Broadside ballads entitled 'My Husband has no Courage in him' and 'The Souldiers Reel'

Commentary

The first ballad begins: 'INTO a morning as I went abroad / even for to see the Flowers a springing, / In ever bush there sate a Bird, / changing their notes were sweetly singing.' The text preceding it reads: 'A / Rare new Ballad / Entituled / My Husband has no courage in Him / To its own proper Tune.'

The second ballad begins: 'It fell about the Month of April / into the time of Lentran, / There were three old sogers, / and they fell to the talking. 'The text preceding it reads: 'In came Jonnie Paterson / Louping like a Ladie, / OR, / The Souldiers Reel. / To its own proper Tune.'

Broadsides were sold as the cheap entertainment of their day and even at that time were considered ephemera. This sheet would have been especially appealing as two songs could be bought for a penny, the usual cost, instead of one. It also meant a cheaper print run for the publishers as they could mix and match previously made up plates, but sell a whole new sheet!

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