A Ballad on King James; to the Tune of When Arthur First in Court Began
When James in Scotland first began,
And there was crowned King,
He was not much more than a span,
All in his clouts swadling.
But when he waxed into yeares,
And grew to be somewhat tall,
And told his Lords, a Parliament
He purposed to call.
That’s over-much[,] quoth Douglas though,
For thee to doe[,] I feare,
For I am Lord Protector yet,
And will be one halfe yeare.
It pleaseth me well, quoth the King,
What thou hast said to me,
But since thou standest on such tearmes,
Ile prove as strict to thee.
And well he rul’d and well he curb’d
Both Douglas and the rest;
Till Heaven with better Fortune and Power,
Had him to England blest.
Then into England straight he came
As fast as he was able,
Where he made many a Carpet Knight,
Though none of the Round Table.
And when he entered Barwicke Town,
Where all in peace he found:
But when that roaring Megge went off,
His Grace was like to swound.
Then up to London straight he came,
Where he made no long stay,
But soon returned back again,
To meet his Queen by th’ way.
And when they met, such tilting was,
The like was never seen;
The Lords at each others did run,
And neer a tilt between.
Their Horses backs were under them,
And that was no great wonder,
The wonder was to see them run,
And break no Staves in sunder.
They ran full swift and coucht their Speares,
O ho quoth the Ladies then,
They run for shew, quoth the people though,
And not to hurt the men.
They smote full hard at Barriers too,
You might have heard the sound,
As far as any man can goe,
When both his legges are bound.