Compare _The Brave
Lord Willoughby_ and _The Honour of Bristol_ (_post_, pp. 60, 73).
XXVI
First printed by Percy. The text I give is, with some few
variants, that of the vastly better version in _The Minstrelsy
of the Scottish Border_ (1802-3). Of the 'history' of the ballad
the less said the better. The argument is neatly summarised by
Mr. Allingham, p. 376 of _The Ballad Book_ ('Golden Treasury,'
1879).
skeely = _skilful_
white monie = _silver_
gane = _would suffice_
half-fou = _the eighth part of a peck_
gurly = _rough_
lap = _sprang_
bout = _bolt_
twine = _thread_, i.e. canvas
wap = _warp_
flattered = '_fluttered_, or rather, floated' (Scott)
kaims = _combs_
XXVII
Printed by Percy, 'from an old black-letter copy; with some
conjectural emendations.' At the suggestion of my friend,
the Rev. Mr. Hunt, I have restored the original readings,
as in truer consonancy with the vainglorious, insolent, and
swaggering ballad spirit. As for the hero, Peregrine Bertie,
Lord Willoughby of Eresby, described as 'one of the Queen's
best swordsmen' and 'a great master of the art military,' he
succeeded Leicester in the command in the Low Countries in 1587,
distinguished himself repeatedly in fight with the Spaniards,
and died in 1601.
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