APPENDIX. 



KEEP A GOOD TONGUE IN YOUR HEAD. 



TO THE TUJVE OF " THE MILKMAIDS," ETC. 



[In Walton's " Angler," first printed in 16-53, the six earliest lines of 

 this ballad are printed with some slight variations ; and they are coupled 

 with eight other lines from the ballad which follows next in our collection, 

 as if they were one and the same song : they are both given to Maudlin in 

 Walton's work, and the fact we have stated forms a new illustration of it. 

 Both ballads were written by Martin Parker, a well known name in our 

 ephemeral literature in the reign of Charles I. and during the Protector- 

 ate : his initials are at the end of each, and he seldom put his name at full 

 length. He was author of the celebrated " True Tale of Robin Hood," 

 and of the more notorious song of " When the King enjoys his own again." 

 Of the periods of his birth or burial, we have no knowledge. The broad- 

 side we have used is entitled, " Keep a good tongue in your head, for 



Here's a very good woman in every respect. 

 But only her tongue breeds all her defect." 



It was " Printed at London for Thomas Lambert, at the Horshoo in 

 Smithfield," about 1640. — Collier's Book of Roxburgh Ballads.} 



I marry'd a wife of late. 



The more's my unhappy fate ; 

 I tooke her for love, 

 As fancy did me move, 



and not for her worldly state. 

 For qualities rare, 

 Few with her compare ; 



let me doe her no wrong : 



