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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.
collapse sectionI. 
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.
collapse sectionI. 
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.
collapse sectionIII. 
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.
collapse section2. 
ANCIENT SONGS AND BALLADS, &c.
collapse sectionI. 
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.
collapse sectionII. 
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.
collapse section3. 
ANCIENT SONGS AND BALLADS, &c.
collapse sectionI. 
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.
collapse sectionII. 
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.
collapse sectionIII. 
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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XV. K. EDWARD IV. AND TANNER OF TAMWORTH

[_]

Was a story of great fame among our ancestors. The author of the Art of English poesie, 1589, 4to, seems to speak of it, as a real fact.—Describing that vicious mode of speech, which the Greeks called Acyron, i. e. “When we use a dark and obscure word, utterly repugnant to that we should express;” he adds, “Such manner of uncouth speech did the Tanner of Tamworth use to king Edward the fourth; which Tanner, having a great while mistaken him, and used very broad talke with him, at length perceiving by his traine that it was the king, was afraide he should be punished for it, [and] said thus, with a certaine rude repentance,

“I hope I shall be hanged to-morrow,

for [I feare me] I shall be hanged; whereat the king laughed a good , not only to see the Tanner's vaine feare, but also to heare his illshapen terme; and gave

82

him for recompence of his good sport, the inheritance of Plumpton-parke. I am afraid,” concludes this sagacious writer, “the poets of our time, that speake more finely and correctedly, will come too short of such a reward,” p. 214.—The phrase, here referred to, is not found in this ballad at present, but occurs with some variation in an older poem, intitled John the Reeve, described in the following volume, (see the Preface to the King and the Miller), viz.

“Nay, sayd John, by Gods grace,
“And Edward wer in this place,
“Hee shold not touch this tonne:
“He wold be wroth with John I hope,
“Thereffore I beshrew the soupe,
“That in his mouth shold come.”

Pt. 2. st. 24.

The following text is selected from two copies in black letter. The one in the Bodleyan library, intitled, “A merrie, pleasant, and delectable historie betweene K. Edward the Fourth, and a Tanner of Tamworth, &c. printed at London, by John Danter, 1596.” This copy, ancient as it now is, appears to have been modernized and altered at the time it was published; but many vestiges of the more ancient readings were recovered from another copy, (though more recently printed,) in one sheet folio, without date, in the Pepys collection.

In summer time, when leaves grow greene,
And blossoms bedecke the tree,
King Edward wolde a hunting ryde,
Some pastime for to see.
83

With hawke and hounde he made him bowne,
With horne, and eke with bowe;
To Drayton Basset he tooke his waye,
With all his lordes a rowe.
And he had ridden ore dale and downe
By eight of clocke in the day,
When he was ware of a bold tannèr
Come ryding along the waye.
A fayre russet coat the tanner had on
Fast buttoned under his chin,
And under him a good cow-hide,
And a mare of four shilling .
Nowe stand you still, my good lordes all,
Under the grene wood spraye;
And I will wend to yonder fellowe,
To weet what he will saye.
84

God speede, God speede thee, said our king.
Thou art welcome, sir, sayd hee.
“The readyest waye to Drayton Basset
I praye thee to shewe to mee.”
“To Drayton Basset woldst thou goe,
Fro the place where thou dost stand?
The next payre of gallowes thou comest unto,
Turne in upon thy right hand.”
That is an unreadye waye, sayd our king,
Thou doest but jest I see:
Nowe shewe me out the nearest waye,
And I pray thee wend with mee.
Awaye with a vengeance! quoth the tanner:
I hold thee out of thy witt:
All daye have I rydden on Brocke my mare,
And I am fasting yett.
“Go with me downe to Drayton Basset,
No daynties we will spare;
All daye shalt thou eate and drinke of the best,
And I will paye thy fare.”
Gramercye for nothing, the tanner replyde,
Thou payest no fare of mine:
I trowe I've more nobles in my purse,
Than thou hast pence in thine.
85

God give thee joy of them, sayd the king,
And send them well to priefe.
The tanner wolde faine have beene away,
For he weende he had beene a thiefe.
What art thou, hee sayde, thou fine fellòwe,
Of thee I am in great feare,
For the cloathes, thou wearest upon thy backe,
Might beseeme a lord to weare.
I never stole them, quoth our king,
I tell you, sir, by the roode.
“Then thou playest, as many an unthrift doth,
And standest in midds of thy goode.”
What tydinges heare you, sayd the kynge,
As you ryde farre and neare?
“I heare no tydinges, sir, by the masse,
But that cowe-hides are deare.”
“Cowe-hides! cowe-hides! what things are those?
I marvell what they bee?”
What art thou a foole? the tanner reply'd;
I carry one under mee.”
What craftsman art thou, said the king,
I praye thee tell me trowe.
“I am a barker, sir, by my trade;
Nowe tell me what art thou?”
86

I am a poore courtier, sir, quoth he,
That am forth of service worne;
And faine I wolde thy prentise bee,
Thy cunninge for to learne.
Marrye heaven forfend, the tanner replyde,
That thou my prentise were:
Thou woldst spend more good than I shold winne
By fortye shilling a yere.
Yet one thinge wolde I, sayd our king,
If thou wilt not seeme strange:
Thoughe my horse be better than thy mare,
Yet with thee I faine wold change.
“Why if with me thou faine wilt change,
As change full well maye wee,
By the faith of my bodye, thou proude fellòwe,
I will have some boot of thee.”
That were against reason, sayd the king,
I sweare, so mote I thee:
My horse is better than thy mare,
And that thou well mayst see.
“Yea, sir, but Brocke is gentle and mild,
And softly she will fare:
Thy horse is unrulye and wild, I wiss;
Aye skipping here and theare.”
87

What boote wilt thou have? our king reply'd;
Now tell me in this stound.
“Noe pence, nor half pence, by my faye,
But a noble in gold so round.”
“Here's twentye groates of white moneyè,
Sith thou will have it of mee.”
I would have sworne now, quoth the tanner,
Thou hadst not had one penniè.
But since we two have made a change,
A change we must abide,
Although thou hast gotten Brocke my mare,
Thou gettest not my cowe-hide.
I will not have it, sayd the kynge,
I sweare, so mote I thee;
Thy foule cowe-hide I wolde not beare,
If thou woldst give it to mee.
The tanner hee tooke his good cowe-hide,
That of the cow was hilt;
And threwe it upon the king's sadèlle,
That was soe fayrelye gilte.
“Now help me up, thou fine fellòwe,
'Tis time that I were gone:
When I come home to Gyllian, my wife,
Sheel say I am a gentilmon.”
88

The king he tooke him up by the legge;
The tanner a f--- lett fall.
Nowe marrye, good fellowe, sayd the kyng,
Thy courtesye is but small.
When the tanner he was in the kinges sadèlle,
And his foote in the stirrup was;
He marvelled greatlye in his minde,
Whether it were golde or brass.
But when his steede saw the cows taile wagge,
And eke the blacke cowe-horne;
He stamped, and stared, and awaye he ranne,
As the devill had him borne.
The tanner he pulld, the tanner he sweat,
And held by the pummil fast:
At length the tanner came tumbling downe;
His necke he had well-nye brast.
Take thy horse again with avengeance, he sayd,
With mee he shall not byde.
“My horse wolde have borne thee well enoughe,
But he knewe not of thy cowe-hide.
Yet if againe thou faine woldst change,
As change full well may wee,
By the faith of my bodye, thou jolly tannèr,
I will have some boote of thee.”
89

What boote wilt thou have, the tanner replyd,
Nowe tell me in this stounde?
“Noe pence nor halfpence, sir, by my faye,
But I will have twentye pound.”
“Here's twentye groates out of my purse;
And twentye I have of thine:
And I have one more, which we will spend
Together at the wine.”
The king set a bugle horne to his mouthe,
And blewe both loude and shrille:
And soone came lords, and soone came knights,
Fast ryding over the hille.
Nowe, out alas! the tanner he cryde,
That ever I sawe this daye!
Thou art a strong thiefe, yon come thy fellowes
Will beare my cowe-hide away.
They are no thieves, the king replyde,
I sweare, soe mote I thee:
But they are the lords of the north countrèy,
Here come to hunt with mee.
And soone before our king they came,
And knelt downe on the grounde:
Then might the tanner have beene awaye,
He had lever than twentye pounde.
90

A coller, a coller , here: sayd the king,
A coller he loud did crye:
Then woulde he lever then twentye pound,
He had not beene so nighe.
A coller, a coller, the tanner he sayd,
I trowe it will breed sorrowe:
After a coller comes a halter,
And I shall be hanged to-morrowe.
“Awaye with thy feare, thou jolly tannèr,
For the sport thou hast shewn to me,
I wote noe halter thou shalt weare,
But thou shalt have a knight's fee.
For Plumpton-parke I will give thee,
With tenements faire beside:
'Tis worth three hundred markes by the yeare,
To maintaine thy good cowe-hide.”
Gramercye, my liege, the tanner replyde,
For the favour thou hast me showne;
If ever thou comest to merry Tamwòrth,
Neates leather shall clout thy shoen.
 

Vid. Gloss.

In the reign of Edward IV. Dame Cecill, lady of Torboke, in her will dated March 7. A. D. 1466; among many other bequests has this, “Also I will that my sonne Thomas of Torboke have 13 s. 4 d. to buy him an horse.” Vid Harleian Catalog. 2176. 27.—Now if 13 s. 4 d. would purchase a steed fit for a person of quality, a tanner's horse might reasonably be valued at four or five shillings.

A collar was, I believe, anciently used in the ceremony of conferring knighthood. Or perhaps the King used the French word Acoller, signifying to give the Acolade, or blow that was to dub him a knight. This the Tanner ignorantly mistakes for A collar.

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