[Taylors goose] [describing the wilde goose]

Goostoft in Lincolnshire.

IN Lincolnshire an ancient Towne doth stand, Call'd Goostoft, that hath neither fallow'd Land, Or Woods, or any fertile pasture Ground, But is with watry Fens incompast round. The people there haue neither Horse or Cowe, Nor Sheepe, nor Oxe, or Asse, nor Pig, or Sowe: Nor Creame, Curds, Whig, Whay, Buttermilke or Cheese, Nor any other liuing thing but Geese. The Parson of the Parish takes great paines, And tyth Geese onely, are his labours gaines: If any Charges there must be defray'd, Or Impositions on the Towne is layd, As Subsidies, or Fifteenes for the King, Or to mend Bridges, Churches any thing. Then those that haue of Geese the greatest store, Must to these Taxes pay so much the more. Nor can a man bee raisde to Dignity, But as his Geese encrease and multiply.

And as mens Geese wax more and more, and breed, From Office vnto office they proceed. A man that hath but with twelue Geese began, In time hath come to be a Tythingman: And with great Credit past that Office thorough (His Geese increasing) hee hath bin Headborough. Then (as his Flocke in number are accounted) Vnto a Constable, he hath bin mounted. And so from place to place he doth aspire, And as his Geese grow more hee's raised higher. Tis onely Geese there that doe men prefer, And 'tis a Rule, no Goose, no Officer. At Hunnibourne, a Towne in Warwickshire, What Gogmagog Gargantua Geese are there, For take a Goose that from that place hath bin, That's leane, and nough but feathers, bones and skin, And bring her thither, and with little cost Shee'l bee as fat as any Bawde, almost. For take foure Geese, and with a like expence, Feed one there, and the others two miles thence, And shee that feedes at Hunnibourne shall bee More worth in weight and price, then th'other three. She shall with Flesh vnable be to goe, I cannot yeeld the Reason, but 'tis so.

Notes

• A womans Reason▪