THE
New Brackley BALLAD.
To the Tune of the Lampoon of the Four Tunbridge Doctors.
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1.
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SInce England was England, I dare boldly say,
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There ne're was such subjest for Ballad or Play;
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For to Brackley Town, there's lately come down,
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A mighty great Burgess of little renown,
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Most think he was born with the Moon in the Wain------
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Which (Astrologers say) makes an Ebb in the Brain.
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2.
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He set the Taps running, and gave them good Ale,
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The thing in the World that's most like to prevail:
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When Vessels run out, and Drink flies about,
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Let Burghers and Freemen their honesty doubt;
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Who drinks himself into the Parliament-House,
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He may Prate what he will, he'l ne're Vote worth a Lowse.
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3.
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When a Member's in Debt, he will pay off his Scores,
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By Voting for Papists, for Pimps, and for Whores:
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If such men as these, your Pallates will please,
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Great Danby no longer need pay double Fees;
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If he'd but present your base Town with a Charter,
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Poor England, poor England would soon be your Martyr.
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4.
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Your Neighbours of Buckingham shew'd you the way
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Of selling your Birthrights for one merry day;
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They do not remember, the Fifth of November,
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Who Vote for a Papist, a Fool, or a Timber;
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Ravilliac and Clement their labours may spare,
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The great Whore of Babel will soon be your Heir.
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5.
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The Mayor of this Town some men call him Jack Stokes,
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As trusty as Judas, and witty as Nokes;
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He hath a fair Tongue, is very well hung,
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Veracity never will do him much wrong:
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To get an old Debt, or his Lease to renew,
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Our Roscius would Vote for a Turk or a Jew.
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6.
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The next we shall mention is hungry old Stone,
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Who would sell his Religion to purchase a Bone:
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But Churches and Schools, make use of such Tools,
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His Landlord (a Tutor to Mad-men and Fools)
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Doth threaten to make void his Lease, if he Votes
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In behalf of his Country, of Bedlow or Oates.
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7.
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Young Hilton and Wilkins, old Williams and Jakeman,
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As honest as Coleman, and Harcourt or Wakeman;
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To give them their due, of thirty and two
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(Excepting four Members) they're all of a Crew;
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For Harding and * Baldwin would worship the Pope,
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The one for a Charter, the other a Rope.
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8.
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Thus Charters and Town-halls so far can prevail,
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That England already's expos'd unto Sale:
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Methinks through a Cloud, Pym, Hampden and Stroud,
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Draw the Curtains of Heaven and bawl out aloud,
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To warn you and keep you from selling your Laws;
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You know they were Saints for the Parliament Cause.
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9.
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With Bulls and with Masses (this critical hour)
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They'l bribe you to save all the Lords in the Tower:
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The D------ will rejoyce, with heart and with voice,
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When he hears the good news of your half-witted Choice;
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Te Deum laudamus last Sessions was seen
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To be sung for the choosing of Pepys and of Dean.
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