large sheet of parchment, dated 1st of James I, and is full of names and seals, which might be meant by the coat of armour, 'with spikes all about, both within and without.' More of More-hall was either the attorney, or counsellor, who conducted the suit. He is not distinctly remembered, but Morehall is still extant at the very bottom of Wantley [Warncliff] Wood, and lies so low, that it might be said to be in a Well: as the Dragon's den [Warncliff Lodge] was at the top of the wood, with Matthew's house hard by it.' The Keepers belonging to the Wortley family were named, for many generations, Matthew Northall: the last of them left this lodge, within memory, to be Keeper to the Duke of Norfolk. The present owner of More-hall still attends Mr. Bosville's Manor-Court at Oxspring, and pays a Rose a year. 'More of More-hall, with nothing at all, slew the Dragon of Wantley.' He gave him, instead of tithes, so small a Modus, that it was in effect nothing at all, and was slaying him with a vengeance. 'The poor children three,' &c. cannot surely mean the three sisters of Francis Bosville, who would have been coheiresses had he made no will? The late Mr. Bosville had a contest with the descendants of two of them, the late Sir Geo. Saville's father, and Mr. Copley, about the presentation to Penniston, they supposing Francis had not the power to give this part of the estate from the heirs at law; but it was decided against them. The Dragon (Sir Francis Wortley) succeeded better with his cousin Wordesworth, the freehold Lord of the manor (for it is the copyhold manor that belongs to Mr Bosville) having persuaded him not to join the refractory parishioners, under a promise that he would let him his tithes cheap: and now the estates of Wortley and Wordesworth are the only lands that pay tithes in the parish. N.B. The two days and a night' mentioned in ver. 125 as the duration of the combat, was probably that of the trial at law. A legend current in the Wortley family states the 'dragon to have been a formidable drinker, drunk dead by the chieftain of the opposite moors.' Ellis thinks it was a wolf or some other fierce animal hunted down by More of More-hall.-ED. XIV. ST. GEORGE FOR ENGLAND. THE FIRST PART. As the former song is in ridicule of the extravagant incidents in old ballads and metrical romances; so this is a burlesque of their style; particularly of the rambling transitions and wild accumulation of unconnected parts, so frequent in many of them. This ballad is given from an old black-letter copy in the Pepys collection, 'imprinted at London, 1612.'. It is more ancient than many of the preceding; but we place it here for the sake of connecting it with the SECOND Part. WHY doe you boast of Arthur and his knightes, Knowing [well] how many men have endured fightes? For besides king Arthur, and Lancelot du lake, Or sir Tristram de Lionel, that fought for ladies sake; Read in old histories, and there you shall see How St. George, St. George the dragon made to flee. St. George he was for England; St. Dennis was for France; Sing, Honi soit qui mal y pense. Mark our father Abraham, when first he resckued Lot Onely with his household, what conquest there he got: David was elected a prophet and a king, He slew the great Goliah, with a stone within a sling: Yet these were not knightes of the table round; Nor St. George, St. George, who the dragon did confound. St. George he was for England; St. Dennis was for France; Sing, Honi soit qui mal y pense. Jephthah and Gideon did lead their men to fight, They conquered the Amorites, and put them all to flight: Hercules his labours [were] on the plaines of Basse; And Sampson slew a thousand with the jawbone of an asse, And eke he threw a temple downe, and did a mighty spoyle: But St. George, St. George he did the dragon foyle. St. George he was for England; St. Dennis was for France; Sing, Honi soit qui mal y pense. The warres of ancient monarchs it were too long to tell, And likewise of the Romans, how farre they did excell; Hannyball and Scipio in many a fielde did fighte: Orlando Furioso he was a worthy knighte: Remus and Romulus, were they that Rome did builde: But St. George, St. George the dragon made to yielde. St. George he was for England; St. Dennis was for France; Sing, Honi soit qui mal y pense. The noble Alphonso, that was the Spanish king, The order of the red scarffes and bandrolles in did bring: 1 He had a troope of mighty knightes, when first he did begin, Which sought adventures farre and neare, that conquest they might win: 1 This probably alludes to An Ancient Order of Knighthood, called the Order of the Band, instituted by Don Alphonsus, king of Spain, a red riband of three fingers breadth,' &c. See Ames Typog. p. 327. to wear The ranks of the Pagans he often put to flight: But St. George, St. George did with the dragon fight. St. George he was for England; St. Dennis was for France; Sing, Honi soit qui mal y pense. Many [knights] have fought with proud Tamberlaine. In the forest of Acon slew both woolfe and beare: But St. George, St. George the dragon's blood did spill. St. George he was for England; St. Dennis was for France; Sing, Honi soit qui mal y pense. Valentine and Orson were of king Pepin's blood: Alfride and Henry they were brave knightes and good: The four sons of Aymon, that follow'd Charlemaine : Sir Hughon of Burdeaux, aud Godfrey of Bullaine: These were all French knightes that lived in that age: But St. George, St. George the dragon did assuage. St. George he was for England; St. Dennis was for France; Sing, Honi soit qui mal y pense. Bevis conquered Ascapart, and after slew the boare, And then he crost beyond the seas to combat with the moore: Sir Isenbras, and Eglamore they were knightes most bold; And good Sir John Mandeville of travel much hath told: There were many English knights that Pagans did convert: But St. George, St. George pluckt out the dragon's heart. St. George he was for England; St. Dennis was for France; Sing, Honi soit qui mal y pense. The noble earl of Warwick, that was call'd sir Guy, The infidels and pagans stoutlie did defie; He slew the giant Brandimore, and after was the death Of that most ghastly dun cowe, the divell of Dunsmore heath; Besides his noble deeds all done beyond the seas: But St. George, St. George the dragon did appease. St. George he was for England; St. Dennis was for France; Sing, Honi soit qui mal y pense. Richard Coeur-de-lion erst king of this land, St. George he was for England; St. Dennis was for Sing, Honi soit qui mal y pense. Henry the fifth he conquered all France, And quartered their arms, his honour to advance: 1 Alluding to the fabulous Exploits attributed to this King in the old RoSee the Dissertation prefixed to this Volume. mances. |