Iv

All thy comfort, dimber dell, Is, now, since thou hast lost thy prime, That every cull can witness well, Thou hast not misus'd thy time. There's not a prig or palliard living, Who has not been thy slave inroll'd. Then cheer thy mind, and cease thy grieving; Thou'st had thy time, tho' now grown old.

[1: pretty wench] [2: Notes] [3: eyes] [4: man; look at] [5: Notes]

THE OATH OF THE CANTING CREW [Notes] [1749]

[From The Life of Bampfylde Moore Carew, by ROBERT GOADBY].

I, Crank Cuffin, swear to be True to this fraternity; That I will in all obey Rule and order of the lay. Never blow the gab or squeak; Never snitch to bum or beak; But religiously maintain Authority of those who reign Over Stop Hole Abbey green, Be their tawny king, or queen. In their cause alone will fight; Think what they think, wrong or right; Serve them truly, and no other, And be faithful to my brother; Suffer none, from far or near, With their rights to interfere; No strange Abram, ruffler crack, Hooker of another pack, Rogue or rascal, frater, maunderer, Irish toyle, or other wanderer; No dimber, dambler, angler, dancer, Prig of cackler, prig of prancer; No swigman, swaddler, clapper-dudgeon; Cadge-gloak, curtal, or curmudgeon; No whip-jack, palliard, patrico; No jarkman, be he high or low; No dummerar, or romany; No member of the family; No ballad-basket, bouncing buffer, Nor any other, will I suffer; But stall-off now and for ever All outtiers whatsoever; And as I keep to the foregone, So may help me Salamon! [By the mass!]

[1: Notes] [2: reveal secrets] [3: betray to bailif or magistrate] [4: Notes] [5: Notes] [6: Notes; beggar] [7: Notes]

COME ALL YOU BUFFERS GAY [Notes] [1760]

[From The Humourist .... a choice collection o£ songs. 'A New Flash Song', p. 2].