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124 ADAM BEL, CLTM OF THE CLOUGHE, |
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ADAM BEL, CLTM OF THE CLOUGHE, AND WYLLTAM OF CLOUDESLE.
This favorite and delightful ballad was printed by William Copland, without date, but probably not far from 1550. Only a single copy of this edition is known to be preserved. There is another edition by James Koberts, printed in 1605, with a second part entitled Young Cloudeslee, " a very inferior and servile production," says Kitson. Mr. Payne Collier has recently recovered a fragment of an excellent edition considerably older than Copland's.
Adam Bell, Sfc, was also entered at Stationers' Hall in 1557-8, as licensed to John King. Another entry occurs in the same registers under 1582, and in 1586 mention is made of " A ballad of Willm. Clowdisley never printed before." No one of these three impressions is known to be extant.
Percy inserted this piece in his Reliques, (i. 158,) following Copland's edition, with corrections from his folio manuscript. Kitson adhered to Copland's text with his usual fidelity, (Pieces of Popular Poetry, p. 1.) We have printed the ballad from Kitson, with some important improvements derived from a transcript of Mr. Collier's fragment most kindly furnished by that gentleman. This fragment extends from the 7th verse of the second fit to the 55th of the third, but is somewhat mutilated.
" Allane Bell" is mentioned by Dunbar in company |
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