[1: beggar] [2: constables] [3: magistrates] [4: I pour on thy pate a pot of good ale] [5: And install thee, by oath, a rogue] [6: To beg by the way, steal from all,] [7: Rob hedge of shirt and sheet,] [8: To lie with wenches on the straw, so let all magistrates and constables go to the devil and be hanged!] THE HIGH PAD'S BOAST [_b_. 1625] [Attributed to JOHN FLETCHER--a song from a collection of black-letter broadside ballads. Also in _New Canting Dict_. 1725.] I I keep my Horse; I keep my whore; I take no rents; yet am not poor; I travel all the land about, And yet was born to ne'er a foot. II With partridge plump, and woodcock fine, At midnight, I do often dine: And if my whore be not in Case, [1] My hostess' daughter has her place. III The maids sit up, and watch their turns; If I stay long, the tapster mourns; Nor has the cookmaid mind to sin, Tho' tempted by the chamberlain. IV But when I knock, O how they bustle; The hostler yawns, the geldings justle: If the maid be sleepy, O how they curse her; And all this comes, of, _Deliver your purse, sir._ [1: in the house] THE MERRY BEGGARS [Notes] [1641] [From _A Jovial Crew_, by RICHARD BROME. The beggars discovered at their feast. After they have scrambled awhile at their Victuals: this song]. I Here safe in our Skipper let's cly off our Peck, [1] And bowse in defiance o' the Harman Beck. [2] Here's Pannam and Lap, and good Poplars of Yarrum, [3] To fill up the Crib, and to comfort the Quarron. [4] Now bowse a round health to the Go-well and Corn-well, [5] Of Cisley Bumtrincket that lies in the Strummel; [6] II Here's Ruffpeck and Casson, and all of the best, [7] And Scrape of the Dainties of Gentry Cofe's Feast [8] Here's Grunter and Bleater, with Tib-of-the-Buttry, [9] And Margery Prater, all dress'd without sluttry. [10] For all this bene Cribbing and Peck let us then, [11] Bowse a health to the Gentry Cofe of the Ken. [12] Now bowse a round health to the Go-well and Corn-well [13] Of Cisley Bumtrincket that lies in the Strummel. [14] [1: Safe in our barn let's eat] [2: And drink without fear of the constable!] [3: Here's bread, drink, and milk-porridge] [4: To fill the belly, and comfort the body.] [5: Drink a good health [Notes]] [6: To Cisley Bumtrincket lying in the straw] [7: Here's bacon and cheese] [8: And scraps from the gentleman's table] [9: Here's pork, mutton, goose,] [10: And chicken, all well-cooked.] [11: For this good food and meat let us] [12: Drink the gentleman's health and] [13: Then drink a bumper] [14: to Cisley Bumtrincket.] A MORT'S DRINKING SONG [Notes] [1641] [From _A Jovial Crew_, by RICHARD BROME: Enter Patrico with his old wife with a wooden bowle of drink. She is drunk. She sings:--] I This is bien bowse, this is bien bowse, [1] Too little is my Skew. [2] I bowse no lage, but a whole gage [3] Of this I'll bowse to you. II