This Sonnet is given from a small quarto MS. in the Editor's possession, written in the time of Queen Elizabeth. Another Copy of it, containing some variations, is reprinted in the Muses Library, p. 295, from an ancient miscellany, intitled England's Helicon, 1600, 4to. The author was Nicholas Breton, a writer of some fame in the reign of Elizabeth; who also published an interlude intitled "An old man's lesson and a young man's love," 4to. and many other little pieces in prose and verse, the titles of which may be seen in Winstanley, Ames' Typog, and Osborne's Harl. Catalog. &c.-He is mentioned with great respect by Meres, in his second part of "Wit's Commonwealth," 1598, f. 283, and is alluded to in Beaumont and Fletcher's "Scornful Lady," Act 2. and again in "Wit without Money," Act 3.-See Whalley's Ben Jonson, vol. III. p. 103.

The present Edition is improved by a copy in "England's Helicon," vol. III, edit. 1614, 8vo.

In the merrie moneth of Maye,

In a morne by break of daye,
With a troope of damselles playing
Forthe 1 yode' forsooth a maying:

When anon by a wood side,

Where as Maye was in his pride,
I espied all alone
Phillida and Corydon.

5

"On Wednesday morning about 9 o'clock, as her Majestie opened a casement of her gallerie window, ther were 3 excellent musitians, who being disguised in auncient country attire, did greete her with a pleasant song of 'Corydon and Phillida, made in 3 parts of purpose. The song, as well for the worth of the dittie, as the aptnesse of the note thereto applied, it pleased her Highnesse after it had been once sung to command it againe, and highly to grace it with her cheerefull acceptance and commendation.

"THE PLOWMAN'S SONG.

"In the merrie month of May, &c."

The splendour and magnificence of Elizabeth's reign is no where more strongly painted than in these little diaries of some of her summer excursions to the houses of her nobility; nor could a more acceptable present be given to the world, than a republication of a select number of such details as this of the entertainment at Elvetham, that at Killingworth, &c., &c., which so strongly mark the spirit of the times, and present us with scenes so very remote from mo dern manners.

Since the above was written, the Public hath been gratified with a most complete work on the foregoing subject, intitled, The Progresses and Public Processions of Queen Elizabeth, &c. By John Nichols, F. A. S. Edinb. and Perth, 1788," 2 vols, 4to.

XI.

This ballad is ancient, and has been popular; we find it quoted in many old plays. See Beaum. and Fletcher's Knight of the Burning Pestle, 4to, 1613, Act 5. The Varietie, a comedy, 12mo. 1649, Act 4, &c. In Sir William Davenant's play, "The Witts," Act 3, a gallant thus boasts of himself:

"Limber and sound! besides I sing Musgrave, And for Chevy-chace no lark comes near me." In the Pepys Collection, vol. III. p. 314, is an imitation of this old song, in 33 stanzas, by a more modern pen, with many alterations, but evidently for the worse.

This is given from an old printed copy in the British Museum, with corrections; some of which are from a fragment in the Editor's folio MS. It is also printed in Dryden's Collection of Miscellaneous Poems.

As it fell out on a highe holye daye,
As many bee in the yeare,

When yong men and maides together do goe,
Their masses and mattins to heare,

My Lord Barnard shall knowe of this,
Although I lose a limbe.

And ever whereas the bridges were broke,
He layd him downe to swimme.

Asleep or awake, thou Lord Barnàrd,
As thou art a man of life,

Lo! this same night at Bucklesford-Bury
Litle Musgrave's in bed with thy wife.

If it be trew, thou litle foote-page,
This tale thou hast told to mee,
Then all my lands in Bucklesford-Bury
I freelye will give to thee.

But and it be a lye, thou litle foot-page,
This tale thou hast told to mee,
On the highest tree in Bucklesford-Bury
All hanged shalt thou bee.

Rise up, rise up, my merry men all,
And saddle me my good steede;
This night must I to Bucklesford-Bury;
God wott, I had never more neede.

Then some they whistled, and some they sang
And some did loudlye saye,

Whenever Lord Barnardes horne it blewe,
Awaye, Musgrave, away.

Methinkes I heare the throstle cocke,

Methinkes I heare the jay,

Methinkes I heare Lord Barnards horne;
I would I were awaye.

Lye still, lye still, thou little Musgrave, And huggle me from the cold;

A whistling his sheepe to the fold.

For it is but some shephardes boye

80

This ballad (given from an old black-letter Copy, with some corrections) was popular in the time of Queen Elizabeth, being usually printed with her picture before it, as Hearne informs us in his preface to "Gul. Neubrig, Hist, Oxon, 1719, 8vo, vol. I, p. lxx." It is quoted in Fletcher's comedy of the Pilgrim, Act 4, sc. 1.

THERE was a shepherds daughter

Came tripping on the waye;

And there by chance a knighte shee mett,
Which caused her to staye.

Sir William used to bee the first.

These words pronounced hee:

But nowe the last came hee.

OI shall dye this daye, he sayd,

If Ive not my wille of thee.

He brought her downe full fortye pounde, Tyed up withinne a glove:

The Lord forbid, the maide replyde,

Faire maide, Ile give the same to thee;

Go, seeke thee another love.

63

But for all that shee could do or saye, He wold not be withstood.'

Sith you have had your wille of mee,

O Ile have none of your gold, she sayde, Nor lle have none of your fee;

But your faire bodye I must have, The king hath granted mee.

Tell me what is your name?

Some do call mee Jacke, sweet heart,

And some do call mee Jille;

But when I come to the kings faire courte They call me Wilfulle Wille.

Thy fault will never be tolde.

20

He sett his foot into the stirrup,

And awaye then he did ride;

She tuckt her girdle about her middle,

And ranne close by his side.