Mark Nobles Frollick;
Who Being
Stoppd by the Constable near the Tower, was examind where he had
been; whither he was going; and his Name and Place where he dwelt: to which he answe-
red, where the Constable would have been glad to have been, and where he was going he
dare not go for his Ears; as likewise his Name, which he called Twenty Shillings;
with an Account of what followed, and how he came off.
To the Tune of The New Rent. Licensed according to Order.
|
ONe night at a very late hour,
|
a Watch maker home did repair;
|
When coming along by the Tower,
|
was stoppd by the Constable there.
|
Friend, come before Mr. Constable,
|
to see what his Worship will say;
|
Youd have me do more than Im able,
|
I fear I shall fall by the way.
|
Sir, tell me, and do not deceive me,
|
where have you been playing your part?
|
Kind Mr. Constable believe me,
|
where youd have been with [al]l your Heart.
|
Sweet Bacchus in Bumpers were flowing,
|
which Liquor all mortal Men chears,
|
And now after all I am going,
|
where you dare not come for your Ears.
|
Your Words they are sawcy and evil,
|
this may be a Charge to your Purse:
|
For why? you are something uncivil,
|
to answer a Constable thus.
|
Oh, where do you dwell with a whennion?
|
cross Humours we will not allow,
|
Sir, out of the Kings own Dominion,
|
pray, what can you say to me now?
|
Pray what is your Name, you cross Villain;
|
be sure that you answer me true;
|
Why Sir, It is just Twenty Shilling,
|
I think I have satisfyed you.
|
What Trade are you, Brewer or Baker?
|
or do you a Waterman ply?
|
No Sir, Im an honest Watch-maker,
|
my Trade I will never deny.
|
Have you eer a Watch you can show, Sir?
|
well see how it sutes with our Clocks;
|
Yes, Faith and a Constable too, Sir,
|
I wish you were all in the Stocks.
|
You Sawcy impertinent Fellow,
|
because you have answerd me so,
|
Although your mad Brains they be mellow,
|
this Night to a Prison you go.
|
Therefore without any more dodging,
|
the Lanthorns was lighted streightway;
|
They guarded him to his strong Lodging,
|
to lye there while Nine the next day.
|
Next Morning the Constable brought him
|
before a Justice to appear,
|
And earnestly then he besought him,
|
a Sorrowfull Story to hear.
|
[So] all the Transactions he told him,
|
to which the good Justice replyd,
|
From Liberty he would withold him,
|
till the Naked Truth should be tryd.
|
The Tradesman returned this Answer,
|
the Truth I will never deny;
|
If I may speak without Offence, Sir,
|
I scornd to be catchd in a Lye.
|
I said nothing which was unfitting,
|
as solemnly here I profess;
|
The King he is King of Great Britain,
|
and I live in Britain the less.
|
The next thing that causes the Trouble,
|
my Name he would have me to show,
|
The which is right honest Mark-Noble,
|
and thats Twenty Shillings you know.
|
Then asking me where I was going,
|
and I being void of all Fears,
|
Right readily made him this Answer,
|
where he dare not go for his Ears.
|
I rambld all day, yet the Centre,
|
at night was to lye by my Wife,
|
Instead of his Ears should he venture,
|
IFaith it might cost him his Life.
|
Now when he had given this Relation,
|
of all that had past in the night,
|
It yielded most pleasant Diversion,
|
the Justice he laughed outright.
|
It seems that a Glass of Canary
|
conducted the Gallant along;
|
I find that hes nothing but merry,
|
intending no manner of wrong.
|
Therefore I will free him from Prison,
|
without any Charges or F[ees,]
|
It being no more than right [reason,]
|
you watch not for such M[en as these.]
|
|
|
|
|
|