THE King and Northern Man: Showing how a poor Northumberland Man (Tenant to the King) being wronged by a Lawyer (his Neighbour) went to the King himself to make known his Grievance.  
To the Tune of, Slut, etc.  
Licenced and Entered.  
 
 

TO drive away the weary day,  
a book I chanced to take in hand,  
And therein I read assuredly,  
a story as you shall understand:   

Perusing many a History over,  
amongst the leaves I chanced to view,  
The books name and title is this,  
The Second Lesson, too good to be true.   

There read I of a Northumberland Man,  
that was born and brought up in the King's land,  
He paid twenty shillings rend a year  
to the King, as I do understand:   

By him there dwelled a Lawyer false,  
that with his farm was not content,  
But over the poor Man still hanged his nose,  
because he did gather the King's rend.   

He told him he his lease had forféit,  
and that he must there no longer abide:  
The King by such Loons hath much wrong done,  
and for you the World is broad and wide.   

The poor Man prayed him for to cease,  
and content himself, if he would be willing,  
And pick no vantage in my lease,  
and I shall give thee forty shilling.   

It's neither forty shilling, nor forty pound,  
i se warrant thee, can so agree thee and me,  
Unless thou yield me thy farm so round,  
and stand to my courtesy.   

The poor Man said, I may not do so,  
my Wife and my Bearns will make ill work; mark.  
If thou with my farm wilt let me go,  
thou seem'st a good Fellow, i se give thee five   

The Lawyer would not be so content,  
but further i'th' matter he means to smell:  
The Neighbours had the poor Man provide his rent,  
and make a submission to the K. himsel.   

He got a humble staff on his back,  
a jerkin, I wots, that was of grey:  
With a good blue bonnet, he thought it no lack;  
to the King he is ganging as fast as he may.   

He had not gone a mile out o'th' Town,  
but one of his Neighbours he did espy;  
How far is't t'th ' King, for thither i'm bound;  
as fast as ever I can hie.   

I am sorry for you, Neighbour, he said,  
for your simplicity I make moan,  
I'll warrant you, you may ask for the King,  
when nine or ten days journey you have gone.   

Had I witted the King had word so far,  
i se never a sought him a Mile out o'th' town  
He's either had sought me, or we'd ne'er ha' come near,  
at home I had rather ha' spent a crown.   

But when he came to the City of London,  
of every Man he for the King did call:  
They told him, that him he need not to fear,  
for the King he lies now at the Whitehall,   

And with ' spying of Farues in the City,  
because he had never been there before,  
He lee so long a bed the next day,  
the Court was removed to Windsor that morn.   

You ha' lay too long, than said his Host,  
you ha' lay too long by a great while:  
The King is now to Windsor gone,  
he's further gone by twenty mile.   

I think I was cursed, then said the poor Man,  
if I had been wise I might ha' consider,  
Belike the King of me has gotten some were,  
he had ne'er gone away, had not I come hither.   

He fled nor for you, than said his Host,  
but hie you to Windsor as fast as you may:  
Besure it will require your cost,  
for look what is past the King will pay?   

But when he came to Winds●or Castle,  
with his humble staff on his back,  
Although the gates wide open stood,  
he laid on them till he made 'em crack.   

Why stay, pray Friend, art mad quoth the Porte●,  
what makes thee keep this stir to day?  
Why, I am a Tenant of the King's,  
who have a message to him to say.   

The King hath Men enough, said the Porter,  
your message well that they can say.  
Why, there's ne'er a Knave the King doth keep,  
shall ken my secret mind to day:   

I were told  I came from home,  
 I got hither it would be dear bought,  
Let me in, i se give thee a single penny,  
I see thou wilt ha' small,  thou do it for nought.   

Gramercy, said the Porter then,  
thy reward is so great I cannot say nay:  
Yonder's a Nobleman within the Court,  
I'll first hear what he doth say.   

When the Porter came to the Nobleman,  
he said he would show him pretty sport,  
There's sike a Clown come to the gate,  
as come not these seven years to the Court.   

He calls all Knaves the King doth keep,  
he raps at the gates, and makes great din;  
He's passing liberal of reward,  
he'd give a good single penny to be let in.   

Let him in, than said the Nobleman,  
Come in Fellow, the Porter 'gan say;  
If thou come within thyself, he said,  
thy staff behind the gate must stay;   

And this Cuckold's cur must lig behind,  
what a Deel, what a Cur hast got with thee?  
The King will take him up for his own sell,  
Ise warrant when as he doth him see.   

Beshrew thy limbs, than said the poor Man,  
then mayst thou count me a Fool or worse,  
I wots not what Bankrupt lies by the King,  
for want of money he may pick my purse.   

Let him in with his staff and dog, said the Lord,  
he gave a nod with's head, and a bend with's knee,  
If you be Sir King, then said the poor Man,  
as I can very well think ye be:   

For as I was ●old  I came from home,  
you're goodliest Man that e'er I saw before,  
With so many jingle jangles about one neck,  
as is about yours, I never saw none,   

I am not the King said the Nobleman.  
Fellow, though I have a proud coat.  
If you be not the King, help me to the speech of him,  
you seem a good Fellow, i se give you a Groat.   

Gramercy, said the Nobleman.  
thy reward is so great, I cannot say nay;  
I'll go know the King's pleasure, if I can,  
till I come again besure you stay.   

Here's sike a staying, then said the poor Man,  
belike the King's better than any in our Country  
I might a gane to the farthest nuke i'th' house,  
neither Lad nor Loon to trouble me.   

When the Nobleman came to the King,  
he said he could show his Grace good sport,  
Here's such a Clown come to the gate,  
as came not this seven years to the Court.   

He calls all Knaves your Highness keeps,  
and more than that, he terms them worse,  
He'll not come in without his staff and dog  
for fear some Bankrupt will piek his purse.   

Let him in with his staff, than said our King,  
that of his sport we may see some:  
We'll see how he●ll handle every thing,  
as soon as our matth of Bowls is done.   

The Nobleman led him through many a room,  
and through many a gallery gay;  
What a deel doth the King with so many Houses,  
that he gets them not filled with corn and hay?   

At last they ' spied the King in a garden,  
yet from his game he did not start;  
The day was so hot, he cast off his doublet,  
he had nothing from his waist but his shirt.   

Lo yonder's the King, said the Nobleman,  
behold, follow, lo here he goes:  
believes he's some Unthrift, says the poor Man,  
that has lost his money, and pawned his .   

But when he came before the King,  
the Nobleman did his courtesy:  
The poor Man followed after him,  
and gave a nod with's head, and a bend with's knee:   

And if you be Sir King, then said the poor Man,  
as I can hardly think ye be:  
Here is a good Fellow that brought me hither,  
is liker to be the King than ye.   

I am the King, his Grace now said,  
Fellow, let me thy case understand.  
If you be Sir King, I'm a Tenant of yours,  
that was born and brought up in your own land:   

There dwells a Lawyer hard by me,  
and a fault with my lease he saith he hath found,  
And all was for felling five poor ashes,  
to build an house upon your own ground.   

Hast thou a lease here, said our King?  
or canst thou show to me the deed?  
He gave it into the King's own hand,  
and said, Sir, here 'tis, if that you can read.   

Let's see thy lease, than said the King,  
then from his black box he pulled it out,  
He gave it into the King's own hand,  
with four or five knots, tied fast in a clout.   

Wouldst never unloose these knots, said the King,  
he gave it to one that behind him did stay.  
It is a proud Horse, than said the poor Man,  
will not carries own provender along the highway:   

Pay me forty shillings, as i se pay you,  
I will not think much to unloose a knot;  
I would I were so occupied every day,  
I'd unloose a score of 'em for a great.   

When the King had gotten these letters read,  
and found the truth was very so,  
I warrant thee, thou hast not forfeit thy lease,  
if thou hadst field five Ashes more.   

Ay, every one can warrant me,  
but all your warrants are not worth a flee,  
For he that troubles me, and will not let me go,  
neither cares for warrant of you nor me.   

Thou'st have an Injunction, said our King,  
from troubling of thee he will cease,  
He'll either show the good cause why,  
or else he'll let thee live in peace.   

What's that Injunction? said the poor Man:  
good Sir, to me I pray you say,  
Why, it is a letter I'll cause to be written;  
but art thou so simple as thou show it to day?   

Why if't be a Letter, I'm never the better,  
keep it to thyself, and trouble not me;  
I could ha' had a letter written cheaper at home  
and ne'er a come out of my own Country.   

Thou'st have an Attachment said our King,  
charge all that thou seest take thy part.  
Till he pay thee a hundred pound,  
besure thou never let him start:   

If any seem against thee to stand,  
besure thou come hither straightway.  
Ay, marry, is that all i se get for my labour,  
than I may come trotting every day.   

Thou art hard of belief, than said our King,  
to please him with letters he was willing,  
I see you have taken great pains in writing,  
with all my heart i se give a shilling.   

I'll have none of thy shilling, said our King,  
Man, with thy money God give thee win,  
He threw it into the King's bottom,  
the money lay cold next to his skin.   

Beshrew thy heart, than said our King,  
thou art an Carl something too bold;  
Dost thou not see I am hot with Bowling,  
and the money next my skin lies cold.   

I never witted that before said the poor Man,  
before sike time as I came hither,  
If the Lawyers in our Country thought 'twas cold,  
they would not heap up so much together.   

The King called up his Treasurer;  
and bade him fetch him twenty pound;  
If ever thy errand lie here away,  
I'll bear thy charges up and down.   

When the poor Man saw the Gold down tendered  
for to receive it he was willing:  
If I had thought the King had had so much gold  
beshrew my heart, i'd ha' kept my shilling.   

The poor Man got home the next Sunday,  
the Lawyer soon did him espy;  
O Sir, you have been a Stranger long,  
I think from me you have kept you by.   

It was for you indeed, said the poor Man,  
the matter to the King, as I have tell:  
I did as my Neighbour put into my head,  
and made a submission to him my sell.   

What a Devil didst thou with the King, quoth Lawyer,  
could not Neighbours & Friends agree thee & me?  
The Devil a Neighbour or Friend that I had,  
that would have been such a Day's Man as he:   

He has gi'en me a letter, but I know not what they call't.  
but if the King's words be true to me  
When you have read and perused it over,  
I hope you'll leave, and let me be.   

He has gi'en me another, but I know not what too,  
but I charge you all to hold him fast,  
Till he pay me an hundred pound  
I will go tie him fast tull a post.   

Marry God forbidden, the Lawyer said,  
than the Tachment was read before them there,  
Thou must needs something credit me,  
till I go home and fetch some mear.   

Credit, nay that's it the King forbade,  
he bade if I got thee I should thee stays  
The Lawyer paid him an hundred pound  
in ready money  he went away.   

Would every Lawyer were served thus,  
from troubling poor Men they would cease;  
They'd either show him good cause why,  
or else they'd let him live in peace.   

And thus I end my merry song,  
which shows the plain Man's simpleness,  
And the King's great mercy in righting wrongs  
and the Lawyer's fraud and wickedness.    

London: Printed by and for W. O. and are to be sold by the Booksellers in Pie-corner and London-bridge.