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EBBA 35463

Houghton Library - Hazlitt EC65
Ballad XSLT Template
THE
Country Girl's POLICY:
OR,
The Cockney Outwitted.
To a pleasant new Tune.

ALL you that are to Mirth inclin'd,
come tarry here a little while,
Pray read it once, and I do not fear,
but that it will make you smile.
The Londoners call us Country Fools,
and laugh at us every Day;
But i'll let them see before I have done,
we know as good Things as they.
A jolly young Girl in Hertfordshire,
that had lately learn'd to Dance,
In less than the space of one whole Year,
she lit of a Child by Chance:
Being very Poor, this cunning Whore,
upon a certain Day,
Resolved was she, the City to see,
so to London she took her way,
With an old Straw Hat, and her Tail pinn'd up,
with Dirt instead of Fringe,

Nor long ago this cunning Slut,
she came to the Royal Exchange,
With the Child in a Basket under her Arm,
close cover'd as 'tis said.
With a clean white Cloth, and at each End
hung out a Goose's Head,
She saw Two Stock-Jobbers standing by,
she then to One did say,
Gaffer, what stately Church is this?
come tell to me I pray.
The other to her smiling said,
how like a Fool you talk,
This is no Church, it is the Change,
where all the Merchants walk.
Is this the Change, good Sir, she said,
a glorious Place it be,
A finer Place in all my Life,
i never before did see,

I'll warrant ye there's fine Chambers in 't
as you and I do live,
And if you'll let me go and see,
a Penny to you I'll give.
The one said, Your Basket I'll hold,
and tarry here below,
While my Consort goes up with you,
the Chambers for to show.
She answered, I am afraid,
that when I do come down,
You will be gone, I would not lose
my Basket for a Crown.
I am not such a Man he said,
and that I'd have you to know;
She gave it him, and with her Guide,
she up the Stairs did go.
She view'd the Pictures very fine,
and did them much admire,
He soon dropt her, she down Stairs run,
and after him did enquire.
She went up to a Merchant,
good honest Man said she,
Did not you see a thick tall Man,
that had two Geese of me?
Alas, he said, poor Country Girl,
our Cocknies are too quick;
Go home and tell your Country Fools,
of this fine London Trick.
She stampt and cry'd, thus to be bit,
make a Body swear,
Never to come to the Royal Exchange,
no more to sell their Ware.
For by a couple of cheating Rogues.
alas, I am undone:
She gave a stampt, and laugh'd aloud,
and then away she run.

The Second PART. To the same Tune.

BUT now we'll to the Jobbers turn,
who thought they had got a Prize,
They stept into an Ale-house,
and sent for both their Wives;
They told to them the Story,
with Hearts both merry and light,
Said they, We will have a Frolick on 't,

and Roast them both to Night.
The Women cry'd, No, one at a time,
and the farther they will go,
The other we'll have at another House,
and order the Matter so.
Thus they began to jangle,
and got on either side,
But all this while the Basket stood,
without ever a Knot unty'd.
Then opening of the Basket,
as i the truth unfold,
There did they find a curious Boy,
just about five Weeks old.
The Women flew in a damnable Rage,
o how they did Scold and Curse:
instead of a Cook, ye Rogues, say they,
you must run and call a Nurse.
The one said, This is your Bastard, Sirrah,
you've had by some common Whore;
if this be your Geese, ye Rogues, said she,
i shall never love Geese no more:
The one she kick'd the Bottle down,
the other whipp'd up the Glass,
And after she had drank the Beer,
she flung it and cut his Face.
There was helter skelter, the Devil to pay,
o how the Pots did fly;
Just as they were in the midst of the Fray,
the Child began to cry:
There was Clouts and Basket all beshit,
such Sights are seldom seen,
i hope it will learn them both more Wit,
how they meddle with Geese again.
They put it out for three Shillings a Week,
which is Eighteen Pence a Piece,
Which they pay every Saturday Night,
in remembrance of their Geese.
Come here's a Health to the Country Lass,
i think she was not to blame,
If she has but the Wit, to take care of her Twat,
she may pass for a Maid again.


Enter'd according to Order.
LONDON: Sold by J. Cobb, in Plumb-Tree-
Street St. Giless.

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