®  fagre  Portion  for  a  fagre  JHagtu

This  is  perhaps  a  unique  copy  of  one  of  Martin  Parker's  bal-
lads, in  which  he  tells  us  of  a  fair  maid,  who  lived  gaily  in  London
upon  a  portion  of  thirteen  shillings  and  fourpence  a  year,  while
he  avoids  all  details  as  to  the  means  by  which  it  was  accom-
plished. So  far  well.  She  has  Flanders  mares  for  her  coach,
perfumed  gloves,  petticoats  of  scarlet,  of  velvet,  of  silk,  and  of
satin  ;  and  French  gowns,  "  with  sleeves  like  pudding  bags."

The  ballad  is  to  be  sung  to  the  tune  of  another  ballad,  a  copy
of  which  is  in  the  Pepys  Collection  (I.  218),  entitled —

"  Oh  Grammercy  Penny :
Being  a  Lancashire  Ditty,  and  chiefly  penn'd
To  prove  that  a  penny  is  a  man's  best  friend."

To  the  tune  of  It's  better  late  thrive  than  never.  It  is  signed  by
L[aurence]  P[rice],  and  begins  :

"  When  I  call  to  mind  those  joviall  days."

This  last  was  "printed  for  M.  Trundle,  widdow,"  (circa  1628,)
and  is  not  included  in  the  Koxburghe  Collection,  therefore  we
give  the  full  title.  The  tune  to  both  will  be  found  in  Pop.
Mm.  I.  357.
365

[Roxb.  Coll.  I.  122,  123.]

JFapre  portion  for  a  dfapre


tfjrtftte  l&agB  of
litos  at  fLonUott  for  a  4&arfce  a  gear*;
|&arfce  bjas  Jer  olti  |&otf)*r's  gift,
teac^et^  all  jilagtte  ^ob)  to


To  THE  TUNE  OF  Gra/mercy  Penny.
Now  all  my  friends  are  dead  and  gone,

alas  !  wnat  shall  betide  me  ?
For  I,  poore  maid,  am  left  alone,

without  a  house  to  hide  me :
Yet  still  He  be  of  merry  cheere,

and  have  kind  welcome  every  where,
Though  I  have  but  a  marine  a  yeare,

and  that  my  mother  gave  me.
