Top pop from seventeenth-century England. Broadside ballads were single-sheet songs that sold for a penny a piece. This website concentrates on over 100 resoundingly successful examples that you can investigate through recordings, images and a wealth of other materials. Whether you are interested in music, art, love, gender, tragedy, politics, family life, crime, history, humour or death, you will find something to engage you here. See also User’s Guide.

Violence - Punitive  

Showing 1 to 19 of 19

4 A lamentable Dittie composed upon the death of/ Robert Lord Devereux late Earle of Essex, who was beheaded in the/ Tower of London, upon Ashwednesday in the morning [Huntington Britwell 18290]
10 The Norfolke Gentleman his last Will and Testament [Roxburghe 1.284-85]
15 The Lamentable and Tragicall History of Titus An-/dronicus [Folger L252a]
33 The most Rare and Excellent History,/ Of the Dutchess of Suffolks Callamity [Euing 228]
41 The Woful Lamentation of Mistris Jane Shore, a Goldsmiths Wife/ in London, sometime King Edward the Fourth's Concubine [Euing 394]
43 Save a Theefe from the Gallowes and hee'l hang thee if he can [Manchester Central Library Blackletter Ballads 1.56]
47 THE/ Lord RUSSELS/ Last Farewel to the World [Huntington HEH 18016]
48 A pretty Ballad of the Lord of Lorn, and the false Steward [Pepys 1.494-95]
53 The Dead Mans Song,/ Whose dwelling was neere unto Bassings Hall in London [Roxburghe 1.72-73]
54 An Excellent Ballad of George Barnwel an Apprentice in Lon-/don, who was undone by a Strumpet [Pepys 2.158-59]
61 The Wandring Jew,/ OR, The Shoo-maker of Jerusalem [Pepys 1.524-25]
62 The Honour of a London Prentice [Pepys 3.252]
67 A new Ditty, shewing the wonderfull Miracles of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ [Pepys 1.58]
72 A Lamentable Ballad of Fair Rosamond, King Henry the Second’s Concubine,/ Who was put to death by Queen Elinor, in Woodstock Bower near Oxford [Pepys 1.498-99]
74 Ann Askew, intituled, I am a Woman Poor and Blind [Pepys 2.24-25]
78 John ARMSTRONG's Last Good-Night [Pepys 2.133]
85 A new Ballad, intituled, The stout Cripple of Cornwal [Euing 242]
90 Cupids Courtesie:/ OR,/ The young Gallant foild at his own Weapon [Euing 39]
109 Christ's Tears over JERUSALEM;/ OR,/ [A] Caveat for England to call to God for mercy [Pepys 2.6]

Top Fives

Click any item to filter the ballad list.
Use the search function to find additional material.

Authors

Publishers

Topics

Instruments

Performers

Tunes

Woodcuts

Holding Libraries