X.
PHILLIDA AND CORYDON.
This Sonnet is given from a small quarto MS. in the Editor's possession, written in the time of Q. Elizabeth. Another Copy of it containing some variations, is reprinted in the _Muses' Library_, p. 295, from an ancient miscellany, intitled _England's Helicon_, 1600, 4to. The author was _Nicholas Breton_, a writer of some fame in the reign of Elizabeth; who also published an interlude intitled _An old man's lesson and a young man's love_, 4to., and many other little pieces in prose and verse, the titles of which may be seen in Winstanley, Ames' _Typog._ and Osborne's _Harl. Catalog._ &c.--He is mentioned with great respect by _Meres_, in his 2d pt. of _Wit's Common-wealth_, 1598, f. 283, and is alluded to in Beaumont and Fletcher's _Scornful Lady_, act ii., and again in _Wit without Money_,
## act iii.--See Whalley's _Ben Jonson_, vol. iii. p. 103.
The present Edition is improved by a copy in _England's Helicon_, edit. 1614, 8vo.
This little Pastoral is one of the Songs in "The Honourable Entertainment gieven to the Queenes Majestie in Progresse at Elvetham in Hampshire, by the R. H. the Earle of Hertford, 1591, 4to." (Printed by Wolfe. No name of author.) See in that pamphlet,
"The thirde daies Entertainment.
"On Wednesday morning about 9 o'clock, as her Majestie opened a casement of her gallerie window, ther were 3 excellent musitians, who being disguised in auncient country attire, did greet her with a pleasant song of _Corydon and Phillida_, made in 3 parts of purpose. The song, as well for the worth of the dittie as the aptnesse of the note thereto applied, it pleased her Highnesse after it had been once sung to command it againe, and highly to grace it with her cheerefull acceptance and commendation.
THE PLOWMAN'S SONG.
_In the merrie month of May, &c."_
The splendour and magnificence of Elizabeth's reign is nowhere more strongly painted than in these little diaries of some of her summer excursions to the houses of her nobility; nor could a more acceptable present be given to the world, than a republication of a select number of such details as this of the entertainment at _Elvetham_, that at _Killingworth_, &c., &c., which so strongly mark the spirit of the times, and present us with scenes so very remote from modern manners.
Since the above was written, the public hath been gratified with a most compleat work on the foregoing subject, intitled, _The Progresses and Public Processions of Queen Elizabeth, &c. By John Nichols, F.A.S., Edinb. and Perth_, 1788, 2 vols. 4to.
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[The author of this elegant little poem was a most voluminous author, and "is supposed to be the same Capt. Nicholas Breton, who was of Norton in Northamptonshire, and dying there June 22, 1624, has a monument in that church."[223] Dr. Rimbault (_Musical_ _Illustrations of Percy's Reliques_) writes as follows of the music:--"We have here two settings of this beautiful pastoral, the first as it was sung by the 'three excellent musitians' before Queen Elizabeth in 1591; the second as it was reset in the following century. The first is extracted from _Madrigals to 3, 4, and 5 parts, apt for viols and voices_, newly composed by Michael Este, 1604; the second from _Cheerfull Ayres or Ballads, set for three voyces_, by Dr. John Wilson, Oxford, 1660. The latter became extremely popular, and is included in D'Urfey's _Pills to Purge Melancholy_, 1719, and several other musical miscellanies of subsequent date."]
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In the merrie moneth of Maye, In a morne by break of daye, With a troope of damselles playing Forthe "I yode" forsooth a maying:[224]
When anon by a wood side, 5 Where as Maye was in his pride, I espied all alone Phillida and Corydon.
Much adoe there was, god wot; He wold love, and she wold not. 10 She sayde, never man was trewe; He sayes, none was false to you.
He sayde, hee had lovde her longe: She sayes, love should have no wronge. Corydon wold kisse her then: 15 She sayes, maydes must kisse no men,
Tyll they doe for good and all. When she made the shepperde call All the heavens to wytnes truthe, Never loved a truer youthe. 20
Then with manie a prettie othe, Yea and nay, and, faith and trothe; Suche as seelie shepperdes use When they will not love abuse;
Love, that had bene long deluded, 25 Was with kisses sweete concluded; And Phillida with garlands gaye Was made the lady of the Maye.
FOOTNOTES:
[223] [England's _Helicon_ (Brydges' _British Bibliographer_, vol. iii.)]
[224] Ver. 4. the wode, MS.