A PEPYSIAN GARLAND - online book

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	74
	Charles Rickets' recantation Pepys, i, 172, B.L., three woodcuts, four columns. Perhaps this was the ballad called "Long Runns that neere turnes" which was licensed to John Wright, July 8, 1633 (Arber's Transcript, iv, 299). "He runneth far that never turneth again" occurs among John Heywood's Proverbs, 1562 {Works, ed. J. S. Farmer, pp. 90, 182). Charles Rickets may be a pseudonym of Charles Records, whose name is signed to a number of ballads of this type; as, "The Goodfellow's Advice" against drink and other vices {Roxburghe Ballads, in, 261; cf. the list given at p. 681). Possibly Charles was, as he professes, a roaring Oxfordshire trader; but certainly the exploits for which he grieves seem tame enough. The "crotchet" which he played on a tailor by spending his shilling hardly seems a matter for mention, much less for excessive repentance. No information about the tune is available. To the Tune of his lamentation, or lie beat my wife no more. I HE runs farre that ne'r returneth, is a Prouerbe still in vse: And hee's vnhappy that ne'r mourneth, for his former times abuse. I therefore, who vs'd to rore, Where-euer I did come or goe, do now repent, for time ill spent, And vow He neuer more doe so.
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