The Three Merry Travellers. THIS jovial strain is given complete, with the music, in Pills to P. Mel., vi. 177. The first verse only, and the tenderly-sweet melody, are repeated in Mr. Chappell's Popular Music, p. 506, with the remark,-"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." Washington Irving's "Stout Gentleman," in the Sketch-Book, evidently knew and practised some cajoleries for Landlady and Maid, but did not depend on these alone. The Younger George Colman's "A Traveller stopt at a Widow's gate" (Iron Chest, 1796) placed his trust solely on his money, and found it effectually atone for his ugliness. Indeed, only handsome men can safely follow guidance of the Travellers Three. If we remember rightly, there was a certain M.P., one Mr. C ......., who more than thirty years ago achieved a similar tour successfully, as a Wandering Minstrel with a guitar, and "never a stiver of money," if his own account may be accepted: which is asking a good deal, for people who "kiss and tell" are seldom or never worthy of credit. But, without confining himself to captivate the affections of successive landladies, there was one notable adventurer who accomplished a pennyless journey, having "gone for to travel the Nation about," and all the way from London to the Highlands of Scotland, in 1618. This was the Waterman-poet, John Taylor, whose works have been recently reprinted in handsome typography by the Spenser Society of Manchester. Taylor, the Water-Poet (not a waterdrinking Poet, however, except when "well mingled with spirit good store"), met Ben Jonson at Leith, when he was himself returning home, after having enjoyed many warm-hearted highland welcomes, and participated in a Tink-hell or stag-driving. (We remember the glowing hospitality of the North, in our own experience, and love the dear land, its bonny lasses and honest lads-even the Aberdonians!) Ben, "his long approved and assured good friend, Mr. Benjamin Jonson," was seldom flushed with coin, but he freely parted with "a piece of gold of two and twenty shillings, to drink his health in England:" for his heart was always in the right place, although his rule was somewhat despotic. Let those who have not yet read Taylor's Pennyles Pilgrimage turn to it without fail. It has been republished by Messrs. Reeves and Turner, 1872. Our Bagford copy of the ballad, being printed by C. Bates at the Sun and Bible, in Pye Corner, Smithfield, dates about 1685. BAGFORD. E By the substitution of the words "He gave her a kiss, and thus paid her the shot," in twelfth verse, it would become unobjectionable, and might be sung among Youths and Maidens. We doubt not that the second portion of the refrain was borrowed from one of the K. H. M. [King Henry's Mirth?] or Freemen's Songs; printed in Thomas Ravenscroft's Deuteromelia, No. iii., 1609; but probably at that time already old. It was given in the early editions of Pills to P. Mel., but not repeated in 1719-20. It is in the Edinburgh Vocal Magazine of 1797, song xxx.; in Chappell's Pop. Music, 77, and many Glee-books. Still a favourite in Harmonist Societies, and well deserving to continue to be so, for its comic solemnity and rich combination of sound, we give it here, for comparison :— be WE Souldiers three, Pardona moy, je vous an pree : Fa la la la lantido dilly. Here, Good fellow, I drink to thee; And he that will not pledge me this, Charge it again, boy, charge it again, As long as there is any incke in thy pen, The late Thomas Oliphant noted (in 1837, Musa Madrigalesca, 244), that "This may possibly have been written during the war in the Low Countries, where Sir Philip Sidney lost his life, A.D. 1586." Probably earlier. [Bagford Collection, I. 88.] The Jovial Companions, Dr, The Three Merry Travellors, Who paid their shot where ever they came without ever a stiver of Money. TH THere was three Travellers, Travellers three, They Travelled East, and they travelled West, with a hye down, ho down, Lanktre down derry, At length by good Fortune they came to an Inn, 8 12 A Jolly young Widdow did smiling appear, Both Chickens and sparrow grass she did provide, with a hye down, ho down, Lanktre down derry, You'r Welcome kind Gentlemen, welcome (she cry'd) without ever a stiver of Mony. They called for liquor, both Beer, Ale, and Wine, They drank to their Hostess a merry full bowl, The Hostess, her Maid, and [her] Cousin all three, Full Bottles and Glasses replenisht the Board with a hye down, ho down, Lanktre down derry, No Liquors was wanting the house cou'd afford without ever a stiver of Mony. When they had been Merry good part of the day, with a hye down, ho down, Lanktre down derry, They called their Hostess to know what's to pay, without ever a stiver of Mony. There's Thirty good shilling and Six pence, (she cry'd) The Handsomest Man of the three up he got, with a hye down, ho down, lanktre down derry, He laid her on her Back, and paid her the shot, without ever a stiver of Mony. 44 48 The middlemost Man to her Cousin he went, without ever a stiver of Mony. The last Man of all he took up with the Maid, with a hye down, ho down, lanktre down derry, And thus the whole shot it was Lovingly paid, without ever a stiver of Mony. The Hostess, the Cousin, and Servant, we find, with a hye down, ho down, Lanktre down derry, The Hostess said, welcome kind Gentlemen, all, Then taking their Leaves they went merrily out, FINIS. Licensed according to Order. 52 56 60 64 68 Printed by C. Bates, at the Sun and Bible in Pye Corner. [In White-Letter; as are all that follow, in vol. i.] 1 Sic. Perhaps, "He being," etc. |