Ritson's _Ancient Songs and Ballads_, ii. 242. "From one of the Sloan MSS. in the Museum, No. 1489. The writing of Charles the First's time." A far superior poem on the very popular subject of the disciplining of wives is that of _The Wife Lapped in Morels Skin_, printed in Utterson's _Select Pieces of Early Popular Poetry_, ii. 173, and as an appendix to the Shakespeare Society's edition of the old _Taming of a Shrew_. As a counterpart to these pieces may be mentioned the amusing poem called _Ane Ballad of Matrymonie_, in Laing's _Select Remains_, or, _The Honeymoon_, Aytoun's _Ballads of Scotland_, i. 284. Al you that are assembled heere, Come listen to my song, But first a pardon I must crave, For feare of further wrong; I must entreat thes good wyves al 5 They wil not angrye be, And I will sing a merrye song, If they thereto agree. Because the song I mean to sing Doth touch them most of all, 10 And loth I were that any one With me shold chide and brawle. I have anough of that at home, At boarde, and eake in bed; And once for singing this same song 15 My wyfe did breake my head. But if thes good wyves all be pleasd, And pleased be the men, Ile venture one more broken pate, To sing it once agayne. 20 But first Ile tell you what it's cald, For feare you heare no more; 'Tis calde the Taming of a Shrew, Not often sung before. And if I then shall sing the rest, 25 A signe I needs must have; Hold but your finger up to me, Or hem,--that's al I crave-- Then wil I sing it with a harte, And to it roundelye goe; 30 You know my mynde, now let me see Whether I shal sing't or no. _Hem._ Well then, I see you willing are That I shall sing the reste; To pleasure al thes good wyves heire 35 I meane to do my best. For I do see even by their lookes No hurte to me they thinke, And thus it chancte upon a tyme, (But first give me a drinke.) 40 Not long agoe a lustye lad Did woe a livelye lasse, And long it was before he cold His purpose bring to passe; Yet at the lenth it thus fell out, 45 She granted his petition, That she would be his wedded wyfe, But yet on this condicion.