Is given from an old printed copy in the British Museum, compared with another in the Pepys Collection, both in black letter. WAS originally sung in one of Tom D'Urfey's comedies of Don Quixote, acted in 1694 and 1696, and probably composed by himself. WAS written by Henry Carey, a celebrated composer of music at the beginning of the eighteenth century, and author of several little theatrical entertainments, which the reader may find enumerated in the Companion to the Play-house, etc. The sprightliness of this songster's fancy could not preserve him from a very melancholy catastrophe, which was effected by his own hand. Would be a pleasure, and a cure: Not all the hells, Can give such pain as I endure. To some peaceful plain convey me, On a mossey carpet lay me, XXII. THE FRANTIC LADY. MAD SONG THE SIXTH. THIS, like No. XX., was originally sung in one of D'Urfey's comedies of Don Quixote (first acted about the year 1694), and was probably composed by that popular songster, who died Feb. 26, 1723. THE following rhymes, slight and insignificant as they may now seem, had once a most powerful effect, and contributed not a little towards the great revolution in 1688. Burnet says: "A foolish ballad was made at that time, treating the Papists, and chiefly the Irish, in a very ridiculous manner, which had a burden said to be Irish words, 'Lero, lero, lilliburlero,' that made an impression on the [king's] army that cannot be imagined by those that saw it not. The whole army, and at last the people, both in city and country, were singing it perpetually. And perhaps never had so slight a thing so great an effect." It was written, or at least republished, on the Earl of Tyrconnel's going a second time to Ireland, in October 1688. Perhaps it is unnecessary to mention that General Richard Talbot, newly created Earl of Tyrconnel, had been nominated by King James II. to the lieutenancy of Ireland in 1686, on account of his being a furious Papist, who had recommended himself to his bigoted master by his arbitrary treatmen of the Protestants in the preceding year, when only lieutenant-general, and whose subsequent conduct fully justified his expectations and their fears. Lilliburlero and Bullen-a-lah are said to have been the words of distinction used among the Irish Papists in their massacre of the Protestants in 1641. The song is attributed by some to Lord Wharton; by others, to Lord Dorset. Ho! broder Teague, dost hear de decree? Lilli burlero, bullen a-la. Dat we shall have a new deputie, Lilli burlero, bullen a-la. Lero lero, lilli burlero, lero lero, Lero lero, lilli burlero, lero lero, Ho! by shaint Tyburn, it is de Talbote: And he will cut de Englishmen's troate. Dough by my shoul de English do praat, De law's on dare side, and Creish knows Lilli, etc. But if dispence do come from de pope, We'll hang Magna Charta and dem in a Lilli, etc. For de good Talbot is made a lord, Lilli, etc. And with brave lads is coming aboard: Who all in France have taken a sware, "Ho, by my shoul," another ed. Dat dey will have no protestant heir. Ara! but why does he stay behind? Ho! by my shoul 'tis a protestant wind. But see de Tyrconnel is now come ashore, And we shall have commissions gillore. And he dat will not go to de mass, Lilli, etc. Shall be turn out, and look like an ass. Now, now de hereticks all go down, By Chrish and shaint Patrick, de nation's our own. Lilli, etc. Dare was an old prophesy found in a "Ireland shall be rul'd by an ass and a And now dis prophesy is come to pass, For Talbot's de dog, and JA-s is de ass. |