NYPL RESEARCH LIBRARIES
3 3433 07483418 9





|








critson, Josephaed.
TOM of
PIE C E SKETB
NE
هزار
JOIN
.
0 F
MER
Ancient Popular Poetry :
FROM
AUTHENTIC MANUSCRIPTS
AND
OLD PRINTED COPIES.
ADORNED WITH CUTS,
To make ſuche trifels it alketh Come counnyng.
SRE LU DA.
LONDON :
M 개
​PRINTED BY C. CLARKE,
FOR T. AND J. EGERTON, WHITEHALL.
MDCCXCI.


THE NEW YORK
PULLIC LIBRARY
3501288
ASTOR, LIWOX AND
TIL MIN FIIND.LTNNS
R
1946
L
1
1


1
PRE FAC E.
THE
1
Peter Murray Hill Dec. 12, 1945
HE genius which has been ſucceſsfully
exerted in contributing to the inſtruction
or amuſement of ſociety, in even the rudeſt
times, ſeems to have ſome claim upon its gra-
titude for protection in more enlightened ones.
It is a ſuperannuated domestic, whoſe paſsed ſer-
vices entitle his old age to a comfortable provi-
fion and retreat; or rather, indeed, a humble friend,
whoſe attachment in adverſe circumſtances de-
1
mands the warm and grateful acknowlegements
1
1
of proſperity. The venerable though nameleſs
bards whom the generoſity of the public is now


vi
PREFACE.
courted to rescue from oblivion and obſcurity,
have been the favourites of the people for ages,
and could once boaſt a more numerous train of
applauding admirers than the moſt celebrated of
our modern poets. Their compoſitions, it may
be true, will have few charms in the critical
eye of a cultivated age; but it ſhould always
be remembered, that, without ſuch efforts, hum-
ble as they are, cultivation or refinement would
never exiſt, and barbariſm and ignorance be
eternal. It is to an ENNIUS, perhaps, that we
:
are indebted for a VIRGIL, to ſuch writers as
PEELE and GREENE, or others ſtill more ob-
ſcure, that we owe the admirable dramas of
our divineſt SHAKSPEARE; and if we are ig-
norant of the comparatively wretched attempts
which called forth the deſervedly immortal pow-
ers of Homer or Chaucer, it is by no means


P R E F A CE.
vii
to be infered that they were the earlyeſt of
poets, or ſprung into the world, as has been
faid of the inimitable dramatiſt already, men-
tioned, like Minerva out of the head of Ju-
piter, at full growth, and mature.
Vixere fortes ante Agamemnona
Multi ; ſed omnes illacrymabiles
Urgentur, ignotique longâ
Noete.
Any enquiry, it is preſumed, after the authors
of theſe fugitive productions is at preſent im-
poſſible. It can only be conjectured that they
were writen (or, more accurately ſpeaking,
perhaps, imagined and commited to memory)
by men, who made it their profeſſion to chant
or rehearſe them, up and down the country, in
the trophyed hall or before the gloomy caſtle,
1


vüli
PREFACE.
and at marriages, wakes and other feſtive meet.
ings, and who generally accompanyed their
ſtrains, by no means ruder than the age itſelf,
with the tinkling of a harp, or ſometimes, it is
apprehended, with the graces of a much hum-
bler inſtrument. It may, indeed, be conceived
that they would now and then be furniſhed
with a ſuperior performance from the cloiſter
or college; as even the great fir Thomas More
has left us ſomething of the ſame kind *. But,
however it was, they ſeem to have been more
attentive to temporary applauſe or preſent emo-
lument than to future fame, of which they had
poſſibly no idea, and, while they conſigned their
effufions to the caſual protection of an auditors
*“ A mery ieft how a ſergeaunt would learnc to play the
frere. Written in hys youth (for his paſtime)." Sec his
Workes, 1557, and the “ Hiſtory of the Engliſh language,"
prefixed to Dr. Johnſons Dictionary.


X
PREFACE.
It might naturally enough excite the ſurpriſe
of the intelligent reader, that in a profeſsed re-
publication of popular poetry, nothing ſhould
occur upon a ſubject indiſputably the moſt po-
pular of all-the hiſtory of our renowned
Engliſh archer, Robin Hood. Some apology
is undoubtedly neceſſary on this head, as the
omiſſion is by no means owing to ignorance
or neglect. In fact, the poems, ballads, and
hiſtorical or miſcellaneous matter, in exiſtence,
relative to this celebrated outlaw, are ſufficient
to furniſh the contents of even a couple of
volumes conſiderably bulkyer than the preſent ;
and fully deſerve to appear in a ſeparate pub-
lication, « unmix'd with bafer matter."
It would be no trifing gratification to the
editor of this little volume, and contribute in


PREFACE.
xi
fome degree, he is perſuaded, to the amuſe-
ment of even the literary part of the public, if
the preſent attempt thould be productive of
others of a ſimilar nature. Many of our old
poems, which would even now be of acknow-
leged excellence, are ſcarcely known by name.
Such, for inſtance, are “ The wife lapped in Mo-
rels ſkin, or The taming of a Shrew,” “ The high
way to the ſpittle houſe,” “ The ſchole houſe of
women, ” “ The unlucky firmentie,” and ſome
others; all or moſt of which abound with a
harmony, ſpirit, keenneſs, and natural humour,
little to be expected, perhaps, in compoſitions of
fo remote a period, and which would by no
means appear to have loſt their reliſh. Theſe
pieces, indeed, are not only of much greater
length than, but of a very different ſtructure
from, thoſe in the following collection, and


xii
PREFACE.
evidently appear to have been written for the
preſs. The popularity of the two firſt is
evinced by their being mentioned by Laneham
(or Langham), in his Letter ſignifying the
Queenz entertainment at Killingwoorth Cafil,
1575, along with ſeveral others, among which
are ſome of thoſe here printed, as extant in
the whimſical but curious library of Captain
Cox, a maſon of Coventry, who had “ great
overſight in matters of ſtorie,” and appears to
have been a wonderful admirer and collector
of old poetry, romances, and ballads.
It is not the editors inclination to enter
more at large into the nature or merits of the
poems he has here collected. The originals
have fallen in his way on various occaſions,
and the pleaſing recollection of that happyeſt


PRE FACE.
xiii
period of which moſt of them were the familiar
acquaintance, has induced him to give them to
the public with a degree of elegance, fidelity
and correctneſs, feldom inſtanced in republica-
tions of greater importance. Every poem is
printed from the authority refered to, with no
other intentional licenſe than was occaſioned
by the disuſe of contractions, and a regular
ſystematical punctuation, or became neceſſary
by the errors of the original, which are gene-
rally, if not uniformly, noticed in the margin,
the emendation being at the ſame time distin-
guiſhed in the text. Under theſe circum-
ſtances, the impreſſion is commited to the pa-
tronage of the liberal and the candid, of thoſe
whom the artificial refinements of modern taſte
have not rendered totally inſenſible to the hum-


xiv
PREFACE.
ble effufions of unpoliſhed nature, and the fim-
plicity of old times; a deſcription of readers,
it is to be hoped, ſufficiently numerous to juſ-
tify a wiſh that it may never fall into the hands
of any other.


}


1
A D AM
B E L,
9
CLYM OF THE CLOUGHE,
1
AND
WYLLYAM OF CLOUDESLE.
1
A


The “ Englifbe wood" mentioned in v. 16, &c. is
Englewood or Inglewood, an extenſive foreſt in Cum-
berland, which was fixteen miles in length, and reached
from Carlile to Penrith*. A fimilar obſervation has
been already made by Dr. Percy, who adds, that
" Engle or Ingle-wood fignifies wood for firing."
But, with fubmiffion to ſo good a judge, it ſhould
rather ſecm, in the preſent inſtance, to deſign a wood
or foreſt in which extraordinary fires were made on
particular occafions; a conje&ture which will appear
the more plauſible, when it is conſidered that the iden-
tical ſpot on which Penrith beacon now ſtands, and
where a beacon has ſtood for ages, was formerly within
the limits of this very foreft; and that Ingleborough,
one of “the higheſt hills between Scotland and Trent,"
has obtained this name from the fires anciently lighted
in the beacon erceted on its flat top, where the founda-
tion is ſtill vifible.
Clym of the Cloug?” is properly explained by the
above ingenious editor to mean Clem or Clement of
the Valley. “ Cloudeſlè," of which the etymology
has not been hitherto attempted, may be thought to hig-
nify a rocky pafure ; from clud, rupes, and leag,
paſcuum. See Lyes Saxon Dictionary.
* Edward the Firft, in bunting in this foreſt, is ſaid to bave
killed iwo bundred bucks in one day. See the Additions 10
Cumberland, in Camdens Britannia, 1695.
+ Ibi, and Burns Cumberland, p. 396.
A 2


6
A DAM BEL, ETC.
15
:
20
25
They were outlawed for venyſon,
Theſe yemen everechone ;
They ſwore them brethren upon a day,
To Englyſshewood for to gone.
Now lith and lyſten, gentylmen,
That of myrthes loveth to here :
Two of them were ſingle men,
The third had a wedded fere;
Wyllyam was the wedded man,
Muche more then was hys care,
He fayde to hys brethren upon a day,
To Carelel he would fare.
For to ſpeke with fayre Alſe hys wife,
And with hys chyldren thre.
By my trouth, fayde Adam Bel,
Not by the counſell of me;
For if ye go to Caerlel, brother,
And from thys wylde wode wende,
If the juſtice mai you take,
Your lyfe were at an ende.
If that I come not to morowe, brother,
By pryme to you agayne,
Truſte not els but that I am take,
Or elſe that I am ſlayne.
He toke hys leaue of hys brethren two,
And to Carlel he is gon,
There he knocked at hys owne windowe,
Shortlye and anone.
30
35
40
V. 18. And that,


ADAM BEL, ETC.
3
1
45
50
1
Where be you, fayre Alyce my wyfe ?
And my chyldren three ?
Lyghtly let in thyne owne huſbande,
Wyllyam of Cloudelle.
Alas! then fayde fayre Alyce,
And fyghed wonderous fore,
Thys place hath ben beſette for you,
Thys half
yere
and more.
Now am I here, fayde Cloudeſle,
I woulde that I in were ;-
Now feche us meate and drynke ynoughe,
And let us make good chere.
She fetched hym meat and drynke plenty,
Lyke a true wedded wyfe,
And pleaſed hym wyth that ſhe had,
Whome ſhe loued as her lyfe.
There lay an old wyfe in that place,
A lytle befyde the fyre,
Whych Wyllyam had found of cherytye
More then ſeuen
yere ;
Up ſhe roſe and walked full ftyll,
Euel mote ſhe ſpede therefoore,
For ſhe had not ſet no fote on ground
In feuen yere before.
She went vnto the juſtice hall,
As faſt as ſhe could hye;
Thys nyght is come vnto this town
Wyllyam of Cloudelle.
55
60
65
V. 41. your.
V. 50. In woulde.
V. 62. ſpende.
A 4


8
ADAM BEL, ETC.
Thereof the iuſtice was full fayne,
And ſo was the ſhirife alſo;
70
Thou ſhalt not trauaile hether, dame, for nought,
Thy meed thou ſhalt haue or thou go.
They gaue to her a ryght good goune,
Of ſcarlat it was as I heard « fayne,'
She toke the gyft and home ſhe wente, 75
And couched her downe agayne.
They ryſed the towne of
mery
Carlel,
In all the haft that they can,
And came thronging to Wyllyames houſe,
As faſt as they myght gone.
80
Theyr they beſette that good yeman,
Round about on euery ſyde,
Wyllyam hearde great noyſe of folkes,
That heyther ward they hyed.
Alyce opened a “ ſhot wyndow,
85
And loked all about,
She was ware of the juſtice and ſhirife bothe,
Wyth a full great route.
Alas! treaſon! cry'd Aleyce,
Euer wo may thou be!
go
• Go' into my chambre, my huſband, ſhe fayd,
Swete Wyllyam of Cloudeſle.
V. 71.
fore.
V.74. ſaye. Percy reads Of ſcarlate and of graine.
V. 85. ſhop. Percy reads back window.
V. 88. great full great.
V. 91. Gy.


ADAM BEL, ETC.
9
1
100
He toke hys ſweard and hys bucler,
Hys bow and hy[s] chyldren thre,
And wente into hys ſtrongeſt chamber, 95
Where he thought ſureſt to be.
Fayre Alice folowed him as a lover true,
With a pollaxe in her hande;
He ſhal be dead that here cometh in
Thys dore whyle I may ſtand.
Cloudeſle bent a wel good bowe,
That was of truſty tre,
He ſmot the juſtiſe on the breſt,
That hys arrowe breſt in thre.
Gods curſe on his hartt, faide William, 105
Thys day thy cote dyd on,
If it had ben no better then myne,
It had gone nere thy bone.
Yelde the Cloudeſle, fayd the juſtiſe,
And thy bowe and thy arrowes the fro.
Gods curſe on hys hart, fayde fair Alce,
That my huſband councelleth ſo.
Set fyre on the houſe, faide the ſherife,
Syth it wyll no better be,
And brenne we therin William, he ſaide, 115
Hys wyfe and chyldren thre.
They fyred the houſe in many a place,
The fyre flew vp on hye ;
Alas! then cryed fayr Alice,
I fe we here ſhall dy.
110
I 20


10
ADAM BEL, ETC.
1
William openyd hys backe wyndow,
That was in hys chambre on hye,
And wyth ſhetes let hys wyfe downe,
And hys chyldren thre.
Have here my treaſure, fayde William,
125
My wyfe and my chyldren thre,
For Chriſtes loue do them no harme,
But wreke
you
all on me.
Wyllyam ſhot. ſo wonderous well,
Tyll hys arrowes were all gon,
130
And the fyre fo faft vpon hym fell,
That hys bow tryng brent in two.
The ſpercles brent and fell hym on,
Good Wyllyam of Cloudeſle !
But than wax he a wofull man,
135
And fayde, thys is a cowardes death to me.
Leuer I had, fayde Wyllyam,
With
my
ſworde in the route to renne,
Then here among myne ennemyes wode,
Thus cruelly to bren.
140
He toke hys ſweard and hys buckler,
And
among
them all he ran,
Where the people were moſt in prece,
He ſmot downe many a man.
There myght no man ſtand hys ſtroke, 145
So ferſly on them he ran ;
Then they threw wyndowes and dores on him,
And ſo toke that good yeman.
V. 122. was on.


ADAM BEL, ETC.
II
There they hym bounde both hand and fote,
And in depe dongeon hym caft;
150
Now, Cloudefle, fayd the hye juſtice,
Thou ſhalt be hanged in haft.
One vow fhal I make, fayde the ſherife,
A payre of new galowes ſhall I for the make,
And the gates of Caerlel ſhal be ſhutte, 155
There ſhall no man come in therat.
Then ſhall not helpe Clim of the Cloughe,
Nor yet ſhall Adam Bell,
Though they came with a thouſand mo,
Nor all the deuels in hell.
160
Early in the mornyng the juſtice vproſe,
To the
gates firſt
gan
he
gon,
And commaundede to be ſhut full cloce
Lightile everychone.
Then went he to the market place,
165
As faſt as he coulde hye,
A payre of new gallous there dyd he vp ſet,
Belyde the pyllory.
A lytle boy ſtod them amonge,
And aſked what meaned that gallow tre ; 170
They ſayde, to hange a good yeaman,
Called Wyllyam of Cloudelle.
That lytle boye was the towne ſwyne heard,
And kept · fayre' Alyce fwyne,
Oft he had ſeene Cloudeſle in the wodde, 175
And geuen hym there to dyne.
V. 174. there..


12
ADAM BEL, ETC.
180
He went out att a creues in the wall,
And lightly to the wood dyd gone,
There met he with theſe wight yonge men,
Shortly and anone.
Alas! then fayde that lytle boye,
Ye tary here all to longe ;
Cloudele is taken and dampned to death,
All readye for to honge.
Alas! then fayde good Adam Bell, 185
That ever we ſee thys daye !
He myght her with vs have dwelled,
So ofte as we dyd him praye!
He myght have taryed in grene foreſte,
Under the ſhadowes ſheene,
190
And have kepte both hým and vs in realte,
Out of trouble and teene!
Adam bent a ryght good bow,
A great hart fone had he flayne,
Take that, chylde, he ſayde to thy dynner, 195
And bryng me myne arrowe agayne.
Now go we hence, fayed theſe wight yong men,
Tary we no lenger here;
We ſhall hym borowe, by gods grace,
Though we bye it full dere.
To Caerlel went theſe good yemen,
On a mery mornyng of Maye.
Here is a fyt of Cloudelli,
And another is for to ſaye.
200
V. 201. Cyerlel.


ADAM BEL,
13
ETC.
(The
SECOND
FIT.]
A a ,
210
1
ND when they came to mery Caerlell,
In a fayre mornyng tyde,
206
They founde the gates ſhut them vntyll,
Round about on euery fyde.
Alas! than fayd good Adam Bell,
That euer we were made men !
Theſe gates be ſhut ſo wonderous wel,
That we may not come here in.
Then ſpake him Clym of the Clough,
Wyth a wyle we wyl vs in bryng;
Let vs ſaye we be meſſengers,
215
Streyght come nowe from our king.
Adam ſaid, I haue a letter written wel,
Now let us wyſely werke,
We wyl faye we haue the kinges ſeales,
I holde the portter no clerke.
220
Then Adam Bell bete on the gate,
With ſtrokes great and ftrong,
The porter herde ſuche noyfe therat,
And to the gate he throng.
Who is there nowe, fayde the porter,
That maketh all thys knocking?
We be tow meſſengers, fayde Clim of the Clough,
Be come ryght from our kyng.
225


14
ADAM BEL, ETC.
We haue a letter, fayd Adam Bel,
To the juſtice we muſt it bryng;
230
Let vs in our meſſag to do,
That we were agayne to our kyng.
Here commeth none in, fayd the porter,
Be hym that dyed vpon a tre,
Tyll a falſe thefe be hanged,
235
Called Wyllyam of Cloudeſle.
Then ſpake the good yeman Clym of the Clough,
And ſwore by Mary fre,
And if that we ftande longe wythout,
Lyke a thefe hanged ſhalt thou be.
240
Lo here we haue the kynges ſeale ;
What! lordeyne, art thou wode?
The porter went it had ben ſo,
And lyghtly dyd of hys hode.
Welcome be my lordes ſeale, he faide, 245
For that
ye
ſhall come in.
He opened the gate full ſhortlye,
An euyl openyng for him.
Now are we in, fayde Adam Bell,
Thereof we are full faine,
250
But Chriſt know[s], that harowed hell,
How we ſhall com out agayne.
Had we the keys, faid Clim of the Clough,
Ryght wel then ſhoulde we ſpede;
Then might we come out wel ynough, 255
When we ſe tyme and nede.
1
1
V. 230. me.
V. 254. fhaulde.


1
15
ADAM BEL, ETC.
They called the porter to counſell,
And wrange hys necke in two,
And caſte him in a depe dongeon,
And toke hys keys hym fro.
260
Now am I porter, fayde Adam Bel,
Se brother the keys haue we here,
The worſt porter to merry Caerlel,
That ye had thys hundred yere :
And now wyll we our bowes bend,
265
Into the towne wyll we go,
For to delyuer our dere brother,
That lyueth in care and wo.
They bent theyr bowes,
And loked theyr ftringes were round, 270
The market place in mery Caerlel,
They beſet that ſtound;
And as they loked them befyde,
A paire of new galowes ther thei ſee,
And the juſtice with a queſt of ſquyers,
275
That had judged Cloudelle there hanged to be:
And Cloudelle hymfelfe lay redy in a carte,
Faſt both fote and hand,
And a ſtronge rop about hys necke,
All readye for to hange.
280
The juſtice called to him a ladde,
Cloudeſle clothes ſhould he haue,
To take the meaſure of that yeman,
And therafter to make hys graue.
!
V. 275. they.


16
ADAM BEL, ETC.
for me,
1
1
I have ſeen as great a mearveile, faid Cloudelli,
As betwyene thys and pryme,
He that maketh thys graue
Himſelfe may lye therin.
Thou ſpeakeſt proudli, faide the juſtice,
I ſhall the hange with my
hande :
290
Full wel herd hys brethren two,
There ſtyll as they dyd ſtande.
Then Cloudelle caſt hys eyen aſyde,
And ſaw hys to brethren,
At a corner of the market place, 295
With theyr good bows bent in ther hand,
Redy the juſtice for to chaunce.
I fe comfort, fayd Cloudeſle,
Yet hope I well to fare ;
If I might haue my handes at wyll,
Ryght lytle wolde I care.
Then ſpake good Adam Bell,
To Clym of the Clough ſo free,
Brother, fe ye marke the juſtyce wel,
Lo yonder ye may him fee;
And at the ſhyr[i]fe fhote I wyll, 305
Strongly with arrowe kene,
A better Thote in
mery
Caerlel
Thys ſeuen yere was not ſene.
300
V. 293. Claudelle.
V. 295. marked.
V. 294. brethen.
V. 298. will.


18
ADAM BEL, ETC.
But when their arrowes were all gon,
Men preced to them full faſt,
They drew theyr ſwordes then anone,
And theyr bowes from them caſt.
340
They went lyghtlye on theyr way,
Wyth ſwordes and buclers round,
By that it was' myd of the day,
They made mani a wound.
There was an out horne in Caerlel blowen, 345
And the belles bacward did
ryng;
Many a woman fayd alas !
And many theyr handes dyd wryng.
The mayre of Caerlel forth com was,
And with hym a ful great route,
350
Theſe
yemen
dred him full ſore,
For of theyr lyues they ſtode in great doute.
The mayre came armed a full great pace,
With a pollaxe in hys hande,
Many a ſtrong man wyth him was, 355
There in that ftowre to ſtande.
The mayre ſmot at Cloudleſle with his bil,
Hys bucler he bruſt in two,
Full many a yeman with great euyil,
Alas! treaſon! they cryed for wo.
Kepe we the gates faſt they bad,
That theſe traytours thereout not go.
But al for nought was that the[y] wrought,
For • fo’ faſt they downe were layde,
1
360
V. 343. mas.
V. 364. to.


ADAM BEL, ETC.
19
Tyll they all thre, that ſo manfulli fought, 365
Were gotten without abraide.
Haue here your keys, fayd Adam Bel,
Myne off[i]ce I here forſake,
Yf you do by my councell,
A new porter do ' ye? make.
370
He threw theyr keys at theyr heads,
And bad them euell to thryue,
And all that letteth any good yeman
To come and comfort hys wyfe.
Thus be theſe good yemen gon to the wod, 375
And lyghtly as . lefe' on lynde,
The[y] lough an[d] be mery in theyr mode,
Theyr ennemyes were fer[r]e behynd.
When they came to Englyſhe wode,
Under the truſty tre,
380
They found bowes full good,
And arrowes full great plentye.
So god me help, f[a]yd Adam Bell,
And Clym of the Clough fo fre,
I would we were in mery Caerlel, 385
Before that fayre meyny.
They ſet them downe and made good chere,
And eate and drynke full well.
Here is a fet of theſe wyght yong men,
An other I wyll you tell.
390
V. 368, 369. miſplaced in the old edition.
V. 370. we.
V. 376. left.
B 2


20
BEL, ETC.
ADAM
[ THE
THIRD
FIT.]
A Under
theyr truty tre,
S they fat in Englyſhe wood
Under
They thought they herd a woman wepe,
But her they mought not fe.
Sore then fyghed the fayre Alyce, 395
And ſayde, alas ! that euer I ſawe thys daye !
For now
is
my
dere huſband ſlayne,
Alas! and wel a way!
Myght I have ſpoken wyth hys dere brethren,
Or with eyther of them twayne,
400
[To let them know what him befell]
My hart were put out of payne !
Cloudefle walked a lytle befyde,
And loked vnder the grenewood linde,
He was ware of hys wife and chyldren thre, 405
Full wo in hart and mynde.
Welcome wife, then fayde Wyllyam,
Under this' truſti tre;
I had wende yeſterday, by ſwete faynt John,
Thou ſhulde me never have' ſe.
1
410
V. 393. thaught. V. 399. brethen:
V. 401. fupplyed from a modern edition.
V. 408. thus,
V. 410. had.


ADAM BEL, ETC.
21
420
Now well is me, ſhe fayde, that ye be here,
My hart is out of wo.
Dame, he fayde, be mery and glad,
And thanke my brethren two.
Hereof to ſpeake, fayd Adam Bell,
415
I wis it is no bote;
The meat that we muſt ſupp withall
It runneth yet faſt on fote.
Then went they down into a launde,
Theſe noble archares all thre,
Eche of them ſlew a hart of greece,
The beſt they could there ſe.
Haue here the beſt, Al[y]ce my wyfe,
Sayde Wyllyam of Cloudeſle,
By cauſe ye ſo bouldly ſtod by me, 425
When I was ſlayne full nye.
Then went they to ſupper,
Wyth ſuche meat as they had,
And thanked god of ther fortune,
They were both mery and glad.
430
And when they had ſupped well,
Certayne without any leace,
Cloudefle fayd, we wyll to our kyng,
To get vs a charter of peace ;
Alce ſhal be at our foiournyng,
435
In a nunry here beſyde,
My tow fonnes ſhall wyth her go,
And ther they ſhall abyde :
V. 414. brethen,
V. 427. whent.
V.421. graece.
B 3


ADAM BEL, ETC. 23
tell me.
The[y] ſayed, lord we beſeche the here,
That ye wyll graunt vs grace,
For we haue flaine
your
fat falow der,
In many a fondry place.
470
What be your nam[e]s ? than ſaid our king,
Anone that
you
They ſayd, Adam Bel, Clim of the Clough,
And Wyllyam of Cloudelle.
Be ye thoſe theues, then fayd our kyng, 475
That men haue tolde of to me?
Here to god I make a vowe,
Ye fhal be hanged al thre;
Ye Thal be dead without mercy,
As I am kynge of this lande.
He commanded his officers everichone
Faft on them to lay hand.
There they toke theſe good yemen,
And areſted them all thre.
So may I thryue, fayd Adam Bell, 485
Thys game lyketh not me.
But, good lorde, we beſeche you now,
That you graunt vs grace,
Inſomuche as we be to you comen,
Or els that we may fro you paſſe, 490
With ſuche weapons as we haue here,
Tyll we be out of your place ;
And yf we lyue this hundreth yere,
We wyll aſke you no grace.
480
в 4


24
A D A M BEL, ETC.
Ye ſpeake proudly, fayd the kynge,
495
Ye fhal be hanged all thre.
That were great pitye, then fayd the quene,
If any grace myght be.
My lorde, whan I came fyrft into this lande,
To be
your
wedded wyfe,
500
The fyrſt bowne that I wold aſke,
Ye would graunt it me belyfe ;
And I aſked neuer none tyll now,
Therefore, good lorde, graunt it me.
Now alke it, madam, fayd the kynge, 505
And graunted ſhall it be.
Then, good my lord, I you beſeche,
Theſe yemen graunt ye me.
Madame, ye myght have aſked a bowne,
That fhuld have ben worth them all three: 510
Ye myght have aſked towres and towne[s],
Parkes and foreſtes plenty.
None foe pleaſaunt to mi pay, ſhe ſaid,
Nor none ſo lefe to me.
Madame, ſith it is your deſyre,
515
Your aſkyng graunted ſhal be;
But I had leuer have geuen you
Good market townes thre.
The quene was a glad woman,
And ſayd, lord, gramarcy,
520
I dare undertake for them
That true men ſhal they be.


ADAM BEL, ETC.
25
But, good lord, ſpeke ſom mery word,
That comfort they may ſe.
I
graunt you grace, then ſaid our king,
525
Waſshe, felos, and to meate go ye.
They had not ſetten but a whyle,
Certayne without leſynge,
There came meſſengers out of the north,
With letters to our kyng.
530
And whan the came before the kynge,
They kneled downe vpon theyr kne,
And ſayd, lord, your offycers grete you wel,
Of Caerlel in the north cuntre.
How fare my juſtice, fayd the kyng, 535
And
my
ſherife alſo ?
Syr, they be ſlayne, without leafynge,
And many an officer mo.
Who hath them flayne? fayd the kyng,
Anone thou tell me.
Adam Bel, and Clime of the Clough,
And Wyllyam of Cloudeſle.
Alas! for rewth! then fayd our kynge,
My hart is wonderous fore,
I had leuer [th]an a thouſand pounde, 545
I had knowne of thys before ;
For I have graunted them grace,
And that forthynketh me,
But had I knowne all thys before,
They had been hanged all thre.
550
540


28
ADAM BEL, ETC.
610
615
I have a ſonne is feuen yere olde,
He is to me full deare,
I wyll hym tye to a ſtake,
All ſhall ſe that be here,
And lay an apele vpon hys head,
And go fyxe ſcore paces hym fro,
And I myſelfe, with a brode arow,
Shall cleue the apple in two.
Now haſte the, then fayd the kyng,
By him that dyed on a tre,
But yf thou do not as thou haſt ſayde,
Hanged fhalt thou be.
And thou touche his head or gowne,
In fyght that men may ſe,
By all the fayntes that be in heaven,
I ſhall hange you all thre.
That I haue promiſed, ſaid William,
I wyl it neuer forſake,
And there even before the kynge,
In the earth he droue a ſtake,
And bound therto his eldeſt ſonne,
And bad hym ftande ftyll therat,
And turned the childes face fro him,
Becauſe he thuld not ſterte;
An apple vpon his head he fet,
And then his bowe he bent,
Syxe ſcore paces they were out met,
And thether Cloudeſle went;
620
625
630
1
I
V. 617. heft.


30
ADAM BEL, ETC.
Your ſonne, for he is tendre of age,
Of my wyne ſeller ſhall he be,
And whan he commeth to mannes eſtate, 665
Better auaunced ſhall he be.
And, Wylliam, bring me your wife, ſaid the quene,
Me longeth her ſore to fe,
She ſhal be my chefe gentelwoman,
To gouerne my nurſery.
670
The yemen thanketh them full curteouſly,
And fayde, to ſome byſshop wyl we wend,
Of all the ſynnes that we have done
To be aſſoyld at his hand.
So forth be gone theſe good yemen,
As faſt as they myght hye,
And after came and dwelled wyth the kynge,
And dyed good men all thre.
Thus endeth the liues of theſe good yemen,
God ſend them eternall blyfſe!
680
And all that with hande bowe ſhoteth,
That of heauen may neuer myſſe !
675


A
MERY GESTE
OF
THE FRERE AND THE BOYE.
1


This well-known tale is furniſhed, in its preſent dreſs,
by a copy in the public library of the univerſity of Cam-
bridge, “ Enprynted at London in Flete ftrete at the
bygne of the fonne by Wynkyn de Worde;" compared
with a later edition in the Bodleian library, “Imprinted
at London at the long hoop adioyning vnto Saint Mil-
dreds Church in the Pultrie by Edwarde Alde;" both in
quarto and black letter, and of fingular rarity, no du-
plicate of either being known to exift*. There is, in-
deed, a very old, though at the ſame time a moſt vul.
gar and corrupted copy extant in the firſt of thoſe
libraries (MSS. More, Ee. 4. 35v) under the title of
“ The Cheylde and hes ſtep-dame," of which, beſides
that almoſt every line exhibits a various reading, the
concluding ſtanzas are entirely different, and have, on
that account, been thought worth preſerving. But the
moſt ancient copy of all would probably have been one
in the Coiton library, if the volume which contained it
had not unfortunately periſhed, with many things of
greater importance, in the dreadful fire which happened
in that noble repoſitory, anno 1731.
Vide Smiths
Catalogue, Vitellius D. XII.
* There was
once
a copy of one or other of the above
editions, or fome different impreſſion, with divers other curious
pieces, in the printed library of Anthony à Wood (No. 66);
but the article, with others of the like nature, appears to have
been clandeſtinely taken out.


1


1
mm
G D
5
OD that dyed for vs all,
And dranke both eyiell and gail,
Brynge vs out of bale,
And
gyue them good lyfe and longe
That lyſteneth to my ſonge,
Or tendeth to my tale.
There dwelled an huſbonde in my countre
That had wyues thr”,
By proceſſe of tyme,
By the fyrſt wyfe a fone he had,
That was a good ſturdy ladde,
And an happ, hyne.
!
TO


A N D
37
THE
BOYE.
45
50
Than fayd the wyfe, verament,
Therto ſoone I aſſent,
For that me thynketh mooft nedy.
On the morowe whan it was daye,
The lytell boye wente on his waye,
To the felde full redy ;
Of no man he had no care,
But ſung, hey howe, awaye the mare, *
And made ioye ynough ;
Forth he wente, truly to ſayne,
Tyll he came to the playne,
Hys dyner forth he drough:
Whan he ſawe it was but bad,
Ful lytell luft therto he had,
But
put
it
vp agayne ;
Therfore he was not to wyte,
He ſayd he wolde ete but lyte,
Tyll nyght that he home came.
And as the boye fate on a hyll,
An olde man came hym tyll,
Walkynge by the waye ;
Sone, he fayde, god the fe.
Syr, welcome mote ye be,
The lytell boye gan faye.
55
60
65
* This ſeems to bave been the beginning or title of some old
ballad. Mayſtres Fyll of Brentford takes notice of it in her
“ Teftament." 4to. b.l.
“ Ah ſyrra, mary a way the mare."
V. 60. came home, De W.
C3


AND
39
THE
BOYE.
95
100
105
He fayd, now had I a pype,
Though it were neuer fo lyte,
Than were I gladde ynough.
A pype, fone, thou ſhalte haue alſo,
In true muſyke it ſhall go,
I
put thee out of doubt;
All that may the pype here
Shall not themfelfe ftere,
But laugh and lepe aboute.
What ſhall the thyrde be?
For I wyll gyue the gyftes three,
As I haue fayd before.
The lytell boye on hym lough,
And fayd, ſyr, I have ynough,
I wyll defyre no more.
The olde man fayd, my trouth I plyght,
Thou ſhalte haue that I the hyght;
Say on now and let me ſe.
Than fayd the boye anone,
I haue a ſtepdame at home,
She is a ſhrewe to me:
Whan
my fader gyueth me mete,
She wolde theron that I were cheke,
And ftareth me in the face ;
Whan ſhe loketh on me fo,
I wolde ſhe ſholde let a rappe go,
That it myght rynge ouer all the place.
110
115
I 20
V.99. I do the well to wyte, De W.
V. 105. to the before. Idem.
C4
1


1
1
AND THE BOYE.
41
I have ſytten meteleſſe
All this daye kepynge your beeſtes,
My dyner feble it was.
His fader toke a capons wynge,
And at the boye he gan it flynge, 155
And badde hym ete apace.
That greued his ſtepmoders herte fore,
As I tolde you before,
She ſtared hym in the face,
With that ſhe let go a blaſte,
160
That they in the hall were agaſte,
It range ouer all the place.
All they laughed and had good game,
The wyfe waxed red for ſhame,
She wolde that ſhe had ben gone. 165
Quod the boye, well I wote,
That gonne was well fhote,
As it had ben a ſtone.
Curſedly ſhe loked on hym tho,
Another blaſte ſhe let
go,
170
She was almooſt rente.
Quod the boye, wyll ye ſe
How my dame letteth pellettes fle,
In fayth or euer ſhe ftynte?
The boye fayde vnto his dame,
Tempre thy bombe, he fayd, for ſhame:
She was full of forowe.
Dame, fayd the good man, go thy waye,
For I ſwere to the by my faye,
Thy gere is not to borowe,
180
1
175
1


42
FRERE
THE
185
190
Afterwarde as ye ſhall here,
To the hous there came a frere,
To lye there all nyght;
The wyfe loued him as a ſaynt,
And to hym made her complaynt,
And tolde hym all aryght:
Wee haue a boye within ywys,
A ſhrewe for the nones he is,
He dooth me moche care;
I dare not loke hym vpon,
I am aſhamed, by Saynt Iohn,
To tell
you
how I fare:
I praye you mete the boy tomorowe,
Bete hym well and gyue hym ſorowe,
And make the boye lame.
Quod the frere, I ſhall hym bete.
Quod the wyfe, do not forgete,
He dooth me moche ſhame:
I trowe the boye be ſome wytche.
Quod the frere, I ſhall hym teche,
Haue thou no care;
I ſhall hym teche yf I may.
Quod the wyfe, I the praye,
Do hym not ſpare.
On the morowe the boye aroſe,
Into the felde foone he goſe,
His beeftes for to dryue ;
195
200
205
V. 186. So A, and MS, all omitted in De W.


AND
43
THE
BOYE.
210
215
220
The frere ranne out at the gate,
He was a ferde leeft he came to late,
He ranne faſt and blyue.
Whan he came vpon
the londe,
Lytell lacke there he fonde,
Dryuynge his beeftes all alone;
Boye, he fayd, god gyue the ſhame,
What haft thou done to thy dame?
Tell thou me anone :
But yf thou canſt excuſe the well,
By my trouth bete the I wyll,
I wyll no lenger abyde.
Quod the boye, what eyleth the?
My dame fareth as well as ye,
What nedeth ye to chyde?
Quod the boye, wyll ye wete
How I can a byrde fhete,
And other thynge withall ?
Syr, he fayd, though I be lyte,
Yonder byrde wyll I ſmyte,
And her the I ſhall.
There ſate a byrde vpon a brere,
Shote on boy, quod the frere,
For that me lyfteth to ſe.
He hytte the byrde on the heed,
That ſhe fell downe deed,
No ferder myght ſhe flee.
225
gyue
230
1
V.211. So A, and MS, a londe. De W.


AND THE BOVE.
45
!
Gentyll Iacke, holde thy pype ityll,
And my trouth I plyght the tyll, 260
I will do the no woo.
Iacke fayd, in that tide,
Frere ſkyppe out on the ferder fyde,
Lyghtly that thou were goo.
The frere out of the buſshe wente, 265
All to ragged and to rente,
And torne on euery fyde ;
Unnethes on hym he had one cloute,
His bely for to wrappe aboute ;
His harneys for to hyde.
270
The breres had hym ſcratched fo in the face,
And [in] many an other place,
He was all to bledde with blode;
All that myght the frere ſe,
Were fayne awaye to flee,
275
They wende he had ben wode.
Whan he came to his hoolt,
Of his iourney he made no booſt,
His clothes were rente all;
Moche forowe in his herte he had, 280
And euery man hym dradde,
Whan he came in to the hall.
The wyfe fayd, where halt thou bene?
In an euyll place I wene,
Me thynketh by thyn araye.
285
Dame, I haue ben with thy ſone,
The deuyll of hell hym ouercome,
For no man elles may.
!
1


50
THE FRERE
395
400
405
Seale, fone, whan thou wylte,
In fayth this is the meryeit fytte
That I herde this feuen yere.
They daunced all in fame,
Some laughed and had good game,
And ſome had many a fall.
Thou curſed boye, quod the frere,
Here I ſomon the that thou appere
Before the offycyall;
Loke thou be there on Frydaye,
I wyll the mete and I may,
For to ordeyne the forowe.
The boye fayd, by god auowe,
Frere, I am as redy as thou,
And Frydaye were to morowe.
Frydaye came as ye may here,
Iackes ſtepdame and the frere
Togeder there they mette ;
Folke gadered a grete paſe,
To here euery mannes caſe,
The offycyail was ſette.
There was moche to do,
Maters more than one or two,
Both with preelt and clerke ;
Some had teſtamentes for to preue,
And fayre women, by your leue,
That had ſtrokes in the derke.
1
410
415
420
V. 402, 403. Y ſom' the affor the comſerey. MS.


AND THE BO Y E.
51
Euery man put forth his caſe,
Then came forth frere Topyas,
And Iackes ſtepdame alſo ;
Syr offycyall, fayd he,
425
I haue brought a boye to thee,
Which hath wrought me moche wo;
He is a grete nygromancere,
In all Orlyaunce is not his pere,
As by my trouth I trowe.
430
He is a wytche, quod the wyfe :
Than, as I ſhall tell you blythe,
Lowde coude ſhe blowe.
Some laughed without fayle,
Some fayd, dame, tempre thy tayle, 435
Ye wrefte it all amyffe.
Dame, quod the offycyall,
Tel forth on thy tale,
Lette not for this.
The wyfe was afrayed of an other cracke, 440
That no worde more ſhe ſpacke,
She durſt not for drede.
The frere fayd, ſo mote I the,
Knaue, this is long of the
That euyl mote thou ſpede.
445
The frere fayd, ſyr offycyall,
The boye wyll combre vs all,
But yf ye may him chaſte;
V.
• 423. Than cam foret capias. MS.
V. 432. blyue, A.
D 2


52
THE FRERE
Syr, he hath a pype truly,
Wyll make you daunce and lepe on hye, 450
Tyll your herte braſte.
The offycyall fayd, ſo mot I the,
That pype wolde I fayne ſe,
And knowe what myrth that he can make.
V. 453, That pype well y ſe,
&c. He ſeyde, boy, hes het her?
Ye ſcer, be mey ffay,
Anon pype ws a lay,
And make vs all cher.
The offeciall the pype bent,
Aud blow tell his brow hen bent,
Bot thcrof cam no gle;
The offeciall ſeyde, this ys nowth,
Be god that me der bowthe,
Het ys not worthe a ſclo.
Be mey fay, qod the freyr,
The boy can make het pype cler,
Y beſcro hem for hes mede.
The offeciall bad the boy a ſay.
Nay, qod the freyr, er that a way,
For that y for bede.
Pype on, qod the offeciall, and not ſpar.
The freyr began to ſtar,
Jake hes pype hent,
As ſone as Gake began to blow,
All they lepyd on a rowe,
And ronde abowt they went.


AND Τ Η Ε Β Ο Υ Ε.
53
Mary, god forbede, than fayd the frere, 455
That he ſholde pype
here,
Afore that I hens the
waye
take.
Pype on, Iacke, fayd the offycyall,
I wyll here now how thou canſt playe.
Iacke blewe vp, the ſothe to ſaye,
And made them ſoone to daunce all.
460
The offeciall had ſo gret haſt,
That boyt hes ſchenys braſt,
A pon a blokys hende.
The clerkys to dans they hem ſped,
And ſom all ther eynke ſched,
And fom ther bekes rent,
And ſom caſt ther boky[s] at the wall,
And ſom ouer ther felowys can fall,
So weytley they lepyd.
Ther was withowt let,
They ſtombylled on a hepe,
They danſed all a bowthe,
And yever the freyr creyd owt,
Y may no lengger dans for ſoyt,
Y hafte loſt halffe mey cod war,
When
у
danſed
yn
the thornes.
Som to crey they began,
Mey boke ys all to toren;
Som creyd without let,
And ſom bad hoo;
Som ſeyde het was a god game,
And ſom ſeyde they wer lame,
Y may no leynger ſkeppe ;
D3


54
THE FRERE
The offycyall lepte ouer the deſke,
And daunced aboute wonder faite,
Tyll bothe his ſhynnes he all to breſt,
Hym thought it was not of the beſt,
Than cryed he vnto the chylde,
To pype no more within this place,
But to holde ftyll for goddes grace,
And for the loue of Mary mylde.
465
Som daníed ſo long,
Tell they helde owe the townge,
And a nethe meyt hepe.
The offeciall began to ſtar,
And ſeyde, hafe for they heyr,
Stent of they lay,
And boldeley haike of me,
What thou welt hafe for thy gle,
Y ſchall the redey pay.
Then to ſtend Jake began,
The offeciall was a werey man,
Mey trowet y pleyt y the,
Thes was a god gle,
And ſeyde the worſt that euer they ſe:
For het was er neyth.
Then boipake the offeciall,
And leytley Gake can call,
Hes prpe he hem hent,
And gaffe hein xx s.
And euer mor hes bleivag,
For that mercy fets
1


AND
55
Τ Η Ε Β Ο Υ Ε.
470
Than fayd Iacke to them echone,
If
ye wolde me graunte with herte fre,
That he ſhall do me no vylany,
But hens to departe euen as I come.
Therto they anſwered all anone,
And promyſed him anone ryght,
In his quarell for to fyght,
And defende hym from his fone,
475
1
When Gake had that money hent,
Anos homard he went,
Glad therof was he;
He waxed a wordeley marchande,
A man of gret degre.
Hes ſtepdame, y dar ſay,
Dorſt neuer after that day,
Nat wonley ones deſpleſe.
They lowyd togedyr all thre,
Hes father, hes ſtepdame and he,
Affter yn gret eys.
And that they ded, ſoyt to ſay,
Tho hewyn they toke the way,
Withowtyn eney mes.
Now god that dyed for os all,
And dranke ayſell and gall,
Bryng them all to they bles,
That beleuet on the name Jhd.
D4


56
THE FRERE, ETC.
Thus they departed in that tyde,
The offycyall and the fompnere,
His ftepdame and the frere,
With great ioye and moche pryde. 480
3


THE KING
AND
Τ Η Ε
Β Α R Κ Ε R.


60
THE KING AND
20
Yffe y may her eney new tythyng
Y ſchall het to yow ſaye.
Howr kyng prekyd, and ſeyde, ſer, god the faffe. 15
The tannar ſeyde, well mot yow sfar.
God felow, feyde · howr' kyng, off on thyng y the
pray,
To Drayton Baſet well y reyde, wyche ys the wey?
That can y tell the fro hens that y ſtonde,
When thow comeſt to the galow tre torne vpon the
lyft honde.
Gramercy, felow, ſeyde owr kyng, withowtyn eney
- wone,'
I ſchall prey they lord Baſet thanke the fone.
God felow, ſeyde owr kyng, reyde thou with me,
Tell y com to Drayton Baſet, now y het ſe.
Nay be 'mey feyt' feyde the barker thoo,
25
Thow may ſey y wer a fole and y dyd ſo;
I haft yn mey wey as well as thow haſt yn theyne,
Reyde forthe and feke they wey, thi hors ys better
nar meyne.
The tanner ſeyde, what maner man ar ye?
A preker abowt, ſeys the kyng, yn maney a contre. 30
Than fpake the thanner, foll ſcredely ayen,
Y had a brother vowſed the ſame
Tull he cowde never the.
1
V. 13. now.
V. 21. woyt.
V. 17. yowr.
V. 25. meyt.
1


62
THE KING AND
1
God a mar[ſey), feyde owr kyng, withowt eny wone,
Y ſchall prey the lord Baſet to thanke the fone.
Owr keyng ſeyde, what new tydyng hereft as thou
ryd ?
60
I wolde fayne wet for thow reydeſt weyde.
Y know now teytheyng, the thanner feyde, herke
and thou ſchalt here,
Of al the chaffar that y know kow heydys beyt der.
Owr keyng feyde, on theyng, as mey loffe y the prey,
What herelt fey be the lord Baſet yn thes contrey ? 65
I know hem not, feyde the tanner, with hem у
hafe
lytyll to don,
Wolde he neuer bey of me clot lether to clowt · his
ſchoyn.'
Howr kyng feyde, y loffe the well, of on thyng y
the praye,
Thow haſt harde hes ſervants ſpeke, what welde
they ſaye?
Ye for god, ſeyde the tanner, that tell y can, 70
Thay fey thay leke hem well, for he ys a god man.
Thos they reyd together talkyng, for foyt y yow .
te!1,
Tull he met the lord Baſet, on kneys downe they fell.
Alas, the thanner thowt, the kyng ylone thes be,
Y ſchall be hongyd, well y wot, at men may me ſe. 75
He had no meynde of hes hode, nor cape ner adell,
Al for drede of hes leyffe he wende to halfe ler.
V. 60. now.
V. 67. with ſchoys.


64
THE KING AND
The kyng lowhe, and was glad to folow the chas,
• Yette' he was agaft left the tanner welde ber hem
4
downe.
The hors ſped hem fweythyli, he ſped hem wonderley
faſt,
Ayen a bow of a noke the channeres hed he barſt, 105
With a ſtombellyng as he rode the thanner downe be
cait;
IIO
The kyng lowhe and had god game, and feyde thou
rydyft to faſt.
The kyng lowhe, and had god game, and ſwar be
ſent John,
Seche another horfman fay y neuer none.
Owr kyng lowhe, and had god bord, and ſwar be
fent Jame,'
Y moſt nedyft lawhe and thow wer mey dame.
Y be fcro the ſame fon, feyde the barker tho,
That feche a bord welde haffe to ſe hes dame ſo wo.
When ther' hontyng was ydo, they changyd hors
agen,
Tho the barker had hes howyn, theyrof he was
• fayne.'
115
Godamarſey, feyd our kyng, of they ferueyſe to daye,
Yeffe thow hafe awt to do with me, or owt to ſaye,
They frende ſchall y yeffor be, be god that ys bet on.
V. 103. Yeffe.
V. 114. her.
V. 110. Jane.
V. 115. of fayne.
1


THE BARKER,
65
I 20
Godamarſey, feyde the barker tho, thow femyft a
felow god,
Yeffe y met the yn Dantre thou ſchalt dreynke be
[the] rode.
Be mey feyt, ſeyde owr kyng, or els wer y to blame;
Yeff
у
yn
Lecheffelde thou ſchalt hafe the
fame.
Thus they rod talkyng togeder to Drayton hall,
Tho the barker toke hes leffe of the lordes all.
Owr kyng comand the barker yn that tyde, 125
A C. s. yn hes pors to mend hes kow heydys.
Ther owr kyng and the barker partyd feyr a twyn.
God that ſet yn heffen ſo hey breyng os owt of fen!
met the
E


1


HOW A MERCHANDE DYD
HYS WYFE BETRAY.
E 2
1


5
Tbeftory of this ancient poem ſeems to bave appeared
in all poſible ſbapes. It is contained in a tratt intitled
“ Penny-cuiſe, pound-fooliſe ; or a Briſtow diamond,
ſet in two rings, and both crack’d. Profitable for
married men, pleaſant for young men, and a rare ex-
ample for all good women," London, 1631. 4to. b.l.
and is well knrui, at leaſt in tbe North, by tbe old
baliad called “ The Pennyscorib of Wit.” It likewiſe
appears, from Langhams Letter, 1575, to bave been
then in print, under ibe title of “ The Chapman of a
Pennyworth of Wit;" though no edition of that age
is now known to exift. The folloving copy is from
a tranfiripi made by ibe late Mr. Bayres from one of
Bp. Mores manuſcripts in ibe public library at Came
bridge (Ff. 2. 38, or 699), Eurition apparentls about
the reign of Edrward the fourth or Richard ibe third;
carefuily but unneceſſarily examined svith the original.
The poem itfe f bowever is ind. patably of a greater
aze, and ſecms from the language and orthography to
be of Scotiſh, or at kaſt of North country extraction.
Toe fragment of a ſomewhat diferent copy, in the jame
dialect, is contained in a JIS. of Heary ibe 6tbs time
in the Britiſh Muſeum (Bib. Har. 5396). It bas
evidently been deſigued to be fang to the barp.


il
YSTENYTH, lordyngys, y you pray,
How a merchand dyd hys wyfe betray,
Bothe be day and be nyght,
Yf ye wyll herkyn aryght.
Thys ſonge ys of a merchand of thys cuntre, 5
That had a wyfe feyre and free;
The marchand had a full gode wyfe,
Sche louyd hym trewly as hur lyfe,
What that euyr he to hur fayde,
Euyr ſche helde hur wele apayde :
The marchand, that was
fo
gay,
By another woman he lay;
10
E 3


70 HOW A MERCHANDE DYD
20
He boght hur gownys of grete pryce,
Furryd with menyvere and with gryſe,
To hur hedd ryall atyre,
15
As any lady myght defyre;
Hys wyfe, that was ſo trewe as fton,
He wolde ware no thyng vpon:
That was foly be my fay,
That fayrenes ſchulde tru loue betray.
So hyt happenyd, as he wolde,
The marchand ouer the ſee he ſchulde ;
To hys leman ys he gon,
Leue at hur for to tane ;
With clyppyng and with kyffyng ſwete,
25
When they fchulde parte bothe dyd they wepe.
Tyll hys wyfe ys he gon,
Leue at her then hath he tan;
Dame, he feyde, be goddys are,
Haſte any money thou woldyft ware?
Whan y come bezonde the fee
That y myzt the bye ſome ryche drewrè.
Syr, ſche ſeyde, as Cryſt me faue,
Ye haue all that euyr y haue ;
Ye ſchall haue a peny here,
35
As ye ar my trewe fere,
Bye ye me a penyworth of wytt,
And in youre hert kepe wele hyt.
Styll ftode the merchand tho,
Lothe he was the peny to forgoo,
30
1
1
40


HYS WYFE BETRAY.
75
150
The maydyn wente in to the halle,
And thus ſche tolde the merchand alle ;
The marchand ſawe none other ſpede,
He toke hys leve and forthe he yede.
Lyſtenyth, lordyngys, curtes and hende,
For zyt ys the better fytt behynde.
1
(THE Second
FIT.]
L
YSTENYTH, lordyngys, great and ſmall :
The marchand ys now to hys own halle;
Of hys comyng hys wyfe was fayne,
Anone ſche come hym agayne.
Huſbonde, ſche ſeyde, welcome ye be,
How haue ye farde beyonde the ſee? 160
Dame, he feyde, be goddys are,
All full febyll hath be my fare ;
All the gode that euer was thyn and myn
Hyt ys lofte be feynt Martyn;
In a ſtorme y was beſtadde,
165
Was y neuyr halfe ſo fore adrad,
Y thanke hyt god, for ſo y may,
That euyr y ſkapyd on lyve away ;
My ſchyp ys drownyd in the fom,
And all my gode ys lofte me from ; 170


76 HOW A MERCHANDE DY D
A gentylman haue y flawe,
I may not abyde the londys lawe;
I
pray the, as thou loueft me dere,
As thou art my trewe weddyd fere,
In thy chaumber thou woldeſt kepe me dern.
Syr, ſche ſeyde, no man ſchall me warne : 176
Be ſtylle, huſbonde, ſygh not fo fore,
He that hathe thy gode may ſende the more ;
Thowe all thy gode be fro the goo,
I wyll neuyr forſake the in thy woo; 180
Y ſchall go to the kyng and to the quene,
And knele before them on my kneen,
There to knele and neuyr to ceſe,
Tyl of the kyng y haue getyn thy pees :
I can bake, brewe, carde and ſpynne, 185
My maydenys and y can fylvyr wynne,
Euyr whyll y am thy wyfe,
To maynten the a trewe mannys lyfe.
Certen ſothe, as y yow ſay,
All nyght be hys wyfe he lay,
190
On the morne, or he forthe yede,
He kaſte on hym a ryall wede,
And beſtrode a full gode ſtede,
And to hys lemmans hows he yede.
Hys lemman lokyd forthe and on hym ſee, 195
As he come rydyng ouyr the lee,
Sche put on hur a garment of palle,
And mett the marchand in the halle,


HYS W Y FE BETRAY. 77
1
200
Twyes or thryes, or euyr he wyſte,
Trewly fche had hym kyſte.
Syr, fche ſeyde, be ſeynt John,
Ye were neuyr halfe ſo welcome home.
Sche was a ſchrewe, as haue у
hele,
There fche currayed fauell well.
Dame, he ſeyde, be ſeynt John,
205
Zyt ar not we at oon ;
Hyt was tolde me beyonde the fee,
Thou haſte another leman then me,
All the gode that was thyn and myne,
Thou hafte geuyn hym, be feynt Martyn. 210
Syr, as Cryſte bryng me fro bale,
Sche lyeth falſely that tolde the that tale ;
Hyt was thy wyfe, that olde trate,
That neuyr gode worde by me ſpake;
Were fche dedd (god lene hyt wolde !) 215
Of the haue all my wylle y fchulde ;
Erly, late, lowde and ſtylle,
Of the ſchulde y haue all my wylle :
Ye ſchall ſee, ſo muſte y the,
That ſche lyeth falſely on me.
Sche leyde a canvas on the flore,
Longe and large, ſtyffe and ſtore,
Sche leyde theron, wythowten lyte,
Fyfty ſchetys waſchen whyte,
Pecys of fyluyr, maſers of golde; 225
The marchand ftode hyt to be holde :
220


HYS W Y FE BETRAY, 79
And ſche louyd bettyr my gode then me, 255
And ſo wyfe dydd neuyr ye.
To telle hys wyfe then he began,
All that gode he had takyn fro hys lemman;
And all was becawſe of thy peny,
Therfore y gyf hyt the frely ;
260
And y gyf god a vowe thys howre,
Y wyll neuyr more have paramowre,
But the, myn own derlyng and wyfe,
Wyth the wyll y lede my lyfe.
Thus the marchandys care be gan to kele, 265
He lefte hys folye euery dele,
And leuyd in clenneffe and honeftè;
Y pray god that ſo do we.
God that
ys
of
grete renowne,
Saue all the gode folke of thys towne : 270
Jeſu, as thou art heuyn kynge,
To the blys of heuyn owre foules brynge.


1
HOW THE WISE MAN TAUGHT HIS SON.
F


1
1
This little moral piece, which, for the time wherein
it was written, is not inelegant, is given from a ma-
nuſcript colle&tion in the Harleian library in the Britiſh
Muſeum (No. 1596), compiled in the reign of King
Henry the fixth. It is not ſuppoſed to have been before
printed, nor bas
апу
other copy of it been met with in
manuſcript; there is however a ſtriking coincidence of
idea in Mr. Gilbert Coopers beautiful elegy intitled
“A father's advice to his fon," as well as in the old
Song of " It's good to be merry and wife;" which the
more curious reader may confult at bis leiſure.
1
1


84
Μ Α Ν
HOW THE WISE
20
Gentyll of kynde and of corage,
For he ſchulde be hys fadur eyre ;
Hys fadur thus, yn hys langage,
15
• Taghthys fone bothe weyll and fayre :
And fayd, ſon, kepe thys word yn hart,
And thenke theron tyll’ thou be ded;
Zeyr day thy furſt weke,
Loke thys be don yn ylke ftede :
Furſt fe thye god yn forme of brede,*
And ſerue hymwell' for hys godenes,
And afturward, fone, by my rede,
Go do thy worldys beſynes.
Forſt, worſchyp thy god on a day, 25
And, fone, thys ſchall thou haue to 'mede,'
Skyll fully what thou pray,
He wyll the graunt with outyn drede,
And ſend the al that thou haſt nede,
As • far' as meſer longyyth to ſtrech, 30
This lyſe in meſur that thou lede,
And of the remlant thou ne rech.
And, fone, thy tong thou kepe alſo,
And be not tale wyſe be no way,
Thyn owen tonge may be thy fo,
Therfor beware, fone, j the pray,
35
V. 22. wyll.
V.16. That.
V. 26. mad.
V. 18. thyll.
V.
* i. e. go to maſs.
· 30. for.


TAUGHT
85
HIS
SON.
1
Where and when, ſon, thou ſchalt ſay,
And be whom thou ſpekyſt oght;
For thou may ſpeke a word to day
That feuen zere thens
may
be forthozt. 40
Therfore, fone, be ware be tyme,
Deſyre no offys for to bere,
For of thy neyborys mawgref,
Thou moſt hem bothe dyſpleſe and dere,
Or ellys thy ſelf thou muſt · forſwere,' 45
And do not as thyn offys wolde,
And gete the mawgrefe here and there,
More then thank a thouſand fold.
50
And, fone, yf thou wylt lyf at eſe,
And warme among thy neyburs fyt,
Lat newefangylnes the pleſe
Oftyn to remewe nor to Ayt,
For and thou do thou wantys wyt,
For folys they remewe al to wyde ;
And alſo, fone, an euyl · ſygne' ys hyt,
A mon that can no wher abyde.
And, fone, of fyche thyng j the warne,
And on my blyfryng take gode hede,
Thou vſe neuer the tauerne ;
And alſo dyfyng j the forbede :
55
60
V. 45. for ſwete.
V. 55. fagnc.
F 3


TAUGHT HIS SON.
87
85
1
1
90
For better the were be defe and down,
Then for to be on eny enqueſt,
That aftyr myzt be vndurnome,
A trewe man had hys quarel leſt.
And, fone, yf thou wylt haue a wyfe,
Take hur for no couetyſe,
But loke, ſone, ſche be the lefe,
Thou wyfe bywayt and wele awyſe,
That ſche be gode, honeſt, and wyſe,
Thof ſche be pore take thou no hede,
For fche • ſchal' do the more ſeruys, 95
Then ſchall a ryche with owtyn drede.
For better it is in reſt and pes,
A mes of potage and no more,
Then for to haue a thouſand mes,
With gret dyſeſe and angyr ſore. 100
Therfore, fone, thynk on thys lore,
Yf thou wylt haue a wyfe with eſe,
By hur gode ſet thou no ſtore,
Thoffe fche wolde the bothe feffe and feffe.
105
And yf thy wyfe be meke and gode,
And ſerue the wele and pleſantly,'
Loke that thou be not ſo wode,
To charge hur then to owtragely;
V.95. ſchalt.
V. 106. pleſantyl.
FA


88 HOW THE WISE Μ Α Ν
I10
But then fare with hur eſely,
And cheryſch hur for hur gode dede,
For thyng ouerdon vníkylfully,
Makys wrath to grow where ys no nede.
I wyl neyther glos ne ‘paynt,'
But waran the on anodyr ſyde,
Yf thy wyfe come to make pleynt, 115
On thy feruandys on any fyde,
Be nott to hafty them to chyde,
Nor wreth the or thou wytt the ſothe,
For wemen yn wrethe they can not hyde,
But fone they reyfe a ſmokei rofe.
Nor, fone, be not jelows, j the pray,
For, and thou falle in jeloſye,
Let not thy wyfe wyt in no way,
For thou may do no more foly;
For, and thy wyfe may onys aſpye 125
That thou any thyng hur myſtryſt,
In dyſpyte of thy fantefy,
To do the wors ys all hur lyft.
I 20
130
Therfore, ſone, j byd the
Wyrche with thy wyfe as reſon ys,
Thof ſche be feruant in degre,
In ſom degre ſhe felaw ys.
V. 113. praynt.
V. 118. The MS. reads wreth the not, but the word not
is inſerted by a different, though very ancient, band, which
bas corrected the poem in other places; and is certainly redun-
dant and improper.


TAUGHT
89
HIS SON.
Laddys that ar bundyn, ſo haue j blys,
That can not rewle theyr wyves aryzt,
That makys wemen, ſo haue j blys,
135
To do oftyn wrong -yn plyzt.
Nor, fone, bete nott thy wyfe j rede,
For ther yn may no help • riſe,'
Betyng may not ſtond yn ftede,
But rather make hur “the to deſpyſe: 140
Wyth louys awe, fone, thy wyfe chaſtyſe,
And let fayre wordys be thy zerde ;
Louys awe ys the beſt gyſe,
My fone, to make thy wyfe aferde.
Nor, fone, thy wyfe thou ſchalt not chyde,
Nor calle hur by no vyleus name,
146
For fche that ſchal ly be thy fyde,
To calle hur fowle yt ys thy ſchame ;
Whan thou thyne owen wyfe wyl dyffame,
Wele may anothyr man do fo:
150
Soft and fayre men make tame
Herte and buk and wylde roo.
And, fone, thou pay ryzt wele thy tythe *,
And pore men of thy gode thou dele ;
And loke, fone, be thy lyfe,
155
Thou gete thy fowle here ſum hele.
V. 135. The latter half of this line ſeems repeated by mifake.
V. 138. be. V. 140. to deſpyſe the.
* The author, from this and other admonitions, is ſuppoſed
to bave been a parfon.


90
MAN
HOW
THE WISE
165
Thys werld hyt turnys euyn as a whele,
All day be day hyt wyl enpayre,
And ſo, ſone, thys worldys wele,
Hyt faryth but as a chery fare. 160
For all that euyr man doth here,
Wyth beſynefle and trauell bothe,
All ys wythowtyn were,
For oure mete, drynk, and clothe;
More getys he not, wythowtyn othe,
Kyng or prynce whether that he be,
Be hym lefe, or be hym loth,
A pore man has as mych as he.
And many a man here gadrys gode
All hys lyfe dayes for othyr men, 170
That he may not by the rode,
Hym ſelf onys ete of an henne ;
But be he doluyn yn hys den,
Anothyr ſchal come at hys laſt ende,
Schal haue hys wyf and catel then, 175
That he has gadred another ſchal ſpende.
Therfor, fone, be my counſeyle,
More then ynogh thou neuyr covayt,
Thou ne woſt wan deth wyl the aſſayle,
Thys werld ys but the fendys bayte. 180
1'. 180. The latter part of this Hanza ſeems to be wanting.


Skelton, one of the characters, after mentioning Elinor
Rumming, and others, Says
Or gou may
have come
Ir, Tuomas THUMB,
IN A PUDDING FAT,
With Doctor Rat.
Then “ The Antimafque follows: conſiſting of theſe
twelve perſons, Owl-glaſs, the four Knaves, two Ruf.
fians, Fitz-Ale, and Vapor, Elinor Rumming, Mary
Ambree, Long Meg of Wiftminſter, Tom Thumb, and
Doctor Rat." *
Five years before there had appeared " The Hiſtory
of Tom Thumbe, the Little, for his ſmall ftature ſur-
named, King Arthurs Dwarfe: Whoſe Life and ad-
uentures containe many ſtrange and wonderful accidents,
publiſhed for the delight of merry Time-Spenders. Im-
printed at London for Tho: Langley, 1621, (12mo.
bl.l.)” This however was only the common metrical ſtory
turned into profe with ſome fooliſh additions by R. I.
(Richard Johnſon.) The Preface or Introductory Chapa
ter is as follows, being indeed the only part of the book
that deſerves notice.
“ My mierry Muſe begets no Tales of Guy of War.
wicke, nor of bould Sir Beuis of Hampton; nor wil.
I trouble my penne with the pleaſant glee of Robin
* Works, by Whalley, vi. 195.
For Rat, the curate,"
is one of the Dramatis Perſonæ in " Ganmar Gartens Nee:
dle."


doors, while nimble wit in the great Hall fits upon a
foft cuſhion giuing dry bobbes ; for which cauſe I will,
if I can, new cloath him in his former liuery, and bring
him againe into the Chimney Corner, where now you
muſt imagine me to fit by a good fire, amongſt a com-
pany of good fellowes ouer a well spic'd Waſſel-bowle
of Chriſtmas Ale telling of theſe merry Tales which
hereafter follow." This is in the editors poffeffion.
In the panegyric verſes (by Michael Drayton and
others) upon Tom Coryate and his Crudities, London,
1611, 410. our hero is thus introduced, along with a
nameſake, of whom, unfortunately, we know nothing
further :
" Tom ThumBE is dumbe, vntill the pudding creepe,
" In which he was intomb’d, then out doth peepe.
“ Tom Piper is gone out, and mirth bewailes,
66 He neuer will come in to tell us tales." *
We are unable to trace our little hero above half a
century further back, when we find him ftill popular,
indeed, but, to our great mortification, in very bad
company. " IN OUR CHILDHOOD (ſays honeſt Reginald
Scot) our mothers maids haue fo terrified us with an
ouglie diuell... and haue fo fraied us with bull beggers,
* In a different part of the work we find ot ber characters
mentioned, whoſe ſtory is now, perbups, irretrievably forgot:
I am not now to tell a tale
Of George a Green, or lacke a Vale,
Or yet of Chittiface.
G
1


man
fpirits, witches, vrchens, elues, hags, fairies, ſatyrs,
pans, faunes, Gylens, kit with the canſticke, tritons,
centaurs, diwarfes, giants, imps, calcars, coniurors,
nymphes, changlings, incubus, Robin good-fellow, the
Ipoorne, the
mare,
the in the oke, the helle waine,
the fieredrake, the puckle, Tom THOMBE, bob.gobblin,
Tom tumbler, boncles, and ſuch other bugs, that we
are afraide of our owne Madowes.'
To theſe reſearches we shall only add the opinion of
that eminent antiquary Mr. Thomas Hearne, that this
Hiſtory, “ however looked upon as altogether fictitious,
yet was CERTAINLY founded upon fome AUTHENTICK
History, as being nothing elſe, originally, but a de-
fcription of King Edgar's DWARF." +
* Diſcouerie of Witchcraft. London, 1584, 480. p. 155.
See alſo Archb. Harſnets Declaration of Popiſ Impoftures. Ibi.
1604, 4to. p. 135.
+ Benedic!us Abbas, Appendix ad Præfationem, p. iv.
Mr. Hearne was probably led to fix upon this monarch by fome
ridiculous lines added, about his own time, to introduce u ſpu-
rious ſecond and third part. See the common editions of Alder-
mary church.yard, &c. or that intitled “ Thomas Redivivus:
or, a compleat hiſtory of the life and marvellous actions of
Tom Thumb. In three tomes. Interſpers’d with that ingenious
comment of the late Dr. Wagſtaff: and annotations by ſeveral
bands. To which is prefix'd hiſtorical and critical remarks on
the life and writings of the author.” London, 1729. TOL10.
Dr. Wag fiaffs comment was written to ridicule that of Mr.
Addifon, in the Spectutor, upon the ballad of Chevy Chaſe, and
is inſerted in bis Works.


IN A man of mickle might,
N Arthurs court Tom Thumbe did liue,
A man of mickle might,
The beſt of all the table round,
And eke a doughty knight:
5
His ſtature but an inch in height,
Or quarter of a ſpan;
Then thinke you not this little knight,
Was prou'd a valiant man?
G 2
350
1


It is ncedleſs to mention the popularity of the following
ftory. Every city, town, village, Shop, fall, man,
woman, and child, in the kingdom, can bear witneſs
to it. Its antiquity, however, remains to be enquired
into, more eſpecially as zo very ancient cdition of it
has been diſcovered. That which was made uſe of on
the preſent occahon bears the following title: “ Tom
Thumbe, his life and death: wherein is declared
many
maruailous acts of manhood, full of wonder, and
ſtrange merriments. Which little knight lived in king
Arthurs time, and famous in the court of Great Brit-
taine. London, printed for John Wright. 1630."
It is a ſmall 8vo. in black letter, was given, among
many other curious pieces, by Robert Burton, author of
the Anatomy of Melancholy, to the Bodleian Library
(Seld. Art. L. 79.), and is the oldeſt copy known to
be extant. There is a later edition, likewiſe in black
letter, printed for F. Coles, and others, in Antony a
Woods collection, which has been collated, as has alſo
a different copy, printed for ſome of the ſame proprie-
tors, in the editors pofeſion. All three arc ornamented
with curious cuts, repreſenting the moſt memorable in-
cidents of our heros life. They are likewiſe divided
into chapters by Jhort proſe arguments, which, being
always unneceſſary, and ſometimes improper, as occa-
fioning an interruption of the narrative, are bere
omitted.
In Ben Fonfons Maſque of the Fortunate Ies,
defigned for the Court, on the Twelfth Night, 1626,


Hood, little Iohn, the Fryer and his Marian; nor will
I call to minde the luſty Pindar of Wakefield, nor thoſe
bold r сomen of the North, Adam BELL, Clem OF THE
Clough, nor WILLIAM OF CLOUDESLY, thoſe ancient arch.
ers of all England, nor Jhal my ſtory be made of the
mad merry pranckes of Tom of Bethlem, Tom Lincolne,
or Tom a Lin, the Diuels ſuppoſed Baſtard, nor yet of
Garagantua that monſter of men *, but of AN OLDER
Tom, a Tom OF MORE ANTIQUITY, a Tom of a ſtrange
making, I meane Little Tom of Wales, no bigger then
a Millers Thumbe, and therefore for his ſmall ſtature,
ſurnamed Tom Thumbe..... The ancient Tales of Tom
Thumbe in the Olde time, haue beene the only reuiuers
of drouzy age at midnight; old and young baue with
bis Tales chim'd Mattens till the cocks crow in the morn-
ing; Batchelors and Maides with his Tales haue com-
paſed the Chriſtmas fire-blocke, till the Curfew-Bell
rings candle out; the old Shepbeard and the young
Plow boy after their dayes labour, baue carold out a
Tale of Tom Thumbe to make them merry
with: and
who but little Tom, bath made long nights ſeem ſhort,
and heauy toyles eafic? Therefore (gentle Reader) con-
fidering that old modeft mirth is turnd naked out of
* This is ſcarcely true; the titles of the two laft chapters being,
s. “ How Tom Thumbe riding forth 10 take the ayre, met with
the great Garagantua, and of ibe Speech that was betweene
shem." 3. " How Tom Thumbe after conference had with
great Garagantua returned, and how he met with King Twadle."


doors, while nimble wit in the great Hall fits upon a
Soft cuſhion giuing dry bobbes ; for which cauſe I will,
if I can, new cloath him in his former livery, and bring
him againe into the Chimney Corner, where now you
muft imagine me to fit by a good fire, amongſt a com-
pany of good fellowes ouer a well spic'd Waſel.bowle
of Chriſtmas Ale telling of theſe merry Tales which
hereafter follow." This is in the editors poffeffion.
In the panegyric verſes (by Michael Drayton and
others) upon Tom Coryate and his Crudities, London,
1611, 40. our hero is thus introduced, along with a
nameſake, of whom, unfortunately, we know nothing
further :
66 Tom ThumbE is dumbe, vntill the pudding creepe,
" In which he was intomb’d, then out doth peepe.
“ Tom Piper is gone out, and mirth bewailes,
" He neuer will come in to tell vs tales." *
We are unable to trace our little hero above half a
century further back, when we find him fill popular,
indeed, but, to our great mortification, in very bad
company. . " IN OUR CHILDHOOD (ſays honeſt Reginald
Scot) our mothers maids haue fo terrified us with an
ouglie diuell... and have fo fraied us with bull beggers,
* In a different part of the work we find otber characters
mentioned, whoſe ſtory is now, perbups, irretrievably forgot:
I am not now to tell a tale
of George a Green, or lacke a Vale,
Or yet of Chitriface.
i


104 LIFE AND DEATH
105
For ſo it tumbled vp and downe,
Within the liquor there,
As if the deuill • had' been boyld;
Such was his mothers feare,
110
That vp ſhe tooke the pudding ſtrait,
And
gaue
it at the doore
Vnto a tinker, which from thence
In his blacke budget bore.
But as the tinker climb'd a ſtile,
By chance he let a cracke:
Now gip, old knaue, out cride Tom Thumbe,
There hanging at his backe:
116
At which the tinker gan to run,
And would no longer ſtay,
But caſt both bag and pudding downe,
And thence hyed faſt away.
120
From which Tom Thumbe got looſe at laſt
And home return'd againe :
Where he from following dangers long
In ſafety did remaine.
125
Untill ſuch time his mother went
A milking of her kine,
Where Tom vnto a thiſtle faſt
She linked with a twine.
V. 107. had there.


OF том THUM BE. 105
A thread that helde him to the ſame,
For feare the bluftring winde
130
Should blow him thence, that ſo ſhe might
Her ſonne in ſafety finde.
But marke the hap, a cow came by,
And
vр
the thiſtle eate.
Poore Tom withall, that, as a docke,
Was made the red cowes meate :
135
Who being miſt, his mother went
Him calling euery where,
Where art thou Tom ? where art thou Tom?
Quoth he, Here mother, here:
140
Within the red cowes belly here,
Your fonne is ſwallowed vp.
The which into her feareful heart
Moſt carefull dolours put.
Meane while the cowe was troubled much,
In this her tumbling wombe,
And could not reft vntil that ſhe
Had backward caſt Tom Thumbe :
146
Who all beſmeared as he was,
His mother tooke him vp,
150
To beare him thence, the which
poore
lad
She in her pocket put.


106 LIFE AND DE A TH
Now after this, in fowing time,
His father would him hane
Into the field to driue his plow,
And therevpon him gaue
155
A whip made of a barly ſtraw,
To drive the cattle on:
Where, in a furrow'd land new ſowne,
Poore Tom was loft and gon.
160
Now by a raven of great ſtrength
Away he thence was borne,
And carried in the carrions beake
Euen like a graine of carne,
165
Unto a giants caſtle top,
In which he let him fall,
Where ſoone the giant ſwallowed vp
His body, cloathes and all.
But in his belly did Tom Thumbe
So great a rumbling make,
That neither day nor night he could
The ſmalleſt quiet take,
170
Untill the gyant had him ſpewd
Three miles into the ſea,
Whereas a fiſh ſoone tooke him vp
And bore him thence away.
375


108
DEATH
LIFE
AND
200
And being neere his highneſſe heart,
He crau'd a wealthy boone,
A liberall gift, the which the king
Commanded to be done,
For to relieue his fathers wants,
And mothers, being old;
Which was ſo much of filuer coyne
As well his armes could hold.
205
And ſo away goes luſty Tom,
With three pence on his backe,
A heauy burthen, which might make
His wearied limbes to cracke.
210
So trauelling two dayes and nights,
With labour and great paine,
He came into the houſe whereas
His parents did remaine ;
215
Which was but halfe a mile in ſpace
From good king Arthurs court,
The which in eight and forty houres
He went in weary fort.
1
220
But comming to his fathers doore,
He there ſuch entrance had
As made his parents both reioice,
And he thereat was glad.


OF
109
том
THU MBE.
225
His mother in her apron tooke
Her gentle fonne in haſte,
And by the fier fide, within
A walnut ſhell, him plac'd :
Whereas they feaſted him three dayes
Vpon a hazell nut,
Whereon he rioted ſo long
He them to charges put;
230
And there-upon grew wonderous ficke,
Through eating too much meate,
Which was ſufficient for a month
For this great man to eate.
235
But now his buſineſſe call'd him foorth,
King Arthurs court to ſee,
Whereas no longer from the ſame
He could a ſtranger be.
240
But yet a few ſmall April drops,
Which ſetled in the way,
His long and weary iourney forth
Did hinder and ſo ſtay,
Until his carefull father tooke
A birding trunke in ſport,
And with one blait blew this his ſonne
Into king Arthurs court.
245
1


IIO LIFE AND DEATH
Now he with tilts and turnaments
Was entertained fo,
That all the beſt of Arthurs knights
Did him much pleaſure ſhow.
250
As good Sir Lancelot of the Lake,
Sir Triſtram, and fir Guy;
Yet none compar'd with braue Tom Thum,
For knightly chiualry.
255
In honour of which noble day,
And for his ladies fake,
A challenge in king Arthurs court
Tom Thumbe did brauely make.
Gainſt whom theſe noble knights did run, 260
Sir Chinon, and the reſt,
Yet ftill Tom Thumbe with matchles might
Did beare away the beſt.
265
At laſt fir Lancelot of the Lake
In manly fort came in,
And with this ſtout and hardy knight
A battle did begin.
1
Which made the courtiers all agait,
For there that valiant man
Through Lancelots ſteed, before them all, 2-3
In nimble manner ran.


II2
DE A T H
LIFE
AND
His body being ſo ſlender ſmall,
This cunning doctor tooke
A fine proſpective glaſſe, with which
He did in ſecret looke
300
Into his fickened body downe,
And therein ſaw that Death
Stood ready in his waſted guts
To feaſe his vitall breath.
His armes and leggs conſum'd as ſmall
As was a ſpiders weh,
Through which his dying houre grew on,
For all his limbes
grew
dead.
305
His face no bigger than an ants,
Which hardly could be ſeene:
The loffe of which renowned knight
Much grieu'd the king and queene.
310
And ſo with peace and quietneſſe
He left this earth below;
And vp into the Fayry Land
His ghoſt did fading goe.
315
1
Whereas the Fayry Queene receiu’d,
With heauy mourning cheere,
The body of this valiant knight,
Whom ſhe eſteem'd ſo deere.


1
1
!


1
This "pleaſant Hiſtory," which " may be ſung to
the tune of Floras Farewell,” is berc republiſhed from
a copy printed at London for F. Cotes and others, 1677,
12mo. bl. l. preſerved in the curious and valuable col.
le&tion of that excellent and moſt reſpected antiquary
Antony à Wood, in the Aſhmolean Muſeum; compared
with another impreffion, for the ſame partners, without
date, in the editors poſeſſion. The reader will find a
different copy of the poem, more in the ballad form, in
a Collection of " Ancient Songs,” publiſhed by J. John-
fon. Both copies are conje&tured to have been moderniſed,
by different perſons, from ſome common original, which
has hitherto eluded the vigilance of collectors, but is
ſtrongly ſuspected to have been the compoſition of an old
North country minſtrel.
The full title is “The Lovers quarrel: or Cupids
Triumph : being the pleaſant hiſtory of Fair Roſamond
of Scotland. Being daughter to the lord Arundel,
whoſe love was obtained by the valour of Tommy Pots:
who conquered the lord Phenix, and wounded him, and
after obtained her to be his wife. Being very delight-
ful to read.”


1
OF
F all the lords in Scotland fair,
And ladies that been ſo bright of blee,
There is a noble lady among them all,
And report of her you ſhall hear by me.
s
For of her beauty ſhe is bright,
And of her colour very fair,
She's daughter to lord Arundel,
Approv'd his parand and his heir.
10
Ile ſee this bride, lord Phenix faid,
That lady of ſo bright a blee,
And if I like her countenance well,
The heir of all my lands ſhe'lt be.
H 3


118 THE LOVERS QUARREL,
But when he came the lady before,
Before this comely maid came he,
O god thee ſave, thou lady ſweet,
My heir and parand thou ſhalt be.
15
Leave off your ſuit, the lady faid,
As you are a lord of high degree,
You may have ladies enough at home,
And I have a lord in mine own country ;
20
For I have a lover true of mine own,
A ſerving-man of low degree,
One Tommy Pots it is his name,
My firſt love, and laſt that ever ſhall be.
1
- 25
1
If that Tom Pots [it] is his name,
I do ken him right verily,
I am able to ſpend fourty pounds a week,
Where he is not able to ſpend pounds three.
30
God give you good of your gold, ſhe ſaid,
And ever god give you good of your fee,
Tom Pots was the firſt love that ever I had,
And I do mean him the laſt to be.
1
With that lord Phenix ſoon was mov'd,
Towards the lady did he threat,
He told her father, and ſo it was prov’d,
How his daughters mind was ſet.
35


THE LOVERS QUARREL. 119
O daughter dear, thou art my own,
The heir of all my lands to be,
Thou ſhalt be bride to the lord Phenix,
If that thou mean to be heir to me.
40
O father dear, I am your own,
And at your command I needs muſt be,
But bind my body to whom you pleaſe,
My heart, Tom Pots, fhall go with thee.
45
Alas ! the lady her fondneſs muſt leave,
And all her fooliſh wooing lay aſide,
The time is come, her friends have appointed,
That ſhe muſt be lord Phenix bride.
With that the lady began to weep,
She knew not well then what to ſay,
How ſhe might lord Phenix deny,
And eſcape from marriage quite away.
50
She call'd unto her little foot-page,
Saying, I can truſt none but thee,
Go carry Tom Pots this letter fair,
And bid him on Guildford-green meet me :
55
For I muſt marry againſt my mind,
Or in faith well proved it ſhall be ;
And tell to him I am loving and kind,
And wiſhes him this wedding to ſee.
60
H4


I20 THE LOVERS QUARREL.
But ſee that thou note his countenance well,
And his colour, and ſhew it to me;
And go thy way and high thee again,
And forty ſhillings I will give thee.
65
Then may
For if he ſmile now with his lips,
His ftomach will give him to laugh at the heart,
I ſeek another true love,
For of Tom Pots ſmall is my part.
70
But if he bļuſh now in his face,
Then in his heart he will ſorry be,
Then to his vow he hath ſome grace,
And falſe to him I'le never be.
Away this lacky boy he ran,
And a full ſpeed forſooth went he,
Till he came to Strawberry-caſtle,
And there Tom Pots came he to ſee.
75
He
gave
him the letter in his hand,
Before that he began to read,
He told him plainly by word of mouth,
His love was forc'd to be lord Phenix bride. 80
When he look'd on the letter fair,
The falt tears blemiſhed his eye,
Says, I cannot read this letter fair,
Nor never a word to ſee or ſpy.


THE LOVERS QUARREL.
I 21
85
My little boy be to me true,
Here is five marks I will give thee,
And all theſe words I muſt peruſe,
And tell my lady this from me :
By faith and troth ſhe is my own,
By ſome part of promiſe, ſo it's to be found, go
Lord Phænix ſhall not have her night nor day,
Except he can win her with his own hand.
On Guildford-green I will her meet,
Say that I wiſh her for me to pray,
For there I'le loſe my life ſo ſweet,
Or elſe the wedding I mean to ſtay.
95
Away this lackey-boy he ran,
Then as faſt as he could hie,
The lady ſhe met him two miles of the way,
Says, why haft thou ftaid fo long, my boy? 100
My little boy, thou art but young,
It gives me at heart thou'l mock and ſcorn,
Ile not believe thee by word of mouth,
Unleſs on this book thou wilt be ſworn.
105
1
Now by this book, the boy did ſay,
And Jeſus Chriſt be as true to me,
Tom Pots could not read the letter fair,
Nor never a word to ſpy or ſee.


124 THE LOVERS QUARREL.
But when he had read the letter fair,
Of all the fufpitious words in it might be,
O Tommy Pots, take thou no care,
Thou'ſt never loſe her with poverty.
150
For thou'ſt have forty pounds a week,
In gold and ſilver thou ſhalt row,
And Harvy town I will give thee,
As long as thou intend'ſt to wooe.
1
155
Thou'ſt have forty of thy fellows fair,
And forty horſes to go with thee,
Forty of the beſt ſpears I have,
And I myſelf in thy company.
160
I thank you, maſter, ſaid Tommy Pots,
That proffer is too good for me ;
But, if Jeſus Chriſt ſtand on my fide,
My own hands ſhall ſet her free.
God be with you, maſter, ſaid Tommy Pots, 165
Now Jeſus Chriſt you ſave and fee ;
If ever I come alive again,
Staid the wedding it ſhall be.
170
O god be your ſpeed, thou Tommy Pots,
Thou art well proved for a man,
See never a drop of blood thou ſpil,
Nor yonder gentleman confound.
1
1


THE LOVERS QUARREL, 125
See that ſome truce with him thou take,
And appoint a place of liberty ;
Let him provide him as well as he can, 175
As well provided thou ſhalt be.
But when he came to Guildford-green,
And there had walkt a little aſide,
There he was ware of lord Phenix come,
And lady Roſamond his bride.
180
Away by the bride then Tommy Pots went,
But never a word to her he did ſay,
Till he the lord Phenix came before,
He gave him the right time of the day.
185
O welcome, welcome, thou Tommy Pots,
Thou ſerving-man of low degree,
How doth thy lord and maſter at home,
And all the ladies in that country?
190
My lord and maſter is in good health,
I truft ſince that I did him fee;
Will
you
walk with me to an out-ſide,
Two or three words to talk with me?
You are a noble man, ſaid Tom,
And born a lord in Scotland free,
You may have ladies enough at home,
And never take my love from me.
195


126
THE LOVERS QUARREL.
1
Away, away, thou Tommy Pots,
Thou ſerving-man ſtand thou afide ;
It is not a ſerving-man this day,
That can hinder me of my
bride.
200
If I be a ſerving-man, ſaid Tom,
And you a lord of high degree,
A ſpear or two with you I'le
run,
Before I'le loſe her cowardly.
205
1
Appoint a place, I will thee meet,
Appoint a place of liberty,
For there I’le loſe my life ſo ſweet,
Or elfe my lady I'le ſet free.
210
On Guildford-green I will thee meet,
No man nor boy ſhall come with me.
As I am a man, ſaid Tommy Pots,
I'le have as few in my company.
And thus ftaid the marriage was,
The bride unmarried went home again,
Then to her maids faſt did ſhe laugh,
And in her heart ſhe was full fain.
215
My maidens all, the lady ſaid,
That ever wait on me this day,
Now let us all kneel down,
And for Tommy Pots let us all pray.
220


128 THE LOVERS QUARREL,
lands a year,
For thou'ſt have the half of
my
And that will raiſe thee many a pound,
Before thou ſhalt out-braved be,
Thou ſhalt drop angels with him on the ground.
245
I thank you, maſter, ſaid Tommy Pots,
Yet there is one thing of you I would fain,
If that I loſe my lady ſweet,
How I'ít reſtore your goods again?
250
If that thou win the lady ſweet,
Thou mayſt well forth thou ſhalt pay me,
If thou looſeſt thy lady thou loſeſt enough,
Thou ſhalt not pay me one penny.
You have thirty horſes in one cloſe,
You keep them all both frank and free,
Amongſt them all there's an old white horſe
This day would ſet my lady free;
235
is he;
That is an old horſe with a cut tail,
Full fixteen
years
of
age
If thou wilt lend me that old horſe,
Then could I win her eaſily.
260
That's a fooliſh opinion, his maſter faid,
And a fooliſh opinion thou tak' it to thee;
Thou'ſt have a better then ever he was,
Though forty pounds more it ſhould coſt me.


132 THE
LOVERS QUARREL.
Now for to fight I cannot tell,
And for to fight I am not ſure ;
Thou haſt run me throw the brawn o'the arm, 340
That with a ſpear I may not endure.
Thou'ſt have the lady with all my heart,
It was never likely better to prove
With
me, any
nobleman elſe
That would hinder a poor man of his love.
or
345
Seeing you ſay ſo much, ſaid Tommy Pots,
I will not ſeem your butcher to be,
But I will come and ſtanch
your blood,
If any thing you will give me.
350
As he did ftanch lord Phenix blood,
Lord! in his heart he did rejoice ;
I'le not take the lady from you thus,
But of her you'ſt have another choice.
Here is a lane of two miles long,
At either end we ſet will be,
The lady ſhall ſtand us among,
Her own choice ſhall ſet her free.
355
If thou'l do ſo, lord Phenix ſaid,
To loſe her by her own choice it's honeſty,
Chuſe whether I
get
her
go
her without,
Forty pounds I will give thee.
1
or
360


GLOSSARY. .
Abraide. p. 19. The word at ſeems to be
wanting : At a braide ; at a puſh; at a
ſtart. It may, bowever, only mean abroad.
Adrad. p. 75. afraid.
Algatys. p. 73. by all means.
Among. p. 132. between.
Amonge. p. 44. (v. 253.) at the ſame time.
And. pp. 28. 50. an, if
Apayde. p. 69. Satisfyed, contented.
Are. Goddys are. pp. 70.76. Gods heir or fon,
i. e. Jeſus Chriſt, who is alſo God himſelf.
Array. p. 73. dreſs, clothing.
Arrayed. p. 71. freighted, furniſhed.
Aflay. Affaye. p. 27. elay, try; p. 79. try,
prove.
Afſoyld. p. 30. abſolved.
A twyn. p. 65. aſunder.
Auaunced. p. 30. advanced, prefered.
Auowe. p. 50. a vow, an oatb.


138
GLOSSARY.
Awyſe. p. 87.
Ayenſt. p. 48. againſt.
Bale. Pp. 35. 78. mifery, forrow, evil.
Bargan. p. 71. bufineſs, commiſſion,
Barker. pp. 57, &c. a tanner, ſo called from
his uſing bark.
Bedys. p. 71. beads.
Belyfe. p. 24. Belyue. p. 78. immediately.
Befcro. p. 64. beſhrew, curſe.
Beſett, p. 78. laid out, beſtowed.
Beſtadde. p. 75. ſituated, placed.
Bett. p. 78. better. Ware hytt bett, lay it out
to more advantage.
Bil. p. 18. bill, an old Engliſh weapon, called
a few lines before " a pollaxe."
Blee. p. 117. colour, complexion.
Blynne. p. 46. ſtop, ceaſe, give over.
Blythe. p. 51. Blyue. pp. 26. 43. blithe, with
Spirit.
Boltes. p. 38. arrows.
Bor. p. 61. born.
Bord. Borde. pp. 60. 64. jcft.
Borowe. p. 12. bail, redeem, become pledges for.
Bote. p. 21. boot, remedy, advantage.
Bowne. p. 24. boon, favour.
Braſte. p. 43. Braſte. p. 52. burft.
Brede. p. 84. bread,
Bren. p. 10. Brenne. p.9. burn.


GLOSSARY.
139
Brent. p. 10. burnt.
Breft. pp. 6. 9. 54. burſ, broke.
Brochys. p. 71. ornamental pins, or buckles,
like the Roman fibulæ, (with a ſingle prong)
for the breaſt or head-dreſs.
Bundyn. p. 89.
Buſke. p. 26. buſked, addreſſed, prepared, got
ready.
Bywayt. p. 87.
Chafte. pp. 36. 51. chaſtiſe, correct.
Chaunce. Redy the juſtice for to chaunce.
p. 16. This whole line ſeems a nonfenfical in-
terpolation.
Cheke. p. 39. choaked.
Chery fare. p. go.
Clenneſſe. p. 80. cleanneſs, chaſtity.
Clerk. p. 13. Scholar.
Cleynt. p. 63. clung.
Clyppyng. p. 70. embracing.
Comand. p. 65. commanded, ordered.
Combre. p. 51. incumber, be too many for.
Corage. p. 84. heart, Spirit, inclination, diſ-
poſition.
Curtes. p. 75. courteous.
Dame. PP. 74. 75. 77. mifires. Oure dameys
peny. p. 71. Our miſtreſs's penny.
Dampned. p. 12. condemned.
Den. p. 90. grave.


140
GLOSSARY.
Dere. p. 85. hurt.
Dern. p. 76. fecret.
Do gladly. p. 38. eat heartyly.
Doluyn. p. 90. delved, buryed.
Dongeon. pp. 11. 15. priſon. The priſon in old
cafi les was generally under-ground.
Dradde. p. 45. dreaded, frared.
Drede. pp. 86. 87. fear, doubt.
Drewrè. p. 70. The word properly ſignified
love, courtſhip, &c. and hence a love-token,
or love-gift; in which ſenſe it is uſed by
Bp. Douglas.
Drough. p. 37. drew.
Dyd of. p. 14. put off.
Dyd on. p. 9. put on.
Euerechone. p.6. Everichone. p. 23. Eue-
rychone. p. II. every one.
Eyre. p. 84. heir.
Eyſell. p. 35. vinegar.
Fadur. p. 84. v. 15. father. v. 14. his fadur
eyre, his fathers heir.
Fare, p. 6. go.
Fauell. p. 77. deceit. See Skeltons Bowge of
Courte. The meaning of the text is never.
theleſs ſtill obſcure, though it ſhould ſeem to
be the origin of our modern phraſe to curry
favour.
Fay. pp. 29. 70. Faye. pp. 41. 47. faith.


GLOSSARY.
141
Fayne. pp. 8. 75. fain, glad.
Feble. p. 41. Febull. p. 73. Febyll. p. 76.
poor, wretched, miſerable.
Feche. p. 7. fetch.
Feffe. p. 87. enfcof.
Fere. pp. 6. 75. wife. p. 70. huſband. p. 74.
lover, friend.
Fet. p. 19. fit, part, canto.
Feyt. pp. 60. 65. faith.
Flyt. p. 85. Mift.
Folys. p. 86. foolso
Fom. Fome. p. 72. ſea.
Fond. p. 83. endeavour, try.
Fone. p. 55. foes.
Forbode. p. 29. commandment. Ouer Gods
forbode. [Præter Dei præceptum fit.] q.d.
God forbid. (Percy.)
Fordo. p. 86. undo, ruin, deflroy.
Forth. p. 128.
Forthozt. p. 85. thought of, remembered.
Forthynketh. p. 25. grieveth, vexeth.
Foſters. p. 26. foreſters.
Fote. p. 7. foot.
Found. p. 7: ſupported, maintained.
Freke. p. 36. fellow.
Froo. p. 73. from.
Fyt. p. 12. Fytt. p. 75. fit, part, canto.
Fytte. p. 50. Arain.
L


142
GLOSSARY.
1
4
God. p. 72. goods, merchandize.
Godamarſey. pp. 62. 64. 65. a corruption of
Gramercy. See Gramarcy.
Gode. p. 76. goods, property.
Goo. p. 76. gone.
Goon. p. 74. go.
Gramarcy. pp. 24. 38. 40. 6o. thanks, grand
mercie.
Greece. Hart of Greece. p. 21.
Gryſe. p. 70. a ſpecies of fur.
Gyſe. p. 89. way, manner, method.
Harowed. p. 14. ravaged, ranſacked. Chrif
went through hell as a conqueror, and plun-
dered it of all the ſouls he thought worth
carrying off
Hatche, p. 49. a low or half door.
Hedur. p. 73. hither.
Hele. pp. 77. 89. health.
Hem. p. 59. him.
Hende. p. 75. civil, gentle.
Hente. p. 44. take.
Hes. p. 59. his.
Het. pp. 59. 60. it.
Hie. p. 121. go, run.
High. p. 120. hye, come, haften, return ſpeedily.
Hight. p.5. was called.
Honge. pp. 12. 15. hang, be banged.
Howr. pp. 59. 60. our.


GLOSSARY.
143
Howyn. p. 64. own.
Hye. p.7. go.
Hyght. p. 39. promiſed.
Hyne. p. 35. a hind is a ſervant.
Kele. p. 79. cool.
Kneen. p. 76. knees.
Kynd. p. 84. nature,
Lagh. p. 86. laugh.
Laghing. p. 86. laughing.
Lante. p. 73. lent.
Launde. p. 21. plain, open part of a foreft.
Leace. pp. 21. 22. lyes, lying, doubt.
Leafynge. p. 25. lying, falſehood, doubt.
Lee. p. 77. plain, open field.
Lefe. p. 24. ágreeable. that is the lefe. p. 46.
that is ſo dear to thee; whom thou art fo fond
of pp. 86. 87. dear, or beloved. Be hym
lefe, or be hym lothe. p. 90. Let him like
it or not; let him be agrecable or unwilling,
Leffe. p. 65. leave.
Leman. pp. 70.72. Lemman. pp. 71. 72. 73.
miftreſs, concubine. p. 78. lover, gallant, pa-
ramour.
Lene. p. 78. v. 215. lend.
Lenger. p. 12. longer.
Lere. p. 83. learn.
Leſynge. pp. 25. 47. 73. lying; falſchood.


GLOSSARY.
145
Luft. p. 37. defire, inclination.
Lyghtly. pp. 7. 14. 19. &c. Lyghtlye. p. 18.
quickly, nimbly.
Lynde. p. 19. See Linde.
Lyft. p. 88. inclination, de fire.
Lyſtenyth. p. 69. liften.
Lyte. pp. 37. 39. 43. little.
Lyue. p. 38. life.
Maſers. p. 77. drinking cups.
Maugre. p. 46. in ſpite of
Maugref. Mawgrefe. p. 85. ill-will.
Mayſtry. More mayſtry. p. 27. ſomething in
a more mafterly or capital ſtile; a fill cle-
verer thing.
Mede. p. 84. Meed. p. 8. reward.
Menyvere. p. 70. a ſort of fur.
Meftoret. p. 63. needed.
Met. pp. 28. 65. meet, meted, meaſured.
Meteleſſe. p. 41. meatleſs, without meat.
Meyny. p. 19. aſſembly, multitude.
Mo. p. 26. more.
Mote. p. 7. might; pp. 36. 37. 48. 51. may.
Mought. p. 20. might.
Myrthes. p. 6. pleaſant paſſages, merry adven-
tures.
Nar.
pi
60. than,
Nete. pp. 36. 40. cows, horned cattle.
Neys. p. 63. nice, fine.
Nones. p. 42. occafion.
nor,
1
K


GLOSSARY.
147
Preker. p. 6o. rider.
Prekyd. p. 60. rode up; p. 63. rode.
Preſtly. p. 22. readyly, quickly.
Preue. p. 50. prove.
Pryme. pp. 6. 16. morning ; " The firſt quar-
ter of the artificial day.” (TYRWHITT.)
Pyne. p. 61. pain, torment.
Quarel. p. 87. cauſe, fuit.
Queft. p. 15. inqueſt, jury.
Quod. pp. 41. 42. quotb, faid.
Quyte. p. 86. quit, pay, diſcharge.
Rech. p. 84. reck, care for.
Rede. p. 47. 84. advice, counſel; p. 88. ad.
viſe.
Remewe. p. 85. remove.
Renne. p. 10. run.
Rere foperys. p. 86. after-ſuppers.
Rewth. p. 25. ruth, pity.
Rode. p. 36. Rood. p. 74. croſs.
Ryall. p. 70. royal, magnificent.
Ryſed. p. 8. raiſed, cauſed to rife.
Saffe. p. 60. fave.
Safurs. p. 71. Sapphires.
Same. All in fame. p. 48.
Saye. p. 63. Jaw.
Sayne. pp. 36. 37. ſay.
Schrewe. p. 77. Shrew, wicked or curſed one.
Scredely. p. 60. Jorewdly.
1
1
K 2


148
GLOSSARY.
!
1
Se. p. 20. ſeen; p. 37. fee, regard, Superin-
tend, keep in fight.
Sen. p. 61. fince.
Seſſe. Feffe and ſeſſe. p. 87. enfeof and ſeiſe,
ſub. in houſe or land.
Sheene. p. 12.
Shent. Make officers fhent. p. 22. cauſe them
to be reprimanded.
Shete. pp. 38. 43. Jhoot.
Shot window. p. 8. a window that opens and
Jouts.
Shrewe. p. 42. wicked or curſed one.
Slawe. pp. 74. 76. Nain.
Smotley. p. 61. pleaſantly.
Sompnere. p. 56. ſummoner or apparitor; an
officer who ſerves the ſummonſes or citations
of the ſpiritual court. See Chaucers Can-
terbury Tales.
Sothe. pp. 71. 88. truth.
Sowne. p. 40. found.
Soyt. p. 62. foth, footh, trath.
Sper. p. 59. Spyrre. p. 73. akk, enquire.
Spercles. p. 10. ſparks (of fire).
Spycerè. p. 71. Spices.
State. p. 134. cftate.
Stere. pp. 39. 40. Steer, rule, govern.
Sterte. p. 17. ſtarted, flew. Sterte in the
waye. p. 49. farted, ruſhed haſtily, flamu
into the ſtreet.
1
1
1
1


GLOSSARY.
149
Store. p. 77. P: 78. v. 234. ſtrong ; p. 78.
V. 254. value.
Stound. p. 15. hour, time.
Stowre. p. 18. fight.
Stynte. p. 49. ftay.
Sufpitious. pp. 123. 124. fignificant.
Sweythyli. p. 64. ſwiftly.
Syke. p. 72. Figh.
Syth. p. 9. fince.
Tan. p. 70. taken.
Tane. p. 70. take.
Teene. p. 12. grief, forrow.
Tempre. pp. 41.51. correct, manage.
Tent. p. 83. heed.
The. pp. 48. 51. 60. 77. thrive.
Tho. pp. 26, &c. then.
Throng. p. 13. ran.
To. p. 16. two.
Trate. p. 77. trot, hag.
Trew mannys lyfe. p. 77. the life of an honeſt
man.
Trewe man. p. 87. honeſt man.
Tyrſty. p. 83. truſty.
Undurnome. p. 87. taken up, received, or en.
tertained (as a notion).
Undurzode. p. 66. underſtood.
Unnethes. p. 45. ſcarcely.
Verament. pp. 37. 48. truly,


150
GLOSSARY.
got out of the
Villany. p. 123. mifchief, injury.
Vowſed. p. 6o.
Voyded. p. 17. avoided, withdrew, made off,
way.
Vylany. p. 55. mifchief, injury.
Vyleus. p. 89. vile, villainous, Jameful.
Waran. p.
88. warn.
Ware. p. 70. expend, lay out.
Ware. p. 72. purchaſe.
Warne. p. 76. prevent, hinder.
Wede. pp. 44. 76. coat, cloak, dreſs, attire,
clothing
Weke. Thy furſt weke. p. 84. at thy firſt
waking; as ſoon as thou wakeft.
Wend. p. 30. go.
Wende. pp. 6. 10. 20. 49. weened, thought.
Were. p. 90.
Wet. p. 62. Wete. p. 43. know.
Wight. p. 12. ſtrong
Wis. p. 21. think, take it.
Wode. pp. 45. 87. mad.
Wone. pp. 60. 62. beſitation,
Wood. p. 44. mad.
Woft. P. 9. Loote, kno Ueff.
Wreſte. p.51. turn. Wreſte it all amyffe; turn
it the wrong way: a metaphor from tuning
the barp.


GLOSSARY.
151
Wreth. p. 88.
Wyght. p. 19. Arong.
Wyle. p. 13. feint, device, trick.
Wynde. p. 74. wend, go.
Wynke. p. 86. Ncep.
Wynne. p. 76. earn, get; pp. 73. 74. get,
come.
Wyrche. p. 88. work, conduct thyſelf.
Wys. pp. 36. 49. trow, think.
Wyfte. p. 77. knew, was aware.
Wyt. p. 88. know.
Wyte. p. 37. blame.
Wytt. pp. 73. 88. know. Do the wele to
wytt. p. 74. let thee perfe&tly know.
Y. Pp. 36, &c. I.
Y do. p. 64. done.
Yede. pp. 71. 75. 76. went.
Yeffe. pp. 64. 65. if.
Yeffor. p. 64. ever.
Yong men. p. 19. Yonge men. p. 12. Yco.
See Spelmanni Gloffarium, vv. Ju-
niores, Yeoman.
Yſlaw. p. 25. Nain.
Ywys. pp. 42. 49. I traw, I know,
Zarn. p. 83. yarn.
Ze. p. 83. ye.
Zerde. p. 83. rod.
men.
1


1