PART THE SECOND.

FF a blind beggars daughter moft bright,
That late was betrothed unto a younge knight;

All the discourse therof you did see;

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But now comes the wedding of pretty Beffee.

Within a gorgeous palace moft brave,
Adorned with all the coft they cold have,
This wedding was kept most sumptuouslie,
And all for the creditt of pretty Beffee.

All kind of dainties, and delicates sweete

Were bought for the banquet, as it was most meete; 10 Partridge, and plover, and venifon most free,

Against the brave wedding of pretty Beffee.

This marriage through England was spread by report,
Soe that a great number therto did refort
Of nobles and gentles in every degree;
And all for the fame of prettye Beffee.

To church then went this gallant younge knight;
His bride followed after, an angell moft bright,
With troopes of ladyes, the like nere was feene
As went with fweete Beffy of Bednall-greene.

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This marryage being folempnized then,
With muficke performed by the skilfullest men,
The nobles and gentles fate downe at that tyde,
Each one admiring the beautifull bryde.

Now

Now, after the sumptuous dinner was done,

To talke, and to reason a number begunn :

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They talkt of the blind beggars daughter moft bright, And what with his daughter he gave to the knight.

Then fpake the nobles, "Much marveil have wee,
This jolly blind beggar wee cannot here fee.”
My lords, quoth the bride, my father's so base,
He is loth with his prefence these ftates to difgrace.

"The prayfe of a woman in queftyon to bringe
Before her own face, were a flattering thinge;
But wee thinke thy father's bafenefs, quoth they,
Might by thy bewtye be cleane put awaye."

They had noe fooner these pleasant words spoke,
But in comes the beggar cladd in a filke cloke;
A faire velvet capp, and a fether had hee,
And now a muficyan forfooth he wold bee.

He had a daintye lute under his arme,

He touched the ftrings, which made fuch a charme,
Saies, Please you to heare any muficke of mee,
Ile fing you a fong of pretty Beffee.

With that his lute he twanged straightway,
And thereon begann most sweetlye to play;

And after that leffons were playd two or three,
He frayn'd out this song most delicatelie.

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" A poore

"A poore beggars daughter did dwell on a greene, "Who for her faireneffe might well be a queene: 59 "A blithe bonny laffe, and a daintye was thee, "And many one called her pretty Beffee.

"Her father hee had noe goods, nor noe land, "But beggd for a penny all day with his hand; "And yett to her marriage hee gave thousands three*, 55 "And still he hath somewhat for pretty Beffee.

"And if any one here her birth doe difdaine,
"Her father is ready, with might and with maine,
"To proove shee is come of noble degree:
"Therfore never flout att prettye Beffee."

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With that the lords and the companye round
With harty laughter were readye to fwound;
Att last said the lords, Full well wee may see,
The bride and the beggar's behoulden to thee.

On this the bride all blushing did rife,

The pearlie dropps ftanding within her faire eyes,

O pardon my father, grave nobles, quoth flee,
That throughe blind affection thus doteth on mee.

If this be thy father, the nobles did fay,
Well may he be proud of this happy day;
Yett by his countenance well may wee fee,
His birth and his fortune did never agree:

* So the folio MS.

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And

And therfore, blind man, we pray thee bewray, (And looke that the truth thou to us doe say)

Thy birth and thy parentage, what itt may bee; 75 For the love that thou beareft to pretty Beffee.

"Then give me leave, nobles and gentles, each one,
"One fong more to fing, and then I have done;
"And if that itt may not winn good report,
"Then doe not give me a GROAT for my sport.

[Sir Simon de Montfort my fubject fhal bee; "Once chiefe of all the great barons was hee, "Yet fortune fo cruelle this lorde did abafe, "Now lofte and forgotten are hee and his race.

"When the barons in armes did king Henrye oppose, $5 "Sir Simon de Montfort their leader they chose;

"A leader of courage undaunted was hee,

"And oft-times he made their enemyes fl.e.

"At length in the battle on Eveshame plaine

"The barons were routed, and Montfort was flaine; go "Mofte fatall that battel did prove unto thee, "Thoughe thou waft not borne then, my prettye Bessee!

Along with the nobles, that fell at that tyde, "His eldeft fon Henrye, who fought by his fide, *Was feilde by a blowe, he receivde in the fight! 95 "A lowe that deprivde him for ever of fight.

"Among

"Among the dead bodyes all lifeleffe he laye,
"Till evening drewe on of the following daye,
"When by a yong ladye discoverd was hee;
"And this was thy mother, my prettye Beffee!

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"A barons faire daughter ftept forth in the nighte "To search for her father, who fell in the fight, "And feeing yong Montfort, where gafping he laye, "Was moved with pitye, and brought him awaye.

"In fecrette fhe nurft him, and fwaged his paine, 105 "While he throughe the realme was beleevd to be flaine: "At lengthe his faire bride the confented to bee, "And made him glad father of prettye Beffee.

"And nowe left oure foes our lives fholde betraye,
"We clothed ourfelves in beggars arraye;
"Her jewelles fhee folde, and hither came wee:
"All our comfort and care was our prettye Beffee.]

ΙΙΟ

"And here have wee lived in fortunes defpite, "Thoughe poore, yet contented with humble delighte: "Full forty winters thus have I beene "A filly blind beggar of Bednall-greene.

"And here, noble lordes, is ended the fong

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"Of one, that once to your own ranke did belong: “And thus have you learned a fecieite from mes, "That ne'er had beene knowne, but for prettye Beffze,”