The KING and the FORRESTER.
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YOU subjects of England, come listen a while;
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Here is a new ditty will make you to smile,
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It is of a king and a keeper also,
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Who met in a forest some winters ago.
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O early, O early, all in the morning,
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King William rose early all in the morning.
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And a gown of grey russet King William put on,
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As tho he had been some silly poor man.
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The hounds were ready prepard for game,
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No nobles attended of honour and fame:
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But like a mean subject in homely array,
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He to his forest was taking his way.
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Oh then bespoke Mary, our most royal queen,
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My gracious lord, pray where are you going?
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He answered, I count him to be no wise man,
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That will his councel tell unto a woman.
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The queen, with a modest behaviour replyd,
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I wish that kind providence may be your guide,
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To keep you from danger, my sovereign lord,
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Which will the greatest of blessings afford.
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He went to the forest some pleasure to spy,
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Where the hounds run swift, the keeper drew nigh,
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How dare you, bold fellow, how dare you come here
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Without the Kings leave, to chase his fair deer.
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Here are my three hounds, I will give them to you,
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And likewise my hawk as good as eer flew;
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Besides I will give you full forty shillings,
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If thou wilt not betray me to William our King.
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I am one of his subjects, I am one of his force,
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And I am come here for to run a course.
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Get you gone, you bold fellow, you run no course here,
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Without the leave of King William forbear.
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All that I have profferd, I prythee now take,
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And do thy endeavour my peace for to make,
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Besides forty shillings I will give thee a ring,
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If thou wilt not betray me to William our King.
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Your three hounds I tell you, I never will take,
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Nor yet your three hawks your peace to make;
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Nor will I be bribd by your forty shillings,
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But I will betray you to William our King.
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As I am a keeper, I will not be unjust,
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Nor for a gold ring will I forfeit my trust;
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I will bring you before him as sure as a gun,
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And there you shall answer for what you have done.
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Thou art a bold fellow the King he replyd,
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What dost thou not see the star on my side.
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This forest is mine, I would have you to know,
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Then what is the reason you threaten me so?
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With that the bold keeper he fell on his knees,
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A trembling fear all his spirits did seize,
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The picture of death appeard on his face;
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He knew not at first the king was in that place.
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O pardon, O pardon, my sovereign liege,
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For your royal pardon I beg and beseech.
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Alas! my poor heart in my breast is cold;
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O let me not suffer for being so bold.
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Get up honest fellow, and shake off thy fears;
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In the there is nothing of folly appears:
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If every one was as faithful as thee,
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What a blessed prince would King William be!
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Because Id encourage such fellows as you,
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Ill make thee my ranger: If that will not do,
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Thou shalt be a captain by sea or by land,
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And high in my favour thou ever shalt stand.
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The keeper replied, my soverign lord,
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Sure I am not worthy of such a reward;
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Yet nevertheless your true keeper Ill be,
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Because I am fearful to venture to sea,
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At which the King laughd till his sides he did hold,
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And threw him down fifty bright guineas in gold,
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And bid him make haste to Kensington Court,
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Where of this jest he would make much sport.
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And when you come there, pray ask for long Jack,
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Who wears pomegranates of gold on his back;
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Likewise a green pheasant upon his right sleeve,
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I warrant hes a true man, you may him believe.
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Hes one of my porters who stands at my gate,
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To let in my nobles both early and late,
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And therefore good fellow, come up without fear,
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Ill make thee my ranger of parks far and near.
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