January 2021 Reynardine

Renardine

This time the story was about a busker and an urban fox, both of whom I met in my very first year of teaching in a small school in Birkenhead. At the end of that first year two strange events  occurred  and that led me in turn led me to research, many years later, the legend of Reynardine.

'Raynardine' in English folk-lore is a shape-changing spirit which can be a man by day but a fox by night and who is said to spirit young women away to his castle in the high mountains.

But what could that possibly have to do with a street performer and an urban fox in Birkenhead?

There are many different sets of words to the Ballad 'Reynardine' including some that have travelled from this country to America and back again. Here are the words that I used;

One evening as I rambled,
The weather being fine
I overheard a young woman
Converse with Reynardine
 
He said “my pretty, fair maid,
You’re beauty does shine clear.
All in this lonesome city,
I’m glad to meet you here.”.
 
Sun and moon she followed him
His teeth did brightly shine.
He led over the mountain
Did that sly bold Reynardine.
 
Her cherry cheeks and her ruby lips,
they lost their former dye
and she fell into his arms there
all on the mountain high.
 
“If by chance you should look for me,
perhaps you may not me find
for I’ll be in my castle
Enquire for Reynardine”.

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