Leicester Chambermaid

      And London Butcher.

It's of a brisk young butcher as I have heard them say,
He started out from London upon a certain day,
Says he a frolick I will have my fortune for to try,
I'll go down to Leicester some cattle for to buy.

When he arriv'd at Leicester he went into an inn,
He call'd for an ostler and boldly walked in,
He called for liquors of the best he being a roving blade,
And presently fixed his eyes upon the chambermaid.

The day being oyer and night being come,
He returned to the inn his business being done,
He called for supper and left his reckoning unpaid,
Says he this night I'll put a trick upon the chambermaid.

O then she took the candle to light him to bed,
And when she came into the room these words to her he
said.
One sovereign I will give to you all to enjoy your charms,
This fair maid all the night was in the butcher's arms.

He rose up in the morning and prepared to go away,
The landlord said your reckoning, sir, you've forgot to pay,
O no the butcher he did say do not think it strange,
I gave a sovereign to the chambermaid and hav'n't got the
change.

He then called the chambermaid and charged her with the
same,
The sovereign she did lay down fearing to get the blame,
The butcher return'd home well pleased with what had past,
But soon this pretty chambermaid grew thick about the waist.

'Twas within twelve months after he came to town again,
And then as he had done before, he stopt at the same inn,
'Twas there the lovely chambermaid she chanc'd him to see,
She brought the child just three months old and clapt it on
his knee.

The butcher like one amazed he at the child did stare,
And when the joke he did find out how he did stamp and
swear,
She said kind sir this is your own so do not think it strange,
One sovereign you gave me and I have brought the change,

The company laugh'd amain, the joke went freely round,
And soon the tidings of the same spread thro' Leicester
town,
The butcher was to a justice ta'en who happen'd to live near,
One hundred pounds he did pay down to get himself clear,

So all you brisk and lively lads I pray be ruled by me,
Take care and keep, when you come here, from woman's
company,
Or soon your folly will give you cause to range,
For if you toy with chambermaids you're sure to get your
change.                   

Walker, Printer, Durham.

[NLS note: a graphic appears here - see image of page]

                     NELSON'S

                  MONUMENT.

Britons long expected news from our fleet,
Commanded by Lord Nelson, the French for to meet,
At length the news came over, thro' the country it
was spread,
That the French were defeated, and Nelson was dead.

Not only brave Nelson, but thousands were slain,
By fighting the French upon the watery main,
To protect England's glory, its honours and wealth,
We fought and would not yield, till we yielded unto
death.

The merchants of Yarmouth hearing us say so,
Said, corns dearest brothers, to church let us go,
And there we will build a most beautiful pile,
In remembrance of Nelson the hero of the Nile.

Your plan, says Britannia, is exceedingly good,
A monument for Nelson, a sword for Collingwood,
Let it be of Polish'd Marble, to perpetuate his name,
And in letters of gold, write " he died for England's
fame.".

All seamen and soldiers, as I have been told,
They've ordered themselves in readiness to hold,
Their rights to maintain, their cause to support,
From any invasion keep each British port.

Both soldiers and sailors mighty deeds they have done,
Their sons in foreign parts many battles have won,
If the Nile could but speak or Egypt declare,
All the world with Lord Nelson they could not compare.
(59)