The Return to Lambeth-Fair.
NO sooner was the fable darkness gone
which did begin 'mongst us in forty one.
But presently the people all with joy.
and Eccho's loud cry'd out Vive le Roy.
Those that had purchase Lands did then repair
With what they bought before at Lambeth-Fair.
And when their Shops, and Stalls, and Booths were made,
with all things fitting for the holy Trade▪
With might and main the people 'gan to flock,
and all were ready their by nine a clock.
The Clerk o'th Fair was presently bespoken,
to give them Liberty their Stalls to open:
Though many (forc'd to fly) then was their doome,
yet now they safely are returned home:
There presently strickt guards were set about
to spy, and keep the Knavish Rabble out:
Proclaim the Fair, the Purchasers all cry'd,
for we dare hardly longer here abide:
The Clark gave leave, the Cryer on a Hill,
standing began to cry with voyce full shrill.
O yes, O yes, O yes, I do cry
Sequestred Trinckets, who will buy
Their own again without mony.
This being done, straight all the Knavish crew,
began with speed their wearing cloths to shew,
Which they had plundered in the Fair before,
and laid so close, they never sin [...]e were wore,
Come Custome [...]s that have long time been crost
b [...] us, and take the goods you latel [...] lost:
Heres Vestments consec [...]ated, of all sorts and sizes,
you may have he [...]e▪ you need not fear the prizes:
They are your own we cannot then deny,
then take them freely now you need not buy:
We do confess on ou our pawes we laid,
and sought likewise your lives to have betrayd:
To [...]ob the [...]hurch we counted not a sin,
but theft and Sacriledge delighted in:
Its strange to see how some away do keep,
what come you all to Lambeth-Fair to sleep:
Take these Lawn-fleves, hang all worldly pelf,
i'le take no chink for what I stole my self:
Come hither friend and take this silken Gown,
i'me su [...]e you cannot matcht in Lambeth-Town:
Many a storm and showre it will abide,
and Rags that we have brought you to will hide:
Tis good and large you cannot have a stronger,
it is your own we dare not keep it longer:
Though we have wo [...]nt its not worse for the wearing,
girt it but close you need not fear the tearing:
Another comes, as if his back would break,
burthend with Vestures, and 'gan thus to speak:
I am o're laden with an unjust pack,
I pray you view them, and see what you lack:
See for your love to ease my misery,
name what you will, I fit you presently:
My pack is like a Wardrop, large and faire,
wherein ile fit you with all sacred ware.
The rarest Knick-knacks in my pack their be,
preservd, as ever mortal eye did see:
Heres rich embrodered ware, take what you please,
Ift be your own, a thousand such as these:
I stole from you before, which now alack,
l [...]es heavy on my Conscience and my back:
Here Dr. take this Tippet, Scarfe and Cope,
the which I fear will bring me to a Rope:
If them I keep; release me o [...] that pain,
by taking of you [...] l [...]wfull goods again:
Take all you [...] goods (I can no longer stay)
for one poor pair of shoes to run away:
Next spake a Cobler, and a man whose spirit
of Treachery a benefice did merit;
And next to him appeard a man of mettle,
who mended souls just like a broken [...]ettle:
The people he could not restrain from V [...]ce,
although he told them of a Pa [...]adise:
Heed take no Tythes for preaching, but would stand
ready to take what ever came to hand:
They could not chuse I do profess but thrive,
that for their living under water dive
For Holyness; these Anti- [...]lungers they,
thus feed on people as do Beasts of prey:
Another crys aloud with Voyce full shrill,
come freely all take what doth please your will:
Hores Crosses, Organs, Chanting pleasant Hymes,
returnd againe with the late-turning times:
With sac [...]ed Fon [...]s, blest Priest, and singing Boyes,
Which we in 41 call'd Apish toyes.
Your Bells Baptiz'd which made a gallant sound,
pray take again, step in and ring them round:
Then after this came in a Regiment▪
of Locusts lately from Cocitus sent,
To draw a mighty Cart wherein was brought
such Churches which the Pu [...]chasers had bought,
Wh [...]ch was no sooner brought, but so well known
that every person seiz'd upon his own:
Then cry'd another, pray good Sir repair
to me and take your own, it is good Ware:
Come says another, Sir what is the reason
you leave the Fair, I hope we smell of Treason
Not so strong, but you'l stay here a [...]e
brave Wedding Rings the best in all the Fair:
To yield to Bishops Cannons I was loath,
but yet am perjur'd by a Cursed Oath
Of Abjuration, no sin scarce known so big
before was as that) sta [...]pt by Haslerigg:
Now Prentices again you may go play,
and exercise your selves each Holy-day:
We cannot hinder you, who were precise,
and yet could with a Sister exercise.
Then next to him a fiery fat-guts there
brought six and twenty Houses to the Fair,
With Whips, and Gags, and Prisons for all those
that should their cursed Factions oppose.
With catch him Varlet, take him to the Jayl,
there let him lye without main-prize or baile:
E're he get from us we will make him see
the pow'r of our fifth-Monarchy to be
Above all Magistrates holy and Civil,
although our selves: run headlong to the Devil:
What all pass by, 'tis strange time turns her wheel,
and bends he [...] brow upon us, that we feel
No custome yet, our Wares be charmed sure,
and (like our selves) their's none will it endure:
tIs doom'd to fate, revil'd and scorn'd,
though ne're so costly, or so much adorn'd.
I never did before see such a Fair,
we profer freely, but none takes our Ware:
Nay scoft and mo [...]let are we by every Jack
that Cryes out Pedlars, take away your pack:
Another, Judas lifting up his voyce,
c [...]y'd out amain, [...]f l [...]vings I have choyce:
Here take them f [...]eely owne [...]s if you please,
i'me sure they brought me [...]oney in at ease:
I was a Puritan, and one devout,
yet to get in, could turn your Worship out
Of all, and some I basely murtehred,
whilst since their Children dy'd for want of bread.
Here take your Common-Prayer-Book one calls,
I stole it out o [...] the Cathedral Pauls:
Mony my hearts another loud doth call,
doth on my Conscience lye, come take it all:
I was a Rumper by times changes risen,
men brought me chink to free them out of Prison:
I'me broke, i'me broke another then did say,
I sat and judg'd my King, that fatall day
Doth make me fear a Traytors death to dye,
therefore no longer can I stay, but flye:
What mean ye sirs, the day is almost spent,
come take your livings all incontinent:
Come hither friends, the price is very small:
Ile give them freely, use [...]nd principall,
Next, mongst this c [...]ue a w [...]etch did the [...]e appear,
who took from's Father fourscore pound a year:
A poor old man whose nature was decay'd,
yet by his Son thus judasly bet [...]ay'd:
He [...]e F [...]ther take y [...]ur own, I dare b [...] bold,
to swear I only k'pt it till you're old.
It now beginning to grow towa [...]d night,
come a Schismatick running in with might,
And cryes be gon, or else we shall be lost,
for now our whole Fanatick▪ lot is crost:
Its folly an [...] more design to Plot,
or to put [...]rust in an ill-thriving Scot.
We ne're shall see those happy days again,
Wherein the Head did yield to ev'ry Vain.
Whilst thus these greedy Purchasers did stay
and call'd their Customers to come away,
A Messenger came riding through the crowd,
And to these Shop-keepers he cry'd aloud,
[...]way to Tiburn, hast and run you thither,
now your shoes are made of running leather;
For all the Laws o'th Land you have out-run,
and I come here to tell you what is done.
Your wares not worth a F— for all your cogging
See where the Hangman comes away be jogging;
For now 'tis well to all the Nation known
could you it keep no man should have his own,
Alas cryd they, Is all our labour lost
was ever mortals thus by fortune crost?
As we ware now in this late Expedition,
and needs must fly, tis Vain for to Petition.
Yet notwitstanding here lyes all our hope
Our heels may save our Necks out of a Rope.
With that like men of Sences quite bereft
they ran away, and all their Trinkets left.
Then came the Owners: Soon the Goods were known
and every man in order took his own.
Thus Fortune tu [...]nd the wheele, and times are mended:
stole goods restord are, and the Fair is ended.
Which tydings jo [...] will to these Nations bring
with Peace and Plenty, so
GOD Save the KING.