A Jest; Or, Master Constable.  
To the Tune of, the Three Pilgrims.  

 

A Pretty jest I shall declare.  
Which I not long ago did hear  
Of one who did intend to jéere,  
Master Constable.   

I hope there's none will matter make  
Of that that I intend to speak,  
Of a busy man who the place did take.  
Of a Constable.   

For I hope each wise man wiser is,  
Then to think he is touched in this,  
For thinking so, he thinks amiss,  
'twas a busy Constable.   

For this is but a merry Iest,  
Which will I hope, no man molest,  
For I no grudge bear I protest,  
To any Canstable.   

Then pray you let this poor man pass  
For he for money sings alas,  
Let none then show himself an ass  
Like this Constable.   

He as his Office did direct,  
To set his watch was circumspectly  
And nothing therein did neglect,  
Like a Constable.   

Also when any passed by,  
He did examine them strictly,  
Observing with discretions eye,  
A wise Constable.   

At length it chanced that one came near  
And he demanded who goes there  
You know not( said he without fear  
M●ster Constable.   

Come hither that I may you see,  
And now what are you show to me,  
No Man nor Woman replied he,  
Master Constable.   

Where have you been then asked he  
That you thus crossly answer, me,  
Know you not the authority  
Of a constable.   

Yes I know your authority,  
And I have been for certainty,  
Where you would have been glad to be  
Master Constable.   

Then said the Constable, some end,  
Will come hereof, but say my friend,  
Whither to go do you intend,  
Why good Constable.   

I am going thither where  
You dare not go for your right ears  
What you are set upon the jéere  
said the Constable.   

What is your name pray fel me that  
Who dare so boldly to me prate,  
Be brief, and truth to me relate,  
Said the Constable   

Twenty shillings I am named  
I thereof need not be ashamed,  
Although by you I may be blamed,  
master Constable   

Sir, that hereafter we shall see  
But in the mean time tell to me,  
Where your dwelling place may be,  
Quoth the Constable   

Out of the Kings dominion I,  
do dwell said he assuredly,  
As my Neighbours can testify,  
master Constables   

But in the Kings dominion you  
Are now my friend, and you shall rue  
That still across language you renew  
To a Constable.    

The second part  
to the same Tune.  
 

I Am at your dispose said he▪  
But pray you here this word from me  
You show yourself herein to be  
A wise Constable.   

To prison then incontinent,  
The Constable this good man sent  
Although the same he did repent,  
Like a Constable.   

Before a Iustice the next day,  
The Constable bore him away,  
And to his Worship thus did say,  
Like a Constable.   

Sir in my Watch the last night I  
This fellow took who saucely,  
Iéer'd me and my authority,  
Said the Constable.   

Then quoth the Iustice, what said he?  
That might to you distasteful be,  
And jle between you judge fairly,  
Master Constable.   

First who goes there was ask●d by me  
You cannot tell replied he▪  
And thus he did begin crossly,  
Said the Constable,.   

Come before my authority  
And now what are you tell to me,  
No Man nor Woman replied he,  
Said the Constable.   

Where have you been then Ienquir'd  
Where you to be would have desired  
Thus I again by him was jéerd,  
Said the Constable.   

Weither go you? then said I  
And he still crossly did reply  
Where for my ears I durst not be,  
Said the Constable.   

What is your name sir tell to me,  
Twen●y shillings replied he  
〈◇〉 ●hese answers fit to be,  
Give● a Constable.   

I ●●ke his dwelling place also,  
And he this answer did bestow  
Out of the Kings dominion know,  
Quoth the Constable.   

But when he saw jde him convey,  
To prison until the next day,  
You are quoth he I needs must say,  
A wise Constable.   

you my complaint have heard said he  
Now pray you judge twixt him& me▪  
That I may satisfied be,  
being a Constable.   

Then said the Iustice was not he,  
In drink that he thus answered thee  
If so, that might the reason be,  
Master Constable.   

No, 〈◇〉 your Worship I do vow  
He was as sober as we are now,  
And therefore do no favour show,  
Said the Constable.   

Then said the Iustice what say you,  
Is this that he alleges true,  
If, how durst you such carriage show  
Toward a Constable▪   

Sir I speak truth, first he askd who  
Goes there, I said he did not know,  
If he had he would let me go,  
Like a Constable.   

And I am a tailor by my Trade,  
Who are no men by the proverb made,  
Nor am I a Woman jle persuade  
Master Constable.   

Then next he asked of me where  
I had been; which was at good chéer  
And you'd as gladly have been there,  
Master Constable.   

And I was going thus I said,  
where you durst not go for your head  
For it was with my wife to bed.  
Master Constable.   

And sir, mark Noble is my name,  
And in your ears I dare proclaim,  
That twenty shilling is the same,  
Master Constable.   

The King of great britain is King  
as famed thronghout the world dōh ring  
But in little britain is my dwelling,  
M●ster Constable.   

and I pray your worship further here  
If I in any thing did err  
It was that I did him prefer,  
For a wise Constable.   

And sir he ought give me content;  
Both for my wrong imprisonment▪  
And loss of time with money spent,  
Through the Constable.   

Then said the Iu●●ice good sir hear  
This man makes al his words appear  
To be the truth, and not a jéere  
Master Constable,   

And you have ●éen too much to blame  
To take away thu● his good name,  
And tis fit you pay for the same  
Master Constable.   

You said that he was not in drink  
And therefore come lay down your think  
It is in vain backward to shrink  
Master Constable.   

To pay his charges I you enjoin,  
And a French crown for loss of time  
And friendly drink a pint of Wine.  
So farewell Constable.   

which done that man went merrily home  
His wife rejoiced to see him come,  
Where he to her  told the whole sum,  
Of the Constable.   

Thus of this Constable I end,  
Desiring favour of each Friend,  
For what in mirth by me is penned  
Of ●his Constable.   

But if there's any fault doth find▪  
Such men they have a guilty mind,  
Or too too busy are inclined  
Like this Constable.    
FINIS.   

Entered according to Order.   

London▪ Printed for Francis Grove o●Snow-hill.