Lyr Req: Dear Kate

Subject: Lyr Req: Dear Kate
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 12 Feb 26 - 05:26 PM

Here's a long shot.
Francis Collinson in the 1950s collected the following fragment which at the moment appears to be unique. Anyone recognise any of it? I've checked out all of the 'Kate' broadside ballads without success.

Now welcome, dear Kate, and we'll partake,
The stranger shall partake a share.
Of cake and rash shall be his fill,
And wine to make the weary bless.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dear Kate
From: cnd
Date: 12 Feb 26 - 08:45 PM

I found something close, The beauties of melody, by W.H. Plumstead, 1827, pp. 293-297 (similar verse bolded)

The Woodman
A favorite song, composed by Mr. Lindley

Stay, traveler, tarry here tonight;
The rain yet beats, the wind is loud,
The moon has too withdrawn her light
And has gone to sleep behind a cloud.

'Tis seven long miles across the moor
And should you chance to go astray,
You'll meet, I fear, no friendly door,
Nor soul to tell the ready way.

Come, dearest Kate, our meal prepare
This stranger shall partake our best,
A cake and rasher be his fare
With ale that makes the weary blest.

Approach the hearth there take a place,
And till the hour of rest draws nigh,
Of Robin Hood and Chevy Chase, *
We'll sing, then, to our pallets hie.

(Vivace)
Had I the means I'd use you well,
'Tis little I have got to boast;
Yet should you of you this cottage tell,
Say Hal the woodman, was your host
Say Hal the woodman, was your host


* The Chevy Chase of agricultural Maryland (link) and not the actor

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dear Kate
From: cnd
Date: 12 Feb 26 - 08:53 PM

Argh! I messed up the title of the source -- should be The beauties of melody, by W. H. Plumstead, 1827.

Other typos:

v2.3 -- You'll meet, I fear, no friendly door,
v4.2 -- And till the hour of rest draws nigh,

It also appears in The London Minstrel (1820), no author.

---

The author, date, and two verse corrections were added to the post above. Because you also included a new source and link this post is left in place. ---mudelf

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dear Kate
From: cnd
Date: 12 Feb 26 - 09:42 PM

Mudcat crashed while I was trying to post a message... trying again. A few more sources, most from the late 18th century:

https://archive.org/details/sim_weekly-entertainer-and-west-of-england-miscellany_1786-02-13_7_163?q=%22Hal+the+woodman%22
https://archive.org/details/bim_eighteenth-century_the-lyric-miscellany-or_1789/page/n3/mode/2up?q=%22Hal+the+woodman%22
https://archive.org/details/vocalmagazinecv11797ingl/page/96/mode/2up?q=%22Hal+the+woodman%22
https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Woodman_(Linley)

One source gives the daughter's name as Madge instead of Kate.

The poem was written, as alluded above, by Thomas_Linley (1733-1795) some time at or before 1786

And my ignorance in ballads is showing: the Chevy Chase is obviously to Child 162, not Maryland...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dear Kate
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 13 Feb 26 - 02:03 PM

Wonderful stuff. Many thanks. How the hell did you find that? I'd like to acknowledge your help in the book we're editing. A name would be useful. pm me if you don't want it spread.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dear Kate
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 13 Feb 26 - 02:09 PM

Okay, it comes out as 'Hal the Woodman' on 19th century broadsides. I have copies by Pitts, Angus of Newcastle, Harkness of Preston, and Fortey, and one in the Robert White Collection (Newcastle Uni) without imprint dated 1815.