Parson's Letter to Percy 1770 ( Percy MS – 129.A)
[Percy MS – 129.A Spelling kept as in the original. My footnotes are found at the end. Transcribed by Susan Lepak and Steve Gardham.]
Sir,
I have been extremely ill for the Last 2 Months or I shou’d have wrote to you, and complied with Your Desire long before this.
As to the trouble of transcribing, it was nothing. I am sure you cou’d not have read my Scrabbled originals, which were taken down from the mouth of the Spinning wheel if I may be allowed the Expression.
I conveyed the Map to Mr. Knight with Your Compliments.
The Songs which I have transcribed are such as pleased me; how nicer Judges may relish them I cannot say; of their ambiguity I can have no doubt; I have some few more, but they wou’d have Swelled my Pacquet too much.
I have added an anagram and an acrostick which I think Curious; the Manual Elegance of the originals is Extraordinary.
I could, I dare say, pick up more original ancient Ballads amongst my Northern friends if either acceptable or agreeable to you.
I am happy to have it in my Power at any time to Oblige you, who are True,
Your Most Obedt. Servant,
P. Parsons
Wye April 7, 1770 Turnover
The Ballad of Sweet William was the same as Yours in the Stanzas I have omitted. In the 8th Stanza and 35th Line Yours runs:
To dream thy Bower was full of ‘red’ Swine, which last words are marked as of uncertain reading. I think I have restored the Original Reading. The Person from whose mouth I took it Sung it thus:
My Chamber was full of wild men’s wine, which is absolute nonsense, but if altered to wild men and Swine, is perfect sense and naturally Expresses a horrid and hurrying Dream.
I will take the Liberty of informing you who was the author of the famous song of Mad Tom, from an author whom you have quoted in another Part of Your Work –Isaak Walton- He says (page 61 of his Compleat Angler) that it was written by Mr. William Basse, author of Several others.
But excuse the long trouble I have given you.