Part 1 — Part I., p. 2 [our p. 195.] A Puritan of late. (continued 2)

Assembled near Parnassus, Dryden, Etherege, Wycherley, Shadwell, Nat Lee, Settle, Otway, Crowne, Mrs. Aphra Behn, Rawlins, Tom D’Urfey, and Betterton, are in the other verses sketched with point and vivacity; but in malicious satire. It was probably written in 1677. Clever as are these two later “Sessions,” they do not equal Suckling’s, in genial spirit and unforced cheerfulness.

We need not here linger over the whimsical Trial of Tom D’Urfey and Tom Brown (who squabbled between themselves, by the bye), in a still later “Sessions of the Poets Holden at the foot of Parnassus Hill, July the 9th, 1696: London, printed for E. Whitlock, near Stationers’ Hall, 1696”:—a mirthful squib, which does not lay claim to be called poetry. Nor need we do more than mention “A Trip to Parnassus; or, the Judgment of Apollo on Dramatic Authors and Performers. A Poem. London, 1788”—which deals with the two George Colmans, Macklin, Macnally, Lewis, &c. Coming to our own century, it is enough to particularize Leigh Hunt’s “Feast of the Poets;” printed in his “Reflector,” December, 1811, and afterwards much altered, generally with improvement (especially in the exclusion of the spiteful attack on Walter Scott). It begins—“’Tother day as Apollo sat pitching his darts,” &c. In 1837 Leigh Hunt wrote another such versical review, viz., “Blue-Stocking Revels; or, The Feast of the Violets.” This was on the numerous “poetesses,” but it cannot be deemed successful. Far superior to it is the clever and interesting “Fable for Critics,” since written by James Russell Lowell in America.

Both as regards its own merit, and as being the parent of many others (none of which has surpassed, or even equalled it), Sir John Suckling’s “Sessions of Poets” must always remain famous. We have not space remaining at command to annotate it with the fulness it deserves.

ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS.

The type-ornaments in Choyce Drollery reprint are merely substitutes for the ruder originals, and are not in fac-simile, as were the Initial Letters on pages 5 and 7 of our Merry Drollery, Compleat reprint.

Page 42, line 6, “a Lockeram Band:” Lockram, a cheap sort of linen, see J. O. Halliwell’s valuable Dictionary of Archaic and Provincial Words, p. 525, edit. 1874. To this, and to the same author’s 1876 edition of Archdeacon Nares Glossary, we refer readers for other words.

Page 73-77, 297, Marchpine, or Marchpane, biscuits often made in fantastic figures of birds or flowers, of sweetened almonds, &c. Scettuall, or Setiwall, the Garden Valerian. Bausons, i.e. badgers. Cockers; boots. Verse fifth omitted from Choyce Drollery, runs:—

A few typographical errors crept into sheet G (owing to an accident in the Editor’s final collation with original). P. 81, line 2, read Blacke; line 20, Shaft; p. 85, line 3, Unlesse; p. 86, line 5, Physitian; line 17, that Lawyer’s; p. 87, line 9, That wil stick to the Laws; p. 88, line 8, O that’s a companion; p. 90, first line, basenesse; line 23, nature; p. 91, line 13, add a comma after the word blot; p. 94, line 13, Scepter; p. 96, line 10, Of this; p. 97, line 15, For feare; p. 99, line 6, add a comma; p. 100, line 13, finde. These are all single-letter misprints.

Page 269, line 14, for encreasing, read encreaseth; and end line 28 with a comma.

I. H. in line 35, are the initials of the author, “Iohn Higins.”

Page 270, line 9, add the words—“It is by Sir Wm. Davenant, and entitled ‘The Dying Lover.’”

Page 275, penultimate line, read Poet-Beadle. P. 277, l. 17, for 1698 read 1598.

Page 281, line 20, for liveth, read lives; claime.

Page 289, after line 35, add—“Page 45, ‘As I went to Totnam.’ This is given with the music, in Tom D’Urfey’s Pills to purge Melancholy, p. 180, of 1700 and 1719 (vol. iv.) editions; beginning ‘As I came from Tottingham.’ The tune is named ‘Abroad as I was walking.’ Page 52, He that a Tinker; Music by Dr. Jn. Wilson.”

Page 330, after line 10, add—“Fly, boy, fly: Music by Simon Ives, in Playford’s Select Ayres, 1659, p. 90.”

The date of “The Zealous Puritan,” M. D. C., p. 95, was 1639. “He that intends,” &c., Ibid., p. 342, is the Vituperium Uxoris, by John Cleveland, written before 1658 (Poems, 1661, p. 169).

“Love should take no wrong,” in Westminster-Drollery, 1671, i. 90, dates back seventy years, to 1601: with music by Robert Jones, in his Second Book of Songs, Song 5.

Introduction to Merry Drollery (our second volume) p. xxii. lines 20, 21. Since writing the above, we have had the pleasure of reading the excellent “Memoir of Barbara, Duchess of Cleveland,” and the “Althorp Memoirs,” by G. Steinman Steinman, Esq., F. S. A., (printed for Private Circulation, 1871, 1869); by the former work, p. 22, we are led to discredit Mrs. Jameson’s assertion that the night of May 29, 1660, was spent by Charles II. in the house of Sir Samuel Morland at Vauxhall. “This knight and friend of the King’s may have had a residence in the parish of Lambeth before the Restoration, but as he was an Under Secretary of State at the time, it is more probable that he lived in London; and as he did not obtain from the Crown a lease of Vauxhall mansion and grounds until April 19, 1675, the foundations of a very improbable story, whoever originated it, are considerably shaken.” Mr. Steinman inclines to believe the real place of meeting was Whitehall. He has given a list of Charles II.’s male companions in the Court at Bruges, with short biographies, in the Archæologia, xxxv. pp. 335-349. We knew not of this list when writing our Introduction to Choyce Drollery.

The Phœnix (emblematical of the Restoration) is adapted from Spenser’s Works, 1611.

TABLE OF FIRST LINES In “Merry Drollery,” 1661, 1670, 1691 (Now first added.)

[The Songs and Poems peculiar to the first edition, 1661 (having been afterwards omitted), are here distinguished by being printed in Roman type. They are all contained in the present volume. Those that were added, in the later editions only, have no number attached to them in our first column of pages, viz. for 1661. The third edition, in 1691, was no more than a re-issue of the 1670 edition, with a fresh title-page to disguise it, in pretence of novelty (see p. 345, ante). The outside column refers to our Reprint of the “Drolleries;” but where the middle column is blank, as shewing the song was not repeated in 1670 and 1691, our Reprint-page belongs to the present volume. The “Reserved Pieces,” given only in Supplement, bear the letter “R” (for the extra sheet, signed R*).—Ed.]

First Lines. [In Editions] 1661 1670 1875

A Brewer may be a Burgess ii. 70 252 252

A fig for Care, why should we 217 217

A Fox, a Fox, up gallants 29 38 38

A Maiden of late, whose name 160 170 170

A Pox on the Jaylor, and on his 289 289

A Puritan of late 2 195

A Session was held the other day 68 72 72

A Story strange I will you tell ii. 12 200 200

A young man of late 27 201

A young man that’s in love 34 42 42

A young man walking all alone 32 204

After so many sad mishaps 112 118 118

After the pains of a desperate Lover 171 171

Ah, ah, come see what’s 30 40 40

All in the Land of Essex 48 56 56

Am I mad, O noble Festus? ii. 50 234 234

Amarillis told her swain 8 10

Among the Purifidian sect ii. 103 243

Are you grown so melancholy? ii. 101 286 286

Aske me no more why there appears 62 70 70

Bacchus I am, come from 61 69 69

Be merry in sorrow 1^b 6 8

Be not thou so foolish nice 61 69 69

Blind Fortune, if thou want’st 163 172 172

Bring forth your Cunny-skins ii. 8 196 196

But since it was lately enacted ii. 24 212 212

Call for the Master, oh, this 9 11

Call George again, boy ii. 118 304 304

Calm was the evening, and clear 220 220

Calm was the evening, and clear 292 292

Cast your caps and cares aside 87 92 92

Come, Drawer, and fill us about ii. 80 263 263

Come, Drawer, some wine ii. 29 237

Come, Drawer, turn about the b. ii. 86 268 268

Come, Drawer, come, fill us ii. 3 190 190

Come, faith, let’s frolick ii. 65 246 246

Come, hither, my own sweet ii. 106 247

Come, Imp Royal, come away ii. 45 231 231

Come, Jack, let’s drink a pot of Ale 45 52 52

Come, let us drink, the time invites 93 97 97

Come, let’s purge our brains 114 121 121

Come, my dainty Doxies, my Dove ii. 44 230 230

Come, my Daphne, come away 86 91 91

Come, my delicate, bonny sweet 23 34 34

Cook Laurel would needs have ii. 26 214 14

Discoveries of late have been ii. 33 R^f

Doctors, lay by your irkesome 41 48 48

Fair Lady, for your New Year’s ii. 81 Rⁿ

Fetch me Ben Johnson’s scull 293 293

From Essex Anabaptist Laws ii. 38 241

From hunger and cold, who lives ii. 9 197 197

From Mahomet and Paganisme 164 174 174

From the fair Lavinian shore 291 291

From what you call’t Town 191 182 182

Full forty times over I have, &c. ii. 61 Rⁱ

Gather your rosebuds while ii. 11 199 199

Go, you tame Gallants ii. 57 242 242

God bless my good Lord Bishop 166 176 176

Good Lord, what a pass is this 75 79 79

Had she not care enough 211 211

Hang Chastity! it is 88 220

Have you observed the Wench ii. 141 332 332

He is a fond Lover, that doateth ii. 62 R^l

He that a happy life would lead ii. 147 339 339

He that intends to take a wife ii. 153 342 342

Heard you not lately of a man 169 180 180

Here’s a health unto his Majesty 212 212

Hey, ho, have at all! 168 R^e

Hold, quaff no more ii. 19 210 210

How happy is the Prisoner 101 107 107

How poor is his spirit ii. 48 232 232

I am a bonny Scot, Sir 119 127 127

I am a Rogue, and a stout one ii. 16 204 204

I came unto a Puritan to woo 73 77 77

I doat, I doat, but am a sot ii. 53 237 237

I dreamt my Love lay in her bed 11 197

I have reason to fly thee ii. 97 281 281

I have the fairest Non-perel ii. 99 283 283

I loved a maid—she loved not me ii. 151 R^p

I marvel, Dick, that having been 46 54 54

I mean to speak of England’s 85 218

I met with the Divel in the shape 103 109 109

I pray thee, Drunkard, get thee ii. 119 306 306

I tell thee, Kit, where I have been 317 317

I went from England into France 64 213

If any one do want a House ii. 64 R^m

If any so wise is, that Sack ii. 157 348 348

If every woman were served in her 80 85 85

If none be offended with the scent ii. 77 259 259

If that you will hear of a ditty ii. 149 253

If thou wilt know how to chuse 21 32 32

If you will give ear ii. 46 R^g

I’ll go no more to the Old Exchange 126 134 134

I’ll sing you a sonnet, that ne’er 66 66

I’ll tell thee, Dick, where I have 97 101 101

I’ll tell you a story, that never w. t. 123 131 131

In Eighty-eight, e’er I was born 77 82 82

In the merry month of May 99 99

It chanced not long ago, as I was ii. 82 264 264

It was a man, and a jolly old man 95 222

Ladies, I do here present you ii. 55 240 240

Lay by your pleading, Law 118 125 125

Lay by your pleading, Love lies a ii. 4 191 191

Let dogs and divels die 31 41 41

Let Souldiers fight for praise ii. 31 218 218

Let the Trumpet sound ii. 142 333 333

Let’s call, and drink the cellar dry 130 138 138

Listen, lordings, to my story ii. 32 240

Mine own sweet honey bird 153 R^c

My bretheren all attend 91 95 95

My Lodging is on the cold ground 290 290

My Masters, give audience ii. 91 275 275

My Mistris is a shittle-cock 51 60 60

My Mistris is in Musick 154 163 163

My Mistris, whom in heart 107 113 113

Nay, out upon this fooling 79 84 84

Nay, prithee, don’t fly me 25 36 36

Ne’er trouble thy self at the times 219 219

Nick Culpepper and William Lilly 56 190

No man Love’s fiery passion ii. 1 187 187

No sooner were the doubtful people ii. 58 243 243

Now, gentlemen, if you will hear 18 29 29

Now I am married, Sir John ii. 96 280 280

Now, I confess, I am in love 1 5 7

Now Lambert’s sunk, and gallant 12 198

Now thanks to the Powers below 156 166 166

Now that the Spring has filled ii. 110 296 296

Now we are met in a knot ii. 138 328 328

O that I could by any Chymick ii. 31 239

O the wily, wily Fox ii. 114 300 300

Of all the Crafts that I do know 7 17 17

Of all the rare juices 178 178

Of all the Recreations, which 146 146

Of all the Sciences beneath the Sun ii. 129 319 319

Of all the Sports the world doth ii. 111 296 296

Of all the Trades that ever I see ii. 40 225 225

Of an old Souldier of the Queen’s 20 31 31

Oliver, Oliver, take up thy Crown ii. 72 254 254

Once was I sad, till I grew to be 2^b 10 12

Pox take you, Mistris, I’ll be gone ii. 118 304 304

Pray, why should any man ii. 87 270 270

Riding to London, in Dunstable 14 200

Room for a Gamester ii. 10 197 197

Room for the best Poets heroick! 96 100 100

Saw you not Pierce the piper ii. 124 312 312

She lay all naked in her bed ii. 115 300 300

She lay up to the navel bare ii. 116 R^o

She that will eat her breakfast ii. 120 308 308

Shew a room, shew a room ii. 145 337 337

Sir Eglamore, that valiant knight ii. 75 257 257

Some Christian people all give ear 81 87 87

Some wives are good, and some 302 302

Stay, shut the gate! ii. 18 207 207

Sublimest discretions have club’d 287 287

The Aphorisms of Galen ii. 94 277 277

The best of Poets write of F. 141 153 153

The Hunt is up, the Hunt is up 20 30 30

The Proctors are two, and no more 105 111 111

The Spring is coming on 40 47 47

The thirsty Earth drinks up 22 22

The Turk in linnen wraps 13 25 25

The Wise Men were but seven 232 232

The World’s a bubble, and the life 104 110 110

There dwelt a Maid in the C. g. 37 46 46

There is a certain idle kind of cr. 140 152 152

There was a jovial Tinker 17 27 27

There was a Lady in this land 134 223

There was an old man had an acre 44 52 52

There was three birds that built 139 R^a

There was three Cooks in C ii. 129 318 318

There’s a lusty liquor which 132 140 140

There’s many a blinking verse ii. 35 221 221

Three merry Boys came out 220 220

Three merry Lads met at the Rose 143 143

’Tis not the Silver nor Gold 109 115 115

To friend and to foe 38 23 23

Tobacco that is wither’d quite 16 26 26

Tom and Will were Shepherd 149 149

Upon a certain time 146 R^b

Upon a Summer’s day 148 230

Wake all you Dead, what ho! 151 151

Walking abroad in the m. 76 81 81

We Seamen are the honest boys 152 162 162

What an Ass is he, Waits, &c. ii. 90 273 273

What Fortune had I, poor Maid ii. 152 341 341

What is that you call a Maid. ii. 68 249 249

What though the ill times do run 116 124 124

What though the times produce 161 R^d

When blind god Cupid, all in an ii. 2 188 188

When first Mardike was made 4 12 12

When first the Scottishwar 89 93 93

When I a Lady do intend to flatter ii. 158 348 348

When I do travel in the night ii. 73 255 255

When I’se came first to London ii. 133 323 323

When Phœbus had drest ii. 69 250 250

When the chill Charokoe blows 155 164 164

White bears have lately come 149 159 159

Why should a man care ii. 146 337 337

Why should we boast of Arthur ii. 122 309 309

Why should we not laugh ii. 136 326 326

Will you hear a strange thing 53 62 62

You Gods, that rule upon ii. 21 233

You talk of New England ii. 84 266 266

You that in love do mean to sport ii. 22 235

First Lines of the “Antidote” Songs: Given in this Volume (and not in M. D. C.).

[Present Reprint,] Page

A Man of Wales, a little before Easter 157

An old house end 153

Bring out the [c]old Chyne 146

Come, come away to the Tavern, I say 150

Come hither, thou merriest of all the Nine 133

Come, let us cast dice who shall drink 151

Drink, drink, all you that think 158

Fly boy, fly boy, to the cellar’s bottom 157

Good Symon, how comes it 154

Hang Sorrow, and cast away Care 152

Hang the Presbyter’s Gill 144

He that a Tinker, a tinker will be 52

In love? away! you do me wrong 147

I’s not come here to tauke of Prut 141

Jog on, jog on the foot-path-way 156

Let’s cast away Care 152

Mongst all the pleasant juices 150

My Lady and her Maid 152

Never let a man take heavily 151

Not drunken nor sober 113

Of all the birds that ever I see 155

Old Poets Hypocrin admire 143

Once I a curious eye did fix 139

The parcht earth drinks the rain 157

The wit hath long beholden been 135

There was an old man at Walton Cross 151

This Ale, my bonny lads 155

’Tis Wine that inspires 145

Welcome, welcome, again to thy wit 159

What are we met? Come, let’s see 156

Why should we boast of Arthur 129

Wilt thou be fat? I’ll tell thee how 154

Wilt thou lend me thy mare 153

With an old song made by an old a. p. 125

You merry Poets, old boyes 149

Your mare is lame, she halts outright 153

Here the Editor closes his willing toil, (after having added a Table of First Lines, and a Finale,) and offers a completed work to the friendly acceptance of Readers. They are no vague abstractions to him, but a crowd of well-distinguished faces, many among them being renowned scholars and genial critics. To approach them at all might be deemed temerity, were it not that such men are the least to be feared by an honest worker. On the other hand, it were easy for ill-natured persons to insinuate accusations against any one who meddles with Re-prints of Facetiæ. Blots and stains are upon such old books, which he has made no attempt to disguise or palliate. Let them bear their own blame. There are dullards and bigots in the world, nevertheless, who decry all antiquarian and historical research. A defence is unnecessary: “Let them rave!”

He thanks those who heartily welcomed the earlier Volumes, and trusts that no unworthy successor is to be found in the present Conclusion, which holds many rare verses. Hereafter may ensue another meeting. Our olden Dramatists and Poets open their cellars, full of such vintage as Dan Phœbus had warmed. Leaving these “Drolleries of the Restoration” behind him, as a Nest-Egg, the Editor bids his Readers cheerfully

FAREWELL!