From Harleian 7316, pp 48v - 51v, this is the fourth of three poems, third of ballads in self-contained section, the other two of which are by Anne Finch and to Mrs Catherine Fleming, while this one has her as a central character; in the same form as other two.

I suggest a possible attribution to Anne Finch since it is in precisely the same style and stanza form as the two lively ballads to Catherine Fleming. What throws doubt on the attribution is the use of Scots, but Finch was familiar with Scots people through her Jacobite associations. It is possible she was just very playful when she wrote this and took the challenge of writing partly in Scots. It is also possible that it was a joint effort -- as some of her earlier social verse is. Ballads were seen as Scottish.

For following poem see Annotated Chronology No. 254 (late 1718-20). For full listing of series, see 'To Coleshill Seat of Noble Pen'.

Sullen Green or Wully's farewell Tune Moggy Lauder, p 48v-51v.

1

Ah! fare thee weel dear Sutton Toon
For tis boun to ramble
To seek my fortune up and doon
Far fra thy Assamble
Where nimble feet in merry round
Thy Denty Daisys pressed
And Lasses o'er the Green did bound
Weel favour'd and weel dressed

*Lady Barkshire

2

The first was Elford's gracefull Dame
That o'er the green advanced,
Geud Lord! how gay! how streight! how trim!
And Ah! so fine she danced!
As Lillies in the Garden leuk
So she among the Laides,
And at e'ery Stop[ She teuk
Ye might discern a Goddess.

An Elford appears in Ann's 1714 ode upon Xmas Eve

3

Home Lacy next t'adorn the Green,
Sent out her lovely Fanny,
With sicke a feace nd Sike a Meine
Ye hardly e'er saw onny!
The Lads stedu Aa in deep Surprise,
And e'ery glance they watched,
And all them that escaped her Eyes,
She with her singing catched.

Lord Digby's daughter, Frances, Lady Scudamore

4

But Sutton wheresoe'er my ffeet,
Are from thy Green retreating
O'er Hills, or Dales I'se ne'er forget
The Mistress of thy meeting*
And where e'er a Lass I see
Adorn'd with Aa geud graces,
It will send my mind to thee,
So geud! se sweet her feace is.

*Lady Barkshire

5

Then Sisters twa, and Sisters twa
And Three times twa came hither,
With Leuks so fair and Dress so bra,
Tripping Aa together,
For Voices fumed, and Mucks Glee,
And eke for bonny ffeaces,
That Scarce a Lad wou'd kest an Eye
On onny other Lasses

6

When Nanny play'd to Molly's Voice*
And Kitty join'd her Lyre,
Each listning ear was fill'd with Joys
Each bosom with desire:
And all the Lovers had been theirs
But Betty she advanced
And in the Conquest claimed her share
So weel did Betty Dance it,

*Mrs Flemming's

7

When e'ery gazer thus was smit,
And e'ery heart lay bleeding
Out stept twa Sisters famed for Witt,
Extraction and geud breeding;
Then Captve Lovers gat release,
Ilk Lass grew Malencholy
For now they scarce had yan a peice,
For Nanny and for Dolly.

8

Betty had her Sundays close
Her Petticoat was quilted,
With Laced Shewn and Silken Hose
Geud Lord! how Betty lilted!
And when She trode the merry round,
And the figure quarter'd
Yemight ha seen at e'ery bound
where pretty Betty garter'd

9

Betty* with her dimpled Cheeks,
And her Ogles Leering
Her Voice is Musick when she Speaks,
And her words endearing;
Around her Neck in wanton folds,
Her fflaxen tresses waved,
And thro the Lawn yo might behold
How Kitty's bosom heaved.

*Lady Hertford's young daughter?

10

Tho; Jenny has a Thousand Charms,
Jenny braggs no beauty
Yet Jenny's Wit and Air alarms,
Her humour too can suit ye.
Jenny's pretty little feet,
Suports more killing Graces,
Then perhaps you e'er can meet,
Beneath the finest ffaces,

11

But I forget the Canny Lad's
From all Parts resorting
Some to Sing, and some to Dance,
And some that came a Courting.
Thier Bonnets deck't with Ribbonds fine,
And trimmed were their feaces,
And their Wily Coats did shine,
With Gowd and Silver Leaces.

12

Then ilk Young Lad his Lassy treuk
And tripped o'er the Heather
Had yet but seen how bra' thy leuk'd
When hand in hand together
Each pair by turns call'd for their Tune
And lilted to the Crowder
But when it came to Wully's turn
He call'd for Moggy Lauder

13

The Minstreel hummed o'er the Tune
And his ffiddle Strang teut
And whilst they danced, it up and down
He play'd it o'er and Sang teut
Moggy is my Dearest Lass
Moggy she is bonny
Moggy moves with matcheless grace
Moggy is my Honey.

14

When Moggy (like Mays blooming Queen)
Is with the Garland dressed
Her Wastcoat trimmed Aa with Green
And with Velvet feaced.
Beneath her Hat of Pletted Straw
So lovely looks the Charmer
Against her theres no fence at Aa,
What heart can find an Amour?

15

When Moggy is with Roses deck'd,
And her tresses pletted,
With Diamonds round her Snowy Neck,
How Wally is Elated!
The Roses when her Cheeks are seen
By Wally are not prized
And Compared to Moggy Een
The Diamonds are despised.

16

If Moggy were a lowly Lass
And Milked the Yows and Cattle,
How Wully then to Moggy's feace,
In wooing words woud prattle
All Day He's Sing, my Dearest Lass,
Moggy She is bonny,
Moggy moves, with matchless grace
Moggy is my Honey.

17

When Aa was down,they sat them doon
Then Lasses Neat and handy;
The Sillibubs and Custards brought,
As Sweet as Sugar Candy.
Much Songs, and mickly Mirth, and Chat,
They mingld with their Sipping,
A deal of Love and now and then
A Little hearmless threaping.

18

The ffidler he struck up a Strain
And play'd it fast and featly,
Then all arose to Dance again,
And finish with Mool-Peatly.
And thus they Danced, Chatted, Sung,
Untill the Sun was Setting
Then alltogether cry'd ffarewel
Till our next merry meeting.

Lines which occur elsewhere: "play'd it fast and featly," "prattle," with "matchless grace." "Threaping" a new one. The love of music is there; the same hand; in same group; the same people mentioned.