The Constant Lady and the False-Hearted Squire- UK broadside, c.1686
One antecedent of "The Constant Lady and False-Hearted Squire" c. 1628
[First published in the 1840 Collection of National English Airs, edited by William Chappell who called it, "Oxfordshire Tragedy or The Death of Four Lovers." Chappell called it a 2nd "Oxfordshire Tragedy" the first being a different ballad titled “The Oxfordshire Tragedy; Or, The Virgin's Advice.” The first Oxfordshire Tragedy is dated c. 1700-- “The Oxfordshire Tragedy; Or, The Virgin's Advice” is also called Rosanna and is a parallel ballad of Berkshire Tragedy.
Because of the obvious confusion between the two Oxfordshire Tragedies I am call our "Love has Left me in Despair" ballad: "Constant Lady" for short. Chappell gave four ballad with Constant Lady" first, followed by "The Answer" then by "Lover's Farewell" and finally by "Lady's Lamentation" which is a different ballad than "The Lady's Lamentation for the Loss of her Sweetheart," a version of our ballad- "Brisk Young Sailor."
Only "Constant Lady" is related to "Love has Left me in Despair." Chappell writes of the tune:
"THE OXFORDSHIRE TRAGEDY. This is one of the old and simple chaunt-like ditties, which seem to have been peculiarly suited to the lengthy narratives of the Minstrels, who, in the days of their decline, were content to give “ a fytte of mirth for a groat.”* The Ballad from which it derives its name, may vie with Chevy Chace in length; and though now scarce, seems to have retained its popularity in the early part of the last century, when the tune was introduced into “ The Cobbler’s Opera,” “ The Village Opera,” and the Ballad Opera of “Sylvia, or the Country Buria.” A Ballad of King Henry the Fifth and the Battle of Agincourt, beginning:
“ As our King lay musing,
As on his bed lay musing he;”
is still commonly sung to this Tune in parts of the country. We have not only heard it, but have received two copies, noted down by friends interested in the success of the Work. The following is the original Ballad, taken from a copy “printed and sold in Bow Church Yard.”
It was reprinted by Ebsworth in Publications, Volume 36 by Ballad Society as a "White-letter. Date, circa 1686." Following are the notes:
Note.—This second 'Oxfordshire Tragedy' is not in the Roxburghe Coll. It was sung to a well-known tune (see Popular Music, p. 191; sung also to "As our King lay musing on his bed"—our vol. vi, p. 744). It is deceptive in its later issue as a ' Garland' (Douce Coll., III, 70 verso, and Lindes., 865); yet thus reprinted in the Kalional English Airs, 1838, p. 123, viz. Four Parts.
Here was concluded the ballad-story of the Oxfordshire Knight's Daughter and her False-hearted Squire. It needed not the two other Parts that were conjoined to it, when issued as a 'Garland.' 'The Lover's Farewell' is a new departure, being the former case reversed, a distinct story; its own sequel is 'The Lady's Lamentation.' It had appeared earlier in Black-letter (Pepy's Collection, III, 379), and we borrow the full title. The first and second stanzas of the 'Farewell' were, in 1688, with music by Robert King, published under a different title, viz. 'The Jealous Lover' (p. 54 of our Bagford Ballads). It is better, to avoid all misunderstanding, for us to reprint here the whole continuation, but with a preliminary caution that it is a distinct ballad from the one preceding. The tune is named on p. 412. R. B.=Richard Baldwin. The third and fourth parts were added, as a contrast to the first narrative, to lengthen it and double the price. The third part, also the fourth, her 'Lamentation,' was twice issued as a separate ballad; exemplars of each being preserved in the Pepysian Collection, viz. Vol. III, p. 379, and V, 315: both distinct from Pep. Coll., V, 285. This is the true solution of the enigma, which had eluded the late William Chappell.
"Constant Lady" was borrowed from and appears to have been well known. Besides it's stanzas forming "Love has Left Me in Despair" and "She's Like the Swallow," it has been used at the end of the Pitts Sheffield Park' broadside and its stanzas 12-17 are found mixed in many of the "Died for Love" ballads.
"Constant Lady" appears to have been derived from two earlier broadsides printed on a single sheet by "the Assignes of Thomas Symcocke" c. 1628: "The Deceased Maiden Lover" (stanzas 12-15) and "The Faithlesse Lover" (stanzas 18-17). Both earlier broadsides are in quatrain form with a two stanza chorus with the last chorus line:
Alas, there's none ere lov'd like me.
R. Matteson 2017]
THE CONSTANT LADY, AND Fals Hearted Squire,
Being a Relation of a Knights Daughter near Woodstock in Oxford-shier, that dy'd for Love of a Squire.
To a New Tune.
1. Near Woodstock Town in Oxford shire
As I Walk'd forth to take the A[i]re,
To v[i]ew the fields and Meadows Round,
Me thought's I hear'd a Mournful Sound.
2. Down by a Christal River side,
A gallant Bower I espi'd
Wher a fair Lady made great moan,
With many a sigh and bitter Groan.
3. Allas! quoth she, my love's unkind,
My sight and Tear's he will not mind,
But is so cruel unto me,
Which Causes all my Misiry.
4. My father is a worthy Knight,
My Mother she a Lady bright,
And I their child and only heir,
Yet love his brought me to dispair.
5. A wealthy Esquire lives hard by,
Who an my Beauty cast an Eye;
He courted me both day and night,
For to be his Jewel and delight.
6. To me these words he often said,
Fair Beautious Lady, lovly maid,
Oh! pitty me I you Imploar,
For it' is you I do adore
7. He still did beg me to be kind,
And ease his love Tormented mind,
For if, says he you should deny,
For love of you alass I dye.
8. These words did peirce my tender heart
I soon did yeald to ease his Smart,
And unto him made this reply,
Dear Sir for me you shall not dye.
9. With that he flew unto my Aarmes,
And swore I had a thousand Charms,
He call'd me Angel, Saint, and he,
Did sware for ever true to be.
10. Soon after he had gaind my Heart,
He cruelly from me did part,
An other Maid he does pursue,
And to all his Vows has bid adieu.
11. Tis he that makes me to Lament,
He causes all my discontent,
Tis he that causes my dispair,
Tis he's the cause of all my care.
12. This Lady round the Meadow run,
And geather'd flowers where they sprung
Of every sort she there did pull,
Until she had her Apron ful.
13. There is a Flower she did say,
Tis call'd hearts ease by night and day,
I wish I could that Flower find,
For to ease my heart and cure my mind.
14. But oh! alass it is in vain,
For me to sigh or to complane,
Theres nothing now can ease my smart,
For his disdain has broak my Heart,
15. The Green it serv'd me for a Bed,
The Flowers Pillows for my Head,
I lay'd me down and no more Spoak,
But a lass for love my heart Broak.
16. But when I found he Corps was cold,
I went to her fals Love and told.
What unto this fair Maid befel,
I am glad, quoth he, she is so well.
17. Oh did she think I so fond would be,
That would fancy none but she,
Man was not Made for one a lone,
For I take delight to hear their moan.
18. Oh! Cruel man I find thou art,
Thus for to berak a Virgins Heart,
In Abraham's Bosom may she Sleep,
While they Tormented Soul shall weep:
LONDON, Printed for R.B. near Fleet-Street, c. 1686