The famous Ratketcher, with his trauels into France, and of his returne to London.
To the tune of the iouiall Tinker.
THere was a rare Rat-catcher,
Did about the Country wander,
The soundest blade of all his trade,
Or I should him deepely slaunder:
For still would he cry, a Ratt tat tat, tara rat, euer:
To catch a Mouse, or to carouse.
such a Ratter I saw neuer.
Upon a Poale he carryed
Full fourty fulsome Uermine:
Whose cursed [...]ues without any Kniues,
To take he did determine.
And still would he cry, a Rat tat tat, tara Rat, euer, &c.
His talke was all of India,
The Uoyage and the Nauie:
What Mise or Rattes, or wild Polcats:
What Stoates or Weesels haue yee?
And still would he cry, a Rat, &c.
He knew the Nut of India,
That makes the Magpie stagger:
The Mercuries, and Cantharies,
With Arsnicke, and Roseaker.
And still would he cry, a Rat, &c.
Full often with a Negro,
The Iuice of Poppies drunke hee:
Eate Poyson t [...]nke with a Mountebanke,
And Spiders with a Monkie.
And still would he cry, a Rat, &c.
In London he was well knowne:
In many a slately House
He [...] a Bayse; whose deadly fate,
[...] kill both Rat [...] and Mouse.
And still would he cry, a Rat, &c.
But on a time, a Damos [...]ll,
did him so farre intice,
That for her, a Baite he layd straight,
would kill no Rats nor Mice.
And still would he cry, a Rat, &c.
And on the Baite she nibled,
so pleasing in her taste,
She lickt so long, that the Poyson strong,
did make her swell i'th waste.
And still would he cry, a Rat, &c.
He [...]tilely this perceiuing,
to the Country straight doth hie him:
Where by his skill, he poysoneth still,
such Uermine as come nie him.
And still would he cry, a Rat, &c.
He neuer careth whether
he be sober, lame, or tipsie:
He can Collogue with any Rogue,
and Cant with any Gipsie.
And still would he cry, a Rat, &c.
He was so braue a bowzer,
that it was doubtfull whether
He taught the Rats, or the Rats taught him
to be druncke as Rats, togeather.
And still would he cry, a Rat, &c.
When he had tript this Iland,
from Bristow vnto Douer,
With painefull Bagge and painted Flagge,
to France he sayled ouer.
Yet still would he cry, a Rat tat tat, tara rat, euer, &c.
FINIS.
The Ratketchers returne out of France to London. To the same tune.
IN France when he ariued,
the heat so much perplext him,
That all his Pouch did swell so much,
and Poyson so had vext him.
That scarce could he cry, a Rat tat tat. tara Rat, euer:
To catch a Mouse, or to carouse,
Such a Ratter I saw neuer.
At last, as [...] [...]ommon,
must vse anothers ayding:
So did this Ratter, tell the matter
to another of's owne trading.
And then did he cry, a Rat tat tat. &c.
Who vsing ma [...] Simples,
to quench [...]stery burning:
Did make him daunce cleane out of France,
And home hee's now returning.
And still doth he cry, a Rat, &c.
At Douer he ariued,
and Kent hath had his cunning:
The Maydens Lappes like poysoned Rattes
repent his backe-home comming.
For still doth he cry, a Rat, &c.
At Grauesend [...]mongst the Maydens,
Greene sicknesse reign'd so briefly,
None could haue cure, but such as sure
would take his Potions chiefly.
And still doth he cry, a Rat, &c.
The Shippe wherein he sayled,
ere he on shore ariued,
Reports him that he kild a Ratte,
that nere will be reuiued.
And still doth he cry, a Rat, &c.
And to the Fayre in Smithfield,
he now is gon and paced:
To search with Pole for the Rat-knawne hole
that him so much outfaced.
And still doth he cry, a Rat, &c.
Now to the Tipling houses,
to kill the Uermine featly:
French Rats and Mice all in a trice,
he will destroy full neatly.
And still doth he cry, a Rat, &c.
An vgly Wench to see-to,
whose Nose was knawne with Uermin,
The Ratte to kill, that vsd her ill,
to vse him doth determine.
And still doth he cry, a Rat. &c.
If any other Maydens,
or Female kinds, will vse him,
Come call him quicke, for with a tricke
hee's gone, if you refuse him.
And still doth he cry, a Rat, &c.
To Sturbridge Fayre his iourny
is plotted, and appoynted:
Approch with speed, you that haue need
with Poyson to be noynted.
And still doth he cry, a Rat, &c.
When backe he commeth home-ward,
obserue his Flagge be painted
With Mice and Rattes, and with Poulcats,
if you will be acquainted,
And heare him to cry, a Rat tat tat, tara Rat, euer:
To catch a Mouse, or to carouse,
such a Ratter I saw neuer.
FINIS.
Imprinted at London for Iohn Tr [...]e, and are to be sold at the signe of the No-body in Barbican.