Chapter I: Front Matter

ANCIENT POEMS
BALLADS AND SONGS
OF THE
PEASANTRY OF ENGLAND.

TAKEN DOWN FROM ORAL RECITATION AND TRANSCRIBED FROM
PRIVATE MANUSCRIPTS, RARE BROADSIDES AND
SCARCE PUBLICATIONS.

EDITED BY ROBERT BELL

[Picture: Decorative graphic]

LONDON
JOHN W. PARKER AND SON WEST STRAND
1857

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LONDON:
SAVILL AND EDWARDS, PRINTERS
CHANDOS STREET.

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CONTENTS

PAGE Introduction 7 Poems. THE PLAIN-DEALING MAN 11 THE VANITIES OF LIFE 15 THE LIFE AND AGE OF MAN 20 THE YOUNG MAN’S WISH 22 THE MIDNIGHT MESSENGER 24 A DIALOGUE BETWIXT AN EXCISEMAN AND DEATH 29 THE MESSENGER OF MORTALITY 32 ENGLAND’S ALARM 36 SMOKING SPIRITUALIZED 39 THE MASONIC HYMN 42 GOD SPEED THE PLOW, AND BLESS THE CORN-MOW 44 A DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE HUSBANDMAN AND THE SERVINGMAN 46 THE CATHOLICK 49 Ballads. THE THREE KNIGHTS 50 THE BLIND BEGGAR OF BEDNALL GREEN 51 THE BOLD PEDLAR AND ROBIN HOOD 59 THE OUTLANDISH KNIGHT 61 LORD DELAWARE 64 LORD BATEMAN 68 THE GOLDEN GLOVE; OR, THE SQUIRE OF TAMWORTH 70 KING JAMES I. AND THE TINKLER 72 THE KEACH I’ THE CREEL 75 THE MERRY BROOMFIELD; OR, THE WEST COUNTRY WAGER 77 SIR JOHN BARLEYCORN 80 BLOW THE WINDS, I-HO! 82 THE BEAUTIFUL LADY OF KENT; OR, THE SEAMAN OF DOVER 84 THE BERKSHIRE LADY’S GARLAND 90 THE NOBLEMAN’S GENEROUS KINDNESS 98 THE DRUNKARD’S LEGACY 100 THE BOWES TRAGEDY 106 THE CRAFTY LOVER; OR, THE LAWYER OUTWITTED 110 THE DEATH OF QUEEN JANE 113 THE WANDERING YOUNG GENTLEWOMAN; OR, CATSKIN 115 THE BRAVE EARL BRAND AND THE KING OF ENGLAND’S DAUGHTER 122 THE JOVIAL HUNTER OF BROMSGROVE; OR, THE OLD MAN AND HIS 124 THREE SONS LADY ALICE 127 THE FELON SEWE OF ROKEBY AND THE FREERES OF RICHMOND 127 Songs. ARTHUR O’BRADLEY’S WEDDING 138 THE PAINFUL PLOUGH 143 THE USEFUL PLOW; OR, THE PLOUGH’S PRAISE 145 THE FARMER’S SON 146 THE FARMER’S BOY 148 RICHARD OF TAUNTON DEAN; OR, DUMBLE DUM DEARY 149 WOOING SONG OF A YEOMAN OF KENT’S SONNE 153 THE CLOWN’S COURTSHIP 155 HARRY’S COURTSHIP 155 HARVEST-HOME SONG 156 HARVEST-HOME 157 THE MOW 158 THE BARLEY-MOW SONG 159 THE BARLEY-MOW SONG (SUFFOLK VERSION) 162 THE CRAVEN CHURN-SUPPER SONG 162 THE RURAL DANCE ABOUT THE MAY-POLE 164 THE HITCHIN MAY-DAY SONG 166 THE HELSTONE FURRY-DAY SONG 167 CORNISH MIDSUMMER BONFIRE SONG 169 SUFFOLK HARVEST-HOME SONG 170 THE HAYMAKER’S SONG 171 THE SWORD-DANCERS’ SONG 172 THE SWORD-DANCERS’ SONG AND INTERLUDE 175 THE MASKERS’ SONG 180 GLOUCESTERSHIRE WASSAILERS’ SONG 183 THE MUMMERS’ SONG 184 FRAGMENT OF THE HAGMENA SONG 186 THE GREENSIDE WAKES SONG 187 THE SWEARING-IN SONG OR RHYME 188 FAIRLOP FAIR SONG 191 AS TOM WAS A-WALKING 193 THE MILLER AND HIS SONS 194 JACK AND TOM 195 JOAN’S ALE WAS NEW 197 GEORGE RIDLER’S OVEN 199 THE CARRION CROW 202 THE LEATHERN BOTTEL 203 THE FARMER’S OLD WIFE 204 OLD WICHET AND HIS WIFE 206 THE JOLLY WAGGONER 208 THE YORKSHIRE HORSE-DEALER 209 THE KING AND THE COUNTRYMAN 210 JONE O’ GREENFIELD’S RAMBLE 212 THORNEHAGH-MOOR WOODS 214 THE LINCOLNSHIRE POACHER 216 SOMERSETSHIRE HUNTING SONG 217 THE TROTTING HORSE 218 THE SEEDS OF LOVE 220 THE GARDEN-GATE 221 THE NEW-MOWN HAY 223 THE PRAISE OF A DAIRY 224 THE MILK-MAID’S LIFE 226 THE MILKING-PAIL 228 THE SUMMER’S MORNING 229 OLD ADAM 231 TOBACCO 232 THE SPANISH LADIES 234 HARRY THE TAILOR 235 SIR ARTHUR AND CHARMING MOLLEE 236 THERE WAS AN OLD MAN CAME OVER THE LEA 237 WHY SHOULD WE QUARREL FOR RICHES 238 THE MERRY FELLOWS 239 THE OLD MAN’S SONG 240 ROBIN HOOD’S HILL 241 BEGONE DULL CARE 243 FULL MERRILY SINGS THE CUCKOO 244 JOCKEY TO THE FAIR 245 LONG PRESTON PEG 247 THE SWEET NIGHTINGALE 247 THE OLD MAN AND HIS THREE SONS 250 A BEGGING WE WILL GO 251