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SATIRICAL SONG UPON GEORGE VILLIERS, DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM.

In turning over some old bundles of papers of the early part of the
seventeenth century, I met with the following satirical effusion upon
"James's infamous prime minister," George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham.
As an echo of the popular feelings of the people at the time it was
written, it merits preservation; and although I have seen other
manuscript copies of the ballad, it has never yet, as far as I can
learn, appeared in print.

It appears to be a parody or paraphrase of a well-known ballad of the
period, the burden of which attracted the notice of the satirist. It
afterwards became a common vehicle of derision during the civil war, as
may be seen by turning over the pages of the collection entitled _Rump
Songs_, and the folio volumes of the king's pamphlets.

The _original_ of these parodies has hitherto eluded my researches. It
is not among the Pepysian, Roxburghe, Wood, or Douce ballads, but
perhaps some of your readers may be able to point it out in some public
or private collection.

"Come heare, Lady Muses, and help mee to sing,
Come love mee where I lay;
Of a duke that deserves to be made a king--
The cleane contrary way,
O the cleane contrary way.