The Beggar's Daughter of Bednall Green. HIS popular old Ballad, famous for its modesty and simplicity, was written in the reign of Elizabeth, as appears, not only from verse twenty-three, where the Arms of England are called the "Queenes Arms," but from its tunes being quoted in other old pieces, written in her time. In comparing the old Ballad with two ancient printed copies, the second part, which contains the old Beggar's discovery of himself, is made more consistent with history; for this informs us, that at the decisive battle of Evesham (fought August 4, 1265), when Simon de Montfort, the great Earl of Leicester, was slain at the head of the barons, his eldest son, Henry, fell by his side, and in consequence of that defeat, his whole family sunk for ever; the King bestowing their great honors and possessions on his second son, Edmund, Earl of Lancaster. The Beggar's Daughter of Bednall Green. PART THE FIRST. ITT was a blind beggar, had long lost his sight, And though shee was of favor most faire, She went till she came to Stratford-le-Bow; Then knew shee not whither, nor which way to goe; Shee kept on her journey untill it was day, Shee had not been there a month to an end, Great gifts they did send her of silver and gold, The young men of Rumford in her had their joy; Foure suitors att once unto her did goe, The first of them was a gallant young knight, A merchant of London, whose wealth was not small, "And, if thou wilt marry with mee," quoth the knight, Ile make thee a ladye with joy and delight; My harts soe inthralled by thy bewtie, The gentleman sayd, "Come marry with mee; My life is distressed, Oh; heare mee," quoth hee; "Let mee bee thy husband," the merchant cold say, "Thou shalt live in London both gallant and gay; My shippes shall bring home rych jewels for thee, And I will for ever love prettye Bessee." Then Bessy she sighed, and thus shee did saye, To everye one this answer shee made, But where dwells thy father, my prettye Bessee." 'My father, she said, "is soon to be seen; The seely blind beggar of Bednall-greene That daylie sits begging for charitye, He is the good father of pretty Bessee. "His markes and his tokens are known very well; He always is led with a dogg and a bell; A seely old man, God knoweth, is hee, Yet hee is the father of prettye Bessee." 66 66 Nay, then," quoth the merchant, "thou art not for mee;" Nor," quoth the innholder, "my wife shalt thou bee." "I lothe," quoth the gentle, "a beggars degree, And therefore, adewe, my prettye Bessee." 66 Why then," quoth the knight, "hap better or worse, Then welcome unto me, my prettye Bessee." "With thee to thy father forthwith I will goe Nay, soft," quoth his kinsmen, "It must not be soe! But soone after this, by breake of the daye The young men of Rumford, as thicke as might be, As swifte as the winde to ryde they were seene, But rescew came speedilye over the plaine, Then spake the blind beggar. "Although I bee poore, And then, if my gold may better her birthe, But first you shall promise, and have itt well knowne, With that an angell he dropt on the ground, And dropped in angells full three thousand pound; And oftentimes itt was proved most plaine, For the gentlemens one the beggar droppt twaine! Soe that the place, wherein they did sitt, The gentlemen then having droppt all their store, "Thou hast fulfill'd thy promise arright" "Then marrye," quoth he "this girle to this knighte; And heere," added he, "I will now throwe you downe, A hundred pounds more, to buy her a gowne." |