Chapter XXIX: Appendix (6)

7
He's put her in a vault o stone,
Where five an thirty locks hing on;
Naebody there coud eer her see,
Prince Heathen kept the keys him wi.
But ae she cried, What shall I do!
The heathenish dog has gart me rue.

8
Prince Heathen from the mountains came,
Attended by his armed men,
And he's gane to the bonny may,
And to the prison where she lay:
'O bonny may, what do you now?'
'Ye heathenish dog, dying for you.'

9
'I'll take you out upon the green,
Where women ye shall neer see ane,
But only me and my young men,
Till ye bring daughter hame or son.
O bonny may, what do you now?'
'Ye heathenish dog, dying for you.'

10
He's taen her out upon the green,
Where she saw women never ane,
But only him and 's merry young men,
Till she brought hame a bonny young son.
'O bonny may, what do you now?'
'Ye heathenish dog, dying for you.

11
'A drink, a drink, frae Prince Heathen's hand,
Though it were frae yon cauld well strong!'
'O neer a drap, Prince Heathen,' said one,
'Till ye row up your bonny young son.'
'How can I row up my bonny young son,
When I hae naething to row him in?'

12
'I will lend you my horse's sheet,
That will row him baith head and feet.'
As soon's she took it in her han,
Tears oer her cheeks down rapping ran.
'O bonny may, ye do greet now:'
'Ye heathenish dog, but nae for you.

13
'But a' is for my bonny young son;
Your sheets are rough to row him in;
Ohon, alas, sair may I rue
That eer I saw such rogues as you!'

14
'Ye'll row my young son in the silk,
An ye will wash him wi the milk,
An lay my lady very saft,
That I may see her very aft.'
When hearts are broken, bands will bow;
Sae well's he loved his lady now!

* * * * *

#A.#

3^3. writmen.

5^2. too.

#B.#

11^2. wells. _Motherwell MS._ well.

_There are some trifling deviations in Motherwell's copy._

105

THE BAILIFF'S DAUGHTER OF ISLINGTON

#a.# Printed for P. Brooksby, Boxburghe Ballads, II, 457.
#b.# Printed for J. Walter, Douce Ballads, II, fol. 229.
#c.# Printed for P. Brooksby, Pepys Ballads, III, 258, No
256. #d.# Printed for P. Brooksby, Roxburghe Ballads, IV,
56. #e.# Printed for P. Brooksby, Douce Ballads, II, fol.
230. #f.# An Aldermary Churchyard copy.

Reprinted in Percy's Reliques, III, 133, 1765, from the Pepys copy, #c#, but "with some improvements, communicated by a lady as she heard the same repeated in her youth;" that is, in fact, a few casual verbal variations, attributable to imperfect recollection of a broadside. There are much better in a copy which I have received from an Irish lady, partly made over by secondary tradition. Reprinted also by Ritson, A Select Collection of English Songs, II, 234, 1783, apparently from #a#, with an arbitrary change in st. 8^2, and one or two other variations. Mr F. H. Stoddard informs me that 'The Bailiff's Daughter' is still very much sung, and may be heard any day at a country cricket-match.

A fond youth and a coy maid, a bailiff's daughter, having been parted seven years, the maid disguises herself to go in quest of her lover, and meets him on her way. He asks her whether she knows the bailiff's daughter. The bailiff's daughter is dead long ago, she replies. Then he will go into a far country. The maid, assured of his faith, reveals herself, and is ready to be his bride.

This is the counterpart of a ballad found in other languages (and represented in English by Percy's cento 'The Friar of Orders Gray,' Reliques, I, 225, 1765), in which a man tells a woman that the object of her affection, lover, or more commonly husband, is dead. So runs the story in the following:

#Italian.# Marcoaldi, Canti popolari umbri, etc., p. 151, 'La prova d'amore,' Piedmontese; Gianandrea, C. p. marchigiani, p. 270, No 7, 'La prova d'amore;' Ferraro, C. p. monferrini, p. 60, No 41, 'Il ritorno,' and C. p. di Ferrara, Cento e Pontelagoscuro, p. 16, No 4, p. 105, No 18; Bernoni, C. p. veneziani, Punt. IX, No 1, 'Il ritorno dalla guerra;' Wolf, Volkslieder aus Venetien, No 91, 'La ragazza ed i soldati;' Bolza, Canzoni p. comasche, No 53, 'Il riconoscimento;' Finamore, Storie p. abruzzesi, Archivio, I, 91, No 6, 'Rusine e Ddiamóre;' Kestner, in Reifferscheid, Westfälische V. 1., p. 156, Roman.

#Spanish.# 'Caballero de lejas tierras,' Juan de Ribera, Nueve Romances, 1605, in Duran, I, 175, No 318, Wolf y Hofmann, Primavera, II, 88, No 156, and a traditional version in a note of Duran, as above, repeated in Primavera. #Catalan.# 'La vuelta del peregrino,' Milá, Observaciones, p. 111, No 12, 'El peregrino,' Romancerillo, p. 154, No 203; 'La tornada del pelegrí,' Briz, V, 65.

#Portuguese.# 'Bella Infanta,' Almeida-Garrett, II, 7; Bellermann, p. 100, No 12; Braga, C. p. do Archipelago açoriano, p. 298, No 41, Romanceiro Geral, p. 1, 'Dona Infanta,' p. 4, 'Dona Catherina;' Coelho, in Zeitschrift für romanische Philologie, III, 63, 1879 (imperfect).

#Romaic.# 'Ἡ αναγνωρισις,' Zambelios, p. 718, No 5, Kind, Anthologie, 1861, p. 126, No 5, Passow, No 442: 'Ἡ πιστη συζυγος,' Evlambios, p. 58, Marcellus, I, 332, Passow, No 444; Tommaseo, III, 148, Passow, No 445, and III, 150, Passow, No 446; Schmidt, Griechische M., S., u. V. 1., p. 192, No 57 (see note, p. 272); Marcellus, I, 328, Passow, No 441; 'Αναγνωρισμος,' Chasiotis, p. 89, No 28; Aravandinos, Nos 347-349, pp. 209-211; 'Το γυρισμα,' Oikonomides, p. 132; Jeannaraki, p. 237, No 300, with perverted conclusion; Fauriel, II, 396, Passow, No 447 (fragment). Aravandinos, No 348, is translated by Miss Garnett, Greek Folk Songs, p. 163.

* * * * *

Translated by Bodmer, I, 82; Döring, p. 85; Arndt, p. 193; Von Marées, p. 45; Knortz, Lieder u. Romanzen Alt-Englands, No 64.

1
There was a youth, and a well belovd youth,
And he was a esquire's son,
He loved the bayliff's daughter dear,
That lived in Islington.

2
She was coy, and she would not believe
That he did love her so,
No, nor at any time she would
Any countenance to him show.

3
But when his friends did understand
His fond and foolish mind,
They sent him up to fair London,
An apprentice for to bind.

4
And when he had been seven long years,
And his love he had not seen,
'Many a tear have I shed for her sake
When she little thought of me.'

5
All the maids of Islington
Went forth to sport and play;
All but the bayliff's daughter dear;
She secretly stole away.

6
She put off her gown of gray,
And put on her puggish attire;
She's up to fair London gone,
Her true-love to require.

7
As she went along the road,
The weather being hot and dry,
There was she aware of her true-love,
At length came riding by.

8
She stept to him, as red as any rose,
And took him by the bridle-ring:
'I pray you, kind sir, give me one penny,
To ease my weary limb.'

9
'I prithee, sweetheart, canst thou tell me
Where that thou wast born?'
'At Islington, kind sir,' said she,
'Where I have had many a scorn.'

10
'I prithee, sweetheart, canst thou tell me
Whether thou dost know
The bailiff's daughter of Islington?'
'She's dead, sir, long ago.'

11
'Then will I sell my goodly steed,
My saddle and my bow;
I will into some far countrey,
Where no man doth me know.'

12
'O stay, O stay, thou goodly youth!
She's alive, she is not dead;
Here she standeth by thy side,
And is ready to be thy bride.'

13
'O farewel grief, and welcome joy,
Ten thousand times and more!
For now I have seen my own true-love,
That I thought I should have seen no more.'

* * * * *

#a-f.#

True Love Requited, or, The Bayliff's Daughter of
Islington.

The young man's friends the maid did scorn,
Cause she was poor, and left forlorn;
They sent the esquire to London fair,
To be an apprentice seven year.
And when he out on 's time was come,
He met his love, a going home,
And then, to end all further strife,
He took the maid to be his wife.

To a North Countrey Tune, or, I have a good old mother at
home.

#e#, #f# _have_ of's, of his, _in verse 5_.

#a.#

8^2. bridal ring, _and so all but_ #f#.

_At the end:_ Printed for P. Brooksby, at the Golden Ball
in Pye-Corner. _Brooksby printed 1672-95: Chappell._

#b.#

1^2, a squire's.

Printed for J. Walter, at the Golden Bal[l] in
Pye-Corner. _J. Walter's time is 1690-1720: Chappell._

#c.#

1^2, a _wanting_.

6^2. her _wanting_.

Printed for P. Brooksby, at the Golden Ball in Py-Corner.

#d.#

3^4. a apprentice.

6^2. her _wanting_.

9^2. was.

12^1. thou well belovd.

Printed for P. Brooksby, at the Golden Ball in West
Smithfield.

#e.#

3^1. a apprentice.

6^2. her _wanting_.

6^4. inquire.

8^2. a penny.

9^2. was.

11^1. I sell _wanting_.

12^1. thou well belovd.

Printed for P. Brooksby, at the Golde[n] Ball, near the
Bear Tavern, in Pye Corner.

#f.#

1^1. was was youth.

1^2. a squire's.

2^1. He was.

2^3. would she.

5^1. When all... of fair.

6^2. her ragged.

6^3. And she is.

6^4. After her... enquire.

7^1. And as.

8^1. a rose.

8^2. bridle.

8^4. For to.

9^2. Whereat.

10^2. Whether that.

11^1. I will.

11^3. And travel into.

13^3. I see.

13^4. should neer see more.

Printed and sold in Aldermary Churchyard, Bow Lane,
London. "_1700, or a little later_."

106

THE FAMOUS FLOWER OF SERVING-MEN

#a.# Wood, E. 25, fol. 75, Bodleian Library. #b.# Pepys,
III, 142, No 140, Magdalen College Library, Cambridge.
#c.# A Collection of Old Ballads, I, 216, 1723.

This ballad was given in Percy's Reliques, III, 87, 1765, "from a written copy, containing some improvements (perhaps modern ones)." These improvements are execrable in style and in matter, so far as there is new matter, but not in so glaring contrast with the groundwork as literary emendations of traditional ballads. Ritson reprinted in A Select Collection of English Songs, II, 244, 1783, some broadside like that which was followed by #c#.[169]

'Sweet Willie' in Kinloch MSS, V, 407 and VII, 197 (the latter printed in Kinloch's Ancient Scottish Ballads, p. 96), and also a fragment with the same title in the Harris MS., fol. 20 f, No 15, are derived from the broadside through recitation. A copy in Buchan's MSS, I, 150, is taken directly from print.

In other cases portions of the broadside appear to have entered into combination with traditional verses belonging to some other story, or possibly to some older form of this.

The Dean of Derry communicated to Percy in 1776 the following stanzas, which he wrote down from the recitation of his mother, Mrs Barnard, wife of the Bishop of Derry.[170]

1
My mother showd me a deadly spight;
She sent three thieves at darksome night;
They put my servants all to flight,
They robd my bower, and they slew my knight.

2
They could not do me much more harm,
But they slew my baby on my arm;
They left me nothing to wrap it in
But the bloody, bloody sheet that it lay in.

3
They left me nothing to make a grave
But the bloody sword that slew my babe;
All alone the grave I made,
And all alone salt tears I shed.

4
All alone the bell I rung,
And all alone sweet psalms I sung;
I leant my head against a block,
And there I cut my lovely locks.

5
I cut my locks, and chang'd my name
From Fair Eleanore to Sweet William.

Scott inserted in his Border Minstrelsy, III, 83, 1803, seven stanzas under the title of 'The Lament of the Border Widow,' which show broader traces of the sheet-ballad (1-3), and also, as Aytoun has remarked, agreements with 'The Three Ravens' and with 'Fair Helen of Kirconnell' (5-7). 'The Lament of the Border Widow,' "obtained from recitation in the Forest of Ettrick," has been thought to relate to the execution of Cokburne, a border-freebooter, by James V. Those who are interested in such random inventions (as, under pardon, they must be called) will find particulars in Scott's introduction, and a repetition of the same in Maidment's Scotish Ballads and Songs, Historical and Traditionary, II, 170.[171]

1
My love he built me a bonny bower,
And clad it a' wi lilye-flour;
A brawer bower ye neer did see
Than my true-love he built for me.

2
There came a man, by middle day,
He spied his sport and went away,
And brought the king that very night,
Who brake my bower, and slew my knight.

3
He slew my knight, to me sae dear;
He slew my knight, and poind his gear;
My servants all for life did flee,
And left me in extremitie.

4
I sewd his sheet, making my mane;
I watched the corpse, myself alane;
I watched his body, night and day;
No living creature came that way.

5
I took his body on my back,
And whiles I gaed, and whiles I sate;
I diggd a grave, and laid him in,
And happd him with the sod sae green.

6
But think na ye my heart was sair,
When I laid the moul on his yellow hair?
O think na ye my heart was wae,
When I turnd about, away to gae?

7
Nae living man I'll love again,
Since that my lovely knight is slain;
Wi ae lock of his yellow hair
I'll chain my heart for evermair.

Again, there are six couplets in Johnson's Museum, p. 90, No 89, called, from the burden, 'Oh ono chrio,' which have a little of The Border Widow, and incidentally of The Flower of Serving-Men, winding up with sentiments of transcendent elegance.

Oh was I not a weary wight,
Maid, wife and widow in one night!

When in my soft and yielding arms,
When most I thought him free from harms,

Even at the dead time of the night,
They broke my bower, and slew my knight.

With ae lock of his jet-black hair
I'll tye my heart for ever mair.

Nae sly-tongued youth, or flattering swain,
Shall eer untye this knott again.

Thine still, dear youth, that heart shall be,
Nor pant for aught save heaven and thee.

"Dr Blacklock informed Burns that this song... was composed on the horrid massacre at Glencoe": Stenhouse's note, IV, 92.

* * * * *

The English broadside, which may reasonably be believed to be formed upon a predecessor in the popular style, has been held to have a common origin with the Scandinavian ballad 'Maid and Stable Boy,' already spoken of under 'Child Waters' at p. 84f of this volume. The points of resemblance are that a maid cuts her hair, dons man's clothes, and seeks service with a king. In the end she is married to the king's son, or to a nobleman of his court. The differences, in other respects, are considerable.

Percy's ballad is translated by Bodmer, I, 160; by Merk, Ursinus, p. 79, and Bothe, p. 307; by Döring, p. 329.

1
You beautious ladies, great and small,
I write unto you one and all,
Whereby that you may understand
What I have suffered in this land.

2
I was by birth a lady fair,
My father's chief and onely heir,
But when my good old father dy'd,
Then was I made a young knight's bride.

3
And then my love built me a bower,
Bedeckt with many a fragrant flower;
A braver bower you never did see
Then my true-love did build for me.

4
But there came thieves late in the night,
They rob'd my bower, and slew my knight,
And after that my knight was slain,
I could no longer there remain.

5
My servants all from me did flye,
In the midst of my extremity,
And left me by my self alone,
With a heart more cold then any stone.

6
Yet, though my heart was full of care,
Heaven would not suffer me to despair;
Wherefore in hast I chang'd my name
From Fair Elise to Sweet William.

7
And therewithal I cut my hair,
And drest my self in man's attire,
My doublet, hose, and bever-hat,
And a golden band about my neck.

8
With a silver rapier by my side,
So like a gallant I did ride;
The thing that I delighted on,
Was for to be a serving-man.

9
Thus in my sumptuous man's array,
I bravely rode along the way;
And at the last it chanced so
That I unto the king's court did go.

10
Then to the king I bowed full low,
My love and duty for to show,
And so much favour I did crave
That I a serving-man's place might have.

11
'Stand up, brave youth, the king replyd,
'Thy service shall not be denyd;
But tell me first what thou canst do;
Thou shalt be fitted thereunto.

12
'Wilt thou be usher of my hall,
To wait upon my nobles all?
Or wilt thou be taster of my wine,
To wait on me when I shall dine?

13
'Or wilt thou be my chamberlain,
To make my bed both soft and fine?
Or wilt thou be one of my guard?
And I will give thee thy reward.'

14
Sweet William, with a smiling face,
Said to the king, If't please your grace
To show such favour unto me,
Your chamberlain I fain would be.

15
The king then did the nobles call,
To ask the counsel of them all,
Who gave consent Sweet William he
The king's own chamberlain should be.

16
Now mark what strange things came to pass;
As the king one day a hunting was,
With all his lords and noble train,
Sweet William did at home remain.

17
Sweet William had no company then
With him at home but an old man;
And when he saw the coast was clear,
He took a lute which he had there.

18
Upon the lute Sweet William plaid,
And to the same he sung and said,
With a pleasant and most noble voice,
Which made the old man to rejoyce:

19
'My father was as brave a lord
As ever Europe did afford;
My mother was a lady bright,
My husband was a valiant knight.

20
'And I my self a lady gay,
Bedeckt with gorgeous rich array;
The bravest lady in the land
Had not more pleasures to command.

21
'I had my musick every day,
Harmonious lessons for to play;
I had my virgins fair and free,
Continually to wait on me.

22
'But now, alas! my husband's dead,
And all my friends are from me fled;
My former joys are past and gone,
For now I am a serving-man.'

23
At last the king from hunting came,
And presently upon the same
He called for the good old man,
And thus to speak the king began.

24
'What news, what news, old man?' quod he;
'What news hast thou to tell to me?'
'Brave news,' the old man he did say;
'Sweet William is a lady gay.'

25
'If this be true thou tellest me
I'le make thee a lord of high degree;
But if thy words do prove a lye,
Thou shalt be hanged up presently.'

26
But when the king the truth had found,
His joys did more and more abound;
According as the old man did say,
Sweet William was a lady gay.

27
Therefore the king without delay
Put on her glorious rich array,
And upon her head a crown of gold,
Which was most famous to behold.

28
And then, for fear of further strife,
He took Sweet William for his wife;
The like before was never seen,
A serving-man to be a queen.

* * * * *

#a.#

Printed for J. Hose, next door but one to the Rose
Inn, near Holbourn-bridge. John Hose, over against
Staples-Inn, near Gray's Inn Lane, _printed, according to
Chappell_, 1660-1675.

#b.#

Printed for W. Thackeray and T. Passinger. W. Thackeray's
_date, Chappell, is_ 1660-1689; T. Passinger's, 1670-1682.

#a#, #b# _have for title and preface_:

The Famous Flower of Serving-men, or, The Lady turnd
Serving-man.

Her lover being slain, her father dead,
Her bower robd, her servants fled,
She drest her self in mans attire,
She trim'd her locks, she cut her hair,
And therupon she changde her name
From Fair Elise to Sweet William.

To a dainty tune, or Flora Farewel, Summer-Time, or
Love's Tide.

_Before 19_: Sweet William's Song.

_After 22_: The end of Sweet William's Song.

#a.#

_After 8_: The Second Part, to the same tune.

#b.#

8^4. It was to.

12^4. I do.

20^4. pleasure.

#c.#

2^4. I was.

8^4. It was to.

9^4. I to.

12^4. I do.

16^1. thing.

17^3. the house.

18^3. a sweet and noble voice.

20^4. pleasure.

23^3. this good.

25^1. tellst to.

[169] Heber had a copy printed by J. Andrews, who flourished 1655-60.

[170] Mrs Barnard makes this note: I remember to have seen a printed ballad, at least seventy years since, in which this was containd, as sung by a youth, overheard by a king he servd, and exalted to become his queen. I fancy these scenes were in Germany, by the names.--Percy regards the verses as a "fragment of an older copy than that printed of 'The Lady turnd Serving-Man.'"

[171] The Border Widow's Lament has received extraordinary favor. It has been translated by Schubart, p. 209; Talvj, Charakteristik, p. 570; Fiedler, Geschichte der schottischen Liederdichtung, p. 29; Freiligrath, Zwischen den Garben, II, 229, Stuttgart, 1877; Doenniges, p. 77; Knortz, L. u. R. Alt-Englands, p. 195, No 58. Cunningham furbished up the verses a little in The Songs of Scotland, II, 97. The copy in Chambers's Scottish Songs, I, 174, is Cunningham's, all but the sixth stanza, which is from Scott.--A great deal of nonsense passes in ballads, but I am impelled to ask just here how a lover would go about to clothe a bower with lily-flower. Is the ballad lily a climbing plant?

107

WILL STEWART AND JOHN

#A.# 'Will Stewart and John,' Percy Manuscript, p. 428;
Hales and Furnivall, III, 216.

#B.# 'Tring Dilly,' Campbell's MSS, II, 30.

The fragment #B# is disordered as well as mutilated. #B# 1 corresponds to #A# 18, 13; 2 to 14; 3 to 19, 40; 4 to 41, 42; 5 to 43; 6 to 35, 36; 7 to 17. It is simply a confused recollection of some parts of the ballad.

The first stanza furnishes a sort of general lyrical introduction, and does not belong to the story, to which, as I conceive, the circumstance that Adlatts Park is wide and broad is of no more special pertinence than the other which follows, that grass grows green in our countrye. See I, 7, note.

Will Stewart, of Argyle Castle, languishes with love for the Earl of Mar's daughter, and lies in care-bed. His younger brother, John, a wiser man, offers to go a-wooing for his brother, and to forward his object takes service with the Earl of Mar as chamberlain to his daughter. One Sunday, as John is conveying the lady home from church, he makes known to her that he is a messenger. The lady at first, like Shakspere's Olivia, would rather he should speak for himself, but upon hearing what John has to say for his brother is ready to love Will heartily. She bids her lover come with a hundred men to a foot-ball match on Sunday after St Andrew's day. He must play sixteen games, and if he win the greater part she shall love him the more. This tidings makes Will Stewart leap from care-bed. He chooses a hundred men from eleven score and three, dresses them in green, himself in scarlet (about which the lady had been particular), meets his mistress at the rendezvous, gives her a kiss of courtesy, and wins twelve of the sixteen games. The Earl of Mar invites Will to his house, where the Stewart avows his love for his daughter; he knows not whether the lady loves him. "God forbid!" exclaims the earl. "I would rather thou wert hanged or burned. To thy chamber, lady, or I will beat thee before the Stewart's eye." Will, with John, who renounces Mar's service, returns to Argyle Castle, and Will leaps into care-bed again. A parliament is held at Edinburgh, to which both brothers are summoned. Mar discovers that Will is an earl's son, and even the king's cousin, but this discovery has no effect to change the mind of the peremptory nobleman. Will and John go back to Argyle Castle when the parliament is done, and Will once more leaps into care-bed. John, in great concern for his brother, offers to go a-wooing for him again. He disguises himself as a beggar, comes to Mar's house on a dole-day, makes his way to the lady and sticks by her till all the beggars are gone, and then tells her that he is no beggar, but a messenger. The lady, reproached for her cruelty, says the blame is not hers, and appoints Will to meet her within three days at Martinsdale with a hundred men, they and he dressed as before. Will leaps out of care-bed, chooses a hundred of the best out of eleven score men and three, rides to Martinsdale, and finds the true lady waiting for him. They send for priest and clerk and are married, and she goes home with Will. A twelvemonth after, John is despatched to bid the Earl of Mar to a christening. John frightens the earl with an intimation that his daughter will now be returned on his hands. This brings the wilful father round. The marriage ceremony is performed over again, and Will made Earl of Mar.

As Mr Hales has remarked, Bishop Percy's Folio Manuscript, III, 215, the allusions to manners and customs are highly interesting: as, to foot-ball matches, 27; to the kiss of courtesy, 35^3; to the beating of daughters, 42^4, 43^3; to the dole-day, 66^2; to the beggar's dress and equipment, 61, 78^3.

The superfluous _that_ in 3^4, 16^3, 18^4, 38^1, 68^1, 89^2, is common in the ballads of the Percy manuscript.

A

Percy MS., p. 428; Hales and Furnivall, III, 216.

1
Adlatts parke is wyde and broad,
And grasse growes greene in our countrye;
Eche man can gett the loue of his ladye,
But alas, I can gett none of mine!

2
Itt's by two men I sing my song,
Their names is "W_i_ll_iam_ Stewart and Iohn;
Will_iam_ he is the elder brother,
But Iohn hee is the wiser man.

3
But Will_iam_ he is in care-bed layd,
And for the loue of a ffaire ladye;
If he haue not the loue of the Erle of Mar's daughter,
In ffaith ffor loue _tha_t he must dye.

4
Then Iohn was sorry ffor his brother,
To see him lye and languish soe:
'What doe you mourne for, brother?' he saies,
'I pray you tell to me yo_u_r woe.

5
'Doe [you] mourne for gold, brother?' he saies,
'Or doe you mourne ffor ffee?
Or doe you mourne for a likesome ladye,
You neuer saw her w_i_th yo_u_r eye?'

6
'I doe not mourne for gold,' he saies,
'Nor I doe not mourne for any ffee;
But I doe mourne for a likesome ladye,
I neere blinke on her w_i_th mine eye.'

7
'But when haruest is gotten, my deere brother--
All this is true _tha_t I tell thee--
Gentlemen, they loue hunting well,
And giue wight-men their cloth and ffee.

8
'Then I'le goe a wooing ffor thy sake,
In all the speed _tha_t I can gone,
And for to see this likesome ladye,
And hope to send thee good tydings home.'

9
Iohn Stewart is gone a wooing for his brother,
Soe ffarr into ffaire Scottland,
And left his brother in mikle ffeare,
Vntill he heard the good tydand.

10
And when he came to the Erle of Mar's his house,
Soe well he could his curtesye,
And when he came before the erle,
He kneeled low downe vpon his knee.

11
'O rise vp, rise vp, Iohn Steward,
Rise vp, now, I doe bidd thee;
How doth thy ffather, Iohn Stewart,
And all the lords in his countrye?'

12
'And itt please you, my lo_rd_, my ffather is dead;
My brother and I cannott agree;
My brother and I am ffallen att discord,
And I am come to craue a service of thee.'

13
'O welcome, welcome, Iohn Stewart,
A welcome man thou art to me;
I'le make thee chamberlaine to my daughter,
And ffor to tend of _tha_t ladye soe ffree.

14
'And if thou wilt haue a better office,
Aske, and thou shall haue itt of mee;
And where I giue other men a penny of wage,
Inffaith, Iohn, thou shalt haue three.'

15
And then bespake him Iohn Stewart,
And these were the words said hee:
There is no office in your court
This day _tha_t better pleaseth mee.

16
The Ffryday is gone, the Sunday is come--
All this is true _tha_t I doe say--
And to the church that they be gone,
Iohn Stewart and the lady gay.

17
And as they did come home againe--
I-wis itt was a meeten mile--
Iohn Stewart and the lady gay,
They thought itt but a [little] while.

18
'I am a messenger, ladye,' he saies,
'I am a messenger to thee:'
'O speake ffor thy selfe, Iohn Stewart,' shee saies,
'A welcome man _tha_t thou shalt bee.'

19
'Nay, by my ffaith,' saies Iohn Stewart,
'W_hi_ch euer, alas, _tha_t may not bee!
He hath a higher degree in honour,
Allas, ladye, then euer I!

20
'He is a lo_rd_ now borne by birth,
And an erle affter his ffather doth dye;
His haire is yellow, his eyes beene gray;
All this is true _tha_t I tell yee.

21
'He is ffine in the middle, and small in the wast,
And pleasant in a woman's eye;
And more nor this, he dyes for yo_u_r loue,
Therefore, lady, show some pittye.'

22
'If this be soe,' then saies the lady,
'If this be true _tha_t thou tells mee,
By my ffaith then, Iohn Stewart,
I can loue him hartilye.

23
'Bidd him meete me att S^t Patr[i]cke's Church
On Sunday after S^t Andrew's day;
The fflower of Scottland will be there,
And then begins our summer's play.

24
'And bidd him bring with him a hundred gunners,
And rawnke ryders lett them bee,
And lett them bee of the rankest ryders
_Tha_t be to be ffound in _tha_t countrye.

25
'They best and worst, and all in like,
Bidd him cloth them in one liuerye;
And ffor his men, greene is the best,
And greene now lett their liueryes bee.

26
'And clothe himselfe in scarlett redd,
_Tha_t is soe seemlye ffor to see;
Ffor scarlett is a ffaire coulour,
And pleasant allwayes in a woman's eye.

27
'He must play sixteene games att ball,
Against the men of this countrye,
And if he winn the greater p_ar_t,
Then I shall love him more tenderlye.'

28
What the lady said, Iohn Stewart writt,
And to Argyle Castle sent it hee;
And [when] Willie Steward saw the letter,
Fforth of care-bed then lope hee.

29
Hee mustered together his merry men all,
Hee mustered them soe louelilye;
Hee thought hee had had scarson halfe a hundred,
Then had hee eleuen score and three.

30
He chose fforth a hundred of the best
_Tha_t were to be ffound in _tha_t countrye,
He cladd them all in one coulour,
And greene i-wis their liueryes bee.

31
He cladd himselfe in scarlett redd,
_Tha_t is soe seemelye ffor to see;
Ffor scarlett is a ffaire coulor,
And seemlye in a woman's eye.

32
And then towards Patricke Church he went,
With all his men in braue array,
To gett a sight, if he might,
And speake with his lady gay.

33
When they came to Patricke's churche,
Shee kneeled downe by her mother trulye:
'O mother, if itt please you to glue me leaue,
The Stewart's horsse ffaine wold I see.'

34
'I'le giue you leaue, my deere daughter,
And I and my maide will goe with yee:'
The lady had rather haue gone her selfe
Then haue had her mother's companye.

35
When they came before Willie Steward,
Soe well hee cold his curtesye:
'I wold kisse yo_u_r daughter, ladye,' he said,
'And if yo_u_r will _tha_t soe itt bee.'

36
The ladye's mother was content
To doe a straunger _tha_t curtesye;
And when Willie had gotten a kisse,
I-wis shee might haue teemed him three.

37
Sixteen games were plaid _tha_t day there there--
This is the truth as I doe say--
Willie Stewart and his merry men,
Thé carryed twelue of them away.

38
And when they games _tha_t they were done,
And all they ffolkes away were gone
But the Erle of Marr and Will_iam_ Stewart,
The erle wold needs haue Will_iam_ home.

39
And when they came vnto the erle's howse,
They walked to a garden greene;
Ffor to confferr of their bussines,
Into the garden they be gone.

40
'I loue your daughter,' saies Will_iam_ Stewart,
'But I cannott tell whether she loueth mee:'
'Marry, God defend,' saies the Erle of Mar,
'_That_ euer soe _tha_t itt shold bee!

41
'I had rather a gallowes there was made,
And hange thee ffor my daughter's sake;
I had rather a ffyer were made att a stake,
And burne thee ffor my daughter's sake!

42
'To chamber, to chamber, gay ladye,' he saies,
'In the deuill's name now I bidd thee!
And thou gett thee not to the chamber soone,
I'le beate thee before the Stewart's eye.'

43
And then bespake Will_iam_ Stewart,
These were the words said hee:
'If thou beate thy daughter for my sake,
Thou'st beate a hundred men and mee.'

44
Then bespake Iohn Stewart--
L_ord!_ an angry man was hee--
'O churle, if thou wouldest not haue macht with my brother,
Thou might haue answerd him curteouslye.'

45
'O hold thy peace, Iohn Stewart,
And chamber thy words now, I bidd thee;
If thou chamber not thy words soone,
Thou'st loose a good service; soe shalt thou doe me.'

46
'Marry! hang them _tha_t cares,' saies Iohn Stewart,
'Either ffor thy service or ffor thee;
Services can I haue enoughe,
But brethren wee must euer bee.'

47
Will_iam_ Stewart and his brother Iohn,
To Argyle Castle gon they bee;
And when Willye came to Argyle Castle,
Into care-bedd then lope hee.

48
A parlaiment att Edenborrow was made,
The k_ing_ and his nobles all mett there;
Thé sent ffor Will_iam_ Stewart and Iohn,
To come amongst the other peeres.

49
Their clothing was of Scarlett redd,
_Tha_t was soe seemelye ffor to see;
Blacke hatts, white ffeathers plewed with gold,
And sett all on their heads trulye.

50
Their stockings were of twisted silke,
W_i_th garters ffringed about with gold;
Their shoes were of the cordevine,
And all was comelye to behold.

51
And when they came to Edenborrowe,
They called ffor Iohn Stew_art_ and Willie:
'I answer in a _lord_'s roome,' saies Will Stewart,
'But an erle I hope to bee.'

52
'Come downe, come downe,' saies the Lo_rd_ of Marr,
'I knew not what was thy degree:'
'O churle, if I might not haue macht w_i_th thy daughter,
Itt had not beene long of my degree.

53
'My ffather, hee is the k_ing_ his brother,
And then the k_ing_ is vnckle to me;
O churle, if I might not haue macht with thy daughter,
Itt had not beene long of my degree.'

54
'O hold yo_u_r peace,' then sayd the k_ing_,
'Cozen William, I doe bidd thee;
Infaith, cozen Will_iam_, he loues you the worsse
Because you are a-kinn to mee.

55
'I'le make thee an erle with a siluer wande,
And adde more honors still to thee;
Thy brother Iohn shall be a lord,
Of the best att home in his countrye.

56
'Thy brother Kester shalbe a k_nigh_t,
Lands and liuings I will him giue,
And still hee shall liue in court w_i_th mee,
And I'le maintaine him whilest he doth liue.'

57
And when the p_ar_laiment was done,
And all the ffolkes away were gone,
Willye Stewart and Iohn his brother,
To Argyle Castle they be gone.

58
But when they came to Argyle Castle,
That was soe ffarr in _tha_t countrye,
He thought soe much then of his loue
_Tha_t into care-bedd then lope hee.

59
Iohn Stewart did see his brother soe ill,
Lo_rd_, in his heart _tha_t hee was woe!
'I will goe wooing for thy sake
Againe yonder gay ladye to.

60
'I'le cloth my selfe in strange array,
In a beggar's habbitt I will goe,
_Tha_t when I come before the Erle of Marr
My clothing strange he shall not knowe.'

61
Iohn hee gott on a clouted cloake,
Soe meete and low then by his knee,
W_i_th four garters vpon one legg,
Two aboue, and towe below trulye.

62
'But if thou be a beggar, brother,
Thou art a beggar _tha_t is vnknowne;
Ffor thou art one of the stoutest beggars
_Tha_t euer I saw since I was borne.

63
'Heere, geeue the lady this gay gold ringe,
A token to her _tha_t well is knowne;
And if shee but aduise itt well,
Shee'le know some time itt was her owne.'

64
'Stay, by my ffaith, I goe not yett,'
Iohn Stew_art_ he can replye;
'I'le haue my bottle ffull of beere,
The best _tha_t is in thy butterye.

65
'I'le haue my sachell ffilld full of meate,
I am sure, brother, [it] will doe noe harme;
Ffor, before I come to the Erle of Marr's his house,
My lipps, I am sure, they wilbe warme.'

66
And when he came to the Erle of Marr's house,
By chance itt was of the dole-day;
But Iohn cold ffind no place to stand,
Vntill he came to the ladye gaye.

67
But many a beggar he threw downe,
And made them all with weeping say,
He is the devill, hee is no beggar,
_Tha_t is come fforth of some strange countrye.

68
And now the dole _tha_t itt is delte,
And all the beggars be gon away,
Sauing Iohn Stewart, _tha_t seemed a beggar,
And the ladye _tha_t was soe gay.

69
'Lady,' sais Iohn, 'I am no beggar,
As by my clothes you may thinke _tha_t I bee;
I am yo_u_r servant, Iohn Stewart,
And I am sent a messenger to thee.'

70
'But if thou be Iohn Stewart,
As I doe thinke _tha_t thou bee,
Avayle thy capp, avayle thy hoode,
And I will stand and speake to thee.

71
'How doth thy brother, Iohn Stewart,
And all the lo_rd_s in his countrye?'
'O ffye vpon thee, wicked woman!
My brother he doth the worsse ffor thee.'

72
W_i_th _tha_t the teares stood in her eyes;
O lord, shee wept soe tenderlye!
Sais, Ligg the blame vnto my ffather;
I pray you, Iohn Stew_art_, lay itt not to mee.

73
Comend me to my owne true-loue,
_Tha_t liues soe farr in the North countrye,
And bidd him meete me att Martingsdale,
Ffullye w[i]thin these dayes three.

74
Hang them, sais the lady gay,
_Tha_t letts their ffather witting bee!
I'le proue a ladye ffull of loue,
And be there by the sunn be a quarter highe.

75
And bidd him bring with him a hundred gunners,
And ranke riders lett them bee;
Lett them be of the rankest ryders
_Tha_t be to be ffound in _tha_t countrye.

76
The best and worse, and all in like,
Bidd him clothe them in one liuerye;
And for his men, greene is the best,
And greene now lett their lyueryes bee.

77
And cloth himselfe in scarlett redd,
_Tha_t is soe seemelye for to see;
For scarlett is a ffaire coulor,
And pleasant in a woman's eye.

78
What they lady sayd, Iohn Stewart writt,
To Argyle Castle sent itt hee;
His bagg and his dish and showing horne,
Unto three beggars he gaue them all three.

79
And when Willie Stewart saw the letter,
Fforth of care-bed then lope hee;
He thought himselfe as lustye and sound
As any man in _tha_t countrye.

80
He mustered together his merrymen all,
He mustered them soe louinglye;
He thought he had had scarce halfe a hundred,
Then had hee eleuen score and three.

81
He chose fforth a hundred of the best
_Tha_t were to be found in _tha_t companye,
And p_re_sentlye they tooke their horsse,
And to Martingsdale posted hee.

82
And when he came to Martingsdale,
He found his loue staying there trulye,
For shee was a lady true of loue,
And was there by [the] sunn was a qwarter highe.

83
Shee kisst Will_iam_ Stewart and his brother Iohn,
Soe did shee p_ar_t of his merry men:
'If the churle, thy ffather, hee were here,
He shold not haue thee backe againe.'

84
They sent ffor preist, they sent ffor clarke,
And they were marryed there w_i_th speede;
Will_iam_ tooke the lady home with him,
And they liued together long time indeed.

85
And in twelue monthe soe they wrought,
The lady shee was great w_i_th childe;
The sent Iohn Stewart to the Erle off Marre,
To come and christen the barne soe milde.

86
'And if this be soe,' sayes the Erle of Marre,
'Iohn Stewart, as thou tells mee,
I hope in God you haue marryed my daughter,
And put her bodye to honestye.'

87
'Nay, by my ffaith,' then saies Iohn Stewart,
'Ffor euer alas _tha_t shall not bee;
Ffor now wee haue put her body to shame,
Thou 'st haue her againe hame to thee.'

88
'I had rather make thee Erle of Marre,
And marry my daughter vnto thee;
For by my ffaith,' sais the Erle of Marr,
'Her marryage is marrd in our countrye.'

89
'If this be soe,' then sais Iohn Stewart,
'A marryage soone _tha_t thou shalt see;
Ffor my brother William, my ffather's heyre,
Shall marry thy daughter before thine eye.'

90
They sent ffor preist, the sent ffor clarke,
And marryed there they were with speed;
And William Stewart is Erle of Marr,
And his ffather-in-law dwells w_i_th him indeed.

B

Campbell MSS, II, 30.

1
'Speak for yoursell, John Stewart,' he did say,
'Speak for yoursell, John Stewart,' he did say,
'Speak for yoursell, John Stewart,' he did say,
'And soon an answer I will gie to thee;
The highest service I can give thee
Is to wait on my daughter Ailly.

2
' . . . . . . .
. . . . . . .

If ever I gie a man a penny wage,
I'm sure, John Stewart, ye shall hae three.'

3
'I speak not for mysell,' John Stewart he did say,
'I speak for a lord of a higher degree;
The message is from my brother William,
Your loving daughter's husband to be.'

4
' . . . . . . .
. . . . . . .
I'll rather beat fair Ailly in my leather bang,
As lang as she can either stand or gang.'

5
. . . . . . .
. . . . . . .
'Ye hadna beat her before my face
Or ye'll beat three hundred men and me.'

6
When William came to Mulbery Hall,
He kissd the ladies one and all;
But when he cam to fair Ailly,
She thought he might hae gaen her twa or three.

7
Between the kitchen and the garden
It is calld a measured mile;
That lady and that lord fell into discourse,
And they thought they rode it in a short while.

Chorus:
Tring dilly, tring dilly, tring ding dido,
Tring dilly, tring dilly, dolo dee.

* * * * *

#A.#

2^1. by 2.

14^4. haue 3.

24^1. a 100.

27^4. love _is written in the MS. by a later hand
between_ then _and_ I. _Furnivall._

29^3. a 100^d.

29^4. 11 score.

30^1. a 100.

36^4. him 3.

37^1. 16 games.

37^4. 12 of.

38^3. Marrs.

38^4. & the Erle.

40^3. March.

43^4. a 100^d: men and nee.

44^4. might _has two strokes for the_ i _in the MS.
Furnivall_.

48^4. amongst _has four strokes for the_ m _in the MS.
Furnivall._

51^3. in L, _MS._ _Furnivall._

52^1. Mars.

60^3. March.

61^3. 4 garters.

61^4. 2 aboue.

73^4. dayes 3.

75^1. a 100^d. Gunners _has_ m _in place of_ nn.
_Furnivall._

75^3. _Two or three letters appear one over the other for
the_ s _in_ ryders. _Furnivall._

78^4. vnto 3, all 3.

80^3. a 100 d.

80^4. 11 score.

81^1. a 100d.

84^3. n _instead of_ m _in_ home. _Furnivall._

85^1. in 12.

85^4. chrsten.

And _throughout for_ &.

108

CHRISTOPHER WHITE

'Christopher White,' Percy MS., p. 513; Hales and Furnivall, III, 494.

A rich merchant, burgess of Edinburgh, overhears a lady making moan for Christopher White, who is banished from England. He makes her great offers to abandon Christopher and lay her love on him. She resists these offers at first, and tells him that if she is false to Christopher she cannot be true to him. But silver and gold makes her heart turn and makes her leave good company. After she has been married two or three months tidings come to Edinburgh that all the merchants must to sea; it is for service against Spain, 17^4. The lady takes advantage of her husband's absence to write to Christopher; she sends him a hundred pound and bids him come to Edinburgh. Christopher first goes to London and obtains pardon of the king of England, then makes for Edinburgh. The lady tells him that she is a merchant's wife, and he shall have enough of the merchant's gold. Christopher, who seems not till then to have known of her marriage, begins an indignant answer, but the lady cuts him short with an offer to go to England with him. They pack up silver and gold and make off to Little England, whatever that may be (perhaps a Percy MS. phrase: see 'Hugh Spencer,' st. 34). The merchant comes back, and is told that his wife has fled with Christopher. He does not care for the loss of silver and gold, but mourns for the lady, who, he frankly owns, had given him due warning of what he might look for.

* * * * *

1
As I walked fforth one morninge,
By one place _tha_t pleased mee,
Wherin I heard a wandering wight,
Sais, Christopher White is good companye.

2
I drew me neere, and very neere,
Till I was as neere as neere cold bee;
Loth I was her councell to discreene,
Because I wanted companye.

3
'Say on, say on, thou well faire mayd,
Why makest thou moane soe heauilye?'
Sais, All is ffor one wandering wight,
Is banished fforth of his owne countrye.

4
'I am the burgesse of Edenburrow,
Soe am I more of townes three;
I haue money and gold great store,
Come, sweet wench, and ligg thy loue on mee.'

5
The merchant pulled forth a bagg of gold
_Wh_ich had hundreds two or three;
Sais, Euery day throughout the weeke
I'le comt as much downe on thy knee.

6
'O merchant, take thy gold againe,
A good liuing 't will purchase thee;
If I be ffalse to Chr_istopher_ White,
Merchant, I cannott be true to thee.'

7
Sais, I haue halls, soe haue I bowers,
Sais, I haue shipps sayling on the sea;
I ame the burgess of Edenburrowe;
Come, sweete wench, ligge thy loue on mee.

8
Come on, come, thou well faire mayde,
Of our matters lett vs goe throughe,
For to-morrowe I 'le marry thee,
And thy dwelling shalbe in Edenburrough.

9
The lady shee tooke this gold in her hand,
The teares thé ffell ffast ffrom her eye;
Sais, Siluer and gold makes my hart to turne,
And makes me leaue good companye.

10
They had not beene marryed
Not ouer monthes two or three,
But tydings came to Edenburrowe
_That_ all the merchants must to the sea.

11
Then as this lady sate in a deske,
Shee made a loue-letter ffull round;
She mad a l_ett_re to Chr_istopher_ White,
And in itt shee put a hundred pound.

12
She lin'd the letter w_i_th gold soe red,
And mony good store in itt was found;
Shee sent itt to Chr_istopher_ White,
_Tha_t was soe ffar in the Scotts ground.

13
Shee bade him then ffrankely spend,
And looke _tha_t hee shold merry bee,
And bid him come to Edenburrowe,
Now all the merchants be to the sea.

14
But Chr_istopher_ came to leeue London,
And there he kneeled lowly downe,
And there hee begd his p_ar_don then,
Of our noble k_ing tha_t ware the crowne.

15
But when he came to his true-loue's house,
W_hi_ch was made both of lime and stone,
Shee tooke him by the lily-white hand,
Sais, True-loue, you are welcome home!

16
Welcome, my honey, welcome, my ioy,
Welcome, my true-loue; home to mee!
Ffor thou art hee _tha_t will lengthen my dayes,
And I know thou art good companye.

17
Chr_istopher_, I am a merchant's wiffe;
Christ_opher_, the more shall be yo_u_r gaine;
Siluer and gold you shall haue enough,
Of the merchant's gold _tha_t is in Spaine.

18
'But if you be a merchant's wiffe,
Something tó much you are to blame;
I will thee reade a loue-lett_er_
Shall sture thy stumpes, thou noble dame.

19
'Althoug I be a marchant's wiffe,
... shall ... mine
... and g ...
Into England I'le goe w_i_th the.'

20
They packet vp both siluer and plate,
Siluer and gold soe great plentye,
And they be gon into Litle England,
And the marchant must them neu_er_ see.

21
And when the merchants they came home,
Their wiues to eche other can say,
Heere hath beene good Chr_istopher_ White,
And he hath tane thy wiffe away.

22
They haue packett vp spoone and plate,
Siluer and gold great plenty,
And they be gon into Litle England,
And them againe thow must neu_er_ see.

23
'I care nott ffor my siluer and gold,
Nor for my plate soe great plentye,
But I mourne for _tha_t like-some ladye
_Tha_t Chr_istopher_ White hath tane ffrom mee.

24
'But one thing I must needs confesse,
This lady shee did say to me,
If shee were ffalse to Chr_istopher_ White,
Shee cold neu_er_ be true to mee.

25
'All young men a warning take,
A warning, looke, you take by mee;
Looke _tha_t you loue yo_u_r old loues best,
For infaith they are best companye.'

* * * * *

1^1. mornige.

2^3. discreeme.

3^2. thom.

4^2. townes 3.

5^2. 2 or.

9^2. eyes.

10^2. 2 or 3.

11^4. 100^{li}_{:}.

15^4. yo^r are.

16^3. lenghen.

18^3. lert_er_.

18^4. stue thy.

19^{2, 3}. _The MS. is pared away at the bottom of p.
513, and the writing has perished and part of the paper
is broken away at the top of p. 514. Furnivall._

20^1. siluer & plate: _see_ 22^1.

And _for_ &, _throughout_.

109

TOM POTTS

#A.# 'Thomas of Potte,' Percy MS., p. 409; Hales and
Furnivall, III, 135.

#B.# 'The Lovers Quarrel, or, Cupid's Triumph,' etc.
#a.# London, printed for F. Coles, and others, 1677,
#b.# Pepys Merriments, I, 189; Ritson, Pieces of Ancient
Popular Poetry, p. 115, 1791.

#C.# 'The Two Constant Lovers in Scotland,' etc.,
broadside of 1657; Ritson's Ancient Songs, 1790, p. 248.

* * * * *

All the copies here printed are of the seventeenth century, and the ballad need not be put much beyond that date. Modernized editions, differing much, were issued in the century following, perhaps earlier, some of which have a Second Part, narrating the happy married life of Tom Potts, Lord Arundel, and Fair Rosamund. See Halliwell's Descriptive Notices of Popular English Histories, p. 17, No 15, Percy Society, vol. xxiii, and the notes to #B#.

Unequal matches are common enough in ballads and romances, and very naturally, since they are an easy expedient for exciting interest, at least with those who belong to the humbler party. We have other ballad-examples of disparagement on the female side in 'The Bonny Foot-Boy' and 'Ritchie Storie.' No offence seems to be given when King Cophetua weds the Beggar-Maid, but when the Lady of the Strachy marries the Yeoman of the Wardrobe good taste is shocked. Such events would be celebrated only by fellows of the yeoman or of the foot-boy, and surely in the present case the minstrel was not much above the estate of the serving-man. Lord Jockey's reckless liberality throughout, and Lord Phenix's in the end, is a mark of the serving-man's ideal nobleman.

Tom Potts stanches his blood with a charm in #A# 75^4, #B# 82^4, just as the sons of Autolycus do that of Ulysses in Odyssey XIX, 457 f. His rejecting of his master's thirty fine horses in favor of the old white cut-tail is a ludicrous repetition of Hugh Spencer's preference of the hack he had brought over sea, and Walter of Aquitaine's predilection for his worn-out charger. See, further on, 'Hugh Spencer's Feats in France.'