Popular Music Of The Olden Time Vol 1

Ancient Songs, Ballads, & Dance Tunes, Sheet Music & Lyrics - online book

Home Main Menu Singing & Playing Order & Order Info Support Search Easter Hymns



Share page  Visit Us On FB

Previous Contents Next
REIGN OF ELIZABETH.
121
PEPPER IS BLACK.
This tune is to be found in The Dancing Master, from 1650 to 1690. It is mentioned as a dance tune by Nashe in Save with you to Saffron- Walden, 1596. (See ante p. 116.) A copy of the following ballad by Elderton is in the collection of Mr. George Daniel, of Canonbary: " Prepare ye to the plough, to the tune of Pepper is black."
" The Queen holds the plough, to continue good seed, Trusty subjects, be ready to help if she need."
Parnaso hill, not all the skill            Can bring about that I found out,
Of nymphs, or muses feigned,          By Christ himself ordained, &c.
There are twelve stanzas, each of eight lines, subscribed W. Elderton. Printed
by Wm. How, for Kichard Johncs.
WALSINGHAM.
This tune is in Queen Elizabeth's, and Lady Neville's, Virginal Books (with thirty variations by Dr. John Bull); in Anthony Holborne's Cittharn Schoole, 1597; in Barley's New Booke of Tablature, 1596, &c. It is called " Walsingham" " Save with you to Walsingham," and " As I went to Walsingham."
It belongs, in all probability, to an earlier reign, as the Priory of Walsingham, in Norfolk,- which was founded during the Episcopate of William, Bishop of Norwich (1146 to 1174), was dissolved in 1538.
Pilgrimages to this once famous shrine commenced in or before the reign of Henry HI., who was there in 1241. Edward I..was at Walsingham in ,1280, and again in 1296 ; and Edward H. in 1315. The% author of The Vision of Piers Ploughman, says—
" Heremytes on a hepe, with hooked staves, Wenten to Walsyngham, and her [their] wenches after." A curious reason why pilgrims should have both singers and pipers to accompany them, will be found in note a, at page 34.
Henry VTL, having kept his Christmas of 1486-7, at Norwich, "from thence went in manner of pilgrimage to Walsingham, where he visited Our Lady's Church, famous for miracles; and made his prayers and vows for help and deliverance."