%ISOlat1; %ISOlat2; %ISOnum; %ISOpub; ]> The PRESUMPTUOUS SINNER; 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 06/28/2014 33578

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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

A Noble Lord of high renown, / As he was coursing up and down, Information in this section of the Source Description refers to the original ballad manuscript. 1: 871 The PRESUMPTUOUS SINNER; The PRESUMPTUOUS SINNER; The PRESUMPTUOUS SINNER; ?-?

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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 6/28/2014 Santa Barbara, California, United States of America Bible/ biblical figures class labor/ craft religious concepts Ballads, English 17th century Broadsides, England 17th century 6/28/2014 2:54:03 PM XBallad Chow, Jeremy Created XML Version of Ballad 6/28/2014 2:54:03 PM Transcription Supervisor Meyer, Shannon Transcription of ballad manuscript 6/28/2014 2:54:03 PM Double-Key Comparison and Merging Palmer Browne, Megan Transcription of ballad manuscript 6/28/2014 2:54:03 PM Transcriptionist Two Trafecanty, Luci Transcription of ballad manuscript 6/28/2014 2:54:03 PM Transcriptionist One Gibbs, Natalie Transcription of ballad manuscript 7/23/2013 Checker Shannon Meyer Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 4/29/2014 Checker Charlotte Becker Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 11/8/2012 Bibliographer Elizabeth Aguilar Initial Ballad Catalogue Record Created
<seg n="1" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">The PRESUMPTUOUS SINNER;</hi></seg>
A Noble Lord of high renown, As he was coursing up and down, Through groves and shady vallies green, By him an aged man was seen. With ax in hand, cleaving of wood, Now as he at his labour stood, Ah! Adam, Adam, was his tone, Still as he labour'd all alone. He sigh'd as if his heart would break, And said at every heavy stroke, Ah! Adam, Adam, was his cries, Whilst tears did trickle from his eyes. At length behold the noble Peer, As he these words did overhear, Said, aged man, pray let me know Why you do talk of Adam so? The old man answer'd him, and said The laws of God he disobey'd, By eating the forbidden fruit, And thus our sins at first took root. For if that branch had never been, We had been bless'd, and free from sin, In that sweet state of innocence, But sorrow came by his offence. For Adam's fond curiosity, It was ordain'd that he should be, Opprest by sorrow, grief, and pain, Till he return'd to earth again. And I, one of poor Adam's heirs, Do earn my bread with anxious cares, And at his fall I was brought to This labour which I now go through. Why did he not his wife oppose? Why did he with the serpent close?
Why did he on the apple feed, Which did so many sorrows breed? The garden was at his command The loaded branches kiss'd his hand, Which he might pull with pleasure free, All but that one forbidden tree. The nobleman he then reply'd, 'Tis true, Adam he turn'd aside From God's commands and did the thing Which does continual sorrow bring. Yet don't reflect upon him so, The very same for ought I know, Thou might have done to thy disgrace, If thou had been in Adam's place. No, says he, the command was great, Besides that very blessed state Of innocence was free from care, We should have liv'd and flourish'd there. I'd not have touch'd the tree of life, For ever a serpent, fiend, or wife; Behold there was enough beside. If man could have been satisfy'd. But farther hear what I say, The fruit was beautiful and gay, This made him soon consent, when woo'd To taste, of the forbidden food. Most men are of a longing mind, Still as by law they are confin'd, For this or that they long the more To taste, tho' death stands at the door. Right worthy sir, I would have stood Upon my guard for future good, And none should e'er have wrought on me To taste to the forbidden tree.
All but that very tree alone, The Lord hath made all Adam's own, Which was enough and eke to spare, What could he not that one forbear. With that reply'd the noble Lord, Thou shall receive a large reward, And thou shalt never work again, If from one thing thou wilt abstain. Thou seem'st to be as poor a Job, But I'll give thee a royal robe, A chain of gold and palace gay, While these orders thou must obey. Thou shalt have honours, pomp, and state And like the mighty potentate, Music shall lull thee to thy rest, No heat or cold shall thee molest. And every day I will afford The best of food to grace thy board, Choice dainties forty more or less, But one shall be a cover'd mess. That shall be brought to thee each day Among the rest; then took away Still at the ending of the feast, Yet thou shan't touch it in the least. These Just commands be sure thou keep, For if thou ventur'st once to peep Under the cover more or less, You forfeit all your happiness. Said he, my Lord, I do declare, From time to time I will forbear, Touching that private cover'd mess, In any manner more or less. Altho' it does before me stand, I'll never touch it with my hand.
Nor in the least be fond to see, What is conceal'd and hid from me. In all obedience I'll remain, You shall not in the least complain; I'll never do as Adam did, To taste of that which is forbid. Then come and follow me, I pray, Henceforth old Father come this day, Thou shalt not labour, carp, nor care, If this one thing thou dost forbear. After this noble Lord he goes, Who stript him of his Leather Cloaths, Then deck'd him like a noble Peer, Of many thousand Pounds a year. His Coach, his Star, his Chain of gold, A sumptuous palace to behold, With all things to his heart's content, Just for to see the strange event. The Lord who had this promis'd made, Did cause him strait to be array'd, In robes of rich embroider'd gold, And sent him Dishes manifold. The best that all the Land can yield, From Forest, Garden, Park, or Field, With Fishes, Fowls, and all that might Sweeten his Want and appetite. In midst of Joy his Life was led, And was with curious dainties fed; He wanted neither food nor mirth, To make him happy here on earth. The Lord allow'd that he should have, Whate'er his heart did wish or crave, And so he had, but see at last, How he did all his glories blast. For day by day still as he din'd, The cover'd Mess ran in his mind. He wants to know what there was hid Altho' he knew it was forbid. Though he had plenty at his board, That court or kingdom could afford, Yet this one thing he wants to know, Which stood before him cover'd so. His fancy to that height was grown, That as he feasted all alone, Resolv'd he was to satisfy His foolish fond curiosity. With that he raised up the dish, But there was neither flesh nor fish, But out there jump'd a living mouse, Which ran from him across the House. Which he could not again retrieve, With that he strait began to grieve,
As soon as e'er he saw it run, He sighing said, I am undone. A Fault which makes me blush for shame I am as much and more to blame Than Adam was, without Dispute Who tasted the forbidden fruit. Alas! he had no president: To warn him of the like event, As I have had from time to time, Therefore the greater is my crime. While thus he did lamenting stand, Behold the servants out of hand, Were sent to clear the table strait. This led to his unhappy fate. For having search'd the cover's mess, Which he was never to possess, And finding that the mouse was fled, He to the Noble Lord was led. Who then examin'd him and said, Wherefore hast thou disobey'd My just commands? Come tell me true Was I not good and kind to you? I heard your groans and piteous cries, And saw the tears drop from your eyes, When Adam you was please to blame, Because thro' him your labour came. When you was compassed with Cares, As being one of Adam's heirs; Who suffer'd by his fatal Fall, I took you in and gave you all. That e'er your heart could wish or crave Nothing but pleasure should you have While in the world you did remain, If from one thing you would abstain. With great presumption you reply'd, That my commands should be your guide These were the words you spoke, Yet now thou hast that promise broke, Which has offended me indeed, Strip off those Royal Robes with speed, And take your Leather coat once more, For thou shalt labour as before. The poor man said, I must confess, 'Tis thro' my own Unworthiness, That I must with these pleasures part, Therefore it is my just desert. The Nobleman said prithee go, And don't reflect on Adam so, As thou hast done, for as I'm true, I find a greater fault in you.
Printed and Sold in Aldermary Church-Yard, London.