Ancient Poems, Ballads, and Songs of the Peasantry of England Part 20

King Henrie was sent for, He came with all speed, In a gownd of green velvet From heel to the head.

'King Henrie! King Henrie!

If kind Henrie you be, Send for a surgeon, And bring him to me.'

The surgeon was sent for, He came with all speed, In a gownd of black velvet From heel to the head.

He gave her rich caudle, But the death-sleep slept she.

Then her right side was opened, And the babe was set free.

The babe it was christened, And put out and nursed, While the royal Queen Jane She lay cold in the dust.

So black was the mourning, And white were the wands, Yellow, yellow the torches, They bore in their hands.

The bells they were m.u.f.fled, And mournful did play, While the royal Queen Jane She lay cold in the clay.

Six knights and six lords Bore her corpse through the grounds; Six dukes followed after, In black mourning gownds.

The flower of Old England Was laid in cold clay, Whilst the royal King Henrie Came weeping away.

Ballad: THE WANDERING YOUNG GENTLEWOMAN; OR, CATSKIN.

[The following version of this ancient English ballad has been collated with three copies. In some editions it is called Catskin's Garland; or, the Wandering Young Gentlewoman. The story has a close similarity to that of Cinderella, and is supposed to be of oriental origin. Several versions of it are current in Scandinavia, Germany, Italy, Poland, and Wales. For some account of it see Pictorial Book of Ballads, ii. 153, edited by Mr. J. S.

Moore.]

PART 1.

You fathers and mothers, and children also, Draw near unto me, and soon you shall know The sense of my ditty, and I dare to say, The like's not been heard of this many a day.

The subject which to you I am to relate, It is of a young squire of vast estate; The first dear infant his wife did him bear, It was a young daughter of beauty most rare.

He said to his wife, 'Had this child been a boy, 'Twould have pleased me better, and increased my joy, If the next be the same sort, I declare, Of what I'm possessed it shall have no share.'

In twelve months' time after, this woman, we hear, Had another daughter of beauty most clear; And when that he knew it was but a female, Into a bitter pa.s.sion he presently fell,

Saying, 'Since this is of the same sort as the first, In my habitation she shall not be nursed; Pray let her be sent into the countrie, For where I am, truly, this child shall not be.'

With tears his dear wife unto him did say, 'Husband, be contented, I'll send her away.'

Then to the countrie with speed her did send, For to be brought up by one was her friend.

Although that her father he hated her so, He a good education on her did bestow; And with a gold locket, and robes of the best, This slighted young damsel was commonly dressed.

And when unto stature this damsel was grown, And found from her father she had no love shown, She cried, 'Before I will lay under his frown, I'm resolved to travel the country around.'

PART II.

But now mark, good people, the cream of the jest, In what sort of manner this creature was dressed; With cat-skins she made her a robe, I declare, The which for her covering she daily did wear.

Her own rich attire, and jewels beside, Then up in a bundle by her they were tied, And to seek her fortune she wandered away; And when she had travelled a cold winter's day,

In the evening-tide she came to a town, Where at a knight's door she sat herself down, For to rest herself, who was tired sore; - This n.o.ble knight's lady then came to the door.

This fair creature seeing in such sort of dress, The lady unto her these words did express: 'Whence camest thou, girl, and what wouldst thou have?'

She said, 'A night's rest in your stable I crave.'

The lady said to her, 'I'll grant thy desire, Come into the kitchen, and stand by the fire.'

Then she thanked the lady, and went in with haste; And there she was gazed on from highest to least.

And, being well warmed, her hunger was great, They gave her a plate of good food for to eat, And then to an outhouse this creature was led, Where with fresh straw she soon made her a bed.

And when in the morning the daylight she saw, Her riches and jewels she hid in the straw; And, being very cold, she then did retire Into the kitchen, and stood by the fire.

The cook said, 'My lady hath promised that thee Shall be as a scullion to wait upon me; What say'st thou girl, art thou willing to bide?'

'With all my heart truly,' to him she replied.

To work at her needle she could very well, And for raising of paste few could her excel; She being so handy, the cook's heart did win, And then she was called by the name of Catskin.

PART III.

The lady a son had both comely and tall, Who oftentimes used to be at a ball A mile out of town; and one evening-tide, To dance at this ball away he did ride.

Catskin said to his mother, 'Pray, madam, let me Go after your son now, this ball for to see.'

With that in a pa.s.sion this lady she grew, And struck her with the ladle, and broke it in two.

On being thus served she quick got away, And in her rich garments herself did array; And then to this ball she with speed did retire, Where she danced so bravely that all did admire.

The sport being done, the young squire did say, 'Young lady, where do you live? tell me, I pray.'

Her answer was to him, 'Sir, that I will tell, - At the sign of the broken ladle I dwell.'

She being very nimble, got home first, 'tis said, And in her catskin robes she soon was arrayed; And into the kitchen again she did go, But where she had been they did none of them know.

Next night this young squire, to give him content, To dance at this ball again forth he went.

She said, 'Pray let me go this ball for to view.'

Then she struck with the skimmer, and broke it in two.

Then out of the doors she ran full of heaviness, And in her rich garments herself soon did dress; And to this ball ran away with all speed, Where to see her dancing all wondered indeed.

The ball being ended, the young squire said, 'Where is it you live?' She again answered, 'Sir, because you ask me, account I will give, At the sign of the broken skimmer I live.'

Being dark when she left him, she homeward did hie, And in her catskin robes she was dressed presently, And into the kitchen amongst them she went, But where she had been they were all innocent.

When the squire dame home, and found Catskin there, He was in amaze and began for to swear; 'For two nights at the ball has been a lady, The sweetest of beauties that ever I did see.

'She was the best dancer in all the whole place, And very much like our Catskin in the face; Had she not been dressed in that costly degree, I should have swore it was Catskin's body.