Ancient Songs and Ballads, from the Reign of King Henry the Second to the Revolution

Dodsleys Collection [of Old Plays], Vol. iv. p. 294, 296. and Vol. xii. p. 394.

This ballad is given, and the above information extracted, from the Gentlemans Magazine for January, 1781; where the former is said, by the person who communicates it, under the signature of R. C., to be "written in a neat but at present not very legible hand, on a blank leaf in an old History of England;" the date 1582 appearing, in a different hand, on the opposite page. This ballad is inserted in Robinsons "Handefull of pleasant delites," 1584, under the title of "A sorrowfull sonet, made by M. George Mannington at Cambridge-castle, to the tune of Labundala Shot." It would seem from a passage in Taylors Navy of land ships, that the tune was frequently danced to. See Steevens's Shakspeare, 1793, xiv. 369.

I WAYLE in woe, I plundge in payne,
With sorrowing sobbes I do complayne,
With wallowing waves I wishe to dye,
I languishe sore here as I lye;

In feare I faynte, in hope I houlde,

With ruth I runne*, I was 'too' boulde,
As lucklesse lot assigned me,

In dangerous dale of destinie,

Hope bids me smyle, feare bids me weepe,
Such care my sillye soule doth keepe.

Yet too too late I do repent

The wicked wayes that I have spent,
The rechlesse care of carelesse kynde,
Which hath bewitched my wofull mynde:
Such is the chance, such is the state,
Of them that trust too' much to fate.

* i. e. My eyes overflow with sorrow.

No bragging boaste of gentell bloudde,
What so it be, can do me good;

No witt, no strengthe, no bewties hewe,
What so it be, can death eschewe.

The dysmall day hath had his will,
And justice seekes my lyfe to spill,
Revendgement craves by rigorous lawe,
Whereof I litell stood in awe,

The dolefull dumpes to end this lyfe
Bedeckt with care and worldly stryfe;

The frowning judge hath geven his dome,
O gentell death thou art welcome!

The losse of life I do not feare,

Then welcome death the end of care.

My frendes and parents, where' you be,
Full litell do thinke on me,

you

My mother mylde, and dame so deare,
Your loving chylde lyeth fettered here.'
Would god I had (I wish 'too' late)
Bene borne and bred' of meaner state!
Or els, would god my rechlesse eare
Had bene obedient for to heare
Your sage advyse and counsell trewe!
But, in the lord, parents, adue!

You valyant hartes of youthfull trayne,
Which heare my heavie harte complayne,

VOL. II.

A good example take by me,

Which knue the kace wheree'er' you be
Trust not too' much to Bilboe-blade,
Nor yet to fortunes fickle trade;

Hoyste not your 'sayles' no more in wynde,
Leste that some rocke you chance to fynde,
Or else be dryven to Lybia land

Whereas the barke may sinke in sande.

You students all that present be
To viewe my fatall destenie,

Would god I could requyte your payne
Wherein you labour, though' in vayne.
If mightie Jove would thinke it good
To spare my lyfe and vytall bloud,
In this your proffered curtesie
I would remayne most stedfastly
Your servant true in deed and word:
But welcome death as pleaseth the lord.

'Yea,' welcome death, the ende of woe!
And farewell lyfe, my fatall foe!

Yea,' welcome death, the end of stryfe!
Adue the care of mortall lyfe!
For, though this lyfe do flitt away,
In heaven I hope to lyve for aye;

A place of joye and perfect rest,

Which Christ hath purchased for the best:
Till that we meet in heaven most high'st,

Adue, farewell, in Jhesus Christ!

[V. 44. wheresoever.] [V. 54. although.]

[V. 47. seales.]
[VV. 61. 63. ye.]

VIII.

THE PRAISE OF A COUNTRY-MANS LIFE,

BY JOHN CHALKHILL, ESQ.

66 an acquaintant and friend of Edmund Spenser."

From Izaak Waltons "Compleat Angler." Lond. 1653. 8vo. Mr. Chalkhill is better known as the author of Thealma and Clearchus ; but the time of his birth or death has not been discovered.

Oн, the sweet contentment

The country-man doth find,

High trolollie, lollie, loe, high trolollie, lee,
That quiet contemplation,

Possesseth all my mind: