They had
no fooner these pleasant words spoke,
But in comes the beggar clad in a filke cloke;
A faire velvet capp, and a fether had hee,
And now a muficyan forfooth he wold bee.
He had a daintye lute under his arme,
He touched the strings, which made such a charme,
Saies, Please you to heare any, muficke of mee,
Ile fing you a fong of pretty Beffee.
With that his lute he twanged ftraightway,
And thereon begann moft fweetlye to play;
And after that leffons were playd two or three,
He frayn'd out this fong most delicatelìe.
"A poore beggars daughter did dwell on a greene,
"Who for her faireneffe might well be a queene:
e
"A blithe bonny laffe, and a dainty was fhee,
"And many one called her pretty Beffee.
"Her father he had noe goods, nor noe land,
"But beggd for a penny all day with his hand;
"And yett to her marriage he gave thousands three,
“And still he hath somewhat for pretty Beffee.
And if any one here her birth doe difdaine, "Her father is ready, with might and with maine, "To prove thee is come of noble degree : * Therfore never flout at prettye Bessee.”
With that the lords and the company round
With hearty laughter were readye to fwound;
At laft fand the lords, Full well wee may fee,
The bride and the beggar's beholden to thee.
On this the bride all blufhing did rife,
The pearlie dropps ftanding within her faire eyes,
O pardon my father, grave nobles, quoth shee,
That throughe blind affection thus doteth on mee.
If this be thy father, the nobles did fay,
Well may he be proud of this happy day;
Yett by his countenance well may we fee,
A
His birth and his fortune did never agree:
And therfore, blind man, we pray thee bewray,
(And looke that the truth thou to us doe fay)
Thy birth and thy parentage, what it may bee;
For the love that thou beareft to pretty Beffee.
"Then give me leave, nobles and gentles, each one,
"One fong more to fing, and then I have done;
"And if that itt may not winn good report,
"Then do not give me a GROAT for my sport.
[Sir Simon de Montfort my fubject shal bee;
"Once chiefe of all the great barons was hee,
"Yet fortune fo cruelle this lorde did abafe,
"Now lofte and forgotten are hee and his race.
"When the barons in armes did king Henrye oppose,
"Sir Simon de Montfort their leader they chose;
"A leader of courage undaunted was hee,
"And oft-times he made their enemyes flee.
"At length in the battle on Eveshame plaine
"The barons were routed, and Montfort was flaine;
"Mofte fatall that battel did prove unto thee,
Thoughe thou waft not borne then, my prettye Bessee!
"Along with the nobles, that fell at that tyde,
"His eldest fon Henrye, who fought by his fide, you
"Was fellde by a blowe, he receivde in the fight!
"A blowe that deprivde him for ever of fight.
Among the dead bodyes all lifeleffe he laye, "Till evening drewe on of the following daye, "When by a yong ladye discoverd was hee; "And this was thy mother, my prettye Bessee!
"A barons faire daughter ftept forth in the nighte
"To fearch for her father, who fell in the fight,
"And feeing yong Montfort, where gafping he laye,
"Was moved with pitye, and brought him awaye. Je
"In fecrette fhe nurft him, and fwaged his paine,
"While he throughe the realme was beleevd tobe slaine :
"At lengthe his faire bride the confented to bee,
"And made him glad father of prettye Beffee...
|