Popular Music Of The Olden Time Vol 2

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	REIGN OF CHARLES II. 507
	WILLY WAS SO BLITHE A LAD.

	This " Northern Song" is contained in the first edition of Playford's Choice Ayres, Book I. It bears a strong family likeness to the " rare Northern tune," Never love thee more (ante Vol. I., p. 380).



	TO ALL YOU LADIES NOW AT LAND. This ballad was written by Lord Buckhurst, afterwards Earl of Dorset, when at sea during the first Dutch war, 1664-5. It has been said to have been written " the night before the engagement;" but, in all probability, was penned during the Duke of York's first cruise, in November, 1664, when an action was avoided by the Dutch retiring to port. The proof is, that it is mentioned by Pepys in his Diary, under the date of Jan. 2, 1664-5. He says, " To my Lord Brouncker's by appointment, in the Piazza, Covcnt Garden; where I occasioned much mirth with a ballet I brought with me, made from the seamen at sea to the ladies in town."