Part the Second.

OFF a blind beggars daughter most bright,
That late was betrothed unto a younge knight;
All the discourse therof you did see;

But now comes the wedding of pretty Bessee.

Within a gorgeous palace most brave,
Adorned with all the cost they cold have,
This wedding was kept most sumptuouslìe,
And all for the creditt of pretty Bessee.

All kinds of dainties, and delicates sweete
Were bought for the banquet, as it was most meete;
Partridge, and plover, and venison most free,
Against the brave wedding of pretty Bessee.

This marriage through England was spread by report,
So that a great number thereto did resort
Of nobles and gentles in every degree;
And all for the fame of prettye Bessee.

To church then went this gallant younge knight;
His bride followed after, an angell most bright,
With troopes of ladyes, the like nere was seene
As went with sweete Bessy of Bednall-greene.

This marryage being solemnized then,

With musicke performed by the skilfullest men,
The nobles and gentles sate downe at that tyde,
Each one admiring the beautifull bryde.

Now, after the sumptuous dinner was done,
To talke, and to reason a number begunn:

They talkt of the blind beggars daughter most bright,
And what with his daughter he gave to the knight.

Then spake the nobles, " Much marveil have wee,
This jolly blind beggar wee cannot here see.”

My lords," quoth the bride, "my father's so base, He is loth with his presence these states to disgrace."

"The prayse of a woman in questyon to bringe
Before her own face, were a flattering thinge;
But we thinke thy father's baseness," quoth they,
"Might by thy bewtye be cleane put awaye."

They had noe sooner these pleasant words spoke,
But in comes the beggar cladd in a silke cloke;
A faire velvet capp, and a fether had hee,
And now a musicyan forsooth he wold bee.

He had a daintye lute under his arme,

He touched the strings, which made such a charme,
Saies, "Please you to heare any musicke of mee,
I'll sing you a song of pretty Bessee."

With that his lute he twanged straightway,
And thereon begann most sweetlye to play;
And after that lessons were playd two or three,
He strayn'd out this song most delicatelìe.

66 A poore beggars daughter did dwell on a greene,
Who for her faireness might well be a queene:
A blithe bonny lasse, and a daintye was shee,
And many one called her pretty Bessee.

"Her father hee 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 pretty Bessee.

"And if any one here her birth doe disdaine,
Her father is ready, with might and with maine,
To proove shee is come of noble degree:
Therfore never flout att prettye Bessee."

With that the lords and the companye round
With harty laughter were readye to swound;
Att last said the lords, "Full well wee may see,
The bride and the beggar's behoulden to thee."

On this the bride all blushing did rise,

The pearlie dropps standing within her faire eyes, "O pardon my father, grave nobles," quoth shee, "That throughe blind affection thus doteth on mee.

K

"If this be thy father," the nobles did say, "Well may he be proud of this happy day; Yett by his countenance well may wee see, His birth and his fortune did never agree;

"And therefore, blind man, we pray thee bewray,
(And looke that the truth thou to us doe say,)
Thy birth and thy parentage, what itt may bee;
For the love that thou bearest to pretty Bessee."

"Then give me leave, nobles and gentles, each one,
One song more to sing, and then I have done;
And if that itt may not winn good report,
Then doe not give me a groat for my sport."

"Sir Simon de Montfort my subject shal bee;
Once chiefe of all the great barons was hee,
Yet fortune so cruelle this lorde did abase,
Now loste and forgotten are hee and his race.

"When the barons in armes did King Henrye oppose, Sir Simon de Montfort their leader they chose;

A leader of courage undaunted was hee,
And oft-times he made their enemyes flee.

"At length in the battle on Eveshame plaine

The barons were routed, and Montfort was slaine;
Most fatall that battel did prove unto thee,
Thoughe thou wast not borne then, my prettye Bessee!

"Along with the nobles, that fell at that tyde,
His eldest son Henrye, who fought by his side,
Was felde by a blowe, he receivde in the fight!
A blowe that deprivde him for ever of sight.

Among the dead bodyes all lifelesse he laye,
Till evening drewe on of the following daye,
Whenly a yong ladye discoverd was hee;
And this was thy mother, my prettye Bessee!

“A barons faire daughter stept forth in the nighte
To search for her father, who fell in the fight,
And seeing yong Montfort, where gasping he laye,
Was moved with pitye, and brought him awaye.

"In secrette she nurst him, and swaged his paine,
While he throughe the realme was beleevd to be slaine:
At length his faire bride she consented to bee,
And made him glad father of prettye Bessee.

"And nowe lest oure foes our lives sholde betraye,
We clothed ourselves in beggars arraye;

Her jewelles shee solde, and hither came wee:
All our comfort and care was our prettye Bessee.

"And here have we lived in fortunes despite,
Thoughe poore, yet contented with humble delighte:
Full forty winters thus have I beene

A silly blind beggar of Bednall-greene.

"And here, noble lordes, is ended the song

Of one, that once to your own ranke did belong :
And thus have you learned a secrette from mee,
That ne'er had beene knowne, but for prettye Bessee."

Now when the faire companye everye one,

Had heard the strange tale in the song he had showne,
They all were amazed, as well they might bee,
Both at the blinde beggar, and pretty Bessee.

With that the faire bride they all did embrace,

Saying, "Sure thou art come of an honourable race,
Thy father likewise is of noble degree,

And thou art well worthy a lady to bee."

Thus was the feast ended with joye and delighte,

A bridegroome most happy then was the younge knighte, In joy and felicitie long lived hee,

All with his faire ladye, the pretty Bessee.

102

THE BONNIE BAIRNS.

THE lady she walk'd in yon wild wood
Aneath the hollin tree,

And she was aware of two bonnie bairns
Were running at her knee.

The tane it pull'd a red, red rose,
With a hand as soft as silk;

The other, it pull'd the lily pale,

With a hand mair white than milk.

"Now, why pull ye the red rose, fair bairns? And why the white lily?"

"O we sue wi' them at the seat of grace, For the soul of thee, ladie!"

"O bide wi' me, my twa bonnie bairns!
I'll cleid ye rich and fine;

And all for the blaeberries of the wood,
Yese hae white bread and wine."

She heard a voice, a sweet low voice,
Say, "Weans, ye tarry long"-

She stretch'd her hand to the youngest bairn, "Kiss me before ye gang.'

She sought to take a lily hand,

And kiss a rosie chin

"O, nought sae pure can bide the touch

Of a hand red-wet wi' sin!"

The stars were shooting to and fro,
And wild fire fill'd the air,

As that lady follow'd thae bonny bairns

For three lang hours and mair.

"O! where dwell ye, my ain sweet bairns?

I'm woe and weary grown!"

"O! lady, we live where woe never is,

In a land to flesh unknown."