Reliques of ancient English poetry: consisting of old heroic ballads, songs, and other pieces, of the earlier poets, with some of later date

Front matter

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Preface

cient English Minstrels ; and the artless productions of these old rhapsodists are occasionally confronted with specimens of the composition of contemporary poets of a higher class ; of those who had all the advantages of learning in the times in which they lived, and -who wrote for fame and for posterity. Yet perhaps the palm will be frequently due to the old strolling Minstrels, who composed their rhymes to be sung to their harps, and who looked no further than for present applause, and present subsistence.

The reader will find this class of men occasionally described in the following volumes, and some particulars relating to their history in an Essay subjoined to this preface.

It will be proper here to give a short account of the other collections that were consulted, and to make my acknowledgments to those gentlemen who were so kind as to impart extracts from them ; for, while this selection was making, a great number of ingenious friends took a share in the work and explored many large repositories in its favour.

The first of these that deserved notice was the Pepysian library at Magdalen College, Cambridge. Its founder, Sam. Pepys,* Esq., Secretary of the Admiralty in the reigns of Charles II. and James II., had made a large collection of ancient English ballads, near two thousand in number, which he has left pasted in five volumes in folio ; besides Garlands and other smaller miscellanies. This collection, he tells us, was " begun by Mr. Selden ; improved by the addition of many pieces elder thereto in time ; and the whole continued down to the year 1700 ; when the form peculiar till then thereto, viz. of the black letter with pictures, seems (for cheapness sake) wholly laid aside for that of the white letter without pictures."

In the Ashmole Library at Oxford is a small collection of Ballads made by Anthony Wood in the year 1676, containing somewhat more than two hundred. Many aucient popular poems are also preserved in the Bodleyan Library.

The archives of the Antiquarian Society at London contain a multitude of curious

* A Lite of our curious collector, Mr. Pepys, may tie seen in the " The Continuation of Mr. Collier's Supplement to his (Ireat Dictionary, 1715, at the end of vol. iii. folio. Art- PEP."

political poems in large folio volumes, digested under the several reigns of Henry VIII., Edward VI., Mary, Elizabeth, James I., &c.

In the British Museum is preserved a largo treasure of ancient English poems in MS., besides one folio volume of printed ballads.

From all these some of the best pieces were selected ; and from many private collections, as well printed as manuscript, particularly from one large folio volume which was lent by a lady.

Amid such a fund of materials, the Editor is afraid he has been sometimes led to make too great a parade of his authorities. The desire of being accurate has perhaps seduced him into too minute and trifling an exactness; and in pursuit of information he may have been drawn into many a petty and frivolous research. It was however necessary to give some account of the old copies ; though often, for the sake of brevity, one or two of these only are mentioned, where yet assistance was received from several. Where anything was altered that deserved particular notice, the passage is generally distinguished by two inverted ' commas'. And the Editor has endeavoured to be as faithful as the imperfect state of his materials would admit. For these old popular rhymes being many of them copied only from illiterate transcripts, or the imperfect recitation of itinerant ballad-singers, have, as might be expected, been handed down to us with less care than any other writings in the world. And the old copies, whether MS. or printed, were often so defective or corrupted, that a scrupulous adherence to their wretched readings would only have exhibited unintelligible nonsense, or such poor meagre stuff as neither came from the Bard nor was worthy the press ; when, by a few slight corrections or additions, a most beautiful or interesting sense hath started forth, and this so naturally and easily, that the Editor could seldom prevail on himself to indulge the vanity of making a formal claim to the improvement ; but must plead guilty to the charge of concealing his own share in the amendments under some such general title as a "Modern Copy," or the like. Yet it has been his design to give sufficient intimation where any considerable liberties*

* Such liberties have been taken with all those pieces which have three asterisks subjoined, thus ***

PREFACE.

were taken with the old copies, and to have retained either in the text or margin any word or phrase which was antique, obsolete, unusual, or peculiar, so that these might he safely quoted as of genuine and undoubted antiquity. His object was to please both the judicious antiquary and the reader of taste; and he hath endeavoured to gratify both without offending either.

The plan of the work was settled in concert with the late elegant Mr. Shenstone, who was to have borne a joint share in it had not death unhappily prevented him.* Most of the modern pieces were of his selection and arrangement, and the Editor hopes to be pardoned if he has retained some things out of partiality to the judgment of his friend. The old folio MS. above mentioned was a present from Humphrey Pitt, Esq., of Prior' s-lee, in Shropshire,! to whom this public acknowledgment is due for that, and many other obliging favours. To Sir David Dalrymple, Bart., of Hales, near Edinburgh, the editor is indebted for most of the beautiful Scottish poems with which this little miscellany is enriched, and for many curious and elegant remarks with which they are illustrated. Some obliging communications of the same kind were received from John Mac Gowan, Esq., of Edinburgh ; and many curious explanations of Scottish words in the glossaries from John Davidson, Esq., of Edinburgh, and from the Rev. Mr. Hutchinson of Kimbolton. Mr. Warton, who has twice done so much honour to the Poetry Professor's chair at Oxford, and Mr. Hest of Worcester College, contributed some curious pieces from the Oxford libraries. Two ingenious and learn-

* That the Editor hath not here underrated the assistance he received from his friend, will appear from Mr. Shenstone's own letter to the Rev. Mr. Graves, dated March 1. 1761. See his works, vol. iii. letter ciii. It is doubtless a great loss to this work, that Mr. Shenstone never saw more than about a third of one of these volumes, as prepared fir the press.

f Who informed the Editor that this MS. had been purchased in a library of old books, which was thought to have belonged to Thomas Blount, author of the "Jocular Tenures, 1679," 4to.. and of many other publications enumerated in Wood's Athena;, ii. 73; the earliest of which is "The Art of Making Devises, 1646," 4to., wherein he is described to be " of the Inner Temple." If the collection was made by this lawyer (who also published the " Law Dictionary, 1671," folio), it should seem, from the errors and defects with which the MS. abounds, that he had employed his clerk in writing the transcripts, who was often weary of his task.

ed friends at Cambridge deserve the Editor's warmest acknowledgments : to Mr. Blakeway, late fellow of Magdalen College, he owes all the assistance received from the Pepysian library : and Mr. Farmer, fellow of Emanuel, often exerted, in favour of this little work, that extensive knowledge of ancient English literature for which he is so distinguished.* Many extracts from ancient MSS. in the British Museum, and other repositories, were owing to the kind services of Thomas Astle, Esq. , to whom the public is indebted for the curious Preface and Index annexed to the Harleyan Catalogue.! The worthy Librarian of the Society of Antiquarians, Mr. Norris, deserves acknowledgment ' for the obliging manner in which he gave the Editor access to the volumes under his care. In Mr. Garrick's curious collection of old plays are many scarce pieces of ancient poetry, with the free use of which he indulged the Editor in the politest manner. To the Rev. Dr. Birch he is indebted for the use of several ancient and valuable tracts. To the friendship of Dr. Samuel Johnson he owes many

* To the same learned and ingenious friend, since Master of Emanuel College, the Editor is obliged for many corrections and improvements in his second and subsequent editions; as also to the Rev. Mr. Bowie, of Idmistone, near Salisbury, Editor of the curious edition of Don Quixote, with Annotations, in Spanish, in six vols. 4to. ; to the Rev. Mr. Cole, formerly of Blecheley, near Fenny-Stratford, Bucks; to the Rev. Mr. Lambe, of Noreham, in Northumberland, author of a learned " History of Chess," 1764, 8vo., and Editor of a curious " Poem on the Battle of Flodden Field," with learned Notes, 1774, 8vo.; and to G. Paton, Esq., of Edinburgh. He is particularly indebted to two friends, to whom the public, as well as himself, are under the greatest obligations ; to the Honourable Daines Barrington, for his very learned and curious " Observations on the Statutes," 4to. ; and to Thomas Tyrwhitt, Esq., whose most correct and elegant edition of Chaucer's " Canterbury Tales," 5 vols. 8vo., is a standard book, and shows how an ancient English classic should be published. The Editor was also favoured with many valuable remarks and corrections from the Rev. Geo. Ashby, late fellow of St. John's College, in Cambridge, which are not particularly poiuted out because they occur so often. He was no less obliged to Thomas Butler, Esq., F.A.S., agent to the Duke of Northumberland, and Clerk of the Peace for the county of Middlesex; whose extensive knowledge of ancient writings, records, and history, has been of great use to the Editor in his attempts to illustrate the literature or manners of our ancestors. Some valuable remarks were procured by Samuel Pegge, Esq., author of that curious work the "Curialia," 4to. ; but this impression was too far advanced to profit by them all; which hath also been the case with a series of learned and ingenious annotations inserted in the Gentleman's Magazine for August, 1793, April, June, July, and October, 1794, and which, it is hoped, will he continued.

+ Since Keeper of the Records in the Tower.

PREFACE.

valuable hints for the conduct of the work. And, if the Glossaries are more exact and curious than might be expected in so slight a publication, it is to be ascribed to the supervisal of a friend, who stands at this time the first in the world for Northern literature, and whose learning is better known and respected in foreign nations than in his own country. It is perhaps needless to name the Rev. Mr. Lye, Editor of Junius's Etymologicum, and of the Gothic Gospels.

The names of so many men of learning and character the Editor hopes will serve as an amulet, to guard him from every unfavourable censure for having bestowed any attention on a parcel of Old Ballads. It was at the request of many of these gentlemen, and of others eminent for their genius and taste, that this little work was undertaken. To prepare it for the press has been the amusement of now and then a vacant hour amid the leisure and retirement of rural life, and hath only served as a relaxation from graver studies. It has been taken up at different times, and often thrown aside for many months, during an interval of four or five years. This has occasioned some inconsistencies and repetitions, which the candid reader will pardon. As great care has been taken to admit nothing immoral and indecent, the Editor hopes he need not be ashamed of having bestowed some of his idle hours on the ancient literature of our own country, or in rescuing from oblivion some pieces (though but the amusements of our ancestors) which tend to place in a striking light their taste, genius, sentiments, or manners.

Except in one paragraph, and in the Notes subjoined, this Preface is given with little variation from the first edition in mdcclxv.

(totals.

PAGE

1 Essay on the Ancient Minstrels in England is

2 Notes and Illustrations .... xxiii

SERIES THE FIRST.

BOOK THE FIRST. 2 The Battle of Otterbourne Illustration of the Names in the foregoing

Ballads

3 The Jew's Daughter. A Scottish Ballad

5 Edward, Edward. A Scottish Ballad

On the word Termagant .

•»% 7 Sir Patrick Spence. A Scottish Ballad »A 8 Robin Hood and Guy of Gisborne . 9 An Elegy on Henry, Fourth Earl of North umberland, by Skelton .

10 The Tower of Doctrine, by Stephen Hawes

11 The Child of Elle .... ■ 12 Edom (Adam) o'Gordon. A Scottish Ballad

BOOK THE SECOND. (Containing Ballads that Illustrate Shalcspeare.)

Essay on the Origin of the English Stage 93

1 Adam Bell, Clym o' the Clough, and Wil-

liam of Cloudesly 104

2 The aged Lover renounceth Love . . U3

3 Jeptbah, Judge of Israel . . . .114

4 A Robyn, Jolly Robyn , . . . H5

5 A Song to the Lute in Musicke . . 1'6

6 King Cophetua and the Beggar-maid . 117

7 Take thy old Cloak about thee . .119

9 Sir Lancelot du Lake . . . .122

10 Corydon's Farewell to Phillis . . .124 The Ballad of Constant Susannah . . 124

12 The Passionate Shepherd to his Love, by

Marlow 128

The Nymph's Reply, by Sir W. Raleigh . 129

13 Titus Audronicus's Complaint . . .129

14 Tiiko those Lips away . . . .132

15 King Leir and his Three Daughters . 132

16 Youth and Age, by Shakspeare . . 135

17 The Frolieksome Duke, or the Tinker's

Good Fortune 135

18 The Friar of Orders Gray . . .137

Book The Third. Page

J-/1 The more modern Ballad of Chevy Chase 139

Illustration of the Northern Names . . 145

2 Death's Final Conquest, by James Shirley 145

3 The Rising in the North . . . .146

5 My Mind to me a Kingdome is . . 153

6 The Patient Countess, by W. Warner . 154

7 Dowsabell, by Drayton .... 157

8 The Farewell to Love, from Beaumont and

Fletcher 159

9 Ulysses and the Syren, by S. Daniel . 159

10 Cupid's Pastime, by Davison . . . 160

11 The Character of a Happy Life, by Sir H.

Wotton 161

12 Gilderoy. A Scottish Ballad . . .162

13 Winifreda 163

14 The Witch of Wokey . . . .164

15 Bryan and Pereene. A West India Ballad,

by Dr. Grainger 165

16 Gentle River, Gentle River. Translated

from the Spanish 166

17 Alcanzar and Zayda, a Moorish Tale . 169

SERIES THE SECOND.

BOOK THE FIRST. 1 Richard of Almaigne .... 171

2 On the Death of King Edward I. . . 172

3 An original Ballad, by Chaucer . .174

5 For the Victory at Agincourt . . .179 '6 The Not-browne Mayd . . . .180

7 A Balet by the Earl Rivers . . .185

8 Cupid's Assault. By Lord Vaux . .186

9 Sir Aldingar 188

10 The Gaberlunzie Man. Scottish. By King

James V 191

11 On Thomas Lord Cromwell . . .192

12 Hnrpalus. An Ancient English Pastoral 194

13 Robin and Makyne. An ancient Scottish

Pastoral 195

14 Gentle Herdsman, tell to me . . . 197

15 King Edward IV. and the Tanner of Tarn-

worth 199

16 As ye came from the Holy Land . . 202

17 Hardyknute. A Scottish Fragment. By

Sir J. Bruco 203

VI

Book The Second. Page

1 A Ballad of Luther, the Pope, a Cardinal,

and a Husbandman .... 209

2 John Anderson my Jo. A Scottish Song . 211

3 Little John Nobody 212

4 Queen Elizabeth's Verses, while Prisoner

at Woodstock 214

6 Gascoigne's Praise of tho fair Bridges,

afterwards Lady Sandos . . .218

-—7 Fair Rosamond. By Thomas Delone . 220

8 Queen Eleanor's Confession . . . 224

9 The Sturdy Rock 226

10 The Beggar's Daughter of Bednal Green . 226 An Essay on the word Fit, and the Ancient

Ballad Singing 231

11 Fancy and Desire. By the Earl of Oxford 233

13 Lady Anne Bothwell's Lament. A Scot-

tish Song 239

14 The Murder of the King of Scots . . 240

15 A Sonnet by Queen Elizabeth . . . 241

16 The King of Scots and And. Browne. By

W. Elderton 242

17 The Bonny Earl of Murray. A Scottish

Song 244

18 Young Waters. A Scottish Song . . 245

19 Mary Ambree 246

20 Brave Lord Willoughby . . . .249

21 Victorious Men of Earth. By James Shir-

ley 250

22 The Winning of Cales . . . .251

23 The Spanish Lady's Love . . . 252

24 Argentile and Curan. By W. Warner . 254

25 Corin's Fate 259

27 Corydon's Doleful Knell . . . .264

BOOK THE THIRD. Essay on tho Metre of Pierce Plowman's

Visions 265

1 The Complaint of Conscience . . . 272

2 Plain Truth and Blind Ignorance . . 274

3 The Wandering Jew .... 276

4 The Lye. By Sir W. Raleigh . . .278

5 Verses (viz. two Sonnets) by King James I. 279

6 King John and the Abbot of Canterbury 280

7 You Meaner Beauties. By Sir H. Wotton 283

8 The Old and Young Courtier . . . 2S3

9 Sir John Suckling's Campaigns . . 285

10 To Althea from Prison. By Col. Lovelace 286

11 The Downfall of Charing Cross . . 287

12 Loyalty Confined. By Sir Roger L'Es-

trange 288

13 Verses by King Charles I. 289

14 The Sale of Rebellious Household Stuff . 290

15 The Baffled Knight, or Lady's Policy . 292

16 Why so Pale? By Sir John Suckling . 294

17 Old Tom of Bedlam. Mad Song the First 294

18 The Distracted Puritan. Mad Song the

Second 296

19 The Lunatic Lover. Mad Song the Third 297

20 The Ln.ly Distracted with Love. Mad Song

the Fourth 298

PAGE

21 The Distracted Lover. Mad Song the

Fifth 298

22 The Frantic Lady. Mad Song the Sixth . 299

23 Lilli-Burlero. By Lord Wharton . . 300

24 The Braes of Yarrow. In Imitation of tho

ancient Scottish Manner. By W. Hamilton 301

25 Admiral Hosier's Ghost. By Mr. Glover . 303

26 Jemmy Dawson. By Mr. Shenstone . 304

SERIES THE THIRD.

BOOK THE FIRST. Essay on the Ancient Metrical Romances 306

3 King Ryence's Challenge .... 32S

4 King Arthur's Death. A Fragment . 329

5 The Legend of King Arthur . . .332

6 A Dyttie to Hey Downe .... 333

7 Glasgerion 334

8 Old Robin of Portingale . . . .335

9 Child Waters 337

10 Phillida and Corydon. By Nio. Breton . 340

11 Little Musgrave and Lady Barnard . . 341

12 The Ew-bughts Marion. A Scottish Song 343

13 The Knight and Shepherd's Daughter . 343

14 The Shepherd's Address to his Muse. By

N. Breton 345

15 Lord Thomas and Fair Ellinor . . . 345

16 Cupid and Campaspe. By John Lilye . 347

17 Tho Lady turned Serving Man . . 347

18 Gil (Child) Morrice. A Scottish Ballad . 349

BOOK THE SECOND. 1 The Legend of Sir Guy . . . .352

2 Guy and Amarant. By Sam. Rowlands . 354

3 The Auld Good-man. A Scottish Song . 358

4 Fair Margaret and Sweet William . . 358

5 Barbara Allen's Cruelty . . . .360

6 Sweet William's Ghost. A Scottish Ballad 361

7 Sir John Grehme and Barbara Allan. Ditto 362

8 The Bailiff's Daughter of Islington . . 362

9 The V, illow Tree. A Pastoral Dialogue . 363

10 The Lady's Fall 364

11 Waly, Waly, Love be bonny. A Scottish

Song 366

12 The Bride's Burial 366

13 Dulcina 363

14 The Lady Isabella's Tragedy . . .369

15 A Hue and Cry after Cupid. By Ben Jon-

son 370

16 The King of France's Daughter . .371

17 The Sweet Neglect. By Ben Jonson . 374

18 The Children in the Wood . . .374

19 A Lover of Late was I 376

20 The King and the Miller of Mansfield . 377

21 The Shepherd's Resolution. By G. Wither 381

22 Queen Dido, or the Wandering Prince of

Troy 382

23 The Witches Song. By Ben Jonson . 384

24 Robin Good-fellow 385

25 The Fairy Queen 387

26 The Fairies Farewell. By Dr. Corbet . 388

CONTENTS.