Now! Then! 2024! - Yorkshire On This Day

Excerpt

To the tune of “Phillida flouts me”

Michael: Come to me, pretty lass,
and hearken to my plaint,
For since I married was
I have lived discontent.
My wife is very old,
I cannot merry be,
There is nor wealth nor gold
Can make her sweet to me.
I lie both day and night,
In such a heavy plight,
That nothing can delight.
Comfort me, Francis!

Francis: Sweet Michael, show your grief
Unto your trusty friend.
If I can yield relief,
You shall have me at command.
And faithful will I prove,
So long as life doth last.
Doubt not my dearest love,
Put plan your sorrows past,
And I will ready be,
To ease your malady.
In this extremity.

Michael: For this kindness of love,
A thousand thanks to thee!
If thou wilt constant prove,
I will disclose to thee,
The grief and mighty pain.
I live in Howerly
With such a jealous queen,
Frowning so sourly,
That living in this strife
I lose my very life.
Fie on my wicked wife!
This night if thou consent
I mean sore sick to be
My wife thou shalt acquaint
With my infirmity
And show her in this case
I mean alone to lie,
And to have thee, my lass,
To bear me company,
Where we shall pass this night
With great joy and delight
Suspected of no wight.

Francis: It shall not be denied
To work this policy
Farewell, sweet master mine,
I go with speed from thee,
Unto my mistress then
For to show her this case

Michael: Adieu, sweet I pray,
God guide you on the way,
I shall pray night and day
For my sweet Francis!

Etc. etc.

Comment

Comment

The bill of complaint is under the play. Here are all the documents in the archive relating to the case.

“Phillada flouts me” dealt with a shepherd rejected by a milkmaid, and like the subsequent tunes recycled, was very well known at the time, in various versions. Here’s another version:

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Original

To the tune of ffiliday ffloutes mee.
M Come to me pritty Lasse.
and Harken to my Plainte.
ffor since I maried was.
I have Liued discontent.
My wife is very olde.
I Cannot merry be.
there is nor ‸⸢wealth⸣<...>th nor golde
Can make her sweete to me:
I Lye both daie and night
in suche a Heauye plighte.
that nothinge can delight.
Comforte me ffauncis

F Sweet Michaell shewe your greefe
vnto your trustie ffreinde.
Yf I can yealde releife.
you shall have me at Commaunde.
And ffaithfull will I proue
Soe longe as life doth laste.
Doubte not my dearest Loue
but shew your Sorrowes past
And I will ready bee
to ease your maladie.
In this extremetie.
F welcome to Frauncis:

M For this Kindnes of Love
a Thousand thanks to the
yff thou wilt Constant proue
I will disclose to thee
the greefe and mightie paine
I live in Howerly
with suche a Ielous queane
ffrowninge soe sowerly
That livinge in this striffe
I loose my very life
ffye on my wicked wife
F Welcome to ffrauncis.

M This night yf thou Consent
I meane so<.>e sicke to be
My wife thou shalt acquainte
with my Infirmitie
And shew her in this Case
I meane alone to lye
And to haue thee my Lasse
to beare me Companie
Where we shall passe this nighte
with greate Ioye and delighte
suspected of noe weight
F Welcome to Francis.

It shall not be denyed
to worke this pollicie
ffarewell sweete Master myne
I goe with speed from thee
vnto my Mistress then
for to shew her this Case
M Adue sweete I praie,
god guide you on the waie
I shall praie night and daie
ffor my sweete ffrauncys.

Etc. etc.

361 words.

Tags

Tags are assigned inclusively on the basis of an entry’s original text and any comment. You may find this confusing if you only read an entry excerpt.

• Adultery (8) ·
• Defamation (4) ·
• Elizabeth I (1533-1603) (15), ruled 1558-1603, established an English Protestant church ·
• Humiliation (2) ·
• Jig (theatre) (1) ·
• North Riding of Yorkshire (51) ·
• Poetry (70) ·
• Public humiliation (2) ·
• Sex (12) ·
• Skelton, York (1) ·
• Star Chamber (2) ·
• Theatre (22) ·

All tags.

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