“Owre Out Ben Morts”
[By SAMUEL ROWLANDS in “Martin Mark-all, Beadle of Bridewell: His Defence and Answere to the Belman of London”].
I
Towre out ben morts & towre,[1]
Looke out ben morts & towre,
For all the Rome coues are budgd a beake,[2]
And the quire coves tippe the lowre.[3]
II
The quire coues are budgd to the bowsing ken,[4]
As Romely as a ball,[5]
But if we be spid we shall be clyd,[6]
And carried to the quirken hall.[7]
III
Out budgd the Coue of the ken,[8]
With a ben filtch in his quarr’me[9]
That did the prigg good that bingd in the kisome,[10]
To towre the Coue budge alar’me.
[1: look-out, good women;] [2: all the Rome-coves [Notes] have run away [Notes]] [3: Queer-coves taken the money] [4: have sneaked to the ale-house] [5: nimbly] [6: whipped] [7: taken to gaol.] [8: crept; master of the house] [:9 staff; hand.] [10: went to search for the man who had given the alarm.]