Reliques of ancient English poetry: consisting of old heroic ballads ...

—
AND BALLADS. 247
VI.
GEORGE BARNWELL.
*ThefubjecT: of this ballad isfufficienily popularfrom the modern
play which is founded upon it. 'This was written by
George Lillo a jeweller of London, and firft acled
about 1730.— Asfor the ballad, it was printed at leaft as
early as the middle of the laft century.
It is here given from three' old printed copies, ivhich ex-
hibit a fi range intermixture of Roman and black letter. It
is alfo collated 'with another copy in the AJh'mole colledion at
Oxford, ivhich is thus intitled, " An excellent ballad of
" George Barnwell, an apprentice of London, who
tc . . . thrice robbed his majier and murdered his uncle in
11 Ludlow. The tune is " The Merchant."
This tragical narrative feems to relate a realfacl ; but
vohen it happened I have not been able to difcover.
The First Part.
L L youths of fair England
That dwell both far and near.
Regard my ftory that I tell,
And to my fong give ear.
A London lad 1 was, 5
A merchant's prentice bound ;
My name George Barnwell • that did fpend
My mailer many a pound.
R 4
•
Take