FITS, or intermiffions. So Puttenham in his Art of English poefie, 1589, Jays, "the Epithalamie was divided by breaches into three partes to ferve for three feveral FITS, "or times to be fung." p. 41.

From the fame writer we learn some curious particulars relative to the ftate of ballad-finging in that age, that will throw light on the present subject: Speaking of the quick returns of one manner of tune in the fhort measures used by common rhimers; thefe, be fays, " glut the eare, unless it be

"GROAT,

in fmall and popular mufickes, fung by thefe Gantabanqui, "upon benches and barrels heads, where they have none "other audience then boys or countrey fellows, that passe by "them in the streete; or elfe by BLIND HARPERS, or fuch "like taverne minstrels, that give a FIT of mirth for a their matter being for the most part ftories of "old time, as the tale of Sir Topas, the reportes of Bevis of "Southampton, Guy of Warwicke, Adam Bell and Clymme of the Clough, and fuch other old romances or historical "rimes, made purposely for recreation of the common people at "Chriftmaffe dinners and brideales, and in tavernes and aleboufes, and fuch other places of bafe reforte." p. 69.

This fpecies of entertainment, which feems to have been handed down from the ancient bards, was in the time of Puttenham falling apace into neglect; but that it was not, even then, wholly excluded more genteel affemblies, he gives us room to infer from another paffage. "We ourselves, fays "this courtly writer, have written for pleasure a litle "brief romance, or hiftorical ditty in the Englif tong "of the ifle of Great Britaine in short and long meetres, "and by breaches or divifions [i. e. FITS,] to be more com" modiously fung to the harpe in places of of affembly, where "the company fhal be defirous to heare of old adventures, "and valiaunces of noble knights in times paft, as are thofe

of

*He was one of 2. Elizabeth's gent. penfioners, at a time, when the whole band confifted of men of diftinguished birth and fortune. Vid. Ath. Ox.

"of king Arthur and his knights of the Round table, Sir "Bevys of Southampton, Guy of Warwicke, and others " like." p. 33.

In more ancient times no grand scene of feftivity was compleat without one of these reciters to entertain the company with feats of armes, and tales of knighthood, or, as one of these old minstrels fays, in the beginning of an ancient romance in the Editor's folio MS.

"When meate and drinke is great plentyè,
"And lords and ladyes ftill wil bee,
"And fitt and folace lythe;

"Then itt is time for mee to Speake

"Of keene knightes, and kempès great,
Such carping for to kythe."

* Perhaps
"blythe."

If we confider that a GROAT in the age of Elizabeth was more than equivalent to a shilling now, we shall find that the old harpers were even then, when their art was on the decline, upon a far more reputable footing than the balladfingers of our time. The reciting of one fuch ballad as this of the Beggar of Bednal-green, in II parts, was rewarded with half a crown of our money. And that they made a very refpectable appearance, we may learn from the dress of the old beggar, in the following ftanzas, ver. 34, where he comes into company in the habit and character of one of these minstrels, being not known to be the bride's father, till after her Speech, ver. 63. The exordium of his fong, and his claiming a GROAT for his reward, v. 76, are peculiarly characteristic of that profeffion. Most of the old ballads begin in a pompous manner, in order to captivate the attention of the audience, and induce them to purchase a recital of the Song: and they feldom conclude the FIRST part without large promifes of ftill greater entertainment in the SECOND. This was a neceffary piece of art to incline the hearers to be at the expence of a fecond groat's-worth. Many of the old romances extend to eight or nine FITS, which would afford a confiderable profit to the reciter.

L 2

To

To return to the word FIT; it seems at firft to have pecuculiarly fignified the pause, or breathing time between the feveral parts, (answering to PASSUS in the vifions of Pierce Plowman): thus in the old poem of JOHN THE REEVE the First part ends with this line,

"The firft FITT here find wee:"

i. e. here we come to the first pause or intermission.-By degrees it came to fignify the whole part or divifion preceding the paufe; and this fenfe it had obtained fo early as the time of Chaucer: who thus concludes the first part of his rhyme of Sir Thopas (writ in ridicule of the old ballad romances)

Wadomed with all the coft they colde have,

I hin gorgeous palace most brave,

Adorned

This wedding was kept most sumptuouflìe,
And all for the creditt of prettye Befsee.

All kind of dainties, and delicates fweete
Were bought for their banquet, as it was mecte;
Partridge, and plover, and venison most free,
Against the brave wedding of pretty Befsee.

This wedding through England was spread by report,

So that a great number therto did refort

Of nobles and gentles in every degree;

10

And all for the fame of prettye Befsee.

To church then went this gallant young knight;
His bride followed after, an angell moft bright,
With troopes of ladyes, the like nere was feene,
That went with fweete Beffy of Bednall-greene.

This marryage being folemnized then,

With muficke performed by the skillfullest men,
The nobles and gentles fate downe at that tyde,
Each one admiring the beautifull bryde.

Now, after the fumptuous dinner was done,
To talke, and to reafon a number begunn :
They talkt of the blind beggars daughter moft bright,
And what with his daughter he gave to the knight.

Then spake the nobles, " Much marveil have wee,
This jolly blind beggar we cannot here fee."
My lords, quoth the bride, my father's fo base,
He is loth with his prefence these ftates to disgrace.

"The prayfe of a woman in queftyon to bringe
Before her owne face, were a flattering thinge;
Wee thinke thy father's baseness, quoth they,
Might by thy bewtye be cleane put awaye."
L 3

15

20

25

30

They

They had no fooner these pleasant words spoke,
But in comes the beggar clad in a filke cloke;
A faire velvet capp, and a fether had hee,
And now a muficyan forfooth hee wold bee.

He had a daintye lute under his arme,

He touched the strings, which made fuch a charme,
Saies, Pleafe you to heare muficke of mee,
Ile fing you a fong of prettye Befsee.

any

With that his lute he twanged ftraight way,
And thereon begann moft sweetlye to play;
And after that leffons were playd two or three,
He strayned out this fong most delicatelìe.

"A poore beggars daughter did dwell on a greene, 45 "Who for her fairenesse might well be a queene ; "A blithe bonny laffe, and dainty was shee, "And many one called her prettye Beffee.

"Her father he had noe goods, nor noe land, "But beggd for a penny all day with his hand; "And yett to her marriage he gave thousands three, "And still he hath somewhat for prettye Bessee.

"And if any one here her birth doe difdaine,
"Her father is ready, with might and with maine,
"To prove thee is come of noble degree:
"Therfòre never flout at prettye Befsee.”

2

50

55

With

35

40