Lyr:Life and Death of the Great Duke of Buckingham

Subject: RE: Lyr:Life and Death of the Great Duke of Buckingham
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 04 Jun 05 - 09:52 AM

Bodleian Library Broadside Ballads has a copy of THE LIFE AND DEATH OF THE GREAT DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM - Harding B 39(196). The song (or poem?) has a long introductory prose essay which might explain the interest. It also has some additional verses that are not in the above text.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Miserable End of Banister (1612 V
From: chico
Date: 03 Jun 05 - 01:10 AM

My guess historical interest in past historical events was popular at the time, especially with Shakespeare's Henriad plays playing at the same time. Also as a conformist message to warn against popish resistance to the two Cecils ruling Albion at the time.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Miserable End of Banister (1612 Ver)
From: LadyJean
Date: 03 Jun 05 - 01:01 AM

Richard III died, as I remember correctly, in 1488. Why the interest in his reign in 1612? Did it have something to do with the rise of George Villiers, the Duke of Buckingham in James I's court?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Miserable End of Banister (1612 V
From: chico
Date: 03 Jun 05 - 12:32 AM

Correct title of broadside:
Life and death of the great duke of Buckingham

Subject: Lyr:LIFE AND DEATH OF THE GREAT DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM
From: chico
Date: 03 Jun 05 - 12:25 AM

Air -- 'Come live with me'
  
  When wars did plague this maiden land
  Great Buckingham in grace did stand
  With kings and queens he ruled, lo
  When he said aye, none durst say no
  
  Great Gloucester's Duke that wash'd the throne
  With blood of kings to make his own
  By Henry Stafford's help obtain'd
  What reason will'd to be refrain'd.
  
  If any noble of this land
  Against great Gloucester's arm did stand
  Old Buckingham with might and power
  In seas of woes did him devour
  
  He hoped when Richard was made King
  He would much greater honor bring
  To Buckingham and to his name
  And well reward him for the same
  
  In Clarence' death he had a hand
  And 'gainst King Edward's queen did stand
  And to her sons bore little love
  When he as bastards would them prove
  
  In London, having pleaded claim
  And Richard thereby won the game
  He challeng'd honor for his gain
  But was rewarded with disdain
  
  On which disgrace within few hours
  Great Buckingham rais'd his powers
  But all in vain, the king was strong
  And Stafford needs must suffer wrong
  
  His army fail'd and durst not stand
  Upon a traitor's false command
  Thus Richard sought to cast him down,
  Whose wit did win him England's crown
  
  The King, with speed to have him found
  Did offer full two thousand pound
  The plain old Duke, his life to save
  Of his own man did succor crave
  
  Base Banister, this man was nam'd 
  By this vile deed forever sham'd
  It is quote he, a common thing
  To injure him that wrong'd his king
  
  Thus Banister his master sold
  Unto his foe for hire of gold
  But his and rightly see
  The just reward of treachery
  
  For when the King did hear him speak 
  How basely he the Duke did take
  Instead of gold, gave him disgrace
  With banishment from town and place
  
  Let traitors this behold and see
  And such as false to masters be
  Let disobedient sons draw near
  These judgments well may touch them near
  
  Both old and young that live not well
  Look to be plagu'd by heaven or hell
  So have you heard the story then
  Of this great Duke of Buckingham
  
  ['Crowne Garland of Goulden Roses', Richard Johnson editor, 1612. Vid. Heywood's Edward IV, Pt 2. Perf 1592, pub 1599)