A

COLLECTION

OF OLD

BALLADS.

Corrected from the best and most

Ancient COPIES

Extant.

WITH

INTRODUCTIONS

HISTORICAL and CRITICAL.

Illuftrated with COPPER PLATES.

VOL. III.

Omne malum Cantu vinoq; levato. Hor.

LONDON:

Printed for 7. Roberts, near the Oxford-Arms in
Warwick-Lane; D. Leach, in Black and White-Court,
in the Old-Baily, and F. Batley, at the Dove in
Pater-Nofter-Row.M DCC XXV.

THE

PREFACE

ΤΟ THE

THIRD VOLUME

OF

BALLAD S.

Have at length finish'd a Work I had long fince promised, the publication of which has been retarded

A 3

by

by divers Accidents. My two former Prefaces I wrote in a ludicrous manner; but wou'd willingly take leave of my Readers in a more ferious Stile; I am not very fond of the Title of a Buffoon, nor do I think common Civility inconfiftent with an Author or Editor, let his Concern for the fuccefs of his Works be never so great or small.

The Design of this Work I have more than once mentioned in the course