A PEPYSIAN GARLAND - online book
Black-letter Broadside Ballads Of The years 1595-1639
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75
No natural mother
Manchester Free Reference Library Collection, n, 2, B.L., three woodÂcuts, three columns.
The ballad was licensed for publication on July 16, 1634 (Arber's Transcript, iv, 323). A better example of a good-night, or last farewell, could hardly be found, though many of the stanzas have a naiveti that is a bit startling and that is somewhat unusual in so sophisticated a balladist as Parker. The first stanza is quoted in the Roxburghe Ballads, vin, xviii***, with no indication of its source. For the tune see Chappell's Popular Music, 1, 176. Welladay was the favourite tune for good-nights after it had been used in a ballad (1603) attributed to Robert, Earl of Essex. Other famous victims of the law whose woes were sung to it were Thomas Wentworth, Earl of StrafFord (British Museum, C. 20. f. 2/8), and Charles I {Roxburgke Ballads, vm, xc* **). Cf. also Sir Walter Raleigh's lament (No. 15).
 To the tune of, Welladay.
i LIke to a dying Swan pensiuely, pensiuely, (With mourning) I looke wan,
for my life passed; I am exceeding sad, For my misdeeds too bad, O that before I had
better fore-casted. |
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