APPENDIX.
Roxburghe Ballads, I, 306 f; Ballad Society's reprint, II, 281.
The Politick Maid,
or,
A dainty new ditty,
Both pleasant and witty,
Wherein you may see
The maide's policie.
1 There was a knight was wine-drunke,
As he rode on the way,
And there he spide a bonny lasse,
Among the cocks of hay.
Sing loud, whistle in the winde,
Blow merry, merry,
Up and down in yonder dale,
With hey tro, nonney, nonney.
2 This gallant knight unto the lasse
Did present take his way,
But it seemd he had a shame-face,
He did not court and play.
3 When he came to this bonny lasse,
He found she was not coy;
His courtesie she did imbrace,
And did not say him nay.
4 If we should sit us downe here,
Upon the grasse so greene,
Here's neither sheet nor covering,
To keep our cloathing cleane.
5 'And if we should sit downe,' quoth he,
'Among the cockes of hay,
Then would come forth the king's pinder,
And take our steedes away.'
6 'I have rings on my fingers,
Made of the purest gold,
That will release our steedes againe
Out of the king's pinfold.
7 'Sir knight, if you will goe with me
Into my father's bowers,
There you may sit and talke with me
This three or foure houres.'
8 When she came to her father's bowers,
They were moted round about;
Then she slipt in at a wicket,
And left sir knight without.
9 'Now I am here, a maide, within,
And you, sir knight, without;
You may lay straw under your feete,
To keepe you from the gout.
10 'Henceforth when you doe meet a maide,
A mile out of the towne,
Sir knight, you must not be affraid
Of soyling of her gowne.
11 'And if you chance to meet a maid
Amongst the cockes of hay,
Sir knight, you must not be affraid
With her to court, and say
Sing loud, etc.
12 'It is a proverb, many say,
And truth it is in tryall,
He that will not when as he may
Shall after have denyall.
13 'And thus, sir knight, now fare you well,
To you I bid adieu;
And you hereafterwards may tell
How I have servëd you.'
R. C.
Printed at London for Thomas Lambert, at the signe of the Hors-shoo in Smithfield.
Percy's Reliques, III, 238, 1765.
1 There was a knight was drunk with wine
A riding along the way, sir,
And there he met with a lady fine,
Among the cocks of hay, sir.
2 'Shall you and I, O lady faire,
Among the grass lye downe-a?
And I will have a special care
Of rumpling of your gowne-a.'
3 'Upon the grass there is a dewe,
Will spoil my damaske gowne, sir;
My gown and kirtle they are newe,
And cost me many a crowne, sir.'
4 'I have a cloak of scarlet red,
Upon the ground I'll throwe it;
Then, lady faire, come lay thy head;
We'll play, and none shall knowe it.'
5 'O yonder stands my steed so free,
Among the cocks of hay, sir,
And if the pinner should chance to see,
He'll take my steed away, sir.'
6 'Upon my finger I have a ring,
It's made of finest gold-a,
And, lady, it thy steed shall bring
Out of the pinner's fold-a.'
7 'O go with me to my father's hall;
Fair chambers there are three, sir;
And you shall have the best of all,
And I'll your chamberlain bee, sir.'
8 He mounted himself on his steed so tall,
And her on her dapple-grey, sir,
And then they rode to her father's hall,
Fast pricking along the way, sir.
9 To her father's hall they arrived strait;
'T was moated round about-a;
She slipped herself within the gate,
And lockt the knight without-a.
10 'Here is a silver penny to spend,
And take it for your pain, sir;
And two of my father's men I'll send,
To wait on you back again, sir.'
11 He from his scabbard drew his brand,
And whet it upon his sleeve-a,
And 'Cursed,' he said, 'be every man
That will a maid believe-a!'
12 She drew a bodkin from her haire,
And whipd it upon her gown-a:
'And curst be every maiden faire
That will with men lye down-a!
13 'A tree there is, that lowly grows,
And some do call it rue, sir;
The smallest dunghill cock that crows
Would make a capon of you, sir.
14 'A flower there is, that shineth bright,
Some call it marygold-a;
He that wold not when he might,
He shall not when he wold-a.'
15 The knight was riding another day,
With cloak and hat and feather;
He met again with that lady gay,
Who was angling in the river.
16 'Now, lady faire, I've met with you,
You shall no more escape me;
Remember how not long agoe
You falsely did intrap me.'
17 The lady blushed scarlet red,
And trembled at the stranger:
'How shall I guard my maidenhead
From this approaching danger!'
18 He from his saddle down did light,
In all his riche attyer,
And cryed, As I am a noble knight,
I do thy charms admyer.
19 He took the lady by the hand,
Who seemingly consented,
And would no more disputing stand;
She had a plot invented.
20 'Looke yonder, good sir knight, I praye,
Methinks I now discover,
A riding upon his dapple-grey,
My former constant lover.'
21 On tip-toe peering stood the knight,
Fast by the river brink-a;
The lady pusht with all her might:
'Sir knight, now swim or sink-a!'
22 Oer head and ears he plunged in;
The bottom faire he sounded;
Then rising up he cried amain,
Help, helpe, or else I'm drowned!
23 'Now fare you well, sir knight, adieu!
You see what comes of fooling;
That is the fittest place for you;
Your courage wanted cooling.'
24 Ere many days, in her father's park,
Just at the close of eve-a,
Again she met with her angry sparke,
Which made this lady grieve-a.
25 'False lady, here thou'rt in my powre,
And no one now can hear thee;
And thou shalt sorely rue the hour
That eer thou dar'dst to jeer me.'
26 'I pray, sir knight, be not so warm
With a young silly maid-a;
I vow and swear I thought no harm;
'Twas a gentle jest I playd-a.'
27 'A gentle jest in soothe,' he cry'd,
'To tumble me in and leave me!
What if I had in the river dy'd?
That fetch will not deceive me.
28 'Once more I'll pardon thee this day,
Tho injurd out of measure;
But then prepare without delay
To yield thee to my pleasure.'
29 'Well then, if I must grant your suit,
Yet think of your boots and spurs, sir;
Let me pull off both spur and boot,
Or else you cannot stir, sir.'
30 He set him down upon the grass,
And begd her kind assistance;
'Now,' smiling thought this lovely lass,
'I'll make you keep your distance.'
31 Then pulling off his boots half-way,
'Sir knight, now I'm your betters;
You shall not make of me your prey;
Sit there like a knave in fetters.'
32 The knight when she had served soe,
He fretted, fum'd and grumbled;
For he could neither stand nor goe,
But like a cripple tumbled.
33 'Farewell, sir knight, the clock strikes ten,
Yet do not move nor stir, sir;
I'll send you my father's serving-men,
To pull off your boots and spurs, sir.
34 'This merry jest you must excuse;
You are but a stingless nettle;
You 'd never have stood for boots or shoes
Had you been a man of mettle.'
35 All night in grievous rage he lay,
Rolling upon the plain-a;
Next morning a shepherd past that way,
Who set him right again-a.
36 Then mounting upon his steed so tall,
By hill and dale he swore-a,
'I'll ride at once to her father's hall;
She shall escape no more-a.
37 'I'll take her father by the beard,
I'll challenge all her kindred;
Each dastard soul shall stand affeard;
My wrath shall no more be hindred.'
38 He rode unto her father's house,
Which every side was moated;
The lady heard his furious vows,
And all his vengeance noted.
39 Thought shee, sir knight, to quench your rage
Once more I will endeavor;
This water shall your fury swage,
Or else it shall burn forever.
40 Then, faining penitence and feare,
She did invite a parley:
'Sir knight, if you'll forgive me heare,
Henceforth I'll love you dearly.
41 'My father he is now from home,
And I am all alone, sir;
Therefore across the water come,
And I am all your own, sir.'
42 'False maid, thou canst no more deceive;
I scorn the treacherous bait-a;
If thou wouldst have me thee believe,
Now open me the gate-a.'
43 'The bridge is drawn, the gate is barrd,
My father has the keys, sir;
But I have for my love prepar'd
A shorter way and easier.
44 'Over the moate I've laid a plank,
Full seventeen feet in measure;
Then step across to the other bank,
And there we'll take our pleasure.'
45 These words she had no sooner spoke,
But strait he came tripping over;
The plank was sawd, it snapping broke,
And sousd the unhappy lover.