Rhymes of Northern Bards / Being a Curious Collection of Old and New Songs and Poems, Peculiar to the Counties of Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, and Durham

THE CROW'S NEST,

Built on the Top of the Exchange Steeple[7]; with a Prophecy, by One of the Crows, of what is to happen the Nation, and particularly the Town of Newcastle.

When war’s destructive rage did cease,

In fatal, humbling, eighty-three,[8]

And men were blest again with peace,

We wond’rous prodigies did see.

The Thirteen (once prescribed) States,

Doom’d by the hangman’s cord to die;

Great kings (so th’ will’d all pow’rful fates)

Before them almost prostrate lie.

Then fair Italia’s classic ground,

And rich Sicilia’s beauteous shore,

With palaces and temples crown’d,

Alas! alas! are now no more[9].

But stranger prodigies than these

Appear in Britain’s happy land,

(They say, “that wonders never cease,”)

For North and Fox go hand in hand.

R—h—d and S—d—ch, of one mind,

And all their mutual wrongs forgive,

(What wonders can be left behind!)

And henceforth like twin brothers live.

The frenzy seiz’d the feather’d race,

For (now when Pitt would mend the nation)

The crows on Captain Stephenson’s trees,

Sat, settling plans of reformation.

An aged Rook perch’d on a bough,

With hoary head and jetty wing,

His plumy neighbours round him drew,

And Britain’s fate he thus did sing.

“Listen, ye Crows, my brethren all,

And hear what my ill-boding mind

Fortells—Britannia soon must fall!

I snuff its ruin in the wind.

“For kings, by tyranny, have driven

Fair Freedom from Europa’s States;

(Freedom! thou choicest gift of Heaven!)

Then hear the doom fix’d by the fates:—

“Since men the heavenly gift despise,

And o’er th’ Atlantic Freedom’s fled,

Plagues, famine, tyranny, and wars shall rise,

And endless woes shall all succeed!

“Let’s search for th’ Achans in the camp,

That thus have caus’d our Israel’s woes;

—Yes, kings, and all the bishop-stamp,

I dread, have been the lurking foes!

“For never shall the land have peace,

As good Lord George[10], and David say?

Till from our isle we banish these,

And drive such rogues a-cross the sea.”

The sable crowd croak’d hoarse applause,

And highly charm’d were with th’ oration,

Till one fierce crow their notice draws,

Who thus address’d the feather’d nation:—

“Rebels accurs’d!” he frown’d and cried,

“How could you this old traitor hear?

Who thus dare kings and priests deride,

Whom men should worship and revere.

“I see your doom, ye trait’rous crew!”—

Th’ impatient throng would hear no more;

With furious bills they at him flew,

And in a moment had him tore——

Had he not clapt his wings and fled,

And taken refuge on th’ Exchange;

And from its top he bow’d his head,

And spoke the crowds that round him range:—

“Mortals, attend with reverend awe,

Mark well my words, Newcastle people,

I’ll do what yet you never saw,

I build my nest upon this steeple.

“From this most happy omen, know

What blessings shall to you be given;

What peace and choicest gifts shall flow

From the all-kind, all-bounteous heaven.

“And first of all shall taxes cease,

Provisions fall, and there shall be

Rich golden crops, the fruits of peace,

And choicest product of the sea.

“Then polish’d manners shall prevail;

—Would you believe!—but you shall see

Millers no more your corn shall steal;

And doctors cure without a fee.

“Lawyers by strife shall cease to thrive;

And what’s more strange—aye, is it not?

The milk, and every other tythe,

Shall all be dropt by Doctor Scott!

“Then Windydrum shall cease to sneer,

And Shorthorn shall turn wond’rous civil;[11]

And after them you scarce need fear

To cultivate the very devil!

“Another prodigy comes next,

(When my nest shall be builded here,)

Parsons shall live up to their text;

And keelmen then shall dread to swear.

“Fish-women, too, shall then forget

To call their neighbours whores and bitches;

But what is most surprising yet—

Your Al—— shall ALL be WITCHES.”

[7] In the year 1783, a pair of crows built their nest upon the vane of the Exchange, and continued many years to rear their young.

[8] Alluding to the Peace of 1783, after the American War.

[9] Alluding to a dreadful earthquake in Italy, which happened shortly before the publication of this, by which 270 cities and towns were destroyed, and 200,000 people perished.

[10] Lord George Gordon, who at this time was very popular.

[11] Alluding to two persons in Newcastle, noted for their political principles.

The following Song was published in December, 1791 as from One of the Rooks which then built their Nest on the Vane of the Exchange, and addressed to the good People of BUR-CASTLE.

Rough roll’d the roaring river’s stream,

And rapid ran the rain,

When Robert Rutter dreamt a dream,

Which rack’d his heart with pain:

He dreamt there was a raging bear

Rush’d from the rugged rocks;

And strutting round with horrid stare,

Breath’d terror to the Brocks[12].

But Robert Rutter drew his sword,

And rushing forward right,

The horrid creature’s thrapple gor’d,

And barr’d his rueful spite:

Then stretching forth his brawny arm,

To drag him to the stream,

He grappled grizzle, rough and warm,

Which rouz’d him from his dream.

[12] Badgers.

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