,And he was the brawest gentleman that was amang them a’.

12Then he took oot a whistle, an he’s blawn baith loud and shrill,There was four-an-twenty foresters cam at their master’s will.

Then he took oot a whistle, an he’s blawn baith loud and shrill,

There was four-an-twenty foresters cam at their master’s will.

13Then he took oot a wee pen-knife, an let his duddies fa,And he was the brawest gentleman that was amang them a’.

Then he took oot a wee pen-knife, an let his duddies fa,

And he was the brawest gentleman that was amang them a’.

The English broadside, Pepys Ballads, III, 73, No 71.

Who got the love of a pretty maidAnd on her cittern sweetly plaid;At last she slung her milk-pail over the wall,And bid the De’l take milk-pail, maidenhead and all.Tune is, There was a jovial begger.[96]

Who got the love of a pretty maidAnd on her cittern sweetly plaid;At last she slung her milk-pail over the wall,And bid the De’l take milk-pail, maidenhead and all.

Who got the love of a pretty maid

And on her cittern sweetly plaid;

At last she slung her milk-pail over the wall,

And bid the De’l take milk-pail, maidenhead and all.

Tune is, There was a jovial begger.[96]

Printed for F. Coles, T. Vere, J. Wright, and J. Clarke.

1There was a jovial begger-man,a begging he was bound,And he did seek his livingin country and in town.With a long staff and a patcht coat,he prancd along the pad,And by report of many a onehe was a proper lad.His cheeks were like the crimson rose,his forehead smooth and high,And he was the bravest begger-manthat ever I saw with eye.2He came unto a farmer’s gateand for an alms did crave;The maid did like the begger-manand good relief she gave.She took him by the lilly handand set him to the fire,Which was as well as tongue could tellOr heart of man desire.3A curious mess of firmatyfor him she did provide,With a lovely cup of nut-brownand sugar sops beside.. . . . . . . .. . . . . . .. . . . . . .. . . . . . .4‘Sweet-heart, give me some lodging,that I all night may stay,Or else give me my answer,that I may go away.’The maid went to the hay-mowand fetcht a bottle of hay,And laid it behind the parlor-door,On which the begger-man lay.5‘Resolve me,’ said the maiden,‘if that you will or can,For I do verily believethou art a gentleman.’‘In truth then,’ said the begger,‘my parents they are poor,And I do seek my livingeach day from door to door.’6‘’Tis pity,’ said this maiden fair,‘that such a lively ladShould be a begger’s only heir,a fortune poor and bad.I wish that my conditionwere of the same degree,Then hand in hand I’de quickly wendthroughout the world with thee.’7When he perceivd the maiden’s mind,and that her heart was his,He did embrace her in his armsAnd sweetly did her kiss.. . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . . .8In lovely sport and merrimentthe night away they spentIn Venus game, for their delightand both their hearts content:. . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . . .9Betimes in the morning then,as soon as it was day,He left the damosel fast asleepand nimbly budgd away.When he from her an hour was gonethe damosel she did wake,And seeing the begger-man not thereher heart began to ake.10Then did she sigh and wring her hands,the tears did trickling pour,For loosing her virginityand virgins maiden flower.When twenty weeks were come and goneher heart was something sad,Because she found herself with barn,and does not know the dad.11‘There is, I see, no remedyfor what is past and gone,And many a one that laughs at memay do as I have done.’Then did she take her milk-pail,and flung it over the wall:‘O the Devil go with my milk-pail,my maidenhead and all!’12You maidens fair, where ere you are,Keep up your store and goods,For when that some have got their willsThey’l leave you in the suds.Let no man tempt you nor entice,be not too fond and coy,But soon agree to loyalty,Your freedom to enjoy.

There was a jovial begger-man,

a begging he was bound,

And he did seek his living

in country and in town.

With a long staff and a patcht coat,

he prancd along the pad,

And by report of many a one

he was a proper lad.

His cheeks were like the crimson rose,

his forehead smooth and high,

And he was the bravest begger-man

that ever I saw with eye.

2He came unto a farmer’s gateand for an alms did crave;The maid did like the begger-manand good relief she gave.She took him by the lilly handand set him to the fire,Which was as well as tongue could tellOr heart of man desire.

He came unto a farmer’s gate

and for an alms did crave;

The maid did like the begger-man

and good relief she gave.

She took him by the lilly hand

and set him to the fire,

Which was as well as tongue could tell

Or heart of man desire.

3A curious mess of firmatyfor him she did provide,With a lovely cup of nut-brownand sugar sops beside.. . . . . . . .. . . . . . .. . . . . . .. . . . . . .

A curious mess of firmaty

for him she did provide,

With a lovely cup of nut-brown

and sugar sops beside.

. . . . . . . .

. . . . . . .

4‘Sweet-heart, give me some lodging,that I all night may stay,Or else give me my answer,that I may go away.’The maid went to the hay-mowand fetcht a bottle of hay,And laid it behind the parlor-door,On which the begger-man lay.

‘Sweet-heart, give me some lodging,

that I all night may stay,

Or else give me my answer,

that I may go away.’

The maid went to the hay-mow

and fetcht a bottle of hay,

And laid it behind the parlor-door,

On which the begger-man lay.

5‘Resolve me,’ said the maiden,‘if that you will or can,For I do verily believethou art a gentleman.’‘In truth then,’ said the begger,‘my parents they are poor,And I do seek my livingeach day from door to door.’

‘Resolve me,’ said the maiden,

‘if that you will or can,

For I do verily believe

thou art a gentleman.’

‘In truth then,’ said the begger,

‘my parents they are poor,

And I do seek my living

each day from door to door.’

6‘’Tis pity,’ said this maiden fair,‘that such a lively ladShould be a begger’s only heir,a fortune poor and bad.I wish that my conditionwere of the same degree,Then hand in hand I’de quickly wendthroughout the world with thee.’

‘’Tis pity,’ said this maiden fair,

‘that such a lively lad

Should be a begger’s only heir,

a fortune poor and bad.

I wish that my condition

were of the same degree,

Then hand in hand I’de quickly wend

throughout the world with thee.’

7When he perceivd the maiden’s mind,and that her heart was his,He did embrace her in his armsAnd sweetly did her kiss.. . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . . .

When he perceivd the maiden’s mind,

and that her heart was his,

He did embrace her in his arms

And sweetly did her kiss.

. . . . . .

8In lovely sport and merrimentthe night away they spentIn Venus game, for their delightand both their hearts content:. . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . . .

In lovely sport and merriment

the night away they spent

In Venus game, for their delight

and both their hearts content:

. . . . . .

9Betimes in the morning then,as soon as it was day,He left the damosel fast asleepand nimbly budgd away.When he from her an hour was gonethe damosel she did wake,And seeing the begger-man not thereher heart began to ake.

Betimes in the morning then,

as soon as it was day,

He left the damosel fast asleep

and nimbly budgd away.

When he from her an hour was gone

the damosel she did wake,

And seeing the begger-man not there

her heart began to ake.

10Then did she sigh and wring her hands,the tears did trickling pour,For loosing her virginityand virgins maiden flower.When twenty weeks were come and goneher heart was something sad,Because she found herself with barn,and does not know the dad.

Then did she sigh and wring her hands,

the tears did trickling pour,

For loosing her virginity

and virgins maiden flower.

When twenty weeks were come and gone

her heart was something sad,

Because she found herself with barn,

and does not know the dad.

11‘There is, I see, no remedyfor what is past and gone,And many a one that laughs at memay do as I have done.’Then did she take her milk-pail,and flung it over the wall:‘O the Devil go with my milk-pail,my maidenhead and all!’

‘There is, I see, no remedy

for what is past and gone,

And many a one that laughs at me

may do as I have done.’

Then did she take her milk-pail,

and flung it over the wall:

‘O the Devil go with my milk-pail,

my maidenhead and all!’

12You maidens fair, where ere you are,Keep up your store and goods,For when that some have got their willsThey’l leave you in the suds.Let no man tempt you nor entice,be not too fond and coy,But soon agree to loyalty,Your freedom to enjoy.

You maidens fair, where ere you are,

Keep up your store and goods,

For when that some have got their wills

They’l leave you in the suds.

Let no man tempt you nor entice,

be not too fond and coy,

But soon agree to loyalty,

Your freedom to enjoy.

44. go that way.

THE GABERLUNYIE-MAN

Printed in the first volume of Ramsay’s Tea-Table Miscellany, 1724, from which it was repeated in Thomson’s Orpheus Caledonius, 1725, fol. 43, and Old Ballads, III, 259, the same year; in the Dublin reprint of the Miscellany, 1729, I, 96, the “fifth edition,” London, 1730, and the ninth edition, London, 1733, I. 84. The first edition, 1724, being of extreme rarity, if anywhere now to be found, the piece is given here from Old Ballads, which agrees with Orpheus Caledonius except as to the spelling of a single word.

The Gaberlunyie-Man is one of the pieces which were subjected to revision in the Miscellany; “such old verses as have been done time out of mind, and only wanted to be cleared from the dross of blundering transcribers and printers, such as ‘The Gaberlunzie-man,’ ‘Muirland Willy,’” etc. (Ramsay’s preface.)

In recited copies, as the “Old Lady’s Collection,” No 13 (Skene MS., p. 65), and Motherwell’s MS., p. 31, the girl is made to come back again to see her mother (or the gaberlunyie-man brings her) ‘wi a bairn in her arms and ane in her wame;’ but for all that a fine lady, ‘wi men- and maid-servants at her command.’

Translated by Herder, II, 264; Bodmer, I, 68; Fiedler, p. 23; Loeve-Veimars, p. 356.

1The pauky auld carle came oer the lee,Wi many good eens and days to me,Saying, Goodwife, for your courtesie,Will ye lodge a silly poor man?The night was cauld, the carle was wat,And down ayont the ingle he sat;My daughter’s shoulders he gan to clap,And cadgily ranted and sang.2‘O wow!’ quo he, ‘were I as freeAs first when I saw this country,How blyth and merry wad I be!And I wad never think lang.’He grew canty, and she grew fain,But little did her auld minny kenWhat thir slee twa togither were sayn,When wooing they were sa[e] thrang.3‘And O!’ quo he, ‘ann ye were as black,As eer the crown of your dady’s hat,’Tis I wad lay thee by my back,And awa wi me thou shoud gang.’‘And O!’ quoth she, ‘ann I were as whiteAs eer the snaw lay on the dike,I’d clead me braw, and lady-like,And awa with thee I’d gang.’4Between the twa was made a plot;They raise a wee before the cock,And wyliely they shot the lock,And fast to the bent are they gane.Up the morn the auld wife raise,And at her leasure pat on her claiths;Syne to the servants bed she gaes,To speer for the silly poor man.5She gaed to the bed where the beggar lay,The strae was cauld, he was away;She clapt her hands, cry’d, Waladay!For some of our gear will be gane.Some ran to coffers, and some to kists,But nought was stown that coud be mist;She danc’d her lane, cry’d, Praise be blest,I have lodg’d a leal poor man!6‘Since nathing’s awa, as we can learn,The kirn’s to kirn and milk to earn;Gae butt the house, lass, and waken my bairn,And bid her come quickly ben.’The servant gade where the daughter lay,The sheets was cauld, she was away;And fast to her goodwife can say,She’s aff with the gaberlunyie-man.7‘O fy, gar ride, and fy, gar rin,And hast ye find these traitors again;For she’s be burnt, and he’s be slain,The wearifu gaberlunyie-man.’Some rade upo horse, some ran a-fit,The wife was wood and out o’er wit;She coud na gang, nor yet coud she sit,But ay she cursd and she band.8Mean time far hind outoer the lee,Fou snug in a glen, where nane coud see,The twa, with kindly sport and glee,Cut frae a new cheese a whang.The priving was good, it pleasd them baith,To loe her for ay he gae her his aith;Quo she, To leave thee, I will be laith,My winsome gaberlunyie-man.9‘O kend my minny I were wi you,Illfardly wad she crook her mou;Sic a poor man she’d never trow,After the gaberlunyie-man.’‘My dear,’ quo he, ‘ye’r yet oer young,And ha na learnd the beggar’s tongue,To follow me frae town to town,And carry the gaberlunyie on.10‘Wi kauk and keel, I’ll win your bread,And spindles and whorles for them wha need,Whilk is a gentil trade indeed,To carry the gaberlunyie, O.I’ll bow my leg, and crook my knee,And draw a black clout oer my eye;A criple or blind they will ca me,While we shall be merry and sing.’

The pauky auld carle came oer the lee,

Wi many good eens and days to me,

Saying, Goodwife, for your courtesie,

Will ye lodge a silly poor man?

The night was cauld, the carle was wat,

And down ayont the ingle he sat;

My daughter’s shoulders he gan to clap,

And cadgily ranted and sang.

2‘O wow!’ quo he, ‘were I as freeAs first when I saw this country,How blyth and merry wad I be!And I wad never think lang.’He grew canty, and she grew fain,But little did her auld minny kenWhat thir slee twa togither were sayn,When wooing they were sa[e] thrang.

‘O wow!’ quo he, ‘were I as free

As first when I saw this country,

How blyth and merry wad I be!

And I wad never think lang.’

He grew canty, and she grew fain,

But little did her auld minny ken

What thir slee twa togither were sayn,

When wooing they were sa[e] thrang.

3‘And O!’ quo he, ‘ann ye were as black,As eer the crown of your dady’s hat,’Tis I wad lay thee by my back,And awa wi me thou shoud gang.’‘And O!’ quoth she, ‘ann I were as whiteAs eer the snaw lay on the dike,I’d clead me braw, and lady-like,And awa with thee I’d gang.’

‘And O!’ quo he, ‘ann ye were as black,

As eer the crown of your dady’s hat,

’Tis I wad lay thee by my back,

And awa wi me thou shoud gang.’

‘And O!’ quoth she, ‘ann I were as white

As eer the snaw lay on the dike,

I’d clead me braw, and lady-like,

And awa with thee I’d gang.’

4Between the twa was made a plot;They raise a wee before the cock,And wyliely they shot the lock,And fast to the bent are they gane.Up the morn the auld wife raise,And at her leasure pat on her claiths;Syne to the servants bed she gaes,To speer for the silly poor man.

Between the twa was made a plot;

They raise a wee before the cock,

And wyliely they shot the lock,

And fast to the bent are they gane.

Up the morn the auld wife raise,

And at her leasure pat on her claiths;

Syne to the servants bed she gaes,

To speer for the silly poor man.

5She gaed to the bed where the beggar lay,The strae was cauld, he was away;She clapt her hands, cry’d, Waladay!For some of our gear will be gane.Some ran to coffers, and some to kists,But nought was stown that coud be mist;She danc’d her lane, cry’d, Praise be blest,I have lodg’d a leal poor man!

She gaed to the bed where the beggar lay,

The strae was cauld, he was away;

She clapt her hands, cry’d, Waladay!

For some of our gear will be gane.

Some ran to coffers, and some to kists,

But nought was stown that coud be mist;

She danc’d her lane, cry’d, Praise be blest,

I have lodg’d a leal poor man!

6‘Since nathing’s awa, as we can learn,The kirn’s to kirn and milk to earn;Gae butt the house, lass, and waken my bairn,And bid her come quickly ben.’The servant gade where the daughter lay,The sheets was cauld, she was away;And fast to her goodwife can say,She’s aff with the gaberlunyie-man.

‘Since nathing’s awa, as we can learn,

The kirn’s to kirn and milk to earn;

Gae butt the house, lass, and waken my bairn,

And bid her come quickly ben.’

The servant gade where the daughter lay,

The sheets was cauld, she was away;

And fast to her goodwife can say,

She’s aff with the gaberlunyie-man.

7‘O fy, gar ride, and fy, gar rin,And hast ye find these traitors again;For she’s be burnt, and he’s be slain,The wearifu gaberlunyie-man.’Some rade upo horse, some ran a-fit,The wife was wood and out o’er wit;She coud na gang, nor yet coud she sit,But ay she cursd and she band.

‘O fy, gar ride, and fy, gar rin,

And hast ye find these traitors again;

For she’s be burnt, and he’s be slain,

The wearifu gaberlunyie-man.’

Some rade upo horse, some ran a-fit,

The wife was wood and out o’er wit;

She coud na gang, nor yet coud she sit,

But ay she cursd and she band.

8Mean time far hind outoer the lee,Fou snug in a glen, where nane coud see,The twa, with kindly sport and glee,Cut frae a new cheese a whang.The priving was good, it pleasd them baith,To loe her for ay he gae her his aith;Quo she, To leave thee, I will be laith,My winsome gaberlunyie-man.

Mean time far hind outoer the lee,

Fou snug in a glen, where nane coud see,

The twa, with kindly sport and glee,

Cut frae a new cheese a whang.

The priving was good, it pleasd them baith,

To loe her for ay he gae her his aith;

Quo she, To leave thee, I will be laith,

My winsome gaberlunyie-man.

9‘O kend my minny I were wi you,Illfardly wad she crook her mou;Sic a poor man she’d never trow,After the gaberlunyie-man.’‘My dear,’ quo he, ‘ye’r yet oer young,And ha na learnd the beggar’s tongue,To follow me frae town to town,And carry the gaberlunyie on.

‘O kend my minny I were wi you,

Illfardly wad she crook her mou;

Sic a poor man she’d never trow,

After the gaberlunyie-man.’

‘My dear,’ quo he, ‘ye’r yet oer young,

And ha na learnd the beggar’s tongue,

To follow me frae town to town,

And carry the gaberlunyie on.

10‘Wi kauk and keel, I’ll win your bread,And spindles and whorles for them wha need,Whilk is a gentil trade indeed,To carry the gaberlunyie, O.I’ll bow my leg, and crook my knee,And draw a black clout oer my eye;A criple or blind they will ca me,While we shall be merry and sing.’

‘Wi kauk and keel, I’ll win your bread,

And spindles and whorles for them wha need,

Whilk is a gentil trade indeed,

To carry the gaberlunyie, O.

I’ll bow my leg, and crook my knee,

And draw a black clout oer my eye;

A criple or blind they will ca me,

While we shall be merry and sing.’

32. my dady’s, Dublin, 1729, London, 1730, 1733.

FOOTNOTES:[93]And may have been omitted by Ramsay because he “kept out all ribaldry” from the Tea-Table Miscellany. This is not a Tea-Table Miscellany, and I have no discretion.[94]I owe my knowledge of all of these three copies to Mr Baring-Gould. He informs me that the ballad which he took down is sung throughout Cornwall and Devon.[95]Other copies, which are rather numerous, much less: Norrenberg, Des dülkener Fiedlers Liederbuch, p. 10, No 13; Peter I, 182; Uhland, No 285, p. 737; Haupt u. Schmaler, I, 102, No 67; etc. See Hoffmann’s notes, pp. 46, 47; Barack, Zimmerische Chronik, 2d ed., II, 111, and Liebrecht’s note, Germania, XIV, 38; Schade, Weimarisches Jahrbuch, III, 259 ff., 465 ff.[96]For this older piece, see Ebsworth, Bagford Ballads, I, 216. There is no adventure; the subject is the beggar’s way of life.

[93]And may have been omitted by Ramsay because he “kept out all ribaldry” from the Tea-Table Miscellany. This is not a Tea-Table Miscellany, and I have no discretion.

[94]I owe my knowledge of all of these three copies to Mr Baring-Gould. He informs me that the ballad which he took down is sung throughout Cornwall and Devon.

[95]Other copies, which are rather numerous, much less: Norrenberg, Des dülkener Fiedlers Liederbuch, p. 10, No 13; Peter I, 182; Uhland, No 285, p. 737; Haupt u. Schmaler, I, 102, No 67; etc. See Hoffmann’s notes, pp. 46, 47; Barack, Zimmerische Chronik, 2d ed., II, 111, and Liebrecht’s note, Germania, XIV, 38; Schade, Weimarisches Jahrbuch, III, 259 ff., 465 ff.

[96]For this older piece, see Ebsworth, Bagford Ballads, I, 216. There is no adventure; the subject is the beggar’s way of life.

Back to Index Next