Strange Survivals

“‘Begone, begone, my Willy, my Billy!
Begone, my love and my dear.
O the weather is so warm,
It will never do thee harm,
And thou can’st not have a lodging here.’

“Then the lover began to call a third time, and the husband asked what it was. She said it was the whistling of the wind among the trees, and she sang: —

“‘Begone, begone, my Willy, my Billy!
Begone, my love and my dear.
O the wind is in the West,
And the cuckoo’s in his nest,
So thou can’st not have a lodging here.’

“Again the lover tapped. Then she sprang out of bed, threw open the casement, and sang: —

“‘Begone, begone, my Willy, you silly;
Begone, you fool, yet my dear.
O the devil’s in the man,
And he can not understan’
That he cannot have a lodging here.’”

The melody was arranged for Queen Elizabeth, and is in her Virginal Book. In Beaumont and Fletcher’s “Knight of the Burning Pestle,” old Merrythought says,

“Go from my window, love, go;
Go from my window, my dear.
The wind and the rain
Will drive you back again;
You cannot be lodged here.

“Begone, begone, my juggy, my puggy;
Begone, my love, my dear.
The weather is warm;
’Twill do thee no harm;
Thou can’st not be lodged here.”

It is again quoted in Fletcher’s “Monsieur Thomas,” and again in “The Tamer Tamed.”

Almost certainly this was originally a ballad. But the ballad tale has been lost, and only scraps of rhyme were committed to writing.

1588, 26th Sept. John Wolfe had license to print “Peggy’s Complaint for the Death of her Willye.”[37 - Possibly we may have this in the still popular Cornish lament, “Have you seen my Billy coming?”]

9th Nov. Thomas Orwyn had license to print “Martyn said to his man, Who is the foole now?”

This has been preserved for us, with its tune, by Ravenscroft, in his “Deuteromelia.”

“Martyn said to his man, fie man, fie O!
Who’s the fool now?
Martyn said to his man, fill the cup and I the can,
Thou hast well drunken, man,
Who’s the fool now?

“I see a sheep sheering come, fie man, fie O!
And a cuckold blow his horn.

“I see a man in the moon
Clouting St. Peter’s shoon.

“I see a hare chase a hound
Twenty miles above the ground.

“I see a goose ring a hog,
And a snayle that did bite a dog.

“I see a mouse catch a cat,
And the cheese to eat a rat.”

1591, 27th August. Robert Bourne obtained license to print a ballad on “A combat between a man and his wife for the breeches.” This has been often re-written.

1592, 5th Jan. Richard Jones, “The Valliant Acts of Guy of Warwick,” to the tune of “Was ever man soe tost (lost) in love?” The ballad of Guy is lost. The tune we have.

1592, 18th Jan. H. Kyrkham, “The crowe she sitteth upon a wall:” “Please one and please all.” The former is, perhaps, the original of “The crow sat in a pear-tree.” “Please one and please all” has been preserved.

1592, 21st July. John Danter, “The soules good morrowe.”

1592, 28th July. H Kyrkham, “The Nightingale’s Good-night.”

1593, 1st Oct. Stephen Peel, “Betwixt life and death,” to the tune of “Have with you into the country.”

1594, 16th Oct. John Danter, “Jones’ ale is new.” This is sung to the present day in village taverns. One verse is roared forth with special emphasis. It is that of the mason: —

“He dashed his hammer against the wall;
He hoped both tower and church would fall;
For Joan’s ale is new, my boys,
For Joan’s ale is new.”

1594, 16th Oct. E. White, “The Devil of Devonshire and William of the West, his Sonne.” This is lost.

1595, 14th Jan. Thomas Creede, “The Saylor’s Joye,” to the tune of “Heigh-ho! hollidaie.” Both ballad and air lost.

1595, 24th Feb. Thomas Creede, The first part of “The Merchante’s Daughter of Bristole.” This we have, but it is a recast in the sixteenth century of a far earlier ballad.

1595, 15th Oct. Thomas Millington, “The Norfolk Gentleman, his Will and Testament, and howe he committed the keeping of his children to his owne brother.” This – “The Babes in the Wood,” we have, as well as the melody.

1595, 15th Oct. W. Blackwall, “The Prowde Mayde of Plymouthe.” Lost.

1603, 11th June. Wm. White, “A Sweet Maie Flower;” “The Ladie’s Fall;” “The Bryde’s Buriell;” “The Spanish Ladie’s Love;” “The Lover’s Promises to his Beloved;” “The Fayre Lady Constance of Cleveland and of her Disloyal Knight.”

We have “The Lady’s Fall” and the two that follow. “A Sweet Mayflower” is probably a real loss, as also the ballad of the Lady Constance and her disloyal knight. This will suffice to show how interesting are these records, and also how much has perished, as well as how much is preserved. It must not, however, be lost to mind that these were all new ballads, and were serving to displace the earlier and better ballads.[38 - On December 14, 1624, as many as 128 ballads were licensed, the names of which are given. “The Blind Beggar (of Bethnal Green);” “Maudline of Bristowe (The Merchant’s Daughter of Bristol);” “Sweet Nansie I doe love thee;” “The Lady’s Fall;” “My minde to me a kingdom is” (Sir Edward Dyer’s famous song); “Margaret, my sweetest;” “In London dwelt a merchantman;” “I am sorry, I am sorry;” “In May when flowers springe;” “I am a poore woman and blinde;” “The Devil and the Paritor (Apparitor);” “It was a Lady’s daughter;” “Roger’s Will;” “Bateman (Lord);” “Bride’s Good Morrow;” “The King and the Shepherd;” “As I went forth one summer’s day;” “Amintas on a summer’s day;” “Ah me, not to thee alone;” “Sir John Barley Corne;” “It was a youthful knight;” “Jane Shore;” “Before my face;” “George Barnwell;” “From Sluggish Sleepe;” “Down by a forrest;” “The Miller and the King;” “Chevie Chase;” “How shall we good husbands live;” “Jerusalem, my happie home;” “The King and the Tanner;” “Single life the only way;” “The Lord of Lorne;” “In the daies of old;” “I spide a Nymph trip over the plaine;” “Shakeing hay;” “Troy Toun;” “Walking of late abroad;” “Kisse and bide me welcome home;” “The chirping larke;” “John Carelesse;” “Tell me, Susan, certenly;” “Spanish Lady;” “When Arthur first in Court;” “Diana and her darlings;” “Dear love, regard my life;” “Bride’s buryal;” “Shakeing of the sheets;” “A rich merchantman;” “Gilian of Bramfield;” “Fortune my Foe;” “Cripple of Cornwall;” “Whipping the catt at Abingdon;” “On yonder hill there springs;” “Upon a summertime;” “The Miser of Norfolk.”]