Cambridge Shat- Sam Self (Nor) c.1840 Walter Rye
[The presumed original title restored. From: The East Anglian: Or, Notes and Queries on Subjects Connected with ..., (p. 211-213) Volume 2, 1888. Curiously a stanza appears to be missing as a footnote is provided for "ather" but it's in the missing stanza!! Reprinted in The Rabbit Skin Cap: A Tale of a Norfolk Countryman's Youth, by George Baldry
R. Matteson 2018]
TWO NORFOLK DIALECT BALLADS.
By the courtesy of the Rev. E. Slater Browne, of Belmont, Parkstone, Dorset, I am enabled to place before the readers of the East Anglian two very interesting ballads taken down nearly half a century ago. The valuable notes are those of Mr. Slater Browne.
Putney. WALTER RYE.
Cambridge Shat (Cambric Shirt) - As sung by Sam. Self of Hethersett. (Tune—" Robin Cook's wife.") "taken down nearly half a century ago" (c. 1840).
I pray you to make me one Cambridge Shat[1],
Savory sage, rosemary and thyme
Without ather niddle[2], nor yet niddle work
And then you shall be a true lovyer of mine.
And wash it all over in a dry well,
Savory sage, rosemary and thyme
Where niver was water, nor niver rain fell
And then you shall be a true lovyer of mine.
I pray you to hang it all on a thorn
Savory sage, rosemary and thyme
Where niver was bud since man was born
And then you shall be a true lovyer of mine.
I pray you to hire me one acre of land
Savory sage, rosemary and thyme
And crop it all over with one pupper[3] corn
And then you shall be a true lovyer of mine.
And pick it all up with a cobbler's awl
Savory sage, rosemary and thyme
And stow it all into a mousen's hall
And then you shall be a true luvyer of mine.
1. shirt
2. needle
3. peppercorn