+++ Since the former Editions of this humorous old Song were printed, the following KEY TO THE SATIRE hath been communicated by GODFREY BOSVILLE, Efq. of Thorp, near Malton, in Yorkshire; who, in the most obliging manner, gave full permission to subjoin it to the Poem.

women.

WARNCLIFFE Lodge, and WARNCLIFFE Wood (vulgarly pronounced WANTLEY), are in the parish of Pennifton, in Yorkshire. The rectory of Pennifton was part of the diffolved monaftry of St. Stephen's, Weflminfter; and was granted to the Duke of Norfolk's family: who therewith endowed an hofpital, which he built at Sheffield, for The trustees let the impropriation of the great Tythes of Pennifton to the Wortley family, who got a great deal by it, and wanted to get ftill more: for Mr. Nicholas Wortley attempted to take the tythes in kind, but Mr. Francis Bofville oppofed him, and there was a decree in favour of the Modus in 37th Eliz. The vicarage of Pennifton did not go along with the rectory, but with the copybold rents, and was part of a large purchase made by Ralph Bofville, Efq. from Qu. Elizabeth, in the 2d year of her reign: and that part he fold in 12th Eliz. to his elder brother Godfrey, the father of Francis; who left it, with the rest of his eftate, to his wife, for her life, and then to Ralph, 3d fon of his uncle Ralph. The widow married Lyonel Rowleftone, lived eighteen years, and furvived Ralph.

This premifed, the Ballad apparently relates to the law. fuit carried on concerning this claim of Tythes made by the Wortley family. "Houfes and Churches, were to him Geefe "and Turkeys" which are tytheable things, the Dragon chofe to live on. Sir Francis Wortley, the fon of Nicholas, attempted again to take the Tythes in kind: but the parishio ners fubfcribed an agreement to defend their Modus. And at the head of the agreement was Lyonel Rowlestone, who is fuppofed to be one of the Stones, dear Jack, which the Dragon could not crack." The agreement is still preserved in a large fheet of parchment, dated 1ft of Fames I, and is full of names and feals, which might be meant by the coat of armour, "with Spikes all about, both within and

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with

without." MORE of MORE-HALL was either the attorney, or counsellor, who conducted the fuit. He is not diftinctly remembered, but More-ball is ftill extant at the very bottom of Waniley [Warncliff] Wood, and lies fo low, that it might be faid to be in a Well: as the Dragon's den [Warncliff Lodge] was at the top of the wood," with Mat"thew's houfe hard by it." The Keepers belonging to the Wortley family were named, for many generations, Matthew Northall: the laft of them left this lodge, within memory, to be Keeper to the Duke of Norfolk. The prefent owner of More-ball fill attends Mr. Bofville's Manor-Court at Oxfpring, and pays a Rofe a year. "More of More-ball, with nothing at all, flew the Dragon of Wantley." He gave him, infead of Tythes, fo fmall a Modus, that it was in effect nothing at all, and was flaying him with a vengeance. "The poor children three," &c. cannot furely mean the three fifters of Francis Bofville, who would have been Coheireles, had be made no will? The late Mr. Bofville had a contest with the defcendants of two of them, the late Sir Geo. Saville's father, and Mr. Copley, about the prefentation to Penniston, they fuppofing Francis had not the power to give this part of the estate from the heirs at law; but it was decided against them. The Dragon (Sir Francis Wortley) fucceeded better with his cousin Wordefworth, the freehold Lord of the manor (for it is the copyhold manor that belongs to Mr. Bofville) having perfuaded him not to join the refractory parishioners, under a promife that he would let him his Tythes cheap: and now the eftates of Wortley and Wordef-worth are the only lands that pay Tythes in the parish.

XIV. ST.

XIV.

ST. GEORGE FOR ENGLAND.

THE FIRST PART.

As the former fong is in ridicule of the extravagant incidents in old ballads and metrical romances; fo this is a burlefque of their ftyle; particularly of the rambling tranfitions and wild accumulation of unconnected parts, fofre quent in many of them.

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This ballad is given from an old black-letter copy in the Pepys collection, imprinted at London, 1612." It is more ancient than many of the preceding; but we place it here for the fake of connecting it with the SECOND PART.

WHY

WHY doe you boast of Arthur and his knightes, Knowing 'well' how many men have endured fightes?

For befides king Arthur, and Lancelot du lake, Or fir Triftram de Lionel, that fought for ladies fake; Read in old hiftories, and there you shall see How St. George, St. George the dragon made to flee. St. George he was for England; St. Dennis was for France; Sing, Honi foit qui mal y pense.

Mark our father Abraham, when first he refckued Lot Onely with his household, what conqueft there he got:

David was elected a prophet and a king,

He flew the great Goliah, with a stone within a sling:
Yet these were not knightes of the table round;
Nor St. George, St. George, who the dragon did
confound.

St. George he was for England; St. Dennis was for France;
Sing, Honi foit qui mal y penfe.

Jephthah and Gideon did lead their men to fight, They conquered the Amorites, and put them all to flight:

Hercules his labours were' on the plaines of Baffe; And Samplon flew a thousand with the jawbone of an affe,

And eke he threw a temple downe, and did a mighty spoyle:

But St. George, St. George he did the dragon føyle. St. George he was for England; St. Dennis was for France; Sing, Honi foit qui maly penfe.

The warres of ancient monarchs it were too long to tell,

And likewife of the Romans, how farre they did excell; Hannyball and Scipio in many a fielde did fighte: Orlando Furiofo he was a worthy knighte: Remus and Romulus, were they that Rome did builde: But St. George, St. George the dragon made to yielde. St. George he was for England; St. Dennis was for France; Sing, Honi foit qui mal y penfe.

The

The noble Alphonfo, that was the Spanish king, The order of the red scarffes and bandrolles in did bring *:

He had a troope of mighty knightes, when firft he did begin,

Which fought adventures farre and neare, that conqueft they might win:

The ranks of the Pagans he often put to flight:

But St. George, St. George did with the dragon fight. St. George he was for England; St. Dennis was for France; Sing, Honi foit qui mal y penfe.

Many 'knights' have fought with proud Tamberlaine. Cutlax the Dane, great warres he did maintaine : Rowland of Beame, and good 'fir' Olivere

In the foreft of Acon flew both woolfe and beare: Besides that noble Hollander, 'fir' Goward with the bill: But St. George, St. George the dragon's blood did fpill. St. George he was for England; St. Dennis was for France; Sing, Honi foit qui mal y pense.

Valentine and Orfon were of king Pepin's blood: Alfride and Henry they were brave knightes and good: The four fons of Aymon, that follow'd Charlemaine:

This probably alludes to "An Ancient Order of Knightbood, called the Order of the Band, inftituted by Don Alphenfus, king of Spain, to wear a red riband of three fingers breadth." &c. See Ames Typog. p. 327.

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