The Loyal Forrister,
Or, Royal PASTIME;
Being a Pleasant Discourse between the KING and a Loyal KEEPER,
who not knowing His Majesty, would not suffer him to Hunt in the Forrest for
any Reward whatsoever, which Faithfulness the King highly commended as you
shall find by this following Ditty. To an Excellent New Tune. [it was a Bold Keeper]
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YOu Subjects of England come listen a while,
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Here is a new ditty may make you to smile;
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It is of the King and a Keeper also,
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Who met in a Forrest some winters ago.
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O Early, O Early, all in a morning,
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King William rose early all in a morning,
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And a gown of grey russet King William put on,
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As tho he had been but some silly poor man.
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The hounds was made ready prepard for the 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 own Forrest was taking his way.
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O then bespoke Mary our Most Royal Queen,
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My Gracious King William where are you going
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He answerd, I count him to be no wise Man,
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That will tell his councel to a Woman.
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All that I have offerd I prithee now take,
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And do thy endeavour my peace for to make;
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Besides forty shillings Ile give thee a Ring,
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If thoult 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 for to make,
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Nor will I be bribd by your forty shilling,
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But I will betray you to William our King.
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As I am a Keeper Ile not be unjust,
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Nor for a Gold Ring will I forfeit my trust;
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Ill 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 King William replyd,
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What dost thou not see here the star at my side,
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This Forrest is mine I woud kave 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 his spirits did seize,
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The picture of death too appeard in his face,
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He knew not at first that the King was in place.
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O pardon, O pardon my soveraign Leige,
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For your Royal pardon I beg and beseech,
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Alas my poor heart in my breast it is cold!
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O let me not suffer for being so bold.
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The Queen with a modest behaviour replyd,
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I wish that kind providence may be thy guide,
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To keep thee from danger my Soveraign Lord,
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The which will the greatest of comfort afford.
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He went to the Forrest some pleasure to spy,
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The Grey-hounds run swift, and the keeper drew nigh,
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Who cryd 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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I am one of his subjects I am one of his force,
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And I am come hither for to run a course,
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Get you gone bold fellow you run no course here,
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Without the leave of King William forbear.
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Here is my three hounds I will give them to you,
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And likewise my hawks theyre as goodas eer flew,
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Besides I will give thee full forty shilling,
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If thoult not betray me to William our King.
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Get up honest keeper and shake off thy fears,
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In thee theres nothing of folly appears
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If every one was as faithful as thee,
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O what a blest Prince King William would be.
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Because Id encourage such persons 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 replyd my great Soveraign 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 by sea.
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At which the K, laughd till his sides he did hold,
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Then threw him down 20 bright Guinies of gold
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And bid him make hast to Kingsington Court;
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where of this true jest he woud make pleasant sport
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And when you come thither pray ask for long Jack,
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Who wears a Pumgranet of gole at his back,
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Likewise a green Pheasant upon his right sleeve,
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Ill warrant hes a true man you may him believe.
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Hes one of my Porters that stands at my Gate
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To let in my nobles both ear[l]y and late;
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And therefore good fellow come up without fear,
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Ile make thee my Ranger of Parks far and near.
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