Fifty years shepherd, and fifty a king/The king and West Countryman

THE KING AND WEST COUNTRYMAN.

There was an old chap in the west country,
⁠A flaw in his lease the lawyers had found;
It were all about a-felling some oak trees,
⁠And building some houses upon his own ground.
⁠Ri tooral, &c.

Now this old chap to Lunnun did go,
⁠To tell the King a part of his woe,
Likewise to tell him a part of his grief,
⁠In hopes King George would give him relief.
⁠Ri tooral, &c.

Now this old chap to Lunnun did go,
⁠But found the King to Windsor had gone;
But if he had known he’d not been at home,
⁠He domm’d his buttons if ever he’d come.
⁠Ri tooral, &c.

Now this old chap to Windsor did go,
⁠But the gates were barred, and all secure;
He humped and thumped with his oaken clump,
⁠There’s room within for I, to be sure.
⁠Ri tooral, &c.

Pray, Mr Noble, shew I the King—
⁠What’s that the King that I see there?
I seed a chap at Bartlemy Fair,
⁠Much liker a King than that chap there.

⁠Ri tooral, &c.

Pray, Mr. Kiug, how do you do?
⁠I’ze gotten for yon a bit on a jobb’n,
And if you’re so kind, to make you amends,
⁠I’ze gotten a summat in my fobb’n.
⁠Ri tooral, &c.

The King he took the lease in hand,
⁠And to sign it he was likewise willing;
And the farmer, to make him a little amends
⁠He lugged out his bag, and gi’d him a shilling,
⁠Ri tooral, &c.

The King, to carry on the joke,
⁠He ordered ten pounds to be paid down,
For year and year after, and evermore,
⁠Likewise ten shillings and half-a-crown
⁠Ri tooral, &c.

The farmer he stared, and looked very funny,
⁠To take up the cash he was likewise willing;
But if he had known he’d so much money,
⁠He domm’d his wig if he’d gave him the shilling
⁠Ri tooral, &c.