EARLY DOORS

'Ale'

From the Exeter Riddles (eleventh century), 'Ale' is a predecessor of 'John Barleycorn'. Included are the original and a translation.

Ballads

Allan-a'mault A sixteenth-century Scottish version of 'John Barleycorn'

The Industrious Smith 'These things must be, if we sell Ale' (Humfrey Crowch, C17)

John Barleycorn

See also 'Ale'

Carols

Bring Us In Good Ale A fifteenth-century carol praising the virtues of ale, e.g. 'Bryng us in no mutton, / for that is often lene, Nor brynge us in no tryps, / for thei be syldom clene / But bryng us in good ale.'

The Gossips Meeting A sixteenth-century carol. It is likely that Skelton drew on a version of this for 'The Tunning of Elynour Rumming', e.g. Margret meke saide, 'So mot I thryve, / I know no man that is alyve / That gevith me ii strokes but he have v! / I am not afferd, / Thowgh he have a berde,Good gossippis myn-a.'

Chaucer Canterbury Tales The Tabard

William Langland Piers the Plowman Betty's (Beton the Brewster's) alehouse

John Lydgate Ballad of an Aleseller

John Skelton The Tunnyng of Elynour Rummyng