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EBBA 32302

Huntington Library - Bindley (formerly Luttrell)
Ballad XSLT Template
[1]
OATES
WELL THRESHT.
Being a Dialogue of Country-make
Betwixt a Farmer, and his Man-Boy, Jack.
The Good Man, who had lost much by the Grain,
Hears Presbyter-Jack to Plead for it in vain.
The Tune, Which no Body can deny, etc.
The Burden must be Twice Repeated.

Jack.
OUr Oates, last Week not worth a Groat,
Have, Sir, (which all do wonder at)
Abomination thrivd of late;
Which no Body can deny, Sir.

Master.
[?]e all the Tribe of Oates Accurst,
[A]nd the Old Dotard too, that first
[T]he Brat within his Hedges nurst,
And sowd such Wicked Seed, Boy.

Jack.
[G]ood Master, pray your Fury stop;
[F]or, as the Saying is, I hope,
[Y]oull shortly see a Doctor-Crop,
And many more besides, Sir.

Master.
[?] Curse on every thing, thats height Oates;
[B]oth Old & Young, both Black & White Oates,
[B]oth Long & Short, both Light & Tite Oates:
I hate the Viprous Breed, Boy.

Jack.
Your Oates, now Ripe, Sir, do appear;
For they begin to hang the Ear;
The Time of Cutting them draws near,
If my Skill fails me not, Sir.

Master.
Then down with em, and all their Train;
Let not a Blade of them remain,
Our poor Land to infect again;
Tis pitty one should scape, Boy.

Jack.
Where shall I reek them, (the Sithes Edge
Theyve felt) in Barn, or under Hedge?
For they are fit for Cart, or Sledge,
And a Roping only want, Sir.

Master.
Een if thou wilt, lodge them in thy Barn;
For they shall ner come amongst my Corn;
Or Cart them, if thou wilt, to Tyburn;
And there too Truss them up, Boy.

[2]

Jack.
Th are housd, Sir; But the Trash all Sense
Exceeds, thats in em: By what Means,
This Filthy Oates shall we ere cleanse?
From all that Roguish Stuff, Sir?

Master.
Go, get a pack of Sturdy Louts,
And let them lustily Thresh their Coats;
Too well you cannot Thresh Damnd Oates;
Which no Body can deny, Boy.

Jack.
Th are thresht, & wimbd, & made as clean,
As hands can dot; but all in vain:
For still Base Oates behind remain:
What shall we do with em, Sir?

Master.Let em divided be (like Martyrs
Of Royal Justice) into Quarters;
Then ground in Mill, or brayd in Mortars:
So Oates ought to be servd, Boy.

Jack.
How shall I use the Straw? Tis good
Only to cast out in the Road,
And under Foot to Dung be trod;
And there to lye and rot, Sir.

Master.
Burnt, like an Heretick, in Flame;
And Expiate so our Guilt and Shame,
For giving Long-Taild Oates such Fame,
Abhorrd by all but us, Boy.

Beyond Sea th are kickt out of Door;
But held with us Here in such Store,
That Oates we even do Adore:
But Curst be Oates, say I, Boy.

Jack.
What shall we now at last, Sir, do
With this Same Paultry Oates, by You
So hated, and admired by few;
And those both Knaves and Fools, Sir.

Master.
Let Oates be cast to Ravenous Hogs,
Or ground for Meat for Hungry Dogs;
And no where Sown, but in deep Bogs,
Or Bottom of a Jakes, Boy.

Or to the Fowls o the Air be thrown,
By Vermine to be preyd upon;
Or out o th World by Whirlwinds blown,
To th Devils Arse of Peak, Boy.

Let evry Tongue, and Tail i th Ile,
Of Man, of Bird, of Beast, defile
Oates so Detestable, Oates so Vile;
And twill be so, thoult see, Boy.

Or if to Popery thou incline,
Thou shalt have Oates encagd in a Shrine,
And shew about that Trash Divine;
And this will get thee Pence, Boy.

Jack.
Let it, Good Master, pray be so,
And Ile amongst the Papists go,
With my O rare Shite, & my O brave Show,
Till I a Pension get, Sir.

And then Ile Coach it up and down,
From Country, and from Town to Town,
Till ore the World Ive made Oates known,
For a very R------ in Grain, Sir.


FINIS.
LONDON, Printed for R. H. in the Year, 1681.

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