Mark Noble's Frollick;
Who being
Stopp'd by the Constable near the Tower, was examin'd where he had
been; whither he was going; and his Name and place where he dwelt: to which he answe-
red, where the Constable would have been glad to have been, and where he was going he dare
not go for his Ears; as likewise his Name, which he call'd Twenty Shillings; with an Ac-
count of what followed, and how he came off.
To the Tune of The New Rant.
Licensed according to Order
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ONe night at a very late hour,
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a Watch-maker home did repair;
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When coming along by the Tower,
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was stopt by the Constable there.
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Friend, come before Mr. Constable,
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to see what his Worship will say;
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You'd have me do more than I'm able;
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I fear I shall fall by the way.
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Sir, tell me, and do not deceive me,
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where have you been playing your part?
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Kind Mr. Constable believe me,
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where you'd have been with all your Heart.
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Sweet Bacchus in Bumpers were flowing,
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which Liquor all mortal Men cheers,
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And now after all I am going,
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where you dare not come for your Ears.
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Your Words they are sawcy and evil,
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this may be a Charge to your Purse:
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For why? you are something uncivil,
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to answer a Constable thus.
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Oh, where do you dwell with a whennion?
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cross Humours we will not allow,
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Sir, out of the King's own Dominion,
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pray, what can ye say to me now?
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Pray what is your Name, you cross Villain?
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be sure that you answer me true;
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Why Sir, It is just Twenty Shilling,
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I think I have satisfied you.
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What Trade are you, Brew[e]r or Baker?
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or do you a Waterman ply?
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No Sir, I'm an honest Watch-maker,
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my Trade I will never deny.
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Have you e'er a Watch you can show, Sir?
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we'll see how it sutes with our Clocks;
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Yes, Faith and a Constable too, Sir,
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I wish you were all in the Stocks.
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You sawcy impertinent Fellow,
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because you have answer'd me so,
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Although your mad Brains they be mellow,
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this Night to a Prison you go.
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Therefore without any more dodging,
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the Lanthorns was lighted streightway;
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They guarded him to his strong Lodging,
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to lye there while Nine the next day.
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Next Morning the Constable brought him
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before a Justice to appear,
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And earnestly then he besought him,
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a sorrowfull Story to hear,
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Of all the Transactions he told them
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to which the good Justice reply'd;
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From Liberty he would withold him,
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till the Naked Truth should be cry'd:
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The Tradesman returned this Answer,
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the Truth I will never deny;
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If I may speak without Offence, Sir,
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I scorn to be catch'd in a Lye.
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I said nothing which was unfitting,
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as solemnly here I profess;
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The King he is King of Great Brittain,
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and I live in Brittain the Less.
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The next thing that causes the Trouble,
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my Name he would have me to show,
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The which is right honest Mark Noble,
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and that's Twenty Shillings you know.
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Then asking me where I was going,
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and I being void of all Fears,
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Right readily made him this Answer,
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where he dare not go for his Ears.
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I rambl'd all day, yet the Centre,
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at night was to lye by my Wife,
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Instead of his Ears should he venture,
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I' Faith it might cost him his Life.
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Now when he had giv'n this Relation,
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of all that had past in the Night,
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It yielded most pleasant Diversion,
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the Justice he laughed outright.
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It seems that a Glass of Canary
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conducted the Gallant along;
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I find that he's nothing but merry,
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intending no manner of wrong.
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Therefore I will free him from Prison,
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without any Charges or Fees;
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It being no more than right reason,
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you watch not for such Men as these.
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