XXIII.
THE SPANISH LADY'S LOVE.
This beautiful old ballad most probably took its rise from one of these descents made on the Spanish coasts in the time of queen Elizabeth; and in all likelihood from that which is celebrated in the foregoing ballad.
It was a tradition in the West of England, that the person admired by the Spanish lady was a gentleman of the Popham family [Sir John Popham], and that her picture, with the pearl necklace mentioned in the ballad, was not many years ago preserved at Littlecot, near Hungerford, Wilts, the seat of that respectable family.
Another tradition hath pointed out Sir Richard Levison, of Trentham, in Staffordshire, as the subject of this ballad; who married Margaret daughter of Charles Earl of Nottingham; and was eminently distinguished as a naval officer and commander in all the expeditions against the Spaniards in the latter end of Q. Elizabeth's reign, particularly in that to Cadiz in 1596, when he was aged 27. He died in 1605, and has a monument, with his effigy in brass, in Wolverhampton church.
It is printed from an ancient black-letter copy, corrected in part by the Editor's folio MS.
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[Sir John Popham and Sir Richard Levison are not the only candidates for the honour of being associated with the Spanish Lady, for strong claims have also been brought forward in favour of Sir Urias Legh of Adlington, Cheshire, and of Sir John Bolle of Thorpe Hall, Lincolnshire. A descendant of the latter worthy wrote a letter in his favour, which appeared in the _Times_ of May 1, 1846, and from which the following particulars are extracted:--"In Illingworth's _Topographical Account of Scampton, with Anecdotes_ _of the family of Bolles_, it is stated, 'the portrait of Sir John, drawn in 1596, at the age of thirty-six years, having on him the gold chain given him by the Spanish Lady, &c., is still in the possession of Captain Birch.' That portrait is now in the possession of Captain Birch's successor, Thomas Bosvile, Esq., of Ravensfield Park, Yorkshire." The writer of the letter signs himself Charles Lee, and dates from Coldrey, Hants. He adds another extract from Illingworth's _Scampton_, which is as follows: "On Sir John Bolle's departure from Cadiz, the Spanish Lady sent as presents to his wife, a profusion of jewels, and other valuables, amongst which was her portrait, drawn in green, plate, money, and other treasure. Some articles are still in the possession of the family, though her picture was unfortunately and by accident, disposed of about half a century since. This portrait being drawn in green, gave occasion to her being called in the neighbourhood of Thorpe Hall, the Green Lady, where to this day there is a traditionary superstition among the vulgar that Thorpe Hall was haunted by the Green Lady, who used nightly to take her seat in a
## particular tree near the mansion."
Mr. Chappell points out that this ballad is quoted in _Cupid's_ _Whirligig_, 1616, and parodied in Rowley's _A Match at Midnight_, 1633. It is also quoted in Mrs. Behn's Comedy, _The Rovers, or_ _the banished Cavaliers_, and in Richard Brome's _Northern Lasse_.
Shenstone was not satisfied with the beautiful simplicity of this charming ballad, and attempted in his _Moral Tale of Love and_ _Honour_ to place it before his readers "in less grovelling accents than the simple guise of ancient record." The mode he adopted was to spin it out by the frequent introduction of _Ah me_ and _'tis true_, and addresses to the "generous maid," Elvira, Iberia, &c. Wordsworth acted far differently, when he founded his exquisite _Armenian Lady's Love_ upon this ballad:
"You have heard of a Spanish Lady, How she wooed an English man; Hear now of a fair Armenian, Daughter of the proud Soldàn."
The copy in the folio MS. (ed. Hales and Furnivall, vol. iii. p. 393) begins with verse 33, the early part having been torn out.]
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Will you hear a Spanish lady, How she wooed an English man? Garments gay as rich as may be Decked with jewels she had on. Of a comely countenance and grace was she, 5 And by birth and parentage of high degree.
As his prisoner there he kept her, In his hands her life did lye; Cupid's bands did tye them faster By the liking of an eye. 10 In his courteous company was all her joy, To favour him in any thing she was not coy.
But at last there came commandment For to set the ladies free, With their jewels still adorned, 15 None to do them injury. Then said this lady mild, Full woe is me; O let me still sustain this kind captivity!
Gallant captain, shew some pity To a ladye in distresse; 20 Leave me not within this city, For to dye in heavinesse: Thou hast set this present day my body free, But my heart in prison still remains with thee.
"How should'st thou, fair lady, love me, 25 Whom thou knowst thy country's foe? Thy fair wordes make me suspect thee: Serpents lie where flowers grow." All the harm I wishe to thee, most courteous knight, God grant the same upon my head may fully light. 30
Blessed be the time and season, That you came on Spanish ground; If our foes you may be termed, Gentle foes we have you found: With our city, you have won our hearts eche one, 35 Then to your country bear away, that is your owne.
"Rest you still, most gallant lady; Rest you still, and weep no more; Of fair lovers there is plenty, Spain doth yield a wonderous store." 40 Spaniards fraught with jealousy we often find, But Englishmen through all the world are counted kind. Leave me not unto a Spaniard, You alone enjoy my heart; I am lovely, young, and tender, 45 Love is likewise my desert: Still to serve thee day and night my mind is prest; The wife of every Englishman is counted blest.
"It wold be a shame, fair lady, For to bear a woman hence; 50 English soldiers never carry Any such without offence." I'll quickly change myself, if it be so, And like a page Ile follow thee, where'er thou go.[692]
"I have neither gold nor silver 55 To maintain thee in this case, And to travel is great charges, As you know in every place." My chains and jewels every one shal be thy own, And eke five hundred[693] pounds in gold that lies unknown. 60
"On the seas are many dangers, Many storms do there arise, Which wil be to ladies dreadful, And force tears from watery eyes." Well in troth I shall endure extremity,[694] 65 For I could find in heart to lose my life for thee.[695]
"Courteous ladye, leave this fancy, Here comes all that breeds the strife;[696] I in England have already A sweet woman to my wife: 70 I will not falsify my vow for gold nor gain, Nor yet for all the fairest dames that live in Spain."
O how happy is that woman That enjoys so true a friend! Many happy days God send her;[697] 75 Of my suit I make an end:[698] On my knees I pardon crave for my offence,[699] Which did from love and true affection first commence.[700]
Commend me to thy lovely lady, Bear to her this chain of gold;[701] 80 And these bracelets for a token; Grieving that I was so bold: All my jewels in like sort take thou with thee,[702] For they are fitting for thy wife, but not for me.[703]
I will spend my days in prayer, 85 Love and all her laws[704] defye; In a nunnery will I shroud mee Far from any companye:[705] But ere my prayers have an end, be sure of this, To pray for thee and for thy love I will not miss. 90
Thus farewell, most gallant captain! Farewell too my heart's content![706] Count not Spanish ladies wanton, Though to thee my love was bent: Joy and true prosperity goe still with thee![707] 95 "The like fall ever to thy share, most fair ladìe."
FOOTNOTES:
[692] [Ver. 54. whersoere thou go.]
[693] So the MS., 10,000_l. PC._
[694] V. 65. Well in worth [I will], MS.
[695] [V. 66. find my heart.]
[696] [V. 68. that breakes.]
[697] [Ver. 75. many dayes of joy god send you.]
[698] [V. 76. Ile make.]
[699] [V. 77. upon my knees I pardon crave for this offence.]
[700] [V. 78. which love and true affectyon did ffirst commence.]
[701] [V. 80. a chaine.]
[702] [V. 83. take with thee.]
[703] [V. 84. these are ... and not for me.]
[704] So the folio MS. Other editions read _his laws_.
[705] [V. 88. from other.]
[706] [V. 92. and ffarwell my.]
[707] [V. 95. be still.]