Bishop Percy's Folio Manuscript: Loose and Humorous Songs

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N. Trubner, 1867 - 127 pages

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Page 77 - I haue bin as vnable to know them as a-shamed to chalenge them. This therefore I was the willinger to furnish out in his natiue habit : first being by consent, next because the rest haue been so wronged in being publisht in such sauadge and ragged garments: accept it courteous Gentlemen, and prooue as fauorable Readers as we haue found you gratious Auditors. Yours TH...
Page 77 - We weare more fantastical fashions than any nation under the sun doth, the French only excepted ; which hath given occasion to the Venetian, and other Italians, to brand the Englishman with a notable mark of levity, by painting him stark naked, with a pair of shears in his hand, making his fashion of attire according to the vain conception of his brain-sick head, not to comeliness and decorum.
Page 39 - After him succeeded by the General Councel one Cock Lorele, the most notorious knave that ever lived. By trade he was a tinker, often carrying a panne and a hammer for a show ; but when he came to a good booty he would cast his profession in a ditch, and play the padder...
Page 77 - Yet since some of my plays have (unknown to me, and without any of my direction) accidentally come into the printer's hands, and therefore so corrupt and mangled (copied only by the ear) that I have been as unable to know them as ashamed to challenge them...
Page 100 - THOU art to all lost love the best, The only true plant found, Wherewith young men and maids distrest And left of love, are crown'd. When once the lover's rose is dead Or laid aside forlorn, Then willow-garlands, 'bout the head, Bedew'd with tears, are worn.
Page 76 - THE Spaniard loves his ancient slop, The Lombard his Venetian, And some like breechless women go, The Russ, Turk, Jew, and Grecian : The thrifty Frenchman wears small waist, The Dutch his belly boasteth, The Englishman is for them all, And for each fashion coasteth.
Page 77 - Crudities, p. 260, has this remark ; " we weare more phantasticall fashions then any nation under the sunne doth, the French onely excepted ; which hath given occasion both to the Venetian and other Italians to brand the Englishman with a notable marke of levity, by painting him starke naked with a paire of shears in his hand, making his fashion of attire according to the vaine invention of his braine-sicke head, not to comelinesse and decorum.
Page 4 - I hard a voice which made a Noise, which caused me to attend it, I heard a lasse say to a Ladd, " once more, & none can mend it.
Page 3 - Here was a letter indeed, to be intercepted by a man's father, and do him good with him ! He cannot but think most virtuously, both of me. and the sender, sure, that make the careful costermonger of him in our familiar epistles. Well, if he read this with patience I'll be gelt, and troll ballads for Master John Trundle yonder, the rest of my mortality.
Page 96 - THE maid shee went to the well to washe, Lillumwham, lillumwham ! The mayd shee went to the well to washe, Whatt then ? what then ? The maid shee went to the well to washe, Dew ffell of her lilly white fleshe.

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