The Poets Dream:
OR, The Great Out-cry and Lamentable Complaint of the LAND against
BAYLIFFS and their DOGS.
Wherein is Expressed their Villanous Out-rages to poor Men. With a True De-
scription of their Knavery and their Debauc'h Actions; Prescribed and Presented to the view of all
People. To the tune of, Sawny, etc.
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AS I lay Slumbering in a Dream,
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methought the world most strangely went;
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The Bayliffs on High Seats was seen,
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which caused the Poor's great Discontent.
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They pluckt true Justice from the Throne,
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Erecting Laws was made of their own,
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And burthen'd the Poor till they made them groan,
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And that's the cause that the Land Complains.
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Their Meeting House was an Ale-wives Bench,
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fix'd in a Street that is termed Old;
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Their Speaker was an a Play-house-Wench,
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both Whore and Thief, and a Devilish Scold.
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She'd Guzzel Brandy, Wine, or Ale,
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And then she'd at her Neighbours Rail,
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And send for the Bayliffs to have them to Jayl,
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And that's the cause that the Land Complains.
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Methoughts a mighty Hunting-match,
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was made by Bayliffs and their Currs:
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Poor men was the Deer they strove to catch,
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the Houses plac'd in the Room of Furrs:
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The Suburbs-Round it was their Park:
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The Bayliffs Yell, the Dogs did Bark,
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The Poor kept as close as Noah in the Ark;
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A[n]d that's the cause that the Land Complains,
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Then Shephard and his Dog wheel'd up toth' right,
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and thunder'd by a Cursed Lane,
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And there the Villains wrought their Spight,
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for by them once was a Poor Man slain:
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They Swear before they'l ever lack,
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They'l go to Hell a Pick-a-Pack,
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And thus poor Debters they go to rack,
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And that's the cause that the Land complains.
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There's Cursing Will and Damme-Jack,
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and Robbin Turners alive agen;
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And Paunchgut-Tom, (a Hellish Pack,)
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with perjur'd-Dick and Bawdy Ben:
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Which formerly on Earth did Dwell,
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And now they are return'd from Hell,
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And doth against our Laws Rebell,
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And that's the cause that the Land complains.
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When I awaked from my Dream,
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Methoughts the World turn'd upside down,
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And in great haste. I Writ this Theam,
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for the Bayliffs Dogs of our Town:
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Who for their prey each hour do wait,
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Like death at every poor Man's Gate,
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And brings the Realm to a Dismal fate,
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And that's the cause that the Land complains.
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When Poor men are out of Employ,
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and have not a Farthing in the World;
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The while there Wives and Children Cry,
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there's many are in a Prison hurl'd.
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Men are Enticed by the Bumms,
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Who swear they ne'r will pay their Summs,
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Thus Poor in Flocks to the Jaylor comes;
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And that's the cause that the Land complains.
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The Tally-man, Curmudgeon keeps
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a Baylif and his Dog to Bite;
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If in their Books men ever Creeps,
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they quickly swear they'l have their Right;
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So soon as e're they do Back-slide,
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The Torturing Jale they must abide,
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Then Toby and Dog's Employ'd;
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And that's the cause that the Land complains.
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When Rogues are at the Old-Bayly Burn'd,
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and that their Pilfering Trades do fail;
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From Thieves to Bayliffs-Dogs have turn'd,
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to plague and hurry the Poor to Jayl:
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How like Kid-Nappers all the Day,
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In every Corner they Survey,
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And quaff whole Bowls when they get their Pr[ey]
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And that's the cause that the Land complains.
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Ten Groat's the Fees, and a Crown the Arrest
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and three Round 000's for a Writ beside;
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Thus Laws are broken, and poor men Opprest,
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such Racking Torments they must abide:
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And while the Prisoner sends for Bail,
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They Tope the Brandy, Beer, and Ale,
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And makes him pay, or they have him to Jayl:
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And that's the cause that the Land complains.
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For Twenty Shillings, Ten, or Five,
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they'l put a man to a Cursed Charge;
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Or run him to Jayl they'l soon contrive,
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where other Bills are exprest at Large:
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The Jayl-Fees many are bound to Rue,
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The Garnish, Bed and Turn-Key too,
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Expects an unexpected Due;
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And that's the cause that the Land complains
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Your Moore-field Mobbs, and Whetstone-Whore
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has Bayliffs and their Dogs for Friends;
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When Lustful Youth pays Venus Scores,
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those Spunging Pimps the House attends:
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If Cullies fight in a Drunken fit,
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Away goes Toby's Dog for a Writ,
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Thus many falls in the Bayliffs pit;
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And that's the cause that the Land complains
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'Tis seldom a Bayliff or his Dog,
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is ever known for to go to Church;
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As soon as they here the Word of god,
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they leave the Parson in the lurch:
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They swear they'l come to church no more,
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They lay their Sins to Adams Store,
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And jaunts to Moorfields to a Whore:
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And that's the cause that the Land complain[s]
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Thus I conclude and end my Song,
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desiring that you wou'd be content:
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There's Christian-Peers that may right our wr[ong]
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when Heaven yields up a Parliament;
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I hope true Reason will plead our cause,
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While they'r erecting wholesome Laws,
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They'l keep us from the Crocodils paws;
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And cease the Poor of the Lands complaints
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