Page:Merry piper, or, The popish fryar & boy.pdf/14

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Against the pillar bang'd his head,
for he could not stand still.
His ragged flesh the ropes did tear;
and likewise from his crown,
With many bangs and bruses there
the blood ran tricking down
Into the street Jack piping went,
and they came dancing after
And tho' with labour almost spent,
this fill'd the town with laughter
And also every neighbour round,
came dancing out of door,
For such a sweet and pleasant sound
they never heard before.
With very haste some did break locks,
that pleasure to pursue,
Some in their shirts and some in smocks,
this was a jovial crew.
There did they caper in the street,
come lame that could not go;
Did dance upon their hands and feet,
and joggling to and fro.
Quoth Jack, I'll lay my pipe aside
dear father if you please,
I pray thee do, sweet son, he cry'd,
and let us take our ease.
Now have I seen a jovial crew,
I speak it to thy praise,
Such mirth as this I never knew,
before in all my days.
The fryar he broke loose and came,
just as the dance was done,
And tho' his limbs were almost lame,
unto the boy he run
And said, for all your witchcraft here,
and vain delightful sport,
I summons you to appear,
in our religious court