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Reliques of Ancient English Poetry

consisting of Old Heroic Ballads, Songs, and other Pieces of our earlier Poets, (Chiefly of the Lyric kind.) Together with some few of later Date
Percy, Thomas (1729-1811)
  
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VOLUME THE FIRST.
  
[dedication]
  
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ANCIENT SONGS AND BALLADS, &c.
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BOOK I.
 I. 
I THE ANCIENT BALLAD OF CHEVY-CHASE.
 II. 
II. THE BATTLE OF OTTERBOURNE.
 III. 
III. THE JEW'S DAUGHTER,
 IV. 
IV. SIR CAULINE.
 V. 
V. EDWARD, EDWARD.
 VI. 
VI. KING ESTMERE.
 VII. 
VII. SIR PATRICK SPENCE,
 VIII. 
VIII. ROBIN HOOD AND GUY OF GISBORNE.
 IX. 
IX. AN ELEGY ON HENRY FOURTH EARL OF NORTHUMBERLAND.
 X. 
X. THE TOWER OF DOCTRINE.
 XI. 
XI. THE CHILD OF ELLE
 XII. 
XII. ADAM O' GORDON,
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BOOK II.
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I. ADAM BELL, CLYM OF THE CLOUGH, AND WILLIAM OF CLOUDESLY
 3. 
Part the Third.
 II. 
II. THE AGED LOVER RENOUNCETH LOVE.
 III. 
III. JEPHTHAH JUDGE OF ISRAEL.
 IV. 
IV. A SONG TO THE LUTE IN MUSICKE.
 V. 
V. KING COPHETUA AND THE BEGGAR-MAID
 VI. 
VI. TAKE THY OLD CLOAK ABOUT THEE
 VII. 
VII. WILLOW, WILLOW, WILLOW.
 VIII. 
VIII. SIR LANCELOT DU LAKE.
 IX. 
IX. CORYDON'S FAREWELL TO PHILLIS
 X. 
X. GERNUTUS THE JEW OF VENICE.
 XI. 
XI. THE PASSIONATE SHEPHERD TO HIS LOVE.
 XII. 
XII. TITUS ANDRONICUS'S COMPLAINT.
 XIII. 
XIII. TAKE THOSE LIPS AWAY.
 XIV. 
XIV. KING LEIR AND HIS THREE DAUGHTERS.
 XV. 
XV. YOUTH AND AGE
 XVI. 
XVI. THE FROLICKSOME DUKE, OR THE TINKER's GOOD FORTUNE.
 XVII. 
XVII. THE FRIAR OF ORDERS GRAY.
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BOOK III.
 I. 
I. THE MORE MODERN BALLAD OF CHEVY CHACE.
 II. 
II. DEATH'S FINAL CONQUEST.
 III. 
III. THE RISING IN THE NORTH.
 IV. 
IV. NORTHUMBERLAND BETRAYED BY DOUGLAS.
 V. 
V. MY MIND TO ME A KINGDOM IS.
 VI. 
VI. THE PATIENT COUNTESS.
 VII. 
VII. THE GOLDEN MEAN.
 VIII. 
VIII. DOWSABELL.
 IX. 
IX. THE FAREWELL TO LOVE
 X. 
X. ULYSSES AND THE SYREN
 XI. 
XI. CUPID'S PASTIME.
 XII. 
XII. THE CHARACTER OF A HAPPY LIFE.
 XIII. 
XIII. GILDEROY
 XIV. 
XIV. WINIFREDA.
 XV. 
XV. THE WITCH OF WOKEY
 XVI. 
XVI. BRYAN AND PEREENE,
 XVII. 
XVII. GENTLE RIVER, GENTLE RIVER.
 XVIII. 
XVIII. ALCANZOR AND ZAYDA,
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VOLUME THE SECOND.
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ANCIENT SONGS AND BALLADS, &c.
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BOOK I.
 I. 
I. RICHARD OF ALMAIGNE
  
[note]
 II. 
II. ON THE DEATH OF K. EDWARD THE FIRST.
 III. 
III. AN ORIGINAL BALLAD BY CHAUCER.
 IV. 
IV. THE TURNAMENT OF TOTTENHAM:
 V. 
V. FOR THE VICTORY AT AGINCOURT.
 VI. 
VI. THE NOT-BROWNE MAYD.
 VII. 
VII. A BALET BY THE EARL RIVERS.
 VIII. 
VIII. CUPID'S ASSAULT: BY LORD VAUX.
 IX. 
IX. SIR ALDINGAR.
 X. 
X. THE GABERLUNZIE MAN.
 XI. 
XI. ON THOMAS LORD CROMWELL.
 XII. 
XII. HARPALUS.
 XIII. 
XIII. ROBIN AND MAKYNE.
 XIV. 
XIV. GENTLE HERDSMAN, TELL TO ME.
 XV. 
XV. K. EDWARD IV. AND TANNER OF TAMWORTH
 XVI. 
XVI. AS YE CAME FROM THE HOLY LAND.
 XVII. 
XVII. HARDYKNUTE.
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BOOK II.
 I. 
I. A BALLAD OF LUTHER, THE POPE, A CARDINAL, AND A HUSBANDMAN.
 II. 
II. JOHN ANDERSON MY JO.
 III. 
III. LITTLE JOHN NOBODY.
 IV. 
IV. Q. ELIZABETH'S VERSES, WHILE PRISONER AT WOODSTOCK,
 V. 
V. THE HEIR OF LINNE.
 VI. 
VI. GASCOIGNE'S PRAISE OF THE FAIR BRIDGES, AFTERWARDS LADY SANDES,
 VII. 
VII. FAIR ROSAMOND.
 VIII. 
VIII. QUEEN ELEANOR'S CONFESSION.
 IX. 
IX. THE STURDY ROCK.
 X. 
X. THE BEGGAR'S DAUGHTER OF BEDNALL-GREEN.
 XI. 
XI. FANCY AND DESIRE.
 XII. 
XII. SIR ANDREW BARTON.
 XIII. 
XIII. LADY ANNE BOTHWELL'S LAMENT.
 XIV. 
XIV. THE MURDER OF THE KING OF SCOTS.
 XV. 
XV. A SONNET BY Q. ELIZABETH.
 XVI. 
XVI. KING OF SCOTS AND ANDREW BROWNE.
 XVII. 
XVII. THE BONNY EARL OF MURRAY.
 XVIII. 
XVIII. YOUNG WATERS.
 XIX. 
XIX. MARY AMBREE.
 XX. 
XX. BRAVE LORD WILLOUGHBY.
 XXI. 
XXI. VICTORIOUS MEN OF EARTH.
 XXII. 
XXII. THE WINNING OF CALES.
 XXIII. 
XXIII. THE SPANISH LADY'S LOVE.
 XXIV. 
XXIV. ARGENTILE AND CURAN
 XXV. 
XXV. CORIN'S FATE.
 XXVI. 
XXVI. JANE SHORE.
 XXVII. 
XXVII. CORYDON'S DOLEFUL KNELL.
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BOOK III.
 I. 
I. THE COMPLAINT OF CONSCIENCE.
 II. 
II. PLAIN TRUTH, AND BLIND IGNORANCE.
 III. 
III. THE WANDERING JEW.
 IV. 
IV. THE LYE,
 V. 
V. VERSES BY KING JAMES I.
 VI. 
VI. K. JOHN AND THE ABBOT OF CANTERBURY.
 VII. 
VII. YOU MEANER BEAUTIES.
 VIII. 
VIII. THE OLD AND YOUNG COURTIER.
 IX. 
IX. SIR JOHN SUCKLING'S CAMPAIGNE.
 X. 
X. TO ALTHEA FROM PRISON.
 XI. 
XI. THE DOWNFALL OF CHARING-CROSS.
 XII. 
XII. LOYALTY CONFINED.
 XIII. 
XIII. VERSES BY K. CHARLES I.
 XIV. 
XIV. THE SALE OF REBELLIOUS HOUSHOLD-STUFF
 XV. 
XV. THE BAFFLED KNIGHT, OR LADY'S POLICY.
 XVI. 
XVI. WHY SO PALE?
 XVII. 
XVII. OLD TOM OF BEDLAM.
 XVIII. 
XVIII. THE DISTRACTED PURITAN,
 XIX. 
XIX. THE LUNATIC LOVER,
 XX. 
XX. THE LADY DISTRACTED WITH LOVE,
 XXI. 
XXI. THE DISTRACTED LOVER,
 XXII. 
XXII. THE FRANTIC LADY,
 XXIII. 
XXIII. LILLI BURLERO.
 XXIV. 
XXIV. THE BRAES OF YARROW,
 XXV. 
XXV. ADMIRAL HOSIER'S GHOST
 XXVI. 
XXVI. JEMMY DAWSON.
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VOLUME THE THIRD.
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ANCIENT SONGS AND BALLADS, &c.
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BOOK I. BALLADS ON KING ARTHUR, &c.
 I. 
I. THE BOY AND THE MANTLE.
 II. 
II. THE MARRIAGE OF SIR GAWAINE
 III. 
III. KING RYENCE'S CHALLENGE.
 IV. 
IV. KING ARTHUR's DEATH.
 V. 
V. THE LEGEND OF KING ARTHUR.
 VI. 
VI. A DYTTIE TO HEY DOWNE.
 VII. 
VII. GLASGERION.
 VIII. 
VIII. OLD SIR ROBIN OF PORTINGALE.
 IX. 
IX. CHILD WATERS.
 X. 
X. PHILLIDA AND CORYDON.
 XI. 
XI. LITTLE MUSGRAVE AND LADY BARNARD.
 XII. 
XII. THE EW-BUGHTS MARION.
 XIII. 
XIII. THE KNIGHT, AND SHEPHERD'S DAUGHTER.
 XIV. 
XIV. THE SHEPHERD'S ADDRESS TO HIS MUSE.
 XV. 
XV. LORD THOMAS AND FAIR ELLINOR.
 XVI. 
XVI. CUPID AND CAMPASPE.
 XVII. 
XVII. THE LADY TURNED SERVING-MAN
 XVIII. 
XVIII. GIL MORRICE.
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BOOK II.
 I. 
I. THE LEGEND OF SIR GUY
 II. 
II. GUY AND AMARANT.
 III. 
III. THE AULD GOOD-MAN.
 IV. 
IV. FAIR MARGARET AND SWEET WILLIAM.
 V. 
V. BARBARA ALLEN'S CRUELTY.
 VI. 
VI. SWEET WILLIAM'S GHOST.
 VII. 
VII. SIR JOHN GREHME AND BARBARA ALLAN.
 VIII. 
VIII. THE BAILIFF'S DAUGHTER OF ISLINGTON.
 IX. 
IX. THE WILLOW-TREE.
 X. 
X. THE LADY'S FALL
 XI. 
XI. WALY WALY, LOVE BE BONNY.
 XII. 
XII. THE WANTON WIFE OF BATH.
 XIII. 
XIII. DULCINA.
 XIV. 
XIV. THE LADY ISABELLA'S TRAGEDY.
 XV. 
XV. A HUE AND CRY AFTER CUPID.
 XVI. 
XVI. THE KING OF FRANCE'S DAUGHTER.
 XVII. 
XVII. THE SWEET NEGLECT.
 XVIII. 
XVIII. THE CHILDREN IN THE WOOD.
 XIX. 
XIX. A LOVER OF LATE.
 XX. 
XX. THE KING AND MILLER OF MANSFIELD.
 XXI. 
XXI. THE SHEPHERD'S RESOLUTION.
 XXII. 
XXII. THE WANDERING PRINCE OF TROY.
 XXIII. 
XXIII. THE WITCHES' SONG
 XXIV. 
XXIV. ROBIN GOOD-FELLOW
 XXV. 
XXV. THE FAIRY QUEEN.
 XXVI. 
XXVI. THE FAIRIES FAREWELL.
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BOOK III.
 I. 
I. THE BIRTH OF ST. GEORGE.
 II. 
II. ST. GEORGE AND THE DRAGON.
 III. 
III. LOVE WILL FIND OUT THE WAY.
 IV. 
IV. LORD THOMAS AND FAIR ANNET,
 V. 
V. UNFADING BEAUTY.
 VI. 
VI. GEORGE BARNWELL.
 VII. 
VII. THE STEDFAST SHEPHERD.
 VIII. 
VIII. THE SPANISH VIRGIN, OR EFFECTS OF JEALOUSY.
 IX. 
IX. JEALOUSY TYRANT OF THE MIND.
 X. 
X. CONSTANT PENELOPE.
 XI. 
XI. TO LUCASTA, ON GOING TO THE WARS.
 XII. 
XII. VALENTINE AND URSINE.
 XIII. 
XIII. THE DRAGON OF WANTLEY.
 XIV. 
XIV. ST. GEORGE FOR ENGLAND.
 XV. 
XV. ST. GEORGE FOR ENGLAND,
 XVI. 
XVI. LUCY AND COLIN
 XVII. 
XVII. MARGARET's GHOST.
 XVIII. 
XVIII. THE BOY AND THE MANTLE,

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326

XII. LOYALTY CONFINED.

[_]

This excellent old song is preserved in David Lloyd's “Memoires of those that suffered in the cause of Charles I.” Lond. 1668. fol. p. 96. He speaks of it as the composition of a worthy personage, who suffered deeply in those times, and was still living with no other reward than the conscience of having suffered. The author's name he has not mentioned, but, if tradition may be credited, this song was written by Sir Roger L'Estrange.—Some mistakes in Lloyd's copy are corrected by two others, one in MS. the other in the Westminster Drollery, or a Choice Collection of Songs and Poems, 1671. 12mo.

Beat on, proud billows; Boreas blow;
Swell, curled waves, high as Jove's roof;
Your incivility doth show,
That innocence is tempest proof;
Though surly Nereus frown, my thoughts are calm;
Then strike, Affliction, for thy wounds are balm.
That which the world miscalls a jail,
A private closet is to me:
Whilst a good conscience is my bail,
And innocence my liberty:
327

Locks, bars, and solitude together met,
Make me no prisoner, but an anchoret.
I, whilst I wisht to be retir'd,
Into this private room was turn'd;
As if their wisdoms had conspir'd
The salamander should be burn'd;
Or like those sophists, that would drown a fish,
I am constrain'd to suffer what I wish.
The cynick loves his poverty;
The pelican her wilderness;
And 'tis the Indian's pride to be
Naked on frozen Caucasus:
Contentment cannot smart, Stoicks we see
Make torments easie to their apathy.
These manacles upon my arm
I, as my mistress' favours, wear;
And for to keep my ancles warm,
I have some iron shackles there:
These walls are but my garrison; this cell,
Which men call jail, doth prove my citadel.
I'm in the cabinet lockt up,
Like some high-prized margarite,
Or, like the great mogul or pope,
Am cloyster'd up from publick sight:
328

Retirement is a piece of majesty,
And thus, proud sultan, I'm as great as thee.
Here sin for want of food must starve,
Where tempting objects are not seen;
And these strong walls do only serve
To keep vice out, and keep me in:
Malice of late's grown charitable sure,
I'm not committed, but am kept secure.
So he that struck at Jason's life,
Thinking t'have made his purpose sure,
By a malicious friendly knife
Did only wound him to a cure:
Malice, I see, wants wit; for what is meant
Mischief, oftimes proves favour by th'event.
When once my prince affliction hath,
Prosperity doth treason seem;
And to make smooth so rough a path,
I can learn patience from him:
Now not to suffer shews no loyal heart,
When kings want ease subjects must bear a part.
What though I cannot see my king
Neither in person or in coin;
Yet contemplation is a thing,
That renders what I have not, mine:
329

My king from me what adamant can part,
Whom I do wear engraven on my heart?
Have you not seen the nightingale,
A prisoner like, coopt in a cage,
How doth she chaunt her wonted tale
In that her narrow hermitage?
Even then her charming melody doth prove,
That all her bars are trees, her cage a grove.
I am that bird, whom they combine
Thus to deprive of liberty;
But though they do my corps confine,
Yet maugre heat, my soul is free:
And though immur'd, yet can I chirp, and sing
Disgrace to rebels, glory to my king.
My soul is free, as ambient air,
Although my baser part's immew'd,
Whilst loyal thoughts do still repair
T'accompany my solitude:
Although rebellion do my body binde,
My king alone can captivate my minde.
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