XX. The King and Miller of Mansfield. Ir has been a favourite subject with our English ballad-makers to represent our kings conversing, either by accident or design, with the meanest of their subjects. Of the former kind, besides this song of the King and the Miller, we have King Henry and the Soldier; King James I. and the Tinker; King William III. and the Forester, &c. Of the latter sort, are King Alfred and the Shepherd; King Edward IV. and the Tanner; King Henry VIII. and the Cobler, &c.—A few of the best of these are admitted into this collection. Both the author of the following ballad, and others who have written on the same plan, seem to have copied a very ancient poem, entitled, "John the Reeve," which is built on an adventure of the same kind, that happened between King Edward Longshanks and one of his Reeves or Bailiffs. This is a piece of great antiquity, being written before the time of Edward IV., and for its genuine humour, diverting incidents, and faithful picture of rustic manners, is infinitely superior to all that have been since written in imitation of it. The Editor has a copy in his ancient folio MS., but its length rendered it improper for this volume, it consisting of more than 900 lines. It contains also some corruptions, and the Editor chooses to defer its publication, in hopes that some time or other he shall be able to remove them. The following is printed, with corrections from the Editor's folio MS. collated with an old black-letter copy in the Pepys Collection, entitled, "A pleasant ballad of King Henry II. and the Miller of Mansfield, &c." Better I'll know thee, ere hands we will shake; 35 With none but honest men hands will I take. Thus they went all along unto the millers house: Where they were seething of puddings and souse: The miller first enter'd in, after him went the king; Never came hee in soe smokye a house. 40 Now, quoth hee, let me see here what you Nay, first, quoth Richard, good-fellowe, tell me true, Hast thou noe creepers within thy gay hose? Or art thou not troubled with the scabbado? I pray, quoth the king, what creatures are those? 70 Art thou not lowsy, nor scabby? quoth he: Quoth the king, looke your fill, and doe not If thou beest, surely thou lyest not with mee. are. Wife, quoth the miller, fetch me forth lightfoote, 85 And of his sweetnesse a little we'll taste. Both by his apparel, and eke by his man- A fair ven'son pastye brought she out pre ners; To turn him out certainlye, were a great sin. Yea, quoth hee, you may see, he hath some grace sentlye, Eate, quoth the miller, but, sir, make no waste. Here's dainty lightfoote? In faith, sayd the king, When he doth speake to his betters in place. I never before eat so daintye a thing. 90 I wis, quoth Richard, no daintye at all it is, In what place, sayd our king, may be bought like to this? We never pay pennye for itt, by my fay: Ver. 80, courtnalls, that courteous be, MS. and P. From merry Sherwood we fetch it home here; | Of them all, great and small, he did protest, Now and then we make bold with our kings The miller of Mansfield's sport liked him best. deer. 96 Then I thinke, sayd our king, that it is veni son. And now, my lords, quoth the king, I am determined Against St. Georges next sumptuous feast, Eche foole, quoth Richard, full well may That this old miller, our new confirm'd knight, With his son Richard, shall here be my know that: Never are wee without two or three in the roof, Very well fleshed, and excellent fat: 100 But, prythee, say nothing wherever thou goe; We would not, for two pence, the king should it knowe. Doubt not, then sayd the king, my promist secresye; The king shall never know more on't for A pursuivant there was sent straighte on the The king and his courtiers laugh at this heartily, While the king taketh them both by the hand; Tushe, Sir John, quoth his wife, why should With the Court-dames, and maids, like to the you frett, or frowne? 49 You shall ne'er be att no charges for mee; For I will turne and trim up my old russet gowne, With everye thing else as fine as may bee; And on our mill-horses swift we will ride, With pillowes and pannells, as we shall provide. In this most statelye sort, rode they unto the court, 55 Their jolly sonne Richard rode foremost of all; Who set up, for good hap, a cocks feather in Thanking you heartilye for my good cheer. Ver. 57, for good hap: i. e. for good luck; they were go Ing on a hazardous expedition. V. 60, Maid Marian in the Why art thou angry? quoth our king mer Morris dance, was represented by a man in woman's clothes, who was to take short steps in order to sustain the female character. rilye; In faith, I take it now very unkind: |