There was ne'er a lad in all the parish The butler was quick, and the ale he did tap, And I did carry't away, away. The Smith of the town his liquor so took, That he was persuaded the ground looked blew; And I dare boldly be sworn on a book, Such smiths as he there's but a few. A posset was made, and the women did sip, But what our fair readers will chiefly regret, is the loss of three declarations of love: the first by St Clare to Matilda; which, with the lady's answer, occupies fifteen closely written pages of manuscript. That of Fitzosborne to Emma is not much shorter; but the amours of Fitz-allen and Eleanor, being of a less romantic cast, are closed in three pages only. The three noble couples were married in Queenhoo-hall, upon the same day, being the twentieth Sunday after Easter. There is a prolix account of the marriagefeast, of which we can pick out the names of a few dishes, such as peterel, crane, sturgeon, swan, &c. &c. with a profusion of wild-fowl and venison. We also see, that a suitable song was produced by Peretto on the occasion; and that the bishop, who blessed the bridal beds which received the happy couples, was no niggard of his holy water, bestowing half a gallon upon each of the couches. We regret we cannot give these curiosities to the reader in detail, but we hope to expose the manuscript to abler antiquaries, so soon as it shall be framed and glazed by the ingenious artist who rendered that service to Mr Ireland's Shakespeare MSS. And so, (being unable to lay aside the style to which our pen is habituated) gentle reader, we bid thee heartily farewell.] THE END OF QUEENHOO-HALL. |