A copy of verses made and set forth by Thomas Priest Bell-Man to all my worthy master and mistrisses of the vvard of St. Gile's Cripplegate without and within the freedom.

About this Item

Title
A copy of verses made and set forth by Thomas Priest Bell-Man to all my worthy master and mistrisses of the vvard of St. Gile's Cripplegate without and within the freedom.
Author
Priest, Thomas.
Publication
[London] :: Printed by Hen. Brugis,
1681.
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Subject terms
Bell-Man, Thomas Priest.
Saint Giles without Cripplegate Parish Church (London, England)
English poetry -- Early works to 1800.
Broadsides -- England -- 17th century.
Cite this Item
"A copy of verses made and set forth by Thomas Priest Bell-Man to all my worthy master and mistrisses of the vvard of St. Gile's Cripplegate without and within the freedom." In the digital collection Early English Books Online 2. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/B09784.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 7, 2024.

Pages

The Belmans Advice.

IF you desire your Houses to see, With Doors and Windows safe to be, And quiet sleep for to enjoy, Not fearing Fire that will destroy, Your Belman saith the safest way Spare your sleep and fall to Pray That God may so preserve and keep Both you and yours may safely sleep.
JOseph the Darling of Old Jacob's Heart, Went to seek his Brethren in a void Desert, But when he found them they did Churlish prove, And took away his Partial Coat of love, Sold him a Slave, then dipt in a Kidds blood His Coat, because it should not be understood But some Beast had kill'd him, said Jacob you have Brought my Grey head with sorrow to the Grave.
VVHen Ahasuerus was the Persian King, Haman great troubles on the Jews did bring And sought to murther them all in one day Because that Mordecay would not obey, And honour him when he went through the Gate Of Ahasuerus in great Pomp and State, Therefore the Jews must dye there is no hope, Yet Mordecay survived, Haman dyed by a Rope.
BE mindful of your Servant who takes care That Thieves by no means for you lay a snare, Nor can break open houses in the Night, For why the Belman puts them to the flight, Through Storms and Frost at midnight still he goes To serve his Masters, Villains to oppose.
IN this our Age Treason do much abound, And Traytors almost had beset us round, But by the Wisdome of our God above, Who is the Author and the Spring of love, The Popish Plotters he hath all confounded, And in their trenches they themselves are drowned and Snows
THrough Winds or Rains, through bitter Frosts Behold my Masters all your Belman goes, When 'tis so dark he can't his hand discern, Doth he not then his Money dearly yearn, And since to serve you all he is so free, I hope at Christmas you will Noble be.
THou glorious God that Heaven and Earth hast made Grant us thy Servants thy protecting aid, That in this time of Danger we may find Our God is merciful though men unkind, And let not Plotters by Conspiracyes, Destroy our Church so glorious in thine Eyes.
THus to conclude till the next year I shall Pray for your happiness my Masters all, Desiring God to have you all in mind, And that your Servant may your Bounty find, Ile study how to please my Masters well, My Tongue shall ring your praise, and e'ke my Bell.
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