News from Frost-Fair,
Upon the River of Thames,
Being a Description of the BOOTHS, TENTS, Accomodations, Frollicks,
Sports and Humours, of those Innumerable Crowd's of Resorters; the like never
Before Published.
To the Tune of, Come from the Temple to the Bed, etc.
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NOt many years ago
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There fell a mighty Snow,
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And Houses were built of the same,
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In Cabbins so Cold
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Hot Liquors were Sold,
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Where for Novelty sake many came,
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But Eighty three may Boast,
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There ne'r was such a Frost,
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In the Memory of any man alive,
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Thousands on the River throng,
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And many safely march along,
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From Kingston upon Thames, to Queen-Hive.
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The Watermen who ply,
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And were used to cry,
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Next Sculler, next Oars, or next Boat,
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Have Built Houses where,
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They did pass with their Fare,
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And also have changed their Note,
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Joe will you drink a Dram,
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Kind Sir or you Madam,
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Walk in, here's good Room and good Fire,
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Also Brandy, Ale, or Wine,
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Or be pleas'd to Sup and Dine,
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Here is all you can wish or desire.
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Come Let's repair,
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To the Thames there's a Fair,
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No one living ever knew the like before,
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On the Ice is a Town
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Which till now was never known,
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Built in streets quite from shore unto shore;
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Our Wherrys, Sculls and Oars,
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Must Lye on the Shores,
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While in Tents on the Ice we remain,
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Selling Brandy and Ale,
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no matter for a Gale,
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Till the Thames clear of Ice be again.
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The Seaman outward bound,
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Lays his Ship on the Ground,
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Or within some good Harbour or Dock,
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And there it must remain,
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the Ice is gon again,
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'Tis as good as a Key and a Lock,
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No work can be done,
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Lets ashoye everyone,
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No Occasion for the Coxwain an's crue,
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Then above bridge let us go,
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And drink a dram or two,
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With our mess-Mates the Redcoats and blew.
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While some go a Broad,
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Both in Field and in Road,
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With their Guns silly Birds to destroy,
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And others here and there,
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Do track the harmless Hare,
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And the Coneys do couzen and decoy,
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Let us to the Thames,
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On whose frozen streams,
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Strange inventions for pastime is made,
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There is Bak'd, Boyld, and Roast,
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whate're we fancy most,
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Ready drest piping hot to be had.
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Here is Tom the Carman,
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And with him a Spareman,
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Having set up his Cart and his Horses,
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His Wheels he has broke,
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Both Axle-Tree and spoke,
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Better play then to work with such losses;
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The Channels are so froze,
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That he cannot draw o're
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Without the Main strength of a Teem,
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Then away Let's be gone,
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Set up Bayard, Buck and Roan,
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And to Slydeing let's go on the Stream.
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Where shall we go?
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To the Booth here below,
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Or the Sign of the Flying-chamber-pot,
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I do not greatly care,
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Why then let us walk in here,
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I intend for to spend an Old Groat,
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My Grandam us'd to say,
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Against a Rainy day,
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Lay by such a Sum in a Post,
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But for all her Gray head,
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I do find as much need,
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To provide one against a hard Frost.
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See here comes Nan,
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That sold Fish at the Swan,
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And Nell that sold Herbs at the Crown,
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No Oysters nor Sprats
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But at Excessive Rates,
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Which no Vessels, but Carts Bring to Town;
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Then since neither Nan nor Nell
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Can have Ware for to Sell,
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Let us take them with us on the Ice,
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And we[']l be as Merry there,
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As at Bartholmew-Fair,
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I am sure never a one of them is Nice.
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Heres Ninepins Let's play,
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To pass the Time away,
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I'le hold you a Rubbers or two,
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done let it be,
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Go First I am three,
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Or no more but a Tip and a go:
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I that is the best sport,
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Our Time being short,
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Then bring for the Rubbers tother Pot,
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I am most, you have lost,
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Take your money mine Host,
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You are welcome all's paid, is it not.
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To finish my Song,
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I do wish them no wrong,
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Yet I wish that the Ice were away,
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Though some do supply,
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Their Families thereby,
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Yet others it brings to decay,
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I was glad when I saw,
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The Weather like to thaw,
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'Twill be hard for the poore should it hold,
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And when the Season's warm,
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Who wishes for a Storm,
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Or desires to be Frozen with Cold.
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