A COPY OF VERSES PRESENTED To all his Loving Masters and Mistresses, In the town of Lambeth,  By THOMAS OULDMAN, Belman. 
 depiction of a bellman  

The PROLOGUE.  

Good people all, both Old and Young,  
Attend the Merry Belmans' come,  
To wake you with his merry themes,  
And rouse you up out of your Dreams;  
I hope to please some with my Rhimes,  
who pleases all must rise betimes.   

Howe'er my Masters you all know  
I trudge about in Frost and Snow,  
And many a bitter blast endure  
To keep your Houses safe and sure;  
Then Think upon the Belmans' care,  
And so I wish you well to far.    

On a Frosty Mornings,  
ALL you that hear my morning sound,  
When I abroad do walk my Round  
To see your Houses safe and well,  
That you at quiet in them dwell;  
Wherein you may both hug and kiss,  
I think there is no harm in this;  
The morning's cold, creep close together  
For this is much like Winter Weather.   

On a blustering Rainy Night.  
HArk how it blows and Rains, 'tis dirty weather,  
Therefore be ruled by me, lie close together:  
Were I as you are now between the Sheets,  
I would not rise to walk about the streets.   

On Long Nights.  
I Walk abroad a nights and ring my Bell  
To give you notice Masters all is well;  
Though with the noisesome people I offend,  
Yet others still my care they will commend  
I hope you will excuse me for the wrong,  
You may have sleep enough, the nights are long.   

Or the Belman.  
THe danger of the night doth much require  
Your Belman's care for to prevent the fire;  
In walking round to seek and search about,  
To see if that your Fire and Lights be out;  
Your safeties all I do desire to see,  
Your faithful Servant I shall ever be.   

On St. ANDREW.  
SAint Andrew, an Apostle of our Lord,  
Went o'er to Nations to Preach his Sacred word,  
For Christ's dear sake; no Torments he denied,  
Still for the Cross, and on the Cross he died.  
God make us Christians, as St. Andrew was,  
Faithful to Christ, a lover of the Cross.   

For CHRISTMAS Day.  
THis is the Glorious joyful day we keep,  
Arise all drowsy souls now from your sleep:  
This is that happy and most blessed Morn  
Our Saviour Jesus Christ himself was born.  
Let all good Angels in their Quires sing  
O welcome, welcome, to their Heavenly King.   

On St. Stephen's Day.  
ST. Stephen, the first of Martyrs, who did see  
The Heavens to op'e, and Jesus Christ to be  
Set on his Father's Right Hand, there to make  
Prayer and Intercession for Man's sake.  
Awake O Man, awake, arise and Pray  
Call on the Lord, while it is called to day:  
For if the Bridegroom entering, shut the Gate.  
Then may you call, but it will be too late   

On St. JOHN'S day.  
ST. john was chief Apostle of the rest,  
Christ gave him leave to lean upon his breast;  
He in a Revelation saw all that should come  
Upon the World until the Day of Doom;  
Which how nigh 'tis no mortal man can tell,  
Then whilst thou liv'st, endeavour to live well;  
That when Christ comes these words be said to thee  
Come now ye blessed, come and live with me.   

On INNOCENTS' Day.  
HEROD surprised, with grief was discontent  
The Eastern Star, he knew not what it meant  
But was so much astonished at the news  
Of one new born, who shall be King o'th' Jews;  
He then contrived this way to use his Skill  
All newborn Babes he charged his men to kill,  
Thinking thereby this matter to prevent  
But by an Angel was the Virgin sent  
to Egypt, were this blessed Babe was saved,  
With our Redemption on his breast engraved.   

On NEW-YEAR'S Day  
Now let us all Repent, and all begin  
This Year like Christians, turning from our sin:  
For ought we know, before the Year be done  
We may be dead and rotten every one;  
Then is it not high time for to repent?  
Since all our days in Vanity are spent,  
Let us from Heaven beg help while we have time  
For Death takes many in the very prime;  
Ye Young and Old may both together go,  
For none shall scape the Grave we all do know,   

On the World.  
THe World shall pass away, and all therein  
Shall be no more, as if they had not been  
As if they never were; they all shall fade  
They all are moving since they first were made:  
Each word of God is good, and there's no clause  
Of threatening Ruin to those Righteous Laws  
To him that keeps those blessed Commands, for he  
Reward shall have unto Eternity.   

Remembrance  
The time, O man! that thou hast spent in sin  
It is to much, therefore at length begin  
To call to mind that one day thou must die,  
But the time when, thou canst it not descry  
Thou know'st not but Death may come to day,  
And from thy body take thy soul away;  
Therefore repent before thou breathe thy last  
Lest thou wilt wish thou hadst when time is past,   

To his Masters  
MY loving Masters, you all shall plainly see  
My love my care and my fidelyty,  
Since providence did me your Servant choose  
There's nothing for your safety I'll refuse:  
Giving you thanks, and so I shall do ever,  
As long as life doth last, do my endeavour;  
To keep you safe, that you may sleep with joy  
And no disturbance may your state annoy,   

On Love.  
O Man! be careful of your Wife,  
And love her as thou lov'st thy Life,  
And then I dare with boldness say  
There will be quietness every way:  
For women are such necessary things  
Fit Companions for Emperors or Kings;  
Though with my Bell this discourse I raise,  
Yet want a tongue to speak a Woman's praise.   

On Death.  
NOthing more certain is to mortal Men  
Then Death, and yet it 'tis uncertain when;  
For like a Thief, Death on all men doth steal  
And with the Rich and Poor alike doth deal.  
No Kings nor Princes from his Darts are free  
For his Arrest let us prepared be;  
Or else 'twill be for us a dreadful day,  
When he doth come to post us hence away.   

Conclusion.  
ANd now my Worthy Masters, if you please  
To accept my Love in such poor Lines as these,  
I humbly thank you, and will strive to be  
Your faithful servant most continually:  
And that your Health and happiness still may  
Continued be, do I your Bell-Man pray.    

LONDON: Printed Anno Dom. 1686.