James Parkerson

“ But oh what sweet pleasures your mind to fulfil.
Is the view that you have on the top of the hill.
The river delighteth the mind and the eye
On which you see wherries constant pass by,
Besides there is barges that proudly do ride,
With packets to Yarmouth assisted by tide;
p. 4There’s low-lands and up-lands that gladden the sight,
And a thousand sweet objects the mind to delight
And such view of the city as must please the eye,
A thousand old buildings you there may descry ”

“ His Wiverton friends to see once more.
Each hailed the happy pleasing day,
They view’d the orphan nam’d Greenway.
The tear of sorrow from him flew,
When he the fatal spot did view;
Says he this village fostered me,
Till I embarked upon the sea.
Part of my earnings will I give,
That poorer souls may better live ”

“ To take a few bottles of Vince’s port wine;
The flavour was such they could not refrain,
To fill up a bumper again and again.
I found these good fellows are men of sense,
That to learning and knowledge may lay a pretence;
Most of these gentlemen always can find,
A stranger’s good converse to cherish the mind. ”

“ Who will all mortals faults descry;
Should he no mercy to them show,
And send the men of prayers below,
Where Satan dwells and where he reigns,
To plant on sinners chains and pains;
p. 7With man let mercy constant rest,
For ever in the mind and breast.
Mercy I fear they never knew,
Or if they did it from them flew;
For virtue only can be found,
Where hearts are good minds are sound;
Humanity few e’er possess’d,
They cannot keep it in their breast.
No, arrogance and pride there dwell,
The poor around all know it well ”

“ From scenes of discord, always keep away;
You’d think it hard a worthless savage crew,
Should gain by plunder all your goods from you:
The worst of men are foremost on a plan,
To gain by rapine every way they can ”

“ I believe that in summer no spot is more fit,
To brace up the nerves to those that need it.
The air is so fine that it cherish the frame,
Besides there’s another great pleasure I’ll name,
But a very short mile and the journey is o’er,
Ere they can walk in at the Pine-apple door;
I mean for those friends who for pleasure do stray
That near is the distance as I have heard say,
I’m sure that no one will have cause to repine,
At the distance from Norwich when wheather is fine,
The garden produces such store sir in May,
As induce you to take some on going away ”

“ Indeed I believe that all his friends find,
To afford satisfaction he’s always inclin’d;
And all those that think proper at his house to stray,
Shall never have cause to complain when away:
He thanks all his friends for each favour that’s past,
And hopes that each visit will not be the last ”

“ Those that repent he will not cast away;
A sigh or tear can not that boon impart,
It must be fervent from the head and heart:
Thro’ Jesus’ aid vile sinners doth he save,
If true repentants ere they meet the grave.
Each wish’d they could recal the time that’s past,
And they would live as if each day the last:
Just before death they pray’d me to implore,
An erring mortal to transgress no more;
Hope their lov’d Chaplain might, for ever be
When call’d on high blessed to eternity;
They knew his worth his heart is of a kind,
That plants soft pity to a feeling mind:
p. ”

“ The P---n give when he descry;
She is at leisure to impart,
A smile to cheer his drooping heart:
Soon as he leaves the sacred place,
He anxiously the female trace,
To pass with her a merry joke,
Or else her passion to invoke,
In such a way as suits his mind,
If she is to sly fun inclined.
Many a poor man feeds a boy,
Where P---s leisure time employ ”

“ He keeps Cows to afford you a little good stuff,
If you only will add to it Rum quite enough;
Besides with your Hautboys he will find you cream
Now do not suppose that this is a dream;
Step into Vince’s and you’ll find it true,
That what I have stated may be found by you;
For your steed or you poney there’s a stable I say,
That is kept clean and neat with the finest of hay.
And his friends from the north who do bullocks sell,
Know that he lodges their cattle quite well;
He has all the means to keep them clean & warm,
And shelter those creatures from rain & from storm
p. ”

“ He served his time so well ’tis said,
As soon his charity repaid.
He gained a living by his trade,
The Parson gave without parade.
And at the Reverend’s death ’twas found,
He left his boy five hundred pound,
He call’d the boy tho’ grown a man,
Excel this action if you can.
Printed by R. Walker, Norwich.
p. 3A Description of the Pine-apple at Trowse. Both beauty and art have exerted their skill,
You will find on a spot near the brow of a hill;
The hill is near Norwich and call’d Bracondale,
I stept into Vince’s myself to regale. ”

“ Transcribed from the early 1800’s Walker edition by David Price, email [email protected]. Many thanks to Norfolk and Norwich Millennium Library, UK, for kindly supplying the images from which this transcription was made.
PRICE 2s.
SKETCHES
IN VERSE;
Respectfully Addressed
to the
NORFOLK YEOMENRY,
by j. parkerson, jun.
VIZ.
On Foreign Grain. The Corn Mart. On Mr. L. the Unhappy Convict. The Pine Apple. On the late Sir Samuel Rommilly. The Wiverton Boy, &c.
Walker, Printer, near the Duke’s Palace, Norwich
p. 1THE NORWICH
CORN MART. [1]
By J. Parkerson, Junr. ”