Come, brave spirits, that love Canary, And good company are keeping, From our friends let’s never vary, Let your muse awake from sleeping: Bring forth mirth and wise Apollo; Mark your eyes on a true relation: Virgil with his pen shall follow, In ancient Stockton’s commendation. Upon the stately river Tees, A goodly castle there was placed, Nigh joining to the ocean seas, Whereby our country was much graced; Affording rich commodities, With corn and lead, unto our nation; Which makes me sing with chearful voice, Of ancient Stockton’s commendation. In sixteen hundred thirty-five, And about the month of February, Three Stockton-men they did contrive, To see their friends, and to be merry: Part of their names I shall describe, And place them down in comely fashion; There was William, John, and Anthony, Gain’d ancient Stockton commendation. To famous Richmond first they came, And with their friends awhile remained; Middleham there, that town of fame, Whereby much credit they obtained: Being merry on a day, A challenge came in this same fashion, A match at football for to play; But Stockton got the commendation. Three Middleham-men appointed were, And stakes put down on either party; Stockton-men cast off all fear, For Bishopric was always hearty. Then those three Middleham-men did yield, And for their loss they shew’d vexation; There was but one came to the field, And Stockton got the commendation. With shouts and cries, in chearful voice, The country all about them dwelling, They all did say that very day, That Stockton-men were far excelling. When first I did it understand, It was told to me as true relation; Then I took my pen and ink in hand, And writ brave Stockton’s commendation. THE NEW WAY OF STOCKTON’S COMMENDATION. TO THE OLD TUNE. _By Benjamin Pye, L.L.D._ ARCHDEACON OF DURHAM. “Upon the stately river Tees, A noble castle there was placed, Nigh joining to the ocean seas, Whereby our country was much graced; Affording rich commodities, Of corn and lead unto the nation; Which makes me sing in cheerful wise, Of ancient Stockton’s commendation.” But now I’ll tell you news prodigious, My honest friends, be sure remark it, Our ferries are transform’d to bridges, And Cleveland trips to Stockton market. Our causeways rough, and mirey roads, Shall sink into a navigation, And Johnny Carr shall sing fine odes, In modern Stockton’s commendation. O what a scene for joy and laughter, To see, as light as cork or feather, Our pond’rous lead, and bulky rafter, Sail down the smooth canal together! Whilst coal and lime and cheese and butter, Shall grace our famous navigation; And we will make a wond’rous clutter, In modern Stockton’s commendation.