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第35章

ancient poems-第35章

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ry visit on his change of fortune; and regaling  themselves with the 'Brewer's' ale。  The song is mentioned in  Thackeray's Catalogue; under the title of JOAN'S ALE'S NEW; which  may be regarded as circumstantial evidence in favour of our  hypothesis。  The air is published in POPULAR MUSIC; accompanying  three stanzas of a version copied from the Douce collection。  The  first verse in Mr。 Chappell's book runs as follows:…


There was a jovial tinker; Who was a good ale drinker; He never was a shrinker; Believe me this is true; And he came from the Weald of Kent; When all his money was gone and spent; Which made him look like a Jack a…lent。 And Joan's ale is new; my boys; And Joan's ale is new。'


THERE were six jovial tradesmen; And they all sat down to drinking; For they were a jovial crew; They sat themselves down to be merry; And they called for a bottle of sherry; You're welcome as the hills; says Nolly; While Joan's ale is new; brave boys; While Joan's ale is new。

The first that came in was a soldier; With his firelock over his shoulder; Sure no one could be bolder; And a long broad…sword he drew: He swore he would fight for England's ground; Before the nation should be run down; He boldly drank their healths all round; While Joan's ale was new。

The next that came in was a hatter; Sure no one could be blacker; And he began to chatter; Among the jovial crew: He threw his hat upon the ground; And swore every man should spend his pound; And boldly drank their hearths all round; While Joan's ale was new。

The next that came in was a dyer; And he sat himself down by the fire; For it was his heart's desire To drink with the jovial crew: He told the landlord to his face; The chimney…corner should be his place; And there he'd sit and dye his face; While Joan's ale was new。

The next that came in was a tinker; And he was no small beer drinker; And he was no strong ale shrinker; Among the jovial crew: For his brass nails were made of metal; And he swore he'd go and mend a kettle; Good heart; how his hammer and nails did rattle; When Joan's ale was new!

The next that came in was a tailor; With his bodkin; shears; and thimble; He swore he would be nimble Among the jovial crew: They sat and they called for ale so stout; Till the poor tailor was almost broke; And was forced to go and pawn his coat; While Joan's ale was new。

The next that came in was a ragman; With his rag…bag over his shoulder; Sure no one could be bolder Among the jovial crew。 They sat and called for pots and glasses; Till they were all drunk as asses; And burnt the old ragman's bag to ashes; While Joan's ale was new。



Ballad: GEORGE RIDLER'S OVEN。



'THIS ancient Gloucestershire song has been sung at the annual  dinners of the Gloucestershire Society; from the earliest period of  the existence of that institution; and in 1776 there was an  Harmonic Society at Cirencester; which always opened its meetings  with GEORGE RIDLER'S OVEN in full chorus。

The substance of the following key to this very curious song is  furnished by Mr。 H。 Gingell; who extracts it from the ANNUAL REPORT  OF THE GLOUCESTERSHIRE SOCIETY for 1835。  The annual meeting of  this Society is held at Bristol in the month of August; when the  members dine; and a branch meeting; which was formerly held at the  Crown and Anchor in the Strand; is now annually held at the  Thatched House Tavern; St。 James's。  GEORGE RIDLER'S OVEN is sung  at both meetings; and the late Duke of Beaufort used to lead off  the glee in capital style。  The words have a secret meaning; well  known to the members of the Gloucestershire Society; which was  founded in 1657; three years before the Restoration of Charles II。   The Society consisted of Royalists; who combined together for the  purpose of restoring the Stuarts。  The Cavalier party was supported  by all the old Roman Catholic families of the kingdom; and some of  the Dissenters; who were disgusted with Cromwell; occasionally lent  them a kind of passive aid。

FIRST VERSE。 … By 'George Ridler' is meant King Charles I。  The  'oven' was the Cavalier party。  The 'stwons' that 'built the oven;'  and that 'came out of the Bleakney quaar;' were the immediate  followers of the Marquis of Worcester; who held out long and  steadfastly for the Royal cause at Raglan Castle; which was not  surrendered till 1646; and was in fact the last stronghold retained  for the King。  'His head did grow above his hair;' is an allusion  to the crown; the head of the State; which the King wore 'above his  hair。'

SECOND VERSE。 … This means that the King; 'before he died;' boasted  that notwithstanding his present adversity; the ancient  constitution of the kingdom was so good; and its vitality so great;  that it would surpass and outlive every other form of government。

THIRD VERSE。 … 'Dick the treble; Jack the mean; and George the  bass;' mean King; Lords; and Commons。  The injunction to 'let every  man sing in his own place;' is a warning to each of the three  estates of the realm to preserve its proper position; and not to  encroach on each other's prerogative。

FOURTH VERSE。 … 'Mine hostess's maid' is an allusion to the Queen;  who was a Roman Catholic; and her maid; the Church。  The singer we  must suppose was one of the leaders of the party; and his 'dog' a  companion; or faithful official of the Society; and the song was  sung on occasions when the members met together socially; and thus;  as the Roman Catholics were Royalists; the allusion to the mutual  attachment between the 'maid' and 'my dog and I;' is plain and  consistent。

FIFTH VERSE。 … The 'dog' had a 'trick of visiting maids when they  were sick。'  The meaning is; that when any of the members were in  distress or desponding; or likely to give up the Royal cause in  despair; the officials; or active members visited; counselled; and  assisted them。

SIXTH VERSE。 … The 'dog' was 'good to catch a hen;' a 'duck;' or a  'goose。' … That is; to enlist as members of the Society any who  were well affected to the Royal cause。

SEVENTH VERSE。 … 'The good ale tap' is an allusion; under cover of  the similarity in sound between the words ale and aisle; to the  Church; of which it was dangerous at the time to be an avowed  follower; and so the members were cautioned that indiscretion might  lead to their discovery and 'overthrow。'

EIGHTH VERSE。 … The allusion here is to those unfaithful supporters  of the Royal cause; who 'welcomed' the members of the Society when  it appeared to be prospering; but 'parted' from them in adversity。

NINTH VERSE。 … An expression of the singer's wish that if he should  die he may be buried with his faithful companion; as representing  the principles of the Society; under the good aisles of the church。

The following text has been collated with a version published in  NOTES AND QUERIES; from the 'fragments of a MS。 found in the  speech…house of Dean。'  The tune is the same as that of the  WASSAILERS' SONG; and is printed in POPULAR MUSIC。  Other ditties  appear to have been founded on this ancient piece。  The fourth;  seventh; and ninth verses are in the old ditty called MY DOG AND I:  and the eighth verse appears in another old song。  The air and  words bear some resemblance to TODLEN HAME。'


THE stwons that built George Ridler's oven; And thauy keam vrom the Bleakney quaar; And George he wur a jolly old mon; And his yead it grow'd above his yare。

One thing of George Ridler I must commend; And that wur vor a notable thing; He mead his brags avoore he died; Wi' any dree brooders his zons zshould zing。

There's Dick the treble; and John the meean; (Let every mon zing in his auwn pleace;) And George he wur the elder brother; And therevoor he would zing the beass。

Mine hostess's moid; (and her neaum 'twour Nell;) A pretty wench; and I lov'd her well; I lov'd her well; good reauzon why; Because zshe loved my dog and I。

My dog is good to catch a hen; A dug or goose is vood for men; And where good company I spy; O thether gwoes my dog and I。

My mwother told I; when I wur young; If I did vollow the strong…beer pwoot; That drenk would prov my awverdrow; And meauk me wear a threadbare cwoat。

My dog has gotten zitch a trick; To visit moids when thauy be zi

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