A copy of verses humbly presented to all my honoured masters & mistresses in Holborn-End-Division in the Parish of St. Giles's in the Fields by Thomas Bamber, Bellman.

A Copy of Verses Humbly Presented to All my Honoured MASTERS & MISTRESSES in Holborn-End-Division in the Parish of St. Giles's in the Fields . By Thomas Bamber , Bellman . The PROLOGUE . Since 't is the Bell-mans Custom every where , To bring his Masters Verses each New year ; I keep it on , to let you know the due Respect and Service that I owe to you ; For 't is my daily happiness to see My Masters pleas'd , and satisfied in me ; Which makes me hope their Guifts will so abound , That I may for them pray the whole year round .

woodcut of town crier

On St. Thomas's Day . WHat thô St. Thomas was possess'd at first With unbelief ; then into Tears he burst And cri'd , Lord pardon this my dreadful sin For now your Wounds I have both felt and seen : Then happy they that by the holy Word , In Faith blieves our Saviour and our Lord . On Christmas Day . AWake , awake , behold the happy Morn , A Blessed Saviour for poor Sinners Born : Oh what a mercy 't was the Son of God , Should eome to save us from the angry Rod That Adam had prepared by his fall , Whose bitter Stings we must have tasted all , Had not our Saviour in his mercy shewn , His Grace to us poor Wretches every one . On St. Stephen's Day , ST. Stephen by the Jews was ston'd to death , Any for Christ's sake gave up this Earthly Breath . Oh! great 's the gain , when Man his Life lays down , And in Exchange recieves a Heav'nly-Crown ; Who then would not with Stephen chuse to die ? And after that to live Eternally . On St. John's Day . THE Scripture tells us how that Christ did love St. John , who was as harmless as a Dove ; Who lean'd his Head upon our Saviours Breast ; Oh! then was John at full and perfect rest : What Happiness 't would be could we but find , Such Peace , such Comfort , to our troubled Mind ; And that we all may with this Saint appear , God grant we love our Saviour full as dear . On Innocents Day , THE Holy Innocents come next to hand , For none could Herod's Cruelty withstand , He spared not his Son , such was his Will , Thinking thereby the Son of God to kill : God's Angel came his Will for to prevent , He Joseph , Mary , and the Child to Egypt sent : The Prophets Words were all fulfill'd and done , For out of Aegypt have I call'd my Son ; Who from Aegyptian Bondage set us free ; This is the Son of God , this is he . On New-Years Day . THrice happy is that Man that now begins The Year , with true Repentance for his Sins , He may expect before the Year goes round , By penitence , much comfort may be found : The mournful Soul shall surely pity find , To those who grieve for sin , the Lord is kind . On King William 's Birth ▪ day , Nov. 4th . AS on this Day Europe for to adorn , Was in this World a Princely Orange Born ; A scourge to France , a Plague to Popery , And from Rome's Bondage he hath set us free : Great WILLIAM our King , and Faiths Defender ; God grant him many days to live in splendor ; Great Britain's Scepter Uprightly to sway ; This is our King's Birth , and his Wedding day ; Therefore make Bone-fires ; set the Bells to ring , Whilst we rejoice and say God save the King . On Queen Mary s Birth-day , April 30th . HAppy the Day , a Day of wondrous worth , Which brought to us so glorious a Birth ; Who in the worst of Times did stoutly stand In the Defence of this most Warlike Land ; Our Churches Darling , and the Papists hate , For now their Plots are all worn out of date : Rejoyce ye Heavens , and let the Earth be glad , Quake now proud Rome , for you never had More need to vail your Face , and blush for shame , And tremble if you hear great Mary's Name . On Princess Ann of Denmarks Birth-day , Feb. 6. AS on this Day a Princess mild , Into the World was Born , Who with her Pious Actions doth This Sinful Land adorn : She in the worst of Times did stand , When we thought She had fell By the Contrivance and the Rage Of Cruel Jezabel . To my Masters . I willing am my Masters for to serve , And in so doing , hope I may deserve Your Love and Bounty too , which makes me pray , That God will still preserve you Night and Day , And ever Blessings on you still bestow , To make you happy while you 're here below : And when from Earth you happen to remove , May you enjoy the Blessings that 's above . To my Mistresses . MY Virtuous Mistresses who always strives To please their Husbands , and be loving Wives , What praises do belong to each of you , Can 't be exprest , by all that I can do : But this I wish that Blessings may attend ye , And what ye want , God would be pleas'd to send ye : And after all the Comforts of a Wife , You may in Heav'n receive Eternal Life . On Man's Frailty . O what is Man but living lump of Earth , A feast of Worms , a Buble stuft with Breath , A Vessel full of Grief , but even a Minuit , A painted Tomb , with putrifaction in it : His Life 's an hour of Joy , a World of Sorrow , His Death a winters Night that finds no Morrow . An Exhortation to seek after Christ . A Rouse from Sleep , and suffer not your Eyes To take their Rest , till you have put up cries , That your Beloved may be of you found , Then happy shall you be thereby , and Crown'd , When you have gain'd this happy Rest indeed , You need not hunger , but daily on it feed . The EPILOGUE . Now to conclude , my prayers are for you all My Masters , Mestresses , the Great and small ; That first a merry Christmass you may see , And after that a happy Year may be ; And that the whole Course of your lives may prove , Increase of Wealth , and happy in your love : I wish all these may certainly fall out , So ends my Verses , and my Prayers to boot .