Popular Music Of The Olden Time Vol 2

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

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	506                                  ENGLISH SONG AND BALLAD MUSIC.
	" At the Dnko's theatre, Nokes appeared in a hat larger than Pistol's, which took the town wonderful, and supported a bad play by its pure effect. Dryden, piqued at this, caused a hat to be made the circumference of a hinder coach-wheel; and as Nelly (Nell Gwyn) was low of stature, and what the French call mignonne and piquante, he made her speak under the umbrella of that hat, the brims thereof being spread out horizontally to their full extension. The whole theatre was in a convulsion of ap­plause ; nay, the very actors giggled, a circumstance none had observed before. Judge, therefore, what a condition the merriest Prince alive was in, at such a con­juncture ! 'Twas beyond odso and odsfish, for he wanted little of being suffocated with laughter."
	THERE WERE THREE TRAVELLERS. In a Collection of Satirical Songs by the Earl of Rochester (Harl. MSS., No. 6913), is " A new ditty to an old tune of Three Travellers" beginning— " I'll shew you the Captains of Aubrey Vere, With a hey ho, langled down dilly; Fit Captains to serve with so noble a peer, Who has never a penny of money!' A copy of the ballad in the Bagford Collection (643, m. 9, p. 88) is entitled "The Jovial Companions; or, The Merry Travellers, who paid their shot where ever they came, without ever a stiver of money: To an excellent North-country tune." Printed by C. Bates, at the Sun and Bible, in Pye Corner. It is also contained in Pills to purge Melancholy, vi. 177.
	The story is, that the three travellers make themselves so agreeable to the hostess, wherever they go, that they are suffered to depart scot-free,—a' very pleasant theory.