%ISOlat1; %ISOlat2; %ISOnum; %ISOpub; ]> The Baffled KNIGHT: / OR, / The LADY's POLICY. University of California - Santa Barbara The Early Modern Center Director Patricia Fumerton ?-? Early Modern Center, University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 05/02/2011 31426

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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

T21330 THERE was a knight was drunk with wine, / A-riding along the way, sir, Roxburghe Ballads Editor None None None None Information in this section of the Source Description refers to the original ballad manuscript. 3: 674 3: 675 The Baffled KNIGHT: / OR, / The LADY's POLICY. ?-?

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 Early Modern Center Ballad Project Keyword Taxonomy advice affliction/ health alcohol animals/ nature Bible/ biblical figures buildings/ architecture catastrophe children class clothing/ appearance country/ nation crime death economics/ commerce entertainments family folklore gender holidays/ seasons infidelity labor/ craft law London love maritime marriage military/ war monstrosity mythology/ Classical news nobility/ court politics/ government procreation punishment race/ ethnicity 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 youth/ age Library of Congress Subject Heading Taxonomy 5/2/2011 Santa Barbara, California, United States of America sex/ sexuality trickery/ deceit virtue vulgarities/ crass humor Ballads, English 17th century Broadsides, England 17th century 5/2/2011 3:01:44 PM XBallad Doss, MacKenzie Created XML Version of Ballad 5/2/2011 3:01:44 PM Transcription Supervisor McAbee, Kristina, Nebeker, Eric Transcription of ballad manuscript 5/2/2011 3:01:44 PM Double-Key Comparison and Merging Meyer, Shannon Transcription of ballad manuscript 5/2/2011 3:01:44 PM Transcriptionist Two Fadel, Meghan Transcription of ballad manuscript 5/2/2011 3:01:44 PM Transcriptionist One Foley, Christopher Transcription of ballad manuscript 2/3/2009 Bibliographer Meghan Fadel Initial Ballad Catalogue Record Created 2/3/2009 Checker Meghan Fadel Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 2/3/2009 Checker Meghan Fadel Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 11/15/2010 Checker Sue Hong Edited Ballad Catalogue Record
<seg n="1" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">The Baffled KNIGH</hi></seg> <seg n="2" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">OR,</hi></seg> <seg n="3" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">The LADYs POLICY.</hi></seg>
THERE was a knight was drunk with wine, A-riding along the way, sir, And there he met with a lady fine, And among the cooks ef hay, sir, One favour he did crave of her, And askd to lay her down, sir, But he had neither cloath nor sheet, To keep her from the ground, sir. There is a great dew upon the grass. And if you should lay me down, sir. You would spoil my cloathing. That has cost me many a pound, sir. I have a cloak of scarlet red, Ill lay it under thee, love, So you will grant me my request, That I shall ask of thee, love. And if youll go to my fathers hall, That is moated all round about, sir, There you shall have your will of me, Within, sir, and without, sir Oh! yonder stands my milk white steed, And among the cooks of hay, sir, If the kings pinner should chance to come, Hell take my steed away, sir, I have a ring upon my finger, Its made of the finest gold, love. And it shall serve to fetch your steed, Out of the pinners fold, love. And if youll go to my [f]athers house, Round which theres many a tree, sir, There you shall have your chamber free, And your chamberlain I will be, sir, He sat her on a milk white steed, Himself upon another, And then they rid along the way, Like sister and like brother.
But when she came to her fathers house, Which was moated all round about, sir, She slipt herself within the gate, And lockd the knight without, sir, I thank you, kind knight, for seeing me here, And bringing me home a maiden, sir, But you shall have two of my fathers men For to set you back again, sir. He drew his sword out of his scabbard, And whet it upon his Sleeve, sir, Saying curses be to every man That will a maid believe, sir, She drew her handkerchief out of her pocket, And threw it upon the ground, sir, Saying, thrice cursed be every maid That will believe a man, sir. We have a tree in our garden, Some call it rosemary, sir, Theres crowing cocks in our town, That will make a capon of thee, sir. We have a flower in our garden, Some calls it marygold, sir. And he that would not when he might, He shall not when he would, sir. But if you chance to meet a maid, A little below the town, sir, You must not fear her gay cloathing, Nor the wrinkling of her gown, sir, And if you chance to meet a maid, A little below the hill, sir, You need not fear her shrieking out, For she quickly will lie still, sir. The Baffled Knight was by the lass Ingeniously outwitted, And since that time it came to pass, He was again well fitted.
As he was riding cross a plain, In boots, spurs, hat and feather, He met that lady fair again; They talkd a while together. He said, Tho you did serve me so, And cunningly decoy me, Yet, now, before you farther go, [I] must and will enjoy thee. Twas near a spacious rivers Tide, Where rushes green were growing, And Neptunes silver streams did slide, Four-fathom waters flowing. The lady blushd like scarlet red, And trembled at this stranger, How shall I guard my maidenhead. From this approaching danger With a lamenting sigh said she, To die I now am ready; Must this dishonour fall on me? A most unhappy lady! He from his saddle did alight, In gaudy rich attire, And cayd, I am a noble knight, Who do your charms admire. He took the lady by the hand, Who seemingly consented; And would no more discoursing stand, She had a plot invented. How she might baffle him again, With much delight and pleasure. And eke unspotted still remain, With her pure virgin-treasure. Look yonder, good sir knight, I pray, Methinks I do discover Well mounted on a dapple-grey, My true entire lover. The knight was standing on the brink Or the deep floating river. Thought she, Thou now shalt swim or sink, Chuse which you fancy rather. Against his back the lady run. The water strait he sounded; He cryd out, love! what have you done? Help, help, or I am drowned. Said she, Sir Knight, farewel, adieu! You see what comes of fooling, This is the fittest place for you, Whose courage wanting cooling. Love, help me out, and Ill forgive This fault which youve committed. No, no, says she, as I live, I think youre finely fitted. She rid home to her father house For speedy expedition. While the gay knight was soakd like souce In a sad wet condition. When he came mounted to the plain, He was in rich attire, Yet when he back returnd again, He was all muck and mire.
A solemn vow he there did make, Just as he came from swimming, Hed love no lady for her sake, Nor any other women. The Baffled Knight was foold once more, Youll find by this pleasant ditty, For she whose charms he did adore, Was wonderful sharp and witty. Returning from her fathers park, Just close by a summer bower, She chancd to meet her angry spark, Who gave her a frowning lour, The thoughts of what she twice had done, Did cause him to draw his rapier. And at the lady then did run, And thus begun to vapour. You chousd me at your fathers gate, Then tumbled me in the river, I seek for satisfaction strait, Shall I be a fool for ever? He came with resolution bent That evening to enjoy her, And if she did not give consent, That minute hed destroy her. I pray, sir knight, and why so hot Against a young foolish woman? Such crimes as these might be forgot, For merry intrigues are common. What do you count it mirth, he cryd, To tumble me in and leave me? What if I drowned there had dyd! A dangerous jest believe me: Well, if I pardon you this day, These injuries out of measure, It is because without delay, I mean to enjoy the pleasure. Your suit, she said, is not denyd, But think of your boots of leather, And let me pull them off, she cryd. Before we lie down together. He set him down upon the grass, And violets so sweet and tender. Now by this means it came to pass That she did his purpose hinder. For having pulld his boots half way, She cryd now Im your betters. You shall not make of me your prey, Sit there like a thief in fetters, Now finding she had servd him so, He rose, and began to grumble. Yet he could neither stand nor go, But did like a cripple tumble. The boots stuck fast, and would not stir, His folly she soon did mention. And laughing said, I pray, kind sir, How like you my new Invention? My laughing fit you must excuse, You are but a stingless nettle. Youd neer have stood for boots nor shoes, Had you been a man of mettle.
Farewel, sir knight, tis almost ten, I fear neither wind nor weather, Ill send my fathers serving-men, To help off thy boots of leather. She laughd out-right, as well she might, With merry conceits of scorning. And left him there to stay all night, Until the approaching morning. The fourth part of the baffled Knight The lady hath fairly acted. She did his love and kindness slight Which made him almost distracted. She left him in her fathers park, Where none but deer could hear him, While he lay rowling in the dark, Theres never a soul came near him. Until the morning break of day, And being warm summer weather. A shepherd chancd to come that way, Who pulld off his boots of leather. Then mounting on his milk-white steed, He shaking his ears was ready. And whip and spur he rode with speed, To find out this crafty lady. If once this lady I come nigh, She shall be releasd by no man. Why should so brave a Knight as I Be foold by a silly woman, Three times has she affronted me, In crimes which I cannot pardon! But if I arnt revengd, said he, Let me not be worth a farthing. I value not her beauty fair, Tho once I did doat upon her. This trusty sword shall now repair My baffled blasted honour. Unto her fathers house he came, Which on every side was moated. The fair, sweet, charming, youthful dame, His angry brows she noted Thought she, Ill have the other bout, And tumble him in the river. And let the devil help him out, Or there he shall soak for ever. He will not let my live at rest, Altho I have oftend foild him. Therefore once more, I do protest. With flattering Ill beguile him, The bridge was drawn, the gates lockd fast, So that he could no ways enter. She smild to him, and cryd at last. Sir Knight, if you please to venture, A plank lies over the moat herd by. Full seventeen feet in measure. Theres nobody now at home but I Therefore well take our pleasure. This word she had no sooner spoke, But strait he was tripping over, The plank was sawd, and snapping broke. He provd an unhappy lover.