Part IV

., on p. 296 of _M. D. C._

Page 149. _You Merry Poets, old boys._

Given, with music by John Hilton, in his _Catch that Catch Can_, 1652, p. 7. Also in Walsh’s _Catch-Club_, ii. 13, No. 24.

Page 150. _Come, come away, to the Tavern, I say._

By Sir JOHN SUCKLING, in his unfinished tragedy “The Sad One,” Act iv. sc. 4, where it is sung by Signior Multecarni the Poet, and two of the actors; but without the final couplet, which recalls to memory Francis’s rejoinder in Henry IV., pt. i. Suckling was accustomed to introduce Shakesperian phrases into his plays, and we believe these two lines are genuine. We find the Catch, with music by John Hilton in that composer’s _Catch that Catch Can_, 1652, p. 15. (Also in Playford’s _Musical Companion_, 1673, p. 24.)

Captain William Hicks has a dialogue of Two Parliamentary Troopers, beginning with the same first line, in _Oxford Drollery_, i. 21, 1671. Written before 1659, thus:

_Come, come away, to the Tavern, I say,_ _Whilst we have time and leisure for to think;_ _I find our State lyes tottering of late,_ _And that e’re long we sha’n’t have time to drink._ Then here’s a health to thee, to thee and me, To me and thee, to thee and me, _&c._

Page 151. _There was an Old Man at ~Walton~ Cross._

This should read “_Waltham_ Cross.” By RICHARD BROME, in his comedy of “The Jovial Crew,” Act ii., 1641, wherein it is sung by Hearty, as “t’other old song for that” [the uselessness of sighing for a lass]; to the tune of “Taunton Dean,” (see Dodsley’s _Old Plays_, 1st edit., 1744, vi. 333). With music by John Hilton, it is given in J. H.’s _Catch that Catch Can_, 1652, p. 31. It is also in Walsh’s _Catch Club_ (about 1705) ii. 17, No. 43.

Page 151. _Come, let us cast dice, who shall drink._

In J. Hilton’s _Catch that Catch Can_, 1652, p. 55, with music by William Lawes; and in John Playford’s _Musical Companion_, 1673, p. 24.

Page 151. _Never let a man take heavily, &c._

With music by William Lawes, in Hilton’s _Catch that Catch Can_, 1652, p. 38.

Page 152. _Let’s cast away care, and merrily sing._

With music by William Lawes, in Hilton’s _Catch that Catch Can_, 1652, p. 37. Wm. Chappell gives the words of four lines, omitting fifth and sixth, to accompany the music of Ben Jonson’s “Cock Lorrell,” in _Pop. Mus. of O. T._, 161 (where date of the _Antidote_ is accidentally misprinted 1651, for 1661).

Page 152. _Hang sorrow, and cast away care._

With music by William Lawes, in Hilton’s _Catch that Catch Can_, 1652, p. 39. The words alone in _Windsor Drollery_, 140, 1672. Richard Climsall, or Climsell, has a long ballad, entitled “Joy and Sorrow Mixt Together,” which begins,

_Hang Sorrow! let’s cast away care,_ _for now I do mean to be merry;_ _Wee’l drink some good Ale and strong Beere,_ _With Sugar, and Clarret, and Sherry._ _Now Ile have a wife of mine own:_ _I shall have no need for to borrow;_ _I would have it for to be known_ _that I shall be married to morrow._ Here’s a health to my Bride that shall be! come, pledge it, you coon merry blades; The day I much long for to see, we will be as merry as the Maides.

Poor fellow! he soon changes his tune, after marriage, although singing to the music of “Such a Rogue would be hang’d,”—better known as “Old Sir Simon the King.” Printed by John Wright the younger (1641-83), it survives in the Roxburghe Collection, i. 172, and is reprinted for the Bd. Soc., i. 515. As may be seen, it is totally different from the Catch in Hilton’s volume and the _Antidote_; which is also in _Oxford Drollery_, Pt. 3, p. 136, there entitled “A Cup of Sack:—“_Hang Sorrow, cast_,” &c.

It there has two more verses:—

2.

_Come Ladd, here’s a health to thy Love,_ [p. 136.] _Do thou drink another to mine,_ _I’le never be strange, for if thou wilt change_ _I’le barter my Lady for thine:_ _She is as free, and willing to be_ _To any thing I command,_ _I vow like a friend, I never intend_ _To put a bad thing in thy hand:_ _Then be as frollick and free_ [p. 137.] _With her as thou woul’st with thine own,_ _But let her not lack good Claret and Sack,_ _To make her come off and come on._

3.

_Come drink, we cannot want Chink,_ _Observe how my pockets do gingle,_ _And he that takes his Liquor all off_ _I here do adopt him mine ningle:_ _Then range a health to our King,_ _I mean the King of ~October~,_ _For ~Bacchus~ is he that will not agree_ _A man should go to bed sober:_ _’Tis wine, both neat and fine,_ _That is the faces adorning,_ _No Doctor can cure, with his Physick more sure,_ _Than a Cup of small Beer in the morning._

This shows how a great man’s gifts are undervalued. Christopher Sly was truly wise (yet accounted a Sot and even a Rogue, though “the Slys are no rogues: look in the chronicles! We came in with Richard Conqueror!”) when, with all the wealth and luxury of the Duke at command, he demanded nothing so much as “a pot o’ the smallest ale.” He had good need of it.

Page 152. _My Lady and her Maid, upon a merry pin._

This meets us earlier, in Hilton’s _Catch that Catch Can_, 1651, p. 64, with music by William Ellis. The missing first verse reappears (if, indeed, not a later addition) in _Oxford Drollery_, 1674,