IX.

THE STURDY ROCK.

This poem, fubfcribed M. T. [perhaps invertedly for T. Marfball is preferved in The Paradife of daintie devifes, quoted above in page 138-The two firft ftanzas may be found accompanied with musical notes in " An bowres recreation in muficke, &c. by Richard Alifon, Lond. 1606. 4to. :" usually bound up with 3 or 4 sets of drigals fet to mufic by Tho. Weelkes, Lond. 1597. 1600. 1608, 4to." One of thefe madrigals is fo compleat an example of the Bathos, that I cannot forbear prefenting it to the

reader.

Thule, the period of cofmographie,

"Ma

Doth vaunt of Hecla, whofe fulphurious, fire Doth melt the frozen clime, and thaw the fkie, Trinacrian Etna's flames afcend not hier: Thefe things feeme wondrous, vet more wondrous 1, Whofe heart with feare doth freeze, with love doth fry.

The Andelufian merchant, that returnes

Laden with cutchinele and china dishes, Reports in Spaine, bow ftrangely Fogo burnes Amidft an ocean full of flying fishes:

Thefe things feeme wondrous, yet more wondrous I, Whofe heart with feare doth freeze, with love doth fry.

Mr. Weelkes feems to have been of opinion with many of his brethren of later times, that nonfenfe was beft adapted to difplay the powers of musical compofure.

* Vid. Athen. Oxon. p. 152. 316.

THE

HE sturdy rock for all his strength

TH

By raging feas is rent in twaine : The marble ftone is pearft at length,

With little drops of drizling rain: The oxe doth yeeld unto the yoke, The steele obeyeth the hammer ftroke.

The ftately flagge, that feemes fo ftout,
By yalping hounds at bay is fet:
The swiftest bird, that flies about,

Is caught at length in fowlers net:
The greatest fish, in deepest brooke,

Is foone deceived by fubtill hooke.

Yea man himselfe, unto whofe will
All things are bounden to obey,
For all his wit and worthie skill,

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15

Doth fade at length, and fall away.

There is nothing but time doeth waste ;
The heavens, the earth confume at last.

But vertue fits triumphing ftill

Upon the throne of glorious fame :
Though fpiteful death mans body kill,
Yet hurts he not his vertuous name:
By life or death what fo betides,
The ftate of vertue never flides.

20

X. THE

X.

THE BEGGAR's DAUGHTER OF BEDNALLGREEN.

This popular old ballad was written in the reign of Elizabeth, as appears not only from ver. 23. where the arms of England are called the "Queenes armes ;" but from its tune's being quoted in other old pieces, written in her time. See the ballad on MARY AMBREE in this volume.-The late Mr. GUTHRIE affured the Editor, that he had formerly feen another old fong on the fame fubject, compofed in a different measure from this; which was truly beautiful, if we may judge from the only ftanza he remembered: in this it was faid of the old beggar, that “down his neck

his reverend lockes

In comelye curles did wave;
And on his aged temples grewe

The bloffomes of the grave."

The following ballad is chiefly given from the Editor's folio MS. compared with two ancient printed copies: the concluding ftanzas, which contain the old Beggar's discovery of himself, are not however given from any of thefe, being very different from those of the vulgar ballad. They were communicated to the Editor in manuscript; but he will not anfwer for their being genuine: he rather thinks them the modern production of fome perfon, who was offended at the abfurdities and inconfiftencies, which fo remarkably prevailed in this part of the fong, as it flood before: whereas by the alteration of a few lines, the story is rendered much more affecting, and is reconciled to probability and true biftory. For this informs us, that at the decifive battle of

Evesham,

Evesham, (fought Aug. 4. 1265.) when Simon de Montfort, the great earl of Leicester, was flain at the head of the barons, bis eldeft fon Henry fell by his fide, and in confequence of that defeat, his whole family funk for ever, the king beftowing their great honours and poffeffions on his second fon Edmund earl of Lancafter.

PART THE FIRST.

TT was a blind beggar, had long lost his fight,

ITI

He had a faire daughter of bewty moft bright;

And many a gallant brave fuiter had shee,

For none was foe comelye as pretty Bessee.

And though fhee was of favor most faire,

Yett seeing shee was but a blinde beggars heyre,
Of ancyent housekeepers despised was shee,

Whofe fonnes came as

fuitors to pretty Befsee.

Wherefore in great forrow faire Befsy did say,
Good father, and mother, let me goe away
To feeke out my fortune, whatever itt bee.
Her fuite then they granted to prettye Bessee.

Then Befsy, that was of bewtye foe bright,
All cladd in gray ruffett, and late in the night

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From father and mother alone parted shee;

Who fighed and fobbed for prettye Befsee.

Shee went till fhee came to Stratford-le-Bowe;

Then knew fhee not whither, nor which way to goe:

With teares fhee lamented her hard deftinie,

So fadd and fo heavy was prettye Befsee.

M 2

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20

She

She kept on her journey untill it was day,
And went unto Rumford along the hye way;
Where at the Queenes armes entertained was shee :
So faire and wel favoured was prettye Befsee.

Shee had not beene there a month to an end,
But mafter and miftres and all was her friend :
And every brave gallant, that once did her fee,
Was Arait-way enamourd of prettye Befsee.

Great gifts they did fend her of filver and gold,
And in their fongs daylye her love was extold;
Her beautye was blazed in every degree;
Soe faire and foe comelye was prettye Befsee.

The yong men of Rumford in her had their joy;
Shee thewd herself courteous, and modeftlye coye;
And at her commandment fill wold they bee;
Soe faire and foe comelye was pretty Befsee.

Foure fuitors att once unto her did goe;
They craved her favor, but still shee fayd noe;
I wold not wish gentles to marry with mee.
Yett ever they honoured prettye Befsee.

The first of them was a gallant yong knight,
And he came unto her difguifde in the night:
The fecond a gentleman of good degree,
Who wooed and fucd for prettye Befsee.

A mer