Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 4.djvu/370

 420 NOTES AND QUERIES. [9* s. iv. NOV. is, WORDS OF SONG WANTED-'A TRAP FOR A SCOLD.' (9th S. iv. 347.) I AM happy to bo able to supply MR. R. FERGIE, of Corstorphine near Edinburgh, a place very dear to me in early days ("Tis sixty years since ! "), with the original of the song inquired for. I fortunately possess a transcript of the unique black-letter ballad, the early and better version, which was men- tioned in the final Part XXVII. of 'Rox- burghe Ballads,' pp. clvi* and clxvi* of prefatory note to vol. ix. The entire ballad has never been reprinted. It is certainly of date before 1681. one of the publishers being Thomas Vere, who died in that year. A few years later a condensed version was " Printed by and for W. O[nlen], and are to be sold by 0. Bates, in Pye-Corner," probably soon after 1685. Of this black-letter version three exemplars remain, viz., Roxburghe Collec- tion, li. 635 ; Euing, formerly J. O. Halliwell's. and earlier Richard Heber's, No. 396; ana Jersey Coll., ii. 190, now at Haigh Hall, Wigan. From the first of these three ex- emplars I reprinted it in the ' Roxburghe Ballads' vol. vii. p. 190, 1890, with notes. This inferior version is entitled " The Woman Outwitted ; or, The Weaver's Wife cunningly catch'd in a Trap, by her Husband, who sold her for Ten Pounds, and sent her to Virginny. To an excellent new Tune [called Virginny]." There are eleven stanzas of eight half-lines each, of which I need not here reprint more than the first, the ninth, the tenth, and the last. The story and the tune are identical in both versions :— (Trowbesh Collection of Transcripts, 4to. B.) Not far from hence there dwelt an honest man, a Weaver, He had a wife, she was witty and fair, but her wit it did deceive her : She was a grain too light, she calls him Fool and Ninny: Which made the Man then often say, " I'll go unto Virginny." But when she saw that he was gone, and that she there was stay'd, She bitterly did wail and weep, and said she was betray'd j "[O stay I] take me with you," said she, "I '11 never more offend thee." He ery'd, " Farewell, sweet wife, adieu ! Ood send you to Virginny." Then presently they hoist up sail, and had good wind and weather; And seven long weeks they were at sea, before that they came thither; He for a maiden sold her there, for fifty pounds in money, And she another Husband had, when the came to Virginny. They [man and wife] being parted thus, BO many leagues asunder, He carries money in his purse, there'a none to keep him under, But [here he] governs all at home, and with his friends lives merry: Now many one doth title him a Merchant of Virginny. [Finis.] London, Printed by and for W. O., and are to be sold by G. Bates, in Pye-Corner. [B.-Letter.] Of the earlier version I never met with more than a solitary black-letter broadside, bearing four woodcuts. All of these are copied and reprinted in ' Roxb. Ballads': 1. The heraldic shield, with ship of war in full sail, and in chief a lion passant guardant, vol. vii. p. 566; 2. A stout woman, with fan, vol. vii. p. 311 ; 3 and 4. Man in cloak, &c., p. 362 of same volume. Title, summary, tune, and text of ballad are as follow :— A NET FOE A NIGHT-RAVEN ; OB, A TRAP FOR A SCOLD. My honest friends, if you the way would know, How to be quiet from a scolding Shrow, And to get money now in these hard times, Then pray give ear and listen to these [rhym]es. The Tune is, Let its to Virginny go. Here is a merry Song, if that you please to buy it, 'Twill show how you may money get, and lead your lives in quiet: I '11 teach you the receipt, shall cost you but a penny, I think there's few that have not heard of famous brave Virginny. Where Capons are so cheap, and Eggs are in such plenty, Also such Fowl and Fish, and other things most dainty, As pigs, veal, lamb, and venison, if travellers speak truly: Which is the cause so many go, and travels to Virginny. Not far from hence there dwelled an honest man, a Weaver, Whose wife was witty, fair, and proud, but yet her wit deceived her; She was a grain too light, she call'd him Fool and Ninny, Which made her Husband oft to say he'd go unto Virginny. Although he hard did work, he ne'r could live in quiet; She said her cloaths they were too base, so was her homely dyet: Though nothing she did lack, that could be bought for money, " You Rogue (quod she), " when do you pack, and go unto Viryinny ? " She had a lusty Lad, and vow'd she 'd leave him never; At last her Husband found a trick, these loving mates to sever: