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SIR ANDREW BARTON. 201 |
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A TRUE RELATION OP THE LIFE AND DEATH OF SIR ANDREW BARTON, A PYRATE AND ROVER ON THE SEAS.
This-copy of Sir Andrew Barton is to be found in Old Ballads (1723) vol. i. 159, Ritson's Ancient Songs, ii. 204, Moore's Pictorial Book of Ancient Ballad Poetry, p. 256, and Early Naval Ballads of England, Percy Society, vol. ii. p. 4, with only exceedingly trifling variations. We have followed the last, where the ballad is given from a black-letter copy in the British Museum, " printed by and for W. O., and sold by the booksellers."
When Flora with her fragrant flowers,
Bedeckt the earth so trim and gay, And Neptune with his dainty showers,
Came to present the month of May, King Henry would a-hunting ride; «
Over the river Thames passed he, Unto a mountain-top also
Did walk, some pleasure for to see.
Where forty merchants he espy"d,
With fifty sail came towards him, »
Who then no sooner were arriv'd,
But on their knees did thus complain; " An't please your grace, we cannot sail |
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