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 remained.
Tune of, The Country Farmer. This may be Printed. R. P.
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I Pray now attend and give ear to the jest,
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A Country-man he came late from the West,
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For he had a mind to see my Lord Mayor,
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And o[t]her fine Folk which it seems lodged there:Then up to the City at length he did range,
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Where seeing brave Gallants, in rich golden fringe
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But he above all did admire and strange
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To zee the fine folk at the Royal Exchange.
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The Country-man amazed did stand,
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And looking about with his Whip in his hand,
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Then come a fine fellow, a Don of the Town,
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And called him Bumpkin and Country Clown,
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And asked him how he dare to presume,
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To Lag here and Loiter, thus fill up the Room,
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Amongst these gay Ladies in Silk and Perfume,Be gone and pack off, or the stocks is your doom.
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I pray who are you? then the Plow-man replyd,
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That does so scornfully here me deride,
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Fine fellow, said he, seeing you are unkind,
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In short I shall tell you a piece of my mind,I came now to see my Lord Mayor his good grace
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I fear not the angry frowns of [y]our face,
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As long as I list, I will stay in this place,
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Or on your Gay Coat I will lay a long Lace.
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For why, said the Plowman, I care not a figg,
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For all your high words, and your looking so big,
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This gallant was then in a passion indeed,
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And thus in a fury began to proceed,
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As making a proffer to give him a kick,
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The Plow-men perceiving him just in the nick,
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He told him his name it was resolute Dick,
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Then up with his lash, and he gave him a lick.
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O then this fine Fellow began for to roar,
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Then presently came in twenty and more,
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Who asked the Plowman, how dare he to dot,
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Since he was a person of worthy repute:He first did abuse me in calling me Clown,
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I could not forbear, but I gave him a frown;
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Why should those fine fellows run Husband men down,
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You cant live without us in city or town.
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Nay Plowman, ide have you well understand,
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That we have both Silver and Gold at command,
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Rich chains & choice jewels, with diamonds & rings,
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With plenty of spices, and other fine things:Of many Rich Coffers we carry the Keys,
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We have such Estates that we live at our ease,
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We eat and we drink and we walk where we please,
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Then what do you think of such fellows as these?
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For all your rich Jewels, you starving may dye,
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If we do not bring in a dai[l]y supply,
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We plow and we sow, and we harrow and mow,
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We have both the Milk, and the Honey you know:We nere are without a good pudding and sowse,
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Then what need you Londoners make such a touze,
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If we did not labour you could not keep house,
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You gallants would soon sh-- as small as a Mouse.
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Both Linnen and Woollen what ere we will wear,
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We have of our own by industrious care,
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We daily delight in much pleasure and mirth,
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And always receive the first fruit of the Earth:
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To flout us I think you were something too bold,
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Youd starve if you fed upon Silver or Gold,
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We have corn, cattle and sheep in our Fold,
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With rich beans and bacon, eat hold belly hold.
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The Londoners presently laughing out-right,
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For in his discourse they had taken delight,
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They said it was true, and they did him commend,
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And thus the whole quarrel was soon at an end:The Plowman they freely began to extal,
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He soon got the favour of great men and small,
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And thus their debate did immediately fall,
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The Plow-man in wit was too hard for them all.
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