Subject: the duchess and mayoress
From:
Conrad Bladey (Peasant- Inactive)
Date: 22 May 00 - 07:24 PM
The Duchess and Mayoress
Written in September, 1819 Ye Northumberland lads and ye lasses,
Come and see what at Newcastle passes,
Here's a damnable rout,
At a tea and turn out,
And no one knows how to bring matters about. It seems, at our summer Assizes,
(Or at least so the present surmise is)
The wife of the Mayor
Never offer'd her chair
At the Ball when the Duchess from Alnwick was there. Then 'tis said, too, by way of addition,
To the Mayoress's turn for sediton,
That, in right of her place,
With her impudent face,
She march'd out to tea at the head of her Grace. So our vigorous young Lord Lietennant,
Next day, when the Grand Jury were present,
Disclos'd to their view,
(In enigma, 'tis true)
The plot of the Mayoress and all her d--d crew. When his health was propos'd as Lieutennant,
He bow'd to the company present;
Then, with tears in his eyes,
And to all their surprise,
My office, (his Grace said) too heavily lies. I had firmly imagn'd till now, sirs,
That our county was free from all row, sirs;
But what has occurr'd
Though I shan'nt say a word,
Till the voice of yourselves and the county is heard. All at present I wish yon to know is,
That my Duchess and Dame Lady Powis,
Have receiv'd such a blow,
That thy never can go
To your ball, at Newcastle, while things remain so. A high rank has its weight in the nation,
If you hold it in due estimation;
Then the Duchess and I
For redress must apply,
Tho' at present I mention no name--no, not I. All I wish is to find out your pleasures,
And hope to avoid all harsh measures;
Yet I always foresaw
This Republican jaw
Would sooner or later produce Martial Law. Thus ended the young Lord Lieutenant,
When the terrified company present,
Cried, Name, my Lord name
Who's to blame--who's to blame;
But the Duek said, the County must smother the flame. And the Duchess and he, the next morning,
Fulfill'd my Lord Lieutennant's warning;
Then up before day,
And to Alnwick away,
Their faces have ne'er since been seen to this day. -In: The Newcastle Song Book or Tyne-Side Songster., W&T Fordyce
Newcastle Upon Tyne
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