The Thanksgiving:
A New PROTESTANT BALLAD.
To an Excellent Italian Tune.
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I.
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LET's sing the New M------y's Praise
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With Hearts most thankful and glad,
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For the S------smen of these our Days
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Are the wisest that ever we had.
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II.
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But not to wander too far
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In the Maze of their endless Merit;
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I'll give you an Instance most rare
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Of their Vigilance, Wisdom, and Spirit.
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III.
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They heard on Queen Besss Birth-day
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The Prentices had an Intent
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Th' old Protestant Gambol to play,
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Which Churchmen, they thought, should prevent.
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IV.
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The Frolick, it seems, was no less
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Than to carry about in Procession
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A Pope in Ridiculous Dress,
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And to burn it by way of Diversion.
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V.
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Besides these turbulent Fo'ke
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(Than their Ancestors much more uncivil)
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To their Pageant had added the Joke
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Of a Perkin, and eke of a Devil.
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VI.
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With Cardinals, Jesuits, Fryers,
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A Cartload together at least,
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Intended to Crown their Bonefires,
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A very unseas'nable Jest.
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VII.
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For sure there cou'd be no Sense,
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When a Peace is coming upon us,
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T' affront such a powerful Prince
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As the Pope; why it might have undone us.
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VIII.
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Then if the Most Christian King
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Should have taken it ill at our hand,
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Such a very unmannerly thing
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Might have put the Peace to a stand.
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IX.
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The Jacobites next, to be sure,
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Would have ris'n to defend their Master;
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And who could have told where a Cure
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Could be found for such a Disaster?
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X.
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Besides it would bear a doubt,
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Whether burning the Pope and the Devil
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Might not be designed to flout
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At High-Church and Dr. Sachev'rell.
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XI.
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Furthermore in these Days of Sin
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fear'd by Folks that were hearty,
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A numerous Mob might have been
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Ev'n rais'd for the Dev'l and 's Party.
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XII.
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'Twas therefore expedient found
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To send the Foot-Guards on the Scout,
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To search all the Suburbs round,
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And find the bold Pageant out.
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XIII.
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They took it, and, as it was fit,
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A Magistrate Wise and Great
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The Criminals strait did commit,
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That the Law might determine their Fate.
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XIV.
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Then for Fear of a Rescue by Night,
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At which we should all ha' been troubled,
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'Twas order'd (and sure that was right)
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That the Guards shou'd be ev'ry where doubled.
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XV.
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Besides that no Harm might come nigh us,
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The Bands so well Train'd were drawn out,
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And as long as those Heroes stand by us
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The Devil himself we may rout.
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XVI.
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What tho' some People did sneer,
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And call 'em the Pope's Life-Guard;
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They stood to their Arms and their Beer
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All Night, and kept Watch and Ward.
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XVII.
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So God save our Gracious Queen,
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And Her Ministers every one.
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And he that don't say Amen,
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Is a Churl, and may let it alone.
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XVIII.
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The Hanover House God preserve,
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And blast the Pretender's Hope:
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The Protestant Cause let's serve,
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And give to the Devil the Pope.
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