Popular Music Of The Olden Time Vol 1

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

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	REIGN OF ELIZABETH.                                               123
	Holy Land." The last will also be found in Deloney's Garland of Goodwill, reprinted by the Percy Society.
	This ballad is on one of the affairs of gallantry that so frequently arose out of pilgrimages. PACKINGTON'S, oe PAGGINGTON'S POUND. This tune is to be found in Queen Elizabeth's Virginal Book; in A New Book of Tablature, 1596; in the Collection of English Songs, printed at Amsterdam, in 1634; in Select Ayres, 1659; in A Choice Collection of 180 Loyal Songs, 1685-; in Playford's Pleasant Musical Companion, Part II., 1687; in The Beggars' Opera, 1728; in The Musical Miscellany, vol. v.; and in many other collections. It probably took its name from Sir John Packington, commonly called " lusty Packington," the same who wagered that he would swim from the Bridge at Westminster, i.e., Whitehall Stairs, to that at Greenwich, for-the sum of 3,000?. " But the good Queen, who had particular tenderness for handsome fellows, would not permit Sir John to run the hazard of the trial." His portrait is still pre­served at Westwood, the ancient seat of the family. In Queen Elizabeth's Virginal Book it is called Packington's Pound; by Ben Jonson, Paggington's Pound; and, in a MS. now in Dr. Rimbault's possession, A Fancy of Sir John Pagington. Some copies, viz., that in the Virginal Book, and in the Amsterdam Collection, have the following difference in the melody of the first four bars:—
	and it is probably the more correct reading, as the other closely resembles the commencement of " Robin Hood, Robin Hood, said Little John." The song in Ben Jonson's comedy of Bartholomew Fair, commencing, " My masters and friends, and good people, draw near," was written to this air, and is thus introduced:— Night. To the tune of Paggington's Pound, Sir ? Cokes. (Sings) Fa, la la la, la la la, fa la la, la! Nay, I'll put thee in tune and all! Mine own country dance I Pray thee begin."—Act 3.