A COPY of VERSES presented To all my Worthy Masters and Mistresses in the Parish of Lambeth. By ANDREW MAXSEY Belman. The PROLOGUE. What dangers of the night do then pursue Behold here comes your Servant Andrew And now methinks it doth some senses ravish To hear me ring my Bell in Lambeth Parish. From South Lambeth to Fox Hall I do go And through the town kind Sirs you all do know, Where oftentimes I try yo●● doors with knocks In hopes you'll not forget my Christmas Box. For Christmas-Day. ●He Son of God and supreme King of King's 〈◊〉 Doth teach us to despise all worldly things, 〈◊〉 bend our minds to things supernal 〈◊〉 fly things transitory, and seek eternal, ●●ereby to inherit his Kingdom of Salvation ●hich is the only end of our Creation. For St. Stephen's Day. 〈◊〉 Steven was a man to be bemoaned ●●r Preaching of God's word the Jews him stoned, ●nd therewithal bereaved him of his life ●●at never was indicted unto strife, 〈◊〉 prayed his Enemies all might be forgiven ●nd now remains a blessed Saint in Heaven. For St. John's day. Awake kind sirs, this morning think upon The Holy Evangelist named Saint John, Who writ of Christ our Lord's Devinity ●or the good benefit of our posterity. ●hen thanks to God that did so gracious prove 〈◊〉 send his only Son our sins for to remove. On man's Life, Psalm 39 Man's life it is compared to a span, So frail and weak is every man; We are here to day and gone to morrow And all our days are full of sorrow, Therefore let us make God our friend That well may be in time our latter end. October 29. This day the Lord Mayor's show is to be seen Both Men and Paggins are clothed all in green, The King and Queen attend upon his honour And Marshal train will be their Bannor, Greeting the Lord Mayor as his Aldermen pass by And so to Gild Hall they ride triumphantly. portrait of bellringer Suppose each ringing Knel puts thee in mind Take heed that death thee unprepared not find For thou art in the way unto the Grave, But so in all thy life thyself behave As if you were the man whose turn is next And wouldst not with a sudden death be vexed November 17. The first Queen that did rule this famous Land Did Tyrannize with a high ruling Command Elizabeth that renowned and famous Queen God's Gospel in her life she did bravely maintain And kept her subjects all both safe and sound Therefore still let her honour be renowned. On Mortality. 〈…〉 man that die you must 〈…〉 returned to the dust Where nothing there shall you bereave No enemy neither Moth nor Thief Therefore repent while time you have There is no Repentance in the Grave. A welcome home for Seamen, Welcome kind sir, now lately come a shore And the dangers of the Seas you have passed o'er Now you are come unto your dwelling place The Lord preserve you with his aiding grace, God bless you now and keep you from sorrow Your Bellman bids you heartily good morrow. On God's power, The God of Power preserve us all And send us grace on him to call To pardon sin which now is past That so we may have joy at last In Heaven, where nothing else shall be But continually joy and felicity. On the Wether. What weather next can we desire to have We wanted Frost and Frost to us God gave, And having frost we seemed not be content We wanted Snow and snow to us God sent, Out of the South he caused the winds to blow Dissolved the frost and quite consumed the Snow. The Belman's Care. Kind sirs my duty I am free to do And it is in hopes thereby to please you 〈◊〉 Walking about and ringing of this my Bell And finding that all things are safe and well Then turn again to rest and sound sleep And God I hope will you in safety keep. The EPILOGUE. Thanks noble Masters kind that you me give I hope thereby your dearest souls may live That when you die your souls return to rest To live with Saints and Angels always blest. Returning thanks to Masters and Mistresses all And through the Town and Mash I call For all grand Rogues and Thiefs I do defy And rather than i'll see you wronged i'll die. Printed by H. Brugis for Andrew Maxsey 1680.