I have none of these
works at hand for immediate reference, but the above note contains all
that I have been able to collect on the subject of our popular ballad.
There is another song, much to the same purport, beginning--
"When as the Duke of Normandy,
With glistening spear and shield,"
in Evans's _Songs_, vol. ii. p. 33, printed by him from _The Garland
of Delight_, by Delone, in the Pepys collection at Cambridge--a
black-letter volume; and probably the song was by himself.
Your correspondent "F.B." asks for the remainder of the song. In pity
to yourself and your readers, I forbear sending you the countless
stanzas--numerous enough in the _original_ song, but now, by the
additions of successive generations, swelled to a volume. He will find
in Chappell's collection all that is worth having, with the assurance,
repeated oft enough for the most enthusiastic of our _modest_
countrymen, that
"In Britain's race if one surpass,
A man of Kent is he."
LAMBERT LARKING.
Ryarsh Vicarage.
Pages:
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65