Popular Music Of The Olden Time Vol 1

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

Share page

Visit Us On FB

	182	ENGLISH SONG AND BALLAD MUSIC.
	WALKING IN A COUNTRY TOWN. The tune from Robinson's Schoole of Musicke, 1603, called Walking in a country town. In the Roxburghe Collection, i. 412, is a ballad beginning " Walking in a meadow green," and, from the similarity of the lines, and the measure of the verse so exactly suiting the air, I infer this to be the tune of both. The latter was printed by John Trundle, at the sign of the Nobody in Barbican, rendered famous by Ben Jonson, who in his Every man in Ms Humour, makes Knowell say, " Well, if he read this with patience, I'll 'go,' and troll ballads for Master John Trundle yonder, the rest of my mortality." It is entitled " The two Leicestershire Lovers : to the tune of And yet methinhs I love thee." The first stanza is here printed to the music. The last line of the verse is, "Upon the meadow brow," and The meadow brow is often quoted as a tune. So in the Roxburghe Collection, i. 92, or Colliers's Roxburghe Ballads, p. 1, is " Death's Dance" (beginning, "B? Death would come and shew his face"), " to be sung to a pleasant new tune called 0 no, no, no, not yet, or The meadow broio." And Bishop Corbet's song, " Farewell, rewards and fairies," is " to be sung or whistled to the tune The meddow brow by the learned: by the unlearned, to the tune of Fortune."—(Percy, series iii., book 2.) All might be sung to this tune.
	PHILLIDA FLOUTS ME. In The Crown Garland of Golden Moses, 1612, is " A short and sweet sonnet made by one of the Maides of Honor upon the death of Queene Elizabeth, which she sowed upon a sampler, in red silke: to a new tune, or PMMida flouts me;" beginning—                  " Gone is Elizabeth, Whom we have lov'd so dear," &c.