The Lilies pass in bravery,
In Flanders, Spain, and Italy,
But yet the famous Flower of France
Doth honour the Rose of England.

As I abroad was walking,
I heard the small birds talking,
And every one did frame her song
In praise of the Rose of England:
The Lilies pass in bravery, &c.

Cæsar may vaunt of victories,

And Croesus of his happiness,

But he were blest that may bear in his breast The sweet red Rose of England:

The Lilies pass in bravery, &c.

The bravest lute bring hither,
And let us sing together,

Whilst I do ring, on every string,

The praise of the Rose of England:

The Lilies pass in bravery, &c.

The sweetest perfumes and spices,
The wise men brought to Jesus,
Did never smell a quarter so well
As doth the Rose of England:

The Lilies pass in bravery, &c.

Then fair and princely flower,
That ever my heart doth power,
None may be compared to thee
Which art the fair Rose of England:

The Lilies pass in bravery, &c.

XXXVI.

Sir Eglamore.

THE following highly popular Ballad of the seventeenth century, is taken from The Second Book of the Pleasant Musical Companion, 2d edit. 1687. It is the production of a witty pamphleteer of the reign of James I, Samuel Rowlands, and may be found in his poetical Tract, entitled, The Melancholie Knight, 1615. Copies may also be seen in Merry Drollery Compleat, 1671, and among the Roxburghe Ballads. The latter copy, which is dated 1672, has for its title, Courage Crowned with Conquest, or, a Brief Relation how that Valiant Knight and Heroick Champion, Sir Eglamore, bravely fought with, and manfully slew, a terrible, hugh, great, monstrous Dragon; to a pleasant new tune."

Gayton, in his amusing Notes upon Don Quixote, 1654, says, "But had you heard of Bevis of Southampton, the Counter-Scuffle, Sir Eglamore, John Dory, the Pindar of Wakefield, Robin Hood, or Clem of the Cleff, these no doubt had been recommended to the Vatican without any Index expurgatorius, or censure at all.”

In A Collection of Loyal Songs written against the Rump Parliament, 1731 (vol. ii, p. 30), is a parody upon this Song, called "Sir Eglamor and the Dragon, or a Relation how General George Monk slew a most cruel Dragon, Feb. 11, 1659."

SIR Eglamore, that valiant knight,
Fa la, lanky down dilly,

He took

up his sword, and he went to fight,

Fa la, lanky down dilly;

And as he rode o're hill and dale,

All armed with a coat of mail,

Fa la la la, lanky down dilly, 14

There leap'd a dragon out of his den,
That had slain God knows how many men ;
But when she saw Sir Eglamore,

Oh that you had but heard her roar !

Then the trees began to shake,

Horse did tremble, man did quake;

The birds betook them all to peeping,
Oh! 'twould have made one fall a weeping.

But all in vain it was to fear,

For now they fall to't, fight dog, fight bear
And to't they go, and soundly fight

A live-long day, from morn till night.

14 This burden occurs in the same way in every verse. In some of the broadside copies it is spelt "Fa la lanctre down dilie."

This dragon had on a plaguy hide,
That could the sharpest steel abide ;
No sword could enter her with cuts,
Which vexed the knight unto the guts.

But as in choler he did burn,

He watch'd the dragon a great good turn;
For as a yawning she did fall,

He thrust his sword up, hilt and all.

Then like a coward she did fly,

Unto her den, which was hard by ;
And there she lay all night and roar'd:
The knight was sorry for his sword.

But riding away, he cries, I forsake it;
He that will fetch it, let him take it.15

15 The copy in the Roxburghe Collection, dated 1672, has the following additional stanzas :—

When all this was done, to the ale-house he went,
And by and by his twopence he spent ;

For he was so hot with tugging with the dragon,
That nothing would quench him but a whole flagon.

Now God preserve our King and Queen,
And eke in London may be seen,

As many knights, and as many more,
And all so good as Sir Eglamore.