SR 241 308897
A composite volume of transcripts of ballads made, from various printed and manuscript sources, by and for Robert Jamieson (1780?-1844) for his edition of Popular Ballads and Songs (Edinburgh, 1806). c.1800.
Owned in 1921 by George Neilson, then by Charles R. Cowie, and now in the John Cowie Collection.
Discussed in G. Neilson, ‘A Bundle of Ballads’, E&S, 7 (1921), 108-42.
p. 16
p. 18
• CmT 80: Thomas Campion, ‘Silly boy, 'tis ful Moone yet, thy night as day shines clearely’
Copy, headed ‘Advice to a young Lover’, transcribed from a text in ‘a small MS. Collection in Mr. Bouchers possession’ [i.e. Jonathan Boucher of Epsom].
This MS recorded in Neilson, ‘A Bundle of Ballads’, p. 113.
First published in The Third and Fourth Booke of Ayres (London, [c.1617]), Book III, No. xxvi. Davis, p. 162.
p. 19
• RaW 530: Sir Walter Ralegh, ‘Wrong not, deare Empresse of my Heart’
Copy, headed ‘Songe’, transcribed from a text in ‘a small MS. Collection in Mr. Bouchers possession’ [i.e. Jonathan Boucher of Epsom].
This MS recorded in Neilson, ‘A Bundle of Ballads’, p. 111.
First published in Wits Interpreter (London, 1655), printed twice, the first version prefixed by ‘Our Passions are most like to Floods and streames’ (see RaW 320-38) and headed ‘To his Mistresse by Sir Walter Raleigh’. Edited with the prefixed stanza in Latham, pp. 18-19. Edited in The English and Latin Poems of Sir Robert Ayton, ed. Charles B. Gullans, STS, 4th Ser. 1 (Edinburgh & London, 1963), pp. 197-8. Rudick, Nos 39A and 39B (two versions, pp. 106-9).
This poem was probably written by Sir Robert Ayton. For a discussion of the authorship and the different texts see Gullans, pp. 318-26 (also printed in SB, 13 (1960), 191-8).
pp. 21-2
• WoH 114: Sir Henry Wotton, On his Mistress, the Queen of Bohemia (‘You meaner beauties of the night’)
Copy, headed ‘Upon the Queen of Bohemia, by Sir John Harrington’ and afterwards inscribed ‘By Sir H. Wotton’, here beginning ‘Ye twinckling starrs that in the night’, transcribed from a text in ‘a small MS. Collection in Mr. Bouchers possession’ [i.e. Jonathan Boucher of Epsom].
This MS recorded in Neilson, ‘A Bundle of Ballads’, p. 112.
First published (in a musical setting) in Michael East, Sixt Set of Bookes (London, 1624). Reliquiae Wottonianae (London, 1651), p. 518. Hannah (1845), pp. 12-15. Some texts of this poem discussed in J.B. Leishman, ‘“You Meaner Beauties of the Night” A Study in Transmission and Transmogrification’, The Library, 4th Ser. 26 (1945-6), 99-121. Some musical versions edited in English Songs 1625-1660, ed. Ian Spink, Musica Britannica XXXIII (London, 1971), Nos. 66, 122.
pp. 22-3
• CwT 1015: Thomas Carew, To A.L. Perswasions to love (‘Thinke not cause men flatt'ring say’)
Copy of lines 1-26, headed ‘To his too Coy Mistress’, transcribed from a text in ‘a small MS. Collection in Mr. Bouchers possession’ [i.e. Jonathan Boucher of Epsom].
This MS recorded in Neilson, ‘A Bundle of Ballads’, p. 112.
First published in Poems (1640). Dunlap, pp. 4-6.
pp. 25-6
• StW 188: William Strode, In commendation of Musique (‘When whispering straines do softly steale’)
Copy, headed ‘On Musicke’ and here beginning ‘When whispering straines with creeping winde’, transcribed from a text in ‘A small MS. Collection in Mr. Boucher's possession’ [i.e. Jonathan Boucher of Epsom].
Edited from this MS in Robert Jamieson, Popular Ballads and Songs (Edinburgh, 1806), II, 295-6. Recorded in Neilson, ‘A Bundle of Ballads’, p. 113.
First published in Parnassus Biceps (London, 1656). Dobell, pp. 2-3. Four Poems by William Strode (Flansham, Bognor Regis, 1934), pp. 1-2. Forey, pp. 196-7. The poem also discussed in C.F. Main, ‘Notes on some Poems attributed to William Strode’, PQ, 34 (1955), 444-8 (p. 445).
pp. 27-8
• StW 922: William Strode, Song (‘When Orpheus sweetly did complaine’)
Copy, headed ‘The following unfortunate verses on the same subject with the foregoing (and which come immediately after them in the M.S.) I shall insert for the amusement of the reader; as, the admirable delicacy and beauty of the preceding will by contrast shew their unnatural quaintness in a more glaring light’, transcribed from a text in ‘a small MS. Collection in Mr. Bouchers possession’ [i.e. Jonathan Boucher of Epsom].
This MS recorded in Neilson, ‘A Bundle of Ballads’, p. 113.
First published in Poems: Written by Wil. Shake-speare, Gent. (London, 1640). Dobell, pp. 1-2. Forey, pp. 79-80. The poem also discussed in C.F. Main, ‘Notes on some Poems attributed to William Strode’, PQ, 34 (1955), 444-8 (p. 445).
pp. 29-32
• StW 1244: William Strode, Westwell Elme (‘Prethe stand still a while, and view this Tree’)
Copy, headed ‘Verses Upon Westwell Great Elme standing at Goodman Berrye's Gate, at the farme, within two miles of Burforde in Oxforde-shire; beeing the dancing Tree at Whitsontide’, transcribed from a text in ‘a small MS. Collection in Mr. Bouchers possession’ [i.e. Jonathan Boucher of Epsom].
This MS recorded in Neilson, ‘A Bundle of Ballads’, p. 113; the article recorded in Forey, p. 222.
First published in Dobell (1907), pp. 21-4. Forey, pp. 1-5.
pp. 33-4
• HeR 186: Robert Herrick, Oberons Feast (‘A Little mushroome table spred’)
Copy, without the preliminary lines, headed ‘The Pharyes Clothing by Sir Simion Steward. Immediately preceding this neat little trif[l]e is the Pharyes Supper by Robert Herrick, some parts of which is pleasing enough; for instance:’.
This MS recorded in Neilson, ‘A Bundle of Ballads’, p. 113.
First published complete, with six preliminary lines beginning ‘Shapcot! To thee the Fairy State’, in Hesperides (London, 1648). Martin, pp. 119-20. Patrick, pp. 161-3. An earlier version, entitled ‘A Description of his Dyet’, published in A Description of the King and Queene of Fayries (London, 1634). Martin, pp. 454-5.
pp. 34-6
• HeR 351: Robert Herrick, King Oberon his Cloathing (‘When the monethly horned Queene’)
Copy, headed ‘The Pharyes Clothing’ and here ascribed to ‘Sir Simion Steward’.
This MS recorded in Neilson, ‘A Bundle of Ballads’, p. 114.
First published, as ‘A Description of the King of Fayries Clothes’ and attributed to Sir Simeon Steward, in A Description of the King and Queene of Fayries (London, 1634). Musarum Deliciae (London, 1656), p. 32. Attributed to Herrick in Hazlitt, II, 473-7, and in Norman K. Farmer, Jr., ‘Robert Herrick and “King Oberon's Clothing”: New Evidence for Attribution’, Yearbook of English Studies 1 (1971), 68-77. Not included in Martin or in Patrick. See also T.G.S. Cain, ‘Robert Herrick, Mildmay Fane, and Sir Simeon Steward’, ELR, 15 (1985), 312-17.
pp. 38-40
• LoR 41: Richard Lovelace, To Althea, From Prison. Song (‘When Love with unconfined wings’)
Copy, headed ‘Song. Id. ibid. see Percy. By Colonel Louelace’, transcribed from LoR 36.
This MS recorded in Neilson, ‘A Bundle of Ballads’, p. 114.
First published in Lucasta (London, 1649). Wilkinson (1925), II, 70-1. (1930), pp. 78-9. Thomas Clayton, ‘Some Versions, Texts, and Readings of “To Althea, from Prison”’, PBSA, 68 (1974), 225-35. A musical setting by John Wilson published in Select Ayres and Dialogues (London, 1659).
p. 143
• B&F 164: Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher, The Queen of Corinth, III, ii. Song (‘Weep no more, nor sigh, nor groan’)
Copy, headed ‘This exquisite little song as from Beaumont & Fletcher's Queen of Corinthy. As it is not in the first Folio, it has been rejected from the text printed in the notes, in the Edition of 1778’.
This MS recorded in Neilson, ‘A Bundle of Ballads’, p. 120.
First published in Comedies and Tragedies (London, 1647). Dyce, V, 393-486 (p. 448). Bowers, VIII, 10-93, ed. Robert K. Turner (p. 57).
[unspecified page numbers]
• HyJ 5.5: John Heywood, A Ballad specifying partly the Manner, partly the Matter, in the … Marriage between … the King's and Queen's Highness (‘The eagle bird hath spread his wings’)
Copy.
Recorded in G. Neilson, ‘A Bundle of Ballads’, E & S, 7 (1921), 108-42 (pp. 118-19).
[unspecified page numbers]
• HyJ 6.5: John Heywood, A Brief Ballet touching the Traitorous Taking of Scarborough Castle (‘Oh, valiant invaders! gallantly gay’)
Copy. Late 18th-century.
Recorded in G. Neilson, ‘A Bundle of Ballads’, E & S, 7 (1921), 108-42 (pp. 118-19).
562592
Copy, in a professional hand, on 32 quarto leaves. Late 17th century.
HaG 15: George Savile, First Marquess of Halifax, The Character of a Trimmer
From the muniments of the Hays family, Earls of Erroll, of Slains Castle, Aberdeenshire.
This MS collated in Brown, I, 345-96.
First published, ascribed to ‘the Honourable Sir W[illiam] C[oventry]’, in London, 1688. Foxcroft, II, 273-342. Brown, I, 178-243.