The Tithe Child of Romsey
One tenth of all – the parsons share
From cows in pasture to poultry flock
From grain blowing in the breeze
To cloth weaved and other stock…
Once upon a time in Romsey its said
In the north aisle the parson collected
His allocated tenth of what those around had
Be of his faith or his faith not respected.
One woman, and her child had come
To be baptised, as was then the law
Loftily, the childs name, the parson enquired
As the ragged family before him saw.
You should know, the mother replied
With a manner both coy and mild
With a twinkling eye on being asked why
As its the tenth, the baby is the parsons child!
