Part 29

"And therefore, blind man, we bid thee bewray, (And look that the truth thou to us do say) Thy birth and thy parentage, what it may be; For the love that thou bearest to pretty Bessee."

"Then give me leave, nobles and gentles, each one, One song more to sing, and then I have done; And if that it may not win good report, Then do not give me a groat for my sport.

"Sir Simon de Montfort my subject shall be; Once chief of all the great barons was he, Yet fortune so cruel this lord did abase, Now lost and forgotten are he and his race.

"When the barons in arms did King Henry oppose, Sir Simon de Montfort their leader they chose; A leader of courage undaunted was he, And oft-times he made their bold enemies flee.

"At length in the battle on Evesham plain, The barons were routed, and Montfort was slain; Most fatal that battle did prove unto thee, Though thou wast not born then, my pretty Bessee!

"Along with the nobles, that fell at that tide, His eldest son Henry, who fought by his side, Was felled by a blow he received in the fight: A blow that deprived him for ever of sight.

"Among the dead bodies all lifeless he lay, Till evening drew on of the following day. When by a young lady discovered was he; And this was thy mother, my pretty Bessee!

"A baron's fair daughter stept forth in the night To search for her father, who fell in the fight, And seeing young Montfort, where gasping he lay, Was mov-ed with pity, and brought him away.

"In secret she nursed him, and swag-ed his pain, While he through the realm was believed to be slain: At length his fair bride she consented to be, And made him glad father of pretty Bessee.

"And now, lest our foes our lives should betray, We cloth-ed ourselves in beggar's array; Her jewels she sold, and hither came we: All our comfort and care was our pretty Bessee.

"And here have we liv-ed in fortune's despite, Though poor, yet contented with humble delight: Full forty winters thus have I been A silly blind beggar of Bethnal Green.

"And here noble lord-es, is ended the song Of one that once to your own rank did belong: And thus have you learn-ed a secret from me, That ne'er had been known but for pretty Bessee."

Now when the fair company every one, Had heard the strange tale in the song he had shown, They all were amaz-ed, as well they might be, Both at the blind beggar, and pretty Bessee.

With that the fair bride they all did embrace, Saying, "Sure thou art come of an honourable race, Thy father likewise is of noble degree, And thou art well worthy a lady to be."

Thus was the feast ended with joy and delight, A bridegroom most happy then was the young knight, In joy and felicity long liv-ed he, All with his fair lady, the pretty Bessee.

THE BAILIFF'S DAUGHTER OF ISLINGTON.

There was a youth, and a well-beloved youth, And he was a squire's son: He loved the bailiffs daughter dear, That lived in Islington.

Yet she was coy, and would not believe That he did love her so; No, nor at any time would she Any countenance to him show.

But when his friends did understand His fond and foolish mind, They sent him up to fair Lond-on An apprentice for to bind.

And when he had been seven long years, And never his love could see: "Many a tear have I shed for her sake, When she little thought of me."

Then all the maids of Islington Went forth to sport and play, All but the bailiff's daughter dear; She secretly stole away.

She pull-ed off her gown of green, And put on ragged attire, And to fair London she would go Her true love to inquire.

And as she went along the high road, The weather being hot and dry, She sat her down upon a green bank, And her true love came riding by.

She started up, with a colour so red, Catching hold of his bridle-rein; "One penny, one penny, kind sir," she said, "Will ease me of much pain."--

"Before I give you one penny, sweetheart, Pray tell me where you were born."-- "At Islington, kind sir," said she, "Where I have had many a scorn."--

"I pr'ythee, sweetheart, then tell to me, O tell me, whether you know The bailiffs daughter of Islington."-- "She is dead, sir, long ago."--

"If she be dead, then take my horse, My saddle and bridle also; For I will into some far countrie, Where no man shall me know."--

"O stay, O stay, thou goodly youth, She standeth by thy side: She is here alive, she is not dead,-- And ready to be thy bride."--