%ISOlat1; %ISOlat2; %ISOnum; %ISOpub; ]> The Birds Noats on May day last, H., C. 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 05/17/2021 37213

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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

R177764 2 Down in a Meadow [unknown] Down in a Meadow to the same Tune [unknown] To the Same Tune IN the mery month of May, / When prety Birds do sing SAmuel met with Susan, / She gathered him some May, Information in this section of the Source Description refers to the original ballad manuscript. 1: 4 The Birds Noats on May day last, The Birds Noats on May day last, The Birds Notes on May day last, H., C. ?-? Richard Burton

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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 5/17/2021 Santa Barbara, California, United States of America Ballads, English 17th century Broadsides, England 17th century 5/17/2021 2:36:11 PM XBallad McCants, Kristen Created XML Version of Ballad 5/17/2021 2:36:11 PM Transcription Supervisor McCants, Kristen Transcription of ballad manuscript 5/17/2021 2:36:11 PM Double-Key Comparison and Merging McCants, Kristen Transcription of ballad manuscript 5/17/2021 2:36:11 PM Transcriptionist Two Blank, Alice Transcription of ballad manuscript 5/17/2021 2:36:11 PM Transcriptionist One Zisa, Jessica Transcription of ballad manuscript 9/29/2020 Checker Kristen McCants Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 4/29/2019 Bibliographer Kristen McCants Initial Ballad Catalogue Record Created
<seg n="1" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">The Birds Noats on May day last,</hi></seg> <seg n="2" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">WHEREIN</hi></seg> <seg n="3" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">Many prety passages was discovered about <hi rend="bold">London</hi> in the fields be-</hi></seg> <seg n="4" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">tween Young Men and Maids, Lovers and their Sweethearts, Lords</hi></seg> <seg n="5" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">and Ladys, Men and their Mistresses.</hi></seg> <lb/> <seg n="6" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">These birds doth spie the City round,</hi></seg> <seg n="7" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">Their noats ther's many true hath found;</hi></seg> <seg n="8" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">Keep close your tongues wheresoever you walk,</hi></seg> <seg n="9" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">For fear some Birds should hear you take.</hi></seg> <lb/> <seg n="10" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">To the tune of <hi rend="bold">Down in a Meadow.</hi></hi></seg>
IN the mery month of May, When prety Birds do sing With chirping and with sugared noats To welcome in the Spring: It was my chance to walk abroad Into the fields so gay, Where many a prety Lad and Lass Was then gathering May. John met with Besse betimes, Before the break of day And hand in hand to Lambeth fields They nimbly took their way: The grass being somthing slippery then, This couple down they fell, But what they did before they Rise, O the prety Lark can tell. William and Sarah living In Pater-noster-Row, They like to faithful Lovers A Maying they must go:
To Newington they walked then, The Blackbird witness can That Sarah's peticoat flew up, The wind so high was then. Richard met with Rachel, And needs she must go see, Neer to the Pinder of Wakefeild What pleasant fields there be, Upon a bank of Primroses He triped up her toes, And there she got a green gown; And that the Raven knows. Robert met with Nan next, Which lovers old had been, And for to tumble on the grass, They thought it was no sin: They Custards, Cakes, and good Ale had, This was at Bednal-green, Then thinking for to sport a while Was by a Jack-daw seen.
<seg n="1" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">The second part to the same Tune.</hi></seg>
SAmuel met with Susan, She gathered him some May, Which he took very kindly, And thus to her did say, Sweet heart I know your meaning well By this your gift quoth he, Here's time if you'l accept of it, Make use of it quoth she. Her lape full of Primroses He gathered her with speed; Then lovingly together It seems they both agreed, At Highgate then they merry were: The Magpie this doth know, But what they did all in the fields, Tis time will make the shew. A prety hansome Butcher That lived neer the Strand, Must with his masters daughter Needs prove himself a man: They coming late from Hackney town, This Butchers skill he tri'd, And shew'd her what a Maigame was This the twailing Swallow spi'd. A Mistris and her Journeyman, By water they must go Unto Barnelms a Maying, Her husband must not know;
And there they very mery were With spice Cakes, and with Ale, He there tript up his Mistris heels The Coockow told this tale. A yong Lord shall be namelefs, A Maying to he went, A prety Lady with him, But what was their intent, Indeed I must be silent; Spring Garden was their walks, But it would make you laugh to hear, What there the Paret talks. If any of these parties named, Perchance do hear this song. I'd wish them to be silent, For I have done no wrong, And if you will be angry, then Pray blame the Birds for me, Ther's many Girls will finde it true Erre fourty weeks youl see. You Country Lads and Lasses, You think for to go free, You have more twatling Birds I'm sure Then near the City be, You gather May as well as we, And Time you have also To tumble on the grass so green, And this the Birds doth know.
C.H. London, Printed for Richard Burton, at the Horseshoo in Smithfield, 1655.