The Yorkshire Bite- H.J.C. (MA) 1908 Barry
[Barry first published this version in Folk-Songs of the North Atlantic States 1908 as communicated by H. J. C., Boston Mass. The Anecdote of Rev. Ivory Hovey, given after the ballad, purports (see notes in BBFM) that this ballad was known in the late 1700s- however that cannot be proven from the anecdote.]
A Garland of Ballads
by Phillips Barry
The Journal of American Folklore, Vol. 23, No. 90 (Oct. - Dec., 1910), pp. 446-454
III. THE CRAFTY FARMER
(Theme: Biter bit.)
A typical broadside ballad constructed upon this theme is the following:
THE YORKSHIRE BITE [13]
1. In London there lived a mason by trade,
He had for his servants a man and a maid,
A Yorkshireb oy he had for his man,
And for to do his business-, his name it was John.
Fol de lol, fol de lol,
Whack fol de diddle all the day.
2. So early Monday morning, his master called for John,
Jack, hearing his master, he quickly did come,
. . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
3. Johnny took the cow out of the barn,
And drove her to the Fair, as we do learn,
While on his way there, he met with a man,
And he sold him his cow for five pound ten.
4. . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . .
While he was picking up the money Jack had lost,
To make his amends, Jack ran off with his horse.
5. Then home to his master Jack he did bring,
Horse, saddle and bridle and many fine things,
They took off the saddle bags, as it was told,
Five thousand pounds of silver and gold.
6. Besides a pair of pistols, and Jack says, "I vow,
I think, my good old master, I've sold well your cow."
. . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . .
7. "As for a boy you have done very rare,
And half of this money you shall have for your share,
And as for the villain, you've served him just right,
To think you put upon him-a Yorkshire b ite." [14]
In the matter of this widespread theme, the following interesting tradition is worthy of record.[15]
ANECDOTE OF REV. IVORY HOVEY
A strange story is related concerning Rev. Ivory Hovey, who was settled in Manomet Ponds, April 18, 1770, and continued pastor of this ancient church until Nov. 4, 1803, when, as their records say, Mr. Hovey died, aged 89 years, to the great grief of his people. Many of his descendants still live in South Plymouth, and the writer has taken much pains to ascertain the facts connected with the singular story to which allusion has been made. Molly Bly, who was long a domestic and faithful friend in the family of Mr. Hovey, is still remembered by various individuals in the church as a woman of God, and she is said to have told the story often, with much feeling, as related to her by the venerable divine himself.
His grandfather, who resided in England, was in moderate circumstances, but he loved the Savior, and had an earnest desire that a son whom God had given him should become a minister of the Gospel. Such, however, were his limited means, that he could not educate his son for this sacred office. In these days of solitude, he is said to have been assured in a dream that a grandson should enter the ministry, and labor for his Master. It chanced that on the occasion of building a barn, he sent his son, the father of Rev. Ivory Hovey, to the nearest village to purchase nails. While returning home, as he was riding on horseback through a piece of woods, his saddlebags being pretty well stored with nails, he was met by a highwayman, who ordered him to deliver up his saddle-bags of money.[16] Mr. Hovey determined that some pains should be taken by this unwelcome intruder, and hastily threw the supposed treasure over the hedge[17] which bordered the roadside. The robber sprang from his horse[18] to secure the prize, when Mr. Hovey, leaving his own more tardy animal, sprang into the empty saddle, and hastily drove homeward.[19]
The highwayman called loudly to Mr. Hovey to stop, declaring that he was only in jest; but the latter, replying, "I am in earnest," [20] drove forward, and, on arriving home, found the saddle-bags of his new-found horse well filled with filthy lucre.[21] This God-sent treasure was preserved with much care, and with it Rev. Ivory Hovey was educated for the ministry.
A parallel prose tradition exists in the case of some ballads.[22] There is no reason to question the truth of the anecdote, - encounters with highwaymen were common enough, - yet the closeness with which it follows the narrative of "The Crafty Farmer" is suspicious. Some version of the ballad, stored perhaps in Molly Bly's memory, has doubtless colored the story. We may with right, therefore, speak of a traditional ballad-mythology, stereotyped ornamentations and details, suited to certain events.
THORNTON, N. H.
13. The Yorkshire Bite," A, Folk-Songs of the North Atlantic States, communicated by H. J. C., Boston Mass.
14. The Yorkshireman's shrewdness in driving a sharp bargain is proverbial.
15. Copied from a scrap-book compiled by A .J ., Newbury Center, Vermont, before 1870.
16. Compare "The Crafty Farmer" (Child, 283, A):
9. As they were riding along,
The old man was thinking no ill,
The thief he pulled out a pistol,
And bid the old man stand still.
17 Compare:
10. But the old man proved crafty,
As in the world there's many,
He threw his saddle o'er the hedge,
Saying, "Fetch it, if thou 'It have any!"
18 Compare:
11. The thief got off his horse,
With courage stout and bold,
To search for the old man's bag,
And gave him his horse to hold.
19. Compare:
12. The old man put's foot I the stirrup,
And he got on astride,
To its side he clapt his spur up,
You need not bid the old man ride.
20. Compare:
13. "Oh, stay!" said the thief, "Oh, stayl
And half the share thou shalt have! -
"Nay, by my faith!" said the old man,
"For once I have bitten a knavel"
21. Compare:
17. He opened the rogue's portmantle,
It was glorious to behold,
There were three hundred pounds in silver,
And three hundred pounds in gold.
22. Compare "Lady Isabel and the Elf-Knight" (in Child, IV, p. 496), also "King John and the Bishop," as recorded by me in this Journal, Vol. XXI, pp. 58-59.