University of Virginia Library

Upon Norwich Gallowes set in the Town-close and the first there Executed was one Clarke.

And, can ye put up an affront, so gross,
How? Mr. Haysets Mare in the Town-close?
Freemen look to't, if you these things allow,
Freedom, farewell; you must be ty'd up now?
Charters a Cobweb, if ye suffer (Sirs)
The Magistrates to bring in Forreigners.
You claim, and justly, all within that Hedge,
I hope you will not loose your priviledge.
How else should your Prerogative be known?
But, if you will not? Gallows claim thy own.
Yet, this is true, no stranger comes, but he
Would willingly give mony to be free.
For, they come not to work it does appear,
Nay, rather, they cease from their labours there.
No bread, they eat out of your mouths that's flat.
For, they'l be hang'd before they will do that.
Little did Hopkins think or Sternhold either,
Their hobling Rythms should be translated thither.
But what is yet more strange, a Clark began,
And could the Psalms have had a Meeter man?
He set the first Psalm there, and had, no doubt,
Sung through, but that the Hangman put him out.
Whose rudeness thus the Clark a labour saves,
And sets him other, call'd, the Ladder-slaves.
Poor Clark, the Hangman was about him then,
Say what he would, the Clark must say, Amen.
He soon (alas) sings himself out of breath,
That Clark is to the Minister of death.
Here (Citizens) ye see Your liberty,
Hanging, and horns a double destiny.
Y'are happy sure, Your Town-close does extend
Its limits, now (Sirs) even to the Worlds end.
It is but mounting upon this Belcony,
And ye may look to Cringleford, or Cowney.
Would ye survey your Stars? bring but a Rope,
Ye may have leave to use the Telescope.
This ye may do, but, ye must be so wise,
As not to pull your Caps over your eyes.
As for your loves hang 'em y'have got of late,
An able staple to the Town-close Gate.