%ISOlat1; %ISOlat2; %ISOnum; %ISOpub; ]> A Dialogue betwixt an EXCISE-MAN and DEATH. University of California - Santa Barbara The Early Modern Center English Broadside Ballad Archive (EBBA) Director Patricia Fumerton Associate Director Carl G Stahmer ?-? Early Modern Center, University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 07/18/2021 37545

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Patricia Fumerton Early Modern Center - English Department University of California Santa Barbara, CA 93105 United States of America EMail: pfumer@english.ucsb.edu

R211223 UPon a time when Titans Steeds were driven, / To drench themselves beneath the Western Heaven; British Library - Bagford Editor none none none none Information in this section of the Source Description refers to the original ballad manuscript. 3: 13 A Dialogue betwixt an EXCISE-MAN and DEATH. A Dialogue betwixt an EXCISE-MAN and DEATH. Printer I.C. ?-?

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 Early Modern Center Ballad Project Keyword Taxonomy advice affliction / health alcohol Americas animals / nature Bible / biblical figures buildings / architecture catastrophe children class clothing / appearance country / nation crime death economics / commerce entertainments family Featured folklore gender holidays / seasons infidelity labor / craft law London love maritime marriage military / war monstrosity mythology / Classical news nobility / court politics / government procreation punishment race / ethnicity religious concepts religious figures religious groups royalty rural life servitude sex / sexuality supernatural / magic travel trickery / deceit urban life vice violence virtue vulgar humor youth / age Library of Congress Subject Heading Taxonomy 7/18/2021 Santa Barbara, California, United States of America Ballads, English 17th century Broadsides, England 17th century 7/18/2021 3:39:00 PM XBallad Fulmer, Elias Created XML Version of Ballad 7/18/2021 3:39:00 PM Transcription Supervisor McCants, Kristen Transcription of ballad manuscript 7/18/2021 3:39:00 PM Double-Key Comparison and Merging McCants, Kristen Transcription of ballad manuscript 7/18/2021 3:39:00 PM Transcriptionist Two Stark, Nicole Transcription of ballad manuscript 7/18/2021 3:39:00 PM Transcriptionist One Pettersson Peeker, Aili Transcription of ballad manuscript 6/24/2019 Bibliographer Kristen McCants Initial Ballad Catalogue Record Created
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UPon a time when Titans Steeds were driven, To drench themselves beneath the Western Heaven; And sable Morpheus had his Curtains spread, And silent Night had laid the World to bed: 'Mongst other Night-Birds which did seeke for Prey: A blunt Excise-man, which abhor'd the Day, Was rambling forth to seeke himselfe a Booty, 'Mongst Merchants Goods which had not paid the Duty: But walking all alone Death chanc'd to meet him, And in this manner did begin to greet him. Death. Stand, who comes here? what means this Knave to peepe And sculke abroad, when honest men should sleepe? Speake, what's thy name? and quickly tell me this, Whither thou goest, and what thy bus'ness is? Excise-man. What'ere my bus'ness is, thou foule-mouth'd scould I'de have you know, I scorn to be countroul'd By any Man that lives; much less by thou Who blurtest out thou knowst not what, nor how; I goe about my lawful bus'ness: And Ile make you smart for bidding of mee stand. Death. Imperious Cox-combe! Is your stomack vext? Pray slack your rage; and harken what comes next: I have a Writt to take you up; Therefore To chase your blood I bid you, stand, once more. Excis. A Writt to take me up! Excuse mee, Sir, You doe mistake, I am an Officer, In Publick Service, for my private Wealth, My bus'ness is if any seeke by stealth, To undermine the States, I doe discover Their falshood; therefore, hold your hand: give over. Death. Nay, faire and soft! Tis not so quickly done As you conceive it is: I am not gone A jott the sooner for your hastie Chat, Nor braging Language: For I tell you flat Tis more then so; though Fortune seeme to thwart us, Such easie terms I don't intend shall part us? With this impartial Arme, Ile make you feele My fingers first, and with this Shaft of Steele, Ile peck thy bones? As thou alive, wert hated, So dead, to Doggs thou shall be Segregated. Excis. I'de laugh at that; I would thou didst but dare, To lay thy fingers on me: I'd not spare To hack thy Carkass till my Sword was broken: I'de make thee eat the words which thou hast spoken: All men should warning take by thy transgression, How they molested men of my Profession.
My Service to the Sates, is so well known, That should I but Complaine, they'd quickly own My publcke grievances; and give mee right To cut your eares before tomorrow night. Death. Well said indeed: But booteless all; For I Am well aquainted with thy Villainie; I know thy Office, and thy Trade is such, Thy Service little; and thy Gaines are much: Thy braggs are many; But tis vaine to Swagger, And thinke to fright me with thy guilded Dagger: As I abhor thy Person; Place, and Threat, So now Ile bring thee to the Judgement Seate. Excis. The Judgement Seate! I must confess that word Doth cut my heart, like any sharpned Sword: What! Come t'account! methinks the dreadful sound Of every word, doth make a mortal wound, Which sticks not only in my outward skin, But penetrates my very soule within. Twas least of all my thoughts that ever Death, Would once attempt to stop Excise-mens breath. But since tis so; that now I doe perceive You are in earnest: then I must relieve Myself another way. Come, wee'l be Friends, If I have wronged thee, Ile make th'Amends: Let's joyne together; Ile passe my word, this night Shall yeeld us Grub, before the morning light; Or, otherwise (to mittigate my sorrow) Stay here, Ile bring you Gold enough tomorrow. Death. Tomorrows Gold I will not have; And thou Shalt have no Gold upon tomorrow: Now My final Writt shall to'th execution have thee; All earthly Treasure cannot help or save thee. Excis. Then woe is me! Ah! how was I befool'd! I thought that Gold (which answereth althings) could Have stood my friend at any time, to Baile mee! But griefe growes great, and now my trust doth fail mee: Oh! that my conscience were but clear within; Which now is racked with my former sin: With horror I behold my secret Stealing, My Bribes, Oppression, and my graceless Dealing; My Office-sins which I had clean forgotten, Will Gnaw my soul, when all my bones are rotten: I must confess it, very grief doth force mee, Dead, or alive, both God and Man doth Curse mee. Let All Excise-men hereby warning take, To shun their Practice for their Conscience sake.
FINIS. LONDON, Printed by I.C. 1659.