'3 

 
 THE 
 
 Barkefhire Lady's 
 
 GARLAND
 
 THE 
 Barkefhire Lady's 
 
 GARLAND 
 
 ANNO. CIO. ID. 
 .CCCC. II.
 
 Cop y r i g K t 
 f by tKe > 
 MorkK's Heaa 
 PKiladelpHia
 
 Some verfes old-for them we drew 
 Thefe oldijh cuts, though moftly new. 
 
 * t >
 
 THE 
 Barkefhire Lady's Garland 
 
 IN FOUR PARTS. 
 
 PART I. 
 
 Showing Cupid' 's Conqueft over a coy Lady of 
 
 Five thousand a year* & c. 
 
 j tf 
 
 PART II. 
 
 The Lady's Letter of a Challenge tojight him 
 upon refufmg to wed her in a majk^ with- 
 out knowing whojhe was.
 
 PART III. 
 
 How they met by appointment in a Grove, where 
 (he obliged him to fight or wed her. 
 
 PART IV. 
 
 How they rode together in her Gilded Coach to 
 her noble Seat or Caji/e.
 
 PART I. 
 
 Showing Cupid's Conquefi over a coy Lady of 
 Fivethoufandayear, &c. 
 
 B 
 
 ACHELORS of every Station, 
 
 Mark this ftrange & trve relation. 
 Which in brief to you I bring: 
 Never was a Stranger thing.
 
 Y 
 
 OU (hall find it worth the hearing ; 
 Loyal love is mod endearing, 
 When it takes the deepeft root, 
 Yielding charms & gold to boot. 
 
 Some will wed from loue of treafure, 
 But the fweeteft joy & pleafure 
 Is in faithful love you'll find, 
 Graced with a noble mind. 
 
 Such a noble difpofition 
 Had this Lady, with fubmiffion : 
 Of whom I this fonnet write, 
 Store of wealth & beauty bright. 
 
 8
 
 HE had left by a good Grannum, 
 
 Full five thoufand povnds per annum, 
 Which (he held without control : 
 Thus (he did in riches roll. 
 
 Though (he had vaft (lores of riches, 
 Which fome perfons much bewitches, 
 Yet (he bore a courteous mind 
 Not the lead to pride inclin'd. 
 
 Many noble perfons courted 
 This young Lady, 'tis reported, 
 But their lab'ring proved in vain, 
 They could not her favour gain.
 
 T 
 
 HOUGH (he made fuch ftrong refiftance, 
 Yet, by Cupid's kind afliftance, 
 She was conquered after all : 
 How it was declare I (hall. 
 
 Being at a noble wedding, 
 
 Near the famous Town of Redding, 
 
 A young gentleman (he (aw, 
 
 Who belonged to the Law. 
 
 As (he view'd his fweet behaviour, 
 Every courteous carriage gave her 
 New additions to her grief: 
 Forc'd (he was to feek relief. 
 
 II
 
 p 
 
 RIVATELY (he then enquired 
 About him fo much admired, 
 Both his name & where he dwelt : 
 Such was the hot flames (he felt. 
 
 Then at night this youthful Lady 
 Call'd her Coach, which being ready, 
 Homeward ftraight (he did return, 
 But her heart in flames did burn. 
 
 12
 
 PART II. 
 
 The Lady's Letter of a Challenge to fight him 
 upon refufing to wed her in a majk, with- 
 out knowing whojhe was. 
 
 N 
 
 IGHT & morning for a feafon 
 In her clofet (he would reason 
 With herfelf, & often faid- 
 Why has Love my heart betray 'd? 
 
 13
 
 I 
 
 THAT have fo many flighted, 
 Am at length fo well requited. 
 For my griefs are not a few : 
 Now I find what Love can do. 
 
 He that has my heart in keeping. 
 Though I for his fake be weeping, 
 Little knows what grief I feel, 
 But I'll try it out with tteel. 
 
 For I will a challenge fend him. 
 And appoint where I'll attend him : 
 In a grove without delay, 
 By the dawning of the day. 
 
 14
 
 H 
 
 C (hall not the leaft difcover, 
 That I am a virgin lover, 
 By the challenge which I fend : 
 But for juftice I contend. 
 
 He has caufed fad diffraction, 
 And I come for fatisfaction, 
 Which if he denies to give, 
 One of us (hall ceafe to live. 
 
 Having thus her mind relieved, 
 She her letter figned and fealed ; 
 Now when it came to his hand, 
 The young man was at a (land. 
 
 IS
 
 I 
 
 N her letter (he conjur'd him 
 For to meet, & well affur'd him, 
 Recompence he muft afford, 
 Or difpute it with his fword. 
 
 Having read this ftrange relation, 
 He was in a confternation : 
 Then advifmg with his friend, 
 He perfuades him to attend. 
 
 Be of courage & make ready, 
 Faint Heart never won fair Lady, 
 In regard it muft be fo, 
 I along with you will go. 
 
 16
 
 PART III. 
 
 How they met by appointment in a Grove, where 
 Jhe obliged him to fight or wed her. 
 
 ARLY on a Summer's morning 
 
 When bright Phoebus was adorning 
 Every bouer with his beams, 
 The fair Lady came, it feems. 
 
 17
 
 T the bottom of the mountain, 
 Near a pleafant cryftal fountain, 
 There flie left her gilded coach, 
 While the Grove flie did approach, 
 
 Cover'd with a maflc, & walking, 
 There flie met her Lover talking 
 With a friend that he had brought, 
 Straight (he afk'd him who he fought. 
 
 I am challenged by a gallant, 
 Who refolves to try my talent : 
 Who he is I cannot fay, 
 But I hope to fhow him play. 
 
 18
 
 I 
 
 T is I that did invite you, 
 
 You (hall wed me or Til fight you 
 Underneath thofe fpreading trees, 
 Therefore choofe you which you pleafe. 
 
 You will find I do not vapour, 
 I have brought my trufty rapier, 
 Therefore take your choice, fays fhe, 
 Either fight or marry me. 
 
 Said he, Madam, pray what mean you? 
 In my life I've never feen you : 
 Pray unmaflc your vifage Chow, 
 Then Til tell you Aye or No. 
 
 19
 
 I 
 
 WILL not my face uncouver 
 Till the marriage ties are over, 
 Therefore, choofe you which you will, 
 Wed me, Sir or try your (kill. 
 
 Step within that pleafant bower 
 With your friend one fingle hour : 
 Strive your thoughts to reconcile, 
 And I'll wander here the while. 
 
 While this charming Lady waited, 
 The young bachelors debated 
 What was bed for to be done : 
 Quoth his friend the hazard run. 
 
 20
 
 I 
 
 F my judgement can be trufted, 
 
 Wed her firft you can't be worfted: 
 
 If (he's rich, you'll rife to fame, 
 
 If (he's poor why, you're the fame. 
 
 He confented to be married : 
 In her coach they all were carried 
 To a Church, without delay, 
 Where he weds the Lady gay. 
 
 The fweet pretty Cupids hover'd 
 Round her eyes her face was cover'd 
 With a mafk he took her thus, 
 Juft for better or for worfe. 
 
 22
 
 ITU a courteous, kind behaviour 
 
 She prefents his friend a favour, 
 
 And withal difmiff 'd him ftraight 
 
 That he might no longer wait. 
 
 23
 
 PART IV. 
 
 How they rode together in her Gilded Coach to 
 her noble Seat or Caftle. 
 
 A 
 
 S the gilded Coach flood ready, 
 The young lover 6 his Lady, 
 Rode together till they came, 
 To her houfe of ftate and fame. 
 
 25
 
 HIGH appeared like a Cattle, 
 Where he might behold a parcel 
 Of young cedars, tall & ftraight, 
 Juft before her Palace gate. 
 
 Hand in hand they walk'd together, 
 To a hall, or parlour rather, 
 Which was beautiful 6 fair 
 All alone (he left him there. 
 
 Two long hours there he waited 
 Her return at length he fretted, 
 And began to grieve at laft, 
 For he had not broke his fail, 
 
 26
 
 TILL he fat like one amazed, 
 Round a fpacious room he gazed 
 Which was richly beautified: 
 But, alas ! he loft his bride. 
 
 There was peeping, laughing, fneering, 
 All within the Lawyer's hearing : 
 But his bride he could not fee 
 Would I were at home, thought he. 
 
 While his heart was melancholy, 
 Said the Steward, brifk & Jolly, 
 Tell me, friend, how came you here? 
 You have fome defign, I fear. 
 
 27
 
 H 
 
 E reply'd dear, loving mailer, 
 You (hall meet with no difafter 
 Through my means, in any cafe 
 Madam brought me to this place. 
 
 Then the Steward did retire, 
 Saying that he would enquire 
 Whether it was true or no: 
 Never was love hampered fo. 
 
 Now the lady who had fill'd him 
 With thofe fears, full well beheld him. 
 From a window where (he dreft, 
 Pleased at the pleafant jeft. 
 
 28
 
 w 
 
 HEN (he had herfelf attir'd 
 In rich robes to be admired, 
 She appeared in his fight 
 Like a moving angel bright. 
 
 Sir my servants have related, 
 How you have fome hours waited, 
 In my parlour tell me who 
 In my houfe you ever knew. 
 
 Madam if I have offended, 
 It is more than I intended ; 
 A young lady brought me here 
 That is true, the faid, my dear. 
 
 30
 
 I 
 
 CAN be no longer cruel 
 To my joy 6 only jewel 
 Thou art mine, & I am thine, 
 Hand & heart I do refign. 
 
 Once I was a wounded lover, 
 Now, thefe fears are fairly over 
 By receiving what I gave 
 Thou art Lord of all I have. 
 
 Beauty, honour, love & treafure, 
 A rich, golden ftream of pleafure 
 With his Lady he enjoys 
 Thanks to Cupid's kind decoys. 
 
 31
 
 N 
 
 OW he's clothed in fine attire, 
 Not inferior to a Squire: 
 Beauty, honour, riches, (tore, 
 What can man defire more? 
 
 32
 
 NOTE. 
 
 This very curious and original tale, in part historical, 
 is true. At least the incidents are facts. 
 
 The scene of the Ballad is laid in Whitley Park, in 
 Berkshire, England, known as "The Abbofs Park, at the 
 entrance of Reading Town' ' {Leland. ) 
 
 As the story runs, William Kendrick, of Whitley Park, 
 Atmr., was knighted in 1679. He died in 1685. His only 
 son, Sir Wm., succeeded him to the Baronetcy. 
 
 The latter died in 1699, leaving as his heir a daughter, 
 the heroine of this Ballad. 
 
 She was married to Benj. Child, Esq. , a young and 
 handsome, but very poor, attorney of Reading. The wed- 
 ding was solemnized in St. Mary's Church, the bride wear- 
 ing a very thick veil. 
 
 In 1714. Child was made High Sheriff of Reading. 
 Possibly ten years elapsed between the marriage and his 
 holding of office, which he filled when he was about 32 years 
 of age, for it cannot be supposed that he would have been 
 elevated to such a high position so soon after his marriage 
 from a previously obscure and humble personage. 
 
 The earliest edition of the Ballad known is a broadside 
 having a picture of Queen Anne, rudely cut, but apparently 
 a fair likeness. The author is unknown. The Ballad was 
 sung to the air of ' ' The Royal Forester. ' ' 
 
 Somewhere there is a French version of the i6th cen- 
 tury; this casts some doubt on its English origin. 
 
 33
 
 Here comes to a clofe "The 
 Berkfhire Lady's Garland/' or a 
 Merry tale of how Cupid con- 
 quer 'th all. Nowfetup&adorn'd 
 with ftrange fculptures, a few 
 colour'd, engraven by many 1 1| 
 very curioufly to look at. 
 
 This is No. 8 of one hundred 
 
 on paper & three on flieeplkin 
 
 the blocks fince flafhed. Em- 
 
 prynt'd under the hands of 
 
 E. S. P., the Monk's 
 
 Head, in Phila., Pa.. 
 
 this month of 
 
 October, 
 
 1902.
 

 
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