The Maryland muse. Containing I. The history of Colonel Nathaniel Bacon's rebellion in Virginia. Done into Hudibrastick verse, from an old ms. II. The sotweed factor, or voiage to Maryland. / By E. Cooke, gent. ; [Two lines of verse]

The Maryland muse. Containing I. The history of Colonel Nathaniel Bacon's rebellion in Virginia. Done into Hudibrastick verse, from an old ms. II. The sotweed factor, or voiage to Maryland. / By E. Cooke, gent. ; [Two lines of verse]

Table of contents

Title page

To the AUTHOR.

BACON's Rebellion, &c.

CANTO I.

CANTO II.

CANTO III.

The Sotweed Factor, &c.

§

§

[Page]

[Page]

THE MARYLAND MUSE.

CONTAINING

I. The History of Colonel NATHANIEL BACON'S Rebellion in VIRGINIA. Done into Hudibrastick Verse, from an old MS.

II. The SOTWEED FACTOR, or Voiage to MARYLAND.

The Third EDITION, Corrected and Amended.

By E. COOKE, Gent.

Let Criticks that shall discommend it,

—mend it.

ANNAPOLIS: Printed in the Year M,DCC,XXXL

To the AUTHOR.

[Page]

Old Poet,

AS You may remember,

You told me sometime in September,

Your pleasant Muse was idly sitting,

Longing for some now Subject fitting

For this Meridian, and her Inditing,

Worth Praise and P [...] for Pains in Writing.

I therefore (thinking it great Pity

A Muse should pine, that is so witty)

Have sent an old, authentick Book,

For Her in Doggrel Verse to Cook;

For since it never was in Print,

(Tho' wondrous Truths are written in't)

It may be worthy Clio's Rhimes,

To hand it down to future Times.

YOU know what never-fading Glory,

Old Saluft got by Catlin's Story;

The Fame Hyde gain'd, I need not tell y'ou,

By's Hist'ry of the Grand Rebellion:

You know how Butler's witty Lays

Procur'd for him immortal Praise:

I'll add no more — But if you please, Sir,

Attempt the same for Ebenezer,

Which you may gain, or I'm mistaken,

If you can nicely Cook this BACON.

H. J.

BACON's Rebellion, &c.

[Page]

CANTO I.

This CANTO gives you a Narration

Of Col'nel BACON's Provocation;

And shews, in what rebellious Manner

He ventur'd to display his Banner.

I SING those dire BACONIAN Wars,

Which, like the Oliverian Jars;

Long since broke out in Smoke and Fire,

'Twixt testy Knight, and waspish 'Squire:

The First of which, (as Authors tell)

Govern'd VIRGINIA very well,

'Till little Nat, presumptuous Hector,

(Aspiring, like the Lord Protector)

O're the Atlantick Ocean came,

And put the People in a Flame;

Set Folks together by the Ears,

Who liv'd in Friendship many Years,

And in a Snare-drew headstrong Rabble,

Who too much listen'd to his Babble.

BUT e'er the Plot grew ripe for Action,

That was begun by Bacon's Faction,

Fame led the Van with hot Alarms,

Of Ab-origines in Arms,

Who far and near did then resort,

[...] Haste to Susquebanna Fort,

int on Thoughts of Massacree.

(Inspir'd by their accurs'd Okes)

Combining in their Hellish Anger,

To cut off ev'ry MARYLANDER

Thus Devils, in the Shape of Men,

Secur'd themselves in moated Den,

Which oft the Planters try'd to take,

But still in vain Attempts did make.

THE Indians making such [...]

Caus'd English Foe to seek Assistance,

Who thought it fit, without Delay,

To sound their Neighbours down the Day,

And try how Gov'nor BERELEY stood

Affected to the Common Good;

(Praying VIRGINIA to stand

In Time of Need by MARYLAND;)

Who, out of Christian Compassion

To Neighb'ring Friends of his own Nation

Sent Washington, (with Vet'ran [...]

Arm'd at all Points with Leaden Doses.

And double Rounds of Cannon Powder,

To make their Pop-Guns found the louder

For MARYLAND, to aid poor [...]

That were attack'd by [...]

[Page] With whom a sharp Dispute began,

Wherein was kill'd both Horse and Man;

Some Pris'ners were, some Cripples made,

By Indian Scouts in Ambuscade;

(Who ne'er in vain at Friend or Foe,

A Trigger draw, or bend their Bow,

As able Archers, and as good,

As Little John and Robin Hood)

Others were left on Foot to trudge it,

(With Carbine slung, like Tinkers Budget)

That to the Combat did advance, Sir,

Mounted on Skeletonian Prancer,

Whose down-cast Looks seem'd to foretell

Their certain Fate, in Battle fell:

Whilst many were to Slaughter led

By Salvages, on Horse-flesh fed,

Which from the English Camp, in Fight,

They carry'd off, or stole by Night,

To satisfy the greedy Maws

Of such as scarce cou'd stir their Jaws,

But lay as if they had been dead,

Stretch'd out on Honour's Truckle-Bed,

Almost with Hunger famished.

THUS the beleaguer'd in their Hive,

By Carrion were preserv'd alive,

'Till glutted with such Trojan Diet,

And willing to depart in Quiet,

Six Captains (famous in Report)

To sue for Peace rush from the Fort;

Whom the Besiegers, with small Pains,

To Pluto sent, without their Brains:

Which treach'rous Act (by all Relations

Against the Law of Arms and Nations)

Provok'd the Infidels with Ire

And Indignation to retire.

SO in the Night they lest their Cell,

(Resemblance of a future Hell)

And to their Subterfuges went,

On bloody Vengeance fully bent,

Leaving the English (struck with Wonder)

Their empty Citadel to plunder;

Who pelted at the Daemons Nest,

With Courage not to be express'd;

Whilst the Delinquents, in their Flight,

In Morpheus' Arms slew Ten out-right

Of the Besiegers, whom they found

Extended on the Mossy Ground;

And to compleat their surious Anger,

(With Tomahawke instead of Hanger)

They made the Number up Threescore,

Leaving them welt'ring in their Gore,

Whose harmless Lives (like bloody Hounds)

They had let out by mortal Wounds.

THEN, to extenuate the Act,

(Which wilful Murder was, in Fact)

They to VIRGINIA's CHIEF complain,

"Their Heroes by the English slain,

"Were Messengers of Peace sent out,

"To put a Period to the Rout;

"So should have been to Council led,

"And not (like Dogs) knock'd on the Head

"By Centinels, to them inferior,

"Altho' in Number much superior;

"Wherefore they ask for Satisfaction

"For Damages sustain'd in Action:

"And further, they desir'd to know

"Why BERKLEY was so much their Foe,

"As to assist the MARYLANDERS,

"With valiant Soldiers and Commanders;

"Which brought their Indian warlike Nation

"To Pover'ty and Tribulation?

"Telling how Popps and Squaws lay dead,

"(Like rotten Sheep) for want of Bread:

"That in Revenge, they thought it fit,

"That Ten for One should pay for it:

"That if he wou'd the Peace renew,

"He must Compassion to them shew;

"Recall forthwith his Sons of Thunder,

"Who prov'd their Courage to a Wonder,

"By making Salvages knock under:

"Or else, resolv'd they were each Man,

"To fight it out, kill as kill can.

THIS free Remonstrance of their Case,

Rebellion carry'd in its Face;

And was rejected, with Derision,

By Persons of the best Condition,

Whose Int'rest lean'd the other Way;

Such as, for Honour or for Pay,

[Page] Made Sword and Pistol their Vocation,

And held it an Abomination,

And base Dishonour to their Station,

On any Terms t'accept a Peace

From Infidels; that, like wild Geese,

Beyond the Western Mountains roam,

And rarely can be found at Home.

THIS rais'd the Indians mortal Rage,

Which nought but Death of Foes could 'swage,

Who to their Aid (to share the Spoil,

And bear a Bobb in Martial Toil)

The neighb'ring Salvages soon call,

And draw to Battle great and small,

That to the English Tribute paid;

On whom they fresh Incursions made,

And oft did use their Scalping Trade.

GREAT was the Slaughter, great the Cries,

(Throughout the English Colonies)

Of Murders, Rapines, Conflagrations,

Committed by outrag'ous Nations;

Like antient Picts of monstrous Size,

And Aspect frightful to the Eyes:

Tho' false, and Cowards in their Natures,

Yet terrible and fierce as Satyrs;

As many found it to their Cost,

Who dearest Friends, and Substance lost;

With plenteous Crops, and Herds and Flocks,

Being forc'd to fly to Woods and Rocks;

Wand'ring like Pilgrims, Lord knows whither,

Expos'd to Wind and stormy Weather;

This raging Calenture to shun,

Or by the Heathen be undone.

THUS was VIRGINIA's prospr'ous State

Disturb'd at first, by adverse Fate;

With Indian Wars, and various Rumors,

Which ended with intestine Tumors;

That Minds, to dire Rebellion bent,

Rais'd to disturb the Government;

Beyond WILL's Power to prevent.

FOR Fortune, that is ever fickle,

And always has some Rods in Pickle,

To plague the Governour much more

Than she had done some Years before,

Rais'd civil Discords in the People,

Who, chatt'ring like Jack-daws in Steeple,

Against Sir William; chose this Bacon

Their Champion; whom at first I spake on;

A Man respected by the Mob,

As a fit Fool to do their Jobb;

Who, Sword in Hand, would rescue Cattle,

And give the Indians bloody Battle;

That had from MAR'LAND taken Flight,

Dreading with Bonnett New to fight,

Who well they knew (as Scotch Highlander)

Was hot, as fiery Salamander.

WRAPT in their little God of Strife,

Who was (to draw him to the Life)

From Head to Foot scarce Nine-pin high,

Nor half so thick as Magogg's Thigh,

The Male-contents with one Consent,

Brave Nat with Praises compliment;

Then to Sir William recommend him,

As qualified, would he send him

With Force their Gen'ralissimo,

'Gainst their Ocanackeean Foe:

But WILL, that better knew than they,

The Indian Game he had to play,

Would not on any Motives yield,

To let Nat govern in the Field;

And in Derision bid them nim'ly

"Go smoak their Bacon in the Chimney.

NOW as these Matters were debating,

(At Council-board scarce worth relating)

News came, that much disturb'd Nat's Quiet,

Of an unlawful Indian Riot,

Committed by a Generation

Of Vipers, rifling his Plantation;

Who, not content the same to plunder,

Had Overseer cut in sunder.

WHEREFORE, at this unhappy Season,

Without consulting first his Reason,

[Page] (Like unadvised Polititian)

He readily accepts Commission,

From furious Mobb, who give their Hand,

By him in greatest Streights to stand.

THUS, great as Noll, as Quixot stout,

At Head of Planters he rid out,

The Woods of Salvages to clear,

Pursu'd by BERKLEY in the Rear;

Who (being obliged by his Station)

Had sally'd forth from Midd Plantation,

With Life-Guard, resolutely bent

Impending Mischiefs to prevent;

Make Lilliputian Cavilero,

(At great in Thought as Spanish Hero)

On bended Hams Peccavi cry;

Or Bacon hang on Gibbet high,

For daring contumaciously,

To levy War on Enemy,

Without the general Assent

Of Governour and Parliament;

Who of the Publick Good to treat,

Were then at James-Town call'd to meet.

WHITHER, disbanding Voluntiers,

Sir WILLIAM went t'advise w'his Peers;

Oblig'd the Wild-Goose Chase to quit,

Not knowing how the Way to hit;

That Nat had in his Rambles took,

When he Domestick Cares forsook;

And rashly follow'd empty Fame,

But gain'd a Trayter's odious Name,

And Blots, whose vile Characteristicks,

You'll plainly see i'th following Tristicks.

An Order's made Traytor to seize on,

For Bacon (not without good Reason,

Was judg'd, as tainted with High-treason:

So that by BERKLEY'S Proclamation,

He got a pitchlike Defamation

Sticking to him and's Generation,

As in the Sequel of the Story

Appears; eclipsing Bacon's Glory.

WHO, after he had put to Flight

The Ab-origenes in Fight,

Retir'd with great Precipitation

To visit Country Habitation;

Where presently, in County Squabble,

He was elected by the Rabble,

To serve as Burgess, tho' unfit

In House of Burgesses to sit;

As having been (e're in Disgrace)

By WILL advanc'd to higher Place,

Who Bacon raised, (from a Shote)

In Upper House to give his Vote.

HOWEVER, Nat (resolv'd to see

If there he might admitted be)

With Forty Men and Mack'rel Gale

For the Metropolis set sail:

When dropping Anchor, 'twas their Fate,

To be made Prisoners of State;

And then by Gard'ner fore'd on Board,

Whose Ship before the Town was moar'd:

Whither in Spight of all Denial,

The Rebels were convey'd for Trial,

By Order of the higher Powers,

(Huzza'd by Mobb from Oaken Bowers)

Where instantly they were acquitted;

And Bacon once again admitted,

At Council Board to take his Post,

By BERKLEY, Ruler of the Roast;

Who also promis d (tho' not hearty)

To make him Gen'ral of a Party;

Intended by the Government,

Against the Indians to be sent.

BUT, Promises are scarce worth minding,

And (as Civilians say) not binding,

Grounded on mental Reservation;

Or made without Consideration,

As Nat experienc'd to his Cost,

When he (by adverse Fortune cross'd)

Imaginary Honours lost.

FOR, when the Rabble were withdrawn,

And promis'd Day had pass'd it's Dawn,

For putting Bacon in Commission,

WILL, like a crafty Polititian,

Refus'd to sign the Instrument,

Drawn up in Form, for that Intent;

Under Pretence, that Col'nel Bacon

Had other private Measures taken.

[Page]

NAT (thus deluded) thought it best,

To let his hot Resentment rest;

And patiently pretend t'endure,

What (whilst in Town) he could not cure,

With Hopes he should a Method find,

To pay Sir WILLIAM in his Kind;

Which soon came int' his frantick Brain,

Nor did the Project prove in vain.

FOR, as the Council sat at Table,

(You may believe me, 'tis no Fable)

A Letter was to Bacon brought,

With melancholly Tidings fraught;

Importing, that his loving Wife

Lay ready to depart this Life:

As Nat inform'd the Governour;

Desiring Leave (unlucky Cur)

To visit his betrothed Spouse,

Who ne'er had broke her nuptial Vows:

To which his Excellence reply'd,

The Motion could not be deny'd:

So, since he made such Moan for's Dear,

The Gov'nor bid him, go and see her;

Against th' Advice of faithful Friends,

Who guess'd at Bacon's wicked Ends:

For knowing well the Tricks of Nat,

They in the Letter smelt a Rat;

Which (when too late to be detected)

Was found (as rightly was suspected)

To come from Party disaffected;

That, loving Bacon very heart'ly,

Had manag'd Matters very smartly;

Informing Nat, "That Mob was ready,

"And in their Resolutions steady,

"That when he'd give the Sign to rise,

"They'd cut all Bacon's Enemies,

"As small as Meat is mine'd for Pies,

"In Case WILL would not, with Submission,

"Put Bacon in a blank Commission:

This said the Letter: Now let's see

How BERKLEY'S blind Credulity,

By the Imposter was rewarded,

As it in Story stands recorded.

NAT having play'd this cunning Trick,

Instead of visiting the Sick,

Before black Messenger rid Post,

(As if the De'el had drove) to th' Host;

To head a factious, stubborn Crew,

(As e're o're Seas for Refuge flew)

Of Servants, Slaves, and Overseers,

At least Five Hundred Mutineers;

That to insult the Government,

(By Bacon's Preincouragement)

At Nat's Approach began [...] bluster,

And Hurley-burley soon did muster,

Like Tumble-T—ds got in a Cluster.

WITH these new listed Sons of Plunder,

Nat enter'd Town, to BERKLEY'S Wonder;

Who, when required to make good

His Promise, like a Statue stood:

Nat threatening to give no Quarter,

But burn poor WILL like Smithfield Martyr;

Swearing, that if he lost his Aim,

He'd put the City in a Flame.

AT this the House, thro' Fear, divide,

And BERKLEY'S take, or Bacon's Side;

In whose Behalf (to save the Hive)

'Twas carried in th' Affirmative,

"That Nat should General be sent,

"Intestine Quarrels to prevent;"

Who, with his new created Power,

(Extorted in an evil Hour

By Force of Arms) rid from his Dwelling,

Like Oliver, a Colonelling.

FIRST then, he settles Ways and Means,

For proper Posture of Defence;

Then fits his Troops, then makes Drums rattle

For March, to give the Indians Battle.

NOW b'ing advanc'd to Out-plantations

Searching for Foes of Indian Nations;

News comes of BERKLEY'S Preparations:

Which puts the Rebels to their Trumps,

And makes them look in doleful Dumps,

Like Withrington, upon his Stumps.

HOWE'ER the Bully re-advances,

To Midd-Plantation, since by Francis,

[Page] Call'd Williamsburg; makes Replication,

To BERKLEY'S second Proclamation:

Then by each other, One and All,

The Rebels swear to stand or fall;

And sign the League, which you may see,

Drawn up at large, in Beverley:

Which put Sir WILLIAM in a Fright,

Who with his Friends took hasty Flight,

Across the Bay to Accomack;

But thence was quickly hurry'd back,

In Time t'oppose this grand Rebellion:

That's all, this CANTO is to tell y'on.

CANTO II.

This CANTO tells of Gov'nor WILL

Being routed by Nat Bacon's Skill:

Of Stafford Folks with Treason sullied;

And Glo'ster Men from' Leigiance bullied:

Here too, you'll find, to make you merry all,

Accounts of Bacon's Death and Burial.

NEXT I describe t'you Bacon's Army,

You need not fear, they will not harm ye;

Altho' they were (whilst under Nat)

Like Kentish Rebels, led by Watt;

A thoughtless, giddy Multitude,

From Newgate, and from Bridewell spew'd,

As Straw, or Kett, or Wyat, rude,

B'ing Bullies, Ruffians, Debauchees,

Cheats, Gamesters, Pimps, and Raparees.

WITH these undaunted mean Rascallions

Poor Shabberoon Tatterdemallions;

(The small Remains of those Battalions,)

Nat on the Frontiers turn'd a Drift,

Amongst the Planting Herd to shift;

Through pathless Woods his Way he made,

To turn the Town into Blockade;

Which BERKLEY, whom the Mob detested,

In Bacon's Absence had in vested;

Transporting from the Eastern Shore

(T'augment the Force he had before)

Of Arms and Ammunition Store,

And Men, who fought for ready Pay,

Twelve Pence a Head, for ev'ry Day;

With Plunder of all that had taken

Rebellious Oath to Col'nel Bacon.

WHO, on the Banks of Powhatan,

Before th' intended Siege began,

First cramm'd his Army, ev'ry Man,

With Hommony and Pone, and got,

Sufficient Progg for Pan and Pot,

With Drams enough of Aquae vitae,

To make his Men like Devils fight ye.

BUT e'er he could the Siege commence,

He needed Trenches for Defence;

Which thus he made: First, out he sent

Some Horse and Foot, with an Intent

To seize the Wives of Loial Party,

And all that were not to him hearty;

These taken, sitting at their Dinners,

They drest with Aprons, Bibbs and Pinners;

And rang'd them on their Works, in View

Of Citadel and Cannon too:

So that no Loialist durst fire,

To make Baconians retire,

Lest, with his Foes, his Wife or Daughter

Might first be slain in common Slaughter.

[Page]

SO, thus by Petticoats protected,

He rais'd the Works he had projected,

In Order to reduce the Town,

Taking at Night these Life-guards down,

Who trembling, in the Day time stood

Like Virgins bound to Stumps of Wood,

That were ordain'd by Fate's Decree,

To Hydra's Jaws to be a Prey;

As Authors tell us in the Story,

So were these Women, to their Glory,

On Martial Bank oblig'd to stand,

Like Mourning Captives, Hand in Hand;

Leaving behind their Linen Geer,

When Phaebis in his hot Career,

Forsook the Western Hemisphere,

Stuck artificially on Poles,

Which made their Husbands think, poor Souls,

They had done Duty all the Night,

Appearing still dress'd up in White,

To open View, as Sol begun

His Oriential Course to run:

But where they slept, 'tis hard to say,

Till Phosper usher'd in the Day;

Unless with Nat, a Nap they took

In Tent, as black as Chimney Nook.

NOW, having well secur'd his Men,

In Trenches deep (like Pigs in Pen)

He Female Pioneers dismiss'd,

To take their Rambles where they list;

Declaring they had done more Good

For him, whilst on the Ditch they stood,

Then e're their Husbands would perform,

For BERKLEY, whom he meant to storm.

WHO, b'ing inform'd the Fair were got,

Beyond the Reach of Cannon Shot,

Resolves with Bacon not to dally,

But boldly venture on a Sally;

And Storm Nat's Hold, tho' at th' Expence

Of a few Men; to drive him thence.

BESIDES his mercenary Troops,

Confin'd on Board (like Geese in Coops)

Might get the Scurvy (as he thought)

In Case to Shore they were not brought.

OF these, WILL sends a Party strong,

That did to Accomack belong,

Commanded by one Huber Farrell,

More us'd t'attack a Cyder Barrel

Than face a Toe upon old Sorrel.

THE Ships forthwith began to play,

And with their Shot clear Farrell's Way,

By Order of the Governour:

But all in vain, Nat would not stir;

'Till lucky Chance did on him smile,

And render'd fruitless, Huber's Toil:

Who (tho' he had but little Skill)

In's Thoughts did vie with Machiavel:

Wherefore, resolv'd with Nat to cope,

Strutting at Head of Forlorn-hope,

(Sent out to drive Nat from his Trenches,

Well lin'd with Men, and stroling Wenches)

He bids his Bands, in Martial Paces,

By stooping down, to save their Faces

From Shot; (thus Woodcocks hide their Snout,

In Bush, but leave their Bodies out)

When once they saw him this to do,

He order'd them, to do so too.

THEN marching on, a Ball from Nat

Laid Farrell on his Belly flat;

Which b'ing observ'd by Farrell's Bands,

They all fall flat upon the Sands,

Thinking he did it, as the Token,

Of what he just before had spoken:

Whereby a Body of Foot Soldiers,

Compos'd of Servants and Freeholders,

That follow'd Farrell in the Rear,

Were forc'd to halt when they drew near;

Which made a Troop of Horse, behind,

Towards the Marsh about to wind,

To see what should be the Occasion

Of unexpected Retardation;

Who looking over tow'rds the Main,

Thought all their Forlorn-hope were slain.

So Wheeling suddenly about,

They put their own Reserves to th' Rout;

Which made them all retire for Shelter,

In great Confusion, Helter-skelter,

[Page] Excepting such as Bacon's Shot

Imbargo'd dead upon the Spot,

And One or Two that in Retreat

Were trod i'th' Water under Feet.

HAD Nat now follow'd them to Town,

No Doubt the Day had been his own;

When Cowards (brought from Accomack)

With Threats came out, with Fears ran back.

But Bacon thought his Forces were

Inserior to WILL'S Numbers far;

Which made him not pursue the Rabble,

And get so little in this Squabble:

In which Encounter some were wounded,

And Eight or Ten were killed or drowned.

Whereas each Man of Bacon's Party,

Were still alive, and brisk and hearty.

NEXT Day, the Gen'ral was reliev'd,

With Reinforcements he receiv'd,

(Under Command of Major Whaley,

Who had assisted Bacon daily)

With Pieces Three of heavy Cannon,

As good as e'er flung Shot o'er Shannon;

Which Bacon mounted on the Trench,

In Order soon the Siege to clench;

And try, with this his fresh Assistance,

To drive the Ships to greater Distance;

Which (tho' as yet they'd done no Harm)

Might Neighbours prove, for him too warm.

THE Governour, at this sad News,

Did soon resolve, no Time to loose;

But, summoning both Old and Young,

He strait perswades the trembling Throng,

Like Men, to save themselves, retreating,

And not (like Dogs) run Risque of Beating.

So, Bag and Baggage, they by Night

To Accornack again take Flight.

THE Birds b'ing fled, Nat thought it best,

In Ashes to consume their Nest:

So, soon as WILL with Gang retir'd,

In Brutish Rage, the Town he fir'd.

THEN, that he might Examples make,

Of all that BERKLEY'S Side shou'd take,

To shew that he would prove impartial,

He calls together a Court Martial,

Condemns and shoots, before departing,

A poor Lieutenant, for Deserting,

Who fought for BERKLEY; tho' he'd taken

The Oaths before to Col'nel Bacon.

THUS, having BERKLEY put to Rout,

For Green-Spring next he sac'd about.

Thence, with his Army, into Glo'ster,

At Tindall's-Point he boldly cross'd, Sir:

Where Bacon scarce Two Days had staid,

At Col'nel Warner's, (as 'tis said)

Before a Letter, by a Post,

(Which did not much disturb his Host)

Informs him that one Col'nel Brent

Had lest Pattowmack, with Intent

In WILL'S Behalf to give Nat Battle,

And make his Bones in's Skin to rattle,

With Men, a Thousand and Two Hundred,

As nimble Rogues as ever plunder'd,

(Stassordians, Indians, and new Negroes)

Destruction threat'ning to Besiegers.

SURPRIS'D hereat, as well he might,

Not having Men such Odds to fight,

To Camp Nat comes, in mighty Heat,

Commanding first his Drums to beat.

Then to his Soldiers, in close Order,

Now under Colours, (like Recorder)

He ope's the Letter, Gutheridge sent,

And pumps, to find his Soldiers Bent,

Pretending Love to Government,

And King, and Country, tho' rebellious:

(Thus did old Noll, and Rumpish Fellows.)

Then Soldiers swear, by all the Gods,

They'd fight Brent's Men, at Tripple Odds,

And under Nat wou'd singe their Codds.

FROM thence to Gloster Courthouse strait,

In Rank and File they march'd; where Fate

Decreed the Fields should be their Quarters

That Night; but as they were true Starters,

For Col'nel Smith's, near Purton, they

Began their March at Break of Day;

Where News was brought, by quick Express,

That Brent was lest in great Distress,

[Page] His Men intending to desert,

And (most) to take the Traytor's Part,

Consid'ring should they follow Brent,

They might perhaps too late repent,

The Day they Bacon-hunting went.

THUS Cowards of a tim'rous Heart,

At their own Shadows often start,

Quit those that most in them confide,

And basely take the strongest Side.

So they, that most to Brent pretend,

I'th' Lurch do leave him in the End,

Adoring here the Rising Sun,

As in the East, they say, 'tis done.

THESE happy Tidings brought to Bacon,

Who by the Ear wrong Sow had taken,

Did providentially prevent

A bloody War'twixt him and Brent.

NOW Nat to'th' Court-house does repair,

To meet the Gloster Gentry there,

According to his Invitation,

Not for the Sake of Recreation,

But to seduce them to his Measures,

And gain their helping Hand and Treasures,

Which always chiefest Sinews are

Alike, of just and unjust War.

WHO mounting Steeds, the Hero met,

On Propositions vile to treat,

Whom Nat with Flat'ry and Caresses,

With artful Rhetorick Addresses:

He tells them, smiling, Cap in Hand,

"That he from Friends did understand,

"They ne'er had sign'd the Covenant,

Then says, "He hopes they will partake on,

"The common Cause, with Patriot Bacon."

TO which the Gentlemen reply'd,

"They would not join with either Side;

"For as they could not take the Oath,

"So to oppose him they were loath".

TO which the Gen'ral sternly said,

"They would be damn'd (be was afraid)

"With basest Villains, who expected

"The just Man's Peace, but Works neglected"

AT this a certain Officer,

Apply'd to's Honour, saying, Sir,

"You've spoke to'th' Horse but not the Foot,

"'Tis ten to one, but they will do't".

Quoth Nat, "You miss my Speech's Force,

"I spoke to th' Men, and not the Horse,

"Though 'twas scarce worth my whil t' harangue'em,

"They're such obdurate Rascals, hang 'em;

"Pray you go speak t'your Brother Creatures,

"Asses best know the Horses Natures".

HOWEVER, at a second Meeting,

At Warner's House, for farther Treating,

The Gloster Men, th' Engagement sign'd,

And willingly with Bacon joyn'd.

MEAN-WHILE there came a Letter o're,

Inviting Nat to th' Eastern Shore;

Humbly requesting, "That he wou'd,

"Come there, to rescue Publick Good,

"From Governor, who seiz'd Provision,

"With Horses, Men, and Ammunition

"And would not pay late Expedition;

"When they at James-Town ran away,

"Fighting, per Poll, Twelve Pence a Day;

"Which Eastern Shore Men did not like,

"And made them take 'gainst WILL a Pique;

"Pray Bacon's Party to assist 'em;

"For if they'd come, none shou'd resist 'em'.

The Letter too, "In Bacon's Power,

"Propos'd to put the Governour,

"And of his Loial Party three,

"Ludwell, and Cole, and Beverly":

Which Friends the Gov'nor most respected,

His Cause by them b'ing most protected:

So probably to human Thinking,

BERKLEYAN Intr'est was just Sinking:

But Providence now interven'd,

And to Nat's Life, soon put an End;

Who on a sudden being pent

By dang'rous Illness up, intent,

One Bremington, 'gainst Indian sent;

[Page] Intending when he did recover,

To Eastern Shore to hurry over.

ON these Designs was Bacon harping,

At BERKLEY'S Conduct often carping;

When Death at's Chamber door came rapping,

As Moss caught Mare, took Bacon napping.

BUT e're he was by Death arrested,

With his Commission he invested,

One Johnson (alias) call'd Ingram,

To head the Rebellious Army (trinctram;)

As Richard Cromwell, wise and brave,

Like Quixot's Sancho, Fool and Knave.

BUT Hero now confin'd to Bed, Sir,

By Flux and Fever (as 'tis said, Sir)

By Lice was eaten up alive,

That crawl'd thro's Skin (as Bees from Hive)

From Maggots hatched in hot Brain,

Where Passage out they sought in vain,

Thro' brazen Front; so down they went,

And through his Pores found easy vent;

Where marching out in num'rous Armies,

They seiz'd 'Squire Bacon, vi & Armis;

So Vermin slew this Publick Evil,

That fear'd not GOD, nor Man, nor Devil.

THE Gen'ral thus (as Herring dead)

Was wrapt in Winding Sheet of Leed,

And sunk into an Arm o'th' Ocean,

Because his fearful Friends had Notion,

That if his Carcass should be found,

By adverse Party under Ground,

To rot on Gibbet, Bones of Nat,

Like Bones of Noll would have the Fate:

So they secur'd them in the Water,

From Foes, Indignities, and Laughter.

SATAN of old, possessing Swine,

Pickled his Pork in Neptune's Brine;

In which sad Pickle for his Kitchins,

'Tis fear'd he 'as sows'd poor Bacon's Flitchins.

He died o'th' Murrain (that is true)

Tho' Carron, yet De'll takes his Due:

At smallest Game, he'll take a Bout,

Rather than unconcern'd stand out:

Thus when he had no Fish to fry,

How Pork would do, he long'd to try:

He driving Hogs, need run, ('tis said)

Tho' brought to Market ne'er so bad.

NOW tho' the Creepers spoilt their Bacon,

For which at first, they sadly take on;

Yet Bacon's Friends (I say't in Jest)

Of their bad market, made the best,

Which brought their Minds some little Rest:

For tho' they could not save their Bacon,

They sav'd his Bones from being taken.

WHO's born for Hanging (Proverb says)

Ne'er needs fear Drowning in the Seas;

So, vice versa, 'stead of Tree,

The Fates ordain'd Nat to the Sea;

Who justly merited the Halter,

But nought the Fates Decrees will alter;

Tho' t'had been better, had he swung,

Such Bacon being best well hung.

BUT, now beneath the restless Billow,

He rests, who ne'er had Rest on Pillow.

The Year that Nat set Sail for Styx,

Was Sixteen Hundred Sev'enty Six,

I'th Month October, the 18th Day:

So I've no more of him to say.

[Page]

CANTO III.

This CANTO shews, how WILL came 'ore,

To chase the Male-Contents, once more:

Who, under Ingram (as their Head)

Were to deserv'd Destruction led:

'Till at the last, these Rebels sell,

And that is all I have to tell.

THE News, that Bacon was departed,

Made BERKIEY once again light-hearted.

BUT, tho' Nat's dead, yet sad Distraction,

Springs from the Root of Bacon's Faction:

The Rebels for the good old Cause,

Persist 'gainst Governour and Laws,

Who Might and Main, intended still,

With bloody Rods, to Whip poor WILL,

By Fighting under Ingram's Banners,

And Whaley's; whose rebellious Manners,

(Like Lambert and like Fleetwood bold)

Provok'd Sir WILLIAM, now grown old,

To try if he could stem the Tide,

Of Treason, and ambitious Pride,

That like a sudden Inundation,

Had drove him from his Habitation.

HE then conceiv'd, the surest Way

To quash the Rebels o're the Bay,

Was now to strike, whilst Iron's hot,

And so make Traytors go to Pot;

Before they could their Courage rally,

So now he thought not fit to dally.

THUS, at Noll's Death (as Stories tell us)

WILL dockt the Rump of the Rebellious;

Of civil Wars, first clipt the Pinions,

Proclaiming Charles in his Dominions.

FOR of VIRGINIAN Territory,

'Tis said to their immortal Glory,

This Antient Colony most Loial,

Stuck longest firm to Party Royal;

And having last 'gainst Cromwell stood,

Did first restore the Common Good;

Being of all the English reckon'd,

The First that dare own CHARLES the Second.

ALL this was done (as we are told)

Under Sir WILLIAM, Wise and Bold;

Who now to save his youthful Praise,

In his declining aged Days,

Did bravely rouse his drooping Sprits,

And (to augment his former Merits)

For Good of King and Colony,

Resolves to Conquer, or to Dye.

THE Scene thus chang'd, it was not long

Before he sent a Party strong,

In Sloop or Shallop (which please)

From Accomack, Nat's Friends to seize;

That on York-Banks, the Coast to guard,

At Auborn's House kept Watch and Ward:

Where Col'nel Hansford, with some others,

Who, in Rebellion, were sworn Brothers;

Was after some Resistance made,

Was after some Resistance made,

By Auborn's wanton Wife betray'd;

[Page] And thence across the Bay convey'd,

And hang'd at Accomack, 'tis said.

THIS Expedition being over,

WILL (who with Friends did live in Clover)

Of whom the Mob did vilely talk,

Resolv'd the Matter not to baulk:

And so Embarks without Delay,

Then for York-River plows the Bay.

Where having Wind, which prov'd a Flanker,

At Tindall's Point he soon cast Anchor:

From whence, he sends forth Men Six Score,

Bold hardy Soldiers (less or more)

Marching in Ranks, of diff'rent Size,

Few Scatterlopers to surprise,

Of Male-contents, and beardless Boys,

That scarce had left their childish Toys;

Who at a House not far from thence,

In Arms were muster'd, on Pretence

Of standing in their own Defence;

Commanded by th' aforesaid Whaley,

As great a Rogue, as Water Baily.

BUT, lest his Soldiers should prove tardy,

He sent some Friends, both bold and hardy,

(As faithful Ludwell,) with Intent,

To give the more Encouragement;

Lest Hubert, who Commander went,

Should fail again in his Descent;

Who of the Wound, was now quite well,

He got, when he at James-Town fell.

THESE now at Piny-point safe landed

By Hu (as said before) commanded;

Their Heads do first together lay,

To study out the safest Way,

Without much Loss, to win the Day;

On which they did not long consult,

Before they came to this Result,

That is: If Centry should demand

Who's there, or order them to stand,

To seize and gagg him; the Pell-mell,

To enter into Rebels Cell;

Which had no Barricades by Chance,

So they the easier might advance,

And take the House in Dusk of Night,

Without the Risque of bloody Fight.

BUT, pray behold the bad Conclusion,

Of this well grounded Resolution:

For 'stead of this to Centry's Call,

They made Reply with Musquet Ball.

So they by Centry were betray'd,

Who, when they Shot, loud Hollw'ing made,

To give Alarm to those i'th' House,

Who scarce awake, half drunk soon rouse

To Arms, and headlong fal'ing out,

Put Farrell and his Men to Rout;

Who dropping instantly a Stern,

Secur'd themselves behind a Barn,

To which i'th' Dark, they quickly got,

To screen themselves from Rebels Shot:

Where long they pelted at each other,

Tho' none was kill'd in all this Pother,

Excepting Hubert, who i'th' Chase,

Fell once again upon his Face;

When pop came Ball, from Musquet Barrel,

That thro' the Back shot Hubert Farrell.

THUS stoutest Braggadochio must

At last lay's Honour in the Dust:

So Pitcher now, you see is broke,

At James Town crack'd, by Random Stroke

From Nat; as I before have spoke.

HIS Men observing him to fall,

Not by the Sword, as did King Saul,

A board their Vessel, hast in Hurry,

T' avoid the Danger of the Florry;

Thro' thick and thin, thro' Mire and Sands,

One Pair of Heels, worth Two of Hands;

Happy the Man, that first can get

To Shallop, tho' like drown'd Rat wet,

Higgledy Piggledy Malpas shot,

Heels over Heads, away they trot,

'Till safe unto their Boat they got:

Ev'n those that others Legs did use,

In getting out (to save their Shoes)

Run on their own Legs now, to choose.

WHEN Hubert's miss'd, streight four or five,

Resolve to find him dead or'live,

[Page] Who for their Valour dearly paid,

Being by Whaley Pris'ner made.

NOW, though Sir WILLIAM lost the Day,

By Hubert basely giv'n away;

Yet Gloster Men, full Thirty Score,

With Middlesexians many more.

B'ing rais'd, he's brisker than before.

BUT, see the Turns of Fate; for soon,

His Matters go but badly on;

For Ingram had no sooner heard

That all this Force for WILL appear'd,

But streight he sent Lieutenant Walkett,

To Middlesex, to try to baulk it;

Who march'd with thirty able Horse,

The choicest of the Rebels Force;

And kept the Fort from Major Smith,

A Friend of BERRLEY'S (spight of's Teeth)

For all he had Five Hundred Men,

So Smith soon marches back again

To Dwelling House of Mr. Pate,

Where Matters were in dismal State.

FOR, Ingram having Information,

That Smith had left Pate's Habitation,

Whips in between the House and Major,

And swore like Tinker in his Rage, Sir;

"That'less the Garr'son would surrender

"On Terms that he should please to tender,

"He'd Shoot, or Burn, or Hang, or Kill,

"Each Person that declar'd for WILL":

Which naughty Words, of wicked Whoreson,

Did so affright poor Captain Parson,

Whom Smith had left to guard the House,

(In Peace a Man, in War a Mouse)

That, not accustom'd to such Sport,

He forthwith gives him up the Fort,

Resolving now to mind his Church,

And ne'er more leave her in the Lurch;

But stick to's Text, and mind his Book,

Since Mars had such a dismal Look;

Ne'er fight again, with temp'ral Sword,

But fight the Battle of the Lord;

And never use a Sword at all,

Besides the Sword that's spirit'al.

INGRAM, obtaining this Rendition,

Found Store of Arms and Ammunition,

With Provender for Man and Beast,

Which was laid in for Captain Priest:

On which he feasts, yet had the Sense

To keep in Posture of Defence;

Lest Major Smith should in the Centre,

Of all his Jollity re-enter;

And spoil his Stomach, by insisting

On Satisfaction, for such Twisting

Of Ducks and Capons (well worth praising)

And Roasters not of his own raising.

SMITH, like a Lion to his Den,

Was now return'd, to Pate's again;

Where much against his Expectation,

He Ingram found in Warlike Station,

Which prov'd to him a sad Vexation:

It made him Mad; but yet not quite

Enough to make him Ingram Fight;

Having more Wit in this his Anger,

Than to fall foul on this great Stranger.

WHILST Ingram, on the other Hand,

Did but on Part Defensive stand.

Each fear'd the Dance first to begin,

So Curs at one another grin.

Thus they continue Scolding, Bawling,

Like Cats in Cockloft Caterwawling:

Tho' some o'th' Rebels were for Blows,

Being half starv'd, for want of Cloaths,

Who env'ing Spruce BERKLIIAN'S Bravery,

Long'd for their Cloaths, to cloak their Knavery;

Whilst other Ingramites thought best,

Tho' naked, in whole Skins to rest;

Who on the Belly fully bent,

With Meat and Drink were well content.

BUT now lets us take a Turn, and see

How Major Smith, and's Men agree.

He and some Glocestrian Gentry,

Were into Pate's for forcing Entry;

Who bold and zealous were for Battle,

To Life or Limb tho' ne'er so fatal.

[Page]

OTHERS (by far the better Christians)

Wanted Retreat to greater Distance;

Who thought to spill Man's Blood was heinous;

Saying, the Guilt of Blood sha'nt stain us.

A MIDDLE Sort, I now must mention,

That had a kind of mixt Intention;

Who wisely minded, that there are

Most bloody Accidents in War;

But that on t'other Hand to fly,

Would brand them with black Infamy.

THIS Sort propose Capitulation,

To save their Lives and Reputation.

In this Tripartite Strife, at last

The light heel'd Gentry t'others cast.

THEN each Man down his Arms does lay,

And wing'd with Fear, all run away;

Who, tho' they save their Hides and Cloaths,

Yet thus their Arms and Honour lose;

Nay spoil their Coat, with Blot of Coward,

Saith Herauld, under Marshal Howard.

LIKE harmless Lambs, they're now become,

Who bluster'd at first Noise of Drum,

And roar'd like Phalaris's Bull,

With Rage and windy Courage full,

A mighty Cry, but little Wool.

LIKE Lewis, Smith with many Men

March'd out, and then run back again.

NOW comes the Trick of Captain Grantham,

Which some think base; but I think handsome:

He long had traded in the Parts,

Knew Planters Tempers and their Hearts;

And had great Infl'ence far and near,

Either for Int'rest, Love, or Fear;

As many worthy Traders have,

Who in their Hands still keep the Staff;

By keeping Planters Egg in Nest,

Pray don't be Mad, 'tis but a Jest.

THIS Captain, cut out for the Work,

I'th Nick of Time arriv'd in York;

And privately on WILL attending,

Got Management o'th Cause depending;

For WILL and he together lay

Their Heads, the Traytors to betray.

WHEN under Rose, they had agreed,

To Ingram, Grantham goes with Speed,

To try what could be done by Skill,

Since Arms had fail'd i'th Cause of WILL.

GRANTHAM, a nat'ral Rhetorician,

A Merchant, Tar, and Politician,

Did try with Words, as smooth as Oil,

If he could stubborn Ingram foil,

And Walkett, both to Reason bring;

'Who taking Arms against the King,

'Had Lives and Fortunes forfeited,

'And were in Law already dead:

'As Grantham told them; adding further,

'He really thought it wilful Murder

'To kill poor Subjects, on Pretence

'Of standing in their own Defence;

'Which could not be, since (as he heard)

'They by Nat's Compass blindly steer'd;

'So if their Course they would not alter,

'They'd soon be moar'd to Tree, by Halter:

'So begg'd them well to weigh the Case,

'And Mercy by all Means embrace,

'Whilst certain Mercy could be found,

'Before the Men of War struck Ground,

'With Men 'tixt Decks, and Arms i'th Hold,

'Chuck-full, like Grecian Horse of Old'.

Thus he advis'd them to submit

To Government, if they thought fit.

AT this, they both began to look

As if they had been Thunder-struck,

Which Sligo saw; and then said he,

'Since you dead-hearted seem to be,

'I will with BERKLEY stand your Friend,

'Who to request may condescend,

'(Perhaps) a piteous Ear to lend:

[Page] 'If you surrender to his Mercy,

'He'll pardon (I believe by Hear-say:)

'Besides, some Time with him I spent,

'Before I last to England went;

'And then to me he seem'd inclin'd

'To be compassionate and kind:

'So knowing him, and knowing you,

'I'll tell you what you'd best to do;

'And if you'll do as I wou'd have you,

'I dare believe, that I can save you'.

THIS friendly cordial Advice,

Made both the Wolves, as quank as Mice;

Both condescending for to take

The Terms that he should for them make:

The Terms agreed, he does propose

That they their Minds must not disclose,

Nor let their Army know what he

With both their Honours did agree;

But in their Noddles private keep all,

'Till he had fathomed the People.

THIS done, the Captain tacks about,

And next address'd the Rebel-Rout;

But with these Folks, sly Grantham found

That he should gain but little Ground,

Unless with Wheedles he could nick 'em,

And so into a Halter trick 'em;

Well knowing that he had to do

With Runaways and Freemen too.

At length he saith; 'Good Gentlemen,

'You know, that I long Time have been

'A Trader here, where I have got

'A deal to help to boil my Pot;

'But now (I tell you to my Cost)

'My Trade is likely to be lost,

'Whilst you bear Arms in this your Post;

'Poor Crops are made, Tobacco low;

'What I shall do, I do not know,

'For whilst you here are nothing doing,

'Merchant and Planter run to Ruin;

'You have been all, saith he (good Sirs)

'My Friends, Acquaintance, Customers;

'And often have had Room to try

'My Kindness to the Colony;

'B'ing bound in Interest and Honour,

'To love and value such a Donor;

'But you 'bove all (and then he swore)

'Who have been Dealers at my Store:

'Excuse me therefore, if I be

'For your own Good, too frank and free:

'I left a Fleet moar'd in the Downs,

'Freighted with Redcoats, Bloody Hounds:

'That CHARLES has sent to aid Sir WILLIAM,

'To seize the Rebels, and to kill 'em.

AT this they glibly swallow Bait,

And for Advice impatient wait;

Which they request, that he would give 'em,

And at this ticklish Point relieve 'em.

He soon reply'd, 'I'll go and try,

To sound Sir WILLIAM, by and by;

'I dare believe his Heart is tender:

'And he'll forgive, if you surrender

'On Terms like these: As first suppose,

'There was Indemnity for those

'That Freemen are and good Freeholders;

'And then for all the listed Soldiers,

'Suppose for them I get their Pay,

'And get the Servants freed, what say y'?

TO this they soon unan'mously

With Thanks and Joy did all agree:

But yet before with them he parted,

Thinking the Gen'rals hollow-hearted,

He bid them not let Ingram know

What they had thus contriv'd to do;

Lest he and Walkett should prevent,

What was their Int'rest and Intent.

This done, they parted, Grantham went

Down to his Ship, they to the Tent.

BUT 'twas not long e're Grantham brought

The Pardon, which the Rebels sought;

Which being drawn in ample Manner,

Induc'd them soon to strick their Banner.

NEXT Day a board a Sloop they'r stow'd.

And down to Tindal's-point are tow'd,

Their Arms b'ing first secur'd with Care,

Lest they should still persist in War.

[Page]

OH how WILL treats them with good Cheer:

With Pork, and Beef, and Drams, and Beer

Then after mutal Compliment,

Each to their Habitation went.

WITH joyful Hearts the Planters set

To Work, with Ax and Hough, to get

Their Bread, which each had often wanted,

Since last they'd Corn and 'Tatoes planted;

Resolving never more to enter,

Nor Corps in civil Wars to venture.

NOW Readers you must understand,

You are arriv'd in Sight of Land;

As said Diogenes of old,

When One a tedious Story told.

FOR finding the Conclusion near,

There's Land (saith he) brave Boys! don't fear.

Thus you may know by this Allusion,

My Story's almost at Conclusion.

FOR now Sir WILLIAM'S got ashore,

And safe arriv'd at Home once more,

His House by Friends b'ing now retaken

From Garrison, put there by Bacon:

Whence Goods and Prog were took, but Drummond

And poor French Valet, paid for some on't,

Who almost starv'd and famish'd found,

Were soon truss'd up, Twelve Foot from Ground.

AND now each Party seem'd at Ease,

Supposing nought could break their Peace,

When Council and Assembly thought,

That some o'th archest Rebels ought,

By Death to make some Satisfaction,

For all the Ills of late Distraction,

To frighten Folks from trayt'rous Action.

THEN here and there did Rebel swing,

On Limbs of Trees, like Dogs in String.

To put the Saddle on right Horse,

The vilest hangs in Chains in Course;

So 'Tony Arnold, who kept Ferry,

Was thus prefer'd to Charon's Wherry.

THUS oft the Villains Offspring find

Just Vengeance, when a like inclin'd

To do the same, as Dad had done,

And into Punishment will run.

MAY all such Rebels to the State,

For Arnold's Crimes have Arnold's Fate,

Which basest Rebel did attone,

For Hundreds, who less Harm had done.

NOW, having told o'th' greatest Villain,

You can't expect me to go still on;

And other Rebels Names bespatter,

So Mum's the Word about this Matter.

I've said enough, I really think;

The more 'tis stir'd, the more 'twill stink.

SO much for Hanging and for Killing,

Enough (I hope) for half Five Shillings;

For I v'e no more of this to tell,

'Ere you read Sotweed rest a Spell,

So for the present, Sirs, Farewell.

FINIS.

The Sotweed Factor, &c.

[Page]

CONDEMN'D by Fate, to wayward Curse,

Of Friends unkind, and empty Purse,

Plagues worse than sill'd Pandora's Box,

I took my Leave of Albion's Rocks,

With heavy Heart, concern'd that I

Was forc'd my native Soil to fly,

And the old World must bid Good-b'ye:

But Heav'n ordain'd it shou'd be so,

And to repine is vain, we know.

FREIGHTED with Fools, from Plimouth Sound,

To MARYLAND our Ship was bound;

Where we arriv'd, in dreadful Pain,

Shock'd by the Terrors of the Main;

For full Three Months our wav'ring Boat

Did thro' the surly Ocean float,

And furious Storms and threatning Blasts,

Both split our Sails, and sprung our Masts:

Weary'd, yet pleas'd we did escape

Such Ills, we achor'd at the Cape;

But weighing soon, we plow'd the Bay,

To cove it in Piscataway.

INTENDING there to open Store,

I put myself and Goods on Shore,

Where soon repair'd a numerous Crew,

In Shirts and Draw'rs, of Scotch-cloth blew,

With neither Stocking, Hat, nor Shoe:

These Sotweed Planters crowd the Shore,

In Hew as tawny as a Moor;

Figures, so strange, no GOD design'd

To be a Part of Human-kind:

But wanton Nature, void of Rest,

Moulded the brittle Clay in Jest.

AT last, a Fancy very odd,

Took me, This was The Land of Nod,

Planted at first when Vagrant Cain

His Brother had unjustly slain;

Then, conscious of the Crime he'd done,

From Vengeance dire hither run,

And in a Hut supinely dwelt,

The first in Furrs and Sotweed dealt:

And ever since that Time, this Place

Has harbour'd a detested Race,

Who, when they could not thrive at Home,

For Refuge to these Worlds did roam,

In Hopes by Flight they might prevent

The Devil, and his fell Intent,

Obtain from Tripple-Tree Reprieve,

And Heav'n and Hell alike deceive:

But e're their Manners I display,

I think it fit I open lay

My Entertainment by the Way,

That Strangers well may be aware on

What homely Diet they must fare on;

To see that Shore where no good sense is found,

But Conversation's lost, and Manners drown'd.

I cross'd unto the other Side

A River, whose impetuous Tide,

Those Salvage Borders do divide,

In such a swimming odd Invension,

I scarce can give it's due Dimension,

[Page] The Indians call this watry Waggon,

Canoe, a Vessel none can brag on,

Cut from a Poplar Tree, or Pine,

And fashion'd like a Trough for Swine:

In this most noble Fishing-boat,

I boldly put my self afloat,

Standing erect, with Legs stretch'd wide,

We paddled to the other Side;

Where being landed safe by Hap,

(As Sol fell into Thetis' Lap)

A ravenous Gang, bent on the Strowl,

Of Wolves for Prey, began to howl:

This put me in a pannick Fright,

Lest I shou'd be devour'd quite:

But as I there a Musing stood,

And quite benighted in the Wood,

A Female Voice pierc'd thro' my Ears,

Crying, You Rogue drive home the Steers:

I listen'd that attractive Sound,

And streight a Herd of Cattle found,

Drove by a Youth, and homeward bound.

Cheer'd with the Sight, I streight thought fit

To ask, Where I a Bed might get?

The surly Peasant bid me stay,

And ask'd, From whom I'd run away?

Surpris'd at such a sawcy Word,

I instantly lugg'd out my Sword,

Swearing I was no Fugitive,

But from Great Britain did arrive,

In hopes I here might better thrive.

To which he mildly made Reply,

I beg your Pardon, Sir, that I

Shou'd talk to you unmannerly:

But if you please to go with me,

To yonder House you'll welcome be.

ENCOUNTRING soon the smoaky Seat,

The Planter old did thus me greet,

Whether You're come from Goal, or College,

You're Welcome, to my certain Knowlege,

And if You'll please all Night to stay,

My Son shall put You in the Way:

Which Offer I most kindly took,

And for a Seat did round me look,

When presently among the rest

He plac'd his unknown English Guest,

Who found 'em drinking, for a Whet,

A Cask of Sider on the Fret:

'Till Supper came upon the Table,

On which I fed whilst I was able;

So after hearty Entertainment,

Of drink and Victuals, without Payment,

For Planters Tables, you must know

Are free for all that come and go,

Whilst Pone, with Milk and Mush well stor'd,

In wooden Dishes grac'd the Board,

With Hominy and Sider-Pap,

Which scarce an English Dog would lap,

Well stuff'd with Fat from Bacon fry'd,

And with Melasses dulcify'd.

Then out our Landlord pulls his Pouch,

As greasy as the Leather Couch

On which he sat, and streight begun

To load with Weed his Indian Gun,

In Length scarce longer than one's Finger,

Or that for which the Ladies linger.

His Pipe smoak'd out, with awful Grace,

With Aspect grave and solemn Pace,

The Reverend Sir, walks to a Chest,

Of all his Furniture the best,

Closely confin'd within a Room,

Which seldom felt the Weight of Broom:

From thence he lugs a Cagg of Rum,

And nodding to me, thus begun:

I find, says he, you don't much care

For this our Indian Country Fare;

But let me tell you, Friend of mine,

You may be glad of it in Time,

Tho' now you're Stomach is so fine;

And if within this Land you stay,

You'll find it true what I do say:

This said, the Rundlet up he threw,

And bending backwards strongly drew;

I pluck'd as stoutly, for my Part,

Altho' it made me sick at Heart,

And got so soon into my Head,

I scarce could find my Way to Bed;

Where I was instantly convey'd,

By one that pass'd for Chamber-Maid,

Tho' by her loose and sluttish Dress,

She rather seem'd a Bedlam-Bess.

[Page] Curious to know from whence she came,

I press'd her to declare her Name?

She blushing, seem'd to hide her Eyes,

And thus in civil Terms replies:

In better Times, o'er to this Land

I was unhappily trepann'd,

Perchance as well I did appear,

As any Gentlewoman here,

Not then a Slave for Twice Two Year;

My Cloaths were fashionably new,

Nor were my Shifts of Scotch Cloth blew:

But Things are chang'd: Now at the Hoe

I daily work, and barefoot go,

In weeding Corn, and feeding Swine,

I spend my melancholly Time;

Kidnapp'd and fool'd, I hither fled,

To shun a hated Nuptial Bed;

And, to my Grief, already find

Worse Plagues than those I left behind.

WHATE'ER the Wand'rer did profess,

Good faith I cou'd not chuse but guess

The Cause which brought her to this Place,

Was Supping e're the Priest said Grace:

Quick as my Thoughts the Slave was fled,

Her Candle left to shew my Bed,

Which, made of Feathers soft and good,

Close in the Chimney-corner stood:

I laid me down, expecting Rest,

To be in Golden Slumbers blest;

But soon a Noise disturb'd my Quiet,

And plagu'd me with Nocturnal Riot:

A Puss, which in the Ashes lay,

With grunting Pig, began a Fray,

And prudent Dog, that Feuds might cease,

Most sharply bark'd, to keep the Peace:

This Quarrel scarcely was decided

By Stick, that ready lay provided,

But Reynard, arch and cunning Loon,

Crept into my Apartment soon,

In hot Pursuit of Ducks and Geese,

With full Intent the same to seize;

Their cackling Plaints with strange Surprise

Chac'd Sleep's thick Vapours from my Eyes;

Raging, I jump'd upon the Floor,

And like a drunken Sailor swore,

With Sword I fiercely laid about,

And soon dispers'd the feather'd Rout,

The Poultry out of Window flew,

And Reynard cautiously withdrew;

The Dogs who this Encounter heard,

Fiercely themselves to aid me rear'd,

And to the Place of Combat run,

Exactly as the Field was won,

Fretting and hot as roasted Capon,

And greasy as a Flitch of Bacon.

I to the Orchard did repair,

To breathe the cool and open Air,

Impatient waiting for bright Day,

Extended on a Bank I lay;

But Fortune here, that sawey Whore,

Disturb'd me worse, and plagu'd me more

Than she had done the Night before;

Hoarse croaking Frogs did round me ring,

Such Peals the Dead to Life wou'd bring,

A Noise might move their Wooden King:

I stuff'd my Ears with Cotton white,

And curs'd the melancholly Night,

For fear of being deaf outright:

But soon my Vows I did recant,

And Hearing as a Blessing grant,

When a confounded Rattle-Snake

With Hissing made my Heart to ach,

Not knowing how to fly the Foe,

Or whither in the dark to go,

By strange good Luck I took a Tree,

Prepar'd by Fate to set me free,

Where, riding on a Limb astride,

Night and the Branches did me hide,

And I the De'el and Snake defy'd.

Not yet from Plagues exempted quite,

The curs'd Muschetoes did me bite;

'Til rising Morn, and blushing Day,

Drove both my Fears and Ills away,

And from Night's Terrors set me free,

Discharg'd from hospitable Tree.

I did to Planter's Booth repair,

And there at Breakfast nobly fare,

On Rasher broil'd, of infant Bear:

I thought the Cubb delicious Meat,

Which ne'er did ought but Chesnuts eat,

[Page] Nor was young Orson's Flesh the worse,

Because he suck'd a Pagan Nurse:

Our Breakfast done, the Planter stout,

Handed a Glass of Rum about.

PLEAS'D with the Treatment I did find,

I took my Leave of Host so kind,

Who, to oblige me, did provide

His eldest Son to be my Guide;

And lent me Horses of his own,

A skittish Colt and aged Roan,

The four legg'd Prop of his Wife Joan.

Steering our Course in Trott or Pace,

We sail'd directly for a Place,

In MARYLAND of high Renown;

Known by the Name of Battle-Town:

To view the Crowds did there resort,

Which Justice made, and Law, their Sport,

In their Sagacious County Court:

Scarce had we enter'd on the Way,

Which thro' the Woods and Marshes lay,

But Indian strange did soon appear

In hot Pursuit of wounded Deer;

No mortal Creature can express

His wild fantastick Air and Dress;

His painted Skin, in Colours dy'd,

His sable Hair, in Satchel ty'd,

Show'd Salvages not free from Pride:

His tawny Thinghs and Bosom bare,

Disdain'd an useless Coat to wear,

Scorn'd Summers Heat and Winters Air;

His manly Shoulders, such as please

Widows and Wives, were bath'd with Grease,

Of Cub and Bear, whose supple Oil,

Prepar'd his Limbs in Heat and Toil.

THUS naked Pict in Battle fought,

Or undisguis'd his Mistress sought;

And knowing well his Ware was good,

Refus'd to skreen it with a Hood:

His Visage Dun, and Chin that near

Did Razor feel, nor Scissars bear,

Or know the Ornament of Hair,

Look'd sternly grim; supriz'd with Fear,

I spurr'd my Horse as he drew near;

But Roan, who better knew than I,

The little Cause I had to fly,

Seem'd by his solemn Steps and Pace,

Resolv'd I shou'd the Spector face,

Nor faster mov'd, tho' spurr'd and prick'd,

Than Balam's Ass by Prophet kick'd;

Kekicnatop, the Heathen cry'd,

How is it Tom, my Friend reply'd;

Judging from thence, the Brute was civil,

I boldly fac'd the courteous Devil,

And lugging out a Dram of Rum,

I gave his tawny Worship some;

Who in his Language as I guess,

My Guide informing me no less,

Implor'd the Devil me to bless:

I thank'd him for his good Intent,

And forward on my Journey went;

Discoursing as along I rode,

Whether this Race was fram'd of GOD,

Or whether some malignant Power,

Had fram'd them in an evil Hour,

And from his own infernal Look,

Their dusky Form and Image took.

FROM hence we fell to Argument

Whence peopl'd was this Continent?

My Friend suppos'd Tartarians wild,

Or Chinese, from their home exil'd,

Wandring thro' Mountains hid with Snow,

And Rills that in the Valleys flow,

Far to the South of Mexico,

Broke thro' the Bars which Nature cast,

And wide unbeaten Regions past;

'Till near those Streams the human Deluge roll'd,

Which sparkling shin'd with glittering Sands of Gold;

And fetch'd Pisarro from th' Iberian Shore

To rob the Indians of their native Store.

I smil'd to hear my young Logician,

Thus reason like a Polititian;

Who ne'r by Father's Pains and Earning,

Had got, at Mother, Cambridge Learning;

Where lubber Youth just free from Birch,

Most stoutly drink to prop the Church;

Nor with grey Coat had taken Pains

To purge his Head, and cleanse his Reins;

[Page] And in Obedience to the College,

Had pleas'd himself with carnal Knowledge;

And tho' I lik'd the Younster's Wit,

I judg'd the Truth he had not hit;

And could not chuse but smile to think,

What they cou'd do for Meat and Drink,

Who o'er so many Desarts ran,

With Brats and Wives in Carravan;

Unless perchance they'd got a Trick,

To eat no more than Porker sick,

Or could with well-contented Maws,

Quarter like Bears upon their Paws:

Thinking his Reason to confute,

I gravely thus commenc'd Dispute;

And urg'd, that tho' a Chinese Host

Might penetrate this Indian Coast,

Yet this was certainly most true,

They never could the Isles subdue;

For knowing not to steer a Boat,

They could not on the Ocean float,

Or plant their Sun-burnt Colonies,

In Regions parted by the Seas:

I thence inferr'd, Phoenicians old

Discover'd first, with Vessels bold,

These Western Shores, and planted here,

Returning once or twice a Year,

With Naval Stores, and Lasses kind,

To comfort those were left behind;

'Till by the Winds and Tempests tore,

From their intended golden Shore,

They suffer'd Shipwreck, or were drown'd,

And lost the World so newly found:

But after long and learn'd Contention,

We could not finish our Dissention;

And when that both had talk'd their Fill,

We had the self same Notion still.

THUS Parson Grave well read, and Sage,

Does in Dispute with Priest engage,

The one protests they are not wise,

Who judge by Sense, and trust their Eyes,

And vows he'd burn for it at Stake,

That Man may GOD his Maker make;

The other smiles at his Religion,

And vows he's but a learned Widgeon,

And when they've emptied all their Store,

From Books and Father, are not more

Convinc'd, or wiser than before.

SCARCE had we finish'd serious Story,

But I espy'd the Town before me;

And roaring Planters on the Ground,

Drinking of Healths, in Circle round;

Dismounting Steed with friendly Guide,

Our Horses to a Tree we ty'd,

And forward pass'd amongst the Rout,

To chuse convenient Quarters out;

But being none were to be found,

We sat like others on the Ground,

Carousing Punch in open Air,

'Till Cryer did the Court declare:

The planting Rabble being met,

Their drunken Worships likewise fat,

Cryer proclaims the Noise shou'd cease,

And streight the Lawyers broke the Peace,

Wrangling for Plantiff and Defendant,

I thought they ne'r wou'd make an End on't,

With Nonsence, Stuff, and false Quotations,

With brazen Lies, and Allegations;

And in the Splitting of the Cause,

Us'd such strange Motions with their Paws,

As shew'd their Zeal was rather bent

In Blows to end the Argument.

A Reverend Judge, who to the Shame,

Of all the Bench, cou'd write his Name,

At Petty-Fogger took Offence,

And wonder'd at his Impudence:

My Neighbour Dash, with Scorn replies,

And in the Face of Justice flies;

The Bench in Fury streight divide,

And Scribles take on Judge's Side;

The Jury, Lawyers, and their Clients,

Contending, fight, like Earth-born Giants,

'Till Sh'riff that slily lay perdue,

Hoping Indictments would ensue;

And when—

A Hat or Wig fell in the Way,

He seiz'd 'em for the Queen, as Stray;

The Court adjourn'd in usual Manner,

In Battle, Blood, and fractious Clamour.

[Page]

I thought it proper to provide.

A Lodging for my self and Guide;

So to our Inn we march'd away,

Which at a little Distance lay;

Where all Things were in such Consusion,

I thought the World at it's Conclusion;

A Heard of Planters on the Ground,

O'rewhelm'd with Punch, dead Drunk we found;

Others were fighting and contending,

Some burn'd their Cloaths, to save the mending;

A few whose Heads, by frequent Use,

Could better bear the potent Juice,

Gravely debated State Affairs,

Whilst I most nimbly tripp'd up Stairs,

Leaving my Friend discoursing oddly,

And mixing Things Prophane and Godly;

Just then beginning to be drunk,

As from the Company I slunk:

To every Room and Nook I crept,

In hopes I might have somewhere slept;

But all the Beding was possest,

By one or other drunken Guest;

But after looking long about,

I found an antient Corn-loft out;

Glad that I might in Quiet sleep,

And there my Bones unfractur'd keep:

I laid me down secur'd from Fray,

And soundly snor'd 'till break o'Day;

When waking fresh, I sat upright,

And found my Shoes were vanish'd quite,

Hat, Wig, and Stockings, all were fled,

From this extended Indian Bed:

Vex'd at the Loss of Goods and Chattle,

I swore I'd give the Rascal Battle,

Who had abus'd me in this Sort,

And Merchant-Stranger made his Sport:

I furiously descended Ladder,

No Hare in March was ever madder,

And did with Host and Servants quarrel,

But all in vain, for my Apparel;

For one whose Mind did much aspire

To Mischief, threw them in the Fire.

Equipp'd with neither Hat nor Shoe,

I did my coming hither rue,

And doubtful thoughts what I should do:

When looking round I saw my Friend,

Lye naked on a Table's End,

A Sight so dismal to behold,

One would have thought him dead and cold,

There ready laid, to be next Day

On Shoulders Four convey'd away:

'Till wringing of his bloody Nose,

By fighting got, we may suppose,

I found him not so fast asleep,

Might give his Friends some cause to weep:

Rise Oronoko, rise, said I,

And from this Hell and Bedlam fly:

My Guide starts up, and in a Maze,

With Bloodshot Eyes did round him gaze,

At Lenth with many Sigh and Groan,

He went in search of aged Roan;

But Roan who seldom us'd to falter,

Had fairly this Time slipt his Halter,

And not content all Night to stay,

Ty'd up from Fodder, run away;

After my Guide to catch him ran,

And so I lost both Horse and Man;

Which Disappointment tho' so great,

Did only Jest and Mirth create:

'Till one more civil than the rest,

In Conversation far the best,

Observing that for want of Roan,

I shou'd be left to walk alone,

Most readily did me intreat,

To take a Bottle at his Seat,

A Favour at that Time so great,

I blest my kind propitious Fate;

And finding soon a fresh Supply

Of Cloaths, from Store-House kept hard by,

I mounted streight on such a Steed,

Did rather Curb than Whipping need;

And straining at the usual Rate,

With Spur of Punch which lies in Pate,

E'er long we lighted at the Gate;

Where in an antient Cedar-House,

Dwelt my new Friend, a Cockerouse,

Whose Fabrick, tho' 'twas built of Wood,

Had many Springs and Winters stood:

[Page] When sturdy Oaks and lofty Pines,

Were levell'd with Musk-Melon-Vines,

And Plants eradicated were,

By Hurricans drove in the Air:

There with good Punch and Apple Juice,

We spent our Time without Abuse,

'Till Midnight in her sable Vest,

Persuaded Gods and Men to rest;

And with a pleasing kind Surprize,

Indulg'd soft Slumber to my Eyes.

FIERCE Aethon, Courser of the Sun,

Had half his Race exactly Run,

And breath'd on me a furious Ray,

Darting hot Beams the following Day,

When Rug in Blanket white, I lay;

But Heat and Chinces rais'd the Sinner,

Most opportunely to his Dinner;

Wild Fowl and Fish delicious Meats,

As good as Neptune's Doxy eats,

Began our hospitable Chear,

Fat Venison follow'd in the Rear,

And Turkeys wild, luxurious Fare:

But what the Feast did most commend,

Was hearty Welcome from my Friend.

THUS having made a noble Feast,

I eat as well as pamper'd Priest;

Madera strong in flowing Bowles,

Fill'd with extreme Delight our Souls;

'Till wearied with a purple Flood,

Of gen'rous Wine, the Giants Blood,

As Poets feign, away I made

For some refreshing verdant Shade;

Where musing on my Rambles strange,

And Fortune, which so oft did change,

In midst of various Contemplations,

Of Fancies odd and Meditations,

I slumber'd long, —

'Till airy Night and noxious Dews,

Did Sleep's unwholsome Fetters loose,

With Vapours cold and misty Air,

To Fire-side I did repair;

Near which a jolly Female Crew,

Were deep engag'd at Lanterloo,

In Nightrails white, with dirty Mien,

Such Sights are scarce in England seen;

I thought them first some Witches, bent

On black Designs, in dire Convent;

'Till one who with affected Air,

Had nicely learn'd to Curse and Swear,

Cry'd, Dealing's lost, 'tis but a Flam,

And vow'd by G— she'd have her Pam:

When Dealing thro' the Board had run,

They ask'd me kindly, to make one:

Not staying often to be bid,

I sate me down as others did;

We scarce had play'd a Round about,

But that those Indian Frows fell out:

D—m you, says one, tho' now so Brave,

I knew you late a Four Years Slave,

What, if for Planter's Wife you go,

Nature design'd you for the Hoe:

Rot you, replies the other streight,

The Captain kiss'd you for his Freight;

And if the Truth was known aright,

And how you walk'd the Streets by Night,

You'd blush, if one could blush for Shame,

Who from Bridewell and Newgate came.

From Words they fairly fell to Blows,

And being loth to interpose,

Or meddle in the Wars of Punk,

Away to Bed in Haste I slunk:

Waking next Day with aking Head,

And Thirst that made me quit the Bed,

I rigg'd my self and soon got up,

To cool my Liver with a Cup

Of Succahanah fresh and clear,

Not half so good as English Beer,

Which ready stood in Kitchin Pail,

And was, in Fact, but Adam's Ale.

FOR Planters Cellars, you must know,

Seldom with good October flow,

But Perry, Quince, and Apple Juice,

Spout from the Tap, like any Sluice,

Until the Cask grows low and stale,

They're forc'd again to Goard and Pail,

The soothing Draught scarce down my Throat,

Enough to set a Ship on float,

With Cockerouse as I was sitting

I felt a Fever intermitting,

[Page] A fiery Pulse beat in my Veins,

From cold I felt resembling Pains;

This cursed Seasoning I remember,

Lasted from March 'till cold December;

Nor could it then it's Quarter shift,

Until by Carduus turn'd adrift:

And had my Doct'ress wanted Skill,

Or Kitchin-Phisick at her Will,

My Father's Son had lost his Lands,

And never seen the Goodwin Sands:

But Thanks to Fortune, and a Nurse,

Whose Care depended on my Purse,

I saw my self in good Condition,

Without the Help of a Phisician:

At length the shivering Ill reliev'd

My Heart and Head, which long had griev'd.

I then began to think with Care,

How I might sell my British Ware;

That with my Freight I might comply,

Did on my Charter-Party lye:

To this Intent, with Guide before,

I tript it to the Eastern Shore;

Where riding near a Sandy Bay,

I met a Planter in my Way,

A pious, consciencious Rogue,

As e're wore Bonnet, Hat, or Brogue,

Who neither swore, nor kept his Word,

But cheated in the Fear o' th' Lord;

And when his Debts he could not pay,

From trusting Fools he'd run away.

WITH this sly Zealot, soon I struck

A Bargain, for my English Truck,

Agreeing for Ten Thousand Weight

Of Sotweed good, and fit for Freight:

Broad Oronoko, bright and sound,

The Growth and Product of his Ground;

In Cask, that shou'd contain compleat

Five Hundred of Tobacco neat.

THE Contract thus betwixt us made,

Not well acquainted with the Trade,

My Goods I trusted to the Cheat,

Whose Crop was then o'board the Fleet;

And going to receive my own,

I found the Bird was newly flown:

Cursing this execrable Slave,

This damn'd pretended Godly Knave,

On due Revenge and Justice bent,

I instantly to Council went;

Unto an ambodexter Quack,

Who learnedly had got the Knack

Of giving Clysters, making Pills,

Of filling Bonds, and forging Wills;

And with a Stock of Impudence,

Supply'd his want of Wit and Sence,

With Looks demure, amazing People,

No wiser than a Daw on Steeple

My Anger flushing in my Face,

I stated the preceeding Case,

And of my Money was so free

That he'd have poison'd you or me,

And hang'd his Father on a Tree,

For such another tempting Fee.

SMILING, said he, the Cause is clear,

I'll manage him, you need not fear,

The Case is judg'd, good Sir, but look

In Galen, no, in my Lord Cook,

I vow to G-d, I was mistook:

I'll take out a Provincial Writ,

And trownce him for his knavish Wit,

Upon my Life, I'll win the Cause,

With as much Ease I cure the Yaws:

Resolv'd to plague the Holy Brother,

I set one Rogue to catch another.

TO try the Cause then fully bent,

Up to Annapolis I went,

A City situate on a Plain,

* Where scarce a House will keep out Rain;

The Buildings fram'd with Cypress rare,

Resembles much our Southwark-Fair;

But Strangers there will scarcely meet,

With Market Place, Exchange, or Street;

And if the Truth I may report,

It's not so large as Tottenham-Court.

[Page] St. Mary's once was in Repute,

Now Here the Judges try the Suit,

And Lawyers twice a Year dispute.

As oft the Bench most gravely meet,

Some to get drink, and some to eat

A swinging Share of Country Treat:

But as for Justice write or wrong,

Not one amongst the numerous Throng

Knows what it means, or has the Heart,

To vindicate a Stranger's Part.

NOW, Court being call'd by beat of Drum,

The Judges left their Punch and Rum;

When Pettifogging Doctor draws

His Papers forth, and opens Cause;

And lest I should the Better get,

Brib'd Quack suppress'd his knavish Wit:

So Maid upon the downy Field,

Pretends a Rape, and fights to yield:

The byass'd Court without Delay,

Adjudg'd my Debt in Country Pay,

In Pipe Staves,-Corn, or Flesh of Boar,

Rare Cargo for the English Shore.

Raging with Grief, full Speed I ran,

To join the Fleet at Kickatan:

And while I waited for a Wind,

This Wish proceeded from my Mind,

IF any Youngster cross the Ocean,

To sell his Wares—may he with Caution

Before he pays, receive each Hogshead,

Lest he be cheated by some Dogshead,

Both of his Goods and his Tobacco;

And then like me, be shall not lack-woe.

AND may that Land where Hospitality,

Is every Planter's darling Quality,

Be by each Trader kindly us'd,

And may no Trader be abus'd;

Then each of them shall deal with Pleasure,

And each encrease the other's Treasure.

N B. The Author of these POEMS intending to publish his Works Annually, under the same Title, hopes The Second Part (when ready for the Press) will meet with the like Encouragement from his Friends and Benefactors.

Notes

*

This Account of Annapolis was given Twenty Years ago, and does not resemble it's present State.

↵

Information about this book

Title statement

The Maryland muse. Containing I. The history of Colonel Nathaniel Bacon's rebellion in Virginia. Done into Hudibrastick verse, from an old ms. II. The sotweed factor, or voiage to Maryland. / By E. Cooke, gent. ; [Two lines of verse]

Cooke, Ebenezer, ca. 1667-ca. 1732.

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI :

Date

2011-05.

ID [DLPS]

N02853

ID [TCP]

N02853

ID [STC]

Evans 3407

ID [NOTIS]

APX2533

ID [IMAGE-SET]

3407

ID [EVANS-CITATION]

99019268

Availability

This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal. The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.

Series

Early American Imprints, 1639-1800 ; no. 3407.

Notes

(Evans-TCP ; no. N02853)

Transcribed from: (Readex Archive of Americana ; Early American Imprints, series I ; image set 3407)

Images scanned from Readex microprint and microform: (Early American imprints. First series ; no. 3407)

Source

— The Maryland muse. Containing I. The history of Colonel Nathaniel Bacon's rebellion in Virginia. Done into Hudibrastick verse, from an old ms. II. The sotweed factor, or voiage to Maryland. / By E. Cooke, gent. ; [Two lines of verse], Cooke, Ebenezer, ca. 1667-ca. 1732., Cooke, Ebenezer, ca. 1667-ca. 1732. Sotweed factor, or voiage to Maryland.. The third edition, corrected and amended..

Extent

[2], 25, [1] p. ; (fol.)

Printed [by William Parks],. Annapolis: :: in the year M,DCC,XXXI. [1731]. (Edition statement transposed; precedes "By E. Cooke, gent." on title page.) (Ascribed to the press of William Parks by L.C. Wroth. See his "The Maryland muse." American Antiquarian Society proceedings 44 (1934): 267-335.) ("To the author."--p. [2], first count. Signed: H.J. Attributed to the Rev. Hugh Jones by Wroth.)

Creation

Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford.

Editorial practices

EEBO-TCP is a partnership between the Universities of Michigan and Oxford and the publisher ProQuest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by ProQuest via their Early English Books Online (EEBO) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). The general aim of EEBO-TCP is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic English-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in EEBO.

EEBO-TCP aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the Text Encoding Initiative (http://www.tei-c.org).

The EEBO-TCP project was divided into two phases. The 25,363 texts created during Phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 January 2015. Anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source.

Users should be aware of the process of creating the TCP texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data.

Text selection was based on the New Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature (NCBEL). If an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in NCBEL, then their works are eligible for inclusion. Selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. In general, first editions of a works in English were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably Latin and Welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so.

Image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. Quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in Oxford and Michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet QA standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. After proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. Any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. Understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of TCP data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. Users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a TCP editor.

The texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the TEI in Libraries guidelines.

Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements).

Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site.