Ancient Poems, Ballads and Songs of England, by Robert Bell Robert Bell Ancient Poems, Ballads and Songs of England, by Robert Bell Table of Contents Ancient Poems, Ballads and Songs of England, by Robert Bell............................................................................1 Robert Bell.....................................................................................................................................................2 INTRODUCTION.........................................................................................................................................5 ANCIENT POEMS, BALLADS, AND SONGS OF THE PEASANTRY................................................................8 Poem: THE PLAIN−DEALING MAN..........................................................................................................9 Poem: THE VANITIES OF LIFE................................................................................................................12 Poem: THE LIFE AND AGE OF MAN......................................................................................................16 Poem: THE YOUNG MAN'S WISH...........................................................................................................18 Poem: THE MIDNIGHT MESSENGER; OR, A SUDDEN CALL FROM AN EARTHLY GLORY TO THE COLD GRAVE............................................................................................................................19 Poem: A DIALOGUE BETWIXT AN EXCISEMAN AND DEATH........................................................23 Poem: THE MESSENGER OF MORTALITY; OR LIFE AND DEATH CONTRASTED IN A DIALOGUE BETWIXT DEATH AND A LADY.....................................................................................26 Poem: ENGLAND'S ALARM; OR THE PIOUS CHRISTIAN'S SPEEDY CALL TO REPENTANCE...........................................................................................................................................29 Poem: SMOKING SPIRITUALIZED.........................................................................................................32 Poem: THE MASONIC HYMN..................................................................................................................34 Poem: GOD SPEED THE PLOW, AND BLESS THE CORN−MOW. A DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE HUSBANDMAN AND SERVINGMAN..........................................................................................36 Poem: A DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE HUSBANDMAN AND THE SERVINGMAN.........................38 Poem: THE CATHOLICK...........................................................................................................................40 Poem: THE BLIND BEGGAR OF BEDNALL GREEN. SHOWING HOW HIS DAUGHTER WAS MARRIED TO A KNIGHT, AND HAD THREE THOUSAND POUND TO HER PORTION..............42 Ballad: THE BOLD PEDLAR AND ROBIN HOOD.................................................................................48 Ballad: THE OUTLANDISH KNIGHT......................................................................................................50 Ballad: LORD DELAWARE. (TRADITIONAL.).....................................................................................52 Ballad: LORD BATEMAN.........................................................................................................................54 Ballad: THE GOLDEN GLOVE; OR, THE SQUIRE OF TAMWORTH..................................................56 Ballad: KING JAMES I. AND THE TINKLER. {5} (TRADITIONAL.).................................................58 Ballad: THE KEACH I' THE CREEL.........................................................................................................60 Ballad: THE MERRY BROOMFIELD; OR, THE WEST COUNTRY WAGER......................................62 Ballad: SIR JOHN BARLEYCORN............................................................................................................64 Ballad: BLOW THE WINDS, I−HO!..........................................................................................................66 Ballad: THE BEAUTIFUL LADY OF KENT; OR, THE SEAMAN OF DOVER....................................68 Ballad: THE BERKSHIRE LADY'S GARLAND. IN FOUR PARTS. To the tune of The Royal Forester........................................................................................................................................................73 Ballad: THE NOBLEMAN'S GENEROUS KINDNESS............................................................................78 Ballad: THE DRUNKARD'S LEGACY. IN THREE PARTS...................................................................80 Ballad: THE BOWES TRAGEDY..............................................................................................................85 Ballad: THE CRAFTY LOVER; OR, THE LAWYER OUTWITTED......................................................89 Ballad: THE DEATH OF QUEEN JANE. (TRADITIONAL.)..................................................................91 Ballad: THE WANDERING YOUNG GENTLEWOMAN; OR, CATSKIN.............................................93 Ballad: THE BRAVE EARL BRAND AND THE KING OF ENGLAND'S DAUGHTER. (TRADITIONAL.)......................................................................................................................................98 Ballad: THE JOVIAL HUNTER OF BROMSGROVE; OR, THE OLD MAN AND HIS THREE SONS. (TRADITIONAL.).......................................................................................................................100 Ballad: LADY ALICE...............................................................................................................................102 Ballad: THE FELON SEWE OF ROKEBY AND THE FREERES OF RICHMOND.............................103 i Ancient Poems, Ballads and Songs of England, by Robert Bell Table of Contents Ancient Poems, Ballads and Songs of England, by Robert Bell Ballad: ARTHUR O'BRADLEY'S WEDDING........................................................................................110 Ballad: THE PAINFUL PLOUGH............................................................................................................114 Ballad: THE USEFUL PLOW; OR, THE PLOUGH'S PRAISE...............................................................115 Ballad: THE FARMER'S SON..................................................................................................................116 Ballad: THE FARMER'S BOY..................................................................................................................118 Ballad: RICHARD OF TAUNTON DEAN; OR, DUMBLE DUM DEARY...........................................120 Ballad: WOOING SONG OF A YEOMAN OF KENT'S SONNE...........................................................123 Ballad: THE CLOWN'S COURTSHIP......................................................................................................125 Ballad: HARRY'S COURTSHIP...............................................................................................................126 Ballad: HARVEST−HOME SONG...........................................................................................................127 Ballad: HARVEST−HOME.......................................................................................................................128 Ballad: THE MOW. A HARVEST HOME SONG. Tune, Where the bee sucks....................................129 Ballad: THE BARLEY−MOW SONG......................................................................................................130 Ballad: THE BARLEY−MOW SONG. (SUFFOLK VERSION.)...........................................................132 Ballad: THE CRAVEN CHURN−SUPPER SONG..................................................................................133 Ballad: THE RURAL DANCE ABOUT THE MAY−POLE....................................................................135 Ballad: THE HITCHIN MAY−DAY SONG.............................................................................................137 Ballad: THE HELSTONE FURRY−DAY SONG.....................................................................................138 Ballad: CORNISH MIDSUMMER BONFIRE SONG.............................................................................139 Ballad: SUFFOLK HARVEST−HOME SONG........................................................................................140 Ballad: THE HAYMAKER'S SONG........................................................................................................141 Ballad: THE SWORD−DANCERS' SONG..............................................................................................143 Ballad: THE MUMMERS' SONG; OR, THE POOR OLD HORSE........................................................150 Ballad: FRAGMENT OF THE HAGMENA SONG.................................................................................152 Ballad: THE GREENSIDE WAKES SONG.............................................................................................153 Ballad: THE SWEARING−IN SONG OR RHYME.................................................................................154 Ballad: AS TOM WAS A−WALKING. AN ANCIENT CORNISH SONG...........................................157 Ballad: THE MILLER AND HIS SONS...................................................................................................158 Ballad: JACK AND TOM. AN OULD BORDER DITTIE. (TRADITIONAL.)....................................159 Ballad: JOAN'S ALE WAS NEW.............................................................................................................160