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EBBA 21934

Magdalene College - Pepys
Ballad XSLT Template
Down-Right Dick of the West.
OR,
The Plow-Mans Ramble to LONDON,
To see my Lord-Mayor and the rest of the Vine Volk of the City, with what hapned while he there re-
mained.
To the Tune of, The Country Farmer. This may be Printed, R. P.

I Pray now attend and give ear to the jest,
A Country-man he came late from the West,
For he had a mind to see my LORD-MAYOR,
And other fine Folk which it seemed liv'd there:
Then up to the City at length he did range,
Where seeing brave gallants in rich golden fringe
But he above all did admire and strange
To zee the Fine folk at the Royal Exchange.

The Countrey-man amazed did stand,
And looking about with his Whip in his hand,
Then came a fine fellow a Don of the town,
Aand called him Bumpkin and country Clown.

And asked him how he dare to presume,
To Lag here and Loiter, thus fill up the Room,
Amongst these gay Ladies in Silk and perfume,
Begone and pack off, or the stocks is your doom.

I pray who are you then the Plow-man reply'd,
That does now so scornfully here me deride,
Fine fellow (said he) seeing you are unkind,
In short I shall tell you a piece of my mind,
I came now to see my Lord-Mayor his good grace,
I fear not the angry frowns of your face,
As long as I list I will stay in this place,
Or on your gay Coat I will lay a long lace.

For why said the Plow-man, I care not a figg,
For all your high words, and your looking so big,
This gallant was then in a passion indeed,
And thus in a fury began to proceed,
As making a proffer to give him a Kick,
The Plow-man perceiving him just in the nick
He told him his name it was resolute Dick,
Then up with his lash and he gave him a lick.

O then this fine Fellow began for to roar,
Then presently came in twenty and more,
Who asked the Plowman how dare he to do't,
Since he was a Person of worthy repute:
He first did abuse me in calling me clown,
I could not forbear but I gave him a frown;
Why should those fine fellows run Husband-men down,
You can't live without us in city or Town.

Nay plow-man i'de have you well understand,
That we have both Silver and gold at command
Rich chains & choice jewels with dimonds & rings
With plenty of spices and other fine things:
Of many Rich Coffers we carry the Keys,
We have such estates that we live at our ease,
We eat & we drink & we walk where we please.
Then what do you think of such fellows as these.

For all your Rich Jewels you starving may dye,
If we do not bring in a daily supply,
We plow and we Sow, and we harrow & Mow
We have both the Milk and the honey you know,
We ne're are without a good pudding or Sowse
Then what need you Londoners make such a touze,
If we did not labour you could not keep house,
You gallants would soon S- as small as a Mouse

Both Linnen and woollen what e're we will wear
We have of our own by industrious care,
We daily delight in much pleasure and mirth,
And always receive the first fruits of the earth:
To flout us I think you were something too bold,
You'd starve if you fed upon Silver or Gold,
We have corn, cattle and sheep in our fold,
With rich beans and Bacon, eat hold belly hold.

The Londoners presently laughing out right,
For in his discourse they had taken delight,
They said it was true and they did him commend
And thus the whole quarrel was soon at an end:
The Plow-man they freely began to extall,
He soon got the favour of great men and small,
And thus their debate did immediately fall,
The Plow-man in wit was too hard for them all.

FINIS.

Printed for J. Deacon at the angel in Guiltspur street.

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