526 Notes of the Month on [May, 
Appendix of the History of Parker, Bishop of Oxford, who turned 
papist “ to oblige his Majesty King James II., of pious memory.” A 
most curious volume, also, on the “‘ Newe Exercise of the Sworde ; or, 
the Sixe Cuttes for a Troublesome Nation,” &c. But, as a specimen of 
my acquisitions, I send you a Ballad, in which, as a marginal note, by 
my little friend Ellis, of the Museum, informs me, the Anglo-Saxons 
took great delight for its historical truth. The date is undecided, but 
the style is of the remotest antiquity :— 
Wnuenne Arthure firste at courte beganne 
To laughe in Treasurie sleeves, 
He entertainde nine servinge menne, 
The whole of whome were thieves. 
One-thirde of themme were sharp-sette knayes, 
One-thirde of themme were flattes ; 
One-thirde of themme were paltrye slaves, 
And all of themme were Rattes. 
' The firste he was an Oxforde manne, 
The Beliale of the crewe— 
A hang-fire rogue, a flashe-in-panne, . 
To give the devile his due. 
The nexte he was a Jacobinne, 
Thatte softende to a Whigge, 
Then like a weathercocke did spinne, 
To gette a Chancerie wigge. 
The nexte he was a pale bastarde, 
Gotte by one Huskissonne ; 
His tongue was softe, his hearte was harde, 
His head was thickeste bone. 
The nexte he was a hungrye Scotte, 
All Scotte from head to heel ; 
A shillinge woulde his soule have boughte, 
You had him for his meale. 
The nexte he was a cunning wighte, 
A sage amonge the ninnies, 
Most quick at drawinge billes at sighte, 
And turninge them to guineas. 
The nexte he was a talle jackasse, 
Complete in eares and braye ; 
None everre sawe his lordshippe passe, 
But wishede him oates and haye, 
The nexte he was an office toole, 
A dry, dumb-founded drudge, 
Alike in vice and virtue coole, 
An icye Viscounte Fudge. 
The nexte he was a soldiere stoute, 
A Highlande “ fee-fawe-fumme ;” 
His gospelle—“ Eyes right, face aboute ;” 
His law, the tappe of drumme. 
The nexte he was a patterne-sainte, ; 
Whose godde was pelfe and place ; : 
Ande whenne Olde Nicke shall learne to painte, a: 
He'lle studye Save-alle’s face. 
