University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
The works of Allan Ramsay

edited by Burns Martin ... and John W. Oliver [... and Alexander M. Kinghorn ... and Alexander Law]

expand sectionI. 
expand sectionII. 
collapse sectionIII. 
expand sectionI. 
collapse sectionII. 
collapse section1. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
expand section 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
[The Men of Totness Town]
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
expand section2. 
expand sectionIV. 


188

[The Men of Totness Town]

[_]

[c. 1725]

O Trusty men of Totness Town
Stoups of your Countrey & the Croun
be neer in doughty deeds dung doun:
and far as Reaches,
the blast of fame, be your Renown
for making Speeches
Lord but your Last ane was wel pend
That Devon Heroes did Comend
and mony men their lungs now lend
to that address
Sure what ye say nae man can mend
or Rhimes make less
The jacks may now have little Hope
and all their dreaming fancys drop
ye've gien them kicks upon the dowp
now their Pretender
Bred at the Elbuch of the Pope,
May Claim surender
for set he foot on British sands
with Beeds and Ava Mary Bands
while the Heroick Totens Stands
and men theirin
He will find wark for all his Hands
and a payd skin
get but your Wills ye'll surely make
Herod & Pontius Pilate Quake
when Mother Kirk is at the stake
or Trade's a strugling
or ought that dares attempt to break
your Gainfull Smugling

189

That happy way of yours by whi[c]h
Ye get the start of growning Rich
so that ye need nor spur nor switch
(when swords & axes
And Guns ding sogers in a ditch)
to pay your Taxes
Now after this Prelude of praises
which all to generous hearing raises
we do beseek that in like phrases
you would once more
pen ane Adress, for in all Places
we sell a store
Not Colins gainst the Phrophecy
nor Whiston 'gainst the Trinity
Nor Sachevrell 'gainst Liberty
eer better sold
each Sentance of your oratry
is worthy Gold
from ag'd who wear the Gravest look
to children in their spelling book
from stars to him leans on his crook
all do Confess
none coud a dish more merry cook
than your Adress
we, Totnes, each your Humble Slave
not only ask but Nations crave
annother speech so wise and brave
so said or sung.
the french and dutch already have
it in their Tongue

190

By us its greatfully confest
your writings make us drink the Best
and tho our farthing[s] rarley last
Lang in our purse
yet I subscribe for All the Rest
your servant, Birss.