The following ballad, founded on an event which occurred in the early
part of the present century, is, I venture to think, worth of preservation
in the pages of that valuable antiquarian miscellany the "RELIQUARY",
which embraces subjects of almost every description, especially
those which bring before the eyes of the present generation
scenes grave and gay of past days, alas! never more to return.
Subjects of the latter kind, whether in prose or verse, preserving
permanently the memory of the social, political, and religious habits, the
pastimes, the diversions, and the domestic occupations, employments,
and customs of our forefathers, who trod those very paths which we
are now treading, to all sensible and enquiring minds I cannot but
feel certain, are interesting and instructive.
Until very lately little has been done to collect and hand down to
others the fleeting, because oral, ballads and songs of our country.
Happily, however, there is now a growing taste for these valuable and
interesting remains, which has called forth many collections of ballads
and songs, and it would seem, judging from the ready and extensive
sale such works have met with, that the more publications of this
nature are brought forth, the more are they sought after and read.
Much gratitude is due from us in this respect to such lovers of ancient
literature as Mr Halliewll, the late Mr Harland (whose death must
be deeply felt by all of us), the worthy editor of the "RELIQUARY",
and others, for their fostering care, and the ability they have displayed
in this branch of literature.
I am sure that all readers of the "RELIQUARY" will unite with me
in wishing that the useful work which has been begun will go on, and
that every success may attend those who, having the leisure and
abilities, devote their time to the production of works of this class,
which, while they afford pleasure, convey instruction to future
generations.
Of all the particulars respecting the present ballad, and the event
which called it forth, the folowing are, I believe, the most trustworthy.
The ballad is said to have been written by Jonathan Twigge, who was
born at Birchover, and for many years until his death resided at
Wirksworth. He was by trade a glazier, and kept for some time a
public-house caled "The Glaziers' Arms", and from all accounts was
very clever at composing squibs and ballads, which were in great
favour with the people of the lower orders. He is numbered amongst
"the eminent natives of the county of Derby", as given by Mr Glover
in his history of the county, where he is described as a glazier and
song-writer, living between the years 1748 and 1823. The contest
which is the subject of the ballad took place at Wirksworth, and
those of Middleton, a small village lying near, chiefly inhabited by
hardy and industrious miners.
The struggle, which drew to the spot all the inhabitants of both
places, so that to use a local expression - "you might have stormed
either Wirksworth or Middleton" - caused great excitement at the time,
and is still remembered by the old people. The issue being unfavourable
to the Middleton players, who afterwards complained of unfair
treatment on the occassion, great animosity was excited between the
inhabitants of the two places, which vented itself from time to time
until even lately in hard words and fights, although in many insatnces
the source of the feud was entirely forgotton or unknown. The
following, evidently written at the time of the event, possibly by Twigge
himself, which I have copied literally throughout, is taken from a
manuscript in the possession of Mr George Marsden, of Wirksworth,
who kindly gave me permission to make use of it.
It is well to add, in conclusion, for the credit of Twigge, that the
errors in the grammatical construction of the ballad may be due, not
to the composer, rude genius as he was, but rather to some illiterate
person who has written it down from hearsay or memory.
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