Nationalballadso01farmrich BW

wfrusUniversity of California
Berkeley
flberr?
Songs
ant>
Ballade
NATIONAL BALLAD AND SONG
Songs
anfc
Ballafcs
PRIOR TO THE YEAR
A.D. 1800
EDITED BY
JOHN
S.
v.-i
FARMER
DUE
PRIVATELY PRINTED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY
MDCCCXCVH
INDEX
TO VOL.
AUTHORS, TITLES, FIRST LINES, REFRAINS,

AND SOURCES
AKF.ROYDE
188
(S.)
"All Christians and Lay-Elders too" (SIR JOHN BIR-
KENHEAD, Bagford Ballads, iii. 57).

meadowe" (Percy Folio MS.,
"All in a greene
118
c.
82
1620-50)
"All you
that
are
disposed
jest" (Roxburgh Ballads,
now
iii.
to
hear a merry
89
66)
"Aminta one Night had occasion
to
Piss"
(Pills
to
Purge Melancholy, 1707)

gang nae mair a roving, boys (Refrain)
Ane Pleasant Garland of Sweet Scented Flowers,
And
we'll
277
279
228
37
Damon
late
with Chloe sat"
"As
honest Jacob on a night"
"As
I lay
musing
all
"As
on
lovely
c.
"As
lay
1654,
my
alone"
(S.
(b.
(c.
*75
257
1796}
189
1707)
bead" (LAURENCE PRICE,
Roxburgh Ballads, iii. 226)

"
my Spinning Wheel (Pills
I sat at
105
to
Purge
180
Melancholy, 1707)
IY SONGS
BOLTON, 1720)
(1835)
'As
2O2
i.
282929
INDEX
vi
"As
c.
"As
was
by the way" (Percy Folio MS.,
riding
71
1620-50)
was walking
MS.,
"As
c.
tell
"
where
(Rawlinson
37
1610-50)
went
I cannot
yon misty moor"
o'er
(Pills to
Purge
188
Melancholy, 1707)
"As
went
to
Tottnam" (Choyce Drollery, 1666)
"As Lady Jane devoutly wise"
YOUNGER)
"As Oyster Nan
As
(1766,
251
stood
by her tub"
(c.
1705)
she lay sleeping in her bed (Tune)
"As
went along" (Pills
the fryer he
to
Ay res
177
105
Purge Me197
lancholy, 1707)
Auld
109
DURFEY THE
Dow, The ^Tune)

FERRABOSCO (1609)
ALFONSO
by
W. CORKINE (1610)
257
cripple
29
34
85, 118
Bagford Ballads
The
1672)
148
Girles,
Drollery,
(Westminster
Bathing
The
Girles,
Drollery,
(Westminster
1672)
Bathing
163
(Tune)
Beehive,
The
(Pills to Piirge
Melancholy, 1707)
206
Beggar- wench turn'd into a devil (Debauchery Scared,
Roxburgh Ballads,
BERN
1685-8,
(MRS.)
Behold the
ii.
160
101)
,
man
(SlR
Bob-Tail'd Lass,
(b.
...
168
Il8
JOHN)
The
168
4*
(Tune)
"Beneath a cool shade" (Mrs. BERN, 1697)
BlRKENHEAD
1800)
275
(SOL.)
228
Bonnie Dundee (Tune)
263
BOLTON
INDEX
"Bonny Lass
o'
The
Broze and Butter
(*.
BURNS
(R.)
The"
Liviston,
Boye, Friar and,
253,
(b.
vii
1796)
....
254
51
264
1796)
254,
256,
257,
259,
261, 263, 264
265, 267, 269, 272, 274
"By
mole on your bubbles" (Musical Miscel-
the
238
lany, 1731)
M Canst thou loue
and
lie
alone" (Melismata,c. 16 1
1)
CAREY,
40
228
"Certain Presbyterian Pair, A," (Musical Miscel-
230
lany, 1729)
CHAPPELL, WILLIAM
Choyce
89,
Ay rex (PLAYFORD
113, 159,
.
J.)
Choyce Drollery
Clout the Couldron (Tune)
44
109,
off
of
my
Complements,
mother. Sirrah' (Refrain)
Marrow
113
267
Come hither, good people" (Musical Miscellany\
'Come
189
157
7 29)
...
230
35
159
of.
CORKINE (W.)
31
"Country Gentleman came up
to town,
A"
(1685-8,
Roxburgh Ballads, ii. 101)

The (1609, Roxburgh Ballads,
160
Courteous Knight,
ii.
ai)
Courtiers
31
Good morrow
to his llistris,
The
(c.
1611)
CRIMSALL, RICHARD
Cuddie the Cooper (b. 1796)
Cumberland Lass, The (1674-80)
263
152
Cupid's Visions (or Dainty Damsels Dream,
PRICE,
c.
1654,
Roxburgh Ballads,
40
89
LAURENCE
Ui.
226)
105
INDEX
viii
Dainty Damsels Dream, The (LAURENCE PRICE,

1654,
Dainty
MS.,
Roxburgh Ballads,
ducke
c.
Debauchery
ii-
iii.
c.
105
226)
chanced to meet,
(Percy Folio
1620-50)
84
Scared
(1685-8,
Roxburgh Ballads,
160
101)
Devonshire
Damsels
Roxburgh Ballads,
Frollick,
ii.
The
(1685-8,
163
136-7)
Deuteromelia (1609)
Dildo, Nashes
Disaster,
31
14
The sad
251
DORSET, THE EARL of
Dub'd Knight of
the
157
Forked Order, The (1660-
77, Roxburgh Ballads, ii. 114)

"Duncan Macleerie and Janet his wife"
125
1796)
(b.
Dunstable, Riding to
135
DURFEY (T.)
DURFEY THE YOUNGER
169, 208, 210
251
Fair Kitty, beautiful and young (Tune)

FERRABOSCO (ALFONSO)
Forked Order, The Dub'd Knight of the
"
Four and twentieth day of May, The "
251
125
29
(Pills to

Four-Legg'd Elder, The (SiR JOHN BIRKENHEAD,
Bagford Ballads,
iii,
267
118
57)
Fryar and Boye, The (Percy Folio MS.,

50)
183
c.
162051
Fryer and the Maid, The
187
Fumbler, The Old
167
INDEX
Gaberlunzie
ix
Man, The (JAMES V. SCOTLAND,
1542)
The (Musical Miscellany,
Gallant Schemers Petition,
'730
238
118
Gather your rosebuds (Tune)

Green Grow the Rashes, O (*. 1796)
Gramachree (Tune)
"Gudewife
when
gude
your
man's
261
274
harae"
frae
1796)
(*
256
HADDINGTON, EARL
Harleian
Harlot,
"Hee
of
242
MS.
The
103
high priz'd (or
that hath
The Penurious Quaker)
no mistressc" (1610)
34
Help House of Commons, House oj Peers
"Her
dainty palm I gently prest**
216
(Refrain)
1 1
(Marrow of Com-
plements, 1685)
159
Horrible relation of a dog (or Four legg'd elder)
1 1
"I a tender young maid have been courted by

"
many" (Pills to Purge Melancholy, 1707) ...

am a young Lass of Lynn " Pills to Purge Me-
lancholy, 1707)
199
I am fallen aivay (Tune)

/ cannot tell what to do
I
41
cannot, winnot,
1
dreamed
Folio MS.,
7
"
man not
my Loue
c.
125
199
(Refrain)
buckle too (Refrain)
lay
in
her
bed
(Percy
80
1620-50)
have a tenement to
choly, 1719)
let
169
"
ha'e laid a herrirf in sa't (Tune)

I
194
"
(Pills to
259
Purge Melan218
INDEX
x
I'll tell
you
"I owed ray
how
this
knare served me (Refrain)
hostess thirty
pounds"
(c.
1720)
179
224
/ pr>ythee now hear me, dear Molly (Refrain)

"I Rede you beware o' the Ripples young man"
.
(R.
BURNS,
"I went
b.
253
1796)
Alehouse
as
your arms"
(c.
the
to
238
woman
an honest
should" (1707)
"I
will fly into
" In a
Folio MS.,
(1616,
225
morninge I mett sweet nursse
May
"It was a
179
1720)
c.
Lady
"
(Percy
77
1620-50)
of the North she lov'd a Gentleman"
Roxburgh Ballads,
iii.
230)
......
"It was a puritanicall ladd" (Percy Folio MS.,
73
1620-50)
"It was in June" (Westminster Drollery, 1672)
JAMES V.
Jenny
of Scotland
sits
Mac
up
i'
the laft"
(b.
240
265
1796)
Gill (Tune)
Jovial Companions,
Joviall Pedler,
The
267
256
of Scotland,
The (Bagford Ballads,

(1637-9,
148
i, 5
John Anderson my Jo (Tune)

Jolly Beggar, The JAMES V.
iii.
beguil'd the Webster (Tune)
"Jenny
Jocky
41
c.
b.
i.
1542).
88)
Roxburgh Ballads,
85
96
184)
Kind-hearted Creature, The (1630, Roxburgh Ballads,

iii.
89
166-7)
Ladies of London (Tune)
Lass o'Liviston
254
(b.
1796)
60
INDEX
xi
Lass of Lynn's Sorrowful Lamentation,
The
Pills to

Lass with the velvet a
se,
199
The
Late Dialogue between Captain
Dick (ROBERTSON OF STRUAN,

" Let the world run
its
14
1710)
b.
and his
*.
(1705, Pills to
Lynn, The Lass
242
1735)
175
137
at his vice stood a filing,
Purge Melancholy [1707],
"
U. 198)
of
{Percy Folio MS.,
c.
75
1620-50)
I
dare not
tell
her name.
A"
Maid of Tottenham, The (Choyce Drollery,

Maid's Lesson, The
Maiden's Delight
c.
279
1666).
109
(Refrain)
(1661,
....
Merry Drollery)
A"
75
1620-50}
75
(Rawlinson MS., 1600-20)
Marrow of Complements
May morninge, In a
...
10
159
77
Melismata (1611)
Merry Drollery
137
(Percy
he lay whopping, The (Refrain)
Man's Yard,
96
212
1710)
and a younge maid that loued.
Folio MS.,
Man
(c.
1800).
(b.
Maids have you any Cony, Cony skim
"Man
175
199
Maid and a younge man,

"Maid,
244
"
with f other (Refrain)
Lusty Young Smith
214
friend
....
1749)
course of capricious delight
(EARL of HADDINGTON,
LEVERIDGE (R.)
Little o* th'one
(c.
Low
40
(1661).
41, 80,
116,
133, 135, 137,

140, 142
Merry Muses of
Caledonia.
253, 254,
261, 263, 264, 266,
256, 257, 259
267, 269, 272, 274
INDEX
xii
"Methinks the poor town has been troubled too

long" (EARL of DORSET,
MILES
c.
157
1676)
125
(A.)
Modern Prophets, The
208
Modiewark has done me
Mother bcguil'd
ill,
The
the daughter,
(b.
The (Tune)
Musical Miscellany
"My
friend
....
....
good"
"My
216
a hive of bees in yonder flow'ry
is
to
garden" (Pills
"My
pretty
89
to
(Pills

Mistress
272
228, 230, 236, 238
beauty seemeth
thy
1796)
maid

would I know" (Pills
fain

thing is my own (Pills
My
206
to
204
to
Purge Melancholy,
194
1707)
Nameless Maiden, The

Narcissus,
come
Nash
Dildo
his
kiss us
279
1800)
c.
1610-50)
37
(THOMAS NASH, Rawlinson and
Petyt MSS. b.
NASH (THOMAS)
y
(b.
(Rawlinson MS.,
13
1601)
13
O for
ane and twenty, Tarn (Tune)
272
O
O
my
264
gie
jolly
love brose, lasses (Refrain)
Robin hold thy hande" (Percy Folio MS.,

47
1620-50)
"O
Mither dear I gin
to fear"
(Orpheus Caledonius,
240
1753)
never
went
Wimble
in
Timber more nimble

140
(Refrain)
"O
wat ye ought of Fisher
Meg"
(b.
1796)
...
261
INDEX
xiii
Off a Puritane (Percy Folio MS.,
c.
"Oh
"
mother, Roger with his kisses
1620-50)
(Pills to
Purge
(Refrain)
...
186
Melancholy, 1707)
Oh.'
to
Bed
Bed
me, to
to
Old Fumbler, The
(*.
to
me
ed
Roxburgh Ballads,
1660-77,
order,
in the
afternoon"
PACK, MR.
"
(*.
114)
125
276
.....
208
.'
"
ma chic 3
(NASH,
poesye
1601)
"Pauky
lunzie
15
The
Patriarch,
357
1796)
(*.
cam
auld carle
The"
ovir the lee,
Man, JAMES V. of Scotland,
Pedler, Joviall,
Pedlar Proud,
"Peggy
in
b.
(Gaber-
1542)
The
The
(c.
devotion,
Roxburgh Ballad,
01.656) 247
bred from tender years" (T.
2IO
(c.
1719, Pills to
Purge
216
Melancholy)
Percy Folio
Pttyt
MS.
MS.
(b.
(c.
1620-50)
'69,
71
73. 75. 77. 80, 82,
84
175, 179, 183,
186
13
1601)
192, 194,
Purge Melancholy
157.
26, 47, 49, 51,
Purge Melancholy (1707)

188,
Pills to
96
1750,
DURFEY, f.I7IO)
Penurious Quaker, The
Pills to
240
274
1796)
177
Pardon, sweete flower of

*.
fork-
ii.
1800)
(*.
Orpheus Caledonius, see THOMSON (W.)
Our John's Brak Yestreen

Oyster Nan, As
152
167
1695)
Old Wanton Lady, The (Dub'd Knight of the
"On Wednesday
73
197,
(1719)
199, 202, 204, 206
.85, 109,
1 1
8,
152
171, 177, 180, 208, 210, 216, 218, 220
INDEX
xiv
PLAYFORD
(J.)
(Choyce Ayres)
Pleasant Garland,
Ane
157
1800)
(b.
275, 277, 279
"Ploughman he's a bonnie lad, The" (b. 1796)

Popular Music of the Olden Time (CHAPPELL)
269
6,
89
US'
l8 9
Presbyterian Wedding, The (Musical Miscellany, 1729) 236.

PRICE (LAURENCE)
105
PURCELL (HENRY)
Puritan,
167,
(Merry Drollery, 1661)
Puritane, Off" a (Percy Folio
...
MS., 1620-50)
Quaker, The Penurious
251
RAVENSCROFT, THOMAS
40
Rawlinson MS. (1600-50)

Reed me a ridle what
:
c.
"
lo,
10
Riding by the way,

to
As
was
"
71
London on Dunstable way Merry Drollery,

(
1661)
135
ROBERTSON OF STRUAN
Room
for
37
(Rawlinson MS.,
this
is
13, 35,
1600-20)
Riding
73
216
The (1766)
Rattle,
169
133
a Jovial Tinker
Roxburgh Ballads,
"Rosebery
244
Old Brass
Hi.
to
Mend
1616,
(c.
230)
41
to his lady says" (b.
266
1796)
Roxburgh Ballads,
31, 41, 89, 96, 105, 125, 160, 163, 247
Sad
(DURFEY THE YOUNGER,
Disaster, The,
1766).
Sally in our Alley (Tune)

School Master's Lesson, The
Scotch Parson's Daughter,
(c.
The
225
1720)
(T.
DURFEY,
251
228
c.
1710) 210
INDEX
SHARPS
"She
- She
SHEELES
to the navel bare"
up
lay all
naked
in her bed"
(Tune 116)
Wit
<5r
131
1 1
Drollery, 1656)
The
228
BOLTON, 1720)
(S.
Sing Boyes, Drink Boyes
89
^Refrain)
192
trolly lolly (Refrain)
Sing, Stow the Fryer (Refrain)
"Smug
(*.
"So
and
rich
fantastic old
197
Fumbler was known"

67
1695)
merrily singeth the nightengale"
burgh Ballads, iii. 656)

So old, so old, so wondrous old
-Spinning Wheel,
"Story,
238
(J.)
Silent Flute,
Sing
275
KIRKPATRICK)
(C.
lay
xv
As
strange I will
(c.
1750, Rox-
247
(Refrain)
my"
A" (Choyce
....
125
180
I sat at
you
tell,
Drollery,
113
1656)
na
267
Ready" (*. 1796)
Surprised Nymph, The (Pills to Purge Melancholy, 1707) 183
"Supper
Taylor's
Tell
me
is
faun
thro' the bed (Tune)
mother, pray,
now do
....
(Refrain)
"Tell me, thou source of scandal, Dick"
(b.
1740
ROBERTSON or STRUAN)
Tenement
to
let,
(Pills
244
to
Purge Melancholy,
2l8
17I9)-
"That God
that
dyed
for
vs
all
and drank both
MS., 1620-50) ...

Then she sang down a down (Refrain)
"There dwelt a man in Lanrickshire " (*. 1800)
vinegar etc." (Percy Folio
"There
253
1 86
liv'd
a Wife in Wnistle-cock-pen
"There was a buxom lass"
(c.
1710)
"
(b.
1796)
51
31
277
259
214
INDEX
xvi
"There was a cooper they ca'd him Cuddy (b. 1796) 263
" There was a
jolly beggar, and a begging he was born"
(JAMES V. of Scotland,
"There was a
Ballads,
"
iii.
b.
1542)
Roxburgh
(1637-9,
pedler"
jovial!
96
184)
There was a Lady
in this land"
(Merry Drollery,
142
1661)
"There was a
"
There was an old

to
Cumberland"
lass in
woman
(c.
1674-80)
under a
liv'd
hill
(Pills
"There was three Birds
192
that built very
low" (Merry
140
Drollery, 1661)
"
There was three
Travellers, Travellers three"
Bagford Ballads,
i.
Thomas vntyed
c.
1630,
85
way you
his points apace
"
will (Refrain)
26
cannott
THOMSON (W.)
"
(Percy Folio MS.,
c.
1620-50)
(c.
1630,
Bagford Ballads,
85
88)
The (Merry Drollery, 1661)

To fall down, down, derry down (Refrain) ...
" Tom and William with Ned and Ben "
(Roxburgh
Tinker,
Ballads,
Tom
"
To
(c.
ii.
true love,
my
and
am
his dear
109
"
171
1698)
Watering
142
163
136-7)
Tinker's
play upon a viol
Trooper
26
240
\_Orpheus Caledonius~\
Three Merry Travellers
"
171
(Percy Folio MS.,
1620-50)
"Thomas you
i.
(c.
88)
This "way, that way, which

"
152
"
if
his
a virgin will begin"
Nagg, The (Pills
to
1710)
212
Purge
192
Melancholy, 1707)
Turnep Ground, The
(c.
(c.
1720)
224
INDEX
xvii
"
Twa
44
'T was a Lady born of high degree"
ncebour wives
sat in the
sun
1796,
(b.
BURNS) 274
(1660-77,
Roxburgh Ballads, ii. 114-5)

*"Twas within a Furlong of Edinborough town"
(DURFEY, 1697, Pills
a
"Upon
to
Purge Melancholy)
Venus, Mars, and Cupid
"
35
(Rawlinson MS., 1610-
*o)
35
"
ye do that
-Wad
Wanton
Virgins
256
1796)
(*.
Frighted,
The
(Pills
to
Purge
220
Melancholy, 1719)
Westminster Drollery
When
When
first
148
Amyntas su'd for a
Phoebus address't himselfe
Folio MS.,
c.
White Thighs
Who
169
day when Mars and Venus met
certain
together" (Rawlinson MS., 1610-20)

"
'25
is
to
marry
"Will ye
to the
me
(b.
202
West (Percy
49
242
1735)
(*.
29
1609)
277
1800)
na, can ye na let
Willing Lover,
(Tune)
1620-50)
(b.
Willie Steenson
kiss
The (Wit
&
me be?"
(b.
1796)
Drollery, 1661)
Wit and Drollery

With a dildo (Refrain)
96,
103,
259
131
116, 131
113
....
230
With a hey ho, hey, derry derry down (Refrain)

With a Humbledum, Grumbledum (Refrain)
.
204
and out ho
(Refrain)
175
Without ever a stiver of money (Refrain)
....
85
With a down
up and down
With a rub... in and
out, in
(Refrain)
41
INDEX
xviii
"
Would you have

(T.
"
young Virgin of
Yonder comes a courteous Knight

Ballads,
ii.
You
fifteen years
"
208
"
(Roxburgh
281)
Yorkshire Tale,
"
DURFEY, 1709)
31
(Musical Miscellany, 1/29)
that delight in a jocular song" (Pills to
Purge
220
Melancholy, 1719)
Young Man
"
of
(Merry Drollery, 1661).

Younge and simple though I am" (b. 1609)
late,
230
137
29
Songs anb
JSallabs
THE GABERLUNZIE MAN

1542]
[*
[Attributed to
celebrate
country
JAMES
V OF SCOTLAND
one of
own
his
and said
to
adventures with
girls].
The pauky auld carle came ovir the lee

mony good-eens and days to mee,
,i
y or artful
Wi'
Saying, Goodwife, for zour courtesie,

Will ze lodge a
silly
The night was cauld,

And down azont the
poor
man?
fraa
the carle was wat,

ingle
he
sat;
beyond
My
dochters shoulders he gan to clap,

And cadgily ranted and sang.
MERRY SONGS
cheerfully
THE GABERLUNZIE MAN
2
"
O wow !"
As
llvel y
her
mother
old
wad
I as free,
wad
bee!
nevir think lang."
grew canty, and she grew

little
busy
twa togither were sayn,

wooing they were sa thrang.
thir slee
evir the
wad
And awa
'Tis I
he,
"arm ze were
evir the
lid clead
lay thee by
my
wi'
back,
me
snaw
lay
on the
dike,
braw, and lady-like,

with thee lid gang.
Between the twa was made a

little
open
field
They
enQuire
went
raise
plot;
a wee before the cock,
And wyliely they shot the lock,

And fast to the bent are they
Up
the
morn
the auld wife
And
at her leisure put
Syne
to the servants
To
hat,
me
And awa
as black,
crown of your dadyes
thou sould gang!"

O!" quoth she, "ann I were as white,
"And
As
fain,
did her auld minny ken
"AndO!" quo
As
gay
were
this countrie,
He
When
saw
But
What
I'd clothe
"
he,
blyth and merry
And
become weary
when
first
How
quo
speir for
gane.
raise,
on her
claiths,
bed she gaes

the silly poor man.
She gaed
to the bed, whair the beggar lay,
The
was cauld, he was away;
strae
THE GABERLUNZIE MAN

Scho
clapt her hands, cry'd
For some of our
Some
geir will
"
Dulefu' day!
be gane."
ran to coffer, and some to
goods
chest
kist,
But nought was stown that could be mist.

She dancid her lane, cry'd, "Praise be blest!
I
have lodg'd a
Since naithing's awa, as
we can
learn,
The kim's to kirn, and milk to earn;

Gae butt the house, lass, and waken my
n
And,,.,.
bid her come quickly ben.
The servant gaed where the dochter lay,
The sheets was cauld, she was away;
And fast to her goodwife can say,
i i
"Shes
"O
And
aff with
fy gar ride,
alone
loyal; true
poor man."
leal
stolen
churn
bairn,
t_
go to the outer
apartment
inner
the
to
apartment
did say
the gaberlunzieman."
and
O haste
fy gar rin,
cause to
ride
hast ze, find these trailers agen!
For shee's be burnt, and hee's be
slein,
The wearifou gaberlunzieraan!"

Some rade upo' horse, some ran a-fit;
The wife was wood, and out o' her wit;
She could na gang, nor yet could she
But ay did curse and did ban.
Mean-time
far hind,
out owre the
troublesome
a-foot
mad
frae a
new cheese
a whang.
furious
sit,
far
lee,
hence
over
Fu' snug in a glen, where nane could see,

The twa, with kindlie sport and glee,
Cut
slice
out
THE GABERLUNZTE MAN
4
proving
tasting
The prievuig was gude, it pleas'd them baith

To lo'e her for ay he gae her his aith.
Quo she, "To leave thee I will be laith,
winsome gaberlunzieman.
My
O
"
kend
Ill-fardly
she'd never trust
my minny
poor man
Sic a
were
wi' zou,
wad she crook her
mou'.
sheld nevir trow,
Aftir the gaberlunzieman."
"My
dear,"
quo
he,
"
zee're zet
owre zonge;
And hae na leamt the beggar's tonge,

To follow me frae toun to toun,
And carrie the gaberlunzie on.
"
Wi' kauk and ked, HI win zour bread,

spindles and whorles for them wha need
And
Whilk
bend
doth;
is
a gentil trade indeed,
The gaberlunzie to carrie O!

111 bow my leg and crook my knee,
ra g
And draw
a black clout owre
criple or blind they will
While we
sail
sing
my
ee;
cau me,
and be merry O!"
THE JOLLY BEGGAR
THE JOLLY BEGGAR

'542]
I*-
[Attributed to JAMES
to preceding song].
OF SCOTLAND: see note
There was a jolly beggar, and a begging he was born.

And he took up his quarters into a land 'art town,
And
we'll
Sae
And
He wad
raair
we'll
shine ne'er so bright.
neither ly in barn, not yet
we'll
Sae
And
wad he
in
byre
gang nae mair a roving
late into the night,
we'll
Let the
gang nae mair a roving, boys,
moon
The
beggar's
And
in ahint the ha'door,
bed was made
at e'en wi'
good clean
straw and hay,
And
we'll
Sae
And
steading
moon
in ahint the ha'door, or else afore the fire.
And
county
a roving
Let the
But
gang nae
set forth
and there the beggar lay.
we'll
Let the
moon
shine ne'er so bright
behin d
farm-
THE JOLLY BEGGAR
Up
the goodman's dochter and for to bar
raise
the door,
And
there she saw the beggar standin'
And
Sae
And
the floor.
i'
we'll
we'll
moon
Let the
He took the lassie in his arms,
and to the bed he ran,
Q hooly, hooly wi' me, sir, ye'll waken our goodman
cautiously
And
Sae
And
we'll
we'll
moon
Let the
The beggar was
a cunnin' loon, and ne'er a word
he spake,
Until
talk
he got
And
we'll
Sae
And
syne he began to crack.

nae
mair
a roving
gang
his turn done,
we'll
Let the
moon
"Is there ony dogs into this town? maiden,
me
m
ey
mydove
""*
"And what wad ye do
wi'
them,
my
my dow?"
And
we'll
Sae
tell
true."
hinny and
THE JOLLY BEGGAR

And
we'll
Let the
"
moon
rive
They'll
a'
meal pocks, and do
my
me
meikle wrang."
"O
dool for the doing
And
we'll
Sae
And
man?"
we'll
moon
Then she took up

them
The
are ye the poor
Let the
o't!
deil
the meal
pocks,
and
flang
o'er the wa';
gae
meal pocks,
wi' the
my
maiden-
head, and a'!"
And
we'll
Sae
And
we'll
Let the
"
moon
took ye for some gentleman, at least the laird

of Brodie;
dool for the doing
And
we'll
Sae
And
Let the
arc ye the poor bodic
late into
we'll
o't
the night,
moon
"
?
meal bags
THE JOLLY BEGGAR
He
took the
lassie in his
arms, and gae her kisses
three,
a sliver coin worth
i3^d. stg.
wet-nurse
And
and twenty minder merk
lour
And
we'll
Sae
And
pay the
He
we'll
moon
Let the
And
took a horn frae his

loud and
o'er the
we'll
Sae
And
shrill,
hill.

moon
took out
duddies
rags
And he was

his
we'll
Sae
And
knife,
loot
a'
his
brawest gentleman that was

a'.
we'll
Let the
moon
The beggar was a

height
"O, ay
little
fa';
the
amang them
And
and blew baith
we'll
Let the
And he
side,
and twenty belted knights came skipping
four
And
such
to
wage

cliver loon,
and he
lap shoulder
for sicken quarters as I gat yesternight!"
THE JOLLY BEGGAR

And
we'll
Sae
And
we'll
Let the
moon
A MANS YARD
io
A MANS YARD
[c.
\Rawl MS.
Reed me a
1600-1620]
Poet. 216,
ridle:
what
is
If.
94 back].
this
You
It
holde in your hand when you pisse?

is a kinde of pleasing stinge,
pricking and a pleasing thing;
It is
That
fittes
stiffe
shorte fleshly pole,
to stopp a
maydens hole;
Venus wanton staying wand,
That ne're had feet, and yet can stand;
It is
It is
To
a penn with a hole in the toppe,
write betwene her two-leued booke;
a thing both
It is
Yet narrowe
dumb and
blinde,
holies in darke can finde;
It is
a dwarfe in height and length,
And
yet a giannt in his strength;
It is
The
It is
a bachelours button newly

new tobacco pipe;
cutt,
finest
the Zirus that makes dead vse
When
he did
pull
on Vulcans shooes;
A MANS YARD
It is
staffe to
There
is
But that
The
make
on a prettye head,
a Countesse bedd;
never a Ladye in this land

will take it in her hand;
fayrest
For loue of
And
Home
a grafte
that ere tooke
mayd
liffe,
became a weife;
this
every wench, by her owne will,

in her quiuer still.
[it]
Would keepe
When
sturdye stormes arise,
Shall blustering windes appeare:

I finde ofte
With good
You
in ashes heare,
tymes dust
Live kindled coles of
marke
intent,
shall herein
fire.
well
a secrett
my
minde,
find.
\Then follows a kind of rebus:
Oh,
I o o
And
And
Sir,
HI
my
faire misteres,
J
put
then
is
my
my
in
o o into
in,
o,
wag apace,
your mistres then
not to deepe,
and drowne
your
shall
oo
in;
The
y ur thighes,
my
and driue your

Owles, Farewell,
lest if
o o o in
o o
I
thow
my
in
out of his place
wish youi trees
may growe
A MANS YARD
12
like to your homes which make a famus showe,

because they are grafted on a fethei bedd
Therefore, good neighboures, I bid you
Foi
all
haue written nothing but what that
adue,
is
true.
NASH HIS DILDO
13
THE MERIE BALLAD OF NASH

HIS DILDO
[6.
1601]
[By THOMAS NASH; Rawlinson MS. Poet.

leaves 96-106; also Petyt MS. (Inner
216,
Tern-
pk), 538, Vol. 43, f. viii. 295*) hitherto

"
unpublished dedicated in Petyt MS. To the
right Honorable the Lord Southampton)"].
:
Pardon, sweete flower of Machles poesye,

and fairest bud that euer red rose bare,
although
my
presentes
muse, diuert from deepest care,
you with a wanton
Ne blame my
elegie.
verse of loose inchastitye,
for paynting forth the thinges that
hidden be,
only induced with varyetye,

sith
most men marke what
I in
Complayntes and prayses every
speech descrie.
man
can
write,
and passion foorth there loue in statly rime;

but of loues pleasure none did e're indite,
that have succeeded in this latter time.
Accept of
and
it,
deare loue, in gentle parte,
better farr, ere large, shall
honor thee.
C?
THE MERIE BALLAD
14
NASHES DILDO
It
was the merry moneth of February,
when younge men

Rose
in their brauery
in the morning, before breake of daye,
and gaye.
With whome they maye consorte in Somers shene,
and daunce the high degree in our towne greene
to seeke their valentynes soe fresh
And
allso at Ester,
preambulate the
and
at Penticost,
fieldes that florish
most:
And
goe into some village bordering neere,

to tast the Cakes & creame and such good cheere,
To
see a playe of strange morality,
showen by the bachelours of magnaminity,

Whither our Country Franklins flockmeale swarme,
and John and Joane come marching arme in arme.
Even on the Hallowes of that blessed Sainct,
that doth true lovers with those ioyes acquaint,
I went,
to see
[? woe]
But
poore pilgrime, to my Ladyes shrine,

shee would be my valentyne.
if
out, alas, she
was not
to
be found,
she was shifted to another ground

Good Justice Dudgeon, with his crabbed face,
for
with
bills
and staues had scard her from
that place
And
she poore wench, compeld for sanctuary

to fly into a house of Venery.
I, and bouldly made inquire
they had hackneys to lett out to hire,
And what they craud by order of their trade,
Thither went
if
NASH HIS DILDO

to lett
With
me
ride a iourney
younge wenches for to tame,

soothe were my request,
that vsd to take
And
askt me,
u
I
"
a question but in iest?

"
that tenne yt as you
quoth I,
iest,
come
for
game
If that yt be,
Then
For
if
moud
"
In
giue
therefore giue
"
me
quoth shee,
first
in,
that
will,
Gill.
you demaunde,
a godes peny in
doe
to
But he must paye

and then perhaps
I
me my
my
hand;
in our oratory, siccarly,
none enters
I,
iade.
a foggy three-chinde dame,
that, stept forth
or only
on a
15
his deuory,
his affidavit
lie ease
first,
him of
his thirst.
"
seeing her soe earnest for the box,
gaue her her due, and shee the doare vnlockes.

I am entered, sweete Venus be my speede
Nowe
but wheres the female that must doe the deed
Through blind meanders, and through crooked

wayes,
She leads me onward, as
my
author sayes,
came vnto a shady loft

where Venus bouncing vestures skyrmish fought. m
Vntill I
And
there she sett
me
Lether chayre,
of wenches, straight a paire,
in a
and brought me forth,

And bad me choose which might content my eye
but she I sought, I could noe waye espye.
I
spake her
"
but soe yt
faire,
is,
and wisht her
well to fare,
must haue fresher ware
V
i
oftj
THE MERIE BALLAD
dame baud,
Wherefore,
soe dainty as you be,
fetch gentle Mistres Francis vnto
"By Holy dame,"
me."
quoth shee, "and gods one
mother
I well perceaue
For
you are a wyly brother;
there be a morcell of better price,
if
youle find yt out, though I be now soe nice.

As you desire, soe shall you swiue with her
but look, your purse-stringes shall abide yt deere
For he whoole feed on quayles, must lauish crownes,

and Mistres Fraunces, in her velvett gownes,
Her
and perriwigge soe fresh as May,

Cannot be kept for halfe a crowne a daye."
"
Of
ruffe
good
price,
hostes,
although you assize
me
wee
will
not debate,
at the highest rate;
Onely conduct me to this bonny bell,

and tenn good gobletes vnto thee I'le
of gold or siluer, which shall like you
soe
much
Awaye
it
tell,
best,
doe her company request."
she went, soe sweete a worde
makes invasion
Loe, here she comes that hath

sing lullaby,
my
is
golde,
in the strongest holde;
and
cares
my harte in keeping,
fall
a sleeping.
Sweeping she comes, as she would brush the ground

her Ratling silcke my senses doe Confound
Awaye
I
am
must be
"My
ravisht:
"
voyd the chamber
straight vppon her with
Tomalyn," quoth
she,
my
straight,
waight."
and then she smiled:
NASH HIS DILDO

"I, I," quoth
With
When in
I,
and
sighes
men
"soe more
17
are beguiled
woordes and
nattering
your deedes much falshood
teares,
still
apeares."
"As how, my Tomalyn,"

"because
If that
we
will
I in this
be
it
blushing she replied,

dauncing should abide?
that breedes thy discontent,
remove the campe incontinent:
For
shelter only, sweete harte,
and
to
And
since the coast
With
cam
I hither,
avoyd the troublesome stormye weather;
but thy
for,
[? school j
self,
true louers
that she sprungc
and about
my
be gonne,
haue none."
cleare, I will
is
full
lightly to
my
necke she hugges, she
lippes,
culles,
she
clippes,
She wanton faynes, and

and often tosses to and
She shakes her

Oh, whoe
"I come,
softely
is
froe her head;

and waggles with her tongue
And
fingers
theis curtaines heaue,
up
stealing
by degrees,
vnto the feete, and then vnto the knees,

so ascend vnto her manly thigh
a pox on lingering, when I

Smocke, climbe apace, that
all
able to forbeare so longe?
And send me happye

first
vppon the bedd,
come, sweete Ladye, by thy leaue;"
my
feete,
falles
earthly pleasures
Compard be
seeme
i.
may
so nighe!
see
my
ioyes,
to this but toyes,
these delightes which I bchould,
which well might keepe a

MERRY SONGS
come
I
man
from being olde.

2
THE MERIE BALLAD
wombe
prettye rising
without a weiine,
that shinefsl as bright as
And
at
whose decline
christell
still,
besett with rugged briers,
much a duskye
resembling
gemme,
hill,
runnes a fountayne
the[r]
That hath her mouth
any
beares out like the riseing of a
nett of wires:
lusty buttock, barrd with azure vaines,
whose comely swellinge, when my hand restraines,

Or harmles checketh with a wanton gripe,
it
A
it
makes the
fruite
thereof too soone be ripe,
tymely from his springe

can enioye the vsed thinge.
pleasure pluckt to
e're
it
dyes
Godes, that ever any thing soe sweete,
soe suddenly should fade awaye, and fleete!
is,
Her armes and

But
was
all
and
legges
all
were spredd,
vnarmed,
Like one that Quid's cursed hemlocke charmd,

[Pefyt MS.]
my
[So are
Limm's unwealdlie
for the fight,]
that spent there strength in thought of your delight.
What
Yt
shewe
shall I doe, to
will
1 kisse, I clipp, I winck,
Yet
lyes
he dead, not
"
[? silly]
my
selfe
man?
not be, for ought that beauty cann:

I feele at will,
good or ill.
and wilt not staund ?
feeling
By Holly dame (quoth she),

now lett me roule and rub it in my hand!
Perhapps the seely worme hath laboured sore,
and worked soe
Which
if it
that
be, as I
it
cann doe noe more:
doe greately dreade,
NASH HIS DILDO

I wish ten
What
ere
it
thousand times that

be,
noe meanes
That maye avayle
Which
said,
19
weare dead.
shall lack in
mee,
for his recoverye."
she tooke
&
rowld
it
on her
thighe,
and looking downe on it, did groane and sighe

She haundled it, and daunced it vpp and downe,
;
not ceasing till shee raisd it from [the swoune] ;

And then it flewe on her as it were wood,
And on
her breech laboured and foarn'd a good
[/>/>/ MS.]
He
rubd and peirct her euer to the bones,

digging as deepe as he could digg for stones;
Now high, now lowe, now stacking shorte and thicke,

and diving deeper,
Now
peircte her to the quicke;

with a girde he would his course rebate,
then would he take him to a stately gate.

Playe when he liste, and thrust he nere soe hard,
poore patient Grissell lyeth at his ward,

And giues and takes as With and fresh as Maye,
and ever meetes him in the middle of the wayc.
On
her his eyes continually were
fixt;
with his eye-browes, her melting eyes were mixt,
which, like the sunne, betwixt two glasses playes,
from the one to the other casting rebounding rayes.

She like a starr that, to requite his beames,
suckes the influence of sweete Phebus streames,
Imbathes the beames of
his discending light
in the deepest fountaines of the purest

light.
Shee, faire as fairest plannet in the skye,
THE MERIE BALLAD
20
man doth denye

that includes her
chamber
verye
her puritye to noe
The
shine,
seemes as the pallace of the gods devine,

Whoe leades the daye about the Zodiacke,
ge
pSyt MS.}
and
in the even, settes of the
Soe
feirce
and fervent
ocean lake
in her radiaunce,
such flyeing breath she dartes at every glaunce
As mi g nt inflame
the verry
mappe
of age,
and cause pale death him suddenly t'asswage,

stand and gaze vppon those orient lampes,
where Cupid all his ioyes incampes.
And
\petyt
MS.\
[And
That
and plays with euerie atomic

Sunne-beames swarme aboundantlie.]
sitts
in her
Thus striking, thus gazeing, we perseuere

but nought soe sure that will continue ever
"Fleete not soe fast," my ravisht senses cries,
:
"sith
my
Content vppon thy life relyes,

so soone from his delightfull
Which brought
me, vnawares, of
\petyt
MS.}
[Togeather
togeather
lett
lett
blissefull
hope defeates
our equall motions
stirr,
and dye, my deare;]

vs march with one contente
vs Hue
Togeather let
and be consum[e]d without languishmente.
As she
seates,
prescribed, soe keepe
and euery stroake
in
we
clocke
"
and
time,
order like a chime.
Soe shee that here preferd
me by
her pyttye,
vnto our musicke framd a groaning dyttye

"
Alas, alas, that lone should be a sinne
!
NASH HIS DILDO
21
and sorrows doe beginne

Hould wyde thy lappe, my louely Danae,
and entertaine this golden showry see,
That drisling fall[s] into thy treasurye:"
even now
my
ioys
sweet Aprill flowers not halfe soe pleasaunt be,
Nor NUus
as
overflowinge Egipt playne,

all her woombe destreynes.
the balme that
is
"Now, oh now," she
trickling
moues her
lippes,
she lightly startes and skippes

She yerkes her legges, and fresketh with her heeles
noe tongue can tell the pleasures that she feeles.
and often
to
and
fro
come, sweete death, rocke mee a-sleepe

"
sleepe, sleepe, desire, intombe me in the deepe
I
come,
"Not
"
soe,
deare and dearest," she reply ed:
my
this pleasure must not glide,

[? sweete]
Vntill the sinnowie Chambers of our blood
from vs two
withould themselves from
And
then
Dissolued
The
and
we
will,
lye, as
ncwe prisoned flood

come soe soone,
;
thoughe our dayes were done.
whilest I speke,
life
this
that then will
my
soule
is
"
stealing hence,
forsakes his earthly residence
14
Staye but one houre, an houre is not soe much,

nay, half an houre and if thy haste be such,
Naye, but a quarter, I will aske noe more,
:
that thy departure,
which torments
May now be lengthened by a

and take awaye
He
heares
me
this passions
me
sore,
litle
pawse,
suddaine cause.
not; hard harted as he
is,
[MS. i]
THE MERIE BALLAD
22
[? hates]
he
is
the scorne of time, angl hath
Time nere
lookes backe
my
blisse:
the riuer nere returnes ;
a second spring must helpe, or elles I burne

[No, no, the well is dry that should refresh me,
:
\Petyt -vs.]
The
glasse
runne of
is
all
my
destinie:
Nature, of winter leauneth, nigardize,

Who, as he ouerbeares the streame with ice
That
So
man
nor beaste maie of their pleasance

up hir conduit all in haste,
taste,
shutts she
And
not
will
Least mortall
let
her Nectar ouerflowe,
man
immortall ioyes should knowe.
Adieu, unconstant loue, to thy disporte;

Adieu, false mirth, and melodies too shorte
Adieu, faint-hearted instrument of
That
falsely
Hensforth
Or thee
lust,
hath betrayde our equale
trust.]
noe more implore thine ayde,

euer of Cowardice shall vpprayd:
I will
for
dildoe shall supplye your kinde,

My
a youth that is as light as leaues in winde:
He bendeth not, nor fouldeth any deale,
little
but standes as
\Pety t A/S.]
[And playes
at
stiffe
as
he were made of
peacock twixt
my
steele;
leggs right blithe
And doeth my tickling swage with manie a sighe ;]

And when I will, he doth refresh me well,
and neuer makes
my
tender belly swell."
Poore Priapus, thy kingdom needes must fall,

eccept thou thrust this weakling to the wall;
Behould how he vsurpes
in
bed and bower,
NASH HIS DILDO
23
and vndermines thy kingdome euery hower:

And slyly creepes betwene the barke and tree,
and suckes the sap while sleepe deteyneth thee:
He
is
my
and soone
Mistres lake at euery sound,

will tent
/lr<x/
3/?.]~
a deepe intrenched wound;
He waytes on courtly nimphs that are full coye,

and bids them scorne the blind alluring boye;
[He
giues
yong
guirls
their
gamesome
suste-
[/v/y/ .vs.]
nance,
And
He
euerie gaping
mouth
his full sufficiance.]
fortifyes disdayne with foraigne artes,
while wantons chast delude

If
any wight a
And
all
loving hartes.
cruell Mistres serue,
deeply pyne and sterue,

Eunicke
sencelesse counterfeit,
dilldo,
[Curse
Who sooth maie fill, but neuer can begett:
But
in dispaire full
if
[/v/y/ MS.]
revenge enraged with dispaire,

his wellfare should impaire,]
That such a dwarf
Would
let
He
faine this
woemans
secretary knowe,
him attend the markes that
I shall
showe:
a youth almost two handfulles high;

straight, round, and plump, and having but one eye,
Wherein the rheume soe fervently doth raine,
is
the Stigian gulfe can scarce his teares conteyne
Running sometymes in thicke congealed glasse,

where he more like, downe into hell would passe
An arme
Vpon
him guides;
strong guider stedfastly

a chariot of fiue wheeles he
rides,
THE MERIE BALLAD
24
Attird in white velvet or in silke,
And
And
norisht with
warme water
or with milke,
often alters pace as waves growe deepe;

whoe, in places vnknowne, one pace can keepe
Sometymes he smothly slippeth downe a hill;
for
some other tymes, the stones

[?
piasheth]
his feete
doe
kill;
In clayey wayes he treadeth by and by,

and placeth himself and all that standeth by
Soe
fares this royall rider in his race,
plunging and sowsing forward in like case,

Bedasht, bespotted, and beplotted foule
god giue thee shame, thou foule mishapen owle

But free from greife a ladyes chamberleyne,
and canst thou not thy
tatling
tongue refrayne ?
beware of
I tell the beardlesse blabb,
stripes,
and be advisd what thou soe vainely pipst;

If Illian queene knowe of thy brauery heere,
thou shouldst be whipt with nettles for thie geere.
Saint Dennis sheild me from such femall sprightes
regard not, dames, what Cupids poett writes:

I
pen
this story
onely for
my
selfe;
and, giving yt to such an actuall
Am
quite discoraged in
sinse
I
am
all
my
my
elfe,
musery,
store to her seemes misery.
not as was Hercules the stout,
that to
the seauenth lourny could hould out;
I wantes those hearbes
that strengthen
and rootes of Indian
weary members
soyle,
in their toyle,
NASH HIS DILDO

Or drugges
that shame
newe
or electuaryes of
my
and tremble
purse,
25
devises,
at thie prices.
paid of both, [the] scott and lott allmost,

yet looke as lanke and leane as any ghost;
I
For that
allwayes had,
which, for a poore man,
is
what cann be added more

she lyeth breathlesse;
The waves doe swell,
am
payd the wole,

a princely dole
my renowne?
to
taken downe;
the tide climes orethebankes;
Judge, gentleweomen, doth thisdeseruenothankes?

And soe, good night vnto you, euery one;
For
loe,
our thred
[Thus hath
Oh
is
spunne, our playes done.
my penne prcsum'd
to please
my
friend
mighst thou lykewise please Apollo's eye.
No, Honor brookes no such irapietie,

Yett Ouid's wanton muse did not offend.
He
the
is
fountaine
whence
my
streames doe
flowe
Forgive
Alike to
me if I
women
speak as
was taught,
utter all I
knowe,
As longing to unlade so bad a fraught.
My mynde once purg'd of such lascivious
With
Ihy
That
purifide
words and hallowed
praises in large
volumes
witt,
verse,
shall rehearse
maie thy grauer view befitt.

Meanwhile ytt rests, you smile at what I write
Or
better
for attempting banish
me
your
sight.]
[P*fyt
THOMAS YOU CANNOTT
26
THOMAS YOU CANNOTT

[f.
1603-5]
page 52 1 of MS. Music

inCHAPPELl/s Popular Music of'the Olden Time,
i.
337 the words exist only in this MS.].
[Percy Folio Manuscript,

:
a tagged
point
lace to fasten the
Thomas vntyed
his points apace,
&
kindly hee beseeches

thai shee wold giue him time
ffor to
vntye
&
"Content, Content, Content!"
he downe wrth
&
space
his breeches.
shee cryes.
his breeches imedyatlye,
ouer her belly he Cast his thye.
But then shee Cryes

Cannott
"
Thomas
you Cannott, you
Thomas,
Thomas,
like
lay close
Thomas, you Cannott!"
a liuely ladd,
downe by her
side:
he had the worst Courage

in conscience, the
thai euer
had man;
pore ffoole Cryed.
THOMAS YOU CANNOTT
27
But then he gott some Courage againe,

he crept vpon her belly amaine,
&
&
thought to haue
But then shee Cryes
Cannott
hitt
u
her in the right vaine;
Thomas
you Cannott, you
Thomas,
Thomas, you Cannott
"
!
This maid was discontented in mind,
&
thai
angry was with Thomas,

he the time soe long had space,
&
cold not p^forme his promise,

he promised her a thing, 2 handfull att
made
maid glad of such a

but shee Cold not gett an Inch for a
-which
this
wAich made her cry

Cannott!
Thomas,
least,
fleast;
tast,
Thom<w! you Cannott, you
Thomas, you Cannott!
Thomas went
&
thai
till
to Venus, the goddesse of loue,

he
did pray,
hartily
this ffaire maid might constant proue
he performed what he did say.

& mind they both wce[r]e content;
in hart
but ere he
came
which made
att her, his
courage was spent,
maid grow discontent,

and angry was w/'th Thomas, w/'th Thomas,
and angry was with Thomas.
Vulcan
they
&
all
this
venus, with
Mars
&
Apollo,
4 swore they wold ayd him;
THOMAS YOU CANNOTT
28
Mars
lent
him
&
his buckler
and downe by her
side
vulcan
he
h[is
hamwer,]
laid him.
[Page 522, a fragment apart from the MS.]
then
but
all
her body qu(?)
he tickled
&
&
then
Cryes
then shee
Cryes
mayd wa
thai ffortune
fTull
oft
her, laid(?)
shee
This
had
lent hi
Tho[mas]
....
he had beene
yett neuer cold stop
he tickeled her tuch
he made her
&
&
&
to tr
Thomas was
then
shee
then shee
glad he
...
"
cryes
"
cryes
....
WHO
WHO
IS
IS
TO MARRY ME ?
29
TO MARRY ME?
1609]
[b.
[These words arc set to music in Ayres by ALFONSO
FERRABOSCO,
viiij.
Younge and simple though I am,

I haue hearde of Cupids name;
what thinge it is,
desire when they doe kisse.
Guesse
Men
I can,
Smoake can neuer
burnc, they say;
But the flame that
followes,
I am not so foule
To be proude, or
Yet
my
Men
As
lipps
may.
or fayre,
to dispaire;
haue
oft obseru'd,
that kisse them, presse
them hard,
glad louers vse to doe
When
there
Faithe,
Yet
Like
me
'tis
newe met loues they wooe.
but a foolishe minde;
thinkes, a heate I finde,
thirst longing, that
Euer one
my
Where they
weaker
say
Venus grante
it
my
doth bide
side,
harte doth
be not loue
moue:
WHO
30
If
it
IS
be, alias
TO MARRY ME ?
what then,
Were not Women made for men?

As good 'tis, a thing were past,
That must needes be done
at last,
Roses that are ouerblowne,
Growe
lesse sweete, then fall alone.
Yet noe Churle nor

Shall
my maiden
Who
shall
Whoe
This
silken Gull,
blossome
pull,
not I soone can
shall, I
would
know who
tell:
I could as well.
ere hee be,
Loue hee must, or
flatter
mee.
Marryed Wyues may take and leaue;
Where
they please, refuse, receaue;
Wee poore Maydes must not doe soe;

Wee must answer yea with noe;
Wee seeme strange, coye, and curste,
And faine wee would doe, if wee durst.
THE COURTEOUS KNIGHT
31

[1609]
\Deuttrotnelia (with music)
Knight
ii.
or
The Ladys
1609;
Policy
"The
cf.
Baffled
"
(Rox. Ballads,
281)].
Yonder comes a courteous Knight,

Lustily raking over the lay,
He
was well ware of a bonny
As she came wandering over

Then she sang down a down,
Hey down derry.
Then she sang down a down,
Hey down
Amongst
the way:
derry.
Jove you speed,

If I
lass,
fair
Lady, he
said,
the leaves that be so green;
were a King, and wore a Crown,
Full soon fair Lady, should thou be a Queen.
Then she sang down a down, &c.

Also Jove save you, fair Lady,
Among the Roses that be so red;
If I have not
my will of you,
Full
soon
fair
Lady,
shall I
be dead.
32
Then he
lookt East, then he lookt West,
He lookt North,
He could not find
so did he South:
a privy place,
For all lay in the Devil's mouth.
If
you will carry me gentle

maid unto my father's
Then you
Sir,
hall;
have your will of me

Under purple and under Pall.
He set
And
And
shall
her upon a steed,
himself upon another;

all the day he rode her by,
As
tho' they
had been
and brother.
sister
When
It
she came to her fathers
hall,
was well walled round about;
She rode
And
in at the wicket gate,
shut the four ear'd fool without.
You had me
Among
(quoth she) abroad hi the

the com, amidst the hay,
Where you might had your

For, in
good
will
field,
of me,
faith Sir, I ne'er said nay.
Then she sang down
a down, &c.

You had me
Among
also
amid the
field,
the rushes that were so brown;
Where you might had your
will
of me,
But you had not the face to lay
me down.
He
pulTd out his nut-brown sword,
And wip'd the rust off with his sleeve:

And said; Joves Curse come to his heart,
Woman
That any
would
believe.
When you
have your own true
mile or twain out of the
love,
Town,
Spare not for her gay cloathing,

But lay her body flat on the ground.
"s
IT SONGS
I.
33
34
HEE THAT HATH NO MISTRESSE
HEE THAT HATH NO MISTRESSE

[1610]
[From Ayres by W. CORKJNE].
Hee
that hath
no
mistresse,
must not weare a fauor,

he that wooes a
mistris,
must serue before he haue
her,
he that hath no bedfellow,
must
lie
alone,
And he that hath no Lady,

must be content with lone,
and so must I,
alas
my
for
why
my
False Cupid
loue and I are parted,

I will
and haue thy mother
haue the whipt,

carted.
VENUS, MARS,
AND CUPID
35
VENUS, MARS, AND CUPID

MS.
[Rawl.
Upon
[c.
161020]
Poet.
1335,
a certaine day,
leaf
31
back].
when Mars and Venus met
together,
shady bower, wheras she did
All in a
thether
him
But when as Cupid did espy Mars

so narrow
He
invite
hit the
mark
could not abide, but out he cryed
"Come
of[f]
of
my
mother, Sirrah!**
"Peace, boy!" quoth he, "and give consent, for

Venus is a woman,
born to give the world content, and discontent

to no man.
Se how
I hold her in
mine armes," the boy thought
he had run her through;
And
then cryed the lad, as if he had bin mad,

"
Come of[f] of my mother, Sirrah, Sirrah
!
Come
"I pray
of[f]
of
the, Cupid,
hurt thy mother;
my
mother Sirrah
hold thy peace;
"
!
I will
not
VENUS, MARS, AND CUPID
36
Her
smiles keep
content
If
thou
is
will
the world at ease;
all
all
dis-
ded.
me
give
leave to draw
my
golden
headed arrow,
He
give thee a groat," "all's one for that,
Come
Come
"Peace,
of[f]of
of[f]
my mother, Sirrah, Sirrah!

my mother Sirrah!"
of
boy!" quoth Venus,
furious
this
is
Mars the
god of batle;
All
the heavenly plannets him obey, then cease
He
is
"
thy needless pratle.

a god, and will comand hee'l neither beg
nor borrow."
;
Be he god
Come
Come
divil, let
of[f]
of
of[f]
of
She tooke the
"Mars
or
my
my
his rage
is
mother Sirrah!"
kist his
cheek, saying
over;
His friends that we
He
civill
mother, Sirrah, Sirrah!
and
child,
him be more
all must keep; se, nothing

thou discover;
will not stay to trouble thee, heel go from
hence to-morrow."
"I care not,
Come
Come
I; let
him go by and by,
of[f]
of
of[f]
of
my
my
mother, Sirrah
mother, Sirrah
!"
COME
NARCISSUS,
KISS US!
NARCISSUS, COME KISS
MS.
Poet.
US!
161050]
[c.
[Rawl.
Ane
also
Pleasant Garden}.
As I was a walking, I cannot tell where,

Nor whither, in verse or in prose;
Nor know I the meaning, altho' they all
Even, as
were, under
it
my
come
Narcissus,
There came
With
It
was a
would
it
come
Some shaked
it
All loved
it,
cried,
it
cannot
in his
had
it
where,
sense,
lustily stand.
kiss us,
all
cried,
and love us beside."
some stroked
as honey,
it,
some
kiss'd
[it's
and none were
come
kiss us,
all
it,
said,
afraid,
their bodily need.
ever and ever the ladies
"Narcissus,
tell
"
hand;
little
looked so lovely indeed,
Because of
Then
what
"Narcissus,
For
a lad from
tell
all
and love us beside.
kiss us,
fine thing, tho'
But yet
Then
in
cannot
sate,
nose.
But ever and ever the ladies

44
37
cried,
NARCISSUS,
38
At length he did put

(I
cannot
tell
were
COME
KISS US!
his pretty fine toy
'twas) below,
Into one of these ladies, I cannot
tell
why,
Nor wherefore, that he should do so.

Then ever and ever the ladies all cried,
come
"Narcissus,
But when these
kiss us,
fair ladies
had sported
all
night,
And rifled Dame Nature's scant store;

And pleasured themselves with Venus' delight,
Till
Then
"
the youth could hardly do more.
and ever the
ever
come
Narcissus,
The
ladies the
But alace!
his
When
full
These
Still
"
story to
their bellies
tell,
what they
began
Lucina
To
come
in pity
cese
kiss us,
little
all cried,
then sent them her
them
of
all
desired,
for to swell.
Narcissus,
heat,
ladies all cried,
kiss us,
ladies did get
For
new
his power.
weeks were expired,
forty
pitiful
a flower;
like
desire a
was out of
come
Narcissus,
head
more did
it
But ever and ever the

"
lad being tired, began to retreat,
And hang down

The
ladies all cried,
kiss us,
aid,
their sorrow;
NARCISSUS,
But when these
They
still
COME
fair ladies
KISS US!
were once brought
39
to bed,
had the same mind tomorrow.
And
M
dandling theii babies they rantingly cried,

"
Narcissus, shant miss us, and be by our side
!
40
THE COURTIERS GOOD MORROW
THE COURTIERS GOOD MORROW TO

HIS MISTRIS
[1611]
[From THOMAS RAVENSCROFT'S Melismatd\.

Canst thou loue, and
Loue
is
loue
so,
Pleasure
is
best,
is
lie
alone,
so disgraced:
wherein
is
rest
In a heart embraced.
Rise, rise, rise,
Day-light doe not burn out,

Bels doe ring,
And
Birdes doe sing,
Onely
I that
mourne
out.
Morning Starre doth now appeare,

Wind is husht, and skies clearer
Come come
away, come come away,

Canst thou loue and burne out day?
Rise, rise, rise, rise,
Day-light doe not burne out,

Bels doe ring,
Birds doe sing,
Onely
I that
mourne
out.
ROOM FOR A JOVIAL TINKER
41
ROOM FOR A JOVIAL TINKER: OLD

BRASS TO MEND
1616]
[c.
Here
is
a Tinker
of mettle,
full
The which can mend
pot, pan, or Kettle;
For stopping of holes is his delight,

His work goes forward day and night.
If there be any women brave
Whose Coldrons need of mending have,
Send for this Tinker nere deny him,
He'l do your work well if you try him.
A proof of him Tie forthwith show,
'Cause you his workmanship may know.
[Rox.
Ballads,
230: cf
iii.
Merry Drollery
Behold
the
(ibio),
"The Tinker" from

impost: tune,
p.
man &cl
was a Lady of the North she lov'd a Gentleman,

And knew not well what course to take, to use
It
him now and
than.
Wherefore she writ a
Letter,
and
seal'd
it
with
her hand,
And
bid him be a
Tinker,
to
mend
both pot
and pan,
With a hey ho, hey, deny deny down; with hey

trey, down down, deny.
42
And when
the merry Gentleman the Letter he
did read,
He
got a budget on his back, and

all
Apron with
speed,
His pretty shears and
pincers, so well they did
agree,
With a long pike
staff
upon
his back,
came tripping
o're the Lee.
With a hey ho, hey, deny deny down with hey

;
down down, deny.
trey,
When he came
to the Ladye's house,
he knocked
at the gate,
Then answered
this
Lady
gay,
"Who
knocketh
there so late?"
"Tis
I,
Madam,"
the Tinker said, "I work for
gold and fee:
you have any broken pots or pans, come

bring them all to me."
If
With a hey
trey,
"
If
ho, hey,
deny deny down;
with hey
down down, deny.
am the bravest Tinker that lives beneath the Sun,

you have any work
to do,
you
shall
have
it
well done;
I
have brasse within

under
I'm
my
my
budget, and punching
Apron,
come unto your Ladyship, and mean
mend your
Coldron."
to
43
With a hey ho, hey, derry derry down; with hey

trey, down down, derry.
"
said
prethee,"
the
Lady
"
bring
gay,
now
in
thy budget
have store of work
thee to do,
for
once begin."
when the Tinker he came
if
thou
wilt
Now
in,
that did the
budget bear,
"God
quoth he, "your Ladyship!
blesse,"
Madam
save you
God
fair."
With hey ho, hey, derry derry down; with hey

But when
Lady knew
the
his
face,
she then
she,
"to fetch
began to wink,
"Hast, lusty Butler!" then quoth
the
man some
drink.
Give him such meat as we do
we do
It
is
not
eat,
and drink
as
use,
for
Tinker's
Trad good
liquor to
refuse."

trey down down, derry.
But when that he had eat and drunk, the truth
of
all
is
so,
The Lady took him by

him
to show,
the sleeve, her
work
to
ROOM FOR A
44
"
JOVIAI TINKER
"
Let up
thy Tools, Tinker,
see there be
none
quoth she,
"
and
lost,
And mend my Kettle

doth me cost."
handsomely, what ere
it

trey,
down down,
"Your work, Madam,

will
pay
me
If I
be well done,
shall
if
you
for't;
For every nayl that
me
derry.
do
drive,
you
shall give
a mark.
do not drive the nayl

nothing for
my
to th'head, Tie
have
pain,
And what I do receive of you shall be return'd again. "

trey, down down, derry.
At
last
being
come
into the
Room, where he
the
work should do,
The Lady
lay
down on
the bed,
so
did the
Tinker too:
Although the Tinker knockt amain, the Lady was

not offended,
But before that she rose from the bed, her Coldron
was well mended.

trey,
down down, deny.

But when
work was
his
at
45
an end, which he did
in the dark,
She put her hand
into her purse
and gave him
twenty mark,
"Heres mony
for
thank thee
"and
thy work," said she,
for thy pain,
And when my Coldron mending
lacks Tie send
for thee again."
With hey
with hey
ho, hey, deny deny down;

down down, deny.
trey,
The Tinker he was
well content for that
which
he had done,
So took
his
budget on his back, and quickly he
was gone.
Then
the
Lady
to her
husband went,
"
O my
dear
Lord," quoth she,

I
have
set the bravest
Tinker at work that ever
did see."
you
With hey
trey,
44
No
fault
ho, hey, derry
down down,
at all this
deny down; with hey
derry.
Tinker hath, but he takes
dear for his work,
That
little
time that he wrought here
it
cost
me
twenty mark.*
"If you had been so wise," quoth he, "for to

have held your own,
46
Before you set him to
this
work the price you
might have known."
With hey ho, hey, deny deny down; with hey

"Pray hold your peace, my Lord," quoth
"
and think it not too dear.
If
you
forty
With
she,
cou'd doo't so well 'twould save you

pound a year."
that the
Lord most
lovingly, to
make
all
things amends,
He
kindly kist his
were
Lady
gay,
and so they both
friends.
With hey ho, hey, deny deny down; with hey

trey,
down down, deny.
You merry
Tinkers,
every one, that hear this
new-made Sonnet,
When
you do a Lady's work be sure you

upon it;
Drive home your nayls to the very head, and
do your work profoundly,
as
think
And
then no doubt your Mistresses

for
it
will
pay you
soundly.
With hey ho, hey, derry deny down; with hey

trey,
down down,
derry.
O JOLLY ROBIN
47
JOLLY ROBIN
[c.
162050]
\Ptrcy Folio Manuscript, page 95 of MS.].
"O
lolly Robin, hold thy
am
hande!
not tyde
Cupids bande;
pray thee leaue thy foolinge, heyda!
by my faith & troth I cannot: heyda,
I
in
fie!
what? doe you meane to be soe bold?

I must cry out! I cannot holde: heyda,
"
"
what a deale of doe

1
is
is
here,
here,
is
fie!"
'
here
begin to fainta!
heyda, fye!
"what was
oh! oh! oh! oh!"

thai
you sayd?
heyda! heyda! heyda! heyda!

you will neuer leaue till I be paide."
"
lolly Robin,
doe thy worst
thou canst not make
my
belly burst.
"
pray thee leaue thy fooling heyda
"by my faith & troth I cannot: heyda,
"what? doe you meane

I
"
"
to vse
me
fie!
soe?
pray thee Robin let me goe: heyda, fye!"

what a deale of doe is heere, is heere, is heere
I
begin to fainta
'
48
O JOLLY ROBIN
heyda, fye! oh! oh! oh! oh!
"what was
thai
you sayd?
heyda! heyda! heyda! heyda!

you will neuer leaue till I be paide."
WHEN PHEBUS ADDREST
49
WHEN PHEBUS ADDREST

[f.
162050]
[Percy Folio Manuscript page 96 of MS.; probably the earliest copy known].
t
When
&
Phebus addrest himselfc
set
vp
to the west,
his rest below,
Cynthia agreed
her bewtie on
in
her gliteringe weede
me
to bestow;
&
"
walking alone, attended by none,

by chance I hard one crye
O doe not, doe not, kill me yett,
for I
am
W/'th that
"
not prepared to dye

I
drew neare
to see
&
to heare,
&
strange did appeare such a showe;

the Moone it was bright, & gaue such a light
as
not each wight to know:
ffitts
man &
Mayd
together were Laid,
& eu*r the mayd shee did cry,

"
O doe not, doe not, kill me yet,
for I
am
not resolued to dye
The youth was
&
to
I,
"
!
rough, he tooke vp her

blindmans buffe they did goe;
MKRRV SONGS
I.
stuffe,
WHEN PHEBUS \DDREST
50
hee kept such a coyle, he gaue her the
foyle,
soe great the broyle it did growe.

but shee was soe yonge, & he was soe stronge,
& he left her not

"O doe not, doe not,
till
for I
am
wz'th that
kill
me
yett,
"
not resolued to dye
he gaue
he wold
shee did crye,
kill
ore,
&
solemplye swore
her noe more that night,
but badd her adew:
full litle
he knew
shee wold tempt him to more delight.

But when they shold part, it went to her hart,
& gaue her more cause

"O kill me, kill me, once
ffor
Now
am
for to crye,
againe,
willing to
"
dye
FRYAR AND BOYE
51
FRYAR AND BOYE

162050]
[c.
104 of MS.:
Folio Manuscript, p.
completes! copy known].
[Percy
That god
&
that
dyed
the
for vs all
dranke both vinigar
&
gall,
bringe vs out of balle,
and giue them both good life & longe

wA/ch listen doe vnto my songe,
or tend vnto ray talle!
there dwelt a
wA/ch
in his
a blessing
By
the
first
man
full
in
my
countrye
had wiues
life
3,
of loye!
wife a sonne
he had,
w^/ch was a prettye sturdye ladde,

a good vnhappy boye.
His father loued him
well,
but his stepmother neuefr] a deale,

I tell
you as
thinke,
All things shee thought lost,

to the
by the roode,
boy did anye good,
as either meate or drinke;
"^,"
FRYAR AND BOYE
52
And yet I-wis it was but badde,

nor halfe enouge therof he hade,
but euermore the worst;
And
therfore euill might shee fare,
that did the
litle
boy such
care,
soe forth as shee durst.
Vnto the man the

"
wiffe gan say,

wold you wold put this boy awaye,
& that right soone in haste;
Trulie he
I
is
a cursed ladde!
wold some other
Then
said the
I will
not
he
Hee
man him hade
wold him better chast."
that
*>. chasten
is
goodman, "dame, not
shall this yeere wz'th
me abyde
he be growne more strong

ffor to win better wage:
till
"Wee haue a man, a sturdie

w&ch keepeth our neate the
&
soe,
the yonge boy goe,

but tender of age;
lett
sleepeth
all
&
lout,
feilds
about,
the day,
Hee shall come home, as god me

and the Boy shall into the feild
to keepe them if hee may."
Then sayd
tryde
the wiffe in verament,
"husband, therto I giue consent,
sheeld,
FRYAR AND BOYE

for thai I thinke
neede."
it
On
the
Morrow when
it
the
litle
boy, went on
his
vnto the
Off noe
feild w/'th
was day,
way
speede.
man hee
tooke anye care,

hey ho away the Mare
much mirth he did pursue;
"
"
but song
hee went w/'th might & maine

he came vnto the plaine,
fforth
vntill
where he
his dinner drew.
But when he saw

full
53
litle
but put
it
it
from
was soe bad,
he had,
therto
list
sight,
Saying he had noe
list
but thai his hunger
still
hee came
till
And
home
to tast,
shold
last
att Night.
boy sate on a hill,

came an old man him vntill,
as the
there
was walking by the way;

"Sonne," he said, "god thee see!"
"
now welcome,
the
The
little
old
father,
boy gan
man
say.
"
sayd,
may you bee
hunger sore
then hast thou any meate in store

w^/ch thou mightest giue to me ?
"
"
!
FRYAR AND BOYE
54
The
"soe god
child reply ed,
me
saue!
to such poore victualls as I haue,
welcome
right
Of
the old
this
boy drew
the
&
The
shall
man was
he eate
gladd,
he hadd,
gladlie."
man easie was to please,

& made himselfe att ease,
saying, "sonne,
god amercye!
"Sonne," he sayd,
&
full
forth such as
sayd "goe to
old
you be."
"
thou hast giuen meate to me,
I will giue 3 things to thee,
what ere thou
Then sayd
thai
wilt intreat."
the boy, "tis best, I trow,
yee bestow on
me
wzth w^'ch I burds
"A
bow,
my
bowe
may
sonne, I
gett."
thee giue,
will
the wfoch shall Last while thou dost
was neuer bow more

ffor if
thou shoot therin
fitt!
all
day,
waking or winking, or anye waye,

the marke thou shalt hitt."
Now when
&
the
bowe
in
hand he
had the arrowes vnder
he laught I-wiss,
"
had I a pipe w/th-all,
sayd,
hartilye
And
felt,
his belt,
liue,
FRYAR AND BOYE

tho neuer
I
"A
wishe."
my
Musicke soe
in true
haue
Hues
thai
shall
alsoe,
goe
doubt-
put thee out of
As who
shall
or soe small,
all
pipe, sonne, thou shall
w^/ch
I
litle
then had
&
shall
it
heare,
haue noe power to forbeare,
but laugh
"Now
tell
&
leape about.
me what
the 3 d . shalbee;
for 3 things I will giue to thee
as I
haue sayd before."
The boy
then smiling, answere made,
"I haue enough for my pore

I will desire noe more.**
The
old
man
sayd, "ray troth
haue
thou shalt
all
trade,
is
plight,
thee benight;
say on now, let me see."

"Att home I haue," the boy replyde,
*
a cruell step dame full of pride,
who
is
most curst to mee;
"when meate my
father giues to race,
shee wishes poyson
and
stares
me
it
might bee,
in the face:
shee gazeth on me soe,

wold shee might a rapp let goe
Now when
I
thai
might ring through the place."
55
FRYAR AND BOYE
56
The
man answered
old
then anon,
"when-ere shee lookes thy face vpon,

her tayle shall wind the home
Soe Lowdlye, thai who shold
shall not be able to forbeare,
heare
it
but laugh her vnto scorne.

"
"
Soe, farwell sonne
god keepe
"
I take
"
you, Sir
my
"
leaue of thee
keepe thee save both night

"
gramercy, sonne
When
"
!
as
may
&
"
day
grew neere vpon the night,
it
was
And
home
full
right ;-
his ordinance;
he went
his pipe did blow,
the whilest his cattell on a row
about him gan to dance;
Thus
to the
towne he pipt
full
his skipping beasts did ffollow
trim,
him
into his ffathers close.
went & put them [up] each one;

w/wch done, he homewards went anon;
vnto his fathers hall he gooes.
He
His
&
fifather att his
litle
sayd hee.
lacke, well pr<?pared, hied

itt
cryed
the boy replyed,
thai blest of all things,
God,
man
the old
supper
lacke espyed well
sate,
thatt,
FRYAR AND BOYE

and
said to
"father,
all
him anon,
"
&
am
day
at night I pray
I
57
kept your neate,
you giue me some meate,
hungrye, by Saint lohn!
Meateless I haue lyen
the day,
all
kept your beasts, they did not stray;
My
dinner was but
ill."
His (father tooke a Capon winge,

& at the boy he did it fling,
bidding him eate his
fill.
This greeued his stepdames hart
who
lothed the Lack!
still
more
full
&
sore,
more;
shee stared him in the face:

w/th thai shee
thai
itt
made
let
goe such a blast
the people
all
agast,
sounded through Me place;
Each one laught
& made
good game,
but the curst wife grew red for shame

and wisht shee had beene gone.
"Perdy," the boy sayd, "well I wott

gun was both well charged and shott,
and might haue broke a stone."
thai
ffull
curstlye shee lookt
on him tho;
thai looke another cracke lett
wA/ch did a thunder

Quolti the boy, "did
goe
rise.
you euer see
FRYAR AND POYE
58
a
woman
More
thicke
"
"
ffye
her pelletts flee
let
temper yowr
w/fczch
teltale
made her
"Dame,"
why,
said the
is
bum/w,
full
his
dame,
for
shame
"
!
of sorrow.
goodman, "goe thy way,
I sweare,
thy geere
at ease?
boy vnto
said the
"
for
and more
by night nor day
not to borrow."
Now afterwards, as you shall heare,

Vnto the house there came a fryar,
&
lay there
the night.
all
The
wiffe this fryer loued as a Saint,
and
to
him made a
great complaint
of lackes most vile despight.
"We
haue," quoth shee, "wz'thin, I-wis,
a wiced boy,
w/ch doth
none shrewder
me
is,
mighty care;
dare not looke vpon his face,

or hardly tell my shamefull case,
I
soe
filthylie
I fare;
"for gods loue meet this boy to-morrow,
beat him well,
&
giue
him sorrow,
and make him blind or lame."
The
fryar
swore he wold him beat,
the wiffe prayd him not to forgett,

the boy did her
much shame:
FRYAR AND BOYE

quoih shee, "I smell."
him well!
but,
qwoth the fryar, "He beat
of thai take you noe care;
"Some wiche he
44
59
is,"
"
He
teach him witchcraft,
"O," qwth
&
on
lay
the wiffe,
if I
"doe
may."
soe, I pray,
doe not spare."
Early next raorne the boy arose,

& to the field full soone he goes,
his cattell for to driue.
The
fryer then vp as early gatt,

was
he
afrayd to come to late,
he ran full fast & blythe.
But when he came vnto the land,
he found where
litle
lacke did stand,
keeping his beasts alone.

boy," he said, "god giue thee shame!
what hast thou done to thy stepdame?
"Now,
tell
me
"
And
if
will
forthwith anon!
thou canst not quitt thee

He beate thee till thy body swell,
not longer byde."
The boy
replyed,
ray stepdame
is
"what ayleth thee?
as well as thee;
what needs you thus
"Come,
and
well,
hitt
will
yon
you see
to
my
Chyde?
arrow
flye
small bird in the eye,
FRYAR AND BOYE
60
&
S/'r
other things w/thall?
tho I haue
fryer,
yett yonder bird I
&
giue her
There
hitt
the bird vpon the head

fell
downe
noe further cold shee

ffast to
&
hand hee
much wondering at the

Meane while lacke tooke
soe lowd, the fryar grew
Now
fell
to skip
hent,
chance.
his pipe
mad
The
&
playd
apaide,
and dance;
sooner was the pipes sound heard,
but Bedlam
&
for dead,
flee.
the bush the fryar went,
vp the bird in
&
fryer,
long to see."
soe right thai shee
on
to hitt,
I shall."
you wagg," then sayd the
shoot,
"for that
laid hold
witt,
sate a small birde in a bryar:
"Shoot,
lacke
you
litle
meane
like he bou[n] cet

the
bush about;
leapt
&
fared,
sharpe bryars cacth him by the face,

& other place,
and by the breech

thai fast the
blood ran out;
It tare his clothes

cowl
garment
downe
to the skirt,
his cope, his coole, his linen shirt,
&
The
euery other wcedc.

thornes this while were rough and thicke,
FRYAR AND BOYE

&
did his priuy

thai fast they
members
61
pricke,
gan to bleede.
lacke, as he piped, laught
amonge
at intcrval3
;
the fryar w/th bryars was vildlyc stunge,
he hopped wonderous hye.

Att
&
last
Oh!
the fryar held vp his hand,

"
said,
I
can noe longer stand
shall
dancing dye!
"Gentle lacke, thy pipe hold

& here I vow for goode nor
to
still,
ill
doe thee any woe!**
lacke laug[h]ing, to him thus rcplycd,

"fryer, sckipp out on the other side,
thou hast free leaue to goe."
Out of the bush the
fryar then went,
Martird, raggd, scratcht
all
&
&
rent,
torne on euery side;
Hardly on him was left a clout

wrap his belly round about,
to
his harlotrye to hide.
The
thornes had scratcht him by the face,
the hands, the thighes,
he was
all
Soe much,
for feare of
bathed
thai
who
him was
thinking he
in
&
euery place,
bloode
the fryar did see,

faine to flee,
had beene woode.
FRYAR AND BOYE
62
When to the good wife home he came,

he made noe bragge for verry shame
to see his clothes rent all;
Much
mad
&
sorrow in his hart he had,
man
euery
did guesse him
when he was
The
made
in the hall.
goodwiffe said, "where hast thou beene?
some
sure in
evill place,
weene,
sight of thine array."
by
"Dame,"
said he,
the devill
&
"I came from thy sonne;
he hath
me
vndone,
noe man him conquer may."
made complaint
w/th thai the goodman he came in,

the wiffe sett on her madding pin,
cryed, "heeres a foule array!
thy sonne, thai is thy liffe & deere,

hath almost slaine the holy fryar,
alas
&
"
welaway
"
The goodman
said,
what hath the
vile
Benedicitee
boy done
to thee?
now tell me w/thout let."

"The de\dll him take!" the fryar he sayd,
"he made me dance, despite my head,
to
gambol
among the
The goodman
"
father
thornes the hey-to-bee."

said vnto
him
thoe,
hadst thou beene murdered soe,
FRYAR AND BOYE
63
had beene deadly sine."

The fryar to him made this replye,
it
"
the pipe did sound soe Merrilye

thai I cold never blin."
Now when
it
grew to almost
lacke the boy came
he was wont
as
home
soonc
&
night,
full
right
to doo;
But when he came into the

full
st
his father did
hall,
him
call,
bad him come him too:
a
"Boy," he said, comc tell me heare,
what hast thou done vnto this fryer?
lye not in
"ffather,"
I plaide
&
"now
his
"You
thing.**
"now by my
said,
him but a
fitt
him vp a
pipet
"That
any
he
spring."
pipe," said his father,
shall," the
boy
his
said,
"woe
you
"by gods
&
heare."
grace."
alas!"
sorrowes ringe.
"ffor gods loue!" said the

if
hands he then did wringe.
making
&
"wold
god forbidd!" cryed out the fryar;
the ffryar replyed,
birthe,
of Mirth
will thai
warched
fryar,
strange pipe heare,
binde
me
fast to
for sure
my
fortune thus I reade,
a post!
FRY AY AND BOYE
64
if
dance
my
am
I doe, I
woe-full
life
is
but deade,
"
lost
Strong ropes they tooke, both sharpe and round,

to the post the fryer bounde
&
in the
middest of the
hall.
All they w^zch att the table sate,
laughed and
made good
"
sayinge,
fryer,
Then sayd
"
the
goodman
me
lacke, pipe
pipe freelye
sport theratt,
thou canst not
"
fall
to the boy,
vp a merry toye,
when thou
will
"
!
"ffather," the
you
till
With
&
boy said, "verelye

haue mirth enough e & glee
you bidd me bee still."
shall
thai his pipe
he quicklye
sent,
pipt, the whilest in verament
each creature gan to dance;

Lightly the scikipt
throwing out
yarkuig in their
&
leggs,
leapt about,
now
in,
now
out,
striuing aloft to prance.
The good man,

leapt out
&
as in sad dispaire,
through and ore his chayre,
noe man cold caper hyer;
Some
others leapt quite ore the stockes,
some
start att strawes
some wallowed
&
fell
in the fyer.
att blockes,
FRYAR AND BOYE

The goodman made
them dance
to see
himselfe
in this
the goodwiffe sate not
good
madd
65
sportt
sortt;
still,
But as shee dancet shee looket on lacke,
&
fast
her tayle did double each cracke,
lowd as a water
The
was almost
fryer this while
he knocket
it
Mill.
was
his
dancing grace;
The rope rubd him vnder

thai the
in
lost,
his pate against the post,
the chinn
blood ran from his tattered sckin
many
Naked
place.
lacke, piping, ran into the street;
they followed him with nimble
ffeet,
hauing noe power to stay,

And in their hast they dore did cracke,
eche tumbling over his ffellows backe

vnmindfull of their way.
The Neighbors
thai
were dwelling by,
hearing the pipe soe Merrilye,
came dancing
Some leapt ore
dores,
Noe man wold
stay to
to the gate;
some oer the hatch,

draw the latch
but thought they came to Late;
Some
as the
sicke or sleeping in their bedd,
by chance
MERRY SONGS
I.
lift
vp
their heade,
<
FRYAR AND 3OYE
66
were w/th the pipe awaked;

Straight forth
some
&
start
thk,
in their shirts,
some
&
thorrow dores
some
kockes,
in their smockes,
starke belly naked.
When
all were gathered round about,

here was a vild vnrulye rout
thai dancing in the street,
Of
w^zch, some lame thai cold not goe,
striuing to leape, did
tumble soe
they dancet on hands
&
feet.
lacke tyred with the sport said,

"doe," quoth his father, "I hold
thou cloyest
I
me
pray thee, boy,
in faith this
I
heard
wz'th this
now
"now He
it
best,
cheere;
quiett sitt;
was the Merryest
fitt
this 7 yeere."
All those thai dancing thither came,
laught heartilye
yett
some
& made
gott
many a
"Thou
cursed boy!"
"heere
good game,
fall.
cryed out the
doe summon thee
to
fryar,
appeare
beffore the Officiall!

"
Looke thou be there on fryday next

He meet thee then, thou now p*;plext,
for to ordaine thee sorrow."
The boy
replyed,
"I make avowe,
rest."
FRYAR AND BOYE

Be appeare
fryer,
if
as soone as thou,
fryday were to Morrowe."
But fryday came, as you

lackes stepdam
&
shall
heare;
the dancing fryar,
together they were mett,
And
other people a great pace
flockt to the court to
the Officiall was
Much
more
matters were to doo,
c[i]uill
libells
heare eche case:
sett.
read then one o tow
both [against priest & clarke;]

Some there had testaments to proue,
some women
there through wanton loue,

w^/ch gott strokes in the darke.
Each Proctor there did plead his case;

when forth did stepp fryer Topias
&
"Sir
lackes stepdame alsoe:

Officiall,"
a-lowd said hee,
"I haue brought a wicked boy

hath done me mightye woe;
"He
in
is
to thee,
a wiche, as I doe feare,
Orleance he can find noe peere,

this of
"He
"&
is
my
troth I
a Devill,"
know."
q*th
the wiffe,
almost hath bereaued
my
at thai her taile did blow.
liffe!"
67
FRYAR AND 3OYE
68
Soe lowd, the assembly laught

& said 'her pistolls cracke was
the charge was
all
theratt,
flatt,
amisse.'
"Dame," quoth the gentle Officiall,

"proceed & tell me forth thy tale,
& doe not let for this."
The
wiffe thai feared another cracke,
stood mute,
&
neere a word shee spake;

in such dread.
shame put her
"Ha!"
said the fryer right angerlye,
"knaue!
now
The
this
fryer said, "Sir Officiall!
wicked boy
vnlesse
S/r,
will
&
The
along sill of thee;

"
mayst thou speed!
this is all
euill
will
vexe vs
you doe him
all
chast.
he hath yett a pipe trulye

make you dance & leape full hie
breake yowr hart at
Officiall replyd,
last."
"pmlee!
such a pipe faine wold I see,

& what mirth it can make."
"
Now
god forbidd
"that ere wee shold
ere I
my way
"
replyed the fryar,

that vild pipe heare
hence take."
"Pipe on, lacke!" sayd the
"&
let
me
heare thy cuning
officiall,
all."
FRYAR AND BOYE

lacke blew his pipe
That euery man
&
Proctors
all
preists,
in thai great
Over the deske the
&
hopt vpon the

straight
The
officiall
&
broke cithers face
&
register leapt
ran,
then
table,
danct as
mett him midway,
The
crowde;
lumpt vnto the
fryer thai
lowde
full
vp & dancte;
and somners pranct,
start
flore.
fast as hee,
dangerouslye
sore.
full
from his pen,
hopt into the throng of men,

inkhorne in his hande;
his
with swinging round about his head,
some he strucke
some almost dead,
blind,
some they cold hardly
The
proctors flung their
bills
the goodwiues tayle gaue

pt> fuming all the
The Somners,
a shout,
as they
had beene woode,
&
seates a goode,
wallowed on the earth.
Wenches
&
about,
many
Mirthe;
leapt ore the formes
&
stand.
other
thai for their
pennance came,
Meeds of wordlye shame,
danct euery one as fast;

Each sett on a merry pin,
69
FRYAR AND BO YE
70
some broke
&
The
some
&
their heads,
some
their shin,
their noses brast.
thus sore turmayld,
officiall
Halfe swelt wi/A sweat,

cryed to the
&
almost spoyld,
wanton childe
'To pipe noe more
within that place,
but stay the sound, euen for gods grace,

& loue of Mary Milde.'
lacke sayd,
"
you will, it shal

provided I may hence goe free,
& no man doe me wrong,
Neither this
as
woman
nor
be,
this fryer,
nor any other creature heere."
he answered him anon,

"lacke, I to thee
in thy defence I
&
will
my
mean
promise plight,
to fight,
oppose thy fone."
lacke ceast his pipes: then
some laughing
hard,
all
still
soe flatted at thai tide
The
Officiall
the stepdame
wz'th
much
stood;
some raging woode.
& the Somner,

& the wicked
Toy, mirth,
fryer,
and
pride.
AS
WAS RIDINGE BY THE WAY
AS
WAS RIDINGE BY THE WAY
71
162050].
[c.
[Percy Folio Manuscript, page 104 of MS.].
As
&
woman
40*7*.
&
A
was ryding by the way,
me
prafered
a bagge,
more, to stay
cattell
giue her belly but a swagge.
pox on the whore, they were but scrapps

supposed was single monye;
thai I
the cattell
I
had
had not
but
who
sunge, the
way for to beguile,

same words, and thus shee
shall I
said:
dothe Bull the cow;
Hue a maiden
still?
see the bore doth brim the sow;
&
I
rydd a Myle
further
1 see the Bull
&
or else p*rhapps
lice,
and tooke her by the coney.
mett with a market Maide
in these
44
had
light
yet there
is
neuer a lacke for
had some hope,

"sweet hart,
&
shall
gill."
to her spoke,
I
put
my
flesh in thine?
AS
72
"with
all
qwth
WAS RIDINGE B\ THE WAY

my
yowr nose in my arse,"

keepe out the winde."
hart, Szr!
she, "for to
Shee ryde vpon a tyred mare,

& to reuenge noe time wrthstoode,
I bluntlye asket pro to
but
first
"It will
occupye her;
shee wold know wherfore thai was good.
make thee
I did say,
liuely,"
"
"
put loy and spiritt in stead of woee.

then occupy my mare, I pray,
good
I
Sir,
shee can hardly e goe."
for
&
milder grew,
wold but
She said she was neuer

I
was content,
youst kisse
was red
to
&
&
shee
said,
my bum and
pale w/th
feele:
felt,
but kist;
"weele,
feele
shame
&
my
fist."
spight
be soe answered of the drabb,
thai I swore,
&
"
of
my
&
spurrd,
&
away did
wooinge was noe blabbe.
ride,
OFF A PURITANE
OFF A PURITANE
162050]
[c.
was a
It
&
puritanicall ladd
was
thai
called Mathyas,
he wold goe to Amsterdam

to speake with Ananyas.
he had not gone past halfe a

but he mett his holy sister;
hee layd
&
44
her.
"
Buttocckes the lye to lowe: I wisht
appocrypha were
but peace, Sweet
I
itt
speake
by yee
The
&
huft
till
lie
nay
alas
my
&
in itt!"
hart, or ere
my
spiritts
motion.
many
"
heaues,
both were tyred,
"
!
p0;t,
not away
puft with
thai the
wee
out of pure devotion,
thou feele
till
"
kist
what wold they wicked say ?

M
if
qwoth shee,
they had scene itt
Alas
my
"
vnder her breeche,
his bible
merylye hee
mile,
qzorth
peticoates
shee,
all
"
youle spoyle the leaues
Myred!
OFF A PURITANE
74
if
wee
professors shold bee
knowne
to the English congregation
eyther att Leyden or Amsterdam,

itt
"But
wold disgrace our nation;

since
tho I
good
&
itt
is,
am much
brother, lets
thai patt
wee must,
vnwilling,
haue the tother
thrust,
take thee this fine shilling
to beare thy charges as thou goes,
& passage ore the ocean."

then downe shee Layd, & since tis sayd,
shee quencht his spirits motion.
A MAID AND A YOUNGE MAN
75
MAID AND A YOUNGE MAN
[c.
162050]
A man
were
and a younge maid
tane in
thai loued a long time
a frenzye ithe
Midsomwer prime;
the maid shee lay drooping, hye;

the
man he
lay whopping, hey, the
man he
lay
whopping hoe.
Thus talking & walking the came to a place

Inuironed about w/th trees & with grasse,
The maid shee lay drooping, hye;

man he lay whopping, hey, the man he
the
lay
whopping hoe.
He
shifted his
hand wheras he had
placet,
hee handled her knees instead of her wast,
The Maid shee lay drooping, hye;

man he lay whopping, hey, the man he
the
whopping
He
shifftcd his
he tickeled
yett
the
s[t]ill
lay
hoe.
hand
her,
&
till
hee came to her knees,
shee opened her thyhes,
shee lay drooping, hye;

man he
whopping hoe.
man he
lay
A MAID AND A YOUNGE MAN
;6
He
h ottered
&
totered,
&
drew him on forward
that
yett
still
the
man
there was a line

;
he went on amaine
shee lay drooping, hye;

he lay whopping, hey, the
man he
lay
whopping hoe.
He
light in
the lane
itt
but shee
fell
a hole ere he was aware!
was
streat;
he had not gone
farr,
a kissing, hye!
and he lay drooping, hoe, and he
lay drooping, hoe.
my pilly! how now?" q#0th shee;

"
vp againe, Billy, if thai thou louest me
yett still he Lay drooping, hye;
the man he lay whopping, hey, the man he lay
"My
Billy,
"
gett
whopping hoe.
He
thought Mickle shame to lye soe longe;
& grew very strong;

shee
Mayd
Lay drooping, hye;
the man he lay whopping, hey, the man he lay
he gott vp againe
the
whopping hoe.
The
trees
&
the
woods did wring about,
and euery leafe began to showte,

and there was such drooping, hye;
the
man he
whopping hoe.
man he
lay
MAY MORNINGE
IN A
MAY MORNINGE
IN A
fr.
1620-50]
\Percy Folio Manuscript, page
In a
77
may morning
383 of MS.].
mett sweet nursse
w/th a babe in her armes, sweetly cold busse.

I shold be glad ont
I wold to god itt were mine
!
ffor
it
dad
was a merry mumping
tiling,
who
ere
was
ont.
& to her I sayd,

sweet
honye, and you be a mayd
god morrow,
or if you wold shew to me, I shold be glad ont
saluted her kindlye,
"
or
41
if
you wold
The dad
ffor all
of
tell
my
me who
is
the right
dad
ont."
child, S/r, I
doe not well know,
mee
me now
thai lay w/th
refuseth
from one to the other; still I wold be rid ont."

but whosoeuer gott the Child, He be the dad ont."
14
lie
take
He
lay
&
eu*rye
itt
itt
in
mine armes,
the hye
one
way
thai
as
&
wislye
He worke,
men come from
comes by
shall
kirke,
haue a
glance or
look
glegge ont,
vntill I
haue ffound out a man, the
right
dad
ont."
ly
IN A
78
MAY MORNINGE
There came a kind Scotchman whose name is not

knowne,
"
this babye is mine
sayes hee to this sweet hart,
owne;
come bind
vpon
it
my backe
for whosoeu<?r gott the child,

"
Now, nay
now, nay
"
!
lone
shall
He be
be
the
"
shee sayes,
rid ont
dad
soe
ont."
itt
may
not bee!
your looke & his countenance doe not agree

for had hee beene sike a swayne, I had neere
;
been great ont;

for hee was a blythe young
right dad ont.
"
man
thai
was the
his lippes like the rubye, his cheekes like the rose,
he tempthed all ffayre mayds where-euer he goes

then was I right glad ont
first he did salute mee
O hee was a blythe younge man thai was the
;
dad
right
"He
ont.
trauell
through
England
&
him
to
Scottland soe
wyde,
&
a-ffoote
He bind
vntill
dad
husse
say
"
hush;
= silk
He
will
ffollow
be
his
bryde;
ont
He not be ryd
vpon my backe,
haue found out the man
itt
thate the right
ont.
husse
itt,
He
busse
itt,
lie lapp
&
itt
in say;
IN A
He bind
vntill
dad
"
And
MAY MORNINGE
79
itt
vpon my backe, lie not be ridde ont
haue found out the man Mots the right
ont.
thus to conclude, thoe
to ffind a
dad
ffor
my
itt
flail
barne thai
to ray Lott
cannott
an englishman gett a child, & wold be ridd ont,

let him bring it to
Scot(c]hman, and heele be the
if
dad
ont."
bairn, child
8o
DREAMED MY LOUE
DREAMED MY LOUE
[c.
1620-50]
Folio Manuscript, page 480 of MS.

Also
a varying version in Merry Drollery, 1661].
[Percy
dreamed
itt
was
my loue lay in her bedd:

my Chance to take her:
her leggs & armes abroad were spredd;

shee slept; I durst not awake her.
pitty
shold
itt
were, thai one soe faire
Crowne her loue w/th willowe;
the tresses of her golden haire
did kisse he[r] louely pillowe.
Methought her
much
like a
belly
was a
mount
hill
of pleasure,
vnder whose height there growes a well;

the depth no man Can measure,
about the plefsjant mountaines topp

there growes a louely thickett,
wherin 2 beagles trambled,
&
raised a liuely prickett.
They hunted
there wz'th pleasant noyce
about the pleasant mountaine,
DREAMED MY LOUE
hee by heat was
till
&
fforct to ffly,
skipp into the ffountaine.
they beagles ffollowed to the brinke,
&
him they barked;

he plunged about, but wold not shrinke;
there att
his
Coming
wayted.
he
Came
as one halfe lame,
weere weary,
(Taint,
and tyred;
Then
&
fforth they
fforth
layd him
downe
betwixt her leggs,
as helpe he had required,

the beagles being reffresht againe,
my Loue
ffrom slecpe bercued;
shee dreamed shee had
&
MIKKV
me
shee was not deceiued.
SO.MOS
1.
in
her arraes,
81
ALL IN A GREENE MEADOWE
82

[c.
1620-50]
[Percy Folio Manuscript,
page 518 of MS.].
All in a greene
meadow, a riuer running by,

hard a proper maiden both waile, weepe, and crye,
the teares ffrom her eyes as cleare as any pearle

much did I lament the mourning of the girle:
shee sighed and sobbed,

"
alas
"
what hap had
Now
&
I to
&
her selfe sayd,
to
Hue soe long a maid ?
world no Curtesye is knowen,

are hard harted, w^/ch makes
in this
young men
me
Hue alone;
the day and time hath beene,
if I
had
still
beene
wise,
I
might haue enioyed

beene so npse];
but
Coyishness,
&
my
true loue
&
toyishness,
had
not
peeuishness
such store
me
hath brought
to this pensiueness,
and many
maidens [more].
"
Some dames
thai are precise,
&
heare
me
thus
Complaine,
theyle thinke
me
wold stapne.]
fond and Idle,
my
Creditt
much

but
me
lett
their
ansewre them; the Case might be
owne;
the wisest on the earth, by loue

ffor
&
83
Cupid
aimeth
is
att
blinded,
may be orethrowen
and cometh
a ragg as soone as
in
att
a Cloud,
a robe.
"
Sith goddesses come downe to iest with such a boy,

then hapily poore maidens may tread shoestheir
awrye.
Hellen of greece for bewty was the rarest,
a wonder of the world, & ccrtainlye the ffaircst;
yett wold shee, nor Cold shec, liue a maiden still.
MS.
few or none can carrye

all did marry
others
oftime thai they haue vsed before
[Whoever
itt
[be
[He
it
him
let
deny no more,
be] thai come, I will
light o]r
be
hit]
itt
darke, doe he lookc or winke,
the marke,
if
he haue
witt but
when
offered,
for to thinke.
[Tho
[yet
silly
m]aidens nicely deny
them wisely
wijsh
to
itt
take
itt
its
when
itts
proffered;
[If
they be
li]ke to
Cressus to scorne soc true a freind,
[Theyle be] glad to receiue poore Charitye in the end.

.
[ti]me
[tjherfore
me
gone
I
&
wish
time past
all
th6 Complaine.
is
not recalld againe
mayds make
hast, lest witii
torn
away
A DAINTY DUCKE
84
A DAINTY DUCKE
[c.
1620-50].
[Percy Folio Manuscript, page
dainty ducke I Chanced to meete;

shee wondered what I wold doe,
&
curteously shee did

as
an honest
asked her
if
woman
shee answered
as
mee
greete
shold doe.
shee wold drinke;
shee wondered what
487 of MS.].
me
wold doe,
with sober winke,
an honest woman shold doe.
tooke
gone here in the MS., containing among

"
The
things perhaps the beginning of
Spanish Lady"\
[A leaf
is
other
THE JOVIAL COMPANIONS
85
THE JOVIAL COMPANIONS,

OR
THE THREE MERRY TRAVELLORS,
WHO PAID THEIR SHOT WHERE EVER THEY CAME,
WITHOUT EVER A STIVER OF MONEY
[c.
[In
1630]
i.
88; music in
Purge Melancholy (1719), vi. 177].
Bagford Ballads,
There was three
Pills to
Travellers, Travellers three,
With a hye down, ho down, Lanktre down derry,

And they wou'd go Travel the North Country,
Without ever a
They Travelled
stiver of
East,
Mony.
and they Travelled
West,

Where ever they came still they drank of the best,
Without ever a
stiver of
Mony.
At length by good fortune they came to an Inn,

And they were as Merry as e're they had been,
Without ever a
stiver of
Mony.
Jolly young Widdow did smilling appear,

Who drest them a Banquet of delicate cheer,
Without ever a
stiver of
Mony.
86
Both Chicken and sparrow grass she did provide,

With a hye down, ho down, Lanktre down deny,
You'r Welcome kind Gentlemen, welcome, (she
cry'd)
Without ever a
stiver of
Mony.
called for liquor, both Beer, Ale,
They
and Wine,

And every thing that was curious and fine,
Without ever a
They drank
stiver of
Mony.
to their Hostess a
merry full bowl,

She pledg'd them in love, like a generous Soul,
Without ever a
The
stiver of
Mony.
Hostess, her Maid, and Cousin
all
three,

They Kist and was merry, as merry cou'd be,
Without ever a
full
Bottles
stiver of
and Glasses
Mony.
replenisht the Board,
With a hey down, ho down, Lanktre down derry,

No liquors was wanting the house cou'd afford,
Without ever a
stiver of
Mony.
When
they had been Merry good part of the Day,

With a hye dow n, ho down, Lanktre down derry,
r
They
called their Hostess to
Without ever a
stiver of
know
Mony.
what's to pay,

There's Thirty good
shilling,
87
and Six pence, (she
cry'd)
They
told her that she should
Without ever a
stiver of
The Handsomest Man
be soon
satisfy'd,
Mony.
of the three
up he
got,

He laid her on her Back, and paid her the shot,
Without ever a
stiver of
The middlemost Man
Mony.
to her Cousin
he went,

She being handsome, he gave her Content,
Without ever a stiver of Mony.
last Man of all he took up with the Maid,
And thus the whole shot it was Lovingly paid,
The
Without ever a
The
Hostess,
stiver of
Mony.
the Cousin, and Servant,
we
find,

Made Courchies, and thankt them for being so
kind,
Without ever a
The Hostess
stiver of
Mony.
said, welcome kind Gentlemen all,

88
If
you chance to come this way be pleased

Without ever a stiver of Mony.
Then
to Call,
taking their Leaves they went merrily out,
And
gone
Without ever a
they're
for to
Travel the Nation about,
stiver of
Mony.
THE KIND-HEARTED CREATURE
89
THE KIND-HEARTED CREATURE;

OR
The
prettiest iest that er'e you knew,

Yet Tie say nothing but what is true;
I once heard of a cunning Whore,
But ner'e the like of this before.
[1630]
[By R(ICHARD] C[RIMSALL], Pox. Ballads, iii. 166,

see CHAPPELL'S Popular Music of the
167
Olden Time (1855-59) I. 306, 356, 375;
tune, The Mother beguiled the Daughter].
;
All
you
that are disposed now, to hear a
merry
jest,
By me
shall
be disclosed how a bonny Lasse
confest,
That she had loued one or two, nay, two or

three and twenty,
I
cannot
tell
what they did doe, but she had
Louers plenty.
Sing Boyes, drink Boyes,
why
should
we not be
merry?
Tie
tell
you of a bonny Lasse, and her Loue
beyond the Ferry.
90
This bonny Lass had caught a clap
seemes
it
by some young shauer;

She being matched] with such mishap, the Ladds
began to leaue her;
Though she mist of their company, some one

made sure bargain:
But she was lou'd of so many, that
it
is
worth
regarding,
Yet she
will sing,
and
I
and alwayes
"
say,
Drink round
be merry;
lets
haue a loue
in Lankeshire,
and a
little
beyond
the ferry."
She now being called
to account, for to describe
aright
What
man was
yo[u]ng
owne
the Father on't, and her
heart's-delight ;
But she could not resolue the same, because

there was so many,
She knew
was
Sing
not's trade,
nor yet his name,
for
she
free for any.
drink Boyes,
Boyes,
why
should
be merry?
have a loue in Lankeshire, and a
little
we not
beyond
the ferry.
Quothe
the
she,
man
"
And
i'th'
if
it
haue a Booke, then 'twas
Gowne,

Or
other wayes,
an't
haue a hooke,
"'twas the
Sheephard on the down;

Or if it haue a whip in's hand, then sure
a carter
Or
it
Sing Boyes, drink Boyes
it
was
cannot goe nor stand,

drunken Artor.
if
91
merry?
haue a loue
in
why
thinke 'twas
we not be
should
Lankeshire, and a
little
beyond
the ferry.
'And
if
haue a new
it
fash 'on, 'twas
one came
out of France ;
And
if
be a Musician, 'twas one taught
it
me
to dance;
And
in's
if
hand a needle
be, then sure
it
was
a Taylor;
Or
if
it
chance to crosse the Sea,
a was saylor.
Sing Boyes, drinke Boyes,
be merry?
I
haue a loue
why
in Lankeshire,
thinke
should
and a
litle
it
we not
beyond
the ferry.
THE SECOND PART, TO THE SAME TUNE
"And
if
it
haue a Hammer, then sure a Smith
was he,
And if it be
degree;
full
of man[n]er,
't
was one of good
92
Or
if
haue a
it
shuttle,
a Weaver sure was he
then;
"And
that
if
it
be wise and
'twas
su[b]tle,
one
of the Bayliffe's yong-men.
drinke Boyes,
Sing Boyes,
why
we not
should
be merry?
haue a loue in Lankeshire, and a
little
beyond
the ferry.
"And
if
haue a long
it
locke,
was he;
And if it be a prety-cocke,
a Courtier sure
then
that
t'was
William he;
And
if
it
haue a shooe
in's
boone Shoomaker;
Or if it haue a durty hand,
hand,
was the
it
'twas sure a donghill-
raker,
merry?
haue a loue
why should we
in Lankeshire,
and a
little
not be
beyond
the ferry.
"
And if it haue a Kettle, then sure he was a Tinker;

And if it be full of mettle, 'twas sure a good
Ale-drinker ;
And
if
that
he be Gresie, then sure
it
was a
Butcher;
And
if
that
Botcher.
he be
lowsie,
then sure
it
was a
why should we not
93
be merry?
little
beyond
the ferry.
"
And
hand a flower
in's
if
be,
a Gardner was
the man, sure;
And
if
loue to take a Fee, I thinke t'was the
it
Pariture
And
if it
apparitor
be
in
gowne
of gray, 'twas one that
lives i'th'
And
Country:
that it be fresh and gay, 'twas one of
if
the
common
gentry.
why should we
be merry?
little
not
beyond
the ferry.
"And
if
And
have a Pen
it
was a
in's
hand, then sure
it
Scriu'ner;
if i'th'
Tauern he loue
to stand, then sure
was a Vintner;
And if it haue a drowsie eye, 'twas him that
it
And
they call 'Sleeper';

if with bromes and
homes he
cry,
'twas
sure the Chimney-sweeper.
Sing
Boyes,
drinke
be merry?
Boyes,
why
should
we not
94
I
haue a loue
in Lankeshire,
and a
little
beyond
the ferry.
"And
hand he haue a Funne, then
in's
if
was a Baker;
And if he loue to drinke
sure
it
i'th'
Tunne,
'twas then
the good Ale-maker;
And
he loue
if
to ride a Horse, I think
an Ostler;
Or else it was the man
o'th' Crosse, that
it
was
was a
valiant Wrastler.
Sing Boyes,
drinke
Boyes,
should
why
be merry?
little
we not
beyond
the ferry.
"And
if
it
haue a mealy
grin[d]es the
And
if
face, 'twas
him
that
him
that
come;
a long note be in place,
'tis
windes the home;
And many more I

me once most
But
that indeed
here might name, which lou'd
it
dearely;
is
a shame,
for
enough
is
shewen hereby.
Sing Boyes,
drinke Boyes,
why
should
be merry?
the
ferry.
little
we not
beyond

M
Now
all the hope

haue a Father,
And
Yet
confesse I
haue
is this,
my
95
barne must
did amisse, would I had re-
pented rather.
a youngman loues
ther's
me
wel, but I could
nere abide him;

I
know of me
will
Sing
hel'e
haue no
feare,
though
many
deride him."
Boyes, drinke Boyes!
why
should
we
not
be merry?
I've
told
you of a bonny Lasse, and her Loue
beyond the
Ferry.'*
THE JOVIALL PEDLER
96
THE JOVIALL PEDLER

OR
A MERRY NEW
DITTY,
WHICH IS BOTH HARMAND WITTY
LESSE, PLEASANT,
[1637-39]
[Rox. Ballads, iii. 184; mutilated throughout,

but apparently unique; with other stanzas
J)rolleiy, 1661].
being additions from Wit
&
There was a
Joviall Pedler,
and he cryde Cony-
skins,
[An]d on his back he had a pack
and
[fujl of points
pins,
[Wjith laces and braces, [an]d other prety things.

Hey down, ho down! with a hey down, down,
Down, deny, deny, down, the Pedler never

But
"
doth cry, so merry merrily,

Maids, have you any Cony, Cony-skins ?
lins,
still
"
bring out your Cony-skins," the Pedler

doth you pray;
For then you may have points or pins, be
"Maids,
v
they black or gray;
THE JOVIALL PEDLER

[Two
Hey
lines are here torn away]

down, ho down! with a hey down, down,
the Pedler never
Down, deny, deny, down,

But
"
97

Maids, have you any Cony, Cony-skins ?
The
lins,
still
"
Pedler to an Ale-house went and call'd for
beere and
In midst of
all
ale,
merriment
his
his purse
began to
faile.
His laces and braces and
Hey down, ho down!
all

But
his prety things:
with a hey down, down,

the Pedler never
lins,

"Maids, have you any Cony, Cony-skins?"
still
When
he came
to
pay the shot
his heart
grew
very cold,
For he had broke a black
pot,
which made
his
Ostesse scold,
And
all
his
money
spent
which
made him
to
lament,
Hey down, ho down,
Down, deny, deny, down, the Pedler never

But
"
doth cry, so merry, merrily,

have
Maids,
you any Cony, Cony-skins
The
lins,
still
Pedler
took
his
cony-skins,
and
"
Cob-
his
web Lawn
MERRY SONGS
I.
THE JOVIALL PEDLER
98
The
Pedler
took his points and pins

[and] laid
them there
[His laces]
and
to
pawn:
braces,
[Two
lines
and a half
are
here missing]
Hey down, ho down!

the Pedler never lins,
down,
derry, derry,
But still doth cry, so merry merrily,
Down,
"Maids, have you any Cony, Cony-skins?"

[THE SECOND PART, TO THE SAME TUNE]
The
Pedler
he went drunk
to bed,
he did awake,
Then he remembred what he
did,
and when
it
made
his
heart to ake.
His Ostesse had
his ware,
Hey down, ho down!

Down,
But
"
derry, derry,
still
doth
and
left
him very
down, the Pedler never
lins,
cry, so merry merrily,
Maids, have you any Cony, Cony-skins
He
bare.
to his Ostesse faire did say,
and did
"
prevaile
so farre,
He
got his ware of her again,
of her
and took
his leave
He
took up his pack, and hung it on his back.

Down,
But
derry, derry,

"Maids, have you any cony, cony-skins?"
still
lins,
THE JOVIALL PEDLER

The high-way
99
was very deep, which sorely
it
troubled him,
Through the water did he
and
creep,
set
his
ware to swim;
His laces and braces, and
his prety things.
all

Down, deny, derry, down, the Pedler never lins,
44
Maids, have you any cony, cony-skins ?
The
Pedler on a
"
did get, and laid his ware
hill
to dry,
His cony-skins was very wet, which grieved him

wondrously
:
all
his prety things.

Down, derry, derry, down, the Pedler never lins,
But
still doth
The
Pedler he
he
Up
fast
fell
asleep,
and as asleep
lay,
the
hill
Knave
did
creep,
and
stole his
ware away:
all
Hey down, ho down! with

Down,
But
M
derry, derry,
still
doth
his prety things.
hey down, down,

down, the Pedler never lins,
cry, so
merry
merrily,
Maids, have you any cony, cony-skins
"
?
THE JOVIALL PEDLER
ioo
The
Pedler waked from his sleep, [and] found

his
ware was gone,
[Two lines torn away]

With an empty pack to shew what he did lack.
Down, deny,
deny',
But
cry, so
"
still
doth
lins,
merry merrily,
There was two lovely Lasses, that
in
"
?
one house
did dwell,
The one
of
them was bon[n]y
Kate, the other
bouncing Nell:
And
them both had Cony-skins to sell.

Down, deny, deny, down, the Pedler never lins,
But
either of

still
Kate brought forth her Cony-skins, from underneath the Staires,
They were
haires
The
as black as
any
Jet,
and
full
of silver
Pedler would have bought them rather than

his eares.
Hey down, ho down!
the Pedler never
lins,
THE JOVIALL PEDLER
101
But
still doth cry, so merry merrily,

one of another view,

They were as good as good might be, and that
the Pedler knew,
Nell brought forth hers to
The sawcy Jack
set
sell,
down
his pack,
and
set his
wares to view.
Hey down, ho down!

Down, deny,
But
"
derry,

lins,
still
[A Harl.
MS.
drewe.
Hey
copy reads
down.'
[Then he tooke up
his
'
And forth
"
?
his wares he
It continues thus:]
Packe againe, and would
have gon his way,

Those Maids they cal'd him back againe, and
pray'd him for to stay;
And
they would show him cunny skins, a white

one and a grey,
deny, down, the Pedler never

"Maids, have you any cony, cony-skins?"]
Down,
But
derry,
lins,
still
Besse
went tripping ore the green, with one poor
Cony-skin,
Because shee would not have
where she had
bin,
it
scene, or
known
THE JOVIALL PEDLER
102
Slice closely hid the same, untill the Pedlar
came.

Down, deny, derry, down, the Pedler never lins,
The Maidens of Cam&enue/tbTought forth their skins

But when they came their ware to sell, the Pedler
;
had no
Nor
Hey
Down,
But
pins,
nor braces, nor such prety things.

down, ho down! with a hey down, down,
laces,
derry, derry,
doth
still
cry, so
lins,
merry merrily,
The
[Tom
have
Maidens
Cony-skins
off]
trustefd
him]
with
their
And he hath [promis'd, sleek and prim, as one

who cheats and wins;
And tells them, he will come again, and give them
pretty things.
Hey down, ho down!

Down,
But
derry, derry,

doth

have
"Maids,
you any cony, cony-skins?"
still
[Ere two (score) weekes were gon and past, these
maids began
Where
is
this
this
way?
to say
Joviall Pedler that vsde to
come
THE JOVIALL PEDLER
103
doubt hee hath couzen'd vs and soe
is run
away.
with
a
ho
down!
down,
down,
down,
Hey
hey
Down, derry, deny, down, the Pedler never lins,
"Maids, have you any cony, cony-skins?"]

"
[A
Wit and Drollery" version (1661) reads as

follows from the point where the HarL MS.
text u given on page 100]
"The
Pedlar he took up his Pack, and 'gan to
go his way
The Maidens call'd him back again, desiring him
to stay,
For they would show him cony-skines, a white

one and a gray.
Hey down, ho down!

down,
derry, derry,
Down,
"
"
Maids, have you any cony, cony-skins ?"

I
pray you,
fair
For when that

ware
for
maids, to take no further care,
come back again Fie
give
you
ware:
But you have
all
at
this
time that
now
can
well spare.**
Hey down, ho down!

Down, deny,
But
derry,

still doth
"Maids, have you any cony, cony-skins ?"
THE JOVIALL PEDLER
io 4
E're forty weeks were gon
and
past, the
maides
began to say,
"
What's come of this Pedlar, that used here every
I
day?
he hath beguiled
fear
and run another
us,
way."
Hey down, ho down!

Down,
But

deny, derry, down, the Pedler never lins,
still
"
Maids, have you any cony, cony-skins ?"
"
But now these
fair
maides
their bellies
began
to swell,
But were to
not
find the Pedlar, alack
they could
tell,
Then they
wish'd that
all
Coney-skinnes would
fair
maides no more
sell.
Hey down, ho down!

down,
Down, derry, derry,
"Maids, have you any cony, cony-skins?
THE DAINTY DAMSEL'S DREAM
105
THE DAINTY DAMSEL'S DREAM,

OR
CUPID'S VISIONS
The Maid saw such
When
she awak'd
strange Visions in her sleep,
forc'd her for to weep:

She dreaming lay, and thought her Love lay by,
But he alas! was not at that time nigh.
Then list and you shall hear the Damsel's Dream,
And afterwards what followed the same.
it
l6 54]
['
[By LAURENCE PRICE; Rox. Ballads, iii. 226:

probably unique; tune, As she lay sleeping
in her bed].
As
lay
on
my
God Cupid he
lovely bead,
I fell
into a dream,
attended me, and straight upon
the same,
The Chamber where

was
all
on
Then Mars and

furious ire
lodged
in,
me
thought,
fire,
Jupiter
came
in,
with wrath and
106
came Venus with her
After
and
fair
And
me
kill
Nimphs most
bright,
my
prickt
train of
much
heart in every vain,
like to
quite;
knew no reason why

should be
their
and anger
rage
so,
then," quoth Venus, "to thy selfe, thou art
"Why
a mortall
"There
a young
is
now
Because
foe.
man
loves
thee
and
deer,
like to dye,
is
him thou dost not care; that
for
reason why,
That thou art punished so
here
sore,
the
is
in
thy
naked bed,
And
if
kill
thou wilt not yeeld to love,

thee dead."
"Fair Queen," quoth
may
For
so
happy be,
him to
to present
may
And
if
But
"grant
my
me
view that
this
to
boon
I the
man
see:
that I can fancy him, there

will
yeeld
hug him
With
I,
we mean
that
to
be
is
his love,
no more
and
to do,
kisse
and
too."
the flames
all
quenched was, and
all
the coasts was cleare,
And
then a proper hansom youth did in

sight appeare;
my

Lake young Adonis in his prime
this gallant
107
seem'd
to be,
Of courage
was
bold,
and valour brave, and
fortitude
he.
THE SECOND PART, TO THE SAME TUNE

His
face
like
an Angel's was,
to
his eyes like
Starrs did shine,
In every part from top to toe, he seemed a Saint

divine,
His sweet perfumed honied breath did bear so

rare a smell,
The
Odors
richest
in the
world for s[c]ent
it
did
excell.
With courtely words and compliments he did
mee
kindly greet,
my
Crossing
soft
In his
did
And
ten thousand times with Kisses
lips
and sweet;
right hand a purse of gold he had, and
me give,
me I
told
should never want such
Coyn
whilest I did live.

It
ravished
my
senses
all,
and
set
my
heart on
fire,
His countenance
admire
So that
for
to
behold
it
made me
to
much
desired then to have his company.
His comely person to imbrace as
I in
bed did
lie.
io8
His
hose
into
and doublet he
my
stript
off,
and came
bed,
Saying that he must master be, and have
maidenhead
Good
how
lack!
entertain
When
willing
then was I his love to
The thought
and
my
of action
moved me
in every limb
vain.
my
all
vitals
thus were rais'd,
and ready
for the sport,
Venus stole away and so broke up
Cupid and
the sport,
Even
so
departed
upon
I
wak'd .and
the Nimphs, and straight
all
same
the
because I saw
wep[t],
all
things
was
but a dream.
Fie upon dreames, and fond delights, which thus
mind!
disturbs the
'Tis
better
far
to
bee awak'd, and exercise by
kind.
When
as
dream'd, I had a love,
and pleasure
But when
makes me
and
gold,
store;
wak'd,
saw none such, which
grieve the more.
THE MAID OF TOTTENHAM
109

[1666]
Choyce Drollery (1886), p. 45. Another

with music in DURFEY'S PilU etc.
[From
version
(1719),
As
iv.
179}
went to Totnam
Upon
a Market-day,
I with a faire maid
There met
Cloathed
in gray,
all
Her journey was
to
London
With Buttermilk and Whay,

To fall down, down, derry down,
down, down, derry down,
derry, derry dina.
God speed faire maid quoth

You are well over-took;
With
And
that she cast her
gave
to
She was as
As
letters in
To
him a
full
head
one,
aside,
look.
of Leachery
a book.

fall
deny, derry dina.
io
And
as they walk'd together,
Even
side
by
side,
The young man was aware

That her garter was unty'd,
For feare that she should lose
Aha, alack he
Oh
it,
cry'd,
your garter that hangs down!
To
down, down, deny down,
fall

deny, deny dina.
Quoth she [,] I do intreat you

For to take the pain
To do
As
much
so
to tye
for
me,
up again.
That will I do sweet heart, quoth
When I come on yonder plain.
it
he,
With a down, down, deny down,

deny, derry dina.
And when
they came upon the plain

a
Upon
pleasant green,
The fair maid spread her legs abroad.
The young man fell between,

Such tying of a Gaiter
I think was never seen.
To
fall

deny, deny dina.
When they had done

And quickly done the
their businesse,
deed,
He
gave her kisses plenty,

And took her up with speed.
And what
they did
know
not,
But they were both agreed.
To
fall
down
together,
down

down, down, deny dina.
She made
And
to
him low
curtsies
thankt him for his paine,
The young man is to High -gate

The maid to London came
To
off her
sell
She thought
To
fall
it
down
gone[,]
commodity
for no shame.
together,
down

When
she had done her market,
And all her money told

To think upon the matter
It made her heart full
cold[:]
But that which
Is very
will away,
quoth she,
hard to hold.
in
H2
To
down
fall
together,
down

This tying of the Garter
Cost her her Maidenhead,
Quoth she
stood
It
it
me
is
no
matter,
in small stead,
But often times
it
As
bed.
I lay in
To
fall
my
down
troubled
together,
me
down

"A STORY STRANGE
"
A STORY STRANGE
WILL TELL"
113
WILL YOU TELL"
[1656]
[From Choyce Drollery (ELSWORTH),

CHAPPELL'S Popular Music of
p. 31; see
the
Olden
Time (1855-59), 235].
Story strange
will
you
tell,
But not so strange as true,

Of a woman that danc'd upon the ropes,
And so did her husband too.
With a
dildo,
With a
dildo, dildo,
dildo, dildo, dee,
Some say 'twas a man, but
As
She
first
For
And
plain report
clim'd
may
tickled
it
was a woman
up the Ladder
to deceive
men's hopes
hand
with a long thing in her
She
it
see.
on the
ropes,
With a dildo, dildo, dildo ,
With a
And
to
dildo, dildo, dee,
her came Knights
Of low and
MERRY SONGS
I.
and Gentlemen
high degree.
g
ii4
"A STORY STRANGE
She
jerk'd
thing in her hand,
the people that were in the
all
She made them
And
With a
dildo,
dildo, dildo, dee,
dildo,
dildo,
and Gentlemen
her came Knights
to
cast
low and high
up
Yard
for to stand,
With a
Of
They
WILL TELL"
them backward and foreward
With a long
And
degree.
fleering eyes
All underneath her cloaths,
But they could see no thing,

For she wore linnen hose.
And
With a
dildo,
dildo,
With a
dildo,
dildo, dee,
to
and Gentlemen
her came Knights
Of low and
high degree.
The Cuckold her husband
When
dildo,
his
head
caper'd
in the sack
was
But grant that we may never fall

When we dance in the sack of
With a
dildo,
dildo,
With a dildo,
And
to
dildo,
and Gentlemen
high degree.
But as they ever danc't

In
faire or rainy
Sin.
dildo, dee,
her came Knights
Of low and
in,
weather,
"A STORY STRANGE

I wish they
And
And
WILL TELL"
the
may be hangd
down together.
i*
rope of Love
so be cut
With a
dildo, dildo, dildo,
With a
dildo, dildo, dee,
to
her came Knights
Of low and high
and Gentlemen
degree.
115
n6 SHE LAY ALL NAKED IN HER BED
SHE LAY ALL NAKED IN HER BED

[1657]
\Wit and
Drollery,
1656, p. 54; Merry Drollery,

lay up to the
See "She
115.
navel bare," post, p. 131].
1
66 1,
She lay
And
all
ii.
naked
in her bed,
myself lay by;

No Vail but Curtains about her spread,
No covering but I:
Her head upon her
To hang
All
full
And
shoulders seeks
in careless wise,
of blushes was her cheeks,

of wishes were her eyes.
Her blood still fresh into her

As on a message came,
To
It
Her
face,
say that in another place

meant another game;
cherry Lip moyst, plump, and
faire,
Milllions of Kisses crown,
Which
And
Her
and uncropt dangled there,

weigh the branches down.
ripe
Breasts, that swell'd so
Bred
pleasant pain in
me,
plump and
high,
SHE LAY ALL NAKED IN HER BED

For
all
the world I
do
The like felicity;

Her thighs and belly,
defie
and
soft
To me were only shewn:

To have seen such meat, and
Would have angred any
Her knees
And
As
fairc,
not to have eat,
stone.
upward gently
lay
bent,
lay hollow under,

on easie terms they ment
if
To
all
fall
unforc'd asunder;
Just so the Crypian Queen did lye,

Expecting in her bower;
When
too long stay, had kept the boy
Beyond
his promis'd hour.
Dull clown, quoth she,
why
dost delay
Such proffered bless to take?

Canst thou find out no other way
Similitudes to
Mad
make?
with delight I thundering
Threw my Arms about

But pox upon
And
't
117
her,
'twas but a dream.
so I lay without her.
ii8
THE FOUR-LEGG'D ELDER
THE FOUR-LEGG'D ELDER: OR A

HORRIBLE RELATION OF A DOG
AND AN ELDER'S MAID
[b.
1657]
[By SIR JOHN BIRKENHEAD; Bagford Ballads, iii.

57: "To the Tune of The Lady's Fall, or
Gathery our Rozebuds; and Fourty other Tunes";
music in Pills to Purge Me!anc6ofy(ijig),v. i.].
All Christians
and Lay-Elders
too,
For Shame amend your Lives;

I'll tell you of a
Dog-trick now,
Which much concerns you Wives:
An
Maid near Temple-Bar,

(Ah! what a Quean was she?)
Did take an ugly Mastiff Cur,
Elder's
Where
Christians use to be.
Help House of Commons, House of
Oh now
Peers,
or never help!
Th' Assembly having sat Four Years,

Has now brought forth a Whelp.
One Evening
late
she stept aside,
Pretending to fetch Eggs;

And there
To one
she
made her
self
119
a Bride,
had four Legs:

Her master heard a Rumblement,
And wonder she did tarry;
that
Not dreaming
His
(without his consent)
Dog would
ever Marry.

Oh now or never help!
Th* Assembly having
Has now brought

Her Master
Peers,
Four Years,
sat
forth a
Whelp.
peep'd, but was afraid,
And hastily did run,

To fetch a Staff to help
his
Maid,
Not knowing what was done:
He
took his Ruling Elders Cane,

cry'd out help, help, here;
And
For Swash our
Mastiff,
and poor Jane,
Are now
fight Dog, fight Bear.

Oh now
Peers,
or never help!
Th* Assembly having
Has now brought
sat
Four Years,
forth a
But when he came he was
full
Whelp.
sorry,
For he perceiv'd their Strife;

That according to the Directory,
They Two were Dog and Wife;
120
Ah!
(then said he) thou cruel Quean,
Why
hast thou
me
beguil'd ?
wonder'd Swash was grown so

Poor Dog! he's almost spoil'd.
lean,
Oh now
Th' Assembly having
Has now brought

I
Peers,
or never help!
Four Years,
sat
a Whelp.
forth
thought thou hadst no Carnal Sense,

But what's in our Lasses:
And
could have quench'd thy 'Cupiscence,

According to the Classes:
But
all
the Parish sees
it
plain,
Since thou art in this pickle;
Thou
art
And
an Independent Quean,
a Conventicle.
lov'st
Oh now
Th' Assembly having
Has now brought

Alas
sat
forth
Four Years,
a Whelp.
now each Malignant Rogue,
Will
all
That she
May
the
Peers,
or never help!
World perswade;
Spouse unto a Dog,

be an Elder's Maid:
that's
They'll jeer us
Good Master
if
abroad we
Elder stay;
stir,

Sir,
of what Classis
And
is
your Cur?
we say?
then what can
Oh now
Has now brought
Of a
sat
Four Years,
a Whelp.
forth
graceless Ballads sing,
many
Presbyterian;
That a Lay Elder
Made up
is
a thing
Man:
half Dog, half
Out, out, said he, (and smote her
Was Mankind grown

There's scarce another
Had
Peers,
or never help!
Th' Assembly having
They'll
121
down)
so scant?
Dog
i'th'
Town,
took the Covenant.
Help House of Commons, House of Peers,
Oh now
or never help!
Th' Assembly having
Has now brought
Then Swash began
And Jane
Sir,
forth
to look
did thus reply
fed your
Dog
me
'Tis true he took
And
I
Four Years,
full
a Whelp.
grim,
you thought nought too good
You
But
sat
leap'd into
in the lurch,
my Arm
go to Church)
did your Dog no harm.
(as I
hope
to
for him,
too high:
122
Help House
Oh now
of
Commons, House
Th' Assembly having
Has now brought
Then she was brought
And
there
of Peers,
or never help!
to
was naked
Four Years,
sat
a Whelp.
forth
Newgate
Jail,
stripp'd;
They whipp'd her till the Cords did

As Dogs us'd to be whipp'd:
Poor City-Maids shed many a Tear,
fail,
When she was lash'd and bang'd;

And had she been a Cavalier,
Surely she had been hang'd.
Help House of Commons, House of Peers,
Oh now
or never help

Has nowjDrought forth a Whelp.
Hers was but Fornication found,

For which she felt the lash:
his was Bugg'ry presum'd,
Therefore they hanged Swash:
But
What will become of Bishops then,

Or Independency?
For now we find both Dogs and Men
Stand
for Presbytry.
Help House
Oh now
of
Commons, House of
or never help!
Peers,

Th' Assembly having
Has now brought
sat
123
Four Years,
forth a
Whelp.
She might have took a Sow-gelder,

With Synod-men good store,
But she would have a Lay-Elder,
With Two Legs and Two more
Go
tell
Tell
th*
Assembly of Divines,
Adoniram blue;
Tell Burgess, Marshall,
Case and Vines,
Now-and-Anon too.
Help House of Commons, House
Tell
of Peers,

Some
Or
say she was a Scottish Girl,

else (at least) a
But she was born
Was
Witch;
in Colchester,
ever such a Bitch:
Take heed
all
Christian Virgins now,
The Dog-Star now prevails;

Ladies beware your Monkeys too,
For Monkeys have long Tails.
Help House of Commons, House
of Peers,

124
Bless
King and Queen, and send us Peace,
As we had Seven Years since:

For we remember no Dog-days,
While we enjoy'd our Prince:
Two Dukes, Three Girls,
Bless sweet Prince Charles,
Lord save
Grant that
May
his
his
Majesty;
Commons,
Bishops, Earls,
lead such lives as He.
Oh now
or never help!
Th' Assembly having
Has now brought
sat
forth
Four Years,
a Whelp.
Peers,
THE DUB'D KNIGHT
125
THE DUB'D KNIGHT OF THE FORKED

ORDER
The old wanton Lady, as I will recite,
And Sen John the Serving-Man, her hearts delight,
Their doings and actions, if you will attend,
In Master, they are by a Poet Pen'd:
The subtilty of women either old or young,

And what cunning excuses they have with their
tongue
That will play with their Husbands and laugh

them to scorn,
Stroke up there brows and there place a horn.
[By
ABRAHAM MILES; Roxburgh Ballads,

I am fallen away}.
ii.
114-115; tune,
Twas a Lady
born, of high degree,
In her aged days was youthful, yet she,
So youthful was
young man
at three-score years old,

she esteemed more precious than
Gold:
So
old, so old, so
wondrous
old,
till
three score
years and ten,
Old women are
willing to play with
young Men.
THE DUB'D KNIGHT
u6
This Lady one day in her Parlor did walk,

Unto her head-serving-man she began to talk;
She
him
was comely and rare,

Few men that she lookt on might with him
told
feature
his
compare.
So
old, so old, so
years and
wondrous
till
three score
young Men.
old,
ten,
Old women are
A Lilly- white hand, fair face, and a nose,

Hair crisping and curled, his breath like a Rose,
Streight leg
But that
So
and a
in the
and
foot,
middle
old, so old, so
is
his
body
tall,
the rarest of
wondrous
old,
all.
three score
till
years and ten,
Old women
are willing to play with young
"Madam," he
said,
"as
Unto an ancient Lady

It will make them merry,
'tis
And
So
clear every
old, so old, so
years and
alive,
a present revive;
either at night or
like the
wondrous
dew
old,
by day,
of May."
till
three score
ten,
Old women are

"
Vain
am
Men.
young Men.
Then note what I say and obey my command,

I'le make use of thee, now straight out of
For
hand,"
THE DUB'D KNIGHT
127
The bargain was made unto their own Will,

The Serving-man had and the Lady her fill:
So
wondrous
old, so old, so
years and
till
three score
ten,
O|d women are
When
old,
young Men.
the Jig was ended, the Lady threw down

her good Serving-man seven-score pound;
Unto
She gave this Gold freely, his courage to maintain,

That he will but Ride in the Saddle again.
So
wondrous
old, so old, so
years and
Then
till
three score
ten,
Old woman are
And
old,
young Men.
the wanton
Lady
to her
Knight she did hye,
a meretrix she did reply,

alter*d, and she had caught
like to
That she was much

harm.
"Why
thy
So
then,"
self
quoth
the
Knight,
"Lady, keep
warm!"
old, so old, so
wondrous
old,
till
three score
years and ten,
Old women are

"Tie send
For
"
"
for
to ease thy
young Men.
a Doctor, thy grief for to

body and troubled mind."
find,
have no Doctor, my grief for to ease,

But only one man, sweet-heart, if you please."
I will
THE DUB'D KNIGHT
128
So
old, so old, so
years and
me
old,
till
three score
ten,
Old women are

"Let
wondrous
young Men.
see this Artist," the Knight did reply.
"O!"
quoth the Lady, "loe here he stands by;

That can give me cure with a Syrup, that he
Brought from the Venetian, and from Italy"

So old, so old, so wondrous old, till three score
years and ten,
Old women are
"How came
young Men.
you acquainted with your man's
rarity?"
a sad passion, being ready to dye,

dream'd; that his judgement was right, I do
"Sir, in
I
find;
And
his
physick was healthful,
to old
Women
kind."
So
old, so old, so
years and
if
old,
till
three score
ten,
Old women are
"And
wondrous
young Men.
by the vertue thou pleasure do
find,
doubt then by Venus that I am made blind;

I dream'd I was hunting, and pleasure did see,
But a Vision mine eyes [in], much troubleth me.
I
So
old, so old, so
years and
wondrous
old,
till
three score
ten,
Old women are
young Men.
THE DUB'D KNIGHT

"The Deer
did run swiftly, and
129
Hounds
after
rang'd,
And
like
I,
AcUon^ most strangely was chang'd.

my lower part seem'd like a Man,
thought that
head
My
So
a Buck, and Horns like a Ram.
like
old, so old, so wondrous old,
years
and
till
three score
ten,
Old women are
young Men.
And riding on swiftly, sweet pleasure to find,

An Oke burst my horns, and his blood made
me blind.
14
The Huntsman
did
and great shouts
hollow,
did make,
And
So
forth of
my dream
old, so old, so
did awake.
I strait
wondrous
old,
till
three score
years and ten,
Old women are

14
told
Quoth
my
fair
Lady
of
my dream
young Men.
so strange
when thy
she, 'Tis the better,
Life doth
change;
For the Forked Order the
And
evil
doth expel,
being a dub'd Knight, thou needs't not fear

Hell.'"
So
old, so old, so
wondrous
old,
till
three score
years and ten,
Old women are

MIKRY SONGS
I.
young Men.
THE DUB'D KNIGHT
130
From
the Poor to the Rich, even to the Ladies Gay,
Young Women are wanton, old Women will play

And mumble their Husbands, and jeer them to
;
scorn,
And
So
point them a Beaker, and give them a
old, so old, so
wondrous
old,
till
Horn
three score
years and ten,
Old
women
are willing to play with
young Men.
THE WILLING LOVER
131
THE WILLING LOVER

[1661]
[From Wit 6* Drollery, 1661. Set "She lay

naked in her bed", page 116].
She
lay
up
all
to the Navel bare,
And was
a willing Lover;
between
Expecting
hope and fear,
When I would come and cover.
Her hand beneath my waistband
To
grope
in
busy wise;
Which caused a
And
slips,
trembling in her
lips
shivering in her eyes.
The blood out of her face

As it on service went,
did go,
To second what was gone before,

When all its strength was spent.
Her Cheeks and
lips as
Like roses were
Which
And
Her
full
Coral red,
blown:
fading straight, the leaves were spread,
so the
comes down.
breasts then both painting were
Such comfort wrought between
us,
THE WILLING LOVER
132
That
all
the world, I dare to swear,
Would envy
Her belly and
to
have seen
us.
its
provender,
kept in store;
Such news to hear and, not to have share,
For
me was
Would have made a man

Her
legs
My
were
girt
about
a whore.
my
waist,
hands under her Crupper;
As who should say, "now break your

And come again to supper."
Even as the God of War did knock,
As any other man will;

For haste of work at twelve
Kept Vulcan
"Mad
"why
dost thou
thyself to rear?
Cans't thou not
The
o'clock,
at his Anvil.
wag," quoth she,
Such haste
fast,
Fair lasts
know
all
that for thy sake
the
year?"
Quiet and calm as are love's streams

I threw myself about her.
But a pox upon true jests and dreams

I had better have lain without her.
make
A PURITAN
133
PURITAN
[1661]
[From Merry
Puritan of
And
Drollery,
fol.
2].
late,
eke a holy
Sister,
Catechizing sate,
And
fain
he would have
For
his
kist
her
Mate.
But she a Babe of grace,
Child of reformation
Thought kissing a disgrace,

Limbe of prophanation
In that place.
He
He
swore by yea and nay

would have no denial,
The
spirit
would
it
so,
She should endure a
tryal
Ere she go.
Why
swear you
Indeed,
my
so,
quoth she?
holy Brother,
You might have forsworn be

Had it been to anotherf,]
Not
to
me.
A PURITAN
134
He
His
laid her
on the ground,
Spirits fell
Her Zeal was
He
a ferking,
in a sound,
edified her
Merkin
Upside down.
And when their leave they

And parted were asunder
My Muse
And
did then
I turn'd
took,
awake,
Ballad-monger.
For
their sake.
RIDING TO DUNSTABLE
135
RIDING TO DUNSTABLE
ISoin
[1661]
[From Merry
Drollery, p.
14}
Riding to London, on Dunstable way

I met with a Maid on Midsummer day,
Her Eyes they did sparkle like Stars in the sky,

Her face it was fair, and her forehead was high
The more I came to her, the more I did view her,
The better I lik'd her pretty sweet face,
could not forbear her, but
And
then
began to
tell
still
her
my
drew near
her,
case:
Whither walk'st thou, my pretty sweet soul ?

She modestly answer'd to Hockley-f-tK-hole.
I
her her business; she had a red cheek,
ask'd
She
told
said,
And
it
it
a Country
was certain
it
Town
was her hard fortune
go up a maiden, and so to come down.
With
I
she went a poor service to seek;

pitty she should leave the City,
was
settle herself in
She said
To
me
that I alighted,
took her by
th'
and
hand, and
to her I stept,
this pretty
Sweet[,]
kist
my
weep not, quoth I: I

wrung her by th' hand, and
maid wept;
her soft
lip;
finger she nipt;
original]
RIDING TO DUNSTABLE
136
So long there I woo'd her, such reasons

That she my speeches could not controul,
But cursied
And back
shew'd
[her,
and got up behind me,
finely,
she rode
with
me
to Hockley
i'
th'
hole.
When
came
to
Hockley
at
the sign of the
Cock,
By
[a] lighting I
It lay so alluring
I call'd for
And
Chamber immediately;
hugg'd her,
chanced to see her white smock,

upon her round knee,
tugg'd her, I kist her, I smugg'd her,
gently I laid her
With
down on a
and pinking,
nodding
bed,
with
sighing
&
winking,
She told
me
a tale of her Maidenhead.
While she to
me
this story did
I could not forbear, but

I tasted the pleasure
We
on her
tell,
I fell;
of sweetest delight,
took up our lodging, and lay there

soft arms she roul'd me, and
With
all
oft
night
times
told me,
She loved me
deerly, even as her
own
soul:
But on the next morrow we parted with sorrow,
And
so
lay
with
her
at
Hockley
i'
th' hole.
MAIDEN'S DELIGHT
MAIDEN'S DELIGHT
[1661]
[From Mtrry DrolUry,
27].
p.
young man of late, that lackt a mate,

And courting came unto her,
With Cap, and
But
little
Kiss,
my
she,
Where
with you do
me
smother,
run at Ring with t'other thing;

little o' th'one with t'other.
Too much of ought

Then leave this idle
Your barren
As much
sister
He
that will speed

little
Who
no
fruit
man may
kiss
or his mother;
must give with need
o' th'one
with t'other.
bids a Guest unto a feast,
sit
They
for nought,
good
kissing;
be missing:
as this a
His
is
suit will yield
If the other thing
To
Mistris,
friend, let kissing end,
Quoth
And
and sweet
could he do her;
by divers
dishes,
please their
mind
untill
they find
Change, please each creature wishes;
137
MAIDEN'S DELIGHT
38
With beak and
have
bill
my
fill,
With measure running over;

The Lovers dish I now do wish,
little
with t'other.
o' th' t'one
To gull me thus, like Tantalus,

To make me pine with plenty,
With shadows
Your
and nothing more,
store,
substance
so dainty;
is
fruitless tree is like to thee,
Being but a kissing
With
leaves joyn
little
or else be mute;
t'one with t'other.
th'
o'
lover,
fruit,
Sharp joyn'd with flat, no mirth to that;

low note and a higher,
Where Mean and Base keeps time and place,
Such musick maids

All of
one
Change,
Then
string
doth loathing bring,
true Musicks Mother,
is
leave
little
desire:
my
o'
face,
th'
and sound the base,
t'one with t'other.
The golden mine lies just between

The high way and the lower;
He that wants wit that way to hit
Alas
[!]
hath
little
power;
You'l miss the clout
Much
higher, or
if
much
that
you shoot
lower:
MAIDEN'S DELIGHT
Shoot
just between,
your arrows keen,
o' th' t'one
little
with t'other.
No smoake desire without a

No wax without a Writing:
If right
And
straight
Thus do
As
to a
he'll
little
Each
Lover,
first
o' th
Thus while she
Not
to Seal,
to inditing;
take these lines I make,
faithful
In order
fire,
you deal give Deeds

fall
write,
then
seal,
t'one with t'other.

staid the
young man plaid
high, but low defending;
stroak
She swore
139
it
he strook so
well she took,
was past mending;
Let swaggering boys that think by toyes

Their Lovers to fetch over,
Lip-labour save for the maids must have
A little o' th' t'one with t'other.
140
THERE WAS THREE BIRDS

[1661]
[From Merry
Drollery (1661), p. 139].
There was three birds
The
The
And
first
that built very low,
and the second
have
cry'd,
went merrily in and

the third went merrily in;
third
at her toe,
in,
in,
never went Wimble in timber more nimble
With so
little
screwing and knocking on't
With so
little
knocking
There was three birds
The
The
The
first
and second
third
on a
[that] built
pin,
have at her
cry'd,
he went merrily
he went merrily
third
in
and
in,
shin,
in,
in;
never went Wimble in timber more nimble
With so
little
With so
little
knocking
built
on a
The
first
And
And
the third he went merrily in and
and the second
in,
in.
There was three birds that
in,
in.
cry'd,
have
the third he went merrily in
tree,
at her knee,
in,
in,
never went Wimble in Timber more nimble
141
With so
little
With so
little
knocking
built very high,
The
The
The
in
first
and the second
cried,
he went merrily
third he went merrily
third
never went Wimble
With so
litlle
With so
little
And
first
have
and
at her thigh,
in,
in,
in;
Timber more nimble
in
screwing and knocking
knocking
and the second
on't in,
in.
The
The
in,
in.
built
cry'd,
on a stump,
have
he went merrily in and

the third he went merrily in;
third
at her
in,
rump,
in,
never went Wimble in Timber more nimble
With so
With so
little
little
screwing,
knocking
and knocking
in.
on't in,
THE TINKER
142
THE TINKER
[1661]
[From Merry
Drollery, p.
134: see p. 41,
ante].
There was a Lady in this Land,

That lov'd a Gentleman,
And
could not have him secretly
As she would now and then,

Till she divis'd to dress him like
A
And
Tinker in Vocation:
thus, disguis'd, she bid
He came
His face
full
him
say,
to clout her Cauldron.
fair
she smother's black
That he might not be known,

leather Jerkin on his back,
His breeches rent and torn;
With speed he passed to the place,

To knock he did not spare:
Who's
that,
quoth the lady['s Porter] then,
That raps so rashly
there.
THE TINKER
I
am
a Tinker, then quoth he,
That worketh
If
143
for
my
Fee,
you have Vessels for to mend,

Then bring them unto me:
For
have brass within
my
bag,
And target in my Apron,

And with my skill I can well clout,
And mend a broken Cauldron.
The Porter went into the house
Where Servants us'd to dine,
Telling his Lady, at the Gate
There
Quoth
staid a
he,
much
Tinker
fine:
Brass he wears about
And
Target in his Apron,

Saying, that he hath perfect skill
To mend your broken Cauldron.
Quoth
Go
If
she, of
him we have great need,

him in,
Porter, let
he be cunning
He
shall
But wisely
in his Craft
much money win:

wist she who he was,
Though nothing she

For
did say,
in that sort she pointed
To come
When
him
that very day.
he before the Lady came,

Disguised stood he there,
THE TINKER
144
He
blinked blithly, and did say,

save you Mistris fair;
God
Thou'rt welcome, Tinker, unto me,
Thou
man
seem'st a
of
All broken Vessels for to
Though they be
I
am
the best
Quoth
For any
Or
ne'er so
men
he, in
skill,
mend,
my
of
all this
ill;
Trade,
Town
Kettle, Pot, or Pan,
clouting of a Cauldron.
Quoth she, our Cauldron hath most need

At it we will begin,
For
it
To
will
trim
But give
The
me
Then
it
a glass of drink,
first
we do
best that
For why[,]
No
hold you half an hour

out and in:
it
is
good drink
to the
use,
a Tinkers guise
to refuse.
Brew-house hyed they
This broken piece to mend,
He
said he would no company,

His Craft should not be kend,
But only to your

That must pay
I
he
said,
me my
Fee:
self,
am no common
Tinker,
But work most
curiously.
fast
THE TINKER
And
have made a
I also
145
Vow
I'll keep it if I may,

There shall uo mankind see
That
may
my
Then barred he the Brew-house

The place was very dark,
He
Budget from
cast his
And
And
frankly
work,
stop or stay:
fell
door,
his back,
to work.
he play'd and made her sport
whilst
Their craft the more to hide,
She with
his
hammer
stroke
hard
full
Against the Cauldron side:
Which made them all

The Tinker wrought
And
to think
and
apace,
so be sure he did indeed,
But
Quoth
My
in
another place.
he, fair Lady, unto her,
business I have ended,
Go
quickly now and tell your Lord

The Cauldron I have mended:
As
for the price that I refer
Whatsoever he do
Then come
I
would
say,
again with diligence,

I
were away.
The Lady went unto her Lord

Where he walkt up and down,
MERRY SONGS
I.
say,
THE TINKER
146
Sir,
The
have with the Tinker been,

best in
the
all
Town:
His work he doth exceeding well,

Though he be wondrous dear,
He
asks
no
than half a mark
less
For that he hath done here.

he, that Target is full dear,
swear by God's good Mother:
Quoth
I
Quoth
'Tis
He
my
she,
worth
strook
Where
do
protest,
hundred other;
in the special place,
it
greatest
need was found,

and target both,
his brass
Spending
To make
Before
Lord,
five
all
and sound.
safe
it
Tinkers in the Land,
That travels up and down,

Ere they should earn a Groat of mine,
This man should earn a crown:
Or were you
And none
of his Craft so good,
but I
Then would it
Which I am
The Lady
it
save
kend,
me many
a Mark,
fain to spend.
to her Coffer went,
And took a hundred Mark,

And gave the Tinker for his pains,
That did so
well his work;
THE TINKER
147
Tinker, said she, take here thy fee,

Sith here you'll not remain,
But
must have toy Cauldron now
Once scoured
Then
o'er again.
former work they went

could them deny;
to the
No man
The Lady said, good Tinker call
The next time thou com'st by;
For why [,] thou dost thy work so
And with so good invention,
If
still
thou hold thy hand
Take here a
And
alike,
yearly Pension.
ev'ry quarter of the year
Our Cauldron thou

Nay, by
my
I'd rather
Then
well,
faith,
shalt view;
her Lord gan say,
buy a new;
did the Tinker take his leave
Both of the Lord and Lady,

And said, such work as I can do,
To you
From
all
I will
God keep my
That comes
I'll
be ready.
such Tinkers of the trade

Wife,
to clout her
swinge him
if
pray,
Cauldron
may.
so,
THE BATHING GIRLES
148
THE BATHING GIRLES

[1672]
Part 2, p. 100. Cf.

''The Devonshire Damsels' Froilick," p. 163.
Westminster Drollery,
[From
"
To
the
common
Galliard
Tune "].
was mjune, and 'twas on Barnaby Bright too,

time when the days are long, and nights are
crew of merry Girles, and that in the night too,
It
short,
Resolv'd to wash in a
And
river,
and there
to sport;
there (poore things) they then resolv'd to be
merry
And
too,
with them did
good
bring
store
of jun-
ketting stuffe,
As
Bisket,
and Cakes, and Suger, and Syder, and
Perry too,
Of each such a
quantity,
that
was more than
enough.
But mark what chanc't unto
this
innocent crew
then,
Who
They
thought themselves secure from any eare;

knew 'twas dark, that none cou'd take a
view then,
And
all
did seem to be voyd of any feare;
THE BATHING GIRLES
149
Then every one uncas'd themselves, both smock & all

And each expected first who should begin;
And
that they might stay but
an houre, they
told
the Clock and all:
Then
all
a Te-he-ing raine did enter
in
But now comes out the Tale
meant
in.
to
tell
ye,
For a Crew of Jovial Lads were there before,
And
finding there
some viands
for their belly,
eas'd era then poor hearts of
They
Then every Lad
And
sate
down upon
whisper'd thanks to
all
their store
the Grasse there,
th' Girls for their
good
Cheare,
In which they drank a health to every Lass there,
& rinsing without any
That then were washing

fear.
And when
bellies
They back
And
took
they
had
pleas'd
and
pallats too,
did
come unto
away
their
(and
fill'd)
their
the foresaid place,
Smocks, and both their
Wallets too,
Which brought
their
good Bubb, and
left
them
in
pittiful case,
For presently they all came out to

That it put 'em unto their shifts
th' larder
their
there
Smocks
to
find;
I think,
I,
I,
says one,
my
shift is
little
farder there,
sayes another, for yours did lye by mine.
THE BATHING GIRLES
150
At
says one, the Divel a
last,
The
smock
is
here at
all,
Devil, a bit of bread, or drop of drink,
They've took every morsel of our good cheare
and
And
all
Gowns and
nothing but
Petticoats
left,
as I
think,
At
last,
if
says one,
they'd give us our Smocks agen,
And
likewise part of
We
shall
much
be
what we hither brought,

oblieg'd, and think 'em
Gentlemen,
And by
example be better taught.
this foolish
Although
the
in
River they were
as merry as
crickets there,
'Twixt laughing and fretting their state they did
condole
And
then came one of the Lads from out of the

thickets there,
And
told 'em hee'd bring
what was
They
em
their smocks,
and
stole;
only with
Petticoats on, like Jipsies
were
clad then,
He
brought 'em their Smocks, and what he had

promis'd before;
They
fell
mad
And
to
eat,
and drink as
if
they'd been
there,
glad they were

their store.
all,
they'd got so
much
of
THE BATHING GIRLES

And when
all
they
They put on
151
had made a good repast

and all resolv'd
their cloths,
there,
to
be
gone;
Then
out comes
the ladds in very great hast
all
there,
And
The
every one to the other then was known;
then conjure the ladds that were
girles did
there,
To what had
their
passt
lipps
shou'd
still
be
seal'd,
Nay more
than that they
made 'em
all
to
swear
there,
To which
they
did,
that
nothing
should
be
reveal'd.
Then each
at other did
make a
pass at kissing
then,
And round
it
went
to every
one
level coile,
But thinking that at home they might be missing

then,
And
fear'd that they
Then hand
had
stay'd too great a while
hand they altogether marcht away,

And every lad convey 'd his Mistris home,
Agen they
in
kist,
then every Lass her
man
did
pray,
That what had
past,
no more of that but Mum.
THE CUMBERLAND LASS
152
THE CUMBERLAND LASS

[c.
[Music in
Pills to
1674-80]
Purge Melancholy (1719),
There was a Lass
in
iv. 133]
Cumberland,
bonny Lass of high Degree:

There was a Lass, her Name was Nell,
The blithest Lass that e'er you see:

Oh! to Bed to me, to Bed to me,
The Lass that comes to Bed to me:
Blith
and bonny may she be,

that comes to Bed
The Lass
to
Her Father
lov'd her passing well,
me.
So did her Brother fancy Nell:

But all their Loves came short of mine,
As far as Tweed is from the Tyne,
Oh! to Bed
The Lass
to
me, to Bed to me,
Bed
to
me:

The Lass that comes to Bed
to
me.
that
comes
to
Blith
She had
five Dollars in
a Chest,
Four of them she gave to me;

She cut her Mother's Winding-Sheet,
And
all
to
make a Sark
for
me,
THE CUMBERLAND LASS
153
Bed
to
me,
to
Bed
to
me:

to
me.
Oh! to Bed
The Lass
to me, to
comes
that
Blith
She pluck'd a Box out of her Purse,

Of four Gold Rings she gave me three;
She thought herself no whit the worse,
She was so very kind to me,
Oh! to Bed
The Lass
Blith
to
me, to Bed to me,
comes
to
and bonny may

that comes
to
that
The Lass
If I
Bed
to
me:
she be,
were Lord of
all
To Bed and Board
Bed
to me.
the North,
she should be
free,
For why, she is the bonniest Lass,

That is in all her own Country,
Oh! to Bed
The Lass
to
me, to Bed to me,
Bed
to
me:

to
me.
that
comes
to
Blith
Her Cherry-Cheeks and Ruby Lips,

Doth with the Damask Rose agree,
With other Parts which
I'll not Name,

Which are so pleasing unto me:
The Lass that comes to Bed to me:
THE CUMBERLAND LASS
154

The Lass that comes to Bed*
Blith
For
have
And been
rid
in
to
me.
both East and West,

a strange Country,
many
Yet never met with so kind a
Lass,
with Cumberland Nelly.
Compared
The Lass that comes to Bed to me;
Blith and bonny may she be,
The Lass that comes to Bed to me.
When
embrace her
She takes
And
it
in
my
Arms,
kind and courteously,
hath such pretty winning Charms,
The like whereof you ne'er did see

The Lass that comes to Bed to me;
:
Blith

that comes to Bed
The Lass
to
me.
There's not a Lass in Cumberland
To be compar'd to smiling Nell,

She hath so soft and white a Hand,
And
Oh!
something more that
not
tell,
to
me,
comes
to
Bed
to
me:
and bonny may

that comes
to
to
me.
Bed
The Lass
Blith
I'll
Bed
to
The Lass
to
me,
that
to
she be,
Bed
THE CUMBERLAND
Up
my Chamber
to
There
I
stay
155
her got,
did treat her courteously,
told her, I thought
To
LASS
Oh! to Bed
The Lass
was her Lot
it
Night and
all
Ug
with me,
me, to Bed to me,
to
Bed
to
me:

to
me.
that
comes
to
Blith
She, pretty Rogue, could not say nay,
But by consent we did agree,

That she for a fancy, there should
And come
Ohl to Bed
The Lass
Blith
stay,
Bed to me:
Bed to me,
at night to
to
me, to
Bed
to
me:

that comes to Bed
to
me.
that
comes
to
The Lass
She made the Bed both broad and wide,
And
She
with her
kiss'd
My
me
I fear
Love,
Oh! to Bed
The Lass
Hand
thrice,
to
me,
she smooth'd
and smiling
thou
to
it
wilt sleep too
Bed
to me,
Bed
to
me:

to
me.
that
comes
to
Blith
Into
my Bed
And
hasted
strait,
presently she follow'd me,
down;
said,
soon:
THE CUMBERLAND LASS
156
It
was
make her
in vain to
wait,
For a Bargain must a Bargain be,
Oh! to Bed
The Lass
to
me, to Bed to me,
Bed
to
me;

to
me.
that
comes
to
Blith
Then
And
But
embrac'd
this lovely Lass,
strok'd her
Wem
for the rest we'll let
so bonnily,
it
pass,
For she afterward sung Lulaby;

The Lass
that
came
to
Bed
and Bonny sure was she,

The Lass that came to Bed
to
me,
to
me.
Blith
"METHINKS THE POOR TOWN
ETC."
157
"METHINKS THE POOR TOWN HAS

BEEN TROUBLED TOO LONG"
1676]
[c.
music in PLAYFORDS
EARL OF DORSET;
[By the
Choyce Ay res (1676), also in Pills

Melancholy (1719), iii. I/ 3\
Me thinks
With
By
And
will
Which
The
who
at once,
has been troubled too long,
in every Song;
can both Love and Dispair,
never leave calling them Cruel and Fair
provokes
justly
truth that
This Bess of
know
me
of
Rhime
to express,
my Bonny
black Bess.
in
Heart, this Bess of
my
Has a Skin white
my
Soul,
as Milk, but Hair black as a Coal
She's plump, yet with ease
her
Purge
and Chloris
Phillis
Fools
Town
the poor
to
you may span round
Waste,
But her round swelling Thighs can scarce be embrac'd
Her
But
Belly
I
is
not a word of the
soft,
know what
mean, when
rest,
drink to the Best.
The Plow-man, and Squire, the Erranter Clown,

At home she subdu'd in her Paragon Gown,
158
"METHINKS THE POOR TOWN
But now she adorns the Boxes and
And
the proudest
submit
Town
ETC."
-
Pit,
Gallants are forc'd to
All Hearts
And
beat
a leaping wherever she comes,
fall
Day and
Night, like
my
Lord
my
dear Bess in
Drums;
But to those who have had
their
Arms,
She's gentle and knows how to soften her Charms
And
to every
Having
Beauty can add a new Grace,

how to Lisp, and trip in her pace
learn'd
And with Head on one side, and a languishing Eye,

To Kill us with looking, as if she would Dye.
;
"
HER DAINTY PALM
"HER DAINTY PALM
ETC."
159
GENTLY PREST"
[1685]
[From The Marrow of Complements}.
Her
dainty palm
And
with her
lips
gently prest
I
play'd;
cheek upon her panting breast

And on her neck I laid:
My
And
yet
Nor
did
we had no sense of wanton

we then mistrust.
we
With pleasant
toil
And
wanner blood;
kiss'd in
her
Upon
lips
the
lust,
breathless grew,
honey-dew
Like drops on roses stood:
And on those flowers play'd I the busy

Whose sweets were such to me.
bee,
But kissing and embracing we

So long together lay,
Her touches
And
My
My
all
inflamed
me
to stray;
began
hands presumed too
tongue unwisely
told.
far,
they were too bold,
DEBAUCHERY SCARED
i6o
DEBAUCHERY SCARED
OR
THE BEGGAR-WENCH TURN'D INTO

A DEVIL: TOGETHER WITH THE
POLLICY OF BUMPKIN;
GIVING A PLEASANT ACCOUNT OF COMMICAL
PASSAGES BETWEEN A COUNTRY GENTLEMAN
AND A London BEGGAR- WENCH
[1685-88]
[Roxburgh Ballads,
ii.
101
tune, Ladies of London].
Country Gentleman came up
to town,
to taste the delights of the City,
Who
had
to his Servant a jocular Clown,
accounted to be very witty:

His master one night got drunk as a Rat,
and swore he would turn him away, Sir,

he would get him a bit for his Cat,
'Lest
and
Some
into his
jolly
and gave
Chamber convey
Dame he was
to his
her.
willing to have,
Bumkin a Guiney,
DEBAUCHERY SCARED
Who
had the
wit not to give
the far better part of the
To
find out a Punck,
161
but save
it,
money;
he walkt
in the street,
and backwards and forwards kept trudging;

At last a young beggar-wench he did meet,
who was
44
in great
want of a Lodging.
Sweet-heart" (said he),

to
"
if
thou'lt give thy consent
go home and lye with
my
master,
Tie give thee half a Crown for thy content,

and save thee from any disaster."
It
being
late,
besides
So
it
she fearing the watch,
was very cold weather,
that they quickly both
and
made up
the match,
trug'd to his master together.
Bumpkin was
arch, as
he homeward did come,
he gave her a bout by the way, sir;

Then to his master he carried her home,
who
He
in
a dark chamber
bid her be sure
let his
lay, sir:
master not know,
by any means, she was a mumper;

But bid her to rise before daylight, and go,
or Ad-swounds! he would heartily thump her.
Bumpkin his Trull to the chamber he led,

and then to the Bed took his way, sir;
She quickly undrest, and gropt into the Bed,
and
close to the
MERRY SONGS
I.
Gentleman
lay, sir;
II
DEBAUCHERY SCARED
62
Eager of Joy, he gave her a
kiss,
and hug'd her with flaming desire;

The Gentleman swore that she smelt so of Cheese,
he could not indure to lye by
her.
He
bid her get up to a place in the room,

where a Bottle stood of Rose-water,
And wash
her Face to take away the fume
then come into Bed again after;
Ink there happen'd to stand,

the Rose-water she took it,
bottle of
and
for
Pouring a spoonful out into her hand,

and over her face she did stroak it.
Then
to their joys they eagerly
fell,
began to be Light, sir;

Then, looking, he thought her the Devil of Hell,
and ran out of Bed in a fright, sir:
till
at last
Crying,
it
"The
Devil, the Devil
was there;"
she, being affrighted, ran after,
In a
tatter'd
old
smock, crying, "where
where?"
which put
all
the street in a laughter.
is
he,
THE DEVONSHIRE FROLLICK
163
THE DEVONSHIRE DAMSELS' FROLLICK

AN ACCOUNT OP NINE OR TEN FAIR
MAIDENS, WHO WENT ONE EVENING LATELY, TO
WASU THEMSELVES IN A PLEASANT RIVER, WHERE
THEY WERE DISCOVERED BY SEVERAL YOUNG MEN
BEING
WHO TOOK
WITH THEIR
BEING THEIR FAMILIAR ACQUAINTANCES,
AWAY THEIR GOWNS AND
PETTICOATS,
SMOCKS AND WINE AND GOOD CHEARJ LEAVING

THEM A WHILE IN A MOST MELANCHOLLY CONDITION.
[1685-88]
Ballads, ii. 136, 137, with music;
Bathing Girles", p. 148 ante\
[From Roxburgh
cf.
Tom
In
all
"The
and William with Ned and Ben,

they were about nine or ten;
Near a
trickling
River endeavour to see
a most delicate sight for men;

Nine young maidens they knew it
full
Sarah, Susan, with
and
all
well,
bonny Nell,
those others whose names are not here,
intended to wash in a River
clear.
164
Simon gave out the report

the rest resolving to see the sport
The Young [men]

that this
is
[,]
freely repairing declaring
the humours of
Venus Court
[,J
In a Bower those Gallants remaine

seeing the maidens trip o're the plain
They thought no Body
did
know
[:]
their intent
as merrily over the Fields they went.
Wine did bring

a
delicate
many
dainty thing [,]
Their Fainting Spirits to nourish and cherish
Nell a Bottle of
with
when they had been dabling in the Spring

They supposing no Creature did know
[:]
to the River they merrily goe,
When
they came thither and seeing none near

then under the bushes they hid their chear.
Then they stripping

their Gowns their
Their
fine
skipping
white
of
all
their cloaths
Petticoats Shoes
smickits
then
and Hose
stripping
[,]
no Body seeing them they suppose
[,]
Sarah enter'd the River so clear
and bid them follow they need not

For why the Water
is
warm they
fearf,]
replyed[,]
then into the River they sweetly
glide.
Finely bathing themselves they lay

like pretty
Fishes they sport and play[,]
[,]
and
165
Then
let's be merry [,] said Nancy I fancy,

seldom that anyone walks this way[.]
Thus those Females were all in a Quill
its
and following on their Pastime

naked in a most dainty trim
still
[,]
All
Swans did swim.
those Maidens like beautiful
Whilst they followed on their Game[,]

out came sweet William and Tom by name,
They took
all
their Clothing
Maids was they not

blame [?]
and
Villains
left
nothing [:]
and much
to
Likewise taking their Bottle of Winef,]

with all their delicate Dainties fine[:]
Thus they were
rifled
of
all
their store,
was ever poor Maidens so serv'd
From
the River those Maidens
before.
fair
Return'd with sorrow and deep despair
When
that
With
[;]
they seeing, brooding [,] concluding
somebody
all
their
Alas[!] said Nelle[,]
Those
we
are undone,
Villains I wish they
that took our Petticoats
Then Sweet Sarah

they
had been there [,]
certainly
Treasure away they run[,]
all
was
in a
were
in the Stocks,
Gowns and Smocks.
with modest Prue
most
fearful
Hue[,]
66
Every Maiden replying and crying

they did not know what in the world
to
do
But what laughing was there with the men

in bringing their Gowns and Smocks again
The Maidens were modest

and gave them
&
fine curtsies
[.]
[,]
mighty mute[,l
and thanks to boot
THE OLD FUMBLER
167
THE OLD FUMBLER

\b.
1695]
[A Broadside Song with music,

PURCELL].
set
HENRY
by
Smug, rich and fantastick old Fumbler was known,

That Wedded a Juicy brisk Girl of the Town;
Her Face like an Angel, Fair, Plump, and a Maid,

Her Lute well in Tune too, cou'd he but have plaid
:
But
lost
She
finds
He
was
him
coughs
And
in
Bed
in her Ear,
Forgive me,
She
his Skill, let
my
him do what he can,
weak
'tis
silly
old
in vain to
Dear, I'm a
silly
old
Man;
come on,
Man.
dry Hand on her snowy soft Breast,

from those white Hills gave a glimpse ofthe Best
laid his
But ah
what
is
Age when our Youth's but
a Span,
She found him an Infant instead of a Man,
Ah! Pardon, he'd cry, that I'm weary so soon,

let down my Base, I'm no longer in Tune
You have
Lay
I
by the dear Instrument, prithee
can play but one Lesson, and that
lie still,
play
111.
"BENEATH A COOL SHADE"
i68
"BENEATH A COOL SHADE"

[i697]
[By Mrs.
BEHN
in
Wks.].
Beneath a cool shade, where some here have been,

Convenient for Lovers, most pleasant and green,
Alexis
and
Cloris lay pressing soft Flowers,
With Kissing and Loving they past the dull hours.

She close in his Arms with her head on his brest,
And
She
fainting with pleasure
blusht
and she
you guess
at the rest
with a Joy beyond
sigh'd
measure,
All ravisht with Billing
But while thus
in
and dying with Pleasure.
Transports extended they
lay,
A Hansom
young Shepherd was passing that way'.

oh Alexis, betray'd
She saw him and cry'd.
Oh what have you done
you have ruin'd a
.
Maid;
But the Shepherd being modest
And
And
left
discreetly past by,
'em again at their leisure to dy.
often
they
Languish'd with Joy beyond
measure,
All Ravisht with Billing
and dying with
Pleasure.
"'TWAS WITHIN A FURLONG"
169
-'TWAS WITHIN A FURLONG OF
EDINBOROUGH TOWN "

[1697]
[Words by T. DURFEY
(1719),
choly
in Pills to Purge Melan327; with music by HENRY
i.
PURCBLL].
Twas
within a Furlong of Edinborough
In the Rosie time of year
when
Blith
Bonny Jockey
Town,
the Grass was down
and Gay,
Said to Jenny making Hay,

Let's
sit
little
(Dear) and prattle,
'Tis a sultry
He
Day:
long had Courted the Black-Brow'd Maid,
But Jockey was a
Wag
and would ne'er consent
to
Wed;
Which made her
will
I
pish
and phoo, and cry
out,
it
not do,
cannot, cannot, cannot, wonnot,
monnot Buckle
too.
He
And
told her Marriage
was grown a meer Joke,

no one Wedded now, but the Scoundrel
that
Folk;
Yet
my
But
dear, thou shouldest prevail,'
know not what
ail,
"'TWAS WITHIN A FURLONG"
70
dream of
I shall
With
But
Dogs,
a pretty Filly-Foal,
the Air;
thou ne'er
If
silly
and a Bongrace to wear,

to ride out and take
give thee Gloves,
I'll
And
and
Clogs,
Bottles at their Tail;
will pish
nor phoo, and cry,
it
ne'er
shall do,
I
cannot, cannot, cannot, wonnot,
monnot Buckle
too.
That
you'll give
But ah! what
me
Trinkets, cry'd she, I believe,
in return
must your poor fenny
When my Maiden
must gang
And
to
London Town,
Roar, and Rant, and Patch and Paint,
And
Kiss for half a
Each Drunken Bully
And earn
No, no,
Or
give,
Treasure's gone,
oblige for
an hated Living
it
Crown
in
cannot,
Buckle too.
Pay,
an odious Fulsom way;
ne'er shall do, for a
cannot,
Wife
cannot,
11
be
to you,
wonnot, monnot
TOM TINKER
171
TOM TINKER
1698]
(c.
Notes; words and music in

Melancholy (1719), vi. 205].
[Set
Tom
Tinker's
And
I will
For of
All the
all
my
go with him
the young
he
Day
will
his
Men
am
With
am
way you
He
calls
And
me
Kettle he tabbers
his Jewel, his delicate
then he
will
take
up
my
am
Tom
sure
say nothing that
will,
all
Day,
Hay
To
have a new Rubbers with him
By
reason she
111.
mad
on the Grass,
had a good
This way, that way, which way you
am
[,trumii
will,
Tinker I say was a Jolly stout Lad,

young Nancy and made her stark
that he
you can take
tickled
knew
111.
Smicket to
He
will
Duck,

I
Dear,
you can take
Night he will tumble on Strumil or
At
his
Purge
Budget to bear;
he has the best luck,
sure I say nothing that
Hammer on
Fuddle, at Night he
This way, that way, which

I
and
true love,
Pills to
will,
you can take
111.
straw]
TOM TINKER
i;2
There was an old
Woman
on Crutches she came,
To lusty Tom Tinker, Tom Tinker by Name;

And tho' she was Aged near threescore and five,
She kickt up her Heels and resolved
I
am
beautiful
to
will,
you can take
111.
Damsel came out of the West,

And she was as Jolly and brisk as the best;
She'd Dance and she'd caper as wild as a Buck,
told Tom the Tinker, she would have some
And

I
am
Lady she
sure
will,
say nothing that you can take

call'd
him her Kettle
to
And
she resolved her self to attend
Now
as
111.
mend,
he stood stooping and mending the Brass,
His Breeches was torn and down hung his

This way, that way, which way you will,
I
am
sure
111.
Something she saw that pleased her well,

She call'd in the Tinker and gave him a spell:
With Pig, Goose and Capon, and good store of suck,
That he might be
I
am
some
willing to give her

will,
you can take
He had
such a Trade that he turn'd
Yet
was going he caus'd
as I
me
me
to stay;
111.
away,
TOM TINKER
173
was going to pass,

He gave me a slap in the Face with his
This way, that way, which way you will,
So as towards him
am
thought in
sure
my
Heart he had struck
off
my
111.
Nose,
gave him as good as he brought I suppose;,

My Words they were ready and wonderful blunt,
Quoth
I,
had rather been stobb'd
my
in
will,
am
met with a Butcher a
then stepp'd to him and cryed out half:
At
sure
his
first
And he
denial I
said
it
was
killing
fell
all
very
for a
a Calf,
sick,
touch of his
will,
am
met with a Fencer a going to School,

him at Fencing he was but a Fool;
sure
111.
111.
I told
He had
And
told
but three Rapiers and they were
him he should no more play
am
met with a Barber with Razor and
He
He
fligger'd
I say nothing that
and
would have a
told
me
stroke,
his
my
111.
Balls,
brave
alls;
words they were
blunt,
I
blunt,
my
you can take
for all
and
all
will,
sure
at
could not deny him the use of
my
TOM TINKER
174
will,
am
met with a Fidler a Fidling aloud,

told me he had lost the Case of
sure
I say nothing that
you can take
He
I being
his
111.
Croud;
natur'd as I was wont,
good
Told him he should make a Case of
This way, and that way, and which
For the Fairest of
Women
will lye
my
way you
can,
with a Man.
A LUSTY YOUNG SMITH"
175
"A LUSTY YOUNG SMITH AT HIS VICE

STOOD A FILING"
I
705]
[A Broadside Song with music, set by RICHARD

LEVERIDGE; also words and music in Pills
to
ii.
198}
Lusty young Smith at his Vice stood a Filing,

Rub, nib, rub, rub, rub, rub in and out, in
and out ho;
When to him a Buxom young Damsel came smiling,

And ask'd if to Work at her Forge he wou'd go
;
With a
in
rub, rub, rub, rub, rub, rub in
and
out,
and out ho:
A match quoth the Smith, so away they went thither,

Rub, rub, rub, rub, rub, rub
in
and
out, in
and
Work and
hot
out ho:
They
strip'd to
go
to't,
'twas hot
Weather,
She kindl'd a
With a
in
and soon made him blow;

and out,
Fire,
and out
ho.
Her Husband she
said could scarce raise
up
his
Hammer,
His strength and
his
Tools were worn out long ago
"A LUSTY YOUNG SMITH"
176
If she got her Journey-men, could
any blame
her,
Look here quoth our Workman, my Tools are not so

With a rub, rub, rub, rub, rub, rub in and out,
in
and out
ho.
Red-hot grew his Iron as both did desire,

he was too wise not to strike while 'twas so
And
Quoth
Then
she,
what
I get, I get
prithee strike
out of the Fire,
home and redouble
the blow
With a rub, rub, rub, rub, rub, rub in and out,

in
and out
ho.
Six times did his Iron
by vigorous
heating,
Grow soft in the Forge in a Minute or so;

As often 'twas harden'd, still beating and beating,
But the more
With a
in
it
was soften'd
it
harden'd more slow
and
out,
Dame
full
and out ho:
The Smith then wou'd
go,
quoth the
of sorrow,
Oh what
wou'd
I give, cou'd
my
Cuckold do so
Good Lad with your Hammer come hither to Morrow,

But pray can't you use
With a
in
it
once more
e'er
and out ho.
ifflr
you go
and out,
:
"AS
"
OYSTER NAN STOOD BY HER TUB"
AS OYSTER
177
NAN STOOD BY HER TUB
[A Broadside Song with music;

v.
also
in Pills to
107].
As Oyster Nan stood by her Tub,
To shew
her vicious Inclination;
She gave her noblest Parts a Scrub,

And sigh'd for want of Copulation:
Vintner of no
Who
excellent
Beheld the
little
As she stood
Come
'Tis
I'll
in,
Fame,
little
Red and White can

dirty
ye,
scratching of her Belly.
says he, you
now
sell
Dame,
silly Slut,
a rare convenient Minute;
lay the Itching of your Scut,
Except some greedy Devil be in it:

With that the Flat-capt Fusby smil'd,
And would have
blush'd, but that she cou'd not ;
Alass! says she, we're soon beguil'd,
By Men
to
From Door
As
it's
do those
things
we shou'd
not.
they went behind the Bar,
by common Fame reported;
MERRY SONGS
I.
12
178
"AS
OYSTER NAN STOOD BY HER TUB"
And
there upon a Turkey Chair,

Unseen the loving Couple sported:
But being call'd by Company,

As he was taking pains to please her;
I'm coming, coming Sir, says he,
My
Her
Dear, and so
am
I,
says she,
Sir.
Mole-hill Belly swell'd about,
Into a Mountain quickly after;
And when
the pretty Mouse crept out,

The Creature caus'd a mighty Laughter:
And now she has learnt the pleasing Game,
Altho' much Pain and Shame it cost her;
She daily ventures at the same,

And shuts and opens like an Oyster.
"I
WENT TO THE ALEHOUSE"
"
WENT TO THE ALEHOUSE "
179
[1707]
[A Broadside Song; also with music in

Purge Melancholy (1707), i. n8J.
Pills to
I Went to the Alehouse as an honest Woman shou'd,

And a Knave follow'd after, as you know Knaves
wou'd,
Knaves
tell
I'll
be Knaves
will
And
every Degree,
you by and by how
my
call'd for
in
Knave
the
Knave
this
Pot as an honest
serv'd me.
Woman shou'd,
you know Knaves
drank't up, as
wou'd,
Knaves
I'll
tell
went
And
will
be Knaves
in
every Degree,
you by and by how

into
my
Knave
the
this
Knave seiVd me.
Bed, as an honest
crept
Woman
shou'd,
you know Knaves
into't, as
wou'd,
Knaves
I'll
tell
will
be Knaves
in every
you by and by how
this
proved with Child as an honest
And
the
Knave ran away,
as
Degree.
Knave
serv'd
Woman
me.
shou'd,
you know Knaves
wou'd,
Knaves
And
will
be Knaves
thus I have told you
in every Degree,
how this Knave serv'd me.
AS I SAT AT MY SPINNING-WHEEL "
i8o
"AS
MY SPINNING-WHEEL"
SAT AT
[1707]
[Words and music

(1719),
As
A
I
iii.
my
I sat at
in
Pitts to
Purge Melancholy
88].
bonny Lad
Spinning- Wheel,
there passed by,
kenn'd him round, and I
lik'd
him
Geud Feth he had a bonny Eye:

My Heart new panting, 'gan to
But
Most
I turn'd
still
he did appear,
Presence did draw near,
As he my
about
slender
Waste
me
embrac'd:
my Hand he down
did kneel,
To
kiss
As
I sat at
And
And
my
Arms, and
clasp'd his
My
feel,
Spinning- Wheel.
gracefully
And round
He
my
weel,
my
Milk white
prais'd
my
Spinning- Wheel.
Hand he
did extol,
Fingers long and small,
said, there was
That ever could with
no Lady
fair,
me
compare:
Those pleasing Words my Heart did
But still I turn'd my Spinning- Wheel.
feel,
MY SPINNING-WHEEL"
AS I SAT AT
181
Altho' I seemingly did chide,
Yet he would never be deny'd,

But did declare his Love the more,
Heart was
my
Until
That
my
But yet
As
I turn'd
my
for
And
Wounded
sore;
Love cou'd scarce conceal,
my
Spinning- Wheel.
my Rock and Reel,

my Spinning- Wheel,
Yarn,
after that
He bid me leave them all with Speed

And gang with him to yonder Mead:
My
panting Heart strange Flames did
Yet
still
He stopp'd
Now speed
But
I'll
if
gaz'd,
the Wheel,
He
Spinning- Wheel.
and
my bonny
Work
Maid,
go,
trow,
Feth, I lik'd him passing weel,

I turn'd
still
my
Spinning- Wheel.
lowly veil'd his Bonnet
And
blithly said,
Hay-Cock
learn thee better
But
He
and
my
thou'st to the
Geud
Yet
tum'd
sweetly kist
my
oft,
Lips so soft;
between each Honey Kiss,
still
urg'd
me on
to farther Bliss:
Till I resistless Fire did feel,
Then
Among
Then
let
alone
my
Spinning- Wheel.
the pleasant Cocks of Hay,
with
my bonny Lad
I lay,
feel,
182
"AS I SAT AT MY SPINNING-WHEEL"
What Damsel
ever could deny,
Youth with such a Charming Eye?
The
pleasure I cannot reveal,
It far surpast
the Spinning- Wheel.
THE SURPRIZ'D NYMPH
183
THE SURPRIZ'D NYMPH

[1707]
[Words and music

(1707),
i.
The four and

Of all days
Virgin
Did
in the
Lady
Purge Melancholy
fresh
And had
year;
and gay,
side got she,
sure, she
was secure,
intent to bathe her.
glittering, glancing, jealous
She
May,
did sing loud the rather;
Cause she was
slily
see
Were
And
to
privately appear:
And
To
Pills
twentieth day of
Hard by a River
With
in
102 J.
if
Eyes,
looks about;
any lurking Spies
hid to find her out:
being well resolv'd that none,
Could see her Nakedness,

She pull'd her Robes off one by one,
And
did her self undress.
Her purple Mantle fring'd with Gold,

Her Ivory Hands unpinn'd;
It wou'd have made a Coward bold,
Or tempted a Saint to 'a sinn'd:
THE SURPRIZ'D NYMPH
84
She turn'd about and look'd around,
Quoth
she, I
Then her
hope I'm
She presently put
The snow
white
off.
Smock which she had
Transparently to
Look'd
safe;
rosie Petticoat,
on,
deck her,
Cambrick or Lawn,
like
Upon an
Alablaster Picture:
Thro' which Array I did faintly spy

Her Belly and her Back;
Her Limbs were
straight,
and
all
was white,
But that which should be Black.

Into a fluent Stream she leapt,
She lookt
The
To
like
Fishes from
Venus Glass;
all
Quarters crept,
see what Angel 'twas:
She did so
like a
Or Fancy
in a
Vision look,
Dream;
'Twas thought the Sun the Skies forsook,
And
dropt into the Stream.
Each Fish did wish himself a Man,

About her all was drawn,
And at the Sight of

To spread abroad
She turn'd
And
to
her began
their Spawn:
swim upon her Back,
so display'd her Banner;
THE SURPRIZ'D NYMPH

If
Jove had then in Heaven been,
He
185
would have dropt upon
Lad
that long her Love had been,

cou'd obtain no Grace,
And
For
her prying lay unseen,
all
Hid
Who
her.
in t secret place:
had often been
When
repuls'd,
he did come to
Pull'd off his Cloaths,
Did run and leap

She squeak'd, she
Wooe
and
her;
furiously
into her.
cry'd,
and down she
div'd,
He brought her up again;

He brought o'er upon the Shore,
And
You may
Because she
He
and then
and then
then
As Adam did Old Eve
enjoy,
guess what
mean;
uncovered lay,
cover'd her again.
all
With water'd Eyes she pants and
crys,
I'm utterly undone;

If you will not be wed to me,
E'er the next Morning Sun:
He
answer'd her he ne'er would
Out of her Sight

We'll both clap
Marry, and
till
Hands
then
in
to't again.
stir,
Wedlock Bands,
"
"OH MOTHER, ROGER WITH
86
ETC."
OH MOTHER, ROGER WITH HIS KISSES "

[1707]
and music
[Words
(1707),
i.
in Pills to
Purge Melancholy
214].
Oh
Mother, Roger with his Kisses

Almost stops my Breath, I vow;
Why does he gripe my Hand to pieces,
And
me
yet he says he loves
Tell me, Mother, pray
too?
now do
Pray now do, pray now do,

now
do,
Pray now, pray now, pray now do,

What Roger means when he does so?
For never
Nay
stir
long to know.
more, the naughty
Something
I call'd
But
him
for
in
Beast,
my
Man
beside
my Mouth he
and
it,
put;
try'd to Bite
it,
Life I cannot do't;
now do!
Pray now do, pray now do,

now
do,
Pray now, pray now, pray now do,

What Roger means when he does so?
For never
stir
I long to
know.
"OH MOTHER, ROGER WITH ETC."

He
me
sets
Where
Something
Pray
Lap whole Hours,

know not what;
in his
I feel I
never
felt in
yours,
me Mother what
me Mother what is
tell
Tell
For never
stir
I long to
is
that?
that?
know.
187
i88
"
"AS I WENT O'ER YON MISTY
AS
WENT
O'ER
MOOR"
YON MISTY MOOR "
[1707]
[Words and music

(1707),
i.
in Pills to Purge Melancholy

326; set by AKEROYDE],
As
I went o'er yon misty Moor,

'Twas on an Evening late, Sir,
There I met with a welfar'd Lass
Was
spanning of her Gate, Sir;

by the lilly white Hand,
I took her
And by
I
Twat
the
I caught her,
swear and vow, and
She
The
piss'd in
silly
poor
tell
my Hand
Wench
you
true,
with Laughter.
she lay so
still,
You'd swear she had been dead, Sir;

The deel a word but aw she said, but ay,
And bow'd
Kind
But
Sir,
I'll
You make
her Head, Sir;
quoth she,
you'll kill
me
here,
forgive the Slaughter,
such Motions with your A

my Sides with Laughter.
You'll split
se,
THE FRYER AND THE MAID
189

[r.
1707]
[A Broadside Song with music; see CHAPPELL'S

Popular Music etc. (1855-59), 274].
As
I lay
Musing
all
alone,
A merry Tale I thought upon;

Now listen a while and I will you
Of a Fryer
He came
that lov'd a
to her
tell,
Bonny Lass
when she was going
well.
to Bed,
Desiring to have her Maiden-head;
But she denyed
And
his desire,
said that she did fear Hell-fire.
Tush, tush, quoth the Fryer, thou need'st not doubt,

If thou wert in Hell, I could sing thee out;
Why
then, quoth the
Maid thou
shalt
have thy
request,
The Fryer was
as glad as a
Fox
in his Nest.
But one thing more I must request,

More than to sing me out of Hell-fire;
That
An
is
for
doing of the thing,
Angel of
Money you must me
bring.
190
we two
Tush, tush, quoth the Fryer,
No Money
Before thy company I

I'll
pawn
The Maid bethought
How
When
will lack,
Gown
the grey
shall agree,
and me;
shall part thee
off
my
Back.
her on a Wile,
she might this Fryer beguile;

he was gone, the truth to tell,
She hung a Cloth before a Well.
The Fryer came
as his bargain was,
With Money unto
Good morrow,
Here
is
the
his
bonny Lass;
morrow quoth
Fair Maid, good
Money
she,
promis'd thee.
She thank'd him, and she took the Money,
Now
go to't my own dear Honey;

Nay, stay a while, some respite make,
If my Master should come he would us
let's
Alas! quoth the Maid,
my
take.
Master doth come;
Alas! quoth the Fryer where shall I run;
Behind yon Cloth run thou, quoth

my Master cannot see.
she,
For there
Behind the Cloth the Fryer went,

And was in the Well incontinent:
Alas! quoth he, I'm in the Well,
No matter quoth she if thou wert in Hell.

Thou
saidst
thou could sing me out of Hell,

thy self out of the Well
I prithee sing
Sing out, quoth she, with
Or
191
all
thy might,
else thou'rt like to sing there all Night.
The Fryer sang out with a pitiful sound,

Oh! help me out or I shall be Drown'd;
She heard him make such pitiful moan,
She hope him out and bid him go home.
Quoth the
Fryer,
never was serv'd so before,
Away, quoth the Wench, come here no more;
The Fryer he wulk'd along the street,

As if he had been a new wash'd Sheep:
Sing hey down a deny, and let's be merry,
And from
such Sin ever keep.
192
THE TROOPER WATERING HIS NAGG
THE TROOPER WATERING
HIS
NAGG
[1707]
[Words and music

(1707),
iii.
There was an old

Sing
in
Pills to
Purge Melancholy
55].
Woman
liv'd
under a
Hill,
Trolly lolly, lolly, lolly, lo;
She had good Beer and Ale for

Ho, ho, had she so, had she
to
so,
She had a Daughter her name was
sell,
had she so;

Stss,
Sing Trolly lolly, lolly, lolly, lo

She kept her at Home for to welcome her Guest,
;
Ho, ho, did she
so,
did she so, did she
so.
There came a Trooper riding by,

Sing trolly
He
call'd for
Ho,
When
lolly, lolly, lolly,
Drink most
ho, did
he
so,
lo;
plentifully,
did he so, did he so;
one Pot was out he
call'd for another,
Sing trolly lolly, lolly, lolly, lo;

He kiss'd the Daughter before the Mother,
Ho,
ho, did he so, did
And when
he
so,
did he so.
Night came on to Bed they went,
Sing trolly
lolly,
lolly,
lolly,
lo;
THE TROOPER WATERING HIS NAGG

It
193
was with the Mother's own Consent,

Ho, ho, was it so, was it so, was it so;
Quoth
what
she,
Sing
Tis Ball
this
is
so
stiff
and warm,
trolly lolly, lolly, lolly, lo;
my Nag
he
Ho, ho, wont he

But what
is
this
Sing trolly
so,
hangs under
his
lolly,
lo;
lolly,
lolly,
Tis the Bag he puts

Ho, ho, is it so, is
Quoth
what
he,
Sing trolly
Where
do you no harm,
wont he so, wont he
will
his
it
is
this ?
lolly,
lolly,
Chin,
Provender
so, is
it
Quoth
lolly,
so.
in,
so;
she,
'tis
a Well,
lo;
your Nag may drink his fill,

Ho, ho, may he so, may he so, may he
Ball
But what
if
my Nag
should chance to
so.
slip in,
Sing trolly lolly, lolly, lolly, lo;

catch hold of the Grass that grows on the
Then
brim,
Ho, ho, must I so, must I so, must I so;

But what if the Grass should chance to fail,
Sing trolly
Shove him
in
lolly,
lolly,
lolly,
lo;
by the Head, pull him out by the
Tail,
Ho,
ho, must I so, must I so, must I so.
MERRY SONGS
I.
194
MY THING
IS
MY OWN
MY THING
IS
MY OWN
[1707]
[Words and music

(1707),
I a tender
Of
if.
in
to
Purge Melancholy
young Maid have been courted by many,

and Trades as ever was any:
sorts
all
spruce Haberdasher
But
Pills
234].
first
me
spake
fair,
would have nothing to do with Small ware.

My Thing is my own, and I'll keep it so still,
Yet other young Lasses may do what they will.
sweet scented Courtier did give
And
But
promis'd
I'll
Some
me
not believe him, for
Courtiers
My
Mountains
thing
is
if
it
me
a Kiss,
would be
is
too true,
do promise much more than they do.

my own, and I'll keep it so still,
Yet other young Lasses may do what they
fine
To
Man
plead his
He made
For
his,
will.
Law did come out of the Strand,

own Cause with his Fee in his Hand
of
a brave Motion but that would not do,
I did dismiss
him, and Nonsuit him too.
My thing my own, and I'll keep it so

is
still,
will.
Next came a young Fellow, a notable Spark,

(With Green Bag and Inkhorn, a Justices Clark)
MY THING
He
pull'd out his
But
IS
Warrant
MY OWN
make
to
195
all
appear,
him away with a Flea in his Ear.

thing is my own, and I'll keep it so still,
I sent
My
Master of Musick came with an
To
I
give
me
a Lesson on
my
will.
intent,
Instrument,
thank'd him for nothing, but bid him be gone,

my little Fiddle should not be plaid on.
For
My thing is my own, and I'll keep it so

An
had no mind
He
me
profer*d
But
My
to
come under
Jewels, and great
would not Mortgage

thing
is
my
my
own, and
blunt Lieutenant surpriz'd
And
fiercely
mustered
And
forc'd
began to
my
my
Spirits
rifle
his Lash,
store of Gold,
little
Free-hold.
keep it so
do what they
I'll
Yet other young Lasses may
my
will.
it,
up and became
bold,
Lieutenant to quit his strong hold.
thing is my own, and I'll keep it so

Crafty young
And
still,
Placket,
and sack
My
A
will.
Usurer came with abundance of Cash,
But
still,
Bumpkin
that
was very
still,
will.
rich,
us'd with his Bargains to go thro' stitch,
Did tender a Sum, but it would not avail,

That I should admit him my Tenant in tayl.
MY THING
96
MY OWN
IS
My Thing is my own, and I'll keep it so

He
profer his Service to be at

talk'd of a
But
I'll
My
slit
have no Taylors to
Thing
is
my
Command,
had above Knee,

stitch
own, and
Yet other young Lasses
will.
dapper Taylor, with a Yard in his Hand,
fine
Did
still,
Gentleman that did
it
for
me.
so
still,
may do what they
will.
talk
I'll
much
keep
it
of his Grounds,
His Horses, his Setting-Dogs, and his Grey-hounds,

Put in for a Course, and us'd all his Art,
But he mist of the Sport,
for
Puss would not
start.
keep
Thing is my own, and
My
A
I'll
it
so
still,
will.
young Squire new come to the Town,

his Pockets, and so to go down,
Did profer a kindness, but I would have none,
pretty
To empty
The same
My
that
Thing
is
he us'd
my
to his Mother's
own, and
still,
will.
here I could reckon a hundred and more,
Besides
the Gamesters recited before,
all
That made
thing
Until
hopes of a snap
understood Trap.
their addresses in
But as young as
My
keep it so
do what they
I'll
Yet other young Lasses may
Now
Maid Joan.
is
my
was
own, and
be Marryed, say
I'll
keep
Men what
it
so
they
still,
will.
"AS THE FRYER HE WENT ALONG"
"AS
197
THE FRYER HE WENT ALONG"

[1707]
[Words and music

(1707),
As
iii.
in
Pitts
to
Purge Melancholy
130].
the Fryer he went along,
and a poring
in his
Book,
At
last
he spy'd a Jolly brown
Wench
a washing
of her Buck,
Stow the Fryer, stow the Fryer

Some good Man, and let this fair Maid
Sing,
The Fryer he pull'd out and a

much as he could handle,
Fair Maid, quoth he,
A
Sing,
come
if
light
Jolly
go.
as
thou earnest Fire in thy

this same Candle.
me
Stow the Fryer, stow the Fryer
Some good Man, and
The Maid
she sh
let this
fair
Maid
- and a
Jolly brown
go.
out of her Jolly brown Hole,
Good Sir, quoth she, if you

come blow me this same
Sing,
will
a Candle
light
Cole.
Stow the Fryer, stow the Fryer,
Some good Man, and
let this fair
Maid
go.
198
"AS THE FRYER
HE WENT ALONG"
Part of the Sparks flew into the North, and part

into the South,
And
part of this jolly
brown
flew into the
Fryer's Mouth.
Sing, Stow the Fryer, stow the Fryer
Some good Man, and let this fair Maid
go.
THE LASS OF LYNN'S LAMENTATION
199
THE LASS OF LYNN'S SORROWFUL

LAMENTATION FOR THE LOSS
OF HER MAIDEN-HEAD
[1707]
[Words and music

iii.
(1707),
I
am
Pitt* to
in
Purg Melancholy
131].
a young Lass of Lynn,
Who often said thank you too;

My Belly's now almost to my Chin,
I
My
cannot
what
tell
to do.
being so free and kind,
Does make my Heart
The sad Effects of this

And cannot tell what
My
Petticoats
And
which
Alass, they are

I
cannot
Was
tell
all
who
For why,
my
cannot
find,
to do.
wore,
Aprons too;
too short before,
what
ever young
As
I
my
likewise
to rue;
I
to do.
Maid so
crost,
thank'd him too:
Maiden-head
tell
what
to do.
is
lost,
200

In sorrowful sort
I cry'd,
And may now for ever rue;

The Pain lies in my Back and
cannot
tell
what
Side,
to do.
Alass I was kind and mild,
But now the same
I rue;
Having no Father for my Child,

I cannot tell what to do.
Touch
I took but a
Believe
Yet
And
He
me
have proved, I protest,

cannot tell what to do.
my Virginity,
me his own
crav'd
And
In
cannot
Each Damsel
And
in lieu;
gave
this I find I
And
in jest,
this is true;
was too
tell
will
so will the
what
me
kind,
to do.
degrade,
young
Men
too;
I'm neither Widow, Wife, nor Maid,

I
cannot
Cradle
tell
what
to do.
must provide,
Chair and Posset too;
Nay, likewise twenty Things beside,


When
was a Maiden
Such Sorrows
But now
I
Oh
my
cannot
what
My
fair,
never knew;
Heart
is
full
of Care,
what to do.
tell
will
201
become of me,
Belly's as big as two;
Tis with a Two-legg'd Tympany,

You
If
Lasses that hear

will
you
my Moan,
your Joys renew
Besure, while Married, lye alone,
Or
I
else
came of
As most
And
you
as
is
at lenght
may
rue.
good a Race,
in
Lynn's
fair
Town;
cost a great deal bringing up,
But a
little
Thing
laid
me down.
[?
unmarried]
"AMINTA ONE NIGHT, ETC
202
71
"AMINTA ONE NIGHT HAD OCCASION

TO PISS"
[f.
[Words and music
in
1707]
Pills to
274; tune, When

for a Kiss\
(1707),
i.
Purge Melancholy
first
Aminta one Night had occasion
to
Amyntas
srf
ss,
Joan reach'd her the Pot that stood by her;

I
in the next
Chamber could hear
The
was
Sluice
small, but
Soul was melting, thinking of

raving I lay with desire;
My
it
to hiss,
Stream was strong:

bliss,
And
But nought could be done,

For alas she P
d on,
Nor
To
car'd for
Pangs I sufifer'd long:

Joan next made hast,
In the self same Case;
fix
the Pot dose to her own

Then Floods did come,
One might have
And
sworn,
puff a Whirl-wind flew from her
Says Joan^ by these strange Blasts that do

I
rise,
guess that the Night will grow windy;
For when such Showers do
To dear
fall
from the Skies,
the Air the North-wind blows;
"AMINTA ONE NIGHT, ETC"
203
Yc
nasty Quean, her Lady replies,

That Tempest broke out from behind ye;
And though it was decently kept from my Eyes,
The
troubled Air offends
my
Nose:
Says Joan 'ods-heart,

You have P
d a Quart,
And now you make ado

Tis
To
But never
still
for a
your mind,
squeeze behind,
fell Shower from
me
without wind.
"MY PRETTY
204
MAID, ETC.'
"MY PRETTY MAID, FAIR WOULD

KNOW."
[Words and music

(1707),
My
ii.
[c.
1707]
in
Pills to
Purge Melancholy
76].
pretty Maid, fair would I
What
know
breed Delight,
thing
That strives to stand, yet cannot go,
it
is
will
That feeds the Mouth that cannot
bite.
With a Humbledum, Grumbledum, humbledum
grumbledum hey.
grumbledum hey.
It is
a pretty pricking thing
pleasing
and a standing
thing,
'Twas the Truncheon Mars did
Bed-ward
bit
use,
which Maidens chuse.
grumbledum hey.
grumbledum hey.
It is
a Shaft of Cupid's
cut,
'Twill serve to
Rove, to Prick, to Butt;

There's never a Maid, but by her will
Will keep
it
in her
Quiver
still.
"MY PRETTY
MAID, ETC."
205
grumbledum hey.
grumbledum hey.
Tis a Fryer with a Bald-Head,
Staff to beat a
It is
It hits
Gun
Cuckold Dead
that shoots point-blank;
betwixt a
Woman's
Flank,
grumbledum hey.
With a Humbledum, Grumbledum,
humbledum
grumbledum hey.
It
has a
And
The
yet
Head much
it
fairest
For love of
like
a Mole's,
loves to creep in Holes:
She
this,
that e'er took Life,
became a Wife.
grumbledum hey.
grumbledum hey.
THE BEE-HIVE
206
THE BEE-HIVE
[c.
[Words and music

ii-
My
Mistress
is
in
1707]
Pills to
Purge Melancholy
73]-
a Hive of Bees in yonder flowry
Garden,
To
her they come with loaden Thighs, to ease them

of their Burden:
As under
the Bee-Hive lieth the
Wax
Honey,
So under her Waste her Belly
that her
My
Wax, and under the
is
Mistress
is
is
plac'd,
and under
ny.
a Mine of Gold, would that
it
were
her Pleasure,
To
let
me
dig within her Mould,
and
roll
among her
Treasure.
As under the Moss the Mould doth

the Mould is Mony,
So under her Waste her Belly
My
that her
Mistress
is
is
lye,
and under
plac'd,
and under
ny.
Morn
of
May, which drops of
Dew down stilleth,

Where e'er she goes to sport and
down sweetly trilleth,
play, the
Dew
THE BEE-HIVE
As under
Sun the Mist doth
the
the Mist
it
is
under that her

Mistress
store of
That doth
is
Belly
so under
is
plac'd,
and
ny.
a pleasant
Spring, that yieldeth
Water sweet,
refresh each wither'd thing lies trodden
under Feet,
Her Belly is both white and
any Bunny,
That many Gallants wish
with her
My
lye,
Sunny,
So under her Waste her
My
307
soft,
full
and downy as
oft
to
play but
ny.
Mistress hath the Magick Sprays, of late she
takes such
wondrous
That she can pleasing

them down again,
Such
power hath
pretty Bunny,
That many would
with her
my
pain,
Spirits raise,
tripping
and
Doe,
also lay
my
little
their Lives forego, to play but
ny.
"WOULD YOU HAVE
208
"
ETC.
WOULD YOU HAVE A YOUNG VIRGIN
"
[1709]
[Words by T. DURFEY; from Tlie Modern Prophets,

sung by Mr. PACK, fl. 1700-24; music in
Pills to
Would ye have a young
i.
132].
Virgin of fifteen Years,
You must
tickle her Fancy with sweets and dears,

Ever toying, and playing, and sweetly, sweetly,
Sing a Love Sonnet, and charm her Ears:
Wittily, prettily, talk her
Chase
her,
and
Sooth
And
And
Do
down,
praise her,
her,
if fair
and smooth
ye fancy a
front of
Let her
rest
her,
teaze her, and please her,
touch but her Smicket, and
With a
or brown,
all's
your own.
known in a Man?
Assurance come boldly on,
Widow
well
not an Hour, but briskly, briskly,
Put her in mind how her Time
steals
on;
and
prattle although she frown,

Rowse her, and towse her from Morn to Noon,
Rattle
Shew her some Hour y'are able to grapple,

Then get but her Writings, and all's your own.
"WOULD YOU HAVE
ETC."
209
Do ye fancy a Punk of a Humour free,

That's kept by a Fumbler of Quality,
You must
rail
at her
Keeper, and
Charm
Pleasure's best
Swear her much
Try
her,
fairer
all
tell
her,
tell
her
Variety,
the
Town,
and ply her when Cully's gone,

Dog her, and jog her,
And meet
And
than
is
kiss with
her,
and
treat her,
two Guinea's, and
all's
your own.
2io
THE SCOTCH PARSON'S DAUGHTER

1710]
(V.
[Words by T. DURFEY
Melancholy (1719),
music in
ii.
Pills to
202].
Peggy in Devotion,
Bred from tender Years;
From my Loving
Still
was
motion,
call'd to Prayers:
made muckle
bustle,
Love's dear Fort to win;
But the Kirk Apostle,

Told her 'twas a Sin.
Fasting and Repentance,
And
such Whining Cant;
With the Dooms-day sentence,

Frighted
He
my
young Saint:
taught her the Duty,
Heavenly joys
to
know;
her Beauty,
Taught her those below.
I that lik'd
Nature took
my
part
still,
Scnce did Reason blind;
Purge

That
for all his
She
to
me
Art
inclin'd
still,
:
Strange delight hereafter,
Did so
She as
Vow'd
Faith
'tis
dull
appear;
had taught
to share
her,
'em here.
worth your Laughter,
'Mongst the canting Race;

Neither Son nor Daughter,
Ever yet had Grace:
Peggy on the Sunday,

With her Daddy vext;
Came to me on Monday,
And forgot his Text.
211
THE MAIDS LESSON
212
THE MAIDS LESSON

BEING INSTRUCTIONS FOR A YOUNG SHE BEGINNER,
A SPICK AND SPAN NEW SONG
1710]
[c.
[A broadside song with music].
To
play upon a Viol,
She
And
first
all
a Virgin will begin,
must know her
Cliff;
the Stops therein:
all
She
of
if
first
of
all
must know her
Cliff:
the Stops therein.
Her Prick she must hold long enough,

Her backfalls Gently take:
Her touch must gentle be, not rough,
She
at
each stroke must shake.
Her Body must by no means bend,

But
Her
stick close to her Fiddle,
feet
must hold the lower end,
Her knees must hold

She boldly
As
if
to the
she'd
the middle.
Bow must
make
it
fly,
crack,
Two Fingers on the hair must

And two upon the Back.
lye.
and
all
THE MAIDS LESSON

And when
She must
Up, down,
she hath as she

it
And when
have,
gently thrust,
swift, slow, at
As she her
woud
213
self
doth
any
rate,
List.
she once begins to find,
That she grows something cunning,

She'l ne'er be quiet in her mind
Untill she finds
it
running.
214
THE LASS WITH THE VELVET A

[f.
SE
SE
1710]
There was a buxom Lass
And
she had a Velvet
Which made he
When
to
to
vapour
E'er she went to sh
If twas ne'er such a
Bounce and
bit
little
she always wiped
it
with
brown Paper
With brown Paper

With brown Paper
She always wiped
This Lass whose
it
with brown Paper.
name was Jane
she kept her A se so clean,

That she won the Heart of one Mr. Draper
He married her outright,
So she got a Husband
And
all
by't,
because she wiped her
se
se
With brown Paper

Cho. With brown Paper
With brown Paper
And
all
because she wiped her

With brown Paper.

Ye
Lasses short and
Pray take Example
And
SE 215
tall
all,
brown paper
learn for the future to use
So heres a health
to every Lass.
That mudines her
se,
Not
forgeting good Mrs. Draper

Cho.
Good Mrs. Draper,
Good
Not
Mrs. Draper,
forgeting
Good
Mrs. Draper.
THE PENURIOUS QUAKER
2i&
THE PENURIOUS QUAKER:

OR
THE HIGH
HARLOT
PRIZ'D
\. 1719]
(Words and music

vi.
(1719),
Quaker.
in
Pills
to
Purge Melancholy
294].
My Friend thy Beauty

We Righteous have our
seemeth good
failings;
I'm Flesh and Blood, methinks I cou'd,

Wert thou but free from Ailings.
Harlot.
Believe
And
I
me Sir I'm newly broach'd,

never have been in yet;
vow and swear
By Man
Quaker.
Then
Harlot.
be kind
vow
bi<;
;ii-
if
thee
r<_
Hvil
it
prithee do.
when
.Spirit.
Money
I ever trust
wish
now
won't, indeed 1 shan't,
Unless I've
For
was touch'd,
day sennight.
us not defer
let
I'll
H^M
ne'er
this
prithee Friend,
Nay,
And
'till
may be
first,
Sir;
a Saint,
curst, Sir.
Th~.n
THE PENURIOUS QUAKER

Quaker. I cannot like the
I
And
say,
Love thee and Adore

therefore
So here
Harlot.
Wicked
is
wilt
thee,
make me
Six ptnce for thee.
Confound you
Do
thou
ye think
for a stingy
I
live
TOhfg,
by Stealing;
Farewel you Puritannick Prig,

I
scom
to take
your
217
Shilling.
pay,
A TENEMENT TO LET
2i8
A TENEMENT TO LET
1719]
[c.
[Words and music

vi.
in Pills to
Purge Melancholy,
355-]
have a Tenement to Let,

I
hope
And
if
will
please
you
you'd know the
all,
Name
of
it,
Cunny Hall
'Tis called
seated in a Pleasant Vale,
It's
Beneath a
rising Hill;
This Tenement
To
whosoe'er
For Years,
I'll
Nay
is
for
let this
to
Months,
it
for
Weeks
or Days,
famous Bow'r;
rather than a
I'd let
be Let,
I will.
for
Tennant want,
an Hour.
There's round about a pleasant Grove,

To shade it from the Sun;
And
underneath
is
Well water
That pleasantly does
Where
if
If cold
you're hot
you may
run.
you may be
find heat;
cool'd,
A TENEMENT TO LET
It is
a well contrived Spring,
Not
The
place
And
nor too great.
little
so
is
very
Dark by Night,
by Day;
But when you once arc enter'd
You cannot lose your way.
And when
As
it
is
you're
far as e'er
in,
in,
go boldly on,
you can;
you reach to the House top,
You'll be where ne'er was Man.
And
if
219
THE WANTON VIRGINS FRIGHTED
220
[Words and music

(1719),
ii.
[c.
1719]
in
Pills
to
Purge Melancholy
12].
You that delight in a Jocular Song,

Come listen unto me a while, Sir;
engage you shall not tarry long,
Before it shall make you to smile, Sir:
I will
Near
to the
Town
there liv'd an old
Had three pretty Maids to his

Of whom I will tell such a story
Man,
Daughters;
anon,
Will tickle your Fancy with Laughter.
The
old
Man had
in his
Garden a Pond,
'Twas in very fine Summer Weather;

The Daughters one Night they were all very
it together:
To go and Bath
fond,
ir:
Which
thfiy
agreed, but happen'd to be.
O'er heard by
Who
Youth
in
tbe.
Hous*-, Sir;
got in the Garden, and climb'd up a Tree,
And
there sate as
still
as a
Mouse,
Sir.
The Branch where he sat it hung over the Pond,

At each puff of Wind lie did totter;

Pleas'd with the
Thoughts
lie
should
sit
abscond,
And see them go into the Water:

When the Old Man was safe in his Bed,
The Daughters then to the Pond went,
One to the other two laughing she said,
As high
Each pluck'd
sight
Sir;
as our Bubbies we'll venture.
Upon the tender

They all were
No
221
green Grass they sat down,

of delicate Feature;
off her Petticoat,
it
Smock, and Gown,
could ever be sweeter:
Pond then dabling they went,

So clean that they needed no Washing;
Into the
But they were
all
so unluckily bent,
Like Boys they began to be dashing.
any body should see us, says one,

They'd think we were boding of Evil;
And from the sight of us quickly would run,
If
And
avoid so
many
white Devils:
This put the Youth in a merry Pin,

He let go his hold thro' his Laughter;
And as it fell out, he fell tumbling in,

And scar'd them all out of the Water.
old Man by this time a Noise had
And rose out of Bed in a Fright, Sir;
And comes to the Door with a Rusty old
The
There stood
in a
Posture to
fight,
Sir:
heard,
Sword,
222
The Daughters
And
Who
they
over their
came tumbling
all
Dad
cry'd out aloud, Mercy,
And
in,
they did blunder;
good Gentlemen,
thought they were Thieves came to Plunder.
The Noise by
this
time the Neighbours had heard,
Who came with long Clubs to assist him;

He told them three bloody Rogues run up Stairs,
He dar'd by no means to resist them:
For they were Cloathed
He
And
in their Buff,
black Bandaleers hung before like a
Which made them
The
all
see as they shov'd in their Shoulders;

ruff,
believe they were Soldiers.
Virgins their Cloaths in the
Garden had
left,
And Keys of their Trunks in their Pockets;

To put on the Sheets they were fain to make shift,
Their Chest they could not unlock
it:
At
last ventur'd up these Valiant Men,

Thus armed with Courage undaunted;
But took them for Spirits, and run back
And
swore that the House
As they Retreated
Come
the young
shivering in at the
it
again,
was Haunted.
Man
they met,
Door, Sir;
Who look'd like a Rat with his Cloaths dropping wet,

No Rogue that was Pump'd could look worser
All were
And
amazed to see him come in,

him what was the Matter?
ask'd of

He
told
Which
Quoth
And
them the
set
them
the old
Story,
in
all
Daddy,
223
and where he had been,

a Laughter.
was
in
huff,
reckon'd to cut them asunder;
Thinking they had been three Soldiers
That came here
to
rifle
in Buff,
and Plunder:
Daughters whom I loved,

All Frighted from private Diversion;
Therefore I'll put up my old rusty Sword,
But they are
my
For why should
be
in a Passion.
THE TURNEP GROUND
224
THE TURNEP GROUND

\c.
1720]

I ow'd my Hostess thirty Pound,
And how dy'e think I pay'd her,
I
Mett her
And
gently
in
my
down
Turnep Ground,
Lay'd her,
She Op't a Purse as black as Coal,

hold my Coin when counted,
To
I
Satisfied
And
Just
Two
And
stones
And
if
in
the hole,
by Tayl She found
stones
make Pounds
she had some
full
it.
Twenty Eight
skill in,
good Flesh bare any
rate
Yard's worth Forty Shilling,
If this
Shall
Coin
dun
pass,
for past
no
Man
that lives,
Debauches;
Zounds, Landlords, send but in your Wifes,

We'll scow'r off all their Notches.
THE SCHOOL MASTERS LESSON

[c.
1726]
[A broadside song with music}

I
will fly into
your Arms,
and Smother you with

I will rifle all
your Charms,
and teach you Am'rous

For it is my Concern,
And
kisses,
blisses,
a means that you should learn,
the Pranks of other Misses.
Dont be coy when
And
For
it
invade,
kindly yield the Blessing,

is high time your Maidenhead
Were in my Possession,
Dont cry out and be a Fool,
For if that you come to School
You must
peruse your Lesson.
Open then the Books my dear,

The Leaves shall be separated,
All things that comprehensive are,
Shall soon be penetrated
Lessons three she had that Night,
MERRY SONGS
I.
15
225
226

Taking pleasure with delight,
She begg'd for more next Morning.
Lovely master try again,
Dont so soon forsake me,
For to learn I am in Pain
Till you a Scholar make me,
Such pretty pretty Things you show
The more you

For now the
Never Master
To such
And of all
Kind
teach the more I'd know,

Fit dos take
pleas'd
me
me.
more,
great Perfection,
the schools I'm sure,
is
your Correction,
For whene'ver you give the same
Never a Scholar can you blame,

Tis done with such affection.
Open then my Leaves
so Fair,
And kindly to me show Sir,

What knowledge is, how sweet, how
And what I long to know Sir,
Cupid tells me very Plain,
That your learning is not vain,
But usefull as his Bow Sir.
When
he was departing then,
She said with kind Expression,
rare,

When
will
And
you pray
teach
me
Sir
come
He
reply'd with great delight,
My
dear,
And
I'll
think
come but
it
ev'ry Night,
as a Blessing.
Thus each Night he
To
again,
t'other Lesson,
do[e]s repair
her of her Duty,

While He's taken in the snare
tell
Shot to the Heart by Cupid,

the School master is Love,
When
Then
the Scholars kinder prove
For Love
is
Km
to Beauty.
227
THE SILENT FLUTE
228
THE SILENT FLUTE

[1720]
words by SOL.
[Broadside song with music: the
BOLTON to the tune of Sally in our Alley
(CAREY, c. 1720); in Musical Miscellany,
1729, iii. 94 and many other collections].
As Damon
late with
Cloe
sat,
am'rous Blisses;
They
Kind things he said, which she repaid,
In pleasing Smiles and Kisses
talk'd of
tuneful Tongue of Love he sung;

She thank'd him for his Ditty,
But said one Day she heard him say,
With
The
Flute was mighty pretty.
Young Damon, who her Meaning knew,

Took out his Pipe to charm her;
And while he strove,

And sprightly Airs,
She begg'd the Swain
In
all
with wanton Love,

to
warm
to play
her;
one
Strain,
the softest Measure,
Whose Killing Sound would sweetly wound,

And make her dye with Pleasure.
THE SILENT FLUTE

Eager to
And
Love
do't,
229
he takes the Flute,
ev'ry Accent
traces,
trickling thro' his Fingers flew,
And
He
whisper*d melting Graces:

did his Part with wond'rous Art,
Expecting Praises after;
But she instead of
falling
dead,
Burst out into a Laughter.
Taking the Hint, as Clot meant,

Said he, My Dear, be easy;
I
have a Flute, which, tho'
May
Tune
play a
Then down he
silent,
mute,
to please ye:
laid the
charming Maid,
He found her kind and

He play'd again, and tho'
Was
'tis
willing;
each Strain
yet 'twas Killing.
Fair Cloc soon appro v'd the Tune,
And
Let's
It
The
goes exceeding finely:

Flute
And
Yet
vow'd he play'd divinely;

it o'er, said she, once more,
have
is,
is
good, that's made of

own, the neatest;
ne'ertheless, I
The
must confess,
silent Flute's the sweetest.
Wood,
A YORKSHIRE TALE
2 3o
YORKSHIRE TALE
[1729]
[Words and music
in
Musical Miscellany
Come hither, good People,

And give your Attention
I'll
iii.
76].
both Aged and Young,
my merry Song;
you a true one, and not hold you long,
With a down, down, down, up and down,
derry, derry, derry, down, up and down,
to
sing
derry, derry,
>
down.
Parson there was, and whose
Name
I cou'd
tell,
But suppose I do
Whose Wife did
not,
all
it
is
full
as well,
Yorkshire in Beauty excel,

derry, derry,
down.
Her Texture so perfect, her Eyes black as Sloe,

Her Hair curling shone, and like Jet it did show,
Which often denotes 'tis the same Thing below
:

derry, deny, derry, down, up and down,
derry, derry,
down.
A YORKSHIRE TALE
A
sprightly
231
young Spark she had smitten so deep,

Quiet, nor Night cou'd he sleep,
Nor Day had he

Which made him
think how, to her
Bed he should
creep.

deny, derry, deny, down, up and down,
deny, derry, down.
Assistance he wanted, and then did unbend
His Mind to a Brother, besure a good Friend,

said, fear not Wat, thou shalt compass thy
Who
End.

derry, derry, down.
In
I'll
If
Woman's Apparel
venture
my
dress out,
Life on't,
'twill
and be gay,
be a sure Way,
you condescend but to what I shall say,

derry, derry, down.
And
thus to the Parson's this Couple rode on;
Dear Doctor, says Frank,
here's a
Thing
to
be
done,
Which
Office perform'd, I shall gratefully
own,

deny, deny, deny, down, up and down,
derry, deny, down.
A YORKSHIRE TALE
232
This Lady, that long has Love's Passion defy'd,

And all my Addresses so often deny'd,
Will
now make me happy by
being
my
Bride,

deny, derry, down.
'Tis past the
Canonical Hour, said he,
And
And
attend you,
the next morning you
till
then
I'll
know
most
Sir,
it
can't be,
readily,

derry, derry,
down.
Says Frank, I confess, Sir, you are perfectly right

But here lies the Hardship, we can't, while 'tis
;
Light,
Get
to the next
Town
for a
Lodging
to-night,

deny, derry, derry, down, up and down,
derry, derry,
Take no care of
The Lady,
Shall
lie
if
with
With
down.
that, Sir, for thus
she thinks
my
it
fit
it
shall be,
to agree,
Dearest, and
you
lie
with me,
down, down, down, up and down,

down, up and down,
down.
derry, derry,
a
derry, deny, derry,
A YORKSHIRE TALE
233
so much oblige me in what you now say,

hope in Return I shall find out a Way
Such generous Kindness with thanks to repay
You
I

derry, deny, deny, down, up and down,
deny, deny, down.
This being agreed on, both Sides did consent
put the Glass round, and the Evening was
To
spent
In Mirth and good Cheer, then to Bed they
all
went,

derry, deny, deny, down, up and down,
derry, deny, down.
No
sooner in Bed then, but with a bold Grace,
Watt,
full
of Desire, thus opeu'd the Case,
Dear Madam, says he, I must

then did embrace,
derry, derry, down.
Confounded she
To
think
how
Dick
But
lay,
these
and not able
to speak,
Wags had deceiv'd her and
at last she
was
pleas'd with the Frolick
and
Trick.
A YORKSHIRE TALE
234

deny, deny, down.
He
pleas'd her so well, that transported she lay,
Contriving and plotting for his longer Stay,

thus to her Husband she form'd the next
Which
Day,

deny, derry, down.
This Lady,
Oft'
my
Dearest, last Night
hugg'd me, and
told
me,
full
I can't for
of Grief,
my
Life
Consent, tho' I've proms'd him to be his Wife,

deny, derry, derry, down, up and down,
derry, derry, down.
To-monow,
Tho'
said she,
love him,
my
and then
Heart
freely
tells
me
went on,
must be
gone,
If so the poor
Man you know may be undone,

derry, deny, derry, down, up and down,
deny, deny, down.
Now how
If I
And
to prevent this
I'll
think of a
can persuade her some time for to

that's a good Office, I'm sure you
Way
stay,
will
say,
A YORKSHIRE TALE
235

deny, deny, down.
Tis
pray do what you can,

please her, and bring her to Humour again,
so,
my
dear Creature
To
And
I'll
The
Plot so well taken
do my best to divert the poor Man,

deny, deny, down.
made both
their
Hearts
bound,
All Night,
and
Convenience
all
Day
too,
whenever they found

he crown'd,
for Pastime, her Pleasure

deny, deny, down.
And
thus
my
Friend
Watt
his
full
Swing did
obtain,
The Wife
too
in
Transport a whole
Week
did
reign,
And
the Man,
ne'er the worse,
had
his
Mare
back again,

deny, deny, down.
THE PRESBYTERIAN WEDDING
236

Procul 6 procul este Profani
Conclamat Vates totoque
absistite
Luco.
VIRGIL.
[1729]
[Words and music from Mttsical Miscellany,
v. 102].
certain Presbyterian Pair
Were wedded t'other day;

in Bed the Lambs were
Their Pastor came to pray.
And when
But
first
Nor
laid,
he bade each Guest depart,
sacred Rites prophane;
For carnal Eyes such Mysteries
Can never
Then
entertain.
with a Puritannick Air,
Unto the Lord he
pray'd,
That he would please to grant Encrease

To that same man and maid:
And
that the
Husbandman might
Full well the
And
like
Vine
a Vine she
About him
all
his
dress
Wife;
still
her Life.
might twine
237
Sack Posset then he gave them both,
And
said with lifted Eyes,
Blest of the Lord! with
one Accord
Begin your Enterprize.
The Bridegroom
T'apply
then drew near his Spouse,
Prolifick
Balm;
And while they strove

The Parson sung a
in
mutual Love,
Psalm.
238
THE GALLANT SCHEMER'S PETITION

TO THE HONOURABLE MRS. F
S
[Words and music from Musical Miscellany,

set by Mr. J. SHEELES].
By
By
the
Mole on your Bubbles
else
I pr'ythee
my Arms
you have got out of
now hear me,
88;
and so white,
Mole on your Neck, where

would delight,
the
By what-ever Mole
By
By
By
so round
vi.
sight.
dear Molly.
the Kiss just a starting from off your moist Lips,

the delicate
up-and-down
Jutt of your Hips,
the Tip of your Tongue, which
all
Tongues
out-tips
I pr'ythee
now hear me, dear
Molly.
By the Down on your Bosom on which my Soul dies,

By the Thing of all Things which you love as
your Eyes,
By
the Thoughts
when you
you
lie
down
with, and those
rise,
I pr'ythee
now hear me,
dear Molly.

By
By
By
all
230
the soft Pleasures a Virgin can share,
the critical Minute no Virgin can bear,
the Question I burn for to ask, but don't dare,

I pr'ythee
now hear me, dear
Molly.
"
240
O MITHER DEAR,
"O MITHER DEAR,
GIN TO FEAR
"
GIN TO FEAR"
[1733]
[Words
and
music
Caledonius,
Mither dear,
83
ii.
from THOMSON'S Orpheus

tune,/enny beguildthe Webstet\
I 'gin to fear,
Tho' I'm baith good, and bonny,

winna keep; for in my Sleep
and dream of Johny.
I start
When Johny then comes down

To woo me dinna hinder
the Glen,
But with Content
gi' your Consent;

For we twa ne'er can sinder.
Better to marry, than miscarry;
For Shame and Skaith's the Clink
To
thole the Dool, to
downa' bide
Sae while
'tis
mount the
o't,
Stool
to think o't:
time,
I'll
shun the Crime,
That gars poor Epps gae whinging,

With Hainches fow, and Een sae blew,
To
Had
a'
the Bedrals bindging.
Eppy's Apron bidden down,
The Kirk had ne'er a kend it;

But when the Word's gane thro' the town
Alake! how can she mend it?
"O MITHER DEAR,

Now
GIN TO FEAR"
241
maun face the Minister,

And she maun mount the Pillar;
And that's the way that they maun gae
Tarn
For poor Folk has na
Now
ha'd
ye'r
Siller.
Tongue,
my
Daughter young,
Reply'd the kindly Mither,
Get Johny's Hand in haly Band,

Syne wap ye'r Wealth together.
I'm
o'
Ye'll
the mind,
do your
if
he be kind,
part discreetly;
And prove a Wife, will

And Barrel run right
MKRRY SONGS
I.
gar his Life,

sweetly.
WHITE THIGHS
242
WHITE THIGHS
[Attributed to THOMAS 6th EARL OF

See Note to "The Bobtailed
HADDINGTON.
Lass"
post,
P-
Let the world run

I
none of
its
course of capricious delight
vanities prize;
its
More substantial
From a touch
the joys I experience each night,

'twixt
my
charmer's white thighs.
Poets praise Chloe's shape, her complexion, her

Coral lips, pearly teeth, and fine eyes;
fig for
To my
What
them
all,
they can never compare,
charmer's elastic white thighs.
care I for
Phillis,
Maria, and Jane,
may raw one's

Let others enjoy them content
Their beauties
surprise;
I remain,
Sole lord of thy lovely white thighs.

If
aught can entice me, or aught can
My
allure,
slumbering passions to rise,
Or aught kindle up
my
'Tis the sight of these
desires
be sure
snowy white
thighs.
air,
WHITE THIGHS
When
I revel, dear love, in thy
243
heavenly charms,
The joys of the gods I despise;

Nor envy great Mars, though in Venus'
arms,
Whilst embracing thy beautiful thighs.

Believe me,
my
dear, there
is
nothing on earth,
Which so fondly so madly I prize,

As that fountain of bliss, where delight takes its birth,
Which is placed 'twixt thy parting white thighs.
Of Ganymede's
beauties
we
oft times
And how
No
Jove buggar'd him

have
I, nor care I a
envy
have heard,
in the skies;
turd,
Whilst possessing such exquisite thighs.
The
Its
Her
arse of
my
love
is
delightfull to see,
plumpness rejoiceth the eyes;

lily white belly is heaven to me,
But, ye gods!
what are these
to her thighs.
A DIALOGUE
244
A LATE DIALOGUE BETWEEN CAPTAIN

LOW AND HIS FRIEND DICK
[b.
1749]
[From Poems by ROBERTSON of
Struan].
LOW.
Tell me, thou Source of Scandal, Dick,
Why
And
did
my
Lord's Relations stick
bogle so at Matrimony?
DICK.
Because
To
my
satisfy
Lord had but one P
my
Lady's
ny.
LOW.
Besides, the
little harmless Buck,

Perhaps has never had the Luck
In such a Case to have been try'd:
DICK.
But she gave Proof that she could
Or she
is
damnably
k,
bely'd.
LOW.
But now that they are join'd in one,
(As Woman may be join'd to Man)
They'll eat and drink up
all
their Store.
A DIALOGUE
245
DICK.
My
Lady P
n and Lady
Will always patronize a
Whore.
LOW.
In Charity, I must confess,
The Ladies they can do no
But who
will stickle for
less;
the Tool?
DICK.
The Governor, who's
but an Ass,
Will never abdicate a Fool.
LOW.
'Tis not, they say, this
Has
Lad
alone,
sav'd a Virgin quite undone,
And
it
is
thought a Christian Passion:

DICK.
Yet
To
should hardly lose my own,

save a Bitch's Reputation.
LOW.
But
Is
to be strain'd in Marriage-Press
honourable ne'er the less,
If
you
will credit
holy Writ:
DICK.
Tis honourable, I confess,

But never when the Bed's
beshit.
A DIALOGUE
246
LOW.
Thy
Poison always makes

not so bad,
me mad,
Basilisk's is
For
all
the Legions
it
has
slain.
DICK.
Leave
I'll
off
thy Railing,
or,
have thee squeez'd
by Gad,
like
Nevil Payne.
LOW.
Were
it
not, Sir, I plainly view
Your cursed Tongue will murder you,

I had myself already done't.
DICK.
Thou drunken
And
Sot,
go
Home
and spue,
piss a Bed, as thou art wont.
THE PROUD PEDLAR
247
THE PROUD PEDLAR

['
{.Roxburgh
1750]
Ballads,
iii.
656].
So merrily singeth the Nightengale, and so merrily
And
singeth the Jay:
so merrily singeth the proud Pedlar as he
walked along the Highway.

14
The Bag
in
And
at
my Back
Gold and
would
in
is
worth Twenty Pounds,
good Money;
freely part with
it
all,
for to kiss
Night with a Lady."
The Lady
look'd out of her window,
and hearing
the Pedlar sing;
"Sing on, sing on, thou proud Pedlar, the Song

"
that thou didst begin.
The
Pedlar
look'd
over his Left shoulder, he
looked so neat and so trim,

"
never sung a Song in

I could sing it again.
all
my
whole
Life,
but
THE PROUD PEDLAR
248
The Bag
in
And
at
my Back
Gold and
would
in
is
worth Twenty Pounds,
good Money;
part with
freely
a Night with a Lady.
The Lady took

the Hall
the Pedlar's
him
and Pillows were
to
"
may have my
me my Living. "
Night, until
Tom
Pack,
it
when
"
the Pedlar said, " for
Tom
little
the
Pack, for to get
Pedlar's Pack,
and
set
it
upon her Knee.

you would give me twice Twenty Pounds,
you shall have no Pack of me."
If
all
buy Gloves, Jewels and Rings,
The Lady took

"
Lady
to play.
Here's Twenty Pounds,
So
Room, where Cushions
then he thought of his
he had no Sport
"
Hand, and through
laid.
Pedlar lay with the

was Break of Day;
And
for to kiss
all,
led,
Into a large and spacious
The
it
"
will
make Grass grow,
"
the Pedlar said,
"
and
where there did grow none;
And
will
stand
at
the
Hall-Gate,
wedded Lord comes home.
"
till
your
THE PROUD PEDLAR
249
At night her own wedded Lord came home, an

[s]eeing the Pedlar there stand,
"What
thou
dost
Now
and
made
"Yesterday
thou proud Pedlar?

"
do demand.
here,
this of thee I
a Feast, for Pedlars thirty-
three,
And wanted
a Mortar to
pound the
Spice,
and
borrow'd one of your Lady.
"The Mortar was your own

Pestle
was
But now she
Lady's,
little
Tom
wish the truth was but known.
"Come
"
my own;
has got my
give
him
his Pack,"
What makes you
but the
Pack, and
"
(Thou proud Pedlar!)

let him stand ?
here
Come, give him his Pack and let him be gone,

and this of you I do command. "
"
Come, take thy Pack, thou proud

take this Pack of thine;
Pedlar,
For never a Pedlar, for thy sake,

"
Spice in a Mortar of mine.
shall
"Now
"
this
and
For now
it
kist all
is
is
well
juggl'd,"
well juggled of
have got
my
Pedlar
the
me
little
Night with a Lady.
come
pound
said,
Tom
Pack, and
THE PROUD PEDLAR
250
By my wanton
Wits
And
if
will
Tricks I lost this Pack, by
my
have got it again;

do live these Five Hundred Years,
never come there again."
THE SAD DISASTER
251
THE SAD DISASTER

[1766]
[By
DURFEY
tune,
the
in
Younger
The
Rattle, p.
Fair Kitty, beautiful and young,
As Lady
Upon
Fit food for such
saucy
Those
etc.].
Jane, devoutly wise,

her arm reclin'd ;
With Yorick's sermons pour'd her
flea
eyes,
a mind,
came skipping
o'er
parts must not be nam'd,
Which when she

Enrag'd, the
rubb'd,
fair
still
itch'd the
more,
exclaim'd.
"Shall this vile reptile boldly dare

44
44
"
My
hidden charms
to scan,
Which I so long have kept with

"From that base tyrant man?
Forbid
it
all
ye Gods
"
!
dread, alas! to
"Here,
"And
tell,
Betty, quickly bring
help to find
him
care
then flew,
Like lightning to the bell;

What sad disaster did ensue,
I
53;
out,
light,
THE SAD DISASTER
252
"
Make haste, or I shall lose him

"What is the wench about?"
Then
quite,
stooping with an eager eye,
And
breast brimfull of
ire,
The heedless creature went too

And set her smock on fire.
nigh,
REDE YOU BEWARE O' THE RIPPLES
REDE YOU BEWARE
in
tune,
I
THE RIPPLES
1796]
[*
[BURNS
O'
253
Merry Muses of Caledonia (c. 1800);

The Taylor's faun thro' the bed, etc.].
rede you beware o' the ripples, young man,

I rede you beware o' the ripples, young man
Tho' the saddle be
For
saft,
ye needna
ride
fear that the girdin' beguile ye,
reit
;
aft,
young man.
rede ye beware
o' the ripples, young man,

beware
o' the ripples, young man;
ye
Tho' music be pleasure, tak' music in measure,
I
I rede
Or ye may want
win'
i'
your whistle, young man.
rede ye beware
o' the ripples, young man,

beware
o' the ripples, young man;
rede ye
Whate'er ye bestow, do less than ye dow,
I
The mair
be thought
will
o'
your kindness,
young man
I
rede ye beware
I
o'
rede ye beware
Gif you
wad be
Dance
man.
less wi'
the ripples,
o'
strang,
young man,
the ripples,
and wish
young man
to live lang,
your arse to the kipples, young
lower parts
THE LASS
254
THE LASS
O'
LIVISTON
O'
LIVISTON
1796]
[*
[Old song in Merry Muses of Caledonia

collected
The bonny lass

Her name ye
And
belly
1800)
o' Liviston,
ken, her
ay the welcomer
The
(c.
by BURNS].
name ye ken
ye'll be,
farther ben, the farther ben.
And she has it written in her contract,

To lie her lane, to lie her lane;
And I hae written in my contract,
To claw her wame, to claw her wame.
The bonny
lass o' Liviston,
She's berry brown, she's berry brown;
An' ye winna true her lovely
Gae
farther
She has a black and a
taste
rolling eye,
And a dimplit chin, and a

And no to prie her rosy lips,
Wad
be a
The bonny
Cam
locks,
down, gae farther down.
sin,
wad be a
dimplit chin;
sin.
lass o' Liviston,
in to
me, cam
in to
me;
THE LASS
I wat' wi'
I gied
Her
free,
her feet to
Her head
And
LIVISTON
255
baith ends o' the busk,
made me
I laid
O'
my
made me
free.
bed -stock,
to the wa', her
head
to the wa';
her her wee coat in her teeth,
sark an'
a',
her sark an*
a'.
WAD YE DO THAT?
256
WAD YE DO THAT?
[b.
1796]
[Old Song from Meiry Muses of Caledonia (c. 1800),

collected by BURNS; tune, John Anderson,
my
jo}.
Gudewife when your gudeman's

Might I but be sae bauld,
As come
to
When
As come
lie
your bed-chamber,
to your
bed-chamber,
nights are cauld
and wat;
in
your gudeman's stead,

ye do that?
Wad
Young man an ye should be
When
As come
And
lie
my bed-chamber,
am laid my lane;
in our
I will tell
He
gudeman's stead,
you what,
me five
Wade ye do
fucks
so kind,
our gudeman's frae hame,
to
Where
alone
hame,
winter nights are cauld;
When
And
frae
times ilka night,
that?
THE PATRIARCH
257
THE PATRIARCH
(b.
[BURNS
in
tune,
1796]
Merry Muses of Caledonia
(c.
1800);
The auld cripple Dow].
As honest Jacob on a
night,
Wi' his beloved beauty,
Was duly laid on

And noddin' at
"How
wedlock's bed,
his duty,
lang," she says,
"ye fumbling wretch,
"Will ye be fucking at
"
it?
eldest wean might die of age,

Before that ye could get it.
My
"
"Ye pegh, and grane, and groazle there,

"And mak an unco splutter,
"And I maun lie and thole you here,
"And fient a hair the better."
Then he, in wrath, put up his
"The deevil's in the hizzie!
"I
maw yOU as I maw

"And night and day
MIRRY SONGS
I.
puff
endure
the devil
graith,
the lave,
I'm busy.
mow; remainder
THE PATRIARCH
258
"I've bairned the sen-ant gypsies baith,
"Forbye your
titty
Leah;
"Ye
,
barren jad, ye put me mad,

"
What mair can I do wi' you ?
"There's ne'er a
maw
I've gi'en the lave,
"But ye hae got a dizzen;

"And damn'd a ane ye'se get
become dried
again,
"Although your cunt should gizzen."
Then
Rachael, calm as ony lamb,

She claps him on the waulies,
"
Ne'er fash a woman's clash,
Quo' she,
"In trowth, ye maw me braulies.
"My
dear,
true, for
'tis
mony
maw
"I'm your ungratefu' debtor

"But ance again, I dinna ken
"We'll aiblins happen better."
Then, honest man! wi' little wark

He sune forgot his ire;
The
patriarch
he coost the sark
And up and
till't
like fire!!!
WILL YE NA, CAN YE NA, LET ME BE
259
WILL YE NA, CAN YEN A,

LET ME BE
[*
[Old song
in
Merry Muses of Caledonia (c. 1800),

by 'BURNS; tune, / hate laid a
collected
herrirf in
There
liv'd
1796]
sa't].
a wife in Whistle-cockpen,
Will ye na, can ye na,
She brews good
And ay
The
yill for
she waggit
let
wantonlie.
night blew sair wi' wind
And
She saw a
sight
let
ben
traveller
ay she waggit
it
below
And ay
She saw a
it
she waggit
sight
it
And ay
she waggit
let
me
be;
a mark,
for
aboon
it,
be;
to sleep,
his sark,
wantonlie.
his knee,
She wadna wanted
and weet,
me
wantonlie.
She wadna wanted
be;
gentlemen,
it
She show'd the
me
let
me
be;
for three,
it
wantonlie.
WILL YE NA, CAN YE NA, LET ME BE
26o
"O
whare
live ye,
and what's your trade?"
Will ye na ; can ye na,
"I
am
And
"And
ay she waggit
that's
my
flail,
it
me
be;
said,
wantonlie.
and workin'
"And
And
let
a thresher gude," he
let
me
graith,"
be;
noble tools," quo' she, "by

ay she waggit it wantonlie.
my
"I wad gie a browst, the best I hae,"

Will ye na, can ye na, let me be:
"For a gude darge
And ay
"
wad
o' graith like
she waggit
sell
it
thae,"
wantonlie.
the hair frae off
let
my
me
tail,"
be;
"To buy our Andrew siccan a flail,"

And ay she waggit it wantonlie.
faith!"
GREEN GROW THE RASHES
261

I*.
[BURNS
in
1796]
wat ye ought
o' fisher
(e.
1800)].
Meg,
And how she trow'd the webster,

She loot me see her carrot cunt,
And sell'd it for a lobster, O.
O,
Green grow the rashes, O,

The lassies they have wimble-bores,

The widows they hae gashes, O.
Mistress
Mary cow'd her
thing,
Because she wad be gentle, O,
And span
To waft
the fleece
upon a
rock,
a highland mantle, O.
Green grow the
rashes, O,

An' heard ye
o'
the coat o' arms,
The Lyon brought our
lady, O,
262
The ciest was, couchant, sable cunt,

The motto, "Ready, ready," O.

An' ken ye Leezie Lundie, O,
The godly
She maws
Leezie Lundie, O,
like
reek thro'
a'
the week,
But finger-fucks on Sunday, O.

Green grow the
rashes, O,

CUDDIE THE COOPER
263
CUDDIE THE COOPER

[b.
[From
\ferry
lected by
1796]
Muses of Caledonia (c. 1800), colBURNS; tune, Bonnie Dundee],
There was a cooper they ca'd him Cuddy,

He was the best cooper that ever I saw;
He cam to girth our landlady's

He bang'd her buttocks again
"Cooper,"
14
The
quo' she,
the wa'!
"hae ye ony raony?"
deevil a penny," quo*
She took out her
tubbie,
purse,
an*
Cuddy,
"
at a'
"
!
she gied him a
guinea
For banging her buttocks again the
wa'.
BROSE AND BUTTER
264
BROSE AND BUTTER

[b.
1796]
[An old song from Merry Muses of Caledonia

(c. 1800), collected by BURNS].
Jenny
sits
up
the
i'
laft,
wad fain 'a been

But there cam a wind out
Jockie
windows
Made
at her;
o'
the west
the winnocks to clatter.
a'
my love brose, lasses,

gie my love brose and butter;
gie
For nane in Carrick
Can
gie
a cunt
its
wi'
him
supper.
The laverock lo'es the grass,

The paitrick lo'es the stibble;
And hey for the gardener lad

To gully awa' wi' his dibble.

gie my love brose and
gie
For nane in Carrick
Can
My
gie a cunt
daddie sent
To
pu'
my
me
its
wi'
butter;
him
supper.
to the hill
minnie some heather;
BROSE AND BUTTER

And
drive
it
in
your
265
fill,
Ye're welcome to the leather.

gie my love brose and butter;
gie
For nane in Carrick
Can
gie a cunt
its
wi'
him
supper.
The mouse is a merry wee beast,

The moudiewart wants the e'en
And
I
o' for
had
my
my
gie
For nane
Can
We
a'
The
nieve yestreen.
love brose
in Carrick wi'
gie a cunt
its
and butter;
him
supper.
were fou yestreen,

night shall be its brither;
And hey,
To nail
my
love brose, lasses,
gie
a touch of the thing,

in
it
mole
;
for
gie
a rolling pin
twa wames thegither

my love brose and
gie
For nane
Can
in Carrick wi'
gie a cunt
its
him
supper.
butter;
SUPPER ISNA READY
266
SUPPER ISNA READY

[b.
1796]
[From Merry Muses of Caledonia (c. 1800), collected

by BURNS; tune, Clout the Cauldron].
Roseberry to his lady says,
"My hinny and my succour,

"O shall we do the thing ye ken?
"
Or
shall
Wi' modest
we
tak our supper ?
"
face, sae fu' o' grace,
Replied the bonny lady,

"My noble lord, do as ye please,
"But supper
is
na ready."
DUDCAN MACLEERIE
267
DUNCAN MACLEERIE
[*
'70]
[An old song from Merry Muses of Caledonia

1800), collected by BURNS; tune:/<wv$y
(c.
MacGill\
Duncan Macleerie and Janet his wife,

They gaed to Kilmarnock to buy a new
But instead of a
knife, they coft but
"We're very weel
sair'd," quo'
knife;
a bleerie,
bought
Duncan Mac-
leerie.
Duncan Macleerie has

It's a'
strung wi' hair,
got a
new
and a hole
An' ay when he plays on
't,
fiddle,
in the
middle;
his wife looks sac
cheery,
"Very weel done, Duncan," quo' Janet Macleerie.
Duncan he
his bow it grew greasy;

and unco uneasy,
"Hoot," quo' she, "Duncan, ye're unco soon
play'd
Janet grew
till
fretfu',
weary;
"Play us a pibroch," quo Janet Macleerie.
martial music
268
DUNCAN MACLEERIE
Duncan Macleerie
play'd
on the harp,
An' Janet Macleerie dancd in her sark

sark it was short, her cunt it was hairy,
;
Her
"Very weel danc'd,

leerie.
Janet," quo'
Duncan Mac-
THE PLOUGHMAN
269
THE PLOUGHMAN
1796]
[*.
[From Merry Muses of Caledonia

lected by BURNS].
The ploughman
His mind
he's a
bonnie
1800), col-
(c.
lad,
ever true, jo;

His garters knit below the knee,
is
His bonnet
is
it
Sing up, wi't
And hey
O'
blue, jo.
a',
As walk in*
lad,
ploughman
do ken,
to the
ploughman.
upon a day,
forth
met a
ploughman;
had lands to plough,
he wad but prove true, man.
If
jolly
him
I tauld
Sing up wi't
And hey
O'
a'
a',
says,
I'll
fit
the
ploughman
the trades that I
My
ye
to the
do ken,
ploughman.
dear, tak ye nae fear
till
lad,
the merry ploughman;
Commend me
He
ploughman
the trades that I
a'
Commend me
the
the merry
a hair, jo;
THE PLOUGHMAN
270
I'll
cleave
And
it
and
up,
water-furrow't
hit
it
down,
fair, jo.
Sing up wFt a', the ploughman lad,

And hey the merry ploughman;
O'
the trades that I
a'
Commend me
I
to the
hae three ousen in
my
do ken,
ploughman.
plough,
Three better ne'er plough'd ground,

The foremost ox is lang and sma',
The twa
are
plump and round,
Sing up wi't
And hey
O'
a'
a',
jo,
jo.
the ploughman lad,
the trades that I
Commend me
to the
do ken,
ploughman.
Then he wi' speed did yoke his plough,

Which by a gaud was driven, jo!
But when he wan between the stilts,
I
thought
was
Sing up wi't
And hey
O'
a'
in heaven, jo!
a',
the ploughman lad,
the trades that I
Commend me
But the foremost ox
do ken,
to the ploughman.
fell
in the fur,
The tither twa did founder;

The ploughman lad he breathless
In
faith
it
was nae wonder.
grew,
THE PLOUGHMAN
Sing up
wi't a', the
And hey
O'
a'
the trades that I
But a fykie
risk,
The plough
to the
below a
do ken,
ploughman.
hill,
she took a stane,
jo,
gart the fire flee frae the sock,
The ploughman
Sing up
O'
a'
gied a grane, jo.
wi't a',
And hey
the
ploughman
lad,
the merry ploughman
the trades that
Commend me
I
lad,
Commend me
Which
ploughman
271
to the
do ken,
ploughman.
hae plough'd east, I hae plough'd west,

In weather foul and fair, jo;
But the
Was
sairest
ploughing e'er
ploughing amang hair,
Sing up wi't
a',
plough'd,
jo.
the ploughman lad,
And hey
O'
a'

the trades that I do ken,
Commend me
to the
ploughman.
THE MODIEWARK
272
THE MODIEWARK
\b.
1796]
[An old song from Merry Muses of Caledonia,

collected by BURNS (c. 1800); tune, O for
ane and twenty, Tarn].
The modiewark has done me

I
ill,
And below my apron has biggit a

maun consult some learned clerk
About
this
hill
wanton modiewark.
An', O, the wanton modiewark,
The weary wanton modiewark,

maun consult some learned clerk,
About
first it
Out
wanton modiewark.
gat between
o'er
At length
this
my
it
my
taes,
garter neist
crap below
it
my
gaes,
sark
The weary wanton modiewark.


About
this
wanton modiewark.
This modiewark, Iho'

If
ance
its
it
nose you
be
lat
blin',
it
in,
THE MODIEWARK
Then
273
to the hilts, within a crack,
out
It's
o' sight,
the modiewark.

About
When
this
wanton modiewark.
made
down by
Marjorie was
An* Willy
lay
a bride,
her side,
Syne nocht was heard when a' was dark,

But kicking at the modiewark.

About
MKRRY SONGS
I.
this
wanton modiewark.
18
OUR JOHN'S BRAK YESTREEN
274
OUR
JOHN'S
BRAK YESTREEN
[b.
[BURNS
in
tune,
Twa
1796]
(c.
1800)
Gramachree].
neebour wives
sat
i'
the sun,
twinin' at their rocks,
An' they an argument began,

An' a' the plea was cocks.
'Twas whether they were sinnews strang,
Or whether they were bane,
An' how they row'd about your thumb,

An' how they stan't themlane.
First,
"
Rachie gae her rock a rug,
An' syne she claw'd her

When our Tam draws on
"It waigles like a
"
And
proof in han'
For our John's
"And
his breeks,
flail."
Says Bess, "They're bane,

"
tail,
I'll
I will maintain,
gie,
brak yestreen,
the margh ran down my
it
thie."
THE
BOB-TAIL'D LASS
275
THE BOB-TAIL'D LASS

[*.
1800]
[From Ane Pleasant Garland of Sweet Scented

Flowers (1835) " sixty copies printed, selected
from a Manuscript volume of Miscellaneous
in the Library of the Faculty
Papers preserved
"
of Advocates.
They were reprinted by Kirkpatrick Sharpe].
On Wednesday
I
It
was
But
to bring
still
For there
But
And I
And
The
in the afternoon
took a walk in the
field,
courage down,
was forced
I
I
my
met with a
to yield:
bob-tail'd lass,
should have passed her by,

kindly took her by the hand,
lead her into the kye.
pettycoat that she had on
Was made
of the blanket blue,
The smock was

Believe
me
as black as charcole,
this
was
true;
But tempting words, will tempt young

That from their nest do fly,
birds,
THE BOB-TAIL'D LASS
2?t>
And
I'll
never believ't was the
That she had been caught
Good
To
first
time
in the kye.
good council,
you, young man, I give,
council,
to take with a bob-tail'd lass
Never
As long as you've an hour to live.

You had better take one that is proper and
Although she be never so poor,
For I never was so disgraced hi my
As
was by
this bob-tail'd
life
whoore.
tall,
WILLIE STEENSON
277
WILLIE STEENSON
1800]
[6.
[See
Note
to
"The
There dwelt a man
Ha!
Bobtailed Lass" p. 275].

in Lanrickshire,
Willie Steenson,
And all his care and

Was prettie Peggie
He
hail
desyre
Beenston.
courted her fra barn to byre,
Ha! Willie Steenson,

But he could ne'er get his desyre
Of prettie Peggie Beenston.
Peggy, quoth he, I'd lay thee down,
Ha!
Willie Steenson,
If t were not for spoiling of thy

My prettie Peggie Beenston.
My new gown
Ha!
Sae lay
new gown,
cost thee ne'er a groat,
Willie Steenson;
me down and
spare
it
not,
Says prettie Peggie Beenston.
But Willie ran hame to fetch the
Ha!
Willie Steenson,
cloak,
WILLIE STEENSON
278
And by came
another and play'd the sport,

With prettie Peggie Beenston.
cloak had been in the fyre,
wish
my
Ha!
Willie Steenson,
That ever another got
Of
my
desyre
prettie Peggie Beenston.
THE NAMELESS MAIDEN
279
THE NAMELESS MAIDEN

[*.
[St*
Note
maid,
For
to
The
dare not
1800]
Bobtailed Lass,
tell
"
p.
275].
her name;
fear I should disgrace her,
Tempted a young man for to come

One night for to embrace her.
When at the door he made a stop, he made a stop,
Then she lay still, and snoring cry'd,
The latch will up, the latch will up.
This young man, hearing of her words,
PulTd up the latch and entered;
But
in the
room unfortunately
To her mother's bed he ventured.

When the poor maid was sore afraid,
And almost dead, and almost dead;
Then she
To
lay
still,
and snoring
cry'd,
the truckle bed, to the truckle bed.
Unto the
But as
bed he went,
youth was a-going,
truckle
this
The unlucky cradle stood in his way,

Which had almost spoil'd his wooing.
THE NAMELESS MAIDEN
280
When
To
maid he
after this the
Here she
lay
spy'd, the
and snoring
still,
cry'd,
maid he
[spy'd,
th'other side, to th'other side.
Unto the other
To show
he went,
side
the love he meant her;
Pull'd off his cloaths courageously,
And fell to the work he was sent for.

When the poor maid made no reply, made no reply,
But she lay
little
still,
and snoring
too high, a
cry'd,
too high.
little
This lusty lover half ashamed,

Of her gentle admonition,
He
thought to charge her home again,

e'er a girl could wish him.
As
Why now my
Then she
little
lay
I'm right I know, I'm right
love,
still,
too low, a
and snoring
little
cry'd,
[know,
too low.
But by mistake, at length this youth

His business so well 'tended,
He hit the mark so

He defy'd all the
Well now, my love,
Then she
Oh
lay
still,
cunningly,
world to
mend
it.
I'm right I swear, I'm right
and snoring
there! just there!
Oh
cry'd,
[I
swear.
there! just there!

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NATIONAL BALLAD AND SONG

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AUTHORS, TITLES, FIRST LINES, REFRAINS,

"All Christians and Lay-Elders too" (SIR JOHN BIR-

KENHEAD, Bagford Ballads, iii. 57).

jest" (Roxburgh Ballads,

"Aminta one Night had occasion

Purge Melancholy, 1707)

with Chloe sat"

honest Jacob on a night"

bead" (LAURENCE PRICE,

Roxburgh Ballads, iii. 226)

by the way" (Percy Folio MS.,

yon misty moor"

Tottnam" (Choyce Drollery, 1666)

"As Lady Jane devoutly wise"

she lay sleeping in her bed (Tune)

went along" (Pills

Dow, The ^Tune)

Beggar- wench turn'd into a devil (Debauchery Scared,

"Beneath a cool shade" (Mrs. BERN, 1697)

Bonnie Dundee (Tune)

Broze and Butter

Boye, Friar and,

261, 263, 264

265, 267, 269, 272, 274

mole on your bubbles" (Musical Miscel-

"Certain Presbyterian Pair, A," (Musical Miscel-

mother. Sirrah' (Refrain)

Come hither, good people" (Musical Miscellany\

"Country Gentleman came up

Roxburgh Ballads, ii. 101)

Cupid's Visions (or Dainty Damsels Dream,

Dainty Damsels Dream, The (LAURENCE PRICE,

DORSET, THE EARL of

Forked Order, The (1660-

77, Roxburgh Ballads, ii. 114)

169, 208, 210

Fair Kitty, beautiful and young (Tune)

Purge Melancholy, 1707)

Fryar and Boye, The (Percy Folio MS.,

Fryer and the Maid, The

Fumbler, The Old

Man, The (JAMES V. SCOTLAND,

The (Musical Miscellany,

Gallant Schemers Petition,

Gather your rosebuds (Tune)

high priz'd (or

The Penurious Quaker)

Help House of Commons, House oj Peers

dainty palm I gently prest**

Horrible relation of a dog (or Four legg'd elder)

"I a tender young maid have been courted by

many" (Pills to Purge Melancholy, 1707) ...

I am fallen aivay (Tune)

buckle too (Refrain)

ha'e laid a herrirf in sa't (Tune)

knare served me (Refrain)

/ pr>ythee now hear me, dear Molly (Refrain)

will fly into

morninge I mett sweet nursse

of the North she lov'd a Gentleman"