subs. phr. (old colloquial).—1.  A ballad-maker: in contempt: hence BALLAD-MONGERING.

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  1596.  SHAKESPEARE, 1 Henry IV., iii. 1. 130.

        I had rather be a Kitten, and cry mew,
Then one of these same Meeter BALLADMONGERS.

2

  1756.  J. WARTON, An Essay on the Genius and Writings of Pope (1782), I. vii. 356. Villon was merely a pert and insipid BALLAD-MONGER.

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  1778.  SHERIDAN, The Rivals, ii. 1. To make herself the pipe and BALLAD-MONGER of a circle!

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  1809.  BYRON, English Bards and Scotch Reviewers, xii. Behold the BALLAD-MONGER Southey rise! Ibid., Argument (MS.). The poet … revileth Walter Scott for cupidity and BALLAD-MONGERING.

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