"When the barons in armes did king Henrye oppofe, "Sir Simon de Montfort their leader they chofe;

"A leader of courage undaunted was hee,
"And oft-times he made their enemyes flee.

85

"At length in the battle on Eveshame plaine "The barons were routed, and Montfort was flaine; "Mofte fatall that battel did prove unto thee, Thoughe thou waft not borne then, my prettye Beffee!

"Along with the nobles, that fell at that tyde,
"His eldest fon Henrye, who fought by his fide,
"Was fellde by a blowe, he receivde in the fight!
"A blowe that deprivde him for ever of fight.

"Among the dead bodyes all lifeleffe he laye,
"Till evening drewe on of the following daye,
"When by a yong ladye discoverd was hee;
"And this was thy mother, my prettye Beffee!

"A barons faire daughter ftept forth in the nighte "To fearch for her father, who fell in the fight, "And feeing yong Montfort, where gafping he laye, "Was moved with pitye, and brought him awaye. 100

"In fecrette fhe nurft him, and swaged his paine, "While he throughe the realme was beleevd to be slaine:

At lengthe his faire bride fhe confented to bee,

"And made him glad father of prettye Bessee.

"And nowe left oure foes oure lives fholde betraye, 105 "We clothed ourselves in beggars arraye;

"Her jewelles fhee folde, and hither came wee: "All our comfort and care was our prettye Beffee.]

"And here have we lived in fortunes defpite, "Thoughe meane, yet contented with humble delighte "Thus many longe winters nowe have I beene "The fillye blinde beggar of Bednall-greene.

"And here, noble lordes, is ended the fonge "Of one, that once to your own ranke did belong: "And thus have you learned a fecrette from mee, 115 "That ne'er had beene knowne, but for prettye Beffee."

Now when the faire companye everye one,

Had heard the ftrange tale in the fong he had fhowne,
They all were amazed, as well they might bee,
Both at the blinde beggar, and prettye Beffee.

With that the sweete maiden they all did embrace,
Saying, Sure thou art come of an honourable race,
Thy father likewife is of noble degree,

And thou art right worthy a ladye to bee.

120

Thus was the feaft ended with joye, and delighte, 125 A bridegroome moft happye then was the yong knighte, In joye and felicitie long lived hee,

All with his faire ladye, the prettye Beffee.

XI. FANCY

XI.

FANCY AND DESIRE.

BY THE EARL OF OXFORD.

Edward Vere Earl of Oxford was in high fame for his poetical talents in the reign of Elizabeth: perhaps it is no injury to his reputation that few of his compofitions are preJerved for the infpection of impartial pofterity. To gratify curiofity, we have iuferted a fonnet of his, which is quoted with great encomiums for its "excellencie and wit," in Puttenham's Arte of Eng. Poefie*, and found intire in the Garland of Good-will: A few more of his fonnets (diftinguished by the initial letters E. O.) may be feen in the Paradife of Daintie Devifes. One of thefe is intitled, "The Complaint of a Lover, wearing blacke and tawnie." The only lines in it worth notice are thefe,

A crowne of baies fhall that man beare'

Who triumphs over me ;

For black and tawnie will I weare,

Which mourning colours be.

We find in Hall's Chronicle, that when Q Catharine of Arragon dyed Jan. 8. 1536; "Queen Anne [Bullen] ware YELLOWE for the mourning." And when this unfortunate princess loft ber bead May 19, the fame year," on the afcen"cion day following, the kyng for mourning ware WHYTE." Fol.

227, 228. VOL. II.

N

* Lond. 1589. p. 172.

Edward,

Edward, who was the XVIIth earl of Oxford of the family of Vere, fucceeded his father in his title and honours in 1562, and died an aged man in 1604. See Mr. Walpole's Noble Authors. Ath. Ox.

When wert thou borne, Defire?

"In pompe and pryme of may.". By whom, fweet boy, wert thou begot ?

5

Tell me, who was thy nurse ?

"Fresh Youth in fugred joy."

What was thy meate and dayly foode?
"Sad fighes with great annoy."

What lulld thee then afleepe?

"Sweete speech, which likes me best.”
Tell me, where is thy dwelling place ?
"In gentle hartes I reft."

10

15

20

What

What thing doth please thee moft ?

"To gaze on beautye ftille." Whom doft thou thinke to be thy fee ? "Difdayn of my good wille."

Doth companye difplease ?

Yea, furelye, many one."

Where doth Defire delighte to live?
"He loves to live alone."

25

Doth either tyme or age

Bringe him unto decaye?

No, no, Defire both lives and dyes
“Ten thousand times a daye.”

30"

Then, fond Defire, farewelle,

Thou art no mate for mee;

I fholde be lothe, methinkes, to dwelle

35

With fuch a one as thee.

XII.

SIR ANDREW BARTON.

I cannot give a better relation of the fact, which is tha fubject of the following ballad, than in an extract from the late Mr. Guthrie's Peerage; which was begun upon a very elegant plan, but never finished. Vol. I. 4to. p. 22.

N 2

* The