University of Virginia Library



THE Kings-Bench LITANY.

From Creditors when cruel grown;
From those that cannot hold their own;
From little Souls that make their moan,
Libera nos Domine.
From Bayliffs, and their crafty scent;
From being in a Prison pent;
From staying till our Coyn is spent,
Libera nos Domine.
From running on the Cellars Score;
From calling, VVill you Trust us more?
From answers, You're a Rogue or VVhore,
Libera nos Domine.
From those that Justice have forsook;
From any Cellar-worms rebuke;
From Dining often with the Duke,
Libera nos Domine.


From those that love to bounce, or thump;
From learning in the Hall to mump;
From paying Homage to the pump,
Libera nos Domine.
From Heathen Cooks that have no faith;
From Duns that move a Pris'ners wrath;
From him that payes, and nothing hath,
Libera nos Domine.
From guilt of any horrid fact;
From being Citizens that crackt;
From taking of the Ten-pound Act,
Libera nos Domine.
From fire (God bless us) in a Gun;
From Dungeons deep that see no Sun;
From those that from their Waiters run,
Libera nos Domine.
From being overcome by Drink;
From lodging near a Bog-house stink;
From having stomacks, and no Chink,
Libera nos Domine.
From asking food, and be deny'd;
From being unto Goals ally'd;
From being turn'd to th'Common side,
Libera nos Domine.


From turning Day all into Night;
From those in rudeness do delight;
From being sent to th'Lyon White,
Libera nos Domine.
From Forreign and Domestick Jars;
From being cheated unawares;
From peeping thorough Iron Bars,
Libera nos Domine.
From Pris'ners that can swear and lye;
From being buried ere we dye;
From those that will not hear our cry,
Libera nos Domine.
From living in a lowsie Jayle;
From wanting Drink, or mild, or stale;
From empty Butts that have no Ale,
Libera nos Domine.
From those that will afford no aid;
From mouldy Scraps in Basket laid;
From making Pegs, that humble Trade,
Libera nos Domine.
From Cellar-Clowns that treat us ill;
From their great pride, and little skill;
From fools that let them have their will,
Libera nos Domine.


From groaning with dejected heart;
From those which weekly feed our smart;
From wishing they may want a Cart,
Libera nos Domine.
From those that seem'd our friends before;
From friends that will be friends no more;
From slaves that do their Gold adore,
Libera nos Domine.
From Vermine vulgarly call'd Lice;
From those that do delight in Vice;
From Gamesters turn our Bones to Dice,
Libera nos Domine.
From breaking when we may but bend;
From being sureties for our friend;
From Bonds or Bills are sharp at end,
Libera nos Domine.
From those that are for Ruine bent;
From being Dun'd for Chamber-Rent;
From frowns and threats when Cash is spent,
Libera nos Domine.
From lying in the middle Ward;
From Chambers that are lockt and bar'd;
From calling, and cannot be heard,
Libera nos Domine.


From chirping in a Nest of Chips;
From wanting Beds to lodge our hips;
From those whose Staves begin with Tips,
Libera nos Domine.
From those that Harlots keep, or wed;
From wooden Blocks to rest our head;
From all, or any Kings-Bench Bed,
Libera nos Domine.
From ratling Chains that make a noise;
From swearing, cursing, ranting Boyes;
From Huffs, that are indeed but Toyes,
Libera nos Domine.
From sober Slaves, that sit and whine;
From all dull hearts that do repine;
From those that have not hearts like mine,
Libera nos Domine.