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

Silence! O, yes! you are my son! Full to your old father turn, sir; This is an oath you may take as you run, So lay your hand thus on the horn, sir.

Now in the fifth part I’ll endeavour to show, How things with her parents and sister did go; Her mother and sister of life are bereft, And now all alone the old squire is left.

It was in a gallant palace most brave, Adornèd with all the cost they could have, This wedding it was kept most sumptuously, And all for the love of pretty Bessee.

[THIS is a very ancient production, though given from a modern copy; it has always been popular amongst the poor ‘brethren of the mystic tie.’ The late Henry O’Brien, A.B., quot...

He answered, ‘If this chink I bring, I fear thou wilt do no such thing. He said, ‘I’ll give under my hand, A note, that I to this will stand.’

Giving an account of a nobleman, who, taking notice of a poor man’s industrious care and pains for the maintaining of his charge of seven small children, met him upon a day, and...

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

When over the seas to fair Sandwich he came, With Ruth, and a number of persons of fame, Then all did appear most splendid and gay, As if it had been a great festival day.

The lady a son had both comely and tall, Who oftentimes usèd to be at a ball A mile out of town; and one evening-tide, To dance at this ball away he did ride.

Soon after, bold Henry he entered on board, The heavens a prosperous gale did afford, And brought him with speed to the kingdom of Spain, There he with a merchant some time did...

Thus having consulted, this couple parted. Next day this young squire he took to his bed; And when his dear parents this thing both perceived, For fear of his death they were ri...

To see him sneak so up and down, The vintner on him he did frown; And one night kicked him out of door, Charging him to come there no more.

When under the window with an aching heart, He told his fair Ruth he so soon must depart, Her parents they heard, and well pleasèd they were, But Ruth was afflicted with sorrow...

A SEAMAN of Dover, whose excellent parts, For wisdom and learning, had conquered the hearts Of many young damsels, of beauty so bright, Of him this new ditty in brief I shall wr...

But now mark, good people, the cream of the jest, In what sort of manner this creature was dressed; With cat-skins she made her a robe, I declare, The which for her covering she...

YOU fathers and mothers, and children also, Draw near unto me, and soon you shall know The sense of my ditty, and I dare to say, The like’s not been heard of this many a day.