Terrible news from Brainford, or, A perfect and true relation of one Thompson, a waterman, and two more of that function being drinking in excess at Brainsford, at the house of one Mrs. Phillpots, Thursday night, September 12 ... : to the tune of Chievy chase.
[illustration]
ALl you which sober minded are,
come listen and Ile tell,
The saddest story Ile declare,
which in our dayes befell:
Therefore 'tis for example sake,
the business written is,
That others may a warning take
by such lewd lives as these.
My matter now I have in hand,
doth very doleful run;
In Brainford you shall understand
this horrid act was done:
Thrée Watermen a drinking were,
some say in Phillpots house,
Who very desperately did swear,
they would have one Carouse.
To every friend as they could think,
abroad the world so wide,
A Glass unto his Health would drink,
whatever did betide▪
So many Healths about did pass,
which is a shame to tell;
They knew not who to drink unto,
except the Devil of Hell.
Quoth one and swore the Pot shall pass,
be it to good or evil;
And if thou wilt but pledge a Glass,
Ile drink unto the Devil:
The other said I willing am,
call in for Sack about us;
Ile drink another to his Dam,
it shall not go without us.
With that he bowed down his head,
and suddenly did fall;
He sunk against the Table dead,
in presence of them all:
His vitals then with death was stung,
throughout eternally,
His Nose upon the Table hung,
a ghostly sight to see.
