The Fairy Queen.  
Her invitation to those Elves,  
That in the night do sport themselves,  
Of them a just Character here,  
Deciphered is as't shall appear.  
To the tune of, The Spanish Gypsies.  
 

COme follow follow me,  
You Fairy Elves that be,  
That trip it on the Green,  
Come circle me your Queen,  
Hand in hand we'll dance a round,  
For this place is Fairy ground.   

Upon the dewy grass,  
So nimbly we can pass,  
Your young and tender stalk,  
Ne'er bends when we do walk,  
Yet in the morn it may be seen,  
Where we the night before have been,   

When mortals are at rest,  
And snorting in their nest,  
Through keyholes close we slide,  
Unheard or unespied:  
Over Tables stools, and shelves,  
We trip it with our Fairy Elves.   

And if the house be foul,  
Either platter, dish, or bowl,  
Up stairs we nimbly creep,  
And find the sluts asleep:  
There we pinch them arms and thighs,  
None doth hear, nor none espies.   

But if the house be swept,  
And all things cleanly kept,  
We praise the household Maid,  
And surely she is paid;  
For 'tis our use before we go,  
To leave a Tester in her shoe.   

Upon a Moshrompe head,  
Our tablecloth we spread,  
The manchet that we eat,  
Is a grain of Rye or wheat:  
The pearly drops of dew we drink,  
In acorn cups filled to the brink.   

The brains of Nightingales,  
With the unctuous dew of Snales,  
Between two nutshells stewed,  
Is meat that's easily chewed:  
The brains of Wrens, the breasts of Mice  
Doth make us feasts of wondrous price   

The grasshopper, Gnat, and Fly,  
Our Minstrels plays supply,  
And with that a while,  
We do the time beguile:  
And when the Moon doth hide her head,  
The glow-worm lights us to our bed,    


Being the Pastimes and other Slights,  
Of will-with-a-wisp, and other mad Sprights.   

 
YOu Airy sprights not a few,  
Of Robin-good-fellowes crew,  
Let's our old sports renew,  
Until the sky look blue:  
That mortal men may know and see,  

What cunning, merry, mad blades we be.    

Ignis Fatuus first,  
Among the Fairies nursed,  
By Travellers often cursed,  
By putting them to the worst:  
But they shall with amazement see,  

What cunning, merry, &c.    

Full many a jovial spark,  
I put beside his mark,  
As he walks home i'th' dark,  
Through forest Grove, or park;  
He by a feigned fire may see,  

What cunning, &c.    

A small deluding light,  
Presents itself in sight,  
And leads him with delight,  
Through uncouth paths all night,  
All weary rent, and torn he'll see,  

What cunning, &c.    

'Tis called Will with a wisp,  
But term it what you list,  
It is most manifest  
That many men have missed,  
Their way thereby, and thus you see,  

What cunning, &c.    

Old Robin-good-fellow likewise,  
In many a strange disguise,  
Plays many an enterprise,  
To blind the people's eyes,  
In sundry shapes he'll let you see,  

What cunning, &c.    

Your gallants that venture fair,  
To steal either horse or Mare,  
Them in that shape he'll bearse  
Through water, earth and mire,  
In wet and dirty case they see,  

What cunning &c.    

Sometimes to them he appears,  
A fat Weather, which he that bears,  
Were as good to lose his ears,  
For with tormenting fears  
The burdens vanished then they see,  

What cunning, &c.    

Sometimes he subtly jeers,  
Nightwalking wastcoatéeres,  
When like a man he appears,  
And them to the Constable bears,  
Then in Bridewell they feel and see,  

What cunning, etc,    

Thus Robin and the rest,  
Not needful to be expressed,  
(In human feature dressed)  
Play many a merry jest;  
And thieves upon the gallows see,  

What cunning, &c.    

For when they have lost the game,  
Then thus they do exclaim,  
The devil ought me a shame,  
And now he has paid the same;  
All such as these with shame shall see,  

What cunning, &c.    

These things and more beside,  
Might here be specified,  
But let the case be tried,  
Our penman hath not lied,  
For mortals by experience see,  

What cunning, merry, mad blades we be.     
FINIS.   

Printed for Edw. Wright in Giltspur-street.