The Ballads and Songs of Yorkshire: Transcribed from Private Manuscripts, Rare Broadsides, and Scarce Publications; with Notes and a Glossary
General
The Ballads and Songs of Yorkshire: Transcribed from Private Manuscripts, Rare Broadsides, and Scarce Publications; with Notes and a Glossary
Ballads, English -- England -- Yorkshire -- Texts; Songs, English -- England -- Yorkshire -- Texts
effigy was buried, and no notice at all taken of the matter. At the same
time, a neighbouring gentleman dreamed that that day he should see
something that would sufficiently astonish him. He told it to his lady,
who dissuaded him from going a hunting that day; but he was resolved,
not giving any credit to dreams, and so takes horse in the morning. As
he was a hunting, he happened to be in the wood where the child was, and
as he was riding by the tree his horse gave a great start, so that he
had liked to have fallen down; and turning about, to see what was the
matter, he saw something stir in a hole, and being inquisitive to know
the cause, his dream presently came in his head, and therefore he calls
his man, and bids him examine what was in the hole; who, having searched
the tree, discovers the child in the tree. He took it out, and his
master carried it to his lady almost dead; he told her his dream was
out, declaring how he found the child, and begged her to take care of
it. The child was revived, and in a little time brought to itself again;
but they could not imagine whose it was; till at last it happened that
some woman came to the gentleman's house, a singing at Christmas, and
seeing the child, knew it, and declared whose it was, and that it was
supposed to be dead and buried. The gentleman goes and prevails with the
minister of the parish to have the grave opened, and found the waxen
effigy of the child in the grave. He went to the justice of the peace,
to whom he declared the matter; who sent his warrant for the child's
trustee, who, being convicted of the matter, was not able to deny it,
but confessed all the business. But seeing the child was alive, it is
supposed he will not be tried for his life, but it is thought a severe
punishment will be inflicted on him; and the justice appointed the
gentleman that found the child to be its trustee till the assizes. The
child is now at the gentleman's house, who loves it as if it was his
own, for he has no children himself, and is a man of a good estate, and
is likely to augment very much the child's fortune.
Tune "_Forgive me if your looks I thought_."
I.
A wealthy squire in the north,
Who left an infant daughter
All his estate of mighty worth;
But mark what follow'd after.
As he lay on his dying bed,
He call'd his brother to him,
And unto him these words he said:
"I from the world am going;
II.
"Therefore, dear brother, take my child,
Which is both young and tender,
And for my sake be kind and mild,
And faithfully defend her.
Three hundred pounds a year I leave
To bring her up in fashion;
I hope you will not her deceive,
But use her with compassion."
III.
To which the brother then replied,
"I'll sooner suffer torture,
Than e'er become a wicked guide,
Or wrong your only daughter."
The father then did seem content,
And like a lamb expired,
As thinking nothing could prevent
What he had thus desir'd.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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