"Oh, wae betide ye, ill woman !- That wadna open the door to her! Oh, he went down to yon shore-side He saw fair Annie in the boat; "And hey, Anniè! And how, Anniè! "And hey, Anniè! And how, Anniè! The wind blew loud; the sea grew rough, Lord Gregory tore his yellow hair, Fair Annie's corpse lay at his feet,- Oh, pallid, pallid was her cheek, And first he kiss'd her whiten'd cheek, "Oh, wae betide my cruel mother! She turned my true love frae my door, "Oh, wae betide my cruel mother!— Wha's been the death of a' o' us- ANONYMOUS. SIR WALTER RALEIGH SAILING IN LOW LANDS.1 SIR WALTER RALEIGH has built a ship-in the Netherlands, Sir Walter Raleigh has built a ship-in the Netherlands, And it was taken by a false gallaley- "Is there never a seaman bold-in the Netherlands, All to redeem the Sweet Trinity, Sailing in the Low Lands, O?" Then spoke the little ship-boy-in the Netherlands, Then spoke the little ship-boy-in the Netherlands: "Master, what will you give, an I take this false gallaley, And release the Sweet Trinity Sailing in the Low Lands, O?" "I'll give thee gold, and I'll give thee fee-in the Netherlands, I'll give thee gold, and I'll give thee fee-in the Netherlands, And my eldest daughter thy wife shall be Sailing in the Low Lands, O." 1 There is a number of versions of this ballad, the most of which vary in the fate of the cabin-boy. Its first appearance seems to have been on broadsides from 1680 to 1685, or later; but it is thought to have had an earlier origin. (Raleigh died on Oct. 29, 1618.) Some versions are called "The Golden Vanity" or "Goulden Vanitee"; in these there is no mention of Raleigh, the story being of a northcountry vessel bearing the name "Golden Vanity," and meeting with a French galley while sailing in the Lowlands. One version has it "Turkish gallee "-in the Lowlands at that date! In all probability the story of the ship "boy" had a foundation in fact; and this version very likely came into existence towards the end of the seventeenth century, when time had made Raleigh's name, even in the north of England, synonymous with adventure at sea. In its repetition of the first line and its half-detached refrain the ballad is curiously reminiscent of the chanties of centuries later. K He set his breast, and away he did swim-in the Netherlands, He set his breast, and away he did swim-in the Netherlands, Until he came to the false gallaley— Sailing in the Low Lands, O. He had an augur fit for the nonce-in the Netherlands, He had an augur fit for the nonce- -in the Netherlands, The which did bore fifteen good holes at once Sailing in the Low Lands, O. Some were at cards and some at dice-in the Netherlands, Some were at cards and some at dice-in the Nether lands, Until the salt-water flashed in their eyes— Sailing in the Low Lands, O. Some cut their hats, and some cut their caps-in the Netherlands, Some cut their hats, and some cut their caps—in the Netherlands, All for to stop the salt-water gaps-2 Sailing in the Low Lands, O. He set his breast, and away he did swim-in the Netherlands, He set his breast, and away he did swim-in the Netherlands, Until he came to his own ship again— Sailing in the Low Lands, O. "I have done the work I promised to do—in the Netherlands, I have done the work I promised to do-in the Netherlands; For I've sunk the false galley and released the Sweet Trinity Sailing in the Low Lands, O. 1 This must be taken as meaning that the augur would bore fifteen holes without sharpening, One of the "Golden Vanity" versions has "bore two holes at twice!" 2 This reminds one of the "silken claith" and the canvas to stop the leak in "Sir Patrick Spens." "You promised me gold, and you promised me feein the Netherlands, You promised me gold, and you promised me fee-in the Netherlands: Your eldest daughter my wife she must be Sailing in the Low Lands, O.” "You shall have gold, and you shall have fee-in the Netherlands, You shall have gold, and you shall have fee-in the Netherlands; But my eldest daughter your wife shall never be Sailing in the Low Lands, O.” "Then fare you well, you cozening lord-in the Netherlands, Then fare you well, you cozening lord—in the Netherlands, Seeing you are not as good as your word Sailing in the Low Lands, O." And thus I will conclude my song of sailing in the Low Lands, Wishing all happiness to all seamen, old and young, In their sailing in the Low Lands, O. THE SPANISH LADY'S LOVE.1 WILL you hear a Spanish lady, How she wooed an English man? Decked with jewels, she had on. Of a comely countenance and grace was she, 1 There are several old ballads with much the same burthen as this one carries, one instance being "The Beautiful Lady of Kent"; but this, which was first published in The Garland of Good-will, 1631, by Thomas Deloney, is supposed to have been the earliest of them all. There is a tradition that the captain was Sir Richard Levison, of Trentham, Staffordshire, who did excellent work against the Spaniards towards the end of the sixteenth century. Another story, long current in western counties, had it that he was one of the Popham family, by whom, it was said, a painting of the inamorato and her gold bracelets and chain were kept long after the affair, which was dramatised by Thomas Hull, set to music, and played in Covent Garden Theatre, 1765. As his prisoner he kept her, In his hands her life did lie; Cupid's bands did hold them faster In the liking of an eye. His courteous company was to her all joy; But at length there came commandment Then said this beauty mild: "Full woe is me! Thou hast set this present day my body free; "Why dost thou, fair lady, love me, Whom thou knowest thy country's foe? These strange words make me suspect thee,— Serpents lie where flowers grow." "All the harm I wish to thee, most courteous knight, God grant the same upon my head may fully light. "Blessèd be the time and season When you came on Spanish ground: If our foes you may be termed, Gentle foes we have you found. With our city you have gained our hearts each one; Then to your country bear away what you have won." "Rest you here, most gallant lady; Rest you still and weep no more : Of brave lovers there is plenty Spain doth yield a wondrous store. "Spaniards fraught with jealousy we often find; But English men thro' all the world are counted kind. "Leave me not unto a Spaniard; You alone enjoy my heart. I am lovely, young and tender- |