Mary Ann Sate, Imbecile, page 22
The sun turn black as sack cloth of hair
The stars of the heavens falling to earth
So he does go on twisting and writhing
Though they hold him down
Telling how many a good Minister
Has faild to drive this chattering Devil out
What happens in the Cabinet I know not
Mr Harland Cottrell Master Blyth
Both go in to minster to he
I suspect there is mesmerism practisd
Certainly the young man is soon much quieted
After Mr Harland Cottrell shakes his head
Say Maybe tis the voice of God hisself
Who speaks through this young man
Though he be a boy and a papist too
To warn that the time appointd
Will soon be upon us
I am much afeard to hear this
For how will such as me be judgd
Though only a day later news does come
Which no one dare tell to Mr Harland Cottrell
That now the young man has seed
Mary Magdalene herself all glittering white
Washing her stocking ovr the side
Of one of the canal boats
I did always think our dear Lord surely choose
His messenger more prudently
All the time also we are waiting for news
Of Master Ned but three days pass now
None does come
This you might suppose would be
Of much concern to Mr Harland Cottrell
But no no Tis not so
For Mr Harland Cottrell has a mind
For one thing only
Which is these acursd West Indian slaves
Does work now day and night
Always down in meetings in Birts Rooms
At the White Hart the top of High Street
With those other ardent enthusiasts
Such as the banker Mr Henry Wyatt
The lawyer Mr Paul Hawkins Fisher
Mr Benjamin Parsons Minister of Ebley
Mr Harland Cottrell making a girt petition
From the establishd churches
And other of Randwick
Though oft times sorely disappointd
For so many others as he do say
Seem not to understand the importance
Of this weighty question of Justice and Liberty
I should think they do not
When their ricks is at risk of burning
His own son but sixteen year of age
We know not where he is
Yet this were the nature of Mr Harland Cottrell
He was evr possessd by a fatal goodness
Can never hear a warning
Though it be shoutd from a mountain top
Master Blyth also seems not to understand
The events are a coming to pass
He work long in the Cabinet
His main fear seem to be that
Since the Cabinet is but a barn
The mob might burn it in error
Nettie and I shake our heads privily
Forgive us we do not see
The importance of protecting
Piglets adders and all those already dead
Floating comfortable in glass bottles
So all goes on waiting waiting
Then we were in the kitchen one eve
The scatterd sun dropping low
Yet the heat not abatd
When Mr Harland Cottrell does come in
To shew us a picture he has been sent
That does give a clear view so he say
Of the many evils of slavery
The brutal suffering it causes
Calls in also Mr Birch Nazareth to see
So we all looks at the picture
Nods our heads and agree tis a scandal
No person of Christian sentiment
Can accept such a thing
Though in truth we do not understand the picture
If those dark figures are the slaves
Then why are they all lying down
Is this a cause they are sick
We do not know and do not like to ask
But when Mr Harland Cottrell has gone
Nettie say she cannot understand the question
For why they not give them a good scrubbing
Surely much would be curd with soap and water
No no no say Mr Birch Nazareth
Nettie for the Lords sake be not so ignorant
He is about to explain
Which I should much like to hear
Then sudden we is all interrupt
By the sound of horses hooves in the yard
Nettie jump for the carving knife
Mr Birch Nazareths eyes are alight with fear
Tis Captain Swing we think
But surely it cannot be for boots sound now
Round at the front door
We hear Mr Harland Cottrell go to answer
Quick Mary Ann say Nettie
You go and listen what is said
That is how she is
She has no regard for me never has
Yet she is quick enough to use me
In any oil slick purpose
Though on this occasion it must be said
I am spice enough to go
For all want to know
So stand I near the school room door
With ears prickd sharp
Tis constables at the door and they is asking
Where is Master Ned
Mr Harland Cottrell asks Why you seek him
The constable says He has been seed
Near Charlton House out at Beverstone
Where much violent and threatening behaviour
Has takd place just that same afternoon
Mr Harland Cottrell say straightway
This clearly a case of mistakd identity
Such stain never to be put upon his sons name
The constable then ask his question again
As to where is Master Ned
Mr Harland Cottrell then reply
Master Ned is with a friend in Stroud
That then were the end of it
So I go back to the kitchen to report
All of us perhaps is wondering
Did Mr Harland Cottrell lie when he said Stroud
I know it cannot be so for he would not lie
Tis only his attention is so far removd
From here and now he has made an error
Had no idea the mistake might be important
For Beverstone is a village just near Tetbury
So I tell you
Yet even though we all know that
I do not think any of us thought anything
But an innocent confusion had been makd
So another day turn come Saturday
When one of the farm men
Does say as Master Ned seed in Stroud
Tis a worry then to all
For widely knowd hand bills
Pastd all about and come Sunday
Many have plottd to gather in Stroud
Forces also are massing
To drive them back if need arise
No one of good character
Best go near the town that day
Mr Birch Nazareth shakes his head and say
Someone should go and fetch he back
But I notice that Mr Birch Nazareth
He does not offer hisself
Being I think angry about his horse
Course still is not returnd
Then comes Mr Harland Cottrell now wakd
Rather late to the danger
Says that Master Blyth should go
Be sure to bring his brother back
Master Blyth I must say does make no question
He has always lovd his brother dear
So that day he went off
All of us itching with worry
Yet still we continue in prayer
Watch in the same with thanksgiving
Five of the clock come Master Blyth return
Master Ned not with he
Master Blyths eyes are all rimmd red
Black smears cross his face
Tells us stuttering and stammering
How he did find his brother
Plead with him many a time
But no no he would not come back
Though the dragoons is sweeping
Through the town with long swords
Does make yr blood stop to hear it
This he cannot tell his father
For Mr Harland Cottrell has gone out
So the eve pass
All the time I am listening
For a footstep or a voice
None do come
Come eight of the clock I worry worse
Do get out sheets heat the smoothing iron
Nettie say she do not care any
The Devil can take them all
Tis none to her
Yet still she comes to help me
As she does not generally do
Holding the sheets
As I work the iron
She say to me
I always say no good come of Master Ned
I push the iron gainst her fingers so it burn
Say you do not speak any ill
Gainst Master Ned
Who is oft kind to you
After that she say nothing
Yet still she smirk
Goes not up to her bed
As usually would
Come ten of the clock and still no Master Ned
I work at a book on the kitchen table
Then come the sound of hooves in the lane
That the horse of Mr Harland Cottrell
Oh oh now the trouble will start
When Mr Harland Cottrell ask
I know not what to say
So then is shouting for Master Blyth
I shake my head get up from my book
Soon the house rattling with angry voices
Mr Harland Cottrell speak straight to Master Blyth
You have allowd he to consort with ruffians
Those who would engage in insurrection
Left him there in the town
What brotherly love have you
How can I trust you more
Master Blyth croochd gainst the wall
I I I sorry Sir he say
Twas w w wrong of me
I should not have done
So goes on
I hear it all but then step out
Into the night time cricket chirp garden
So tis I see him first
Master Ned a coming up the hill
Through the field calld
The Shoulder of Mutton
Then the home orchard
I sought the Lord and He heard me
Deliverd me from all my fears
So I say to myself yet then remark
How tird is Master Ned so exhaustd
He can barely walk a straight line
Totterdy and dawdles through the trees
What has become of he
Come in the back door through the school room
Heading toward the stairs
I hear him puffing and stumbling
He must be took sick
Then hear Mr Harland Cottrell Master Blyth
For they have seed he both
Then Master Blyths voice
Never fear Father
Tis but fever
There is much in the town
Comes fierce but blows out quick
Do not t t trouble yrself at all
C C call Mary Ann for me
I shall t t tend him she will help
I am already hurrying into the hall
What come at me there
I know it immediately
My mind tumbles backwards
I am in the kitchen at The Heavens
Tis the smell of beer or cider
Grows and spreads all about us
I wait then for the storm
Mr Harland Cottrell now will beat the skin
From Master Ned
He must do so
For there is no other proper way
To treat a stumbling drunkard
But to beat it out of he
I may not have card much for Mrs Woebegone
Yet she at least did knowd that
Mr Harland Cottrell must well know it too
For he had writ many pamphlets
On the evils from fortify drink
But no storm come
Master Blyth takes hold his brothers arm
I take hold the other
We pull him up the stairs
A difficult job this is indeed
For he is swaying and tosticatd
Starts to sing then a vulgar song
Til Master Blyth does clap a hand
Gainst his giggling mouth
Still waiting and waiting
Yet Mr Harland Cottrell only say
A draught of chamomile may be best
Mixd with sal volatile tincture of lavendar
Til the morning
We see what happens then
Yet Master Blyth he say
You see him settld
Then you come back down to me
His voice is grating
His eyes gone small and stone sharp
Some wrinkle in the cloth of time
Does then come for I know what will happen
I hear all
I am there in the bedroom
Pull off Master Neds boots
Get his britches down pull tug
Wipe his face with water
He waving his arms and laughing
Starting again to sing
Til I do shut he up
Down below I hear
The swish of the cane
The shouting
Tis the first time
I evr hear that in this house
For I always believe
So it oft said
That Mr Harland Cottrell
Does not believe in beating
Now it seems he has changd his view
I find a night shirt in the press
Put Master Neds boots straight gainst the wall
Pull the covers down
Then up again ovr he
No no no I say to he Keep quiet
Yet he does start to sing again
Take my hand staring into my eyes
Say Mary Ann Mary Ann will you marry me
I ought not to have laughd
Yet I could not help myself
Wheezing and giggling
Tears run down my cheeks
So twas I did not properly think
Not til all was quiet
Myself also abed
Only then my mind turns round about
But all is tangld there
No answers come
Ask myself why why
Why is the truth not spokd
My mortal soul struggle and fight
Wanting to be able to say
I was evr a fool for the truth
When milk begin to sour it go all at once
In the space of minutes it turn bad
Yet in our lives troubles not come so obvious
Only one thing builds on another
Gradually the shadows gather
Yet still there are moments days
When all begins to slip and tumble
You understand how unstable the ground
On which you stand
I wish it were not so
I long to live always
In the God touchd days at Stocton Hill
Yet we must all grow
Meet the world as it really be
One such day come back to me now
I know it well
Many times I have gone ovr it
Was there something I did not see
Or something I chose to lay aside
Even now so much is unclear
I try to write now only what I see then
When you look back yr gaze is warpd
You know more You see the story end
All seems to lead to that
Yet really it were only an accident
As happen in many places
It were that same year but later
Perhaps the middle of November
For the Guy had certainly be burnd up
A procession passing along the Valley
With lanterns burning tar barrels firecrackers
Much offence being causd for some do say
Tis not the papist Guido Fawkes we light
But that Duke of Wellington
Who is set firm gainst reform
That was the talk
Soon after that the rain had start
Then did not stop
Many a ditch and highway flood
Water rising in diverse house
So twas that day the skye pewter
The rain fall in waves
Would soak to the bone after but five steps
Falling and falling and falling
Sure it would never stop
The distant hills all shroude deep
Everything shine silver
Master Ned fritchety and bord
His father said he not go to his studies
Must stay home help Mr Birch Nazareth
