English & Other 286. The Sweet Trinity (Golden Vanity)
CONTENTS:
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Notes and Queries 1876
"The Goulden Vanitee" (5th S. vi. 69, 99.) —The song inquired for by R. H. is somewhat long, but as much of its bulk typographically is caused by repetitions and refrain, it may be compressed into reasonable space. Many years ago I heard it sung with spirit and grave mirthfulness by Mr. Fraser, of the Scottish Society of Antiquaries, whose property it virtually became by right of conquest, in Edinburgh. It is not improbably an old convivial song, but I never saw it in print earlier than the date of Mrs. Gordon's memoir of Christopher North, published by Messrs. Edmonston & Douglas, in 1862. She received the words and music of the song (which had delighted Professor Wilson) from her friend P. S. Fraser. The "Eck iddle dee" was doubtless a whimsical expression of the sharp scrape of the fiddle in the hands of some supposititious old Crowdero. It was repeated after each second line ; and the first line was given with variations. As may be seen, there are manifold differences between the single verse given by R. H. and the Edinburgh complete copy :—
"There was a gallant ship, And a gallant ship was she,
Eck iddle dee, and the Lowlands low;
And she was called ' the Goulden Vanitee,'
As she sailed to the Lowlands low.
She had not sailed a league, A league but only three,
Eck, &c.
When she came up with a French Gallee,
As she sailed, &c.
Out spake the little Cabin-boy, Out spake he,
Eck, &c.;
'What will you give me if I sink that French Gallee?
Out spake the Captain, Out spake he,
We 'll gi'e ye an estate in the North Countree."
'Then row me up Held, In a black bull's skin,
And throw me o'er deck-buird, sink I or swim.'
So they've row'd him up ticht, In a black bull's skin;
And have thrown him o'er deck-buird, sink he or swim.
About and about, And about went he,
Until he came up with the French Gallee.
Oh ! some were playing cards, And some were playing dice;
When lie took out an Instrument, bored thirty holes at twice!
Then tome they ran with cloaks, And some they ran with caps.
To try if they could stap the saut-water draps.
About and about, And about went he,
Until he cam back to the Goulden Vanitee.
'Now throw me o'er a rope, And pu' me on buird;
And prove unto me as guid as your word.'
'We 'll no throw you o'er a rope, Nor pu' you on buird,
Nor prove unto you as guid as our word.'
Out spoke the little Cabin-boy, Out spoke he,
'Then hang me I'll sink ye at I sunk the French Gallee.'"
But they 've thrown him o'er a rope, And have pu'd him up on buird;
And have proved unto him far better than their word:
As they sailed by the Lowlands low."
Whosoever may have been the author of the ditty, he knew well the ingratitude of a nation to its benefactors and defenders, and certainly anticipated the power and efficacy of our Naval Steam Rams. If they are only as destructive to the enemy as they seem inclined to be to our own seamen, there will be something gained for the outlay :—
"For it showed what a very fine Ram she was, Said the Ad-mi-ml-i-tee.''
The author of "The Goulden Vanitee" remains unknown (Memoir of John Wilson, ii. 317) ; but, it is to be hoped, further information may be gained. J. W. E.
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A Pedlar's Pack of Ballads and Songs: With Illustrative Notes
By William Hugh Logan, James Maidment
THE GOULDEN VANITIE
THIS song, with the music, occurs in Mrs. Gordon’s Memoir of Christopher North.—Cr. 8vo, 1862, vol. ii. p. 3I7 ;—and, as it was held in much estimation by the accomplished professor, we do not think our readers will be displeased to find that we have given it a place in this Collection. It was sung some twenty years ago at a convivial meeting at Lord Robertson’s by Mr. P. S. Fraser, a gentleman justly held in much esteem by his fellow citizens of Edinburgh. On this occasion, the late G. Lockhart and Professor Wilson were of the party, and it made such an impression on the latter, that it haunted him during the night, and to his surprise he awoke next morning singing it. Lord Robertson was equally fascinated, and on the conclusion of the song, turned to Lockhart and said, “ You Spanish ballad-monger, if you could produce anything like that, you would soon ding them a’.” For its antiquity we cannot say anything. All we do know is, that it was orally transmitted to the gentleman who sang it, and that, according to his belief, it is upwards of a century old.
There was a gallant ship,
And a gallant ship was she,
Eck iddle dee, and the Lowlands low.
And she was called "The Goulden Vanitie,"
As she sailed to the Lowlands low.
She had not sailed a league,
A league but only three,
Eck, &c.,
When she came up with a French Gallee,
As she sailed, &c.
Out spoke the little cabin-boy.
Out spoke he,
Eck, &c.;
"What will you give me if I sink that French Gallee?
As ye sail," &c.
Out spoke the Captain,
Out spoke he,
Eck, &c.,
"We'll gi'e ye an estate in the north countrie,"
As we sail, &c.
"Then row me up ticht
In a black bull's skin,
Eck, &c.,
And throw me o'er deck-buird, sink I or swim,
As ye sail," &c.
So they've rowed him up ticht
In a black bull's skin;
Eck, &c.
And have thrown him o'er deck-buird, sink he or soom,
As they sail, &c.
About and about,
And about went he,
Eck, &c.
Until he came up with the French Gallee,
As they sailed, &c.
Oh ! some were playing cards,
And some were playing dice:
Eck, &c.
When he took out an instrument;, bored thirty holes at twice!
As they sailed, &c.
Then some they ran with cloaks,
And some they ran with caps,
Eck, &c.,
To try if they could stap the saut-water draps,
As they sailed, &c.
About and about,
And about went he,
Eck, &c.
Until he cam back to the Goulden Vanitie,
As they sailed, &c.
"Now throw me o'er a rope,
And pu' me up on buird;
Eck, &c.
And prove unto me as guid as your word;
As ye sail," &c.
"We'll no throw you o'er a rope,
Nor pu' you up on buird:
Eck, &c.
Nor prove unto you as guid as our word."
As we sail, &c.
Out spoke the little cabin-boy.
Out spoke he,
Eck, &c.
" Then hang me, I'll sink ye as I sunk the French Gallee,
As ye sail," &c.
But they've thrown him o'er a rope,
And have pu'd him up on buird,
Eck, &c.
And have proved unto him far better than their word;
As they sailed, &c.
THE second version of this ballad, now given, is from the collection which forms the text book of this our “Popular Minstrelsy.” It bears the imprint of “ Pitts, Printer, Toy and Marble Warehouse, 6 Great St. Andrew Street, 7 Dials.” The precise locality of the Low Lands Low may be assumed to be either in the river Elbe, somewhere between its mouth and the city of Hamburgh, or off the coast of South Holland, at some spot where the tide between the mainland and some opposite island or sandbank subsides in the same manner as between Holy Island and the coast of Northumberland, where, with exception of a rapid flowing stream, called, by the way, The Low, the island is connected with the mainland once in every twelve hours.
I HAVE a ship in the North Countrie,
And she goes by the name of the Golden Vanity;
I ’m afraid she will be taken by some Turkish gallee,
As she sails on the Low Lands Low.
Then up starts our little cabin boy,
Saying, “Master, what will you give me if I do them destroy?”
“ I will give you gold, I will give you store ;
You shall have my daughter when I return on shore,
If you sink them in the Low Lands Low.”
The boy bent his breast, and away he jumpt in;
He swam till he came to this Turkish galleon,
As she laid on the Low Lands Low.
The boy he had an auger to bore holes two at twice ;
While some were playing cards, and some were playing dice,
He let the water in, and it dazzled in their eyes,
And he sunk them in the Low Lands Low.
The boy he bent his breast, and away he swam back again,
Saying, “ Master, take me up, or I shall be slain,
For I have sunk them in the Low Lands Low.”
“ I ’ll not take you up,” the master he cried,—
“ I ‘ll not take you up,” the master replied ;
“ I will kill you, I will shoot you, I will send you with the tide;
I will sink you in the Low Lands Low.”
The boy he swam round all by the starboard side ;
They laid him on the deck, and it ’s there he soon died:
Then they sewed him up in an old cow’s hide,
And they threw him overboard to go down with the tide,
And they sunk him in the Low Lands Low.
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Songs and Ballads of the West: A Collection Made from the Mouths of the People By Cecil James Sharp
LXIV. The Golden Vanity. Taken down words and air from James Olver, of Launceston. Melody noted down by Mr. Bussell. This ballad was printed as "Sir Walter Raleigh sailing in the Lowlands, showing how the famous ship called the Swat Trinity was taken by a false galle ; and how it was recovered by the craft of a little sea-boy, who sunk the galley," y Coles, Wright, Vere, and Gilbertson (1648-80). In this it is said to be sung "to the tune of the Lowlands of Holland," and in it there is no ingratitude shown to the poor sea-boy. In this version there are fourteen verses. It begins:
- " Sir Walter Raleigh has built a ship
In the Netherlands,
And it is called the Sweet Trinity,
And was taken by the false Gallaly,
Sailing in the Lowlands."
It has been reprinted in Ashton: "A century of Ballads," p. aor. Under the form of " The Goulden Vanity," it is given with an air (of no value, and quite unlike ours), in Mrs. Gordon's Memoirs of Christopher North, 1862, ii., p. 317, as sung at a convivial meetin at Lord Robertson's by Mr. P. Fraser, of Edinburgh, before Mr. j. C. Lee hart and Professor Wilson. This begins:
" There was a gallant ship, "
And a gallant ship was she,
Sik iddle dee, and the Lowlands low.
And she was called the Goulden Vanitie,
As she sailed to the Lowlands low."
This also is in fourteen verses. The broadside version printed by Such, and Pitts, of Seven Dials, begins :- '
"I have a ship in the North Countrie,
And she oes by the name of the Golden Venity'
I'm afrai' she will be taken by some Turkish gall
As she nails on the Lowlands low."
This is in seven verses, and very imperfect. Verse two contains five lines, verse three only three, verses four and six have four lines, verses five and seven have three lines. Consequently it would not be possible to "put a tune‘ to it." Olver’s melody is a very fine and striking one. It was adopted with some modernisation that spoiled it by Clifton, in the early part of this century, for his song of" The Oyster Girl." "Sir Walter Raleigh," says Mr. Ebbsworth, in his introduction to this ballad in the Roxburgh Ballads (V., p. 4x8), “never secured the popularit , the natural affection which was frankly given to Robert Devereux, the Earl of sset. Raleigh was deemed arrogant, selfish, with the airs of an upstart, insolent to superiors, unconciliating with e uals, and heartlessly indifferent to those in a lower position. The subject of the ollowing ballad is fictitious-sheer invention, of course. The selfishness and ingratitude displayed by Raleigh agreed with the current estimate. _He certainly had a daughter." The tune to which “ The Golden Trinity" was set m the broadsides was "The Sailing in the Lowlands," and must therefore be an older air than the ballad. We obtained the same ballad at Chagford as “The Yellow Golden Tree." Our air is not earlier than the end 0! last oen . To a different _tune it was a favourite fo'castle song forty or fifty years ago. e have heard thrs ballad to the tune we give at Mawgan-in-Pyder.
THE GOLDEN VANITY
I . A ship I have got in the North Country
And she goes by the name of the Golden Vanity,
0 I fear she'll be taken by a Spanish Ga-la-lie,
As she sails by the Low-lands low.
II. To the Captain then upspake the little Cabin-boy,
He said, What is my fee, if the galley I destroy?
The Spanish Ga-la-lie, if no more it shall anoy,
As you sail by the Low-lands low.
III. Of silver and of gold I will give to you a store,
And my pretty little daughter that dwelleth on the shore,
Of treasure and of fee as well, I'll give to thee galore,
As we sail by the Low-lands low.
IV. Then the boy bared his breast, and straightway leaped in,
And he held all in his hand, an augur sharp and thin,
And he swam until he came to the Spanish galleon,
As she lay by the Low-lands low.
V. He bored with the augur, he bored once and twice,
And some were playing cards, and some were playing dice,
When the water flowed in it dazzled their eyes,
And she sank by the Low-lands low.
VI. So the Cabin-boy did swim all to the larboardside,
Saying, Captain ! take me in, I am drifting with the tide!
I will shoot you! I will kill you! the cruel Captain cried,
You may sink by the Low-lands low.
VII . Then the Cabin-boy did swim all to the starboard side,
Saying, Messmates, take me in, I am drifting with the tide!
Then they laid him on the deck, and he closed his eyes and died,
As they sailed by the Low-lands low.
VIII. They sewed his body up, all in an old cow's hide,
And they cast the gallant cabin-boy over the ship's side,
And left him without more ado adrifting with the tide,
And to sink by the Low-lands low.
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Real Sailor-songs edited by John Ashton 1891 and 1887
Sir Walter Raleigh has built a Ship in the Neatherlands
Sir Walter Raleigh has built a Ship in the Neatherlands,
Sir Walter Raleigh has built a Ship in the Neatherlands,
And it is called the sweet Trinity,
And was taken by the false Gallaly, sailing in the Low-lands.
Is there never a Seaman bold in the Neatherlands?
Is there never a Seaman bold in the Neatherlands?
That will go take this false Gallaly,
And to redeem the sweet Trinity, sailing in the Low-lands?
Then spoke the little Ship boy in the Neatherlands,
Then spoke the little Ship-boy in the Neatherlands,
Master, Master, what will you give me?
And I will take this false Gallaly,
And release the sweet Trinity, sailing in the Low-lands.
Fie give thee gold, and Fie give thee fee, in the Neatherlands,
Fie give thee gold, and Fie give thee fee, in the Neatherlands,
And my eldest daughter thy wife shall be, sailing in the Low-lands.
He set his breast, and away he did swim, in the Neatherlands,
He set his breast, and away he did swim,
in the Neatherlands, Until he came to the false Gallaly
sailing in the Low-lands.
He had an Augur fit for the nonce,
in the Neatherlands, He had an Augur fit for the nonce,
in the Neatherlands; The which will bore Fifteen good holes at once,
sailing in the Low-lands.
Some were at Cards, and some at Dice,
in the Neatherlands, Some were at Cards, and some at Dice,
in the Neatherlands; Until the salt water flashed in their eyes,
sailing in the Low-lands.
Some cut their Hats and some their Caps,
in the Neatherlands, Some cut their Hats and some their Caps,
in the Neatherlands; For to stop the salt-water gaps,
sailing in the Low-lands.
He set his breast and away did swim,
in the Neatherlands, He set his breast and away did swim,
in the Neatherlands; Until he came to his own Ship again,
sailing in the Low-lands.
I have done the work I have promis'd to do
in the Neatherlands, I have done the work I have promis'd to do
in the Neatherlands; For I have sunk the false Gallaly, And released the sweet Trinity,
sailing in the Low-lands.
You promis'd me gold, and you promis'd me fee, in the Neatherlands,
You promis'd me gold, and you promis'd me fee, in the Neatherlands;
Your eldest daughter my Wife she must be, sailing in the Low-lands.
You shall have gold, and you shall have fee, in the Neatherlands,
You shall have gold, and you shall have fee, in the Neatherlands;
But my eldest daughter your Wife shall never be, sailing in the Low-lands.
Then fare you well, you cozening Lord, in the Neatherlands,
Then fare you well, you cozening Lord, in the Neatherlands;
Seeing you are not as good as your word, for sailing in the Low-lands.
And thus I shall conclude my Song, of the sailing in the Low-lands,
And thus I shall conclude my Song,
of the sailing in the Low-lands;
Wishing happiness to all Seamen, old or young,
in their sailing in the Low-lands.
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THE GOLDEN VANITY
from: "English Folk-Songs for Schools" (Curwen Edition 6051)
collected and arranged by S Baring Gould, M.A. and Cecil J. Sharp, B.A.
A ship I have got in the North Country
And she goes by the name of the Golden Vanity,
I fear she will be taken by a Spanish Ga-la-lie,
As she sails by the Low-lands low.
To the Captain then up spake the little Cabin-boy,
He said, What is my fee, if the galley I destroy,
The Spanish Ga-la-lie, if no more it shall annoy,
As you sail by the Low-lands low?
Of silver and gold I will give to you a store,
And my pretty little daughter that dwelleth on the shore,
Of treasure and of fee as well, I'll give to thee galore,
As we sail by the Low-lands low.
Then the boy bared his breast, and straightway leaped in.
And he held all in his hand an augur sharp and thin,
And he swam until he came to the Spanish Galleon,
As she lay by the Low-lands low.
He bored with the augur, he bored once and twice,
And some were playing cards, and some were playing dice,
When the water flowed in it dazzl-ed their eyes,
And she sank by the Low-lands low,
So the Cabin-boy did swim all to the larboard side,
Saying Captain! take me in, I am drifting with the tide!
I will shoot you! I will kill you! the cruel Captain cried,
You may sink by the Low-lands low.
Then the Cabin-boy did swim all to the starboard side,
Saying, Messmates, take me in, I am drifting with the tide!
Then they laid him on the deck, and he closed his eyes and died.
As they sailed by the Low lands low.
They sewed his body up, all in an old cow's hide,
And they cast the gallant Cabin-boy over the ship's side,
And left him without more ado adrifting with the tide,
And to sink by the Low-ands low.
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THE SWEET KUMADEE
There was a ship sailed from the North Country
And the name of the ship was the Sweet Kumadee
She was built of the pine and the bay oak tree
And she sailed on the Lowlands, Lowlands
And she sailed on the Lowlands Low.
He hadna been a sailin' a week but barely three
When the lookout man he sighted a French gaudie
And he said," We'll a' be sent tae the bottom of the sea
As we sailed on the etc.
Then oot an' spak oor cabin boy, and oot spak he, sayin',
"Captain, o captain, what will ye gie tae me
If I swim along the side of the French gaudie
And sink her in the etc."
"It's I will gie ye gowd, an' I will gie ye fee
And my eldest dochter your bride for tae be
If ye swim aling the side of the French gaudie
And sink her etc."
The boy bent his back, and awa' swam he
He swam till he cam' tae the French gaudie
Wi' his instruments aboot him, he started to mak' free
Tae sink her in the etc.
Some were at the cards, and some were at the dice
Four and twenty holes he has pierced in her side
Until the salt water, it flashed before their eyes
And they sank in the etc.
"O captain, o captain, be as good as your word,
Ye'll throw me a rope and ye'll pu' me on board
Ther gaudie she lies at the bottom of the road
She's lying in the etc."
"I winna throw a rope, nor pu' ye on board
Ye can swim tll ye sink, just as true as me word.
Ye can swim till ye sink tae the bottom of the road
Ye can sink etc."
"Ye'll throw me a rope, and ye'll pu' me frae the sea
Or I'll swim to the side o' your Sweet Kumadee
And I'll send her tae the bottom like the French Gaudie
That's lying in the etc."
He's thrown him a rope, and they've pu'd him frae the sea
An' he's gi'en tae him the gowd, an' he's gi'en tae him the fee
And his eldest dochter his bride for tae be
As they sailed on the Lowlands, Lowlands
As they sailed on the Lowlands low.
From singing of Ewan MacColl
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A Report on Visits to the Tristan da Cunha Islanders
by Maud Karpeles
Journal of the English Folk Dance and Song Society, Vol. 9, No. 3 (Dec., 1962), pp. 162-167
The followings ongsw erer ecordedb y PeterK ennedya t Calshoto n August2 9, 1962
from Mrs. Fred Swain (nee Repetto) of Tristan da Cunha. The tunes have been
transcribedb y PatrickS huldham-Shaw.
THE LITTLE CABIN BOY
(THE GOLDEN VANITY)
There'csiot [a-tney Jl-la6tb itnih de WorAh -m -r t ca, The
A l I I -
ntame swi go by were CeGolc - on Va- ni-ty O I
-t L L -nL JwJ-I g k -w-n-JL. - rfrJgarih
o'Lb4 e ta -ken by theS yan-ish Cav-a- tier Ati be
x-sunk in tWhIe .Wt ow - ~vc, low Lan
low - an, As she sails in the low - lands low.
2. The boy grasped this auger and overboard he jump,
He bored two holes at once and he bored two holes at twice;
While some were playing cards and the others were shaking dice,
An he sank her in the lowland, lowland, lowland,
An he sunk her in the lowlands low.
3. He swammed and he swammed unto the other side
And there he saw his captain and bitter he did cry,
Saying: Captain, pick me up for I'm sinking in the sea
And I'm sinking in the lowland, lowland, lowland,
And I'm sinking in the lowlands low.
4. I will drowned you and shoot you and do it with good will,
I will sink you in the lowland, lowland, lowland,
And he sunk her in the lowlands low.
5. And he swammed and he swammed unto the other side
And there he saw his shipmate and bitter he did cry:
0 shipmate, pick me up for I'm sinking in the sea,
And I'm sinking in the lowland, lowland, lowland,
And I'm sinking in the lowlands low.
165
6. The shipmate picked him up and on the deck he died.
He rolled him up in an hammock and lost him over the side
And he was buried in the
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Roxburghe ballads p. 420 raw text
[In Black-letter. Three woodcuts : the first is on p. 433, the second represents
a Queen, in a frame, and the third is a fragment of a frieze with a Summer
Cupid. Date, circa 1680. The woodcut below belongs to "Sir Walter
Raieigh Sailing in the Lowlands," p. 421 ; with other three cuts, already given,
viz. a man, p. 59 ; a second ship (the other half of this cut as on p. 433), and
the little man. Vol. III. p. 403.J
Sir Walter Raieigh Sailing in the Low-lands
*' So they row'd him up ticJit in a hlack hull's skin, R'k iddle dte, etc.
And have thrown him o'er deck-buird, sink he or swim :
As they sailed to the Lowlauds low ....
" ' "We'll no' throw you o'er a rope, nor pu' you up on buird, Eek, etc.
Nor prove unto you as good as our word, As thee sail, etc.
" Out spoke the little cabin-boy, out spake he ; Eek iddle dee, etc.
' Then hang me but I'll sink ye as 1 sank the French Galley, As yon sail.'
" But they've thrown him o'er a rope, and have pu'd him up on buird ; Eek.
And have proved unto him far better than their word, As they sailed" etc.
— The Goulden Vanitee.
THREE words were shouted by the Spanish Count Gondomar into
the unwilling ear of King James I., the only coward of the whole
Stuart race. (But deficiency of physical courage was congenital,
caused by the infamous brutality of Darnloy and his fellow-
conspirators, assassins of DaA'id llizzio, in the very presence of the
Queen at a time when she deserved most consideration. This fact
should be remembered, in excuse of King Jamie's timidity at the
sight of a drawn sword.) To Queen Elizabeth the words, " Pyrats !
Pyrats J Pyrats ! " might not have sounded so unpleasantly. Her
remembrance of encouragement given to " Merchant-adventurers,"
so long as they could successfully waylay the costly argosies and the
carracks of any foreign power (whether under cover of lawful
warfare or otherwise need not be enquired into curiously), might
be enough to soften her diplomatic indignation. She was ready
to plead, with a much later casuist, " I'm very sorry; very much
ashamed! and mean — next winter — to be quite reclaim'd."
But King James was of a different temper, and, although he well
loved any accession of plundered wealth, the persistent reproaches
against himself for connivance in such extra-judicial acts of the
sea-solicitors could not fail to be distasteful. Personal antipathy
was the secret mainspring, but Goudomar's * three words ' secured
ultimately the death of Raleigh, whose faults were great and whose
chief work was ended. Modern historians and biographers are apt
to become dazzled by the glitter of romance, disguising the cruelty
and rapacity of the old Vikingr, buccaneers, and privateers ; yet
we entertain too deeply-rooted contempt for the peace-at-any-price
pseudo philanthropists, who denounce all warfare indiscriminately,
for us to add reproof of sharp practices on the open seas.
Sir Walter Raleigh never secured the popularity, the national
affection, which was frankly given to Robert Devereux the Earl of
Essex. Not only was Raleigh deemed arrogant, selfish, with the
airs of an upstart, insolent to superiors, unconciliating with equals,
.
and heartlessly indifferent to those in lower position, but his base
ingratitude towards Essex was of itself sufficient to diminish the
regard which his more brilliant qualities might have gained for him,
and this consideration no doubt explains the absence of all public
regret for his downfall. It was believed to be a rightful retribution,
" Thou hast spoken right, 'tis true; the wheel has come full circle :
I am here ! "
The subject of the following ballad is fictitious — sheer invention,
of course, but anticipative of our modern torpedo practice : in the
augur-instrument that " bored thirty holes at twice." The selfisli-
ness and ingratitude displayed by llaleigh agreed with the current
estimate : and he certainly had a daughter. The song would not
have been accepted, if proffered by caluminators of Essex.
The extant broadsides are not of earlier imprint than circa 1G82 (issued by
Joshua Conyers, at the Black Raven in Fleet -street). The ballad may have ap-
peared previously ; but, being marked with the imprimatur of Roger L'Estrange
(Pepys Coll., IV. 196), not before 1663. The (Pepys and Euing) name of the
ship, 'the Sweet Trinity,' is corrupted into "The Golden" or "Goulden Vanity"
in modern versions. One we add here. Thirty years ago we heard the other
jovially sung in Edinburgh, by Mr. P. S. Eraser, F.S.A. Scot. ; a Scottified
and traditional version, with a ' keckling ' accompaniment of Eck iddle dee, and
the Lowlands-low,''' and the profound gravity with which it was mentioned how
"Then he took out an Instrument, bored thirty holes at twice," can never be
forgotten. Professor John AVilson, " Christopher North," delighted in the song
(music and words are in Mrs. Gordon's memoir of her father, 1862, vol. ii.
p. 317) ; so did Lord Patrick Robertson, Professor Aytoun, J. G. Lockhart, and
others ; but none of them, Eraser included, knew anything of the early -printed
original. The Scotch traditional version begins,
" There was a gallant ship, and a gallant ship was she,
Eck iddle dee, and the Low-lands low ;
And she was called ' The Goulden Vanitee,' as she sailed to the Lotvlands low."
The Golden Vanity
(Corrupt Modern Stall-copy: Printed at the Pitts Press.)
" T Have a Ship in the North Countrie,
X And she goes by the name of the Golden Vanity ;
I'm afraid she will be taken by some Tm-kish gallee,
As she sails on the Low-Lands Low.''''
Then up starts our little Cabin Boy,
Saying, " Master, what will you give me if I do them destroy ? "
" I will give you gold, I will give you store ;
You shall have my daughter when I return on shore,
If you, sink them in the Low-Lands Low."
The Boy bent his breast, and away he jumpt in ;
He swam till he came to the Turkish galleon.
As she laid on the Low-Lands Low.
The Boy he had an augur to bore holes two at twice ;
While some were playing cards, and some were playing dice ;
He let the water in, and it dazzled in their eyes.
And he sunk them in the Low-Lands Low.
The Boy he bent his breast, and away he swam back again,
Saying, ' ' M aster, take me up, or I shall be slain,
lor I have sunk them in the Low-Lands Low."
" I'll not take you up," the master he cried, —
•' I'll not take you up," the master replied ;
•' I will kill you, I will shoot you, I will send you with the tide ;
/ will sink you in the Low-Lands Low.''''
The Boy he swam round all by the starboard side ;
They laid him on the deck, and it's there he soon died :
Then they sewed him up in an old cow's hide.
And they threw him over-board to go down with the tide,
And they sunk him in the Low-Lands Low.
[IIow came that old cow on board, for her hide to have been taken ? Miss
Prue in "William Congreve's "Love for Love" calls Ben "a great sea-calf; "
but sea-cows are rarfc aves. " Que d'lable allait-elle faire dans cette galhe V^
The " black bull's skin " is a genuine relic of early superstition. It was of evil
omen, like the black sail to Theseus, and a Scottish king knew what was
impending when a black bull's head was brought to table as his death-warrant.]
Let us here (lacking space elsewhere) insert an earlier printed ballad,
QTfjE attempt on tljc CToiunc of Calcs, 1025.
[This ballad is preserved in William Crosse's continuation of Edward Grimestonc's
General History of the Netherlands, 1627 (P. Mark 591, i. 7.), pp. 1580-1581 :
' The summe of this vnfortunate journey was epitomised into these verses,
by a gentleman Avho was present in all that scruice : ']
OUrs came to Coles ; three thousand cannot shot [Cadiz.
Funtafs strong fort ; from Bastamoiite got,
"We marcht to Soto's house, carows'd his wine.
And spent three dayes ; which intercourse of time
Gaue meanes vnto Great Philip's ships to free
Themselues from our surprise, by sinking three.
On tbursday we retir'd, where brave Horwood
With Ussex and with Morton made it good
Ajjjainst the foes, till our ingaged Bands
Imbarkt themselues on the Calesian sands.
Fr(mi thence we tooke the Maine, and plow'd those waves [28 Oct.
Whose beating Surge the Southerne foreland laves.
Where plying off and on, for nineteene dayes,
Vpon the twentith, all our Armie sayles [17 Nov.
(Being victuall scanted) towards that decpe sound.
Where christal Flim from Plimouth doth rebound.
There safe arriuing, all our former toyle [Falmnuth, 5 Dec.
Lay buried in the sight of England'' s soyle.
[ITorwood was Sir Edward Horwood, Sir Thomas Morton and Robert Devereux,
third Earl of Essex, are the others named. The fort of Puntal yielded upon
composition after Colonel Burrowes [ = Sir John Burroughs] was landed in the eye
of them : Captain Thomas Porter commanding the ordnance of the Convertine. j
[Pepys Collection, IV, 196; Euing, 334 ; Case 22, e. 2, fol. 76.]
^ir Waltzt IRaleig!) bailing: in tfic iLolti4anti0.
Sf)£toing l}ciin tf)E famous Slji'p callcti tf)e /S'^t'eei; Trinity tons
taken ijg a false ffirallg, anti Ijoto ft inas again restorcb bg tl}e
rtaft of a little .Sea^bog, to|)a sunk tije ffiallg ; as tjb^ folloiiintj
Song toi'll ticclare.
To THE Tune or. The Sailing in the Loiv-lands.
Sir Waller Raleigh has built a Ship, in the Neather-lands,
,^ Sir Walter Raleigh has built a ship in the Neather-lands !
Ami it is called the Siveet Trinity,
And [it] was taken by the false Gallaly, sailing in the Low-lands.
" Is there never a Seaman bold in the Neather-lauds :
Is there never a Seaman bold in the j^eather-lands.
That will go take this false Gallaly,
And to redeem the Sweet Trinity ; sailing in the Low-lands?"
Then spoke the little Ship -boy, in the Neather-lands, \B.epeat.
" Master, master, what will you give me, and I will take this false Gallaly,
And [so] release the Swtet Trinity, sailing in the Low-lauds ?"
" I'le give thee gold, and I'le give thee fee, in the Neather-lauds ; \Bis.
And my eldest daughter thy wife shall be, sailing in the Low-lands."
He set his breast, and away he did swim, in the Neather-lands, \Tiis.
Until he came to the false Gallaly, sailing in the Low-lands.
He had an Augor fit for the [njouce, in the Neather-lands, [-B«v.
The which will bore fifteen good holes at once, sailing in the Low -lands.
Some were at Cards, and some at Dice, in the Neather-lands, \Bis.
Until the salt water flash' d in their eyes, sailing in the Low-lands.
Some cut their hats, and some cut their caps, in the Neather-lands, \Bis.
For to stop the salt-water gaps, sailing in the Low-lands.
He set his breast, and away did swim, in the Neather-lands, \Bis.
Until he came to his own ship again, sailing in the Low-lands.
" I have done the work I promised to do, in the Neather-lands, \Bis.
For I have sunk the false Gallaly, and released the Sojeet Trinity,
Sailing in the Low-lands.
" You promised me gold and you promised me fee, in the Neather-lands, [/Jt.?.
Your eldest daughter my wife she must be, sailing in the Low-lauds."
" You shall have gold, and you shall have fee, in the Neather-lands ; \_Bis.~
But my eldest daughter your wife shall never be,
For sailing in the Low-lands."
" Then fare you well, you cozening Lord, in the Neather-lands. \Bis.
Seeing you are not so good as your word, for sailing in the Low-lands."
And thus I shall conclude my Song of the sailing in the Low-lands, \Bis.
Wishing all happiness to all Seamen both old and young
In their sailing in the Low-lands.
Tlds may he printed, B.L.S.
Printed for/. Conyers, at the Black- liaren, the first shop in Fetter-Lane next
Holborn, [Black-letter. Four woodcuts, see p. 417. Date, licensed, 1665-8.5.]