No knight stood forth, no knight there came, Then I thought to betraye her unto our kinge, No helpe appeared nye: And now the fyer was lighted up, Queen Elinor she must dye. And now the fyer was lighted up, When riding upon a little white steed, In a fyer to have her brent. "Away with that stake, away with those But ever alacke! sayes Aldingar, Falsing never doth well. 200 Forgive, forgive me, queene, madame, The short time I must live, "Nowe Christ forgive thee, Aldingar, As freely I forgive." Here take thy queene, our King Harryè, And love her as thy life, For never had a king in Christentye, A truer and fairer wife. 175 King Henrye ran to claspe his queene, 206 210 180 The lazar under the gallowes tree Was comelye, straight and tall; 185 King Henrye made him his head stewarde To wayte withinn his hall. ** 220 X. The Gaberlunzie Man. A SCOTTISH SONG. TRADITION informs us that the author of this song was King James V. of Scotland. This prince (whose character for wit and libertinism bears a great resemblance to that of his gay successor Charles II.) was noted for strolling about his dominions in disguise,* and for his frequent gallantries with country girls. Two adventures of this kind he hath celebrated with his own pen, viz., in this ballad of "The Gaberlunzie Man ;" and in another, entitled "The Jolly Beggar," beginning thus: "Thair was a jollie beggar, and a begging he was boun, And he tuik up his quarters into a land'art toun. Fa, la, la, &c." It seems to be the latter of these ballads (which was too licentious to be admitted into this collection) that is meant in the Catalogue of Royal and Noble Authors,† where the ingenious writer remarks, that there is something very ludicrous in the young woman's distress when she thought her first favour had been thrown away upon a beggar. Bishop Tanner has attributed to James V. the celebrated ballad of "Christ's Kirk on the Green," which is ascribed to King James I. in Bannatyne's MS. written in 1568: and notwithstanding that authority, the editor of this book is of opinion that Bishop Tanner was right. King James V. died December 13th, 1542, aged 33. THE pauky auld Carle came ovir the lee Will ze lodge a silly poor man? 5 Since naithings awa, as we can learn, The servant gaed where the dochter lay, 45 And fast to her goodwife can say, Shes aff with the gaberlunzie-man. Ver. 29, The Carline. Other copies. When fortune lokyd the in thy face, • Synge, &c. Ir is ever the fate of a disgraced minister | BотH man and chylde is glad to here tell to be forsaken by his friends, and insulted Of that false traytoure Thomas Crumwell, by his enemies, always reckoning among the Now that he is set to learne to spell. latter the giddy inconstant multitude. We Synge trolle on away. have here a spurn at fallen greatness from some angry partisan of declining Popery, who could never forgive the downfall of their Diana, and loss of their craft. The ballad seems to have been composed between the time of Cromwell's commitment to the Tower, Thy cofers with golde thou fyllydst a pace. June 11, 1540, and that of his being beheaded July 28, following. A short interval! but Henry's passion for Catherine Howard would admit of no delay. Notwithstanding our libeller, Cromwell had many excellent qualities: his great fault was too much obsequiousness to the arbitrary will of his master; but let it be considered that this master had raised him from obscurity, and that the highborn nobility had shown him the way in every kind of mean and servile compliance. -The original copy printed at London in 1540, is entitled, "A newe ballade made of Thomas Crumwel, called Trolle on away." To it is prefixed this distich by way of burthen, Trolle on away, trolle on awaye. 5 Both plate and chalys came to thy fyst, Synge, &c. Both crust and crumme came thorowe thy handes, 10 Thy marchaundyse sayled over the sandes, Fyrste when kynge Henry, God saue his grace? Perceyud myschefe kyndlyd in thy face, Synge heave and howe rombelowe trolle on Then it was tyme to purchase the a place. 15 away. Synge, &c. |