Popular Music Of The Olden Time Vol 1

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REIGN OF ELIZABETH.		137


is the seventh:— Thrice scarcely changed hath the moon, Since first this pretty trick was done; Which being heard of one by chance, He made thereof a country dance. And as I heard the tale, He called it Watkin's Ale, Which never will be stale I do believe;	This dance is now in prime, And chiefly us'd this time, And lately put in rhime : Let no man grieve, To hear this merry jesting talo, The which is called Watkin's Ale .-It is not long since it was made, The finest flower will soonest fade.
THE CARMAN'S WHISTLE. This tune is in Queen Elizabeth's and Lady Neville's Virginal Books (arranged by Byrd), as well as in several others of later date. The ballad is mentioned in a letter, bearing the signature of T. N., addressed to his good friend A[nthony] M[unday], prefixed to the latter's translation of Gerileon of England, part ii., quarto, 1592; and by Henry Chettle in his Kind-harfs Dreame, printed in the same year.