Cavalier Songs and Ballads of England from 1642 to 1684 | Page 5

poetical in the
highest sense of the word, and possibly would not have been so
effective for the purpose which they were intended to serve, if their
writers had been more fanciful and imaginative, or less intent upon
what they had to say than upon the manner of saying it. But if not
extremely poetical, they are extremely national, and racy of the soil;
and some of them are certain to live as long as the language which
produced them. For the convenience of reference and consultation they
have been arranged chronologically; beginning with the discontents
that inaugurated the reign of Charles I., and following regularly to the
final, though short-lived, triumph of the Cavalier cause, in the
accession of James II. After his ill- omened advent to the throne, the
Cavalier became the Jacobite. In this collection no Jacobite songs,
properly so called, are included, it being the intention of the publishers
to issue a companion volume, of the Jacobite Ballads of England, from
the accession of James II. to the battle of Culloden, should the public
receive the present volume with sufficient favour to justify the venture.
The Editor cannot, in justice to previous fellow-labourers, omit to
record his obligation to the interesting volume, with its learned
annotations, contributed by Mr Thomas Wright to the Percy Society; or
to another and equally valuable collection, edited by Mr J. O. Halliwell.
December, 1862.

Ballad: When The King Enjoys His Own Again

This is perhaps the most popular of all the Cavalier songs - a favour
which it partly owes to the excellent melody with which it is associated.
The song, says Mr Chappell, is ascertained to be by Martin Parker, by
the following extract from the GOSSIPS' FEAST, or Moral Tales, 1647.
"By my faith, Martin Parker never got a fairer treat: no, not when he
indited that sweet ballad, When the King enjoys his own again." In the
poet's Blind Man's Bough (or Buff), 1641, Martin Parker says,
"Whatever yet was published by me Was known as Martin Parker, or
M. P.;"
but this song was printed without his name or initials, at a time when it

would have been dangerous to give either his own name or that of his
publisher. Ritson calls it the most famous song of any time or country.
Invented to support the declining interest of Charles I., it served
afterwards with more success to keep up the spirits of the Cavaliers,
and promote the restoration of his son; an event which it was employed
to celebrate all over the kingdom. At the Revolution of 1688, it of
course became an adherent of the exiled King, whose cause it never
deserted. It did equal service in 1715 and 1745. The tune appears to
have been originally known as MARRY ME, MARRY ME, QUOTH
THE BONNIE LASS. Booker, Pond, Hammond, Rivers, Swallow,
Dade, and "The Man in the Moon," were all astrologers and Almanac
makers in the early days of the civil war. "The Man in the Moon"
appears to have been a loyalist in his predictions. Hammond's Almanac
is called "bloody" because the compiler always took care to note the
anniversary of the death, execution, or downfall of a Royalist.
What BOOKER doth prognosticate Concerning kings' or kingdoms'
fate? I think myself to be as wise As he that gazeth on the skies; My
skill goes beyond the depth of a POND, Or RIVERS in the greatest rain,
Thereby I can tell all things will be well When the King enjoys his own
again.
There's neither SWALLOW, DOVE, nor DADE, Can soar more high,
or deeper wade, Nor show a reason from the stars What causeth peace
or civil wars; The Man in the Moon may wear out his shoon By
running after Charles his wain: But all's to no end, for the times will not
mend Till the King enjoys his own again.
Though for a time we see Whitehall With cobwebs hanging on the wall
Instead of silk and silver brave, Which formerly it used to have, With
rich perfume in every room, - Delightful to that princely train, Which
again you shall see, when the time it shall be, That the King enjoys his
own again.
Full forty years the royal crown Hath been his father's and his own;
And is there any one but he That in the same should sharer be? For who
better may the sceptre sway Than he that hath such right to reign? Then
let's hope for a peace, for the wars will not cease Till the King enjoys
his own again.
[Did WALKER no predictions lack In Hammond's bloody almanack?
Foretelling things that would ensue, That all proves right, if lies be true;

But why should not he the pillory foresee, Wherein poor Toby