I 



LEONARD WHEATCROFT, OF ASHOVKR. 69 



At taking of Nantwich he never shriinke 



Till he had conquered Noble Cenerall Munke, 



And many more besides the Garrison 



Which he that day by strength and valour won. 



His harness good was made of purest Steele, 



His horse more fierce than ever trode on heel ; 



For when his warlike heart was taken out, 



A living serpent from the same did sprout 



To the amazement of them all both far and near, 



To thinke that such a Devill should be there. 



But some may think I write as a deceiver 



But you may now behold the same in Belvoir ('castle') 



Wherein the picture (and it) may be seene, 



To admiration both of Kinge and Queene. 



Then Gentlemen now pray and never cease 



That wars may end, that we may live in peace. 



" Bj> me Leo: IVhea/cro//.'' * 



" ^'pon the Earle of Scarsdale's race-horse :— 



" When as my master mounted upon me 

 Then, like Achilles, you could scarce him see 

 He was so nimble on my back that I 

 Defied all Earles & Lordes & Knights me nigli. 

 As for the first heat,— did not I run well? 

 Yea, and the second too, you all can tell. 

 And were my tongue like Balaam's Asse, then I 

 Would tell you true, how Kingstone he went by. 

 If e'er I run again in that same place 

 1 lay a thousand guineas that I win the race. 

 It is not he that gave the golden piece (prize or stakes) 

 Or he in Ireland, Scotland, France, or Greece 

 Should me outrun, had tiot my Mr slaid me : 

 1 am so vexed ; I wish that he had flayed me. 

 But to be short, I'll run the three heats round 

 With any horse that was upon that ground." 



" Vpon the strange and admirable building of two Crows upon 

 Blackwell Church Weather Cocket April! 2, 1688, in Derbyshire : — 

 " Behold my friends what here I have set downc 

 (A stranger thing was never done in towne) 

 Thousands have seen — I know I do not mock. 



Apparently penned about 1680 

 Probably c 

 rod of the vane 



t Probably constructed in the ornamental scroll work usually attached to the 



