His Lordship Winked at the Counsel

AKA The Breach of Promise
First Published 1887
Writer/composer George Dance / Peter Conroy Roud RN29802

Music Hall Performers Harry Rickards
Folk performances Collected from the singing of:
Bentall, Brenda ; England ; 1970

From Sheet Music in Levy Collection:

The Judge took his seat in the court house one day,
A nice Breach of Promise to hear,
The Plaintiff stepped up with a veil round her face,
A lowly and blushing young dear:
She looked at the Jury a sly, loving glance,
She smiled at the Counsel below,
Then,turning her soft pretty eyes to the Judge,
She tenderly murmured "heigho!"

His Lordship winked at the Counsel,
The Counsel winked at the Clerk.
The Jury passed a wink along.
And murmured,"here's a lark"
The Usher winked at the Bobby,
The Bobby left his seat;
And turning to the window winked.
At somebody out in the street.


"Pray tell us the facts of your case," the Judge said,
"Your wrongs we are anxious to hear"
"I'll try my good Lord," the sweet maiden replied,
"My pour heart is broken I fear."
"The monster who woo'd me, declared on his oath,"
"He'd make me his bride by-and-bye,"
"He took me long walks in the moonlight alone"
"And kissed me when no one was nigh"?

His Lordship grinned at the Counsel,&c

The Judge took a pinch of his pungent rappee,
And dignity spread o'er his face;
"You really must name him my sweet pretty maid,"
"Or we can't proceed with the case."
The maiden then snatched the thick veil from her cheeks,
And smiled like a mischievous elf;
Then,turning around to the Judge cried "My Lord,"
"That falsehearted man is yourself."

His Lordship blushed at the Counsel,&c.

The Judge viewed the charms of the girl he once loved,
And longed her lips once more to press ;
Oh sweet pretty maid will you marry me now?
She blushingly answered him "yes",
They sent for a Parson, they sent for a clerk,
And ere one short hour had sped;
They threw all the fusty law papers aside,
And each held a prayer book instead.

His Lordship tickled the Counsel,&c.

First sung in the Halls by Harry Rickards, in 1884/5 though it doesn’t seem to have been published as sheet music until 1887. The song was collected from the singing of Brenda Bentall by Roy Palmer in 1970.

In case you’re wondering… “rappee” was a very strong sort of snuff

Also previously listed as RNV25862.

The Era – 04 June 1887

Sources:

  • Entries in the Roud Indexes at the Vaughn Williams Memorial Library: https://archives.vwml.org/search/all:single[folksong-broadside-books]/0_50/all/score_desc/extended-roudNo_tr%3A29802
  • Kilgarrif Sing Us
  • Lyrics and Sheet Music: Levy Collection