Pagina-afbeeldingen
PDF
ePub
[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][graphic][subsumed][merged small]

Printed for L. Sow, without Temple-Bar, and sold by the Booksellers of London and Westminster.

THE STATESMAN, &c.

NOME Years ago from Norfolck,

And tho' it is most strange, yet
He cou'd both Read and Write;

4

So to London he wou'd go, wou'd go, &c.

He understood Accounts too,
And thought himself most fit
Because well vers'd in Figures,
In Parliament to sit;

So to London he wou'd go, &c.

For why, whilst at his Father's he
Had heard it often said,
That some there were that sat there
That strange queer Figures made;

So to London he wou'd go, &c.

But first he thought it fitting
To Lynn to go and try!
There Votes if he cou'd beg,
Or their Votes if he cou'd buy;
'Ere to London he wou'd go, &c.

To Lynn then straight he trudges,
And as soon as he gets there,
He to a Cuckold goes,
Good Morrow, Mr. Mayor;

To London I wou'd go, &c.

I have a Mind, good Sir,
In Parliament to sit,

If that you'll please to think me
To represent you fit;

For to London I wou'd go, &c.

I hear the People there
Soon ample Fortunes make;
And I'll make mine as soon,
Or else I'll much mistake;

When to London 1 do go, &c.

[blocks in formation]

To London I wou'd go, Sir,
My Fortune for to try,
Therefore if you won't give your Votes,
Your Votes, Sir, I wou'd buy;

[ocr errors]

For to London fain I go, &c.

'He first sat for Lynn in 1702.

But to Strombolo might go, &c.3

Then hey for Westminster, quoth Bob,
And when I am got there,
I soon shall be a great Man,
That, Friend, I need not fear;
So to London I will go, &c.

2 Original misprinted; "not the worth."

[blocks in formation]

68

3 A variation that is suggestive, as well as unique. A modern song tells of a gay cavalier," who, finding a pair of gloves in his mistress's chamber instead of the lady herself, and a ladder of ropes indicating her mode of flight, sums up his anxieties as to her future by his declaration," When a lady elopes down a ladder of ropes, She may go to Hong Kong for me!" The sending a person to Coventry is a quite distinct operation from sending him to JERICHO-a place always in ill-repute and the latter saying may have come from the Biblical expression

[blocks in formation]
[ocr errors]

So to the Tower he did go, &c.

76 To make him some Amends then,
For being thither sent,

80

100

A Paymaster of the Guards he's made,
But yet he's not content;

So to Speeching he does go, &c.

To still the Noodle next,

104

He's made M-n-st-r of St-t-,
And Treaties make[s] by wholesale, 108

84 For which he'll meet his Fate;

88

When to the Tower he does go, &c.

But yet not being satisfy'd,
He needs must have a string,
And it must be a Blue one,

'Cause that's a pretty thing;

When to Norfolck he does go, [&c.]

112

However, let him have his W[h]im, 116

92

And dangle the Blue string,

So he's but doom'd at last

In a Hempen one to Swing,

FINIS.

When to TYBURN he does go, &c. 120

[In White-letter. A four-paged sheet. Date about 1726-7.]

as to persons who had been treated ignominiously, and therefore exposed to derision if they came abroad-"Let them tarry at Jericho till their beards be grown." The consigning any penniless adventurer to so warm a place as the volcanic Stromboli was piquant, and more courteous than relegating him, as many would have done, to a still warmer locality.

The Commons sought to ruin him, for an irregularity while he was Secretary at War, connected with the forage contract in Scotland. "The contractors, rather than admit into their partnership a person whom he had recommended for that purpose, chose to present his friend with five hundred pounds. Their bill was addressed to Mr. Walpole, who indorsed it, and his friend touched the money. This transaction was interpreted into a bribe. Mr. Walpole was voted guilty of corruption, imprisoned in the Tower, and expelled the House." This was on the 17th of January, 1711-2. Being afterwards re-chosen by the same borough of Lynn-Regis, which he had before represented, a petition was lodged against him, and the Commons voted him incapable of being elected a member to serve in the present Parliament."-Smollett: Hist. of England, x. 86, 1759. While imprisoned in the Tower, refusing to make any concession, he was visited by crowds of friends, and wrote his vindication. He was released in July, 1712. Exactly twelve months later he was again returned by the burgesses of Lynn, and on the 6th Feb., 1713-4, took his seat. Swift in his Journal to Stella, 17th January, 1712, declares his hope about the Tower and expulsion. It is not improbable that SWIFT wrote this ballad.

[blocks in formation]

He is by Trade a C

And a fit Subject for a Satyr.

THIS Man was of a Mind aspiring,

THIS

And to be Somebody desiring;
Wanted a Place of Trust, or Profit,
Who of all Men could make most of it:
It was he coveted it therefore,

But he found none that did him care for;
T -my at this was much dejected,
That he so long should be neglected;
It griev'd him much and vext him sore,
And almost brought him to Death's Door.
The Ancients, tho' they could not trust him,
(And for the Actions (late) have curst him)
Rather than he should die, and lose him,
A Warden of the Church they chose him;
Which is a Place of Care and Trouble,
To all that can't the Parish bubble;
For Men whose Honesty did guide 'em,
(And would not let their Conscience chide 'em)
Never esteem'd those Friends that chose 'em ;
But did their utmost to dispose 'em,
To chuse some others, and excuse 'em ;
Which when the Ancients did refuse 'em,
To be discharg'd on't, some as I know,
Have parted with their Ready-R[h]ino;
But Tmy is not such a Novice,
To strive to shun so good an Office.

[blocks in formation]
[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

28

32

My humble Thanks I'm now returning,

For th' Honours done to me this Morning;

36

[blocks in formation]

'For as you are a Crew Selected,
'Tis pity you should be Inspected.
'If any shall your Power despise,
I will his Insolence chastise;
If Poor, and do's my Passion rouse,
'I'll lay him in the Wooden House;1

For you my Masters, with my Noddle,
'When we're enliven'd with a Bottle,
'Which shall be at the Parish Charge,
"Twill our Capacities enlarge,
'Dangers to shun, and to defend us,
"'Gainst all that do desire to mend us:

[ocr errors]

For as we are a blessed Brood,

'Our Meeting's for the Parish Good,
'And Wardens have a Mighty Power,
"The Parish Money to devour;
If any ask what we are doing,
'And say 'tis to the Parish Ruin,
And shall endeavour to abuse you,
'I'll do my utmost to excuse you,
I (who was never whipt for Lying),
⚫ Can cover all things by denying.

'And as I'm for our Publick Weal,
'I also am as full of Zeal;
'The Church, as 'tis secur'd by Laws,
'I will support with both my Paws,
And you shall have no cause of Grief,
'For chusing me, Your Brother

2

Which having said, the Subtle S- -r,
Went with his Brethren to Dinner.

[merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

[In White-letter: exceptions imitated. No printer's name, or date; probably, 1730.]

1 The wooden house was a coffin; the Speaker, an Undertaker.

2 In original, line 74, the blank follows without any final quotational mark, or any indication of the suggested word. As Horatio said, "You might have rhymed!" but Hamlet, and the writer of this squib knew that nothing was lost if they left the rhyme to be supplied by the lookers-on.

The End of Volume H.

of the original

Bagford Collection

of

Ballads.

« VorigeDoorgaan »