Transcribed from the 1857 John W. Parker and Son edition by David Price, email ccx074@pglaf.org ANCIENT POEMS BALLADS AND SONGS OF THE PEASANTRY OF ENGLAND. TAKEN DOWN FROM ORAL RECITATION AND TRANSCRIBED FROM PRIVATE MANUSCRIPTS, RARE BROADSIDES AND SCARCE PUBLICATIONS. EDITED BY ROBERT BELL [Picture: Decorative graphic] LONDON JOHN W. PARKER AND SON WEST STRAND 1857 * * * * * LONDON: SAVILL AND EDWARDS, PRINTERS CHANDOS STREET. * * * * * CONTENTS PAGE Introduction 7 Poems. THE PLAIN-DEALING MAN 11 THE VANITIES OF LIFE 15 THE LIFE AND AGE OF MAN 20 THE YOUNG MAN’S WISH 22 THE MIDNIGHT MESSENGER 24 A DIALOGUE BETWIXT AN EXCISEMAN AND DEATH 29 THE MESSENGER OF MORTALITY 32 ENGLAND’S ALARM 36 SMOKING SPIRITUALIZED 39 THE MASONIC HYMN 42 GOD SPEED THE PLOW, AND BLESS THE CORN-MOW 44 A DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE HUSBANDMAN AND THE SERVINGMAN 46 THE CATHOLICK 49 Ballads. THE THREE KNIGHTS 50 THE BLIND BEGGAR OF BEDNALL GREEN 51 THE BOLD PEDLAR AND ROBIN HOOD 59 THE OUTLANDISH KNIGHT 61 LORD DELAWARE 64 LORD BATEMAN 68 THE GOLDEN GLOVE; OR, THE SQUIRE OF TAMWORTH 70 KING JAMES I. AND THE TINKLER 72 THE KEACH I’ THE CREEL 75 THE MERRY BROOMFIELD; OR, THE WEST COUNTRY WAGER 77 SIR JOHN BARLEYCORN 80 BLOW THE WINDS, I-HO! 82 THE BEAUTIFUL LADY OF KENT; OR, THE SEAMAN OF DOVER 84