Lingua   

The Colliers March

John Freeth
Lingua: Inglese




The COLLIERS MARCH
Tune - - - The Staffordſhire Fox-chace


BRITONS for news upon tip-toe were got
Longing to hear from OLD GIB – or what not;
The ſummer was over, the ſeaſon unkind,
In harvest a ʃnow how uncommon to find;
The times were oppreſſive, -and well be it known,
Hunger will ſtrongeſt of fences break down;
'Twas then from their cells the black gentry ſtept out,
With bludgeons, determin'd to ſtir up a rout.

The Prince of the party, who revel'd from home,
Was a terrible fellow, and call'd IRISH TOM;
He brandiſh'd his bludgeon with dexterous ſkill,
And cloſe to his elbow was plac'd BARLEY WILL;
Inſtantly follow'd a numerous train,
Chearful as bold Robin Hood's merry men;
Sworn to remedy a capital fault,
And bring down th' exorbitant price of the MALT.

From Dudley to Walʃall they trip it along,
And 'Hampton was truly alarm'd at the throng;
Women and children, wherever they go,
Shouting out, ”O the brave Dudley Boys, O !”
Nailors and ſpinners, the cavalcade join,
The markets to lower their flatt'ring deſign;
Regulation of Conſciences holding in view, - - -
But MALTSTERS with Conʃcience have nothing to do.

Six days out of ſeven poor nailing boys get,
Little elſe at their meals but potatoes to eat;
For bread hard they labour, good things never carve,
And ſwore, 'twere as well to be hang'd as to ſtarve:
Such are the feelings in every land,
Nothing Neceſſity's call can withstand;
And RIOTS are certain to ſadden the year,
When Six-penny Loaves but Three-pounders appear.



Pagina principale CCG

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