The Blind Beggar of Bethnal Green;
Shewing how his Daughter was Married to a Knight, and had
3,000 l. to her Portion.
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THIS song's of a beggar, who long lost his sight,
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And had a fair daughter most pleasant and bright,
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And many a gallant brave suitor had she,
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And none was so comely as pretty Betty.
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And though she was of a complexion most fair,
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And seeing she was a poor beggar's heir,
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Of ancient housekeepers despised was she,
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Whose sons came as suitors to pretty Betty.
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Wherefore in great sorrow fair Betty did say,
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Good father and mother let me now go away,
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To seek out my fortune, whatever it be.
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This suit was granted to pretty Betty.
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This Betty, that was of a beauty most bright,
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They clad in gay russet, and late in the night
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From father and mother alone parted she,
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Who sighed and sobbed for pretty Betty.
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She travell'd till she came to Stamford, at Bow,
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Then she knew not whither or which way to go:
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With tears she lamented her sad destiny,
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So sad and so heavy was pretty Betty.
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She kept on her journey until it was day,
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And went unto Rumford along the highway,
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And at the Kings' arms entertained was she,
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So fair and well-favour'd was pretty Betty.
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She had not been there one month at an end,
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But master and mistress and all was her friend;
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And every brave gallant that once did her see,
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Was straightway in love with pretty Betty.
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Great gifts they did send her of silver and gold,
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And in their songs their love daily they extoll'd;
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Her beauty was blaz'd in every degree,
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So fair and so comely was pretty Betty.
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The young men of Rumford in her had their joy,
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She shew'd herself courteous, but never too coy;
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And at their commandment still she would be,
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So fair and comely was pretty Betty.
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Four suitors at once unto her did go,
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They craved her favour, but she said, No:
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I would not have gentlemen marry with me,
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Yet ever they honour'd pretty Betty.
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Now one of them was a gallant young knight,
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And he came to her disguis'd in the night;
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The second a gentleman of high degree,
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Who wooed and sued for pretty Betty.
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A merchant of London whose wealth was not small,
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Was then the third suiter, and proper withal;
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Her master's own son the fourth man must be,
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Who swore he would die for pretty Betty.
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If that you will marry me, quoth the knight,
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I'll make thee a lady with joy and delight;
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My heart is enthrall'd in thy beauty,
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Then grant me thy favour, my pretty Betty.
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The gentleman said, Come marry with me,
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In silks and in velvet my Betty shall be;
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My heart lies distracted, Oh! quoth he,
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And grant me thy love, my dear pietty Betty.
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Let me be thy husband, the merchant did say,
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Thou shalt live in London most gallant and gay,
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My ships shall bring rich jewels for thee,
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And I will forever love pretty Betty.
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Then Betty she sigh'd, and thus she did say,
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My father and mother I mean to obey,
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First get their good will, and be faithful to me,
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And you shall enjoy your pretty Betty,
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To every one of them that answer she made,
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Therefore unto her they joyful said,
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This thing to fulfill we all now agree,
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But where dwells thy father my pretty Betty.
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My father, quoth she, is soon to be seen,
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The silly blind beggar of Bethnal Green;
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That daily sits begging for charity,
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He is the kind father of pretty Betty.
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His marks and his tokens are known full well,
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He always is led by a dog and a bell;
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A poor silly old man, God knows, it is he,
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Yet he is the true father of pretty Betty.
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Nay, nay, quoth the merchant thou art not for me,
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She, quoth the inholder, my wife shall not be;
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I loath, said the gentleman, a beggar's degree,
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Therefore now fare you well, my pretty Betty.
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Why then, quoth the knight, happen it better or worse,
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I weigh not true love by the weight of the purse;
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And beauty is beauty in every degree:
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Then welcome to me my dear pretty Betty.
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With thee to thy father forthwith I will go,
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Nay, forbear, quoth his kinsman it must not be so.
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A poor beggar's daughter no lady shall be:
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Then take thy adieu of thy pretty Betty.
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As soon then as it was break of day,
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The knight had from Rumford stole Betty away;
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The young men of Rumford, so sick as may be,
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Rode after to fetch again pretty Betty.
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As swift as the wind to ride they were seen,
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Untill they came near unto Bethnal Green,
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And the knight alighted most courteously,
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They fought against him for pretty Betty.
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But rescue came presently over the plain,
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Or else the knight there for his love had been slain.
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The fray being ended, they straightway did see
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His kinsman come railing at pretty Betty.
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Then bespoke the blind beggar. Although I be poor,
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Rail not against my child at my own door;
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Though she be not decked in velvet and pearl,
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Yet will I drop angels with thee for my girl.
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And then, if my gold should better her birth,
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And equal the gold you lay on the earth,
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Then neither rail you, nor gudge you to see
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The blind beggar's daughter a lady to be.
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But first I will hear, and have it well known,
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The gold you drop shall be all your own.
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With that they replied, contented we be:
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Then here's, quoth the beggar, for pretty Betty.
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With that an angel he drop'd on the ground,
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And drop'd in angels full three thousand pound,
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And oftentimes it prov'd most plain,
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For the gentleman's one the beggar dropp'd twain.
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So that the whole place whereon they did sit,
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With the finest gold was cover'd every whit;
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The gentleman having dropt all his store,
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Said, beggar, hold your hand, for I have no more.
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Thou hast fulfiill'd thy promise aright.
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Then marry my girl, quoth he, to the knight;
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And then, quoth he, I will throw you down
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An hundred pound more to buy her a gown.
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The gentleman all, who his treasure had seen,
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Admired the beggar of Bethnal Green.
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And those that had been her suitors before,
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Their tender flesh for anger they tore.
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Thus was the fair Betty match'd to a knight,
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And many a lady in others despite;
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A fairer lady they never was seen,
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Then the beggar's daughter of Bethnal Green.
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But of her sumptuous marriage and feast,
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And what fine lords and ladies thither prest,
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The second part shall set forth to your sight,
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With marvellous pleasure, and wished for delight.
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Of a blind beggar's daughter so bright,
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That late was bethroth'd to a young knight,
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All the whole discourse therefore you may see---
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But now comes the wedding of pretty Betty.
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IT was within a gallant place most brave,
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Adorned with all the cost they could have,
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This wedding it was kept most sumptuously,
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And all for the love of pretty Betty.
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And all kind of dainties and delicates sweet,
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Was brought to their banquet as it was thought meet,
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Patridge, plover, and venison most free,
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Against the brave wedding of pretty Betty.
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The wedding thro' England was spread by report,
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So that a great number thereto did resort,
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Of nobles and gentlemen of every degree,
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And all of the fame of pretty Betty.
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To church then away went this gallant young knight,
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His bride followed after like a lady bright,
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With troops of ladies, the like was ne'er seen,
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As went with sweet Betty of Bethnal Green.
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This wedding being solemnized then,
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With music performed by skilful men;
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The nobles and gentlemen down at the side,
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Each one beholding the beautiful bride.
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But after the sumptuous dinner was done,
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To talk and reason a number begun,
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And of the blind beggar's daughter most bright,
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And what with his daughter he gave to the knight.
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Then spake the nobles, Much marvel have we,
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This jolly blind beggar we cannot yet see
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My lords, quoth the bride, my father's abash'd,
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And would not with his presence have his state disgrac'd.
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The praise of a woman in question to bring,
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Before her own face is a flattering thing;
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We think thy father's business. quoth they,
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Might by thy beauty be quite put away.
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They no sooner this pleasant word spoke,
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But in comes the beggar in a silken cloak;
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A velvet cap and a feather had he,
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And now a musician, forsooth he would be.
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And being led in from catching of harm,
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He had a dainty lute under his arm,
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Said, please you to hear any music of me?
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A song I will give you of pretty Betty.
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With that his lute he twanged straightway,
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And thereupon begun most sweetly to play;
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And after a lesson was play'd two or three,
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He strain'd out this song most delicately.
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A BEGGAR's daughter did dwell on a green,
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Who for her beauty may well be a queen;
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A blithe bonny lass and dainty was she,
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And many one called her pretty Betty.
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Her father had no goods nor any lands,
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But begg'd for a penny all day with his hands;
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And yet for her marriage gave thousands three,
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Yet still he hath somewhat for pretty Betty.
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And if anyone her birth do disdain,
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Her father is ready with might and main,
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To prove she is come of noble degree,
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Therefore let none flout at at my pretty Betty.
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With that the lords and the company round,
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With a hearty laughter was ready to swound;
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At last, said the lords, Full well we may see,
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The bride and bridegroom's beholden to thee.
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With that the fair bride all blushing did rise,
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With chrystal water all in her fair eyes.
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Pardon my father, brave nobles, said she,
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That through kind affection thus doats upon me.
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If this be thy father, the nobles did say,
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Well may he be proud of this happy day;
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Yet by his countenance well may we see,
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His birth with his fortune could never agree.
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And therefore, blind beggar, to thee I do pray,
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And look to us then the truth thou dost say;
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Thy birth and thy parentage what it be,
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E'en for the love thou bearest to pretty Betty.
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Then give me leave ye gentles each one,
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A song more to to sing, and I'll begone,
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And if that I do not win a good report.
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Then do not give me one groat for my sport.
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WHEN first our king his fame did advance,
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And sought his title in delicate France;
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In many place great perils past he,
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But then was not born my pretty Betty.
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And at those wars went over to fight,
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Many a brave duke, a lord, and a knight,
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And with them young Munford of courage so free.
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But then was not born my pretty Betty.
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And there did young Munford with a blow on his face
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Loose both his eyes in a very short space;
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His life had been gone away with his sight,
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Had not a young woman gone forth in the night.
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Among the said men her fancy did move,
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To search and to look for her own truelove;
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Who seeing young Munford there gasping to die,
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She saved his life through charity.
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And then all our victuals, in beggars attire,
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At the hands of good people we then did require;
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At last in England, as now it is seen,
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We came and remained in Bethnal Green.
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And thus we have liv'd in Fortune's despite,
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Though poor yet contented with humble delight.
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And in my old years a comfort to be,
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God sent me a daughter called pretty Betty.
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And thus ye nobles, my song I do end,
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Hoping by the same no man to offend;
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Full forty long winters thus have I been,
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A silly blind beggar of Bethnal Green.
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Now when the company every one,
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Did hear the strange tale he told in his song,
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They were amazed as well as they may be,
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Both at the blind beggar and pretty Betty.
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With that the fair bride they did embrace,
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Saying you are of an honourable race,
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Thy father likewise of high degree,
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And thou art worthy a lady to be.
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Thus was the feast ended with joy and delight,
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A happy bridegroom was made the young knight
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Who liv'd in great joy and felicity,
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With his fair lady dear pretty Betty.
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