Belfast shoemaker, or, Bold Irvine and Jane Wilson/The Belfast shoemaker; or, Bold Irvine and Jane Wilson

THE BELFAST SHOE-MAKER.

I Am a bold shoe-maker, from Belfast town I came,
And to my sad misfortune, I listed in the train;
My usage being very bad, with me did not agree,
That was the very time, my boys, I thought of liberty.

⁠And being drunk, I listed, knew nothing of the same
But coming to my senses, I called out amain!
On seeing of my colours, the tears did flow amain;
For which I will not mention, nor neither will I name.

⁠I had a loving sweetheart, Jean Wilson was her name,
Said it griev'd her to the heart to see me in the train;
She said if that I would desert, I was to let her know,
She'd dress me in her own clothes, I might ramble to & fro.

⁠We march'd to Tipperary, our captain gave command,
That I & my comrade all night on guard should stand;
The night being wet & very dark, with me did well agree,
That was the very night, my boys, I thought of liberty.

⁠In taking of my liberty, I fled into the north,
And being wet and weary, I rested in a forth;
I had not long remained there till I rose up again,
And looking all around me, I spy'd five of the train!

⁠Come on, you cowardly rascals! I do you not regard,
I don't regard your officers, tho' they should you reward,
I don't regard your officers, nor with them will I stay;
But your life will spare, for to declare, I gain'd my liberty.

⁠Seven of the Iniskiling boys came, for to guard me
Up to the Chapel-yard, and there to punish'd be!
Before we got half of the way, as you may plainly see,
I beat the seven cowardly dogs, and took my liberty.

⁠But in that cruel combat my hammer they did steal,
They sold it for five loaves—was'nt that a curious meal!
Had I known they'd been hungry before they came to me,
Instead of loaves I'd given them blows, their dinners for to be.

⁠But one call'd captain Curry, O wow, but he was mean,
For the sake of twenty shillings he got me basely ta'en;
They put me in the guard-house, my state for to deplore,
With two at every window, and four at every door.

⁠I being in the guard house, and gazing all around,
I jump'd out at a window & knock'd ten of them down,
But the light horse & train men, soon did follow me;
But a friend I met did me assist, & I gain'd my liberty.