Ref

Verse

Notes

55c

From hence to Newton we did go,

We were not tied to road,

And Burton's turnips, we walk'd through,

They little would afford.

(569)

56c

The most of them, quite backward plants,

And little time to grow,

And for a crop they would prove scanty

The season so did shew;

- Octr. 28th 1836

57c

We soon reach'd Rookwith bridle road,

And soon at No Man's Moor,

Across the turnpike, we soon strode,

To bridle road once more;

(570)

58c

Within the fields, the road it lay.

We soon reach'd Newton lane,

And George, he here behind did stay,

And soon I espy'd game.

59c

A pheasant hen, by the roadside,

By the cam side, asleep;

And what to do, did thoughts divide,

The law: How hard to keep;

60c

My armour, it was very light,

My walking stick was small;

And men were near, did me afright.

In case that she should squall;

61c

I had a shot, which weighed six pound,

But it was not my own;

And then, to throw it on the ground,

Quite wrong I might have done.

62c

It fine tobacco was indeed,

Which had from London come

And I was taking it in need,

To one that did it own.

63c

I did resolve, and us'd the stick,

The pheasant flew away;

Perhaps from justice sav'd a nick,

And left me nought to pay;

64c

We soon got into Forster's ground,

And soon into the house,

Where in the corner we him found.

His legs had lost their use.

Mr. Christopher Forster's at Newton Ie Willows

65c

I now deliver'd him his charge,

Which I from Fleets had brought,

It greatly did his stock enlarge;

I smoak'd air stay for nought.

66c

Our journey ended here for t'day.

And we had pleasant talk;

Of John's gardens, and went our way,

Within them for to walk.

(571)

67c

All dreary now, the garden was,

The flow*rs dead and gone;

To see the house, we then did pass,

For he had not got home.

(572)

68c

'Midst the fine paintings, soon were we,

And Oldridge he was there,

We heard a voice, in mimicry,

From whom did not appear.'

69c

Ventriloquist, there one would act,

He hid behind a maid.'

A fine, fat bucktrout prov'd in fact,

Who his part finely play'd;

(573)

70c

He did it well, I have no doubt.

And was to him good sport'.

A pretty screen, whence he came out'.

'Twas near the petty coat.

71c

Agreeably we were all here,

Two painters, connoisseur;

Enchanting now all did appear,

The windows down to t' floor;

72c

How to describe, I'm at a loss,

The furniture so fine.'

The fireplace, above all did cross,

All mirror it did shine.

73c

Venition, sure, you might it call,

In it, you all things see;

The costly painting by the wall,

Like face to face, agree.

74c

From it, I scarce could turn away,

I view'd it o'er and o'er;

What to determine, could not say,

Though I'd seen steel before.

75c

Perfection, say, the word is hard,

There is no limits there,

Invention has its head uprear'd;

And genius shews its share;

76c

The paintings now. was my desire.

They are accounted prime,

His last portrait I did admire,

The costume is so fine;

II 131

77c

Most noble his appearance too,

His look doth speak him praise,

His person I ne'er did it view,

To knowledge, in my days.

78c

I soon did see the gardiners

He had but just come in

From Cumberland, 'fore his master,

I soon got done with him.

(574)

79c

To Christopher's we did return.

Along the private walk,

Through the garden doth finely run,

Perhaps 'twas four O'clock,

(575)

80c

And here, we tarried all the night,

Amid sweet harmony,

Accordium did us delight;

The man sung pleasantly.

- William Busby of Newton

81c

Psalms, hymns and spiritual song,

Melodious to hear;

As if it was Cherubic throng;

Most heav'nly did appear.

82c

He sweetly tuned, till late the hour,

That we did go to rest;

And the next morn, snow seen all o'er,

All was in surplice drest.

83c

The snow it was near one .foot deep;

All dreary did appear

To fodder kine, the horse and sheep,

So early in the year.

- Octr. 29th 1836

84c

Greatly distress'd, the farmer's mind,

For crops had scanty been;

And nought at door, cattle could find,

They hous'd them all within;

(576)

85c

But providence is kind to beast.

The snow did not stay long,

The servant boy his Mistress pleas'd,

With chopping, which he'd done.

(577)

86c

She prais'd him much, behind his back,

And that was no disgrace.

When women's pleas'd, men nought can lack,

For then they have good grace;

87c

We kept close by the great fireside.

Talk'd of improvements done,

Vast miry land. there did abide,

Nought worse than Newton town.

132

88c

Where Mister John, his house did build,

The soil was rob'd away

For thatch'd houses; the men well skill'd

Us'd it instead of clay.

89c

The village now, is neat and clean,

Vast wall in it is found,

Few years ago, had you it seen,

It now would you astound.

Reference to large wall in village

90c

Haws, orchard here was very large.

Four acres 'twas in sise;

And when full crop, great was their charge,

But now it's otherwise.

- Thomas Haws

91c

For all the trees are nearly gone,

And good old sorts are lost;

And new orchards they scarce plant one;

Though trees so little cost;

92c

Susanna Park, she did live here,

At Bedale cross, sold bread,

It all was brown, when corn was dear;

She'd then the best of trade.

- Newton

93c

Bak'd eighty bushel in one week; ; ;

And she did sell it all,

'Twas diffrent sise. pockets to meet,

Sixpence, the least loaf, call,

94c

In eighteen hundred corn was dear,

Beside, it was unsound.

And labouring poor, bought other,

They'd little to get ground.

95c

Masham and Leyburn market kept,

And Mid'lam us'd to do,

But long in death's cold arms she's slept,

And no brown bread sold now;

"If corn be cheap, the farmer doth repine,

"If it be dear, the poor man he doth whine,

"We know not what to beg of thee. Lord God.

"Forgive our frailties, and keep in thy rod,

"Afflict us not with plague, or what is worse,

"With hungry souls, by far the greater curse."

(578)

96c

Newton has had its noted men,

Blenkhorn for counting sheep;

And Joseph Wray. not least of them,

For game cocks he did keep.

(579)(580)I 133

97c

And such he fought at, Newton feast,

Which is kept on twelfth day,

A cruelty it is at best,

When cocks they have fair play;

98c

Their arms by nature are enough.

Without the murd'ring steel,

To stab the heart, and the head through;

Men, monsters, have no feel.

99c

But Newton had a clever man,

Lamented was his death.

Cuthbert his name, could cattle scan,

And he was fetched forthwith,

-Win. Cuthbert, died in 1828

lOOc

In extremity he had good skill,

And fortunate beside;

Cows calving arid ewes yeaning, skill

He had, them to divide.

lOlc

A shoemaker, he was by trade,

And prime for shearing sheep;

Here he excel' d; Swift work he made,

Few men could with him keep.

102c

Some kindness he had gone to do,

And in returning home,

To the gill side, he had got to.

And death was here his doom.

103c

When he was found, and it was known

It made a solemn gloom;

He was lamented by his own,

And all who had him known,

104c

And here. there liv'd another man,

Whom death did lately seize,

Bro' John and I lambskins sought then,

He gave us bread and cheese.

(581)

105c

Then in full prime, tall, stout and strong,

He had a hero's frame.

To Bedale market he came long,

And children knew his name;

106c

For many times they did him see,

With glitt'ring sword in hand.

Parading then, and fine was he,

In sergeant's costume grand;

107c

The hat and feathers on his head;

Broad sash around his waist;

He led the van, and thus marched,

Both fife and drum him grac'd.

II 134

108c

The party oft did make a stand.

The sergeant made his speech,

Delusive too, but O how grand,

The young mens' hearts to reach;

109c

He told them of the fine country,

His regiment did lie,

Where roasted pigs, with effrontry,

Come, eat me, they did cry.

110c

There you'll receive accoutrements,

And bounty too, beside,

And spirit cheap, there for content,

And the plow tail defy'd;

111c

Good quarters, you shall always have,

And have your daily pay,

And prize money, you will receive,

In North America.

112c

No doubt but Richard paid for drink,

When in his frolic then,

Unguarded youths, they oft paid chink

Their liberty to gain.

113c

But now we hear no beat of drum,

For that is done away,

They always made a lively town,

On hirings, or fair day.

114c

We talk'd, and smoak'd, and read the news,

Till dinner it came on,

And took a glass, when we did choose;

With Newton now I've done.

115c

And to our friends, we bid adieu,

The snow deep on the ground,

Patrick Brompton we did go through,

And slushy road it found.

116c

A mother and two children dear,

Did join us on the road,

'Twas ticket day, at the school there.

It might something afford.

117c

She carried one upon her back.

The other trudg'd her near,

I cannot say what she did lack.

The weather was severe.

118c

We soon arriv'd at Newton bridge,

Then Butterwell was near,

To Brompton did the footpath trudge,

An ancient church is there.

119c

Within its walls I've heard Banes preach.

He shew'd the love of God,

And helpless man. till grace him reach,

And did him strength afford.

II 135