Come, jolly tars and sailors staunch, Oh, come with us and see the launch! 'Twill feast your eyes, and fill your paunch, As done by Mother Shipton. The shores give way the hulk that prop-- Huzza! the ship is launch'd--and pop! 'Tis turn'd into a baker's shop-- Oh, charming Mother Shipton! V. Then after several wonders past, To Yorkshire all return at last, And in a coal pit they are cast-- Oh, won'ous Mother Shipton! Yet she redeems them every soul: And here's the moral of the whole-- 'Tis Mother Shipton brings the cole: Oh, charming Mother Shipton! FOOTNOTE: [Footnote 137: Exhibited in the Pantomime which was performed Covent Garden in the year 1770.] BOLD NEVISON, THE HIGHWAYMAN.[138] William Nevison was born in Yorkshire, though the place is uncertain; some say at Nevison hall, in Upsall, near Thirsk, others, at Pontefract and Wortley. He was notorious during the reign of Charles II., and was named by the "merry monarch" _Swift Nick_. After committing a robbery in London, about sunrise, he rode his mare to York in the course of the day, and appeared upon the Bowling-green of that city before sunset. From this latter circumstance, when brought to trial for the offence, he established an _alibi_ to the satisfaction of the jury, though he was in reality guilty. But, though he escaped this time, he was afterwards apprehended in a public-house at Sandal-three-Houses, near Wakefield, for another offence, convicted and hanged at York, May 4th, 1685. "Thus it was related," says lord Macaulay in his "History of England," "of William Nevison, the great robber of the north of Yorkshire, that he levied a quarterly tribute on all the northern drovers, and in return not only spared them himself, but protected them against all other thieves; that he demanded purses in the most courteous manner; that he gave largely to the poor what he had taken from the rich; that his life was once spared by the royal clemency, but that he again tempted his fate, and at length died, in 1685, on the gallows at York." Did you ever hear tell of that hero, Bold Nevison that was his name? He rode about like a bold hero, And with that he gained great fame. He maintained himself like a gentleman, Besides he was good to the poor; He rode about like a bold hero, And he gain'd himself favour therefore. Oh the Twenty-first day of last month, Proved an unfortunate day; Captain Milton was riding to London, And by mischance he rode out of his way. He call'd at a house by the road-side, It was the sign of the Magpie, Where Nevison he sat a drinking, And the captain soon did he espy. Then a constable very soon was sent for, And a constable very soon came; With three or four more in attendance, With pistols charged in the king's name.