The Royal Recreation;
OR,
King WILLIAM's Merriment.
Shewing, The manner of his Entertainment at a Country Farmer's House, in his Return
from the Irish Wars. Tune of Let Caesar live long. Licensed according to Order
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OLd Stories do tell us of notable things,
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Which has been transacted by Soveraign Kings,
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To make themselves merry, their Nobles likewise,
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As they in their Progress did ride in disguise:
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Those were the best days when great Kings they would be
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Jocose with their Subjects of e'ery degree.
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Yet none of our Kings that has govern'd of late,
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Has been so familiar as William the Great,
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Who's great Condescention when I call to mind,
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For which he is term'd, The Delight of Mankind:
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With Courage and Conduct he governs the Land,
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The meanest of Subjects and Grace at his hand.
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But setting aside all the Toils of the War,
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Where William the Great had so glorious a share;
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When coming from Ireland, on the High way,
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For Merriment he at a Farmers would stay:
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The King and his Nobles they all did alight,
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The Maid in the House stood amaz'd at this sight.
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In all Towns and Places the Subjects did throng,
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To see our good King as he passed along;
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This Farmer a Horseback was gone with his Wife,
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For why, she had ne'er seen a King in her Life:
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The Daughter alone at his House did remain,
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To wait on King William and his Courtly Train,
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She scarce e'er before got a Kiss of a Man,
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But now they come trooping Will, Robin and Jan,
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Each Thrasher and Miller concluding that he
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Should then look as great as a Lord in degree:
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Her Glory and Fame through the Nation doth ring,
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She having the Honour to wait on the King.
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Stout Roger he told his dear Mother one night,
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That Man that should Wed her the King will requite,
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In token of Love, for that Royal Feast,
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And make him Duke, Lord, or Squire at least.
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Her Glory and Fame through the Nation do's ring,
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She having the Honour to wait on the King.
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In troth, quoth the Mother, I'd have thee to go,
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And see if she'll have a poor Plow-man, or no:
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And then if K. William should make thee a Lord,
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Udzookers I'll count it a Royal Reward:
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Her Glory and Fame through the Nation do's ring,
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She having the honour to wait on the King.
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He drest himself streight in his best Roast-meat Cloaths,
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His Hat, Band, and likewise his Holy-day Hose;
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Yet Roger the Plough-man was never the near,
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She sent him away with a Flea in his Ear:
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Her Glory and Fame through the Nation shall ring,
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As having, etc.
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At length came a Squire his Love to reveal,
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For he could no longer his Passion conceal;
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He Woo'd and he Wedded this Lass out of Hand,
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And made her a Lady of houses and land:
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Her Glory and Fame through the Nation did ring,
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As having the Honour to wait on the King.
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The young Lads and Lasses that liv'd far and near,
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As soon as the happy good News they did hear,
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They came to the Wedding for Merriness sake,
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And the noble Squire great Feasting did make,
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And her Fame through all the whole Nation doth ring
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As having the honour to wait on the King.
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[] all the the Dainties which they did prepare
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A Rash of good Bacon and Eggs too was there,
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And valu'd above the Goose, Capon, or Duck,
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It being the Prologue of all this good luck:
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Her Glory and Fame through the Nation doth ring,
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As having the Honour to wait on the King.
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