II.

A FREEMAN’S SONG,

FOR THREE VOICES.

This strange and whimsical performance is taken from a very rare and curious publication, intitled “Deuteromelia: or the second part of musicks melodie, or melodius musicke. Of pleasant roundelaies; K. H. mirth, or freemens songs. And such delightfull catches. London: printed for Thomas Adams dwelling in Paules church-yard at the signe of the white lion, 1609.” 4to. Freemen’s songs is supposed to be a corruption of Three men’s songs, from their being generally for three voices. K. H. is King Henry’s. See “Ancient Songs,” ed. 1829, vol. i. p. lxxix., and vol. ii. p. 54, &c.

In the collection of old printed ballads made by Anthony a Wood is an inaccurate copy of this ancient and singular production, in his own handwriting: “This song,” says he, “was esteemed an old song before the rebellion broke out in 1641.” It thereby appears that the first line of every stanza was “to be sung thrice.” Beside the music here given, there are three parts of “Another way,” which it was not thought necessary to insert. {354}

[Music: TREBLE.

By Lands-dale hey ho, by mery Lands-dale there dwelt a jolly miller, And a very good old man was hee, was he, hey ho He had, he had and a sonne a, He had, he had and a sonne.]

[Music: TENOR.

By Lands-dale hey ho, by mery Lands dale hey ho was he hey ho. He had, he had and a sonne a]

{355}

[Music: BASSUS.

By Lands-dale hey ho, by mery Lands-dale, hey ho, There dwelt a jolly miller, and a very good old man was he, hey ho, He had, he had and a sonne a, he had he had, he had]

He had, he had and a sonne a, Men called him Renold, And mickle of his might Was he, was he, hey ho.

And from his father a wode a, His fortune for to seeke, From mery Landsdale Wode he, wode he, hey ho. {356}

His father would him seeke a, And found him fast asleepe. Among the leaves greene Was he, was he, hey ho.

He tooke, he tooke him up a, All by the lilly-white hand, And set him on his feet, And bad him stand, hey ho.

He gave to him a benbow, Made all of a trusty tree, And arrowes in his hand, And bad him let them flee.

And shoote was that that a did a, Some say he shot a mile, But halfe a mile and more Was it, was it, hey ho.

And at the halfe miles end [a], There stood an armed man ; The childe he shot him through, And through, and through, hey ‘ho.’

His beard was all on a white a, As white as whaleis bone, His eyes they were as cleare As christall stone, hey ho. {357}

And there of him they made [a] Good yeoman Robin Hood, Scarlet, and Little John, And Little John, hey ho.