# Golden bull, or, Crafty princess

The Golden
BULL,
OR
Crafty Princeſs.
AN ANCIENT
BALLAD.
Falkirk, Printed by T. Johnston. 1815.
THE GOLDEN BULL.
PART I.
Come liſten young lovers, a while, and you’ll find, That croſſes attend often true lovers kind, The like in paſt ages was never in print, No doubt but this ſtory will give you content. It is of a great King, if I muſt be plain, Who formermly liv’d in the Southern reign: He had no more children than one daughter bright, She pleaſed her father, and was his delight. A neighbouring Prince came a viſit one day, It being their uſual cuſtom, as they ſay; Love wounded the Princeſs ſo deep to her heart, That ſhe was much troubled when he did depart. It ſeem’d, to her father ſhe ne’er told her mind, Neither to the yeang Prince, tho’ ſhe was inclin'd To love him, for Cupid was ſharp and ſevere: What afterwards happen’d, you briefly ſhall hear. She being ſo beautiful, charming and young, Her old father ſaid, with a deluding tongue, Love, I have a fancy to marry with thee, Tho’ thou art my child, thy looks charmath me! Dear honoured father, the Princeſs reply’d, Sure you’re in jeſt!—No, I am not, he cry’d! Alas, my dear Father! what makes you ſay ſo? Such things are forbidden in Scripture, you know: Whilſt God gives me breath, & endues me with grace, I’ll act a child’s duty, as it is my piece. He ſaid, I’m reſolved to make thee my wife, Or elſe thy ſweet charms will bereave me of life! The Lady burſt out in a ſhower of tears, And ſaid, honour’d father, you’re ſtricken in years, And can have but a ſhort time to remain, ’Tis Satan’s temptations puts this in your brain!
​Prepare for your end as your ſtrength doth decay; And ſo drive the thoughts of the Devil away; Let no ſuch vain fancies enter into your head, That your ſoul may live when your body is dead. True-love for my Father I bear in my heart, And will be obedient in every part: But rather than have you, I’ll chuſe for to die; So talk no more of it, dear father, O fy! Dear child, thou art like the ſweet innocent dove, Yet thy charming beauty inclines me to love: Except thou wilt have me, thy life I will take, And afterwards murder myſelf for your ſake.
PART II.
To the ſecond part give attention, I pray, Which ſhows how the Lady contrived a way To deceive her old father, by her crafty ſkill, Saying, Give me four things, and your mind I’ll fulfil, He ſaid, My dear jewel, your will you ſhall have, In any thing you can deſire or crave. They were four hard requeſts, you well may ſuppoſe. The firſt three ſhe named, were three ſuits of clothes. The firſt ſuit reſembling the stars in the ſkies; The next of the clouds that before the wind flies; The third is a garment moſt coſtly and rare, Of every bird that doth fly in the air. The other thing that I to aſk will preſume, Is a Golden Bull, to ſtand in my room. I will get them for you, my jewel, he ſaid, If poſſible all theſe fine things can be made. Then around the country his Nobles he ſent, To get all theſe fine things which ſte did invent. They got theſe three ſuits, and rode back with ſpeed; And ſeeing the clothes, then ſhe wond’red indeed
​Her father ſaid, I have brought you your clothes, And I’ll get the Bull for my amourous roſe. Then he made the bargain with one, as they ſay, To get the Bull made without longer delay. Then unto the goldſmith the Lady ſhe went, And privately told him her crafty intent; Be ſure make it hollow, and fit to hold me, With a door and three bolts within let there be. Pray do it ingenious I charge you once more, That no one may find out there is any door. He ſaid. Worthy Lady, I’ll do it ſecure, That no one may find out the trick to be ſure. When the Bull was made ſhe appointed the day With him to be joined, as the ſtory doth ſay. He went towards the chapel. with her to be wed, And ſhe had a comical trick in her head. When come near the ceapel, her father to ſhun, She ſaid, Pray excuſe me, for back I muſt run, For to fetch a thing that I can’t be without. This put her old father in great fear and doubt. He ſaid, My dear, I am loath for to truſt You for to go back now.—She ſaid. but I muſt; And if I return not, next time you ſee me, I freely will give you leave for to murder me. Then he gave her leave, and in haſte back ſhe went, But little thought he of her crafty intent. She ſhut herſelf faſt in the Bull, and lay ſtill, So faſt and ſecure, as a thief in a mill. Her father he waited for two hours and more, And finding ſhe came not, in a paſſion he ſwore; Then about the court he enquiry made, But no one could tell where his daughter was fled. My impudent daughter has ſhun’d me, I ſee; The Prince that was here, ſent choice preſents to me, Therefore to requite him, I now do approve, To ſend him this Bull as a preſent of love.
PART III.
He ſent it on board then with diligent care, But ne’er thought his beautiful daughter was there. She carried choice ſweet-meats for her nouriſhment, And at laſt they arrived where the preſent was ſent. This Prince lik’d the preſent, and gave a command, That this golden Bull in his chamber ſhould ſtand, That he might view it each day, I declare; But little did dream that a Princeſs was there. Quite out of the Bull in the night ſhe did creep, And kiſs’d the young Prince as he lay aſleep: She left a rich neckcloth. embroider’d with gold, Which he on his pillow next day did behold. The Prince had a mother, to whom he did ſay, Who did you let into my chamber, I pray? Son, there has been none. I do vow and proteſt. He lock’d up the neckcloth and laugh’d at the jeſt. Next night. as he lay aſleep. to be plain, This Lady crept ſoftly, and kiſs’d him again; Next morning a handkerchief he did behold, Embroider’d with all ſorts of flowers in gold. He ſaid to his mother, I pray tell me right, What Lady has been in my chamber this night? Dear ſon, you have very ſtrange whimſies I find, He took little notice, but ponder’d in mind. What Lady this is, I will be fatisfy’d, If it be for love, I will make her my bride, I’ll ſee, for a fancy, who comes in my room; But if ſhe’s a harlot, death ſhall be her doom! At night ſhe creep’d ſoftly, and kiſs’d him, ’tis ſaid, And a velvet cap on his pillow ſhe laid. His thoughts then were raviſhed ſo with her charms, That he on a ſudden catch’d her in his arms.
​With trembling fear, her joints could not hold, And craved his pardon for being ſo bold. He anſwer'd her ſtraight, I grant pardon to thee, But firſt I deſire to know who you may be. She told him her name, & whoſe daughter ſhe was, And that love had cauſed her to come there. He ſaid, My dear love, as you ventur'd for me, To croſs the wide ocean, my bride you ſhall be. Nor doubt but this couple had pleaſure that night. The Prince ſaid, next morning, as ſoon as ’twas light, Keep faſt in your Bull, where ſecure you will be, And when I give three knocks, love, come out to me. So every day many hours there he ſpent, In pleaſures of love, to their joy and content. He ſaid, I delight to behold thy ſweet face, And we will be marry'd, love, in a ſhort ſpace. So then he a ring from his finger did take, And ſaid, My dear jewel, keep this for my ſake: I muſt make a progreſs, dear love do not mourn, If my life be preſerv’d. I will quickly return.
PART IV.
So then to his mother he went, and did ſay, Let no one go up to my chamber, I pray: If I find that any goes into my room, Then death without mercy ſhall ſure be their doom. The mother ſaid, Son, I ſhall keep all ſecure, That none may go into your room to be ſure. He went to his hunting-match with a cheerful mind, But now you will ſoon a tragedy find. Three ladies came there, and deſired to view Her ſon's Golden-Bull, and did make much ado: The old Lady thinking no harm there might be, Admitted them up this fine bull for to ſee.
​As ſoon as they came up, and ſaw this fine ſight, They ſaid, In this Bull, he may take delight; The goldſmith that made it, ſure had crafty ſkill, Come let us go down, ſince our minds are fulfill'd. To ſtrike it, ſaid one, full reſolved I be; The reſt had a mind, ſo they ſtruck it all three. Thinking it was the Prince that gave 3 knocks there, The beautiful Lady came forth, I declare! Said they, We have waited to ſee the beſt ſight, For in this baſe harlot the Prince takes delight; Therefore ſhe ſhall die like a harlot ſo vain. So they all diſputed how ſhe might be ſlain. The firſt ſaid, I think it ſo to hang her with ſpeed. The ſecond ſaid, No! we will drown her indeed. The laſt of the three then this anſwer return'd, If I had my mind, ſhe with ſpeed ſhould be burn'd! The other two ſaid, No! that ſhall not be done. So out at the window, where a river did run, They toſſed her headlong!—She ſwam to a tree, Where the lived three days, and no perſon could ſee. A fine ſuit of clothes this Lady had on! A maid went for water, and ſoon back did run. Her maſter ſaid, what make your countenance change? Sir, there is a ſign that is wonderous ſtrange! The gentlemen ran with all ſpeed that might be, Where he ſaw the Lady ſit upon the tree! He went with a boat, and got her in his arms, And was almoſt raviſh'd with her beauteous charms. The gentleman to her theſe words did expreſs, Lady, how came you to be in this diſreſs? She told him her ſorrows from firſt to the laſt, Saying, Now I know all my, ſorrows are paſt. Fair Lady, Your ſorrows have not been few; The Prince now is ſick, I ſuppoſe 'tis for you. What! Is he come home, Sir? That well pleaſeth me. In a few days his honoured bride I ſhall be.
​Take this diamond-ring, and go to him I pray, The Prince will well know it, I dare to ſay. Then into his chamber with ſpeed he did go, Saying, What is the cauſe of your languiſhing ſo?
'Tis love is the cauſe of my anguiſh and pain, A Lady I lov'd, but do fear ſhe is ſlain: Therefore no phyſician my life now can ſave, I'll follow my jewel with tears to the grave.
Then he held the diamond-ring ſtraight in his view, Which made him to cry, Sir, Who gave that to you? Dear Prince, the fair Lady is at my houſe now. He ſtarted up, ſaying, I'm quite well, I vow!
So then to his mother with ſpeed he did go, Saying, Some perſon has been in my chamber I know; Then ſtraightway ſhe gave him account who they were. The Prince ſent for them all, who came I declare,
And unto the Prince they for mercy did crave, He ſaid, What you chus’d, you ſurley ſhall have; One hang’d, one burn'd, and one drown’d ſhall be; So this was the ſorrowful end of the three!
The Prince & his Princeſs with joy ſoon were crown'd; The muſic did play, and the trumpets did ſound! In triumph they were wedded, 'twas a joyful day! Then, then was the time to waſh ſorrow away!
{{em}The next news ſhe heard, her old Father was dead; And then of that country a Queen ſhe was made: Then they had both nations to rule and defend, And ſo let my tragical comedy end.
FINIS.
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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