The couragious plow-man, or, The citizens misfortune. Being an incouragement to all plow-men, to exercise themselves in their youth with a cudgel, that they may the better know how to handle a sharper weapon, if need require. I shall not stand the subject to repeat, because the verses do it so compleat, to hear how meekly the citizens came off, I think it cannot chuse but make you laugh; the parties here I must forbear to name, for fear the author chance to bear the blame. To the tune of, Dick and Nan, or, The tyrant.

The couragious plow-man, or, The citizens misfortune. Being an incouragement to all plow-men, to exercise themselves in their youth with a cudgel, that they may the better know how to handle a sharper weapon, if need require. I shall not stand the subject to repeat, because the verses do it so compleat, to hear how meekly the citizens came off, I think it cannot chuse but make you laugh; the parties here I must forbear to name, for fear the author chance to bear the blame. To the tune of, Dick and Nan, or, The tyrant.

Table of contents

The Couragious Plow-man, or, The Citizens Misfortune.

§

[Page]

The Couragious Plow-man, or, The Citizens Misfortune.

Being an incouragement to all Plow-men, to exercise themselves in their Youth with a Cudgel, that they may the better know how to handle a sharper weapon, if need require.

I shall not stand the Subject to repeat,

Because the Verses do it so compleat,

To hear how meekly the Citizens came off,

I think it cannot chuse but make you laugh;

The Parties here I must forbear to name,

For fear the Author chance to bear the blame.

To the Tune of, Dick and Nan, Or, The Tyrant.

[figure]

[figure]

THere was a brave Citizen

walkt forth of late,

From London toth' Country

to chuse him a mate;

His Eloquent Complements

and his success

To you in these Verses

I'll plainly express.

He then was attired

handsom and neat,

In a Sute and a Cloak

and a Beaver compleat;

In his pockets he had

twenty pieees of Gold,

Which he had provided

to make himself bold.

He then took his journey

to Nottingham Town,

And there he alighted

and brank at the Crown;

Whereas a young Damosel

appeared in his sight,

Which caused the Young-man

to tarry all night.

Citizen.

With Eloquent spéeches

he thus did begin;

Fair Lady could I but

your favour now win:

If you grant me your love

that's the thing I des;ire,

By reason my heart with love

is set on fire.

Maid.

'Tis strange quoth the Maiden

love should be so hot;

Such love I'm perswaded

will soon be forgot;

But I wish that the heat thereof

might be asswag'd,

For I to another am

deeply in [...]ag'd.

Citizen.

There's no man on earth that

shall sever us twain;

If thou wilt but yield for

to love me again.

And I for thy sake now

will venture my life

My reason I purpose

to make thee my wife.

Plow-man.

Then came in a Plow-man

and heard him say so:

'Tis well spoken (quoth he)

but I know what I know;

To tell you the truth Sir,

the Girl is mine,

And if thou canst win her

then she shall be thine.

Let us take two weapons

and go into the field,

And never give out until.

one of us yield;

It shall not be spoken

upon an Ale-bench,

That a Plow-man was fearful

to fight for a Wench.

Citizen.

Art thou so audacious

to dare me to fight?

I'll make thee an example

before it be night:

Thou art but a Bumpkin

bred at the Plow-tail,

And ne'r used no weapon

but only thy Flail.

[figure]

Therefore be thou trudging

and stand not to prate,

Lest I with this Flaggon,

knock thee on the pate;

Except thou art willing

to stand to thy words,

Then our controversie

we'll end with our Swords.

All things then provided

this Combate began,

They both try'd their valours

which was the best man;

They fought half an hour

as people do say,

Yet none knew which would

be beaten that day.

The Plow-man most bravely

himself did behave,

By tracing the ground, that

himself he did save;

At last he with fury

laid on such a stroke,

With the strength of his arm,

that his weapon it broke.

He then clos'd within him

and gave him the fall;

Oh now quoth the Plow-man,

you shall pay for all:

I'll make you acknowledge

before you depart,

That a Plow-man will fight

ere he'll lose his Sweet-heart.

O hold thy hand Plow-man,

pe [...]cavi I cry,

O let me not here in

a strange Country die;

Take my gold, cloak, and rapier

and all that I have,

The Damosel's thy own

if my life thou wilt save.

The Plow-man obtained

the conquest that day,

And twenty Gold pieces

he carried away:

He furnisht his pockets,

his back and his side,

and gained him a Damosel

to make him a Bride.

The Cockney with sorrow

lamented his loss,

And home he returned

but by wéeping Cross:

His mother these Verses

at leisure may read,

And give him good counsel

to take beter heed.

Concluding my Ditty

I thus make an end,

I wish some honest Plow-man

would now stand my friend,

And give me some liquor

for I am very dry,

If I tell you the truth

then I tell no lie.

Whoop Cockney, where's your twenty Pound?

Finis.

§

§

London, Printed for F. Coles, T. Vere, J. Wright, and J. Clark

Information about this book

Title statement

The couragious plow-man, or, The citizens misfortune. Being an incouragement to all plow-men, to exercise themselves in their youth with a cudgel, that they may the better know how to handle a sharper weapon, if need require. I shall not stand the subject to repeat, because the verses do it so compleat, to hear how meekly the citizens came off, I think it cannot chuse but make you laugh; the parties here I must forbear to name, for fear the author chance to bear the blame. To the tune of, Dick and Nan, or, The tyrant.

Edition statement

1674-1679?

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2009-10 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

B02437

ID [STC]

Wing C6582

ID [STC]

Interim Tract Supplement Guide C.20.f.8[83]

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99887654

ID [PROQUEST]

ocm99887654

ID [VID]

183278

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Early English books online.

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(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. B02437)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 183278)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books; Tract supplement ; A5:2[69])

Source

— The couragious plow-man, or, The citizens misfortune. Being an incouragement to all plow-men, to exercise themselves in their youth with a cudgel, that they may the better know how to handle a sharper weapon, if need require. I shall not stand the subject to repeat, because the verses do it so compleat, to hear how meekly the citizens came off, I think it cannot chuse but make you laugh; the parties here I must forbear to name, for fear the author chance to bear the blame. To the tune of, Dick and Nan, or, The tyrant.,

Extent

1 sheet ([1] p.) : ill. (woodcuts).

Printed for F. Coles, T. Vere, J. Wright, and J. Clark,. London, :: [between 1674-1679]. (Verse: "There was a brave citizen ...") (Place and date of publication suggested by Wing.) (Trimmed.) (Reproduction of original in the British Library.)

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