ACCIDENCE

BY your fair leave Gentlemen of Court; for leave is ever fair being asked; and granted is as light, according to our English Proverb, Leave is light. Which is the King I pray you? Of Nottinghamshire. As far as his Command stretches. This is no great man by his timber (as we say in the Forest) by his thews he may. I'll venture a Partly of Speech, two, or three at him; to see how he is declined. My Lord, Pleases your good Lordship, I am a poor Neighbour, here, of your Honours, in the County. This is the more remarkable man, my very good Lord; Father Fitz-ale, Herald of Darby, Light, and Lanthorn of both Counties; the learned Antiquary of the North: Conserver of the Records of either Forest, as witnesseth the brief Tabard, or Coat Armour he carries, be king and industrious Collection of all the written, or reported Wonders of the Peak. SAint Anne of Buxstons boiling Well, Or Elden bottomless, Like Hell: Pools-hole, or Satans sumptuous Arse, (Surreverence) with the Mine-mens Farce. Such a light, and metalled Dance Saw you never yet in France. And by Lead-men, for the nonce, That turn round Like grindlestones: Which they dig out from the Delves, For their Bairnes-bread, Wives, and sell's: Whom the Whetstone sharps to eat, And cry Millstones are good meat. He can fly over hills, and dales, And report you more odd tales, Of our Outlaw Robinhood That revealed here in Sherewood; And more stories of him show (Though he never shot in his Bow.) Then au' men, or believe, or know. At Quintin, he, In honour of this Bridaltee, Hath challenged either wide County; Come Cut, and Longtail. For there be Six Bachelors, as bold as he, Adjuting to his Company, And each one hath his Livery; Scarlet is too deer. Of old England the Yeoman blue. And cleped was the Abbots man. And Russet-hood keeps all in Awe. Russet-hood. Bold Bachelors they are, and large, And come in at the Country charge; Horse, Bridles, Saddles, Stirrups, Girts, All reckoned of the County skirts! And all their Courses, miss, or hit, Intended are, for the Shear -wit, And so to be received. Their game Is Country sport, and hath a name From the Place that bears the cost, Else all the Fat in the Fire were lost. Go Captain Stub, led on, and show What house you come on, by the blow You give Sir Quintin, and the Cuff, You escape of the Sandbags Counterbuff. Oh well run, Yeoman Stub! Thou hast knocked it, Like a Club, And made Sir Quintin know: By this his raze so good; He himself is also wood; As by his furious blow. Well run Green-hood, God between, Under the Sandbag, he was seen, Louting low, Like a For'ster green: give the old England Yeoman his endue, He has hit Sir Quin: just in the Queen: Though that be black, yet he is blue. It is a brave patch, and a new! Had his pair of tongues, not so much good, To keep his head, in his Motley -hood? He lost no stirrup, for he had none. 1. His horse, it is the Heralds wove. 2. No it's a mare, and hath a cleft. 3. She is Countrey-borrow'd, and no veil, But's hood is forfeit to FitZ-ale. Here Accidence did break them of, by calling them to the Dance, and to the Bride, who was dressed Like and old May-Lady, with Skarfes, and a great wrought Handkerchief, with read, and blue, and other habili ments. Six Maids attending on her, attired, with Buckram Bride-laces beguiled: White sleeves, and Stammell Petticoats, dressed after the cleanliest Country guise; among whom Mistress Alphabet, Master Accidence is Daughter, did bear a prime sway. The two Bride Squires, the Cake-bearer, and the Boll-bearer, were in two yellow leather Doublets, and russet Hose, Like two twin-Clownes pressed out for that office, with Livery Hats, and Ribbons. Come to the Bride; another fit, Yet show, Sirs, of your Country wit, But of your best. Let all the Steel Of back, and brains fallen to the heel; And all the Quicksilver in the mine Run in the foot-veines, and refine Your Firk-hum-Jerk-hum to a Dance, Shall fetch the Fiddles out of France; To wonder at the Hornpipes, here, Of Nottingham, and Derbyishire. With, here is to the fruit of Pem, With the Peakish Nicety, He's in Kendal Green, Green-hood. As in the Forest Colour seen.