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Your search for humour returned 177 broadsides
Displaying broadsides 121 to 150 of 177:
Parody on the Sailor's Grave
This ballad begins: 'The fight was far, far from the land, / When the bravest of our gallant band / Grew deadly pale and weaned away / From a shillelagh's top on an autumn day.' It was to be sung to the tune 'The Sailor's Grave'. The broadside was priced at one penny and published on Saturday, 2nd May 1863. The publisher was the Poet's Box, but the town of publication has been obscured, but was probably Glasgow.
Pastoral Poem betwixt Samuel and Cuddie
This ballad begins: 'WHat News, Friend Cuddie, how's your bonny Flock? / Death, fatal Death's giv'n mine a heavy Strock! / Now frae the bieldy Glens, and Velvet Lees, / Where I've been glad, a Pleasure quickly flees.'
Petition of the clerks and apprentices of Writers to the Signet
This broadside begins: 'UNTO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE The Lords of Council and Session, THE PETITION OF THE CLERKS and APPRENTICES of Writers to the Signet, and Writers in Edinburgh'. The petition begins: 'Humbly Sheweth, That your Petitioners, with much regret, Take up your Lordships' time their ills to state'. It was published by W. Smith of 3 Bristo Port, Edinburgh, and includes a woodcut illustration.
Poems to the Praise of Most of the Nobility in the Kingdom of Scotland
This piece begins: 'The Duke of Hamilton he Rides up and down / To the Court but cannot Prevail, / The way is so rough, that he cannot win through, / Good Day to my Lord Lawderdale'. At the bottom is noted that the sheet was first printed in 1678, but this reprint dates from 1718.
Poor Man's Tatties Back Again
Verse 1: 'Ye working men come join with me, / And let us sing with mirth and glee; / For noo the sang I'm gaun to sing, / Is the poor man's tatties back again - / For since the year of forty-twa, / The tattie rotted frae the shaw, / which caused baith muckle grief and pain, / But noo the tatties back again.' The sheet contains no publication details.
Proposed new Act of Parliament
This broadside begins: 'W.R. A PROPOSED NEW ACT OF PARLIAMENT, FOR THE BENEFIT OF Young Men, Old Men, Wives, Old Maids, Batchelors, Widows, &c.' Included at the top of the sheet is a coat of arms with the motto 'DIEU ET MON DROIT' or 'God and my right'. W.R. possibly refers to King William IV, which would date the broadside to between 1830 and 1837. It was published by John Elder of Edinburgh, and sold for one penny.
Rake in Fetters, or the Marriage Mouse Trap
This humorous ballad begins: 'Of all the simple Things I know, / To rub o'er a whimsical Life, / There's ne'r a Folly half so true, / As that very bad Bargain a Wife'. It is undated. No tune is given.
Receipt to Make a Lord-Pudding
This political notice begins: 'TAKE of the several simples of natural parts, two grains of each; of the compound of learning, three scruples; the corpus juris, half a pound'. There are no further details attached to this publication.
Recitation. My Dear Old Saxhorn
The first verse begins: 'I love thee, I prize thee, and who can scorn / Or chide me for loving my dear tenor horn? / Together we've journeyed for many long years, / And the thoughts of our parting would cause bitter tears.' The name of the author has been included: 'J. Williams, Formerly of the Band XL Regt.'
Rime of the Ancient Harridan
Verse 1: 'It is an ancient harridan, / A provost stoppeth she; / "By thy red hair and bandy gown, / Now wherefore stoppest thou me?"' This ballad was written by Alvan Marlaw, 'Apologizing to the shade of Coleridge'. It was printed by Lowden Macartney at the Poet's Box in Overgate, Dundee, priced one penny.
Robin Tamson's Smiddy
Verse 1: 'My mither men't my auld breeks, / An' wow! But they were duddy, / An sent me to get shod our mare / At Robin Tamson's smiddy. / The smiddy stands beside a burn / That wimples through the clachan; / I never yet gae by the door, / But aye I fa' a lauchin.' The printer and supplier of this broadside are not identified, but at the foot of the page there is an advertisment for songbooks 'sent post free to any address for 7 stamps'.
Satrical cartoon entitled 'The Reel of Bogie'
This cartoon shows several ministers dancing wildly while a judge waves a sword at them from an open doorway. Its caption reads: 'THE REEL OF BOGIE!! / A CLERICAL DANCE. / Sometimes danced as a Foursome, sometimes as a Threesome, and sometimes as a Twoseome Reel. / "As Charlie [sic] glowr'd amazed and curious, / The mirth and fun grew fast and furious" - Burns.' The cartoonist's initials are given as 'D.D.' The lithographer was W. Nichol and the sheet was published by A. Lesage of 21 Hanover Street in Edinburgh. It may date from between 1833 and 1842, when Lesage is known to have had premises there.
Satyr Upon Allan Ramsay
This ballad begins: 'D ---- d Brazen Face, how could you hope / To imitate Horatian Strain, / A Labour too refin'd for Pope, / A task which puzzel'd Prior's Pen. / Brains blown to Foam, or sunk in Mud, / Make Works too airy, or too dull, / Then all thy Medley Lines, conclude / Have flowed from a confused Skull.'
Satyr upon Allan Ramsay
This ballad begins: 'D----d brazen Face, how could you hope / To imitate Horatian Strain, / A Labour roo refin'd for Pope, / A Task which pussel'd Prior's Pen.' Because, at the time this was printed, 'damned' was considered a strong word to put into print, the dashes represent the other letters. The 'D' of the first word has been illuminated; a swan nestles inside it and foliage decorates the outside. No publication details are present.
Scotch Medley
This ballad begins: 'Gae bring my guid auld harp ance mair, / Gae bring it free and fast ; / Of a' the airts the win' can blaw, / I dearly lo'e the wast'. This translates as 'Go bring my good harp once more, / Go bring it free and fast; / Of all the arts the wind can blow, / I dearly love the west.' It is to be sung to the tune of 'Scotland Yet'. It was published in Dundee by the Poet's Box.
Scotch Words
Verse 1: 'They speak in riddles north between the Tweed, / The plain, pure English they can deftly read; / Yet when without the book they come to speak, / Their lingo is half English and half Greek.' Although the sheet is not dated and the publisher is not named, a note below the title states that 'Copies can always be had at 80 London Street'.
Scottish Answer to a British Vision
Verse 1: 'TWO British Wits Conspir'd, / A Scottish Dream to Answer, / Both equally Inspir'd / With Nonsence, Punns and Banter; / Sense smil'd to see / Them so agree / In Bluntness and Stupiditie.' The broadside carries no date and no place of publication.
Sebastopol Fashions
Verse 1: 'Good people now just pray attend for awhile, / And I'll sing you a song that will cause you to smile, / Some curious facts to you I will tell, / But I can?t tell you yet that Sebastopol fell.' The author of the ballad is named on the sheet as George Billinge. The broadside was published by James Lindsay of 9 King Street, Glasgow. It is not dated, but was probably published either between 1852 and 1859, or between 1891 and 1894, when Lindsay is known to have had premises at 9 King Street
Second attack of the wild beasts
This broadside begins: 'OLD TOWN ZOOLOGICAL / SECOND ATTACK OF THE Wild Beasts upon their Keeper IN THE ROYAL CIVIC ARENA, ROYAL EXCHANGE, EDINBURGH: Showing how the Animals Fought and how their Keeper Defended himself.' No publication details have been included on this sheet.
Ship Carpenter's Wife
This ballad begins: 'Come attend to my ditty, you frolicsome folks, / And I will tell you a story a comical joke; / Concerning a woman by auction was sold, / The husband and wife could never agree.' At the top of the sheet there is a woodcut illustration showing a man and woman having something to eat in a field. They are taking a break from their work and are positioned close to two hayricks. Three fieldworkers are visible in the background.
Short Satyre on that Native of the Universe, the Albanian Animal
This satire begins: 'Sir, 'mong your Gifts your Candour's not the least, / In that you thus profess you are a Beast: / Albanian Animal shall be thy Name / From hence forth in the Registers of Fame.' There are no publication details available for this broadside.
Spiritual concert
This broadside begins: 'For the BENEFIT of Mr. MUNRO senior, (Master of all the MUSIC in Scotland.) At Major WEIR'S House, near the Head of the West-Bow, (commodiously fitted for that Purpose.) On WEDNESDAY the 1st of APRIL next, will be A SPIRITUAL CONCERT CALLED Harmony Revers'd ; or, The World turn'd upside down.'
St Andrew Agnew's Agony Bill
This ballad begins: 'Dear me what a change has seen our Nation, / Since we've reform'd out legislation, / Each M.P. as is now the fashion, / Brings a new bill every session.' A note above the ballad states that it should be sung to the air of 'Kate Dalrymple'. The sheet was published by the Poet's Box, 6 St Andrew's Lane, Glasgow, and cost one penny.
State of the Poll and Death of the Council
This political broadside begins: 'Just published the melancholy Death of the Town Council of the City of Edinburgh, with an account of the Legacy which they have left to the inhabitants at their demise; also the state of the Poll at Closing, giving the names of the new councils elected this day.' Although no date of publication is included, the sheet was published by Forbes of Edinburgh.
Stolen kiss from Miss Peggy Prudence in the town of St. Ninian's
This story begins: 'An account of the curious Trial of STEENY SLY before the Jury Court at Stirling, on Wednesday last, for stealing a kiss from Miss PEGGY PRUDENCE, as she was looking out of her window in the 2nd story of her house in the town of St. Ninian's, while he was passing by as a passenger on the top of the Royal Perth Mail Coach. With the curious evidence of the other passengers and guard, who were examined as witnesses.' The sheet was published by John Muir of Glasgow. A note underneath the introduction states that the story was sourced from 'The Glasgow Courier' of Saturday, 10th of May, 1823.
Storm on the Paisley Canal
Verse 1: 'Pray look on this victim of Cupid, / Tae my tale of woe give an ear, / As sure as death I'm knocked quite stupid, / I'll gang wrang in the head tae, I fear, / An it's a' through a lass that I gaed wi' / Ay, Mary M'Phail was her name; / My affections she has cruelly played wi', / And left me like a wandered wean.' This ballad was to be sung to an original tune, and was published by the Poet's Box in Dundee.
Strange Circumstance which Took Place in the Tolbooth Ch[urch]
This report begins: 'Just Published, an Account of that Extraordinary & Singular Circumstance which took place at the Tuesday morning Lecture, in the Tolbooth Church, High Street, Edinburgh; when neither Minister or Precentor having come forward, an old Woman mounted the Pulpit, addressed the Audience - sung Psalms - offered up Prayers, [an]d dismissed the Congregation, to the astonishment [an]d satisfaction of her Hearers'. There is minor damage to the broadside that has obscured parts of words. The publisher was James Brown of Edinburgh. The date of publication is not supplied.
Stump Speech and Cure for a Cripple
The 'Stump Speech' begins: 'FRIENDS AND FELLOW-CITIZENS, - Unaccustomed as I um to public speaking, allow me to say that when a man stands before a number of his fellow men to speak, he assumes a liberty'. This is clearly a parody of the traditional stump speech. Stump speech is another name for a campaign speech, usually political, which covers a large number of non-specific points. It is so called because those delivering the speech would traditionally use a tree stump as a raised platform.
Surgeon's Billl
This amusing broadside is in fact a parody of a surgeon's bill, as illustrated by the ridiculous services that the doctor has performed on his - hopefully - fictitious patient. Although the broadside is not dated, the bill itself was apparently written on the 30th of May, 1830. A note at the foot of the sheet states it was published by W. Sanderson, whose premises were located in Edinburgh.
Symposium of Scottish Songs
This story begins: 'There was ance held a gran' meetin' o' Scottish sangs. The date thereof was sometime before or after the year "Auchty Nine;" the place canna be fixed wi' the same exactness, but it was probably near "The Banks and Braes of Bonnie Doon," in honour o' the "Lad that was born in Kyle."' The story is mysteriously signed with the initials of the author, 'W.S.'