But when shee came to the waters side, Shee saies, I had rather have one kisse, Than I wolde have Cheshire and Lancashire Except the Lord of heaven be my speed, both, Now must I learne to swimme. The salt waters bare up her clothes; Our Ladye bare upp her chinne: And when shee over the water was, He said, Come hither, thou faire Ellen, Seest thou not yonder hall, Ellèn? 35 Seest thou not yonder hall, Ellèn? 40 I see the hall now, Child Waters, I see the hall now, Child Waters, There twenty four fayre ladyes were And Ellen the fairest ladye there, There twenty four fayre ladyes were 65 Must bring his horse to gresse. And then bespake Childe Waters sister, 100 But that his bellye it is soe bigg, Ver. 84, woldlye, MS. X. Phillida and Corydon. 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, entitled 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, entitled "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 Os borne'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, Much adoe there was, god wot; He sayde, hee had lovde her longe: She sayes, maydes must kisse no men, Then with manie a prettie othe, Ver. 4, the wode, MS. 5 "The thirde daies entertainment. "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 three 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 10 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 modern 15 manners. **Since the above was written, the Pub20 lic hath been gratified with a most complete work on the foregoing subject, entitled "The Progresses and Public Processions of Queen Elizabeth, &c. By John Nichols, F. A. S., Edinb. and Perth, 1788," 2 vols., 4to. XI. Little Musgrave and Lady Barnard. THIS ballad is ancient, and has been popu- | I have a bower at Bucklesford-bury,* lar; 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, Full daintilye bedight, If thoult wend thither, my little Musgràve, Quoth hee, I thanke yee, ladye faire, This kindness yee shew to mee; And for Chevy-chace no lark comes near All this beheard a litle foot-page, mee." 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, yong men By his ladyes coach as he ranne: Quoth he, thoughe I am my ladyes page, Yet Ime my Lord Barnardes manne. My Lord Barnard shall knowe of this, And ever whereas the bridges were broke, 25 30 36 Asleep or awake, thou Lord Barnard, When Little Musgrave came to the church door, 5 But he had more mind of the fine women, And some of them were clad in greene, 10 This tale thou hast told to mee, But and it be a lye, thou litle foot-page, 45 And then came in my Lord Barnardes wife, Rise up, rise up, my merry men all, |