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ANCIENT POEMS.

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

PART THE FIRST.

.

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

ITT

He had a faire daughter of bewty moft bright;

And many a gallant brave fuiter had shee,
For none was foe comelye as pretty Befsee.

And though fhee was of favor most faire,
Yett feeing thee was but a blind beggars heyre,
Of ancyent housekeepers defpifed was fhee,
Whofe fonnes came as fuitors to pretty Befsee.

e

Wherefore in great forrow faire Bessy did say,
Good father, and mother, let me go away
To feeke out my fortune, whatever itt bee.
Heffuite then they granted to prettye Befsee.

Then Befsy, that was of bewtye foe bright,
All cladd in gray ruffett, and late in the night
From father and mother alone parted thee;

Who fighed and fobbed for prettye Befsee.

Shee went till fhee came to Stratford-le-Bow

Then knew fhee not whither, nor which way to goe:
With teares fhee lamented her hard deftinic,.

So fadd and fo heavy was pretty Befsee.

M 2

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She

gh

w/

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

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

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Great gifts they did on 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 pretty Befsee.

The yong
men of Rumford in her had their joy ;
Shee fhewd herfelf courteous, and modeftlye coye;
And at her commandment still wold they bee;

Soe

fatre

and foe comelye was pretty Befsce.

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 honored 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 fued for prettye Befsee.

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A mer

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ANCIENT POEM S.

A merchant of London, whose wealth was not small, 45

He was the third fuiter, and proper withall:

Her masters own fonne the fourth man must bee,
Who fwore he wold dye for pretty Befsee.

And, if thou wilt marry with mee, quoth the knight,

Ile make thee a ladye with joy and delight;

My hart's fo inthralled by thy bewtie,
That foone I shall dye for prettye Befsee.

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The gentleman fayd, Come, marry with mee,
As fine as a ladye my Befsy fhal bee:

My life is diftreffed: O heare me, quoth hee;
And grant me thy love, my prettye Befsee.

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Let me bee thy husband, the merchant cold fay,
Thou shalt live in London both gallant and gay;
My shippes fhall bring home rych jewels for thee,
And I will for ever love pretty Befsee.

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Then Beffy fhee fighed, and thus fhee did fay,

My father and mother I meane to obey ;

First gett their good will, and be faithfull to mee,
And you fhall enjoye your prettye Befsee.

To every one this anfwer fhee made,
Wherfore unto her they joyfullye fayd,
This thing to fulfill wee all doe agree;
But where dwells thy father, my prettye Befsee?

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