Ancient Poems, Ballads, and Songs of the Peasantry of England Part 8

[The following ingenious production has been copied literally from a broadside posted against the 'parlour' wall of a country inn in Gloucestershire. The verses are susceptible of two interpretations, being Catholic if read in the columns, but Protestant if read across.]

I HOLD as faith What ENGLAND'S CHURCH alows What ROME'S church saith My conscience disavows Where the KING'S head That CHURCH can have no shame The flocks misled That holds the POPE supreame.

Where the ALTARS drest There's service scarce divine The peoples blest With table, bread, and wine.

He's but an a.s.se Who the COMMUNION flies Who shuns the Ma.s.sE Is CATHOLICK and wise.

London: printed for George Eversden, at the signe of the Maidenhead, in St. Powle's Church-yard, 1655. c.u.m privilegio.

Ballad: THE THREE KNIGHTS. (TRADITIONAL.)

[The Three Knights was first printed by the late Davies Gilbert, F.R.S., in the appendix to his work on Christmas Carols. Mr.

Gilbert thought that some verses were wanting after the eighth stanza; but we entertain a different opinion. A conjectural emendation made in the ninth verse, viz., the subst.i.tution of FAR for FOR, seems to render the ballad perfect. The ballad is still popular amongst the peasantry in the West of England. The tune is given by Gilbert. The refrain, in the second and fourth lines, printed with the first verse, should be repeated in recitation in every verse.]

There did three Knights come from the west, With the high and the lily oh!

And these three Knights courted one ladye, As the rose was so sweetly blown.

The first Knight came was all in white, And asked of her if she'd be his delight.

The next Knight came was all in green, And asked of her if she'd be his queen.

The third Knight came was all in red, And asked of her if she would wed.

'Then have you asked of my father dear?

Likewise of her who did me bear?

'And have you asked of my brother John?

And also of my sister Anne?'

'Yes, I've asked of your father dear, Likewise of her who did you bear.

'And I've asked of your sister Anne, But I've not asked of your brother John.'

Far on the road as they rode along, There did they meet with her brother John.

She stooped low to kiss him sweet, He to her heart did a dagger meet. {2} 'Ride on, ride on,' cried the servingman, 'Methinks your bride she looks wondrous wan.'

'I wish I were on yonder stile, For there I would sit and bleed awhile.

'I wish I were on yonder hill, There I'd alight and make my will.'

'What would you give to your father dear?'

'The gallant steed which doth me bear.'

'What would you give to your mother dear?'

'My wedding shift which I do wear.

'But she must wash it very clean, For my heart's blood sticks in every seam.'

'What would you give to your sister Anne?'

'My gay gold ring, and my feathered fan.'

'What would you give to your brother John?'

'A rope, and a gallows to hang him on.'

'What would you give to your brother John's wife?'

'A widow's weeds, and a quiet life.'

Poem: THE BLIND BEGGAR OF BEDNALL GREEN. SHOWING HOW HIS DAUGHTER WAS MARRIED TO A KNIGHT, AND HAD THREE THOUSAND POUND TO HER PORTION.

[Percy's copy of The Beggar's Daughter of Bednall Green is known to be very incorrect: besides many alterations and improvements which it received at the hands of the Bishop, it contains no less than eight stanzas written by Robert Dodsley, the author of The Economy of Human Life. So far as poetry is concerned, there cannot be a question that the version in the Reliques is far superior to the original, which is still a popular favourite, and a correct copy of which is now given, as it appears in all the common broadside editions that have been printed from 1672 to the present time.

Although the original copies have all perished, the ballad has been very satisfactorily proved by Percy to have been written in the reign of Elizabeth. The present reprint is from a modern copy, carefully collated with one in the Bagford Collection, ent.i.tled,

'The rarest ballad that ever was seen, Of the Blind Beggar's Daughter of Bednal Green.'

The imprint to it is, 'Printed by and for W. Onley; and are to be sold by C. Bates, at the sign of the Sun and Bible, in Pye Corner.'

The very antiquated orthography adopted in some editions does not rest on any authority. For two tunes to The Blind Beggar, see Popular Music.]

PART I.

This song's of a beggar who long lost his sight, And had a fair daughter, most pleasant and bright, And many a gallant brave suitor had she, And none was so comely as pretty Bessee.

And though she was of complexion most fair, And seeing she was but a beggar his heir, Of ancient housekeepers despised was she, Whose sons came as suitors to pretty Bessee.

Wherefore in great sorrow fair Bessee did say: 'Good father and mother, let me now go away, To seek out my fortune, whatever it be.'

This suit then was granted to pretty Bessee.

This Bessee, that was of a beauty most bright, They clad in grey russet; and late in the night From father and mother alone parted she, Who sighed and sobbed for pretty Bessee.

She went till she came to Stratford-at-Bow, Then she know not whither or which way to go, With tears she lamented her sad destiny; So sad and so heavy was pretty Bessee.

She kept on her journey until it was day, And went unto Rumford, along the highway; And at the King's Arms entertained was she, So fair and well favoured was pretty Bessee.

She had not been there one month at an end, But master and mistress and all was her friend: And every brave gallant that once did her see, Was straightway in love with pretty Bessee.

Great gifts they did send her of silver and gold, And in their songs daily her love they extolled: Her beauty was blazed in every decree, So fair and so comely was pretty Bessee.

The young men of Rumford in her had their joy, She showed herself courteous, but never too coy, And at their commandment still she would be, So fair and so comely was pretty Bessee.

Four suitors at once unto her did go, They craved her favour, but still she said no; I would not have gentlemen marry with me!

Yet ever they honoured pretty Bessee.

Now one of them was a gallant young knight, And he came unto her disguised in the night; The second, a gentleman of high degree, Who wooed and sued for pretty Bessee.

A merchant of London, whose wealth was not small, Was then the third suitor, and proper withal; Her master's own son the fourth man must be, Who swore he would die for pretty Bessee.

'If that thou wilt marry with me,' quoth the knight, 'I'll make thee a lady with joy and delight; My heart is enthralled in thy fair beauty, Then grant me thy favour, my pretty Bessee.'

The gentleman said, 'Come marry with me, In silks and in velvet my Bessee shall be; My heart lies distracted, oh! hear me,' quoth he, 'And grant me thy love, my dear pretty Bessee.'

'Let me be thy husband,' the merchant did say, 'Thou shalt live in London most gallant and gay; My ships shall bring home rich jewels for thee, And I will for ever love pretty Bessee.'

Then Bessee she sighed and thus she did say: 'My father and mother I mean to obey; First get their good will, and be faithful to me, And you shall enjoy your dear pretty Bessee.'

To every one of them that answer she made, Therefore unto her they joyfully said: 'This thing to fulfil we all now agree, But where dwells thy father, my pretty Bessee?'