Bold Keeper/Master-piece of Love Songs (Lon) 1695 Thomas Thackeray and all
[Roxburghe ballads, Volume 6 By William Chappell, Ballad Society: Two woodcuts. No Printer's name, or Colophon, in Roxburghe copy. Bagford's II. 123, and Euing, 208, are Black-letter, printed for A. M[ilbourne, W. Onley], and Tho[mas] Thackeray, at the Angel in Duck-Lane. A similar copy is in C. 22. e. 2, fol. 20 verso. The woodcuts vary in different editions.
Titled: The Master-piece of Love-songs: A Diagloue Betwixt a Bold Keeper and a Lady Gay, He Woo'd His Lord's Daughter, and Carried the Day ; But Soon After Marriage was Forc'd for to Fight, with His Lord and Six Gentlemen, for His Own Right ; He Cut Them, and Hew'd Them, and Paid Them with Blows, and Made Them His Friends, that Before Were His Foes. To the Tune Of, The Week Before Easter, the Day's Long and Clear, &c
Printed by Alexander, Milbourn. William, Onley and Tho. Thackeray at the Angel in Duck-lane, 1695. Based on "Seaman's Renown" printed 25 years earlier also in Duck Lane.
Ebsworth dates the exemplar "Seaman's Renown" 1679, the early date should be 1670. The first US print appeared in the Echo, or Columbian Songster for 1800. Notes from Roxburghe (Chappell/Ebsworth) follow.
R. Matteson 2011, 2018]
The Masterpiece of Love Songs
Justice Clement—" What! all this verse? Body o' me, he carries a whole realm, a commonwealth of paper in his hose: let us see some of his subjects."—Ben Jonson's Every Man in his Humour, Act V. 1598.
On p. 233 we reprint the ballad beginning "A week before Easter the day's long and clear;" we add another, also, from the Roxburghe Collection, but more modern by nearly a century of publication, beginning "The week before Easter, the day being fair;" and to the same tune. It bears title of "Love is the cause of my Mourning," and introduces the favourite line. It is preceded here by a third ballad to the same tune, and from the same collection, intermediate between the othere in date, but much nearer to that of "The Forlorn Lover; " one that arrogates to itself the title of being "The Master-Piece of Love Songs," but generally known as "The Bold Keeper." We shall find a naval ballad in our next Group, "The Seaman's Renown," beginning, "There was a bold Seaman, a ship he could steer." Not improbably its opening line was suggested by "There was a bold keeper, that chased the deer."
Whosoever he may have been, modest self-depreciation was not the besetting weakness of the author of this ballad. If he did any good by stealth, he was quite ready to count it fame six minutes afterwards, and not willing to accept any of those "spurns that patient merit of the unworthy takes." All the better for him, so far as worldly prosperity was concerned. The obtrusively-retiring tribe of every generation boast their unboastfulness, and we honestly confess that most of these "humble" ones turn out to be hypocrites. But they never write good ballads.
Being
A dialogue betwixt the bold keeper and the Lady gay
Who wooed the Lord's daughter and carried the day.
But soon after marriage was forced to fight,
With his Lord and six gentleman for his own right;
He cut them and hew'd them and paid them with blows,
And made them as friend who before were as foes.
To the tune of A Week Before Easter p. 223- 234
[BOLD KEEPER]
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IT was a bold Keeper that chased the Deer,
Of a stouter bold spirit you never did hear,
But he loved a Lady of Beauty most clear,
And now you shall hear of his Wooing.
Keeper:] "O pity, fair Lady! the Suit which I move,
For I'm deep in Affection, and tossed in Love;
For you are the Lady, the Turtle and Dove,
"Whereon I have cast my Affection."
Lady:] "0 Keeper, forbear! I shall thus answer thee,
I'm a match for a Lord of a high Degree;
For my Birth and yours they not equal be;
Therefore, Keeper, forbear your Wooing!"
Keeper.] "The Kepulse it maketh me sadly to grieve;
And true 'tis we all came from Adam and Eve;
One loving Word to my Life is a Reprieve,
Tho' I'm linked fast in Cupid's Prison."
Lady:] "O why should you say you're a prisoner to me?
O hold, forbear, Keeper! for that may not be;
We both may have Matches fitter for each Degree;
Then forbear, and take this for an Answer!"
Keeper:] "No, not for an Answer, that I shall it take;
And yet this Denial makes my Heart to ake;
And I shall lay down my Life at the stake,
To obtain the favour of my Lady."
Lady:] "It is a meer madness your Life to lay down;
What will people say, 'there's an end of a Clown!
That pass'd many dangers, till Fortune did frown,
And now died a pretended Lover.'"
Keeper:] The name of a Clown in my heart I do scorn,
Being nobly descended, and a Gentleman born;
Yet I am a Keeper that must be forlorn,
Except you can love me, fair Lady."
Lady:] "Well, Keeper, I perceive thou hast a good heart,
Well art thou compacted in every Part;
If my Lord did know, we both would suffer smart:
My Father would be so offended."
Keeper:] "Lady, if you will consent to be my Bride,
I will gird up my Sword and Buckler by my side,
And then to the Church in private we'll ride,
Where we will be marry'd, fair Lady."
She then gave Consent, and away they did ride,
The valiant bold Keeper and his lovely Bride;
Not fearing of danger, whatever betide;
For she was a valiant young Lady.
Being marry'd, they return'd back speedily,
And riding along her Father did espy;
Alack!" quoth the Lady, "one or both shall die."
"Fear nothing," quoth the Keeper, "fair Lady!"
The Lord he came posting so fast as he could hie,
And six lusty Gentlemen for company;
Quoth he to the Keeper, "Villain! thou shalt die,
For deluding away my fair daughter."
"Come on," quoth the Keeper, "'tis no time to prattle,
I see by your swords you're prepar'd for battle."
With his sword and buckler he made them to rattle:
The Lady held the Horse for the Keeper.
He cut them and hew'd them, on the Place he did stand;
O then, quoth the Lord, "Bold Keeper, hold thy Hand!"
"If you'll give your daughter thirty thousand in Land,
You shan't die by the hand of the Keeper."
"Keeper," quoth the Lady, "'tis too small a Portion."
"Daughter," quoth the Lord, "your will shall be done;
I will love thy Husband, and thee ever own!"
Thus a Keeper gain'd a fair Lady.