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Title: A Humorous History of England

Author: C. Harrison

Release Date: August 22, 2008 [EBook #26388]

Language: English

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                              A Humorous
                          History of England


                     The essentials of England's
                        History Told in Rhyme

                          Light and Amusing


                               Told and
                               Pictured
                                  by
                             C. Harrison.


                              Price 3d.

                    With Forty Eight Illustrations




Concerning Anaemia

(Poorness of Blood.)

IN MEN AND WOMEN,

_by the late
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appetite usually disappears, and a general bodily upset is represented.
The lips are pale, the red of the eyelids, seen by turning down the
lower eyelid, will exhibit a similar appearance. Breathlessness is
another notable sign; the least exertion, going upstairs for instance,
causes the sufferer to pant, because the heart, not being supplied with
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   _For ANAEMIA (shown by breathlessness on slight exertion, pallor,
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                              A HUMOROUS
                          HISTORY OF ENGLAND




                          TOLD AND PICTURED
                                  by
                             C. HARRISON


                             Published by
                           WARRICK & BIRD,
                     4, Nile Street, London, N.1.
                                1920.




[Illustration: An After-Dinner Speech in Ye Olden Time.
(And any other Time.)]




[Illustration: BOADICEA.]


 Preface        _"Arms and the man" was Virgil's strain;
                 But we propose in lighter vein
                 To browse a crop from pastures (Green's)
                 Of England's Evolution scenes.
                 Who would from facts prognosticate
                 The future progress of this State,
                 Must own the chiefest fact to be
                 Her escalator is the Sea._

[Illustration: "Take cover"]

 Prehistoric     Historians erudite and sage,
                 When writing of the past stone age,
                 Tell us man once was clothed in skins
                 And tattooed patterns on his shins.
                 Rough bearded and with shaggy locks
                 He lived in dug-outs in the rocks.
                 Was often scared and run to earth
                 By creatures of abnormal girth:
                 Mammoths and monsters; truth to tell
                 We find their names too long to spell.
                 He joined in little feuds no doubt;
                 And with his weapons fashioned out
                 Of flint, went boldly to the fray;
                 And cracked a skull or two per day.

 Druids          We read of priests of Celtic day,
                 Ancient Druids, holding sway
                 By smattering of Occult law
                 And man's eternal sense of awe.
 Stonehenge      They used Stonehenge on Salisbury Plain
                 Reputed Prehistoric Fane;
                 Note each megalithic boulder;
                 No Monument in Europe's older.

[Illustration]

[Illustration: "Veni, Vidi, Vici"]

 Phoenicians     Merchant explorers of that day,
                 Hustling Phoenicians, came this way
                 To ship tin ore from Cornish mines
                 Three thousand years before these lines.
                 But still in spite of petty strife
                 Man lived what's termed the 'simple life'
 Julius Caesar   Till Julius Caesar in five-five
 B.C. 55         With his galleys did arrive.
                 He wrote despatches of the best,
                 'Veni, Vidi' and the rest,
                 Sending the news of victory home;
                 And flags then fluttered high in Rome.
                 His 'photo' one plain fact discloses
                 He brought in fashion Roman noses.
                 Of this great General 'tis allowed
                 The best 'Life' is by J. A. Froude.
 Boadicea        Boadicea earns our praise.
 A.D. 62         First woman leader in those days;
                 For Freedom strove all she could do,
                 'Twas lost in A.D. sixty-two.
 Agricola        Then came Agricola one day
                 And gained a battle near the Tay.
                 He started trimming up this isle,
                 And laid out roads in Roman style.
                 East, North, South, West, it's safe to say
                 His handiwork is traced to-day.
                 The Natives too were taught to know
                 By busy merchants' constant flow
                 The wisdom that great Empire held;
                 Their ignorance was thus dispelled.
 Romans left     About four hundred-ten A.D.
 A.D. 410        The Romans left sans ceremonie.
                 Can it be wondered at when Rome
                 Was needing help 'gainst Huns at home.
                 Our antiquarians often find
                 The relics which they left behind;
                 A Villa here and pavement there,
                 Coins galore and Roman ware.

[Illustration]

 Anglo-Saxons    And so we run our flippant rhymes
 A.D. 430        Right on to Anglo-Saxon times.
                 Hengist and Horsa with their men
                 Came from their Jutish pirate den,
 Jutes           And paid us visits in their ships
                 Bent on their ruthless looting trips.
                 And Angles landing in the Humber
                 Gave that district little slumber.
                 They plundered morning, noon, and night,
                 Were rough, uncouth, and impolite,
                 No 'By your leave' or 'S'il vous plait'
                 They came to rob, remained to prey.
 Horsa           Horsa was slain in four-five-five,
 455             Leaving Hengist still alive
                 To live out his allotted term,
                 Surviving partner of the Firm.
 King Arthur     Time has many a fable wound
                 About King Arthur's table round,
                 Where Knights quaffed cordials, wines and ales,
                 And told their little fairy tales.
 Augustine       About six hundred years A.D.
 597             To teach us Christianity
                 Came Augustine. Wondrous Story;
                 Canterbury's Pile his glory.
 Heptarchy       Called 'Heptarchy' the seven Saxon
 827             States each other made attacks on;
                 After four hundred years they'd striven
                 They coalesced in eight-two-seven.

[Illustration: IRON JELLOIDS The Great Tonic]

 Alfred          Of good King Alfred we've all heard
 872-901         How when hiding he incurred
                 A lady's anger for not taking
                 Care of Cakes which she was baking.
                 (Most probably she left the King
                 While she went out a-gossiping.)
                 Before he died in nine-nought-one,
                 Old England's Navy had begun.
                 He laid a tax on every town
                 To aid his fleet to gain renown.
                 He was the best of Saxon Kings
                 And did a lot of useful things;
                 Built Oxford with its noble spires
                 And mapped out England into Shires.

 Danes           In seven-eight-three first came the Danes
 783             Who caused the Saxons aches and pains.
                 They sailed right up our rivers broad,
                 Putting the natives to the sword.
 "Danegeld"      For centuries our sadly fated
 991             Towns by them were devastated.
                 Etheldred the 'Unready Toff'
                 By 'Danegeld' tries to buy them off.

[Illustration: IRON JELLOIDS The Great Tonic]

 Canute          Two hundred years the raiding Danes
 1014-1036       Came over. Then their Canute reigns.
                 We'll merely mention that he tried
                 An object lesson with the tide.
 Hardicanute     Hardicanute, sad to confess,
 1039-1041       Died from drinking to excess.
                 He couldn't conquer love of wine
                 And with him went the Danish line.

 Edward          Edward the Confessor staid
 the Confessor   The Saxon line renewed. Remade
 1041-1066       At Westminster the Abbey grand,
                 And signed the first 'Will' in this land.
                 And since his time ('tis not refuted)
                 Scores of Wills have been disputed.
                 Ah! legal quibbles such as these
                 Mean Lawyers waxing rich on fees.

 Harold          Harold last of the Saxon line
 1066            At Hastings made an effort fine
                 And lost his life--it was to be,
                 Crushed by the men of Normandy.
                 From Scandinavia they'd come,
                 And made fair Normandy their home;
 William the     Whence William spying out our shore,
 Conqueror       Oliver-Twist-like, wanted more.
 1066-1087       In ten-six-six he won the day
                 In that tough fight out Hastings way.
                 Of course, no record in our reach,
                 Depicts 'ole Bill' thus on the beach.

[Illustration]

[Illustration: IRON JELLOIDS The Great Tonic

GOODE NYGHTE]

 William the     But one thing's certain. Camera men,
 Conqueror       If only they'd existed then,
 1066-1087       Would have journeyed many a mile
                 To 'snap' King William's happy smile.
                 They made him King and schoolbooks say
                 He ruled with arbitrary sway;
                 Demanding with sharp battle axes
                 Instant payment of big taxes.
 Curfew          And p'raps it's just as well to tell
                 He introduced the Curfew Bell;
                 So at the early hour of eight
                 Each doused his glim, raked out his grate.
                 In bed at eight P.M. each day
                 Life was but sombre, dull and grey;
                 No cutting fancy ball room capers,
                 No Cinemas or evening papers.
                 He was a bully it is true,
                 But to allow him his just due
                 He made reforms; he also took
                 In hand the bulky Doomsday book.

                 In William's time we're glad to write
                 People began to be polite;
                 Ladies curtseyed to their beaux,
                 Who smartly raised their gay chapeaux.
 The Jews        The Jews he introduced from Spain
                 Bringing much knowledge in their train
                 Of Arts and Science; but 'Longshanks'
                 Expelled them with no word of thanks.
 Feudalism       These were the well known Feudal days,
                 Tenants were slaves in many ways
                 To mighty Lords who owned the land
                 And ruled them with an iron hand.
                 Not free from duties were the Lords,
                 The King could call upon their swords
                 And men to fight in time of need.
                 So feudal laws of old decreed.

 William Rufus   William Rufus or the 'Red'
 1087-1100       In ten-eight-seven ruled instead;
                 This may be; but we know, alack,
                 Though he was red his deeds were black.
 Crusades        The first Crusade in ten-nine-five,
 1095            A million men, a very hive,
                 Swarm to the East, the Holy plain
                 From the Mohammedans to gain.

 Henry I.        Henry the First, of wisdom rife,
 1100-1135       Saxon Matilda makes his wife,
                 Saxon and Norman line uniting,
                 A learned chap who loved not fighting.

 Stephen         Stephen of Blois ascends the throne
 1135-115        And 'gainst Matilda holds his own;
                 Grandson of the Conqueror;
                 Died in eleven-fifty-four.

 Henry II.       Henry the Second claims our rhyme
 1154-1189       'The hardest worker of his time';
                 A wiser King we never had
                 Nor father with his sons so bad.
 Becket          This the first 'Plantagenet' King
                 With Becket strove like anything;
 Church v.       Which should be Master, Church or Crown
 Crown           Pull-King Pull-Bishop; both went down.
                 Thomas was murdered by four Knights
                 On steps of Altar--Sorry wights:
                 With bleeding feet the King atones
                 By pilgrimage to Becket's bones.
                 Despite his struggles with the Church
                 He knocked the barons off their perch,
                 Fifteen hundred Castles razing
                 In a manner quite amazing.
 Law             Trial by jury further grows;
                 The King's Court in this reign arose;
                 Our Parliaments from this proceed
                 And all our other Courts indeed.
 Linen           Linen's first used in twelve-five
                 Woollens alone in vogue before.
 Glass Windows   In eleven-eight-nought first came to pass
                 The novelty of window glass.
                 And doubtless playful little boys
                 Full of children's simple joys,
                 Cracked as our youngsters often do
                 With stones or ball a pane or two.
 Richard         Coeur de Lion from one Crusade
 Coeur de Lion   Returning was a prisoner made.
 1189-1199       But Blondel played an Air he knew,
                 The King joined in; Voila the clue.
                 This catchy tune in a pleasant key
                 Opened the door to liberty.

[Illustration: IRON JELLOIDS The Great Tonic]

 John            And so we'll quickly journey on
 1199-1216       Until we reach the reign of John;
                 A King whose list of crimes was heavy;
                 He treated badly his young 'Nevvy'.
 Magna Charta    He signed the Magna Charta. Yes;
 1215            In twelve-fifteen, but we may guess
                 With much ill grace and many a twist;
                 For King John wrote an awful fist.
                 John loses Normandy to France
                 And by this beneficial chance
                 In England comes amalgamation;
                 Normans and Saxons form one Nation
 Robin Hood      And now we come to Robin Hood,
                 The Forest bandit of Sherwood,
                 A popular hero much belauded
                 But not by folks whom he'd defrauded.
                 There's no need to descant upon
                 His boon companion 'Little John';
                 Or 'Friar Tuck' so overblown
                 He tipped the scale at fifteen stone.

 Henry III.      And what of Henry number Three,
 1216-1272       The King who suffered poverty?
                 It's very awkward we must own
                 To be 'hard up' when on a Throne;

[Illustration: IRON JELLOIDS The Great Tonic]

                 To have to scrape up an amount
                 To pay the butcher on account,
                 Or ask a dun in Kingly way
                 To kindly call some other day.
 Coinage         In twelve-five-seven it is stated
 1257            Gold was coined and circulated,
                 Ha'pence and farthings just before;
                 In those times worth a great deal more.
 Langton         The Bible which from over seas
 Died 1228       Had no chapters and no verses
                 Was by Archbishop Langton's skill
                 Divided as we use it still.

[Illustration: IRON JELLOIDS The Great Tonic]

                 Why was it Henry III. allowed
                 At court a huge rapacious crowd
                 To drain his coffers nearly dry
                 Flattering with cajolery?

[Illustration: Alle fees in advance
Earlye closinge daye Thursdaye]

 Astrology       Many simple folk, (it's queer)
                 Used to patronise the seer
                 And pay cash down for magic spell
                 Perchance a Horoscope as well.
                 Or open wide at special rate
                 That musty tome the Book of Fate;
                 Or seek the Philtre's subtle aid
                 To win the hand of some fair maid.
                 We mus'nt miss the Troubadours
                 Who went forth on their singing tours,
                 Twanging harps and trilling lays
                 To maids of medieval days.
                 And Oh! the right good merry times
                 With Maskers, Mummers and the Mimes,
                 Hobby horses gaily prancing,
                 Bats and Bowls and Maypole dancing.
                 When folks would take a lengthy journey
                 To see the Knights at Joust or Tourney:
                 Or watch the early English 'Knuts'
                 Show their skill at Archery butts.
                 Then come gloomy History pages
                 On torture of the Middle ages;
                 The clanking fetters grim and black,
                 The thumbscrew and the awful rack,
                 The horrors of the dungeon deep
                 Beneath the moat or castle keep,
                 Rusty locks and heavy keys
                 And--let us change the subject, please.
                 First House of Commons twelve-six-five,
                 At Westminster they all arrive.
 Simon de        Simon de Montfort was the man
 Montfort        Who 'engineered' this useful plan.
 1265            And we can picture these M.P.s
                 Newly fledged and ill at ease
                 Doing their level best to try
                 To catch the embryo speaker's eye.

[Illustration: IRON JELLOIDS The Great Tonic]

 Edward I.       Edward First 'Longshanks' nicknamed
 1272-1307       For his lengthy stride far-famed.
                 Here he is in twelve-seven-two
                 Bounding along with much ado.
                 A Soldier, Statesman and a King
                 His lofty ideals picturing
                 That England, Scotland, Wales all three,
                 United should one country be.

[Illustration: IRON JELLOIDS The Great Tonic]

 First Prince    In twelve-eight-two annexes Wales;
 of Wales        Where afterwards no strife prevails.
 1282            He promised a Prince with English
                 So gave his new-born speechless son.

[Illustration: IRON JELLOIDS The Great Tonic]

 Edward I.       Next Scotland Edward tries to tackle
 1272-1307       No easy task the Scotch to shackle;
 (continued)     Wallace and Bruce resistance make,
                 The King dies ere he gains the stake.
                 In Edward's reign some author writes
                 They first used candle dips for lights;
                 And coal came in about this date
                 Mixed (as to-day) with lots of slate.

[Illustration: IRON JELLOIDS]

                 So Monarchs, Barons, Dukes and Knights
                 Warmed their toes with Derby Brights;
                 But those in hovels had the smuts
                 Arising from cheap Kitchen Nuts.
 Roger Bacon     Roger Bacon (ob. twelve-nine-three)
 1293            Versed was in arts of alchemy;
                 Gunpowder's composition knew;
                 And many another chemic brew.
                 Many Mortmain Acts are passed;
                 Six centuries these efforts last
                 To stop the hungry Hierarchy
                 Devouring all the Squirearchy.
 Lollards        Lollards in thirteen-seven arose
 1307            Popish rituals to oppose;
                 John Wycliffe gives to old and young
                 The Bible in the vulgar tongue.
                 With John of Gaunt's protection strong
                 He dared to preach 'gainst cleric wrong;
                 Precursor of the Reformation
                 To liberal thought attuned the nation.

 Edward II.      Edward the Second with his minions
 1307-1327       Governs badly these dominions
                 His son a man of different mould
 Edward III.     Was Edward Three, both wise and bold.
 1327-1377       Through clinging to their French domains
                 Our Kings are French through many reigns
                 And Edward fighting in this cause
 French Wars     Commenced a hundred years of Wars.
                 A century's struggle. For our pains
                 Only Calais town remains.
                 A century after this 'twas lost,
                 In Mary's reign. Oh! what a frost.
 Weaving         In thirteen-three-one England's taught
 1331            Weaving by men from Flanders brought.
                 Ryghte goode cloth with lots of 'body'
                 The world was then not up to 'shoddy.'
                 Blanket of Bristol in this year
                 Invented blankets for our cheer;
                 And since that time its been our boast
                 Our beds have been as warm as toast.
                 Edward 'Black Prince' One-three-four-six,
                 A brave and noble warrior, 'licks'
 Crecy           The valiant French in Crecy's fray;
 1346            Cannon first used upon this day,
                 Causing panic with their rattle;
                 But the Yeomen win the battle,
                 For, flicking arrows from their bows
                 They 'filled the air as when it snows.'
                 Thereon the English Calais seize
                 And of the channel hold the keys;
                 The Spanish pirates bend the knee
                 Then Edward III's 'King of the sea.'
 Parliament      Lords and Commons from this date
 1376            Have their meetings separate,
                 The Commons first a Speaker make
                 The Chancellors the Woolsack take.
                 Ten lady members have the Lords
                 But doubtless fearful of their words,
                 Or thinking it not orthodoxy,
                 They only let them vote by proxy.
                 While Church and Barons have their squabbles
                 The House of Commons more power nobbles;
                 On laws and taxes dares speak out
                 And give the Pope the right-about.

[Illustration: IRON JELLOIDS The Great Tonic

KINGE RYCHARD Ye II QUARRELINGE WITHE HYSSE PEOPLE]

 Leasing         Leasing or Farming, we are taught,
                 Was introduced 'bout twelve-nought-nought;
                 The Feudal system's weakened and
                 The Tenants 'usufruct' the land.
                 On various counts the serfs go free
                 And work for wages (Edward Three).
                 The Black Death and the foreign wars
                 In labour ranks commotion cause;
                 Strikes and craftsmen's combination
                 Then arise among the nation;
                 These movements preached by one John Ball,
                 Who, born too soon, was hanged withal.

 Richard II.     Now comes the Second Richard's reign.
 1377-1399       It is recorded very plain
                 That he was full of discontent
                 Quarrelling with his Parliament.

[Illustration: "BY MY HALIDOM I'LL NOT PAY IT"]

 Poll Tax        With his taxes super-sated
 1380            The peasants grew exasperated;
                 They threw their spades and pitchforks down
                 And marched as rebels into town.
                 Thirteen-eighty's Poll taxation
                 Puts equal tax on all the nation;
                 Lays seven thousand peasants dead;
                 Wat Tyler and Jack Straw at head.
 Praemunire      Praemunire Act is passed
                 To check the Papal Bulls at last.
 Chaucer         Chaucer the Poet this same year
                 Makes Pilgrimage to Becket's bier.

[Illustration: FORTES FORTUNA JUVAT.

IRON JELLOIDS The Great Tonic]

 Age of          This was the age, aye verily,
 Chivalry        Of ryghte goode noble chivalry,
                 When Knights went forth through storm and stress
                 To rescue beauty in distress.

[Illustration: IRON JELLOIDS The Great Tonic.]

                 Or sallied out in valiant way
                 A monster dragon for to slay,
                 Or with lance or trusty blade
                 Defend from harm the hapless maid.

 Henry IV.       Henry Four, called 'Bolingbroke'
 1399-1413       In Richard's wheel puts many a spoke;
                 Compels him to resign the throne
                 Which thereupon he makes his own.
                 Through John of Gaunt, Lancastrian famed,
                 His title to the crown he claimed;
                 The Parliament confirms his right
                 And thus he's king without a fight.
                 In this reign persecution's turned
 Lollards        Against the Lollards--Cobham's burned.
 1401            Incredible! The records show
                 A statute 'de Comburondo.'

 Henry V.        From fourteen-thirteen, Henry Five,
 1413-1422       For many years with France did strive;
                 His Widow founds the Tudor House
                 By taking Owen for her spouse.

 Henry VI.       Henry Six, next in our rhymes,
 1422-1461       For fifty years had troublous times;
                 Wars of Roses, Wars with France,
                 The poor man never had a chance.
 Joan of Arc     Joan of Arc the peasant Maid
 1430            Inspired the French with Mystic aid;
                 Disunited, we make peace,
                 All France but Calais we release.
 Constantinople  Constantinople's seized by Turks
 1453            Causing Greek Scholars (with their works)
                 To fly to Italy; and thence
                 Learning's reborn--'The Renaissance.'

 Edward IV.      In Edward Fourth, fourteen-six-one
 1461-1483       The House of York obtains the Throne.
                 He wins at Towton's bloody fray,
                 No quarter given on that day.
                 Guy, Earl of Warwick in these frays
                 Was always turning different ways;
 Barnet          On Barnet Field he met his doom
 1471            The Rose of York's now well abloom.
                 The Barons, Church and Commons fall,
                 The King emerges Boss of all.
                 Benevolences he exacts,
                 An early form of Super Tax.
 Earl of         'Kingmaker' was Earl Warwick styled
 Warwick         With his manner scarcely mild
                 He set Kings up and bowled them down
                 Playing at ninepins with the Crown.

[Illustration: IRON JELLOIDS The Great Tonic]

 Wars of Roses   White and Red Rose warring madly
 1485            Bled the country very sadly,
                 Three-and-thirty years contending;
                 At Bosworth Field we see the ending.
 Printing        First in fourteen-seventy-three
 1473            We print from type in this Countree.
                 Now it is that time's first measured
                 By monster watches greatly treasured.
                 Thomas Parr this centurie
                 His hundred-fifty years did see;
                 But Henry Jenkins, so 'tis said,
                 In age was seventeen years ahead.
                 Hoary patriarchs were these
                 Retaining p'raps their faculties;
                 What a comfort 'tis to mention
                 Neither drew the old age pension.

[Illustration: IRON JELLOIDS The Great Tonic

Ye Bookeworme Burninge ye Midnyghte Oile]

                 Printing started through the Nation
                 A taste for higher education;
                 Here is a citizen at home;
                 Note his very brainy Dome.

 Richard III.    Richard (Crookback) in fateful hour
 1483-1485       Smothered his nephews in the Tower,
                 He murdered them the Crown to gain;
                 A heavy price for three years' reign.
                 The Scutcheon's blotted terribly
                 Of this King Richard number Three,
                 For it seems his recreation
                 Was ordering decapitation.
 1485            On Bosworth Field when sorely pressed
                 He made a bid th'uncommonest
                 'My kingdom for a horse' he cried;
                 No offers coming, there he died.

 Henry VII.      Lancastrian Richmond wins the fight
 1485-1509       And to make his title right
                 Elizabeth of York espouses,
                 Thus uniting the two Houses.
                 This Henry Seven of Tudor line
                 To misers' habits did incline;
                 Twelve millions stated to possess,
                 A tidy little fortune! Yes!
 Star Chamber    Much he managed to extort
                 By means of a Star Chamber Court
                 From the rich nobles; A new wile
                 For adding to the kingly pile.
                 With cash in hand he could attain
                 His wish as Autocrat to reign;
                 As sole possessor of the guns
                 The King no risk from rebels runs.

[Illustration: SKYSCRAPE FLATS TO BE ERECTED HERE

BUY HUSTLES CHEWING GUM

FIFTH AVENUE

IRON JELLOIDS The Great Tonic]

 Columbus        Columbus, full of travellers' lore,
 1498            By going West sought India's shore;
                 But found America's wondrous land;
                 His 'exes' paid by Ferdinand.
                 Of voyagers we've now a lot
                 Vasco da Gama and Cabot,
                 Who sailed from Bristol, whence it grew
                 Bristolians claim this fine cuckoo.

[Illustration: Henry VIII Pops the Question]

 Henry VIII.     Now Henry Eight comes on the screen,
 1509-1547       A stalwart youth, aetat. eighteen;
                 With youthful hope the nation's buoyed;
                 Only, alas! to be destroyed.

[Illustration: Henry ye eighth Thynkynge offe ye Past]

 Henry VIII.     This King Henry number Eight
 1509-1547       Six times tried the married state;
 (continued)     And certainly of all the Kings
                 Spent the most on wedding rings.
                 But to search through old Archives
                 For tales of Henry and his wives
                 And all their little tiffs to trace
                 We cannot spare the time or space.
                 Yet there are some who fain would sing
                 The praises of this rotund King;
                 But as a husband we're afraid
                 His category's lowest grade.
                 He wielded harsh the despot's power,
                 And packed his wives off to the Tower;
                 Consigned them to a fate most dreaded;
                 Two, alas! he had beheaded.

[Illustration: IRON JELLOIDS The Great Tonic

_HAIL NOW TO THEE OUR GOOD QUEEN BESS!_]

 Henry VIII.
 (continued)

 Reformation     Martin Luther, fifteen-one-seven,
 1517            Sows his Reformation leaven;
                 It finds a culture medium here
                 In the 'New Learning's' atmosphere.
                 Of this New Learning More's the chief,
                 Utopia's Author, He's 'mid grief
                 Beheaded, saying cool and calm,
                 'Cut not my beard, that's done no harm.'
                 His friend Erasmus, Logic's Master,
                 Trimmed his sails and 'scaped disaster.
                 A third, Dean Colet who St. Paul's
                 School London into being calls.
 Wolsey          In fifteen-thirty Wolsey great,
 1530            A Cardinal and Man of State,
                 From Butcher's son had risen high.
                 Reader! consult your Shakespeare nigh.
                 Blamed by some; by others praised;
                 He fell; but still the pile he raised
                 Most nobly graces Hampton Court.
                 Give Wolsey then a tender thought.
                 His main ambition that the King
                 Should be supreme in everything;
 Thomas          And Thomas Cromwell followed suit
 Cromwell        To make his master absolute
                 Head of the Church within his realm.
                 These two most able at the helm;
                 But not with skill enough endued
                 To 'scape their King's ingratitude.
                 Despotical the King's power grew.
                 He's England's Pope by Act of Su-
                 Premacy; as, to gain divorce,
                 The foreign Pope is banned perforce.
 1537            Now Bluff King Harry gives the Monks
                 A series of most awful funks;
                 Three thousand odd of their domains
                 He 'collars' for his Courtiers' gains.

 Edward VI.      Edward Six to the throne succeeds
 1547-1553       A pious youth of goodly deeds;
                 One, well known in the Capital,
                 The Blue Coat School (Christ's Hospital).

 Mary            Queen Mary One, in Smithfield Square,
 1553-1558       At Oxford, Gloucester and elsewhere,
                 Burned poor Martyrs by the score;
                 The Romish faith she would restore.

 Elizabeth       Hail now to thee our good Queen Bess,
 1558-1603       Garbed in the puffed and padded dress,
                 Farthingale and starched up frills,
                 Meaning heavy laundry bills.
                 Od's Bodikins; what monstrous ruffs,
                 What gowns of rich embroidered stuffs
                 Piped and scolloped, trimmed with furs,
                 And shaped like huge gasometers.
                 Now we've warfare of the Creeds,
                 For their thoughts all Europe bleeds;
                 Each party seeks by force to make
                 The other side its faith forsake.
                 Spain the Great Power of those days
                 In these contentions first part plays.

[Illustration: IRON JELLOIDS The Great Tonic

PLYMOUTH HOE BOWLING CLUB]

 Drake           Drake at bowls on Plymouth Hoe
                 Left his game to meet this foe
                 And came home laden we are told
                 With seachests full of Spanish gold.
 Armada          In fifteen-eight-eight Armada strong
 1588            From Spain to squash us comes along;
                 Which Howard, Frobisher and Drake
                 And stormy weather overtake.

[Illustration: GLOBE THEATRE TONYGHTE
Ye TRAGEDYE OFFE HAMLETTE
BY WILLIAM SHAKSPERE.

IRON JELLOIDS The Great Tonic]

 Shakespeare     And in these epoch making days
 1564-1616       Shakespeare wrote and staged his plays;
                 Weaving a thread whose magic strands
                 Entwine all English-speaking lands.
                 Fifteen-eight-seven Scots' Queen Mary
                 Lost her head through fate contrary.
                 When Henry Eight had robbed the Church
                 'Twas found the poor were in the lurch;
 Poor Law        A law was passed about this date
                 To place the poor upon the rate.

[Illustration: IRON JELLOIDS The Great Tonic]

 Sir Walter      Sir Walter Raleigh, best of Knights,
 Raleigh         The first to taste the keen delights
 1552-1618       Of the enchantress so serene,
                 The Ryghte Goode Ladye Nicotine.
                 No information's yet to hand
                 Concerning Raleigh's favourite brand;
 Tobacco         Was it coarse-cut shag which burns
                 The tongue, or birdseye or returns?

[Illustration]

 Queen           Good Queen Bess we understand
 Elizabeth       Had crowds of suitors for her hand;
                 And here we beg to give a view
                 Of suitors waiting in a queue.

[Illustration: IRON JELLOIDS The Great Tonic]

 Queen           As time rolled on this Good Queen Bess
 Elizabeth       Lost somewhat of her sprightliness;
 (continued)     She got into a nervous state
                 Was mopish and disconsolate.
                 Now, as everyone will own,
                 Had 'Iron Jelloids' been but known
                 In Bess's time; why, it's conceded
                 'Twas just the Tonic that she needed.
 East India      The great 'John Comp'ny' now began
 Company         Its fine career without a plan.
 1600            Great! The Elizabethan Age.
                 In History's book a glorious page.

[Illustration]

                 Somewhere or other we've heard snuff
                 Came in the days of frill and ruff;
                 And here's a noble ill at ease
                 Giving the first recorded sneeze.

 James I.        James Six of Scotland, miscalled a 'fule'
 1603-1625       As James One of England comes to rule.
                 Gramercy! 'tis a canny thing
                 To be a 'double-barrelled' King.
                 The son of Mary Queen of Scots
                 Of learning he had lots and lots,
                 Writing sundry ponderous books
                 'Gainst 'bacca, witches and their spooks.
                 James thought his kingly power divine
                 And, loathing Puritanic 'whine,'
                 He vowed to make them all comply
                 Or else he'd 'know the reason why.'
 Pilgrim Fathers His persecution to escape
 1620            Some Zealots in the 'Mayflower' shape
                 Their course for an uncharted world
                 Where Freedom's Flag could be unfurled.
                 These 'Pilgrim Fathers' found a state
                 'New England,' blessed with happy fate.
                 Folks have called the first King James
                 Most uncomplimentary names;
                 To wit 'a sloven' and 'a glutton';
                 Perhaps his weakness was Scotch Mutton.
                 And as to gluttony, 'Gadzooks'!
                 If what we read in History books
                 Is true, they all were trenchermen;
                 There were no diet faddists then.
                 It startles us, one must declare,
                 To read their breakfast bill of fare;
                 All 'Kynes' of ale, some highly spiced
                 And divers meats, roast, boiled and sliced.
                 In James' reign a man could get
                 For money down a coronet
                 And titles with the greatest ease
                 Like folks to-day buy soap and cheese.
 Harvey          Yet a learned time; for Harvey shows
                 That blood's not stagnant, but it flows;
 Lord Bacon      'Experiment!' Lord Bacon cries
                 'There is no progress otherwise.'

[Illustration: IRON JELLOIDS The Great Tonic

MODEL OF THE NOTORIOUS GUY FAWKES
WHICH HOWEVER IS NOT CONSIDERED
HISTORICALLY ACCURATE]

 5th November    Of troubles James had quite a lot,
 1605            For instance the Gunpowder Plot.
                 It fizzled out but left to-day
                 A liking for Firework display.

[Illustration: IRON JELLOIDS The Great Tonic

THE FIRST CRACKER]

                 So rockets with their sweeping curves,
                 Crackers which upset the nerves
                 And squibs with their infernal din
                 To this date owe their origin.

 Charles I.      His son Charles One we understand
 1625-1649       Ruled England with a grasping hand;
                 For he was never loth to levy
                 Taxes burdensome and heavy.
                 He moved in an expensive set,
                 Was always heavily in debt;
                 In fact this monarch with his frills
                 Was snowed up to the neck with bills.
                 He was courtly, graceful, distingue,
                 And when the scaffold came his way
                 'He nothing common did or mean
                 Upon that memorable scene.'
                 He had a very taking way
                 And made his taxed up subjects pay;
                 And over taxing it is said
                 This Monarch fairly lost his head.
 Petition of     The 'Petition of Right' a famous Act,
 Right--1628     The Commons from the King exact;
                 Giving the subject on his own
                 A remedy against the throne.
 First           In sixteen-hundred-twenty-one
 Newspaper       Our first news-sheet began its run;
 1621            For twenty years 'twas going strong
                 Then the first Censor came along.
                 This journal cribbing from the Dutch
                 Lacked the smart journalistic touch;
                 And also photographic views,
                 'Sporting pars' and 'Stop-press News.'

[Illustration: The Great Struggle in Charles' Time.
King Trying to get Money from Taxpayer.
Creditor Trying to get Money from King]

[Illustration: IRON JELLOIDS The Great Tonic

_THAT QUIET MAN, KNOWN AS THE EARLY PURITAN._]

 Cotton          Cotton first came from India's shore
 1630            In sixteen-thirty, less or more;
                 Where for three thousand years it grew,
                 Also in Egypt and Peru.
                 Grim reading is the note confessing
                 Gangs went out for Navy pressing,
                 Forcing many a timid knave
                 To spend his life on ocean wave.
 Ship Money      Charles raises the ship money tax;
 1636            He thought he only had to 'ax';
                 When Hampden strenuously objected,
                 The King was very much affected.
 Strafford       Earl Strafford ('Thorough') in his pride
 1641            'The King shall rule the Commons' cried;
                 The Commons would not brook such stuff
                 And cut his head off. 'Quantum Suff.'
                 The 'Grand Remonstrance' is put forth
                 By the Commons who are wrath
                 With the King's despotic ways
                 Quite unsuited to these days.
                 The King tries hard to put in jail
                 Five Members but without avail;
                 Hollis, Strode, Haslerig and Pym
                 And Hampden (we must mention him);
                 They're guarded from the Royal hands
                 By Watermen and City Bands.
                 The 'die is cast' and Civil War
                 For seven long years the Nation tore.

 Civil Wars      Cromwell greatest of the foemen
 1642-1648       With his faithful English Yeomen;
                 These 'Roundheads' sober, grim, religious
                 To 'Cavaliers' gave blows prodigious.
                 Their character's seen in the cry
                 'Trust God and keep your powder dry.'
 Naseby          The Cavaliers and Roundheads fought
 1645            In many a field, 'till Naseby brought
                 To Generals Cromwell and Fairfax
                 A crowning victory, though not 'pax.'
                 The King's beheaded, but the State
                 Experiences no headless fate;
                 A commonwealth's forthwith proclaimed
                 And Cromwell's soon Protector named.
 Dunbar          In sixteen-fifty Dunbar sees
 1650            The Royal Scots brought to their knees;
 Worcester       And in the second Worcester fight
 1651            Cromwell for good asserts his might.
                 And there are those who love to tell
                 About that day at Boscobel
                 When Charles the Second's Majestye
                 Found itself doubly 'up a tree.'
                 And now we meet that quiet man
                 Known as the early Puritan;
                 Mild and placid in his talk,
                 Calm and measured in his walk.

[Illustration: "PAINT ME WARTS AND ALL"

IRON JELLOIDS The Great Tonic]

 Commonwealth    Oliver Cromwell bluff and bold,
 1649-1660       Was cast in Nature's sternest mould,
                 Lacking maybe the courtly grace
                 And proud of warts upon his face.
                 He fought the Irish and the Scotch
                 And with his navy beat the Dutch
                 Let all his faults condoned be,
                 He kept us up on land and sea.

[Illustration: "TAKE AWAY THAT BAUBLE"

IRON JELLOIDS The Great Tonic]

 Commonwealth    He seemed to like bold argument
 (continued)     And wordy wars with Parliament;
                 He made things lively we infer
                 Frequently at Westminster.

[Illustration: IRON JELLOIDS The Great Tonic]

                 With M.P.s he had many a bout
                 And one day cleared the whole lot out;
                 Locked the door and took the key;
                 Those not the days of 'Wait and See.'

 Charles II.     Cromwell's death brings Restoration
 1660-1685       And Charles Two lands 'mid acclamation.
                 After his leaps from twig to twig
                 He now has 'Otium cum Dig.'
                 In merry Charles the Second's age
                 Woman first acted on the stage;
                 The King encouraged much this vogue
                 He was a pleasure seeking rogue.
                 'He never said a foolish thing,
                 Nor did a wise one'; this the King
                 Countered with 'My words my own
                 My acts my ministers' alone';
 1662            In sixteen-six-two year of grace,
                 Charles taxed every fire-place;
                 And citizens who couldn't pay
                 Shivered and grumbled as to-day.
                 These were the times of Musketeers
                 And proud and dashing Cavaliers;
                 When words were few and tempers hot
                 And duels fought out on the spot.

 John Bunyan     The tinker preacher Bunyan wrote
                 The 'Pilgrim's Progress' we still quote,
                 The prison bars no barrier wrought
                 To lowly Bunyan's lofty thought.
 Milton          In stately language Milton's muse
 1678            The Bible story doth diffuse;
                 From 'Paradise Lost' we get our view
                 Of Adam and Eve and Satan too.
                 The Reverend Titus Oates, a scamp,
                 Egregious Popish plots did vamp,
                 Lied roundly for dishonest gains,
                 Got Cat-o'-nine-tails for his pains.
 Habeas Corpus   The 'Habeas Corpus' best of laws
 1679            Shields us from prison without cause;
                 'Twas passed in sixteen-seventy-nine,
                 And means 'Produce him here,' in fine.
 Van Tromp       Admiral Van Tromp, Dutchman bold,
                 With broom at masthead, so 'tis told,
                 The Channel sailed, suggesting he's
                 Swept all the English from the seas.
 Blake           But Blake laughed loud and spread his sails
                 Nought the Dutchman now avails;
                 For he got an awful shocker
                 Right to Davy Jones' locker.
                 But though the Dutch failed to invade,
                 They were not disinclined to trade;
                 So we get 'Hollands,' cheese and hams
                 Fresh from the land of Dykes and Dams.
 Peace of Breda  For fifteen years these Navies fought,
 1667            'Till sixteen-six-seven respite brought;
                 The Peace of Breda then succeeded;
                 New York to England was conceded.
 Plague          In sixty-five the Plague appears
 Fire of London  And then the Fire; two awful years
 1665-1666       For London--And if more you'd know
                 Consult the Pages of Defoe.

[Illustration: IRON JELLOIDS The Great Tonic

_QUEEN ANNE AND THE DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH._]

 James II.       When Charles Two died his brother James
 1685-1688       Soon put the country into flames;
                 Papistry he would advance,
                 And for that purpose leagued with France.
                 In sixteen-eight-eight his bigot zeal
                 Religious Test Act would repeal;
                 Seven bold Bishops who defied
                 To the Tower were sent and tried.
                 The country raised a hue and cry
                 So off to France the King doth fly.

 William III.    His place is filled by William Three
 1689-1702       His son-in-law from Dutch countree.
                 This Orange sprig most brave of men
                 With Mary reigns and all things then
                 Went well with us. Macaulay's page
                 Hails him as Hero of the age.
                 In this reign of William Three,
                 Laws were harsh 'gainst burglary;
                 For they'd a very drastic way
                 And hanged the 'Bill Sykes' of that day.
 National Debt   In sixteen-nine-four we have heard
 1694            The National Debt was first incurred;
                 To careful folk who would invest
                 'Twas not devoid of interest.
                 Another National Debt we owe
                 To Iron Jelloids which the foe
                 Depression's worries keep at bay
                 And drive our nervous fears away.
 Bill of Rights  The 'Bill of Rights,' a Charter grand,
 1689            In sixteen-eight-nine frees this land
                 From all encroachments of the Crown
                 Hoi Polloi are no longer down.

 Queen Anne      Good Queen Anne we know is dead;
 1702-1714       She reigned twelve years but it is said
                 'Mrs. Morley,' Marlborough's wife
                 Ruled her more than half her life.
 Marlborough     This was the Duke of Marlborough's day,
                 Who beat the French in every fray;
                 Known for his famous victories
                 At Blenheim and at Ramillies.
                 In seventeen-seven by statute passed
                 English and Scotch unite at last;
                 'One coinage and one Parliament'
                 Both Nations ever since content.
                 About this time, so runs the story,
                 Much is heard of 'Whig and Tory';
                 And shortly after there was rife
                 Many a sign of party strife.
 Dr. Watts       Good Dr. Watts' moral lays
 1674-1748       Were much reputed in these days;
                 And still we lisp at Mother's knee
                 'How doth the little Busy Bee.'
 Pope            Pope, letter-writer and great poet,
 1688-1744       Most quotable of all (ye know it),
                 At Twickenham penned his caustic verse
                 Epigrammatic, smooth and terse.

 George I.       The House of Stuart being ended,
 1714-1727       George of Hanover (descended
                 From daughter of King Jamie One)
                 Comes over to ascend our throne.
                 Of English George knew not a word,
                 Most awkward, not to say absurd,
                 At Cabinet Councils to preside;
                 So from this time the practice died.

 George II.      His son George Two succeeding then
 1727-1760       In person fought at Dettingen.
                 Both these Kings had various fights
                 In Scotland with the Jacobites.
                 William Tull brings in Post Chaises;
                 Now the people ride like 'blazes.';
                 Many can't for they're in trouble,
                 Ruined by the South Sea Bubble.
 Wesleys         John and Charles Wesley, men of mind,
 1703-1791       Revive Religion in Mankind.
                 Founding a Church both broad and low,
                 One-seven-three-nought A. Domini.
                 Beginning as an office clerk,
 Clive           As soldier Clive soon made his mark,
 1746            And conquered India for this Nation;
                 Self 'stounded at his moderation.
                 Bridgwater, Gilbert, Brindley, three
                 Great Engineers this Centurie,
 Canals          Useful canals in England made,
                 The flowing arteries of trade.
 Quebec          General Wolfe seventeen-five-nine
 1759            Captures Quebec--a victory fine,
                 And Canada's the splendid prize
                 For old 'John Bull' to colonise.

 George III.     And now of Georgey number Three:
 1760-1820       Ut mulus obstinatus he
                 Had full sixty years of reign
                 And a big family to train.

[Illustration: IRON JELLOIDS The Great Tonic

_GEORGIAN TIMES._]

 Georgian        We will but very lightly scan
 Times           The customs known as 'Georgian';
                 The times of powdered Belles and Beaux;
                 Patches, paint and furbelows;
                 Of beauteous maids and gallants gay
                 And merry routs at Ranelagh;
                 Gaming parties, cards or pool
                 And 'Fops' of the Beau Brummel School.

[Illustration: "ODDS FAITH THEY SAY THERE'S IRON IN IT"

IRON JELLOIDS The Great Tonic]

                 When rank and fashion History tells
                 All took their cures among the Wells;
                 And sipped in manner hesitating
                 Daily doses nauseating.
                 But we know better how to act
                 Our cures we purchase more compact
                 For in the Chemists' you can see
                 'Iron Jelloids' priced at 'One and Three.'
                 Lord 'Periwig' and gay 'Fallal'
                 In Sedan Chairs frequent the Mall.
                 'Taxis' and 'Tubes' we beg to state
                 Came in at a much later date.
                 When Brummel, the historic Beau,
                 Made laws for dress and outward show;
                 Whose vests were poems, whose coats were dreams
                 Of gorgeous beauty, so it seems;
                 Who figured in the public gaze
                 A 'Star turn' with his courtly ways;
                 Who fixed the style of a cravat,
                 Lord of Appeal anent a hat.
                 And My Lord Chesterfield was quite
                 The model of the most polite
                 Wrote famous letters. It's a shame,
                 A settee has usurped his name.
 Dr. Johnson     And Dr. Johnson at his ease
 1709-1784       Sipped his tea at the 'Cheshire Cheese,'
                 Or at the 'Mitre' of renown,
                 Spreading his wit throughout the Town.
 Garrick         When Garrick as the 'Moody Dane'
                 Drew the Town to Drury Lane,
 Mrs. Siddons    Sarah Siddons was all the rage
                 Tragedy Queen of every age.
                 Highwaymen armed to the teeth
                 Waited for prey on Hounslow Heath;
                 Per contra the Highwayman's pate
                 Was oft strung up at Tyburn Gate.
 Capt. Cook      It's only right a History book
 1728-1779       Should mark the feats of Captain Cook;
                 So jot it down in these our Rhymes
                 That round the World he sailed three times.
 Inventions      These are the days of much invention
 1767            The 'Spinning Jenny' we will mention;
                 The 'Cotton Mule' and 'Power Loom';
                 For Authors' names there's lack of room.
 Adam Smith      In his book 'The Wealth of Nations'
 1766            Adam Smith shows the relations
                 Governing the Art of Trading;
                 With influences far pervading.
                 'Man buys as cheaply as he can
                 And sells as dearly, that's his plan.'
                 'Supply Demand each other feed
                 Dearer markets cheap ones bleed.'
 Jenner          Jenner brings in vaccination,
 1796            Boon to every generation;
                 By similar methods now devised
                 Many an ill is exorcised.

[Illustration: IRON JELLOIDS The Great Tonic

_NELSON AND WELLINGTON._]

 American War    In seventeen-sixty and fifteen
 1775            Our Taxes raise the Yankees' spleen.
                 'Unrepresented, you've no right
                 To tax us, therefore we will fight.'
                 Washington, Franklin and the rest
                 Formed a Republic quite the best;
                 We've long been friends. Let us rejoice;
                 But at the time we had no choice.

 French          In France in times of Louis Seize (says)
 Revolution      Oppression dire through countless days
                 Roused Revolution with its tears
                 Mainly through books with wrong ideas.
 Napoleon I.     From Revolution's putrid mess
 1793-1815       A Conqueror's born, quite conscienceless,
                 Millions of men and women died
                 Victims to Napoleon's pride.
                 He plunged all Europe into Wars
                 His own ambition the sole cause.
                 England as usual did her 'bit'
                 And 'Boney' Europe had to quit.
                 During these years of storm and stress
                 Two noble pilots we possess
                 'Chatham and Son' (Pitt is their name),
                 Illustrious on the scroll of fame.
 Nelson 1805     Here we must our homage pay
                 To Nelson of Trafalgar Day;
 Wellington      To Wellington the same is due,
                 Who crowned his fame at Waterloo.

[Illustration: IRON JELLOIDS The Great Tonic]

                 And 'Shiver my timbers,' 'Heave ahoy,'
                 The Tar, those times a breezy boy
                 With shiny hat and pigtail long
                 And love for lass and glass and song.
 Discovery of    About this date Electric Force
 Electric Force  Dawns on mankind. Before, of course,
                 In Lightning it was all about,
                 With noise enough to be found out.
                 Coelo eripuit fulmen,
                 'Twas said of Franklin, as ye ken.
                 Philosopher of bygone age
                 Accept our homage on this page.
                 But who'd have thought it that Galvani
                 When making soup, (this is no blarney)
                 By his power of observation
                 On a frog's legs' oscillation
                 Should find how by chemic ways
                 Electric currents we can raise?
                 To call him 'great' is no flattery;
                 He set us on the wondrous battery.
                 This simple little frog, Heigh Ho!
                 The frog who would a-wooing go;
                 Thy part in electricity
                 Is unmatched eccentricity.
                 This new discovered fact, of course,
                 Leads to the Telegraph of Morse,
                 The Motor and Electric Light
                 The Telephone and more in sight.

[Illustration: _IN QUEEN VICTORIA'S PALMY DAYS._]

 Ireland         Of Ireland but a word or two.
                 Celts were her people and they knew
                 Not benefit of Roman Ruling;
                 Young Europa's Infant Schooling.
                 In century five St. Patrick great
                 Converts them to the Christian state;
                 And from this Western Isle afar,
                 English and Scotch converted are.
 Danes and       Two hundred years from nine-nought-nought
 Ireland         Danes raiding Erin trouble brought;
                 And left them in chaotic state
                 No longer masters of their fate.
                 In those days 'twas 'Woe to the weak,'
                 Saxons and Danes had made us squeak,
                 Then came the Normans in great force
                 And civilised us in due course.
                 They tried the same with Ireland green;
                 But only sowed a feud between
                 The land they'd conquered and Erin,
                 Leading to endless quarrelling.
                 England accepts the Reformation,
                 Catholic still the Irish nation
 Cromwell        Sees Cromwell with them battle join
 Boyne           And William beat them at the Boyne.
                 William Pitt in eighteen-nought-nought
                 Ireland and England's welfare sought
 Act of Union    By 'Act of Union' which he passed;
 1800            But still the wretched squabbles last.

 George IV.      Now come George Four and Will his brother;
 William IV.     With these two kings we need not bother;
                 The first a gourmand, bon viveur,
                 The next a sailor, bluff, sans peur.
                 Trevithick, Newcomen, and Watt
                 Are names will never be forgot;
                 For their crude engines were the source
                 Of man's control of Steam's wild force.
 Steam           By eighteen-thirty man has tamed
 1830            Steam to his use; and widely famed
                 Was puffing 'Rocket' with the power
                 Of doing thirty miles an hour.
                 Steam prompts man to make machines
                 And Factories rise with all that means;
                 Divided more and more is labour
                 Each man leans more on his neighbour.
                 For twenty million pounds the nation
                 Buys our slaves' emancipation.
 Reform Act      In eighteen-three-two, happy year,
                 The great Reform Act doth appear.
                 Steam vessels the Atlantic cross.
                 The penny post comes into force.
                 And double knocks bring joys and thrills
                 Sometimes cheques, more often bills.
 Corn Law        The Corn Law duty's brushed away,
 Repeal 18       Hence we enjoy cheap bread to-day.

                 We fain would linger, but alas,
                 These are the periods we must pass.
                 So gentle reader do not grin
                 At sight of cumbrous crinoline.
 Victoria        Since Queen Victoria's palmy days
 1837-1901       Woman has altered all her ways.
                 In those days she was meek and mild
                 And treated almost like a child;
                 Was brought up in a narrow zone;
                 And couldn't call her soul her own.
                 She vegetated, 'tis well known
                 Under the 'cloche' of Chaperone.
 Woman's         But now the 'Franchise' she obtains,
 Status          And her own property retains.
                 What a difference from then,
                 She 'carries on' just like the men.
                 And now at Westminster we see
                 A lady sitting as M.P.

 Darwin          Charles Darwin offers us a Key
 1809-1882       To help unlock the mystery
                 Of Evolution's wondrous span
                 From Protoplasm up to Man.
 Livingstone     The traveller, great Scotch Livingstone,
 1813-1873       Wandered o'er Afric's trackless Zone;
                 Where no white man had ever trod
                 Teaching the blacks the Word of God.
 Crimean War     English, French and Turks unite
                 'Gainst Russia in Crimean fight.
 Indian Mutiny   The Indian Mutiny now arose,
                 'Fat' was the cause that led to blows.
 Atlantic Cable  With efforts many men most able
                 Lay the great Atlantic Cable.
 Suez Canal      Lesseps unites for you and me
                 The Medit'ranean and Red Sea.
 Education Act   The Education Act proposes
                 To make us all as wise as Moses;
                 In eighteen-seven-nought it passed,
                 But each is learning to the last.
 Ballot Act      A couple of years from this we note
 1872            The Ballot Act gives secret vote;
                 Before this Act, e'en since we fear,
                 Folks sold their votes for draughts of beer.

[Illustration: IRON JELLOIDS The Great Tonic

_WOMEN TOOK TO SPADE AND HOE._]

 Edward VII.     Edward Seven, 'Peacemaker' named,
 1901-1910       His efforts to this end far famed.
                 We know it was no idle chance
                 His 'Entente cordiale' with France.
                 True friendship and the peace we want
                 The outcome of this grand Entente.
                 Though not accented in our rhyme
                 We've been fighting all the time;
                 And it's a fact which must be stated
                 Our chief opponent (so 'twas fated)
 Wars with       Our nearest neighbour o'er the Sea
 France          Whose 'No' is 'Non'; whose 'Yes' is 'Oui';
                 Like two schoolboys always sparring
                 Eight hundred years together warring;
                 From Hastings unto Waterloo
                 We'd battles with the brave 'Mossoo.'
                 Now Honi soit qui still y pense;
                 Hurrah for England! Vive la France!


                 And here we come to end our rhymes
                 We've reached the present stirring times,
                 When one and all lent helping hand
                 To keep secure the Motherland.
                 When men went forth to fight the foe
                 And women took to spade and hoe,
                 And donning smocks of nattiest styles,
                 Worked on the land for Farmer Giles.
                 Now three cheers for the dainty maids,
                 Government clerks of different grades;

[Illustration]

                 Nor are we likely to forget
                 Our debt to the Munitionette.
 The             We seem to have subdued the Hun
 Present Time    And so farewell (our task is done)
                 To Anzacs-Indians-Poilus-Yanks--
                 Italians-Belgians-Japs-and-Tanks.

[Illustration]




Concerning
MEN and TONICS

_by the late
DR. ANDREW WILSON._


_"Many a man feels so thoroughly out of sorts, and thinks himself so
dreadfully ill, that he is rather surprised when the doctor tells him
there is not really anything seriously the matter with him at all; that
he just needs a tonic, and should put the brake on as regards work,
worry, or late hours._

_"It is this 'run-down-ness,' 'out-of-sorts-ness,' 'below-par-ness,'
which lead to all kinds of fanciful fears, such as having Brain Fag,
Neurasthenia, and other conditions startling by name at least._

_"Now I have found the form of Iron Jelloids put up with Quinine (called
Iron Jelloids No. 2A), to be an excellent Tonic in all such cases. When
a man or youth feels out-of-sorts, and is not so ill as to require
medical advice, he cannot do better than try a Fortnight's Treatment of
Iron Jelloids No. 2A, as a suitable and effective remedy._

   _For DEBILITY, WEAKNESS and NERVINESS, Men find the Ideal Tonic
   and Restorative in Iron Jelloids No. 2A._

   _For ANAEMIA in Men and Women (shown by breathlessness on slight
   exertion, pallor, depression and weakness) Doctors have for many
   years prescribed the well-known Iron Jelloids No. 2.--there is
   nothing better._


_A Ten Days Treatment (price 1/3) will convince you._

_Mr. J. R. PENNINGTON, Chemist, late of Worksop, writes:--"I always
handle Iron Jelloids with pleasure as my customers are invariably
satisfied with them."_

[Illustration: IRON 'JELLOIDS'
(_Pronounced Jell-Lloyds._)]


 Reliable Tonic for Men            IRON JELLOIDS No. 2A.
 For Anaemia in Men & Women        IRON JELLOIDS No. 2.
 For Growing Children              IRON JELLOIDS No. 1.

_Of all Chemists. A Ten Days Treatment 1/3. Large size 3/-_


_Manufactured by The Iron Jelloid Co., Ltd., 189, Central Street,
London, E.C.1. England._




[Illustration: IRON JELLOIDS The Great Tonic]




   +--------------------------------------------------------------+
   |                                                              |
   | Transcriber's Note                                           |
   |                                                              |
   | Details of minor typographical corrections and retained      |
   | mis-spellings are provided in the source of the associated   |
   | html version.                                                |
   |                                                              |
   +--------------------------------------------------------------+





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