the old ballad of "The King and the Miller of Mansfield" is said, "like Maid Marian, to mince at that tide" when she was on her best behaviour before the King. 66 66 66 66 At particular seasons, when a grand festival was determined upon, "All the wild heads of the parish flocking "together" (says Stubbs in his Anatomy of Abuses, A.D. 1595,) "choose them a grand captain of mischief whom they ennoble with the title of Lord of Misrule, and him they crown with great solemnity and adopt for their king. "This king anointed chooseth forth twenty, forty, threescore, or an hundred like to himself to wait upon his "lordly majesty, and to guard his noble person. Then every one of these his men he investeth with his liveries "of green, yellow, or some other light wanton colour; and "as though they were not gawdy enough, they bedeck "themselves with scarfs, ribbons and laces, hanged all over "with gold rings, precious stones and other jewels; this "done they tie about either leg twenty or forty bells, with "rich handkerchiefs in their hands, or sometimes laid across 66 over their shoulders and necks, borrowed for the most "part of their pretty Mopsies and loving Bessies for bussing "them in the dark. 66 "Thus all things set in order, then have they their Hobby-horses, their Dragons, and their Antics, together "with their pipers and drummers, to strike up the Devil's "dance withal. Then marcheth this heathen company "towards the churchyard, their pipers playing, their drum"mers thundering, their stumps dancing, their bells jingling, "their handkerchiefs fluttering about their heads like mad"men; their hobby-horses and other monsters skirmishing "amongst the throng; and in this sort they go to the "church, (though the minister be at prayer or preaching,) 66 dancing and swinging their handkerchiefs over their heads "in the church, like devils incarnate; with such a con"fused noise that no man can hear his own voice: then "the foolish people, they look, they stare; they laugh, they 66 "fleere, and mount upon forms and pews to see these goodly pageants solemnized in this sort. Then after this, "about the church they go again and again, and so forth "into the churchyard, where they have commonly their "summerhalls, their bowers, arbours, and banquet houses "set up, wherein they feast, banquet and dance, all that "day, and peradventure the night too." 66 If we are to believe an extract from an old pamphlet, A.D. 1609, mentioned in the British Bibliographer, Herefordshire bore the bell for Morris dancing: it is therein stated, "The Courts of Kings for stately measures, the City for light heels and nimble footing; Western men for 'gambols; Middlesex men for tricks above ground; Essex men for the Hey; Lancashire for Hornpipes; Worces"tershire for Bagpipes; but Herefordshire for a Morris "dance, puts down not only all Kent, but very near three quarters of Christendom if one had line enough to measure it." (Old Meg of Herefordshire for a Maid Ma. rian.) 66 In 1595 appeared his Balletts to five voices*, set both to Italian and English words. Gastoldi's Balletti furnish a considerable number of the originals, and from them the English version is principally translated or paraphrased. The dedication is as follows: 66 "To the Right Honorable Sir Robert Cecill, Knight; one of Her Majesty's Honorable Privy Council. "Among so many brave and excellent qualities which "have enriched that virtuous mind of yours, knowing the * Twenty-one in number. 66 same also to be much delighted with that of Musicke, "which peradventure no less than any of the rest hath "been to it as a ladder to the intelligence of higher things: "Lo! hereupon I have presumed to make offer to the "same, of these simple compositions of mine; imitating, Right Honorable, in this, the custom of that Old World, “who wanting incense to offer up to their gods, made "shift instead thereof to honour them with milk; or as "those who being not able to present a torch unto the holy altars in sign of their devotion, did light a little "candle, and give up the same. In which notwithstanding "did shine more clearly the affection of the giver, than "the worth or value of the gift itself. 56 66 May it so therefore please Your Honor to accept of this "small present with that good intention wherewith I offer "it: beseeching therewithal the Almightie to graunt you "the accomplishment of all your honorable desires. "Your Honor's devoted in all duty, "THOMAS MORLEY." "London the 12th day of October, 1595." To this succeeds the following Eulogium, written by Mr. M. D. (probably Michael Drayton). Such was old Orpheus cunning, That senseless things drew near him; And herds of beasts to hear him. The stock, the stone, the ox, the ass came running. Morley! but this enchanting To thee, to be the music god, is wanting; And yet thou needst not fear him. Draw thou the shepherds still, and bonny lasses, LXXV. Dainty fine sweet Nymph delightful, Sit we here our loves recounting: Among these roses. Fa la la. Why, alas! are you so spiteful, Kill then and bless me, But first come kiss me. Fa la la. After the introduction of sugar into this country, the epithet sugred was much used in poetry; previous to that we have more frequently honied words, honey days, &c. Gloses are flattering speeches. Milton uses the verb, "Thus glozed the tempter."-Paradise Lost. The Italian words from Gastoldi are as follows: "Vezzosette ninf' e belle, LXXVI. About the maypole new, with glee and merriment, While as the bagpipe tooted it, Thirsis and Cloris fine together footed it: And to the joyous instrument Still they danc'd to and fro, and finely flaunted it*, And then both met again, and thus they chaunted it. Fa la. The Shepherds and the Nymphs them round inclosed had, Wond'ring with what facility, About they turn'd them in such strange agility: With words full of delight they gently kissed them, Fa la. This is rather a spirited paraphrase of the following Italian lines: "Al suon d'una sampogn' e d'una citera, "Sopra l'herbette floride "Dansava Tirsi con l'amata Cloride; "Ed a l'usanza vetera, "S'abraciavan ridendo e si bacciavano; "Ed in lode d'amor lieto cantavano. * Goldsmith must have had a similar couple in his eye when he described, "The dancing pair that simply sought renown |