As soon as every match was done,
Every man was paid that won,
And merrily up and down they run,
As if it had been at London.
York, &c.
And never a man that went abroad,
But thought his money well bestow'd,
And money laid on heap and load,
As if it had been at London:
And gentlemen there, so frank and free,
As a mint at York again should be,
Like shooting did I never see,
Except I had been at London..
York, &c.
At York were ambassadors three,
Of Russia lords of high degree,
This shooting they desired to see,
As if it had been at London:
And one desir'd to draw a bow,
The force and strength thereof to know,
And for his delight he drew it so,
As seldom seen in London.
York, &c.
And they did marvel very much,
There could be any archer such,
To shoot so far the clout to touch,
Which is no news at London :
And they might well consider then,
An English shaft will kill a man,
As hath been proved where and when,
And chronicled since in London.
York, &c.
The Earl of Cumberland's archers won
Two matches clear, ere all was done :
And I made haste apace to run,
carry these news to London :
And Walmsley did the upshot win,
With both the shafts so near the pin,
You could scant have put three fingers in, As if it had been at London.
I pass not for my money it cost,
Though some I spent, and some I lost,
I wanted neither sod nor roast,
As if it had been at London :
For there was plenty of every thing,
Red and fallow deer for the king,
I never saw so merry a shooting,
Since first I came from London.
York, &c.
God save the city of York therefore,
That hath such noble friends in store,
And such good aldermen send them more,
And the like good luck at London :
For it is not little joy to see,
When lords and aldermen so agree,
With such according commonalty,
God send us the like at London.
York, &c.
God save the good Earl of Cumberland,
His praise in golden lines shall stand,
That maintains archery through the land,
As well as they do at London:
Whose noble mind so courteously
Acquaints himself with the commonalty,
To the glory of his nobility,
I will carry the praise to London.
York, &c.
And tell the good Earl of Essex thus,
As he is now young and prosperous,
To use such properties virtuous,
Deserves great praise in London:
For it is no little joy to see,
When noble youths so gracious be,
To give their good wills to their country,
As well as they do at London.
York, &c.
Farewell, good city of York to thee,
Tell Alderman Maltby this from me,
In print shall this good shooting be,
As soon as I come to London:
And many a song will I bestow,
On all the musicians that I know,
To sing the praises where they go,
Of the city of York in London.
York, &c.
God save our Queen and keep our peace,
That our good shooting may encrease,
And praying to God, let us not cease,
As well at York as London :
That all our country round about,
May have archers good to hit the clout,
Which England cannot be without,
No more than York and London.
York, &c.
God grant that once her Majesty,
Would come, her city of York to see,
For the comfort of that great country,
As well as she doth to London :
Nothing shall be thought too dear,
To see her highness person there,
With such obedient love and fear,
As ever she had in London.
York, York for my money,
Of all the cities that ever I see,
For merry pastime and company,
Except the city of London.
[From Yorke by W. E. 1. e. William Elderton.]
"A most sweet Song of an English Merchant born in Chichester."
From a black letter copy in the Pepys Collection, printed by Clarke, Thackeray, and Passenger.
A RICH merchant-man there was,
That was both grave and wise,
Did kill a man at Embden town
Through quarrels that did rise;
Through quarrels that did rise;
The German being dead;
And for that fact the merchant-man
Was judg'd to lose his head.
A sweet thing is love,
It rules both heart and mind,
There is no comfort in this world
To women that are kind.
A scaffold builded was
Within the market place,
And all the people far and near
Did thither flock apace,
Did thither flock apace
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