The Last News From France is an English broadside ballad from the 17th century. It tells the story of Charles II's escape to France following the Battle of Worcester, as told by the man who helped him escape by dressing as a woman. Sung to the tune of When the King Enjoys His Own Again. Copies of the broadside can be found at the University of Glasgow Library, the British Library, and Magdelene College. Facsimiles are also available on-line for public consumption. [1]
The narrator of the ballad is the man who helped Charles II (called the "King of Scots" in the ballad) escape to France following his defeat to Oliver Cromwell at the Battle of Worcester, here called the "Fight of the Northern Rats." The narrator dresses as a woman, while the king shaves his beard and dresses as the woman's serving-man. They sell one of the king's jewels to finance their journey, and then head from Worcester to London and finally to France. At each stop along the way, the narrator worries that the exiled king will be recognized (he had a bounty on his head at the time), but nobody does. They pass through Westminster Abbey, where Charles II's father, Charles I, was tried for treason, and through the Palace of Whitehall, where he was executed. They then go to Queenhive on the River Thames, where the narrator takes on the name of Mistress Anne, and take a boat to France. Once in France, the king no longer waits on the narrator, but resumes his proper place and becomes the narrator's master, which the narrator prefers. He admits that the king lost the day, but he is proud to have stood by him.
This is an extremely political ballad, explicitly positioning itself in favor of the restoration of Charles II and the Stuart monarchy, and against Oliver Cromwell and the protectorate. It is sung to the tune of When the King Enjoys His Own Again, which Joseph Ritson calls "the most famous and popular air ever heard in this country." [2] The cavalier song was written during the English Civil War by Martin Parker in support of Charles I and Charles II. It was later adopted by the Jacobites to support King James II. [3]
Oliver Cromwell was an English general and statesman who led the Parliament of England's armies against King Charles I during the English Civil War and ruled the British Isles as Lord Protector from 1653 until his death in 1658. He acted simultaneously as head of state and head of government of the new republican commonwealth.
The Battle of Worcester took place on 3 September 1651 at Worcester, England, and was the final battle of the English Civil War. Oliver Cromwell's Parliamentarian New Model Army, 28,000 strong, defeated King Charles II's 16,000 Royalists, of whom the vast majority were Scottish.
The Battle of Wigan Lane was fought on 25 August 1651 during the Third English Civil War, between Royalists under the command of the Earl of Derby and elements of the New Model Army under the command of Colonel Robert Lilburne. The Royalists were defeated, losing nearly half their officers and men.
"Oliver Cromwell" is a song recorded by Monty Python in 1980 but not released until 1989 where it featured on their compilation album Monty Python Sings. John Cleese, who wrote the lyric, debuted the song in the episode of the radio show I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again broadcast on 2 February 1969, when it was introduced as "The Ballad of Oliver Cromwell". It is sung to Frédéric Chopin's Heroic Polonaise, and documents the career of British statesman Oliver Cromwell, from his service as Member of Parliament (MP) for Huntingdon to his installation as Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England. The lead vocals, often heavily multi-tracked, are performed by Cleese, with interjections by Eric Idle.
"Geordie" is Child ballad 209, existing in many variants. Versions of the ballad have been sung by traditional folksingers in Scotland, Italy, England, Ireland, Canada and the United States, and performed and recorded by numerous artists and groups. The ballad concerns the trial of the eponymous hero, during which his wife pleads for his life.
Royal Escape is a historical novel written by Georgette Heyer about the escape of Charles II. It is set in 1651 during the English Commonwealth.
"King John and the Bishop" is an English folk-song dating back at least to the 16th century. It is catalogued in Child Ballads as number 45 and Roud Folk Song Index 302.
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader and later Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland.
When the king enjoys his own again is a Cavalier ballad written by Martin Parker during the English Civil War. It was later adopted by Jacobites. According to the historian Dr. Bernard Capp, this song was perhaps the most popular song in mid-seventeenth century England. The eighteenth century critic Joseph Ritson called it "the most famous and popular air ever heard in this country".
The Wandering Jew's Chronicle is an English broadside ballad dating back to the 17th century, with The Wandering Jew as its narrator. From the point of view of the titular character, this ballad tells the history of the English monarchs, beginning with William the Conqueror, and continuing through King Charles II in early versions, and King George II in later versions. The ballad, according to Giles Bergel, dates back to an initial publication of 1634. Copies of the ballad can be found at the British Library and Magdalene College. Online facsimiles of the text are also available for public consumption.
Neptune's Raging Fury is an English Broadside Ballad. The ballad is told from the perspective of a sailor, who is explaining the perils of sea voyages to those who stay on land. Copies of the broadside can be found at the National Library of Scotland, the British Library, the University of Glasgow Library, and Magdelene College. Online facsimiles of the text are also available.
An Admirable New Northern Story is an English broadside ballad from the late 17th century. It tells the story of Constance and Anthony, two lovers who are constant to each other despite two years of separation. When Anthony has to leave England, Constance dresses like a man and joins his ship's kitchen crew in order to stay with him. After a shipwreck, they are separated for two years in Spain. When they finally see each other again by chance, they are reunited and return to England to be married. Also known as "Constance and Anthony." Sung to the Tune of "I Would Thou Wert in Shrewsbury." Copies of the broadside can be found in the British Library, the University of Glasgow Library, the National Library of Scotland, and Magdelene College. On-line facsimiles of the ballad are also available for public consumption.
Amintor's Lamentation for Celia's Unkindness is an English broadside ballad from the 17th century that tells the story of a young man who falls in love with a "coy" woman who does not love him back. He pursues his love to the point that she must leave the country. The ballad begins with Amintor lamenting Celia's refusal to return his love, and concludes with Celia's response, in which she accuses Amintor of using charm and arts to try to steal her purity. Sung to the tune of "Since Celia's My Foe." Copies of the broadside can be found in the British Library and the National Library of Scotland. On-line transcriptions of the ballad are also available for public consumption.
The Honour of a London Prentice is an English broadside ballad from the late 17th century. The ballad is a nationalistic celebration of England. It follows an English apprentice who goes to Turkey and wins the respect of the King and the hand of the Turkish Princess through heroic deeds. He defends Queen Elizabeth, and eventually gets the Turkish King to agree that no country is better than England, and no government is better than that of Queen Elizabeth. Sung to the tune of All You That Love Goodfellows. Copies of the broadside can be found in the British Library, the National Library of Scotland, and Magdelene College. Facsimile transcriptions are also available on-line for public consumption.
The Wandering Virgin is an English broadside ballad from the late 17th century. The narrator warns fellow virgins not to be too coy unless they also want to wander the world round looking for the lover who has given up on their courtship. She tells the story of how she dresses like a man and travels over sea, land, desert, and forest to find her love. Sung to the tune of Over Hills and High Mountains, or Ah! Chloris Awake, depending on the broadside. Copies of the broadside are available in National Library of Scotland, the University of Glasgow Library, the British Library, and Magdelene College.
The Despairing Lover is an English broadside ballad from the late-17th century, written by Edward Ford. It is about a man who loses his lover and vows to kill himself, until she saves him by returning at the end of the ballad. It is paired with A Constant and Kind Maid, in which the woman becomes the man's constant and loving wife. Sung to the tune of Fortune My Foe or Aim Not Too High, though according to William Chappell there is some controversy over the compatibility of these tunes. Copies of the broadside can be found at the British Library, the National Library of Scotland, and Magdelene College. On-line facsimile transcriptions are also available for public consumption.
The Sailor's Departure From His Dearest Love is an English broadside ballad from the 17th century, about a sailor and his lover saying goodbye just as the sailor's ship leaves. Sung to the tune of Adieu My Pretty One. Copies of the broadside can be found at the British Library, the University of Glasgow Library, the National Library of Scotland, and Magdelene College.
The Success of the Two English Travellers, Newly Arrived in London is an English broadside ballad from the late 17th century about two sailors who suffer abuse over 20 years of travel and return home to England to serve King James. Sung to an Excellent New Irish Tune. Copies of the broadside can be found at the National Library of Scotland, the British Library, and Magdelene College.
The Low Country Soldier is an English broadside ballad dating back to the late 17th- or early 18th-centuries about a soldier who returns to England as a poor beggar. After pleading with various people to give him money, he decides to forgo the life of a beggar and becomes a highwayman. Not to be confused with The Low Country Soldier Turned Burgomaster. Copies of the broadside can be found at the British Library, the National Library of Scotland, the University of Glasgow Library and Magdelene College.
News From Hide-Parke is an English broadside ballad from the 17th century. The ballad describes a man who desires a romantic encounter with a woman from Hyde Park, however upon arriving at her house, it is revealed that she is old, bald, ugly, and missing an eye and nose. Copies of the broadside can be found at the National Library of Scotland, the University of Glasgow Library, the British Library, and Magdelene College. Facsimile transcriptions are also available on-line for public transcription.
