News from the River of Thames.
To a Pleasant New Tune.
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THE Winter is exceeding cold, poor People find it so; I think there's
[...]
neither young nor old, that e're the like did know: The famous Ri-ver
[...]
of the Thames, is now a High-way made; And there is Booths and
[...]
Shops al-so, set up of ev'-ry Trade.
Now Lovers with their Sweet-hearts go,
Unto the Frozen Fayr,
Some
Silver Presents to bestow;
On some, fine
Chyna Ware.
Roast Beef
is likewise Plentiful;
And some Drink
Brandy so,
That how to speak a Word of sense
By no means they do know.
Now from the
Temple there is Built,
A pretty Street or Fayr,
And there's laid out good store of Guilt,
In every sort of Ware.
Coaches running up and down
As if it were a Road:
But this, the Labouring Watermen,
Doth greatly discommode.
The
Gold-Smiths Shops well custom'd are,
And
Pewterers also;
Such an Icey-Frozen-Fayr
The World did never know.
There's seeming Boats compos'd by Art,
That slide on with a sayl;
And those that such Contrivance find,
It doth them much Avail.
Bull-Bayting, and Bear-Bayting too,
Upon the
Thames hath been;
The like before I tell to you
By no man e're was seen:
There's Nine-Pins Plaid, and Pigin-holes,
And many sports beside:
There scarcely any VVaterman
Can tell how runs the Tide.
The Bonny Watermen that us'd
To cry,
Where shall I Land ye?
With some Old Curtains make a Booth,
And there sell
Ale and
Brandy.
There's Fidling, and there's Dancing too;
The like was ner'e before;
A man can very hardly know
The Water from the Shore.
Slideing in Scates there you may see,
To all mens Admiration,
And
England almost seems to be
Like to another Nation.
All things Topsie Turvy turn'd,
As may be well Observ'd;
And many Poor that well have Liv'd,
Half Famish't are, and Starv'd.
Oh! That the Rich consider would
The Poor now in distress,
And call to mind how that ye should
Not be so Pittyless.
In God's good Time I hope we shall
An alteration find;
Thus I do wish, God bless you all
That bear an Honest Mind.
God Prosper long our Soveraign KING
And happy let Him be;
That all from
Royal Race do Spring
Live in Prosperity.
Let Heavenly Power Protect
YORK still,
And keep him from his Foes;
Let them be crossed in their VVill
That no
Allegiance knows.
Printed on the Frozen-Thames, by the Loyal Young Printers, viz. E. and A. Milbourn. S. Hinch. J. Mason. 1683.