But if we have a friend stand by,
Six and eight pence for to pay,
Then they may have our bodies back,
And carry us quite away:
For at St Giles's or St Martin's,
A burying place is still;
And there's an end of a darkman's budge,
And the whoreson hath his will.
[1: Sneaking into houses and stealing anything to hand]
[2: Accomplished the theft]
[3: fellow catches]
[4 swag [properly money]]
[5: take us to Newgate; [Notes]]
[6: halfpenny]
[7: fetters]
[8: drink]
[9: countryman]
[10: steal his money]
[11: robbed]
[12: half a guinea]
[13: ale-house]
[14: spend a shilling]
[15: Handcuffs and leg-shackles]
[16: "footing"]
[17: whore]
[18: gallows]
[19: Notes]
[20: hung]
[21: give no money]
[22: knife]
[23: Notes]
THE MAUNDER'S PRAISE OF HIS STROWLING MORT [Notes]
[1707]
[From _The Triumph of Wit_, by J. SHIRLEY: "the King of the
Gypsies's Song, made upon his Beloved Doxy, or Mistress;" also in
_New Canting Diet_. (1725)].
I
Doxy, oh! thy glaziers shine [1]
As glimmar; by the Salomon! [2]
No gentry mort hath prats like thine, [3]
No cove e'er wap'd with such a one. [4]