THE MELFORD DISASTER,

A NEW BALLAD.

To the Tune of "Tom of Bedlam."

1794.

The circumstances, which gave occasion to this Ballad, are as follow: Three young Ladies of Melford agreed to bathe in a river, about half a mile distant from the town, there being no private accommodation for that purpose in the neighbourhood. An early hour, at which they would be the least liable to be discovered by strangers, was determined on; and at four o'clock in the morning they proceeded to the appointed place. But as they walked through the town, they were unfortunately espied by a blacksmith. Curiosity prompted him to find out whither the fair-ones were hastening; but he did not discover himself to them till they were in the river, the perfect images of their primitive mother Eve; when perceiving him approach, they screamed out, and prudently sat down in the water. The modern Vulcan, dead to the distresses of these Venuses, determined to divert his uncouth fancy by carrying off their clothes, with which he did not return. In this pitiable situation they were obliged to remain for nearly an hour, when a poor woman passing that way, on hearing the rude behaviour which they had experienced, and their consequent embarrassment, procured them such necessary articles of apparel, as enabled them to return home with decency.

ALL in the land of Suffolk,
At Melford the unwary,

On the side of a bank
Was play'd such a prank,
By a Devil yclept Vagary.

To look about thee, Bury,
(Thy ladies are so charming)
I'd have thee begin,

For, the Father of Sin
Gets a taste that's quite alarming.

On Melford's reputation

For scandal we did take it,

When 'twas talk'd with disdain,

Among the profane,

That the ladies there go naked.

Nor, look ye, were they Naiads,
Nor, mind ye, were they Graces :
For, the women of old,

By Ovid we're told,
Wash'd nothing but their faces.

Long time in nature's buff-suits,
Not much oppress'd with blushes,
Now in and now out,
They paddled about,

Like ducks among the rushes.

Nor did ye dream, ye Fair-ones,

When taking such a frolic,

That the sweet West wind,

Tho' it blew so kind,

Could give a maid the cholic.

While thus, in sportive humour, They flounc'd about-God bless 'em! That villain old Nick

Was playing a trick,

On purpose to distress 'em.

Three things as soft as pillows,
With stays and caps together,
This cunning old wag
Put into his bag,

And flew away like a feather.

Cloaks, petticoats, and 'kerchiefs,
On Satan's back suspended,

With stockings and shoes,

And eke furbelows,

Clean out of sight he ascended.

I'd sing the sequel solemn,

Did Modesty allow it;

But a dock leaf vest

Is but ill exprest,

By Painter or by Poet.

Let Coventry be no longer

For sights like these be reckon'd;

For, Melford, thy fame

Has got thee the name

Of Coventry the second.

LINES,

WRITTEN IN THE

Park of Christ-Church, Ipswich,

THE SEAT OF THE

Rev. Charles William Fonnereau, LL.B.

BY J. R. 1809.

Christ Church is a spacious brick mansion, situated on the site of the ancient Priory of the Holy Trinity, in the parish of St. Margaret, Ipswich. It was erected and surrounded with a pale by Sir Edmund Withipoll, Knt. in 1549, as appears by the following inscription, over the porch of entrance :

FRVGALITATEM SIC SERVAS

VT

DISSIPATIONEM NON INCVRRAS

1549.

This family came from Italy. Sir Edmund Withipoll was High Sheriff of Norfolk and Suffolk in 1571; and in 1601 was knighted. He died Nov. 25, 1619, and is interred under an altar tomb, in the chancel of the church of St. Margaret, on which is the following inscription:

EDMVNDVS. WITHIPOLL. Ao. DNI. 1574. SIBI ET. POSTERITATI. POSVIT. MORTVI. SINE. HOSTE. E.W.

He married Frances, the daughter of Sir William Cornwallis, Knt. and had issue Sir William W. who married Jane, the daughter of Sir Michael Stanhope, of Sudbourn, Knt. the relict of Henry Lord Fitzwalter, eldest son of the Earl of Sussex, and had issue by her a sole daughter and heir, Elizabeth, who married Leicester Devereux, the sixth Viscount Hereford. She died in her husband's life time, leaving one daughter Frances, married to William, Viscount Tracy, of the kingdom of Ireland. Lord Hereford by his second wife Priscilla, the daughter of John Catchpole, of this county,

esq.leftissue two sons, and two daughters, of whom Anne, the 2nd daughter, by the death of her two brothers without issue, and of her eldest sister, who died unmarried. became sole heir to the lordship of Christ Church. She married Leicester Martin, esq. by whom she had issue an only daughter and heir, Elizabeth, who married in 1720, the Hon. Price Devereux, esq. Knight of the shire for the county of Montgomery, and the only son of the Right Hon. Viscount Hereford, and dying without issue August 16th, 1735, was interred in the chancel of the church of Sudbourn, near Orford. After her death Lord Hereford, in 17, sold this estate to Claude Fonnereau, esq. in whose descendant the Rev. Charles William Fonnereau, it is at present vested. This gentleman, with a liberality not very common, allows, on certain days, free access to this park, which is a most agreeable promenade, to the inhabitants of the town. Here is still to be seen a large bowling-green, which was formerly a necessary appendage to a gentleman's mansion. The surface of the park, though not of great extent, is pleasingly diversified, and commands some delightful views of the river, town, and adjacent country. It is well-timbered, and contains some fine, venerable Spanish chesnuts; and is stocked with some handsome deer, of a white colour spotted with black, which still further contribute to the beauty and variety of the scene.

HERE, where my infant feet have trod,
With childish glee, this dewy sod,
Oft has my mother smil'd to see
The antic sports of infancy;
Smil'd, as in childhood's happy hour,
We tried to reach the chesnut's flower,
And when we found our efforts vain,
Have beg'd of her the prize to gain;
Then, with what triumph on each brow,
We fondly plac'd the varied bough;

Q