None, save only a litle foot page, And he had two armes when he came in, Upp then came that ladie gaye With torches burning bright: She thought to have brought sir Gyles a drinke, The first thinge that she stumbled on The next thinge that she stumbled on Hee cutt the pappes beside her brest, He cutt the eares beside her heade: He called then up his litle foot-page, And sayd "henceforth, my worldlye goodes 115 He shope the crosse on his right shoulder, And went him into the holy land, Wheras Christ was quicke and dead. 120 Every person, who went on a Croisade to the Holy Land, usually wore a cross on his upper garment, on the right shoulder, as a badge of his profession. Different nations were distinguished by crosses of different colours: The English wore white; the French red; &c. This circumstance seems to be confounded in the ballad. [V. Spelman. Gloss.] In the foregoing piece, Giles, steward to a rich old merchant trading to Portugal, is qualified with the title of "Sir," not as being a knight, but rather, I conceive, as having received an inferior order of priesthood. Ver. 118. fleshe. MS. IX. CHILD WATERS. CHILD is frequently used by our old writers, as a Title. It is repeatedly given to Prince Arthur in the "Fairie Queen: and the son of a king is in the same poem called "Child Tristram." [B. 5. c. 11. st. 8. 13-B. 6. c. 2. st. 36.—Ibid. c. 8. st. 15.] In an old ballad quoted in Shakespeare's "K. Lear," the hero of Ariosto is called "Child Roland." Mr. Theobald supposes this use of the word was received along with their romances from the Spaniards with whom infante signifies a "Prince." A more eminent critic tells us, that "in the old times of chivalry, the noble youth, who were candidates for knighthood, during the time of their probation were called Infans, Varlets, Damoysels, Bacheliers. The most noble of the youth were particularly called Infans." [Vid. Warb. Shakesp.] A late commentator on Spenser observes, that the Saxon word cnihz knight, signifies also a "Child." [See Upton's gloss. to the F. Q.] The editor's folio MS. whence the following piece is taken (with some corrections), affords several other ballads, wherein the word "Child" occurs as a title: but in none of these it signifies "Prince." See the song intitled "Gil Morrice," in this volume. It ought to be observed, that the word "Child" or "Chield is still used in North Britain to denominate a Man, commonly with some contemptuous character affixed to him, but sometimes to denote Man in general. CHILDE Waters in his stable stoode And stroakt his milke white steede : To him a fayre yonge ladye came Sayes, "Christ you save, good Childe Waters;" My girdle of gold that was too longe, 5 And all is with one chyld of yours, I feele sturre att my side: My gowne of greene it is too straighte ; "If the child be mine, faire Ellen," he sayd, Then take you Cheshire and Lancashire both, If the childe be mine, faire Ellen," he sayd, Then take you Cheshire and Lancashire both, Shee saies, "I had rather have one kisse, Child Waters, of thy mouth; Than I wolde have Cheshire and Lancashire both, That lye by north and south. And I had rather have one twinkling, Child Waters, of thine ee: Than I wolde have Cheshire and Lancashire both To take them mine owne to bee." "To morrow, Ellen, I must forth ryde The fairest lady that I can find, "Thoughe I am not that lady fayre, And ever I pray you, Child Waters, "If you will my foot-page be, Ellèn, As you doe tell to mee; Then you must cut your gowne of greene, Soe must you doe your yellowe lockes, An inch above your ee: 10 15 20 25 30 3333 35 40 Ver. 13. be inne. MS VOL. III. E You must tell no man what is my name ; Shee, all the long day Child Waters rode, Shee, all the long day Child Waters rode, Yett hee was never soe curteous a knighte, "Ride softlye," shee sayd, "O Childe Waters, The childe, which is no mans but thine, Hee sayth, "seest thou yonder water, Ellen, "I trust to God, O Child Waters, You never will see* mee swimme." 45 50 55 60 But when shee came to the waters side, "Except the Lord of heaven be my speed, Now must I learne to swimme." The salt waters bare up her clothes; Childe Waters was a woe man, good Lord, To see faire Ellen swimme. And when shee over the water was, Shee then came to his knee: He said, "Come hither, thou faire Ellèn, see. Seest thou not yonder hall, Ellèn ? * i. e. permit, suffer, &c. 65 70 75 Seest thou not yonder hall, Ellèn? Of redd gold shines the towre: There are twenty four faire ladyes there, "I see the hall now, Child Waters, I see the hall now, Child Waters, There twenty four fayre ladyes were Must bring his steed to the stall. There twenty four fayre ladyes were And then bespake Childe Waters sister, "You have the prettyest foot-page, brother, But that his bellye it is soe bigg, And let him, I pray you, Childe Waters, "It is not fit for a little foot-page, That has run throughe mosse and myre, It is more meete for a litle foot-page, Ver. 84. worldlye. MS. 100 105 110 |