The Saint Turned Sinner

The Dissenting Parson's Text Under the Quaker's Petticoats

Melody - "Souldier and a Saylor"

from about 1690, in the Bagford Ballads Collection

You Friends to Reformation,
Give Ear to my Relation,
For I shall now declare, Sir,
Before you are aware, Sir,
|: The matter very plain, :|
A Gospel Cushion thumper,
Who dearly loved a Bumper,
And something else beside, Sir,
If he is not bely'd, Sir,
This was a holy Guide, Sir,
For the Dissenting Train.

2. And for to tell you truly,
His Flesh was so unruly
He cou'd not for his Life Sir,
Pass by the Drapers Wife Sir,
|: The spirit was so faint. :|
This jolly handsome Quaker,
As he did overtake her,
She made his Mouth to Water,
And thought long to be at her,
Such Sin is no Great matter,
Accounted by a Saint.

3. Says he my pretty Creature
Your charming handsome Feature,
Has set me all on Fire:
You know what I desire,
|: There is no harm in Love. :|
Quoth she, if that's your Notion,
To Preach up such Devotion,
Such hopeful Guides as you Sir,
Will half the World undo Sir,
A Halter is your due sir,
If you such Tricks approve.

4. The Parson still more eager,
Than lustful Turk or Neger,
Took up her lower Garment,
And saw there was no harm in't,
|: According to the Text. :|
For Solomon more Wiser,
Than any dull advisor,
Had many Hundred Misses,
And why should such as this is
Make you so sadly vext,
Make you so sadly vext.

5. The frightened Female Quaker
Perceiv'd what he wou'd make her,
Was forc'd to call the Watch in,
And stop what he was hatching,
|: To spoil the Light within. :|
They came to her Assistance,
As she did make Resistance,
Against the Priest and Devil,
The actors of all Evil,
Who were so grand uncivil,
To tempt a Saint to Sin.

6. The Parson then confounded,
To see himself surrounded,
By Mob and sturdy Watch-men,
Who's Business 'tis to catch Men,
|: In leudness with a Punk. :|
He made some faint Excuses,
And all to hide Abuses,
In taking up the Linen,
Against the Saints Opinion,
Within her soft Dominion,
Alledging he was Drunk.

7. But tho' he feigned reeling,
They made him pay for feeling,
And Lugg'd him to a Prison,
To bring him to his Reason,
|: Which he had lost before. :|
And thus we see how Preachers
That should be Gospel-Teachers,
How they are strangely blinded,
And are so fleshly minded
Like Carnal Men inclined,
To lie with any Whore.

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