58 LEONARD WHEATCROFT, OF ASHOVER. 



" riie Ale-draper's Petition to the Honorable Bench at Chester- 

 field Aprill 20, 1677 for my Licence: — 



'• May it please the Bench this day to grant to me 

 \'our worships' License, that I may be free 

 To brew, to sell, keepe food for horse and man, 

 P'or all that come pay but a penny a can. 

 Rare bottle-ale if any soule doe mind it 

 At '■Hand and Shears' in Asher you may find it. 

 With severall sortes of English napping [nappy) Licquor ; 

 'Twill make the dullest spirits to flow quicker. 

 Then Bachus like, each man with glasses fettled ' * 

 Hectorian like, shewing yourselves brave mettled 

 Sober and wise : if otherwise you find, then 

 I hope your worships will be pleased to bind them. 

 To that they never say— 'Tis pity 

 Cause there's so many now in town & city. 

 May it please you all to grant me my request 

 And in that calling I will doe my best 

 To please the King, the Judge, and Justice too, 

 And waite on him that daily holds the Plough, 

 And all men else, excepting the Excise, 

 Because they daily make of me a prise, 

 Gaging my vessels with a Gallon Rule. 



I wish such gagers may outgage the . 



All this is true, I to your worships say 

 Give me my license, then I'll goe my way. 

 And for the same, I'll for your worships pray : 

 If you'll dispatch, I will no longer stay. 



"Leo. Wheatcroft." 



An Elegy upon the death of all the greatest Gentry in Darley 

 Dale who loved Huntinge and Hawkinge and severall 

 other names. By me LEO. W. 1672. 



(i) " As I on Oaker Hill one day did stand 



Viewing the world which I could not command, 

 I turn'd my face toward Bercho're parly west 

 In view where Greaves's used to have their nest 

 But out ! alas ! I found they were all gone 

 Not one was left to kick against a stone. 



* Fett!ed=xe2.d.y, prepared. 



