Ancient Poems, Ballads, and Songs of the Peasantry of England by Bell, Robert, 1800-1867, Unknown

'But first, I will hear, and have it well known, The gold that you drop it shall be all your own.' With that they replied, 'Contented we be!' 'Then here's,' quoth the beggar, 'for pretty Bessee!'

With that an angel he dropped on the ground, And dropped, in angels, full three thousand pound; And oftentimes it proved most plain, For the gentleman's one, the beggar dropped twain;

So that the whole place wherein they did sit, With gold was covered every whit. The gentleman having dropped all his store, Said, 'Beggar! your hand hold, for I have no more.'

'Thou hast fulfilled thy promise aright, Then marry my girl,' quoth he to the knight; 'And then,' quoth he, 'I will throw you down, An hundred pound more to buy her a gown.'

The gentlemen all, who his treasure had seen, Admired the beggar of Bednall Green; And those that had been her suitors before, Their tender flesh for anger they tore.

Thus was the fair Bessee matched to a knight, And made a lady in other's despite. A fairer lady there never was seen Than the blind beggar's daughter of Bednall Green.

But of her sumptuous marriage and feast, And what fine lords and ladies there prest, The second part shall set forth to your sight, With marvellous pleasure and wished-for delight.

Of a blind beggar's daughter so bright, That late was betrothed to a young knight, All the whole discourse therefore you may see; But now comes the wedding of pretty Bessee.

PART II.

It was in a gallant palace most brave, Adorned with all the cost they could have, This wedding it was kept most sumptuously, And all for the love of pretty Bessee.

And all kind of dainties and delicates sweet, Was brought to their banquet, as it was thought meet, Partridge, and plover, and venison most free, Against the brave wedding of pretty Bessee.

The wedding through England was spread by report, So that a great number thereto did resort Of nobles and gentles of every degree, And all for the fame of pretty Bessee.

To church then away went this gallant young knight, His bride followed after, an angel most bright, With troops of ladies, the like was ne'er seen, As went with sweet Bessee of Bednall Green.

This wedding being solemnized then, With music performed by skilfullest men, The nobles and gentlemen down at the side, Each one beholding the beautiful bride.

But after the sumptuous dinner was done, To talk and to reason a number begun, And of the blind beggar's daughter most bright; And what with his daughter he gave to the knight.

Then spoke the nobles, 'Much marvel have we This jolly blind beggar we cannot yet see!' 'My lords,' quoth the bride, 'my father so base Is loth with his presence these states to disgrace.'

'The praise of a woman in question to bring, Before her own face is a flattering thing; But we think thy father's baseness,' quoth they, 'Might by thy beauty be clean put away.'

They no sooner this pleasant word spoke, But in comes the beggar in a silken cloak, A velvet cap and a feather had he, And now a musician, forsooth, he would be.