V.

A MERRY WEDDING;

OR,

O BRAVE ARTHUR OF BRADLEY.

This old ballad, referred to in p. 158 of the present volume, is given from a black letter copy in a private collection, compared with and very much corrected by “An antidote against melancholy: made up in pills, compounded of witty ballads, jovial songs, and merry catches, 1661.” The running title of the volume is “Pills to purge melancholy,” which was afterward borrowed by Durfey. {360}

There is a different, but probably much more modern, ballad upon this popular subject, in the same measure, intitled “Arthur o’ Bradley,” and beginning,

“All in the merry month of May.”

In Jonson’s “Bartholomew Fair,” Moon-calf addresses Justice Overdo by this name: “O lord! do you not know him, mistress? ’tis mad Arthur of Bradley that makes the orations. Brave master, old Arthur of Bradley, how do you do? welcome to the fair, when shall we hear you again to handle your matters with your back against a booth, ha? I ha’ been one o’ your little disciples, i’ my days!”

In “The Honest Whore,” by Decker, 1604, Bellafront, on the Duke’s assurance that Matthio shall make her amends and marry her, replies, “Shall he? O brave Arthur of Bradley then!”

See you not Pierce the piper, His cheeks as big as a miter, A piping among the swains, That dance on yonder plains ? Where Tib and Tom do trip it, And youths to the hornpipe nip it, With every one his carriage, To go to yonder marriage ; Not one would stay behind, But go with Arthur of Bradley, Oh fine Arthur of Bradley, Oh fine Arthur of Bradley, Oh fine Arthur of Bradley, oh, &c.

Arthur had got him a lass, A bonnier never was ; {361} The chief youths of the parish Came dancing of the morris ; With country lasses trounsing, And lusty lads bounsing, Jumping with mickle pride, And each his wench by his side ; They all were fine and gay, For the honour of Arthur of Bradley, Oh fine Arthur of Bradley, oh, &c.

And when that Arthur was married, And his bride home had carried, The youngsters they did wait To help to carry up meat ; Francis carried the furmety, Michael carried the mince-pye, Bartholomew the beef and the mustard, And Christopher carried the custard ; Thus every one in his array, For the honour of Arthur of Bradley, Oh fine Arthur of Bradley, oh, &c.

And when that dinner was ended, The maidens they were befriended, For out steps Dick the draper, And he bid, Strike up, scraper ! It’s best to be dancing a little, And then to the tavern to tipple : He call’d for a hornpipe, {362} That went fine on the bagpipe ; Then forward, piper, and play, For the honour of Arthur of Bradley, Oh fine, &c.

Richard he did lead it, And Margery did tread it, Francis followed them, And after courteous Jane ; Thus every one after another, As if they had been sister and brother ; That ’twas great joy to see How well they did agree ; And then they all did say, Hay for Arthur of Bradley ! Oh fine Arthur of Bradley, oh, &c.

Then Miles in his motley breeches, And he the piper beseeches To play him _Haw-thorn buds_, That he and his wench might trudge : But Lawrence liked not that, No more did lusty Kate ; For she cry’d, Can’st thou not hit it, To see how fine Thomas can trip it, For the honour of Arthur of Bradley, &c.

When all the swains did see This mirth and merry glee, There was never a man did flinch, {363} But each one kist his wench ; But Giles was greedy of gain, For he would needs kiss twain : Her lover seeing that, Did rap him over the pate, That he had nought to say, For the honour of Arthur of Bradley, Oh fine Arthur of Bradley, oh, &c.

The piper lookt aside, And there he spied the bride, He thought it was a hard chance, That none would lead her a dance ; But there was none durst touch her, Save only Bat the Butcher ; He took her by the hand, And danced while he could stand : The bride was fine and gay, For the honour of Arthur of Bradley, Oh fine Arthur of Bradley, oh, &c.

Then out stept Will the weaver, And he swore he’d not leave her, He hopp’d it all on one leg, For the honour of his Peg : But Kister in cambrick ruffe, He took that all in snuffe ; For he against that day Had made himself fine and gay, His ruffe was whipt with blew, {364} And he cried, A new dance, a new, Then strike up a round-delay, For the honour of Arthur of Bradley, Oh fine, &c.

Then gan the sun decline, And every one thought it time To go unto his home, And leave the bridegroom alone. Tut, tut, says lusty Ned, I’le see them both in bed, For I’le gib at a joynt, But I’le have his codpeece-point : Then forward piper and play, For the honour of Arthur of Bradley, Oh fine, &c.

And thus the day was spent, And no man homeward went, There was such a crowding and thrusting, That some were in danger of bursting, To see them go to bed ; For all the skill they had, He was got to his bride, And lay close to her side : Then got they his points and his garters, And cut them in pieces like martyrs ; And then they all did play For the honour of Arthur of Bradley, Oh fine, &c. {365}

Then Will and his sweetheart Did call for _Loth to depart_ ; And then they did foot it, and toss it, Till the cook brought in the sack-posset. The bride-pye was brought forth, A thing of mickle worth : And so all at the beds side Took leave of Arthur and his bride, And so went all away From the wedding of Arthur of Bradley, Oh fine, &c.