care how soon," wrote Waterton.[1] "I should like to see King Arthur's face when his loving subjects tell him of our National Debt and show him the Civil List."
The blazons or characteristics of the shires, set forth in the twenty-third Song of Polyolbion,[2] are entitled by the flavour of folk-lore that pervades them to claim a place in these pages. "Clownish blazons," Drayton calls them, and he would have his readers mark the versatility of the muse; how she now
"Of Palatins that sung can whistle to the plow."
Helidon Hill (near Daventry) was spokesman.
"Kent first in our account doth to itself apply
(1) (Quoth he) this blazon first Long tails and liberty.
(2) (3) Sussex with Surrey say Then let us lead home logs
(4) As Hampshire long for her hath had the term of Hogs.
(5) So Dorsetshire of long they Dorsers us'd to call,
(6) (7) Cornwall and Devonshire cry We'll wrestle for a fall.
(8) Then Somerset says Set the bandog on the bull,
(9) And Glo'stershire again is blazon'd Weigh thy wool.
(10) As Berkshire hath for hers Lets to 't and toss the ball,
(11) And Wiltshire will for her Get home and pay for all.
(12) Rich Buckingham doth bear the term of Bread and beef,
Where if you beat a bush 'tis odds you'll start a thief.
(13) So Hertford blazon'd is The club and clouted shoon,
Thereto I'll rise betimes and sleep again at noon.
(14) When Middlesex bids Up to London let us go,
And when our market's done we'll have a pot or two.
(15) And Essex hath of old been named Calves and stiles,
(16) (17) Fair Sussex Maids and milk, and Norfolk Many wiles.
(18) So Cambridge hath been call'd Hold nets and let us win,
(19) And Huntingdon With stilts we'll stalk thro' thick and thin.
(20) Northamptonshire of long hath had this blazon, Love,
Below the girdle all, but little else above.
(21) An outcry Oxford makes, The scholars have been here,
And little though they paid, yet have they had good cheer.
(22) Quoth warlike Warwickshire I'll bind the sturdy bear,
(23) Quoth Wor'stershire again, And I will squirt the pear.
(24) Then Staffordshire bids Stay, and I will beet the fire,
And nothing will I ask but good will for my hire.
