A
PLEASANT DIALOGUE
Between
the KING, the Miller, the Shepheard,
and the Woodman, at White-hall.
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I Will not sing of Cromwels Clogs,
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Nor shall the sight of Mice, or Frogs,
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Be subject of my Muse,
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No Rescue of a Lady fine
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Shall trouble any Muse of mine,
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Ile no such thing rehearse.
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But my inspired Muse shall sing,
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Of things belonging to our K[I]NG,
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How heavens once pleased was,
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Him to deliver from his foe,
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Which sought his death and overthrow,
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And brought strange things to pass.
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When from that fatal Worster field,
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He driven was, and forced to yield,
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And save himself by flight,
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How he by faithful Brothers five,
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Preserved was and kept alive,
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Is that of which I write.
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And of the prattle that did pass,
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Since He to Us restored was,
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And to His Right and Crown:
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Between some Rusticks and His Grace,
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How he was forc'd from place to place,
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And posted up and down.
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Of their fidelity and care,
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And how they did no labour spare,
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All dangers to prevent,
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Which might His Majesty annoy,
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Or with disturbances destroy,
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And rob him of content.
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So soon as ever the report,
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Was the Kings friends were come to Court,
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To th' presence of the King,
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Without delay access they had,
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And Him to see they were right glad,
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He was a welcome thing.
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To th' Miller then the King did say,
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How hast thou done this many a day,
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And all thy brothers too,
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And Joan thy Wife, how doth she fare?
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With Dick Creswel whose loving care,
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Did furnish me with shooes.
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Mil. He answered, I thank your Grace,
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They all are well, and in this place,
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Attend your Royal Will,
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Whose loyal hearts are all on fire,
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Till you they see whom they desire,
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Tis you their wishes fill.
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Go call them in the King then said,
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He how long since we were dismaid,
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And dangers past shall tell,
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What in Our travels did befall,
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When all Our pleasures seem'd like Call,
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Twill please Us wondrous well.
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Sheph. God bless your Royal Majesty,
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Whom I long time have wisht to see,
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And this your glorious throng:
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Y'are better seated now by far,
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In better case then when you were,
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At Whitladies by Tong.
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Where I your Scout was forct to play,
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And watchful be both Night and day,
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Your person to secure:
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I hope I did a faithful part
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Perform, with loyalty of heart,
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And did my dutie sure.
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Woodm. When a safe entrance I obtaind,
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And ore my head the house had gaind,
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Where then your Highness lay,
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Squire Gifford gave me straight command,
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That with all speed and out of hand,
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I fetch my best array.
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My Jump and Breeches were both green,
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Of Cloth which my own Wife did spin,
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My doublet of Dogskin,
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You lookt as if your Royal Grace,
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Thus clad in my poor homely case,
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A Forrester had been.
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Mil. The Hat dread Sir, you had of me,
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It did well fit Your Majestie,
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It turned up at brim,
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The Shirt Ned Martin did you lend,
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And for a Band George was your friend,
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They made you wondrous trim.
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The Coat you wore before was Buffe,
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Your Doublet of white Linnen Stuffe,
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Your Hose of Cloth that's Gray,
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These we did hide within the ground,
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Lest if they were by any found,
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They might our trust betray.
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King. But tell me now without more strife
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When Wilmot had done with his Knife,
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Who was't reduc'd my Hair?
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Which of you was it did me Barb
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And put me in so neat a garb,
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By Art beyond compare?
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Sheph I with my Shears your Hair did nip
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Wherewith my flock I use to clip,
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And plaid the Barbers part:
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Whereby my aim was then to show,
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How much unto your Grace I owe,
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Of dutie, not of Art.
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Woodm. When I a Bill had given your Grace,
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A weapon fitting for that place,
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We to the Woods did go:
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Where George and Humphry plaid the Scouts,
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To search out all the dangerous doubts,
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Of an appearing foe.
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King. And when the day was well nigh spent
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Stout Dick unto thy house we went,
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With honest Francis Yates.
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Mill. There unto you then was dispos'd,
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A Phraise of Bacon and Egs compos'd,
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Good Cheer (in such a State.)
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By Wils Wood-ladder you climb'd the Oke,
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Where to avoid curst Fortunes stroke,
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Your Person you did hide:
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When Nature did her kindness show,
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Whereby the Leaves so thick did grow,
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You could not be espi'd.
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When you were hungry in the Oke,
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Careless had stor'd up in his poke,
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A hump of Cheese and Bread,
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Which he from Pendrils Wife away,
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For his Provant had got that day,
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On which you stoutly fed.
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Woodm. Sir as I wandred up and down
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For News, and traverst many a Town,
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A sad report I found,
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That he, who where you were could tell,
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And you into their hands would sell,
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Should have a Thousand pound.
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When I to You this News had told,
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And all the business did unfold,
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It rais'd a jealousie:
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Thinking that such poor Clowns as we,
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By such great sums might purchast be,
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To base disloyaltie.
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Which much sad discontent did bring,
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And pierc'd as deep as any sting,
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Into my loyal breast:
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It did my quiet so dismay,
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That for a while, nor night nor day,
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My heart could take its rest.
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Sheph. When you for travel fitted were,
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To Mrs. Lane I course did steer,
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As if I Ayr had been:
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Some Walnut leaves I brought away,
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Which did deface and take away,
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The whiteness of your Skin.
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And as I now do well remember,
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About th' eleventh day of September,
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Met Lane and's sister too:
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Where you were mounted up behinde,
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The Mirror of her Sex and kinde,
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Your Journey for to go.
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And so the King the Brothers five,
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(Who all things did so well contrive,
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Discourse now being ended:)
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Till other Order he could take,
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Or real satisfaction make,
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To Ormonds Earl commended.
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