  There are at least three or four different versions of the "Ramble;" or rather I should say there are at least three or four different metrical "Rambles" through Derbyshire, of this character. I give two. The first I reprint from a broad-sheet, and the second from an old MS. copy, both in my own collection. The allusions to places, persons, inns, &c., in the county, are curious and interesting. Hark ye well, my neighbours all, and pray now can you tell There is Eaton, and Toten, and Brancot on the hill, There's Beggerly Beeston, and lousy Chilwell. There's Trowel, and there's Cosel, from there to Cimberly Knowl, I would have call'd at Watnall, but I thought it would not do, There's Beaver, and there's Hansley, & so for Perkin Wood, I meant to have call'd at Selson, but there ale is not good. There's Snelson green, and Pinstone green, and Blackwell old hall, An old place where I had lived I had a mind to call; I got a good refreshment, and something else beside, So turning up the closes, South Normanton I 'spied. There's Blackwell, and there's Newton, from there to Marrot Moor, There's Tipshall, and there's Hardstaff, where I had been before, I cross o'er Hardstaff Common, from there to Pilsley lane Where once a noted butcher lived, Geo. Holland was his name. There's Wingfield, and Tupton, from there to the Claycross, From there I went to Chesterfield,—was almost cut to loss, There's Asher, and there's Firbeck, and Stretton on the hill, There's Hickam, and Oakerthorpe, and so for Wiremill. There's Brankenfield, & Wessenton, from there to Morat Moor, There's Swanick, and Ripley, then to the hillocks I came, From there to Denby Common, for to see old Dolly Green. There's Denby and Bottlebrook, from there to the Lane ends, From there I went to Horseley, in hopes to meet a friend, So turning down Coxbench, I made a sudden stop, Thinks I I'll up the closes go, for Potters of th' hill top. In Woodhouse lane, as I've been told, they used to get good coal, And Stansby is a pretty place, and so for the Dob hole, There's the Justice room, and Smalley Bell, likewise the Rose and Crown, And at Morley Smithey, I've been told there lives one Saml. Brown. There's Morley, and Stansby, and so for Lockey Grange, There's Spondon and Ockbrook, and so for Chaddeson came; There's Ferby, and Breadsall, and so for Alestree, From there to Little Eaton went, George Milward for to see. There's Duffield down by Derwent side, & Milford, in a line, There's Belper, and there's Shottle, if I can get there in time; There's Turnditch, and Kirk Ireton, and so for Cross-in hand, And when I got to Wardgate, I was almost at a stand. There's Hollington and Middleton by Youlgrave I've heard tell, There's Wardlemire & Uckler, from there to Hoyland came, And when that I did thither get, I began to feel quite lame. There's Calver, & there's Rowsley, that most delightful place, From there went to Chatsworth, the mansion of his Grace; There's Darley Dale, & Matlock, where I once stopt a week, There's Cromford, & Wirksworth, & Ashbourn in the Peak. There's Ashbourn Green, & Hognaston, and so for Atlow-win, Then on by Shepherd Folly, and from there to Ginglers' Inn. There's Yeldersly, and Alderwasley, and Langley, and Longford, There's Brailford, and Mugington, and Weston Underwood. There's Quarndon, and Markeaton, oft times I have heard tell, From there I went to Kedleston, where there is a useful well; And at Windy Mill, I do sure you very pleasant looks, If you will only stop and drink with Honest Puss-in-Boots. There's Darley by Derby, for that is a shady bower, And Derby is a county town; there's handsome Micklover. There's Litlover, and Mackworth, and so for Etwell I went, Until at last I did arrive at Burton-upon-Trent. There's Findon, and Repton, and Ashton also, And there's another little place, I think they call Shardlow; There's Elvaston, and Allvaston, I have travelled o'er and o'er, There's Swarston Bridge and Smalley Bridge, as plain it doth appear, There's Keyworth, and Hathenturns, that lieth very near, There's Sheepshead, and Thingstun, and Whitrick also Across the Sherwood Forest, and from there to Loughborough. There's Gotham rare for wisdom, and Bunny's rare for game, There's Clifton Grove and Rudington, Wilford down the lane; There's Cropwell, and there's Ratliffe, and Bridgeford on the hill, There's Gunthorpe, and Calthorpe, and Overington Mill. There's Southwell, and Westhorpe, and Eperston so green, There's Lowtom and Burton Joice, and Bulcott lies between, There's Lambley, and Woodborough, from there to Calverton, And there's a place at Arnold, they call it Foxen Den. There's Redhill and Maperly hills, from there to Thornywood, Where once a noted robber lived, his name was Robin Hood; There's Gedling, and Carlton, as plainly it does appear, There's Keyworth, and Hatherturns, that lieth very near. There's Lenton, and Radford, and so for Bobber's Mill, There's Hyson Green, and Basford, and so for Sinder hill; There's Broxter, and there's Nuttel, and Greasley lieth nigh, There's Moregreen and Nether Green, where lives a man of sport, And Eastwood is a pretty place of trade and resort; And at Langley Mill I stopt a while, to see a noble fight, And when I came to Brunsley Gin, thinks I I'll light my pipe. There's Oldacre and Bentley, and so for the lime kilns, There's Woodend, and Heaner, and famous Tag Hill, There's Lee lane, and Marpole, where lives one Mr. Clay, There's Shipley, and Shipley wood, and so for Cotnermay. And there's another little place, if I am not mistaken, I think some people call it Mapley by name, There's Little Hallam, and Hilson, and so for Gallows Inn, And when I came to Sandacre I was looken very thin. There's Stapleford, and Risley, and Dracott also, At last I came to Breaston, where I wish'd for long ago, So I hope these lines which I have wrote no one they will offend, For at every door there stands a whore, at Leak Town end. |
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