Witness, those Rings and Roundelays
Of theirs, which yet remain,
Were footed, in Queen MARY's days,
On many a grassy plain:
But since, of late, ELIZABETH,
And, later, JAMES, came in,
They never danced on any heath,
As when the time hath been.

By which, we note the Fairies
Were of the old Profession!
Their Songs were Ave MARY!'s
Their dances were Procession!
But now, alas, they all are dead;
Or gone beyond the seas!
Or farther for Religion fled;
Or else they take their ease!

A tell-tale in their company,
They never could endure!
And whoso kept not secretly

Their mirth, was punished, sure!
It was a just and Christian deed
To pinch such black and blue!

O, how the common wealth doth want Such Justices as you!

Now they have left our quarters,
A Registrar they have,

Who looketh to their Charters;
A man both wise and grave.
A hundred of their merry pranks,
By one that I could name,

Are kept in store! con twenty thanks
TO WILLIAM for the same!

I marvel, who his cloak would turn,
When Puck had led him round!
Or where those Walking Fires would burn,
Where CURETON would be found!
HOW BROKER would appear to be;
For whom this Age doth mourn!
But that their spirits live in thee,
In thee, old WILLIAM CHOURNE !

TO WILLIAM CHOURNE of Staffordshire;
Give laud and praises due!

Who, every meal, can mend your cheer,
With tales both old and true!
TO WILLIAM, all give audience;
And pray ye for his noddle!
For all the Fairies' Evidence
Were lost, if that were addle!

THE DISTRACTED PURITAN.

Aм I mad? O, noble FESTUS!
When zeal and godly knowledge
Have put me in hope

To deal with the Pope,

As well as the best in his College!

Boldly I preach! hate a cross! hate a surplice,

Mitres, copes, and rochets!

Come, hear me pray nine times a day!
And fill your heads with crotchets !

In the House of pure Emanuel,

I had my education :

Where my friends surmise

I dazzled mine eyes

With the light of Revelation.

Boldly I preach! hate a cross! &c.

They bound me, like a Bedlam!

They lashed my four poor quarters!

Whilst this I endure,

Faith makes me sure,

To be one of Fox's Martyrs!

Boldly I preach! hate a cross! &c.

These injuries I suffer
Through Antichrist's persuasions!
Take off this chain;

Neither Rome, nor Spain,

Can resist my strong invasions!

Boldly I preach! hate a cross! &c.

Of the Beast's ten horns, God bless us! I have knocked off three already!

If they let me alone;

I'll leave him none!

But they say, 'I am too heady!'

Boldly I preach! hate a cross! &c.

When I sacked the Seven-Hilled City;
I met the great red Dragon!
I kept him aloof

With armour of proof;

Though, here, I have never a rag on! Boldly I preach! hate a cross! &c.

With a fiery sword and target;
There, fought I with this monster!

But the Sons of Pride

My zeal deride;

And all my deeds misconster!

Boldly I preach! hate a cross! &c.

I unhorsed the Whore of Babel,
With a lance of inspiration!

I made her stink,

And spill her drink
In the Cup of Abominations!

Boldly I preach! hate a cross! &c.

I have seen Two in a Vision,
With a Flying Book between them!
I have been in despair

Five times a year;

And cured by reading GREENHAM.

Boldly I preach! hate a cross! &c.

I observed in PERKINS' Tables
The black lines of damnation.
Those crooked veins

So struck in my brains,
That I feared my reprobation!
Boldly I preach! hate a cross! &c.

In the holy tongue of Canaan,
I placed my chiefest pleasure;
Till I pricked my foot

With a Hebrew root,

That I bled beyond all measure!

Boldly I preach! hate a cross! &c.