"Robin, that warld is now away, 105 "And quyt brocht till an end, "And neir again thereto perfay, “Sall it be as thou wend; "For of my pain thou made but play, "I words in vain did spend; "As thou haft done fae fall I fay, "Murn on, I think to mend.” Makyne, the hope of all my heil, My heart on thee is fet; Never to fail as uthers feil, "Robin, with thee I will not deal; “Adieu, for this we met.' Makyne went hameward blyth enough, Outowre the holtis hair, Pure Robin murnd and Makyne leugh; Scho fang, and he ficht fair : Scho left him in baith wae and wreuch, In dolor and in care, Keipand his herd under a heuch, Amang the rufhy gair. 110 115 120 125 XIII. GENTLE HERDSMAN, TELL TO ME. DIALOGUE BETWEEN A PILGRIM AND HERDSMAN. The Scene of this beautiful old ballad is laid near Walfingham, in Norfolk, where was anciently an image of the Virgin Mary, famous all over Europe for the numerous pilgrimages made to it, and the great riches it poffeffed. Erafmus has given a very exact and humorous defcription of the Superftitions practifed there in his time. See his account of the VIRGO PARATHALASSIA, in his colloquy, intitled, PEREGRINATIO RELIGIONIS ERGO. He tells us, the rich offerings in filver, gold, and precious ftones, that were there shewn him, were incredible, there being fcarce a perfon of any note in England, but what fome time or other paid a vifit, or jent a prefent to OUR LADY OF WALSINGHAM. At the diffolution of the monafteries in 1538, this Splendid image, with another from Ipjwich, was carried to Chelsea, and there burnt in the prefence of commiffioners; who, we trust, did not burn the jewels and the finery. This poem is printed from a copy in the Editor's folio MS. which had greatly juffered by the hand of time; but veftiges of feveral of the lines remaining, fome conjectural supplements have been attempted, which, for greater exactness are in this one ballad diftinguished by italicks. Entle herdfman, tell to me, GR Of curtesy I thee pray, Unto the towne of Walfingham Which is the right and ready way. " Unto "Unto the towne of Walfingham • Were the miles doubled thrife, And the way never foe ill, Itt were not enough for mine offence; Thy yeares are young, thy face is fa ̄re, 5 10 Thy witts are weake, thy thoughts are greene; "Time hath not given thee leave, as yett, "For to committ fo great a finne." Yes, herdfman, yes, foe woldft thou say, I am not what I feeme to bee, My clothes, and fexe doe differ farr, Born to greeffe and irksome care. For my beloved, and well-beloved, 15 20 25 He He was the flower of noble wights, None ever more fincere colde bee; Of comelye mien and shape he was, And tenderlye bee loved mee. When thus I saw he loved me well, Thought fcorne of fuch a youth as hee. And grew foe coy and nice to please, As womens lookes are often foe, Thus being wearyed with delayes, 30 35 40 Now, gentle herdfman, afke no more, But keepe my fecretts I thee pray; Show me the right and readye way. "Now goe thy wayes, and God before! 55 60 XIV. K. EDWARD IV. AND TANNER OF TAMWORTH Was a story of great fame among our ancestors. The author of the ART OF ENGLISH POESIE, 1589, 4to, Seems to Speak of it, as a real fact.—Describing that vicious mode of Speech, which the Greeks called AcYRON, i. e. "When we ufe a dark and obfcure word, utterly repugnant to that we would exprefs;" he adds, "Such manner of un"couth Speech did the Tanner of Tamworth ufe to king Ed"ward the fourth; which Tanner, having a great while miftaken him, and ufed very broad talke with him, at length, perceiving by his traine that it was the king, was afraide he should be punished for it, [and] said thus, with a certaine rude repentance, "I hope I fhall be hanged to-morrow, "for [I feare me] I fhall be hanged, whereat the king laughed a good, not only to fee the Tanners vaine feare, but also to heare his illfhapen terme; and gave "him |