ancient poems-第31节
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Now； Jack and Tom； they're going to the sea； I wish them both in good companie！ They're going to seek their fortunes ayont the wide sea； Far； far away frae their oan countrie！
They mounted their horses； and rode over the moor； Till they came to a house； when they rapped at the door； And out came Jockey； the hostler…man。 'D'ye brew ony ale？ D'ye sell ony beer？ Or have ye ony lodgings for strangers here？'
'Ne； we brew ne ale； nor we sell ne beer； Nor we have ne lodgings for strangers here。' So he bolted the door； and bade them begone； For there was ne lodgings there for poor Jack and Tom。
They mounted their horses； and rode over the plain； … Dark was the night； and down fell the rain； Till a twinkling light they happened to spy； And a castle and a house they were close by。
They rode up to the house； and they rapped at the door； And out came Jockey； the hosteler。 'D'ye brew ony ale？ D'ye sell ony beer？ Or have ye ony lodgings for strangers here？'
'Yes； we have brewed ale this fifty lang year； And we have got lodgings for strangers here。' So the roast to the fire； and the pot hung on； 'Twas all to accommodate poor Jack and Tom。
When supper was over； and all was SIDED DOWN； The glasses of wine did go merrily roun'。 'Here is to thee； Jack； and here is to thee； And all the bonny lasses in our countrie！' 'Here is to thee； Tom； and here is to thee； And look they may LEUK for thee and me！'
'Twas early next morning； before the break of day； They mounted their horses； and so they rode away。 Poor Jack； he died upon a far foreign shore； And Tom； he was never； never heard of more！
Ballad： JOAN'S ALE WAS NEW。
＇OURS is the common version of this popular song； it varies considerably from the one given by D'Urfey； in the PILLS TO PURGE MELANCHOLY。 From the names of Nolly and Joan and the allusion to ale； we are inclined to consider the song as a lampoon levelled at Cromwell； and his wife； whom the Royalist party nick…named 'Joan。' The Protector's acquaintances （depicted as low and vulgar tradesmen） are here humorously represented paying him a congratulatory visit on his change of fortune； and regaling themselves with the 'Brewer's' ale。 The song is mentioned in Thackeray's Catalogue； under the title of JOAN'S ALE'S NEW； which may be regarded as circumstantial evidence in favour of our hypothesis。 The air is published in POPULAR MUSIC； accompanying three stanzas of a version copied from the Douce collection。 The first verse in Mr。 Chappell's book runs as follows：…
There was a jovial tinker； Who was a good ale drinker； He never was a shrinker； Believe me this is true； And he came from the Weald of Kent； When all his money was gone and spent； Which made him look like a Jack a…lent。 And Joan's ale is new； my boys； And Joan's ale is new。＇
THERE were six jovial tradesmen； And they all sat down to drinking； For they were a jovial crew； They sat themselves down to be merry； And they called for a bottle of sherry； You're welcome as the hills； says Nolly； While Joan's ale is new； brave boys； While Joan's ale is new。
The first that came in was a soldier； With his firelock over his shoulder； Sure no one could be bolder； And a long broad…sword he drew： He swore he would fight for England's ground； Before the nation should be run down； He boldly drank their healths all round； While Joan's ale was new。
The next that came in was a hatter； Sure no one could be blacker； And he began to chatter； Among the jovial crew： He threw his hat upon the ground； And swore every man should spend his pound； And boldly drank their hearths all round； While Joan's ale was new。
The next that came in was a dyer； And he sat himself down by the fire； For it was his heart's desire To drink with the jovial crew： He told the landlord to his face； The chimney…corner should be his place； And there he'd sit and dye his face； While Joan's ale was new。
The next that came in was a tinker； And he was no small beer drinker； And he was no strong ale shrinker； Among the jovial crew： For his brass nails were made of metal； And he swore he'd go and mend a kettle； Good heart； how his hammer and nails did rattle； When Joan's ale was new！
The next that came in was a tailor； With his bodkin； shears； and thimble； He swore he would be nimble Among the jovial crew： They sat and they called for ale so stout； Till the poor tailor was almost broke； And was forced to go and pawn his coat； While Joan's ale was new。
The next that came in was a ragman； With his rag…bag over his shoulder； Sure no one could be bolder Among the jovial crew。 They sat and called for pots and glasses； Till they were all drunk as asses； And burnt the old ragman's bag to ashes； While Joan's ale was new。
Ballad： GEORGE RIDLER'S OVEN。
＇THIS ancient Gloucestershire song has been sung at the annual dinners of the Gloucestershire Society； from the earliest period of the existence of that institution； and in 1776 there was an Harmonic Society at Cirencester； which always opened its meetings with GEORGE RIDLER'S OVEN in full chorus。
The substance of the following key to this very curious song is furnished by Mr。 H。 Gingell； who extracts it from the ANNUAL REPORT OF THE GLOUCESTERSHIRE SOCIETY for 1835。 The annual meeting of this Society is held at Bristol in the month of August； when the members dine； and a branch meeting； which was formerly held at the Crown and Anchor in the Strand； is now annually held at the Thatched House Tavern； St。 James's。 GEORGE RIDLER'S OVEN is sung at both meetings； and the late Duke of Beaufort used to lead off the glee in capital style。 The words have a secret meaning； well known to the members of the Gloucestershire Society； which was founded in 1657； three years before the Restoration of Charles II。 The Society consisted of Royalists； who combined together for the purpose of restoring the Stuarts。 The Cavalier party was supported by all the old Roman Catholic families of the kingdom； and some of the Dissenters； who were disgusted with Cromwell； occasionally lent them a kind of passive aid。
FIRST VERSE。 … By 'George Ridler' is meant King Charles I。 The 'oven' was the Cavalier party。 The 'stwons' that 'built the oven；' and that 'came out of the Bleakney quaar；' were the immediate followers of the Marquis of Worcester； who held out long and steadfastly for the Royal cause at Raglan Castle； which was not surrendered till 1646； and was in fact the last stronghold retained for the King。 'His head did grow above his hair；' is an allusion to the crown； the head of the State； which the King wore 'above his hair。'
SECOND VERSE。 … This means that the King； 'before he died；' boasted that notwithstanding his present adversity； the ancient constitution of the kingdom was so good； and its vitality so great； that it would surpass and outlive every other form of government。
THIRD VERSE。 … 'Dick the treble； Jack the mean； and George the bass；' mean King； Lords； and Commons。 The injunction to 'let every man sing in his own place；' is a warning to each of the three estates of the realm to preserve its proper position； and not to encroach on each other's prerogative。
FOURTH VERSE。 … 'Mine hostess's maid' is an allusion to the Queen； who was a Roman Catholic； and her maid； the Church。 The singer we must suppose was one of the leaders of the party； and his 'dog' a companion； or faithful official of the Society； and the song was sung on occasions when the members met together socially； and thus； as the Roman Catholics were Royalists； the allusion to the mutual attachment between the 'maid' and 'my dog and I；' is plain and consistent。
FIFTH VERSE。 … The 'dog' had a 'trick of visiting maids when they were sick。' The meaning is； that when any of the members were in distress or desponding； or likely to give up the Royal cause in despair； the officials； or active members visited； counselled； and assisted them。
SIXTH VERSE。 … The 'dog' was 'good to catch a hen；' a 'duck；' or a 'goose。' … That is； to enlist as members of the Society any who were well affected to the Royal cause。
SEVENTH VERSE。 … 'The good ale tap' is an allusion； under cover of the similarity in sound between the words ale and aisle； to the Church； of which it was dangerous at the time to be an avowed follower； and so the members were cautioned that indiscretion might lead to their discovery and 'overthrow。'
EIGHTH VERSE。 … The allusion here is to those unfaithful supporters of the Royal cause； who 'welcomed' the members of the Society when it appeared to be prospering； but 'parted' from them in adversity。
NINTH VERSE。 … An expression of the singer's wish that if he should die he may be buried with his faithful companion； as representing the principles of the Society； under the good aisles of the church。
The following text has been collated with a version published in NOTES AND QUERIES； from the 'fragments of a MS。 found in the speech…house of Dean。' The tune is the same as that of the WASSAILERS' SONG； and is printed in POPULAR MUSIC。 Other ditties appear to have been founded on this ancient piece。 The fourth； seventh； and ninth verses are in the old ditty called MY DOG AND I： and th
