%ISOlat1; %ISOlat2; %ISOnum; %ISOpub; ]> The rarest new Ballad that ever was seen, Of the blind Beggers / Daughter of Bednal-green. University of California - Santa Barbara The Early Modern Center English Broadside Ballad Archive (EBBA) Director Patricia Fumerton Associate Director Carl G Stahmer 1725-1725 Early Modern Center, University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 10/19/2018 36133

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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

T205915 1 NONE Blind Beggar of Bethnal Green IT was a blind Begger that long lost his sight, / He had a fair daughter both pleasant and bright, Information in this section of the Source Description refers to the original ballad manuscript. : The rarest new Ballad that ever was seen, Of the blind Beggers / Daughter of Bednal-green. The rarest new Ballad that ever was seen, Of the blind Beggar's Daughter of Bednal-green. 1725-1725

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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 10/19/2018 Santa Barbara, California, United States of America affliction / health class economics / commerce love marriage Ballads, English 17th century Broadsides, England 17th century 10/19/2018 2:14:26 PM XBallad Lew, Lilly Created XML Version of Ballad 10/19/2018 2:14:26 PM Transcription Supervisor McCants, Kristen Transcription of ballad manuscript 10/19/2018 2:14:26 PM Double-Key Comparison and Merging Levinson-Emley, Rachel Transcription of ballad manuscript 10/19/2018 2:14:26 PM Transcriptionist Two McDowell, Mirabella Transcription of ballad manuscript 10/19/2018 2:14:26 PM Transcriptionist One Green, Allison Transcription of ballad manuscript 8/15/2018 Checker Minh Hua Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 12/1/2016 Bibliographer Rachel LevinsonEmley Initial Ballad Catalogue Record Created
<seg n="1" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">The rarest new Ballad that ever was seen, Of the blind Beggers</hi></seg> <seg n="2" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">Daughter of <hi rend="bold">Bednal-green.</hi></hi></seg>
IT was a blind Begger that long lost his sight, He had a fair daughter both pleasant and bright, And many a gallant brave Suiter had she, For none was so comelie as prettie Bessie, And though she was of favour most fair, Yet seing she was but a Beggers Heir, Of ancient house-keepers despised was she, Whose sons came as suiters to prettie Bessie. Wherefore in great sorrow fair Bessie did say, Good Father and Mother let me go away, To seek out my fortune whereever it be, This suit then they granted to prettie Bessie. Then Bessie that was of beautie most bright, They clad in gray Russet, and late in the night, From Father and Mother alone parted she, Who sighed and sobbed for prettie Bessie. She went till she came to Straitfoord the Bow, Then knew she not whither or which way to go; With tears she lamented her sad destinie, so sad and so heavie was prettie Bessie. She kept on her journey until it was day, And went unto Rumfoord along the highway: And at the Queens Arms entertained was she, So fair and well favour'd was prettie Bessie. She had not been there a month to an end, But Master and Mistriss and all was her friend: And every brave gallant that once did her see, Was straightway in love with prettie Bessie. Great gifts they did give her of silver and gold, And in their songs dailie her love they extol'd: Her beautie was blazed in everie degree, So fair and so comelie was prettie Bessie. The young men of Rumfoord in her had their joy, She shew'd herself courteous, and never too coy, And at their commandment still would she be, So fair and so comelie was prettie Bessie. Four Suiters at once unto her did go, They craved her favour, but still she said no: I would not wish Gentle-men marrie with me, Yet ever they honoured prettie Bessie. The one of them was a gallant young Knight, And he came to her disguis'd in the night. The second a Gentleman of high degree, Who wooed and sued for prettie Bessie. A Merchan[t] of London whose wealth was not small, Was then the third suiter and proper withal, Her Masters own Son the fourth man must be, Who swore he would die for prettie Bessie. And if thou wilt marrie me quoth the Knight, I'le make thee a Ladie with joy and delight: My heart is inthral'd with thy beautie, Then grant me thy favour, my prettie Bessie. The Gentle-man said, come marrie with me, In silk and in velvet my Bessie shal be: My heart lives distressed, O hear me quoth he, And grant me thy love, my prettie Bessie. Let me be thy husband the Merchant did say, Thou shall live in London most gallant and gay, My S[h]ips will bring home rich Jewels for thee, And I shal forever love prettie Bessie. Then Bessie she sighed, and thus did she say, M[y] father and mother I mean to obey, First get their good will, and be faithful to me, And you shal enjoy your prettie Bessie. To everyone this answer she made, Wherefore unto her they joyfullie said, This thing to fulfill we all do agree, And where dwells thy Father, my prettie Bessie? My Father quoth she is soon to be seen, The silly blind Begger of Bednal-green, That daily sits begging for charitie, He is the good Father of prettie Bessie. His marks and his tokens are known full well, He alwayes is led with a Dog and a Bell: A silly old man God knoweth is he, Yet he is the Father of prettie Bessie. Nay then quoth the Merchant, you are not for me, Nor, quoth the Inn-holder, my wife shal not be, I loath quoth the Genteman a Beggers degree, Therefore farewel my prettie Bessie. Why then quoth the Knight, hap better or worse, I weigh not true love by the weight of the purse: And beautie is beau[t]ie in every degree, Then welcome to me my prettie Bessie. With thee to thy Father forthwith I will go, Nay, soft said his Kins-man, it must not be so, A beggers daughter no Lady shal be, Then take thine adieu of prettie Bessie.
But soon after this, by the break of day, The Knight had from Rumfoord stole Bessie away; The young men of Rumfoord, as thick as may be, rode after to fetch again prettie Bessie. As swift as the wind to ride they were seen, Until they came near to Bednal-green. And as the Knight lighted most courteouslie, They fought against him for prettie Bessie. But rescue came presently over the plain, Or else the Knight for his love had bee[n] slain, The fray being ended, then straight he did see, his Kinsmen came railing for prettie Bessie. Then spake the blind Begger, although I be poor, Yet rail not against my Child at the door: Though she be not deckt with Velvet or Pearl, yet will I drop Angels with thee for my Girl. And then if my Gold will better her birth, And equal your Gold you lay on the earth, Then never rail nor grudge you to see the blind Beggers Daughter a Lady to be. But first I will hear, and have it well known, The Gold that ye drop shal all be your own: With that they replied, contented we be, then here's quoth the Begger for prettie Bessie. With that an Angel he cast on the ground, And dropped in Angels full three thousand pound; And oftentimes it proved most plain, for the Gentlemans one, the Begger dropt twain. So that the place whereon they did sit, With Gold was covered every whit; The Gentle-man having dropt all his store, said, Begger hold now, for I have no more. The companie wondered much at the sight, Then marry my Girl, said he to the Knight: And here said he, I will throw you down, an hundred pound more to buy her a Gown. The Gentle-men all that this treasure had seen, Admired the Begger of Bednal green, And those that were her suiters before, their flesh for very anger they tore. Then was fair Bessie matcht to the Knight, And made a Lady in others despight: A fairer Lady was never seen, then the blind Beggers daughter of Bednal-green. But of her sumptuous cloathing and feast, And what brave Lords and Knights thither past, The second part shal set forth to your sight, with marvellous pleasure, and wishing delight.
<seg n="1" rend="left"><hi rend="bold"><hi rend="italic">The Second Part.</hi></hi></seg>
OF a blind Beggers daughter most fair and bright, That late was betrothed to a young Knight, All the discourse thereof you see, but now comes the wedding of prettie Bessie. Within a gallant Palace most brave, Adorned with all the cost they could have, This wedding was kept most sumptuouslie, and all for the love of prettie Bessie. All kinds of dainties and delicates sweet, Was brought to their banquet, as was thought meet, Partridge, and Pliver, and Vennison most free, against the brave wedding of prettie Bessie. This wedding through England was spread by report, So that a great number thereto did resort, Of Nobles and Gentles of every degree, and all for the same of prettie Bessie. To Church then went this gallant young Knight, His Bride followed after like an Angel most bright, With troups of Ladies, the like was never seen, as went with sweet Bessie of Bednal-green. This wedding being solemnized then, With Musick performed by skilfullest men, The Nobles and Gentles sat down at that tide, each one beholding the beautiful Bride. But after this sumptuous dinner was done, To talk and to reason a number began, Of the blind Beggers daughter most bright, and what with his daughter he gave to the Knight, Then spake the Nobles, much marvel have we, The silly poor Begger we cannot here see, My Lords, said the Bride, my Father's too base, he's loth with his presence those states to disgrace, The praise of a woman in question to bring, Before her own face were a flattering thing. We think thy Fathers baseness said they, might by thy beautie be clean put away. They had no sooner these pleasant words spoke, But in came the Begger in a silken Cloak,
A velvet cap and a feather had he, and now a Musician forsooth would he be. And being led in for catching of harm, He had a daintie Lute under his arm, So he to the companie spake merrilie, a song I will sing of prettie Bessie. With that the Lute he twanged straightway, And thereon began most sweetlie to play: And after a lesson was play'd two or three, he strain'd out his song most delicatlie. The Song. A Beggers daughter did dwell on a green, Who for her beautie might well be a Queen, A blyth bonnie Lass, and a daintie was she, and manie one called her prettie Bessie. Her Father had no goods, nor no land, But begg'd for a pennie all day with his hand, But yet to her marriage he gave thousands three, and still on hath somewhat for prettie Bessie. And if anyone her birth do disdain, Her Father is readie with might and with main, To prove she is come of noble degree, therefore let none flout at prettie Bessie, With that the Lords and companie round, With heartie laughter were readie to swound, A[t] last, said the Lords, full well ye may see, the Bride and the Begger's beholden to thee. With that the Bride all blushing did rise, And with the salt water within her fair eyes, Pardon my Father brave Nobles said she, that through blind affection thus doteth on me. If this be thy father the Nobles did say, Well may he be proud of this happie day; Yet by his countenance well we may see, his birth with his fortune did never agree. And therefore blind Begger, we pray thee bewray, And look that the truth to us thou do say, Thy birth and thy parentage what it might be, ev'n for the love thou bearest to prettie Bessie. Then give me leave you Gentles each one, One song more to sing, then will I be gone; And if that I do not win good report, Then do not give me a groat for my sport. The other Song. WHen first our King his fame did advance, And sought for his Title in delicate France, In many places great perils past he, but then was not born my prettie Bessie. And in these Wars went over to fight, Many brave Duke, a Lord, and a Knight And with them young Mountfoord, of courage mos[t] free but then was not born my prettie Bessie. And there did young Mountfoord with a blow on the face, Loss both his eyes in a very short space: His life had also gone with his sight, had not a young woman come forth in the night Amongst the slain men as fancie did move, To search and to seek for her own true Love: Who seeing young Mountfoord there gasping to ly, she saved his life through her charity. And then all our victuals, in beggers attire, At hands of good people we then did desire: At last into England, as now it is seen, we came and remained on Bednal green. And thus we have lived in fortunes despight, Though poor, yet contented, with humble deligh[t] And in mine old years a comfort to be, God sent me a daughter, call'd prettie Bessie. And thus, you Nobles, my song I do end, Hoping the same no man doth offend, Full fourty long winters thus have I been a silly old Begger of Bednal green. Now when the company everyone Did hear the strange tale in the song he had shown, They were all amazed, as well they might be, both at the blind Begger and prettie Bessie. Then that the fair Bride they then did embrace, Saying, ye are come of a honoured race, Thy Father likewise of an high degree, and thou art well worthy a Lady to be. Thus was the feast ended with great delight. A happy Brid[e]groom was made the young Knight, Who lived in joy and felicitie, with his fair Lady prettie Bessie.
FINIS.