Ancient Poems [25]
him she found it when coming along, As she was a hunting with her dog and gun.
The lady went home with a heart full of love, And gave out a notice that she'd lost a glove; And said, 'Who has found it, and brings it to me, Whoever he is, he my husband shall be.'
The farmer was pleased when he heard of the news, With heart full of joy to the lady he goes: 'Dear, honoured lady, I've picked up your glove, And hope you'll be pleased to grant me your love.'
'It's already granted, I will be your bride; I love the sweet breath of a farmer,' she cried. 'I'll be mistress of my dairy, and milking my cow, While my jolly brisk farmer is whistling at plough.'
And when she was married she told of her fun, How she went a hunting with her dog and gun: 'And now I've got him so fast in my snare, I'll enjoy him for ever, I vow and declare!'
Ballad: KING JAMES I. AND THE TINKLER. (5) (TRADITIONAL.)
[THIS ballad of KING JAMES I. AND THE TINKLER was probably written either in, or shortly after, the reign of the monarch who is the hero. The incident recorded is said to be a fact, though the locality is doubtful. By some the scene is laid at Norwood, in Surrey; by others in some part of the English border. The ballad is alluded to by Percy, but is not inserted either in the RELIQUES, or in any other popular collection. It is to be found only in a few broadsides and chap-books of modern date. The present version is a traditional one, taken down, as here given, from the recital of the late Francis King. (6) It is much superior to the common broadside edition with which it has been collated, and from which the thirteenth and fifteenth verses were obtained. The ballad is very popular on the Border, and in the dales of Cumberland, Westmoreland, and Craven. The late Robert Anderson, the Cumbrian bard, represents Deavie, in his song of the CLAY DAUBIN, as singing THE KING AND THE TINKLER.]
AND now, to be brief, let's pass over the rest, Who seldom or never were given to jest, And come to King Jamie, the first of our throne, A pleasanter monarch sure never was known.
As he was a hunting the swift fallow-deer, He dropped all his nobles; and when he got clear, In hope of some pastime away he did ride, Till he came to an alehouse, hard by a wood-side.
And there with a tinkler he happened to meet, And him in kind sort he so freely did greet: 'Pray thee, good fellow, what hast in thy jug, Which under thy arm thou dost lovingly hug?'
'By the mass!' quoth the tinkler, 'it's nappy brown ale, And for to drink to thee, friend, I will not fail; For although thy jacket looks gallant and fine, I think that my twopence as good is as thine.'
'By my soul! honest fellow, the truth thou hast spoke,' And straight he sat down with the tinkler to joke; They drank to the King, and they pledged to each other; Who'd seen 'em had thought they were brother and brother.
As they were a-drinking the King pleased to say, 'What news, honest fellow? come tell me, I pray?' 'There's nothing of news, beyond that I hear The King's on the border a-chasing the deer.
'And truly I wish I so happy may be Whilst he is a hunting the King I might see; For although I've travelled the land many ways I never have yet seen a King in my days.'
The King, with a hearty brisk laughter, replied, 'I tell thee, good fellow, if thou canst but ride, Thou shalt get up behind me, and I will thee bring To the presence of Jamie, thy sovereign King.'
'But he'll be surrounded with nobles so gay, And how shall we tell him from them, sir, I pray?' 'Thou'lt easily ken him when once thou art there; The King will be covered, his nobles all bare.'
He got up behind him and likewise his sack, His budget of leather, and tools at his back; They rode till they came to the merry greenwood, His nobles came round him, bareheaded they stood.
The tinkler then seeing so many appear, He slily did whisper the King in his ear: Saying, 'They're all clothed so gloriously gay, But which amongst them is the King, sir, I pray?'
The King did with hearty
The lady went home with a heart full of love, And gave out a notice that she'd lost a glove; And said, 'Who has found it, and brings it to me, Whoever he is, he my husband shall be.'
The farmer was pleased when he heard of the news, With heart full of joy to the lady he goes: 'Dear, honoured lady, I've picked up your glove, And hope you'll be pleased to grant me your love.'
'It's already granted, I will be your bride; I love the sweet breath of a farmer,' she cried. 'I'll be mistress of my dairy, and milking my cow, While my jolly brisk farmer is whistling at plough.'
And when she was married she told of her fun, How she went a hunting with her dog and gun: 'And now I've got him so fast in my snare, I'll enjoy him for ever, I vow and declare!'
Ballad: KING JAMES I. AND THE TINKLER. (5) (TRADITIONAL.)
[THIS ballad of KING JAMES I. AND THE TINKLER was probably written either in, or shortly after, the reign of the monarch who is the hero. The incident recorded is said to be a fact, though the locality is doubtful. By some the scene is laid at Norwood, in Surrey; by others in some part of the English border. The ballad is alluded to by Percy, but is not inserted either in the RELIQUES, or in any other popular collection. It is to be found only in a few broadsides and chap-books of modern date. The present version is a traditional one, taken down, as here given, from the recital of the late Francis King. (6) It is much superior to the common broadside edition with which it has been collated, and from which the thirteenth and fifteenth verses were obtained. The ballad is very popular on the Border, and in the dales of Cumberland, Westmoreland, and Craven. The late Robert Anderson, the Cumbrian bard, represents Deavie, in his song of the CLAY DAUBIN, as singing THE KING AND THE TINKLER.]
AND now, to be brief, let's pass over the rest, Who seldom or never were given to jest, And come to King Jamie, the first of our throne, A pleasanter monarch sure never was known.
As he was a hunting the swift fallow-deer, He dropped all his nobles; and when he got clear, In hope of some pastime away he did ride, Till he came to an alehouse, hard by a wood-side.
And there with a tinkler he happened to meet, And him in kind sort he so freely did greet: 'Pray thee, good fellow, what hast in thy jug, Which under thy arm thou dost lovingly hug?'
'By the mass!' quoth the tinkler, 'it's nappy brown ale, And for to drink to thee, friend, I will not fail; For although thy jacket looks gallant and fine, I think that my twopence as good is as thine.'
'By my soul! honest fellow, the truth thou hast spoke,' And straight he sat down with the tinkler to joke; They drank to the King, and they pledged to each other; Who'd seen 'em had thought they were brother and brother.
As they were a-drinking the King pleased to say, 'What news, honest fellow? come tell me, I pray?' 'There's nothing of news, beyond that I hear The King's on the border a-chasing the deer.
'And truly I wish I so happy may be Whilst he is a hunting the King I might see; For although I've travelled the land many ways I never have yet seen a King in my days.'
The King, with a hearty brisk laughter, replied, 'I tell thee, good fellow, if thou canst but ride, Thou shalt get up behind me, and I will thee bring To the presence of Jamie, thy sovereign King.'
'But he'll be surrounded with nobles so gay, And how shall we tell him from them, sir, I pray?' 'Thou'lt easily ken him when once thou art there; The King will be covered, his nobles all bare.'
He got up behind him and likewise his sack, His budget of leather, and tools at his back; They rode till they came to the merry greenwood, His nobles came round him, bareheaded they stood.
The tinkler then seeing so many appear, He slily did whisper the King in his ear: Saying, 'They're all clothed so gloriously gay, But which amongst them is the King, sir, I pray?'
The King did with hearty