—Abindon, or Abingdon, in Berks. An ancient rebus given in Lelandi Itin. ed. 1744, ii. 136.
I saw a fight the other day;
A damsel did begin the fray.
She with her daily friend did meet,
Then standing in the open street;
She gave such hard and sturdy blows,
He bled ten gallons at the nose;
Yet neither seem to faint nor fall,
Nor gave her any abuse at all.
—A pump. MS. Harl. 1962, xvij. cent.
A water there is I must pass,
A broader water never was;
And yet of all waters I ever did see,
To pass over with less jeopardy.
—The dew. From the same MS.
There is a bird of great renown,
Useful in city and in town;
None work like unto him can do;
He's yellow, black, red, and green,
A very pretty bird I mean;
Yet he's both fierce and fell:
I count him wise that can this tell.
—A bee. From the same MS.
As I went over Hottery Tottery,
I looked into Harbora Lilly;
I spied a cutterell
Playing with her cambril.
I cryed, Ho, neighbour, ho!
Lend me your cue and your goe,
To shoot at yonder cutterell
Playing with her cambril,
And you shall have the curle of her loe.
—A man calling to his neighbour for a gun to shoot a deer, and he should have her humbles. MS. ibid.
As I went through my houter touter,
Houter touter, verly;
I see one Mr. Higamgige
Come over the hill of Parley.
But if I had my carly verly,
Carly verly verly;
I would have bine met with Mr. Higamgige
Come over the hill of Parley.