%ISOlat1; %ISOlat2; %ISOnum; %ISOpub; ]> DEATHS DANCE. University of California - Santa Barbara The Early Modern Center Director Patricia Fumerton 1625 Early Modern Center, University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 05/20/2008 20263

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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

1.56-57 S113479 1 Oh no, no, no, not yet, or, the meddow brow Walking in a Country Town Oh No, No, No, Not Yet, or, the Meadow Brow IF Death would come and shew his face,/ as he dare shew his power, single folio posted across two pages Pepys 1.56-57 STC 6444 for H. Gosson [c.1625]; Rollins (2) 507 (Nov. 4, 1631, IV, 263, Ed. Blackmore). Woodblock 1: under arabesque ornament, title and tune, above column 1 and part of column 2: Four white skeletons (presumably death) dance against a black background, each in a different position. Three skeletons hold arrows or short spears in their right or left hands. The woodcut has a cut corner to the bottom right.: 60 x 109 Woodblock 3: under arabesque ornament, title and tune, above part of column 3 and column 4: The left half of the cut is filled by a large canopy bed, with the curtains open to show a sleeping man under a blanket. He wears a hat, and has a beard. A large skeleton (death) stands to the right of the bed. In his right hand, the skeleton holds an arrow or short spear. Hi right hand pulls a string to ring a bell at the room's window. The skeleton stabs the canopy of the bed with his arrow. The room has a stone floor and paneled walls.: 68 x 82 Woodblock 2: under arabesque ornament, title and tune, above part of column 2 and column 3: A group of men and women in varied dress, led by a man in ragged clothes (a beggar?) towards the left of the cut. The leader wears a ragged hat and shredded tunic. He has bare legs or hose. He uses a walking stick and has a beard. Behind the leader are four detailed characters: a woman in a tall pointed hat (possibly pregnant), in a loose dress, a troubled looking man with a beard and a broad hat, a young man with ragged pants (and possibly a peg leg), an older gentleman in fancy dress with a coat, vest, and broad hat, and a lady in a fancy dress with a ruff and a broad hat. Behind this assortment of characters are more black hats and a few more faces, indicating that the crowd is large. They walk on a thatched ground in bare feet or shoes.: 62 x 109 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: 56 1: 57 DEATHS DANCE. DEATHS DANCE. Death's Dance. single sheet oblong, folio, pasted across 2 pages, 288 x 310 cropped top and right edges, creased and damaged surface, uneven inking. arabesque ornament and cast fleurons 1625 Printed at London for H. Gosson H. Gosson Weinstein: STC Weinstein lists I:56-57 under Henry Gosson. Gosson active ca. 1625. ESTC has "printed at London for H. G[osson]."

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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 5/20/2008 Santa Barbara, California, United States of America Devotion & Morality affliction/health death religiousconcepts 05/20/2008 Checker Patrick Ludolph rechecked transcription, xml, metadata; added estc id from BL 07/09/2007 Checker Gordon Batchelor checked transcription, metadata added, xml created 01/28/2005 Transcriber Unknown original transcription; word file indicates "UCSB English Dept" 07/09/2004 Bibliographer Simone Chess Bibliographic SQL Database Record Created; unsure who SC is.
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I F Death would come and shew his face, as he dare shew his power, And sit at many a rich mans place, both every day and houre. He would amaze them every one, to see him standing there, And with that soone he would be gone, from all their dwellings faire. Or if that Death would take the paines, to goe to the water side, Where Merchants purchase golden gains to pranke them up in pride. And bid them thinke upon the poore, or else Ile see you soone, There would be given then at their doore, good almes, both night and noone. Or walke into the Royall-Exchange , when every man is there, No doubt his comming would be strange, to put them all in feare. How they do worldly buy and sell, to make their markets good, Their dealings all would proper well, if so the matter stood. Or if Death would take the paines, to go to Pauls one day, To talke with such as there remaines, to walke and not to pray. Of life they would take lasting Lease, though nere so great a Fine, What is not that, but some would give, to set them up a Shrine.
If Death would go to Westminster , to walke about the Hall, And make himselfe a Counsellor, in pleas amongst them all. I thinke the Court of Conscience, would have a great regard, When Death should come with diligence, to have their matters heard. For Death hath been a Checker man, not many yeeres agoe, And he is such a one as can, bestow his checking so. That never a Clarke within the Hall, can argue so his case, But Death can overrule them all, in every Court and place. If Death would keepe a tipling house, where Roysters do resort, And take the cup, and drinke, carowse, when they are in their sport. And briefly say, my Masters all, why stand you idle here, I bring to you Saint Gibs his bowle, twold put them all in feare. If Death would make a step to dance, where lofty Gallants be, Or take Dice, and throw a chance, when he doth gamesters see. And say, my Masters, Have at all, I warrant it will be mine. They would in amazement fail, to set him any Coyne.
If Death would Gossip now and then, amongst the crabbed Wives, That taunts and railes at their good men, to make them weary lives. It would amaze them, I might say, so spightfully to boast: That they will beare the swing and sway, and over-rule the roast. If Death would quarterly but come, amongst the Landlords crue, And take a count of every sum, that rises more than due. As well of Income, as of Fine, above the old set Rent. They would let Leases without Coyne, for feare they should be [sp]ent. If Death would take his dayly course, where Tradesmen sell their Ware, His welcome sure would be more worse, then those of monyes bare, It would affright them for to see, his leane and hollow lookes, If Death should say, come shew to me, my reckoning in your bookes. If Death would thorow the Markets trace where Conscience us'd to dwell, And take but there a Hucksters place, he might do wondrous well. High prizes would abated be, and nothing found too deare, When Death should call, Come buy of me, would put them all in feare.
If Death would proove a Gentleman, and come to court our Dames, And do the best of all he can, to blazon forth their names. Yet should he little welcomes have, amongst so fayre a crew, That daily go so fine and brave, when they his face do view. Or if he would but walke about, our City Suburbs round, There would be given him out of doubt, full many a golden pound. To spare our wanton femall crew, and give them longer day: But Death will grant no Leases new, but take them all away. For Death hath promised to come, and come he will indeed, Therefore I warne you all and some, beware and take good heed. For what you do, or what you be, hee's sure to find and know you, Though he be blind, and cannot see, in earth he will bestow you.
FINIS.
Printed at London for H. Gosson.