%ISOlat1; %ISOlat2; %ISOnum; %ISOpub; ]> King Alfred and the Shepherd. / WITH THE / Humours of Gillian, the Shepherd's Wife. University of California - Santa Barbara The Early Modern Center English Broadside Ballad Archive (EBBA) Director Patricia Fumerton Associate Director Carl G Stahmer ?-? Early Modern Center, University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 06/26/2014 33251

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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 Flying Fame. Chevy Chase Flying Fame. IN Elder Time there was of Yore, / When Gibes of churlish Glee Information in this section of the Source Description refers to the original ballad manuscript. 1: 649 King Alfred and the Shepherd. / WITH THE / Humours of Gillian, the Shepherd's Wife. King Alfred and the Shepherd. WITH THE Humours of Gillian, the Shepherd’s Wife King Alfred and the Shepherd. WITH THE Humors of Gillian, the Shepherd's Wife. Printer WILLIAM DICEY ?-?

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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 Featured 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 6/26/2014 Santa Barbara, California, United States of America class clothing/ appearance royalty rural life violence Ballads, English 17th century Broadsides, England 17th century 6/26/2014 9:07:35 AM XBallad Cortes, Phillip Created XML Version of Ballad 6/26/2014 9:07:35 AM Transcription Supervisor Meyer, Shannon Transcription of ballad manuscript 6/26/2014 9:07:35 AM Double-Key Comparison and Merging Palmer Browne, Megan Transcription of ballad manuscript 6/26/2014 9:07:35 AM Transcriptionist Two Reyes-Ortiz, Joannekris Transcription of ballad manuscript 6/26/2014 9:07:35 AM Transcriptionist One Meyer, Shannon Transcription of ballad manuscript 3/25/2013 Checker Shannon Meyer Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 10/8/2013 Checker Megan Palmer Browne Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 10/31/2012 Bibliographer Shannon Meyer Initial Ballad Catalogue Record Created 10/16/2013 Checker Megan Palmer Browne Edited Ballad Catalogue Record
<seg n="1" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">King <hi rend="bold">Alfred</hi> and the <hi rend="bold">Shepherd.</hi></hi></seg> <seg n="2" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">WITH THE</hi></seg> <seg n="3" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">Humours of <hi rend="bold">Gillian,</hi> the Shepherd's Wife</hi></seg> <lb/> <seg n="4" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">To the Tune of <hi rend="bold">Flying Fame.</hi></hi></seg>
In this Song, there is at least a Possibility, (and I believe I might say) a Probability of Truth Alfred was not the only King, who has wander'd incog, amongst his Subjects, to discover their Hu- mours, Affection, and Manner of Living. We have had some of our own, as well as several Foreign Potentates, who have made a Practise of it; and even this good King Alfred himself is recorded to have done it, at a Time when the Danger was far greater than venturing amongst Swains and Peasants. For the Danes having invaded England, and left him (of the whole Island) only the Counties of Southampton, Wilts, and Somerset, he disguised himself, and enter'd their Camp, to reconnoitre their Strength, Manner of Incamping, etc. And having seen and learnt all he desired, he return'd to his own Soldiers; and leading them on, they fell unawares up- on the Danes, and for that Year drove 'em out of the Kingdom. If he could do this, we may reasonably suppose, that in Time of Peace he could venture himself amongst his own Subjects; especially considering how much he was belov'd by them all, and how little Risque he ran amongst them; for he was a just, wise, and pious Prince, of a very liberal Education; Endowments uncom- mon in those early Days: And besides the Arts of War and Government, he understood several of the Sciences; and, amongst other, Musick and Poetry to a Perfection. His Works of Piety were many; but in particular, we are indebted to him for the Foundation of the University of Oxford: And notwithstanding the petty Cavils and Criticisms of some Antiquarians, the Members of Uni- versity-College still return Thanks for him, as their Founder. This Prince was the Fourth Son of King Egbert, of the Saxon Line: His three Elder Brothers reign'd successively before him; but all dying without Issue, he at length inherited the Crown, reign'd Nine and Twenty Years, died in the Year 901, and was buried at Winchester. I have nothing more to add, than that I think this Song one of the best Pastorals that ever was written in the English Tongue. I will not say, that our Poet had read the Story of Baucis and Philemon; but thus much I dare assert, That in the Description of the Shepherd and his Wife's Manner of Living, their Fare on better Days, etc. he truly comes up to the Spirit of Ovid, and does not fall short of Theocritus in Simplicity, and a natural Way of expressing every Thing in Words becoming a Pastoral Song.
IN Elder Time there was of Yore, When Gibes of churlish Glee Were us'd among our Country Carls, Tho' no such Thing now be. The which King Alfred liking well, Forsook his stately Court, And in disguise unknown went forth, To see that jovial Sport; How Dick and Tom in clouted Shoon, And Coats of Russet Grey, Esteem'd themselves more brave than them That went in Golden Ray. In Garments fit for such a Life, The good King Alfred went, Ragged and torn as from his Back The Beggar his Cloaths had rent. A Sword and Buckler good and strong, To give Jack Sauce a Rap; And on his Head, instead of a Crown, He wore a Monmouth Cap. Thus coasting thourough Somersetshire, Near Newton-Court he met A Shepherd Swain of lusty Limb, That up and down did jet: He wore a Bonnet of good Grey, Close button'd to his Chin, And at his Back a Leather Scrip, With much good Meat therein. God speed, good Shepherd, quoth the King, I come to be thy Guest, To taste of thy good Victual here, And drink that's of the best:
Thy Scrip, I know hath Cheer good Store: What then, the Shepherd said? Thou seem'st to be some sturdy Thief, And mak'st me sore afraid: Yet if thou wilt thy Dinner win, Thy Sword and Buckler take; And, if thou canst, into my Scrip Therewith an Entrance make. I tell thee, Roister, it hath store Of Beef, and Bacon fat, With Sheaves of Barley Bread to make Your Chaps to water at: Here stands my Bottle, here my Bag, If thou can'st win them, Roister; Against thy Sword and Buckler here, My Sheep hook is my Master. Benedicite, quoth our good King; It never shall be said, That Alfred of the Shepherd's Hook Will stand a whit afraid. So soundly thus they both fell to 't, And giving Bang for Bang; At every Blow the Shepherd gave, King Alfreds Sword cry'd Twang. His Buckler prov'd his chiefest Fence; For still the Shepherd's Hook Was that the which King Alfred could In no good manner brook. At last, when they had fought Four Hours, And it grew just Mid-day, And weary'd, both, with right good Will Desir'd each other's Stay:
K[ing, truce Jery quoth Alfred then] Good [shepherd hold thy han]d; A sturdier [fellow than thyself] Lives not [within this land.] Nor a lustier R[oister than] thou art, The churlish Shepherd I said: To tell thee plain, thy Thievish Look Now makes my Heart afraid. Else sure thou art some Prodigal, Which hast consum'd thy Store, And now com'st wandring in this Place, To rob and steal for more. Deem not of me then, quoth our King, Good Shepherd, in this Sort; A Gentleman well known I am In good King Alfreds Court. The Devil thou art, the Shepherd said; Thou go'st in Rags all torn; Thou rather seem[']st I think to be Some Beggar basely born: But if thou wilt mend thy Estate, And here a Shepherd be; At Night, to Gillian, my sweet Wife, Thou shalt go home with me: For she's as good a toothless Dame, As mumbleth on brown Bread; Where thou shalt lie in hurden Sheets, Upon a fresh Straw Bed. Of Whig and Whey we have good Store, And keep good Pease-straw Fire; And now and then good Barley Cakes, As better Days require. But for my Master, which is Chief, And Lord of Newton-Court, He keeps, I say, his Shepherd Swains In far more braver Sort; We there have Curds and clouted Cream, Of Red Cow's Morning Milk; And now and then fine butter'd Cakes, As soft as any Silk, Of Beef and reised Bacon store, That is most fat and greasy, We have likewise, to feed our Chaps, And make them glib and easy. Thus if thou wilt my Man become, This Usage thou shalt have; If not, adieu; go hang thyself; And so farewel, Sir Knave. King Alfred hearing of this Glee The churlish Shepherd said, Was well content to be his Man; So they a Bargain made: A Penny round the Shepherd gave, In Earnest of this Match, To keep his Sheep in Field and Fold, As Shepherds use to watch. His Wages shall be full Ten Groats, For Service of a Year; Yet was it not his Use, old Lad, To hire a Man so dear: For did the King himself, quoth he, Unto my Cottage come, He should not, for a twelve-month's Pay, Receive a greater Sum, Hereat the bonny King grew blithe, To hear the clounish Jest; How silly Sots, as Custom is, Do descent at the best.
But not to spoil the foolish Sport, He was content, good King, To fit the Shepherd's Humour right In every kind of Thing. A Sheep hook then, with Patch his Dog, And Tar-box by his Side; He, with his Master, Cheek by Joll, Unto old Gillian hy'd. Into whose Sight no sooner came; Whom have you here, quoth she; A Fellow, I doubt, will cut our Throats; So like a Knave looks he. Not so, old Dame, quoth Alfred straight, Of me you need not fear; My Master hir'd me for Ten Groats, To serve you one whole Year: So, good Dame Gillian, grant me Leave Within your House to stay; For by St. Anne, do what you can, I will not yet away. Her churlish Usage pleas'd him still, and put him to such Proof, That he at Night was almost choak'd Within that smoaky Roof: But as he sat with smiling Cheer, The Event of all to see, His Dame brought forth a Piece of Dough, Which in the Fire throughs she; Where lying on the Hearth to bake, By chance the Cake did burn: What can'st thou not, thou Lout, (quoth she) Take Pains the same to turn? Thou art more quick to take it out, And eat it up half Dough, Than thus to stay till 't be enough, And so thy Manners show. But serve me such another Trick, I'll thwack thee on the Snout: Which made the Patient King, good Man, Of her to stand in doubt. But, to be brief, to Bed they went, The old Man and his Wife; But never such a Lodging had King Alfred in his Life; For he was laid in white Sheep's Wool, New pull'd from tanned Fells; And o're his Head hang'd Spiders Webs, As if they had been Bells. Is this the Country Guise, thought he? Then here I will not stay, But hence be gone, as soon as breaks The peeping of next Day. The cackling Hens and Geese kept roost, And perched at his Side; Where, at the last, the watchful Cock Made known the Morning Tide: Then up got Alfred, with his Horn, And blew so long a Blast, That it made Gillian and her Groom, In Bed, full sore aghast. Arise, quoth she, we are undone; This Night we lodged have, At unawares, within our House, A false dissembling Knave: Rise, Husband, rise; he'll cut our Throats; He calleth for his Mates: I'd give, Old Will, our good Cade Lamb, He would depart our Gates.
But still King Alfred blew his Horn Before them more and more; Till that an Hundred Lords and Knights All lighted at the Door: Who cry'd, All hail, all hail, good King; Long have we sought your Grace. And here you find (my Merry Men all) Your Sov'reign in this Place. We surely must be hang'd up both, Old Gillian I much fear, The Shepherd said, for using thus Our good King Alfred here. O Pardon, my Liege, quoth Gillian then, For my Husband, and for me: By these ten Bones, I never thought The same that now I see. And by my Hook, the Shepherd said, (An Oath both good and true) Before this Time, O Noble King, I ne're your Highness knew: Then pardon me and my old Wife, That we may after say, When first you came into our House It was a happy Day. It shall be done, said Alfred, straight; And Gillian, thy old Dame, For this her churlish using me Deserveth not much Blame: For 'tis the Country Guise, I see, To be thus bluntish still; And where the plainest Meaning is, Remains the smallest Ill. And, Master, lo, I tell thee now For thy late Manhood shown, A Thousand Weathers I'll bestow Upon thee for thy own; And Pasture-Ground, as much as will Suffice to feed them all: And this thy Cottage I will change Into a stately Hall. And for the same, as Duty binds, The Shepherd said good King, A Milk-white Lamb, once ev'ry Year, I'll to your Highness bring; And Gillian, my Wife, likewise, Of Wool to make you Coats, Will give you as much at New-Years Tide, As shall be worth Ten Groats: And in your Praise, my Bag-pipes shall Sound sweetly once a Year, How Alfred, our renowned King, Most kindly hath been here. Thanks, Shepherd, Thanks, quoth he again: The next Time I come hither, My Lords with me, here in this House, Will all be merry together.
NORTHAMPTON, Printed by WILLIAM DICEY; and sold by William Peachey, near St. Ben- nets Church in Cambridge; Matthias Dagnell, Bookseller, and at Mr. Burnhams Snuff-Shop in Aylesbury: John Timbs in Stony-Stratford; Paul Stevens in Bicester; Thomas Williams in Tring Anthony Thorpe in St. Albans; and by Churrude Brady in St. Ives.