The Wandring Jews Chronicle;
OR , The Old Historian, His Brief Declaration, Made in a Mad Fashion, Of each Coronation, That pass'd in this Nation, Since Williams Invasion, For no great occasion, But meer Recreation, To put off Vexation.
Tune of, Our Prince is welcome out of Spain.
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W Hen William Duke of Normandy,
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With all his Normans gallantly,
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This Kingdom did subdue:
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Full fifteen years of age I was,
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And what e're since hath come to pass,
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I can report for true.
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I can remember since he went
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From London for to Conquer Kent ,
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where in a walking Wood,
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The men of Kent Compassed him,
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And he for aye confirm'd to them,
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King Edwards Laws for good.
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Likewise, I William Rufus knew,
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And saw the Arrow that him slew,
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hard by a Forrest side:
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I well could tell you if I list,
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Or better tell you if I wist,
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who next to him did ride.
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First Henry I, and Stephen knew,
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Who no man there but I did view,
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I saw them Crown'd and dead:
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I can remember well also,
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The second Henry's Royal show,
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that day that he was wed.
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I likewise was at Woodstock-Bower ,
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And saw the sweet and famous flower,
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Queen Elinor did so spight
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I found the Clew of Thread again,
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After that worthy Knight was slain,
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'twas green, blew, red, and white.
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I saw King Richard in his Shirt,
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Pull out a furious Lyons heart,
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whereby his strength was try'd;
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I saw King John , when as the Monk
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Gave him the Poyson which he drunk,
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and then forsooth he dy'd.
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I mark'd the Barrons when they sent
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For the French Doulphin , with intent
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to put third Henry down:
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I saw the Earl of Leicester stout,
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(Call'd Simon Munford ) with his Tent
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besiege fair London Town.
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And I have the first Edward seen,
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Whose legs I still thought to have had been
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a yard and more in length:
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With him I into Scotland went,
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And back again incontinent,
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which he subdu'd by strength.
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I knew Carnarven's Minion dear,
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And saw the fall of Mortimeer ,
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with all the Barrons Wars:
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And likely was to have been sent,
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To Burton Battel upon Trent ,
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where I receiv'd these scars.
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Third Edward and his valiant Son,
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by whom great feats of arms were don
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I saw on Cressy Plain:
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Which day when bows & arows keen,
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Grew scant with mighty stones I wen
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were many French men slain.
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I knew Wat Tyler and Jack Staw ,
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And I the Mayor of London saw,
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in Smithfield which him slew:
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I was at Pomfret Castle, when
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The second Richard there was slain,
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whose death e're since I rue.
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I saw when Henry Bullingbrook
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The Crown and Scepter on him took
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which he became full well:
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I saw when H enry H otsur he,
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And many Lords at Shrewsbury ,
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were slain in Battel fell.
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I saw the brave victorious Prince,
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(whose death I have bewail'd e're since)
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Henry the fifth I mean:
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And I can give you just report,
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How many French at Agen-Court ,
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were in one battel slain.
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I saw the White, & Red-rose Knight,
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And Warwick great in Armour bright,
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in the sixth Henry 's Reign:
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And present was that very hour,
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When Henry was in London Tower,
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by Crook'd-back Richard slain.
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I in the Gold-smiths Shop have seen,
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Fourth Edwards famous Concubine,
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whose name was [fa]ir Jane Shore :
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I saw when Richar [d ] cruelly,
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Did put her to gr[ea]t misery,
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and I was grie[ved] therefore.
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I also was at Bosworth field,
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Well armed there with Spear & shield
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meaning to try my force:
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Where Richard loosing life and Crown
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Was naked bourn to Leicester Town,
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upon a Colliars horse.
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To the seventh Henry then I was
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A Servant, as it came to pass,
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to serve him at his need;
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And while I did in Court remain,
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I saw in the eighth Henry 's Reign,
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full many great men bleed.
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I was a Souldier bold with him,
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O're Neptunes curled breast did swim,
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unto the realm of France :
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I helpt to ransack Bulloign Town,
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And many places of Renown,
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yet home I came by chance.
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I knew sixth Edward of a Child,
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Whose countenance was very mild,
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a hopeful Prince he was:
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I knew Queen Mary in her Reign,
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Put Protestants to mickle pain,
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and re-set up the Mass.
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And to my comfort I have seen,
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Elizabeth that Maiden-Queen,
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Queen Maries only Sister:
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Though she reigned forty years,
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Her Subjects shewed by their tears,
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that they too soon did miss her.
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I saw King James come from the north
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Like to a Star that shineth forth,
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to glad the peoples sight:
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He brought a salve to cure our wound
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And made great Brittain safe & sound
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through equity and right.
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He was in troth a Prince of Peace,
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And made all former jars to cease
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'twixt English-men and Scots :
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The English-men sung merry Sonnets,
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The Scots they threw up their Bonnets
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for joy of their good Lots.
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In Scotland born, in England Nurst,
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Was Pious Princely Charles the first,
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who had to Wife Queen Mary ;
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But by the rage of Rebels hate,
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Murther'd and Martyr'd at his Gate,
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this good King did miscarry.
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King Charles the second, that had spent
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Many long years in Banishment
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and scap'd with life so nearly
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By miracle and means unknown
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Sits in the brightness of his Throne
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where he doth shine most clearly.
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Queen Katherine his betrothed Wife
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The Lady of his Love and Life,
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is likewise now hither
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And may their bodies now increase,
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In love and children, joy and peace,
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long as they live together.
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