The Fox too Cunning for the Lyon.
OR,
The Foxes feast, wherein is exprest
Many a witty but most trne jest,
Both old and young of it take a view,
And by experience you'l say it's true.
To the Tune of, the Three Cheators.
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A Den of Foxes on a day
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Met together as men say,
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Where they used to frequent,
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Into a hole then straight they went;
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Thus one unto the other said,
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the Foxes wills shall be obey'd.
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Where a Counsell they did hold
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Scorning for to be controul'd;
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One more cunning then the rest
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In a Robe himself then drest;
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Then give ear and understand
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there's many Foxes in this Land.
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One Robed like a Fryer some say,
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Did imitate to Preach and Pray
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Unto the Geece like Nuns attired,
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For his heart by them was fired,
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Beloved sister then he said,
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draw near to me be not afraid.
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And although I am not tall
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I have longing bowells for you all.
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If they were Nuns he lov'd them dear
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But they were Geece it doth appear:
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He did seduce them by a wild,
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and every one of them beguil'd.
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A mighty feast they then did hold,
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Of hollow fouls as I was told;
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And then went to the Lyons Cave
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Dearly longing that to have
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A cunning plot by them was laid,
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which made the Lyon sore affraid.
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And by their subtlety (as then)
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They forc't the Lyon from his den.
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Then by their subtlety and strength,
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The Lyon then intrapt at length:
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Then cruelly they did him flay
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to have his den therein to play.
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The young Lyons then did flye,
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(Not daring for to stay thereby)
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To seeke more Lyons in a Land
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The Foxes strength for to withstand;
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And intending to pursue,
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are returning with their crew.
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One Fox more subtle then the rest,
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Stood strutting up and did protest,
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That he and his young ones then
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Would have the dreadfull Lyons den,
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With one consent perforce (they said)
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this Foxes will must be obey'd,
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The Second Part to the same Tune.
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ANd whilst within that he did stay
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He frighted all the rest away,
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The greedy Fox with price of gore,
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Did feed on plate and silver ore:
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But having fed beyond his strength
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He fell sick and dy'd at length.
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The frighted Foxes then return'd
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But for the other never mourn'd,
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They drove the young whelp out of his den
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And possest themselves agen
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Of their former playing place,
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To the dead Foxes much disgrace.
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There was another Fox beside
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That in his tail did take such pride,
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So cruelly was he bent then,
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He fed upon poor wounded men;
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And now he's gone as I hear tell
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To fright the Devill out of Hell.
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Another he had gain'd such power
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That he held a mighty Tower,
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That no one durst him withstand,
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Of such power was his command,
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But the rest would not obey,
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But forc't him for to run away.
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The was a fair kept in the West,
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And in a Booth they kept a feast,
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The Foxes hearing of such cheer
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Put the feasters in such fear,
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That for fear they ran away,
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And the Foxes had a gallant prey.
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From the North came such a wind
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The Foxes fear'd their tayls behind,
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They sent one then with all speed
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To beat them back if there be need:
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Afterwards they set him free,
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For of their Rump he must not be.
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Another Fox had but one eye,
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After him went a Hue and cry,
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'Cause out of sight and under shade,
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He did use the Cobling trade:
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For killing many I have heard,
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He was hang'd up in Pauls Churchyard
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Of Foxes we no number know,
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Because that they are Lambs in show.
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You that hunt Foxes have a care,
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Least that it do your health impare,
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And of late to mind I call,
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I caught a Fox that made me fall.
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