The Jolly Gentleman's FROLICK.
OR, THE
CITY RAMBLE:
Being an Account of a young Gallant, who Wager'd to pass by any of the Watches withs
out giving them an Answer; but being stopp'd by the Constable at Cripple-gate, was
sent to the Counter, afterwards had before my Lord-Mayor, and was clear'd by the
Intercession of my Lord-Mayor's Daughter.
To pleasant new Tune.
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GIve Ear to a Frolicksome Ditty,
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of one that a Wager would lay,
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He'd pass any Watch in the City,
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and never a Word he would say,
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But, Dal, derra, rarra.
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The Constable spake to his Watch-Men,
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brave Boys, it is my Delight;
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And Orders have for to catch Men,
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who ramble too late in the Night:
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Th[e] h[u]mour, etc
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The Streets do eccho, we hear Boys,
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with Mad-Men coming along,
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My Staff is ready, ne'er fear Boys,
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we'll make 'em alter their Song:
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The humour, etc.
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Stand, stand, says the Bell-Man,
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the Constable now come before,
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And if a just Story you'll tell Man,
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I'll light you home to your own Door:
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The humour, etc.
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This is a very late Season,
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which surely no honest Men keep,
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And therefore it is but just Reason
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that you in the Counter should sleep:
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The humour, etc. (sad)
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Take away this same Fellow,
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and him to the Counter convey;
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Although his Frolick is mellow;
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he something tomorrow will say:
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The humour, etc. (sad)
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Open the Gate, make no scorning,
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take Charge of your Prisoner there,
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And we will soon in the Morning
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appear before my Lord Mayor.
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The humour, etc. (sad)
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A Bottle of Claret I'll fill, Sir,
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some Pipes of Tobacco beside;
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And if that it now be your Will, Sir,
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a Bed for you soon we'll provide:
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The humour, etc.
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The Frolick soon eccho'd the Prison,
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the Debtors his Garnish would have,
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Without demanding the Reason;
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whate'er they requir'd, he gave:
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The humour, etc.
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The Constable soon the next Day, Sir,
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this comical Matter to clear;
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The Gentleman hurries straightways, Sir,
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before my Lord-Mayor to appear:
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The humour, etc.
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My Lord, give Ear to my Story,
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while I the Truth do relate;
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The Gentleman standing before ye,
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was seiz'd by me at Cripple-gate:
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The humour, etc. (sad)
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I nothing could hear but his Singing,
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wherefore in the Counter he lay;
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And therefore this Morning I bring him,:
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to hear what your Lordship would say,
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The humour, etc. (sad)
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Come, Friend, the Case do's appear now,
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that you was in a mad Fit,
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I hope that you may be clear now,
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since Sleep has restor'd you your Wit:
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The humour, etc. (sad)
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This Gentleman sure is distracted,
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he's over-heated his Brain:
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Since he thus sillily has acted,
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to th' Counter I'll send him again:
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The humour, etc. (sad)
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A Prison, sure it will tame him,
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and bring him soon to his Sense;
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There's nothing else can reclaim him
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from this his notorious Offence:
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The humour, etc. (sad)
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O then bespoke my Lord's Daughter!
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and thus for him did interceed,
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Dear Father, you'll hear that hereafter
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this is but a Wager indeed?
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The humour, etc.
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Therefore, be pleased, kind Father,
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to hear one Word more of me,
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And shew to me so much Favour,
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this Gentleman may be set free:
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The humour, etc.
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Well Daughter, I grant your Petition,
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the Gentleman home may repair;
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But yet 'tis upon this Condition,
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of paying my Officers there:
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The humour, etc.
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Come, Sir, your Fees we require,
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you freed are now by the Court;
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And all that we do desire
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you'll find out some other new Sport:
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The humour, etc.
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Thus seeing he might be released
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if he his Fees did but pay;
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He then was very well pleased,
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and he went singing away
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The humour etc.
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