News from the River of Thames.  
To a Pleasant New Tune.  
THE Winter is exceeding cold, poor People find it so; I think there's  
neither young nor old, that e'er the like did know: The famous Ri-ver  
of the Thames, is now a Highway made; And there is Booths and  
Shops al-so, set up of every Trade.  

Now Lovers with their Sweethearts go,  
Unto the Frozen Fair,  
Some Silver Presents to bestow;  
On some, fine China 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 Fair,  
And there's laid out good store of Gild,  
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 Goldsmith's Shops well customed are,  
And Pewterers also;  
Such an Icey-Frozen-Fayr  
The World did never know.  
There's seeming Boats composed by Art,  
That slide on with a sail;  
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'er was seen:  
There's Nine-Pins Played, and Pigin-holes,  
And many sports beside:  
There scarcely any Waterman  
Can tell how runs the Tide.   

The Bonny Watermen that used  
To cry, Where shall I Land ye?  
With some Old Curtains make a Booth,  
And there sell Ale and Brandy.  
There's Fiddling, and there's Dancing too;  
The like was never before;  
A man can very hardly know  
The Water from the Shore.   

Slideing in Scates there you may see,  
To all men's Admiration,  
And England almost seems to be  
Like to another Nation.  
All things Topsie Turvy turned,  
As may be well Observed;  
And many Poor that well have Lived,  
Half Famished are, and Starved.   

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 Sovereign 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 Will  
That no Allegiance knows.    

Printed on the Frozen-Thames, by the Loyal Young Printers, viz. E. and A. Milbourn. S. Hench. J. Mason. 1683.