Merry drollery, or A Collection of [brace] jovial poems, merry songs, witty drolleries intermix'd with pleasant catches. The first part / collected by W.N., C.B., R.S., J.G., lovers of wit.

The Devil transformed.

I Met with the devil in the shape of a Ram, I then over and over the sowgelders ran; I rose, and I haltred him fast by the horns, I stabb'd him softly, as you would pick out corns: Nay, quoth the devil, with that out he slunk, And left us the Carkass of a Mutton that stunk.

I chanc'd to ride forth some mile and a half, Where I heard he did live in disguise of a Calf; I bound him, and I gelt him ere he did any evill, For he was at his best but a young sucking devil; Meaw yet he cry'd, and forth he did steal, And this was sold after for excellent veal.

Some half a year after, in the shape of a Pig, I met with the rogue, and he look'd very big, I caught him by the the leg, laid him down on a log, Ere a man told forty twice I made him a hog; Urmh

Oh, quoth the devil, and gave such a yerke, That a Jew was converted and did eat of the Porke.

In womans attire I met him most fine, At first sight I thought him some Angel divine: But viewing his crab-face I fell to my trade, I made him forswear ever acting a maide; Meaw, quoth the devil, and so ran away, And hid him in a Fryers old weed, as they say.

I walked along, and it was my good chance To meet with a Grey-coat that was in a trance, I grip'd him then speedily, and I whipt off his Cods, 'Twixt his head and his breech I left little odds; O, quoth the devil, the hurt thou hast done Thou still wilt be curst for by many a man.