%ISOlat1; %ISOlat2; %ISOnum; %ISOpub; ]> A most excellent and vertuous Ballad of the patient Grissell: University of California - Santa Barbara The Early Modern Center Director Patricia Fumerton 1624 Early Modern Center, University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 06/26/2008 20160

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Patricia Fumerton Early Modern Center - English Department University of California Santa Barbara, CA 93105 United States of America EMail: pfumer@english.ucsb.edu

1.34-35 S126137 1 the Brides good morrow the Bride's Good-Morrow The Bride's Good Morrow A Noble Marquesse, / [A]s he did ri[d]e a hunting, SHe tooke the Babes, / Euen from the nursing Ladies, attributed to Thomas Deloney, 1543?-1600, based on book 10, novel 10 of Giovanni Boccacio, Decameron; another edition at 1.520-521. Pepys 1.34-35 STC 12384.5 [Printed by G. Purslowe] for H. Gossen, [c.1625?]; Rollins (2) 1956 (Dec. 14, 1624, IV, 131); Rollins (2) 1957 (Mch. 1, 1675, ii, 501); Rollins (2) 2045 (Mch. 1, 1675, ii, 498). Woodblock 1: first half sheet, above three columns: A gentleman stands by his horse (held by a servant) as someone speaks to him; his sword lies in front of him on the ground. In the back right is another servant holding the knight's helmet, and on the far right a figure looks on that has wings, a long staff (lance?), and shield emblazoned with a face. In the bottom left corner lies an opened chest. : 98 x 112 Woodblock 2: second half sheet, above two columns, to the right of third column: In the foreground, a woman (presumably Griselda) sits at her spinning wheel outside her thatched house. On the left in the middleground, a gentleman with a large plumed hat rides by on a horse. In the middle and background are two dogs, a rough rendition of a stag, and another man on foot with a long staff, indicating that the men are hunting. Two trees stand in the background.: 80 x 79 Woodblock 1: first half sheet, above three columns: A gentleman stands by his horse (held by a servant) as someone speaks to him; his sword lies in front of him on the ground. In the back right is another servant holding the knight's helmet, and on the far right a figure looks on that has wings, a long staff (lance?), and shield emblazoned with a face. In the bottom left corner lies an opened chest. : 98 x 112 Woodblock 2: second half sheet, above two columns, to the right of third column: In the foreground, a woman (presumably Griselda) sits at her spinning wheel outside her thatched house. On the left in the middleground, a gentleman with a large plumed hat rides by on a horse. In the middle and background are two dogs, a rough rendition of a stag, and another man on foot with a long staff, indicating that the men are hunting. Two trees stand in the background.: 80 x 79 Pepys Library The Pepys ballads : facsimile volume Editor W.G. Day D.S. Brewer Cambridge [England] 1987 Information in this section of the Source Description refers to the original ballad manuscript. 1: 34 1: 35 A most excellent and vertuous Ballad of the patient Grissell: A most excellent and vertuous Ballad of the patient Grissell: A Most Excellent and Virtuous Ballad of the Patient Grissell: The second part, The second part, The Second Part, 1/2 sheet folio, originally left part, 285 x 185 1/2 sheet folio, originally right part, 288 x 183 uneven inking damaged surface, uneven inking cast fleurons cast fleurons 1624 Printed at London for H. Gossen. G. Purslowe Weinstein: STC, licensing info Weinstein only lists G. Purslowe. BBTI lists George Purslowe and G. Purslowe, but notes that G. Purslowe might be the son of George Purslowe. No variant of G. Purslowe appears on the facsimile. Plomer lists Purslowe, with George in parentheses.ESTC also lists that G. Purslowe was the printer. It is not clear where any variant of the name G. Purslowe comes from, as it does not appear on facsimile.

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 Taxonomy used by Pepys to Organize Ballads in Albums A Small Promiscuous Supplement Devotion & Morality Drinking & Good Fellowship History - True & Fabulous Humour, Frollicks &c Love Pleasant Love Pleasant and Unfortunate Love Unfortunate Marriage Sea State & Times Tragedy Various Subjects Early Modern Center Ballad Project Keyword Taxonomy advice affliction/health alcohol animals/nature appearance Bible/biblical figures buildings/architecture catastrophe children class clothing/fashion country/nation crime death economics/trade entertainment family/procreation folklore gender historical figures & events holidays/seasons infidelity law London love maritime marriage military/war monstrosity mythology/Classical world news nobility/court politics/government punishment religious concepts religious figures religious types & sects royalty rural life servitude sex/sexuality supernatural/magic The New World travel trickery/deceit urban life vice violence virtue vulgarities/crass humor Library of Congress Subject Heading Taxonomy 6/26/2008 Santa Barbara, California, United States of America Devotion & Morality 06/26/08 Checker Rachel Mann Metadata updated, xml created 7/2/2007 Checker Gordon Batchelor Ballad Checked - ESTC S124584 6/2005 Transcriber Dolly Smith Original Transcription 7/6/2004 Bibliographer Tassie Gnaidy Bibliographic SQL Database Record Created
<seg n="1" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">A most excellent and vertuous Ballad of the patient <hi rend="bold">Grissell</hi>:</hi></seg> <seg n="2" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">To the tune of the Brides good morrow.</hi></seg>
A Noble Marquesse, As he did ride a hunting, hard by a Forrest side, A faire and comely Mayden, As she did sit [a] spinning, his gentle e[y]e espide; Most faire and lovely, And of comely grace was she, although in simp[l]e attire: She sung [full] sweetly, With pleasant voyce melodiously, which set the [L]ords heart on fire: The more he lookt the more he might, Beautie bred his hearts delight, And to this Damsell then he went: God speed (quoth he) thou famous flower Faire Mistris of this homely bower, Where love and vertue dwels with sweet content. With comely gesture, And modest milde behaviour, she bade him welcome then, She entertain'd him In faithfull friendly manner, and all his Gentlemen: The Noble Ma[r]quesse In's heart felt such a flame, which set his senses at strife: Quoth he, faire Mayden, Shew me soone what is thy name, I meane to make thee my wife. Grissell is my name quoth she, Farre unfit for your degree, A silly Mayden, and of parents poore. Nay Grissell thou art rich, he said, A ver[t]ous faire and comely Mayd, Grant me thy love, and I will aske no more.
At length she consented, And being both contented, they married were with speed: Her country Russet Was chang'd to silke and velvet, as to her state agreed: And when t[h]at shee Was trimly tyred in the same, her beautie shined bright, Farre stayning every Other faire and princely Dame that did appeare in her sight. Many envied her therefore, Because she was of parents poore, And twixt her Lord and she great strife did rayse: Some said this and some said that, And some did call her beggars brat, And to her Lord they would her oft dispraise. Oh Noble Marquesse, Quoth they, why dost thou wrong us, thus basely for to wed, That might have gotten An honourable Lady into your Princely bed? Who will not now Your Noble issue still deride, which shall hereafter be borne: That are of blood so base Borne by the mothers side, the which will bring them in scorne? Put her therefore quite away, And take to you a Lady gay, Whereby your image may renowned be. Thus every day they seem'd to prate, That malic'd Grissels good estate, Who all this while tooke it most patiently:
When that the Marquesse Did see that they were bent thus against his faithfull wife, Whom he most dear[i]ly, Tenderly and entirely beloved as his life: Minding in secret For to prove her patient heart, thereby her foes to disgrace, Thinking to shew her A hard discourtieous part, that men might pittie her case: Great with child this Lady was, And at the last it came to passe, Two goodly children at one birth she had, A sonne and daughter God had sent, Which did their father well content, And which did make their Mothers heart full glad. Great royall feasting Was at this childrens Christning, and Princely triumph made, Sixe weekes together, All Nobles that came thither, were entertain'd and staid: And when all these pleasant Sportings quite were done, the Marquesse a messenger sent, For his young daughter, And his pretty smiling sonne, declaring his full intent, Now that the babes must murthered be, For so the Marquesse did decree: Come let me have the children, then he said. With that faire Grissell wept full sore She wrung her hands, & said no more My gracious Lord must have his will obey'd.
<seg n="1" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">The second part, To the same tune.</hi></seg>
SHe took the Babes Even from the nursing Ladies, betweene her tender armes: She often wishes, With many sorrowful kisses, that she might ease their harmes, Farewell, farewell, A thousand times, my children deare, never shall I see you againe: Tis long of me, Your sad and wofull mother here, for whose sake both must be slaine: Had I beene borne of royall race, You might have liv'd in happy case, But you must die for my unworthinesse. Come messenger of death [(]quoth shee) Take my dearest Babes to thee. And to their Father my complaints expresse. He tooke the children, And to his Noble Master he brought them both with speed, Who in secret sent them Unto a Noble Lady, to be brought up indeed: Then to faire Grissell, With a heavie heart he goes, where she sate mildely all alone, A pleasant gesture, And a lovely looke she shewes, as if no griefe she had knowne. (Quoth he) my children now are slaine, What thinkes fair Grissell of the same Sweet Grisell now declare thy minde to me. Sith you my Lord are pleased with it Poore Grissell thinkes the action fit, Both I and mine at your command will be.
My Nobles murmure, Faire Grissell at thy honour, and I no joy can have, Till thou be ban[i]sht Both from my Court and presence, as they unjustly crave: Thou must be stript Out of thy stately garments all, and as thou cam'st to me, In homely gray, Instead of Bysse and purest Pall, now all thy clothing must be. My Lady thou must be no more, Nor [I] thy Lord which grieves me sore The poorest life must now content thy minde. A groat to thee I must not give, Thee to maintaine while I doe live, Against my Grissell such great foes I finde. When gentle Grissell Did heare these wofull tydings, the teares stood in her eyes, Nothing she answered, No words of discontentment did from her lips arise; Her velvet Gowne Most patiently she slipped off, her keritle of silke with the same, Her Russet Gowne Was brought againe with many a scoffe, to beare them her selfe she did frame When she was drest in this array, And was ready for part away, God send long life unto my Lord (quoth she) Let no offence be found in this, To give my Lord a parting kisse, With watery eyes, farewell my deare he said.
From Princely Palace, Unto her fathers Cottage, poore Grissell now is gone: Full sixteene winters She lived there contented, no wrong she thought upon: And at this time through All the Land the speeches went, the Marquesse should married be Unto a Noble Lady great, Of high descent, and to the same all parties did agree, The Marquess sent for Grissell faire, The Brides bed-chamber to prepare, That nothing therein might be found awry: The Bride was with her brother come, Which was great joy to all and some, But Grissell tooke all this most patiently. And in the morning, When as they should be wedded, her patience then was tride, Grissell was charged, Her selfe in friendly manner, for to attire the Bride, Most willingly She gave consent to doe the same, the Bride in her braverie was drest, And presently The Noble Marquesse thither came, with all his Lords at his request, O Grissell, I would aske of thee, If to this match thou wilt agree, Me thinkes thy lookes are waxed wondrous coy. With that they all began to smile, And Grissell she replide the while, God send Lord Marquess many years of joy. The Marquess was moved, To see his best beloved thus patient in distresse, He stept unto her, And by the hand he tooke her, these words he did expresse, Thou art my Bride, And all the Brides I meane to have, these two thine owne children be. The youthfull Lady On her knees did blessing crave, her brother as well as she And you that envyed her estate, Whom I have made my loving mate Now blush for shame, and honour vertuous life. The Chronicles of lasting fame Shall evermore extoll the name Of patient Grissell my most constant wife.
Finis. Printed at London for H. Gossen.