University of Virginia Library

Mr. Pennecuik on the first Day of the New Year, going to pay a Visit to the Lady ---, his Aunt, she made him a Present of a Piece of Gold, commonly called a Jacobus, in Return of which, Mr. Pennecuik made the following Poem.

My jolly aged Aunt, as frank as Old,
Tipt me for New Year's Gift, a Piece of Gold,
It was a Jacobus, I with Pleasure took it,
A welcome Stranger to a Poet's Pockets,

---

57

Printing a Kiss upon its Golden Cheek,
The more I look'd, I lov'd, and thus did speak,
O Royal James, a Century and more,
You've tane your Tour, around the British Shore
Yet scarcely I e'r I saw your Face before.
Misers and sordid Souls you often see,
But turn your Back on generous Men like me,
My Heart's not glu'd unto your shining Brow,
Yet have a vast sincere Respect for you.

Strange Fancies rose, me Thought the Man of Gold,
Open'd his Mouth and strange Adventures told;
When minted unto, being I in Haste,
The King upon my Back, his Arms on my Breast,
Was from the Tower to the Exchequer sent,
There with five hundred more to spend-thrift Courtier lent,
Who had a Wife, but gave me to his Miss;
So I was lumbar'd for a stollen Kiss,
With me she bought, finding her Flesh grow frail,
Washes to mend her Face, and Pills to cure her Tail,
The Surgeon Popish, gave me to a Priest,
For Liberty on Ember Weeks to Feast,
Who hated this heroick Face of mine,
And chang'd me for good Christian Cath'lick Wine;
One Night the Vintner's Daughter stole the Key,
Which lock'd up fifty Jacobites like me.
Dissenting Priests got five on Sermon Days,
And all the rest did Purchase P---s and Plays.
A Scots recruiting Officer got me,
Who brought me down to Edinburgh by Sea.

---

58

Mortally drunk dropt me beneath his Bed:
There I the Space of twenty Years lay hid;
At last was driven round the Room by Rats;
Whilst all the House were hunting them like Cats,
The Mistress gript me from my Vermine Foes,
And thirteen Years lodg'd me in her Pose,
Her Heir could not two Days, his Vices smother,
But buried me a Night before his Mother;
My Funeral Place was in Pandora's Box,
Where Fools do purchase Pleasure with a Pox.

A Lady dropt me once in Quakers Yards,
With some few Shillings and a pack of Cards,
Will Millar finding me, said with sour Looks,
Friend, James, you ly beside ungracious Books;

---

59

The Spirit bids me own thee for a Brother,
But the prophane and Satan takes the other,
A Poet had me for a Bridal Song,
But drunk so fast, he did not keep me long,
He lest me with Ale-drapper in few Days;
And then he liv'd on Ryme and Roundelays.
The frugal Woman gave me to your Aunt,
To clear the remnant of a half Years Rent;
You have got me with her Blessing this new Year;
But will not keep me to it's last I fear,
I need not ask, when that you part with me,
To write, for you will weep my Elegie.