But when his friendes did understand

His fond and foolish minde,

They fent him up to faire London

An apprentice for to binde.

And when he had been seven long yeares,

And never his love could fee:

Many a teare have I fhed for her fake.

When fhe little thought of mee.

Then all the maids of Islington
Went forth to fport and playe,
All but the bayliffes daughter deare;
She fecretly stole awaye.

She pulled off her gowne of greene,
And put on ragged attire,
And to faire London she would go
Her true love to enquire.

And as she went along the high-road,
The weather being hot and drye,
She fat her downe upon a green bank,
And her true love came riding bye.

10

15

20

25

She started up, with a colour foe redd,

Catching hold of his bridle-reine;

30

One penny, one penny, kind fir, she sayd,
Will eafe me of much paine.

Before

Before I give you one penny, fweet-heart,
Praye tell me where you were borne.
At Iflington, kind fir, fayd shee,
Where I have had many a scorne.

I prythee, fweet-heart, then tell to mee,
O tell me, whether you knowe. T
The bayliffes daughter of Islington.
She is dead, fir, long agoe.

If fhe be dead, then take my horse,
My faddle and my bowe;
For I will into fome farr countrye,
Where noe man shall me knowe.

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40

45

O ftaye, O ftaye, thou goodlye youthe,

She standeth by thy fide; to cor She is here alive, she is not dead, And readye to be thy bride.

O farewell griefe, and welcome joye,

Ten thousand times therefore it

For nowe I have founde mine owne true love,
Whom I thought I should never see more,

I 50

From the fmall black-letter collection, intitled, "The Golden Garland of princely deligbes" collated with two other copies and corrected by conjecture.

5 Hond· WILLY.

O W now, fhepherde, what meanes that ?
Why that willowe in thy hat?

Why thy scarffes of red and yellowe
Turn'd to branches of greene willowe

CUDDY.

They are chang'd, and so am I ;

Sorrowes live, but pleasures dies

Phillis hath forsaken mee, ớt bu.

Which makes me weare the willowe-tree.

WILLY,

Phillis! fhee that lov'd thee long?

Is fhee the lafs hath done thee wrong?

Shee that lov'd thee long and beft, THIS her love turn'd to a jeft ?

19

CUDDY.

CUDDY.

Shee that long true love profeft,
She hath robb'd my heart of rest :
For fhe a new love loves, not mee;
Which makes me wear the willowe-tree.

WILLY.

Come then, fhepherde, let us joine,
Since thy happ is like to mine:
For the maid I thought moft true
Mee hath alfo bid adieu.

CUDDY.

Thy hard happ doth mine appease,
Companye doth forrowe ease:
Yet, Phillis, ftill I pine for thee,

And still muft weare the willowe-tree.

WILLY.

Shepherde, be advis'd by mee,
Caft off grief and willowe-tree :
For thy grief brings her content,
She is pleas'd if thou lament.

CUDDY.

Herd fman, I'll be rul'd by thee,

There lyes grief and willowe-tree:

Henceforth I will do as they,
And love a new love every day.

K 4

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૩૦

X. THE

X.

THE LADY'S FALL,

-is given from the editor's ancient folio MS, collated with two printed copies in black letter; one in the British Museum, the other in the Pepys collection. Its old title is, "A lamentable ballad of the Lady's fall. To the tune of, "In Pefcod Time, &c. The ballad here referred to is preferved in the MUSES LIBRARY 8vo. p. 281. It is an allegory or vifion, intitled " THE SHEPHERDS SLUM‚,” and opens with some pretty rural images, viz.`

66

BER,

"In pefcod time when bound to horn
"Gives eare till buck be kil'd,
"And little lads with pipes of corne
"Sate keeping beafts a-field,

"I went to gather ftrawberries

"By woods and groves full fair,” &ẹ.

ARKE well my heavy dolefull tale,

MA

You loyall lovers all,

And heedfully beare in your breft,

A gallant ladyes fall.

Long was the woo'd, ere she was wonne,

To lead a wedded life,

But folly wrought her overthrowe

Before thee was a wife.

5

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