Latine songs with their English, and poems by Henry Bold ... ; collected and perfected by Captain William Bold.
Bold, Henry, 1627-1683., Bold, William.
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SONG XIX.
I.
A Pretty Jest I will you tell,
O'th' guelding of the Devil →
of Hell.
There was a Baker of Mansfield Town,
To Nottingham Market he was bound;
And riding under a Willow there,
The Baker sung with a lusty cheer.
II.
The Baker's Horse was plump and sound,
And worth, in judgment, full five pound;
His skin was smooth, his flesh was fat,
His Master was well pleas'd thereat,
And therefore sings so merrily,
As he was riding on the way.
III.
But as he rode over the Hill,
Oh Baker, Baker! then cry'd he,
How came thy Horse so fat to be?
These be the words the Baker did say
Because his Stones are cut away.
Page 64IV.
Thou shalt gueld me before thou go:
First, tie thy Horse to yonder Tree,
And be thou ready to gueld me.
The Baker had a knife for th' nones,
Wherewith to cut out th'Devils stones.
V.
The Baker, as it came to pass,
In hast alighted from his Horse;
The Baker cut his Stones away;
And made him to cry out amain.
VI.
Thou dost not feel how I do smart;
And for the Deed that thou hast done,
I will revenged be agen;
And underneath this Green-wood-Tree
Next Market-day I will gueld thee.
VII.
The Baker then but little said,
But at his heart was sore afraid,
And longer there he would not stay,
But he rode home another way,
And coming to his Wife, did tell
Page 66VIII.
Moreover, to his Wife he told
A thing which made her heart full cold:
A grievous word as he did say,
That he'd gueld me next Market-day:
To whom quoth Goodwife, without doubt,
I'd rather both your eyes were out.
IX.
For then all people far and near
That knows thee will both mock and jeer,
And good Wives they will sooff and brawl,
And stoneless Guelding will thee call:
Then hold content, and be thou wise,
And I'll some pretty trick devise.
X.
Do thou but lend to me thy Coat,
Thy Hose and Doublet eke also,
And I like to thy self will go,
And warrant thee next Market-day
XI.
The Bakers Wife thus being drest,
With Market-Bread upon her Beast,
She goes to N•tti••ham brave Town,
To sell her Bread, both white and brown;
And as she rode over the Hill,
She met there with two Devils of Hell.
Page 68XII.
As they played both together:
Oh! quoth one of them, right fain,
Here comes the Baker on amain;
And be thou well, or be thou wo,
I will gueld thee before thou go.
XIII.
Sir, I was guelded yesterday.
Pulling her Coats up to the knee:
So looking upward from the ground,
Oh! there he spy'd a terrible wound.
XIV.
He was not cunning guelded thee;
For when he had cut out thy Stones,
He should have closed up the wounds:
But if thou'lt stay a little space,
I'll fetch some Salve to cure the place.
XV.
He had gone but a little way,
When up her Belly creept a Flea:
He with his paw did giv't a pat:
Which made the Goodwife for to start,
And out she let a rowzing Fart.
Page 70XVI.
Thy breath it smells so wondrous strong;
Then go thy way, and make thy will,
This wound is past all humane skill:
Be gone, be gone, make no delay,
For here no longer shalt thou stay.
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