Stout _Shonny-ap-Morgan_ to _London_ would ride, [92.]
To seek Cousen _Taffie_ whatever betide;
Her own Sisters Son, whom her loved so dear,
Her had not beheld him this many long year:
Betimes in the morning stout _Shonny_ arose,
And then on the Journey with Courage her goes,
A _Cossit_[F. 163] of Gray was the best of her Close,
Her Boots they were out at the heels and the toes.
A Sword by her side, and with _Bob_ the Gray Mare,
Her rid on the Road like a Champion so rare;
At last how it happened to her hard Lot,
To meet with young _Jockey_, a bonny brisk Scot;
Then _Jockey_ was jolly, and thus he did say,
Let's gang to the Tavern, drink wine by my fay,
Then _Shonny_ consented, and made no delay,
But _Jockey_ left _Shonny_ the Reckoning to pay.
[Illustration]
While _Morgan_ was merry, and thinking no ill,
The _Scotchman_ he used the best of his skill;
Considering how he might scamper away,
For why Sir, he never intended to pay:
But like a false Loon he slipt out of door,
And never intended to come there no more,
Poor Shonny-ap-Morgan, was left for the Score,
Cotzo her was never so served before.
Her paying the Shot, then away her went,
The _Welch_ blood was up, and her mind was bent,
For speedy pursuing he then did prepare,
Then Morgan did mount upon _Bob_ the Gray Mare:
Then Whip and Spur stout _Shonny_ did ride,
And overtook _Jockey_ near to a Wood side,
And pull'd out her Sword in the height of her Pride,
And wounded poor _Jockey_ who presently dy'd.
Then _Shonny_ was taken and hurry'd to Jail,
Where her till the Sessions did weep and bewail;
And then at the last, by the Laws of the Land,
Was brought to the Bar to hold up her Hand;
O good her Lord Shudge poor _Shonny_ did cry,
Now Whip her, and send her to Wales her Country;
Or cut off a Leg, or an Arm, or an Eye,
For her is undone, if Condemned to dye.
But this would not do, poor _Shonny_ was cast,
And likewise received her sentence at last;
A Gentleman Robber just at the same time,
Received just Sentence then due for his Crime;
Then _Shonny-ap-Morgan_ her shed many tears,
Her heart was possessed with sorrow and fears,
The Gentleman Thief likewise hung down his ears,
For then he expected his antient Arrears.
The day being come, they must both bid adieu,
Forsaking the world and the rest of their Crew;
The Spark was attir'd so gallant and gay,
But _Shonny_ was poor, and in ragged array:
And when they came both to the Gibbet Tree,
The Gentleman gave to the Hangman a Fee,
And said, let this _Welch man_ Hang farther from me,
So vile and so ragged a Rascal is he.
The Welch-man he heard him, and was in a rage,
That nothing almost, could his anger asswage;
But fretting and chaffing, he thus did begin,
Her will make her to know that her came of good kin;
Besides her will tell her her hearty belief,
That her is no more than a Gentleman Thief,
That robbed on the Roads, and the Plain and the Heath,
Her now will Hang by her in spight of her teeth.