Francis new Jigge Betweene Frauncis, a Gentleman, And Richard, a Farmer. (Anonymous)

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  • (Posted 2014-05-12)  CPDL #31980:     
Editor: Andreas Stenberg (submitted 2014-05-12).   Score information: A4, 8 pages, 418 kB   Copyright: CPDL
Edition notes:

General Information

Title: Francis new Jigge Betweene Frauncis, a Gentleman, And Richard, a Farmer.
Composer: Anonymous
Lyricist: George Attowell/Atwell (atributed to)create page

Number of voices: four solo voices vv   Voicing: WWMM
Genre: SecularTeatePopular song

Language: English
Instruments: Basso continuo

First published: 1617
Description: A Jigge, that is a miniature musical play sung and acted by four caracters to warious tunes. From a Broadside print from 1617. Music from warious sources added by the editor

External websites:

Original text and translations

English.png English text

1. Besse: As I went to Walsingham,
to the shrine with speed,
Met I with a iolly Palmer,
in a Pilgrims weede. Enter Francis
Now God you saue you iolly Palmer.
Fran.: Welcome Lady gay,
Oft haue I sued to thee for loue.
B.: Oft haue I said you nay.

2. F.: My loue is fixed.
B.: And so is mine, but not on you:
for to my husband whilest I liue,
I will euer be true.
F.: Ile giue thee gold and rich array.
B.: Which I shall buy too deare.
F.: Nought shalt thou want: then say not nat.
B.: Naught would you make mee feare.

3. What though you be a Gentleman,
and haue lands great store?
I will be chaste doe what you can,
though I liue new’re so poore.
F.: Thy beauty rare hath wounded mee,
and pierst my heart.
B.: Your foolish loue doth trouble mee,
pray you Sir depart.

4. F.: Then tel mee sweet wilt thou consent
vnto my desire.
B.: And if I should, then tel me sir,
what is it you require?
F.: For to inioy thee as my loue.
B.: Sir you haue a wife.
Therefore let your sute haue an end.
F.: First will I lose my life.

5. All that I haue thou shalt commaund.
B.: then my loue you haue.
F.: Your meaning I well vnderstand.
B.: I yeeld to what you craue.
F.: But tel mee sweete when shall I enioy
my hearts delight.
B.: I prethee sweete heart be not coy,
euen soone at night.

6. My husband is rid ten miles from home,
money to reciue.
In the euening see you come.
F.: til then I take my leaue. Exit
B.: Thus haue I rid my hands full well
of my amorous loue,
And my husband wil I tell,
how hee doth me moue.

Enter Richard Besses husband.
To the tune of the Iewish dance.

7. Rich. Hey doune a doune,
hey doune, a doune a doune,
there is neuer a lusty Farmer,
in all towne.
That hath more cause,
to lead a merry life,
Then I that am married
to an honest faithfull wife.
B.: I thanke you gentle husband,
You praise mee to my face.
R.: I cry thee mercy, Bessee,
I knew thee not in place.

8. B.: Beleeue me gentle husband,
If you knew as much as I,
The words that you haue spoken,
you quickly would deny.
For since you went from home,
A sutor i hue had,
Who is so farre in loue with mee,
that he is almost madde.
Heele giue me gold and siluer store,
and money for to spend,
And I haue promis
d him therefore,
to be his louing friend.

9. Beleeue me, gentle wife,
but this makes mee to frowne,
There is no gentleman nor knight,
nor Lord of high renowne.
That shall enioy thy loue, gyrle,
though he were ne’re so good.
Before he wrong my Bessee so,
Ile spend him on my blood.
And therefore tell me who it is
that doth desire thy loue.
B.: Our neighbour master Francis,
that often did me moue.

10. To whom I gaue consent,
his mind for to fulfill,
And promis’d him this night,
that he should haue his will.
Nay doe not frowne, good Dickie,
but heare me speak my minde.
For thou shalt see Ile warrant thee,
Ile vse him in his kind.
For unto thee I will be true,
so long as I doe liue,
Ile neuer change thee for a new,
nor once my mind so giue.

11. Goe to mistresse Frauncis,
and this to her declare.
And will her with all speed,
to my house to repaire.
Where shee and Ile deuise
some pretty knauish wile.
For I haue layd the plot,
her husband to beguile.
Make hast I pray and tarry not,
for long he will not stay.
R.: Feare not, Ile tell her such a tale,
shall make her come away.

12. B.: Now Besse bethink thee,
what thou hast to doe.
Thy louer will come presently,
and hardly will he woo.
I will teach my Gentleman,
a tricke that he may know,
I am to craftie and too wise,
to be ore-reached so.
But heere he comes now: not a word,
but fall to worke againe. She sowes
enter F
F.: How now sweetheart, at worke so hard.
B.: I sir, I must take paines.

13. F.: But say, my louely sweeting,
thy promise wilt thou keepe?
shall I enioy thy loue,
this night with me to sleepe?
B.: My husband rid from home,
heere safely may you stay.
F.: And I haue made my wife beleue
I rid another way.
B.: Goe in good sir, what ere betide,
this night and lodge with mee.
F.: The happiest night euer I had,
thy friend still will I bee.
Exit F., Bess retires.

14. W.: I Thank you neighbour Richard,
for bringing me this newes.
R.: Nay, thanke my wife that loues me so,
and will not you abuse.
W.: But see whereas shee stands,
and waithet our return.
R.: You must goe coole your husbands heate,
that so in loue doth burne.
B.: Now Dickie welcome home,
and Mistris welcome hither.
Grieue not although you finde
your husband and I together.
For you shall haue your right,
nor will I wrong you so.
Then change apperrell with me straight,
and unto him doe goe.
W.: For this your kind goodwill,
a thousand thanks I giue.
And make account I will requit
this kindness, if I liue.
B.: I hope it shall not need,
Dick will not serue me so.
I know he loues me not so ill,
a ranging for to goe.
R.: No fith, my louely Besse,
first will I loose my life.
Before Ile break my wedlock bonds,
or seeke to wrong my wife.
Now thinks good Master Frauncis,
he hath thee in his bed.
And makes account he is grafting
of hornes vpon my head.
But softly stand aside,
now shall wee know his minde,
and how hee would haue vsed thee,
if thou hadst beene so kind.
Enter Master Francis with his owne wife, hauing a maske before her face, supposing her to be Besse.
To the tune of Goe from my window.’’

15. F.: Farewell my ioy and hearts delight,
til next wee meete againe.
Thy kindnes to requite, for lodging me al night,
heeres ten pound for thy paine.
And more to shew my loue to thee,
weare this ring for my sake.
W.: Without your gold or fee you shal haue more of mee.
F.: No doubt of tha I make.
W.: then let your loue continue still.
F.: It shall til life doth end.
W.: Your wife I greatly feare.
F.: for her thou needst not care,
so I remaine thy friend.
W.: But youle suspekt me without cause,
that I am false to you.
And then youle cast mee off,
and make mee but a scoffe,
since that I proue vntrue.

16. F.: Then neuer trust man for my sake,
if I proue so vnkind.
[W.:] So often haue you sworn, sir, since that you
were borne,
and soone haue changed your minde.
[F.:] Nor wife nor life, nor goods nor lands,
shal make me leaue my loue,
Nor any wordly treasure make me forgoe my pleasure,
nor once my mind remoue.

17. W.: But soft a while, who is yonder? doe you see
my husband? out alasse.
F.: And yonder is my wife, now shal we haue alife
how commeth this to passe?
R.: Com hither gentle Besse I charge thee do confesse
what makes Master Francis heere.
B.: Good husband pardon me, Ile tel the troth to thee.
R.: Then speak and doe not feare.

18. F.: Nay, neighbour Richard harke to mee, Ile tel the troth to you.
W.: Nay tell it vnto me, good sir, that I may see, what you haue here to doe.
But you can make no scuse to colour this abuse, this wrong is too too great.
R.: Good sir I take great scorne you should profer me the horne.
W.: Now must I coole this heate.
Wife unmasks.

19. F.: Nay neighbour Richard be content,
thou hast no wrong at all.
Thy wife hath done thee right,
and pleasurde me this night.
F.: This frets mee to the gall.
Good wife forgiue me this offence,
I doe repent mine ill.
W.: I thank you with mine hart,
for playing this kind part,
though sore against your will.

20. Nay gentle husband frowne not so,
for you haue made amends.
I thinke it is good gaine,
to haue ten pound for my paine.
then let vs both be friends.
F.: Ashamed I am and know not what to say,
good wife forgiue this crime.
Alasse I doe repent.
W.: Tut I could be content,
to be serued so many a time.

21. Good neighbour Richard be content,
ile woo thy wife no more.
I haue enough of this.
W.: Then all forgiuen is.
I thankee Dick therefore.
And to thy wife ile giue this gold,
I hope youle not say no.
Since I haue had the pleasure,
let her enioy the trasure.
F.: Good wife let it be so.

22. B.: I thank you gentle Mistris.
R.: Faith & so do I.
sir, learn your owne wife to know.
And shoote not in the darke,
for feare you mis the marke.
B.: Ha hath paid for this trow.
All women learn of me.
F.: All men by me take heed
how you a woman trust.
W.: Na women trust no men.
F.: And if they do: how then?
W.: Ther’s few of them prooue iust.

23. Farewell neighbour Richard,
farewell honest Besse
I hope wee are all friends.
W.: And if you stay at home,
and vse not thus to come,
heere all our quarell ends.