LIMBO.
By the same Author.
Tune.—On a time I was great, now little I’m grown.
I’ll tell you a story, if you please to attend,
When my heart was afflicted with sorrow,
The song it is new, but it’s absolute true;
It’s for nothing that I did buy or borrow:
But I was sent for to Preston’s one day the last week,
There I little expected with what I did meet,
But the country’s all rogues, and the world is a cheat,
And there they confin’d me in Limbo.
Like an innocent lamb to the slaughter I went,
Not knowing what was their intention,
But when I came there, O how I did stare,
When I found out their damned invention.
There was Preston the bailiff, Joe Craggs was his bum,
And there they did seize me, as sure as a gun,
Upstairs then they haul’d me into the back room,
And there they confin’d me in Limbo.
My belly was empty, though my stomach was full,
For to think there how I was trepanned,
Preston pull’d out a paper and made a long scrawl,
And he forc’d me to set my hand to’t.
Then I open’d his closet, I got out a pie,
Then I call’d for liquor, while I was a dry,
I knew somebody would pay for’t, but what cared I?
I wasn’t to starve, though in Limbo.
Another poor fellow there happen’d to be,
Which they had confined in Limbo;
Brother prisoner, says I, how shall we get free,
For want of this thing called rhino?
The poor fellow sat like one was half dead,
Then I gave him claret to dye his nose red;
But I never knew yet how the reck’ning was paid;
I was resolv’d to live well, though in Limbo.
There was Mr Bum and I, we toss’d it about,
Until we began to grow mellow;
Three bottles of claret he there did me give,
Indeed he’s a jolly good fellow:
Full bumpers of claret went round it is true,
Some drank for vexation till twice they did spew,
I ne’er in my life saw so merry a crew,
As we were when I was in Limbo.
There was Ralph Jackson, the tanner, he came in by chance,
And did chatter and talk like a parrot;
And likewise Will Bulmer was one of our number,
For he had a mind to drink claret.
Full glasses went round till I could not see,
O then they were all willing I should go free;
But the devil may pay them their reckoning for me,
For now I have got out of Limbo.
With many a foul step then I stagger’d home,
And it happen’d to be without falling;
I got on my bed, and nothing I said,
But my wife she began with her bawling;
She rung me such a peal, though she’d been not well,
As if she would have rais’d all the devils in hell,
You might have heard her as far as the sound of Bow Bell;
Then I wish’d that I’d stay’d there in Limbo.
A NEW SONG,
For the Year 1764.
BY MR WILLIAM SUTTON.
On the banks of the Tees, at Stockton of old,
A castle there was of great fame we are told,
Where the Bishops of Durham were wont to retreat,
And spend all their summers at that gallant seat.
Derry down &c.
’Twas once on a time, that King John being there,
The chiefs of Newcastle did thither repair;
Humbly pray’d that his Highness would deign for to grant
Them a charter, of which they were then in great want.
The King highly pleas’d with the Bishop’s grand treat,
(Abounding in liquors, and all sorts of meat,)
Their prayer he comply’d with, the charter did sign,
Owing then, as ’twas said, to the Bishop’s good wine.
Old Noll, in his day, out of pious concern,
This castle demolish’d[71], sold all but the barn;
When Nilthorp and Hollis, with two or three more,
Divided the spoils, as they’d oft done before.
The town still improving, became the delight
Of strangers, and others, so charming its sight,
That a bridge cross the river being lately propos’d,
The cash was subscrib’d, and the bargain soon clos’d.
The King, Lords, and Commons approving the scheme,
The bridge was begun, and now’s building between[72]
Two counties, when finish’d, no doubt ’twill produce
Fairs, markets for cattle, and all things for use.
Let us drink then a bumper to Stockton’s success,
May its commerce increasing ne’er meet with distress;
May the people’s endeavours procure them much wealth,
And enjoy all their days the great blessing of health.
Derry down, &c.
[71] The castle and demesnes were sold during the government of the common wealth, 1647, for 6165l. and soon after was dismantled, and the materials disposed of.
[72] The act of parliament for building a bridge, by subscription, was got in 1761, was immediately begun, and was finished in April, 1771, and cost about 8000l.