HAM/05/32/23	The Crafty Maid's Policy
HAM-02-235.gif	Hammond's field notes - tunes
HAM-01-687.gif	Hammond's field notes - words
HAM-05-060.gif	Purslow's transcription - tune
HAM-05-061.gif	Purslow's transcription - words
HAM-05-062.gif	Purslow's transcription - words

HAM-02-235.gif	Hammond's field notes - tunes
[left of title:] Mixolid 525
[title:] 'As I was a-riding'
[right of title:] Mrs Russell of Upwey
[at end of tune:] Words D VII p[unclear - 65?]

HAM-01-687.gif	Hammond's field notes - words
[Hammond here uses a symbol common in Edwardian manuscripts, but unrepresented even in the Wingdings fonts: it consists of a saltire cross, with dots in the inner corners. I represent it here with the combination :+:]
[on verso, opposite the words to this song:] :+: The point of this ballad is that the maid obtains the gentleman's horse by a hoax. She asks him for "that which is betwixt his legs" &, on his dismounting, she takes his horse
[above and to left of title:] :+: Tune 525
[title:] As I was a-riding (fragt.)
[right of the title:] D791 Russell
As I was a-riding for my recreation
All down the green pasture I careless did stray
I met a fair maid & to her did say
I'm afraid this cold morning will do you some harm

Oh! gentleman lend me one of your horse
That I may ride after all down the long lane
If I overtake her I'll warrant I'll make her
Return unto me my own horse again

HAM-05-060.gif	Purslow's transcription - tune
[left of title:] 525.
[title:] As I Was A-Riding
[below title, on sticky label:] D.791
[right of label:] Mrs. Russell, Upwey
[initialled at end of tune:] FEP.

HAM-05-061.gif	Purslow's transcription - words
THE CRAFTY MAID'S POLICY.
[below title, in hand:] D791
Note-book D.VII. p.68.	Mrs. Marina Russell, I
				Upwey, Dorset.
				Jan/Feb. 1907.

As I was a-riding for my recreatlon,
All down the green pasture I careless did stray,
I met a fair maid and to her did say,
"I'm afraid this cold morning will do you some harm."

Then the gentleman alighted and straightway she mounted,
And away she went galloping down the long lane.

Oh! gentlemen, lend me one of your horses,
That I may ride after all down the long lane,
If I overtake her I'll warrant I'll make her,
Return unto me my own horse again.

- o - o - o - o - o -

The point of this ballad is that the maid obtains the gentleman's
horse by a hoax. She asks him for "that which is betwlxt his legs"
and, on his dismountlng, she takes his horse.
				H.E.D.H.

For a broadslde text see attached. F.E.P._  

HAM-05-062.gif	Purslow's transcription - words

THE CRAFTY MAID'S POLICY.
Broadside by DISLEY, Seven Dials.
Br. Mus. ll62l h ll vol.8 [in hand:] D791
page 500

Come listen awhile and I'll sing you a song,
Of three merry gentlemen riding along,
They not a pretty fair maid and unto her did say,
"I'm afraid this cold morning will do you some harm."

"Oh! no, kind sir," said the maiden, "You're mistaken,
To think this cold morning will do me some harm
There's one thing I crave that lies betwixt your legs,
If you give me that it will keep me warm."

"Since you crave it, my dear, you shall have it,
If you'll go wlth me to yonder green tree,
Since you crave it, my dear, you shall have lt,
And I'll make these gentlemen witness to be."

He got off his horse, she instantly mounted,
And looking the gentleman hard in the face,
Saying, "You knew not my meaning, you wrong understood me,"
And away she went galloping down the green lane.

He said to his companions, "Lend me one of your horses,
That I may ride after her down the green lane,
And if I overtake her, I'll warrant I'll make her,
Return unto me my horse back again."

Soon as this fair maid she saw him a-coming,
She instantly then took a pistol in hand,
Saying, "As for your skill, your mind I'll fulfil,
I would have you stand back or you are a dead men..

"0h! why do you spend your time here in talking?
Oh! why do you spend your time here in vain?
Come, give her a guinea, 'tis what she deserves,
I'll warrant she'll give you your horse back again."

"0h! no, kind sir, you are vastly mistaken,
If it's your loss it is my gain,
For you are witness that he gave it to me."
And away she went galloping over the plain.

There is an older and fuller version in Firth c 18 (49)
THE FROLICKSOME MAIDEN; or, THE GENTLEMAN OUTWITTED.
(No imprint) F.E.P.

[This material prepared by P J Headford, Nov 2010]