We abandon ale, and beer that is stale, But we will crack, in the praise of sack, This is the wine in former time Each wisest of the magi Was wont to carouze, and frolickly bouze, 120. A FULL, TRUE, AND PARTICULAR ACCOUNT OF THE GHOST, OR APPARITION of the late Duke OF BUCKINGHAM'S FATHER, which several times appeared in armour to one of the duke's servants, and, for about half a-year before, foretold the duke's death. 8vo. Printed by F. C., in the Old Bailey, n.d. This tract has a hideous wood-cut of a ghost in armour, holding a staff, a type for the ghost in Hamlet! The story here related is well-known. It refers to a prophecy of the assassination of Villiers. 121. THE CHILDREN'S EXAMPLE: shewing how one Mrs. Johnson's child, of Barnet, was tempted by the devil to forsake God, and follow the ways of other wicked children, who us'd to swear, tell lies, and disobey their parents: how this pretty innocent child, resisting Satan, was comforted by an angel from Heaven, who warned her of her approaching death: together with her dying speeches, desiring young children not to forsake God, lest Satan should gain a power over 'em. 8vo. Enter'd according to Order, n.d. In verse, with five wood-cuts. 122. THE PIOUS VIRGIN, OR RELIGIOUS MAID, being a relation of the wonderful and divine speeches of Sarah Shrimpton, daughter to Mr. Shrimpton, living in Rochester, who falling into a trance, declared the wonderful things she had seen; desiring young children to serve the Lord in the time of their youth, in order to obtain salvation. 8vo. Licensed according to Order, n.d. In verse, with seven curious wood-cuts. The titles of these tracts sufficiently exhibit their nature, and however fictitious we may now consider them, it is not impossible they rendered true service to religion in their day. 123. THE PLEASANT AND PRINCELY HISTORY OF THE GENTLE CRAFT, a discourse containing many matters of delight, very pleasant to read. 4to. n.d. In black-letter, with cuts, but imperfect. This volume formerly belonged to White of Lichfield. It is written in prose and verse. Of the latter, the following song, on St. Hugh's bones, may be taken as a specimen : First, a drawer and a dresser, Two wedges, a more and a lesser: A pretty block three inches high, In fashion squared like a dye, Which shall be called by proper name A hub-block, the very same; A hand-leather, and a thumb-leather likewise, To pull out shoo-thred we must devise: The needle and the thimble shall not be left alone, The whet-stone, the stopping-stick, and the paring-knife, Our apron is the shrine to wrap these bones in: Thus shrowded we St. Hugh's bones in a gentle lamb's-skin. 124. THE BEAUTIFUL SHEPHERDESS OF ARCADIA, a ballad. 8vo. Tewkesbury, n.d. There was a shepherd's daughter came tripping on the way. The original of this, which occurs in various forms, is a ballad entitled "The Maid and the Magpie," of the time of Henry VIII, preserved in MS. Rawl. C. 258, in the Bodleian Library. The following extract will sufficiently exhibit the conduct of the story: "But sythe ye have i-leyn me by, And broght my body unto shame, Some of your good ye wylle part with me, "I wyl be advysyd," he sayde, "The wynde ys wast that thow doyst blowe; I have anoder that most be payde, Therfore the pye hathe pecked yow." "Now sythe ye have i-leyn me bye, In case that I with chylde be, What ys your name? Where doo ye dwell?" "At Yorke, at London, at Clerkenwelle, At Leycester, Cambrygge, at myrye Brystowe; 125. THE READING GARLAND, OR DICK AND KATE'S HAPPY MARRIAGE. 8vo. Tewkesbury, n.d. Ye pretty young maids that mourn'd many years, For here I have brought you a garland of mirth. This is a version of another ballad in the same MS. of the time of Henry VIII. It is curious how long the early popular ballads held their place. For more than two centuries many of them were used under very slightly varied forms. 126. THE SUFFOLK COMEDY, in three parts. Tune, "Phillis the lovely." 8vo. Tewkesbury, n.d. A curious old legendary ballad. It contains an incident, not uncommon in such compositions, of a girl dressing herself in male attire, and following her lover. Shakespeare, who has made good use of this fragment of ancient romance, addressed an audience whose notions of propriety and probability were not violated by its introduction. The present ballad is reprinted in The Suffolk Garland, 1818, p. 183, from a copy supposed to be unique. Its rarity, however, is not very great; and I possess several editions, chiefly printed in the north of England. 127. THE EXETER GARLAND, containing two excellent new songs: a tragical relation of two constant young lovers that died, on the road, for each other: no wit like to that of a woman's, or the old woman well fitted by her daughter. 8vo. Licens❜d and enter'd according to Order, n.d. C In the first of these ballads is a curious allusion to the custom of breaking a gold ring into two pieces for tokens of affection : A ring of pure gold she from her finger took, 128. THE EGYPTIAN FORTUNE-TELLER, in two parts; stating proper questions for men in the first part, and for the women in the second part. 12mo. n.d. In verse and prose, containing a good deal of nonsense, as might be conjectured from the title. The following "Considerations on love and marriage, for young people" are curious :— "If a hare cross you in the morning, it is a sign of some loss, or sickness; but if it pass by on your righthand, it is a token of marriage and good fortune. If you dream that a red-breast brings you a green bough in its mouth, it betokens marriage and many children. A mole on the left hip shews that you will be greatly beloved. A cross on the hand, over the line of life, shews you will bury the party you marry. As many crosses as there is on your wrist-joint, so many children you may expect. The unusual fluttering of sparrows against your window, is a sign of good news from an absent sweetheart, or a near relation. If on Eastereve you would dream of the party you wish to marry, lay a bunch of rosemary under your pillow. If you dream you hear music, it denotes wedlock with joy and happiness." |