%ISOlat1; %ISOlat2; %ISOnum; %ISOpub; ]> The Rarest Old BALLAD that ever was seen, / Of the Blind Beggar's Daughter of Bethnal-Green. University of California - Santa Barbara The Early Modern Center Director Patricia Fumerton 1779-1779 Early Modern Center, University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 05/07/2012 32463

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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

T168241 IT is of a blind Beggar that long lost his sight, / He had a fair daughter of beauty most bright WITIN a sumptous place most brave, / Adorned with all the cost they could have; Information in this section of the Source Description refers to the original ballad manuscript. 1: 289740 The Rarest Old BALLAD that ever was seen, / Of the Blind Beggar's Daughter of Bethnal-Green. The Rarest Old BALLAD that ever was seen, Of the Blind Beggar's Daughter of Bethnal-Green. The Rarest Old BALLAD that ever was seen, Of the Blind Beggar's Daughter of Bethnal Green. 1779-1779

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 Early Modern Center Ballad Project Keyword Taxonomy advice affliction/ health alcohol Americas 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 groups royalty rural life servitude sex/ sexuality supernatural/ magic travel trickery/ deceit urban life vice violence virtue vulgar humor youth/ age Library of Congress Subject Heading Taxonomy 5/7/2012 Santa Barbara, California, United States of America affliction/ health class economics/ commerce family love marriage nobility/ court travel trickery/ deceit violence Ballads, English 17th century Broadsides, England 17th century 5/7/2012 1:39:55 PM XBallad Mendoza, Aaron Created XML Version of Ballad 5/7/2012 1:39:55 PM Transcription Supervisor Meyer, Shannon Transcription of ballad manuscript 5/7/2012 1:39:55 PM Double-Key Comparison and Merging Meyer, Shannon Transcription of ballad manuscript 5/7/2012 1:39:55 PM Transcriptionist Two Bell, Erik Transcription of ballad manuscript 5/7/2012 1:39:55 PM Transcriptionist One Lester, Hillary Transcription of ballad manuscript 6/30/2011 Checker Percy Ross Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 6/30/2011 Checker Percy Ross Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 6/30/2011 Checker Percy Ross Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 5/12/2011 Bibliographer Shannon Meyer Initial Ballad Catalogue Record Created
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<seg n="1" rend="left"><hi rend="bold"><hi rend="italic">The Rarest Old</hi></hi> <hi rend="italic">BALLAD <hi rend="bold">that ever was seen,</hi></hi></seg> <seg n="2" rend="left"><hi rend="bold"><hi rend="italic">Of the Blind</hi> Beggar<hi rend="bold">s Daughter of</hi> Bethnal-Green.</hi></seg>
H289740 IT is of a blind Beggar that long lost his sight, He had a fair daughter of beauty most bright And many a gallant brave suitor had she, For none was so comely as pretty Bessey And tho she was of beauty most fair, Yet seeing she was but a beggars heir, Of ancient house-keepers despised was she, Who came as suitors to pretty Bessey. Then in great sorrow fair Bessey did say, Good father and mother, let me go away To seek my fortune where-ever it be, Thus suit was then granted et pretty Bessey. Thus Bessy that was of beauty most bright, Then clad in grey russet, and late in the night, From father and mother alone parted she, Who sighed and sobbed for pretty Bessey. She went until she came to Stratford-le-Bow, Then she knew not whither nor which way to go, With tears she lamented her hard destiny, So sad and so heavy was pretty Bessey. She kept on her journey until it was day, And went into Rumford upon the highway. And at the Kings-Arms entertained was she, So fair and well favourd was pretty Bessey. She had not been there one month to an end, But master and all were her friend, And every brave gallant that once did her see, Was straitway in love with pretty Bessey. Great gifts they did give her of silver and gold, And in their songs her praises extold? She by them was praised in the highest degree, So fair and so comely was pretty Bessey. The young men of Rumford in her had their joy She behavd herself courteous, but never too coy; And at her commandment still would they be, So fair and so comely was pretty Bessey. Four suitors at once unto her did go, And craved her favour, but still she said no: I would not have a gentleman to marry me. But still they honoured pretty Bessey. The first of them was a gallant brisk knight, Who came unto her disguisd in theght, The second a gentlemen of good degree, Who wooed and sued for pretty Bessey. A merchant in London whose wealth was not small, He was the next suitor, and proper and tall; Her masters own son the fourth man must be, Who sw[ore he] would die die for pretty Bessey.
If thou wilt marry me, then quoth the knight, Ill make thee a lady of joy and delight, My hearts so enthrald with thy fair beauty, That soon I shall die for pretty Bessey. The gentleman said, Come wed with me, And as fine as a lady my Bessey shall be. My life is distracted, oh! hear me, quoth he. And grant me thy love, my pretty Bessey. Let me be thy husband, the merchant did say, Thou shalt live in London both gallant and gay. My ship shall bring home rich jewelst for thee, And I will for ever love pretty Bessey. Then Bessey she sighd, and thus she did say, My father and mother I mean to obey; First gain their consent, and be faithful to me, And you shall enjoy your pretty Bessey. To every one this answer she made, Hereupon they each unto her said. This thing to peaform we now do agree, But who is the father of pretty Bessey. My father, said she, is plain to be seen, The silly blind Begger of Bednal Green; That often sits begging for charity, Yet he is the father of pretty Bessey. His marks and tokens are known very well, He always is led by a dog and a bell A silly poor man, God knoweth, is he, Yet he is the father of pretty Bessey. Nay, then, said the merchant, she is not for me And, said the inn-keeper, my bride she shant be I loath, quoth be gentleman, a beggars degree, And therefore adieu my pretty Bessey. Why then, quoth the knight, hap better or worse I weigh not true love by the weight of the purse, For beauty is beauty in every degree, Then welcome to me my pretty Bessey. Now with thee unto thy father Ill go. No, soft, quoth his kinsman, it must not be so, A beggars daughter no lady must be. Then now bid adieu to pretty Bessey. And soon after this by break of the day, The knight rode to Rumford and stole Bessey away, The young men of Rumford so thick as might be, Rode after to fetch again pretty Bessey. As swift as the wind to ride they were seen, Uniil they were come near to Bednal Green: And as the knight alighted must courteously, They fought against him for pretty Bessey,
But rescue came presently over the plain, Or else the knight for his love had been slain. The fray being ended, then strait he did see His kinsman came railing against pretty Bessey. Than, said the blind beggar, altho I be poor, Rail not thus against my child at my own door; Tho she be not deckd in velvet and pearl, Yet I will drop angels with you for my girl. And then if my gold will not better her birth, And equal the gold you drop on the earth, Then neither rail not grudge you to see The blind beggars daughter a lady to be. But first I will hear, and have it well known, That the gold you drop be all your own. With that he answerd Contented I be. Then theres, quoth the beggar, for prety Bessey. With that an angel he cast on the ground, And dropt in angels to three thousand pounds; And oftentimes it proved most plain, For the gentlemans one the beggar dropt twain. So that the place whereon they did sit With gold was covered every whit. The gentleman then having dropt all his store, Said, Beggar, hold, I have no more. Thou hast performed thy promise right, Then marry the girl, quoth he to the knight. And here, quoth the beggar, I will throw down, One hundred pounds more to buy her a gown. The gentleman who this treasure had seen Admired the begger of Bethnal-Green. And those that were her suitors before, Even for anger their flesh they tore. Thus was their Bessey a match for a knight, And made a lady in others despight, Sure a fairer lady there never was seen, Than the blind beggars daughter of Bethnal-Green But of her sumptuous marriage and feast, And what brave nobles were thither prest. The second part must set forth in sight. With extreme pleasure and wished delight, With a blind beggars daughter so fair and bright
That married was unto a young Knight. All the discourse thereof you may see, But now comes the wedding of pretty Bessey.
<seg n="1" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">PART II.</hi></seg>
WITIN a sumptous place most brave, Adorned with all the cost they could have; This wedding was kept most sumptuously, And all for the love of pretty Bessey. All kinds of dainties most delicate sweet Were bought for the banquet, as was thought meet, Partridge and plover, and venison most free, Against the wedding of pretty Bessey. This wedding thro England was spread by report, So that great numbers did thither resort. Of nobles and gentry in each degree, All for the fame of pretty Bessey. To church then went this handsome young knight His bride went after like a lady bright. Such a troop of ladies as never was seen, Then went with Bessey of Bethnal-Green. This wedding was solemnized, With musick performed by handsome young men. The nobles and gentry sat down at that tide, Each one admiring the handsome bride. Now after the sumptuous dinner was done. To talk and to reason vast numbers began, Of the blind beggars daughter so bright, And what with his daughter he gave to the knight. Then spake the nobles, Much marvel we The jolly blind beggar that here we cant see. My lords, quoth the bride, My fathers so base, Hes loath with his presence these states to debase. The praise of a woman in question to bring Before her own face is a flattering thing. We think thy fathers baseness, quoth they, Might by thy baauty be quite thrown away. They had no sooner these pleasant words spoke, But in come the beggar with a silken cloak: A velvet cap and a feather had he, And now a musician for sooth he would be. And being led in from catching of harm, He touched the strings which made such a charm, And said, Please to hear some musick from me. A song I must sing of pretty Bessey, With that his lute he twangd straitway, And thereon began most sweetly to play: So after a lesson was playd two or three, He straind out his song most delicately. A beggars daughter did live on the green, Who for her beauty might well be a queen. For a brisk jolly lass and handsome was she, And she was called pretty Bessey. Her father had no goods nor no land, But beggd a penny each day with his hand
And tho in marriage he gave thousands three, Yet still he has something for pretty Bess[e]y. Now if any one her birth doth disdain, Her father is ready with might and main, To prove she is come of noble degree, Therefore let none flout my pretty Bessey. Hereupon the lords and gentlemen round, With a great laughter were ready to swound, At last said the lords, too plain tis to see, Both hride and bridegroom are beholden to thee. With that the fair bride blushing did rise, And the clear water did stand in her eyes, Pardon my father, dear nobles, said she, Since thro blind affection he doateth on me. If this be thy father, the nobles did say, Well may he be proud of this happy day, Yet by his countenance well may we see, His Birth with his fortune doth not agree. Now prithee, blind beggar, unto us bewray, And look that the truth unto us you say, Your birth and your parentage what ir may be, For the love that thou bearest to pretty Bessey. Now give me leave, ye gentles each one, A song for to sing, and then Ill be gone, Now if I dont win your good report, Pray do not give me a groat for my sport, When first our king his fame to advance Sought for his title in delicate France. In many places great perils passd he, But then was not born my pretty Bessey. Now in these wars went forth to fight Many a brave lord, duke, and knight, And with them young Monford of courage so free But then was not born my pretty Bessey And there did Monford, with a knock o th face, Lose both his eyes in a very short space, His life had also been gone with his sight, Had not a young woman come forth in the night. Among the slain men her fancy to move, To search for her true and only love, Who seeing young Monford there gasping to ile, Did save his life out of mere charity. And then all our victuals in bggars attire, At the hands of good Christians we did desire, At last in England, as now is seen, We came, and remained in Bethnal Green. And thus we have lived in fortunes despight Tho poor, yet contented with humble delight, Now in my old years a comfort to be, God sent me a daughter calld pretty Bessey. And thus, brave nobles my song I do end, Hoping the same no one to offend, Full forty long winters thus have I been The silly poor beggar of Bethnal Green. Now when the company every one, Heard this strange tale unto them shown, They were all amazed, as well they might be, Both at the blind beggar and pretty Bessey. With that the fair maiden they did embrace, Saying, You are come of a comely race, Thy father likewise of a noble degree, And thou art right worthy a lady to be. Thus was the feast ended in joy and delight, A happy bridegroom was made the Knight, Who lived in joy and felicity, All with his fair lady, the pretty Bessey.
Printed and sold at No. 4, Aldermary church yard.