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EBBA 20899

Magdalene College - Pepys
Ballad XSLT Template
The STATSE-MAN'S
Last Will and Testament;
OR,
His worthy Legacies left to his beloved Cronies, for whom he had a particular kindness.
Tune of, O rare Popery.

ALas! I am taken most monstrous ill,
Sweet Writer bring hither you Paper and Quill,
For here I am ready to make my last Will,
And leave my Legacies, delicate Legacies,
Chancellors Legacies, O.

My wonderful portions I here will divide,
According as Merit my reason shall guide,
Let Lucifer have my invincible Pride,
Sing O brave Legacy, etc.

My Covetous heart now as bitter as Gall,
I leave to old Misers in hopes that they shall,
Like me get in Gold here the Devil and all,
Sing O rare Legacies, etc.

My small Guts let honest Musitioners take,
That they of the same may Fiddle strings make,
And then scrape my Guts till their very hearts ake,
Sing O brave Legacy, Chancellors Legacy,
A delicate Legacy, O.

And as for my Nose I will leave that alone
To my dearest Friend that makes pitiful moan,
Because he has never a Nose of his own,
Sing O rare Legacy, etc.

My unruly Tongue which run at that rate,
And bantred men out of their reason of late,
I leave it to Fish Women at Billingsgate,
Sing O rare Legacy, etc.

My Brains I bequeath but I know not to who,
But hold, I remember the Jesuit Crew,
They'll serve them for plotting more mischief to do;
Sing O rare Legacy, etc.

My old empty Skull to the Pope now shall go,
In token of Favours which he did bestow,
'Twill make him a lusty large Punch Bowl I know,
Sin O rare Legacy, etc.

My honoured Reverend Father the Pope,
He sent his sweet Son here a sanctified Rope,
But I have no need of the same now I hope,
I'll leave that Legacy, delicate Legacy,
to one of the Jesuit Crew.

My lusty large Conscience which Bribes did receive,
To some Corrupt Lawyer I freely do leave,
That honest Men he may of Living bereave,
A worthy Legacy, etc.

My Body I into the West do return,
To satisfie those that with Anger do burn,
Thus for my bad deeds I may do one good turn,
Sing O rare Legacy, etc.

Now sign it and seal it according to Law,
The Major shall ne'er keep the Minor in awe,
Nor wrong them so much as the weight of a straw
Of these my Legacies, Chancellors Legacies,
delicate Legacies, O.

FINIS.

Printed in the Year, 16[89]

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