The Seaman's Renown- Chappell, Roxburghe Ballads
["The Seaman’s Renown" was printed in blackletter by W. Thackeray, T. Passenger, and W. Whitwood at the Angel in Duck Lane, London in 1670[]. According to Ebsworth this broadside is likely by Joseph Martin author of "The Seaman’s Folly" which has a similar opening. "The Master-piece of Love," known as the Bold Keeper (Bold Soldier) is modeled after Seaman's renown. According to Cazden: The numerous versions of "The Bold Soldier" stem from broadsides of before the eighteenth century. Early texts in Roxburghe date from 1673, and appear in this country in the Echo, or Columbian Songster for 1800. ]
The Seamans Renown in Winning His Fair Lady: Brave Marriners by this You May Behold what 'tis to be a Seaman Stout and Bold. Their Seaman Won a Lady by His Valour, and with His Sword He Curl'd Her Fathers Choller: Therefore Go Boldly on when You Begin, and Know Fait-heart Did Ne're Fair Lady Win. Tune Of, A Week Before Easter
W. Thackeray, T. Passenger, and W. Whitwood, 1670
[Roxburghe Collection, III. 120, and IV. 72.]
The Seamans Renown in Winning His Fair Lady: Brave Marriners by this You May Behold what 'tis to be a Seaman Stout and Bold. Their Seaman Won a Lady by His Valour, and with His Sword He Curl'd Her Fathers Choller: Therefore Go Boldly on when You Begin, and Know Fait-heart Did Ne're Fair Lady Win. Tune Of, A Week Before Easter
W. Thackeray, T. Passenger, and W. Whitwood, 1670
[Black-letter. III.120, has three cuts: lst, gi'rm below; 2nd, man, p. 475; 3rd, lady, p. 556, Right. Roxb. C., IV. 72 (Gales, Vere, Wrig/rt, Clark, T/mekn-ag, and Paumger) has the pair, p. 444, and another pair in alcoves. given in vol. iii. p. 598. Date, aired 1679.]
No other exemplars known than the two in Roxb. Coll., the second was B. H. Bright's; neither had been included in Major Pearson's, or the Harleian.
Joseph Martin, author of the ballad, entitled ‘The Seaman’s Folly,’ (p. 555), possibly also of ‘The Seaman s Renown’ (p. 559), beginning similarly, but to a different tune, wrote another ballad (p. 587), ‘The Huntsman's Delight.’ In the Argument, etc., the ‘verse must halt for it.’ Mentioned on pp. 86, 25-5.
Seaman's Renown in winning his Fair lady
From: Roxburghe ballads, Volume 7 By William Chappell, Ballad Society
[Click to see the first page from Roxburghe ballads]
Brave Marriners, by this you may behold
What 'tis to be a Seaman stout and bold.
This Seaman won a Lady by his valour,
And with his Sword he cur'd her Father's Choller:
Therefore go boldly on when you begin,
And know 'Faint-heart did ne're fair Lady win.'
Tune Of, A Week before Easter. [See vol. vi. p. 233.]
THere was a bold Seaman, a Ship he could stear,
Of Buch a brave Seaman you never did hear,
And he lov'd a Lady of beauty so clear,
And now you shall hear of his wooing,
Seaman.—"O pitty, fair Lady, let pitty thee move,
I'm deep in affliction, and tossed in Love,
And you are my Lady, my Turtle, and Dove,
On you I do set my affection."
Lady.—"O hold thy peace, Seaman, for that may not be,
For I am a match for a higher degree,
And thy blood and my blood can never agree,
Then, Seaman, take this for (in answer."
Seaman.—"O Lady, your answer doth make me to grieve,
'Tis true that we all came from Adam and Eve.
One loving word to my life is a reprieve,
Although I am in Cupid's Prison."
Lady.—" Oh, why should you say you'r a prisoner to me?
O hold, forbear, Seaman, for that may not be;
We both may have matches fit for our degree;
Then forbear, and take this for answer."
Seaman.—"O, no, for an answer I will it not take,
Although your denial doth make my heart aike;
I'le rather lay down my own life at the stake,
To obtain thy good favour, sweet Lady."
Lady.—" It is a meer madness thy life to lay down,
For people will say 'there's an end of a Clown,
That past many dangers till fortune did frown,
That dy'd like a Prodigal Lover.'"
Seaman.— " The Dame of a Clown in my heart I do scorn,
Being nobly descended, and a Gentleman born,
Yet I am a Seaman, and must live forlorn,
Unless you can love me, fair Lady."
Lady.—"O pardon me, Seaman, for I did not know,
I thought that thy Parentage had been but low;
But I may requite thee before we do go,
And give thee a kiss for a favour."
Seaman.—He took her by th' hand and he kissed her twice,
Quoth he, " Dearest Lady, you have been too nice,
To value my love at no higher a price,
But now I do hope you'l requite me."
Lady.—" Well, Seaman, I see that thou hast a good heart,
And art a compleat man in every part:
If my Father knew this, we should suffer smart,
He would be so highly enraged."
Seaman.—" If you are but willing for to be my Bride,
My Sword and my Pistol I'le take by my side,
And then to the Church we in private will ride,
Where we will be married, fair Lady."
She then gave consent, and away they did ride,
The valiant bold Seaman and his lovely Bride,
Not fearing of anger, or what might betide,
Their hearts were united together.
Being married they back again came speedily;
But riding along they her Father espy.
Quoth he to the Seaman, "I vow thou shalt dye,
For deluding away my Lear Daughter."
"Come on (quoth the Seaman), 'tis no time to prattle,
I see by your weapons you are for the battle."
With Sword and with Pistol he made him to rattle,
In the place where he gain'd his fair Lady.
He cut him and slasht him, and there he did stand,
O then quoth her Father, "Hold, Seaman, thy hand!"
"If you'l give your Daughter ten thousand in land,
I'le spare you as I am a Seaman."
"0 Seaman," quoth she, "'tis a portion too small!"
"0 peace !" (quoth the Lord) "for that Shall not be all,
I'le give him great riches what ever befall,
Because he's a Noble stout Seaman."
They put up their Swords, and at last did agree,
And strait-way the Lady did fall on her knee,
And beg'd that her Father would not angry be,
Although she had married a Seaman.
Her Father unto her was there reconcil'd
And gave her his blessing, as she was his child,
"Which made the brave Seaman glad, that he smil'd,
When ho see he had gain'd his Lord's daughter.
They afterwards lived in joy and content,
The Lady had never no cause to repent,
They pussed their time away in merriment,
And lovingly they lived together.