Letter – James Mulcaster to Daniel Watson – 3 Aug 1746

To the Revd. Dan. Watson at Pont=Eland.  To the Care of the Revd Mr. Alderson of All=Saints, Newcastle.



Revd. Sir

	According to your Request, and in Requital for the Imitation of Collin’s Complaint, wch I’ve receiv’d from you, I send you this of Chevy=Chace – And am



Acton  	) 1746					Sir

Apr. 3d )  						Your’s in Sincerity

								Jas Mulcaster



The Drinking=Match



God prosper long our noble King

  And likewise Eden=Hall;

A dolefull Drinking=Bout I sing

  There lately did befall.

To chace the Spleen with Cup & Can

  Duke Philip took his Way;

Babes yet unborn shall never See

  Such drinking as that Day.

The Stout and ever thirsty Duke

  A Vow to G-d did make

His Pleasure within Cumberland

  three live=long Nights to take.

Sir Musgrave too of Martindale

  A true and worthy Knight

Eftsoons with him a Bargain made

  In Drinking to delight.

The Bumpers swiftly past about,

  Six in a Hand went round,

And with their calling for more Wine

  They made the Hall rebound.

Now when these merry tydings reach’d

  The Earl of Harold’s Ears,

Am I, quoth he, with a great Oath

  So Slighted by my Peers?

Saddle my Horse, bring me by Boots,

  I’ll with them be right quick;

And, Master Sheriff, come you too,

  We’ll fit them for this Trick.

Lo! yonder doth Earl Harold come

  Did one at table say;

‘Tis well, reply’d the mettled Duke,

  How will he get away?

When thus the Earl began, great Duke

  I’ll know how this did chance,

Without inviting me, Sure this

  You did not learn in France.

One of us two under the Board

  For this Affront shall lie;

I know thee well, A duke thou art

  So some years hence may I.

And trust me, Wharton, pity it were

  So much good Wine to Spill,

As these Companions all may drink

  Ere they have had their fill.

Let thou and I in Bumpers full

  This great Affair decide,

Accurst be he, Duke Wharton said

  By whom it is deny’d.

To Andrew’s and to Hotham Fair 

  Many a Pint went round:

And many a gallant Gentleman

  Lay Spuing on the Ground.

When at the last the Duke espied

  He had the Earl secure,

And ply’d him with a full pint=Glass

  Which laid him on the Floor.

Who never Spoke more Words than these

  After he downwards Sunk;

My worthy Friends, revenge my Fall

  Duke Wharton sees me drunk.

Then with a groan Duke Philip held

  The Sick Man by the Joint,

And Said, Earl Harold ‘Steed of thee

  Would I had drank that Pint.

O Christ! my very Heart does bleed,

  And does within me Sink, 

For Surely a more Sober Earl

  Did never Swallow Drink.

With that the Sheriff, in a Rage

  To see the Earl So Smit,

Vow’d to revenge the dead drunk Peer

  Upon renown’d Sir Kit.

Then Stept a gallant ‘Squire forth

  Of Visage thin and pale,

Lloyd was his Name, and of Gang=hall

  Fast by the River Swale.

Who said he would not have it told

  Where Eden River ran

That unconcern’d he should sit by,

  So  Sheriff I’m your Man.

Full lustily and long they Swill’d

  Many a tedious Hour;

Till like a Vessel over=fill’d

  It run upon the Floor.

Then News was brought into the Room

  Where the Duke lay in Bed,

How that his ‘Squire Suddenly

  Upon the Ground was laid.

Ah!  heavy News, Duke Philip Said,

  Cumberland Witness be;

I have not any Toper more

  Of such Account as He.

Like Tydings to Earl Harold came

  Within as Short a Space,

How that his doughty Sheriff too

  Was tumbled from his place.

Now god be with him, Said ye Earl,

  Since ‘twill no better be,

I trust I have within my Town

  As drunken Knights as He.

Of all the Number that there

  Sir Baynes he Scorn’d to yield;

But with a Bumper in his Hand

  He stagger’d o’er the Field.

Thus did the dire Engagement end,

  And each Man of the Slain,

Was quickly carry’d off to Bed

  His Senses to regain.

God Save the King the Church & State

  And bless the Land with Peace;

And grant henceforth that Drunkenness

  ‘twixt Noblemen may cease.

And also bless our royal Prince 

  The Kingdom’s other Hope,

And grant us Grace for to defy

  The Devil and the Pope.