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First line: ‘I’ll tell you a Story, a Story that true is’. A ballad, relating an imaginary dialogue between King George I and Bishop Atterbury, recently banished as a Jacobite conspirator.

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Transcript

I’ll tell you a Story, a Story that true is,
Concerning a Monarch whose name is George Lewis, {1}
And he is a Prince, & a Prince of great might,
Tho’ he cares not a half penny how be came by ’t.

More over good People a Story you’ll hear,
Concerning the Abbott of Westminster, {2}
And he is a Priest & a Priest of renown,
Tho’ now he is banish’d from fair London town. {3}

The King then to this Abbot he sent
And tax’d him with Treason against his Government,
And told him it was a most dangerous thing,
For a Priest to pretend to more sense than his King.

To the King then the Abbot would faine† have reply’d
Fore† surely the fact he would not have denyed
But the King bid him answer him questions three
Or his head should be Sever’d from his Body.

When I am seated on my royall Throne,
Surrounded by Kendal, {4} my Turks {5} & my Son, {6}
Trust up in my Robes, my Crown, & so forth
You must tell me directly how much I am worth

The Next without hesitation or doubt
How soon I may ride my Dominions throughout
The third Question you must not Shrink
But tell me truly on what I do think.

I need not set any Price on your Throne
The Abbot replyed, for it is none of your own,
But pay for the Stock, that your Whores & you bought.
And by just computation you’re not worth a groat.

The Next without hesitation or Doubt
How soon you may ride your Dominions throughout
Set out when Don Phœbus begins to Shine
And you’ll be out of Hanover eer you need dine.

Two questions resolved at the third I’ll not Shrink
But tell you directly on what you do think
Why now see his Highness coming in at the door
You think he’s not yours but the Son of a Whore

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{1} King George I.

{2} Francis Atterbury, Dean of Westminster and Bishop of Rochester.

{3} Atterbury was exiled by Parliament as a Jacobite conspirator in 1723. He left the country on 18 June.

{4} Melusine von der Schulenberg, one of the king’s mistresses. She was created Duchess of Kendal in her own right in 1719.

{5} Mustapha and Mahomet, the king's two favourite valets, taken captive during one of his Turkish campaigns (Dictionary of National Biography).

{6} The Prince of Wales, the future George II.

First line: ‘Lord: what indouments are inherent’. The lines refer satirically to King George II.

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Transcript

Lord: what indouments {1} are inherent
In King and Queen and Heir apparent
The second George like Magpye walks
And like that bird great C—e talks
Farr greater is the prince’s merritt
Who both these Virtues doos inheritt
Ancient and Modern Witts extoll
The Goose that saved the Capittole
But Magpyes are reservd by Fate
To Save Brittanias Sinking State
which no body can deney

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{1} endowments.

First line: ‘The Wrath of a desperate Monarch I sing’. A satire on King George II.

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Transcript

The Wrath of a desperate Monarch I sing
And the Wrath of a Monarch’s a desperate thing
Whole Nations it throws into Sorrow and Tears
And make even Kings outride Monsieur Bannieres {1}

’Twas this made the Prussian so saucy to think
He could swallow great George as easy as drink
His Troop of Golia’s he sends down in a Rage
But George was no David such Troops to engage

For George rousing up not his Courage but cunning
Thought in fight he might loose but cou’d beat ’em at running
To Horse then he sounds and from H—r {2} steals
When he cant shew his Head shews a fair pair of Heels

When arrived where he safely his Passion might Vent
In famed London City his Fury he Spent
Where now with more justice his mighty name rings
For nicking of Sashes than bullying of Kings

Poor Prince you much better had spared the poor City
Which was once the Worlds Envy but now is their Pity
But George when for Plunder he found ’em too poor
Broke window when owner had long broke before

Some Hundreds of pounds will not mend ’em its known
Now G— thow lov’st Money lay down but a Crown
The publick shall mend all the Windows you broke
Thus you’ll please the whole Nation & pay for your joke

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{1} Courrier du cabinet of the Court of France. See e.g. The Political State of Great Britain, xxxvi. 465 (Nov. 1728).

{2} Probably Hanover.

(i) Untitled verses (author unknown).
First line: ‘But O! litle George thou struttest in vain’. A satire on King George II and Queen Caroline.

(ii) Untitled verses (author unknown).
First line: ‘Since England was England, sure never was seen’. A satire on King George II and Queen Caroline.

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Transcripts

But O! litle George thou Struttest in vain,
For this is not thine, but Q— Carolines Reign:
And thou govern’st England, as Phillip do’s Spain.
Then Strike a bold Stroke, as thy Dad did before thee,
Shut up thy fat Spouse, and we all shall adore thee.

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Since England was England, Sure never was Seen,
So Strutting a K— and So prating a Q—.
But I cou’d o’erlook George’s green Velvet coat,
His feather, tho yellow, and dangling Sword knot;
Nay I cou’d forgive his masking with Polly,
His tawdry Reviews, and the rest of his Folly:
But his army and Fleets, and his Senators vile,
That disgrace and oppress this once happy Isle:
He’s So fond of his Knight, and his Knight of our Coyn,
And to ruin us all his Courtiers combine
That {1} We cant keep our pence and the Hanover Line.

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{1} Omitted by mistake, and added in the margin.