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EBBA 31387

British Library - Roxburghe
Ballad XSLT Template
Cock-Lane, Humbug.

THE town it long has been in pain
About the phantom in Cock-Lane,
To find it out they strove in vain
Not one thing they neglected;
They searched the bed and room compleat
To see if there was any cheat,
While little Miss that looks so sweet,
Was not the least suspected.

Then soon the knocking it begun
And then the scratching it woud come
Twas pleased to answer any one,
And that was done by knocking;
If you was poisond tell us true,
For yes knock one, for no knock two,
Then she knockd I tell to you,
Which needs must making it shock-ing.

On Friday night as many know,
A noble Lord did thither go,
The Ghost its knocking woud not show
Which made the Guest to mutter:
They being gone then one was there
Who always called it my dear,
Fanny was pleasd tis very clear,
And then began to flutter.

The Ghost some Gentlemen did tell,
If they would go to Clerkenwell,
Into the Vault where she did dwell,
That they three knocks should hear sir
On Monday night away they went,
The man accusd he was present,
But all as death it was silent.
The dell a knock was there sir.

The Gentlemen returnd again,
And told young missy flat and plain,
She was the Agent of Cock-Lane,
Who knockd and scratchd for Fanny
Twas false each person did agree,
Miss beggd to go with her daddy
And then went into the Country
To knock and scratch for Fanny.

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